"See now, F黱en signifieth fine, And much in that word lies;For F黱en is the garden fine, Where Denmark glads its eyes."
The nakedness which the last aspect of Zealand presents occasionsone to be doubly struck by the affluent abundance and luxuriancewith which Funen steps forth. Green woods, rich corn-fields, and,wherever the eye rests, noblemen's seats and churches. Nyborgitself appears a lively capital in comparison with the stillmelancholy Kors鰁r. One now perceives people upon the great bridgeof boats, on the ramparts, and in the broad streets with their highhouses; one sees soldiers, hears music, and, what is especiallyanimating upon a journey, one comes to an excellent inn. The driveout through the arched gateway is an astonishment; it is the samelength and breadth as one of the gates of Copenhagen. Villages andpeasants' houses here assume a more well-to-do aspect than inZealand, where one often on the way-side imagines one sees amanure-heap heaped upon four poles, which upon nearer examinationone finds is the abode of a family. On the highroads in Funen oneperceives only clean houses; the window-frames are painted; beforethe doors are little flower-gardens, and wherever flowers aregrown, as Bulwer strikingly remarks, the peasant is in a higherstate of civilization; he thinks of the beautiful. In the ditchesalong the highway one sees lilac with their white and lilacflowers. Nature herself has here adorned the country with amultitude of wild poppies, which for splendor of color might viewith the most admired and beautiful in a botanic garden. Especiallyin the neighborhood of Nyborg do they grow in exceeding abundance.
"What a dazzling color!" exclaimed Otto, as the friends rolled pastthese beautiful red flowers.
"That is a proud color!" said the Kammerjunker, who rode near themupon his brown steed, "a proud color! but they are manured with theblood of Andalusian horses. It was just here where the battlebetween these beasts took place. You know that sit the year 1808the Spaniards lay in Funen; the English ships were cruising aboutin the Belt, and Romana fled with his whole army on board, but theycould net take their horses with them. These were the most splendidAndalusian creatures that eyes ever saw. The Spaniards took offtheir bridles, and left them here to scamper about the fields likewild horses. The horses of Nyborg chanced also to graze here, andas soon as the Andalusian steeds became aware of ours they arrangedthemselves in a row, and fell upon the Danish horses: that was acombat! At length they fell upon each other, and fought until theyfell bleeding to earth. Whilst still a boy I saw little skull ofone of these beasts. This is the last adventure left us from thevisit of the Spaniards to Denmark. In the village through which weshall now pass are some outer remembrances. Remark the young ladsand lasses,--they are of a darker complexion than the inhabitantsof other Funen valleys; that is Spanish blood, it is said. It wasin this village that the story took its rise of the preacher'sservant-girl, who wept and was so inconsolable at the departure ofthe Spaniards. But not on account of her bridegroom did she weep,--not over her own condition. The preacher consoled her, and then shesaid she only wept to think that if the innocent child resembledits father it certainly would speak Spanish, and then not a soulwould understand it! Yes, such histories as this have we in Funen!"said he laughingly to Otto.
With similar relations, and some agricultural observations,according as they were called forth by surrounding objects, did ourexcellent landed proprietor amuse our young gentlemen. They werealready distant several miles from Nyborg, when he suddenly brokeoff in the midst of a very interesting discourse upon acharacteristic of a true inhabitant of Funen, which is, thatwhenever he passes a field of buckwheat he moves his mouth as ifchewing, and made Wilhelm observe a Viennese carriage, whichapproached them by a neighboring road. To judge from the coachmanand the horses, it must be the family from the hall.
This was the case--they returned from paying a visit. Where theroads crossed they met each other. Otto immediately recognized MissSophie, and near to her sat an elderly lady, with a gentle, good-humoredcountenance; this was the mother. Now there was surprise and joy.Sophie blushed--this blush could not have reference to the brother;was it then the Kammerjunker? No: that appeared impossible! therefore,it must concern Otto. The mother extended her hand to him with awelcome, whilst at the same time she invited the Kammerjunker tospend the afternoon with them. There lay, in the manner with whichshe proposed this, so much attention and consideration, that Ottofelt the man was here held in greater esteem, and was otherwiseregarded than he, during their short acquaintance, had imagined possible.
Sophie added, smiling, "You must stay!" To which the Kammerjunkerreplied with an apology for his travelling-dress.
"We are not strangers!" said the mother; "it is only a family meal!You see the usual circle. You, Mr. Thostrup," added she, with amost obliging manner, "I know so well from Wilhelm's letters, thatwe are no strangers. The gentlemen are acquainted with each other!"
"I accept the invitation," said the Kammerjunker, "and I will nowshow you into what a gallop I can put my steed! It is Carl Rise,[Translator's Note: Name of one of the heroes in Waldemar theConqueror, a romance by Ingemann.] as you see, young lady--youcalled him so yourself!"
