Thomas Frognall Dibdin - A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two
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Thomas Frognall Dibdin >> A Bibliographical, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany, Volume Two
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I am hastening to the close of this despatch, and to take leave of this
place. Through the interposition of Messrs. Treuttel and Wuertz, I have
hired a respectable servant, or laquais, to accompany me to Vienna, and
back again to Manheim. His name is _Rohfritsch_; and he has twice visited
the Austrian capital in the rear of Napoleon's army,--when he was only in
his sixteenth or seventeenth year--as a page or attendant upon one of the
Generals. He talks the French and German languages with equal fluency. I
asked him if we needed fire arms; at which he smiled--as if wondering at my
simplicity or ignorance. In truth, the question was a little precipitate;
for, the other evening, I saw two or three whiskered Bavarian travellers,
starting hence for Munich, in an open, fourgon-shaped travelling carriage,
with two benches across it: on the front bench sat the two gentlemen,
wrapped round with clokes: on the hinder bench, the servant took his
station--not before he had thrown into the carriage two huge bags of
_florins_, as unconcernedly as if they had been bags of _pebbles_. They
were to travel all night--without sabre, pistol, or carbine, for
protection.
I own this gave me a very favourable opinion of the country I was about to
visit; and on recollecting it, had good reason to acquiesce in the
propriety of the smiles of Rohfritsch. Every thing, therefore, is now
settled: gold ducats and silver florins have been obtained from Madame
Francs; and to morrow we start. My next will be from _Stuttgart_--where a
"deed of note" will, I trust, be accomplished. Fare you well.
[224] [This dinner party is somewhat largely detailed in the preceding
edition of this work; but it scarcely merits repetition here; the more
so, since the presiding Hostess is NO MORE!]
[225] _Hermann_; vol. i. p. 154.
[226] _greatly benefited by the Reformation_.]--Among the benefactors
to the cause of public morality, was the late lamented and ever
memorable KOCH. Before the year 1536, it should seem, from Koch's
statement, that even whole streets as well as houses were occupied by
women of a certain description. After this year, there were only two
houses of ill fame left. The women, of the description before alluded
to, used to wear black and white hats, of a sugar-loaf form, over the
veil which covered their faces; and they were confined strictly to
this dress by the magistrates. These women were sometimes represented
in the sculptured figures about the cathedral. Hermann says that there
may yet be seen, over the door of a house in the _Bickergase_ (one of
the streets now called _Rue de la fontaine_, which was formerly
devoted to the residence of women of ill fame) a bas-relief,
representing two figures, with the following German inscription
beneath:
_Diss haus steht in Gottes Hand
Wird zu deu freud'gen kindern gennant._
which he translates thus:
_Cette maison; dans la main de Dieu,
S'appelle aux enfans bien joyeux_.
It should seem, therefore, (continues Hermann) that this was one of
the houses in which a public officer attended, to keep order, prevent
quarrels, and exact municipal rights. The book, in which the receipt
of this tax was entered, existed during the time of the Revolution,
and is thought to be yet in existence. Hermann, vol. i. p. 156.
[227] See p. 401 ante.
[228] For the English metrical version I am indebted to "an old hand at
these matters."
[229] Since the publication of this Tour, I have received several pleasant
and thoroughly friendly letters from the above excellent Individual:
and I could scarcely forgive myself if I omitted this opportunity of
annexing his autograph:--as a worthy companion to those which have
preceded it.
[Autograph: Schweighaeuser]
[230] [Madame Francs, whose kind and liberal conduct towards me can never
be forgotten, has now herself become the subject of a monumental
effigy. She DIED (as I learn) in the year 1826.]
END OF VOL. II.
* * * * *
London: Printed by W. Nicol,
Cleveland-row, St. James's.
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