diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:56:58 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:56:58 -0700 |
| commit | e2a9675914683cf86544dc863d5b75dd3512d225 (patch) | |
| tree | 474a4c33c7626d609559523eaf8e5a71a258f1a9 /32070-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '32070-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 32070-h/32070-h.htm | 6708 |
1 files changed, 6708 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/32070-h/32070-h.htm b/32070-h/32070-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9fddcc7 --- /dev/null +++ b/32070-h/32070-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6708 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Specimens of German Romance: Selected and Translated from Various +Authors. Vol. I. The Patricians</title> +<meta name="Author" content="C. F. Van der Velde"> +<meta name="Publisher" content="Geo. B. Whittaker"> +<meta name="Date" content="1826"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +p.center {text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + + +p.section {letter-spacing:1em; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt;} +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:15%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt; text-align: justify;} + +.quote {font-size:90%} + + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps;} +span.space {letter-spacing: 1em; } + + +hr.W10 {width:10%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; margin-top:12pt; color:black;} + + +p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:0;} + +.poem { + margin-top : 24pt; + margin-left : 5%; + margin-right : 10%; + text-align : left; + margin-bottom : 24pt + } + .poem .stanza { + margin : 1em 0; + margin-top:24pt; + } + .poem p { + margin : 0; + padding-left : 3em; + text-indent : -3em; + } + .poem p.i0 { + margin-left : 0em; + } + .poem p.i4 { + margin-left : 2em; + } + .poem p.i6 { + margin-left : 3em; + } + .poem p.i8 { + margin-left : 4em; + } + .poem p.i10 { + margin-left : 5em; +} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Specimens of German Romance, by Carl Franz van der Velde + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Specimens of German Romance + Vol. I. The Patricians + +Author: Carl Franz van der Velde + +Editor: George Soan + +Release Date: April 20, 2010 [EBook #32070] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPECIMENS OF GERMAN ROMANCE *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:<br> +1. Page scan Source:<br> +http://www.archive.org/details/specimensofgerma01soaniala<br> +2. Footnotes are at the end of the book.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>VOL. I.</h2> +<hr class="W10"> +<h1>THE PATRICIANS.</h1> +<br> +<p class="center"><i> From the German of</i></p> + +<h2>C. F. VAN DER VELDE.</h2> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<h1>SPECIMENS</h1> + +<h3>OF</h3> + +<h1>GERMAN ROMANCE.</h1> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>SELECTED AND TRANSLATED FROM</h3> +<h2>VARIOUS AUTHORS.</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>IN THREE VOLUMES.</h2> + +<h2>VOL. I.</h2> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<div style="line-height:80%"> +<h2>LONDON:</h2> +<h3>PRINTED FOR GEO. B. WHITTAKER,</h3> +<h4>AVE-MARIA-LANE.</h4> +</div> +<hr class="W10"> +<h4>MDCCCXXVI.</h4> +<br> +<br> +<br><br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>THE PATRICIANS.</h2> + +<p class="continue">It was in the year 1568, on the 17th of May, old style, that +Althea, +the widow of Netz of Bogendorf, sate in her apartments at Schweidnitz. +The mourning veil still flowed about her pale beautiful face, while her +blue eyes gazed through their tears with melancholy tenderness on the +only pledge of a brief yet happy union, the four years' old Henry, who +sate upon her knees, and in childish sport was trying to pull the +golden locks of his mother from under her widows' cap. Before her stood +her old uncle, Seifried von Schindel, and, while he held the full +goblet in his hand, exhausted himself in consolations to lessen the +anguish of his beloved niece. With good-humoured rebuke he exclaimed, +"It is, no doubt, praise-worthy in your zeal to grieve for the loss of +your husband; I myself can't bear those widows, who, like green wood, +weep at one end, and burn at the other; but even good may be carried to +excess, and this utter surrender of yourself to grief is as contrary to +reason as it is to the word of God."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can I help it?" said Althea, with calm; and patient +sorrow: "How +can I help it, when all that surrounds me is an inexhaustible source of +tears? Do I see my husband's sword hanging against the wall, I must +weep--do I hear his war-horse neighing in the stable, I must weep--does +my sight fall upon this fatherless child alas!"--tears stifled her +words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A child who will soon be motherless too," exclaimed her +uncle, "if you +go on thus destroying your health by such unchristian want of +fortitude. Every thing has its season; your year of widowhood is past, +and as you are no longer entitled to wear black, so your mind too must +cast off the mourning in which it has been too closely enveloped, and +you must begin again to live for the world, to which, after all, you +belong. If you were a papist, you might bury your grief in a cloister, +for ought I should care; but that won't do now; and, besides, you have +important and sacred duties upon you. The property that you have to +preserve for the son of a beloved husband requires a stout protector in +these stormy times. A woman's bringing up, too, will not be sufficient +for him, and you'll not like to let him go from you so soon; therefore +you must give him a father who, with all love and earnestness, will +make an honourable knight out of him. In a word, you must marry again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Spare me such language, uncle," cried Althea, rising and +putting down +the child.</p> + +<p class="normal">But with gentle violence he forced her back into the chair +again, +saying, "It becomes youth to listen to the well-meant admonitions of +age, even though it should not happen to relish them: I keep to my +position. You least of all have occasion to complain of the want of +wooers. There is Hans Hund of Ingersdorf, Adam von Schweinicher of +Wenigmoknau; then there is your own cousin: all of whom would with +pleasure break their necks for a kind look from you, and are besides +brave knights and in good circumstances."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can you, even in jest, propose to sacrifice me to these +rude +companions, who have no enjoyment except in hunting, gambling, +drinking, and quarrelling; and who would only make me miss so much the +more painfully the mild pious disposition of my Henry?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why to be sure our knights are somewhat tough and knotty, but +so are +our oaks, and they afford a glorious wood for lasting. Mill-wheels are +not to be cut out of poplars. For the rest, a shrewd handsome woman +must know how to tame a rake, and every one will respect the female +slipper when it is wielded merely for a man's benefit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God deliver me from such a castigatory office; I should soon +sink +under it."</p> + +<p class="normal">--"Or if you long for a great fortune, you have but to give +the sign: I +have observed how Christopher Friend, whom you have drawn hither, +circles about you at a distance. He is a brisk widower, who was rich +from the first, and to that has inherited much from his late wife, the +Lauterbachin from Jauer. You would be able to bury yourself under your +gold bags."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shame on me if that could ever determine my choice!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor has honour any thing to say against it. Christopher's +father is +burgomaster of Schweidnitz, where he rules it bravely, almost like a +little king. The Friends belong to the Patricians of the city, and are +therefore nearly as good as half nobles; in Augsburg or Nuremberg they +would be reckoned nobles, and admissible to the tournay; moreover they +are already allied to the family of Schindel by marriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you love me, uncle; cease to speak for the sycophant. If, +to save +my son's life, I were compelled to choose between this Christopher and +his brother the wild Francis, by heavens I would choose the latter! I +do indeed fear the bear that roars and rushes on me with uplifted paws, +but the gliding serpent is a horror to my inmost soul."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, the comparison is not particularly flattering to either +of the +brothers," exclaimed Schindel, laughing. But on the sudden he was +silent, for there was a knocking at the door, and the two Friends +entered the apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We come in our father's service, noble lady," said +Christopher, with a +courteous inclination: "He gives a ball and banquet the day after +tomorrow, and most kindly requests you to grace the festival with your +presence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have not yet put off the mourning weeds for my husband; at +the same +time I set as much value by the intended honour as if it had been in my +power to accept it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your year of widowhood is already over, and my father would +deem it a +very worthy proof of his kinswoman's friendship, if out of regard to +him she were to lay aside her mourning. Much as it may become you, it +is still only a useless remembrance of a loss, the greatness of which +you feel but too deeply without that."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My brother is in the right," roared Francis: "Throw the black +rags +into the store-chest, and trim yourself up again in the colours that +suit you so well. You must not think of leaving life yet; 'twould be +pity of such a handsome thing. Nor would we Schweidnitzers allow it, +and you are within our walls now, and under our jurisdiction. Come +along, then, to the dance. We'll waltz it bravely with each other; and +if your cap should happen to get awry in it, and point to the widower, +there may be a remedy for that too. My house-plague, besides, is always +ill; and if she loves heaven better than I do, there may chance to be a +pair of you and me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your mouth is a sluice," exclaimed the old Schindel, +wrathfully, +"which, once opened, overwhelms every thing with its mire."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good God, Frank! how can you indulge in such unseemly +language?" cried +Christopher; while Althea bent down to her child as if she had heard +nothing; Francis turned upon his brother.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't you play the governor, Kit! In your heart you mean just +as I do, +only you go winding about the porridge: but that's not my way, and +therefore I say plainly, Cousin Althea, I am horribly thirsty with +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There stand the flask and goblet," replied Althea, shortly--"help +yourself;" and she turned away with her boy to the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't stand on much ceremony with your kinsfolk," +muttered +Francis, going to the table and filling up a bumper, while Christopher +went up to the widow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope you will not make me suffer for my brother's rashness, +but will +give me a favourable answer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have already told you the reason why I must decline the +invitation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you really, then, will put off my father with this poor +excuse?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Agree to go," whispered the uncle: "It is a family festival, +and all +the Schindels of the neighbourhood are invited. It is better not to be +singular and offend any one."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will come," said Althea, after a moment's hesitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have to thank you, Schindel, for this <i>yes</i>," returned +Christopher, +mortified: "The former <i>no</i> was intended for me alone; which cannot but +grieve me, however handsome the lips that pronounced it."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went; and Francis, filling the goblet for the third time, +cried out +after him, "The wine is good; I shall stop a little longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was now a clattering on the stairs, as if a whole troop +were +coming up, and in rushed Althea's brother-in-law, Anselm of Netz, with +his Pylades, Frederick of Reichenbach, surnamed Bieler.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God be with you, fair sister-in-law," exclaimed the wild +Netz, shaking +Althea's white hand with no very gentle cordiality.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What brings you so soon again to the city?" returned Althea +displeasedly, and drew back her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rasselwitz treats us to-day with a dozen flasks of old +Hungary, at +Barthel Wallach's," replied Netz: "You know that when once I get into +the old den I can't set off again without having seen you. God forgive +you, lady, but you must have bewitched me; and I shall yet denounce you +to the council of Schweidnitz."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How willingly would I undo the spell of which you complain! +Truly, it +gives me no pleasure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tush! you are not in earnest. We all know that women like to +be +courted, that their value may be the greater."</p> + +<p class="normal">Here he began to whistle and clatter up and down the room, +when his +eyes suddenly fell upon Francis, who had not yet been able to separate +himself from the goblet.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil! you too, Friend! What wind has blown you hither?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If any one should ask you," said Francis roughly, "tell him +you don't +know."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how is it with your lucky horse-swop?" asked Netz, in a +mocking +tone: "Have you settled with Rasselwitz?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Long ago," replied Francis, dryly, and poured out the +drainings of the +flask.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must be allowed," exclaimed Netz, with a loud laugh--"you +know how +to manage things admirably. He has got the bay, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I were an ass! I was drunk at the time I made the bargain, +and +therefore am bound to nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rasselwitz will show you that, my fine fellow! You have had +his horse, +and must keep your word."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He may fetch his mare, then, from the hangman. The beast fell +down +with me at the Bresslauer gate. I should deserve to be breeched if I +suffered myself to be cheated in this manner."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You'll have a stout tussle of it with him. In such matters he +does not +jest, and least of all with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him come, then, and fight it out with me. I have already +shown the +Turks in Hungary that I am not afraid. When I have got my cold iron at +my side, I am a match for a whole stable-full of such younkers."</p> + +<p class="normal">And with this he emptied the last goblet and drained it, while +Netz bit +his lips, and drawing Bieler aside, asked in a whisper, "If they should +not throw the braggart out of window?" To this the other replied by a +friendly nod of assent; but Althea, who had overheard the question, +exclaimed, "For God's sake do not trouble the quiet of this widowed +house!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And think, besides," said the old Schindel, warningly, "that +you are +at Schweidnitz, in his father's jurisdiction." At the same time he went +up to Francis, and observed, "I have yet a visit to make to the old +doctor Heidenreich, who has removed, and I do not know his present +quarters. Will you have the kindness, cousin Friend, to show me the way +thither?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not?" said Francis, seizing his cap; "though I well know +whence +the request comes. You want me away, that I may not get into a row with +these nobles here. Isn't it so? Ay, ay, Frank may be a wild companion, +but he is no fool. Well, you are a good old gentleman, and for this +time I'll comply with your wishes. Good morning, lady Althea."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went with the old Schindel to the door, and then turned +back +again--"What I have said of Rasselwitz you may boldly repeat to him; I +stand to my words."</p> + +<p class="normal">The two went away together. Netz looked indignantly after +Francis, and +exclaimed, "That such a fellow should give himself so many airs, merely +because he is rich and his father is a burgomaster!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You should not have irritated him," replied Althea, with mild +rebuke: +"Why do you meddle with him, if he does not please you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not understand it, cousin. 'Tis in the blood of me, I +cannot +let him rest in quiet. Nothing is more delightful than jeering a cit, +who would fain play the noble, and has not the stuff for it in him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you ought not to complain if he pays you in your own +coin. I +cannot comprehend, either, what satisfaction you men can find in +fleering and flouting at any one who, in your opinion, is beneath you. +If the person so mocked is patient enough to bear it, your victory is +easy and inglorious; if he parries the attack with similar weapons, +then there arise unnecessary quarrels: and in any case it shows an +unchristian want of charity, to hunt out the foibles of a neighbour +only to ridicule them for your amusement."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The most lovely preacher that I ever heard," said Bieler, +gallantly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You defend the rascal most nobly," muttered Netz. "If he were +single I +should suspect something; but as it is, I believe you do it merely that +you may always contradict me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To what subterfuges will the consciousness of injustice turn +itself +rather than confess to truth she is in the right!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She was interrupted by a gentle knocking at the door, and went +hastily +herself to open it, when there entered a tall stately man, about thirty +years of age, in a plain knightly costume, and decorated with the sable +scarf of Austria. Black locks hung about his clear forehead, while +power and gentleness spoke out from his large dark eyes, that sparkled +with friendly glances at the handsome widow.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I so fortunate as to greet in you the wife of Henry von +Netz?" he +asked, with a dignified inclination to all present, which forced a +similar courtesy from the two wild nobles.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was so," replied Althea; and a tear forced itself from her +eye.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was!" said the stranger,--"and this habit! You are a widow, +then? +Heavens! So early has my good Henry gone! and, as the appearance +teaches me, from the bosom of a most happy marriage. That does, indeed, +grieve me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You knew my husband?" asked Althea, drying her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Knew him?" rejoined the stranger, in the enthusiasm of +recollection--"We made our first essay in arms together. Has he never +talked to you of Caspar the Sparrenberger, surnamed Tausdorf?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Often, and with warm friendship. But he deemed you dead."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I joined the campaign against the Turks, and lay dangerously +wounded +in Transylvania.----That is your son?" he asked, in sudden emotion; and +lifting up the little Henry, he kissed him heartily--"His true eye +betrays the father--."</p> + +<p class="normal">He set the boy down again, and paced hastily up and down the +room to +collect himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are both too much agitated," he resumed, "to carry on this +conversation any longer. Permit me now to deliver a letter to you, +which your friend Sternberg, of Gitschin, requested me to take with me, +when she understood that I was going to Schweidnitz."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know my Thekla, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are near neighbours and good friends. My father lives at +Tirschkokrig, not far from Gitschin, and I was frequently with the +Sternberg family. The lady Thekla has talked so much of you, and so +much in your praise, that I knew, before I saw, you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I doubt whether she has shown me truly, for friendship is a +partial +painter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive me if I contradict you. Such, as you now stand before +me, has +your beautiful and friendly form long floated before my imagination."</p> + +<p class="normal">Althea cast down her eyes in confusion; but the little Henry +relieved +her from the answer to this embarrassing discourse. He had grown as +weary of the conversation as the two gaping nobles, and now began to +twitch his mother's gown, and teaze for his evening meal; upon which +she said, "Excuse me if I retire for a moment; I will but satisfy the +little tormentor here, and read through my Thekla's letter, while, in +the meantime, my brother-in-law, Netz, will be happy to grow more +intimately acquainted with you. Hereafter I will at leisure welcome you +to Schweidnitz, and you shall tell me all about our friends at +Gitschin."</p> + +<p class="normal">She left the room with her son. Tausdorf looked after for +awhile, and +then seemed lost in thought. After a short pause, Netz renewed the +conversation by saying, "You are a native of Bohemia, then?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf courteously replied, "My father settled some years +ago in the +hereditary domains of Austria as an imperial feodatory. I have the +honour to be a native of Silesia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does any business call you back to your native land?" asked +Netz, with +increasing cordiality: "If I can serve you in any thing, you have only +to say so; I know from my brother's own mouth that you were his very +good friend."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you for your kind proffers. For the present I have +only to +commend myself to your neighbourly good-will, for I think of settling +shortly in the vicinity of Schweidnitz."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will be heartily welcome to us, though you will find but +sorry +comfort now in this country."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf was astonished.--"How so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, the burghers have got the upper hand of us nobles. Their +wealth, +their absurd privileges, have made them arrogant. A pitiful burgomaster +of Schweidnitz will think himself greater than the emperor; and as to +us, the whole mob of them look upon us with contempt. They need us not, +they fear us not, and where they can do us any annoyance, they do it +with delight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The purse-pride of the citizens is, no doubt, particularly +disgusting; +but to be candid, we should not too severely judge the industrious +mechanic, the clever merchant, the dexterous artist, or the man of +learning, even though the consciousness and the satisfaction of their +hardly-earned property should lead them too far. Our pride of birth, +when carried to excess, is also a hateful vice; and we have much less +to advance in its defence, because that on which we pride ourselves is +only <i>inherited</i>, and not <i>earned</i>. For the rest, I have always thought +that in these eternal feuds between the nobles and the citizens, the +wrong was to be found on both sides; the right is always in the middle, +and both parties can attain it only by mutual forbearance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you judge wrongly of these Silesian pedlers," exclaimed +the wild +Bieler: "If a noble were only to yield a finger to them, they would +seize the whole man, and clap him into a pepper-bag. No, no, you must +keep a tight hand over the people, and hardly let them breathe, or +there will one day be an end of our old customs and sacred privileges."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So thought the nobles before the unlucky war of the +peasants," said +Tausdorf, "and Germany was turned into a desert by it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't take it ill, Tausdorf," returned Netz; "in other +respects you +may be a brave knight; but if we were to follow your maxims, we should +all be forced to fly the cities."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf shrugged up his shoulders at their incorrigible +stubbornness, +when Rasselwitz burst into the room, his face glowing with rage, and +asked furiously, "Is not Francis Friend here?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He was here a quarter of an hour ago," replied Netz; "perhaps +you may +yet find him at doctor Heidenreich's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am in no humour to hunt after the rascal any longer," +roared +Rasselwitz. "This is the day whereon he promised to give up the horse +to me. I have already beat up his quarters, but found him abroad, and +the stable locked."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He does not intend to give up the horse to you. He has openly +and +loudly declared as much here."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We'll soon see that," cried Rasselwitz furiously. "I'll ask +his wife +for the stable-key, and if she refuses it, I'll break the door open, +and fetch out the animal by force. Will you join me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Of course," replied Netz and Bieler.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you, Herr von Tausdorf?" said Netz. "A brave companion +like you, +will you not run the hazard with us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not like such disputes," replied Tausdorf, gravely: +"they too +often degenerate into frays, wherein more honour is to be lost than +gained. Besides, it seems to me that the right is not on your side. If +you really have any well-grounded pretensions to the horse, an appeal +to the courts would be a better way of proceeding than this forcible +violation of another's property, which sets you in the class of +feud-makers and agitators."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To the courts?" shouted Rasselwitz, with a wild laugh--"And +the +burgomaster is the father of the perjured rascal that I am to complain +of! He would do me admirable justice, no doubt! No! no! we shall get on +much better with our hands. Come, comrades; there's still enough of us +for these pedlers."</p> + +<p class="normal">They rushed out; and Tausdorf, shaking his head, exclaimed, +"It is an +evil spirit that is prevailing in this country."</p> + +<p class="normal">After a short time Althea returned with her uncle, and +presented the +two guests to each other, when the old man said, "I have already heard +so much worthy talk of you, Herr von Tausdorf, that I heartily rejoice +in your more intimate acquaintance. You are in the imperial service?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Captain in the emperor's life-guard," replied Tausdorf, with +military +dignity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"As the Frau von Sternberg informs my niece, you intend +settling in our +good Silesia. I am glad to hear it, and whatever I can do for you, +either in act or counsel, I offer you with great sincerity; but it +surprises me that you should think of leaving Bohemia. I understand you +are in favour with the emperor, and, since the imperial diet at Prague +has given independence to the protestants, it must be comfortable +living for them in the Bohemian territory."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This favour little profits us Utraquists. In reality the bull +of Pius +the Fourth is already recalled. Strict catholics still hold us for +sectaries and half heretics: add to this, the new society of Jesuits +already lifts up its serpent-head, and hisses out its threats at us. +Our religious freedom has almost come to an end."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, the Jesuits! the Jesuits!" exclaimed Schindel, and for a +while +was silent; then looking sadly at Tausdorf, he continued--"So, you are +no thorough-paced Lutheran, Herr von Tausdorf?--only a Utraquist?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter bowed assentingly, and Schindel added, as if to +soften his +first expression, "The Utraquists too are honourable people."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope so," replied Tausdorf, smiling at the intolerance +which lurked +in the well-intended affirmation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But keep that a secret here as long as it can be done; at +least till +the people know you better. The town, as well as the whole country, is +zealously Lutheran."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pardon me; in the field I have learnt neither simulation nor +dissimulation, and I deem them besides contrary to my honour as a +knight. He who, on account of the Utraquist, overlooks the man in me, +is only an object of my pity, and I set little value on his opinion."</p> + +<p class="normal">A tumult in the street interrupted this conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter below?" said Schindel to the servant, who +just then +brought in a fresh flask of wine.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A violent fray," he replied, "in the house of the widow Fox, +in the +market-place. Francis Friend quarrelled with Rasselwitz about a bay +horse, and from words they drew their swords upon each other. The +police have already interfered to put an end to the tumult."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious heavens!" cried Schindel, clasping his hands, "will +this +disorder never have an end?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The crime," returned Tausdorf, "was settled in this room by +the +violent young nobles. I immediately suspected the evil that would come +of it, and warned them, but in vain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God reward you for the good intent," said Schindel, and he +proffered +his hand to him with unfeigned cordiality: "There is, indeed, a +necessity for rational people interfering in these mad affairs, which +are now unceasing between the nobles and the citizens; one fray always +creates a multitude, and in the end both parties will be ruined by +them."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke the door was violently thrown open, and in rushed +the +breathless Netz, sword in hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For heaven's sake, what has happened?" cried Althea, +anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Under favour, sister," panted Netz, sheathing his sword: +"Allow your +servant to fetch my horse directly. He will find it in the stable at +Barthel Wallach's. I must be off this hour from Schweidnitz, or I am +lost."</p> + +<p class="normal">At a sign from his mistress the servant hurried out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what is really the matter?" asked Schindel, pressingly: +"You have +no doubt been again doing in your wrath what is not right before God."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We went," said Netz, binding his pocket-handkerchief about +his +bleeding arm, "to fetch the horse which Francis had promised +Rasselwitz. In the house we stumbled on him and some fellows of his own +stamp. From words it soon came to blows. The fray grew hot; my servant +was flung into the well: still, however, we stood our ground fairly; +but then came the police upon us with the whole tribe of city officers, +and we were overwhelmed by numbers; Bieler was killed; Rasselwitz +wounded and taken; I saw that standing out would lead to nothing but +death or a dungeon, laid about me like a boar at bay, and fortunately +cut my way through."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Men, men!--how will you answer for that which you have done?" +exclaimed Schindel, sorrowfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What! are we to take any thing and every thing of these +citizens? It +may perhaps be Christian-like when one cheek is smitten to hold the +other; but to strike again is human, and I do not wish to be any thing +better than a man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The son of the worthy intendant killed!--and his murderer the +son of +the all-powerful Erasmus!" exclaimed Schindel--"It will be a war of the +Guelphs and Ghibellines!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your horse stands below," said the servant, returning: "Your +lad saved +himself in good time from his cold bath, and brought it hither."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My horse waits below too," cried Tausdorf, taking up his +gloves and +hat: "With your permission, Herr von Netz, I will accompany you beyond +the boundaries. The irritated citizens may mean evil to you if they +find you yet within their jurisdiction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I accept your offer with thanks," replied Netz, hurrying out. +Tausdorf +kissed Althea's hand and said--"I thank you heartily for your friendly +welcome; it seemed to me as if my dear native land greeted me with your +lips, and I only grieve that our first meeting should be so brief and +so unkindly interrupted; but I purpose repeating my visit, if the widow +of my deceased friend will allow it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will always be welcome to me," replied the beautiful +widow, in +embarrassment; and the hands, which had been joined seemed to grow +together, while her uncle called out from the window, "Haste! haste! +Netz is already mounted, and the police are coming up the streets from +the market with a whole rabble of armed citizens."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell!" said Tausdorf, hastily, and disappeared; and +Althea, +darting to the window, cried out after him to be careful of himself. +The armed multitude approached; Netz, forgetting his companion, gave +his horse the spurs and galloped off. In the meantime Tausdorf came out +of the house, sprang lightly and nimbly into the saddle, and sent up a +last friendly greeting to the window. In the same moment he was +surrounded by the rabble. Several rough hands seized his horse's reins, +while about him crowded a threatening array of pikes, maces, and +firelocks; and a wild shout arose of--"Another of the murderers!--tear +the scoundrel from his horse!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What would you with me?" said Tausdorf, sternly:--"I have had +no share +in this unhappy quarrel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Found together, bound together!" shouted the rough rabble: +"You must +ornament the town-jail."</p> + +<p class="normal">With this the boldest amongst them seized the knight's legs to +pull him +from the saddle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Respect to the imperial colours, ye citizens of Schweidnitz!" +exclaimed Tausdorf, and gave his horse the spur and the curb at the +same time. The noble beast reared and struck about him with his +fore-hoofs, to the sore dismay of those who held the reins, and who +immediately let them go; and the knight, thundering out to the mob to +make way, now struck the rowels into his horse's flanks. In an instant +two powerful plunges freed him from his enemies. A loud cry of mingled +joy and terror echoed from Althea's window, while Tausdorf sprang over +the rabble that were rolling upon each other in confusion, and rushed +out of the gates at full speed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God be praised!" said Althea, as she left the window, +exhausted by her +feelings: "I was in terror for the brave knight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In terror?--already in terror?" asked her uncle mockingly, +and, going +up to her, he seized her hand--"Look me fairly in the face, niece."</p> + +<p class="normal">For a moment she cast her eyes down, then raised them up to +him with +difficulty; but the effort to keep a steady gaze on her uncle's brow +kindled a rosy glow upon her own. He went on, however, without mercy--</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now, niece, as plain an answer: if this Bohemian should +ever ask +you to become his wife, would you in that case declare yourself as +roughly as you have done this day to your other suitors?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You torment me," said Althea, with gentle reproach. Her hand +slipped +from his, and she fled out of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"'Tis a clear thing!" said the uncle to himself--"Well, I have +nothing +to say against it; the man pleases me--I wish he were not a Utraquist!"