human
What terrible calamity can it be that thus overpowers you? inquired Eckart.
gpt
Only try to speak.
human
Alas, my children!
gpt
I say nothing, he added,
human
Oh, worse than dead! exclaimed the other.
gpt
No, they are not dead, he repeated in a still more bitter voice;
human
We live in a wonderful world; and these are strange times. Surely the last dreaded day cannot be far from hand; for alarming signs and omens are daily abroad, threatening the world more and more. All evil things seem to have broken loose beyond their ancient boundaries, and rage and destroy on every side. The fear of God restrains us not--there is no foundation for any thing good; evil spirits walk in the broad day, and boldly scare the good away from us, or celebrate their nightly orgies in their unholy retreats. O my dear sir, we are grown grey in the world, but not old enough for such prodigious things. Doubtless you have seen the great comet--Heaven's portentous lightning in the sky, which glares so prophetically down upon us. Every one forebodes disasters; but none think of reforming their lives in order to escape the threatened evil. As if this, too, were not enough, the ancient earth discovers her trouble, and casts up her mysterious secrets from the deep, while that portentous light serves to reveal them from above. And, hark! have you never heard of the strange mountain which the people round call Venus-berg?
gpt
No, never, said Eckart,
human
At that I wonder much, replied the old man;
gpt
On what side lies the mountain?
human
There is the mystery; it is a secret, whispered the old man,
gpt
And what do you think of doing in this matter?
human
What should I do?--with this crutch, my only support, I have set out in pursuit of them, being determined either to find them or to die.