(The Emperor Rudolf II addresses his lover, by means of a mutual dream.)
"In the dark hours of the day, when the chaos of the age weighs on me like a nightmare and the noise and bustle of the world is about me with all its perfidy and cunning, its lies and treachery, my thoughts fly to you, you are my comfort and consolation. With you there's clarity, when I'm with you I feel as if I could understand the way of the world and see through the lies and penetrate to the truth behind the perfidy. Sometimes I feel lost and call you, call you aloud, though in such a way as not to be overheard — but you don't come. Why don't you come? What holds you back when I call you? What prevents you?"
No answer came.
— By Night Under the Stone Bridge
2 comments:
I loved everything by Leo Perutz I read, yet By Night under the Stone Bridge always was my favorite.
Yes! He's wonderful. I have to find my copy of The Marquis of Bolibar, which is somewhere in the house.
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