The singers wore students' caps and gowns of black, and upon the breast of each shone an embroidered6 Maltese cross of gold, while below it appeared the[Pg 10] crimson7 letters, S. M. C., which denoted that these were the choir8-boys of St. Michael's Church.
Marching into an open square, they formed a compact group about the cantor, and started a fresh and stirring hymn9; and presently stepped forth10 the smallest boy of them all, who paused a pace or two in advance of the others, and took up the strain alone. Clear and sweet rang out his voice upon the frosty air, and listeners by the way turned to one another with nods and smiles of pleasure.
"That's little Bach," announced one.
"They say he is one of the best sopranos at St. Michael's," murmured another.
The lad seemed quite unconscious of the impression he was making, for his manner was as unaffected as though he were singing only to the barren trees. His dark face was not noticeably handsome, but was very earnest; and a certain plaintive13 note in his voice [Pg 11]appealed to the company with singular power, for while the carol falling from his lips was blithe15 indeed, the eyes of his hearers were wet. Fervently16 he hymned the New Year's joy, now trilling, trilling, like a rapturous bird at springtime; now softly crooning with the sound of a distant violin.
When his solo ended, a round of applause and many bravos burst from his audience, but the boy stepped quickly back to his former place and finished the choral with the others.
In the crowd of bystanders, a man wearing a coat and cap of rough gray fur smiled broadly when the people applauded little Bach.
"Who is the boy?" inquired a stranger at his elbow.
"He is Sebastian Bach and my brother," announced the fur-coated man. "I am the organist at St. Michael's, and he is one of the leading sopranos."
"You should be proud of the child, for he sings remarkably17 well."
[Pg 12]
"I am proud of him—ah, here come the collectors."
The singing was done, and in and out among the bystanders went the boys, passing their wooden plates for pennies in exchange for their serenade.
Nearly every one contributed something, for the people of Ohrdruf were genuine music-lovers, and they knew that the money gathered in this fashion would be divided equally among the boys, to use as they pleased.
The choir broke ranks, having paraded and collected in all the streets of the town, and black-robed boys scurried18 away in every direction.
"Are you bound for home now, Sebastian?" asked Georg Erdmann, the soloist's marching companion.
"No," replied the other, "I am going to the church to practise."
"Oh, little Bach is going to practise on the organ," exclaimed a woman who had overheard the boy's speech. "Come, sister, let's go in and listen while he plays."
[Pg 13]
Whereupon the two matrons followed him across the square, and the fur-coated organist, who had lately seemed so gratified at Sebastian's success, scowled19 fiercely.
"I wish that boy would stick to his singing, and let the organ alone," he muttered. "People tell me every day that if I don't look sharp my little brother will beat me at my own profession. He would make me a nice return for my kindness, if, after I have taken him into my house, fed him, clothed him, and taught him everything that he knows about music, he should try to outstrip20 me in my own work and shame me before my friends. I won't have it! I won't bear it! I'll admit that the boy is industrious21 and generally obedient, but I sha'n't let him impose on me, if he is of my own flesh and blood. Why should these people go to hear him practise? Why don't they drop in while I am playing? I am the organist, although people seem to forget the fact.[Pg 14] I think I'll step over to the church and see what these people are going mad about."
Into the shadowy edifice22 he stole, taking up his position behind the two women whose coming had so clearly annoyed him. The peal14 of the organ was filling the place from floor to dome23, but though the women listened with eager attention, the face of Christoff Bach gradually softened24.
"He is playing his studies, just as I have taught him. Any boy who is willing to work could do as well. There is nothing remarkable25 in that performance. I needn't be worried for my position yet awhile."
High in the organ-loft Sebastian practised faithfully, unaware26 of the presence of kindred or stranger. Page after page he rehearsed, sometimes repeating a difficult passage many times before leaving it.
At length he removed the thick scroll27 from the rack, and replaced it with a[Pg 15] second book of musical manuscript. Then the church re-echoed with sounds of a brilliant fugue.
At the first note Christoff Bach started violently and his mouth fell open with astonishment28. He strained forward to be sure that he heard aright, and as the inspiriting theme rolled through the vaulted29 spaces his eyes grew sinister30 and his hands were clenched31 so tightly that his nails dug savagely32 into his palms.
