at that
moment, Coppola, turning himself with the force of a giant, wrenched
the figure from the professor's hand, and then with the figure itself
gave him a tremendous blow, which made him reel and fall backwards over
the table, where vials, retorts, bottles, and glass cylinders were
standing. All these were dashed to a thousand shivers. Now Coppola
flung the figure across his shoulders, and, with frightful, yelling
laughter, dashed down the stairs, so that the feet of the figure, which
dangled in the ugliest manner, rattled with a wooden sound on every
step. Nathaniel stood paralysed; he had seen but too plainly that
Olympia's waxen, deadly pale countenance had no eyes, but black holes
instead--she was, indeed, a lifeless doll. Spalanzani was writhing on
the floor; the pieces of glass had cut his head, heart, and arms, and
the blood was spirting up, as from so many fountains. But he soon
collected all his strength. "After him--after him--why do you pause?
Coppelius, Coppelius, has robbed me of my best automaton--a work of
twenty years--body and soul set upon it--the clock-work--the
speech--the walk, mine; the eyes stolen from you. The infernal
rascal--after him; fetch Olympia--there you have the eyes!"

And now Nathaniel saw how a pair of eyes, which lay upon the ground,
were staring at him; these Spalanzani caught up, with the unwounded
hand, and flung against his heart. At this, madness seized him with
its burning claws, and clutched into his soul, tearing to pieces all
his thoughts and senses. "Ho--ho--ho--a circle of fire! of fire!--turn
thyself round, circle! merrily, merrily, ho, thou wooden doll--turn
thyself, pretty doll!" With these words he flew at the professor and
pressed in his throat. He would have strangled him, had not the noise
attracted many people, who rushed in, forced open Nathaniel's grasp,
and thus saved the professor, whose wounds were bound immediately.
Sigismund, strong as he was, was not able to master the mad Nathaniel,
who with frightful voice kept crying out: "Turn thyself, wooden doll!"
and struck around him with clenched fists. At last the combined force
of many succeeded in overcoming him, in flinging him to the ground, and
binding him. His words were merged into a hideous roar, like that of a
brute, and raging in this insane condition he was taken to the
mad-house.

Before, gentle reader, I proceed to tell thee what more befel the
unfortunate Nathaniel, I can tell thee,