</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The lovely Agatha, the daughter of the city messenger, +Onophrius +Goldmann, sat at the window in her humble chamber. The spindle rested +in her hand; on her lap lay an open volume of the songs and tales of +the master-bards, but her hazel eyes wandered from the book to the +darkening street, and her bosom heaved beneath its drapery. "Twilight," +she exclaimed, "twilight is already coming on, and still my father does +not return. O that no accident has happened to Francis!" At this +moment, some one burst open the street door, and rushed into the +chamber;--it was Francis Friend.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have had a glorious row with the vagabond nobles," he +cried, +embracing the maiden roughly, "and the mad Netz has flayed my arm, but +I think I have paid him for it, in a way that will make him remember +me. Bind up the wound, Agatha."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wicked man," replied Agatha chidingly, as she stripped off +the sleeve +through which the blood was welling; "you are always running wantonly +into danger, and care not for the anxiety which I suffer on your +account."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What, am I to let those vagabonds steal the horse from my +stable? In +the end they'll quarter themselves upon me, and drive me out of house +and home."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You hate the nobles so violently, and yet have married the +daughter of +a noble!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately! And I do believe it is on that very account +she is such +an abomination to me; but I shan't be such a fool again. My wife won't +be much longer on her feet, and when she is unharnessed, my next choice +is soon settled; a girl of low rank, when she is as beautiful as my +Agatha, is dearer to me than a dozen countesses."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Flatterer," murmured Agatha, winding her arms about his neck, +while +her kisses burnt upon his lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious Heaven!" cried a deep-base voice, and the lovers +started from +each other in terror.--Onophrius Goldmann stood at the open door, his +left hand hid in his doublet, and supporting himself with the right, +for he was exhausted almost to fainting; but his eyes shot lightning at +the delinquents. Francis in vain sought to recover from the shame of +surprise to his usual braving tone, and Agatha wrung her hands and +wept.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So you have at last succeeded, master Friend, in seducing my +child," +said the wretched father. "May God reckon with you for it!--and you, +obstinate girl, have I not warned, prayed, threatened? Did you not +swear to me to shun the man who makes you thus unhappy? How have you +deceived me!--a long time deceived me, with your wicked artifices; for, +from what I now see, your sin is not of to-day. These are the +consequences of the infernal love-songs and romances, which ought to be +utterly forbidden to women; their place is at the hearth and the +spindle. The mad trash, invented by the dry brains of the poetasters to +tickle your nobles, is for them poison. There it is they learn to build +up air-castles in the midst of reality--there it is that they find +every passion painted in fine colours, and, before they dream of it, +their honour is gone, and--God deliver us!--their eternal salvation +also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I give you my word," at length stammered Francis, "that +Agatha's +honour shall one day be redeemed before the world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You!" cried Onophrius,--"a husband! Heaven have mercy on us! +Would you +send your wife after the murdered Netz, or, like count Gleichen, get a +dispensation at Rome for a double wedlock?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so rough, old man," exclaimed Francis in a tone of +menace; "I +don't like to hear such language, nor does it become the servant +towards his master's son."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is the curse which rests upon the poor and lowly," +exclaimed +Onophrius, crawling to the nearest chair, and sinking down upon it, +exhausted. "It is our curse that we are powerless, and weaponless, and +lawless, against the great who wrong us, while, over and above all, we +must spill our blood for our tyrants. Maimed in your defence, I return +to my hovel, find you in the arms of my seduced child, and when my just +anguish pours itself forth in words, you meanly appeal to your father's +rank, and close my mouth by despicable threats."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Maimed!" cried Friend in alarm, and Agatha flew with loud +lamentations +to her father, who, drawing his left arm from his doublet, showed the +stump, bound up in bloody cloths.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eternal mercy! your hand!" shrieked Agatha.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It lies before the house of the widow Fox, in the market," +said +Onophrius gloomily; "Netz hewed it from the arm just before you killed +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It grieves me; but on my honour I will make all good again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is more than you can do: though you were to empty out +all your +gold-bags into this room, yet would no hand grow again upon this stump; +though you were to dress my child in brocade, and adorn her with pearls +and diamonds, still she would be your strumpet, over whom I must tear +the grey locks from this aged head. Gracious Heavens! how little must +you gentlemen think of us poor people, that you fancy all is to be +satisfied with gold,--all, life and limb, honour and conscience! Well; +God is just, and will one day weigh you in even scales, and find you +too light for his heaven."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only let two eyes be closed first," protested Francis, "and +if I do +not then take home your Agatha as my wife, and make you a man of +consequence in the city, you may call me villain in the public +market-place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My good Francis," exclaimed Agatha, affectionately, and gave +him her +hand, even before the eyes of her stern parent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If we both live," said Onophrius, with peculiar emphasis, "if +we both +live, I will remind you of your promise; but I fear that we shall not +get so far; I fear that this day's tumult will have worse consequences +than you imagine. That Bieler has been killed is a sad misfortune. The +nobles will be mad, and I already begin to shudder at the idea of the +jail and the scaffold."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is Bieler, then, really dead?" asked Francis anxiously, after +a long +silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I saw him carried as a corpse to the Guildhall," replied +Onophrius. +"The thing, too, happened naturally enough. As my left hand flew off, I +cut at his head with my right, and you soon after made an end of him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Upon all this we'll be silent to every one," said Francis, +who had +again collected himself. "For the rest, the whole business is of no +great consequence. I was acting in self-defence; and you were only +doing your duty. If any ill have grown out of it, Rasselwitz, who began +the strife by breaking into my house, must be the sufferer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That won't satisfy the nobles," said Onophrius, shaking his +head.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let them bite away their anger upon their nails," exclaimed +Francis +boastfully. "My father is master here in Schweidnitz, and will not let +them hurt a hair upon my head."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>You</i> are safe,--but <i>I</i>!" replied Onophrius, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You stand and fall with me, old friend. If I ever forget you, +or what +you have this day done and suffered for me, may God forget me in my +dying hour!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Amen!" murmured Onophrius with failing voice, and, swooning +with the +loss of blood, he dropped from his seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is dying!" sobbed Agatha, as she caught her father in her +arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is a day of evil," shouted Francis, gazing for a moment +on the +mischief he had wrought, and striking his forehead wildly with his +clenched hands, he dashed away.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">It was two days after this when the tumult of voices, the +stamp of +steeds, and the clatter of iron, woke Althea from a morning sleep, +which had been troubled, yet beautified, by delightful visions. In her +thin night garments she hastened to the window, and saw the streets +full of horses, which were led by armed knights. The clang of harness, +in the meantime, resounded up the stairs, and a party of knights +entered the room in complete armour and closed vizors. The leader of +them threw up his beaver; it was the wild Netz.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Under favour, sister, I bring you a whole bevy of cousins, +nobles, and +good friends, who are all dying with desire to kiss your fair hand, and +would, moreover, beg a breakfast of you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What brings you, gentlemen, so early to Schweidnitz?" asked +Althea in +alarm--"in such warlike guise too!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The lord bishop, Caspar, visits the city today," replied +Netz, "to +speak a few serious words, as prince palatine<a name="div2_note01" href="#div2Ref_note01"><sup>1</sup></a>, with our council +here, on the score of Bieler's murder. Now, as we know by experience +that the citizens have hard heads, and are easily excited to uproar and +all sorts of mischief, we have come to give the proper weight to the +bishop's words with our steel, if need should be. The strongest party +of us have quartered themselves at Barthel Wallach's, because we did +not wish to fill your house too full, and we have sent out a watch to +give us immediate notice of the bishop's coming, till when we would +rest with you, and enjoy ourselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">At his signal every vizor rattled up, and from every helmet +looked a +well-known face, that greeted Althea with respect, and amongst them she +recognised Tausdorf.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How! you here, Tausdorf?" she cried, with a vivacity that +confounded +her own self.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That surprises you, does it not?" exclaimed Netz. "Troth, +when he so +bluntly refused to join us in fetching the bay, I had no idea that he +would enter upon such an adventure as the present one. But he offered +himself of his own accord, which indeed has made me wonder not a +little."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In that there is nothing for wonder," said Tausdorf, gravely. +"I have +always remained the same. With justice I refused to take part in an +action which I deemed illegal; but I hold it for my knightly duty to be +in the saddle when it is to defend the authorities of the land, and +support them in their sacred office against factions and those who +would take the law into their own hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let that be, my worthy countryman," said Netz; "we'll not +dispute +about our principles. It is enough for me that we have got you, that +you belong to us, and hold the pedlers in the wrong."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so unconditionally as you imagine. The evil originated +with the +nobles. Whether upon this the citizens too did not go beyond their +bounds, that must be inquired into by the palatine, and punished +accordingly. We nobles are a party in the matter, and have therefore no +voice in the decision."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the name of Heaven, Tausdorf, whence have you borrowed +this +lamb-like patience? Did not the rascals wish to fling you into jail, +though you were more innocent of the whole transaction than a new-born +babe? Did they not seize your bridle, and try to pull you from your +horse?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That was long ago forgiven and forgotten."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eh! What! The hounds must not venture to fall upon a knight! +The +bishop must obtain for you a brilliant satisfaction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Satisfaction to the law, not to me. The bishop has disputes +of higher +import to settle, and I should be ashamed to trouble him with this +trifle."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a brave knight!" exclaimed the old Schindel, who had +been +sent to them by Althea, and, having entered unnoticed, had overheard +the conversation--"Happy were our principality if all these gentlemen +were like you! Then again might grow and flourish the tender olive-tree +of civil peace, which the hand of Maximilian so lovingly planted, but +at which both the nobles and citizens are pulling and dragging with +equal violence, so that in the end it is likely to perish, to the grief +of all those who mean it fairly with the land."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The old man," cried Netz to his companions, "will often say +things +that we do not like to hear; but one can't be angry with him, because +he means it so well with us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And because, alas! he is always right in his rebukes," added +Schindel, +as two servants entered the room with flasks and goblets.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God be thanked!" exclaimed Netz, and immediately filled +himself a +goblet. "I was beginning to feel faint about the stomach, and then one +is in poor plight for a fray. Fall to, comrades."</p> + +<p class="normal">The knights complied, and each stood with a goblet in his iron +hand:--"But, not to forget the main point," continued Netz; "we have +not yet talked of who is to be our leader in this business, which yet +is necessary in case it should come to blows. That must be settled +directly on the spot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why, who but yourself, brother Netz?" exclaimed Hans Ecke of +Viehau: +"You have been riding about, and sending round your messengers through +the whole principality, till you have whistled us all up to this +expedition."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, I am not fit for it," said Netz frankly; "I am a better +hand at +blows than at leading. I should be for hammering away upon the mob at +once, and might do you a mischief.--What say you to it, old gentleman?" +he added, turning to Schindel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must excuse me. I am about to settle in quiet at +Schweidnitz, and +must not quarrel with the council and the citizens; but if my opinion +have any weight with you, elect Tausdorf. He has vigour and courage for +it, and moreover the requisite discretion, which you shatter-brains are +deficient in, one and all, and which will be most especially needed in +a matter that is intrinsically evil. Besides, he is an imperial +officer, whom you may all boldly follow without casting a blot upon +your nobility."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The old one must always give us a rap on the knuckles," said +Netz, +laughing; "he can't go less; but in the main he seems to me to be +right; therefore, whoever amongst you thinks the same, let him draw his +sword."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tausdorf shall be our leader!" shouted the whole band of +knights, and +fifty swords glittered in the air. In the same moment Netz's squire +rushed in, exclaiming, "Two of the bishop's equerries have dismounted +before the Guildhall; he will be here himself in a quarter of an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Halloah! To horse! To horse!" cried Netz, rushing to the door +with his +drawn sword. The rest were about to follow him with unsheathed weapons, +when Tausdorf thundered out, "Halt!" At the word the knights stood +still.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Put up your swords before you mount," he said, in a tone of +stern +command.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wherefore?" asked Netz, returning angrily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have chosen me for your leader in this business," +answered +Tausdorf, with all the dignity of command, "and it is your duty, +therefore, to obey me; but I am not bound to account to you for every +thing I may order. For this time, however, I am content to tell you my +motives. Should we ride with drawn swords, the citizens and magistrates +might take it for a hostile incursion, or, if they are evilly disposed, +might merely pretend to do so, and oppose us with arms, in which case, +when the bishop entered the city, he would find the civil war already +kindled, which it was the purpose of his coming to avert. Will you +answer for the bloodshed that may arise from such a trifle?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Netz silently sheathed his sword; his brothers in arms +followed his +example.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And now, with God, to horse, gentlemen," added Tausdorf, +kissed +Althea's hand in silent fervour, and strode out. The knights hastened +after him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What a man! exclaimed Althea, as in the overflow of feeling +she sank +upon her uncle's breast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, niece," replied Schindel, with emotion: "Let +him be ten +times an Utraquist, yet he is a noble, strong-minded man, and with +pleasure should I one day lay your hand in his."</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The old burgomaster, Erasmus Friend, paced up and down the +large arched +chamber of his stately stone mansion, in his official insignia, his +hands behind his back, and gloom upon his wrinkled forehead. Just then +crept in the doctor of law, Esaias Heidenreich, a thin little man, with +a face of cunning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well!" exclaimed the burgomaster, "have you found it out? +What would +the bishop?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Just what I prophesied," replied the doctor, shrugging his +shoulders; +"he would inquire into this bad business himself, and submit the +decision to the emperor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is against our privileges," cried the burgomaster, +indignantly. +"The penal jurisdiction belongs exclusively to our city in all cases."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I would not affirm that so unconditionally. Besides, that is +no longer +the question. His grace, the right reverend bishop, chooses to look at +the affair in his own way: the only point then is--<i>quæritur</i>--whether +you will submit to the authority of the prince palatine, or not? And +upon this you must make up your mind speedily, for in a few minutes he +rides into our good city."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The priest need not be always poking his nose into what is +not his +business. I won't submit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will you then entirely break with the noble old man, who +entertains +such favourable and tolerant opinions towards all <i>Acatholicos</i>? And +if, after all, he should choose to maintain his authority by force?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I order our civil troops to mount, and the corporation +to be +under arms. Within my walls I am master, and no other."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But whether the common weal will gain any thing by the +measure? I must +submit that to your wisdom. Think of the evils which the Smalcald +league brought on us eighteen years ago--of the shameful contribution +which the town was forced to pay--of the imprisonment which the <i>consul +dirigens</i>, Furstenhau, had to suffer in the White Tower, at Prague, and +here in the Hildebrand. This time, too, it may turn out still worse. +Your opposition may be construed into open rebellion: what the penalty +of that is, you know as well as I do, and also that Schweidnitz is +compassed about by enemies. The land-nobles hate us violently, and the +emperor's wrath would find a thousand willing and lusty hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Should I now begin to be afraid of these lordlings, in good +truth I +were neither worthy nor able to fill this my place of honour. Only let +them come. We will so receive them, that they shall think of the old +Erasmus all their life long."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The lord bishop has just dismounted from his horse before the +Guildhall," announced the city servant, Rudolph, while his teeth +chattered. "The council is already assembled, and all wait for your +worship."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ring out the alarm-bell," shouted Francis Friend, following +close upon +his heels. "The land-nobles have rode up to the market-place, in +complete armour, near five hundred strong."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have they committed any disturbance?" asked Erasmus, hastily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied Francis, "nor have they even drawn a sword. They +only +stand in the market-place, quite still and orderly, as is by no means +their way at other times; if you ask what they want, they give +themselves out for the retinue of the prince palatine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who leads them?" inquired Erasmus with smothered wrath.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I know not," replied Francis; "they have all got their +visors +down."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I heard," said Heidenreich, "that their leader is a certain +Sparrenberger, surnamed Tausdorf. He has lately come hither from +Bohemia, and intends settling in this country."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sparrenberger, surnamed Tausdorf," repeated Erasmus bitterly, +taking +out his memorandum-book and writing in it: "I shall recollect the name +again at a fitter season."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shall I have the alarm rung?" asked Francis urgently.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the old Erasmus began to pace up and down the chamber +with long +strides. The passion for resistance struggled mightily with the sense +of its danger in the breast of the vigorous despot. This was perceived +by Heidenreich, who approached him and said with anxious warmth: "If +the advice of an old lawyer have yet any weight with you,--and one too +who means it fairly with you and the city,--submit yourself for this +once, master burgomaster. That, which Francis proposes to you, leads +directly to feud with the emperor and the empire, and ruins yourself, +and your family, and the town which is entrusted to your providence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will keep yourself quiet, Francis," at length said the +old man, +after a heavy sigh of self-control. He then turned to Heidenreich--"You +will accompany me to the sessions."</p> + +<p class="normal">With dignified pride he stalked out, and Heidenreich, +following him, +exclaimed, "Heaven be praised!"--while Francis stamped with his feet, +and rushed out after them like a maniac.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The burgomaster, Erasmus Friend, had just taken his place at +the +council-table amidst many long pale faces, when the attendants in +servile haste and anxiety threw open the folding-doors, and the bishop +of Breslaw entered, Caspar von Logau, a venerable and hale old man; +with him came the hauptmann of the principality, Mathias von Logan. The +members of the council rose respectfully from their seats, while +Erasmus coldly advanced to the first authority in Silesia. The bishop +addressed him with dignified earnestness:</p> + +<p class="normal">"There have been evil doings in your city, Mr. Burgomaster. I +take it +for granted you have, as a first step, adopted fitting measures that +the state of facts may not be concealed, and that the culprits may not +escape punishment by flight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The beginner of the fray is arrested," replied Erasmus, "and +the body +of the deceased is in our care."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whom do you understand by the beginner of the fray?" asked +the bishop, +looking keenly at Erasmus.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rasselwitz," replied the burgomaster with eagerness, +"Rasselwitz, who +broke into my son's dwelling like a common robber."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will render up the prisoner to my delegate, which ought +to have +been done immediately on his arrest. The body of Netz we will presently +view together, and then deliver it over to his relations for burial."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You seem, my lord bishop, as if you would bring this case +under the +emperor's jurisdiction: but, according to our privileges, the trial and +the sentence belong to us, and I must give up nothing of the city's +charter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is danger in delay, and therefore we will not waste the +time in +legal disputations. I will answer for what I do, and the emperor +himself shall decide upon the competence of the tribunal. Against this, +I presume, you can have nothing to object, Mr. Burgomaster."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No!" replied Erasmus, with heavy heart and suppressed +indignation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How is it with the answer on the part of the citizens?" +continued the +bishop, bringing forth a roll of papers, from which he read--"According +to the charge of the Bieler family, there were present and active +in the fray, your son, Francis,--the city-messenger, Onophrius +Goldmann,--the city-servant, George Rudolph, and a cutler's +apprentice.--All these too are, of course, under arrest."</p> + +<p class="normal">Erasmus was silent, for he felt his error, and was too proud +to justify +it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No!" exclaimed the bishop. "Immediately take measures for +bringing +them hither under a secure guard. <i>All</i>--do you hear me? <i>all</i>, not +excepting your own son."</p> + +<p class="normal">The burgomaster was silent, and did not stir, while in his +breast +rekindled the strife that had scarcely been subdued.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, gentlemen, am I to be obeyed?" cried the bishop, +advancing with +indignant majesty to the sessions-table, by Erasmus' upper place.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this there started out of the hall, as if actuated by one +spirit, +the aldermen, Peter Treutler and Balthasar Albrecht, to fulfil the +commands of the bishop, who continued to Erasmus--</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am almost displeased with you, Mr. Burgomaster, and I +hardly know +what the emperor, to whom I must communicate this unhappy affair, will +say to your proceedings. You Lutherans are constantly harping upon the +holy Scriptures, and will be judged only after their words. Well, then, +have you not read what the wise king Solomon says, 'Love justice, ye +rulers of the earth, for injustice lays waste all lands, and evil life +overthrows the seats of the mighty?' But what is to be thought of the +equity of a judge, who imprisons the party of the murdered, and suffers +the assassins to be at liberty, because his own son is at their head?"</p> + +<p class="normal">This reproach touched exactly on the sore place, and cut so +much the +deeper into the soul of the proud elder; he was just about to burst +forth in all the vigour of his mind, and with indignant zeal for the +authority of his office; but then doctor Heidenreich advanced to him +and whispered soothingly, "Since you have determined to submit, do it +with a good grace, and make not a bad matter still worse by +unseasonable passion." Upon this Erasmus collected himself by a violent +effort, champed down the words which he had just been going to hurl +against the bishop, and, retreating to the window, gazed indignantly at +the nobles, who kept watch on horseback before the Guildhall, in close +compact ranks, like so many colossuses of iron. In the mean time, the +bishop seated himself in the burgomaster's arm-chair, reading over his +papers, while so profound a silence reigned, that one might have heard +the buzzing of the flies in the room and the heavy breathing of the +anxious aldermen.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length Treutler returned, followed by Rasselwitz, his arm +in a +sling, the poor one-handed Goldmann, and the rest of the accused. Armed +city-mercenaries brought up the rear.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bishop rose from his seat to observe the comers, and +exclaimed to +them authoritatively, "You are prisoners of the emperor and king of +Bohemia, and of his chief tribunal at Prague. Give up your arms!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We recognize only the assize at Schweidnitz as our judges in +this +matter," retorted the wild Francis defyingly, in the name of all.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that the respect, Mr. Burgomaster," asked the irritated +bishop--"is +that the respect which you show to your prince and his laws? I had +heard much of the arrogance of the patricians here, and of the Friend +family in particular; but this audacity even exceeds my expectations."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Give up your sword, Frank," said Erasmus with broken voice.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sacred heavens!" cried Francis, painfully alarmed--"do you +yourself +command it, father? Then, indeed, I must obey:"--And he unbuckled his +sword, laid it on the council-table, and returned to his companions, +who followed his example. The alderman Albrecht now announced that the +body of Bieler was brought into the custom-house below.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will inspect the corse and confront with it the accused," +said the +bishop to Erasmus: "you will then separate all parties, and bring them +into safe custody. I give them over to you--you alone; but you shall +answer for them to the emperor and myself with your head."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went out with Matthias and Rasselwitz. The council with +their +prisoners and retinue followed; only the burgomaster remained behind, +and grasped Heidenreich firmly by the hand, so that the latter could +not join the cavalcade.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, thou prince of peace!" he exclaimed, gnashing his +teeth--"had I +not done better by causing the alarm to be rung?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you are convinced that such a measure will tend to the +general +weal," replied Heidenreich, "you may take it still. I would have you +weigh, however, that five hundred warriors are drawn up yonder, well +armed, and ready to support the bishop's orders. The result of the fray +is uncertain, and even if we were to conquer, what would be the fate of +all of us?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! these nobles!" cried Erasmus furiously. "Well! some +opportunity of +revenge will yet offer itself, and, by God and his holy Gospel, I will +seize it by the forelock--it shall not escape me."</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">On the Friday after George, in the year 1571, sate Francis +Friend, with +broken spirits, in the Hildebrand of Schweidnitz, his constant quarters +since the time of his arrest. It was already late in the evening, and a +melancholy lamp partially illumined the sad chamber. The long durance +had subdued the wild refractory mood of the prisoner: even the wine no +longer relished. He leaned with his head in his hands upon the table by +the side of the full flask, and took all the pains imaginable not to +think, that he might escape from the recollections and forebodings +which tormented him. The door now gently opened, and doctor +Heidenreich, creeping in, roused him out of his gloomy meditation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your worshipful father sends me to you, master Friend. You +fate seems +to be approaching its decision; and I am come, therefore, once again to +speak to you alone about this awkward business of yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Make me no long prefaces, master doctor," cried Francis, +starting up +wildly, "but speak it out plainly. My sentence is pronounced; I am to +die. Well, then, I am content. I have often before this looked death +boldly in the face, and would rather perish at once than pine away any +longer in this damned hole."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Always so hasty and impetuous!" said Heidenreich, and sate +down +quietly by his side. "The question is not yet of the final sentence; +but, as a preliminary measure, the rack, in all its degrees, is +adjudged to Onophrius Goldmann, and to that they proceed this very +night. The delegates of the council will also be present. It is, +therefore, above all things requisite to know for certain how deeply +you are implicated in the Bieler murder, that the necessary precautions +may be taken. Your answers at the examination have by no means +satisfied the lords commissioners, nor, to be candid, myself either. +Now, therefore, I come to put to you a couple of questions, which you +must answer me, but honestly as a son to a father; for, look you, I am +to defend you when the examination is over, so that I should be +considered, <i>in jure</i>, as your physician and confessor, to whom you +must speak the truth if you wish to be radically healed. First, then, +tell me, did you in the fray actually strike Bieler upon the head with +your sword?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There you ask more than I can answer," replied Francis with +vexation. +"The row was all wildness and confusion; I was half drunk too, and rage +made my intoxication still madder. I came up roundly to my opponent; +but whether I hit Bieler, or whether I did not hit him, that the devil +knows best."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You don't answer me honestly," said Heidenreich with lifted +finger, +"and thus without occasion impede my colloquy. You must not, therefore, +take it ill, if I put my second question as though I were already +convinced of your guilt. Did Goldmann see you strike Bieler? or at +least does he pretend to have seen it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He chattered something of the sort to me a little after the +fray," +replied Francis in confusion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's an awkward circumstance. How in other respects do you +stand +with the man?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, I think."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There was a talk in the city of your intriguing with his +daughter, and +having promised her marriage when your wife should die?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Likely enough. In need or in pleasure men make all sorts of +promises +that they are not inclined to keep afterwards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, as in the meantime your wife is really dead, we might +try with +this bait to stop the mouth of Onophrius, so that he may leave you out +of question altogether when he is put to the rack. I will go to the old +man directly and reason the matter with him. If I can make it clear to +him that your misfortune will do him no service, he may, perhaps, take +good advice. Meanwhile don't let the time in prison hang heavy on your +hands, and be of stout heart. I hope to God that I shall this once also +draw you out of your anxiety and suffering.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Could not you save Goldmann too?" asked Francis +good-naturedly: "It +would grieve me for the poor devil if he should have to pay the piper."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would be rather difficult. Some victim the nobles must +have, and +you may rejoice if they will be satisfied with the old messenger. +However, I will see what is to be done for him, if he stand the torture +without confession. God be with you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He went, and Francis continued sitting gloomily at the table. +The +peril, which with every moment approached nearer and nearer to him, +straightened his breast sorely. His confidence in the all-powerful +protection of his father had already sunk to a very low ebb, and the +comfort left him by the doctor did not go a great way either.--"The +infernal bay!" he muttered at last, glad to have found something on +which he could lay the consequences of his own action--"the infernal +bay!"--and he relapsed into a long melancholy silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly there arose below a loud noise and trampling; +halberds +clattered against each other; doors were opened and shut; and then +again a deep awful stillness prevailed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter below?" he anxiously asked the jailer, who +then +brought in his supper to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Logan Oppersdorf and the other commissioners have just +arrived, +together with several gentlemen of the council. Goldmann leads up the +dance to-day!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"God support the poor fellow!" groaned the agonized Francis, +and ran +about the chamber, goaded by all the pangs of hell. Quick footsteps +were heard approaching the door: it flew open, and in burst Agatha with +dishevelled locks, despair upon her pale, tearless face, and flung +herself at the feet of her lover.