"My book," he gasped33; "the music that I copied at Arnstadt for my own use! When did he decide to steal it, and undertake to learn my best selections? He can't keep to his own pieces, but must filch34 out mine during my absence, and fumble35 them on the organ so that my friends can laugh at me for being outdone by a ten-year-old. The braggart36! I'd thrash him soundly if I hadn't promised father that I'd keep my hands off him; but I'll settle this business before I sleep. The upstart!"
[Pg 16]
Raging inwardly, Christoff Bach stalked from the church; and half an hour later Sebastian quietly took his music bag under his arm and started homeward, conscious that he was very hungry, and that an appetizing New Year's dinner would be ready when he arrived.
Sebastian Bach had lost both parents by death, and for nearly a year he had lived with his brother at Ohrdruf. Seldom does an orphan37 fall into such kindly38 hands, for Christoff had generously supplied the boy's needs, and the organist's young wife had cared for Sebastian with all the gentleness of a sister. They sent him to the Lyceum school, and Christoff taught him music at home. At first the elder brother rejoiced over the boy's progress in organ playing, and often rubbed his hands with pride as he predicted for his pupil a future filled with musical successes. But as the months rolled by, and the lad acquired greater knowledge, Christoff became silent.
[Pg 17]
Had Sebastian been content to dawdle39 at his practising, or even to work with moderate zest40, his experience might have proved no different from that of most music students; but he did nothing by halves, and whether he worked or whether he played, whether he studied grammar or whether he led the games at school, he attacked the enterprise with such force that he usually came off victorious41. Bringing this same determination to bear upon his music, he soon left his fellow-students far behind; and practising hour after hour and day after day, with his mind set upon conquering all obstacles as soon as they appeared, he climbed and presently leaped into musicianly skill. Some of his music mates complained that Sebastian learned more in one week than they did in three or four, and their conclusion was wholly correct; but while they grumbled42 they forgot that he daily spent twice as many hours at the organ as did any one of them, toiling43 steadily, unfalteringly, [Pg 18]until he had acquired a skill far exceeding theirs.
He was such a good comrade, however, that they readily forgave him his musical progress, and in every game and contest on the playground he was eagerly sought as an ally.
Strangely enough, as Sebastian's facility increased, his teacher's brow clouded. The boy could not understand why his brother was more plainly vexed44 over a perfect lesson than with a faulty one. In the beginning Christoff had cheered Sebastian on, but of late he had grown crabbed45 and irritable46, and the lessons had come to be hours of harsh and sneering47 criticism. Sebastian did not dream that his brother was jealous, but this was really the case; and Christoff heard the boy's lessons with deepening anxiety and distaste. Never, however, until to-day had the organist admitted, even to himself, that he was afraid of his younger brother, that he dreaded48 lest he himself should be outstripped50 by his pupil.
[Pg 19]
When Sebastian opened the door of the great kitchen, which served the family for dining-room and living-room as well, a savory51 odor floated out to greet him.
"Hurrah52 for the goose, Schwester! I hope it is nearly done!" he cried, throwing down his music and hanging his cap and cloak on a peg53 beside the door.
Mrs. Bach was kneeling before the open fireplace, busily engaged in turning the fowl54 that browned so temptingly above the blaze; but upon Sebastian's entrance, she rose and approached him with a troubled look.
"Christoff is very angry with you," she whispered, indicating the chamber55 above with a motion of her hand.
"Angry with me? What for? What's wrong?" exclaimed Sebastian astonished. Before she could reply, a door above was heard to open, and down the wooden stairway at the end of the kitchen rushed Christoff Bach, his face purple, his eyes gleaming.
[Pg 20]
Seizing Sebastian roughly by the arm, he loudly demanded,—
"What do you mean by stealing my pieces, and trying to learn them behind my back, so that the town can laugh at me when you perform?"
"Steal! Laugh!" echoed Sebastian blankly, unable to comprehend his brother's meaning.
"Don't pretend to be innocent! You can't hoodwink me any longer, my young cub56. I'll see that nothing like this occurs again."
"What have I done, Christoff? I don't know what you mean."
"You stole my book that I copied at Arnstadt, taking pains to lay hold of it while I was safe at Gotha."
"I didn't steal it," returned Sebastian horrified57.
"You didn't? What do you call your going into my room, taking music without my permission, and practising it while I am out of town?"
"I didn't suppose you would care a[Pg 21] bit. I thought if I learned one or two of Pachelbel's fugues, it would be a nice surprise for you when you came back from Gotha."
