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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/32444-8.txt b/32444-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4ea28f7 --- /dev/null +++ b/32444-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9030 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales from the German. Volume II., by +Carl Franz van der Velde + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tales from the German. Volume II. + The Lichtensteins, The Sorceress, The Anabaptist + +Author: Carl Franz van der Velde + +Translator: Nathaniel Greene + +Release Date: May 19, 2010 [EBook #32444] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM THE GERMAN. VOLUME II. *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provide by the Web Archive + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/talesfromgerman01greegoog + +2. This volume includes these stories: The Lichtensteins: A +Tale of the Times of the Thirty Years War; The Sorceress; +and The Anabaptist: A Tale of the First Half of the Sixteenth +Century. + + + + + + + TALES + + + FROM THE GERMAN + + + TRANSLATED + + BY NATHANIEL GREENE. + + + + VOLUME II. + + + + + + BOSTON: + AMERICAN STATIONERS' COMPANY, + JOHN B. RUSSELL. + + 1837. + + + + + + + BOSTON: + Samuel N. Dickinson, Printer, + 52, Washington Street. + + + + + + + THE LICHTENSTEINS. + + A TALE OF THE TIMES OF THE THIRTY YEARS WAR. + + BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +On christmas-eve, in the year 1628, Katharine, the wife of the merchant +Fessel, of Schweidnitz, was standing in her large back parlor, with her +infant upon her arm, arranging with feminine taste, upon a long table +covered with a snow-white cloth, the Christmas gifts destined for her +husband, her children, and the other members of her family. + +At a table in the corner, sat the book-keeper, Oswald Dorn, giving the +finishing touch to a miniature manger, which he had ingeniously +constructed for the children of his employer. He now placed a +beautifully painted angel, cut out of isinglass, in the side of the +manger in which the infant Savior lay, for the purpose of indicating +the celestial mission of the heavenly messenger by its transparent +brilliancy. He gave yet another satisfied look at the well executed +work, and then approached Katharine, who had, meanwhile, spread out an +infinite variety of useful and agreeable presents, articles of dress, +pieces of coin, books, toys, &c. She was now distributing to each one +his portion of cakes, sweet biscuits, sugar animals, gingerbread, +apples and nuts, with just impartiality. In deep thought, the +book-keeper took from the table two figures formed of Schweidnitz +gingerbread. They represented two of Dr. Martin Luther's enemies, +Tetzel and Eck, in their official robes, disfigured with the heads of +animals. The names inscribed on them left no doubt whom they were +intended to represent. Dorn examined the caricatures with an ominous +shake of the head. 'Do not give these ill-shaped things to the +children,' said he. 'Believe me, it is not well for them to be so early +taught to make war upon opinions which they do not understand. Mockery +and derision are bad aids to the holy cause, and the hand, which grasps +filth to throw at an adversary, is itself the first soiled. The +bitterness, with which the struggle for truth and spiritual freedom has +been carried on, has already spread enough of suffering and misery over +Europe. Let not the demon of sectarian zeal intrude itself into the +nursery.' + +'You take every thing in the same earnest and serious way,' jestingly +answered the friendly Katharine, laying the caricature figures aside. +'Who that heard you would suppose you had bravely drawn your sword for +the new faith yourself? The red scar upon your forehead contradicts +your words.' + +'You are right,' cried Dorn with emotion. 'I have wielded the sword for +the new faith. A bold captain of daring robbers, I have achieved many a +deed of arms under this pretext; but daily do I pray to God to pardon +me for it!' + +He hastened away. The reverend Johannes Beer, who had entered the room +unnoticed at the commencement of this conversation, looked after him +with astonishment, and then asked the hostess: 'that young man talks +very strangely--may he not be a papist in disguise, sent into this +house as a spy for our destruction?' + +'By no means!' cried Katharine with zeal. 'You know, my worthy sir, +that he was wounded fighting for the Augsburg confession, and during +the two years he has dwelt under our roof, he has constantly evinced so +true an attachment for us, and such a noble zeal against the tyranny of +the pope, that I would answer for his honesty with my life.' + +'You judge of others according to the goodness of your own heart!' +cried the parson. 'Believe me, in the iron times in which we live one +cannot be too cautious. One Judas was found even among the apostles. +Many a one who was a Paul for the pure evangelical doctrines has fallen +from the faith, and now rages an angry Saul against his former +brethren. The devil has once more become wholly devilish, and the +anti-christ again goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may +devour. The emperor, incited by the monks, has determined to effect a +counter reformation in Silesia; and already in Glogau, the +Lichtensteins,[1] those terrible men of blood, who convert by fire and +sword, are raging in a furious and shocking manner.' + +'Ah, reverend sir,' complained Katharine, 'we have invited you to share +our joys and partake with us of the festival of our Lord; but by +repeating such dreadful news you will embitter all our enjoyments, and +convert our christmas supper into a mourning feast.' + +'It is the duty of a faithful pastor,' said the clergyman, 'to frighten +away the sleep of safety into which we are rocked by ease and +selfishness. Our good Schweidnitz will also have to suffer in its turn. +Have they not already taken from us the honorably purchased church of +the cross, and the church of our dear lady of the woods? Have they not +already forbidden us the service of God in the church of the Holy +Ghost? They will surely take the earliest opportunity to do the same +with St. Stanislaus and St. Wenceslaus. Various suspicious signs and +tokens have lately been seen. As I was observing the stars last night, +with my colleague Glogero, the constellations were very ominous; and +about midnight a fearful sign arose in the heavens from the north. A +large red ball of fire described a flaming arch from the edge of the +horizon to the zenith of the parish church, where it burst with a +powerful explosion. It indicates the near proximity of great danger to +our religious liberties.' + +During this speech so prophetic of evil, Katharine, with a happy +feminine tact, contrived to forget the threatened troubles amid the +little cares of the moment, and proceeded to ignite the innumerable +lights of the christmas-trees, and those placed in the little manger +for the purpose of illuminating its interior. The brightness of day was +diffused through the large room, which awaked the child upon her bosom, +and it smilingly stretched out its little hands toward the joyous +light. + +'See how my little Johannes is delighted,' said the mother to the +gloomy man. 'Careless of the threatening future, he enjoys the present. +Does not our holy bible say, 'unless you become like little children +you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven!' Therefore leave the +portentous future to the wise guidance of God, and be happy with us +to-night, for once, like this harmless child. Above all, be silent in +my husband's presence, respecting your bad news. He has been very +anxious and dejected for some days, and I shall be much grieved if +anything occur to render us unhappy this evening, to which christians +of all denominations look with general joy as the anniversary of their +common origin.' + +One of Fessel's apprentices now opened the door. 'My master directs me +to say to you,' cried he, 'that you may immediately commence the +distribution of the presents, before it is too late. He has yet much to +do in the counting-room. Two important letters have arrived. He will +come to you at the earliest moment possible.' + +'That is not at all pleasant!' sighed Katharine, as the messenger +disappeared. 'There can be no true family festival where the master of +the house is missing. Nevertheless, my husband is right! If I delay +much longer, the supper will be spoiled and everything will be in +disorder.' She rang a bell which stood upon the table. A distant shout +of children answered the noisy summons. She rang a second time, when +the shouts came nearer, and a joyous tumult arose at the door of the +room. She now put down the bell, and looked pleasedly toward the door, +before which the whispering, laughing and tramping band awaited the +third call. + +'They must wait a little,' said Katharine, smiling, to the clergyman. +'It seasons the pleasure, and is a wholesome lesson for youth, when +early taught.' The holy man nodded assent to the pedagogical artifice; +but meanwhile the mother's heart began to yield, and impelled +Katharine's hand toward the bell. + +The third call now sounded, when the door burst open as if at the +explosion of a petard, and the four children of Fessel, two vigorous +boys and two lovely girls, stormed into the room, surrounding and +dragging their favorite, the book-keeper, along with them. After them +followed the clerks, apprentices, servants and maidens, who modestly +arranged themselves in a row near the door until their places were +pointed out to them. + +The children precipitated themselves toward the richly laden table like +a rushing stream, recognizing the portion destined for each with a +searching and rapid glance. 'I will draw this against Wallenstein!' +screamed the wild Martin, brandishing a little sword that he found +among his presents. 'A bible and a bunch of quills,' cried the +intellectual Ulrich, holding them up: 'now I will write against the +papists like the noble Hutten, whose name I bear. 'Alas, the poor +maidens who can never be married!' cried both of the girls, bringing +two waxen nuns to their mother. + +'Beloved children!' said the clergyman, pressing them all to his heart. +They tore themselves from his arms and broke out in a simultaneous +shout of astonishment and joy upon observing the miniature manger. Then +as if beside themselves they ran, tumbling over each other, to their +mother, the clergyman and Dorn, thankfully showing and praising their +several presents. + +'Will you not look at your christmas present, master Dorn?' asked +Katharine of the book-keeper, who kept himself apart in serious +silence. + +He turned toward the designated place with a melancholy smile, and as +he cast his eyes upon the rich present, a complete and splendid +dress-suit with a full complement of the finest linen, he turned again +with deep emotion to Katharine, who was pointing out their places to +the rest of the household. + +'This is too much, madam Katharine,' he cried. 'How may you thus favor +the stranger beyond the children of your house?' + +'The stranger?' asked Katharine resentfully. 'In our hearts it has been +a long time since you were so, and we should much regret to have you +consider yourself one. Believe me, we are sensible what a faithful +companion and assistant my husband has acquired in you, and that every +thing we can do for you is but honestly discharging our obligations.' + +'Ah, see, master Dorn, you also have got a sword!' cried Martin, +holding up this essential part of the dress of a burgher in those +times, which lay by Dorn's present. + +Dorn suddenly approached the boy and taking the magnificent sword from +his hands gazed upon it with secret pleasure. At length he could no +longer resist the desire to draw and try the temper of the blade. + +'You are not angry,' asked Katharine, 'that a lady should presume to +arm you? Really your old sword with its hacked hilt and notched and +rusty blade, would not have become your new suit.' + +'You have done well, worthy lady,' said Dorn, proving the blade by +pressing its point against the floor and bending it in every direction. +'The old sword had indeed become dear to me, like an old friend who had +always remained true in times of necessity and danger; but I never +reflect upon the deeds I have performed with it without shuddering. It +seems to me that it is possessed by an evil spirit which impels my hand +to deeds of blood against my will, and I therefore do not like to touch +it. This has as yet drank no blood, and, so help me God, I will +preserve it unstained unless I am compelled to draw it in defence of +the hearth where I, a friendless stranger, have been so hospitably +received.' + +'Or in defence of religion,' added the parson. + +'The true religion, most worthy sir,' answered Dorn, 'needs not the aid +of the sword!' + +The reverend man had already opened his mouth to refute this bold +proposition, when the master of the house entered with a clouded +countenance, holding two open letters in his hand. He briefly greeted +the parson, gently put aside the children who gathered about him in +their noisy joy, and handed one of the letters to his wife. + +'From your mother, at Sagan,' said he; and while she proceeded to read +it with visible terror, he drew the book-keeper to a window. + +'I have a sudden and disagreeable business for you,' said he to Dorn. +'The terrible Wallenstein conducts himself in his new dukedom with a +tyranny almost unheard of among christians. He has determined to send +all the orphan sons of burghers of Sagan to the school he has recently +established at Gitschin. Those whom he has found in the place, have +been forcibly sent to Bohemia. Their property and relatives are held +answerable for the absent. As you already know, my mother-in-law's +nephew, young Engelmann, is at present studying at the gymnasium in +this city; and the tyrant has thrown his uncle and guardian into prison +until the pupil shall be forthcoming. No other course remains, but to +send the poor boy home as soon as possible; and, that he may, in these +dangerous times, reach Sagan with safety, it is my wish that you would +accompany him. When there, you may also be able to assist me in another +affair. I have loaned a thousand gilders upon the two houses of the +joiner Eckebrect. My debtor now informs me that the houses are among +those the duke has caused to be demolished for the purpose of opening a +better view for his palace. Nothing has yet been said respecting +indemnification. I therefore wish you, while on the spot, to obtain all +the information you can upon the subject.' + +'I am very willingly at your service,' modestly answered Dorn. 'When +shall I set out?' + +'Did I not fear the sin of keeping you from church on christmas night,' +said Fessel, 'I would beg of you to start this very evening. Sagan is +distant, and old Engelmann is a very worthy man, whose release from +prison I should be glad to effect as soon as possible.' + +'The performance of duty is God's service!' cried Dorn. 'I will go +immediately and prepare for the journey.' He left the room, followed by +the boys, who lamented the loss of their best christmas enjoyment in +his departure. + +'Your book-keeper is indeed no papist,' said the parson to Katharine +after a long pause; 'but there may also be some doubt of his +Lutheranism; for he appears to sustain the doctrine of good works. He +may be tinctured with Calvinism. + +'If he were, he would still be our protestant co-laborer and brother in +Christ,' answered Fessel in the name of his consort, who was busily +reading. + +'Calvin, Zuinglius, and the pope--all are heretics alike!' grumbled the +parson. + +The weeping Katharine now folded the letter, handed it to her husband, +and in a soft, submissive voice asked him: 'What have you decided upon, +Tobias?' + +'I wished to advise with you upon the matter first, my Kitty,' he +answered, in a friendly manner. 'They are your nearest relatives who +now seek a refuge with us, and I would not willingly leave them in the +claws of those fiends; but at all events their coming would increase +your domestic cares, and I know not whether you would like to have your +mother and sister reside in the family.' + +'As I know my beloved ones,' she joyfully answered, 'I have only +relief, consolation and joy, to expect from them; and, if my opinion is +to decide the matter, I beg you with all my heart to have them brought +here.' + +Dorn now entered the room in his traveling dress, with his rusty sword +by his side. He was followed by Martin and Ulrich, and the young +Engelmann with his traveling bag in his hand, much grieved at being +compelled to leave his dear Schweidnitz for a strange school where he +was unknowing and unknown. + +'The carriage is ready,' said the book-keeper. 'I come to take my +leave, and ask if you have any further commands for me.' + +'I have yet one more request, my dear friend,' answered the merchant. +'A captain of Wallenstein's body guards is quartered in the house of my +mother-in-law at Sagan, who plays the duke of Friedland on a small +scale in the quiet residence of the widow; and, what is still more +unfortunate, woos the favor of my sister-in-law after the fashion of a +wild Tartar. She very naturally rejects the monster, who has already +served under four different masters, has four times changed his +religion, and is now, by accident, a catholic; but the refusal has +brought her no relief, and he only, who knows how much a bad man may +afflict a family upon whom he is quartered, can imagine what the poor +women must suffer. On this account they wish to leave all behind them +and flee to me at Schweidnitz; and after having delivered up your +scholar, you can bring them with you on your return. This writing may +serve as your credential.' + +'I beg of you to be especially careful that you suffer no injury on the +way from the marauding soldiers, who render the public roads unsafe,' +said Katharine with anxious solicitude. + +'I take with me my faithful old battle-companion,' said Dorn, striking +the hilt of his sword with a glance in which all his former military +spirit shone forth. 'Do not be concerned for me, madam Katharine. We +have a hard frost--I shall let the horses travel at a round pace--and +with God's blessing, I will be here to partake of the christmas supper, +which I should have eaten now, with you and your dear relatives on new +year's eve.' + +He raised the sorrowing children, whom even the ingeniously constructed +manger could not console for his departure, one after the other to his +lips, bowed to the others, disappeared with his protégé, and the wheels +of his carriage were soon heard rattling over the hard-frozen ground. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +It was the evening of the third christmas holiday. The snow-flakes were +merrily whirling about out of doors; and in a well warmed room at Sagan +sat the merchant's widow, Prudentia Rosen, with her daughter, the +lovely Faith. Both of them were industriously winding the fine spun +thread upon the twirling spindles. The impudent captain of the guards +had planted himself in the matron's armchair, at the table, and was +afflicting the poor women by a recital of his terrible warlike deeds, +while he emptied the silver goblet standing before him, and directed +love-glances, which made him look even more disagreeable, at poor +Faith, who, sighingly and reluctantly replenished it from time to time. + +The servant announced a stranger who wished to speak with madam Rosen +alone. + +The widow rose to go out in obedience to the summons; but the captain +sneeringly observed that as she could have no motive for a secret +interview with the stranger, she could give the required audience in +his presence. + +The widow nodded to the servant, with a slight shrug of the shoulders +at this new exhibition of insolence. The latter immediately ushered in +a young man, who greeted the ladies with modest friendliness, and the +captain with cold courtesy. + +'I am the book-keeper of your son-in-law,' said he. 'I have the honor +to hand you this letter as my credential, and to inform you, that, if +agreeable, yourself and daughter can accompany me to Schweidnitz +to-morrow morning.' + +'How? You wish to leave Sagan now, madam Rosen?' asked the captain, +angrily stroking his red beard. + +'Family affairs render this journey unavoidable,' answered the widow, +with quiet firmness. + +'You must arrange the matter otherwise,' blustered the ruffian. 'Your +most imperative duty is to remain here and provide for the comfort of +those who are quartered in your house.' + +'Do not be anxious on that score, captain,' answered the widow. 'Every +thing will be furnished that you need in my absence.' + +'Then go, in the devil's name, where you please,' cried the captain; +'but, that my comfort may not be disturbed, your daughter remains +behind to discharge the duties of hostess.' + +'Give yourself no uneasiness, madam Rosen,' said Dorn, consolingly, to +the terrified woman. 'If you are not by the duke of Friedland's command +a prisoner in your own house, the captain will let you go without +requiring a hostage.' + +'How is that?' cried the irritated captain, viewing the young man from +head to foot. The latter quietly returned his measuring glance, whilst +the beauteous Faith timidly raised her eyes from her spindle, inwardly +delighted with the fearlessness of the interesting stranger. + +'You are a fine fellow,' said the captain with a malicious smile; +'well-grown and strong; and your bold behavior is very becoming. You +would make a good trooper. Come, do me justice to the health of our +most gracious emperor.' + +'We must become better acquainted with each other, captain, before we +drink together,' answered Dorn, politely declining the goblet. + +'Do you slight my proffered courtesy,' growled the captain; 'or do you +belong to the rebels, that you refuse to drink the emperor's health?' + +'Drink!' imploringly begged the timid Faith, and, vanquished by the +glance which accompanied the request, the youth seized the goblet and +cried, 'May God enlighten the emperor and teach him the true way to +promote the welfare of his subjects!' + +'Bravo, comrade!' cried the captain, as the goblet was drained. 'You +will never regret having entered the emperor's service. I pledge you my +word that you will be a corporal in a month.' + +'What mean you by that?' asked Dorn with surprise. 'The idea of +entering the emperor's service never once came into my head.' + +'You jest!' cried the miscreant. You have drank to the emperor with a +captain in the imperial service, and by that act have become a +soldier.' + +'Is it possible!' cried Dorn. 'Can you so prostitute the emperor's name +as to use it for so low an artifice?' + +'Not a word of opposition, fellow!' said the captain menacingly. 'You +have consented to take service under the standard of his imperial +majesty, and must abide thereby.' + +'I am a free burgher of Schweidnitz,' said Dorn; 'what right have you +to hold me?' + +'What right! what right! blustered the captain, striking the floor with +his sword. 'Here is my right, which is valid through all Europe.' + +'I warn you, captain,' cried Dorn, 'to be cautious how you take a step +which may disgrace you without accomplishing your purpose.' + +'That we shall see!' said the captain; and, going to the door, he threw +it open and cried, 'Orderly!' + +A gigantic guardsman came clattering up the steps, stooped to enter the +room, and then, straitening himself up like a tall pine, thundered, +'Here!' + +'Take this recruit to the guard-room,' commanded the captain, 'and +deliver him over, on my account, to the officer of the day. He may as +well be put in uniform and sworn to his colors this evening as +tomorrow.' + +The colossus stepped up to Dorn, pointed to the door, and in a very +insolent tone commanded, 'March!' + +Dorn hurled him back with great force, and drew from his pocket a +sealed document which he held up to the view of the captain. 'My +commission as captain in the royal Danish service,' said he, 'protects +me against the honor of serving under you. The duke of Friedland shall +satisfy himself of its authenticity to-morrow. To me you must make +reparation, upon the spot, for this personal outrage. Have the goodness +to follow me to the door.' + +The captain, who, like many a bragadocio, hid the ears of the ass under +the skin of the lion, stood utterly confused before the angry youth, in +whom he had very unexpectedly found his match. At length he motioned +his orderly to retire. 'It is not possible for me to accept your +invitation to-night; but early in the morning we will speak further +upon this matter,' said he with constrained courtesy to Dorn, and +immediately left the room. + +'We shall not be able to start before noon, in this way,' said Dorn, +with some little vexation. 'Meanwhile, have the goodness, madam Rosen, +to pack the best and most necessary articles which you may wish to take +with you, to-night.' + +'Ah, that would prove a fruitless trouble, my dear sir!' exclaimed the +widow. 'The captain is now highly incensed, and I believe he would +strike the horses dead before the carriage, sooner than let us go.' + +'I trust some one higher than he can be found here,' said Dorn. 'When +matters come to the worst, I can speak to the duke himself.' + +'God preserve you from that!' cried the widow. 'He is indeed a +passionate, tyrannical man, who will not tolerate even the sparrows +upon his roof. He directly hangs every one who makes the least +opposition to him. He strung up a poor apothecary's apprentice for +making too much noise in his neighborhood with his pestle and mortar, +and a poor child because it cried in its mother's arms.' + +'I nevertheless doubt not he will suffer me to live,' said Dorn, with a +smile. 'I have seen the white of his eye at Dessau, and was not +frightened. Therefore dismiss your fears and pack up as quick as you +can. I shall start at one in the afternoon to-morrow. I have promised +your daughter to be in Schweidnitz on new-year's eve, and will keep my +word.' + +He was about to take his leave; but the widow held him fast by both his +hands. + +'No,' cried she, anxiously, 'I will not let you go. I thank God for +sending a manly protector to my house in these evil times, and should +die with fear if compelled to sleep alone under the same roof with that +monster, now that he is irritated. No, you remain with us. My daughter +shall prepare the little guest-chamber for you, and I will mix your +evening draught.' + +'I would not be troublesome to you,' said Dorn, 'at a time when your +house is already occupied by other guests.' + +'It is, indeed, and by those who are uninvited and unwelcome,' sighed +the widow. 'But for that very reason I would add a welcome guest to the +number, that I may know whether I am yet mistress of my own house.' + +In obedience to a nod from her mother. Faith, with blushing cheeks and +downcast eyes, took a light to show the guest to his chamber. He +followed her through the Gothic building, up one flight of steps and +down another, through crooked passages, until they reached a small, but +neatly furnished chamber, in which was a snow white bed. While Faith +removed the flowered damask covering, filled the shining pewter ewer +with fresh water, and hung a towel near it, he was occupied in +observing the beautiful form of the lovely blonde, whose graceful +motions, employed for the promotion of his comfort, were for that +reason rendered doubly charming. + +'Perhaps I render you an unwelcome service in taking you from this +place, fair maiden?' said he, by way of beginning conversation. + +'How can you think so, sir?' quickly replied Faith. 'I thank my God and +yourself for my release.' + +'Well, one cannot always know,' said Dorn, jestingly. 'The heart may +often have attachments in a place otherwise particularly disagreeable.' + +'If I thought you alluded to the captain,' said Faith, with some +asperity, 'I could become angry with you, in the first hour of our +acquaintance.' + +'He is not, indeed, a very fascinating suitor,' continued Dorn; 'but +there nevertheless may be in the city of Sagan, some slender rosy +youth, who has eyes for so beauteous a maiden.' + +'I know none here for whom I could have eyes,' answered the maiden, +quickly, and immediately became somewhat alarmed at the traitorous +emphasis she had laid upon the word _here_. + +'Not here, but elsewhere?' asked Dorn, seizing her delicate white hand. + +'These bold questions come from the evil customs of your hateful +military profession,' said Faith, endeavoring to withdraw her hand. He +suffered her to regain it only by slow degrees, letting but one rosy +finger out of his hand at a time, while his pulse was becoming greatly +accelerated by the soft, caressing touch. His eyes sought and met hers, +which looked kindly upon him, not with the sun's consuming fire, but +with the mild chaste light of the friendly moon. + +'So you have not yet loved, charming Faith?' he earnestly asked, +holding fast the last little finger of the imprisoned hand. + +'What a question,' whispered she, turning away from him. 'I am scarcely +sixteen years old.' + +'Then the first silver-tone is yet to be drawn from this untried 'harp +of a thousand strings;' O, how happy,' cried the youth, 'will be that +artist who shall one day succeed in awakening its thrilling music!' + +Faith suddenly exclaimed, 'Good night, captain!' The farewell bow +released the yet imprisoned finger, and the delightful vision +disappeared. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +When Dorn opened his eyes the next morning, a corporal and six +halbardiers were standing before his bed. + +'Dress yourself quickly,' commanded the corporal. 'I am ordered to +bring you before the duke.' + +Having soon become satisfied that no opposition was, in this case, to +be thought of, Dorn obeyed. As he and his guards were passing through +the streets, he saw many things which went to prove the arbitrary power +of the man before whom his own emperor and all Europe were then +trembling. Notwithstanding the misery and suffering produced by the +war, he saw whole rows of houses which had been repaired, newly +painted, and splendidly furnished, that the city in which the +Friedlander dwelt and governed might present an agreeable appearance to +the eye. The beautiful flocks and herds of the city, driven by weeping +burghers, were making their way toward the gates, having been expelled +because their continuance in the city was inconsistent with the dignity +of a capital. The work of demolition was yet going on in the vicinity +of the palace, and more than fifty houses were lying in ruins. To all +of Dorn's questions, however, the corporal had but one answer:--'the +duke wills it.' They had now reached the castle. The corporal conducted +Dorn through the crowd of halbardiers, footmen and pages, to the +ante-chamber of the audience-room, where fifty of the body guards were +on duty. Two Silesian noblemen, ambassadors to the duke from Leignitz +and Oels-Bernstadt, were here waiting in patient humility to learn if +the dictator would please to grant them an audience. + +At length one of the duke's counsellors came out of the audience-room, +and with insolent hauteur beckoned the Leignitz ambassador, who +reverentially approached the proud knight. + +'What you have delivered to my lord in behalf of your province,' said +the counsellor, with contemptuous disrespect, 'he will take into +consideration and communicate his pleasure to your duke at the next +assembly of the princes. Your complaints against the troops are not +deserving of consideration. The soldier must have something for his +trouble and toil. In that respect, my lord has far heavier and more +just complaints against your duke. The latter has put a man to death +who wished to take service in our army.' + +'The culprit was a subject of our duke, and a wilful murderer,' +answered the ambassador. 'He was executed in accordance with the right +and in pursuance of the judgment of the court of Aldermen of Leignitz.' + +'No court of justice,' continued the counsellor, 'may presume to punish +any one who claims the Friedlander's protection. My lord directs you to +say to your duke, that he must send him two hundred infantry from his +own troops as an indemnification, or the heads of a dozen of the +Leignitz nobility shall be answerable for the neglect.' + +The Leignitz ambassador retired with a deadly paleness, and the +messenger from Oels-Bernstadt was beckoned to approach. + +'Duke Wenzel,' said the counsellor, in a cutting tone, 'has ventured to +hang same soldiers of count Terzky's regiment.' + +'As robbers taken in the act,' interposed the messenger; 'in obedience +to the orders of the generalissimo himself, to keep the high roads +safe, and punish all convicted criminals.' + +'Terzky has written to him,' continued the counsellor, without noticing +the interruption, 'that he has ordered the same number of the prince's +counsellors to be hanged, and that he has already set a price upon +their heads. Thereupon lord Wenzel immediately complained to the +emperor, and the complaint, as was proper, has been transmitted to my +master, who has decided upon the affair. He directs it to be announced +to your master that he approves and will sustain the acts of count +Terzky, and to give an example to the Silesian princes generally, the +principalities and baronies of your master will be confiscated and +divided among those soldiers who have merited them by their services. +With this message you are at liberty to depart.' He turned his back +upon him and with a haughty step returned to the audience-room. The +messengers departed in speechless sorrow, and at that moment a corporal +conducted two well dressed ladies into the ante-chamber. They were +closely veiled and weeping bitterly. Another corporal led a bound +Wallensteiner, with wild, staring eyes, blue lips and bristling' hair, +through the ante-chamber into the audience-room. The ladies now looked +up, and, perceiving Dorn, quickly removed their veils. He instantly +recognized his hospitable hostess and her lovely daughter. + +'My dear Faith!' cried he with tender compassion; but the corporal +rapped him upon the shoulder, and whispered to him, 'silence, if you +have any regard for your neck. Without the duke's permission no word +must be uttered here.' + +A deep and awful silence now prevailed in the ante-chamber, broken only +by some plaintive tone which occasionally reached them through the +double doors which separated the two rooms. An angry voice suddenly +cried within, 'let the brute be hanged!'--'That was the duke,' +whispered one of the soldiers to another. The doors opened, and the +delinquent was again led through the ante-chamber by his companion. +'God be merciful to me!' stammered he, as he staggered onward and +disappeared. + +Again a deep silence, again the doors of the audience-room opened, and +the counsellor cried out, 'the Dane, with the two gentlewomen!' + +'Forward!' commanded each of the corporals, and with a firm step Dorn +walked into the hall, supporting the almost fainting females. + +A tall haggard man, with a dreadful sternness in his yellow face and +small twinkling eyes, frightfully expressive of anxiety, a magnificent +plumed hat upon his short red head, a black velvet Spanish jacket +decked with the stars and chains of various orders, an ermine-trimmed, +dark violet-colored velvet mantle upon his shoulders, was standing by +his gilded armchair before a table, at which three counsellors and a +Jesuit were seated. Six barons and the same number of knights, stood in +files by the wall in respectful silence, that the behests of the +all-powerful noble might be followed by instant execution, as the deed +follows the will, or thunder the lightning. Behind the arm-chair stood +the well known captain of the life guards, who met the entering group +with a smile of Satanic triumph. + +With the majesty of a prince of the lower world, the duke advanced to +Dorn, looked at him with his little piercing eyes as though he would +interrogate his soul, and in a gruff repulsive tone asked him, 'Danish +captain?' + +'By virtue of this commission,' quietly answered Dorn, handing the +document to him. + +The duke glanced through it, gave it back to him, and said, 'a prisoner +of war, then!' + +'When count Mannsfeld was driven through Silesia by you,' answered +Dorn, 'I was left in Oels severely wounded. I there found a charitable +merchant who had my wounds healed and afterwards took me with him to +Schweidnitz. Tired of the trade of war, I have remained there for +the last two years, and served my benefactor in the capacity of +book-keeper. Under these circumstances, I leave it for your sense of +justice to decide whether I can be considered a prisoner of war.' + +'Or spy?' asked the duke. + +'My free passport remains with the commandant of the city,' answered +Dorn. + +'What was your object in coming to head quarters?' asked the duke. + +'To bring a scholar from Schweidnitz,' answered Dorn, for your +school at Gitschin, and to take back to Schweidnitz my employer's +mother-in-law and her daughter.' + +'Prove it!' cried the examiner. + +'Send to the merchant Engelmann,' said Dorn; 'who must have left his +prison last evening; and Madam Rosen must yet have the letter which she +wrote to Schweidnitz and which I brought back to her as my credential.' + +'Here is the unlucky letter,' sobbed the trembling widow, handing it to +the duke on bended knee. + +He took it, read, and turned towards the captain. + +'We have your portrait here,' said he; 'not flattered, but well drawn. +Did you know the object of his coming here?' + +The captain replied only by stammering some unintelligible words. + +'He wished to prevent their departure,' said Dorn. + +'To know and keep silence, is called lying!' observed the duke, with +anger. Then to Dorn, 'you have, however, abused the emperor!' + +'That is not true!' cried the latter with vehemence. 'He drank the +emperor's health with the captain!' cried the trembling Faith, +encouraged by her anxiety for the youth. 'I and my mother are +witnesses, and because he drank the emperor's health, the captain +pretended that he had enlisted for a soldier.' + +'Shame upon you!' thundered the duke. 'Has a lord who has all Europe +for a recruiting ground, need of such miserable devices?' + +'Here is a heretic conspiracy,' cried the captain, 'planned for my +destruction. This woman is secretly a Lutheran, together with her +daughter. Already have I twice watched their stolen attendance upon the +preacher of Eckensdorf. For that reason they have called the +Mannsfelder here, that he may take them to heretical Schweidnitz, where +they can practise their idolatry undisturbedly; and because, out of +zeal for the true faith, I wished to prevent their heathenish +abominations, I am calumniated by the apostate women and their +accomplice.' + +'Heap not new insults upon us,' cried Dorn, forgetting in whose +presence he stood. 'You know that you yet owe me satisfaction for those +of last evening. You promised indeed to meet me this morning; but you +preferred to rob me of my liberty and the ability to punish you for the +outrage you committed, by false charges.' + +'Mannsfelder! Mannsfelder!' exclaimed the duke, secretly delighted with +the boldness of the warrior; 'We also are yet here!' and turning to the +captain, he asked; 'What have you to say to this accusation?' + +'Challenged and not appear!' cried he, as the captain stood mute, with +frightfully flashing eyes. 'A Friedlandish captain! Announce yourself +to the officer of the day as under arrest, and immediately afterwards +seek for your discharge. You can no longer serve under Wallenstein!' + +'Yet the captain's information with regard to the secret church-going +of these women may well deserve some consideration,' remarked the +Jesuit, rising. + +'A soldier should be no priestly spy,' angrily answered the duke. 'I am +the emperor's generalissimo; but not his inquisitor. What care I about +the catechisms of his subjects. They may believe what they like, +provided they but give what they should. I adhere to my decision.' + +With a devout sigh the Jesuit again seated himself; and, in despair at +the rebound of his last arrow, the captain left the hall. + +With a kindness which strangely suited his stony face, the duke now +stepped directly to Dorn and slapped him upon the shoulder. 'You are +laconic and resolute,' said he, 'I like that; and moreover I must have +seen this face somewhere.' + +'Perhaps on the Elbe near Dessau,' answered Dorn. + +'Right!' cried the duke. 'You are the officer who held the last +entrenchment with such obstinacy. I liked you, even then. Will you +become a major in my regiment of life-guards? I shall conclude a peace +with Denmark at the earliest opportunity, and so your Danish commission +need be no hindrance.' + +'To the true hero the truth may be fearlessly spoken,' said Dorn. 'I +cannot fight against my conscience.' + +'I regret that any obstacle deprives me of your services,' said the +duke. 'I would very willingly do something to oblige you. Ask some +favor of me!' + +'I have only to ask you,' said Dorn, 'to permit me to depart +immediately for Schweidnitz with these ladies, and also your permission +to take back with me the poor boy whom I tore from his friends in +obedience to your commands.' + +'Well, take the whole baggage, comrade,' said the duke beneficently: +'and a prosperous journey to you! I will cause the necessary papers to +be given you.' + +The duke kindly nodded permission to retire, and Dorn led the ladies +from the hall. + +'A happy escape from the lion's den!' sighed the matron with a lighter +heart, as she turned her back upon the palace. + +What may not one accomplish who is a man in the fullest sense of the +word!' cried the enthusiastic Faith, pressing Dorn's hand to her heart. + +'I know not,' said Dorn pensively, 'whether I shall have especial +reason to rejoice at the turn the affair has taken or not. It just now +occurs to me that the dismission of your persecutor from his quarters +in your house, removes the evil which impelled you to leave Sagan, and +that you may not now wish to accompany me to Schweidnitz.' + +'O! we have on many accounts long desired to visit our Katharine,' said +Faith with great earnestness. 'Our house can never remain long free +from this detestable quartering, and who knows how the next may conduct +himself! Besides, I fear the captain now as much as I did before. He +has lost the power of tormenting us, and his bread into the bargain. He +will soon be released from the guard-house, and a bad man, however +insignificant may be his situation, has the power to injure with the +will!' + +'My daughter's zeal,' smilingly interposed the matron, 'saves me the +trouble of explaining my reasons for wishing to go with you. Let it +suffice, that we ride with you to Schweidnitz.' + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +At Schweidnitz, on new year's eve, the Fessel family were gathered +around the well lighted and richly covered table; but no one had an +inclination to eat; for Dorn, the idol of the house, was still absent, +and anxiety for her beloved relatives saddened the countenance of the +affectionate Katharine. + +'I thought master Dorn would have kept his word better,' cried the +impatient Martin, striking the empty seat which had been placed near +him for the expected traveler. 'The supper will soon be over and still +he is not here.' + +'He will yet be sure to come,' said the confiding Ulrich. 'God grant +it,' sighed Katharine. 'A carriage! a carriage!' cried the listening +daughters, running to the window. 'It is father's horses!' they +shouted. Out ran the two boys, overthrowing their seats with a +tremendous racket; and, as if there had been a wager among the four +children, which should first break their necks, they all rushed out of +the door and down the steep stairs. + +'Welcome to Schweidnitz, my dear mother!' joyfully cried the master of +the house from the window, to which he also had hastened. + +'Has my sister come with you?' asked the anxious Katharine, running to +the door. The children had already let down the steps of the carriage, +and madam Rosen with her daughter hastened to meet their expectant +friends. The cloaks and wrappers soon fell off, and mother and +daughters were clasped in a mutual embrace. + +'Happily redeemed from the prison of the hateful Holofernes?' asked +Fessel, affectionately greeting his mother-in-law. + +'After great trouble and anxiety,' answered the widow, drawing a long +breath, whilst the attentive Katharine was busily relieving her of her +superfluous traveling garments. + +'Had you not sent us so bold a knight,' said Faith playfully; 'to +rescue us from the terrible giant, we should have been at this moment +sitting in Sagan, listening to the insupportable boastings of the +monster.' + +'Where is the valiant knight, that I may thank him for his good +service?' asked Katharine. + +At that moment Dorn entered the room, leading the young Engelmann by +the hand, and surrounded by the four children of the house. + +'How! Do you bring the boy, also?' asked the astonished master, warmly +embracing his book-keeper. + +'He has permission to remain and pursue his studies here,' answered +Dorn. 'Here is the Duke's consent in his own hand-writing.' + +'You must understand the black art,' cried the overjoyed Fessel. 'I +should sooner have expected to remove the everlasting hills from their +foundations than to move the Friedlander from his purpose.' + +'I could not, however, save your property,' said Dorn. 'The houses +already lay in ruins, and all applications for indemnification are +rejected by the ducal court.' + +'I am sorry to lose the capital,' said Fessel; for I had already built +a fine speculation upon it; but you have saved my dear friends, and so +in God's name let the guilders go. Now seat yourselves and relate to me +circumstantially how this eighth wonder of the world has been +accomplished.' + +They placed themselves at table. Dorn obtained a seat near the charming +Faith; and, as among a swarm of bees, narrations and corrections, +questions and answers, praise and astonishment, fear, anger and +laughter, so buzzed about the table that the business of eating was +scarcely thought of. + +'Thank God we are finally here!' remarked madam Rosen, reaching her +goblet of Hungary wine to the book-keeper, for the purpose of touching +his glass. 'My best thanks,' said she with emotion, and at the same +time gave an intimation to Faith to follow her example. + +'Thank me not so much, dear madam,' said the youth with a pensive air, +while touching glasses with the blushing maiden; 'else I shall have my +whole reward in thanks.' + +'And in consequence lose the courage to ask for a dearer one,' jested +Katharine, who had noticed the glance he gave her sister. + +'We are so merry to-night!' cried Fessel's youngest daughter, the +little Hedwig, 'cannot you let us have the play of the light boats now, +dear mother? You promised it to us on Christmas eve; which, by the by, +was passed sadly enough.' + +'Yes, yes, the light boats!' shouted the other children, clapping their +hands. + +'Well, bring the large soup-dish,' said the mother, who could refuse +nothing to her youngest daughter; 'but be careful not to spill the +water.' + +'Glorious, excellent!' cried the children in chorus. Hedwig flew out of +the room; the other children produced wax candles of various colors, +and began cutting them into innumerable small pieces; while Faith, +Dorn, and young Engelmann, were instructed to divide the walnuts, of +which the table famished an abundant supply, in halves, and neatly to +extricate the kernels without injuring the shells. + +'I know not if you are acquainted with this play of the Silesian +children,' said Fessel, laughing, to Dorn. 'It was omitted by us last +year, in consequence of my wife's illness. It is a solemn oracle upon +matters of love, marriage, and death. The children, however, do not +trouble themselves about the serious signification; but only take +pleasure in the movements of the boats and in splashing the water.' + +The door now opened, and little Hedwig stepped into the room, with the +large dish full of water in her hands, with a solemn and consequential +air, and deposited her burden upon the centre of the table. + +'Now put the lights in the boats,' commanded Martin; 'we have prepared +enough of them.' A small wax taper was placed in each shell, projecting +like the mast of a boat. + +'Who shall swim first?' asked Elizabeth, lighting the tapers in two of +the boats. + +'Mother and father!' cried the others, and the shells were placed in +the platter near each other, when they moved forth upon the clear +liquid surface with a regular motion, and burning with a steady light, +until they reached the opposite side where they quietly remained. + +'We are already anchored in a safe haven,' said Fessel to his beloved +wife; 'and in the quiet enjoyment of domestic happiness, we can have no +wish to be restlessly driving about upon the open seas.' + +'Ah, may God grant that the troubles of the times reach us not in our +safe haven and rend our bark from its fast anchorage,' cried the +true-hearted Katharine with timid foreboding. + +At this moment the light in one of the boats began to hiss and sputter, +and after flashing for an instant was extinguished, amid exclamations +of sad surprise from the children. + +'What does that forbode?--to whom does that boat belong?' asked +Katharine, smilingly. + +'That is not decided,' eagerly cried Ulrich; 'and the whole oracle is +invalid.' + +'Elizabeth filled the boat with water by her awkwardness, when she +started it,' announced Martin, who had been investigating the causes of +the accident. + +'Every event in life must have had its cause,' said Fessel with more +earnestness than the trifling accident merited. 'If this portends the +extinguishment of the light of life in either of us, I pray God in +mercy to grant that mine may be the first to expire.' + +'Say not so,' tenderly replied Katharine. 'Our children would lose in +you their only stay. Their mother would be more lightly missed, and the +strong man would better bear the sad bereavement than weak and helpless +woman.' + +'Why this earnest and deep-meaning conversation on new year's evening?' +said madam Rosen, half angry. 'Come, children; go on more briskly with +your play and give us something pleasanter to think about.' + +'Who comes next?' asked Elizabeth. + +'Honor to whom honor is due,' laughed Hedwig. 'Cousin Faith must swim +now.' + +'But she must herself decide with whom,' said Fessel. 'I have not been +at Sagan for some years, and know not who has made himself most +agreeable to her.' + +'Indeed, I know not whom to name to you,' said the maiden with a low +tone and hesitating manner, blushing deeply for the untruth which thus +escaped her lips. + +'Then we will take master Dorn for the occasion,' cried the +obstreperous Martin, whose natural boldness was increased by the wine +he had tasted; 'he is constantly giving Faith such friendly glances!' + +'It shall be so,' shouted Ulrich; 'and they shall have the handsomest +tapers. Choose your own colors; here are red, and green, and white, and +variegated.' + +'Red for Faith and green for me,' quickly cried Dorn, silencing the +maiden by a gentle pressure of her hand under the table, as she was +about to make some objections. + +'They must not, however, start together from the shore,' said Ulrich. +'Well, do you set the red ship on that side and I will place the green +one here,' answered Martin; 'and then they may seek each other if they +wish to come together.' + +Brightly burning, the little barks swam towards each other for a +moment; then, both floated to the edge of the platter and remained +motionless, at some little distance apart. + +'Master Dorn is too indolent!' cried Martin, throwing a nut-kernel at +the green skiff to urge it towards the red; but it only reeled to and +fro, without removing from its place. + +'Insufferable!' cried Dorn. At that moment the water became slightly +agitated, and both skiffs left their stations at the side for the open +sea. + +'Faith has jostled the table!' cried the falcon-eyed Hedwig. + +'I--no--I wish to hinder their meeting,' stammered the confused Faith. + +'Did you really jostle the table, dearest maiden?' asked Dorn, his hand +again seeking hers. + +'Ah, ah, my daughter!' reprovingly exclaimed madam Rosen, and amid the +exclamations of the children the two skiffs met in mid ocean, while a +gentle pressure from Faith's hand gave an affirmative answer to the +bold question of the youth. + +The joy of the children, which the grandmother's remonstrances only +increased, was every moment becoming more bold and noisy. Without aim +or object a crowd of lights were now set afloat in the mimic ocean, and +apple cuttings and bread bullets flew like bombs among them, causing +immense damage and innumerable shipwrecks. 'It is enough!' cried +Fessel, the disturbance becoming excessive, and moved his chair from +the table. A respectful silence succeeded the wild tumult. The children +dutifully arose, folded their hands with a serious air, and Martin said +grace with decent solemnity. + +The mistress of the house now invited her beloved guests to retire to +rest; that they might sleep away the fatigues of the day; but the +children, who had again become as noisy as ever, and had not the least +inclination to sleep, strongly opposed the movement. + +'It would be fine indeed,' cried Martin, 'if we should have no writing +of notes.' + +'Pray, pray, dear mother!' entreated the flattering and constant +petitioner, Hedwig. 'You well know that you promised me, if I filled a +writing book without blotting, that I should be indulged with writing +notes, on new year's evening. My last writing book is without a spot, +and you must now keep your word.' + +'Children are the most inexorable creditors,' said Fessel, directing +little Ulrich to bring the writing materials from the counting-room, +while the table was being cleared. + +'This is a strange remnant of the old heathen times,' explained Fessel +to the book-keeper, who looked inquiringly at him. 'It is a form of new +year's congratulation, and an oracle at the same time. You write three +several wishes upon three slips of paper, which you fold and give to +the person who would try his fate. These wishes may be, honors, offices +and success in business, to the men,--chains, bracelets, and new +dresses, to the women,--agreeable suitors to maidens. All place the +notes they have received under their pillows, and the wish contained in +the one which is first opened on new year's morning shall be fulfilled +in the course of the current year.' + +'I always take great pleasure in this sport,' said Katharine to her +mother; 'my husband is always so anxious to fulfil his oracle and to +present me what is wished me in the note I open.' + +'There comes Ulrich!' screamed the children, as he entered, heavily +laden, and deposited his burden upon the table. The notes were +prepared, and the whole family were soon seated around the table, +moving their pens as assiduously as if an instrument was to be drawn +for securing religious liberty. Amidst the scratching of the pens, +which were very awkwardly handled by the younger children, and +therefore made the more noise, arose the admonitions of the father to +sit erect, and of the mother not to bespatter themselves with ink; +which admonitions were obeyed just so long as they were heard. +Meanwhile Dorn was sharply watching the paper upon which Faith was +writing; who, as soon as she became aware of it, covered the writing +with her little hand and whispered to him: 'If you watch me, you will +get no packet from me to-night.' He discreetly drew back and began +writing his notes. + +Fessel now strewed sand upon his last note, enclosed it with the others +and gave the packet with a kiss to his Katharine. The children snapped +their pens to the infinite damage of the well scoured white floor, for +which their grandmother very properly scolded them. Dorn handed his +packet to the beauteous Faith, who hid hers in her bosom, strenuously +asserting that she could think of nothing to write. + +The clock now struck the midnight hour, and a peal of bells from the +tower of the city hall greeted the new year. + +'A happy new year! a happy new year!' shouted the children, springing +from their seats; and the impetuous Hedwig proposed to open the notes +directly, as the new year had already commenced; but Fessel interposed +his decided negative and commanded them to defer it until the actual +rising of the new year sun. + +Amid the noise and confusion of the thousand new year congratulations, +Dorn once more approached the lovely Faith. + +'Must I enter upon the new year without one kind wish from you?' he +pensively asked. She looked at him with embarrassment and irresolution. +At that moment she was called by her mother who was already standing in +the door. The startling call helped her to come to a decision, and, +suddenly drawing the packet from her bosom and smilingly placing it in +Dorn's hand, she hastened after her mother. + +Long did the youth hold the much coveted packet pressed to his lips. +'How much earthly happiness,' said he to himself with deep emotion, +'have I destroyed in my military career. Do I indeed deserve that love +should crown me with its freshest wreaths in a land I have helped to +lay waste?' + +Dorn, who had retired late and awoke betimes with the interesting +little packet under his pillow, found himself at an early hour leaning +against a window in the family parlor, and engaged in examining a +delicate little note. While thus occupied, Faith, impelled by a similar +restlessness, entered the room. As she perceived him whose image had +embellished her dreams, an enchanting blush overspread her delicate +face, and her beautiful blue eyes beamed with love and joy; but when +Dorn, enraptured at the encounter, affectionately tendered her the +congratulations appropriate to the new year's morning, changing her +mood she turned away from him with feigned displeasure and exclaimed: +'Pshaw, captain! I am angry with you. You have wished me two horrible +suitors.' + +'Before I undertake to exculpate myself,' said Dorn, 'only tell me +which you drew from the packet.' + +'The duke of Friedland,' stammered the embarrassed maiden with downcast +eyes. + +'Look me directly in the eye!' cried Dorn, seizing the hand of the +unpractised dissembler. 'Did you really draw no other name?' + +'Ah, let me go,' she murmured, her confusion and maidenly timidity +rendering her still more charming. + +'You do not once ask what wish I have drawn!' said Dorn, holding up his +note. + +'Who knows whether you would tell me the truth,' answered Faith. + +'Have a care,' cried Dorn. 'The suspicion can only spring from a +consciousness that you have deceived me, and that is not fair. I will +set you an example of ingenuousness. You wished a poor mortal to choose +among three daughters of heaven. Love, Hope, and Faith, were inscribed +upon your three notes. My good genius helped me to the best choice. +Love I already had deep in my heart from the moment I first saw you; +Hope visited me last evening; and I only lacked Faith in the certainty +of my good fortune. I drew it with this note.' + +'A gallant officer well knows how to convert trifles into matters of +importance,' said the maiden, repelling the persevering youth. 'I wrote +the three names for you, merely in jest, Faith, Hope, and Charity, +because they follow each other in the calendar.' + +'Only for that reason?' asked Dorn in a tender tone, throwing his arms +around her slender waist. Endeavoring to push him gently back with her +right hand, she dropped a note which Dorn caught up and read before she +could hinder him. + +'Victoria!' shouted he. 'You have drawn my name, as I have drawn yours. +Who can doubt now that we are destined for each other? Obey the +friendly oracle, dear maiden, and become mine, as I am yours, in life +and death.' + +He embraced the lovely creature more ardently, while she, no longer +able to withstand the solicitations of the youth and the pleadings of +her own heart, sank on his bosom, and exclaimed in low accents: 'Thine, +forever.' + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +'Well, really, master Dorn, you begin the portentous new year upon +which we are entering in a very worldly manner,' cried a reproving +voice behind them. Faith shrieked with terror that those blessed +moments should have had a witness, and fled from the room. At the same +time Dorn, displeased at the awkward interruption, turned suddenly +round and stood facing the parson, who viewed him with severe and +reproachful looks. 'Is it well,' at length said the angry preacher, 'to +seduce the inconsiderate sister-in-law of your brother and benefactor +into an amorous intrigue?' + +'You are right, reverend sir,' answered Dorn; 'that would be to do him +foul wrong; but to seek the honorable love of a maiden whom I hope one +day to lead to the altar as my beloved wife, appears to me to be well, +and is not forbidden in the holy scriptures.' + +'You wish to espouse the maiden, then?' said the parson; 'that is quite +a different thing, and I take back my censure. In that case my office +imposes upon me another sacred duty. The maiden is how under my +spiritual care, and I must be answerable to heaven for her religious +principles, which might be perverted by an unbelieving husband. I have +become doubtful of you, from your own conversations, and therefore, as +a called and ordained servant of the word, I ask you, are you an +orthodox Lutheran christian?' + +'You would find it very difficult to justify that question before the +great author of your reformation,' answered Dorn, moodily. 'Know you +not how peremptorily he forbade the professors of his doctrines to +designate themselves by his name?' + +'You wish to evade my question!' cried the parson, feeling the sting, +but endeavoring to conceal the smart. + +'That is not my custom,' said Dorn. 'I will never deny that I adhere to +the doctrines which were first promulgated in Switzerland, and have +thence spread throughout the German empire.' + +'As I feared!' cried the parson. 'A Calvinist, or perhaps even a +Zuinglian! and you wish to take a wife of the Augsburg faith?' + +'Why not?' asked Dorn. 'That God who has disposed my heart toward the +maiden, will not be angry that I choose her as my companion for life.' + +'I much doubt whether you can have and keep a true heart for one who is +of a different faith,' said the parson, shaking his head. + +'God, who is eternal love, pardon you for the doubt, reverend sir,' +said Dorn with emotion. 'It is a sad consideration, that contentions +about unimportant dogmas and forms so frequently divide christians who +should stand united against the common enemy. It would be dreadful if +the feeble chains by which you are yet fettered, after throwing off +those of popery, should bar the way between two innocent individuals, +whose souls have become united by the bonds of holy love.' + +'Unimportant dogmas and forms?' repeated the parson. + +'I consider them so,' answered Dorn. 'Adhering to the words of Christ, +we celebrate, in the Lord's supper, only a holy remembrance of the +Savior; while you, by virtue of the same words, find therein a +mysterious presence of his body and his blood. You ornament your +churches with pictures, of which practice we disapprove. Are such +differences really sufficient grounds for the quarrels and contentions +which the followers of both confessions continue to wage against each +other with such reprehensible bitterness?' + +'You wilfully overlook a principal point,' said the parson; 'the almost +insurmountable partition wall which your Calvin has raised between you +and us. I mean your monstrous doctrine of election. _Aliis vita ćterna, +aliis damnatio ćterna prćordinatur!_ How can you reconcile this +declaration with infinite love and eternal justice?' + +'I willingly give up these doctrines to your disposal,' answered Dorn; +'for they have never formed a part of my creed. Even Calvin himself +stated, that he had some scruples whether predestination could be +reconciled with God's wisdom, the rock upon which this doctrine has +always foundered.' + +'I take this concession for all it is worth,' said the parson; 'but I +cannot pass over your assertion, that our difference upon the subject +of the Lord's supper is a contest _de lana caprina_. Because your +presumptuous reason cannot comprehend the declaration of our Savior, +'this is my body,' you wish to strike it out of the bible; but this we +cannot permit; because we cannot give up one tittle of God's word, and +because the communion solemnity falls to the ground when the mystery +becomes robbed of the wings which bear it up to heaven. If, however, +you take away from the holy scriptures all that is not clear to you, +nothing will remain but a good sensible book, but with no high +revelation which can only be received by pious faith. If you can see +nothing in the sacrament of the Lord's supper but a remembrance of its +founder, you need not partake of the bread and wine. Without this +_medium_ it would be impossible for us to forget our Lord and Master.' + +'Sensual man,' answered Dorn, 'needs sensible signs as symbols of +spiritual things. To be reminded of the author of our religion is to be +reminded of his doctrines; and as he established this solemnity and +consecrated it to the remembrance of himself on the evening before the +death with which he sealed his doctrines, so must it, according to +_our_ creed, be deemed sacred--must soften and purify our hearts, and +inspire us with devout and holy resolutions, which is the important +point in question for you as well as us. We consider the _mystery_ +unnecessary, and we have the voices of the earliest churches with us, +as the transubstantiation doctrine of Paschasius Radbertus, from which +yours but very little differs, was first heard of in the ninth +century.' + +'For a book-keeper and ci-devant military officer you are deeply +learned,' remarked the somewhat excited preacher. + +'My early religious education,' answered Dorn, 'was superintended by a +well informed, clear headed Bernardine monk, who afterwards, like +myself, went over to Zuinglius's belief. I may thank him that I at +least know what the point in dispute is,--a knowledge which, alas, is +needed by many thousands of our brethren in the faith.' + +'I supposed something like that,' said the parson. 'But I interrupted +you. Proceed with your pretended refutation of my arguments.' + +'Excuse me from answering further,' modestly replied Dorn. + +'Because you cannot answer them!' exclaimed the parson in imaginary +triumph. + +'These controversial battles,' calmly continued Dorn, 'have been too +often fought in vain for me to hope that we can be brought to agree. I +have not endeavored to defend my doctrines; but only to show that a +difference in creeds need not divide hearts. I abide by my tenets; but +I believe that you also may attain salvation with yours. Believe you +the same of mine, as I doubt not you do, and we can readily co-operate +for the advancement of the good cause. The remaining topics of +difference are not essential. Here it only concerns us, setting aside +the creeds of men, to hold the doctrines of Christ as the true +teachings of God's holy word, and by them so to govern our minds and +actions that we may win the approbation of a good conscience, a serene +dying hour, and a merciful judgment. That, in my opinion, is the true, +living, christian faith; and whoever has it is our brother in Christ, +whether he calls himself Lutheran, Calvinist, Zuinglian, or even +catholic.' + +'My God! you are then not even a Zuinglian!' angrily exclaimed the +parson. 'This despicable toleration of all opinions is godless +indifference, behind which naturalism and deism conceal themselves. +Were you an intelligent and confirmed heretic, the argument might be +continued; but you are nothing but an _eclecticus_, who seeks in +christianity just so much as suits his purpose, and throws the rest +aside!' + +'Paul said, 'prove all things and hold fast that which is good,'' +interposed Dorn. + +'I am well satisfied that you do not desire to know any thing of the +true faith,' continued the parson; 'and yet it is the only foundation +of our religion. Know you not that Christ himself has said, 'he that +believeth not shall be damned?'' + +'If you could convince me,' angrily remarked Dorn, 'that Christ +intended those words to mean what intolerance would construe them, I +would become a heathen from this moment, and joyfully take my portion +in that hell in which the noble Socrates and just Aristides are +burning.' + +The parson started back with a shudder. Dorn checked himself and +continued in a subdued tone; 'Be not alarmed, reverend sir, at my +audacious words. My belief is not so bad as you fear. Would to God all +christians had it, and then much less of tears and blood would be made +to flow. Now repeat to me, quickly and peacefully to end our strife, +that which Christ pronounced to be the chief commandment of God.' + +'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor +as thyself,' said the parson. + +'Even thine enemy!' added Dorn. 'How much more then those who only +differ from us in opinion! Here you have my profession of faith, and I +trust in God that I shall be able to stand before him at the last day +with it.' + +'You confound ideas,' cried the vexed parson. 'You speak of christian +ethics, and I am reasoning only of the articles of faith.' + +'Devised by men!' said Dorn. 'I hold the chief point to be the +observance of the system of morals taught by Christ. Do not you also?' + +'No!' emphatically exclaimed the parson after a short pause. + +'No?' asked Dorn with some surprise. 'The divine doctrine that we must +live devoutly to die happily, not the substance of our religion! Ah, my +dear sir, it was your cloth, and not your head or heart, which dictated +that negative. You are too good and too intelligent not to be of my +opinion.' + +'Ah, do not press me with such _argumenta ad hominem_,' said the parson +with excited but not unfriendly feelings. 'In point of fact there can +be no disputing about matters of faith. It must come from within, and +cannot be derived from without. Nevertheless I do not for that reason +give you up. A time will come when you will be no longer satisfied with +cold syllogisms, and you will then seek a refuge in the open maternal +arms of the true faith, in which only you can find peace. Until when, +only let your conduct be as fair as your speech, and I shall at all +events hope that the maiden will not have made a bad choice. One thing, +however, you must promise me with hand and word. Urge not upon your +future wife your unbelief, or half belief, or whatever else you may +choose to call it. Cause her not to waver in her own, which she +has imbibed with her mother's milk. Yet more than the strong and +self-relying man does weak, delicate and suffering woman need a +steadfast faith. You would rob her of a belief, which is capable of +sustaining her in the hour of sorrow and trial, and give her nothing in +return but cheerless and disconsolate doubt; which would be an exchange +unworthy of the magnanimity of a man.' + +'In this case you are for once wholly right, my worthy friend,' said +Dorn: 'and I promise you _with this handgrip_, by God and my honor, to +do as you require. Now let a lasting peace be concluded between us. +When we hereafter meet above, as I firmly believe we shall, when the +scales shall fall from our eyes, when we shall clearly see what we +perceive but dimly here below, then shall we as surely be one in +knowledge as we now are in feeling, and side by side before the throne +of the father of all men shall we unite with full hearts in the song of +praise to the one true God.' + +'So may it be!' cried the parson, pressing the youth's hand and leaving +the room with visible emotion. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +In the forenoon of the 20th January, 1629, a joyful bustle prevailed in +Fessel's house. The floors and steps were carefully swept, strewed with +a beautiful yellow sand, and adorned with evergreens. A large fire was +crackling in the kitchen, before which the spit was turning, and pots +and stew-pans were steaming. The diligent housewife, notwithstanding +the ready assistance of her mother, had her hands full of business; her +two daughters, who insisted on being employed, hindered more than they +aided her; and the sons who, with their cousin Engelmann, had just +returned from school, raced about the house like wild animals, +practically illustrating the '_Dulce est desipere in loco_,' which they +had that day construed in their class. In short, it was the betrothing +day of the beauteous Faith and Fessel's new partner in business, master +Dorn. + +The interesting pair had just returned from the church, where, in +pursuance of a good old custom, they had made their mutual engagements +in the presence of their God, and commended themselves to his +protection by pious prayer. In the house-door they encountered their +brother-in-law, who was returning from the city council-room, where his +attendance had a short time before been required. He was, however, +unusually pale, returned but brief thanks for the joyous greeting of +the lovers, and silently mounted the stairs with a slow and dull +motion, as if he had been troubled with asthma. + +'In God's name, my brother, what has happened to you?' cried Dorn, +returning from the kitchen, where he had left his fair companion. + +'Dark clouds are beginning to overshadow our horizon,' answered Fessel, +with anxious concern. 'Colonel von Goes has arrived, and demands +permission to march through the city with seven squadrons of the +Lichtensteins.' + +'Goes!' exclaimed Dorn, becoming paler than his brother-in-law, and +covering his face with his hands. + +'What is the matter with you?' asked the astonished Fessel. 'Do you +know so much evil of the man?' + +'From the knowledge I obtained of him during my military service,' +answered Dorn, making an effort to command himself, 'I may pronounce +him a good soldier, and a man of honor; but he adheres to the catholic +faith with ferocious zeal.' + +'We are under no obligation,' continued Fessel, 'to admit troops +within our walls, except upon the especial command of his imperial +majesty....' + +'You will not do so on this occasion!' exclaimed Dorn with fearful +vehemence. 'You will render the people of your city miserable if you +open your gates to these dreadful protectors. They have given a +specimen of the manner in which they treat protestants, at Glogau.' + +'What can we do?' said Fessel, shrugging his shoulders. 'The honorable +council have a great inclination to admit them, and for that purpose +hastily called some of the most respectable burghers to the town-house, +to give their opinions as to what answer should be returned to the +request. We honestly stated to the gentlemen what we expected of them. +The colonel then remarked, that he hoped we would not show such +disrespect to the imperial troops, as to compel them to take a wide +circuit round the city in the present cold state of the weather. He +then proceeded solemnly to swear and protest, that he only desired a +passage through the city, and a brief rest for the refreshment and +recovery of the frozen. Indeed, he said he would have no part in God's +kingdom, if any citizen were injured in consequence of the granting of +his request.' + +'For God's sake, trust not to that oath,' begged Dorn. + +'If the colonel be a man of honor, as you say, wherefore not?' asked +Fessel with surprise. + +'Have you forgotten that horrible saying, _hćreticis non est servanda +fides_?' cried Dorn. 'No time is to be lost in averting the evil. The +council is still in session. I will accompany you to the town-house, +and ask leave to address them upon this matter. Schweidnitz must not +open her gates to these hordes. They certainly can show no mandate from +the emperor, and if the worst come, we have walls and ditches, and +strong burgher hands accustomed to the use of arms, to defend our +dearest treasure, religious freedom.' + +During this conversation, he had with eager impetuosity drawn his +brother-in-law towards the door. There they heard the distant notes of +a march from trumpets, clarions and kettle-drums, and the confused +murmurs of a crowd reached them from the great public square. + +'We are too late,' sighed Fessel. 'The music comes from the direction +of the Striegauer-gate. The Lichtensteins are already in the city.' + +'Then may God by some miracle give the lie to my fears, and Goes keep +his word!' cried Dorn. 'I anticipate dreadful scenes.' + +Fessel opened the window and listened to the music, which at first +appeared to approach, but afterwards sounded fainter and fainter as if +receding. 'Do you hear?' said he to his distrusting brother-in-law, +'you owe an apology to the worthy colonel for your suspicions. The +troops are already passing out by the Nieder-gate.' + +'God grant it may be so,' sighed Dorn, placing himself by Fessel's side +at the window. 'I am not yet satisfied of the fact, however.' Both +continued listening to the last dying tones of the march. + +'How the ear can deceive one!' said Fessel. 'It now seems to me as if +the music were again approaching.' + +'I fear it does not deceive you this time,' answered Dorn +significantly. At that moment a cry of fear and anguish arose along the +main street, and the worthy serjeant-at-arms of the city council was +seen breathlessly running toward the town-house. + +'Whither with such haste?' cried Fessel to him from the window. + +'God be merciful to us!' cried the serjeant. 'The soldiers have made a +halt at the Nieder-gate, have relieved and dismissed the burgher guard +there, and, turning to the left about, are now marching up the main +street. + +'That indeed does not look much like passing through the city,' sighed +Fessel, closing the window. 'It rather indicates an intention to take +up permanent quarters here.' + +'For the purpose of proselytism!' cried Dorn, despondingly. 'Now God be +merciful to me! For if these villains insult our women, I shall die no +natural death.' + +He hastened forth, while Fessel remained standing at the window +awaiting the event in silent sadness. + +The music of the Lichtensteins sounded nearer and nearer, and soon +their banners, muskets and halberds came waving and glistening up the +street, and in serried ranks the troops came marching into the public +square. 'Halt! order arms!' was now echoed by the commanders. The +muskets and halberds rattled upon the stone pavement with a dull crash, +the music ceased, and the silent and motionless soldiers remained +standing by their arms. Only a malicious smile, which played upon their +dark faces, and the restless and inquisitive movements of their +twinkling eyes, gave them any appearance of being aught but lifeless +statues. + +Katharine and Faith, pale as ghosts, followed by their mother, now +burst into the room. The children, naturally excited by these unusual +occurrences, crowded in after them, to get a better view of what was +going forward. + +'Have the Lichtensteins turned back?' simultaneously asked or rather +shrieked the three women, as Fessel directed their attention to the +human masses in the public square. 'My end has come,' groaned the +matron, sinking down upon a seat. The children hastened to the window, +and in their innocent ignorance right heartily enjoyed the view of the +brilliant uniforms, splendid standards and glistening arms of the +soldiers. + +'Children,' said Fessel calmly, 'lamentations and complainings cannot +help us. Let us not, in the present emergency, lose our presence of +mind, which in times of misfortune is the greatest misfortune. I will +go to the compting-room, and as far as possible during the short time +that remains to us, place my property in safety. My Katharine will +hastily collect the most valuable of our things, and conceal them in +the under cellar. I will afterwards see what course is required for our +personal safety. My mother and sister-in-law must meanwhile prepare for +the quartering of the soldiers. As a well conditioned merchant, and a +warden of the evangelical church, I may expect that a full share of +them will be assigned to my house.' + +'It is fortunate that we have a repast already provided for them,' +sighed Katharine, seeking, among a bunch hanging at her girdle, for the +key of the plate closet. + +'Provided for the betrothal-feast of our good sister!' said Fessel, +compassionately caressing the cold cheek of the maiden. 'Poor child! +they will leave you little enjoyment of it to-day.' + +'Only see!' cried little Hedwig at the window, 'the officers are all +crowding around a tall stately chief, and our alderman Newmann is +standing near him with uncovered head and a great number of slips of +paper in both hands.' + +'The tall officer is the colonel,' said Fessel to them by way of +explanation, 'They are drawing tickets for their quarters.' + +'My God!' suddenly shrieked Faith, who had stepped to the window, and +flew back to the remotest corner of the room. + +'What is the matter with thee, sister?' asked the sympathizing +Katharine, hastening to her side. + +'It is all over with us,' sighed Faith, pressing her little hands upon +her beating heart. 'One of the officers suddenly stared wildly up +towards the house. I saw his face but for an instant, and it was partly +shaded by his plume; but I recognised it so certainly and with so much +alarm that I could not help screaming. It was childish, I know. Pardon +me that I frightened you so needlessly. How could this man come here at +the present time? and what a fool I was instantly to fear the worst!' + +'Of whom do you speak, my daughter?' asked the anxious widow; and, as +Faith was about to explain, Dorn rushed into the room. + +'Save yourself!' he cried. 'Your persecutor, the broken captain of +dragoons, now commands a company of the Lichtensteins, and is +endeavoring to get your brother-in-law's house for his quarters. His +hellish object is obvious, and he may be expected here every moment.' + +'Then are we all lost,' groaned the mother. + +'Not yet,' said Katharine, with calm self-possession. 'Listen to my +proposal. These soldiers cannot stay here forever. While they remain, +mother and sister can conceal themselves in the dry vault back of the +cellar, whose opening in the garden is concealed by the thick grove of +yew-trees. We can pile up boxes and casks before the door, and every +evening convey to them provisions and consolation. + +'The captain shall be told,' interposed Dorn, 'that you fled from +Schweidnitz the moment you heard of the approach of the Lichtensteins. +God reward you, Katharine, for the lucky thought.' + +'You will accompany us in our hiding place, beloved sister will you +not?' asked Faith. + +'Shall I take my husband and children into your circumscribed retreat?' +smilingly asked Katharine; 'or could you really and in earnest ask me +to desert the dearest objects on earth to me? Nor is there any reason +why I should. You have a sufficient cause for concealing yourself, +having offended a bad man who would probably improve the first +opportunity to avenge himself. I am only threatened with the same +misfortunes every family in the city must expect, and with God's help I +must endeavor to bear them.' + +'She is entirely right,' decided the mother. + +'My noble wife!' cried Fessel, embracing his courageous and confiding +spouse. At the same instant Hedwig, who was still at the window, cried: +'There comes a hateful red-bearded officer directly towards the house, +with a whole troop of soldiers behind him.' + +'Then indeed there is no time to be lost,' said Dorn, hurrying the +mother and daughter from the room. 'Farewell!' cried the women to each +other. 'God's angels protect you!' said Fessel, proceeding to the door, +at which the Lichtensteins were loudly knocking. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +At the head of the table, which had been beautifully adorned for the +betrothal-feast, the red-bearded captain had seated himself in terrible +majesty. Desiring, for the present, to appear unusually gracious, he +had invited the heads of the family and their children to take places +at the table. The hospitality so kindly extended to them in their own +house by a stranger, imparted no especial pleasure to those invited. +The children had formed the heroic resolution of not eating a morsel, +merely to show their dislike to the detestable red-beard. Fessel looked +with a gloomy brow directly before him; while the faithful Katharine +forced herself to introduce and sustain the conversation, that a want +of occupation might not give the fiend leisure for evil thoughts. Four +arquebusiers guarded the doors, and in every part of the house arose +the boisterous songs of the converters, who were revelling with +Fessel's choicest wines. + +'We are satisfied,' said the captain; and, emptying his goblet, he took +off his military cap, murmured some words in a low voice, crossed +himself, again put on his cap, and then, with feigned affability asked: +'So, your mother-in-law left you last night, Herr Fessel?' and as the +latter answered affirmatively, he further asked: 'And her daughter, +little Faith,--did the good woman take her with her?' + +'Certainly!' stammered Fessel, who was not altogether prepared for this +close examination. + +'Strange!' said the captain, extending his goblet to the lady of the +house to be replenished. 'How a man's eyes may deceive him! As I was +standing with the other officers before the house three hours since, I +would have sworn that I saw the little Faith standing at that very +window.' + +'It was probably me whom you saw, captain,' interposed Katharine. 'You +must have observed that I resemble my sister very nearly.' + +'Possibly!' observed the captain with a still more hateful smile. 'You +had, indeed, at that time, a rose-colored band in your blond hair, and +now you have brown locks and a black plaited cap. However, that is +not so very strange. Women's toilets often produce much greater +transformations.' + +At this moment a violent outcry was heard from without. Fessel hastened +from the room, and soon returned with his eldest apprentice, who was +profusely bleeding from a wound on the head. + +'What is the matter?' asked the captain, addressing himself to the +wounded man. 'How dare you thus disturb me while at table?' + +'By your leave, captain!' said the apprentice, with confidence; 'your +sergeant has robbed me of all the money I had about me, and then beat +me over the head with his sword because I had no more to give him. It +was proper that I should complain to you in order that you might take +measures to punish the outrage.' + +'You did not know how to behave yourself properly, my son,' said the +captain. 'My people are always kind and harmless as children to all who +are complaisant towards them, and give them every thing they desire. Go +and have your wound dressed, and be more careful another time.' + +'Is that all the satisfaction I am to get for my injuries?' asked the +apprentice, irritated by the pain of his wound, and still more by the +captain's contemptuous answer. + +The captain's eyes flashed like two baneful meteors. +'Satisfaction!--injuries! How dare you, a damned heretic, use such +words in my presence? vociferated he, starting from his seat. You ought +to thank God that my sergeant did not cleave your head asunder. Pack +yourself hence, if you do not wish that I should complete the work he +began.' + +He grasped his sword, the young man sprang beyond his reach, and +Katharine, in soft and soothing tones, besought the savage to be +pacified; but the last link of the chain, by which his natural +brutality had hitherto been restrained, was now broken; the wild beast +in human form was let loose, and yielded only to the most savage +impulses. + +'Do you suppose, vagabonds,' roared the fiend, 'that we have come here +to keep strict discipline and to wait quietly for what you may please +to dispense to us? We are come to chastise you for your heresy, which +is a revolt alike against God and the emperor. We are come to convert +you to the true faith; and if your stubbornness will not suffer our +object to be accomplished by fair means, you are given over to us as a +prize, with your property and lives, bodies and souls, to be tormented +by us to our heart's content, until you are brought to repentance and +an abandonment of your abominable opinions, or sink in despair.' + +'No, captain,' cried Fessel, with manly firmness; 'that is not the will +of our emperor, and I should consider it treasonable to believe your +scandalous assertions. Nor was that the condition upon which we +admitted you within our walls. From your colonel's own mouth have I +heard quite a different speech, and I shall go and ask him if he is +about to give the lie to his own words.' + +'First go to your own chamber as an arrested prisoner,' said the +captain, with a smile of contempt; 'until I have had you tried for your +rebellious speech. Lead him forth!' commanded he to the guards. 'Lock +him up, watch him sharply, and if he attempts to escape shoot him +down.' + +'Eternal justice, judge and avenge!' cried Fessel, as the soldiers +dragged him away. + +'Mercy!' implored his faithful wife, clasping the captain's knees; but +the latter disengaged himself from her, put the children, who pressed +around her, out of the room, drew Katharine to a window, and in a low +voice said to her, 'you see that I can be either good or bad as you +would have me. Upon you alone it depends how I shall further proceed. +Therefore answer me honestly and truly, where is your sister?' + +'She fled last night,' answered Katharine, with calm firmness; 'to +escape the horrors which threaten us. Whither, I do not consider it my +duty to inform you.' + +'This is fine!' exclaimed the captain, grinning like a Bengal tiger +when his keeper compels him to show his teeth. 'I like to know how +people feel towards me. I now go to my colonel, and you shall soon hear +from me again.' + +He departed, and the children, again rushing in, embraced their mother +with loud lamentation. Katharine sank upon her knees, and her children +with her, and, raising their eyes and hands towards heaven, with a +bleeding heart but nevertheless with confidence, the pious woman prayed +in the words of the royal psalmist: 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul? +and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet +praise him for his countenance who is my help and my God.' + +The boisterous sorrow of the children subsided into gentle weeping, and +from every lip was heard the loud, believing, joyful, amen!' + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Some days later, Katharine was sitting with her children at the close +of day and exerting herself to read by the fading twilight a letter of +consolation which her imprisoned husband had thrown to little Ulrich. +The door was cautiously opened and a soldier in the Lichtenstein +uniform hesitatingly entered. + +'Do not be alarmed,' whispered he, as they shrunk from his approach. 'I +am Dorn, and have smuggled myself into the house in this disguise, that +I might bring you consolation and see for myself how you were situated. +Your mother and sister are in health and safety, and send kind +greetings to you. Nor need you be anxious on your husband's account. I +am certain that it is better for him to be in confinement than to be +free and expose himself to the outrages to which every hour gives +birth, and do things in moments of passion and excitement which would +only make matters worse. Should his situation become more critical, I +shall always be near him.' + +'In God's name, master Dorn, what is to be the end of all this?' +anxiously asked Katharine. + +'A city full of catholics,' answered Dorn with a bitter smile. 'The +count of Dohna has arrived to-day. That is a sufficient reason for +fearing the worst. From a renegade, who expects to win the principality +of Breslau by his tyrannical fury, nothing is to be hoped.' + +'Then God help us!' sobbed Katharine, wringing her hands. + +'By means of our arms, if it cannot be otherwise,' said Dorn, with +energy. 'I have carefully avoided encountering your worthy guest, +because I well know that one of us must in that case remain dead upon +the spot, and that would little help you in any event; but, if it +becomes necessary, I will strike the devil to the earth and free you +from him.' + +'No,' anxiously entreated Katharine; 'no murder on our account.' + +'That is man's work, dear lady,' said Dorn. 'No woman can reason upon +the subject. Every one must act according to his conscience. It will be +well for me and him if the necessity does not occur.' + +A gentle and afterwards a more decided knock was heard at the door. A +voice asked, 'are you alone, madam Fessel?' and directly the pale and +bleeding face of parson Beer peered into the room. + +'How pale you look! what has happened to you?' cried the frightened +Katharine. + +'My face bears the marks of the converting zeal of the imperial +apostles,' answered the parson with suppressed anger. 'Most terribly do +these Lichtensteins deal with the servants of the word. I have escaped +with less injury than some of my brethren. Me they only misused and +smote with their side arms, because I preached the truth to them with +the sharp fire of the spirit which had come upon me. I heed it not, and +even consider myself honored by the blows I received; one of which came +near making me a martyr. My worthy associate, Bartsch, was much more +shamefully treated, and my blood boils and foams when I think of it. +That they hustled, abused and plundered him, might be passed over; but +the hellish crew, adding to these outrages the most shameful scorn and +mockery, compelled that man of God to dance before them; himself, his +wife, and children to dance, like the infatuated Israelites before the +golden calf. For which the reprobates will one day be compelled to +dance to the howlings of damned spirits in the everlasting fire +prepared for the devil and his angels!' + +'How goes it with the poor citizens?' asked Dorn, for the purpose of +diverting the attention of the zealot from the occurrences which had so +excited his anger. + +'As might be supposed, very badly,' answered the parson. 'The counter +reformation may be said to have dated its commencement from the arrival +of the terrible Dohna. The soldiers are quartered only upon the +protestants, to whom they say, 'the moment you go and confess to the +Dominican or Franciscan priests, and bring a certificate of the fact, +that moment we will leave you and go elsewhere.' When the poor people +have been thus oppressed until they can bear it no longer, they become +frantic and repair to the priests for the certificate of confession. +The tormenting fiends then leave them and are distributed among such of +their neighbors as yet hold to the true faith, and treat them in the +same manner, until they, overcome by the weight of the burthen, also +go, like Peter, and deny their lord and master in the churches of their +adversaries. In this way we clergymen have each sixty men quartered +upon us, and the aldermen the same number. Burgomaster Yunge has +already over a hundred men to provide for, and if the apostacy extends +much further, the last true believing christian of Schweidnitz will +have the whole seven squadrons of converters collected in his own +house.' + +'Why do not the wretched people flee and abandon house and home, +property and sustenance?' asked the excited Dorn. + +'So they would have done, by thousands,' answered the parson; 'but the +converters will not let them go. The citizens are kept prisoners in +their city, and every householder is confined to his house. The gates +are closed, and each family is guarded by those who are quartered upon +it. In vain have some of our wealthiest citizens offered to give up all +their property with the promise never to ask for it again; in vain have +others sought death rather than a continuance of their sufferings. That +is not the object of our oppressors, whose only answer to all our +prayers is, 'you must embrace our faith.' + +'I have heard enough,' cried Dorn, with bursting rage. 'Say no more, +or, unable to restrain my wrath, I shall strike some of the hounds to +the earth and thereby bring my life to a sudden end. Farewell, Frau +Katharine,--I return to my hiding place; but shall not be far off, and +most joyfully will I lay down my life, if need be, in defence of you +and yours.' + +He strode forth,--the parson stepped to the window, through which the +bright moon was pouring its silver light, and, while watching Dorn's +retreating steps, convulsively pressed his hands across his breast and +gave frightful utterance to the following imprecation: 'Thy hand shall +find all thine enemies, Thy right hand shall find them that hate thee. +Thou wilt melt them as in a furnace when thou lookest upon them; the +Lord will consume them in his anger, fire shall devour them. Their seed +wilt thou destroy from the face of the earth, and their names from +among the children of men.' + +'God preserve us, reverend sir,' interposed Katharine. 'How can you +offer up such a horrible prayer? Rather should you remember and imitate +the forgiving spirit of our Savior when he prayed; 'Father, forgive +them, for they know not what they do!' + +'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,' he tremblingly +repeated after her, his anger rebuked by the divine sentiment, and +submissively raised his eyes toward the exhaustless source of love and +mercy. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +The next morning Katharine was sitting in her closet, with her infant +at her breast. Over its rosy cheeks rolled the mother's tears in quick +succession. Her other children were pressing around her, like chickens +who seek to hide themselves under the mother's sheltering wings, and +all were tremblingly and silently listening to the cries of lamentation +which occasionally arose from the neighboring dwellings, evincing the +activity of the tormentors. + +The clattering of spurs was heard at the door, which was immediately +thrown open, and the captain entered the room, accompanied by a file of +soldiers. + +'I am now satisfied!' cried he. 'I have subjected your cook to a sharp +examination. You have more food prepared daily than is necessary for +the family. Dishes are secretly conveyed away full and returned empty. +I am therefore satisfied that your relatives have not departed; but are +yet in the city, perhaps in this very house, and my duty requires me to +insist on their immediate appearance, that they may become participants +in the reformation which we bring to this deluded city.' + +'I have nothing more to answer upon that subject,' said Katharine with +firmness. + +'No?' asked the captain, grating his teeth. 'Will you bring me a +certificate of confession?' + +'Not to all is given such greatness of mind as to enable them to change +their faith according to the emergencies of the moment,' said +Katharine, with a bitterness which the unworthiness of the tempter +forced from her naturally mild heart. + +'Still scornful!' growled the captain. 'The cup now runs over. To the +cellar with this brood of young heretics!' thundered he to his +soldiers, who immediately forced the children from the room. 'My +children!' shrieked Katharine, making an effort to rush after them; but +the captain dragged the unhappy mother back. + +'The sands of mercy have run out,' he exclaimed; 'and the hour of +vengeance approaches. It is now no longer question of the runaway girl. +I have torn from my heart my sinful passion for the heretic, and have +to do only with you and your heterodoxy. I give you an hour to consider +whether you will return to the bosom of the mother church. If you then +obstinately choose to adhere to your erroneous belief, I will probe +your breast yet deeper, and by all the saints I swear to you that I +will find your heart.' + +He left the room. 'Preserve me from desperation, O God!' cried +Katharine, pressing her infant to her bosom and sinking powerless to +the earth. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +When she awoke she was sitting in a chair with her slumbering babe in +her arms, and before her stood, with weeping eyes, an old Franciscan +monk belonging to the city convent, upon whom she stared with wondering +and uncertain glances. + +'Calm yourself, dear lady,' said the old man in a friendly tone. 'The +cowl I wear may be doubly hateful to you in this heavy hour; but it +covers a heart that feels kindly and truly for you. I have heard of +your sufferings and have come to bring you succor. I have not forgotten +the kind attention and care I received in your house when, six years +ago, I came here from Breslau as a mendicant lay brother, and fell +fainting before your door. There were indeed hard-hearted Lutherans who +chid you for your charity and said you ought not to trouble yourself +about the beggarly papist priest,--but you answered that it was your +christian duty to succor a fellow christian. That was a noble +sentiment, and has ever since remained engraved upon my heart, and I +have daily offered up my prayers that God would bless you for it +through time and eternity. It is true that by some of my brethren this +prayer for a heretic has been considered sinful; but I have answered +them, '_Solum de salute Diaboli desperandum_,' and that it may please +the Lord in his mercy to bring this good woman one day, if even upon +her death bed, into the embrace of the only saving church.' + +'May God reward your love, my good father,' said Katharine with a +feeble utterance. 'A kindly human heart is always deserving of respect +and esteem, even though it wander in error.' + +'I came not,' answered the monk, 'to hold a controversial discussion +with you. My only wish is to warn you of what must necessarily and +absolutely be done, if you would save your mortal body, to say nothing +of your immortal soul. You must know that it is the irrevocable +determination of the emperor that all the protestants in his hereditary +dominions shall return to the true faith, and for that sole purpose has +he sent his troops to this city. It is true that these soldiers conduct +themselves here in a manner which no true catholic can justify, and +should one of these so called _converters_ stray into my confessional, +he would have a hard time of it. But so it is, and I, a poor feeble +monk, have no power to avert the evil. The Jesuits, who hold the +emperor's heart in their hands, might and should have prevented it; but +they have kindled the fire and poured oil thereon. Wherefore I say, +yield to the times, for they are dangerous. Without a certificate of +confession your tormentor will not leave you--he dares not, even if he +would. I bring you the necessary certificate. The urgency of the moment +will not permit a formal confession, and you therefore need only +subscribe to these articles. You can send your certificate to count +Dohna, and receive in exchange for it one from him, which will relieve +you from the presence of these soldiers.' + +'Excuse me!' cried Katharine. 'In the faith in which I have lived, will +I also die. I cannot subscribe.' + +'How now, so good and yet so stubborn!' exclaimed the reverend father. +'At least read what you are required to subscribe, before you refuse. +After reading it, you can subscribe or not, according to the dictates +of your own judgment. These sacred truths must, I should think, be +capable of striking the pure springs of true knowledge from the hardest +heart.' + +Katharine ran her eyes rapidly over the articles. As she came towards +the close, she read aloud. 'I swear, that through the intercession of +the saints I have now become converted to the catholic religion.' + +'Place your hand upon your heart, reverend father,' cried she, +springing up, incensed, 'and then say upon your sacred sacerdotal oath, +shall I not be guilty of perjury, if I swear that what I do out of fear +of an earthly power, is done through the spiritual effect of the +intercession of the saints?' + +The monk silently folded up the paper. + +'You see there can be no help for me,' said Katharine with humble +resignation. 'Leave me, therefore, to my fate, and take with you my +heartfelt thanks for your good intentions.' + +'You are a very obstinate woman!' said the monk, with evident and deep +sympathy. The longer his eyes rested upon her pale, pious and suffering +face, the more his sympathy increased, until at length, amid a flood of +gushing tears, he cried, 'I know that I commit a deadly sin, but I +cannot do otherwise. Take the certificate, which alone can put an end +to your sufferings.' + +'How! without confession or signature?' asked Katharine with +astonishment. + +'I have given to my God the offering of a long life,' cried the old man +with vehemence, 'full of heavy privations and hard struggles. He will +now, therefore, be a merciful judge to me, and after long and severe +penance will pardon me for once lending the aid of my holy office for +the purpose of deception. Yet, should I even incur his everlasting +anger, I cannot do otherwise. I cannot leave my benefactress to be +persecuted to death, even though I may one day be compelled to enter +the dark valley of the shadow of death, without absolution. Take the +certificate.' + +'God forbid!' said Katharine, tearing it in pieces, 'that I should rob +you of your soul's peace and disturb the tranquillity of your dying +hour. Nor would my own conscience permit me to accept your offer. Every +use which I should make of this paper would be an act of apostacy from +my own faith; if a hypocritical use, so much the worse. 'Be not +deceived, God is not mocked.'' + +'Woman, thou art more righteous than we!' cried the monk, with deep +emotion; and, covering his head with his cowl, he departed, weeping +audibly. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +The infant was still slumbering upon Katharine's bosom. The door was +again thrown open and the captain entered, this time without +attendants, bolting the door after him. + +'The hour is past,' said he with a demoniac smile. 'Have you a +certificate?' + +'No,' answered she, and at that moment the child in her arms awoke and +cried for its nourishment. 'Poor thing,' said she, bearing it towards +an alcove. + +'Where are you going?' asked the captain, seizing her arm as though he +would crush it in his ferocious grasp. + +'To nurse my child,' answered Katharine. 'You cannot wish that I should +do it in the presence of a stranger!' + +'You shall not nurse your child!' cried the captain, forcing it from +her arms. 'It shall not imbibe heresy with its mother's milk.' + +'What would you with my child, horrible man?' shrieked Katharine, +rushing upon him. + +'There it shall lie,' said he, putting it upon the floor. + +The poor infant uttered the most lamentable shrieks. + +'For God's sake, let me go to my child!' exclaimed Katharine. 'It is +dying.' + +'In that case I shall have saved a soul to heaven,' answered the +captain. + +'You cannot be a man!' cried the miserable mother. 'You must be satan +disguised in the human form.' Convulsive spasms seized her. Her eyes +closed, her lips became blue, and her senses fled. + +Some one knocked loudly at the door. 'Are you here, Frau Katharine?' +asked a voice which the captain recognized with terror. + +'Back!' cried the sentinel without. 'The captain is with the lady.' + +'The captain! and she answers not, and the child is screaming!' +exclaimed the same voice, with wild alarm,--and powerful blows +thundered upon the door. + +'Back!' again cried the sentinel, and immediately afterwards, with the +exclamation, 'Jesus Maria!' a heavy fall was heard near the door, which +now flew in fragments. Dorn rushed into the room over the body of the +wounded sentinel, who lay groaning upon the floor, with a drawn sword +in his hand. The captain sprang to meet the intruder, but shrunk back, +pale and trembling, the moment he recognized him. + +'Cut him down from behind!' cried he to his soldiers who now came +rushing into the room. + +'Down to hell!' thundered Dorn, thrusting the captain through the body. +With a frightful death-cry he fell to the earth, and Dorn threw down +his bloody weapon, 'I am your prisoner,' said he, with imposing +dignity, to the soldiers, and took the child from the floor. 'Call the +maidens to take care of the mother and infant, and then lead me to your +colonel, to whom I have something of importance to say.' + +Hardly knowing what they were about, the astonished and confounded +soldiers obeyed the bold youth. With loud cries the maidens rushed in +to assist their adored mistress and quiet the screaming infant. Dorn +impressed a last kiss upon the hand of the insensible Katharine, and +then in a commanding tone he cried to the soldiers, 'now forward!' +leading them off with a step as proud and as confident as if he were +marching to battle and victory. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +The generalissimo of the converters, count Karl Hannibal von Dohna, +with the governor, baron von Bibran, the Jesuit, Lamormaine, and some +field officers, were sitting at a table, in the quarters of colonel von +Goes. A large pile of ready prepared tickets, for quarters, were lying +upon the table, among flasks and goblets, and the gloves and swords of +the officers. A crucifix, kept upon the table for momentary use, seemed +to look sorrowfully upon the horrors which were here perpetrated under +its sanction. At the door stood colonel von Goes, to whom a deputation +of the inhabitants of the suburbs were complaining with trembling +humility, that his quarter-master had exempted each householder among +them, for the sum of two dollars each, from having troops quartered in +their houses, and now he had compelled them to receive two squadrons, +who were allowed to oppress them with every species of cruelty. + +'If the quarter-master has deceived you,' answered the colonel, 'he +will not escape due punishment; but you must submit to the quartering +until you return to the only true church; for on no other condition can +you be relieved.' + +The poor denizens departed with heavy hearts. 'Inquire into this +villany,' said the colonel to a subaltern officer, 'and if you detect a +rogue, let him be arrested and reported.' + +The officer went in obedience to the command. The colonel seated +himself with the others, drained a goblet, and striking his fist upon +the table, exclaimed, 'a curse upon this whole expedition!' + +'Jesus Maria!' cried Bibran and Lamormaine, crossing themselves, while +Dohna earnestly inquired why he uttered such an imprecation. + +'Because so much baseness, sir count,' fiercely answered Goes, 'mingles +with the performance of our great and holy duty. Our people plainly +show, that they are more anxious about the gold than the souls of the +heretics. Every thief in the regiment will become a rich man in +Schweidnitz. In the end it will become a disgrace to be called a +Lichtensteiner, and I have a hundred times regretted, that in my pious +zeal I opened a path for the entrance of these vagabonds into the poor +city.' + +'It could be wished,' interposed father Lamormaine, in a conciliatory +manner, 'that the business had been undertaken in a less public and +violent manner, and I have heretofore expressed the same opinion to the +count. This open and public assault upon these heretics will serve as a +warning to the others, and enable them to rally in their own defence. +By rallying their forces they will learn their strength; their courage +and obstinacy will increase, all who suffer for their erroneous belief +will be considered martyrs, and in the end they will make many +converts. We should have operated cautiously and quietly; commencing +with them softly, we should have increased the pressure by slow +degrees, and should have thus avoided every open scandal. A constant +dropping will wear a stone, and I am confident that we could easily and +quietly have converted all Silesia in the course of a year.' + +'Yes, that is the way with you gentlemen with shaven crowns,' cried the +count with a savage laugh. 'You step very softly by nature, but when +you have an object to attain, you also bind _felt_ upon the soles of +your shoes. Not so with me. My motto is, 'bend or break,--and so far I +have found it a very good one. I can boast of having accomplished more +than the apostle Peter. He indeed, upon one occasion, converted three +thousand souls by preaching a sermon: but I have many times converted a +greater number in a day, and that too without preaching. One year for +Silesia! Give me soldiers enough, and I will convert all Europe for you +in a year, by my method.' + +'What sort of a conversion would it be?' asked Lamormaine, shrugging +his shoulders. At that moment Dohna's adjutant entered the room. + +'The rich Heinze,' whispered he to his chief, 'will make a present to +you of that costly writing table, if you will allow him the quiet +enjoyment of his faith. You know the splendid article, the one for +which the duke of Leignitz offered him four thousand dollars. It is +below. + +'I will be with him directly,' cried Dohna, and taking a blank license +from the table, he hastened out. + +Meantime a tumult out of doors had attracted the whole company to the +windows. 'Do you know the cause of this disturbance?' asked Goes of the +adjutant. + +'A merchant's clerk has killed captain Hurka in his quarters,' answered +the latter. 'The guard are bringing him here.' + +'That Hurka must have learnt the art of tormenting from satan himself,' +growled the colonel. 'What was the provocation?' + +'They say,' answered the adjutant, 'that, in order to compel his +hostess to procure a certificate of confession, the captain tore her +infant from her breast, and threw it upon the floor.' + +This announcement caused a universal and simultaneous shudder among +those present, despite the triple mail of pride and intolerance which +encased their hearts, and Lamormaine discontentedly remarked, 'that is +the way to _make_ heretics, not to convert them.' + +'This is a case in which mercy, rather than severe justice, should +prevail,' remarked the strong-believing Bibran. 'The captain's conduct +was too horribly severe, and must lead to greater evils.' + +'Let the murderer be led hither,' said Goes. 'I will examine him.' + +The adjutant retired, and soon returned with Dorn in chains and +surrounded by guards. + +As Goes glanced towards him, he started back with fright, exclaiming, +'my God, what a terrible resemblance!' + +Calm and collected, the young man stood there, with his eyes stedfastly +fixed upon the colonel. + +With, much effort the latter recovered his equanimity, and now asked, +'know you what sentence the laws pronounce upon the assassin of one of +the emperor's officers?' + +'I have committed no murder,' resolutely replied Dorn. 'I have only +punished, in the presence of his soldiers, a villain who abused his +power, and trod under foot the holiest laws of nature.' + +'That voice, too!' said the colonel to himself, then turning to Dorn, +'self-avenging is not to be justified. Your act is treasonable, and no +evasion can save your forfeited life.' + +'Well, then, pronounce sentence upon your son!' cried Dorn, with a +sorrow which he could no longer control. + +'Son!' exclaimed all present with the utmost astonishment, and the +horror-stricken Goes fell back into a chair, sighing, 'it is, indeed, +my son!' + +The son beheld his father with deep emotion, and his tears freely +flowed at the sight of the old man's grief. At length, falling upon his +knee, he stretched forth his hands and said, 'I am sensible that +according to your laws my life is forfeited; therefore give me your +blessing, and then quickly pronounce the sentence that shall bring +peace to this troubled heart.' + +'Oswald, Oswald!' cried Goes, 'what a terrible meeting, after ten years +of separation! Wretched youth! why did you flee from your father's +house?' + +'The conflicting opinions which now lacerate Germany,' answered the +youth, 'placed a dreadful gulf between you and me. The idea of +constraining the consciences of men by means of the sword was revolting +to me, and, unable to approve or participate in your acts, and +shuddering at your sectarian zeal, I left you, that no unnatural +contest might arise between father and son.' + +'Where have you been until now?' asked the colonel with an anxiety +which indicated that he feared to hear the worst. + +'In the military service of Denmark,' answered Oswald, 'until two years +ago I found here in Schweidnitz, in the seclusion of humble life, the +peace and quiet which I sought.' + +'In the Danish service!' murmured the colonel; 'fighting for heresy +against the mother church!' + +His grief overpowered him. At length he roused himself by a powerful +effort from the whirlpool of conflicting feelings into which he had +sunk. 'What could prompt you,' he asked his son in a tone of firmness +and severity, 'to the senseless deed of murdering an imperial officer +in a city under the control of his brethren in arms?' + +'Eternal ignomy to the man,' cried Oswald, 'who would see an honorable +woman, a tender mother, a fellow believer, outraged and insulted by a +brutal villain, on account of her faith, and not strike down the +monster, reckless of consequences, as did Peter when his Lord was +assailed!' + +'A fellow believer?' cried Goes with terror. 'Hast thou then become a +heretic?' + +'I hesitate not,' said the youth with modest resolution, 'to avow +myself a believer in the pure faith of Zuinglius.' + +'He cuts me to the heart,' groaned the colonel. Then, summoning +resolution, he turned to Dorn and said, 'I hope you have now perceived +and are ready to recant your errors. That is the only way to save your +life.' + +'Would you have me deny what I believe to be true, through a +pusillanimous fear of death? Is it possible you can have so poor an +opinion of your son?' + +The rage of the proselyting chief, which had been hitherto with +difficulty restrained, now broke through all bounds. He caught the +crucifix from the table, unsheathed his sword, and holding them both +before his son, exclaimed, 'better to be childless than have a heretic +for a son! Choose instantly. Abjure your false belief, or die by my +hands!' + +'You gave me life, my father,' said Oswald; and you can also take it +from me. I remain stedfast in the truth. Therefore end quickly with me, +in God's name.' + +'God of Abraham strengthen me! cried the father, looking wildly towards +heaven and raising his weapon; but Bibran and Lamormaine caught his +arm. + +'God does not require a father to sacrifice his son,' said the +governor. + +'Would you give the heretics cause to curse our holy faith through your +senseless fury?' cried the Jesuit to him, in a tone of reprehension. + +'Take him to prison!' commanded Dohna, who had returned to the room. +'He may there consider until morning, whether he will or will not +abjure his heresy.' Should he continue obstinate, I will then permit +justice to take its course upon the murderer of my officer.' + +'God grant thee his light and peace, my poor father! Then shall we +again meet above!' cried Oswald with filial tenderness to the colonel, +who, exhausted by excess of anger, stared wildly about him as if bereft +of consciousness, and finally rushed from the room without speaking. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +Overcome by sorrow for his father's anger, and racked with anxiety for +the fate of his beloved Faith, whom he could protect no longer, Oswald +sat in the criminal's apartment of the guard-house, looking listlessly +through his grated window upon the snow-covered market-place. It was a +cold still night, and the stars shone through the clear atmosphere with +unusual brilliancy. The persecutors and the afflicted were finally at +peace, and had forgotten their insolence and their sufferings in the +embraces of sleep. The clocks of the church towers struck the midnight +hour. The guard was aroused for the purpose of relieving the sentinels +on post, and the rattling of arms resounded through the guard-house. +The noise, however, soon subsiding, quiet again prevailed, and Oswald, +to whom the confused and restless working of his mind had become almost +insupportable, laid his weary head upon the table and tried to sleep. +Just then the bolts were drawn and his door was softly opened. A +corporal of the Lichtensteins, with a dark lantern, and accompanied by +two soldiers, entered the prison. Releasing the prisoner from his +chains, he commanded him, 'follow me to the count!' + +'Am I already sentenced?' asked Oswald, with bitterness. 'Am I to be +executed secretly, under the veil of night? It is a sad confession that +your deeds will not bear the light of day!' + +'Silence!' said the corporal, motioning him to follow. + +'God help me!' cried Oswald, throwing his mantle over his shoulders and +advancing. + +The whole guard were snoring upon their benches, the officer was in his +well warmed little room slumbering amidst his wine flasks, and even the +sentinel without, leaned nodding upon his halberd. He was roused, +however, by the approaching foot-steps, and presenting his halberd to +the corporal he cried, 'who goes there?' + +'A good friend!' boldly answered the corporal, whispering the +countersign. 'We are commanded to bring the prisoner to the general.' + +'Pass!' said the sentinel, shouldering his arms. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + +The four hastened forth together. A sharp wind whistled over the +market, while a raven, scared by the wanderers, arose with loud +croakings from its snowy bed and with its heavy flapping wings slowly +moved away. The shivering youth wrapped his mantle more closely about +him and followed the corporal without troubling himself respecting the +soldiers; these last soon fell into the rear, and, dexterously turning +into another street, disappeared. + +'Here we are,' said the corporal, suddenly turning to Oswald. The +latter, startled from his death-dream, looked wildly about him. He was +standing among the graves in a parish churchyard. + +'Is this indeed to be my last resting place?' he asked, throwing off +his mantle. 'Only direct me where to kneel, and be sure you take good +aim.' + +'Kneel, indeed, you must, my worthy youngster,' cried the corporal, +with joyful emotion, and thank God for your rescue, as soon as you are +in safety; but with the death shot we have now nothing to do. You are +free.' + +'Free!' cried Oswald, now for the first time missing the two soldiers. + +'Have you really forgotten your old friend Florian?' asked the +corporal, throwing the light of the lantern upon his face, of which +Oswald soon recognized the well known lineaments. + +'Thou true friend!' cried Oswald, embracing the good old man with +grateful affection. 'Thou, who once so carefully guarded the boy +against the trifling dangers of youth, wouldst thou now save the life +of the man! I dare not accept the freedom you offer me,' he +thoughtfully added. 'According to martial law you forfeit your life by +this act. Rather than expose you to such consequences, I would prefer +to resume my chains.' + +'Do not trouble yourself,' answered the corporal. 'The two soldiers who +accompanied me are secretly Lutherans, and had previously determined to +desert this night. Your father supposes I am already gone. I have my +discharge in my pocket. Although I am a good catholic christian, I +cannot bring myself to approve of his method of making people blessed, +and prefer quitting the service before I have wholly unlearned to be a +man. As soon as the gates open in the morning I shall leave this +wretched city for my peaceful home. If you are willing to accompany me, +I will provide you with other clothes and pass you off as my son.' + +'No, my old friend,' said Oswald. 'I am bound to these walls by strong +ties. They enclose what is dearest to me on earth; and I must remain +here to watch over and protect, until I succeed in rescuing her, or +fall in the attempt.' + +'Of course you will act your pleasure,' said the corporal. 'Besides, +they will not seek for you very earnestly, for captain Hurka is by no +means dead.' + +'How, Hurka living?' asked Oswald with mingled regret and joy. + +'It is harder to root out weeds than wholesome plants,' said the old +man. 'Your blow was right well intended, but did not penetrate very +deeply, and the long swoon which they mistook for death was only +stupefaction.' + +'Ha, how furiously will the fiend rage again!' cried Oswald with +anxiety and indignation. + +'Make yourself easy upon that score!' said the old man consolingly. 'He +is now disabled by his wound, and your father has caused a lecture to +be read to him, that may well satisfy him for the present. Besides, the +merchant Fessel has been released from his imprisonment, together with +his children.' + +'How stands it with his wife?' asked Oswald. + +'Indeed, she is to be buried the day after tomorrow,' slowly answered +the old man. + +'Eternal God!' shrieked Oswald in the wildest sorrow. 'Vice saved and +virtue in the grave, and shall we yet believe in thy providence?' + +'Yes, my son, we must!' said the old man, reprovingly. 'We must believe +in the Father's guiding hand, not merely in the sunshine before the +gathered sheaves, but also in the tempest which scatters the harvest. +Else have we not the true faith. Treasure up this sentiment, even +though it comes from the lips of an unlettered catholic. It has been a +friendly light to me upon life's weary road, and will continue to cheer +me onward to the grave. Now farewell. The morning wind already blows +across the graves, and I have yet many preparations to make for my +journey. Farewell, and remember me kindly. Should I never see you again +upon earth, God grant that we may hereafter meet where the true +Shepherd shall gather all his lambs, even those who have here strayed +from the flock, into one fold.' + +He once more shook the youth most cordially by the hand, and then with +hasty and vigorous strides left the church-yard. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + +The day appointed for madam Fessel's interment was drawing to a close. +A crowd of people had assembled in the parish church-yard, with weeping +eyes and pallid faces, awaiting in gloomy silence the arrival of the +funeral procession. Two grave-diggers stood leaning upon their spades +beside the open grave. + +The procession came. 