Der Landvogt von Greifensee
Landvogt von Greifensee, Der, a Novelle by G. Keller. It is the third in the group of three stories which opens the Züricher Novellen (1878) and has a narrative frame (see Rahmen) enclosing a cycle of short tales.
The Landvogt (or governor) of Greifensee in 1783 is Colonel Salomon Landolt, a bachelor of 42. On 13 June as he rides off from a parade, in which his battalion has performed with credit, he encounters a coach containing a young married woman to whom he had once unsuccessfully proposed marriage. He has a nickname for each of several young women he has courted, and this one is ‘Der Distelfink’. The meeting suggests to him the idea of issuing an invitation to the five ladies whose hand he has sought. He persuades Frau Marianne, his housekeeper, to participate in the plan. Her life story is first told, followed by sketches of the five ladies, including in each case the episode of the Landvogt's unsuccessful courtship. Frau Marianne, a woman of courage and character, eloped with a student, married him, and, when he turned soldier, followed him as a cantinière. She bore him nine children, all of whom died, then, finding that his love for her had also died, sent him packing, and became housekeeper to the Landvogt, whom she has loyally served.
The Landvogt explains his curious plan to Frau Marianne by giving her an account of his relationship to the five ladies, which he accomplishes in a series of miniature Novellen. Salome Alt (‘der Distelfink’) was attracted to him, but he described his own character and his ancestry in such disparaging terms that she turned him down and married another. She was followed by Figura Leu, whom he calls ‘Hanswurstel’; a mercurial character, she nevertheless has the resolution, in spite of her love for Landolt, to refuse him because she has given her dying mother a promise never to marry. The principal feature of her story is a party, at which the writers J. J. Bodmer and Salomon Geßner, both of Zurich, are present. The Landvogt's third refusal came from Wendelgard Gimmel, whom he calls ‘der Kapitän’ after her father, a hard-drinking officer. It almost comes to a match, but Figura Leu intervenes because she distrusts Wendelgard's character. Wendelgard marries Figura's brother Martin, conquers a penchant for gambling, and becomes a good wife to him. Landolt is content and does not resent Figura's interference. The fourth girl, Barbara Thumeysen, who is ‘die Grasmücke’ for Landolt, takes fright at her suitor's eccentricity. The fifth, Aglaja or ‘die Amsel’, was not in love with Landolt and only wished to have his good offices in persuading her family to allow her to marry a young pastor. The Landvogt co-operated, and the marriage took place. The pastor died some years later, having proved to be avaricious, ambitious, and worldly.
All five ladies are invited to Schloß Greifensee on 31 May. The Landvogt arranges first for their presence in his magistrate's court, so that they shall have a chance to see how understandingly he adjudicates in matrimonial cases. Afterwards he invites them to choose him a wife, either Frau Marianne or her pretty young attendant. They unanimously choose the young girl, who is immediately shown to be a boy disguised in female clothing. The Landvogt, having enjoyed his gentle revenge, resigns himself to bachelordom. He takes an active part in the fighting in Switzerland during the Napoleonic Wars, and dies at Andelfingen in 1818, aged 76.