"A nice surprise! Ha, ha! Ho, ho! I suppose that next time I go from home for a week you will surprise me by pilfering58 the contents of my money-drawer."
"I didn't steal, I didn't steal the book," protested Sebastian, paling under the sting of his brother's taunt59.
"No, no, Christoff, I'm sure the boy meant no harm," interposed Mrs. Bach, touching60 her husband's arm with a coaxing61 gesture; "I knew that he borrowed your music book, but I thought also that you would be pleased with his desire to study it."
"Then you, too, are engaged in a plot to ruin me!" shrieked62 the organist, carried quite beyond himself by the fury of his jealousy63; "I'll see whether I am not to be master in my own house. If I can't leave my belongings64 in my room without fear that my brother will use[Pg 22] them expressly to injure me, and that my wife will help him along with the scheme, I'll begin to put them out of reach!"
Snatching up Sebastian's music bag, Christoff, too impatient to loose its fastenings of hook and tape, ripped it apart, seized his roll of manuscript, thrust it into the shelf of a side cupboard, slammed the steel wicker door, locked it grimly, and pocketed the key.
"Let's have dinner," he growled65, drawing out his chair noisily, and dropping into his place at table without a glance toward either member of his household.
Mrs. Bach brought on the steaming goose, but everybody was dismally66 uncomfortable throughout the meal. The organist's rosy-cheeked wife tried to banish67 the gloom by speaking cheerily upon subjects not akin12 to music; but Christoff would not reply, and Sebastian could not, so her brave attempts soon failed, and the room was left in silence.
[Pg 23]
Sebastian's appetite was gone, and as soon as possible he hurried away to his own room, where, deeply dejected, he sat with his face buried in his folded arms.
As the shade of twilight68 fell across his bowed figure, a quick footstep sounded behind him, and a soft hand was laid upon his head.
"Come, Bübchen," said Mrs. Bach kindly, "don't worry any more. Christoff didn't mean all that he said to-day, and he is sorry that he spoke69 as he did. See, I have brought you a bowl of bread and milk, for I noticed that you ate no dinner. So now forgive Christoff for what he said when he was angry, and forget all that happened this afternoon. If you act toward him just as usual, he will do the same with you, and we shall all be happy again."
Sebastian eagerly raised his head.
"He won't think me a thief any longer?"
"No, no. Certainly not. After he had cooled down a bit I explained to[Pg 24] him what you meant by borrowing his book, and how hard you practised to learn the second fugue against his return; and he said that he believed that you were truly honest, and he was sorry that he had accused you wrongfully."
"And he'll let me use his book hereafter, and learn to play the fugues?" cried Sebastian joyfully71.
Mrs. Bach shook her head slowly, her blue eyes fixed sorrowfully upon the boy.
"No," she said, "you cannot use his book any more. He said that he would never scold you again for having taken it last week, but that you must send him your promise never to play out of it again."
"Schwester!" ejaculated the boy in keen distress72, "why does he forbid me to use it?"
"I do not know; I do not know."
"I may as well give up my playing altogether, for I have finished my own pieces; Christoff himself said I might leave them now, and I have no others to[Pg 25] study. Music is so costly73 that I cannot buy any for myself,—yes, I may as well forget that I wished to be a great, great musician. Schwester!" The boy's eyes kindled74 and his cheeks glowed as he continued ardently,—
"I'd like to play so wonderfully by the time I'm a man that whole audiences would sometimes smile and sometimes cry with the sweetness of my music, and little children would drop their toys in the street and stand in my garden listening. But how can I learn without any music to study?"
"Buy a book from the cantor with the money you earned to-day in the parade," suggested Mrs. Bach hopefully.
Sebastian shook his head. "I can't," he explained, "because I gave half of it to Georg Erdmann, so that he might go to Gotha to visit his grandmother, and I paid the rest to a gardener for a present that I brought home yesterday for you."
Throwing open the door of his closet, Sebastian stepped inside, and quickly[Pg 26] emerged, bearing in his arms a tiny rose-tree in full bloom.
"I got it for your New Year's gift, and meant to put it on the dinner table, but the trouble with Christoff made me forget all about it."
"Oh, oh, it is a beautiful present, and so fragrant75, so fragrant! But, Bübchen," she said in a fondly chiding76 tone, "you should not have spent your pennies for me; I have so much and you so little."
"I have you, and—and Christoff, and music," returned Sebastian soberly.
"You are truly a man, and surely a baby," said Mrs. Bach, laughing merrily. At sound of a voice from below stairs she grew instantly serious.
