Part 185

+Liebhaberei+ (f.) +für Bücher+.

= to become a Christian Minister (+Geistlicher+).

Supply ‘of vanity’ here.

= the; of, +zu+, contracted with the Dat. of the def. art.

= a pleasure (+Genuß+, m.)

= of India.

Section 212.

THE GREEN VAULTS IN DRESDEN.

Dresden, May 11, 1845.

We were fortunate in seeing the Green Vaults or “Das grüne Gewölbe,” a collection of jewels and costly articles, unsurpassed in Europe (S. 7, N. 3, A). Admittance is only granted to six persons at a time, who pay a fee of two thalers. The customary way is to employ a “valet de place,” who goes round from one hotel to another, until he has collected the required number, when he brings them together and conducts them to the keeper who has charge of the treasures. The first hall into which we were ushered contained works in bronze. They were all small, and chosen with regard to their artistical value. The next room contained statues, and vases ornamented with reliefs, in ivory. The most remarkable work was the fall of Lucifer and his angels, containing ninety-two figures in all, carved out of a single piece of ivory sixteen inches high! It was the work of an Italian monk, and cost him many years of hard labour.

However costly the contents of these halls (S. 27, N. 7), they were only an introduction to those which followed. Each one exceeded the other in splendour and costliness. The walls were covered to the ceiling with rows of goblets, vases, etc., of polished jasper, agate, and lapis lazuli. We saw two goblets, each prized at six thousand thalers, made of gold and precious stones; also the great pearl called the Spanish Dwarf, nearly as large as a pullet’s egg; globes and vases cut entirely out of the mountain crystal; magnificent Nuremberg watches and clocks, and a great number of figures made ingeniously of rough pearls and diamonds. The seventh hall contains the coronation robes of Augustus II, king of Poland, and many costly specimens of carving in wood. A cherry-stone is shown in a glass case, which has one hundred and twenty-five faces, all perfectly finished, carved upon it. The next room we entered sent back a glare of splendour that perfectly dazzled us. It was all gold, diamond, ruby, and sapphire. Every case sent out a glow and a glitter that it seemed like a cage of imprisoned lightnings. Wherever the eye turned it was met by a blaze of broken rainbows. They were there by hundreds, and every gem was a fortune. We here saw the largest known onyx, nearly seven inches long, and four inches broad! One of the most remarkable works is the throne and court of Aurungzebe, the Indian king, by Dinglinger, a celebrated goldsmith of the last century. It contains one hundred and thirty-two figures, all of enamelled gold, and each one most perfectly and elaborately finished. It was purchased by Prince Augustus for fifty-eight thousand thalers, which was not an exorbitant sum, considering that the making of it occupied Dinglinger and thirteen workmen for seven years!

It is almost impossible to estimate the value of the treasures these halls contain. That of gold and jewels alone must be many millions of dollars, and the amount of labour expended on these toys of royalty is incredible.—BAYARD TAYLOR, “VIEWS AFOOT.”

+Köstlichkeiten.+

+Eintrittsgeld+, n.

Generally one engages a ‘valet de place’ (+ein Lohnbedienter+, Nom.).

= and then.

+Bronzesachen.+

+im Ganzen.+

hard labour, +angestrengte Arbeit+.

here +ungeschliffen+.

+Holzschnitzereien.+

which — it = upon which are carved 125 faces, which are all perfectly finished (+ausgebildet+).

+wiederstrahlte von einem herrlichen Glanze+; ‘perfectly’, here +förmlich+.

+Aus jedem Kasten erstrahlte so viel Glanz und Licht, daß es schien, es entströmten ihm tausend Blitze.+

= There were (+Es waren dort+) hundreds of gems.

Section 213.

THE DEATH OF LITTLE NELL.

She was dead. No sleep (S. 27, N. 7) so beautiful and calm, so free from trace of pain, so fair to look upon. She seemed a creature fresh from the hand of God, and waiting for the breath of life; not one who had lived and suffered death. Her couch was dressed with here and there some winterberries and green leaves, gathered in a spot she had been used to favour. “When I die, put near me something that has loved the light, and had the sky above it always.” These were her words.