Page:The genius - Carl Grosse tr Joseph Trapp 1796.djvu/177

 ty; and he began to wander from one plan of atrociousness to another.

"In my mother's bed-chamber there also slept her waiting-woman. The latter is wakened one night by a noise in the apartment. My brother enters with a candle in one hand, and a large clasp-knife in the other; pale, disfigured, agitated, and almost incognizable. He advances to my mother's bed, lifts the murderous steel, and after a momentary pause, throws down the knife with remorseful indignation, bursts into tears, sets down the candle, kneels at the bed side, kisses my mother's hand, opens a window, and in an instant, flings himself-into the yard. The waiting-woman, who had hitherto been struck dumb with fear, utters a cry; the w hole house is alarmed, but too late;—Emanuel's body lies dead on the ground, with part of his brains dashed out by his side.

"Our grief at this shocking catastrophe may easily be conceived. My mother soon followed him; and I, too, found myself for some time on the brink of the grave. On her death-bed, I promised her never to speak