"Christoff is calling me, and I must go down. You promise, Sebastian, never to play out of his book again?"
The boy nodded quickly.
"I promise," he said.
After she had gone Sebastian sat for hours, thinking. Again and again he[Pg 27] lived over the bitter scene of the afternoon, wincing77 painfully every time that memory whispered the word "stole." The murmur11 of voices below ceased finally, and he realized that the rest of the household was wrapped in sleep. He lighted his candle and tried to study his lessons for school, but a sense of sickening disappointment bore down upon him so heavily that, though his eyes sternly travelled the printed lines, his mind had room for no other thoughts than these,—
"I cannot play. I have no music."
He was startled from his reverie by the sound of a piteous whine78. He listened for a repetition of the plaint, and when the whine expanded to a howl, Sebastian leaped from his chair, and dashed through the corridor and down the kitchen stair, with a pang79 of recollection.
"I forgot to let Grubel in, and it's bitter cold outside!"
He made his way swiftly through the dark room, unbolted the outer door, and flung it wide.
[Pg 28]
A huge St. Bernard bounded into the room, and Sebastian, brushing the snow from the shaggy coat, caressed80 his pet affectionately.
"Now, Grubel, Schwester doesn't like you to stay in this room. Come along, old fellow, into the passage!"
The dog obediently followed his master across the dark kitchen, and trotted81 through the door that Sebastian held open for him.
As the boy sought the stairway again, his attention was arrested by a flood of moonlight pouring through the uncurtained pane82 and illuminating83 one of the much-used music sheets that had fallen from the bag which Christoff had thrown into the window-sill after locking his own book behind the wicker door.
"How bright the night is," thought Sebastian. "One could read the notes, I believe, without a candle."
Bending over the pages, he found it to be quite true that the dots and lines were clearly definable.
[Pg 29]
"I wonder if I could write well by such a light; I'll try it," and idly lifting a pen from his sister's table, he dipped it and scribbled84 his name across the top of the music sheet.
"Very good," observed he, eyeing the scrawl85 with admiration86; then a thought shot through his brain that seemed to turn him to stone, for he stood motionless, with head thrown back and pen uplifted, while the silvery moonlight, bathing him from head to foot, transfixed him into a marble statue of expectancy87.
"I wonder if I could, I wonder if I could!" he whispered excitedly. "I'll try now, this very night. If I could get hold of Christoff's fugues, and copy them here in the moonlight, I should have a book of my own, and still keep my promise not to play out of his."
Turning to the cupboard that held the coveted88 treasure, Sebastian gazed wistfully into its second shelf. The doors were of strong steel lattice work, and Sebastian saw that it would be [Pg 30]impossible either to insert his hand through the finely interlaced bars, or to bend them in the hope of securing a wider opening.
The boy's burning desire to obtain the music, and his sense of the justice of his purpose, would not let him draw back without a mighty89 effort.
Casting about for some means of assistance, his eye fell upon his brother's violin case. Opening this, he hastily extracted the bow, strong and slender, inserted it between the powerful wires, deftly90 worked the roll of music to and fro, drawing it ever nearer until it lay at the outer edge of the shelf. Slipping one finger and thumb through the mesh91, he seized the roll firmly and drew it from the cabinet. For a moment he could do nothing but hug the volume madly to his breast, in the joy of his accomplishment92; then running noiselessly up to his room for copy-paper, he speedily returned, spread the sheets before him on his sister's table, drew up a chair, and set to work.
[Pg 31]
Swiftly and steadily he wrote, bending very low above the page, that he might read his text correctly. He took no note of the flight of time, but as the moon rose higher in the heavens, his pages grew shadowy, and he was obliged to draw the table into the sheen of her passing radiance. The fire died out, the room grew cold, and the boy from time to time threw down his pen, and beat and blew upon his benumbed fingers, warming them to further activity.
At last the light failed utterly93, and in the gloom Sebastian rose, carefully rolled his brother's manuscript, strapped94 it as usual, pushed it through the lattice, adjusted it to its former position by aid of the violin bow, gathered up his freshly written sheets, and crept cautiously to his room.
Next morning he met his brother at breakfast, and Christoff secretly wondered that the boy wore so cheerful a countenance95. No reference was made to the distressing96 scene of yesterday, and[Pg 32] the brothers set off together, Christoff on his way to a pupil, and Sebastian to school, quite as though the painful episode had not happened.