'Now for God's sake summon resolution,' said a +young Franciscan monk, whose face was almost wholly covered by his +cowl, to an elderly rustic woman and a beautiful young peasant boy, +whose eyes were almost blinded by their tears, pressing forward with +them to a grassy hillock in the vicinity of the grave. A Lichtensteiner +who had found himself in the crowd, surprised at the exclamation, +placed himself near them and continued to watch their movements +narrowly. + +The mournful hymn of the choristers was now heard approaching. High +waved the crucifix upon the church yard gate, shining silvery bright +through the evening twilight, and the choristers in double ranks drew +slowly toward the grave. After them came the Lutheran preachers, with +their heads cast down. Next came the black coffin upon the shoulders of +the bearers; upon its appearance the whole assembly broke into loud +sobs, and notwithstanding all the efforts of the monk to restrain them, +the peasant woman and young man upon the hillock wrung their hands with +irrepressible sorrow. After the coffin, came the weeping clerks, +apprentices, and household servants. Then followed the bereaved +husband, pale and tearless. With each hand he led one of his little +daughters, who again each led a brother. To them succeeded, a nursery +maid, bearing the little Johannes with his blooming angel face, who +smiled upon the crowd and by his happy unconsciousness stirred the +hearts of the people even more than the sight of the father and +sisters, who followed their best beloved to the grave with a full +knowledge of their irreparable loss. + +An immeasurable line of neighbors and friends closed the procession, +whose tears and sighs, an ample testimony of the worth of the deceased, +solemnized the burial instead of tolling bells and funereal music, +which the rigor of the new church government denied to heretics. + +The corpse had now reached the grave. The bearers sat it down and +removed the lid of the coffin, and a loud lament filled the air at the +sight of the martyr. The kiss of the angel of death had removed all +traces of her late sufferings from her countenance. With softly closed +eyes, and a heavenly smile upon her lips, she lay, as if awaiting that +blessed morning whose aurora seemed already dawning upon her spiritual +vision. + +With outward composure the widower approached the coffin, clasped the +folded hands of the pale corpse, murmured, 'Farewell, thou true one; +soon shall we meet again,'--and silently retired. + +The weeping children now rushed forward, but the clergyman, Beer, +directed the servants to lead them back. He then stepped to the coffin, +requested the audience to be silent, and with a loud voice addressed +them as follows: + + +''Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!' These words of +Christ, with which he prayed for his persecutors, were the last words I +heard from the blessed being whose earthly remains we are now about to +consign to the grave. My anger was inflamed by the atrocities which +were daily committed in our city under the mantle of religion, and I +prayed that the avenging fire of God's wrath might descend and consume +our tormentors. This deceased saint checked my imprecation by calling +to my mind the divine prayer of our holy Savior, and with a chastened +and humble spirit I repeated after her: 'Father forgive them, for they +know not what they do.' + +'And so must you henceforth pray, my hearers. Of the men who now by +divine permission pursue and persecute us, by far the greater number +are acting not from inveterate cruelty but under the influence of a +mistaken sense of religious duty, and desire to lead us back to that +path which they deem the only safe one; and this desire is not +censurable. + +'But that they seek, by means of persecution and torture, to compel us +to receive what they hold to be the true faith,--that they would bind +the immortal spirit with earthly chains, when the word of God cannot be +bound or confined,--therein lies their error. It therefore becomes us +as christians to forgive them; 'they know not what they do.' + +'Even that terrible man whose barbarity has destroyed this blessed +martyr to our faith, knew not, as we charitably hope, what he did,--and +therefore will we not curse him, but pray to God that he will purify +his heart and enlighten his mind. + +'Therefore let us patiently suffer the afflictions which the Lord may +yet send us for our good, without hatred towards the instruments he may +employ for that purpose, and thus seek to become worthy of the glorious +martyrs to the pure Christianity of the first ages, and of this our +blessed friend. Should He require us also to lay down our lives for our +faith, so will we without anger or opposition bow our necks to the +death-dealing axe, and die with the departing exclamation of our +Savior, 'it is fulfilled!--Amen.'' + + +He retired. The lid of the coffin was fastened down, and it was then +lowered into the earth. + +In accordance with a pious old custom, the husband and orphans each +cast three handsful of earth into the grave, as a last farewell, and +the bereaved man then retired, tearless as he had come, while the +children found relief for their sorrow in audible weeping. + +All the spectators now-pressed about the grave to pay the last honors +to the dear departed, and from hundreds of hands fell the earth upon +the coffin below. The young Franciscan also, by great exertion made a +path for himself to the grave; having thrown in his handful of earth, +he hastily caught hold of his companions, and exclaiming, 'now forward, +the moments are precious!' led them away. + +'Why should the moments be so precious to this monk?' mused the +observant Lichtensteiner; and then, after a moment's reflection, he +suddenly cried, 'the captain may be able to explain it!'--and ran from +the church-yard. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + +In a low chamber in the little village of Friedland, eight days later, +lay the aged Mrs. Rosen on the sick bed upon which the effects of her +long confinement in the cellar, the extraordinary exertions consequent +upon her sudden flight, and more than all, her sorrow for the loss of +her beloved daughter, had thrown her. The owner of the house, a +weaver's widow, who had formerly been a servant to her, and who had +been indebted to her liberality for her comfortable establishment, +stood at the head of her bed with a phial and spoon in her hand, and +with a countenance expressive of the tenderest sympathy. Before the bed +sat Oswald and the weeping Faith. + +'Compose yourself, my daughter,' said the matron. 'I shall surely +recover from this illness. Alas, one may suffer much before the thread +of life will break! I feel much better to-day than I did yesterday, and +I hope not to be the cause of anxiety much longer.' + +'God grant it!' sobbed Faith, sinking upon her knees before the bed, +and covering her dear mother's hand with her kisses and tears. + +At that moment Jonas, the widow's son, entered the cottage with his hat +and traveling staff, gave them a melancholy and silent greeting, and +began to unpack his bundle. + +'So soon returned from Schweidnitz?' asked Oswald. 'What is the state +of affairs there?' + +'Still very bad, sir,' answered Jonas. 'The soldiers abuse and oppress +the people in a manner that might soften a heart of stone; and you may +consider it fortunate that you are here.' + +'Did you succeed in speaking to my brother-in-law, my good friend?' +anxiously asked Faith. + +'I saw him last evening, and told and gave him all. He keeps about with +difficulty, to save his household from entire ruin. He gave me this +letter and this bag of gold for you, and sends kind greetings to you +all.' + +Oswald took the letter, broke the seal and read: + + +'The persecution still rages, and I thank heaven that you are for the +present in a place of safety. Immediately after the funeral of my dear +Katharine, the clergymen were all compelled to leave the city. In the +course of the night my house underwent a strict search, and even the +vault in which you were so long concealed did not escape. The captain +has already nearly recovered, and left his bed to-day for the first +time, to wait upon the colonel. The latter, as I understand, gave him a +very unpleasant reception. They afterwards conferred together for two +hours, with closed doors. What was there agreed upon God only knows; +but when the captain returned, I was standing in front of my shop, and +he greeted me in a manner so terribly courteous that it made me +shudder. I have just heard that a squadron of dragoons have orders to +be ready for a movement to-morrow morning at day-break; but their +destination is kept secret. God be merciful to the poor people upon +whom they may fall. I send you what I can spare, and beg that you will +not again write or send any message to me until I make known to you +that you can do so with safety. My guests keep a sharp watch upon me, +and I am very anxious about your last letter, which I mislaid in +consequence of one of the soldiers having interrupted me while reading +it. I yet hope to find it again. God preserve you and me!' + + +A death-like stillness prevailed in the room at the conclusion of the +reading, and no one ventured to express the renewed apprehensions which +the letter had inspired. + +'This is a discouraging letter,' at length observed Oswald, +interrupting the general silence; 'and I begin to fear we are not +entirely safe even here. Would that we had fled to Breslau, as I +advised! The capital of the province, which is at the same time the +seat of government of the principality, will surely be spared the +longest.' + +He was interrupted by a disturbance out of doors very unusual for that +quiet and retired village. People were running to and fro and calling +to each other in the Streets, and Oswald, alarmed, sprang for his sword +which lay in the recess of the window. + +'Go out and see what is the cause of this disturbance,' said he to +Jonas, and bring us word as soon as possible.' + +Jonas obeyed, and his mother observed, 'something very dreadful must +have happened; for the people are running and screaming, as if a fire +had broken out or an enemy were at the gates.' + +'Protect us, Oswald,' begged Faith, leaning tremblingly upon the youth. + +'While I live!' answered he, grasping his sword. + +'Save yourselves--the converters are coming!' cried Jonas, rushing into +the room. + +'It must be a false alarm,' cried Oswald. 'You must be mistaken.' + +'I was told so by a farmer who has just returned from Waldenburg. He +was about to leave that city, when a squadron of the Lichtenstein +dragoons entered it. They dismounted for breakfast, and he had it from +the mouth of one of the soldiers that this village was their place of +destination. Whereupon he immediately left the city and drove home as +fast as possible to give the alarm.' + +'Then we must have at least an hour's start of them,' said Oswald; and +turning to madam Rosen, 'if you feel able to travel, I will immediately +provide a conveyance to Bohemia.' + +'No, my son,' said the matron, with a melancholy smile. 'For this time +I must remain here and await the providence of God. I should only +hinder you in your flight, and you would at last have only a corpse to +convey across the border.' + +'I stir not from your side!' sobbed the tender Faith, clasping her +mother with anxious affection. + +'That would be folly, my child,' said the mother, earnestly, 'and a +very childish demonstration of your love. You and your betrothed are +the objects of the search of our persecutors. They would have little +desire to encumber themselves with me. I have wandered here as a +peasant woman, and our hostess can give them to understand, that I am a +yarn gatherer suddenly taken ill at her house. Your charms, and +Oswald's stately figure render it impossible for you to be concealed in +the same way, and therefore you must instantly forth.' + +'Never!' cried Faith, wringing her hands. + +'It is my will,' said the mother, with decision. 'Will you, my +daughter, increase the sorrows of your sick mother by disobedience, and +betray by your presence what otherwise may remain undiscovered? Would +you see your lover fall before your eyes, unable to defend you against +superior force?' + +'I obey,' sighed Faith; and she hastened to pack a small bundle and put +on her cloak. + +'By the holy faith which we profess in common,' said the hostess, 'you +leave your mother in good hands.' + +'I am sure of that, and consequently depart with confidence,' said +Oswald, leading the inconsolable maiden to her mother's bed-side. + +With bright eyes the mother placed her daughter's hand in that of +Oswald. 'Be ye one, here and hereafter!' cried she. 'That is my +blessing upon your espousals; and now let me beg of you to go directly, +without any leave-taking, for which I have not strength, and which will +rob you of time, every moment of which is invaluable.' + +Faith attempted to speak again, but her mother pointed towards the +door, and Oswald led her forth. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + +Daylight had long since disappeared when Oswald and Faith alighted from +their wagon at a solitary inn beyond the Bohemian boundary. 'Here you +are for the present in safety,' said the conductor who had brought them +from Friedland, knocking at the door. 'The people of the house are +honest, and of our faith at heart. The vicinity is full of secret +Hussites.' + +'Who comes so late?' asked a little, dark-complexioned old woman, +opening the door with her hand held before a flickering torch. + +'A young wedded pair, mother Thekla,' answered the conductor, 'who are +fleeing before the converters. Receive them kindly and take good care +of them. God will reward you for it.' + +'It is but our duty,' said the woman. 'Come in, poor creatures.' + +'Farewell,' said the conductor to Oswald. 'I intend to return directly; +for my wife and children may not be safely left without a protector +among the reckless soldiery.' + +'And, that you have brought me here--' said Oswald, forcing into his +hand a couple of dollars over and above the fee agreed upon.... + +'I have already forgotten it,' said the conductor, laughing. 'Besides, +when I get into the forest, I intend to load my wagon with wood, which +I shall gaily drag into Friedland early in the morning, and nobody will +think of asking me what freight I took thence. May God protect you!' + +He mounted his wagon and drove rapidly away, while Oswald led his +companion into the bar-room. To their great satisfaction it was +tolerably empty. Only in one corner of the room snored three men and +four large hounds on some straw, and at a table near the gray-headed +host, with a goblet before him, sat a large strongly built man in the +dress of a Bohemian peasant. Oswald observed the sabre which the guest +bore, and the large knife in his girdle, with some suspicion; but the +honest lineaments and saddened expression of his brown, haggard face, +again inspired him with confidence. He courteously seated himself at +the table and called for a glass of wine, while Faith was arranging +with the hostess for a supper and accommodations for the night. + +'You are in flight on account of your faith, as I hear, my dear sir?' +asked the stranger in a voice of the deepest bass, and at the same time +glancing at him mistrustfully with his wild, black eyes. + +'The time and weather would have been badly chosen for a journey of +pleasure,' peevishly answered Dorn. + +'You must surely have come from Jauer, or Loewenberg, or Schweidnitz?' +further asked the man; 'for they are very strenuously pushing the +counter-reformation in those places just now. 'You are by far too +curious!' cried Oswald, with displeasure. 'I do not willingly listen to +such questions from strangers.' + +'It is the business of my office to ask questions, my young gentleman,' +thundered the stranger; 'for I am a captain of Bohemian provincial +troops, and am stationed here upon the border to guard against the +influx of Silesian heretics.' + +While he said this, the four hounds sprang up and placed themselves +growling before Oswald, and the three men half raised their bodies from +the straw, their flashing eyes peering from their dark brown faces, and +their well scoured muskets glistening in their hands. Oswald instantly +arose and drew his sword. + +'Put up your weapon!' the man now cried in an altered tone, seizing his +goblet. 'I but wished to be certain of my man. Come, be again quietly +seated, and do me justice in a fresh goblet. The Bohemian goose and +Silesian swan!' + +'Huss and Luther!' cried Oswald touching glasses and emptying his own +with a lighter heart, while the hounds and soldiers again stretched +themselves upon the straw. + +'Do not be offended that I thought it necessary to prove you,' said the +Bohemian; 'but the tricks and artifices of the papists are so manifold, +that these precautions are rendered quite necessary. You might have +been a spy of the Jesuits. Since we now understand each other, however, +I may converse with you without reserve. You are not safe even here. +For my old friend, our host, I will indeed be answerable; but the +converters sometimes come over the border to us; especially when they +deem that they have important game in view; and you appear to me as +though you might be of some consequence. Therefore, if it be agreeable, +I will conduct you and your little wife to a place, where you may dwell +in peace behind the everlasting walls which the Lord himself has built +for the defence of persecuted innocents.' + +'There is no falsehood in that face!' answered Oswald; 'and I accept +your offer with gratitude.' + +'You will not indeed find our residence very elegant,' said the +Bohemian; 'and that delicate female form may be wholly unaccustomed to +such quarters; but necessity reconciles one to privations, and a very +little suffices for our actual necessities.' + +'Be not concerned on that account,' said Faith, who had now seated +herself near Oswald. 'A safe shelter is all we wish.' + +'Well, eat your supper,' said the Bohemian, 'and retire quickly to +rest, that you may be ready to start by day-break in the morning. I +have been long accustomed to watch through the night, and will guard +you faithfully. With the rising sun we shall be among the rocks.' + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Wrapped in his cloak, Oswald was yet sweetly and soundly sleeping upon +the floor, before the only bed in the house, in which his fair +companion was slumbering. A knock was heard at the door, and the +Bohemian cried, 'bestir yourself, sir. The morning breaks, and we must +away!' The youth sprang upon his feet and awoke the maiden with a kiss. +Soon ready to set out, they took a grateful leave of their worthy hosts +and stepped to the door. Every object was obscured by a thick morning +mist; and the sun, like a large red ball of fearful size, was just +rising in the east. + +'Let us wait a little, until the sun has dissipated the mist,' said the +Bohemian, 'lest the lady should hurt her feet among the rocks.' + +They stood a short time, waiting and shivering in the morning wind. +Oswald had thrown his cloak over Faith, and held her closely clasped to +keep her warm. The mist moved before them like a waving ocean, and +apparently resolved itself into numerous dark clouds, which settled +down upon the earth, and seemed to root themselves there. Meanwhile the +sun had mounted higher, the waving of the ocean of mist increased, and +suddenly there came a powerful gust of wind which rent and pressed down +the immense cloud-curtain, when a scene as singular as it was +magnificent, lay before Oswald's astonished eyes. The dark clouds that +had appeared to sink down upon the earth, had changed to huge masses of +gray rocks, which, rising up into the blue ether like countless +palaces, churches and high towers, assumed the appearance of a gigantic +city. Softly rounded snow-domes, crimsoned by the rays of the morning +sun and glistening with thousands of diamonds, adorned the summits of +these natural edifices, and the undying verdure of the pines and firs +which arose here and there from the clefts of the rocks, gave a +cheerful aspect to the view. + +'Great is the Lord, when seen in his works!' cried the enraptured +Oswald, withdrawing his mantle from Faith, to enable her to enjoy the +spectacle. + +Opening her large and beautiful eyes, she stood awhile as if blinded. +'How came this strange and wonderful city here?' asked she with +astonishment 'Is it indeed a city?' + +'Certainly,' answered the Bohemian, laughing. 'We call it the stone +city, and divide it into city and suburbs. It is here, however, +properly called the rocks of Aldersbach.' + +'Are we to go in among those rocks?' anxiously asked Faith, clasping +her Oswald more closely. + +'There is no other way, my child,' answered the latter. 'Be not +alarmed--you see that I am not disturbed, which I should be, if I +anticipated any danger to you.' + +'Ah, you iron-nerved men never anticipate danger until it is close at +hand,' said the maiden; 'and then it is too late to avoid it.' + +'Go on in advance, Lotek,' said the Bohemian to one of his companions. +'Beat the path a little where the snow lies too deep; announce to the +worthy pastor that I bring him guests, and kindle a good fire in my +quarters, that the lady may be rendered comfortable on her arrival.' + +Lotek threw his musket upon his back, whistled to his wolf-dog, stepped +off with long strides, and soon disappeared among the rocks. + +'Now, if agreeable, we also will start,' said the Bohemian. 'The sun is +tolerably high, and I would not willingly remain abroad, in open day.' + +'Come, my child,' said Oswald, offering his arm to Faith, which she +took with a sigh, and they briskly entered among the rocks. The +procession was led by the Bohemian, closed by his armed companions, and +flanked by the hounds. + +'These masses are frightfully high,' said Faith, looking anxiously up +at their summits. + +'They appear so to you,' said the Bohemian, looking back. 'These, +however, are but small affairs. We are now only in the suburbs. In the +city you will see rocks worth talking about.' + +'Heaven take pity on us!' sighed Faith, wandering on until she came to +an open space. Here towered up, solitary and frightful, a single +monstrous gray rock, formed like an inverted cone with its base +stretching high up into the clouds and its apex imbedded in a lake of +ice. + +'Do not go so near, Oswald,' said Faith. 'This large rock must in the +next moment tumble over.' + +'Fear it not,' said the Bohemian. 'This is the Sugarloaf, which has +been standing thus upon its head for thousands of years, and will +surely retain its position long after we are in our graves.' + +They were still advancing, when Faith, who was somewhat ashamed to +exhibit her fears to the Bohemian, whispered to Oswald, 'only see that +horrible gray giant's head projecting over us from between those high +towers. I can plainly discern a monstrous, solemn looking face, +surrounded by flowing gray locks.' + +'That is the burgomaster,' said the laughing Bohemian, who well +understood the whisper. 'So is this sport of nature called, and it is +the most beautiful of any here. You need not fear him, for he is the +only burgomaster on earth who never troubled any one.' + +They continued to proceed farther and farther, until at length they +were interrupted by a purling mountain stream. Beyond it, stood a broad +mass of stone. The Bohemian leaped across the rivulet, rattling down a +quantity of loose stones behind him, and with the humming operation of +some wheel-work, the heavy stone moved slowly aside, and discovered a +low, narrow opening. + +'Do we enter there?' asked Faith in a tone so disconsolate as to call +forth a hearty laugh from all the Bohemians. Even Oswald joined in the +laugh, and, clasping the maiden in his arms, he sprung with her to +the opposite bank. They all now stood within a narrow passage, the +wheel-work again moved, the entrance closed, and they were enveloped in +darkness. + +'It is very dark here!' cried Faith. + +'We shall soon come into the light,' said their leader, advancing. The +others followed, and they thus proceeded in a narrow path, floored with +yielding planks, and bounded by high perpendicular walls of dark gray +stone, between which was seen the dark blue sky--so dark indeed, that +they could almost distinguish the stars in broad day-light. The +trickling water glistened upon the walls like silver threads upon a +black velvet ground; and here and there little waterfalls, forming +dazzling crystals with their congealing spray, bounded down the rocks +and disappeared under the planks upon which they were walking. + +'If we follow this path much longer,' protested Faith, 'I shall die of +fear and anxiety.' + +'For shame, my love!' answered Oswald. 'Will you, who spoke so boldly +for me to the grim Wallenstein, lose your courage here in the bosom of +harmonious nature, where we are especially and wholly in the hands of a +protecting God?' + +'We are at the end!' exclaimed the Bohemian, stepping out into the +clear sunshine. The fugitives followed him, and found themselves in a +narrow but pleasant valley, surrounded by high snow-covered rocks which +cut off this quiet retreat from the rest of the world. A clear, silver +fountain, which gushed from a cleft in the rocks, meandered through the +vale, while among and upon the rocks, like eyries, were to be seen +about ten huts, built of rough branches, and well covered with moss, to +secure their inhabitants from the inclemencies of the weather. Men, +women, and children, were moving in and about these simple dwellings as +quietly and confidently as if they had resided there all their lives. +The fire ordered by the Bohemian twirled its smoke up into the clear +heavens, and there sat Lotek, assiduously turning a haunch of venison +which was roasting before it. An old and venerable man with a long +white beard, in a black clerical dress, and with a black cap +surmounting his white hairs, came forth from one of the best of the +huts to meet the new comers. + +'Welcome, ye who have become outcasts and wanderers for the sake of +your faith!' said he, with solemnity, as he extended to them the hand +of friendship. 'Welcome to the Hussite's Rest. In my hut there is yet +room for you. Come, eat of my bread and drink of my cup. By the grace +of God you have here found an asylum which will conceal and protect you +as long as may be necessary; for the destructive storm which now rages +over the land, reaches not here.' + +'Heartfelt thanks for your hospitable offer, reverend father,' said +Oswald. 'Have you dwelt long among these rocks?' + +'For the last five years,' answered the venerable pastor. 'After our +emperor (who will one day have to answer for the deed before the +judgment seat) destroyed the sacred edict which assured toleration, and +burned its seal, there was no longer peace or safety for the poor +Hussites in Bohemia. As he openly declared that 'he would have none but +catholic subjects,' more than thirty thousand of our most respected +families, embracing all ranks, wandered abroad to strengthen and enrich +foreign countries by their wealth and industry. The poor cultivators of +the soil could not avail themselves of the generous permission to +emigrate with their property. They could not carry the soil with them, +and being thus compelled to remain, they seized their arms and fell +upon their persecutors. I myself, with the cross in my hand, led my +parishioners against the enemy, and we struck boldly for our religion. +Fresh armies were sent against us; the gallows and racks were +encumbered with the corpses of our brethren, and we were compelled to +yield; but it was impossible for us wholly to abandon our father-land, +and we therefore threw ourselves into the caverns among these rocks, +where a deep seclusion from the world is our only safety. Here we live +quietly and peacefully upon the produce of our labor and the chase, +which we dispose of in Bohemia and Silesia, and are much rejoiced +whenever a victim of priestly rage wanders hither to claim our +protection and hospitality.' + +'We may now dismiss all anxiety,' said Oswald to Faith. 'We have at +last reached a safe and well concealed haven.' + +'That beauteous form inclines so confidingly and yet so modestly toward +you, young man,' said the venerable pastor, 'that I should judge you +were not yet man and wife, but only lovers. If you desire it, I will +pronounce the blessing of the church over you. I am fully authorized to +perform the ceremony, having received ordination from our right +reverend bishop, who now wears the crown of martyrdom before the throne +of the Lamb.' + +'Have I your consent, my dearest?' asked Oswald, warmly pressing the +maiden's hand. 'We already have your mother's blessing.' + +'Not now, dear Oswald,' said Faith, with mingled sadness and +resignation. 'I cannot consent to take that important step while yet so +deeply impressed with sorrow for the fate of my dearest relatives. Our +love must now wear the mourning dress in which it has been clad by +these unhappy times. It would be almost wicked to put on the myrtle +now; and the decisive _yes_, which should be spoken out of a joyful +heart, would be stifled by my sobs and tears, under the present +circumstances.' + +'Your wish can alone decide the question,' said Oswald, tenderly, +impressing a chaste kiss upon her forehead. + +'Maiden, it is evident you have chosen a worthy partner,' said the +pastor. 'And early has your betrothed learnt the lesson of self-denial, +the hardest in this life to be acquired.' + +Delighted to hear from such reverend lips the praise of one so dear to +her, the maiden threw her arms about Oswald's neck and embraced him +with love and joy. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + +'The morning is fine,' said Faith to Oswald after breakfast, as their +venerable host seated himself with his bible upon his knee; 'and the +valley here is so narrow and close that these huge rocks seem to press +upon my heart. Let us therefore walk out a short distance beyond their +confines.' + +'Venture not too far, my children!' said the pastor, in a warning voice +without raising his eyes from his book. 'My old body is a true and +faithful weather-prophet, and tells me that we shall have a severe +storm to-day. These storms rage much more furiously here than in the +plains, and, when they come, every living creature finds it necessary +to seek a shelter.' + +'We will soon return,' promised Faith, skipping forth by Oswald's side. + +'Mark well the place of entrance to our retreat,' said the Hussite, who +opened the outer stone door for them; 'that you may be sure to find it +again. The passages among the rocks are very similar, and if by mistake +you enter a wrong one you may be compelled to wander about all day +long.' + +'Never fear! 'answered Oswald. 'It would illy become a soldier to be +unable to remember any locality it might be necessary for him to find +again. He then looked at the highest peaks in the vicinity, impressed +their relative positions upon his memory, carefully examined the secret +door, and thus prepared, they went forth into the clear fresh morning +air and soon became engaged in a conversation of such interest as to +render them entirely heedless of the lapse of time. + +'I know not how it is,' said Faith, fanning her glowing face with her +handkerchief; 'it is yet mid winter here, and I am so very warm.' + +'It is incident to the summer of life,' said their former guide, who +suddenly stood before them as they turned a corner; 'especially when +the sun of love shines warmly. It is not probable you will have much +further occasion to complain of the heat to-day, for a storm is +approaching.' + +'With the sky so clear? Impossible!' cried Faith. + +'You know nothing of the tricks of the mountain-sprites,' said the +Bohemian. 'One moment we have sunshine, the next thunder and lightning. +That is the way with them. You will do well to return to the valley +betimes.' + +He passed on and was soon out of sight. + +'We had better follow him,' said Oswald. + +'Yet but one quarter of an hour,' begged Faith; 'and then we will +return as fast as we can.' + +'Who can deny you any thing,' said the youth; 'even when you solicit +what should not be granted?' + +They still continued to advance, until they came where the rocks were +less compactly clustered, and glimpses of the plain, presenting +brilliant winter landscapes, were occasionally obtained through the +openings. + +'Ah, how much pleasanter it is here than in the pent up valley!' cried +Faith, clapping her hands with childish joy. + +Oswald suddenly started and listened. 'Did you hear nothing?' he asked +the maiden. 'It sounded like a distant trumpet.' + +'Yes,' said Faith, after listening a moment; 'it must be the blast of a +trumpet.' + +'It may be our pursuers!' cried Oswald. 'Let us hasten back to our +asylum.' + +He now turned quickly about with Faith, and, rather bearing than +leading her, hastened to retrace the path by which they had come. +Before proceeding far on their return, they were met by a colder and +sharper wind, and the snow which it blew from the summits of the rocks +involved them in a white fleecy cloud. + +'Alas, Oswald, I can no longer see,' complained Faith. + +'It is but little better with me,' answered Oswald, groping after the +path to the right, which he supposed to be the one he should take. +Still sharper blew the wind as the storm rapidly approached, and the +dark gray mountain-clouds lashed the immense rocks with their mighty +wings, sending down their accumulated snows upon the heads of the poor +wanderers. Still more wildly rushed and whistled and howled the winds +among the rocks, in strangely horrible tones, and in the midst of the +uproar they distinguished the sounds of distant rolling thunder and the +flashes of lightning in the low dark clouds. In this struggle of the +elements, all the summits and other landmarks which Oswald had noted to +guide his returning steps, had completely disappeared, and at length he +impatiently cried: 'I have lost the way. Why was I weak enough to yield +to the wishes of a child!' + +'Chide not, dear Oswald,' entreated Faith, submissively. 'I will +willingly endure every hardship which is suffered with you.' + +'That is what distresses me,' said Oswald. 'Were I alone, I should +enjoy this storm instead of trembling at it; for nature appears to me +most beautiful in anger, and I have already been compelled to expose +this brow to many a wild tempest. My anxiety for you troubles me. If +your health should be injured by this exposure I should be +inconsolable, and have only my own thoughtlessness to blame for it.' + +A brighter flash and louder report now put it beyond doubt that a +terrible storm was at hand. The echoes thundered among the rocks, now +nearer and now farther off, until they finally died away in indistinct +murmurs. + +'A thunderstorm in winter!' cried the trembling Faith. 'That is doubly +horrible.' + +'Who knows that this tempest may not bring a blessing; and certainly it +cannot do much harm here among these old rocks,' said Oswald by way of +consoling her, still continuing to advance at random. + +'Thank heaven, I hear human voices!' exultingly shouted Faith: and like +a doe she skipped towards an eminence with such speed that Oswald could +scarcely follow her. + +A multitude of people were approaching, sure enough. It was composed of +colonel Goes, the detestable Hurka, and a troop of the Lichtenstein +dragoons, who immediately aimed their arms at the fugitives. + +'Stand!' cried Goes, amid the thunder of the storm, to his son, whom he +instantly recognised. 'Stand, or I command the troops to fire.' + +'Father, do no violence!' cried the despairing youth, throwing himself +before the maiden, who had sunk upon her knees; 'God judges righteously +and protects the innocent! Hear how he warns you with the voice of his +thunder!' + +The captain gave a loud and scornful laugh. + +'Seize the rebel and his heretic bride,' shrieked the angry colonel. +The captain, nothing loth, motioning his dragoons to follow him and +confiding in his superior force, hastened forward, swinging his sword +high above his head. The colonel accompanied him and the dragoons +followed. + +'Save me, my God, from the crime of parricide!' cried Oswald, advancing +to meet his opponents. + +At that moment came a blinding flash of lightning, accompanied by a +deafening clap of thunder, and with it rushed down from the highest +summit a monstrous mass of stone which caused the earth to tremble as +if there had been an earthquake; a short, sharp cry was heard, and the +pursuers and pursued were prostrated upon their faces. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + +The first glance of Oswald's opening eyes, when consciousness returned, +was directed in search of poor Faith. She lay near him in a deep swoon. +Flying to her aid, he applied snow to her temples and warmed her lips +with his kisses. At length she opened her eyes. + +'You are yet alive, my Oswald!' cried she, with pious ecstasy, folding +her hands as if giving thanks. 'The Lord has passed over us in the +tempest; but he has remembered us in mercy!' + +'Pious maiden,' said Goes, who stood behind them, leaning like a dying +man upon a dragoon. 'Pious maiden, so mayest thou speak, out of the +fulness of thy pure heart,--but the sinner must smite upon his breast +and cry. The Lord is just, and in his wrath has executed a righteous +judgment! Yet I may also give thanks for his mercy; for he has only +punished the incorrigibly wicked, warning the deluded with the voice of +his thunder, and leaving him yet a space for repentance and amendment. +Forgive me, my son. I had unlearned to be a man and a father; but will +again become one, even at this late hour of my life.' + +'Your goodness restores me to new life, my father,' said Oswald, +pressing the paternal hand to his lips. His thoughts then instantly +recurred to the monster who had allured, his father there and +stimulated him to the commission of crime; and, catching up his sword +from the ground, his death-flashing glance sought the captain. + +'He whom you seek is not far off,' said Goes, speaking low, so as not +to attract the maiden's attention, lest she should be too much shocked. +With a trembling hand he directed his son to the enormous rock which, +still smoking with the fire of heaven, lay in the path. The youth +shuddered as he turned his head and beheld a naked sword projecting +from under the mass, in the grasp of a stiffened hand. The captain's +plumed hat lay near, and the surrounding snow was reddened by a small +rivulet of blood which came trickling forth. + +'Behold the judgment of God, and implore his mercy for your repentant +father,' said Goes, sinking into the arms of his son. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + +Three months later, Frau Rosen was sitting in the little cottage of the +weaver's widow in Friedland, with an expression of soil serenity upon +her still pale countenance. On either side of her sat Oswald and Faith, +each holding one of her hands, and all rejoicing at her convalescence. +The rattle of an approaching carriage was heard without, and directly +four black horses, attached to the carriage of colonel Goes, trotted up +to the cottage door. The merchant Fessel, yet thin and pale from his +past illness and sorrows, descended from the carriage and entered the +room. + +As calamities suffered in common, only strengthen the bands by which +good hearts are united, so the meeting of these friends evinced +increased tenderness and affection; while the memory of the dear +departed, which it called up, received the tribute of many tears. + +'How stand matters in our good city of Schweidnitz? at length asked the +matron. + +'Badly enough, as yet,' answered Fessel; 'but not near so bad as when +you left us. There seems, indeed, no prospect of an end to our +oppressions. The Jesuits are constantly multiplying their encroachments +and assumptions, and the royal judge whom the count has installed there +commands that all shall become catholic communicants, and prohibits +attendance upon the Lutheran churches out of town. These commands +cannot be very effectively enforced, and the military executions have +been discontinued ever since the departure of the tyrannical Dohna. +Many of the troops also have been withdrawn, and but two squadrons now +remain in the city. I must do the colonel the justice to say, moreover, +that he has done every thing in his power to mitigate our sufferings, +even at great hazard of injuring himself.' + +'The Lord reward him for it,' said Frau Rosen, 'and allow it to balance +the long account in that book where his sins are recorded.' + +'I am here as his messenger,' continued Fessel; 'to conduct you all to +the little inn near the rocks of Aldersbach, where he intends to hold a +family festival.' + +'There?' asked Oswald with surprise. 'That indicates some important, +and certainly some joyful purpose.' + +'He keeps his plans and objects very secret,' said Fessel. 'I have my +conjectures; but can divulge nothing. That it is to be a great festival +I know by the extent of the preparations. He has been there with a +stone-cutter and gardener from Schweidnitz, since the day before +yesterday; and he wishes you all to come in full dress to-day.' + +Fessel, having returned to his carriage, soon came in again with two +large packages, which he delivered to the lovers. Faith hastened to her +mother with hers, that they might examine and comment upon its contents +together. + +Meanwhile, Oswald opened his package and found therein a splendid +Danish officer's uniform with all its usual appendages. 'The time for +these gilded ornaments has long since passed with me,' he observed with +a feeling of dissatisfaction; 'and I do not deem it proper to wear the +costume of a station which I intend never again to occupy.' + +'He anticipated the objection,' said Fessel; 'and requests me to beg of +you to wear it only this day, for his sake, notwithstanding your own +disinclination.' + +'Ah, Oswald, look!' exclaimed the happy Faith, holding out her present +for his examination. 'See this beautiful white silken dress and this +splendid diamond ornament!' + +'It is very beautiful,' said Oswald, giving it a careless glance; 'but +is there no myrtle-wreath with the dress?' + +'I have already sought it in vain,' answered Faith, with a slight +blush. + +'Alas!' sighed Oswald, 'then the most acceptable present is wanting. My +dearest hope for to-day is at once annihilated.' + +'Murmur not against your father, my dear brother-in-law,' begged +Fessel. 'I will be answerable that he means well with you and our +little Faith.' + +'It is well!' said Oswald, taking his package under his arm and +retiring to dress; 'but he ought not to have forgotten the +myrtle-wreath!' + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + +Panting and foaming, the four black steeds drew up before the little +inn at Aldersbach, which was now gaily decorated with evergreens. The +happy old colonel stood in the door, ready to receive them. Oswald +assisted Faith, and Fessel his mother-in-law, to alight. Goes advanced +to the latter and clasped her hand. 'You have lost much through us,' he +sorrowfully said, 'can you forgive?' + +'Should I else deserve to be called a christian?' answered the matron. + +'May God reward your kindness!' said the colonel, leading her into the +house, in the largest room of which several protestant officers of the +imperial army were assembled. Oswald then entered with Faith, in all +her youthful beauty, which was much heightened by her rich dress. + +'Ha, what a charming maiden!' exclaimed Goes. 'Yes, my son, her +appearance would excuse thy choice, if indeed it needed an excuse.' + +'I cannot share any part of the satisfaction which seems to be so +general,' said Oswald with forced gaiety, 'as it is impossible for me +to feel comfortable in a dress which is unsuited to my station and +calling.' + +'It is exactly suited to your station,' said the colonel with +solemnity, handing a folded paper to him. It was a major's commission +in the Danish service. + +'This is wholly contrary to my wish,' exclaimed Oswald with surprise, +as he perceived the nature of the document. 'I have laid down the sword +forever!' + +'That cannot be done with safety at present in any part of Europe, my +dear Oswald,' said Goes. 'In these rough times a man must bear the +sword, if he would not be compelled to bow his neck under it; nor is +there any prospect that it will soon be otherwise. You have repeatedly +shown, that you will never be able to reconcile yourself to the humble +and submissive condition of a burgher. Whenever occasion has offered, +you have unhesitatingly drawn that sword with which you have +professedly wished to have nothing more to do. I most heartily rejoice +at it, because of the evidence it affords that my blood flows in your +veins; but at the same time it proves your unfitness for the counter +and yard-stick. You must again serve,--it is required both for your +honor and mine. To serve the emperor would be against your conscience. +I have therefore sought out a service which, as matters now stand, +cannot be objectionable to either of us. A permanent peace has been +concluded between the emperor and the king of Denmark. Your new +situation will lead you from Silesia to the land where your own faith, +which is persecuted here, is openly and triumphantly professed. You +will be spared the grief of being compelled to witness innumerable +evils which you can have no power to remedy. All these considerations +were well weighed by me before I applied in your name for the honorable +appointment which you surely will not now reject.' + +'You are right,' cried Oswald. 'You see farther than I do, and I +gratefully receive the commission from your paternal hands.' + +'My application alone would not have met with such ready success,' +continued Goes. 'For that, you have to thank one whose friendship and +patronage you literally conquered at Dessau,--the duke of Friedland. He +wrote himself to Copenhagen in your behalf; and the mediator who +brought about the treaty of Lubeck could hardly be refused so small a +request by the king of Denmark.' + +'Honor to the lion!' jocosely exclaimed Frau Rosen. 'Those large wild +beasts generally have some generosity about them.' + +'All is in readiness!' said the old Hussite host, entering the room and +throwing open the doors. + +'Give your arm to Faith, my son, and follow this man,' said Goes. The +lovers looked at each other with some surprise, and obeyed the command. +After them came the matron, supported by Goes and Fessel. The officers +followed. + +The procession entered directly among the rocks, and at length, +magnificently gilded by the evening sun, the eventful mass of stone +which had been detached and overthrown by the lightning, shone upon +them with a far different and more friendly aspect than when it had +last met their view. It was hung around with evergreens and adorned +with flowery garlands; and upon the most conspicuous part of it a +medallion had been cut out, with these words engraved upon it: '_The +lightning of heaven here punished and warned._' Underneath was cut out +the day of the month and the year. In front of the huge mass stood an +altar, built of the fragments which were shivered from it when it fell. +The old pastor of Huss's Rest waited at the altar, in his clerical +robes and with opened book. On each side of him stood Fessel's +children, holding wreaths of flowers. + +'What can all this mean?' whispered Faith to Oswald, in sweet +confusion, while the colonel placed the missing myrtle wreath upon her +blond locks. + +'Unite this pair in marriage, reverend father,' cried the colonel, with +gushing tears, leading the lovers to the altar. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + +Mild toleration has spread its dove-like wings over the states of +Austria for many long years since the period above referred to,--the +colony of Huss's Rest is no longer to be found among the rocks of +Aldersbach,--and the silver rivulet again meanders in silent solitude +through the concealed valley. The huge rock hurled down by the +lightning's stroke yet lies, a lasting monument, in the middle of the +road, and the medallion may yet be recognised. Time has effaced the +inscription, and the guide who now conducts the curious visitor knows +only a legend of an English gentleman, who atoned for his desire to +view a thunderstorm among the rocks by being very nearly crushed by the +fall of this rifted fragment. In memory of his imminent danger, and in +gratitude for his almost miraculous preservation, he is said to have +caused the medallion to be carved in the rock. Of the punishment of the +reprobate captain and the deep repentance of the colonel of the +converters, they have long since forgotten the tradition; and FANCY may +therefore be allowed to erect her light and airy castle upon the +granite foundation of history; to picture forth to those now living the +savage contests for opinion, of former times,--and to warn them against +the evils of an exclusive and intolerant spirit, into which we are in +constant danger of relapsing. + + + + + + + THE SORCERESS. + + + BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +The first rays of the morning sun were brilliantly reflected by the +polished arms of Ryno and Idallan, as they rode gaily forth in search +of adventures. It was not their first similar excursion. As usual with +errant knights, they had struck down many a dragon, vanquished many a +giant, and rescued many a damsel from the clutches of wicked magicians. +Delicate arms had clasped their knees in gratitude, tender bosoms had +feverishly beat against their iron breastplates, ruby lips had pledged +them in golden cups of the juice of the Syracusan grape, and yet their +hearts remained cold and impenetrable as the pure steel of their armor. +The delightful consciousness of freedom, strength, and youthful +spirits, spoke in their every movement. Stately and beautiful they +passed on their way, their sharp lances resting quietly upon their +right stirrups, their swords peacefully clinking in their scabbards, +and their hands carelessly holding their highly ornamented bridle +reins. + +Suddenly they heard female voices uttering distressing cries for help. +The steeds snorted and pricked up their ears; the knights involuntarily +drew a tighter rein, seized their lances, and applied the spur; and +thus they darted forward with perfect indifference whether this new +adventure should be crowned with wounds or kisses, blows or treasures, +a martyr's chains, or an hymeneal altar. + +Their panting chargers soon bore them to a forest filled with oaks of a +thousand years, whence had proceeded those outcries, which were now +subsiding to sobs so low as to be almost lost to the ear. At length a +green meadow opened upon them through the wood, and there, enclosed by +a circle of Moors, stood two powerless maidens of angelic beauty, bound +to a tree. An old, meagre, yellow monster, in the rich dress of the +east, appeared to be feasting himself with gazing upon their charms. He +had just drawn a dagger from his girdle and was about to approach one +of the maidens, when Ryno and Idallan burst upon them from the thicket +with the suddenness of the lightning's flash, and the fury of the +storm. Knight-errant like, without asking any questions, they nailed +six of the Moors to the nearest oaks with their lances, and then, (as +if Vulcan had sent his cyclops to the work,) their blows fell like hail +upon the astonished Moors. + +Courage, strength, knowledge of the use of arms, and the consciousness +of a good cause, enabled them quickly to overpower their venal +opponents. Those, who were not killed by the sword or trampled down by +the horses, threw away their weapons and fled. Only the horrid looking +yellow old man kept his ground, and he was busily employed in drawing +strange characters in the air with a black wand. 'You lose your pains!' +cried Idallan, laughing. 'You must know, sir wizard, that our arms, +tempered by the fairy Diamanta, fear no magic charm, and that only +superior natural power can prevail against them.' + +'If you wish a proof of it,' interposed Ryno, springing from his horse, +'I am here ready for the trial, and you may call back your flying Moors +to arm you.' + +Without answer, but with a glance that disclosed the hell within, the +sorcerer strode with uplifted dagger, towards his poor bound victim; +but Ryno's ready weapon interrupted him in full career. With rifted +head the fiend sank to the earth, which immediately opened and +swallowed his hideous form; while a blue smoke, accompanied by fearful +sounds, gnashing of the teeth and scornful laughter, issued from the +spot where he had disappeared. + +The knights hastened to the damsels, and by the aid of their bloody +swords quickly severed the bands by which they were confined. Water +brought from a neighboring spring soon restored the fainting sufferers +to consciousness, and with the first glances of their large blue eyes +arose a new sun upon their deliverers. The charming girls cast a +shuddering glance upon the field of slaughter, kneeled before the +knights with their arms folded in thanksgiving, timidly murmured to +them some words in an unknown language, and, after a short internal +struggle, rushed into their preservers' arms. An ardent kiss burned +upon the lips of each of the enraptured heroes; but before they could +recover from their delightful surprise, the maidens had escaped from +their embraces. One bound of their little feet lifted them into the +air,--a zephyr expanded their dresses into sails,--and with glances of +ineffable sweetness they rose high over the gigantic trees, and swept +beyond the vision of their astonished beholders. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +'By my knightly oath, it is not fair,' said Ryno, after a long pause, +'to leave us standing here alone.' + +'It is ungrateful,' murmured Idallan. + +_Ryno._--Say not that; for had all my heart's blood flowed upon this +spot, the kiss impressed upon my lips would have been a sufficient +reward. + +_Idallan._--I am wounded in the arm. + +_Ryno._--And I in the heart, which is far more dangerous. + +_Idallan._--What is now to be done? + +_Ryno._--Resume our travels. The heavenly forms moved towards the west, +and happily no direction can be the wrong one for us. + +Idallan sighed, and they proceeded towards their horses. + +'Hold! what do I see?' cried Ryno. + +'Where?' asked Idallan. + +'A white veil, the earthly covering which the fairies left behind them +when they mounted into the air.' + +The two knights rushed towards the veil, and both caught hold of it at +the same moment. 'It belonged to the damsel saved by me, and is +therefore mine!' exclaimed Idallan. + +_Ryno._--I saw it first. + +_Idallan._--My blood flowed in the strife by which we have obtained it! + +_Ryno._--It is mine, I will not yield it up. + +_Idallan._--Nor I, but with my life. + +Both held the veil fast, and it was in imminent danger of being torn in +pieces. + +'Hold!' said Ryno. 'Why should we senselessly destroy that which, +uninjured, would make one of us happy. Let us calmly and peacefully +determine our respective claims by an appeal to argument and reason.' + +'I never will resign my claim,' scornfully exclaimed Idallan. 'If you +persist in yours, the sword must decide.' + +_Ryno._--You are my brother in arms, and wounded; I will not fight with +you! + +_Idallan._--Has the struggle with the Moors already exhausted your +stock of courage? + +_Ryno._--Idallan! Even this shall not provoke me! + +Idallan in a rage seized the veil, which Ryno reluctantly released, to +save it from destruction. He hung it upon a high branch, and placed +himself before it with his sword drawn. 'The veil is mine, if you are +too cowardly to contend for it.' The noble Ryno half drew his sword, +but, recollecting himself, immediately returned it to its sheath, and +was about to mount his horse. + +'Do you slight me?' roared Idallan, running after him sword in hand. +Ryno was compelled to turn and draw, and a furious battle commenced +over the dead bodies of the Moors. The attack and defence were +conducted on both sides with equal courage and skill, so that neither +obtained any advantage over the other. Sparks flew at every encounter +of their weapons, the frightened birds flew screaming from the place, +and the timid deer fled to the protection of the remotest thickets. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +Under a natural arch of primeval granite, in the most secluded recess +of a wild and savage mountain, was situated the deeply indented cave of +the sorceress, Hiorba. The cavern was filled with sieves and cauldrons, +mummies and bundles of herbs, hieroglyphics and mirrors, crystal globes +and crocodiles, in mystical confusion. Two torches, held by skeleton +hands, lighted the whole. In a circle of strange characters and human +bones, lay the aged and despairing Hiorba, her face to the ground, +frantically tearing the last remains of her silver hair with her +withered hands. Two large black cats were caressingly and soothingly +purring about her. Suddenly she appeared to be shaken as by an electric +shock. She arose with flashing eyes, stretched out her magic wand +towards the largest of the mirrors, and murmured some words of unknown +meaning. Strange confused images appeared upon the clear crystal. As +she anxiously watched the figures her interest seemed to increase every +moment, and every moment her joy became more plainly visible, until at +length she gave a cry of ecstatic delight as Aliande and Daura, her +charming foster-daughters, rushed breathlessly into the cave. + +'Here we are, good mother,' cried Daura, embracing her with ardor. + +'Escaped from death, from shame, and from the terrible Rasalkol!' cried +Aliande, pressing the old woman's hand to her lips with filial love. +'Saved by the noblest, bravest and handsomest youths....' + +'Silence, children!' said the sorceress, interrupting them. 'My true +mirror has already told me all, and more perhaps than you will be +willing to confess.' + +Blushing and confused, the maidens cast their sparkling eyes upon the +ground. + +'Quickly, ah too quickly, has love for your deliverers found its way to +your young hearts. Faithfully until now have I guarded you against this +dangerous passion; but the moment in which the traitor Rasalkol +succeeded in abducting you from this protecting cavern, my power over +you ceased. The reprobate's hellish plan of destroying both you and me +has indeed failed; but you may yet one day wish that you had bled under +his dagger;--for the sorrows of unrequited love cut more keenly into +weak woman's heart than a thousand daggers.' + +'You do not know our knights,' interposed Aliande in a scarcely audible +murmur. + +'I know them to be men. As the wolf resembles the hyena, and both of +these the jackal, so also do the whole profligate sex resemble each +other,--differing only in their outward appearance and capacity for +seizing their prey. The inexperienced eyes of the harmless doe are +easily fascinated by the beautiful stripes of the blood-thirsty tiger!' + +Tears trickled down the maidens' cheeks, at this reproof. + +'I love you my children,' continued Hiorba in a tenderer tone. 'You are +the grand-children of my good niece, whom I buried on my hundredth +birth day. Willingly would I have rendered you happy, which you can +only be in an unmarried state; but you are in love, and all my warnings +are spoken to the winds. For once, however, yield to a mother's +anxiety: Let me _prove_ the men of your choice.' + +'Has not their battle with Rasalkol and his Moors already proved them +sufficiently?' asked Aliande. + +'Their knightly courage,--but not their hearts.' + +'If all men were proved in advance,' answered Daura, with a faint +smile, 'who would come unscathed from the furnace?' + +'Your questions contain a significant denial of my request,' answered +Hiorba. 'Since you have seen these strangers I have no longer any +influence over your hearts. Consider well my last warning.' + +She again raised her wand to the mirror and the field of battle again +presented itself. Aliande saw the fluttering veil, and the furious +contention of the knights. + +'For God's sake, Hiorba,' shrieked the maidens; 'help, protect save!' + +'See you those rough and savage men?' said Hiorba; 'They do not know +which has the best right to the flimsy web, and yet each knight is +ready to murder his brother-in-arms for its possession. You have here a +specimen of what men call honor; and believe me, as their feet now +recklessly trample upon the delicate wood-flower in their deadly +struggle, so will the tyranny of their strength, their pride, and their +sensuality, trample upon all your tenderest feelings and finally break +your hearts.' + +'Why waste so many words,' complained the maidens; 'save, good mother, +separate the frantic knights.' + +Shaking her head in token of disapprobation, Hiorba reluctantly took +her wand and opened a cage which hung from the arch above; a bird of +paradise came chirping thence, and perched confidingly upon her +shoulder. + +'Go, bring me the veil, Immo!' said Hiorba; 'and lead hither the +contending knights, also.' + +With her wand she softly touched the bird between its wings, and, +sweetly warbling, it shot off like an arrow from the bow. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +Ryno and Idallan still continued their insane struggle. Their helmets +and scarfs were hacked to pieces, and hung in fragments about their +shoulders. The green sward was already dyed crimson from their many +wounds, when the thrilling song of a bird, fuller and sweeter than the +voluptuous tones of the nightingale, filled the neighboring air. +Through the soothing influence of those tones, softer feelings were +awakened in the breasts of the combatants. An armistice was tacitly +concluded; and with suspended breath they listened to the heavenly +music, until they at length perceived a beautiful winged songster +fluttering about the branch upon which the veil was hanging. Softer and +more soul-thrilling were the seductive tones poured from its little +throat, and Ryno hazarded the remark: + +'How foolish to be hacking each other's bones for a thing of so little +consequence!' + +'You are right!' said Idallan, putting up his sword and extending his +hand to his brother-in-arms. A clear-ringing song of triumph resounded +from the beak of the wonderful bird as their hands met with the grasp +of reconciliation, while the little mediator seized the veil in its +purple claws, and moved slowly and gracefully toward the west, still +continuing its enticing music. 'It calls us, brother, shall we not +follow?' asked Ryno. + +'Yes, let us pursue the veil!' cried Idallan: 'this beauteous banner +leads us to more delightful conquests!' + +They resumed their saddles and hastened to follow their mysterious +guide, keeping their eyes immovably fixed upon the bright and waving +emblem, which remained constantly visible in the distance. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +The gray-haired Hiorba was standing with her blooming daughters upon +the ruins of an ancient castle. 'You will not listen to my warnings,' +she sadly and affectionately remarked. 'You scorn to consecrate your +virgin purity to the gods, as I have done, and receive rare knowledge, +great power, and almost an earthly immortality, in return. The ardent +wishes of youth kindle only for sensual enjoyments, which are ever +mingled with sorrow and of short duration. Your desires shall be +gratified. You shall possess whatever can bless mortal maidens: wealth, +splendor, honors, and the husbands of your choice. The rest must depend +upon the gods.' + +'Why so earnest and solemn, good mother?' said Aliande. + +'Your present situation, your inconsiderate choice for a whole life, +the reflection that your days will be embittered and abridged by +unappreciated and betrayed love, all contribute to make me sad. An +equal affliction threatens both of you, for it is not in my power to +call back spirits from the blooming fields of Walhalla to furnish +husbands for you. It is done! I hear the distant song of Immo, and +hasten to prepare your future abodes.' + +Drawing a circle which included herself and the maidens, Hiorba then +pronounced the mysterious words of conjuration. Subterranean thunder +was heard, the earth heaved, gleams of lightning escaped through the +cleft rocks, and a thick smoke almost destroyed the power of +respiration. In an instant they became fearfully conscious that they +were no longer alone among the ruins. Innumerable demons surrounded +Hiorba's magic circle, respectfully awaiting her commands. + +'Spirits of the Earth!' cried the antiquated virgin with great dignity, +'my foster-daughters, Aliande and Daura, require of me a dowry. Spirits +of the east and west! I command you to convert these ruins into a +splendid castle for the residence of Aliande. Spirits of the north and +south! Prepare upon yonder hill a similar abode for my Daura. To the +work! In nine times nine twinklings of the eye must all be completed.' + +A motion of her wand, and half of the demons disappeared. The other +half cleaved the earth for the purpose of bringing forth the granite, +marble, gold, iron and other materials required for the edifice. The +lightning played and the thunder rolled incessantly, earthquakes +followed each other in quick succession, the winds howled, and the +subterranean waters rushed and roared most fearfully. All nature +appeared to lie in convulsions, as if it were a wicked invasion of her +rights that immortal hands should perform the work of mortals. +Powerless and insensible lay Aliande and Daura within the circle. +Terrible flames burst from the crevices of the earth, giving fearful +tokens of the subterranean labors of the gnomes. Hiorba stood amid the +general uproar, calmly directing the raging elements, which never for a +moment disturbed so much as one of the silver hairs of her head. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +The nine times nine moments had expired; the subterranean flames were +extinguished, and the bright sun shone upon a magnificent palace +encompassed by high walls, while its rays were brilliantly reflected by +the metal roof. The gilded summits of its seven towers flashed in the +sunlight like the seven stars. Hiorba viewed the labor of her +mysterious agents with satisfaction, and then awoke the damsels with a +touch of her wand. They looked around with astonishment upon the new +world in which they found themselves. They had fallen asleep among +ruins, upon damp moss overgrown with thorns and nettles, and now awoke +upon soft couches of velvet and gold, in the balcony of a splendid +edifice. The building was of granite, faced with marble, uniting the +strength of the Gothic with the lightness and beauty of the Grecian +style. Masterpieces of Grecian sculpture adorned every nook, step, and +landing-place,--while the magnificent pleasure-garden, with all its +fountains, cascades, lakes, temples, shaded walks, islands and +obelisks, extended down the mountain slope. It was some time before +they were convinced that it was not all a dream. + +The damsels embraced their kind foster-mother, while tears of affection +and gratitude eloquently spoke their thanks. 'Enough,' said Hiorba, +withdrawing herself from their embraces; 'you know not, as yet, whether +I deserve your thanks. That will be discovered hereafter, when the +roses and thorns of this life shall have been weighed and balanced by +the immortal gods. I must be brief, for already do I hear the +approaching steeds of Ryno and Idallan, and I cannot look upon the men +who are about to pluck, and perhaps to crush and destroy, the two +sweetest roses of my garden. I now take my leave. I shall always act a +mother's part by you,--but, only three times is it allowed me to become +visible to the wives of Ryno and Idallan; at the moments of their +greatest happiness, of their deepest misery, and of their untimely +deaths. Preserve the same purity of soul which I have so carefully +nurtured, so that in your last sad hour I may kiss the dews of death +from your foreheads, and conduct your liberated spirits to the elysian +fields of Walhalla.' + +A soft and heavenly light overspread Hiorba's countenance, the wrinkles +of age disappeared, and golden locks surrounded her clear forehead like +a halo. Azure and purple wings unfolded from her shoulders, a robe of +light enveloped her tall, majestic form, and on an amber cloud she +floated away from the sisters, who watched her disappearance with +speechless awe. + +The tuneful Immo now fluttered through the castle gate with Aliande's +veil. The draw-bridge fell, and the two knights, who had closely +followed her, leaped from their horses, bounded up the steps, and threw +themselves at the feet of the maidens; whilst Immo, perched upon the +highest castle tower, sweetly warbled forth the bridal song. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +A crystal lamp, suspended from the arched ceiling of a lofty chamber, +shed a soft moonlight over the silken tapestry of the bridal bed where +Ryno was slumbering upon the bosom of the happy Aliande. The beauteous +bride was watching the peaceful slumber of her beloved partner with +mingled and undefinable feelings of joy and sorrow, when she suddenly +heard a rustling of the drapery, and immediately the well known form of +the sorceress stood before her. + +'You are happy, Aliande?' she asked. + +'Unspeakably!' murmured Aliande, hiding her blushing cheek in the bosom +of her faithful foster-mother. + +'Does your heart suggest no wish yet ungratified?' + +'Only one!' timidly answered the lovely bride. + +'Yet one?' rejoined the astonished Hiorba. 'Thus it is with poor +mortals. Upon the highest pinnacle of earthly happiness they are still +tormented by insatiable aspirations. Confide your secret wish to me, my +daughter.' + +'During the bridal supper, as my husband was giving a rapid sketch of +his knightly adventures, and painting the charms of the various damsels +he had saved, in glowing colors, I began to fear that I--perhaps +soon--might be no longer the _only_ object of his love.' + +'Already jealous, Aliande, on this your bridal night!....' + +'Death, rather than a rival!' + +'What is your wish of me?' asked Hiorba. + +'To relieve me from the torture of uncertainty, I desire a faithful +monitor which shall inform me when Ryno kneels before strange altars, +that I may win back the idol of my heart with redoubled love, +or,--learn to despise and scorn the inconstant.' + +'An unfriendly star rules over both you and me,' said Hiorba in a +desponding tone. 'I am convinced that the fulfilment of this wish will +make you most miserable, and yet I am constrained by a power greater +than my own to grant it.' + +She stamped upon the floor, and immediately two hideous gnomes appeared +with a time-piece made of the most costly materials, curiously wrought +into the form of a temple of Venus. + +'Take this production of magic art,' said Hiorba, 'but conceal it +carefully from your husband, lest in the exasperation of conscious +guilt he should destroy his innocent accuser. This clock will always +stand still, this bell will always remain silent, and this mirror will +reflect only your own features, so long as Ryno remains true to his +vows; but should he ever yield to the common vice of his sex, +voluptuous melodies will issue from the temple, the index will indicate +the time, and the crystal mirror will reflect the image of the favored +rival.' + +Aliande was about to express her gratitude, but Hiorba interrupted her. +'Thank me not,--for with this present you receive enduring sorrow and +late repentance. Soon shall I greet you a second time, but then it will +be in tears.' She spoke, and disappeared. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Transporting herself to the splendid seven-towered palace of the other +sister, the sorceress entered Daura's chamber and awoke her from her +sweet dreams of happiness with a kiss. Then came the same questions, +and the same protestations of unspeakable happiness; yet the quiet and +contented Daura, also, seemed to have _one_ wish concealed in the +secret recesses of her bosom. After Hiorba's long and tender entreaties +for her confidence, she finally said: 'through repeated and pressing +inquiries of both Ryno and Idallan, I have learned of the exhibition of +savage rage by my husband in the bloody contest for the lost veil, +which Ryno would have resigned for the sake of peace and friendship, +refusing to fight until he was compelled to do so in his own defence. I +fear that Idallan's violence, which did not spare even his beloved +brother-in-arms, will also rend my heart and prepare many sad days and +tearful nights for me. Oh that I were in possession of a charm which, +like David's harp, would allay the demon of anger! What then could be +wanting to my happiness?' + +'Immo!' cried Hiorba, with a complacent smile, opening the window. In +came the delicate bird, bearing about its neck a radiant diamond chain +to which a small ivory flute was attached. 'Take this flute, my gentle +Daura,' said the sorceress; 'pass this chain about your neck, and let +your faithful mother's gift remain always upon your bosom. When +Idallan's wild passions begin to kindle, when his inconsiderate bursts +of anger threaten to wound the peace of my gentle daughter, then will +the soothing tones of this instrument soften his rage and shed balm +upon his mind.' + +With glad surprise Daura extended her fair hand for the talisman, and +Hiorba vanished. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +A year had passed from the stream of time into the ocean of eternity +since the marriage of the two sisters, when Hiorba arose out of the +rocks in the oak forest between the two palaces. The proud edifices yet +shone in all their original splendor, and their majestic walls cast +long shadows over the vale below; but the rock upon which the sorceress +was standing had changed its appearance. Instead of being bare, as +formerly, it was now shaded by tall cedars, lofty pines, and trembling +poplars, and encircled with blooming rose-hedges, A gilded dome, +supported by nine Corinthian pillars of alabaster, adorned the summit. +The sorceress inquisitively examined the temple, and with surprise and +pleasure encountered her own statue crowned with fresh cypress and +faded roses. Tears of joyful emotion filled Hiorba's eyes, and her +first impulse was to fly immediately to her foster-daughters, that she +might, invisible to them, impress a kiss of gratitude upon their +unconscious foreheads; but while hesitating which of the happy brides +she should first visit, she discerned two female forms approaching from +opposite directions. Discovering that they were her two daughters, she +wrapped herself in impenetrable clouds, that she might be a secret +witness of their interview. Their appearance gave her no pleasure. +Their pale cheeks were not lighted by the sun of matrimonial +peace,--their lingering steps and downcast eyes spoke not of +happiness,--and with fear and sorrow Hiorba leaned against the altar +which supported her statue. At length the sisters reached the place and +rushed sobbing into each other's arms. + +'My sufferings have reached their utmost limit!' exclaimed Aliande. + +'My last hope is annihilated!' sighed Daura. + +'How ineffably miserable,' said Aliande, 'has our good mother's last +gift made me! With almost every change of the moon does the warning +voice of my magic clock rend my poor betrayed heart. My fatal mirror is +constantly reflecting new faces which seldom indicate delicate feminine +charms, never mental elevation. All my tears have hitherto been able to +obtain but empty promises of amendment from the faithless one; and my +just reproaches only exasperate him. To-day I see the hated features of +my last waiting maid, the light and impudent Rosa! No, I will bear +these mortifications, these repeated insults, no longer!' + +'Ah, how much more miserable am I, good sister!' sobbed Daura. 'It was +but the intoxication of the senses which led Idallan to my arms; and in +addition to my other sorrows I now feel that he has never, never loved +me. The first week of our honey-moon had scarcely passed when he found +himself annoyed by the gentle tones of my flute, which, against his +will, moderated the severity of his fierce disposition. In a confiding +moment, after he had successfully feigned the tenderest affection, he +succeeded in drawing from me the secret of the maternal gift. With +pleasant jests and agreeable trifling he unwound the chain from my +neck; but no sooner was the delicate instrument in his hands, than his +brow became clouded, his eyes flashed with an unnatural fire, and with +a voice of thunder he denounced me as a vile sorceress who had +disgraced his knightly bed. Then with furious rage he dashed the flute +to the earth. Yet once more were heard its soft and tranquilizing +tones. Too late! Idallan's foot was already raised, and trampling it in +his anger, he annihilated its sweet melody forever. What, what have I +not suffered since that unhappy hour!....' + +'His heart is depraved--forget him!' cried Hiorba, stepping visibly +between the sisters, who threw themselves at her feet in glad surprise. + +'You both decided too rashly!' continued the weeping foster-mother. 'I +warned you in vain. In vain did I entreat permission to prove your +lovers. The evil is done,--and requires help, not reproaches. Your +case, Aliande, may possibly be remedied; yours, poor Daura--never! That +you may not doubt the truth of my words, I will now commence the trial +of both husbands, and wo to him who shall prove base!' + +She concluded with a voice of thunder, and disappeared. The unhappy +sisters silently embraced each other, and then slowly returned to their +splendid prisons. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +Idallan was restlessly tossing upon his solitary bed on the first +anniversary of his marriage night, whilst the repudiated and suffering +Daura rested in a distant chamber, steeping her pillow with her tears. + +Idallan's heart was radically bad, as might be inferred from his +conduct in the contest for the veil. Savage and boisterous passions +tarnished the splendor of the many knightly virtues which adorned his +nature; and his real character appeared, when fortune, from her +cornucopia, suddenly poured the full stream of love, wealth and +splendor upon him. This unexpected and overabundant fulfilment of all +his wildest hopes, gave the finishing touch to his temperament. The +beauteous woman, whom unreflecting love had conducted to his arms, he +valued merely as the slave of his rough and savage will. The princely +treasures which Hiorba's generosity had heaped in his coffers, had only +excited his thirst for gold. Hundreds of families who had sought the +protection of his castle, and converted the surrounding forest into +fruitful fields, were happy to be considered his subjects, and thus +ministered to his love of power and dominion. Schemes of ambition +disturbed his brain. He already in imagination saw himself a prince, +perhaps of the whole earth, with Ryno his vassal, and an emperor's +daughter for his wife; but he looked upon his gentle and faithful Daura +as the greatest obstacle in the way of his success. His undisguised +scorn and contempt had taught her to weep the rash choice made during +the brief intoxication of love. There lay Idallan, disturbed by dreams +which naturally took the tone of his daily thoughts and the color of +the black soul whence they emanated. A glimmering light suddenly +disturbed his uneasy sleep. Idallan leaped wildly from his bed, and +before him stood the monster Rasalkol, surrounded by a pale sulphurous +light, and horribly disfigured by the wound which Ryno gave him in the +oak forest. + +'Your first matrimonial year is ended!' said the fearful phantom in a +sepulchral tone, 'and thank the Gods! you are unhappy. Your great soul +must feel the pressure of the chains which bind you forever to a lowly +bride. Daura suffices not for a man of noble ambition, and fate has +destined you for greater things. Three crowns are waiting to grace your +brow, when you shall have rendered yourself worthy of them.' + +'Messenger of Heaven!' cried Idallan in ecstasies. + +'You must know,' continued the spectre, 'that since the day when you +and Ryno attacked me with such inconsiderate zeal, I have been +condemned through Hiorba's cruelty, to wander about among the +subterranean caves of this mountain, until some firm and courageous +adventurer deliver me from the power of that ugly witch. The brave man +who shall accomplish this, I will raise to the first throne in the +world, give him the daughter of the most powerful ruler for a wife, and +lay my inexhaustible treasures open to him.' + +'O that it may be my destiny to end your sorrows, wise magician!' said +Idallan, sighing. + +'You alone can do it, brave and noble knight,' answered Rasalkol. 'You +alone have the means in your hands, to destroy Hiorba, deliver me, and +procure unspeakable happiness for yourself; but he who would serve +Rasalkol must not fear to shed blood!' + +'Give me but wealth and power, and I will slay millions for you.' + +'Take this withered twig,' said the phantom, handing him a wand. 'Bear +it to the chamber where Daura sleeps, strike your dagger to her heart +in such a manner that the warm blood shall sprinkle the wand. The twig +will acquire new life; leaves, buds and flowers will instantly put +forth, it will take root in the earth and bear a magnificent fruit, +containing within itself the seeds of death. Divide the fruit and send +it in the name of Daura to Ryno and Aliande. As soon as you hear that +they are dead, bring their bodies here and lay them by the corpse of +your wife. Then tear out their hearts and burn them with the wood of +the tree. When the fire shall have destroyed the last fibre, Hiorba +will expire with dreadful torments. I shall then be free and eternally +grateful.' + +'I am yours!' cried Idallan, cautiously proceeding to the sleeping +chamber of the unhappy Daura, with the magic wand in one hand and his +dagger in the other. A mysterious light preceded the monster's steps. +Softly opening the door, the angelic form lay before him, wrapped in +peaceful slumber. The sweet smile of innocence played upon her pale +lips. In a tone of melancholy tenderness which would have softened a +tiger, she exclaimed in her sleep, 'lovest thou me no longer, Idallan?' +Yet did Idallan, with a malicious scowl, raise his arm to strike. At +that instant a flash of lightning hurled the dagger from his hand, and, +instead of Rasalkol, the sorceress Hiorba stood before him. Her +piercing glance seemed almost annihilating, and the trembling culprit +cast his eyes upon the earth, as if imploring it to open and swallow +him. + +'Daughter, your tender husband would become your murderer!' said +Hiorba. 'Thus is your hasty choice rewarded.' Then turning to Idallan: +'the soul's deepest grief, the eternal loss of her heart's peace, +punishes your unhappy wife for her disregard of the maternal advice; +but what can be a sufficient punishment for you?' + +Idallan was silent. + +'Your obdurate heart was steeled against your wife, your faithful +brother-in-arms, and against me, to whose kindness you were indebted +for the foundation of your fortunes. Ambition and shameful avarice have +incited you to the blackest crimes! Be your punishment proportioned to +your deeds! Therefore up, demons! drag this condemned one to Hecla's +ever flaming gulf! There let soul and body suffer the pain of the +dreadful sulphur bath, until the mortal part has become changed to +gold. For a thousand years may the sordid dross remain, until by +millions of accidents it becomes transformed into a circle, and presses +a crowned and joyless head. When the crown thus formed sparkles with +gems, awaken in the miserable metal its gnawing consciousness, and, so +long as the diadem endures, torture the soul with the perception of +treasures and honors never to be enjoyed!' + +Having spoken thus, Hiorba waved her fearful wand. Two horrible demons +appeared, and, with a laugh, which extorted a howl of anguish from the +criminal, forced him away. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +The inconstant Ryno had one day been belated while engaged in the +chase, which had become his favorite occupation since the destruction +of his matrimonial peace. He had pursued a wounded doe into a thicket +out of which he was unable to find his way. The evening air blew chill, +the stars shone faintly through the nebulous atmosphere, and the +moonless night was spreading its brown mantle over the earth. A deep +silence pervaded the forest, broken only by the hootings of the owl, +and the howlings of the wolf. Ryno dismounted to grope for the devious +path. He wandered on in this manner for the space of a quarter of an +hour, leading his horse by the bridle-rein, when suddenly he heard a +flourish of drums and trumpets. Looking up, he was astonished to find +himself at no great distance from a magnificent and brilliantly +illuminated castle. Pleased and surprised, for in all his hunting +excursions he had never encountered it before, he threw himself upon +his horse and hastened toward its gates. Trumpets and comets rang a +merry peal, the drawbridge descended, the gate flew open, and he soon +found himself in the inner court, surrounded by a band of richly clad +and golden locked pages. They seized his bridle, relieved him of his +hunting-spear, bow and quiver,--one of them respectfully held his +stirrup, while another, on bended knee, bade him welcome. + +'Do you know me?' asked Ryno with astonishment. + +'Who does not know the knightly Ryno, so renowned for his personal +beauty, and indomitable courage!' humbly answered the courtly page. +'Will you please to follow me to the banqueting hall? You are expected +there with affectionate impatience by count Arno, the lord of the +castle, and Rosamunda his charming daughter.' + +Readily yielding to this welcome invitation, he left his horse to the +attendants, and followed the smooth-tongued flatterer into the castle. +A marble vestibule, supported by a colonade of porphyry, led him to a +broad alabaster stair-case, which was surmounted by a gilded and richly +ornamented balustrade. Twelve servants in dresses of white silk, +embroidered with gold, preceded him with torches to light his steps. +The folding doors of the banqueting room flew open. A richly covered +table, glittering with golden vessels and surrounded by knights and +ladies, stood in the middle of the hall, and a splendid chandelier +poured a flood of light from above. Uncertain whether he could trust +his senses, Ryno entered, and the most delightful music from the +balcony of the hall greeted his arrival. The knights and dames rose +respectfully from their seats, while a venerable old man in a knightly +costume, with a delicate female whose beauty was too dazzling for +mortal pen to describe, advanced to meet him. Touching a full goblet +with her rosy lips, the female thus addressed him: 'With this cup, +Rosamunda, the daughter of the house, greets the brave Ryno, in the +name of the lord of the castle.' + +Already intoxicated by what he saw, Ryno drained the golden cup, +impressed a glowing kiss upon Rosamunda's delicate fingers, shook the +proffered hand of the old knight, who led him to the upper end of the +table and seated him by Rosamunda's side. Familiar conversation, jests +and laughter, the delightful music, the exhilarating cup, and, more +than all these, the proximity of the blooming maiden, so warmed his +blood and confused his mind, that the question never occurred to him +how the castle came to be there, and its inhabitants to know him. He +soon became engaged in a tender conversation with Rosamunda, and but +too soon did they comprehend each other's glances. The table was now +cleared, and the dance began. Drunk with pleasure, Ryno floated through +the assembly with Rosamunda, pressing her divine form to his beating +heart, and amid the tumult and giddiness of the waltz robbing her of a +first kiss, which was warmly returned. When the dance was ended, the +company sought the refreshing coolness of the gardens. The lovers soon +found themselves in a solitary grotto, where, sunk in Ryno's embrace, +Rosamunda murmured that she would be his forever, and that she doubted +not of her father's consent to their union. + +This brought the inconstant Ryno to his senses. With much embarrassment +he stammered: + +'By my knightly oath and duty, I love you beyond measure, charming +girl, but I cannot become your husband, for--I am already another's.' + +Tears flowed in torrents from Rosamunda's eyes, upon this declaration. +With the most violent sorrow she reproached him for having stormed her +heart and destroyed its peace, while bound by earlier ties. She +declared that she could not live without him, and at last implored him +to dissolve his first marriage, that he might become her's alone. + +Ryno anxiously endeavored to effect a retreat. 'Aliande is my lawful +wife,' said he, in a tone of decision: 'and never, never will I +repudiate her.' + +New reproaches, new tears, and new solicitations followed. Ardent +kisses burned upon his lips, the softest arms twined about his neck, +and the most voluptuous bosom beat against his throbbing heart. He was +almost subdued; but he summoned resolution and, gently repulsing her, +said: 'Leave me, charming maiden,--my integrity must soon wither under +your warm embrace, and with a consciousness of my baseness, I should +then stand before you as a faithless husband, a seducer of innocence, +and a dishonored knight. Pardon my frankness. Your personal charms and +yielding disposition captivate my senses, which have too often led me +astray. You desire marriage. That must not, cannot be! I am weak and +giddy; but no severity of torment shall make me a faithless villain! My +wife is good; I am indebted to her for all my earthly prosperity +and happiness. She has already suffered too much through my +inconstancy,--and rather should this hand wither than I would repudiate +Aliande for the purpose of pledging it to another; even were that other +the divine Rosamunda.' + +Once more she threw her arms around him in a last effort to subdue his +heart;--and while he was vainly striving to escape from her embrace, +the grotto was suddenly illuminated by torches, and the lord of the +castle stood before him surrounded by knights and servants, and foaming +with rage. + +'What do I see!' thundered he: 'What shame and disgrace are visited +upon my gray hairs! Rosamunda in this solitary grotto under the mantle +of night, in the arms of a youthful stranger! My house is forever +degraded and my lineage dishonored!' + +'Your daughter is innocent and inviolate,' answered Ryno; 'and her lips +will inform you, that no unworthy knight now stands before you.' + +'You are in error, my good father,' cried Rosamunda, embracing his +knees with anguish; 'Ryno is already married!' + +'Married!' growled the old man, repulsing his daughter with a violence +that caused her to sink to the earth in a swoon: 'Married! Then is my +daughter's dishonor beyond remedy! That word decides your fate, Ryno! +and you shall feel how the abuser of the laws of hospitality is +punished in Arno's castle. Seize him, slaves! bind the wretch in +fetters!' + +Ryno's hand rushed to his side, but having thrown off his sword for the +dance, he found no weapon there. He struggled manfully against the +rabble host however, until he was finally overcome, cast upon the +ground, bound, and thrown into a deep dungeon beneath the castle. + +He lay upon mouldering straw, confined with clanking chains which were +made fast to the wall. A dim lamp lighted the place clearly enough to +show all its horrors. 'This is undeserved!' cried Ryno, as his eye +wandered about his new residence and finally rested upon the heavy iron +door. 'How many times have heavenly enjoyments rewarded my +faithlessness to my Aliande; and now that I, for the first time, have +conducted myself as became a virtuous knight, I sigh in these chains. +If dame fortune will persist in such blindness and stupidity, I shall +take care how I trust her hereafter!' + +The prisoner had lost himself in sad rumination, the name of Aliande +now and then escaping from his laboring bosom with many a sigh. At +length a lively contention arose outside his prison door. A female +voice was heard in earnest solicitation, and a manly one opposing; +finally he heard the clinking of gold, and the bolts were withdrawn. + +In the most seductive night dress, with streaming hair, tearful eyes +and pale cheeks, which increased her beauty a thousand fold, Rosamunda +tottered into the prison. With a trembling and mournful voice she said +to him, 'you have rejected me when you were yet free to choose; but I +come not now to speak of myself, of my love, or of the grief inflicted +by your rejection. Your welfare alone has induced me to seek you once +more. Your life, which is dearer to me than my own,--dearer even than +my eternal happiness,--stands upon a cast.' + +'I am sorry that such a momentary hallucination should be followed by +such serious consequences,' said Ryno. + +'The lioness robbed of her young, is a lamb in comparison with my +father when the honor of his family is concerned. You have only the +cruel choice between my hand and a miserable death.' + +'That is a hard alternative!' said Ryno with a shudder. + +'Reflect that you are forever lost to Aliande. If your wife loves like +Rosamunda, she would rather yield you to another's arms than deliver +you up to a horrible death.' + +'No artful sophistry, or seductive blandishments, can change my +resolution. Your father must cite me before a court of honor, if he be +an honorable knight. There will I answer his charge, and give him all +the satisfaction he has a right to claim. If he do not that, if he be +determined to destroy a chained and defenceless man in a secret +dungeon, he is a despicable assassin.' + +'Ryno!' cried Rosamunda, again clasping him with wild self-abandonment. +Gently releasing himself from her embrace he bore her as far as his +chains would permit, and called the sentinels. Upon their entrance he +committed the weeping maiden to their care and commanded them to +conduct her to her father. + +'A night of torment!' sighed Ryno, throwing himself back upon his +straw: 'but I have one consolation amid all my sorrows. By my death I +shall seal that fidelity which I have heretofore but ill kept, and +expiate the tears which my inconstancy has cost Aliande,--thus becoming +purified and prepared for the joys of Walhalla. The gods bless and +protect my wife and children!' + +Again were the bolts withdrawn, and, in a mourning dress, the lord of +the castle entered. + +'You may thank a feeling of compassion that I condescend once more to +parley with you!' said the old man with a painful suppression of his +rage. + +'I desire not your compassion.' + +'You have violated the laws of hospitality and seduced my only child.' + +'That is not true!' + +'Knights and serfs were witnesses of my shame, which blood alone can +efface. Were your previous marriage dissolved, however, and Rosamunda +your wife, I might, perhaps, forgive you.' + +'That can never be.' + +'Rosamunda's person is fair, and yet fairer is her guileless heart. She +is of the noblest lineage. Immense treasures lie in the caves of this +castle, and my lands extend twenty days' journey towards the north. +Take your life from my daughter's hand!' + +'Place everlasting torments in one scale, and an imperial crown in the +other, I repudiate my wife at no price.' + +'Will Aliande be less inconsolable as a widow than divorced?' + +'Waste not your breath!' + +'By the eternal gods! I warn you for the last time. These prison walls +see you Rosamunda's husband, or echo the death-sigh forced from you by +the rack!' + +Ryno tore one of the golden locks from his head and handed it to his +persecutor. 'If one spark of humanity yet slumbers in your bosom you +will send this lock to my poor wife, with the message--That I die +faithful to her, and that I wish her to train up my son as a good and +virtuous knight.--Now let your executioners come on, I am ready.' + +'Then, by Woden!' roared the foaming parent, 'you never behold the +rising of another sun!' + +He struck a bell, and twelve armed men with closed visors and drawn +swords, slowly and silently entered. One of them detached Ryno's chains +from the wall. Again the bell sounded, and at the other end of the +prison the heavy doors of the torture vault flew open with a horrible +clang. The cave-like room was hung with black and lighted with torches. +Every instrument which the cruelty of man has invented for the torment +of his fellow man, brightly polished and arranged with frightful +regularity, met the glance of the unfortunate prisoner. Large pincers +were glowing in a chafing dish, and in the centre of the room stood the +dreadful rack with its fearful and mysterious equipments. Three hideous +ruffians, with naked arms, in blood-red caps and doublets, stood +waiting beside it. On the right was an open and empty coffin. + +'For the last time, choose!' cried the incensed tyrant. + +'Death!' said Ryno, calmly, and sighing the name of Aliande, he +advanced toward the rack with a firm step. A beam of light suddenly +illuminated the dungeon. The torture-chamber, the guards, the rack, the +executioners, had all vanished,--and Ryno found himself again in a +magnificent room whose azure star-besprinkled dome was supported by +rose-crowned pillars. With a friendly smile the sorceress Hiorba +approached him; and, as on the first day of his marriage, with the glow +of newly awakened love, sank the happy Aliande upon his breast, +thanking him for his unshaken fidelity to his early vows. + +'You have sustained the trial!' said Hiorba, 'and thereby expiated many +a former folly, which Aliande must now forget. Love has returned, +confidence is born anew, and I shall leave the again united pair with +unshaken hope. The unhappy Daura will accompany me. Possibly she may +learn forgetfulness in my quiet and peaceful retreat, which she ought +never to hare left. Farewell, my children. Forget not the true +watchwords of hymen--LOVE AND FIDELITY! Ryno, remain the same Ryno you +were in the grotto and in Arno's dungeon. Aliande, never forget that, +not tears and reproaches, but kindness and affection only, can reclaim +an erring husband.' + +She disappeared in a cloud of incense, and the reunited lovers sealed +their mutual promise to obey her sage instructions, with a kiss. + +Faithfully was that promise kept. Even when Aliande's head had become +silvered with age she alone was the happiness of Ryno, as he was hers; +and it was many years before the venerable matron, surrounded by her +grandchildren, was surprised by her friend Hiorba, who came in a robe +of light to kiss her expiring breath from her pale lips. + + + + + + + THE ANABAPTIST. + + A TALE OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. + + BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +It was on a fine morning in February of the year 1534, that the +journeyman armorer, Alf Kippenbrock, proceeded from Coesfeld toward the +free imperial city of Munster. Already had he left Baumberg and +Stestendorp behind--Saint Lambert's tower stretched high its gigantic +head at the edge of the distant horizon,--and the fruitful plain, in +which venerable old Munster is situated, gradually spread itself out +before the wanderer with its other towers and churches peeping from the +broad level,--while the bright silver of the distant and beautiful +river Aa glistened in the rays of the morning sun. + +Alf stopped at a stone cross which stood by the road side,--and while a +deeper red suffused his blooming cheeks, and his pious eyes sparkled +with enthusiasm at the sight of the ancient episcopal seat, he took off +his hat and swung it toward the city for joy. + +'God bless thee, dear native city!' he rapturously exclaimed; 'it is +long since we parted--and I now look in vain for my good old parents, +who, seven years ago, accompanied me as far as this cross. Nevertheless +thou appearest kind and friendly, and ready to offer me a hearty +welcome. Ah, nothing is dearer to man than his native home; thank God I +have again found mine, and in it that true and genuine faith in which I +hope to live, and, one day, happily die.' + +He then replaced his hat and walked briskly in the direction of St. +Lambert's tower. At that moment the morning breeze brought suddenly the +sound of the many voiced bells to the youth's ear, while an immense +cloud of vapor rolled up in the well known region of St. Mauritius's +cloisters. 'Holy God! some terrible misfortune has happened!' exclaimed +Alf, redoubling his pace. At the same time he saw an immense multitude +of people running toward him from the city. The nearer they approached +the more distinctly he discerned the motly combination of the crowd +that came gushing forth on foot, on horseback and in carriages. It had +the appearance of a formal national migration. Judges and clergymen, +patricians and plebeians, the old and the infirm, women and children, +indiscriminately mingled with various kinds of property apparently +collected in the haste incidental to a sudden conflagration, packed up +and borne along with them, successively and rapidly passed the +wanderer. The men in a state of great excitement conversing eagerly +with each other, the women weeping, and the children crying, they moved +on in a seemingly endless procession. + +Alf, transfixed with surprise and astonishment, and resting on his +walking staff with his heavy knapsack on his hack, stood gazing upon +the passing multitude. All had finally passed except one old burgher +who toiled singly on after the crowd, panting for breath. Alf stopped +him in the way and said, 'by your leave father, what means this general +flight? Is Munster beset by hostile armies?' + +'Alas, worse than that,' answered the graybeard, wiping his eyes, 'the +anabaptists have become masters of the city this fearful night, and are +driving before them all who do not belong to their sect, sword in +hand.' + +'God be praised!' cried Alf with wild enthusiasm, 'the true faith is +triumphant!' + +The burgher cast upon the youngster an angry and scornful look. 'Folly +may be forgiven to rash, inexperienced and imprudent youth,' said he, +'yet you may nevertheless be compelled to answer to the Lord for this +horrible praise of his name.' + +He then turned his back upon the youth and strode on after the +procession. Alf no longer felt the weight of his knapsack, but sprang +forward toward Munster with joyful leaps. He soon, however, encountered +a new mass of fugitives, among whom he could not easily penetrate--and +the dust raised by people, cattle, horses and carriages, becoming +insufferable, Alf retreated into a solitary inn by the way side, until +the tumult had passed away. + +As he laid down his knapsack in the tap room and called for a cup of +wine, the door opened and in tottered a pale thin man in a long black +clerical robe. He was followed by a light dashing fellow with the +countenance of a satyr, who carried his bundle for him. + +'I can go no further,' groaned the pale man, sinking down upon the +nearest seat. + +'Now, doctor, you are for the present indeed in safety,' said his +attendant to him, depositing the bundle upon the stove-bench. 'Permit +me to take a refreshing draught, and then to bid you farewell.' + +'Thou dost not wish, then, to go to the good Hessenland, my son?' asked +the doctor, sorrowfully. + +'No,' answered the youth, 'but do not consider me unkind. I return to +Munster. New governors will require new clothes, because much of the +dignity of office consists in the dress. My needle will not be +permitted to remain idle there, and I shall make great profits. +Moreover the doctrine of liberty and equality was plain to me from the +beginning; and if the good people would not come so easily to blows, +nothing could be said against it.' + +'I thought you held fast to the ancient faith,' said the doctor +complainingly, 'since you sustained me so truly.' + +'No,' laughingly replied the hare-brained youth. 'I held to you while +you benefitted me; and on that account I could not reconcile it to +myself to desert you in your hour of need. Now you are in safety; and I +must return to the only place where fellows like myself are held in +some degree of estimation; in any other I might remain all my life a +wandering ragamuffin.' + +'One deception less,' sighed the doctor sinking into gloomy meditation, +when the host entered with a mug of wine for Alf. When he perceived the +doctor the mug fell, and, clasping his hands over his head, he cried: +'Holy God! are you also driven away, reverend sir?' + +'The true shepherds must first be driven away,' said the doctor with a +melancholy smile, 'when the wolf desires undisturbedly to break into +the unfortunate fold. Nevertheless I may congratulate myself that I +held out until the last moment, and only yielded to open violence.' + +'How was that possible in so short a time, doctor?' asked the host. +'The adherents of the Augsburg confession were certainly very powerful +as yet, in the city, as the papists also were.' + +'The terrible Matthias,' replied the doctor, 'had sent circulars +through the neighborhood and collected all the anabaptists at Munster. +Consequently, all the low rabble, who had nothing at home to lose, +rushed into the poor city, and last night, taking possession of the +arsenal and town house, they set fire to the cloisters of Mauritius. +They ran, as if possessed, howling through the streets with naked +swords, crying, 'Repent and be baptised!' and 'Depart ye Godless!' +Neither condition, age, nor sex availed; delicate women, the sick and +dying, were all mercilessly thrust out at the gates of their native +city unless they would profess the heretical, heathenish worship. The +choice between death, flight, and apostacy, only remained, even to me; +and as I thought it better to be useful through the preaching of the +word to honest christians than through martyrdom in the paws of such +raging brutes, I shook the dust from my feet and escaped,--and God must +judge.' + +'I am very sorry for you,' cried Alf, much agitated: 'because you have +such a venerable appearance, and doubtless think yourself truly +faithful, though you wander in darkness. Nevertheless, it is a culpable +stubbornness in you Lutherans, to struggle so violently against the new +doctrines, which have the right and the holy scriptures so clearly on +their side. Has not our Lord and Savior expressly commanded his +Apostles--'Go ye into all the world and teach all people and baptize +them?' So therefore, the teaching must precede the baptism, according +to Christ's own words. How dare you, then, presume to baptize new born +children who can know nothing of God?' + +'What, another anabaptist!' grumbled the host, with a discontented +glance at the speaker; and the worthy doctor directed his eyes, full of +heartfelt sorrow, upon the youth, and sighed--'Another lamb gone astray +from the flock, whom I cannot lead back to the protecting fold. This it +is, that makes me sad.' + +'You have not answered my question,' said Alf, with the triumph of the +controversialist. + +'Of what advantage is it to show the way to the blind, who will not see +it?' cried the doctor: 'I could answer you, that Christ's apostles +could only baptize adults, because those only came over to christianity +at first; but that, at a later period, the burning zeal of the great +Augustine placed near the heart of the christian fathers the duty of +consecrating their children to Christ through the holy baptism into the +covenant, and thereby to deliver them from the original sin and impart +to them the redemption through Christ, before peradventure they should +be snatched away in their tender youth by a premature death. Would to +God that this schism was the only one that your companions in your +mistaken faith defend with such terrible obstinacy and fierceness. You +have yet other dogmas which you advance, sufficient to convert our +earth, God's beautiful temple, into a den of murderers. Your community +of goods, your equality of rank, your struggle against secular +authority, lead directly to lawless confusion, robbery, murder, and +unhappy revolution.' + +'Even the best opinions may be misconstrued,' replied Alf, angrily. +'The gospel looks upon all men as equal. The distinctions made among +them by birth, rank, and wealth, are contrary to its spirit. Christians +who possess the doctrines of God as precepts, and take his spirit for +their guide, need no power that destroys religious liberty without +authority. They are able to govern themselves by the word of God, and +the Holy Spirit will always guide them, that they stumble not in the +paths in which they are led by their faith.' + +'Unhappy, infatuated youth!' cried the doctor, with a majestic +prophetic look and tone. 'Go now into the unfortunate city, and behold +how the anabaptist spirit has conducted your companions to robbery, +incendiarism and murder, in the smoking ruins of the cloister, and in +the bleeding bodies which strew the highways! If this horrible +spectacle be not enough to move your heart, think of the words which in +this sad hour I address to you in the name of that God whom your +proceedings profane. These crimes will be but the beginning of your +afflictions. Your equality will yet be to you but equality of +misery--your community of goods will bring you to beggary. Instead of +the magistracy which you now drive away, miscreants will rise up from +the midst of you, and with bloody hands rend your own entrails, until +the wrath of a long suffering God finally awakes, until the avenger +appears, and you all perish in one common ruin.' + +'There come horsemen galloping,' cried the doctor's attendant, who was +standing at the window with his cup; 'and, if I see rightly, they bear +our lord bishop's colors. It might be well for me to go back to the +city.' + +'The bishop's riders!' sighed the doctor. 'It often happens that the +avenger only lingers near; but this time the Lord in his anger has +given him wings.' + +'The bishop's riders!' cried the host, anxiously: 'May God be merciful +to us. Those fellows make no distinctions, but shear both Lutherans and +anabaptists over one comb.' + +Alf's eyes flashed fire at this; he drew from his portmanteau a large, +two edged dirk-knife, screwed it upon his walking stick, and placed +himself in a defensive attitude. + +Meanwhile the horsemen had stalked into the inn. + +'Here is a whole band of anabaptists collected together,' cried the +officer. 'Halters from the horses! we will bind them together in +couples.' + +'I am the doctor of theology, Theodore Fabricius,' cried the reverend +gentleman, with all the dignity of his station; 'driven from Munster by +the anabaptists, and am under the special protection of his grace the +landgrave of Hesse.' + +'Why should we trouble ourselves much about the heretics,' exclaimed +the serjeant. 'Don't trifle and spend your time in unnecessary +discourse; submit without resistance!' cried another, seizing the poor +doctor by the collar. + +Then sprang forward Alf, and struck aside the strong hand of the +horseman. 'Back!' cried he, holding his dirk-spear before him, 'I will +stab the first who touches the old man.' + +'That is brave!' cried the host, exultingly; and, armed with a small +hatchet, he stationed himself at Alf's side. + +'Young man, why do you interfere?' cried the horseman, recoiling. 'Out +broadswords!' shouted the officer, and the broad blades were already +flashing, when a new trampling of horses drew all eyes to the window, +and in an instant a fresh band of horsemen crowded into the room. + +'God be praised!' cried Fabricius, with folded hands; 'those are the +colors of my lord, the landgrave.' + +'What mischief are you episcopalians carrying on here?' angrily asked +the captain of the new comers. + +'We surely shall not answer to a Hessian concerning that, while +standing upon our lord bishop's own ground,' blustered the serjeant. +'With greater right may I ask how you could yourself venture upon our +territory with weapons and arms, without escort?' + +'Madman!' cried the captain, 'is that the way you speak to your allies? +We are sent by our lord to help yours against the rebellious +anabaptists. At present I am commanded to the defence of the +evangelical preachers, who are compelled to flee from Munster, and I +will not permit you to abuse them.' + +'If you expect that I shall believe every thing you say upon your mere +assertion,' sneeringly answered the bishop's serjeant-major, 'you are +for once mistaken. The heretic priest is my prisoner.' + +'Contemptible slave of a priest!' thundered the captain, 'when the word +of a knight is doubted, he has no other voucher than his good sword;' +and drawing forth his blade, he called to his followers, 'strike flat, +comrades.' + +As if all the furriers of Munster had collected together in the tavern +to beat their skins, so clattered the Hessian blades upon the broad +backs of the episcopalians in mighty chorus. In a moment the room was +cleared, and the Hessians were sitting behind their full jugs, making +themselves merry over their easy and bloodless victory. + +'Where do you desire to be conducted, reverend doctor?' asked the +captain courteously. + +'I intend to go direct to Cassel,' answered Fabricius, 'to give an +account of my mission to the landgrave. If you will give me a file of +horsemen as far as Paderborn, I shall reach my destination without +difficulty.' + +'With your permission, Mr. Captain,' said the landlord, 'I will myself +convey my confessor as far as Paderborn in my little wagon.' + +'It is well!' answered the captain, casting a glance upon Alf, who had +unscrewed the knife from his staff and was preparing to proceed on his +way. + +'Who art thou?' he asked in a severe tone. + +'An honest journeyman armorer,' answered Alf, boldly, 'who am returning +to Munster in search of employment.' + +'To Munster?' angrily repeated the captain: 'to that heated furnace +where the frantic mob are preparing misery for the country?--and +now,--directly? Dost thou belong to them?' + +'Shame to him who denies his faith through fear of men,' cried Alf; +'yes, I am an anabaptist.' + +'Munster needs no armorer now,' said the captain, with decision; 'sharp +weapons are not good for children and drunken men: they injure +themselves and others with them. Thou goest with us back to the head +quarters at Walbeck.' + +'Never!' exclaimed Alf, in wrath, drawing his knife. + +'Pardon his imprudence,' entreated Fabricius, stepping between them. +'His spirit is diseased and heavily weighed down; but his heart is +better than his mistaken faith. He has hazarded his life in my defence +against the episcopalians, regardless of the difference of our creeds. +Let him go in freedom.' + +'You know not what you ask, doctor,' said the captain, displeased. +'Ought I to permit the rebels to strengthen themselves by the +acquisition of such a stout fellow?' + +'There are already, alas! a plenty of wicked men,' said Fabricius, +'ferociously raging in the unhappy city. It seems to me it is to be +wished, that there should be some good souls among them, who might +mitigate many an evil, and prevent many a crime. The whole conduct of +this youth convinces me, that his erroneous opinions will not hold out +against the misdeeds he will witness, and against the voice of truth in +his own heart; and then may even he become a fit instrument in God's +cause. Let him go, by my desire.' + +'Go then,' impatiently cried the captain, returning to the drinking +table. + +'God reward thee,' said Alf, with deep feeling, and pressing the hand +of Fabricius to his bosom; 'thou hast saved me from murder.' + +'The Lord enlighten thee!' said Fabricius, laying his hands upon the +youth's head for a farewell blessing, 'so that we may one day joyfully +meet again.' + +'Yon say that with great confidence, sir,' cried Alf, perplexedly, 'as +if the error were certainly upon _our_ side. I firmly believe it to be +upon _yours_. For God's sake, then, which of us two is right in these +dreadful contentions?' + +'If that doubt itself do not already tell thee, my son,' said +Fabricius, in a friendly manner, 'only submit the new belief to the +touchstone of thy reason and thy honest heart--bring it to the test of +the holy scriptures,--seek the truth with diligence and thou shalt find +it.' + +'No, no!' cried Alf, in the wild conflict of his soul. 'The holy +spirit, that spoke by our prophets, cannot err. Satan himself must have +whispered the wicked doubt to me: I reject and cast it from me, as, +according to God's commandment, I ought the eye that offends me. I am, +here, yet within the confines of anti-christ, and his power darkens my +vision. Wherefore, forward to the realm of light! Up, toward the holy +Zion!' + +As if beside himself, the enthusiast strode out of the house, the +worthy Fabricius with saddened looks, watching his retreating form. + +Alf was already advancing toward the city with vigorous strides, when +he heard some one calling behind, and the nimble tailor came running +after him. 'Take me with you, compatriot,' begged he: 'I have taken my +leave of the worthy doctor, and would willingly return to the city in +good company.' + +'Where were you during the first part of the fight?' asked Alf of him. + +'Behind the stove, dear compatriot,' laughingly confessed the tailor; +'and when it began between the Hessians and the episcopalians, I +crawled under the stove, lest perhaps both parties might take me for an +enemy, and I thus receive a double portion of blows.' + +'For shame,' said Alf, scornfully. + +'What is there in that to be ashamed of?' babbled the tailor. 'Let each +honor his profession. An armorer, with legs and arms to his body, as +you have, by the grace of God, must hammer upon his enemies as he would +upon old iron--it is his duty; but a poor little tailor, like me, has +the privilege of running away from such affairs of honor; and I should +little grace my fraternity by exhibiting an ill-timed valor in old +quarrels.' + +'Under such circumstances,' said Alf, 'I cannot understand how your +cowardice can suffer you to return to Munster, which just now is very +tempestuous and clanging with arms.' + +'Why, not a hair of my head can be injured!' triumphantly answered the +tailor. 'I am the old boon companion of the second of the prophets who +are now very powerful in the government of the city, and they cannot +fail me. When once the old order of affairs shall be wholly overturned, +I may be clothed with a station of high honor in the new government. +For a generalship in the field my stars have certainly not directly +designed me; but a chancellorship or treasurership I may fill as well +as another.' + +'For that must God in his anger have created you,' cried Alf, with +indignant laughter. + +'Because I am a tailor?' asked the chancellor-in-expectancy, angrily. +'How blind does the pride of your hands make you, friend armorer! Does +every thing depend upon strong bones in this world? What was Johannes +Bockhold of Leyden, our great prophet, more than a tailor? What does he +now appear, and to what will he not hereafter attain! The days and +nights have not yet all passed. He has a head for twenty; and when we +loitered about together as comedians, while business in our line was +dull, then did he play the parts of emperors and kings, and played and +ranted in such a manner as to compel respect from all. Give him the +world and he will govern it in fine style.' + +'A man who plays the buffoon for bread, selected to carry on the work +of the spirit in my native city!' sighed Alf, losing himself in sad +reflections until they arrived at the closed gates. + +Here all was crowded with the busy activity of the burghers. The city +walls were repaired and raised,--the ditches were deepened and +furnished with palisades,--new bulwarks and towers arose on +high,--hammer and trowel, shovel and pickaxe, were in constant +motion,--and the dirt carts creaked incessantly. Aged and distinguished +men worked unweariedly, like day-laborers; women and children assisted; +and the pleasure and satisfaction, with which every thing was +accomplished, rendered it very apparent that the most ardent enthusiasm +was the soul of this body. + +'Do you not perceive,' cried the tailor, gaily slapping Alf's shoulder, +'that the bishop will be compelled to break many a tooth upon our walls +before he will be able to eat us up?' + +'What does that denote?' asked Alf, disregarding the boast, and +pointing to two large stone slabs covered with letters which were +hanging upon the gates. + +'Those are the commands of our second Moses, of our great Matthias,' +replied the tailor, reverently. 'He has caused them to be cut in stone +and to be hung thus on all the gates of the city, to keep the people in +the fear of God, so that every man may conduct according to them.' + +At that moment a confused drumming alarm rattled in the city, and a +desolate thrilling cry of the raging populace answered the warlike +call; an icy chill diffused itself through every member of Alf's body, +as it seemed to him as if the people were roaring for blood. + +'The prophets are calling the people together,' said the tailor, +dragging Alf forward. 'Come, we must hear what they have to say to us; +we belong to the mass, and can give our opinions upon public affairs +whenever it may seem good to us.' + +They hastened toward the market, where the human tide, as if agitated +by the wildest storms, waved to and fro, thundering and roaring. + +The thickest crowd was about St. Lambert's church, and the mass, armed +with clubs and spears and muskets, seemed here to form a large circle, +from the centre of which a single commanding voice occasionally rose +above the general bustle of the crowd. + +Alf swung himself up to the corner stone of a house near the market, +held fast to the iron supporters of a pitch-pan, and looked towards the +centre of the circle. + +'What do you see,' cried the tailor to him above. + +'A stout man,' answered Alf, 'clad in a coarse woolen capote. I can +scarcely see his face through his disheveled hair and bushy beard. He +poises a stout spear over a vigorous burgher who is kneeling before +him.' + +'That is our great Matthias,' exclaimed the tailor. + +A fresh multitude at that instant came up and pulled Alf down from his +corner stone. The tailor held on with all his might to prevent being +borne away by the crowd, and grumbled, 'it is very wrong that one +should be hindered by the crowd from seeing what the people do in their +sovereign judicial capacity.' + +'Thank God! I find one acquaintance here at least!' exclaimed a pale +girl, tremblingly seizing the hand of the tailor. 'If you have the +heart of a man, my good fellow, help us out of this great difficulty. +You have much influence with Johannes Bockhold, the prophet; beg of +him, therefore, mercy for my poor uncle!' + +'For your uncle, mademoiselle Clara?' inquired he with astonishment. +'What has happened to the worthy master Trutlinger?' + +'Trutlinger, Hubert Trutlinger, the armorer?' exclaimed Alf, in great +agitation; 'my good old master? What has happened to him?' + +'Alas, they have dragged him before the tribunal of the people!' +complained the weeping girl; 'he is said to have spoken evil of the +prophets.' + +'That is a bad case,' said the tailor, 'and in such an unpleasant +predicament there is not much to be hoped from any interference.' + +'But you must attempt that possibility,' said Alf, 'of serving the +upright man and this loving child.' + +There fell a shot in the midst of the circle, which was directly +followed by a horrible cry from the thousand voiced multitude. 'God! +what was that?' exclaimed the girl, aghast. 'I fear my intercession +comes too late,' said the tailor dubiously. At that moment the circle +opened and the doomed one was brought forth, borne in mournful silence +upon the halberds of several burghers. The blood was streaming from a +spear wound in his side, and from a reeking shot wound in his breast; +yet the unhappy man was not dead, but breathed, although with infinite +pain, and had his eyes directed imploringly toward heaven. 'Not even to +be able to die,' groaned he. 'Thou punishest heavily my foolishness, O +God!' + +'Be satisfied unhappy man,' exclaimed the terrible prophet, who had +followed him. 'Heaven has revealed to me that the hour of thy death has +not yet come. God has determined to show thee mercy. Convey him to his +dwelling,' said he to the bearers, 'so that he may be taken care of by +his own family. The Lord desires not the death of sinners, but that +they should be converted and live.' + +'Bear me forward quickly,' begged the dying man to those who were +carrying him. 'These bible-sayings cut me to the heart,--for, out of +his mouth, they sound to me like a blaspheming of God.' + +They bore him toward his house. Alf tremblingly followed the poor +Clara, whose eyes were streaming with countless tears, and who on the +way vainly sought to check with her handkerchief the flow of blood from +the gushing wounds. + +At the door of Trutlinger's house the sad train was received by a +beauteous maiden. Around her noble, blooming face, floated in profusion +the rich curls of her dark locks. The fire of her black eyes, increased +by enthusiasm, pierced deep into the heart. Her high forehead, her +finely arched nose, her slender and majestic figure, imparted to her +whole appearance something queenlike, which even her burgher garb, (in +consequence of the strictness of the new belief deprived of every +ornament) could not counteract. When she perceived the situation of her +unhappy uncle, she wrung her white hands, tears burst from her eyes, +which in the bitterness of her grief were raised to heaven, and +embellished by her sorrow she stood, a weeping Madonna. The meek, +unassuming Clara became wholly eclipsed by her noble figure, at which +Alf stood gazing with true devotion. 'For God's sake, what has happened +to you, dear uncle?' cried she, accompanying the bearers, who conveyed +the sufferer into the nearest lower room and there laid him upon a bed. + +'He has practised continual mocking of the holy mission of our +prophets,' answered one of the bearers, 'and the prophet Matthias has +judged him before the congregation.' + +'God be merciful to his poor soul!' murmured the departing populace, +and Alf was left alone with the maidens and the dying man. + +'How came your senses so entirely to desert you, my poor uncle, as to +permit you to fall into so heavy a sin?' moaned the beauteous girl, who +was bandaging his wounds with the quiet sorrowful Clara. + +'Be silent, simpleton!' angrily replied the old man with his remaining +strength. 'My senses have indeed deserted me; but only with the lying +spirit of the wicked wretches whom in my madness I held for God's +prophets. With my gushing blood departs the delusion which perhaps has +cost me my salvation, and I perceive with horror that my poor native +city, led astray by crafty imposters, is on the way to ruin for time +and eternity.' + +'Gracious heavens! he already repeats his offences,' sobbed the gentle +maiden. 'We are not alone, uncle,' Clara reminded him in a voice of +gentle entreaty. + +Trutlinger, raising his weary eyes toward the youth, remained fixedly +considering him for a long time; and, as if he finally recollected him, +a smile dawned upon his face, which his sufferings chased away. 'If I +see rightly,' said he faintly, 'that is a good old acquaintance, before +whom no precaution or constraint is necessary. Do I mistake, comrade? +Are you not my former faithful apprentice, Alf Kippenbrock?' + +'I am the same, my worthy master,' said Alf, approaching and taking his +hand, while his tears flowed more mildly. + +'This is the finger of God!' exclaimed Trutlinger, and a feeble light +relumed his eyes. 