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sat down in right earnest； comparing every line in the one version
with the corresponding one in the other； and I passed entire nights
in this manner； till I was almost blind； and the task was tedious
enough at first； but I quailed not； and soon began to make
progress： and at first I had a misgiving that the old book might
not prove a Danish book； but was soon reassured by reading many
words in the Bible which I remembered to have seen in the book； and
then I went on right merrily； and I found that the language which I
was studying was by no means a difficult one； and in less than a
month I deemed myself able to read the book。
Anon； I took the book from the closet； and proceeded to make myself
master of its contents； I had some difficulty； for the language of
the book； though in the main the same as the language of the Bible；
differed from it in some points； being apparently a more ancient
dialect； by degrees； however； I overcame this difficulty； and I
understood the contents of the book； and well did they correspond
with all those ideas in which I had indulged connected with the
Danes。 For the book was a book of ballads； about the deeds of
knights and champions； and men of huge stature； ballads which from
time immemorial had been sung in the North； and which some two
centuries before the time of which I am speaking had been collected
by one Anders Vedel； who lived with a certain Tycho Brahe； and
assisted him in making observations upon the heavenly bodies； at a
place called Uranias Castle； on the little island of Hveen； in the
Cattegat。
CHAPTER XXIII
The two individuals … The long pipe … The Germans … Werther … The
female Quaker … Suicide … Gibbon … Jesus of Bethlehem … Fill your
glass … Shakespeare … English at Minden … Melancholy Swayne Vonved
… The fifth dinner … Strange doctrines … Are you happy？ … Improve
yourself in German。
IT might be some six months after the events last recorded； that
two individuals were seated together in a certain room； in a
certain street of the old town which I have so frequently had
occasion to mention in the preceding pages； one of them was an
elderly； and the other a very young man； and they sat on either
side of a fireplace； beside a table on which were fruit and wine；
the room was a small one； and in its furniture exhibited nothing
remarkable。 Over the mantelpiece； however； hung a small picture
with naked figures in the foreground； and with much foliage behind。
It might not have struck every beholder； for it looked old and
smoke…dried； but a connoisseur； on inspecting it closely； would
have pronounced it to be a judgment of Paris； and a masterpiece of
the Flemish school。
The forehead of the elder individual was high； and perhaps appeared
more so than it really was； from the hair being carefully brushed
back； as if for the purpose of displaying to the best advantage
that part of the cranium； his eyes were large and full； and of a
light brown； and might have been called heavy and dull； had they
not been occasionally lighted up by a sudden gleam … not so
brilliant however as that which at every inhalation shone from the
bowl of the long clay pipe which he was smoking； but which； from a
certain sucking sound which about this time began to be heard from
the bottom； appeared to be giving notice that it would soon require
replenishment from a certain canister； which； together with a
lighted taper； stood upon the table beside him。
'You do not smoke？' said he； at length； laying down his pipe； and
directing his glance to his companion。
Now there was at least one thing singular connected with this last；
namely； the colour of his hair； which； notwithstanding his extreme
youth； appeared to be rapidly becoming gray。 He had very long
limbs； and was apparently tall of stature； in which he differed
from his elderly companion； who must have been somewhat below the
usual height。
'No； I can't smoke；' said the youth； in reply to the observation of
the other； 'I have often tried； but could never succeed to my
satisfaction。'
'Is it possible to become a good German without smoking？' said the
senior； half speaking to himself。
'I daresay not；' said the youth； 'but I shan't break my heart on
that account。'
'As for breaking your heart； of course you would never think of
such a thing； he is a fool who breaks his heart on any account； but
it is good to be a German； the Germans are the most philosophic
people in the world； and the greatest smokers： now I trace their
philosophy to their smoking。'
'I have heard say their philosophy is all smoke … is that your
opinion？'
'Why； no； but smoking has a sedative effect upon the nerves； and
enables a man to bear the sorrows of this life （of which every one
has his share） not only decently； but dignifiedly。 Suicide is not
a national habit in Germany as it is in England。'
'But that poor creature； Werther； who committed suicide； was a
German。'
'Werther is a fictitious character； and by no means a felicitous
one； I am no admirer either of Werther or his author。 But I should
say that； if there ever was a Werther in Germany； he did not smoke。
Werther； as you very justly observe； was a poor creature。'
'And a very sinful one； I have heard my parents say that suicide is
a great crime。'
'Broadly； and without qualification； to say that suicide is a
crime； is speaking somewhat unphilosophically。 No doubt suicide；
under many circumstances； is a crime； a very heinous one。 When the
father of a family； for example； to escape from certain
difficulties； commits suicide； he commits a crime； there are those
around him who look to him for support； by the law of nature； and
he has no right to withdraw himself from those who have a claim
upon his exertions； he is a person who decamps with other people's
goods as well as his own。 Indeed； there can be no crime which is
not founded upon the depriving others of something which belongs to
them。 A man is hanged for setting fire to his house in a crowded
city； for he burns at the same time or damages those of other
people； but if a man who has a house on a heath sets fire to it； he
is not hanged； for he has not damaged or endangered any other
individual's property； and the principle of revenge； upon which all
punishment is founded； has not been aroused。 Similar to such a
case is that of the man who； without any family ties； commits
suicide； for example； were I to do the thing this evening； who
would have a right to call me to account？ I am alone in the world；
have no family to support； and； so far from damaging any one；
should even benefit my heir by my accelerated death。 However； I am
no advocate for suicide under any circumstances； there is something
undignified in it； unheroic； un…Germanic。 But if you must commit
suicide … and there is