support a family。〃
〃Make yourself quite easy；〃 said the learned man； 〃I will tell
no one who you really are。 Here is my hand；… I promise； and a word
is sufficient between man and man。〃
〃Between man and a shadow；〃 said the shadow； for he could not help
saying so。
It was really most remarkable how very much he had become a man in
appearance。 He was dressed in a suit of the very finest black cloth；
polished boots； and an opera crush hat； which could be folded together
so that nothing could be seen but the crown and the rim； besides the
trinkets； the gold chain； and the diamond rings already spoken of。 The
shadow was； in fact； very well dressed； and this made a man of him。
〃Now I will relate to you what you wish to know；〃 said the shadow；
placing his foot with the polished leather boot as firmly as
possible on the arm of the new shadow of the learned man； which lay at
his feet like a poodle dog。 This was done； it might be from pride；
or perhaps that the new shadow might cling to him； but the prostrate
shadow remained quite quiet and at rest； in order that it might
listen； for it wanted to know how a shadow could be sent away by its
master； and become a man itself。 〃Do you know；〃 said the shadow； 〃that
in the house opposite to you lived the most glorious creature in the
world？ It was poetry。 I remained there three weeks； and it was more
like three thousand years； for I read all that has ever been written
in poetry or prose； and I may say； in truth； that I saw and learnt
everything。〃
〃Poetry！〃 exclaimed the learned man。 〃Yes； she lives as a hermit
in great cities。 Poetry！ Well； I saw her once for a very short moment；
while sleep weighed down my eyelids。 She flashed upon me from the
balcony like the radiant aurora borealis； surrounded with flowers like
flames of fire。 Tell me； you were on the balcony that evening； you
went through the door； and what did you see？〃
〃I found myself in an ante…room；〃 said the shadow。 〃You still
sat opposite to me； looking into the room。 There was no light； or at
least it seemed in partial darkness； for the door of a whole suite
of rooms stood open； and they were brilliantly lighted。 The blaze of
light would have killed me； had I approached too near the maiden
myself； but I was cautious； and took time； which is what every one
ought to do。〃
〃And what didst thou see？〃 asked the learned man。
〃I saw everything； as you shall hear。 But… it really is not
pride on my part； as a free man and possessing the knowledge that I
do； besides my position； not to speak of my wealth… I wish you would
say you to me instead of thou。〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 said the learned man； 〃it is an old habit；
which it is difficult to break。 You are quite right； I will try to
think of it。 But now tell me everything that you saw。〃
〃Everything；〃 said the shadow； 〃for I saw and know everything。〃
〃What was the appearance of the inner rooms？〃 asked the scholar。
〃Was it there like a cool grove； or like a holy temple？ Were the
chambers like a starry sky seen from the top of a high mountain？〃
〃It was all that you describe；〃 said the shadow； 〃but I did not go
quite in… I remained in the twilight of the ante…room… but I was in
a very good position；… I could see and hear all that was going on in
the court of poetry。〃
〃But what did you see？ Did the gods of ancient times pass
through the rooms？ Did old heroes fight their battles over again？ Were
there lovely children at play； who related their dreams？〃
〃I tell you I have been there； and therefore you may be sure
that I saw everything that was to be seen。 If you had gone there；
you would not have remained a human being； whereas I became one； and
at the same moment I became aware of my inner being； my inborn
affinity to the nature of poetry。 It is true I did not think much
about it while I was with you； but you will remember that I was always
much larger at sunrise and sunset； and in the moonlight even more
visible than yourself； but I did not then understand my inner
existence。 In the ante…room it was revealed to me。 I became a man； I
came out in full maturity。 But you had left the warm countries。 As a
man； I felt ashamed to go about without boots or clothes； and that
exterior finish by which man is known。 So I went my own way； I can
tell you； for you will not put it in a book。 I hid myself under the
cloak of a cake woman； but she little thought who she concealed。 It
was not till evening that I ventured out。 I ran about the streets in
the moonlight。 I drew myself up to my full height upon the walls；
which tickled my back very pleasantly。 I ran here and there； looked
through the highest windows into the rooms； and over the roofs。 I
looked in； and saw what nobody else could see； or indeed ought to see；
in fact； it is a bad world； and I would not care to be a man； but that
men are of some importance。 I saw the most miserable things going on
between husbands and wives； parents and children；… sweet； incomparable
children。 I have seen what no human being has the power of knowing；
although they would all be very glad to know… the evil conduct of
their neighbors。 Had I written a newspaper； how eagerly it would
have been read！ Instead of which； I wrote directly to the persons
themselves； and great alarm arose in all the town I visited。 They
had so much fear of me； and yet how dearly they loved me。 The
professor made me a professor。 The tailor gave me new clothes； I am
well provided for in that way。 The overseer of the mint struck coins
for me。 The women declared that I was handsome； and so I became the
man you now see me。 And now I must say adieu。 Here is my card。 I
live on the sunny side of the street； and always stay at home in rainy
weather。〃 And the shadow departed。
〃This is all very remarkable；〃 said the learned man。
Years passed； days and years went by； and the shadow came again。
〃How are you going on now？〃 he asked。
〃Ah！〃 said the learned man； 〃I am writing about the true； the
beautiful； and the good； but no one cares to hear anything about it。 I
am quite in despair； for I take it to heart very much。〃
〃That is what I never do；〃 said the shadow； 〃I am growing quite
fat and stout； which every one ought to be。 You do not understand
the world； you will make yourself ill about it； you ought to travel； I
am going on a journey in the summer； will you go with me？ I should
like a travelling companion； will you travel with me as my shadow？
It would give me great pleasure； and I will pay all expenses。〃
〃Are you going to travel far？〃 asked the learned man。
〃That is a matter of opinion；〃 replied the shadow。 〃At all events；
a journey will do you good； and if you will be my shadow； then all
your journey shall be paid。〃
〃It appears to me very absurd；〃 said the learned man。
〃But it is the way of the world；〃 replied the shadow； 〃and
always will be。〃 Then he went away。
Everything went wrong with the learned man。 Sorrow and trouble
pursued him； and what he said about the good； the beautiful； and the
true； was of as much value to most people as a nutmeg would be to a
cow。 At length he fell ill。 〃You really look like a shadow；〃 people
said to him； and then a cold shudder would pass over him； for he had
his own thoughts on the subject。
〃You really ought to go to some watering…place；〃 said the shadow
on his next visit。 〃There is no other chance for you。 I will take
you with me； for the sake of old acquaintance。 I will pay the expenses
of your journey； and you shall write a description of it to amuse us
by the way。 I should like to go to a watering…place； my beard does not
grow as it ought； which is from weakness； and I must have a beard。 Now
do be sensible and accept my proposal； we shall travel as intimate
friends。〃
And at last they started together。 The shadow was master now；
and the master became the shadow。 They drove together； and rode and
walked in company with each other； side by side； or one in front and
the other behind； according to the position of the sun。 The shadow
always knew when to take the place of honor； but the learned man
took no notice of it； for he had a good heart； and was exceedingly
mild and friendly。
One day the master said to the shadow； 〃We have grown up
together from our childhood； and now that we have become travelling
companions； shall we not drink to our good fellowship； and say thee
and thou to each other？〃
〃What you say is very straightforward and kindly meant；〃 said
the shadow； who was now really master。 〃I will be equally kind and
straightforward。 You are a learned man； and know how wonderful human
nature is。 There are some men who cannot endure the smell of brown
paper； it makes them ill。 Others will feel a shuddering sensation to
their very marrow； if a nail is scratched on a pane of glass。 I myself
have a similar kind of feeling when I hear any one say thou to me。 I
feel crushed by it； as I used to feel in my former position with
you。 You will perceive that this is a matter of feeling； not pride。
I cannot allow you to say thou to me； I will gladly say it to you； and
therefore your wish will be half fulfilled。〃 Then the shadow addressed
his former master as thou。
〃It is going rather too far；〃 said the latter； 〃that I am to say
you when I speak to him； and he is to say thou to me。〃 However； he was
obliged to submit。
They arrived at length at the baths； where there were many
strangers； and among them a beautiful princess； whose real disease
consisted in being too sharp…sighted； which made every one very
uneasy。 She saw at once that the new comer was very different to every
one else。 〃They say he is here to make his beard grow；〃 she thought；
〃but I know the real cause； he is unable to cast a shadow。〃 Then she
became very curious on the matter； and one day； while on the
promenade； she entered into conversation with the strange gentleman。
Being a princess； she was not obliged to stand upon much ceremony；
so she said to him without hesitation； 〃Your illness consists in not
being able to ca