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Save, save my unhappy father!" she cried, in tones that rent +the +heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Collect yourself, my poor girl," said Francis, and raised up +the +wretched creature: "what would you from me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The dreadful tale has reached even my hovel!" she exclaimed +shuddering: "this night my father is to be put upon the rack. He is old +and feeble; he will sink under the torture, and confess to deeds of +which his soul knows nothing: therefore help, Frank, help, before it is +too late. Your hand plunged us into this abyss; your hand must snatch +us from it. You have solemnly sworn it to us, and must redeem your +word, that God may one day not forget you in your dying hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Leave us alone," said Francis to the jailer; and when the +latter had +gone, he exclaimed to Agatha, "What would you have of me? You ask help +of one who is himself most helpless. Would I be here, if I had the +influence which you attribute to me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your father is all-powerful in this city," cried Agatha, +wringing her +hands. "It is a trifle for him to help the man who is now to suffer for +having saved your life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My father's hands are bound by the bishop and the furious +nobles. +Could he govern at his pleasure, he had surely saved his own son from +the grief and shame of a prison. But I have done what I could, and your +father's cause is commended to good hands."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will believe it," said Agatha, suppressing her feelings, +"though I +find you terribly cold to a sorrow that concerns you so nearly."</p> + +<p class="normal">She was henceforth silent, leaning her head on the shoulder of +Francis, +who embraced her in indescribable anxiety, while the silence of death +prevailed in the dungeon. On a sudden, through the nightly stillness +broke a hollow shriek from the lower chambers. Francis had a foreboding +of what it meant, and shuddered; Agatha listened intently to the +groans, which with every moment sounded sharper and more agonized.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Eternal mercy!" she suddenly cried in wild horror; "that is +my +father's voice!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Perhaps we deceive ourselves," said Francis, endeavouring to +soothe +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is my father's voice," screamed Agatha; "I should know +it amidst +thousands. It must be the pangs of hell that can extort such cries from +the iron old man. Gracious heavens! And I hear his shrieks and cannot +help him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cease," cried Francis, beside himself; "you torture yourself +and me +with more bitter cruelty than any he can suffer on the rack; and you +torture us in vain, for by the Almighty I cannot help, though with my +own blood I would purchase his!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Agatha fixed her eyes upon him with a cold piercing gaze of +inquiry, +and said, "Are you in earnest, Frank? Would you really purchase his +life with your own? Well then, call in the jailers; let the judges be +requested to suspend awhile the torture: confess yourself the assassin +of Netz, and my father is saved."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I lost!" exclaimed Francis. "You ask of me more than is +reasonable!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I was not in earnest," said Agatha contemptuously. "I knew +beforehand +that your own wretched life was dearer to you than any thing else, and +I merely wished to shame the boaster who affected a magnanimity to +which his miserable heart can never elevate itself. Father, I <i>cannot</i> +save you; this man <i>will</i> not I can do nothing, therefore, but pray for +you in the hour of your suffering, that the All-merciful may comfort +your soul and preserve it from despair."--And she sank upon her knees; +her lips moved softly, and her eyes, turned up to heaven, overflowed +with gentle tears, while the cries of agony from below grew fainter and +fainter, and at length were silent altogether.</p> + +<p class="normal">The maiden arose and stood again before the trembling Francis; +with +awful calmness she said, "A horrid light is beginning to dawn upon me. +It seems to me as if my poor father suffered for your crime, the wild +vengeance of the nobles absolutely exacting blood in atonement for the +blood which has been spilt. It seems, too, as if you were well content +to buy yourself free with this expiatory sacrifice. Once again, +therefore, I conjure you, Francis, exert yourself for us. If you could +not rescue your saviour from the pangs of the rack, at least preserve +his life. Save it not merely for me, save it for yourself! For I swear +to you, by the agonies of this dreadful hour, if my father perishes, +you too are lost! I will bend all the energies of my soul to your +destruction; I will steal after you through life as your evil demon, +till at last I reach you and hurl the lightnings of vengeance upon your +guilty head!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She rushed out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is a night of hell!" groaned Francis, and dropt back, as +if +annihilated, into his seat.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">It was about the same time of the year, that Althea was +sitting in +her chamber by the open window, through which played the gentle +spring-breezes. Her little Henry drew about the room, on a wheeled +platform, a stately knight, proudly mounted, in the full equipments of +the tournay, Tausdorf's present to him from Nuremberg. With this he +kept up an intolerable clatter, but his mother did not heed him. Before +her stood the embroidery frame, in which she had stretched a scarf, but +she did not work; and, lost in fairy visions, she listened to the +humming of the bees that swarmed in the blossoms of an apple-tree +before her window. Then on a sudden echoed the sweet song of the +nightingale from the topmost branch, and Althea's bosom swelled in +gentle heavings; her eyes became moist, she folded her hands, and with +pious looks to heaven, exclaimed mournfully, "Forgive me, Eternal +Benevolence! if this feeling be a sin against the memory of my Henry."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where now does Herr Tausdorf tarry?" interrupted the child. +"He +promised to be here early to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Was the speech of innocence an answer to my prayer?" +whispered Althea; +and, beckoning the child to her, she took him on her lap, caressed him +with fervour, and softly asked him, "Are you then fond of Herr +Tausdorf, dear boy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, indeed, from my very heart," replied the little one. "He +is +always so kind to me, brings me pretty things, and has often let me +ride upon his gray horse. I love him more than uncle Netz and all the +other knights who visit you. He does not swear and curse so terribly as +they do, nor drink such monstrous quantities of wine. I have never +either seen him drunk, like uncle Netz, who often cuts a vile figure +with the fiery face and glassy eyes. Then he is always so kind and +sedate; and I do not know how he manages it, but when he bids or +forbids me any thing, I cannot help obeying him, however great my +inclination to be froward."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you are fond of uncle Schindel?" said Althea, to conceal +her +delight in the child's answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes! but then he is a little too old for me. I always +think of him +as of my grandfather: while Herr Tausdorf is still so handsome, and +full of life and energy. It is so I fancy my father must have looked. +Oh, if Herr Tausdorf were my father! I would follow him at his nod, and +love him--almost as much as yourself, dear mother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sweet boy!" cried Althea transported, and hid her burning +forehead in +the golden locks of the child.</p> + +<p class="normal">Three slow, orderly raps were given at the door, but occupied +with +other matters, she paid no attention to them; at last in walked +Christopher Friend, in splendid doublet and rich pantaloons of sky-blue +velvet, slashed with green, and trussed with gold points, and a broad +collar about his neck of real Brabant lace. With great courteousness +and much dignity, he waved his richly feathered cap in salutation. The +first glance, that Althea cast upon his crafty knavish face, +extinguished every spark of joy in her breast, and with icy coldness +she asked what was Master Friend's pleasure?</p> + +<p class="normal">"Noble lady, I have lived long enough in the dreary state of +widowhood +to know all its inconveniences, and to desire a change. I want a wife +of good person, good birth, and gentle manners; and, considering the +great wealth with which the Lord has blest me, I believe myself well +worthy of such a one. Worthiest Althea, my choice has fallen upon you. +It has, indeed, cost me no little eloquence to wring from my father his +consent to this match, of which he would not hear at first, on account +of the violent quarrels between the nobility and citizens and the +mutual bitterness that has grown out of them. At last, however, I +succeeded in bending his obstinacy, and chiefly through the faithful +picture of your excellent virtues; and here I am, with his blessing, to +woo solemnly for your fair hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I value your courtship as I ought," replied Althea, hastily; +"but with +my conviction that we are in no respect suited to each other, I answer +with a candid <i>no</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>No!</i>" repeated Christopher, dropping from the clouds. "With +such +proposals, it is the custom, although the lady have a negative in her +pocket, at least to ask time for consideration, from mere courtesy. +Your <i>no</i>, therefore, is almost too candid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could not prevail upon myself to let you believe in the +possibility +of our union, even for a moment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should think, though, that the petty estate which you hold +at +Bogendorf in your widow's right can be no reason for your rejecting so +splendid an establishment thus scurvily."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then you thought to buy me of my poverty?--Another sign how +little we +are suited to each other, for I have never regarded wealth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That shows your fancy for the Bohemian ragamuffin!" retorted +Christopher, whose wrath had burst every curb of manners. "I always +wished to persuade myself out of the idea of your caring for the +vagabond, but now it is on the sudden clear to me that I am sacrificed +for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have the goodness yourself to repeat your aspersions to him," +cried +Althea warmly; "but this room you will quit instantly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should we mutually incense each other without occasion?" +said +Christopher, quickly composed again, and courteous. "You have rejected +my love, which must, indeed, grieve me; but, at least, you cannot +prevent me from wooing your friendship; and rest assured I will show +you mine so thoroughly, that you shall yet one day rue your harshness."</p> + +<p class="normal">He bowed himself profoundly, and departed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is an abominable man," said the little Henry. "Had you +married +him, I do believe I should have run away from you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My horizon grows more and more cloudy," sighed Althea. "I +fear there +will be no staying for me much longer in the old Schweidnitz, for the +hatred of these Friends is terrible, from their wealth and their +enormous power."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, if they ill-treat you," cried the little one warmly, +"only call +Tausdorf to your help, he'll soon send them about their business! And I +too am a nobleman: let me once be capable of bearing arms, and I'll +maul this rabble of citizens that it shall do your heart good to see +it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Althea hastily set down the little nettle which began to sting +thus +early, and asked in anger, "Did you ever hear such words from me or +from the knight Tausdorf, whose name is always in your mouth?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," stammered the terrified child, already struggling with +his tears; +"but uncle Netz, and the rest of the knights, call the Schweidnitzers +by no other name when they talk of them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have these then so suddenly become your models? Formerly you +were of a +different opinion; but shame upon you for so soon forgetting the +lessons of your mother. What have I told you of the different classes +in the world?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are all established by God," repeated the boy, amidst a +flood of +tears, "and therefore the high should never despise the low, for he is +his brother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what did I say to you of the citizens and peasants?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are for the whole more useful and indispensable than the +noble, +who in reviling them disgraces himself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You, then, have disgraced the nobility which you are so proud +of. Go +to your own room, and reflect with yourself seriously upon your +injustice, and pray to God to forgive you such want of charity. That +you may have leisure for this, you shall neither play nor eat till the +evening."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Dear mother!" said the little one imploringly, and raised his +folded +hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am fixed," she replied with great earnestness; and the poor +boy left +the room slowly and with loud sobbings.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant me strength to banish this evil spirit, the last in +the pure +mind of my child," prayed Althea fervently, as her brother-in-law, +Netz, rushed into the room with wild unceasing laughter. Vexed at this +interruption of her better thoughts, she exclaimed, "What have you been +about now?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, I have been enjoying a fine piece of sport. Since we were +here +with the bishop, your cits have had a little respect for us, because +they see that we hang together manfully. So we touch them up now and +then, till they are ready to run against the walls from terror."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas! I have already heard much of this kind of exploits, but +in truth +they do you little honour."</p> + +<p class="normal">Netz, passing over the remark, continued: "Just now I amused +myself +with riding on my war-horse into a publican's house, and even into the +tap-room on the ground floor. The old witch of a hostess crept forward +immediately, and, quaking and trembling, begged of me to dismount; but +I cut as furious a grimace as I could, and roared out, 'Pity on the +noble blood that has been spilt! let any one of the Schweidnitzers come +abroad, be he who he may, and he shall have a warm reception; ten of us +have sworn to avenge the murder.' Zounds! you should have seen how the +old one's knees tottered, and three citizens, who had been sitting +behind the table, crept into a corner with their cups. Then turning +round my horse, I dashed out, while the windows clattered again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you would palm off this adventure upon me for a +chivalrous +achievement?" said Althea with cold mockery.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How perverse you are," replied Netz; "it was only a little +joke of +mine with the rabble. They'll tell it again in the city, which will be +in a proper fright; and, whenever a chuff creeps out of his hole from +necessity, it will be with fear and trembling."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What would you say, brother, if one of the people were to +ride into +your hall, as you did with those honest men, who had in nowise offended +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"God confound him! I would hang him up by the legs."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would it have been wrong, then, if the citizens had taken +courage, and +done as much to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Zounds! that's a different thing," said Netz, stroking his +whiskers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"How, different? Perhaps the citizens of Schweidnitz are your +serfs, +without any rights against their master?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You catechize me too closely," replied Netz, confused, "tell +me +rather--to come to something else--what is the matter between you and +Christopher Friend? As I was riding up the streets to your house, he +met me, tricked out wonderfully, but with a face more horrible even +than that I made in the tap-room. What did the money-bag want with +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He asked my hand," returned Althea, going on calmly with her +embroidery.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you sent him off with the willow? By my word as a knight, +that +does you honour, for the pitiful scoundrel has gold enough to buy half +the principality; and there is many an honest woman, before this, has +made herself over to the devil, for the sake of wretched mammon. You +have not only acted like a noble lady, but like a prudent woman, who +well weighs every thing. It was not out of love that he sought your +hand, but to make peace between his kin and the nobility through you, +and afterwards you would have found his house a hell."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What evil thoughts does hatred put into the minds of men! I +did not +dream a syllable of any such secondary objects, but refused him simply +because I felt no inclination for him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nay, that of itself is a poor reason, with which you have +already put +off many honourable men, and even lusty knights too. Don't you intend +to marry again at all?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Althea turned away in silence to get another ball of silk from +her +work-basket, and at the same time to hide the colour which this +question had brought upon her cheek. Netz, having long listened for a +reply, exclaimed, "I understand! no answer is often a very decided one. +Now I am at home. You intend sure enough to marry, and I already know +the bridegroom. Shall I name him to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Spare me your thoughtless gossiping," said Althea, with +anger, that +did not seem to be too seriously intended.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You defy me? Well, then, I should be a fool to spare you any +longer. +The lucky chosen one is called--"</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment Tausdorf entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"When one talks of the wolf," added Netz, laughing, "he is +already +looking over the hedge. That is my man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, you are the most intolerable tattler that I know of!" +said Althea, +rising, and offering her hand to Tausdorf with a confused smile.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Intolerable!" muttered Netz; "that again is somewhat strong, +as indeed +your phrases towards me generally are. You think I don't understand +without rough language; yet in truth you ought to handle me quite +tenderly, and thank God that I look at the matter on the merry side: +were I disposed to take it up seriously, and quarrel with my fortunate +rival, you might sooner be a widow than a bride, or else have to cry +your bright eyes red over the corpse of your poor brother-in-law. But +compose yourself; it shall not be so bad as that I have at last learnt +to see that you are in the right with your negative. Every creature of +the field would be mated with its like. Now you are as tender as the +sensitive plant in the park green-house; you would be touched only +lightly with the finger-tips; while I love to grasp with my whole hand, +and don't always even draw the gauntlet off first. In any case, we +should make a strange couple. It is better, therefore, that the whole +business should be let alone, and, if I can yield you to any one +without grudging, it is to Tausdorf, who seems to have been made by +Heaven expressly for your wilfulness; and who, moreover, is such a +lusty knight. Your hands, then, my dear friends:--In the name and in +the spirit of my good brother Henry, I give and pledge you to each +other, and you shall exchange the troth-rings before my eyes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pray you at length be silent," said Althea, whose confusion +was at +its height; and with unfeigned emotion she added, "it has not yet +entered into Herr von Tausdorf's head to be a suitor for my hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, then, I have again missed my aim! That you will never +make me +believe. It is only a sort of feint, that your womanly affectation +would yet use as a parting farewell. Strike at the very core of it with +your good sword, Tausdorf; I will be your faithful brother in arms."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I could only accuse myself, if I had not understood this +noble heart," +said the knight tenderly, kissing Althea's hand. "But this letter of my +father's will show you that I have understood it, my dear friend; +still, I owed it to your repose and my honour to shut up the ardent +longing in my own breast, until every barrier was forced that lay in +the path of my happiness. That is done. The weightiest obstacle was the +difference of our creeds: but rational arguments and filial entreaties +have subdued my father's strictness of belief, and he now participates +in my wishes, and sends us his paternal blessing."</p> + +<p class="normal">With trembling hand Althea took the letter and read it, while +her eyes +sparkled with joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Strange that the old gentleman should make objections for a +little +difference in religion!" said Netz: "Why, if Althea cared about +priestly feuds, she might with better reason object to your Utraquism. +But I see it well, it is in this case just as if a fair maiden were +smitten with a Moor. Love levels all, and before him there is neither +creed nor complexion."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Moor returns his thanks," replied Tausdorf laughing, and +followed +Althea to the window, where she stood with folded hands in deep +thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have I understood your heart?" he asked gently and tenderly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only too well," she murmured; "and yet in this decisive +moment an +anxious doubt falls on me, whether I do right in listening to it, and +whether it is compatible with my duties towards my child."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fire and fury, sister!" shouted Netz, impatiently, "I believe +you are +still coquetting it: by my faith! even the best women can't leave that +alone. I fancy when you one day come to the gates of heaven, you'll +stand courtesying to St. Peter, and protesting that you don't think it +polite to enter, till he hales you in by force. What new difficulty +have you been spinning and weaving on the instant?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My little Henry," lisped Althea, with downcast eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Whose interest, you think, is against this marriage?" said +Netz, +laughing: "Now that, in good truth, is a little out of reason, for to +me it seems as if it would exactly tend to his advantage. But I'll do +as though I believed you in it. Where is the boy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A prisoner in his room till bed-time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The devil! Yours is a strict government! But wherefore?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He spoke contemptuously of the respectable state of +citizenship."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Death and hell! By that I see the blood of our family flows +in +him--And 'tis therefore you have imprisoned the noble fellow! Zounds! I +can fancy, then, how you would have managed me, if you had given me +your fair hand in marriage: I should never again have got out of the +cellar into daylight. No, that won't do; I'll not stand it. I am the +boy's uncle, and have also a word to say in his education."</p> + +<p class="normal">He rushed out, but at the door was met by the old Herr von +Schindel, to +whom he exclaimed, "Your niece has grown restive, and positively won't +enter the stall of matrimony; do you teach her better--I go for help:"</p> + +<p class="normal">With two springs he was up the stairs and at Henry's door, +while +Schindel entered to the lovers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you then doubt my having a father's feeling for Althea's +child?" +said Tausdorf to the widow, deeply mortified.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not that alone," she stammered; "it seems to me as if a +second +marriage would be a treachery to my first husband; and that one day, in +a better world, I should not be able to come before his eyes, if I +contracted a fresh union here below."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fie! fie! niece," cried Schindel, gravely; "so good a +Christian, and +so little versed in the Bible? Have you not read in the holy +scriptures, what sort of answer was given to a similar doubt, and who +gave that answer? 'there will no one marry, nor be given in marriage?' +and your departed lord will thank Tausdorf, with a brother's love, for +having made his Althea happy in the time of her earthly pilgrimage, +when he himself was no longer able."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven reward you for these words, my dear uncle," exclaimed +Tausdorf +joyfully, grasping the old knight's hand, when Netz burst in, the +little Henry in his arms, and setting him between the lovers, on the +ground, cried, "Stand here, boy, and decide: your mother is going to +marry again; whom would you like to have for your father-in-law?"</p> + +<p class="normal">With a loud cry of joy the child sprang up to Tausdorf, and +clasped his +knees, looking up to him with a sweet smile of affection.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My son!" exclaimed Tausdorf, in emotion; and he lifted up the +little +one in his arms, and kissed him warmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then join your mother's hand with his," continued Netz.--The +boy +stretched out his hand after Althea's, and said, in a sweet soothing +tone, "Dear mother!"--She remained, however, timidly at the window, and +did not move; upon this Tausdorf carried to her the little Henry, who +seized her arm with gentle violence, and joined the feebly-resisting +hand with the extended right-hand of the lover, at the same time +exclaiming, "Always so! always so!" and covering the two hands with +kisses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My Henry!" stammered Althea, and inclined her face to his.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is he not <i>our</i> Henry?" asked Tausdorf, hastily putting down +the +child, and with his arms clasping the tender body of Althea.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the name of Heaven!" she replied, scarcely audible, while +his lips +sank upon hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What Heaven does is well done!" said the old Schindel, with +folded +hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">Netz shouted out aloud, "<i>Victoria!</i>"--In the next moment he +passed his +mailed hand across his eyes, and, unmanned by keen and sudden agony, +rushed out of the apartment.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">Eight days after the Whitsuntide of the same year, the morning +twilight +lit up the horizon with a dusky red, and painted with blood the walls +of the Hildebrand, in which Francis was still quietly slumbering on his +couch. Before him stood the old Heidenreich, who seized his hand, and +called upon his name to wake him. At the call he started up wildly, and +inquired peevishly and sleepily why the old man disturbed him at such +an hour? "Sleep is precisely the best thing that one can enjoy in a +dungeon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I bring you weighty, and in some sort pleasant, news. That I +come with +it thus early is to prepare you for the events of the morning. +Yesterday arrived the emperor's final sentence--your life is saved. The +imprisonment which you have already suffered will be reckoned in part +of your incurred penance; and, <i>mense Septembris anni currentis</i>, you +may expect your freedom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Am I to rot then so long in a dungeon? That is an unjust +severity, as +I neither confessed the fact, nor have been convicted of it; and one +may easily see that the emperor deems himself the first nobleman in the +principality, by his siding thus with the lordlings."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet contented? Thank God, on the contrary, that the +sentence has +turned out so exceedingly mild. I can assure you, when the sentence was +read in the sessions-room, the impertinent alderman, Treutler, +observed, <i>Dat veniam corvis vexat censura columbas!</i> You were heavily +accused: had not Onophrius been silent on the rack, had not your father +subdued his old pride, and made most suppliant petitions to the emperor +himself, and, lastly, had I not managed your cause in a veritable +masterpiece of defence, you would have had a serious business of it +to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And how has it gone with the old Goldmann?" asked Francis +anxiously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Faith," replied Heidenreich, shrugging his shoulders, "his +head will +be off in an hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious heavens!" cried Francis, starting up from his couch, +"it is +not possible! The old man acted only in his office; and if he did kill +Bieler, his life cannot be touched for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The imperial council have seen the affair in a different +light," +replied Heidenreich coldly. "They think his office had been to separate +and arrest both parties, you as well as Rasselwitz; and not, out of +partiality to the burgomaster's son, to kill his adversary."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I entreated you for the poor man!--and you, too, +promised."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I did to the utmost of my power whatever could be done, and +as far as +it could be done without your injury: your father, too, the same. +Thrice did the council apply to the emperor in Goldmann's behalf, and +the last time was dismissed ignominiously for their pains, and +forbidden farther interference. Defendant was not to be saved. Some one +must have killed Bieler: Goldmann confessed upon the rack that he had +struck at the young man's head; about you he was honestly silent, and +thus, therefore, devoted himself for an atonement."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Horrible!" cried Francis, and paced about the room, wringing +his +hands. On a sudden the clang of the funeral bells vibrated hollowly and +slowly from the tower of the guildhall; when, in obedience to the +signal, from every turret throughout the city, the metal heralds lifted +up their solemn voices, producing a singularly sad and awful echo in +the silence of the morning twilight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What means this tolling of the bells so early?" asked +Francis, with a +fearful foreboding.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is the funeral toll of the poor Goldmann," replied +Heidenreich, +leaning himself against the window. "To show publicly that the council +deems the imperial sentence too severe, it has allowed this last honour +to the condemned; the body, too, will be followed by the whole college +to the burial-ground of our Lady <i>im Walde</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A melancholy kindness!" exclaimed Francis, shuddering; and +after +awhile he added, "first the hand, then the rack, and at last the head. +Oh, it is horrible!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"See, there comes the procession!" cried Heidenreich from the +window; +and in spite of the horror that seized him at the news, Francis yet +felt himself irresistibly attracted to look on that which he dreaded. +Just then the old Onophrius was passing before the window. Free and +unfettered, he walked with calm confidence between the city soldiers +who accompanied him, while no marks of the fear of death were to be +seen upon his venerable, pale, cheerful countenance; and a garland of +white roses adorned his silver locks, which were fluttered by the +morning breeze.</p> + +<p class="normal">Loud weeping was heard from the assembled people; even the +iron Francis +sobbed bitterly. At this moment the old man lifted up his eyes and +maimed arm to him, and cried out with a strong voice, "I have forgiven +you all! Only make good as much as you are yet able, and you shall not +find me amongst your accusers before the judgment-seat of God." With +this he went on cheerfully to the place of execution, while Francis +howled and pressed his face against the iron grating of the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sufferer's head had fallen. The noise of the people +returning from +the burial, and the sudden silence of the bells, awoke Francis from his +mental lethargy. He looked up, and found himself alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It was an evil hour!" he cried, rousing himself; "God be +praised that +it is over.--How! not yet torture enough?" he added the instant after, +seeing Agatha, who just then closed the prison door behind her.</p> + +<p class="normal">In deep mourning, with hollow eyes staring out of a pale, +meagre +face;--in her hand the garland of white roses which her father had worn +on his last travel, she stood for a long time at the door, a +threatening Nemesis. She then glided nearer with a light step, and +planted herself close before the terrified Francis, whose hair began to +stand on end.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My father is no more," she murmured in the tones of death. "I +have +even now seen him to his final place of rest, and am come hither to +execute his last commission. He has been silent: he has died to save +you; and he has saved you that you may restore to his only child the +honour of which you robbed her by crafty seduction. In his last +farewell he said, 'I will believe that, with the best inclination, +Francis had it not in his power to rescue me; but let him take you home +as his wedded wife, which is his duty, and which he has promised me +with deep oaths: thus he will at least have made good as much as he was +able, and my shadow is reconciled.' Now, then, I am here to remind you +of your oath."</p> + +<p class="normal">With infinite confusion Francis stammered out, +"Yes,--that,--dearest +Agatha--for the present, at least, that cannot be done. I do not depend +upon myself alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a widower, and childless," said Agatha, with great +composure.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But my proud stern father will never consent to such an +alliance," +objected Francis.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have long been of age and wealthy, and therefore +independent," +said Agatha, in the former unimpassioned tone; "give me better reasons +for your perjury."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I suppose I can't be married to you in the Hildebrand!" cried +Francis, +with the angry impatience of mental agony.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh father! what you have asked of me is hard," sighed Agatha, +struggling with her feelings; "but I must obey." And, as in that +dreadful night, she flung herself before Francis, and embracing his +knees, besought him--"Give me your hand, and with it give me back my +honour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let go of me, woman!" he cried, tearing himself with violence +from the +kneeling Agatha. "By heavens, I cannot do what you desire!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You cannot?" she returned in a terrible tone, and rose up; +"You swear +by Heaven that you cannot?--You are right. What does a perjury, more or +less, signify to you? It is quite well so, perhaps better than if I had +softened you for the moment. Now then I may confess it to you: it was +only obedience to the martyr that compelled me to this measure. I had +other intentions with you; but my father's command tied up my hands, +which your utter unworthiness has again unfettered. Think of what I +told you in the night of torture. My father has now really died for +you--you have rejected the atonement which he offered you through me, +and vengeance can now take her course, softly, slowly, and securely. +May this thought scare sleep from your bed and drop wormwood into +the cup of your joy, till you one day see me again adorned with this +blood-besprinkled garland, as your bride for the life yonder in the +torments that have no end."</p> + +<p class="normal">She glided out of the room; Francis stood there for a long +time as if +petrified, when, collecting himself, he called out for the guard.