Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/224

 pieces of glass had cut his head, hands and arms, and the blood was spirting up, as from so many fountains. But he soon collected all his strength.

"After him—after him—why do you pause? Coppelius, Coppelius, has robbed me of my best automaton—a work of twenty years—body and soul set upon it—the clock-work—the speech—the walk, mine; the eyes stolen from you. The infernal rascal—after him; fetch Olympia—there you have the eyes!"

And now Nathaniel saw how a pair of eyes, which lay upon the ground, were staring at him; these Spalanzani caught up, with the unwounded hand, and flung against his heart. At this, madness seized him with its burning claws, and clutched into his soul, tearing to pieces all his thougths [sic] and senses.

"Ho—ho—ho—a circle of fire! of fire!—turn thyself round, circle, merrily, merrily, ho, thou wooden doll—turn thyself, pretty doll!"

With these words he flew at the professor and pressed in his throat. He would have strangled him, had not the noise attracted many people, who rushed in, forced open Nathaniel's grasp, and thus saved the professor, whose wounds were bound immediately. Sigismund, as strong as he was, was not able to master the mad Nathaniel, who, with frightful voice kept crying out: "Turn thyself, wooden doll!" and struck around him with clenched fists. At last the combined force of many succeeded in overcoming him, in flinging him to the ground, and binding him. His words were merged into a hideous roar, like that of a brute, and raging in this insane condition he was taken to the mad-house.

Before, gentle reader, I proceed to tell thee what more befel the unfortunate Nathaniel, I can tell thee, in case thou takest an interest in the skilful optician and automaton-maker, Spalanzani, that he was completely healed of his wounds, He was, however, obliged to leave the university, because Nathaniel's story had created a sensation, and it was universally