lydeigned to glance at it。 'Let us leave the soul of the dead to theirball…play with the heads of the walruses；' they thought in theirsuperstition； and they turned their whole attention to the song anddance。 In the midst of the circle； and divested of his furry cloak；stood a Greenlander； with a small pipe； and he played and sang asong about catching the seal； and the chorus around chimed in with；'Eia； Eia； Ah。' And in their white furs they danced about in thecircle； till you might fancy it was a polar bear's ball。
〃And now a Court of Judgment was opened。 Those Greenlanders whohad quarrelled stepped forward； and the offended person chantedforth the faults of his adversary in an extempore song； turning themsharply into ridicule； to the sound of the pipe and the measure of thedance。 The defendant replied with satire as keen； while the audiencelaughed； and gave their verdict。 The rocks heaved； the glaciersmelted； and great masses of ice and snow came crashing down； shiveringto fragments as they fall； it was a glorious Greenland summer night。 Ahundred paces away； under the open tent of hides； lay a sick man。 Lifestill flowed through his warm blood； but still he was to die… hehimself felt it； and all who stood round him knew it also； thereforehis wife was already sewing round him the shroud of furs； that shemight not afterwards be obliged to touch the dead body。 And she asked；'Wilt thou be buried on the rock； in the firm snow？ I will deck thespot with thy kayak； and thy arrows； and the angekokk shall dance overit。 Or wouldst thou rather be buried in the sea？' 'In the sea；' hewhispered； and nodded with a mournful smile。 'Yes； it is a pleasantsummer tent； the sea；' observed the wife。 'Thousands of seals sportthere； the walrus shall lie at thy feet； and the hunt will be safe andmerry！' And the yelling children tore the outspread hide from thewindow…hole； that the dead man might be carried to the ocean； thebillowy ocean； that had given him food in life； and that now； indeath； was to afford him a place of rest。 For his monument； he had thefloating； ever…changing icebergs； whereon the seal sleeps； while thestorm bird flies round their gleaming summits！〃
TENTH EVENING
〃I knew an old maid；〃 said the Moon。 〃Every winter she wore awrapper of yellow satin； and it always remained new； and was theonly fashion she followed。 In summer she always wore the same strawhat； and I verily believe the very same gray…blue dress。
〃She never went out； except across the street to an old femalefriend； and in later years she did not even take this walk； for theold friend was dead。 In her solitude my old maid was always busy atthe window； which was adorned in summer with pretty flowers； and inwinter with cress； grown upon felt。 During the last months I saw herno more at the window； but she was still alive。 I knew that； for I hadnot yet seen her begin the 'long journey；' of which she often spokewith her friend。 'Yes； yes；' she was in the habit of saying； when Ie to die I shall take a longer journey than I have made my wholelife long。 Our family vault is six miles from here。 I shall be carriedthere； and shall sleep there among my family and relatives。' Lastnight a van stopped at the house。 A coffin was carried out； and then Iknew that she was dead。 They placed straw round the coffin； and thevan drove away。 There slept the quiet old lady； who had not gone outof her house once for the last year。 The van rolled out through thetown…gate as briskly as if it were going for a pleasant excursion。On the high…road the pace was quicker yet。 The coachman lookednervously round every now and then… I fancy he half expected to seeher sitting on the coffin； in her yellow satin wrapper。 And because hewas startled； he foolishly lashed his horses； while he held thereins so tightly that the poor beasts were in a foam： they wereyoung and fiery。 A hare jumped across the road and startled them；and they fairly ran away。 The old sober maiden； who had for yearsand years moved quietly round and round in a dull circle； was now；in death； rattled over stock and stone on the public highway。 Thecoffin in its covering of straw tumbled out of the van； and was lefton the high…road； while horses； coachman； and carriage flew past inwild career。 The lark rose up carolling from the field； twittering hermorning lay over the coffin； and presently perched upon it； pickingwith her beak at the straw covering； as though she would tear it up。The lark rose up again； singing gaily； and I withdrew behind the redmorning clouds。〃
ELEVENTH EVENING
〃I will give you a picture of Pompeii；〃 said the Moon。 〃I was inthe suburb in the Street of Tombs； as they call it； where the fairmonuments stand； in the spot where； ages ago； the merry youths；their temples bound with rosy wreaths； danced with the fair sisters ofLais。 Now； the stillness of death reigned around。 Germanmercenaries； in the Neapolitan service； kept guard； played cards；and diced； and a troop of strangers from beyond the mountains cameinto the town； acpanied by a sentry。 They wanted to see the citythat had risen from the grave illumined by my beams； and I showed themthe wheel…ruts in the streets paved with broad lava slabs； I showedthem the names on the doors； and the signs that hung there yet： theysaw in the little courtyard the basins of the fountains； ornamentedwith shells； but no jet of water gushed upwards； no songs soundedforth from the richly…painted chambers； where the bronze dog keptthe door。
〃It was the City of the Dead； only Vesuvius thundered forth hiseverlasting hymn； each separate verse of which is called by men aneruption。 We went to the temple of Venus； built of snow…whitemarble； with its high altar in front of the broad steps； and theweeping willows sprouting freshly forth among the pillars。 The air wastransparent and blue； and black Vesuvius formed the background； withfire ever shooting forth from it； like the stem of the pine tree。Above it stretched the smoky cloud in the silence of the night； likethe crown of the pine； but in a blood…red illumination。 Among thepany was a lady singer； a real and great singer。 I have witnessedthe homage paid to her in the greatest cities of Europe。 When theycame to the tragic theatre； they all sat down on the amphitheatresteps； and thus a small part of the house was occupied by an audience；as it had been many centuries ago。 The stage still stood unchanged；with its walled side…scenes； and the two arches in the background；through which the beholders saw the same scene that had been exhibitedin the old times… a scene painted by nature herself； namely； themountains between Sorento and Amalfi。 The singer gaily mounted theancient stage； and sang。 The place inspired her； and she reminded meof a wild Arab horse； that rushes headlong on with snorting nostrilsand flying mane… her song was so light and yet so firm。 Anon I thoughtof the mourning mother beneath the cross at Golgotha； so deep wasthe expression of pain。 And； just as it had done thousands of yearsago； the sound of applause and delight now filled the theatre。 'Happy；gifted creature！' all the hearers exclaimed。 Five minutes more； andthe stage was empty； the pany had vanished； and not a sound morewas heard… all were gone。 But the ruins stood un