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92 M%t **«***? [SATOitDAir,
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Note.—Up to tlm moment may be heard many...
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THE LYRIC DRAMA. The repetition of " Luc...
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THE DRAMA. French Plays.—This world is a...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Glass Mountain. A Polish Legend. [Th...
possessed unrivalled treasures , vaults filled with precious stones ; and chests full of gold stood in her apartments . Many a valorous knight had in vain endeavoured to ascend the slippery mountain . Some of them had succeeded in reaching on roughly shod horses , but had fallen down half way . In the effort arms , legs , and even necks were broken . The princess was much grieved , on looking from her window , to see so many handsome heroes on their splendid horses endeavouring in vain to ascend the mountain . They came from every quarter of the world , but already had seven years passed away in vain effort to procure the unfortunate maiden ' s redemption .
All around the glass mountain was a considerable number of the corpses of those unhappy knights , who , with their steeds , had perished in the attempt to reach the castle ; others not dead , but frightfully mutilated , were fearfully groaning , thus presenting at once both the appearance of a cemetery , and of a battle-field . It only wanted three days of the seventh year being completed when a knight in golden armour appeared at the foot of the steep mountain . He spurred his steed , and , to the astonishment of all present , succeeded in attaining the middle of the mountain , but as quickly was again at the bottom perfectly uninjured . The next day at morning ' s dawn , encouraged by the
success of his first trial , he again spurred his steed , galloping up the mountain as if it were even ground , the shoes of his horse emitting myriads of sparks , at which even the most daring knights were amazed . He approaches the summit of the mountain—they look , and he is already under the appletree ! Suddenly an enormous vulture darts from the tree , and with his wing strikes the horse on the eyes . The frightened steed inflates his nostrils , snorts , erects his bushy mane , prances , and his hind legs slipping , he falls down backwards with his gallant rider , leaving the mountain in their fall , and nothing remained of the knight and the steed but bones , which rattled in his armour like dry peas in a bladder .
On the morrow the seventh year of the enchantment would be completed . A young , fine-looking student made his appearance . He saw how many valiant knights had broken their necks ; he approached the slippery mountain and began to climb it . He had heard a year ago , whilst still at home , of the beautiful king ' daughter dwelling in a castle on the summit of a glass mountain . He now repaired to a forest , killed an ounce , took his long sharp talons , and attached them to his hands and feet .
Thus armed , he boldly climbed the glassy eminence ; the sun was setting , the intrepid student became exhausted before reaching the half way ; he could scarcely breathe , thirst had parched his lijis ; a black cloud was passing over him ; he implored it , he conjured it , were it only for one drop of water . In vain did he open his fevered mouth , the black cloud passed by without even bedewing his burning lips .
His legs and feet were lacerated , and it was with his hands only he sustained himself in that perilous position . The sun was set , —he raised his eyes to see the summit of the mountain , and , in so doing , his cap fell from his head . He looked down—and what an abyss met his eye ! Instant death awaited one false step ! The air he inhaled was pregnant with the exhalation arising from the putrefied bodies of those audacious young men , who , like him , had tried to ascend the mountain .
The darkness of night was covering the horizon , the stars were faintly illuminating the glass mountain , and the student was hanging on by his bleeding hands , as though they were riveted to the glass . He was unable to climb any higher , all his strength being exhausted : and in that perilous position he awaited his death . Suddenly his eyes became closed , he forgot his danger , and fell soundly asleep ; and so deeply did he , though sleeping , dig his sharp talons in the glass , that he safely slept until midnight .
The golden apple-tree was guarded by the same vulture who had thrown down the knight and his horse : like a vigilant watcher he never ceased to fly at night around the mountain . Scarcely had the moon peeped from behind a cloud , when he flew from the apple-tree , and hovered in the air to perform his usual evolution ; and in so doing he perceived the student . Taking him for fresh carrion , he darted voraciously towards him . But the student , being already awakened , perceived the vulture , and resolved to save himself by his aid from his perilous position .
Tlie vulture dug his sharp claws into his flesh j he manfully endured the dreadful pain , grasping the bird by his legs , who , frightened by this unexpected seizure , ascended higher and higher in the air , hovering round and round the high steeple , of the castle . The Student held fust by the bird's legs ; he glanced upon the glittering castle , which , by the pale rays of the moon , was shining like a dim lamp ; he noticed the high windows which were glistening with variegated ornaments , and in a balcony he perceived the beautiful prim-ess , moodily sitting , thinking of her hapless lot . Whon he saw that the vulture was approaching the apple-tree , he took out of his pocket a sharp knife and out oil * his legs . The bird , from pain , ascended higher and higher till he entirely disappeared in the clouds , and the student fell upon the large branches of the apple-tree .
lie then extracted from his flesh the vulture ' s claws , applied some ? of the peel of a golden apple to his wounds , which soon healed them . He now filled his pockets with apples , and boldly went towards the castle . ; but at the a ^ ate an ononnous dragon stopped him ; lie then throw one of the golden ipplcs at him , when the jnonstcr jumped into tho ditch and disappeared .
Instantly the gate opened , and , on entering , he saw the square covered with beautiful flowers and trees ; and on a balcony sat the princess surrounded by her court . On her seeing the pretty youth she ran towards him and joyously welcomed him as her redeemer and future consort . She gave him all her treasures , and the student became a mighty and rich lord . But he never returned on earth , for the vulture , who was both the guardian of the castle and of the princess , was the only creature who upon his wings could remove the castle , and carry it with all its treasures to the earth . But he was gone , and his body deprived of its legs was afterwards found in a forest .