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Goldmann's daughter," he said to the city servitor, who then +entered, +"has been uttering dangerous threats out of rage for the execution of +her father. Every thing is to be feared from her malice,--fire and +murder, poison and uproar! for who knows what abettors she may have +already gained by her strumpet artifices? Arrest her, therefore, +immediately, and announce it to the council. I take upon myself all +responsibility with my father."</p> + +<p class="normal">The servitor ran off; but in a little time returned with +information +that Agatha, after quitting the Hildebrand, had disappeared so quickly, +that no one knew which way to follow her; her dwelling was quite +deserted, and it was probable she had turned her back upon the city.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's bad," said Francis thoughtfully; but his old, daring +recklessness soon returned, and he exclaimed, "What does it signify? +the malicious wench will take good care, I should hope, not to come +back to a city in which my father governs: no one yet ever died of mere +threats, and I doubt not to reconcile to my conscience the not having +allowed the daughter of the beheaded city messenger to talk herself +into the honourable family of the Friends."</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">It was in the beginning of the July 1572, that Althea sate at +a +splendid dinner-table with her uncle Schindel, her brother-in-law Netz, +and a few ladies of distinction; but the rich dishes seemed to be there +merely for show, for the sun was already low in the west, and still the +meal had not yet begun.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your betrothed stays long," said Netz, gaping, and tapping +with his +knife upon the silver goblet before him. "He was to have been with us +about the middle of the day, and now the evening will soon be here. You +must break him in better for the holy state of matrimony."</p> + +<p class="normal">"His protracted absence begins to alarm me," replied Althea. +"I trust +no accident has happened to him on his long journey."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who would begin fearing the worst so soon?" admonished +Schindel. +"Recollect, niece, how much he had to do at Tirschkokrig, and Prague, +and Vienna. Such a change of habitation for life brings with it a heap +of business. The explanations with a beloved father, whom one would not +pain, the quitting of the service of a powerful master, who unwillingly +parts with the true servant--all these are things that are not easily +got over. It is very possible that he may yet have to stay a day or two +over."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, God be thanked!" cried Netz--"He has been a year in +Bohemia, and +so has had time to manage his removal to Silesia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only a year?" sighed Althea; "to me the time has seemed much +longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not a complete year yet," interrupted Schindel. "It was in +the +September of the foregoing year that Francis Friend was released from +his confinement, and it was the very day before that Tausdorf went to +Bohemia."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't mention a word to me about these Friends," growled +Netz, dashing +the goblet on the table. "You drive the gall into my stomach, and then +the wine does not prosper with me. It will stick with me all my life +long, that this villain, who alone was cause of the mischief, should +have crept, with a whole skin, from under the sword of the +executioner!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It must have been because they could prove nothing against +him in +respect to Bieler's death," objected Schindel, "or else the emperor had +made a severe example of him also."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have ever heard," said Netz, "that in such investigations +all +depends upon the manner of questioning; and the judge, if he rightly +understands it, can interrogate a rogue into an honest man, and an +honest man into a rogue. With me Francis will always be Bieler's +murderer, and if I had not given my knightly word and hand to the lord +bishop to let the matter rest, I would yet call him to account for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still Tausdorf comes not!" interrupted Althea with +affectionate +anxiety.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And in the mean time," said Schindel, "we have lost the +guests who +were invited for his reception. Rasselwitz and Seidlitz were to be gone +for an hour only, and neither of them is returned yet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I wish Rasselwitz may not be dangling after the fair +Netherlander," +replied Netz, "and have forgotten Tausdorf and his welcome!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You must always be wagging your tongue at me," cried +Rasselwitz, who +just then entered, and had caught the last words.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, and do I lie?" asked Netz: "Are you not led in a string +by the +fair stranger?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would to Heaven she only thought it worth her while to lead +me! but at +present she cares little about me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet you are always dangling after her, and paying court +to her +when and how she pleases. What a great fool should I be if I were to +suffer myself to be so trotted about, and all to no purpose! Love's pay +must follow love's service, or else I care nothing for love, or all the +women of the earth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Time brings roses. I don't yet give up all hope."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Holloa, gentlemen!" cried Schindel; "this is a conversation +for the +tavern when you can no longer tell Hungary from Rhenish. How can you +think of amusing the noble ladies here present with your courtesans?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are in a gross error, Herr von Schindel," said Netz +warmly. "The +lady, of whom we speak, by no means belongs to that loose craft. Since +she has lodged with the Dutch nurseryman at the Park, she has led so +still and retired a life, that she may well be set up as a model for +other women. Besides, the splendour of her clothes and furniture +betokens great wealth, as her dignified manners are a sign of her high +birth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet lodges at the Park?" retorted Schindel; "and allows +the young +men free access to her? That is strange! But who is she, and what would +she here? It does not at all please me, when a handsome female wanders +about the world in this way without protection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Thus much she has confessed to me," said Rasselwitz; "her +abode here +has a mighty object; but what that object is she does not as yet hold +me fit to be entrusted with."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If the girl should have some evil design towards you?" said +Schindel +thoughtfully. "We have many a warning-tale from the olden time of young +libertines having been allured by some beautiful unknown, and, when at +last they fancied themselves at the goal of their wishes, they grasped +in their arms a hellish monster. At all events you will do well to be +cautious with your new acquaintance."</p> + +<p class="normal">He was interrupted by the slow approach of footsteps. +Supported by +Seidlitz, Tausdorf tottered into the room, and with a friendly smile +upon his pale features, stretched out his arms towards Althea, who +instantly hastened to the man of her affections, exclaiming, "Gracious +Heavens! what has happened to you, Tausdorf?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A slight accident, not worth talking of. As I was entering +the +town-gate my horse shied and would not go forward, and, when I +attempted to force him on, he reared so high that he fell over with +me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And you have been wounded by the dreadful fall?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, no. I did, indeed, strike my head against the pavement in +falling, +but my hat broke the force of the blow."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Has your horse ever shown such vice before?" asked Schindel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied Tausdorf. "You know my old gray: he was the most +docile +beast that I ever rode."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then this accident strikes me as something singular," +rejoined +Schindel, "as if it were an omen intended by Providence to warn you of +some great evil at hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Don't say that with so much earnestness, my good uncle," +exclaimed +Tausdorf, laughing, "or you will terrify my Althea unnecessarily; and +if she should fall sick upon it, the mischief which my bay's +restiveness is supposed to prophesy would then have really come to +pass."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I should like you as well again if you had a little more +faith," +replied Schindel angrily. "Animals have often a sharper insight into +the realm of spirits than your overwise men. Think on Balaam's awful +history. It would not be the first time that a horse shied when he was +bearing his master to his ruin. Who knows whether it is well that you +have just now rode into the town?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Herr von Schindel is the faithful Eckart, and warns every +one," cried +Rasselwitz with forced laughter, and seized the goblet to wash down his +anxiety, while Netz exclaimed--"Are we not at last, then, to sit down +regularly, and fetch up our lost dinner-time?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do so, good cousin, and take my place," replied Tausdorf, who +since +Schindel's last words had grown unusually grave and gloomy: "My +honoured guests will easily excuse me if I leave them for my bed: I +should make a sorry host to-day, for my head is somewhat stunned and +dizzy from the fall, and repose will be the best thing for me."</p> + +<p class="normal">He bowed, and left the company. The faithful Althea anxiously +followed +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A tedious melancholy feast for a welcome," muttered Netz.</p> + +<p class="normal">The guests looked at each other with disturbed countenance. A +painful +silence spread over the whole party, and the old Schindel put his +finger to his nose, and said, "I keep to it still; this adventure is a +very doubtful omen: God turn all to the best!"</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The two brothers, Christopher and Francis, had come to see the +splendid +aloe, which was at the Dutch nurseryman's in the park, and was then +unfolding all the glory of its blossoms. Both were not a little +astonished at meeting here, for at other times the way of the one was +regularly not that of the other. Bareheaded, and with all the respect +due to the rich Patricians, the gardener opened to them the door of the +particular green-house, in which stood the giant plant. From the midst +of enormous prickly leaves the stem rose up like a tree, to almost +three times a man's height; from that again a multitude of branches had +sprouted perpendicularly, each of which bore a multitude of colossal +flower-tufts, so that many thousand flowers showed themselves together, +offering to the astonished eye the appearance of an immense nosegay.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This splendid aloe, called also <i>Agave Americana</i>," said the +gardener, +haranguing in a monotonous tone, and repeating the same thing for the +hundredth time,--"this splendid aloe has come to Germany from the new +world through Spain; it reaches a very great age, sometimes a hundred +years, flowers only once in its long vegetable life, but that once, as +we see here, with such an extravagant prodigality of its best strength +and noblest juices, that it thereby draws on its own death, perishing +entirely after it has completed its time of blooming: on this account +it is a great rarity, whenever we can get to this wonderful sight in +our climate, which in fact is not over favourable to this miraculous +and beautiful plant."</p> + +<p class="normal">The brothers had soon satiated themselves with looking at this +wonder-work of nature, and had scarcely paid any attention to the +gardener's set speech. At last Christopher said,</p> + +<p class="normal">"This aloe must have brought you many a fair half-crown, +master +gardener?"</p> + +<p class="normal">But Francis had long been peeping between the leaves after a +handsome +female, who sate at the end of the green-house under a blooming +oleander, and seemed to be reading diligently in an old manuscript. Her +brows were shadowed by white ostrich feathers that rose from a bonnet +of the same colour; her auburn locks rolled down in luxuriant abundance +upon a closely-fitting dress of purple velvet, girdled by a rich gold +band; while a chain of gold-chased emeralds heaved up and down upon the +laced kerchief which veiled her fair voluptuous bosom.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Master, who is that handsome woman?" said Francis to the +gardener, in +a low eager tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Bona van der Noot," whispered the man in reply; "the widow of +a rich +Netherlander, who for four weeks has lodged in the upper floor of my +house."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The widow of a <i>rich</i> Netherlander?" asked Christopher, who +now began +to look after her, and in whom, to the natural delight in a beautiful +figure, awoke also the calculating spirit of the man of wealth, +desirous of heaping up still more to his collected money-bags--"Have +the kindness, master, to help us to a nearer intimacy."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She has once for all forbidden such things," replied the +gardener; +"but what would I not do to please you, Mr. Christopher?"</p> + +<p class="normal">And going up to the fair stranger, he said respectfully, +"Permit me, +noble lady, to give way to the wishes of these gentlemen, and present +to you the sons of our worshipful burgomaster."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are acting contrary to our agreement, master," replied +Bona, with +gentle reproach. "My society has so little worth, and I feel so little +desire to form new acquaintances, that neither party will thank you +much for your mediation."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime Francis and Christopher had approached with +profound +inclinations; in doing this the former had got a full view of her, when +he suddenly stood still with open mouth and staring eyes, and no sooner +had he heard her voice, than he cried out at once, "That is Agatha, or +the Devil!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What ails you now, brother?" cried Christopher in alarm; and +Bona +anxiously asked the gardener whether the young man had not sometimes +paroxysms of madness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No; it cannot be she, however;" stammered Francis, retreating +in +confusion. "The rich clothes, the cheerful countenance--no, that cannot +be the pale, haggard spectre that tormented me so cruelly in the +Hildebrand--and now, too, the beautiful long auburn locks with the +auburn eye-brows!--Agatha had dark brown hair. Pardon me, noble lady, +my mistake and rudeness; your great likeness to a girl, whom I knew +only too well, had deceived me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Sir," replied Bona proudly, "you must yourself allow that +this +assimilation to some old flame of yours cannot be particularly +flattering to me. To spare myself any farther such unpleasantnesses, +nothing remains for me but to withdraw, and leave it to your own +reflection whether it became you to insult an unblemished female, who +sought the hospitality of your father's town."</p> + +<p class="normal">She walked away with great dignity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God confound you!" cried Christopher to his brother. "This is +now the +second time that your madness has come between me and my object, when I +was trying to weave a love affair. Had it not been for your senseless +fray with Rasselwitz, I should have had leisure and opportunity to win +the widow. It was your fault alone that the banquet was put off, from +which I had promised myself so much. The refusal too, which the silly +woman gave me in the end, I owe to the fear of your relationship. No +one would willingly have any thing to do with you, for wherever you +come you make mischief, and that not merely from natural awkwardness, +but from evil intentions. If, therefore, you frighten away my bird this +time, I shall believe you do it on purpose, and have good reasons of +your own for preventing my second marriage; in which case I shall speak +a word in earnest with our father, and you will gain nothing by your +tricks."</p> + +<p class="normal">Thus scolding and grumbling, he went off, and the gardener +went with +him. Francis, however, had not listened to his lecture, but remained +there gloomily, and with the sheath of his sword beheaded the valuable +foreign plants that stood in their clay vases, in rows, upon a range of +steps. At last he cried, "I was mistaken; but the likeness was +surprising and really terrible. A horrid shuddering came over me as the +well-known features menaced me from out the strange form; I felt as if +some evil spirit stretched out his claws after me from the beautiful +face. The devil take conscience! It has often embittered my life, and +now, since the affair in the Hildebrand, it will no longer let me have +any real satisfaction."</p> + +<p class="normal">There was a sudden rustling behind the glass door, through +which Bona +had disappeared, and to which Francis had turned his back. Glancing +round fearfully to the place whence the noise came, he saw the magic +image of the fair stranger, and he shook and shuddered as if in the +frosts of fever.--"Heaven be merciful to me!" he cried,--clapped his +hands before his eyes, and rushed out through another door into the +garden.</p> + +<p class="normal">No sooner had Francis left the green-house than Bona entered +it through +the side-door. For some time she looked after him as he ran along the +principal alley of the garden, while her beautiful eyes sparkled with +silent wrath, her right hand pressed itself violently on her throbbing +bosom, as if she wished to keep down its heavings by force, and +thoughts of evil seemed to furrow her lovely forehead. At this instant +came tripping along from a side walk the knight, Rasselwitz, in all his +bravery, as with hope and desire on his face he bent his way towards +the green-house. The moment Bona perceived him, the furrows smoothed +themselves upon her brow, her eyes lost their fierceness, a gentle +longing spread over her features, and she flung herself in a +picturesque attitude on the garden-seat beneath the oleander. +Rasselwitz entering, said in the softest tone, "I owe it to my good +fortune, noble lady, that I find you here in this confidential +loneliness, and can paint the feelings which glow towards you in my +heart, without being interrupted by troublesome witnesses."</p> + +<p class="normal">With angelic kindness Bona presented her hand to him, and drew +him down +beside her, gently murmuring, "You have often before protested your +love to me, Herr von Rasselwitz, and I would willingly believe in it, +but mens' hearts are more treacherous than the treacherous waves of the +sea: Who would trust to them? who would answer to me for the +continuance of the inclination which you fancy you feel for me--perhaps +really feel at the present moment?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Rasselwitz felt himself transported into the third heaven by +this +accost, for she had never addressed him so before; and kissing her hand +with fervour, he cried, "O that you would honour me so far, beautiful +Bona, as to demand of me some proof of my sincerity!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take care that I don't keep you to your word," replied Bona +with a +lovely smile. "I might ask something of serious difficulty, and you +would then come off with disgrace."</p> + +<p class="normal">"No, fair lady; you don't escape me so this time," protested +Rasselwitz +with great animation. "You must rather allow me to keep <i>you</i> to your +word. Demand any proof of my love, as hard and earnest as you can +devise, and, if I deny it to you, banish me from your presence for +ever."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know the man who just now left the garden?" asked Bona +with +apparent calmness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why should I not?" replied Rasselwitz. "It was Francis +Friend, the +wild son of the old burgomaster."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Challenge him for life or death," said Bona, "and I am +yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">Rasselwitz stared at the blood-thirsty beauty, and at length +said with +a confused smile, "You must be jesting, noble lady? What good could you +get by egging us on to murder each other?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"There are many gates through which hatred may enter the human +breast," +replied Bona with piercing looks; "and, if that be true which has been +told me, you also cannot possibly be a friend to this Francis."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By heavens! I detest him as my worst sins, but I cannot +challenge +him."</p> + +<p class="normal">Upon this Bona started up and demanded with a look of scorn +and +contempt, "Do you want the courage for it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only <i>you</i> dare ask me that," replied Rasselwitz, starting up +in his +turn; "and to you only could I give a cool answer. I have never shunned +the game of swords; but my knightly word binds me; I pledged it to the +prince palatine on the settling of that awkward business the other day, +and, if the monster does not begin again himself, he will have quiet +for me as long as he lives."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Does not then the wish of your beloved weigh more with you +than this +promise?" asked Bona in soul-melting tones; and, laying her hand upon +his shoulder, she gazed on him with a look that glowed through his +pulses and gave wings to them.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have not understood me, noble lady," replied Rasselwitz +earnestly. +"We are talking here of my knightly word, on which depends my honour, +and consequently my earthly being. If this adamantine chain were to +hold no longer, what tie in the world could be relied on?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A clever brain would know how to manage a quarrel, and yet +throw the +appearance of the first aggression upon his adversary. Rough and +violent as this Friend appears to me, it must be easy to irritate him +to unseemly language and vulgar action, and then you fight only in +self-defence, which the bishop cannot take amiss."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would be bad work, lady, with which I cannot meddle. To +evade a +promise is to break a promise, and I am an honourable Silesian."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well answered," cried Bona with loud laughter, and reseated +herself. +"Take your place again by my side, Herr von Rasselwitz; it was not so +evilly intended. I excuse you from the combat for life and death, to +which you seem to have so little inclination, and do you, on the other +hand, excuse me for the future from your love-protests which you cannot +prove. You have stood the first trial badly; I spare you the others."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How! Your strange instigation was no more than a trial?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"And a very badly contrived one too. How could I expect that +you would +believe me, in this deadly hatred against a man whom I saw to-day for +the first time in my life, and who could not have ever injured me?--me, +a Netherlandress, who have lived but a few weeks at Schweidnitz? You +would have caught me finely, and put me into an awkward plight, had you +made as if you were willing to comply with my desire. I must then have +prayed you, for God's sake, to let poor Friend live, and you would have +had the pleasure of laughing at me soundly for my unsuccessful +project."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fool that I am!--and yet I rejoice from my heart that it was +only a +joke. I could not, however, suspect you of such a trick."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Did you have a long merry-making on Monday at the widow's?" +asked +Bona, with a careless transition of the subject.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Unfortunately, no; the bridegroom, whom we expected, had an +accident +with his horse, and arrived late only to go to bed directly. This +untuned us all, and we separated at an early hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have already heard much of this bridegroom; but tell me +more about +him; he is said to be a handsome man."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A perfect model of manly beauty!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is saying much; yet since a man of your appearance +allows it, why +it must needs be so.--Brave?--that is understood of itself;--but I +suppose just as hot and violent, just as easy to be irritated, which +you gentlemen often wish to pass upon us for courage?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing less. He is coolness and reflection personified, and +on that +account seems as if born to be a general. If he had not been the leader +of the nobles on that decisive day which freed me from arrest, it had +unavoidably come to a battle in the city; the upshot was uncertain, and +in any case Bieler's murderers had escaped punishment."</p> + +<p class="normal">A flash of anger quivered through Bona's beautiful features, +and the +little pearl-teeth within her rosy lips were ground together firmly. +But the external calm was soon regained, and she asked with her former +indifference,--"Is this mirror of virtue and honour quite faithful to +his Althea?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is perilous to answer for any thing of this sort; but in +his case I +would almost venture it. He dwells on his bride with infinite +affection."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That proves nothing; you men may love warmly, and yet be +false withal. +Will you do me a favour, Herr von Rasselwitz?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Command me; I fly."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Always supposing it is not for life and death," interposed +Bona with +light mockery. "But I have a desire to become personally acquainted +with this Tausdorf, who is so much talked of. Besides I want to inquire +of him after a relation, who lives at Prague. Bring him hither with the +first opportunity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is asking much," said Rasselwitz jestingly, "to expect +that I +should myself introduce to you so dangerous a rival; but I build upon +his fore-praised fidelity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If, however, you cannot, or like not, it is of no +consequence. It was +only a passing whim, which I can just as lightly give up again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By no means; and it is precisely to-morrow morning that your +wish can +be most easily accomplished, for the lady Althea then goes to +Bogendorf, whence she does not return till the day afterwards, and she +leaves Tausdorf behind that he may have leisure to recover from his +fall. The singular plant, which is shown in this garden, shall be the +bait to bring him. He will come to admire a blooming aloe, and will be +agreeably surprised when the floweret of beauty unfolds to him the +splendour of its colours."</p> + +<p class="normal">He imprinted a fiery kiss upon Bona's hand and departed. The +maiden +looked after him with a bitter smile, then rose up, and walked slowly +into the green-house, where stood the aloe, which she considered for a +long time, and at length said, "Yes, proud aloe, you are the image of +my revenge. Your blossom requires years to break from the bud, but it +does at last break forth in vigour that will not be restrained; and +though you perish in the very moment of perfection, you have yet gained +your object; he who has done that has lived long enough."</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">Beamless, yet with splendid glow, hung the evening sun, like a +bright +burning ruby in the horizon over the violet-coloured mountains. Purple +clouds, edged with gold, shot a glory about it, while the whole western +heavens shone in a sea of flame, and the blaze melted away farther on +into a lovely sea-green, which again in the east was lost in the dark +blue of night. Before the aloe, whose flowers seemed to burn in the +evening red, stood Tausdorf, sunk in its contemplation.--"The plant is +to be envied," he said to Rasselwitz; "he dies well, who, like it, dies +at the moment of reaching the pinnacle of strength and beauty; and I +could almost wish that such a death might one day be to myself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How earnestly and gravely you take every thing," replied +Rasselwitz--"nay gloomily too! For my part, it is precisely when I got +to the pinnacle that I should feel most eager to live on, because it is +then that life is gayest. When one is gone, the best pleasure is over; +and in good truth we shall always be dead long enough afterwards."</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the ten years of experience, which I have beyond you, lies +the +difference of our views. Throughout nature nothing stands still. He who +does not go forward goes backward. From the summit the road only leads +down again, and every retracing of our steps has something disconsolate +about it, which I would willingly buy off with a few years of +existence."</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned about to depart, but Rasselwitz held him back:--"I +cannot let +you go thus; you may, perhaps, have got over your accident, but you +still look pale, and the evening wind blows cursedly cool from the +mountains. Let us first, therefore, if agreeable to you, empty a flask +of tokay against the bad air, and then I will myself accompany you home +again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You gentlemen can't do without the wine-cup," said Tausdorf +jestingly. +"If, however, it is really to be but a single flask, I am contented."</p> + +<p class="normal">They went accordingly into the larger greenhouse, where at the +end, +under an oleander-tree, a little table was neatly set out, covered with +a crimson silk cloth. Upon this was a dish of foreign salad between two +handsome flasks with handles, semi-transparent and edged with silver, +and two glass goblets, ready filled, in which the tokay sparkled like +blood in the last rays of the setting sun. By the table sat Bona in all +the fulness of her charms, seeming to enjoy with silent transport the +splendour of the evening heavens, whose crimson fire gave all the glory +of a seraph to her head and face.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We interrupt here," said Tausdorf to Rasselwitz, struck by +her +appearance, "and must seek some other place."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You do not interrupt me, gentlemen," said Bona, rising with +graceful +kindness. "A woman, who knows how to maintain her female dignity, has +no occasion to be afraid of men. But perhaps you wish to have a private +conversation with your companion, in which case I give way to you, +although I should have willingly enjoyed this splendid evening for a +quarter of an hour longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You love then the charms of nature?" asked Tausdorf, whose +sympathy +had been won by the first words of the stranger, and who now thought no +more of going.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What being of head and heart but must love them?" replied +Bona warmly. +"Nature ever reflects herself, and yet is ever new, nor has any mortal +hitherto succeeded in imitating the least of her wonders: so has she +gone on for centuries, silent and beautiful, clear and sublime, +benevolent in creating and maintaining as in destroying."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nature," said Tausdorf with warmth, "has always seemed to me +like a +perfect woman in the arms of the all-powerful--in the arms of a +beneficent master and loving husband."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are probably married, sir knight," observed Bona +roguishly, "by +this image in particular striking your fancy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet," replied Tausdorf, colouring.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But already promised and bound by indissoluble chains," +interrupted +Rasselwitz, to whom this brief conversation grew much too animated. +"You have become so rapidly acquainted with the knight, fair Bona, that +I must hasten to inform you, you are talking with the Herr +Sparrenberger von Tausdorf, the betrothed of the Frau von Netz; and now +take your place, my old friend, that the noble wine may not grow vapid, +and pledge me to the health of your fair intended."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I regret to-day, for the first time, that I have for ever +renounced +wine," said Bona, while the knights touched their glasses. "A toast to +the health of so noble a lady would be well in place now."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You know my Althea?" asked Tausdorf.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No," replied Bona with lovely frankness; "but I have heard so +much +good of you, sir knight, that I believe you could have chosen none but +a noble being for the companion of your life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray, lady," said Rasselwitz, breaking in upon them with +vexation,--"did you not tell me to-day that you had a relation in +Prague, of whom you had long heard nothing? Herr Tausdorf lived there a +considerable time, and perhaps will be able to give you satisfaction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I thank you, dear Rasselwitz, for reminding me of it," +replied Bona; +"but it has already grown dark," she continued, looking round; "we had +better order a light at the gardener's."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Admirable!" muttered Rasselwitz; "she sends me away that she +may be +alone with him in the dark;"--and he hurried off with the speed of an +arrow, to be back so much the sooner. In Tausdorf the same idea was +stirring; but when he secretly asked himself the question, whether he +did or did not like it, he could obtain no decided answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">After all, the fears of the one and the imaginings of the +other were +alike idle. The fair Bona kept at her old distance from Tausdorf, and +entered into the most indifferent talk in the world with him, inquiring +after a multitude of Prague ladies, whom he, indeed, knew by name, but +of whom he could give no farther information. In addition to this, +as Tausdorf could hear, she was playing with the silver lids of the +wine-flagons, as the hands are accustomed to do when the mind is +absent. This was all but an annoyance to the knight, and if he had not +found some pleasure in listening to the melodious voice of the +questioner, he would have experienced a real tediousness even in the +familiar darkness and in the neighbourhood of such a captivating +creature.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length Rasselwitz appeared with the gardener, who hung a +large +mirror-lamp of Venetian glass upon a branch of the oleander, and again +retired. The glasses were filled afresh, while Bona wound about the +good Tausdorf with the finest arts of conversation, and contrived to +flatter him so sweetly, and at the same time to inspire him with such +respect, that he was unable to break from the magic circle, although +his correctness of feeling warned him betimes to fly from the danger +before he was lost in it.</p> + +<p class="normal">During this delightful talk, the wine, like a balmy oil, +glided down +the knights' throats, sweet and powerful; but its effects were +manifested in the two with a very striking difference. While Rasselwitz +grew continually sulkier and charier of his words, and at last became +downright sleepy, Tausdorf's spirits were more and more awakened and +joyful. A flippant coquetry, at other times hateful to him and foreign +to his disposition, now prevailed in his manners to the fair stranger, +who knew how to turn the well-polished diamond of her spirit so nimbly +to and fro, that from its hundred points the flashes struck blindingly +upon Tausdorf's eyes, and flung into shadow the image of the lovely, +but simple and grave Althea. To complete the impression which she had +visibly made upon him, the Circe, at a fitting turn of the +conversation, took up a harp which lay beside her, and sang, +accompanying herself a lullaby to her heart, than which nothing could +be sweeter or more alluring. While now Tausdorf kindled more and more +at her burning looks, the soft tones of her song, instead of the heart +which should have been lulled, soothed the good Rasselwitz into a sound +slumber. The knight considered the sleeper with approving eyes, and +then cast them, full of voluptuous desire, on the fair stranger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Cease, beautiful siren!" he exclaimed at last, seizing her +white hand, +and holding it firmly upon the strings; "your magic song disturbs me in +my gazing on you. A woman, created for love, as you are, cannot lull +her heart to sleep without committing a deadly sin against my sex."