rg。〃
〃No；〃 answered the man； 〃it is not by Heiberg； Godfred vonGehman brought it out。〃
〃Oh； is he the publisher？ That is a very old name；〃 said thecounsellor； 〃was it not the name of the first publisher in Denmark？〃
〃Yes； and he is our first printer and publisher now；〃 repliedthe scholar。
So far all had passed off very well； but now one of the citizensbegan to speak of a terrible pestilence which had been raging a fewyears before； meaning the plague of 1484。 The counsellor thought hereferred to the cholera； and they could discuss this without findingout the mistake。 The war in 1490 was spoken of as quite recent。 TheEnglish pirates had taken some ships in the Channel in 1801； and thecounsellor； supposing they referred to these； agreed with them infinding fault with the English。 The rest of the talk； however； was notso agreeable； every moment one contradicted the other。 The goodbachelor appeared very ignorant； for the simplest remark of thecounsellor seemed to him either too bold or too fantastic。 They staredat each other； and when it became worse the bachelor spoke in Latin；in the hope of being better understood； but it was all useless。
〃How are you now？〃 asked the landlady； pulling the counsellor'ssleeve。
Then his recollection returned to him。 In the course ofconversation he had forgotten all that had happened previously。
〃Goodness me！ where am I？〃 said he。 It bewildered him as hethought of it。
〃We will have some claret； or mead； or Bremen beer；〃 said one ofthe guests； 〃will you drink with us？〃
Two maids came in。 One of them had a cap on her head of twocolors。 They poured out the wine； bowed their heads； and withdrew。
The counsellor felt a cold shiver run all over him。 〃What is this？what does it mean？〃 said he； but he was obliged to drink with them；for they overpowered the good man with their politeness。 He becameat last desperate； and when one of them said he was tipsy； he didnot doubt the man's word in the least… only begged them to get adroschky； and then they thought he was speaking the Muscovitelanguage。 Never before had he been in such rough and vulgar pany。〃One might believe that the country was going back to heathenism；〃he observed。 〃This is the most terrible moment of my life。〃
Just then it came into his mind that he would stoop under thetable； and so creep to the door。 He tried it； but before he reachedthe entry； the rest discovered what he was about； and seized him bythe feet； when； luckily for him； off came the goloshes； and withthem vanished the whole enchantment。 The counsellor now saw quiteplainly a lamp； and a large building behind it； everything lookedfamiliar and beautiful。 He was in East Street； as it now appears； helay with his legs turned towards a porch； and just by him sat thewatchman asleep。
〃Is it possible that I have been lying here in the streetdreaming？〃 said he。 〃Yes； this is East Street； how beautifullybright and gay it looks！ It is quite shocking that one glass ofpunch should have upset me like this。〃
Two minutes afterwards he sat in a droschky； which was to drivehim to Christian's Haven。 He thought of all the terror and anxietywhich he had undergone； and felt thankful from his heart for thereality and fort of modern times； which； with all their errors；were far better than those in which he so lately found himself。
THE WATCHMAN'S ADVENTURES
〃Well； I declare； there lies a pair of goloshes；〃 said thewatchman。 〃No doubt； they belong to the lieutenant who lives upstairs。 They are lying just by his door。〃 Gladly would the honestman have rung； and given them in； for a light was still burning； buthe did not wish to disturb the other people in the house； so he letthem lie。 〃These things must keep the feet very warm；〃 said he；〃they are of such nice soft leather。〃 Then he tried them on； andthey fitted his feet exactly。 〃Now；〃 said he； 〃how droll things are inthis world！ There's that man can lie down in his warm bed； but he doesnot do so。 There he goes pacing up and down the room。 He ought to be ahappy man。 He has neither wife nor children； and he goes out intopany every evening。 Oh； I wish I were he； then I should be ahappy man。〃
As he uttered this wish； the goloshes which he had put on tookeffect； and the watchman at once became the lieutenant。 There he stoodin his room； holding a little piece of pink paper between his fingers；on which was a poem；… a poem written by the lieutenant himself。 Whohas not had； for once in his life； a moment of poetic inspiration？ andat such a moment； if the thoughts are written down； they flow inpoetry。 The following verses were written on the pink paper：…
〃OH WERE I RICH！
〃Oh were I rich！ How oft； in youth's bright hour；
When youthful pleasures banish every care；
I longed for riches but to gain a power；
The sword and plume and uniform to wear！
The riches and the honor came for me；
Yet still my greatest wealth was poverty：
Ah； help and pity me！
〃Once in my youthful hours； when gay and free；
A maiden loved me； and her gentle kiss；
Rich in its tender love and purity；
Taught me； alas！ too much of earthly bliss。
Dear child！ She only thought of youthful glee；
She loved no wealth； but fairy tales and me。
Thou knowest： ah； pity me！
〃Oh were I rich！ again is all my prayer：
That child is now a woman； fair and free；
As good and beautiful as angels are。
Oh； were I rich in lovers' poetry；
To tell my fairy tale； love's richest lore！
But no； I must be silent… I am poor。
Ah； wilt thou pity me？
〃Oh were I rich in truth and peace below；
I need not then my poverty bewail。
To thee I dedicate these lines of woe；
Wilt thou not understand the mournful tale？
A leaf on which my sorrows I relate…
Dark story of a darker night of fate。
Ah； bless and pity me！〃
〃Well； yes； people write poems when they are in love； but a wiseman will not print them。 A lieutenant in love； and poor。 This is atriangle； or more properly speaking； the half of the broken die offortune。〃 The lieutenant felt this very keenly； and therefore leanedhis head against the window…frame； and sighed deeply。 〃The poorwatchman in the street；〃 said he； 〃is far happier than I am。 Heknows not what I call poverty。 He has a home； a wife and children； whoweep at his sorrow and rejoice at his joy。 Oh； how much happier Ishould be could I change my being and position with him； and passthrough life with his humble expectations and hopes！ Yes； he is indeedhappier than I am。〃
At this moment the watchman again became a watchman； for having；through the goloshes of Fortune； passed into the existence of thelieutenant； and found himself less contented than he expected； hehad preferred his former condition； and wished himself again awatchman。 〃That was an ugly dream；〃 said he； 〃but droll enough。 Itseemed to me as if I were the lieutenant up yonder； but there was nohappiness for me。 I missed my wife and the little ones； who are alwaysready to smother me with kisses。〃 He sat down again and nodded； but hecould not get the dream out of his thoughts； and he still had thegoloshes on his feet。 A falling star gleamed across the sky。 〃Theregoes one！〃 cried he。 〃However； there are quite enough left；