"iamhappy!iamhappy!"thedryadcried,rejoicing;"andyeticannotrealize,cannotdescribewhatifeel.everythingisasifanciedit,andyetasididnotfancyit."

thehousesstoodthere,solofty,soclose!thesunlightshoneononlyoneofthewalls,andthatonewasstuckoverwithbillsandplacards,beforewhichthepeoplestoodstill;andthismadeacrowd.

carriagesrushedpast,carriagesrolledpast;lightonesandheavyonesmingledtogether.omnibuses,thoseover-crowdedmovinghouses,camerattlingby;horsemengallopedamongthem;evencartsandwagonsassertedtheirrights.

thedryadaskedherselfifthesehigh-grownhouses,whichstoodsoclosearoundher,wouldnotremoveandtakeothershapes,likethecloudsinthesky,anddrawaside,sothatshemightcastaglanceintoparis,andoverit.notredamemustshowitself,thevendomecolumn,andthewondrousbuildingwhichhadcalledandwasstillcallingsomanystrangerstothecity.

butthehousesdidnotstirfromtheirplaces.itwasyetdaywhenthelampswerelit.thegas-jetsgleamedfromtheshops,andshoneevenintothebranchesofthetrees,sothatitwaslikesunlightinsummer.thestarsabovemadetheirappearance,thesametowhichthedryadhadlookedupinherhome.shethoughtshefeltaclearpurestreamofairwhichwentforthfromthem.shefeltherselfliftedupandstrengthened,andfeltanincreasedpowerofseeingthrougheveryleafandthrougheveryfibreoftheroot.amidallthenoiseandtheturmoil,thecolorsandthelights,sheknewherselfwatchedbymildeyes.

fromthesidestreetssoundedthemerrynotesoffiddlesandwindinstruments.up!tothedance,tothedance!tojollityandpleasure!thatwastheirinvitation.suchmusicitwas,thathorses,carriages,trees,andhouseswouldhavedanced,iftheyhadknowncharmofintoxicatingdelightfilledthebosomofthedryad.

"howglorious,howsplendiditis!"shecried,rejoicingly."nowiaminparis!"

thenextdaythatdawned,thenextnightthatfell,offeredthesamespectacle,similarbustle,similarlife;changing,indeed,yetalwaysthesame;andthusitwentonthroughthesequenceofdays.

"nowiknoweverytree,everyfloweronthesquarehere!iknoweveryhouse,everybalcony,everyshopinthisnarrowcut-offcorner,whereiamdeniedthesightofthisgreatmightycity.wherearethearchesoftriumph,theboulevards,thewondrousbuildingoftheworld?iseenothingofallthis.asifshutupinacage,istandamongthehighhouses,whichinowknowbyheart,withtheirinscriptions,signs,andplacards;allthepaintedconfectionery,thatisnolongertomytaste.whereareallthethingsofwhichiheard,forwhichilonged,andforwhosesakeiwantedtocomehither?whathaveiseized,found,won?ifeelthesamelongingifeltbefore;ifeelthatthereisalifeishouldwishtograspandtomustgooutintotheranksoflivingmen,andmingleamongthem.imustflyaboutlikeabird.imustseeandfeel,andbecomehumanaltogether.imustenjoytheonehalf-day,insteadofvegetatingforyearsinevery-daysamenessandweariness,inwhichibecomeill,andatlastsinkanddisappearlikethedewonthemeadows.iwillgleamlikethecloud,gleaminthesunshineoflife,lookoutoverthewholelikethecloud,andpassawaylikeit,nooneknowethwhither."

thussighedthedryad;andsheprayed:

"takefrommetheyearsthatweredestinedforme,andgivemebuthalfofthelifeoftheephemeralfly!