</p> + +<p class="normal">With a heavenly smile, in which, however, lurked a strange +glance, Bona +looked at him, and her hand returned a gentle pressure. Then casting a +look of inquiry at the sleeping Rasselwitz, she on a sudden sighed out +softly and anxiously--"Oh, heavens!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter, noble lady?" cried Tausdorf, starting up, +and +caught her in his arms as she fell.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A sickly oppression which will soon pass over," stammered +Bona, while +her bosom heaved mightily against his breast. "Help me up to my +chamber, dear Tausdorf."</p> + +<p class="normal">Alarmed, anxious, thrilled through by strange forebodings, he +obeyed +her mandate; and half gliding, half carried, the lady reached her room +with the knight. A dull lamp burnt on a table by the bed, around which +flowed curtains of green silk, flinging a secret mysterious shadow. He +let her down softly on the couch, and would have withdrawn, to call the +maid to her assistance, but she raised herself up again, and winding +her fair arms about his neck, murmured softly--"Dear man!"--and her +kisses quivered on his lips like a kindling flash of lightning.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Fairest creature!" he stammered, in the double intoxication +of wine +and passion. Wildly throbbed his pulses as if they would burst their +veins,--and the lamp went out.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">It was towards the morning when Tausdorf awoke from a heavy +slumber. +When on opening his eyes he found the sleeping Bona by his side, his +recollection returned with the consciousness, and he sprang up in +horror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then it was not merely a wild dream," he exclaimed painfully. +"How +could I so forget myself! Never shall I forgive myself this error!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He paced up and down the room with vehemence for a time, and +then +paused before the fair sleeper.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The sin is beautiful which has seduced me from the right +path; but +that does not excuse a man from whom principles are to be expected, and +who has taken upon himself important duties. Poor Althea! is this the +reward of your love and truth? I never could have believed that to be +possible which now rises to my revolted senses in disgusting reality. +Ah! let no one boast of his virtue! It is often the prey of the most +involuntary accident!--Of <i>accident</i>?--Was indeed all that happened to +me yesterday no more than accident? I can answer for myself--my soul +was pure when I entered this house; and not till I was allured by the +siren's song, and the voluptuous spirits of the wine had painted her +fair form in glowing colours, not till then was the evil passion +kindled in me. Could a few glasses have changed me so much? Could they +have lighted up the wild glow that raged in my veins, and the dregs of +which still lie heavy on my head and heart? The advances too of the +stranger and her feigned sickness, which tightened the noose about my +neck,--at the bottom of all this is some secret plan which I must +unravel."</p> + +<p class="normal">He left the room quickly, and soon returned with horror in his +looks, +and in his hands two half-full goblets, which he placed on the table by +the bed, and had already raised his arm to wake the sleeper. At this +moment the first sunbeams flamed through the darkness of the green +curtains, and cast a warm glow upon her lovely features. Bona opened +her eyes, which immediately sought and found her beloved, and rested +upon him with bewitching tenderness; but she soon perceived the cold +disdain that flashed from his, and she started up from the bed in +terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For heaven's sake," she exclaimed, "what has happened to you? +What do +you mean by these fierce looks?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"To ask you how we so soon became familiar with each +other--how you so +soon succeeded in seducing an honourable knight into disgraceful +infidelity towards the mistress of his heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is a common injustice of you men to lay on the weaker +sex the +blame of the evil caused by your sensuality, that you may afterwards +despise your victim, and so have a pretence for denying all +satisfaction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are right, but it does not apply here. We will not, +however, say +any more about which of us is the victim; only I must know whether some +hellish arts were not employed in the adventures of last night, and +therefore you must give me an account of these goblets."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious heavens! I am lost!" exclaimed Bona, without looking +at the +goblets, and clasping her hands together. Tausdorf went on:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"This, with the white sediment at the bottom, stood before +Rasselwitz, +who still lies motionless on the seat, bound up in a death-like +slumber. This, with the black dregs, I emptied, and I can now well +explain the ebullition which threw me into your arms. Strumpet! have we +drank poison at your hands?"</p> + +<p class="normal">The beautiful sinner started up proudly, glanced at the knight +with +noble anger, and exclaimed, "Contemptible suspicion!" and snatched at +the goblet with intent to empty it; but Tausdorf put back her hand--</p> + +<p class="normal">"No! I would not place any soul before the judgment-seat ere +the +Creator calls for it."</p> + +<p class="normal">He took the goblet from the table, and having flung it out of +the +window, walked up and down the room in silence; Bona wept.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You would drink of it?" he continued. "There was then no +poison in the +goblet? But what else? For, by heaven, all is not right with this +wine."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bona hid her face in the pillows of the bed, and was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"A love-draught, perhaps, for the chosen victim of your +desires, and an +opiate for the troublesome witness--is it not so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Bona started as if a blow had struck her heart, and was still +silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the name of heaven, woman, what made you seek out me in +particular? +You are fair enough, unfortunately, to be able to dispense with such +means with thousands of my sex. Why must you fling into my breast the +scorpion--which must poison the peace of my future days?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I loved you, as I now abhor you," was hollowly murmured from +beneath +the pillows.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Profane not the sacred word," retorted Tausdorf indignantly; +"I +cannot, besides, rest contented with this answer. What you did +yesterday, the way in which you prepared and accomplished it, the +danger to which you exposed yourself if discovered, all this points to +something very different. You had some great, and, as my warning angel +tells me, some terrible, design upon me, and that it is which you must +confess this very hour."</p> + +<p class="normal">At this Bona started up with wild looks, and her long auburn +locks hung +down in disorder, like so many living snakes, about her fair pale face, +and gave it the convulsed appearance of a raging Medusa. "Kill me," she +cried, defyingly, "or accuse me at the tribunal as a poisoner--I am +silent."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf could not refrain from shuddering as her figure stood +up thus +before him, like some horrid spectre,--that figure which but a few +hours since had appeared so kind and graceful: he turned away from her, +and at length said--</p> + +<p class="normal">"You understand us German knights badly, in thinking us +capable of such +wretched measures. If you do not choose to unburthen your heart by a +frank confession of your evil intentions, persist then in your +obduracy. I leave you to your conscience; and however late may come the +moment in which you hear its voice, yet the moment will come. If in +such an hour you repent of the evil you have already done me, and of +that which you yet purpose, may heaven not remember against you your +heavy sin in abusing the fair body it has given you--abusing it +as a bait for vice, and to the destruction of the souls of your +fellow-creatures. I for my part forgive you now as becomes a Christian; +but we never see each other again."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went. With the rolling eyes of a lioness, whose prey has +escaped, +Bona watched after him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So then, this sin has been in vain. I have not even earned +the fruits +of the evil harvest. My machines have been in play to no purpose. The +awkward footsteps of this rough man have crushed to pieces the +artificial wheelwork. Let it go. I meant it better with you than you +deserved. The assailant has always the advantage, because he can choose +time and place. If you will not be set upon my victim, he must be set +upon you, that self-defence may force the sword of vengeance into your +hand. May you both perish in it!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The old gardener thrust his head in at the door with a crafty, +inquiring laugh. Bona called out to him--"I am alone, Sylvester. What +is Rasselwitz doing?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Awake at last!" replied the gardener, coming into the room. +"He +complained of head-ache, begged of me to excuse him to you, and +tottered off. But in his place some one else has come again--Mr. +Christopher Friend, splendidly tricked out, and dressed in sky-blue +velvet, waits below in the green-house, and begs for a morning +audience."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So early?" asked Bona, surprised. "What can he want?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He inquired of me so circumstantially about your fortune," +replied the +gardener, "and looked withal so smart and gay, and made such little +twinkling eyes, that I think in a short time you may expect proposals +of marriage."</p> + +<p class="normal">Bona smiled scornfully. After a brief consideration she +replied--"He +does indeed mistake, but he comes in good time. Beg of him to excuse me +till I am dressed."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Number three, in so short a period!" said the gardener +smirking. "If +this goes on, you'll soon draw after you the core of the Schweidnitz +male population, as Punch does the children with his trumpet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Think you so?" rejoined Bona, with self-satisfaction.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet," continued the old man, "you don't altogether +understand it. +You entice the birds in a masterly way, but you forget to pluck them, +which yet is the principal part of the business. With the exception of +the easy fool of a Spaniard, your love-affairs have brought you in +marvellously little. The handsome pagan courtesans of the old time were +much wiser. Though you may not exactly wish to build pyramids of the +oblations of your adorers, yet a comfortable house for a refuge to your +old age is in truth not to be despised."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I hope never to be old to need it," said Bona hastily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But don't reckon without your host," rejoined the gardener. +"The +quantum of wealth from the new world, left you by Don Alonzo, has +melted away confoundedly in the old world, as must naturally be the +case with your passion for appearing as a rich heiress. If this is to +last long, you will be forced to sell the rich jewels with which you +blind the eyes of people. What then is to become of you if you do not +betimes think of some new acquisition?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He who follows <i>much</i> at once," replied Bona, "attains +<i>nothing</i>. I +follow <i>one</i> object only, but that one I follow so stedfastly, with +such inflexible purpose, that I <i>must</i> gain it, and when I have gained +it, I need nothing more in this world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And this <i>one</i>?" asked the gardener with sly importunity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I pay you as my servant, not as my confessor," replied Bona +with angry +pride, and pointed to the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good troth, a princess has been spoiled in you," muttered the +old man; +"but there is no helping one who will not be advised."</p> + +<p class="normal">So saying he went. Bona laid her hand upon her forehead, and +looked +down gloomily in earnest meditation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The poison of Althea's refusal is still rankling in this +Christopher," +she said, after a long pause, "and the brothers are not friends. If the +one were to perish through the other, that might at last reach the +stony heart of Erasmus, and, conquered or conquer, still my victims +would fall. The vindictive spirit of his adversaries is my pledge for +that. Francis, think of your reckoning on the other side. The avenger +of blood is already breathing within these walls."</p> + +<p class="normal">She went up to a great mirror between the windows to arrange +her hair. +The sun, veiled in mist, cast a red light through the panes, and shone +in wondrous way upon the fair and angry features, so that they seemed +to glow with an inward fire. At the first look in the glass Bona +started back in horror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are the old tales of my childhood coming back upon me?" she +exclaimed +with fixed gaze. "It was, indeed, as if an evil spirit grinned at me +from the mirror."</p> + +<p class="normal">But by degrees she came to her recollection, and began to +chide her +folly with a laugh, though her lips were still quivering--"Fool, it was +yourself. Revenge never beautifies a female face; that I might have +well known."</p> + +<p class="normal">And with firm step the strong-minded woman went up again to +the glass, +and looked in it defyingly, as if to challenge forth the monster that +was hid behind its crystal. Although her hands trembled in arranging +her locks, she yet accomplished the task with her eyes stedfastly fixed +upon the mirror.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, then," she cried with a horrid laugh, "I am armed. Hold +yourselves in readiness, my beloved! The Norna is sitting at her task, +and with sharp-edged swords weaves the bloody web of the decisive +combat. Up! to complete the work!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She turned hastily to the door, which even then opened. +Christopher +Friend, whose tender impatience would not suffer him to remain any +longer below, walked in, and with a sweet smile the beautiful fury +stepped forward to meet him.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">In Althea's rooms at Tausdorf, silent and anxious, expecting +the return +of his intended bride. Meantime, at a little table, sat Henry, looking +over a large volume of copper-plates, which, according to its title, +depicted "The strange Forms of the Metamorphoses of the ingenious +heathen Poet, Ovid."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The insupportable Latin!" cried the boy, stamping with his +feet; and +then jumping up to Tausdorf with the folio, he said, "Pray, now, help +me out of this difficulty. The stupid pictures are so singular that it +makes one quite curious to learn what they mean; and when one looks +after the explanation, the fool of an engraver has written Latin +underneath."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not find fault with the engraver," said Tausdorf; "he with +justice +believed that such pictures were not fit for a boy who does not yet +understand Latin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But you told us lately that you understood it a little," +persevered +the boy, "so translate me the subscription. I should like to know what +the mad picture means. Only look, now, there stands a stately knight in +a circle of dead men's bones and strange signs, holding a goblet in his +hand, and a beautiful woman touches him with a wand, and a mist spreads +over the country, and the knight has already got a horrid snout, as if +he were just being changed into an abominable beast, and below is +written:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p class="i6">"In turpes abiere feras quicunque biberunt</p> +<p class="i10">Dulcia Circæa pocula mixtu manu."</p> +</div> +<p class="normal">"Pray, now, tell me what it means?"</p> +<p class="normal">And Tausdorf, confused, +translated +it: "All were turned into vile brutes who drank of the sweet cup that +was mixed by the hand of Circe."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now I am as wise as before," rejoined the boy. "Who was this +Circe? +She is right handsome here in the picture; but then she looks at the +poor knights with such hateful eyes that I can't bear her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"She was a wicked enchantress of the old heathen time," said +Tausdorf. +"To all voyagers who visited her island, she offered a rich draught, +and when they drank of it, she touched them with her magic rod, and +they became beasts."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But why did the foolish people drink of it?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"They knew not the evil consequences," replied Tausdorf, +leaning his +heavy head in his hand, "or they had not done so."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah! they should have been more on their guard with strange +cunning +women," rejoined Henry. "You certainly would not have drank of it, Herr +Tausdorf!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who knows, my child?" said Tausdorf, the innocent remark +going to his +heart: "Perhaps I might."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Wicked witch!" cried the boy, and threatened the picture with +his +fist. "But did she not at last find her master?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh yes," said Tausdorf, turning over the leaf. "On this +Ulysses was +depicted, holding his sword to the breast of the enchantress, without +fear of her powerful wand, or of the devil-masks that surrounded him, +grinning and menacing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven be praised!" cried Henry; "there's a German +subscription again. +He read,</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ulysses compels her to disenchant his companions."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That's right!" he cried--"who was Ulysses?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"A Greek hero," replied Tausdorf. "The heathen god, Mercury, +had +supplied him with a herb, called <i>moy</i>, that protected him against the +enchantment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Or he too had been metamorphosed?" asked Henry with vexation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No doubt," replied the knight mournfully. "He, whom God does +not +uphold in the hour of temptation, falls, and falls deeply."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But it is not all really true?" added the boy, after some +reflection.</p> + +<p class="normal">"There is a good wholesome truth in the story," returned +Tausdorf; +"only the painter has veiled it in images. The beautiful, wicked Circe +is intended to prefigure the human passions, the impulse of the senses. +Whoever empties her cup, she robs him of reason, and makes him like the +beasts in the wood. Recollect, Henry, how you were wrath, not long ago, +with your play-fellow for some trifle, and screamed, and struck about +you, and would not be satisfied,--then you had become a little wild +beast in your anger."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will not do so again," said Henry, ashamed and kissed the +knight's +hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But what is the meaning of the herb moly, which protected the +great +hero from this enchantress?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is religion," replied Tausdorf, embracing the boy in deep +emotion. +"If in every purpose you remember that God looks on; if you ask +yourself whether it would be acceptable to him; and if in the slightest +doubt of this you abandon it, then you have got the right talisman +against sin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will be truly good, Herr Tausdorf; I will, indeed," said +the boy, +and gently rested his auburn head against the knight's breast, when the +sound of horses' feet was heard before the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is my mother!" he shouted, wiping away his tears, and +running out +of the room. Tausdorf started from his seat--"Air! the child has made +me warm with his questions. It is hard to teach good to others, when +one has to accuse one's self of evil. Oh Circe! Circe!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Again he looked at the picture of Ulysses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"With armed hand the hero broke the mighty spell which held +his +companions prisoners. He did his duty. Have I too done mine? I have +redeemed myself from the magic circle, but is that enough? Should I not +have taken the power of evil from this woman, who seems to have come +here to weave the meshes for some net of mischief, heaven only knows +what? If I did not choose to denounce the creature, should I not at +least have called the attention of the council to her, that no one +might come to harm? Yet no. In what she has done she has only wronged +myself. The ill that my denunciation might cause her would be revenge, +and that does not become a man towards frail woman. Let her do as she +pleases, we are all in God's hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My dear friend!" exclaimed Althea, who then entered, and +immediately +let go of Henry's hand to fly into the arms of her intended husband. +The old Schindel followed. Tausdorf hastened to welcome him with the +knightly pledge, that he might not have at once to meet the look of his +bride, towards whom he knew his heart was not perfectly at ease.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you quite recovered?" asked Althea affectionately; "you +look pale, +as if you had slept but little last night."</p> + +<p class="normal">This innocent appeal to the past night covered poor Tausdorf +with a +burning blush, which, as an estimable rarity in a man of his age, gave +a double charm to his features. He turned away, however, to hide the +treacherous colour, and Schindel addressed his niece:</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will it please you, niece, to give me an answer? The poor +fool waits +below in the corner of the street, and stays for permission to come +up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You love to torment people, uncle. I have a deadly aversion +to this +family, and of all of them, the avaricious, spiteful Christopher is the +most abhorrent to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Shame! shame, niece! What good Christian would recollect an +injury so +long? Know you not from the Scriptures, that you are to forgive your +brother seventy times, and again seven times seventy?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not that alone; but a secret dread possesses me +whenever the +creeper comes near me. I always feel as if my evil angel stood at my +side, ready to plunge me into destruction."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Psha! Superstitious fancies, which do not become so sensible +a woman. +Your intended shall decide."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well," cried Althea; "decide, dear Tausdorf. You know that a +year ago +Christopher Friend solicited my hand and was rejected. Now I may add, +what I before concealed; in the vexation of his disappointment, he +spoke of you most unbecomingly. But he now perceives his injustice, and +seeks for a reconciliation."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forgive, and you shall be forgiven," said Tausdorf +good-naturedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My own words!" cried Schindel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, for that," said Althea impatiently, "I am as prompt as +willing; +but he requires a formal reconciliation, and as the seal of it would +have our presence at his banquet to-morrow; this I deem as superfluous +as it would be disagreeable to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Who says A must say B too," retorted Schindel. "Christopher +will not +believe in the sincerity of your forgiveness, and thinks that you scorn +him if you refuse to appear at his banquet. You owe some compliance, +besides, to his rich and powerful family, to which in addition you are +allied."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still the untiring peacemaker and mediator! and inexhaustible +in +arguments, where the point is to reconcile the nobility and citizens!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I can't help it, niece, since, as a nobleman and a proprietor +at +Schweidnitz, I have become a sort of doubtful thing, and don't well +know whether I am a bird or a mouse. I am compelled, therefore, to +speak in the way of reconciliation on both sides, lest a feud should +break out, and it should eventually fare with me as with the +flittermouse in the fable. May I call up the petitioner?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Call him in God's name, uncle," said Tausdorf: "I read my +Althea's +<i>yes</i> in her lovely and peaceful countenance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellently spoken!" cried the uncle, and hurried out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven grant that we may never repent this <i>yes</i>," said +Althea with +heavy heart. "I only wish the wild Francis were not of the party!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why is he so terrible to you?" asked Tausdorf, smiling.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Because he is so rough, so fond of frays and drinking, and +because he +detests the nobles so irreconcilably. Since too he has been forced to +submit to the long imprisonment, on account of the late unlucky affair, +there is no managing with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have never seen him; but I should not like to subscribe to +the +damnatory sentence pronounced against him by the nobles of our +acquaintance. Hot-headed men are frequently the best. As I have heard +from good authority, this Francis fought bravely against the Turks, and +I find it natural and pardonable that a soldier should not willingly +suffer himself to be played upon. His late misfortune grieved me much. +As he was absolved after all, he certainly did not belong to Bieler's +murderers; and to suffer a year's undeserved imprisonment must embitter +even the heart of a lamb."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven grant that you may never come in contact with this +lamb; you +would find in him a furious wolf. I tremble at the thoughts of it, for +I think fire and water could not meet more hostilely than your +dispositions. Your person would show him a true mirror of what he +ought to be and is not; that would shame him, and shame exasperates +vulgar minds. His roughness and your cultivation, his furious violence +and your noble calmness, his inclination to every excess and your +purity----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still! still!" interrupted Tausdorf, ashamed, and gently +pressing his +hand upon the lips of the animated eulogist. "Do not forget that I also +am no more than a frail man, and that exaggerated praise from an +estimable mouth can corrupt even better than I am."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come along," cried Schindel, dragging in the sky-blue +Christopher.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a pitiful sinner-face he approached Tausdorf, and timidly +stretched out his hand to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All is forgotten and forgiven," cried the knight, shaking him +by the +hand; "only as a first proof of friendship, do me the favour not to +speak a single syllable of the past."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are too good, sir," replied Christopher, smiling; "but I +will not +fail to requite so great a favour to the best of my power."</p> + +<p class="normal">He then went to Althea, and, kissing her hand, said--"You owe +me some +reparation, noble lady, for the banquet which was put off four years +ago on account of that murderous history. I may, therefore, the more +boldly presume that you will this time favour me with your invaluable +company at a feast, which, please God, I intend giving to-morrow, at +Barthel Wallach's, for my own house is just undergoing a thorough +repair."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will your brother, Francis, be there?" asked Althea hastily.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven forbid!" rejoined Christopher; "We do not want this +quarreller +and roarer. I have taken good care not to invite him. At first I feared +that he might intrude himself, unasked; but to my great delight I have +learnt that he goes on this day to a drinking-party at Freiburg, so +that we are quite safe from him. I have asked but a small party, a few +quiet nobles, and two or three honest citizens of the first class. +After the cloth is taken off, we'll have a little dance amongst +ourselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We will come," said Althea with lightened heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Excellent!" cried Christopher, rubbing his hands, while a +singular +piercing glance of triumph fell from his eyes upon the fair widow, who +immediately changed colour. "Now I can set about the preparations for +my feast with a right joyful heart. I thank my dear friends for their +courtesy, and commend myself to their recollection."</p> + +<p class="normal">He made a profound bow and departed, accompanied out by +Schindel and +Tausdorf; but Althea looked after them anxiously, and sighed--"Oh that I +could recall my word!"</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The morrow of the 27th of July was come. In Barthel Wallach's +great +room on the ground floor, just before the entrance, sat Christopher +Friend with his guests at the epicurean banquet, while the upper seat +was graced by the betrothed pair. The first course was removed; the +strong dark Hungary went unremittingly about the table in the great +cups; and while the females, according to the good old custom, seemed +only to kiss the goblet, the men drained it frequently till their faces +glowed, and many a broad jest cast the reflection of this red upon the +delicate cheeks of the ladies. Tausdorf only sat still and wrapt up in +himself, and with his fork scratched letters on the pewter-dish before +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What ails you?" said the mild Althea sportively, and passed +her white +hand across his eyes. "You are not yourself, and cannot plead in excuse +that your thoughts are absent with the object of your passion, for she +sits by you in her honoured person, and you trouble yourself but little +about her."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My good Althea!" sighed Tausdorf, and with a mournful smile +kissed the +hand that caressed him.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And what are you graving so earnestly upon the plate? I must +see it, +and woe betide you if it should be the name of a fortunate rival."</p> + +<p class="normal">She bent down more closely to read what he had written.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Memento mori!</i> For God's sake, how is it that you are seized +on a +sudden with these death-thoughts at a pleasure-banquet?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is a way of mine to think on death in the midst of +enjoyment. I +deem it pardonable at least, as in return one can blend with death the +thought of the eternal joy that waits us in the world beyond."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My worthy Herr von Tausdorf," interrupted Christopher with a +disagreeable laugh, "I do not doubt your oratorical powers, or your +piety, and am convinced that you could, if you pleased, make an +excellent funeral sermon extempore; but that would be too dull an +entertainment with the full goblet: therefore take up the glass before +you, and pledge me as fairly as I pledge you to the health of your +noble bride."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf seized the goblet, but again lost himself in a sea of +thought, +and forgot to pledge.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, dreamer," said the intended bride with good-humoured +reproach, +"do you hesitate to drink the health of your Althea?"</p> + +<p class="normal">He raised the cup mechanically, drank, and set it down again. +Schindel, +who sat near him, was surprised.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is the matter with you, Tausdorf? I never saw you thus +before?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not comprehend myself. An anxiety has possessed me, as +if I were +to commit a murder. It must have been so that the poor king, Saul, felt +when the evil spirit was upon him. I am ashamed of this childish +feeling, and yet I can so little master it, that I shudder every time +the door opens, thinking that some great misfortune must enter under a +dreadful form."</p> + +<p class="normal">"All this comes only of thick blood," replied Schindel; "you +must be +bled."</p> + +<p class="normal">As he spoke the word, the door was flung open, and Francis +Friend burst +into the room with his usual impetuosity.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ah, woe!" cried Althea.</p> + +<p class="normal">Schindel clasped his hands in terror, while Christopher asked +piteously, "Why, whence do you come, brother? I thought you were long +ago at Freiburg, and enjoying yourself?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He is a fool," replied Francis, "who hunts after pleasure +miles off, +when he knows where to find it at once. I heard yesterday of your +present feasting, upon which I thought directly of surprising you, and +put off mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, all that's true," said Christopher; "you have surprised +us all, +and most agreeably: so let us draw together. Set yourself here at my +right hand, and enjoy with us the meat and drink that God has sent us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Spare all this idle talk," cried Francis, "I'll find out a +good place +for myself;" and he carried his chair to the upper part of the room, +seating himself between Tausdorf and Schindel, and saying to the +former, "I see by your place near my cousin that you are the knight +Tausdorf. I'm glad to have an opportunity of knowing you, for though I +do not in general care much about the nobles, you please me well. There +is a command and intelligence about you such as one does not usually +see in your knights. For the rest, I am the wild Frank Friend, of whom +no doubt you have heard all manner of stories, and more bad than good. +In troth, I am a mad companion, but I mean it fairly with him who means +it fairly with me, and I now heartily wish you joy of your marriage +with my handsome cousin Althea here."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf returned a fitting compliment, while Schindel, who +had got +behind Althea's chair, whispered to her, "The bear does not seem in one +of his worst bear-moods to-day. Heaven help us farther."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the mean time the second course was served up. Francis ate +little, +but stuck so much the more diligently to the wine, and kept up a +constant talk with Tausdorf, in a tone of frank importunity, which did +not sit amiss upon him. Soon the conversation turned upon the Turkish +war; and he was ready to leap out of his skin for joy on finding that +Tausdorf had served against the infidels in Transylvania, at the very +time he had been fighting with them in Hungary.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven confound me!" he cried, while his face glowed with +drinking; +and holding up the goblet--"Why, you please me better and better, +comrade, and therefore we'll now pledge each other in a brave draught, +and swear eternal friendship and brotherhood."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf hesitated at this unexpected proposal, and was about +to +decline it courteously, when Althea pressed his hand under the table, +and in low brief words requested him to accede for her sake; upon which +he took up the crystal goblet, and Francis did the same to pledge him; +but in the moment that the glasses touched, both rang hollowly, and +burst with a sharp jarring sound, which echoed lamentably through the +wide hall, while the noble wine poured down in streams upon the floor, +to the indignation of the avaricious Christopher, who called out, "You +are, and always will be, Frank the clumsy, and do nothing like rational +people; all with noise and fury. You have broken now my beautiful +crystal cups with your rough pledging."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, every thing is to be laid to me," growled Francis: "I +pledged my +goblet as neatly as possible; it was not till afterwards that both +broke, and how that chanced, the devil only knows."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not your brother's fault," said Tausdorf, drying the +wine from +his doublet. "I do not myself understand how it happened."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have examples," observed Schindel thoughtfully, "that +empty glasses +have broken upon people calling out loudly in the same key to which +they were tuned; but these goblets were full, and all was still in the +room. God grant that this accident may not prognosticate the rupture of +your new-formed friendship as early as the glasses!