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German Romance, Specimens of Its Chief Authors, With Biogr. and Critical Notices, by the Translator of Wilhelm Meister [t. Carlyle].
German Romance Specimens of Its Chief Authors With Biogr and Critical Notices by the Translator of Wilhelm Meister - t. Carlyle Author:Thomas Carlyle General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1827 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: POPULAR TALES. DUMB LOVE. There was once a wealthy merchant, Melchior of Bremen by name, who used to stroke his beard with a contemptuous grin, when he heard the Rich Man in the Gospel preached of, whom, in comparison, he reckoned little better than a petty shopkeeper. Melchior had money in such plenty, that he floored his dining- room all over with a coat of solid dollars. In those frugal times, as in our own, a certain luxury prevailed among the rich ,- only then it had a more substantial shape than now. But though this pomp of Melchio) 's was sharply censured by his fellow-citizens and consorts, it was, in truth, directed more to trading speculation than to mere vain-glory. The cunning Bremer easily observed, that those who grudged and blamed this seeming vanity, would but diffuse the reputation of his wealth', and so increase his credit. He gained his purpose to the full; the sleeping capital of old dollars, so judiciously set up to public inspection iu the parlour, brought interest a hundredfold, by the silent suretywhich it offered for his bargains in every market; yet, at last, it became a rock on which the welfare of his family made shipwreck. Melchior of Bremen died of a surfeit at a city-feast, without having time to set his house in order; and left all his goods and chattels to an only son, in the bloom of life, and just arrived at the years when the laws allowed him to take possession of his inheritance. Franz Melcherson was a brilliant youth, endued by nature with the best capacities. His exterior was gracefully formed, yet firm and sinewy withal; his temper was cheery and jovial, as if...« less