FREYTAG'S LAST NOVEL.* GUSTAV FRETTAG'S novelistic cycle of Die Ahnen,
of which Die Geschwister is the fifth instalment, may be defined as a patriotic prose epic, that is to shadow out the doughty deeds of the German people, from the days of Arminius and the Teuto- burger Wald to those of the Emperor Wilhelm and Prince Bismarck. The inevitable consequence, that such a definite and preconceived plan must cramp the artistic unity of a work of fiction, is once more exemplified in this case. The entire series shows a tendency rather to a romantic history of German civilisation than to the historical novel proper, and hence there hangs round it something of the dry air of annals, which renders it, at first sight, somewhat unattractive reading. It is indis- putably an effort to take up one of this series as recreative literature,—we have to work ourselves into it; but the effort once made, it is unquestionably rewarded, even though Freytag can never entirely embue us, like Sir Walter Scott, with the spirit of the various centuries he delineates. The author's labour is a little too visible throughout, and hence his work is undeniably somewhat too solid, especially as it is unrelieved by any touch of humour. Still, we do gain a very distinct percep- tion of the periods he paints, with their aims, their struggles, and their salient features. Weak and slight in plot, and deficient therefore as stories, these tales are excellent as chronicles of the period, and depict historical conditions with a graphic force and reality that seem to give ns a certain feeling of the time, for Freytag is an adept at catching and reproducing the broad characteristics of an era.
Though consisting of short, disconnected stories, the series, nevertheless, possesses a connecting link, since it traces from Pagan days the fortunes of one family, whom we here again encounter. The idea may possibly be borrowed from Sue's Mysteres du Peuple. In the author's earlier novels, it was not always easy to detect his real thread of purpose, but this has now become clear in Die Geschwister. Besides tracing the progress of culture in an historical novel, Freytag appar- ently intends to appeal to the patriotism of his countrymen, and thus to unroll before them the history of the struggles and ideas that have culminated in the present Empire and its " blood-and- culture " creed. At first we were shown the days of Paganism, in Ingo and Ingraban; this was followed by its overthrow, in Das Nest der Zaunkonige; in Die Briider des Deutschen Hauses, the Catholic Church was triumphant, and power rested entirely in the hands of the clergy, until these, again, were overthrown by the Protestant ministers, in Marcus Sonig. Here, in Die Geschwister, we catch the first indication of the impending eclipse of both by the might of the Army, the pride, hope, and joy of modern Germany.
Two novelettes form the contents of Die Geschwister,—Der Bittmeister von All-Rosen, and Der Freico)poral bei Markgraf Albrecht. The plot of the first is laid in 1647, consequently, the last year but one of that disastrous Thirty Years' War, at a time when the desolation, demoralisation, and misery of the people were at their zenith. So, too, was the wanton insolence of the foreign mercenaries, as well as the rapacity of the German armies, who burnt and plundered the whole country, exhaust- ing its resources and breaking its moral and physical vigour. Neither the soldiers nor the people could remember the days of peace ; a whole generation had grown up during the war, and if in 1647 there was a restless spirit abroad that had wearied of these incessant engagements and lawless wanderings, the aspirations after peace were those of persons longing for a Utopia heard of, but unseen. This was the vague sentiment that began to ferment among the German regiments who had been lured over to Marshal Turenne's army, under delusive promises of privileges and distinctions. Five such regiments, among them the best and worthiest, had stolen away secretly from the main army, re- solved to live rather as freebooters, than to fight any longer against their German brethren. The story opens when, finding this free life impossible, they resolve to place themselves under the protection of Count Bernard of Weimar, in the hope that he will be induced to take the leadership of the German cause, and so inaugurate the much-desired peace. Failing him, they see that their only resource is to go over to the Swedes.