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"No fear of rupture," cried Francis, shaking Tausdorf's hand +cordially. +"We must both agree to that first, but our hearts have been amalgamated +and hardened together in the same war-fire, and will hold together for +life and death."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gentlemen," said the butler, entering with a respectful bow, +"there +are some well-dressed personages--masks,--standing without, before the +door, who would ask of the honourable company through me whether they +may come in to amuse you with song and dance, and other allowable +pleasantries."</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are welcome," cried the restless Francis, starting up. +"This +tedious sitting at table has long been abominable to me."</p> + +<p class="normal">He ran to the door and opened it. Three gipsies danced in, +playing with +pipe, triangle, and tambourine: these were followed by three females in +black clothes, slashed with red, and wearing black masks.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Trim wenches, brother," said Francis, with eager look, to +Tausdorf, +upon whose chair he was leaning. "So slim, and at the same time so +full! By heavens! it makes one wish to become a gipsy for the pleasure +of possessing them."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This masking is not to my taste," replied Tausdorf. "The +burning eyes +that sparkle from the fixed black faces have to me something almost +supernatural. The open brow, and an open heart whether in joy or grief, +are what I love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I understand you, my poor knight," said Francis mockingly. +"You are +already in the cage, and dare no longer take any pleasure in a handsome +face, at least not <i>show</i> it, lest your lady wife should be angry, and +hold a criminal court upon her faithless shepherd."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know any of the party?" asked Althea, to interrupt +this +conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not I," answered Francis. "The devil knows where stupid Kit +has picked +up the handsome wenches; but my acquaintance with them shall soon be +made, and then I'll let you know more about them."</p> + +<p class="normal">With this he would have forced himself upon the masks, but the +gipsy +with the triangle, an old gray-beard, waved him back, and gave the +women a sign to begin their revels. The music immediately struck up, +and the three gipsies commenced a wild fantastic dance, in which the +twines of their round well-formed arms, the turnings and bendings of +their slim, delicate figures, the springing and agility of their feet, +were shown off in full perfection. One of them, whose auburn hair was +adorned with coloured ribbons and Bohemian stones, particularly +distinguished herself by the gracefulness of her movements; and +Francis, after having looked on for some time, tore open his doublet, +exclaiming, "Zounds! what a figure! It warms an honest fellow who has +got a few bottles of Tokay in him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"This mad springing may please you," said Althea +contemptuously; "it is +just calculated for the taste of a drunkard; but to me it seems like +the wild dance of fiends about a lost soul. It grates me to see that a +woman can so far forget the female dignity as to expose herself thus."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven deliver me from a tribunal where you preside," said +Francis +laughing; "why, it must be worse than that of the emperor at Prague. +Your virtue is of so fierce a nature, there's no reasoning with it. +That which is to please must be a little free: your decorum and modesty +are the most tedious things on the face of the earth."</p> + +<p class="normal">The trio was at an end. The gipsies fanned themselves with +their +motley-coloured handkerchiefs, but they would not move their masks, and +on that account rejected the wine which was proffered to them by the +master of the feast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"These girls seem to be buttoned up to their chins," said +Francis, "but +for all that I'll have a peep behind their black masks, or die for it. +Above all, I must try the fair-haired witch." And in the delirium of +the moment, he dashed his goblet through the window, and leaped upon a +chair, shouting "Huzza! huzza! away with the tables; we have had enough +of eating, and will dance you one till the floor shakes, and the +rafters crack again."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Man! are you alone here?" exclaimed Tausdorf indignantly; but +in his +frenzy, Francis heard him not, and, springing from the chair over the +table with a neck-breaking leap, alighted again just before the mask +with the auburn hair.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take away," said Christopher with vexation. "When once he +breaks out, +there is no managing with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">The tables were removed, the seats placed close to the walls, +and the +guests made room for the dancers. Passing over the usual forms of +courtesy, Francis seized his chosen one with a rude grasp, and shouted +to the musicians, "A waltz! a waltz! but quick! quick!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The music began, and the feet of the dancers kept pace with +its +rapidity. The space about them grew wider and wider, for the spectators +could hardly get their feet out of the way in time from the stamping of +the intoxicated Francis, who kept clapping his hands, and shouting, +"Faster! faster! I can stand it, and so can she." At last the piper +stopped from want of breath; in a little time too the triangle was +unable to follow; and now only the tambourine gave a fit measure to +this bacchanalian revel.</p> + +<p class="normal">"And this is called pleasure?" said Althea to Tausdorf, who +had +retreated to a bow-window.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Where the soul is incapable of enjoyment," he replied, +"pleasure must +be sensual, or the vulgar mind would have no joy on earth whatever."</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the sprightly bacchanal was exhausted, and danced off +with his +female into the next room. There he threw himself into a chair, forced +his companion into the seat beside him, and panted out, "You dance as +gracefully as lightly, and only so much the more stimulate my desire to +see your face. It certainly won't have to be ashamed of the feet. Come, +take off the damnable Moor's visor."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not yet time," replied the gipsy in a low tone, that +sounded +still more hollowly from the mask.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet?" said Francis, with a rough grasp of her hand; "but +soon? +to-day?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"If all goes as it should, perhaps," was the answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I must have patience, however little I am used to it; so +let us, +in the mean time, have a friendly chat together. You are so sparing of +words. I only wish your tongue had half the nimbleness of your feet."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am not fond of talking," replied the gipsy with cutting +coldness; +"there is little pleasure in it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And yet you are a woman," cried Francis, merrily. "For +Heaven's sake, +how could you have so degenerated? Only think, if every one were to be +as you are, what a poor sort of entertainment we should have in the +world."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The world would gain by it," retorted the mask. "How much +foolish, how +much evil, talk would be spared! How much falsehood and deceit! How +much perjury!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh, this is dull gossip," exclaimed Francis, struck by her +words. +"Rather tell me my fortune; you have visited us as a gipsy, and should +keep up the character."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not ask it," she replied, in a warning tone: "you might +hear +something that would not please you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes, if I were fool enough to believe such nonsense. Prophesy +away, +and be it at my peril. Here is my hand."</p> + +<p class="normal">The gipsy hastily seized it. Her bosom heaved violently, and +her eyes +darted piercing looks from out the mask.--At length she said, "These +lines do not please me; you are like to use your sword this very day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That would be the devil," cried Francis; and looked about +with an air +of defiance, as if seeking for his adversary.--"But I have no +objection: to my mind the best of a feast is wanting if there is not +something of a row to wind it up."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So much for the future," said the gipsy, releasing his hand. +"The past +you will be contented to leave alone."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By no means," exclaimed Francis. "Of the future you can lie +as much +as you please, because no one can peep behind the curtain; but in the +past your art is put to the proof of fire, and if it does not come well +out of it, I shall mock you soundly."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again the gipsy took his hand, examined it; but shuddered and +retreated, saying, "For the last time I warn you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That, by my troth, sounds like earnest," cried Francis, +mockingly.--"But go on, at my peril."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have murder on your soul!" said a voice hollowly from +beneath the +mask.</p> + +<p class="normal">Francis drew back, shuddering, but in the next moment he +collected +himself, as he replied, "In the Turkish war I helped more than one +infidel to hell; but I pride myself upon it, and do not reckon it for a +murder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I speak of that which happened four years since, and of which +you were +acquitted at the royal tribune of Prague."</p> + +<p class="normal">Francis uttered a cry of terror, and would have started up, +but the +gipsy grasped his hand firmly, and he sank back upon his seat as if +paralysed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Properly speaking," continued the gipsy, "you have two souls +to answer +for above. An honest old man was sacrificed for your safety. You +deceived him by an oath to marry his daughter, whom you had seduced: +justice gave way before the son of the all-powerful patrician, and, to +save vice, innocence went out to die."</p> + +<p class="normal">Francis sate pale and motionless. The fumes of the wine were +for a +short time dissipated by strong horror; and, though he saw that nothing +would do here save bold denial either in wrath or ridicule, yet he was +not sufficiently master of his tongue; and the moment in which +impudence would have been in place passed by unemployed. The music from +the next room sounded merrily, as if in mockery of his anguish. At +length he stammered out with difficulty, "Avenging Nemesis, who are +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You may, perhaps, learn to-day," replied the gipsy, "as I +have already +given you to hope. But that you may not send me to the stake for a +witch," she added, passing over to a tone of jest, "I must confess that +I had my information from a sure hand. The stately knight yonder, who +is conversing so familiarly at the window with that handsome lady, told +the strange tale a little time ago to a noble Hungarian. I listened to +him unseen, and heard him calling you a pitiful boy, who did not know +when death became a man more than life."</p> + +<p class="normal">With the passion thus excited, returned intoxication also in +the wild +brain of Francis. His face became a dark red. He started from his seat, +and snatching up his sword from the corner, girded it on with trembling +hands, as he exclaimed, "For the first time I have trusted a noble, but +never again.--And the scoundrel caught me so with his knightly bearing +and open manners, was so frank and friendly with me, and yet attacked +my honour behind my back like a hired murderer!--Perhaps at the very +moment he drank to our brotherhood, he was plotting to rake up old +forgotten stories from their oblivion, that he might capitally denounce +me to the furious emperor, with whom he has so much weight. Now it is +clear why the goblets broke in pledging. But, by the infernal hosts, I +will do myself right upon this hypocrite!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will do well," said the gipsy, still firmly grasping his +hand; +"but if it imports you to accomplish your revenge, don't begin the feud +here. All would take part against you, and he would be warned. Entice +him out, and then let your swords decide in the battle-ordeal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is hard," exclaimed Francis; "hard that I am to speak +the +scoundrel fair, when I should like to fall upon him at once, tooth and +nail. But you are right. I am called the wild Frank, and, as I should +not dare to tell the real cause, I should be thought by every one in +the wrong. I'll look out, therefore, for a quiet spot where I may right +myself without any interruption or disturbance. But where shall I find +you afterwards to thank you for your information?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"When all is done, you will see me again, unmasked," replied +the gipsy +with peculiar emphasis. "My word upon it! I shall keep that word better +than many a man his oath!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a strange being," cried Francis, struck by the word +as if by a +secret blow from a dagger. For several moments he stared at her fixedly +and thoughtfully with large and drunken eyes, and then stammered, "I +don't altogether know what to make of you. Sometimes you appear so +familiar to me that my hair stands on end; at others, you sit by me +like my evil conscience, and torture me at your own good-will. Again, +you seem to be a sort of fiend, who would tempt me to some sin, and +then laugh me to scorn when I had done your pleasure. If I had not so +much Tokay in my brain, I should be able to unravel all this, and find +out upon what footing we were. But that won't do now, and so let my +first resolution abide, in the devil's name! Chalk your soles well, +Tausdorf; I fetch you to a merry dance of death."</p> + +<p class="normal">He hurried back into the ball-room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am almost sorry that I must hound on this beast against the +noble +Tausdorf; but no choice was left me. He may defend himself. On one side +blind wrath and drunkenness; on the other, sober courage. It cannot +fail. Good night, Francis!"</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meanwhile Althea and Tausdorf were gliding round in the +graceful<a name="div2_note02" href="#div2Ref_note02"><sup>2</sup></a> German dance, and about them stood the guests, looking with +delight on the pair that seemed to be made for each other. Christopher, +indeed, eyed them maliciously, and at times cast a troubled glance at +the side-chamber. At last Francis came out, death in his looks: his +worthy brother immediately beckoned to him, and proffered a full +goblet, which he seized and hastily swallowed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have drunk this glass to the devil's brotherhood!" he +whispered to +Christopher, and then mixed amongst the spectators.</p> + +<p class="normal">Schindel, who had overheard him, exclaimed to Christopher, +"What means +the libertine by those impious words?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The heathen god, Bacchus, can best tell that," replied +Christopher, +while with a quiet laugh he filled the goblet again. "To explain what a +drunkard means one must be drunk one's self, and I, thank God, have +kept myself sober, to be able to see that all goes on right."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That last glass was one too much," said Schindel +reproachfully. "You +should not have given him any thing more to drink. If now he should do +any mischief in his drunkenness?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know my brother better. When he is half drunk, he is always +ready to +quarrel; but with a full lading he soon grows sleepy, and one gets a +respite from him. I gave him the glass purposely as a sleeping +draught."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have no faith in your expedient," said Schindel, looking +for his +cap; "and, as the sun is setting, you must allow me to take my leave."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not yet, not yet, cousin," entreated Christopher, trying to +persuade +the old knight to sit down again. "I'll not let you go till we have +emptied this flask of Tokay to the bottom."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I must put it off till another time: your brother's face does +not +please me again to-day, and <i>better prevented than lamented</i>. Do you +see and get him to bed."</p> + +<p class="normal">During this, the betrothed pair had finished their dance, and, +observing Schindel's farewell, took it for a signal to follow, and bade +adieu to their host accordingly. Francis came up to them: "What means +this breaking-up, old man? It is bad enough that you leave us so early, +but it would be a downright wrong to rob us of such sprightly dancers."</p> + +<p class="normal">"We must, indeed, go," anxiously insisted Althea, perceiving +the state +of Francis. "I have a messenger to send to-day to our steward at +Bogendorf, and it is on business that admits of no delay."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well, if you go, the best of the pleasure goes," said Francis +gallantly. "I had rather not stay either, and will pay an hour's visit +to the bowling-green: they bowl there to-day for a bacon-hog. Come with +me, brother Tausdorf; it is still far from evening, and <i>you</i> have not +got a messenger to send to Bögendorf."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am no player," said the knight, excusing himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nor I, brother," replied Francis, and took Tausdorf's arm +familiarly +in his; "at least I don't love this push-pin work. It is another thing +when one can stake life and limb upon the hazard; then, indeed, I am +for you. But we'll not bowl, only look on and see how the poor devils +fag themselves for a paltry stake. Come along."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do as he wishes, to avoid strife," whispered Althea; "but get +away +from him as soon as you can."</p> + +<p class="normal">"So be it then," said Tausdorf to Francis, and shook hands +with Althea. +In the mean time, Schindel had taken his leave of the other guests, and +now first perceived what was going on. Alarmed, he drew Tausdorf to the +window:--"You are not going to walk with Francis?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why not?" replied the knight calmly: "He has asked me in a +friendly +manner, and Althea, too, wishes it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake don't get too familiar with the drunkard; +above all, go +not with him alone. He has no good intentions to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You carry your foresight too far, dear uncle," returned +Tausdorf, +girding on his sword; "Francis is an honest soldier, and, I can plainly +see, well inclined to me. It is impossible he should have any design +against me. Besides, I have already promised him my company, and +therefore it must be so at all events."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have spoken and discharged my conscience," cried Schindel. +"God +avert all accidents!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Come then, brother, come," urged Francis, pulling the +knight's arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Adieu, dear Althea," said Tausdorf, and again shook the hand +of his +intended bride, who looked at him with a loving farewell. On a sudden +the tears burst from her eyes, and, forgetful of those about them, she +fell upon his neck.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Farewell!" she cried, with stifled voice:--"God grant that I +may see +you again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Without doubt before evening," said Francis laughing, and +hurried out +his companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I don't like his going," observed Schindel, as he took his +niece's arm +and led her away.</p> + +<p class="normal">"They are gone then!" said Christopher to himself: "As for the +rest, +that will come in time too."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf and Francis went out together towards the +Peter's-thor, the +city gate, followed at a distance by Martin Heubert, Tausdorf's boy, +and his page, Schmidt, who had waited for their master at the door of +the banqueting-house. In the heart of Francis fermented the poison +which the gipsy had poured into it, but he still restrained his wrath, +and walked in silence by the side of Tausdorf. In this way they came to +the Park, between the two gates--the Peter's-thor and Nieder-thor,--in +the way to the bowling-green, when Tausdorf, tired of the silent walk, +and with the view of showing a friendly sympathy with Francis, said to +him, "You are a soldier like myself, Frank; you too, therefore, must +have found that the pains and dangers of a campaign are often less than +the evils with which life threatens us in the profoundest peace. As I +hear, you have gone through much misfortune, and at last come off +triumphantly!"</p> + +<p class="normal">These well intended, but unlucky, words made the crater +overflow. The +drunken Francis, prepared as he was by an evil hand, could see nothing +in them but the bitterest scorn, and became mad with wrath. For a while +he was silent, because he did not know with what language to hurl his +contempt and rage in the face of his adversary. At last he thundered +out, "Yes, indeed! And, as they tell me, you have so acted that an +honest man cannot drink out of the same cup with you."</p> + +<p class="normal">Surprised by this insult, which came upon him like a lightning +flash +from a clear sky, Tausdorf started back. With an awful sternness he +asked, "How could you drink to our eternal friendship but a few hours +since, if you knew this of me? In truth, you must be worse than I am in +your opinion. But now you will say who it is that has spread this +slander against me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"I had it from a good friend," retorted Francis defyingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will name him to me this very hour, and on this very +spot!" cried +Tausdorf, with flashing eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">The drunkard gazed on the knight, who stood before him like an +angry +Mars; and it seemed to him for a moment in his intoxication as if he +had gone too far.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I will tell you at a fitter time," he stammered out: "I have +it from a +woman."</p> + +<p class="normal">The contradiction between this and the earlier statement +enraged +Tausdorf still more.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do not stir!" he called out to his people, and led Francis +impetuously +a few steps farther.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Now, name the slanderer!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Instead of reply Francis grasped at him, but with gigantic +strength the +latter caught his opponent by the breast and flung him to the ground, +where he held him fast.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you are an honourable nobleman," groaned Francis under +him, "let me +betake myself to my sword."</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf hastily let him loose, and went back a few paces. The +latter +sprang up, frantic with rage, and tore his sword from the scabbard; +and, looking after the knight's people furiously, cried out, "Don't let +your servants help!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf called to them in Bohemian, "Whichever of you moves a +hand, my +sword strikes him!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Draw!" roared Francis, with foaming mouth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Only in self-defence," said Tausdorf, and held out his blade.</p> + +<p class="normal">Francis pressed upon him with furious blows. He merely +defended +himself. During this the auburn-haired gipsy looked over the wall of +the garden; she was now without a mask, and her face betrayed agony and +repentance.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Why don't you part them?" she cried to Tausdorf's people, +wringing her +hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is forbidden to us," replied the faithful Martin sadly.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf cast a glance from the combat to the place whence the +well-known voice came; and, taking advantage of this, Francis lunged +fiercely at his heart, but the thrust did not succeed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My life, then, is intended?" cried Tausdorf indignantly, and +he cut +his adversary over the right hand. As the arm sank, his sword went into +the breast of Francis, who fell to earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious Heavens! such was not my purpose," exclaimed +Tausdorf, when +he saw the blood flowing; and, sheathing his sword, he gazed for a +while with looks of compassion on his fallen adversary. Then turning to +his servant, he bade him hasten for his carriage:--"I feel myself too +weak for long and speedy riding, and this brooks no delay."</p> + +<p class="normal">Heubert and Schmidt hurried back to the town.</p> + +<p class="normal">"By God's holy word it was not my purpose!" repeated Tausdorf; +and +sighing "Poor Althea!" he followed his people.</p> + +<p class="normal">While this was passing, the gipsy had quitted the wall, opened +a little +gate in it, and approached Francis, who lay in death-throes on the +ground. Having come up to him, she shook the auburn locks from her +head, and the long brown hair fell about her face as she put on a +withered coronet of roses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Do you know me, Francis? Do you know this bridal ornament?" +she asked, +with a mixture of grief and anger.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Agatha!" sighed Francis; and with difficulty turned away his +head, +that he might not see the fearful apparition.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have revenged your crime," she exclaimed, "and by a greater +crime. +But there is no joy in vengeance; the grave knows no hatred, and I +forgive you. Your guilt is atoned; and you may appear confidently +before the throne of Heaven. Pray for me yonder, that I too may be +forgiven when I have ended here in penitence and agony!"</p> + +<p class="normal">She rushed away. Again he sighed!--Again!--and his soul +fleeted with +the last beams of the setting sun, and darkness and the silence of eve +were upon the blood-besprinkled earth.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">Althea was reclining in the window and impatiently expecting +the +knight's return, when at length she saw Martin and Schmidt come running +breathlessly through the Peter's-gate. An evil foreboding thrilled +through her bosom. She called out to them,--"What now? Has any accident +happened?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are to fetch our master's carriage immediately," replied +Heubert; +"you will learn the rest by and by."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious Heavens! What is the meaning of this?" she +exclaimed, and +leaning out of the window to look after Tausdorf, she saw him coming, +pale and in disorder.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Something dreadful has occurred--I have never seen him thus +before."</p> + +<p class="normal">She hurried down, but Tausdorf was already at the street door, +and, +seizing his hand with increasing anxiety, she said,--"Dear friend, what +has happened to you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"My poor Althea! You were right with your foreboding when we +parted. +Such as I left you I never shall see you again, for then no murder was +upon my soul!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Good Heavens! Francis Friend!" cried Althea, whose terror +divined the +truth at once.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He lies in the Park, killed by my sword!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are lost, then, if you do not instantly fly from +Schweidnitz. You +should not have returned, for moments here are of more worth than +gold."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My people are putting to the horses," replied Tausdorf, and +went with +Althea into the court, where Schmidt was just drawing out the carriage +from the coach-house, and Martin was cursing in the stable because he +could not find the harness.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is too long about," said Althea; "besides you will go +more slowly +in your carriage, and not be able to use the footpaths. Let them saddle +my palfrey for you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The creature is good, but too slight. He'll not stand out a +hard +ride."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let him, then, drop under you, so as you but reach your goal. +Only +hasten, for Heaven's sake, before the deed is spread abroad!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then saddle the palfrey," said Tausdorf to his servant; "and +lead him +on before to the Striegauer gate. I will come straight after you."</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant obeyed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"But how was it possible," said Althea, "that with all your +coolness +and moderation, you could suffer yourself to be provoked by the +wretched drunkard to this rash act, the consequences of which are so +evident?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Woman," replied Tausdorf, with gloomy looks, "were an angel +from +heaven to come down in a corporeal form, he could not remain in peace +if the evil-minded seriously set about involving him in quarrels! +Believe me on my knightly word, I was forced to draw the sword. My life +and honour were both at stake; and if I am no longer to defend these +with my knightly hand, I may bid adieu to the world, and creep into a +cloister. The thrust did, indeed, go deeper than it should, but who, in +the heat of battle, can command his steel? God be my judge!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The palfrey was saddled and brought out. Tausdorf again bade +Althea +farewell, pressed her to his heart with the convulsive energy of grief, +and rushed away. With slow steps she reascended the stairs, and placed +herself again in the stone seat in the window. The tears flowed hotly +down her cheeks, while her anxious heart swelled her bosom with strong +and frequent heavings.</p> + +<p class="normal">She had sate thus for some time, when with anxious speed her +uncle +entered the apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you heard it, niece? Francis Friend has been found dead +in the +Park, not far from the bowling-green, and report names our Tausdorf for +his murderer."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Alas! alas!" sobbed Althea; "this misfortune will cost me too +my +life."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious Heavens! It is true, then? But the unlucky man has +fled?--for, if they catch him here, he is lost. He might rather hope to +find mercy from the Spanish inquisition, or from the prince of darkness +himself, than from the old Erasmus."</p> + +<p class="normal">"He has fled upon my palfrey, and if he only gets a good start +of them +I deem him saved."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God grant it! but as I hurried hither the prefects of the +quarter were +running about like mad. To a certainty they will raise a hue and cry +after him. Has he been long gone?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Althea remained without answering, for the hurried trot of +many horses +had caused her to look out of the window. A party of the city police +were riding by, well armed and with speed, over the market-place to the +Striegauer gate.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious Heavens! Too soon!" sighed the poor Althea, and sank +in a +swoon to the ground.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The night had come on, and the moon threw her first beams over +the +silent country. Tausdorf just then rode his panting horse into +Salzbrunn, with many a glance behind to see if he could yet discover +any of his pursuers. Unfortunately he heard from the town the snorting +and the tramp of many horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Hold out but this once, poor beast!" he exclaimed to his +horse, and +again plunged the spurs into his bleeding flanks. But the weary animal +made only a few weak efforts, and fell back again into his short trot, +interrupted by frequent stumbles, while the sound of horses' feet kept +constantly nearing.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is then a struggle for life or death!" cried Tausdorf; +drew his +sword, and his left hand grasped his holster-pistols.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Stop, murderer, stop!" cried the first horseman, springing +forward. +"You are our prisoner. Follow us to Schweidnitz."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Keep yourselves out of harm's way, good people," cried +Tausdorf, +turning round his horse: "I am well armed, and have nothing to do with +you."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have slain the son of our burgomaster, and are therefore +forfeited +to our criminal law," retorted two of the marshalmen, waving their +swords, while the others came up and surrounded the knight.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Surrender!" exclaimed the chief of them, "that we may not +have to use +force, by which you are sure to come off worst."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not alive!" cried Tausdorf. "I am here in the Fürstentein +territory, +and to the Fürstentein tribunal will I surrender myself, that the +<i>Oberlandeshauptmann</i> may try me for my deed. To the sentence of the +court of Schweidnitz I never will submit."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By no means," replied the marshal. "Where you have committed +the +crime, there must you be judged. Therefore, yield yourself immediately, +or I'll have you rode down, and the damage is your own."</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the tumult, the cry of murder, and the loud +parley, had +brought the peasants of Saltzbrunn thither. They came with poles and +spears, and stared at the parties, whom they surrounded.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Help us to seize the murderer!" cried the marshalman, who had +but +little inclination to venture on the single man with his whole troop.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not at all," replied the village magistrate. "You are here, +gentlemen, +upon the imperial fief of Saltzbrunn; and, as I understand, the knight +is willing to give himself up to our tribunal. That is law, and so it +must be. In the meantime I answer for the prisoner till I have informed +our gracious mistress, the Lady of Hochberg, and afterwards right will +be done to all parties."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That I should have to dispute thus with a village magistrate +about +obeying the commands of the council at Schweidnitz!" exclaimed the +marshal indignantly. "Peasants, I again warn you to help us seize the +murderer, as good and true neighbours. You expose yourselves to a heavy +responsibility if he escapes us through your fault; while, on the +contrary, I promise you a rich reward for your services from the noble +council."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Here's an opportunity of gaining something," whispered one +peasant to +the other; and soon the whole party cried out in chorus, with lifted +poles, "Surrender yourself, Sir knight."</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake, do not compel me to murder!" said Tausdorf +earnestly, +and waved his sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Forwards!" commanded the marshal, and rushed with his +horsemen upon +Tausdorf; who instantly fired his pistol, but the ball only struck one +of the horses. The knight now used his sword gallantly, but his enemies +were too powerful, and his steed was too much exhausted for him to +wheel about amongst them with the skill and tricks of horsemanship. +During this, too, the peasants had come on with courage, and struck at +him from a distance with their long poles. The opposition of the honest +magistrate was lost, amidst this murderous uproar. At last a pole +struck Tausdorf's head: he fell senseless from his horse, and the crowd +rushed upon him with rude shouts of scorn and laughter. Bound with +disgraceful bonds, they set him upon a horse, and the police returned +in triumph with him to Schweidnitz.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">In the hour of midnight the council was collected in the +senate-house +at Schweidnitz. The two tall candles which stood on the table lighted +the high and gloomy Sessions'-room but sparingly. The council had +collected in single groups, and conversed in low and troubled whispers. +Alone, and with his hands behind his back, as was his custom, paced +Erasmus, up and down, slow and silent; but on his old and venerable +face the storm of the most violent passions was throwing up its waves.