Page:Hoffmann's Strange Stories - Hoffman - 1855.djvu/70

66 see his favorite scholar again, he allowed Frederick to come to his house and carve a little work, for the execution of which he had gradually and for a long time gathered the necessary gold and silver. Frederick took hold of this work with such ardor that he almost entirely neglected his labor in the work-shop of master Martin, and many months elapsed without his master-work being talked of, which was to rival the Bamberg tun. But, one fine day, master Martin pressed him so earnestly, that it was necessary, willing, or unwilling, to take up again the adz and mallet. When the work was commenced, the master came to examine the progress; but at the sight of the boards already spread out, he became violently angry and exclaimed—"What is all that? What paltry work art thou making, my poor Frederick? A three days' apprentice would not cut up wood in that manner! Frederick, what demon has guided thy hand to spoil the best oak-wood that I have seen for a long time? Is that thy masterpiece?"

Frederick could no longer hold out against the unmeasured reproaches of master Martin, and throwing his tools to the other end of the workshop:—"Well! master," exclaimed he, "I am done! no, should it cost me my life, should I fall into the depths of misery, no, I will work no more! I renounce this trade which I hate, and for which I was not formed. For I too am an artist! I too love your daughter passionately, deliriously; it was my love that tempted me to this odious trial. I now see that all happiness, all hope is lost for me! I shall die, but I will die an artist, and I will leave behind me some token of remembrance! And now I return to my first and worthy master, Johannes Holzschuer, whom I had abandoned!"

Master Martin's eyes flashed fire when he heard Frederick reply so spiritedly. "And thou also?" exclaimed he; "thou also hast deceived me! So the cooper's trade is odious to to thee! So much the better, so much the better, good for nothing! out from here! out from here." And without giving Frederick time to recover himself, he took him by the shoulders