Page:A Picture-book without Pictures and Other Stories (1848).djvu/86

 actor, for the great, the heroic, filled his soul; but he was obliged to be the Clown. His sufferings, even, and his melancholy increased the comic expression of his strongly-marked countenance, and excited the laughter of the crowded public who applauded their favorite. The pretty little Columbine was friendly and kind to him, and yet she preferred marrying Harlequin. It would have been too comic in reality to have married the Clown; like the union of “Beauty and the Beast.” When the Clown was most out of humor, she was the only one who could make him smile—nay, even burst into peals of laughter. First of all she would be melancholy with him, then rather cheerful, and at last full of fun.

“I know what it is thou art in want of!” said she—“yes, it is this love!” and so he was obliged to laugh.

“Me and love!” exclaimed he. “That would be a merry thing! How the public would applaud.”

“It is love!” continued she; and added, with comic pathos—“It is me that you love!”

“Yes! and yet there are people who say there is no such thing as love!” The poor