True Love

Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather of the well-known German composer, was far from being handsome. Along with a rather short stature, he had a grotesque hunchback.

One day he visited a merchant in Hamburg who had a lovely daughter named Frumtje. Moses fell hopelessly in love with her. But Frumtje was repulsed by his misshapen appearance.

When it came time for him to leave, Moses gathered his courage and climbed the stairs to her room to take one last opportunity to speak with her. She was a vision of heavenly beauty, but caused him deep sadness by her refusal to look at him. After several attempts at conversation, Moses shyly asked, Do you believe marriages are made in heaven?

Yes, she answered, still looking at the floor. And do you?

Yes I do, he replied. You see, in heaven at the birth of each boy, the Lord announces which girl he will marry. When I was born, my future bride was pointed out to me. Then the Lord added, But your wife will be humpbacked.

Right then and there I called out, Oh Lord, a humpbacked woman would be a tragedy. Please, Lord, give me the hump and let her be beautiful.

Then Frumtje looked up into his eyes and was stirred by some deep memory. She reached out and gave Mendelssohn her hand and later became his devoted wife.

編者按：何謂真愛?真愛就是甘愿犧牲自己而去分擔對方的痛苦與不幸。且不管德國哲學家門德爾松的這一番解釋是否真的源于與上帝對話，這種為愛人舍身的精神著實讓人感動，相信任何一個姑娘聽到這番愛語都會為之動容。