Page:Popular Tales of the Germans (Volume 1).djvu/222

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
204
THE STEALING

‘Here friend Theophraſtus ended: and I marvelled much at his diſcourſe, not knowing whether to give his words credit, or regard him as a ſmooth lyar, who deſired to ſend me on a fool’s errand; but a ſolemn oath, and a firm and guileleſs countenance, which ſeemed ſtill more worthy of credit than any corporal oath, convinced me that ſuch was the true account of the affair. After a long pauſe, I replied, in full confidence of his veracity, Come then, my friend; ſhip me on board inſtantly: I will undertake the adventure, and like the wandering Jew range over the world, till I come to the pool where I may hope to enjoy the aim of my wiſhes.

‘I then ſet ſail—at Conſtantinople I took the pilgrim’s ſtaff, and joining a company of my brethren on their return from the Holy Land, I made ſtraight for the Sudetes, where I wandered long, till I was directed to the Swans pool I had ſo ardently ſought. Full in view of it I‘built