'These girls are orphans--their last protector goes +to the grave in me. The thought that I must leave their inexperienced +youth behind me without protection in this den of murderers, renders my +death most afflicting. You were always a good and capable man, +Kippenbrock. Promise, then, to your dying master, with the hand and +word of a man, that you will shelter and protect these poor children +according to the best of your ability.' + +Alf cast a friendly glance upon the protegés confided to him. The +dark-haired young maiden gleamed upon him with a burning glance, while +Clara timidly cast her blue eyes upon the ground. The heart of the +youth swelled. He quickly pressed Trutlinger's cold hand and cried, 'I +promise it.' + +'God reward thee!' faintly uttered the hoary man, his head sank hack +and his lacerated breast labored with the death-struggle. Yet once more +he suddenly opened his eyes. All radiant were they raised toward +heaven. 'Yes,' cried he aloud and joyfully,--'yes, thou hast forgiven +the son of earth his errors! I see thy brightness!'--and he was no +more. + +'Lord, deal not with him in judgment!' prayed the enthusiastic young +woman, with pious zeal. + +'My second father!' cried Clara, mildly weeping, and, bending down over +the dead body, she softly kissed his pale lips. + +'No,' cried Alf, with angry grief, 'this sentence was not pronounced +and executed in accordance with thy will, Spirit of Mercy!' + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +The next morning Alf stepped into the apartment of his kinsman, Gerhard +Kippenbrock, to salute him. The good old man, a worthy butcher by +calling, had by the overthrow of all established customs been made +second burgomaster of the imperial free city of Munster, without +clearly knowing how that precise result had been attained. He advanced +to meet the new comer, uncommonly magnificent in his black official +dress, with the lace collar and golden chain of honor, and introduced +him to a large, raw-boned, meagre man, in a similar dress, who sat at +the table staring on vacancy with half-extinguished eyes, in which the +flashes of a quiet insanity were occasionally playing. + +'Thou hast here the best opportunity to recommend thyself to the favor +of our first burgomaster, of brother Bernd Knipperdolling,' said the +elder Kippenbrock to the youth. Alf bowed himself low before the +singular man, whose appearance affected him disagreeably, and stammered +some expressions of respect. + +Knipperdolling cast upon him a searching glance, and then said in a +hollow and monotonous voice, 'a well formed vessel for the spirit!--thy +kinsman, my brother? He may become a bailiff of the city of Zion.' + +'God preserve me, revered sir burgomaster!' protested Alf. 'I by no +means understand all that the office requires, and should disgrace my +undeserved promotion.' + +'Whoever hath the spirit,' said Knipperdolling, decisively, 'needs no +earthly wisdom.' + +'I have taken upon myself a holy duty!' exclaimed the youth with +anxiety, shuddering at the burthen of the proffered dignity. 'I have +promised to the unfortunate Trutlinger on his death-bed, to take upon +myself the care of his two nieces, whom he left unprotected. I shall +have plenty to do,--for six journeymen are employed in the workshop of +the orphans, and much work is ordered.' + +'Let him have his will,' entreated the elder Kippenbrock of his +colleague. 'I have known him from his youth up; his head is not equal +to the governing of lands and people, but he is a capable armorer, whom +we much need in these times when our all rests upon the points of our +swords.' + +'Have you already been baptised?' asked Knipperdolling. + +'Your faith became mine at Amsterdam,' answered Alf, but I have +postponed being baptised until I could receive that holy ordinance +here, in my native city.' + +'Our orator, brother Rothman, will prepare you for it,' said +Knipperdolling. + +'I hope this brother has already laid a good ground,' said a man in a +black ministerial robe, with a cunning, bold, peaked face. 'I shall +hold a great baptizing one of these days at the river Aa, and shall +expect to see the catechumen previously at my house.' + +'We will be his witnesses on that holy occasion,' said Knipperdolling, +with a gracious nod of his head, 'I and my colleague Kippenbrock.' + +The candidate for baptism stammered his thanks for the unexpected +honor, when the door of the room was thrown open with violence, and a +young man of Alf's age strode fiercely in. His countenance might have +been considered handsome, had it not been for the deathlike paleness +and distortion which disfigured it. His large and restlessly rolling +eyes--his dishevelled, bristling hair--his loose coarse garments, which +scarcely covered the nakedness of his body--all these gave to his +figure a frightful appearance; and Alf was thereby reminded, with a +secret shudder, of the altar-piece of a church, where he had seen the +adversary represented as tempting our Savior in the wilderness. All +present rose reverently at his entrance, and, with their hands crossed +upon their breasts, bowed low before the youth. + +'Thus speaks the spirit by the mouth of your prophets,' cried he with +singular gestures. 'Make outcry in all the streets of Zion, that every +one bring all his wealth in gold, silver and jewels, and lay it at the +feet of the great prophet, Matthias. There must no longer be rich or +poor in the community which the Lord has chosen for himself. Let all +belong to all!' + +'So mote it be,' cried the hearers, and a gentle sigh from the rich +butcher accompanied the response. + +'A true christian needs no erudition,' continued he prophet. 'The +internal word is of more value than the outward. All books written with +the insolent wisdom of men are fruitless and unprofitable, if the +doctrines they contain are already proved in the holy scriptures,-- +ungodly, if they are opposed to them. Wherefore you must bring all +books, except the bible, out of Zion, and collect them at the market +before St. Lambert's church, and cause them to be consumed by fire, a +burnt offering to the Lord.' + +'So mote it be!' again submissively repeated all mouths. + +'Whoever sins against one of these commands, roared the prophet, with +wild flashing eyes, 'shall die the death!' + +'Amen!' said the trembling chorus, and the prophet stalked haughtily +out of the door. + +'Who was that!' Alf timidly asked his kinsman. 'Johannes Bockhold, our +second prophet,' answered he, dejectedly, 'the right hand of the great +Matthias.' + +'All the books!' sighed the orator Rothman. + +'All the gold and silver!' sighed the worthy Kippenbrock, after him, +involuntarily raising his hand to his head, as if for the purpose of +scratching it, but recollecting in season that this movement was rather +unseemly for a new burgomaster, he quickly let it fall again. + +'The Lord wills it, and his servants must be obedient,' said +Knipperdolling to Kippenbrock. 'Let the commands of the prophet be +proclaimed, my brother. I have yet much to do with recording the +estates of the exiles, which have become forfeit to the community!' + +He departed, and Rothman followed him. 'All the gold and silver!' +repeated the elder Kippenbrock sorrowfully, yet once more, and he went +after them. + +'God forgive me if this feeling be a sin,' cried Alf, when he saw +himself alone; 'but these prophets appear horrible to me, and I shall +never be able to reconcile my heart to them.' + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +Some days passed away; daring which Alf, without troubling himself much +about the disturbances of the city, labored unweariedly in the workshop +of the deceased Trutlinger, which in these times gave him an immense +deal to do. He was animated by the idea of working and accumulating for +the beauteous dark-haired Eliza; and although he could not gain any +decided token of favor from the haughty girl, the friendly glances, +which she now and then bestowed upon him, were sufficient to keep the +flame of love always brightly burning at his heart; and the poor Clara, +whose eyes ventured towards him when she thought herself unobserved, +became wholly overlooked, as usually happens to the modest violet in +the neighborhood of the queenly rose. + +One day the wild rattling of the drums called all who could bear arms +to the market place. Obedient to the call, Alf equipped himself and his +journeymen from the military stock of his workshop, and they were all +standing in polished casques and coats of mail, well armed with swords +and halberds, when Trutlinger's two nieces entered the shop. + +'You are going forth to battle, Kippenbrock!' said Eliza, pressing his +hand for the first time with the kindest affability,--whilst Clara +remained silently and sadly standing at a distance. + +'And with a right good will, dear maiden,' answered Alf, tenderly, 'if +your kind wishes accompany the new warrior upon his first expedition.' + +'You go to the field of battle for the Word!' exclaimed Eliza with +enthusiasm; 'the Holy Spirit is with you and you must conquer.' + +'Be careful of your life!' whispered the timorous Clara, scarcely +audible, and Alf hastened forth with his companions. + +The place of rendezvous, before St. Lambert's church, was already +crowded by the people of Munster, collected in compliance with various +commands from their prophets. Here, a great fire which was consuming +the doomed books of the city, blazed to the heavens,--there, stood two +of Munster's deacons for the reception of the jewels of the citizens; +two female diviners, well acquainted with the jewels of the city, had +the oversight of the business, and accused every one who endeavored to +keep back any thing. Many a pearl, from beauteous eyes, silently +bedewed the costly trinkets which were compulsorily brought as +offerings to the spirit. + +Meantime the military power of the anabaptists had assembled at the +rendezvous, and now appeared Matthias in his dark hair-cloth robe. In +his hand he held the spear still clotted with the unhappy Trutlinger's +blood, and his mouth was foaming with rage. + +At his nod the armed men closed in a circle around him. + +'That true son of anti-christ,' roared he, 'that reprobate priest of +Baal, who once tyrannically ruled over the free burghers of this city, +the bishop, with his mercenary troops, comes against you. He has +already stretched his camp all about the city; and if we give him time +to perfect his entrenchments, the cowards, who dare not meet us man to +man, may conquer us at last through hunger. Wherefore thus speaks the +spirit: 'Arise, Matthias, gird on thy sword, take with thee five +hundred men from out the congregation, go forth and destroy the ungodly +whom I have this day given into thy hand.' Arise, then, my brethren! +Whoever is truly devoted to our holy cause, whoever is determined never +again to bend his neck under the iron yoke, which we have just thrown +off, let him step forth from the congregation; the Lord has chosen him +for his champion, and the host of the enemy shall be scattered before +his arm like chaff before the wind. Amen.' + +During this speech Alf was suffering a severe mental conflict. Too +readily would he once have measured himself with the episcopalians, +whom in his fanaticism he fiercely hated; and nevertheless he had a +decided aversion to the prophet under whom he must fight. He was +finally decided by the hope of the reception which he should meet with +from the fair Eliza, returning home a conqueror; and, as the amen of +the prophet was heard, he stepped forth into the centre of the circle. +His journeymen and all those who were armorers by trade followed him. +To these were joined the other workers in iron, from connection in +business. The butchers attached themselves to the nephew of their +chief; and, this example being actively imitated, the number of five +hundred volunteers was soon more than complete and ready for the field. + +'Thou wast the first to step forth,' said Matthias to Alf; 'therefore +be thou the first in the army, after me, and lead it on as my general.' + +The orator Rothman then embraced the youth, saying: 'Thou shouldst +surely this day be taken up into our band through the holy baptism--but +now, proceed to the greater business to which the Lord hath called +thee;--and shouldst thou even fall in the field in the cause of God, so +wilt thou win the baptism of blood, which is still more efficacious for +the remission of sin, according to the doctrines of the oldest church.' + +'Come holy spirit, O Lord God!' sang Matthias, the whole multitude +joining him in chorus; and brandishing his spear, singing with a louder +voice, with uncovered head, and without protective armor, the prophet +led to the gates. Alf followed him with the singing host. No sooner had +they left the last outworks behind them, than they were met by a +portion of the enemy's forces, who were making an attempt to win the +city by surprise. The episcopalians were not a little startled when +they perceived so stout a band, which, in consequence of the shining +mail of the armorers in the front ranks, seemed to them extremely well +accoutred. + +'Now ask we the Holy Spirit!' exclaimed Matthias, commencing anew the +harsh chant, in which his troops joyfully joined. The prophet plunged, +singing, spear in hand, into the enemy's ranks. Near him fought Alf, +who, more than true to the duty he had undertaken, made of his armor a +shield for the protection of the defenceless body of the prophet. The +troops, all singing, followed them with the impetuosity of fanaticism. +The episcopalian mercenaries, frightened by the furious assault, (and +not, like their opponents, inspired with a contempt for death,) made a +feeble resistance, soon gave ground, and finally fled with winged feet +back to their camp. + +'The Spirit has heard us, brethren!' cried Matthias. 'Let us now +startle the crimson, seven headed animal, whose name is full of +blasphemy, from his den. Let us hurl down the great Babylon from its +golden saddle,--that they both may fall into the fiery lake which burns +with brimstone. On, on, on!' and, commencing the death song that, under +the command of Munzer and Metzler, had before inflamed the unfortunate +German peasants to the most furious war of extermination, the prophet +pursued the flying episcopalians. 'On, on, on!' he roared incessantly, +his spear dripping with the blood of the cowards who gave themselves up +to slaughter rather than fight. 'On, on, on!' song the troops, who +followed him in quick step, and the victors soon stood before the +fortified camp, behind which the armed episcopalians were crowded. + +'Yield or die! 'cried Alf, in whom the battle had kindled the warrior's +enthusiasm,--and, rushing, to the barrier, he surmounted all obstacles, +and stood upon the wall, where his halberd became like the scythe of +the angel of death to the besieged. Incited, unceasingly, by Matthias, +the crowd followed him as the defenders were driven back, and the +anabaptists penetrated deep into their camp, until they reached the +place where the banner of the church waved over a richly decorated +tent. + +'That is the hold of anti-christ!' cried Matthias, rushing into the +tent, while Alf drove the enemy wholly out of the camp. As he returned +from the pursuit, he heard a mournful cry in the bishop's tent. Pushing +in, he saw the prophet pitilessly raging among the defenceless +domestics of the runaway bishop. Many dead bodies were already +stretched upon the ground, and two beautiful pages were kneeling with +closed eyes, before the monster, about to receive the death blow. + +Alf forcibly seized the uplifted spear. 'Thou hast appointed me to be +the leader of the forces, brother Matthias,' said he, earnestly, 'and I +dare not allow that thou shouldst give my troops an evil example by the +murder of these defenceless boys, whom we had better take prisoners and +keep as hostages, preparing their souls for heaven through our holy +baptism. Besides, we have not a moment to lose. The flying men have +carried the alarm to the other camp, and new multitudes will soon be +thronging here to oppose us. Let us therefore return to Munster while +we can convey the booty there in safety.' + +'Thou art right, brother!' cried the prophet, subdued by the boldness +and decision of the youth. 'Thou understandest the business of +war. We will forth. Let our people be called together. This young +dragon's-brood, however, we will take with us, and thou shalt be +answerable for them with thy head. I will baptise them myself to-morrow +morning before all the people.' + +The drums called the plundering anabaptists together. The host +retreated to the city, laden with rich booty, and the bishop's troops, +who had hastened to the assistance of the assailed quarter of the +encampment, came just in time to see the rejoicing anabaptists +reentering the gates of Munster. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +A countless multitude exultingly met the returning victors. The prophet +Johannes Bockhold at their head, in white festival garments, with green +branches of fir in their hands, the maidens of the city sang to them in +loud, joyful hosannas. It pleased the gallant, good humored Alf +uncommonly well to receive praise from such beautiful lips. As he +reflected, however, that this song of praise was intended as much for +Matthias as for himself, there came over Alf a silent vexation, instead +of the pleasure of flattered vanity, and he strode on gloomily in front +of his troops. The army halted upon the market place, and the booty, +being common property, was secured in St. Lambert's church; the two +pages were given over to the orator Rothman, preparatory to their +baptism; the soldiers having been praised and dismissed, and the +evening having already approached, Alf with his surviving journeymen, +half their number having fallen either in the first battle or in the +storming of the camp, proceeded toward Trutlinger's house. + +As he approached the house door, which was surmounted by a triumphal +arch covered with pine boughs, he was met by the bewitching smiles of +the beautiful Eliza, who was still clad in her white festival garments. + +'Welcome from battle and victory, brave soldier of the Spirit!' cried +she; and, casting aside all maidenly bashfulness and constraint, she +spread wide her arms toward the youth. + +'Dear maiden!' stammered he, most agreeably surprised by this second +and dearest triumph. He pressed the charming girl to his mailed bosom, +when, notwithstanding his unaccommodating helmet, they sought and found +each other's lips, and united them with the double glow of fanaticism +and sensuality, which both in their blindness mistook for the fire of +pure love. + +At that moment out stepped from the parlor door a little, withered, +yellow man, whose tattered garments were covered by a ragged black +mantle. With friendly simpers he squinted out of his little, gray, +malicious eyes upon the pair, and then, stretching his meager, +death-like hand towards Alf, cried with a hoarse howl, 'Thee have I +this day seen in my dreams, brother, contending and conquering in God's +cause, and lo! my eyes have verified it, and the Lord has achieved +great things through thee, his servant. Wherefore be glad, because God +has chosen thee for yet greater things, and through thee shall his name +become glorified in Zion!' + +The little hobgoblin with ridiculous pomposity then strode out of the +house. Alf looked after him with his hand over his forehead, and said, +'sometimes, though in my native city, it appears to me as if I were in +a residence of madmen, where all the fools go at large. Who was that +strange man?' + +'John Tuiskoshirer,' answered Eliza, reprovingly, 'an impoverished +goldsmith; but a great man since the spirit has come upon him. Often, +already, has he edified the public by his elevated discourses and +divine prophecies; and, next to our great Matthias and Johannes, he is +now the first prophet in Munster.' + +'Good God! what a multitude of prophets,' sighed Alf; and by this time +Eliza had led him into the room. + +Behind a table illuminated with wax tapers and decorated as for a +festival, sat the fair Clara. Her loose golden locks flowed down over +her white gala dress. Her right arm supported her pale, sad face, and +bright tears were falling from her eyes upon her white bosom. + +'Do you not bid me welcome, lovely little Clara?' Alf kindly asked of +the sorrowing girl. 'Do you celebrate our victory with such bitter +tears?' + +Clara lifted up her eyes toward the youth with gentle sorrow. 'Be not +angry with me for it, dear Alf,' she begged in a soft, subdued tone; +'every drop of blood shed in this unhappy war of opinion, falls +envenomed upon my heart. Never shall I lose the remembrance of my poor +uncle. He also was butchered for the new faith, of which I do not yet +rightly understand whether it is the genuine worship of God, or a +hellish sacrifice.' + +'Leave the foolish girl!' cried Eliza, handing a goblet to Alf. 'Her +spirit is not yet born again to the light. She still lies bound in the +chains of darkness. She is not able to offer every feeling joyfully +upon the altar of the holy God.' + +'May He preserve me from such joy!' sighed Clara, almost inaudibly; and +Eliza with a quick warm pressure of the hand drew the youth upon a seat +near herself. His fellow soldiers seated themselves opposite the +beautiful couple, and the ceremonies of the repast began. With the +pleasing narration of the conquering warriors and the sweeter praises +of the fair Eliza, the generous Rhenish of old Trutlinger glided +swiftly and deliciously down, and gradually extinguished in Alf all +thoughts of the movements in Munster, which his right worthy head and +heart had from time to time obtruded upon him. Deeper glowed the flush +upon the blooming faces of the youth and maiden; constantly brisker and +more radiantly moved their eyes; with constantly increasing warmth were +their kisses given and received. The journeymen, rejected by the +grieving Clara, could only keep to the goblet, until, overcome by +Bacchus, they staggered one after the other to their places of rest. +Alf and Eliza remained quietly sitting at table, as much occupied with +each other as if there had been nobody else in the world. Leaning sadly +upon her arm, Clara looked through her tears upon the happy pair. Now +and then a half suppressed sigh stole from her bosom, and she then +placed her hand upon her heart as if she felt a sudden pain there. +Already had the second hour after midnight struck upon St. Lambert's +tower. Finally Clara rose from her seat, took one of the low-burnt +tapers from the table, and remarked with assumed tranquillity, 'it is +late, and I am now going to bed,--wilt thou not go with me, sister?' + +No answer came, and the poor maiden sorrowfully retired to her own +sleeping room. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +Early in the morning Clara was awakened by a disturbance in the street +and came from her chamber, when she saw the couple still there. She +hastily disappeared with an exclamation of alarm and grief. + +'That must have been my sister!' cried Eliza, starting up with terror, +her dark locks breaking loose from the band which had confined them. + +'Be not alarmed my beloved,' said Alf with sweetly soothing tones. +'Immediately after my baptism brother Rothman shall bless our union, +and our weakness will meet with mild judgment from the spirit of mercy +which rules over the new Zion.' + +'I will so explain the matter to that foolish girl,' cried Eliza, +eagerly--'that she may not again offend me by her cold insufferable +silence, her customary weapon when we occasionally disagree. She may +censure and envy, but she shall respect me even in my aberration.' + +She hastened to her chamber, while Alf prepared to go about his daily +pursuits in the workshop. He was met at the door by his fellow wanderer +the tailor. + +'What have I prophesied?' asked the latter, unceremoniously seating +himself at the table which remained as it had been prepared the +previous evening. 'What have I prophesied?' he asked again, helping +himself to a large slice of the gammon of bacon which he found opposite +him upon the table. Then, pouring out a goblet of wine from the bottle +and swallowing it, he a third time asked, 'what have I prophesied?' + +'The devil only knows!' cried Alf, impatiently. 'There are so many +prophecies in Munster that my head has already become wholly confused +by them.' + +'I have foretold,' said the tailor, with pathos, 'that my beloved +friend and brother, the prophet Johannes Bockhold, would one day become +a great man in the world. You would not believe it, because in the +pride of your big fist, you could not be brought to entertain a good +opinion of a tailor. And now a tailor has become your master and +sovereign; lord over your life and death.' + +'You have got into your cups early,' growled Alf, 'and now being drunk, +you make me lose the precious morning hours with your miserable +fables.' + +'What I say is true,' muttered the tailor through his stuffed cheeks; +'and it is you who are mad and foolish. Only hear how cleverly every +thing has been brought about. This morning by day-break, while you were +indolently sleeping, the prophet Matthias called all the people to the +market. He there declared to them that he would go forth with a handful +of people, like Gideon, and slay the host of the ungodly. He called and +took with him to the bishop's camp, only thirty men. I know not whether +he had not asked of the Spirit aright, or whether the Spirit did not +answer him rightly: to be brief, a slaughter did indeed follow,--not of +the host of the ungodly, but of the good Gideon and his thirty men; not +a man of them escaped. As I afterwards went to the market place, a +mournful wailing sounded in my ears. The people were beside themselves, +to think that they had lost their ruler in so shameful a manner; and +here and there some fools maintained, that the great Matthias must have +misinterpreted the Spirit in this affair. Then the still greater +Johannes Bockhold stepped forward, and spoke to the multitude. God! +what words did this man use to calm, console, and elevate the people! +He had known the death of Matthias beforehand. He had seen in the +spirit that that great prophet must fall, a second Maccabeus, fighting +for the people. Thence we directly perceived that all was in order, +that it could by no means be otherwise, and we were content. Then, upon +the market-place, we called the preacher of consolation to be our chief +ruler,--and he already commands in such a way that it is a pleasure to +see him,--he has a wilder and more lordly manner than his predecessor +Matthias. His maxim is--that the high shall be brought down, and the +lowly shall be exalted. Consequently we shall destroy the churches and +make them level with the earth,--because they are the highest buildings +in the city. It will be a little tedious, and we also need stout arms +for the defence of the walls; we shall, therefore, for the present only +plunder the churches a little, until we have leisure for their complete +demolition.' + +'The churches also to be destroyed!' sighed Alf, 'must that also be? it +is most horrible!' + +Meanwhile a wild popular tumult arose out of doors. Both hastened to +the window. A great multitude of the populace ran by, shouting +incoherently. They were followed by a naked man, who came leaping +forward as if impelled by a demon, and who, with foaming mouth and +strange bodily contortions, incessantly bawled, 'the King of Zion +comes!' Thus vociferating, he passed rapidly by. 'The King of Zion +comes!' cried the mob who followed him; and Alf, disgusted with such +indecent madness, withdrew from the window. + +'Who was that madman?' asked he of the tailor, after a moment's pause. + +'Did you not know him?' asked the tailor in return. 'That was our +highest prophet, Johannes Bockhold himself. The spirit has come over +him. I must follow and see what further he will do.' + +He went; and Alf, in fearful dubitation said to himself, 'by such a +chief is Munster to be governed! It will not and it cannot come to +good.' + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +This last specimen of fanatical rage had made such a decided impression +upon the good Alf, that he no longer felt any special desire for that +baptism which was to complete his spiritual union with the great +prophet; and as, notwithstanding his adherence to the new doctrines, he +began to feel a secret loathing of the unceasing exhortations, +revelations and prophecies, by means of which the people were kept in +such a constant ferment, he devoted himself to assiduous labor for +arming the defences of the city, and under this excuse withdrew himself +from the public meetings of the populace which were daily drummed +together. + +For a time his attention was entirely absorbed by his workshop and his +Eliza, whose wild tenderness steeped his youthful senses in a sea of +pleasure, such as he had never before dreamed of. Clara in her quiet, +patient way, observed the happiness of the lovers, who placed no +restraint upon themselves on her account; and the only discoverable +effect it produced on her was, that she became every day paler and more +fragile. + +This was perceived by the kind-hearted Alf, and as he happened to find +the good child on one occasion alone in her sitting room, engaged at +her distaff, he seated himself beside her in a familiar manner and, +pressing her hand, asked her, 'what ails thee, my good sister?' + +'Ah! call me not so, Kippenbrock,' said Clara, sorrowfully; and gently +withdrew her hand. + +'Wherefore not?' cried Alf, surprised. 'May I not call thee sister, as +thy brother in the faith, and as the future husband of the dear Eliza?' + +The maiden raised her tearful eyes to Him on high. 'You pierce my +wounded heart,' said she, 'but you do not know the pain you inflict, +and therefore do I right willingly forgive you.' + +'Again I do not understand you,' said Alf. 'I see you always sorrowful, +and I can endure it no longer. I feel myself so happy with your sister, +that I desire to render all about me as happy as myself. Therefore +confide in me, good maiden, and take my word for it, I will do +everything in my power to mitigate your sorrow.' + +'_I_ confide in _you_! in _you_!' cried Clara, rising and attempting to +retire. + +The stout youth held her fast in his arms. 'No,' said he, 'beloved +Clara, I will not let you go until you have opened your heart to me. By +the holy God, mine is well disposed toward you.' + +At that moment the door opened, and the detestable Tuiskoshirer, +closely wrapped in his tattered mantle, walked in. + +'My God!' shrieked Clara, as she caught a glimpse of him, and violently +disengaging herself from Alf's arms, she sprang out of the room. + +With a smirk upon his lips, which he seemed to have borrowed from a +monkey, the little man followed her with his eyes until she +disappeared--then, stepping solemnly in front of Alf, called to him in +a hoarse, howling voice, 'art thou willing to become king of Zion, +brother?' + +'I king of Zion?' asked Alf in return, with the greatest astonishment. +'How can such a thing be?' + +'I ask thee,' howled Tuiskoshirer, 'if thou wilt be king over the new +Zion, formerly under the anti-christ, called Munster?' + +'I rule over this same Munster as its chief magistrate?' cried Alf, +laughing. 'That is a wonderful proposition, and besides, it appears to +me as if we were not the men to accomplish it.' + +'Short sighted man!' growled Tuiskoshirer, 'knowest thou not that the +first shall be last and the last shall be first? We are all clay in the +hands of the Potter. The Spirit has just seated himself near the board +in order to make a king. To that eminence will I raise thee up; for +thou art a brave warrior, and moreover a handsome youth, and wilt +administer the government with power and mildness, for the welfare of +all.' + +'Ah! do not propose such pranks to me,' said Alf. 'You have others more +suitable for that office than I; and besides, Johannes Bockhold would +make a powerful opposition to my mounting the throne.' + +'Johannes Bockhold,' answered Tuiskoshirer, 'is a feather in the breath +of my mouth. He has indeed thought of announcing himself as the new +king of this city, yet shall have only served you, if you will but +accept the sceptre. I have seen through the prophet's character; he has +much madness, yet little courage, and we need a consummate man upon +this iron throne.' + +'Are you wholly in earnest in making these propositions?' asked Alf. +'Then I must indeed answer in earnest. I do not feel myself fit to +govern a nation and people, nor to take upon myself an office for which +I have not been prepared,--from which may God mercifully preserve me!' + +'Fool!' cried Tuiskoshirer; 'ruling is as light and easy as it is +pleasant.' + +'Yet heavy and severe is the reckoning above for bad government,' +replied Alf. 'No, seek thee another king.' + +Tuiskoshirer then flung open his tattered mantle, and drew from under +its folds a magnificent regal crown, ingeniously formed of fine gold, +and splendidly radiant with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, +and, as he turned and waved it here and there in the sunlight, the +golden and colored sparkles played so gaily about the room, that Alf +was compelled to turn away his blinded eyes. + +'In this crown is placed all my earthly wealth,' said Tuiskoshirer, +pathetically. 'Ingeniously have I made it, during the stillness of the +night, as an offering for the Spirit, that he therewith might crown the +new king of Zion. Thee have I selected therefor, from among a thousand. +Do you but consent, and I will set this emblem of royalty upon your +head, and with God's help I will maintain it there.' + +The youth looked at the beautiful crown for a moment, and its golden +lustre seemed to awaken his ambition; but his better self soon +conquered. 'Leave me, tempter!' cried he with vehemence, and forcibly +replacing the bauble under the prophet's mantle, he dexterously pushed +him out through the door. + +'You will repent of this,' howled the little man as he disappeared. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +'The duodecemvir, Dilbek, would speak with you,' announced an +apprentice to the industrious Alf an hour afterwards. Surprised at the +visit of a person whose name and office were alike unknown to him, he +repaired to the parlor, where, in respectable black judicial robes, his +comical fool's face peeping above a colossal white ruff, and his +diminutive form attached to a long thrusting sword, strutted before him +the aerial tailor. + +'Knowing that you would feel an interest in my happiness, my good +fellow,' (snarled and lisped the new duodecemvir, in an incredibly +gentlemanlike manner,) 'I could not forbear informing you in person of +the good fortune which has come to me through the mercy of the Spirit.' + +'What means this masquerade?' cried Alf, peevishly. 'Take off that +fool's jacket again; it does not become you, upon my word.' + +'Have respect, my friend,' said Dilbek, earnestly. 'Every official +dress confers honor upon its wearer, and this it has become my duty to +wear, as one of the twelve judges over Israel.' + +'You? you become a judge?' laughed Alf. 'Go and seek some other fool to +believe you.' + +'You are and always will be an unbelieving Thomas,' cried Dilbek +angrily; 'and doubt every thing that you cannot feel with your hands. I +repeat to you that I have even now come from the market, where the +people have established the new tribunal.' + +'And the mayor and aldermen, who governed until now?' asked Alf. + +'Unseated, all unseated!' answered the tailor, who stalked about the +room examining himself. 'Your kinsman again slays his cattle and his +swine with his own hands; and the good Knipperdolling, a learned man, +and therefore not able to turn his hand to any thing useful, has become +the official hangman, with which the poor man will still be able to +procure a livelihood.' + +'Good God!' exclaimed Alf, 'who has done this?' + +'This wise transformation of our government proceeds from our chief +prophet,' answered the tailor-judge. 'Since he, moved by the Spirit, +ran through the streets in the condition of holy nature, he had not +spoken a word, but made himself understood by writing; he was compelled +to remain mute three days. When that time had elapsed he declared the +new commands of the Spirit. Yesterday the honorable counsellors +obediently laid down their offices, and today I have been installed +with my lordly colleagues.' + +'God preserve my reason!' cried Alf. 'By these mad movements and +continual changes, I incur the danger of losing it.' + +'Only be patient,' said the tailor mysteriously. 'Better things will +come. I have already heard various whispers. Our prophet is not the man +to stop half way. Think of what I told you when we were traveling to +Munster; it is not yet the end of time! I must now leave you, as we +judges are invited to a feast by the chief prophet. He marries, this +day, the beautiful widow of his predecessor, the great Matthias. +Farewell! I shall always remain friendly to you, and should I hereafter +rise yet higher on the scale of honor, you will always find in me a +patron and protector.' + +After one or two failures, the duodecemvir finally succeeded in passing +himself and his new sword through the room door. + +'Surely!' cried Alf impatiently, 'if this tailor-spirit is to set such +vagabonds upon the judgment-seat of my native city, I may soon repent +that I refused the crown. It would at least have given me the power to +hinder many acts of madness.' + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Some time afterwards, Alf was sitting arm in arm with his Eliza in the +family sitting-room, while Clara was spinning near the window, and +moistening the thread with her bitter tears. Suddenly the door flew +open, and in clattered a stout young trooper, who extended his hand to +Alf, joyously exclaiming, 'God bless you, my dear school fellow! Do you +not know me?' + +'Hanslein of the long street!' cried Alf, embracing the friend of his +youth. 'Welcome to Munster!' + +'Hanslein of the long street?' asked the beautiful Eliza, with surprise +and displeasure. 'How is this? were you not an episcopalian?' + +'Certainly,' answered Hanslein, 'with body and soul, until the day +before yesterday. On that day I got into a quarrel with my serjeant +while drinking with him, and laid my blade over his head in a way that +he will not easily forget. Life is as dear to me as to any other man, +and therefore I made my way out of the bishop's camp, rode over to +yours, and now let your orator but once more wash my head, and I am +prepared to contend bravely with my old brethren in arms.' + +'When the chief prophet holds you worthy of being received into our +community!' sharply observed Eliza, who was highly offended at the +frivolous conversation of the renegade. + +'The worthy tailor has already received me with open arms,' answered +Hanslein. 'I have become captain of the seventh company, and am +quartered with the burgomaster-hangman Knipperdolling, where we have +wine and women in abundance.' + +Eliza rose up indignant, and silently motioned to Clara to follow her. +The latter obeyed, and the two friends were left alone. + +'A pair of pretty maidens!' said Hanslein, looking admiringly after +them; 'and you are indeed a lucky dog, to be a favorite with both.' + +'I am the promised bridegroom of the eldest,' answered Alf, 'and know +my duty.' + +'An anabaptist, and so affectedly coy?' laughed the hair-brained +fellow. 'You court them both at the same time, I'll be sworn; and +should any one attack you on that account, you need only refer to the +example of our chief prophet.' + +'It cannot be possible!' exclaimed Alf with abhorrence. + +At this moment Clara stepped into the room, placed before Alf a pitcher +of wine and two goblets, and then again retired. + +Hanslein observed her attentively, and said as she went out, 'deny no +longer, you rogue, that both the maidens are yours. I found you in the +arms of one of them, and the long, tender glance which the other just +now threw upon you, confesses enough.' + +'I tell you that you are mistaken!' cried Alf impatiently, filling the +cups to the brim; 'leave your joking, and join me in drinking success +to our good cause.' + +'With all my heart!' said Hanslein, striking his glass against Alf's, +and then pouring down the wine; 'although I am not yet quite clear as +to exactly where the good cause is to be found, here, or in the camp of +our old master. To return once more to my former theme, you render life +needlessly unpleasant both to yourself and to the poor damsels. You +would do much better to marry them both.' + +'You are out of your senses!' exclaimed Alf, angrily. 'How can I sin +against the commandments of God?' + +'First point out to me one passage in the bible which prohibits +polygamy,' said Hanslein; 'and what is not prohibited is allowed! The +old beards, the patriarchs, always indulged themselves in that way. To +be sure, when the wives come directly in each other's way, it may be a +little stormy in the house, as father Abraham learned long ago to his +sorrow; but, after all, you are the man to seize and hold the reins of +government firmly, and to interfere decidedly, if your wives should +show a disposition to kick out of the traces.' + +Alf could not refrain from laughing at the chatterer, and finally said, +'I know not how you came by the conceit of advocating double marriages, +but to a poacher like you, I should suppose it would be pleasanter to +beat up game in the preserves of others.' + +'There will remain enough for me on both sides of the hedge,' said +Hanslein; 'and a handsome young man like you must be the first to +follow any new fashion, especially so pleasant a one as this.' + +'The chief prophet might disapprove of the new fashion,' said Alf; +'even according to our old laws, there is a heavy penalty against +polygamy.' + +'The chief prophet!' laughed Hanslein. 'The doctrine which I have just +now been preaching to you came from his own mouth. How else could I +have conversed so learnedly upon the subject?' + +'The chief prophet!' cried Alf in amazement. + +'Just so,' answered Hanslein. 'When he saw that I recognized him, he +beckoned me to approach, and presented a purse of ducats to me, giving +me at the same time an excellent lecture upon the duty of every +christian to take more than one wife; it is a prerogative, said he, +which God reserves for his holy children; and he intimated his +determination to explain the matter to the community, and moreover that +he would himself take fifteen wives, on account of the good example +which he was bound to set the people.' + +'This can never prosper!' thought Alf, shaking his head. + +'What can be impossible to the godly tailor?' exclaimed Hanslein, +swallowing the last glass. 'Farewell brother! I must now to the parade, +and relieve the early morning watch. When I am at liberty, if you +should indeed conclude to marry both of the damsels, then I ask it as a +particular favor that I may be invited to the marriage feast.' + +He bustled forth; but Alf remained sitting in a melancholy reverie. +'Even polygamy is now encouraged!' sighed he. 'Every good old moral +custom is broken! How must it end?' + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +At the new gate, where the river Aa empties itself into the Ems, Alf +had his watch as the chosen captain of the armorers. It was already +deep night--he lay upon his field bed, and the images of Eliza and +Clara were floating confusedly before his half closed eyes. Suddenly he +heard the burgher sentinel hail some one, and immediately afterwards +Hanslein stepped into the officers' quarters, wrapped in a mantle. + +'What brings you here so late, brother?' asked Alf, springing up in +astonishment. + +'Mischief, my brother,' whispered Hanslein. 'I come in the name of the +chief prophet. First of all, get your men quickly and quietly under +arms, and let their guns be carefully loaded; double all the guards, +and let strong patrols be sent out. The city is in danger from without +and within!' + +Alf proceeded silently to the large guard room, to execute the command; +then, returning to his friend, he eagerly asked him the cause of the +alarm. + +'Polygamy,' answered Hanslein, of which we examined the pleasant +bearings the day before yesterday has now turned out confoundedly +serious. Early this morning while you were upon guard, the prophet +Johannes Bockhold caused the populace to be drummed together and laid +the hazardous question before them. An old burgher, who might already +have had domestic trouble enough at home, coldly gave his opinion that +the adoption of such a course would be warring against the bible and +against all christendom. Thereupon Johannes, who cannot bear much +contradiction, became furious, caused the old man to be seized on the +spot, and made, by the aid of friend Knipperdolling, a head shorter. +Such a mode of stating the counter argument was too sudden and too +violent for the people. They laid their heads together here and there, +and a number of malcontents determined, at a secret meeting, to give up +the city to the episcopalians this night. But lord Johannes, who has a +very fine nose, got wind of them in time. He has taken his measures yet +more secretly than his foes, and Knipperdolling will do a fine business +early in the morning.' + +'Never-ending slaughters!' murmured Alf, sorrowfully. 'What we have +gained is hardly an equivalent for the blood spilled in its +attainment.' + +'The tree of spiritual freedom,' said Hanslein ironically, shrugging +his shoulders, 'must be properly watered, if you would have it grow and +thrive.' + +Meanwhile, the patrols having returned to the guard room, Hanslein went +out to meet them. 'All right!' was the word from all sides. Only the +detachment who had been scouring the out works, thought that they had +heard a suspicious rustling of arms in the distance. + +'And you went no nearer to see what was going on?' interrupted Alf: +'Then I must take a turn myself, and see what mischief is brewing. +Forward!' + +He and Hanslein carefully led the patrol through the little side-door +out over the bridges. 'Stand here silently,' commanded Alf,--'I will go +softly forward with the captain. As soon as you hear any noise, move +quickly towards it.' + +Alf and Hanslein now proceeded stealthily forward, constantly further +and further, behind the angles of the outworks, carefully bending close +to them. Suddenly they heard at a distance the clattering of spurs +which rapidly approached. + +'Let us conceal ourselves behind the palisades,' whispered Hanslein to +Alf. They had hardly concealed themselves when the rattling of the +spurred heels approached. The obscure forms of two men became visible +in the darkness. They passed by the concealed friends and then stopped. + +'That is the place,' said a deep bass voice. 'Give the sign, serjeant.' +The other figure then raised his hand to his mouth, and repeated three +times a clear-sounding tone imitating a bird-call. + +'Now upon them!' cried Alf, springing from behind the palisades, +seizing the first figure by the right arm with the strength of a bear, +and placing his sword at his breast. At the same moment Hanslein dealt +a powerful blow upon the second figure. 'Jesus Maria!' cried the +latter, and instantly disappeared in the darkness. + +'Coward! 'growled the other; but Alf mastered him. 'No noise, nor any +attempt at resistance, or I shall be compelled to strike you down. You +must follow us into the city.' + +'Thus to end!' groaned the prisoner--and at that moment the first rays +of the rising moon beamed over the edge of the horizon and threw their +light upon the captive. He was a stately old cavalier, with a chain of +honor over his shining silver harness, and a most venerable +countenance, from which even his unhappy accident had not been able to +drive the impress of determined spirit and courage. + +Alf was troubled by his steady gaze, which excited emotions of respect +and esteem. He looked inquiringly at Hanslein, who returned a similar +glance, and both remained standing by their prisoner, as if by tacit +agreement. + +'Shall we deliver this noble form to the terrible Johannes?' at last +asked Alf of his fellow soldier. + +'It would certainly make me very unhappy to see this head fall under +the axe of the executioner,' murmured Hanslein. + +'You think and feel as I do, brother,' cried Alf, joyfully. 'Therefore +pursue your way in peace, sir colonel, or whatever else you may chance +to be. We will have no part in the shedding of your blood!' + +'Shall I have to thank anabaptists for my life and liberty?' asked the +knight, half indignant and half astonished. + +'Accept it, however,' said Alf, 'and with it the proof that the people +of Munster are not all such monsters as you may have believed until +now. If this friendly service appears to you to be thankworthy, you can +repay it with like clemency when one of our brethren falls into your +hands.' + +'That will I, comrade, by my word,' answered the knight, much affected. +'To prove that my feelings are equally good toward you, I invite you to +follow me into our camp. People of your stamp are not in their right +place in that den of wild beasts, who sooner or later must come to an +ignominious end.' + +'Spare your words,' answered Alf. 'We hold fast to our faith.' + +'And have divers cogent reasons besides,' said Hanslein, (grasping his +neck in a manner not to be misunderstood,) 'to decline the honor of +visiting the lord bishop.' + +'Our men approach,' said Alf, looking toward the city. 'Depart, sir +knight, before it is too late.' + +'God teach you the right path, poor erring wanderers,' said the knight, +compassionately, as he hastened away. + +Scolding as he went, Alf approached his troops. 'Were you not ordered +to advance upon the first alarm?' growled he. 'Heard you not when I +gave the word for the onset? Had you been there, as it was your duty to +have been, we should have taken an episcopalian field officer. He has +escaped to his followers, and we must hasten back to the city, lest we +be finally cut off and taken prisoners.' + +The honest Munsterers exculpated themselves in the best way they could, +entreating that their oversight might not be made known to the grim +prophet; and with drooping heads followed the two friends back into the +city. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +An alarm, as if the world were sinking, was now raised in Munster. The +bells rung, the drums beat, and the armed masses ran together, filling +the air with their wild shouts. Alf and Hanslein mounted the wall over +the gate and looked down upon the city, in the streets of which torches +were every where blazing. From the market before St. Lambert's church +the light of an immense fire arose to the heavens, and the sounds of a +horrible shouting and screaming as from many thousands came thence over +the city. + +'This is a dreadful night,' said Alf, leaning sadly upon his sword. + +'If I should say,' observed Hanslein, 'that the appearance of the city +was particularly pleasing to me, I should tell a falsehood. Were it not +for my unlucky affair with the serjeant, I would have gone to the +episcopalian camp with the field officer, in God's name.' + +Finally, a certain degree of order seemed to prevail in the chaos about +the market place, although like every thing there, it was of a horrible +nature. To a short, ferocious yell of the populace succeeded a profound +and terrible pause--then cracked a volley of musketry, and then again +another pause--and so alternately screams, pauses and reports of +fire-arms, until Hanslein had counted twenty volleys. + +'What can that musketry mean?' asked Alf in an undertone, with some +misgivings as to the nature of the proceedings. + +'Master Johannes may just now be undertaking to sift his flock,' said +Hanslein. + +'Must it then be,' exclaimed Alf with bitter grief, 'that by every +revolution, although intended to promote the welfare of the whole +people, men must be placed at the head who have no hearts in their +bodies, and who rule by destroying the lives of their brethren!' + +'It appears so, answered Hanslein; 'Whoever is placed at the head by +popular commotions, must himself be a bold demagogue who has no +property, character or conscience to lose. To leap over every obstacle +and ward off every danger by the destruction of a dozen or two of his +fellow men, is nothing at all to him. People like you, my brother, +would make right good leaders, for which nothing is really requisite +but vigor, honesty and sound sense; but honest people draw back from +such opportunities from a want of self confidence, and thereby give the +devils free scope to do evil, which is very wrong!' + +Alf, reminded by this conversation of Tuiskoshirer's rejected crown, +and of old Fabricius's prophecy, at last sorrowfully exclaimed, 'in an +unhappy hour came I home, to my native city!' and proceeded to join the +guard. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +The next morning, when Alf's guard was relieved, he marched his men by +the market place. Horrible was the sight which there awaited him. The +square before St. Lambert's church was converted into an immense +slaughter yard, and filled with human flesh. A great number of +unfortunates were bound to stakes and shot through; a part of whom had +bled out their lives, and a part were still writhing and twisting in +the agonies of the death struggle. Others lay upon the bloody pavement, +some hacked to pieces with the sword and some beheaded, The ranting +Knipperdolling in his robes of office, his face flushed, with naked and +blood-sprinkled arms, was continually and unweariedly swinging his +broad executioner's sword over victims, who, either voluntarily or +forced by armed men, were kneeling before him. + +'Left wheel!' commanded Alf, averting his eyes; and he led his men +through side-streets and by-ways to the company's parade ground. + +As the men were separating, and Alf proceeding to his own quarters, he +was met by poor Clara, who came to him, her eyes red with weeping, and +with despair depicted on her countenance. + +'Will you grant me a private conversation?' said she; 'it concerns my +life--and though you may deem that of little consequence, still your +heart is too good not to feel a sympathy for an unfortunate being, +whose last hope is in your protection.' + +'In God's name, what is going forward?' asked Alf, alarmed, leading the +maiden into the garden adjoining the house. 'Speak, dear Clara, and +open your heart to me. My blood for thee!' + +'The chief prophet and the twelve judges,' answered Clara, 'have +published a mandate, by which a plurality of wives is not only allowed +but commanded. Not to avail one's self of this spiritual license, is +deemed a crime. Spies search all houses and drag forth the marriageable +maidens; who are compelled to marry instantly. I hoped to find a +defence of my maiden honor in my insignificance; but the hideous +Tuiskoshirer has selected me for his third wife. Rather than consummate +my ruin by giving my hand to that disgusting madman, I would jump into +the river Aa, and there find an end to my life and my afflictions.' + +'With God's help,' cried Alf, 'you shall neither jump into the river, +Clara, nor into Tuiskoshirer's arms; in which indeed you might find +worse repose. Is the old wizard mad, that he lifts his eyes to so +pretty a maiden?' + +'There is but one way left for my deliverance,' said Clara. 'You are to +many my sister, dear brother-in-law--wherefore I beg of you to bestow +upon me, out of compassion, the name of one of your wives, that it may +protect me from the impudence of his hateful assaults. Understand me +rightly,' added she, earnestly;' I ask to be one of your wives in _name +only_. This relation shall give neither to you nor me new duties nor +new rights--and when the fate of this unhappy city once changes, then +shall we two in no respect be bound to each other.' + +'Such an apparent marriage only, will be but little pleasant to either +party,' replied Alf. 'Should you not rather find in Munster some young +handsome fellow, with whom you may be married in a proper and orderly +manner, according to the commandments of God?' + +'God preserve me from men!' cried Clara, a deep crimson suddenly +suffusing her pale cheeks. 'After what I have here witnessed they have +all become my detestation. Even you I select only upon irresistible +compulsion, and because the connection can be so arranged that I may be +called by your name without belonging to you.' + +'This courtship is certainly not particularly polite, my little Clara,' +said Alf; 'but before you leap into the water with me, it is necessary +that I should say yes. I wish I could have first explained the matter +properly to your sister--I know not whether the imperious damsel will +be so willing to accommodate herself to the new decree of the twelve +judges.' + +'The life of her sister is at stake,' cried Clara, in deep agony, 'who +will most willingly remain a maiden after, as before, and renounce +every right to even a friendly look from her husband.' + +'It will be a strange marriage,' mustered Alf, rubbing his hands in +much perplexity; 'nevertheless let us trust in God. It would be well, +if these times produced nothing more wonderful in old Munster.' + +'There comes the monster! Protect me, Kippenbrock!' shrieked Clara, +hiding her face in Alf's bosom. + +Alf looked up and saw Eliza conducting Tuiskoshirer into the garden. +After him pressed a ragged and armed multitude. + +'Whatever you may do, my brother,' howled the prophet, 'I yet cannot +desert you. Our names must stand near each other in the book of the +Spirit. You have contemptuously rejected the alliance which I proposed +to you out of the goodness of my heart; nevertheless, to-day I propose +a new band which shall bind us both in brotherhood. I ask for the +sister of your betrothed, dear brother-in-law, and desire to take her +home with me as my christian wife.' + +'I regret, my brother,' said Alf, encircling Clara with his arms, 'that +you come too late. In obedience to the new law, I have asked the maiden +to become my second wife, and have obtained her consent.' + +'Indeed!' escaped from the proud Eliza, while she bit her lips and +darted a not altogether sisterly glance at the poor Clara. + +'Heigh!' stammered Tuiskoshirer, in a tone of mingled fear and anger. + +'Your courtship take precedence of that of the great prophet +Tuiskoshirer!' cried one of the ragged bridal train, springing towards +Clara, seizing her by the arm and endeavoring forcibly to drag her to +her detested suitor. Alf instantly seized him by the body and with a +powerful swing threw him over the garden fence. 'Who else will +interfere?' cried he, lustily, making after the multitude, who in great +trepidation were seeking the door. + +'An insolent reply was all that I wanted,' snarled Tuiskoshirer, as he +followed his retreating rabble. + +'Sister and sister-in-law at the same time?' asked Eliza in a tone of +bitterness, pointing towards Clara. 'I might at least have been +previously informed of it,' said she, leaving the garden in a rage. + +'Necessity knows no law, dear Eliza,' pleaded Alf, following her. + +'It is a heavy duty which I have taken upon me,' said Clara to herself, +'to preserve the appearance of coldness toward the man whom I love +better than all the world beside; but God will help me.' + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +In the course of the next week Alf had sufficiently softened Eliza's +anger: she had with a heavy heart learned to share her beloved +husband's name with her unloved sister, and Alf now went to his worthy +kinsman, the former burgomaster Kippenbrock, to invite him to the +marriage feast. He found the good man a perfect contrast to his +terrible ex-colleague; in the short brown butcher's jacket and white +apron, with his sleeves rolled up, he was standing in his shop, making +sausages;--his full, red, contented face covered with glistening drops +of perspiration, a proof that he pursued his occupation with right good +will. + +'I am rejoiced, good kinsman, that you have so easily submitted to the +loss of political greatness.' + +'Yes, kinsman,' answered Gerhard familiarly, laying down his +sausage-knife, 'to thee I may say it; thou wilt keep clean lips, and so +it will remain in the family--when I was compelled to lay down the +burgomastership and take off the chain of honor, I might as well have +been knocked on the head with an axe, like one of my own fat oxen, and +I bore my deposition not at all submissively; but as I reflected more +upon the subject, I came to consider it less an evil, and now all is +well with me. There was much vexation about the office also, and I +oftentimes felt that I was not adapted to it. When a man once +undertakes to perform duties, which his education has not prepared him +for, he always continues unsuitable for the place, and often +inadvertently does great injustice to the people. It was truly a +fortunate circumstance, however, that my learned colleague +Knipperdolling had sufficient acuteness to keep us out of difficulty, +else I should have been compelled to abandon my office on the first +day. Now, comparatively, I live in heaven, slaughtering my oxen and my +swine, which I understand thoroughly--my sausages are always the best +in Munster--and it is wholly a different thing when one is quite at +home in his employment. Mark me, if the chief prophet should at any +time offer me an office, so true as my name is Gerhard Kippenbrock, I +would say NO, and would stick to my hatchet and chopping-block!' + +Alf praised his noble renunciation of office, and then formally brought +forward his invitation. + +'I wish you much happiness!' cried Gerhard, heartily shaking his +kinsman's hand. 'That all the preparations of the meat kind for the +marriage and festival are to be my care, is already understood; and I +may, moreover, take some care for the new housekeeping.' + +Alf wished to protest against such great generosity; but he +answered,--'I, an old housekeeper, must understand these things better +than a young chicken like you,--I know what one housewife has cost me, +and you take two at once. There are the rich trencher-caps, the +bodices, the cloth and silk doublets and robes, and the furred cloak, +and shoes and stockings, and the golden ornaments, and the bed and +other white linen, all in double proportion--and, God preserve us, +finally the baby-clothes and the cradle also. You will be compelled to +wield your hammer merrily in the workshop, and will be too much +occupied to be able to make the necessary preparations, and your old +butcher kinsman will stand you in good stead. + +To strike out one half of this formidable list, Alf related to him how +he had come by his second bride. + +'Heigh! surely! let us see!' exclaimed Gerhard: 'the child's conduct +pleases me very much. To be sure it is a singular circumstance, and the +prophet might make various objections to it if it were made known to +him; but I rejoice heartily that it has afforded you an opportunity to +obtain the maiden; who, I honestly confess to you, was the one of the +two sisters whom I always wished you might have. She has an angel's +heart. Eliza is not bad; but she has an imperious domineering spirit, +and will often warm your head for you; particularly if the little Clara +should in time excite an interest in your heart.' + +Alf's asseverations, that he could be in no danger of so great an evil, +were drowned by the noise and cries of an immense multitude of people +who crowded the streets on their return from the market place. + +'There has been another public day,' grumbled Gerhard, looking through +the window; 'and so it goes on continually. They crowd to the public +meetings and make much noise with their debates; but nothing is +effected for the general good, and meanwhile the bishop is constantly +diminishing the limits within which he has enclosed us; so that we +shall soon be unable to go outside the city walls. I am heartily tired +of the whole business. So long as my oxen hold out, and I can drive +them to our pasture, so long will I look on; but when that ends, God +will forgive my sins if I become an episcopalian as well as others.' + +'Hush, kinsman!' cried Alf, who that moment caught a glimpse of the +duodecemvir Dilbek, passing by the street window. + +Gerhard clapped his hands upon his mouth as the tailor danced into the +shop and embraced the stout butcher with friendly warmth. + +'I greet thee dear brother and colleague!' cried he in ecstasy. + +'Colleague?' murmured Gerhard, turning himself again to his sausage +table. 'We are not so far.' + +'What did I say,' cried Dilbek, slapping Alf upon the shoulder: 'what +did I say to you on our way towards Munster?' + +'Your conversation has not so much weight with me as to cause me to +mark or remember it,' answered Alf, peevishly. + +'I said,' declaimed Dilbek, 'give to our prophet, our great Johannes, +the world, and he would govern it in fine style. Now, the commencement +is made. Johannes the First, has this day become king over Zion, +otherwise called Munster.' + +'King!' cried Alf and Gerhard in a breath. + +'King,' repeated Dilbek. 'And he has obtained the honor in his usually +sly way. Early this morning he caused us, the twelve judges, to be +called to his house. 'Thus saith the Lord,' declared he to us; 'Even as +I aforetime have taken Saul and after him David, from tending their +sheep, and made them kings over my people, so set I Johannes Bockhold, +my prophet, to be king over Zion.' + +'King!' sighed Alf inaudibly, and once again thought with bitter +repentance of Tuiskoshirer's crown. + +'Honestly to confess it,' pursued the chattering Dilbek, 'this +declaration was not much to our taste, as it lessened our official +authority, and we had much to urge against it; but there we struck the +wrong chord. 'Ye short sighted men!' cried the prophet; 'must I not +take this office upon myself against my will? Rather would I drive +horses and oxen, did I not feel myself irresistibly drawn by the hand +of God. Therefore down, instantly;--resign your offices and do homage +to your king.' + +'The man has a methodical madness in depriving people of offices and +honors,' growled Gerhard, vexed by his reminiscences. + +'Still we were not satisfied,' continued Dilbek; 'and as we knew of no +other expedient, we referred the whole matter to the people. That, +however, did not help us. While Johannes labored with us, that withered +old fox, Tuiskoshirer, wrought upon the people; and as we judges in a +body accompanied the prophet to the market-place, the little man came +to meet us there with a large naked sword, which he presented to +Johannes, saying in a howling voice, 'In the name of God I give to +thee, Johannes, the kingly dignity: govern thy people well! Long live +the king of Zion! shouted the multitude with one voice, while we judges +were standing and looking as though the butter had fallen from our +bread. His kingly majesty, however, permitted mercy to prevail over +right, and advanced a part of us to high honors; graciously remembering +his old fellow laborers in God's kingdom. Knipperdolling is raised from +the office of executioner to be governor of the city, Varend Rothman is +the royal orator, I am lord steward, four of the twelve judges have +been made royal counsellors, and in you, sir Gerhard, have I the honor +and pleasure of greeting the royal treasurer.' + +'No jokes!' blustered the butcher, whilst his full-moon face, lighted +up by joy, once more exhibited a glistening crimson. + +'I should be ashamed of myself,' said Dilbek, 'to jest in an unseemly +manner with one of the high officers of the kingdom of Zion.' + +'These incessant changes and innovations are almost enough to turn +one's brain,' said Gerhard, while Alf was pouring water upon his hands +with which he carefully washed his face and arms. + +At the same time Dilbek continued: 'I bring to the lord treasurer the +invitation of his majesty to repair immediately to the royal palace, to +receive further commands.' + +'My black dress suit, Susanna!' cried Gerhard, looking into the sitting +room; 'my mantle, my plumed cap, my golden chain and sword!' + +'Is your name nevertheless still called Kippenbrock?' asked Alf, +significantly, by way of reminding his fickle kinsman, of his former +protestations. + +'Hold your tongue!' cried the new treasurer, as with inconceivable +celerity (notwithstanding his corpulency) he encased himself in the +official robes which his wife with joyful surprise had brought him. + +'If it be agreeable to you, my lord steward,' said Gerhard to Dilbek, +'I will now accompany you to the king's majesty.' + +'I commend myself to you, lady treasurer,' said Dilbek with a profound +bow to the butcher's wife, and the two lords of the new kingdom +departed. + +'Now is Munster indeed wholly mad,' said Alf, 'and my worthy kinsman +with the rest. If I were only so myself, I should feel better than I +now do in my clear moments.' + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +About mid-day some time afterwards, Alf came from his workshop to the +parlor. The dinner already smoked upon the table; but his two elected +brides were standing at the window eagerly examining some pieces of +money which Tuiskoshirer was showing to them. Alf approached the group. + +'The gold and silver money which the new king has caused to be coined,' +said Tuiskoshirer in a friendly and honied tone, laying a couple of +pieces in his hand. Alf read on the reverse: + +'The Word has become flesh and dwells amongst us. Whosoever is not born +of water and of the Spirit cannot enter into the kingdom of God. One +king over us, one God, one Faith, one Baptism. At Munster, 1534.' + +'That is God's government, may it soon extend over the whole world!' +sighed Tuiskoshirer, most religiously rolling up his eyes. + +'Under these kings we shall soon arrive at the pinnacle of prosperity!' +exclaimed Eliza, turning over the money in Alf's hand. On the other +side, the wild inspired face of the prophet, in his kingly dress, +boldly cut and well resembling the original, presented itself to the +eyes of the beholder. + +Alf looked upon the wild and passionate eyes of the presentment, which +seemed almost to roll in the masterly impression, and, mentally +recurring to the pitiless human butchery with which the prophet had +commenced the exercise of power, shudderingly cast the money upon the +table. + +Eliza hastily took up the largest piece to gaze once more upon the +crowned figure. 'Yes,' she finally exclaimed, forgetting herself, 'that +is a king for the whole world or none.' + +'What is the matter with you, Eliza?' asked Alf, with surprise. 'You +have never before spoken of the prophet with such partiality.' + +'Crowns make beautiful!' whispered Tuiskoshirer, with a malicious +laugh, and at that instant lord steward Dilbek rushed into the room. + +'To the windows, children, if you wish to see something very +particularly magnificent. The king is making his first tour through the +city on horseback, and will immediately pass this way.' + +'The king?' asked Eliza with joyful surprise, a deeper and more +beautiful crimson suffusing her face as she hastened out of the room. + +'What can all this mean?' sighed Alf, looking a moment after her, and +then stepping to the window. + +Nearer and nearer sounded the cry, 'Hail king of Zion!' from the dense +multitude who preceded the royal procession through the streets. + +'Now give attention,--here comes the procession,' cried Dilbek. +Already were heard the snorting and neighing of the first of the king's +horses. At the head of the procession came four pages, in costly +gold-embroidered velvet garments; a naked sword with a golden hilt, +Tuiskoshirer's crown upon an open bible, the golden globe (emblem of +imperial power), and two crossed swords, borne by lords and gentlemen, +followed. + +'That beautiful, light-haired boy who bears the great sword, is the +bishop's own son,' whispered Dilbek to Alf, who recognized in the two +foremost pages the victims he had torn from the tiger claws of the +ferocious Matthias. + +'Poor youths,' said he, 'hardly may I rejoice that I saved your +miserable lives, since this compulsory servile duty rendered to your +father's deadly enemy, must destroy the Spirit; which is a far greater +evil than the destruction of the body.' + +Now came, snorting and prancing, the dapple-grey charger that bore the +king. The fair youth, who found himself quite at home in his high +station, presented in his princely attire a truly majestic appearance. +High white ostrich feathers waved over the jeweled ornaments of his +purple cap. Through the slashed folds of his gold-embroidered +over-dress appeared the under garment of purple velvet, trimmed with +gold lace. The ermine mantle which floated down upon the golden saddle +cloth of the noble steed, completed the beautiful _tout-ensemble_, and +Alf himself, notwithstanding his inward dislike of the prophet, could +hardly conceal his admiration. + +'Is it not true, that dress makes the man?' triumphantly whispered the +lord steward to him. 'All this is the work of my ingenious needle. For +three nights I have not been in bed,--in which time I directed the +execution of all the difficult portions of the work. Now, God be +praised! every thing has prospered with me, and I want to see, who will +recognize the mass-dress out of which I have put it all together.' + +Meanwhile the king had passed by. Behind him came governor +Knipperdolling and treasurer Kippenbrock, superbly mounted. Twelve +yeomen of the guard, clothed in the royal livery, ash-color and green, +upon princely horses with golden saddles, brought up the rear. The +procession now halted a moment. Alf leaned farther out of the window to +see what had occurred. He just then perceived that the king was bowing +with indescribable grace to the fair Eliza, who, to see the better, had +stationed herself before the house door. In sweet confusion the +graceful girl returned the royal greeting, and, as the prince finally +rode on after the bearers of the regalia, looked long and earnestly +after him. + +'This is a sudden and wonderful change!' exclaimed Alf, angrily. 'I see +well that I must celebrate my nuptials to-morrow; if, indeed they are +ever to be celebrated.' + +'Hadst thou accepted my offer, brother,' said Tuiskoshirer, in a tone +of friendly reproach, 'thou wouldst have spared thyself this, and who +knows how many more afflictions.' + +Followed by Dilbek, he went forth. Alf remained, in a pensive mood, +thoughtlessly playing with the coins which had been left upon the +table. 'Yes, truly,' murmured he at length, with bitterness, 'he who +dares to coin money is held in higher consideration than he who is +obliged to receive it in the way of business.' + +The gentle Clara then approached him. 'Do not be angry with my sister,' +said she, entreatingly, in her kind way. 'Her heart is good in the +main, and she will soon repent of an error into which she has been led +by her vanity and pride.' + +'Good hearted child!' exclaimed Alf, affected by the faithful +intercession of the rejected one; 'why has not that ungrateful girl thy +heart and soul, or thou her beautiful exterior? Then nothing would have +been wanting to my happiness!' He went out; and Clara retired to her +chamber, where she secretly and bitterly wept over the well intended +but deeply wounding eulogium of the beloved youth. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + +The next morning Alf returned from a visit to the royal orator Rothman, +with whom, to make an end at once of all apprehensions, he had arranged +that his baptism and his marriage with both of the sisters should take +place that afternoon. As he approached Trutlinger's house he was not a +little astonished to find some of the yeomen of the guard, in the green +and ash-colored livery, before the house door, holding some saddle +horses. A milk white palfrey with costly trimmings and a purple +gold-embroidered covering, particularly attracted his attention. +Anxious to learn what it all meant, he walked into the parlor, where he +encountered Tuiskoshirer and the lord steward Dilbek, in their court +dresses. + +'Hail, hail! prosperity has befallen thee, my brother!' cried the +little prophet, ardently embracing him. 'Even as Abraham was accounted +worthy of being commanded to offer to the Lord the most beloved object +which he possessed upon earth, so likewise art thou also elected and +favored among thousands; not merely to present, but really and truly to +offer up, thy heart upon the altar of duty to thy king and lord.' + +'Madness seems to catch early in the morning,' sighed Alf peevishly, +'and I cannot understand a word of all this. Both of you being +gentlemen, you have nothing to neglect, and have leisure to spend the +day as you please. I, however, am a handicraftsman, who must labor for +my livelihood; therefore tell me in short plain words what you want of +me, so that I may give you a proper answer and then go to my workshop.' + +'Thy answer, my good fellow, is of very little consequence,' replied +Tuiskoshirer with a malicious laugh. 'We await our answer from the +worthy maiden Eliza, to whom we are sent by our all-merciful king to +request her to become his third wife and queen of Zion.' + +'My God!' stammered Alf, becoming deathly pale and leaning against the +wall for support. + +'It cannot be helped now, my friend,' whispered the lord steward to +him; 'therefore submit with a good grace to what must at any rate +happen; so that you may hereafter be able to claim a recompense for +your ready acquiescence.' + +'Has Eliza already consented?' asked Alf, with tremulous lips. + +'She has retired to her chamber,' answered Tuiskoshirer, 'to take +counsel of the Spirit. As soon as she comes forth we shall all be +enlightened as to her decision.' + +'No, no!' cried Alf, wringing his hands, 'nature and love have bound us +too closely; she cannot leave me.' + +Meanwhile the chamber door flew open and the beautiful Eliza appeared. +At the first glance she was not recognized by Alf. A dress embroidered +with silver and fastened with a jewelled girdle, rustled about her +slender and fascinating figure; her bosom and arms sparkled with the +richest gems, and from her dark locks arose, meteor-like, a radiant +diadem. + +'Hail to our queen Eliza!' cried Tuiskoshirer and Dilbek, sinking upon +their knees before her majestic form. + +'The Spirit has decided,' said Eliza, giving them her hand to kiss. 'I +have listened to its voice. Conduct me to my king and husband.' + +'Eliza!' cried Alf, in boundless sorrow, stepping before the false fair +one. + +'Thou here, Alf?' said she, with some slight agitation. 'I would +willingly have spared thee the pain of this parting.' + +'Thou art my promised bride, my wife in the sight of God!' shrieked he, +despairingly. 'Thou canst not, thou darest not leave me!' + +'Before the great affairs of the world, the little interests of private +and humble life must yield,' answered Eliza pathetically. 'The king of +Zion needs me, that my kiss may sweeten the wearisomeness of governing. +How then can I be so selfish as to regard the bands which previously +connected me with thee? The people of Israel have a claim upon me +paramount to thine, and joyfully I go to fulfil my exalted duties in +obedience to the voice of the Spirit.' + +'No, thou hast never loved me!' exclaimed Alf. + +'I was always well disposed towards thee,' stammered the new queen, +affected by sudden emotion. Soon however recovering herself, she said +to him in the tone of a mistress, 'when I am seated upon Zion's throne +you may safely rely upon my favor.' + +She now quickly took Dilbek's proffered arm and hastened forth with +him, without giving a single glance backward. Tuiskoshirer, however, +stopped long enough to ask the astonished and bewildered Alf, +'dost thou not now repent, my brother, that thou rejectedst my +proposition?'--and then followed the pair. + +'Woman's love and woman's truth!' indignantly, exclaimed the unhappy +youth, seizing his dark brown locks with powerless rage. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + +At Clara's request the previously arranged marriage was postponed. +Alf's baptism, also, for which his desire daily decreased, had not yet +taken place. The pretext for the delay of both ceremonies was the +changes which had been occasioned in Trutlinger's house by Eliza's +sudden elevation. In consequence of the daily increasing disorder and +confusion in Munster these omissions were not noticed by any body; and +half the city, who, since the polygamy ordinance of the twelve judges, +were living unrestrainedly with their newly selected partners, saw +nothing amiss in Alf and the little Clara's following the general +example. They lived together, quiet and retired, like orphan brother +and sister; and it became for Alf quite a soothing custom to extract +consolation and encouragement, under his bitter disappointment, from +the mild and friendly eyes of Clara. The maiden also, now that she no +longer felt the yoke of her proud sister, and no longer saw the beloved +youth in the arms of another, began to recover herself, and gradually +resumed her florid complexion, so that Alf contemplated her with +increasing pleasure from day to day; but the maiden kept her love for +him deeply buried in her own chaste bosom, and closely guarded her eyes +and lips lest they should betray her heart. Her deportment towards Alf, +however, was always kind and affectionate, and she assiduously +endeavored to anticipate all his wants. This peaceful mode of life, +also restored to her mind a portion of that serenity which had +gladdened her earlier and happier days. Already were her softly tinged +cheeks graced by frequent smiles; her fine blue eyes, which formerly +always looked through a veil of tears towards heaven or upon the +ground, now often sparkled with a playful archness which rendered the +thoughtful maiden doubly charming; and from her lips escaped many a +pleasing lighthearted jest. Alf, wondering at the change which had +taken place, could hardly turn his eyes away from her; and, as a +natural consequence, the wound which Eliza's unfaithfulness had made in +his heart was daily less and less felt. + +While the storm of wild passions began to subside in the narrow circle +in which Alf and Clara moved, the whirlwind which menaced the state was +rushing and roaring constantly nearer and nearer. The frivolities and +horrors, which the anabaptists had up to this period enacted under the +shield of a fanatical schism, had excited the indignation of the +virtuous and intelligent portion of the people throughout Germany. +Disregarding all existing differences upon other subjects, catholics +and protestants united in the determination that their misrule should +no longer be suffered; and that if neither the deceivers nor deceived +would listen to christian instruction and mild admonition, there was no +other course left but to root them out with the sword. The Rhenish +provinces held a convention at Coblentz, at which John Frederick, the +Lutheran electoral prince of Saxony, voluntarily appeared. At this +convention it was agreed to furnish the bishop of Munster three hundred +cavalry and three thousand foot soldiers, as auxiliaries against his +rebellious subjects. The brave Ulrich, count Oberstein, held the +command of the forces and directed the siege. + +Yet Munster's walls, towers and ditches were, through the providence of +the prophets (who, in this, acted with great foresight,) in such +excellent condition, and the fanatical garrison exhibited every where +so much watchfulness and spirit, that Oberstein was convinced, that a +storm attempted under these circumstances might indeed conduct his +soldiers to butchery but would not accomplish his object. Accordingly, +after the attempt to enter the city by treason from within had been +frustrated, the commander contented himself with closely investing it +on all sides and cutting off its supplies. The light minded people +troubled themselves very little about this investment of their city, at +first, as the consequences were not immediately felt; but no sooner did +the scarcity of provisions become so pressing that the public tables +spread by order of the king could no longer be supplied, and the people +actually began to feel hunger, than their spirits began to sink, and +here and there murmurings and complaints were heard. These complaints, +to be sure, were made covertly, from fear of the iron sceptre which +weighed upon the necks of the free and privileged anabaptists; but +nevertheless they reached the ears of the king, who saw that something +must be done, however unwillingly, in conformity with the example of +his bold predecessor; and he therefore determined to try how far +fanaticism and cunning, without courage, would answer the purpose. +Besides, he was desirous of ridding himself of some of the prophets, +who were disposed to play the Samuel to his Saul, and sought to relieve +him of the cares of government. To reach all these objects with one +blow, he devised a new piece of jugglery, which did honor at least to +his practical knowledge of stage effect. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + +While from the cathedral yard the trumpet blasts sounded through the +streets as if they were blowing for the last judgment, Hanslein rushed +into Alf's shop in complete armor. 'How, comrade, not yet in armor?' +cried he. 'Arm thyself and thy people quickly. The whole community is +called together to-day, and none should fail to be present.' + +'Is the enemy already at the gates?' asked Alf, busily equipping +himself. + +'Not quite, this time,' answered Hanslein. 'I hope, too, that the +ceremonies of to-day will go off peaceably. We may, however, expect +important occurrences. The prophet Tuiskoshirer has commanded the king +to hold the sacrament of the Lord's supper at the cathedral, and then +send out his apostles to all parts of the world. The last thought is +not so bad; for the bishop has us enclosed within such narrow limits, +that if the eloquence of our orators does not succeed in bringing us +speedy help from without, it will soon be time to be thinking of a +decent capitulation.' + +'As long as our walls stand,' said Alf, 'and we are able to use our +weapons, I do not fear for the city.' + +'That is bravely spoken,' said Hanslein, 'but I have already perceived +evidences that the people begin to grow hungry. When starvation once +commences, it will be easy to calculate how long we can keep the city, +and when the strong hands in which you trust will become powerless. So +much do I know of the state of affairs, that I am determined this very +day to cut off my connection with this place, and seek an opportunity +to save myself quietly before the closing of the gates. A good cat +always finds a loop-hole, and, if I may take the liberty, I wish to +give you a friendly invitation to accompany me in my evasion. By +heavens, it is surely better to be off in time, than to stay and starve +here, or in the end to become too intimately acquainted with the tender +mercies of his reverence's bailiff.' + +During this conversation Hanslein, with Alf and his men had arrived at +the church yard, through the whole of which were placed immensely long +tables, covered with white cloths. Upon these tables the royal pages +were serving up smoking flesh to the great satisfaction of the men of +Munster, who, to the number of four thousand stout hearts, in complete +armor, their hungry stomachs tightly compressed under their coats of +mail, were standing by. + +The king now appeared in majestic dignity, wearing a short silk body +coat instead of his royal robes. At a signal from him the servants +placed the people at the tables. After a short prayer, full of unction, +he nodded graciously to the multitude and the repast began. + +After the first course had been consumed, the roasted meats were +removed, and the flagons began to circulate. + +'This is a strange sort of a holy supper,' whispered Alf to Hanslein, +as he passed a full jug to him. + +'It appears to be only the introduction,' whispered Hanslein in answer. +'It is a sort of love feast, such as was customary with the old +christians. Have but a little patience, the best is yet to come.' + +No sooner were the meats gone, than the king again approached the +assembly. He was accompanied by two pages of honor, who brought the +holy bread upon golden plates. 'Take and eat,' said he, with earnest +solemnity, 'in commemoration of the Lord's death!' Thus saying, he went +through the long ranks, breaking the bread to every man, who received +it with great devotion. Hanslein, who best knew the worthiness of the +new high priest, was not able to suppress a satirical laugh, when his +turn came. After the king, followed the first queen, the beautiful +widow of Matthias, in a simple white dress, the golden chalice in her +hand, accompanied by the second and third queens, who brought golden +vessels of wine after her. + +As she came to Alf for the purpose of presenting the chalice to him, +she started back in soft confusion, surprised at the beauty of the +youth, whose dark curling locks contrasted finely with his blooming +face and true German eyes. Alf, also, paralysed by the appearance of +such wonderful beauty as he had never before seen, remained motionless. +Here were more than Eliza's and Clara's united charms, and the +_tout-ensemble_ seemed to approach perfection. Large, full and +voluptuous, an ideality in form, arose her stately figure. Her queenly +bosom, upon which her brown locks were restlessly waving, shamed the +whiteness of her dress; and her alabaster neck was surmounted by a +cherub head, whose deep blue interrogating eyes spoke so plainly of +soft wishes and glowing desires, that Alf's senses were wrapped in a +flame. + +'Take and drink!' murmured the sweet vision, presenting the chalice, +with trembling hands. The youth eagerly drained it, while his eyes were +immovably fixed upon the dispenser, who was so disturbed by his gaze +that she forgot the last words of the ritual, and, covered with crimson +blushes, proceeded to his next neighbor. As Eliza, who followed her, +rustled by Alf's seat, she gave him a strange look with those eyes +which in former times had made him so happy. There was much in that +glance--repentance, grief, rage and jealousy--while through the whole +was yet to be discerned a glimpse of her former love; but the +impression, which that glance made upon Alf, was not strong enough to +withdraw his attention from the first queen, and he followed her, as +she went along the ranks, with gleaming eyes. + +At that moment his friend Hanslein passed his hand over his eyes, and +said in an under tone, 'forget not my brother, that it is the first +queen after whom you are gazing, and that our lord the king allows no +jesting in such affairs.' + +'Let him come and call me to account!' blustered Alf. 'I will so defend +myself, that of a thousand questions he shall not answer one. Already +in possession of the masterpiece of the universe, and able to make his +selection from all the beauty of Munster, he has yet torn my promised +bride from my heart, like the merciless rich man in the bible, who, +despite his numerous flocks, must rob his poor neighbor of his only +lamb, to satisfy his wicked appetite.' + +In the hymn of praise, with the singing of which by the whole assembly +the festival was closed, the complaints of the youth were lost, until +with much difficulty Hanslein finally succeeded in assuaging his anger. + +The king now once more presented himself before the multitude; this +time in full regal attire, with all the insignia of his high office, +and surrounded by his insignia bearers and guards. With a loud voice he +asked the people whether they were prepared to fulfil the will of God, +and to live and die for the faith. Like the murmuring of the ocean +before a storm, a loud awful 'Aye!' roared through the human mass +standing there. + +Then from behind the king, pressed forward a new prophet, named +Wahrendorf. 'Thus saith the Lord,' cried he with a glowing fanatical +enthusiasm: 'choose a number from among my people of Zion, and let them +go out to all the ends of the earth, to work miracles and do my work +publicly before all people. Whoever receives this command and obeys it +not, shall die the death.' + +The prophet then drew forth a scroll from his bosom, and hastened to +read the names of the new missionaries. The prophet Tuiskoshirer drew +near to the reader with his usual knavish smile, to listen; nodding his +head exultingly as the names of some of his opponents were read; but +when he heard Wahrendorf cry, 'John Tuiskoshirer!' as if astounded by a +clap of thunder the little withered man shrunk within himself and +turned his red glowing eyes upon the king. 'I, also, deceived!' +murmured he to himself. 'The villain shall not obtain his victory +easily.' + +'Thou errest, my brother!' howled he to Wahrendorf: 'and mistakest the +word of man for the voice of the Spirit. The night before the last I +had a vision, in which I was commanded to remain in Zion to guard these +flocks from their adversaries.' + +'Silence!' thundered the king. 'At this moment has the father entrusted +to me an important duty, for the execution of which I must prepare,' +and, beckoning to his guards, they dragged before him a mercenary +soldier in chains. + +'This unhappy man,' said the king solemnly and significantly, 'has, +like a second Judas, been planning treason against Zion, and has +publicly manifested his wicked intentions through disobedience to the +commandments of the Spirit. His blood be upon his own head.' + +The king's sword swung, the head of the victim fell, and the horrible +man stepped directly before Tuiskoshirer with the bloody sword in his +hand and asked him, 'what hast thou particularly to say to this +assembly, my brother?' + +'That I bow myself under the hand of the Lord,' tremblingly answered +Tuiskoshirer, and Wahrendorf proceeded to read the list of names to the +end. + +There were named, in the whole, eight and twenty missionaries. The king +dispersed them toward Osnabruck, Coesfeld, Warendorf and Soest. +'Forsake every thing,' he admonished them, 'fear nothing, and +promulgate the faith.' 'Amen!' cried the multitude, as they departed +from the cathedral. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + +Alf was sitting in the twilight near the good Clara, narrating to her +at full length the singular proceedings at the cathedral, at which he +had been present, when his friend Hanslein entered in a state of great +excitement. + +'How much can be made of a good-for-nothing fellow!' cried he. 'Would +you ever have thought, brother, that I was a block out of which a duke +could have been carved?' + +'Duke!' asked Alf in astonishment, supposing that he must have heard +falsely. + +'A duke! nothing less!' laughingly answered Hanslein. 'The king's +majesty has become a little anxious about his personal safety in the +midst of his trusty subjects; and he no longer considers his dear life +entirely secure among them. He has therefore divided Zion into twelve +districts and appointed a duke for each, from among his trustiest +supporters; and he, with an adequate military force, is to watch over +the order and repose of his district and smother every disturbance at +its birth. Having become such a thing, I beg of you to show me all +proper respect.' + +'What new experiment will not this wicked king try in my poor native +city?' sighed Alf. + +'This lamentation comes from sheer envy,' said Hanslein, jestingly, +'because you are not created a duke. Make yourself easy, however; for +you also are raised to high honors. The king has named you commander of +the life guards, and I bring you his gracious commands that you +forthwith appear before him. You will commence duty even to-day, that +the timid tailor may this night sleep under the safeguard of your good +sword.' + +'I commander of the life guards!' repeated Alf, moodily. 'How can it +have happened that the king selected me?' + +'That has happened as many other things do in this world,' answered +Hanslein, with a significant smile. 'I can explain all these things +satisfactorily to myself, and I consider that you, with the command of +the guards, have drawn a much better prize than I with my dukedom. +Enjoy your good fortune with circumspection.' So saying he departed. + +'Strange!' said Alf, buckling on again his scarcely laid aside coat of +mail. 'Strange!' cried he again, as he girded on his sword, when his +eye fell upon a small fresh wine spot on the neck-piece of his armor. +The charming queen with the chalice instantly stood before his mind's +eye, and an obscure suspicion of a connection between the recent +occurrence and his present elevation sent a burning blush to his face. +To conceal it, he pressed the knight's helmet low down upon his +forehead, which he had sought out as becoming his new office, extended +his hand to the good Clara for a hasty farewell, and with winged +strides proceeded toward the royal palace. + +A royal page conducted him immediately to the king, who advanced to +meet him as graciously as if he had been born to a throne. + +'The affair of the bishop's camp has proved thee to be an able +warrior,' said the king, with a dignity becoming his station; 'I owe +thee some recompense for a great loss; and thou hast moreover been so +much commended on all sides, that I have determined to bring thee +nearer to my person. Thou shalt henceforth lead my body guard as its +commander; so that the head upon which the welfare of Zion depends may +at least sleep in safety.' + +Alf suggested some doubts of his fitness for the office. + +'No qualifications are needed,' replied the king, 'but watchfulness, +courage and truth. I desire no oath from you. Christ says, 'Let your +communication be yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these +cometh of evil.' Give me therefore the hand grip of an honest man, that +you will be my faithful guard.' + +Alf reluctantly gave his right hand to the king, for he shuddered at +the idea of connecting himself personally with this man--he shuddered +at touching a hand that had shed so much blood. + +'The yeomen of the guard are already assigned to you,' proceeded the +king; 'but now it is fitting that you be introduced to the first queen; +'and he signified to him by a gracious nod that the audience was over. +Alf proceeded with a beating heart towards the apartments of the queen. + +'Walk in! walk in!' cried a silvery voice in the room, at the door of +which Alf's name and dignity had been announced by the lady in waiting. +He stepped in. Upon an elevated and gilded chair, in full dignity, sat +the queen. He was so much dazzled by her beauty that he scarcely +observed the other two queens, who were sitting upon less elevated +seats on each side of her. + +'It is you, young man,' said the enchantress, in the sweetest tones, +'whom henceforth we shall have to thank for the safety of our days and +the tranquillity of our nights.' + +Alf bowed in silence. + +'Only be careful continued the queen, with an alluring smile, 'that you +do not rob the ladies of the palace of their repose, whom it is your +duty to guard.' + +The embarrassed Alf could not find presence of mind to enable him to +answer, and queen Eliza sprang from her seat and hastened to the +window. + +'You are already married?' asked the queen. + +'Only engaged--I am--I was--and am half way so yet,' stammered Alf, +very unintelligibly. + +'And the other half?' asked the queen, mischievously. Eliza turned her +burning glance upon the floor. + +'Permit me to be silent upon that point,' said Alf, with becoming +modesty. + +The charming woman extended her hand to him to kiss. + +Alf seized it hastily, and impressed upon the warm, yielding, velvet +skin an almost endless kiss, believing at the same time that he felt a +slight pressure from her taper fingers. Heading the confirmation of his +suspicions, as he looked up, in the melting eyes of the lady, and +forgetting every thing in the momentary transport, he spread out his +arms as if he would have fallen upon her neck. + +He was rebuked however by a severe look; but in contradiction to that +look, the queen said to him in the tenderest and most friendly manner, +'we shall see each other again soon,'--and dismissed him. + +Intoxicated, confused, and entirely incapable of connected thought, the +youth withdrew. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + +On the following night Alf, installed in his new office and fully +equipped, sat in an arm chair before the door of the royal sleeping +apartments. He was even lightly slumbering, and a well known trio of +beautiful women led by the god of dreams were dancing around him, when +he was dazzled by a ray of light which fell suddenly upon his face. He +awoke, sprang upon his feet and drew his sword. + +'Put up your sword, brother,' whispered a hoarse voice to him; and the +worthy Tuiskoshirer, in his traveling cloak, with his bundle swung over +his back and a dark lantern in his hand, stood before him. + +'What do you want here?' quickly asked Alf. 'Ought you not, according +to the king's command, to have been already on your way to Osnabruck +with your companion?' + +'Yes,' answered Tuiskoshirer, with a bitter smile, 'so has the great +king who has become a severe and mighty lord over our heads commanded; +and the leaders who faithfully placed him upon the summit, he +scornfully thrusts from him, now that he no longer needs their aid. +Luckily, he has allowed me to delay my departure a few hours, and a +skilful head can accomplish much in that time.' + +'Tell me briefly what you want of me,' said Alf, 'and then take +yourself hence, that your chattering may not awaken the king.' + +'God forbid!' hissed Tuiskoshirer. 'Who would awaken the sleeping +tiger? While he sleeps, at least, he murders not. Rather would I +prolong his sleep into eternity.' + +'Man, what is your design?' exclaimed Alf, partly guessing his horrible +intentions. + +'Thou hast already once rejected my good will,' answered Tuiskoshirer; +and, since this ungrateful bedlamite has been placed upon the throne to +which I would have raised thee, thou must more than once have regretted +thy folly. I have this day closely watched thee, and know the magnet +with which thy apparently insensible and rugged nature is to be moved. +Wherefore I have taken my life in my hand, and once more ventured into +this den of murderers, to offer to thee life's sweetest blossoms, which +none but a fool would leave unplucked when they fell in his path +radiant with exhaling beauty. Oppose me not now,' begged he, as Alf was +about to reply. 'Thou shalt go with me, and see and hear for thyself, +and then decide as may seem good to thee.' + +'Whither wouldst thou lead me?' asked Alf, drawing back. + +'Do you not suspect?' asked Tuiskoshirer, smiling; and Alf, on whom a +light suddenly began to dawn, delightedly followed the tempter, who led +him through the dark, silent passage toward the apartments of the +queen. + +'We have attained our object,' said Tuiskoshirer, on arriving before a +room the door of which he opened with a false key. They entered and +passed through the anti-chamber, where the waiting women were sleeping, +to the bed-chamber of the first queen. + +'Behold!' said Tuiskoshirer, impressively, as he directed the rays from +his lantern upon the bed in which the beauteous woman was sleeping. + +Alf drew nearer. A heavenly smile played upon the sweet face of the +queen, to which a sound sleep gave a yet lovelier tint of rose. Alf was +about to rush forward, when Tuiskoshirer forcibly dragged him back. +'Wilt thou mar all?' whispered the prophet to him; 'and deprive thyself +of the greatest earthly happiness through thy impetuosity? That +beauteous woman shall indeed be thine; but now is not the time. Such +ware is to be purchased only at a price about which we must have some +conversation. As yet you have only seen, now I must be heard; and when +you have decided, act with the speed and energy which become a man +about to attain the accomplishment of all his dearest wishes.' + +During this conversation he drew the youth through the rooms, closed +the last with his false key, and they went both together back to the +royal anti-chamber. Tuiskoshirer, in whose little dull eyes twinkled a +hellish triumph, bolted the outer door on the inner side, motioned to +Alf to walk softly, and cautiously opening the door of the king's +bed-chamber entered on tiptoe, making a sign to Alf to follow. + +Alf obeyed, and both now stood before the bed of the king, near which, +upon velvet cushions, lay the crown and other emblems of royalty. +Tuiskoshirer drew aside the heavy, purple, gold-embroidered silk +curtains, and disclosed the sleeper lying there with open staring eyes, +large drops of sweat upon his forehead, froth about his mouth, and +clenched fists,--a shocking sight. + +'The king is ill and must soon awaken,' said Alf, apprehensively. + +'Oh no,' said Tuiskoshirer, calmly. 'Since sleep always flies the night +couch of the murderer, he never goes to bed without his sleeping +draught. He cannot escape the dreams which then torment him +undisturbedly; and it is well, that in this life he should learn +something of that world of spirits, which darkly and heavily rules over +him with arm already outstretched for his terrible reward.' + +'Kneel down!' the slumberer now cried. 'Down! I must see blood, blood!' +and he swung his right arm as if his death-dealing sword was at its +usual occupation. + +'I have first shown you the reward,' said Tuiskoshirer, to Alf,--'here +is the deed which is to merit it. Here sleeps the cowardly, sensual, +cold, murderous, inhuman monster. Thousands more will he yet destroy, +if life and power remain to him. Can another word be necessary to +determine your course? Reject not again, for the third time, the good +fortune which twice you have thrust from you. Here lies the king's +sword drunk with innocent blood,--one determined thrust therewith,--we +can bruit it abroad that he has committed suicide,--Munster will be +relieved from his tyranny,--thou wilt mount the vacant throne, thine +will be the glorious Gertrude, the false Eliza, and the other beauteous +wives,--and that the crown shall stand firmly upon thy head, leave to +the care of old Tuiskoshirer, who will give it to thee in the presence +of the assembled multitude.' + +Alf stood there upon the narrow passage way, glanced with flashing eyes +upon the sleeping tyrant, and his hand already moved towards the +weapon. + +'Now strike!' urged Tuiskoshirer. 'Every moment's delay will be at the +expense of human life. Thou wilt take upon thyself all the crimes which +this wretch may in future commit, if now thou sparest him, through +foolish tenderness.' + +The true German honesty had soon conquered in the pure mind of the +youth. 'He has my pledge,' said he to himself. 'Confiding in my faith +he laid him down to sleep.' Then Alf turned to the venomous little man +with all the fury which the latter, to satisfy his own revenge, had +kindled in his breast; suddenly seizing him by the nape of his neck, he +dragged him sprawling through all the apartments and down the stairs, +until he reached the outer door of the palace, when he roughly sat him +down. 'Go thy ways thither!' cried the youth, pointing the way towards +Osnabruck, 'and if thou art in Munster at sunrise, I will expose thee +to the king, that he may execute justice upon thee.' + +Gasping for breath and groaning with anguish, the foiled tempter +staggered forth into the midnight darkness of the streets. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + +Munster continued to sustain herself with a resolution worthy of a +better cause. At the imperial diet at Worms, which the Romish king +Ferdinand opened in April, 1536, great sums were granted to the +besieging bishop, to enable him to support the war; but as the payments +were made very irregularly, the scarcity of money kindled a revolt +among the mercenary soldiery in the bishop's camp, who would no longer +serve without pay. Nor was it without great trouble and peril to the +commander that the insurrection could be suppressed. With such +troublesome troops, offensive warfare was not deemed prudent. +Consequently, the besiegers confined themselves to the continuance of +the blockade, and to drawing their lines closer and closer, so as +completely to shut up the unfortunate city and deprive it of supplies +and assistance. + +Constantly increasing suffering in the city, was the consequence of +this course. The poorer classes, obliged to subsist upon roots, herbs, +bark, and leaves, swarmed about the king with sunken eyes and haggard +faces, whenever he passed through the streets in lordly dignity, and +howled for bread. The royal courtiers themselves were compelled to +accept such small portions as could be spared from the table where sat +the king with his fourteen wives and principal officers. + +In vain did the bishop call upon the citizens to surrender the city, +under promise of full pardon for all except the king and a few of his +principal accomplices. The fear of the terrible Johannes was stronger +than the ardent desire for deliverance which had now arisen in many +hearts. In vain did the landgrave of Hesse, by a special embassy to his +brother in the faith, endeavor to bring him to reason. The king, to +prove how much greater a man he was than the landgrave, refused to give +audience to his ambassadors, and thus compelled them to leave their +business unaccomplished. + +Meanwhile the eight and twenty prophets had arrived at the cities of +their destination, and had preached their customary fanatical nonsense +with frantic zeal. The magistrates, warned by the example of Munster, +were vigilant and energetic. The brawlers were every where arrested and +questioned as to their doctrines; and, as they stubbornly maintained +their faith, were immediately beheaded. Only one of them, Heinrich +Hilversum, obtained deliverance. He was imprisoned by the bishop of +Munster, bought his liberty with the promise that he would act as a spy +in the rebel city, and returned back to the king. He related how an +angel had delivered him from imprisonment and commanded him to announce +to the king that Amsterdam, Wesel, and Deventer would come under his +sceptre if he would send more prophets there. + +These were sweet sounds to the ears of the king. He immediately sent +out prophets, among whom were Johann von Seelen and Johann von Kempen, +to those beautiful and important cities, to convert and win them for +himself. The smooth-tongued Hilversum, however, he took into his own +palace, clothed him in his ash-grey and green court-livery, charged the +officers of the court to attend him, entrusted him with considerable +sums, and, in short, confided to him the duty of negotiating with those +from whom aid and assistance were expected from without. + +With these presents Hilversum went over to the bishop on the first +convenient opportunity; leaving a letter in Munster exhorting the +citizens to desert the impostor and return to their old religion and +their rightful lord. + +This event touched the king in the tenderest point; as it tended to +destroy the belief in the infallibility of his inspiration with those +who were yet able to see. To a portion of the inhabitants of the +distressed city it now appeared clear, that they had become the slaves +of a wicked impostor, who was leading them to destruction; but the fear +of the monster was stronger than this just conviction, and the king, +comprehending that fear was the only lever now remaining to him, made +the utmost use of it, and thenceforth, like Draco, he wrote his laws in +blood. No punishment milder than death awaited disobedience to the +least of his commands. Alf, notwithstanding, in his new situation, +strove to shield, defend, and rescue the sufferers; yet new victims +fell daily, and the slavish population daily trembled more and more +before their cowardly and tyrannical tailor-king. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + + +Meanwhile Alf went on, truly and honorably discharging the duties of +his office, although, after the first arrangement had been effected he +had given up the personal guard of the royal bedchamber to other +officers, reserving to himself only a general nightly superintendance; +and the cruel Johannes passed his nights under as good a defence as if +angels with flaming swords had guarded him. His office, however, daily +called the youth to the palace, and he could not but perceive that the +magnificent Gertrude often threw herself in his way. She evidently +loved the beautiful youth as only an unprincipled woman can love,--and +her passion had nothing to combat but the fear of the sultan of the +harem, whose discovery of the least infidelity would have brought +instant death upon the guilty. Yet so powerful was her passion that it +conquered even this fear. + +At one of those intoxicating court festivals with which the king sought +to stupify himself and those about him, Alf was standing to take breath +after a brisk dance, with his hands behind him, when suddenly he felt a +warm soft pressure of his right hand, a piece of paper being +simultaneously slipped into it, and a moment afterwards the first queen +stepped forward from behind him, giving him a significant glance as she +passed. He left the room immediately, and by the nearest lamp in the +corridor read the following words:-- + +'An hour after midnight, in the upper passage on the left; the first +door.' + +Hastening back to the dancing-hall, his glowing cheeks and triumphant +carriage immediately betrayed to the beauteous syren, that he had read +and comprehended her billet. + +Meanwhile the midnight hour struck. Gertrude was suddenly attacked by a +headache and suffered her attendants to lead her to her chamber. The +king smilingly whispered a word to Eliza, which caused a flush to pass +over her cheeks, and which she answered with downcast eyes. The +assembly gradually departed, and Alf, lost in pleasing dreams, +proceeded to his dwelling. + +He found the devoted little Clara yet patiently waiting for him, +occupying herself at the spinning wheel; her now constantly bright eyes +a little dimmed; but whether from late watching, or weeping, or from +both together, he could not exactly decide. + +'I began to think you were not coming home tonight,' said the maiden in +a friendly tone, which yet had something of sadness in it. + +'The dancing to-night continued unusually late,' replied Alf; casting a +glance at the mirror, and coming to the conclusion that he was right +worthy of the beauteous queen, he proudly pressed his richly plumed cap +over his eyes. + +Meanwhile Clara had lighted his chamber lamp and handed it to him. + +'I am going out again immediately, dear Clara,' said Alf, with some +little embarrassment. 'I came merely to tell you, that you might not +sit up all night waiting for me.' + +'You are going out again?' asked Clara, looking intently at him. 'This +is not your time for guard duty.' + +'The feast of to-day has disturbed all our arrangements,' stammered Alf +with embarrassment. 'I must actually go to the palace once more +to-night.' + +Clara seized his hand with both of hers, and with her mild honest eyes +gave him a piercing look. His guilty conscience deprived him of the +power to meet her gaze. 'Kippenbrock,' cried she, suddenly alarmed, +'are you not going for some wicked purpose?' + +'You are already dreaming, from having watched so long, my child. Go to +bed, pretty one,' said Alf, bending down to kiss the maiden as he +wished her good night; a friendly habit in which he had for some time +indulged. But Clara avoided his embrace, saying earnestly to him, 'not +this evening, dear Kippenbrock, all is not as it should be.' + +'You are a little simpleton!' cried he half indignantly, and hastened +forth as if he wished to run away from the 'unpleasant feelings her +suspicions had given him. As the third quarter after midnight struck, +he stood by the stove, closely wrapped in his mantle, in the upper +passage way of the palace, watching with anxious eyes, by the dim light +of the almost expiring lamps, the first door on the left. Finally, the +hour struck, and still no door was opened. + +'It is in reality a great wrong for me to be standing here,' said Alf +to himself. 'Let the king now be what he may, and do what he will, yet +I have once for all acknowledged him as my lord, and this Gertrude is +his wife. It is the duty of my office to preserve order and propriety +in the royal palace, which I in intention am so vile as to violate. +Moreover, I encroach upon the rights of the good Clara, who so secretly +and tenderly loves me, and whom I should look upon as my affianced +bride. Did she but know that I was standing here waiting for the +creaking of that door, she would weep her eyes out of her head; and she +even appeared to suspect some intrigue. Her manner toward me appeared +very strange at my departure. Good God! with what face shall I appear +before her in the morning! No! it is settled,--the beautiful Gertrude +shall wait for me in vain, and thus shall we both be spared a sin.' + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + +On the subsequent morning Alf was standing in the king's anti-chamber +awaiting his commands for the day. There came the high bailiff +Krechting, a raging fanatic, a true second Johannes, with some soldiers +who were dragging along two of the royal pages, bound. Alf perceived by +their faces, which hunger and affliction had paled and emaciated, that +they were the two whom he had rescued from the hands of Matthias, and +compassionately asked the bailiff what crime the poor children had +committed. + +'We caught them in the outworks,' answered the bailiff fiercely, 'as +they were attempting to escape to their old lord, the bishop. Announce +us to the king, brother officer.' + +'Alas! dear lord,' said one of the boys, weeping; 'we have certainly +done nothing; but we could no longer hold out for hunger.' + +'This affair might well be overlooked,' said Alf. 'To announce the +children to the king is to lead them to death,--and I do not wish to +take upon ray conscience such bloodguiltiness.' + +The bailiff gave him a venomous look and hastily stepped into the royal +apartment. He soon made a signal at the door, and the soldiers dragged +the boys in after him. Immediately a loud noise was heard within,--the +king stormed, the boys wept and plead pitifully, and amidst all arose +Eliza's supplicating voice. 'For our love's sake, Johannes, only for +this time let mercy take the place of justice!' Simultaneously were +heard the lamentations of the two boys. Alf heard two hard falls upon +the floor, and, as if drawn by some irresistible power, he pushed into +the apartment. + +What horrors had been perpetrated! The two boys lay dead upon the +floor, the king strode before them with his sword drawn, and at his +feet lay Eliza, who loosed her arms from his knees and sprang up. +Excited by the cruelty of her husband, and by her having pleaded in +vain against what he had done, the proud woman now exclaimed in the +bitterest tone, 'I do not believe, Johannes, that our God is served by +the calamities you have brought upon this people.' + +Krechting absolutely screamed with amazement at the audacious speech. +The king, however, merely gave Eliza a cold, satanic glance, and +quietly said to her, 'in the market-place will I answer thee upon that +matter.' Turning then to Alf, 'let my wives and my whole court be +summoned hither!' commanded he him. 'Also let my trumpeters and fifers +assemble,--we would move to the market-place, where I have to-day to +exercise my judicial office before the whole people. Thou wilt +accompany me, Kippenbrock, with thy whole band.' + +This strange solemnity excited various evil forebodings in the mind of +Alf, and with a heavy heart he proceeded to execute the king's +commands. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + +The multitude crowded the market-place, waiting to see what new thing +was to be done there. Then sounded in the distance a solemn funeral +march from the trumpets and horns, and duke Hanslein with his soldiers +formed a wide circle to admit the king and his household. + +Next came the procession. After the music followed Alf, with a division +of his guards; then the king, and then the high bailiff; between them, +yet in her night-gown, pale and tottering, with streaming hair and +folded hands, Eliza. After these followed the stately Gertrude, the +other wives, and the persons connected with the court. Another division +of the guards closed. + +At a signal from the king, Krechting stepped reverently back and the +thirteen wives formed a circle about their lord and Eliza. 'Kneel down, +ye pure!' thundered the king, and the circle of women fell upon their +knees; in an instant the king's sword glistened in the air and Eliza's +head flew from its bloody trunk! + +'Accursed murderer,' screamed Alf, frantic with grief and terror at the +wholly unexpected death of the once so well beloved woman, and sprang +forward with high waving sword to hew down the king where he stood. The +faithful Hanslein caught his upraised arm. 'Good colonel,' cried he, +'it was only yesterday that you were sick with a fever, and now the +paroxysms have returned again. Help me, friends, to overpower him and +bear him to his house where he can be taken care of.' + +He was seized by the guards from all sides, and notwithstanding his +furious opposition, was soon disarmed and carried away. + +'The person who has been judged has blasphemed the Spirit as manifested +through her king and husband,' said Johannes, to the people. 'She had +in a spiritual sense broken her marriage vows, and well deserved her +punishment. Give to God the glory!' + +The remaining thirteen wives rose up and with clear voices sang, 'Glory +to God in the highest!' The horns and the trumpets triumphantly fell +in. The king seized Gertrude's hand and commenced a merry dance with +her upon the open market-place. The other wives and the courtiers +followed the high example. The poor infatuated people likewise joined +in the dance and sprang actively about, notwithstanding their empty +stomachs; and from all mouths arose the cry of jubilee; 'glory be to +God in the highest!' + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + +The disease which Hanslein had invented, in his well intended eagerness +to save Alf, had seized him in good earnest. The disquiet of mind in +which the youth had been kept through the most diverse and almost +always terrible occurrences,--the storm, so every way affecting, which +had lacerated the deepest recesses of his heart,--above all, the daily +increasing conviction of the flagitiousness of the new doctrines to +which he had adhered so strongly,--and the remorse of conscience for +the part which he had acted,--all this had destroyed the freshness of +his youthful vigor; and only the tension in which his mind was kept by +the constantly recurring horrors of every succeeding day, gave him the +artificial support, which had hitherto kept him up. The last act of +Johannes, the tender interest which Alf still felt for the fair victim, +and the frustration of his just vengeance upon the infamous murderer, +had weighed down the poor youth with resistless power, and he lay many +weeks in Trutlinger's house in a high fever, carefully waited upon and +nursed by the pale and pensive Clara. + +The energies of youth finally prevailed over the fever. When once the +crisis had passed, his strength returned as quickly as it had flown; +and Alf had even left his room for the first time, to enjoy the mild +air and warm sun of summer, when he encountered his friend Hanslein, +who, in spite of all resistance, cordially embraced and congratulated +him on his recovery. + +'Go thy way!' said Alf, angrily. 'With the defender of tyrants I have +no more to do in this life.' + +'Always precipitate,' laughed Hanslein; 'and always letting your heart +run away with your head. It was ever your way when a boy. I considered +for you better than you considered for yourself. The poor queen once +dead, we could do nothing more to help her. You might indeed have +destroyed the king, but the fanatical people would have torn you to +pieces for it on the spot; that would have been paying a greater price +than his majesty's life was worth. Nor would Munster have gained any +thing. Knipperdolling & Co. would have possessed themselves of the +government, and it would thereby have remained the executioner's head +quarters as before. I have therefore preserved you for greater things, +which, now that you are so well upon your legs again, we may soon see.' + +Alf looked inquiringly at his friend, and suffered himself to be led by +him back to his own sitting room and to be seated upon a stool. + +'The affairs of Munster stand badly,' said Hanslein. 'The famine +increases, and I see the moment very near when the unhappy people will +be driven to despair. Succor is not to be expected. At Bolswart in +Friesland, the strongest power of the anabaptists had been collected, +and would soon have marched to our aid; but the governor of Friesland +surrounded the place with his forces, and after four assaults forced +it, putting almost the whole population to the sword. In Amsterdam, von +Kempen and von Seelen have done their best to bring us aid. As the +council and chief burghers of the cross-guild retired from the +council-room, our people stormed the city hall, overpowered all who +opposed them, and the burgomasters, Peter Colyn and Simon Bute, were +left dead upon the spot; but the burgomaster Goswin Rekalf collected +the citizens, a severely contested battle ensued, and our people were +slain, or taken and executed, including poor Kempen, who had caused +himself to be declared bishop of Amsterdam. Seelen exposed himself upon +the tower of the city hall, where he was afterwards shot down and fell +dead upon the market place. With him expired our last hope.' + +'Oh God, will these horrors never end?' sighed Alf, casting his eyes +toward heaven. + +'Here probably soon,' said Hanslein; 'but it will be a fearful end. The +city must shortly surrender, and then the lord bishop Franciscus may +not treat us more mildly than king Johannes has hitherto done. I have +least reason to hope for pardon then, and have therefore determined to +go back to my old master immediately. I have discovered a place through +which an escape from the city can be made. By the same way I trust I +can lead the troops of the enemy into Munster, and with this secret I +intend to purchase my peace with the bishop. Will you make the +experiment with me this night? The sentinels now upon the night posts +sleep away their hunger and will not hinder us.' + +'My father's house is a house of prayer,' said Alf, after musing a long +time; 'but you have made it a den of murderers. Yes, the originally +pure doctrine of the anabaptists might perhaps have been a glorious +gift from the merciful hand of God;--but the monsters, who preach it to +us, have so perverted it according to their own wicked purposes, and +shed so much blood in its name, that its noble image can no longer be +recognized. A doctrine which empowers a Johannes to rage among mankind +like a famished wolf among defenceless lambs, cannot come from God. I +disclaim it. May God forgive me that I also have labored and fought for +a cause which must have been wicked, since it elevated the bad and +destroyed the good.' + +'Thou wilt accompany me then!' asked Hanslein, giving his hand a +friendly pressure. + +'If Clara can and will go with us,' answered Alf. 