"Yes, ride forward," said Sophie, smiling. "By that means you willoblige my sister. She might otherwise be quite frightened, did shesee such a mighty caravan approach the house, did she had notproperly prepared the dinner-table."
"As my gracious young lady commands!" said the rider, and sprangforward.
The country became more woody; the road passed various small lakes,almost overgrown with water-lilies and shaded by old trees; theold-fashioned, indented gable-ends of the hall now peeped forth.They drove through an avenue of wild chestnut-trees; the stonepavement here threatened to smash the carriage axles. On the rightlay the forge, through the open door of which flew the sparks. Alittle girl, with bare feet, opened a gate, and they now foundthemselves in a large open space before the red-painted out-buildings.The ground was covered with straw, and all the cows of the farm werecollected here for milking. Here they were obliged to drive, stepby step, until by the gateway they reached the larger courtyard,which was inclosed by the barns and the principal building itself.This was surrounded by broad ditches, almost grown over with reeds.Over a solid bridge, resting upon pillars of masonry, and througha principal wing which bore the armorial bearings and initials ofthe old possessor, they arrived in the innermost court, which wasshut in by three wings, the antique one already mentioned, and twoothers: the fourth side was inclosed by a low trellis-work whichadjoined the garden, where the canals lost themselves in a small lake.
"That is an interesting old court!" exclaimed Otto.
"O, that is not to be compared with the Kammerjunker's!" returnedWilhelm: "you should first see his!"
"Yes, you must come over some of these days," said theKammerjunker. "Silence, Fingal! Silence, Valdine!" cried he to thebarking dogs. A couple of turkey-cocks spread their feathers out,and gobbled with all their might. Men and women servants stood atthe door: that was their reception!
"Thostrup will have the red room, will he not?" said Wilhelm, andthe friends ascended the stairs together.
A pale young girl, not free from freckles, but with eyes full ofsoul, hastened toward them; this was Wilhelm's youngest sister. Shepressed her brother to her breast, and took Otto's hand withkindness. She is not beautiful! was the first impression she madeupon him. His chamber was vaulted, and the walls painted in thestyle of Gobelin tapestry; they represented the whole of Olympus.On the left was an old fire-place, with decorations and a giltinscription; on the right stood an antiquated canopy-bed, with reddamask hangings. The view was confined to the moat and the interiorcourt. But a few minutes and Otto and Wilhelm were summoned totable. A long gallery through two wings of the hall, on one sidewindows, on the other entrances to the rooms, led to the dining-room.The whole long passage was a picture-gallery. Portraits the sizeof life, representing noble knights and ladies shining forth inred powdered periwigs, children adorned like their elders, withtulips in their hands, and great hounds by their sides, togetherwith some historical pieces, decorated the walls.
"Have we no garland on the table?" asked Sophie, as she entered thedining-room with the others.
"Only a weak attempt to imitate my sister!" said Louise, smiling.
"But there is not a single flower in the garland! What economy! Andyet it is sweet!"
"How tasteful!" exclaimed Otto, examining the garland which Louisehad laid.
All kinds of green leaves, with their innumerable shades, a fewyellow linden-leaves, and some from the copper-beech, formed,through their varied forms and colors, a tasteful garland upon thewhite table-cloth.
"You receive a thistle and a withered leaf!" whispered Wilhelm, asOtto seated himself.
"But yet the most beautiful!" answered he. "The copper beechcontrasts so sweetly with the whitish-green thistle and the yellowleaf."
"My sister Sophie," said Louise, "lays us each day a differentgarland;--it is such a pretty decoration! If she is not here we getnone; that would have been the case to-day, but when I learned thatWilhelm was coming, and that we," she added, with a friendlyglance, "should have two other guests, I in great haste, made anattempt, and"--
"And wished to show how nicely it could be made without robbingyour flowers!" interrupted Sophie, laughing. "In reality, I am verycruel! I cut all the heads of her favorites off. To-morrow, as aparody upon her garland of to-day, will I make one of green cabbageand pea-shells!"
"Madeira or port wine?" asked the Kammerjunker, and led theconversation from flowers to articles of food and drink.
"One feels one's self comfortable here at the hall! Miss Louisecares for the body, and Miss Sophie for the soul!"
"And mamma bestows a good cup of coffee," said the mother; "youmust also praise me a little!"
"I give music after dinner!" cried Wilhelm; "and thus the wholefamily will have shown their activity!"
"But no voluntaries!" said the Kammerjunker; "no voluntaries, dearfriend! No, a brisk song, so that one can hear what it is! but noneof your artificial things!" A right proper blow on the shoulderswas intended to soften his expression.