Sebastian attended his various classes like one in a dream, for his mind was filled with his daring enterprise, and the tremendous effort he must put forth before his book should be completed.
His zeal97 did not abate98, and at evening he waited breathlessly until the household fell into heavy slumber99; then once again he stole down to the kitchen, arranged his materials at the window, and toiled100 feverishly101 until the white light faded.
Night after night he repeated his adventurous102 vigil, and no one of the family suspected that anything extraordinary was taking place in the house.
To Sebastian's surprise, he discovered that the moon rose later each night; and ere long he was obliged to wait up so late for his shimmering103 torch that he was forced to bathe his face in icy water,[Pg 33] tramp up and down his chamber, and bite his tongue severely104 in order to keep awake. Even these heroic measures failed when the moon was delayed until the middle of the night; and Sebastian realized with dismay that he must set his work aside until the time in the following month when his friendly lantern would begin again to mount the sky at an early hour.
Laboring105 with such hindrances106 as dim and fleeting107 light, nearsighted eyes, loss of sleep, and piercing cold, the lad's progress was necessarily slow. Week after week, month after month, he continued at his weighty task; but never once did his interest flag nor his patience fail. His organ lessons with Christoff were carried on in a half-hearted fashion, old selections being rehearsed, and studies previously108 finished, indifferently played and heard. Had not Sebastian been fired with a dominant109 purpose, and bent110 upon mastering his art at any cost to himself, he would doubtless, at this[Pg 34] period of cold laxity on his teacher's part, have abandoned his music altogether. But deep in his breast there was rooted a desire so strong, a hope so pure, that even Christoff's unjust denial had not power to discourage him.
If the elder Bach had been less orderly in his habits, Sebastian would not always have found the manuscript within reach; but though Christoff took it daily from the cabinet, he always returned it precisely111 to the place and position which it had occupied before.
One night Sebastian barely escaped detection. He had just descended112 to the kitchen, and was groping about for the violin box, when accidentally he stumbled upon the hearth-rug, and overturned a chair with a great clatter113. Christoff, roused by the unwonted noise, bounded from his bed and made for the stair, pausing just long enough on the way to light a candle.
Sebastian was appalled114 at hearing his brother's step. Dropping to the floor,[Pg 35] he crept hastily under the dining-table, convinced that its drapery would not screen him from his brother's eagle eye. He shook from head to foot, not with fear of punishment, but with dread49 of losing his chance at the fugues.
Christoff, however, came only half-way down, and stood upon the stair, holding the candle high above his head and peering about the dusky kitchen for traces of intruders. Nothing out of the ordinary greeted his gaze, for Sebastian had hastily righted the chair before beating his retreat, and the music roll had not yet been taken from the cupboard. The organist, perceiving no mark of robbers, heaved a sigh of relief and quickly repaired to his room, deciding that the disturbance115 must have been an ugly dream.
Six months had glided116 slowly by, bringing their gifts of increasing warmth and fragrance117, when, one clear midsummer's night, Sebastian finished his book. He was so beset118 with agitation119 upon[Pg 36] discovering that only one page remained to be copied that he could scarcely command himself to pen the finishing notes.
"I'm almost done," he murmured over and over, as his quill120 flew across the paper. "One line more, and the fugues will be mine! Now, a single measure, a single measure! One note—ah—it is done, it is done!"
The monument to little Bach's courage and fidelity121 was built.
The pen dropped from his aching fingers, and, overcome with weariness, he laid down his head beside the closely written sheets and fell asleep.
His friend, the moon, shone upon him brightly for a time, and in her pearly beams the tired child's face was as white as the page beside it. Even she withdrew at length, and nothing disturbed the silence of the room but the regular breathing of the sleeper122.
He was awakened123 by a voice exclaiming,—
"Bübchen, what are you doing here?"
[Pg 37]
Sebastian started up, bewildered, for Mrs. Bach stood beside him, and the kitchen was blazing with sunshine.
Sebastian started up, bewildered
"Sebastian started up, bewildered."
"I—I don't understand," whispered he, dazed by the brightness and the woman's presence.
Mrs. Bach laughed and shook him good-naturedly.
"You're still asleep, that's what is the matter. See, it's breakfast time, and I am ready to put the kettle on. What have you been doing here?"
Sebastian merely pointed124 to his final page, lying next Christoff's, and Mrs. Bach gathered the truth at once.