Once when walking with the princess his wife in the garden of the castle , he accidentally glanced down and perceived that a crowd of people was gathering at the foot of the mountain . He immediately whistled on a silver pipe , and a swallow , who was serving as a messenger in the golden castle , came flying towards him . " Go and inquire what ' s the matter , " said he to the little bird . The swallow quickly flew to do what it was bid , soon returning , bringing the following information : —
" The blood of the vulture has revived all those who perished at the foot of this mountain in boldly endeavouring , to ascend it ; they are rising as if from a sleep , are mounting their steeds , and the people are gazing with amazement at the miracle . "
92 M%T **«***? [Satoitdair,
92 M % t **«***? [ SATOitDAir ,
Note.—Up To Tlm Moment May Be Heard Many...
Note . —Up to tlm moment may be heard many sayings about the glass mountain among- the people of Poland . They speak about expiating spirits , who are compelled to climb it , and when they have already reached its summit slip and fall down . " Such being their destiny . There was in Lithuania , in Pagan times , a religious tradition that the souls of the deceased were obliged to climb a prodigiously high mountain ; they therefore burnt together with the corpses talons of ounces and bears , in the belief that a day would come when the dead should be resuscitated ; and that a certain god , whom they did not know , but believed to be almighty , was to judge all the good and evil doings of mortals upon a high and steep mountain . The ounce and bears' talons , therefore , were mixed with their ashes in order to enable them to ascend the mountain more easily and safely . The swallow is the Slavonic ideal messenger of love . In the popular songs of the Poles , the Tchekhs , and Slovacks , the swallow is always the messenger of love .
The Lyric Drama. The Repetition Of " Luc...
THE LYRIC DRAMA . The repetition of " Lucrezia Borgia , " on Saturday last , at the Royal Italian Opera , enabled Mademoiselle de Meric to make her first appearance this season in the trivial part of Orsini ; an event scarcely worth chronicling , save that , as appearances multiply , we are bound to record the fact that a strength , in contralto voices is the great want of the present company . On Thursday " Don Giovanni , " with , the announcement of Herr Formes as Leporello , drew together a large audience ; but unfortunately a sudden hoarseness prevented him from appearing , and Signor PoloninjL undertook the part , without the benefit even of one rehearsal . Criticism on a performance , under such circumstances , would be ungenerous , especially as the ' Madamina , il catalogo 6 questo , " was entirely omitted ; rather a strange thing , by the way , with a vocalist so well studied in the other portions of the character as Signor Polonini .
A word of praise is due to Madame . Castellan , who played the wicked little coquette Zerlina to perfection , and sang the "Batti , batti " in such a manner as would dispel the misgivings of the most jealous lover imaginable . Mademoiselle "Vera must get rid of a tendency to sing flatly , and she maj ' work her way in second parts steadily . The music of " Elvira" is difficult , and Mademoiselle Vera deserves , therefore , additional credit for the effect which she created . We trust that the opera will be shortly repeated , and that wo may still have an opportunity of seeing the Leporello ofllerr Formes .
At her Majesty ' s Theatre " La Nozze di Figaro " was revived on Thursday evening ; tlie principal novelty being the Cherubino of Miss Catherine Hayes . Why the music of a contralto part should be tortured to suit a soprano must remain a profound secret between Miss Hayes and the management . As mere lookers on , however , we are bound to enter a protest against these triflings with art , and to warn all concerned in them against the consequences . The Susanna of Madame Sontag is unquestionably one other very best performances , and Calzolari , as Basilto , by his careful singing , gave prominence to what is usually considered a part too contemptible even for second tenors .
The Drama. French Plays.—This World Is A...
THE DRAMA . French Plays . —This world is a Vale of Tears ; we have no chance of being reasonably happy in it , so that our best plan is to make up our minds doggedly to be miserable . Owing to some radical imperfection in our marriage state no man can be happy . If he remain a bachelor he is the target for Cupid ; and unhappily Cupid is not the charming tricksy boy those lying old mythologies describe him ; quite the reverse of that : he comes in the very questionable shape of mothers having six daughters on hand , aunts having deplorable nieces , or of the daughters and nieces themselves , varied with an occasional widow . * That is Scylla . If he makes a choice and marries , that is Charybdis . He escapes
being tormented to marry , but is caught in the torment of marriage . Ask Menard . His experience is truly pitiable . At Bordeaux he fell in love with a poetess , who raised such a mirage before his eyes that , oblivious of eight and thirty years prudence , he made a promise of marriage . A moment of reflection saved him from the fatal act ; and , finding that his Muse was troubled with " nerves , " to say nothing of a rather developed tendency towards domineering , and a temper not of tho mildest , Mt-nard quietly took a place in the diligeme and—fled , lou fancy he was safe ? From the Muse , yes ; but not from a wife ! Again he was a captive ; and this time the knot was tied . His wife , without being a poetess , had all the perfections of his former mistress ; and his married life had all the charms ho anticipated from tho qualities of that heart lie had . so uselessly deserted : — " Diiir . on , figure-toi quclqu ' un exCcutc , Qui n ' on miMirt p ; is , ut voit , iremlihmt d ' emotion Tonjouis lveoininencer son execution , Voili \ mini sort , vollfl dix-huit mois tie ma vie . " But Fate interposed and saved him from the terrible delights of conjugal felicity . Ho was a widower , with a profound conviction that marriage was not the paradise for which he yearned . Peace he thought was now secured him for ever . Strange error ! lie was more- beset by Cupid than before . He had shown signs of weakness , and was pounced upon by tlie sex : the man who could marry once might ho not , must he not , marry twice r—• ' Mis go fits d <* cGlihnt , chnuun los contrarii 1 , Los blftinc : chncun vent que jc me reinarie ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 20, 1850, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20041850/page/20/
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