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diff --git a/32071.txt b/32071.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..800a7c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/32071.txt @@ -0,0 +1,15032 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Banished, by Wilhelm Hauff + +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: The Banished + A Swabian Historical Tale. In Three Volumes. + +Author: Wilhelm Hauff + +Editor: James Morier + +Release Date: April 20, 2010 [EBook #32071] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BANISHED *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen from scans provided by the Web Archive + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/banishedtrfroml00haufgoog + +2. Numbering of chapters is in error starting with chapter XIII. + The Chapter number XIII. is duplicated; therefore all numbers + after XIII. are short by one. + +3. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe]. + + + + + + + + THE BANISHED: + + A + + SWABIAN HISTORICAL TALE. + + + + EDITED BY + JAMES MORIER, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF HAJII BABA, &c. + + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + VOL. I. + + + + + LONDON, + HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER, + GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. + * * * + 1839. + + + + + + LONDON: PRINTED BY J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, + 25, PARLIAMENT STREET. + + + + + EDITOR'S NOTICE. + + +The Editor feels that he stands very much in the same position as the +man who plies at the door of the exhibition of some historical picture +or panorama, and who is ready to assure his visitors that the +exhibition is quite worthy their notice, and that they will neither +lose their time nor their money in inspecting it. Although, in this +instance, he really has no other merit than that of being trumpeter to +the show, yet he can in honesty assert, that, what he has been called +upon to read he sincerely approves, and maintains that the translator +of this work merits the approbation and patronage of the public for +having brought to its notice, and adapted to its reading, a story full +of historical interest, of graphic incidents, of good moral tendency, +and true in the illustration of the national manners of Germany in the +sixteenth century. + + J. M. + +London, March 25, 1839. + + + + + THE TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. + + +The tale of THE BANISHED has been taken from a German work;[1] but +though considerable freedom has been used in the translation from the +original text; the subject matter has been closely followed. It appears +from the preface of M. Hauff, the author of this work, that his aim +was to give an account of an event which took place in his own country, +together with a faithful description of the national manners and +customs of the period of which he treats; and being written at the time +when the author of Waverley was as yet only known as the "Great +Unknown," it would seem that M. Hauff, impelled by the fascination of +his writings, has adopted him as his model, as may be seen from the +following extract from his introductory chapter: "Thanks to the happy +pencil of the renowned novelist, who has painted in such lively colours +the green banks of the Tweed, the Highlands of Scotland, old England's +merry day, and the romantic poverty of Wales, all classes among us read +his admirable works with avidity, rendered into our language in +faithful translations, and realizing to our minds historical events +which happened some six or seven hundred years back. Such is the effect +produced by these writings, that we shall be as well, if not better, +acquainted with the histories of those countries than if we had +investigated them ourselves with the most learned research. The Great +Unknown--having opened the stores of his chronicles, and brought in +review before our wondering eyes image after image, in almost endless +succession--has, by the power of his magic, taught us that we are +likely to become better versed in the details of Scotland's history +than our own; and by its means also has made us feel less intimate with +the religious and secular transactions our own country in past ages, +than with those of the Presbyterians and Episcopalians of Albion. + +"But we naturally ask ourselves in what consists the enchantment by +which the great magician has so wonderfully drawn our attention towards +the mountainous district of his own land? Are the Scottish hills +clothed with a hue of brighter green than the Harz or Taunus mountains, +or the heights of the Black Forest? Do the blue waters of the Tweed +reflect a more brilliant colour than the Neckar or Danube; or do its +banks surpass those of the Rhine in beautiful landscape? May be, that +Scotland is gifted with a race of men possessing qualities of greater +interest than we can boast of in Germany; and that the blood which +flowed in the veins of their ancestors was of a deeper hue than that of +Swabians and Saxons of olden times; or again, that their women are more +engaging, and their maidens more beautiful, than the daughters of +Germany? + +"We have reason to doubt all these superior advantages, and believe +that the magic of the Great Unknown consists principally in placing +before the reader historical facts which his fertile genius has +faithfully dressed up in the manners and costumes of the day in which +they took place. With the same view our object has been to bring to +light an event of our own country; in which we have been guided by +historical truth alone." + +The translator having visited the spot where one of the principal +scenes of the narrative took place, his attention was drawn to the +original work, as giving a faithful description of its locality, and +containing an interesting account of an important occurrence in Swabian +history. + +On Whitsunday, 1832, he formed one of a large concourse of people +assembled from all parts of the country, dressed in their gayest +colours and costumes, to join in the procession, which, headed by the +King of Wuertemberg in person, with all his family, met for the express +purpose, as is generally the case every year on the same day, to visit +the "Nebelhoehle, or misty cavern, and the rock of Lichtenstein." This +spot, celebrated from the circumstances which the reader will become +acquainted with in the course of the narrative, is situated near the +town of Reutlingen, about thirty miles from Stuttgardt, in a country +full of picturesque beauties, and worthy of itself, as an object of +natural curiosity, to attract the attention of the traveller. The +translator cannot but hope, that when it is better known, which, +through the means of the following pages, he flatters himself may be +the case, that the beaten track pursued by the tourist on the Rhine may +find variety by a visit to the rock of Lichtenstein, and to the +Nebelhoehle; and that he thus may have been the means of producing that +greatest of desiderata to the desultory traveller, viz. "an object." + +FOOTNOTE TO THE "TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE": + +[Footnote 1: Lichtenstein.] + + + + + INTRODUCTION + + + "His varied life is toss'd on Faction's wave, + A leader now, and now a party's slave; + And shall his character a waverer's seem? + If that's a fault, impute it not to him; + He play'd a stake, and fortune threw the die; + So look upon him with a brother's eye. + We would for him an interest create, + His own his virtues, and his faults his fate." + SCHILLER. + +The events which are recorded in the following pages, took place in +that part of Southern Germany situated between the mountainous district +of the Alb and the Black Forest. That portion of territory is bounded +by the former on the north-west, by a long chain of hills of unequal +height and breadth, extending southward, whilst the forest, commencing +from the sources of the Danube, stretches uninterruptedly to the banks +of the Rhine. Being composed of woods of black pine, it forms a dark +background to the beautiful picture produced by a luxuriant country, +rich in vineyards and watered by the Neckar, which flows through it. + +This country, which is the "Wuertemberg" treated of in these volumes, +was originally of small compass. Its previous history, which is +enveloped in darkness, tells us that it rose through various +conflicting struggles to its present position among the neighbouring +states. When we reflect on the time when it was surrounded by such +powerful frontier neighbours as the Stauffens, the Dukes of Teck and +the Counts of Zollern, we are astonished that its name should still +exist as a nation; for the repeated storms of internal as well as +external violence often threatened to erase it from the annals of +history. There was a time, indeed, when the head of the reigning family +was, to all appearance, driven for ever from the halls of his +ancestors. Duke Ulerich von Wuertemberg being obliged to fly his country +and seek shelter in painful exile from the fury of his enemies, left +his castles in the possession of foreign masters, his lands being +occupied by their mercenaries. Little more was wanting to complete the +extinction of the name of Wuertemberg, than the parcelling out of the +spoil of its blooming fields among the many, or the whole becoming a +province of the house of Austria. + +Among the many events related by the Swabians of their country and +their ancestors, there is none more fraught with romantic interest than +the struggles of that period, which are closely connected with the +extraordinary fate of their unfortunate prince. We have attempted to +bring them to life again, as they have been related to us on the +heights of Lichtenstein and the banks of the Neckar, at the risk, +however, of being misapprehended. We shall probably be told that the +character of Ulerich[1] is one not fit to be exhibited in a favourable +point of view in an historical romance. He has been calumniated in many +instances, and it has been even the custom, when reviewing the long +list of Dukes of Wuertemberg, to pass over in silence the descendant +between Eberhard[2] and Christoph, and to look upon him with a kind of +horror, as if the troubles of a country were to be attributed solely to +the conduct of its ruler, or that it were better to bury in oblivion +the days of its misfortunes. + +It may, however, be a question, whether the condemnation pronounced on +the name of Ulerich, by his bitterest enemy Ulerich von Hutten, has not +been exaggerated; for, to say the least of it, he was too much a party +concerned to be trusted as an impartial judge. The voice which the Duke +and his family raised in vindication of his innocence of the crimes +imputed to him, having been too feeble to withstand the accusations and +calumnies of his enemies, contained in the flagitious publication +"Philippica in Ducem Ulericum," has been silenced by the revolutions of +time. + +We have conscientiously compared most of the contemporaneous writers of +that most boisterous period, and have not met with one who absolutely +condemns him. It is but just to keep in view the powerful influence +which time and circumstances produce upon the minds of men. Ulerich von +Wuertemberg was brought up under the guardianship of bad counsellors, +who, for the purpose of making him subservient to their views, fostered +the evil propensities of his mind. As he took the reins of government +into his own hands when boyhood is scarcely ripened into youth, justice +at least compels us to make allowances, and though we cannot extenuate +the outrages he committed during the course of his career, we are bound +to look to the noble side of his character, in which we shall discover +strength of mind and undaunted courage, in circumstances of extreme +difficulty. + +The year 1519, the date of our narrative, decided his fate and saw the +beginning of his misfortunes. Posterity, however, may date it as the +era of his prosperity; for, having passed through the ordeal of a long +banishment, in which he learnt to know himself, he came out of it a +wiser man and a more powerful Prince. From that period fortune favoured +him, and each Wuertemberger has cause to prize the latter years of his +government, esteeming the religious reformation which this prince +effected in his country, as the greatest blessing conferred on his +countrymen. + +The public mind, in the year 1519, was still in a state of great +excitement. The insurrection of "poor Conrad,[3]" six years before, had +been partially quelled, though with difficulty. The country people in +many places still shewed symptoms of discontent. The Duke, among his +many failings, had not the method of gaining the affections of his +subjects, for they were oppressed by his men in office, under his own +eye, and burdened with accumulated taxes to satisfy the wants of the +court. The Swabian League, composed of a formidable confederacy of +princes, counts, knights, and free cities of Swabia and Franconia, +formed originally for the mutual protection of their rights, was +treated with contempt by the Duke, particularly owing to his refusal to +become a member of it. His frontier neighbours, therefore, watched his +actions with the eye of enmity, appearing to wait for an opportunity to +let him feel the weight of the power which he had despised. Neither was +the Emperor Maximilian, who reigned at that period; very well inclined +towards him, since he was suspected of having supported the knight Goetz +von Berlichingen, for the purpose of avenging himself on the Elector of +Mains. + +A coolness had subsisted for some time between him and the Duke of +Bavaria, his brother-in-law, a powerful neighbour, owing to his having +ill-treated his wife Sabina, the Duke's sister. Added to that (and +which hastened his downfall) was the supposed murder of a Franconian +knight who lived at his court. Chronicles of undoubted authority +mention, that the intimacy between Johann yon Hutten and Sabina was +such that the Duke could not behold it with indifference. One day at a +hunt, the Duke taxed him with, and upbraided him for his treacherous +conduct, and calling upon him to defend his life, run him through the +body. The family of Hutten, and particularly Ulerich, Johann's cousin, +raised their voices against the supposed murderer; and their complaints +and the cry of vengeance resounded throughout Germany. The Duchess +also, whose imperious querulous temper had, even as a bride, irritated +the Duke, now broke all ties with him; and flying with the aid of +Dieterich von Spaet, appeared before the Emperor as his accuser and +bitterest enemy. Agreements between the contending parties were +concluded and not held; peaceable adjustments of their grievances were +no sooner proposed than broken off again. The Duke's troubles augmented +from month to month; but his proud mind would not bend to submission, +for he believed himself in the right. The Emperor died in the midst of +these altercations. He was a prince who had manifested much forbearance +and mildness of character towards Ulerich, in spite of the many +complaints of his enemies. The Duke lost in him an impartial judge, to +whom he could alone look for aid in his present troubles. + +The funeral service for the Emperor was being performed in the Castle +of Stuttgardt, when a messenger suddenly arrived, seeking the Duke, +with the intelligence that some people of the imperial town of +Reutlingen, which lay within his frontier, had slain the administrator +of his woods and forests on the Achalm. The townsfolk had, on some +former occasion, insulted him very keenly. He entertained a bitter +hatred of them; and this circumstance now gave him an opportunity to +satisfy his revenge. Easily excited by anger, he sprang upon his horse, +ordered the drums to beat the alarm throughout the country, besieged +the city, and gaining possession of it, compelled its inhabitants to +swear allegiance to him, whereby the imperial town became part of +Wuertemberg. + +This was the signal for the Swabian League to assemble their forces, +Reutlingen being a member of the confederacy. Difficult as it might +otherwise have been to summon these princes, counts, and cities +together, they did not hesitate, in the present instance, to obey the +call, for hatred and revenge form a strong cement. In vain did Ulerich +defend his conduct by written proclamations; in vain did he attempt to +justify it in the defence of his rights; the army of the League +assembled in Ulm, and threatened his country with invasion. + +Such was the state of affairs in Wuertemberg at the commencement of the +year 1519. There was no doubt of the Duke gaining many adherents, could +he have maintained the superiority in the field; but woe to him if he +were discomfited by the League. There was too heavy a debt of revenge +to be paid before he could expect mercy at their hands. + +All eyes in Germany looked anxiously to the result of this contest. +They essayed to pierce the curtain of fate, and to prognosticate what +the coming days were likely to bring forth, whether Wuertemberg or the +League should remain master of the field. The following pages will +withdraw this curtain, and expose the principal characters, who took a +leading part, in due order; and we trust the eye of the reader will not +turn away too soon fatigued with the narrative. + +It surely is not an uninteresting occupation to peruse, in our days, an +historical tale of olden times; and therefore it is our hope, as it has +been our aim, to excite the interest of our readers in one, the events +of which, though they occurred in so secluded a spot as the Swabian +Alb, and in the remote, but delightful, vallies of the Neckar, we trust +that the few hours spent in their perusal will not be thrown away. + +Germany is not less rife in romantic events than other countries; +and she can likewise draw largely upon the history of civil strife, +equally interesting to our mind, as those recorded in the pages of more +well-known states. We have, consequently, ventured to unroll an +historical Swabian painting, which, if it does not exhibit the bold +outline of figures, the same enchanting composition of landscape--if +the colouring be less brilliant, and the pencilling less clearly +defined--than the works of other authors, the artist may safely shelter +himself under its historical truth, to make up for the deficiencies of +composition. + + +FOOTNOTES TO THE "INTRODUCTION": + +[Footnote 1: Ulerich von Wuertemberg was born in 1487, was invested in +1498 as Duke, with a Co-regency, which he dissolved in his sixteenth +year, and reigned alone from the year 1508. He died in 1550.] + +[Footnote 2: Eberhard with the beard was born in 1445, and died 1469. +He was the first Duke of Wuertemberg, and founded the University of +Tuebingen in 1477. Christoph, born in 1515, and died in 1568, was a +prince whose remembrance is not only blessed in Wuertemberg, but also in +all Germany. He was the founder of the constitution of Wuertemberg.] + +[Footnote 3: So called from the name of a poor peasant, who headed his +oppressed fellow-sufferers, in an insurrection for the redress of their +wrongs, calling themselves the "League of poor Conrad."] + + + + + + + + + THE BANISHED. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + What means the drum, that deeply rolls? + What means this warlike cry? + I'll to the casement, tho' my soul's + Misgivings tell me why. + L. UHLAND. + +After a succession of gloomy days the imperial town of Ulm, on the 12th +of March 1519, at length was enlivened by a fine bright morning. Mists +from the Danube, which at such a season generally hung heavily over the +town, had on this occasion been dispelled before noon by the sun, and +as it rose, the view of the plain on the opposite side of the river +became gradually clearer and more extended. The narrow, cold streets, +inclosed by their dark gable-ended houses, were also lighted up more +bright than usual, and shone with a brilliancy and cheerfulness which +accorded well with the festive appearance of the town on that day. The +main street, called the Herdbrucker street, leading from the Danube +gate to the town hall, was on this morning thronged with people, whose +heads were so closely packed on either side against the houses (like +stones of a wall) that they left but a narrow passage through the +middle. A hollow murmur, the indication of great expectation, which +issued from the crowd, was only occasionally interrupted by a loud +laugh, caused by the severity of the city guard, celebrated for its +strictness and its antiquity, who, using their long halberds, pushed +back with appropriate rudeness whoever was unfortunate enough to be +squeezed out of his place into the middle of the street; or perchance +by some wag, who, by way of joke, would exclaim, "Here they come, here +they come!" causing disappointment to the anxious assemblage of +spectators. + +The throng was still more dense in the spot where the termination of +the Herdbrucker street enters the square before the town hall. It was +there that the different trades were posted; the guild of boatmen, with +their masters at their head, the weavers, the carpenters, the brewers, +all displaying their banners and the emblems of their vocation, were +drawn up, clad in their Sunday dresses and well armed. + +But if the multitude in the streets presented a jovial holiday +spectacle, much more was that the case in the lofty surrounding houses. +Well dressed women and young girls crowded the windows, which were +adorned with many-coloured carpets and floating drapery, giving to the +whole an appearance of beautiful paintings set in splendid frames. + +The corner bow-window of the house of Hans von Besserer presented the +greatest attraction. Within it stood two young maidens, each strikingly +conspicuous by their uncommon beauty, but so much differing in looks, +height, and dress, that whoever remarked them from the street, might +remain some time in doubt to which to give the preference. + +Both appeared to be under eighteen years of age: the tallest of the two +was delicately made; rich auburn hair encircled a fine open forehead, +the vaulted arch of her dark eyebrows, the placid blue eye, the +delicately turned mouth, the soft colour of her cheek, were unrivalled. +She altogether formed a picture, which, among the beauties of the +present day, would not have failed to be distinguished; but in those +times, when a higher colour, upon a face partaking of the form of an +apple, was more admired, it was principally by her graceful demeanor +that she drew attention. + +The other, smaller, and possessing in a greater degree the attractive +qualities suited to the times, was one of those thoughtless, merry +beings, who are conscious that they possess the power of pleasing. Her +brilliant fair hair, according to the fashion of the ladles of Ulm, +fell in long braids behind and in ringlets in front, and was partly +covered by a neat white cap, full of small tasteful plaits. Her round +fresh face was ever in motion: her lively eyes, still more restless, +wandered through the crowd below; and her laughing mouth, exhibiting at +every moment a set of beautiful teeth, evidently showed that objects +were not wanting, among the numerous groups and figures of adventurers, +upon which to exercise the playfulness of her wit. + +Behind them stood a large, broad-shouldered, elderly man, with deep, +stern features, thick eyebrows, long thin beard, already sprinkled with +grey hairs, and his dress so entirely black, that its hue contrasted +strangely with the rich and lively colours of those about him. He wore +a thoughtful, almost a sorrowful look, scarcely ever relaxing into one +more cheerful, excepting when a momentary gleam of kindness would shoot +through his countenance, like a flash of lightning, at some happy +remark of the merry fair one. This group, so varied in colours and +dress as well as in character, attracted much of the attention of the +bystanders immediately beneath them. Many an eye gazed upon the pretty +girls, whose fascinating appearance helped to beguile the time of the +idle and staring multitude, now growing impatient to witness the sight +for which they were assembled. + +The time was now approaching the hour of noon. The crowd became +restless at the long delay, and manifested an increased impatience, by +pressing and pushing upon each other in rather a turbulent manner; +whilst here and there, tired of standing, several of the more sober +members of the trades seated themselves on the ground. When, however, +the report of three guns, fired from the fort on the hill on the +furthermost side of the river, and the sound of the cathedral bells in +deep tones began to echo over the town, order was speedily restored +throughout the anxious ranks. + +"They are coming, Bertha, they are coming!" said the fair girl in the +balcony window, and put her arm around the waist of her companion, as +she stretched out her neck to the utmost. + +The house of the Herrn von Besserer formed the corner of the forenamed +street, having a window on one side of it looking towards the Danube +gate, and another on the other side commanding a view of the town hall, +by which means the party were in a good position to see the expected +sight. + +The space between the two rows of the people was, in the meantime, with +difficulty kept sufficiently open by the town guards. Anxious stillness +now reigned throughout the immense crowd, whilst the deep tolling of +the bells alone broke the silence. + +The deadened sound of drums, blended with the shrill clang of trumpets, +was shortly after heard, and a long brilliant train of horsemen moved +slowly through the gate. The appearance of the town drummers and +trumpeters, and the mounted body of the sons of the patricians of Ulm, +was too much of an everyday occurrence to excite any great sensation on +the present occasion; but when the black and white banners of the town, +emblazoned with the imperial eagle, accompanied by flags and standards +of all sizes and colours, came floating in the breeze through the gate, +the spectators then became sure that the long wished-for moment was +arrived. + +The curiosity of our two young beauties in the balcony became doubly +excited when they observed the crowd in the lower part of the street +respectfully take off their caps. + +Mounted upon a strong bony horse a man approached, whose stately +carriage, affable and open countenance, contrasted strangely with a +deep stern brow, and whose hair and beard were slightly tinged with +grey. He wore a hat pointed at the crown, adorned with many feathers, a +cuirass over a close-fitted red jacket, and leather buskins slashed +with silk, which might have been handsome when new, but by dint of bad +weather and hard work had now assumed an uninterrupted dark-brown +colour,--large heavy riding boots came up to his knees; his only +weapon, a singularly large sword, with a long handle, and without +basket-guard, completed the figure of the warrior. The sole ornament +worn by this man was a long gold chain of massive rings, twisted five +times around his neck, having a medallion of merit of the same metal +attached to it, which hung upon his breast. + +"Tell me, quickly, uncle, who is that stately man, who at once looks so +young and so old?" said the fair girl, as she turned her head a little +towards the man in black standing behind her. + +"I can tell you, Marie," he answered; "that is George von Fronsberg, +commander of the confederate infantry; an honourable man, did he but +serve a better cause." + +"Keep your remarks to yourself, Mr. Wuertemberger," she replied, whilst +she playfully threatened him with her finger; "you know that the +maidens of Ulm are staunch confederates." + +Her uncle, however, not heeding her reply, proceeded: "That one on the +grey horse is Truchses von Waldburg, second in command. He also owes a +debt of gratitude to our Wuertemberg. Behind him come the colonels of +the League. By heaven! they look like hungry wolves seeking for prey." + +"Oh! what a set of miserable figures," remarked Marie to her cousin +Bertha, "they surely are not worth the trouble we have taken of +dressing; but hold, who is that young man in black on the brown horse? +just look at his pale countenance, with his fiery black eyes; on his +shield is written, 'I have ventured.'" + +"That is the knight Ulerich von Hutten," replied the old man. "May God +forgive his calumny against our Duke. Children! he is a learned, pious +man, but the Duke's bitterest enemy; and I say so, for what is true +must remain true. And there, those are Sickingen's colours. Truly, he +is there himself! Look this way, girls; that is Franz von Sickingen. It +is said he brings a thousand horsemen into the field; that is him, with +the plain cuirass and red feather." + +"But tell me, uncle," asked Marie again, "which of them is Goetz von +Berlichingen, of whom cousin Kraft has related so much to us; he is a +powerful man, by all accounts, and has a hand of iron; does not he ride +among the burghers?" + +"Do not name Goetz and the burghers in the same breath," said the old +man, seriously; "he holds for Wuertemberg." + +The greatest part of the procession had, during this conversation, +passed by under the windows; and Marie remarked, with astonishment, the +indifference and unconcern with which her relation Bertha viewed it. +The usual manner of her cousin was thoughtful; indeed, at times she +appeared in a state of absence to all surrounding objects; but on such +a day as this, to be so perfectly insensible to the brilliancy of the +passing scene, was, in Marie's mind, to be guilty almost of +impropriety. + +She was just on the point of upbraiding her, when her attention was +called to a sudden noise in the street. A large, powerful horse was +prancing immediately under their window, having probably taken fright +at the waving ensigns of the trades. The high crest and flowing main of +the steed sheltered the rider's face, and the feathers only of his cap +were visible to the spectators at the window; but the adroitness and +ease with which he managed his horse and kept him under command, proved +him to be a skilful cavalier. In his exertion to quiet him, his +light-brown hair had fallen over his face, and as he threw it back, his +look fell on the bow-window of the corner house. + +"Well at last there is a handsome young man," whispered Marie to her +neighbour, so softly and secretly as if she feared to be overheard by +him; "and how polite and courteous he is! Look! I really think he has +saluted us, without knowing who we are." + +Marie's curiosity was too much excited at the moment to notice the +sudden change which her remark had produced on her cousin's +countenance, who, to conceal her embarrassment, feigned to pay no +attention to what she said. Bertha had hitherto sat unconcerned, +viewing the passing procession with apparent cold indifference; but +when she recognised the young cavalier, and returned his salutation +with a slight inclination of the head, her cheek was suddenly suffused +with a burning blush, her thoughtful eye was animated into an +expression in which tender love and fearful anticipation predominated; +and though the smile about her mouth might bespeak joy at the sight of +the unexpected apparition, a keen observer could not have failed to +discover, that it betrayed somewhat of pain and regret. Her accustomed +self-possession, however, quickly regained the ascendancy over these +conflicting feelings, and thus her merry cousin, whose quick +penetration at any other moment would have been startled into surprise +at the alteration exhibited on the features of her whom she considered +wanting in tender sentiment, lost the opportunity of rallying her upon +this occasion. + +Marie, pulling the old man by the cloak, cried, "Here, quickly, +uncle; tell me who is this with the light-brown scarf trimmed with +silver?--well?" + +"Dear child," answered her uncle, "I have never seen him before. +Judging from his colours, he is in no particular service, but he, as +well as many others, wages war against the Duke my Lord for his own +individual pleasure and profit." + +"Ah! there is no getting anything out of you," said Marie, and turned +away, annoyed at her uncle's indifference; "you can distinguish all the +old and learned men more than at a hundred yards off; but when one asks +you a question about a young and polite cavalier, you can tell one +nothing. And you too, Bertha, you open your eyes upon the procession +below as if the host were passing. I'll wager you did not see the +handsomest man of all; and thought only of old Fronsberg, when quite a +different set of men rode by." + +By the time she had finished these her angry remarks, the principal +part of the procession had reached their station before the town hall; +the few remaining cavalry of the league which came up the street +possessed little interest for the two damsels. When the officers had +dismounted and gone into the town-hall for refreshment, and when the +members of the trades had been dismissed, the people by degrees began +to separate, and then the party in the balcony withdrew also from the +window. + +Marie did not appear perfectly pleased. Her curiosity was only half +satisfied. She took care, however, not to let her stern old uncle +remark her disappointment; but when he left the room, she turned to +Bertha, who had retired to the window again, and stood there in deep +thought. + +"Well," she said, "after all our anticipated expectations about this +procession, there was nothing worth making such a fuss about. But I +wonder who that handsome young cavalier was? I should like very much to +know his name! How very stupid it was of you, Bertha, not to notice +him; did I not push you when he saluted us? Light-brown hair, very long +and smooth,--friendly dark eyes,--the countenance a little tanned, but +handsome, very handsome! Small mustachios on the upper lip. No; I tell +you----but how red you get again all of a sudden, as if two maidens, +when they are alone, dare not speak of the pretty mouth of a young man. +We often converse upon such topics here in Ulm; but I suppose at your +good aunt's at Tuebingen, and your strict father's in Lichtenstein, such +things were never mentioned; but I see you are dreaming again about +something or other, so I must look out for some thorough Ulmer girl +when I want to have a little gossip." + +Bertha answered only by a smile, which expressed more than she dared to +utter; and Marie, taking a large bunch of keys which hung on the door, +hummed a song, and went to prepare for dinner. Though she might have +been accused of being rather over curious at the momentary appearance +of a courteous young cavalier, still that did not make her neglectful +of the important duties of a housekeeper. + +She skipped out of the room, and left Bertha to her thoughts, which +we also will not disturb, whilst she now recalls to her mind the +endearing remembrance at gone-by days, which the appearance of the +afore-mentioned young cavalier called up at once from the depth of her +faithful heart. She dwelt on that time, when a hasty glance from him +would cheer the passing hours; she pondered on those nights when in her +retired room, undisturbed by her good aunt, she worked that scarf, +whose well-known colours awoke her now as out of a dream. We will not +at present pause to inquire the reason why, when blushing and with +downcast eyes, she asked herself, whether cousin Marie had rightly +described the sweet mouth of her beloved? + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + And don't your heart now burn + While hope succeeds to fear? + Don't even youth return + To Swabia's land so dear? + J. SCHWAB. + +The reader will have learned from the introductory preface the state of +affairs. Duke Ulerich of Wuertemberg had brought upon himself the bitter +hatred of the Swabian League, by the obstinacy with which he braved so +many confederated princes and knights, by the furious expression of his +rage and threats of revenge, by the boldness with which he alone bid +them defiance, and last of all by the sudden military occupation of the +imperial town of Reutlingen. These were some of the principal +circumstances which led to the rupture. Others of a more private nature +fostered the bloody thoughts and thirst for revenge and plunder of +those who made a plea of individual insult the cause of uniting their +banners, for the downfall of the Duke and the partition of his +possessions. + +The principal officers of the Swabian League were the Duke of Bavaria, +whose object was to procure satisfaction for the ill treatment of his +sister Sabina, Ulerich's wife--the knights of the Huttens to revenge +the supposed murder of the cousin of their ancestor--Dieterich von Spaet +and his companions to wash out the disgrace of family insult in +Wuertemberg's misfortunes--and to these were added the authorities of +the towns and boroughs, who desired to recover Reutlingen again from +the occupation of Duke Ulerich's troops. They headed the pompous entry +into Ulm we have described in the foregoing pages, and arrived on the +same day from Augsburg, where they had assembled. War was therefore now +inevitable, for it was not to be supposed that they would propose terms +of peace to the Duke, after having proceeded thus far. + +But of a much more peaceable and cheerful cast were the ideas of Albert +von Sturmfeder, that "courteous, polite cavalier," who had so highly +awaken Marie's curiosity, and whose unexpected appearance had coloured +the cheeks of Bertha with so deep a red. He scarcely knew himself how +he came to take part in this campaign; for though he was acquainted +with the use of arms, yet he had not been trained to them. Sprung from +a poor but not obscure family of Franconia, he became an orphan at an +early age, and was brought up by his father's brother. A learned +education began even in those days to be considered an ornament to the +nobility, and his uncle, therefore, chose the path of literature for +him. It is not mentioned whether he made much progress in learning in +the university of Tuebingen, then in its infancy; thus much, however, is +known, that he took a warmer interest in the daughter of the knight of +Lichtenstein, who lived with her aunt in that town of the Muses, than +in the lectures of the most celebrated doctors. It is also related that +she resisted with pertinacious determination the different attacks +with which many a young student assailed her heart. But although all +kinds of man[oe]uvres to conquer a hard heart were well understood in +those days, (for the youth of ancient Tuebingen had, perhaps, studied +their Ovid better than those of the present), neither nocturnal +love-complaints, nor yet furious encounters between rivals to gain +possession of her, could soften the maiden's apparent obduracy. One +only succeeded in winning this heart, and that one was Albert. The +lovers, indeed, divulged to no one when and where the first ray of +tender feeling dawned in their hearts, and far be it from us to wish to +penetrate the veil of mystery of first love, or even to relate things +which we cannot substantiate; we can nevertheless assert this much, +that they had already reached to that degree of love, when true lovers +swear eternal fidelity, amidst the interruptions of external +circumstances, and which, in the painful hour of separation, proved +their only consolation. Her much-loved aunt having died, the knight of +Lichtenstein sent for his daughter to Ulm, for the purpose of finishing +her education there, under the roof of a married sister. Bertha's +nurse, old Rosel, remarked that the burning tears which she shed, and +the longing eyes with which Bertha over and over again looked back as +they left the town, could not have been given alone to the hilly +country to which she was bidding adieu. + +Shortly after Bertha's departure, Albert received a communication from +his uncle, in which the question was put to him, whether after four +years' study he was not now learned enough? He readily complied with +this hint, and, without a moment's hesitation, prepared to quit the +university; for since Bertha's absence, the lectures of the learned +doctors, and even the charming valley of the Neckar, were become +hateful to him. + +The fresh air from the hills invigorated him with renewed force, as he +rode through the gate of Tuebingen towards his home, on a fine morning +in February. In proportion as his bodily frame was braced by the +freshness of the morning, so was his soul raised to that cheerful +elevation of spirits so natural to his age. Youth vainly imagines +itself capable, by its own powers, to bring about its most anxious +wishes, and it is this reliance on self which inspires more confidence +than assistance from others. + +When Albert was left to his own thoughts as he paced his lonely way +homewards, the contemplation of his future prospects were wrapped in +mysterious uncertainty, which led his mind to compare his present +position with the clear lake which reflects on its surface the cheerful +objects rising around its banks, but veils the treacherous depth of its +waters by its bright colours. + +Such was the feeling of Albert von Sturmfeder as he rode through the +beechwood forest towards his home. This road did not, indeed, lead him +nearer to his beloved; neither could he properly call anything his own +besides the horse which he bestrode, and the ruined castle of his +ancestors. Upon this castle there was a popular joke, which ran thus:-- + + A house on three props you'll find: + Whoever enters in front, + Has no room to sit behind. + +But although he was well aware of his poverty, and was awake to his +needy circumstances, still he knew that with a determined will a +hundred paths were open to him by which he might attain his object, and +that the old Roman saying, _Fortes fortuna juvat_, had never yet +deceived him. The present state of excitement in the country appeared +to afford him an opportunity by which, after some active employment, he +might hope soon to realise the object of his wishes. + +The result of the contest which was about to commence, appeared at +that time very uncertain. The Swabian League, though it possessed +experienced commanders and disciplined soldiers, was nevertheless +weakened through disunion. Duke Ulerich, on his side, had enlisted +14,000 Swiss, brave and experienced warriors; he could bring into the +field, out of his own country, numerous and hardy troops, but not so +experienced as the others; and thus stood the state of affairs in +February 1519. + +When every one around him was taking an active part, Albert also +determined not to remain an idle spectator: a war, he thought, might +open a path to lead him sooner towards the object of his desire than +any other, and by which he might hope to render himself worthy of +meriting the hand of his beloved. + +Neither of the contending parties had, indeed, any claim upon his +heart. People of the country spoke ill of the duke, whilst the views of +the League did not appear to be influenced by the purest motives. But +when he heard that several knights and counts, whose properties +adjoined the duke's, urged by the loud, and, as he thought, just +complaints of the Huttens, against the tyrannical conduct of Ulerich, +had withdrawn their allegiance from him, he was induced to join the +League; being unaware that they had been corrupted by money, and the +seductive prospect of rich plunder, to overrun his country. But the +news of the count of Lichtenstein being in Ulm with his daughter +was, in truth, the mainspring which influenced and confirmed his +determination; for he thought he could not be far wrong if he took the +side on which Bertha's father acted, and therefore tendered his +services to the confederates. + +The knights of Franconia, headed by Ludwig von Hutten, approached +Augsburg at the beginning of March, for the purpose of joining Ludwig +von Baiern, and the rest of the members of the League. The army being +collected, their march resembled more a triumphal procession as they +approached the territory of their enemy, than regular military +proceedings. + +Duke Ulerich was encamped at Blaubeuren, the frontier town of his +possessions towards Bavaria and Ulm. In the latter place the great +council of war of the League was appointed to deliberate upon the plan +of the campaign, and they then hoped, in a short time, to force the +Wuertembergers to a decisive battle. Things having gone thus far, +negotiations for peace were out of the question: war was the watchword, +and victory the only thought of the army. + +Albert's heart beat high when he thought that his first trial in the +career of arms would soon be put to the test; but whoever may have been +placed in a similar situation will readily find excuses for him, if +feelings of a more tender nature at times possessed his soul, and made +him forget his dreams of battle and victory. + +As the army approached the town, a fresh east wind wafted towards them +the salute of the heavy artillery on the walls, and the sound of all +the bells ringing to welcome their arrival from the opposite side of +the river. He first obtained sight of the lofty cathedral in the +distance, emerging from a fog, which, gradually clearing away as he +drew near, displayed the town with its dark brick houses and high +entrance-towers to his view. At that moment the conflicting doubts and +anxieties which had long assailed his breast oppressed him more than +ever. "Do those walls indeed inclose my beloved? May not her father, +perhaps, contrary to my hopes, be the faithful friend of the duke, and +concealed among his enemies? and if such be the case, dare I, whose +only hope is to gain his good will--dare I stand opposed to him without +blasting my own happiness? And should her father have really taken part +with the enemy, can his daughter possibly be with him? But even were my +best hopes realised, and should she be among the spectators assembled +to witness the entry of the army, shall I find her still true to that +faith she has plighted?" These and many other anxious thoughts passed +through his mind in rapid succession. + +The last distressing thought, however, gave way to a pleasing +certainty; for if all kind of disaster were leagued against him +Bertha's fidelity, he felt convinced, remained unaltered. He pressed +the scarf she had given him to his breast; and now, as the Ulm cavalry +fell into the line, their trumpets and cornets playing martial music, +his natural cheerfulness returned, he rose prouder in his saddle, and +as they passed up the gaily adorned streets, his quick eye examined all +the windows of the lofty houses, seeking her alone. + +There he perceived her, serious and thoughtful, as she viewed the +passing scene. He fancied her thoughts might be occupied with him, whom +she supposed to be far distant from her. He gave his horse the spur, +which made him bound in the air, and the pavement resound under the +clash of his hoofs. But as she turned towards him, and their eyes met, +and judging by the joyful blush which animated her features, that she +assured him he was recognised and still beloved, then it was that poor +Albert nearly lost all recollection of his situation; for though he +followed the march to the town-hall, so great was his desire to linger +in the neighbourhood of his beloved, that little was wanting to make +him forget all other considerations, and be irresistibly drawn to the +corner house with the bow window. + +He had already made the first step in that direction, when he felt his +arm grasped by a powerful hand. "What drives you in this direction, +young man?" said a deep, well-known voice; "this is not the way to the +town-hall. Hallo! I really believe you are faint from fatigue: no +wonder, indeed, that you should be, for the breakfast was a very meagre +one. But never mind, my lad, come along. The Ulmers give good wine, and +we will treat you to some of the best sort, old Remsthaler." + +Though the transition from the raptured joy in which his mind for some +moments floated, when he first saw his love, to the bustle before the +town-hall in Ulm, was somewhat sudden, he could not help being thankful +to his friend, old Herrn von Breitenstein, his nearest neighbour on the +frontier of Franconia, for awakening him out of his momentary dream, +and saving him from making a precipitate, foolish step. + +He therefore took the advice of the old gentleman in a friendly way, +and with him followed the rest of the knights and nobles, whose +appetites were well sharpened by their long morning ride for the good +mid-day meal, which was prepared for them by the imperial free city in +the town-hall. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + The sound or music greets my ear, + The castle glares with light: + What means these varied sounds I hear? + Who banquets here to-night? + SCHILLER. + +The saloon of the town-hall, into which the guests were ushered, formed +a large oblong. The walls, and the ceiling, low in proportion to the +size of the room, were wainscoted with brown wood; numerous round +windows, on which were painted the arms of the nobles of Ulm in bright +colors, occupied one side of it; whilst on the walls opposite were +suspended the portraits of renowned burgomasters and councillors of the +town. They were all painted in the same position, that is, the left +hand supported on the hip, the right resting on a table covered with +rich cloth, and looking down on the guests of their descendants with +grave and solemn, aspect. The assembled company crowded in mixed groups +about the table, which being in the form of a horseshoe, occupied +nearly the whole length of the apartment. The brilliant festive costume +of the grand council and patricians, who were to do the honours of the +day in the name of the town, was not in keeping when compared with that +of their guests, who, covered with dust, and clad in leather and steel, +discomposed the silk cloaks and velvet dresses of their entertainers in +no very ceremonious manner, and much to their annoyance. + +They waited some time for the Duke of Bavaria, who, having arrived in +Ulm a few days before, had accepted the invitation to this brilliant +feast; but when his page brought an excuse that he could not attend, +the signal by sound of trumpet was given to take places. The rush to +the table in consequence was so impetuous that it was impossible to put +the preconcerted friendly intentions of the council into execution, by +which a citizen of Ulm was to sit between each two of their guests. + +Breitenstein secured a seat for Albert at the lower end of the table, +which he said was one of the best places. "I could have put you," said +the old man, "among our seniors, near Fronsberg, Sickingen, Hutten, and +Waldburg at the head of the table, but in such company etiquette and +reserve will infringe upon the more important consideration of +gratifying the cravings of hunger with ease and comfort. We might have +gone further up also, among the Nuernbergers and Augsburgers; there +where the roasted peacock is, which I declare is not a bad place; but I +know you do not like such townsfolk, and therefore brought you here. +Look around you, is it not a capital position? As we do not know the +faces hereabouts it will not be necessary to talk much. On the right we +have a smoking hot pig's head, with a lemon stuck in its mouth; on the +left a magnificent trout biting its tail for joy; and in our front a +roebuck, not to be matched for its tender meat and quantity of fat the +whole length of the table or elsewhere." + +Albert thanked him for his kindness, and took a hasty glance at those +immediately about him. On his right sat a good-looking young man about +twenty-five or twenty-six years of age. His neat-combed hair, throwing +out a perfume of some highly-scented ointment, his small beard, +evidently having just gone through the ordeal of warm curling irons, +made Albert suspect, even before he was further convinced of it by his +dialect, that he was a gay Ulmer citizen. The young man, perceiving +himself to be the object of his neighbour's observation, made himself +very officious. He filled Albert's glass from a large silver tankard, +and pledged him to drink to a better acquaintance and good fellowship; +he then offered to help him the best slices of roebuck, hare, pork, +pheasant, and wild duck, which lay before them in great profusion on +large silver dishes. + +But neither the officious kindness of his neighbour, nor the uncommon +appetite of Breitenstein, could provoke Albert to eat. His mind was too +much occupied with the beloved object he had seen in entering the town +to follow the example of his neighbours. He sat full of thought, +looking into his tankard, which he still held in his hand; and as the +bubbles on the surface of the sparkling wine dispersed, he fancied he +saw the portrait of his love in the gilded bottom of it. No wonder then +that his sociable friend on his right, seeing how his guest held his +tankard, and refused every dish which he offered him, took him for an +incorrigible wine-bibber. His keen eye, which was fixed upon the object +before him, appeared to point the youth out as one of those perfect +connoisseurs of wine, whose refined taste liked to dwell upon the +quality of the noble beverage. + +For the purpose of seconding the good intentions of the grand council, +namely, that of rendering the feast as pleasant as possible to their +guests, the young Ulmer sought all means to discover the weak point of +his neighbour. It was, indeed, contrary to his moderate habits to drink +much wine; but, in the hopes of rendering himself agreeable to Albert, +he thought he would stretch a point this once. He filled his goblet +full, and said, "Don't you think, neighbour, this wine has fire in it, +and is high flavoured? It is not, indeed, Wuertemberger wine, such as +you are accustomed to drink in Franconia, but it is real Elfinger, out +of the cellar of the senate, and calls itself eighty years old." + +Astonished at this address, Albert put down his tankard, and answered +with a short, "Yes, yes." His neighbour, however, would not let him off +so easily. "It appears, nevertheless," he went on to say, "that it is +not quite the thing you like, but I know a remedy. Holloa, there!" he +called to a servant, "bring a can of Uhlbacher here. Now just taste +this; it grows hard by the castle of Wuertemberg. You must pledge me in +this toast: 'A short war and glorious victory.'" + +Albert, to whom this conversation was in no wise agreeable, thought to +turn it to something which might lead to a more interesting topic. "You +have much beauty here in Ulm," said he; "at least, in passing through +the town, I remarked many pretty faces at the windows." + +"Yes, in truth," answered the Ulmer, "the streets might be paved with +them." + +"That would not be amiss," replied Albert, "for the pavement of your +streets is bad indeed. But tell me who lives in that corner house with +the bow-window?" pointing to the situation of it: "if I do not mistake, +two young ladies were looking out of the window as we rode by." + +"So! you have remarked them already?" laughed the other: "upon my word, +you have a quick eye, and are a good judge. They are my pretty cousins, +on my mother's side: the little blonde is the daughter of the Herrn von +Besserer, the other is the lady of Lichtenstein, a Wuertemberger, +staying with her on a visit." + +Albert thanked heaven for having been placed so near a relation of +Bertha, and determined at once to take advantage of his good fortune. +He turned to him, and in the most friendly manner said, "You have a +couple of pretty cousins, Herr von Besserer." + +"I call myself Dieterick von Kraft, secretary to the grand council, +with your permission." + +"A pair of pretty cousins, Herr von Kraft; do you visit them often?" + +"Yes, I do," answered the secretary, "and particularly since the +daughter of Lichtenstein is in the house. Before her arrival, cousin +Marie and I were one heart and soul, but she is somewhat jealous now, +being piqued by the attentions I bestow upon her charming cousin, +Bertha von Lichtenstein, which she thinks belong to her alone." + +This confidential communication of the secretary to a perfect stranger, +was not a little surprising to Albert, who very soon discovered that a +certain portion of vanity was one of his weak points, though in other +respects there was much to like in him. + +This avowal, however, on the part of his new acquaintance, did not +sound agreeable to Albert's ear, which caused him to press his lips +together, whilst his cheeks assumed a deeper colour. + +"Laugh as you will," proceeded the scribe, whose head began to feel the +effects of the wine, to which he was unaccustomed; "if you only knew +how they pull caps about me! My Lichtenstein cousin has, however, a +disagreeable, odd way of showing her friendship; she is so ladylike and +reserved, that one is afraid to joke in her presence, much less to be +as familiar with her as with Marie; but it is just that which renders +her so attractive in my eyes, for if she sends me away ten times, I am +sure to return to her the eleventh:--the reason is," he murmured to +himself, "that her old strict father is present, of whom she is rather +shy; let him but once cross the boundary of Ulm, and I'll soon tame +her." + +Finding his new acquaintance so very communicative, Albert resolved to +question him respecting the knight of Lichtenstein's view of the coming +struggle, because that was an essential point, upon which his dearest +hopes turned, and one upon which he had his doubts; but just as he was +about to begin, he was interrupted by the sound of peculiar strange +voices near him. He thought he had heard them before amidst the noise +and clatter of the ghosts, as they recited in a drawling uniform tone a +couple of short sentences, the purport of which he could not well +understand. But now that he heard them repeated close to him, he soon +learnt the subject of their monotonous import. It was the fashion in +those good old times, particularly in the imperial towns, for the +father of the family and his wife, when they entertained company, to +rise about the middle of the repast, go round to each individual guest, +and in a short sentence of customary usage press him to eat and drink. + +This fashion was one of such old standing in Ulm, that the grand +council would on no account dispense with it on the present occasion, +and, therefore, appointed the father of a family and his wife, in the +persons of the burgomaster and the oldest of the councillors, to +perform the office. + +Having gone round two sides of the table on their "_pressing_" embassy, +it was not to be wondered at, that their voices became, by their +efforts, rather husky, so that at last their friendly exhortation +assumed almost the tone of a threat. A rough voice sounded in Albert's +ear, "Why don't you eat, why don't you drink?" Startling, he turned +round, and beheld a large man with a red face, who had addressed these +words to him, and before he had time to give an answer, a little short +man, with a high shrill voice saluted his ear, on the other side. + + "But eat and drink and take your fill-- + Such is our magisterial will." + +"I have long thought it would come to that," said old Breitenstein, as +he took breath for a moment from the vigorous attack he had been making +on a haunch of roebuck; "there he sits and talks, instead of enjoying +the excellent dishes of roast meats, which have been put before us in +such profusion." + +"With your permission," said Dieterick von Kraft, interrupting him, +"though the young man eats nothing, he is a lover oL wine, and a +capital judge of it; I found it out immediately, for he cannot keep his +eyes from the bottom of his cup; therefore do not blame him if he +prefers old Uhlbacher before anything else." + +Albert had no idea how he had become the subject of this extraordinary +apology; he was on the point of making an excuse, when another event +drew his attention. Breitenstein had now taken pity upon the pig's head +with the lemon stuck in its mouth, which he very cleverly extracted +from its jaws, and undertook, with great avidity and experienced hand, +its further dissection. Just as he was in the act of swallowing the +first mouthful of one of the choicest bits, the burgomaster came to him +also, with the same exhortation, "Why don't you eat, why don't you +drink?" Breitenstein looked at him with astonishment, but his speaking +organs had no time to exercise their functions; he however nodded his +head, and pointed to the well-polished bone of the haunch of roebuck in +his plate. The little man, also, with the cracked voice, though it +appeared unnecessary, would not be debarred repeating his friendly +exhortation-- + + "But eat and drink and take your fill,-- + Such is our magisterial will." + +And thus it was in the good old times. At least no one could complain +of being invited to a mere parade dinner. The table soon after assumed +a different appearance. The large dishes and plates were removed, and +were replaced by spacious bowls and large jugs filled with generous +wine. The wine passed freely, and the frequent drinking of healths, at +that time very much the custom in Swabia, soon produced its usual +effects. Dieterick Spaet and his companions sang burlesque songs on Duke +Ulerich, and confirmed each oath or bit of coarse wit with a horse +laugh or a deep draught. The Franconian knights called for dice, threw +for the duke's estates, and drank to the taking of the castle of +Tuebingen. Ulerich von Hutten and his friends carried on a controversy +in Latin with some Italians about a recent attack on the papal chair, +which a monk of Wittemberg of no reputation had undertaken. The +Nuernbergers, Augsburgers, and some few Ulmers had got together, and +disputed upon the merits of their respective republics; in short, the +room resounded with the din of laughter, singing, quarrelling, and the +clatter of silver and pewter tankards. + +But at the upper end of the table a much more becoming and sober +hilarity prevailed. George von Fronsberg, old Ludwig Hutten, Waldburg +Truchses, Franz von Sickingen, and other elderly grave men occupied +seats there. + +Hans von Breitenstein, who was a captain of the League, having now +fully satisfied his appetite, turned his eyes in that direction, and +said to Albert, "The noise about us here is not at all agreeable,--what +say you? would you like to be presented to Fronsberg now, as you told +me a few days ago you wished so to be?" + +Albert, whose desire it had long been to become acquainted with the +general, gladly accepted the offer, and getting up, followed his old +friend. We will not stay to inquire the reason why his heart beat +quicker on this occasion, why his face assumed a higher colour, or why +his steps, as he approached him, were slower or less firm. Who has not +experienced in his youth similar feelings on being introduced to the +notice of a brilliant character, crowned with glory? Whose darling +self, "I," has not sunk into utter insignificance before the giant-like +idea we have formed of a renowned man! George von Fronsberg was +accounted one of the most famous generals of his day. Italy, France, +and Germany had witnessed his victories, and his name will go down to +posterity in the annuls of the art of war, as the author and founder of +a regular system, by which a body of infantry is trained to fight in +ranks and companies. Tradition and chronicles have brought down the +exploits of this noble personage to our times, and who can help calling +to mind the heroes of Homer, when they read the following description +of this man:--"He had such strength in his limbs, that with the middle +finger of his right hand he could displace the strongest man from his +seat, let him hold himself as firm as he might; he could seize the +bridle of a horse on the full gallop, and stop him; and he could carry +alone, from one place to another, the largest gun and battering ram of +the time." Breitenstein conducted the young man to him. + +"Who do you bring us now, Hans?" said George von Fronsberg, as he +noticed the well-grown youth with interest. + +"Look at him well, noble sir," answered Breitenstein, "and you will not +fall to recognise the house whence he sprung." + +The general regarded him with still greater attention; old Truchses von +Waldburg also run his scrutinizing eye over his person. Albert was +timid and shy before these great men; but whether it was that the +friendly, frank manner of Fronsberg gave him confidence, or whether he +felt how important that moment was to his future prospects, he overcame +the shame of being put out of countenance by the looks of so many +renowned men, and faced them with determination and courage. + +"I recognise you at once by that look," said Fronsberg, and gave him +his hand: "you are a Sturmfeder." + +"Albert von Sturmfeder," answered the young man: "my father was +Burkhardt Sturmfeder; he fell by your side in Italy: so it has been +told me." + +"He was a brave man," said the general, whose eye rested thoughtfully +on Albert's features, "he remained faithful by my side in many a warm +day of battle, and fell covered with glory and honour in defence of my +person. And you," he added, "have you determined to follow his steps? +Methinks you have left your nest somewhat early, for you are scarcely +fledged." + +Waldburg, a weather-beaten, hard featured old soldier, interrupted +Fronsberg, and said, with a gruff, surly voice, "I suppose that young +bird is seeking a few flocks of wool to repair the dilapidated family +nest." + +This rude allusion to the ruined castle of his ancestors, called up a +crimson blush on the cheek of the young man. He had never been ashamed +of his poverty, but these words sounded so full of scorn and insult +that he felt himself, for the first time, really poor, as he stood +before the more affluent derider of his name. His eye at that moment +passing over Truchses Waldburg, fell on that well-known bow window, +where, thinking he perceived the person of his love, his usual courage +resumed its dominion. "Every struggle has its price. Sir Knight," he +replied; "I have proffered head and arm to the League; the motive of +this step can be but indifferent to you." + +"Well, well," answered the other, "we shall see what the arm can do; +but as to the head it cannot be quite so clear, if you take in earnest +what was meant as a mere joke." + +The offended youth was about to make an angry reply, when Fronsberg, +taking him kindly by the hand, said, "Just like your father; dear young +man! you will in time become like him, a stinging nettle[1] also,--we +shall require friends whose hearts are in the right place. You will not +be the last thought of, you may rest assured." + +These few words, from the lips of a man who had won so high a +reputation among his contemporaries by bravery and experience in war, +produced such an effect on the mind of Albert, that the unguarded +answer which floated on his tongue sank harmless. He withdrew from the +table to a window, partly for the sake of not interrupting the +conversation of the officers, partly to convince himself with greater +certainty, whether the momentary apparition which he had seen was +really his beloved. + +When Albert left the table, Fronsberg turned to Waldburg; "That is not +the way, Herr Truchses, to win over a staunch ally to our cause. I'll +wager he has not quitted us with the same zeal he brought with him." + +"Do you consider yourself called upon to raise your voice in favour of +that hot-headed youth?" said the other; "it is not at all necessary; he +must learn to take a joke from his superiors." + +"With your permission," interrupted Breitenstein, "it is no joke to be +jeer'd on account of unavoidable poverty; but I know you never bore his +father any good will." + +"And," continued Fronsberg, "you have no controul over him in any way, +for he has not yet taken the oath of alliance to the League and is +therefore at perfect liberty to go wheresoever he pleases. Should he +serve under your colours, I would advise you not to push him too far, +as he does not appear much inclined to submit to insult or contumely." + +Speechless from rage upon being contradicted, which he never in his +life could brook, Truchses first looked at one and then at the other +with such fury, that Ludwig von Hutten, fearful of further strife, +interposed between them, and said, "Come, an end with these old +stories. It is high time to rise from table. It is now getting dark, +and the wine is becoming too powerful for our friends lower down there. +Dieterick von Spaet has already drank twice to Wuertemberg's death, and +the Franconians have not yet quite settled whether his castles shall be +burnt to the ground or divided among them." + +"Let them alone," laughed Waldburg, scornfully, "those gentry may do +and say what they please to-day; Fronsberg will soon bring them to +their senses." + +"No," said Ludwig von Hutten, "if any one has a right to talk in such +terms, I am the one, the avenger of my son's blood; but until war be +declared, intemperate conversation must be restrained. My cousin +Ulerich speaks much too violently with the Italians about the monk of +Wittemberg, and when he is out of temper, divulges things which ought +to be kept secret." + +Fronsberg and Sickingen now rose from table, and those about them +following their example, the break-up was general. + + +FOOTNOTE TO CHAPTER III.: + +[Footnote 1: The same words which Fronsberg made use of in speaking of +Goetz von Berlichingen.] + + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + The eyes with which I gaze on her + Can pierce thro' wood and stone: + They're seated in my heart so true, + That beats for her alone. + WALTHER VON DER VOGELWEIDE. + +The small distance which separated the table from the window, to which +Albert had retired, permitted his hearing every word of the dispute +mentioned in the latter part of the last chapter. He rejoiced to +perceive the warm interest which Fronsberg took in him, an +inexperienced orphan; but, at the same time, he could not conceal from +himself that his first step in his military career, had also brought +upon him a formidable, bitter enemy. + +The unbending pride of Truchses von Waldburg was so well known in the +army, that Albert had little reason to hope Hutten's mediatory and +conciliatory words would have much effect in soothing the unfavourable +impression, which he feared his warmth in upholding the name of his +family might have created in the mind of the general. And he was well +aware that men of weight and consequence, governed by a violent, +imperious temper, such as Waldburg's, do not readily enter into the +feelings of those who have excited their anger, nor forgive the +ebullition of a generous mind when assailed in its most vulnerable +point. + +A slight tap on the shoulder interrupted his thoughts, and as he turned +round, his friendly neighbour at table, the scribe to the grand +council, stood before him. + +"I'll bet, you have not looked out for a lodging yet," said Dieterick +von Kraft, "and it might be now somewhat difficult to find one, as it +is getting dark, and the town is very full." + +Albert acknowledged he had not thought about it; he hoped however to +find a room in one of the public inns. + +"I would not have you be quite so sure of that," answered the other, +"and, should you find a corner in one of those houses, you must reckon +upon being but badly off. But if my lodging would not appear too small +for you, it is very much at your service." + +The good secretary of the council pressed Albert with so much +cordiality, that he did not hesitate to take advantage of his +invitation, though he almost feared lest, when the effects of the wine +had passed off, his host might regret his proffered hospitality to him, +a perfect stranger. Dieterick von Kraft, however, appeared rejoiced at +the readiness with which his proposal was accepted, and taking Albert's +arm, with a hearty shake of the hand, led him out of the room. + +The square before the town-hall was in the mean time the scene of much +bustle and confusion. The days were still short, and the evening having +broken in upon the dinner-party, torches were lighted, the glare of +which illumined but sparingly the large space, and played on the +windows of the opposite houses, and on the polished helmets and +cuirasses of the knights. Loud calls for horses and attendants sounding +through the town-hall, the clatter of swords, the running here and +there of many men, coupled with the barking of dogs, the neighing and +pawing of impatient horses, formed a scene, which resembled more the +surprise of a military post in the night by an enemy, than the breaking +up of a convivial festival. + +Albert remained in the hall in a state of amazement at the sight of so +many jovial faces and powerful figures, who, having mounted their +horses, retired in small groups, singing and springing about in all the +hilarity of youth. This nocturnal, fleeting scene, forcibly impressed +him with the conviction of the uncertainty and changeableness of all +worldly events. These same joyous associates, thought he, would soon be +engaged in the dangerous concerns of war, when many of them, even +before the spring should be fully advanced, would cover the green grass +with their bodies, with no other price offered for their blood than the +tear of a comrade, or the short-lived glory of having fallen before the +enemy as brave men. + +His eye turned instinctively to that quarter where he knew the reward +which he hoped would crown the success of his present undertaking +awaited him. He there saw many figures at the window, but soon the +black smoke of the torches, which suddenly, as a cloud, almost covered +the square, veiled the objects so as to give them the appearance of +mere shadows. He turned away in disappointment, saying to himself, +"Such are my prospects also; at one moment the present indeed looks +bright, but in the next, how dark, how uncertain is the prospect of the +future!" + +His kind friend roused him from this foreboding frame of mind, with the +question, "Where are your servants with your horses?" Had the spot +where they stood been better lighted, our good Kraft might, perhaps, +have discovered a passing blush upon the cheek of his friend at this +inquiry. + +"A young soldier," answered Albert, quickly recovering his composure, +"must learn to look after his own affairs as well as he can, without +the assistance and trouble of servants, and therefore I have not +brought one with me. I have given Breitenstein's groom charge of my +horse." + +The scribe of the council applauded the young man for the self-denial +which he exercised; but he could not help making the remark, that when +once in the field he would not be able to assert his independence so +easily. The attention which his companion paid to his own person, his +well-combed hair, his neatly curled beard, convinced Albert that he +spoke from his heart, and the snug comfortable lodging into which he +was introduced did not belie this opinion. + +The menage of Herrn von Kraft was, in fact, a young bachelor's +establishment, for his parents died before he attained the age of +manhood. He had often thought of looking for a partner to share his +comforts with him, but he hesitated to renounce the charm of +independence; an advantage he thought not to be despised, flattered as +he was by being honored and looked upon by the ladies of Ulm as a +desirable match. But ill-natured folks whispered abroad, that it was +principally owing to the decided disinclination of his old nurse and +housekeeper to have a young mistress in the house, which deterred him +from taking so important a step. + +Herr Dieterick possessed a large house not far from the cathedral, a +pretty garden on St. Michael's Hill, furniture in high preservation, +large oak chests full of the finest linen, made of the yarn which the +ladies of the house of Kraft, with their female domestics, had for many +generations passed their long winter evenings in spinning; and an iron +chest in the bed-room, containing a large stock of gold florins. As to +his person, he was a good-looking, substantial man, always spruce in +his dress, tight-laced, and proud of the fine linen which he wore: his +deportment in the council was serious and full of business; he was well +conversant in state affairs, as well as in those of his own household; +and being sprung from a good old family, it was no wonder that he was +respected and looked up to by the whole town, and that any pretty young +Ulmer damsel would have thought herself too happy to become mistress of +these united advantages. + +Upon a nearer inspection, however, the interior of his friend's +establishment appeared to Albert any thing but enviable. The only +domestic companions of Herr Dieterick were an old grey-headed +man-servant, two large cats, and the above-mentioned unsightly fat +nurse. These four creatures stared at the new guest with large +wondering eyes, which convinced him how little accustomed they were to +receive any increase of guests in the establishment. The cats went +round him mewing with raised backs; the old woman, in a cross manner, +fidgeted her large high round cap, ornamented with gold fringe, out of +its accustomed perpendicular position, and asked whether she should +prepare supper for two? When she heard her question not only affirmed, +but was ordered also (it was not quite clear whether it was an order or +a petition) to prepare the corner room on the second floor for the +stranger, her patience appeared exhausted; she shot a look of fury at +her young master, and left the room rattling a large bunch of keys, +which were suspended from her girdle. The hollow sound of her footstep, +and the noise of the door, as she, in her ill-humour, slammed it after +her, re-echoed through the dead stillness of the spacious corridors. + +The old grey-headed servant had in the mean time pushed the table and +two ponderous arm-chairs near the immense stove; and having put a black +box on the table, with two candlesticks and a tankard of wine, he +whispered a few words to his master, and then withdrew. Herr Dieterick +invited his guest to take part in his usual evening amusement of +playing a game of tric-trac, which the black box contained. + +Albert was amused at the proposal of his friend, and particularly when +he told him that, since he was twelve years old, he had been in the +habit of playing a game with his nurse every evening. + +The dead silence which reigned throughout the house was only broken by +the occasional snuffing of the candles, the ticking of a large wooden +clock in a black case, and the monotonous throw of the dice. Albert +would gladly have heard some other symptoms of life, if it were but the +grumbling of the old nurse, or her footstep sounding again in the +corridors. The game had never possessed any charm for him, and more +particularly at the present moment, when his thoughts were otherwise +occupied. He was oppressed with a lowness of spirits which he could +scarcely control, separated as he now was by a few streets only from +his beloved, and anxious to satisfy his longing desire to see her +again. The unfeigned pleasure which Herr Dieterick appeared to derive +in winning nearly every game, imparted to his good-natured face +something so peculiarly agreeable, that it made up in some measure for +the loss of time. + +When the clock struck eight Dieterick led his guest to supper, which +his housekeeper, spite of her ill humour, had prepared in her best +manner, for she spared nothing to keep up the dignity and honour of the +house of Kraft. The secretary again essayed the powers of his +eloquence, with which he sought to season the repast. He talked +concerning passing events, of the coming war, and gave Albert to +understand that his situation put him in possession of state secrets +known only to a select few. But in vain did Albert hope to hear +something about his pretty cousins. He attempted to sound him upon a +subject so nearly allied to his dearest interests, namely, upon the +views of the knight of Lichtenstein in the pending struggle, which he +had failed to elicit at the dinner; but the secretary, whether to +impress Albert with the importance of his confidential situation in the +council, or that he really did not know the intention of Bertha's +father, put on a more consequential and mysterious air than usual, and +the only information he would impart was, that the knight was then in +Ulm with some others of Wuertemberg. + +This news was at least satisfactory so far as the turn it was likely to +give to his fate. His joy was now for the first time complete, in the +satisfaction of having joined a party which, except for the great names +at the head of it, was otherwise indifferent to him. "And so her father +is also among those assembled here!" thought he. "May I not hope to +have the good fortune to fight by the side of that good man, and prove +myself worthy of my name, and of her I love?" He felt the conviction +that Albert von Sturmfeder would not be the last in a battle. + +His host, after supper, conducted him to his bed-room, and took his +leave with a hearty wish for a good night's rest. Albert examined his +room closely, and found it to correspond precisely with the rest of the +gloomy house. The round frames of the windows, warped by age, the dark +woodwork of the walls and ceiling, the large stove projecting far into +the apartment, the enormous bed with a broad canopy and heavy stuff +curtains, gave a dull, nay a melancholy, effect to the whole. But still +every thing was arranged for his comfort. Clean snow-white sheets +invited him within as he threw back the curtains of the bed, the stove +threw out an agreeable warmth, a night lamp was placed in a niche in +the wall, and even a tankard of spiced hot wine, by way of a nightcap, +was not forgotten. He closed the curtains as he got into bed, and +scanned over in his mind the passing events of the day. Having taken +them in their due order as they had occurred, he had reason to be +satisfied with his position; but, when he afterwards fell into the +province of dreaming, they were all heaped up in crowded confusion in +his mind, far beyond the power of unravelling. One object alone was +perfectly clear to him,--it was the portrait of his beloved Bertha. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + And is it mere illusion? Say-- + Or will that one so kind, so true, + To whom my heart and life are due, + Be to my arms restored this day? + F. HAUG. + +Albert was awoke the next morning by a tap at the door. He threw open +the curtains, and perceived that the sun was already high up. The +knocking increased, when, shortly after, his kind host entering, +inquired how his guest had slept, and explained to him the cause of his +early visit. The grand council had determined on the preceding evening +to celebrate the arrival of the confederates by a ball, which was to +take place that very evening in the town-hall. It was his province, as +secretary to the council, to make all the necessary arrangements for +this important affair. He had to secure the services of the town +musicians, and to invite the first families in the name of the senate. +But his first concern would be to hasten to impart this extraordinary +piece of good news to his charming cousins. + +He related all this to his guest with an air of great importance, and +assured him he was so full of business that he scarcely knew where his +head was. Albert had only one thought, that of seeing and speaking with +Bertha, and he was so overjoyed in the anticipation of such-unlooked +for happiness, that he gladly would have embraced the bearer of the +good tidings, if prudence had not deterred him from thus exhibiting his +secret feelings. + +"I can plainly see," said the scribe, "the pleasure this news gives +you; the love of dancing brightens up your eyes already. I can promise +you a couple of partners, such as you will not find every day. You +shall dance with my cousins; for I am their chaperon on such occasions, +and I will so arrange the matter that you and no other shall be the +first to engage them; they will be enchanted when I promise them the +best dancer in the room." With this he left the apartment, wishing his +friend good morning, cautioning him when he went out of the house not +to forget to notice it, so as to be able to find it again at dinner +time. + +Herr Kraft being a near relation of the Herrn von Besserer, was +entitled to free access to his house, and upon this occasion he made an +earlier call than usual. + +He found the maidens still at breakfast. Ladies of the present day may +perhaps be shocked at the homely meal which our two belles of Ulm, in +the year 1519, were partaking of when their cousin Dieterick entered +the room. It was not an elegant dejeune, served up in painted porcelain +in the form of beautiful antique vases, or curious-shaped chocolate +cups; no, the natural grace of Marie and Bertha was not impaired by the +occupation of breakfasting on humble _beer-soup_,[1] at six in the +morning, served up in the brown-coloured jug of that day. Can this +avowal, however, prejudice the attractive qualities of these two +beauties? In the eyes of some it perhaps may; but whoever could have +seen Marie and Bertha, in their pretty little morning caps and neat +clean dresses, would certainly, as cousin Kraft did, have no objection +to partake of the breakfast with them. + +"I can see at once, cousin," began Marie, after the usual salutations +of the morning, "that you would like to partake of our soup, because, I +suppose, your old cross nurse has not taken care of you this morning; +but don't flatter yourself that you will get any here, for you deserve +punishment, and must expect----" + +"Oh, we have been waiting for you so long," interrupted Bertha. + +"Yes, to be sure we have," said Marie, with her usual quick way; "but +don't flatter yourself that we care as much about your society, as to +be informed of the news of what is going on, that's all." + +The scribe had been long accustomed to be received by Marie in this +manner. He determined, therefore, to make himself as agreeable as +possible, satisfying her curiosity by giving her all the gossip of the +town, in order to pacify the jealous mood, which he thought he had +excited. He was about to begin, when Marie interrupted him. "We know," +said she, "that you are too fond of a long story, and as we witnessed +most of your doings in the town-hall yesterday from the balcony, we'll +say nothing touching your drinking bout there, which speaks not much to +your credit; but answer me this question."--She placed herself before +him in an attitude of comic seriousness, and went on: "Dieterick von +Kraft, scribe of the most noble council of state, did you notice among +the confederates, at the dinner given yesterday in the town-hall, a +remarkably distinguished-looking young knight, with long light-brown +hair, a face not so milk-white as your own, but not less handsome; a +small beard, not so carefully combed as yours, but much more beautiful; +a light blue scarf with silver----!" + +"Oh, that is no other than my guest," cried cousin Kraft; "he rode a +large brown horse, and wore a blue jacket, slashed at the shoulders, +and turned up with light blue." + +"Yes, yes, go on; the very one," said Marie; "we have our particular +reasons for inquiring all about him." + +"Well, that is Albert von Sturmfeder," answered the scribe, "a handsome +charming young fellow. It is curious that you should be the first he +noticed in coming into the town." Kraft then related all the +particulars of what had passed at the dinner, how he was at once struck +by the manly figure, the commanding and attractive countenance of the +young man, who, by good luck, became his neighbour at table, and that +the more he knew of him the more he liked him; so much so, that he had +invited him to his house. + +Bertha rose from her seat, and went to look for her work-box, turning +her back at the same time upon both her cousins, in order to conceal a +blush which flew to her forehead, and which proved that not one word of +Dieterick's conversation was lost upon her. + +"Come, that is very kind of you, cousin," said Marie, as he finished: +"I believe it is the first time you have ventured to have a guest in +your house. I should like to have seen the face of old Sabina, when +master Dieter, as she calls you, brought a stranger home so late at +night." + +"Oh," said the scribe, "she resembled the dragon attacking St. George; +but I gave her to understand pretty clearly, that it was not at all +improbable, I might soon bring home one of my pretty cousins----" + +"Ah, get away with you, and don't talk nonsense," resumed Marie, as +she tried to withdraw her hand, which he had taken, blushing highly at +the same time. She had never appeared so pretty in his eyes as at this +moment. Bertha's serious face, in proportion as this flirtation +increased, lost its attraction in his estimation, the balance of his +devotion was all in favour of the animated Marie, who now sat before +him in all the bloom of blushing beauty. + +Bertha having slipt out of the room, Marie escaped the tender grasp of +Dieterick's hand, and profited by this opportunity to turn the subject +of the conversation. + +"There she goes," she said, as she looked after her cousin; "I would +wager she is going to her room to weep again. She cried so violently +yesterday, that it has made me also quite melancholy." + +"What is the matter with her?" asked Dieterick, with interest. + +"I am as ignorant of the cause of her grief as ever," answered Marie; +"I have asked her over and over again; but she only shakes her head, as +if there was no hope left. 