“I saw everything, as you shall hear. But-it really is not pride on my part,
as a free man and possessing the knowledge that I do, besides my position,
not to speak of my wealth-I wish you would say 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 to think 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 the chambers 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 go quite in-
I remained in the twilight of the ante-room-but I was in a very good
position,-I could see and hear all that was going on in the court of poetry.”
“But what did you see? Did the gods of ancient times pass through the
rooms? Did old heroes fight their battles over again? Were there lovely
children at play, who related their dreams?”
“I tell you I have been there, and therefore you may be sure that 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; and at the same moment I
became aware of my inner being, my inborn affinity to the nature of poetry.
It is true I did not think much about it while I was with you, but you will
remember that I was always much larger at sunrise and sunset, and in the
moonlight even more visible than yourself, but I did not then understand my
inner existence. In the ante-room it was revealed to me. I became a man; I
came out in full maturity. But you had left the warm countries. As a man, I
felt ashamed to go about without boots or clothes, and that exterior finish by
which man is known. So I went my own way; I can tell you, for you will
not put it in a book. I hid myself under the cloak of a cake woman, but she
little thought who she concealed. It was not till evening that I ventured out.
I ran about the streets in the moonlight. I drew myself up to my full height
upon the walls, which tickled my back very pleasantly. I ran here and there,