Up went her hands in astonishment, but prudence125 stifled126 the comments that rose to her lips.
"Quick! Run up to your room with your papers, and I'll get this roll back into the cabinet. Hurry, for Christoff will be down in a minute!"
Sebastian obeyed, and from the bottom of the stairs Mrs. Bach called him as usual when breakfast was ready.
[Pg 38]
The following months were filled with delight for Sebastian, who studied his fugues with ever-deepening happiness. For this practice, he intentionally127 chose the hour when his brother was engaged in teaching at a distant quarter of the town. Every day, when Christoff set off to the house of his pupil, Sebastian would hurry to the church, and play from his precious book until time for the organist to return for his own organ-work.
Winter had come again to Ohrdruf, and one day Sebastian climbed to the organ-loft, placed his cherished book upon the rack, and began to play the Pachelbel fugues.
Mrs. Bach, walking in the street, heard the music and entered the church. Passing up the stair, she drew a stool from a shadowy corner and sat down to listen and enjoy.
Sebastian welcomed her with a nod and smile, for the sympathy of his sister-in-law was his daily comfort.
[Pg 39]
One number after another he played, and the harmonies swelling128 from the organ at touch of his flying fingers vibrated through the sacred place from threshold to chancel.
Musician and listener were so absorbed that they failed to hear a footfall upon the stair, and both were unaware that a third presence was added to the gallery.
Like a thunderbolt out of a blue heaven came a derisive129 hoot130 in Sebastian's ear. His hands were grasped as in a vise, and Christoff's face bent menacingly above him.
"Again, again, again," thundered the organist; "again you have stolen my book, despite your promise!"
Sebastian struggled to his feet, and confronted his accuser quietly.
"I have not stolen your book. This one is mine."
"Yours," sneered131 Christoff; "pray, where did you get a book of Pachelbel's fugues?"
[Pg 40]
Further concealment132 was useless, now that his brother had discovered the existence of his manuscript, so Sebastian in a few words told the story of his painful and valiant133 achievement.
Christoff listened amazedly, but no relenting gleam softened his look of scorn. He laughed harshly when the tale was ended, and, catching134 the fated book from the rack, rolled it tightly and crowded it into his leathern girdle.
"I'll end this pretty business at once," he shouted, bringing his teeth together with a snap. "Finding that steel lattices are not sufficient protection against your prying135 fingers, I'll lock my book behind a door of solid iron, and," triumphantly136 tapping the volume in his belt, "I'll put this one along with it for safe keeping."
"Christoff, husband!" cried Mrs. Bach, her voice breaking into sobs137; "do not be so cruel as to take his book away. He has worked so long, so hard—"
She ended her defence abruptly138 as her eyes fell upon the boy.
[Pg 41]
No trace of passion or grief distorted Sebastian's features, but, instead, his countenance was singularly serene139. Turning toward his brother with a smile of mysterious power and sweetness, he said,—
"You may lock my book behind twenty iron doors if you wish, Christoff, but the music is all written in my heart. You can bury my volume in the earth or the ocean, but you never can take the fugues away from me again, for I have memorized them, every one."
Many years later King Frederick II. of Prussia assembled his brilliant court in the throne room at Potsdam to listen to a concert arranged by the musicians of the royal palace.
The program was but fairly begun when a page entered the hall, and dropped upon his knee before the king, with a whispered message.
Frederick bent with impatience140 toward the lad who had dared to bring a petition[Pg 42] from any one at a moment so ill chosen, and was about to dismiss him abruptly, when his ear caught one word of the boy's tremulous speech.
The monarch's look of annoyance141 changed to one of joyful70 surprise, and rising quickly, he commanded the musicians to instant silence.
"Bach has come," declared the king in exultant142 tone; "Bach has come; the mighty maker143 of music. Bring him hither that we may do him homage144!"
A hundred exclamations145 greeted the king's announcement, and presently a man of distinguished146 appearance and quiet dignity was ushered147 into the apartment.
Down from his throne stepped the king, advancing half-way up the hall to meet the new-comer. By a quick gesture, he forbade the stranger to bend the knee, but said simply,—
"Play for us."
Without a word the visitor sat down before the piano, and speedily the room[Pg 43] was filled with such music as had never before been heard in the king's palace.
Frederick would not permit him to leave the instrument, but sat close by, in rapt enjoyment148, while Bach gave one after another of his marvellous compositions.