'This unhappy war!' is all she ever gave me +for answer." + +"And is old Lichtenstein still determined to take her back to his +castle?" + +"Certainly," answered Marie; "you should have heard how the old man +swore yesterday, when the confederates entered! Well, he is devoted to +his Duke, heart and soul, so he may go, with all my heart. As soon as +war is declared, he intends taking his departure with her." + +Herr Dieterick appeared very thoughtful; he rested his head upon his +hand, and listened to his cousin in silence. + +"And only think," she continued, "yesterday, after the entrance of the +leaguists into the town, she wept more than ever. You know she was +always serious and melancholy; but as if that circumstance were to +decide the fate of the war, she is now quite disconsolate, I don't +believe it is the idea of leaving Ulm that affects her; but I suspect," +she added, mysteriously, "she has some secret attachment at heart." + +"Yes, I have long remarked that," sighed Herr Dieterick; "but how can I +help it?" + +"You! how can you help it?" laughed Marie, all signs of sorrow on +Bertha's account vanishing from her face at these words. "No, indeed, +you need not flatter yourself that you are the cause of her suffering. +She was in this state long before you ever saw her." + +The worthy secretary was very much put out by this assurance. He +thought in his heart that a farewell from him was the real cause of +Bertha's state, and her care-worn countenance at this moment almost +regained the preponderance in his changeable heart. Marie went on to +deride his conceitedness, when all of a sudden he recollected the main +object of his visit, which he had lost sight of during the +conversation. Marie sprang up with a scream of joy, as her cousin +imparted to her the news of the ball. + +"Bertha, Bertha!" she cried out, at the height of her voice, so that +her cousin, startled, and fearing lest some accident had happened, +hastened to her assistance. But before she had scarcely had time to +enter the room, Marie said again, "Bertha, a ball at the town-hall this +evening!" + +This news was a happy surprise to her also. "When? are the strangers +invited also?" were her rapid questions, whilst a deep red covered her +cheeks, and a ray of joy shot from her sorrowful eyes, scarcely able to +contain their tears. + +Marie and her cousin Kraft were both astonished at Bertha's rapid +change from depression of spirits to sudden joy, and Dieterick could +not help remarking, that he supposed she must be passionately fond of +dancing. But he was equally mistaken in this instance, as he was when +he mistook Albert von Sturmfeder for a connoisseur of wine. + +Herr Kraft, supposing his cousins would now wish to occupy themselves +with the important preparation of dress, rather than listen to anything +else he might have to say, took his departure, to fulfil the rest of +his weighty duties. He hastened to give the requisite orders, and to +invite, in person, the principal guests, and higher families. He was +received everywhere as the messenger of good news; for tradition says, +that the pleasure of dancing is not the passion of the present day +only. + +His arrangements were soon accomplished. In those days, in order to be +merry and cheerful, it was not absolutely necessary there should be a +long suite of apartments, lighted up with flaming chandeliers, and +furnished with numerous unmeaning things, which encumber the +fashionable apartments of the present age. All was simple. The room in +the town-hall was, from its size, well adapted for the purpose, and the +humble rude-shaped lamps which hung on the walls, had, up to that time, +thrown out light enough to show off the dresses and illumine the pretty +faces of the maidens of Ulm. + +But not only had the arrangements of the active scribe succeeded in +everything he had undertaken on this important occasion; he had also in +the course of his visits learned some secret intelligence which had +been confided solely to the committee of the council, and the principal +officers of the League. + +Satisfied with the result of his various avocations, he returned home +at noon, when his first step was to inquire after his guest. + +Albert had been employed, during the absence of his host, in looking +over a beautifully-written book of chronicles, which he found in his +room. The neat painted figures which formed the first letter of the +chapters, the pictures of fields of battle, and triumphal entries of +victorious troops, delineated with a bold outline, and painted with +peculiar care and labour, and which were dispersed throughout the +volume, had amused him for some time. His mind being full of the +warlike figures he had been examining, induced him to think of his own +weapons, and of polishing his helmet, armour, and the sword which he +had inherited from his father. He accordingly set to work, at the same +time singing sometimes a cheerful, sometimes a serious song, to the +great annoyance of the unmusical organs of Frau Sabina. + +Dieterick heard the sounds of his agreeable voice as he walked up +stairs, and he could not resist listening at the door until he had +finished his song. It was one of those touching strains, bordering +almost on the melancholy, which has been brought down to our times, and +is to be heard even now in the mouth of the Swabians. Often and with +pleasure have we listened to those strains on the charming banks of the +Neckar, struck with the beautiful simplicity and lengthened sound of +their harmony. + +Albert went on singing: + + Swift as thought + All our pleasures come to nought! + The charger yesterday he press'd, + To-day the death-shot pierced his breast, + To-morrow opes the chilly grave. + + Such the measure + Of all earthly bliss and pleasure! + In that comely cheek of thine, + The lily and the rose combine; + But rose and lily fade and die. + + Then resigned + To God's will, I yield my mind: + Should the trumpet sound a call, + Should it be my fate to fall, + Say "A gallant soldier's gone." + +"Really you have a fine voice," said his host, as he entered the +apartment; "but why sing such melancholy songs? I prefer a merry and +cheerful one, such as a young fellow of twenty-eight ought to sing." + +Albert put his sword aside, and gave his hand to his friend. "Every one +to his taste," said he, "but I think that to those whose occupation is +war, and whose life is in constant jeopardy, a song which carries +consolation and encouragement to the heart of the soldier, gives death +a milder aspect." + +"That's just what I mean, also," said Dieterick; "but what is the use +of being melancholy upon a subject which is certainly the lot of all? +'If you paint the devil on the wall, he will surely appear,' says the +proverb; however, that saying does not hold good as the case now +stands." + +"How? is not war decided," asked Albert, with curiosity; "has the +Wuertemberger accepted conditions?" + +"Conditions? none will be made with him," answered the secretary, with +an air of contempt; "he has lived his longest day as Duke; it is our +turn now to govern. I will let you into a secret," added he, looking +big with importance and mystery, "but it must be strictly between us. +Your hand! You think the Duke has fourteen thousand Swiss with him? +They are scattered to the winds. The messenger we despatched to Zurich +and Bern has returned. All the Swiss at Blaubeuren and on the Alb will +be obliged to return home immediately." + +"Return home?" said Albert, with astonishment, "and for what purpose? +Are they at war themselves in their own country?" + +"No," was the answer, "they are in profound peace, but have no money. +Believe me, before a week passes over our heads, messengers will arrive +to order the whole army home." + +"But will they go? they came to the Duke's assistance of their own +accord; who can order them to leave his colours?" + +"That's very easily managed; do you suppose they will disobey the +orders of their magistrates at the risk of the loss of their property, +and imprisonment? Ulerich has too little money to retain them, and they +will not serve him upon mere promises." + +"But you cannot call that behaving honourably," remarked Albert, "to +deprive the enemy of the arms with which he wishes to meet you in fair +contest." + +"In politics, as we call it," answered the scribe, thinking to +establish his knowledge of state affairs in the mind of the +inexperienced young soldier, "in politics, honour at best is assumed +but for appearance sake; for example, the Swiss will explain to the +Duke, in excuse for deserting him, that it would be against their +conscience to allow their troops to serve against the independence of +the free towns; but the truth is, that we can fill the pockets of the +bears with more gold florins in order to keep them at home, than the +Duke can to assist him." + +"Well, after all, let the Swiss desert the Duke," said Albert, +"Wuertemberg will still be able of herself to send forth valiant and +ready hearts sufficient to prevent any dog passing the Alb." + +"We have thought of an expedient in that case also," replied the +scribe, in explanation; "we will address a letter to the states of +Wuertemberg, and warn them against the insufferable government of their +Duke, exhorting them at the same time to cast off their allegiance to +him, and join the League in the laudable undertaking of crushing his +tyrannous conduct." + +"How!" cried Albert, with horror, whose generous mind was as yet +unacquainted with the intrigues of politics: "I call that playing the +traitor. Would you force the Duke out of his country by such underhand, +unworthy means, and corrupt his confiding subjects to induce them to +become his bitterest enemies?" + +"I believe you have been thinking, all along, that we wish nothing more +than that he should restore Reutlingen again to its former rank of a +town of the empire? But how then is Hutten, with his forty-two +associates, to be remunerated? In what way is Sickingen to satisfy the +demands of his thousand cavalry and twelve thousand infantry, if he +does not get a good slice of the country to pay them? And the Duke of +Bavaria, do you suppose he will not require a share of it also? And we +Ulmers, our frontier borders on Wuertemberg----" + +"But the Princes of Germany," interrupted Albert, impatiently, "do you +suppose they will quietly look on and see you parcel out his rightful +possession among strangers? The Emperor, surely, will not suffer you to +hunt a Duke of the empire out of his country!" + +Herr Dieterick had a ready answer to this question also. "There is no +doubt," said he, "that Charles succeeds his father the Emperor: we +shall then offer to place the country under his protection, and, should +Austria throw her mantle over it, who can resist her power? But what +makes you look so downcast? if you thirst for war, you will readily +find means to gratify your wish. The nobility still hold to the Duke, +and many a one will have his head broken before his castle walls. But +we shall lose our dinner if we go on talking thus, come soon, and we'll +see what old Sabina has provided for us." Upon which the secretary left +the room of his guest with a proud step, as if he himself were already +installed in the office of protector of Wuertemberg. + +Albert did not send the most friendly look after his host as he +withdrew. He replaced his helmet again in the corner, which he had but +an hour ago taken such pleasure in polishing; with sorrow he looked at +his sword, that faithful piece of steel, which his father had proved in +many a hard conflict, and which he had sent to his orphan son from the +field of battle, as his sole legacy. "Fight honourably," was the device +engraved on its blade, and he asked himself, could he now draw it in a +cause, which bore injustice on its front? Instead of the contest being +decided by the military talents of experienced men, and the bravery of +individuals, as he had supposed, he now learned that secret intrigue, +designated by Herr Dieterick "politics," was to settle the question! +Instead of the exhilirating clash of arms, and the prospect of glory, +which had induced him to take part in the struggle, he perceived that +he was to promote the covetous plans of designing men! Would his honour +permit him to assist these low-minded Philistines of townsfolk, in +expelling an ancient princely house from its rights, which his +ancestors had served with willing arm? No, the thought was intolerable; +and to be tutored by this Kraft was still more repugnant to his +feelings. + +He could not however long entertain any ill-will against his +kind-hearted host, when he considered that this plan was not concocted +by his own brain, and that men, like this political scribe, when they +get hold of a state secret, or some great political scheme, foster it +as their own, and as such try to instil it into the minds of their +adopted children, as if the wisdom of Minerva had sprung out of their +own thick heads. + +He therefore met his friend in good humour, when dinner was announced. +The conversation between them was dull and common-place. The scribe's +thoughts appeared to be occupied with some important project; and +Albert taking a review in his mind of the whole state of affairs as +they stood, consoled himself with the idea that, as the father of +Bertha had sided with the League as he supposed, and such men as +Fronsberg had proffered their services in the same cause, there might +be less reason to doubt the justice of it than he imagined. + + Youth's ever ready with its word; it seizes + The first that comes to hand, as 'twould a knife: + And thus ye cry or "shame," or "nobly done," + On every thing--all's either good or bad. + +These words of the poet well describe the feelings of Albert at this +moment, and the sudden change in his sentiments was also to be +attributed to his inexperienced mind in worldly affairs, acting +as he did alone, without the aid and advice of any tried friend. +Anticipating, therefore, the happy moment of meeting his love at the +ball in the evenings where he would be able to speak with her, and from +her lips have his doubts cleared up respecting her father's intentions, +the gloom with which his mind had been overcast in his conversation +with his friend the secretary gave away to the pleasing prospect of +seeing her again. + +FOOTNOTE TO CHAPTER V.: + +[Footnote 1: Beer-soup was a mixture of beer, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, +and a little milk, with crums of bread, in quantity according to the +taste.] + + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + "And in the merry dance, she whispers, to impart, + In soft accents, the sorrows of her heart." + L. UHLAND. + +If we had ransacked all the pawnbrokers' shops, and attended the +auction of an antiquary's goods, to find "a pocket-book giving a +description of the social pleasures, with the fashionable figure +dances, of the year 1519," we could not have been more fortunate than +in the fund of information which chance has thrown in our way upon that +subject. + +Having arrived at that part of the present history which is to treat of +a ball so far back as 1519, a difficulty arose of ascertaining what +were the figures, and how they were danced in those days. + +We might, indeed, have simply said, "they danced;" but how easily might +some of our fair readers have made an anachronism, and imagined an old +veteran such as George von Fronsberg, booted and spurred, standing up +in a cotillon. In this embarrassment a very rare book fell in our way, +entitled, "The beginning, origin, and customs of tournaments in the +holy Roman Empire. Frankfort, 1564." We found in these precious pages, +among other well executed wood-cuts, the representation of a ball in +the time of the Emperor Maximilian, which was about a year before the +date of this history. + +We may, therefore, take it for granted, that the ball in the town-hall +of Ulm differed in nothing from the explanations afforded by the +above-mentioned drawing, and consequently we shall be able to give a +better idea of the amusements of those days, by giving a description of +the picture, than by our own delineation. + +The foreground is occupied by the spectators; and the musicians, +composed of fifers, drummers, and trumpeters, placed in a gallery, +"sound a blast," according to the expression in the tournament book. On +either side, towards the further end of the room, are arranged those +who intend to join in the dance, dressed in rich heavy stuffs. In our +days, we see only two standing colours on such occasions, black and +white, in which the ladies and gentlemen are divided as night and day. +Not so in former times. An extraordinary brilliancy of colours shoot +their rays from the picture. The most beautiful red, from fiery scarlet +to the deepest purple, accompanied by rich deep blue which surprises us +in the paintings of the old masters, form the cheerful colours of their +picturesque drapery and dresses. The centre of the apartment is +occupied by the actual performers. The dance resembles very much the +Polonaise of the present day, in which the gentleman, with his partner, +walk around the room in procession. Four trumpeters, bearing heraldic +flags suspended to their instruments, open the procession, followed by +the first couple. The rank alone of the gentleman entitles him, with +his lady, to the honour of leading; and at each change of the dance, +the next in precedence takes his place. Then come two torch-bearers, +followed by the rest of the dancers in pairs. The ladies walked with +modest and reserved demeanour; and the men placed their feet in a +singular position, as if they were on the point of making a high leap. +Some appear also to stamp with their high heels in time to the music; a +custom even now seen in the Swabian village festivals. + +Such was the ball in Ulm. The first blast of the trumpets had sounded +before Albert von Sturmfeder entered the room. His eye flew through the +ranks of the dancers, and soon fell upon his beloved. She was led by a +young Franconian knight of his acquaintance; but she did not appear to +heed the animated conversation which he addressed to her. Her eyes +sought the ground, her look expressed seriousness, bordering on sorrow; +very different from the rest of the female part of the company, who, +floating in all the pleasures of the ball, gave one ear to the music, +the other to their partner; accompanied by inquisitive looks, now to +their acquaintances for the purpose of reading approbation in their +choice of their cavalier, now towards him, to ascertain if his +attention was exclusively taken up with them. + +The cornets and trumpets having sounded a finale in lengthened tones, +put an end to the first dance. Dieterick von Kraft having remarked the +arrival of his guest, came to lead him to his cousins, according to his +promise. He whispered to him, that, having himself already engaged +Marie for the next dance, he had asked Bertha's hand for him. + +Both the girls had been prepared for the appearance of the interesting +stranger; nevertheless, upon the recollection of the remark she had +made upon him when he passed under her window, Marie's lively features +were covered with a deep blush when he was introduced to them. She was +unable to account to herself for the embarrassment his presence now +produced on her, having only seen him once in her life, and never heard +of him before. Whether it was that she had selected him as the most +striking cavalier in the procession, or whether, among the young +citizens of Ulm, she thought none were to be compared with him in +appearance; such was the effect of this sudden attack on her feelings, +one to which she had hitherto been a stranger, that she had no little +difficulty in endeavouring to conceal her confusion from his +observation. + +Though Bertha was timid of betraying the secret of her heart before her +cousin, she had no such feeling to struggle with in regard to Albert. +Their mutual attachment was of long standing and deep-rooted. The first +time she had seen him since their separation in Tuebingen was in the +ranks of the confederates, to whom her father was inveterately opposed. +From that moment her peace of mind had vanished. Her soul was troubled +with cruel doubts and misgivings; and all her hopes appeared for ever +blasted. She nevertheless had sufficient command over herself, and for +a moment the weight which oppressed her mind gave way to joy now that +he stood before her; and she returned his salutation with the same +endearing smile which she was wont to do in the days of their unclouded +happiness. And had her cousin not been taken up in concealing her own +state of embarrassment, she could not have failed to discover, in the +tender glance of Bertha's eye, something which expressed more than +common courtesy. + +"I bring you Albert von Sturmfeder, my worthy guest," began the scribe +to Marie, "who begs to have the pleasure of dancing with you." + +"Were I not already engaged to my cousin Kraft for the next," said +Marie to the young knight, with recovered self-possession, "I would, +with pleasure; but Bertha is disengaged." + +"If you are not engaged, may I have that pleasure?" said he, turning to +Bertha. + +"I am engaged to you," she answered. Then it was that Albert heard +again, after so long an absence, that voice which had often called him +by the most endearing name; and he dwelt on those eyes which still +looked on him with undiminished fidelity. + +The trumpets again sounded throughout the room. The second in command +of the army of the League, Waldburg Truchses, having the precedence in +the coming dance, came forth with his lady: the torch-bearers followed; +the couples arranged themselves, and Albert also, taking Bertha's hand, +placed himself in the ranks. Her eyes now no longer sought the ground, +but were directed solely to him. But in the expression of her +countenance, Albert could plainly perceive, there was something hanging +on her mind indicative of mental suffering. Joy at meeting him again, +which had but a moment before brightened up her features, was now +succeeded by an expression of dejection, which he could in no wise +account for. So much was he struck by the sudden change in her manner, +that he was on the point of upbraiding her, and taxing her unjustly +with an alteration of love towards him. Grieved at the pain he appeared +to suffer, she gently begged him to wait a fitting moment, and then she +would explain every thing. She looked cautiously behind her at +Dieterick and Marie, who were the next couple to them, to see if they +were near enough to overhear her conversation. Finding they were at +some distance, she said, "Ah! Albert, what unlucky star has brought you +into this army?" + +"You were that star, Bertha," he replied: "I thought your father would +be on the side of the League, and I am glad not to find myself +mistaken. Can you blame me for having thrown aside the learned books, +and taken to the profession of arms? No other inheritance has fallen to +my lot than the sword of my father. I will put it to usury; and prove +to your father, that he who loves his daughter is not unworthy of her." + +"Oh, God! I trust you have not yet sworn allegiance to the League?" she +exclaimed, interrupting him. + +"Do not frighten yourself so, dearest; I have not yet fully bound +myself to it, but I intend to do so in a day or two. Will you not allow +your Albert to gain some little fame! What is it that makes you so +anxious about me? Your father is old, and still he goes with us." + +"Ah! my father, my father!" Bertha said, in a desponding tone, "he is +indeed--but stop, Albert, stop, Marie notices us. But I must speak with +you to-morrow--I must, should it cost me my happiness. Oh if I but knew +how to manage it." + +"But what is it that agitates you in this way, beloved?" asked Albert, +to whom it was inexplicable how Bertha should only think of the danger +that awaited him, instead of being overjoyed at this meeting. "The +danger is not so great as you imagine," he whispered to her: "think +only of the happiness of being together again, that I can press your +hand, and that we can see each other face to face. Enjoy the present +moment, and be cheerful." + +"Cheerful? Oh, those times are gone by, Albert. Hear me, and be +firm;--my father is opposed to the League." She said this in a low +subdued tone. + +"Good Heavens! what do you say?" cried the young man; and leant towards +Bertha, as if he had not distinctly heard the ill-foreboding words. +"Oh! tell me; is not your father at present in Ulm?" + +The poor girl had thought herself strong enough to withstand the shock +she felt at this moment, but it was too powerful; it deprived her of +utterance, and she could scarcely contain her tears. She answered only +by a slight pressure of her hand; and with downcast eyes went to seek +Kraft, led by Albert, in order to gain a little time to combat the +grief she experienced. The strong mind of this young maiden at last +triumphed over the weakness of her nature; and she whispered to her +lover, in a composed tone, "My father is Duke Ulerich's warmest friend; +and so soon as war is declared, he will take me back to Lichtenstein." + +The noise of the drums at this instant was deafening; the trumpets +clanged in their fullest tones as they saluted Truchses, who how passed +by the musicians; and, according to the custom of those days, threw +them some pieces of silver, which caused the trumpets to redouble their +deafening sounds. + +The whispered conversation of our two lovers was overpowered by the +confounding noise of the instruments; but their eyes had so much the +more to say to each other in this apparent shipwreck of their hopes, so +that they did not notice the observations, which were passed on them by +the surrounding spectators, as being the handsomest couple in the room. +Marie's ear was not shut to the passing remarks of the crowd. She was +too kind-hearted to be envious of her cousin's praise, and consoled +herself with the idea, that, were she in her place, beside the handsome +young man, the couple would not be less attractive. But it was the +animated conversation which Bertha kept up with her partner, that +particularly attracted her attention. Her reserved cousin, who seldom +or ever talked long with any man, now appeared to speak with even more +earnestness than he did. The music and noise, however, hindered Marie +from overhearing the subject of their conversation. This excited +her curiosity to such a degree (a feeling--perhaps, not without +justice--attributed specially to young ladies), that she drew her own +partner nearer to them, for the purpose of listening; but whether it +was by accident or design, that the conversation either dropped or was +kept up in a subdued tone, the nearer she approached, she could not +catch a word of it. + +Marie's interest in the young man increased with these obstacles to her +curiosity. Her good cousin Kraft had never appeared so great a bore to +her as now, for all the pretty sayings with which he endeavoured to fix +her attention, were only so many hindrances to her observing the others +more closely. She was therefore glad when the dance was over. She hoped +the next would be more agreeable, with the young knight for her +partner. + +Albert came and engaged her, when she sprang with joy to the hand which +he offered; but she deceived herself in finding him the agreeable +partner she had anticipated. Indifferent, reserved, sunk in deep +thought, giving short answers to her questions, it was too clear he was +not the same person who had but a moment before conversed in so +animated a manner with her cousin. + +"Was this the courteous knight," thought Marie, "who had saluted them +in so polite a manner, without ever having seen them before? Was it the +same cheerful and merry person whom cousin Kraft had introduced? the +same who had spoken with Bertha so earnestly? or could she--yes, it was +too evident that Bertha had pleased him better than herself--perhaps, +because she was the first to dance with him." + +Marie had been little accustomed to see her reserved cousin preferred +before her, which this apparent victory seemed to indicate. Her vanity +was piqued, she felt herself estranged from Bertha, and conceived +herself bound to exert her talents and winning arts to re-establish +herself in her lost rights. She therefore, in her usual merry mood, +carried on the conversation about the coming war, which she contrived +to lengthen out till the end of the dance. "Well," said she, "and how +many campaigns have you gone through, Albert von Sturmfeder?" + +"This will be my first," he answered, abruptly, for he was annoyed that +she kept up the conversation, as he wished so much to speak to Bertha +again. + +"Your first!" said Marie, in astonishment. "You surely want to deceive +me, for I perceive a large scar on your forehead." + +"I got that at the university," he replied. + +"How? are you a scholar?" asked Marie, her curiosity still more +excited. "Well, then, I suppose you have visited distant countries, +Padua or Bologna, or perhaps even the heretics in Wittenberg?" + +"Not so far as you think," said he, as he turned to Bertha: "I have +never been further than Tuebingen." + +"In Tuebingen?" cried Marie, surprised. This single word, like +lightning, unravelled in a moment every thing in her mind which before +had been obscure. A glance at Bertha, who stood before her with +downcast eyes, her cheeks suffused with the blush of confusion, +convinced her that, on that word, hung the key to a long list of +inferences which had occupied her thoughts. It was now quite clear why +the courteous knight saluted them; the cause of Bertha's tears could be +no other, than that of finding Albert had joined the opposite party; +the earnest conversation between them, and Sturmfeder's reserve to +herself, were satisfactorily explained to her mind. There was no +question of their having long known each other. + +Indignation was the first feeling that ruffled Marie's breast. She +blushed for herself, when she felt she had endeavoured to attract the +attention of a young man whose heart was fully occupied by another +object. Ill humour, on account of Bertha's secrecy, clouded her +features. She sought excuse for her own conduct, and found it only in +the duplicity of her cousin. If she had but acknowledged, she said to +herself, the feeling which existed between her and the young knight, +she never would have shown the interest she took in him; he would have +been perfectly indifferent to her; she never would have experienced +this painful confusion. + +Marie did not deign to give the unhappy young man another look during +the evening, and he was too much occupied with the painful sensations +of his own mind, to be aware of her ill will towards him. He was also +so unfortunate as to be scarcely able to say another word alone and +unobserved to Bertha. The ball ended, and left him in doubt as to what +her future fate, or the intentions of her father were likely to be. She +seized, however, a favourable moment to whisper to him on the +staircase, when she was going home, begging him to remain in the town +on the morrow, in the hope of finding an opportunity to speak with him. + +The two girls went home, both ill at ease with each other. Marie gave +short, snappish answers to Bertha's questions, who, whether it was that +she suspected what was passing in her cousin's mind, or whether she was +overwhelmed by grief, became more melancholy and reserved than ever. + +But when they entered their room, silent and cold towards each other, +then it was that they both felt how painful was the interruption of +their hitherto affectionate intercourse. Up to this eventful evening, +they had always assisted each other in all those little services, which +unite young girls in friendship. How different was it now? Marie had +taken the silver pin out of her rich light hair, which fell in long +ringlets over her beautiful neck. She attempted to put it up under her +cap, but unaccustomed to arrange it without Bertha's help, and too +proud to let her enemy, as she now called her cousin in her mind, +notice her embarrassment, she threw it away in a corner, and seized a +handkerchief to tie it up. + +Bertha, unconscious of having offended her cousin, could not fail +noticing her change of affection towards her, and felt acutely the +apparent sting of her ruffled temper. She quietly picked up the cap, +and came to render her cousin her usual assistance. + +"Away with you, you false one!" said the angry Marie, as she pushed +away the helping hand. + +"Dearest Marie, have I deserved this of you?" said Bertha, gently, and +with tenderness. "Oh, if you but knew how unhappy I am, you would not +be so harsh with me." + +"Unhappy, indeed!" loudly laughed the other, "unhappy! because the +courteous knight only danced with you once, I suppose." + +"You are very hard, Marie," replied Bertha; "you are angry with me, and +will not even tell me the cause of your displeasure." + +"Really! so you do not know how you have deceived me? but you cannot +keep your duplicity a secret any longer, which has subjected me to +scorn and confusion. I never could have thought you would have acted so +ungenerously, so falsely by me!" + +The wounded feeling of being out-done by her cousin, and as she +thought, despised by Sturmfeder, was again awakened in Marie's mind; +her tears flowed, she laid her heated forehead in her hand, and her +rich locks fell over and hid her face. + +Tears are the symptoms of gentle suffering, they say: Bertha had +experienced it, and continued her conversation with confidence. "Marie! +you have accused me of keeping a secret from you. I see you have +discovered that, which I never could have divulged. Put yourself in my +situation--ah! you yourself, cheerful and frank as you are, would never +have confided to me your inmost secret. But I will conceal it no +longer--you have guessed what my lips shunned to express. I love him! +Yes, and my love is returned. This mutual feeling dates much further +back than yesterday. Will you hear me? and I will tell you all." + +Marie's tears still flowed on. She made no answer to Bertha's last +question, who now related to her the way in which they became +acquainted with each other in the house of her good aunt in Tuebingen; +how she liked him, long before he acknowledged his love of her; and +narrated many endearing recollections of the past--the happy moments +they had spent together, their oath of fidelity at their separation. +"And now," she continued, with a painful smile, "he has been induced to +join the League in this unhappy war, because we were in Ulm, thinking, +very naturally, that my father was embarked in the same cause. He hopes +to render himself worthy of me by the aid of his sword; for he is poor, +very poor. Oh! Marie, you know my father--how good he is, but also how +stern, when any thing runs counter to his opinion. Would he give his +daughter to a man who has drawn his sword against Wuertemberg? Certainly +not. This is the cause of all the trouble and grief I suffer. Often +have I wished to unburden my heart to you, but an uncontrollable +feeling closed my lips. But now that you know the whole truth, can you +still be angry with me? shall I lose my friend also, as well as my +beloved?" + +Poor Bertha could contain her tears no longer, and wept aloud. Marie, +overpowered by the grief of her friend, embraced her cousin with the +warm affection of a tender heart sympathising in her painful situation, +and all feeling of enmity was in a moment extinguished in her breast. + +"In a few days," said Bertha, after a short silence, "my father will +quit Ulm, and I must accompany him. But I must see Albert again, if it +were only for a quarter of an hour. Marie, your ingenuity can easily +find us an opportunity; only for a very short quarter of an hour!" + +"But you do not wish to make him desert the good cause?" asked Marie. + +"I know not what you call the good cause," replied Bertha. "The Duke's +cause is, perhaps, not less good than yours. You talk thus because you +belong to the League. I am a Wuertemberger, and my father is faithful to +his Duke. But shall we girls decide upon the merits of the war? rather +let us think of the means, whereby I may see him again." + +Marie had listened with so much interest to the history of her cousin, +that she quite forgot having ever entertained any ill-will towards her. +Besides which, being naturally fond of any thing involved in mystery, +she was glad of an opportunity, such as the present, to exercise her +wits. She felt all the importance and honour of being a confidant, and +consequently determined to spare no pains in serving the lovers in +their critical position. + +After a few moments' thought, she said, "I have it; we'll invite him at +once into our garden." + +"In the garden!" asked Bertha, fearful and incredulous; "and by whom?" + +"His host, good cousin Dieterich himself shall bring him," answered +Marie. "That's a good thought! and he shall not know anything of the +plot; leave that alone to me." + +Though Bertha was strong and determined in matters of importance, she +trembled for the result of this rash step. But her bold and cheerful +little cousin knew how to combat her scruples and fears. With renewed +hope, then, in the success of their scheme for the morrow, and their +hearts being restored again to their former mutual confidence, the +girls embraced each other with tender affection, and retired to rest. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + As like a spirit of the air + She hangs upon his neck, + In falt'ring tones the lovely fair + At last essays to speak; + "And wilt thou, then, thy true love leave + For ever?"--thus the fair + Began, when, overcome by grief, + Her words are lost in air. + SCHUBART. + +Albert was sitting in his room, in the forenoon of the day after the +ball, thoughtful and dejected. He had paid a visit to his friend +Breitenstein, from whom he heard little that was consoling to his +hopes. A council of war had been assembled early in the morning, and +war was irrevocably decided upon. Twelve pages were despatched through +the Goecklinger gate to convey the declarations of defiance of the Duke +of Bavaria, the nobility, and assembled states, to the Wuertembergers at +Blaubeuren. This news was speedily spread from mouth to mouth through +the streets, and joy at the prospect of marching at last into the +field, was visibly depicted on every countenance. To one alone was the +announcement a terrible blow. Grief drove him from the circle of the +joyous multitude, who adjourned to the wine shops, to celebrate, by +loud carousal, the birthday of the war, and to cast lots for the booty +of anticipated victory. Ah! his lot was already cast! A bloody field of +battle was spread between him and his beloved; she was lost to him for +a length of time, perhaps for ever. + +Hurried steps ascending the staircase, roused him out of his melancholy +mood. His friend the scribe put his head in at the door, crying out, +"Good luck, my boy! the dance is about to commence in good earnest. +Have you heard the news? war is announced, and our messengers have been +despatched an hour ago, with the declaration to the enemy." + +"I know that already," said his gloomy guest. + +"Well, and does not your heart jump more freely? Have you also +heard--no, you could not," continued Dieterich, as he approached him in +confidence--"the Swiss have withdrawn their aid from the Duke." + +"How? Have they deserted him?" replied Albert. "Well, then, I suppose +that will put an end to the war." + +"I would not be quite certain of that," said the scribe, doubtfully. +"The Duke of Wuertemberg is young and bold, and has many knights and +followers at his command. He will not, indeed, run the risk of fighting +a battle in the field, but many fortified castles and cities remain +faithful to his cause. Hoellenstein, defended by Stephen von Lichow, +Goeppingen, which Philip von Rechberg will not give up at the first +shot, Schorndorf, Rothenberg, Arsperg, but, above all, Tuebingen, which +he has strongly fortified, still hold faithful to him. Many a one will +bite the grass before your steed drinks of the water of the Neckar." + +"Well, well!" he continued, perceiving this news did not cheer up his +silent guest, "if this warlike message does not please you, you will, +perhaps, lend a willing ear to a more peaceful commission. Tell me, +have you not a cousin somewhere or other?" + +"A cousin, yes; but why do you ask?" + +"Only think! now I understand the confused conversation I had with +Marie a little while ago. As I came out of the town hall, she winked to +me from her window to come to her, when she desired me to bring my +guest this afternoon into her garden on the Danube. Bertha, who knows +your cousin very well, has something of importance to send to her, and +hopes you will be so kind as to be the bearer of it. Such secrets and +commissions generally consist in mere trifles. I would bet, it is +nothing but a little model of a weaver's loom, or a pattern of fine +wool, or some mysterious secret in the art of cooking; perhaps a few +seeds of some rare flower, for Bertha is a great florist. However, if +these girls pleased you yesterday, you will have no objection to +accompany me to-day." + +In the midst of his painful thoughts, on the hour of separation from +his love, Albert could scarce refrain from laughing at the cunning +ingenuity of the girls; he proffered his hand heartily to the welcome +messenger, and prepared to follow his friend. + +The garden was situated on the banks of the Danube, about two thousand +paces below the bridge. It was not large, and bore the appearance of +being kept with care and attention. The fruit trees were as yet not +clothed with foliage, neither were the curiously formed flower beds +ornamented with flowers; a long walk of yew trees skirting the bank of +the river, and terminating in a large arbour, formed a pleasing picture +by their bright green colour, and gave sufficient protection to a white +neck and arm, against the piercing rays of a burning sun. The two +girls, awaiting the arrival of the young men, were seated on a +commodious stone bench in the arbour, and had an extended view, up and +down the Danube, through apertures made in the side of it. + +Bertha sat there in sorrowful thought, her arm resting on one of the +apertures, and her head, weary from grief and weeping, supported on her +hand. Her dark glossy hair threw out in strong relief her beautiful +white complexion, which sorrow had rendered a deadly pale colour; +sleepless nights had robbed her brilliant blue eye of its usual +animation, and given to it a languishing--perhaps so much the more +interesting--look of melancholy. Beside her sat the rosy Marie, fresh +and plump, a perfect specimen of a merry heart. Her golden tresses, +animated round face, bright hazel eyes, light and lively movements, +were peculiarly striking when compared with the dark locks, oval +careworn countenance, and thoughtful look of her dejected cousin. + +Marie appeared to have summoned up her most agreeable mood, expressly +for the purpose of consoling her cousin, or at least to dissipate +her pain. She prattled about indifferent things--she laughed at +and mimicked the gestures and peculiarities of many of their +acquaintances--she tried a thousand little arts, with which nature had +endowed her--but with little success; for only now and then a painful +smile spread over Bertha's beautiful features. + +As a last resource, she took to her lute, which stood in the corner. +Bertha was an accomplished performer on this instrument, and Marie +would not have been easily persuaded to play before so expert a +mistress on any other occasion; but now, she hoped to be able to elicit +a smile, at least, if it were only on account of her bad performance. + + "What is Love, I'm ask'd to tell: + Fain we would his nature know; + You who've studied it so well, + Why he pains us, prithee show. + Joy it brings, if love be there; + If pain, of love 't is not the spell;-- + Oh, then, I know the name that it should bear." + +"Where did you get that old Swabian song?" asked Bertha, who had lent a +willing ear to the music and words. + +"It is pretty, is it not? but the remainder is still more so; would you +like to hear it?" said Marie. "A music master, Hans Sacks, taught +it me in Nuernberg. It is not his own composition, but Walther's, the +bird-feeder, who lived and loved a good three hundred years ago. But +listen: + + "How I rightly may divine + Love's enigma, prithee say. + 'Tis the charm of pow'r to join + Two hearts, where each must own its sway; + One heart avails not, each must share + Its influence: dear mistress mine, + Say, wilt thou share with me, thou lovely May? + +"Well, though you have shared your love equally with the poor young +man," said the playful Marie, "I pity you, from my heart, the painful +burden of its weight. If such be its chains, cousin Kraft, who would +willingly give me a portion of his, must wait awhile, and groan under +the load of carrying the whole charge of it on his own shoulders. But I +see you are again absorbed in thought," she added, "so I must sing you +another of Walther's songs: + + "I know not what has chanced, I ween + My sight was never on this wise. + Since in my heart she first was seen, + I see her still without my eyes. + What miracle is this? What pow'r + Enables me, without the aid of sight, + To see her every day and every hour? + + "Would you then learn the organs and the art, + By which I see to earth's extremest zone? + They are the thoughts I nourish in my heart; + They penetrate through walls of brick and stone; + And, should these watchers fail, her presence still + Is evermore, as 't were, before my eyes, + Seen by my heart, my spirit, and my will." + +Bertha praised the song of Walther the birdfeeder, as being consolatory +in separation. Marie agreed with her. "I have one more verse," she +added, smiling: + + "Though she wander'd in Swabia, far and wide, + Through castles and walls her course he espied. + O'er the Alb unto Lichtenstein had she gone, + His eyes would have follow'd through rock and stone." + +Marie was going on with her singing, when the garden door opened. +Footsteps were heard in the walk, and the girls rose to receive their +expected visitants. + +"Albert von Sturmfeder," began Marie, after the usual salutations were +over, "you will pardon me for having ventured to invite you into my +father's garden; but, as my cousin, Bertha wishes to give you some +commissions, for her friend, I have taken the liberty." She then turned +to Dieterich von Kraft, and said, "We will not interrupt their +conversation; so, come and talk over the ball of last evening." Upon +which she took the hand of her cousin, and led him away down the +yew-tree walk. + +Albert seated himself beside Bertha, who laid her head on his breast, +and wept bitterly. His most soothing words were unable to calm her +grief. "Bertha," he said, "you were always so stout-hearted; how can +you thus give up all hope of a happier destiny?" + +"Hope?" she replied, sorrowfully: "to our hope, to our happiness, there +is an eternal end." + +"But hearken, dearest," replied Albert, who, to cheer up her drooping +spirit, endeavoured to inspire her with courage; "let not this slight +interruption to our hopes throw its chilling influence over the purity +of our love, as if it were to extinguish altogether its bright flame. +All will be well yet. Rather let us put our trust in God, and wait his +almighty will; for I never can believe that He who knows the secret of +our hearts, and has joined them together by the indissoluble tie of +faithful attachment, will not, in his own way, make all things to work +for our good." These consoling words produced a smile upon her +countenance; but it pourtrayed the character of despondency rather than +of hope. + +She replied, after a short silence, "Listen to me with attention, +Albert. I must acquaint you with a profound secret, upon which hangs my +father's life. He is as bitter an enemy to the League, as he is the +firm friend of the Duke. He is not come here solely for the purpose of +fetching his daughter home; no, he is using his utmost endeavour to +find out the plans of the enemy, and with money and address to spread +distrust and confusion among them. Do you suppose, then, that such a +determined adversary to the League, would ever consent to give his +daughter to a man who seeks to raise himself by our destruction? to one +who has attached himself to a party, whose object is not justice, but +plunder?" + +"Your zeal, Bertha, for the Duke's cause, carries you too far," the +young man interrupted her; "you ought to know that many an honourable +man serves in our army." + +"And even if this were the case," she replied, with animation, "still +they are deceived and led away, as you yourself also are." + +"How are you so certain of that?" answered Albert, who, though he +suspected she was somewhat right, blushed to find the party he had +espoused should be so vilified by his beloved: "might not your father +be also equally blinded and deceived? How can he serve with such zeal +the cause of that proud ambitious Duke, who murders his nobility, +treads his citizens in the dust, squanders the industry of the land in +riotous living, and allows his peasantry to starve with hunger?" + +"Yes, his enemies represent him in this light," she replied; "this army +speaks of him in the same terms; but ask those below, on the banks of +the Neckar, if they do not love their hereditary Prince, though his +hand may lay heavy on them at times? Ask those faithful men who have +rallied around him, whether they are not willing and ready, to shed +their blood for the grand-child of Eberhard, rather than allow that +proud Duke of Bavaria, that rapacious nobility, those needy townsfolk +to tread their land?" + +Albert was thoughtfully silent for a time. "But," he asked, "how can +his warmest supporters exculpate him from the murder of Hutten?" + +"You are very ready to talk of your honour," Bertha answered, "and will +not suffer the Duke to defend his own. Hutten did not fall by +treachery, as his partisans have given out to the world, but in +honourable fight, in which the Duke's life was equally exposed. I do +not wish to excuse him for all his actions, but it is but just to +remember, that a young man, like him, surrounded by evil advisers, has +not the power always to act wisely. But he is really good, and if you +knew how mild and humane he can be!" + +Albert was piqued that Bertha should speak in such glowing terms of the +Duke's virtues, and jealousy for a moment took possession of his soul +and ruffled his temper. He replied with a sarcastic and malignant +smile, "A little more, and you would call him the handsome Duke; who, +for aught I know, if he were aware what an advocate he had in you, +might think it worth his trouble to ingratiate himself in your heart, +and supplant poor Albert." + +"I really did not think you capable of such petty jealousy," Bertha +answered, and turned away, with a tear of indignation starting into her +eye, from a feeling of wounded dignity. "Cannot you believe it possible +for the heart of a young girl to beat warm in the cause of her +country?" + +"Do not be angry with me," Albert implored, and felt ashamed at the +injustice of his remark; "really, I meant it in joke." + +"Can you indulge in a joke at this moment, when our life's happiness is +at stake! My father leaves Ulm to-morrow, war being declared. It will +be long, perhaps very long, before we see each other again--and can you +joke now? Ah! could you have witnessed the many nights I have prayed +God, with burning tears, to incline your heart to our side, to defend +us from the misery and pain of being separated for ever, you certainly +would not have trifled so cruelly with my feelings." + +"He has not inclined it to happiness," said Albert, looking about him, +agitated. + +"And is it still impossible," said Bertha, as she took his hand, with +the most expressive tenderness, "is it still impossible? Come along +with us, Albert; think how happy my father would be to present a young +warrior to his Duke? He has often said that one gallant sword is of +great price in such times; you will be highly esteemed by him, you will +fight by his side, my heart will not then be torn or divided between +the conflicting parties, my prayers for prosperity and victory, will +not wander in doubtful agitation between the two armies." + +"Stop, for heaven's sake, stop!" cried the young man, and covered his +eyes with his hands; for the conquest of conviction beamed from her +looks, the power of truth was encamped on her sweet lips. "Do you wish +to persuade me to become a deserter? I entered but yesterday with the +army, war is this day declared, and shall I ride over to the Duke +to-morrow? Is my honour so indifferent to you?" + +"Honour!" Bertha said, "is such honour dearer to you than your love? +How different were his words, when Albert swore eternal fidelity! Well, +then, go and be happier with them than with me! But when the Duke of +Bavaria creates you a knight on the field of battle, for carrying +desolation through our fields, when he decorates the neck of Albert von +Sturmfeder with the chain of honour, for having been the foremost in +crushing Wuertemberg's citizens, may the joy of your thoughts not be +troubled then, by having broken the heart of one so true to you--of one +who loved you so tenderly!" + +"Dearest," answered Albert, whose breast was torn by conflicting +feelings, "grief does not permit you, to perceive how unjust you are. +But be it so; you conceive that I prefer the glory, which is leading me +onwards, to making a sacrifice of it to love. But hear me. I dare not +come over to your side. I will give in my resignation to the League. +Let those fight and conquer who will; my dream of glory is thus at an +end." + +Bertha sent a look of gratitude to heaven for this avowal, and rewarded +the words of the young man by a sweet acknowledgment. "Oh! believe me," +she said, "I know how much this sacrifice must cost you. But do not let +me see you look so sad, when you cast your eyes at your sword. The sun +will still shine upon our happiness one of these days. I can now bid +you farewell with consolation in my heart, for, whichever way the war +may end, you can appear unconstrained before my father, who will +rejoice to hear of your having made the heavy sacrifice for my sake." + +Marie now gave her friends the signal that she was unable to retain the +clerk of the council any longer, which roused them from their absorbing +conversation. Bertha quickly composed herself, and with Albert quitted +the arbour. + +"Cousin Kraft wishes to depart," said Marie, "and requires his friend +to accompany him." + +"I must indeed go with you, if I wish to find my way home," replied the +young man, who was too well acquainted with the received customs of his +day, not to be aware that he, a stranger, could not remain with the +young ladies, without their cousin being of the party, precious as the +last moments, before a long separation from his love, might be to him. + +They proceeded down the garden, the silence only broken by Dieterick, +who expressed his sorrow, in very courteous terms, at the prospect of +his cousin leaving Ulm so soon as the morrow. But Marie, thinking she +discovered something in the look of Albert's eye, which expressed a +wish not yet satisfied, and to the accomplishment of which witnesses +might be unwelcome, drew cousin Kraft on one side, and questioned him +so closely upon a plant, whose leaves were just bursting, that he had +not time to observe what was going on behind his back. + +Albert took immediate advantage of the happy moment, and pressed Bertha +once more to his heart. The noise occasioned by her heavy silken dress, +and the clattering of his sword, drew the scribe's attention from his +botanical observations; he looked around, and oh, wonder! he saw his +very reserved cousin in the arms of his guest. + +"That was a salute for the dear cousin in Franconia, I suppose?" he +remarked, after he had recovered from his surprise. + +"No, Mr. Secretary," answered Albert, with firmness, "it was a salute +for me alone, and from her whom I hope one day to call my own. Have you +anything to say against it, my friend?" + +"God forbid! I congratulate you with all my heart," answered Dieterick, +somewhat subdued by the determined look of the young man. "But, by the +powers, I call that an entire case of _veni_, _vidi_, _vici_. I have +been trying my luck with the beauty for more than a quarter of a year, +and I can scarcely boast of one kind look from her during the whole +time." + +"Forgive the joke, cousin, which we have played upon you," said Marie; +"be reasonable, and let me explain the matter." She then gave him to +understand, why Albert and he had been invited into the garden, and +begged him to be silent upon the subject before Bertha's father. He was +softened into compliance by the kind look of Marie, upon condition, +that she would submit also to the same ordeal her cousin had just +undergone. + +Marie gently repelled his unmannerly request, and, by way of teazing +him, asked him again at the garden door the natural history of a +violet, the first of the season. He was kind enough to give her a long +and learned dissertation upon the subject, without allowing himself to +be interrupted by the noise of a rustling silk dress or clattering +sword. A grateful look from Bertha, a friendly shake of the hand from +Marie, rewarded him at parting; and long floated the veils of the +pretty cousins over the garden hedge, as their eyes followed the path +of the young men. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + "In the still cloister's solitary grove, + A maiden walk'd, and thought upon her love; + The virgin moon, as if in mockery, + Shed forth her splendour on her misery, + And the bright lustre of the beams that fell + Lit up the tears that coursed her cheek so pale." + L. UHLAND. + +During the following days, Ulm resembled a large camp. Instead of the +peaceable peasant, the busy citizens, passing, as in ordinary times, +through the streets with sober tranquil step to their several +avocations, were now to be seen strange figures, with helmets and caps +of iron, carrying lances, cross bows and fire-arms. In lieu of +statesmen in their plain black dresses, proud knights clad in steel, +and wearing helmets adorned with waving plumes, strode about the +squares and market places, accompanied by numerous bands of followers. +Still more animated was this warlike scene without the gates of the +town. In an open space on the banks of the Danube, Sickingen was +exercising his cavalry, whilst, in a large flax-field towards the +village of Soeflingen, Fronsberg was occupied in man[oe]uvring his +infantry. + +One fine morning, about three or four days after Bertha von +Lichtenstein had left Ulm with her father, an immense concourse of +people were assembled in the above field, to witness Fronsberg's +infantry going through their evolutions. They looked upon this man, +whose military reputation had long preceded him, with not less interest +than we should, perhaps, were we to see the imperial or royal son of +Mars performing the part of a field marshal. The state of an army +depends in great measure on the character and experience of its leader; +and we are more or less interested in the accounts given in history, or +the public papers, of battles, according to the renown of the general +who fought them. Such might have been the motive, which induced the +inhabitants of Ulm on that morning to quit their narrow streets, to see +the celebrated man of the day, employed in his military occupations. +The dexterity with which he kept his men in solid masses, who before +were accustomed to fight in scattered bodies; the celerity with which +they moved on all sides at his word, or closed together, producing a +formidable array of pikes and fire-arms; his powerful voice, which even +rose above the noise of the drums, and his noble warlike figure, formed +a sight so novel and attractive, that even the citizen most fond of his +ease, was tempted to pass a long forenoon on foot, to enjoy the +spectacle. + +The general appeared, on this morning, more cheerful and friendly than +usual. The warm interest which the good people of Ulm took in him, and +which was visibly depicted on every countenance, perhaps produced this +feeling; or perhaps he felt himself happier when engaged in military +exercises, than confined to the cold narrow streets. Whatever might +have been the cause, the crowd took his gay mood in such good part, +that each individual thought himself specially noticed and saluted by +him as he passed, and the cheer, "A gallant man, a brave knight!" +followed his path. + +But there was a certain spot, to which his attention appeared to be +more particularly drawn; for, every time he rode by it, he was observed +to salute some one, either with his sword or hand, and to nod +familiarly. Those in the rear of the spectators stood upon tiptoes to +find out the object of his friendly nod, those in front looked +inquisitively at each other, wondering who the favoured one could be, +as none of the assembled citizens thought themselves worthy of the +honor. When Fronsberg passed the same spot again, and repeated his +salutation, an hundred heads were on the stretch to satisfy their +curiosity, and they discovered that it was directed to a tall slim +young man, who stood in the front rank of the spectators. His jacket of +fine cloth, slashed with silk, the high feather in his cap playing in +the morning breeze, his long sword and his scarf or sash, distinguished +him as a man of quality from among his surrounding neighbours, who were +less adorned than he was, and whose diminutive stature and broad faces +did not set them off to the best advantage beside him. + +The good townsfolk felt hurt that the young man did not appear +flattered by the high favour conferred on him in their very presence. +His attitude, also, standing there as he did, with sunken head, and his +arms folded across his breast, they thought did not betoken good +breeding, so especially noticed as he was by an old warrior. Besides +which, the salutation of the general seemed to spread confusion over +his countenance, for he returned it by a slight inclination of the head +only, and followed it with a gloomy though friendly look. + +"That gentleman must be a strange fellow," said the chief of the Ulm +weavers to his neighbour, a sturdy armourer; "I would give my Sunday +jacket for such a salute from Fronsberg; but he scarcely notices it. +Would it not be the inquiry of the whole town, what has Fronsberg done +to Master Koehler, that he did not return his salute, for they were +lately like two brothers? 'Oh! they are long acquainted,' would be the +answer, 'they knew each other from their youth up.' But it vexes me +much, that so sensible and superior a man should salute such an +apparent coxcomb." + +The armourer, a little old fellow, nodded assent to his friend's +remark. "May God punish me, but you are right, Master Koehler. There are +many other people here, whom he might have noticed. The burgomaster is +on the ground, and my godfather Hans von Besserer, who lives in the +corner house, stands among the crowd also,--both as good as that +youngster! If I were his master, I would soon teach him to bend his +head, though he looks to me, as if it would require an emperor to make +him do so. He must be a man of some consequence, for the secretary to +the council, my neighbour in town, who is otherwise an enemy to +receiving guests, has given him a lodging in his own house." + +"Kraft?" asked the weaver, astonished; "but stop, there may be +something in it. He must be a young nobleman, or, likely enough, the +son of the burgomaster of Cologne, who intends to join the army also. +Is that not old John, Kraft's servant, standing there?" + +"Yes, that's him," said the armourer, whose curiosity was excited by +the weaver's inquiry: "it is him; and I will stand confessor to him, in +spite of the provost of Elchingen." But though the space between the +two citizens and Kraft's servant was small, the smith could not accost +him, on account of the density of the crowd. The important bearing, +however, of the chief of the weavers among his brother tradesmen, for +he was rich, and respected in the town, enabled him to force his way, +and he succeeded in getting possession of John, and forthwith conducted +him to the armourer. Old John, when questioned, could not give them +much information on the subject of their inquiry; all he could say was, +that his master's guest was a Herr von Sturmfeder, and that he could +not have come from any great distance, as he had only one horse, and no +servant. "But my master will get the worst of it," he said, "for our +old Sabina is as furious as a dragon, because he has destroyed the +economy of the house by inviting a stranger, booted and spurred, +without consulting her." + +"No offence," interrupted the chief of the weavers, "but your master, +John, is a fool! I would have thrown that old witch--God forgive +me!--long ago out of the window. The gentleman has already arrived at +years of discretion, and why does he allow himself to be treated as if +he were still in swaddling clothes?" + +"You have spoken well, Master Koehler," answered the old servant, "but +you don't understand matters properly. Throw her into the street, +indeed! who would take care of the house, then, I should like to know?" + +"Who," cried the inflamed weaver, "who? he should take a wife, a +housekeeper, as other Christians and citizens do. Why does he remain a +bachelor, and run after all the young girls in the town? Did I not +catch him, not long ago, saying pretty things to our Katharine? I +should like to have thrown my looms, beams and all, at his worship's +head; but when I recollected, that his good mother had many a good +piece of linen wove by me, I was obliged to take off my cap, and say, +'An humble good evening, and has your honour any commands?' May +the----" + +"Upon my word," said John, with a displeased look, "I have always +thought that a gentleman, like my master, the secretary to the grand +council of state, might exchange a word in all honour with your +daughter, without the wicked world----" + +"Really! exchange a word! and after vesper bell in March! He will not +marry her, nevertheless; and do you suppose the reputation of my +daughter must not be kept as clean as the white cravat of your master? +I should like to know that!" Master Koehler's voice during this +conversation was raised to so high a pitch as to draw the attention of +the bystanders, and having grasped Old John by the collar, there was no +saying what might have been the consequences, had not the master smith +dragged the querulous couple away by force, and separated them. He +thereby quelled the dispute, but he could not stop the report, which +was speedily circulated through the whole town, that Old John, having +an intrigue in his old age with Master Koehler's young daughter, had +been brought to an account by her angry father, in the open field. + +The man[oe]uvres of the infantry were by this time at an end, the crowd +separated, and the young man, who had been the original cause of the +foregoing conversation, was observed to bend his way also towards the +town. His step was slow, and undecided; his face looked paler than +usual, his eyes sought the ground, or wandered occasionally, with an +expression of silent grief, towards the distant blue mountains, the +boundaries of Wuertemberg. Albert von Sturmfeder had never felt so +unhappy as in these moments. Bertha had left Ulm with her father; she +had made him swear again to be faithful to his promise, an act which he +unavailingly felt to create a lurking regret in his breast. It had cost +him no small struggle at the time, to consent to her wishes, but the +overwhelming pain at parting from her, and the grief exhibited by the +beloved girl, had mastered every feeling but that of desire to soothe +the agony of her mind. His position was now one of extreme difficulty, +when he calmly considered his future plans. To crush in the bud all +those golden dreams and bright hopes of glory and honour, with which he +thought to render himself worthy the hand of the daughter of +Lichtenstein, was nothing, he felt, compared with the disgrace and +contempt, which he must expect to meet at the hands of men, whose +esteem was dear to him, for having deserted their colours, at a moment +when the struggle was about to commence. How could he give a reason, or +find words sufficiently convincing, to justify his conduct, before that +gallant old friend of his father, Breitenstein? How could he appear +before the noble Fronsberg? Ah, that friendly salute, with which he +appeared to encourage the son of his brave companion in arms, produced +a thousand torments. His father had fallen by his side, and he had +heard him, in his dying moments, bequeath to his orphan child the +renown of his name and a brilliant example, as his sole inheritance. +Before this man, who, mindful of his father's bequest, had kindly +opened to him a path which would lead to the accomplishment of his +parent's wishes, he must now appear in very doubtful light. + +Troubled with these gloomy forebodings, he had slowly approached the +gate of the town, when he was suddenly seized by the arm, and turning +around, a man, to appearance a peasant, stood before him. + +"What is your business with me?" asked Albert, rather angrily, annoyed +at being disturbed in his musing. + +"My answer will depend upon whether you are the person I am looking +for," answered the man. "Tell me, what belongs to _Licht_ and +_Sturm_?" + +Albert was astonished at this singular question, and observed him more +closely. He was not very tall, but strongly built, broad-chested, and +of mean appearance. His face, much tanned by the sun, might have passed +as plain and insignificant to a superficial observer, but, upon a +narrower inspection, there was a certain expression about the eyes and +mouth which, in addition to cunning and acuteness, bespoke daring and +audacity. His hair and beard were dark yellow, and smooth; he carried a +long dagger or knife in his leathern girdle; in one hand he held an +axe, in the other a low round leathern cap, such as the Swabian peasant +of the present day wears. + +Whilst Albert made these hasty observations, he narrowly watched the +expression of his features. + +"Perhaps you did not thoroughly understand me, sir knight," continued +the other, after a short silence; "so I will explain myself more fully. +Let me ask, what should be added to _Sturm_ and _Licht_, to form two +noble names?" + +"_Feder_ and _stein_," answered the young man, to whom it was +immediately clear, what was to be understood by the question; "but what +is your business?" + +"So you are Albert von Sturmfeder?" said the other; "and I come from +Bertha von----" + +"For heaven's sake be silent, friend; mention no names," said Albert; +"tell me quickly, have you got any thing for me?" + +"A note, sir," said the peasant; when, unbuckling a broad black leather +band, wound under his knee, he produced a small strip of parchment. + +Albert took the parchment with hasty joy; there were a few words +written on it with black shining ink. It appeared to have cost some +trouble to the writer, and proved that the young ladies of 1519 were +not so ready with their pen, to express their tender feelings, as those +of the present day, when every village beauty can write an epistle to +her swain as long as her garter. The chronicle whence we have taken +this history, has happily preserved every word of the confused traces +on the parchment, which Albert's greedy eye now speedily deciphered as +follows: + +"Remember your oath--fly bytimes. God conduct thee. Your Bertha----to +eternity." + +These few words expressed a pious, tender feeling, dictated by a loving +heart. No wonder then that Albert was for some moments lost in a state +of joyous intoxication. He sent a look of gratitude toward the distant +blue mountains in the direction of Lichtenstein, and thanked his love +for the consolation these lines afforded him, for truly, never had he +stood so much in need of comfort, as at this moment. He was now +convinced, that a being, the dearest that existed in the world to him, +had not forsaken him. His heart resumed its usual cheerfulness, he +proffered his hand to the trusty messenger, thanked him cordially, and +asked him how he came by the strip of parchment. + +"Did not I know," he answered, "that that little scrap of paper +contained no evil enchantment, for the young lady smiled most kindly as +she pressed it into my rough hand! I came to Blaubeuren last Wednesday, +where our army is encamped. There is a magnificent high altar in the +convent church there, over which the history of my patron, John the +Baptist, is represented. About seven years ago, when I was in great +distress of mind, and upon the point of suffering an ignominious death, +I made a vow, to perform a pilgrimage to the spot every year about this +time. I have never neglected this duty, having been saved from the +hangman's hand, by a miracle performed by my saint. When I have +finished my prayers, I always go to the abbot to present my offering of +a couple of fine geese or a lamb, or any thing else he may prefer. But, +sir, you will be tired with my gossip." + +"No, no,--go on," said Albert; "come, sit down on that bench, beside +me." + +"That would not be proper," answered the messenger; "for a common +peasant to place himself beside a gentleman, whom the general took such +notice of before all the people this morning, would be out of all +character: I would rather stand, with your permission." Albert seated +himself on the stone bench by the road side, and the countryman, +leaning on his axe, went on with his story. "I had little inclination +to prosecute my pilgrimage in these unsettled times, but it is said, an +unfulfilled oath is displeasing to the Almighty; so I was obliged to +perform my vow. This year, when I rose from my prayer, and, as usual, +was going to present my offering to the abbot, one of the priests told +me, I could not go to his reverence this time, because many nobles and +knights were waiting on him; but I insisted on it, for I knew the abbot +to be a kind benevolent man, and he would have been displeased, had I +gone away without seeing him. Should you ever visit the convent, don't +forget to notice a long and narrow staircase leading from the high +altar to the dormitory, through a thick wall, which separates it from +the church. There it was that the lady met me. She approached me, a +delicate-formed female, descending the stairs, covered with a long +veil, with breviary and rosary in her hands. I pressed myself close to +the wall, to allow her to pass, but she stood still, and said, 'Well, +Hans, whither are you going?'" + +"But how did the lady know you?" Albert interrupted him. + +"My sister is her nurse, and----" + +"How, is old Rosel your sister?" said the young man. + +"Do you know her also?" said the messenger, "only think! but let me +proceed. I was very happy to see her again, for I visited my sister +often in Lichtenstein, and I have known the young lady, ever since she +was taught to walk with the help of her father's sword belt. I should +scarcely have known her again, she is grown so much, but her rosy +cheeks have disappeared, like the snow on the first day of May. I don't +know how it was, but I was so much struck by her looks, that I could +not help asking her if any thing was the matter with her, and whether I +could render her any assistance. She thought for a moment, and then +said, 'Yes, Hans, if you can be discreet you may indeed render me a +very great service!' I promised, and she appointed a meeting after +vespers." + +"But how is it, that she is in the convent?" Albert asked; "for +formerly no female foot dared cross its threshold." + +"The abbot is a friend of her father's, and as there are so many people +in Blaubeuren at present, she is in greater safety in the convent than +in the town, where strange things come to pass. After vespers, +therefore, when all was quiet, I stole softly into the cloister, and +met her. I cheered her sunken spirits, as well as we peasants know how +to do, when she gave me that strip of parchment, and bid me find you +out." + +"I thank you heartily, good Hans," said Albert; "but is that all she +charged you with?" + +"No," answered the messenger; "she moreover commissioned me to tell +you, by word of mouth, to be upon your guard, for there was a plot laid +against you." + +"Against me?" said Albert; "you must have misunderstood her. Who, and +what can any one have to say about me?" + +"Ah, there you ask me more than I can answer," replied the other; "but, +if I dare guess, I believe the League has an eye upon you. The lady +added also, that her father had spoken about it. I saw Fronsberg nod to +you to-day, and honour you like the Emperor's son, to the astonishment +of every one present. Believe me, there is something in the wind, when +such a man beckons in so friendly a manner to another." + +Albert was surprised at the plain remark of the simple countryman. He +recollected, however, that Bertha's father, having pryed deeply into +the secrets of the leaders of the League, might have heard something, +which more immediately concerned him; but, whichever way he turned his +thoughts, he could discover no ground upon which Bertha's mysterious +warning could be founded. His mind was torn with doubt and conjecture; +and he abruptly asked the messenger, how he had found him out so soon? + +"Without Fronsberg's aid, it had not been such an easy matter," said +he: "I was desired to inquire for you at Dieterick von Kraft's house. +But as I was entering the gate of the town, I saw a large crowd of +people in the field. I thought half an hour would make no great +difference, so I joined the spectators to see the infantry exercise. +Really, Fronsberg has done wonders. Well; it struck me I heard your +name mentioned. I looked round, and saw three old men talking about +you, and pointing to you. I noticed your figure, and followed your +steps; but not certain if I was quite right, I put the enigma of Sturm +and Licht to you." + +"You have acted cleverly," said Albert, smiling; "but come to my house, +and get something to eat. When do you go home again?" + +Hans considered a moment; at last, he said, with a cunning smile on his +mouth, "No offence, sir; but I have pledged myself to the young lady, +not to quit you before you have taken your leave of the League." + +"And then?" asked Albert. + +"And then I go direct to Lichtenstein, to give her good news from you. +How she longs to hear the happy tidings! She stands on the rock of the +garden every day, and all day long, to see whether old Hans is coming." + +"She shall soon have that pleasure," answered Albert; "I will be off +to-morrow, if possible; and will write to her in the mean time." + +"But be cautious what you do," said Hans; "the strip of parchment must +not be longer than the one I brought you, for I must conceal it also +under my knee-band. We cannot be too careful in these times; and no one +will look for it there." + +"Let it be so, then," answered Albert, as he rose from his seat. "And +now adieu for the present; come to me at noon at Dieterick von Kraft's +house, it is not far from the cathedral, and any one will shew it you. +If they ask you where you come from, say you are a countryman of mine +from Franconia, because the Ulmers are not well affected towards the +Wuertembergers." + +"Don't be afraid, sir; you will not have any fault to find with me," +replied Hans, as he parted from Albert. He looked back at the slim +young man, and thought his sister's foster child, had made no bad +choice in the object of her love. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + "The world and all I'd sacrifice for thee; + And do it cheerfully--but only flee." + SCHILLER. + +Albert felt some uneasiness, at first, as to how his new acquaintance +might behave in Kraft's house. It was not without reason, that he +feared he might betray himself by his dialect or inconsiderate +explanations, which would put him in an awkward position; for, though +it was his firm resolution to quit the service of the League in a few +days, still he did not wish it to be suspected that he was in +correspondence with Wuertemberg. Neither could he nor would he betray +the secret of Bertha having sent a messenger to him, should he be +unfortunately discovered. He thought of turning back, looking for the +man, and begging him to leave the town as soon as possible; but when he +recollected that, he must have long since left the place where they had +held their conversation, and that he might in the mean time have +arrived at the house, it appeared to him more advisable to hasten home +to put Hans on his guard, and warn him against committing an +indiscretion. + +There was, however, something so peculiar in the sharp eye and the bold +cunning countenance of the man, which gave him reason to hope, that +Bertha, in the hasty choice she had made of the means of communicating +with him, would not have confided her message to uncertain hands. + +Albert had scarcely entered Kraft's house, when, at noon, a countryman +from Franconia was announced; and the messenger of his love was shewn +in. Can this man now before me be the same who left me but a few +moments ago, thought Albert, surprised at his appearance, with his back +bent nearly double, his arms hanging lifeless by his body, his eyes +devoid of all animation? He could scarcely believe his eyes and ears, +when he addressed Kraft, who saluted him in pure Franconian dialect, +and answered his many questions with the volubility of a native of that +country. Albert with difficulty repressed a smile at the strange +metamorphosis of his new acquaintance; and was tempted to believe in +the supernatural stories he had heard in his childhood, which described +kind magicians, or gracious fairies, devoting themselves under all +sorts of forms to the service of true lovers, and carrying them safely +through the wiles of fate. + +The charm was soon dispelled, when Albert and the messenger were left +alone in the room; and the Swabian peasant had assured him of his being +the same person. But Albert could not conceal his astonishment at the +part he had acted so well. + +"I hope you will not think less honourably of me," said the countryman; +"we are often put to our wits to get on in the world: such arts hurt no +one, but assist him who knows how to practise them." + +Albert assured him of his confidence, when the messenger urgently +pressed him to think of his immediate departure; and not to forget how +ardently the lady longed to hear the news of it. He added, that he +dared not return home, before he could bring her the positive +intelligence of his having quitted Ulm. + +Albert said, he would only wait until the army of the League had +marched, and then return home. + +"Oh! then you will not have to remain much longer," said the messenger, +"for, if they do not march to-morrow, they will do so the day after, as +the heart of the country is open before them. I know I can trust you, +sir, therefore I tell you this." + +"Is it true then, that the Swiss have deserted the Duke; and that he +will not fight a battle in the field?" asked Albert. + +The peasant threw a searching look around the room, carefully opened +the door, to assure himself that no one was listening in the +neighbourhood, and said, + +"Sir, I was present at a scene, which I shall never forget, if I live +ninety years. On my way hither, I met large bodies of Swiss on the Alb, +going homewards, recalled by their councils and magistrates. But there +were still eight thousand men at Blaubeuren, all good Wuertembergers, +and not a stranger among them." + +"And the Duke," Albert interrupted him, "where was he?" + +"The Duke treated with the Swiss for the last time at Kirchheim; but +they withdrew from him, because he could not pay them. He then came to +Blaubeuren, where his infantry was encamped. Yesterday morning it was +made known by beat of drum, that all the people should assemble on the +field of the convent by nine o'clock. The assembly was numerous; and +but one feeling ran through the whole. Look ye, sir, Duke Ulerich is a +severe master; and does not understand the manner of winning over the +peasantry. Taxes are oppressive--the injury done to our fields by +hunting is ruinous and galling--and the court squanders what is taken +from us;--but when such a master, though tyrant he be, is in +misfortune, it is quite a different thing. The only feeling now among +us is, that he is our legitimate Duke; and, though unfortunate, he is a +brave man, whom his enemies would drive from his country. A whisper was +no sooner circulated that he wished to fight a battle, than each man +grasped his sword firmer, shook his spear fiercely, and vociferated +loud curses on the League. The Duke then came forward----" + +"Did you see him? do you know him?" said Albert, with impatient +curiosity, "Oh! tell me, what is his appearance?" + +"Do I know him?" replied the messenger, with a peculiar smile, "truly, +I saw him at a time when the sight of me was not welcome to him. He is +still a young man, about two and thirty years old. His person is +stately and powerful, and it is easy to perceive that he is well +skilled in the use of arms. His eyes sparkle like fire," he added, "and +few there are who can withstand his piercing glance, or penetrate his +thoughts. The Duke stepped into the circle which the armed multitude +had formed, and the stillness of death reigned among them. He said, +with an audible, firm voice, that, seeing himself deserted by his +allies, he knew not where to look for help. Betrayed by those upon +whose aid he had relied,--he was become the sport of his enemies,--for, +without the Swiss, he dare not risk a battle. An hoary-headed old man +then came forward, and said: 'Duke, do you give up all hope before you +have tried the strength of our arms? Look, sir, every man of us is +ready to bleed for you; I have brought my four boys, each with his +spear and knife, and so have many thousands besides. Are you tired of +your country, that you disdain our assistance?' These simple but +patriotic words touched the Duke's heart; he wiped the tears from his +eyes, and gave the old man his hand. 'I don't doubt your courage,' said +he, with a loud voice, 'but we are too few,--death, not victory, will +be our fate. Go to your homes, my good faithful people, and there +remain true to me. I must fly my country, and wander about with bitter +misery for my portion; but, with God's assistance, I hope soon to +return.' So spake the Duke; our people wept, and, grinding their teeth +in anger against his enemies, withdrew in sorrow and despondency." + +"And the Duke, what became of him?" asked Albert. + +"He rode away from Blaubeuren, it is not known whither. The knights +occupy his castles, to defend them, until he can procure succour." + +The appearance of old John, the servant, interrupted the messenger, and +announced that Albert was ordered to attend the council of war, which +was to be held at Fronsberg's quarters at two o'clock. The young man +was not a little astonished at this summons. What could they want with +him at the council of war, of all places? His conscience acquitted him, +indeed, of having given rise to any suspicion of his intentions, but he +was fearful lest his friend Fronsberg might have proposed his being +employed on some service which would compromise his promise to Bertha, +and from which it might be difficult for him to excuse himself +honourably--these were the thoughts which flew through his mind. + +"Take care of yourself, sir," said the messenger, as soon as old John +had left the room, "and think of the promise you gave the young lady. +Above all, don't forget what she said to you, namely, to be on your +guard against a plot. Allow me to remain in your house as your servant; +I can look after your horse, and am ready for any other service you may +require." + +The offer of the faithful man was accepted with thanks by his new +master, and Hans entered at once into his service, by assisting him to +put on his sword, and arranging his cap properly. He again reminded him +of his oath, and warned him of the plot, on the threshold of the door, +as Albert left his abode. + +Albert proceeded towards the house pointed out to him, meditating upon +the incomprehensible summons to the council of war, and the peculiarly +striking warning sent to him by Bertha. When he arrived there, a broad +winding staircase was pointed out to him, at the top of which, in the +first room on the right, he would find the military commanders +assembled. But he was not permitted immediate entrance into this +sanctuary, for, just as he was on the point of opening the door, a +grey-bearded soldier, asking his business, gave him to understand that +he would have to wait at least half an hour before he obtained an +audience, and, taking the young man by the hand, led him through a +narrow passage into a small room, there to exercise his patience +awhile. + +Whoever has danced attendance, under the excitement of anxious +expectation, in an anteroom, may well imagine the torment Albert +experienced during that hour of solitary meditation. His heart beat +impatiently to learn the result of his present unexpected position, his +mind was on the stretch, and when he heard a distant door creak on its +hinges, or footsteps in the passage, or when indistinct voices in an +adjoining chamber became plainer, he hoped that rescue was at hand. But +in vain did the doors creak, the approaching footsteps receded, and the +indistinct voices died away into mere whispering sounds. He endeavoured +to beguile time by counting the boards in the floor, and the windows of +the neighbouring houses, when the clear tones of a clock reminded him +of having passed a tedious half hour. He then paced the confined space +of the apartment in nervous agitation, until, his patience being nearly +exhausted, he heard a door open again, and heavy footsteps coming +towards his room. The door opened, and the same old grey-headed soldier +entered, and said, "George von Fronsberg sends you his compliments, and +a can of wine for vespers. The council may still last some time, but, +as it is uncertain how long, you must remain here in the meanwhile." +Saying which, he set the wine on the ledge of the window, for there was +no table, and left the apartment. + +Albert followed the old warrior with a look of amazement, for he +thought such treatment unpardonable. He passed more than an hour in +this situation, and still nothing had come to pass. He took a draught +of wine, which he found was not indifferent, but it was out of the +question enjoying his glass in his present painful solitude. + +It is a fault common to young people of Albert's years to conceive +themselves of more importance than their station in the world really +warrants. An experienced man will bear with patience, or, at least, +restrain his displeasure, upon feeling himself slighted, whilst the +young man is apt to take fire upon the least hint derogatory to what he +imagines a point of honour. No wonder, then, that Albert, when he was +called to attend the council, after having been kept waiting two long +solitary hours, was not in the best of humours. The old soldier, at +length, having returned, conducted Albert to the council, leading the +way through a narrow passage, with a silence and precaution observed in +cases of a prisoner's presence. + +When they came to the door, he turned to Albert, and said, in a +friendly way, "Do not despise the advice of an old man, sir, and put +aside that fierce sullen look of yours; it will be of no service to you +in the presence of the stern men in there." + +Around a large unwieldly table sat eight elderly men, who formed the +council of war of the League. Some of them were known to Albert. George +Truchses, Baron of Waldburg, occupied the upper place at the table; on +each side of him sat Fronsberg and Sickingen. He was not acquainted +with the rest, excepting old Ludwig von Hutten; but the chronicle +whence this tale is taken has faithfully transmitted their names to us. +There was Christoph Count of Ortenberg, Alban von Closen, Christoph von +Frauenberg, and Diepold von Stein, aged men, and of repute in the army. + +Albert paused at the door as he entered, but Fronsberg beckoned to him +in a kind way to approach. He went up to the table, and faced the +assembly with an open bold look peculiar to him. The members also took +a survey of him, and appeared pleased with his appearance and manly +bearing, for their eyes rested upon him with kindness, whilst some even +encouraged him by a friendly nod. + +Truchses von Waldburg at length addressed him. "It has been reported to +us that you have been brought up at the high school in Tuebingen; is it +so?" + +"Yes, sir knight," answered Albert. + +"Are you well acquainted with the neighbourhood of Tuebingen?" continued +the other. + +Albert blushed when this question was put to him. He thought of his +love, who was now at Lichtenstein, only a few hours (_stunden_) distant +from the university. But he answered composedly, "I have not hunted +much in that neighbourhood; neither have I made many excursions there; +but I am generally acquainted with its locality." + +"We have determined," said Truchses, "to send a confidential person +into that neighbourhood to find out what may be the Duke's intentions +upon our approach, and to gain correct information upon the state of +the fortifications of the castle of Tuebingen, together with the feeling +of the people of the surrounding country. Such a person, by prudence +and sagacity, may do more harm to the Duke's cause than a hundred +horsemen: we have selected you for this service." + +"Me!" cried Albert, in horror. + +"You, Albert von Sturmfeder: dexterity and experience are no doubt +requisite in such undertakings: but you must look to that; whatever is +wanting on your part, in the execution of this piece of service, your +head will answer for." + +The effect which this order produced on the young man was visibly +depicted on his features. His face turned pale, his eyes became fixed, +his lips firmly pressed together. The warning of Bertha flashed across +his mind, and struck him with increased force; but, however favourable +this opportunity might be to quit the service of the League, he was too +much taken by surprise to be able to decide at that moment. + +Truchses fidgeted about in his chair, showing evident symptoms of +impatience at the young man's hesitation to give an answer: "Well," he +cried, "will it come out soon? what are you thinking about so long?" + +"Spare me this commission," said Albert, at length, but not without +dread; "I cannot, I dare not undertake it." + +The old men looked at each other in astonishment, as if they did not +trust their ears. "You dare not, you cannot," Truchses repeated slowly, +a deep red at the same time mounting up to his eyes, and colouring his +forehead, the forerunner of rising anger. + +Albert immediately perceived he had been too hasty in his expression; +he recovered himself, and spoke with more composure: "I proffered my +services to the League for the glory of honourable fight, not to steal +into the enemy's country in the ignominious guise of a spy, to discover +by secrecy and treachery what is not to be obtained openly. It is true, +I am young and inexperienced; but this much I know, that I am +answerable to myself alone for the propriety of my conduct. Who among +you, as a father, would advise his son to commence his military career +in the dishonourable garb of a spy?" + +Truchses contracted his dark eyebrows into a frown, and shot a +penetrating glance at the young man, who had ventured to entertain an +opinion so different to his own. "What are you thinking about, sir?" he +cried, "your opinion has nothing to do here; the question is, not +whether your conscience will allow you to execute our orders--it treats +of obedience to our commands, which we insist upon, and which you +_must_ submit to." + +"And I will not," replied the young man, with a resolute voice. He felt +his courage increase every moment, in proportion as the insulting tone +of Waldburg excited his anger. He even hoped Truchses might persist in +his offensive manner; for it would strengthen him still more in his +resolve, and fully justify his determination to quit their service. + +"Yes, yes!" laughed Waldburg, in sarcastic rage, "to ride about alone +in the enemy's country is certainly a dangerous undertaking. Ha, ha! +These are your fine-spoken gentlemen, proffering head and arm, with +high-sounding words and lofty looks; but, when it comes to the point, +if any service is required of them which is attended with danger, their +hearts fail them. But one generation resembles the other; the apple +does not fall far from its stem; and where there is nothing to be +gained, the Emperor has lost his rights." + +"If those words be meant as a reflection on my father," answered +Albert, irritated, "there are witnesses sitting here, who can vouch +that he lives in their memory as a brave man. You think to have +achieved sufficient renown to warrant your taking the liberty of +undervaluing the merits of others." + +"Shall such a downy chin prescribe to me what I shall say?" interrupted +Waldburg. "But an end to this trash. I want to know, youngster, whether +or not you will saddle your horse to-morrow, and follow our orders?" + +"Truchses von Waldburg," answered Albert, with more composure than he +thought himself master of, "your arrogant language only convinces me +how little you know the way to address a gentleman, who has tendered +his services to the League with honourable motives, and who is the son +of a brave father. You have addressed me in the name of the League, as +president of this council, and have insulted me, as if I were its +greatest enemy. I have, therefore, no other answer to give, than, in +following your orders, to saddle my horse; but I now most decidedly +declare, assuredly no longer in your service. My honour forbids my +remaining under your colours; I therefore pronounce myself henceforth +free and unshackled from you for ever;--farewell." + +The young man spoke with vigour and firmness, and turned around to +depart. + +"Albert," called Fronsberg, springing from his seat, "son of my +friend!--" + +"Not so rash, young man," cried the rest, and cast looks of +disapprobation at Waldburg; but Albert walked out of the apartment +without looking back; the iron latch of the door rang sharply as it +fell; heavy oaken pannels lay between him and the recall of the +better-intentioned members of the council, and separated Albert von +Sturmfeder for ever from the Swabian League. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + Oh, when, enveloped in a night of grief, + Thy wounded heart can nowhere find relief; + When the sun plunges in the western sea, + Ah, let the star of love not set to thee. + P. CONY. + +Albert felt much relieved when he got to his room, and reflected on +what had just happened. He rejoiced that the weight which had oppressed +his mind ever since he promised to quit the service of the League, was +now removed, in a way which could not have been more _a propos_, and +which he conceived to be every way honourable to his feelings. He +determined, therefore, without delay, to leave Ulm, letting Truchses +take all the blame of this step to himself. + +How rapidly had everything changed in the last four days! how different +were his feelings when he first entered the town, from those which were +about to drive him from its walls! At that time, when the thunder of +cannon, mingling with the deep tolling of the church bells, celebrated +the entrance of the League's troops, and the animating sound of +trumpets saluted his ear, seeming to give applause to the part he had +taken in the coming straggle; how his heart then beat for the +opportunity of proving himself worthy of his love! And when he was +first presented to Fronsberg, how elevated and encouraging was the +thought of emulating the reputation of his father, and reaping praise +under the eye of that great commander! But now, all those bright hopes +were blasted. He had learned the intentions of the League. Excited by +motives of sordid interest and cupidity, their only object was plunder. +He blushed to draw his sword in such a cause:--the brilliancy with +which his youthful imagination had coloured his future prospects was +gone for ever. And then again, how painful the thought of being opposed +to Bertha's father, the faithful friend of the unfortunate Duke, +perchance to encounter him in the struggle. It would break his love's +heart, which beat so true for him. "No!" said he, looking up to heaven, +in gratitude, "all has been ordained for my good. Upon any other who +had stood in my situation this day, destruction might have fallen, but +I have been saved!" In thankfulness for the mercies apparently +vouchsafed to him, he cast away the gloomy forebodings with which his +mind had been haunted; his natural cheerfulness returned, and he sang a +song as merrily as in his former happy mood. + +Herr von Kraft beheld him with astonishment, as he entered the room. +"Well, that is curious," said he; "I hastened home to console my guest +in his distress, and find him merrier than ever: how do these two +things rhyme together?" + +"Have you never heard, Herr Dieterich," replied Albert, who thought it +advisable to conceal his joy, "have you never heard that one can laugh +in anger and sing in pain?" + +"I have certainly heard it, but never witnessed it till this moment," +answered Kraft. + +"Well, and so you have heard of my vexatious affair with the grand +council?" asked Albert. "I suppose it has run through all the streets +already?" + +"Oh no!" answered the secretary to the council; "no one knows any thing +of it; for it would not do to trumpet forth your intended secret +embassy to Wuertemberg. No, thank God! I have my private sources, and +learn many things the very hour they are done or spoken. But, don't be +offended, if I say that I think you have acted a foolish part." + +"Really," answered Albert; "and in what way?" + +"Could there have been a better opportunity offered you to distinguish +yourself? To whom would the commanders of the League have been under +greater obligations than to him who----" + +"Out with it at once," interrupted Albert--"than to him, you mean, who +would steal into the enemy's country as a spy, worm out their secrets, +and then, like other villains, betray them. I only regret that the name +and honour of my father had not secured for me a higher and brighter +destination." + +"Those are scruples which I would not have thought to find in you. +Really, if I were as well acquainted as you are with that +neighbourhood, they should not have asked me a second time." + +"You, perhaps, in this country, possess different principles upon this +point from us in Franconia," replied Albert, not without disdain: +"Truchses von Waldburg should have thought of that, and appointed an +Ulmer to the service." + +"You remind me now of another subject; the general of the forces! How +could you think of making him your enemy? He will never forgive what +has taken place, you may depend upon that." + +"That is the least I care about," answered Albert; "but one thing +annoys me, which is, that I cannot meet that insolent arrogant fellow +at the end of my sword, and prove to him, who has already vilified my +father's name upon other occasions, that the arm which he has this day +thrust from him, is not quite so despicable as he supposes." + +"For God's sake," said Kraft, "don't speak so loud; it might come to +his ears. Above all, you must be very cautious what you say, if you +intend still to serve in the army under him." + +"I intend soon to free Truchses of my hateful person. With God's will, +I have seen the sun set for the last time in Ulm!" + +"And is it really true what I also heard, but which I cannot believe," +asked Kraft, with astonishment, "that Albert von Sturmfeder would quit +our good cause on account of this trifle?" + +"To wound a man's honour is by no means a trifle," replied Albert, +gravely; "at least, according to my mind. But having carefully +reconsidered what you call your good cause, I find I should have to +draw my sword neither in an honourable nor a just one, but only to +satisfy the cupidity of a few unwashed townsfolk." + +The unfavourable impression which the last words, in particular, seemed +to make on the secretary, did not escape Albert; he went on to say, +therefore, in a milder tone, taking his hand at the same time, with a +friendly squeeze: "Do not take what I have said amiss, my kind host; +God knows, I did not intend to offend you; but from your own mouth I +have learnt the object of the different parties in this army. You may, +therefore, attribute my actions partly to your own explanations; for +you had already taken the bandage off my eyes." + +"You are not quite so wrong, after all, good sir; strange things will +come to pass when once these gentlemen begin to divide that fine +country among themselves. But I have thought, if they go to a certain +spot, you might also claim your mite. It is said,--you must not be +offended with me,--that your house is somewhat dilapidated; therefore +it appeared to me----" + +"Nothing more upon that subject," said Albert, hastily, touched by the +kind hint of his well-meaning friend. "The house of my ancestors is +indeed in ruins, the doors hang on their broken hinges, grass grows +upon the drawbridge, and owls inhabit the watch-tower. In fifty years +hence a tower or a bit of a wall may still be standing, to remind the +wanderer, that once upon a time a knighted race dwelt there. But should +the decayed wall fall upon me, and bury the last of my family under its +ruin, no one shall ever say of me--He drew his father's sword in an +unjust cause." + +"Every one to his thinking," answered Dieterick; "all this sounds very +fine, but I, for my part, would stretch a point for the sake of +re-establishing my house, and making it habitable. But whether you +change your determination or not, I hope, at all events, you will +remain with me a few days longer." + +"I am grateful for your kindness," answered Albert; "but, you see, +under existing circumstances, I have nothing more to do in this town. I +propose leaving it by daybreak tomorrow." + +"Well, then, one may send a remembrance to a friend by you, I suppose?" +said the secretary, with a most crafty smile: "of course you ride the +direct road to Lichtenstein?" + +The young man blushed up to the forehead. Since Bertha's departure she +had not been the subject of conversation between him and his host, and +therefore his sly question took him so much the more by surprise. "I +perceive," said he, "that you do not understand me yet. You believe I +have only turned my back on the League for the purpose of joining the +enemy? How can you think so ill of me?" + +"Ah! away with you," replied the wary scribe; "no one else but my +charming cousin has influenced your conduct. You would have shut an eye +to every thing the League did, had old Lichtenstein been on our side; +but now that you know he belongs to the other party, you think yourself +justified in joining it also." + +Albert might defend himself as well as he could; the secretary was too +firmly rooted in his opinion to allow himself to be talked out of it. +Moreover, he thought this step very natural, and saw nothing in it +dishonourable or blamable. With a hearty remembrance to his cousin in +Lichtenstein, he left the room of his guest. But on the threshold of +the door he turned round again, and said, "I had almost forgotten to +mention, that I met George von Fronsberg in the street, who begs you +will go and see him this evening at his house." + +Albert had already determined not to depart without taking leave of +Fronsberg, but he felt nervous at appearing before a man whose +intentions towards him were kind, but whose plans he had thwarted. He +buckled on his sword, thinking upon this painful meeting, and was +arranging his cloak, when his attention was drawn to an unusual noise +on the stairs. Heavy steps of a party of men approached his door; he +thought he heard the clatter of swords and halberts on the stone floor +of the ante-room. He stepped quickly towards the door to ascertain the +cause of this visit; but before he reached it, it opened, and by the +light of a few candles he perceived many armed men about to enter. The +same old soldier who had received him when he went to the council of +war, stepped forward. + +"Albert von Sturmfeder!" said he to the young man, who retreated a step +in astonishment, "by order of the grand council of war I make you my +prisoner." + +"Me--prisoner?" said Albert, with consternation. "Why? what am I guilty +of?" + +"That 'a not my affair," answered the old man, surlily, "but probably +you will not be left long in ignorance. Be so good to deliver up your +sword to me, and follow me to the town hall." + +"How? give up my sword?" replied the young man in the rage of insulted +pride. "Who are you that dares to demand my weapon? The council must +send men of a different stamp for that purpose before I submit; I know +too well what your profession is." + +"For God's sake give up your sword," cried his friend, the secretary, +who forced himself through the crowd to his side, "obey the +order--resistance were vain. You have to do with Truchses," he +whispered: "he is a fearful enemy; do not force him to extremities." + +The old soldier, interrupting the secretary, said, "It is perhaps the +first time, sir, you have been arrested; therefore I forgive the hasty +language you have made use of against a man who has slept in the same +tent with your father. You may, however, retain your sword: I well know +its hilt and scabbard, and I have witnessed many a deed of glory +achieved with its blade. It is praiseworthy of you to be jealous of its +falling into other hands. But you must come with me to the town hall, +for it were folly in you to bid defiance to power." + +The young man, to whom every thing appeared a dream, submitted quietly +to his fate. He whispered to his friend the secretary to go to +Fronsberg, and inform him of his arrest, and concealing his person as +much as possible under his cloak, to avoid the unpleasant gaze of the +crowd in the streets, followed the old leader, surrounded by his party. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + The iron door upon its hinges creaks, + A lurid light upon the prison breaks, + The captive, starting at a footstep's sound, + Springs from his lonely couch, to gaze around. + WIELAND. + +The troop, surrounding their prisoner, moved on in silence towards the +town hall. A single torch was their only light on the way, and Albert +thanked Heaven that it gave but a feeble glare; for he fancied that +every one who met him must suppose he was being led to prison. But this +was not the only thought which engrossed his mind. This was the first +time in his life he had been in any dilemma, and it was not without +dread that he figured to himself all the horrors of a damp dreary +dungeon, remembering to have visited the one in his old castle. He was +on the point of speaking to his leader on the subject, when it struck +him he might be accused of a childish fear, and therefore he proceeded +in silence. + +He was, however, not a little surprised when he was led into a large +handsome room, not very habitable indeed, as its furniture consisted +only of a bedstead, and an uncommon large fire-place, but it was a +palace compared to what his imagination had conjured up. The old +soldier wished his prisoner a good night, and retired with the rest of +his party. A little thin old man then made his appearance; a large +bunch of keys, which hung by his side, rattling like a chain when he +moved, announced him as the gaoler or servant of the town hall. He laid +some large logs of wood in the fire-place, and made a blazing fire; a +cheering companion on a cold night in March. He then spread an ample +woollen covering on the bedstead, and the first word that Albert heard +from him was a friendly invitation to make himself comfortable. He +thanked the old man for his kind attention, though his place of rest +for the night did not offer much to tempt him to repose. + +"This apartment is set aside for knights in your situation," said the +old gaoler; "the common people are confined under ground, and are not +so well off." + +"Is it long since any one lodged here?" asked Albert, looking around +the room. + +"A Herr von Berger was the last; he died on that very bed seven years +ago: God be merciful to his soul! He appeared to be fond of this place, +for he often rises from his coffin at midnight to visit his old +quarters." + +"How?" said Albert, smiling, "has he been seen since his death?" + +The old man looked fearfully around the room, now faintly lighted by +the dying embers of the fire: he put another log on, and murmured, "Ah, +many strange stories are about." + +"Did he die on that covering?" said Albert, whilst an involuntary +shudder came over him. + +"Yes, sir," whispered the gaoler, "he breathed his last on that very +covering; God grant he may not have descended lower than purgatory! +That covering is now called his winding-sheet, and this apartment the +knight's death-room!" With this, the old man quietly slipt out of the +room, as if he were afraid the slightest noise might awaken the +departed knight. + +"And so I am to sleep on the winding-sheet in the death-room of the +knight," thought Albert, and felt his heart beat quicker, for his nurse +and old servants had often related ghost stories to him in his boyhood. +He was undecided whether he should lay himself on the bed. There was +neither stool nor bench in the room; and the brick paved floor was +still colder and harder than the appointed place of repose; but he +began to feel ashamed of his fears, and at once rolled himself in the +winding-sheet on the death-bed of the knight. + +A clear conscience softens a hard bed. Albert said his prayers, and +soon fell asleep. But it did not last long, for he was awoke by strange +noises, which appeared to be in the room. He thought it was a dream; he +took courage--he listened--he listened again: it was no deception--he +heard heavy footsteps in his apartment. The fire at this moment blazed +up, and threw its light upon a large dark figure. The distance of the +fire-place from the bed was not great. The figure moved towards him; he +felt the winding-sheet shake; he was unable to control a momentary +shudder, when a cold hand, endeavouring to remove the covering, fell on +his forehead. He sprang up, and eyeing the figure which stood before +him by the light of the fire, he recognised the well-known features of +George von Fronsberg. + +"Is it you, general?" said Albert, who now breathed more freely, and +threw his cloak aside to receive the knight with proper respect. + +"Remain, remain where you are," said the other, and gently compelled +him to resume his seat; "I will set myself beside you, and have half an +hour's talk, for it is only just past nine o'clock, and no one is yet +in bed in Ulm, excepting such hot-brained fellows as you, whose heads +require cooling on a hard pillow." + +"Oh! how can I merit this kind consideration at your hands," said +Albert, "after having treated your good intentions towards me with +apparent ingratitude?" + +"No excuse, my young friend," answered the general, "you are but the +counterpart of your father; just like him, precipitate in praise and +blame, in decision and speech. That he was an honorable man, I know, +and I know also how unhappy his violent temper made him, as well as his +obstinacy, which he called firmness." + +"But tell me, dear sir," replied Albert, "could I have acted otherwise +to-day? Did not the conduct of Truchses push me to extremities?" + +"You might have acted otherwise, if you had humoured the ways of that +man, who gave you a specimen of his character the other day. You ought +to have known also that there were many present who would not have seen +you imposed upon. But you threw away the good with the bad, or as the +proverb says, 'You threw away the child out of the bathing tub with the +water,' and flew out of the room." + +"Age and experience will, I trust, cool my blood in due time," replied +Albert; "I can put up with harshness and severity, when they do not +affect my honour. But premeditated insult, contempt for the misfortunes +of my family, is beyond all bearing. What pleasure could a man of his +high station find in wounding my feelings?" + +"His wrath always manifests itself in that way," Fronsberg informed +him; "the more cool and collected he appears outwardly, the more +fiercely he burns within. It was his idea alone to send you to +Tuebingen, partly because he knew of no one else who was so well +acquainted with the place, partly because he wished to repair the +injustice he had done you. But you have affronted him by your refusal, +and lowered him in the eyes of the council of war." + +"How!" cried Albert, "Truchses himself proposed me? I thought it was +your doing." + +"No," answered the General, with a significant smile; "no, I did all I +could to prevent it; but to no purpose, for I could not tell him the +real state of the case. I knew, before you came before us, that you +would decline accepting the office. But do not open your eyes so wide, +as if you would pierce through one's leather jacket, and look into my +heart. I know enough of the history of my young hot-brain!" + +Albert felt confused. "Were not my reasons satisfactory?" said he: "is +there any thing more you wish to know, and which you may think +mysterious?" + +"There is nothing exactly mysterious; but you should have decided upon +your line of action beforehand, for if you do not wish to be noticed, +you ought not to conduct yourself at balls as if you were afflicted +with St. Vitus' dance, nor visit a couple of pretty girls at three +o'clock in the afternoon. Yes, yes, my son, I know many things," he +added, whilst he good-naturedly threatened with his finger: "I know +also that that impetuous heart of yours beats for Wuertemberg." + +Albert blushed; and would gladly have avoided the piercing look of the +knight. "Beats for Wuertemberg?" he replied: "you do me wrong; you +cannot call that going over to the enemy; upon my honour, I swear----" + +"Do not swear," Fronsberg quickly interrupted him: "an oath is an easy +thing to take, but not so easy to be absolved from; it is like an +oppressive chain which we cannot shake off. I am convinced your honour +will not suffer by your actions. Instead of an oath, you must promise +one thing to the League, namely, not to draw your sword against us for +the next fourteen days; and on these conditions only will you be +released from arrest." + +"I see you still entertain a false opinion of me," said Albert, +agitated: "I could not have thought it! how unnecessary is that +promise! To whom else should I offer my services? The Swiss have +withdrawn their aid from the Duke, the peasantry have dispersed, the +knights guard the fortresses, and will take care not to let the army of +the League within their walls; the Duke himself has fled----" + +"Fled!" cried Fronsberg: "that's not quite so certain;--where did you +hear this? Have you been tampering with any of the members of the +council of war? or is it true, as some maintain, that you carry on a +suspicious correspondence with Wuertemberg?" + +"Who dares assert that?" cried Albert. + +The piercing eye of Fronsberg darted a searching look at Albert. "You +are too young, and I believe too honourable, to be guilty of such a +villanous deed," said he; "and should you even have had such an +intention, we know you would have scarcely quitted the League, but have +remained among us as Wuertemberg's spy. This clears you in my mind. +Appearances, however, are against you." + +"Am I then so evil spoken against? If you have a particle of regard for +me, tell me who is the wretch that has thus calumniated me," said +Albert, starting up in anger. + +"Do not be so violent," replied Fronsberg. "Do you suppose, that if +George von Fronsberg had heard such things spoken of in public, or +believed the report, he would have come to visit you? But there must be +some foundation for the report. A suspicious-looking countryman often +came to old Lichtenstein in the town; he was not at first particularly +noticed among the many assembled here. But it was hinted to us, that +this man, a cunning, crafty fellow, was a confidential messenger from +Wuertemberg. Lichtenstein took his departure; and the countryman and his +mysterious occupation were forgotten. He appeared, however, again this +morning, and had a long conversation with you outside the town; and was +seen afterwards in your house. Now what is the meaning of this?" + +Albert heard his friend with increasing astonishment. "As true as God +lives," said he, when Fronsberg had finished, "I am innocent. A +countryman came to me this morning----" Albert was silent. + +"Well, why are you silent all at once?" asked Fronsberg; "you colour up +to the eyes: what have you to do with this messenger?" + +"Ah! I feel ashamed of myself; but you have already guessed every +thing; he only brought me a--a few words from----, my love." The young +man then opened his waistcoat, and produced the strip of parchment +which he had concealed on his person. "There; this is all he brought to +me," said Albert, as he gave it to Fronsberg. + +"And is that really all," laughed Fronsberg, after reading the +contents: "poor young fellow! and you know nothing more of that man? Do +you not know who he is?" + +"No; he is nothing more to my knowledge than our messenger of love--I +am certain of it!" + +"A pretty love messenger, who at the same time pries into our affairs! +Are you not aware that that dangerous man is the fifer of Hardt?" + +"The fifer of Hardt?" asked Albert: "this is the first time I have +heard that name; what does it mean?" + +"Nobody knows exactly; but he was one of the most formidable leaders in +the insurrection of Poor Conrad, for which he, however, afterwards +obtained pardon; since that time he leads a restless, roving life, and +is now a spy of the Duke of Wuertemberg." + +"Is he arrested?" inquired Albert, for he involuntarily felt a warm +interest in his new servant. + +"No; it is just that which is so incomprehensible; whatever notice we +may have of his being in Ulm, though communicated in the quietest +manner possible, becomes known to him immediately; for example, when we +heard of his being in your stable, and sent secretly to arrest him, he +was not to be found. But I trust to your honour that he comes to you on +no other business. You may be assured of this, however, if it be the +same man I mean, he does not visit Ulm for your sake alone. Should you +ever meet him again, be guarded how you trust such a vagabond. But the +watchman now calls ten o'clock. Lay down again, and dream away your +confinement. But before I go, give me your word about the fourteen +days; and, I can tell you, if you leave Ulm without saying farewell to +old Fronsberg----" + +"I will not fail to do so!" cried Albert, touched by the pain which he +perceived his revered friend felt at parting, and which he tried to +smother under a smile. He gave him his hand as a pledge of his promise, +according to the desire of the council of war, upon which the knight +left the room, with long measured steps. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + "Could I but once that face so dear + Behold before we sever; + And once again those accents hear, + Before we part for ever." + C. GRUeNEISEN. + +On the following day a horseman, oppressed by the heat of the mid-day +sun, was bending his way over that part of the Swabian Alb which leads +towards Franconia. He was young, more slim than strong built, and rode +a large brown horse; he was well armed with cuirass, dagger, and sword; +some parts of his defensive apparel, such as his helmet, and steel +plates to cover his limbs, hung to his saddle. The striped light blue +and white scarf, which passed across his breast over the right shoulder +(the distinguishing prerogative of high rank in those days), shewed the +young man to be of noble birth. + +He had reached the summit of a hill, which afforded a view into the +valley below, and stopping his horse, he turned on one side to enjoy +the beautiful prospect. Before him lay an extended plain, bounded on +each side by wooded heights, through which flowed the green waters of +the Danube; on his right the chain of hills of the Wuertemberg Alb; on +his left the distant snow-capped Tyrolean Alps. The blue vault of +heaven encircled the scene, and its soft colouring brought out in +strong relief the dark walls of Ulm, its massive spire, and the whole +extent of the town, which lay at the foot of the mountain. + +Noon was announced at this moment by the tolling of the bells of the +cathedral; their solemn tones resounded throughout the town and its +extended plain, until they were lost among the distant mountains. + +"The same sounds accompany my departure which greeted my arrival," +thought the young man: "but how different did I interpret their brazen +voices, when for the first time they reached my ear, and guided me to +my love; and now that I depart disconsolate, and without object, the +same tones follow me! They celebrated the birth of my hope, and now +ring its knell. It is the picture of life!" he added, as he took a last +farewell of the town in the valley beneath, and turned his horse away: +"it is, indeed, the picture of life! These same sounds float over +cradle and coffin; and the bells of the chapel of my house which rang a +merry peal at my baptism, will also accompany the last of the +Sturmfeders to the grave." + +The mountain now became steeper; and Albert, whom the reader will have +recognised as the young cavalier, allowed his horse to have his own +way. Upon quitting Ulm, he had determined to return to his home in +Franconia, and there wait events, or at any rate the expiration of the +fourteen days' truce he had promised his friend Fronsberg. His heart +naturally would lead him to Lichtenstein, the contrary way to the path +he was now pursuing; yet he felt he had chosen the one most honourable +to his engagements. The balance, however, between the two was very +equally poised, and had he had a friend to decide for him and convince +him that he was now a free agent to travel whither he pleased, provided +he took no part in the contest for fourteen days, he felt that the bent +of his inclinations would turn the scale in favour of the neighbourhood +of his love. The comparison between his present situation and the +former position which he had held only a few days back, did not tend to +cheer his spirits. Sudden changes--violent emotions--his confinement on +the day before--and, above all, the pain of taking leave of men who had +his welfare at heart, produced recollections which almost unmanned him. + +Dieterick von Kraft, above all, bewailed his departure. From the first +moment of their acquaintance in the room of the town hall when they +pledged each other in a bumper, to the last hour when they bid adieu in +a parting cup, that excellent friend had manifested the same +uninterrupted good feeling towards him. And how had he requited his +kindness? Occupied solely with self, he had but partially expressed his +sense of obligation to him; and to the honest, straightforward +Breitenstein, who, as well as Fronsberg, had held him up as their +favourite in the army, what return had he made? Truly there is nothing +more painful to a noble mind than the thought of being ungrateful where +its object is to be esteemed. + +Full of these gloomy thoughts, he proceeded some distance on his +journey. Feeling the rays of the March sun oppressive, and the mountain +path becoming more rugged, he determined to repose himself and horse +under the shade of an oak tree. He dismounted, loosened the girths of +his saddle, and let his weary beast make the most of the stunted grass +in the neighbourhood. He stretched himself under the tree, and though +his fatiguing ride and the cool shade invited him to rest, still the +unquiet state of the country, so near the theatre of war, the care of +his horse and of his weapons, kept him awake until he at last sank into +that state between watching and sleep, which the body combats in vain. + +V +He might have been about half an hour in this situation, when the +neighing of his horse roused him; he looked about, and perceived a man +with his back towards him, occupying himself with the beast. His first +thought was, that taking advantage of his carelessness, the man +intended to make away with his steed; he sprang upon his legs, drew his +sword, and in a trice was by his side. "Stop, villain! what have you to +do with that horse?" he cried, at the same time taking him by the +collar rather roughly. + +"Have you already discharged me from your service, sir?" said the man, +whom Albert immediately recognised as the messenger Bertha had sent to +him. The young man was undecided what line of conduct to pursue; for +Fronsberg's warning made him distrustful of the man, whilst Bertha's +confidence in him recommended him. The countryman continued his +conversation, showing him at the same time a handful of hay; "I guessed +you would not have provided fodder for your journey; and as there is +not much grass to be picked up on the mountains, I brought an armful +with me for the brown horse." So spoke the peasant, and continued +feeding the beast. + +"And where do you now come from?" asked Albert, having recovered from +his astonishment. + +"Why, you rode away from Ulm in such haste, I was not able to follow +you immediately," he answered. + +"Don't tell me a falsehood," said the young man, "otherwise I cannot +trust you any more. You do not come from that town at present." + +"Well, I suppose you will not be angry, if I was a little earlier than +you on the road?" said the countryman, and turned away; but the cunning +smile on his countenance did not escape Albert. + +"Let my horse alone," said Albert, impatiently. "Come, sit down with me +under that oak, and tell me, without hesitation, why you left the town +so suddenly yesterday evening?" + +"It was not with the Ulmers' good will; for they even wanted to induce +me to remain longer with them, and to give me board and lodging +gratis," replied the man. + +"Yes, they would have put you in the lowest cell of the prison, where +you would have seen neither sun nor moon, the place appropriated to +spies and such like gentry." + +"Excuse me, sir," replied the messenger, "though I might have been +somewhat lower, we should both have been under the same roof." + +"Dog of a spy!" cried Albert, with anger burning on his cheek; "would +you place my father's son in the same rank with the fifer of Hardt?" + +"What is that you say?" replied the other with menacing tone; "what +name is that you mentioned? do you know the fifer of Hardt?" At these +words he grasped his axe, though perhaps involuntarily. His compact, +broad-chested figure, spite of his low stature, gave him the appearance +of an adversary not to be despised: and many a man, single handed, +would have been staggered at his determined countenance and fierce eye. + +But the young man leaped up, threw back his long hair, and met the dark +look of his companion with one full of pride and dignity; he seized his +sword, and said calmly, "What do you mean by placing yourself in that +threatening position? If I do not mistake, you are the man I mentioned, +the mover and leader of those rebellious hounds; away with you or I +will show you how such outcasts ought to be treated!" + +The countryman struggled with rage; he threw His axe with a powerful +swing into the tree, and stood unarmed before Albert. "Allow me," said +he, "to give you another piece of advice, namely, never to let your +adversary stand between you and your horse, for if I had taken +immediate advantage of your order to take myself off, I should have had +by far the best of it." + +A look at his horse proved the truth of what the man said, and Albert +blushed for his inexperience. He quitted the grasp of his sword, and, +without replying, seated himself again on the ground. The countryman +followed his example, but at a respectable distance, and said, "You are +perfectly justified in being suspicious of me, Albert von Sturmfeder; +but if you knew the pain that the name you have just mentioned gives +me, you would pardon my violent conduct. Yes, I am he who goes by that +name; but I have an abhorrence to be called by it: my friends call me +Hans--my enemies the fifer of Hardt, which they know I so much detest." + +"What has that name to do with you?" asked Albert; "why are you called +by it? and why do you dislike it?" + +"Why do people call me so?" answered the other: "I came from a village +of the name of Hardt; it lies in the low country, not far from +Nuertingen. I follow the profession of music, and play at fairs and +wakes, and when young people want to dance. For this reason I go by the +appellation of the fifer of Hardt; but as this name was stained with +crime and blood in an evil moment, I have dropped it, and cannot bear +the sound of it any longer." + +Albert measured him with a searching look, and said, "I know very well +the evil moment to which you allude: when you peasants rebelled against +your Duke, you were one of the worst among them. Is it not true?" + +"I see you are acquainted with the history of an unfortunate man," said +the countryman, with penitent downcast looks: "but you must not believe +that I am still the same person; the Holy One saved me and changed my +way of thinking, so that I may now say, I am an honest man." + +"Oh! tell me," interrupted Albert, "what was the cause of the +insurrection? How were you saved? and how is it that you now serve the +Duke?" + +"I will spare you this information for a more fitting occasion," he +replied, "for I trust this will not be the last time we meet; allow me +to ask you instead, where does this road lead to? It does not lead to +Lichtenstein!" + +"I am not going there," said Albert, dejected; "this way leads to +Franconia, to my old uncle; you can tell the lady my plans, when you go +to Lichtenstein." + +"And what are you going to do at your old uncle's? To hunt? you can do +so elsewhere; or perhaps to kill time? you can do that cheap enough +all over the world. Take my advice in a few words," he added, with a +good-humoured smile; "turn your horse's head the other way, and take a +ride with me for a couple of days about Wuertemberg. I know the country +well enough to keep you out of harm's way, and though war is declared, +the roads are tolerably safe yet." + +The fifer gave him this assurance, in order to encourage him to bend +his steps towards Lichtenstein, which he knew would gratify the wishes +of the lady who had entrusted him with her message of love. He was +fully aware of the possibility there was of falling in with the +patroles of the League, which were scattered over the country; but he +had, at the same time, sufficient confidence in his knowledge of the +unfrequented paths among the mountains, to be able to escape their +vigilance. + +"I have given the League my word, not to serve against it for fourteen +days; how can I remain, therefore, in Wuertemberg?" + +"Do you call that fighting for Wuertemberg, if you only travel peaceably +on the roads? In fourteen days, did you say? Do they think the war will +be over in fourteen days? Many a head will be broken against the walls +of Tuebingen long after that time. Come with me; it is not against your +oath." + +"And what shall I do in Wuertemberg?" cried Albert: "shall I go and see +my old companions in arms reaping glory under the walls of the +fortresses? shall I go and meet the colours of the League again, to +which I have bid an eternal farewell? No; I will return to my home in +Franconia, and bury myself among its walls, and dream how happy I might +have been." + +"That is a fine determination for a young man of your spirit and +determination? Have you no other interest in Wuertemberg than to wish to +storm the tottering castles of the Duke? Well, go, in God's name!" +continued the countryman, looking at Albert with a cunning smile; "but +just try for once whether the ancient castle of Lichtenstein may not be +taken by storm?" + +The young man blushed deeply; and said, half angrily, half smiling, "I +don't like your joke." + +"I had no intention to joke with my young master," answered his +companion; "I am serious when I wish to persuade you to go there." + +"And what to do?" + +"Why, to win over the old gentleman, to be sure, and dry the tears of +the young lady, who weeps day and night on your account." + +"But how can I go to Lichtenstein? Bertha's father does not know me; +how shall I make his acquaintance?" + +"Are you the first knight who has ever demanded free quarters in a +castle, according to the custom of our forefathers? If you will leave +that to me, I will promise to satisfy your scruples." + +The young man pondered over his friend's proposal for some time; he +carefully weighed all the reasons for and against it; he considered +whether it was not against his honour, to be in the neighbourhood where +the war would in all probability be carried on, instead of retiring +from the theatre of it. But when he reflected upon the mild manner in +which the commanders of the League had received his retreat from their +cause, and the easy conditions which they had laid on him; but above +all, when he called to his memory the unhappy position of his beloved +Bertha, his inclination to proceed to Wuertemberg turned the scale. + +"I will see and speak with her once more," thought he to +himself.----"Well, then," he called to the countryman, "if you will +promise never to say a word to me about joining the Wuertemberg cause, +and assure me that I shall not be looked upon as a partizan of your +Duke, but merely a guest of Lichtenstein, I will follow you." + +"As far as lies in me, I can safely promise you," said his companion; +"but it is impossible for me to answer for what the knight of +Lichtenstein might propose. He is the Duke's warmest friend, and it is +not unlikely he may endeavour to persuade you to join his cause." + +"I already know the terms you are upon with him, that you often visited +him in Ulm, and brought him secret intelligence of all kinds. He has +confidence in you, and therefore I wish to put you on your guard, not +to acquaint him with the state of my affairs; for I have my reasons to +keep them as yet unknown to him." + +The fifer of Hardt eyed the young man some time with a look of +astonishment. "Where did you learn that I had been the bearer of secret +intelligence to the knight of Lichtenstein? But it signifies little to +me what my persecutors may have told you. I have a debt to pay, and +until it is fully discharged, I call not my life my own. My death, I +hope, will absolve me from my creditor." With these portending words, +he promised to follow Albert's wishes to the letter, and added, "Now +mount your horse, whilst I lead on, and you shall be welcome in the +castle of Lichtenstein." + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + The herdsman says, "If you will trust in me + And follow boldly, I will bring you free;-- + A secret path there is, to man unknown, + And trodden by the mountain goat alone." + L. UHLAND. + +There were two ways from the spot where Albert had decided upon +following his mysterious guide, leading to the neighbourhood of +Reutlingen, in which the castle of Lichtenstein was situated. One was +the high road from Ulm to Tuebingen. It went through the beautiful +Blauthal, or blue valley; when, reaching the town of Blaubeuren, at the +foot of the Alb, it crossed immediately over that mountain, passing the +fortress of Hohen Urach, near the villages of St. John and Pfullingen. +This was the usual and most convenient road for travellers on +horseback, in litters, or carriages; but at the time of our story, when +Albert and the fifer of Hardt had to cross the country, it was not +advisable to choose this route. The troops of the League already +occupied Blaubeuren, their advanced posts stretched as far as Urach, +and any one whom they found on the road, that did not belong to the +army, or acknowledge their party, were rudely handled and otherwise +ill-treated. Albert, therefore, had good reason to avoid this road; and +his companion was too mindful of his own safety to dissuade him from +it. + +The other, a mere footpath, and known only to the inhabitants of the +country, passed through thick woods, and deep ravines, where but a few +single detached houses were to be met with, scattered over a distance +of twelve hours (stunden), or between thirty to forty miles. Here and +there the track made a circuit to avoid the high road, and for this +reason possessed the greater advantage of security. It was very +fatiguing, and, indeed, in many places scarcely passable for horses. + +The fifer of Hardt chose this route, which his young master joyfully +acceded to, as being the least likely to fall in with the League's +troops. They set forward accordingly, the countryman walking on +Albert's side: in the difficult parts of the path, he carefully led the +horse by the bridle, and showed so much attention generally, for both +man and horse, that Albert by degrees began to lose sight of +Fronsberg's warning, and to look upon his companion as a trustworthy +servant. + +They conversed upon different subjects, when the peasant reasoned and +argued in so clear-sighted a manner, upon many things which in general +do not come within the compass of a common countryman's mind, that his +master could not at times control an involuntary smile. He had stories +to relate of every tower and castle they saw in the distance, through +the break of the forest; and the clearness and liveliness with which he +described them, proved that he had been present as musician at many a +marriage feast and village dance; but as often as Albert endeavoured to +turn the conversation to the subject of his own life, and particularly +to that period when the fifer of Hardt played so prominent a part in +the insurrection of Poor Conrad, he either cut it short or turned it to +some other channel, with a facility which bespoke a man of discernment. + +In this way they proceeded on their journey, without stopping, except +to refresh man and beast. Hans was well acquainted with the places +where they would find accommodation. He was known everywhere, and +received in a friendly manner, though, as it appeared to Albert, his +appearance excited astonishment at times. He generally had a quarter of +an hour's whisper with the host, during the time that the bustling +hostess would wait on the young knight with bread, butter, and pure +home-made cider; whilst the little boys and girls were lost in +admiration at the tall figure of the guest, with his fine clothes, his +brilliant scarf, and the waving plumes of his cap. After the frugal +meal was finished, the whole family accompanied the travellers to the +door; but, strange to say, the young cavalier could never induce the +good people, upon any account, to accept a remuneration for their +hospitality. When he asked his conductor to solve this riddle, his +answer, "that when they visit Hardt, they always come to my house," +appeared a mere parry to the question. + +They passed the night in one of those solitary houses, where the +hostess, with equal readiness, prepared a bed for her distinguished +guest, and sacrificed, in honour of him, a couple of pigeons for his +supper, served up with a dish of oatmeal. + +They pursued their journey the following day in the same manner, +excepting that it struck Albert, his leader appeared more cautious than +on the day before: for, when they came within five hundred paces of a +dwelling, he bid his master stop, whilst he approached it warily; and +not till after he was perfectly satisfied that all was right, did he +make him a sign to follow. In vain did Albert question him, whether the +road was now more dangerous, or whether the troops of the League were +in the neighbourhood? He could not elicit a direct answer. + +Towards noon, as the country became more open, and the path descended +into the plain, their route consequently was attended with more danger. +The musician of Hardt, thinking it no longer prudent to approach any +habitation, had provided himself at the last place with a sack of +fodder for the horse, and a sufficient supply of provisions for his +master and himself; he sought the most unfrequented paths, and it +appeared to Albert that they did not follow the first direction, but +had turned sharp to the right. + +They halted on the skirt of a shady beechwood, by the side of a clear +stream with fresh grass on its banks, which invited them to repose. +Albert dismounted, whilst his provident guide produced the contents of +his wallet, and set before him a good dinner. After he had looked to +the horse, he placed himself at the feet of the young knight, and set +to eating, with a hearty appetite. + +Albert having satisfied his hunger, surveyed the neighbourhood with an +attentive eye. He looked down upon a beautiful broad valley, at the +bottom of which flowed a small rapid rivulet; the surrounding fields, +with inclosed orchards here and there, appeared in high state of +cultivation, a cheerful village reared its head on a hill at the +further end of the valley, and the whole country was of a more pleasing +description than that over which they had passed on the crest of the +mountain. + +"We have now quitted the district of the Alb, it seems," said the young +man, as he turned to his companion; "this valley and those hills greet +the eye with much more cheerful effect than the rugged rocks and +deserted meadows we traversed yesterday. The air also feels milder and +warmer here than higher up on the hills, where the wind was so +piercing." + +"You have spoken rightly, sir," said Hans, as he carefully put the +remains of their meal into the wallet; "these vallies form part of the +lowland, and that rivulet which you see yonder flows into the Neckar." + +"But how comes it that we have gone so much out of the way?" Albert +asked. "I noticed that circumstance when we were on the mountain, but +you would not listen to me then. As far as I know about the situation +of Lichtenstein, this road will take us much too far to the right." + +"Well, now I'll tell you the reason," answered the countryman, "why we +have made this circuit. I did not wish to create an unnecessary anxiety +in your mind when we were on the Alb, but at present, with God's will, +we are in safety; for, let the worst come to the worst, we are scarcely +four hours distant from Hardt, where no harm can happen to us." + +"In safety," Albert interrupted him in astonishment, "what have we to +fear?" + +"The Leaguists, to be sure," replied the musician; "their cavalry +overrun the Alb, and some of them were not a thousand paces from us at +times. For my part, I would not like to fall into their hands, for, as +you well know, they bear me no good will; and perhaps it would not be +quite so pleasant for you to be brought prisoner before old Truchses." + +"God defend me from Truchses!" cried Albert. "I would rather allow +myself to be shot on the spot than undergo such disgrace. But what are +they doing here? There is no fortress of Wuertemberg in this +neighbourhood, and yet you say they scour the country hereabouts; what +is their object?" + +"Look ye, sir! Wicked men are to be found everywhere; a true +Wuertemberger would rather let himself be flayed alive than betray the +Duke, after whom the League is now on the search. But Truchses has +secretly offered a bribe of a heap of gold to any one who takes him; +and for this purpose has sent his cavalry out all over the country; the +report is, that many peasants, instigated by money, willingly assist +these bloodhounds in searching all the caverns and holes of the rocks +after their prey." + +"Searching after the Duke? I thought he had already fled the country, +or, as others say, has shut himself up in Tuebingen with forty knights!" + +"Yes, the forty nobles are there, true enough," answered the +countryman, with a knowing look; "the Duke's young son, Christoph, is +also with them; that's as it should be; but where the Duke himself is, +no one can tell. Between you and I, sir, knowing him as well as I do, +nothing but dire necessity will compel him to seek shelter in a +fortress; he is a bold restless man, and prefers the freedom of woods +and mountains to other resources, even if there is danger attending +it." + +"So they are searching after him? is it possible he can be in this +neighbourhood?" + +"Where he is at present, I know not," answered the fifer of Hardt; "and +I would bet that no one but God alone knows; but where he will be," he +added, and appeared to Albert as if he were inspired with the idea, "I +know where he will be should fate push him to extremities; I know the +spot where his faithful friends will find him in case of need, where +many a true breast will be assembled and form a wall of defence to +protect their lord against his enemies. For though he may be a severe +master, he is still a Wuertemberger, and his heavy hand is dearer to us +than the slippery words of Bavaria or Austria." + +"And should they happen to fall in with the unfortunate prince, would +they be able to recognise him? Has he not disguised his person? You +described his appearance to me once, particularly his brilliant +commanding eye, so that I almost fancy I see him now before me? Can you +describe his figure to me?" + +"As I told you then, he may be eight years older than you," replied the +other; "not quite so tall, but your figures resemble each other so +much, particularly when you are on horseback, that when I look at you +from behind, I say to myself, 'there goes the Duke himself.'" + +Albert got up to look after his horse; the conversation of the +countryman had made him anxious for his own safety; and he now thought, +for the first time, that he had acted foolishly in stealing about the +country occupied by an enemy. It would have been particularly +unpleasant to be taken prisoner at this moment; for though there was +certainly nothing against his oath in travelling as he did, provided he +took no active part against the League: still he felt the +disadvantageous light into which he would be thrown were he found in +this neighbourhood, and in company with a man of whom the officers of +the League were suspicious, and indeed were afraid of. To retrace his +steps would, he thought, be imprudent, as it was almost certain the +road would be occupied by the enemy's patroles; the safest way, +therefore, appeared to be to hurry on as fast as possible, and get +beyond reach of their advanced posts. + +Albert, to his great dismay, when he came to examine his horse, found +him somewhat lame. + +His companion remarked the distress of the young man. After having +looked at his feet, he thought the beast only wanted rest, and +therefore proposed remaining in their present situation for some time +longer, and travel part of the night; for, to Albert's consolation, he +assured him he was sufficiently acquainted with their route to find it +in the dark. + + CHAPTER XIII. + + Sent by the Suabian League, + The hunters do not tarry; + But range the plain, and seek + To strike a princely quarry. + G. SCHWAB. + +The youth resigned himself to his fate, and sought to dissipate time in +the enjoyment of the beautiful prospect which, in proportion as the +countryman led him higher up from the place where they had made their +mid-day meal, presented itself to his view on a much more extended +scale. They stood upon the crest of a rock commanding a large circuit +of the Swabian Alb. An extended panorama spread itself before the +spectators, to Albert's delight, who was so enraptured with the +diversified colouring which the evening gradually threw over the whole, +that he was for a time lost in ecstasy. And, in truth, whoever +possesses a mind sufficiently pure for the enjoyment of the beauties of +nature as existing in the peaceful landscape, the quiet valley, and +lonely dell, such as are to be found in the Rhinegau, let him but mount +the Swabian Alb, and he will be gratified by the sight of scenery which +he will long cherish as among the most charming images in his +remembrance. A range of mountains, so distant as scarcely to be reached +by the eye, skirted the horizon, graduated with soft grey tints and +different shades of blue, whilst a foreground of dark green hills +completed the picture. On the summit of the extended ridge innumerable +castles and towers were conspicuous, placed like watchmen as it were on +these heights to overlook the country. Their remains are now in ruins, +their stately gates and approaches no longer exist, the moats are +filled with rubbish and overgrown with moss, and their halls, once the +scenes of jovial mirth, now tell their tale in mournful silence. At the +moment, however, when Albert and his companion stood on the rock of +Beuren, many of them were to be seen in all the pride of solid and +substantial defence, ranging themselves in array like an unbroken band +of powerful men. + +"This Wuertemberg is a beautiful country," cried Albert, his eye +wandering from hill to hill; "how bold, how sublime the summit and +declivities of those mountains, how picturesque those rocks and +castles! And when the eye turns to the valley of the Neckar, how truly +charming are those soft hills interspersed with orchards and vineyards, +and watered by gentle streams and rivulets; the whole being blessed by +a mild climate and a good race of people!" + +"Yes, indeed," said the countryman, "this is a fine country; but it is +not to be compared to the neighbourhood of Stuttgardt, the true +lowland! There it is a real pleasure to wander about in summer or +spring, on the banks of the Neckar; nature is prolific in all her +bounties of cultivation; the vine grows to a large size and plentiful +on the hills; the boats and rafts on the river float up and down in +cheerful activity; the people are gay and happy at their work; and the +girls sing like larks!" + +"Those vallies, on the Rems and Neckar, may indeed possess their +beauties," replied Albert; "but this one at our feet, and those heights +about us, possess also a peculiarly peaceful charm: what is the name of +that tower on the hill yonder? and tell me how are those distant +mountains called?" + +The countryman scanned the neighbourhood, and pointed to the most +distant ridge of mountains, which, on account of the mist, was scarcely +visible. "That, between the east and south, is the Rossberg mountain; +in the same direction,' but nearer towards us, those many-pointed rocks +which you see are the heights of Urack: more to the westward, is the +Achalm; not far from which, but you cannot see it from hence, lies the +rock of Lichtenstein." + +"There it is," thought Albert to himself, "there, where that small +cloud hovers amidst the evening tints; in that direction, a true heart +beats for me; at this very moment she, perhaps, stands on the pinnacle +of the rock, and looks this way, among that world of mountains. Oh, +that the evening breeze might waft her my remembrance, and that rosy +cloud acquaint her with my vicinity!" + +"You see that sharp corner, further in the distance, that is the castle +of Teck; our dukes call themselves Dukes of Teck: it is a strong +fortress. Look to the right, that high steep mountain was once the +residence of a renowned Emperor; and is called Hohenstaufen." + +"But what is the name of that castle, near us, which appears to rear +its head out of the deep mist?" asked the young man. "Only observe how +the sun plays on its white walls; how the golden mist seems to rest +about its battlements; and how beautifully the red light illumines its +towers!" + +"That is Neuffen, sir; also a strong castle, which the League would be +glad to get possession of." + +The sun was fast going down during this conversation. The shades of +evening threw a dark veil from the mountains over the vallies, and +obscured the distant objects. The moon rose pale, and surveyed her +nightly province. The high walls and towers of Neuffen only were +lighted up by the last rays of the sun; and with its departure, Neuffen +was enveloped in darkness; the night air began to whisper through the +trees of the surrounding wood mysterious salutations to the rays of the +rising moon. + +"This is the proper time for robbers and travellers fearful of the +light of day, such as we are," said the countryman, as he bridled the +horse; "in an hour hence, the night will, I hope, be dark as coal; and +then, before the sun rises again, no Leaguist dog of a horseman shall +come upon our scent." + +"If there is any likelihood of our being attacked," said Albert, "we +had better prepare for the worst; for I am resolved not to allow myself +to be taken for a mere trifle." And taking his cap off, he was +preparing to substitute in its place his helmet, which hung by his +saddle. + +"You had better keep on your cap, sir," said the countryman, smiling; +"it will be warmer in the night breeze than your helmet; they will +scarcely look for the Duke in this neighbourhood, and should we meet +them, we two are a match for any four of them." + +The young man thought he had betrayed a want of courage; and a feeling +of shame rose in his breast, when he noticed the unconcern of his +conductor, on foot, who had nothing but a thin leathern cap on his +head, and armed only with an axe and knife. He mounted his horse, and +his guide, taking the bridle, led him down the hill. + +"You believe, therefore," asked Albert, after a pause, "that the +Leaguist cavalry do not venture thus far?" + +"It is not very likely," answered the fifer of Hardt; "because Neuffen +is a strong fort, and contains a good garrison; the Leaguists will, +however, soon besiege it; but vagabonds, such as Truchses' cavalry, +will not venture in small bodies so near an enemy's position." + +"Look how clear and beautiful the moon shines!" cried the young man, +whose mind, still dwelling on the sight of the mountains they had left, +admired the fantastic shades of the wood, and the brilliant shining +rocks; "look how the windows in Neuffen glimmer in the moonlight." + +"I would much rather she did not shine this night," replied the +countryman, who at times looked anxiously about him; "a dark night +would have suited us better; the moon has betrayed many a brave man. +She now stands directly over the Reissenstein, where a giant once +lived; it will not be long, however, before she goes down." + +"What is that you say of a giant, who lived on the Reissenstein?" + +"Yes," said Hans, "tradition says that many years back a giant lived on +that spot; there, just where the moon shines on the mountain, stands +his castle, called Reissenstein, or Achalm; it belongs now to the +Helfensteiners; it is built on the declivity of the rock, high up in +the air; and has no nearer neighbours than the clouds, and the moon. +Just opposite the castle, on another eminence, upon which now stands +Heimenstein, is a cavern, in which a giant formerly lived. He possessed +an enormous treasure of gold, and could have lived nobly and in luxury, +had there been other giants and giantesses besides him to keep him +company. He was determined to build a castle, such as other knights +possessed on the Alb. The rock opposite appeared to him the most +convenient spot. He however was a bad architect; he dug out rocks of +the height of a house from the Alb, with his nails, and placed them one +upon another; but, as they always fell, he found his labour was in +vain. He then mounted on the top of the Beuren rock, and cried out in +the valley below for workmen; carpenters, masons, stone-cutters, +blacksmiths, any one who would come and help him should be well paid. +His voice was heard all over Swabia; from Kocher to the lake of +Constance; from the Necker to the Danube; the call brought masters and +workmen from all parts, who came to assist the giant build his +castle.----Keep in the shade here, out of the moonshine, sir," he +added, "your armour shines like silver, and could easily be seen by +some of those bloodhounds. + +"Well, to go on with the giant's history; it was curious to see him +sitting in his cavern, in the sunshine, overlooking the progress of the +workmen in building his castle on the top of the rock; masters and +workmen worked merrily, and had their jokes with the giant, who +understood nothing of their art. At last the castle was finished, and +the giant took possession of it; when viewing the valley below from the +uppermost window, where the master and his men were assembled, he +angrily remarked, 'that one nail was wanting in the outside of the +building, and that they had deceived him in reporting it complete.' The +master blacksmith excused himself, and said: 'no one would venture to +perch himself outside the window, to drive the nail in.' The giant +would hear of no excuse; and refused to pay the reckoning until the +nail was in its place. They all returned again to the castle; the most +daring among them swore it was not a feat worth talking of to drive the +nail in; but when they came to look out of the window, and beheld the +great depth of the valley below, with its perpendicular rocks, they +shook their heads, and retired in shame. The master offered a ten-fold +reward to him who would venture on the perilous undertaking; but a long +time elapsed before one bold enough could be found. There was a smart +young fellow among the rest, who loved the master's daughter, and she +loved him; but as he was poor and the master a hard man, he could not +gain his consent to marry her. Taking courage, and thinking this a good +opportunity to be able either to merit his love or to die in the +attempt; for life without her was a burden to him: he went to his +master, her father, and said, 'Will you give me your daughter if I +drive the nail in?' The other thought this a good chance to get rid of +him should he fall into the valley, and answered 'Yes.' + +"The youth took the nail and hammer, said a prayer, and prepared to get +outside the window and drive in the nail for the sake of his beloved. A +burst of joy broke from the bystanders, which awoke the giant out of +his sleep, when he asked what was the matter; and, when he heard that a +volunteer was found to drive the nail in, he looked at the young +locksmith for some time, and said: 'You are a fine fellow, and have +more courage than all your milk-hearted companions; come, and I'll +assist you.' He then took him by the nape of the neck, almost crushing +him to atoms, lifted him out of the window in the air, and said, 'drive +in, now--you shall not fall.' + +"When the young lover was suspended in the air over the immense depth +below, though held by the iron grasp of the giant's hand, fear came +over him, his sight became dim, giddiness seized his brain, and, +thinking he was on the point of being hurled into the abyss beneath, he +would have cried out 'Ach Allmaechtig!' (Oh, Almighty!) but had only +time enough to pronounce, 'Ach Allm,' when the giant secured him from +his perilous situation, and landed him again in safety. From that +moment the mountain has retained the name of the Achalm. + +"The lad drove the nail in firmly,--the giant kissed him for his +fortitude,--and a tender hug which he gave him almost cost him his +life,--he then led him to the master, and said: 'Give your daughter to +the brave lad.' He afterwards went to his cavern, took out his money +bag, and paid each his due. But when he came to the bold young +blacksmith, he said, 'Go home, my daring young fellow, fetch your +master's daughter, and take possession of the castle, for it belongs to +you now.' + +"His companions all rejoiced at his good fortune; the young blacksmith +went home, and----" + +"Hark! did not you hear the neighing of horses?" said Albert, not +feeling quite at his ease, as they were passing through a deep ravine. +The moon still shone bright, the shadows of the trees waved with the +breeze, there was a rustling among the bushes, and he often fancied he +saw dark figures passing in the wood. + +The fifer of Hardt stopt, vexed that his companion had interrupted him +in his story, and answered, "I thought so, likewise, just now, but it +is nothing but the noise of the wind among the trees. If we were but on +the other side of the meadow, which is open and as clear as day, we +should regain the wood, and be free from all anxiety, for there it is +dark enough. Give your horse the spur, and trot on; I'll run by your +side." + +"But why do you want to get on faster now? do you think there is +anything to be apprehended? Own it, did you not see some figures in the +wood sneaking along not far from us? Do you think they belong to the +League?" + +"Well, yes," whispered the countryman, looking round, "it struck me as +if some one was watching us; hurry on, therefore, and let's get out of +this cursed hollow path: a good round trot across the valley will carry +us clear of danger, and then we may bid defiance to it." + +Albert looked to his sword, and held the reins firmer in his hand. They +descended in silence the gorge through which the path led, and, by the +light of the moon, he could perceive each motion of his guide, and saw +him raise his axe to his shoulder, and, taking out a knife, which he +had concealed under his jacket, stick it into his girdle. + +Just as they were entering the open valley from the hollow way, a voice +was heard in the bush: "That's the fifer of Hardt--seize him! he on the +horse must be the right one." + +"Fly, sir, fly," cried the faithful guide, and placed himself in a +position of defence with his axe. Albert drew his sword, and, in a +moment, was attacked by five men, whilst his companion was engaged with +three others hand to hand. + +The confined spot where this rencontre took place prevented Albert +profiting by the advantage he otherwise would have had over his +opponents. One of them seized his bridle, but, in the same moment, +Albert's blade fell with such force on his head that he sank to the +ground without a groan; the others, furious at the loss of their +companion, pressed him with increased vigour, calling out to him to +surrender; but, though Albert began to bleed copiously from many wounds +he had already received in his arms and legs, he answered only by fresh +blows. + +"Dead or alive," cried one of the combatants, "if the Duke will have it +so, let him take the consequences!" and with these words a heavy blow +on the head, brought Albert von Sturmfeder from his horse to the +ground. His eyes closed in a state of fainting stupor, but he still was +sufficiently conscious, to feel himself raised and carried away, amidst +the sarcastic jeers of his opponents, who appeared to triumph and +rejoice over their royal captive, as they supposed him to be. + +He was placed on the ground shortly after, when a horseman galloped up, +dismounted, and spoke to the men who carried him. Albert, having +somewhat recovered from the violence of the stunning blow he had +received, opened his eyes and surveyed the surrounding group. An +unknown figure bent over him, as if to examine his features. "Who have +we here?" said this man: "this is not him we are looking for--leave him +to his fate; we must hurry away without loss of time--alarm is already +spread in Neuffen, and the garrison is on the alert." Falling again +into a state of stupor from excessive weakness, Albert closed his eyes +a second time, his ear only was alive to the confused sound of +indistinct voices, which soon were hushed into dead silence, and he was +left alone. The damp ground of the meadow chilled his limbs, but a +sweet slumber coming to his aid, he sank under it, his beloved Bertha +occupying his last thought. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + The Swabian League displays her mighty power, + Her warriors people many a castle wall, + Her banners wave from many an ancient tower, + And every city answers to her call. + Alone, will Tuebingen no homage proffer, + But stand apart, and grim resistance offer. + G. SCHWAB. + +The forces of the Swabian League had advanced in large numbers into +Wuertemberg. Uninterrupted success crowned all their undertakings,--its +army became daily more formidable. Hollenstein and the strong castle of +Heidenheim were the first that fell into their hands after a long and +brave defence. The latter was defended by Stephan von Lichow; but with +only a couple of culverins and a handful of men at his command, he +could not hold out against the thousands of the League and the military +experience of a Fronsberg. Goeppingen soon after experienced the same +fate. Not less brave than Lichow, Philip von Rechberg distinguished +himself there, and obtained an honourable retreat for himself and +garrison; but his gallant conduct was not able to turn the fate of the +country. Teck, at that time a strong fortified position, was lost +through the imprudence of the garrison. Moeckmukh held out the longest; +it possessed a man within its walls, who would have been a match for +twenty of the besiegers, and whose determined resistance was equalled +only by the power of his iron hand. Its walls were, however, +demolished, and Goetz von Berlichingen was also reckoned among the +prisoners. Schorndorf could not withstand Fronsberg's cannon; it was +reckoned, of all places, one of the strongest holds, and with it the +rest of the low country belonging to Duke Ulerich fell into the hands +of the League. + +The whole of Wuertemberg, as far as the neighbourhood of Kirchheim, +being now in the power of the League, the Duke of Bavaria broke up his +camp, for the purpose of besieging Stuttgardt in person. An embassy +from the town met him, however, at Denkendorf, to beg for mercy. The +ambassadors did not attempt to make any excuse before the bitter +enemies of their Duke, nor to shelter themselves under the allegiance +they owed to their hereditary Prince; they merely asserted, that as he, +the cause of the war, was no longer within their walls, they craved +exemption for their town being occupied by the troops of the League. +But this petition found no grace in the stern mind of Wilhelm of +Bavaria and the covetous desires of the other members of the League. +The only answer they received was, that Ulerich's conduct had merited +punishment, and that, as the country had supported him, Stuttgardt +therefore must also open its gates unconditionally. + +The townsfolk of the capital being unable to defend themselves against +the powerful forces of the League, were obliged to submit to these hard +terms, and admit a garrison within their walls. + +The conquest of the country was, however, far from being complete +with the capture of the capital. The greatest part of the hill +country still held for the Duke, and, judging from the spirit of its +inhabitants, they were not likely to submit to the first summons. This +elevated district was commanded by two fortified places, Urach and +Tuebingen;--and so long as they remained firm to the Duke, the +surrounding neighbourhood also determined not to desert his cause. In +Urach, however, the citizens, fearful of the power of the League, +wished to come to terms, whilst the garrison held faithful to their +master. The two parties at last came to blows, in which the brave +commander was killed, and the garrison was then obliged to surrender. + +By the middle of April Tuebingen, which had been strongly fortified, was +the only place left to the Duke. Ulerich confided the defence of the +castle, with the care of his family and the treasure of his house, to +forty gallant and experienced knights, having under them two hundred of +the bravest of his countrymen. The position of this fortress was +strong, and being well supplied with ammunition and provisions, all +eyes in Germany looked to its fate with anxiety; for, Tuebingen being a +town of great repute in those days, it was thought that if it could but +hold out until the Duke relieved it, he might then be able to +re-conquer the country. The League, to frustrate their enemy's last +hope, now marched against it with their whole force. The heavy steps of +armed bodies of men sounded through the forests in their march towards +the place; the vallies of the Neckar trembled under the tread of +cavalry; the artillery, with the baggage and ammunition waggons, and +all the apparatus for a long siege, which was brought with the army, +left deep ruts in the fields as a witness of the coming event. + +Albert von Sturmfeder knew nothing of the progress of the war. A deep +but sweet slumber, like a powerful enchantment, suspended the +operations of his faculties for a long time. He suffered no +inconvenience in this state of stupor, but resembled a child who, +sleeping on the breast of its mother, occasionally opens its eyes to +gaze at a world it knows not, and closes them again for a time. +Pleasing dreams of better days soothed his situation, a placid smile +often played upon his pale countenance, and comforted those who nursed +him with tender solicitude. + +We will now introduce the reader to the humble cottage, which had +received him with hospitality, and treated him with tender care the day +after he had been wounded. + +The morning sun of this day threw its enlivening rays on the round +frame of a small window, and illumined the largest room of a needy +peasant's house. Though the furniture bespoke poverty, cleanliness and +order reigned throughout. A large oaken table stood in one corner of +the room, on two sides of which were placed wooden benches. A carved +chest, painted with bright colours, contained, as was generally the +case in such habitations, the Sunday wardrobe of the inhabitants, and +fine linen spun by themselves; around the dark wainscot of the walls +was a shelf, upon which were ranged well polished cans, goblets, and +smoothing irons, earthen utensils with mottos in verse painted on them, +and all kinds of musical instruments, such as cymbals, hautboys, and a +guitar, hung on the walls. At the further end of the room stood a +bedstead, with cotton curtains, of a coarse texture, ornamented with +figures of large flowers. It was partly concealed from view by a range +of clean linen hanging to air around an earthenware stove, which +projected far into the apartment. + +A young girl, of about sixteen or seventeen years of age, sat beside +the bed. She was dressed in that picturesque costume which, with little +difference, has been handed down to our days among our Swabian +peasantry. Her golden hair was uncovered, and fell in two long tresses +plaited with different coloured ribands, over her back. Her cheerful +face was somewhat tanned by the sun, but not so much as to obscure the +lovely youthful colour of her cheeks; a lively blue eye sparkled from +beneath a long eyelash. Plaited full sleeves of white linen covered her +arm down to the hand; a scarlet bodice, laced with a silver chain, and +trimmed with fancy-worked linen, of a finer texture than the sleeves, +sat close to her shape; a short black petticoat fell scarcely below the +knee. This ornamental dress, together with a clean white apron and high +clocked stockings of the same colour, fastened up with pretty garters, +did not appear quite in keeping with the humble furniture of the room, +nor with the week-day costume of a peasant's daughter. + +The young girl was busily employed spinning fine thread; at times she +opened the curtains of the bed, and peeped in. But, as if she had been +caught in the act, she quickly closed them again, and smoothed the +folds, so that no one might remark what she had been about. + +The door opened, when a little plump elderly woman entered, dressed +much in the same way as the girl, but not so smart. She brought a basin +of hot soup for breakfast, and then arranged the plates on the table. +When she saw her daughter (for such she was) sitting beside the bed, +she was so startled at her appearance, that a little more and she would +have dropped the jug of cider which she also held in her hand. + +"For God's sake, what are you thinking about, Barbelle," said she, as +she placed the jug on the table and approached the maiden; "what are +you thinking about, to sit and spin there with your new bodice on? And +she has got her new petticoat on, too, and the silver chain, I declare, +and has taken a clean apron and stockings out of the chest! What a +piece of vanity, you foolish thing! Don't you know that we are poor +folks, and that you are the child of an unfortunate man?" + +The daughter patiently allowed her bustling mother to expend her +astonishment; she cast her eyes down, it is true, but there was a +roguish smile on her face, which proved that the lecture did not sink +very deep. "Ah! what's the use of being angry?" she answered; "what +harm can it do to my dress, if I wear it once on a week day? The silver +chain will not suffer, and I can easily wash the apron." + +"So! as if we had not washing and cleaning enough? But tell me, what +has put it into your head to make yourself so smart to-day?" + +"Ah! don't you know, mother," said the blushing Swabian child, "that +to-day is the eighth day? Did not my father say the gentleman would +awake on the eighth day, if his medicines had their desired effect? And +so I thought----" + +"Yes, this is about the time," replied the mother, kindly; "you are +quite right, child: if he awakes and sees everything about him slovenly +and dirty, we shall get into trouble with the father. And I am not fit +to be seen! Go, Barbelle, and fetch me my black jacket and red bodice, +and a clean apron." + +"But, mother," said the young one, "you had better go and dress +yourself, while I remain here, for perhaps the gentleman may awake when +you are putting your things on." + +"You are right again, girl," replied the mother, and, leaving the +breakfast on the table, retired to adorn her person. Her daughter +opened the window to the fresh morning air, for the purpose, according +to her usual practice, of feeding her pigeons, which were assembled +before the house waiting for their accustomed meal; larks and other +little birds saluting her in full chirping chorus, partook also of her +bounty, which the young girl enjoyed with innocent pleasure. + +At this moment the curtains of the bed were opened, when the head of a +handsome young man looked out; we need not say it was Albert von +Sturmfeder. + +A slight colour, the first messenger of returning health, played on his +cheeks; his look was as brilliant as ever, and his arm felt as +powerful. He surveyed his situation in astonishment; the room, with its +furniture, were strangers to him; everything about him was a riddle. +Who had bandaged his head? who had put him in this bed? His position +appeared to him like that of one who had passed a jovial night with his +companions, and, having lost his senses, awoke in some out-of-the-way +place. + +He observed the girl at the window for some time. He could not keep his +eyes off her, as she was the first object he had seen; for the purpose +of drawing her attention, he made a rustling noise with the curtains as +he threw them further back. + +She' started when she heard the noise, and looking round, exhibited, to +Albert's astonishment and delight, the beauty of her countenance, now +slightly tinged with a blush. His sudden apparition appeared for a +moment to deprive her pretty smiling mouth of the power of finding +words to welcome the invalid to returning life. She soon collected +herself, however, and hastened to the bedside, but immediately after +checked her steps, as if she were not quite certain of her patient +being really awake, or whether it were proper to be in the room when he +returned to his senses. + +The young man, observing the embarrassment of this beautiful maiden, +was the first to break silence. + +"Tell me, where am I? how came I here?" asked Albert. "To whom belongs +this house, in which, it appears, I awake out of a long sleep?" + +"Are you really in your senses again?" cried she, clasping her hands +for joy. "Ah! thank God, who would ever have thought it? But you look +at one as if it were true, though you have been so long ill as to make +us very fearful and anxious about you." + +"Have I been ill?" inquired Albert, who scarcely understood the dialect +of the Swabian girl. "I have only been a few hours without +consciousness?" + +"Eh! what are you thinking about," giggled the girl, and bit the end of +the tress, to suppress a rising laugh; "a few hours, did you say? This +night will just be the ninth that I have been watching you." + +The young man could not comprehend what he heard. Nine days, and not +arrived at Lichtenstein, to see Bertha? And with this thought his +recollection of the past returned in full force to his mind; he +remembered having renounced the service of the League,--that he had +determined to visit Lichtenstein,--that he had crossed the Alb by +unfrequented paths, and that he and his leader had been attacked. But +now, when he looked about him, fearful doubts oppressed his mind. Am I +a prisoner, he thought to himself; and immediately put the same +question to his pretty attendant. + +She had noticed, with increasing anxiety, the placid countenance of the +young knight, as it became ruffled, and the wild look his features had +suddenly assumed. Fearful he might relapse again into his former +situation, which the languid tone of his voice seemed to indicate, she +hesitated what to do, whether to remain in the room, or call in the +assistance of her mother. + +She did not return an answer, and retired towards the door. Her heart +was touched at the distress which appeared to oppress her patient; and +Albert, judging by her silence and the anxious expression of her +countenance, which he construed into an affirmation to his question, +that he was now in the hands of his enemies, exclaimed, "I am a +prisoner then, separated from her without hope, without consolation, +without the possibility of hearing from her perhaps for a long time!" +The shock was too great for his weak state of body to withstand; a tear +stole from his eye. + +The girl observed the tear: her anxiety was changed into pity, she +approached nearer, and seating herself again by the bed-side, ventured +to take the hand of the young man. "You must not give way to grief," +she said, "your honour is well again, and----you can very soon proceed +on your journey," she added, with a cheerful smile. + +"Proceed on my journey?" asked Albert, "then I am not a prisoner?" + +"Prisoner? no, certainly not; you might have been so, indeed, once or +twice, for the patroles of the League often came to our house, but we +always concealed you, because my father told us not to let any one see +you." + +"Your father!" cried the young man, "who is your father? Where am I?" + +"Where are you?" answered Barbelle, "why, in Hardt, to be sure." + +"In Hardt?" a glance at the walls adorned with musical instruments +convinced him that he was indebted to the man for his life and liberty, +who had been sent to him from Bertha as a guardian angel. "So I am in +Hardt? and your father is the fifer of Hardt, is he not?" + +"He does not like to be called by that name," said the girl; "he is +certainly a musician, but he prefers being known by the name of Hans." + +"But how did I come here?" inquired Albert. + +"Don't you recollect anything about it?" smiled the young girl, and +played with her hair again. She then related, in Swabian dialect, that +after her father had been absent many weeks, he suddenly arrived nine +days ago, in the night, and knocked at the door some time before it +awoke her. Having recognised his voice, she hurried down to let him in. +He was accompanied by four men, carrying a wounded man, covered with +his cloak, whom they brought into the house. When her father withdrew +the cloak from the sick man, and desired her to bring a light, she was +terribly frightened at seeing a person bleeding, and apparently half +dead. He then ordered her to heat the stove immediately, and they +brought the wounded man into the room, and laid him on the bed. His +dress was that of a person of distinction. "My father," added she, +"applied some herbs to his wounds, he also prepared a cordial for him, +for he understands the art of medicine both for man and beast. The +young man was for two days very restless and violent, which caused us +all great anxiety. But after my father had given him a third dose of +medicine he became easy and quiet, and then he said that, on the eighth +morning, the invalid would be himself again, and his prediction has +actually come to pass." + +Albert listened to the story of the young girl with much interest; he +was obliged occasionally to interrupt her in her narration, when he did +not exactly understand the expressions she made use of in her Swabian +dialect, or when she described more minutely the herbs with which the +fifer of Hardt had prepared his medicines. + +"And where is your father?" he asked. + +"How can we know where he is?" she answered, as if she wished to avoid +the question; but, recollecting herself, she added, "I think I may tell +you, because you must be a good friend of his; he is gone to +Lichtenstein." + +"To Lichtenstein?" cried Albert, and blushed deeply; "and when will he +come back again?" + +"He ought to have been here two days ago, as he told us, if nothing +happened to detain him. Folks say the cavalry of the League are on the +look-out for him." + +The mere mention of Lichtenstein seemed to invigorate his weak frame +with renewed strength. He fancied himself strong enough to mount his +horse immediately, and, by the rapidity of his movements, make up for +the time he had lost on the bed of sickness. + +His next and most important question, therefore, was to inquire after +his horse; and when he heard it was quite well in the cow-house, he +thought he would be able to set out without further loss of time. He +thanked his kind little nurse for the care she had taken of him, and +asked for his jacket and cloak. She had long since cleaned his clothes, +and carefully washed out all spots of blood; and taking them out of the +carved painted chest, where they had been placed among her Sunday's +attire, spread them out one by one before him, and appeared pleased +with the grateful acknowledgements which he expressed for her +attention. She then hurried out of the room to acquaint her mother with +the joyful news of the young knight's restoration to health and vigour. + +We know not whether she told her mother that she had had half an hour's +gossip with the handsome gentleman; we have reason however to doubt it, +for that good lady had learnt from the experience of her youthful days, +and thought it necessary to repeat the warning constantly to her +daughter, that "she should take good care not to speak to a smart young +fellow longer than it would take to repeat an 'Ave Maria.'" + + + + + END OF VOL. I. + + + + + J. B. Nichols and Son, 25, Parliament-street. + + + + + + + THE BANISHED. + + VOL. II. + + + + + + + LONDON: PRINTED BY J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, + 25, PARLIAMENT STREET. + + + + + + + THE BANISHED: + + A + + SWABIAN HISTORICAL TALE. + + + EDITED BY + + JAMES MORIER, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF HAJJI BABA, &c. + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. II. + + + + + LONDON: + HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER, + GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. + 1839. + + + + + + + THE BANISHED. + + * * * * * + + CHAPTER XV. + + Art thou troubled, maiden? Tell me what,-- + Thou speak'st of matters which beseem thee not. + SCHILLER. + +Barbelle went up stairs to her mother, who was still occupied in +adorning her little plump person, to appear before her guest in proper +attire. They then descended together to the kitchen on the ground +floor, which adjoined the apartment of Albert. The attention of the +good matron was more excited by getting a peep at him through a small +window looking into his room, than in preparing a mess of oatmeal +porridge for his mid-day meal. Barbelle was also determined to satisfy +her curiosity in like manner, and standing upon tiptoes, looked over +her mother's shoulders. + +She beheld the young man with wondering eyes, and her heart beat +violently for the first time in seventeen years at the sight of his +fine figure. She had been often moved to tears as he lay on the bed of +sickness, insensible, almost lifeless; deeply affected at the pallid +appearance of his fine manly features struggling with death, as she +imagined, she had watched him with the tender anxiety of a pious mind; +but now she felt he was quite a different object to behold. His eye was +reanimated by a beautiful expression, and it struck Barbelle, young +though she was, that she had never seen the like before. His hair fell +no longer in wild disorder over his forehead; it now hung down his neck +arranged with care and combed into neat curls. The colour had returned +to his cheeks, and his lips were as fresh as cherries on the festivals +of Peter and Paul; and how well did his embroidered silk jacket become +him, and the broad white collar which he had put on over his dress! But +the little girl could not comprehend why he was so much occupied with a +certain white and blue silk scarf; she even thought that he pressed it +to his heart and raised it to his lips, full of the devotion which is +paid to some esteemed relic. + +The elderly matron had, in the meantime, satisfied her curiosity in the +examination of her guest, and returned to her culinary occupations. +"The gentleman looks like a prince," she said, as she gave the mess of +oatmeal porridge a stir, "what a jacket he has! no Stuttgardt beau can +boast of a finer one. But what is he always doing with that band he +holds in his hand? He never ceases to look at it. Perhaps there is a +spot of blood on it which he cannot get out?" + +"No, that's not it!" said Barbelle, who could now look into the room +with greater ease. "But do you know, mother, what I think? he looks at +it with such ardent eyes, that it must certainly be something from his +love." + +The matron could scarcely help smiling at the supposition of her child, +but she soon recover her dignity, and replied, "Ah, what do you know +about love! Such a child as you must not think of the like. Get away +from the window, and fetch me a napkin. The gentleman has been +accustomed to good living, so I must put more melted butter in the +porridge." Barbelle left the window rather in a pet. She knew that she +dare not disobey her mother, but nevertheless thought that she was in +the present instance decidedly in the wrong. For, had she not been in +the habit of joining the other girls of the village for a whole year +past, when they talked and sang of their loves and favourites? Had not +some of her companions, who were only a few weeks older than herself +their appropriate sweethearts? and should she alone be debarred from +even speaking on the subject,--not even to know anything about it? No, +it was too bad of her mother; who now forbad her knowing anything about +such affairs, when but a moment before she had not objected to her +standing upon tiptoes to look over her shoulder. But, as it often +happens that prohibition excites transgression, so Barbelle was +determined not to rest satisfied until she had discovered why the young +knight regarded his scarf with such enraptured eyes. + +The breakfast of the young man was, in the meantime, ready, wanting +only a can of wine to complete it; this was also soon provided; for, +though the fifer of Hardt was a man of low condition, he was not so +poor that his cellar could not produce a bottle or two upon +extraordinary occasions. The girl carried the wine and bread, whilst +her mother, dressed in her complete Sunday's attire, preceded her +daughter into the room, bearing the dish of oatmeal porridge in both +hands. + +Albert had some difficulty to dispense with the ceremonious respect, +which the fifer's wife thought was due to such a distinguished guest. +She had once served in the castle of Neuffen, and knew what good +manners were, and therefore remained on the threshold of the door, with +the smoking hot dish in her hands, until the young man positively +ordered her to approach. Her daughter stood blushing behind the round +plump matron, and her confused countenance was only occasionally +visible to Albert when her mother curtsied very low. She also followed +her mother through the number of requisite ceremonies, but felt, +perhaps, less embarrassment now than she might have done, had she not +had half an hour's previous conversation with their guest. + +Barbelle covered the table with a clean cloth, and put the porridge and +wine before Albert, who was to sit on the end of the bench under the +crucifix, which hung on the wall. She then stuck a curiously carved +wooden spoon into it, which, standing unassisted upright, was a proof +that the meal was of the best cooking. When the young man had seated +himself, the mother and daughter also took their places at the table to +partake of the breakfast, but placed themselves at a respectful +distance, not forgetting to put the salt between them and their +distinguished guest, for such was the custom in the good old times. + +During the time that each was occupied with their repast, Albert had +sufficient opportunity to make a few passing observations upon his +companions. In the appearance of the stately personage who filled the +situation of honour in the fifer of Hardt's house, self importance and +dignity seemed pre-eminent whilst much kindliness of expression was +marked on her features. Had not her better half been a man of +determined character, and positive in maintaining the upper hand in the +essentials of domestic government, there was something in the bearing +of his wife which indicated, that one less bold might easily have been +brought under her dominion. + +In her daughter's countenance, the combined charms of simple unaffected +goodness and innocence beamed forth in all their glory. The purity of +her heart, and kindliness of her feelings, were delineated in the +delicate lines of her features, and the soft modest expression of her +eye bespoke unconsciousness of nature's best gifts. Such was this child +of nature, bred and born in the lonely cottage of a restless intriguing +peasant; Albert could not behold her without admiration, and owned to +himself that, had his heart not been already fully occupied with +another, and the distance between the heir to the name of Sturmfeder +and the lower born daughter of the fifer of Hardt been immeasurably +great, she might have won no insignificant place in it. His eye rested +with peculiar pleasure and interest upon her innocent face, and, had +not her mother been so much occupied with her porridge, she could not +have avoided noticing the blushes of her child, when a stolen look at +the young knight by chance met his glance. + +"Now that the platter is empty, is the time to gossip," is a true +saying; which was put in practice as soon as the table cloth was taken +away. Albert had two things particularly at heart. He wished to know +for certain, when the fifer of Hardt would return from Lichtenstein, +because he only awaited intelligence from Bertha to hasten immediately +to her; and, secondly, it was highly necessary for him to learn where +the army of the League was at the present moment. To the first question +he could not expect any further information, than that which the maiden +had already given him, namely, that her father had been absent about +six days, but, having promised to be back on the fifth, she now looked +for his arrival every hour. The good matron shed tears as she bewailed +to her guest how her husband, since the commencement of the war, had +been but a few hours at home; how he had always had the reputation of +being a restless character; and how people rumoured all sorts of +stories about him, which would certainly bring his wife and child into +misfortune and trouble by his dangerous mode of life. + +Albert tried all means to console her and stop her tears; and so far +succeeded, as to enable her to answer his questions respecting the army +of the League. + +"Ah! sir," she said, "terror and misery are our portion now-a-days! it +is just as if a wild huntsman were riding on the clouds, driving over +the country with his ghost hounds. They have overrun all the low +country, and now the whole force is gone to attack Tuebingen." + +"So all the fortresses are in their hands?" said Albert, astonished: +"Hoellenstein, Schorndorf, Goeppingen, Teck, Urach--are they all taken?" + +"All of them, I believe; a man from Schorndorf told me that the +confederates were in Hoellenstein, Schorndorf, and Goeppingen. But I can +tell you for certain about Teck and Urach, as we are only three or four +hours' distance from them." She then related that, on the 3rd of April, +the League's army advanced to Teck; one part of the infantry was posted +before one of the gates of the town, and had a parley with the garrison +about surrendering. Every one flocked to the spot to hear the summons, +and in the meantime the enemy scaled the other gate. But, in the castle +of Urach, there were four hundred ducal infantry, which the citizens +would not admit into the town when the enemy advanced. A battle took +place between them, in which the soldiers were forced into the market +place, where the commander was wounded by a ball, and afterwards run +through the body by a halbert; the town then surrendered to the League. +"It is no wonder," said the fifer of Hardt's wife, as she concluded her +narration, "that they take all the towns and castles; for they have +long falconets and bombarding pieces which shoot balls as large as my +head, breaking down walls and upsetting towers." + +Albert could easily foresee from this information, that the journey +from Hardt to Lichtenstein would not be less dangerous, than that which +he had already performed over the Alb, for he knew that he would be +obliged to pass directly between Urach and Tuebingen. But, as the army +of the League had been withdrawn from Urach several days back, and the +siege of Tuebingen necessarily required a large force, he might hope +there was no post of any importance occupied by the enemy, in the +country through which he would have to travel. He therefore awaited the +arrival of his guide with impatience. + +The wound on his head was quite healed; though the blow had been severe +enough to deprive him of his senses for many days, it was not deep, +owing to the feathers of his cap and the thickness of his hair having +blunted the sharpness of the cut. He had recovered also of the wounds +on his legs and arms, and the only inconvenience he suffered from the +result of that unfortunate night, was a debility arising from the loss +of blood, and lying so long upon the bed of sickness. But his +constitution hourly gained strength, his natural buoyancy of spirit +resumed its sway, and his only thought was to proceed onwards to his +destination. + +He was, however, compelled to summon up all his spirits, to make the +tedious hours he was still doomed to pass in his present quarters at +all bearable. The daughter of the fifer, perceiving how the prolonged +absence of her father distressed him, did her best to beguile the time +by amusing him with her cheerful conversation. The delay was +nevertheless not without its advantages, for he became acquainted with +the character and life of the Swabian peasant. Their manners and +dialect were quite new to him. His countrymen, the Franconians, +although bordering so near on this part of Wuertemberg, were to his mind +a race more subtle and crafty,--in many respects less polished,--than +these. But the kind-hearted honesty of the Swabians, which their looks, +address, and actions bespoke,--their cheerful industry, their +cleanliness and order, giving to poverty a respectable, indeed a +substantial, appearance; in short, everything he saw induced him to +think they possessed more intrinsic good qualities than their shrewder +neighbours. + +He was very much taken with the unaffected simplicity of the young +girl's talk. Her mother might scold as much as she liked, and remind +her continually of the high rank of the knight, she was not to be +deterred from entertaining him, and she was particularly bent upon not +giving up her secret plan to ascertain whether she or her mother were +right in their views respecting the white and blue scarf. Upon this +subject she had her own thoughts, arising out of the following +circumstance: + +One night when Albert was very ill, she had remained up late to keep +her father company, who was watching by his bed-side. But having fallen +asleep over her work, she was aroused, it might have been about ten +o'clock, by a noise in the room. She saw a man in earnest conversation +with her father, whose features did not escape her notice, although he +tried to conceal them under a large cap. She thought she recognised in +the stranger a servant of the knight of Lichtenstein, who had often +been in the habit of coming in a mysterious way to the fifer of Hardt, +upon which occasion she was always obliged to leave the apartment. + +Bent upon knowing what this man had to communicate to her father, she +feigned to be asleep thinking he would not disturb her. She was right +in her conjecture; and heard the stranger speak of a young lady, who +was inconsolable, on account of a certain young man. She had +commissioned him to go to Hardt to ascertain the truth of the report +which had given her great concern, and had determined to acknowledge +every thing to her father respecting her acquaintance with the invalid, +and in case he returned to her with unsatisfactory intelligence, she +would immediately proceed to nurse him herself. + +The messenger from Lichtenstein spoke in an under tone, as if afraid of +being overheard; and her father, lamenting the case of the lady, +represented the state of the patient as being likely soon to be +ameliorated, and promised that, when he was decidedly better, he would +immediately convey the consoling news to her himself. The stranger then +cut off a lock of the sick man's hair, folded it up carefully in a +cloth, which he carried under his jacket, and being led out of the room +by her father, took his departure. + +The many occupations of the following days, had driven the conversation +of the stranger from the recollection of the fifer's daughter; but when +she witnessed the scene from the kitchen window, it came back in full +force to her mind. She knew that the knight of Lichtenstein had a +daughter, because her aunt had been her nurse, and now was her +attendant. It could be no other than this very lady, who had sent the +servant to inquire about the sick man, and intended to come herself to +nurse him. + +All the stories she had ever heard as she sat at the spinning-wheel on +a long winter's evening,--and there were many terrible ones, of king's +daughters in love, of gallant knights sick in prison, saved by the +hands of noble ladies,--came to her remembrance. She did not exactly +know what people of quality thought of love, but she supposed that +sensation must be much the same kind of thing, which girls of her +village felt, when they surrendered their hearts to handsome young +fellows of their own rank in life. With this idea strong in her mind, +she thought how painful must be the situation of the noble lady, living +in the high and distant castle, not to know whether her treasure were +dead or alive, nor to be able to come to him, to see him, and to watch +over him. + +These reflections brought tears into her eye, generally so animated and +cheerful. Her heart was touched at the idea of the narrow escape the +lady had run of losing her lover; and supposing her to be the daughter +of a noble, rich knight, she necessarily must be very beautiful, her +imagination led her to fancy her situation to be doubly inconsolable. +But was not the young man to be equally pitied, if not more so? thought +she. Her father had surely ere this imparted to the lady the gratifying +news of her lover's recovery; whilst he, poor man, had not heard one +word from her for many days! Has he not been deprived of his senses +during nine whole days; and since their return been left in anxious +suspense on her account? These circumstances, therefore, left no doubt +upon her mind, of the reason why he cherished the scarf with such +tender regard, and convinced her from whose hands it came, at the same +time that it satisfied her why he constantly pressed it to his heart +and lips. Thinking to give him comfort, she determined to relate to him +what had passed on that night, when she overheard the conversation +between her father and the stranger. + +Whilst Barbelle was occupied at her spinning wheel, Albert remarked +that she was not so cheerful as usual, that there was a cast of +seriousness on her countenance, which he had never observed before. Her +mind appeared occupied with a thought that distressed her; nay, he even +perceived a tear in her eye. He was so much struck by the change, as to +wish to know the cause of it. "What have you at heart, girl?" he asked, +just after her mother had left the room. "What makes you all at once so +silent and serious? you even moisten your thread with tears!" + +"And can you be gay, sir?" asked Barbelle, and looked at him +inquisitively in the face. "I think I saw something once fall from your +eye also, which moistened that scarf. I am sure it was given you by +your love; and I was just thinking how much I grieved that you were not +by her side." + +Albert was taken by surprise at this remark of his young friend, and +blushed deeply, which satisfied her she had made a better guess about +the mysteries of the scarf than her mother had. "You are not far +wrong," he answered, smiling; "but I am not uneasy on that account, as +I hope to see her again very shortly." + +"Ah! what joy there will be at Lichtenstein when that happy event comes +to pass," said Barbelle, whose countenance had now resumed its wonted +gaiety. + +What could be the meaning of this, thought Albert? could her father +have made known to her the secret of his love? "In Lichtenstein, did +you say? what do you know about me and Lichtenstein?" + +"Ah! I rejoice to think of the happiness the noble lady will have when +she sees you again. I have heard how miserable she was when you were +ill." + +"Miserable, did you say?" cried Albert, springing upon his feet, and +approaching her; "was she aware of my state? O speak! what do you know +of Bertha? Are you acquainted with her? What has your father said of +her?" + +"My father has not said a single word to me; and I should not have +known there was such a person as a lady of Lichtenstein, if my aunt was +not her nurse. But you must not be offended at me, sir, if I listened a +little; look ye, this is the way I know it." She then related how she +became acquainted with the secret; and that her father was probably +gone to Lichtenstein to give the lady comforting intelligence of his +recovery. + +Albert was painfully affected at this news. He had all along cherished +the hope that Bertha would have heard of his misfortune and recovery at +the same time, and have been spared much anxiety on his account. He +well knew how the cruel uncertainty of his being safe from the +vigilance of the enemy's patroles, even had his health been restored, +would wear upon her spirits; perhaps affect her health also. Truly his +own misfortune appeared nothing, when he compared it to the distress of +that dear girl. How much had she not gone through in Ulm! how painful +the separation from him! and now scarcely had she enjoyed the thought +of his having quitted the colours of the League, scarcely had she been +able to look forward to a more cheerful futurity, when she was +terrified by the news of his being almost mortally wounded. And all +this she was obliged to suffer in secret, to conceal it from the looks +of her father--without possessing one single soul as a friend, to whose +sympathy she could confide the secret of her heart--and from whom she +might seek consolation. He now felt more than ever how necessary it +became to hasten his departure for Lichtenstein; and his impatience was +inflamed into anger, that the fifer of Hardt, otherwise a cautious and +clever man, should just at this moment remain so long absent. + +The maiden guessed his thoughts: "I plainly see you long to be +away--oh, were but my father here to shew you the way to Lichtenstein! +It would be imprudent in you to go alone, for there would be no +difficulty in detecting your not being a Wuertemberger by your speech. +Do you know what? I'll run to meet my father, and hurry him home." + +"You go to meet him?" said, Albert touched by the proposal of the +good-hearted girl; "do you know whether he be in the neighbourhood? he +may be still some distance from home; and it will be dark in an hour." + +"And were it so dark, that I should be obliged to grope my way +blindfolded to Lichtenstein, I'll wager you could not go faster to +your----." Blushing, she cast her eyes down; for although her good +heart induced her to proffer her services as a messenger of love, she +felt confused when she touched upon the tender subject, which had been +made so clear to her this day, and which confirmed her in her former +suspicions. + +"But if you volunteer to go to Lichtenstein out of regard for me, there +is no reason why I should not accompany you, rather than remain behind, +to await the arrival of your father. I'll saddle my horse immediately, +and ride by your side; you can shew me the way until I am far enough +not to mistake the rest of it." + +The girl of Hardt scarcely knew which way to look, when Albert made +this proposal; and playing with the ends of her long plaits of hair, +said, almost in a whisper, "But it will be so soon dark." + +"Well, what does that signify? So much the better, because I shall then +be able to arrive in Lichtenstein by cock-crow," answered Albert; "you +yourself proposed finding the way through the darkness." + +"Yes, to be sure, so I could," replied Barbelle, without looking up; +"but you are not strong enough yet to undertake the journey; and he who +has just risen from a sick bed, must not think of travelling six hours +in the night." + +"I cannot pay any more attention to that," said Albert; "my wounds are +all healed, and I feel as well as ever I was; so get ready, my good +girl, we will start immediately; I'll go and saddle my horse." He took +the bridle, which hung on a nail on the wall, and went to the door. + +"But, sir! hear me, good sir!" cried the girl, in a beseeching tone, +after him: "pray do not think of going now. It would not be proper for +me to travel alone with you in the dark. The people in Hardt are very +censorious, and they would certainly say some ill-natured thing of me +if----; better stay till to-morrow morning, when I will willingly go as +far as Pfullingen with you." + +The young man respected her reasons, and replaced in silence the bridle +on the nail. It would certainly have been much more agreeable to him, +if the folks of Hardt had been less inclined to think evil of their +neighbours; but he could not do otherwise than meet the well-meant +scruples of Barbelle in their proper light. He therefore determined to +remain the night waiting the arrival of the fifer of Hardt; should he +not then come, he would mount his horse by daybreak, and set out for +Lichtenstein, under the conduct of his young friend. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + The whispering breezes fan the day, + And gently blow around; + With fragrance passing sweet they play, + And break with dulcet sound. + Now, my poor heart, be not oppress'd by fear, + Those breezes will a better fortune bear. + L. UHLAND. + +But the fifer of Hardt did not return home that night; and as Albert +could no longer restrain his desire to prosecute his journey, he +saddled his horse at break of day. His good hostess, after no small +struggle, allowed her daughter to accompany him. She was afraid lest +such an extraordinary event should furnish conversation, perhaps not to +the credit of her child, for many an evening's gossip in the spinning +occupations of her neighbours, and therefore reluctantly gave her +consent. Upon the consideration, however, of the interest her husband +must have taken in the welfare of the young knight, having treated him +like a son in concealing him in his house, she thought she could not +well refuse him this last piece of service. She accordingly permitted +her daughter to go as his guide, upon the sole condition, that she was +to proceed a quarter of an hour's distance in advance, and wait for him +at a certain milestone. + +Albert was affected in taking leave of the kind-hearted matron, who, +out of respect for him, had decked herself out in her best Sunday's +attire. He had placed a gold ducat in the carved chest, as a mark of +gratitude for the attention he had received from her; a considerable +present in those days, and a large sum out of the travelling purse of +Albert von Sturmfeder. It would appear that the fifer of Hardt never +knew a word about this deposit whether it was, that his wife did not +find the piece of gold, or that she did not like to inform him of it, +fearing lest he might return the present to the donor, and thereby +affront him. But so much is certain, that the musician's wife was +shortly after seen in church dressed in a new gown, to the astonishment +and envy of all the women of the neighbourhood, and her daughter +Barbelle wore a beautiful bodice of the finest cloth, trimmed with +gold, which had never been seen before, at the next feast, kept in +commemoration of the dedication of the church. She was always seen to +blush, also, whenever any of her companions felt the texture of the new +bodice and congratulated her upon the acquisition of it. Such was the +effect which a single piece of gold produced in the village of Hardt, +in those good old times! + +Albert found his conductor sitting on the appointed milestone. She +jumped up as soon as he arrived, and walked with a quick pace beside +his horse. The girl appeared much more cheerful than the day before. +The fresh air of an April morning had given her cheeks a high colour, +and her eyes sparkled with kindness. Her costume was well adapted for a +long walk, for her short petticoats did not impede her progress. A +basket hung on her arm, as if she were going to market. But neither +vegetables nor fruit were contained in it, which was generally the case +on such occasions; she only carried a large shawl, as a precaution +against April showers. The young man thought to himself, as his +companion walked by his side, what a housekeeper she would make for +some country swain, who should be fortunate enough to possess her for a +wife! + +She had inherited much of the vivacity of her father's character. For +in the same way that he beguiled the time of his companion on their +journey over the Alb, by relating stories and pointing out the +principal features of the country, did she draw his attention to the +most beautiful points of view of the surrounding vallies and mountains; +or imparted to him, unsolicited, the popular anecdotes of castles, or +other striking objects. + +Choosing the most unfrequented paths, she led her guest only through +two or three villages, and rested awhile after every two hours' walk. +At last, after having made four such stations, a town was seen about a +short half-hour's walk from them; the road parted at the spot of their +last halt, and a foot-path to the left conducted to a village. At this +point of separation, the girl said: "That is Pfullingen which you see +yonder, from whence any child will show you the road to Lichtenstein." + +"How! are you going to leave me already?" asked Albert, who was so much +charmed with the cheerful conversation of his companion, that the +thought of parting from her took him by surprise. "Will you not come at +least as far as Pfullingen, where you can rest yourself, and have some +refreshment? You don't intend to return home immediately?" + +The girl endeavoured to look merry and unconcerned; but she could not +conceal an expression about her mouth and eye, which betrayed the pain +she felt at parting from her guest, whose presence might have been much +dearer to her than she was, perhaps, altogether aware of. "I must leave +you here, sir," she said, "much as I would willingly go on with you; +but my mother will have it so; I have a cousin in that village on the +hill, where I will remain to-day, and return to Hardt to-morrow. And +now may God and the Holy Virgin protect you, and all the Saints take +you under their care! Remember me to my father, should you meet him; +and," she added with a smile, as she quickly dried a tear, "give my +respects to the lady also whom you love." + +"Thanks, many thanks, Barbelle," replied Albert, as he took her hand to +wish her goodbye; "I can never repay your faithful care of me; but when +you get home, look into the carved chest, where you will find something +which will, perhaps, provide you with a new bodice or petticoat for +Sunday. And when you put it on for the first time, and your true love +kisses you, then think of Albert von Sturmfeder." + +The young man gave his horse the spur, and trotted across the green +plain towards the town. When he had gone about two hundred paces, he +turned around to have one more look at his young guide. There she stood +on the same spot where he had left her, watching him as he increased +his distance from her, with her hands up to her eyes; but whether to +guard them from the rays of the sun, as she followed him with her look, +or whether to wipe away the tear which stood on the brink of her eyelid +as they parted, Albert could not precisely tell. + +He was soon at the gate of the town, and, feeling tired and thirsty, +inquired where the best inn was? He was shown a small gloomy-looking +house, having the sign of a Golden Stag, and a spear and shield, over +the door. A little bare-footed boy led his horse to the stable, whilst +he was received at the entrance by a young, good-natured looking woman, +who conducted him into the room common to all. This was a large dark +apartment, around the walls of which were placed heavy oak tables and +benches. The number of well-polished cans and jugs, placed in regular +order upon shelves, proved that the Stag was much frequented. As it +was, there were already many men seated, drinking wine, although it was +only just mid-day. They scrutinized the distinguished-looking knight +very closely, as he passed their table to the place of honour which was +situated at the top of the room, in a kind of bow window of the shape +of a lantern, with six glass sides; but their conversation was in no +wise interrupted by the appearance of the stranger, for they went on +talking of peace and war, battles and sieges, in the way which +independent citizens were wont to do, Anno Domini 1519. + +The hostess appeared pleased with the bearing of her new guest. She +peered at him with a smiling look as she passed him, and when she +brought him a can of old Heppacher wine, and set a silver tankard +before him for his use, her mouth, which was somewhat large, expressed +friendly intentions. She promised to roast a chicken, and prepare a +table for him, if he would wait patiently a little while; in the mean +time, she hoped the wine was to his taste. The bow window, in which +Albert had taken his seat, was a couple of steps higher than the floor +of the room, so that he could easily look down upon and examine the +company. Though he was not accustomed to pass much time in inns and +drinking rooms, he had a peculiar tact in judging of the characters of +men, and from the circumstance of his being more a man of observation +than of talk, he now had an opportunity of putting this talent into +practice. + +The party which was sitting around one of the large oak tables, +consisted of ten or twelve men. There did not appear to be much +difference in point of circumstances among them, at the first glance; +large beards, short hair, round caps, dark jackets, were common to them +all; but, upon a closer inspection, three of them were to be +particularised from the rest. One, sitting nearest to Albert, was a +short, fat, good-humoured looking man; his hair, which fell over his +neck, was longer and more carefully combed than his neighbours'; his +dark beard appeared also to be the peculiar object of his attention. +His cloak of fine black cloth, and a felt hat with a pointed crown and +broad brim, which hung on a nail behind him, denoted him to be a man of +some consequence, perhaps holding the rank of counsellor. He appeared +also to drink a better sort of wine than the rest, for he sipped it +with the air of a connoisseur, and when he made a sign that his jug was +empty, by putting on the cover, a fashion peculiar to those days, he +did it with a certain grace and in more polished manner than the +others. He listened to everything that was said with a cunning look, +like one who knew more than he would deign to express upon the present +occasion. He enjoyed also the privilege of patting the waiting maid on +the cheek, or stroking her round plump arm, when she replenished his +can. + +Another man, who sat at the opposite end of the table, was not less +distinguished than his fat neighbour, from the rest of the group; every +thing belonging to him was lengthy and gaunt. His face from the +forehead to a long pointed chin, measured at least a good span; his +fingers, with which he was beating time to a song he hummed to himself, +closely resembled the limbs of the spider tribe; and as Albert happened +to bend himself, he discovered two long lanky legs, belonging to the +same personage, stretched under the table. There was something about +the twist of his nose also that expressed self-sufficiency, evidently a +prominent feature of his character, for he invariably contradicted the +rest of the party, whenever they spoke. His manner altogether was that +of one who pretends to unrestrained intimacy with persons of higher +rank in life than himself, but who never feels at ease in their +society. Albert thought it not likely that he belonged to the town of +Pfullingen, for he occasionally inquired of the hostess after his +horse, and forming his opinion upon the whole bearing of this +extraordinary looking person, he supposed him to be a travelling +doctor, who in those days rode about the country, dispatching people +professionally. + +The third person who attracted Albert's observation was +ill-conditioned, and raggedly clothed; but there was something quick +and cunning in his appearance, that distinguished him from the +good-humour and tranquillity of his companions, particularly the fat +man. He wore a large plaister over one of his eyes, whilst the look of +the other was bold and sharp. A large walking stick, with an iron spike +at the end, lay beside him, and a well-worn leather back to his coat, +upon which he probably carried a basket or box, prompted the idea of +his being either a messenger, or more likely a travelling pedlar, one +who visits fairs and festivals, bringing wonderful news from distant +lands, remedies for women against mad animals, and all sorts of +coloured ribands and silks for girls. + +These three men led the conversation, which only now and then was +interrupted by an expression of astonishment from the rest of the +worthy burghers, or by the noise of the covers of their wine cans. + +One subject, among others, appeared the principal point of discussion +between them, and drew the attention of Albert. They spoke of the +undertakings of the League in the low land of Wuertemberg. The pedlar +with the leather back related the storming of Moeckmuehl by the League, +where Goetz von Berlichingen had shut himself up with many brave +followers, and where that iron-fisted man was made prisoner. + +The counsellor smiled knowingly at this piece of news, and took a long +draught of wine; Raw-bones did not permit the leather back man to +finish his story, but beating time with renewed force with his long +fingers, said, with sepulchral voice, "That's a rank lie, friend! it is +impossible, d' ye see; because Berlichingen understands the art of war, +and is a determined man; I ought to know that; and besides, he alone, +with his iron hand, has in many a battle killed two hundred men as dead +as mice; do you suppose then that such a man would allow himself to be +taken?" + +"With your permission," interrupted the fat gentleman, "you are wrong +in what you say, because I know that Goetz is, in fact, a prisoner, and +is now confined in Heilbron. He did not surrender himself, however; +neither was his castle of Moeckmuehl stormed; but when he was marching +out of the gate, the League having promised him and his followers a +free retreat, they fell on him, took him prisoner, and killed many of +his men. That was not fair, and he has been infamously treated." + +"I must beg of you, sir," said the thin man, "not to speak of the +League in such terms; I am acquainted with many of the officers, for +example, Herr Truchses von Waldburg is my most intimate friend." + +The fat man looked big, and appeared as if he wished to make a reply, +but, upon second thoughts, washed the words which were upon the tip of +his tongue, down his throat with a draught of wine. The other burghers, +however, broke out in a murmur of astonishment at the mention of such a +high acquaintance, and raised their caps out of respect. + +"Well, if you are so well acquainted with the movements of the League, +as you pretend to be," said the pedlar, with something of a haughty +mien, "you will be able to give us the last intelligence respecting the +state of Tuebingen." + +"It whistles out of its last hole," answered the rawbone man; "I was +there but a short time ago, and saw most formidable preparations for +the siege." + +"Eh!--what?" whispered the inquisitive burghers among themselves, and +drew nearer, expecting to hear some important news. + +The thin man leaned back on his chair, grasped the handle of his sword +with his long fingers, stretched out his legs a yard further, and said, +with an air of triumph, "Yes, yes, my friends, it looks very bad there; +the surrounding places in the neighbourhood have suffered; all the +fruit trees have been cut down, the town and castle furiously +bombarded, the former having already surrendered. Forty knights, +indeed, still defend the castle; but they cannot hold out their +tottering walls much longer!" + +"What tottering walls do you talk of?" cried the fat man; "whoever has +seen the castle of Tuebingen, must not talk of tottering walls. Are +there not two deep ditches on the side towards the mountains, which no +ladder of the League can scale, and walls twelve feet thick, with high +towers, whence the falconets keep up no insignificant fire, I can tell +you?" + +"Battered down, battered down!" cried the thin man, with such a fearful +hollow voice, as made the astonished burghers think they heard the +falling of the towers of Tuebingen about their ears: "the new tower, +which Ulerich lately built, was battered down by Fronsberg, as if it +had never stood there." + +"But everything is not lost with that," answered the pedlar; "the +knights make sallies from the castle, and many a one has found his bed +in the Neckar. Old Fronsberg had his hat shot from his head, which +makes his ears tingle to this day, I'll be bound." + +"There you are wrong again," said the thin man, carelessly; "sallies, +indeed! the besiegers have light cavalry enough, who fight like devils; +they are Greeks; but whether they come from the Ganges or Epirus, I +know not, and are called Stratiots, commanded by George Samares, who +does not allow a dog of them to sally out of their holes."[1] + +"He also has been made to bite the grass," replied the pedlar, with a +scornful side glance: "the dogs, as you call them, did make a sally, in +spite of the Greeks, and made their leader prisoner, and----" + +"Samares prisoner?" cried the rawbone man, startled out of his +tranquillity; "you are not right again, friend!" + +"No?" answered the other, quietly; "I heard the bells toll, as he was +buried in the church of Saint George." + +The burghers looked attentively at the thin stranger, to notice the +impression this news would make on him. His thick eyebrows fell so low +that his eyes were scarcely visible; he twisted his long thin +mustachios, and striking the table with his bony hand, said: "And if +they have cut him and his Greeks into a hundred pieces, the besieged +can't help themselves! the castle must fall; and when Tuebingen is ours, +good night to Wuertemburg! Ulerich is out of the country, and my noble +friends and benefactors will be the masters." + +"How do you know that he will not come back again? and then----" said +the cautious fat man, and clapped on the cover of his goblet. + +"What! come back again?" cried the other: "the beggar! who says he will +come back again? Who dares say it?" + +"What does it signify to us?" murmured the guests; "we are peaceable +citizens; and it is all the same to us who is lord of the land, +provided the taxes are lowered. In a public house a man has a right to +say what he pleases." + +The thin man appeared satisfied that none of the company dared return +an angry answer. He eyed each of them with a searching look, when, +assuming a kinder manner, he said, "It was only to put you in mind, +that we do not want the Duke any longer as our master that I speak as I +do; upon my soul, he is rank poison to me; so I'll sing you a +_paternoster_, which a friend wrote upon him, and which pleases me +much." The honest burghers, by their looks, did not appear very curious +to hear a burlesque song upon their unfortunate Duke. The other, +however, having cleared his throat with a good draught, began a few +words of a burlesque parody on the Lord's Prayer, in a disagreeable +hoarse tone of voice--a vulgar song, apparently familiar to the ears of +his audience--for no sooner had he commenced, than the good taste of +the burghers manifested itself by a whisper of disapprobation; some +shrugging their shoulders, others winking at each other; symptoms +sufficiently evident to the thin man, that the burden of his song was +not welcome to their ears. He therefore stopt short, looking around for +encouragement; but, finding none, he threw himself back in his chair, +with a scowl of contempt on his features. + +"I know that song well," said the pedlar; "and shame be to him who +would offend the ears of honest men with it. With your permission," he +added, addressing the company, "I'll give you one I think more to your +taste." Encouraged by the rest of the burghers, excepting the thin man, +who squinted at him with scorn, he began: + + Mourn, Wuertemberg! thy fallen state, + Thy drooping pride, thy luckless fate! + A Quack, whom even dogs despise, + Presumes to make thy fortunes rise. + +Noisy applause and laughter, mingled with the hisses of the thin man, +interrupted the singer. The burghers reached across the table, shook +the pedlar by the hand, praised his song, and begged him to proceed. +The raw bone man said not a word, but looked furiously at the company. +He knew not whether to envy the applause which the songster received, +or to feel offended at the subject of his song. The fat man put on an +air of greater wisdom than usual, and joined in approbation with the +rest. The leather-backed pedlar was going on, encouraged by his +audience: + + Of Nurenberg he, a knife-grinder by trade; + His friend was a weaver, a man of low grade-- + +when the thin man, upon hearing these words, and not able to contain +his indignation, flew into a violent rage, and vociferated: "May the +cuckoo stick in your throat, you ragged dog! I know very well who you +mean by the weaver,--my best friend, Herr von Fugger. That such a +vagabond as you should calumniate him!" expressing his anger by a +frightful distortion of his countenance. + +But his opponent was in no wise to be daunted, and held his muscular +fist before him, saying, "Vagabond yourself, Mr. Calmus, I know who you +are; and if you don't keep silence, I'll twist those pot-ladle arms of +yours off your half-starved body." + +The crest-fallen guest rose immediately, and pronounced his regret to +have fallen into such low company; he paid for his wine, and walked out +of the room with the strut of a man of quality. + +FOOTNOTE TO CHAPTER XVI.: + +[Footnote 1: The appearance of these Greeks at the siege of Tuebingen was +an extraordinary event; they were called Stratiots, and were commanded +by George Samares, from Corona, in Albania. He was buried in the +collegiate church of Tuebingen. Crusius says, he was famous for wielding +the lance.] + + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + Hope, faith, and confidence are there, + For all that I esteem are near; + And yet suspicion finds its way, + And makes my hopeless mind its prey. + SCHILLER. + +When the offensive man left the room, the guests looked at each other +with astonishment; they were in a state of mind similar to that of one +who sees a heavy storm arise, and expects it to burst and overwhelm +him; when, behold, it produces little more than a flash in the pan. +They thanked the man with the leather back for having driven away the +odious stranger, and inquired what he knew of him? + +"I know him well," he answered; "he is a worthless, idle fellow, a +travelling doctor, who sells pills to cure the plague; extracts the +worm from dogs, and crops their ears; eases young women of thick necks; +and gives the old ones eyewater, which, instead of healing, makes them +blind. His proper name is Kahlmaueser, or baldmouse; pretending to be a +learned man, he calls himself doctor Calmus. He fastens himself upon +the great, and should one of them call him ass, he fawns upon him as +his best friend." + +"But he cannot be upon good terms with the Duke," remarked the +cunning-looking man; "for he abused him in no measured terms." + +"Yes, he certainly is not happy with him; and for this reason--the Duke +had a beautiful Danish sporting dog, which had run a thorn deep into +its foot. It was a great favourite of the Duke, who inquired after an +experienced man to cure it; and it so happened that this Kahlmaueser was +on the spot, and tendered his services, with a look full of +consequence. The wretch was fed every day with the best of food in the +castle of Stuttgardt, and the fare was so palatable that he remained +more than a quarter of a-year, doctoring the dog's foot. The Duke one +day called for both doctor and dog, to know and see what had been done. +The quack, it appears, talked a great deal of learned stuff, to which +the Duke paid no attention; but, upon examining the wound himself, he +found the dog's foot worse than ever. He laid hold of the doctor, tall +as he was, led him to the top of the long flight of steps, so contrived +that a horse can mount up to the second story, and threw him headlong +down. He was half dead when he arrived at the bottom, so you may +imagine that since that time, Doctor Calmus does not speak well of the +Duke. He is also said to have been a spy between Hutten and Frau +Sabina, and only undertook the care of the dog for the purpose of +remaining in the castle to carry on intrigues." + +"Really! was he in correspondence with Hutten?" said one of the +burghers; "if we had but known that, he should not have come off so +cheaply, the vagabond doctor; for Hutten's amorous intrigue is the +cause of this unhappy war; and it appears that this Kahlmaueser assisted +him in it!" + +"_De mortuis nil nisi bonum_,--we ought to spare the dead, say the +Latins," replied the fat man; "the poor devil has paid his crime dear +enough with his life." + +"It served him right," cried the other burgher, angrily; "had I been in +the Duke's place I would have done the same; every one must protect his +domestic rights." + +"Do not you ride sometimes hunting with the bailiff?" asked the fat +man, with a peculiar crafty smile: "you surely have the best +opportunity to assert your rights; you possess a sword, and could +easily find an oak tree to hang a corpse upon." + +A loud laugh from the burghers of Pfullingen apprised the stranger in +the balcony, that the jealous upholder of domestic rights was not so +well able to administer justice in his own house. He coloured up, and +murmured some unintelligible words as he put his can to his mouth. + +The pedlar, however, who, as a stranger, thought it not courteous to +join in the laugh, took his part: "Yes, indeed, the Duke was quite in +the right, for he had the power of hanging Hutten upon the spot, +without giving him a chance of his life in fair honourable fight. Is he +not president of the Westphalian chair, and of the secret tribunal, +which gives him the power of dispatching villanous fellows without +further ceremony? Had he not the best proof of his treachery before his +eyes? Have you ever heard a pretty little song upon that subject? I'll +sing a couple of verses, if you like: + + "In the forest he turn'd him to Hutten, to know, + What't was on his hand that glittered so?" + "Lord Duke, it is this little ring you see, + This ring which my sweet love gave to me." + + "Hey, Hans, by my troth thou art nobly drest, + A chain of gold, too, lies on thy breast." + "That, too, my true love gave so free, + A pledge that she would remember me." + +"And then it goes on: + + "Oh! Hutten, away! nor spare the goad, + The Duke's eye rolls with fury wode; + Away, whilst there is yet time to fly, + The scabbard is voided, his sword is on high." + +The fat man put on a serious face, and said, "I would not advise you to +go on; such songs in public houses, in these times, are dangerous; they +cannot serve the Duke's cause at present. The confederates being round +about us, some one of them might easily overhear it," he added, as he +cast a scrutinizing glance at Albert, "and then Pfullingen might have +to pay another hundred ducats contribution." + +"God knows, you are in the right," said the pedlar; "it is no longer +the case, as it used to be, when one could freely speak his mind, and +sing a song over his glass; but now a man must always be on the look +out, to see that a partizan of the Duke's does not sit on one side, or +a Leaguist on the other; but, in spite of Bavarian or Swabian, I'll +sing the last verse: + + "There stands an oak in Schoenbuch wood, + It shoots aloft and it spreads abroad; + And centuries hence recorded shall be, + That the Duke hang'd Hutten on that very tree." + +When he had finished, the conversation among the burghers sunk into a +whisper, which made Albert suspect they were making comments upon him. +The good-natured hostess also appeared curious to know who she +entertained in the balcony. When she had spread a clean table-cloth +over the round-table, and placed the repast she had prepared before +him, she took her seat on the opposite side, and questioned him, but +with respect and deference, whence he came, and whither he was going? + +The young man was not inclined to give her positive information as to +the real object of his journey. The conversation to which he had +listened at the long table, made him cautious in giving an answer to +her leading question, for he felt that in times of civil strife, it was +not less indiscreet than dangerous to declare, in a place like a public +inn, to what party he belonged. Albert's peculiar circumstances at this +moment required him to exercise more than ordinary prudence, and he +merely said, "that he came from Franconia, and was going further into +the country, in the neighbourhood of Zollern." With this general answer +to the question, he cut short any other upon the same subject. But +being now in the neighbourhood of Lichtenstein, he thought he might be +able to learn something of the family from the loquacious landlady of +the Golden Stag. Putting a few questions to her respecting the +different surrounding castles and their inhabitants, in the hope of +gaining his point, she very soon related to him reports which deeply +affected his future prospects; for upon the truth or falsehood of them +seemed, to his ardent mind, to depend his future happiness or misery. + +The hostess, fond of a gossip, in less than a quarter of an hour gave +him the history of five or six castles about the country, and among +them of Lichtenstein. The young man drew a deep breath at the sound of +that name, and pushed away the plate from before him, to devote his +whole attention to what she said: + +"Well, the owners of Lichtenstein are not poor; on the contrary, they +possess fields and woods in plenty, and not an acre of land is +mortgaged; rather than do so, the old gentleman would allow his beard +to be shaved off, for believe me he prizes it much, and takes a pride +in smoothing it down when people speak to him. He is a severe stern +man, and what he has once determined upon must be done; as the saying +is, should the bow not bend, it must break. He is also one of those who +have continued faithful to the Duke, for which the League will make him +pay dear." + +"How is his----, I mean--you said he had a daughter?" + +"No," answered the hostess, whilst her cheerful face became clouded of +a sudden, "I certainly said nothing about her, that I am aware of. But +he has a daughter, the good old man; and it had been much better for +him that he went childless to the grave, rather than depart in sorrow +on account of his only child." + +Albert could scarcely believe his ears at these words: what reason +could the landlady have to throw out this allusion? "What has happened +to the young lady?" he asked, whilst he in vain sought to appear +indifferent: "you have excited my curiosity; or is it a secret you dare +not divulge?" + +The woman of the Golden Stag mysteriously looked around on all sides, +to see that no one was listening; the burghers were quietly taken up +with their own conversation, and paid no attention to them, and there +was no one else in the room who could overhear them. "You, I perceive, +are a stranger," she said, after her scrutiny; "you are travelling +further, and have nothing to do in this neighbourhood, so that I can +communicate to you what I would not confide to every one. The lady who +lives there on the Lichtenstein rock, is a----, a----yes; what the +citizens with us would call, a wicked girl, a----" + +"Landlady!" cried Albert. + +"Don't speak so loud, worthy sir; the people will notice it. Do you +suppose I would venture to say what I do not know to be certain truth? +Only think, every night as the clock strikes eleven, she lets her lover +into the castle. Is not that wicked enough for a well-bred young lady?" + +"Mind what you say! Her lover?" + +"Yes, alas! at eleven o'clock in the night, her lover. Is it not a +shame, a disgrace! He is a tall man, and comes to the gate enveloped in +a grey cloak. She has so well arranged it, that all the servants are +out of the way at that hour except the old porter of the gate, who has +assisted her in all her wicked tricks from her childhood. When the +clock strikes eleven in the village, she always comes herself down into +the court, cold as it may be, and brings the keys of the drawbridge, +which she beforehand steals from her father's bed; the old sinner, the +porter, then opens the lock, lets down the bridge, when the man in the +grey cloak hastens to the presence of the young lady." + +"And then?" asked Albert, who scarcely had any more breath in his +breast, scarcely any more blood in his cheeks,--"and then?" + +"Then she brings food, bread and wine: so much is certain, that the +nightly lover must have an uncommon appetite, for many nights running +he has demolished half a haunch of roebuck, and drank three or four +pints of wine; what else they do, I know not; I guess nothing, I say +nothing; but I suppose," she added, with an upward look to heaven, +"they don't pray." + +Albert was angry with himself, after a moment's reflection, for having +doubted for an instant the falsehood of this narration, spun from some +gossipping head; or, should there be any truth in it, it was impossible +that Bertha could act with dishonour to herself. We are told that, +though the passion of love in the young men of the good old times was +not less ardent than in our days, it bore more the character of +idolized respect. It was the custom, in those days, for the lady wooed +to think herself not only not upon an equality, but far superior to her +suitor. + +If we look to the romantic tales and love stories in old chronicles, we +shall find many descriptions of enamoured knights allowing themselves +to be cut to pieces on the spot, rather than doubt the faith and purity +of their mistresses. Judging therefore from this fact, it is not +surprising that Albert von Sturmfeder could not bring his mind to think +ill of Bertha, and however puzzling these nocturnal visits appeared to +him, he clearly perceived it had not been proved that her father was +ignorant of the transaction, or that the mysterious man was her lover. +He mentioned these doubts to his hostess. + +"Really! you suppose that her father is acquainted with it?" said she; +"not at all--I know it for a certainty, because old Rosel, the young +lady's nurse----" + +"Old Rosel said so?" cried Albert, involuntarily: the nurse, being the +sister of the fifer of Hardt, was well known to him. If she had really +said so, the case was no longer to be doubted, for he knew that she was +a pious woman, and devoted to her charge. + +"Do you know old Rosel?" she asked, wondering at the warmth with which +her guest inquired after that woman. + +"I know her? you forget that I come for the first time to-day in your +neighbourhood; it was only the name of Rosel which struck me." + +Albert parried this question, being desirous the woman should not +suspect he was acquainted with the Knight of Lichtenstein or his +family. + +"Don't they call her so in your country? Rosel means Rosina with us, +and the old nurse in Lichtenstein goes by that name. But observe, she +is a particular friend of mine, and comes now and then to see me, when +I give her a glass of hot sweet wine, which she loves dearly, and out +of gratitude tells me all the news. What I have told you comes from her +mouth. Old Lichtenstein knows nothing of the nocturnal visits, because +he goes to bed regularly at eight o'clock; and his daughter sends her +nurse every evening at eight o'clock also to her apartment. It struck +the good Rosel, however, a few nights ago, that there must be some +mysterious cause for this conduct. She pretended to go to bed,--and +only think what happened? Scarcely was everything quiet in the castle, +when the young lady, who otherwise never touches a chip of wood, laid +heavy logs on the hearth with her own delicate hands, made a fire, +cooked and roasted the best way she could, got wine out of the cellar, +and bread out of the cupboard, and spread the table in the dining room. +She then opened the window and looked out in the cold dark night, when, +just as the village clock struck eleven, the drawbridge rattled down on +its chains, the nocturnal visitor entered, and went into the dining +room with the young lady. Rosel has often listened in vain to hear the +conversation between them, but the oak doors are very thick, and she +peeped also once through the keyhole, but could only perceive the head +of the stranger." + +"Well, is he an old man? What does he look like?" + +"Old, indeed? what are you thinking about? She does not look like one +who would put up with an old lover. Rosel told me he was young and +handsome, with a dark beard on his chin and lip, beautiful smooth hair +on his head, and looked very kind and gracious." + +"May Satan pluck hair for hair out of his beard!" muttered Albert, as +he passed his hand over his own chin, which was tolerably smooth. +"Woman! are you sure you have really heard all this from old Rosel? +Have you not added more than she told you?" + +"God forbid that I should calumniate any one! You don't know me, sir +knight! Rosel told me every word of it, and she suspects a great deal +more, and whispered in my ear things which it does not become a +respectable woman to relate to a young man. And only think how very +wicked the young lady must be; she has had also another lover, to whom +she is unfaithful." + +"Another?" asked Albert, to whom the narration appeared to gain more +and more the semblance of truth. + +"Yes, another; who according to Rosel's account must be a charming nice +young man. She was with her young mistress in Tuebingen, and there was a +Herr von ---- von ----, I believe he was called Sturmfittich; he studied +at the University; they became acquainted with each other there; and +the old nurse declares such a handsome couple was not to be found in +all Swabia. She was over head and ears in love with him, that's true; +and was very unhappy when she parted with him in Tuebingen; but now her +false heart is unfaithful to the poor youth, and Rosel really weeps +when she thinks of him; he is handsomer, much handsomer, than her +present lover." + +The hostess, who had quite forgotten her household duties in her zeal +to relate the gossip of the neighbourhood, was now called by the fat +man in the drinking room: "Landlady," said he, "how long must I knock +here, before I get another can of wine." + +"Coming, coming, sir!" she answered, and flew to the bar to satisfy the +importunate man, and from thence she went to the cellar, and then to +the kitchen, and was all of a sudden so full of business, that her +guest in the bow had sufficient time to ponder over all he had just +heard. He sat there, his hand supporting his head, looking with fixed +eyes into the bottom of his silver tankard; he remained in that +position from the afternoon till the evening; night advanced, and still +he sat at the round table, dead to all the world about him, giving +signs of life only by an occasional deep sigh. The landlady did not +know what to make of him. She had placed herself at least a dozen times +near him, had tried to speak with him, but he only looked at her with a +staring eye, and answered nothing. She at last got very uneasy, for +just in the same way had her good husband of blessed memory gazed at +her when he died, and left her in possession of the Golden Stag. + +She consulted the fat man, and he with the leather back gave his +opinion also. The landlady maintained that he must be either over head +and ears in love, or that some one must have bewitched him. She +strengthened her supposition by a terrible history of a young knight, +whom she had seen, and whose whole body became quite stiff from sheer +love, which caused his death. + +The pedlar was of a different opinion; he thought that some misfortune +must have happened to the stranger, a circumstance which often befals +those engaged in war, and that, therefore, he was in deep distress. But +the fat man, winking, asked, with a countenance full of cunning +conjecture, what was the growth and age of the wine the gentleman had +been drinking? + +"He has had old Heppacher of the year 1480," said the landlady: "it is +the best that the Golden Stag furnishes." + +"There we have it," said the wise fat man; "I know the Heppacher of the +year eighty, and such a young fellow cannot stand it; it has got into +his head. Let him alone, with his heavy head upon his hand; I'll bet +that before the clock strikes eight he will have slept his wine out, +and be as fresh as a fish in water." + +The pedlar shook his head and said nothing; but the hostess praised the +acknowledged sagacity of the fat man, and thought his supposition the +most probable. + +It was now nine o'clock; the daily visitors of the drinking room had +all left it, and the landlady was also on the point of retiring to +rest, as the stranger awoke out of his reverie. He started up, made a +few hasty steps about the room, and at last stood before the hostess. +His look was clouded and disturbed, and the short time which had +elapsed between mid-day and the present moment had so far altered the +features of his otherwise kind, open countenance, as to impart to them +an expression of deep melancholy. + +The kind-hearted woman was grieved at his appearance; and calling to +mind the sagacious supposition which the fat man had pronounced as to +the cause of his agitation, she proposed cooking a comfortable supper +and preparing a bed for him; but her kind offices were altogether +unavailing, as he appeared bent upon a rougher pastime for the night. + +"When did you say," he inquired with a altering voice, "when did you +say the nocturnal guest went to Lichtenstein? and at what hour did he +depart?" + +"He enters at eleven o'clock, dear sir," she replied; "and at the first +cock crow he retires over the drawbridge." + +"Order my horse to be saddled immediately, and let me have a guide to +Lichtenstein." + +"At this hour of night!" cried the landlady, and clasped her hands +together in astonishment; "you would not start now: you surely cannot +be in earnest." + +"Yes, good woman, I am in real earnest; so make haste, for I am in a +hurry." + +"You have not been so all day long," she replied, "and you now would +rush over head and ears into the dark. The fresh air, indeed, may do +invalids such as you some good; but don't suppose I'll let your horse +out of the stable this night; you might fall off, or a hundred +accidents might happen to you, and then it would be said, 'where was +the head of the landlady of the Golden Stag, to let people leave her +house in such a state, and at such an hour.'" + +The young man did not heed her conversation, having relapsed into the +same melancholy mood as before; but when she finished, and paused to +get an answer, he roused up again, and wondered that she had not yet +put his orders into execution. + +While she still hesitated to meet his wishes, and saw he was on the +point of going himself to look after his steed, she thought that, as +her good intentions were unavailable to retain him in her house, it +would be more advisable to let him have his own way. "Bring the +gentleman's horse out," she called to her servant, "and let Andres get +ready immediately, to accompany him part of the way. He is in the right +to take some one with him," she said to herself, "who may be of use to +him in case of need. How much do you owe me, did you say, sir knight? +why, you have had a measure of wine, which makes twelve kreuzers; and +the dinner,--as to that it's not worth talking about, for you ate so +little; indeed you scarcely looked at my fowl. If you give me two more +kreuzers for the feed of your horse, you shall receive the thanks of +the poor widow of the Golden Stag." + +Having paid his reckoning in the small current money of the times, +Albert took his leave of his kind landlady, who though her opinion of +him was somewhat changed since he first entered her house, proceeding +from an air of mystery about his character which she could not account +for, still she could not conceal from herself, when he threw himself +into the saddle by the light of a torch, that she had seldom seen a +handsomer youth. She therefore impressed upon the lad who accompanied +him to be very careful, and keep an especial look out upon the +gentleman, "who," she added, "did not appear to be quite right in his +head." Having reached the outer gate of Pfullingen, the guide asked his +new master where he wished to go? and upon his answer, "to +Lichtenstein," took a road to the right, leading to the mountains. +Albert rode on in profound silence; he looked not to the right nor to +the left, neither at the stars over head nor in the distant horizon; +his eye only sought the ground. His mind now was in much the same state +as at that moment when a blow from the hand of an enemy laid him +senseless on the ground. His thoughts stood still, hope no longer +animated him, he had ceased to love and to wish. But at that time, when +he sank, exhausted, on nature's cool carpet, his last thoughts were +cheered with the endearing recollection of his beloved, and his +benumbed lips were still able to pronounce once more her idolized name. + +But that light seemed to be extinguished which had hitherto guided his +steps. It appeared as if he had but a short distance still to go in the +dark, in order to seek his peace of mind in a light different to that +he had fondly hoped to find on the Lichtenstein rock. His right hand +went occasionally to his sword, as if to assure himself that at least +this companion was faithful to him, for he now trusted to it alone, as +the important key by which he might open the door that would lead from +darkness to light. + +The travellers had long since reached the wood; the path became +steeper, and the horse with difficulty ascended the hill with his +rider, who was, however, unconscious of all surrounding objects. The +night air blew cool, and played with the flowing locks of the young +man,--he felt not its effects; the moon rose and lighted up the road, +which ascended amidst huge masses of rock and tall oaks, under which he +passed,--he noticed them not; time flowed on unobserved by him; hour +followed hour in rapid succession, unheeded by his troubled mind. + +It was past midnight when they arrived at the summit of the highest +hill, and having reached the skirts of the wood, they beheld the castle +of Lichtenstein before them, situated upon an insulated perpendicular +rock, rising as if by magic from the depths of darkness, and separated +by a broad chasm from the surrounding country. Its white walls, its +indented rocks, glimmered in the moonlight; it seemed as if the castle +slumbered in the profound tranquillity of solitude, cut off from the +rest of the world. + +Albert cast a troubled glance towards it, and sprang from his horse, +which he fastened to a tree, and sat down on a stone covered with moss +directly opposite the castle. The guide stood waiting for further +orders, and asked several times in vain, whether his services were +required any longer. + +"How long is it to the first crow of cock?" inquired Albert at last. + +"Two hours, sir," was the answer of the lad. + +He then gave him a handsome reward for his conduct, and made signs to +him to depart. The boy hesitated to obey him, as if afraid of leaving +the young man in his present state of mind; but, upon his repeating the +sign with impatience, he withdrew with a slow step. He looked back once +before he regained the wood, and observed his silent master still +seated upon the same stone, under an oak, with his hand supporting his +head. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + This hollow path must be his way, + It doth to Kuessnacht lead, + So here I will his coming stay, + And here I'll do the deed. + SCHILLER. + +Much has been said and written in all ages upon the folly of jealousy, +but since the days of Uriah the world has nevertheless not grown wiser +upon the subject. + +The news which Albert von Sturmfeder had heard from the hostess of the +Golden Stag respecting the nocturnal visits of the stranger to the +castle of Lichtenstein, had created a feeling in his breast to which it +had hitherto been a perfect stranger, and he did not possess sufficient +coolness of blood, to exercise his judgment with calmness and +moderation, upon a subject of such vital importance to his future +prospects. Though he was of an age in which an open generous +disposition places implicit reliance in the honour of others, yet taken +by surprise, as his unsuspicious heart now was, in its dearest +affections, the consequences were likely to become fatal to his +happiness. The anguish attendant upon plighted faith broken, burnt +within him; he could scarcely control the feeling of wounded pride, at +being made the dupe of misplaced confidence; that calm judgment which +teaches us to discriminate between right and wrong forsook his mind, +and the truth was veiled from his sight in an atmosphere of gloomy +foreboding. The fiendish associates, contempt, rage, and revenge, +which, with many others, compose the steps of the ladder of feeling +between love and hatred, now assailed him, and rendered even jealousy a +secondary passion in his breast. + +Brooding over these tormenting sensations, he sat upon the moss-covered +stone, insensible to the chill of the night air, and his only thought +was, to meet the nocturnal visitor, and demand an explanation. + +When the clock struck two in a village beyond the wood, he observed +lights moving in the windows of the castle. His heart beat in full +expectation; he grasped the hilt of his sword. A few moments after the +lights were visible behind the trellis of the gate, and dogs began to +bark. Albert sprang upon his feet, and threw his cloak aside. He heard +a deep voice very distinctly say, "Good night." The creaking drawbridge +was lowered over the abyss which separates the rock of Lichtenstein +from the country; the gate opened, when a man, his hat falling deep +over his face, and enveloped in a dark cloak, came over the bridge, +directly towards the spot where Albert was standing. + +When he had arrived at a few paces from him, the young man called out +in a threatening tone, "Draw, traitor, and defend your life!" and +advanced on him. The man in the cloak stepped back, drawing his sword; +in a moment the two blades met. + +"You shall not have me alive," cried the other; "at least I'll sell my +life dear!" and with these words the stranger attacked him vigorously, +proving himself by the rapid and heavy blows which he dealt to be an +experienced swordsman, and no despicable opponent. This was not the +first time Albert had crossed blades in anger; for at the university of +Tuebingen he had fought many an honourable duel with success; but now he +had found his match. His adversary pushed him hard, and his attack was +maintained with so masterly a hand, that Albert was compelled to +confine himself solely to his own defence, when, in a last attempt to +settle the affair by one powerful thrust, his arm was suddenly seized +by a strong hand from behind, and in the same moment his sword was +wrested from his grasp. A loud voice, from the person who now held him +fast in both his arms, cried, "Run him through, sir; such assassins +don't deserve a moment's time to say their paternoster." + +"You do it, Hans," said the stranger; "I am not the one to take the +life of a defenceless man; run him through with his own sword, and be +quick about it." + +"Let me rather do it myself, sir," said Albert, with a firm voice; "you +have robbed me of my love,--what further need have I of life?" + +"What is that I hear?" said the stranger, and approached nearer. + +"What voice is that?" said the other stranger, who still kept a firm +hold of Albert; "I ought to know its sound." He turned the young man in +his arms, and, as if struck by lightning, he let go his hold. "What on +earth do I see! we might have made a pretty business of it!--but what +unlucky star has brought you to this spot, sir? How could my people +think of letting you depart without my knowledge?" + +It was the fifer of Hardt who addressed Albert, and now offered him his +hand. He was not, however, much inclined to return the friendly salute +of a man who but a moment before was going to perform the part of +executioner. Burning with fury, he looked at the man in the cloak, and +then at the fifer: "Do you mean to say," said he, addressing himself to +the latter, "that I ought to have allowed myself to remain a prisoner +in your house, for the purpose of not witnessing your traitorous +designs? Miserable impostor! And you, sir," turning to the other, "as +you value your honour, defend yourself singly, and not fall two upon +one. If you wish to know my name, I am Albert von Sturmfeder, come here +for the express purpose of measuring swords with you, to uphold my +previous claim to the Lady of Lichtenstein, which pretension, perhaps, +may not be unknown to you. I demand my sword back again, having been +wrenched from my hand by an act of treacherous cowardice, and let each +make good his pretensions in honourable fight. With my life alone will +I cease to assert my right." + +"Albert von Sturmfeder!" replied his opponent in surprise, but in a +friendly manner. "It appears you must be labouring under some mistake. +Believe me, that, instead of being your enemy I am much interested in +you, and have long wished to see you. Accept my friendship, upon the +word of honour of a man; and do not imagine I visit the castle with the +sinister views you attribute to me." + +He stretched out his hand from under his cloak, and offered it to the +astonished youth, who hesitated, however, to take it. The skill with +which he wielded his sword, and the heavy blows he dealt out, +strengthened Albert in his opinion, that his opponent was accustomed to +the use of his weapon; and that he was a man of honourable and generous +character, seemed satisfactorily proved in the frank and unreserved +manner he proffered his hand when he became acquainted with his name. +Under these circumstances therefore he could scarcely forbear trusting +to his word. Still his mind could not in an instant shake off doubts of +being deceived under the specious dealings of the stranger, which made +him undecided to accept, without further reserve, the proffered +friendship of a man whom but the moment before he had looked upon as +his bitterest enemy. + +"Who is it that offers me his hand?" demanded Albert; "I have given you +my name, it is but just you tell me yours." + +The stranger threw his cloak back, and raising his hat, discovered to +Albert, by the light of the moon, a noble countenance, with a brilliant +sparkling eye, bearing the expression of commanding dignity. "Ask not +my name," said he, whilst a ray of sorrow played about his mouth; "that +I am a man of honour, is sufficient for you to know. I once, indeed, +bore a name which was upon a level with the most honourable in the +world; I once wore the golden spurs, and carried the waving plume of +feathers in my helmet, and, at the sound of my bugle, could assemble +hundreds of my people around me--but now all is lost. One thing alone +remains to me," he added, with indescribable dignity, taking the hand +of the young man with a firm grasp, "I am a man, and carry a sword,-- + + 'Si fractus illabatur orbis + Impavidam ferient ruinae.'" + +With these words he drew his hat again over his face, and throwing his +cloak over his person, withdrew, and was soon lost in the wood. + +Albert von Sturmfeder stood in dumb astonishment, resting on his sword. +The commanding look of the stranger, his winning benevolent features, +his brave and generous conduct, filled his soul with admiration and +respect. Revenge, which had agitated his breast before he crossed +swords with him, no longer ruffled it, but gave way to the +contemplation of the virtues which his opponent had displayed in his +unexpected rencontre with one, whose life he might have taken in the +just defence of his own person. But what conduced above all to raise +this man higher in Albert's estimation, was the frank and honest manner +in which he had disavowed any clandestine acquaintance with Bertha, +having confirmed it by a gallant defence of his honour, which he seemed +as capable of asserting as he did of wielding his weapon. Such was the +result of this adventure upon the mind of Albert, that he felt it +relieved of a mountain's weight of trouble and anxiety, with which, but +a few moments back, it had been oppressed. The malicious reports of the +hostess of the Golden Stag, which he had too readily given credit to, +now stung him with shame and remorse. He would willingly have risked +every thing at that moment to have gained admittance to the castle, and +thrown himself at the feet of his beloved, to implore her forgiveness +for having given place to a doubt of her faithful attachment. + +When we consider the weight and respect which physical qualities +carried with them in those times,--how bravery, even in an enemy, was +prized and admired,--and that the word of a gallant man was held as +sacred as an oath on the altar;--and, if we further recollect how +imposing is the effect of a pleasing outward appearance upon a young, +generous mind, it is not to be wondered that the change in Albert's +feelings was as decided as it was rapid. + +"Who is that man?" he asked the fifer, who still stood by him. + +"You heard from his own lips that he has no name, and neither do I know +what to call him." + +"You don't know who he is," replied Albert, "and still you were present +when we fought? Away with you; you deceive me." + +"Indeed not, sir," answered the fifer: "it is true, God knows! that in +these times he has no name. But, if you must know what he is, I can +tell you. He has been driven from his castle by the League, and now +wanders in banishment: he was once a powerful knight in Swabia." + +"Poor man! for this reason he conceals his person? Well might he, +indeed, have taken me for an assassin. I recollect his having said he +would sell his life dearly." + +"Don't be offended, worthy sir," said the countryman, "that I also took +you for one of those who are lurking about to take his life; I came +therefore to his assistance, and, had I not heard your voice, who knows +how much longer you would have breathed? But what brought you hither at +this hour of the night? and what mishap threw you into the path of the +banished man? Truly, you may think yourself fortunate that he did not +cut you in two, for there are few who can stand before his sword. Some +one, I suspect, has been playing this cruel game with you." + +Albert related to his former guide the news he had heard in the Golden +Stag of Pfullingen. He pointed out particularly the evidence of the +nurse, the fifer's sister, which gave it an air of so much probability. + +"I thought it would come to that," replied the fifer: "Love has played +many worse tricks, and I don't know what it might not have done to me +in such a case, when I was young. No one is in fault but old Rosel, the +gossip! What business had she to make the hostess of the Golden Stag +her confidant, who cannot keep a secret for a moment?" + +"But there must be some truth in the affair," said Albert, whose former +suspicions were again awakened; "for Rosel could never have said it +without some foundation." + +"Yes, there is indeed much truth in the report. Everything is as true +as she has related. The servants are sent to bed, and the old spy also. +At eleven o'clock the man appears at the castle,--the drawbridge is let +down,--the doors open,--the young lady receives him and leads him into +the saloon----" + +"Well, don't you see?" cried Albert, impatiently, "if all be as you +say, how could that man swear that he had nothing to do with----" + +"That he had nothing of any kind to do with the lady, you would say?" +answered the fifer, "without hesitation he can swear to that; but there +is one essential difference in the story, which that old goose Rosel +certainly never knew; namely, that the knight of Lichtenstein always +receives his guest in the saloon, and, as soon as his daughter has +placed before him the refreshments which she has prepared, she +withdraws. The old gentleman remains with the banished man till the +first crow of the cock, when, after having well satisfied his hunger +and thirst, and warmed his weary limbs at the fire, he leaves the +castle in the same way that he entered it." + +"Oh, fool that I was not to have thought of all this before! The truth +was close at hand, and I pushed it from me! But cursed be the curiosity +and slanderous spirit of those women, who always fancy they can divine +something extraordinary in the most trifling circumstance, and whose +greatest charm consists in conjecturing improbabilities. But tell me," +said Albert, after a moment's thought, "it strikes me very odd, that +this banished man should visit the castle every night exactly as the +clock strikes eleven--in what inhospitable neighbourhood does he +reside, which obliges him to seek subsistence here at that unseasonable +hour? Now, mind, I am not to be trifled with!" + +The eye of the fifer rested upon Albert with an expression almost +amounting to disdain: "Such gentlemen as you," he answered, "certainly +know little of the pain of banishment; you never experienced the horror +of being obliged to conceal yourself from the hand of the assassin, +shivering in damp caves, living in inhospitable caverns, among the +society of owls, deprived of a warm meal and a cheering glass! But come +with me, if you have an inclination,--the day does not break yet, and +you cannot go to Lichtenstein by night,--and I will lead you to the +habitation of the banished knight. You will not ask me again why he +visits the castle at midnight." + +The appearance of the stranger had excited Albert's curiosity to such a +degree, that he willingly accepted the offer of the fifer of Hardt, +more particularly as he then would have the best opportunity of finding +out the truth or falsehood of his assertions. His guide took the bridle +of his horse, and led him down a narrow pathway in the wood. Albert +followed, after he had taken a farewell look at the windows of +Lichtenstein. They moved on in silence, which the young man made no +attempt to break, his thoughts being wholly taken up with the person +whom he was about to visit, and the strange occurrence which had just +taken place. He recollected to have heard somewhere or other that many +staunch partisans of the Duke had been driven from their possessions by +the fury of the League, and he thought that it must have been in the +inn at Pfullingen, where mention had been made of a knight of the name +of Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg, whom the confederates were in search +of. The bravery and extraordinary strength of this man was the common +talk of all Swabia and Franconia; and when Albert recalled to his mind +the powerful figure, the commanding countenance of his late heroic +opponent, he thought it could not possibly be any other than this +knight, one of Duke Ulerich's most faithful followers. The idea of +having had an affair with such a man, and to have measured swords with +him in fair fight, was particularly flattering to the _amour propre_ of +the young man, although the result had been left undecided. + +So thought Albert von Sturmfeder on that night. And after a lapse of +many years, when his noble antagonist had been long reinstated in his +rights, and by sound of bugle could as formerly assemble his followers +in hundreds, he reckoned it among his best feat of arms to have stood +his ground before the brave and powerful stranger. + +They were now arrived at a small open meadow in the wood, which +terminated in a thick hedge of thorns and briars. The fifer having +secured the horse to a tree off the path, made a gap through the +entangled branches, and gave a sign to Albert to follow. It was not +without difficulty and some danger that he obeyed his leader's +directions, who in many places was obliged to assist him with his hand, +as they proceeded down a narrow footpath into a deep ravine. When they +had descended about eighty feet they came to even ground again, where +the young man expected to find the dwelling of the banished man; but he +was disappointed. His companion then went to a tree of great +circumference, and which was hollow from age, and brought forth two +large torches of pine wood, and striking fire by means of a steel and +flint, and a small bit of sulphur, ignited them. + +Albert observed, by the brilliant light of the torches, that they stood +before a large opening which nature had formed in the wall of the rock. +This must be, he thought, the entrance to the habitation of the +stranger, who, as the fifer had expressed himself, had his lodgings +among owls. The man of Hardt took one of the torches, and giving the +other to his companion, said, "The path is dark, and here and there +difficult to trace." With this warning he went on in front, leading +through the dark entrance. + +Albert, whose imagination was on the stretch, had expected to be +introduced to a low cavern, short and narrow, like the dwelling of wild +beasts, such as he had seen about the forests of his own country; but +what was his astonishment, when he entered an immense natural cavern, +resembling the lofty halls of a subterranean palace! He had heard in +his boyhood, from a man-servant whose great-grandfather had been +prisoner in Palestine, a story, which had been handed down from +generation to generation in his family, of a boy who had been enticed +by the arts of a wicked magician into a palace under ground, which +surpassed everything in magnificence he had ever seen above it, and +displayed to his view whatever the bold imagination of the east could +fancy of splendour. Golden pillars surmounted by crystal capitals, +arched cupolas studded with emeralds and sapphires, walls of diamonds +dazzling the eye by their numerous refracting rays, were united in this +subterranean habitation of the genii. This story, which had made a deep +impression on his youthful imagination, now came to his recollection, +and appeared to be realised in what he saw before him. He stopped every +moment in fresh surprise, and holding the torch high up, viewed in +amazement and wonder the lofty and majestic vaulted arches which +continued the whole length of the cavern, sparkling and glittering like +thousands of crystals and diamonds. But his astonishment was still more +excited when his leader, turning to the left, conducted him into a +spacious grotto, which fancy might figure to itself the magnificent +saloon of the subterranean palace. + +The fifer could not help remarking the powerful impression which this +wonder of nature made on the mind of the young man. He took his torch +from him, and mounting a high jutting rock, illumined more effectually +the greatest part of the grotto. + +Brilliant white rocks composed its walls. The bold arched cupola, +formed of innumerable stalactites, from the ends of which hung millions +of small drops of water, reflected the light in all the colours of the +rainbow. The surrounding rocks were thrown together in such happy +confusion, as to give the imagination full scope to fancy it could +discover in their grotesque shapes, here a chapel, having its high +altarpiece ornamented with flowing drapery; there its corresponding +pulpit of rich gothic architecture. An organ even was not wanting to +complete the idea of a subterranean church, and the changing shadows +thrown on the walls by the light of the torches, resembled the solemn +figures of martyrs and holy men placed in niches. + +The guide came down again from his position on the rock, after having, +as he thought, sufficiently satisfied the curiosity of his companion. +"This is called the Nebelhoehle, or the Misty Hollow," said he; "it is +little known in the country, excepting to huntsmen and shepherds, and +few venture to enter it, as all kinds of fearful stories are abroad of +ghosts inhabiting its chambers. I would not advise any one who is not +minutely acquainted with its locality to venture down, for there are +deep cavities and subterranean waters, whence no one would see the +light again, if once entangled amidst their intricacies. There are also +secret passages and compartments known only to five individuals now +alive." + +"But the banished knight," asked Albert, "where is he?" + +"Take the torch, and follow me," replied the other, and led the way +though a side passage. They had proceeded about twenty paces, when +Albert thought he heard the deep tones resembling those of an organ. He +drew the attention of his leader to it. + +"That is some one singing," the fifer answered, "the voice sounds +particularly beautiful and full in these caverns. When two or three men +join their voices together, it resembles the full chorus of monks +chanting the _Ora_." The music became still plainer; and as they +approached the spot, the expressive feeling of a beautiful melody was +distinctly heard. They were obliged to bend themselves under the corner +of a rock, as they proceeded, when the voice of the songster sounded +from above, and broke in repeated echo on the indentations of the wall +of rock, until it was lost in the mingled noises of dripping water from +the moist stones, and the murmur of a subterranean waterfall. + +"That is the place," said the guide; "above there, in the side of the +rock, is the habitation of the unhappy man. Hearken to his voice! We'll +wait and listen till he has finished, for he never was accustomed to be +interrupted, even when he lived above ground." It was with great +difficulty that they could catch the following words on account of the +great echo and the murmur of falling and rushing water. + + The tow'r from whence my childhood gazed + Upon the subject fields so fair, + Now bears a stranger's banner, raised + Where erst my father's fann'd the air. + + To ruin sink my father's halls, + The portion of my ancestry; + O'erthrown and unavenged, the walls + In earth's deep bosom buried lie. + + O'er fields, where once in happier tide + My jocund bugle horn I blew, + The savage foemen fiercely ride: + A noble quarry they pursue. + + I am their game, the quarry chased; + The slot-hound follows where he flies, + Athirst the stag's warm blood to taste, + Whose antlers[1] are the hunter's prize. + + The murderers have bent their bow, + They ransack forest, hill, and plain; + Whilst clad in rags I nightly go + A beggar on my own domain. + + Where once I rode in lordly state, + Whilst greeting vassals bow'd the head; + I fear to tap the cotter's gate, + And beg in pity's name for bread. + + From my own doors ye thrust me out; + Yet will I knock while knock I can: + All is not lost, if heart be stout: + I bear a sword, I am a man. + + I quail not: tho' my heart should break, + I will endure unto the end; + And thus my foes of me shall speak, + "This was a man, and ne'er would bend." + +A deep sigh, which followed the conclusion of the song, gave the +hearers reason to suppose, that the burden of it had not afforded the +unfortunate exile much consolation. A large tear had rolled down the +tanned cheek of the man of Hardt as they stood listening; and Albert +perceived the inward struggle which this good peasant seemed to contend +with in order to compose his mind, and appear before the inhabitant of +the cavern with a cheerful countenance. He requested the young man to +hold his torch awhile; and clambered up the smooth, slippery rock which +led to the grotto whence the sounds they had just heard had issued. +Albert supposed he had gone to acquaint the stranger of his arrival, +but his guide returned with a strong rope in his hand. He descended +half way down the rock again, threw one end of the rope to him, and +desiring him to tie the torches on to it, he pulled them up, and placed +them in a secure corner in the rock. He then assisted his young master +to mount to the spot where he was standing, which he would not have +been well able to accomplish alone. Once up there, they were only a few +paces from the inhospitable abode of the exile. + + * * * * * + +We have attempted to describe this remarkable cavern according to its +natural formation. Some further observations may be interesting to the +reader. The entrance is about 150 feet in circumference; two paths, +which form two natural excavations, one of 100 feet long, the other 82, +lead from thence, and, taking different directions, meet again in the +interior at the distance of about 200 feet. The place where they join +forms a grotto, whence, on the right towards the north, higher up in +the rock, is another smaller one, the spot to which we have led the +reader, to the dwelling of the exile. The whole length of the cavern, +from the entrance to the innermost point, is about 577 feet. + + +FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER XVIII.: + +[Footnote 1: Referring, probably, to the arms of Wuertemberg.] + + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + The rugged rocks fantastic forms assume, + Seen in the darkling of the midnight gloom; + And the wild evergreens so dimly bright, + Seem to reflect a kind of lurid light; + This sight so strange may well our knight amaze, + He stops, upon the witchery to gaze. + WIELAND. + +The spot to which they had arrived in this large cavern, possessed one +great advantage, that of being perfectly dry. The ground was covered +with rushes and straw; a lamp hung on the side of the rock, which threw +sufficient light on the breadth, and a great part of the length, of the +grotto. Opposite the entrance sat the stranger upon a large bear skin, +and near him stood his sword and a bugle horn; an old hat, and a grey +cloak lay on the ground. A jacket of dark brown leather, and trowsers +of coarse blue cloth, covered his person; an unseemly costume, but +which did not the less set off the powerful shape of his body, and the +noble features of his countenance. He was about thirty-four years old, +and his face might be called still handsome and pleasing, although the +first bloom of youth was worn off by hardship and fatigue, and his +beard having grown wild upon his chin, imparted to his look an air of +severity. Albert made these fleeting remarks as he stopped at the +entrance of the grotto. + +"Welcome to my palace, Albert von Sturmfeder," said its inhabitant, +whilst he rose from his bear skin, and offering him his hand, begged +him to take a seat beside him on a deer skin: "you are heartily +welcome," he repeated. "It was no bad thought of our friend the +musician, to introduce you into these lower regions, and bring me such +agreeable society. Hans, thou faithful soul! thou hast been our major +domo and chancellor up to this moment, from henceforth we nominate thee +our head-master of the cellar and purveyor-general. Look behind that +pillar, and thou'lt find the remains of a bottle of good old wine. Take +my beech-wood hunting-cup, the only utensil left us, and fill it up to +the brim, to the honour of our worthy guest." + +Albert beheld the exiled man in astonishment; though he might have +expected to find the energies of his mind unsubdued by the storms of +life, still he was prepared to see him brooding over his misfortunes in +sullen melancholy, driven by hard fate to seek shelter in these +inhospitable regions. What, therefore, was his surprise to find him, on +the contrary, cheerful and unconcerned, joking about his situation, +just as if he had been merely overtaken by a storm in hunting, and had +sought shelter from its violence in the grotto! It was a storm, indeed, +more terrible than the fury of the elements which had driven him from +the castle of his ancestors, for he was the prey that had taken shelter +here from the shots of his murderous huntsmen. + +"You look at me and my abode with astonishment, my worthy guest," said +the knight: "you, perhaps, expected to hear me bewailing my hard +fate--but of what use would that be? As no one can retrieve my +misfortune in this moment, I think it the wisest plan to put a bold +face upon what I cannot alter. But tell me, am not I as well lodged +here as many princes in their palaces? Have you noticed the halls and +saloons of this my palace? do not the walls shine like silver, and the +vaulted ceilings sparkle as if they were set in pearls and diamonds? +and the pillars, do they not glitter with emeralds, rubies, and all +sorts of precious stones? But here comes Hans, my purveyor, with the +wine. Say, my trusty subject, does that cup contain the whole of our +cellar?" + +"Your habitation can boast of water, as clear as crystal," answered the +fifer, who well understood the cheerful mood of his companion; "the +remainder of the wine in the cellar will fill more than three cups, +and--as we have another guest to-day--we may indulge a little. Luckily, +I brought a jug full of good old Uhlbacker from the castle to-night." + +"You have done well," said the exiled knight, whilst a ray of joy +flashed from his brilliant eye; "you must not think, Albert von +Sturmfeder, that I am a wine-bibber; but good wine is a noble thing, +and I love to see the full glass circulate in friendly society. Put the +jug down here, worthy master of the cellar, we'll enjoy ourselves, as +in the best days of our prosperity. Here's to you, and the former +splendour of the house of Sturmfeder!" + +Albert thanked the knight, and drank. "I wish I could return the +honour, in drinking to your name," he said; "but, as you have already +hesitated to give it me, I will not ask it now, sir knight. But here's +to you, and may you return victorious to the castles of your fathers, +and may your family live and nourish there for ever--huzza!" He +pronounced the last word with a loud voice, and just as he set his cup +down, he was astonished to hear it repeated by many sounds, which +appeared to be voices, coming from the whole length of the grotto: +"What is that?" he said, "are not we alone?" + +"Those are my vassals,--spirits," answered the knight, smiling; "or, if +you prefer it, the echo, which responds to your kind wish. I have often +heard," he added, in a more serious tone, "in the days of my +prosperity, the success of my house cheered by hundreds of voices; but +I have never been more pleased, or more affected, than to have it drank +to, by my only guest, and re-echoed among the rocks of these lower +regions. Fill the cup, Hans, and drink, and if you can give us a good +toast, let's have it." + +The fifer of Hardt filled the cup, and glanced a significant look at +Albert: "Here's to you, sir, and something which will please you +more,--the Lady of Lichtenstein!" + +"Hollo, right so, right so! drink, sir, drink!" cried the exile, and +laughed so heartily, that the cavern appeared to tremble under it. +"Drink out every drop! long may she live, and bloom for you! Well done, +Hans! only look how the blood mounts up in the cheeks of our guest; how +his eyes sparkle, as if he actually kissed her beautiful lips. You need +not be bashful! I also have loved and wooed, and know the state of a +light merry heart of four-and-twenty, on such an occasion!" + +"Poor man!" said Albert, touched by a sigh of deep feeling which +accompanied these last words.--"Have you loved and wooed also? and +perhaps been obliged to leave a beloved wife and children to lament and +bewail your present misfortunes!" As he said this he felt his cloak +pulled from behind, when turning around, the countryman winked to him, +as a sign, that it was a subject of all others the most painful to the +knight to hear. Albert immediately saw the effect it produced on his +features; and regretted having been the cause of giving him pain. + +With a look of wild despair, and evidently trying to combat his +feeling, he merely said, "Frost in September destroys the beautiful +flower which blossoms in May, and we scarcely know how to account for +it. My children are left in the hands of rough but faithful nurses, who +will, with God's help, take care good of them till their father returns +home again." He was so much affected when he spoke these words, that it +required no small effort to enable him to resume his good humour. "Hans +is witness," he said, after a pause, "how often I have wished to see +you, Albert von Sturmfeder; he told me of your being wounded, on that +occasion when you were surprised by a party of the League, who probably +took you for one of us outcasts; but happily gave you an opportunity to +escape." + +"Yes, I had a narrow escape," answered Albert. "I almost believe they +took me for the Duke, for they were on the look out for him at that +time. I would willingly have suffered much greater loss, to be the +instrument of saving him." + +"Well, that is saying a good deal; are you aware, that the cut which +was made at you might have cost you your life?" + +"He who takes the field," replied Albert, "must settle all his accounts +with the world beforehand. I would certainly prefer falling before the +enemy in the field of battle, surrounded by friends and comrades, that +I might receive from their hands the last offices of regard and love. +But still, to parry the murderer's hand from the Duke, I would have +sacrificed my life, at any time, had it been necessary." + +The exile regarded the young man with emotion, and pressed his hand. +"You appear to take great interest in the Duke," he said; "I should +hardly have supposed it; because they say, your heart is with the +League." + +"As I know you are a partisan of the Duke," answered Albert; "I trust +you will excuse me if I speak my mind freely. Well, then, I must tell +you, I think the Duke has acted, in many respects, not becoming his +high station; for example, he ought not to have meddled in the affair +of Hutten in the manner he did, whatever might have been his reasons; +and then, the treatment of his wife was excited by violence and an +overbearing spirit; and you must admit, that it was rage and revenge, +and not a just ground for attack, which moved him to take forcible +possession of Reutlingen." + +He paused, expecting to hear a remark from the knight, upon what he had +just said; but as he remained silent, Albert continued: "Upon these +reports I formed the idea of the Duke's character when I joined the +ranks of the confederates, among whom he was vilified in still stronger +terms; but, on the other hand, he had a warm advocate in the Lady of +Lichtenstein, who was better acquainted with his virtues than his +enemies, and who you may perhaps have already heard was the principal +cause of my quitting their service. I will not, therefore, say more +upon the subject further than she opened my eyes to the true state of +existing circumstances. In consequence of her information, I gave +myself some trouble to penetrate the ulterior views of the League, and +found they were directed, not only to the dispossessing him of his +dominions and banishing him his country, but, in order to gratify the +real object of their views, they grasped at the partition of his +sovereignty among themselves. With the impression of the injustice of +their intentions strong in my mind, I viewed the Duke's cause in a +light totally different to what I had hitherto done. His character was +raised still higher in my estimation, when I also learnt, that though +urged by the patriotism and love of his people to venture a battle in +defence of his rights, he would not risk the blood of his faithful +Wuertembergers in such a hazardous game. And though possessing the power +of extorting money from his subjects to subsidize the Swiss, he rather +preferred exile for the good of his country. These are my reasons for +befriending the ill-used Prince." + +The knight, whose eyes had been fixed on the ground, now raised them +upon Albert, and he seemed overpowered with the kind expressions which +he had used towards the Duke. "Truly," he said, "your feelings are pure +and generous, my young friend! I know the Duke as well as I do myself, +and I may venture to say with you, that he rises superior to his +misfortunes, and merits a far better name than report gives of him. Ah! +if he had a hundred hearts such as yours, not a rag of the League's +ensigns would ever float over the castles of Wuertemberg;--could I but +persuade you to join his cause! Far be it from me, however, to invite +you to share his misery; it is enough that your sword, and an arm such +as yours, do not belong to his enemies. May your days be happier than +his! may heaven reward your good opinion of an unfortunate man!" + +The spirit which breathed throughout the words of the exile, struck +many a corresponding chord in the heart of Albert. He was flattered and +encouraged to hear his own actions thus acknowledged. + +The similarity which appeared to exist between the fate of his unknown +friend and the impoverished fortunes of his own house, together with +the prompting of the noble desire to espouse the weakest but honest +cause in the pending struggle, in preference to taking the side of +victorious injustice, were so many irresistible inducements to the +manly mind of Albert to stand by the exile in his present deep +distress. + +Inspired by this feeling, he took his hand, and said, "Let no one +henceforth talk to me of the imprudence,--let it not be called folly,-- +of sharing the misfortunes of the persecuted! May others partake of the +division of the Duke's fine country, and carouse in the spoils of the +unhappy man's property,--I feel courage enough to suffer with him in +his sufferings; and, when he draws his sword to re-conquer his lost +possessions, I will be the first by his side. Take my hand, sir knight, +as my pledge: let what may happen, I am the Duke's friend from +henceforth, for ever." + +A tear of gratitude started in the eye of the exile as he returned the +shake of his hand. "You risk much, but you lose nothing by becoming +Ulerich's friend. The country, beyond these inhospitable regions, is +now in the possession of tyrants and robbers; but here below faithful +hearts still beat true to Wuertemberg. Forget for a moment that I am a +poor knight and an exiled man, and figure me to yourself the Prince of +the country, as I am lord of this cavern, with his knight and citizen +standing before him. Ah! as long as these three estates hold firm +together, be they concealed ever so deep in the lap of the earth, +Wuertemberg still exists. Fill the cup, Hans, and join your rough hand +to ours; we'll seal the alliance in a bumper!" + +Hans replenished the jug and filled the cup, "Drink, noble sirs, +drink," said he; "you cannot pledge yourselves in a more noble wine +than in this Uhlbacher." + +The knight having emptied the cup by a long draught, ordered it to be +filled again, and presented it to Albert. "Does not this wine," asked +Albert, "grow about the castle whence Wuertemberg's royal blood sprang? +I think the heights about it are called Uhlbacher?" + +"You are right," answered the exile; "the hill is generally called the +Rothenberg, at the foot of which the vine grows; the castle stands upon +its summit, built by Wuertemberg's ancestors. Oh! the beautiful vallies +of the Neckar, the luxuriant hills of fruit and wine! Gone, gone for +ever!" He uttered these words with a voice which bespoke a heart almost +broken by suffering and grief; he could scarcely conceal the anguish of +his soul, which his inflexible mind had hitherto veiled under the mask +of a forced hilarity. + +The countryman knelt beside him, took his hand, and to rouse him from a +state of painful wandering, in which he was lost for some moments, +said, "Be of good cheer, sir; you will return to your country again +happier than you left it." + +"You will behold the vallies of your home again," said Albert. "When +the Duke regains his lost rights, and reoccupies the castles of his +ancestors, the vallies of the Neckar, and its richly clothed hills of +vineyards, will echo with the rejoicings of his people, and you also +will be able to join in the jubilee. Banish gloomy thoughts from your +mind, _nunc vino pellite curas_; drink, and let us hope for better +times. I pledge you in this Wuertemberg wine,--'to the Duke's happy +return with his faithful followers!'" + +These words seemed to reanimate the sunken spirits of the knight, and +like a ray of sunshine shed a smile over his features. "Yes!" he cried, +"sweet is the word which sends comfort to the broken-hearted; it is +like a drop of cold water to refresh the weary wanderer in the desert. +Forget my weakness, my friend; pardon it in a man who otherwise never +gives place to grief. + +"But if you had ever looked down from the summit of the Rothenberg, +shaded by its green woods, into the heart of Wuertemberg, and beheld the +gentle stream of the Neckar winding its course along its richly +cultivated banks; with its fields of high standing corn waving in the +breeze; the red roofs of its villages peeping out from a forest of +fruit trees, with their industrious inhabitants, consisting of strong +men and beautiful women, busily employed in their gardens or dressing +their vines on the heights; had you surveyed all this, and with my +eyes, and then been compelled to take refuge from the bloodthirsty +hands of ruffians in these inhospitable regions, surrounded by the +benumbing chill of these walls, outlawed, condemned, banished.--Oh! the +thought is terrible! too overwhelming for man's heart to bear!" + +Albert, fearful lest the recollection of his past days, and the keen +sense of his present situation, might a second time have too powerful +an effect upon the mind of the exile, sought by changing the subject of +conversation, to divert his mind and calm his thoughts. + +"As I suppose you have been often with the Duke," he said, "pray tell +me, now that I am his declared friend, what is his disposition? what is +his appearance? is it true, as is reported, that he is of a very +changeable and capricious temper?" + +"No more upon that subject at present, if you please," answered the +exile; "you will soon have an opportunity to judge for yourself when +you see him. We have already spoken enough upon these matters, but you +have said nothing about your own affairs; not a word about the object +of your travels, nor of the beautiful lady of Lichtenstein? You are +silent and look confused when that delicate subject is mentioned. Do +not suppose I wish to be curious when I ask that question; no, it is +solely because I think I can be of use to you." + +"From what has passed between us this night," replied Albert, "I have +nothing to conceal from you; secrecy is no longer necessary. It strikes +me, that you must have long known I love Bertha, and that she likewise +is faithful to me?" + +The exile answered, smiling, "O yes, there was no mistaking the +symptoms of her feelings, for when you were mentioned her confused look +bespoke the secret of her heart, and the blush which accompanied it was +an evident witness of the truth of it. When she named you it was with a +peculiar tone of voice, as if the strings of her heart sounded in full +accord to that key-note." + +"This observation of yours will encourage me to go to Lichtenstein +without further delay. It was my original intention, after I had +quitted the service of the League, to go direct to my home; but as the +Alb is about half way between Franconia and this place, and the desire +I had to see my love once more was uppermost in my thoughts, I +determined to endeavour to accomplish it. This man Hans conducted me +over the Alb; you know the cause which delayed me eight days on my +journey. To-morrow, at day-break, I purpose announcing myself at the +castle, and I trust I shall now appear before the old knight in a more +welcome light than I should otherwise have done, had I not performed my +promise to the League of remaining neutral fourteen days, and now +joined his colours." + +"You may be assured of his welcome," said the knight, "particularly if +you go as the friend of the Duke, for he is his faithful and most +devoted adherent. But, may be, he would not trust your word, +unsupported by some introduction, being, so it is said, rather +incredulous, and shy of strangers. You know upon what terms I am with +him. He is the kind-hearted Samaritan to me; and when I creep out of my +hole at night, he nourishes my body with warm food, and my heart with +still warmer consolation for the future. A couple of lines from me will +be better received by him than a passport from the Emperor. Take this +ring, which he and many others know and respect, and wear it in +remembrance of the time we have passed together; it will announce you +as a friend of Wuertemberg's good cause." With these words, he took a +broad gold ring from his finger. A large red stone was set in the +middle, upon which was engraved, in the armorial helmet, the three stag +horns,[1] with the bugle, which Albert recognised as the arms of +Wuertemberg. Around the ring were the letters, U.D.O.W.A.T. in relievo, +the meaning of which he could not comprehend. + +"Udowat? what does that name signify?" he asked. "Is it a parole for +the followers of the Duke?" + +"No, my young friend," said the exile. "The Duke has worn this ring +long on his finger; he valued it much; but as I have many other +souvenirs from him, I can best spare it, and could not place it in +worthier hands. The letters mean, Ulerich, Duke of Wuertemberg and +Teck." + + +"I shall value it as long as I live," replied Albert, "as a relic of +the unfortunate Prince whose name it bears, and as a pleasing +remembrance of you, sir knight, and the night we passed together in +this cavern." + +"When you come to the drawbridge of Lichtenstein," continued the +knight, "deliver a note which I will write, and this ring, to the first +servant you see, and desire them to be conveyed to the lord of the +castle, when he will certainly receive you as the Duke's own son. But +for the lady, you must use your own passport, for my charm does not +extend to her: a tender squeeze of the hand, or the mysterious language +of the eyes, or perhaps still better, a sweet kiss on her rosy lips, +will serve the purpose. But in order to appear before her as she would +wish to see you, you need some rest, for if you pass the whole night +without sleep, your eyes will be heavy. Therefore follow my example, +stretch yourself on the deer skin, and make a pillow of your cloak. And +you, worthy major domo, grand chamberlain and purveyor, Hans, faithful +companion in misfortune, give this Paladin another glass for his +nightcap, it will soften his deer-skin, and enchant this rocky grotto +into a bed-room. And then may the god of dreams visit him with his +choicest gifts!" + +The men drank a good night to each other, and laid themselves to rest, +Hans taking up his position as a faithful dog, at the entrance of the +rocky chamber. Morpheus soon came with light steps to the aid of the +young man, and as he was dropping off to sleep he heard, in a half +doze, the exile saying his evening prayer, and, with pious confidence +in the Disposer of events, imploring him to shower down his almighty +protection on him and his unhappy country. + +FOOTNOTES TO CHAPTER XIX.: + +[Footnote 1: Three stag horns, the two upper ones having four ends and +the lower one three, were the ancient arms of Wuertemberg.] + + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + See that arrowy crag so tapering rise, + From the depths of that valley so sweet; + There Lichtenstein's fort rears her head to the skies, + And smiles on the world at her feet. + SCHWAB. + +When the fifer of Hardt awakened Albert in the morning, the youth was +at first puzzled to recollect where he was, and to recognize the +objects about him; but he soon came to his senses, and the remembrance +of the last evening's occurrences. He returned the hearty shake of the +hand with which the exile saluted him, who said, "Although it would +give me great pleasure to detain you some few days with me, yet I would +rather advise you to proceed at once to Lichtenstein, if you wish to +have a hot breakfast. I cannot, alas! prepare such in my cavern, for we +never dare make a fire, lest the smoke betray our position." + +Albert consented to his proposal, and thanked him for his night's +lodging. "I may truly say," he answered, "that I never passed a night +more to my satisfaction, than I have done in this place. A deep-felt, +though melancholy, charm would seem to hallow the society of friends in +such a situation as this, and I would not have exchanged my abode among +these rocky walls, for the most splendid apartment of a ducal palace." + +"Yes, indeed, secure from persecution, and among friends, when the +glass circulates freely, banishment has its charms," replied the exile; +"but when I sit here, day after day, in solitude, brooding over my +calamities, my heart yearning for liberty, and my eye wearied with the +sameness of these subterranean splendours, then it is I drink the full +cup of misery. And then again, my ear is deafened with the unceasing +monotonous murmur of these waters, dripping drop after drop from the +rocks! Jealous of their freedom, my imagination follows their course +through the depths below, whence they escape to swell the running +stream, whose gentle ripple, with the note of the cheerful lark, would +seem to join chorus in the universal praise." + +"My poor friend, I pity thee! yes, indeed, this solitary life must be +terrible," said Albert. + +"Nevertheless," continued the other, raising himself up, "I reckon +myself happy to have found this asylum, with the help of a few trusty +friends. Rather than fall into the hands of my enemies, to be their +sport and laughing-stock, I would descend a hundred fathoms lower, +where the vital air scarce sustains life. And before I would surrender +my liberty, these hands should dig my way into the heart of the earth, +until I reached its centre; there to invoke the curses of heaven upon +my oppressors as a just punishment of the wrongs I endure from the +persecutions of their revengeful designs." + +The exile having worked himself up into a state of fury, Albert +involuntarily retreated a pace or two. His figure appeared to gain in +height--all the muscles of his body were on the stretch--his cheeks +glowed with rage--his eyes shot fire, as if they sought an enemy upon +whom to revenge his sufferings; and the loud and violent tone of his +voice; echoed among the rocks the maledictions which issued from his +mouth. + +Albert could not but sympathise with the man in giving vent to his +feelings in such a burst of passion; he who was so cruelly persecuted +by his enemies, for his faithful attachment to his lord. "I admire your +strength of mind," said he to the knight; and, as if a sudden thought +had crossed his mind, continued, "will you pardon me for asking you one +question, which perhaps you may deem indiscreet; but since you have +admitted me to your friendship and confidence, I will venture to do so. +Tell me, are you not the celebrated Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg?" + +There must have been something particularly strange in this question; +because the gravity which had shaded the knight's countenance +disappeared at once, at the mere mention of this name. He first smiled; +but not able to contain himself, broke out into a loud laugh, in which +Hans considered himself permitted to join. + +Albert was unable to comprehend the meaning of the sudden burst of +merriment which his question had occasioned. He felt confused, and +looked for an explanation of it, first at one, then at the other; but +his embarrassment only excited their merry mood still more. + +At length the exile said, "Pardon me, worthy guest, for having violated +in an unmannerly way the rights of hospitality; for I ought rather to +have bitten off the end of my tongue than have given you cause to +suppose I had thought you said anything ridiculous; but how comes it +that you take me for Maxx Stumpf? Do you know him?" + +"No, I never saw him; but I know him to be a brave knight, whom the +League has expelled from his country, on account of his faithful +adherence to the Duke, and that they are now endeavouring to apprehend +him. Is not yours a similar case?" + +"I thank you for comparing me to such a man; but I would not advise you +to fall in his way in the night, upon the same terms as when we met; +for Stumpf, without further to do, would soon have cut you up into +slices fit for cooking. Schweinsberg being a little thick-set fellow, +and a head shorter than me, it was the comparison which made me laugh +so irresistibly. He is, however, an honourable man, and one of the few +to be depended upon who will not desert his master in misfortune." + +"So you are not Schweinsberg?" replied Albert; "then I must leave you +without knowing who my friend is." + +"Young man!" said the exile, with dignity, "you have found a friend in +me, by your gallant, honourable behaviour; which your open, frank +countenance has confirmed. Let it suffice for you, to have gained this +friend; ask no further questions, one word might perhaps interrupt this +confidential intimacy between us, which is so gratifying to me. +Farewell; think on the banished man without a name, and be assured +that, before two days are over, you shall both hear from me, and know +my name." + +In spite of his unseemly dress, the whole demeanour of this man +appeared to Albert to be more that of a Prince dismissing a subject +from his presence, than an unfortunate exile, parting from a friend who +had participated in his afflictions. + +During the last conversation, the fifer of Hardt had lighted the +torches, and stood waiting at the entrance of the grotto; the knight +pressed a salute on the lips of the young man, and waved him to go. He +departed, unable to account why a man so familiar and friendly in his +address, should, at the same time, inspire him with the idea of being +so much his superior in rank; he had never felt, until this moment, how +an individual, devoid of all the external marks of distinction, +exhibiting outward signs of poverty, rather than the contrary, could +possess a personal influence sufficiently great to subdue vanity and +self-love. Occupied with these thoughts, he retraced his steps through +the cavern. The beauties of nature, which had surprised him and fixed +his attention when he first entered it, had lost their charm to his +eye, and his wonder was no longer excited at the grandeur of the +surrounding objects. His mind was exclusively taken up with the +contemplation of a subject more imposing and instructive than these +rocks, however magnificent they might be. The human mind, rising +superior to the frowns of this world, exemplified so well in the +character of his unknown friend, filled him with admiration, and proved +to him that the dignity of man's nature will force its way through the +garb of poverty and the suffering of persecution, and remain unsullied +amidst the frowns of fate. + +A bright day greeted Albert and the fifer of Hardt, as they issued from +the darkness of the cavern into the light of heaven. Albert breathed +more freely in the freshness of the morning air, than he had done +amidst the damp exhalations which streamed from the galleries and +grottos of the subterranean vaults, from which they derive the name of +the misty caverns. He found his horse in the same place, fastened to +the tree, where he had left him the night before, as fresh and lively +as ever; the military weapons attached to the saddle not having +suffered from the night dew, which Albert was fearful might have been +the case. But Hans had had the precaution to cover the beast with a +large coarse cloth, in order to guard against bad weather. The young +man arranged his dress as well as he was able, after such a night's +lodging, whilst the countryman gave his horse a feed of fresh hay. They +then set forward on their journey, and having gone but a few paces, the +tolling of a church bell from the valley below saluted their ears, and +broke the solemn stillness of the morning. Shortly afterwards, another +bell answered, and then three or four more followed, when the number, +increasing to at least twelve, spread their melodious tones over the +heights and vallies. The young man stopt his horse, surprised at this +early chorus of bells: "What means this salutation?" he asked, "is it a +signal that there is a fire in the neighbourhood? or may be to-day is a +holiday? God knows that, since my illness, I have quite lost all +knowledge of time, and can only distinguish Sunday from the other days +of the week by the peasant girls being clad in their best dresses and +clean aprons." + +"That is not an uncommon case with many a military man," replied Hans; +"I myself have often been obliged to guess what day it was, when I had +other things in my head, which I regret to say I deemed more important +than hearing mass. But now it is different," he added, with a serious +countenance, and crossed himself, "to-day is Good Friday." + +"That reminds me," said the young man, "that this is the first time in +my life that I have not celebrated this day as becomes a Christian; it +also brings with it many happy hours of my youth to my recollection. My +father was then alive; I possessed a tender, good mother, and a dear +young sister. We two children always rejoiced upon the anniversary of +Good Friday, and, though we did not know exactly what it meant, we +remembered that it was only two days from Easter, a season when our +mother invariably gave us some token of her affection. _Requiescant in +pace!_" he added, turning away to conceal a tear; "they are all three +gone." + +These last words, which he pronounced in remembrance of his departed +parents, the spontaneous effusion of his affectionate heart, did not +escape the fifer's observation, who raised his cap in respect to the +feelings of his companion. Such had been the restless life of this +extraordinary man from his infancy, that he might have been thought to +be void of all sense of religion; but since his escape from the hand of +the executioner, which he had hinted at in a former conversation with +Albert, and professed to have become a better man, serious thoughts at +times occupied his mind. + +Albert having alluded to his own case of receiving a present from his +mother at Easter, the fifer took occasion to say, with a good-natured +smile, "that the time was coming, when he hoped he would also be able +to perform the same office to his own children." But the young man was +offended at this familiarity, and showed symptoms of his displeasure. + +"No offence, sir," he replied, and drew his attention to the castle +before them. "Do you see the tower peeping out among the trees?" he +added: "another short quarter of an hour, and we are there." + +"From what I could remark yesterday in the dark," said the young man, +"the castle appeared to be erected upon a solitary, steep rock. By +heavens! a bold thought, whoever built it; for no one could attempt to +scale its walls unless he were in league with the devil, and had the +power of flying. It might be bombarded, however, from this spot with +heavy artillery." + +"Do you think so? I can tell you, that they have four good match-guns +in the hall, which would return an answer too sharp to any one who +should attempt it. Had you made a careful survey, you must have +observed, that the rock is separated from the mountain by a broad deep +valley, which surrounds it, so that much damage could not be done to +the castle. The only weak side is that nearest the mountain, upon which +the drawbridge is placed. Let but an enemy attempt to plant guns there, +and he would soon see old Lichtenstein's battery hurl them down in the +abyss below, before they had even touched a pane of glass in his +windows. But the great difficulty would be to get guns up this +declivity, and transport them over these cavities, without exposing men +to more danger than that nest is worth." + +"You are right," Albert answered; "I should like to know who ever +thought of building a castle upon that rock." + +"I'll tell you," replied Hans, who was well acquainted with all the +legends of his country: "once upon a time there lived a fair lady, who +suffered much persecution from her suitors, and did not know how to +escape them. She came to this rock, and saw a large eagle with its +family perched upon the top of it, secure from all interruption. Having +determined to expel the eagle, she built the castle on its nest; and +when everything was complete, drew up the drawbridge, and from the +summit of the tower proclaimed aloud, 'I henceforth devote myself to +God, and forswear the world.' From that day forth no one was able to +annoy her;--but we are arrived. Farewell; perhaps I may see you again +tonight. I am now going about the country, to endeavour to ascertain +what is going on, and will return to the exile in the cavern with what +news I can gather as to the state of the Duke's affairs. Don't forget, +when you come on the bridge, to send the ring and letter to the lord of +the castle; and take care you do not break the seal yourself." + +"Don't fear! I thank you for your conduct; salute my kind host of the +cavern for me," said Albert; and, pushing his horse forward, in a few +minutes stood before the fortress of Lichtenstein. + +A guard at the gate demanded his business, and called a servant to +deliver the letter and ring to his master. Albert had in the meantime +an opportunity to examine minutely the castle and its environs. Having +only seen it the night before by the dim light of the moon, and too +much occupied with other important subjects to fix his exclusive +attention to its structure, he had not been able to imagine even what +he now viewed with rapture. A perpendicular isolated rock, like the +colossal tower of a cathedral, rising from the valley of the Alb, stood +before him in bold independence. Its position impressed him with the +idea, that it might have been cleft from the surrounding hills by some +violent convulsion of nature, either by an earthquake, or by a deluge +in ancient times, which had washed away the softer materials of the +earth, leaving the solid mass of rock untouched. Even on the south-west +side, where he now stood, the deep ravine which separated the rock from +the nearest part of the adjoining country, was too broad for the +boldest shamoy to venture a spring across, though not so distant as to +baffle the art of man to throw a bridge over. The castle stood on its +summit, like the nest of a bird, perched upon the highest branch of an +oak, or the pinnacle of a lofty tower. Except the tower, which peered +above all, the only apparent habitation was a small fortified apartment +surrounded by many round windows. The numerous loop-holes in the lower +part of the buildings, and several larger embrasures, out of which +peeped the muzzles of guns of the heavy calibre of the time, proved +that it was well guarded, and that, spite of its insignificant size, it +was no contemptible fortress. The enormous foundation walls and +buttresses, which appeared to form part of the rock, and had assumed by +age and weather the same yellowish-brown colour of the mass of stone +upon which they stood, might well convince the beholder of the solidity +of the structure, and its capability to bid defiance to the power of +man and the storms of the elements. A beautiful view presented itself +before Albert, and he thought how much more extended it must be from +the top of the watch-tower. + +These observations obtruded themselves upon Albert, as he stood waiting +at the outer gate, which was strongly palisadoed towards the ravine, +and covered the approach to the bridge. He now heard steps approaching; +the gate was thrown open, and the master of the castle appeared himself +to receive his guest. It was the same stern elderly man whom he had +seen several times in Ulm, whose countenance he could not easily +forget; for his dark fiery eye, his pale but noble features, his +likeness to his daughter, had made a lasting impression upon his mind. + +"Welcome to Lichtenstein," said the old man, offering his hand, the +grave features of his face giving place to a more kindly expression. +"What are you standing gaping about there, you idle vagabonds?" he said +to his servants, after the first salutation to his visitor; "do you +suppose the gentleman is to lead his horse up into the room? Take him +away to the stable, and bring his weapons into the saloon. I beg +pardon, worthy sir, that these carles should have kept you so long +waiting; but there is no beating sense into their thick heads. Will you +follow me?" + +He led on over the bridge, followed by Albert, whose heart beat in full +expectation and longing desire to see and surprise his beloved. But +recollecting the adventures of the preceding night, and the feeling +which first prompted him to come to this spot, he blushed in shame for +having suspected her fidelity. His eye sought all the windows in the +hopes of seeing her; his ear was sharpened to catch if possible the +sound of her voice: but in vain did his eye search the windows; in vain +did his ear listen. + +They had now reached the inner gate. It was strongly built, according +to the ancient manner, with a portcullis, and openings above, to throw +down boiling oil and water; and provided with all the other means of +defence made use of in the olden times to repel a besieging enemy, +should he have made himself master of the bridge. But it was not to the +massive walls and fortifications alone which surrounded the castle that +Lichtenstein was indebted for its security; nature claimed her share +also in it. The rock itself formed a principal part of the habitation, +having large roomy stables, and apartments which served as cellars, +hewn out of it. A winding staircase led to the upper part of the +castle, where military defences were likewise not less thought of than +elsewhere. On the landing place, leading to the different rooms, and +generally appropriated in similar habitations to the purposes of +keeping the household utensils, were now to be seen match-guns, large +chests containing shot, and divers other warlike weapons.[1] The old +knight's eye rested with a peculiar expression of pride upon this +singular species of household furniture; and it is a fact that, in +those days, the possessor of heavy artillery was accounted a man of +opulence and wealth, for it was not every one who could afford to +defend his castle with four or six such pieces as were possessed by the +lord of the castle. + +Another staircase led to the second story, upon which the knight of +Lichtenstein showed his guest into a fine large saloon, lighted by +several windows. He gave a sign to a servant who had followed them up, +to withdraw. + +FOOTNOTE TO CHAPTER XX.: + +[Footnote 1: There is a description, in an old chronicle, of +Lichtenstein, as it existed at the end of the sixteenth century, about +sixty years after 1519. It is stated therein, "In the upper story, +there is a remarkable handsome room, surrounded on all sides by +windows, from which may be seen the Asperg. The banished Duke Ulerich +of Wuertemberg, who often visited it, came every night to the castle, +and saying, 'The man is here!' was immediately received." A +gamekeeper's house is now built upon the ruins of the old castle, which +still retains its name, and serves on Whitsunday as a place of +rendezvous for the peasantry of the surrounding country, who assemble +in their gayest dresses for dancing and carousal.] + + + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + The noble spirit of the victim brave + Affects the knight, he feels that he must save; + The dews of friendship o'er his eyelids steal, + His heart no longer can resist th' appeal. + P. CONZ. + +When the two men were left alone in the saloon of Lichtenstein, the old +knight gazed at Albert full in the face, with a scrutinizing eye, as if +to satisfy himself of the honesty of his looks. The noble features of +his visitor convinced him of the purity of his heart, and animated the +old man's eye with a ray of joy. The air of melancholy which habitually +sat on his brow had vanished, he became cheerful, he received Albert as +a father would a son, who had returned from a long journey. A tear at +length stole from his brilliant eye; but it was a tear of joy, for he +pressed the astonished youth to his heart. + +"It is not often that I am betrayed into this weakness," he said to +Albert, "but in moments such as these nature gives way, because they +happen seldom. Dare I indeed trust my old eyes? Do the contents of this +letter deceive me? Is the seal really his? and can I believe it? but +why do I doubt! has not nature stampt the impression of her noblest +gifts upon your open forehead? Oh, yes, honesty is too visibly depicted +on your countenance; you cannot deceive me; the cause of my unfortunate +master has gained another friend!" + +"If you allude to the cause of the banished Duke, you are not mistaken; +it has found a warm partisan in me. Report has long since reached my +ear of the knight of Lichtenstein being a faithful friend of his, and +with this assurance I should perhaps have presented myself to you ere +this, of my own accord, without the introduction of the unfortunate man +in the cavern." + +"Sit down beside me, my young friend," said the old man, who continued +to regard Albert with a look of benevolence, "seat yourself, and listen +to what I say: generally speaking, I am not an admirer of persons who +change their minds. The experience of a long life has taught me to +respect the opinion of others, and to assert that a man who entertains +pure and honest views of a subject, is not therefore to be prejudged by +another, who may think differently. But when a person changes his +colours from real disinterested motives, as you appear to have done, +Albert von Sturmfeder, and turns his back upon prosperity, for the +noble purpose of allying himself to, and aiding the oppressed, in a +just cause, then it is that his virtuous intentions justify his +conduct, and carry along with them the stamp of a noble act." + +Albert blushed for himself, when he heard old Lichtenstein praising his +disinterested motives. Was it not for the sake of the beautiful +daughter of the knight, that he had principally been induced to join +his colours? and would he not sink in the esteem of this man, when, +sooner or later, his real motive for embracing his party came to light? +"You are too good," he answered; "the views of a man are often buried +deeper than we at first sight think. But be assured, that though the +step I have taken was dictated partly by a feeling which revolts at the +idea of unjust oppression; I would not have you think too well of me, +because it would give me very great pain, were you afterwards to be +obliged to pronounce an unfavourable opinion upon my actions." + +"I love you still more for your frankness," replied the lord of the +castle, and squeezed the hand of his guest: "I can trust to my +knowledge of physiognomy, and maintain, from what I see in yours, that, +though other views may have influenced you, besides the feeling of +justice, you never will be found wanting in honour. Whoever is led by +evil intentions is a coward, and no coward would dare to run his head +against Truchses, the Duke of Bavaria, and the whole Swabian League, +and rise superior to the danger, as you have done." + +"What do you know of me," said Albert, with joyful surprise; "have you +ever heard of me before this moment?" + +A servant, who opened the door at these words, interrupted the answer +of the old man. He set a breakfast of game and a can full of wine +before Albert, and prepared to wait on the guest; but a hint from his +master made him withdraw. "Don't spare this morning's meal," said he to +the young man; "the first glass, indeed, ought to be drank to the lady +of the house, according to courteous habits; but mine has long departed +this life, and my only daughter, Bertha, who acts in her place, is gone +down to the village church, to hear the sermon and mass on this +holiday. Well, you asked me if I have ever heard of you before? As you +now belong to our party, I may venture to acquaint you with what I +otherwise should have kept secret. When you entered Ulm, I was also in +the town, not only for the purpose of taking my daughter home, who was +residing there, but principally to learn many things, which were +important for the Duke to know. Gold opened all the doors," he added +with a smile, "and unbolted those also of the grand council; by which +means I became acquainted with everything the commanders of the League +had determined upon. When war was declared, I was obliged to leave the +place, but I left faithful men behind me in the town, who informed me +of every circumstance, even the most secret." + +"Was not the fifer of Hardt one of them," asked Albert, "whom I found +with the exile?" + +"Yes; the same who conducted you over the Alb." Albert started. "I had +daily intelligence of the most secret affairs. Among other things, I +learnt that they had determined to send a trusty spy into the +neighbourhood of Tuebingen, to gain intelligence and advertise the +League of our movements. I heard you were selected for that service. I +must tell you honestly, that, though you and your name were indifferent +to me, for I did not know you personally, still I regretted that your +young blood should be employed on that service, for, as sure as you +live, the moment you had passed the Alb in the degrading character of a +spy, so soon would you have been cut to pieces without grace or mercy. +So much more surprising then was the information to me, when I learned +further, that you had refused the service, and had spoken boldly before +your employers. The fact also of your having renounced their party, and +sworn to keep in a state of neutrality for fourteen days, was also made +known to me. How much I rejoice then that you have become our friend +also, I leave you to imagine!" + +Nothing could have been more gratifying to Albert's feelings than the +eulogium passed on his conduct by the knight of Lichtenstein. This +moment removed all obstacles which had hitherto interrupted the tie +between him and Bertha. The only wish of his heart, which he at times +thought would never be realised, and had almost given up in despair, he +now might hope would be accomplished, for he unknowingly had gained the +good will of her father. "Yes, I renounced their service," he answered, +"because their intentions outraged my feelings; I became your friend +with heart and soul. When I was seated beside the exiled man in the +cavern, and heard the disgraceful manner in which the lord of the land +and the nobles were treated, I felt the force of his language +strengthen my resolutions. In that moment all doubts and difficulties +were removed from my mind, every thing was as clear as day, my only +desire was, to draw my sword in this cause! And do you think we shall +be called into action soon? How stand the Duke's affairs? You must not +suppose I am come to you to set with my hands across." + +"I can well imagine your anxiety to be in the field," said the old +knight; "forty years ago I possessed the same ardour. You are aware, +perhaps, in what state our affairs are at present; more upon the +decline, I fear, than prosperous. The enemy is in possession of the +whole tract of the low country as far up as Urach. Our fate depends +upon one solitary circumstance,----if Tuebingen holds out, victory is +ours!" + +"The honour of forty knights will, I think, answer for its safety," +replied Albert, with animation; "the castle is strong, I have never +seen a stronger; the garrison is sufficient for its defence, and forty +men of noble blood will not surrender for a trifle. They cannot--they +dare not. Have they not the children of the duke, and the treasures of +his house, under their protection?--they _must_ hold out." + +"It were well if they were all like-minded with you," said the old man. +"Tuebingen holds a great stake in her hands. If the Duke can bring +succour to its relief, he will then have a starting point, whence he +will be able to reconquer his country. The place contains large +supplies of munitions of war; and most of the nobility are assembled +within its walls. So long as they remain faithful to his cause, so long +will the feeling of Wuertemberg be for the Duke, were he only to possess +the spot upon which he stands; but I fear, I fear for the result." + +"How? do you think it likely the knights will surrender? Impossible!" + +"You have had but little experience in the ways of the world," replied +the old man; "you are not aware of the many allurements and snares at +work, which may make many a man waver in his allegiance. It is on this +account, that the Duke, being doubtful of the fidelity of some of them +in Tuebingen, has sent Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg with a letter to the +garrison written in strong terms, not only urging them to hold the +castle to the last, but to afford him the means of entering therein +himself, being ready to sacrifice his life in its defence, if God +should so ordain it." + +"Poor man," said Albert, moved by the consideration of the Duke's hard +fate; "I cannot believe the nobility of the land will act in a manner +unworthy of their rank. His presence among them will encourage their +desponding hopes, sorties will be made, the besiegers will be beaten in +spite of Bavaria and Fronsberg. We'll join them sword in hand, and +drive these Leaguists out of the country." + +"Maxx Stumpf is not yet returned," replied the knight of Lichtenstein, +with a look of anxiety; "and the firing has ceased since yesterday. +We hear every shot here on the Lichtenstein; but during the last +twenty-four hours all is as quiet as the grave." + +"Perhaps they have ceased firing on account of the holidays; you'll see +that, to-morrow, or Easter Monday, they will re-commence with redoubled +vigour, and make your rocks echo again." + +"What is it you say?" replied the other, "on account of the holidays? +To serve the Duke faithfully is a pious undertaking; and the saints in +Heaven would perhaps rather hear the thunder of cannon in a just cause +than that the knights should remain idle. Idleness is the parent of all +vice! But, I trust, when Maxx arrives in the castle, he will rouse them +out of their slumbers." + +"Do you mean that the Duke had sent the knight of Schweinsberg to +Tuebingen, and that he intended to follow him, because the garrison has +shewn symptoms of surrender? Has he not flown to Moempelgard, as the +people say? or is he still in the neighbourhood? Oh, that I could see +him, and accompany him!" + +A peculiar smile passed rapidly over the stern countenance of the old +man. "You will sec him at the proper moment," he said; "he will be +happy to see you also, for he loves you already. And, if fortune +favours us, you shall also go with him to his castle, I give you my +word. But for the present I must beg you will remain patiently alone +for a short time; some business calls me, but it will be soon finished. +I leave you in the company of some good old wine; make yourself at home +in my house; were it not Good Friday, I would invite you to go out +hunting." The old man pressed Albert's hand once more, and left the +room; and soon after he saw him ride out of the castle towards the +wood. + +When the young man found himself alone, he commenced putting his dress +in order, which in consequence of his recent adventures, required some +attention. Whoever has been in the vicinity of the lady of his love, +under Albert's circumstances, will not blame him for taking advantage +of a piece of polished metal, which served as a looking-glass, hanging +on the wall, to arrange his beard and hair. Having brushed his jacket, +and removed all traces of having passed the night underground, he went +into the large saloon, and sought among the many windows which +surrounded it, the one which would give him the best view of the path +leading up to the castle from the church of the village in the valley +below, whither Bertha had gone to hear mass. + +Cheering thoughts passed through his mind, in rapid succession, like +bright vapours flying under the blue vault of heaven. He was now on the +spot which had long been the object of his ardent desire to visit; he +viewed the mountains and rocks which Bertha had often spoke about; he +felt a charm in being in the same house which had been the dwelling of +her childhood, and in which she had grown up to woman's estate. + +Albert went into the small spot of ground within the walls of the +castle, adorned with flowers, and which assumed the name of garden. +Again his imagination wandered, in the pleasing supposition that it had +been created by her orders; the flowers appeared to speak to him in her +name--he was in the act of bending under a tree to pluck a violet, when +he heard footsteps at the gate. He turned around to observe who it +might be, it was indeed Bertha herself--she stood there wrapt in +surprise and motionless, scarcely trusting her eyes. He flew to her, +and pressed her to his heart; her astonishment at the unexpected +apparition gave way to the conviction that it was really her lover, and +not his spirit that embraced her. They had more to ask each other than +they knew well how to answer in the first transport of joy, for they +could with difficulty convince themselves that it was not a dream, thus +to find themselves in each other's presence without fear or +interruption. Having returned to the house, Bertha said, + +"How much have I suffered on your account, dearest Albert; and with +what a heavy heart did I leave Ulm! You had, indeed, sworn to quit the +service of the League; but I had no hopes of seeing you so soon. And +then, when Hans informed me, that, on your journey with him to +Lichtenstein, you had been surprised by the enemy on the road, and +dangerously wounded, my heart was almost broken, at the thought that I +could not go to you and nurse you." + +Stung with remorse for having given place to the jealousy which the +story of the hostess of the Golden Stag at Pfullingen had created in +his breast, he sunk in his own estimation before the tender love of +Bertha. He sought to conceal his confusion, and related to her, amidst +the interruption of her numerous questions, all that had happened to +him since their separation; the cause which had favoured his quitting +the service of the League with honour; the particulars of his perilous +escape from the enemy's patrole; the kind care which the fifer's wife +and daughter had taken of him, by which he was enabled to prosecute his +journey to Lichtenstein. + +Albert's conscience was too honest not to feel embarrassed at some of +Bertha's scrutinising questions; and when she wished to have her +curiosity satisfied upon the subject of his coming to Lichtenstein at +so strange an hour of the night he scarcely knew what to answer. Her +beautiful eye rested upon him with such an expression of inquisitive +penetration, that, though he would gladly have escaped the reproach of +harbouring a momentary idea of her want of fidelity, he would not for +all the world tell her an untruth. + +"I will own," he said, with a confused look, "that I was infatuated by +the hostess at Pfullingen; she told me something about you, which I +could not hear with indifference." + +"The hostess? about me?" cried Bertha, smiling; "well, but what brought +you, at that late hour of the night, to this place?" + +"Never mind, dearest; we'll not think of it any more. I know I acted +like a fool. The exiled knight has quite convinced me how wrong I was." + +"No, no," she replied, earnestly, "I am not going to let you escape +so cheap; what had that chatterbox to say about me? tell me +immediately----" + +"Well, then, I give you leave to laugh at me as much as you please: she +told me you had another lover, who came to visit you every night, +whilst your father slept." + +Bertha blushed; indignation, and the inclination to smile at a +ridiculous story, contended for the mastery on her expressive features. +"Well, I hope," she replied, "you repelled the calumny with proper +contempt, and left her house immediately. That was the reason, I +suppose, of your arriving here so late, with the intention of passing +the night under our roof." + +"I honestly avow, I had no such thought. You know I was not quite +convalescent, so excuse my weakness. I really did not believe her at +first; but when she brought your nurse, old Rosel, to substantiate what +she said, and who moreover lamented that I had been deceived, I----oh, +do not turn away from me, Bertha; do not be angry! I threw myself on my +horse, and rode direct to the castle, for the purpose of exchanging a +word with him who dared to love you." + +"And could you believe that?" she answered, with tears starting into +her eyes: "I cannot think that Rosel said any thing of the kind, +though she is fond of a gossip; I am not angry with the hostess, for +she does not know better; but that you, you Albert, should give credit +to so foul a falsehood, and think it necessary to convince yourself, +that----" The tears of the faithful girl flowed in abundance; and the +feeling of mortification choked her further utterance. + +Her lover was overcome by the sense of his egregious folly; but he also +felt the consolation, that though he was to be blamed his suspicions +arose purely out of the intensity of his love. "Pardon me this once, +dearest; let me assure you, that the jealousy which tormented me, +unfounded as it was, would never have been inflamed into reality, did +not my whole existence depend upon you." + +"He who really loves can never harbour a spark of jealousy, founded +upon such reports," said Bertha, in displeasure; "you hinted something +of the same kind once before in Ulm, which you know hurt me very +deeply. But if you had known me, and loved me with the same unalterable +attachment that I love you, you never could have entertained such +thoughts." + +"No, truly, but you must not be unjust," he replied, and took her hand; +"how can you reproach me with not returning your love with the same +ardent sincerity? Was it impossible that one more worthy than Albert +von Sturmfeder might appear, and supplant him in your heart by some +infernal enchantment? Every thing is possible in this world." + +"Possible!" interrupted Bertha; and a certain pride, which Albert had +often remarked in the daughter of Lichtenstein, appeared now to animate +her; "possible? if you ever could have entertained such an opinion of +me,--I repeat it, Albert von Sturmfeder,--you have never loved me. A +man must not allow himself to be blown about like a reed; he ought to +stand firm to his opinion; and if he loves, he must have faith also." + +"I have not merited such a reproach, from you at least," said the young +man, starting up in great excitement; "I have been, indeed, as you say, +a reed shaken about in the wind, and many a man will despise me----" + +"That may be!" she whispered to herself, but not so lightly as to +escape his ear, and cause his displeasure to blaze up into rage. + +"Can you upbraid me thus," said he, "you, who are the sole cause of my +vaccilating conduct? Did I not seek you among the friends of the +League; and when I found you, was I not overjoyed? You entreated me to +quit their colours,--I did so; and still more, I came over to your +party, and, though it nearly cost me my life, I held firm to my +determination. I visited your father, who received me as a son; and +rejoiced that I had bound myself to the Duke's cause. But his daughter +compares me to a reed moved by every blast of wind! but once more I +will----for the last time, allow myself to be moved by you; I'll leave +you, as you requite my love thus; in an hour hence, I wish you +farewell." With these last words he girded on his sword; and, taking +his cap, turned to depart. + +"Albert," cried Bertha, with the sweetest accent, at the same time +springing up and seizing his hand; her pride, her displeasure, every +trace of ill-will vanished in a moment, and entreating love only beamed +from her eyes, "for God's sake, Albert! I did not mean to speak so +angrily; remain, I will forget every thing; I am ashamed of myself for +having betrayed so unkind a spirit." + +But the anger of the young man was not to be appeased in a moment. He +turned away, lest her looks should master his resolution of leaving the +castle. "No!" he cried, "you shall not turn the reed back again; but +you may tell your father the cause which has driven his guest from his +house." The windows trembled with the sound of his voice; he looked +about him with wildness; he tore his hand away from Bertha's grasp; +and, followed by her, he hastily opened the door to fly from her +presence, when an apparition arrested his attention on the threshold +which we shall describe in the next chapter. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + Prince's favour, April's sky, + Woman's love, the rose's dye, + Cards, dice, and weathercocks are still + Chang'd about, believe't who will. + OLD PROVERB. + +The apparition which so opportunely arrested the attention of Albert on +opening the door, was no other than the old nurse, Rosel, hastily +rising from a bent position she had taken up at the keyhole. She was +one of those old servants, who, having been brought up in the family +from her youth, was firmly rooted in it, and now formed one of its +principal branches. Since the death of the Lady of Lichtenstein, +Bertha's mother, she had shewn her attachment to the family in the +assiduous care she had taken in bringing up her charge. Having passed +through the different gradations, from nursery-maid to nurse, from +nurse to housekeeper, she now occupied the more important post of +governess and confidant to her foster-child. Greatly jealous of others, +and ambitious to secure all authority in her own hands, she filled for +many years the different important domestic situations of the castle, +making herself universally necessary in all its concerns. Having gained +an ascendancy over her master, who never found fault with her, at least +before others, she gave out that she was essential in the management of +the domestic affairs of the family, that without her superintendence, +things could not go on right. + +Of late, she had not lived on the best terms with her young mistress. +In the days of her childhood and first youth, she had possessed her +whole confidence. Even in Tuebingen she was partly in the secret of +Bertha's love; and old Rosel took such an interest in every thing +that related to her child, as she always called her, as to speak +in the first person plural, "_We_ love Albert von Sturmfeder most +tenderly,"--or "_Our_ heart is ready to break in parting from him." + +Two circumstances, however, tended to weaken this confidence. The young +lady remarked, that her nurse was too fond of gossiping, that she had +been even watching her movements, and had been twattling with others +about her intimacy with Albert; she, therefore, grew more reserved +towards the old woman, who very soon guessed the cause of it. But when +the journey to Ulm was undertaken, and she had provided herself with a +new woollen-stuff gown, and a superb brocade cap, upon the occasion, +her disappointment knew no bounds upon being ordered to remain at +Lichtenstein. This widened the breach between her and Bertha, for she +attributed the cause of her not accompanying the family to her +mistress. + +Confidence between them was not restored after the knight of +Lichtenstein returned with his daughter to the castle from Ulm. Old +Rosel, who always preferred the society of her superiors to that of the +domestics, endeavoured to obtain some information from Bertha about +Albert, hoping thus to re-establish herself in her good graces; but +Bertha, whose heart was then full of the late painful occurrences at +the meeting with her lover, and still suspicious of the discretion of +her nurse, would not satisfy her curiosity. When, therefore, the exile +visited the castle at stated hours every night, and her young lady +secretly prepared his meal, and, as her nurse thought, remained alone +with him for a length of time, she gratified her pique towards her +mistress by opening her heart to the hostess of the Golden Stag at +Pfullingen upon the subject. No wonder, then, that Albert was led to +believe every word he heard; because, having only known the nurse as +the confidant of his love, he was not aware that the intimacy between +her and Bertha had suffered interruption. + +She had accompanied her mistress the morning of Albert's arrival, in +her best Sunday's attire, to her pilgrimage to the church. Having +confessed her sins, among which "curiosity" preponderated above the +rest, and received absolution, she returned to Lichtenstein with a +lighter heart and clearer conscience than she had when she left the +castle, sighing under the weight of them. But the words of the father +confessor had not probed so deep in her soul as to root out effectually +her besetting sin, for when she got into her apartment and was occupied +in putting by her rosary and Sunday dress, she heard her young lady and +a man's deep voice in angry conversation together, and she even thought +her mistress was crying. + +"Can the nocturnal visitor have come up here in the day time, and taken +advantage of the old man's absence?" she muttered to herself. A natural +feeling of curiosity and sympathy drew her eye and ear involuntarily to +the keyhole, when she overheard the dispute of which we have already +been witnesses. + +The young man opened the door so suddenly that she had no time to +retreat, scarcely sufficient to recover her upright figure from her +bending position. But she did not lose her presence of mind in this +awkward predicament, for stopping Albert, and before either of them +could speak, seizing his hands, poured upon him a torrent of words. + +"Ay, upon my veracity! Could I ever have thought that my old eyes would +have beheld Albert von Sturmfeder again! And I verily believe you have +grown handsomer and taller than when I last saw you! Who could have +thought it? Look, he stands like a stick at the door! Well, but who is +it that dares speak thus to my dear young lady? It is not my master, +nor any of his servants! Ay! what does one live to see? Young Albert, +it is you who have been upbraiding my child!" + +During this rapid flow of exclamations, Albert in vain sought to escape +from the old woman, and though he determined, in the heat of the +moment, to leave the castle, he felt it unseemly to let her suppose he +had been quarrelling with Bertha. He shook off the grasp which the +nurse had of him, and, in spite of her reproachful smile, took the hand +of Bertha, at the same time pressing it to his heart. A glance from her +eye calmed the tumult of his feelings. But a fresh conflict, a new +embarrassment agitated him. His anger indeed subsided, he felt +convinced that Bertha could not entertain that unkindness towards him +which his heated imagination had conjured up--but how to reconcile it +with his honour, to submit to the shame of being subdued by a squeeze +of the hand, or a glance of the eye, before a witness, was a difficulty +in which pride had its share. He blushed for his weakness, in standing +self-convicted before the old woman; and we have often heard that the +feeling of shame, and the embarrassment of getting out of a scrape, +such as Albert's precipitation had drawn him into, without committing +our honour, is apt often to convert a trifling quarrel into a lasting +one, and dissolve ties founded on the basis of tender affection. + +Old Rosel perceived with some degree of pleasure the anxiety and sorrow +of her young lady, and would perhaps have gladly taken advantage of her +distress, by way of punishing her for the withdrawal of her confidence, +had not her natural kindness of heart resumed its sway over the +malicious joy which she had given way too. She looked at the young man +full in the face, and said, "You surely don't intend to leave us so +soon, since it is but an hour ago that you arrived at Lichtenstein? +Before you have had your mid-day meal, we will not allow you to depart, +for that would be quite against the custom of the castle; and besides +which, you have probably not yet seen my master?" + +It was a great point gained for Bertha's cause to hear Albert speak +again: "I have already spoken to him," he said; "as a proof of it, look +at the two goblets we have emptied together." + +"Well," continued the old woman, "but you would not leave his house +without wishing him farewell?" + +"No, I ought not certainly, as he desired me to wait for him in the +castle," replied the young man. + +"Aye, why would you go away in such a hurry, then?" she said, and +forced him back into the room; "do you call that manners? My master +would wonder, indeed, to think what kind of guest he had entertained. +Whoever comes here by day," she added, with a searching look at Bertha, +"whoever comes by broad daylight, possesses a clear conscience, and +need not _slip away like a thief in the night._" + +Bertha blushed, and pressed the hand of her lover, who could not +refrain from smiling, when he thought of the old woman's mistaken +notion respecting the nocturnal visitor, and remarked the reproachful +glance which she threw at her child. + +"Yes, yes, as I said," she continued, "you have no occasion to steal +away like a thief in the night. It had been better, perhaps, had you +come sooner. The proverb says, 'judge for yourself, to doubt is +dangerous, and he who seeks peace and quiet, let him remain with his +cow!'--but I say nothing." + +"Well, then," said Bertha, "you see he remains here; your proverbs are +misplaced. You know, yourself, they do not always agree with the +subject." + +"Really? but they sometimes hit the right nail upon the head, however +disagreeable it may be to the hearer. But repentance and good advice +come too late after the evil has happened. I know well enough, that +ingratitude is the wages of the world, and I can be silent! he who +seeks peace and quiet, let him keep his eyes open, listen, and be +silent." + +"Come then, be silent," said Bertha, somewhat displeased; "at any rate +it will be wise of you not to let my father remark that you know Albert +von Sturmfeder; it were not unlikely he might suppose he is come to +Lichtenstein for our sakes alone." + +Good and ill humour strove for the mastery in old Rosel's breast. She +was, on the one hand, flattered to be admitted again into her lady's +confidence, by being requested to keep silence before her master, but, +on the other, she still felt annoyed that her young mistress confided +so little of her heart to her. She kept muttering a few indistinct +words to herself, as she put the chairs in their places against the +wall, and took the goblets off the table, wiping the marks which the +wine had left on the slate slab with which the table was inlaid. Albert +had retired to one of the windows, and though he did not feel quite +reconciled to his love, yet he could not mistake a sign she gave him. +He was particularly anxious her father should, as yet, know nothing of +their mutual feeling, for he feared he might attribute to it the +principal motive which had induced him to join Wuertemburg's cause, and +thereby lose the favourable opinion he had formed of him. Thinking it +the wisest plan to pacify the old woman, he approached her, and tapping +her gently on the shoulder, said, in a kind manner, "Miss Rosalie, you +have a very pretty cap on, but the riband does not match it properly, +it looks old and faded." + +"Eh! what?" she answered in a pet, expecting to be addressed with more +respect: "don't trouble yourself about my cap; every one has enough to +do to sweep before his own door. Look first to yourself and your own +affairs, and then find fault with me and mine. I am a poor woman, and +can't dress like a countess. If all the world were alike, and all rich, +and all sat at the same table together, who would you find to serve up +the eatables and drinkables?" + +"I did not mean to affront you," said Albert, and by way of soothing +her, took a silver coin out of his purse, adding, "but Rosalie will do +me a favour by changing her riband: and that my request may not sound +unreasonable, she will not, I hope, refuse to accept a broad piece!" + +Who has not seen the sun disperse the mists of a day of October? In +like manner was old Rosel's ill-humour dispelled. The polite manner of +the young knight, who had touched her weak point, by calling her +Rosalie, her favourite name, instead of the familiar one of old Rosel, +and presenting her with a dollar, having the bust of the Duke on one +side, and the arms of Teck on the reverse, were charms too potent for +her to withstand. "Ah, I see you are still the same good friendly +gentleman," she said; whilst, stooping down, she glided the dollar into +a large leather pocket which hung to her side, and carried the hem of +Albert's cloak to her lips: "just so used you to do in Tuebingen. When I +stood at the fountain of St. George, or went from the hill down to the +market place, I was sure to hear you call to me,--'Good morning, +Rosalie; and how is your young lady?' And did you not often give me +presents? why at least two thirds of the gown I wear comes from the +bounty and kindness of your honour!" + +"Never mind that now, good woman," said Albert, interrupting the old +chatterbox; "But about your master,--you will not----" + +"What do you mean?" she replied, half shutting her eyes: "I can pretend +never to have seen you in my life. You may rest assured of that. That +which does not burn I will not inflame!" + +With these words she left the room and went down to the first floor, to +attend to her affairs in the kitchen. + +Grateful and full of joy, she took the dollar out of her leather +pocket, and looked at it over and over again on both sides. She praised +the liberality of the youth, and regretted that his love had been so +ill requited, for that her young lady was unfaithful to him was a clear +case in her eyes. She stood in the kitchen for some time wrapt in +thought. She doubted within herself whether to let the thing take its +course, or whether it would not be better to give a hint to the young +knight, to apprise him of the nocturnal visitor. "But," she said, "in +time of need comes help; perhaps he will see it himself, and does not +want my advice. Besides, a meddler between two lovers is likely to burn +his own fingers. It will be better to wait and look on, for heat in +counsel and rashness in action engender nothing but harm. Who seeks +peace and quiet, let him keep his eyes open, listen, and be silent!" + +Such were the thoughts of the old philosopher in the kitchen. The +lovers had in the mean time made up their differences. Albert was +unable to withstand the entreaties of Bertha, and when she asked him, +in the most tender tone, whether he was still angry with her, he could +not bring his heart to say, yes. Peace was therefore re-established +between them, and, which is seldom the case, in a shorter time than +that which had been taken up in producing the dispute. She listened to +the continuation of his adventures with great interest. It required, +nevertheless, the conviction of his stedfast faith in her love, and in +the word of the exiled man, to restrain his jealousy within due limits; +for when he described his first encounter with his opponent, he +observed a blush on her countenance, which raised a doubt in his mind +whether it expressed joy for his escape from so formidable and +experienced an adversary, or whether it was not occasioned by a lurking +interest she took in the stranger. In relating further his visit to the +exile in the dreary regions of his retreat, and all the circumstances +connected with it, his admiration of the knight's noble mind, his +greatness of soul amidst privations and miseries, tears started into +her eyes, she looked up to Heaven as if in the act of imploring God's +protection upon the unhappy man. + +The conversation also which he had had with him, and particularly that +part of it in which the exile addressed him as his friend, extolling +his magnanimity for having pledged his faith to serve Wuertemberg,--the +cause of the oppressed and banished,--lighted up the glance of Bertha's +eyes with unusual brilliancy. She gazed on her lover for some time in +silent admiration. The sufferings she had endured since she last saw +him were now effaced by the joy she felt in having him by her side as +the staunch ally of her father. Albert was ashamed to feel his heart +beat quicker at the interest Bertha appeared to take in everything +relating to his new acquaintance. But he had command enough over +himself to conceal his uneasiness from her, whilst his conscience +upbraided him for harbouring the slightest suspicion of her fidelity. + +"Albert," she said, "some time hence many a one will envy you this +night's adventure. You may think yourself highly honoured, for it is +not every one that Hans would venture to conduct to the exile." + +"You know him, then?" replied the young man, eager to hear from her +what he had failed to elicit from the fifer. "Oh, tell me who he is! I +have seldom seen a man whose features, whose whole bearing, have +acquired such an ascendancy over me? He told me he would at present be +called by no other name than 'the man;' but his arm, whose strength I +have felt, his penetrating look, convince me his name must be renowned +in the world." + +"He had a name, indeed, once," she answered, "which could vie with the +most noble in the land. But if he did not tell it you himself, neither +dare I pronounce it, because it would be against my word to do so. You +must exercise your patience a little longer," she added, smiling, +"difficult as it may be to restrain your curiosity." + +"But why cannot you tell me," he interrupted her, "are not we one? +Ought we to withhold anything from each other? Come, tell me, who is +the man in the cavern?" + +"Do not be angry. Look ye, if it were my secret only, you know I would +not conceal it from you a moment, and you might with justice demand it +of me; but, though I know it would be safe in your keeping, I dare not +tell it,--I cannot break my word." + +Though frankness beamed in her countenance, and not a spark of guile +reigned in her heart, her refusal to satisfy Albert's wish irritated +him, and he was on the point of taxing her with duplicity, when the +door burst open, and an immense dog sprang into the room. Albert gave +an involuntary start, having never seen so powerful a beast. The dog +took up a position opposite to him, eyed him with a fierce look, and +began to growl. His voice bore an ominous sound, whilst a row of white +teeth, which he every now and then showed, might have startled the +courage of the bravest man; one word from Bertha was sufficient to +quiet and make it lay down at her feet. She stroked his beautiful head, +from which his sharp eye first glanced inquisitively at her and then at +the stranger. "It does everything but speak," she said, smiling; "it +comes to warn me not to betray my friend." + +"I have never seen so beautiful an animal! How proudly it carries his +head, as if he belonged to an emperor or a king." + +"It belongs to him, the banished," replied Bertha; "it came to stop my +mouth." + +"But why does not the knight keep him with him? Truly, such an arm as +his, supported by a dog of this kind, might defy a host of enemies." + +"It is a watchful beast," she answered, "and savage; if he kept it in +the cavern, he would, indeed, be a certain protection. The cavern is so +extensive that a man may remain concealed in its interior without fear +of molestation. But if by chance any one entered it, a dog might easily +betray him, for as soon as it heard a footstep no one could control it; +he would begin to growl and bark, and attract the notice of his +master's enemies; he therefore ordered it to remain here. The dog +understands his duty, and I take care of him. It pines for his master, +and you should see his joy when night comes; he knows then that his +lord will soon visit the castle; and, when the drawbridge falls, and +footsteps are heard in the court, it is impossible to hold him any +longer, he would break a dozen chains to get to his side." + +"A beautiful specimen of fidelity!" said her lover; "but exemplified by +the man to whom this dog belongs in a still higher degree. Faithful to +his lord, he prefers banishment and misery rather than betray his +cause. It is a folly in me," Albert added; "I am aware that curiosity +is not seemly in a man, but I long to know who he is." + +"Have patience till the night," said the maiden; "when he comes I will +ask him if I may tell you. I doubt not but that he will permit me." + +"It is a long time to wait," said Albert; "and really I cannot drive +his image out of my head. If you will not tell me, I'll ask the dog; +perhaps he will be kinder than you." + +"Well, try him," said Bertha, laughing; "if he can speak, I'll allow +him to satisfy your curiosity." + +"Hearken, you enormous beast," said Albert, turning to the dog, who +looked at him attentively; "tell me, what is your master's name?" + +The dog raised himself proudly up, opened his broad jaws, and roared +out, in terrifying tones, "U--U--U!" + +Bertha coloured: "Let's have no more of this nonsense," she said, and +called the dog to her; "who would talk to a dog when in Christian +society?" + +Albert appeared not to heed her remark. "He said 'U,' good dog; I'll +wager he has been trained to it! It is not the first time he has been +asked what his master's name was?" + +Scarcely had he pronounced the last words than the dog repeated his +U--U--U! in a still harsher tone. Bertha coloured again, she made +it come and lay down at her feet, scolding him in displeasure. + +"Well, we have it now," said Albert, in triumph; "his master's name is +U!" He recollected that the curious word on the ring which the exile +had given him began with an U. It is extraordinary, thought he. "Is +your master's name, perhaps, Uffenheim? or Uxhuell? or Ulm? or, by the +bye,----" + +"Nonsense! the dog has no other note than U. How can you plague +yourself in trying to find out a meaning to it? But here comes my +father. If you wish to conceal our love from him, do not commit +yourself. I'll leave you now, as it would not be right to be found +together." + +Albert promised to be discreet, and once more embraced Bertha, an +indulgence which was likely to be the last for some time, should the +presence of her father render it impossible to see her again alone. The +dog appeared to watch the movements of the loving couple with +astonishment, as if he were really gifted with human sense. The first +sound of the horse's feet on the drawbridge was the signal for +separation, when Bertha left the room accompanied by the faithful +animal. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + The Duke, so sad, can find no rest, + And dark reflections fill his breast; + "How far, alas! from me removed, + How much is sunk, the land I loved." + G. SCHWAB. + +Good Friday and Easter Sunday passed away, and Albert von Sturmfeder +still remained at Lichtenstein. The knight of the castle had invited +him to continue his visit until the war should take some decided turn, +which would afford him an opportunity to render the Duke important +service. We may well suppose how willingly the young man accepted the +invitation. + +To be under the same roof with his beloved, always near her, +occasionally to pass a few moments with her alone, and to be loved of +her father, were privileges his fondest dreams had never anticipated. +One circumstance only clouded these delights, and that was, a certain +gloomy anxiety of expression which at times hung about the brow of +Bertha's father. It appeared that he was not satisfied with the news +which he received from the Duke and the theatre of war. Messengers came +to the castle at different times of day, but they arrived and departed +without the knight imparting to his guest the contents of their +despatches. Sometimes Albert thought he even saw the fifer of Hardt in +the dusk of the evening gliding across the bridge. Hoping to get some +information from him, he once hurried down to meet him; but by the time +he reached the bridge, no trace of him was to be found. + +Feeling somewhat hurt by being left in total ignorance of the state of +affairs, which he conceived he had a right to be informed of, after the +decided part he had taken, he could not help saying to Bertha, "I have +tendered my services unreservedly to the Duke's friends, in spite of +their cause not being very prosperous. The man in the cavern and the +knight of Lichtenstein have both shewn me much friendship and +confidence, but only up to a certain point. Why should I not know what +is going on at Tuebingen? Why should I not be made acquainted with the +Duke's operations? Am I only kept here as a forlorn hope? Why do they +disdain my advice?" + +Bertha endeavoured to console him, and succeeded at times by mild +persuasion to drive such thoughts from his mind; but there were moments +when they returned with double force, and particularly when he saw her +father absorbed in the consideration of the state of affairs. + +At length, on the evening of Easter day, he could contain himself no +longer, and put a direct question to the old knight, asking him if +their affairs were in danger, what was the state of the Duke's plans, +and whether his services would not be called into action soon? But his +patron, taking him kindly by the hand, answered, "I have long remarked, +that your heart is ready to burst with impatience in consequence of +your being denied a share in our labours and cares; but only have a +little more patience; perhaps one day longer may decide many important +subjects. What is the use of tormenting you with the uncertain +intelligence which our messengers have lately brought? Your ardent +young mind is not fitted to unmask intrigue, or to counteract artifice. +When the crisis approaches upon which we can base our plans with +safety, believe me you shall be a welcome member in council and action. +All you need know at present is, that our circumstances are neither +good nor bad, but that we shall soon be obliged to act with increased +decision." + +Albert gave the old man due credit for his reserve, but still he was +anything but satisfied with his answer. He could not even learn the +name of the exile, of whom Bertha had inquired the night preceding, +when he came to the castle as usual, if he would allow her to make him +known to their guest, but the only answer he gave was, "The proper +moment is not yet arrived." + +There was still another circumstance which offended Albert's _amour +propre_. He had often made known to the knight of Lichtenstein the +intense interest he took in the welfare of the exile, and what +heartfelt pleasure it would give him to cultivate his further +acquaintance; nevertheless, he had never once been invited to join the +nocturnal visit of the mysterious guest. He was too proud to press the +subject; he waited night after night in the expectation of being called +in to speak to the man, but he waited in vain. He resolved therefore to +see the stranger some night without an invitation, and for this purpose +he sought a fitting opportunity. His room, which he was obliged to +enter every night regularly at eight o'clock, overlooked the valley +below, and was situated immediately opposite to the side on which the +bridge was placed. It was therefore out of the question to see him +coming from this position. The large room on the second floor, which +was not far from his own, was locked every night, and consequently +debarred him from satisfying his curiosity from thence. On the landing +place, to which the doors of the different rooms led, there were indeed +two windows looking towards the bridge, but as they were grated and +stood high, the view from them was confined to the distant country, and +there was no possibility of obtaining a sight of the desired spot. +Nothing was left for him, therefore, than to conceal himself somewhere +in order to gratify his curiosity. On the first floor the plan was +impossible, because the many people living there would subject him to +discovery. But when he examined the gateway and the stables, which were +hewn out of the solid rock, he discovered a niche near the drawbridge, +concealed behind the wings of the gate, which were only shut when an +enemy was before the castle. This was the spot which appeared best +suited to secure him from discovery, and which afforded room enough to +enable him to observe what was going on. On the left of the niche the +drawbridge joined on to the gate, the stairs which led up to the +dwelling rooms were on the right, in front was the entrance passage, +which every one must pass who came into the castle. Albert determined +to slip into this position on the coming night. + +At eight o'clock a page brought him his night lamp, and led him, as +usual, to his apartment. The lord of the castle and his daughter kindly +wished him good night. He entered his room, and dismissing his servant, +who generally assisted him to undress, threw himself on his bed in his +clothes. He listened attentively to each hour of the clock as it struck +in the village, and whose sounds were wafted towards him by the +night-breeze. He often closed his eyes, and at times fell into that +state when it requires painful exertion to combat the power of sleep. +His present object was sufficiently important to keep him on the alert, +and prevent him losing the opportunity of satisfying his curiosity. Ten +o'clock had long struck; all was as still as death in the castle. He +jumped up, took off his heavy boots and spurs, threw his cloak over +him, and cautiously opened the door of his room. He held his breath, +fearing to make the least noise; the hinges of the door creaked--he +stopped to listen whether any one had heard the treacherous sound. +Every thing remained quiet; the moon threw a dim light on the landing +place, and Albert thought himself fortunate she had not betrayed him a +second time. He glided softly towards the winding stairs, and stopped +again to listen if all was quiet; he heard nothing but the whistling of +the wind, and the rustling of the oak trees on the further side of the +bridge. He stepped carefully down the stairs. The least noise sounds +louder in the depth and quiet of night than at other times; attention +is awakened at the slightest movement, which would not be noticed in +the day time. If his foot stepped upon a grain of sand, its grating +sound went up the winding stairs, and startled him into the supposition +that the whole house was on the alert. Having arrived at the first +floor, he listened again, and heard nothing but the faint cracking of +the dying embers on the hearth of the kitchen. At last he got to his +destination, an expedition upon which he had expended a whole quarter +of an hour's time, which otherwise was an affair but of a moment. He +placed himself in the niche, and drew the wing of the gate closer to +him, so that it fully covered his position. A fissure in the door was +large enough to enable him to see distinctly every thing that passed. +Nothing appeared to move in the castle, though he thought he heard +light footsteps above him, which he supposed might be those of Bertha. + +After waiting a tedious long quarter of an hour, the village clock +struck eleven. This being the appointed time of the nocturnal visit, +Albert directed all his attention to hear the stranger's approach. A +few minutes after he heard the dog bark, when at the same time +a deep voice from the other side of the ditch hailed, and said, +"Lichtenstein!" + +"Who comes there?" was answered from the castle. + +"The man is there," replied the other voice, which sounded familiar to +his ear as being the one he had heard in the cavern. + +The watchman, an old man, came forth from a casemate hewn out of the +rock, and opened the lock of the drawbridge with a large curiously +wrought key. Whilst he was thus employed the dog came bounding down the +stairs, whining and wagging his tail, and jumped upon the old man, as +if to assist him in letting fall the bridge for his master to enter. +Bertha shortly after descended with a lantern, and assisted him with +her light, for it appeared he had some difficulty in opening the lock. + +"Make haste, Balthaser," she whispered to the old watchman, "he has +been waiting some time, it is cold outside, and the wind blows keen." + +"I have now only to unfasten the chain, worthy lady," he answered; "you +shall soon see how well my bridge falls. I have oiled the hinges, as +you ordered me, so that they do not creek any more, and disturb Mrs. +Rosel out of her slumbers." + +The chains rattled in their ascent, the bridge sunk gradually into its +place, and the banished man, enveloped in his coarse cloak, came +across. Though his bearing was deeply engraven on Albert's mind, yet +his strikingly bold features, his commanding eye, his open forehead, +and the agile movements of his limbs, filled the young man anew with +admiration. + +The nocturnal guest assisted Balthaser, the doorkeeper, to draw up the +bridge, with a power which appeared almost superhuman. When the old man +had withdrawn to his sleeping place, Albert overheard the following +conversation between the visitor and Bertha. + +"Is there any news from Tuebingen? Has Maxx Stumpf returned? I read bad +news in your countenance." + +"No, sir, he has not yet returned," she replied; "my father expected +him this very night." + +"Oh, that the devil would give him heels! I must remain here till he +comes, if it be for a whole day. Ha! a cold night, lady," said the +exile; "the screech owls will be frozen in the cavern, for I left them +crying in most pitiable tones." + +"Yes, it is indeed cold," she answered; "I would not go down there, +upon any account; and how dreadful must it be to hear those cries; I +shudder to think of it." + +"If young Albert accompanied you, you would have no objections to go," +answered the other smiling, and chucking the blushing girl under the +chin; "is it not so? You would not hesitate to follow him there, much +as you appear to dread it now." + +"Ah! sir," she replied, "how can you talk in that way? Do you know, +I'll not come down again to let you in if you take such liberties." + +"Well, but I merely spoke in jest," said the knight, and gently pinched +her glowing cheek; "you know how little opportunity I have in my +dwelling to enjoy a joke. What will you give me to say a good word to +your father, to induce him to make the youth your husband? You are +aware the old gentleman does every thing I ask him; and if I recommend +a son-in-law to him, he would accept him at all hazards." + +Bertha opened wide her beautiful eyes, and cast a grateful look at him. +"Dear sir," she answered, "I will not forbid your saying a kind word +for Albert, particularly as my father is well inclined towards him." + +"But I shall expect some reward for my trouble. Everything has its +price; so what will you give?" + +Bertha cast her eyes to the ground. "A heartfelt thank-ye," she +replied; "but come, sir, my father has been waiting for us a long +time." + +She was in the act of leading on, when the knight, taking her by the +hand, detained her. Albert's heart beat so hard as almost to be heard; +he broke out into a violent heat, and then became ice-cold; he laid +hold of the handle of the door, and was on the point of sallying forth +to forbid the promise of a fixed price being given upon any pretext. + +"Why are you in such haste?" he heard the man of the cavern say. "Well, +for one kiss only, and I will persuade your father to send for the +priest on the spot, to perform the holy ceremony." He bent his head +towards the offended, blushing girl. Albert saw every thing swimming +before his eyes, and was again on the point of bursting from his place +of concealment, but the determined reply of his lady love checked him +from taking the rash step. She beheld the man with a forbidding look. +"It is impossible your Grace can be in earnest," she said; "otherwise +you now see me for the last time." + +"If you knew how much this scornful air becomes you," he answered, with +unaltered kindness, "you would never cease to be in anger. At any rate +I admire your fidelity; for when the heart is deeply engaged with one +object, none other need hope for such a favour. But on your marriage +day I will demand the favour, with the permission of your bridegroom, +and then we'll see who is right." + +"That you may do," said Bertha, smiling, whilst she withdrew her hand +from his, and led the way with the light in her hand; "but you had +better prepare yourself for a refusal, for he is not fond of trifling +on this point." + +"He is uncommonly jealous," replied the knight, as they proceeded up +stairs. "I could tell you something upon that subject, which took place +between him and me; but I promised silence----" + +The sound of their voices died away gradually, and at last became +indistinct to Albert's ear. He breathed freely again. He listened and +remained in his position until he satisfied himself thoroughly that no +one was on the stairs or in the passages, and, taking advantage of the +opportunity, slipped up into his own room much quicker than he had +descended from it. The last words of Bertha and the exile still +resounded in his ears. He blushed to think of his unfounded jealousy, +which had again tormented him this night. Bertha had, unknown to +herself, given him evident proofs of the purity of her heart and +faithful attachment to him; and it was only when he laid his head on +his pillow and fell to sleep, that his mind was eased of the pain of +having unjustly suspected her. + +When he left his room the next morning at seven o'clock, the hour which +the family generally assembled at breakfast, Bertha met him on the +landing place with the appearance of having been weeping. She took him +on one side, and whispered, "Tread softly, Albert; the knight of the +cavern is still with us; he has been asleep about an hour; we must not +disturb him." + +"The exile!" asked Albert in astonishment, "does he dare remain here +during the day? what has happened? is he unwell?" + +"No!" answered Bertha, whilst a fresh tear hung on her eyelid, "no! he +expects a messenger from Tuebingen about this time, and is determined to +await him. We begged and prayed him to depart before daybreak, but he +would not listen to our warning, so firm is his resolution to remain at +all hazards." + +"But could not the messenger have gone to him in the cavern?" said +Albert; "he runs too great a risk unnecessarily." + +"Ah! you don't know him; it is his bane when he once gets a thing into +his head to be obstinately immoveable; and then he is so distrustful of +others, even of his best friends. It was quite impossible for us to +persuade him to leave the castle this morning, because he might have +thought, perhaps, we wished to get rid of him for our own safety. His +principal reason for remaining is, I believe, to consult with my +father, when the messenger arrives." + +During this conversation they remained stationary on the landing place, +but Bertha now opened the door of her father's apartment as gently as +possible, and they entered together. + +This room, or what would be called in a modern establishment the +gentlemen's room, was distinguished from the saloon on the second floor +from being somewhat smaller. It had a view of the surrounding country +on three sides, through small round windows, now pierced by the sun's +morning rays. The ceiling and walls were wainscoted with dark brown +wood, fancifully inlaid with other coloured woods. A few portraits of +the ancestors of Lichtenstein graced the side of the wall opposite to +the windows, and the tables and furniture shewed that the present +occupier of the castle was a friend of old customs and times, and that +his property would descend to his daughter in the same unaltered state +it had been left by his great-grandfather. + +The old knight was seated at a large table in the middle of the room +when they entered. Supporting his long-bearded chin in his hand, he sat +gloomy and motionless, with his eyes fixed on a large goblet which +stood before him. It was not quite evident to Albert whether he had +been sitting up all night over his glass, or whether he was taking a +draught at this early hour of the morning to recruit his strength and +spirits. + +He saluted the young man as he approached the table by a slight +inclination of the head, whilst a scarcely visible smile played about +his mouth. He pointed to a goblet on the table and a stool by his side. +Bertha understanding the hint, filled it with wine, and presented it to +her lover, with that grace which marked every thing she did. Albert +seated himself beside the old man, and drank. + +The latter drew his chair near to him, and said in a low tone of voice, +"I fear our affairs are in a bad way!" + +"Have you had any intelligence?" asked Albert, in the same low tone. + +"A peasant told me this morning, that Tuebingen had treated with the +League last evening." + +"Good heavens!" said Albert, involuntarily. + +"Keep quiet, and do not wake him! he will learn it soon enough," +replied the old man, pointing to the other side of the room. + +The young man looked that way. At one of the side windows, looking +towards the deep ravine, sat the exile asleep; his arm, resting on the +ledge of the window, supported his careworn brow. His grey cloak had +partly fallen off his shoulder, and discovered a worn-out leather +jerkin, in which his powerful frame was encased. His curly hair hung +down over his temples in disorder, and a few tufts of his smooth beard +were visible from under his hand. The large dog lay at his feet, his +head resting on his master's foot, looking up at him with faithful eyes +and watching every motion of his features. + +"He sleeps," said the old man, and repressed a starting tear. "He +breathes light; oh! that his dreams may be comforting. The reality of +life to him is melancholy indeed! Who can help wishing he may remain +unconscious of it awhile?" + +"His is a hard fate!" replied Albert, casting his eye at the sleeping +man. "Driven from house and home--an outcast--a price offered to any +villain who chooses to level his gun at him--under the earth by day, +and by night wandering about like a thief! Truly, it is hard; and all +this because he is faithful to his lord!" + +"That man has suffered much in his lifetime," said Lichtenstein, with a +serious look. "I have known him from the days of his childhood, and I +can vouch for his having always wished to do what is right and just. +The means indeed he applied to attain his object were at times not +fitted to further his purpose; on other occasions his intentions were +misunderstood, and he too often allowed himself to be carried away by +the violence of passion--but where lives the man of which this might +not be said? Truly, he has wofully repented himself." He stopt short, +fearing he had said more than he ought before Albert, who asked in vain +to hear something further of his character. The old man sank into +silence and deep thought. + +The sun having risen over the mountains and dispersed the mist which +hung about the vallies, invited Albert to the window to enjoy the +splendid view. A lovely valley, surrounded by wooded heights, with +three smiling villages scattered over its surface, and a rapid stream +running through it, lay at the foot of the rock of Lichtenstein. It was +like beholding the earth from a point in the heavens. Leaving the +valley and looking to the wooded heights, his eye rested with delight +upon picturesque groups of rocks and the mountain of the Alb, behind +which rises the castle of Achalm, and forms the boundary of the +immediate surrounding country. Beyond the walls of Achalm, the distant +hills were visible to the right and left. The rock of Lichtenstein, +reaching, as it were, into the clouds, commands an extensive view of +Wuertemberg, free and unbroken, into the far lowland. The morning sun +throwing its oblique rays across the landscape, Albert was transported +with the beauty of its scenery. + +The fertile fields spread before him, surrounded by the wooded hills, +he compared to variegated carpets, edged, as it were, with borders of +dark green and brown, deriving their different shades and colours from +the tints thrown over them by the dawning day. And then turning to the +country between Lichtenstein and the distant Asperg, he exclaimed, +"What charms for the lover of the picturesque! No continuous +uninterrupted plain to weary the beholder, the eye ranges from hill to +mountain in pleasing variety, and rests on the luxuriant valley, with +its meandering stream gently rippling along in its course." + +Albert stood wrapt in delight. He strained his eyes more and more to +see and distinguish each castle and village in the far distance. Bertha +stood beside him, and though she had enjoyed the same view from her +childhood, she now shared his pleasure; she pointed out every place, +and named all the different towers to him. "Where is there another spot +in all Germany which can be compared to this!" said Albert; "I have +seen vast plains, and mounted heights which command perhaps a more +extended view, but such a rich combination of the picturesque and the +sublime it would be difficult to find elsewhere. Look at the rich corn +fields, the woods of fruit trees, and a little lower down there, where +the hill assumes a blueish tinge, that garden of vines! I have never +yet envied a prince; but to stand here, and look over those hills, and +say this is mine, would be the height of my ambition!" + +A deep sigh close to them, started the young couple from their +observations. They turned round, and perceived the exile standing at +the window a few paces from them. He appeared to view the country with +a wild look, which made Albert uncertain whether the conversation he +had just had with Bertha, or the thought of his own forlorn state, had +troubled his mind. + +He saluted the young man, and offered him his hand, and turning to the +lord of the castle, asked him, "If a messenger had arrived?" +"Schweinsberg is not yet returned," he answered. + +The exile retired again to the window in silence. Bertha filled him a +goblet of wine. "Be of good courage," she said, "and don't look in so +disconsolate a manner over the country. Drink this wine, it is good old +Wuertemberger, and grows under that blue mountain." + +"We cannot remain long melancholy," he answered, and turned to Albert +with a forced smile, "when the sun shines so cheerfully over +Wuertemberg, and Heaven's mildness beams in the eye of one of her +fairest maidens? Is it not so, young man? what is the sight of these +hills and vallies, compared to the gleam of such eyes and the fidelity +of true hearts? take your glass, and let us drink to them! Nothing is +irrevocably lost so long as we possess such treasures: here's to 'Good +Wuertemberg for ever!'" + +"Good Wuertemberg for ever," replied Albert, and touched glasses. The +exile was going to say something more, when the old watchman entered +with a face full of importance. "There are two pedlars before the +castle, and demand admittance," he announced. + +"It's them! it's them!" cried the exile and old Lichtenstein in the +same breath, and added, "shew them up." + +The servant withdrew. An anxious moment followed the announcement. No +one said a word. The knight of Lichtenstein looked as if he could +pierce the door with the eye of impatience. The exile endeavoured to +conceal his anxiety, but the rapid changes on his expressive features +indicated clearly that his whole being was in a state of excitement. At +length footsteps were heard on the stairs approaching the apartment. +The exile, strong as he was, trembled so much that he was obliged to +hold by the table, his body was bent forward, his eye was fixed on the +door, as if he would read his fate on the countenance of the +messengers--the door opened and they entered. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + Deserted as thou art, by all forsaken, + Thy fortunes ruin'd and thy power gone, + Thou still shalt find fidelity unshaken, + Although you find it in myself alone. + Thy humble vassal, 'till the hour of death, + I'll hail my sovereign with my latest breath. + L. UHLAND. + +Albert's expectation was also raised to the highest pitch. His eye +examined the two men as they entered, and he at once recognised the +fifer of Hardt as one, and the pedlar he had met at the Golden Stag of +Pfullingen as the other. The latter disburthened himself of a pack +which he carried on his back, tore a plaister from his eye, erected +himself from a bent position, which he had assumed for the purpose of +disguise, and stood before the assembled group, the short-set, +strong-built man, with open bold features, which the exile had already +described in the cavern. + +"Maxx Stumpf!" cried the exile in a trembling tone of voice, "what +means that gloomy countenance? You bring us good news, don't you? they +will open the gates to us, and with us hold out to the last man?" + +Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg looked about him in confusion. "Prepare +for the worst, sir!" he said, "the intelligence I bring you is not +good." + +"How?" answered the other, whilst the blush of rage flew into his +cheeks, and the veins of his forehead began to swell, "how, do you mean +they hesitate, they waver? It is impossible! be not precipitate in what +you say, recollect it is of the nobles of the land of whom you speak." + +"And still I will say it," Schweinsberg answered, making a step +forward. "In the face of the Emperor and the Empire, I will say they +are traitors." + +"Thou liest!" cried the exile with a terrible voice. "Traitors, did you +say? Thou liest! Dost thou dare to rob forty knights of their honour? +Ha! own it, that you lie." + +"Would to God I were a knight without honour--a dog that betrays his +master! But the whole forty have broken their oaths--you have lost your +country. My Lord Duke, Tuebingen is gone!" + +The man, whom these words more immediately concerned, sank in a chair +at the window: he covered his face with his hands, his agitated breast +appeared to seek in vain for breath, his whole frame trembled. + +The eyes of all were directed to him, expressive of commiseration and +pain, particularly Albert's, who now for the first time learnt the name +of "the man"--it was him, Duke Ulerich of Wuertemberg! Recollections of +the first moment he had met him, of his first visit to the cavern, of +the conversation they had had, and the way which his whole bearing had +surprised him and bound him to his cause, crossed his mind in _one_ +rapid flight. It was quite incomprehensible to him, that he had not +long ago made the discovery. + +No one dared to break the silence for some time. The heavy breathing of +the Duke only was heard, and his faithful dog, who appeared to partake +of his master's misery, added his pitiable whining to the distressing +scene. Old Lichtenstein at length giving a sign to the knight of +Schweinsberg, they both approached the Duke, and touched his cloak, in +order to rouse him, but he remained immoveable and silent. Bertha had +stood aloof, with tears in her eyes. She now drew near with hesitating +step, put her hand on his shoulder, and, beholding him with a look of +tender compassion, at last took courage to say, "My Lord Duke! it is +still good Wuertemberg for ever!" + +A deep sigh escaping from his breast, was the only notice he took of +the kind girl's solicitude. Albert then approached him. The expression +which the exile had made use of, when they first met, flashed across +his mind, and he ventured to address the same words now to his +afflicted friend. "Man without a name," said he, "why so downhearted? +Si fractus illabatur orbis, impavidum ferient ruinae!"[1] + +These words acted like a charm upon Ulerich. Whether he had adopted +them as his motto, or whether it was that combination of greatness of +soul, and obstinate contempt of misfortune, which formed his character, +and acquired for him the name of the "Undaunted," he was reanimated, as +if by an electric spark, when he heard them repeated, and from that +moment rose worthy of his name. + +"Those are the true words, my young friend," he said at length with a +firm voice, proudly raising his head, his eyes sparkling with their +usual animation, "those are the words. I thank you for bringing them to +my mind. Stand forward, Maxx Stumpf, knight of Schweinsberg, relate the +result of your mission. But first of all, give me another glass, +Bertha!" + +"It was last Thursday, when I left you," began the knight: "Hans +disguised me in this garb, and instructed me how to comport myself. I +went to the Golden Stag at Pfullingen, just to try if any one would +recognise me in it, but the hostess brought me a can of wine with all +the indifference she would have done to a perfect stranger she had +never seen before. And a city counsellor, with whom I had exchanged +angry words not a week before in the same room, drank with me, +supposing I had followed the vocation of pedlar from my childhood. That +young man," pointing to Albert, "was also in the room." + +The Duke appeared to recover his spirits, and was more cheerful. He +asked Albert whether he had noticed the knight in his garb of pedlar, +and whether he looked the character? + +He replied, smiling, "I think he played his part to perfection." + +"From Pfullingen I went the same evening to Reutlingen. I entered the +public room of an inn, where I met a tribe of Leaguists, consisting of +citizens, from all parts, who were exulting with the Reutlingeners, for +having torn down the stag horns, the emblems of your house, from their +city gates. Though they abused you and sang burlesque songs at your +expense, still they appeared to fear your name. On Good Friday I +proceeded towards Tuebingen. My heart beat high when I descended through +the wood near the castle, and saw the beautiful valley of the Neckar +before me, with the fortified towers and steeples of that place peering +above the hill." + +The Duke compressed his lips, turned away, and looked at the distant +country. Schweinsberg paused, sympathising in his master's pain, who +beckoned to him, however, to proceed. + +"Descending into the plain, I wandered onward towards Tuebingen. The +town had been already occupied by the League some days, the castle +still held out, and only a few troops remained in the camp, which was +pitched on the hill overlooking the valley of Ammer. I determined to +slip into the town, for the purpose of finding out how affairs stood in +the castle. You know the little inn in the upper town, not far from the +church of St. George? I went there, and called for wine. On my way I +learned that the knights of the League often assembled in the same +house, and therefore I considered it the best place to attain my +object." + +"You risked a good deal," interrupted the knight of Lichtenstein: "it +was very possible some one might have wished to buy some of your wares, +and then the pedlar in disguise would have been discovered." + +"You forget it was a holiday," replied the other, "so that I had a good +excuse not to open my pack, and recommend my goods for sale, according +to the custom of pedlars. But I had sufficient proof of the security of +my disguise, for I sold a box of healing plaster to George von +Fronsberg, God knows, I would gladly have come to blows with him, and +given him an opportunity on the spot to make use of it. They were still +at high mass in the church, and no one in the inn; but I learned from +the master of the house, that the knights in the castle had agreed to a +truce till Easter Monday. When church service was over, many knights +and other men came, as I expected, into the room where I was, for their +morning's potation. I seated myself in a corner on the bench near the +stove, the proper place for people of my condition in the presence of +their superiors." + +"Who did you see there?" inquired the Duke. + +"I knew some of them by sight, and guessed who others were from their +conversation. There was Fronsberg, Alban von Closen, the Huttens, +Sickingen, and many others. Truchses von Waldburg came in shortly +after. When I saw him enter, I drew my cap deep over my face, for he +cannot have forgotten the whirl I gave him from his horse some fifteen +years ago by a thrust of my lance." + +"Did you see Hans von Breitenstein among the rest?" asked Albert. + +"Breitenstein?--not that I know; ah! yes, that's his name who will eat +a leg of mutton at a sitting. Well, they began to talk of the siege and +the truce, and some of them whispered to each other, but as I have very +good ears, I heard just what of all things was most essential to know. +Truchses related that he shot an arrow into the castle, with a note +attached to it, addressed to Ludwig von Stadion. It appears that he +must often have practised the same device, for the knights were not +astonished, when he added, that he had received an answer the same day +by similar means." + +The Duke's countenance became clouded. "Ludwig von Stadion!" he cried +in agony; "I would have staked castles upon his fidelity! I loved him +so, that I satisfied all his desires, and he is the first to betray +me!" + +"The answer said, that he, Stadion, with many others, being tired of +the contest, were more than half inclined to surrender; George von +Hewen, however, threatened to denounce them as traitors." + +"I have not merited such friendship from Hewen," said Ulerich. "I was +once offended with him, for having complained that I had not acted +according to his wishes. But how easily are we deceived in the +characters of men! Had any one asked me which of these two I had most +faith in, I would have named Stadion as my trusty friend, and George +von Hewen the doubtful one." + +Schweinsberg continued. "The answer also said, that your Grace would +probably attempt to relieve the castle; but if that were impossible, +you would repair to it in person by some secret way. The Leaguists +spoke much upon that subject. They all, however, agreed that it was +essential to bring the garrison to terms without delay, before you +brought relief, or got into the castle; for if you succeeded in the +latter case, they feared the siege might last much longer. After +hearing all this, I did not think it advisable to proceed immediately +to the castle by the secret path, known only to a few, and shew myself +to the garrison, because if Stadion had already gained the upper hand, +I should have been lost. I resolved, therefore, to remain the day in +the town; and if before Saturday morning I heard nothing to alarm me +respecting the spirit of the garrison, then to proceed to my +destination, and send your Grace immediate intelligence. I wandered +about the town and the camp unmolested until noon, seeking as much as +possible always to be near some of the superior officers to assure +myself of my disguise." + +"That was on the Friday, the holiday?" Lichtenstein asked. + +"Yes; on holy Friday. At three o'clock in the afternoon, George von +Fronsberg, with many other of the principal officers, rode to the city +gate of the castle; and hailed the besieged, inquiring whether they +were building a fortification. I was standing among them; and saw +Stadion come on the wall, and answer, 'No, that were against the terms +of the truce; but I see,' he added, 'you are erecting a fort in the +field.' George von Fronsberg cried, 'If it is so, it is without my +orders. Who are you?' He in the castle answered, 'I am Ludwig von +Stadion;' upon which the Leaguists smiled, and stroked their beards. +Having satisfied the besieged, by overturning a few baskets filled with +earth, which had been placed in the entrenchments to screen their +works, that he had no knowledge of its having been done, Fronsberg then +called to Stadion, and invited him, with other of his party, to come +down and drink together." + +"Did they go?" cried the Duke, impatiently, "and forget their honour?" + +"There is an open space on the castle hill beyond the ditch, whence the +spectator, having a distant view of the country, can survey the valley +of the Neckar, the Steinlach on the height above, the Alb in the +distance, with many castles and villages, which complete the scenery. +On this spot they placed a table and benches; and the commanders of the +League sat down to drink. The gate of Upper Tuebingen was then opened, +the bridge fell over the ditch; when Ludwig von Stadion, with six +others, came forth, bringing with them your Grace's silver covered +jugs, golden goblets, and best wine; and having saluted your enemies +with a shake of the hand, seated themselves to talk over the state of +affairs over a cool tankard." + +"May the devil bless them all!" interrupted the old knight of +Lichtenstein, and threw his wine away; but the Duke smiled, and nodded +to Maxx Stumpf to proceed. + +"They caroused together till after dusk; and staggered about with +heated heads. I kept near them, so that not one of their traitorous +words escaped my ears. When they broke up, Trachses took Stadion by the +band, 'Brother,' said he, 'you have good wine in your cellar; let us in +soon, that we may help you to drink it out.' The other laughed, shook +him by the hand, and said, 'Time will teach us what to do.' When I saw +how affairs stood, I determined, with God's help, at the risk of my +life, to get into the castle: I therefore left them, and went to the +spot where the secret subterranean way commences. Having succeeded in +entering it unnoticed, and reached the middle, I found the portcullis +down, with a sentry placed there. He levelled his gun at me, when he +heard me coming in the dark, and demanded the parole. I gave, as you +desired me, 'Atempto,' the watch-word of your brave ancestor, Eberhard +with the beard. The fellow opened his eyes wide, drew up the +portcullis, and let me pass. With rapid steps I reached a vault, where +I was obliged to remain a few moments to take a breath of fresh air, +for the narrow passage is close and damp." + +"Faithful Maxx! clear your throat with a draught of wine," said +Ulerich; the knight followed his advice, and continued his story with +renewed vigour. + +"I heard the sound of many voices in the vault, apparently in +contention, and following its direction, I saw a number of the garrison +sitting round a large cask drinking. There were some of Stadion's +party, with Hewen, and many of his friends. The light of a lamp +illumined their position, and the large goblets which were placed +before them. It was an imposing scene, and put me in mind of a sitting +of the secret tribunal. Having concealed myself behind a cask, I +listened to their conversation. George von Hewen spoke stirring words, +and represented to them the crime of their infidelity; he said there +was no reason why they should surrender; that they were well provided +with provisions for a long siege; that your Grace was assembling an +army for their relief; and that the besiegers were worse off than +themselves." + +"Ha! brave Hewen! and what gave they for answer?" said the Duke. + +"They only laughed and drank. 'It will be long before he can get an +army together. Where will he find money, unless he plunders?' said one +of the party. Hewen continued: 'But if the Duke cannot succeed so soon +as he expected, we are nevertheless bound by our oath to hold to the +last, or else be held as traitors to our lord and master.' They laughed +and drank again, saying, 'Who dares come forward and call us traitors?' +I then called out from behind my cask, 'I will! You are traitors--false +to your oaths, to the Duke, and your country!' They were terrified and +thunder-struck; Stadion let fall his goblet; when, stepping forward, +having first taken off my disguise, I stood before them, and drew your +letter from under my jerkin: here is a writing from your Duke, said I; +he commands you at your peril to surrender; he is coming himself to +conquer or die under the walls." + +"Oh, Tuebingen!" said the Duke, with a sigh, "fool that I was to leave +you in such hands. I would give two of my left fingers for your sake! +what did I say, two fingers? I would willingly lose my right hand could +I purchase you with the sacrifice, and with my left lead the way to the +heart of my enemies. And what was the answer to my words--did they not +give any?" + +"The false ones eyed me with sullen looks, and appeared not to know +what to do. Hewen, however, repeated his warning to them. Stadion at +last said, You come too late. Twenty-eight knights have determined to +withdraw from the contest, and leave the Duke to settle his affairs +alone with the League. If he returns to the country with an army they +will faithfully stand by him, but they cannot continue to carry on the +war any longer in a state of uncertainty as to the result, seeing that +their opposition to the League has only subjected their houses and +estates to damage and heavy contributions. I then requested to be led +to the hall of the knights, where I would try to discover whether there +were not still left honourable men sufficient to defend the castle. I +reckoned upon the fidelity of the two Berlichingens, and many others, +whose names are familiar to your Grace, as having sworn allegiance to +your colours. But Hewen shook his head, and said I was mistaken in most +of them." + +"But Stammheim, Thierberg, Westerstetten, in whose faith I would have +staked my existence--did you see them?" asked the Duke. + +"Oh, yes! they were in the cellar with Stadion, and assisted to drink +your wine. They would not allow me to go up into the castle. Even +Hewen, with Freiberg and Heideck, who were with him, dissuaded me from +it, because, they said, the two parties were already much inflamed +against each other, Stadion having the majority of knights, and of the +soldiers also, on his side. 'If I went up,' they added, 'and it should +come to blows in the court of the castle, and in the hall of the +knights, there would be nothing left for them, as the weakest party, +than to fight for life and death. Willingly as they would shed their +last drop of blood for you, they would rather fall before the enemy in +the field of battle than be cut to pieces by their own countrymen and +brothers in arms. Being foiled in every thing, I asked them, as a last +petition, to protect your son, the young Prince Christoph, and your +darling daughter, and preserve the castle to them, when they +surrendered. Some of them consented, others remained silent, and +shrugged up their shoulders. Exasperated, I denounced them as traitors, +and giving them my curses as a Christian knight, challenged any five of +them to fight with me for life and death when the war should be ended. +Upon which I left them, and returned the same way out of the castle +that I entered it." + +"Wuertemberg's honour is gone! could I have thought it possible!" cried +Lichtenstein. "Forty-two knights, two hundred soldiers, thus to betray +a fortified castle! Our good name is defamed,--futurity will brand with +scorn our nobility, who deserted their Duke's banners. The saying +'faithful and honourable as a Wuertemberger' is become a term of +reproach." + +"We could, indeed, once boast of the truth of the saying, 'faithful as +a Wuertemberger,'" said Duke Ulerich, whilst a tear fell on his beard. +"When my ancestor Eberhard once upon a time rode towards Worms, and sat +at table with the electors, counts and lords, each prided himself upon +the pre-eminence of his own country. One boasted of his wine,--another +spoke of his fruits,--a third of his game,--whilst a fourth talked of +the metals which his mountains produced,--but, when it came to Eberhard +with the Beard to speak, he said, 'I know nothing of your treasures, +but this I know, that if I seek shelter in a humble peasant's cot, in +the most secluded spot, tired and oppressed with fatigue, I am sure to +find a faithful Wuertemberger at hand, upon whose lap I can lay my head +in safety and sleep in peace.' They all wondered in astonishment, and +said, 'Count Eberhard is right, and long live the faithful +Wuertemberger!' But in these times behold, when the Duke traverses a +wood, they lie in wait to kill him; and, if he places his faith in his +nobles for the defence of his castles, scarcely does he turn his back +but they treat with the enemy. May the cuckoo take such faith! But go +on, Maxx, I am the man to drink the dregs of the cup without the fear +of seeing the bottom of it." + +"Well, it's soon said. I remained in Tuebingen until I had convinced +myself of its surrender. Yesterday, being Easter Monday, they came to +terms; they drew up the articles in writing, and proclaimed throughout +the streets by a herald, that, at five o'clock in the evening, the +garrison would march out. Prince Christoph, your young son, retains the +castle and administration of Tuebingen, but in the service and under the +guardianship of the League; and as for the rest of the country, it is +said, that it will be divided among the knights. I have experienced +many misfortunes in life,--I killed a friend at a tilting bout,--I have +lost a dear child, and had my house burnt,--but, as true as God and his +saints are gracious to me, I never felt so much pain as at that moment +when I saw the banner of the League hoisted in lieu of your Grace's, +and their red cross cover Wuertemberg's stag horns, and bugle." + +So spake Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg. The sun had risen, during his +narration, high above the mountains, having dispelled the mists, +leaving only a slight vapour on the heights of the Asperg. It hung upon +the horizon like a thin veil, and heightened the beauty of the scenery +in its immediate neighbourhood. Drest in the soft verdure of spring, +combined with the darker foliage of the woods, ornamented with cheerful +villages and stately castles, Wuertemberg lay spread before the eye of +the beholder, in all the glory of the opening day. The unhappy Prince +surveyed the scene with dejected looks. Nature had blessed him with a +constancy of courage, and a heart which even grief and misery were +unable to subdue; he possessed such control over his feelings that few +were able to discern his inward suffering; and when calamity overtook +him, then it was that the energies of his vigorous mind were most +fertile in resources, and prompted him to immediate action. + +In this truly heart-rending moment, when his last hope fell with the +loss of his sole remaining castle, he concealed from his friends around +him the painful conflict with which he was struggling. His feeling +might be compared to the repentant son standing by the death-bed of a +beloved mother, whose solicitude and anxiety for his welfare through +life he had slighted, whose tender care of him in infancy he had +forgotten, and the sacrifices she had imposed on herself to satisfy all +his selfish wishes, even to the straitening of her own circumstances +to meet the demands of his riotous living, he had treated with +ingratitude, deeming them nothing more than his due. But now that her +endearing eye no longer beholds him,--now that the ear is closed which +was wont to listen to his wishes and complaints,--now that those hands +no longer feel his last pressure,--then it is that repentance assails +his heart,--then it is that his guilty conscience upbraids him with the +bitter reproach of ingratitude and neglect of God's commandment,--to +love, honour, and cherish father and mother. + +Such was the anguish of self-condemnation which at this moment +oppressed the breast of Ulerich of Wuertemberg as he viewed his country, +now to all appearance lost to him for ever. His noble nature, which he +had too often abused in the blandishments of a brilliant court, and +whose finer feelings had been deadened by the poisonous flattery of +false friends, now upbraided him; not so much for being the author of +his own personal misfortunes as for entailing on his country the +distress attendant upon the occupation of it by his enemies. + +Having stood for some time at the window, his mind harassed with these +thoughts, he turned to his friends, who noticed in pleasing +astonishment the calm expression of his countenance. They had dreaded +his first burst of rage and violence, which they expected he would vent +upon the treacherous conduct of his nobility. Instead of which, though +he could not conceal the intensity of suffering he was struggling with, +he was composed and resigned, and his features exhibited a mildness and +resignation which they had scarcely ever seen before. + +"Maxx," said he, "how have they acted towards the people of the +country?" + +"Like robbers," he answered: "they wantonly desolate the vineyards, cut +down the fruit trees, and burn them at the guard houses; Sickingen's +cavalry ride through the corn fields and tread down what they cannot +consume; they ill treat the women, and extort money from the men. The +people every where begin to murmur; and should the present drought +continue, followed by a failing harvest, a time when the poor people +will be called upon to pay the heavy expenses of the war which the +league's administration will exact, misery and poverty will then be at +its height." + +"Oh, what villains!" cried the Duke, "they who boasted, with high +sounding words, that they came to free Wuertemberg of her tyrant, and to +liberate her people from oppression now commit abominations even worse +than Turks. But I vow that if God will assist me, and his holy saints +be merciful to my soul, I will return to the wasted vallies of the +Neckar and its vineless banks, with the scythe of vengeance, cut down +their ranks like sheaves of corn, and, as a revengeful vine dresser, +tread and crush them under foot. I will avenge myself of all the +calamities they have brought on me and my country, so help me God!" + +"Amen!" responded the knight of Lichtenstein. "But before you venture +to the rescue of your country, you must first withdraw from it, for a +season. No time is to be lost, if you would escape unmolested." + +The Duke considered awhile, and then answered, "You are right, I will +go to Moempelgard, where I shall be able to make arrangements, and, I +trust, collect men sufficient to venture to make a blow. Come here, +thou faithful dog, thou wilt follow me into the misery of banishment. +Thou knowest not what it is to break an oath or forfeit thy faith." + +"Here stands another, who also knows nothing of treachery," said +Schweinsberg, and approached the Duke. "I will accompany you to +Moempelgard, if you do not disdain my services." + +The knight of Lichtenstein, animated by the same generous feeling, next +said:. "Take me also with you, Duke! my feeble arm indeed is not worth +much in the field, but my voice in council may still be heard." + +Bertha's eyes lighted up more brilliantly than ever, as she beheld her +lover, whose cheeks glowed with the ardour of youth, and whose looks +bespoke the fire of his noble spirit. + +"My Lord Duke," said he, "I proffered hand and arm in your service, +when we met in the cavern, when I knew not who you were, and you did +not refuse them. I aspire not to have a voice in council--but as you +value a heart which beats faithful to you, an eye that will watch over +you when you sleep, or an arm that will stand between you and your +enemies, take me with you, and let me follow your fortune." + +The noble feelings which had at first attached the young man to the +"man without a name," now animated his breast, and the consideration of +the Duke's misfortune, which he bore with such dignified magnanimity, +added to the encouraging glance of his beloved, fed the flame of +enthusiasm and devotion to the Duke's cause, and irresistibly threw him +at his feet. + +The old knight of Lichtenstein looked at his young guest with the +joyous pride of a father; the Duke beheld him with emotion, and taking +his hand, raised him from his knee and kissed his forehead. + +"Where such hearts beat for us," said he, "we have still fortresses and +walls to shelter us, and cannot bewail our poverty. You possess my love +and esteem, Albert von Sturmfeder; you shall accompany me; I accept +your faithful service with joy. Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg, I shall +require your aid in more important business than to protect my body; I +have a commission for you to execute in Hohentwiel and Switzerland. I +cannot accept your company, good and faithful Lichtenstein. I honour +you as a father, for your kindness to me has been such. You opened your +door to me every night. I will repay it. When I return to my country, +with God's help and will, your voice shall be the first in council." + +The Duke's eye fell upon the fifer of Hardt, who stood aloof in humble +retirement. "Come here, thou faithful man!" he called to him, and gave +him his right hand, "you once were guilty of a great crime, but you +have repented of it sincerely, and by faithful service regained my +confidence." + +"To attempt another's life is not so soon expiated," said the peasant, +with downcast looks: "I am still in your grace's debt, but I will +requite it when the time comes." + +"Go to your home--such is my will--follow your occupations as +heretofore. Perhaps you may be able to collect some faithful hearts in +our cause by the time we return to our country. And you, lady! how can +I reward your kindnesses? You deprived yourself many a night of rest, +to open the door for me and shelter me against treachery! Do not blush +so, as if you had some great sin to confess, this being the moment to +act. Venerable father," said he, turning to the knight of Lichtenstein, +"I appear before you as the intercessor of a couple of loving hearts. +You will not disdain the son-in-law whom I propose to you?" + +"I do not understand you, gracious Lord," said the knight, looking with +astonishment at his daughter. + +The Duke took Albert's hand, and led him to the old man. "This young +man loves your daughter, and she is not indifferent to him,--what think +you of making them a happy couple? But what means that frown of +displeasure? Is he not high born, a gallant antagonist, the strength of +whose arm I have already experienced, and now become my support in the +hour of need?" + +Bertha cast her eyes down, her face was suffused with blushes, she +trembled for the reply of her father, who looked sternly at the young +man. "Albert," said he, "I have had a high opinion of you since the +first moment I saw you; it had been, perhaps, not so favourable, had I +been aware of the object which brought you to my house." + +The youth was about to make an answer, but the Duke interrupted him. +"You forget that it was I who sent him to you with my seal and +letter--he came not of his own accord. But what are you thinking of so +long? I will adopt him as my son, and reward him with a property which +will make you proud to call him your son-in-law." + +"Do not trouble yourself further upon this point, my Lord Duke," said +Albert, indignantly, when he noticed the indecision of the knight of +Lichtenstein. "It shall never be said of me, that the heir of the +Sturmfeders begged for a wife, and obtruded his importunity to gain the +consent of a father against his free will. My name is too dear to me to +resort to such means." He was about to leave the room in displeasure, +but the old knight held him by the hand: "Hot-headed youth," he cried, +"restrain your impetuosity? there, take her, she is yours, but--you +must not think of leading her home, so long as an enemy's banner floats +over the towers of Stuttgardt. Be faithful to the Duke, help him to +return to his country, and if you continue true to his cause, the day +that you enter the gates of the capital, when Wuertemberg shall see her +ensigns floating again over the pinnacles of her castles, my daughter +from that moment shall be yours, and you shall then become my cherished +son-in-law." + +"And on that day," spoke the Duke, "the bride will blush more +beautifully than ever, when the merry bells peal from the towers, and +the marriage procession moves to the church. I will then approach the +bridegroom, and demand the reward to which I claim a right. But now, my +good friend, give her the bridal kiss, which is probably not the first, +embrace her once more, and then you belong to me, until that happy day +when we enter Stuttgardt. Let's drink, my friends, to the health of the +happy couple." + +A smile mingled with the tears of Bertha, which gleamed in her +beautiful eyes. She filled the goblet to the brim, and having tasted +the wine, a custom in those days done by the cup-bearers at courts, +presented it first to the Duke, with a look so full of gratitude and +lovely grace, that he thought Albert the happiest man in the world, and +that many a one would not have hesitated to risk his life in order to +gain a gem of her worth. + +The men took each their goblet, waiting for a toast, which the Duke +should give after his fashion. But Ulerich von Wuertemberg, casting a +long farewell look at his country, which he was about to quit, felt a +tear start in his eye, which forced him to tear himself away from the +painful view. "I now turn my back," said he, "upon objects which are +dear to me, but, please God! I'll see them again in better days. Do not +bewail my fate, but be of good cheer: as long as the Duke and his +trusty friends are united, our good cause is not lost. 'Here's to good +Wuertemberg for ever!'" + +FOOTNOTE TO CHAPTER XXIV.: + +[Footnote 1: If a crushed world should fall in upon him, the ruins +would strike him undismayed.] + + + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + In Swabia did thy princely father reign + Beloved, and all did glad allegiance yield; + And of the people, many now remain + Who fought beneath thy banners in the field. + Sure memory cannot be in Swabia dead. + Towards Swabia let us then our footsteps turn, + And as we the Black Forest's mazes tread, + Reviving hopes will in our bosoms burn. + L. UHLAND. + +So hot a summer as that of the year 1519, had scarcely ever been known +in Wuertemberg. The whole country had submitted to the power of the +League, and its inhabitants now hoped their troubles were at an end. +But the original intentions of its chiefs only began now to be fully +developed, and it was evident that the mere reoccupation of Reutlingen +was not the sole object for which they had coalesced. They were still +to be indemnified for their expenses, and to be requited for their +services. Some were for dividing Wuertemberg equally among themselves, +others proposed to sell it to Austria, whilst a third party insisted +upon keeping it under the administration of Ulerich's children, subject +to their own guardianship. They quarrelled about the possession of the +country, to which none of them could found the slightest claims. +Disunion and party spirit spread their baneful effects among them, now +that they had satisfied their revenge in driving the legitimate lord +from his dominions. The expenses of the war were to be met, and there +was no one who could or would pay. The knights held this a favourable +opportunity to declare themselves independent. Citizens and peasants +were drained of their money by continual forced contributions, their +fields were desolated and trodden under foot, and they saw no prospect +of recovering their losses. Neither would the clergy contribute to the +expenses of the war; so that the result of it was only dispute and +violence. Many a heart felt how cruelly their legitimate prince had +been persecuted, and bitterly repented having driven him into +banishment, far from the land of his fathers. And when they compared +his system of government with that of their present rulers, they found +they had not bettered themselves by the change; on the contrary, they +were much worse off than before. But they were too much under +subjection to venture to publish their grievances. + +The discontent of the people did not escape the government of the +League. Their ears were not shut to "much strange and wicked talk," as +we read in old official documents. They tried to gain adherents to +their cause by rigorous measures. They spread lies concerning the Duke; +one of which was, that he had cut a boy of noble blood in halves, of +the name of Wilhelm von Janowitz. It made a great noise at the time, +but when he was pointed out some time afterwards to a Swiss, as the man +of whom the enemies of Ulerich had spread the report, he gave for +answer, "He must indeed have been a good carpenter who put the boy so +well together again." The priests were ordered to announce from the +pulpit, that whoever spoke favourably of the Duke was to be put in +prison, and those who supported or assisted him were to lose their +eyes, and perhaps their heads. + +Ulerich had many faithful friends among the country people, who +secretly gave him intelligence how things were going on in Wuertemberg. +He remained in Moempelgard with the men who had followed him in his +misfortune, waiting a favourable moment to return to his country. He +wrote to many Princes, imploring their assistance, but none would +bestir themselves in his behalf. He petitioned also the Electors, +assembled for the purpose of electing a new Emperor. The only aid they +rendered him was to oblige the new Emperor to add an additional clause +to his contract, favourable to Wuertemberg and the Duke,--but he paid no +attention to it. Though he felt himself thus deserted by all the world, +he did not give way to despondency, but set all his energies at work to +recover his lost country by the resources of his own mind. Many +circumstances appeared to favour his project: the League, having +satisfied themselves that no one would dare shelter the exile in the +country, disbanded most of their troops, composed chiefly of +lansquenet, retaining only weak garrisons in the towns and castles; and +in Stuttgardt itself, the capital, there remained but few infantry +under their banners. + +These measures of the League, however, were the cause of creating a +formidable enemy to themselves, in a quarter they did not suspect, but +which very soon contributed essentially to produce a change in the +Duke's favour. This enemy were the common foot soldiers, or the +lansquenet. This body of men, collected together from all ends and +corners of the empire, and composed of all nations, generally offered +their services to those who paid them best. The cause for which they +were to fight was perfectly indifferent to them. Being a licentious +set, and difficult to be restrained even by severity of discipline, +they indemnified themselves by robbery, murder, plunder, and forcibly +exacting contributions, if they were not regularly paid. George von +Fronsberg had been the first to keep them in some measure in +subordination, and by the renown of his name, by daily exercise, and +unbending severity, succeeded in forming them into something like an +army. He divided them into regular companies and brigades, appointed +special officers to each, and taught them to move and fight in columns +and masses. These men now shewed that they came from a good school, for +when the League disbanded them they did not, as formerly, separate +and spread over the country, seeking service individually, but +confederating together, formed twelve companies, chose their own +commanders from among themselves, and appointed their general in the +person of a man who went by the name of _Long Peter_. Being exasperated +against the League, and living upon plunder and forced contributions, +they became the dread of the whole country. Anarchy had spread its +baneful spirit throughout Wuertemberg to such a degree, that no one was +able to resist their depredations. The party of the League was +enfeebled by continual disunion, and was too much employed with its own +affairs to think of freeing the impoverished land of this formidable +band. The knights, being at variance with each other, remained shut up +in their castles, looking on with indifference at the state of affairs. +The garrisons of the towns were weak, and not able to repel them by +force. The citizens and peasantry, when they were not hard pressed by +these marauders, treated them civilly, being equally averse to the +government of the League, whom no one now favoured; it was even said +they were not disinclined to reinstate the Duke, by the assistance of +the same arms that had dethroned him. + +On a fine morning of the month of August this body was assembled, and +encamped in a meadow of a valley touching the boundary of Baden. Tall +black firs and pines encompassed the spot on three sides, and formed +part of the Black Forest, with the rivulet called the Wuerm running +through it. Partly under the shade of the wood, partly stretched out +among the bushes of the meadow, the little army was distributed about +in different groups, taking their rest. At the distance of about two +hundred paces were to be seen advanced posts of armed men on the +look-out, whose shining lances and lighted matches inspired dread and +awe to the by-passer. In the middle of the valley, under the shade of a +large oak tree, sat five men, round an out-spread cloak, which served +them for a table, where they were playing at a game of cards, called to +this day lansquenet. These men were distinguished from the rest of +their companions by a broad red scarf, hanging down over the shoulder +and breast; but their dress had otherwise much the same ragged worn-out +appearance with the others. Some of them wore helmets, others large +felt hats, bound with iron, and all of them leather jerkins, of every +possible shade and colour, which long service in rain, dust, and +bivouacing had imparted to them. Upon a closer inspection, there were +two things which particularly distinguished them from the rest of their +comrades. They had neither gun nor pike, which were the ordinary +weapons of the lansquenet, but wore rapiers of uncommon length and +breadth. They also carried in their hats and helmets, in fashion with +the nobility and leaders of armies of those days, cock's tail feathers +of various colours, assuming to themselves the rank of superiority. + +These five men, particularly one who was seated with his back to the +tree, appeared much interested in the game which they were playing. He +wore a hat with a brim of the breadth of a good sized millstone, +trimmed with dingy gold lace, and ornamented in front with a gilt +portrait of Saint Peter, out of which sprang two enormous red cock's +feathers. His language was a compound of French, Italian, and +Hungarian, put together in such strange mixture, that he was scarcely +intelligible to those to whom he addressed himself. No one knew what +country gave him birth; but he commanded a certain respect among his +comrades from the fact of his having served in most of the armies of +Europe, and been in nearly all the campaigns of his day; and as he +generally prefaced most of his phrases with oaths which he had picked +up in the countries he had passed through, and which he pronounced +after his own fashion, he thought to render himself thereby of more +consequence among those over whom he had assumed the title of general. +His beard was dressed in the Hungarian fashion, for being twisted up +with pitch, it stuck out on both sides from under his nose a whole +span's breadth in the air, much like two iron spikes. + +"_Canto cacramento!_" cried this man, with a threatening bass voice, +"the little knave is mine; I'll cut him with the king of spades!" + +"It's mine, with your permission," cried his neighbour, "and the king +into the bargain; there's the queen of spades!" + +"Morbleu!" vociferated the other, in a rage; "do you want to take the +trick from your commander, Captain Loeffler? For shame, for shame! he is +a rebel who dares do that. May my soul be punished, but you want to +take the command away from me." The general, for such he was, frowned +furiously, pushed his hat off his ears, and discovered a large red scar +on his forehead, which heightened the savage appearance of his look. + +"There is no military discipline at play," General Peter, "answered the +other. You may order us captains to blockade a town, and raise +contributions, but at play one man is as good as another." + +"You are mutinous, a rebel against the authorities! Thunder and +lightning! were it not against my honour, I would cut you into a +hundred pieces;--but play on." + +"There's an ace," said one. "Here's a quart," said another. "I cut with +the ten," exclaimed a third. "And here's the knave,--who can take him?" +said the fourth player. + +"I can," cried the large man; "there's the king,--Morbleu! the trick is +mine." + +"Where did you get the king?" said a little thin man, with a cunning +face, small searching eyes, and shrill voice, "didn't I see it at the +bottom of the pack when you dealt. He has cheated! Long Peter has +cheated, by all the saints!" + +"Muckerle, captain of the eighth company! I advise you to hold your +tongue," said the general; "_Bassa manelka!_ I don't take a joke,--the +mouse should not play with the lion." + +"And I say it again,--where did you get the king? I'll prove you false +before the pope and the king of France, thou foul player." + +"Muckerle," replied the general, drawing his sword deliberately out of +its scabbard, "pray another Ave Maria and a Gratias, for as soon as the +game is over you are a dead man." + +The other three men were roused from a state of indifference at these +angry words. They sided with the little captain, and gave the general +to understand clearly that they thought he was capable of the imputed +meanness. He, however, looked big, and full of importance, and swore he +had not cheated. "If the holy Peter, my gracious patron, who I carry on +my hat, could speak, he would bear me witness, as true as I am a +Christian lansquenet, that I have not played false!" + +"He played fair," said a strange voice, which appeared to issue from +the tree. The men crossed themselves to defend them from an evil +spirit, the gallant general even turned pale, and let drop his cards; +when a peasant stept forward from behind the tree, armed with a dagger, +and having a guitar slung over his shoulder with a leathern strap. He +beheld the group with an undaunted eye, and said, "That gentleman did +not cheat; I saw all the cards that were dealt to him." + +"Ah! you are a fine fellow," said the general, much pleased; "as I am +an honest lansquenet, what you say is all right." + +"But how is this?" said the little captain, with a sharp look, "how did +this peasant get here without being announced by the piquet? He is a +spy, and deserves to be hung." + +"Don't be astonished, Muckerle, he is no spy; come and sit down by me, +my friend, you are a musician, I see, by your instrument hanging over +your shoulder, like a Spaniard going to serenade his love." + +"Yes, sir! I am a poor musician; your guard allowed me to pass when I +came through the wood. I saw you playing, and I ventured to look on." + +The commanders of this free corps not being accustomed to hear +themselves addressed in such polite terms, took a liking to the +peasant, and invited him courteously to seat himself among them; for +they had learned in the military service of foreign countries that +kings and princes often went about in the guise of minstrels. + +The general filled a cup of wine out of a pewter bottle, offered it to +the little captain, and said, with a good-natured smile, "Muckerle, +what I drink shall be my death, if I don't forget everything that has +passed between us! an end to strife and quarrel. We won't play any +more, gentlemen: I love a song and the sound of the guitar--what say +you to some music?" + +The men agreed, and threw the cards aside. The peasant tuned his +instrument, and asked what he should sing. + +"Give us a song upon card-playing!" cried one of the party. + +The musician considered awhile, and sung the following upon the game of +lansquenet, which they had just been playing. + + "Cinque, quatre, and ace + Bring many a man to disgrace; + Quatre, and cinque, and tre + Make many to cry well-a-day; + An ace, a seize, and a deuce + Make many an empty house; + A quatre, a trois, and cinque + Cause many pure water to drink; + A cinque, a trois, and quatre + Make parents' and children's eyes water; + From cinque, and quatre, and seize, + Miss Catherine and Miss Elize + Must long unmarried remain, + Unless from your play you refrain." + +Long Peter and his associates praised his singing, and reached him the +flask with their thanks. "May God bless you!" said the singer, as he +returned the bottle; "I wish you luck in your campaign. If I don't +mistake, you are the commanders of the League, and are on your march to +the enemy. May I ask who you are going against?" + +The men looked and smiled at each other, but the general answered him: +"you are quite in the wrong. We did, indeed, serve the League formerly, +but we are now free and our own masters, ready to assist any one who +wants us." + +"This will be a good year for the Swiss, for it is said the Duke will +return to his country with their assistance," said the peasant. + +"May the Swiss be hunted by wolves," said the general, "for having +treated him so ill! The good Duke set all his hopes upon them, and, +_diavolo maledetto_! did they not desert him in Blaubeuren?" + +"Yes, it was too bad," said Captain Muckerle; "but when one looks at +the circumstance in its proper light, it served him half right, because +he should have known them better. May the devil take them all!" + +"They were the Duke's last resource," replied the musician; "but if he +had trusted to such men as you, the League would still be at Ulm." + +"You have spoken a true word there, my hearty friend!" said the +captain. "He ought to have preferred the lansquenets before those Swiss +dogs. And if he trusts to them now, I know what will happen. I say it +again: he should take lansquenets. Is it not so, Magdeburger?" + +"That's my opinion also," said the Magdeburger: "no other than +lansquenets can seat the Duke upon his chair again. The Swiss only know +how to use their long halberds; that's all their art. But you ought to +see us load our guns, how we lay them in the fork, and fire them with a +match. No one can come near us in that man[oe]uvre. The Swiss take half +an hour to fire their guns, but we only half of a quarter." + +"With all respect, gentlemen of this noble corps," said the peasant, +raising his cap respectfully, "the Duke should certainly have thrown +himself upon your bounty. But the League rewarded you too well for the +poor Duke to be able to crave your assistance." + +"Rewarded, did you say?" cried the captain of the fifth company, and +laughed; "yes, those Swabian dogs would have melted gold out of lead if +they could! But I say they paid us ill, and if his grace the Duke will +take me, my services are at his command." + +"You are right, Staberl," said the general, and stroked his beard. +"_Morbleu!_ the cat likes to have his back stroked:--if the Duke pays +well, the whole corps will join him." + +"Well, you shall soon see that," said the peasant, with a cunning +smile; "have you had an answer to your message to the Duke?" + +The general's whole countenance became as red as fire at this question. +"_Mordelement!_ Who are you, child of man, who knows my secret? Who +told you I had sent to the Duke?" + +"Did you, Peter, send to him? What secret have you between each other +that we should not know? Tell us immediately," said the Magdeburger. + +"Well, I thought it was my duty to think for you all again, as I always +have done, and sent a man to the Duke in our name, and with our +compliments, to know if he required our services? Our terms were, half +a broad piece a man per month, and for us generals and captains a gold +florin, with four measures of old wine." + +"Those are no bad terms: a gold florin a month! none of us will object +to them. Have you had an answer from the Duke?" said the Magdeburger. + +"Not yet," said the general. "But, _bassa manelka!_ tell me, how do you +come to know my secret, peasant, or I'll cut off your ear, and pin it +to my hat? Tell me immediately, or off it comes." + +"Long Peter," cried the little captain Muckerle, "let him go in peace, +for God's sake! he is a resolute man, and possesses the art of +witchcraft. I recollect his face as well as if it was but to-day, when +we had orders to arrest him in Ulm, and were sent to look for him at +the stable of Herrn von Kraft, the clerk of the council, where he +resided. He was a spy, and was able to make himself smaller and +smaller, not bigger than a sparrow, and flew away from us." + +"What!" cried the gallant general, and edged away from the peasant; "is +this the man? Why did not the magistrates of Ulm order all the sparrows +to be shot, because a Wuertemberger spy had turned himself into one?" + +"That's him," whispered Muckerle; "that's the fifer of Hardt; I knew +him as soon as I saw him." + +The general and his companions did not recover their astonishment for +some time. They beheld the man of whom many wonderful stories had been +related with mingled curiosity and apprehension. Hans was clever +enough, however, to understand what they whispered to each other, +without the appearance of remarking the state of surprise he had +created among them. At length, Long Peter, the official organ of the +rest, took heart, twisted his whiskers, and, taking off his enormous +hat, thus addressed the fifer of Hardt: "Pardon us, worthy companion, +and highly respected fifer of Hardt, that we have treated you with so +little ceremony; but how could we know who it was we had among us? be +many times welcome; I have long wished to see so renowned a man as the +fifer of Hardt, who had the power of flying away from Ulm like a +sparrow in the middle of the day." + +"Let's have done with those old stories," interrupted the fifer, +hastily. "I heard this day from the Duke, who desired me to find you +out, to know if you were still inclined to join him upon the terms he +has proposed." + +"_Canto cacramento!_ he is a good man! a gold ducat a month and four +measures of wine daily! Long may he live!" cried the general. + +"When will he come?" asked captain Loeffler. "Where shall we meet him?" + +"This very day, if no ill luck attends him. He was to advance upon +Heimsheim this morning, where the garrison is weak, and, when he has +taken it, he will come on this way." + +"Look! there rides a man in armour, to all appearance a knight!" The +men looked towards the end of the valley, and remarked a helmet and +armour shining in the sun, with a horse occasionally visible. The fifer +of Hardt jumped up and climbed the oak, whence he could overlook the +valley with greater ease. The horseman was too distant from him to be +able to recognise his features, but he thought he knew the scarf which +he wore, and that it was the person he had been expecting to appear. + +"What do you see?" said the men; "is it one riding by chance through +the wood, or do you think he comes from the Duke?" + +"That's him with the white and blue scarf," said the fifer; "that's his +long hair, and his seat on horseback. Oh, precious youth, welcome back +to Wuertemberg! He observes your advanced post, and rides towards it; +only look how the fellows present their lances and spread out their +legs!" + +"Yes, yes, the lansquenet knows the arts of war; no one dare pass the +spot where the commanders are, without knowing his business," said the +general. + +"Stop! they are calling to him; he speaks to them; they point this way; +he comes!" cried the fifer, who came down from the tree with a joyful +countenance. + +"_Diavolo maledetto! bassam terendete!_ They won't let him ride alone, +I hope? Ah! I see one of them has hold of his bridle 1 How? It is +really a knight that comes! + +"A nobleman as good as any in the empire," answered the fifer; "the +friend and favourite of the Duke." Upon hearing this they all stood up, +for, though they fancied themselves men of importance and rank, they +were aware of their being only lansquenets, and bound to pay proper +respect to their superiors. The general seated himself again, with an +air of gravity, at the foot of the oak--stroked his beard to make it +shine--arranged his hat with the cock's feathers properly--supported +his hand on his enormous sword--and in this manner awaited the arrival +of the stranger. + + + + + END OF VOL. II. + + + + + J. B. Nichols and Son, 25, Parliament-street. + + + + + + + + THE BANISHED. + + VOL. III. + + + + + + + LONDON: PRINTED BY J. B. NICHOLS AND SON, + 25, PARLIAMENT STREET. + + + + + + + THE BANISHED: + + A + + SWABIAN HISTORICAL TALE. + + + EDITED BY + + JAMES MORIER, ESQ. + + AUTHOR OF HAJJI BABA, &c. + + + IN THREE VOLUMES. + + VOL. III. + + + + + LONDON: + HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER, + GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. + 1839. + + + + + + + THE BANISHED. + + * * * * * + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + The Duke at length is coming, + The battle field's not far; + For vanquish'd is the foeman, + And he brings the spoils of war. + G. SCHWAB. + +A knight in armour, his horse being led between two of the lansquenet +from the outpost, now approached the place where Long Peter, their +general, and the other men, were assembled. Though he had drawn the +vizor of his shining helmet over his face, the fifer of Hardt thought +he recognised him as the man he expected, by the plates and cuish of +steel which encased his muscular limbs, the plumes which waved high in +the breeze, and the well known scarf which crossed over his coat of +mail. And he was not mistaken, for one of the men who led his horse +advanced to the General, and acquainted him that the noble "Knight of +Sturmfeder" wished to speak to the leaders of the lansquenet. + +Long Peter answered in the name of the rest, "tell him he is welcome, +and that Peter Hunzinger the General, Staberl of Vienna, Conrad the +Magdeburger, Balthaser Loeffler, and the brave Muckerle, all well +appointed Captains, are ready to receive and hear him. May my soul be +punished, but he has a beautiful suit of armour, and an helmet +fit for King Francis; and as to his steed, I have never seen a +finer--_Morbleu_, how well he stands on his four legs!" + +The men kept at a respectful distance from the stranger, who now +approached, but shewed no inclination to dismount. Raising his vizor, +he spoke to one of the men, and discovered his handsome friendly +countenance. "Is not that Hans, the musician?" said he, to the men. "I +have a word to say to him first." + +The general made a sign to the fifer to approach the young knight, who +immediately dismounted from his horse. "Welcome in Wuertemberg, noble +sir," said the man of Hardt, and returned a hearty shake of Albert von +Sturmfeder's hand: "what news do you bring? The Duke's cause prospers, +if I can judge from the expression of your countenance." + +"Come on one side," he replied, in anxious haste. "How fares it in +Lichtenstein? Have you a letter or a couple of lines for me? O give it +quickly!" + +The fifer smiled at the impatience of the lovesick youth; "I have +neither letter nor line. The lady is well, and the old knight also; +that is all I know." + +"How!" replied the other, "nothing, not even a message? I am sure she +did not let you depart without something for me!" + +"When I took my leave of the lady the day before yesterday, she said, +'Tell him to hasten the entrance into Stuttgardt;' and when she spoke, +became as red in the face as you are at present." + +"We'll soon be there, with God's will!" he answered. "But how has she +passed the long summer? I have only heard from her three times since we +parted. Were you often in Lichtenstein, Hans?" + +"Dear sir," answered the fifer, "have patience, and I will relate every +thing, in length and breadth, on the march: for the present, be +satisfied with the assurance, that so soon as the old knight hears you +are advancing to Stuttgardt, he will set out from Lichtenstein with +your bride, for he does not doubt of your overpowering the garrison. +Have you succeeded in taking Heimsheim?" + +"We have: I rode through the gates with twelve horsemen, before they +were aware of our coming. Though the garrison were somewhat stronger +than us, they were dispirited and dissatisfied. I treated with them in +the Duke's name, and made them believe that he was coming up with a +large body of troops, upon which they surrendered: thus far are we in +Wuertemberg. But in what state is the road before us?" + +"Open, into the heart of the country, open. I have important news for +the Duke from the knight of Lichtenstein, namely, that the men in power +are out of the land, do you know----" + +"Is it the meeting they now hold at Noerdlingen you mean?" interrupted +Albert. "Oh! yes, we know it, for it was that news which determined the +Duke to commence operations." + +"Well, when the cats are away, the mice will play," said the fifer; +"the garrisons are every where careless. None of the League think any +more of the Duke, their attention being wholly taken up with the +meeting at Noerdlingen, where it will be decided, whether Austria, or +Bavaria, or Prince Christoph, or the Leaguist towns Augsburg and Aalen, +Nuernberg, and Bopfinger, will reign over us." + +"What long faces they will make," exclaimed Albert, smiling, "when they +hear that the chair about which they are quarrelling is already +possessed: + + 'The frog jumps into the muddy pool, + Tho' he may set upon a golden stool!' + +says the proverb; they may shoulder their guns and give up governing +now. And the Wuertembergers, what are their feelings towards the Duke at +present? Do you believe many will come to his assistance?" + +"He may reckon upon the citizens and peasantry," replied the fifer. +"How it stands with the knights, I don't know; for when I asked the old +man of Lichtenstein, he shrugged up his shoulders and muttered a couple +of curses: I fear that matter is not so well as it should be. But +citizens and peasants hold to a man for their Prince. Many +extraordinary signs have appeared, which encourage the people. Lately +in the valley of the Rems a stone fell from the sky, on one side of +which a stag's horn and the following words were engraved, 'Here's to +good Wuertemberg for ever,' and on the reverse, in Latin, 'Long live +Duke Ulerich.'" + +"Did you say it fell from the sky?" + +"So it was said. The peasantry were overjoyed at it, but the officers +of the League put the magistrate of the place where it had fallen into +prison, and wanted to extort from him the name of the person who had +engraved the letters. And when it was proclaimed, upon pain of severe +punishment, that no one was to speak of the Duke, the men only laughed, +and said, 'We dream of him now.' They all wish him back again, and +would rather be oppressed by their legitimate Lord than be flayed by +strangers." + +"That's as it should be," said Albert. "The Duke and his cavalry may be +here in a few hours. His intention is, to cut his way straight through +the country to Stuttgardt. The capital once ours, the rest will soon +follow. But how is it with these lansquenets--will they join us?" + +"I had almost forgotten them," said Hans, "we had better go to them; +else they will become impatient if we keep them waiting. You must be +cautious how you treat them, for they are proud fellows, and have no +small idea of their own importance. By winning these five to our +interests, the whole twelve companies are sure to follow. With their +General, Long Peter, mind and be very civil and courteous." + +"Which is Long Peter?" + +"The big man, sitting under the oak; he with the stiff mustachios and +hat of distinction on his head. He is the commander in chief." + +"I will talk to him, and follow your advice," Albert answered, and +proceeded towards them. The long conversation which they had held had +somewhat displeased the men, and little Muckerle in particular eyed the +ambassador of the Duke with a penetrating glance. But when the young +knight appeared among them his noble demeanour disconcerted them, they +became shy and embarrassed before him, so much so, that the courteous +words which he addressed to them soon had the desired effect of +bringing them over to the Duke's cause. They listened to him in +respectful silence. + +"Most experienced general and brave commanders of the assembled +lansquenet," said Albert, "the Duke of Wuertemberg having approached the +boundary of his country, and captured Heimsheim, is determined in the +same way to recover his whole dukedom." + +"May my soul be punished, but he is right!" said Long Peter; "I would +do the same." + +"He has already experienced the courage and military science of the +lansquenet, when they fought on the side of his enemies, and he trusts +they will manifest the same bravery in his cause, promising upon his +princely word, faithfully to fulfil the engagements he has proposed." + +"A pious man," murmured the commanders among themselves, with approving +nods; "a gold florin a month, and, _morbleu_! four measures of wine a +day for the superior officers." + +The general rose from his seat, saluted him by uncovering his +bald head, and said, though often interrupted by many coughs of +embarrassment, "We thank you, most noble sir; we agree--we'll join +you. We'll give back to the Swabian League what they gave us, that we +will--hard usage. The very best and most courageous, as well as the +most excellent of men, have they dismissed, as if they did not value +our services. There stands, for example, Captain Loeffler: if there is a +braver lansquenet in all Christendom, I'll allow my skin to be peeled +off and walk about in my bones the rest of my life! Look at Staberl of +Vienna: the sun and moon have never shone upon his equal! And the +Magdeburger there, no Turk ever fought like him; and as for little +Muckerle, though he does not look it, he is the best shot in the +world, and can hit the bull's eye in the target at forty paces. I +won't say anything of myself; self praise does not sound well. But, +_bassa manelka_! I have served in Spain and Holland--and, _canto +cacramento_--also in Italy and Germany! _Morbleu!_ Long Peter is known +in every army. May my soul be punished, when I and the others get +behind the Swabian dogs, _diavolo maledetto_, they'll take to their +hareskin, and be off as fast as their heels can carry them!" + +This was the longest speech Long Peter had ever made; and when many +years after he sealed the renown of the German lansquenet with his +death before Pavia, his companions, in relating to their young comrades +the events of his life, always mentioned this moment as the most +glorious of his career. He was described as standing before his +audience, leaning upon his long sword, his large hat with the red +feathers cocked over his ear, the right hand resting upon his side, and +his legs spread out, wanting nothing to complete his pretensions to a +regular general than a better jerkin and the chain of honour. + +The commanders, after the flattering speech of their general, invited +their new guest to pass their army in review. The hollow sound of +enormous drums soon roused the men from their rest. They appeared still +to be under the influence of Fronsberg's military genius and strict +discipline, by the activity they displayed in forming themselves, in a +few moments, into three great circles, each composed of four companies. +To an eye accustomed, as in our times, to the rapid but steady +movements of regiments, and the beautiful appearance of their +uniformity of dress, the sight of this heterogeneous multitude would +cause surprise if not ridicule. Though the lansquenets were generally +clothed according to their own taste, there was still a semblance of an +attempt to uniformity after the fashion of those days. For the most +part they wore jerkins of leather setting tight to the body, or leather +waistcoats with arms of coarse cloth, and enormous wide trousers tied +under the knee, and falling by their own weight a little below it. The +legs were covered with coarse stockings of a light colour, and the feet +with shoes of untanned leather. A hat, leather or metal cap, probably +articles of plunder rather than of purchase, covered the head; and the +bearded faces of these men, many of whom had served twenty years in all +the armies and under every climate in Europe, gave them a very bold and +martial appearance. They were armed with a dagger and halberd, and some +with guns, which were fired with a match. + +Standing with outstretched legs, and foot to foot meeting, they +presented a bold front; and Albert's military spirit rejoiced at the +sight of these experienced warriors, who, however, were well aware, +that in single combat they had no confidence, but formed in mass they +were formidable even to a more numerous enemy. + +The commanders had carefully retained all the man[oe]uvres and words of +command of their former leader. They walked into the middle of one of +the circles, followed by their new acquaintance, when the deep and +loud-toned voice of Long Peter gave the word "Attention! face about." + +The celerity with which the order was obeyed by turning around facing +inwards, proved they had not forgotten their lesson. They listened to +the proposals of the Duke of Wuertemberg which the commanders addressed +to them, and manifested by a murmur which ran through the ranks, that +they were satisfied with the terms, and would serve his cause with the +same zeal as they had not long since served against it. They were then +put through several man[oe]uvres, which they performed with an address +that astonished Albert, who thought the art of war of his day would +never be surpassed as long as the world existed. But he deceived +himself. His error of judgment was, however, pardonable, for in the +same way did our grandfathers hold the heroes of Frederick the Great in +estimation, as the _ne plus ultra_ of military discipline, and did not +anticipate the ridicule of their descendants on the subject of +perruques and long gaiters. And may not the time come, when the _good +old times_ of 1839 will also have their share of ridicule? Certainly +such elegant laced-up figures as are seen now-a-days among military +men, were not the fashion among the lansquenet and their commanders, +A. D. 1519. + +About an hour after, it was announced from the advanced posts, that +they had perceived at the further end of the valley, in the +neighbourhood of the road leading from Heimsheim, the glittering of +arms, and when they put their ears close to the ground, they heard +distinctly the trampling of many horses. + +"That's the Duke," cried Albert; "bring me my horse; I will ride and +meet him." + +The young man galloped away through the wood, to the admiration of the +bystanders, who were astonished at the activity he displayed in +throwing himself upon his steed, encumbered as he was with his heavy +armour. Helmets with high plumes and shining lances were shortly after +seen moving among the bushes of the valley. As they approached, the +cavalry issued from the wood, seen first breast high among the +underwood, and then their whole figures were visible on a small height, +where the whole body assembled. The joy of the fifer of Hardt was +indescribable when he got a sight of the gallant band, headed by the +Duke. He took the general by the hand, and pointed to them with an air +of triumphant satisfaction. + +"Which is the Duke?" asked Long Peter; "is that him on the black piebald +horse?" + +"No, that is the noble knight Von Hewen: the banner-bearer of +Wuertemberg:--but, no, am I mistaken? I declare Albert von Sturmfeder +carries it!" + +"That's a great honour! _Morbleu_, he is only five-and-twenty, and +carries the flag! In France the only man who is entitled to that +privilege is the constable, the next man to the king in honour. In that +country it is called the standard, and is made all of gold. But which +is Duke Ulerich?" + +"Do you see that man in a green cloak, with the black and red feathers +in his helmet? he that rides next to the banner, mounted on a black +horse, and is speaking to the young knight. He points this way. That's +the Duke." + +The body of cavalry was composed of about forty men, mostly noblemen +and their servants, who the Duke, in his banishment, had assembled +together, or appointed to meet him on the boundary of his country, when +his plans were ripe for an invasion. They were all well mounted and +armed. Albert von Sturmfeder carried Wuertemberg's banner; next to him +rode the Duke in complete armour. When they came within about two +hundred paces of the lansquenet, Long Peter, in a loud voice, said to +his people, "Attention, my people. When his Grace is near enough, and I +raise my hat off my head, let every one cry, 'Vivat Ulericus!' lower +the colours, and you, drummers, rattle upon your sheep-skins like +thunder and lightning! Give us the animating flourish of the drum as at +the storming of a fortress! _Bassa manelka_, beat away till the +drumsticks break--that's the way the brave lansquenet salute a prince." + +This short speech had the desired effect. The Duke's praises were +murmured through the warlike band; they shook their halberds, stamped +their fire-arms clattering on the ground, the drummers prepared their +drums and sticks to obey their general's orders in full vigour; and +when Albert von Sturmfeder, the standard-bearer of Wuertemberg, sprang +forward, followed by Duke Ulerich, majestic as in the best days of his +power, with bold dignified countenance, Long Peter uncovered his head +in respectful submission, the preconcerted signal was instantly obeyed, +the drummers executed their military music, the colours were lowered in +salute, and the whole body of the lansquenet vociferated a loud and +cheering "Vivat Ulericus!" + +The peasant of Hardt remained at a distance, not heeding the salute, +for his whole soul appeared concentred in his eye, which was fixed on +his lord in the intoxication of joy. The Duke stopped his horse, and +looked about him in the dead silence which afterwards succeeded. The +fifer then came forward, knelt down, holding his stirrup for him to +dismount, and said, "Here's to good Wuertemberg for ever!" + +"Ha! are you there, Hans, my trusty companion in misfortune, the first +to salute me in Wuertemberg? I expected my nobles would have been the +foremost to greet my arrival in my country, my chancellor and my +council--where are the dogs? Where are the representatives of my +estates? will they not welcome me to my home? Is no one here to hold my +stirrup but this peasant?" + +The followers of the Duke hastened around him in surprise when they +heard these cutting words. They scarcely knew whether he was in +earnest, or whether it was a mere sarcastic joke over his own +misfortunes. His mouth, appeared to smile, but his eye bespoke anger, +and his voice sounded stern and commanding. They looked at each other +in doubtful apprehension as to the meaning of this burst of passion, +when the fifer of Hardt replied, + +"For this once a peasant only assists your Grace on Wuertemberg ground; +but despise not a true heart and a willing hand. The others will soon +come, when they hear the Duke treads his native land again." + +"Do you think so?" said Ulerich, with a bitter smile, as he swung +himself from his horse; "do you think they'll come? Hitherto we have +little reason to flatter ourselves; but I'll knock at their doors, and +let them know that the old gentleman is there, and will have admittance +to his house! Are these the lansquenets who have agreed to serve me?" +he continued, attentively observing the little army; "they appear well +armed, and in good condition. How many men are there?" + +"Twelve companies, your Grace," answered Peter the general, who still +stood without his hat, in a state of embarrassment, twisting his +mustachios occasionally. "Nothing but well-trained men. May my soul be +punished--pardon my oath--but the king of France has no better +soldiers!" + +"Who are you?" asked the Duke, looking with astonishment at the large +heavy figure of the general, with his immense sword and red face. + +"I am a lansquenet of my own order, and am called Long Peter, but now +the well-appointed general of the assembled----" + +"What, general! this folly must have an end. You may be a very brave +man, but you are not made to command. I will be your general +henceforth," said the Duke, "and my knights will be named as your +captains." + +"_Bassa manelka!_--I am sorry I swore, but permit an old soldier to say +a word to your Grace. What you propose would be against our terms of a +gold florin a month, and four measures of wine a-day. There stands, for +example, Staberl of Vienna, not a braver man under the sun----" + +"Very good, very good, old man! we'll not talk of the gold florin and +wine now," replied the Duke. "The captains shall retain their present +commands, but I command you. Have you any ammunition?" + +"Yes, to be sure," said the Magdeburger; "we have plenty, which belonged +to your Grace, and which we brought away from Tuebingen. Each man has +eighty rounds." + +"Very well," answered the Duke; "George von Hewen and Philip von +Rechberg, do you divide the men, and each take six companies. Let their +captains remain with their men, and assist their commanders. Ludwig von +Gemmingen, I appoint you to command all the infantry. And now we'll +march direct for Leonberg. Rejoice, my faithful standard bearer," said +the Duke, as he mounted, "with God's assistance we'll be in Stuttgardt +tomorrow." + +The troop of cavalry, with the Duke at their head, led the way. Long +Peter stood fixed in the same place, with his hat and its cock's +feathers in his hand, observing the horsemen. + +"That is a Prince, indeed!" he said to the other commanders who stood +beside him. "What a powerful voice he has; and when he rolls his eyes +about it makes one quake for fear! I thought he would have swallowed +me, head and all, when he asked me who I was." + +"I felt much in the same state as if hot water had been poured over +me," said the Magdeburger. "This man is more to be dreaded than the +Emperor in Vienna." + +"Our reign has been but a short one," said Captain Muckerle; "our +dignity has not lasted long." + +"Fool! so much the better. Dignity only brings cares, says the proverb; +our people don't submit readily to our orders--_diavolo!_--for one of +them laughed at me in my face only this day. Things will go much better +when the knights lead us: and we shall receive a gold florin and four +measures of wine; that's our principal business." So said Peter. + +"I think so too," said the Magdeburger; "and we have to thank Long +Peter for our good fortune. Long may he live!" + +"Thank you," said the general; "but I tell you, the Duke will set the +League in flames again, _morbleu!_ and when he draws his sword, he +alone will hunt them out of the country. And did you hear how he cursed +his council, chancellor, and nobles? I would not like to be in their +skins." + +The conversation of the veterans was now interrupted by the rolling of +the drums, which no longer sounded at their command. Long Peter had +been so often accustomed, during his many campaigns, to the +vicissitudes of fortune, by being raised and lowered suddenly in rank, +that he was not disconcerted by his present loss of command. He very +quietly deprived his large hat of its ornamental cock's feather; he +laid aside his red scarf and long sword, the emblems of his dignity, +and shouldered his halberd. "May my soul be punished, but mine is a +hard case, who but yesterday was in supreme command, and am now obliged +to go back into the ranks," said he, as he took his place among his +comrades. "But by Saint Peter, my holy patron and brother lansquenet, +every thing is for the best in this world." His companions shook him by +the hand, and agreed with him in his sentiments. It did his brave heart +good to hear them approve of his conduct, the short time he had wielded +the command over them. The three knights, their newly appointed +leaders, mounted and put themselves at the head of their brigades; the +lansquenets arranged themselves in the common order of march, and, +Ludwig von Gemmingen ordering the drums to beat the advance, the little +army broke up their camp, and set forward. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + The summit of the wall is gain'd + All in the silent night, + And now the fortress is attain'd! + We do not fear the light. + Now, let us sound the battle cry, + And be it "Death or victory!" + SCHILLER. + +Duke Ulerich appeared before the gate of Stuttgardt, called the Red +Hill Gate, on the night previous to the holiday of the Assumption of +the Virgin Mary. Having captured the little town of Leonberg on his +way, he prosecuted his march on the capital without further +interruption. The news of his being in the country spread through the +land like wild-fire, and judging by the numbers that joined his +colours, as well as by the joy with which he was everywhere received, +he had reason to suppose the people would rejoice to see their +legitimate Prince re-established in his rights, and the hateful +government of the League abolished. + +The intelligence of his advance had reached Stuttgardt, and had caused +much difference of feeling amongst its inhabitants. The nobility +scarcely knew what they had to expect from the Duke; the shameful +surrender of Tuebingen being an event of too recent a date to leave them +wholly without fear of his wrath. But the recollection of the brilliant +court of Ulerich von Wuertemberg and the merry days they had formerly +passed under his sway, compared to the oppressions the League had +inflicted on them, led them to incline to submission. Not a few, +however, among them had reason to dread his return. The citizens could +scarcely restrain their joy; and, quitting their houses, assembled in +groups about the streets, talking over coming events. They cursed the +League in strong terms, but silently, clenching their fists in their +pockets, and were beyond measure patriotically inclined, and full of +pugnacious propensities. Calling to mind the illustrious ancestors of +their exiled Prince, whose name of Wuertemberg they themselves bore; +they reckoned up the many noble lords sprung from the same family, +under whom they and their fathers had lived happily, and whose glorious +deeds had spread their country's fame abroad. But the most important +topic of their conversation was, that upon them depended, in a great +measure, the decision of the struggle between the League and the Duke, +as the whole country would now look upon the Stuttgardters as the +fuglemen in the contest. They were, however, no way inclined of +themselves to create an insurrection against the garrison of the +League, whom they still feared, but they whispered to each other: +"Brother, wait a little, and we'll soon have an opportunity to show +those Leaguists what we Stuttgardters are made of." + +The insurrectionary spirit of the burghers did not escape the notice of +Christoph Schwarzenberg, the Leaguist governor. He perceived, but too +late, the mistake that had been committed in disbanding the army. He +applied to the representatives of his party assembled at Noerdlingen for +assistance, but gave them no hope of holding Stuttgardt unless they +sent immediate relief. Scarcely had he time to make some feeble +preparations for defence, when the rapid advance of the Duke checked +his ardour. Perceiving he could not trust the citizens, that the nobles +would not stand by him, and aware that the garrison was not strong +enough even to ensure the safety of the gates of the city, he absconded +in the night with the state council to Esslingen. Their flight was so +sudden and secret, that their families even were ignorant of it, and no +one in the town suspected the intentions of the governor and his +senate. The partisans of the League, therefore, never dreaming of the +desertion of their chiefs, treated the news of the approach of the Duke +with indifference, for they did not believe the report of his being in +the immediate neighbourhood. + +The market-place in those days stood in the heart of the city. But even +then two considerable suburbs, the Saint Leonhard and the field of +tournament, were built around the town, provided with outer ditches, +walls, and strong gates, which gave them also the appearance of +fortified cities. They were separated from the old town which possessed +its own walls and gates, and its inhabitants looked down with contempt +on those of the suburbs. The market-place was the spot where the +burghers were accustomed to assemble, according to the fashion of olden +times when any extraordinary occurrence took place; and therefore, on +the eventful evening before the day of the Assumption of the Virgin, +the citizens streamed in crowds to this central point. Though every man +in those days carried arms with impunity, which gave to an assembled +multitude a fearful appearance, still the honest burghers of Stuttgardt +would not have dared to utter, in the day-time, what they now ventured +to do in the dusk. Had many of them been asked their opinion of the +Duke in the forenoon, they would have answered, "What do I care about +him? I am a peaceable citizen:" but upon this occasion, they raised +their voices, I and cried, "We'll open the gates to the Duke! away with +the Leaguists! Wuertemberg for ever!" + +The moon shone bright on the assembled crowd, which waved to and fro in +restless motion, whilst a confused murmur seemed to indicate indecision +as to what was to be done, perhaps because no one was bold enough to +put himself forward on the occasion. Many heads looked out of the +windows of the gable-ended houses which surrounded the market-place; +they were the wives and families of the congregated citizens, listening +with intense anxiety to what was going on: for it must be observed that +the Stuttgardt ladies were in those days equally given to curiosity as +they now are, and in their hearts pitied the Duke. + +The hum of voices became louder and louder, whilst the feeling which +ran through the crowd became more distinct. The cry "let's drive; the +soldiers from the gates, and open them to the Duke," passed from mouth +to mouth, when a tall, meagre-looking man was seen to spring up on a +stone bank which surrounded the fountain, whence he overlooked the +assemblage of burghers. He flourished his long arms about in the air, +opened his large mouth, and hallooed with all his might to obtain a +hearing. The noise about him having partially subsided, a few detached +words and sentences were heard by the immediate bystanders. "What! do +the honourable burghers of Stuttgardt intend to break the oath which +they have sworn to the League? To whom do you want to open the +gates--to the Duke? He can't have a very strong force with him, for he +has no money to pay them, and he will make you open your purses. If you +surrender to him, you will have ten thousand florins to pay. Do you +hear? ten thousand florins, I say!" + +"Who is that lanky fellow?" the citizens asked one another. "He's +right," said one of them, "we shall have to pay handsomely."--"Is he a +citizen, that man up there?"--"Who are you?" said one of the boldest; +"how do you know we shall have to pay?" + +"I am the renowned Doctor Calmus," said the speaker, with solemn voice, +"and am quite sure of it. And who do you want to drive away? The +Emperor, the Empire, the League? Will you run your heads against so +many rich lords? and why? for Duke Utz, who only throws dust in your +eyes! Do you forget his oppressive game laws, the least part of his +tyranny? He has no more money left; he is a beggar, and has squandered +everything in Moempelgard----" + +"Make him keep silence!" cried the burghers: "What is that to you? you +are not one of our citizens; away with the bald-headed mouse,--kill +him,--throw him into the fountain to feed the fish!--Long live the +Duke!" + +Doctor Calmus raised his voice again, but was overpowered by the loud +shouts of the bystanders. + +At this moment another troop of burghers arrived in great haste from +the suburbs. "The Duke is before the Red Hill gate," they cried, "with +cavalry and infantry. Where is the governor and his council? He will +fire into the town if the gates be not instantly opened! Away with the +Leaguists!--Who is a good Wuertemberger?" + +The tumult increased. Perceiving the crowd still undecided, another +speaker mounted the bank: he was a comely-looking man, who, for a +moment, imposed on the crowd by his outward appearance. "Consider, +honourable men," he cried: "what will the illustrious council of the +League say if you----" + +"Out with the illustrious council!" they answered, "away with him, tear +him down, him with the rose-coloured cloak and smooth hair, he is an +Ulmer--at him, he is an Ulmer!" + +But before they could put their threats into execution, a powerful man +stept up between the two orators, knocked the Doctor over with his +right hand, and the Ulmer with his left, waving his cap in the air to +obtain a hearing. "Silence! that is Hartman," whispered the burghers, +"he understands the world; listen to what he says!" + +"Hear me!" said he: "the governor and his council are nowhere to be +found, they have fled, and left us in the lurch; we'll therefore seize +these two, and keep them as hostages. And now to the Red Hill gate; our +true Duke stands before it: it is better to open the gate of our own +accord than that he should use force to do so. Who's a good +Wuertemberger, let him follow me." + +He descended from his position, and was joyfully received by the crowd. +The two advocates of the League were bound and led away before they had +time to look about them. The stream of burghers now flowed from the +marketplace through the upper gate and over the broad ditch of the old +town leading to the field of tournament, and, passing the +fortification, arrived at the Red Hill gate. The Leaguist troops, who +occupied it, were soon overpowered, the gate was opened, the drawbridge +fell, and laid over the town ditch. + +The leader of the Duke's infantry had, during these occurrences in the +town, stationed his best troops at this gate, as it was doubtful what +steps the League would take at the approach of the Duke. Ulerich +himself had examined the post. In vain did Albert von Sturmfeder +endeavour to persuade him that the garrison of Stuttgardt was too weak +to make any formidable resistance, in vain did he represent to him the +desire the burghers had to see him again, and would willingly open the +gates, the Duke looked darker than the night, pressed his lips +together, and gnashed his teeth in anger. + +"You don't understand these things," he muttered to the young man; "you +don't know the world; they are all false; never trust any one but +yourself. They accommodate themselves to every change of wind. But I +have them this once under my thumb. Do you suppose I have been obliged +to turn my back upon my country to no purpose?" + +Albert was unable to comprehend the Duke's meaning. He had seen him +firm in misfortune, yea even mild and gentle, and in speaking of the +many beneficent plans for the good of his people, which he intended to +put into execution when he returned to his country, he had seldom +manifested any violent fits of passion in talking of his enemies, and +scarcely ever betrayed any ill will towards his subjects, who had +deserted him. But whether it was the sight of his country that awakened +the feeling of vexation stronger in him than usual, whether he was +irritated that the nobility and representatives of his estates had not +come forward to welcome his arrival after he had passed the boundary of +Wuertemberg; whatever was the cause, his spirits were no longer cheerful +and buoyant. His look appeared as if troubled by a thirst for revenge, +and a certain severity and harshness in giving his opinion, struck +those about him as indications of alteration in his temper. Albert von +Sturmfeder, in particular, could not account for this new turn in +Ulerich's manner. + +The town had been summoned more than half an hour. The time which had +been given was nearly expired, and still no answer had arrived. The hum +of voices was heard in the town, and a restless moving about the +streets, shewing that the besieged were doubtful whether their terms +would be accepted or not. + +The Duke rode up to the lansquenets, who were resting on their halberds +and match guns, headed by their leaders, who were each occupied in +preserving discipline among their men. Albert remarked the countenance +of the Duke by the light of the moon. The veins of his of his forehead +were swollen beyond their common size, his cheeks being deeply flushed, +and his eyes sparkled like fire. + +"Hewen! get the scaling ladders ready," said the Duke with a stern +voice. "Thunder and lightning! I stand before my own house, and they +will not let me in. The trumpets shall sound once more, when, if they +don't open the gates instantly, I'll fire the town and burn it to the +ground." + +"_Bassa manelka!_ that's what I like," said Long Peter to his comrade, +who stood in the front rank near the Duke. "The ladders are going to be +brought, we'll climb up like cats, and drive those fellows from the +walls, and then the musqueteers will pepper them properly, _canto +cacramento_!" + +"Ah! yes," said the Magdeburger, "and then we'll sally into the town, +set fire to all corners--plunder--burst open the doors--that's the fun +for us lansquenets!" + +"For God's sake, my Lord Duke," said Albert, who had heard his last +words, and had observed the rapacious spirit which animated the +soldiers, "only wait a short quarter of an hour longer; recollect it is +your own capital. They are most likely still deliberating." + +"What have they got to consult so long about?" replied Ulerich with ill +humour: "their rightful lord stands before his own gate, and demands +admittance. My patience is already exhausted. Spread my banner to the +light of the moon, Albert; let the trumpets sound; summon the town once +more for the last time; and if the gates are not opened by the time I +have counted thirty after the last word, by the holy Hubertus, I'll +storm the walls. Be quick! Albert." + +"O sir! consider your town, your best town! Having lived so long in +it, would you now give it to the flames? Give them a little more time." + +"Ha!" laughed the Duke in anger, and struck the armour of his breast +with his steel glove, which sounded through the stillness of the night, +"I see you are not inclined to enter Stuttgardt, and merit your wife +thereby. But no more words now, at the risk of my displeasure, Albert +von Sturmfeder. Obey my order quickly: unfurl my banner, let the +trumpet sound! sound and frighten the dogs out of their sleep, that +they may know a Wuertemberger stands here, and will enter his house in +spite of the Emperor and Empire. I say, summon them again, Sturmfeder!" + +The young man obeyed the order in silence, and riding close up to the +ditch, unfurled Wuertemberg's banner. The rays of the moon appeared to +welcome it back to its country, and shone full upon it, whereby the +four fields with their charges were plainly exhibited to view. On a +large flag of red silk were wove the arms of Wuertemberg, with its +escutcheon and four fields. In the first were the stag horns of +Wuertemberg, in the second the balls of Teck, the third had the +storming flag of the empire, which belonged by right to the Duke as +banner-bearer of the empire, and in the fourth were the fish of +Moempelgard: the whole being surmounted by the crown and the bugle of +Urach. The strong arm of the young man could scarcely hold the heavy +flag in the breeze. He was attended by three trumpeters, who now +sounded their wild tones before the closed gate. + +A window above it opened, and a voice asked their business. Albert von +Sturmfeder answered, "Ulerich, by the grace of God Duke of Wuertemberg +and Teck, Count of Urach and Moempelgard, summons for the second and +last time his city of Stuttgardt, to open its gates willingly and +instantly to him, else he will storm the walls and treat the town as an +enemy." + +During the time Albert was delivering his message, a confused noise as +of a crowd in motion mingled with voices in the streets was heard, +which approaching nearer and nearer, at length broke out into tumult +and shouting. + +"May my soul be punished, if they are not about to make a sortie!" said +Long Peter, loud enough to be heard by the Duke. + +"Perhaps you are right," answered the Duke, turning abruptly to the +startled lansquenet: "close in together, present your pikes, and have +the matches ready, that we may receive them as they deserve." + +The whole line retreated some distance from the ditch, leaving only the +three first companies at the point where the drawbridge fell. A wall of +pikes bristled in formidable array against a sudden attack, the guns +were presented and the match held at the touchhole ready to fire. The +dead stillness of expectation which reigned without the walls was +broken by the tumultuous noise within the town. The drawbridge fell, +but no enemy sallied forth to repel the invaders: three old grey-headed +men alone proceeded through the gate, bearing the arms of the city, +with its keys. + +When the Duke saw the peaceable mission approach, he rode towards them +in a friendly manner, followed by Albert. Two of these men appeared to +be councillors or magistrates: they bent their knee before their lord +and master, and tendered him the proofs of their submission. He gave +them to his attendants, and said to the ambassadors, "You have kept us +waiting somewhat long outside: truly we should very shortly have +mounted the walls, and have lighted up your town with our own hands, +and made your eyes smart with the smoke of it. Why did you keep us +waiting so long?" + +"Oh, my Lord!" said one of the old men, "as far as the burghers were +concerned they were ready to open the gates instantly; but we have some +few principal members of the League still among us, who held long and +dangerous speeches to the people to instigate them to rebellion against +your grace. That is the true cause of the delay." + +"Ha! who are those men?" said the Duke. "I hope you have taken care not +to let them escape, for I would like to say a word to them." + +"God forbid, your highness! we know our duty to our lord, and therefore +seized them immediately and put them in confinement. Is it your wish to +see them?" + +"To-morrow morning in the castle, I'll examine them. Send to the +executioner at the same time; perhaps it will be requisite to take +their heads off." + +"Prompt justice, just what they deserve," said a shrill croaking voice +behind the two burghers. + +"Who is it that interrupts me?" said the Duke, when looking around, an +extraordinary figure of diminutive size stepped forward, carrying a +hump with which nature had ornamented his back, and which was concealed +under a black silk cloak. His well-combed grey locks were covered by a +small pointed hat; a pair of eyes, which bespoke cunning and intrigue, +sparkled under bushy grey eyebrows; and a thin moustache, which sprung +out from under an eagle-like nose, gave him much the appearance of a +feline animal. An expression of fawning courteousness lay upon his +wrinkled features, and when he uncovered his head at the Duke's salute, +Albert felt an insuperable disgust and a peculiar abhorrence at the +sight of him. + +The Duke, when he noticed the little man, called to him in a friendly +way: "Ha! Ambrosius Bolland, our chancellor! are you still alive? You +might have made your appearance before now, methinks, for you must have +known we were in our country again; but you are, notwithstanding, +welcome to us." + +"Most illustrious Duke!" answered the chancellor, Ambrosius Bolland, "I +have been laid up with a violent fit of gout, which would scarcely +allow me to leave my house; pardon me, therefore, your----" + +"Very well, very well," said the Duke, smiling, "I'll soon cure you of +the gout. Come to us in the castle to-morrow morning; it is our +pleasure at present to ride through the town. Forwards, my faithful +banner-bearer!" he turned to Albert, with gracious demeanour, "you have +kept your word honestly as far as the gates of Stuttgardt; I will +reward your faithful service. By Saint Hubertus, the bride is yours +according to justice and right. Carry my flag before me, we'll plant it +on my castle, and tread the Leaguist banner in the dust! Gemmingen and +Hewen, you are my guests for the night; we'll see if the lords of the +Swabian League have left us any of our old wine." + +Thus rode Duke Ulerich, surrounded by his knights, who had followed him +in his train through the gates of his capital. The burghers received +him with loud _vivas_, and the pretty damsels in the windows waved +their white handkerchiefs, to the annoyance of their mothers, who +thought these salutations were directed to the handsome young knight +carrying the Duke's banner, and who, as seen by the light of their +torches, recalled to their minds St. George, the dragon-killer. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + Oh, may the deeds of those no more, + The glory that they won, + The sire's spirit hovering o'er, + So stimulate the son, + That this day's setting sun may see + Of no degenerate clay are we. + P. CONZ. + +When Albert von Sturmfeder viewed the old castle of Stuttgardt the next +morning, it did not exhibit the same form which it has in our days, the +present one having been built by the Duke's son, Prince Christoph. The +residence of the former Dukes of Wuertemberg stood in the same place; +and differed little in plan and appearance from Christoph's work, +except that it was for the most part built of wood. Being surrounded by +broad and deep ditches, over which a bridge led to the town, a large +open space in front served in early times as a tilt-yard for the gay +court of Ulerich, whose powerful hand had often rolled many a knight in +the arena. The interior also of the building bespoke the customs and +usages of the times. High and vaulted halls occupied the lower part of +the castle, and were generally used in rainy weather as a place for +manly exercises, having space sufficient to admit of the largest lance +being wielded without hindrance. Old chronicles mention the size of +these halls as being spacious enough to contain between two and three +hundred persons at table. A broad stone staircase, capable of admitting +two horsemen to ride abreast, and made for that purpose, led to the +upper apartments, where the splendour of the rooms, the grandeur of the +hall of the knights, and the richly ornamented galleries used for +dancing and play, corresponded with the exterior appearance of the +castle. + +Albert viewed with an eye of astonishment the extravagant splendour of +the palace. When he compared the establishment of his ancestors with +what he now saw, how small and confined they seemed to him! He +recollected the stories he had heard of the brilliancy of Ulerich's +court, on the occasion of his magnificent marriage, when seven thousand +guests, from all parts of the German empire, caroused in this castle, +in whose vaulted halls and spacious court-yards all kinds of games and +merrymaking were held for a whole month; and a numerous assembly of +noblemen, with all the greatest beauties of the day, kept up the merry +dance till late at night. He looked down into the garden of the castle, +which, from its beauty, was called Paradise. His fancy peopled the +shaded walks and summerhouses, which were scattered about it, with the +joyous throng of gallant knights and stately ladies, enjoying +themselves with mirth and song. But alas! how deserted and empty were +they now; and when he compared their present state with the picture his +imagination had created, what a lesson of this world's vanity did it +not give! The guests of the marriage feast, the brilliant merry court, +all are vanished, said he to himself; the princely bride is flown, the +brilliant circle of women by whom she was surrounded scattered to the +four winds; knights and counts, who once feasted in these halls, have +deserted their prince; the tender pledges of his marriage now in a +distant land, in the hands of his enemies; and the lord of the castle +is left alone to brood in solitude over his misfortunes, and think only +of revenge; and who knows how long he will be allowed to remain in the +house of his ancestors; who knows whether his enemies will not get the +upper hand again, and, overpowering him, drive him into misery twofold +greater than what he has already experienced. + +The young soldier attempted in vain to repress these gloomy thoughts, +which the contrast between the splendour of the surrounding objects and +the misfortunes of the Duke involuntarily awakened in his mind. In vain +he summoned to his aid the portrait of that beloved being, whom he +hoped soon to call his own for ever; in vain he painted, in the most +glowing colours, to his imagination, all the charms of domestic +happiness in her company; he was still unable to shake off the gloomy +ideas which the sight of the castle had produced on his mind. Whatever +was the cause of it, whether it was the Duke's lofty character, which +he had so nobly manifested in misfortune, and which had created so deep +a feeling of admiration in the breast of the young man, or whether +nature had gifted him with an extraordinary perception into future +events, he remained riveted to the spot in deep thought. Persuaded that +the Duke's affairs were any thing but prosperous, he felt himself in +duty bound to warn him against some unforeseen impending danger which +irresistibly haunted his mind. + +"Why so much wrapped in thought, young man?" asked an unknown voice +behind him, and roused him from his reverie: "I should have thought +Albert von Sturmfeder had reason to be of good cheer." + +Albert turned round in surprise, and cast his eyes upon the chancellor, +Ambrosius Holland. If this man had struck Albert the night before, as +being peculiarly forbidding by his officious courteousness, his +cat-like sneaking manner, he was now more confirmed in his dislike, +when he remarked the deformity of his person, rendered more conspicuous +by an overladen finery of dress. His dark-yellow shrivelled-up face, +with an eternal hypocritical smile upon it, his green eyes peeping out +under long grey eyelashes, his highly inflamed eyelids, and scanty +beard, contrasted strangely with a red velvet cap, and a gown made of +bright yellow silk, which hung over his hump. Under the gown he wore a +grass-green dress, slashed with rose-coloured silk, his knee-bands +being of the same material, fastened with enormous rosettes. His head +was stuck close between his shoulders, and the red cap, which he +carried on it, appeared to belong equally to the hump. It was a great +joke of the executioner of Stuttgardt, that of all heads, that of the +chancellor Ambrosius Bolland would appear to be the most difficult to +cut off. + +This was the man who looked up at Albert von Sturmfeder with a +courteous smile. He addressed him with smooth words, "Perhaps you don't +know me, my much esteemed young friend: I am Ambrosius Bolland, the +chancellor of his highness. I come to wish you a good morning." + +"I thank you," said Albert; "and esteem it a great honour, if you have +put yourself out of your way on my account." + +"Honour to whom honour is due! you are the pattern and crown of our +young knighthood! Truly, you who have stood by my master so faithfully +in his necessity and dangers have a claim to my most inward thanks, and +my particular respect." + +"You might have bought your compliments much cheaper had you joined us +at Moempelgard," replied Albert, who was offended by the adulation of +the flatterer. "There is no necessity to speak of fidelity; it were +better to reprove the want of it." + +A momentary ray of anger shot from the green-eyed chancellor, but he +soon regained his fawning manner. "To be sure, I am of the same +opinion. For my part, I was so crippled with gout, I could not travel +to Moempelgard; but now, what little power heaven has left me shall be +devoted with redoubled zeal to the Duke's service." + +He paused a moment, expecting an answer; but Albert was silent, and +eyed him with a glance which he did not well know how to interpret. +"Well, but you will now be able to enjoy your prosperity," continued +the chancellor; "of course it is nothing more than you deserve, and the +Duke has well chosen his favourite. Will you allow Ambrosius Bolland +also to acknowledge his sense of your services? Are you an amateur of +curious arms? Come to my dwelling in the market-place, and choose what +most pleases you out of my armoury. If you are a lover of rare books, I +have a whole chest full, much at your disposal, and pray select any you +may fancy, as is the custom among friends. Come and dine with me +sometimes; my niece keeps house for me, a pretty girl of seventeen +years; only I must beg of you--hi! hi! hi!--not to look at her too +close." + +"Don't be afraid; I am already engaged." + +"So? ah, that's acting like a Christian; it's very praiseworthy. It is +not always that we find such virtue among the youth of the present day. +I was quite certain that Sturmfeder was a pattern of virtue. But what I +wanted to say was, that we--being the only two as yet who compose the +Duke's court--we must keep together, and not allow any one to be +appointed without our consent. Do you understand me? hi! hi!--one hand +washes the other. But we can talk over that some other time. You will +honour me with a visit sometimes?" + +"When my time will allow me, Chancellor Ambrosius Bolland." + +"I would willingly remain longer in your society, for your presence +does my heart good; but I must now to the Duke. He is going to sit in +judgment this morning on two prisoners who tried to excite the people +to rebellion against him last night. Who would bet that Beltler was not +already appointed." + +"Beltler!" asked Albert, "who is he?" + +"He is the executioner, most worthy young friend." + +"For heaven's sake! the Duke surely will not stain the first day of his +new government with blood!" + +The chancellor smiled bitterly, and answered: "You do honour again to +your excellent heart, but you are not fit to sit in a court of criminal +justice. Examples must be made. One of them," he continued, with a soft +voice, "will be beheaded because he belongs to the nobility, and the +other, being a low fellow, will be hanged. God bless you, my dear +friend!" + +With these words the chancellor departed, treading with light step the +long gallery which led to the Duke's apartment. Albert followed him +with a look of contempt and disdain. He had heard that this man +formerly, either by prudence, or, perhaps, rather by an unwarrantable +exercise of artful cunning, had gained great influence over Ulerich: he +had often heard the Duke himself speak of the great confidence he had +in his cleverness in state affairs. He knew not why, but he feared for +the Duke should he put too much faith in the chancellor, for he thought +he could read intrigue and falsehood in his eye. + +Just as he saw the hump and flowing yellow cloak turn the corner at +the end of the gallery, a voice whispered to him: "Don't trust that +yellow-faced hypocrite!" It was the fifer of Hardt, who had stolen to +his side unnoticed. + +"How! are you there, Hans?" cried Albert, and gladly proffered his +hand. "Are you come to the castle to visit us? that's very kind; you +are more heartily welcome than that humpbacked knave; but what have you +to say of him that I should beware of?" + +"He is a false man, and I have warned the Duke not to follow his +advice, which made him very angry with me. He puts his whole confidence +in him." + +"But what did he say? Have you seen him this morning?" asked Albert. + +"I went to take my leave of him, for I am going home to my wife and +child. The Duke appeared moved at first, spoke of the days of his +exile, and asked me to mention any act of grace he could confer upon +me. But I merited none, for what I have done for him was only paying +off an old debt. I asked him at last, not being able to think of +anything else, to allow me the liberty to shoot my fox without being +punished as a poacher. He laughed, and said I might do it, but that was +no act of grace, I must demand something else. Well, I took courage, +and said, I beg of your grace not to put too much confidence in the +crafty chancellor, for it is my opinion he is false at heart." + +"That's just what I think," cried Albert; "he looked as if he wanted to +spy into my most inward thoughts with those green eyes of his; but what +answered the Duke?" + +"'You understand nothing upon such subjects,' was his reply, and became +angry; and added, 'you may be a faithful and sure guide among clefts +and caverns, but the chancellor understands state intrigues better than +you.' It may be," added the fifer, "that I am wrong in my conjectures; +I hope so, for the Duke's sake. So now farewell, sir; may God protect +you! Amen." + +"Will you really go, and not remain for my wedding?" said Albert. "I +expect the knight of Lichtenstein and his daughter here to-day. Stay a +day or two longer: you were our messenger of love, and ought not to +desert us at this happy moment." + +"Of what use can a poor man like me be at the wedding of a knight? I +might, indeed, sit among the musicians, and take part in the music in +honour of the happy event; but others can do it as well as me, and my +house requires my presence." + +"Well then, farewell," said Albert; "give my salutations to your wife +and Barbelle, and visit us often in Lichtenstein. God be with you!" + +A tear filled the eye of the young man as he gave the peasant a hearty +parting shake of the hand, for he had always found him an honest +trustworthy man, a faithful servant of the Duke, a bold companion in +danger, and cheerful society in misfortune. He was about asking many +questions concerning the mysterious life which this man followed, for +he was particularly curious to know the cause of his extraordinary +attachment to the Duke, but he suppressed them out of delicacy to his +feelings. The natural greatness of mind which characterised the fifer +of Hardt, though he were a common peasant, awed him into silence +touching those subjects which his friend had always appeared to wish to +avoid. + +"But, I have one thing more to say," said Hans, as he was going: "do +you know that your old friend and future cousin-in-law, von Kraft, is +here?" + +"The scribe to the council? how did he come here? he's a Leaguist!" + +"He is here, nevertheless, and not in the most agreeable position--for +he is in prison. Yesterday evening, when the people assembled in the +market place, in consequence of the Duke's arrival, it appears he +addressed them in favour of the League." + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed Albert, "was that Dieterich Kraft, the +scribe? I must go instantly to the Duke, who now sits in judgment upon +him, or the chancellor will have his head off. Good bye!" + +The young man hurried along the corridor to the Duke's apartment. He +had been in the habit in Moempelgard of having immediate access to him +at all times of day, and, therefore, the porter now respectfully opened +the door. He entered in a hasty manner, to the astonishment of the +Duke, who was somewhat displeased; but the chancellor masked his +hypocrisy, as usual, under a smile of mildness. + +"Good morning, Sturmfeder," said the Duke, who sat at a table, dressed +in a green coat embroidered in gold, with a green hunting cap on his +head; "I hope you have slept well in our castle. What brings you thus +early to us? we have important business." + +The eyes of the young man had in the mean time anxiously looked about +the room, and there discovered the scribe of the Ulmer council standing +in a corner. He was as pale as death; his hair, which was wont to +be combed with great care, hung in disorder over his neck, and a +rose-coloured gown which he wore over a black coat was torn to tatters. +His eyes met Albert's with a most pitiable look, and he then glanced +upwards, as much as to say, "it is all over with me." Near him stood +other men: one of whom, tall and meagre, he thought to have seen +before. The prisoners were guarded by Peter, the brave Magdeburger, and +Staberl of Vienna. They stood at their post with outstretched legs, +their halberds resting on the floor, upright as candles. + +"I say, we have important business at present," continued the Duke; +"but why do you look so intent upon him with the rose-coloured gown? he +is a hardened sinner; the sword is being sharpened for his neck!" + +"Will your highness allow me but one word," replied Albert. "I know +that man, and would stake all I possess in the world, that he is a +peaceable subject; and positively not a criminal who deserves death." + +"By Saint Hubertus, that is a bold speech! You have changed your +nature, methinks: my chancellor, the worthy jurist, has put himself +forward like a young warrior; and you, my young soldier, would assume +the advocate. What say you to that, Ambrosius Bolland?" + +"Hi! hi! I adorned my person by way of letting your highness have a +joke, for I know, of old date, you are fond of a little fun; and our +dear good Sturmfeder, for the sake of adding to it, plays the part of a +jurist. Hi! hi! hi! but all he may say or do, he cannot save him in the +rose-coloured gown. High treason! he must lose his head, poor fellow!" + +"Mr. Chancellor," cried Albert, glowing with anger, "the Duke can +witness, that I was never accustomed to play the buffoon. I don't wish +to rival any person in this sort of character; but I never play or make +sport with the life of a fellow creature! I am seriously in earnest, +when I pledge my life for the noble Dieterich von Kraft, scribe to the +council of Ulm, now present before you. I hope my bail will be taken." + +"How?" said Ulerich, "is he the elegant gentleman, your host in Ulm, of +whom you have often spoke to me. I regret that he committed himself so +far as to be taken in the act of creating an insurrection, under very +suspicious circumstances." + +"Certainly," croaked Ambrosius, "a _crimen lesae majestatis!_" + +"Permit me, sir, to speak," said Albert. "I have studied law long +enough to know, that in this case it is absurd to talk of treason. The +governor and council of the League were still in the town last night, +consequently Stuttgardt was in the power of the enemy, and the scribe, +who is in no wise a subject of his highness, did not act differently +from any other Leaguist soldier, who takes the field against the Duke +by the orders of his superiors." + +"Ei, youth, youth! How nicely it accommodates itself to circumstances!" +said the chancellor; "but my worthy friend, you must know that so soon +as the Duke summoned the town, and had the _animum possidentis_, every +thing within its walls belonged to him. Therefore, any conspiracy +against his royal person, becomes high treason immediately. The +prisoner Dieterich von Kraft held very dangerous language to the +people." + +"Impossible! it is quite contrary to his manner and principles. My Lord +Duke, it cannot be!" + +"Albert!" said the Duke in earnest, "we have had much patience in +hearing what you have to say; but it can do your friend no good. Here +is the protocol. The chancellor had examined witnesses before I came, +and every thing is proved as clear as day. We must make an example. The +chancellor is perfectly right; therefore I cannot hold out any act of +grace in the prisoner's favour." + +"But allow me to ask him and the witnesses one question--only a few +words," said Albert. + +"That is against all forms of justice," said the chancellor; "I must +protest against it; it is an infringement on my office." + +"Let it be, Ambrosius," said the Duke. "He may ask a question, with all +my heart, of the poor sinner, who has no chance of escape." + +"Dieterich von Kraft," said Albert, addressing the prisoner, "how came +you to be in Stuttgardt?" + +The forlorn scribe, whom death seemed already to have made his prey, +turning his eyes towards him, his teeth chattering from fear, was +scarcely able to mutter a word in answer. "I was sent here by the +council of Ulm, as secretary to the governor." + +"How was it that you appeared before the burghers of Stuttgardt, +yesterday evening?" said Albert. + +"The governor ordered me to remind them of their duty and oath, should +there, perchance, be an insurrection against the League." + +"Don't you perceive, he was only acting under orders?" said Albert, +turning to the Duke. "Who took you prisoner?" he continued with the +examination. + +"The man standing beside you." + +"Did you take this gentleman into custody? then you must have heard +what he said; what did he say?" said Albert to the man. + +"Yes, I heard what he said," answered the burgher; "he had spoken but +six words, when burghermaster Hartmann threw him down from the bank. I +remember what they were, namely: 'Recollect, my friends, what will the +illustrious council of the League say!' That was all, and then Hartmann +took him by the collar. But there stands Doctor Calmus, who made a +longer speech." + +The Duke roared with laughter, first looking at Albert and then at the +chancellor, who turned pale, and was so disconcerted, that he could +scarcely muster up courage to join in his master's hilarity. "Were +those all the dangerous words he spoke--is this the charge of high +treason--'What would the council of the League say?' Poor Kraft! These +few words have brought your neck within a hair's breadth of the +executioner's sword. We have often heard our friends say, 'What will +folks think, when they hear the Duke is in the country again?' +therefore, I will not punish him. What think you of it, Sturmfeder?" + +"I know not what reason you could have had," said Albert, addressing +the chancellor, with anger beaming in his eyes, "to have pushed the +case to such lengths, and advised the Duke to these harsh measures; +which, instead of healing past grievances, would only cause the cry of +'tyrant' to be raised everywhere against him. If you have acted from an +overheated zeal of duty, you have this once surpassed the bounds of +discretion." + +The chancellor was silent, and satisfied himself by throwing a furious +glance at the young man. The Duke stood up, and said, "You must not +blame my little adviser for his zeal in my cause, which has perhaps +made him act with too much severity in this instance. There, take your +rose-coloured friend with you, give him a glass to expel his ghastly +fear, and then let him go wherever he will. And you, dog of a doctor, +as for you, who are not worthy of the title of dog doctor, a Wuertemberg +gallows is too good for you. You will be hung one of these days, so I +will not give myself the trouble to do it at present. Long Peter, order +your men to bind that fellow on an ass, with his face to the tail, and +lead him through the town, and thence let him be sent to Esslingen, to +his wise counsellors, to whom he and his beast belong. Away with him!" + +The features of the wretched doctor, who had hitherto sat in fear of +death, soon cheered up by this happy change in his fate; he breathed +more freely, and made a low bow. Peter, Staberl, and the Magdeburger, +laid hold of him with savage joy, hoisted him on their broad shoulders, +and bore him away. + +The scribe of Ulm shed tears of joy, and, impelled by gratitude, wanted +to kiss the Duke's cloak; but he turned away, and waved to Albert to +withdraw his friend. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + Stop! stay thy hand, and hear my prayer,-- + Ah, do not let it be: + You cannot, must not, will not dare + A deed unworthy thee. + SCHILLER. + +The scribe of the grand council of Ulm did not appear to have +sufficiently recovered from his state of terror to answer the many +questions his preserver put to him as they passed along the passages +and galleries. He trembled in all his limbs, his knees shook, and he +often looked back with a feeling of apprehension, lest the Duke should +have repented of his act of grace, and the unmerciful chancellor in the +yellow gown should sneak after him, and suddenly pounce upon him. +Having reached Albert's apartment, he sank exhausted in a chair, and it +was some time before he could collect his thoughts to be able to answer +his friend. + +"Your politics, cousin, had well nigh played you a sorry trick," said +Albert; "but what possessed you to set yourself up as a popular speaker +in Stuttgardt? And, above all, how could you think of quitting your +comfortable establishment in Ulm, the assiduous care of your old nurse +Sabina, and fly the vicinity of the charming Marie, to come here in the +service of the governor?" + +"Ah! she it was who sent me into the jaws of death; she is the cause of +all my trouble. Ah! that I had never left my dear Ulm! All my +misfortunes began with my first step over our boundary." + +"Did Marie persuade you?" Albert asked; "have you not succeeded in the +object of your desires? Has she discarded you, and did you out of +desparation--" + +"God forbid! Marie is as good as my bride; that's my calamity. When you +left Ulm, I had a dispute with Mrs. Sabina, the nurse which determined +me to demand Marie's hand of my uncle. I was accepted; but, the girl's +head being completely turned by your military mania, nothing would +satisfy her but that I must first encounter the dangers and hardships +of a campaign, and become a man like you. Not until then would she +marry me. Oh, merciful Heaven!" + +"So now you are formally in the field against Wuertemberg? What a bold +spirit that girl has!" + +"Yes, I am in the field; I shall never in my life forget what I have +gone through! My old John and I were obliged to march with the army of +the League. What pain and trouble? often compelled to ride eight hours +a day. My dress was disordered, everything full of dust and filth; my +coat of mail squeezed me to death. I could stand it no longer; and as +old John ran back to Ulm, I asked for a place as writer on the staff, +hired a litter and two stout horses to carry my baggage, which made my +case more bearable." + +"Then you were carried into the field like dogs to the hunt," said +Albert. "Have you been in an action?" + +"Oh! yes; at Tuebingen, I was in the thick of it. Not twenty paces from +me a man was killed as dead as a mouse. I shall never forget the fright +I was in, if I live eighty years. After we had perfectly subdued the +whole country, I was appointed to the honourable situation of secretary +to the governor in Stuttgardt. We lived quietly, and in peace, until +the restless Duke returned once more to disturb us. Oh! had I but +followed my own wish, and joined the representatives of the League at +Noerdlingen! but I feared the fatigue of the journey." + +"But why did you not depart with the governor when we arrived? He is +now quietly seated in Esslingen, until we hunt him out of it." + +"He deserted us shamefully," said Kraft; "and intrusted everything to +my head, which has nearly suffered for it. I had not the least idea the +danger was so imminent, and allowed myself to be seduced by Doctor +Calmus to speak to the people, and warn them against breaking their +oath to the League. Had I but succeeded, it would have made a noise in +the world, and I should have stood high in Marie's estimation. But the +Wuertembergers are barbarians, and void of all decent manners. They did +not even let me say a word, but threw me down, and treated me like a +common vagabond. Just look at my cloak, it is torn to tatters! I regret +it, for it cost me four gold florins, and Marie maintains that rose +colour becomes the complexion of my face to perfection." + +Albert scarcely knew whether to laugh at the folly of his friend the +scribe, or admire the stoical composure with which he lamented his torn +gown, when he had but a moment before narrowly escaped losing his head. +He was going to ask some other questions about his adventures, when an +extraordinary noise was heard under the window in the open space before +the castle; he looked out, and beckoned to Dieterich von Kraft to come +and witness a spectacle of fallen greatness. + +Doctor Calmus was being paraded through the town. He was seated on an +ass, with his face towards the tail. The lansquenets had dressed him +out in a ridiculous manner, with a painted leather cap, at the top of +which was stuck a large cock's feather. Two drummers led the +procession, on either side, the Magdeburger, Staberl of Vienna, the +late Captain Muckerle, and the brave general, marched with solemn pace, +every now and then pricking the animal with the ends of their halberts +to quicken his pace. An immense crowd of people swarmed around him, +pelting him with eggs and mud. + +The scribe looked down upon his unfortunate companion in distress with +pity, and sighed, "It's hard to be obliged to ride upon an ass in that +fashion, but it's better than being hanged." He turned from the scene, +and looked towards another side of the square. "Who comes here?" he +asked the young knight; "that's just the kind of thing I went to the +field in." + +His friend looked round, and perceived a train of travellers with a +litter in the middle. An old man on horseback brought up the rear of +the party, which now moved towards the castle. Albert observing them +more closely, cried out, in wild joy, "It's them! it's them! it is her +father, and she is in the litter!" One spring took him out of the room, +to the great astonishment of the scribe. "Who can it be? what father?" +said he. He returned to the window, and looking out, he saw the +cavalcade stop on the drawbridge, and in the same moment his friend fly +through the gate. Dieterich then observed him to open the door like a +madman, a lady in a veil stepped out of the litter, and when she threw +it back, to his great surprise he recognised his cousin Bertha von +Lichtenstein. "But only see; he kisses her in the public street," said +the scribe to himself, shaking his head, "I have never seen such joy +before! But, alas! there goes the father to the litter; what angry eyes +he will make! how he will stamp and swear! but no, he nods kindly to my +friend; he dismounts, he embraces him.--Well, that's very curious, I +must say!" + +The scribe could scarcely believe his eyes, and to convince himself +that he was not deceived, left the room, and went into the gallery, +where he perceived the old knight of Lichtenstein coming up the stairs, +leading Albert by his right hand, and Cousin Bertha by the left. He +thought a great alteration for the better had taken place in her +beautiful features, since the time they had made such a deep impression +on his heart, and still lived in his recollection. + +He had seen her for the first time in Ulm, when she appeared to him +like a messenger from a fairy land, so dignified was the expression of +her eyes, majesty sat upon her brow, and her whole countenance bespoke +a mind far above the common stamp of mortals. The scribe had often +puzzled his mind in the attempt to unravel the mystery by which she had +gained such influence over him. The damsels of Ulm possessed perhaps +cheeks fresher and more plump, eyes more lively, a more attractive +smile, and perhaps greater brilliancy of youth. But there was a +something in Bertha which he could not account for, which inspired him +with awe. Was it the dark eyelashes, which, like a veil, fell over her +eyes, and concealed the starting tear? Was it the delicately compressed +lip, upon which was encamped the expression of painful grief? or the +rapid change of colour upon her features, which appeared to betray +suffering of some acute feeling--perhaps of love? Marie's cheerfulness, +her easy manners, a certain art of teasing, which imparted life and +good will to all around her, had long since driven her cousin's image +from his heart; but now that he came again in contact with the +influence of the lady of Lichtenstein, poor Dieterich von Kraft felt +all his old wounds bleed afresh. What was the power which worked in so +different a manner upon his feelings was a question beyond his +comprehension. Though there was the same dignity, the same expression, +which commands the respect and admiration of the beholder, her eye was +now animated with placid joy, a pleasing smile played on her lips, and +her cheeks bloomed with unalloyed happiness. Dieterich von Kraft had +made these observations in speechless astonishment, when the old knight +first noticed him. "Do my eyes deceive me?" he cried, "Dieterich von +Kraft, my nephew! What brings you to Stuttgardt? Perhaps you come to +the wedding of my daughter with Albert von Sturmfeder? But how you +look! What's the matter with you? How pale and miserable your whole +appearance, and your clothes hang about your body all in rags! What has +happened?" + +The scribe eyed his rose-coloured gown in despair and dismay, and +blushed; "God knows!" he said, "I am ashamed to shew myself before any +decent person. These cursed Wuertembergers, these vine-dressers and +contemptible shoemakers, have mangled me in this way. Verily, and in +truth, the whole illustrious League has been attacked and insulted in +my individual person!" + +"You ought to be thankful, cousin, that it was no worse," said Albert, +as he led the travellers into his apartment; "only think, father, last +night, when we stood before the gates, he was exciting the burghers to +rebellion against us, for which the chancellor wanted to have his head +this morning. It was with very great difficulty I could persuade the +Duke to pardon him; and now he complains of the Wuertembergers having +torn his cloak." + +"With your gracious permission," said Mrs. Rosel, the old nurse, and +curtsied three times to the scribe, "if my assistance is agreeable, +I'll mend the gown, so that you shall not know it has been torn. The +proverb says, + + 'If the young man his new gown has torn, + The old woman can mend it fit to be worn.'" + +Dieterich von Kraft accepted the offer with many thanks. He retired to +a window with old Rosel, when she pulled out of her large leather +pocket all the necessary articles for the purpose of repairing his +damages. She entertained him upon the inexhaustible subject of +housekeeping, particularly upon the important science of dressing +certain dishes not to be found in Mrs. Sabina's catalogue of cookery. +At a distance from this couple, at the other end of the room, sat +Bertha and Albert, engaged in the confidential whisperings of love. +Neither Johannes Thethingerus, nor Johannes Bezius, neither Gabelkofer +nor Crusius, though we have to thank them for much important +information of old times, have mentioned what these two lovers had to +say to each other on that morning. Thus much we know, however, that +satisfaction rested upon Bertha's features, expressive of her joy at +the near approach of the happy moment to complete her union with +Albert. + +The reader will thank us if we lead him from a scene of so little +historical interest, and of which every one is supposed to know more or +less, to follow the path of the knight of Lichtenstein. Having left his +daughter to the care of Albert, and his nephew to the ingenious hand of +Mrs. Rosel, he himself repaired to the apartment of the Duke. Age had +imprinted on his countenance an air of gravity, which at this hour +appeared to have received an additional stamp of painful thought, +amounting almost to despondency. This man had inherited his love for +the house of Wuertemberg from his ancestors. Habit and inclination had +bound him to the sovereigns who had presided over Wuertemberg during the +course of his long life. The misfortunes and calumnies which, had been +heaped upon Ulerich, had not had the effect of shaking the faithful +heart of the old man in the Duke's cause. On the contrary, they tended +only to draw the ties of friendship tighter. With the joy of a +bridegroom who hastens to the wedding, and with the strength and +vivacity of youth, he undertook the long and fatiguing journey from his +castle to Stuttgardt, when he heard the Duke had taken Leonberg, and +had advanced to the capital. Having entertained no doubt of the Duke's +success, he was not deceived in his calculation, and he arrived at +Stuttgardt the morning after the establishment of the new authority. + +The news which Albert imparted to him as they proceeded up stairs, was +not calculated to excite the joy of the old man. "The Duke," he +whispered to him, "the Duke does not appear to be inclined to act with +prudence; God knows what his intentions may be respecting the +government of the country, for he let fall some extraordinary +sentiments on the road, which I fear will not be improved in the hands +of his chancellor, Ambrosius Bolland." The mere mention of this name +was sufficient to raise great uneasiness in the breast of the knight of +Lichtenstein. He was acquainted with Bolland; and though he knew him to +be expert, and particularly well versed in state affairs, and capable +of executing any intricate piece of service, yet he was a man who had +often played a deep, if not a false game. "Should the Duke give his +confidence to this man, and follow his council, may God be merciful to +him! The country is a mere bit of parchment in the eyes of Ambrosius, +to be turned and twisted according to his whim. He'll know how to shape +and fashion it preparatory to meeting the Duke's eye; but he'll keep +the pen in his own hand. But, as old Rosel would say, 'Any fool can cut +out; the art is to sew the garment together.'" Thus thought the knight +of Lichtenstein, in passing along the gallery. He seized his long white +beard in anger; whilst his heart beat with zeal in the cause of +Wuertemberg. + +He was immediately admitted to the presence of the Duke, whom he found +in deep; consultation with Ambrosius. The latter was seated, holding a +large swan's pen in one hand and a parchment in the other, which was +written over with black, red, and blue ink, in many neat columns. The +Duke was playing with a piece of sealing wax, which he held in his +hand; and appeared in a state of indecision, first casting a +penetrating glance at the chancellor, and then looking at the wax, as +if it were destined to seal some important document. They were both so +deeply immersed in their occupation, that Lichtenstein stood some +minutes in the room, contemplating with intense interest the noble +features of the Duke, without being remarked. The various sensations +which were agitating him were plainly visible upon his countenance and +in his expressive eyes. The frown upon his forehead, giving place in +rapid succession to a milder expression, bespoke a mind hesitating +between an act of severity and one of grace, whilst his companion, +presenting him with the pen which he held in his hand, sat before him +like the tempter. He turned and moved about like the serpent; and the +eternal hypocritical smile, which his little green eyes could with ease +convert into the expression of humility when his master looked at him +sharply, appeared to urge him to taste the forbidden fruit. + +"I cannot comprehend," said the chancellor with an insinuating tone of +voice, "why your Grace will not do it! Did Caesar hesitate to pass the +Rubicon? A great man must use strong measures. The present age and +futurity will laud your courage in having burst asunder the chains +which now bind your hands." + +"Are you so sure of that, Ambrosius Bolland?" replied the Duke, with a +look of doubt. "Will it not be said, Duke Ulerich was a tyrant: he +abrogated the old order of things, which was held sacred by his +forefathers; and, having broken the contract which he himself +established, treated his country as an enemy, and trod under foot the +laws which----" + +"Permit me," interrupted the other: "the only question is, who is to be +master--the Duke or the country? If the country is to govern, the case +is different; for then pacts, contracts, clauses, and such like, are +necessary. The nobles, clergy, and commons, would be the masters, and +your grace--a mere cypher; but if you hold the reins in your own hand, +and wield your own will unrestricted, from that moment you become the +source of all law. The sword is now in your hand,--you are lord and +master; therefore, away with the old law--here is a new one--take the +pen, and, in God's name, sign." + +The Duke remained some time in doubtful suspense, agitated between +conflicting struggles of conscience. At length, as if impelled by some +evil genius, he said, "Am not I Wuertemberg itself? the country and laws +are concentrated in my person--I will sign!" He stretched out his hand +to receive the pen from the chancellor, when he felt his arm arrested. +He looked around in surprise, and met the placid but stern eye of the +knight of Lichtenstein. + +"Ha! welcome, my faithful Lichtenstein; I will be ready to speak with +you instantly, only let me sign this parchment." + +"Allow me, your grace," said the old man: "having promised me a voice +in your council, may I look at the first ordinance which you are about +to issue to your country." + +"With your most noble permission," said Ambrosius Holland, hastily, +"delay were dangerous: the citizens of Stuttgardt are already +assembled, and it is requisite to read the proclamation without loss of +time." + +"The thing is not so very pressing, after all," said the Duke, "that we +cannot impart the contents to our friend. We have accordingly +determined," he added, addressing Lichtenstein, "to administer a new +oath of fidelity, making the people swear allegiance to us, under a +fresh contract and different laws. The old ones are null and void from +henceforth." + +"Is that your determination?" replied the knight of Lichtenstein; "and +have you maturely considered what will be the consequences of this act? +Did you not swear but a few years ago to the Tuebingen compact?" + +"Tuebingen!" cried the Duke with a terrible voice, his eyes flashing the +fire of indignation; "Tuebingen! mention that word no more! In that vile +city were centred all my hopes, my country, my children,--ha! and on +that spot was I betrayed and sold. I begged, I implored them to hold +out to the last; I was ready to share my property, my blood with them +in its defence; but no! they would not hear of Ulerich, nor listen to +his voice. They preferred the new order of things; they suffered me to +linger in the misery of banishment, and caused the name of Wuertemberg +to become the contempt and derision of all the world. But now that I am +lord and master again, with my sword in my hand, I'll not allow it to +be wrenched a second time from my grasp. If they have forgotten their +oath, by Saint Hubertus, my memory is also equally treacherous. The +Tuebingen compact, did you say? May dire necessity confound every thing +connected with that name!" + +"But recollect, your grace!" said Lichtenstein, staggered at this burst +of passion; "think of the impression such a step will make throughout +the country. At this moment you have only Stuttgardt and its +neighbourhood in your possession; whereas Urach, Asperg, Tuebingen, and +Goeppingen, have all Leaguist garrisons. Will the country people; stand +by you to drive them out, when they become acquainted with the new +ordinance to which they are to swear allegiance?" + +"I maintain it," said the Duke; "did the country stand by me when I was +forced to turn my back upon Wuertemberg? No! they saw me hunted down +like a wild beast, and sided with the League!" + +"Pardon me, my Lord Duke," replied the old man; "but that is not the +case. I recollect well that day in Blaubeuren. Who held to you on that +occasion, when the Swiss deserted you? who implored you not to leave +the country? who offered to sacrifice their lives in your cause? It was +eight thousand Wuertembergers! Have you forgotten that day?" + +"Ay-ay! most worthy sir," said the chancellor, who was aware what an +impression these remarks were likely to make on Ulerich; "ay! but +that's nothing to the purpose. Besides, we have not to legislate upon +what took place at that time, but upon the actual state of affairs. The +country has completely absolved itself of the former oath, by swearing +allegiance to the usurpations of the League. His grace is now to be +considered in the light of a new Lord, having subdued the country by +force of arms; and, therefore, as the League instituted their own +peculiar measures, the Duke has a right to follow their example. A new +Lord gives new laws. He has the privilege at all times to govern +according to his own will and pleasure. Shall I dip the pen in the ink, +gracious sir?" + +"Sir Chancellor!" said Lichtenstein, with a determined voice, "though I +have all possible respect for your learning and foresight, you advance +that which is positively false, and your counsel is dangerous. The +question now is, to ascertain who it is that the people love. The +League, by their violent measures, have estranged the public mind from +them; this was therefore precisely the most favourable moment for the +Duke to appear in the country, for all hearts are with him; but if you +repel the good feeling of the people by insidious measures, if you +attempt to destroy the ancient laws and institutions, and build upon +their ruins your own invented constitution, oh, beware! beware of the +consequences, and remember that the love of the people is the only +powerful support upon which you can rely." + +The Duke stood with folded arms, deep in thought, and made no answer. +With so much more warmth did the chancellor reply: "Hi! hi! hi! where +did you concoct that pretty little speech, my most worthy and highly +honoured sir? Love of the people, did you say? The Romans, in their +day, knew very well what that meant. Nothing but soap bubbles, soap +bubbles! I thought you possessed more acuteness. To whom does the +country belong? Here! here stands Wuertemberg, personified in the Duke! +it belongs to him, he has inherited it; and besides which, he has now +conquered it. The people's love? Bah! it resembles April weather! Had +it been so strong as you talk of, would they have sworn allegiance to +the League?" + +"The Chancellor is right!" cried the Duke, starting from his thoughtful +mood. "You may mean well, Lichtenstein, but this once you are in the +wrong. It was my forbearance which caused me to be driven from my +country; now that I am returned, they shall feel that I am the master. +The pen, Chancellor;--I say, it's my will and pleasure, and they shall +obey!" + +"Oh! my Lord!" said Lichtenstein, "do not commit yourself in the heat +of passion: wait till your blood cools. Assemble the states, make any +alterations in the constitution you may think proper--only not at this +moment--not as long as the League possesses a foot of land in +Wuertemberg. This rash act may prejudice your cause. Consent to a short +delay." + +"Indeed!" interrupted the chancellor, "and let them by degrees come +round to the old state of things? Do you suppose, when once the +representatives are assembled and talk over their affairs, they will +concede to your reform with good will? Hi! hi! force will be requisite +to compel them, and that's what will create hatred. Strike the iron +whilst it's hot. Or is it your grace's pleasure, to stand again humbly +under the yoke, and be forced to bend to circumstances?" + +The Duke did not answer, but snatching the pen and parchment +impatiently out of the chancellor's hands, cast a hasty and penetrating +look, first at him and then at the knight, and, before the latter could +hinder him, signed his name. Old Lichtenstein remained in speechless +consternation; his head sunk over his breast. The chancellor glanced a +triumphant look at him and at the Duke. Ulerich seized a silver +hand-bell, which was on the table, and rang violently. A page entered, +and asked his commands. + +"Are the citizens assembled?" asked the Duke. + +"Yes, your grace! they are assembled on the meadow near to Cannstadt. +Six companies of the lansquenet also are moving in that direction." + +"The lansquenet! Who ordered them?" + +The chancellor trembled when he heard this last question. "It was only +for the sake of keeping order," said he, "I thought of it, because in +such cases it is generally the custom to have armed men by way of +precaution----" + +The Duke waved to him to be silent. An expression in the look of the +knight condemnatory of this rash act, met the Duke's eye, and caused +him to blush. "It has been done without my permission," said he; +"but----if we now recall them, it would create suspicion. However, it +is of no great consequence. Bring me my red cloak and hat;--quick!" + +The Duke stept to the window, and looked out in silence. The chancellor +appeared uncertain whether his master was angry or not, and did not +venture to speak; whilst the knight of Lichtenstein continued wrapt in +deep anxious thought. They remained some time in this state, until the +entrance of attendants interrupted the silence. Four pages entered the +apartment, one carrying the cloak, another the hat, a third a gold +chain, and the fourth the military sword of the Duke. They robed him in +his ducal mantle of purple velvet, trimmed with ermine. His hat was +then presented to him, carrying the black and yellow colours of the +house of Wuertemberg in rich waving plumes, bound together by a clasp of +gold, set in precious stones, the value of which was worth a seigniory. +The Duke covered his head with his hat. His powerful figure appeared +more dignified in this dress than it did before, and his open majestic +forehead, with his brilliant eye sparkling from beneath the flowing +feathers, inspired awe in those around him. He desired the pages to +place the gold chain over his neck; then, buckling on his sword, gave a +sign to the chancellor to follow. + +The knight of Lichtenstein still uttered not a word. He had observed +these preparations with a troubled countenance, and turned away from +the scene. The Duke made a slight inclination of the head to his old +friend as he passed him in going towards the door, followed by the +strange figure of the Chancellor Ambrosius Bolland, who strutted with +magisterial step. He did not think it necessary to salute the old man, +his master not having done so, but satisfied his malice by casting a +crafty triumphant look at the spot where he was standing, accompanied +by a scornful smile, which played about his toothless mouth. The Duke +stopt on the threshold of the door, and, looking back, his better +nature appeared to get the mastery of him; he returned to Lichtenstein, +to the astonishment and confusion of the chancellor. + +"Old man, and faithful friend," said he, trying in vain to conceal a +deep emotion which agitated him, "you were my only friend in my +troubles, and I have experienced your tried fidelity on a hundred +different occasions,--proofs sufficient to convince me of your +attachment to Wuertemberg. I feel this step the most important of my +life, and, perhaps, the most hazardous; but where the stake is high we +must risk the more." + +The knight of Lichtenstein raised his venerable head, with tears in his +eyes. He seized Ulerich's hand, and said, "Remain, for God's sake! +follow my advice only this once! My hair is grey,--I have lived long, +and known and loved you since your thirteenth year." At this moment the +drums of the lansquenet sounded in the courtyard, the impatient +stamping of horses echoed through the vaulted halls, and the heralds +blew their trumpets to proclaim the taking the oath of fidelity. + +"Jacta alea esto! was Caesar's motto," said the Duke, with animated +countenance. "I am now going to cross my Rubicon. But give me your +blessing, old man,--advice is too late." + +The knight cast his eyes around, evidently suffering from intense +agony; his voice refused utterance to his feelings, and he pressed the +Duke's right hand to his heart in token of bestowing his blessing. The +chancellor, observing a momentary hesitation in the Duke to quit his +friend, stretched forth his long withered arm from under his cloak, and +pointed to the roll of parchment. He looked like the tempter who had +succeeded in dragging another victim after him in chains. Ulerich von +Wuertemberg tore himself away, and went to hear the oath of allegiance +administered. + + + + + CHAPTER XXX. + + No furnace ever blazed so bright, + Nor glow'd the burning brand + With half so powerful a light, + As love of fatherland. + _An old popular Song._ + +The apprehensions of the knight of Lichtenstein were not so totally +void of foundation as Ambrosius Bolland had represented them to be. A +large portion of the country had, indeed, joined the Duke, arising +partly from, the predilection of the people in favour of the hereditary +house of Wuertemberg, but in a great measure from the oppressions of the +League, who had forcibly compelled them to submit to their rule. Many +were, at first, induced to join his standard, and declare for +Wuertemberg, when they heard that victory followed Ulerich's path; but +the new oath of allegiance, by which all ancient laws were to be +abrogated, and the report that the refractory were to be compelled by +force to subscribe to these forms, had the effect, at least, of not +adding to the Duke's popularity,--a defect, in such doubtful +undertakings as the present, often felt too late to be remedied. Urach, +Goeppingen, and Tuebingen were still in the hands of the League, having +powerful garrisons in each. Dieterich Spaet, the Duke's bitterest enemy, +was established in Urach. He recruited so many men in a few days, that +he not only kept his district in subjection, but was enabled to make +incursions into the country which had submitted to the Duke. The report +was also spread that the assembly of the League at Noerdlingen had +separated, each member hurrying home to re-organize a fresh army to +meet Ulerich a second time in the field. + +The Duke, in the meanwhile, appeared nowise concerned in the midst of +the unsettled state of the country. Ambrosius Bolland was his sole +counsellor, with whom he transacted business with closed doors. Many +messengers were observed to arrive and depart, but no one could learn +what was going on. Judging from the Duke's cheerful mood, it was +thought in Stuttgardt that affairs were in a prosperous state; for when +he rode through the streets, followed by a brilliant suite, saluting +all the pretty females, and joking and laughing with his attendants who +rode by his side, every one said, "Duke Ulerich is as merry as he was +before the days of 'the Poor Conrad insurrection.'" He established his +court in its former magnificence. Though it was no longer the point of +reunion of the Bavarian, Swabian, and Franconian counts and nobles, nor +the gay assemblage of princesses who formerly attracted such a splendid +train of blooming beauties around them, there was still no lack of +handsome women and gay-dressed knights to adorn his court. The +atmosphere of the town appeared also to impart additional lustre to the +beauties of Stuttgardt at that time, for, when they congregated in the +saloons and halls of the castle, the assembly had more the character of +a select choice of the fairest belles of the land than one of ordinary +occurrence. + +The dance and tournament were re-established in all their former +spirit. Feast followed feast in such rapid succession that Ulerich +seemed to wish to make up for the time he had lost in the misery of +banishment. Not the least of these gay doings was the wedding of Albert +von Sturmfeder with the heiress of Lichtenstein. + +The old knight was some time before he could make up his mind to put +his promise into execution, not that he had any objection to the choice +of his daughter, for he loved his future son-in-law with the affection +of a father; he even felt his younger days revive again as it were in +his own person, and could not forget the disinterested sacrifice Albert +had made in sharing the exile of the Duke; but, like as the horizon of +Ulerich's affairs was enveloped in darkness, so was the old man's brow +clouded by anxious misgivings, apprehensive lest circumstances should +not long remain in the state they were. He was deeply hurt also that +the Duke, who gave his confidence exclusively to the crafty chancellor, +did not admit him to his council in the many weighty matters now in +agitation. Indecision and anxiety of mind, had caused him to put off +the day of joy; but, moved by the expressive eyes of his daughter, in +which he thought to read a gentle reproach, and the entreaties of +Albert, he at last consented to their importunities, and fixed a day, +to which the Duke acquiesced; but would allow of no one making the +necessary arrangements for the wedding but himself. Amidst the success +which had hitherto attended him, Ulerich did not forget those nights +when old Lichtenstein proved his attachment to him by his assiduous +attention to his wants, and when the delicate frame of his daughter +braved storm and cold to receive him at the gate of the castle, and +prepare warm food to cheer him when he came from the cavern. Neither +was the sacrifice which the bridegroom had made for his sake +obliterated from his memory. His noble mind was fully alive to the +fidelity, love, and sacrifices they had each so fully manifested, and, +therefore, he wished to prove his sense of gratitude to them. The +knight and his daughter had hitherto been his guests at the castle. He +now completely furnished a house for them near the collegiate church, +and, on the evening before the nuptials, he delivered the key of it to +the lady of Lichtenstein, begging her to make use of it whenever she +came to Stuttgardt. + +The day at length arrived,--a day which Albert had once thought far +distant, but to which his most longing desire had ever been, constantly +directed. When he rose on that morning he recalled to his mind all the +circumstances which had happened to him since his heart had been +engaged, and was astonished to think how differently things had come to +pass to what he could have at first imagined. Who would ever have +supposed, when he rode through the beech wood towards his home, that +the happiness of possessing his beloved Bertha was not so distant as he +then had reason to fear? When he joined the League's army, in +opposition to the Duke, the very last thing that could have entered his +mind would have been that this same man, his enemy at that time, should +be the instrument of completing his happiness! He could now contemplate +in cheerful serenity the agitations of those days when he, with +difficulty, stole a moment to whisper a word to his beloved for fear of +her father, the avowed enemy of the League, And he thought of that hour +in Marie's garden, the most painful he had ever experienced, when he +took leave of Bertha, thinking she was lost to him for ever, whereas +this day was to bind them eternally together. Every word she had ever +spoken to him rushed to his recollection,--he was wrapped in admiration +of her firm trust in Providence, who she was persuaded would order all +things to work for their good. Though at that time their hopes, their +prospects, were veiled in a dark uncertain futurity, she did not +despond, but inspired her lover with courage when they took their +parting embrace. + +The train of these thoughts was interrupted by a modest tap at the +door;--it was Dieterich von Kraft, who entered the room, dressed in his +very best. + +"How?" cried the scribe of the grand council of Ulm, and clasped his +hands in astonishment,--"How? I hope you do not intend to be married in +that jacket. It is nine o'clock already; the passages and stairs of the +castle swarm with wedding guests, shining in silks and satins, and you, +the principal performer in the piece, are looking unconcerned out of +the window, instead of preparing yourself for the happy event?" + +"There lies the whole concern," replied Albert, smiling, and pointing +to his dress on the bed, "cap and feathers, mantle and jacket, all of +the best quality and make; but God knows, I have not yet thought of +hanging the tawdriness on my back. This jacket which I have on is +dearer to me than all the rest; I have worn it in worse times, but +still in very happy days." + +"Yes, yes! I know it well; you wore it when you were with me in Ulm, +and I don't forget how jealous Marie made me when she described it to +me in glowing terms. But do you call that new dress tawdry? By Jove, I +should be happy to possess such smart things the rest of my life! Only +look at this white vest, embroidered in gold, and the blue velvet +mantle: I have never seen anything more brilliant! truly, your choice +has been made with great taste, and the dress matches the colour of +your hair to perfection." + +"The Duke presented me with it," said Albert, beginning to dress +himself; "it would have been much too expensive for my slender +finances." + +"The Duke is really a splendid man; and now for the first time since I +have been here do I perceive that we were too hard upon him in Ulm. +There is some difference between life in such a city as this and that +in our town. The court of the Duke of Wuertemberg sounds much grander +than the townhall of Ulm. Still I would not like to be in his skin; +you'll see, cousin, his fortunes will go down-hill again with him." + +"That's the burden of your old song, Dieterich: do you recollect how +big you talked about your politics at that time in Ulm, expatiating how +you intended to govern Wuertemberg? How stands the case now?" + +"Well, has it not turned out as I said?" replied the scribe, with a +sagacious look; "I recollect, as if it were but yesterday, that I +prophesied the Swiss would return home; that we should gain the hearts +of the country people, and that the citizens would open the gates to +us." + +"Yes, yes! and you helped to accomplish all this," laughed Albert, +"when you were carried to the field in a litter: but you also +prophesied that the Duke would never be able to return to his country, +and now you see he sits quietly and unmolested in his castle." + +"Not so quiet as you may think. For your sake and his, I wish with all +my heart he may hold his country. The war has done me no good, for the +great men take everything for themselves, only leaving us subordinates +the honour of having our heads cut off in the cause of the League. But +though I wish him success, believe me, his affairs are not in the +prosperous state you imagine. The governor and council who fled to +Esslingen upon your arrival have petitioned the Emperor and Empire for +assistance; the League is again in motion; and a fresh army is already +assembling at Ulm." + +"All talk,--nothing else," replied Albert; "I know for certain, that a +reconciliation may take place between the Duke and Bavaria." + +"Yes; but there is a great difference between _may_ and _will_ take +place: thereby hangs many a difficult crotchet to unravel. But what do +I see? you are not going to put that old rag of a scarf over your new +wedding dress? they will not match together, my dear cousin." + +The bridegroom regarded the scarf with a look of intense interest. "You +don't understand," he replied, "why I set such a value upon it. It was +Bertha's first present; she worked it secretly by night, in her room, +when the news came that she was soon to leave Tuebingen. It was my only +consolation when I was absent from her, and therefore I will not fail +to wear it on the happiest day of my life." + +"Well, do as you please, in God's name, wear it! And now put on your +cap, and be quick with the mantle, for they are beginning to ring the +bells of the church. Beware of making the bride wait too long!" + +The friendly scribe stood before the young man again, and minutely +examined his dress with the eye of a connoisseur. He drew a buckle a +little tighter here, he altered a plait of his mantle there, raised a +feather of his cap higher, and having satisfied himself that nothing +was wanting to adorn the person of the bridegroom, he thought his tall, +manly figure, his fine head, and animated eye, were worthy the love of +his pretty cousin. "I declare," said he, "you look as if you were +created especially for a bridegroom. I would like Marie to see you now; +poor girl, she would certainly be troubled with giddiness for a week! +But come, come; I feel proud in being your companion upon this +occasion, though I shall be fourteen days later in Ulm than I ought to +be." + +Albert blushed,--his heart beat quicker,--when he left the room. Joy, +expectation, the fulfilment of year-long wishes assailed his feelings, +as he followed his friend Dieterich through the galleries to the +apartment where the assembled company awaited his arrival. The doors +opened,--and Bertha stood in all the brilliancy of her beauty, +surrounded by many women and maidens, whom the Duke had invited to form +the nuptial procession. + +When she perceived her lover enter the room, and met his glance, modest +confusion spread a deep blush over her features, as she returned his +salutation. The intoxicating joy of this moment would have led Albert +to impress a morning salute of love upon her lips, but he was +restrained by the strict manners of the times upon such occasions to +observe a serious distant demeanour. A bride, according to etiquette, +was not permitted to touch the hand of the bridegroom before the priest +had joined them together, nor were they allowed to approach each other +within six paces. To look even exclusively at her future husband before +the ceremony was performed was deemed indecorous. She observed, +therefore, the precise rule of remaining with cast-down looks, modest +and demure, with her hands crossed before her. Such were the customs of +the olden times of the country. + +To any other person in a similar situation, the position in which she +stood might have imparted to the beholder a stiff and awkward +appearance; but as nature endows her choicest daughters under all +circumstances, whether in grief or joy, with a charm of interest which +attracts even the most superficial observer, so did Bertha, on the +present occasion, give to the restrained attitude of a bride in those +days, an ease and grace which elicited the admiration of the +surrounding spectators. The soft blush which rested on her features, +the smile playing about her delicate-formed mouth, the brilliancy of +her dark blue eyes, shooting their rays through the dark long +eyelashes, like the rising sun dispersing the morning mist, formed a +picture of unaffected loveliness, fit for the pencil of the artist. + +The Duke entered the room, leading the knight of Lichtenstein by the +hand. His eye rapidly passed through the circle of ladies, and he +decidedly gave to Bertha the palm of beauty. "Sturmfeder," said he, +taking him aside, "this day rewards you for many services. Do you +recollect that night, when you first visited me in the cavern, and did +not know who I was? Hans, the fifer, gave us a toast, 'the lady of +Lichtenstein, long may she bloom for you!' she is yours now, and what +is not less true, the toast you gave is also fulfilled, for we are +again established in the castle of our fathers." + +"May your grace enjoy your prosperity as long as I hope to be happy by +the side of Bertha. But I am indebted to your interference and kindness +for this day, for without it her father perhaps----" + +"Honour for honour!" interrupted Ulerich: "you stood by us faithfully +when we first set out to reconquer our country, and therefore we have +assisted you in gaining possession of your best wishes. We will +represent your father this day; and as such you will not refuse us to +kiss your beautiful wife on the forehead after church." + +Albert thought of that night when he was concealed behind the gate of +Lichtenstein, and overheard the Duke's conversation with his love. It +ended by his promise to remind her of his claim to a salute on this +day, to which she would not consent then. "Where you please," he +replied, "on her lips, if you prefer it, my Lord Duke; you have long +since merited it by your generous intercession." + +"Who is to accompany you to the altar?" said the Duke. + +"Maxx Stumpf and the Ulmer scribe, a cousin of Lichtenstein." + +"What, that smart little fellow, whose head my chancellor wanted to +have off? Well, then, on your left you'll be supported by the most +elegant of men; and on your right by the bravest in all Swabia. I wish +you joy, young man; but take my advice, and lean to him on the right, +rather than to the other; for if you have him for a friend, you need +fear nothing in the world, even if you were as jealous as a Turk. But +here comes the right one," he added, as the knight entered the room; +"look how his broad sturdy figure shews among the crowd; and how +splendidly he has dressed himself! He wore that old faded green mantle +at our wedding with Sabina Lobesau, A.D. 1511." + +"I don't understand much about dress," replied the brave knight of +Schweinsberg, catching the Duke's last words, "neither do I know much +about dancing, so you will excuse me; but if the bridegroom will break +a lance with me this evening in a tilt, I am his man!" + +"So you want to break a couple of his ribs out of pure tenderness and +courtesy," said the Duke, laughing: "that's what I call a bridegroom's +companion of the right sort. But stop, Albert; I would advise you to +hold to your left-hand companion now, for the Ulmer will do you no +harm." + +The folding doors were at this instant thrown open; when the persons +composing the Duke's court were seen stationed along the galleries. +Pages of honour led the procession, carrying long burning wax candles, +followed by a brilliant train of noble dames and maidens, who had been +invited to the ceremony. They were clad in rich stuffs, embroidered in +gold and silver, each carrying a large nosegay in one hand and a lemon +in the other. The bride was led between George von Hewen and Rheinhardt +von Gemmingen, followed by a numerous body of knights and nobles, with +Albert von Sturmfeder in the middle, having Maxx Stumpf on his right, +and the scribe to the Ulmer council, Dieterich von Kraft, on his left. +His whole bearing appeared to be animated by a spirit of elevated joy, +his eyes beamed with happiness, and his step was that of a conqueror. +His flowing hair, and the waving plumes of his cap, were conspicuously +prominent above the heads of those surrounding him. The crowd beheld +him as he passed with admiration, the men praising his tall, manly +figure and noble gait; and the young girls whispering to each other +their remarks upon his fine features and brilliant eyes. + +The procession proceeded in this way from the gate of the castle to the +church, passing through a broad open space which separated them. The +close-packed heads of the worthy citizens of Stuttgardt were all on the +stretch to get a sight of the bride and bridegroom as they passed, who, +judging by the murmur of applause and admiration which followed them +into the church, were flattered by the reception they received. + +Among the numerous spectators, a sprightly, plump countrywoman and her +daughter seemed particularly anxious to get a sight of the happy. +couple. The woman kept curtseying every moment, to the great amusement +of the surrounding citizens, who had only paid this attention to the +Duke and the bride. She kept up an earnest conversation with her +daughter at the same time, who, however, did not appear to heed much +what she said. Neither did she seem to be interested in the train of +females with their rich dresses, her anxiety being simply to get a +glimpse of the bride. As she approached, the young girl's cheeks +assumed a deeper red; her red bodice rose and sunk violently, her +beating heart appearing likely to break the silver chain with which it +was laced. She looked stedfastly at Bertha, and was apparently +surprised at the transcendant beauty of the bride, which caused her an +involuntary deep sigh. "That's her!" she cried, with peculiar emphasis, +hastily concealing her face behind her mother from the gaze of the +people about her, who looked astonished at her exclamation. + +"Yes, that's her, Barbelle; she is wonderful pretty," whispered the +round matron to her daughter, and made a low curtsey; "but now look out +for the gentleman." + +The girl did not appear to require that piece of advice, for her +attention had been long directed to the side whence he was to come. "He +comes, he comes!" she heard her neighbours say, "that's him in the +white vest and blue mantle, just before the Duke." She saw him; one +look only did she dare to cast at him; the blush on her cheek vanished; +she trembled, and a tear fell upon her red bodice. When he had passed, +she ventured to raise her head again, and look towards him; but it was +with an expression of countenance that appeared to indicate more than +mere admiration or curiosity. + +The procession having by this time entered the church, the spectators +crowded to the doors to get in; and in a moment the place which they +had occupied was empty. The countrywoman, however, still remained +looking at the smart dressed townsfolks, in admiration of their brocade +caps, jackets embroidered in gold, and short petticoats. The sight of +so much finery awakened in her mind the desire of possessing a dress of +the same splendour and shew, only she thought she would not have it cut +so low about the neck and shoulders. + +Upon turning round, she was startled to see her pretty child concealing +her blooming face under her hands. She could not conceive what had +happened to the girl; and taking her by both hands, and pulling them +down, she observed her weeping most bitterly: "What ails you, +Barbelle?" she said, somewhat angrily, but still not without interest, +"what makes you cry? did'nt you see him? you ought to be ashamed of +yourself! Who ever saw the like? I say, why do you cry?" + +"I don't know, mother," she whispered, trying in vain to stop her +tears; "I have such a pain in my heart, I don't know why." + +"Come, adone with it, I say! or we shall be too late in the church. +Hark! how they are playing and singing? Come along, or else I'll not +look at you again!" With these words she dragged the girl towards the +church. Barbelle followed; and covered her eyes with her white apron, +lest the townsfolk should laugh at her. But the deep sighs which she +was unable to suppress, made people think she was labouring under some +acute suffering. The sounds of the organ and chorus of voices ceased +just as they arrived at the entrance of the church. The round matron +was aware that the marriage ceremony was now to begin, and therefore +endeavoured to push her way through the crowd; but in vain, for as +often as she thought to squeeze her plump person into the body of the +church, she was sure to be pushed back again with abusive words. + +"Come, mother," said the girl, "let's go home. We are poor people, +they'll not let us in; come away." + +"What? the church is made for every one, poor or rich!" said her +mother, indignantly; "make a little room, if you please, we can't see +any thing!" + +"What?" said the man, whom she addressed, turning to her his +well-tanned face, with an immense bushy beard, "what! away with you! +we'll not let any one pass. We are his most gracious highness's +lansquenet; and our captain has ordered us not to let one soul of you +go up to the holy altar. _Morbleu!_ I am sorry to swear in the church; +but I say, away with you!" + +Staberl of Vienna, who was on the spot, interceded for the little girl, +but would not consent to her mother entering the church. "Come here, my +dear," he called her, "you can see very well here. There; now the +priest is putting the ring on her finger, and joins their hands. If you +will give me a kiss, I'll get you a better place;" and with these +words, without waiting for an answer, he stretched out his hand towards +Barbelle. She screamed aloud, and ran away, followed by her mother, who +vented imprecations on townsfolk in general, and the unmannerly +lansquenet. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXI. + + At last I hold thee in my arms, + My best beloved, my own! + Bestowed on me from war's alarms, + Preserved for me alone. + L. UHLAND. + +Duke Ulerich of Wuertemberg was fond of a good table, and when the glass +circulated freely in good society, he was not the first to give the +signal to break up. At the wedding feast of Bertha von Lichtenstein he +remained true to his habits. When the ceremony was finished in the +church, the procession returned to the castle much in the same form as +it entered, except that the bride and bridegroom walked hand in hand. +The company then separated, and wandered about the pleasure-garden of +the castle, where they amused themselves among the shrubberies and +artificial walks, some looking at the deer and roebucks in the +inclosures, others admiring the bears in the dry ditches. At twelve +o'clock the trumpets sounded to dinner, which was held in the +tournament-hall, a place large enough to entertain many hundred people. +This hall was the pride and ornament of Stuttgardt. It was full an +hundred paces long; one side of it, looking to the garden, was occupied +by numerous large windows, through which the cheerful rays of the sun, +piercing the many-coloured glass, illumined this immense apartment, +which, by its vaulted roof and numerous pillars, resembled more the +interior of a church than a place for festive joy. Galleries extended +round the three other sides, hung with rich tapestry, a space being +appropriated to the musicians and trumpeters, whilst spectators, +assembled to witness the princely feast, occupied the remainder. On +other occasions, such as when a tournament took place, these galleries +were set apart for the ladies and judges; when, instead of the clang of +drinking utensils, the hall resounded with the applauses of the +spectators, the heavy blows of swords, the cracking of lances, the +whizzing of spears, amidst the laughter and cries of the combatants. + +On this day a display of beautiful women and gallant men of all classes +had been invited to celebrate the nuptials of the Duke's friend and +favourite. They were seated around tables which groaned under loads of +good cheer. The fiddlers in the galleries flourished their fiddlesticks +merrily; the cheeks of the trumpeters were swelled to the fullest +stretch; the drummers' sticks beat heavily on their skins; and the +spectators who were admitted in the other part of the galleries, joined +chorus with shouting and hallooing when the company drank a toast. At +the upper end of the room sat the Duke upon a throne, under a canopy. +His hat was pushed off his forehead, he looked around him with an air +of satisfaction, and did not spare the bottle. On his right, at the +side of the table, sat Bertha, who was no longer obliged to submit to +the ceremonious restraint of cast-down eyes, and keeping at a +respectable distance from the bridegroom. Her glance and the expression +of her features bespoke happiness. She looked at her husband, who sat +opposite to her, and she could scarcely convince herself her being +actually a wife was not all a dream, and that the name she had borne +eighteen years was changed to that of Sturmfeder. She smiled as often +as she regarded him, for it appeared to her that he had already assumed +the direction of her conduct. "He is my head," she said to herself, +playfully, "my lord, my master!" + +And her thoughts were really verified, for Albert felt all the +importance and responsibility of his new position in society. It seemed +to him as if the young people already paid him more respect than +heretofore, and that the old knights treated him more upon an equality +since he had become the head of a family, and stood no longer alone in +the world. The notions in the good old times were somewhat different to +those in the present day respecting the marriage state, for the +designation of nobles and citizens was invariably supposed to include +that of wife and children, leaving the state of celibacy to monks +alone. + +The knight of Lichtenstein, Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg, and the +chancellor, were seated near the Duke, and the scribe to the Council of +Ulm was not far from them, being allowed that honour in consequence of +his having been the companion of the bridegroom at the wedding. The +eyes of the men soon began to sparkle from the effects of the wine, and +the cheeks of the ladies to assume a deeper red, when the Duke gave a +signal to his headman, and the dinner was removed. The poor people were +not forgotten on this occasion; as was always the case on similar +rejoicings, the remains of the dinner were taken to the court yard of +the castle, and delivered over to them. Pastry and fruit were next +brought in, and the wine jugs were replenished by a better sort of the +generous liquor for the use of the men, whilst Spanish sweet wine was +served to the ladies in small silver cups. This was the moment when, +according to the customs of the time, presents were presented to the +new-married couple: large baskets were placed beside Bertha to receive +them, and when the fiddlers and other musicians had re-tuned their +instruments, and began a solemn march, a long brilliant procession +moved forward in the hall. Pages of honour led the train, carrying +embossed gold tankards and female ornaments of jewelry, as gifts from +the Duke to the happy couple. + +"May these tankards," said Ulerich, addressing them, "filled with +generous liquor, circulate at the marriage feast of your children, and +remind you of a man whom both of you served with truth and fidelity in +his misfortune, of a Prince who in prosperity forgets not his faithful +friends." + +Albert was astonished at the value of the presents. "Your Grace's +generosity overpowers us," he replied; "love and fidelity claim no +reward but the approval of conscience, else they would be too often the +price of venality." + +"Yes, truly, unless they spring from a source unadulterated by the +alloy of all selfish motives, they are but pearls fit only to be thrown +to swine," replied the Duke, casting a look of reproof down the length +of the table. "We rejoice the more, therefore, to reward your +disinterested fidelity, when all seemed to be lost to us. But look, +your bride is in tears! I think I know their cause; they are produced +by the remembrance of our late painful fate, which I have now recalled +to her mind. But away with these tears; they are unpropitious to the +day of your wedding. With permission! of your husband," said he, +turning to Bertha, "I will now claim payment of an old debt." + +Bertha blushed, and cast an anxious look at Albert, fearing the +repetition of a liberty which had once highly offended her. He, +however, well knew what the Duke meant, for the scene which he had +witnessed behind the door was still fresh in his recollection. Amused +with the idea of rallying the Duke and his wife upon the subject, he +said, "My lord Duke, my wife and I being now one body and one soul, she +has my permission to liquidate the debt which I know she owes you." + +"Answered as a fine young fellow," returned Ulerich, goodnaturedly; +"and I have no doubt that many of our ladies here at table would have +no objection to require payment of a similar debt from your handsome +mouth; but my demand being addressed solely to the rosy lips of your +wife, it refers to her alone." + +With these words, he rose and approached Bertha, who looked at her +husband in a state of confusion and agitation. "My lord Duke," she +said, in a low tone of voice, and holding her head away, "I meant it +only in joke--I beseech you!" But Ulerich would not be deterred from +his purpose, and wrung his debt with interest from her pretty mouth. + +The knight of Lichtenstein during this scene looked angrily, first at +the Duke and then at his daughter, fearing his son-in-law might perhaps +take umbrage at the liberty, as Ulerich von Hutten had done in a +similar case. The chancellor appeared to enjoy a malicious pleasure +upon the occasion, at the expense, as he thought, of the young man's +feelings. "Hi! hi! hi! I'll empty my glass to your good health," said +he to him. "A pretty woman is an excellent petitioner in necessity; I +wish you prosperity, dear and most worthy sir;--hi! hi! hi! there is no +harm done in the presence of the husband." + +"No doubt of it," replied Albert, calmly; "and so much the more +innocent because I was present when my wife promised his Grace this +proof of her gratitude. The Duke himself proposed to intercede for us +with her father to make me his son-in-law, stipulating for this reward +on the day of our nuptials." + +The Duke started in surprise at these words, and Bertha blushed again, +when she thought of the scene which had occasioned the promise. Neither +of them, however, contradicted him, deeming it perhaps unseemly, or +rather impossible, to charge him with an untruth, or, what was more +likely, suspecting they had been overheard. + +The Duke could not forbear asking him aside how he came to know the +circumstance. Albert acquainted him with it in a few words. + +"You are a strange fellow," whispered the Duke, smiling; "what would +have been the consequence had I committed the trespass?" + +"As I did not know you at that time," replied the other as softly, "I +should have run you through on the spot, and hung your body on the +nearest oak." + +The Duke bit his lips and felt annoyed; but he took his friend's hand, +and said, "You would have been perfectly justified, and we should have +been justly carried off in our sins. But look, they are bringing more +offerings to the bride." + +The attendants of the knights and nobles who had been invited to the +wedding, appeared, carrying all kinds of curious household utensils, +stuffs for wearing apparel, and such like. It being known in Stuttgardt +that the feast was given in honour of the Duke's favourite, an embassy +of burghers, worthy respectable men, dressed in black, with swords by +their sides, short hair and long beards, had been appointed to offer +their presents and congratulations upon the occasion. One carried an +embossed silver goblet, another a large jug of the same metal +ornamented with inlaid medallions and filled with wine. They first +approached the Duke in great respect and bowed, and then turned to +Albert von Sturmfeder. + +The man who bore the goblet, having saluted the bridegroom with a +cheerful smile on his countenance, said: + + May joy attend the wedded pair, + And bliss increasing be their share! + Accept this gift from Stuttgardt's town, + And length of days your union crown. + 'Tis generous wine that cheers the soul, + So come, my comrade, fill the bowl. + +The other burgher then filled the goblet with wine from the jug he +carried, and whilst his companion drank it out, pronounced: + + A cask full stands before your door, + The best of Stuttgardt's wine in store; + And force of body, strength of soul, + Lie deep within the brimful bowl: + Then drain the cup and find them there, + So Stuttgard has obtained her prayer. + +Having finished his draught, and replenished the goblet, he repeated +the following lines: + + Be this your toast when you carouse, + "Long live the Duke and all his house." + Drain to the dregs, then, fill the wine, + "To Sturmfeder and Lichtenstein;" + And may we hope that, as you drink, + You will on Stuttgardt's burghers think. + +Albert gave the men both his hands and thanked them for their +acceptable presents; Bertha saluted their wives, and the Duke also +received them graciously. They laid the silver jug and the goblet in +the basket along with the other gifts, retiring respectfully and with +solemn step out of the hall. But the burghers were not the only ones to +tender their congratulations and manifest their regard for the Duke, in +this marked attention to his favourite. Scarcely had they taken their +departure, when a disturbance was observed at the door where the +lansquenet were on guard, which attracted the notice of the Ulerich. +Men's voices were heard swearing and ordering the crowd to obedience to +their commands, among which were mingled the voices of women, and one +in particular the loudest and most violent was recognized by some of +the company at the upper end of the table. + +"I declare that is the voice of our Rosel," whispered old Lichtenstein +to his son-in-law: "what can her business be about?" + +The Duke despatched one of his pages to find out the cause of the +noise, and received for answer that some countrywomen were trying to +force their way into the hall to present their gifts to the new married +couple in spite of the lansquenet, who would not permit them to enter, +only because they were common people. Ulerich gave orders immediately +to admit them, for, having been pleased with the conduct of the +burghers, he promised himself some amusement from the peasants. The +attendants having made room for them to pass, Albert, to his +astonishment, recognized the wife of the fifer of Hardt, and her pretty +daughter, led by her cousin, Mrs. Rosel. + +When he was passing from the castle to the church, he thought he +recognised the lovely features of the girl of Hardt among the crowd; +but more important considerations having engrossed his whole attention, +this fleeting apparition was obliterated from his mind. He acquainted +the company who the women were, and to whom they belonged. The girl +excited great interest, from her being the child of that man whose +marvellous actions in the service of the Duke had often been a subject +of mystery, and whose fidelity and assistance in time of need +contributed essentially to Ulerich's return to his country. The girl +had the fair hair, the open forehead, and much the same features of her +parent; but the sharp cunning eye, the bold and powerful bearing of the +father, were softened into a playful kindliness and natural gaiety +which shed a charm around the retiring modesty of his child. As such +Albert had known her, when he was in the fifer of Hardt's house, but +she now appeared disconcerted before so many persons of rank; it struck +him also that her countenance betrayed dejection and sorrow, feelings +he had not discovered before on her beautiful features. + +Her mother, knowing what good manners were, courtesied all the way up +from the entrance door till she arrived at the Duke's chair. The blush +of anger still rested upon the wan cheeks of Mrs. Rosel, who felt +herself highly aggrieved and insulted by the lansquenet, namely by the +Magdeburger and Casper Staberl, who had called her an old withered +stick. Before she could compose herself, and present the family of her +brother in respectful form to her master, the fifer's wife had already +taken the hem of the Duke's mantle and pressed it to her lips. "Good +day, my Lord Duke," she said, with deep reverence, "how are you since +you have been in Stuttgardt? my husband sends you his compliments. But +we don't come to the Duke, no, it is to the knight there," she added, +as if recollecting herself, pointing to Albert; "we have brought a +wedding present for his wife. There she sits, Barbelle, as large as +life." + +Mrs. Rosel, confounded at the unceremonious conduct of her +sister-in-law before such an august audience, checked her loquacity by +saying, "I most humbly beg pardon of your grace, for having brought +these people here,--they are the wife and daughter of the fifer of +Hardt; pray do not take it ill, your highness, the woman means well, I +assure you." + +The Duke was more amused with the excuses of Mrs. Rosel than with the +blunt language of her sister. "How is your husband?" said he to the +countrywoman, "will he visit us soon? why did he not come with you?" + +"He has his reasons, sir," she replied; "if war breaks out, he'll +certainly not stay at home, for then he may be of some use; but in +peaceable times, why he thinks it is not becoming to eat cherries with +great folks." + +The naivete of the plump matron almost drove Mrs. Rosel to desperation: +she pulled her by the petticoat, and by the long tails of hair, but to +no purpose. The wife of the fifer went on talking, to the great +amusement of the Duke and his guests, whose irresistible laughter, +which her answers elicited, appeared only to increase her happiness and +good humour. Barbelle in the meantime, playing with the handle of a +little basket she held in her hand, scarcely ventured occasionally to +raise her eyes to look at that face which she had beheld with such +tender sympathy when she nursed Albert during the long period of his +fever. The impression which those days had left on her mind still +remained in all its vigour, and the sight of him who had unawares made +an inroad into the recesses of her heart, made her fearful of meeting +his eye. She heard him say to his wife, "That is the kind girl who +nursed me when I lay ill in her father's house, and who conducted me +part of the way to Lichtenstein." + +Bertha turned to her, and took her hand with great kindness. The girl +trembled, and her cheeks assumed a deep blush. She opened her little +basket, and presented a piece of beautiful linen, with a few bundles of +flax, as fine and soft as silk. She attempted in vain to speak, but +kissing the hand of the young bride, a tear fell upon her nuptial ring. + +"Eh, Barbelle!" scolded Mrs. Rosel, "don't be so timid and nervous. +Gracious young lady,--I would say gracious madame,--have compassion on +her; she comes but seldom into the presence of quality folks. There is +no one so good who has not two dispositions, says the proverb; the girl +can be otherwise as merry and cheerful as larks in spring." + +"I thank you, Barbelle," said Bertha: "your linen is very acceptable +and very fine. Did you spin it yourself?" + +The girl smiled through her tears, and nodded a yes! to speak at that +moment appeared to her impossible. The Duke liberated her from this +embarrassment only to place her in another still greater. "The fifer of +Hardt has truly a very pretty child," he cried, and beckoned to her to +approach nearer, "well grown and lovely to behold! only look, +chancellor, how well the red bodice and short petticoat become her. +Could not we, Ambrosius Bolland, issue an edict for all the beauties in +Stuttgardt to adopt this neat dress?" + +The chancellor's countenance became distorted into a hideous smile: he +examined the blushing maiden from head to foot with his little green +eyes; and said, "Certainly, a very good reason could be given, by which +an ell might be spared in the length of petticoats, for, as your grace +a few years back ordered the weights and measures to be reduced, you +have also the right, by all the rules of logic, to shorten the dress of +females. But nothing would be gained by it, for--hi! hi! hi! you would +see that what was cut off from the bottom, our beauties would be +obliged to add above. And who knows whether the ladies would willingly +agree to that? They belong to the genus of peacocks, who, you know, +don't like to shew their legs." + +"You are right, Ambrosius;" the Duke laughed; "nothing escapes a +learned man! But tell me, my dear, have you got a sweetheart?" + +"Ah! what? your grace!" interrupted the round matron, sharply. "Who +would talk about such like things to a child! She is a very good girl, +your highness." + +The Duke paid no attention to this remark; he enjoyed the embarrassment +which was visibly manifest in the chaste features of the innocent girl, +who sighed softly, and, playing with the ends of the coloured ribands +of her plaited hair, sent an involuntary look to Albert, which seemed +to claim his kind offices in her present perplexity, and then suddenly +cast her eyes down to the ground. The Duke, alive to every thing that +was passing, laughed aloud, in which he was joined by the rest of the +men. "Young woman," he said to Bertha, "you may now with justice take +part in the jealousy of your husband; if you had seen what I just saw, +you might imagine and interpret all kind of things." + +Bertha smiled, and, sympathising with Barbelle in her embarrassment, +felt how painful the taunts of the men must be to her. Whispering to +old Rosel, she told her to take the mother and daughter away. The +Duke's sharp eye remarked this also, which his merry mood attributed to +jealousy on the part of Bertha. She however unclasped a beautiful +cross, set in gold and red stones, which she wore on her neck, attached +to a chain, and presenting it to the astonished girl, said, "I thank +you with all my heart, my dear Barbelle, for your kindness to my +husband; remember me to your father, and come often to us here and in +Lichtenstein. What say you, would you like to be in my service? I would +endeavour to make you happy, and you would live with your aunt Rosel." + +The girl was evidently perplexed at this unexpected proposal. She +appeared to combat her feelings, and an assent to it seemed to be +struggling through an innocent smile on her countenance, only to be +withdrawn again by some other contending feeling. "I thank you very +much, gracious lady," she at last uttered, and kissed Bertha's hand, +"but I must stay at home; my mother is getting old and wants my +assistance. May the Lord, with all his saints, watch over you, and the +holy Virgin be gracious to you! May you live in health and be happy +with your husband; he is a good, kind gentleman!" Bending down again to +kiss Bertha's hand, she then withdrew with her mother and aunt. + +"Hearken," called the Duke after them, "if your mother ever consents to +give you a husband, bring him to me, and I'll fit you out, my pretty +fifer's child!" + +By this time it was four o'clock, and the Duke rising from table was +the signal for the spectators to quit the galleries, which were +immediately furnished with cushions and carpets, and arranged for the +reception of the ladies. The tables were removed from the body of the +hall, when lances, swords, shields, helmets, and the whole apparatus +for tilting were brought in, converting this spacious apartment, which +had been but a moment before the scene of festive joy, into a place for +the exercise of manly games. + +In the present day the education of the fair sex gives them a superior +claim to intellectual knowledge and accomplishment over those of the +times we narrate. The interest they now take in learned discussion and +political argument, and the thirst for novelty which induces many to +crowd the rooms of the scientific lecturer, would seem, in some +instances, to intrude on the more important duty of domestic +employment. Not so was the time of the Swabian matrons and young women +occupied. The charge of the house was their sole vocation; but, upon +occasions such as the present, their delight was to witness the manly +exercise of men, whose bloody strifes were even not unwelcome to their +sight. Many a beautiful eye flashed with the noble desire of belonging +to a brave combatant. Deep blushes adorned many a cheek, not so much +from the fear of seeing her beloved in danger as to witness his retreat +from the scene of action, when it was attended with disgrace, or when +his arm wielded his sword less powerfully than his antagonist. + +Horses were even brought into the hall on this evening, and Bertha had +the joy to see her husband obtain a second applause for having made +George von Hewen stagger two different times in his saddle. Duke +Ulerich von Wuertemberg was the bravest combatant of his day, and an +ornament to the order of knighthood. History relates of him that, on +the day of his own wedding, he overthrew eight of the strongest knights +of Swabia and Franconia. + +After the tilting had lasted some time, the company adjourned to the +hall of the knights for dancing, when the victors of the different +games had the precedence in the ball, in all respects similar to the +one we have already described. The Duke appeared to have pinned all +anxiety and care of the future upon the hump of his chancellor, who sat +in a window like a demon of evil destiny, looking upon the surrounding +scene with bitter smiles. Raging under an envious feeling of spite, by +being debarred from joining in the pleasures of the evening in +consequence of the deformity of his person, he remained in his position +in sullen silence. + +At the end of the last dance Ulerich, the crown of the feast, proposed +a parting toast to the young and beautiful bride, but neither he nor +Albert could find her in any part of the room. The whisperings and +smiles of the ladies betrayed the secret of her having been led away by +six of the handsomest maidens, who accompanied her to her dwelling, +and, as the custom of those days would have it, to perform the +mysterious services of waiting maids. + +"Sic transit gloria mundi!" said the Duke, smiling; "but look, Albert, +your nuptial companions, with twelve others, are approaching with +torches to illumine your path home. But first empty a goblet with us. +Cupbearer, go bring us some of our best," he added, addressing the +attendants. + +Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg and Dieterich von Kraft now drew near with +torches in their hands, and offered themselves to conduct Albert to his +house. Twelve young men followed, each with a torch, to do honour +likewise to the bridegroom, for that was also the ceremony used on such +occasions. The Duke's cup-bearer brought a full goblet of wine, when +having, according to custom, first tasted it himself, he presented it +to his master, and then to Albert von Sturmfeder. + +Ulerich looked at his friend for a time, evidently moved by a feeling +of affection for him. "You have kept your word," said he: "when I was +deserted by all the world, dwelling in misery under the earth, you made +yourself known to me, when those forty traitors surrendered my castle, +and not a spot of Wuertemberg was left that I could call my own. You +followed me out of the country,--you often consoled me and pointed to +this day. Remain, my friend, for who knows what the next day may bring +forth. I can now command hundreds who will cry, 'Long live Ulerich!' +nevertheless, that shout is far less dear to me than the toast which +you gave me in the cavern, and which was re-echoed through its vaults. +I'll repeat it, and give it you back again. May you live happy with +your wife,--may your offspring blossom and prosper for ever,--and may +Wuertemberg never fail in hearts as bold in prosperity and faithful in +adversity as yours has proved itself!" + +The Duke drank, whilst a tear glistened in his eye. The guests cheered +and shouted his praise,--the torch-bearers arranged themselves in +order,--and Albert von Sturmfeder, led by his two companions, and +followed by the rest, was conducted in procession out of the castle to +the house of his bride. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXII. + + Hast thou not seen by times the cloudless sky + Sudden illumined by the lightning flash, + And its still, still silence, broken horribly + By the loud music of the thunder crash? + To this we might man's happiness compare,-- + To day 'tis present, and to-morrow----where? + SCHILLER. + +The path which the most celebrated novelists of our days generally +tread, in their relation of events of ancient and modern times, may be +found without the aid of any beacon, and has a direct and fixed +limit:--it is the journey of a hero going to a wedding. Let the road be +ever so rugged, let him even venture to loiter his time improvidently +and inconsistently on his way, he will be induced in the end to hasten +his steps so much more rapidly to redeem the lost ground; and so, when +an author has at length conducted his reader to the bridal chamber, +after having made his hero undergo all the necessary fatigues of his +journey with becoming fortitude and resolution, he shuts the door in +your face, and closes the book. We might in the same way have ended our +story with the gay doings in the castle of Stuttgardt, or included the +reader in the torchlight procession of the bridegroom, and conducted +him out of our book; but the higher claims of truth and history, +together with the interest we have taken in some of the leading +characters, compel us to request the reader's patience to accompany us +a few steps further, beyond the limit of the bridal-chamber. He will +have to bewail with us the destiny of one, who, having begun his career +in the midst of misfortune, progressively advanced towards the +completion of his best wishes by the energy of his noble mind, until at +length his impetuous spirit hurled him again into the depths of misery. +His headstrong obstinacy had well nigh involved all his friends in his +own sad fate: one alone of them, whose sense of gratitude had +indissolubly attached him to the fortunes of his benefactor, preferred +rather to risk his life in his service than to desert him in the hour +of distress. + +Nature's warning voice, which teaches us to be prepared against a +reverse of fortune in our happiest days, runs through the world's +history. It is acknowledged by the many, unheeded by the majority, and +followed by the few. In all times a troubled spirit has pervaded the +habitations of our earth; and, though its influence has been often +felt, man has vainly thought to deaden it in the noise of mirth. +Ulerich von Wuertemberg had heard this warning voice many a night, when +he lay on his couch sleepless from a troubled mind. Often times he had +started up, thinking he heard the noise of armed men, or the heavy +tread of an army approaching nearer and nearer the spot; and, though he +convinced himself it was but the night breeze playing through the +towers of his castle, a fearful impression still haunted his mind, that +his fate was destined to some other awful change. The warnings of his +old and tried friend Lichtenstein would often whisper its voice to his +mind; in vain he sought to smother it by calling to his aid the artful +advice of his chancellor, by which he tried to palliate his own conduct +and quiet his conscience. But that faithful monitor upbraided him with +having acted without due circumspection and caution since his return to +his capital. His enemies, it was well known, had re-assembled a +powerful force, with which they threatened the country, and were +approaching into the heart of Wuertemberg. The imperial town of +Esslingen presented itself as a very favourable starting point for +their undertakings; being but a short distance from the capital, nearly +in the centre of the country: as soon, therefore, as the army of the +League could open its communication with it, it became a formidable +stronghold, to favour and cover their incursions into Wuertemberg. The +country people in many places received the Leaguists favourably, for +the Duke, by his new regulations, which he had made them swear to, had +rendered them distrustful of his intentions. The Wuertembergers, from +time immemorial, being attached to ancient customs and privileges, +handed down through successive generations, regard their old laws and +ordinances as so many golden words, though they may scarcely understand +their import, or seldom consider whether some reform would not be +advantageous. + +The peaceable character of the peasant, generally so universal +throughout the country, fostered by the tranquil occupations of +domestic and agricultural affairs, would lead to a supposition that +political strifes were subjects indifferent to their minds; but it was +far otherwise: on the occasion of any change or reform in the usages of +their ancient laws and customs, which interfered with their ideas of +government, they manifested an obstinate caprice, with an ardour and +enthusiasm quite out of keeping, and foreign to their ordinary +inoffensive dispositions. + +The Duke had experienced this love of old institutions in his people, +when he some few years back, by the advice of his council, for the +purpose of bettering his finances, made an alteration in the public +weights and measures. An organised insurrection of peasants, entitled, +"The League of Poor Conrad," had made him reflect, and caused the +Tuebingen compact, which restored the old law, to be introduced. This +feeling of attachment to long standing habits was also manifested +towards him personally in a very touching manner, when the League +entered the country with the intention of expelling the head of the +ancient house of their prince. Their fathers and grandfathers having +lived under the sway of the Dukes and Counts of Wuertemberg, they were +filled with dismay and consternation, when a foreign army entered their +country to deprive them of their hereditary prince. Their hatred and +revenge was excited against the League and their governors; and, though +they were compelled by force to submit to their rule, they proved their +love to their Lord in many instances of violence towards his enemies. + +When their hereditary prince, therefore, a Wuertemberger, first +returned from exile, the people flocked around him, under the +impression that affairs would go on as heretofore. Under his sway they +were willing to pay the taxes, to redeem all the state debts, and +perform the service done in soccage. There was no murmuring about hard +treatment, provided it was done according to ancient usage, and by +their legitimate master. But now, the old laws having been expunged by +the new oath of fidelity to which they were called upon to swear, the +taxes being no longer levied according to old custom, and the whole +system being changed, it was no wonder that the people looked upon the +Duke as a new master, foreign to their habits, and loudly demanded a +return to former rights. They consequently lost all faith in him; not +because his hand lay heavier upon them than heretofore; not because he +required considerably more from their purses than formerly, but because +they regarded the new order of things with a suspicious eye. + +A prince, particularly when he lends his ear to such a man as Ambrosius +Bolland, seldom learns the true tone of public opinion, and therefore +cannot judge whether the measures which his council place before him +have been wisely considered. In the present instance, however, the +discontent of his people did not escape the penetrating eye of the +Duke. He remarked, that he could no more depend upon them, in the event +of an extreme difficulty, than he could upon the nobility of the +country, who, since his return, had remained neutral spectators of the +state of affairs. + +He endeavoured to screen from public notice the uneasiness which these +observations caused him; and for this purpose he assumed an extravagant +tone of gaiety, which often succeeded to blind himself, and make him +forget the precipice upon which he stood: and for the sake of +instilling confidence into the people, and into the army which he had +assembled in and about Stuttgardt, he determined to revenge himself +with double interest upon the League, for the depredations they had +committed in excursions from Esslingen. He beat and repulsed them +indeed, and wasted their territory; but when he returned in victory +from his expedition, he could not conceal from himself, that, +considering his own slender resources, the fortune of war might go +against him, when once the army of his enemies should be brought into +the field. His apprehensions were soon verified; for the rapid advance +of the League's troops towards the capital threatened the stability of +Ulerich's present doubtful position. Upon the turn of a battle, which +now seemed inevitable, depended his very existence. + +Little or nothing was known in Stuttgardt of a summons which had been +sent to the Duke from the League. The court lived in its usual round of +gaiety; tranquillity and joy reigned in the town; when all of a sudden, +on the 12th, of October, the lansquenets which the Duke had encamped +near Cannstadt, a short distance from the capital, came into the town +in confusion, with the intelligence that they had been driven in by a +large force of the League. The inhabitants of Stuttgardt were now +convinced that an important crisis was at hand; they conjectured that +the Duke must long since have been aware of this threatening attack, +for he immediately assembled his officers, drew in his troops, which +were scattered about in quarters in the villages surrounding the +capital, passed his army in review, amounting to upwards of ten +thousand men, on the same evening; and in the night marched with a +large body of infantry, to reinforce the posts which a division of the +lansquenet still occupied between Esslingen and Cannstadt. + +The departure of all the men, young and old, who could carry arms, +caused many a beautiful eye to weep that night, when they marched out +of Stuttgardt with the Duke, to the field of battle; but the wailing of +the women and young maidens was drowned in the warlike noise of the +marching army, resembling the sobs of a child amidst the raging of the +elements. Bertha's grief, though almost overpowering, was silent, as +she accompanied her husband to the door, where his servants awaited him +and her father with their horses. They had enjoyed the first days of +their marriage alone and in quiet, mutually engaged in the affectionate +offices of each other's happiness. Dreaming little of the future, they +thought themselves safe in the haven of uninterrupted love; and whilst +they lived but for themselves, the whisperings, the mysterious +disquietude which agitated the public mind, were unheeded by them. +Having been long accustomed to see the knight of Lichtenstein serious +and thoughtful, they did not attribute the alteration which his +features had of late assumed, to any cause beyond the natural anxiety +he was known to feel in the present state of the Duke's affairs. +Neither did they, for the same reason, apprehend any immediate disaster +to disturb their happiness, although they remarked a certain air of +fearful anticipation and despair which at times clouded his brow. The +old man witnessed the happiness of his children, and participated in +it; and, not wishing to interrupt their bliss unnecessarily, he +concealed from them his uneasiness upon the state of affairs; but at +length the threatening crisis approached. The Duke of Bavaria had +advanced into the heart of the country, and the call to arms startled +Albert out of the embrace of his beloved wife. + +Nature had gifted her with a strength of mind, and a superiority of +character, which entered into every transaction of her life, and exists +only in that purity of soul which commits its dearest interests into +the hands of a higher Power, with implicit confidence. Aware of what +was due to the honour of her husband's name, and the relationship in +which he stood to the Duke, she repressed her grief, and the only +sacrifice which the infirmity of her nature offered for the many +dangers to which her beloved husband would necessarily be exposed, was +an involuntary flood of tears. + +"I cannot believe, dearest Albert, that we are never to see each other +again!" she said, whilst a forced smile illumined her beautiful face: +"we have but just begun to live; heaven will not cut us off in the bud +of a happy existence; I can, therefore, part from you in tranquillity, +in the conviction that you will soon be restored to me." + +Albert kissed her soft weeping eye, which dwelt upon him so full of +tenderness, and whose glance inspired him with consolation and +fortitude. In this distressing moment he thought not of the danger he +was going to encounter, his only concern was the consideration of the +affliction of the beloved being he held in his arms, should he be left +on the field of battle. The mere thought of the painful existence she +would then lead in solitude, and in the remembrance of the few days of +their bliss, unmanned him. He pressed her in his arms, as if to drive +away these agonizing ideas from his mind; he gazed with intense love +upon her endearing eye, seeking to obliterate the heart-rending +feelings of the moment; but his heart, though rent by the afflicting +struggle of separation, was inspired with hope and confidence. He at +length forced himself from her embrace. + +The two knights joined the Duke at the gate leading to Cannstadt. The +night was dark, only enlivened by the dim light of the first quarter of +the moon and the host of stars. Albert observed the Duke to look +gloomy, and wrapped in deep thought. His eyes were cast down, as if to +avoid observation, and he rode on in profound silence, after he had +saluted them hastily with his hand. + +There is something peculiarly solemn and striking in the night march of +an army. By day, the sun, a cheerful country, the sight of many +comrades, the change of scenery, invite the soldier to beguile time by +conversation and the merry song; and, because outward impressions +forcibly engage the attention, little is thought among them of the +object of the march, of the uncertainty of war, or of futurity, which +is veiled to no one more than to the military man. Very different is a +march by night. The hollow sound of the tread of the troops, the +regular pacing of horses, their snorting, the clatter of arms, only +break the stillness of night, whilst the mind, no longer able to dwell +on surrounding objects, impressed by these monotonous sounds, becomes +thoughtful and serious; joking and laughter cease to cheer the march, +loud talk sinks into whispering, and thought, no longer occupied with +indifferent subjects, is taken up with speculations upon what is likely +to be the result of the campaign. + +Such was the complexion of the march of that night, gloomy, and +uninterrupted by any shout of animating joy. Albert rode by the side of +the old knight of Lichtenstein, occasionly casting an anxious look at +him, for he sat in his saddle as if bent down by grief, with an +expression of thoughtfulness on his countenance, more strongly marked +than he had ever noticed before. Animation seemed almost suspended, and +nothing gave indication of life in him, but an occasionally deep-drawn +sigh, or when his keen eye was raised in contemplation of the pale +moon. + +"Do you think we shall have a skirmish tomorrow?" whispered Albert to +him, after a time. + +"Skirmish!--we shall have a battle," was the short answer. + +"How! do you really believe that the army of the League is strong +enough now to attempt to stand its ground against us? It's impossible! +Duke William must have possessed wings to have brought up his Bavarians +so soon, and we know that Fronsberg is still undecided as to his +intentions. I don't believe they have many more than six thousand men." + +"Twenty thousand," answered the old knight, in an under tone of voice. + +"By heavens! I had no idea of that," replied the young man in +astonishment. "We shall certainly have hard work, if that be the case; +but we have well trained and experienced troops, and the League's army +cannot boast of an eagle eye compared to the Duke's, not even excepting +Fronsberg's. With such an advantage on our side, do you not think the +chances are in our favour?" + +"No," was the answer of the old man. + +"Well, I'll not give up all hope. We have also a still greater +advantage in our cause: we fight for our country, whereas the views of +the League are mercenary. That circumstance alone will inspire our +troops with courage. The Wuertembergs will defend their father-land." + +"That is just what I least depend upon," answered Lichtenstein. "Had +not the Duke been obstinate in forcing the country to swear to the new +oath of allegiance, the case would be far different, he would have had +the hearts of the people with him; but now, force alone compels them to +fight under his banners. The result is dubious." + +"I admit what you say to be true, and that the Duke has lost much by +the imprudence of his measures," replied Albert; "but I have great +faith in the honest patriotism of the Swabians, and, in spite of +everything he has done, they will not desert their hereditary Prince in +the hour of need, and in the defence of his lawful rights. Where do you +think we shall meet the enemy? Where shall we take up a position?" + +"The lansquenets have thrown up a few redoubts at Untertuerkheim, +between Esslingen and Cannstadt, and have three thousand five hundred +men there; we shall join them tonight." + +The old man was silent, and they rode on for some time side by side, +without speaking. + +"Hearken, Albert!" he began again; "I have often looked death in the +face, and am old enough not to fear to stand in such a predicament +again. We are all liable to the common lot of mortals. If anything +happens to me, console my dear child, Bertha!" + +"Father!" cried Albert, grasping his hand, "pray do not think of such +things; you will still live long and happy with us!" + +"Perhaps so," replied the old man, with a firm voice, "perhaps not. It +were folly in me to beg of you not to risk yourself too much in the +battle; you would not follow my advice; but I pray you to think of +your young wife, and do not rush into danger blindly, and without good +reason. Promise me this." + +"I promise! here is my hand; where duty calls me, I cannot shrink from +it; unnecessarily I'll not expose myself; but you, also, my dear +father, must give me the same promise." + +"We'll not talk about that at present. If I, by chance, am called out +of this life to-morrow, my last will, which I have placed in the Duke's +hands, will be fulfilled. Lichtenstein will pass into your possession, +and you will be invested with the property. My name will die with me in +the country; may yours live in its remembrance so much the longer!" + +The young man was overcome at these last words of his high-minded, +venerable father: he endeavoured to answer him, but the rush of painful +thoughts to his mind prevented all utterance. A known voice at the +moment called him by name. It was the Duke's. He pressed the hand of +his wife's parent, and rode in haste to Ulerich. + +"Good morning, Sturmfeder!" said the Duke, who appeared more cheerful; +"I say good morning, for I hear the cock crow in the village. How did +you leave your wife? was she very much overcome when you last saw her?" + +"She wept," answered Albert; "but she uttered not a word of complaint." + +"Just like her, by Saint Hubertus! we have seldom seen so much +fortitude in a woman. If the night were not quite so dark, I would like +to see in your eye whether your heart is tuned to the battle, and if +you are inclined to close with the Leaguists?" + +"Show me but the path I am to follow, and you'll not find me swerve +from it, though it lead into the thickest of the battle. Does your +grace imagine, that, during the few days of my marriage, I have so +totally forgotten the lesson I learnt of you, namely, never to lose +courage in prosperity or adversity?" + +"You are right--impavidum ferient ruinae; we expected nothing less +from our faithful banner-bearer; but another must perform that office +to-day. I have selected you for a more important service. You will take +these hundred and sixty cavalry by our side, choose one of them to show +you the way, and trot on direct to Untertuerkheim. It is possible the +road may not be open, as the Leaguists from Esslingen may have come +down to dispute the passage with us. How would you act under such +circumstances?" + +"I would throw myself with my hundred and sixty horsemen among them, +and cut my way through; that is to say, if their whole force were not +in the neighbourhood. If I found them too strong, I would cover my +position, until you came up with reinforcements." + +"You have well said, spoken like a valiant swordsman, and if you deal +your blows as heavily on them as you did on me at Lichtenstein, you'll +cut through six hundred Leaguists. The people I have given you are +staunch. They are composed of the butchers, saddlers, and blacksmiths +of Stuttgardt and the surrounding towns. I know them in many a hard +fight. Brave, and able to sever the skull down to the breast bone, they +will follow you, sword in hand, wherever you may lead them, when once +they are well inclined towards you; let them have but one good blow at +the brain, no doctor's hand need attempt a cure. That's the right sort +of Swabian cut." + +"Am I to take post at Untertuerkheim?" + +"You will find there the lansquenet under George von Hewen and +Schweinsberg encamped on a hill. The watchword is, 'Ulerich for +ever!' Tell them they must keep the position till five o'clock; before +day-break I shall be with them with six thousand men, and then will +await the Leaguists. Farewell, Albert!" + +The young man returned the salute by bowing respectfully, and putting +himself at the head of the gallant band, trotted down the valley with +them. The men were powerful figures, broad shouldered and well limbed, +whose animated fearless looks beheld their young leader with +satisfaction, as he placed himself in their front, and appeared +honoured by his command. Having run his eye rapidly through the ranks, +he selected one whose penetrating eye and intelligent countenance +seemed to point him out as the fittest person to act the part of guide. +He immediately called him to his side, and gave him the necessary +directions. They approached the foot of the Rothenberg, on the summit +of which stood the hereditary castle of the house of Wuertemberg, +commanding an extended view over the valley of the Neckar. It was but +faintly illumined by the glimmer of the stars, and Albert could not +distinctly distinguish its form, though he kept his eyes fixed upon its +towers and walls. He recollected that night in the cavern, when the +Duke spoke in sorrow of the castle of his ancestors, and described the +country seen from its towers as abounding in corn, wine, and fruit, all +of which he once could call his own. The young man sank into reflection +upon the unhappy fate of the Duke, which now again appeared to contend +with him for the possession of his patrimony. He dwelt upon the +extraordinary mixture in his character, the foundation of which was +truly great, but was too often disturbed by rage, malice, and unbending +pride. "If you look between those two trees, you will be able to +distinguish the points of the towers of Untertuerkheim," said the man, +who was conducting him on the road. "The road is much more level now, +and if we push on, we shall soon be there." + +Albert spurred his horse, and the rest following his example, soon +gained sight of the village. A double line of lansquenet was stationed +outside of it, who at their approach presented their halberds in +fearful array, whilst the red glimmer of burning matches was seen +scattered about in many points, like the glow-worm sparkling in the +night. + +"Who comes there?" cried a deep voice from the ranks: "Give the +watch-word!" + +"Ulericus for ever," answered Albert von Sturmfeder: "who are you?" + +"Good friends!" answered Maxx Stumpf Schweinsberg, stepping out of the +ranks of the lansquenet, and riding towards the young man. "Good +morning, Albert; you have kept us waiting somewhat long. We have been +all night upon our legs, anxiously expecting a reinforcement, for in +the wood there over against us it does not look pleasant, and if +Fronsberg had been aware of his advantage, he might have overpowered us +long ago." + +"The Duke is coming up with six thousand men," replied Sturmfeder, "and +will be here in two hours at furthest." + +"Six thousand only, did you say? by Saint Nepomuk, that's not enough! +we have but three thousand five hundred here, so that all we can muster +in the field will make little more than nine thousand. Are you aware +that the Leaguists are over twenty thousand strong? What artillery does +the Duke bring with him?" + +"I don't know--it was only just arrived when we departed," replied +Albert. + +"Well, come, and let the men dismount, and take some rest," said Maxx +Stumpf; "they'll have work enough this day." + +The cavalry dismounted, and laid down to rest. The lansquenet also were +permitted to fall out of their ranks, leaving strong piquets on the +heights, and on the Neckar. Maxx Stumpf gave all the necessary +directions for the remainder of the night; and Albert von Sturmfeder, +rolling himself in his cloak, also laid down to repose himself from the +fatigues of the past twenty-four hours, and refresh himself for the +coming strife. The stillness of the morning, broken only by the +monotonous tone of the sentry's call, soon lulled him to sleep, with +the last thought directed in prayer to God, into whose hands he +resigned himself and his beloved wife. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXIII. + + Enveloped in the smoke, + Both man and horse are hidden; + Away they now have broke, + Now down the hill have ridden: + Across the Neckar springs the steed so good, + And in the valley is the fight renew'd. + G. SCHWAB. + +Albert was roused a little before break of day by the roll of drums, +calling the little band to arms. A small border of light was visible on +the horizon, the advanced guard of day, when the troops of the Duke +were seen coming up in the distance. The young man put on his helmet +and armour, mounted his horse, and, at the head of his men, waited to +receive the Duke. The stern features of Ulerich had lost none of their +thoughtful expression, though all traces of gloom had disappeared from +them. From his eyes beamed a warlike fire, and his countenance bespoke +courage and determination. Clad entirely in steel, he wore a green +cloak, trimmed with gold, over his heavy armour, whilst the colours of +his house waved in the large floating plumes of his helmet. The rest of +his dress differed in nothing from that of the knights and nobles about +him, who, all clad in polished steel, "up to the eyes," formed a circle +around the Duke. They saluted Hewen, Schweinsberg, and Sturmfeder in a +friendly way, and made inquiries about the position of the enemy. + +Nothing was as yet to be seen of the troops of the League, except on +the border of the wood towards Esslingen, where a few straggling +out-posts were observed to be stationed. The Duke determined to quit +the height which the lansquenet occupied, and take up a position in the +plain beneath. His army being much inferior in cavalry to the League, +who, according to the reports of spies, could muster three thousand +horses, he hoped the flanks of this position, having the Neckar on one +side and a thick wood on the other, which he intended to take up in the +valley, would make up for the deficiency in numbers. + +Though the opinion of Lichtenstein, with many others, was against this +plan, fearing the army would be exposed to the fire of artillery from +the surrounding heights, Ulerich would not be dissuaded from it, and +ordered the army to march accordingly. Having arranged his order of +battle close to the town of Tuerkheim, he there awaited his enemy. +Albert von Sturmfeder was directed to remain near him with the cavalry, +which had been entrusted to his command, to be ready to strike a +decisive blow, and at the same time to form his body guard; whilst +Lichtenstein, with four-and-twenty other knights, joined themselves to +this mounted body of burghers, ready to support them in the event of an +attack of cavalry. In those days a battle was often an affair of so +many single-handed combats. The knights who followed an army seldom +fought in solid masses; but with a quick eye, they marked out an +adversary from among the ranks of the enemy, rode at him, and fought +him with lance and sword. Such a band of gallant men, headed by old +Lichtenstein, was that which now closed with Albert's troop. The Duke +himself, burning with the desire of wielding his powerful arm, and +proving the renown of his far-famed prowess in single combat, was only +controlled in this romantic idea by the pressing exhortations of his +friends. A most extraordinary figure was seen to keep his station by +the side of the Duke, in appearance more like a tortoise on horseback, +than a human being. A helmet, with a large feather, protruded high +above a small body, upon the back of which sat an arched coat of mail. +The little horseman's knees were bent high up on the saddle, whilst his +hand kept a fast hold of the pummel. The closed vizor of the unknown +knight concealed his face from Albert's observation; who, curious to +ascertain who the ridiculous looking warrior might be, rode up to the +Duke to satisfy himself, and said: + +"Upon my word, your highness has provided yourself with a marvellous +looking animal as a guide. Only observe his withered legs, his +trembling arm, the enormous helmet between his shoulders;--who may this +pigmy be?" + +"Don't you recognize the hump?" asked the Duke, laughing. "Just observe +the extraordinary coat of mail he has on; it is for all the world like +a large nutshell, to protect his back, in case he has to run for it. He +is my faithful chancellor, Ambrosius Bolland." + +"By the holy Virgin! what an unjust opinion I have formed of him," +replied Albert; "I never thought he would have drawn a sword or mounted +a horse, and there he sits upon a beast as big as an elephant, and +carries a sword as long as himself. I never should have given him +credit for so martial a spirit." + +"Do you suppose it is his own free-will which impels him to attend me +in the field? No, I have been obliged by force to make him follow me. +Having pushed me to extremities against my will, in order to satisfy +his wicked intentions, which I fear has placed me upon the brink of a +precipice, he shall partake of the soup himself which he has cooked for +me. He wept when I insisted on his coming with me; complaining of his +gout, and other infirmities, saying his nature was not military; but I +made him buckle on his armour, and put him on a horse, the most fiery +beast in my stable. He shall have the bitters as well as the sweets of +his counsel." + +During this discourse the knight of the hump threw open his vizor, and +discovered his pale affrighted countenance. The eternal hypocritical +smile had vanished, his piercing little eyes had swollen beyond their +ordinary size, and assumed a staring look, turning slowly and timidly +from side to side; a cold perspiration sat upon his forehead, and his +voice had softened down into a trembling whisper. "For the mercy of +God, most worthy Albert von Sturmfeder, most beloved friend and +benefactor," said he, "pray say a good word for me to our obdurate +master, that he may release me from this masquerading gambol. The ride +in this heavy armour has most cruelly tormented me, the helmet presses +on my brain, setting all my thoughts on the dance, and my knees are +bent with the gout. Pray, pray do! say a kind word for your humble +servant, Ambrosius Bolland; I will certainly repay it ten-fold." + +The young man turned away in disgust, from the cowardly sinner. "My +Lord Duke," said he, whilst a blush of high-minded scorn and contempt +coloured his cheeks, "permit him to go. The knights have drawn their +swords, and pressed their helmets firmer on their foreheads; the people +shake their spears, impatient for the signal of attack; why, then, +should a coward be counted among the ranks of men?" + +"He remains, I say," replied the Duke, with a stern voice; "the first +step he makes to the rear, I'll cut him down from his horse. The devil +sat upon your blue lips, Ambrosius Bolland, when you advised us to +despise our people, and subvert the laws of the land. This day, when +the balls whiz and swords clatter, shall you know whether your counsel +has proved of advantage to us or not." + +The chancellor's eyes beamed with rage, his lips trembled, and his +whole countenance was fearfully distorted. "I only gave you my +advice,--why did you follow it?" said he; "you are the Duke and master; +you gave the orders for swearing the oath of allegiance,--how could I +help it?" + +The Duke, in anger at these words, turned his horse with such velocity +towards him, that the chancellor, expecting his last moment was come, +bent himself down in trepidation on his horse's mane. "By our princely +honour," he cried, with a terrible voice, his eyes flashing fire, "we +are astonished at our own forbearance. You took advantage of the +blindness of our anger, when first we re-entered our capital; you knew +too well how to ingratiate yourself into our confidence. Had we not +followed your counsel, thou serpent, we should have had twenty thousand +Wuertemberg hearts as a wall to defend their Prince. Oh! my Wuertemberg! +my Wuertemberg! Had I but followed the advice of my old friend! There is +indeed a charm in the love of my people!" + +"Away with these thoughts," said the old knight of Lichtenstein. "We +are on the eve of battle; all is not yet lost; we have still time to +repair the wrongs we have committed. You are surrounded by six thousand +Wuertembergers, and, by heavens! they will be victorious, if you lead +them with confidence to the enemy. We are all friends here, my Lord! +forgive your enemies; dismiss your chancellor, who can be of no service +to you, he cannot use a sword." + +"No! remain by my side, thou tortoise! dog of a scribe!" said the Duke. +"Seated in your office, you wrote laws with your own hand, and despised +my people, you shall now witness how they can fight; how a Wuertemberger +can conquer or----die. Ha! do you see them on the height there? do you +see the flag with the red cross? there's the banner of Bavaria; how +their arms glisten in the dawn of the morning, and their helmet plumes +wave in the breeze! Good morning, gentlemen of the Swabian League; that +is a sight for a Wuertemberger! how my heart gladdens at it!" + +"Look! they are preparing their artillery," interrupted Lichtenstein; +"you must not remain on this spot, my Lord, your life is in danger; go +back, go back; send us your orders from yonder tree, (pointing to one +at a distance,) where you will be in safety; this position belongs to +us alone." + +The Duke turned to him, and answered, with an air of proud dignity, +"Where did you ever hear that a Wuertemberger retreated when the enemy +had sounded the attack? My ancestors never knew what fear was, and +their posterity shall also, like them, never betray the motto, +'Fearless and true!' Observe how the brow of the mountain becomes +darker and darker with their numerous bodies of men. Do you see that +white cloud on yonder hill, tortoise? do you hear it crack? that's the +thunder of artillery, that pours into our ranks. If you have a clear +conscience at this moment, make up your accounts with this world; for +no one would give a penny for your life." + +"Let us say a prayer," said Maxx von Schweinsberg, "and then at them, +in God's name." + +The Duke piously raised his hands and eyes towards heaven, and his +companions following his example, they said their prayers, imploring +the aid of the Almighty in the justice of their cause. This was the +general custom of the good old times, before the battle commenced. The +thunder of the enemy's artillery contrasted terribly with the deep +silence which reigned about this group, now engaged in soliciting God's +protection. Each appeared deeply impressed with the solemnity of the +few moments which were perhaps left to them in this world, except the +chancellor Ambrosius Bolland, who clasped his hands, whilst his eyes +were not directed in faith to heaven, but wandered to the enemy's +heights. His trembling body, as he observed the fire and smoke of each +gun from the League, proved that his soul was not leaning upon Him who +makes his sun to shine upon the good and upon the evil. + +When Ulerich von Wuertemberg and those around him had finished their +solemn duty, he drew his sword, which was immediately followed by the +rest, and in a moment a thousand blades glittered in the sun. "The +lansquenet are already engaged," said he, casting his eagle eye rapidly +down the valley. He now issued his orders with a cool determined voice, +and, addressing George von Hewen, directed him to support them with a +thousand infantry. Turning then to Schweinsberg, he said, "Take eight +hundred men to the skirt of the wood, and remain there till further +directions. Reinhart von Gemmingen, march with your division, and take +position in the middle space between the wood and the Neckar. And you, +Albert von Sturmfeder, remain here with your brigade of cavalry, and be +ready to advance at a moment's notice. And now may God be with you all, +my friends! Should we be destined not to see each other again in this +world, we shall meet the sooner in the next." He saluted them by +lowering his immense sword. The knights returned it, and advanced with +their respective bodies of men towards the enemy, rending the air with +loud vivas of "Ulerich for ever!" + +The army of the League having taken up the ground which the Duke's men +had shortly before occupied, saluted their enemy from the mouths of +several pieces of heavy ordnance, moving slowly down into the valley, +with the apparent intention of crushing them by superior numbers. At +the moment when their last division had quitted this position, the Duke +turned to Albert von Sturmfeder, and said, "Do you see those guns on +the height?" + +"Yes, and they are supported by a very few men apparently," he +answered. + +"Fronsberg supposes that because we cannot fly over to him, it would be +impossible to take his pieces. But there is a path in the wood there," +said the Duke, pointing with his hand, "which leads to the left, into a +field, which field skirts the hill. If you advance cautiously with your +cavalry, and follow the path, you will get almost into the rear of the +enemy. And if you succeed, pull up your horses a moment to give them +wind, and then gallop up the hill, and their artillery is ours." + +Albert bowed to him at parting, whilst the Duke gave him his hand. +"Farewell, young man," said he; "it grieves us to send so young a +married man upon such dangerous service; but we know of none other +better calculated or more determined than yourself to perform it." + +The cheeks of the young hero glowed with ardour when he heard these +words, and his eyes bespoke confidence in the bold enterprise he was +about to undertake. "I thank you, my lord, for this new proof of your +consideration," he replied; "you do me a greater kindness than if you +had endowed me with one of your most valuable estates. Farewell, +father," turning to old Lichtenstein, "remember me to my beloved wife." + +"I don't mean to let you go alone," replied the old knight, smiling: +"I'll accompany you. Under your conduct----" + +"No, remain with me, old friend," entreated the Duke; "do you wish me +to follow the chancellor's counsel in the field also? He might lead me +into a much worse scrape than he has already done. Stay by my side, old +man; make a hasty farewell with your son, for there is not a moment to +lose." + +The old knight pressed the hand of the young man, who returned it +smiling, and, in a cheerful mood, placed himself at the head of his +gallant band, when he galloped away with the Stuttgardt burghers, +leading them towards the enemy in this critical moment, crying, +"Ulerich for ever!" Having reached the skirt of the wood, he had a +moment's leisure to run his eye over the field of battle. The +Wuertembergers were in very good position, their flanks being covered by +the wood and the Neckar, and their centre arranged in such a manner as +to be able to repel any serious charge of cavalry. It was therefore +evident, that any alteration in their present line of battle would +subject them to extreme danger. The great disadvantage under which they +laboured was the fact of their being inferior to their enemy by +two-thirds of the number of combatants and though the Leaguists were +unable to bring their whole force into action at once, in consequence +of the confined space of the valley, their superiority of numbers +compensated for the want of room to man[oe]uvre in, which consideration +alone required the most strenuous exertions of Ulerich's small band to +maintain their ground. They, indeed, with such fearful odds against +them, kept their line unbroken, and their courage appeared to rise +still higher as their ranks began to thin. But, though the brave +Swabians valiantly disputed every inch of ground, it was to be +apprehended lest, by dint of renewed attacks by fresh troops, they +would ultimately be forced to give way. + +These fleeting observations which Albert had been enabled to make, +convinced him that upon some daring piece of service depended the +success of the day. The energies of his mind rose in proportion to the +difficulties he had to contend with. He felt that Ulerich's destiny was +now in his keeping, and that one bold stroke, such as he was about to +undertake, would decide the fate of the contest. + +His troop having now reached the wood, they proceeded through it in +silence and with caution, aware of the advantage which infantry possess +over cavalry under such circumstances. But they arrived at the point +leading to the field which the Duke had described, without molestation. +To the right beyond the wood the battle raged in full fury. The cheers +of the attacking part, the roar of artillery and small arms, the noise +of the drums, echoed terribly through its trees. + +The hill lay before them, from the summit of which several pieces of +heavy artillery played upon the ranks of the Wuertembergers. The path to +the top of it, leading up from the side of the wood, being of gentle +ascent, Albert was astonished at the quick eye of the Duke in having +discovered the only weak part of the enemy's position, every other +point of it being unassailable, at least by cavalry. The guns, as far +as he could observe from the place where he stood, were not supported +by any considerable force, and, therefore, as soon as the horses had +rested a few moments, Albert sounded the charge, and, putting himself +at their head, galloped up the hill in gallant style, and reached the +summit in an instant, calling to the enemy to surrender. The +consternation of the Leaguist troops in thus finding their enemies +suddenly among them, paralysed all their means of defence; whilst the +brave butchers, saddlers, and blacksmiths of Stuttgardt, taking +advantage of their confusion, dealt out the true Swabian cut on the +heads of their adversaries, and in a short time reduced the covering +party to a small number. Albert threw a triumphant look down the plain +towards the Duke; he heard the exulting shouts wafted to him from the +throats of many thousand Wuertembergers, and saw them advance with +renewed courage, being now relieved from the galling fire of the +artillery on the hill. + +He was obliged, however, to check this momentary joy of victory, in +consideration of his retreat, the second and most difficult operation +of the gallant undertaking; for the Leaguists, having observed the +sudden cessation of their artillery, had ordered a powerful body of +cavalry to charge the hill. As there was no time to bring away the +captured guns, he quickly ordered his men to fill them with stones and +earth, rendering them by this means unserviceable, and then casting his +eye towards the line of retreat, he perceived he would have to contend +with difficulties he had not anticipated. To retrace the path through +the wood by which, he had advanced was his first thought, for, were it +even occupied by the enemy's cavalry, he would meet them upon equal +terms. But, to his dismay, as he was about to put it into execution, he +observed that a large body of the Leaguist infantry had already gained +the wood to cut off his passage through it, rendering it thereby +impossible for him to join his comrades by that road. To attempt to cut +through the enemy's army with only one hundred and sixty horsemen, +would seem to be absolute madness. The only alternative left to him, +therefore,--and it was one more likely to lead to death than +deliverance,--was to make direct for the Neckar, which flowed between +him and his friends, and pass it by swimming across. Desperate as this +only resource of escape was, he determined to act upon it without loss +of time, and once having gained the banks of the river, he thought the +passage of it might be easily accomplished. By these means he might +hope to join the Duke; though it was but a forlorn hope. Five hundred +men of the Leaguist cavalry had by this time reached the foot of the +hill upon which he stood. He thought he recognized Truchses von +Waldburg at their head, and rather than surrender to him, he would +willingly have suffered death. + +He gave the signal to his gallant Wuertembergers to follow him down the +side of the hill which led to the banks of the river. They staggered at +the fearful expedient, for it was scarcely to be expected that a fifth +part of them would escape, so steep was the descent, and besides which, +between the hill and the river stood a large body of the enemy's +infantry, ready to receive them. But their gallant young leader, +throwing open his vizor, discovered to them his noble countenance, +beaming with the inspiration of heroic magnanimity. The whole troop +were animated by the same bold spirit, and when they recollected they +had seen him but a few weeks back leading a beautiful maiden to the +altar, and that he had left this endearing object behind him, for the +sake of his Duke and country, they vociferated in loud shouts the +practices of their several vocations. "At them!" cried the butchers, +"we'll slaughter them like oxen;" "And we'll hammer them like hot +iron," cried the blacksmiths; and the saddlers vociferated "They +shall be beat as soft as leather." "Ulerich for ever!" cried their +bold-hearted leader, who putting spurs to his horse, was the first to +gallop down the dangerous declivity. The enemy's cavalry could scarcely +believe their eyes when they arrived at the top of the hill, in +expectation of capturing their daring adversaries, and saw them hotly +engaged with their infantry at the bottom of it. This bold step of +Albert's cost many a brave man his life: many were thrown from their +horses, and fell into the hands of the Leaguists; but the major part, +arriving safely at the foot of the hill, were engaged hand to hand with +the enemy, and the helmet plumes of their leader were seen to wave high +in the midst of the fray. The ranks of the infantry were soon broken by +the impetuous charge of the Wuertembergers, who now pushed for the bank +of the Neckar, and following their leader, dashed into the water to +cross it. Though his horse was a powerful beast he had not strength +sufficient to bear the weight of his rider, clad in armour, nor to stem +its stream, at present swollen beyond its ordinary height by heavy +rains. He was on the point of sinking, calling to his men not to think +of him, but to push on to the Duke, and give him his last farewell, +when at this critical moment two gallant blacksmiths, having +disencumbered themselves of their horses, seized the young knight, one +by his arms, and the other taking his horse's bridle, landed him in +safety on the opposite bank. + +The Leaguists sent many a shot after their flying enemy, but +fortunately they fell harmless. In the sight of both armies, this +daring band continued its further route unmolested to the Duke. Having +passed a deep ford, not far from the spot where Ulerich was stationed, +they were received with loud shouts of joy and applause by their +companions. + +Though a considerable part of the enemy's artillery had been rendered +unserviceable by the no less bold than rapid attack of Albert von +Sturmfeder, such was the unhappy fate of Duke Ulerich, that even this +brilliant feat of arms could not avert the spell which seemed to hang +over his destiny. The strength of his people began to fail under +renewed attacks of superior numbers. In spite of the experience and +bravery of the lansquenets, who gave proofs of the honesty of their +promises to the Duke, and though they continued to uphold their +accustomed warlike character, and did not cede an inch of ground, the +loss they had sustained obliged their commanders to form them into +circles to repel the charges of cavalry. The line of battle being +thereby broken, the vacant spaces were but feebly filled up and +sustained by the country people, badly armed, and worse soldiers, +having been brought into the field in haste, and almost without +discipline. At this critical moment intelligence arrived of the Duke of +Bavaria having suddenly surprised and taken possession of Stuttgardt, +that a fresh army was coming up in the rear, and was scarcely a quarter +of an hour's distance off. This news was a death-blow to the Duke's +hopes, who now perceived there was nothing left to him but flight or +death to prevent his falling into the hands of his enemies. What was to +be done in this emergency? His followers advised him to throw himself +into the hereditary castle of the house of Wuertemberg, and there remain +until he could find an opportunity secretly to escape. He turned his +eyes towards the place, his last resource, which, lighted up by the +brilliancy of the day, seemed to look down in stern majesty upon the +valley, where the descendant of him who raised it had staked his last +hope in one desperate conflict. But when he saw the red flag playing in +the morning breeze over the towers and walls of his castle, he turned +pale, and pointing to it, was unable to give utterance to the painful +feelings which the sight occasioned. The knights directing their +attention to it, discovered a black smoke issuing from all corners, a +proof that the victorious flag had been planted on its pinnacle amidst +the flames lighted up by an avenging enemy. Wuertemberg now burnt at +every point, and her unhappy master witnessed the spectacle in ghastly +despair. Both armies also noticed the burning castle. The Leaguists +saluted the event with loud shouts of exulting joy, whilst the courage +of the Wuertembergers sank in proportion, and viewed the sad sight as +the setting sun of the Duke's prosperity. + +The drums of the army advancing in the rear were now heard distinctly +approaching towards them; the armed peasantry, in many places, began to +give way, when Ulerich said, in a firm, voice, addressing those +immediately about him, "Whoever means honourably by us, follow me, +we'll cut our way through their hosts, or fall in the attempt. Take my +banner in your hand, valiant Sturmfeder, and charge their ranks with +us." Albert seized the flag of Wuertemberg, the Duke placed himself by +his side, the knights and burghers on horseback surrounded them, and +prepared to open a passage for their lord. The Duke pointed to a weak +position in the enemy's line, which appeared the one most favourable to +ensure the success of the daring project; if the attempt failed, all +was lost. Albert volunteered for the desperate post of honour of +leading the determined band; but the old knight of Lichtenstein, +beckoning to him not to quit the Duke's side, placed himself boldly in +front, and directing one more glance to his lord and son, closed his +vizor, and cried, "Forwards! Here's to good Wuertemberg for ever!" + +About two hundred horsemen composed the resolute band, which moved on +in a trot, arranged in the form of a wedge. The chancellor Ambrosius +Bolland's heart beat lighter when they departed, for the Duke, amidst +the anxieties of the moment, had quite lost sight of him, and he now +held council with himself how he could most conveniently dismount from +his long-legged steed. The noble beast, however, with upstanding ears +and restless motion had noticed the departure of the cavalry. So long +as they moved on in gentle trot, he remained tolerably quiet. But when +the trumpets sounded the attack, and the gallant crew broke into a +gallop with Wuertemberg's banner waving high above the helmet plumes, +this appeared to be the moment which the chancellor's high metaled +steed had been anticipating, for with the rapidity of a bird, he +stretched over the plain in the track of the other horsemen. His rider, +almost deprived of his senses, and his hand seizing the pummel of his +saddle in a state of convulsion, attempted to halloo, but the rapidity +with which he cut through the air hindered all further utterance. +Though the Duke and his friends had gained some considerable distance +from him, the chancellor soon overtook, and then passing them, found +himself, much against his will, the leading man in the desperate +encounter which was about to take place. The attention of the enemy was +riveted to the extraordinary figure of the chancellor, which appeared +more like an ape in armour than a warrior on horseback, and before they +could make out what he was, his steed had carried him into the midst of +their ranks. The spectacle was so highly ridiculous, that the +Wuertembergers, notwithstanding this moment was for them one of life or +death, broke out into loud laughter, which, spreading confusion among +the troops of the League, composed of those of Ulm, Gmuend, Aulen, +Nuernberg, and other imperial cities, allowed the overpowering weight of +the two hundred horses, carrying the chancellor along with them, to +break through, and gain the rear of their enemies. They pushed on their +march in haste, and before the Leaguist cavalry could be sent in +pursuit, the Duke, with his followers, had already gained a long start, +and turned off the field of battle by a side path. + +The mounted burghers having covered the retreat of the Duke, he +effected his escape with a few faithful adherents, whilst they directed +their route towards Stuttgardt. The enemy's cavalry only came up with +them just as they had reached the gates of the city, when great was +their disappointment not to capture either the Duke or any of his +principal partisans, whom they expected to find among them. Ambrosius +Bolland was their only prize. He, more dead than alive from excessive +fright and fatigue, was not able to dismount from his elevated position +without assistance. After having peeled his body of its unaccustomed +covering, the Leaguists vented their rage and disappointment upon the +unfortunate man, by beating him and other ill-usage; for they +attributed to his supposed bravery, which appeared to them to exceed +all they had ever witnessed, the loss of a thousand gold florins, set +as a reward upon the capture of the Duke. And so it happened that the +gallant chancellor, not like his master beaten in battle, was beaten +after it. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXIV. + + Think on the many gallant deeds + _One_ valiant hand has done, + And follow where your country needs, + Where a hero's grave is won. + Here, here they flee! pursue the way they go: + The light of heaven shows our flying foe. + L. UHLAND. + +The Duke and his followers passed the night after the day of the +decisive battle in a narrow deep ravine of a wood, which, being +surrounded by high rocks and thick underwood, offered a safe retreat +for the moment, and is called, to this day, "Ulerich's cavern," by the +people of the country. It was the fifer of Hardt who appeared again as +a saviour in their flight, and led them to this place, known only to +the peasantry and shepherds of the neighbourhood. The Duke determined +to repose in this secluded spot, and, as soon as the following day +broke, to continue his flight towards Switzerland. He would have +preferred continuing his route under cover of the night, as being more +favourable to elude the vigilance of his enemies. The fate of the +disastrous day having given them full possession of the country again, +it seemed next to impossible to escape through their numerous patroles, +which would now scour the country to intercept his retreat. Delay was +therefore dangerous; but the horses being unable to proceed after the +heat and fatigue of the battle, he was compelled by necessity to run +the risk of taking a short rest. + +The party seated themselves around a small fire. Sleep soon came to the +Duke's aid, and for awhile made him forget that he had again lost his +dukedom. The knight of Lichtenstein also slept. Maxx Stumpf von +Schweinsberg, resting his arms on his knees, concealed his face in both +hands, and it was uncertain whether he dosed, or whether he was +sorrowing over the fate of his unhappy master, which the day's battle +had so cruelly decided. Albert von Sturmfeder, though almost +overpowered with fatigue, resisted the power of sleep, and, being the +youngest of the party, volunteered to keep watch. Beside him sat his +faithful friend, the fifer of Hardt, his eyes fixed steadfastly on the +fire, and appeared to concentrate his thoughts in the words of a song, +whose melancholy strain he hummed to himself with a soft suppressed +voice. When the fire blazed up occasionally a little brisker, he cast a +sorrowful look at the Duke, to see if he still slept, and then +recommenced the same lamentable dirge. + +"You are singing a very melancholy strain, Hans!" said Albert, whose +attention was excited by the peculiar tones of the song: "it sounds +like a death song or mourning dirge; I can't listen to it without +shuddering." + +"Death may knock at every man's door at any moment," replied the fifer, +looking still more gloomily at the fire; "I like to occupy my mind upon +such subjects, for it often strikes me, I would prefer going out of +this world with similar thoughts in my mind." + +"But how is it you think more upon death at this moment than at other +times, Hans? You were always a merry fellow at harvest time; and your +guitar never failed being heard at a wake. You certainly never sang a +death-song on such occasions." + +"My happiness is gone," he answered, and pointed to the Duke; "all my +anxieties and troubles have been in vain. His star is set, and I----I +am his shadow; therefore nothing is left for me. If I had not a wife +and child, I would willingly die this very night." + +"You were, indeed, his faithful shadow," said the young man, moved at +these words: "I have always admired your fidelity. Listen, Hans! it +will perhaps be some time before we see each other again; and having +now time and opportunity to converse together, tell me, if it be not +too much to ask, what has bound you so close and exclusively to the +fortunes of the Duke?" + +The man was silent a few minutes, and trimmed the burning embers of the +fire. A troubled look beamed in his eyes, leaving Albert in doubt +whether he had not touched upon a subject which was painful to his +friend, whose countenance he thought was tinged with a passing blush. +"That question," he at length replied, "refers to a certain occurrence, +which I never willingly speak about. But you are right, sir, in your +conjecture, and it appears to me also that we shall not meet again for +some time; therefore I will satisfy your curiosity. Have you ever heard +of the insurrection called, 'Poor Conrad'?" + +"O, yes!" replied Albert, "the report spread far beyond Franconia. Was +it not an insurrection of the peasantry? It was said, they wanted even +to take the Duke's life!" I---- + +"You are perfectly right, the affair of Conrad was a bad thing. About +seven years ago many men among us peasantry were dissatisfied with our +landlords; great distress prevailed throughout the country, in +consequence of the failure of the crops. The rich had squandered all +their money; the poor had long since no more left, but still we were +obliged to pay heavy taxes without end, in order to satisfy the +exorbitant demands of the Duke's court, where every luxury was carried +on in the midst of an impoverished country." + +"Did your representatives accede to these extravagant demands?" +inquired the young man. + +"They did not always venture to say no; for, the Duke's purse having an +enormous large hole in it, they had no other means of repairing it than +by the sweat of our brow. Many, therefore, struck work, because, said +they, 'the corn which we sow, does not grow for our bread, and the wine +we make, does not flow into our casks.' They then thought, as nothing +more could be taken from them than their lives, that they would live +merrily and without care, and calling themselves counts of 'no home,' +spoke of their many castles on the 'hungry mountain,' of their wealthy +possessions in 'the land of famine' and on the banks of the 'river of +beggary.' This was the origin of the insurrection named 'The League of +Poor Conrad.'" + +The fifer of Hardt laid his head in his hand in deep thought, and was +silent. + +"But you promised to relate to me your adventures with the Duke," said +Albert. + +"I had nearly forgotten that," he answered: "well," he continued, +"persecution was at length brought to such a pass, that even the +weights and measures were decreased in size and quantity, so that the +Duke and his courtiers might be the gainers at our expense. We paid the +same for a less quantity. The consequence of this species of tyranny +gave rise to a circumstance which, commencing at first in mere joke, +became a source of bitter hatred and revenge. Many could not bear the +thought of this act of flagrant injustice, by which every one else had +full weight and measure, whilst we alone, the peasantry, were the +sufferers. Poor Conrad carried the weights into the valley of the Rems, +and made a proof by water." + +"A proof by water,--what's that?" asked the young man. + +"Ha!" laughed Hans, "that is an easy way of proving a thing. A stone of +a pound weight was paraded to the sound of drum and fife to the banks +of the Kerns, and they said, 'if it swims, the Duke is right; if it +sinks, the peasant is right.' The stone sank, and Poor Conrad armed +himself. All the peasants then rose in the vallies of the Rems and +Neckar, and throughout all the country up to Tuebingen far over the Alb, +and demanded the old laws. The members of the diet were assembled and +harangued them, but all to no purpose, they would not disperse." + +"But you--what part did you take? You; don't say a word about +yourself," said Albert. + +"That's said in a very few words," replied Hans: "I was one of the most +violent among them. Never being much inclined to work, and having been +inhumanly punished for transgressing the game laws, I joined Poor +Conrad, and soon became as desperate as Gaispeter and Bregenzer. The +Duke, seeing that the insurrection was becoming dangerous, came himself +to Schorndorf. We had been called to that place for the purpose of +swearing allegiance. Many hundreds appeared, but all armed. Ulerich +addressed us himself; but we would not hear him. The marshal of the +empire then stood up, and raising his gold staff said, 'He who holds to +Duke Ulerich von Wuertemberg, let him come over to his side!' Gaispeter +also stepping upon a large stone, cried, 'He who holds to Poor Conrad +of Hungry Hill, come over here!' The Duke stood alone among his +servants, deserted by his people: we, the opposite party, remained with +the beggar." + +"Oh, what a shameful transaction," cried Albert, moved by a feeling of +the injustice which caused it, "but more particularly so in those who +allowed it to go to such lengths! I'll be bound Ambrosius Bolland, the +chancellor, was mostly to blame in it." + +"You are not far wrong," replied the fifer; "but hear me. When the Duke +saw that all was lost, he threw himself on his horse. We crowded about +him, but no one was bold enough to touch his person, for we were +staggered by his commanding look. 'What is it you want, you scum of the +earth?' he cried, and giving his horse the spur, made him bound in the +air, by which three men were knocked down. This awakened our fury; the +people laid hold of the horse's reins, they thrusted at him with their +spears, and I so far forgot myself as to seize him by the mantle, +crying, 'Shoot the villain dead!'" + +"Was that you, Hans?" cried Albert, and eyed him with a look of horror. + +"That was I," he uttered slowly and in a subdued tone, evidently +suffering from the recollection of the deed. "But the Duke escaped from +us, and assembled a force which we were not able to contend with, and +we surrendered unconditionally. Twelve leaders of the insurrection were +conducted to Schorndorf, tried and condemned; I was one of them. When I +was in prison, with leisure to think of the wrong I had done, and +contemplate the approach of death, I shuddered at myself, and was +ashamed of being associated with such miserable fellows as the other +eleven were." + +"But how were you saved?" asked Albert. + +"In the way I have already related to you in Ulm; by a miracle. We +twelve were conducted to the market-place, for the purpose of being +beheaded. The Duke was seated in front of the town-hall, and ordered us +to be brought before him again. My eleven companions threw themselves +on their knees, causing the noise of their chains to resound through +the air, crying for mercy in pitiable tones. He fixed his eyes upon +them for some time, and then, observing that I alone remained silent, +said, 'Why do not you beg for pardon also?' 'My Lord,' I answered, 'I +know what I deserve: may God hare mercy on my soul!' Without saying a +word, he looked at us some time longer, and then made a sign to the +executioner. We were brought up to the scaffold according to our ages; +and I being the youngest, was the last. I remember little more of that +terrible moment; but I shall never forget the frightful sound of the +axe when it severed the heads from the bodies of the culprits." + +"For God's sake, say no more on the subject!" Albert requested; "but +pass on to the rest of the story." + +"Nine heads were stuck upon the points of spears, when the Duke cried, +'Ten shall bleed, but two shall be pardoned. Let dice be brought: he +who throws the lowest number in three throws, loses his head.' The +dice-box was given to me first, but I said, 'I have forfeited my life, +and I will not gamble for it.' The Duke said, 'Well; I'll throw for +you.' The box was then handed to the other two. They shook the dice +with cold trembling hand, and threw. One counted nine, and the other +fourteen; the Duke then seized the box, and shook it. He looked at me +hard in the face, but I did not tremble. He threw, and covered the dice +with his hand. 'Beg for mercy,' said he, 'there is still time.' 'I pray +you to pardon the rash act,' I answered, 'but I beg not for mercy, +because I don't deserve it.' He raised his hand; and behold, he counted +eighteen! The effect it produced on me was indescribable; I thought the +Duke sat in God's stead in judgment. I fell upon my knees, and vowed to +live and die in his service. The tenth man was beheaded, and two of us +saved." + +Albert had listened to the tale of the fifer of Hardt with increasing +interest, and when he finished it, and noticed his bold expressive eyes +filled with tears, he could not resist taking him by the hand, saying, +"Truly, you have been guilty of a heavy crime against the Lord of your +country, but you have also expiated it dearly by being brought so near +to death. The terror of immediate death, whilst the sword of vengeance +is hanging over a guilty head, must indeed be tenfold more appalling +when the culprit is obliged to witness the execution of so many +acquaintances, awaiting the slow approach of his own last moment along +with them; but you have faithfully atoned to your prince for laying +your hand upon his person, by a life of fidelity, sacrifices, and risks +of all kinds in his cause. And how often have you liberated him from +danger, perhaps saved his life! Truly you have richly redeemed your +debt." + +The poor man, when he had finished his story, relapsed into gloomy +thought, with his eyes fixed on the fire; and had it not been, that an +occasional sad smile passed over his countenance when Albert spoke to +him, he had all the appearance of being totally unconscious of what was +going on around him. "Do you mean," said he, "that I could ever +sufficiently repent, and redeem the crime of which I have been guilty? +No; such debts are not so easily liquidated, and a redeemed life must +be devoted to the service of him who has saved it. To wander among +mountains, getting intelligence from an enemy's camp, and finding out +places of concealment, are but trifling services, sir, and cannot +satisfy the mind under such circumstances. I feel convinced that I must +die for him one of these days; and then I pray you take care of my wife +and child." + +A tear fell on his beard; but, as if ashamed of his weakness, he +hastily wiped it away, and continued: "Could but the sacrifice of my +life ward off the impending danger which surrounds him--could my death +erase that unfortunate oath of allegiance, which he has imposed on the +country, and replace him in the hearts of his people; I would willingly +die in that hour!" + +The Duke awoke. He raised himself up, and surveyed the surrounding +rocks and trees, with his companions seated around the faint glimmering +of burning embers, with astonishment, as if he had been transported by +magic to this wild spot. Covering his face with his hands, and then +gazing about him again, to convince himself whether the appearance of +these objects were reality or not, he first glanced at one and then at +another with painful feelings. "I have this day lost my country again," +said he, "but that event has not given me so much trouble as I feel at +this moment, for I dreamt I re-possessed it, and saw it in higher bloom +than ever. Alas, it was but a dream!" + +"You must not be ungrateful, sir," said Maxx Stumpf von Schweinsberg, +raising himself from his bent position: "be not unthankful for nature's +kindness. Think how much more miserable you would have been, if in +sleep, which should give you renewed strength to bear the burden of +your misfortunes, you had still felt the weight of them. When you laid +down to rest, you were overcome by the fatal result of the day, but now +your features assume a kindlier and milder appearance; have we not, +then, cause to be thankful for your soothing dream?" + +"I would I had never seen the day again!" replied Ulerich. "Oh, that I +could have been lost in the pleasures of that same dream for centuries, +and then have come to life again,--it was so beautiful, so consoling!" + +He laid his head on his hand, and appeared oppressed with grief. The +conversation roused the knight of Lichtenstein. He was acquainted with +the character of Ulerich, and knew the necessity of not allowing him to +give way to his feelings, and, particularly at this critical moment, +not to let him brood over the terrible loss he had sustained; he +therefore drew nearer to him, and said: + +"Well, sir, perhaps you will tell us what you dreamt of? It may, +perchance, afford your friends some consolation also; for you must +know, I have faith in dreams, especially when they occupy our minds in +hours of importance, and are fraught with destiny; I believe they are +sent from above to raise our hopes, and arm us with fortitude." + +The Duke remained silent some time longer, apparently pondering over +the last words of his old friend. He then began, "My brother-in-law, +William of Bavaria, has burnt the castle of my ancestors this day, as a +proof of his friendship. The Wuertembergers have been established there +from time immemorial, and the country which we possess takes its name +from the same castle. He seems to have fired it with the torch of +death, and with its flames to have wished to exterminate the arms, the +remembrance, nay, even the very name of Wuertemberg, from the face of +the earth. He has partially succeeded; for my only son, young +Christoph, is in a distant land; my brother, George, has no child; and +I--I have been beaten and driven out; they have repossessed my country, +and where can I look to the hope of returning to it again?" + +Ulerich was again silent. His mind appeared occupied with a subject too +great for utterance. A peaceful serenity lay on the features of the +unfortunate Prince, and an unusual expression beamed in his eyes as he +directed them upwards to heaven. His companions looked at him in awful +expectation of hearing some important communication resulting from his +dream. + +"Listen further," he continued: "I gazed on the charming valley of the +Neckar. The river flowed on in its accustomed gentle winding blue +stream. The valley and hills appeared lovely, and more luxuriant than +ever. The woods on the heights and the meadows assumed the aspect of +one continued garden, spreading their rich green vineyards from hill to +hill, and in the valley below full-bearing fruit trees without number +completed the blooming scene. I stood enchanted and riveted to the +view; the sun shone with greater splendour than usual, the blue vault +of heaven was lighted up more brilliantly than I had ever witnessed it, +and all nature seemed dressed in brighter colours than mortal eye had +ever beheld. When I raised my intoxicated eye, and gazed upon the +valley of the Neckar, I beheld a castle pleasantly situated on the +summit of a hill which rose from the banks of the river, with the rays +of the morning sun playing upon its walls. The sight of this peaceful +habitation rejoiced my heart, for there were no ditches or high +defences, no towers or battlements, no portcullis nor drawbridge, to +remind the beholder of the contentions of men, and of the uncertain +history of mortals. + +"And as I was wrapped in astonishment and delight in the contemplation +of the peaceful aspect of the valley and the unguarded castle, I turned +round, and beheld the walls of my castle no longer to exist. Here, at +least, my dream did not deceive me, for yesterday I saw the battlements +fall, and the watch-tower sink, over which my banner had formerly +floated. No stone of Wuertemberg was more to be seen, but in its place +stood a temple, ornamented with pillars and cupola, such as is to be +found in Rome and Greece. Meditating how all this change could have +come to pass, I observed some men in foreign costume, not far from me, +inspecting the country. + +"One of these men, in particular, drew my attention. He led a beautiful +youth by the hand, and pointed out to him the valley which lay at their +feet, the surrounding mountains, the river, the towns and villages in +the neighbourhood, and in the distance. Upon a closer inspection, I +observed the man had the features of my brother George, and it struck +me that he must belong to the race of my ancestors, and be a true +Wuertemberger. He descended with the boy from the hill into the valley +below, followed by the other man at a respectful distance. I stopped +the last man, and asked him who the other person was that had described +the country to the lad; 'That was the King,' said he, and followed the +rest." + +The Duke was silent, and looked inquisitively at the knights, as if to +hear their opinion. No one answered for some time, at length the knight +of Lichtenstein said, "I am now sixty-five years old, and have seen and +heard much in the world; many things come to pass which astonish the +human mind, but in which a pious man may distinguish the finger of God. +Believe me, that dreams also are of his sending, as nothing happens +upon earth without some reason. As there were seers and prophets in +ancient times, why should not the Lord send one to his saints in our +days, to open the dark gates of futurity to the mind of an unfortunate +man through the channel of a dream, and give him an insight into coming +happier days? Despond not, therefore, my lord! The enemy has burnt your +castle--in one day you have lost a dukedom; but your name will +nevertheless not become extinct, and your remembrance will not be +washed out from Wuertemberg's history." + +"A King----" said the Duke, thoughtfully, "I dare not presume, now that +I am an outcast, to think of a King springing from my race. Is it not +possible that Satan may tempt us with such dreams, for the purpose of +deceiving us afterwards more cruelly?" + +"But why have doubts of futurity?" said Schweinsberg, smiling. "Could +any one of your noble ancestors have thought their family would have +become Dukes of the country, and their beautiful land have borne the +name of Wuertemberg? Let your dream console you, which has been given as +a hint of the destiny awaiting your family. Believe that your name is +destined to nourish in distant, very distant times, in the land of your +forefathers, and that in remote ages the Princes of Wuertemberg will +bear the features of your generation." + +"Well, then, I will hope so," replied Ulerich von Wuertemberg; "I will +continue to hope, that the country will still hold to us, dark as our +present lot may appear. May our grand-children never experience such +hard times as we have, and may it ever be said they are--fearless." + +"And faithful!" added the fifer of Hardt, with emphasis, as he rose +from his seat. "But it is high time, my Lord Duke, to set out. The dawn +of morn is not far distant; we must pass the Neckar at all hazards +before daylight." + +They all rose, and buckled on their arms. The horses being brought +forward, they mounted, and the fifer of Hardt went on before to lead +the way out of the place of concealment. The escape of the Duke was +attended with considerable danger, for the enemy sought all possible +means to take him prisoner. To gain the road by which he might elude +the vigilance of his enemies, it was absolutely necessary to repass the +Neckar; and to accomplish this in safety was no easy matter. Heavy +rains had swollen the river to such a degree, that it appeared next to +impossible to pass it on horseback by swimming. The bridges, for the +most part, were occupied by the troops of the League. But Hans had +taken the precaution to ascertain by the aid of faithful friends, that +the bridge of Koengen was still open, having been given to understand +that the enemy had thought it needless to guard it, as, being so near +Esslingen and their own camp, they never dreamt the Duke would venture +to come that way. This path, therefore, Ulerich chose as the safest, +though it still appeared attended with great danger, and the party set +out towards the Neckar in deep silence, and with caution. + +When they reached the fields beyond the wood, the dawn of morning +tinged the horizon; and having gained a better road, they rode on at a +brisk pace, and soon got a sight of the glimmering of the Neckar, not +far from the high vaulted bridge which they were to pass. At this +moment Albert, happening to look round, perceived a considerable number +of horsemen coming towards them. He immediately made it known to his +companions, who, counting above twenty-five horses, felt assured they +could be no other than a party of cavalry of the League; the Duke's men +having been dispersed, it was not likely any stragglers were in this +neighbourhood. + +These men, however, appeared not to remark the Duke's small retinue. To +gain the bridge with the least possible delay, before they were hailed +and questioned by this party, was of the utmost importance. The fifer +of Hardt hastened on before, the Duke and his faithful knights followed +in full trot, and as they increased their distance from the Leaguists, +each felt lighter at heart, for they all were less anxious about their +own lives than to secure the escape of Ulerich. + +Having reached the bridge, and arrived on the middle of it, which was +highly arched, twelve men sprang forward from behind the walls, armed +with spears, swords, and guns, arresting the Duke's further progress. +Perceiving he was discovered, he made a sign to his followers to +retreat. Lichtenstein and Schweinsberg, being the two last, turned +their horses, to retrace their steps, but to their dismay found +themselves hemmed in by the cavalry they had first seen, who had +galloped up in their rear, and at this instant occupied the entrance to +the bridge. + +It was still too dark to be able to distinguish the enemy with +precision, who were, however, not backward in making themselves known. +"Surrender yourself, Duke of Wuertemberg," cried a voice, which appeared +familiar to the knights; "you have no chance of escape." + +"Who are you, to whom Wuertemberg should surrender?" answered the Duke, +with a furious voice, whilst he drew his sword; "you are no knight, for +you don't sit on horseback." + +"I am Doctor Calmus," replied the other, "and am ready to return the +many kind acts I have received from you. I am a knight, for you +yourself created me a donkey knight, and in return I will now dub you +the knight without horse. Dismount, I say, in the name of the most +illustrious League." + +"Give me room, Hans," whispered the Duke, with a suppressed voice to +the fifer, who stood between him and the doctor, with his axe raised to +his shoulder in attitude of defence, "just stand on one side. Close in, +my friends: we'll fall on them suddenly, and perhaps may succeed in +cutting through." Albert was the only one who heard this order, for the +other two knights were ten paces at least in their rear, already +engaged with the Leaguist cavalry, who were unable to force their way +past the gallant men to get at the Duke. Albert, therefore, closed with +the Duke, with the intention of making a rush with him through the +ranks of his opponents; but the doctor, perceiving it, called out to +his people, "At him, my men! that's him in the green cloak; take him, +dead or alive!" pushing forward at the same time to the attack. He +carried a spear of unusual length, and made a thrust at Ulerich, which +might have been fatal, for it was still dark, and the Duke did not +remark it immediately; but the quick-sighted Hans parried the thrust of +the renowned Doctor Calmus, which was on the point of piercing the +breast of his master, and with one blow of his axe felled him to the +ground, where he lay sprawling among his companions. They were +staggered at the deadly blow of the countryman, who, wielding his axe +high in the air, drove them back a few paces. Albert took advantage of +this moment to possess himself of the Duke's cloak, which he threw over +his own shoulders, and whispered to him to give his horse the spur, and +force him over the breastwork of the bridge. Ulerich cast a look at the +high swollen waters of the Neckar, and then up to heaven, in doubtful +despair. Escape appeared hopeless. The fearful leap was his only choice +between life or death, or falling into the hands of his enemies. A +circumstance, however, arrested his attention for a moment before he +decided upon it. + +The enemy, with outstretched spears, advanced on the Duke. The fifer +still kept his ground, though wounded and bleeding in many places, +beating them down with his axe. His eyes flashed fire, his bold +features carried the expression of joyful animation, and the smile +about his mouth did not indicate despair; no, his noble soul feared not +the approach of death, he rather looked to it in proud anticipation, as +the reward for all the troubles and dangers he had taken upon himself. +As he cut one of his opponents to the ground with his right hand, the +halberd of another pierced his breast, that true breast, which even in +death proved a faithful shield to his unhappy prince, for whom a more +gallant heart never beat: he staggered, and sank to the ground. Casting +his dying eye upon his master, "My lord Duke, we are quits," were his +last words, which he uttered with a smile upon his countenance, and +fell lifeless at his feet. + +The Leaguists passing over his body, pressed hard upon the Duke, with +the cry of exultation when Albert threw himself in the midst, his sword +dealing destruction among his enemies. He was the last and only +remaining defence of Duke Ulerich of Wuertemberg; had he been +overpowered, imprisonment or death to his friend and benefactor were +unavoidable. The Duke, therefore, turned to the only means of escape; a +desperate one indeed. He cast a painful look at the corpse of that man +who had sealed his fidelity with his death, and turning his powerful +war-horse on one side, gave him the spur that made him spring in the +air, and with one desperate leap he cleared the breastwork of the +bridge, carrying his princely rider down into the waters of the Neckar. + +Albert ceased to defend himself. His eye was fixed solely on the Duke. +The horse and rider plunged deep into the river; but the powerful +beast, combating the eddies and current, soon appeared on its surface, +carrying his master down the stream with the apparent ease and safety +of a boat. All this was the affair of a few moments. Some of the +Leaguists were for following him along the banks of the river, to seize +the bold knight when he landed; but one of them nearest Albert cried, +"Let him swim, he is not the right one; here is the prize, in the green +cloak,--seize him." Albert, looking up to heaven in grateful +thanksgiving for the escape of the Duke, and dropping his sword, +surrendered to the Leaguists. They surrounded him, and willingly +allowed him to dismount, to pay the last painful offices to the corpse +of that man who had been their fearful opponent. Albert took his hand, +with which he still kept a firm grasp of his blood-stained axe; it was +icy cold. He felt his heart, to discover if there was still life in it; +the deadly thrust of the spear had but too faithfully done its office. +That eye once so bold was now lifeless, that mouth which bespoke an +unbending cheerful mind was closed, the features rigid; but still the +smile, that last dying salute with which he greeted his master, played +upon his lips. Albert's tears fell on his faithful friend, as he +pressed for the last time the cold hand of the fifer of Hardt; he +closed his eyes, and, throwing himself upon his horse, followed his +enemies to their camp. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXV. + + Happy the soldier, all his perils o'er, + In peace returning to his native place, + When those who love him meet him at the door, + And gaze with rapture on the wish'd-for face. + SCHILLER. + +After a march of three hours, the troop of the Leaguists' soldiers, +with their prisoner in the midst, approached their camp. Though they +did not venture to talk aloud, it was easy to perceive, by their +countenances, how great was their exultation at their supposed triumph +and prize, and it did not escape the acute observation of Albert that +the whisper among them referred to the reward they were likely to gain +for the person of the Duke. A feeling of satisfaction filled the breast +of the young man, in the hope that his unhappy Prince might gain time +to escape his enemies by the diversion the bold sacrifice he had made +of himself in his favour. But the thought which now gave him the +greatest uneasiness was the distress his beloved wife would experience, +when she became acquainted with the result of the battle. Though he had +informed her, through the medium of faithful messengers, of his having +escaped unhurt in the bloody conflict, she was still ignorant of the +unfortunate turn in the Duke's fate; still less could she know his own. +He could well imagine her state of mind, when, among the prisoners +brought into Stuttgardt, neither her father nor husband were found of +the number. The thought was agonising to his mind, rendered doubly so +amidst the taunts of those who now led him as a prisoner to the +presence of his enemies. These, and a thousand other painful feelings, +chilled his joy in having been the saviour of his friend. + +Could he hope to be liberated a second time by the League, as he had +been in Ulm? Taken with arms in his hand,--known as the most zealous +friend of the Duke,--his only prospect was a long imprisonment, and +harsh treatment. The arrival at the advanced posts of the camp +interrupted these gloomy thoughts. One of the troop which guarded him +was sent on before to acquaint the commanders of the League of their +prisoner, and to receive their orders respecting the place where he was +to be brought. This was a painful quarter of an hour for Albert. He +wished of all things, if possible, to speak to Fronsberg, hoping that +this noble friend of his father might still retain a kindly feeling +towards him, and, at least, judge him more favourably than Truchses von +Waldburg and many others, who he well knew to be inimical towards him. + +The man returned with orders to conduct the prisoner as quietly as +possible, and without ceremony, to the large tent in which the officers +generally held their council of war. For this purpose they turned off +by a side path, and the soldiers begged Albert to close the vizor of +his helmet, that he might pass unknown, till he arrived before the +council. He willingly complied with this request, for nothing was more +painful to his feelings than to be exposed to the gaze of the curious +or exulting multitude. Numerous serving men were assembled here, whose +different costumes and badges of distinction led Albert to suppose a +large assemblage of nobles and knights were congregated in the tent. + +The news that a troop of infantry had taken a man of distinction +prisoner, appeared to have preceded his arrival, for when Albert threw +himself from his saddle, the people crowded around him, and, with looks +of curiosity, tried to get a sight of his features through the +apertures of his vizor. A page of honour with difficulty made his way +through the multitude, having been sent, "in the name of the commanders +of the League," to open a road by which the prisoner could reach the +tent. Three of the men who had taken him were ordered to follow; their +joy was unbounded, and they thought of nothing less than receiving +immediately the gold florins which had been offered as the price for +the person of the Duke of Wuertemberg. + +The inner curtain of the tent being drawn up, Albert walked in boldly +and with a firm, step, looking round upon the men who were to decide +upon his fate. Many known faces were among the number, who eyed him +with inquisitive penetrating looks. The scowling glance and inimical +front of Truchses von Waldburg were still fresh in his memory, and the +scornful exulting expression of the features of this man did not augur +him any good. Sickingen, Alban von Closen, Hutten, all sat before him +as at that time when he bid the League an eternal farewell. But when he +beheld that noble figure, those dignified features of Fronsberg, which +were deeply engraven on his grateful heart, he felt self convicted in +his own estimation. It was not contempt or triumphant joy which sat +upon his features,--no, it was an expression of sorrowing +thoughtfulness, with which an honourable man receives a valiant +conquered enemy. + +Albert now stood before these men, when Truchses von Waldburg +began:--"The Swabian League has at last the honour of seeing the +illustrious Duke of Wuertemberg before them. The invitation which you +sent to us was certainly much too courteous, but----" + +"You are mistaken," answered Albert, raising the vizor of his helmet at +the same time. The members of the League started when they beheld the +fine countenance of the young knight, as if they had seen Minerva's +shield and Medusa's head. + +"Ha! traitors! base villains! dogs!" cried Truchses to the three +soldiers; "what cub do you bring here in the place of the Duke? The +very sight of him excites my bile! Tell me quickly what has become of +him--speak!" + +The soldiers turned pale. "Is he not the right one?" they asked. "That +was him with the green cloak." + +Truchses trembled with rage, his eyes darted fire, he would have +executed the soldiers upon the spot, and talked of hanging them; but +the rest of the knights compelled him to curb his violence; and Hutten, +pale with anger also, but more composed than the other, asked, "Where +is Doctor Calmus? let him come forward, to give an account of himself, +for he volunteered to arrest the Duke." + +"Ah, sir!" replied one of the soldiers, "his account is already +settled; he lies dead on the bridge of Koengen." + +"Killed?" cried Sickingen, "and the Duke fled! relate the circumstance, +villains!" + +We placed ourselves in ambush near the bridge, as the doctor ordered +us. It was still dark, when we heard the tread of horses approach the +bridge, and at the same time perceived the signal which our cavalry on +the other side of it had agreed to make as soon as the Duke's party +issued from the wood. "Now is the time," cried the doctor; "we +instantly got up and occupied the exit from the bridge. As far as we +could distinguish, four horsemen and a peasant formed the party. The +two hindermost turned back and engaged our cavalry, whilst the other +two, and the peasant, attacked us. + +"We stretched out our lances, the doctor calling to them to surrender; +but they paid no attention to the summons, and fell on us with +determined fury. The man in the green mantle was pointed out as the +prize, and we should soon have had him had it not been for the +peasant,--if it was not, indeed, the very devil himself,--who with his +axe felled the doctor and two of our comrades in a trice. One of our +party revenged our leader's life by running the peasant through the +body with his halbert, which encouraged us to renew our attack on the +man in the green mantle. His companion sprang his horse over the bridge +into the Neckar, and swam down the river. Having subdued the man who +was our principal object, we let the other go, and brought the prisoner +with us." + +"That was Ulerich, and no other," cried Alban von Klosen. "Ha! to jump +over the bridge into the river! no other man in the whole world would +have dared to do so." + +"We must follow him," Truchses exclaimed; "the whole of the cavalry +must start immediately and hunt the banks of the river,--I myself will +go----" + +"Oh! sir," replied one of the soldiers, "you are too late; we left the +bridge three hours ago, so that he will have got a long start, and, as +no one knows the country better than he does, there is no chance of +finding him." + +"Fellow! do you mean to prescribe to me what to do?" cried Truchses in +fury: "You allowed him to escape, and you shall be answerable for it. +Call the guard--I'll have you hung at once!" + +"Pray be just," said Fronsberg. "It was not the poor fellows' fault; +they would have been too happy to have earned the money which was set +on the Duke's head. The doctor was the cause of his escape, and you +have already heard he is not alive to answer for it." + +"It was you, therefore, who represented the person of the Duke," said +Truchses, turning to Albert, who had calmly looked on during this +scene. "You are always coming in my way, with your milk face. The devil +employs you everywhere, when you are least wanted. This is not the +first time that you have crossed my plans." + +"No," replied Albert, "for when you fell upon the Duke, as you +supposed, at Neuffen, it was I who crossed your path there also; and it +was I whom your men cut down that night." + +The knights were astonished to hear this, and looked inquisitively at +Truchses. He reddened, but whether from anger or shame it was not +known, and said, "What are you chattering about Neuffen? I know nothing +about that affair. I only regret that when they cut you down you had +ever risen again to appear before me this day a second time. But as it +is, I rejoice to have you in my clutches. You have proved yourself the +bitterest enemy of the League; you have acted in the service of the +exiled Duke both openly and secretly, thereby sharing his offence +against us and the whole empire. Beside these crimes, you have been +taken this day with arms in your hands. You are therefore guilty of +high treason against the most illustrious League of Swabia and +Franconia." + +"Your charges are highly ridiculous," replied the young man, in a tone +of defiance: "you made me swear to remain neuter between the two +parties for fourteen days, to which I faithfully adhered, so true as +God is my witness. You have no right to require an account of my +conduct since that time, for I was no longer bound to you: and as to +what you say of my being taken with arms in my hand, I would ask you, +noble knights, who among you would not defend his life to the last when +he was attacked by six or eight men? I demand then, as my right, the +treatment becoming the rank of knighthood; and therefore I am ready to +swear to a six weeks' neutrality. You cannot require more of me." + +"Would you prescribe laws to us?" said Truchses. "You have learned a +good lesson, indeed, from the Duke. I think I hear him speaking; but +not one step shall you take to your friends before you own where that +old fox, your father-in-law, is, and the road the Duke has taken." + +"The knight of Lichtenstein was taken prisoner by your cavalry," he +replied; "but the road which the Duke has taken, I know not; and I am +ready to give my word of honour upon it." + +"To be treated as a knight, indeed!" said Truchses, with a sarcastic +laugh; "there you deceive yourself altogether. You must first prove +where you won the golden spur! No; such criminals as you, are, +according to our laws, thrown into the lowest dungeons; and so I will +commence with you." + +"I think that unnecessary," interrupted Fronsberg. "I will answer for +Albert von Sturmfeder that he has a right to the golden spurs; besides +which, he saved the life of a noble belonging to the League. You cannot +forget the evidence of Dieterich von Kraft, how, through the +intercession of this knight, he was saved from an ignominious death, +and was even set at liberty. He has a right, therefore, to the same +treatment by us." + +"I know you have always spoken a word for him, your darling child," +rejoined Truchses; "but this once it is of no avail. He must be sent to +the tower of Esslingen this very moment." + +"I will stand bail for him," said Fronsberg. "I possess the right of a +voice in council with the rest. Let it pass to the vote what is to be +done with the prisoner. In the mean while, let him be conducted to my +tent." + +Albert cast a look of heartfelt gratitude at his kind noble friend, for +having a second time saved him from a threatened danger. Truchses +muttered an order to the guards to follow the orders of Fronsberg, who +led their prisoner through the narrow paths of the camp to the tent of +the commander of the infantry. + +Shortly after he had arrived at his destination, the man to whom he was +so highly indebted stood before him, but Albert could not find words to +express his sense of gratitude and respect. Fronsberg smiled at his +embarrassment, and embraced him. "No thanks, no excuses," said he. "Did +I not already anticipate all this when we took leave of each other in +Ulm? But you would not believe me, and were determined to bury yourself +among the ruins of the castle of your ancestors. I do not blame you; +for believe me the campaigns and storms of many wars have not yet +hardened my heart so much as to make me forget the power of love." + +"My friend, my father!" exclaimed Albert, blushing with joy. + +"Yes, I am truly your father,--the friend of your father. I have often +thought of you with pride, even when you stood opposed to me in the +enemy's ranks. Your name, young as you are, will always be mentioned +with respect; for fidelity and courage in an enemy are always highly +esteemed by a man of honour. Most of us rejoice that the Duke has +escaped, for what could we have done with him? Truchses might perhaps +have committed a rash step, which we all might have had cause to +repent." + +"And what is my fate to be?" asked Albert. "Am I to remain long in +prison? Where is the knight of Lichtenstein? Oh, my poor wife! may I +not see her?" + +Fronsberg smiled mysteriously. "That will be difficult to manage," said +he. "You will be sent to a fortress under safe escort, and given over +to a guard, who will have orders to watch you strictly, and from whose +charge you will not escape so easily. But, be of good cheer; the knight +of Lichtenstein will accompany you, and both of you must swear to a +year's neutrality and imprisonment." + +Fronsberg was now interrupted by three men, who stormed his tent;--it +was Breitenstein and Dieterich von Kraft, leading the knight of +Lichtenstein between them. + +"Do I see you again, my brave lad?" cried Breitenstein, as he took +Albert's hand. "You have played me a pretty trick; your old uncle made +me promise, upon my soul, to make something out of you, which would do +honour to the League, but you deserted to the enemy, cutting and +slashing at us, and nearly gained the victory yesterday by your +hot-brained, desperate attack on our artillery!" + +"Every one to his taste," replied Fronsberg; "he did honour to his +friends, even in the enemy's ranks." + +The knight of Lichtenstein embraced his son. "He is in safety," he +whispered to him. Their eyes beamed with joy, in having both been +instrumental in saving their unhappy Prince. The old knight discovered +the green mantle which still hung on the shoulders of his son, and +said, in astonishment, a tear of joy starting to his eye, "Ah, now I +understand how everything has come to pass; they mistook you for the +Duke. What would have become of him but for your courage and presence +of mind in the critical moment? Your bravery and foresight have +achieved more than any of us, and, though we are prisoners, we are +still conquerors! Come to my heart, thou most noble son!" + +"And Maxx von Stumpf Schweinsberg!" asked Albert, "what has become of +him? is he a prisoner also?" + +"He cut his way through the enemy,--for who could withstand his arm? My +old bones are powerless, I am of no more use; but he has joined the +Duke, and will be of more assistance to him than fifty horsemen. But I +did not see the fifer,--tell me, how did he come out of the fray?" + +"As a hero," replied Albert, agitated by a feeling of deep regret at +the recollection of him; "he was run through the body by a lance, and +his corpse lies on the bridge." + +"Dead!" cried Lichtenstein, and his voice trembled. "His was indeed a +faithful soul,--may it rest in peace! His actions were noble, and he +died true to his master, as all should do." + +Fronsberg now approached them, and interrupted their conversation. "You +appear much cast down," said he; "but be of good cheer and consolation, +noble sir! the fortune of war is changeable, and your Duke will, in all +probability, once more return to his native country. Who knows if it is +not better that we should send him to foreign parts again for a short +time? Put by your helmet and armour; your fight at breakfast time will +not have spoiled your appetite for mid-day's meal. Seat yourself beside +us. About noon I expect the guardian, who is to have charge of you in +your confinement; until then, let's be cheerful." + +"That's a proposition we can readily satisfy," cried Breitenstein. +"Dinner is ready, gentlemen: you and I have not dined together, Albert, +since that day in the townhall of Ulm. Come, and we'll make up for lost +time." + +Hans von Breitenstein seated himself with Albert next to him; the +others followed his example; the servants brought the dinner, and wine +made the knight of Lichtenstein and his son forget, for a time, their +unfortunate situation of being in the enemy's camp, and the uncertainty +of their fate, which, according to Fronsberg's assurance, was to be an +imprisonment of long duration. Towards the end of the repast Fronsberg +was called away, but he soon returned, and said, with a serious +countenance, "Willingly as I would wish to enjoy your society some time +longer, my friends, I am sorry to compel you to break up. The guard is +without into whose charge I must deliver you, and I would advise you to +lose no time, if you would arrive at the fortress of your confinement +before dark." + +"I trust our guard is one of our own rank,--a knight?" asked +Lichtenstein, whilst his face assumed a gloomy, indignant frown. "I +hope proper attention will be paid to our rights, and that we shall +have an escort fitting our station." + +"No knight will accompany you," said Fronsberg, "but a fitting escort, +of which you shall convince yourself." With these words he raised the +curtain of his tent, discovering to the astonished father and son the +lovely features of Bertha. She flew into the arms of her enraptured +husband. Her venerable father, speechless from joy and surprise, kissed +his child on her forehead, and pressed the hand of the honest Fronsberg +in token of heartfelt gratitude. + +"That is your guardian," said the latter; "and the castle of +Lichtenstein the place of your confinement. I can see already, in your +eyes," addressing himself to Bertha, "that you will not be too severe +with the young man, and that the old man will not have to complain. But +let me advise you, my pretty daughter, to have a watchful eye to your +prisoners; don't let them out of the castle, for fear of their +rejoining the cause of certain people. Your pretty head will answer for +their actions!" + +"But, dear sir," replied Bertha, whilst she drew her beloved closer to +her, and smiled playfully at the stern commander, "recollect he is my +head,--so how can I command him?" + +"That is just the reason why you should take care not to lose it again. +Bind him fast with the knot of love,--let him not escape, for he easily +changes his colours; of which we have had proofs sufficient." + +"I only wore one colour, my fatherly friend!" replied the young man, +looking at his beautiful wife, and pointing to the scarf which he wore, +"only one, and to this I remained faithful." + +"Well, then! remain true to it for the future," said Fronsberg, and +gave him his hand to depart. "Farewell! your horses are before the +tent: may you arrive happily at your destination, and think sometimes, +in friendship, of old Fronsberg." + +Bertha took leave of this worthy man with tears of grateful thanks in +her eyes; the men also were overcome when they took his hand, for they +were well aware that, without his kind interference, their fate might +have been of a very different stamp. George von Fronsberg followed the +happy party with his eye until they turned the corner of the long lane +of tents. "He is in good hands," said he, as he turned to Breitenstein. +"Truly the blessing of his father rests upon him. Not a better or more +beautiful wife, and more honourable son, will be found in all Swabia." + +"Yes, yes!" replied Hans von Breitenstein, "but he has not to thank his +own wits or foresight for it. He who seeks to better his fortune, +let him conduct a wife home. I am fifty years old, and still on the +look-out for a partner; and you, also, Dieterich von Kraft, are you not +upon the same scent?" + +"Not at all,--quite the contrary,--I am already provided," he replied, +as if awoke out of a dream; "when one sees such a couple, we know what +is next to be done. I am going to put myself, this very hour, into my +sedan, on my journey to Ulm, there to conduct my cousin Marie to my +home. Farewell, my friends!" + + * * * * * + +When the Swabian League had reconquered Wuertemberg, they re-established +their government, and reigned over the whole country, as in the summer +of 1519. The partisans of the exiled Duke were compelled to swear +neutrality, and were banished to their respective castles. Albert von +Sturmfeder and his family were included in this mild destiny, living +retired on the Lichtenstein; and a new life of peaceable domestic +happiness fell to the lot of the loving couple. + +Often when they stood at the window of the castle, overlooking +Wuertemberg's beautiful fields, they would think of their unfortunate +Prince, who also once viewed his country from the same spot. It +reminded them of the chain of events of their own history, and of the +extraordinary means by which their union had been brought about; and +which they did not fail to acknowledge, would perhaps not have happened +so soon, had their fate been otherwise ordained. But they felt the joy +of their existence incomplete when they thought of the founder of their +happiness, living in the misery of banishment far from his country. + +Some years after the fatal battle, the Duke succeeded in re-conquering +Wuertemberg. The stern lesson of adversity and misfortune brought him +back a wiser Prince and a happier man. He re-established the ancient +rights and laws of the land, and won the hearts of his people by +judicious measures. He enforced the preaching of holy doctrines, and by +his example recommended the practice of them. The religious principles +he had imbibed in foreign lands, and which had afforded him the only +consolation amidst his sufferings, he now infused into the laws of his +country, as the only sure foundation-stone of a people's happiness. +Albert and his pious wife plainly discovered the finger of a merciful +God watching over the fate of Ulerich von Wuertemberg. They blessed Him +who thus veils futurity from the eye of mortals, and, as in the present +instance, turns dark into light to those who seek his guidance and +protection in faith. + +The name of Lichtenstein in Wuertemberg became extinct at the death +of the old knight; but he lived long enough to see his blooming +grand-children attain the age of bearing arms. And in this way +generation after generation pass over the face of the earth, new comers +thrusting out old ones, and after a short lapse of fifty or an hundred +years, the fame of honest men and faithful hearts is forgotten. The +rushing stream of time drowns the voice of their remembrance, and only +a few brilliant names float down the tide of history and play upon its +surface in partial glittering light. Far more happy is the man whose +actions carry their own silent worth along with them, finding their +reward alone in the purity of conscience, and passing through life +without courting the praise or flattery of the times in which he lived, +nor living for the applause of after ages. The name of the fifer of +Hardt and his actions, have come down to us in simple garb, through the +medium of successive generations of shepherds in the neighbourhood of +the "Misty Cavern." They relate the deeds of the man who concealed his +unfortunate Duke among its deep recesses, as they conduct the stranger +through their gloomy paths, and talk of the romantic events of +Ulerich's life. The writer of history disdains such stories as unworthy +of his pen; but they are not the less credible. When recounted on the +spot, such as on the heights of Lichtenstein, where the Duke came every +night at a stated hour to the castle, and when the place is pointed out +on the bridge of Koengen, whence the undaunted man took the fearful leap +into the deep waters below for life or death, we listen to the details +with believing ears. + +The old castle of Lichtenstein has long since fallen into ruin. A +huntsman's house now occupies its foundations, light and airy, like a +castle in the air, which imagination builds upon the ruins of +antiquity. Wuertemberg's fields spread themselves before the enchanted +eye, rich and blooming as formerly, when Bertha by the side of her +lover gazed upon them, and the most unhappy of her princes cast a +farewell glance on his country from Lichtenstein's windows. The +subterranean apartments of the castle, which received the exile, are +still to be seen, in all their pride and glory; and the murmuring +streams, gushing through the mysterious depths at the foot of the rock, +would seem to relate events long since buried in oblivion. + +It is a delightful custom of the inhabitants of the country, and also +of the stranger from distant parts, to visit Lichtenstein and Ulerich's +cavern on Whitsunday. Many hundreds of Swabia's children are attracted +to these mountains on that day. They descend into the heart of the +earth, whose crystal walls, lighted up by thousands of wax tapers, are +made to reflect their sparkling beauties in numberless fantastic forms; +they fill the cavern with the sound of the merry song, and listening to +its echoes, which are accompanied by the melodious murmur of the +running streams in the depth below, enjoy the wonders of nature's handy +work. Having satisfied their curiosity, they return to the light of +day, more pleased than ever with the glories of sunshine and the +comfort of earth's blessings. Ascending the road leading to the heights +of Lichtenstein, they arrive on its summit, where the men, surrounded +by their wives and families, with the glass in the hand, overlook the +distant fields, displayed to their view in all the lovely colours of +the setting sun, and, with grateful hearts, thank heaven for the +blessings of their father-land. The halls of Lichtenstein resound again +with music, dancing, and the merry song, and the echo from its rocks +seems to inspire the jovial guests with recollections of the former +inmates of the castle, and with them to gaze upon good old Wuertemberg. +But whether the spirit of the lady of Lichtenstein, with that of Albert +and the old knight, inspires them, or whether the faithful musician of +Hardt quits his grave, and, as he was wont to do during his life, +mounts up to the castle to cheer it with music and song, we know not. +Often have we reposed on these rocks on a still summer's evening, +enjoying the landscape, talking over the good old times, witnessing the +sun's descent, and observing the castle, standing alone and solitary, +lighted up by its last rays. Then it was we fancied we could +distinguish, among the rustling of the trees, the sound of known +voices, floating on the gentle breeze, wafting to our ears their +salutations, and recounting the events of their past lives and actions. +We have frequently experienced such like feelings, presenting to our +imagination images, which fancy would realize before our eyes, and +salute our ears with the whisper of their romantic tales, until at +length we verily believed them to be,--the spirits of Lichtenstein. + + + + + THE END. + + + + + J. B. 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