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tausdorf is just brought in and placed in the Hildebrand," +announced +the Marshal Clement Kernichen.</p> + +<p class="normal">"God be praised!" said Erasmus, with a dreadful look towards +heaven, +and went to his seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Ad loca</i>, gentlemen!" he exclaimed to the counsellors; and +when they +had taken their places, he said with proud dignity, "The murderer is in +our power; it is time, then, for us to do our duty. Let double watches +be placed at the door. These will remain closed against every one till +justice is satisfied. At the break of day the judges shall hold a +criminal court; and as the murdered person was my son, Doctor Jacob +Grenwitz will preside in my place. I do not conceal from you, +colleagues, that the criminal has a strong party here, and that all the +nobles will be on his side. Therefore, that justice may have its +course, unchecked of human fears, I herewith declare the town in +danger, and the council permanent. The horse-police shall be +collectively summoned, and mount guard before the Sessions'-house +completely armed; the gens d'armes shall be at their alarm-posts; the +various guilds be warned to hold themselves in readiness with their +weapons, that they may come forward at the first sound of the +alarm-bell. Put all this into execution immediately, Mr. Marshalman, +and then return to our sessions to report progress and receive our +farther orders."</p> + +<p class="normal">"God deliver us! how will all this end?" sighed Kernichen, and +left the +room; in which a deadly silence prevailed, as each of the council was +sufficiently occupied with his own thoughts, and yet hesitated to +impart them to another. In the midst of this the city-serjeant, +Rudolph, announced Doctor Heidenreich, who wished to speak in private +with the burgomaster.</p> + +<p class="normal">"In the little room by the judges' chamber," said Erasmus, +whither he +went himself. The doctor was already waiting for him, and by his dress +it might be seen that he had just jumped out of bed, and flung them on +in a hurry.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let my hurry excuse the carelessness of my attire, Mr. +Burgomaster; +necessity knows no law. A report runs through the town, that Tausdorf +has been seized at Saltzbrunn by your servants, and now lies a prisoner +in the Hildebrand."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such is the truth," replied Erasmus calmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is a great +misfortune for the town," sighed Heidenreich.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Are you out of your senses? If you have nothing more rational +to bring +forward, you had better have remained in bed and slept off your +wonderful dreams."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Burgomaster!" cried Heidenreich firmly, and seized the +old man's +hand; "you know me for an honest citizen of this town, and a true +friend to your family. The last, in particular, I should think I proved +to you not very long ago. I, therefore, of all others, may well speak +out to you boldly and plainly; and now entreat you, by the ancient +honour of your office, do not this time give way to your love of +vengeance, however alluring may seem the opportunity."</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you dreaming of?" cried Erasmus, tearing away his +hand from +him. "Do I intend sitting in judgment myself on the murderer of my own +son? Doctor Grenwitz will preside, in my place, over the criminal +tribunal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"--Through whose mouth he will only echo your sentence! I must +pray you +to take off the mask before so old and faithful an acquaintance. You +wish to destroy Tausdorf. That you have more than one reason for +wishing it is plain to me; that in so doing you will preserve the forms +of law is no more than I expect from your prudence; but you are wrong +in the main point. The criminal jurisdiction over this man does not +belong to the town."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How! Does not the emperor Wenceslaus' charter of 1384 give us +full +authority and power to seek, take, judge and execute, with imperial +privilege, all offenders, when and in whatever place they may be found, +and for whatever offences?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The charter applies to thieves and robbers that may be +apprehended +within your jurisdiction. You cannot apply it to a nobleman and officer +of his imperial majesty, whom you have arrested, contrary to all right, +in the Fürstentein territory, and against the decree of king Wladislaus +and the Convention of forty-five."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Tausdorf is a vagabond Bohemian and adventurer, with whom +there is no +occasion for using much ceremony."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By no means, Mr. Burgomaster; I have inquired narrowly into +the +matter. He is a native Silesian vassal. The father was possessed and +settled in the hereditary principality, and the son is about to +purchase an estate in Bögendorf. This affair comes under the +jurisdiction of the prince palatine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"--That he may again do us such excellent justice as in the +case of +Bieler's murder?--or as in those violent assaults which the nobles, +since that time, have indulged in against the citizens? No; once I have +given way to the arrogance of the priest, but never again so long as I +am burgomaster in Schweidnitz."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If, then, you could hope to obtain strict justice from the +lord +bishop, you would leave the farther proceedings to him?"</p> + +<p class="normal">Erasmus was about to answer at once, but again bethought +himself, and +said wrathfully, "You are an old fox, with whom one must not use too +many words, lest you should turn them into snares. It does not become a +counsellor to talk of what he would do if things stood otherwise. +Enough if we know what we have to do '<i>rebus sic stantibus</i>.' We owe an +account of our proceedings only to the emperor, next under God; and we +will account for them when it is demanded of us, either on earth, or +before the Eternal judgment-seat."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have spoken a word of deep import, Mr. Burgomaster: God +grant that +you may be able one day to stand by it. I would only once again impress +this upon you; Tausdorf is universally beloved; all will take part with +him and against you; and if you were as right in your proceeding, as, +by Heavens! you are wrong, you would still plunge this town into +unutterable grief and ruin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"<i>Fiat justitia et pereat mundus!</i>" cried the burgomaster, and +left +him.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The first gray of morning contended strangely with the yellow +light of +the candles in the room wherein the judges had assembled to hold a +criminal court. The city serjeant was just leading out Martin +Heubert, Tausdorf's boy, whom they had been interrogating, and the +town-advocate, Kernicher, entered with Melchior Lange and Paul Reimann, +who had been viewing the wounds of the body. The advocate laid before +the chief-judge, in silence, the book in which was entered the result +of his inquiry. Behind him came Tausdorf in chains, surrounded by +gens-d'armes; his face was pale, and his clothes soiled and torn by the +violence at Saltzbrunn, but still he bore himself with knightly +dignity. The procurator arose and lifted up the accusation of blood +against him; and he was summoned once--and again twice--after the +ancient custom. Upon this the examination began, and Tausdorf related +the unfortunate affair frankly and honestly as it had really happened.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Francis Friend," he said in conclusion, "enticed me to the +place where +the misfortune occurred, reviled me, and at last fell upon me with his +naked sword. Hereupon I defended myself as a soldier, to save my +honour, my body, my life,--and that which then happened I was forced to +do. I understand not the law, and therefore be not precipitate, but +allow me an advocate to conduct my cause: I will reward him richly."</p> + +<p class="normal">The chief judge rang his bell. "The procurator, Hans Reimann!" +he +exclaimed to the serjeant who answered the summons. The latter went +out, and the procurator appeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We have given you to the accused as his defender," said the +judge. +"Consult with him."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Your pardon, gentlemen," replied the procurator; "I have no +inclination for the task. Francis Friend was always on a good footing +with me: and besides, I should not like to plead for a manifest +assassin."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The council will be hardly satisfied with this. Such defence +belongs +to your office, and you cannot refuse it without giving up the office +itself. But come with me to the gentlemen of the council; you may have +their answer from themselves."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went away with the procurator. The silence of expectation +prevailed +through the room. Tausdorf went to the window, leaned upon the +breast-work, and, gazing upon the dark gray clouds, which had already +received golden edges from the rising sun, he sighed "Althea!"</p> + +<p class="normal">At last the two returned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You submit, then?" said the judge to the procurator, as they +retired.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What one must, one must!" replied the procurator.</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf went up to him, and said with friendly dignity, "I +pray you, +sir, conduct my defence truly; I do not understand this matter, and +will reward your labour. If the business were the ordering of a battle, +I should know better what I was about."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Say on, then," replied the procurator, gaping: "how am I to +defend +you?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In God's name!" cried Tausdorf angrily, "how should I, who +have been +devoted to arms from my youth, teach you what you are to say for me +before the tribunal? The little Latin which I learnt at Gitschin is of +no use here. But you are a studied man, well informed in the law, and +must best know what will conduce to my advantage."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It will all be of no use," muttered the procurator; "but +relate the +tale to me circumstantially, that I may thoroughly comprehend it."</p> + +<p class="normal">Again poor Tausdorf undertook the sad labour of narrating the +tale of +blood. The procurator listened to him, gaping, and then briefly +repeated what he had heard to the tribunal, concluding with, "You have +now heard Tausdorf's statement of the affair, gentlemen, and I submit +it to your decision."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is that your whole defence?" cried the knight indignantly, +while this +statement was being protocolled. "May our Saviour one day speak for +your sins before the judgment-seat of God, as you have spoken for me in +this hour before the tribunal of man!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you any thing else to advance?" said the judge to the +accused and +his defender; and as they were silent, he rang the bell, saying, "The +audit is closed.--Let the knight be conveyed back again to the +Hildebrand," he added to the serjeant, who then entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gentlemen," said Tausdorf, with manly firmness, "I do not +believe that +you have a right to pronounce judgment on me; but if you do hold +yourselves so empowered, I warn you honestly, when you give your votes, +to keep your conscience and your dying hour before your eyes. It is an +easy thing for you to slay me, for I am in your power; but innocent +blood cries with a thousand voices to Heaven, and God is just."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went away with his guard, followed by his model of a +defender, and +the judges laid their heads together in anxious whisperings.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">In the meantime the day had fully broken, and a bright July +sun shone +upon the overwatched faces of the council, who were still collected in +the Sessions'-chamber, and had reclined themselves against the windows +to prevent their going to sleep. The iron old Erasmus alone sat at the +green table with bright wakeful eyes, and played with the golden medal +appended to his chain of honour. By his side stood the vice-consul, +Christopher Drescher, behind a chair, which he rocked to and fro +impatiently.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The judges must have come to a decision by this time," said +Erasmus, +as if to himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">"If they only come to a right one," replied Drescher +emphatically.</p> + +<p class="normal">"No fear of that; although parties may at times run high +amongst +ourselves, yet against the outward enemy we all stand as one man; and +if----Then we are at the goal, brother."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I only wish you had not forced poor Reimann to defend him. If +he +should happen to bring forward things which we can't answer?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Some defender Tausdorf could not but have; the forms of the +law +demanded so much, and to forms we must strictly adhere on this +occasion. Between ourselves, too, could you in all Schweidnitz have +hunted out a worse advocate than this Reimann?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have seen farther than I have," cried the vice-consul, +after a +pause: "<i>Concedo</i>."</p> + +<p class="normal">A servant now brought in a letter to the burgomaster, which he +opened +and read--</p> + +<p class="normal">"An <i>Intercessionale</i> in favour of the prisoner by the Herr +von +Schindel, resident of this place, and now laid up with the gout," said +Erasmus to the council. "The petitioner presumes to defend the accused, +uncalled for, and to impugn the competency of our tribunal. <i>Ad acta!</i>"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The Frau von Netz, too, waits below in great trouble," added +the +servitor, "and implores, in Heaven's name, a secret audience of your +excellency."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The proud nobles can now stoop themselves to entreaties," +exclaimed +the burgomaster triumphantly; "but it's all of no use."</p> + +<p class="normal">He went out. The poor Althea stood there, her face in a veil +wet with +tears, and she approached him with clasped and uplifted hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Will it please you to walk in?" asked Erasmus with cold +politeness, +and opened the door of the little audience-chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">She tottered after him. He placed a chair f motioned to her to +sit +down, and placed himself opposite.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What is your pleasure, noble lady?" he asked, after a short +time, +during which she was unable to speak from sobbing. "Our time is +peculiarly valuable to-day."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mercy!" at length cried the poor petitioner in the most +moving tones +of anguish; "Mercy for my intended husband!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"That is with God!" replied Erasmus. "In my weighty office I +recognize +but the duty of justice. If such a crime were to remain unpunished, I +should have to account hereafter to the Highest for the innocent +victims, which might in future be sacrificed to the arrogance of the +nobles."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not pray for the absolution of the unfortunate one; I +only pray +that the business may be brought before the bishop or the emperor, and +I offer to be his security till then with my whole property."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The murder has been committed within our jurisdiction, and +must be +punished by our tribunal."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And do you call it a murder that Tausdorf, to defend his own +life, +slew your son against his will?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"It is not for us two to decide upon this point, Frau von +Netz; for I +am the father of the murdered, and you are the intended of the +murderer. The judges will settle it upon their oaths."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mr. Burgomaster, we are alone; I would not--by Heavens I +would not, +offend you; but the terrors of death give me courage for the question; +can money save Tausdorf? My uncle, von Schindel, is rich; we have +friends amongst the nobles of the country. Fix the sum."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If you were not a woman," exclaimed the burgomaster +furiously; "if you +were not a woman, you should fare ill with this twofold insult,--to the +dignity of my office, and to my heart as a father. Gold for blood! That +is one of the maxims of you nobles, when the question, is of a +citizen's life. But the Polish times are over, when the high-born +murderer had only to fling the price of blood upon the corse of the +murdered, and thus remain free from all retribution. When the nobleman +of Siegwitz shot the citizen's daughter, his drinking companions +thought that such a girl might well be paid for; but the council there +did not think so, and the head of the assassin fell."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Oh my heart!" sighed Althea, and stood for a time struck with +grief +and horror at these words of wrath; then on a sudden, collecting her +spirits, she flung herself before the burgomaster and embraced his +knees.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mercy!" she cried, and lifted up her beautiful blue eyes to +the +inexorable one with so much fervour, that in spite of his iron +resolution an unpleasant feeling oppressed his heart, and he was +leaning down to her with pity, when the marshal entered to announce +that the judges had presented themselves to the council and waited for +the worshipful burgomaster. At this the old evil spirit returned in +him. He started up with vehemence, and sought to disengage Althea's +hands from his knees.</p> + +<p class="normal">"For Heaven's sake, what will you do?" cried the unhappy +victim.</p> + +<p class="normal">"My duty!" replied the man of the stony heart, and walked away +with +firm and echoing steps.</p> + +<p class="normal">The sufferer breathed a deep and piercing sigh, as if in that +moment +the tender thread of her life was broken, and her head fell in a kind +swoon upon the seat of the chair before which she had been kneeling.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The criminal court had laid its sentence before the council. +Its +adoption and immediate execution were unanimously resolved upon, the +judges were again collected in their sessions' chamber, and the pale, +fettered Tausdorf stood before them with his guard, while the chief of +the court read thus:--</p> + +<p class="normal">"As the noble and honourable Kaspar Sparrenberger, surnamed +Tausdorf, +hath stabbed, and thus brought from life to death the in like manner +noble and honourable Francis Friend,--and as this deed is open and +manifest,--and he himself cannot, and does not, deny it,--therefore the +imperial town-court of Schweidnitz adjudges that Tausdorf, +notwithstanding his defence, has forfeited his life for such murder, +and consequently, according to the law and custom of the land, shall be +executed with the sword."</p> + +<p class="normal">With this the provost took up a white-peeled willow wand which +lay +before him on the table, broke it in two, and throwing the pieces at +the feet of the condemned, cried,</p> +<div style="margin-left:20%"> +<p class="continue">"The sentence is spoken,<br> +The staff is broken."</p> +</div> + +<p class="normal">"You must die, and the Lord have mercy on your soul!" +exclaimed the +provosts, and overturned their seats with a heavy clatter.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I appeal from this unjust sentence to the prince palatine of +Silesia +and the emperor," cried Tausdorf in a loud voice unshaken by this +horrid ceremony.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Such appeal cannot be made according to our privileges and +customs," +replied the chief provost. "The execution follows here upon the heels +of the sentence."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I appeal to the tribunal of God," said Tausdorf, without +losing +his presence of mind--"to the tribunal of God, before which we must one +day all meet again. When am I to die?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"In two hours."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are very quick, you gentlemen of Schweidnitz. But I +suppose I may +see my bride again?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"The council has forbidden it, as well on account of the loss +of time +connected with it as of the unavoidable lamentation and disturbance."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay, indeed! You gentlemen have true hangmen's hearts, with +room +therein for barbarity as well as injustice. Yet I hope the time will be +just sufficient to prepare me fittingly for my departure. I wish to +confess first, and receive the holy sacrament. Have the goodness to +send me a priest of my persuasion, and afterwards a notary to draw up +my last will."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Both shall be done," replied the provost, and made a sign to +the +city-marshal, who went out.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Moreover I was put into a bad plight in my arrest at +Salzbrunn by your +runners, and their rabble," continued Tausdorf, surveying his person +indignantly; "and it is not fitting that a knight should die publicly +in so unworthy a state, as a mockery to your people; therefore send to +the Frau von Netz, that she may forward to me my red velvet suit of +ceremony for my last travel."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It shall be done according to your desire," said the chief +provost, +confounded by the proud calmness of the condemned.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The chaplain is ready for you below, Herr von Tausdorf, in my +little +room below the custom-house," announced the city-marshal.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Then I must first reconcile myself with my enemies according +to the +duty of a Christian. I pray you, therefore, gentlemen, to forgive me +for having through my unlucky deed given you occasion for the sin of +injustice. On my part I willingly and freely pardon you my death. God +favour you with an early repentance! May my blood be the last which +shall flow in this unhappy feud betwixt the nobility and citizens."</p> + +<p class="normal">He departed with the city-marshal; the gens-d'armes followed. +The provosts looked at each other sadly troubled, and from the +provost-chief escaped the exclamation, "The business will not be over +with the head that is to fall here. Heaven turn all to the best!"</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The burgomaster had for a short time betaken himself to his +house to +give orders for the burial of his son. He had just dismissed the +church-servants, and looked from the bow-window of his audience-chamber +with silent anguish on the black-mantled undertakers who were carrying +out Francis's coffin to the customhouse, where the body still lay, when +doctor Heidenreich came in unsummoned. Erasmus received him with angry +exclamations.</p> + +<p class="normal">"So, you will not cease to torment me? I thought that the +contested +point had been sufficiently discussed between us last night; as to any +change, that is past all question now, since the sentence has been +pronounced."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I know it," said Heidenreich, troubled. "You have condemned +Tausdorf +to the sword!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not I," interrupted Erasmus vehemently; "but the provost's +court at +Schweidnitz. The council has, indeed, approved the sentence; but in +regard to that personal interest which I take in the affair, I did not +even deem it proper to subscribe my name."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I neither ask of you generosity nor favour. But I demand +justice of +you for your own sake; you are on the point of committing a crying act +of injustice, and of thereby rending the honourable garland that a long +active life has wound about your brows. Your sentence is not only +against all equity, but against the laws."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Against the laws? Mr. Doctor, put a guard upon your tongue, +that it +may not bring your body into trouble."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have heard the murderous story from Tausdorf's servant. +Your son was +killed by the accused in his just defence. Does not the penal code of +Charles the Fifth expressly state, that if any one falls upon, +assaults, or strikes another with deadly weapons, and the person so +attacked cannot escape without risk and jeopardy to his body, life, +honour, or good report, he may then peril life and limb in his just +defence without incurring any punishment--and if, moreover, he kills +the aggressor, he is not to be, therefore, deemed guilty, nor is he +bound to delay with his defence till he is struck, although otherwise +against written laws and usages?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have long been known to me as a shrewd advocate," +answered Erasmus +with mockery; "but the <i>Carolina</i><a name="div2_note03" href="#div2Ref_note03"><sup>3</sup></a> has not yet been formally +published to us, and above all things the act of self-defence should +have been proved. The mouth of my poor son is shut, the declaration of +the accused and of his servant proves nothing."</p> + +<p class="normal">"There was also a page of Tausdorf's present; and a woman saw +the +battle from the garden-wall. In the testimony of three witnesses +consists truth."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The witnesses of whom you speak," replied the burgomaster, +confused, +"did not present themselves for examination. It was, besides, for the +judges to decide whether their examination was requisite."</p> + +<p class="normal">"But I think, Mr. Burgomaster, it was for your own honour to +seek out +these witnesses, and to defer the execution of the sentence till then, +that it might not be said you wished to destroy the accused from a +wretched spirit of revenge."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am weary of your insolence; instantly take yourself out of +my four +walls, Mr. Doctor, or I shall give you lodgings in the Hildebrand as a +malcontent and fomenter of discord; they are just now vacant."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You thrust your better angel from your side," replied +Heidenreich +sadly. "I have not spoken out of favour to the accused, whom I do not +know, but from old friendship to yourself. You will not listen to me, +and I wash my hands in innocence. But I tell you a day will come when +you will think of my words and of this hour with repentance, alas, too +late!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He left the room. Erasmus went to the window to cool the angry +glow +upon his face in the fresh air, when he saw the gouty Schindel, who was +being carried in a chair by servants towards the burgomaster's house.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Nothing was wanting but the old gossip with his tedious +conciliatory +efforts," exclaimed Erasmus, and running out he gave the servant strict +orders to show the door to Schindel.</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant went, and when the burgomaster returned to his +room, the +preacher Samuel, of St. Mary's church, a gloomy zealot, forced himself +upon him to condole with the powerful regent on the death of his son. +With infinite unction he groaned out, "If, worthy sir, it is sad, +mournful, pitiable, and most grievous to lose a dear, beloved child by +a natural death, how much more sad, mournful, pitiable, and grievous +must it be for a father when a healthful son is snatched from him +through God's severe, though wise and gracious dispensation, by so +sudden, violent, and horrid a death, without first having time to +confess and repent his errors, so that in the full flower of his sins +he is hurried away before the eternal judgment-seat!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"For God's sake, comfort better, Mr. Preacher," cried Erasmus +angrily: +"You pour aqua-fortis instead of balsam into the wounds of a father's +heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The heart of man is an obstinate thing," replied the +preacher; "it +must be utterly torn and crushed that it may become truly sensible of +the consolation of the Gospel; and if you will only allow me a short +time, I will undertake so to work upon you, that you shall with +pleasure kiss the hand which has struck you thus hardly, and, like a +true Christian, shall attune a rejoicing Hosannah on the grave of your +murdered son."</p> + +<p class="normal">During this harangue the brow of Erasmus grew mightily +wrinkled, and he +was about to answer the wretched comforter in no very friendly way, +when the door opened, and Althea entered, leading her boy.</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is not to be borne!" he exclaimed to her. "We have +nothing more +to say to each other, Frau von Netz, and I consider it highly indecent +that you should force yourself upon me in this way, unannounced, only +to burthen me with entreaties, which my oath forbids my hearkening to."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Misfortune has its peculiar privileges," replied Althea in a +faint and +tuneless voice; "I was prepared for all harshness when I resolved to +come here, and you can treat me as seems good and proper to yourself; +but you must hear me once again; I will not stir from this spot first."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Speak, then, that I may at last get quit of this torment."</p> + +<p class="normal">"My intended husband is condemned to die. I will no longer +contend with +you whether he has deserved death, or whether you have a right to +inflict it; but the power of pardon belongs incontestably to the +emperor. I, therefore, only implore you to defer the execution of the +sentence till the return of a messenger whom I will despatch to Vienna +with my supplication. That cannot militate against your office. On the +contrary, it would become you not to anticipate the clemency of your +master in a business wherein you must yourself confess you are a party. +In the meantime let the condemned remain in your power, and if the +emperor pronounces the dreadful NO, we must submit to what cannot be +avoided."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let the Herr von Tausdorf live, dear burgomaster," said the +little +Henry, at other times so defying, but now in tears, and kissed the hand +of Erasmus with humility. "I am a fatherless orphan, and he would be so +good a father to me!"</p> + +<p class="normal">But the burgomaster withdrew his hand from the child, and eyed +now him, +now Althea, with piercing glances.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take our share in Bogendorf for the brief respite," cried +Althea, +observing the inveteracy in the eyes of Erasmus. "I will readily make +it over to you this very day, and support myself and my son by the +labour of my hands, if by that I can only purchase the slightest hope +for the safety of the man whom my soul loves."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a fair and a wise lady, Frau von Netz," said the +burgomaster +at last; "but the old Erasmus is yet too wise for you. You will not +find in him the fool you seek."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Let mercy prevail!" cried Althea in despair, and embraced his +knees +with wild energy. "Let mercy prevail, as you would that God should one +day be merciful to you!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Back!" exclaimed the burgomaster indignantly, and pushed her +from him. +"My son is dead. Neither your wealth nor your tears can make him alive +again. Blood demands blood, and Tausdorf must die!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not another word of supplication," cried the little Henry to +his +mother, who was exhausted by her agony; "tis a pity you offered any to +the wicked man. Has not uncle Netz told you a hundred times that the +rich burgomaster is as cold and as hard as the dollars of which he is +always boasting so much? Come, mother; we cannot beg the good man free, +and therefore we will weep for him as long as we have eyes. But this +house is not worthy of your tears;"--and then turning to Erasmus, he +said, with a dignity and spirit beyond his years, "You have heavily +vexed and offended the Frau von Netz, Mr. Burgomaster, and it is the +duty of a good son to avenge every insult which his mother has had to +endure. At present my arm is not strong enough for my inclination; but, +please God, I shall grow every day larger and stouter, and I think to +be able to wield the sword shortly. For this time I denounce feud +against you, and whatever may come of it, murder or fire, I shall have +set my honour above your impeachment."</p> + +<p class="normal">He pulled away his mother with him, and Erasmus said to the +preacher, +"Do you hear how the young snake can hiss already? But follow the lady, +if you will be so good, comfort her by virtue of your holy office, and +exhort her to betake herself to her own house, that she may not excite +the people by her lamentations in the streets, and force me to send her +home by a couple of gens-d'armes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well advised!" replied the preacher, and hastened after +Althea, whom +he found at the street-door, her head leaning against one of the stone +columns of the portal, while Henry stroked her hand consolingly, and +wet it with his tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Submit yourself to the will of Heaven," he began; "and this +must be +the easier to you when you weigh the justice of the sentence pronounced +upon the culprit, who was once dear to you. Such assassins and +bloodhounds must be forfeit to the executioner as a warning to others, +and for their own well-earned punishment. Had not the council done +justice in this way, I had never endured to abide in the town; and, if +I could not have walked out, I should have crept out, with wife and +children, from this pit of murder, in which no honest man could have +been secure of his life any longer."</p> + +<p class="normal">Althea lifted up to him her heavy eyes, that were red and +swollen with +weeping, and merely saying, "May God comfort you as you have comforted +me!" she sunk back into her old position. Still, however, the preacher +continued in the same strain for a time; but when he perceived that the +sufferer no longer even listened to his splendid grounds of +consolation, he suddenly broke off, and removed himself, with a look in +which was couched an anathema.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the mean time Christopher Friend came out of the +street-door and +gazed tenderly on Althea.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Poor lady!" he at last said with a voice of as much pity as +he could +force into it--"No doubt you would go up to my father to implore him +for the life of your betrothed; or you have already been with him, and +received an unfavourable answer. Yes! I could have told you that +before. You would more easily move the lions of granite that rest upon +these columns than my father in this neck-breaking business. Would that +I were the reigning burgomaster in his place, to be able to serve you, +for I am not very angry with your Tausdorf. My late brother was an evil +man, who probably brought this affair upon himself; and it is a pity +that so brave a knight should, on his account, fall under the hands of +the executioner. I have, indeed, some influence with my father, +especially since I am his only son; and, if I were to run the risk of +his anger and put in a good word, I might at least, perhaps, gain you a +short delay, and time gained, all is gained."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Comfort often comes from where it is least expected," +stammered +Althea, looking at him with anxious doubt. "You, Mr. Christopher,--you +have a heart for my sorrows?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"What man of my years would not have a heart for so fair a +lady?" +replied Christopher, smiling; "but it is only death that can be had for +nothing; life is expensive. Time presses, and therefore I will open my +mind to you briefly. Herr Tausdorf is lost to you for ever; if his life +even should be saved,--which I hold for a half impossibility,--still he +would not get off without a long imprisonment and perpetual exile from +this country. Therefore give me your fair hand, for which I have +already sued without success, and I will try what influence I have over +my father's heart."</p> + +<p class="normal">Althea started back in horror, and laid her right hand +thoughtfully +upon her forehead, her left upon her poor heart, in which anguish was +working convulsively. But the inward struggle was soon over, and with +the calmness of resignation she turned towards her ungenerous wooer.</p> + +<p class="normal">"It would, indeed, be hard for me," she said, "to follow a man +who +makes a trade of his humanity, and to give this boy a father whom he +could not respect; still I would make even this sacrifice for him I +love, if I could believe that he would accept it. But I am convinced +that he would sooner die a thousand times than let me slowly pine away +under the tortures of a wretched marriage. Therefore let him and me +perish, in God's name; I can never be yours."