Page:Select Popular Tales from the German of Musaeus.djvu/61

Rh beautiful dream. She had the musk-apple of her godmother Nixa, which would procure her the fulfilment of three wishes. It had not occurred to her hitherto to open it and prove its properties; and now she wished to make the first trial.

The citizens of Augsburg, on the birth of Prince Marcus, prepared a magnificent banquet in honour of the Emperor Frederic, and this feasting was to last three days, and many Prelates, Counts, and Lords were invited from the neighbourhood. Every day was set apart for a prize, and every evening the most beautiful maidens were invited to the town-hall, to dance with the noble knights, and this was to last till morning. Knight Conrad did not fail to be present at these festivities, and in the dance was the great hero and favourite of all the ladies and young maidens. Matilda had resolved on this occasion to undertake an adventure. After she had arranged the kitchen, and all was quiet in the house, she went to her chamber, washed with fine soap the sooty paint from her skin, and let the natural lilies and roses shine forth. Then she took the musk-apple in her hand, and wished for a box with a new dress, as beautiful and splendid as possible, with proper trimmings. She opened the lid, and drew forth a piece of silk, which lengthened and widened itself, rushed like a stream of water down to her lap, and became a perfect dress, with all the little ornaments pertaining to it, and it fitted her body as if it had been poured on it. She now delayed not to put her design into execution;—she turned the apple three times in her hand and said,—

Immediately a deep sleep fell on all the servants, from the vigilant housekeeper to the porter. Miss Matilda was quickly outside the gate, wandered invisible through the streets, and entered with the demeanour of a goddess into the dancing-hall. Each and all wondered at the charming form of the maiden, and in the balcony which ran round the hall arose a whispering noise, as when the preacher says “Amen” from the pulpit. Some wondered at the beauty of the form of the unknown, others at the taste of her dress, whilst some desired to know who she was, and from whence she came, although no neighbour could give another a satisfactory answer. Among the knights and nobles who pressed around to view the stranger maiden, the Count was not the last; he thought he had never seen a more happy physiognomy, nor a more charming form. He approached her, and asked her to dance; she modestly offered her hand, and danced beautifully to the admiration of all. Her light foot seemed scarcely to touch the ground; but the movements of her body were so noble and easy, that she charmed every eye. Knight Conrad enjoyed the dance with all his heart; he was quite smitten with his beautiful partner, and never left her side,—said all the fine things he could