'I have loved her +uncle, whom they shot, and cannot leave her behind in a city upon which +all the horrors of war are soon to fall.' + +At that moment Clara entered the room to set before the guest what the +house afforded at a time when provisions outweighed gold,--a cup of +water and a slice of bread with salt. + +'You come to us too confidingly, young lady,' said Hanslein jestingly, +while he helped himself. 'We have evil thoughts concerning you,--we +have an idea of taking you out of Munster.' + +'Ah, would to God!' sighed the maiden. + +'The jest is earnest,' said Alf. 'This night I and my friend intend to +leave Munster, if you will accompany us, my little Clara.' + +'Through the whole world!' cried Clara with heartfelt fervor. 'Whom +have I on earth beside you?' + +'So then the thing is settled,' cried Hanslein. 'Prepare yourselves for +the journey; but do not encumber yourselves with needless baggage. No +armor, Alf. A short sword will be sufficient for all emergencies. Clara +had better put on male attire--there will be some places difficult to +climb, and I cannot allow any thing that might prove an obstacle to the +rapidity of our movements. Hold yourselves in readiness; for I shall +come for you precisely at midnight.' He departed. Intoxicated with joy +at the near approach of her deliverance, Clara threw her arms +affectionately around the youth and cried, 'with you out of this place +of torment, dear Alf! Now for the first time I have reason to hope that +there is earthly happiness in store for me yet.' + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Softly creeping by the sleeping sentinels, climbing walls and wading +through ditches, the three fugitives proceeded in the dead of the +night, until they finally found themselves in freedom; and then with +fresh confidence they moved onward toward the besiegers' camp fires. + +Soon a clattering of arms was heard near them, and a rough voice cried, +'Who goes there?' + +'I have no desire to be caught here,' whispered Hanslein to Alf; 'for +in that case I should get no credit for my voluntary return, which I +particularly need on account of old scores. Wherefore I must endeavor +to reach the bishop through indirect paths, while you boldly go +straight forward.' + +'Who goes there?' cried the challenger much louder. + +'A friend!' answered Alf, whilst Hanslein went off to the right with +great rapidity; 'deserters from Munster!' and in a moment he and the +trembling Clara were surrounded by a squad of soldiers. + +'Deserters?' asked the serjeant who led the squad. 'It is a question +whether that title will save your lives. In these days a thousand +Munsterers have come out, men, women and children, and a good part of +the men were cut down as they came in, by the bishop's command.' + +'It is the curse of these combats for opinion,' said Alf, sorrowfully, +'that even those, who are on the right side, are provoked to do wrong +by the crimes of their opponents--and then other crimes are the +consequence, until the horrible chain of wickedness is closed by the +conversion of men into relentless destroyers, in whose breasts the +voice of religion and mercy is stifled.' + +'You talk it as solemnly,' sneered the serjeant, 'as if you were one of +the prophets of Munster. First of all give up your sword and follow us +into the camp, together with your boy. The bishop must decide upon your +case.' + +'I wish previously to be conducted to your field captain,' said Alf in +a decided tone. + +'You speak as if you were our captain instead of our prisoner,' snarled +the serjeant. 'It will be necessary first to ascertain, whether the +lord general will permit you to be brought to him. For the present, +forward, march!' + +'God preserve us!' softly murmured the timid Clara, clinging closely to +her protector. + +'Do not be alarmed, my little Clara,' said Alf, consolingly. 'All will +go well.' They proceeded with the soldiers rapidly towards the camp. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + +A fine June morning was shining upon the camp, as Alf and Clara stood +waiting with their escort before the tent of the commander in chief. +There came out of the tent a tall, meagre clergyman, in his black +clerical dress. He started when he saw the youth, and asked the +serjeant, 'who are these people?' + +'Deserters from Munster,' answered the serjeant, 'whom we found last +night. They insist upon seeing the general.' + +The preacher having closely scrutinized Alf, who stood there absorbed +in his own reflections, approached and spoke to him, taking his hand in +the most friendly manner. 'Do I see you again as a deserter? Now, God +be praised, my prophecy is fulfilled!' + +'Reverend doctor!' cried Alf in joyful surprise, as he recognised the +good Fabricius. + +'So, the disorders in the new Zion have become too great for you?' +asked the latter. 'I only wonder that you had not come to the +conclusion long ago,--that with your heart and head you could for so +long a time have been a contented observer of their pagan cruelty.' + +'When Germans have once become united with a ruler chosen by +themselves, worthy sir,' answered Alf, 'they can be disunited only by +hard blows, else they will hang fast to him until death.' + +'The hard blows, I perceive, have been given and received,' said +Fabricius. 'So you have again become one of us.' + +'With all my heart and soul,' answered Alf with great ardor. + +'We will leave the remainder of this for the confessional, where I may +soon expect you,' said Fabricius. 'At present I must exert myself to +prepare for you a good reception from the commanding general.' + +Again most cordially shaking Alf's hand, he passed into the tent. +Shortly afterward the youth and his girl-boy were bid to enter. Lord +Oberstein was sitting with the doctor at the field table, taking his +morning draught. + +'Come nearer!' commanded the general, sternly. + +'What have you to disclose to me?' + +The voice of the questioner satisfied Alf, that it was the commander in +chief whom he had caught and released on a former night; he however +concealed this recognition. + +'To make an end of the calamities of the city,' answered he, 'I am +prepared to show your soldiers a way to enter Munster--the same way by +which I have myself quitted it.' + +'I recognise that voice!' cried Oberstein, springing up, and stepping +directly in front of the youth. 'We have met before,' said he; 'it +surely was in the outworks before the new gate, by moonlight. You were +the officer who took me prisoner and then let me run? Is it not so?' + +'I was very glad,' answered Alf, 'that it was in my power to save so +old and merry a warrior.' + +'And now are you willing to deliver the city to me?' proceeded +Oberstein; 'to make a short ending to her long sufferings? You make me +doubly your debtor; your reward shall be great.' + +'Of myself little need be said,' answered Alf. 'My conditions are only +pardon for myself and my companion, and that the conqueror of the city +shall distinguish between the miscreants who have wilfully erred, and +those who with honest intentions have been led astray, and spare the +latter.' + +'We must act according to the instructions of the diet of Worms,' said +Oberstein. 'Whoever has not belonged to the leaders, and come not +against us in arms, to them is given life and freedom.' + +'Then should the lord bishop,' boldly replied Alf, 'have extended mercy +to the unhappy refugees who have lately been fleeing from the city.' + +'The bishop was exceedingly exasperated by events which accompanied the +revolution!' answered the general, shrugging his shoulders; 'and an +angry man does not always what is right in the sight of God.' + +His eyes now fell upon Clara, who had timidly placed herself in an +angle of the tent near the door. + +'Who is that pretty boy?' asked he. 'Some one of the bishop's pages? It +is to be hoped so. Two pages were made prisoners by the anabaptists and +carried off at the time they attacked our camp at the beginning of the +siege. To one of them particularly the worthy bishop was attached by a +truly paternal affection.' + +'Those boys have also fallen a sacrifice to the barbarity of the king,' +answered Alf. 'This maiden is the sister of the queen Eliza, who paid +with her head for having lamented the murder of the innocents.' + +'Great God, what an accumulation of crime!' cried Oberstein, while +Fabricius with upraised finger reprovingly asked, 'have you brought +with you a maiden in man's attire? Must there not yet remain something +of the old anabaptist leaven in you, which may in time again leaven the +whole lump, destroying your morals for time and eternity?' + +'All in honor, dear doctor,' protested Alf; 'and I shall have to +request you, as soon as may be convenient, to unite me in honorable +marriage with this blameless maiden, who is my beloved and betrothed +bride.' + +'That alters the case,' said Fabricius, affectionately patting Clara's +velvet cheeks. 'May God keep us in the good old order.' + +'The lord bishop's reverend and princely grace,' said an episcopalian +officer, stepping in, 'sends his compliments to the lord general and +politely requests him to repair immediately to his presence. An +anabaptist prisoner has brought before him some matters of consequence, +which demand a sudden meeting of the council.' + +'Yon shall accompany me there,' said Oberstein to Alf. + +'But where shall I remain?' anxiously whispered Clara to her betrothed. + +'May I be permitted to confide the maiden to your care, worthy sir?' +asked Alf of the doctor. + +'I will foster and protect her like a beloved daughter,' answered +Fabricius, taking Clara by the hand, and with a light heart the youth +then followed the general. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + +Glowing with anger and sorrow, Graf von Waldeck, bishop of Munster, +strode up and down in his gilded tent. At the door, with a pale +malefactor face, stood poor Hanslein, in chains, and surrounded by +guards. Oberstein and Alf entered. + +'This wretch,' cried the bishop to the general, 'proposes to purchase +his forfeited life by betraying the city. He has, however, three times +forfeited his life,--formerly a rider in my cavalry, he wounded his +superior officer and went over to the enemy, swearing allegiance and +adopting their faith. I am half inclined to compel him to show us the +way to Munster and then hang him; for it would be contrary to all +right, human and divine, to allow him to escape punishment by such an +act.' + +'The greatest right is often the greatest wrong,' said the general +soothingly. 'Too much severity is often injurious, and with your +grace's permission, if the spiritual lords had not formerly held so +rigidly to their notions of right and wrong, and had not wielded the +rod of authority too vigorously, much of the mischief against which the +assembled christians of Germany of all denominations now appeal to +heaven, would have been avoided. My voice is for mildness.' + +'You have lost none who were dear to you, through these monsters!' +cried the bishop, making great efforts to suppress his tears. 'I have +just learned, that the reprobate tailor has murdered both of my pages, +for making an effort to rescue themselves from his paws.' + +'That is sad news,' said Oberstein, sympathisingly; 'but if you should +outdo all these horrors by committing greater, you might thereby bring +a stain upon your princely reputation; but you would remedy no evil. My +advice is, that you grant a free pardon to the deserter, and thereby +obtain a faithful guide into the city, the speedy surrender of which is +yet nearest your heart. A resort to the rack, is, in my mind, as it +must be in that of every man, highly objectionable, beside being a very +unsafe means of accomplishing our purpose.' + +'You may be right,' said the bishop, after a pause, somewhat softened +by the decided tone and plain good sense of the old warrior. + +'I bring you another individual who may be trusted to guide our forces +to the attack of Munster,' proceeded Oberstein, pointing to Alf, 'and +we shall be able by this means to divide and direct our troops.' + +'Is this he?' cried the bishop with suddenly rekindled rage. 'Wretch! +thank God--that I have you in my power. You shall learn to your sorrow +what it is to fall into my hands.' + +'What mean you, sir bishop?' asked the general. + +'What harm can have been done to you by a youth, whom you probably now +see for the first time in your life?' + +'Oh I know him but too well,' raved the bishop. 'When the lying prophet +Matthias surprised our camp last year, this villain led the anabaptists +as their commander. I saw him rushing onward at the head of his troops, +as I was mounting my horse to escape the danger of capture.' + +'Heigh! you are again strangely severe!' cried Oberstein. 'Misled, like +thousands of others in the city, to whom you long ago offered a general +pardon, the young man only fulfilled what at that time he considered +his duty as a christian and a soldier. Now, however, he has become +disgusted with the tailor's government, and has voluntarily come out to +us.' + +'At that onslaught was my unhappy----pupil taken prisoner with his +companion!' cried the bishop. 'Who was it, moreover, who dragged him to +his death, but the profligate leader of that frantic host? Matthias is +already judged. This one has the Most High given into my hands, and if +God from heaven should cry mercy! he should die.' + +'Such a speech little becomes a prince, much less a spiritual lord,' +said Oberstein with melancholy earnestness. 'As for the rest, the duty +of gratitude at this time compels me to spare you the commission of a +crime. This youth has saved my life. I will never deliver him up to +your revenge.' + +'Forget not, sir earl,' cried the bishop angrily, 'that I am a prince +upon this ground, and that you are only general of the forces!' + +'The forces of the empire!' vehemently exclaimed Oberstein,--'not +yours, and I am expressly commanded to execute the decrees of the Diet +of Worms,--of which, as you appear to have forgotten it, it is my duty +to remind you.' + +'Unheard of insolence!' growled the bishop. 'It may be worth while to +inquire whether I am yet sovereign of Munster.' With fury in his +rolling eyes, he beckoned to the door an officer who stood near him, as +if he desired to confide to him an order of serious consequence: + +'Spare yourself steps, your princely grace, which you will be compelled +to retrace,' said Oberstein; and at that moment the bishop's body +servant, a pious, blameless, silver haired old man, entered with his +master's morning meal. + +'Jesus Maria!' screamed the servant the moment he saw Alf; and, letting +fall the smoking platter, threw himself at the youth's feet and clasped +his knees. 'God in his mercy has granted me an opportunity to thank the +preserver of my life!' cried he, sobbing. + +'Preserver of your life!' cried the bishop wonderingly. + +'You are mistaken, father,' said Alf, gently putting aside the old man, +'I do not know you at all.' + +'I am not more certain of future bliss,' said the old servant.--'Know +you not, sir colonel, or whatever else you may have been, when you fell +upon our camp, with the terrible Matthias, and his princely grace had +fled, and Matthias had broken into this tent, and had already cut down +the cook and two lacqueys, and the pages were kneeling before him, and +the Goliath-spear was already raised to destroy them. I stood in a +corner tremblingly awaiting the moment when my turn would come. Then +you rushed into the tent and valiantly stayed the monster's upraised +arm, although he was your superior, and commanded him and gave him hard +words, and compelled him to spare their lives and take them with him +prisoners to Munster. And then you dragged him away, together with the +boys; I, however, slipped out of my corner, and in this place I kneeled +down and prayed a devout Ave Maria for myself, and two for the +salvation of your poor soul, that God might rescue you from eternal +death, as you had rescued me from the murderous prophet.' + +'How now, sir bishop?' said Oberstein, in an upbraiding tone. 'It +appears that the youth saved the lives of those whose blood you would +avenge on him. His crime is, that he could not be about them every +moment to guard them against the beasts of prey who constantly beset +their path.' + +'Can you swear upon the Host,' asked the bishop of the servant, 'that +this is the man who saved the lives of the boys?' + +'As God may help me to a good dying moment!' answered the servant with +his hand upon his heart. + +The traits of passion disappeared from the bishop's features. He +advanced towards Alf and said sorrowing, 'thou hast meant well, my son, +but God has willed it otherwise.' Then, turning to Oberstein, he +proceeded, 'I leave both the deserters to your unfettered disposal, and +shall expect from you some indication of what I can do for the youths. +I trust you will forget our little misunderstanding, when you recollect +in how many ways and how deeply I have been injured by all these +enormities, as a man, as a father, as a temporal prince, and as a +dignitary of the church.' + +Oberstein took the freely offered hand of the bishop, with a +reverential bow; after which the latter, with an humble air, passed to +an inner apartment of the tent. At the nod of the general, Hanslein's +chains fell from him. + +'It was hard clearing the gallows this time,' cried Hanslein, shaking +himself. 'It shall be a warning to me forever to avoid the spiritual +lords. I feared to make myself known to the general, who I supposed +would not be able to comprehend my position; and therefore I went to +the lord bishop;--but the crook, under which I had hoped safely to +repose, had very nearly broken my brain-pan.' + +'That also must be an old acquaintance,' said Oberstein, smilingly +contemplating the chatterer. + +'I now recognise his features. Anxiety about his fate had lengthened +them a little.' + +'Sure enough,' cried Hanslein, kissing his hand; 'and you, my prince of +warriors, have spoken like a man in behalf of an unknown anabaptist, +without suspecting that you were under obligations to him for a former +service.' + +'Follow me now, children,' said the good general, 'and forget in my +tent all the trouble you have just experienced, and so put an end to +the anxiety of the trembling little bride.' + +'With a thousand pleasures!' cried Hanslein; 'besides, it is not good +to set up our tabernacle here.' With a few vigorous leaps he found +himself before the general's tent. The others followed. + +'Perhaps you would like to be married to your little maiden to-day?' +Oberstein affectionately asked of Alf, while on their way to the tent. +'There is no lack of monks and preachers in the camp. I will furnish +forth the marriage feast, and you may safely reckon upon a magnificent +wedding present from the bishop.' + +'Until the city is gained,' answered Alf, 'I must postpone the +consummation of that holy act. If I should fall in the attack, then +would my wife become an early widow, and more unhappy than if she +mourned her promised bridegroom only as one betrothed. Besides, I +cannot be married with any satisfaction, or really enjoy the greatest +festival of my life, until my poor native city is freed from the +domination of the devil who now lacerates her with his infernal claws. +When good old Munster has found peace and safety I will seek the +consummation of my own domestic happiness.' + +'Thou hast a good faith, my son,' cried Oberstein, pleased with the +self-denial of the youth. + +By this time they stood before the general's tent, when they were met +by Fabricius holding by the hand the amiable and sweetly smiling Clara, +already modestly clad in the dress of her sex. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + +Yielding to the voice of clemency, the worthy Oberstein sent messengers +into the city to admonish them to surrender and save the lives of the +starving people; but the answer which orator Rothman gave in the +presence of the king, was, like the preceding one, the sending back of +the messengers with a paraphrase of the passage in the prophet Daniel +of the four ferocious beasts, in the description of which, he said, the +bishop might easily learn to know himself. + +The last of mercy's sands had finally run, and the next night was +determined on for the attack. It was on the 13th of June, 1533, an hour +before midnight, that Hanslein, in perfect silence, led five hundred +volunteers through the shallow place in the ditch and thence upon the +walls. The sleeping sentinels were cut down, and the detachment reached +the little gate without hindrance. This was broken down and the +soldiers rushed into the city. The alarm was, however, now given. The +armed burghers, who had hastily collected, beat back the last of the +entering troops, closed, and occupied the gate, and then attacked with +redoubled rage those who had already entered. An hour and a half they +endured the bloody onslaught in the dark, until Hanslein with the rest +of his band broke through the nearest weakly guarded gate. The +commander in chief, guided by Alf, waited for this event with the main +force; and, as the gate was burst open from within and its wings flew +asunder, the bishop's troops poured with loud cries into the city. The +victory was not, however, yet won. Each footstep in advance was at the +expense of much blood of the half starved fanatics; and when finally +Oberstein with resistless power forced them back, they retired only +towards the market-place at St. Lambert's church; there once more to +make a stand. Here was the king, who had suddenly sprung from his bed, +with the best of his people, and this availed to renew the fight. +Bloodily the red morning rose upward over the promiscuous slaughter; +and the battle, now that friends and enemies could rightly discern each +other, became regular; by which the anabaptists gained nothing. Alf +kept himself constantly at the side of the general, only defending +himself when necessary, as he did not like to draw his sword against +his fellow citizens; but now, amid the tumult, he caught a glimpse of +the infamous Johannes as he was stimulating his troops to the fight. +Then the wrath of the youth kindled into a mightier flame. 'Eliza!' +cried he, urging his horse to the place occupied by the king. Right and +left the foot-soldiers were overthrown before the hoofs of his +springing charger, and he soon approached the spot. 'Eliza!' cried he +once again, as he reached the king,--and, as if he did not hold the +monster worthy a soldier's blade, he struck him so heavily on his +mailed breast with the hilt of his sword, that he shrunk almost double. +Then, with a strong hand, he lifted the swooning king from his horse, +and taking him like a stolen maiden before himself on the pummel of his +saddle, darted back to the commander in chief. 'I bring you here the +torch of this unrighteous war,' said he. 'Dispose of him as you deem +proper.' + +'The bishop has expressly reserved to himself,' answered Oberstein, +with sad earnestness, 'the duty of deciding on the fate of the leaders. +Therefore take a sufficient number of men; let the wretch be strongly +chained, and hold him in close custody. I shall require him at your +hands when the proper time arrives. You may safely count upon your +reward.' + +The battle had continued until now. Orator Rothman, observing the +capture of the king, and despairing of the fortune of the day, +precipitated himself, sword in hand, upon the thickest crowds of the +enemy, that he might not fall into their hands alive; and fell, bravely +fighting, more honorably than he had lived. Knipperdolling and +Krechting having disappeared, the rest of the anabaptists, deprived of +their frantic leaders, and terrified by the universal massacre, threw +away their arms and begged for quarter, which the commander in chief +immediately granted. The worthy old general gazed sorrowfully upon the +dead and dying, who deluged the marketplace with their blood, and upon +the pale, meagre countenances, distorted by the sufferings they had +experienced, of those who were left; and observed with heartfelt +compassion, 'poor fools, you might have obtained pardon at a cheaper +rate!' + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +The next morning the bishop entered the tranquilized city at the head +of fifteen hundred horsemen. All the houses had been strictly searched; +during which operation many a mad fanatical spirit was found, and the +exasperated soldiery did not always respect the general pardon which +had been granted. Among others Knipperdolling and Krechting were +drawn from their lurking holes; but their lives, with a cruel, +calculating forbearance were spared for a future and more solemn +execution. Alf's testimony as to the total inactivity and +inoffensiveness of his kinsman, the butcher-burgomaster-treasurer, and +also of the tailor-duodecemvir-lord-steward, Dilbek, rescued both from +imprisonment and death. The first, Alf charged with the duty of +collecting his little property, as well as that of Trutlinger's niece, +converting it into money and sending it after him, by the first +convenient opportunity, to the place where he might thereafter take up +his abode; he not feeling disposed to remain in his native city after +what he had experienced there,--and besides, the bishop, +notwithstanding the favor he shewed him during the audience, had not +gained his approbation to such a degree as to induce him to wish to +dwell under his sceptre. + +Nor was the bishop yet quite disposed to make his home at the episcopal +residence. He drove out to castle Dulmen, three miles from Munster, on +the day of his entrance; thereby giving to Oberstein a fine opportunity +to execute the decisions of the Diet of Worms in relation to the +unfortunate city without the interference of its irritable master. He +did every thing in his power to mitigate the measureless distress of +the citizens. Plentiful supplies of provisions put an end to the +torments of hunger. A general pardon, which the bishop himself could +not avoid signing, relieved the Munsterers from their incessant and +excessive fears of being yet reached by the sword of judicial power. +Only the king, Knipperdolling and Krechting were excepted from this +pardon. Every one, protestant or catholic, besieged or emigrant, was +allowed to take his property out of the public repository where the +prophet had sequestered it. The refugees returned again; particularly +the expelled burgomaster and aldermen, who immediately resumed their +functions, and every thing appeared as if the city was well pleased to +find itself returning to the old order of things. + +Three days had thus passed away. Early on the fourth, Oberstein sent +for Alf. 'I have caused St. Lambert's church to be repaired and +embellished a little,' said the general to him. 'It looked as drear and +desolate in its large plundered interior, as if the Zihim and Ohim[2] +were to rule in it--and the poor people must truly have some external +show with their public worship. We must in some measure provide for an +impression upon their senses, because their thoughts and feelings are +confined within a narrow circle. If you please my young friend, we will +go together and observe what great things the painters and garnishers +have accomplished in so short a time.' + +Alf proceeded to the church with the old hero, and could not refrain +from expressing his surprise when he found the lateral walks wholly +desolate and untrimmed. + +'Only be patient, the best is yet to come,' said the smiling Oberstein, +consolingly, and passed into the next lateral walk, where, turning +suddenly, they found themselves before the freshly gilded and well +adorned high altar. Before it, with the church service in his hand, +stood doctor Fabricius in his priestly robes. With a myrtle wreath in +her blond hair, in a simple white dress, her eyes cast down, her cheeks +glowing with love, joy and shame, stood the faithful little Clara, +opposite the youth; while his kinsman Gerhard, Hanslein, and the old +body servant of the bishop, as witnesses of the marriage ceremony, +approached to wish him joy. + +'Oh my God!' cried Alf, surprised and enraptured,--and the worthy +Oberstein himself accompanied the pair before the clergyman. + +The YES was spoken--the benediction pronounced--and Alf had seized the +hand of his young wife to lead her out of church--when an episcopalian +officer entered and delivered to the general a letter of which he was +the bearer. + +Oberstein opened, read, and angrily stamped his foot. 'No joy without +interruption,' cried he. 'More than a year have we been detained before +these rascally walls without any interruption of the everlasting +sameness. This is the first day which I had thought to spend happily +here, and now this is to be marred by such a bum-bailiff commission! I +cannot help you, my dear bridegroom,' proceeded he, turning to Alf; +'the bishop here commands that you immediately bring to Dulmen, under a +strong guard, the tailor-king whom you took prisoner.' + +'Is not my marriage a sufficient excuse?' asked Alf dejectedly. + +'With the bishop, hardly,' whispered Oberstein to him. 'Man-service +goes before God-service with these proud prelates--and we have already, +on account of the poor Munsterers, every motive to keep him in as good +a humor as possible. It will be fortunate if he satiate his anger upon +the wretch whom you are about to conduct to him.' + +'Poor little Clara,' sighed Alf, printing a passionate and sorrowful +kiss upon the lips of the maiden. + +'He named you and thought of himself,' said Oberstein, jestingly; 'but +in order that the happy couple may not be separated on this first day +of their espousal, I will ride out to Dulmen and endeavor to get you +excused by the lord bishop.' + +'You are very good!' said the little bride, bending over the hand of +the gray old general and pressing it to her lips. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + +At Dulmen, in the hall of state, sat the prince-bishop upon his gilded +throne. On each side of him were placed his counsellors and field +officers. At a table covered with rich red cloth, sat two secretaries +with ready pens. Oberstein had announced the tailor-king, and after a +short conversation with the bishop resumed his place. The bishop made a +signal--the guards opened the door, and, accompanied by Alf, Johannes +entered, loaded with chains and very pale; but with a proud and solemn +bearing, casting round upon the assembly his wild, impudent and bold +glance. + +'That is the murderer of my son,' sighed the bishop in a suppressed +tone to Oberstein, covering his face with his hands from grief and +horror. + +'Remember that you are here as a prince and judge, and not as a party,' +whispered Oberstein in return. + +The bishop recovered himself with difficulty. 'Wretched man,' cried he +vehemently to the criminal: 'wherefore hast thou ruined my defenceless +people?' + +'I have not done less than you deserve, priest!' answered Johannes, as +proudly as if Zion's crown had yet stood upon his head. 'I have given +into thy hand a strong city which can stand against every power. +Nevertheless if I have injured you I have sufficient means to make you +reparation, in case you will but follow my counsels.' + +'Wretch!' growled the bishop, 'how wilt thou compensate for a single +drop of the innocent blood which thou hast caused to flow in streams?' + +'Human blood,' said Johannes, scornfully, 'comes not into the account +in the reckoning of kings. Here we can only speak respecting the +restitution of money. Therefore shut me up in an iron cage as Tamerlane +did Bajazet, take me through the neighboring countries and show me for +money--you will make more out of me in that way than the whole siege +has cost.' + +The whole assembly broke out into a loud cry of astonishment and +displeasure at the unparalleled insolence of the criminal, whose life +hung upon the nod of his judge. + +The latter was paralyzed by the extent of the monster's profligacy. He +soon however recovered himself, and silently viewed him for a long time +with a horrible smile upon his countenance. + +'My God!' murmured Alf, when he saw that smile; 'this will end +tragically.' + +'Thou hast advised well, wise Solomon,' said the bishop with great +calmness. 'Be it done to thee according to thy words. Deliver up your +prisoner to the constable of the castle,' he commanded Alf. 'Let him be +confined in the murderer's cell until further orders--and do you convey +to the smiths of Munster my command that they immediately make three +iron cages of a man's height. Therein shall this man and his coadjutors +be conducted round the land as he himself has desired, and be shown to +the people as they are accustomed to show wild beasts. What further is +to be done with the worthy trio, shall be duly pronounced at the proper +time in the criminal court.' + +With unaltered pride Johannes suffered himself to be led forth by Alf. +The bishop dismissed the assembly. Only Oberstein remained with him, +and now Alf returned to announce that he had deposited his prisoner in +his dungeon. + +'It was you who captured the hyćna who butchered my children for me,' +cried the bishop with horrible joy. 'I thank you for the opportunity to +avenge on him the blood of all his victims! Oh that he had more than +one life! Say, what reward do you desire for the deed!' + +'Such a reward would be the price of blood,' thought Alf, 'and +therefore God preserve me from it.' + +'Would you like a good military or civil office at my court?' asked the +bishop in his desire to express his gratitude. + +'I am a protestant, most reverend sir,' answered Alf: 'and hope to die +in the evangelical faith; but if I may prefer a petition to you, I have +to request that you will permit me without ceremony or hindrance to +take my own and my wife's property to the place where I am to settle +myself.' + +'Are you determined absolutely not to remain in my territories?' asked +the bishop resentfully. + +'I think of procuring for him a captaincy from the elector of Saxony,' +said Oberstein, with a view of softening the effect of Alf's short and +ungracious reply. + +'Pardon me sir earl,' said Alf, 'for respectfully declining that favor +also. I have lately seen so many people commanded, and so many evils +have been caused by the orders given--and I myself in my simplicity +have done so much mischief by my own commands, that I have become +utterly disgusted with the whole business. Wherefore I have solicited +the reverend doctor Fabricius to seek me out a quiet little place in +Hesse Cassel, were I may honorably employ myself as an armorer and +enjoy the society of my wife and the children with which God may bless +our union, until my happy end.' + +'Do you not think he has chosen the wisest part?' asked Oberstein of +the bishop, at the same time leaving the room. + +'O that I could find in Munster a hundred burghers like this who now +deserts me!' said the bishop, through forgetfulness, laying his hand in +blessing upon the heretic's head. + +'Think well of my request, reverend sir,' said Alf, bowing low and +following his friend and protector. + + + + + CHAPTER XXX. + + +When the happy Clara opened her blue eyes on the first morning after +her marriage, she saw that her young husband was already awake and +sitting upright in bed as if in deep and earnest meditation upon some +important matter. She threw her arms about his neck, kissed him +tenderly and asked him what he was meditating upon so intently. + +'Upon my future destiny, and the decision I must make as to what +business I shall hereafter pursue, my dear wife,' answered he with +seeming earnestness. 'So many offers were made to me yesterday that I +hardly know which of them to embrace. The lord bishop wishes to retain +me with him, either in a military capacity or as an officer of his +court, as I may choose; for the latter of which I suppose I am more +particularly well qualified. I can also at any moment become a captain +in the service of the elector of Saxony.' + +'You surely will not accept of either of them?' cried Clara, anxiously. +'Leave those high honors and dignities to others, and be satisfied with +the quiet domestic happiness which awaits you, and which your +unambitious disposition is best calculated to enjoy. Remain what you +are, a good armorer! As such only have I joined hands with you, before +God's altar, in the holy bands of matrimony. If now you wish the +captaincy, or a seat in the royal council, then have you deceived me, +even at the moment of marriage, and that would be very wrong in a +bridegroom.' + +'God be praised!' joyfully exclaimed Alf, pressing her to his bosom. +'That is precisely what I desired to hear from you, my dear Clara. I +only wished to ascertain whether you agreed with me upon a most +important question; and behold, our wishes and opinions are as similar +as if we had been made for each other.' + +'Ah, that was always clear to me from the first moment I saw you,' +stammered Clara, blushing; 'and it used to render me truly miserable to +see that you had eyes only for my unfortunate sister.' + +'Peace to her ashes!' said Alf with emotion; 'but I now perceive quite +clearly that she would have been no wife for me. What God brings to +pass is intended for our good.' + +At that moment began under the windows, arranged by the wedding guests, +an excellent morning serenade; and the vocalists, falling in, sang to +the bridal pair, in Martin Luther's words:[3] + + 'Oh happy man, whose soul is fill'd + With zeal and reverend awe! + His lips to God their honors yield, + His life adorns the law. + + 'A careful Providence shall stand + And ever guard thy head, + Shall on the labors of thy hand, + Its kindly blessings shed.' + +'Shall on the labors of thy hand,'--said the young couple joyfully to +each other at the same moment, and Alf smilingly remarked; 'now we +shall be sure to live together at least a year, my Clara, since we both +had the same thought at the same time.' + +Again sang the choir: + + 'Thy wife shall be a fruitful vine; + Thy children round thy board, + Each like an olive-plant shall shine, + And learn to fear the Lord. + + 'The Lord shall thy best hopes fulfil + For months and years to come; + The Lord who dwells on Zion's hill, + Shall send thee blessings home.' + +Reminded of the pleasures of paternity, Alf pressed his beloved wife +yet closer, while she hid her blushing face in his bosom. They listened +with delighted attention to the remainder of the hymn, and when the +last verse came they joined in with a pious ecstasy, and in thankful +remembrance of all that God had done for them: + + 'To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, + The God whom we adore, + Be everlasting honors paid + Henceforth, forevermore.' + + + + + CHAPTER XXXI. + + +Having obtained an honorable discharge from the army of the Diet, Alf +settled himself with his young wife under the shadow of Fabricius's +wing at Cassel, as a respectable armorer. The property which he took +with him from Munster, together with the rich marriage presents which +he received from the bishop and count Oberstein, rendered him a well +conditioned burgher. He enjoyed the blessings of a middle station in +society, in an unusual measure, and the painful remembrance of what he +had experienced, performed, and suffered, was merged by degrees in the +feeling of repose, and in the quiet enjoyment of well merited +prosperity. + +Meanwhile the timid and exasperated bishop began to bring poor Munster +fully under the yoke; so that it should never again be able to raise +its head in rebellion. Two castles arose towering over the city, with +the aid of which he hoped easily to suppress every disturbance, and +occasionally to curtail some of the ancient privileges of the people; +but the ambassadors of the Circle, who suddenly appeared in Munster, +efficaciously remedied this fault and many others. The peaceable +citizens of Munster, whom he had compelled to perform all sorts of +labor, were protected; the fortifications of the anabaptists as well as +the castles of the bishop were razed; and the latter was compelled to +permit a decision, by a trial and sentence, upon the fate of the +tailor-king and his companions, who, until then, had been, in mockery +and scorn, dragged through all the neighboring parts of Germany in +their cages. In February of the year 1536, the three criminals were +finally led to the scaffold. However great was their guilt, the cruelty +of their punishment seemed unworthy the mercy which should have been +exercised by the spiritual lords, from whom alone a mitigation of their +sentence could emanate; but who commanded its execution with +unrelenting severity. + +'Holy God!' exclaimed Alf, when he heard of their unhappy end; 'whither +will not fanaticism lead its unhappy devotees! Happy is he who confines +his attention to the narrow circle of his household and his business, +and who does not forget that prayer and labor are the best antidotes to +vain imaginings. Thrice happy is the man to whom God grants a good +wife, who, with gentle power, draws him from the wild impulses of the +world, and with flowery chains binds him to his own hearth. Under that +hearth lies buried the true treasure of life, which so few have the +desire and happiness to raise. We have disinterred it, have we not, my +Clara? When the olive plants stand around us, which Dr. Luther has +promised, what shall we then lack?' Saying this, he laid his hand +affectionately upon his young wife, who was most assiduously spinning +at the opposite side of the table. At first, with a sweet smile, she +clasped her beloved husband's hand, and then passing quickly round the +table, she fell upon his neck. 'Lord God, we thank thee!' cried the +superlatively happy husband, glowing with love and gratitude. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: The name of one of the imperial regiments, composed of +catholics.] + +[Footnote 2: Evil spirits.] + +[Footnote 3: We use the version of Dr. Watts.--TR.] + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales from the German. Volume II., by +Carl Franz van der Velde + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM THE GERMAN. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/32444-8.zip b/32444-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..33200f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/32444-8.zip diff --git a/32444-h.zip b/32444-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3e9103 --- /dev/null +++ b/32444-h.zip diff --git a/32444-h/32444-h.htm b/32444-h/32444-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..637f037 --- /dev/null +++ b/32444-h/32444-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10317 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Tales from the German Vol. II.: The Lichtensteins: A Tale of the +Times of the Thirty Years War; The Sorceress; and The Anabaptist: A Tale of the +First Half of the Sixteenth Century.</title> +<meta name="Author" content="C. F. Van der Velde"> +<meta name="Publisher" content="American Stationers' Company"> +<meta name="Date" content="1837"> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1"> +<style type="text/css"> +body {margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; background-color:#FFFFFF;} + + + +p.normal {text-indent:.25in; text-align: justify;} +p.center {text-align:center; margin-top:9pt;} + + +p.section {letter-spacing:1em; text-align:center; margin-top:24pt; margin-bottom:24pt;} +p.right {text-align:right; margin-right:10%;} + +p.continue {text-indent: 0in; margin-top:9pt;} +.text10 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.text20 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:20%; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} + +.t6 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:3em; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.t8 {margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:4em; margin-right:0px; font-size:90%;} +.quote {font-size:90%} + + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 {text-align: center;} + +span.sc {font-variant: small-caps;} +.space {letter-spacing: 1em; text-align:center; margin-bottom:24pt; margin-top:24pt;} + + +hr.W10 {width:10%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + +hr.W20 {width:20%; margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:12pt; + color:black;} + +hr.W50 {width:50%; margin-top:12pt; color:black;} + + +p.hang1 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em;} +p.hang2 {margin-left:3em; text-indent:-3em; margin-bottom:24pt; font-size:90%; margin-top:24pt} + +.poem { + margin-top: 24pt; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 10%; + text-align: left; + margin-bottom: 24pt + } + .poem .stanza { + margin : 1em 0; + margin-top:24pt; + } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales from the German. Volume II., by +Carl Franz van der Velde + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tales from the German. Volume II. + The Lichtensteins, The Sorceress, The Anabaptist + +Author: Carl Franz van der Velde + +Translator: Nathaniel Greene + +Release Date: May 19, 2010 [EBook #32444] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM THE GERMAN. VOLUME II. *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provide by the Web Archive + + + + + +</pre> + + +<p class="hang1">Transcriber's Notes:</p> + +<p class="normal">1. Page scan source:<br> +http://www.archive.org/details/talesfromgerman01greegoog</p> + +<p class="normal">2. This volume includes these stories: <a name="div1Ref_lichtensteins" href="#div1_lichtensteins">The Lichtensteins</a>: A<br> +Tale of the Times of the Thirty Years War; <a name="div1Ref_sorceress" href="#div1_sorceress">The Sorceress</a>;<br> +and <a name="div1Ref_anabaptist" href="#div1_anabaptist">The Anabaptist</a>: A Tale of the First Half of the Sixteenth<br> +Century.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>TALES</h2> +<br> +<h1>FROM THE GERMAN</h1> +<br> +<h3>TRANSLATED</h3> +<br> +<h2>BY NATHANIEL GREENE.</h2> + +<br> + +<h3>VOLUME II.</h3> + +<br> + +<br> + +<h2>BOSTON:<br> +AMERICAN STATIONERS' COMPANY,</h2> +<h3>JOHN B. RUSSELL.</h3> + +<h3>1837.</h3> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<div style="margin-left:50%; margin-right:10%"> +<h4>BOSTON:<br> +Samuel N. Dickinson, Printer,<br> +52, Washington Street.</h4> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<div style="line-height:200%"> +<h1><a name="div1_lichtensteins" href="#div1Ref_lichtensteins">THE LICHTENSTEINS</a>.</h1> + +<h3>A TALE OF THE TIMES OF THE THIRTY YEARS WAR.</h3> + +<h2>BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE.</h2> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="normal">On christmas-eve, in the year 1628, Katharine, the wife of the +merchant +Fessel, of Schweidnitz, was standing in her large back parlor, with her +infant upon her arm, arranging with feminine taste, upon a long table +covered with a snow-white cloth, the Christmas gifts destined for her +husband, her children, and the other members of her family.</p> + +<p class="normal">At a table in the corner, sat the book-keeper, Oswald Dorn, +giving the +finishing touch to a miniature manger, which he had ingeniously +constructed for the children of his employer. He now placed a +beautifully painted angel, cut out of isinglass, in the side of the +manger in which the infant Savior lay, for the purpose of indicating +the celestial mission of the heavenly messenger by its transparent +brilliancy. He gave yet another satisfied look at the well executed +work, and then approached Katharine, who had, meanwhile, spread out an +infinite variety of useful and agreeable presents, articles of dress, +pieces of coin, books, toys, &c. She was now distributing to each one +his portion of cakes, sweet biscuits, sugar animals, gingerbread, +apples and nuts, with just impartiality. In deep thought, the +book-keeper took from the table two figures formed of Schweidnitz +gingerbread. They represented two of Dr. Martin Luther's enemies, +Tetzel and Eck, in their official robes, disfigured with the heads of +animals. The names inscribed on them left no doubt whom they were +intended to represent. Dorn examined the caricatures with an ominous +shake of the head. 'Do not give these ill-shaped things to the +children,' said he. 'Believe me, it is not well for them to be so early +taught to make war upon opinions which they do not understand. Mockery +and derision are bad aids to the holy cause, and the hand, which grasps +filth to throw at an adversary, is itself the first soiled. The +bitterness, with which the struggle for truth and spiritual freedom has +been carried on, has already spread enough of suffering and misery over +Europe. Let not the demon of sectarian zeal intrude itself into the +nursery.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You take every thing in the same earnest and serious way,' +jestingly +answered the friendly Katharine, laying the caricature figures aside. +'Who that heard you would suppose you had bravely drawn your sword for +the new faith yourself? The red scar upon your forehead contradicts +your words.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are right,' cried Dorn with emotion. 'I have wielded the +sword for +the new faith. A bold captain of daring robbers, I have achieved many a +deed of arms under this pretext; but daily do I pray to God to pardon +me for it!'</p> + +<p class="normal">He hastened away. The reverend Johannes Beer, who had entered +the room +unnoticed at the commencement of this conversation, looked after him +with astonishment, and then asked the hostess: 'that young man talks +very strangely--may he not be a papist in disguise, sent into this +house as a spy for our destruction?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'By no means!' cried Katharine with zeal. 'You know, my worthy +sir, +that he was wounded fighting for the Augsburg confession, and during +the two years he has dwelt under our roof, he has constantly evinced so +true an attachment for us, and such a noble zeal against the tyranny of +the pope, that I would answer for his honesty with my life.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You judge of others according to the goodness of your own +heart!' +cried the parson. 'Believe me, in the iron times in which we live one +cannot be too cautious. One Judas was found even among the apostles. +Many a one who was a Paul for the pure evangelical doctrines has fallen +from the faith, and now rages an angry Saul against his former +brethren. The devil has once more become wholly devilish, and the +anti-christ again goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may +devour. The emperor, incited by the monks, has determined to effect a +counter reformation in Silesia; and already in Glogau, the +Lichtensteins,<a name="div2Ref_note01" href="#div2_note01"><sup>1</sup></a> those terrible men of blood, who convert by fire and +sword, are raging in a furious and shocking manner.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, reverend sir,' complained Katharine, 'we have invited you +to share +our joys and partake with us of the festival of our Lord; but by +repeating such dreadful news you will embitter all our enjoyments, and +convert our christmas supper into a mourning feast.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is the duty of a faithful pastor,' said the clergyman, 'to +frighten +away the sleep of safety into which we are rocked by ease and +selfishness. Our good Schweidnitz will also have to suffer in its turn. +Have they not already taken from us the honorably purchased church of +the cross, and the church of our dear lady of the woods? Have they not +already forbidden us the service of God in the church of the Holy +Ghost? They will surely take the earliest opportunity to do the same +with St. Stanislaus and St. Wenceslaus. Various suspicious signs and +tokens have lately been seen. As I was observing the stars last night, +with my colleague Glogero, the constellations were very ominous; and +about midnight a fearful sign arose in the heavens from the north. A +large red ball of fire described a flaming arch from the edge of the +horizon to the zenith of the parish church, where it burst with a +powerful explosion. It indicates the near proximity of great danger to +our religious liberties.'</p> + +<p class="normal">During this speech so prophetic of evil, Katharine, with a +happy +feminine tact, contrived to forget the threatened troubles amid the +little cares of the moment, and proceeded to ignite the innumerable +lights of the christmas-trees, and those placed in the little manger +for the purpose of illuminating its interior. The brightness of day was +diffused through the large room, which awaked the child upon her bosom, +and it smilingly stretched out its little hands toward the joyous +light.</p> + +<p class="normal">'See how my little Johannes is delighted,' said the mother to +the +gloomy man. 'Careless of the threatening future, he enjoys the present. +Does not our holy bible say, 'unless you become like little children +you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven!' Therefore leave the +portentous future to the wise guidance of God, and be happy with us +to-night, for once, like this harmless child. Above all, be silent in +my husband's presence, respecting your bad news. He has been very +anxious and dejected for some days, and I shall be much grieved if +anything occur to render us unhappy this evening, to which christians +of all denominations look with general joy as the anniversary of their +common origin.'</p> + +<p class="normal">One of Fessel's apprentices now opened the door. 'My master +directs me +to say to you,' cried he, 'that you may immediately commence the +distribution of the presents, before it is too late. He has yet much to +do in the counting-room. Two important letters have arrived. He will +come to you at the earliest moment possible.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is not at all pleasant!' sighed Katharine, as the +messenger +disappeared. 'There can be no true family festival where the master of +the house is missing. Nevertheless, my husband is right! If I delay +much longer, the supper will be spoiled and everything will be in +disorder.' She rang a bell which stood upon the table. A distant shout +of children answered the noisy summons. She rang a second time, when +the shouts came nearer, and a joyous tumult arose at the door of the +room. She now put down the bell, and looked pleasedly toward the door, +before which the whispering, laughing and tramping band awaited the +third call.</p> + +<p class="normal">'They must wait a little,' said Katharine, smiling, to the +clergyman. +'It seasons the pleasure, and is a wholesome lesson for youth, when +early taught.' The holy man nodded assent to the pedagogical artifice; +but meanwhile the mother's heart began to yield, and impelled +Katharine's hand toward the bell.</p> + +<p class="normal">The third call now sounded, when the door burst open as if at +the +explosion of a petard, and the four children of Fessel, two vigorous +boys and two lovely girls, stormed into the room, surrounding and +dragging their favorite, the book-keeper, along with them. After them +followed the clerks, apprentices, servants and maidens, who modestly +arranged themselves in a row near the door until their places were +pointed out to them.</p> + +<p class="normal">The children precipitated themselves toward the richly laden +table like +a rushing stream, recognizing the portion destined for each with a +searching and rapid glance. 'I will draw this against Wallenstein!' +screamed the wild Martin, brandishing a little sword that he found +among his presents. 'A bible and a bunch of quills,' cried the +intellectual Ulrich, holding them up: 'now I will write against the +papists like the noble Hutten, whose name I bear. 'Alas, the poor +maidens who can never be married!' cried both of the girls, bringing +two waxen nuns to their mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Beloved children!' said the clergyman, pressing them all to +his heart. +They tore themselves from his arms and broke out in a simultaneous +shout of astonishment and joy upon observing the miniature manger. Then +as if beside themselves they ran, tumbling over each other, to their +mother, the clergyman and Dorn, thankfully showing and praising their +several presents.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Will you not look at your christmas present, master Dorn?' +asked +Katharine of the book-keeper, who kept himself apart in serious +silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">He turned toward the designated place with a melancholy smile, +and as +he cast his eyes upon the rich present, a complete and splendid +dress-suit with a full complement of the finest linen, he turned again +with deep emotion to Katharine, who was pointing out their places to +the rest of the household.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is too much, madam Katharine,' he cried. 'How may you +thus favor +the stranger beyond the children of your house?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The stranger?' asked Katharine resentfully. 'In our hearts it +has been +a long time since you were so, and we should much regret to have you +consider yourself one. Believe me, we are sensible what a faithful +companion and assistant my husband has acquired in you, and that every +thing we can do for you is but honestly discharging our obligations.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, see, master Dorn, you also have got a sword!' cried +Martin, +holding up this essential part of the dress of a burgher in those +times, which lay by Dorn's present.</p> + +<p class="normal">Dorn suddenly approached the boy and taking the magnificent +sword from +his hands gazed upon it with secret pleasure. At length he could no +longer resist the desire to draw and try the temper of the blade.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are not angry,' asked Katharine, 'that a lady should +presume to +arm you? Really your old sword with its hacked hilt and notched and +rusty blade, would not have become your new suit.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You have done well, worthy lady,' said Dorn, proving the +blade by +pressing its point against the floor and bending it in every direction. +'The old sword had indeed become dear to me, like an old friend who had +always remained true in times of necessity and danger; but I never +reflect upon the deeds I have performed with it without shuddering. It +seems to me that it is possessed by an evil spirit which impels my hand +to deeds of blood against my will, and I therefore do not like to touch +it. This has as yet drank no blood, and, so help me God, I will +preserve it unstained unless I am compelled to draw it in defence of +the hearth where I, a friendless stranger, have been so hospitably +received.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Or in defence of religion,' added the parson.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The true religion, most worthy sir,' answered Dorn, 'needs +not the aid +of the sword!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The reverend man had already opened his mouth to refute this +bold +proposition, when the master of the house entered with a clouded +countenance, holding two open letters in his hand. He briefly greeted +the parson, gently put aside the children who gathered about him in +their noisy joy, and handed one of the letters to his wife.</p> + +<p class="normal">'From your mother, at Sagan,' said he; and while she proceeded +to read +it with visible terror, he drew the book-keeper to a window.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have a sudden and disagreeable business for you,' said he +to Dorn. +'The terrible Wallenstein conducts himself in his new dukedom with a +tyranny almost unheard of among christians. He has determined to send +all the orphan sons of burghers of Sagan to the school he has recently +established at Gitschin. Those whom he has found in the place, have +been forcibly sent to Bohemia. Their property and relatives are held +answerable for the absent. As you already know, my mother-in-law's +nephew, young Engelmann, is at present studying at the gymnasium in +this city; and the tyrant has thrown his uncle and guardian into prison +until the pupil shall be forthcoming. No other course remains, but to +send the poor boy home as soon as possible; and, that he may, in these +dangerous times, reach Sagan with safety, it is my wish that you would +accompany him. When there, you may also be able to assist me in another +affair. I have loaned a thousand gilders upon the two houses of the +joiner Eckebrect. My debtor now informs me that the houses are among +those the duke has caused to be demolished for the purpose of opening a +better view for his palace. Nothing has yet been said respecting +indemnification. I therefore wish you, while on the spot, to obtain all +the information you can upon the subject.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am very willingly at your service,' modestly answered Dorn. +'When +shall I set out?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Did I not fear the sin of keeping you from church on +christmas night,' +said Fessel, 'I would beg of you to start this very evening. Sagan is +distant, and old Engelmann is a very worthy man, whose release from +prison I should be glad to effect as soon as possible.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The performance of duty is God's service!' cried Dorn. 'I +will go +immediately and prepare for the journey.' He left the room, followed by +the boys, who lamented the loss of their best christmas enjoyment in +his departure.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your book-keeper is indeed no papist,' said the parson to +Katharine +after a long pause; 'but there may also be some doubt of his +Lutheranism; for he appears to sustain the doctrine of good works. He +may be tinctured with Calvinism.</p> + +<p class="normal">'If he were, he would still be our protestant co-laborer and +brother in +Christ,' answered Fessel in the name of his consort, who was busily +reading.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Calvin, Zuinglius, and the pope--all are heretics alike!' +grumbled the +parson.</p> + +<p class="normal">The weeping Katharine now folded the letter, handed it to her +husband, +and in a soft, submissive voice asked him: 'What have you decided upon, +Tobias?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I wished to advise with you upon the matter first, my Kitty,' +he +answered, in a friendly manner. 'They are your nearest relatives who +now seek a refuge with us, and I would not willingly leave them in the +claws of those fiends; but at all events their coming would increase +your domestic cares, and I know not whether you would like to have your +mother and sister reside in the family.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'As I know my beloved ones,' she joyfully answered, 'I have +only +relief, consolation and joy, to expect from them; and, if my opinion is +to decide the matter, I beg you with all my heart to have them brought +here.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Dorn now entered the room in his traveling dress, with his +rusty sword +by his side. He was followed by Martin and Ulrich, and the young +Engelmann with his traveling bag in his hand, much grieved at being +compelled to leave his dear Schweidnitz for a strange school where he +was unknowing and unknown.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The carriage is ready,' said the book-keeper. 'I come to take +my +leave, and ask if you have any further commands for me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have yet one more request, my dear friend,' answered the +merchant. +'A captain of Wallenstein's body guards is quartered in the house of my +mother-in-law at Sagan, who plays the duke of Friedland on a small +scale in the quiet residence of the widow; and, what is still more +unfortunate, woos the favor of my sister-in-law after the fashion of a +wild Tartar. She very naturally rejects the monster, who has already +served under four different masters, has four times changed his +religion, and is now, by accident, a catholic; but the refusal has +brought her no relief, and he only, who knows how much a bad man may +afflict a family upon whom he is quartered, can imagine what the poor +women must suffer. On this account they wish to leave all behind them +and flee to me at Schweidnitz; and after having delivered up your +scholar, you can bring them with you on your return. This writing may +serve as your credential.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I beg of you to be especially careful that you suffer no +injury on the +way from the marauding soldiers, who render the public roads unsafe,' +said Katharine with anxious solicitude.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I take with me my faithful old battle-companion,' said Dorn, +striking +the hilt of his sword with a glance in which all his former military +spirit shone forth. 'Do not be concerned for me, madam Katharine. We +have a hard frost--I shall let the horses travel at a round pace--and +with God's blessing, I will be here to partake of the christmas supper, +which I should have eaten now, with you and your dear relatives on new +year's eve.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He raised the sorrowing children, whom even the ingeniously +constructed +manger could not console for his departure, one after the other to his +lips, bowed to the others, disappeared with his protégé, and the wheels +of his carriage were soon heard rattling over the hard-frozen ground.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="normal">It was the evening of the third christmas holiday. The +snow-flakes were +merrily whirling about out of doors; and in a well warmed room at Sagan +sat the merchant's widow, Prudentia Rosen, with her daughter, the +lovely Faith. Both of them were industriously winding the fine spun +thread upon the twirling spindles. The impudent captain of the guards +had planted himself in the matron's armchair, at the table, and was +afflicting the poor women by a recital of his terrible warlike deeds, +while he emptied the silver goblet standing before him, and directed +love-glances, which made him look even more disagreeable, at poor +Faith, who, sighingly and reluctantly replenished it from time to time.</p> + +<p class="normal">The servant announced a stranger who wished to speak with +madam Rosen +alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">The widow rose to go out in obedience to the summons; but the +captain +sneeringly observed that as she could have no motive for a secret +interview with the stranger, she could give the required audience in +his presence.</p> + +<p class="normal">The widow nodded to the servant, with a slight shrug of the +shoulders +at this new exhibition of insolence. The latter immediately ushered in +a young man, who greeted the ladies with modest friendliness, and the +captain with cold courtesy.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am the book-keeper of your son-in-law,' said he. 'I have +the honor +to hand you this letter as my credential, and to inform you, that, if +agreeable, yourself and daughter can accompany me to Schweidnitz +to-morrow morning.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How? You wish to leave Sagan now, madam Rosen?' asked the +captain, +angrily stroking his red beard.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Family affairs render this journey unavoidable,' answered the +widow, +with quiet firmness.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You must arrange the matter otherwise,' blustered the +ruffian. 'Your +most imperative duty is to remain here and provide for the comfort of +those who are quartered in your house.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do not be anxious on that score, captain,' answered the +widow. 'Every +thing will be furnished that you need in my absence.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then go, in the devil's name, where you please,' cried the +captain; +'but, that my comfort may not be disturbed, your daughter remains +behind to discharge the duties of hostess.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Give yourself no uneasiness, madam Rosen,' said Dorn, +consolingly, to +the terrified woman. 'If you are not by the duke of Friedland's command +a prisoner in your own house, the captain will let you go without +requiring a hostage.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How is that?' cried the irritated captain, viewing the young +man from +head to foot. The latter quietly returned his measuring glance, whilst +the beauteous Faith timidly raised her eyes from her spindle, inwardly +delighted with the fearlessness of the interesting stranger.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are a fine fellow,' said the captain with a malicious +smile; +'well-grown and strong; and your bold behavior is very becoming. You +would make a good trooper. Come, do me justice to the health of our +most gracious emperor.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We must become better acquainted with each other, captain, +before we +drink together,' answered Dorn, politely declining the goblet.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you slight my proffered courtesy,' growled the captain; +'or do you +belong to the rebels, that you refuse to drink the emperor's health?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Drink!' imploringly begged the timid Faith, and, vanquished +by the +glance which accompanied the request, the youth seized the goblet and +cried, 'May God enlighten the emperor and teach him the true way to +promote the welfare of his subjects!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Bravo, comrade!' cried the captain, as the goblet was +drained. 'You +will never regret having entered the emperor's service. I pledge you my +word that you will be a corporal in a month.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What mean you by that?' asked Dorn with surprise. 'The idea +of +entering the emperor's service never once came into my head.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You jest!' cried the miscreant. You have drank to the emperor +with a +captain in the imperial service, and by that act have become a +soldier.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is it possible!' cried Dorn. 'Can you so prostitute the +emperor's name +as to use it for so low an artifice?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not a word of opposition, fellow!' said the captain +menacingly. 'You +have consented to take service under the standard of his imperial +majesty, and must abide thereby.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am a free burgher of Schweidnitz,' said Dorn; 'what right +have you +to hold me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What right! what right! blustered the captain, striking the +floor with +his sword. 'Here is my right, which is valid through all Europe.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I warn you, captain,' cried Dorn, 'to be cautious how you +take a step +which may disgrace you without accomplishing your purpose.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That we shall see!' said the captain; and, going to the door, +he threw +it open and cried, 'Orderly!'</p> + +<p class="normal">A gigantic guardsman came clattering up the steps, stooped to +enter the +room, and then, straitening himself up like a tall pine, thundered, +'Here!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Take this recruit to the guard-room,' commanded the captain, +'and +deliver him over, on my account, to the officer of the day. He may as +well be put in uniform and sworn to his colors this evening as +tomorrow.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The colossus stepped up to Dorn, pointed to the door, and in a +very +insolent tone commanded, 'March!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Dorn hurled him back with great force, and drew from his +pocket a +sealed document which he held up to the view of the captain. 'My +commission as captain in the royal Danish service,' said he, 'protects +me against the honor of serving under you. The duke of Friedland shall +satisfy himself of its authenticity to-morrow. To me you must make +reparation, upon the spot, for this personal outrage. Have the goodness +to follow me to the door.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The captain, who, like many a bragadocio, hid the ears of the +ass under +the skin of the lion, stood utterly confused before the angry youth, in +whom he had very unexpectedly found his match. At length he motioned +his orderly to retire. 'It is not possible for me to accept your +invitation to-night; but early in the morning we will speak further +upon this matter,' said he with constrained courtesy to Dorn, and +immediately left the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We shall not be able to start before noon, in this way,' said +Dorn, +with some little vexation. 'Meanwhile, have the goodness, madam Rosen, +to pack the best and most necessary articles which you may wish to take +with you, to-night.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, that would prove a fruitless trouble, my dear sir!' +exclaimed the +widow. 'The captain is now highly incensed, and I believe he would +strike the horses dead before the carriage, sooner than let us go.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I trust some one higher than he can be found here,' said +Dorn. 'When +matters come to the worst, I can speak to the duke himself.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God preserve you from that!' cried the widow. 'He is indeed a +passionate, tyrannical man, who will not tolerate even the sparrows +upon his roof. He directly hangs every one who makes the least +opposition to him. He strung up a poor apothecary's apprentice for +making too much noise in his neighborhood with his pestle and mortar, +and a poor child because it cried in its mother's arms.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I nevertheless doubt not he will suffer me to live,' said +Dorn, with a +smile. 'I have seen the white of his eye at Dessau, and was not +frightened. Therefore dismiss your fears and pack up as quick as you +can. I shall start at one in the afternoon to-morrow. I have promised +your daughter to be in Schweidnitz on new-year's eve, and will keep my +word.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He was about to take his leave; but the widow held him fast by +both his +hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No,' cried she, anxiously, 'I will not let you go. I thank +God for +sending a manly protector to my house in these evil times, and should +die with fear if compelled to sleep alone under the same roof with that +monster, now that he is irritated. No, you remain with us. My daughter +shall prepare the little guest-chamber for you, and I will mix your +evening draught.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I would not be troublesome to you,' said Dorn, 'at a time +when your +house is already occupied by other guests.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is, indeed, and by those who are uninvited and unwelcome,' +sighed +the widow. 'But for that very reason I would add a welcome guest to the +number, that I may know whether I am yet mistress of my own house.'</p> + +<p class="normal">In obedience to a nod from her mother. Faith, with blushing +cheeks and +downcast eyes, took a light to show the guest to his chamber. He +followed her through the Gothic building, up one flight of steps and +down another, through crooked passages, until they reached a small, but +neatly furnished chamber, in which was a snow white bed. While Faith +removed the flowered damask covering, filled the shining pewter ewer +with fresh water, and hung a towel near it, he was occupied in +observing the beautiful form of the lovely blonde, whose graceful +motions, employed for the promotion of his comfort, were for that +reason rendered doubly charming.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Perhaps I render you an unwelcome service in taking you from +this +place, fair maiden?' said he, by way of beginning conversation.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How can you think so, sir?' quickly replied Faith. 'I thank +my God and +yourself for my release.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, one cannot always know,' said Dorn, jestingly. 'The +heart may +often have attachments in a place otherwise particularly disagreeable.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'If I thought you alluded to the captain,' said Faith, with +some +asperity, 'I could become angry with you, in the first hour of our +acquaintance.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He is not, indeed, a very fascinating suitor,' continued +Dorn; 'but +there nevertheless may be in the city of Sagan, some slender rosy +youth, who has eyes for so beauteous a maiden.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I know none here for whom I could have eyes,' answered the +maiden, +quickly, and immediately became somewhat alarmed at the traitorous +emphasis she had laid upon the word <i>here</i>.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not here, but elsewhere?' asked Dorn, seizing her delicate +white hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">'These bold questions come from the evil customs of your +hateful +military profession,' said Faith, endeavoring to withdraw her hand. He +suffered her to regain it only by slow degrees, letting but one rosy +finger out of his hand at a time, while his pulse was becoming greatly +accelerated by the soft, caressing touch. His eyes sought and met hers, +which looked kindly upon him, not with the sun's consuming fire, but +with the mild chaste light of the friendly moon.</p> + +<p class="normal">'So you have not yet loved, charming Faith?' he earnestly +asked, +holding fast the last little finger of the imprisoned hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What a question,' whispered she, turning away from him. 'I am +scarcely +sixteen years old.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then the first silver-tone is yet to be drawn from this +untried 'harp +of a thousand strings;' O, how happy,' cried the youth, 'will be that +artist who shall one day succeed in awakening its thrilling music!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Faith suddenly exclaimed, 'Good night, captain!' The farewell +bow +released the yet imprisoned finger, and the delightful vision +disappeared.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="normal">When Dorn opened his eyes the next morning, a corporal and six +halbardiers were standing before his bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dress yourself quickly,' commanded the corporal. 'I am +ordered to +bring you before the duke.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Having soon become satisfied that no opposition was, in this +case, to +be thought of, Dorn obeyed. As he and his guards were passing through +the streets, he saw many things which went to prove the arbitrary power +of the man before whom his own emperor and all Europe were then +trembling. Notwithstanding the misery and suffering produced by the +war, he saw whole rows of houses which had been repaired, newly +painted, and splendidly furnished, that the city in which the +Friedlander dwelt and governed might present an agreeable appearance to +the eye. The beautiful flocks and herds of the city, driven by weeping +burghers, were making their way toward the gates, having been expelled +because their continuance in the city was inconsistent with the dignity +of a capital. The work of demolition was yet going on in the vicinity +of the palace, and more than fifty houses were lying in ruins. To all +of Dorn's questions, however, the corporal had but one answer:--'the +duke wills it.' They had now reached the castle. The corporal conducted +Dorn through the crowd of halbardiers, footmen and pages, to the +ante-chamber of the audience-room, where fifty of the body guards were +on duty. Two Silesian noblemen, ambassadors to the duke from Leignitz +and Oels-Bernstadt, were here waiting in patient humility to learn if +the dictator would please to grant them an audience.</p> + +<p class="normal">At length one of the duke's counsellors came out of the +audience-room, +and with insolent hauteur beckoned the Leignitz ambassador, who +reverentially approached the proud knight.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What you have delivered to my lord in behalf of your +province,' said +the counsellor, with contemptuous disrespect, 'he will take into +consideration and communicate his pleasure to your duke at the next +assembly of the princes. Your complaints against the troops are not +deserving of consideration. The soldier must have something for his +trouble and toil. In that respect, my lord has far heavier and more +just complaints against your duke. The latter has put a man to death +who wished to take service in our army.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The culprit was a subject of our duke, and a wilful +murderer,' +answered the ambassador. 'He was executed in accordance with the right +and in pursuance of the judgment of the court of Aldermen of Leignitz.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No court of justice,' continued the counsellor, 'may presume +to punish +any one who claims the Friedlander's protection. My lord directs you to +say to your duke, that he must send him two hundred infantry from his +own troops as an indemnification, or the heads of a dozen of the +Leignitz nobility shall be answerable for the neglect.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The Leignitz ambassador retired with a deadly paleness, and +the +messenger from Oels-Bernstadt was beckoned to approach.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Duke Wenzel,' said the counsellor, in a cutting tone, 'has +ventured to +hang same soldiers of count Terzky's regiment.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'As robbers taken in the act,' interposed the messenger; 'in +obedience +to the orders of the generalissimo himself, to keep the high roads +safe, and punish all convicted criminals.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Terzky has written to him,' continued the counsellor, without +noticing +the interruption, 'that he has ordered the same number of the prince's +counsellors to be hanged, and that he has already set a price upon +their heads. Thereupon lord Wenzel immediately complained to the +emperor, and the complaint, as was proper, has been transmitted to my +master, who has decided upon the affair. He directs it to be announced +to your master that he approves and will sustain the acts of count +Terzky, and to give an example to the Silesian princes generally, the +principalities and baronies of your master will be confiscated and +divided among those soldiers who have merited them by their services. +With this message you are at liberty to depart.' He turned his back +upon him and with a haughty step returned to the audience-room. The +messengers departed in speechless sorrow, and at that moment a corporal +conducted two well dressed ladies into the ante-chamber. They were +closely veiled and weeping bitterly. Another corporal led a bound +Wallensteiner, with wild, staring eyes, blue lips and bristling' hair, +through the ante-chamber into the audience-room. The ladies now looked +up, and, perceiving Dorn, quickly removed their veils. He instantly +recognized his hospitable hostess and her lovely daughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My dear Faith!' cried he with tender compassion; but the +corporal +rapped him upon the shoulder, and whispered to him, 'silence, if you +have any regard for your neck. Without the duke's permission no word +must be uttered here.'</p> + +<p class="normal">A deep and awful silence now prevailed in the ante-chamber, +broken only +by some plaintive tone which occasionally reached them through the +double doors which separated the two rooms. An angry voice suddenly +cried within, 'let the brute be hanged!'--'That was the duke,' +whispered one of the soldiers to another. The doors opened, and the +delinquent was again led through the ante-chamber by his companion. +'God be merciful to me!' stammered he, as he staggered onward and +disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">Again a deep silence, again the doors of the audience-room +opened, and +the counsellor cried out, 'the Dane, with the two gentlewomen!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Forward!' commanded each of the corporals, and with a firm +step Dorn +walked into the hall, supporting the almost fainting females.</p> + +<p class="normal">A tall haggard man, with a dreadful sternness in his yellow +face and +small twinkling eyes, frightfully expressive of anxiety, a magnificent +plumed hat upon his short red head, a black velvet Spanish jacket +decked with the stars and chains of various orders, an ermine-trimmed, +dark violet-colored velvet mantle upon his shoulders, was standing by +his gilded armchair before a table, at which three counsellors and a +Jesuit were seated. Six barons and the same number of knights, stood in +files by the wall in respectful silence, that the behests of the +all-powerful noble might be followed by instant execution, as the deed +follows the will, or thunder the lightning. Behind the arm-chair stood +the well known captain of the life guards, who met the entering group +with a smile of Satanic triumph.</p> + +<p class="normal">With the majesty of a prince of the lower world, the duke +advanced to +Dorn, looked at him with his little piercing eyes as though he would +interrogate his soul, and in a gruff repulsive tone asked him, 'Danish +captain?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'By virtue of this commission,' quietly answered Dorn, handing +the +document to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">The duke glanced through it, gave it back to him, and said, 'a +prisoner +of war, then!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'When count Mannsfeld was driven through Silesia by you,' +answered +Dorn, 'I was left in Oels severely wounded. I there found a charitable +merchant who had my wounds healed and afterwards took me with him to +Schweidnitz. Tired of the trade of war, I have remained there for +the last two years, and served my benefactor in the capacity of +book-keeper. Under these circumstances, I leave it for your sense of +justice to decide whether I can be considered a prisoner of war.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Or spy?' asked the duke.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My free passport remains with the commandant of the city,' +answered +Dorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What was your object in coming to head quarters?' asked the +duke.</p> + +<p class="normal">'To bring a scholar from Schweidnitz,' answered Dorn, for your +school at Gitschin, and to take back to Schweidnitz my employer's +mother-in-law and her daughter.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Prove it!' cried the examiner.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Send to the merchant Engelmann,' said Dorn; 'who must have +left his +prison last evening; and Madam Rosen must yet have the letter which she +wrote to Schweidnitz and which I brought back to her as my credential.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Here is the unlucky letter,' sobbed the trembling widow, +handing it to +the duke on bended knee.</p> + +<p class="normal">He took it, read, and turned towards the captain.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We have your portrait here,' said he; 'not flattered, but +well drawn. +Did you know the object of his coming here?'</p> + +<p class="normal">The captain replied only by stammering some unintelligible +words.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He wished to prevent their departure,' said Dorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">'To know and keep silence, is called lying!' observed the +duke, with +anger. Then to Dorn, 'you have, however, abused the emperor!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is not true!' cried the latter with vehemence. 'He drank +the +emperor's health with the captain!' cried the trembling Faith, +encouraged by her anxiety for the youth. 'I and my mother are +witnesses, and because he drank the emperor's health, the captain +pretended that he had enlisted for a soldier.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Shame upon you!' thundered the duke. 'Has a lord who has all +Europe +for a recruiting ground, need of such miserable devices?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Here is a heretic conspiracy,' cried the captain, 'planned +for my +destruction. This woman is secretly a Lutheran, together with her +daughter. Already have I twice watched their stolen attendance upon the +preacher of Eckensdorf. For that reason they have called the +Mannsfelder here, that he may take them to heretical Schweidnitz, where +they can practise their idolatry undisturbedly; and because, out of +zeal for the true faith, I wished to prevent their heathenish +abominations, I am calumniated by the apostate women and their +accomplice.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Heap not new insults upon us,' cried Dorn, forgetting in +whose +presence he stood. 'You know that you yet owe me satisfaction for those +of last evening. You promised indeed to meet me this morning; but you +preferred to rob me of my liberty and the ability to punish you for the +outrage you committed, by false charges.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Mannsfelder! Mannsfelder!' exclaimed the duke, secretly +delighted with +the boldness of the warrior; 'We also are yet here!' and turning to the +captain, he asked; 'What have you to say to this accusation?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Challenged and not appear!' cried he, as the captain stood +mute, with +frightfully flashing eyes. 'A Friedlandish captain! Announce yourself +to the officer of the day as under arrest, and immediately afterwards +seek for your discharge. You can no longer serve under Wallenstein!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yet the captain's information with regard to the secret +church-going +of these women may well deserve some consideration,' remarked the +Jesuit, rising.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A soldier should be no priestly spy,' angrily answered the +duke. 'I am +the emperor's generalissimo; but not his inquisitor. What care I about +the catechisms of his subjects. They may believe what they like, +provided they but give what they should. I adhere to my decision.'</p> + +<p class="normal">With a devout sigh the Jesuit again seated himself; and, in +despair at +the rebound of his last arrow, the captain left the hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a kindness which strangely suited his stony face, the +duke now +stepped directly to Dorn and slapped him upon the shoulder. 'You are +laconic and resolute,' said he, 'I like that; and moreover I must have +seen this face somewhere.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Perhaps on the Elbe near Dessau,' answered Dorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Right!' cried the duke. 'You are the officer who held the +last +entrenchment with such obstinacy. I liked you, even then. Will you +become a major in my regiment of life-guards? I shall conclude a peace +with Denmark at the earliest opportunity, and so your Danish commission +need be no hindrance.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'To the true hero the truth may be fearlessly spoken,' said +Dorn. 'I +cannot fight against my conscience.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I regret that any obstacle deprives me of your services,' +said the +duke. 'I would very willingly do something to oblige you. Ask some +favor of me!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have only to ask you,' said Dorn, 'to permit me to depart +immediately for Schweidnitz with these ladies, and also your permission +to take back with me the poor boy whom I tore from his friends in +obedience to your commands.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, take the whole baggage, comrade,' said the duke +beneficently: +'and a prosperous journey to you! I will cause the necessary papers to +be given you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The duke kindly nodded permission to retire, and Dorn led the +ladies +from the hall.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A happy escape from the lion's den!' sighed the matron with a +lighter +heart, as she turned her back upon the palace.</p> + +<p class="normal">What may not one accomplish who is a man in the fullest sense +of the +word!' cried the enthusiastic Faith, pressing Dorn's hand to her heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I know not,' said Dorn pensively, 'whether I shall have +especial +reason to rejoice at the turn the affair has taken or not. It just now +occurs to me that the dismission of your persecutor from his quarters +in your house, removes the evil which impelled you to leave Sagan, and +that you may not now wish to accompany me to Schweidnitz.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'O! we have on many accounts long desired to visit our +Katharine,' said +Faith with great earnestness. 'Our house can never remain long free +from this detestable quartering, and who knows how the next may conduct +himself! Besides, I fear the captain now as much as I did before. He +has lost the power of tormenting us, and his bread into the bargain. He +will soon be released from the guard-house, and a bad man, however +insignificant may be his situation, has the power to injure with the +will!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My daughter's zeal,' smilingly interposed the matron, 'saves +me the +trouble of explaining my reasons for wishing to go with you. Let it +suffice, that we ride with you to Schweidnitz.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">At Schweidnitz, on new year's eve, the Fessel family were +gathered +around the well lighted and richly covered table; but no one had an +inclination to eat; for Dorn, the idol of the house, was still absent, +and anxiety for her beloved relatives saddened the countenance of the +affectionate Katharine.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I thought master Dorn would have kept his word better,' cried +the +impatient Martin, striking the empty seat which had been placed near +him for the expected traveler. 'The supper will soon be over and still +he is not here.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He will yet be sure to come,' said the confiding Ulrich. 'God +grant +it,' sighed Katharine. 'A carriage! a carriage!' cried the listening +daughters, running to the window. 'It is father's horses!' they +shouted. Out ran the two boys, overthrowing their seats with a +tremendous racket; and, as if there had been a wager among the four +children, which should first break their necks, they all rushed out of +the door and down the steep stairs.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Welcome to Schweidnitz, my dear mother!' joyfully cried the +master of +the house from the window, to which he also had hastened.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Has my sister come with you?' asked the anxious Katharine, +running to +the door. The children had already let down the steps of the carriage, +and madam Rosen with her daughter hastened to meet their expectant +friends. The cloaks and wrappers soon fell off, and mother and +daughters were clasped in a mutual embrace.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Happily redeemed from the prison of the hateful Holofernes?' +asked +Fessel, affectionately greeting his mother-in-law.</p> + +<p class="normal">'After great trouble and anxiety,' answered the widow, drawing +a long +breath, whilst the attentive Katharine was busily relieving her of her +superfluous traveling garments.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Had you not sent us so bold a knight,' said Faith playfully; +'to +rescue us from the terrible giant, we should have been at this moment +sitting in Sagan, listening to the insupportable boastings of the +monster.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where is the valiant knight, that I may thank him for his +good +service?' asked Katharine.</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment Dorn entered the room, leading the young +Engelmann by +the hand, and surrounded by the four children of the house.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How! Do you bring the boy, also?' asked the astonished +master, warmly +embracing his book-keeper.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He has permission to remain and pursue his studies here,' +answered +Dorn. 'Here is the Duke's consent in his own hand-writing.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You must understand the black art,' cried the overjoyed +Fessel. 'I +should sooner have expected to remove the everlasting hills from their +foundations than to move the Friedlander from his purpose.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I could not, however, save your property,' said Dorn. 'The +houses +already lay in ruins, and all applications for indemnification are +rejected by the ducal court.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am sorry to lose the capital,' said Fessel; for I had +already built +a fine speculation upon it; but you have saved my dear friends, and so +in God's name let the guilders go. Now seat yourselves and relate to me +circumstantially how this eighth wonder of the world has been +accomplished.'</p> + +<p class="normal">They placed themselves at table. Dorn obtained a seat near the +charming +Faith; and, as among a swarm of bees, narrations and corrections, +questions and answers, praise and astonishment, fear, anger and +laughter, so buzzed about the table that the business of eating was +scarcely thought of.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thank God we are finally here!' remarked madam Rosen, +reaching her +goblet of Hungary wine to the book-keeper, for the purpose of touching +his glass. 'My best thanks,' said she with emotion, and at the same +time gave an intimation to Faith to follow her example.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thank me not so much, dear madam,' said the youth with a +pensive air, +while touching glasses with the blushing maiden; 'else I shall have my +whole reward in thanks.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And in consequence lose the courage to ask for a dearer one,' +jested +Katharine, who had noticed the glance he gave her sister.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We are so merry to-night!' cried Fessel's youngest daughter, +the +little Hedwig, 'cannot you let us have the play of the light boats now, +dear mother? You promised it to us on Christmas eve; which, by the by, +was passed sadly enough.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, yes, the light boats!' shouted the other children, +clapping their +hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, bring the large soup-dish,' said the mother, who could +refuse +nothing to her youngest daughter; 'but be careful not to spill the +water.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Glorious, excellent!' cried the children in chorus. Hedwig +flew out of +the room; the other children produced wax candles of various colors, +and began cutting them into innumerable small pieces; while Faith, +Dorn, and young Engelmann, were instructed to divide the walnuts, of +which the table famished an abundant supply, in halves, and neatly to +extricate the kernels without injuring the shells.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I know not if you are acquainted with this play of the +Silesian +children,' said Fessel, laughing, to Dorn. 'It was omitted by us last +year, in consequence of my wife's illness. It is a solemn oracle upon +matters of love, marriage, and death. The children, however, do not +trouble themselves about the serious signification; but only take +pleasure in the movements of the boats and in splashing the water.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The door now opened, and little Hedwig stepped into the room, +with the +large dish full of water in her hands, with a solemn and consequential +air, and deposited her burden upon the centre of the table.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now put the lights in the boats,' commanded Martin; 'we have +prepared +enough of them.' A small wax taper was placed in each shell, projecting +like the mast of a boat.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who shall swim first?' asked Elizabeth, lighting the tapers +in two of +the boats.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Mother and father!' cried the others, and the shells were +placed in +the platter near each other, when they moved forth upon the clear +liquid surface with a regular motion, and burning with a steady light, +until they reached the opposite side where they quietly remained.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We are already anchored in a safe haven,' said Fessel to his +beloved +wife; 'and in the quiet enjoyment of domestic happiness, we can have no +wish to be restlessly driving about upon the open seas.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, may God grant that the troubles of the times reach us not +in our +safe haven and rend our bark from its fast anchorage,' cried the +true-hearted Katharine with timid foreboding.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment the light in one of the boats began to hiss and +sputter, +and after flashing for an instant was extinguished, amid exclamations +of sad surprise from the children.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What does that forbode?--to whom does that boat belong?' +asked +Katharine, smilingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is not decided,' eagerly cried Ulrich; 'and the whole +oracle is +invalid.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Elizabeth filled the boat with water by her awkwardness, when +she +started it,' announced Martin, who had been investigating the causes of +the accident.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Every event in life must have had its cause,' said Fessel +with more +earnestness than the trifling accident merited. 'If this portends the +extinguishment of the light of life in either of us, I pray God in +mercy to grant that mine may be the first to expire.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Say not so,' tenderly replied Katharine. 'Our children would +lose in +you their only stay. Their mother would be more lightly missed, and the +strong man would better bear the sad bereavement than weak and helpless +woman.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why this earnest and deep-meaning conversation on new year's +evening?' +said madam Rosen, half angry. 'Come, children; go on more briskly with +your play and give us something pleasanter to think about.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who comes next?' asked Elizabeth.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Honor to whom honor is due,' laughed Hedwig. 'Cousin Faith +must swim +now.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But she must herself decide with whom,' said Fessel. 'I have +not been +at Sagan for some years, and know not who has made himself most +agreeable to her.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Indeed, I know not whom to name to you,' said the maiden with +a low +tone and hesitating manner, blushing deeply for the untruth which thus +escaped her lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then we will take master Dorn for the occasion,' cried the +obstreperous Martin, whose natural boldness was increased by the wine +he had tasted; 'he is constantly giving Faith such friendly glances!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It shall be so,' shouted Ulrich; 'and they shall have the +handsomest +tapers. Choose your own colors; here are red, and green, and white, and +variegated.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Red for Faith and green for me,' quickly cried Dorn, +silencing the +maiden by a gentle pressure of her hand under the table, as she was +about to make some objections.</p> + +<p class="normal">'They must not, however, start together from the shore,' said +Ulrich. +'Well, do you set the red ship on that side and I will place the green +one here,' answered Martin; 'and then they may seek each other if they +wish to come together.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Brightly burning, the little barks swam towards each other for +a +moment; then, both floated to the edge of the platter and remained +motionless, at some little distance apart.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Master Dorn is too indolent!' cried Martin, throwing a +nut-kernel at +the green skiff to urge it towards the red; but it only reeled to and +fro, without removing from its place.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Insufferable!' cried Dorn. At that moment the water became +slightly +agitated, and both skiffs left their stations at the side for the open +sea.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Faith has jostled the table!' cried the falcon-eyed Hedwig.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I--no--I wish to hinder their meeting,' stammered the +confused Faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Did you really jostle the table, dearest maiden?' asked Dorn, +his hand +again seeking hers.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, ah, my daughter!' reprovingly exclaimed madam Rosen, and +amid the +exclamations of the children the two skiffs met in mid ocean, while a +gentle pressure from Faith's hand gave an affirmative answer to the +bold question of the youth.</p> + +<p class="normal">The joy of the children, which the grandmother's remonstrances +only +increased, was every moment becoming more bold and noisy. Without aim +or object a crowd of lights were now set afloat in the mimic ocean, and +apple cuttings and bread bullets flew like bombs among them, causing +immense damage and innumerable shipwrecks. 'It is enough!' cried +Fessel, the disturbance becoming excessive, and moved his chair from +the table. A respectful silence succeeded the wild tumult. The children +dutifully arose, folded their hands with a serious air, and Martin said +grace with decent solemnity.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mistress of the house now invited her beloved guests to +retire to +rest; that they might sleep away the fatigues of the day; but the +children, who had again become as noisy as ever, and had not the least +inclination to sleep, strongly opposed the movement.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It would be fine indeed,' cried Martin, 'if we should have no +writing +of notes.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Pray, pray, dear mother!' entreated the flattering and +constant +petitioner, Hedwig. 'You well know that you promised me, if I filled a +writing book without blotting, that I should be indulged with writing +notes, on new year's evening. My last writing book is without a spot, +and you must now keep your word.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Children are the most inexorable creditors,' said Fessel, +directing +little Ulrich to bring the writing materials from the counting-room, +while the table was being cleared.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is a strange remnant of the old heathen times,' +explained Fessel +to the book-keeper, who looked inquiringly at him. 'It is a form of new +year's congratulation, and an oracle at the same time. You write three +several wishes upon three slips of paper, which you fold and give to +the person who would try his fate. These wishes may be, honors, offices +and success in business, to the men,--chains, bracelets, and new +dresses, to the women,--agreeable suitors to maidens. All place the +notes they have received under their pillows, and the wish contained in +the one which is first opened on new year's morning shall be fulfilled +in the course of the current year.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I always take great pleasure in this sport,' said Katharine +to her +mother; 'my husband is always so anxious to fulfil his oracle and to +present me what is wished me in the note I open.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'There comes Ulrich!' screamed the children, as he entered, +heavily +laden, and deposited his burden upon the table. The notes were +prepared, and the whole family were soon seated around the table, +moving their pens as assiduously as if an instrument was to be drawn +for securing religious liberty. Amidst the scratching of the pens, +which were very awkwardly handled by the younger children, and +therefore made the more noise, arose the admonitions of the father to +sit erect, and of the mother not to bespatter themselves with ink; +which admonitions were obeyed just so long as they were heard. +Meanwhile Dorn was sharply watching the paper upon which Faith was +writing; who, as soon as she became aware of it, covered the writing +with her little hand and whispered to him: 'If you watch me, you will +get no packet from me to-night.' He discreetly drew back and began +writing his notes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Fessel now strewed sand upon his last note, enclosed it with +the others +and gave the packet with a kiss to his Katharine. The children snapped +their pens to the infinite damage of the well scoured white floor, for +which their grandmother very properly scolded them. Dorn handed his +packet to the beauteous Faith, who hid hers in her bosom, strenuously +asserting that she could think of nothing to write.</p> + +<p class="normal">The clock now struck the midnight hour, and a peal of bells +from the +tower of the city hall greeted the new year.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A happy new year! a happy new year!' shouted the children, +springing +from their seats; and the impetuous Hedwig proposed to open the notes +directly, as the new year had already commenced; but Fessel interposed +his decided negative and commanded them to defer it until the actual +rising of the new year sun.</p> + +<p class="normal">Amid the noise and confusion of the thousand new year +congratulations, +Dorn once more approached the lovely Faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Must I enter upon the new year without one kind wish from +you?' he +pensively asked. She looked at him with embarrassment and irresolution. +At that moment she was called by her mother who was already standing in +the door. The startling call helped her to come to a decision, and, +suddenly drawing the packet from her bosom and smilingly placing it in +Dorn's hand, she hastened after her mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">Long did the youth hold the much coveted packet pressed to his +lips. +'How much earthly happiness,' said he to himself with deep emotion, +'have I destroyed in my military career. Do I indeed deserve that love +should crown me with its freshest wreaths in a land I have helped to +lay waste?'</p> + +<p class="normal">Dorn, who had retired late and awoke betimes with the +interesting +little packet under his pillow, found himself at an early hour leaning +against a window in the family parlor, and engaged in examining a +delicate little note. While thus occupied, Faith, impelled by a similar +restlessness, entered the room. As she perceived him whose image had +embellished her dreams, an enchanting blush overspread her delicate +face, and her beautiful blue eyes beamed with love and joy; but when +Dorn, enraptured at the encounter, affectionately tendered her the +congratulations appropriate to the new year's morning, changing her +mood she turned away from him with feigned displeasure and exclaimed: +'Pshaw, captain! I am angry with you. You have wished me two horrible +suitors.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Before I undertake to exculpate myself,' said Dorn, 'only +tell me +which you drew from the packet.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The duke of Friedland,' stammered the embarrassed maiden with +downcast +eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Look me directly in the eye!' cried Dorn, seizing the hand of +the +unpractised dissembler. 'Did you really draw no other name?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, let me go,' she murmured, her confusion and maidenly +timidity +rendering her still more charming.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You do not once ask what wish I have drawn!' said Dorn, +holding up his +note.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who knows whether you would tell me the truth,' answered +Faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have a care,' cried Dorn. 'The suspicion can only spring from +a +consciousness that you have deceived me, and that is not fair. I will +set you an example of ingenuousness. You wished a poor mortal to choose +among three daughters of heaven. Love, Hope, and Faith, were inscribed +upon your three notes. My good genius helped me to the best choice. +Love I already had deep in my heart from the moment I first saw you; +Hope visited me last evening; and I only lacked Faith in the certainty +of my good fortune. I drew it with this note.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A gallant officer well knows how to convert trifles into +matters of +importance,' said the maiden, repelling the persevering youth. 'I wrote +the three names for you, merely in jest, Faith, Hope, and Charity, +because they follow each other in the calendar.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Only for that reason?' asked Dorn in a tender tone, throwing +his arms +around her slender waist. Endeavoring to push him gently back with her +right hand, she dropped a note which Dorn caught up and read before she +could hinder him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Victoria!' shouted he. 'You have drawn my name, as I have +drawn yours. +Who can doubt now that we are destined for each other? Obey the +friendly oracle, dear maiden, and become mine, as I am yours, in life +and death.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He embraced the lovely creature more ardently, while she, no +longer +able to withstand the solicitations of the youth and the pleadings of +her own heart, sank on his bosom, and exclaimed in low accents: 'Thine, +forever.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="normal">'Well, really, master Dorn, you begin the portentous new year +upon +which we are entering in a very worldly manner,' cried a reproving +voice behind them. Faith shrieked with terror that those blessed +moments should have had a witness, and fled from the room. At the same +time Dorn, displeased at the awkward interruption, turned suddenly +round and stood facing the parson, who viewed him with severe and +reproachful looks. 'Is it well,' at length said the angry preacher, 'to +seduce the inconsiderate sister-in-law of your brother and benefactor +into an amorous intrigue?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are right, reverend sir,' answered Dorn; 'that would be +to do him +foul wrong; but to seek the honorable love of a maiden whom I hope one +day to lead to the altar as my beloved wife, appears to me to be well, +and is not forbidden in the holy scriptures.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You wish to espouse the maiden, then?' said the parson; 'that +is quite +a different thing, and I take back my censure. In that case my office +imposes upon me another sacred duty. The maiden is how under my +spiritual care, and I must be answerable to heaven for her religious +principles, which might be perverted by an unbelieving husband. I have +become doubtful of you, from your own conversations, and therefore, as +a called and ordained servant of the word, I ask you, are you an +orthodox Lutheran christian?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You would find it very difficult to justify that question +before the +great author of your reformation,' answered Dorn, moodily. 'Know you +not how peremptorily he forbade the professors of his doctrines to +designate themselves by his name?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You wish to evade my question!' cried the parson, feeling the +sting, +but endeavoring to conceal the smart.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is not my custom,' said Dorn. 'I will never deny that I +adhere to +the doctrines which were first promulgated in Switzerland, and have +thence spread throughout the German empire.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'As I feared!' cried the parson. 'A Calvinist, or perhaps even +a +Zuinglian! and you wish to take a wife of the Augsburg faith?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why not?' asked Dorn. 'That God who has disposed my heart +toward the +maiden, will not be angry that I choose her as my companion for life.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I much doubt whether you can have and keep a true heart for +one who is +of a different faith,' said the parson, shaking his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God, who is eternal love, pardon you for the doubt, reverend +sir,' +said Dorn with emotion. 'It is a sad consideration, that contentions +about unimportant dogmas and forms so frequently divide christians who +should stand united against the common enemy. It would be dreadful if +the feeble chains by which you are yet fettered, after throwing off +those of popery, should bar the way between two innocent individuals, +whose souls have become united by the bonds of holy love.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Unimportant dogmas and forms?' repeated the parson.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I consider them so,' answered Dorn. 'Adhering to the words of +Christ, +we celebrate, in the Lord's supper, only a holy remembrance of the +Savior; while you, by virtue of the same words, find therein a +mysterious presence of his body and his blood. You ornament your +churches with pictures, of which practice we disapprove. Are such +differences really sufficient grounds for the quarrels and contentions +which the followers of both confessions continue to wage against each +other with such reprehensible bitterness?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You wilfully overlook a principal point,' said the parson; +'the almost +insurmountable partition wall which your Calvin has raised between you +and us. I mean your monstrous doctrine of election. <i>Aliis vita ćterna, +aliis damnatio ćterna prćordinatur!</i> How can you reconcile this +declaration with infinite love and eternal justice?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I willingly give up these doctrines to your disposal,' +answered Dorn; +'for they have never formed a part of my creed. Even Calvin himself +stated, that he had some scruples whether predestination could be +reconciled with God's wisdom, the rock upon which this doctrine has +always foundered.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I take this concession for all it is worth,' said the parson; +'but I +cannot pass over your assertion, that our difference upon the subject +of the Lord's supper is a contest <i>de lana caprina</i>. Because your +presumptuous reason cannot comprehend the declaration of our Savior, +'this is my body,' you wish to strike it out of the bible; but this we +cannot permit; because we cannot give up one tittle of God's word, and +because the communion solemnity falls to the ground when the mystery +becomes robbed of the wings which bear it up to heaven. If, however, +you take away from the holy scriptures all that is not clear to you, +nothing will remain but a good sensible book, but with no high +revelation which can only be received by pious faith. If you can see +nothing in the sacrament of the Lord's supper but a remembrance of its +founder, you need not partake of the bread and wine. Without this +<i>medium</i> it would be impossible for us to forget our Lord and Master.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Sensual man,' answered Dorn, 'needs sensible signs as symbols +of +spiritual things. To be reminded of the author of our religion is to be +reminded of his doctrines; and as he established this solemnity and +consecrated it to the remembrance of himself on the evening before the +death with which he sealed his doctrines, so must it, according to +<i>our</i> creed, be deemed sacred--must soften and purify our hearts, and +inspire us with devout and holy resolutions, which is the important +point in question for you as well as us. We consider the <i>mystery</i> +unnecessary, and we have the voices of the earliest churches with us, +as the transubstantiation doctrine of Paschasius Radbertus, from which +yours but very little differs, was first heard of in the ninth +century.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For a book-keeper and ci-devant military officer you are +deeply +learned,' remarked the somewhat excited preacher.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My early religious education,' answered Dorn, 'was +superintended by a +well informed, clear headed Bernardine monk, who afterwards, like +myself, went over to Zuinglius's belief. I may thank him that I at +least know what the point in dispute is,--a knowledge which, alas, is +needed by many thousands of our brethren in the faith.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I supposed something like that,' said the parson. 'But I +interrupted +you. Proceed with your pretended refutation of my arguments.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Excuse me from answering further,' modestly replied Dorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Because you cannot answer them!' exclaimed the parson in +imaginary +triumph.</p> + +<p class="normal">'These controversial battles,' calmly continued Dorn, 'have +been too +often fought in vain for me to hope that we can be brought to agree. I +have not endeavored to defend my doctrines; but only to show that a +difference in creeds need not divide hearts. I abide by my tenets; but +I believe that you also may attain salvation with yours. Believe you +the same of mine, as I doubt not you do, and we can readily co-operate +for the advancement of the good cause. The remaining topics of +difference are not essential. Here it only concerns us, setting aside +the creeds of men, to hold the doctrines of Christ as the true +teachings of God's holy word, and by them so to govern our minds and +actions that we may win the approbation of a good conscience, a serene +dying hour, and a merciful judgment. That, in my opinion, is the true, +living, christian faith; and whoever has it is our brother in Christ, +whether he calls himself Lutheran, Calvinist, Zuinglian, or even +catholic.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My God! you are then not even a Zuinglian!' angrily exclaimed +the +parson. 'This despicable toleration of all opinions is godless +indifference, behind which naturalism and deism conceal themselves. +Were you an intelligent and confirmed heretic, the argument might be +continued; but you are nothing but an <i>eclecticus</i>, who seeks in +christianity just so much as suits his purpose, and throws the rest +aside!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Paul said, 'prove all things and hold fast that which is +good,'' +interposed Dorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am well satisfied that you do not desire to know any thing +of the +true faith,' continued the parson; 'and yet it is the only foundation +of our religion. Know you not that Christ himself has said, 'he that +believeth not shall be damned?''</p> + +<p class="normal">'If you could convince me,' angrily remarked Dorn, 'that +Christ +intended those words to mean what intolerance would construe them, I +would become a heathen from this moment, and joyfully take my portion +in that hell in which the noble Socrates and just Aristides are +burning.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The parson started back with a shudder. Dorn checked himself +and +continued in a subdued tone; 'Be not alarmed, reverend sir, at my +audacious words. My belief is not so bad as you fear. Would to God all +christians had it, and then much less of tears and blood would be made +to flow. Now repeat to me, quickly and peacefully to end our strife, +that which Christ pronounced to be the chief commandment of God.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy +neighbor +as thyself,' said the parson.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Even thine enemy!' added Dorn. 'How much more then those who +only +differ from us in opinion! Here you have my profession of faith, and I +trust in God that I shall be able to stand before him at the last day +with it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You confound ideas,' cried the vexed parson. 'You speak of +christian +ethics, and I am reasoning only of the articles of faith.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Devised by men!' said Dorn. 'I hold the chief point to be the +observance of the system of morals taught by Christ. Do not you also?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No!' emphatically exclaimed the parson after a short pause.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No?' asked Dorn with some surprise. 'The divine doctrine that +we must +live devoutly to die happily, not the substance of our religion! Ah, my +dear sir, it was your cloth, and not your head or heart, which dictated +that negative. You are too good and too intelligent not to be of my +opinion.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, do not press me with such <i>argumenta ad hominem</i>,' said +the parson +with excited but not unfriendly feelings. 'In point of fact there can +be no disputing about matters of faith. It must come from within, and +cannot be derived from without. Nevertheless I do not for that reason +give you up. A time will come when you will be no longer satisfied with +cold syllogisms, and you will then seek a refuge in the open maternal +arms of the true faith, in which only you can find peace. Until when, +only let your conduct be as fair as your speech, and I shall at all +events hope that the maiden will not have made a bad choice. One thing, +however, you must promise me with hand and word. Urge not upon your +future wife your unbelief, or half belief, or whatever else you may +choose to call it. Cause her not to waver in her own, which she +has imbibed with her mother's milk. Yet more than the strong and +self-relying man does weak, delicate and suffering woman need a +steadfast faith. You would rob her of a belief, which is capable of +sustaining her in the hour of sorrow and trial, and give her nothing in +return but cheerless and disconsolate doubt; which would be an exchange +unworthy of the magnanimity of a man.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'In this case you are for once wholly right, my worthy +friend,' said +Dorn: 'and I promise you <i>with this handgrip</i>, by God and my honor, to +do as you require. Now let a lasting peace be concluded between us. +When we hereafter meet above, as I firmly believe we shall, when the +scales shall fall from our eyes, when we shall clearly see what we +perceive but dimly here below, then shall we as surely be one in +knowledge as we now are in feeling, and side by side before the throne +of the father of all men shall we unite with full hearts in the song of +praise to the one true God.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'So may it be!' cried the parson, pressing the youth's hand +and leaving +the room with visible emotion.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">In the forenoon of the 20th January, 1629, a joyful bustle +prevailed in +Fessel's house. The floors and steps were carefully swept, strewed with +a beautiful yellow sand, and adorned with evergreens. A large fire was +crackling in the kitchen, before which the spit was turning, and pots +and stew-pans were steaming. The diligent housewife, notwithstanding +the ready assistance of her mother, had her hands full of business; her +two daughters, who insisted on being employed, hindered more than they +aided her; and the sons who, with their cousin Engelmann, had just +returned from school, raced about the house like wild animals, +practically illustrating the '<i>Dulce est desipere in loco</i>,' which they +had that day construed in their class. In short, it was the betrothing +day of the beauteous Faith and Fessel's new partner in business, master +Dorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">The interesting pair had just returned from the church, where, +in +pursuance of a good old custom, they had made their mutual engagements +in the presence of their God, and commended themselves to his +protection by pious prayer. In the house-door they encountered their +brother-in-law, who was returning from the city council-room, where his +attendance had a short time before been required. He was, however, +unusually pale, returned but brief thanks for the joyous greeting of +the lovers, and silently mounted the stairs with a slow and dull +motion, as if he had been troubled with asthma.</p> + +<p class="normal">'In God's name, my brother, what has happened to you?' cried +Dorn, +returning from the kitchen, where he had left his fair companion.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dark clouds are beginning to overshadow our horizon,' +answered Fessel, +with anxious concern. 'Colonel von Goes has arrived, and demands +permission to march through the city with seven squadrons of the +Lichtensteins.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Goes!' exclaimed Dorn, becoming paler than his +brother-in-law, and +covering his face with his hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is the matter with you?' asked the astonished Fessel. +'Do you +know so much evil of the man?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'From the knowledge I obtained of him during my military +service,' +answered Dorn, making an effort to command himself, 'I may pronounce +him a good soldier, and a man of honor; but he adheres to the catholic +faith with ferocious zeal.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We are under no obligation,' continued Fessel, 'to admit +troops +within our walls, except upon the especial command of his imperial +majesty....'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You will not do so on this occasion!' exclaimed Dorn with +fearful +vehemence. 'You will render the people of your city miserable if you +open your gates to these dreadful protectors. They have given a +specimen of the manner in which they treat protestants, at Glogau.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What can we do?' said Fessel, shrugging his shoulders. 'The +honorable +council have a great inclination to admit them, and for that purpose +hastily called some of the most respectable burghers to the town-house, +to give their opinions as to what answer should be returned to the +request. We honestly stated to the gentlemen what we expected of them. +The colonel then remarked, that he hoped we would not show such +disrespect to the imperial troops, as to compel them to take a wide +circuit round the city in the present cold state of the weather. He +then proceeded solemnly to swear and protest, that he only desired a +passage through the city, and a brief rest for the refreshment and +recovery of the frozen. Indeed, he said he would have no part in God's +kingdom, if any citizen were injured in consequence of the granting of +his request.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For God's sake, trust not to that oath,' begged Dorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">'If the colonel be a man of honor, as you say, wherefore not?' +asked +Fessel with surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have you forgotten that horrible saying, <i>hćreticis non est +servanda +fides</i>?' cried Dorn. 'No time is to be lost in averting the evil. The +council is still in session. I will accompany you to the town-house, +and ask leave to address them upon this matter. Schweidnitz must not +open her gates to these hordes. They certainly can show no mandate from +the emperor, and if the worst come, we have walls and ditches, and +strong burgher hands accustomed to the use of arms, to defend our +dearest treasure, religious freedom.'</p> + +<p class="normal">During this conversation, he had with eager impetuosity drawn +his +brother-in-law towards the door. There they heard the distant notes of +a march from trumpets, clarions and kettle-drums, and the confused +murmurs of a crowd reached them from the great public square.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We are too late,' sighed Fessel. 'The music comes from the +direction +of the Striegauer-gate. The Lichtensteins are already in the city.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then may God by some miracle give the lie to my fears, and +Goes keep +his word!' cried Dorn. 'I anticipate dreadful scenes.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Fessel opened the window and listened to the music, which at +first +appeared to approach, but afterwards sounded fainter and fainter as if +receding. 'Do you hear?' said he to his distrusting brother-in-law, +'you owe an apology to the worthy colonel for your suspicions. The +troops are already passing out by the Nieder-gate.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God grant it may be so,' sighed Dorn, placing himself by +Fessel's side +at the window. 'I am not yet satisfied of the fact, however.' Both +continued listening to the last dying tones of the march.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How the ear can deceive one!' said Fessel. 'It now seems to +me as if +the music were again approaching.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I fear it does not deceive you this time,' answered Dorn +significantly. At that moment a cry of fear and anguish arose along the +main street, and the worthy serjeant-at-arms of the city council was +seen breathlessly running toward the town-house.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Whither with such haste?' cried Fessel to him from the +window.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God be merciful to us!' cried the serjeant. 'The soldiers +have made a +halt at the Nieder-gate, have relieved and dismissed the burgher guard +there, and, turning to the left about, are now marching up the main +street.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That indeed does not look much like passing through the +city,' sighed +Fessel, closing the window. 'It rather indicates an intention to take +up permanent quarters here.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For the purpose of proselytism!' cried Dorn, despondingly. +'Now God be +merciful to me! For if these villains insult our women, I shall die no +natural death.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He hastened forth, while Fessel remained standing at the +window +awaiting the event in silent sadness.</p> + +<p class="normal">The music of the Lichtensteins sounded nearer and nearer, and +soon +their banners, muskets and halberds came waving and glistening up the +street, and in serried ranks the troops came marching into the public +square. 'Halt! order arms!' was now echoed by the commanders. The +muskets and halberds rattled upon the stone pavement with a dull crash, +the music ceased, and the silent and motionless soldiers remained +standing by their arms. Only a malicious smile, which played upon their +dark faces, and the restless and inquisitive movements of their +twinkling eyes, gave them any appearance of being aught but lifeless +statues.</p> + +<p class="normal">Katharine and Faith, pale as ghosts, followed by their mother, +now +burst into the room. The children, naturally excited by these unusual +occurrences, crowded in after them, to get a better view of what was +going forward.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have the Lichtensteins turned back?' simultaneously asked or +rather +shrieked the three women, as Fessel directed their attention to the +human masses in the public square. 'My end has come,' groaned the +matron, sinking down upon a seat. The children hastened to the window, +and in their innocent ignorance right heartily enjoyed the view of the +brilliant uniforms, splendid standards and glistening arms of the +soldiers.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Children,' said Fessel calmly, 'lamentations and complainings +cannot +help us. Let us not, in the present emergency, lose our presence of +mind, which in times of misfortune is the greatest misfortune. I will +go to the compting-room, and as far as possible during the short time +that remains to us, place my property in safety. My Katharine will +hastily collect the most valuable of our things, and conceal them in +the under cellar. I will afterwards see what course is required for our +personal safety. My mother and sister-in-law must meanwhile prepare for +the quartering of the soldiers. As a well conditioned merchant, and a +warden of the evangelical church, I may expect that a full share of +them will be assigned to my house.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is fortunate that we have a repast already provided for +them,' +sighed Katharine, seeking, among a bunch hanging at her girdle, for the +key of the plate closet.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Provided for the betrothal-feast of our good sister!' said +Fessel, +compassionately caressing the cold cheek of the maiden. 'Poor child! +they will leave you little enjoyment of it to-day.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Only see!' cried little Hedwig at the window, 'the officers +are all +crowding around a tall stately chief, and our alderman Newmann is +standing near him with uncovered head and a great number of slips of +paper in both hands.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The tall officer is the colonel,' said Fessel to them by way +of +explanation, 'They are drawing tickets for their quarters.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My God!' suddenly shrieked Faith, who had stepped to the +window, and +flew back to the remotest corner of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is the matter with thee, sister?' asked the sympathizing +Katharine, hastening to her side.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is all over with us,' sighed Faith, pressing her little +hands upon +her beating heart. 'One of the officers suddenly stared wildly up +towards the house. I saw his face but for an instant, and it was partly +shaded by his plume; but I recognised it so certainly and with so much +alarm that I could not help screaming. It was childish, I know. Pardon +me that I frightened you so needlessly. How could this man come here at +the present time? and what a fool I was instantly to fear the worst!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Of whom do you speak, my daughter?' asked the anxious widow; +and, as +Faith was about to explain, Dorn rushed into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Save yourself!' he cried. 'Your persecutor, the broken +captain of +dragoons, now commands a company of the Lichtensteins, and is +endeavoring to get your brother-in-law's house for his quarters. His +hellish object is obvious, and he may be expected here every moment.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then are we all lost,' groaned the mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not yet,' said Katharine, with calm self-possession. 'Listen +to my +proposal. These soldiers cannot stay here forever. While they remain, +mother and sister can conceal themselves in the dry vault back of the +cellar, whose opening in the garden is concealed by the thick grove of +yew-trees. We can pile up boxes and casks before the door, and every +evening convey to them provisions and consolation.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The captain shall be told,' interposed Dorn, 'that you fled +from +Schweidnitz the moment you heard of the approach of the Lichtensteins. +God reward you, Katharine, for the lucky thought.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You will accompany us in our hiding place, beloved sister +will you +not?' asked Faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Shall I take my husband and children into your circumscribed +retreat?' +smilingly asked Katharine; 'or could you really and in earnest ask me +to desert the dearest objects on earth to me? Nor is there any reason +why I should. You have a sufficient cause for concealing yourself, +having offended a bad man who would probably improve the first +opportunity to avenge himself. I am only threatened with the same +misfortunes every family in the city must expect, and with God's help I +must endeavor to bear them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'She is entirely right,' decided the mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My noble wife!' cried Fessel, embracing his courageous and +confiding +spouse. At the same instant Hedwig, who was still at the window, cried: +'There comes a hateful red-bearded officer directly towards the house, +with a whole troop of soldiers behind him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then indeed there is no time to be lost,' said Dorn, hurrying +the +mother and daughter from the room. 'Farewell!' cried the women to each +other. 'God's angels protect you!' said Fessel, proceeding to the door, +at which the Lichtensteins were loudly knocking.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">At the head of the table, which had been beautifully adorned +for the +betrothal-feast, the red-bearded captain had seated himself in terrible +majesty. Desiring, for the present, to appear unusually gracious, he +had invited the heads of the family and their children to take places +at the table. The hospitality so kindly extended to them in their own +house by a stranger, imparted no especial pleasure to those invited. +The children had formed the heroic resolution of not eating a morsel, +merely to show their dislike to the detestable red-beard. Fessel looked +with a gloomy brow directly before him; while the faithful Katharine +forced herself to introduce and sustain the conversation, that a want +of occupation might not give the fiend leisure for evil thoughts. Four +arquebusiers guarded the doors, and in every part of the house arose +the boisterous songs of the converters, who were revelling with +Fessel's choicest wines.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We are satisfied,' said the captain; and, emptying his +goblet, he took +off his military cap, murmured some words in a low voice, crossed +himself, again put on his cap, and then, with feigned affability asked: +'So, your mother-in-law left you last night, Herr Fessel?' and as the +latter answered affirmatively, he further asked: 'And her daughter, +little Faith,--did the good woman take her with her?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Certainly!' stammered Fessel, who was not altogether prepared +for this +close examination.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Strange!' said the captain, extending his goblet to the lady +of the +house to be replenished. 'How a man's eyes may deceive him! As I was +standing with the other officers before the house three hours since, I +would have sworn that I saw the little Faith standing at that very +window.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It was probably me whom you saw, captain,' interposed +Katharine. 'You +must have observed that I resemble my sister very nearly.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Possibly!' observed the captain with a still more hateful +smile. 'You +had, indeed, at that time, a rose-colored band in your blond hair, and +now you have brown locks and a black plaited cap. However, that is +not so very strange. Women's toilets often produce much greater +transformations.'</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment a violent outcry was heard from without. Fessel +hastened +from the room, and soon returned with his eldest apprentice, who was +profusely bleeding from a wound on the head.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is the matter?' asked the captain, addressing himself to +the +wounded man. 'How dare you thus disturb me while at table?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'By your leave, captain!' said the apprentice, with +confidence; 'your +sergeant has robbed me of all the money I had about me, and then beat +me over the head with his sword because I had no more to give him. It +was proper that I should complain to you in order that you might take +measures to punish the outrage.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You did not know how to behave yourself properly, my son,' +said the +captain. 'My people are always kind and harmless as children to all who +are complaisant towards them, and give them every thing they desire. Go +and have your wound dressed, and be more careful another time.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is that all the satisfaction I am to get for my injuries?' +asked the +apprentice, irritated by the pain of his wound, and still more by the +captain's contemptuous answer.</p> + +<p class="normal">The captain's eyes flashed like two baneful meteors. +'Satisfaction!--injuries! How dare you, a damned heretic, use such +words in my presence? vociferated he, starting from his seat. You ought +to thank God that my sergeant did not cleave your head asunder. Pack +yourself hence, if you do not wish that I should complete the work he +began.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He grasped his sword, the young man sprang beyond his reach, +and +Katharine, in soft and soothing tones, besought the savage to be +pacified; but the last link of the chain, by which his natural +brutality had hitherto been restrained, was now broken; the wild beast +in human form was let loose, and yielded only to the most savage +impulses.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you suppose, vagabonds,' roared the fiend, 'that we have +come here +to keep strict discipline and to wait quietly for what you may please +to dispense to us? We are come to chastise you for your heresy, which +is a revolt alike against God and the emperor. We are come to convert +you to the true faith; and if your stubbornness will not suffer our +object to be accomplished by fair means, you are given over to us as a +prize, with your property and lives, bodies and souls, to be tormented +by us to our heart's content, until you are brought to repentance and +an abandonment of your abominable opinions, or sink in despair.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, captain,' cried Fessel, with manly firmness; 'that is not +the will +of our emperor, and I should consider it treasonable to believe your +scandalous assertions. Nor was that the condition upon which we +admitted you within our walls. From your colonel's own mouth have I +heard quite a different speech, and I shall go and ask him if he is +about to give the lie to his own words.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'First go to your own chamber as an arrested prisoner,' said +the +captain, with a smile of contempt; 'until I have had you tried for your +rebellious speech. Lead him forth!' commanded he to the guards. 'Lock +him up, watch him sharply, and if he attempts to escape shoot him +down.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Eternal justice, judge and avenge!' cried Fessel, as the +soldiers +dragged him away.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Mercy!' implored his faithful wife, clasping the captain's +knees; but +the latter disengaged himself from her, put the children, who pressed +around her, out of the room, drew Katharine to a window, and in a low +voice said to her, 'you see that I can be either good or bad as you +would have me. Upon you alone it depends how I shall further proceed. +Therefore answer me honestly and truly, where is your sister?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'She fled last night,' answered Katharine, with calm firmness; +'to +escape the horrors which threaten us. Whither, I do not consider it my +duty to inform you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is fine!' exclaimed the captain, grinning like a Bengal +tiger +when his keeper compels him to show his teeth. 'I like to know how +people feel towards me. I now go to my colonel, and you shall soon hear +from me again.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He departed, and the children, again rushing in, embraced +their mother +with loud lamentation. Katharine sank upon her knees, and her children +with her, and, raising their eyes and hands towards heaven, with a +bleeding heart but nevertheless with confidence, the pious woman prayed +in the words of the royal psalmist: 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul? +and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet +praise him for his countenance who is my help and my God.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The boisterous sorrow of the children subsided into gentle +weeping, and +from every lip was heard the loud, believing, joyful, amen!'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Some days later, Katharine was sitting with her children at +the close +of day and exerting herself to read by the fading twilight a letter of +consolation which her imprisoned husband had thrown to little Ulrich. +The door was cautiously opened and a soldier in the Lichtenstein +uniform hesitatingly entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do not be alarmed,' whispered he, as they shrunk from his +approach. 'I +am Dorn, and have smuggled myself into the house in this disguise, that +I might bring you consolation and see for myself how you were situated. +Your mother and sister are in health and safety, and send kind +greetings to you. Nor need you be anxious on your husband's account. I +am certain that it is better for him to be in confinement than to be +free and expose himself to the outrages to which every hour gives +birth, and do things in moments of passion and excitement which would +only make matters worse. Should his situation become more critical, I +shall always be near him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'In God's name, master Dorn, what is to be the end of all +this?' +anxiously asked Katharine.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A city full of catholics,' answered Dorn with a bitter smile. +'The +count of Dohna has arrived to-day. That is a sufficient reason for +fearing the worst. From a renegade, who expects to win the principality +of Breslau by his tyrannical fury, nothing is to be hoped.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then God help us!' sobbed Katharine, wringing her hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">'By means of our arms, if it cannot be otherwise,' said Dorn, +with +energy. 'I have carefully avoided encountering your worthy guest, +because I well know that one of us must in that case remain dead upon +the spot, and that would little help you in any event; but, if it +becomes necessary, I will strike the devil to the earth and free you +from him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No,' anxiously entreated Katharine; 'no murder on our +account.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is man's work, dear lady,' said Dorn. 'No woman can +reason upon +the subject. Every one must act according to his conscience. It will be +well for me and him if the necessity does not occur.'</p> + +<p class="normal">A gentle and afterwards a more decided knock was heard at the +door. A +voice asked, 'are you alone, madam Fessel?' and directly the pale and +bleeding face of parson Beer peered into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How pale you look! what has happened to you?' cried the +frightened +Katharine.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My face bears the marks of the converting zeal of the +imperial +apostles,' answered the parson with suppressed anger. 'Most terribly do +these Lichtensteins deal with the servants of the word. I have escaped +with less injury than some of my brethren. Me they only misused and +smote with their side arms, because I preached the truth to them with +the sharp fire of the spirit which had come upon me. I heed it not, and +even consider myself honored by the blows I received; one of which came +near making me a martyr. My worthy associate, Bartsch, was much more +shamefully treated, and my blood boils and foams when I think of it. +That they hustled, abused and plundered him, might be passed over; but +the hellish crew, adding to these outrages the most shameful scorn and +mockery, compelled that man of God to dance before them; himself, his +wife, and children to dance, like the infatuated Israelites before the +golden calf. For which the reprobates will one day be compelled to +dance to the howlings of damned spirits in the everlasting fire +prepared for the devil and his angels!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How goes it with the poor citizens?' asked Dorn, for the +purpose of +diverting the attention of the zealot from the occurrences which had so +excited his anger.</p> + +<p class="normal">'As might be supposed, very badly,' answered the parson. 'The +counter +reformation may be said to have dated its commencement from the arrival +of the terrible Dohna. The soldiers are quartered only upon the +protestants, to whom they say, 'the moment you go and confess to the +Dominican or Franciscan priests, and bring a certificate of the fact, +that moment we will leave you and go elsewhere.' When the poor people +have been thus oppressed until they can bear it no longer, they become +frantic and repair to the priests for the certificate of confession. +The tormenting fiends then leave them and are distributed among such of +their neighbors as yet hold to the true faith, and treat them in the +same manner, until they, overcome by the weight of the burthen, also +go, like Peter, and deny their lord and master in the churches of their +adversaries. In this way we clergymen have each sixty men quartered +upon us, and the aldermen the same number. Burgomaster Yunge has +already over a hundred men to provide for, and if the apostacy extends +much further, the last true believing christian of Schweidnitz will +have the whole seven squadrons of converters collected in his own +house.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why do not the wretched people flee and abandon house and +home, +property and sustenance?' asked the excited Dorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">'So they would have done, by thousands,' answered the parson; +'but the +converters will not let them go. The citizens are kept prisoners in +their city, and every householder is confined to his house. The gates +are closed, and each family is guarded by those who are quartered upon +it. In vain have some of our wealthiest citizens offered to give up all +their property with the promise never to ask for it again; in vain have +others sought death rather than a continuance of their sufferings. That +is not the object of our oppressors, whose only answer to all our +prayers is, 'you must embrace our faith.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have heard enough,' cried Dorn, with bursting rage. 'Say no +more, +or, unable to restrain my wrath, I shall strike some of the hounds to +the earth and thereby bring my life to a sudden end. Farewell, Frau +Katharine,--I return to my hiding place; but shall not be far off, and +most joyfully will I lay down my life, if need be, in defence of you +and yours.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He strode forth,--the parson stepped to the window, through +which the +bright moon was pouring its silver light, and, while watching Dorn's +retreating steps, convulsively pressed his hands across his breast and +gave frightful utterance to the following imprecation: 'Thy hand shall +find all thine enemies, Thy right hand shall find them that hate thee. +Thou wilt melt them as in a furnace when thou lookest upon them; the +Lord will consume them in his anger, fire shall devour them. Their seed +wilt thou destroy from the face of the earth, and their names from +among the children of men.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God preserve us, reverend sir,' interposed Katharine. 'How +can you +offer up such a horrible prayer? Rather should you remember and imitate +the forgiving spirit of our Savior when he prayed; 'Father, forgive +them, for they know not what they do!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,' he +tremblingly +repeated after her, his anger rebuked by the divine sentiment, and +submissively raised his eyes toward the exhaustless source of love and +mercy.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The next morning Katharine was sitting in her closet, with her +infant +at her breast. Over its rosy cheeks rolled the mother's tears in quick +succession. Her other children were pressing around her, like chickens +who seek to hide themselves under the mother's sheltering wings, and +all were tremblingly and silently listening to the cries of lamentation +which occasionally arose from the neighboring dwellings, evincing the +activity of the tormentors.</p> + +<p class="normal">The clattering of spurs was heard at the door, which was +immediately +thrown open, and the captain entered the room, accompanied by a file of +soldiers.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am now satisfied!' cried he. 'I have subjected your cook to +a sharp +examination. You have more food prepared daily than is necessary for +the family. Dishes are secretly conveyed away full and returned empty. +I am therefore satisfied that your relatives have not departed; but are +yet in the city, perhaps in this very house, and my duty requires me to +insist on their immediate appearance, that they may become participants +in the reformation which we bring to this deluded city.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have nothing more to answer upon that subject,' said +Katharine with +firmness.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No?' asked the captain, grating his teeth. 'Will you bring me +a +certificate of confession?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not to all is given such greatness of mind as to enable them +to change +their faith according to the emergencies of the moment,' said +Katharine, with a bitterness which the unworthiness of the tempter +forced from her naturally mild heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Still scornful!' growled the captain. 'The cup now runs over. +To the +cellar with this brood of young heretics!' thundered he to his +soldiers, who immediately forced the children from the room. 'My +children!' shrieked Katharine, making an effort to rush after them; but +the captain dragged the unhappy mother back.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The sands of mercy have run out,' he exclaimed; 'and the hour +of +vengeance approaches. It is now no longer question of the runaway girl. +I have torn from my heart my sinful passion for the heretic, and have +to do only with you and your heterodoxy. I give you an hour to consider +whether you will return to the bosom of the mother church. If you then +obstinately choose to adhere to your erroneous belief, I will probe +your breast yet deeper, and by all the saints I swear to you that I +will find your heart.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He left the room. 'Preserve me from desperation, O God!' cried +Katharine, pressing her infant to her bosom and sinking powerless to +the earth.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="normal">When she awoke she was sitting in a chair with her slumbering +babe in +her arms, and before her stood, with weeping eyes, an old Franciscan +monk belonging to the city convent, upon whom she stared with wondering +and uncertain glances.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Calm yourself, dear lady,' said the old man in a friendly +tone. 'The +cowl I wear may be doubly hateful to you in this heavy hour; but it +covers a heart that feels kindly and truly for you. I have heard of +your sufferings and have come to bring you succor. I have not forgotten +the kind attention and care I received in your house when, six years +ago, I came here from Breslau as a mendicant lay brother, and fell +fainting before your door. There were indeed hard-hearted Lutherans who +chid you for your charity and said you ought not to trouble yourself +about the beggarly papist priest,--but you answered that it was your +christian duty to succor a fellow christian. That was a noble +sentiment, and has ever since remained engraved upon my heart, and I +have daily offered up my prayers that God would bless you for it +through time and eternity. It is true that by some of my brethren this +prayer for a heretic has been considered sinful; but I have answered +them, '<i>Solum de salute Diaboli desperandum</i>,' and that it may please +the Lord in his mercy to bring this good woman one day, if even upon +her death bed, into the embrace of the only saving church.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'May God reward your love, my good father,' said Katharine +with a +feeble utterance. 'A kindly human heart is always deserving of respect +and esteem, even though it wander in error.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I came not,' answered the monk, 'to hold a controversial +discussion +with you. My only wish is to warn you of what must necessarily and +absolutely be done, if you would save your mortal body, to say nothing +of your immortal soul. You must know that it is the irrevocable +determination of the emperor that all the protestants in his hereditary +dominions shall return to the true faith, and for that sole purpose has +he sent his troops to this city. It is true that these soldiers conduct +themselves here in a manner which no true catholic can justify, and +should one of these so called <i>converters</i> stray into my confessional, +he would have a hard time of it. But so it is, and I, a poor feeble +monk, have no power to avert the evil. The Jesuits, who hold the +emperor's heart in their hands, might and should have prevented it; but +they have kindled the fire and poured oil thereon. Wherefore I say, +yield to the times, for they are dangerous. Without a certificate of +confession your tormentor will not leave you--he dares not, even if he +would. I bring you the necessary certificate. The urgency of the moment +will not permit a formal confession, and you therefore need only +subscribe to these articles. You can send your certificate to count +Dohna, and receive in exchange for it one from him, which will relieve +you from the presence of these soldiers.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Excuse me!' cried Katharine. 'In the faith in which I have +lived, will +I also die. I cannot subscribe.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How now, so good and yet so stubborn!' exclaimed the reverend +father. +'At least read what you are required to subscribe, before you refuse. +After reading it, you can subscribe or not, according to the dictates +of your own judgment. These sacred truths must, I should think, be +capable of striking the pure springs of true knowledge from the hardest +heart.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Katharine ran her eyes rapidly over the articles. As she came +towards +the close, she read aloud. 'I swear, that through the intercession of +the saints I have now become converted to the catholic religion.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Place your hand upon your heart, reverend father,' cried she, +springing up, incensed, 'and then say upon your sacred sacerdotal oath, +shall I not be guilty of perjury, if I swear that what I do out of fear +of an earthly power, is done through the spiritual effect of the +intercession of the saints?'</p> + +<p class="normal">The monk silently folded up the paper.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You see there can be no help for me,' said Katharine with +humble +resignation. 'Leave me, therefore, to my fate, and take with you my +heartfelt thanks for your good intentions.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are a very obstinate woman!' said the monk, with evident +and deep +sympathy. The longer his eyes rested upon her pale, pious and suffering +face, the more his sympathy increased, until at length, amid a flood of +gushing tears, he cried, 'I know that I commit a deadly sin, but I +cannot do otherwise. Take the certificate, which alone can put an end +to your sufferings.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How! without confession or signature?' asked Katharine with +astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have given to my God the offering of a long life,' cried +the old man +with vehemence, 'full of heavy privations and hard struggles. He will +now, therefore, be a merciful judge to me, and after long and severe +penance will pardon me for once lending the aid of my holy office for +the purpose of deception. Yet, should I even incur his everlasting +anger, I cannot do otherwise. I cannot leave my benefactress to be +persecuted to death, even though I may one day be compelled to enter +the dark valley of the shadow of death, without absolution. Take the +certificate.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God forbid!' said Katharine, tearing it in pieces, 'that I +should rob +you of your soul's peace and disturb the tranquillity of your dying +hour. Nor would my own conscience permit me to accept your offer. Every +use which I should make of this paper would be an act of apostacy from +my own faith; if a hypocritical use, so much the worse. 'Be not +deceived, God is not mocked.''</p> + +<p class="normal">'Woman, thou art more righteous than we!' cried the monk, with +deep +emotion; and, covering his head with his cowl, he departed, weeping +audibly.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The infant was still slumbering upon Katharine's bosom. The +door was +again thrown open and the captain entered, this time without +attendants, bolting the door after him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The hour is past,' said he with a demoniac smile. 'Have you a +certificate?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No,' answered she, and at that moment the child in her arms +awoke and +cried for its nourishment. 'Poor thing,' said she, bearing it towards +an alcove.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where are you going?' asked the captain, seizing her arm as +though he +would crush it in his ferocious grasp.</p> + +<p class="normal">'To nurse my child,' answered Katharine. 'You cannot wish that +I should +do it in the presence of a stranger!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You shall not nurse your child!' cried the captain, forcing +it from +her arms. 'It shall not imbibe heresy with its mother's milk.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What would you with my child, horrible man?' shrieked +Katharine, +rushing upon him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'There it shall lie,' said he, putting it upon the floor.</p> + +<p class="normal">The poor infant uttered the most lamentable shrieks.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For God's sake, let me go to my child!' exclaimed Katharine. +'It is +dying.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'In that case I shall have saved a soul to heaven,' answered +the +captain.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You cannot be a man!' cried the miserable mother. 'You must +be satan +disguised in the human form.' Convulsive spasms seized her. Her eyes +closed, her lips became blue, and her senses fled.</p> + +<p class="normal">Some one knocked loudly at the door. 'Are you here, Frau +Katharine?' +asked a voice which the captain recognized with terror.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Back!' cried the sentinel without. 'The captain is with the +lady.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The captain! and she answers not, and the child is +screaming!' +exclaimed the same voice, with wild alarm,--and powerful blows +thundered upon the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Back!' again cried the sentinel, and immediately afterwards, +with the +exclamation, 'Jesus Maria!' a heavy fall was heard near the door, which +now flew in fragments. Dorn rushed into the room over the body of the +wounded sentinel, who lay groaning upon the floor, with a drawn sword +in his hand. The captain sprang to meet the intruder, but shrunk back, +pale and trembling, the moment he recognized him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Cut him down from behind!' cried he to his soldiers who now +came +rushing into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Down to hell!' thundered Dorn, thrusting the captain through +the body. +With a frightful death-cry he fell to the earth, and Dorn threw down +his bloody weapon, 'I am your prisoner,' said he, with imposing +dignity, to the soldiers, and took the child from the floor. 'Call the +maidens to take care of the mother and infant, and then lead me to your +colonel, to whom I have something of importance to say.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Hardly knowing what they were about, the astonished and +confounded +soldiers obeyed the bold youth. With loud cries the maidens rushed in +to assist their adored mistress and quiet the screaming infant. Dorn +impressed a last kiss upon the hand of the insensible Katharine, and +then in a commanding tone he cried to the soldiers, 'now forward!' +leading them off with a step as proud and as confident as if he were +marching to battle and victory.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The generalissimo of the converters, count Karl Hannibal von +Dohna, +with the governor, baron von Bibran, the Jesuit, Lamormaine, and some +field officers, were sitting at a table, in the quarters of colonel von +Goes. A large pile of ready prepared tickets, for quarters, were lying +upon the table, among flasks and goblets, and the gloves and swords of +the officers. A crucifix, kept upon the table for momentary use, seemed +to look sorrowfully upon the horrors which were here perpetrated under +its sanction. At the door stood colonel von Goes, to whom a deputation +of the inhabitants of the suburbs were complaining with trembling +humility, that his quarter-master had exempted each householder among +them, for the sum of two dollars each, from having troops quartered in +their houses, and now he had compelled them to receive two squadrons, +who were allowed to oppress them with every species of cruelty.</p> + +<p class="normal">'If the quarter-master has deceived you,' answered the +colonel, 'he +will not escape due punishment; but you must submit to the quartering +until you return to the only true church; for on no other condition can +you be relieved.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The poor denizens departed with heavy hearts. 'Inquire into +this +villany,' said the colonel to a subaltern officer, 'and if you detect a +rogue, let him be arrested and reported.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The officer went in obedience to the command. The colonel +seated +himself with the others, drained a goblet, and striking his fist upon +the table, exclaimed, 'a curse upon this whole expedition!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Jesus Maria!' cried Bibran and Lamormaine, crossing +themselves, while +Dohna earnestly inquired why he uttered such an imprecation.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Because so much baseness, sir count,' fiercely answered Goes, +'mingles +with the performance of our great and holy duty. Our people plainly +show, that they are more anxious about the gold than the souls of the +heretics. Every thief in the regiment will become a rich man in +Schweidnitz. In the end it will become a disgrace to be called a +Lichtensteiner, and I have a hundred times regretted, that in my pious +zeal I opened a path for the entrance of these vagabonds into the poor +city.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It could be wished,' interposed father Lamormaine, in a +conciliatory +manner, 'that the business had been undertaken in a less public and +violent manner, and I have heretofore expressed the same opinion to the +count. This open and public assault upon these heretics will serve as a +warning to the others, and enable them to rally in their own defence. +By rallying their forces they will learn their strength; their courage +and obstinacy will increase, all who suffer for their erroneous belief +will be considered martyrs, and in the end they will make many +converts. We should have operated cautiously and quietly; commencing +with them softly, we should have increased the pressure by slow +degrees, and should have thus avoided every open scandal. A constant +dropping will wear a stone, and I am confident that we could easily and +quietly have converted all Silesia in the course of a year.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, that is the way with you gentlemen with shaven crowns,' +cried the +count with a savage laugh. 'You step very softly by nature, but when +you have an object to attain, you also bind <i>felt</i> upon the soles of +your shoes. Not so with me. My motto is, 'bend or break,--and so far I +have found it a very good one. I can boast of having accomplished more +than the apostle Peter. He indeed, upon one occasion, converted three +thousand souls by preaching a sermon: but I have many times converted a +greater number in a day, and that too without preaching. One year for +Silesia! Give me soldiers enough, and I will convert all Europe for you +in a year, by my method.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What sort of a conversion would it be?' asked Lamormaine, +shrugging +his shoulders. At that moment Dohna's adjutant entered the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The rich Heinze,' whispered he to his chief, 'will make a +present to +you of that costly writing table, if you will allow him the quiet +enjoyment of his faith. You know the splendid article, the one for +which the duke of Leignitz offered him four thousand dollars. It is +below.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I will be with him directly,' cried Dohna, and taking a blank +license +from the table, he hastened out.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meantime a tumult out of doors had attracted the whole company +to the +windows. 'Do you know the cause of this disturbance?' asked Goes of the +adjutant.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A merchant's clerk has killed captain Hurka in his quarters,' +answered +the latter. 'The guard are bringing him here.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That Hurka must have learnt the art of tormenting from satan +himself,' +growled the colonel. 'What was the provocation?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'They say,' answered the adjutant, 'that, in order to compel +his +hostess to procure a certificate of confession, the captain tore her +infant from her breast, and threw it upon the floor.'</p> + +<p class="normal">This announcement caused a universal and simultaneous shudder +among +those present, despite the triple mail of pride and intolerance which +encased their hearts, and Lamormaine discontentedly remarked, 'that is +the way to <i>make</i> heretics, not to convert them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is a case in which mercy, rather than severe justice, +should +prevail,' remarked the strong-believing Bibran. 'The captain's conduct +was too horribly severe, and must lead to greater evils.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let the murderer be led hither,' said Goes. 'I will examine +him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The adjutant retired, and soon returned with Dorn in chains +and +surrounded by guards.</p> + +<p class="normal">As Goes glanced towards him, he started back with fright, +exclaiming, +'my God, what a terrible resemblance!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Calm and collected, the young man stood there, with his eyes +stedfastly +fixed upon the colonel.</p> + +<p class="normal">With, much effort the latter recovered his equanimity, and now +asked, +'know you what sentence the laws pronounce upon the assassin of one of +the emperor's officers?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have committed no murder,' resolutely replied Dorn. 'I have +only +punished, in the presence of his soldiers, a villain who abused his +power, and trod under foot the holiest laws of nature.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That voice, too!' said the colonel to himself, then turning +to Dorn, +'self-avenging is not to be justified. Your act is treasonable, and no +evasion can save your forfeited life.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, then, pronounce sentence upon your son!' cried Dorn, +with a +sorrow which he could no longer control.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Son!' exclaimed all present with the utmost astonishment, and +the +horror-stricken Goes fell back into a chair, sighing, 'it is, indeed, +my son!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The son beheld his father with deep emotion, and his tears +freely +flowed at the sight of the old man's grief. At length, falling upon his +knee, he stretched forth his hands and said, 'I am sensible that +according to your laws my life is forfeited; therefore give me your +blessing, and then quickly pronounce the sentence that shall bring +peace to this troubled heart.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oswald, Oswald!' cried Goes, 'what a terrible meeting, after +ten years +of separation! Wretched youth! why did you flee from your father's +house?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The conflicting opinions which now lacerate Germany,' +answered the +youth, 'placed a dreadful gulf between you and me. The idea of +constraining the consciences of men by means of the sword was revolting +to me, and, unable to approve or participate in your acts, and +shuddering at your sectarian zeal, I left you, that no unnatural +contest might arise between father and son.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where have you been until now?' asked the colonel with an +anxiety +which indicated that he feared to hear the worst.</p> + +<p class="normal">'In the military service of Denmark,' answered Oswald, 'until +two years +ago I found here in Schweidnitz, in the seclusion of humble life, the +peace and quiet which I sought.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'In the Danish service!' murmured the colonel; 'fighting for +heresy +against the mother church!'</p> + +<p class="normal">His grief overpowered him. At length he roused himself by a +powerful +effort from the whirlpool of conflicting feelings into which he had +sunk. 'What could prompt you,' he asked his son in a tone of firmness +and severity, 'to the senseless deed of murdering an imperial officer +in a city under the control of his brethren in arms?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Eternal ignomy to the man,' cried Oswald, 'who would see an +honorable +woman, a tender mother, a fellow believer, outraged and insulted by a +brutal villain, on account of her faith, and not strike down the +monster, reckless of consequences, as did Peter when his Lord was +assailed!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A fellow believer?' cried Goes with terror. 'Hast thou then +become a +heretic?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I hesitate not,' said the youth with modest resolution, 'to +avow +myself a believer in the pure faith of Zuinglius.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He cuts me to the heart,' groaned the colonel. Then, +summoning +resolution, he turned to Dorn and said, 'I hope you have now perceived +and are ready to recant your errors. That is the only way to save your +life.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Would you have me deny what I believe to be true, through a +pusillanimous fear of death? Is it possible you can have so poor an +opinion of your son?'</p> + +<p class="normal">The rage of the proselyting chief, which had been hitherto +with +difficulty restrained, now broke through all bounds. He caught the +crucifix from the table, unsheathed his sword, and holding them both +before his son, exclaimed, 'better to be childless than have a heretic +for a son! Choose instantly. Abjure your false belief, or die by my +hands!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You gave me life, my father,' said Oswald; and you can also +take it +from me. I remain stedfast in the truth. Therefore end quickly with me, +in God's name.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God of Abraham strengthen me! cried the father, looking +wildly towards +heaven and raising his weapon; but Bibran and Lamormaine caught his +arm.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God does not require a father to sacrifice his son,' said the +governor.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Would you give the heretics cause to curse our holy faith +through your +senseless fury?' cried the Jesuit to him, in a tone of reprehension.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Take him to prison!' commanded Dohna, who had returned to the +room. +'He may there consider until morning, whether he will or will not +abjure his heresy.' Should he continue obstinate, I will then permit +justice to take its course upon the murderer of my officer.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God grant thee his light and peace, my poor father! Then +shall we +again meet above!' cried Oswald with filial tenderness to the colonel, +who, exhausted by excess of anger, stared wildly about him as if bereft +of consciousness, and finally rushed from the room without speaking.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Overcome by sorrow for his father's anger, and racked with +anxiety for +the fate of his beloved Faith, whom he could protect no longer, Oswald +sat in the criminal's apartment of the guard-house, looking listlessly +through his grated window upon the snow-covered market-place. It was a +cold still night, and the stars shone through the clear atmosphere with +unusual brilliancy. The persecutors and the afflicted were finally at +peace, and had forgotten their insolence and their sufferings in the +embraces of sleep. The clocks of the church towers struck the midnight +hour. The guard was aroused for the purpose of relieving the sentinels +on post, and the rattling of arms resounded through the guard-house. +The noise, however, soon subsiding, quiet again prevailed, and Oswald, +to whom the confused and restless working of his mind had become almost +insupportable, laid his weary head upon the table and tried to sleep. +Just then the bolts were drawn and his door was softly opened. A +corporal of the Lichtensteins, with a dark lantern, and accompanied by +two soldiers, entered the prison. Releasing the prisoner from his +chains, he commanded him, 'follow me to the count!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Am I already sentenced?' asked Oswald, with bitterness. 'Am I +to be +executed secretly, under the veil of night? It is a sad confession that +your deeds will not bear the light of day!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Silence!' said the corporal, motioning him to follow.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God help me!' cried Oswald, throwing his mantle over his +shoulders and +advancing.</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole guard were snoring upon their benches, the officer +was in his +well warmed little room slumbering amidst his wine flasks, and even the +sentinel without, leaned nodding upon his halberd. He was roused, +however, by the approaching foot-steps, and presenting his halberd to +the corporal he cried, 'who goes there?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A good friend!' boldly answered the corporal, whispering the +countersign. 'We are commanded to bring the prisoner to the general.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Pass!' said the sentinel, shouldering his arms.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The four hastened forth together. A sharp wind whistled over +the +market, while a raven, scared by the wanderers, arose with loud +croakings from its snowy bed and with its heavy flapping wings slowly +moved away. The shivering youth wrapped his mantle more closely about +him and followed the corporal without troubling himself respecting the +soldiers; these last soon fell into the rear, and, dexterously turning +into another street, disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Here we are,' said the corporal, suddenly turning to Oswald. +The +latter, startled from his death-dream, looked wildly about him. He was +standing among the graves in a parish churchyard.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is this indeed to be my last resting place?' he asked, +throwing off +his mantle. 'Only direct me where to kneel, and be sure you take good +aim.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Kneel, indeed, you must, my worthy youngster,' cried the +corporal, +with joyful emotion, and thank God for your rescue, as soon as you are +in safety; but with the death shot we have now nothing to do. You are +free.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Free!' cried Oswald, now for the first time missing the two +soldiers.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have you really forgotten your old friend Florian?' asked the +corporal, throwing the light of the lantern upon his face, of which +Oswald soon recognized the well known lineaments.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou true friend!' cried Oswald, embracing the good old man +with +grateful affection. 'Thou, who once so carefully guarded the boy +against the trifling dangers of youth, wouldst thou now save the life +of the man! I dare not accept the freedom you offer me,' he +thoughtfully added. 'According to martial law you forfeit your life by +this act. Rather than expose you to such consequences, I would prefer +to resume my chains.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do not trouble yourself,' answered the corporal. 'The two +soldiers who +accompanied me are secretly Lutherans, and had previously determined to +desert this night. Your father supposes I am already gone. I have my +discharge in my pocket. Although I am a good catholic christian, I +cannot bring myself to approve of his method of making people blessed, +and prefer quitting the service before I have wholly unlearned to be a +man. As soon as the gates open in the morning I shall leave this +wretched city for my peaceful home. If you are willing to accompany me, +I will provide you with other clothes and pass you off as my son.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, my old friend,' said Oswald. 'I am bound to these walls +by strong +ties. They enclose what is dearest to me on earth; and I must remain +here to watch over and protect, until I succeed in rescuing her, or +fall in the attempt.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Of course you will act your pleasure,' said the corporal. +'Besides, +they will not seek for you very earnestly, for captain Hurka is by no +means dead.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How, Hurka living?' asked Oswald with mingled regret and joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is harder to root out weeds than wholesome plants,' said +the old +man. 'Your blow was right well intended, but did not penetrate very +deeply, and the long swoon which they mistook for death was only +stupefaction.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ha, how furiously will the fiend rage again!' cried Oswald +with +anxiety and indignation.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Make yourself easy upon that score!' said the old man +consolingly. 'He +is now disabled by his wound, and your father has caused a lecture to +be read to him, that may well satisfy him for the present. Besides, the +merchant Fessel has been released from his imprisonment, together with +his children.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How stands it with his wife?' asked Oswald.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Indeed, she is to be buried the day after tomorrow,' slowly +answered +the old man.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Eternal God!' shrieked Oswald in the wildest sorrow. 'Vice +saved and +virtue in the grave, and shall we yet believe in thy providence?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, my son, we must!' said the old man, reprovingly. 'We +must believe +in the Father's guiding hand, not merely in the sunshine before the +gathered sheaves, but also in the tempest which scatters the harvest. +Else have we not the true faith. Treasure up this sentiment, even +though it comes from the lips of an unlettered catholic. It has been a +friendly light to me upon life's weary road, and will continue to cheer +me onward to the grave. Now farewell. The morning wind already blows +across the graves, and I have yet many preparations to make for my +journey. Farewell, and remember me kindly. Should I never see you again +upon earth, God grant that we may hereafter meet where the true +Shepherd shall gather all his lambs, even those who have here strayed +from the flock, into one fold.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He once more shook the youth most cordially by the hand, and +then with +hasty and vigorous strides left the church-yard.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The day appointed for madam Fessel's interment was drawing to +a close. +A crowd of people had assembled in the parish church-yard, with weeping +eyes and pallid faces, awaiting in gloomy silence the arrival of the +funeral procession. Two grave-diggers stood leaning upon their spades +beside the open grave.</p> + +<p class="normal">The procession came. 'Now for God's sake summon resolution,' +said a +young Franciscan monk, whose face was almost wholly covered by his +cowl, to an elderly rustic woman and a beautiful young peasant boy, +whose eyes were almost blinded by their tears, pressing forward with +them to a grassy hillock in the vicinity of the grave. A Lichtensteiner +who had found himself in the crowd, surprised at the exclamation, +placed himself near them and continued to watch their movements +narrowly.</p> + +<p class="normal">The mournful hymn of the choristers was now heard approaching. +High +waved the crucifix upon the church yard gate, shining silvery bright +through the evening twilight, and the choristers in double ranks drew +slowly toward the grave. After them came the Lutheran preachers, with +their heads cast down. Next came the black coffin upon the shoulders of +the bearers; upon its appearance the whole assembly broke into loud +sobs, and notwithstanding all the efforts of the monk to restrain them, +the peasant woman and young man upon the hillock wrung their hands with +irrepressible sorrow. After the coffin, came the weeping clerks, +apprentices, and household servants. Then followed the bereaved +husband, pale and tearless. With each hand he led one of his little +daughters, who again each led a brother. To them succeeded, a nursery +maid, bearing the little Johannes with his blooming angel face, who +smiled upon the crowd and by his happy unconsciousness stirred the +hearts of the people even more than the sight of the father and +sisters, who followed their best beloved to the grave with a full +knowledge of their irreparable loss.</p> + +<p class="normal">An immeasurable line of neighbors and friends closed the +procession, +whose tears and sighs, an ample testimony of the worth of the deceased, +solemnized the burial instead of tolling bells and funereal music, +which the rigor of the new church government denied to heretics.</p> + +<p class="normal">The corpse had now reached the grave. The bearers sat it down +and +removed the lid of the coffin, and a loud lament filled the air at the +sight of the martyr. The kiss of the angel of death had removed all +traces of her late sufferings from her countenance. With softly closed +eyes, and a heavenly smile upon her lips, she lay, as if awaiting that +blessed morning whose aurora seemed already dawning upon her spiritual +vision.</p> + +<p class="normal">With outward composure the widower approached the coffin, +clasped the +folded hands of the pale corpse, murmured, 'Farewell, thou true one; +soon shall we meet again,'--and silently retired.</p> + +<p class="normal">The weeping children now rushed forward, but the clergyman, +Beer, +directed the servants to lead them back. He then stepped to the coffin, +requested the audience to be silent, and with a loud voice addressed +them as follows:</p> +<p class="space"></p> +<p class="normal">''Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!' These +words of +Christ, with which he prayed for his persecutors, were the last words I +heard from the blessed being whose earthly remains we are now about to +consign to the grave. My anger was inflamed by the atrocities which +were daily committed in our city under the mantle of religion, and I +prayed that the avenging fire of God's wrath might descend and consume +our tormentors. This deceased saint checked my imprecation by calling +to my mind the divine prayer of our holy Savior, and with a chastened +and humble spirit I repeated after her: 'Father forgive them, for they +know not what they do.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And so must you henceforth pray, my hearers. Of the men who +now by +divine permission pursue and persecute us, by far the greater number +are acting not from inveterate cruelty but under the influence of a +mistaken sense of religious duty, and desire to lead us back to that +path which they deem the only safe one; and this desire is not +censurable.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But that they seek, by means of persecution and torture, to +compel us +to receive what they hold to be the true faith,--that they would bind +the immortal spirit with earthly chains, when the word of God cannot be +bound or confined,--therein lies their error. It therefore becomes us +as christians to forgive them; 'they know not what they do.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Even that terrible man whose barbarity has destroyed this +blessed +martyr to our faith, knew not, as we charitably hope, what he did,--and +therefore will we not curse him, but pray to God that he will purify +his heart and enlighten his mind.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Therefore let us patiently suffer the afflictions which the +Lord may +yet send us for our good, without hatred towards the instruments he may +employ for that purpose, and thus seek to become worthy of the glorious +martyrs to the pure Christianity of the first ages, and of this our +blessed friend. Should He require us also to lay down our lives for our +faith, so will we without anger or opposition bow our necks to the +death-dealing axe, and die with the departing exclamation of our +Savior, 'it is fulfilled!--Amen.''</p> +<p class="space"></p> +<p class="normal">He retired. The lid of the coffin was fastened down, and it +was then +lowered into the earth.</p> + +<p class="normal">In accordance with a pious old custom, the husband and orphans +each +cast three handsful of earth into the grave, as a last farewell, and +the bereaved man then retired, tearless as he had come, while the +children found relief for their sorrow in audible weeping.</p> + +<p class="normal">All the spectators now-pressed about the grave to pay the last +honors +to the dear departed, and from hundreds of hands fell the earth upon +the coffin below. The young Franciscan also, by great exertion made a +path for himself to the grave; having thrown in his handful of earth, +he hastily caught hold of his companions, and exclaiming, 'now forward, +the moments are precious!' led them away.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why should the moments be so precious to this monk?' mused +the +observant Lichtensteiner; and then, after a moment's reflection, he +suddenly cried, 'the captain may be able to explain it!'--and ran from +the church-yard.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">In a low chamber in the little village of Friedland, eight +days later, +lay the aged Mrs. Rosen on the sick bed upon which the effects of her +long confinement in the cellar, the extraordinary exertions consequent +upon her sudden flight, and more than all, her sorrow for the loss of +her beloved daughter, had thrown her. The owner of the house, a +weaver's widow, who had formerly been a servant to her, and who had +been indebted to her liberality for her comfortable establishment, +stood at the head of her bed with a phial and spoon in her hand, and +with a countenance expressive of the tenderest sympathy. Before the bed +sat Oswald and the weeping Faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Compose yourself, my daughter,' said the matron. 'I shall +surely +recover from this illness. Alas, one may suffer much before the thread +of life will break! I feel much better to-day than I did yesterday, and +I hope not to be the cause of anxiety much longer.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God grant it!' sobbed Faith, sinking upon her knees before +the bed, +and covering her dear mother's hand with her kisses and tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment Jonas, the widow's son, entered the cottage +with his hat +and traveling staff, gave them a melancholy and silent greeting, and +began to unpack his bundle.</p> + +<p class="normal">'So soon returned from Schweidnitz?' asked Oswald. 'What is +the state +of affairs there?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Still very bad, sir,' answered Jonas. 'The soldiers abuse and +oppress +the people in a manner that might soften a heart of stone; and you may +consider it fortunate that you are here.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Did you succeed in speaking to my brother-in-law, my good +friend?' +anxiously asked Faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I saw him last evening, and told and gave him all. He keeps +about with +difficulty, to save his household from entire ruin. He gave me this +letter and this bag of gold for you, and sends kind greetings to you +all.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Oswald took the letter, broke the seal and read:</p> +<p class="space"></p> + +<p class="normal">'The persecution still rages, and I thank heaven that you are +for the +present in a place of safety. Immediately after the funeral of my dear +Katharine, the clergymen were all compelled to leave the city. In the +course of the night my house underwent a strict search, and even the +vault in which you were so long concealed did not escape. The captain +has already nearly recovered, and left his bed to-day for the first +time, to wait upon the colonel. The latter, as I understand, gave him a +very unpleasant reception. They afterwards conferred together for two +hours, with closed doors. What was there agreed upon God only knows; +but when the captain returned, I was standing in front of my shop, and +he greeted me in a manner so terribly courteous that it made me +shudder. I have just heard that a squadron of dragoons have orders to +be ready for a movement to-morrow morning at day-break; but their +destination is kept secret. God be merciful to the poor people upon +whom they may fall. I send you what I can spare, and beg that you will +not again write or send any message to me until I make known to you +that you can do so with safety. My guests keep a sharp watch upon me, +and I am very anxious about your last letter, which I mislaid in +consequence of one of the soldiers having interrupted me while reading +it. I yet hope to find it again. God preserve you and me!'</p> +<p class="space"></p> + +<p class="normal">A death-like stillness prevailed in the room at the conclusion +of the +reading, and no one ventured to express the renewed apprehensions which +the letter had inspired.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is a discouraging letter,' at length observed Oswald, +interrupting the general silence; 'and I begin to fear we are not +entirely safe even here. Would that we had fled to Breslau, as I +advised! The capital of the province, which is at the same time the +seat of government of the principality, will surely be spared the +longest.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He was interrupted by a disturbance out of doors very unusual +for that +quiet and retired village. People were running to and fro and calling +to each other in the Streets, and Oswald, alarmed, sprang for his sword +which lay in the recess of the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Go out and see what is the cause of this disturbance,' said +he to +Jonas, and bring us word as soon as possible.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Jonas obeyed, and his mother observed, 'something very +dreadful must +have happened; for the people are running and screaming, as if a fire +had broken out or an enemy were at the gates.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Protect us, Oswald,' begged Faith, leaning tremblingly upon +the youth.</p> + +<p class="normal">'While I live!' answered he, grasping his sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Save yourselves--the converters are coming!' cried Jonas, +rushing into +the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It must be a false alarm,' cried Oswald. 'You must be +mistaken.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I was told so by a farmer who has just returned from +Waldenburg. He +was about to leave that city, when a squadron of the Lichtenstein +dragoons entered it. They dismounted for breakfast, and he had it from +the mouth of one of the soldiers that this village was their place of +destination. Whereupon he immediately left the city and drove home as +fast as possible to give the alarm.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then we must have at least an hour's start of them,' said +Oswald; and +turning to madam Rosen, 'if you feel able to travel, I will immediately +provide a conveyance to Bohemia.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, my son,' said the matron, with a melancholy smile. 'For +this time +I must remain here and await the providence of God. I should only +hinder you in your flight, and you would at last have only a corpse to +convey across the border.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I stir not from your side!' sobbed the tender Faith, clasping +her +mother with anxious affection.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That would be folly, my child,' said the mother, earnestly, +'and a +very childish demonstration of your love. You and your betrothed are +the objects of the search of our persecutors. They would have little +desire to encumber themselves with me. I have wandered here as a +peasant woman, and our hostess can give them to understand, that I am a +yarn gatherer suddenly taken ill at her house. Your charms, and +Oswald's stately figure render it impossible for you to be concealed in +the same way, and therefore you must instantly forth.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Never!' cried Faith, wringing her hands.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is my will,' said the mother, with decision. 'Will you, my +daughter, increase the sorrows of your sick mother by disobedience, and +betray by your presence what otherwise may remain undiscovered? Would +you see your lover fall before your eyes, unable to defend you against +superior force?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I obey,' sighed Faith; and she hastened to pack a small +bundle and put +on her cloak.</p> + +<p class="normal">'By the holy faith which we profess in common,' said the +hostess, 'you +leave your mother in good hands.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am sure of that, and consequently depart with confidence,' +said +Oswald, leading the inconsolable maiden to her mother's bed-side.</p> + +<p class="normal">With bright eyes the mother placed her daughter's hand in that +of +Oswald. 'Be ye one, here and hereafter!' cried she. 'That is my +blessing upon your espousals; and now let me beg of you to go directly, +without any leave-taking, for which I have not strength, and which will +rob you of time, every moment of which is invaluable.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Faith attempted to speak again, but her mother pointed towards +the +door, and Oswald led her forth.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Daylight had long since disappeared when Oswald and Faith +alighted from +their wagon at a solitary inn beyond the Bohemian boundary. 'Here you +are for the present in safety,' said the conductor who had brought them +from Friedland, knocking at the door. 'The people of the house are +honest, and of our faith at heart. The vicinity is full of secret +Hussites.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who comes so late?' asked a little, dark-complexioned old +woman, +opening the door with her hand held before a flickering torch.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A young wedded pair, mother Thekla,' answered the conductor, +'who are +fleeing before the converters. Receive them kindly and take good care +of them. God will reward you for it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is but our duty,' said the woman. 'Come in, poor +creatures.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Farewell,' said the conductor to Oswald. 'I intend to return +directly; +for my wife and children may not be safely left without a protector +among the reckless soldiery.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And, that you have brought me here--' said Oswald, forcing +into his +hand a couple of dollars over and above the fee agreed upon....</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have already forgotten it,' said the conductor, laughing. +'Besides, +when I get into the forest, I intend to load my wagon with wood, which +I shall gaily drag into Friedland early in the morning, and nobody will +think of asking me what freight I took thence. May God protect you!'</p> + +<p class="normal">He mounted his wagon and drove rapidly away, while Oswald led +his +companion into the bar-room. To their great satisfaction it was +tolerably empty. Only in one corner of the room snored three men and +four large hounds on some straw, and at a table near the gray-headed +host, with a goblet before him, sat a large strongly built man in the +dress of a Bohemian peasant. Oswald observed the sabre which the guest +bore, and the large knife in his girdle, with some suspicion; but the +honest lineaments and saddened expression of his brown, haggard face, +again inspired him with confidence. He courteously seated himself at +the table and called for a glass of wine, while Faith was arranging +with the hostess for a supper and accommodations for the night.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are in flight on account of your faith, as I hear, my +dear sir?' +asked the stranger in a voice of the deepest bass, and at the same time +glancing at him mistrustfully with his wild, black eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The time and weather would have been badly chosen for a +journey of +pleasure,' peevishly answered Dorn.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You must surely have come from Jauer, or Loewenberg, or +Schweidnitz?' +further asked the man; 'for they are very strenuously pushing the +counter-reformation in those places just now. 'You are by far too +curious!' cried Oswald, with displeasure. 'I do not willingly listen to +such questions from strangers.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is the business of my office to ask questions, my young +gentleman,' +thundered the stranger; 'for I am a captain of Bohemian provincial +troops, and am stationed here upon the border to guard against the +influx of Silesian heretics.'</p> + +<p class="normal">While he said this, the four hounds sprang up and placed +themselves +growling before Oswald, and the three men half raised their bodies from +the straw, their flashing eyes peering from their dark brown faces, and +their well scoured muskets glistening in their hands. Oswald instantly +arose and drew his sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Put up your weapon!' the man now cried in an altered tone, +seizing his +goblet. 'I but wished to be certain of my man. Come, be again quietly +seated, and do me justice in a fresh goblet. The Bohemian goose and +Silesian swan!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Huss and Luther!' cried Oswald touching glasses and emptying +his own +with a lighter heart, while the hounds and soldiers again stretched +themselves upon the straw.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do not be offended that I thought it necessary to prove you,' +said the +Bohemian; 'but the tricks and artifices of the papists are so manifold, +that these precautions are rendered quite necessary. You might have +been a spy of the Jesuits. Since we now understand each other, however, +I may converse with you without reserve. You are not safe even here. +For my old friend, our host, I will indeed be answerable; but the +converters sometimes come over the border to us; especially when they +deem that they have important game in view; and you appear to me as +though you might be of some consequence. Therefore, if it be agreeable, +I will conduct you and your little wife to a place, where you may dwell +in peace behind the everlasting walls which the Lord himself has built +for the defence of persecuted innocents.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'There is no falsehood in that face!' answered Oswald; 'and I +accept +your offer with gratitude.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You will not indeed find our residence very elegant,' said +the +Bohemian; 'and that delicate female form may be wholly unaccustomed to +such quarters; but necessity reconciles one to privations, and a very +little suffices for our actual necessities.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Be not concerned on that account,' said Faith, who had now +seated +herself near Oswald. 'A safe shelter is all we wish.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Well, eat your supper,' said the Bohemian, 'and retire +quickly to +rest, that you may be ready to start by day-break in the morning. I +have been long accustomed to watch through the night, and will guard +you faithfully. With the rising sun we shall be among the rocks.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Wrapped in his cloak, Oswald was yet sweetly and soundly +sleeping upon +the floor, before the only bed in the house, in which his fair +companion was slumbering. A knock was heard at the door, and the +Bohemian cried, 'bestir yourself, sir. The morning breaks, and we must +away!' The youth sprang upon his feet and awoke the maiden with a kiss. +Soon ready to set out, they took a grateful leave of their worthy hosts +and stepped to the door. Every object was obscured by a thick morning +mist; and the sun, like a large red ball of fearful size, was just +rising in the east.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let us wait a little, until the sun has dissipated the mist,' +said the +Bohemian, 'lest the lady should hurt her feet among the rocks.'</p> + +<p class="normal">They stood a short time, waiting and shivering in the morning +wind. +Oswald had thrown his cloak over Faith, and held her closely clasped to +keep her warm. The mist moved before them like a waving ocean, and +apparently resolved itself into numerous dark clouds, which settled +down upon the earth, and seemed to root themselves there. Meanwhile the +sun had mounted higher, the waving of the ocean of mist increased, and +suddenly there came a powerful gust of wind which rent and pressed down +the immense cloud-curtain, when a scene as singular as it was +magnificent, lay before Oswald's astonished eyes. The dark clouds that +had appeared to sink down upon the earth, had changed to huge masses of +gray rocks, which, rising up into the blue ether like countless +palaces, churches and high towers, assumed the appearance of a gigantic +city. Softly rounded snow-domes, crimsoned by the rays of the morning +sun and glistening with thousands of diamonds, adorned the summits of +these natural edifices, and the undying verdure of the pines and firs +which arose here and there from the clefts of the rocks, gave a +cheerful aspect to the view.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Great is the Lord, when seen in his works!' cried the +enraptured +Oswald, withdrawing his mantle from Faith, to enable her to enjoy the +spectacle.</p> + +<p class="normal">Opening her large and beautiful eyes, she stood awhile as if +blinded. +'How came this strange and wonderful city here?' asked she with +astonishment 'Is it indeed a city?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Certainly,' answered the Bohemian, laughing. 'We call it the +stone +city, and divide it into city and suburbs. It is here, however, +properly called the rocks of Aldersbach.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Are we to go in among those rocks?' anxiously asked Faith, +clasping +her Oswald more closely.</p> + +<p class="normal">'There is no other way, my child,' answered the latter. 'Be +not +alarmed--you see that I am not disturbed, which I should be, if I +anticipated any danger to you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, you iron-nerved men never anticipate danger until it is +close at +hand,' said the maiden; 'and then it is too late to avoid it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Go on in advance, Lotek,' said the Bohemian to one of his +companions. +'Beat the path a little where the snow lies too deep; announce to the +worthy pastor that I bring him guests, and kindle a good fire in my +quarters, that the lady may be rendered comfortable on her arrival.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Lotek threw his musket upon his back, whistled to his +wolf-dog, stepped +off with long strides, and soon disappeared among the rocks.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now, if agreeable, we also will start,' said the Bohemian. +'The sun is +tolerably high, and I would not willingly remain abroad, in open day.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Come, my child,' said Oswald, offering his arm to Faith, +which she +took with a sigh, and they briskly entered among the rocks. The +procession was led by the Bohemian, closed by his armed companions, and +flanked by the hounds.</p> + +<p class="normal">'These masses are frightfully high,' said Faith, looking +anxiously up +at their summits.</p> + +<p class="normal">'They appear so to you,' said the Bohemian, looking back. +'These, +however, are but small affairs. We are now only in the suburbs. In the +city you will see rocks worth talking about.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Heaven take pity on us!' sighed Faith, wandering on until she +came to +an open space. Here towered up, solitary and frightful, a single +monstrous gray rock, formed like an inverted cone with its base +stretching high up into the clouds and its apex imbedded in a lake of +ice.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do not go so near, Oswald,' said Faith. 'This large rock must +in the +next moment tumble over.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Fear it not,' said the Bohemian. 'This is the Sugarloaf, +which has +been standing thus upon its head for thousands of years, and will +surely retain its position long after we are in our graves.'</p> + +<p class="normal">They were still advancing, when Faith, who was somewhat +ashamed to +exhibit her fears to the Bohemian, whispered to Oswald, 'only see that +horrible gray giant's head projecting over us from between those high +towers. I can plainly discern a monstrous, solemn looking face, +surrounded by flowing gray locks.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is the burgomaster,' said the laughing Bohemian, who +well +understood the whisper. 'So is this sport of nature called, and it is +the most beautiful of any here. You need not fear him, for he is the +only burgomaster on earth who never troubled any one.'</p> + +<p class="normal">They continued to proceed farther and farther, until at length +they +were interrupted by a purling mountain stream. Beyond it, stood a broad +mass of stone. The Bohemian leaped across the rivulet, rattling down a +quantity of loose stones behind him, and with the humming operation of +some wheel-work, the heavy stone moved slowly aside, and discovered a +low, narrow opening.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do we enter there?' asked Faith in a tone so disconsolate as +to call +forth a hearty laugh from all the Bohemians. Even Oswald joined in the +laugh, and, clasping the maiden in his arms, he sprung with her to +the opposite bank. They all now stood within a narrow passage, the +wheel-work again moved, the entrance closed, and they were enveloped in +darkness.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is very dark here!' cried Faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We shall soon come into the light,' said their leader, +advancing. The +others followed, and they thus proceeded in a narrow path, floored with +yielding planks, and bounded by high perpendicular walls of dark gray +stone, between which was seen the dark blue sky--so dark indeed, that +they could almost distinguish the stars in broad day-light. The +trickling water glistened upon the walls like silver threads upon a +black velvet ground; and here and there little waterfalls, forming +dazzling crystals with their congealing spray, bounded down the rocks +and disappeared under the planks upon which they were walking.</p> + +<p class="normal">'If we follow this path much longer,' protested Faith, 'I +shall die of +fear and anxiety.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For shame, my love!' answered Oswald. 'Will you, who spoke so +boldly +for me to the grim Wallenstein, lose your courage here in the bosom of +harmonious nature, where we are especially and wholly in the hands of a +protecting God?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We are at the end!' exclaimed the Bohemian, stepping out into +the +clear sunshine. The fugitives followed him, and found themselves in a +narrow but pleasant valley, surrounded by high snow-covered rocks which +cut off this quiet retreat from the rest of the world. A clear, silver +fountain, which gushed from a cleft in the rocks, meandered through the +vale, while among and upon the rocks, like eyries, were to be seen +about ten huts, built of rough branches, and well covered with moss, to +secure their inhabitants from the inclemencies of the weather. Men, +women, and children, were moving in and about these simple dwellings as +quietly and confidently as if they had resided there all their lives. +The fire ordered by the Bohemian twirled its smoke up into the clear +heavens, and there sat Lotek, assiduously turning a haunch of venison +which was roasting before it. An old and venerable man with a long +white beard, in a black clerical dress, and with a black cap +surmounting his white hairs, came forth from one of the best of the +huts to meet the new comers.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Welcome, ye who have become outcasts and wanderers for the +sake of +your faith!' said he, with solemnity, as he extended to them the hand +of friendship. 'Welcome to the Hussite's Rest. In my hut there is yet +room for you. Come, eat of my bread and drink of my cup. By the grace +of God you have here found an asylum which will conceal and protect you +as long as may be necessary; for the destructive storm which now rages +over the land, reaches not here.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Heartfelt thanks for your hospitable offer, reverend father,' +said +Oswald. 'Have you dwelt long among these rocks?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For the last five years,' answered the venerable pastor. +'After our +emperor (who will one day have to answer for the deed before the +judgment seat) destroyed the sacred edict which assured toleration, and +burned its seal, there was no longer peace or safety for the poor +Hussites in Bohemia. As he openly declared that 'he would have none but +catholic subjects,' more than thirty thousand of our most respected +families, embracing all ranks, wandered abroad to strengthen and enrich +foreign countries by their wealth and industry. The poor cultivators of +the soil could not avail themselves of the generous permission to +emigrate with their property. They could not carry the soil with them, +and being thus compelled to remain, they seized their arms and fell +upon their persecutors. I myself, with the cross in my hand, led my +parishioners against the enemy, and we struck boldly for our religion. +Fresh armies were sent against us; the gallows and racks were +encumbered with the corpses of our brethren, and we were compelled to +yield; but it was impossible for us wholly to abandon our father-land, +and we therefore threw ourselves into the caverns among these rocks, +where a deep seclusion from the world is our only safety. Here we live +quietly and peacefully upon the produce of our labor and the chase, +which we dispose of in Bohemia and Silesia, and are much rejoiced +whenever a victim of priestly rage wanders hither to claim our +protection and hospitality.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We may now dismiss all anxiety,' said Oswald to Faith. 'We +have at +last reached a safe and well concealed haven.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That beauteous form inclines so confidingly and yet so +modestly toward +you, young man,' said the venerable pastor, 'that I should judge you +were not yet man and wife, but only lovers. If you desire it, I will +pronounce the blessing of the church over you. I am fully authorized to +perform the ceremony, having received ordination from our right +reverend bishop, who now wears the crown of martyrdom before the throne +of the Lamb.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have I your consent, my dearest?' asked Oswald, warmly +pressing the +maiden's hand. 'We already have your mother's blessing.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not now, dear Oswald,' said Faith, with mingled sadness and +resignation. 'I cannot consent to take that important step while yet so +deeply impressed with sorrow for the fate of my dearest relatives. Our +love must now wear the mourning dress in which it has been clad by +these unhappy times. It would be almost wicked to put on the myrtle +now; and the decisive <i>yes</i>, which should be spoken out of a joyful +heart, would be stifled by my sobs and tears, under the present +circumstances.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your wish can alone decide the question,' said Oswald, +tenderly, +impressing a chaste kiss upon her forehead.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Maiden, it is evident you have chosen a worthy partner,' said +the +pastor. 'And early has your betrothed learnt the lesson of self-denial, +the hardest in this life to be acquired.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Delighted to hear from such reverend lips the praise of one so +dear to +her, the maiden threw her arms about Oswald's neck and embraced him +with love and joy.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">'The morning is fine,' said Faith to Oswald after breakfast, +as their +venerable host seated himself with his bible upon his knee; 'and the +valley here is so narrow and close that these huge rocks seem to press +upon my heart. Let us therefore walk out a short distance beyond their +confines.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Venture not too far, my children!' said the pastor, in a +warning voice +without raising his eyes from his book. 'My old body is a true and +faithful weather-prophet, and tells me that we shall have a severe +storm to-day. These storms rage much more furiously here than in the +plains, and, when they come, every living creature finds it necessary +to seek a shelter.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We will soon return,' promised Faith, skipping forth by +Oswald's side.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Mark well the place of entrance to our retreat,' said the +Hussite, who +opened the outer stone door for them; 'that you may be sure to find it +again. The passages among the rocks are very similar, and if by mistake +you enter a wrong one you may be compelled to wander about all day +long.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Never fear! 'answered Oswald. 'It would illy become a soldier +to be +unable to remember any locality it might be necessary for him to find +again. He then looked at the highest peaks in the vicinity, impressed +their relative positions upon his memory, carefully examined the secret +door, and thus prepared, they went forth into the clear fresh morning +air and soon became engaged in a conversation of such interest as to +render them entirely heedless of the lapse of time.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I know not how it is,' said Faith, fanning her glowing face +with her +handkerchief; 'it is yet mid winter here, and I am so very warm.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is incident to the summer of life,' said their former +guide, who +suddenly stood before them as they turned a corner; 'especially when +the sun of love shines warmly. It is not probable you will have much +further occasion to complain of the heat to-day, for a storm is +approaching.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'With the sky so clear? Impossible!' cried Faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You know nothing of the tricks of the mountain-sprites,' said +the +Bohemian. 'One moment we have sunshine, the next thunder and lightning. +That is the way with them. You will do well to return to the valley +betimes.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He passed on and was soon out of sight.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We had better follow him,' said Oswald.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yet but one quarter of an hour,' begged Faith; 'and then we +will +return as fast as we can.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who can deny you any thing,' said the youth; 'even when you +solicit +what should not be granted?'</p> + +<p class="normal">They still continued to advance, until they came where the +rocks were +less compactly clustered, and glimpses of the plain, presenting +brilliant winter landscapes, were occasionally obtained through the +openings.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, how much pleasanter it is here than in the pent up +valley!' cried +Faith, clapping her hands with childish joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">Oswald suddenly started and listened. 'Did you hear nothing?' +he asked +the maiden. 'It sounded like a distant trumpet.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes,' said Faith, after listening a moment; 'it must be the +blast of a +trumpet.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It may be our pursuers!' cried Oswald. 'Let us hasten back to +our +asylum.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He now turned quickly about with Faith, and, rather bearing +than +leading her, hastened to retrace the path by which they had come. +Before proceeding far on their return, they were met by a colder and +sharper wind, and the snow which it blew from the summits of the rocks +involved them in a white fleecy cloud.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Alas, Oswald, I can no longer see,' complained Faith.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is but little better with me,' answered Oswald, groping +after the +path to the right, which he supposed to be the one he should take. +Still sharper blew the wind as the storm rapidly approached, and the +dark gray mountain-clouds lashed the immense rocks with their mighty +wings, sending down their accumulated snows upon the heads of the poor +wanderers. Still more wildly rushed and whistled and howled the winds +among the rocks, in strangely horrible tones, and in the midst of the +uproar they distinguished the sounds of distant rolling thunder and the +flashes of lightning in the low dark clouds. In this struggle of the +elements, all the summits and other landmarks which Oswald had noted to +guide his returning steps, had completely disappeared, and at length he +impatiently cried: 'I have lost the way. Why was I weak enough to yield +to the wishes of a child!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Chide not, dear Oswald,' entreated Faith, submissively. 'I +will +willingly endure every hardship which is suffered with you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is what distresses me,' said Oswald. 'Were I alone, I +should +enjoy this storm instead of trembling at it; for nature appears to me +most beautiful in anger, and I have already been compelled to expose +this brow to many a wild tempest. My anxiety for you troubles me. If +your health should be injured by this exposure I should be +inconsolable, and have only my own thoughtlessness to blame for it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">A brighter flash and louder report now put it beyond doubt +that a +terrible storm was at hand. The echoes thundered among the rocks, now +nearer and now farther off, until they finally died away in indistinct +murmurs.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A thunderstorm in winter!' cried the trembling Faith. 'That +is doubly +horrible.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who knows that this tempest may not bring a blessing; and +certainly it +cannot do much harm here among these old rocks,' said Oswald by way of +consoling her, still continuing to advance at random.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thank heaven, I hear human voices!' exultingly shouted Faith: +and like +a doe she skipped towards an eminence with such speed that Oswald could +scarcely follow her.</p> + +<p class="normal">A multitude of people were approaching, sure enough. It was +composed of +colonel Goes, the detestable Hurka, and a troop of the Lichtenstein +dragoons, who immediately aimed their arms at the fugitives.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Stand!' cried Goes, amid the thunder of the storm, to his +son, whom he +instantly recognised. 'Stand, or I command the troops to fire.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Father, do no violence!' cried the despairing youth, throwing +himself +before the maiden, who had sunk upon her knees; 'God judges righteously +and protects the innocent! Hear how he warns you with the voice of his +thunder!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The captain gave a loud and scornful laugh.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Seize the rebel and his heretic bride,' shrieked the angry +colonel. +The captain, nothing loth, motioning his dragoons to follow him and +confiding in his superior force, hastened forward, swinging his sword +high above his head. The colonel accompanied him and the dragoons +followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Save me, my God, from the crime of parricide!' cried Oswald, +advancing +to meet his opponents.</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment came a blinding flash of lightning, accompanied +by a +deafening clap of thunder, and with it rushed down from the highest +summit a monstrous mass of stone which caused the earth to tremble as +if there had been an earthquake; a short, sharp cry was heard, and the +pursuers and pursued were prostrated upon their faces.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The first glance of Oswald's opening eyes, when consciousness +returned, +was directed in search of poor Faith. She lay near him in a deep swoon. +Flying to her aid, he applied snow to her temples and warmed her lips +with his kisses. At length she opened her eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are yet alive, my Oswald!' cried she, with pious ecstasy, +folding +her hands as if giving thanks. 'The Lord has passed over us in the +tempest; but he has remembered us in mercy!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Pious maiden,' said Goes, who stood behind them, leaning like +a dying +man upon a dragoon. 'Pious maiden, so mayest thou speak, out of the +fulness of thy pure heart,--but the sinner must smite upon his breast +and cry. The Lord is just, and in his wrath has executed a righteous +judgment! Yet I may also give thanks for his mercy; for he has only +punished the incorrigibly wicked, warning the deluded with the voice of +his thunder, and leaving him yet a space for repentance and amendment. +Forgive me, my son. I had unlearned to be a man and a father; but will +again become one, even at this late hour of my life.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your goodness restores me to new life, my father,' said +Oswald, +pressing the paternal hand to his lips. His thoughts then instantly +recurred to the monster who had allured, his father there and +stimulated him to the commission of crime; and, catching up his sword +from the ground, his death-flashing glance sought the captain.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He whom you seek is not far off,' said Goes, speaking low, so +as not +to attract the maiden's attention, lest she should be too much shocked. +With a trembling hand he directed his son to the enormous rock which, +still smoking with the fire of heaven, lay in the path. The youth +shuddered as he turned his head and beheld a naked sword projecting +from under the mass, in the grasp of a stiffened hand. The captain's +plumed hat lay near, and the surrounding snow was reddened by a small +rivulet of blood which came trickling forth.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Behold the judgment of God, and implore his mercy for your +repentant +father,' said Goes, sinking into the arms of his son.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Three months later, Frau Rosen was sitting in the little +cottage of the +weaver's widow in Friedland, with an expression of soil serenity upon +her still pale countenance. On either side of her sat Oswald and Faith, +each holding one of her hands, and all rejoicing at her convalescence. +The rattle of an approaching carriage was heard without, and directly +four black horses, attached to the carriage of colonel Goes, trotted up +to the cottage door. The merchant Fessel, yet thin and pale from his +past illness and sorrows, descended from the carriage and entered the +room.</p> + +<p class="normal">As calamities suffered in common, only strengthen the bands by +which +good hearts are united, so the meeting of these friends evinced +increased tenderness and affection; while the memory of the dear +departed, which it called up, received the tribute of many tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How stand matters in our good city of Schweidnitz? at length +asked the +matron.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Badly enough, as yet,' answered Fessel; 'but not near so bad +as when +you left us. There seems, indeed, no prospect of an end to our +oppressions. The Jesuits are constantly multiplying their encroachments +and assumptions, and the royal judge whom the count has installed there +commands that all shall become catholic communicants, and prohibits +attendance upon the Lutheran churches out of town. These commands +cannot be very effectively enforced, and the military executions have +been discontinued ever since the departure of the tyrannical Dohna. +Many of the troops also have been withdrawn, and but two squadrons now +remain in the city. I must do the colonel the justice to say, moreover, +that he has done every thing in his power to mitigate our sufferings, +even at great hazard of injuring himself.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The Lord reward him for it,' said Frau Rosen, 'and allow it +to balance +the long account in that book where his sins are recorded.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am here as his messenger,' continued Fessel; 'to conduct +you all to +the little inn near the rocks of Aldersbach, where he intends to hold a +family festival.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'There?' asked Oswald with surprise. 'That indicates some +important, +and certainly some joyful purpose.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He keeps his plans and objects very secret,' said Fessel. 'I +have my +conjectures; but can divulge nothing. That it is to be a great festival +I know by the extent of the preparations. He has been there with a +stone-cutter and gardener from Schweidnitz, since the day before +yesterday; and he wishes you all to come in full dress to-day.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Fessel, having returned to his carriage, soon came in again +with two +large packages, which he delivered to the lovers. Faith hastened to her +mother with hers, that they might examine and comment upon its contents +together.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, Oswald opened his package and found therein a +splendid +Danish officer's uniform with all its usual appendages. 'The time for +these gilded ornaments has long since passed with me,' he observed with +a feeling of dissatisfaction; 'and I do not deem it proper to wear the +costume of a station which I intend never again to occupy.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'He anticipated the objection,' said Fessel; 'and requests me +to beg of +you to wear it only this day, for his sake, notwithstanding your own +disinclination.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, Oswald, look!' exclaimed the happy Faith, holding out her +present +for his examination. 'See this beautiful white silken dress and this +splendid diamond ornament!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is very beautiful,' said Oswald, giving it a careless +glance; 'but +is there no myrtle-wreath with the dress?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have already sought it in vain,' answered Faith, with a +slight +blush.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Alas!' sighed Oswald, 'then the most acceptable present is +wanting. My +dearest hope for to-day is at once annihilated.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Murmur not against your father, my dear brother-in-law,' +begged +Fessel. 'I will be answerable that he means well with you and our +little Faith.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is well!' said Oswald, taking his package under his arm +and +retiring to dress; 'but he ought not to have forgotten the +myrtle-wreath!'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Panting and foaming, the four black steeds drew up before the +little +inn at Aldersbach, which was now gaily decorated with evergreens. The +happy old colonel stood in the door, ready to receive them. Oswald +assisted Faith, and Fessel his mother-in-law, to alight. Goes advanced +to the latter and clasped her hand. 'You have lost much through us,' he +sorrowfully said, 'can you forgive?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Should I else deserve to be called a christian?' answered the +matron.</p> + +<p class="normal">'May God reward your kindness!' said the colonel, leading her +into the +house, in the largest room of which several protestant officers of the +imperial army were assembled. Oswald then entered with Faith, in all +her youthful beauty, which was much heightened by her rich dress.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ha, what a charming maiden!' exclaimed Goes. 'Yes, my son, +her +appearance would excuse thy choice, if indeed it needed an excuse.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I cannot share any part of the satisfaction which seems to be +so +general,' said Oswald with forced gaiety, 'as it is impossible for me +to feel comfortable in a dress which is unsuited to my station and +calling.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is exactly suited to your station,' said the colonel with +solemnity, handing a folded paper to him. It was a major's commission +in the Danish service.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is wholly contrary to my wish,' exclaimed Oswald with +surprise, +as he perceived the nature of the document. 'I have laid down the sword +forever!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That cannot be done with safety at present in any part of +Europe, my +dear Oswald,' said Goes. 'In these rough times a man must bear the +sword, if he would not be compelled to bow his neck under it; nor is +there any prospect that it will soon be otherwise. You have repeatedly +shown, that you will never be able to reconcile yourself to the humble +and submissive condition of a burgher. Whenever occasion has offered, +you have unhesitatingly drawn that sword with which you have +professedly wished to have nothing more to do. I most heartily rejoice +at it, because of the evidence it affords that my blood flows in your +veins; but at the same time it proves your unfitness for the counter +and yard-stick. You must again serve,--it is required both for your +honor and mine. To serve the emperor would be against your conscience. +I have therefore sought out a service which, as matters now stand, +cannot be objectionable to either of us. A permanent peace has been +concluded between the emperor and the king of Denmark. Your new +situation will lead you from Silesia to the land where your own faith, +which is persecuted here, is openly and triumphantly professed. You +will be spared the grief of being compelled to witness innumerable +evils which you can have no power to remedy. All these considerations +were well weighed by me before I applied in your name for the honorable +appointment which you surely will not now reject.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are right,' cried Oswald. 'You see farther than I do, and +I +gratefully receive the commission from your paternal hands.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My application alone would not have met with such ready +success,' +continued Goes. 'For that, you have to thank one whose friendship and +patronage you literally conquered at Dessau,--the duke of Friedland. He +wrote himself to Copenhagen in your behalf; and the mediator who +brought about the treaty of Lubeck could hardly be refused so small a +request by the king of Denmark.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Honor to the lion!' jocosely exclaimed Frau Rosen. 'Those +large wild +beasts generally have some generosity about them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'All is in readiness!' said the old Hussite host, entering the +room and +throwing open the doors.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Give your arm to Faith, my son, and follow this man,' said +Goes. The +lovers looked at each other with some surprise, and obeyed the command. +After them came the matron, supported by Goes and Fessel. The officers +followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">The procession entered directly among the rocks, and at +length, +magnificently gilded by the evening sun, the eventful mass of stone +which had been detached and overthrown by the lightning, shone upon +them with a far different and more friendly aspect than when it had +last met their view. It was hung around with evergreens and adorned +with flowery garlands; and upon the most conspicuous part of it a +medallion had been cut out, with these words engraved upon it: '<i>The +lightning of heaven here punished and warned.</i>' Underneath was cut out +the day of the month and the year. In front of the huge mass stood an +altar, built of the fragments which were shivered from it when it fell. +The old pastor of Huss's Rest waited at the altar, in his clerical +robes and with opened book. On each side of him stood Fessel's +children, holding wreaths of flowers.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What can all this mean?' whispered Faith to Oswald, in sweet +confusion, while the colonel placed the missing myrtle wreath upon her +blond locks.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Unite this pair in marriage, reverend father,' cried the +colonel, with +gushing tears, leading the lovers to the altar.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Mild toleration has spread its dove-like wings over the states +of +Austria for many long years since the period above referred to,--the +colony of Huss's Rest is no longer to be found among the rocks of +Aldersbach,--and the silver rivulet again meanders in silent solitude +through the concealed valley. The huge rock hurled down by the +lightning's stroke yet lies, a lasting monument, in the middle of the +road, and the medallion may yet be recognised. Time has effaced the +inscription, and the guide who now conducts the curious visitor knows +only a legend of an English gentleman, who atoned for his desire to +view a thunderstorm among the rocks by being very nearly crushed by the +fall of this rifted fragment. In memory of his imminent danger, and in +gratitude for his almost miraculous preservation, he is said to have +caused the medallion to be carved in the rock. Of the punishment of the +reprobate captain and the deep repentance of the colonel of the +converters, they have long since forgotten the tradition; and FANCY may +therefore be allowed to erect her light and airy castle upon the +granite foundation of history; to picture forth to those now living the +savage contests for opinion, of former times,--and to warn them against +the evils of an exclusive and intolerant spirit, into which we are in +constant danger of relapsing.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<div style="line-height:200%"> +<h1><a name="div1_sorceress" href="#div1Ref_sorceress">THE SORCERESS</a>.</h1> + +<h2>BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE.</h2> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The first rays of the morning sun were brilliantly reflected +by the +polished arms of Ryno and Idallan, as they rode gaily forth in search +of adventures. It was not their first similar excursion. As usual with +errant knights, they had struck down many a dragon, vanquished many a +giant, and rescued many a damsel from the clutches of wicked magicians. +Delicate arms had clasped their knees in gratitude, tender bosoms had +feverishly beat against their iron breastplates, ruby lips had pledged +them in golden cups of the juice of the Syracusan grape, and yet their +hearts remained cold and impenetrable as the pure steel of their armor. +The delightful consciousness of freedom, strength, and youthful +spirits, spoke in their every movement. Stately and beautiful they +passed on their way, their sharp lances resting quietly upon their +right stirrups, their swords peacefully clinking in their scabbards, +and their hands carelessly holding their highly ornamented bridle +reins.</p> + +<p class="normal">Suddenly they heard female voices uttering distressing cries +for help. +The steeds snorted and pricked up their ears; the knights involuntarily +drew a tighter rein, seized their lances, and applied the spur; and +thus they darted forward with perfect indifference whether this new +adventure should be crowned with wounds or kisses, blows or treasures, +a martyr's chains, or an hymeneal altar.</p> + +<p class="normal">Their panting chargers soon bore them to a forest filled with +oaks of a +thousand years, whence had proceeded those outcries, which were now +subsiding to sobs so low as to be almost lost to the ear. At length a +green meadow opened upon them through the wood, and there, enclosed by +a circle of Moors, stood two powerless maidens of angelic beauty, bound +to a tree. An old, meagre, yellow monster, in the rich dress of the +east, appeared to be feasting himself with gazing upon their charms. He +had just drawn a dagger from his girdle and was about to approach one +of the maidens, when Ryno and Idallan burst upon them from the thicket +with the suddenness of the lightning's flash, and the fury of the +storm. Knight-errant like, without asking any questions, they nailed +six of the Moors to the nearest oaks with their lances, and then, (as +if Vulcan had sent his cyclops to the work,) their blows fell like hail +upon the astonished Moors.</p> + +<p class="normal">Courage, strength, knowledge of the use of arms, and the +consciousness +of a good cause, enabled them quickly to overpower their venal +opponents. Those, who were not killed by the sword or trampled down by +the horses, threw away their weapons and fled. Only the horrid looking +yellow old man kept his ground, and he was busily employed in drawing +strange characters in the air with a black wand. 'You lose your pains!' +cried Idallan, laughing. 'You must know, sir wizard, that our arms, +tempered by the fairy Diamanta, fear no magic charm, and that only +superior natural power can prevail against them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'If you wish a proof of it,' interposed Ryno, springing from +his horse, +'I am here ready for the trial, and you may call back your flying Moors +to arm you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Without answer, but with a glance that disclosed the hell +within, the +sorcerer strode with uplifted dagger, towards his poor bound victim; +but Ryno's ready weapon interrupted him in full career. With rifted +head the fiend sank to the earth, which immediately opened and +swallowed his hideous form; while a blue smoke, accompanied by fearful +sounds, gnashing of the teeth and scornful laughter, issued from the +spot where he had disappeared.</p> + +<p class="normal">The knights hastened to the damsels, and by the aid of their +bloody +swords quickly severed the bands by which they were confined. Water +brought from a neighboring spring soon restored the fainting sufferers +to consciousness, and with the first glances of their large blue eyes +arose a new sun upon their deliverers. The charming girls cast a +shuddering glance upon the field of slaughter, kneeled before the +knights with their arms folded in thanksgiving, timidly murmured to +them some words in an unknown language, and, after a short internal +struggle, rushed into their preservers' arms. An ardent kiss burned +upon the lips of each of the enraptured heroes; but before they could +recover from their delightful surprise, the maidens had escaped from +their embraces. One bound of their little feet lifted them into the +air,--a zephyr expanded their dresses into sails,--and with glances of +ineffable sweetness they rose high over the gigantic trees, and swept +beyond the vision of their astonished beholders.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="normal">'By my knightly oath, it is not fair,' said Ryno, after a long +pause, +'to leave us standing here alone.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is ungrateful,' murmured Idallan.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Ryno.</i>--Say not that; for had all my heart's blood flowed +upon this +spot, the kiss impressed upon my lips would have been a sufficient +reward.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Idallan.</i>--I am wounded in the arm.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Ryno.</i>--And I in the heart, which is far more dangerous.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Idallan.</i>--What is now to be done?</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Ryno.</i>--Resume our travels. The heavenly forms moved towards +the west, +and happily no direction can be the wrong one for us.</p> + +<p class="normal">Idallan sighed, and they proceeded towards their horses.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hold! what do I see?' cried Ryno.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where?' asked Idallan.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A white veil, the earthly covering which the fairies left +behind them +when they mounted into the air.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The two knights rushed towards the veil, and both caught hold +of it at +the same moment. 'It belonged to the damsel saved by me, and is +therefore mine!' exclaimed Idallan.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Ryno.</i>--I saw it first.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Idallan.</i>--My blood flowed in the strife by which we have +obtained it!</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Ryno.</i>--It is mine, I will not yield it up.</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Idallan.</i>--Nor I, but with my life.</p> + +<p class="normal">Both held the veil fast, and it was in imminent danger of +being torn in +pieces.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hold!' said Ryno. 'Why should we senselessly destroy that +which, +uninjured, would make one of us happy. Let us calmly and peacefully +determine our respective claims by an appeal to argument and reason.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I never will resign my claim,' scornfully exclaimed Idallan. +'If you +persist in yours, the sword must decide.'</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Ryno.</i>--You are my brother in arms, and wounded; I will not +fight with +you!</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Idallan.</i>--Has the struggle with the Moors already exhausted +your +stock of courage?</p> + +<p class="normal"><i>Ryno.</i>--Idallan! Even this shall not provoke me!</p> + +<p class="normal">Idallan in a rage seized the veil, which Ryno reluctantly +released, to +save it from destruction. He hung it upon a high branch, and placed +himself before it with his sword drawn. 'The veil is mine, if you are +too cowardly to contend for it.' The noble Ryno half drew his sword, +but, recollecting himself, immediately returned it to its sheath, and +was about to mount his horse.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you slight me?' roared Idallan, running after him sword in +hand. +Ryno was compelled to turn and draw, and a furious battle commenced +over the dead bodies of the Moors. The attack and defence were +conducted on both sides with equal courage and skill, so that neither +obtained any advantage over the other. Sparks flew at every encounter +of their weapons, the frightened birds flew screaming from the place, +and the timid deer fled to the protection of the remotest thickets.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Under a natural arch of primeval granite, in the most secluded +recess +of a wild and savage mountain, was situated the deeply indented cave of +the sorceress, Hiorba. The cavern was filled with sieves and cauldrons, +mummies and bundles of herbs, hieroglyphics and mirrors, crystal globes +and crocodiles, in mystical confusion. Two torches, held by skeleton +hands, lighted the whole. In a circle of strange characters and human +bones, lay the aged and despairing Hiorba, her face to the ground, +frantically tearing the last remains of her silver hair with her +withered hands. Two large black cats were caressingly and soothingly +purring about her. Suddenly she appeared to be shaken as by an electric +shock. She arose with flashing eyes, stretched out her magic wand +towards the largest of the mirrors, and murmured some words of unknown +meaning. Strange confused images appeared upon the clear crystal. As +she anxiously watched the figures her interest seemed to increase every +moment, and every moment her joy became more plainly visible, until at +length she gave a cry of ecstatic delight as Aliande and Daura, her +charming foster-daughters, rushed breathlessly into the cave.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Here we are, good mother,' cried Daura, embracing her with +ardor.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Escaped from death, from shame, and from the terrible +Rasalkol!' cried +Aliande, pressing the old woman's hand to her lips with filial love. +'Saved by the noblest, bravest and handsomest youths....'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Silence, children!' said the sorceress, interrupting them. +'My true +mirror has already told me all, and more perhaps than you will be +willing to confess.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Blushing and confused, the maidens cast their sparkling eyes +upon the +ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Quickly, ah too quickly, has love for your deliverers found +its way to +your young hearts. Faithfully until now have I guarded you against this +dangerous passion; but the moment in which the traitor Rasalkol +succeeded in abducting you from this protecting cavern, my power over +you ceased. The reprobate's hellish plan of destroying both you and me +has indeed failed; but you may yet one day wish that you had bled under +his dagger;--for the sorrows of unrequited love cut more keenly into +weak woman's heart than a thousand daggers.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You do not know our knights,' interposed Aliande in a +scarcely audible +murmur.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I know them to be men. As the wolf resembles the hyena, and +both of +these the jackal, so also do the whole profligate sex resemble each +other,--differing only in their outward appearance and capacity for +seizing their prey. The inexperienced eyes of the harmless doe are +easily fascinated by the beautiful stripes of the blood-thirsty tiger!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Tears trickled down the maidens' cheeks, at this reproof.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I love you my children,' continued Hiorba in a tenderer tone. +'You are +the grand-children of my good niece, whom I buried on my hundredth +birth day. Willingly would I have rendered you happy, which you can +only be in an unmarried state; but you are in love, and all my warnings +are spoken to the winds. For once, however, yield to a mother's +anxiety: Let me <i>prove</i> the men of your choice.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Has not their battle with Rasalkol and his Moors already +proved them +sufficiently?' asked Aliande.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Their knightly courage,--but not their hearts.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'If all men were proved in advance,' answered Daura, with a +faint +smile, 'who would come unscathed from the furnace?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your questions contain a significant denial of my request,' +answered +Hiorba. 'Since you have seen these strangers I have no longer any +influence over your hearts. Consider well my last warning.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She again raised her wand to the mirror and the field of +battle again +presented itself. Aliande saw the fluttering veil, and the furious +contention of the knights.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For God's sake, Hiorba,' shrieked the maidens; 'help, protect +save!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'See you those rough and savage men?' said Hiorba; 'They do +not know +which has the best right to the flimsy web, and yet each knight is +ready to murder his brother-in-arms for its possession. You have here a +specimen of what men call honor; and believe me, as their feet now +recklessly trample upon the delicate wood-flower in their deadly +struggle, so will the tyranny of their strength, their pride, and their +sensuality, trample upon all your tenderest feelings and finally break +your hearts.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why waste so many words,' complained the maidens; 'save, good +mother, +separate the frantic knights.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Shaking her head in token of disapprobation, Hiorba +reluctantly took +her wand and opened a cage which hung from the arch above; a bird of +paradise came chirping thence, and perched confidingly upon her +shoulder.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Go, bring me the veil, Immo!' said Hiorba; 'and lead hither +the +contending knights, also.'</p> + +<p class="normal">With her wand she softly touched the bird between its wings, +and, +sweetly warbling, it shot off like an arrow from the bow.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Ryno and Idallan still continued their insane struggle. Their +helmets +and scarfs were hacked to pieces, and hung in fragments about their +shoulders. The green sward was already dyed crimson from their many +wounds, when the thrilling song of a bird, fuller and sweeter than the +voluptuous tones of the nightingale, filled the neighboring air. +Through the soothing influence of those tones, softer feelings were +awakened in the breasts of the combatants. An armistice was tacitly +concluded; and with suspended breath they listened to the heavenly +music, until they at length perceived a beautiful winged songster +fluttering about the branch upon which the veil was hanging. Softer and +more soul-thrilling were the seductive tones poured from its little +throat, and Ryno hazarded the remark:</p> + +<p class="normal">'How foolish to be hacking each other's bones for a thing of +so little +consequence!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are right!' said Idallan, putting up his sword and +extending his +hand to his brother-in-arms. A clear-ringing song of triumph resounded +from the beak of the wonderful bird as their hands met with the grasp +of reconciliation, while the little mediator seized the veil in its +purple claws, and moved slowly and gracefully toward the west, still +continuing its enticing music. 'It calls us, brother, shall we not +follow?' asked Ryno.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, let us pursue the veil!' cried Idallan: 'this beauteous +banner +leads us to more delightful conquests!'</p> + +<p class="normal">They resumed their saddles and hastened to follow their +mysterious +guide, keeping their eyes immovably fixed upon the bright and waving +emblem, which remained constantly visible in the distance.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The gray-haired Hiorba was standing with her blooming +daughters upon +the ruins of an ancient castle. 'You will not listen to my warnings,' +she sadly and affectionately remarked. 'You scorn to consecrate your +virgin purity to the gods, as I have done, and receive rare knowledge, +great power, and almost an earthly immortality, in return. The ardent +wishes of youth kindle only for sensual enjoyments, which are ever +mingled with sorrow and of short duration. Your desires shall be +gratified. You shall possess whatever can bless mortal maidens: wealth, +splendor, honors, and the husbands of your choice. The rest must depend +upon the gods.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why so earnest and solemn, good mother?' said Aliande.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your present situation, your inconsiderate choice for a whole +life, +the reflection that your days will be embittered and abridged by +unappreciated and betrayed love, all contribute to make me sad. An +equal affliction threatens both of you, for it is not in my power to +call back spirits from the blooming fields of Walhalla to furnish +husbands for you. It is done! I hear the distant song of Immo, and +hasten to prepare your future abodes.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Drawing a circle which included herself and the maidens, +Hiorba then +pronounced the mysterious words of conjuration. Subterranean thunder +was heard, the earth heaved, gleams of lightning escaped through the +cleft rocks, and a thick smoke almost destroyed the power of +respiration. In an instant they became fearfully conscious that they +were no longer alone among the ruins. Innumerable demons surrounded +Hiorba's magic circle, respectfully awaiting her commands.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Spirits of the Earth!' cried the antiquated virgin with great +dignity, +'my foster-daughters, Aliande and Daura, require of me a dowry. Spirits +of the east and west! I command you to convert these ruins into a +splendid castle for the residence of Aliande. Spirits of the north and +south! Prepare upon yonder hill a similar abode for my Daura. To the +work! In nine times nine twinklings of the eye must all be completed.'</p> + +<p class="normal">A motion of her wand, and half of the demons disappeared. The +other +half cleaved the earth for the purpose of bringing forth the granite, +marble, gold, iron and other materials required for the edifice. The +lightning played and the thunder rolled incessantly, earthquakes +followed each other in quick succession, the winds howled, and the +subterranean waters rushed and roared most fearfully. All nature +appeared to lie in convulsions, as if it were a wicked invasion of her +rights that immortal hands should perform the work of mortals. +Powerless and insensible lay Aliande and Daura within the circle. +Terrible flames burst from the crevices of the earth, giving fearful +tokens of the subterranean labors of the gnomes. Hiorba stood amid the +general uproar, calmly directing the raging elements, which never for a +moment disturbed so much as one of the silver hairs of her head.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The nine times nine moments had expired; the subterranean +flames were +extinguished, and the bright sun shone upon a magnificent palace +encompassed by high walls, while its rays were brilliantly reflected by +the metal roof. The gilded summits of its seven towers flashed in the +sunlight like the seven stars. Hiorba viewed the labor of her +mysterious agents with satisfaction, and then awoke the damsels with a +touch of her wand. They looked around with astonishment upon the new +world in which they found themselves. They had fallen asleep among +ruins, upon damp moss overgrown with thorns and nettles, and now awoke +upon soft couches of velvet and gold, in the balcony of a splendid +edifice. The building was of granite, faced with marble, uniting the +strength of the Gothic with the lightness and beauty of the Grecian +style. Masterpieces of Grecian sculpture adorned every nook, step, and +landing-place,--while the magnificent pleasure-garden, with all its +fountains, cascades, lakes, temples, shaded walks, islands and +obelisks, extended down the mountain slope. It was some time before +they were convinced that it was not all a dream.</p> + +<p class="normal">The damsels embraced their kind foster-mother, while tears of +affection +and gratitude eloquently spoke their thanks. 'Enough,' said Hiorba, +withdrawing herself from their embraces; 'you know not, as yet, whether +I deserve your thanks. That will be discovered hereafter, when the +roses and thorns of this life shall have been weighed and balanced by +the immortal gods. I must be brief, for already do I hear the +approaching steeds of Ryno and Idallan, and I cannot look upon the men +who are about to pluck, and perhaps to crush and destroy, the two +sweetest roses of my garden. I now take my leave. I shall always act a +mother's part by you,--but, only three times is it allowed me to become +visible to the wives of Ryno and Idallan; at the moments of their +greatest happiness, of their deepest misery, and of their untimely +deaths. Preserve the same purity of soul which I have so carefully +nurtured, so that in your last sad hour I may kiss the dews of death +from your foreheads, and conduct your liberated spirits to the elysian +fields of Walhalla.'</p> + +<p class="normal">A soft and heavenly light overspread Hiorba's countenance, the +wrinkles +of age disappeared, and golden locks surrounded her clear forehead like +a halo. Azure and purple wings unfolded from her shoulders, a robe of +light enveloped her tall, majestic form, and on an amber cloud she +floated away from the sisters, who watched her disappearance with +speechless awe.</p> + +<p class="normal">The tuneful Immo now fluttered through the castle gate with +Aliande's +veil. The draw-bridge fell, and the two knights, who had closely +followed her, leaped from their horses, bounded up the steps, and threw +themselves at the feet of the maidens; whilst Immo, perched upon the +highest castle tower, sweetly warbled forth the bridal song.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">A crystal lamp, suspended from the arched ceiling of a lofty +chamber, +shed a soft moonlight over the silken tapestry of the bridal bed where +Ryno was slumbering upon the bosom of the happy Aliande. The beauteous +bride was watching the peaceful slumber of her beloved partner with +mingled and undefinable feelings of joy and sorrow, when she suddenly +heard a rustling of the drapery, and immediately the well known form of +the sorceress stood before her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are happy, Aliande?' she asked.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Unspeakably!' murmured Aliande, hiding her blushing cheek in +the bosom +of her faithful foster-mother.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Does your heart suggest no wish yet ungratified?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Only one!' timidly answered the lovely bride.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yet one?' rejoined the astonished Hiorba. 'Thus it is with +poor +mortals. Upon the highest pinnacle of earthly happiness they are still +tormented by insatiable aspirations. Confide your secret wish to me, my +daughter.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'During the bridal supper, as my husband was giving a rapid +sketch of +his knightly adventures, and painting the charms of the various damsels +he had saved, in glowing colors, I began to fear that I--perhaps +soon--might be no longer the <i>only</i> object of his love.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Already jealous, Aliande, on this your bridal night!....'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Death, rather than a rival!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is your wish of me?' asked Hiorba.</p> + +<p class="normal">'To relieve me from the torture of uncertainty, I desire a +faithful +monitor which shall inform me when Ryno kneels before strange altars, +that I may win back the idol of my heart with redoubled love, +or,--learn to despise and scorn the inconstant.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'An unfriendly star rules over both you and me,' said Hiorba +in a +desponding tone. 'I am convinced that the fulfilment of this wish will +make you most miserable, and yet I am constrained by a power greater +than my own to grant it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She stamped upon the floor, and immediately two hideous gnomes +appeared +with a time-piece made of the most costly materials, curiously wrought +into the form of a temple of Venus.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Take this production of magic art,' said Hiorba, 'but conceal +it +carefully from your husband, lest in the exasperation of conscious +guilt he should destroy his innocent accuser. This clock will always +stand still, this bell will always remain silent, and this mirror will +reflect only your own features, so long as Ryno remains true to his +vows; but should he ever yield to the common vice of his sex, +voluptuous melodies will issue from the temple, the index will indicate +the time, and the crystal mirror will reflect the image of the favored +rival.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Aliande was about to express her gratitude, but Hiorba +interrupted her. +'Thank me not,--for with this present you receive enduring sorrow and +late repentance. Soon shall I greet you a second time, but then it will +be in tears.' She spoke, and disappeared.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Transporting herself to the splendid seven-towered palace of +the other +sister, the sorceress entered Daura's chamber and awoke her from her +sweet dreams of happiness with a kiss. Then came the same questions, +and the same protestations of unspeakable happiness; yet the quiet and +contented Daura, also, seemed to have <i>one</i> wish concealed in the +secret recesses of her bosom. After Hiorba's long and tender entreaties +for her confidence, she finally said: 'through repeated and pressing +inquiries of both Ryno and Idallan, I have learned of the exhibition of +savage rage by my husband in the bloody contest for the lost veil, +which Ryno would have resigned for the sake of peace and friendship, +refusing to fight until he was compelled to do so in his own defence. I +fear that Idallan's violence, which did not spare even his beloved +brother-in-arms, will also rend my heart and prepare many sad days and +tearful nights for me. Oh that I were in possession of a charm which, +like David's harp, would allay the demon of anger! What then could be +wanting to my happiness?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Immo!' cried Hiorba, with a complacent smile, opening the +window. In +came the delicate bird, bearing about its neck a radiant diamond chain +to which a small ivory flute was attached. 'Take this flute, my gentle +Daura,' said the sorceress; 'pass this chain about your neck, and let +your faithful mother's gift remain always upon your bosom. When +Idallan's wild passions begin to kindle, when his inconsiderate bursts +of anger threaten to wound the peace of my gentle daughter, then will +the soothing tones of this instrument soften his rage and shed balm +upon his mind.'</p> + +<p class="normal">With glad surprise Daura extended her fair hand for the +talisman, and +Hiorba vanished.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">A year had passed from the stream of time into the ocean of +eternity +since the marriage of the two sisters, when Hiorba arose out of the +rocks in the oak forest between the two palaces. The proud edifices yet +shone in all their original splendor, and their majestic walls cast +long shadows over the vale below; but the rock upon which the sorceress +was standing had changed its appearance. Instead of being bare, as +formerly, it was now shaded by tall cedars, lofty pines, and trembling +poplars, and encircled with blooming rose-hedges, A gilded dome, +supported by nine Corinthian pillars of alabaster, adorned the summit. +The sorceress inquisitively examined the temple, and with surprise and +pleasure encountered her own statue crowned with fresh cypress and +faded roses. Tears of joyful emotion filled Hiorba's eyes, and her +first impulse was to fly immediately to her foster-daughters, that she +might, invisible to them, impress a kiss of gratitude upon their +unconscious foreheads; but while hesitating which of the happy brides +she should first visit, she discerned two female forms approaching from +opposite directions. Discovering that they were her two daughters, she +wrapped herself in impenetrable clouds, that she might be a secret +witness of their interview. Their appearance gave her no pleasure. +Their pale cheeks were not lighted by the sun of matrimonial +peace,--their lingering steps and downcast eyes spoke not of +happiness,--and with fear and sorrow Hiorba leaned against the altar +which supported her statue. At length the sisters reached the place and +rushed sobbing into each other's arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My sufferings have reached their utmost limit!' exclaimed +Aliande.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My last hope is annihilated!' sighed Daura.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How ineffably miserable,' said Aliande, 'has our good +mother's last +gift made me! With almost every change of the moon does the warning +voice of my magic clock rend my poor betrayed heart. My fatal mirror is +constantly reflecting new faces which seldom indicate delicate feminine +charms, never mental elevation. All my tears have hitherto been able to +obtain but empty promises of amendment from the faithless one; and my +just reproaches only exasperate him. To-day I see the hated features of +my last waiting maid, the light and impudent Rosa! No, I will bear +these mortifications, these repeated insults, no longer!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, how much more miserable am I, good sister!' sobbed Daura. +'It was +but the intoxication of the senses which led Idallan to my arms; and in +addition to my other sorrows I now feel that he has never, never loved +me. The first week of our honey-moon had scarcely passed when he found +himself annoyed by the gentle tones of my flute, which, against his +will, moderated the severity of his fierce disposition. In a confiding +moment, after he had successfully feigned the tenderest affection, he +succeeded in drawing from me the secret of the maternal gift. With +pleasant jests and agreeable trifling he unwound the chain from my +neck; but no sooner was the delicate instrument in his hands, than his +brow became clouded, his eyes flashed with an unnatural fire, and with +a voice of thunder he denounced me as a vile sorceress who had +disgraced his knightly bed. Then with furious rage he dashed the flute +to the earth. Yet once more were heard its soft and tranquilizing +tones. Too late! Idallan's foot was already raised, and trampling it in +his anger, he annihilated its sweet melody forever. What, what have I +not suffered since that unhappy hour!....'</p> + +<p class="normal">'His heart is depraved--forget him!' cried Hiorba, stepping +visibly +between the sisters, who threw themselves at her feet in glad surprise.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You both decided too rashly!' continued the weeping +foster-mother. 'I +warned you in vain. In vain did I entreat permission to prove your +lovers. The evil is done,--and requires help, not reproaches. Your +case, Aliande, may possibly be remedied; yours, poor Daura--never! That +you may not doubt the truth of my words, I will now commence the trial +of both husbands, and wo to him who shall prove base!'</p> + +<p class="normal">She concluded with a voice of thunder, and disappeared. The +unhappy +sisters silently embraced each other, and then slowly returned to their +splendid prisons.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Idallan was restlessly tossing upon his solitary bed on the +first +anniversary of his marriage night, whilst the repudiated and suffering +Daura rested in a distant chamber, steeping her pillow with her tears.</p> + +<p class="normal">Idallan's heart was radically bad, as might be inferred from +his +conduct in the contest for the veil. Savage and boisterous passions +tarnished the splendor of the many knightly virtues which adorned his +nature; and his real character appeared, when fortune, from her +cornucopia, suddenly poured the full stream of love, wealth and +splendor upon him. This unexpected and overabundant fulfilment of all +his wildest hopes, gave the finishing touch to his temperament. The +beauteous woman, whom unreflecting love had conducted to his arms, he +valued merely as the slave of his rough and savage will. The princely +treasures which Hiorba's generosity had heaped in his coffers, had only +excited his thirst for gold. Hundreds of families who had sought the +protection of his castle, and converted the surrounding forest into +fruitful fields, were happy to be considered his subjects, and thus +ministered to his love of power and dominion. Schemes of ambition +disturbed his brain. He already in imagination saw himself a prince, +perhaps of the whole earth, with Ryno his vassal, and an emperor's +daughter for his wife; but he looked upon his gentle and faithful Daura +as the greatest obstacle in the way of his success. His undisguised +scorn and contempt had taught her to weep the rash choice made during +the brief intoxication of love. There lay Idallan, disturbed by dreams +which naturally took the tone of his daily thoughts and the color of +the black soul whence they emanated. A glimmering light suddenly +disturbed his uneasy sleep. Idallan leaped wildly from his bed, and +before him stood the monster Rasalkol, surrounded by a pale sulphurous +light, and horribly disfigured by the wound which Ryno gave him in the +oak forest.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your first matrimonial year is ended!' said the fearful +phantom in a +sepulchral tone, 'and thank the Gods! you are unhappy. Your great soul +must feel the pressure of the chains which bind you forever to a lowly +bride. Daura suffices not for a man of noble ambition, and fate has +destined you for greater things. Three crowns are waiting to grace your +brow, when you shall have rendered yourself worthy of them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Messenger of Heaven!' cried Idallan in ecstasies.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You must know,' continued the spectre, 'that since the day +when you +and Ryno attacked me with such inconsiderate zeal, I have been +condemned through Hiorba's cruelty, to wander about among the +subterranean caves of this mountain, until some firm and courageous +adventurer deliver me from the power of that ugly witch. The brave man +who shall accomplish this, I will raise to the first throne in the +world, give him the daughter of the most powerful ruler for a wife, and +lay my inexhaustible treasures open to him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'O that it may be my destiny to end your sorrows, wise +magician!' said +Idallan, sighing.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You alone can do it, brave and noble knight,' answered +Rasalkol. 'You +alone have the means in your hands, to destroy Hiorba, deliver me, and +procure unspeakable happiness for yourself; but he who would serve +Rasalkol must not fear to shed blood!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Give me but wealth and power, and I will slay millions for +you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Take this withered twig,' said the phantom, handing him a +wand. 'Bear +it to the chamber where Daura sleeps, strike your dagger to her heart +in such a manner that the warm blood shall sprinkle the wand. The twig +will acquire new life; leaves, buds and flowers will instantly put +forth, it will take root in the earth and bear a magnificent fruit, +containing within itself the seeds of death. Divide the fruit and send +it in the name of Daura to Ryno and Aliande. As soon as you hear that +they are dead, bring their bodies here and lay them by the corpse of +your wife. Then tear out their hearts and burn them with the wood of +the tree. When the fire shall have destroyed the last fibre, Hiorba +will expire with dreadful torments. I shall then be free and eternally +grateful.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am yours!' cried Idallan, cautiously proceeding to the +sleeping +chamber of the unhappy Daura, with the magic wand in one hand and his +dagger in the other. A mysterious light preceded the monster's steps. +Softly opening the door, the angelic form lay before him, wrapped in +peaceful slumber. The sweet smile of innocence played upon her pale +lips. In a tone of melancholy tenderness which would have softened a +tiger, she exclaimed in her sleep, 'lovest thou me no longer, Idallan?' +Yet did Idallan, with a malicious scowl, raise his arm to strike. At +that instant a flash of lightning hurled the dagger from his hand, and, +instead of Rasalkol, the sorceress Hiorba stood before him. Her +piercing glance seemed almost annihilating, and the trembling culprit +cast his eyes upon the earth, as if imploring it to open and swallow +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Daughter, your tender husband would become your murderer!' +said +Hiorba. 'Thus is your hasty choice rewarded.' Then turning to Idallan: +'the soul's deepest grief, the eternal loss of her heart's peace, +punishes your unhappy wife for her disregard of the maternal advice; +but what can be a sufficient punishment for you?'</p> + +<p class="normal">Idallan was silent.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your obdurate heart was steeled against your wife, your +faithful +brother-in-arms, and against me, to whose kindness you were indebted +for the foundation of your fortunes. Ambition and shameful avarice have +incited you to the blackest crimes! Be your punishment proportioned to +your deeds! Therefore up, demons! drag this condemned one to Hecla's +ever flaming gulf! There let soul and body suffer the pain of the +dreadful sulphur bath, until the mortal part has become changed to +gold. For a thousand years may the sordid dross remain, until by +millions of accidents it becomes transformed into a circle, and presses +a crowned and joyless head. When the crown thus formed sparkles with +gems, awaken in the miserable metal its gnawing consciousness, and, so +long as the diadem endures, torture the soul with the perception of +treasures and honors never to be enjoyed!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Having spoken thus, Hiorba waved her fearful wand. Two +horrible demons +appeared, and, with a laugh, which extorted a howl of anguish from the +criminal, forced him away.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The inconstant Ryno had one day been belated while engaged in +the +chase, which had become his favorite occupation since the destruction +of his matrimonial peace. He had pursued a wounded doe into a thicket +out of which he was unable to find his way. The evening air blew chill, +the stars shone faintly through the nebulous atmosphere, and the +moonless night was spreading its brown mantle over the earth. A deep +silence pervaded the forest, broken only by the hootings of the owl, +and the howlings of the wolf. Ryno dismounted to grope for the devious +path. He wandered on in this manner for the space of a quarter of an +hour, leading his horse by the bridle-rein, when suddenly he heard a +flourish of drums and trumpets. Looking up, he was astonished to find +himself at no great distance from a magnificent and brilliantly +illuminated castle. Pleased and surprised, for in all his hunting +excursions he had never encountered it before, he threw himself upon +his horse and hastened toward its gates. Trumpets and comets rang a +merry peal, the drawbridge descended, the gate flew open, and he soon +found himself in the inner court, surrounded by a band of richly clad +and golden locked pages. They seized his bridle, relieved him of his +hunting-spear, bow and quiver,--one of them respectfully held his +stirrup, while another, on bended knee, bade him welcome.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you know me?' asked Ryno with astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who does not know the knightly Ryno, so renowned for his +personal +beauty, and indomitable courage!' humbly answered the courtly page. +'Will you please to follow me to the banqueting hall? You are expected +there with affectionate impatience by count Arno, the lord of the +castle, and Rosamunda his charming daughter.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Readily yielding to this welcome invitation, he left his horse +to the +attendants, and followed the smooth-tongued flatterer into the castle. +A marble vestibule, supported by a colonade of porphyry, led him to a +broad alabaster stair-case, which was surmounted by a gilded and richly +ornamented balustrade. Twelve servants in dresses of white silk, +embroidered with gold, preceded him with torches to light his steps. +The folding doors of the banqueting room flew open. A richly covered +table, glittering with golden vessels and surrounded by knights and +ladies, stood in the middle of the hall, and a splendid chandelier +poured a flood of light from above. Uncertain whether he could trust +his senses, Ryno entered, and the most delightful music from the +balcony of the hall greeted his arrival. The knights and dames rose +respectfully from their seats, while a venerable old man in a knightly +costume, with a delicate female whose beauty was too dazzling for +mortal pen to describe, advanced to meet him. Touching a full goblet +with her rosy lips, the female thus addressed him: 'With this cup, +Rosamunda, the daughter of the house, greets the brave Ryno, in the +name of the lord of the castle.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Already intoxicated by what he saw, Ryno drained the golden +cup, +impressed a glowing kiss upon Rosamunda's delicate fingers, shook the +proffered hand of the old knight, who led him to the upper end of the +table and seated him by Rosamunda's side. Familiar conversation, jests +and laughter, the delightful music, the exhilarating cup, and, more +than all these, the proximity of the blooming maiden, so warmed his +blood and confused his mind, that the question never occurred to him +how the castle came to be there, and its inhabitants to know him. He +soon became engaged in a tender conversation with Rosamunda, and but +too soon did they comprehend each other's glances. The table was now +cleared, and the dance began. Drunk with pleasure, Ryno floated through +the assembly with Rosamunda, pressing her divine form to his beating +heart, and amid the tumult and giddiness of the waltz robbing her of a +first kiss, which was warmly returned. When the dance was ended, the +company sought the refreshing coolness of the gardens. The lovers soon +found themselves in a solitary grotto, where, sunk in Ryno's embrace, +Rosamunda murmured that she would be his forever, and that she doubted +not of her father's consent to their union.</p> + +<p class="normal">This brought the inconstant Ryno to his senses. With much +embarrassment +he stammered:</p> + +<p class="normal">'By my knightly oath and duty, I love you beyond measure, +charming +girl, but I cannot become your husband, for--I am already another's.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Tears flowed in torrents from Rosamunda's eyes, upon this +declaration. +With the most violent sorrow she reproached him for having stormed her +heart and destroyed its peace, while bound by earlier ties. She +declared that she could not live without him, and at last implored him +to dissolve his first marriage, that he might become her's alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">Ryno anxiously endeavored to effect a retreat. 'Aliande is my +lawful +wife,' said he, in a tone of decision: 'and never, never will I +repudiate her.'</p> + +<p class="normal">New reproaches, new tears, and new solicitations followed. +Ardent +kisses burned upon his lips, the softest arms twined about his neck, +and the most voluptuous bosom beat against his throbbing heart. He was +almost subdued; but he summoned resolution and, gently repulsing her, +said: 'Leave me, charming maiden,--my integrity must soon wither under +your warm embrace, and with a consciousness of my baseness, I should +then stand before you as a faithless husband, a seducer of innocence, +and a dishonored knight. Pardon my frankness. Your personal charms and +yielding disposition captivate my senses, which have too often led me +astray. You desire marriage. That must not, cannot be! I am weak and +giddy; but no severity of torment shall make me a faithless villain! My +wife is good; I am indebted to her for all my earthly prosperity +and happiness. She has already suffered too much through my +inconstancy,--and rather should this hand wither than I would repudiate +Aliande for the purpose of pledging it to another; even were that other +the divine Rosamunda.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Once more she threw her arms around him in a last effort to +subdue his +heart;--and while he was vainly striving to escape from her embrace, +the grotto was suddenly illuminated by torches, and the lord of the +castle stood before him surrounded by knights and servants, and foaming +with rage.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What do I see!' thundered he: 'What shame and disgrace are +visited +upon my gray hairs! Rosamunda in this solitary grotto under the mantle +of night, in the arms of a youthful stranger! My house is forever +degraded and my lineage dishonored!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your daughter is innocent and inviolate,' answered Ryno; 'and +her lips +will inform you, that no unworthy knight now stands before you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are in error, my good father,' cried Rosamunda, embracing +his +knees with anguish; 'Ryno is already married!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Married!' growled the old man, repulsing his daughter with a +violence +that caused her to sink to the earth in a swoon: 'Married! Then is my +daughter's dishonor beyond remedy! That word decides your fate, Ryno! +and you shall feel how the abuser of the laws of hospitality is +punished in Arno's castle. Seize him, slaves! bind the wretch in +fetters!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Ryno's hand rushed to his side, but having thrown off his +sword for the +dance, he found no weapon there. He struggled manfully against the +rabble host however, until he was finally overcome, cast upon the +ground, bound, and thrown into a deep dungeon beneath the castle.</p> + +<p class="normal">He lay upon mouldering straw, confined with clanking chains +which were +made fast to the wall. A dim lamp lighted the place clearly enough to +show all its horrors. 'This is undeserved!' cried Ryno, as his eye +wandered about his new residence and finally rested upon the heavy iron +door. 'How many times have heavenly enjoyments rewarded my +faithlessness to my Aliande; and now that I, for the first time, have +conducted myself as became a virtuous knight, I sigh in these chains. +If dame fortune will persist in such blindness and stupidity, I shall +take care how I trust her hereafter!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The prisoner had lost himself in sad rumination, the name of +Aliande +now and then escaping from his laboring bosom with many a sigh. At +length a lively contention arose outside his prison door. A female +voice was heard in earnest solicitation, and a manly one opposing; +finally he heard the clinking of gold, and the bolts were withdrawn.</p> + +<p class="normal">In the most seductive night dress, with streaming hair, +tearful eyes +and pale cheeks, which increased her beauty a thousand fold, Rosamunda +tottered into the prison. With a trembling and mournful voice she said +to him, 'you have rejected me when you were yet free to choose; but I +come not now to speak of myself, of my love, or of the grief inflicted +by your rejection. Your welfare alone has induced me to seek you once +more. Your life, which is dearer to me than my own,--dearer even than +my eternal happiness,--stands upon a cast.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am sorry that such a momentary hallucination should be +followed by +such serious consequences,' said Ryno.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The lioness robbed of her young, is a lamb in comparison with +my +father when the honor of his family is concerned. You have only the +cruel choice between my hand and a miserable death.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is a hard alternative!' said Ryno with a shudder.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Reflect that you are forever lost to Aliande. If your wife +loves like +Rosamunda, she would rather yield you to another's arms than deliver +you up to a horrible death.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No artful sophistry, or seductive blandishments, can change +my +resolution. Your father must cite me before a court of honor, if he be +an honorable knight. There will I answer his charge, and give him all +the satisfaction he has a right to claim. If he do not that, if he be +determined to destroy a chained and defenceless man in a secret +dungeon, he is a despicable assassin.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ryno!' cried Rosamunda, again clasping him with wild +self-abandonment. +Gently releasing himself from her embrace he bore her as far as his +chains would permit, and called the sentinels. Upon their entrance he +committed the weeping maiden to their care and commanded them to +conduct her to her father.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A night of torment!' sighed Ryno, throwing himself back upon +his +straw: 'but I have one consolation amid all my sorrows. By my death I +shall seal that fidelity which I have heretofore but ill kept, and +expiate the tears which my inconstancy has cost Aliande,--thus becoming +purified and prepared for the joys of Walhalla. The gods bless and +protect my wife and children!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Again were the bolts withdrawn, and, in a mourning dress, the +lord of +the castle entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You may thank a feeling of compassion that I condescend once +more to +parley with you!' said the old man with a painful suppression of his +rage.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I desire not your compassion.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You have violated the laws of hospitality and seduced my only +child.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is not true!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Knights and serfs were witnesses of my shame, which blood +alone can +efface. Were your previous marriage dissolved, however, and Rosamunda +your wife, I might, perhaps, forgive you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That can never be.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Rosamunda's person is fair, and yet fairer is her guileless +heart. She +is of the noblest lineage. Immense treasures lie in the caves of this +castle, and my lands extend twenty days' journey towards the north. +Take your life from my daughter's hand!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Place everlasting torments in one scale, and an imperial +crown in the +other, I repudiate my wife at no price.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Will Aliande be less inconsolable as a widow than divorced?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Waste not your breath!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'By the eternal gods! I warn you for the last time. These +prison walls +see you Rosamunda's husband, or echo the death-sigh forced from you by +the rack!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Ryno tore one of the golden locks from his head and handed it +to his +persecutor. 'If one spark of humanity yet slumbers in your bosom you +will send this lock to my poor wife, with the message--That I die +faithful to her, and that I wish her to train up my son as a good and +virtuous knight.--Now let your executioners come on, I am ready.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then, by Woden!' roared the foaming parent, 'you never behold +the +rising of another sun!'</p> + +<p class="normal">He struck a bell, and twelve armed men with closed visors and +drawn +swords, slowly and silently entered. One of them detached Ryno's chains +from the wall. Again the bell sounded, and at the other end of the +prison the heavy doors of the torture vault flew open with a horrible +clang. The cave-like room was hung with black and lighted with torches. +Every instrument which the cruelty of man has invented for the torment +of his fellow man, brightly polished and arranged with frightful +regularity, met the glance of the unfortunate prisoner. Large pincers +were glowing in a chafing dish, and in the centre of the room stood the +dreadful rack with its fearful and mysterious equipments. Three hideous +ruffians, with naked arms, in blood-red caps and doublets, stood +waiting beside it. On the right was an open and empty coffin.</p> + +<p class="normal">'For the last time, choose!' cried the incensed tyrant.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Death!' said Ryno, calmly, and sighing the name of Aliande, +he +advanced toward the rack with a firm step. A beam of light suddenly +illuminated the dungeon. The torture-chamber, the guards, the rack, the +executioners, had all vanished,--and Ryno found himself again in a +magnificent room whose azure star-besprinkled dome was supported by +rose-crowned pillars. With a friendly smile the sorceress Hiorba +approached him; and, as on the first day of his marriage, with the glow +of newly awakened love, sank the happy Aliande upon his breast, +thanking him for his unshaken fidelity to his early vows.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You have sustained the trial!' said Hiorba, 'and thereby +expiated many +a former folly, which Aliande must now forget. Love has returned, +confidence is born anew, and I shall leave the again united pair with +unshaken hope. The unhappy Daura will accompany me. Possibly she may +learn forgetfulness in my quiet and peaceful retreat, which she ought +never to hare left. Farewell, my children. Forget not the true +watchwords of hymen--LOVE AND FIDELITY! Ryno, remain the same Ryno you +were in the grotto and in Arno's dungeon. Aliande, never forget that, +not tears and reproaches, but kindness and affection only, can reclaim +an erring husband.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She disappeared in a cloud of incense, and the reunited lovers +sealed +their mutual promise to obey her sage instructions, with a kiss.</p> + +<p class="normal">Faithfully was that promise kept. Even when Aliande's head had +become +silvered with age she alone was the happiness of Ryno, as he was hers; +and it was many years before the venerable matron, surrounded by her +grandchildren, was surprised by her friend Hiorba, who came in a robe +of light to kiss her expiring breath from her pale lips.</p> + +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<div style="line-height:200%"> +<h1><a name="div1_anabaptist" href="#div1Ref_anabaptist">THE ANABAPTIST</a>.</h1> + +<h3>A TALE OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.</h3> + +<h2>BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE.</h2> +</div> +<br> +<br> +<br> +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<p class="normal">It was on a fine morning in February of the year 1534, that +the +journeyman armorer, Alf Kippenbrock, proceeded from Coesfeld toward the +free imperial city of Munster. Already had he left Baumberg and +Stestendorp behind--Saint Lambert's tower stretched high its gigantic +head at the edge of the distant horizon,--and the fruitful plain, in +which venerable old Munster is situated, gradually spread itself out +before the wanderer with its other towers and churches peeping from the +broad level,--while the bright silver of the distant and beautiful +river Aa glistened in the rays of the morning sun.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf stopped at a stone cross which stood by the road +side,--and while a +deeper red suffused his blooming cheeks, and his pious eyes sparkled +with enthusiasm at the sight of the ancient episcopal seat, he took off +his hat and swung it toward the city for joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God bless thee, dear native city!' he rapturously exclaimed; +'it is +long since we parted--and I now look in vain for my good old parents, +who, seven years ago, accompanied me as far as this cross. Nevertheless +thou appearest kind and friendly, and ready to offer me a hearty +welcome. Ah, nothing is dearer to man than his native home; thank God I +have again found mine, and in it that true and genuine faith in which I +hope to live, and, one day, happily die.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He then replaced his hat and walked briskly in the direction +of St. +Lambert's tower. At that moment the morning breeze brought suddenly the +sound of the many voiced bells to the youth's ear, while an immense +cloud of vapor rolled up in the well known region of St. Mauritius's +cloisters. 'Holy God! some terrible misfortune has happened!' exclaimed +Alf, redoubling his pace. At the same time he saw an immense multitude +of people running toward him from the city. The nearer they approached +the more distinctly he discerned the motly combination of the crowd +that came gushing forth on foot, on horseback and in carriages. It had +the appearance of a formal national migration. Judges and clergymen, +patricians and plebeians, the old and the infirm, women and children, +indiscriminately mingled with various kinds of property apparently +collected in the haste incidental to a sudden conflagration, packed up +and borne along with them, successively and rapidly passed the +wanderer. The men in a state of great excitement conversing eagerly +with each other, the women weeping, and the children crying, they moved +on in a seemingly endless procession.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf, transfixed with surprise and astonishment, and resting on +his +walking staff with his heavy knapsack on his hack, stood gazing upon +the passing multitude. All had finally passed except one old burgher +who toiled singly on after the crowd, panting for breath. Alf stopped +him in the way and said, 'by your leave father, what means this general +flight? Is Munster beset by hostile armies?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Alas, worse than that,' answered the graybeard, wiping his +eyes, 'the +anabaptists have become masters of the city this fearful night, and are +driving before them all who do not belong to their sect, sword in +hand.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God be praised!' cried Alf with wild enthusiasm, 'the true +faith is +triumphant!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The burgher cast upon the youngster an angry and scornful +look. 'Folly +may be forgiven to rash, inexperienced and imprudent youth,' said he, +'yet you may nevertheless be compelled to answer to the Lord for this +horrible praise of his name.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He then turned his back upon the youth and strode on after the +procession. Alf no longer felt the weight of his knapsack, but sprang +forward toward Munster with joyful leaps. He soon, however, encountered +a new mass of fugitives, among whom he could not easily penetrate--and +the dust raised by people, cattle, horses and carriages, becoming +insufferable, Alf retreated into a solitary inn by the way side, until +the tumult had passed away.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he laid down his knapsack in the tap room and called for a +cup of +wine, the door opened and in tottered a pale thin man in a long black +clerical robe. He was followed by a light dashing fellow with the +countenance of a satyr, who carried his bundle for him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I can go no further,' groaned the pale man, sinking down upon +the +nearest seat.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now, doctor, you are for the present indeed in safety,' said +his +attendant to him, depositing the bundle upon the stove-bench. 'Permit +me to take a refreshing draught, and then to bid you farewell.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou dost not wish, then, to go to the good Hessenland, my +son?' asked +the doctor, sorrowfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No,' answered the youth, 'but do not consider me unkind. I +return to +Munster. New governors will require new clothes, because much of the +dignity of office consists in the dress. My needle will not be +permitted to remain idle there, and I shall make great profits. +Moreover the doctrine of liberty and equality was plain to me from the +beginning; and if the good people would not come so easily to blows, +nothing could be said against it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I thought you held fast to the ancient faith,' said the +doctor +complainingly, 'since you sustained me so truly.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No,' laughingly replied the hare-brained youth. 'I held to +you while +you benefitted me; and on that account I could not reconcile it to +myself to desert you in your hour of need. Now you are in safety; and I +must return to the only place where fellows like myself are held in +some degree of estimation; in any other I might remain all my life a +wandering ragamuffin.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'One deception less,' sighed the doctor sinking into gloomy +meditation, +when the host entered with a mug of wine for Alf. When he perceived the +doctor the mug fell, and, clasping his hands over his head, he cried: +'Holy God! are you also driven away, reverend sir?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The true shepherds must first be driven away,' said the +doctor with a +melancholy smile, 'when the wolf desires undisturbedly to break into +the unfortunate fold. Nevertheless I may congratulate myself that I +held out until the last moment, and only yielded to open violence.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How was that possible in so short a time, doctor?' asked the +host. +'The adherents of the Augsburg confession were certainly very powerful +as yet, in the city, as the papists also were.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The terrible Matthias,' replied the doctor, 'had sent +circulars +through the neighborhood and collected all the anabaptists at Munster. +Consequently, all the low rabble, who had nothing at home to lose, +rushed into the poor city, and last night, taking possession of the +arsenal and town house, they set fire to the cloisters of Mauritius. +They ran, as if possessed, howling through the streets with naked +swords, crying, 'Repent and be baptised!' and 'Depart ye Godless!' +Neither condition, age, nor sex availed; delicate women, the sick and +dying, were all mercilessly thrust out at the gates of their native +city unless they would profess the heretical, heathenish worship. The +choice between death, flight, and apostacy, only remained, even to me; +and as I thought it better to be useful through the preaching of the +word to honest christians than through martyrdom in the paws of such +raging brutes, I shook the dust from my feet and escaped,--and God must +judge.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am very sorry for you,' cried Alf, much agitated: 'because +you have +such a venerable appearance, and doubtless think yourself truly +faithful, though you wander in darkness. Nevertheless, it is a culpable +stubbornness in you Lutherans, to struggle so violently against the new +doctrines, which have the right and the holy scriptures so clearly on +their side. Has not our Lord and Savior expressly commanded his +Apostles--'Go ye into all the world and teach all people and baptize +them?' So therefore, the teaching must precede the baptism, according +to Christ's own words. How dare you, then, presume to baptize new born +children who can know nothing of God?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What, another anabaptist!' grumbled the host, with a +discontented +glance at the speaker; and the worthy doctor directed his eyes, full of +heartfelt sorrow, upon the youth, and sighed--'Another lamb gone astray +from the flock, whom I cannot lead back to the protecting fold. This it +is, that makes me sad.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You have not answered my question,' said Alf, with the +triumph of the +controversialist.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Of what advantage is it to show the way to the blind, who +will not see +it?' cried the doctor: 'I could answer you, that Christ's apostles +could only baptize adults, because those only came over to christianity +at first; but that, at a later period, the burning zeal of the great +Augustine placed near the heart of the christian fathers the duty of +consecrating their children to Christ through the holy baptism into the +covenant, and thereby to deliver them from the original sin and impart +to them the redemption through Christ, before peradventure they should +be snatched away in their tender youth by a premature death. Would to +God that this schism was the only one that your companions in your +mistaken faith defend with such terrible obstinacy and fierceness. You +have yet other dogmas which you advance, sufficient to convert our +earth, God's beautiful temple, into a den of murderers. Your community +of goods, your equality of rank, your struggle against secular +authority, lead directly to lawless confusion, robbery, murder, and +unhappy revolution.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Even the best opinions may be misconstrued,' replied Alf, +angrily. +'The gospel looks upon all men as equal. The distinctions made among +them by birth, rank, and wealth, are contrary to its spirit. Christians +who possess the doctrines of God as precepts, and take his spirit for +their guide, need no power that destroys religious liberty without +authority. They are able to govern themselves by the word of God, and +the Holy Spirit will always guide them, that they stumble not in the +paths in which they are led by their faith.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Unhappy, infatuated youth!' cried the doctor, with a majestic +prophetic look and tone. 'Go now into the unfortunate city, and behold +how the anabaptist spirit has conducted your companions to robbery, +incendiarism and murder, in the smoking ruins of the cloister, and in +the bleeding bodies which strew the highways! If this horrible +spectacle be not enough to move your heart, think of the words which in +this sad hour I address to you in the name of that God whom your +proceedings profane. These crimes will be but the beginning of your +afflictions. Your equality will yet be to you but equality of +misery--your community of goods will bring you to beggary. Instead of +the magistracy which you now drive away, miscreants will rise up from +the midst of you, and with bloody hands rend your own entrails, until +the wrath of a long suffering God finally awakes, until the avenger +appears, and you all perish in one common ruin.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'There come horsemen galloping,' cried the doctor's attendant, +who was +standing at the window with his cup; 'and, if I see rightly, they bear +our lord bishop's colors. It might be well for me to go back to the +city.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The bishop's riders!' sighed the doctor. 'It often happens +that the +avenger only lingers near; but this time the Lord in his anger has +given him wings.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The bishop's riders!' cried the host, anxiously: 'May God be +merciful +to us. Those fellows make no distinctions, but shear both Lutherans and +anabaptists over one comb.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf's eyes flashed fire at this; he drew from his portmanteau +a large, +two edged dirk-knife, screwed it upon his walking stick, and placed +himself in a defensive attitude.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the horsemen had stalked into the inn.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Here is a whole band of anabaptists collected together,' +cried the +officer. 'Halters from the horses! we will bind them together in +couples.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am the doctor of theology, Theodore Fabricius,' cried the +reverend +gentleman, with all the dignity of his station; 'driven from Munster by +the anabaptists, and am under the special protection of his grace the +landgrave of Hesse.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why should we trouble ourselves much about the heretics,' +exclaimed +the serjeant. 'Don't trifle and spend your time in unnecessary +discourse; submit without resistance!' cried another, seizing the poor +doctor by the collar.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then sprang forward Alf, and struck aside the strong hand of +the +horseman. 'Back!' cried he, holding his dirk-spear before him, 'I will +stab the first who touches the old man.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is brave!' cried the host, exultingly; and, armed with a +small +hatchet, he stationed himself at Alf's side.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Young man, why do you interfere?' cried the horseman, +recoiling. 'Out +broadswords!' shouted the officer, and the broad blades were already +flashing, when a new trampling of horses drew all eyes to the window, +and in an instant a fresh band of horsemen crowded into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God be praised!' cried Fabricius, with folded hands; 'those +are the +colors of my lord, the landgrave.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What mischief are you episcopalians carrying on here?' +angrily asked +the captain of the new comers.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We surely shall not answer to a Hessian concerning that, +while +standing upon our lord bishop's own ground,' blustered the serjeant. +'With greater right may I ask how you could yourself venture upon our +territory with weapons and arms, without escort?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Madman!' cried the captain, 'is that the way you speak to +your allies? +We are sent by our lord to help yours against the rebellious +anabaptists. At present I am commanded to the defence of the +evangelical preachers, who are compelled to flee from Munster, and I +will not permit you to abuse them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'If you expect that I shall believe every thing you say upon +your mere +assertion,' sneeringly answered the bishop's serjeant-major, 'you are +for once mistaken. The heretic priest is my prisoner.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Contemptible slave of a priest!' thundered the captain, 'when +the word +of a knight is doubted, he has no other voucher than his good sword;' +and drawing forth his blade, he called to his followers, 'strike flat, +comrades.'</p> + +<p class="normal">As if all the furriers of Munster had collected together in +the tavern +to beat their skins, so clattered the Hessian blades upon the broad +backs of the episcopalians in mighty chorus. In a moment the room was +cleared, and the Hessians were sitting behind their full jugs, making +themselves merry over their easy and bloodless victory.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where do you desire to be conducted, reverend doctor?' asked +the +captain courteously.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I intend to go direct to Cassel,' answered Fabricius, 'to +give an +account of my mission to the landgrave. If you will give me a file of +horsemen as far as Paderborn, I shall reach my destination without +difficulty.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'With your permission, Mr. Captain,' said the landlord, 'I +will myself +convey my confessor as far as Paderborn in my little wagon.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is well!' answered the captain, casting a glance upon Alf, +who had +unscrewed the knife from his staff and was preparing to proceed on his +way.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who art thou?' he asked in a severe tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">'An honest journeyman armorer,' answered Alf, boldly, 'who am +returning +to Munster in search of employment.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'To Munster?' angrily repeated the captain: 'to that heated +furnace +where the frantic mob are preparing misery for the country?--and +now,--directly? Dost thou belong to them?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Shame to him who denies his faith through fear of men,' cried +Alf; +'yes, I am an anabaptist.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Munster needs no armorer now,' said the captain, with +decision; 'sharp +weapons are not good for children and drunken men: they injure +themselves and others with them. Thou goest with us back to the head +quarters at Walbeck.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Never!' exclaimed Alf, in wrath, drawing his knife.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Pardon his imprudence,' entreated Fabricius, stepping between +them. +'His spirit is diseased and heavily weighed down; but his heart is +better than his mistaken faith. He has hazarded his life in my defence +against the episcopalians, regardless of the difference of our creeds. +Let him go in freedom.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You know not what you ask, doctor,' said the captain, +displeased. +'Ought I to permit the rebels to strengthen themselves by the +acquisition of such a stout fellow?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'There are already, alas! a plenty of wicked men,' said +Fabricius, +'ferociously raging in the unhappy city. It seems to me it is to be +wished, that there should be some good souls among them, who might +mitigate many an evil, and prevent many a crime. The whole conduct of +this youth convinces me, that his erroneous opinions will not hold out +against the misdeeds he will witness, and against the voice of truth in +his own heart; and then may even he become a fit instrument in God's +cause. Let him go, by my desire.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Go then,' impatiently cried the captain, returning to the +drinking +table.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God reward thee,' said Alf, with deep feeling, and pressing +the hand +of Fabricius to his bosom; 'thou hast saved me from murder.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The Lord enlighten thee!' said Fabricius, laying his hands +upon the +youth's head for a farewell blessing, 'so that we may one day joyfully +meet again.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yon say that with great confidence, sir,' cried Alf, +perplexedly, 'as +if the error were certainly upon <i>our</i> side. I firmly believe it to be +upon <i>yours</i>. For God's sake, then, which of us two is right in these +dreadful contentions?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'If that doubt itself do not already tell thee, my son,' said +Fabricius, in a friendly manner, 'only submit the new belief to the +touchstone of thy reason and thy honest heart--bring it to the test of +the holy scriptures,--seek the truth with diligence and thou shalt find +it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, no!' cried Alf, in the wild conflict of his soul. 'The +holy +spirit, that spoke by our prophets, cannot err. Satan himself must have +whispered the wicked doubt to me: I reject and cast it from me, as, +according to God's commandment, I ought the eye that offends me. I am, +here, yet within the confines of anti-christ, and his power darkens my +vision. Wherefore, forward to the realm of light! Up, toward the holy +Zion!'</p> + +<p class="normal">As if beside himself, the enthusiast strode out of the house, +the +worthy Fabricius with saddened looks, watching his retreating form.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf was already advancing toward the city with vigorous +strides, when +he heard some one calling behind, and the nimble tailor came running +after him. 'Take me with you, compatriot,' begged he: 'I have taken my +leave of the worthy doctor, and would willingly return to the city in +good company.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Where were you during the first part of the fight?' asked Alf +of him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Behind the stove, dear compatriot,' laughingly confessed the +tailor; +'and when it began between the Hessians and the episcopalians, I +crawled under the stove, lest perhaps both parties might take me for an +enemy, and I thus receive a double portion of blows.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For shame,' said Alf, scornfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is there in that to be ashamed of?' babbled the tailor. +'Let each +honor his profession. An armorer, with legs and arms to his body, as +you have, by the grace of God, must hammer upon his enemies as he would +upon old iron--it is his duty; but a poor little tailor, like me, has +the privilege of running away from such affairs of honor; and I should +little grace my fraternity by exhibiting an ill-timed valor in old +quarrels.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Under such circumstances,' said Alf, 'I cannot understand how +your +cowardice can suffer you to return to Munster, which just now is very +tempestuous and clanging with arms.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Why, not a hair of my head can be injured!' triumphantly +answered the +tailor. 'I am the old boon companion of the second of the prophets who +are now very powerful in the government of the city, and they cannot +fail me. When once the old order of affairs shall be wholly overturned, +I may be clothed with a station of high honor in the new government. +For a generalship in the field my stars have certainly not directly +designed me; but a chancellorship or treasurership I may fill as well +as another.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For that must God in his anger have created you,' cried Alf, +with +indignant laughter.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Because I am a tailor?' asked the chancellor-in-expectancy, +angrily. +'How blind does the pride of your hands make you, friend armorer! Does +every thing depend upon strong bones in this world? What was Johannes +Bockhold of Leyden, our great prophet, more than a tailor? What does he +now appear, and to what will he not hereafter attain! The days and +nights have not yet all passed. He has a head for twenty; and when we +loitered about together as comedians, while business in our line was +dull, then did he play the parts of emperors and kings, and played and +ranted in such a manner as to compel respect from all. Give him the +world and he will govern it in fine style.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'A man who plays the buffoon for bread, selected to carry on +the work +of the spirit in my native city!' sighed Alf, losing himself in sad +reflections until they arrived at the closed gates.</p> + +<p class="normal">Here all was crowded with the busy activity of the burghers. +The city +walls were repaired and raised,--the ditches were deepened and +furnished with palisades,--new bulwarks and towers arose on +high,--hammer and trowel, shovel and pickaxe, were in constant +motion,--and the dirt carts creaked incessantly. Aged and distinguished +men worked unweariedly, like day-laborers; women and children assisted; +and the pleasure and satisfaction, with which every thing was +accomplished, rendered it very apparent that the most ardent enthusiasm +was the soul of this body.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you not perceive,' cried the tailor, gaily slapping Alf's +shoulder, +'that the bishop will be compelled to break many a tooth upon our walls +before he will be able to eat us up?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What does that denote?' asked Alf, disregarding the boast, +and +pointing to two large stone slabs covered with letters which were +hanging upon the gates.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Those are the commands of our second Moses, of our great +Matthias,' +replied the tailor, reverently. 'He has caused them to be cut in stone +and to be hung thus on all the gates of the city, to keep the people in +the fear of God, so that every man may conduct according to them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment a confused drumming alarm rattled in the city, +and a +desolate thrilling cry of the raging populace answered the warlike +call; an icy chill diffused itself through every member of Alf's body, +as it seemed to him as if the people were roaring for blood.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The prophets are calling the people together,' said the +tailor, +dragging Alf forward. 'Come, we must hear what they have to say to us; +we belong to the mass, and can give our opinions upon public affairs +whenever it may seem good to us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">They hastened toward the market, where the human tide, as if +agitated +by the wildest storms, waved to and fro, thundering and roaring.</p> + +<p class="normal">The thickest crowd was about St. Lambert's church, and the +mass, armed +with clubs and spears and muskets, seemed here to form a large circle, +from the centre of which a single commanding voice occasionally rose +above the general bustle of the crowd.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf swung himself up to the corner stone of a house near the +market, +held fast to the iron supporters of a pitch-pan, and looked towards the +centre of the circle.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What do you see,' cried the tailor to him above.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A stout man,' answered Alf, 'clad in a coarse woolen capote. +I can +scarcely see his face through his disheveled hair and bushy beard. He +poises a stout spear over a vigorous burgher who is kneeling before +him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is our great Matthias,' exclaimed the tailor.</p> + +<p class="normal">A fresh multitude at that instant came up and pulled Alf down +from his +corner stone. The tailor held on with all his might to prevent being +borne away by the crowd, and grumbled, 'it is very wrong that one +should be hindered by the crowd from seeing what the people do in their +sovereign judicial capacity.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thank God! I find one acquaintance here at least!' exclaimed +a pale +girl, tremblingly seizing the hand of the tailor. 'If you have the +heart of a man, my good fellow, help us out of this great difficulty. +You have much influence with Johannes Bockhold, the prophet; beg of +him, therefore, mercy for my poor uncle!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'For your uncle, mademoiselle Clara?' inquired he with +astonishment. +'What has happened to the worthy master Trutlinger?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Trutlinger, Hubert Trutlinger, the armorer?' exclaimed Alf, +in great +agitation; 'my good old master? What has happened to him?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Alas, they have dragged him before the tribunal of the +people!' +complained the weeping girl; 'he is said to have spoken evil of the +prophets.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is a bad case,' said the tailor, 'and in such an +unpleasant +predicament there is not much to be hoped from any interference.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'But you must attempt that possibility,' said Alf, 'of serving +the +upright man and this loving child.'</p> + +<p class="normal">There fell a shot in the midst of the circle, which was +directly +followed by a horrible cry from the thousand voiced multitude. 'God! +what was that?' exclaimed the girl, aghast. 'I fear my intercession +comes too late,' said the tailor dubiously. At that moment the circle +opened and the doomed one was brought forth, borne in mournful silence +upon the halberds of several burghers. The blood was streaming from a +spear wound in his side, and from a reeking shot wound in his breast; +yet the unhappy man was not dead, but breathed, although with infinite +pain, and had his eyes directed imploringly toward heaven. 'Not even to +be able to die,' groaned he. 'Thou punishest heavily my foolishness, O +God!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Be satisfied unhappy man,' exclaimed the terrible prophet, +who had +followed him. 'Heaven has revealed to me that the hour of thy death has +not yet come. God has determined to show thee mercy. Convey him to his +dwelling,' said he to the bearers, 'so that he may be taken care of by +his own family. The Lord desires not the death of sinners, but that +they should be converted and live.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Bear me forward quickly,' begged the dying man to those who +were +carrying him. 'These bible-sayings cut me to the heart,--for, out of +his mouth, they sound to me like a blaspheming of God.'</p> + +<p class="normal">They bore him toward his house. Alf tremblingly followed the +poor +Clara, whose eyes were streaming with countless tears, and who on the +way vainly sought to check with her handkerchief the flow of blood from +the gushing wounds.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the door of Trutlinger's house the sad train was received +by a +beauteous maiden. Around her noble, blooming face, floated in profusion +the rich curls of her dark locks. The fire of her black eyes, increased +by enthusiasm, pierced deep into the heart. Her high forehead, her +finely arched nose, her slender and majestic figure, imparted to her +whole appearance something queenlike, which even her burgher garb, (in +consequence of the strictness of the new belief deprived of every +ornament) could not counteract. When she perceived the situation of her +unhappy uncle, she wrung her white hands, tears burst from her eyes, +which in the bitterness of her grief were raised to heaven, and +embellished by her sorrow she stood, a weeping Madonna. The meek, +unassuming Clara became wholly eclipsed by her noble figure, at which +Alf stood gazing with true devotion. 'For God's sake, what has happened +to you, dear uncle?' cried she, accompanying the bearers, who conveyed +the sufferer into the nearest lower room and there laid him upon a bed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He has practised continual mocking of the holy mission of our +prophets,' answered one of the bearers, 'and the prophet Matthias has +judged him before the congregation.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God be merciful to his poor soul!' murmured the departing +populace, +and Alf was left alone with the maidens and the dying man.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How came your senses so entirely to desert you, my poor +uncle, as to +permit you to fall into so heavy a sin?' moaned the beauteous girl, who +was bandaging his wounds with the quiet sorrowful Clara.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Be silent, simpleton!' angrily replied the old man with his +remaining +strength. 'My senses have indeed deserted me; but only with the lying +spirit of the wicked wretches whom in my madness I held for God's +prophets. With my gushing blood departs the delusion which perhaps has +cost me my salvation, and I perceive with horror that my poor native +city, led astray by crafty imposters, is on the way to ruin for time +and eternity.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Gracious heavens! he already repeats his offences,' sobbed +the gentle +maiden. 'We are not alone, uncle,' Clara reminded him in a voice of +gentle entreaty.</p> + +<p class="normal">Trutlinger, raising his weary eyes toward the youth, remained +fixedly +considering him for a long time; and, as if he finally recollected him, +a smile dawned upon his face, which his sufferings chased away. 'If I +see rightly,' said he faintly, 'that is a good old acquaintance, before +whom no precaution or constraint is necessary. Do I mistake, comrade? +Are you not my former faithful apprentice, Alf Kippenbrock?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am the same, my worthy master,' said Alf, approaching and +taking his +hand, while his tears flowed more mildly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is the finger of God!' exclaimed Trutlinger, and a +feeble light +relumed his eyes. 'These girls are orphans--their last protector goes +to the grave in me. The thought that I must leave their inexperienced +youth behind me without protection in this den of murderers, renders my +death most afflicting. You were always a good and capable man, +Kippenbrock. Promise, then, to your dying master, with the hand and +word of a man, that you will shelter and protect these poor children +according to the best of your ability.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf cast a friendly glance upon the protegés confided to him. +The +dark-haired young maiden gleamed upon him with a burning glance, while +Clara timidly cast her blue eyes upon the ground. The heart of the +youth swelled. He quickly pressed Trutlinger's cold hand and cried, 'I +promise it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God reward thee!' faintly uttered the hoary man, his head +sank hack +and his lacerated breast labored with the death-struggle. Yet once more +he suddenly opened his eyes. All radiant were they raised toward +heaven. 'Yes,' cried he aloud and joyfully,--'yes, thou hast forgiven +the son of earth his errors! I see thy brightness!'--and he was no +more.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Lord, deal not with him in judgment!' prayed the enthusiastic +young +woman, with pious zeal.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My second father!' cried Clara, mildly weeping, and, bending +down over +the dead body, she softly kissed his pale lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No,' cried Alf, with angry grief, 'this sentence was not +pronounced +and executed in accordance with thy will, Spirit of Mercy!'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The next morning Alf stepped into the apartment of his +kinsman, Gerhard +Kippenbrock, to salute him. The good old man, a worthy butcher by +calling, had by the overthrow of all established customs been made +second burgomaster of the imperial free city of Munster, without +clearly knowing how that precise result had been attained. He advanced +to meet the new comer, uncommonly magnificent in his black official +dress, with the lace collar and golden chain of honor, and introduced +him to a large, raw-boned, meagre man, in a similar dress, who sat at +the table staring on vacancy with half-extinguished eyes, in which the +flashes of a quiet insanity were occasionally playing.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou hast here the best opportunity to recommend thyself to +the favor +of our first burgomaster, of brother Bernd Knipperdolling,' said the +elder Kippenbrock to the youth. Alf bowed himself low before the +singular man, whose appearance affected him disagreeably, and stammered +some expressions of respect.</p> + +<p class="normal">Knipperdolling cast upon him a searching glance, and then said +in a +hollow and monotonous voice, 'a well formed vessel for the spirit!--thy +kinsman, my brother? He may become a bailiff of the city of Zion.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God preserve me, revered sir burgomaster!' protested Alf. 'I +by no +means understand all that the office requires, and should disgrace my +undeserved promotion.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Whoever hath the spirit,' said Knipperdolling, decisively, +'needs no +earthly wisdom.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have taken upon myself a holy duty!' exclaimed the youth +with +anxiety, shuddering at the burthen of the proffered dignity. 'I have +promised to the unfortunate Trutlinger on his death-bed, to take upon +myself the care of his two nieces, whom he left unprotected. I shall +have plenty to do,--for six journeymen are employed in the workshop of +the orphans, and much work is ordered.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let him have his will,' entreated the elder Kippenbrock of +his +colleague. 'I have known him from his youth up; his head is not equal +to the governing of lands and people, but he is a capable armorer, whom +we much need in these times when our all rests upon the points of our +swords.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have you already been baptised?' asked Knipperdolling.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your faith became mine at Amsterdam,' answered Alf, but I +have +postponed being baptised until I could receive that holy ordinance +here, in my native city.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Our orator, brother Rothman, will prepare you for it,' said +Knipperdolling.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I hope this brother has already laid a good ground,' said a +man in a +black ministerial robe, with a cunning, bold, peaked face. 'I shall +hold a great baptizing one of these days at the river Aa, and shall +expect to see the catechumen previously at my house.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We will be his witnesses on that holy occasion,' said +Knipperdolling, +with a gracious nod of his head, 'I and my colleague Kippenbrock.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The candidate for baptism stammered his thanks for the +unexpected +honor, when the door of the room was thrown open with violence, and a +young man of Alf's age strode fiercely in. His countenance might have +been considered handsome, had it not been for the deathlike paleness +and distortion which disfigured it. His large and restlessly rolling +eyes--his dishevelled, bristling hair--his loose coarse garments, which +scarcely covered the nakedness of his body--all these gave to his +figure a frightful appearance; and Alf was thereby reminded, with a +secret shudder, of the altar-piece of a church, where he had seen the +adversary represented as tempting our Savior in the wilderness. All +present rose reverently at his entrance, and, with their hands crossed +upon their breasts, bowed low before the youth.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thus speaks the spirit by the mouth of your prophets,' cried +he with +singular gestures. 'Make outcry in all the streets of Zion, that every +one bring all his wealth in gold, silver and jewels, and lay it at the +feet of the great prophet, Matthias. There must no longer be rich or +poor in the community which the Lord has chosen for himself. Let all +belong to all!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'So mote it be,' cried the hearers, and a gentle sigh from the +rich +butcher accompanied the response.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A true christian needs no erudition,' continued he prophet. +'The +internal word is of more value than the outward. All books written with +the insolent wisdom of men are fruitless and unprofitable, if the +doctrines they contain are already proved in the holy scriptures,-- +ungodly, if they are opposed to them. Wherefore you must bring all +books, except the bible, out of Zion, and collect them at the market +before St. Lambert's church, and cause them to be consumed by fire, a +burnt offering to the Lord.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'So mote it be!' again submissively repeated all mouths.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Whoever sins against one of these commands, roared the +prophet, with +wild flashing eyes, 'shall die the death!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Amen!' said the trembling chorus, and the prophet stalked +haughtily +out of the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who was that!' Alf timidly asked his kinsman. 'Johannes +Bockhold, our +second prophet,' answered he, dejectedly, 'the right hand of the great +Matthias.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'All the books!' sighed the orator Rothman.</p> + +<p class="normal">'All the gold and silver!' sighed the worthy Kippenbrock, +after him, +involuntarily raising his hand to his head, as if for the purpose of +scratching it, but recollecting in season that this movement was rather +unseemly for a new burgomaster, he quickly let it fall again.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The Lord wills it, and his servants must be obedient,' said +Knipperdolling to Kippenbrock. 'Let the commands of the prophet be +proclaimed, my brother. I have yet much to do with recording the +estates of the exiles, which have become forfeit to the community!'</p> + +<p class="normal">He departed, and Rothman followed him. 'All the gold and +silver!' +repeated the elder Kippenbrock sorrowfully, yet once more, and he went +after them.</p> + +<p class="normal">'God forgive me if this feeling be a sin,' cried Alf, when he +saw +himself alone; 'but these prophets appear horrible to me, and I shall +never be able to reconcile my heart to them.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Some days passed away; daring which Alf, without troubling +himself much +about the disturbances of the city, labored unweariedly in the workshop +of the deceased Trutlinger, which in these times gave him an immense +deal to do. He was animated by the idea of working and accumulating for +the beauteous dark-haired Eliza; and although he could not gain any +decided token of favor from the haughty girl, the friendly glances, +which she now and then bestowed upon him, were sufficient to keep the +flame of love always brightly burning at his heart; and the poor Clara, +whose eyes ventured towards him when she thought herself unobserved, +became wholly overlooked, as usually happens to the modest violet in +the neighborhood of the queenly rose.</p> + +<p class="normal">One day the wild rattling of the drums called all who could +bear arms +to the market place. Obedient to the call, Alf equipped himself and his +journeymen from the military stock of his workshop, and they were all +standing in polished casques and coats of mail, well armed with swords +and halberds, when Trutlinger's two nieces entered the shop.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are going forth to battle, Kippenbrock!' said Eliza, +pressing his +hand for the first time with the kindest affability,--whilst Clara +remained silently and sadly standing at a distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And with a right good will, dear maiden,' answered Alf, +tenderly, 'if +your kind wishes accompany the new warrior upon his first expedition.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You go to the field of battle for the Word!' exclaimed Eliza +with +enthusiasm; 'the Holy Spirit is with you and you must conquer.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Be careful of your life!' whispered the timorous Clara, +scarcely +audible, and Alf hastened forth with his companions.</p> + +<p class="normal">The place of rendezvous, before St. Lambert's church, was +already +crowded by the people of Munster, collected in compliance with various +commands from their prophets. Here, a great fire which was consuming +the doomed books of the city, blazed to the heavens,--there, stood two +of Munster's deacons for the reception of the jewels of the citizens; +two female diviners, well acquainted with the jewels of the city, had +the oversight of the business, and accused every one who endeavored to +keep back any thing. Many a pearl, from beauteous eyes, silently +bedewed the costly trinkets which were compulsorily brought as +offerings to the spirit.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meantime the military power of the anabaptists had assembled +at the +rendezvous, and now appeared Matthias in his dark hair-cloth robe. In +his hand he held the spear still clotted with the unhappy Trutlinger's +blood, and his mouth was foaming with rage.</p> + +<p class="normal">At his nod the armed men closed in a circle around him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That true son of anti-christ,' roared he, 'that reprobate +priest of +Baal, who once tyrannically ruled over the free burghers of this city, +the bishop, with his mercenary troops, comes against you. He has +already stretched his camp all about the city; and if we give him time +to perfect his entrenchments, the cowards, who dare not meet us man to +man, may conquer us at last through hunger. Wherefore thus speaks the +spirit: 'Arise, Matthias, gird on thy sword, take with thee five +hundred men from out the congregation, go forth and destroy the ungodly +whom I have this day given into thy hand.' Arise, then, my brethren! +Whoever is truly devoted to our holy cause, whoever is determined never +again to bend his neck under the iron yoke, which we have just thrown +off, let him step forth from the congregation; the Lord has chosen him +for his champion, and the host of the enemy shall be scattered before +his arm like chaff before the wind. Amen.'</p> + +<p class="normal">During this speech Alf was suffering a severe mental conflict. +Too +readily would he once have measured himself with the episcopalians, +whom in his fanaticism he fiercely hated; and nevertheless he had a +decided aversion to the prophet under whom he must fight. He was +finally decided by the hope of the reception which he should meet with +from the fair Eliza, returning home a conqueror; and, as the amen of +the prophet was heard, he stepped forth into the centre of the circle. +His journeymen and all those who were armorers by trade followed him. +To these were joined the other workers in iron, from connection in +business. The butchers attached themselves to the nephew of their +chief; and, this example being actively imitated, the number of five +hundred volunteers was soon more than complete and ready for the field.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou wast the first to step forth,' said Matthias to Alf; +'therefore +be thou the first in the army, after me, and lead it on as my general.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The orator Rothman then embraced the youth, saying: 'Thou +shouldst +surely this day be taken up into our band through the holy baptism--but +now, proceed to the greater business to which the Lord hath called +thee;--and shouldst thou even fall in the field in the cause of God, so +wilt thou win the baptism of blood, which is still more efficacious for +the remission of sin, according to the doctrines of the oldest church.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Come holy spirit, O Lord God!' sang Matthias, the whole +multitude +joining him in chorus; and brandishing his spear, singing with a louder +voice, with uncovered head, and without protective armor, the prophet +led to the gates. Alf followed him with the singing host. No sooner had +they left the last outworks behind them, than they were met by a +portion of the enemy's forces, who were making an attempt to win the +city by surprise. The episcopalians were not a little startled when +they perceived so stout a band, which, in consequence of the shining +mail of the armorers in the front ranks, seemed to them extremely well +accoutred.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now ask we the Holy Spirit!' exclaimed Matthias, commencing +anew the +harsh chant, in which his troops joyfully joined. The prophet plunged, +singing, spear in hand, into the enemy's ranks. Near him fought Alf, +who, more than true to the duty he had undertaken, made of his armor a +shield for the protection of the defenceless body of the prophet. The +troops, all singing, followed them with the impetuosity of fanaticism. +The episcopalian mercenaries, frightened by the furious assault, (and +not, like their opponents, inspired with a contempt for death,) made a +feeble resistance, soon gave ground, and finally fled with winged feet +back to their camp.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The Spirit has heard us, brethren!' cried Matthias. 'Let us +now +startle the crimson, seven headed animal, whose name is full of +blasphemy, from his den. Let us hurl down the great Babylon from its +golden saddle,--that they both may fall into the fiery lake which burns +with brimstone. On, on, on!' and, commencing the death song that, under +the command of Munzer and Metzler, had before inflamed the unfortunate +German peasants to the most furious war of extermination, the prophet +pursued the flying episcopalians. 'On, on, on!' he roared incessantly, +his spear dripping with the blood of the cowards who gave themselves up +to slaughter rather than fight. 'On, on, on!' song the troops, who +followed him in quick step, and the victors soon stood before the +fortified camp, behind which the armed episcopalians were crowded.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yield or die! 'cried Alf, in whom the battle had kindled the +warrior's +enthusiasm,--and, rushing, to the barrier, he surmounted all obstacles, +and stood upon the wall, where his halberd became like the scythe of +the angel of death to the besieged. Incited, unceasingly, by Matthias, +the crowd followed him as the defenders were driven back, and the +anabaptists penetrated deep into their camp, until they reached the +place where the banner of the church waved over a richly decorated +tent.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is the hold of anti-christ!' cried Matthias, rushing +into the +tent, while Alf drove the enemy wholly out of the camp. As he returned +from the pursuit, he heard a mournful cry in the bishop's tent. Pushing +in, he saw the prophet pitilessly raging among the defenceless +domestics of the runaway bishop. Many dead bodies were already +stretched upon the ground, and two beautiful pages were kneeling with +closed eyes, before the monster, about to receive the death blow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf forcibly seized the uplifted spear. 'Thou hast appointed +me to be +the leader of the forces, brother Matthias,' said he, earnestly, 'and I +dare not allow that thou shouldst give my troops an evil example by the +murder of these defenceless boys, whom we had better take prisoners and +keep as hostages, preparing their souls for heaven through our holy +baptism. Besides, we have not a moment to lose. The flying men have +carried the alarm to the other camp, and new multitudes will soon be +thronging here to oppose us. Let us therefore return to Munster while +we can convey the booty there in safety.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou art right, brother!' cried the prophet, subdued by the +boldness +and decision of the youth. 'Thou understandest the business of +war. We will forth. Let our people be called together. This young +dragon's-brood, however, we will take with us, and thou shalt be +answerable for them with thy head. I will baptise them myself to-morrow +morning before all the people.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The drums called the plundering anabaptists together. The host +retreated to the city, laden with rich booty, and the bishop's troops, +who had hastened to the assistance of the assailed quarter of the +encampment, came just in time to see the rejoicing anabaptists +reentering the gates of Munster.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">A countless multitude exultingly met the returning victors. +The prophet +Johannes Bockhold at their head, in white festival garments, with green +branches of fir in their hands, the maidens of the city sang to them in +loud, joyful hosannas. It pleased the gallant, good humored Alf +uncommonly well to receive praise from such beautiful lips. As he +reflected, however, that this song of praise was intended as much for +Matthias as for himself, there came over Alf a silent vexation, instead +of the pleasure of flattered vanity, and he strode on gloomily in front +of his troops. The army halted upon the market place, and the booty, +being common property, was secured in St. Lambert's church; the two +pages were given over to the orator Rothman, preparatory to their +baptism; the soldiers having been praised and dismissed, and the +evening having already approached, Alf with his surviving journeymen, +half their number having fallen either in the first battle or in the +storming of the camp, proceeded toward Trutlinger's house.</p> + +<p class="normal">As he approached the house door, which was surmounted by a +triumphal +arch covered with pine boughs, he was met by the bewitching smiles of +the beautiful Eliza, who was still clad in her white festival garments.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Welcome from battle and victory, brave soldier of the +Spirit!' cried +she; and, casting aside all maidenly bashfulness and constraint, she +spread wide her arms toward the youth.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Dear maiden!' stammered he, most agreeably surprised by this +second +and dearest triumph. He pressed the charming girl to his mailed bosom, +when, notwithstanding his unaccommodating helmet, they sought and found +each other's lips, and united them with the double glow of fanaticism +and sensuality, which both in their blindness mistook for the fire of +pure love.</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment out stepped from the parlor door a little, +withered, +yellow man, whose tattered garments were covered by a ragged black +mantle. With friendly simpers he squinted out of his little, gray, +malicious eyes upon the pair, and then, stretching his meager, +death-like hand towards Alf, cried with a hoarse howl, 'Thee have I +this day seen in my dreams, brother, contending and conquering in God's +cause, and lo! my eyes have verified it, and the Lord has achieved +great things through thee, his servant. Wherefore be glad, because God +has chosen thee for yet greater things, and through thee shall his name +become glorified in Zion!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The little hobgoblin with ridiculous pomposity then strode out +of the +house. Alf looked after him with his hand over his forehead, and said, +'sometimes, though in my native city, it appears to me as if I were in +a residence of madmen, where all the fools go at large. Who was that +strange man?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'John Tuiskoshirer,' answered Eliza, reprovingly, 'an +impoverished +goldsmith; but a great man since the spirit has come upon him. Often, +already, has he edified the public by his elevated discourses and +divine prophecies; and, next to our great Matthias and Johannes, he is +now the first prophet in Munster.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Good God! what a multitude of prophets,' sighed Alf; and by +this time +Eliza had led him into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">Behind a table illuminated with wax tapers and decorated as +for a +festival, sat the fair Clara. Her loose golden locks flowed down over +her white gala dress. Her right arm supported her pale, sad face, and +bright tears were falling from her eyes upon her white bosom.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you not bid me welcome, lovely little Clara?' Alf kindly +asked of +the sorrowing girl. 'Do you celebrate our victory with such bitter +tears?'</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara lifted up her eyes toward the youth with gentle sorrow. +'Be not +angry with me for it, dear Alf,' she begged in a soft, subdued tone; +'every drop of blood shed in this unhappy war of opinion, falls +envenomed upon my heart. Never shall I lose the remembrance of my poor +uncle. He also was butchered for the new faith, of which I do not yet +rightly understand whether it is the genuine worship of God, or a +hellish sacrifice.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Leave the foolish girl!' cried Eliza, handing a goblet to +Alf. 'Her +spirit is not yet born again to the light. She still lies bound in the +chains of darkness. She is not able to offer every feeling joyfully +upon the altar of the holy God.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'May He preserve me from such joy!' sighed Clara, almost +inaudibly; and +Eliza with a quick warm pressure of the hand drew the youth upon a seat +near herself. His fellow soldiers seated themselves opposite the +beautiful couple, and the ceremonies of the repast began. With the +pleasing narration of the conquering warriors and the sweeter praises +of the fair Eliza, the generous Rhenish of old Trutlinger glided +swiftly and deliciously down, and gradually extinguished in Alf all +thoughts of the movements in Munster, which his right worthy head and +heart had from time to time obtruded upon him. Deeper glowed the flush +upon the blooming faces of the youth and maiden; constantly brisker and +more radiantly moved their eyes; with constantly increasing warmth were +their kisses given and received. The journeymen, rejected by the +grieving Clara, could only keep to the goblet, until, overcome by +Bacchus, they staggered one after the other to their places of rest. +Alf and Eliza remained quietly sitting at table, as much occupied with +each other as if there had been nobody else in the world. Leaning sadly +upon her arm, Clara looked through her tears upon the happy pair. Now +and then a half suppressed sigh stole from her bosom, and she then +placed her hand upon her heart as if she felt a sudden pain there. +Already had the second hour after midnight struck upon St. Lambert's +tower. Finally Clara rose from her seat, took one of the low-burnt +tapers from the table, and remarked with assumed tranquillity, 'it is +late, and I am now going to bed,--wilt thou not go with me, sister?'</p> + +<p class="normal">No answer came, and the poor maiden sorrowfully retired to her +own +sleeping room.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Early in the morning Clara was awakened by a disturbance in +the street +and came from her chamber, when she saw the couple still there. She +hastily disappeared with an exclamation of alarm and grief.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That must have been my sister!' cried Eliza, starting up with +terror, +her dark locks breaking loose from the band which had confined them.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Be not alarmed my beloved,' said Alf with sweetly soothing +tones. +'Immediately after my baptism brother Rothman shall bless our union, +and our weakness will meet with mild judgment from the spirit of mercy +which rules over the new Zion.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I will so explain the matter to that foolish girl,' cried +Eliza, +eagerly--'that she may not again offend me by her cold insufferable +silence, her customary weapon when we occasionally disagree. She may +censure and envy, but she shall respect me even in my aberration.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She hastened to her chamber, while Alf prepared to go about +his daily +pursuits in the workshop. He was met at the door by his fellow wanderer +the tailor.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What have I prophesied?' asked the latter, unceremoniously +seating +himself at the table which remained as it had been prepared the +previous evening. 'What have I prophesied?' he asked again, helping +himself to a large slice of the gammon of bacon which he found opposite +him upon the table. Then, pouring out a goblet of wine from the bottle +and swallowing it, he a third time asked, 'what have I prophesied?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The devil only knows!' cried Alf, impatiently. 'There are so +many +prophecies in Munster that my head has already become wholly confused +by them.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have foretold,' said the tailor, with pathos, 'that my +beloved +friend and brother, the prophet Johannes Bockhold, would one day become +a great man in the world. You would not believe it, because in the +pride of your big fist, you could not be brought to entertain a good +opinion of a tailor. And now a tailor has become your master and +sovereign; lord over your life and death.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You have got into your cups early,' growled Alf, 'and now +being drunk, +you make me lose the precious morning hours with your miserable +fables.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What I say is true,' muttered the tailor through his stuffed +cheeks; +'and it is you who are mad and foolish. Only hear how cleverly every +thing has been brought about. This morning by day-break, while you were +indolently sleeping, the prophet Matthias called all the people to the +market. He there declared to them that he would go forth with a handful +of people, like Gideon, and slay the host of the ungodly. He called and +took with him to the bishop's camp, only thirty men. I know not whether +he had not asked of the Spirit aright, or whether the Spirit did not +answer him rightly: to be brief, a slaughter did indeed follow,--not of +the host of the ungodly, but of the good Gideon and his thirty men; not +a man of them escaped. As I afterwards went to the market place, a +mournful wailing sounded in my ears. The people were beside themselves, +to think that they had lost their ruler in so shameful a manner; and +here and there some fools maintained, that the great Matthias must have +misinterpreted the Spirit in this affair. Then the still greater +Johannes Bockhold stepped forward, and spoke to the multitude. God! +what words did this man use to calm, console, and elevate the people! +He had known the death of Matthias beforehand. He had seen in the +spirit that that great prophet must fall, a second Maccabeus, fighting +for the people. Thence we directly perceived that all was in order, +that it could by no means be otherwise, and we were content. Then, upon +the market-place, we called the preacher of consolation to be our chief +ruler,--and he already commands in such a way that it is a pleasure to +see him,--he has a wilder and more lordly manner than his predecessor +Matthias. His maxim is--that the high shall be brought down, and the +lowly shall be exalted. Consequently we shall destroy the churches and +make them level with the earth,--because they are the highest buildings +in the city. It will be a little tedious, and we also need stout arms +for the defence of the walls; we shall, therefore, for the present only +plunder the churches a little, until we have leisure for their complete +demolition.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The churches also to be destroyed!' sighed Alf, 'must that +also be? it +is most horrible!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile a wild popular tumult arose out of doors. Both +hastened to +the window. A great multitude of the populace ran by, shouting +incoherently. They were followed by a naked man, who came leaping +forward as if impelled by a demon, and who, with foaming mouth and +strange bodily contortions, incessantly bawled, 'the King of Zion +comes!' Thus vociferating, he passed rapidly by. 'The King of Zion +comes!' cried the mob who followed him; and Alf, disgusted with such +indecent madness, withdrew from the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who was that madman?' asked he of the tailor, after a +moment's pause.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Did you not know him?' asked the tailor in return. 'That was +our +highest prophet, Johannes Bockhold himself. The spirit has come over +him. I must follow and see what further he will do.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He went; and Alf, in fearful dubitation said to himself, 'by +such a +chief is Munster to be governed! It will not and it cannot come to +good.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">This last specimen of fanatical rage had made such a decided +impression +upon the good Alf, that he no longer felt any special desire for that +baptism which was to complete his spiritual union with the great +prophet; and as, notwithstanding his adherence to the new doctrines, he +began to feel a secret loathing of the unceasing exhortations, +revelations and prophecies, by means of which the people were kept in +such a constant ferment, he devoted himself to assiduous labor for +arming the defences of the city, and under this excuse withdrew himself +from the public meetings of the populace which were daily drummed +together.</p> + +<p class="normal">For a time his attention was entirely absorbed by his workshop +and his +Eliza, whose wild tenderness steeped his youthful senses in a sea of +pleasure, such as he had never before dreamed of. Clara in her quiet, +patient way, observed the happiness of the lovers, who placed no +restraint upon themselves on her account; and the only discoverable +effect it produced on her was, that she became every day paler and more +fragile.</p> + +<p class="normal">This was perceived by the kind-hearted Alf, and as he happened +to find +the good child on one occasion alone in her sitting room, engaged at +her distaff, he seated himself beside her in a familiar manner and, +pressing her hand, asked her, 'what ails thee, my good sister?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah! call me not so, Kippenbrock,' said Clara, sorrowfully; +and gently +withdrew her hand.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Wherefore not?' cried Alf, surprised. 'May I not call thee +sister, as +thy brother in the faith, and as the future husband of the dear Eliza?'</p> + +<p class="normal">The maiden raised her tearful eyes to Him on high. 'You pierce +my +wounded heart,' said she, 'but you do not know the pain you inflict, +and therefore do I right willingly forgive you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Again I do not understand you,' said Alf. 'I see you always +sorrowful, +and I can endure it no longer. I feel myself so happy with your sister, +that I desire to render all about me as happy as myself. Therefore +confide in me, good maiden, and take my word for it, I will do +everything in my power to mitigate your sorrow.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'<i>I</i> confide in <i>you</i>! in <i>you</i>!' cried Clara, rising and +attempting to +retire.</p> + +<p class="normal">The stout youth held her fast in his arms. 'No,' said he, +'beloved +Clara, I will not let you go until you have opened your heart to me. By +the holy God, mine is well disposed toward you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment the door opened, and the detestable +Tuiskoshirer, +closely wrapped in his tattered mantle, walked in.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My God!' shrieked Clara, as she caught a glimpse of him, and +violently +disengaging herself from Alf's arms, she sprang out of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">With a smirk upon his lips, which he seemed to have borrowed +from a +monkey, the little man followed her with his eyes until she +disappeared--then, stepping solemnly in front of Alf, called to him in +a hoarse, howling voice, 'art thou willing to become king of Zion, +brother?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I king of Zion?' asked Alf in return, with the greatest +astonishment. +'How can such a thing be?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I ask thee,' howled Tuiskoshirer, 'if thou wilt be king over +the new +Zion, formerly under the anti-christ, called Munster?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I rule over this same Munster as its chief magistrate?' cried +Alf, +laughing. 'That is a wonderful proposition, and besides, it appears to +me as if we were not the men to accomplish it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Short sighted man!' growled Tuiskoshirer, 'knowest thou not +that the +first shall be last and the last shall be first? We are all clay in the +hands of the Potter. The Spirit has just seated himself near the board +in order to make a king. To that eminence will I raise thee up; for +thou art a brave warrior, and moreover a handsome youth, and wilt +administer the government with power and mildness, for the welfare of +all.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah! do not propose such pranks to me,' said Alf. 'You have +others more +suitable for that office than I; and besides, Johannes Bockhold would +make a powerful opposition to my mounting the throne.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Johannes Bockhold,' answered Tuiskoshirer, 'is a feather in +the breath +of my mouth. He has indeed thought of announcing himself as the new +king of this city, yet shall have only served you, if you will but +accept the sceptre. I have seen through the prophet's character; he has +much madness, yet little courage, and we need a consummate man upon +this iron throne.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Are you wholly in earnest in making these propositions?' +asked Alf. +'Then I must indeed answer in earnest. I do not feel myself fit to +govern a nation and people, nor to take upon myself an office for which +I have not been prepared,--from which may God mercifully preserve me!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Fool!' cried Tuiskoshirer; 'ruling is as light and easy as it +is +pleasant.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yet heavy and severe is the reckoning above for bad +government,' +replied Alf. 'No, seek thee another king.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Tuiskoshirer then flung open his tattered mantle, and drew +from under +its folds a magnificent regal crown, ingeniously formed of fine gold, +and splendidly radiant with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, +and, as he turned and waved it here and there in the sunlight, the +golden and colored sparkles played so gaily about the room, that Alf +was compelled to turn away his blinded eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">'In this crown is placed all my earthly wealth,' said +Tuiskoshirer, +pathetically. 'Ingeniously have I made it, during the stillness of the +night, as an offering for the Spirit, that he therewith might crown the +new king of Zion. Thee have I selected therefor, from among a thousand. +Do you but consent, and I will set this emblem of royalty upon your +head, and with God's help I will maintain it there.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The youth looked at the beautiful crown for a moment, and its +golden +lustre seemed to awaken his ambition; but his better self soon +conquered. 'Leave me, tempter!' cried he with vehemence, and forcibly +replacing the bauble under the prophet's mantle, he dexterously pushed +him out through the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You will repent of this,' howled the little man as he +disappeared.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">'The duodecemvir, Dilbek, would speak with you,' announced an +apprentice to the industrious Alf an hour afterwards. Surprised at the +visit of a person whose name and office were alike unknown to him, he +repaired to the parlor, where, in respectable black judicial robes, his +comical fool's face peeping above a colossal white ruff, and his +diminutive form attached to a long thrusting sword, strutted before him +the aerial tailor.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Knowing that you would feel an interest in my happiness, my +good +fellow,' (snarled and lisped the new duodecemvir, in an incredibly +gentlemanlike manner,) 'I could not forbear informing you in person of +the good fortune which has come to me through the mercy of the Spirit.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What means this masquerade?' cried Alf, peevishly. 'Take off +that +fool's jacket again; it does not become you, upon my word.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Have respect, my friend,' said Dilbek, earnestly. 'Every +official +dress confers honor upon its wearer, and this it has become my duty to +wear, as one of the twelve judges over Israel.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You? you become a judge?' laughed Alf. 'Go and seek some +other fool to +believe you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are and always will be an unbelieving Thomas,' cried +Dilbek +angrily; 'and doubt every thing that you cannot feel with your hands. I +repeat to you that I have even now come from the market, where the +people have established the new tribunal.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And the mayor and aldermen, who governed until now?' asked +Alf.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Unseated, all unseated!' answered the tailor, who stalked +about the +room examining himself. 'Your kinsman again slays his cattle and his +swine with his own hands; and the good Knipperdolling, a learned man, +and therefore not able to turn his hand to any thing useful, has become +the official hangman, with which the poor man will still be able to +procure a livelihood.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Good God!' exclaimed Alf, 'who has done this?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'This wise transformation of our government proceeds from our +chief +prophet,' answered the tailor-judge. 'Since he, moved by the Spirit, +ran through the streets in the condition of holy nature, he had not +spoken a word, but made himself understood by writing; he was compelled +to remain mute three days. When that time had elapsed he declared the +new commands of the Spirit. Yesterday the honorable counsellors +obediently laid down their offices, and today I have been installed +with my lordly colleagues.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God preserve my reason!' cried Alf. 'By these mad movements +and +continual changes, I incur the danger of losing it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Only be patient,' said the tailor mysteriously. 'Better +things will +come. I have already heard various whispers. Our prophet is not the man +to stop half way. Think of what I told you when we were traveling to +Munster; it is not yet the end of time! I must now leave you, as we +judges are invited to a feast by the chief prophet. He marries, this +day, the beautiful widow of his predecessor, the great Matthias. +Farewell! I shall always remain friendly to you, and should I hereafter +rise yet higher on the scale of honor, you will always find in me a +patron and protector.'</p> + +<p class="normal">After one or two failures, the duodecemvir finally succeeded +in passing +himself and his new sword through the room door.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Surely!' cried Alf impatiently, 'if this tailor-spirit is to +set such +vagabonds upon the judgment-seat of my native city, I may soon repent +that I refused the crown. It would at least have given me the power to +hinder many acts of madness.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Some time afterwards, Alf was sitting arm in arm with his +Eliza in the +family sitting-room, while Clara was spinning near the window, and +moistening the thread with her bitter tears. Suddenly the door flew +open, and in clattered a stout young trooper, who extended his hand to +Alf, joyously exclaiming, 'God bless you, my dear school fellow! Do you +not know me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hanslein of the long street!' cried Alf, embracing the friend +of his +youth. 'Welcome to Munster!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hanslein of the long street?' asked the beautiful Eliza, with +surprise +and displeasure. 'How is this? were you not an episcopalian?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Certainly,' answered Hanslein, 'with body and soul, until the +day +before yesterday. On that day I got into a quarrel with my serjeant +while drinking with him, and laid my blade over his head in a way that +he will not easily forget. Life is as dear to me as to any other man, +and therefore I made my way out of the bishop's camp, rode over to +yours, and now let your orator but once more wash my head, and I am +prepared to contend bravely with my old brethren in arms.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'When the chief prophet holds you worthy of being received +into our +community!' sharply observed Eliza, who was highly offended at the +frivolous conversation of the renegade.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The worthy tailor has already received me with open arms,' +answered +Hanslein. 'I have become captain of the seventh company, and am +quartered with the burgomaster-hangman Knipperdolling, where we have +wine and women in abundance.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Eliza rose up indignant, and silently motioned to Clara to +follow her. +The latter obeyed, and the two friends were left alone.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A pair of pretty maidens!' said Hanslein, looking admiringly +after +them; 'and you are indeed a lucky dog, to be a favorite with both.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am the promised bridegroom of the eldest,' answered Alf, +'and know +my duty.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'An anabaptist, and so affectedly coy?' laughed the +hair-brained +fellow. 'You court them both at the same time, I'll be sworn; and +should any one attack you on that account, you need only refer to the +example of our chief prophet.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It cannot be possible!' exclaimed Alf with abhorrence.</p> + +<p class="normal">At this moment Clara stepped into the room, placed before Alf +a pitcher +of wine and two goblets, and then again retired.</p> + +<p class="normal">Hanslein observed her attentively, and said as she went out, +'deny no +longer, you rogue, that both the maidens are yours. I found you in the +arms of one of them, and the long, tender glance which the other just +now threw upon you, confesses enough.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I tell you that you are mistaken!' cried Alf impatiently, +filling the +cups to the brim; 'leave your joking, and join me in drinking success +to our good cause.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'With all my heart!' said Hanslein, striking his glass against +Alf's, +and then pouring down the wine; 'although I am not yet quite clear as +to exactly where the good cause is to be found, here, or in the camp of +our old master. To return once more to my former theme, you render life +needlessly unpleasant both to yourself and to the poor damsels. You +would do much better to marry them both.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are out of your senses!' exclaimed Alf, angrily. 'How can +I sin +against the commandments of God?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'First point out to me one passage in the bible which +prohibits +polygamy,' said Hanslein; 'and what is not prohibited is allowed! The +old beards, the patriarchs, always indulged themselves in that way. To +be sure, when the wives come directly in each other's way, it may be a +little stormy in the house, as father Abraham learned long ago to his +sorrow; but, after all, you are the man to seize and hold the reins of +government firmly, and to interfere decidedly, if your wives should +show a disposition to kick out of the traces.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf could not refrain from laughing at the chatterer, and +finally said, +'I know not how you came by the conceit of advocating double marriages, +but to a poacher like you, I should suppose it would be pleasanter to +beat up game in the preserves of others.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'There will remain enough for me on both sides of the hedge,' +said +Hanslein; 'and a handsome young man like you must be the first to +follow any new fashion, especially so pleasant a one as this.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The chief prophet might disapprove of the new fashion,' said +Alf; +'even according to our old laws, there is a heavy penalty against +polygamy.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The chief prophet!' laughed Hanslein. 'The doctrine which I +have just +now been preaching to you came from his own mouth. How else could I +have conversed so learnedly upon the subject?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The chief prophet!' cried Alf in amazement.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Just so,' answered Hanslein. 'When he saw that I recognized +him, he +beckoned me to approach, and presented a purse of ducats to me, giving +me at the same time an excellent lecture upon the duty of every +christian to take more than one wife; it is a prerogative, said he, +which God reserves for his holy children; and he intimated his +determination to explain the matter to the community, and moreover that +he would himself take fifteen wives, on account of the good example +which he was bound to set the people.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'This can never prosper!' thought Alf, shaking his head.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What can be impossible to the godly tailor?' exclaimed +Hanslein, +swallowing the last glass. 'Farewell brother! I must now to the parade, +and relieve the early morning watch. When I am at liberty, if you +should indeed conclude to marry both of the damsels, then I ask it as a +particular favor that I may be invited to the marriage feast.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He bustled forth; but Alf remained sitting in a melancholy +reverie. +'Even polygamy is now encouraged!' sighed he. 'Every good old moral +custom is broken! How must it end?'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">At the new gate, where the river Aa empties itself into the +Ems, Alf +had his watch as the chosen captain of the armorers. It was already +deep night--he lay upon his field bed, and the images of Eliza and +Clara were floating confusedly before his half closed eyes. Suddenly he +heard the burgher sentinel hail some one, and immediately afterwards +Hanslein stepped into the officers' quarters, wrapped in a mantle.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What brings you here so late, brother?' asked Alf, springing +up in +astonishment.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Mischief, my brother,' whispered Hanslein. 'I come in the +name of the +chief prophet. First of all, get your men quickly and quietly under +arms, and let their guns be carefully loaded; double all the guards, +and let strong patrols be sent out. The city is in danger from without +and within!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf proceeded silently to the large guard room, to execute the +command; +then, returning to his friend, he eagerly asked him the cause of the +alarm.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Polygamy,' answered Hanslein, of which we examined the +pleasant +bearings the day before yesterday has now turned out confoundedly +serious. Early this morning while you were upon guard, the prophet +Johannes Bockhold caused the populace to be drummed together and laid +the hazardous question before them. An old burgher, who might already +have had domestic trouble enough at home, coldly gave his opinion that +the adoption of such a course would be warring against the bible and +against all christendom. Thereupon Johannes, who cannot bear much +contradiction, became furious, caused the old man to be seized on the +spot, and made, by the aid of friend Knipperdolling, a head shorter. +Such a mode of stating the counter argument was too sudden and too +violent for the people. They laid their heads together here and there, +and a number of malcontents determined, at a secret meeting, to give up +the city to the episcopalians this night. But lord Johannes, who has a +very fine nose, got wind of them in time. He has taken his measures yet +more secretly than his foes, and Knipperdolling will do a fine business +early in the morning.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Never-ending slaughters!' murmured Alf, sorrowfully. 'What we +have +gained is hardly an equivalent for the blood spilled in its +attainment.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The tree of spiritual freedom,' said Hanslein ironically, +shrugging +his shoulders, 'must be properly watered, if you would have it grow and +thrive.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile, the patrols having returned to the guard room, +Hanslein went +out to meet them. 'All right!' was the word from all sides. Only the +detachment who had been scouring the out works, thought that they had +heard a suspicious rustling of arms in the distance.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And you went no nearer to see what was going on?' interrupted +Alf: +'Then I must take a turn myself, and see what mischief is brewing. +Forward!'</p> + +<p class="normal">He and Hanslein carefully led the patrol through the little +side-door +out over the bridges. 'Stand here silently,' commanded Alf,--'I will go +softly forward with the captain. As soon as you hear any noise, move +quickly towards it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf and Hanslein now proceeded stealthily forward, constantly +further +and further, behind the angles of the outworks, carefully bending close +to them. Suddenly they heard at a distance the clattering of spurs +which rapidly approached.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let us conceal ourselves behind the palisades,' whispered +Hanslein to +Alf. They had hardly concealed themselves when the rattling of the +spurred heels approached. The obscure forms of two men became visible +in the darkness. They passed by the concealed friends and then stopped.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is the place,' said a deep bass voice. 'Give the sign, +serjeant.' +The other figure then raised his hand to his mouth, and repeated three +times a clear-sounding tone imitating a bird-call.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now upon them!' cried Alf, springing from behind the +palisades, +seizing the first figure by the right arm with the strength of a bear, +and placing his sword at his breast. At the same moment Hanslein dealt +a powerful blow upon the second figure. 'Jesus Maria!' cried the +latter, and instantly disappeared in the darkness.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Coward! 'growled the other; but Alf mastered him. 'No noise, +nor any +attempt at resistance, or I shall be compelled to strike you down. You +must follow us into the city.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thus to end!' groaned the prisoner--and at that moment the +first rays +of the rising moon beamed over the edge of the horizon and threw their +light upon the captive. He was a stately old cavalier, with a chain of +honor over his shining silver harness, and a most venerable +countenance, from which even his unhappy accident had not been able to +drive the impress of determined spirit and courage.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf was troubled by his steady gaze, which excited emotions of +respect +and esteem. He looked inquiringly at Hanslein, who returned a similar +glance, and both remained standing by their prisoner, as if by tacit +agreement.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Shall we deliver this noble form to the terrible Johannes?' +at last +asked Alf of his fellow soldier.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It would certainly make me very unhappy to see this head fall +under +the axe of the executioner,' murmured Hanslein.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You think and feel as I do, brother,' cried Alf, joyfully. +'Therefore +pursue your way in peace, sir colonel, or whatever else you may chance +to be. We will have no part in the shedding of your blood!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Shall I have to thank anabaptists for my life and liberty?' +asked the +knight, half indignant and half astonished.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Accept it, however,' said Alf, 'and with it the proof that +the people +of Munster are not all such monsters as you may have believed until +now. If this friendly service appears to you to be thankworthy, you can +repay it with like clemency when one of our brethren falls into your +hands.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That will I, comrade, by my word,' answered the knight, much +affected. +'To prove that my feelings are equally good toward you, I invite you to +follow me into our camp. People of your stamp are not in their right +place in that den of wild beasts, who sooner or later must come to an +ignominious end.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Spare your words,' answered Alf. 'We hold fast to our faith.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And have divers cogent reasons besides,' said Hanslein, +(grasping his +neck in a manner not to be misunderstood,) 'to decline the honor of +visiting the lord bishop.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Our men approach,' said Alf, looking toward the city. +'Depart, sir +knight, before it is too late.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God teach you the right path, poor erring wanderers,' said +the knight, +compassionately, as he hastened away.</p> + +<p class="normal">Scolding as he went, Alf approached his troops. 'Were you not +ordered +to advance upon the first alarm?' growled he. 'Heard you not when I +gave the word for the onset? Had you been there, as it was your duty to +have been, we should have taken an episcopalian field officer. He has +escaped to his followers, and we must hasten back to the city, lest we +be finally cut off and taken prisoners.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The honest Munsterers exculpated themselves in the best way +they could, +entreating that their oversight might not be made known to the grim +prophet; and with drooping heads followed the two friends back into the +city.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<p class="normal">An alarm, as if the world were sinking, was now raised in +Munster. The +bells rung, the drums beat, and the armed masses ran together, filling +the air with their wild shouts. Alf and Hanslein mounted the wall over +the gate and looked down upon the city, in the streets of which torches +were every where blazing. From the market before St. Lambert's church +the light of an immense fire arose to the heavens, and the sounds of a +horrible shouting and screaming as from many thousands came thence over +the city.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is a dreadful night,' said Alf, leaning sadly upon his +sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">'If I should say,' observed Hanslein, 'that the appearance of +the city +was particularly pleasing to me, I should tell a falsehood. Were it not +for my unlucky affair with the serjeant, I would have gone to the +episcopalian camp with the field officer, in God's name.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Finally, a certain degree of order seemed to prevail in the +chaos about +the market place, although like every thing there, it was of a horrible +nature. To a short, ferocious yell of the populace succeeded a profound +and terrible pause--then cracked a volley of musketry, and then again +another pause--and so alternately screams, pauses and reports of +fire-arms, until Hanslein had counted twenty volleys.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What can that musketry mean?' asked Alf in an undertone, with +some +misgivings as to the nature of the proceedings.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Master Johannes may just now be undertaking to sift his +flock,' said +Hanslein.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Must it then be,' exclaimed Alf with bitter grief, 'that by +every +revolution, although intended to promote the welfare of the whole +people, men must be placed at the head who have no hearts in their +bodies, and who rule by destroying the lives of their brethren!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It appears so, answered Hanslein; 'Whoever is placed at the +head by +popular commotions, must himself be a bold demagogue who has no +property, character or conscience to lose. To leap over every obstacle +and ward off every danger by the destruction of a dozen or two of his +fellow men, is nothing at all to him. People like you, my brother, +would make right good leaders, for which nothing is really requisite +but vigor, honesty and sound sense; but honest people draw back from +such opportunities from a want of self confidence, and thereby give the +devils free scope to do evil, which is very wrong!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf, reminded by this conversation of Tuiskoshirer's rejected +crown, +and of old Fabricius's prophecy, at last sorrowfully exclaimed, 'in an +unhappy hour came I home, to my native city!' and proceeded to join the +guard.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The next morning, when Alf's guard was relieved, he marched +his men by +the market place. Horrible was the sight which there awaited him. The +square before St. Lambert's church was converted into an immense +slaughter yard, and filled with human flesh. A great number of +unfortunates were bound to stakes and shot through; a part of whom had +bled out their lives, and a part were still writhing and twisting in +the agonies of the death struggle. Others lay upon the bloody pavement, +some hacked to pieces with the sword and some beheaded, The ranting +Knipperdolling in his robes of office, his face flushed, with naked and +blood-sprinkled arms, was continually and unweariedly swinging his +broad executioner's sword over victims, who, either voluntarily or +forced by armed men, were kneeling before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Left wheel!' commanded Alf, averting his eyes; and he led his +men +through side-streets and by-ways to the company's parade ground.</p> + +<p class="normal">As the men were separating, and Alf proceeding to his own +quarters, he +was met by poor Clara, who came to him, her eyes red with weeping, and +with despair depicted on her countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Will you grant me a private conversation?' said she; 'it +concerns my +life--and though you may deem that of little consequence, still your +heart is too good not to feel a sympathy for an unfortunate being, +whose last hope is in your protection.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'In God's name, what is going forward?' asked Alf, alarmed, +leading the +maiden into the garden adjoining the house. 'Speak, dear Clara, and +open your heart to me. My blood for thee!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The chief prophet and the twelve judges,' answered Clara, +'have +published a mandate, by which a plurality of wives is not only allowed +but commanded. Not to avail one's self of this spiritual license, is +deemed a crime. Spies search all houses and drag forth the marriageable +maidens; who are compelled to marry instantly. I hoped to find a +defence of my maiden honor in my insignificance; but the hideous +Tuiskoshirer has selected me for his third wife. Rather than consummate +my ruin by giving my hand to that disgusting madman, I would jump into +the river Aa, and there find an end to my life and my afflictions.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'With God's help,' cried Alf, 'you shall neither jump into the +river, +Clara, nor into Tuiskoshirer's arms; in which indeed you might find +worse repose. Is the old wizard mad, that he lifts his eyes to so +pretty a maiden?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'There is but one way left for my deliverance,' said Clara. +'You are to +many my sister, dear brother-in-law--wherefore I beg of you to bestow +upon me, out of compassion, the name of one of your wives, that it may +protect me from the impudence of his hateful assaults. Understand me +rightly,' added she, earnestly;' I ask to be one of your wives in <i>name +only</i>. This relation shall give neither to you nor me new duties nor +new rights--and when the fate of this unhappy city once changes, then +shall we two in no respect be bound to each other.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Such an apparent marriage only, will be but little pleasant +to either +party,' replied Alf. 'Should you not rather find in Munster some young +handsome fellow, with whom you may be married in a proper and orderly +manner, according to the commandments of God?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God preserve me from men!' cried Clara, a deep crimson +suddenly +suffusing her pale cheeks. 'After what I have here witnessed they have +all become my detestation. Even you I select only upon irresistible +compulsion, and because the connection can be so arranged that I may be +called by your name without belonging to you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'This courtship is certainly not particularly polite, my +little Clara,' +said Alf; 'but before you leap into the water with me, it is necessary +that I should say yes. I wish I could have first explained the matter +properly to your sister--I know not whether the imperious damsel will +be so willing to accommodate herself to the new decree of the twelve +judges.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The life of her sister is at stake,' cried Clara, in deep +agony, 'who +will most willingly remain a maiden after, as before, and renounce +every right to even a friendly look from her husband.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It will be a strange marriage,' mustered Alf, rubbing his +hands in +much perplexity; 'nevertheless let us trust in God. It would be well, +if these times produced nothing more wonderful in old Munster.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'There comes the monster! Protect me, Kippenbrock!' shrieked +Clara, +hiding her face in Alf's bosom.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf looked up and saw Eliza conducting Tuiskoshirer into the +garden. +After him pressed a ragged and armed multitude.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Whatever you may do, my brother,' howled the prophet, 'I yet +cannot +desert you. Our names must stand near each other in the book of the +Spirit. You have contemptuously rejected the alliance which I proposed +to you out of the goodness of my heart; nevertheless, to-day I propose +a new band which shall bind us both in brotherhood. I ask for the +sister of your betrothed, dear brother-in-law, and desire to take her +home with me as my christian wife.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I regret, my brother,' said Alf, encircling Clara with his +arms, 'that +you come too late. In obedience to the new law, I have asked the maiden +to become my second wife, and have obtained her consent.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Indeed!' escaped from the proud Eliza, while she bit her lips +and +darted a not altogether sisterly glance at the poor Clara.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Heigh!' stammered Tuiskoshirer, in a tone of mingled fear and +anger.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your courtship take precedence of that of the great prophet +Tuiskoshirer!' cried one of the ragged bridal train, springing towards +Clara, seizing her by the arm and endeavoring forcibly to drag her to +her detested suitor. Alf instantly seized him by the body and with a +powerful swing threw him over the garden fence. 'Who else will +interfere?' cried he, lustily, making after the multitude, who in great +trepidation were seeking the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">'An insolent reply was all that I wanted,' snarled +Tuiskoshirer, as he +followed his retreating rabble.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Sister and sister-in-law at the same time?' asked Eliza in a +tone of +bitterness, pointing towards Clara. 'I might at least have been +previously informed of it,' said she, leaving the garden in a rage.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Necessity knows no law, dear Eliza,' pleaded Alf, following +her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is a heavy duty which I have taken upon me,' said Clara to +herself, +'to preserve the appearance of coldness toward the man whom I love +better than all the world beside; but God will help me.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">In the course of the next week Alf had sufficiently softened +Eliza's +anger: she had with a heavy heart learned to share her beloved +husband's name with her unloved sister, and Alf now went to his worthy +kinsman, the former burgomaster Kippenbrock, to invite him to the +marriage feast. He found the good man a perfect contrast to his +terrible ex-colleague; in the short brown butcher's jacket and white +apron, with his sleeves rolled up, he was standing in his shop, making +sausages;--his full, red, contented face covered with glistening drops +of perspiration, a proof that he pursued his occupation with right good +will.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am rejoiced, good kinsman, that you have so easily +submitted to the +loss of political greatness.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes, kinsman,' answered Gerhard familiarly, laying down his +sausage-knife, 'to thee I may say it; thou wilt keep clean lips, and so +it will remain in the family--when I was compelled to lay down the +burgomastership and take off the chain of honor, I might as well have +been knocked on the head with an axe, like one of my own fat oxen, and +I bore my deposition not at all submissively; but as I reflected more +upon the subject, I came to consider it less an evil, and now all is +well with me. There was much vexation about the office also, and I +oftentimes felt that I was not adapted to it. When a man once +undertakes to perform duties, which his education has not prepared him +for, he always continues unsuitable for the place, and often +inadvertently does great injustice to the people. It was truly a +fortunate circumstance, however, that my learned colleague +Knipperdolling had sufficient acuteness to keep us out of difficulty, +else I should have been compelled to abandon my office on the first +day. Now, comparatively, I live in heaven, slaughtering my oxen and my +swine, which I understand thoroughly--my sausages are always the best +in Munster--and it is wholly a different thing when one is quite at +home in his employment. Mark me, if the chief prophet should at any +time offer me an office, so true as my name is Gerhard Kippenbrock, I +would say NO, and would stick to my hatchet and chopping-block!'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf praised his noble renunciation of office, and then +formally brought +forward his invitation.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I wish you much happiness!' cried Gerhard, heartily shaking +his +kinsman's hand. 'That all the preparations of the meat kind for the +marriage and festival are to be my care, is already understood; and I +may, moreover, take some care for the new housekeeping.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf wished to protest against such great generosity; but he +answered,--'I, an old housekeeper, must understand these things better +than a young chicken like you,--I know what one housewife has cost me, +and you take two at once. There are the rich trencher-caps, the +bodices, the cloth and silk doublets and robes, and the furred cloak, +and shoes and stockings, and the golden ornaments, and the bed and +other white linen, all in double proportion--and, God preserve us, +finally the baby-clothes and the cradle also. You will be compelled to +wield your hammer merrily in the workshop, and will be too much +occupied to be able to make the necessary preparations, and your old +butcher kinsman will stand you in good stead.</p> + +<p class="normal">To strike out one half of this formidable list, Alf related to +him how +he had come by his second bride.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Heigh! surely! let us see!' exclaimed Gerhard: 'the child's +conduct +pleases me very much. To be sure it is a singular circumstance, and the +prophet might make various objections to it if it were made known to +him; but I rejoice heartily that it has afforded you an opportunity to +obtain the maiden; who, I honestly confess to you, was the one of the +two sisters whom I always wished you might have. She has an angel's +heart. Eliza is not bad; but she has an imperious domineering spirit, +and will often warm your head for you; particularly if the little Clara +should in time excite an interest in your heart.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf's asseverations, that he could be in no danger of so great +an evil, +were drowned by the noise and cries of an immense multitude of people +who crowded the streets on their return from the market place.</p> + +<p class="normal">'There has been another public day,' grumbled Gerhard, looking +through +the window; 'and so it goes on continually. They crowd to the public +meetings and make much noise with their debates; but nothing is +effected for the general good, and meanwhile the bishop is constantly +diminishing the limits within which he has enclosed us; so that we +shall soon be unable to go outside the city walls. I am heartily tired +of the whole business. So long as my oxen hold out, and I can drive +them to our pasture, so long will I look on; but when that ends, God +will forgive my sins if I become an episcopalian as well as others.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hush, kinsman!' cried Alf, who that moment caught a glimpse +of the +duodecemvir Dilbek, passing by the street window.</p> + +<p class="normal">Gerhard clapped his hands upon his mouth as the tailor danced +into the +shop and embraced the stout butcher with friendly warmth.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I greet thee dear brother and colleague!' cried he in +ecstasy.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Colleague?' murmured Gerhard, turning himself again to his +sausage +table. 'We are not so far.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What did I say,' cried Dilbek, slapping Alf upon the +shoulder: 'what +did I say to you on our way towards Munster?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Your conversation has not so much weight with me as to cause +me to +mark or remember it,' answered Alf, peevishly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I said,' declaimed Dilbek, 'give to our prophet, our great +Johannes, +the world, and he would govern it in fine style. Now, the commencement +is made. Johannes the First, has this day become king over Zion, +otherwise called Munster.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'King!' cried Alf and Gerhard in a breath.</p> + +<p class="normal">'King,' repeated Dilbek. 'And he has obtained the honor in his +usually +sly way. Early this morning he caused us, the twelve judges, to be +called to his house. 'Thus saith the Lord,' declared he to us; 'Even as +I aforetime have taken Saul and after him David, from tending their +sheep, and made them kings over my people, so set I Johannes Bockhold, +my prophet, to be king over Zion.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'King!' sighed Alf inaudibly, and once again thought with +bitter +repentance of Tuiskoshirer's crown.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Honestly to confess it,' pursued the chattering Dilbek, 'this +declaration was not much to our taste, as it lessened our official +authority, and we had much to urge against it; but there we struck the +wrong chord. 'Ye short sighted men!' cried the prophet; 'must I not +take this office upon myself against my will? Rather would I drive +horses and oxen, did I not feel myself irresistibly drawn by the hand +of God. Therefore down, instantly;--resign your offices and do homage +to your king.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The man has a methodical madness in depriving people of +offices and +honors,' growled Gerhard, vexed by his reminiscences.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Still we were not satisfied,' continued Dilbek; 'and as we +knew of no +other expedient, we referred the whole matter to the people. That, +however, did not help us. While Johannes labored with us, that withered +old fox, Tuiskoshirer, wrought upon the people; and as we judges in a +body accompanied the prophet to the market-place, the little man came +to meet us there with a large naked sword, which he presented to +Johannes, saying in a howling voice, 'In the name of God I give to +thee, Johannes, the kingly dignity: govern thy people well! Long live +the king of Zion! shouted the multitude with one voice, while we judges +were standing and looking as though the butter had fallen from our +bread. His kingly majesty, however, permitted mercy to prevail over +right, and advanced a part of us to high honors; graciously remembering +his old fellow laborers in God's kingdom. Knipperdolling is raised from +the office of executioner to be governor of the city, Varend Rothman is +the royal orator, I am lord steward, four of the twelve judges have +been made royal counsellors, and in you, sir Gerhard, have I the honor +and pleasure of greeting the royal treasurer.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No jokes!' blustered the butcher, whilst his full-moon face, +lighted +up by joy, once more exhibited a glistening crimson.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I should be ashamed of myself,' said Dilbek, 'to jest in an +unseemly +manner with one of the high officers of the kingdom of Zion.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'These incessant changes and innovations are almost enough to +turn +one's brain,' said Gerhard, while Alf was pouring water upon his hands +with which he carefully washed his face and arms.</p> + +<p class="normal">At the same time Dilbek continued: 'I bring to the lord +treasurer the +invitation of his majesty to repair immediately to the royal palace, to +receive further commands.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My black dress suit, Susanna!' cried Gerhard, looking into +the sitting +room; 'my mantle, my plumed cap, my golden chain and sword!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is your name nevertheless still called Kippenbrock?' asked +Alf, +significantly, by way of reminding his fickle kinsman, of his former +protestations.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hold your tongue!' cried the new treasurer, as with +inconceivable +celerity (notwithstanding his corpulency) he encased himself in the +official robes which his wife with joyful surprise had brought him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'If it be agreeable to you, my lord steward,' said Gerhard to +Dilbek, +'I will now accompany you to the king's majesty.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I commend myself to you, lady treasurer,' said Dilbek with a +profound +bow to the butcher's wife, and the two lords of the new kingdom +departed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now is Munster indeed wholly mad,' said Alf, 'and my worthy +kinsman +with the rest. If I were only so myself, I should feel better than I +now do in my clear moments.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">About mid-day some time afterwards, Alf came from his workshop +to the +parlor. The dinner already smoked upon the table; but his two elected +brides were standing at the window eagerly examining some pieces of +money which Tuiskoshirer was showing to them. Alf approached the group.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The gold and silver money which the new king has caused to be +coined,' +said Tuiskoshirer in a friendly and honied tone, laying a couple of +pieces in his hand. Alf read on the reverse:</p> + +<p class="normal">'The Word has become flesh and dwells amongst us. Whosoever is +not born +of water and of the Spirit cannot enter into the kingdom of God. One +king over us, one God, one Faith, one Baptism. At Munster, 1534.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is God's government, may it soon extend over the whole +world!' +sighed Tuiskoshirer, most religiously rolling up his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Under these kings we shall soon arrive at the pinnacle of +prosperity!' +exclaimed Eliza, turning over the money in Alf's hand. On the other +side, the wild inspired face of the prophet, in his kingly dress, +boldly cut and well resembling the original, presented itself to the +eyes of the beholder.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf looked upon the wild and passionate eyes of the +presentment, which +seemed almost to roll in the masterly impression, and, mentally +recurring to the pitiless human butchery with which the prophet had +commenced the exercise of power, shudderingly cast the money upon the +table.</p> + +<p class="normal">Eliza hastily took up the largest piece to gaze once more upon +the +crowned figure. 'Yes,' she finally exclaimed, forgetting herself, 'that +is a king for the whole world or none.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What is the matter with you, Eliza?' asked Alf, with +surprise. 'You +have never before spoken of the prophet with such partiality.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Crowns make beautiful!' whispered Tuiskoshirer, with a +malicious +laugh, and at that instant lord steward Dilbek rushed into the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'To the windows, children, if you wish to see something very +particularly magnificent. The king is making his first tour through the +city on horseback, and will immediately pass this way.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The king?' asked Eliza with joyful surprise, a deeper and +more +beautiful crimson suffusing her face as she hastened out of the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What can all this mean?' sighed Alf, looking a moment after +her, and +then stepping to the window.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nearer and nearer sounded the cry, 'Hail king of Zion!' from +the dense +multitude who preceded the royal procession through the streets.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now give attention,--here comes the procession,' cried +Dilbek. +Already were heard the snorting and neighing of the first of the king's +horses. At the head of the procession came four pages, in costly +gold-embroidered velvet garments; a naked sword with a golden hilt, +Tuiskoshirer's crown upon an open bible, the golden globe (emblem of +imperial power), and two crossed swords, borne by lords and gentlemen, +followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That beautiful, light-haired boy who bears the great sword, +is the +bishop's own son,' whispered Dilbek to Alf, who recognized in the two +foremost pages the victims he had torn from the tiger claws of the +ferocious Matthias.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Poor youths,' said he, 'hardly may I rejoice that I saved +your +miserable lives, since this compulsory servile duty rendered to your +father's deadly enemy, must destroy the Spirit; which is a far greater +evil than the destruction of the body.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Now came, snorting and prancing, the dapple-grey charger that +bore the +king. The fair youth, who found himself quite at home in his high +station, presented in his princely attire a truly majestic appearance. +High white ostrich feathers waved over the jeweled ornaments of his +purple cap. Through the slashed folds of his gold-embroidered +over-dress appeared the under garment of purple velvet, trimmed with +gold lace. The ermine mantle which floated down upon the golden saddle +cloth of the noble steed, completed the beautiful <i>tout-ensemble</i>, and +Alf himself, notwithstanding his inward dislike of the prophet, could +hardly conceal his admiration.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is it not true, that dress makes the man?' triumphantly +whispered the +lord steward to him. 'All this is the work of my ingenious needle. For +three nights I have not been in bed,--in which time I directed the +execution of all the difficult portions of the work. Now, God be +praised! every thing has prospered with me, and I want to see, who will +recognize the mass-dress out of which I have put it all together.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the king had passed by. Behind him came governor +Knipperdolling and treasurer Kippenbrock, superbly mounted. Twelve +yeomen of the guard, clothed in the royal livery, ash-color and green, +upon princely horses with golden saddles, brought up the rear. The +procession now halted a moment. Alf leaned farther out of the window to +see what had occurred. He just then perceived that the king was bowing +with indescribable grace to the fair Eliza, who, to see the better, had +stationed herself before the house door. In sweet confusion the +graceful girl returned the royal greeting, and, as the prince finally +rode on after the bearers of the regalia, looked long and earnestly +after him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is a sudden and wonderful change!' exclaimed Alf, +angrily. 'I see +well that I must celebrate my nuptials to-morrow; if, indeed they are +ever to be celebrated.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hadst thou accepted my offer, brother,' said Tuiskoshirer, in +a tone +of friendly reproach, 'thou wouldst have spared thyself this, and who +knows how many more afflictions.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Followed by Dilbek, he went forth. Alf remained, in a pensive +mood, +thoughtlessly playing with the coins which had been left upon the +table. 'Yes, truly,' murmured he at length, with bitterness, 'he who +dares to coin money is held in higher consideration than he who is +obliged to receive it in the way of business.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The gentle Clara then approached him. 'Do not be angry with my +sister,' +said she, entreatingly, in her kind way. 'Her heart is good in the +main, and she will soon repent of an error into which she has been led +by her vanity and pride.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Good hearted child!' exclaimed Alf, affected by the faithful +intercession of the rejected one; 'why has not that ungrateful girl thy +heart and soul, or thou her beautiful exterior? Then nothing would have +been wanting to my happiness!' He went out; and Clara retired to her +chamber, where she secretly and bitterly wept over the well intended +but deeply wounding eulogium of the beloved youth.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The next morning Alf returned from a visit to the royal orator +Rothman, +with whom, to make an end at once of all apprehensions, he had arranged +that his baptism and his marriage with both of the sisters should take +place that afternoon. As he approached Trutlinger's house he was not a +little astonished to find some of the yeomen of the guard, in the green +and ash-colored livery, before the house door, holding some saddle +horses. A milk white palfrey with costly trimmings and a purple +gold-embroidered covering, particularly attracted his attention. +Anxious to learn what it all meant, he walked into the parlor, where he +encountered Tuiskoshirer and the lord steward Dilbek, in their court +dresses.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hail, hail! prosperity has befallen thee, my brother!' cried +the +little prophet, ardently embracing him. 'Even as Abraham was accounted +worthy of being commanded to offer to the Lord the most beloved object +which he possessed upon earth, so likewise art thou also elected and +favored among thousands; not merely to present, but really and truly to +offer up, thy heart upon the altar of duty to thy king and lord.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Madness seems to catch early in the morning,' sighed Alf +peevishly, +'and I cannot understand a word of all this. Both of you being +gentlemen, you have nothing to neglect, and have leisure to spend the +day as you please. I, however, am a handicraftsman, who must labor for +my livelihood; therefore tell me in short plain words what you want of +me, so that I may give you a proper answer and then go to my workshop.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thy answer, my good fellow, is of very little consequence,' +replied +Tuiskoshirer with a malicious laugh. 'We await our answer from the +worthy maiden Eliza, to whom we are sent by our all-merciful king to +request her to become his third wife and queen of Zion.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My God!' stammered Alf, becoming deathly pale and leaning +against the +wall for support.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It cannot be helped now, my friend,' whispered the lord +steward to +him; 'therefore submit with a good grace to what must at any rate +happen; so that you may hereafter be able to claim a recompense for +your ready acquiescence.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Has Eliza already consented?' asked Alf, with tremulous lips.</p> + +<p class="normal">'She has retired to her chamber,' answered Tuiskoshirer, 'to +take +counsel of the Spirit. As soon as she comes forth we shall all be +enlightened as to her decision.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, no!' cried Alf, wringing his hands, 'nature and love have +bound us +too closely; she cannot leave me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the chamber door flew open and the beautiful Eliza +appeared. +At the first glance she was not recognized by Alf. A dress embroidered +with silver and fastened with a jewelled girdle, rustled about her +slender and fascinating figure; her bosom and arms sparkled with the +richest gems, and from her dark locks arose, meteor-like, a radiant +diadem.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Hail to our queen Eliza!' cried Tuiskoshirer and Dilbek, +sinking upon +their knees before her majestic form.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The Spirit has decided,' said Eliza, giving them her hand to +kiss. 'I +have listened to its voice. Conduct me to my king and husband.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Eliza!' cried Alf, in boundless sorrow, stepping before the +false fair +one.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou here, Alf?' said she, with some slight agitation. 'I +would +willingly have spared thee the pain of this parting.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou art my promised bride, my wife in the sight of God!' +shrieked he, +despairingly. 'Thou canst not, thou darest not leave me!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Before the great affairs of the world, the little interests +of private +and humble life must yield,' answered Eliza pathetically. 'The king of +Zion needs me, that my kiss may sweeten the wearisomeness of governing. +How then can I be so selfish as to regard the bands which previously +connected me with thee? The people of Israel have a claim upon me +paramount to thine, and joyfully I go to fulfil my exalted duties in +obedience to the voice of the Spirit.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'No, thou hast never loved me!' exclaimed Alf.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I was always well disposed towards thee,' stammered the new +queen, +affected by sudden emotion. Soon however recovering herself, she said +to him in the tone of a mistress, 'when I am seated upon Zion's throne +you may safely rely upon my favor.'</p> + +<p class="normal">She now quickly took Dilbek's proffered arm and hastened forth +with +him, without giving a single glance backward. Tuiskoshirer, however, +stopped long enough to ask the astonished and bewildered Alf, +'dost thou not now repent, my brother, that thou rejectedst my +proposition?'--and then followed the pair.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Woman's love and woman's truth!' indignantly, exclaimed the +unhappy +youth, seizing his dark brown locks with powerless rage.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">At Clara's request the previously arranged marriage was +postponed. +Alf's baptism, also, for which his desire daily decreased, had not yet +taken place. The pretext for the delay of both ceremonies was the +changes which had been occasioned in Trutlinger's house by Eliza's +sudden elevation. In consequence of the daily increasing disorder and +confusion in Munster these omissions were not noticed by any body; and +half the city, who, since the polygamy ordinance of the twelve judges, +were living unrestrainedly with their newly selected partners, saw +nothing amiss in Alf and the little Clara's following the general +example. They lived together, quiet and retired, like orphan brother +and sister; and it became for Alf quite a soothing custom to extract +consolation and encouragement, under his bitter disappointment, from +the mild and friendly eyes of Clara. The maiden also, now that she no +longer felt the yoke of her proud sister, and no longer saw the beloved +youth in the arms of another, began to recover herself, and gradually +resumed her florid complexion, so that Alf contemplated her with +increasing pleasure from day to day; but the maiden kept her love for +him deeply buried in her own chaste bosom, and closely guarded her eyes +and lips lest they should betray her heart. Her deportment towards Alf, +however, was always kind and affectionate, and she assiduously +endeavored to anticipate all his wants. This peaceful mode of life, +also restored to her mind a portion of that serenity which had +gladdened her earlier and happier days. Already were her softly tinged +cheeks graced by frequent smiles; her fine blue eyes, which formerly +always looked through a veil of tears towards heaven or upon the +ground, now often sparkled with a playful archness which rendered the +thoughtful maiden doubly charming; and from her lips escaped many a +pleasing lighthearted jest. Alf, wondering at the change which had +taken place, could hardly turn his eyes away from her; and, as a +natural consequence, the wound which Eliza's unfaithfulness had made in +his heart was daily less and less felt.</p> + +<p class="normal">While the storm of wild passions began to subside in the +narrow circle +in which Alf and Clara moved, the whirlwind which menaced the state was +rushing and roaring constantly nearer and nearer. The frivolities and +horrors, which the anabaptists had up to this period enacted under the +shield of a fanatical schism, had excited the indignation of the +virtuous and intelligent portion of the people throughout Germany. +Disregarding all existing differences upon other subjects, catholics +and protestants united in the determination that their misrule should +no longer be suffered; and that if neither the deceivers nor deceived +would listen to christian instruction and mild admonition, there was no +other course left but to root them out with the sword. The Rhenish +provinces held a convention at Coblentz, at which John Frederick, the +Lutheran electoral prince of Saxony, voluntarily appeared. At this +convention it was agreed to furnish the bishop of Munster three hundred +cavalry and three thousand foot soldiers, as auxiliaries against his +rebellious subjects. The brave Ulrich, count Oberstein, held the +command of the forces and directed the siege.</p> + +<p class="normal">Yet Munster's walls, towers and ditches were, through the +providence of +the prophets (who, in this, acted with great foresight,) in such +excellent condition, and the fanatical garrison exhibited every where +so much watchfulness and spirit, that Oberstein was convinced, that a +storm attempted under these circumstances might indeed conduct his +soldiers to butchery but would not accomplish his object. Accordingly, +after the attempt to enter the city by treason from within had been +frustrated, the commander contented himself with closely investing it +on all sides and cutting off its supplies. The light minded people +troubled themselves very little about this investment of their city, at +first, as the consequences were not immediately felt; but no sooner did +the scarcity of provisions become so pressing that the public tables +spread by order of the king could no longer be supplied, and the people +actually began to feel hunger, than their spirits began to sink, and +here and there murmurings and complaints were heard. These complaints, +to be sure, were made covertly, from fear of the iron sceptre which +weighed upon the necks of the free and privileged anabaptists; but +nevertheless they reached the ears of the king, who saw that something +must be done, however unwillingly, in conformity with the example of +his bold predecessor; and he therefore determined to try how far +fanaticism and cunning, without courage, would answer the purpose. +Besides, he was desirous of ridding himself of some of the prophets, +who were disposed to play the Samuel to his Saul, and sought to relieve +him of the cares of government. To reach all these objects with one +blow, he devised a new piece of jugglery, which did honor at least to +his practical knowledge of stage effect.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">While from the cathedral yard the trumpet blasts sounded +through the +streets as if they were blowing for the last judgment, Hanslein rushed +into Alf's shop in complete armor. 'How, comrade, not yet in armor?' +cried he. 'Arm thyself and thy people quickly. The whole community is +called together to-day, and none should fail to be present.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is the enemy already at the gates?' asked Alf, busily +equipping +himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Not quite, this time,' answered Hanslein. 'I hope, too, that +the +ceremonies of to-day will go off peaceably. We may, however, expect +important occurrences. The prophet Tuiskoshirer has commanded the king +to hold the sacrament of the Lord's supper at the cathedral, and then +send out his apostles to all parts of the world. The last thought is +not so bad; for the bishop has us enclosed within such narrow limits, +that if the eloquence of our orators does not succeed in bringing us +speedy help from without, it will soon be time to be thinking of a +decent capitulation.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'As long as our walls stand,' said Alf, 'and we are able to +use our +weapons, I do not fear for the city.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is bravely spoken,' said Hanslein, 'but I have already +perceived +evidences that the people begin to grow hungry. When starvation once +commences, it will be easy to calculate how long we can keep the city, +and when the strong hands in which you trust will become powerless. So +much do I know of the state of affairs, that I am determined this very +day to cut off my connection with this place, and seek an opportunity +to save myself quietly before the closing of the gates. A good cat +always finds a loop-hole, and, if I may take the liberty, I wish to +give you a friendly invitation to accompany me in my evasion. By +heavens, it is surely better to be off in time, than to stay and starve +here, or in the end to become too intimately acquainted with the tender +mercies of his reverence's bailiff.'</p> + +<p class="normal">During this conversation Hanslein, with Alf and his men had +arrived at +the church yard, through the whole of which were placed immensely long +tables, covered with white cloths. Upon these tables the royal pages +were serving up smoking flesh to the great satisfaction of the men of +Munster, who, to the number of four thousand stout hearts, in complete +armor, their hungry stomachs tightly compressed under their coats of +mail, were standing by.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king now appeared in majestic dignity, wearing a short +silk body +coat instead of his royal robes. At a signal from him the servants +placed the people at the tables. After a short prayer, full of unction, +he nodded graciously to the multitude and the repast began.</p> + +<p class="normal">After the first course had been consumed, the roasted meats +were +removed, and the flagons began to circulate.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This is a strange sort of a holy supper,' whispered Alf to +Hanslein, +as he passed a full jug to him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It appears to be only the introduction,' whispered Hanslein +in answer. +'It is a sort of love feast, such as was customary with the old +christians. Have but a little patience, the best is yet to come.'</p> + +<p class="normal">No sooner were the meats gone, than the king again approached +the +assembly. He was accompanied by two pages of honor, who brought the +holy bread upon golden plates. 'Take and eat,' said he, with earnest +solemnity, 'in commemoration of the Lord's death!' Thus saying, he went +through the long ranks, breaking the bread to every man, who received +it with great devotion. Hanslein, who best knew the worthiness of the +new high priest, was not able to suppress a satirical laugh, when his +turn came. After the king, followed the first queen, the beautiful +widow of Matthias, in a simple white dress, the golden chalice in her +hand, accompanied by the second and third queens, who brought golden +vessels of wine after her.</p> + +<p class="normal">As she came to Alf for the purpose of presenting the chalice +to him, +she started back in soft confusion, surprised at the beauty of the +youth, whose dark curling locks contrasted finely with his blooming +face and true German eyes. Alf, also, paralysed by the appearance of +such wonderful beauty as he had never before seen, remained motionless. +Here were more than Eliza's and Clara's united charms, and the +<i>tout-ensemble</i> seemed to approach perfection. Large, full and +voluptuous, an ideality in form, arose her stately figure. Her queenly +bosom, upon which her brown locks were restlessly waving, shamed the +whiteness of her dress; and her alabaster neck was surmounted by a +cherub head, whose deep blue interrogating eyes spoke so plainly of +soft wishes and glowing desires, that Alf's senses were wrapped in a +flame.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Take and drink!' murmured the sweet vision, presenting the +chalice, +with trembling hands. The youth eagerly drained it, while his eyes were +immovably fixed upon the dispenser, who was so disturbed by his gaze +that she forgot the last words of the ritual, and, covered with crimson +blushes, proceeded to his next neighbor. As Eliza, who followed her, +rustled by Alf's seat, she gave him a strange look with those eyes +which in former times had made him so happy. There was much in that +glance--repentance, grief, rage and jealousy--while through the whole +was yet to be discerned a glimpse of her former love; but the +impression, which that glance made upon Alf, was not strong enough to +withdraw his attention from the first queen, and he followed her, as +she went along the ranks, with gleaming eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment his friend Hanslein passed his hand over his +eyes, and +said in an under tone, 'forget not my brother, that it is the first +queen after whom you are gazing, and that our lord the king allows no +jesting in such affairs.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Let him come and call me to account!' blustered Alf. 'I will +so defend +myself, that of a thousand questions he shall not answer one. Already +in possession of the masterpiece of the universe, and able to make his +selection from all the beauty of Munster, he has yet torn my promised +bride from my heart, like the merciless rich man in the bible, who, +despite his numerous flocks, must rob his poor neighbor of his only +lamb, to satisfy his wicked appetite.'</p> + +<p class="normal">In the hymn of praise, with the singing of which by the whole +assembly +the festival was closed, the complaints of the youth were lost, until +with much difficulty Hanslein finally succeeded in assuaging his anger.</p> + +<p class="normal">The king now once more presented himself before the multitude; +this +time in full regal attire, with all the insignia of his high office, +and surrounded by his insignia bearers and guards. With a loud voice he +asked the people whether they were prepared to fulfil the will of God, +and to live and die for the faith. Like the murmuring of the ocean +before a storm, a loud awful 'Aye!' roared through the human mass +standing there.</p> + +<p class="normal">Then from behind the king, pressed forward a new prophet, +named +Wahrendorf. 'Thus saith the Lord,' cried he with a glowing fanatical +enthusiasm: 'choose a number from among my people of Zion, and let them +go out to all the ends of the earth, to work miracles and do my work +publicly before all people. Whoever receives this command and obeys it +not, shall die the death.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The prophet then drew forth a scroll from his bosom, and +hastened to +read the names of the new missionaries. The prophet Tuiskoshirer drew +near to the reader with his usual knavish smile, to listen; nodding his +head exultingly as the names of some of his opponents were read; but +when he heard Wahrendorf cry, 'John Tuiskoshirer!' as if astounded by a +clap of thunder the little withered man shrunk within himself and +turned his red glowing eyes upon the king. 'I, also, deceived!' +murmured he to himself. 'The villain shall not obtain his victory +easily.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou errest, my brother!' howled he to Wahrendorf: 'and +mistakest the +word of man for the voice of the Spirit. The night before the last I +had a vision, in which I was commanded to remain in Zion to guard these +flocks from their adversaries.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Silence!' thundered the king. 'At this moment has the father +entrusted +to me an important duty, for the execution of which I must prepare,' +and, beckoning to his guards, they dragged before him a mercenary +soldier in chains.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This unhappy man,' said the king solemnly and significantly, +'has, +like a second Judas, been planning treason against Zion, and has +publicly manifested his wicked intentions through disobedience to the +commandments of the Spirit. His blood be upon his own head.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The king's sword swung, the head of the victim fell, and the +horrible +man stepped directly before Tuiskoshirer with the bloody sword in his +hand and asked him, 'what hast thou particularly to say to this +assembly, my brother?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That I bow myself under the hand of the Lord,' tremblingly +answered +Tuiskoshirer, and Wahrendorf proceeded to read the list of names to the +end.</p> + +<p class="normal">There were named, in the whole, eight and twenty missionaries. +The king +dispersed them toward Osnabruck, Coesfeld, Warendorf and Soest. +'Forsake every thing,' he admonished them, 'fear nothing, and +promulgate the faith.' 'Amen!' cried the multitude, as they departed +from the cathedral.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Alf was sitting in the twilight near the good Clara, narrating +to her +at full length the singular proceedings at the cathedral, at which he +had been present, when his friend Hanslein entered in a state of great +excitement.</p> + +<p class="normal">'How much can be made of a good-for-nothing fellow!' cried he. +'Would +you ever have thought, brother, that I was a block out of which a duke +could have been carved?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Duke!' asked Alf in astonishment, supposing that he must have +heard +falsely.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A duke! nothing less!' laughingly answered Hanslein. 'The +king's +majesty has become a little anxious about his personal safety in the +midst of his trusty subjects; and he no longer considers his dear life +entirely secure among them. He has therefore divided Zion into twelve +districts and appointed a duke for each, from among his trustiest +supporters; and he, with an adequate military force, is to watch over +the order and repose of his district and smother every disturbance at +its birth. Having become such a thing, I beg of you to show me all +proper respect.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What new experiment will not this wicked king try in my poor +native +city?' sighed Alf.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This lamentation comes from sheer envy,' said Hanslein, +jestingly, +'because you are not created a duke. Make yourself easy, however; for +you also are raised to high honors. The king has named you commander of +the life guards, and I bring you his gracious commands that you +forthwith appear before him. You will commence duty even to-day, that +the timid tailor may this night sleep under the safeguard of your good +sword.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I commander of the life guards!' repeated Alf, moodily. 'How +can it +have happened that the king selected me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That has happened as many other things do in this world,' +answered +Hanslein, with a significant smile. 'I can explain all these things +satisfactorily to myself, and I consider that you, with the command of +the guards, have drawn a much better prize than I with my dukedom. +Enjoy your good fortune with circumspection.' So saying he departed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Strange!' said Alf, buckling on again his scarcely laid aside +coat of +mail. 'Strange!' cried he again, as he girded on his sword, when his +eye fell upon a small fresh wine spot on the neck-piece of his armor. +The charming queen with the chalice instantly stood before his mind's +eye, and an obscure suspicion of a connection between the recent +occurrence and his present elevation sent a burning blush to his face. +To conceal it, he pressed the knight's helmet low down upon his +forehead, which he had sought out as becoming his new office, extended +his hand to the good Clara for a hasty farewell, and with winged +strides proceeded toward the royal palace.</p> + +<p class="normal">A royal page conducted him immediately to the king, who +advanced to +meet him as graciously as if he had been born to a throne.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The affair of the bishop's camp has proved thee to be an able +warrior,' said the king, with a dignity becoming his station; 'I owe +thee some recompense for a great loss; and thou hast moreover been so +much commended on all sides, that I have determined to bring thee +nearer to my person. Thou shalt henceforth lead my body guard as its +commander; so that the head upon which the welfare of Zion depends may +at least sleep in safety.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf suggested some doubts of his fitness for the office.</p> + +<p class="normal">'No qualifications are needed,' replied the king, 'but +watchfulness, +courage and truth. I desire no oath from you. Christ says, 'Let your +communication be yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these +cometh of evil.' Give me therefore the hand grip of an honest man, that +you will be my faithful guard.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf reluctantly gave his right hand to the king, for he +shuddered at +the idea of connecting himself personally with this man--he shuddered +at touching a hand that had shed so much blood.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The yeomen of the guard are already assigned to you,' +proceeded the +king; 'but now it is fitting that you be introduced to the first queen; +'and he signified to him by a gracious nod that the audience was over. +Alf proceeded with a beating heart towards the apartments of the queen.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Walk in! walk in!' cried a silvery voice in the room, at the +door of +which Alf's name and dignity had been announced by the lady in waiting. +He stepped in. Upon an elevated and gilded chair, in full dignity, sat +the queen. He was so much dazzled by her beauty that he scarcely +observed the other two queens, who were sitting upon less elevated +seats on each side of her.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is you, young man,' said the enchantress, in the sweetest +tones, +'whom henceforth we shall have to thank for the safety of our days and +the tranquillity of our nights.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf bowed in silence.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Only be careful continued the queen, with an alluring smile, +'that you +do not rob the ladies of the palace of their repose, whom it is your +duty to guard.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The embarrassed Alf could not find presence of mind to enable +him to +answer, and queen Eliza sprang from her seat and hastened to the +window.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are already married?' asked the queen.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Only engaged--I am--I was--and am half way so yet,' stammered +Alf, +very unintelligibly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'And the other half?' asked the queen, mischievously. Eliza +turned her +burning glance upon the floor.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Permit me to be silent upon that point,' said Alf, with +becoming +modesty.</p> + +<p class="normal">The charming woman extended her hand to him to kiss.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf seized it hastily, and impressed upon the warm, yielding, +velvet +skin an almost endless kiss, believing at the same time that he felt a +slight pressure from her taper fingers. Heading the confirmation of his +suspicions, as he looked up, in the melting eyes of the lady, and +forgetting every thing in the momentary transport, he spread out his +arms as if he would have fallen upon her neck.</p> + +<p class="normal">He was rebuked however by a severe look; but in contradiction +to that +look, the queen said to him in the tenderest and most friendly manner, +'we shall see each other again soon,'--and dismissed him.</p> + +<p class="normal">Intoxicated, confused, and entirely incapable of connected +thought, the +youth withdrew.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">On the following night Alf, installed in his new office and +fully +equipped, sat in an arm chair before the door of the royal sleeping +apartments. He was even lightly slumbering, and a well known trio of +beautiful women led by the god of dreams were dancing around him, when +he was dazzled by a ray of light which fell suddenly upon his face. He +awoke, sprang upon his feet and drew his sword.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Put up your sword, brother,' whispered a hoarse voice to him; +and the +worthy Tuiskoshirer, in his traveling cloak, with his bundle swung over +his back and a dark lantern in his hand, stood before him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What do you want here?' quickly asked Alf. 'Ought you not, +according +to the king's command, to have been already on your way to Osnabruck +with your companion?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yes,' answered Tuiskoshirer, with a bitter smile, 'so has the +great +king who has become a severe and mighty lord over our heads commanded; +and the leaders who faithfully placed him upon the summit, he +scornfully thrusts from him, now that he no longer needs their aid. +Luckily, he has allowed me to delay my departure a few hours, and a +skilful head can accomplish much in that time.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Tell me briefly what you want of me,' said Alf, 'and then +take +yourself hence, that your chattering may not awaken the king.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God forbid!' hissed Tuiskoshirer. 'Who would awaken the +sleeping +tiger? While he sleeps, at least, he murders not. Rather would I +prolong his sleep into eternity.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Man, what is your design?' exclaimed Alf, partly guessing his +horrible +intentions.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou hast already once rejected my good will,' answered +Tuiskoshirer; +and, since this ungrateful bedlamite has been placed upon the throne to +which I would have raised thee, thou must more than once have regretted +thy folly. I have this day closely watched thee, and know the magnet +with which thy apparently insensible and rugged nature is to be moved. +Wherefore I have taken my life in my hand, and once more ventured into +this den of murderers, to offer to thee life's sweetest blossoms, which +none but a fool would leave unplucked when they fell in his path +radiant with exhaling beauty. Oppose me not now,' begged he, as Alf was +about to reply. 'Thou shalt go with me, and see and hear for thyself, +and then decide as may seem good to thee.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Whither wouldst thou lead me?' asked Alf, drawing back.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you not suspect?' asked Tuiskoshirer, smiling; and Alf, on +whom a +light suddenly began to dawn, delightedly followed the tempter, who led +him through the dark, silent passage toward the apartments of the +queen.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We have attained our object,' said Tuiskoshirer, on arriving +before a +room the door of which he opened with a false key. They entered and +passed through the anti-chamber, where the waiting women were sleeping, +to the bed-chamber of the first queen.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Behold!' said Tuiskoshirer, impressively, as he directed the +rays from +his lantern upon the bed in which the beauteous woman was sleeping.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf drew nearer. A heavenly smile played upon the sweet face +of the +queen, to which a sound sleep gave a yet lovelier tint of rose. Alf was +about to rush forward, when Tuiskoshirer forcibly dragged him back. +'Wilt thou mar all?' whispered the prophet to him; 'and deprive thyself +of the greatest earthly happiness through thy impetuosity? That +beauteous woman shall indeed be thine; but now is not the time. Such +ware is to be purchased only at a price about which we must have some +conversation. As yet you have only seen, now I must be heard; and when +you have decided, act with the speed and energy which become a man +about to attain the accomplishment of all his dearest wishes.'</p> + +<p class="normal">During this conversation he drew the youth through the rooms, +closed +the last with his false key, and they went both together back to the +royal anti-chamber. Tuiskoshirer, in whose little dull eyes twinkled a +hellish triumph, bolted the outer door on the inner side, motioned to +Alf to walk softly, and cautiously opening the door of the king's +bed-chamber entered on tiptoe, making a sign to Alf to follow.</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf obeyed, and both now stood before the bed of the king, +near which, +upon velvet cushions, lay the crown and other emblems of royalty. +Tuiskoshirer drew aside the heavy, purple, gold-embroidered silk +curtains, and disclosed the sleeper lying there with open staring eyes, +large drops of sweat upon his forehead, froth about his mouth, and +clenched fists,--a shocking sight.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The king is ill and must soon awaken,' said Alf, +apprehensively.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh no,' said Tuiskoshirer, calmly. 'Since sleep always flies +the night +couch of the murderer, he never goes to bed without his sleeping +draught. He cannot escape the dreams which then torment him +undisturbedly; and it is well, that in this life he should learn +something of that world of spirits, which darkly and heavily rules over +him with arm already outstretched for his terrible reward.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Kneel down!' the slumberer now cried. 'Down! I must see +blood, blood!' +and he swung his right arm as if his death-dealing sword was at its +usual occupation.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have first shown you the reward,' said Tuiskoshirer, to +Alf,--'here +is the deed which is to merit it. Here sleeps the cowardly, sensual, +cold, murderous, inhuman monster. Thousands more will he yet destroy, +if life and power remain to him. Can another word be necessary to +determine your course? Reject not again, for the third time, the good +fortune which twice you have thrust from you. Here lies the king's +sword drunk with innocent blood,--one determined thrust therewith,--we +can bruit it abroad that he has committed suicide,--Munster will be +relieved from his tyranny,--thou wilt mount the vacant throne, thine +will be the glorious Gertrude, the false Eliza, and the other beauteous +wives,--and that the crown shall stand firmly upon thy head, leave to +the care of old Tuiskoshirer, who will give it to thee in the presence +of the assembled multitude.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf stood there upon the narrow passage way, glanced with +flashing eyes +upon the sleeping tyrant, and his hand already moved towards the +weapon.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Now strike!' urged Tuiskoshirer. 'Every moment's delay will +be at the +expense of human life. Thou wilt take upon thyself all the crimes which +this wretch may in future commit, if now thou sparest him, through +foolish tenderness.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The true German honesty had soon conquered in the pure mind of +the +youth. 'He has my pledge,' said he to himself. 'Confiding in my faith +he laid him down to sleep.' Then Alf turned to the venomous little man +with all the fury which the latter, to satisfy his own revenge, had +kindled in his breast; suddenly seizing him by the nape of his neck, he +dragged him sprawling through all the apartments and down the stairs, +until he reached the outer door of the palace, when he roughly sat him +down. 'Go thy ways thither!' cried the youth, pointing the way towards +Osnabruck, 'and if thou art in Munster at sunrise, I will expose thee +to the king, that he may execute justice upon thee.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Gasping for breath and groaning with anguish, the foiled +tempter +staggered forth into the midnight darkness of the streets.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Munster continued to sustain herself with a resolution worthy +of a +better cause. At the imperial diet at Worms, which the Romish king +Ferdinand opened in April, 1536, great sums were granted to the +besieging bishop, to enable him to support the war; but as the payments +were made very irregularly, the scarcity of money kindled a revolt +among the mercenary soldiery in the bishop's camp, who would no longer +serve without pay. Nor was it without great trouble and peril to the +commander that the insurrection could be suppressed. With such +troublesome troops, offensive warfare was not deemed prudent. +Consequently, the besiegers confined themselves to the continuance of +the blockade, and to drawing their lines closer and closer, so as +completely to shut up the unfortunate city and deprive it of supplies +and assistance.</p> + +<p class="normal">Constantly increasing suffering in the city, was the +consequence of +this course. The poorer classes, obliged to subsist upon roots, herbs, +bark, and leaves, swarmed about the king with sunken eyes and haggard +faces, whenever he passed through the streets in lordly dignity, and +howled for bread. The royal courtiers themselves were compelled to +accept such small portions as could be spared from the table where sat +the king with his fourteen wives and principal officers.</p> + +<p class="normal">In vain did the bishop call upon the citizens to surrender the +city, +under promise of full pardon for all except the king and a few of his +principal accomplices. The fear of the terrible Johannes was stronger +than the ardent desire for deliverance which had now arisen in many +hearts. In vain did the landgrave of Hesse, by a special embassy to his +brother in the faith, endeavor to bring him to reason. The king, to +prove how much greater a man he was than the landgrave, refused to give +audience to his ambassadors, and thus compelled them to leave their +business unaccomplished.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the eight and twenty prophets had arrived at the +cities of +their destination, and had preached their customary fanatical nonsense +with frantic zeal. The magistrates, warned by the example of Munster, +were vigilant and energetic. The brawlers were every where arrested and +questioned as to their doctrines; and, as they stubbornly maintained +their faith, were immediately beheaded. Only one of them, Heinrich +Hilversum, obtained deliverance. He was imprisoned by the bishop of +Munster, bought his liberty with the promise that he would act as a spy +in the rebel city, and returned back to the king. He related how an +angel had delivered him from imprisonment and commanded him to announce +to the king that Amsterdam, Wesel, and Deventer would come under his +sceptre if he would send more prophets there.</p> + +<p class="normal">These were sweet sounds to the ears of the king. He +immediately sent +out prophets, among whom were Johann von Seelen and Johann von Kempen, +to those beautiful and important cities, to convert and win them for +himself. The smooth-tongued Hilversum, however, he took into his own +palace, clothed him in his ash-grey and green court-livery, charged the +officers of the court to attend him, entrusted him with considerable +sums, and, in short, confided to him the duty of negotiating with those +from whom aid and assistance were expected from without.</p> + +<p class="normal">With these presents Hilversum went over to the bishop on the +first +convenient opportunity; leaving a letter in Munster exhorting the +citizens to desert the impostor and return to their old religion and +their rightful lord.</p> + +<p class="normal">This event touched the king in the tenderest point; as it +tended to +destroy the belief in the infallibility of his inspiration with those +who were yet able to see. To a portion of the inhabitants of the +distressed city it now appeared clear, that they had become the slaves +of a wicked impostor, who was leading them to destruction; but the fear +of the monster was stronger than this just conviction, and the king, +comprehending that fear was the only lever now remaining to him, made +the utmost use of it, and thenceforth, like Draco, he wrote his laws in +blood. No punishment milder than death awaited disobedience to the +least of his commands. Alf, notwithstanding, in his new situation, +strove to shield, defend, and rescue the sufferers; yet new victims +fell daily, and the slavish population daily trembled more and more +before their cowardly and tyrannical tailor-king.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<br> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile Alf went on, truly and honorably discharging the +duties of +his office, although, after the first arrangement had been effected he +had given up the personal guard of the royal bedchamber to other +officers, reserving to himself only a general nightly superintendance; +and the cruel Johannes passed his nights under as good a defence as if +angels with flaming swords had guarded him. His office, however, daily +called the youth to the palace, and he could not but perceive that the +magnificent Gertrude often threw herself in his way. She evidently +loved the beautiful youth as only an unprincipled woman can love,--and +her passion had nothing to combat but the fear of the sultan of the +harem, whose discovery of the least infidelity would have brought +instant death upon the guilty. Yet so powerful was her passion that it +conquered even this fear.</p> + +<p class="normal">At one of those intoxicating court festivals with which the +king sought +to stupify himself and those about him, Alf was standing to take breath +after a brisk dance, with his hands behind him, when suddenly he felt a +warm soft pressure of his right hand, a piece of paper being +simultaneously slipped into it, and a moment afterwards the first queen +stepped forward from behind him, giving him a significant glance as she +passed. He left the room immediately, and by the nearest lamp in the +corridor read the following words:--</p> + +<p class="normal">'An hour after midnight, in the upper passage on the left; the +first +door.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Hastening back to the dancing-hall, his glowing cheeks and +triumphant +carriage immediately betrayed to the beauteous syren, that he had read +and comprehended her billet.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the midnight hour struck. Gertrude was suddenly +attacked by a +headache and suffered her attendants to lead her to her chamber. The +king smilingly whispered a word to Eliza, which caused a flush to pass +over her cheeks, and which she answered with downcast eyes. The +assembly gradually departed, and Alf, lost in pleasing dreams, +proceeded to his dwelling.</p> + +<p class="normal">He found the devoted little Clara yet patiently waiting for +him, +occupying herself at the spinning wheel; her now constantly bright eyes +a little dimmed; but whether from late watching, or weeping, or from +both together, he could not exactly decide.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I began to think you were not coming home tonight,' said the +maiden in +a friendly tone, which yet had something of sadness in it.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The dancing to-night continued unusually late,' replied Alf; +casting a +glance at the mirror, and coming to the conclusion that he was right +worthy of the beauteous queen, he proudly pressed his richly plumed cap +over his eyes.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile Clara had lighted his chamber lamp and handed it to +him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am going out again immediately, dear Clara,' said Alf, with +some +little embarrassment. 'I came merely to tell you, that you might not +sit up all night waiting for me.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are going out again?' asked Clara, looking intently at +him. 'This +is not your time for guard duty.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The feast of to-day has disturbed all our arrangements,' +stammered Alf +with embarrassment. 'I must actually go to the palace once more +to-night.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Clara seized his hand with both of hers, and with her mild +honest eyes +gave him a piercing look. His guilty conscience deprived him of the +power to meet her gaze. 'Kippenbrock,' cried she, suddenly alarmed, +'are you not going for some wicked purpose?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are already dreaming, from having watched so long, my +child. Go to +bed, pretty one,' said Alf, bending down to kiss the maiden as he +wished her good night; a friendly habit in which he had for some time +indulged. But Clara avoided his embrace, saying earnestly to him, 'not +this evening, dear Kippenbrock, all is not as it should be.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are a little simpleton!' cried he half indignantly, and +hastened +forth as if he wished to run away from the 'unpleasant feelings her +suspicions had given him. As the third quarter after midnight struck, +he stood by the stove, closely wrapped in his mantle, in the upper +passage way of the palace, watching with anxious eyes, by the dim light +of the almost expiring lamps, the first door on the left. Finally, the +hour struck, and still no door was opened.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is in reality a great wrong for me to be standing here,' +said Alf +to himself. 'Let the king now be what he may, and do what he will, yet +I have once for all acknowledged him as my lord, and this Gertrude is +his wife. It is the duty of my office to preserve order and propriety +in the royal palace, which I in intention am so vile as to violate. +Moreover, I encroach upon the rights of the good Clara, who so secretly +and tenderly loves me, and whom I should look upon as my affianced +bride. Did she but know that I was standing here waiting for the +creaking of that door, she would weep her eyes out of her head; and she +even appeared to suspect some intrigue. Her manner toward me appeared +very strange at my departure. Good God! with what face shall I appear +before her in the morning! No! it is settled,--the beautiful Gertrude +shall wait for me in vain, and thus shall we both be spared a sin.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">On the subsequent morning Alf was standing in the king's +anti-chamber +awaiting his commands for the day. There came the high bailiff +Krechting, a raging fanatic, a true second Johannes, with some soldiers +who were dragging along two of the royal pages, bound. Alf perceived by +their faces, which hunger and affliction had paled and emaciated, that +they were the two whom he had rescued from the hands of Matthias, and +compassionately asked the bailiff what crime the poor children had +committed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We caught them in the outworks,' answered the bailiff +fiercely, 'as +they were attempting to escape to their old lord, the bishop. Announce +us to the king, brother officer.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Alas! dear lord,' said one of the boys, weeping; 'we have +certainly +done nothing; but we could no longer hold out for hunger.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'This affair might well be overlooked,' said Alf. 'To announce +the +children to the king is to lead them to death,--and I do not wish to +take upon ray conscience such bloodguiltiness.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The bailiff gave him a venomous look and hastily stepped into +the royal +apartment. He soon made a signal at the door, and the soldiers dragged +the boys in after him. Immediately a loud noise was heard within,--the +king stormed, the boys wept and plead pitifully, and amidst all arose +Eliza's supplicating voice. 'For our love's sake, Johannes, only for +this time let mercy take the place of justice!' Simultaneously were +heard the lamentations of the two boys. Alf heard two hard falls upon +the floor, and, as if drawn by some irresistible power, he pushed into +the apartment.</p> + +<p class="normal">What horrors had been perpetrated! The two boys lay dead upon +the +floor, the king strode before them with his sword drawn, and at his +feet lay Eliza, who loosed her arms from his knees and sprang up. +Excited by the cruelty of her husband, and by her having pleaded in +vain against what he had done, the proud woman now exclaimed in the +bitterest tone, 'I do not believe, Johannes, that our God is served by +the calamities you have brought upon this people.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Krechting absolutely screamed with amazement at the audacious +speech. +The king, however, merely gave Eliza a cold, satanic glance, and +quietly said to her, 'in the market-place will I answer thee upon that +matter.' Turning then to Alf, 'let my wives and my whole court be +summoned hither!' commanded he him. 'Also let my trumpeters and fifers +assemble,--we would move to the market-place, where I have to-day to +exercise my judicial office before the whole people. Thou wilt +accompany me, Kippenbrock, with thy whole band.'</p> + +<p class="normal">This strange solemnity excited various evil forebodings in the +mind of +Alf, and with a heavy heart he proceeded to execute the king's +commands.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The multitude crowded the market-place, waiting to see what +new thing +was to be done there. Then sounded in the distance a solemn funeral +march from the trumpets and horns, and duke Hanslein with his soldiers +formed a wide circle to admit the king and his household.</p> + +<p class="normal">Next came the procession. After the music followed Alf, with a +division +of his guards; then the king, and then the high bailiff; between them, +yet in her night-gown, pale and tottering, with streaming hair and +folded hands, Eliza. After these followed the stately Gertrude, the +other wives, and the persons connected with the court. Another division +of the guards closed.</p> + +<p class="normal">At a signal from the king, Krechting stepped reverently back +and the +thirteen wives formed a circle about their lord and Eliza. 'Kneel down, +ye pure!' thundered the king, and the circle of women fell upon their +knees; in an instant the king's sword glistened in the air and Eliza's +head flew from its bloody trunk!</p> + +<p class="normal">'Accursed murderer,' screamed Alf, frantic with grief and +terror at the +wholly unexpected death of the once so well beloved woman, and sprang +forward with high waving sword to hew down the king where he stood. The +faithful Hanslein caught his upraised arm. 'Good colonel,' cried he, +'it was only yesterday that you were sick with a fever, and now the +paroxysms have returned again. Help me, friends, to overpower him and +bear him to his house where he can be taken care of.'</p> + +<p class="normal">He was seized by the guards from all sides, and +notwithstanding his +furious opposition, was soon disarmed and carried away.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The person who has been judged has blasphemed the Spirit as +manifested +through her king and husband,' said Johannes, to the people. 'She had +in a spiritual sense broken her marriage vows, and well deserved her +punishment. Give to God the glory!'</p> + +<p class="normal">The remaining thirteen wives rose up and with clear voices +sang, 'Glory +to God in the highest!' The horns and the trumpets triumphantly fell +in. The king seized Gertrude's hand and commenced a merry dance with +her upon the open market-place. The other wives and the courtiers +followed the high example. The poor infatuated people likewise joined +in the dance and sprang actively about, notwithstanding their empty +stomachs; and from all mouths arose the cry of jubilee; 'glory be to +God in the highest!'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The disease which Hanslein had invented, in his well intended +eagerness +to save Alf, had seized him in good earnest. The disquiet of mind in +which the youth had been kept through the most diverse and almost +always terrible occurrences,--the storm, so every way affecting, which +had lacerated the deepest recesses of his heart,--above all, the daily +increasing conviction of the flagitiousness of the new doctrines to +which he had adhered so strongly,--and the remorse of conscience for +the part which he had acted,--all this had destroyed the freshness of +his youthful vigor; and only the tension in which his mind was kept by +the constantly recurring horrors of every succeeding day, gave him the +artificial support, which had hitherto kept him up. The last act of +Johannes, the tender interest which Alf still felt for the fair victim, +and the frustration of his just vengeance upon the infamous murderer, +had weighed down the poor youth with resistless power, and he lay many +weeks in Trutlinger's house in a high fever, carefully waited upon and +nursed by the pale and pensive Clara.</p> + +<p class="normal">The energies of youth finally prevailed over the fever. When +once the +crisis had passed, his strength returned as quickly as it had flown; +and Alf had even left his room for the first time, to enjoy the mild +air and warm sun of summer, when he encountered his friend Hanslein, +who, in spite of all resistance, cordially embraced and congratulated +him on his recovery.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Go thy way!' said Alf, angrily. 'With the defender of tyrants +I have +no more to do in this life.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Always precipitate,' laughed Hanslein; 'and always letting +your heart +run away with your head. It was ever your way when a boy. I considered +for you better than you considered for yourself. The poor queen once +dead, we could do nothing more to help her. You might indeed have +destroyed the king, but the fanatical people would have torn you to +pieces for it on the spot; that would have been paying a greater price +than his majesty's life was worth. Nor would Munster have gained any +thing. Knipperdolling & Co. would have possessed themselves of the +government, and it would thereby have remained the executioner's head +quarters as before. I have therefore preserved you for greater things, +which, now that you are so well upon your legs again, we may soon see.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf looked inquiringly at his friend, and suffered himself to +be led by +him back to his own sitting room and to be seated upon a stool.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The affairs of Munster stand badly,' said Hanslein. 'The +famine +increases, and I see the moment very near when the unhappy people will +be driven to despair. Succor is not to be expected. At Bolswart in +Friesland, the strongest power of the anabaptists had been collected, +and would soon have marched to our aid; but the governor of Friesland +surrounded the place with his forces, and after four assaults forced +it, putting almost the whole population to the sword. In Amsterdam, von +Kempen and von Seelen have done their best to bring us aid. As the +council and chief burghers of the cross-guild retired from the +council-room, our people stormed the city hall, overpowered all who +opposed them, and the burgomasters, Peter Colyn and Simon Bute, were +left dead upon the spot; but the burgomaster Goswin Rekalf collected +the citizens, a severely contested battle ensued, and our people were +slain, or taken and executed, including poor Kempen, who had caused +himself to be declared bishop of Amsterdam. Seelen exposed himself upon +the tower of the city hall, where he was afterwards shot down and fell +dead upon the market place. With him expired our last hope.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh God, will these horrors never end?' sighed Alf, casting +his eyes +toward heaven.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Here probably soon,' said Hanslein; 'but it will be a fearful +end. The +city must shortly surrender, and then the lord bishop Franciscus may +not treat us more mildly than king Johannes has hitherto done. I have +least reason to hope for pardon then, and have therefore determined to +go back to my old master immediately. I have discovered a place through +which an escape from the city can be made. By the same way I trust I +can lead the troops of the enemy into Munster, and with this secret I +intend to purchase my peace with the bishop. Will you make the +experiment with me this night? The sentinels now upon the night posts +sleep away their hunger and will not hinder us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'My father's house is a house of prayer,' said Alf, after +musing a long +time; 'but you have made it a den of murderers. Yes, the originally +pure doctrine of the anabaptists might perhaps have been a glorious +gift from the merciful hand of God;--but the monsters, who preach it to +us, have so perverted it according to their own wicked purposes, and +shed so much blood in its name, that its noble image can no longer be +recognized. A doctrine which empowers a Johannes to rage among mankind +like a famished wolf among defenceless lambs, cannot come from God. I +disclaim it. May God forgive me that I also have labored and fought for +a cause which must have been wicked, since it elevated the bad and +destroyed the good.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou wilt accompany me then!' asked Hanslein, giving his hand +a +friendly pressure.</p> + +<p class="normal">'If Clara can and will go with us,' answered Alf. 'I have +loved her +uncle, whom they shot, and cannot leave her behind in a city upon which +all the horrors of war are soon to fall.'</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment Clara entered the room to set before the guest +what the +house afforded at a time when provisions outweighed gold,--a cup of +water and a slice of bread with salt.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You come to us too confidingly, young lady,' said Hanslein +jestingly, +while he helped himself. 'We have evil thoughts concerning you,--we +have an idea of taking you out of Munster.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, would to God!' sighed the maiden.</p> + +<p class="normal">'The jest is earnest,' said Alf. 'This night I and my friend +intend to +leave Munster, if you will accompany us, my little Clara.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Through the whole world!' cried Clara with heartfelt fervor. +'Whom +have I on earth beside you?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'So then the thing is settled,' cried Hanslein. 'Prepare +yourselves for +the journey; but do not encumber yourselves with needless baggage. No +armor, Alf. A short sword will be sufficient for all emergencies. Clara +had better put on male attire--there will be some places difficult to +climb, and I cannot allow any thing that might prove an obstacle to the +rapidity of our movements. Hold yourselves in readiness; for I shall +come for you precisely at midnight.' He departed. Intoxicated with joy +at the near approach of her deliverance, Clara threw her arms +affectionately around the youth and cried, 'with you out of this place +of torment, dear Alf! Now for the first time I have reason to hope that +there is earthly happiness in store for me yet.'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Softly creeping by the sleeping sentinels, climbing walls and +wading +through ditches, the three fugitives proceeded in the dead of the +night, until they finally found themselves in freedom; and then with +fresh confidence they moved onward toward the besiegers' camp fires.</p> + +<p class="normal">Soon a clattering of arms was heard near them, and a rough +voice cried, +'Who goes there?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have no desire to be caught here,' whispered Hanslein to +Alf; 'for +in that case I should get no credit for my voluntary return, which I +particularly need on account of old scores. Wherefore I must endeavor +to reach the bishop through indirect paths, while you boldly go +straight forward.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who goes there?' cried the challenger much louder.</p> + +<p class="normal">'A friend!' answered Alf, whilst Hanslein went off to the +right with +great rapidity; 'deserters from Munster!' and in a moment he and the +trembling Clara were surrounded by a squad of soldiers.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Deserters?' asked the serjeant who led the squad. 'It is a +question +whether that title will save your lives. In these days a thousand +Munsterers have come out, men, women and children, and a good part of +the men were cut down as they came in, by the bishop's command.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'It is the curse of these combats for opinion,' said Alf, +sorrowfully, +'that even those, who are on the right side, are provoked to do wrong +by the crimes of their opponents--and then other crimes are the +consequence, until the horrible chain of wickedness is closed by the +conversion of men into relentless destroyers, in whose breasts the +voice of religion and mercy is stifled.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You talk it as solemnly,' sneered the serjeant, 'as if you +were one of +the prophets of Munster. First of all give up your sword and follow us +into the camp, together with your boy. The bishop must decide upon your +case.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I wish previously to be conducted to your field captain,' +said Alf in +a decided tone.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You speak as if you were our captain instead of our +prisoner,' snarled +the serjeant. 'It will be necessary first to ascertain, whether the +lord general will permit you to be brought to him. For the present, +forward, march!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God preserve us!' softly murmured the timid Clara, clinging +closely to +her protector.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do not be alarmed, my little Clara,' said Alf, consolingly. +'All will +go well.' They proceeded with the soldiers rapidly towards the camp.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<p class="normal">A fine June morning was shining upon the camp, as Alf and +Clara stood +waiting with their escort before the tent of the commander in chief. +There came out of the tent a tall, meagre clergyman, in his black +clerical dress. He started when he saw the youth, and asked the +serjeant, 'who are these people?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Deserters from Munster,' answered the serjeant, 'whom we +found last +night. They insist upon seeing the general.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The preacher having closely scrutinized Alf, who stood there +absorbed +in his own reflections, approached and spoke to him, taking his hand in +the most friendly manner. 'Do I see you again as a deserter? Now, God +be praised, my prophecy is fulfilled!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Reverend doctor!' cried Alf in joyful surprise, as he +recognised the +good Fabricius.</p> + +<p class="normal">'So, the disorders in the new Zion have become too great for +you?' +asked the latter. 'I only wonder that you had not come to the +conclusion long ago,--that with your heart and head you could for so +long a time have been a contented observer of their pagan cruelty.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'When Germans have once become united with a ruler chosen by +themselves, worthy sir,' answered Alf, 'they can be disunited only by +hard blows, else they will hang fast to him until death.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The hard blows, I perceive, have been given and received,' +said +Fabricius. 'So you have again become one of us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'With all my heart and soul,' answered Alf with great ardor.</p> + +<p class="normal">'We will leave the remainder of this for the confessional, +where I may +soon expect you,' said Fabricius. 'At present I must exert myself to +prepare for you a good reception from the commanding general.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Again most cordially shaking Alf's hand, he passed into the +tent. +Shortly afterward the youth and his girl-boy were bid to enter. Lord +Oberstein was sitting with the doctor at the field table, taking his +morning draught.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Come nearer!' commanded the general, sternly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What have you to disclose to me?'</p> + +<p class="normal">The voice of the questioner satisfied Alf, that it was the +commander in +chief whom he had caught and released on a former night; he however +concealed this recognition.</p> + +<p class="normal">'To make an end of the calamities of the city,' answered he, +'I am +prepared to show your soldiers a way to enter Munster--the same way by +which I have myself quitted it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I recognise that voice!' cried Oberstein, springing up, and +stepping +directly in front of the youth. 'We have met before,' said he; 'it +surely was in the outworks before the new gate, by moonlight. You were +the officer who took me prisoner and then let me run? Is it not so?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I was very glad,' answered Alf, 'that it was in my power to +save so +old and merry a warrior.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'And now are you willing to deliver the city to me?' proceeded +Oberstein; 'to make a short ending to her long sufferings? You make me +doubly your debtor; your reward shall be great.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Of myself little need be said,' answered Alf. 'My conditions +are only +pardon for myself and my companion, and that the conqueror of the city +shall distinguish between the miscreants who have wilfully erred, and +those who with honest intentions have been led astray, and spare the +latter.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'We must act according to the instructions of the diet of +Worms,' said +Oberstein. 'Whoever has not belonged to the leaders, and come not +against us in arms, to them is given life and freedom.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Then should the lord bishop,' boldly replied Alf, 'have +extended mercy +to the unhappy refugees who have lately been fleeing from the city.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The bishop was exceedingly exasperated by events which +accompanied the +revolution!' answered the general, shrugging his shoulders; 'and an +angry man does not always what is right in the sight of God.'</p> + +<p class="normal">His eyes now fell upon Clara, who had timidly placed herself +in an +angle of the tent near the door.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Who is that pretty boy?' asked he. 'Some one of the bishop's +pages? It +is to be hoped so. Two pages were made prisoners by the anabaptists and +carried off at the time they attacked our camp at the beginning of the +siege. To one of them particularly the worthy bishop was attached by a +truly paternal affection.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Those boys have also fallen a sacrifice to the barbarity of +the king,' +answered Alf. 'This maiden is the sister of the queen Eliza, who paid +with her head for having lamented the murder of the innocents.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Great God, what an accumulation of crime!' cried Oberstein, +while +Fabricius with upraised finger reprovingly asked, 'have you brought +with you a maiden in man's attire? Must there not yet remain something +of the old anabaptist leaven in you, which may in time again leaven the +whole lump, destroying your morals for time and eternity?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'All in honor, dear doctor,' protested Alf; 'and I shall have +to +request you, as soon as may be convenient, to unite me in honorable +marriage with this blameless maiden, who is my beloved and betrothed +bride.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That alters the case,' said Fabricius, affectionately patting +Clara's +velvet cheeks. 'May God keep us in the good old order.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The lord bishop's reverend and princely grace,' said an +episcopalian +officer, stepping in, 'sends his compliments to the lord general and +politely requests him to repair immediately to his presence. An +anabaptist prisoner has brought before him some matters of consequence, +which demand a sudden meeting of the council.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Yon shall accompany me there,' said Oberstein to Alf.</p> + +<p class="normal">'But where shall I remain?' anxiously whispered Clara to her +betrothed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'May I be permitted to confide the maiden to your care, worthy +sir?' +asked Alf of the doctor.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I will foster and protect her like a beloved daughter,' +answered +Fabricius, taking Clara by the hand, and with a light heart the youth +then followed the general.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Glowing with anger and sorrow, Graf von Waldeck, bishop of +Munster, +strode up and down in his gilded tent. At the door, with a pale +malefactor face, stood poor Hanslein, in chains, and surrounded by +guards. Oberstein and Alf entered.</p> + +<p class="normal">'This wretch,' cried the bishop to the general, 'proposes to +purchase +his forfeited life by betraying the city. He has, however, three times +forfeited his life,--formerly a rider in my cavalry, he wounded his +superior officer and went over to the enemy, swearing allegiance and +adopting their faith. I am half inclined to compel him to show us the +way to Munster and then hang him; for it would be contrary to all +right, human and divine, to allow him to escape punishment by such an +act.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The greatest right is often the greatest wrong,' said the +general +soothingly. 'Too much severity is often injurious, and with your +grace's permission, if the spiritual lords had not formerly held so +rigidly to their notions of right and wrong, and had not wielded the +rod of authority too vigorously, much of the mischief against which the +assembled christians of Germany of all denominations now appeal to +heaven, would have been avoided. My voice is for mildness.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You have lost none who were dear to you, through these +monsters!' +cried the bishop, making great efforts to suppress his tears. 'I have +just learned, that the reprobate tailor has murdered both of my pages, +for making an effort to rescue themselves from his paws.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is sad news,' said Oberstein, sympathisingly; 'but if +you should +outdo all these horrors by committing greater, you might thereby bring +a stain upon your princely reputation; but you would remedy no evil. My +advice is, that you grant a free pardon to the deserter, and thereby +obtain a faithful guide into the city, the speedy surrender of which is +yet nearest your heart. A resort to the rack, is, in my mind, as it +must be in that of every man, highly objectionable, beside being a very +unsafe means of accomplishing our purpose.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You may be right,' said the bishop, after a pause, somewhat +softened +by the decided tone and plain good sense of the old warrior.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I bring you another individual who may be trusted to guide +our forces +to the attack of Munster,' proceeded Oberstein, pointing to Alf, 'and +we shall be able by this means to divide and direct our troops.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is this he?' cried the bishop with suddenly rekindled rage. +'Wretch! +thank God--that I have you in my power. You shall learn to your sorrow +what it is to fall into my hands.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'What mean you, sir bishop?' asked the general.</p> + +<p class="normal">'What harm can have been done to you by a youth, whom you +probably now +see for the first time in your life?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh I know him but too well,' raved the bishop. 'When the +lying prophet +Matthias surprised our camp last year, this villain led the anabaptists +as their commander. I saw him rushing onward at the head of his troops, +as I was mounting my horse to escape the danger of capture.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Heigh! you are again strangely severe!' cried Oberstein. +'Misled, like +thousands of others in the city, to whom you long ago offered a general +pardon, the young man only fulfilled what at that time he considered +his duty as a christian and a soldier. Now, however, he has become +disgusted with the tailor's government, and has voluntarily come out to +us.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'At that onslaught was my unhappy----pupil taken prisoner with +his +companion!' cried the bishop. 'Who was it, moreover, who dragged him to +his death, but the profligate leader of that frantic host? Matthias is +already judged. This one has the Most High given into my hands, and if +God from heaven should cry mercy! he should die.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Such a speech little becomes a prince, much less a spiritual +lord,' +said Oberstein with melancholy earnestness. 'As for the rest, the duty +of gratitude at this time compels me to spare you the commission of a +crime. This youth has saved my life. I will never deliver him up to +your revenge.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Forget not, sir earl,' cried the bishop angrily, 'that I am a +prince +upon this ground, and that you are only general of the forces!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The forces of the empire!' vehemently exclaimed +Oberstein,--'not +yours, and I am expressly commanded to execute the decrees of the Diet +of Worms,--of which, as you appear to have forgotten it, it is my duty +to remind you.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Unheard of insolence!' growled the bishop. 'It may be worth +while to +inquire whether I am yet sovereign of Munster.' With fury in his +rolling eyes, he beckoned to the door an officer who stood near him, as +if he desired to confide to him an order of serious consequence:</p> + +<p class="normal">'Spare yourself steps, your princely grace, which you will be +compelled +to retrace,' said Oberstein; and at that moment the bishop's body +servant, a pious, blameless, silver haired old man, entered with his +master's morning meal.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Jesus Maria!' screamed the servant the moment he saw Alf; +and, letting +fall the smoking platter, threw himself at the youth's feet and clasped +his knees. 'God in his mercy has granted me an opportunity to thank the +preserver of my life!' cried he, sobbing.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Preserver of your life!' cried the bishop wonderingly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are mistaken, father,' said Alf, gently putting aside the +old man, +'I do not know you at all.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am not more certain of future bliss,' said the old +servant.--'Know +you not, sir colonel, or whatever else you may have been, when you fell +upon our camp, with the terrible Matthias, and his princely grace had +fled, and Matthias had broken into this tent, and had already cut down +the cook and two lacqueys, and the pages were kneeling before him, and +the Goliath-spear was already raised to destroy them. I stood in a +corner tremblingly awaiting the moment when my turn would come. Then +you rushed into the tent and valiantly stayed the monster's upraised +arm, although he was your superior, and commanded him and gave him hard +words, and compelled him to spare their lives and take them with him +prisoners to Munster. And then you dragged him away, together with the +boys; I, however, slipped out of my corner, and in this place I kneeled +down and prayed a devout Ave Maria for myself, and two for the +salvation of your poor soul, that God might rescue you from eternal +death, as you had rescued me from the murderous prophet.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'How now, sir bishop?' said Oberstein, in an upbraiding tone. +'It +appears that the youth saved the lives of those whose blood you would +avenge on him. His crime is, that he could not be about them every +moment to guard them against the beasts of prey who constantly beset +their path.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Can you swear upon the Host,' asked the bishop of the +servant, 'that +this is the man who saved the lives of the boys?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'As God may help me to a good dying moment!' answered the +servant with +his hand upon his heart.</p> + +<p class="normal">The traits of passion disappeared from the bishop's features. +He +advanced towards Alf and said sorrowing, 'thou hast meant well, my son, +but God has willed it otherwise.' Then, turning to Oberstein, he +proceeded, 'I leave both the deserters to your unfettered disposal, and +shall expect from you some indication of what I can do for the youths. +I trust you will forget our little misunderstanding, when you recollect +in how many ways and how deeply I have been injured by all these +enormities, as a man, as a father, as a temporal prince, and as a +dignitary of the church.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Oberstein took the freely offered hand of the bishop, with a +reverential bow; after which the latter, with an humble air, passed to +an inner apartment of the tent. At the nod of the general, Hanslein's +chains fell from him.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It was hard clearing the gallows this time,' cried Hanslein, +shaking +himself. 'It shall be a warning to me forever to avoid the spiritual +lords. I feared to make myself known to the general, who I supposed +would not be able to comprehend my position; and therefore I went to +the lord bishop;--but the crook, under which I had hoped safely to +repose, had very nearly broken my brain-pan.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'That also must be an old acquaintance,' said Oberstein, +smilingly +contemplating the chatterer.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I now recognise his features. Anxiety about his fate had +lengthened +them a little.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Sure enough,' cried Hanslein, kissing his hand; 'and you, my +prince of +warriors, have spoken like a man in behalf of an unknown anabaptist, +without suspecting that you were under obligations to him for a former +service.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Follow me now, children,' said the good general, 'and forget +in my +tent all the trouble you have just experienced, and so put an end to +the anxiety of the trembling little bride.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'With a thousand pleasures!' cried Hanslein; 'besides, it is +not good +to set up our tabernacle here.' With a few vigorous leaps he found +himself before the general's tent. The others followed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Perhaps you would like to be married to your little maiden +to-day?' +Oberstein affectionately asked of Alf, while on their way to the tent. +'There is no lack of monks and preachers in the camp. I will furnish +forth the marriage feast, and you may safely reckon upon a magnificent +wedding present from the bishop.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Until the city is gained,' answered Alf, 'I must postpone the +consummation of that holy act. If I should fall in the attack, then +would my wife become an early widow, and more unhappy than if she +mourned her promised bridegroom only as one betrothed. Besides, I +cannot be married with any satisfaction, or really enjoy the greatest +festival of my life, until my poor native city is freed from the +domination of the devil who now lacerates her with his infernal claws. +When good old Munster has found peace and safety I will seek the +consummation of my own domestic happiness.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou hast a good faith, my son,' cried Oberstein, pleased +with the +self-denial of the youth.</p> + +<p class="normal">By this time they stood before the general's tent, when they +were met +by Fabricius holding by the hand the amiable and sweetly smiling Clara, +already modestly clad in the dress of her sex.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Yielding to the voice of clemency, the worthy Oberstein sent +messengers +into the city to admonish them to surrender and save the lives of the +starving people; but the answer which orator Rothman gave in the +presence of the king, was, like the preceding one, the sending back of +the messengers with a paraphrase of the passage in the prophet Daniel +of the four ferocious beasts, in the description of which, he said, the +bishop might easily learn to know himself.</p> + +<p class="normal">The last of mercy's sands had finally run, and the next night +was +determined on for the attack. It was on the 13th of June, 1533, an hour +before midnight, that Hanslein, in perfect silence, led five hundred +volunteers through the shallow place in the ditch and thence upon the +walls. The sleeping sentinels were cut down, and the detachment reached +the little gate without hindrance. This was broken down and the +soldiers rushed into the city. The alarm was, however, now given. The +armed burghers, who had hastily collected, beat back the last of the +entering troops, closed, and occupied the gate, and then attacked with +redoubled rage those who had already entered. An hour and a half they +endured the bloody onslaught in the dark, until Hanslein with the rest +of his band broke through the nearest weakly guarded gate. The +commander in chief, guided by Alf, waited for this event with the main +force; and, as the gate was burst open from within and its wings flew +asunder, the bishop's troops poured with loud cries into the city. The +victory was not, however, yet won. Each footstep in advance was at the +expense of much blood of the half starved fanatics; and when finally +Oberstein with resistless power forced them back, they retired only +towards the market-place at St. Lambert's church; there once more to +make a stand. Here was the king, who had suddenly sprung from his bed, +with the best of his people, and this availed to renew the fight. +Bloodily the red morning rose upward over the promiscuous slaughter; +and the battle, now that friends and enemies could rightly discern each +other, became regular; by which the anabaptists gained nothing. Alf +kept himself constantly at the side of the general, only defending +himself when necessary, as he did not like to draw his sword against +his fellow citizens; but now, amid the tumult, he caught a glimpse of +the infamous Johannes as he was stimulating his troops to the fight. +Then the wrath of the youth kindled into a mightier flame. 'Eliza!' +cried he, urging his horse to the place occupied by the king. Right and +left the foot-soldiers were overthrown before the hoofs of his +springing charger, and he soon approached the spot. 'Eliza!' cried he +once again, as he reached the king,--and, as if he did not hold the +monster worthy a soldier's blade, he struck him so heavily on his +mailed breast with the hilt of his sword, that he shrunk almost double. +Then, with a strong hand, he lifted the swooning king from his horse, +and taking him like a stolen maiden before himself on the pummel of his +saddle, darted back to the commander in chief. 'I bring you here the +torch of this unrighteous war,' said he. 'Dispose of him as you deem +proper.