</p> + +<p class="normal">She took her child by the hand, and departed slowly with him +up the +street, towards the market-place.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Again nothing!" grumbled Christopher to himself; "the +Netherlandress, +too, won't have me now. Had I known that it would have been the same +here, I hardly think that I should have helped to play this trick. But +a woman would, at any time, talk over God himself, and make him sin +against his own commandments. How have I burthened my conscience, and +at least one-half to no purpose!--The Devil take all women! If it were +not for the housekeeping, and the tricks of servants, I would not ask +after them, but remain a widower all my life long. In the unmarried +state one can lay out so much upon one's self, and save into the +bargain; and when at last I have buried my father--who can't hold out +much longer with his constant passions--I shall be a substantial man, +and laugh at every one.--Good Heavens!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With this cry he broke off his noble soliloquy; for before +him, on a +sudden, stood the town-executioner, in his red cloak of office, and, +from his thin yellow face, the dark eyes gleamed on Christopher with a +savage joy appropriate to this day of horror. All this was in itself +quite natural, but Christopher's conscience smote him hardly at the +sight, and he felt as if the hideous being had taken the trouble to +come there only on his account.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Is the worshipful burgomaster above?" asked the executioner, +with +infinite courteousness and his hat off to the son of his superior. From +sheer fright, Christopher was unable to reply; he simply pointed to the +steps, stammered out, "Above!" and, creeping out of the street-door by +him with as much speed as if he felt the sword at his neck, he hurried +off.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">In the city-marshal's room, below the custom-house, the noble +Tausdorf +was still kneeling before the chaplain, who administered the sacrament +to him, and blessed him for death. The priest then retired, but his +clerk, instead of following, barred the door behind him again, advanced +to Tausdorf, who just then was rising from the ground, and asked, in a +familiar voice, "Do you know me?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Rasselwitz!" cried Tausdorf, surprised. "You have crept in, +thus +disguised, to bid me farewell for this world. That is bravely done of +you, and I thank you heartily for your love."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I have something more important in my thoughts," replied +Rasselwitz +quickly and softly. "I would save you. Wrap my black cloak about you, +take the cap in your hand, follow the chaplain as his clerk through the +gens-d'armes; he is still talking without to the city-marshal. The holy +man is in the secret, and goes from here to the farthest end of the +Striegauer suburb to a sick person, and thence you may easily escape."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And <i>you</i>?" asked Tausdorf, in deep emotion.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I!" replied Rasselwitz; "why I remain here in the mean time, +and laugh +at the serjeants, when they come and find the nest empty."</p> + +<p class="normal">"That laugh would cost you dear," said Tausdorf; "Heaven be +praised +that I have more forethought than yourself. The council and the +provosts thirst after my blood like hungry tigers. They would be mad on +finding me snatched from them, and your head would fall instead of +mine."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Not so," insisted Rasselwitz. "They would fling me into the +Hildebrand, which I already know full well, and there I will abide +patiently till the bishop frees me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"It might this time easily turn out otherwise, and I dare not +set the +life of my preserver on such possibilities, not to speak of the abuse +of the holy sacrament which you would persuade me to. I thank you for +your noble offer, but I remain."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Pray take it, Herr von Tausdorf," cried Rasselwitz, urgently. +"I +should delight in hazarding something for you, more especially as it +seems to me as if I were half the cause of your misfortune, although +with no evil intention. I have unconsciously drawn you into the snare +which, in the end, has closed destructively about you, and therefore I +owe you an atonement. Pray you now accept it."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I do not understand your words, my young friend, but only the +good +heart that speaks in them. You may, however, spare them in my case; for +by my knightly word I stir not from this room till my hour strikes. If +you have done me any wrong, knowingly or unknowingly, I forgive you +with all my heart, even without atonement; for, <i>that</i> our Saviour has +offered for us all by his death upon the cross."</p> + +<p class="normal">"I cannot let you die," cried Rasselwitz, wildly; "if you will +not save +yourself as I propose, I will call together as many brave nobles, and +their people, as may be collected in the town. Unfortunately Netz is +wanting, with his adherents; and, as the gates are closed, I can send +no message to him; but still I will undertake to muster fifty heads. We +set fire to the nest in twenty places, and in the confusion we break +through to you, and snatch you, by force, from the teeth of the +dragon."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven defend me from such a saving! It would cost much noble +and +innocent blood, which, in truth, would be too high a price for this +head. Were I to accept it, I should deserve the fate which awaits me. +Leave me at least the conviction that I die innocently: it is my best +consolation in this hour,--and now depart, my friend, for my moments +are numbered."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You are a saint," cried Rasselwitz, in tears, and kissing +Tausdorf's +hand before he could prevent it. "You do well to leave this world, for +it is much too bad for you. I obey your will, but I must find out the +spider which lurked in the centre of this hellish web that has wound +about you to your ruin, and, when I have found it, I will crush it +under my feet, though your spirit should call down from Heaven, 'have +mercy!'"</p> + +<p class="normal">He rushed out, and Tausdorf again fell upon his knees, while +his looks +flew through the iron bars with burning enthusiasm to the seat of +everlasting freedom. "You have highly favoured me in life, eternal +Father!" he exclaimed. "Unspotted honour, pure love, and true +friendship, have adorned, with their noblest garlands, this head, which +I must now lay down in the long sleep of the grave. Now, then, crown +thy work of mercy through a good death. Grant that I may depart with +courage, and without bitterness against my enemies, so that I may +appear before thy throne, not unworthy of thy immortal son."</p> + +<p class="normal">The gens-d'armes had drawn a triple circle of spears about the +stone +columns before the sessions-house cellars. Within, by a heap of strewed +sand, waited the executioner with his sword beneath his red cloak. On +the other side of the circle the people thronged in a dense mass. All +the windows of the marketplace swarmed with spectators, while the roofs +and the chimney-tops were covered with men, all expecting, with anxious +curiosity and a strange painful pleasure, the victim which they yet +lamented.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bells of the parish church began to toll, and the +death-procession +approached slowly from the custom-house. By the side of the +city-marshal, surrounded by spearmen, walked the noble Tausdorf, free +from fetters, and with his accustomed nobleness. The tight red suit of +velvet sate handsomely upon his well-formed limbs, and in his raven +locks was woven a coronet of flowers. The features of the pale face +were calm and cheerful, and in the glance of his large black eye beamed +a light that no longer seemed to be of this world. With friendly +greetings to the by-standers, he entered the circle.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I die innocent," he exclaimed in a loud clear voice, that +sounded far +beyond the market-place. "But what earthly son shall dare to boast +himself free from all earthly failings? I therefore humbly pray to +Heaven for pardon for any acknowledged and unacknowledged sins, and +hope also, from your Christian charity, that you will forgive me such, +and put up your prayers in my behalf, that I may have a blessed end!"</p> + +<p class="normal">A general sobbing answered this address, and amidst it, from +the +distance, sounded the lamenting voice of the poor Althea.--</p> + +<p class="normal">"If I could but see you once again!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"This is more bitter than death," sighed Tausdorf half to +himself, and, +turning to the quarter whence her voice had come, he cried, "My dear +Althea, that can no more be in this world, but we shall meet again in +life everlasting!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The sobbing of the people grew louder, and here and there were +heard +single words of discontent. But the marshal gave a sign to two of the +gens-d'armes, who went with their spears to that part whence the voice +of Althea had come. Then advancing to Tausdorf, he said earnestly, "It +is time!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Tausdorf immediately undid his doublet with his own hands, and +flung it +amongst the people; then, loosening his ruff, he did the same with +that.--And now he knelt upon the sand-heap, with unbound eyes, looked +up to Heaven, and exclaimed joyfully, "To thee, my Saviour, I commend +myself--Amen!"</p> + +<p class="normal">With the <i>amen</i>, the sword glittered behind him, and his head +fell.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The council was still assembled in their sessions-chamber. +Erasmus sate +again at the green-covered table, with deep sorrow in his iron +features, for now that the spirit of vengeance was satisfied, pain had +found more room in his hard heart. The city-marshal entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">"All is done as you ordered, worshipful Mr. Burgomaster. Your +son and +von Tausdorf have been solemnly interred, with the attendance of the +whole college, the preachers, and a considerable train of mourners, and +I caused the bodies to be laid in ONE grave, according to your order, +and in the family burial-place. I have also had the town gates +re-opened."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have done well," replied the burgomaster, with a hollow +voice, and +made him a sign with his hand to depart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Moreover," continued the marshal, "all the noble +inquilines<a name="div2_note04" href="#div2Ref_note04"><sup>4</sup></a> of the +city wait without, and request admittance to the honourable council."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Be it granted, then," said the burgomaster with a heavy +heart, and the +city-marshal left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">In a short time he returned, conducting a train of sable +figures. First +came the gouty old Schindel, leaning on Rasselwitz and Netz; Althea, +holding her child by the hand, followed next. Many old nobles, male and +female, who had settled at Schweidnitz, brought up the procession. All +were in deep mourning, the women veiled in long black veils. When they +had reached the council-table, Netz fetched a chair from the wall, and +respectfully placed it before von Schindel. The latter, with +difficulty, seated himself, and then, looking up to Netz and +Rasselwitz, said, "You remember your promise, knights? You leave me +alone to speak, is it not so?"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have no fear, uncle," replied Netz, grinding his teeth. "The +affair, +besides, cannot be ended with words. We will be silent as the grave, +that swallowed up our Tausdorf."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gentlemen," began the old man, with a trembling voice, "you +have done +that which is not right before God. The innocent blood has flowed; to +save and repair is no longer possible. I will, therefore, spare you and +myself the sorrow of explaining how much you have erred, and on what +grounds. I do not come to find fault or dispute with you; I come only +to take leave of you for this life, and, at the same time, to bid you +farewell in the name of all those nobles who have hitherto lived in +peace under the shelter of your walls. You must yourselves find it +natural, that none of them deem their life safe in a town that could +let so noble a head fall under the sword of the executioner! Fear, +indeed, has no longer any influence with me; I am too old for that, +although I openly avow that I myself should not like to die here now, +as I would not have my grave amongst you. A higher purpose compels me +hence. My poor niece, whom you have made a widow, intends going, with +her orphaned child, to Bohemia, to the old father of her betrothed, +that she may console him for the loss of his only son, and wait there +in patience till death shall free her from her sufferings, and re-unite +her with the beloved of her heart. I go with her, and remain with her, +for she needs a paternal friend in that foreign land. There will we sit +alone together in our sorrow, and weep and comfort each other; and on +my knightly word, we will never curse you. Heaven bless you! Heaven +bring you to the consciousness of that which you have done, and awake +in you a forgiving heart through holy penitence, that henceforth no +more innocent victims may be sacrificed to the discord that is between +you and us. If this wish should be fulfilled, if the blood shed in +yonder grave should ripen into the fruit of peace, hail! thrice hail to +the dust of the martyr!"</p> + +<p class="normal">The speaker was silent; his companions wept aloud, and those +of the +council turned away to dry their eyes unmarked. Only the old Erasmus +stared before him, tearless, gloomy, and full of thought.</p> + +<p class="normal">"I am ready," said Schindel, looking up to his two guides, who +took him +by the arms, and helped him to rise. Supported by them, he bowed to the +council, and was led away.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mourning procession followed him; the door closed behind +them, +while the council looked in silence at each other, and then gloomily at +the old burgomaster, who, surprised by this measure, was not master of +his speech.</p> + +<p class="normal">"The young Lord Hochberg of Fürstentein," announced the +city-servant.</p> + +<p class="normal">"He, too, must have little that is consolatory to say to us," +exclaimed +Alderman Trentler; and Erasmus, almost lost in insensibility, signed to +the servant to admit him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The youth entered in complete armour, lifted up his visor +before the +council-table, and, leaning on his sword, cast fierce and burning +glances amongst the troubled faces about the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You have caused Tausdorf to be seized by your people within +the +Fürstentein jurisdiction," he began with bitterness; "you have murdered +him by a mockery under the name of a trial, and thus have invaded the +jurisdiction of his imperial majesty as lord paramount, and of my +mother as holder of the fief. The rascally peasants at Saltzbrunn who +abetted your people in this crime are already in prison, and shall be +severely punished in body and goods. We have sent a messenger to the +emperor with the relation of the business. What he may determine upon +your conduct, as far as concerns himself, is for you to look to; we, +however, are resolved to defend our own rights in particular, and not +to lay down our heads in peace till this monstrous crime is punished +and atoned for. But since his imperial majesty has strictly forbidden +private feud, we shall, in our just anger, better observe the will of +our sovereign than you the aggressors have done; and you shall answer +us before the court of fiefs: and to that I cite you herewith, for the +first,--second,--and third time."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The emperor's town is not bound to appear before the feudal +court," +replied Erasmus sullenly. "Rather have we a right to summon the nobles, +who, from the time of Bieler's murder up to the present day, have +tormented us without stint or measure."</p> + +<p class="normal">"You will not, then, appear?" said the nobleman warmly.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Never, my young squire," cried the stout old man, striking +his +breast--"Never, while I govern in Schweidnitz!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Well then," retorted the noble indignantly, "you have +forfeited all +right and all honour, and I herewith pronounce you outlawed and +infamous; and disclaim you in the name of the nobles of this +principality. We will not make war upon you without the emperor's +order, but your Schweidnitz shall henceforth be like a town, in which +the pest rages. Woe to our serfs if they dare to bring you provisions; +woe to your citizens if they dare to go beyond their walls; woe to +yourselves if you are caught upon our land and soil. You shall see with +terror that we know how to administer justice in our way: as a pledge +of it I leave you my gauntlet. Whichever of you has courage enough may +bring it after me. I will wait an hour for the messenger on the borders +of your territory."</p> + +<p class="normal">And he hurled the iron gauntlet upon the table with a violence +that +upset the inkstands and sandboxes, and then rushed out.</p> + +<p class="normal">Erasmus foamed in silent indignation. On a sudden he thrice +pulled the +bell-handle which hung over the table, and at the summons three +city-servants immediately hastened into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Take four of the horse-police to your assistance," he +exclaimed to +them. "Seize me the young lord of Hochberg, and fling him into the +Hildebrand until farther orders."</p> + +<p class="normal">But at this there arose a murmur of contradiction amongst the +aldermen, +who stood up from their seats and shook their heads; and Martin, the +youngest amongst them, found courage to speak out his sentiments.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Under favour, worshipful Mr. Burgomaster. The young lord was +indeed +somewhat too rough here, but in the main point he was unfortunately +right; and if we would imprison all those who blame our this day's +proceedings, we shall soon have to convert our sessions-room into a +Hildebrand. I vote against the arrest."</p> + +<p class="normal">"And I!" cried Miller and Trentler, as if from one mouth.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Have you a wish for another execution?" said Kaspar Franz to +the +gloomy despot.</p> + +<p class="normal">"We are already deep in the mire through Tausdorf," observed +Doctor +Grenwitz, shrugging his shoulders:--and the vice-consul Drescher +whispered to the burgomaster,--"Recall your order!"</p> + +<p class="normal">Erasmus bit his lips till they bled.</p> + +<p class="normal">"What are you standing for, idiots?" he exclaimed to the three +servants +who remained at the door in anxious uncertainty as to which command +they were to obey. "Don't you know that the majority of voices decides +in our sittings? The arrest of Von Hochberg may remain."</p> + +<p class="normal">The servants left the room; Erasmus, rising from his chair, +said, "The +sitting is over, gentlemen; but we will, with your good pleasure, have +a meeting extraordinary to-morrow, to weigh maturely what farther is to +be done in this matter."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If in this extraordinary sitting," said Kaspar, as he broke +up, to his +neighbour, "we do not find the art of replacing heads that have been +chopped off, we shall descend from the Sessions-house as wise as we +went up."</p> + +<p class="normal">The other aldermen said nothing, but saluted the burgomaster +in +silence; and the old man soon stood alone before the council-table in +the empty chamber.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Yes," he muttered; "I must no longer conceal it from myself; +it is +coming to an end with the old lion. Teeth and claws grow blunted. The +brutes, that once shook at his roar, now renounce their obedience, and +mock the feeble monarch; even the ass must give his kick. Die, +therefore, Erasmus, die soon, that you may not outlive yourself."</p> + +<p class="normal">"A new misfortune has happened, Mr. Burgomaster," cried the +city-marshal, entering hastily. "The gardener in the park, who +exhibited the aloe for some time past, has suddenly disappeared; but +the Netherlandress, who lodged with him, was found dead in her room an +hour ago. I went thither with two officers to seal up every thing, and +took the town-physician with me; for the flight of the host, and the +lady's death, seem to stand in a doubtful connexion. The people of the +house talked of poison. I found the woman lying on the floor, in an +upper room, horribly disfigured; and on the table was a cup, the dregs +of which the physician positively declared to be poison. In her stark +right hand the corse held fast this writing. It is addressed to you, +Mr. Burgomaster, and sealed moreover."</p> + +<p class="normal">"To me!" said Erasmus, in alarm; tore the writing away from +the +marshal, and broke it open. A quantity of dry leaves fell out of it +towards him--"Strange!" he murmured, and began to read; and, as he +read, the hand in which he held the letter trembled more and more, till +at last he grew so faint that he sunk back into his chair. But he +forced himself to read it to the end, and then burnt the letter in the +flame of the expiring candle, waiting with great patience till the +paper was entirely converted into ashes. He then turned to the +marshal:--"Let the body be watched by six gens d'armes till night; then +let it be carried behind the wall to the churchyard, and there silently +interred. I will myself take an inventory of all that is left, and you +will be silent as to the whole transaction--on your oath of office."</p> + +<p class="normal">The old man's voice broke at the conclusion of his discourse, +and with +tottering steps he left the Sessions-chamber.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">Three years had passed since Tausdorfs death. Christopher +Friend had +remained a widower, and by all means, just as well as unjust, had +considerably increased his mammon. He was asleep in his own bedroom, on +a beautiful summer's night, when he was awakened by a grasp at his +throat, and, on opening his eyes in terror, there sat upon the bed two +men, fearfully illuminated by the moon. They were enveloped in dark +cloaks, with black masks on their faces, and held two daggers +glittering at his breast, in the pale yellow light. The one figure had +his hand about Christopher's throat, and seemed ready to close it at +the slightest motion of his victim.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Gracious Heavens! what does this mean?" groaned Christopher; +but at +the instant he felt a tighter pressure of the hand about his throat, +and the daggers pricked him in the region of the heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still!" whispered one of the masks. "A loud word, a cry for +help, +sends you in the same moment to hell. We are here to sit in judgment on +you, though, indeed, in a fairer way than your father used three years +since. It has cost no little time, and trouble, and gold--nay, even two +journies to Bohemia--to penetrate your tricks and blinds; but at last +all has become clearer to us than the day. We had paid you a visit long +before this, but that the noble Althea prayed so irresistibly for you, +that during her life we could not undertake any thing against you. Now +at last she has sunk under the grief for her betrothed: Tausdorf's old +father has to weep for his daughter, and the last chain is snapped in +which our revenge lay bound. Your father has to answer to the emperor +for his notorious crimes; but you have done and concealed your deed +with equal cunning, and no earthly court of justice will ever be able +to convict you of it. You must, therefore, answer to our <i>secret +tribunal</i>, of which we are ourselves the chief and the judges, the +accuser and the executioner. You have had intercourse with the +Netherlandress at the nurseryman's in the park; and this very woman +wanted to hound me on to your brother's murder."</p> + +<p class="normal">"By Heavens! I know nothing of it," whined Christopher.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still!" continued the mask. "Failing in that, she has a long +conversation with you in private. Upon this you invite Tausdorf to your +murderous banquet, and, while you promise Althea that your brother +shall not be present, you secretly induce him, through a third hand, to +appear: then comes the Netherlandress, masked, to your party. After a +conversation with her, the most violent wrath is perceived on the face +of Francis. You pour him out another glass of wine, like oil in the +flame, upon which he allures into the park Tausdorf, whom he had never +seen before, and that event takes place which thousands of honest +people lament. Now then answer for yourself, but with a low voice, or +we strike you down on the spot."</p> + +<p class="normal">"How can I answer for all the unlucky events, the chain of +which has +cost me a beloved brother?" whispered Christopher, in a voice which, +from fear of the daggers, was scarcely audible. "What motives could I +have to destroy Tausdorf, who had never offended me? Why, too, should I +particularly fix on my brother as the instrument of my evil purpose? By +the----"</p> + +<p class="normal">"Still!" said the mask again. "I hate you as the serpent that +stung my +friend to death, but I would not send you to the devil with perjury +upon your tongue; you have without that enough of old sin posted in the +great reckoning-book above.--You ask, why you should wish to destroy +Tausdorf? Because Althea refused your hand for his sake.--Why you chose +your brother for the instrument? Because, with true brotherly +affection, you hoped the instrument might be broken on the occasion, +that so you might stand as the ONLY son of the rich Erasmus. Recollect +your former calumnies against Tausdorf; recollect what you said to +Althea at your father's door on the morning after the misfortune, and +deny no longer. You will not lie yourself out of our hands again, and a +frank repentant confession of your sins may propitiate the wrath of the +judge before whom you will stand ere the morning breaks."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mercy!" murmured Christopher in low, piteous tones. "Only +spare my +life, and I will confess all. The woman seduced me into bringing +Tausdorf together with my brother that they might quarrel, but it was +not so evilly intended as it turned out."</p> + +<p class="normal">"The woman seduced you?" exclaimed the mask. "It was so our +grandfather, Adam, excused himself, and the seducer laid it all upon +the serpent; but the angel with the fiery sword drove them all out of +Paradise, to which they no more belonged, as you no more belong to +life. Therefore pray a short farewell prayer, for we are Christians."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Mercy!" groaned Christopher piteously. "I cannot pray. Take +half my +wealth as an atonement, but do not kill me."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Ay!" retorted the mask, with cold sternness. "You and your +whole race, +with all your gold, would not outweigh the single head of the noble +Tausdorf, whom your iniquity has slaughtered. There can be no talk +between us of mercy or atonement, but of well-earned retribution: +therefore, away with you, scoundrel! away to death!"</p> + +<p class="normal">And he flung a noose about Christopher's neck, and dragged him +from the +bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Heaven be thanked!" said the other mask, pulling strongly at +the rope. +"At last we come from words to deeds."</p> + +<p class="normal">Like vultures upon a lamb, they pounced upon the unhappy +Christopher +with murderous hands, and dragged him out of the door in spite of his +impotent strugglings;--fainter and fainter sounded his half-stifled +cries--at last there was a heavy fall in the distance, and a sound as +of the splash of water from a depth: then another short, low groan; and +the old silence of night resumed her reign, and the clock of the +Sessions-house struck the third hour.</p> + +<p class="section">* * * * *</p> + +<p class="normal">The next morning when the old Erasmus entered the +Sessions-chamber, he +found the assembled provosts standing with gloomy faces about the +butcher, George Heymann, master of the shambles, who was showing a +bloody wound in his neck, and took on most piteously.</p> + +<p class="normal">"Things cannot go on in this way any longer, Mr. Burgomaster," +cried +the Alderman Kaspar Franz, in a tone that the old man had not been +accustomed to hear in Schweidnitz. "It is inconceivable what our good +city suffers from your violence and blunders. It is not enough that we +must frequently submit to a scarcity of provisions, because the vassals +of the nobles no longer dare to come to market here, but our citizens +are no more secure of their lives if they venture beyond the walls. As +this poor man was driving sheep to town, Hans Ecke of Viehau, and Hans +Hund of Ingersdorf, fell upon him with naked weapons, struck at his +neck, and when he stood on his defence, wounded him severely with a +dagger. In this manner things go on daily; they already level their +guns at our watchmen upon the walls, and we shall soon be forced to put +on armour when we go to the sessions-house. For all this evil we have +to thank no one but you; and do you, therefore, find a remedy. You have +cooked this bitter broth for us, and do you now help in eating it, that +we may at last have clean dishes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Lead the wounded man to the nearest surgeon," said Erasmus to +the +servant in waiting. "He shall be dressed at my expense."</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant obeyed. The burgomaster crept up to his seat of +honour, and +sat himself down exhausted, as he turned to the last speaker.--"It is +hard of you, colleague, to lay to my charge the consequences of +measures which were adopted by the general consent of the council. +Besides, the affair is not yet settled, and your reproaches, therefore, +in any case, are too early. If the emperor should receive our answer as +valid, we shall then assuredly not be denied satisfaction for the +waylayings of these knightly robbers. From Ingolstadt, too, the legal +opinion has been sent in reply to our inquiries, that we proceeded well +with Tausdorf, and I still, therefore, entertain good hopes."</p> + +<p class="normal">"If these hopes should not happen to be built on sand," +exclaimed +Alderman Franz; "the Emperor will hardly decide on us by the opinion of +the gentlemen of Ingolstadt. The whole investigation was of so hostile +a nature, and so humiliating in the forms for us, that we may thence +infer a severe sentence with tolerable certainty. Besides, I have heard +a bird whistle on this subject, whose tune by no means pleases me."</p> + +<p class="normal">The burgomaster stared in alarm at his colleague, when the +door opened, +and the servant announced, "The delegates returning from Prague."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Returned already!" exclaimed Erasmus, and the last +blood-drops forsook +his face, so that he looked quite awful, like the alabaster-bust of +some evil old Roman emperor.</p> + +<p class="normal">And the old Christopher Drescher, the Alderman Melchior Lange, +the +Syndic Dr. Lange, entered slowly, with downcast eyes, and in silence +took their places at the sessions-table. They were followed by the +Secretary Jonas, who, with a heavy sigh, laid down his leathern +portfolio on a side-table and opened it.</p> + +<p class="normal">"You bring us nothing good?" +asked Erasmus, after a long pause; and the Syndic exclaimed, "What is +the use of delaying, for you must know it at last? You sowed the seed +by handfuls, and therefore the harvest cannot much surprise you. The +wrath of Heaven lies heavy on us; the sentence could not be more +severe. The city is declared to have forfeited its right of +jurisdiction, and of electing its own council, the fief and land-court +of the principality is removed to Jauer, and the punishment of the +council, and others, for the execution of Tausdorf, the Emperor has +reserved to himself peculiarly. In a short time we may expect the +Emperor's delegate, who, in his name, will annul our council, and +conduct the further proceedings against us."</p> + +<p class="normal">In silence they listened to these evil tidings, in silence +they +remained sitting, when the Syndic had ceased to speak, all equally +overwhelmed by the heavy fate that was hurrying upon them. Their eyes +only, which were fixed on the burgomaster, expressed the reproaches +they intended him. In the meantime the secretary had drawn from his +portfolio the imperial decree, and taking it from its double envelope, +now laid it with a condoling gesture on the table before Erasmus, who +first glanced hastily below at the Emperor's seal and subscription, and +then attempted to read. But he could not accomplish it; he still +gazed on the first side, and soon his eyes stared vacantly from the +paper on the air. The Vice-Consul was on the point of wakening him from +this lethargy of the spirit, when the city-marshal rushed into the room +with a face of horror. And now Erasmus started up from his +stupefaction.--"Another Job's post," he exclaimed; "I read it in your +countenance: but speak it out; we have already heard the worst; what is +still to come cannot much affect us."</p> + +<p class="normal">"Would to heaven it were so!" replied the bailiff. "My tidings +concern +you in particular, Mr. Burgomaster. Your son Christopher has been found +dead in his night-clothes, in the well of his garden."</p> + +<p class="normal">A cry of horror burst from the lips of all present, and the +old Erasmus +clasped his long thin hands.--"My last!" he exclaimed piteously--then +suddenly, in a louder voice, he added, "Thou art just, O God!" and his +head, with its silver locks, fell back, so that it hung over the elbow +of his chair.</p> + +<p class="normal">The council crowded about him in terror. The vice-consul +looked at the +old man's broken eyes, felt his pulse, and cried with deep emotion, "He +is dead!"</p> + +<p class="normal">"He who does not walk in fear, does not please God!" cried +Caspar, in +his dark fanaticism, with the words of Sirach.</p> + +<p class="normal">"De mortuis nil nisi bene, collega," admonished the +vice-consul. "The +deceased, with all his failings, was yet a MAN, in the full sense of +the word, and therefore always estimable. If he has erred, he has +severely suffered. Peace be with his ashes!"</p> + +<p class="normal">He went to the head of the corse, and folded his hands in +prayer. The +others stood around and did the same; and from every lip trembled a low +and devout supplication for the dead.</p> + +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2Ref_note01" href="#div2_note01">Footnote 1</a>: The title of Prince Palatine is far from being a +correct +translation of the original, for which, indeed, we have no +corresponding phrase, the political organization of this country +supplying no corresponding authority. In such a dilemma nothing is left +to a translator but to choose between two evils; either to retain the +original term, or to adopt from his own language any word that may +convey something of a similar idea. Perhaps I have been wrong in my +choice.--Certamen est de paupere regno.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2Ref_note02" href="#div2_note02">Footnote 2</a>: This German dance is the Waltz, though it +certainly has no +claim to the title, being neither more nor less than the English +Lavolta, so constantly referred to by the old dramatists. But our +German neighbours are remarkable for the organ of appropriation, and +not less so for the organ of impudence. The one leads them to steal, +and the other to deny or abuse articles stolen. There is a very pretty +instance of this in Kotzebue, who cut down the comedy of the Jealous +Wife into a farce, and protested that the other three acts were good +for nothing.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2Ref_note03" href="#div2_note03">Footnote 3</a>: The <i>Carolina</i> is a criminal law published by +Charles the +Fifth, called Lex Carolina, or simply as here <i>Carolina</i>.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2Ref_note04" href="#div2_note04">Footnote 4</a>: The reader must forgive me the coining of a very +useful +word, which will be easily understood by reference to the Latin +<i>inquilinus</i>.</p> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h3>END OF VOL. I.</h3> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>LONDON:</h2> +<h3>PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS.</h3> + +<br> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Specimens of German Romance, by +Carl Franz van der Velde + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPECIMENS OF GERMAN ROMANCE *** + +***** This file should be named 32070-h.htm or 32070-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/0/7/32070/ + +Produced by Charles Bowen from page scans provided by the Web Archive + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + |