Hoffmann's Tales
Swanilda & Franz (Love Story)
VI
It was morning again. The sun, like a great golden coin, appeared in the sky. It was shining brightly. The water of the fountain glittered in the sunlight. The birds were sitting in the trees and singing their morning melody.
Soon groups of people in gaily coloured clothes gathered in the square to watch the ceremonies. The priest in his white surplice was standing in front of the church. He was going to bless the bell. Everything was ready. The priest pronounced the benediction, whereupon the great bell was hauled up into the tower amid cheers from all the townspeople.
Now it was time for the marriage ceremony. The chattering ceased as the couples entered the church, and a breathless silence fell. Everyone felt the thrill of this moving moment.
The last bride was Swanilda. All the brides were beautiful but Swanilda was the best. Franz was walking and gazing at Swanilda with great love. Swanilda lowered her eyes demurely as she moved with grace beside her bridegroom.
The burgomaster pulled the bell rope, and the bell sent its first note. The bell was ringing until all the couples left the church.
Slowly, the crowds began to disperse. The people went through the shaded lanes in a leisurely way. Besides the burgomaster walked Jan and Helena, Martin and Teresa, and, of course, Franz and Swanilda.
The burgomaster stopped at the bend of the road to look at the view. The air was very clear, and the people could see the magnificent blue mountains and the church spires in faraway villages at the foot of them.
“What a wonderful view! Do you think there is something special about looking into the distance? What is it?” asked the burgomaster and answered himself: “It’s the mystery of the unknown. The charm of distance draws us. Look at the river! The water you see in the distance is silver… the water you feel on your feet is just wet.” He thought a little and added: “The distance contains mystery, and the mystery evokes desire…”
The burgomaster looked round at his young friends and said: “Let’s sit and rest here. I’ll tell you a story.” The young people sat on the ground around the burgomaster. They looked and smiled at each other gaily. The young couples were really happy.
The burgomaster began: “One day strolling actors arrived in the town. The man and his wife had a cart covered with tarpaulin and pulled by a painfully thin horse. They also had two trained dogs, a few stage props, and a violin. The dogs could count to ten, the man could juggle and play the violin, and his wife could sing. Every evening the dogs counted to ten and the man juggled with seven plates. Then the man played the violin and his wife sang popular songs.
But the best part of the show came at the end when a fortune-teller appeared. She sat in the middle of the tent. There was only the light of three candles. Her narrow face was pale. Her eyes were tightly shrouded in a dark blue veil. She spoke in a dreamy soft voice, she almost whispered. She was beautiful and mysterious.
At the beginning of the item the man took personal belongings from the audience such as: a comb, a knife, a key, or something else that could be in a fan’s pocket. Then he asked: “Tell me what it is? What am I holding in my hand?” She answered quietly and her answers were always right.
The people thought that it was a bit of fun. No one took it seriously. But one man was absolutely fascinated. The woman enchanted him instantly. He had no doubt that she was a true sibyl, and he went to see the performance day after day. There wasn’t any other interest for him. He was aware only the girl in the blue veil, as she gave her honeyed replies. He could think of nothing else. After work he wandered the streets in a daze and counted the hours till the evening performance.
A few times he walked around the old cart. He was dreaming to see the girl without the blue veil and look into her beautiful and sad eyes. He was sure that her eyes were beautiful and sad. He knew that from her voice. But he didn’t see the girl. All he saw was the man with a face like thunder and his wife with a dark and haggard face. The man was mending the tarpaulin, and the woman was sitting on the steps of the cart and peeling potatoes with gnarled hands.
One night he saw the beautiful sibyl in his dream. She entered the room silently and walked slowly towards his bed. Her face was open, and her eyes shone. She held out her slim arms to him in a pleading gesture. It was clear she was begging him to save her.
The next day the lovesick man decided to free the girl. He didn’t go to the performance, but hid behind the tent. The performance was over, and the people left the tent. He rushed into it, caught the girl up in his arms and carried her out of the tent. The girl screamed and tried to free herself. Then she scratched him, and he noticed her bony and bent fingers. Suddenly the veil dropped and revealed the sibyl’s face. The man saw a dark haggard face and dull watery eyes. He saw a furious, swearing woman. It wasn’t his beautiful girl. It was the actor’s wife.
So ended the story!” said the burgomaster with a smile.
“Now I understood the power of mystery and the desire for the unknown…” murmured Swanilda looking at Franz.
“I was enchanted with Coppelius’s doll and got into trouble,” said Franz sadly.
“Thank God you’re here!” exclaimed Martin. “If Swanilda hadn’t helped you, you would have been sleeping till your last breath,” added Martin.
All the young people breathed a sign of relief.
“It was Swanilda’s true love that helped her to save her fiancé,” said the burgomaster and looked at the young people. Then the burgomaster stood up and declared: “What will survive of us is love! Isn’t it?” The burgomaster’s young friends nodded their heads approvingly.
It was time to come back. The burgomaster and the newlywed couples went to the castle park. There were a lot of people, all wearing their best clothes. They laughed and smiled at each other. The musicians tuned their instruments in the summerhouse. The birds in the park tried their best to outdo them.
The Count and the Countess were sitting in their stately seats. The Count’s steward gave all the bridegrooms leather purses each with one hundred ducats. Heavy chests filled with linen were brought from the castle. Every bride got a trousseau. The crowd shouted: “Long live the Count! Long live the Count! Long live the Count!”
The sun, low in the sky, paused for a moment on the roof of the town-hall. Just for a quick look around, just to throw a handful of goldfish into the fountain, just to count the houses, just to say “good bye” and “good night”.
The music from the summerhouse and the dancing people’s laughter could be heard in the park. Everybody was there. It was the happiest day of the town and its townspeople.
On the balcony of the dark house the pale-faced, black-haired girl sat bent over her book, and behind her Coppelius stood. He was walking up and down the balcony, gesticulating wildly, swearing and screaming out curses.
ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISES
I. Comprehension Task. There are 10 mistakes in the sentences below. Read the sentences carefully and find the mistakes.
1. Soon groups of people in sadly coloured clothes gathered in the square.
2. The priest in his red surplice was standing in front of the church.
3. The burgomaster pulled the bell rope, and the bell sent its last note.
4. The bell was ringing until all the briderooms left the church.
5. The burgomaster stopped at the end of the road to look at the view.
6. Then the man played the guitar and his wife sang popular songs.
7. There was only the light of three matches.
8. Suddenly the veil dropped and revealed the sibyl’s head.
9. There were a lot of people, all wearing their best coats.
10. The Count’s steward gave all the bridegrooms leather bags each with one hundred ducats.
Answers: 1. sadly/gaily; 2. red/white; 3. last/first; 4. bridegrooms/couples; 5. end/bend; 6. guitar/violin; 7. matches/candles; 8. head/face; 9. coats/clothes; 10. bags/purses
II. Grammar. Choose the right form of the verb (to infinitive or infinitive without “to”).
1. Soon groups of people in gaily coloured clothes gathered in the square watch/to watch the ceremonies.
2. The priest was going bless/to bless the bell.
3. Slowly the crowds began disperse/to disperse.
4. The burgomaster stopped at the bend of the road look/to look at the view.
5. The dogs could count/to count to ten, the man could juggle/to juggle and play/to play the violin, and his wife could sing/to sing.
6. He had no doubt that she was a true sibyl, and he went see/to see the performance day after day.
7. It was clear she was begging him save/to save her.
8. The next day the lovesick man decided free/to free the girl.
9. The girl screamed and tried free/to free herself.
10. It was Swanilda’s true love that helped her save/to save her fiancé.
11. The birds in the park tried their best outdo/to outdo them.
Look through the text, find these sentences and check your answers.
Answers: 1. to watch; 2. to bless; 3. to disperse; 4. to look; 5. count, juggle, play, sing; 6. to see; 7. to save; 8. to free; 9. save or to save (both variants are possible); 10. to outdo
III. Pronunciation Task. The letters below in bold are silent. If you are not sure of the pronunciation of these words check the phonetic transcription in a dictionary. Practice saying these words.
| brightly | white | where | whisper | answer | unknown |
| hour | walk | tightly | thought | brought | night |
| could | caught | gnarled | drought | doubt | castle |
IV. Vocabulary. Add more words to each category.
| Circus | Wedding |
| strolling actors | church |
Answers: Circus: stage, stage props, juggle, show, tent, item, audience, sibyl, performance; Wedding: bell, bless, marriage, ceremony, couple, bride, bridegroom, newlywed, fiancé, trousseau, priest
V. Speaking
a) When we would like to know about people’s character we usually ask:“What is he/she like?” When we would like to know about people’s appearance we usually ask: “What does he/she look like? What can you say about Swanilda, Franz, Coppelius and Coppelia? What were they like? What did they look like? The adjectives below will help you to express your opinions. If you’d like use some other words and expressions from the text.
kindhearted, miserable, guilty, kind, deceitful, rude, helpful, selfish, understanding, brave, unpleasant, awful, terrible, proud, mysterious, calm, sad, silly, charming, passionate, respectful, ugly, honest, impatient, patient, curious, friendly (unfriendly), gentle, tender, reliable (unreliable), responsible, careless (careful), beautiful, pretty, ugly, handsome, scowling, angry, young, old, happy (unhappy), full of happiness, usual (unusual), motionless, etc.
| Name | What did he/she look like? | What was he/she like? |
| Swanilda | ||
| Franz | ||
| Coppelius | ||
| Coppelia |
b) What’s your opinion on the story? The questions below will help you to come to a conclusion and express your opinion.
1. Is the story interesting or boring? Is it absorbing or thrilling?
2. Does the story make you feel strong emotions (sadness, sympathy, etc.)?
3. Did you predict the end of the story?
4. Have you ever seen a magic book? Do you believe in magic?
5. Do you think that mystery evokes desire?
6. Do you agree with the saying – “What will survive of us is love!”?
7. Would Franz and Swanilda live long and happily?
8. Do you have pity for Coppelia and Coppelius?
9. What is the most exciting part of the story?