These discussions remind one vividly of similar discussions in Wallen,stein, though the cause of treachery here is a nobler one than the personal ambition of the Duke of Friedland. Bernhard Kiinig, a descendant of the Konig family, who
+ Die Almen. Vol. V. Die Geschwister. By Gustav Freytag. Leipzig: S. Hirzel. London: Holekmann. 1878.
figure as the principal characters throughout Die Ahnen, is chosen as the spokesman of the regiments. Attended by several officers, he goes to lay their demand before the Count of Weimar, a demand that is refused, because the Count is unable to feed so large a number of mouths,—his lands having already been eaten up by the Swedes. The devastation of the farms, the excesses perpetrated by the freebooters and loose company whom these lawless times scattered about the land, are admir- ably brought before us in the course of Bernhard's travels. In the outskirts of a village, ravaged by robbers, he meets with a woman, who binds up a wound he has newly received, and tends the sister who accompanies him and lives with him in camp, for the times are so wild that there is no security either in town or country, and he dare not entrust the delicate Regine to any keeping but his own. At her earnest request, he does, however, entrust her to Judith during his ride to Nurnberg. To this woman, of masculine mind and strong emotions, he is at once as powerfully attracted as she is to him, and when he returns from his unsuccessful mission to the Count, they declare their mutual affection, and resolve to marry as soon as Bern- hard has discharged his duties. Meanwhile, the Count, who did not accept the proposals of Bernhard and his regiments, wishes to extend protection to Bernhard's sister, because he has heard that she talks in her sleep, a faculty that was in those days regarded as an indication of prophetic power. The paths of the brother and sister here -diverge; she goes to live in the Burg, utters mild evangelical rhapsodies that disappoint her patron, inasmuch as they show no knowledge of future events, but contain merely diluted Biblical language, and finally marries the Court chaplain. Bernard de- livers up his companies to the Swedes, leaves the army, and arrives in time to flee with his beloved, and save her from the punish- ment of witchcraft, that her superior medical skill has drawn -down on her. They lead a wandering life, until at last, on the final establishment of peace, they hope to settle in an ancestral home. But as the bells peal in the long-desired cessation of warfare, one shot from an enemy's gun, the last shot fired in that terrible war, kills both husband and wife. They were never to know the joys of peace. The little son whom they left be- hind them is confided to the care of his aunt and her pastor husband, and with this tragedy the story ends.
Seventy-three years interpose between the first and second novelette ; there is peace in the land, and though Germany still suffers from the results of the devastation, calm has come out- wardly. The orphan son of Bernhard and Judith is himself the father of two hopeful boys, whose mental development goes on before us, and in whom we behold two fundamentally opposite characters. August, the genial, the harum-scarnm, the thought- less, soon evinces his liking for a soldier's life ; while Fritz, the thoughtful, the staid, the bookworm, inclines to the Church. They are born Saxons, but, nevertheless, August is placed in a Prussian regiment, because the Saxon Army was sunk in indifference, and only nobles could hope for advancement. In August's regiment we are introduced to the stern discipline, the rigid, uncompro- mising severity of rule that pervaded the ranks of the Prussian King, and laid the foundations of the discipline in the present German Army. When, after a time, August exchanges into the army of his fatherland, the contrast between the two armies, and the social positions held by them in their respective countries, is sharply emphasised. Frederick William is drawn with all his brutality and determination. A great portion of the story is occupied with his endeavour to coerce Fritz by foul means to wear his uniform, and these failing, to induce him by fair, because the King cannot endure the thought that there should exist a tall, comely man, who does not serve him. And, in contrast to this King, who desired to see all well-grown men in his service, we are shown the dissolute Elector of Saxony, who cared not how lax was the discipline in his army, provided he could obtain all the wives and daughters of his men on whom his fancy hap- pened to light.
While the first novelette is a complete story in itself, the Freicoayoral bei Markgraf Albrecht does not possess any true central point. It is an historical sketch of culture, strung upon the life-story of these two brothers, whom it accompanies from the cradle to the grave. Though it cannot exactly be said to digress from this chronicle, yet it is occupied throughout with a minute account of men and things, and a careful study of German middle-class life in that century, which really renders it merely an historical outline. As such, however, it possesses many excellences. Thus, in an imeute that breaks out in Thorn,
in Poland, we are made to see clearly the legitimate grievances of the German inhabitants of that city, and the future partition of the country is foreshadowed. We see, too, why Prussia had inevitably to become the head of Germany, because notwith- standing the equal and, in some respects, superior excellences of her neighbours, her people alone understood the art of true obedience, while moral rectitude and stern self-repression for the sake of the whole were enforced by precept and example from above.
For those readers who like to read history seasoned with fiction, Freytag's books are a boon, for they possess the rare merit that their history is careful and correct ; while their fiction is, in most cases, equal to, if not above, the average of historical romances. This new volume will enhance the great reputation this author enjoys.
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