cling to him； but the prostrateshadow remained quite quiet and at rest； in order that it mightlisten； for it wanted to know how a shadow could be sent away by itsmaster； and bee a man itself。 〃Do you know；〃 said the shadow； 〃thatin the house opposite to you lived the most glorious creature in theworld？ It was poetry。 I remained there three weeks； and it was morelike three thousand years； for I read all that has ever been writtenin poetry or prose； and I may say； in truth； that I saw and learnteverything。〃
〃Poetry！〃 exclaimed the learned man。 〃Yes； she lives as a hermitin great cities。 Poetry！ Well； I saw her once for a very short moment；while sleep weighed down my eyelids。 She flashed upon me from thebalcony like the radiant aurora borealis； surrounded with flowers likeflames of fire。 Tell me； you were on the balcony that evening； youwent through the door； and what did you see？〃
〃I found myself in an ante…room；〃 said the shadow。 〃You stillsat opposite to me； looking into the room。 There was no light； or atleast it seemed in partial darkness； for the door of a whole suiteof rooms stood open； and they were brilliantly lighted。 The blaze oflight would have killed me； had I approached too near the maidenmyself； but I was cautious； and took time； which is what every oneought to do。〃
〃And what didst thou see？〃 asked the learned man。
〃I saw everything； as you shall hear。 But… it really is notpride on my part； as a free man and possessing the knowledge that Ido； besides my position； not to speak of my wealth… I wish you wouldsay you to me instead of thou。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the learned man； 〃it is an old habit；which it is difficult to break。 You are quite right； I will try tothink of it。 But now tell me everything that you saw。〃
〃Everything；〃 said the shadow； 〃for I saw and know everything。〃
〃What was the appearance of the inner rooms？〃 asked the scholar。〃Was it there like a cool grove； or like a holy temple？ Were thechambers like a starry sky seen from the top of a high mountain？〃
〃It was all that you describe；〃 said the shadow； 〃but I did not goquite in… I remained in the twilight of the ante…room… but I was ina very good position；… I could see and hear all that was going on inthe court of poetry。〃
〃But what did you see？ Did the gods of ancient times passthrough the rooms？ Did old heroes fight their battles over again？ Werethere lovely children at play； who related their dreams？〃
〃I tell you I have been there； and therefore you may be surethat I saw everything that was to be seen。 If you had gone there；you would not have remained a human being； whereas I became one； andat the same moment I became aware of my inner being； my inbornaffinity to the nature of poetry。 It is true I did not think muchabout it while I was with you； but you will remember that I was alwaysmuch larger at sunrise and sunset； and in the moonlight even morevisible than yourself； but I did not then understand my innerexistence。 In the ante…room it was revealed to me。 I became a man； Icame out in full maturity。 But you had left the warm countries。 As aman； I felt ashamed to go about without boots or clothes； and thatexterior finish by which man is known。 So I went my own way； I cantell you； for you will not put it in a book。 I hid myself under thecloak of a cake woman； but she little thought who she concealed。 Itwas not till evening that I ventured out。 I ran about the streets inthe moonlight。 I drew myself up to my full height upon the walls；which tickled my back very pleasantly。 I ran here and there； lookedthrough the highest windows into the rooms； and over the roofs。 Ilooked in； and saw what nobody else could see； or indeed ought to see；in fact； it is a bad world； and I would not care to be a man； but thatmen are of some importance。 I saw the most miserable things going onbetween husbands and wives； parents and children；… sweet； inparablechildren。 I have seen what no human being has the power of knowing；although they would all be very glad to know… the evil conduct oftheir neighbors。 Had I written a newspaper； how eagerly it wouldhave been read！ Instead of which； I wrote directly to the personsthemselves； and great alarm arose in all the town I visited。 Theyhad so much fear of me； and yet how dearly they loved me。 Theprofessor made me a professor。 The tailor gave me new clothes； I amwell provided for in that way。 The overseer of the mint struck coinsfor me。 The women declared that I was handsome； and so I became theman you now see me。 And now I must say adieu。 Here is my card。 Ilive on the sunny side of the street； and always stay at home in rainyweather。〃 And the shadow departed。
〃This is all very remarkable；〃 said the learned man。
Years passed； days and years went by； and the shadow came again。〃How are you going on now？〃 he asked。
〃Ah！〃 said the learned man； 〃I am writing about the true； thebeautiful； and the good； but no one cares to hear anything about it。 Iam quite in despair； for I take it to heart very much。〃
〃That is what I never do；〃 said the shadow； 〃I am growing quitefat and stout； which every one ought to be。 You do not understandthe world； you will make yourself ill about it； you ought to travel； Iam going on a journey in the summer； will you go with me？ I shouldlike a travelling panion； will you travel with me as my shadow？It would give me great pleasure； and I will pay all expenses。〃
〃Are you going to travel far？〃 asked the learned man。
〃That is a matter of opinion；〃 replied the shadow。 〃At all events；a journey will do you good； and if you will be my shadow； then allyour journey shall be paid。〃
〃It appears to me very absurd；〃 said the learned man。
〃But it is the way of the world；〃 replied the shadow； 〃andalways will be。〃 Then he went away。
Everything went wrong with the learned man。 Sorrow and troublepursued him； and what he said about the good； the beautiful； and thetrue； was of as much value to most people as a nutmeg would be to acow。 At length he fell ill。 〃You really look like a shadow；〃 peoplesaid to him； and then a cold shudder would pass over him； for he hadhis own thoughts on the subject。
〃You really ought to go to some watering…place；〃 said the shadowon his next visit。 〃There is no other chance for you。 I will takeyou with me； for the sake of old acquaintance。 I will pay the expensesof your journey； and you shall write a description of it to amuse usby the way。 I should like to go to a watering…place； my beard does notgrow as it ought； which is from weakness； and I must have a beard。 Nowdo be sensible and accept my proposal； we shall travel as intimatefriends。〃
And at last they started together。 The shadow was master now；and the master became the shadow。 They drove together； and rode andwalked in pany with each other； side by side； or one in front andthe other behind； according to the position of the sun。 The shadowalways knew when to take the place of honor； but the learned mantook no notice of it； for he had a good heart； and was exceedinglymild and friendly。
One day the master said to the shadow； 〃We have grown uptogether from our childhood； and now that we have bee travellingpanions； shall we not drink to our good fellowship； and say theeand thou to each other？〃