"For a long, long time I have known of you, Sebastian Bach," murmured the king, when at last they parted for the night. "Strange tales have come to my ears of the court composer of Poland and Saxony. I have heard of the princes who are proud to take you by the hand; of the beggars that listen in companies before your door; but I never imagined that music could be such music as you have given us here."
That night, had the palace of Potsdam had heart to feel and brain to understand, it surely would have throbbed149 with hospitality, for within its well-defended walls slept two who led the world in thought and action: one was Frederick the Great; the other, Bach the Victor.
FOOTNOTE:
[3] Bach (pronounced Bakh).
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anthem
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| n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌 | |
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wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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baton
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| n.乐队用指挥杖 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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9
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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10
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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11
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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12
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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13
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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14
peal
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| n.钟声；v.鸣响 | |
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15
blithe
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| adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的 | |
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16
fervently
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| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
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17
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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18
scurried
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| v.急匆匆地走( scurry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
outstrip
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| v.超过，跑过 | |
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21
industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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22
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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23
dome
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| n.圆屋顶，拱顶 | |
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24
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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25
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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26
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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27
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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28
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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29
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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30
sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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31
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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33
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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34
filch
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| v.偷窃 | |
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35
fumble
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| vi.笨拙地用手摸、弄、接等，摸索 | |
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36
braggart
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| n.吹牛者；adj.吹牛的，自夸的 | |
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37
orphan
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| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
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38
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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39
dawdle
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| vi.浪费时间；闲荡 | |
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40
zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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41
victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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42
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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43
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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44
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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45
crabbed
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| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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47
sneering
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| 嘲笑的，轻蔑的 | |
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48
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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49
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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50
outstripped
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| v.做得比…更好，（在赛跑等中）超过( outstrip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51
savory
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| adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的 | |
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52
hurrah
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| int.好哇，万岁，乌拉 | |
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53
peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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54
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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55
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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56
cub
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| n.幼兽，年轻无经验的人 | |
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57
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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58
pilfering
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| v.偷窃（小东西），小偷( pilfer的现在分词 )；偷窃（一般指小偷小摸） | |
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59
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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60
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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61
coaxing
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应 | |
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62
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
jealousy
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|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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64
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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65
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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66
dismally
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| adv.阴暗地，沉闷地 | |
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67
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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68
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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69
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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70
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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71
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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72
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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73
costly
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|
| adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的 | |
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74
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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75
fragrant
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|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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76
chiding
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的现在分词 ) | |
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77
wincing
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| 赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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78
whine
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|
| v.哀号，号哭；n.哀鸣 | |
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79
pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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80
caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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82
pane
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| n.窗格玻璃，长方块 | |
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83
illuminating
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| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
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84
scribbled
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| v.潦草的书写( scribble的过去式和过去分词 )；乱画；草草地写；匆匆记下 | |
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85
scrawl
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| vt.潦草地书写；n.潦草的笔记，涂写 | |
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86
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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87
expectancy
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| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
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88
coveted
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|
| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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89
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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90
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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91
mesh
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| n.网孔，网丝，陷阱；vt.以网捕捉，啮合，匹配；vi.适合； [计算机]网络 | |
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92
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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93
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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94
strapped
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| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
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95
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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96
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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97
zeal
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| n.热心，热情，热忱 | |
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98
abate
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| vi.(风势，疼痛等)减弱，减轻，减退 | |
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99
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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100
toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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101
feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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102
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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103
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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104
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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105
laboring
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| n.劳动，操劳v.努力争取(for)( labor的现在分词 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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106
hindrances
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| 阻碍者( hindrance的名词复数 )； 障碍物； 受到妨碍的状态 | |
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107
fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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108
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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109
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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110
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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111
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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112
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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113
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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114
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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115
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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116
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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117
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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118
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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119
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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120
quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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121
fidelity
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| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
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122
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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123
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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124
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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125
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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126
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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127
intentionally
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| ad.故意地，有意地 | |
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128
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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129
derisive
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| adj.嘲弄的 | |
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130
hoot
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| n.鸟叫声，汽车的喇叭声； v.使汽车鸣喇叭 | |
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131
sneered
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| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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132
concealment
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| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
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133
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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135
prying
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| adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开 | |
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136
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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137
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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138
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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140
impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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141
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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142
exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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143
maker
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| n.制造者，制造商 | |
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144
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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145
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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146
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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147
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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148
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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149
throbbed
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| 抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动 | |
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