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'The bishop has expressly reserved to himself,' answered +Oberstein, +with sad earnestness, 'the duty of deciding on the fate of the leaders. +Therefore take a sufficient number of men; let the wretch be strongly +chained, and hold him in close custody. I shall require him at your +hands when the proper time arrives. You may safely count upon your +reward.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The battle had continued until now. Orator Rothman, observing +the +capture of the king, and despairing of the fortune of the day, +precipitated himself, sword in hand, upon the thickest crowds of the +enemy, that he might not fall into their hands alive; and fell, bravely +fighting, more honorably than he had lived. Knipperdolling and +Krechting having disappeared, the rest of the anabaptists, deprived of +their frantic leaders, and terrified by the universal massacre, threw +away their arms and begged for quarter, which the commander in chief +immediately granted. The worthy old general gazed sorrowfully upon the +dead and dying, who deluged the marketplace with their blood, and upon +the pale, meagre countenances, distorted by the sufferings they had +experienced, of those who were left; and observed with heartfelt +compassion, 'poor fools, you might have obtained pardon at a cheaper +rate!'</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<p class="normal">The next morning the bishop entered the tranquilized city at +the head +of fifteen hundred horsemen. All the houses had been strictly searched; +during which operation many a mad fanatical spirit was found, and the +exasperated soldiery did not always respect the general pardon which +had been granted. Among others Knipperdolling and Krechting were +drawn from their lurking holes; but their lives, with a cruel, +calculating forbearance were spared for a future and more solemn +execution. Alf's testimony as to the total inactivity and +inoffensiveness of his kinsman, the butcher-burgomaster-treasurer, and +also of the tailor-duodecemvir-lord-steward, Dilbek, rescued both from +imprisonment and death. The first, Alf charged with the duty of +collecting his little property, as well as that of Trutlinger's niece, +converting it into money and sending it after him, by the first +convenient opportunity, to the place where he might thereafter take up +his abode; he not feeling disposed to remain in his native city after +what he had experienced there,--and besides, the bishop, +notwithstanding the favor he shewed him during the audience, had not +gained his approbation to such a degree as to induce him to wish to +dwell under his sceptre.</p> + +<p class="normal">Nor was the bishop yet quite disposed to make his home at the +episcopal +residence. He drove out to castle Dulmen, three miles from Munster, on +the day of his entrance; thereby giving to Oberstein a fine opportunity +to execute the decisions of the Diet of Worms in relation to the +unfortunate city without the interference of its irritable master. He +did every thing in his power to mitigate the measureless distress of +the citizens. Plentiful supplies of provisions put an end to the +torments of hunger. A general pardon, which the bishop himself could +not avoid signing, relieved the Munsterers from their incessant and +excessive fears of being yet reached by the sword of judicial power. +Only the king, Knipperdolling and Krechting were excepted from this +pardon. Every one, protestant or catholic, besieged or emigrant, was +allowed to take his property out of the public repository where the +prophet had sequestered it. The refugees returned again; particularly +the expelled burgomaster and aldermen, who immediately resumed their +functions, and every thing appeared as if the city was well pleased to +find itself returning to the old order of things.</p> + +<p class="normal">Three days had thus passed away. Early on the fourth, +Oberstein sent +for Alf. 'I have caused St. Lambert's church to be repaired and +embellished a little,' said the general to him. 'It looked as drear and +desolate in its large plundered interior, as if the Zihim and Ohim<a name="div2Ref_note02" href="#div2_note02"><sup>2</sup></a> +were to rule in it--and the poor people must truly have some external +show with their public worship. We must in some measure provide for an +impression upon their senses, because their thoughts and feelings are +confined within a narrow circle. If you please my young friend, we will +go together and observe what great things the painters and garnishers +have accomplished in so short a time.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Alf proceeded to the church with the old hero, and could not +refrain +from expressing his surprise when he found the lateral walks wholly +desolate and untrimmed.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Only be patient, the best is yet to come,' said the smiling +Oberstein, +consolingly, and passed into the next lateral walk, where, turning +suddenly, they found themselves before the freshly gilded and well +adorned high altar. Before it, with the church service in his hand, +stood doctor Fabricius in his priestly robes. With a myrtle wreath in +her blond hair, in a simple white dress, her eyes cast down, her cheeks +glowing with love, joy and shame, stood the faithful little Clara, +opposite the youth; while his kinsman Gerhard, Hanslein, and the old +body servant of the bishop, as witnesses of the marriage ceremony, +approached to wish him joy.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Oh my God!' cried Alf, surprised and enraptured,--and the +worthy +Oberstein himself accompanied the pair before the clergyman.</p> + +<p class="normal">The YES was spoken--the benediction pronounced--and Alf had +seized the +hand of his young wife to lead her out of church--when an episcopalian +officer entered and delivered to the general a letter of which he was +the bearer.</p> + +<p class="normal">Oberstein opened, read, and angrily stamped his foot. 'No joy +without +interruption,' cried he. 'More than a year have we been detained before +these rascally walls without any interruption of the everlasting +sameness. This is the first day which I had thought to spend happily +here, and now this is to be marred by such a bum-bailiff commission! I +cannot help you, my dear bridegroom,' proceeded he, turning to Alf; +'the bishop here commands that you immediately bring to Dulmen, under a +strong guard, the tailor-king whom you took prisoner.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Is not my marriage a sufficient excuse?' asked Alf +dejectedly.</p> + +<p class="normal">'With the bishop, hardly,' whispered Oberstein to him. +'Man-service +goes before God-service with these proud prelates--and we have already, +on account of the poor Munsterers, every motive to keep him in as good +a humor as possible. It will be fortunate if he satiate his anger upon +the wretch whom you are about to conduct to him.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Poor little Clara,' sighed Alf, printing a passionate and +sorrowful +kiss upon the lips of the maiden.</p> + +<p class="normal">'He named you and thought of himself,' said Oberstein, +jestingly; 'but +in order that the happy couple may not be separated on this first day +of their espousal, I will ride out to Dulmen and endeavor to get you +excused by the lord bishop.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You are very good!' said the little bride, bending over the +hand of +the gray old general and pressing it to her lips.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">At Dulmen, in the hall of state, sat the prince-bishop upon +his gilded +throne. On each side of him were placed his counsellors and field +officers. At a table covered with rich red cloth, sat two secretaries +with ready pens. Oberstein had announced the tailor-king, and after a +short conversation with the bishop resumed his place. The bishop made a +signal--the guards opened the door, and, accompanied by Alf, Johannes +entered, loaded with chains and very pale; but with a proud and solemn +bearing, casting round upon the assembly his wild, impudent and bold +glance.</p> + +<p class="normal">'That is the murderer of my son,' sighed the bishop in a +suppressed +tone to Oberstein, covering his face with his hands from grief and +horror.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Remember that you are here as a prince and judge, and not as +a party,' +whispered Oberstein in return.</p> + +<p class="normal">The bishop recovered himself with difficulty. 'Wretched man,' +cried he +vehemently to the criminal: 'wherefore hast thou ruined my defenceless +people?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'I have not done less than you deserve, priest!' answered +Johannes, as +proudly as if Zion's crown had yet stood upon his head. 'I have given +into thy hand a strong city which can stand against every power. +Nevertheless if I have injured you I have sufficient means to make you +reparation, in case you will but follow my counsels.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Wretch!' growled the bishop, 'how wilt thou compensate for a +single +drop of the innocent blood which thou hast caused to flow in streams?'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Human blood,' said Johannes, scornfully, 'comes not into the +account +in the reckoning of kings. Here we can only speak respecting the +restitution of money. Therefore shut me up in an iron cage as Tamerlane +did Bajazet, take me through the neighboring countries and show me for +money--you will make more out of me in that way than the whole siege +has cost.'</p> + +<p class="normal">The whole assembly broke out into a loud cry of astonishment +and +displeasure at the unparalleled insolence of the criminal, whose life +hung upon the nod of his judge.</p> + +<p class="normal">The latter was paralyzed by the extent of the monster's +profligacy. He +soon however recovered himself, and silently viewed him for a long time +with a horrible smile upon his countenance.</p> + +<p class="normal">'My God!' murmured Alf, when he saw that smile; 'this will end +tragically.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Thou hast advised well, wise Solomon,' said the bishop with +great +calmness. 'Be it done to thee according to thy words. Deliver up your +prisoner to the constable of the castle,' he commanded Alf. 'Let him be +confined in the murderer's cell until further orders--and do you convey +to the smiths of Munster my command that they immediately make three +iron cages of a man's height. Therein shall this man and his coadjutors +be conducted round the land as he himself has desired, and be shown to +the people as they are accustomed to show wild beasts. What further is +to be done with the worthy trio, shall be duly pronounced at the proper +time in the criminal court.'</p> + +<p class="normal">With unaltered pride Johannes suffered himself to be led forth +by Alf. +The bishop dismissed the assembly. Only Oberstein remained with him, +and now Alf returned to announce that he had deposited his prisoner in +his dungeon.</p> + +<p class="normal">'It was you who captured the hyćna who butchered my children +for me,' +cried the bishop with horrible joy. 'I thank you for the opportunity to +avenge on him the blood of all his victims! Oh that he had more than +one life! Say, what reward do you desire for the deed!'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Such a reward would be the price of blood,' thought Alf, 'and +therefore God preserve me from it.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Would you like a good military or civil office at my court?' +asked the +bishop in his desire to express his gratitude.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I am a protestant, most reverend sir,' answered Alf: 'and +hope to die +in the evangelical faith; but if I may prefer a petition to you, I have +to request that you will permit me without ceremony or hindrance to +take my own and my wife's property to the place where I am to settle +myself.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Are you determined absolutely not to remain in my +territories?' asked +the bishop resentfully.</p> + +<p class="normal">'I think of procuring for him a captaincy from the elector of +Saxony,' +said Oberstein, with a view of softening the effect of Alf's short and +ungracious reply.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Pardon me sir earl,' said Alf, 'for respectfully declining +that favor +also. I have lately seen so many people commanded, and so many evils +have been caused by the orders given--and I myself in my simplicity +have done so much mischief by my own commands, that I have become +utterly disgusted with the whole business. Wherefore I have solicited +the reverend doctor Fabricius to seek me out a quiet little place in +Hesse Cassel, were I may honorably employ myself as an armorer and +enjoy the society of my wife and the children with which God may bless +our union, until my happy end.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Do you not think he has chosen the wisest part?' asked +Oberstein of +the bishop, at the same time leaving the room.</p> + +<p class="normal">'O that I could find in Munster a hundred burghers like this +who now +deserts me!' said the bishop, through forgetfulness, laying his hand in +blessing upon the heretic's head.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Think well of my request, reverend sir,' said Alf, bowing low +and +following his friend and protector.</p> + +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<p class="normal">When the happy Clara opened her blue eyes on the first morning +after +her marriage, she saw that her young husband was already awake and +sitting upright in bed as if in deep and earnest meditation upon some +important matter. She threw her arms about his neck, kissed him +tenderly and asked him what he was meditating upon so intently.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Upon my future destiny, and the decision I must make as to +what +business I shall hereafter pursue, my dear wife,' answered he with +seeming earnestness. 'So many offers were made to me yesterday that I +hardly know which of them to embrace. The lord bishop wishes to retain +me with him, either in a military capacity or as an officer of his +court, as I may choose; for the latter of which I suppose I am more +particularly well qualified. I can also at any moment become a captain +in the service of the elector of Saxony.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'You surely will not accept of either of them?' cried Clara, +anxiously. +'Leave those high honors and dignities to others, and be satisfied with +the quiet domestic happiness which awaits you, and which your +unambitious disposition is best calculated to enjoy. Remain what you +are, a good armorer! As such only have I joined hands with you, before +God's altar, in the holy bands of matrimony. If now you wish the +captaincy, or a seat in the royal council, then have you deceived me, +even at the moment of marriage, and that would be very wrong in a +bridegroom.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'God be praised!' joyfully exclaimed Alf, pressing her to his +bosom. +'That is precisely what I desired to hear from you, my dear Clara. I +only wished to ascertain whether you agreed with me upon a most +important question; and behold, our wishes and opinions are as similar +as if we had been made for each other.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Ah, that was always clear to me from the first moment I saw +you,' +stammered Clara, blushing; 'and it used to render me truly miserable to +see that you had eyes only for my unfortunate sister.'</p> + +<p class="normal">'Peace to her ashes!' said Alf with emotion; 'but I now +perceive quite +clearly that she would have been no wife for me. What God brings to +pass is intended for our good.'</p> + +<p class="normal">At that moment began under the windows, arranged by the +wedding guests, +an excellent morning serenade; and the vocalists, falling in, sang to +the bridal pair, in Martin Luther's words:<a name="div2Ref_note03" href="#div2_note03"><sup>3</sup></a></p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p class="t6">'Oh happy man, whose soul is fill'd</p> +<p class="t8">With zeal and reverend awe!</p> +<p class="t6">His lips to God their honors yield,</p> +<p class="t8">His life adorns the law.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="t6">'A careful Providence shall stand</p> +<p class="t8">And ever guard thy head,</p> +<p class="t6">Shall on the labors of thy hand,</p> +<p class="t8">Its kindly blessings shed.'</p> +</div></div> +<p class="normal">'Shall on the labors of thy hand,'--said the young couple +joyfully to +each other at the same moment, and Alf smilingly remarked; 'now we +shall be sure to live together at least a year, my Clara, since we both +had the same thought at the same time.'</p> + +<p class="normal">Again sang the choir:</p> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<p class="t8">'Thy wife shall be a fruitful vine;</p> +<p class="t8">Thy children round thy board,</p> +<p class="t6">Each like an olive-plant shall shine,</p> +<p class="t8">And learn to fear the Lord.</p> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<p class="t8">'The Lord shall thy best hopes fulfil</p> +<p class="t8">For months and years to come;</p> +<p class="t6">The Lord who dwells on Zion's hill,</p> +<p class="t8">Shall send thee blessings home.'</p> +</div></div> +<p class="normal">Reminded of the pleasures of paternity, Alf pressed his +beloved wife +yet closer, while she hid her blushing face in his bosom. They listened +with delighted attention to the remainder of the hymn, and when the +last verse came they joined in with a pious ecstasy, and in thankful +remembrance of all that God had done for them:</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p class="t6">'To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,</p> +<p class="t8">The God whom we adore,</p> +<p class="t6">Be everlasting honors paid</p> +<p class="t8">Henceforth, forevermore.'</p> +</div> +<br> + +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<p class="normal">Having obtained an honorable discharge from the army of the +Diet, Alf +settled himself with his young wife under the shadow of Fabricius's +wing at Cassel, as a respectable armorer. The property which he took +with him from Munster, together with the rich marriage presents which +he received from the bishop and count Oberstein, rendered him a well +conditioned burgher. He enjoyed the blessings of a middle station in +society, in an unusual measure, and the painful remembrance of what he +had experienced, performed, and suffered, was merged by degrees in the +feeling of repose, and in the quiet enjoyment of well merited +prosperity.</p> + +<p class="normal">Meanwhile the timid and exasperated bishop began to bring poor +Munster +fully under the yoke; so that it should never again be able to raise +its head in rebellion. Two castles arose towering over the city, with +the aid of which he hoped easily to suppress every disturbance, and +occasionally to curtail some of the ancient privileges of the people; +but the ambassadors of the Circle, who suddenly appeared in Munster, +efficaciously remedied this fault and many others. The peaceable +citizens of Munster, whom he had compelled to perform all sorts of +labor, were protected; the fortifications of the anabaptists as well as +the castles of the bishop were razed; and the latter was compelled to +permit a decision, by a trial and sentence, upon the fate of the +tailor-king and his companions, who, until then, had been, in mockery +and scorn, dragged through all the neighboring parts of Germany in +their cages. In February of the year 1536, the three criminals were +finally led to the scaffold. However great was their guilt, the cruelty +of their punishment seemed unworthy the mercy which should have been +exercised by the spiritual lords, from whom alone a mitigation of their +sentence could emanate; but who commanded its execution with +unrelenting severity.</p> + +<p class="normal">'Holy God!' exclaimed Alf, when he heard of their unhappy end; +'whither +will not fanaticism lead its unhappy devotees! Happy is he who confines +his attention to the narrow circle of his household and his business, +and who does not forget that prayer and labor are the best antidotes to +vain imaginings. Thrice happy is the man to whom God grants a good +wife, who, with gentle power, draws him from the wild impulses of the +world, and with flowery chains binds him to his own hearth. Under that +hearth lies buried the true treasure of life, which so few have the +desire and happiness to raise. We have disinterred it, have we not, my +Clara? When the olive plants stand around us, which Dr. Luther has +promised, what shall we then lack?' Saying this, he laid his hand +affectionately upon his young wife, who was most assiduously spinning +at the opposite side of the table. At first, with a sweet smile, she +clasped her beloved husband's hand, and then passing quickly round the +table, she fell upon his neck. 'Lord God, we thank thee!' cried the +superlatively happy husband, glowing with love and gratitude.</p> + +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_note01" href="#div2Ref_note01">Footnote 1</a>: The name of one of the imperial regiments, composed of +catholics.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_note02" href="#div2Ref_note02">Footnote 2</a>: Evil spirits.</p> + +<p class="hang1"><a name="div2_note03" href="#div2Ref_note03">Footnote 3</a>: We use the version of Dr. Watts.--<span class="sc">Tr.</span></p> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + +<br> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales from the German. Volume II., by +Carl Franz van der Velde + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM THE GERMAN. 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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: Tales from the German. Volume II. + The Lichtensteins, The Sorceress, The Anabaptist + +Author: Carl Franz van der Velde + +Translator: Nathaniel Greene + +Release Date: May 19, 2010 [EBook #32444] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM THE GERMAN. VOLUME II. *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provide by the Web Archive + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Page scan source: + http://www.archive.org/details/talesfromgerman01greegoog + +2. This volume includes these stories: The Lichtensteins: A +Tale of the Times of the Thirty Years War; The Sorceress; +and The Anabaptist: A Tale of the First Half of the Sixteenth +Century. + + + + + + + TALES + + + FROM THE GERMAN + + + TRANSLATED + + BY NATHANIEL GREENE. + + + + VOLUME II. + + + + + + BOSTON: + AMERICAN STATIONERS' COMPANY, + JOHN B. RUSSELL. + + 1837. + + + + + + + BOSTON: + Samuel N. Dickinson, Printer, + 52, Washington Street. + + + + + + + THE LICHTENSTEINS. + + A TALE OF THE TIMES OF THE THIRTY YEARS WAR. + + BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +On christmas-eve, in the year 1628, Katharine, the wife of the merchant +Fessel, of Schweidnitz, was standing in her large back parlor, with her +infant upon her arm, arranging with feminine taste, upon a long table +covered with a snow-white cloth, the Christmas gifts destined for her +husband, her children, and the other members of her family. + +At a table in the corner, sat the book-keeper, Oswald Dorn, giving the +finishing touch to a miniature manger, which he had ingeniously +constructed for the children of his employer. He now placed a +beautifully painted angel, cut out of isinglass, in the side of the +manger in which the infant Savior lay, for the purpose of indicating +the celestial mission of the heavenly messenger by its transparent +brilliancy. He gave yet another satisfied look at the well executed +work, and then approached Katharine, who had, meanwhile, spread out an +infinite variety of useful and agreeable presents, articles of dress, +pieces of coin, books, toys, &c. She was now distributing to each one +his portion of cakes, sweet biscuits, sugar animals, gingerbread, +apples and nuts, with just impartiality. In deep thought, the +book-keeper took from the table two figures formed of Schweidnitz +gingerbread. They represented two of Dr. Martin Luther's enemies, +Tetzel and Eck, in their official robes, disfigured with the heads of +animals. The names inscribed on them left no doubt whom they were +intended to represent. Dorn examined the caricatures with an ominous +shake of the head. 'Do not give these ill-shaped things to the +children,' said he. 'Believe me, it is not well for them to be so early +taught to make war upon opinions which they do not understand. Mockery +and derision are bad aids to the holy cause, and the hand, which grasps +filth to throw at an adversary, is itself the first soiled. The +bitterness, with which the struggle for truth and spiritual freedom has +been carried on, has already spread enough of suffering and misery over +Europe. Let not the demon of sectarian zeal intrude itself into the +nursery.' + +'You take every thing in the same earnest and serious way,' jestingly +answered the friendly Katharine, laying the caricature figures aside. +'Who that heard you would suppose you had bravely drawn your sword for +the new faith yourself? The red scar upon your forehead contradicts +your words.' + +'You are right,' cried Dorn with emotion. 'I have wielded the sword for +the new faith. A bold captain of daring robbers, I have achieved many a +deed of arms under this pretext; but daily do I pray to God to pardon +me for it!' + +He hastened away. The reverend Johannes Beer, who had entered the room +unnoticed at the commencement of this conversation, looked after him +with astonishment, and then asked the hostess: 'that young man talks +very strangely--may he not be a papist in disguise, sent into this +house as a spy for our destruction?' + +'By no means!' cried Katharine with zeal. 'You know, my worthy sir, +that he was wounded fighting for the Augsburg confession, and during +the two years he has dwelt under our roof, he has constantly evinced so +true an attachment for us, and such a noble zeal against the tyranny of +the pope, that I would answer for his honesty with my life.' + +'You judge of others according to the goodness of your own heart!' +cried the parson. 'Believe me, in the iron times in which we live one +cannot be too cautious. One Judas was found even among the apostles. +Many a one who was a Paul for the pure evangelical doctrines has fallen +from the faith, and now rages an angry Saul against his former +brethren. The devil has once more become wholly devilish, and the +anti-christ again goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may +devour. The emperor, incited by the monks, has determined to effect a +counter reformation in Silesia; and already in Glogau, the +Lichtensteins,[1] those terrible men of blood, who convert by fire and +sword, are raging in a furious and shocking manner.' + +'Ah, reverend sir,' complained Katharine, 'we have invited you to share +our joys and partake with us of the festival of our Lord; but by +repeating such dreadful news you will embitter all our enjoyments, and +convert our christmas supper into a mourning feast.' + +'It is the duty of a faithful pastor,' said the clergyman, 'to frighten +away the sleep of safety into which we are rocked by ease and +selfishness. Our good Schweidnitz will also have to suffer in its turn. +Have they not already taken from us the honorably purchased church of +the cross, and the church of our dear lady of the woods? Have they not +already forbidden us the service of God in the church of the Holy +Ghost? They will surely take the earliest opportunity to do the same +with St. Stanislaus and St. Wenceslaus. Various suspicious signs and +tokens have lately been seen. As I was observing the stars last night, +with my colleague Glogero, the constellations were very ominous; and +about midnight a fearful sign arose in the heavens from the north. A +large red ball of fire described a flaming arch from the edge of the +horizon to the zenith of the parish church, where it burst with a +powerful explosion. It indicates the near proximity of great danger to +our religious liberties.' + +During this speech so prophetic of evil, Katharine, with a happy +feminine tact, contrived to forget the threatened troubles amid the +little cares of the moment, and proceeded to ignite the innumerable +lights of the christmas-trees, and those placed in the little manger +for the purpose of illuminating its interior. The brightness of day was +diffused through the large room, which awaked the child upon her bosom, +and it smilingly stretched out its little hands toward the joyous +light. + +'See how my little Johannes is delighted,' said the mother to the +gloomy man. 'Careless of the threatening future, he enjoys the present. +Does not our holy bible say, 'unless you become like little children +you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven!' Therefore leave the +portentous future to the wise guidance of God, and be happy with us +to-night, for once, like this harmless child. Above all, be silent in +my husband's presence, respecting your bad news. He has been very +anxious and dejected for some days, and I shall be much grieved if +anything occur to render us unhappy this evening, to which christians +of all denominations look with general joy as the anniversary of their +common origin.' + +One of Fessel's apprentices now opened the door. 'My master directs me +to say to you,' cried he, 'that you may immediately commence the +distribution of the presents, before it is too late. He has yet much to +do in the counting-room. Two important letters have arrived. He will +come to you at the earliest moment possible.' + +'That is not at all pleasant!' sighed Katharine, as the messenger +disappeared. 'There can be no true family festival where the master of +the house is missing. Nevertheless, my husband is right! If I delay +much longer, the supper will be spoiled and everything will be in +disorder.' She rang a bell which stood upon the table. A distant shout +of children answered the noisy summons. She rang a second time, when +the shouts came nearer, and a joyous tumult arose at the door of the +room. She now put down the bell, and looked pleasedly toward the door, +before which the whispering, laughing and tramping band awaited the +third call. + +'They must wait a little,' said Katharine, smiling, to the clergyman. +'It seasons the pleasure, and is a wholesome lesson for youth, when +early taught.' The holy man nodded assent to the pedagogical artifice; +but meanwhile the mother's heart began to yield, and impelled +Katharine's hand toward the bell. + +The third call now sounded, when the door burst open as if at the +explosion of a petard, and the four children of Fessel, two vigorous +boys and two lovely girls, stormed into the room, surrounding and +dragging their favorite, the book-keeper, along with them. After them +followed the clerks, apprentices, servants and maidens, who modestly +arranged themselves in a row near the door until their places were +pointed out to them. + +The children precipitated themselves toward the richly laden table like +a rushing stream, recognizing the portion destined for each with a +searching and rapid glance. 'I will draw this against Wallenstein!' +screamed the wild Martin, brandishing a little sword that he found +among his presents. 'A bible and a bunch of quills,' cried the +intellectual Ulrich, holding them up: 'now I will write against the +papists like the noble Hutten, whose name I bear. 'Alas, the poor +maidens who can never be married!' cried both of the girls, bringing +two waxen nuns to their mother. + +'Beloved children!' said the clergyman, pressing them all to his heart. +They tore themselves from his arms and broke out in a simultaneous +shout of astonishment and joy upon observing the miniature manger. Then +as if beside themselves they ran, tumbling over each other, to their +mother, the clergyman and Dorn, thankfully showing and praising their +several presents. + +'Will you not look at your christmas present, master Dorn?' asked +Katharine of the book-keeper, who kept himself apart in serious +silence. + +He turned toward the designated place with a melancholy smile, and as +he cast his eyes upon the rich present, a complete and splendid +dress-suit with a full complement of the finest linen, he turned again +with deep emotion to Katharine, who was pointing out their places to +the rest of the household. + +'This is too much, madam Katharine,' he cried. 'How may you thus favor +the stranger beyond the children of your house?' + +'The stranger?' asked Katharine resentfully. 'In our hearts it has been +a long time since you were so, and we should much regret to have you +consider yourself one. Believe me, we are sensible what a faithful +companion and assistant my husband has acquired in you, and that every +thing we can do for you is but honestly discharging our obligations.' + +'Ah, see, master Dorn, you also have got a sword!' cried Martin, +holding up this essential part of the dress of a burgher in those +times, which lay by Dorn's present. + +Dorn suddenly approached the boy and taking the magnificent sword from +his hands gazed upon it with secret pleasure. At length he could no +longer resist the desire to draw and try the temper of the blade. + +'You are not angry,' asked Katharine, 'that a lady should presume to +arm you? Really your old sword with its hacked hilt and notched and +rusty blade, would not have become your new suit.' + +'You have done well, worthy lady,' said Dorn, proving the blade by +pressing its point against the floor and bending it in every direction. +'The old sword had indeed become dear to me, like an old friend who had +always remained true in times of necessity and danger; but I never +reflect upon the deeds I have performed with it without shuddering. It +seems to me that it is possessed by an evil spirit which impels my hand +to deeds of blood against my will, and I therefore do not like to touch +it. This has as yet drank no blood, and, so help me God, I will +preserve it unstained unless I am compelled to draw it in defence of +the hearth where I, a friendless stranger, have been so hospitably +received.' + +'Or in defence of religion,' added the parson. + +'The true religion, most worthy sir,' answered Dorn, 'needs not the aid +of the sword!' + +The reverend man had already opened his mouth to refute this bold +proposition, when the master of the house entered with a clouded +countenance, holding two open letters in his hand. He briefly greeted +the parson, gently put aside the children who gathered about him in +their noisy joy, and handed one of the letters to his wife. + +'From your mother, at Sagan,' said he; and while she proceeded to read +it with visible terror, he drew the book-keeper to a window. + +'I have a sudden and disagreeable business for you,' said he to Dorn. +'The terrible Wallenstein conducts himself in his new dukedom with a +tyranny almost unheard of among christians. He has determined to send +all the orphan sons of burghers of Sagan to the school he has recently +established at Gitschin. Those whom he has found in the place, have +been forcibly sent to Bohemia. Their property and relatives are held +answerable for the absent. As you already know, my mother-in-law's +nephew, young Engelmann, is at present studying at the gymnasium in +this city; and the tyrant has thrown his uncle and guardian into prison +until the pupil shall be forthcoming. No other course remains, but to +send the poor boy home as soon as possible; and, that he may, in these +dangerous times, reach Sagan with safety, it is my wish that you would +accompany him. When there, you may also be able to assist me in another +affair. I have loaned a thousand gilders upon the two houses of the +joiner Eckebrect. My debtor now informs me that the houses are among +those the duke has caused to be demolished for the purpose of opening a +better view for his palace. Nothing has yet been said respecting +indemnification. I therefore wish you, while on the spot, to obtain all +the information you can upon the subject.' + +'I am very willingly at your service,' modestly answered Dorn. 'When +shall I set out?' + +'Did I not fear the sin of keeping you from church on christmas night,' +said Fessel, 'I would beg of you to start this very evening. Sagan is +distant, and old Engelmann is a very worthy man, whose release from +prison I should be glad to effect as soon as possible.' + +'The performance of duty is God's service!' cried Dorn. 'I will go +immediately and prepare for the journey.' He left the room, followed by +the boys, who lamented the loss of their best christmas enjoyment in +his departure. + +'Your book-keeper is indeed no papist,' said the parson to Katharine +after a long pause; 'but there may also be some doubt of his +Lutheranism; for he appears to sustain the doctrine of good works. He +may be tinctured with Calvinism. + +'If he were, he would still be our protestant co-laborer and brother in +Christ,' answered Fessel in the name of his consort, who was busily +reading. + +'Calvin, Zuinglius, and the pope--all are heretics alike!' grumbled the +parson. + +The weeping Katharine now folded the letter, handed it to her husband, +and in a soft, submissive voice asked him: 'What have you decided upon, +Tobias?' + +'I wished to advise with you upon the matter first, my Kitty,' he +answered, in a friendly manner. 'They are your nearest relatives who +now seek a refuge with us, and I would not willingly leave them in the +claws of those fiends; but at all events their coming would increase +your domestic cares, and I know not whether you would like to have your +mother and sister reside in the family.' + +'As I know my beloved ones,' she joyfully answered, 'I have only +relief, consolation and joy, to expect from them; and, if my opinion is +to decide the matter, I beg you with all my heart to have them brought +here.' + +Dorn now entered the room in his traveling dress, with his rusty sword +by his side. He was followed by Martin and Ulrich, and the young +Engelmann with his traveling bag in his hand, much grieved at being +compelled to leave his dear Schweidnitz for a strange school where he +was unknowing and unknown. + +'The carriage is ready,' said the book-keeper. 'I come to take my +leave, and ask if you have any further commands for me.' + +'I have yet one more request, my dear friend,' answered the merchant. +'A captain of Wallenstein's body guards is quartered in the house of my +mother-in-law at Sagan, who plays the duke of Friedland on a small +scale in the quiet residence of the widow; and, what is still more +unfortunate, woos the favor of my sister-in-law after the fashion of a +wild Tartar. She very naturally rejects the monster, who has already +served under four different masters, has four times changed his +religion, and is now, by accident, a catholic; but the refusal has +brought her no relief, and he only, who knows how much a bad man may +afflict a family upon whom he is quartered, can imagine what the poor +women must suffer. On this account they wish to leave all behind them +and flee to me at Schweidnitz; and after having delivered up your +scholar, you can bring them with you on your return. This writing may +serve as your credential.' + +'I beg of you to be especially careful that you suffer no injury on the +way from the marauding soldiers, who render the public roads unsafe,' +said Katharine with anxious solicitude. + +'I take with me my faithful old battle-companion,' said Dorn, striking +the hilt of his sword with a glance in which all his former military +spirit shone forth. 'Do not be concerned for me, madam Katharine. We +have a hard frost--I shall let the horses travel at a round pace--and +with God's blessing, I will be here to partake of the christmas supper, +which I should have eaten now, with you and your dear relatives on new +year's eve.' + +He raised the sorrowing children, whom even the ingeniously constructed +manger could not console for his departure, one after the other to his +lips, bowed to the others, disappeared with his protege, and the wheels +of his carriage were soon heard rattling over the hard-frozen ground. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +It was the evening of the third christmas holiday. The snow-flakes were +merrily whirling about out of doors; and in a well warmed room at Sagan +sat the merchant's widow, Prudentia Rosen, with her daughter, the +lovely Faith. Both of them were industriously winding the fine spun +thread upon the twirling spindles. The impudent captain of the guards +had planted himself in the matron's armchair, at the table, and was +afflicting the poor women by a recital of his terrible warlike deeds, +while he emptied the silver goblet standing before him, and directed +love-glances, which made him look even more disagreeable, at poor +Faith, who, sighingly and reluctantly replenished it from time to time. + +The servant announced a stranger who wished to speak with madam Rosen +alone. + +The widow rose to go out in obedience to the summons; but the captain +sneeringly observed that as she could have no motive for a secret +interview with the stranger, she could give the required audience in +his presence. + +The widow nodded to the servant, with a slight shrug of the shoulders +at this new exhibition of insolence. The latter immediately ushered in +a young man, who greeted the ladies with modest friendliness, and the +captain with cold courtesy. + +'I am the book-keeper of your son-in-law,' said he. 'I have the honor +to hand you this letter as my credential, and to inform you, that, if +agreeable, yourself and daughter can accompany me to Schweidnitz +to-morrow morning.' + +'How? You wish to leave Sagan now, madam Rosen?' asked the captain, +angrily stroking his red beard. + +'Family affairs render this journey unavoidable,' answered the widow, +with quiet firmness. + +'You must arrange the matter otherwise,' blustered the ruffian. 'Your +most imperative duty is to remain here and provide for the comfort of +those who are quartered in your house.' + +'Do not be anxious on that score, captain,' answered the widow. 'Every +thing will be furnished that you need in my absence.' + +'Then go, in the devil's name, where you please,' cried the captain; +'but, that my comfort may not be disturbed, your daughter remains +behind to discharge the duties of hostess.' + +'Give yourself no uneasiness, madam Rosen,' said Dorn, consolingly, to +the terrified woman. 'If you are not by the duke of Friedland's command +a prisoner in your own house, the captain will let you go without +requiring a hostage.' + +'How is that?' cried the irritated captain, viewing the young man from +head to foot. The latter quietly returned his measuring glance, whilst +the beauteous Faith timidly raised her eyes from her spindle, inwardly +delighted with the fearlessness of the interesting stranger. + +'You are a fine fellow,' said the captain with a malicious smile; +'well-grown and strong; and your bold behavior is very becoming. You +would make a good trooper. Come, do me justice to the health of our +most gracious emperor.' + +'We must become better acquainted with each other, captain, before we +drink together,' answered Dorn, politely declining the goblet. + +'Do you slight my proffered courtesy,' growled the captain; 'or do you +belong to the rebels, that you refuse to drink the emperor's health?' + +'Drink!' imploringly begged the timid Faith, and, vanquished by the +glance which accompanied the request, the youth seized the goblet and +cried, 'May God enlighten the emperor and teach him the true way to +promote the welfare of his subjects!' + +'Bravo, comrade!' cried the captain, as the goblet was drained. 'You +will never regret having entered the emperor's service. I pledge you my +word that you will be a corporal in a month.' + +'What mean you by that?' asked Dorn with surprise. 'The idea of +entering the emperor's service never once came into my head.' + +'You jest!' cried the miscreant. You have drank to the emperor with a +captain in the imperial service, and by that act have become a +soldier.' + +'Is it possible!' cried Dorn. 'Can you so prostitute the emperor's name +as to use it for so low an artifice?' + +'Not a word of opposition, fellow!' said the captain menacingly. 'You +have consented to take service under the standard of his imperial +majesty, and must abide thereby.' + +'I am a free burgher of Schweidnitz,' said Dorn; 'what right have you +to hold me?' + +'What right! what right! blustered the captain, striking the floor with +his sword. 'Here is my right, which is valid through all Europe.' + +'I warn you, captain,' cried Dorn, 'to be cautious how you take a step +which may disgrace you without accomplishing your purpose.' + +'That we shall see!' said the captain; and, going to the door, he threw +it open and cried, 'Orderly!' + +A gigantic guardsman came clattering up the steps, stooped to enter the +room, and then, straitening himself up like a tall pine, thundered, +'Here!' + +'Take this recruit to the guard-room,' commanded the captain, 'and +deliver him over, on my account, to the officer of the day. He may as +well be put in uniform and sworn to his colors this evening as +tomorrow.' + +The colossus stepped up to Dorn, pointed to the door, and in a very +insolent tone commanded, 'March!' + +Dorn hurled him back with great force, and drew from his pocket a +sealed document which he held up to the view of the captain. 'My +commission as captain in the royal Danish service,' said he, 'protects +me against the honor of serving under you. The duke of Friedland shall +satisfy himself of its authenticity to-morrow. To me you must make +reparation, upon the spot, for this personal outrage. Have the goodness +to follow me to the door.' + +The captain, who, like many a bragadocio, hid the ears of the ass under +the skin of the lion, stood utterly confused before the angry youth, in +whom he had very unexpectedly found his match. At length he motioned +his orderly to retire. 'It is not possible for me to accept your +invitation to-night; but early in the morning we will speak further +upon this matter,' said he with constrained courtesy to Dorn, and +immediately left the room. + +'We shall not be able to start before noon, in this way,' said Dorn, +with some little vexation. 'Meanwhile, have the goodness, madam Rosen, +to pack the best and most necessary articles which you may wish to take +with you, to-night.' + +'Ah, that would prove a fruitless trouble, my dear sir!' exclaimed the +widow. 'The captain is now highly incensed, and I believe he would +strike the horses dead before the carriage, sooner than let us go.' + +'I trust some one higher than he can be found here,' said Dorn. 'When +matters come to the worst, I can speak to the duke himself.' + +'God preserve you from that!' cried the widow. 'He is indeed a +passionate, tyrannical man, who will not tolerate even the sparrows +upon his roof. He directly hangs every one who makes the least +opposition to him. He strung up a poor apothecary's apprentice for +making too much noise in his neighborhood with his pestle and mortar, +and a poor child because it cried in its mother's arms.' + +'I nevertheless doubt not he will suffer me to live,' said Dorn, with a +smile. 'I have seen the white of his eye at Dessau, and was not +frightened. Therefore dismiss your fears and pack up as quick as you +can. I shall start at one in the afternoon to-morrow. I have promised +your daughter to be in Schweidnitz on new-year's eve, and will keep my +word.' + +He was about to take his leave; but the widow held him fast by both his +hands. + +'No,' cried she, anxiously, 'I will not let you go. I thank God for +sending a manly protector to my house in these evil times, and should +die with fear if compelled to sleep alone under the same roof with that +monster, now that he is irritated. No, you remain with us. My daughter +shall prepare the little guest-chamber for you, and I will mix your +evening draught.' + +'I would not be troublesome to you,' said Dorn, 'at a time when your +house is already occupied by other guests.' + +'It is, indeed, and by those who are uninvited and unwelcome,' sighed +the widow. 'But for that very reason I would add a welcome guest to the +number, that I may know whether I am yet mistress of my own house.' + +In obedience to a nod from her mother. Faith, with blushing cheeks and +downcast eyes, took a light to show the guest to his chamber. He +followed her through the Gothic building, up one flight of steps and +down another, through crooked passages, until they reached a small, but +neatly furnished chamber, in which was a snow white bed. While Faith +removed the flowered damask covering, filled the shining pewter ewer +with fresh water, and hung a towel near it, he was occupied in +observing the beautiful form of the lovely blonde, whose graceful +motions, employed for the promotion of his comfort, were for that +reason rendered doubly charming. + +'Perhaps I render you an unwelcome service in taking you from this +place, fair maiden?' said he, by way of beginning conversation. + +'How can you think so, sir?' quickly replied Faith. 'I thank my God and +yourself for my release.' + +'Well, one cannot always know,' said Dorn, jestingly. 'The heart may +often have attachments in a place otherwise particularly disagreeable.' + +'If I thought you alluded to the captain,' said Faith, with some +asperity, 'I could become angry with you, in the first hour of our +acquaintance.' + +'He is not, indeed, a very fascinating suitor,' continued Dorn; 'but +there nevertheless may be in the city of Sagan, some slender rosy +youth, who has eyes for so beauteous a maiden.' + +'I know none here for whom I could have eyes,' answered the maiden, +quickly, and immediately became somewhat alarmed at the traitorous +emphasis she had laid upon the word _here_. + +'Not here, but elsewhere?' asked Dorn, seizing her delicate white hand. + +'These bold questions come from the evil customs of your hateful +military profession,' said Faith, endeavoring to withdraw her hand. He +suffered her to regain it only by slow degrees, letting but one rosy +finger out of his hand at a time, while his pulse was becoming greatly +accelerated by the soft, caressing touch. His eyes sought and met hers, +which looked kindly upon him, not with the sun's consuming fire, but +with the mild chaste light of the friendly moon. + +'So you have not yet loved, charming Faith?' he earnestly asked, +holding fast the last little finger of the imprisoned hand. + +'What a question,' whispered she, turning away from him. 'I am scarcely +sixteen years old.' + +'Then the first silver-tone is yet to be drawn from this untried 'harp +of a thousand strings;' O, how happy,' cried the youth, 'will be that +artist who shall one day succeed in awakening its thrilling music!' + +Faith suddenly exclaimed, 'Good night, captain!' The farewell bow +released the yet imprisoned finger, and the delightful vision +disappeared. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +When Dorn opened his eyes the next morning, a corporal and six +halbardiers were standing before his bed. + +'Dress yourself quickly,' commanded the corporal. 'I am ordered to +bring you before the duke.' + +Having soon become satisfied that no opposition was, in this case, to +be thought of, Dorn obeyed. As he and his guards were passing through +the streets, he saw many things which went to prove the arbitrary power +of the man before whom his own emperor and all Europe were then +trembling. Notwithstanding the misery and suffering produced by the +war, he saw whole rows of houses which had been repaired, newly +painted, and splendidly furnished, that the city in which the +Friedlander dwelt and governed might present an agreeable appearance to +the eye. The beautiful flocks and herds of the city, driven by weeping +burghers, were making their way toward the gates, having been expelled +because their continuance in the city was inconsistent with the dignity +of a capital. The work of demolition was yet going on in the vicinity +of the palace, and more than fifty houses were lying in ruins. To all +of Dorn's questions, however, the corporal had but one answer:--'the +duke wills it.' They had now reached the castle. The corporal conducted +Dorn through the crowd of halbardiers, footmen and pages, to the +ante-chamber of the audience-room, where fifty of the body guards were +on duty. Two Silesian noblemen, ambassadors to the duke from Leignitz +and Oels-Bernstadt, were here waiting in patient humility to learn if +the dictator would please to grant them an audience. + +At length one of the duke's counsellors came out of the audience-room, +and with insolent hauteur beckoned the Leignitz ambassador, who +reverentially approached the proud knight. + +'What you have delivered to my lord in behalf of your province,' said +the counsellor, with contemptuous disrespect, 'he will take into +consideration and communicate his pleasure to your duke at the next +assembly of the princes. Your complaints against the troops are not +deserving of consideration. The soldier must have something for his +trouble and toil. In that respect, my lord has far heavier and more +just complaints against your duke. The latter has put a man to death +who wished to take service in our army.' + +'The culprit was a subject of our duke, and a wilful murderer,' +answered the ambassador. 'He was executed in accordance with the right +and in pursuance of the judgment of the court of Aldermen of Leignitz.' + +'No court of justice,' continued the counsellor, 'may presume to punish +any one who claims the Friedlander's protection. My lord directs you to +say to your duke, that he must send him two hundred infantry from his +own troops as an indemnification, or the heads of a dozen of the +Leignitz nobility shall be answerable for the neglect.' + +The Leignitz ambassador retired with a deadly paleness, and the +messenger from Oels-Bernstadt was beckoned to approach. + +'Duke Wenzel,' said the counsellor, in a cutting tone, 'has ventured to +hang same soldiers of count Terzky's regiment.' + +'As robbers taken in the act,' interposed the messenger; 'in obedience +to the orders of the generalissimo himself, to keep the high roads +safe, and punish all convicted criminals.' + +'Terzky has written to him,' continued the counsellor, without noticing +the interruption, 'that he has ordered the same number of the prince's +counsellors to be hanged, and that he has already set a price upon +their heads. Thereupon lord Wenzel immediately complained to the +emperor, and the complaint, as was proper, has been transmitted to my +master, who has decided upon the affair. He directs it to be announced +to your master that he approves and will sustain the acts of count +Terzky, and to give an example to the Silesian princes generally, the +principalities and baronies of your master will be confiscated and +divided among those soldiers who have merited them by their services. +With this message you are at liberty to depart.' He turned his back +upon him and with a haughty step returned to the audience-room. The +messengers departed in speechless sorrow, and at that moment a corporal +conducted two well dressed ladies into the ante-chamber. They were +closely veiled and weeping bitterly. Another corporal led a bound +Wallensteiner, with wild, staring eyes, blue lips and bristling' hair, +through the ante-chamber into the audience-room. The ladies now looked +up, and, perceiving Dorn, quickly removed their veils. He instantly +recognized his hospitable hostess and her lovely daughter. + +'My dear Faith!' cried he with tender compassion; but the corporal +rapped him upon the shoulder, and whispered to him, 'silence, if you +have any regard for your neck. Without the duke's permission no word +must be uttered here.' + +A deep and awful silence now prevailed in the ante-chamber, broken only +by some plaintive tone which occasionally reached them through the +double doors which separated the two rooms. An angry voice suddenly +cried within, 'let the brute be hanged!'--'That was the duke,' +whispered one of the soldiers to another. The doors opened, and the +delinquent was again led through the ante-chamber by his companion. +'God be merciful to me!' stammered he, as he staggered onward and +disappeared. + +Again a deep silence, again the doors of the audience-room opened, and +the counsellor cried out, 'the Dane, with the two gentlewomen!' + +'Forward!' commanded each of the corporals, and with a firm step Dorn +walked into the hall, supporting the almost fainting females. + +A tall haggard man, with a dreadful sternness in his yellow face and +small twinkling eyes, frightfully expressive of anxiety, a magnificent +plumed hat upon his short red head, a black velvet Spanish jacket +decked with the stars and chains of various orders, an ermine-trimmed, +dark violet-colored velvet mantle upon his shoulders, was standing by +his gilded armchair before a table, at which three counsellors and a +Jesuit were seated. Six barons and the same number of knights, stood in +files by the wall in respectful silence, that the behests of the +all-powerful noble might be followed by instant execution, as the deed +follows the will, or thunder the lightning. Behind the arm-chair stood +the well known captain of the life guards, who met the entering group +with a smile of Satanic triumph. + +With the majesty of a prince of the lower world, the duke advanced to +Dorn, looked at him with his little piercing eyes as though he would +interrogate his soul, and in a gruff repulsive tone asked him, 'Danish +captain?' + +'By virtue of this commission,' quietly answered Dorn, handing the +document to him. + +The duke glanced through it, gave it back to him, and said, 'a prisoner +of war, then!' + +'When count Mannsfeld was driven through Silesia by you,' answered +Dorn, 'I was left in Oels severely wounded. I there found a charitable +merchant who had my wounds healed and afterwards took me with him to +Schweidnitz. Tired of the trade of war, I have remained there for +the last two years, and served my benefactor in the capacity of +book-keeper. Under these circumstances, I leave it for your sense of +justice to decide whether I can be considered a prisoner of war.' + +'Or spy?' asked the duke. + +'My free passport remains with the commandant of the city,' answered +Dorn. + +'What was your object in coming to head quarters?' asked the duke. + +'To bring a scholar from Schweidnitz,' answered Dorn, for your +school at Gitschin, and to take back to Schweidnitz my employer's +mother-in-law and her daughter.' + +'Prove it!' cried the examiner. + +'Send to the merchant Engelmann,' said Dorn; 'who must have left his +prison last evening; and Madam Rosen must yet have the letter which she +wrote to Schweidnitz and which I brought back to her as my credential.' + +'Here is the unlucky letter,' sobbed the trembling widow, handing it to +the duke on bended knee. + +He took it, read, and turned towards the captain. + +'We have your portrait here,' said he; 'not flattered, but well drawn. +Did you know the object of his coming here?' + +The captain replied only by stammering some unintelligible words. + +'He wished to prevent their departure,' said Dorn. + +'To know and keep silence, is called lying!' observed the duke, with +anger. Then to Dorn, 'you have, however, abused the emperor!' + +'That is not true!' cried the latter with vehemence. 'He drank the +emperor's health with the captain!' cried the trembling Faith, +encouraged by her anxiety for the youth. 'I and my mother are +witnesses, and because he drank the emperor's health, the captain +pretended that he had enlisted for a soldier.' + +'Shame upon you!' thundered the duke. 'Has a lord who has all Europe +for a recruiting ground, need of such miserable devices?' + +'Here is a heretic conspiracy,' cried the captain, 'planned for my +destruction. This woman is secretly a Lutheran, together with her +daughter. Already have I twice watched their stolen attendance upon the +preacher of Eckensdorf. For that reason they have called the +Mannsfelder here, that he may take them to heretical Schweidnitz, where +they can practise their idolatry undisturbedly; and because, out of +zeal for the true faith, I wished to prevent their heathenish +abominations, I am calumniated by the apostate women and their +accomplice.' + +'Heap not new insults upon us,' cried Dorn, forgetting in whose +presence he stood. 'You know that you yet owe me satisfaction for those +of last evening. You promised indeed to meet me this morning; but you +preferred to rob me of my liberty and the ability to punish you for the +outrage you committed, by false charges.' + +'Mannsfelder! Mannsfelder!' exclaimed the duke, secretly delighted with +the boldness of the warrior; 'We also are yet here!' and turning to the +captain, he asked; 'What have you to say to this accusation?' + +'Challenged and not appear!' cried he, as the captain stood mute, with +frightfully flashing eyes. 'A Friedlandish captain! Announce yourself +to the officer of the day as under arrest, and immediately afterwards +seek for your discharge. You can no longer serve under Wallenstein!' + +'Yet the captain's information with regard to the secret church-going +of these women may well deserve some consideration,' remarked the +Jesuit, rising. + +'A soldier should be no priestly spy,' angrily answered the duke. 'I am +the emperor's generalissimo; but not his inquisitor. What care I about +the catechisms of his subjects. They may believe what they like, +provided they but give what they should. I adhere to my decision.' + +With a devout sigh the Jesuit again seated himself; and, in despair at +the rebound of his last arrow, the captain left the hall. + +With a kindness which strangely suited his stony face, the duke now +stepped directly to Dorn and slapped him upon the shoulder. 'You are +laconic and resolute,' said he, 'I like that; and moreover I must have +seen this face somewhere.' + +'Perhaps on the Elbe near Dessau,' answered Dorn. + +'Right!' cried the duke. 'You are the officer who held the last +entrenchment with such obstinacy. I liked you, even then. Will you +become a major in my regiment of life-guards? I shall conclude a peace +with Denmark at the earliest opportunity, and so your Danish commission +need be no hindrance.' + +'To the true hero the truth may be fearlessly spoken,' said Dorn. 'I +cannot fight against my conscience.' + +'I regret that any obstacle deprives me of your services,' said the +duke. 'I would very willingly do something to oblige you. Ask some +favor of me!' + +'I have only to ask you,' said Dorn, 'to permit me to depart +immediately for Schweidnitz with these ladies, and also your permission +to take back with me the poor boy whom I tore from his friends in +obedience to your commands.' + +'Well, take the whole baggage, comrade,' said the duke beneficently: +'and a prosperous journey to you! I will cause the necessary papers to +be given you.' + +The duke kindly nodded permission to retire, and Dorn led the ladies +from the hall. + +'A happy escape from the lion's den!' sighed the matron with a lighter +heart, as she turned her back upon the palace. + +What may not one accomplish who is a man in the fullest sense of the +word!' cried the enthusiastic Faith, pressing Dorn's hand to her heart. + +'I know not,' said Dorn pensively, 'whether I shall have especial +reason to rejoice at the turn the affair has taken or not. It just now +occurs to me that the dismission of your persecutor from his quarters +in your house, removes the evil which impelled you to leave Sagan, and +that you may not now wish to accompany me to Schweidnitz.' + +'O! we have on many accounts long desired to visit our Katharine,' said +Faith with great earnestness. 'Our house can never remain long free +from this detestable quartering, and who knows how the next may conduct +himself! Besides, I fear the captain now as much as I did before. He +has lost the power of tormenting us, and his bread into the bargain. He +will soon be released from the guard-house, and a bad man, however +insignificant may be his situation, has the power to injure with the +will!' + +'My daughter's zeal,' smilingly interposed the matron, 'saves me the +trouble of explaining my reasons for wishing to go with you. Let it +suffice, that we ride with you to Schweidnitz.' + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +At Schweidnitz, on new year's eve, the Fessel family were gathered +around the well lighted and richly covered table; but no one had an +inclination to eat; for Dorn, the idol of the house, was still absent, +and anxiety for her beloved relatives saddened the countenance of the +affectionate Katharine. + +'I thought master Dorn would have kept his word better,' cried the +impatient Martin, striking the empty seat which had been placed near +him for the expected traveler. 'The supper will soon be over and still +he is not here.' + +'He will yet be sure to come,' said the confiding Ulrich. 'God grant +it,' sighed Katharine. 'A carriage! a carriage!' cried the listening +daughters, running to the window. 'It is father's horses!' they +shouted. Out ran the two boys, overthrowing their seats with a +tremendous racket; and, as if there had been a wager among the four +children, which should first break their necks, they all rushed out of +the door and down the steep stairs. + +'Welcome to Schweidnitz, my dear mother!' joyfully cried the master of +the house from the window, to which he also had hastened. + +'Has my sister come with you?' asked the anxious Katharine, running to +the door. The children had already let down the steps of the carriage, +and madam Rosen with her daughter hastened to meet their expectant +friends. The cloaks and wrappers soon fell off, and mother and +daughters were clasped in a mutual embrace. + +'Happily redeemed from the prison of the hateful Holofernes?' asked +Fessel, affectionately greeting his mother-in-law. + +'After great trouble and anxiety,' answered the widow, drawing a long +breath, whilst the attentive Katharine was busily relieving her of her +superfluous traveling garments. + +'Had you not sent us so bold a knight,' said Faith playfully; 'to +rescue us from the terrible giant, we should have been at this moment +sitting in Sagan, listening to the insupportable boastings of the +monster.' + +'Where is the valiant knight, that I may thank him for his good +service?' asked Katharine. + +At that moment Dorn entered the room, leading the young Engelmann by +the hand, and surrounded by the four children of the house. + +'How! Do you bring the boy, also?' asked the astonished master, warmly +embracing his book-keeper. + +'He has permission to remain and pursue his studies here,' answered +Dorn. 'Here is the Duke's consent in his own hand-writing.' + +'You must understand the black art,' cried the overjoyed Fessel. 'I +should sooner have expected to remove the everlasting hills from their +foundations than to move the Friedlander from his purpose.' + +'I could not, however, save your property,' said Dorn. 'The houses +already lay in ruins, and all applications for indemnification are +rejected by the ducal court.' + +'I am sorry to lose the capital,' said Fessel; for I had already built +a fine speculation upon it; but you have saved my dear friends, and so +in God's name let the guilders go. Now seat yourselves and relate to me +circumstantially how this eighth wonder of the world has been +accomplished.' + +They placed themselves at table. Dorn obtained a seat near the charming +Faith; and, as among a swarm of bees, narrations and corrections, +questions and answers, praise and astonishment, fear, anger and +laughter, so buzzed about the table that the business of eating was +scarcely thought of. + +'Thank God we are finally here!' remarked madam Rosen, reaching her +goblet of Hungary wine to the book-keeper, for the purpose of touching +his glass. 'My best thanks,' said she with emotion, and at the same +time gave an intimation to Faith to follow her example. + +'Thank me not so much, dear madam,' said the youth with a pensive air, +while touching glasses with the blushing maiden; 'else I shall have my +whole reward in thanks.' + +'And in consequence lose the courage to ask for a dearer one,' jested +Katharine, who had noticed the glance he gave her sister. + +'We are so merry to-night!' cried Fessel's youngest daughter, the +little Hedwig, 'cannot you let us have the play of the light boats now, +dear mother? You promised it to us on Christmas eve; which, by the by, +was passed sadly enough.' + +'Yes, yes, the light boats!' shouted the other children, clapping their +hands. + +'Well, bring the large soup-dish,' said the mother, who could refuse +nothing to her youngest daughter; 'but be careful not to spill the +water.' + +'Glorious, excellent!' cried the children in chorus. Hedwig flew out of +the room; the other children produced wax candles of various colors, +and began cutting them into innumerable small pieces; while Faith, +Dorn, and young Engelmann, were instructed to divide the walnuts, of +which the table famished an abundant supply, in halves, and neatly to +extricate the kernels without injuring the shells. + +'I know not if you are acquainted with this play of the Silesian +children,' said Fessel, laughing, to Dorn. 'It was omitted by us last +year, in consequence of my wife's illness. It is a solemn oracle upon +matters of love, marriage, and death. The children, however, do not +trouble themselves about the serious signification; but only take +pleasure in the movements of the boats and in splashing the water.' + +The door now opened, and little Hedwig stepped into the room, with the +large dish full of water in her hands, with a solemn and consequential +air, and deposited her burden upon the centre of the table. + +'Now put the lights in the boats,' commanded Martin; 'we have prepared +enough of them.' A small wax taper was placed in each shell, projecting +like the mast of a boat. + +'Who shall swim first?' asked Elizabeth, lighting the tapers in two of +the boats. + +'Mother and father!' cried the others, and the shells were placed in +the platter near each other, when they moved forth upon the clear +liquid surface with a regular motion, and burning with a steady light, +until they reached the opposite side where they quietly remained. + +'We are already anchored in a safe haven,' said Fessel to his beloved +wife; 'and in the quiet enjoyment of domestic happiness, we can have no +wish to be restlessly driving about upon the open seas.' + +'Ah, may God grant that the troubles of the times reach us not in our +safe haven and rend our bark from its fast anchorage,' cried the +true-hearted Katharine with timid foreboding. + +At this moment the light in one of the boats began to hiss and sputter, +and after flashing for an instant was extinguished, amid exclamations +of sad surprise from the children. + +'What does that forbode?--to whom does that boat belong?' asked +Katharine, smilingly. + +'That is not decided,' eagerly cried Ulrich; 'and the whole oracle is +invalid.' + +'Elizabeth filled the boat with water by her awkwardness, when she +started it,' announced Martin, who had been investigating the causes of +the accident. + +'Every event in life must have had its cause,' said Fessel with more +earnestness than the trifling accident merited. 'If this portends the +extinguishment of the light of life in either of us, I pray God in +mercy to grant that mine may be the first to expire.' + +'Say not so,' tenderly replied Katharine. 'Our children would lose in +you their only stay. Their mother would be more lightly missed, and the +strong man would better bear the sad bereavement than weak and helpless +woman.' + +'Why this earnest and deep-meaning conversation on new year's evening?' +said madam Rosen, half angry. 'Come, children; go on more briskly with +your play and give us something pleasanter to think about.' + +'Who comes next?' asked Elizabeth. + +'Honor to whom honor is due,' laughed Hedwig. 'Cousin Faith must swim +now.' + +'But she must herself decide with whom,' said Fessel. 'I have not been +at Sagan for some years, and know not who has made himself most +agreeable to her.' + +'Indeed, I know not whom to name to you,' said the maiden with a low +tone and hesitating manner, blushing deeply for the untruth which thus +escaped her lips. + +'Then we will take master Dorn for the occasion,' cried the +obstreperous Martin, whose natural boldness was increased by the wine +he had tasted; 'he is constantly giving Faith such friendly glances!' + +'It shall be so,' shouted Ulrich; 'and they shall have the handsomest +tapers. Choose your own colors; here are red, and green, and white, and +variegated.' + +'Red for Faith and green for me,' quickly cried Dorn, silencing the +maiden by a gentle pressure of her hand under the table, as she was +about to make some objections. + +'They must not, however, start together from the shore,' said Ulrich. +'Well, do you set the red ship on that side and I will place the green +one here,' answered Martin; 'and then they may seek each other if they +wish to come together.' + +Brightly burning, the little barks swam towards each other for a +moment; then, both floated to the edge of the platter and remained +motionless, at some little distance apart. + +'Master Dorn is too indolent!' cried Martin, throwing a nut-kernel at +the green skiff to urge it towards the red; but it only reeled to and +fro, without removing from its place. + +'Insufferable!' cried Dorn. At that moment the water became slightly +agitated, and both skiffs left their stations at the side for the open +sea. + +'Faith has jostled the table!' cried the falcon-eyed Hedwig. + +'I--no--I wish to hinder their meeting,' stammered the confused Faith. + +'Did you really jostle the table, dearest maiden?' asked Dorn, his hand +again seeking hers. + +'Ah, ah, my daughter!' reprovingly exclaimed madam Rosen, and amid the +exclamations of the children the two skiffs met in mid ocean, while a +gentle pressure from Faith's hand gave an affirmative answer to the +bold question of the youth. + +The joy of the children, which the grandmother's remonstrances only +increased, was every moment becoming more bold and noisy. Without aim +or object a crowd of lights were now set afloat in the mimic ocean, and +apple cuttings and bread bullets flew like bombs among them, causing +immense damage and innumerable shipwrecks. 'It is enough!' cried +Fessel, the disturbance becoming excessive, and moved his chair from +the table. A respectful silence succeeded the wild tumult. The children +dutifully arose, folded their hands with a serious air, and Martin said +grace with decent solemnity. + +The mistress of the house now invited her beloved guests to retire to +rest; that they might sleep away the fatigues of the day; but the +children, who had again become as noisy as ever, and had not the least +inclination to sleep, strongly opposed the movement. + +'It would be fine indeed,' cried Martin, 'if we should have no writing +of notes.' + +'Pray, pray, dear mother!' entreated the flattering and constant +petitioner, Hedwig. 'You well know that you promised me, if I filled a +writing book without blotting, that I should be indulged with writing +notes, on new year's evening. My last writing book is without a spot, +and you must now keep your word.' + +'Children are the most inexorable creditors,' said Fessel, directing +little Ulrich to bring the writing materials from the counting-room, +while the table was being cleared. + +'This is a strange remnant of the old heathen times,' explained Fessel +to the book-keeper, who looked inquiringly at him. 'It is a form of new +year's congratulation, and an oracle at the same time. You write three +several wishes upon three slips of paper, which you fold and give to +the person who would try his fate. These wishes may be, honors, offices +and success in business, to the men,--chains, bracelets, and new +dresses, to the women,--agreeable suitors to maidens. All place the +notes they have received under their pillows, and the wish contained in +the one which is first opened on new year's morning shall be fulfilled +in the course of the current year.' + +'I always take great pleasure in this sport,' said Katharine to her +mother; 'my husband is always so anxious to fulfil his oracle and to +present me what is wished me in the note I open.' + +'There comes Ulrich!' screamed the children, as he entered, heavily +laden, and deposited his burden upon the table. The notes were +prepared, and the whole family were soon seated around the table, +moving their pens as assiduously as if an instrument was to be drawn +for securing religious liberty. Amidst the scratching of the pens, +which were very awkwardly handled by the younger children, and +therefore made the more noise, arose the admonitions of the father to +sit erect, and of the mother not to bespatter themselves with ink; +which admonitions were obeyed just so long as they were heard. +Meanwhile Dorn was sharply watching the paper upon which Faith was +writing; who, as soon as she became aware of it, covered the writing +with her little hand and whispered to him: 'If you watch me, you will +get no packet from me to-night.' He discreetly drew back and began +writing his notes. + +Fessel now strewed sand upon his last note, enclosed it with the others +and gave the packet with a kiss to his Katharine. The children snapped +their pens to the infinite damage of the well scoured white floor, for +which their grandmother very properly scolded them. Dorn handed his +packet to the beauteous Faith, who hid hers in her bosom, strenuously +asserting that she could think of nothing to write. + +The clock now struck the midnight hour, and a peal of bells from the +tower of the city hall greeted the new year. + +'A happy new year! a happy new year!' shouted the children, springing +from their seats; and the impetuous Hedwig proposed to open the notes +directly, as the new year had already commenced; but Fessel interposed +his decided negative and commanded them to defer it until the actual +rising of the new year sun. + +Amid the noise and confusion of the thousand new year congratulations, +Dorn once more approached the lovely Faith. + +'Must I enter upon the new year without one kind wish from you?' he +pensively asked. She looked at him with embarrassment and irresolution. +At that moment she was called by her mother who was already standing in +the door. The startling call helped her to come to a decision, and, +suddenly drawing the packet from her bosom and smilingly placing it in +Dorn's hand, she hastened after her mother. + +Long did the youth hold the much coveted packet pressed to his lips. +'How much earthly happiness,' said he to himself with deep emotion, +'have I destroyed in my military career. Do I indeed deserve that love +should crown me with its freshest wreaths in a land I have helped to +lay waste?' + +Dorn, who had retired late and awoke betimes with the interesting +little packet under his pillow, found himself at an early hour leaning +against a window in the family parlor, and engaged in examining a +delicate little note. While thus occupied, Faith, impelled by a similar +restlessness, entered the room. As she perceived him whose image had +embellished her dreams, an enchanting blush overspread her delicate +face, and her beautiful blue eyes beamed with love and joy; but when +Dorn, enraptured at the encounter, affectionately tendered her the +congratulations appropriate to the new year's morning, changing her +mood she turned away from him with feigned displeasure and exclaimed: +'Pshaw, captain! I am angry with you. You have wished me two horrible +suitors.' + +'Before I undertake to exculpate myself,' said Dorn, 'only tell me +which you drew from the packet.' + +'The duke of Friedland,' stammered the embarrassed maiden with downcast +eyes. + +'Look me directly in the eye!' cried Dorn, seizing the hand of the +unpractised dissembler. 'Did you really draw no other name?' + +'Ah, let me go,' she murmured, her confusion and maidenly timidity +rendering her still more charming. + +'You do not once ask what wish I have drawn!' said Dorn, holding up his +note. + +'Who knows whether you would tell me the truth,' answered Faith. + +'Have a care,' cried Dorn. 'The suspicion can only spring from a +consciousness that you have deceived me, and that is not fair. I will +set you an example of ingenuousness. You wished a poor mortal to choose +among three daughters of heaven. Love, Hope, and Faith, were inscribed +upon your three notes. My good genius helped me to the best choice. +Love I already had deep in my heart from the moment I first saw you; +Hope visited me last evening; and I only lacked Faith in the certainty +of my good fortune. I drew it with this note.' + +'A gallant officer well knows how to convert trifles into matters of +importance,' said the maiden, repelling the persevering youth. 'I wrote +the three names for you, merely in jest, Faith, Hope, and Charity, +because they follow each other in the calendar.' + +'Only for that reason?' asked Dorn in a tender tone, throwing his arms +around her slender waist. Endeavoring to push him gently back with her +right hand, she dropped a note which Dorn caught up and read before she +could hinder him. + +'Victoria!' shouted he. 'You have drawn my name, as I have drawn yours. +Who can doubt now that we are destined for each other? Obey the +friendly oracle, dear maiden, and become mine, as I am yours, in life +and death.' + +He embraced the lovely creature more ardently, while she, no longer +able to withstand the solicitations of the youth and the pleadings of +her own heart, sank on his bosom, and exclaimed in low accents: 'Thine, +forever.' + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +'Well, really, master Dorn, you begin the portentous new year upon +which we are entering in a very worldly manner,' cried a reproving +voice behind them. Faith shrieked with terror that those blessed +moments should have had a witness, and fled from the room. At the same +time Dorn, displeased at the awkward interruption, turned suddenly +round and stood facing the parson, who viewed him with severe and +reproachful looks. 'Is it well,' at length said the angry preacher, 'to +seduce the inconsiderate sister-in-law of your brother and benefactor +into an amorous intrigue?' + +'You are right, reverend sir,' answered Dorn; 'that would be to do him +foul wrong; but to seek the honorable love of a maiden whom I hope one +day to lead to the altar as my beloved wife, appears to me to be well, +and is not forbidden in the holy scriptures.' + +'You wish to espouse the maiden, then?' said the parson; 'that is quite +a different thing, and I take back my censure. In that case my office +imposes upon me another sacred duty. The maiden is how under my +spiritual care, and I must be answerable to heaven for her religious +principles, which might be perverted by an unbelieving husband. I have +become doubtful of you, from your own conversations, and therefore, as +a called and ordained servant of the word, I ask you, are you an +orthodox Lutheran christian?' + +'You would find it very difficult to justify that question before the +great author of your reformation,' answered Dorn, moodily. 'Know you +not how peremptorily he forbade the professors of his doctrines to +designate themselves by his name?' + +'You wish to evade my question!' cried the parson, feeling the sting, +but endeavoring to conceal the smart. + +'That is not my custom,' said Dorn. 'I will never deny that I adhere to +the doctrines which were first promulgated in Switzerland, and have +thence spread throughout the German empire.' + +'As I feared!' cried the parson. 'A Calvinist, or perhaps even a +Zuinglian! and you wish to take a wife of the Augsburg faith?' + +'Why not?' asked Dorn. 'That God who has disposed my heart toward the +maiden, will not be angry that I choose her as my companion for life.' + +'I much doubt whether you can have and keep a true heart for one who is +of a different faith,' said the parson, shaking his head. + +'God, who is eternal love, pardon you for the doubt, reverend sir,' +said Dorn with emotion. 'It is a sad consideration, that contentions +about unimportant dogmas and forms so frequently divide christians who +should stand united against the common enemy. It would be dreadful if +the feeble chains by which you are yet fettered, after throwing off +those of popery, should bar the way between two innocent individuals, +whose souls have become united by the bonds of holy love.' + +'Unimportant dogmas and forms?' repeated the parson. + +'I consider them so,' answered Dorn. 'Adhering to the words of Christ, +we celebrate, in the Lord's supper, only a holy remembrance of the +Savior; while you, by virtue of the same words, find therein a +mysterious presence of his body and his blood. You ornament your +churches with pictures, of which practice we disapprove. Are such +differences really sufficient grounds for the quarrels and contentions +which the followers of both confessions continue to wage against each +other with such reprehensible bitterness?' + +'You wilfully overlook a principal point,' said the parson; 'the almost +insurmountable partition wall which your Calvin has raised between you +and us. I mean your monstrous doctrine of election. _Aliis vita aeterna, +aliis damnatio aeterna praeordinatur!_ How can you reconcile this +declaration with infinite love and eternal justice?' + +'I willingly give up these doctrines to your disposal,' answered Dorn; +'for they have never formed a part of my creed. Even Calvin himself +stated, that he had some scruples whether predestination could be +reconciled with God's wisdom, the rock upon which this doctrine has +always foundered.' + +'I take this concession for all it is worth,' said the parson; 'but I +cannot pass over your assertion, that our difference upon the subject +of the Lord's supper is a contest _de lana caprina_. Because your +presumptuous reason cannot comprehend the declaration of our Savior, +'this is my body,' you wish to strike it out of the bible; but this we +cannot permit; because we cannot give up one tittle of God's word, and +because the communion solemnity falls to the ground when the mystery +becomes robbed of the wings which bear it up to heaven. If, however, +you take away from the holy scriptures all that is not clear to you, +nothing will remain but a good sensible book, but with no high +revelation which can only be received by pious faith. If you can see +nothing in the sacrament of the Lord's supper but a remembrance of its +founder, you need not partake of the bread and wine. Without this +_medium_ it would be impossible for us to forget our Lord and Master.' + +'Sensual man,' answered Dorn, 'needs sensible signs as symbols of +spiritual things. To be reminded of the author of our religion is to be +reminded of his doctrines; and as he established this solemnity and +consecrated it to the remembrance of himself on the evening before the +death with which he sealed his doctrines, so must it, according to +_our_ creed, be deemed sacred--must soften and purify our hearts, and +inspire us with devout and holy resolutions, which is the important +point in question for you as well as us. We consider the _mystery_ +unnecessary, and we have the voices of the earliest churches with us, +as the transubstantiation doctrine of Paschasius Radbertus, from which +yours but very little differs, was first heard of in the ninth +century.' + +'For a book-keeper and ci-devant military officer you are deeply +learned,' remarked the somewhat excited preacher. + +'My early religious education,' answered Dorn, 'was superintended by a +well informed, clear headed Bernardine monk, who afterwards, like +myself, went over to Zuinglius's belief. I may thank him that I at +least know what the point in dispute is,--a knowledge which, alas, is +needed by many thousands of our brethren in the faith.' + +'I supposed something like that,' said the parson. 'But I interrupted +you. Proceed with your pretended refutation of my arguments.' + +'Excuse me from answering further,' modestly replied Dorn. + +'Because you cannot answer them!' exclaimed the parson in imaginary +triumph. + +'These controversial battles,' calmly continued Dorn, 'have been too +often fought in vain for me to hope that we can be brought to agree. I +have not endeavored to defend my doctrines; but only to show that a +difference in creeds need not divide hearts. I abide by my tenets; but +I believe that you also may attain salvation with yours. Believe you +the same of mine, as I doubt not you do, and we can readily co-operate +for the advancement of the good cause. The remaining topics of +difference are not essential. Here it only concerns us, setting aside +the creeds of men, to hold the doctrines of Christ as the true +teachings of God's holy word, and by them so to govern our minds and +actions that we may win the approbation of a good conscience, a serene +dying hour, and a merciful judgment. That, in my opinion, is the true, +living, christian faith; and whoever has it is our brother in Christ, +whether he calls himself Lutheran, Calvinist, Zuinglian, or even +catholic.' + +'My God! you are then not even a Zuinglian!' angrily exclaimed the +parson. 'This despicable toleration of all opinions is godless +indifference, behind which naturalism and deism conceal themselves. +Were you an intelligent and confirmed heretic, the argument might be +continued; but you are nothing but an _eclecticus_, who seeks in +christianity just so much as suits his purpose, and throws the rest +aside!' + +'Paul said, 'prove all things and hold fast that which is good,'' +interposed Dorn. + +'I am well satisfied that you do not desire to know any thing of the +true faith,' continued the parson; 'and yet it is the only foundation +of our religion. Know you not that Christ himself has said, 'he that +believeth not shall be damned?'' + +'If you could convince me,' angrily remarked Dorn, 'that Christ +intended those words to mean what intolerance would construe them, I +would become a heathen from this moment, and joyfully take my portion +in that hell in which the noble Socrates and just Aristides are +burning.' + +The parson started back with a shudder. Dorn checked himself and +continued in a subdued tone; 'Be not alarmed, reverend sir, at my +audacious words. My belief is not so bad as you fear. Would to God all +christians had it, and then much less of tears and blood would be made +to flow. Now repeat to me, quickly and peacefully to end our strife, +that which Christ pronounced to be the chief commandment of God.' + +'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy neighbor +as thyself,' said the parson. + +'Even thine enemy!' added Dorn. 'How much more then those who only +differ from us in opinion! Here you have my profession of faith, and I +trust in God that I shall be able to stand before him at the last day +with it.' + +'You confound ideas,' cried the vexed parson. 'You speak of christian +ethics, and I am reasoning only of the articles of faith.' + +'Devised by men!' said Dorn. 'I hold the chief point to be the +observance of the system of morals taught by Christ. Do not you also?' + +'No!' emphatically exclaimed the parson after a short pause. + +'No?' asked Dorn with some surprise. 'The divine doctrine that we must +live devoutly to die happily, not the substance of our religion! Ah, my +dear sir, it was your cloth, and not your head or heart, which dictated +that negative. You are too good and too intelligent not to be of my +opinion.' + +'Ah, do not press me with such _argumenta ad hominem_,' said the parson +with excited but not unfriendly feelings. 'In point of fact there can +be no disputing about matters of faith. It must come from within, and +cannot be derived from without. Nevertheless I do not for that reason +give you up. A time will come when you will be no longer satisfied with +cold syllogisms, and you will then seek a refuge in the open maternal +arms of the true faith, in which only you can find peace. Until when, +only let your conduct be as fair as your speech, and I shall at all +events hope that the maiden will not have made a bad choice. One thing, +however, you must promise me with hand and word. Urge not upon your +future wife your unbelief, or half belief, or whatever else you may +choose to call it. Cause her not to waver in her own, which she +has imbibed with her mother's milk. Yet more than the strong and +self-relying man does weak, delicate and suffering woman need a +steadfast faith. You would rob her of a belief, which is capable of +sustaining her in the hour of sorrow and trial, and give her nothing in +return but cheerless and disconsolate doubt; which would be an exchange +unworthy of the magnanimity of a man.' + +'In this case you are for once wholly right, my worthy friend,' said +Dorn: 'and I promise you _with this handgrip_, by God and my honor, to +do as you require. Now let a lasting peace be concluded between us. +When we hereafter meet above, as I firmly believe we shall, when the +scales shall fall from our eyes, when we shall clearly see what we +perceive but dimly here below, then shall we as surely be one in +knowledge as we now are in feeling, and side by side before the throne +of the father of all men shall we unite with full hearts in the song of +praise to the one true God.' + +'So may it be!' cried the parson, pressing the youth's hand and leaving +the room with visible emotion. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +In the forenoon of the 20th January, 1629, a joyful bustle prevailed in +Fessel's house. The floors and steps were carefully swept, strewed with +a beautiful yellow sand, and adorned with evergreens. A large fire was +crackling in the kitchen, before which the spit was turning, and pots +and stew-pans were steaming. The diligent housewife, notwithstanding +the ready assistance of her mother, had her hands full of business; her +two daughters, who insisted on being employed, hindered more than they +aided her; and the sons who, with their cousin Engelmann, had just +returned from school, raced about the house like wild animals, +practically illustrating the '_Dulce est desipere in loco_,' which they +had that day construed in their class. In short, it was the betrothing +day of the beauteous Faith and Fessel's new partner in business, master +Dorn. + +The interesting pair had just returned from the church, where, in +pursuance of a good old custom, they had made their mutual engagements +in the presence of their God, and commended themselves to his +protection by pious prayer. In the house-door they encountered their +brother-in-law, who was returning from the city council-room, where his +attendance had a short time before been required. He was, however, +unusually pale, returned but brief thanks for the joyous greeting of +the lovers, and silently mounted the stairs with a slow and dull +motion, as if he had been troubled with asthma. + +'In God's name, my brother, what has happened to you?' cried Dorn, +returning from the kitchen, where he had left his fair companion. + +'Dark clouds are beginning to overshadow our horizon,' answered Fessel, +with anxious concern. 'Colonel von Goes has arrived, and demands +permission to march through the city with seven squadrons of the +Lichtensteins.' + +'Goes!' exclaimed Dorn, becoming paler than his brother-in-law, and +covering his face with his hands. + +'What is the matter with you?' asked the astonished Fessel. 'Do you +know so much evil of the man?' + +'From the knowledge I obtained of him during my military service,' +answered Dorn, making an effort to command himself, 'I may pronounce +him a good soldier, and a man of honor; but he adheres to the catholic +faith with ferocious zeal.' + +'We are under no obligation,' continued Fessel, 'to admit troops +within our walls, except upon the especial command of his imperial +majesty....' + +'You will not do so on this occasion!' exclaimed Dorn with fearful +vehemence. 'You will render the people of your city miserable if you +open your gates to these dreadful protectors. They have given a +specimen of the manner in which they treat protestants, at Glogau.' + +'What can we do?' said Fessel, shrugging his shoulders. 'The honorable +council have a great inclination to admit them, and for that purpose +hastily called some of the most respectable burghers to the town-house, +to give their opinions as to what answer should be returned to the +request. We honestly stated to the gentlemen what we expected of them. +The colonel then remarked, that he hoped we would not show such +disrespect to the imperial troops, as to compel them to take a wide +circuit round the city in the present cold state of the weather. He +then proceeded solemnly to swear and protest, that he only desired a +passage through the city, and a brief rest for the refreshment and +recovery of the frozen. Indeed, he said he would have no part in God's +kingdom, if any citizen were injured in consequence of the granting of +his request.' + +'For God's sake, trust not to that oath,' begged Dorn. + +'If the colonel be a man of honor, as you say, wherefore not?' asked +Fessel with surprise. + +'Have you forgotten that horrible saying, _haereticis non est servanda +fides_?' cried Dorn. 'No time is to be lost in averting the evil. The +council is still in session. I will accompany you to the town-house, +and ask leave to address them upon this matter. Schweidnitz must not +open her gates to these hordes. They certainly can show no mandate from +the emperor, and if the worst come, we have walls and ditches, and +strong burgher hands accustomed to the use of arms, to defend our +dearest treasure, religious freedom.' + +During this conversation, he had with eager impetuosity drawn his +brother-in-law towards the door. There they heard the distant notes of +a march from trumpets, clarions and kettle-drums, and the confused +murmurs of a crowd reached them from the great public square. + +'We are too late,' sighed Fessel. 'The music comes from the direction +of the Striegauer-gate. The Lichtensteins are already in the city.' + +'Then may God by some miracle give the lie to my fears, and Goes keep +his word!' cried Dorn. 'I anticipate dreadful scenes.' + +Fessel opened the window and listened to the music, which at first +appeared to approach, but afterwards sounded fainter and fainter as if +receding. 'Do you hear?' said he to his distrusting brother-in-law, +'you owe an apology to the worthy colonel for your suspicions. The +troops are already passing out by the Nieder-gate.' + +'God grant it may be so,' sighed Dorn, placing himself by Fessel's side +at the window. 'I am not yet satisfied of the fact, however.' Both +continued listening to the last dying tones of the march. + +'How the ear can deceive one!' said Fessel. 'It now seems to me as if +the music were again approaching.' + +'I fear it does not deceive you this time,' answered Dorn +significantly. At that moment a cry of fear and anguish arose along the +main street, and the worthy serjeant-at-arms of the city council was +seen breathlessly running toward the town-house. + +'Whither with such haste?' cried Fessel to him from the window. + +'God be merciful to us!' cried the serjeant. 'The soldiers have made a +halt at the Nieder-gate, have relieved and dismissed the burgher guard +there, and, turning to the left about, are now marching up the main +street. + +'That indeed does not look much like passing through the city,' sighed +Fessel, closing the window. 'It rather indicates an intention to take +up permanent quarters here.' + +'For the purpose of proselytism!' cried Dorn, despondingly. 'Now God be +merciful to me! For if these villains insult our women, I shall die no +natural death.' + +He hastened forth, while Fessel remained standing at the window +awaiting the event in silent sadness. + +The music of the Lichtensteins sounded nearer and nearer, and soon +their banners, muskets and halberds came waving and glistening up the +street, and in serried ranks the troops came marching into the public +square. 'Halt! order arms!' was now echoed by the commanders. The +muskets and halberds rattled upon the stone pavement with a dull crash, +the music ceased, and the silent and motionless soldiers remained +standing by their arms. Only a malicious smile, which played upon their +dark faces, and the restless and inquisitive movements of their +twinkling eyes, gave them any appearance of being aught but lifeless +statues. + +Katharine and Faith, pale as ghosts, followed by their mother, now +burst into the room. The children, naturally excited by these unusual +occurrences, crowded in after them, to get a better view of what was +going forward. + +'Have the Lichtensteins turned back?' simultaneously asked or rather +shrieked the three women, as Fessel directed their attention to the +human masses in the public square. 'My end has come,' groaned the +matron, sinking down upon a seat. The children hastened to the window, +and in their innocent ignorance right heartily enjoyed the view of the +brilliant uniforms, splendid standards and glistening arms of the +soldiers. + +'Children,' said Fessel calmly, 'lamentations and complainings cannot +help us. Let us not, in the present emergency, lose our presence of +mind, which in times of misfortune is the greatest misfortune. I will +go to the compting-room, and as far as possible during the short time +that remains to us, place my property in safety. My Katharine will +hastily collect the most valuable of our things, and conceal them in +the under cellar. I will afterwards see what course is required for our +personal safety. My mother and sister-in-law must meanwhile prepare for +the quartering of the soldiers. As a well conditioned merchant, and a +warden of the evangelical church, I may expect that a full share of +them will be assigned to my house.' + +'It is fortunate that we have a repast already provided for them,' +sighed Katharine, seeking, among a bunch hanging at her girdle, for the +key of the plate closet. + +'Provided for the betrothal-feast of our good sister!' said Fessel, +compassionately caressing the cold cheek of the maiden. 'Poor child! +they will leave you little enjoyment of it to-day.' + +'Only see!' cried little Hedwig at the window, 'the officers are all +crowding around a tall stately chief, and our alderman Newmann is +standing near him with uncovered head and a great number of slips of +paper in both hands.' + +'The tall officer is the colonel,' said Fessel to them by way of +explanation, 'They are drawing tickets for their quarters.' + +'My God!' suddenly shrieked Faith, who had stepped to the window, and +flew back to the remotest corner of the room. + +'What is the matter with thee, sister?' asked the sympathizing +Katharine, hastening to her side. + +'It is all over with us,' sighed Faith, pressing her little hands upon +her beating heart. 'One of the officers suddenly stared wildly up +towards the house. I saw his face but for an instant, and it was partly +shaded by his plume; but I recognised it so certainly and with so much +alarm that I could not help screaming. It was childish, I know. Pardon +me that I frightened you so needlessly. How could this man come here at +the present time? and what a fool I was instantly to fear the worst!' + +'Of whom do you speak, my daughter?' asked the anxious widow; and, as +Faith was about to explain, Dorn rushed into the room. + +'Save yourself!' he cried. 'Your persecutor, the broken captain of +dragoons, now commands a company of the Lichtensteins, and is +endeavoring to get your brother-in-law's house for his quarters. His +hellish object is obvious, and he may be expected here every moment.' + +'Then are we all lost,' groaned the mother. + +'Not yet,' said Katharine, with calm self-possession. 'Listen to my +proposal. These soldiers cannot stay here forever. While they remain, +mother and sister can conceal themselves in the dry vault back of the +cellar, whose opening in the garden is concealed by the thick grove of +yew-trees. We can pile up boxes and casks before the door, and every +evening convey to them provisions and consolation. + +'The captain shall be told,' interposed Dorn, 'that you fled from +Schweidnitz the moment you heard of the approach of the Lichtensteins. +God reward you, Katharine, for the lucky thought.' + +'You will accompany us in our hiding place, beloved sister will you +not?' asked Faith. + +'Shall I take my husband and children into your circumscribed retreat?' +smilingly asked Katharine; 'or could you really and in earnest ask me +to desert the dearest objects on earth to me? Nor is there any reason +why I should. You have a sufficient cause for concealing yourself, +having offended a bad man who would probably improve the first +opportunity to avenge himself. I am only threatened with the same +misfortunes every family in the city must expect, and with God's help I +must endeavor to bear them.' + +'She is entirely right,' decided the mother. + +'My noble wife!' cried Fessel, embracing his courageous and confiding +spouse. At the same instant Hedwig, who was still at the window, cried: +'There comes a hateful red-bearded officer directly towards the house, +with a whole troop of soldiers behind him.' + +'Then indeed there is no time to be lost,' said Dorn, hurrying the +mother and daughter from the room. 'Farewell!' cried the women to each +other. 'God's angels protect you!' said Fessel, proceeding to the door, +at which the Lichtensteins were loudly knocking. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +At the head of the table, which had been beautifully adorned for the +betrothal-feast, the red-bearded captain had seated himself in terrible +majesty. Desiring, for the present, to appear unusually gracious, he +had invited the heads of the family and their children to take places +at the table. The hospitality so kindly extended to them in their own +house by a stranger, imparted no especial pleasure to those invited. +The children had formed the heroic resolution of not eating a morsel, +merely to show their dislike to the detestable red-beard. Fessel looked +with a gloomy brow directly before him; while the faithful Katharine +forced herself to introduce and sustain the conversation, that a want +of occupation might not give the fiend leisure for evil thoughts. Four +arquebusiers guarded the doors, and in every part of the house arose +the boisterous songs of the converters, who were revelling with +Fessel's choicest wines. + +'We are satisfied,' said the captain; and, emptying his goblet, he took +off his military cap, murmured some words in a low voice, crossed +himself, again put on his cap, and then, with feigned affability asked: +'So, your mother-in-law left you last night, Herr Fessel?' and as the +latter answered affirmatively, he further asked: 'And her daughter, +little Faith,--did the good woman take her with her?' + +'Certainly!' stammered Fessel, who was not altogether prepared for this +close examination. + +'Strange!' said the captain, extending his goblet to the lady of the +house to be replenished. 'How a man's eyes may deceive him! As I was +standing with the other officers before the house three hours since, I +would have sworn that I saw the little Faith standing at that very +window.' + +'It was probably me whom you saw, captain,' interposed Katharine. 'You +must have observed that I resemble my sister very nearly.' + +'Possibly!' observed the captain with a still more hateful smile. 'You +had, indeed, at that time, a rose-colored band in your blond hair, and +now you have brown locks and a black plaited cap. However, that is +not so very strange. Women's toilets often produce much greater +transformations.' + +At this moment a violent outcry was heard from without. Fessel hastened +from the room, and soon returned with his eldest apprentice, who was +profusely bleeding from a wound on the head. + +'What is the matter?' asked the captain, addressing himself to the +wounded man. 'How dare you thus disturb me while at table?' + +'By your leave, captain!' said the apprentice, with confidence; 'your +sergeant has robbed me of all the money I had about me, and then beat +me over the head with his sword because I had no more to give him. It +was proper that I should complain to you in order that you might take +measures to punish the outrage.' + +'You did not know how to behave yourself properly, my son,' said the +captain. 'My people are always kind and harmless as children to all who +are complaisant towards them, and give them every thing they desire. Go +and have your wound dressed, and be more careful another time.' + +'Is that all the satisfaction I am to get for my injuries?' asked the +apprentice, irritated by the pain of his wound, and still more by the +captain's contemptuous answer. + +The captain's eyes flashed like two baneful meteors. +'Satisfaction!--injuries! How dare you, a damned heretic, use such +words in my presence? vociferated he, starting from his seat. You ought +to thank God that my sergeant did not cleave your head asunder. Pack +yourself hence, if you do not wish that I should complete the work he +began.' + +He grasped his sword, the young man sprang beyond his reach, and +Katharine, in soft and soothing tones, besought the savage to be +pacified; but the last link of the chain, by which his natural +brutality had hitherto been restrained, was now broken; the wild beast +in human form was let loose, and yielded only to the most savage +impulses. + +'Do you suppose, vagabonds,' roared the fiend, 'that we have come here +to keep strict discipline and to wait quietly for what you may please +to dispense to us? We are come to chastise you for your heresy, which +is a revolt alike against God and the emperor. We are come to convert +you to the true faith; and if your stubbornness will not suffer our +object to be accomplished by fair means, you are given over to us as a +prize, with your property and lives, bodies and souls, to be tormented +by us to our heart's content, until you are brought to repentance and +an abandonment of your abominable opinions, or sink in despair.' + +'No, captain,' cried Fessel, with manly firmness; 'that is not the will +of our emperor, and I should consider it treasonable to believe your +scandalous assertions. Nor was that the condition upon which we +admitted you within our walls. From your colonel's own mouth have I +heard quite a different speech, and I shall go and ask him if he is +about to give the lie to his own words.' + +'First go to your own chamber as an arrested prisoner,' said the +captain, with a smile of contempt; 'until I have had you tried for your +rebellious speech. Lead him forth!' commanded he to the guards. 'Lock +him up, watch him sharply, and if he attempts to escape shoot him +down.' + +'Eternal justice, judge and avenge!' cried Fessel, as the soldiers +dragged him away. + +'Mercy!' implored his faithful wife, clasping the captain's knees; but +the latter disengaged himself from her, put the children, who pressed +around her, out of the room, drew Katharine to a window, and in a low +voice said to her, 'you see that I can be either good or bad as you +would have me. Upon you alone it depends how I shall further proceed. +Therefore answer me honestly and truly, where is your sister?' + +'She fled last night,' answered Katharine, with calm firmness; 'to +escape the horrors which threaten us. Whither, I do not consider it my +duty to inform you.' + +'This is fine!' exclaimed the captain, grinning like a Bengal tiger +when his keeper compels him to show his teeth. 'I like to know how +people feel towards me. I now go to my colonel, and you shall soon hear +from me again.' + +He departed, and the children, again rushing in, embraced their mother +with loud lamentation. Katharine sank upon her knees, and her children +with her, and, raising their eyes and hands towards heaven, with a +bleeding heart but nevertheless with confidence, the pious woman prayed +in the words of the royal psalmist: 'Why art thou cast down, O my soul? +and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God; for I shall yet +praise him for his countenance who is my help and my God.' + +The boisterous sorrow of the children subsided into gentle weeping, and +from every lip was heard the loud, believing, joyful, amen!' + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Some days later, Katharine was sitting with her children at the close +of day and exerting herself to read by the fading twilight a letter of +consolation which her imprisoned husband had thrown to little Ulrich. +The door was cautiously opened and a soldier in the Lichtenstein +uniform hesitatingly entered. + +'Do not be alarmed,' whispered he, as they shrunk from his approach. 'I +am Dorn, and have smuggled myself into the house in this disguise, that +I might bring you consolation and see for myself how you were situated. +Your mother and sister are in health and safety, and send kind +greetings to you. Nor need you be anxious on your husband's account. I +am certain that it is better for him to be in confinement than to be +free and expose himself to the outrages to which every hour gives +birth, and do things in moments of passion and excitement which would +only make matters worse. Should his situation become more critical, I +shall always be near him.' + +'In God's name, master Dorn, what is to be the end of all this?' +anxiously asked Katharine. + +'A city full of catholics,' answered Dorn with a bitter smile. 'The +count of Dohna has arrived to-day. That is a sufficient reason for +fearing the worst. From a renegade, who expects to win the principality +of Breslau by his tyrannical fury, nothing is to be hoped.' + +'Then God help us!' sobbed Katharine, wringing her hands. + +'By means of our arms, if it cannot be otherwise,' said Dorn, with +energy. 'I have carefully avoided encountering your worthy guest, +because I well know that one of us must in that case remain dead upon +the spot, and that would little help you in any event; but, if it +becomes necessary, I will strike the devil to the earth and free you +from him.' + +'No,' anxiously entreated Katharine; 'no murder on our account.' + +'That is man's work, dear lady,' said Dorn. 'No woman can reason upon +the subject. Every one must act according to his conscience. It will be +well for me and him if the necessity does not occur.' + +A gentle and afterwards a more decided knock was heard at the door. A +voice asked, 'are you alone, madam Fessel?' and directly the pale and +bleeding face of parson Beer peered into the room. + +'How pale you look! what has happened to you?' cried the frightened +Katharine. + +'My face bears the marks of the converting zeal of the imperial +apostles,' answered the parson with suppressed anger. 'Most terribly do +these Lichtensteins deal with the servants of the word. I have escaped +with less injury than some of my brethren. Me they only misused and +smote with their side arms, because I preached the truth to them with +the sharp fire of the spirit which had come upon me. I heed it not, and +even consider myself honored by the blows I received; one of which came +near making me a martyr. My worthy associate, Bartsch, was much more +shamefully treated, and my blood boils and foams when I think of it. +That they hustled, abused and plundered him, might be passed over; but +the hellish crew, adding to these outrages the most shameful scorn and +mockery, compelled that man of God to dance before them; himself, his +wife, and children to dance, like the infatuated Israelites before the +golden calf. For which the reprobates will one day be compelled to +dance to the howlings of damned spirits in the everlasting fire +prepared for the devil and his angels!' + +'How goes it with the poor citizens?' asked Dorn, for the purpose of +diverting the attention of the zealot from the occurrences which had so +excited his anger. + +'As might be supposed, very badly,' answered the parson. 'The counter +reformation may be said to have dated its commencement from the arrival +of the terrible Dohna. The soldiers are quartered only upon the +protestants, to whom they say, 'the moment you go and confess to the +Dominican or Franciscan priests, and bring a certificate of the fact, +that moment we will leave you and go elsewhere.' When the poor people +have been thus oppressed until they can bear it no longer, they become +frantic and repair to the priests for the certificate of confession. +The tormenting fiends then leave them and are distributed among such of +their neighbors as yet hold to the true faith, and treat them in the +same manner, until they, overcome by the weight of the burthen, also +go, like Peter, and deny their lord and master in the churches of their +adversaries. In this way we clergymen have each sixty men quartered +upon us, and the aldermen the same number. Burgomaster Yunge has +already over a hundred men to provide for, and if the apostacy extends +much further, the last true believing christian of Schweidnitz will +have the whole seven squadrons of converters collected in his own +house.' + +'Why do not the wretched people flee and abandon house and home, +property and sustenance?' asked the excited Dorn. + +'So they would have done, by thousands,' answered the parson; 'but the +converters will not let them go. The citizens are kept prisoners in +their city, and every householder is confined to his house. The gates +are closed, and each family is guarded by those who are quartered upon +it. In vain have some of our wealthiest citizens offered to give up all +their property with the promise never to ask for it again; in vain have +others sought death rather than a continuance of their sufferings. That +is not the object of our oppressors, whose only answer to all our +prayers is, 'you must embrace our faith.' + +'I have heard enough,' cried Dorn, with bursting rage. 'Say no more, +or, unable to restrain my wrath, I shall strike some of the hounds to +the earth and thereby bring my life to a sudden end. Farewell, Frau +Katharine,--I return to my hiding place; but shall not be far off, and +most joyfully will I lay down my life, if need be, in defence of you +and yours.' + +He strode forth,--the parson stepped to the window, through which the +bright moon was pouring its silver light, and, while watching Dorn's +retreating steps, convulsively pressed his hands across his breast and +gave frightful utterance to the following imprecation: 'Thy hand shall +find all thine enemies, Thy right hand shall find them that hate thee. +Thou wilt melt them as in a furnace when thou lookest upon them; the +Lord will consume them in his anger, fire shall devour them. Their seed +wilt thou destroy from the face of the earth, and their names from +among the children of men.' + +'God preserve us, reverend sir,' interposed Katharine. 'How can you +offer up such a horrible prayer? Rather should you remember and imitate +the forgiving spirit of our Savior when he prayed; 'Father, forgive +them, for they know not what they do!' + +'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,' he tremblingly +repeated after her, his anger rebuked by the divine sentiment, and +submissively raised his eyes toward the exhaustless source of love and +mercy. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +The next morning Katharine was sitting in her closet, with her infant +at her breast. Over its rosy cheeks rolled the mother's tears in quick +succession. Her other children were pressing around her, like chickens +who seek to hide themselves under the mother's sheltering wings, and +all were tremblingly and silently listening to the cries of lamentation +which occasionally arose from the neighboring dwellings, evincing the +activity of the tormentors. + +The clattering of spurs was heard at the door, which was immediately +thrown open, and the captain entered the room, accompanied by a file of +soldiers. + +'I am now satisfied!' cried he. 'I have subjected your cook to a sharp +examination. You have more food prepared daily than is necessary for +the family. Dishes are secretly conveyed away full and returned empty. +I am therefore satisfied that your relatives have not departed; but are +yet in the city, perhaps in this very house, and my duty requires me to +insist on their immediate appearance, that they may become participants +in the reformation which we bring to this deluded city.' + +'I have nothing more to answer upon that subject,' said Katharine with +firmness. + +'No?' asked the captain, grating his teeth. 'Will you bring me a +certificate of confession?' + +'Not to all is given such greatness of mind as to enable them to change +their faith according to the emergencies of the moment,' said +Katharine, with a bitterness which the unworthiness of the tempter +forced from her naturally mild heart. + +'Still scornful!' growled the captain. 'The cup now runs over. To the +cellar with this brood of young heretics!' thundered he to his +soldiers, who immediately forced the children from the room. 'My +children!' shrieked Katharine, making an effort to rush after them; but +the captain dragged the unhappy mother back. + +'The sands of mercy have run out,' he exclaimed; 'and the hour of +vengeance approaches. It is now no longer question of the runaway girl. +I have torn from my heart my sinful passion for the heretic, and have +to do only with you and your heterodoxy. I give you an hour to consider +whether you will return to the bosom of the mother church. If you then +obstinately choose to adhere to your erroneous belief, I will probe +your breast yet deeper, and by all the saints I swear to you that I +will find your heart.' + +He left the room. 'Preserve me from desperation, O God!' cried +Katharine, pressing her infant to her bosom and sinking powerless to +the earth. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +When she awoke she was sitting in a chair with her slumbering babe in +her arms, and before her stood, with weeping eyes, an old Franciscan +monk belonging to the city convent, upon whom she stared with wondering +and uncertain glances. + +'Calm yourself, dear lady,' said the old man in a friendly tone. 'The +cowl I wear may be doubly hateful to you in this heavy hour; but it +covers a heart that feels kindly and truly for you. I have heard of +your sufferings and have come to bring you succor. I have not forgotten +the kind attention and care I received in your house when, six years +ago, I came here from Breslau as a mendicant lay brother, and fell +fainting before your door. There were indeed hard-hearted Lutherans who +chid you for your charity and said you ought not to trouble yourself +about the beggarly papist priest,--but you answered that it was your +christian duty to succor a fellow christian. That was a noble +sentiment, and has ever since remained engraved upon my heart, and I +have daily offered up my prayers that God would bless you for it +through time and eternity. It is true that by some of my brethren this +prayer for a heretic has been considered sinful; but I have answered +them, '_Solum de salute Diaboli desperandum_,' and that it may please +the Lord in his mercy to bring this good woman one day, if even upon +her death bed, into the embrace of the only saving church.' + +'May God reward your love, my good father,' said Katharine with a +feeble utterance. 'A kindly human heart is always deserving of respect +and esteem, even though it wander in error.' + +'I came not,' answered the monk, 'to hold a controversial discussion +with you. My only wish is to warn you of what must necessarily and +absolutely be done, if you would save your mortal body, to say nothing +of your immortal soul. You must know that it is the irrevocable +determination of the emperor that all the protestants in his hereditary +dominions shall return to the true faith, and for that sole purpose has +he sent his troops to this city. It is true that these soldiers conduct +themselves here in a manner which no true catholic can justify, and +should one of these so called _converters_ stray into my confessional, +he would have a hard time of it. But so it is, and I, a poor feeble +monk, have no power to avert the evil. The Jesuits, who hold the +emperor's heart in their hands, might and should have prevented it; but +they have kindled the fire and poured oil thereon. Wherefore I say, +yield to the times, for they are dangerous. Without a certificate of +confession your tormentor will not leave you--he dares not, even if he +would. I bring you the necessary certificate. The urgency of the moment +will not permit a formal confession, and you therefore need only +subscribe to these articles. You can send your certificate to count +Dohna, and receive in exchange for it one from him, which will relieve +you from the presence of these soldiers.' + +'Excuse me!' cried Katharine. 'In the faith in which I have lived, will +I also die. I cannot subscribe.' + +'How now, so good and yet so stubborn!' exclaimed the reverend father. +'At least read what you are required to subscribe, before you refuse. +After reading it, you can subscribe or not, according to the dictates +of your own judgment. These sacred truths must, I should think, be +capable of striking the pure springs of true knowledge from the hardest +heart.' + +Katharine ran her eyes rapidly over the articles. As she came towards +the close, she read aloud. 'I swear, that through the intercession of +the saints I have now become converted to the catholic religion.' + +'Place your hand upon your heart, reverend father,' cried she, +springing up, incensed, 'and then say upon your sacred sacerdotal oath, +shall I not be guilty of perjury, if I swear that what I do out of fear +of an earthly power, is done through the spiritual effect of the +intercession of the saints?' + +The monk silently folded up the paper. + +'You see there can be no help for me,' said Katharine with humble +resignation. 'Leave me, therefore, to my fate, and take with you my +heartfelt thanks for your good intentions.' + +'You are a very obstinate woman!' said the monk, with evident and deep +sympathy. The longer his eyes rested upon her pale, pious and suffering +face, the more his sympathy increased, until at length, amid a flood of +gushing tears, he cried, 'I know that I commit a deadly sin, but I +cannot do otherwise. Take the certificate, which alone can put an end +to your sufferings.' + +'How! without confession or signature?' asked Katharine with +astonishment. + +'I have given to my God the offering of a long life,' cried the old man +with vehemence, 'full of heavy privations and hard struggles. He will +now, therefore, be a merciful judge to me, and after long and severe +penance will pardon me for once lending the aid of my holy office for +the purpose of deception. Yet, should I even incur his everlasting +anger, I cannot do otherwise. I cannot leave my benefactress to be +persecuted to death, even though I may one day be compelled to enter +the dark valley of the shadow of death, without absolution. Take the +certificate.' + +'God forbid!' said Katharine, tearing it in pieces, 'that I should rob +you of your soul's peace and disturb the tranquillity of your dying +hour. Nor would my own conscience permit me to accept your offer. Every +use which I should make of this paper would be an act of apostacy from +my own faith; if a hypocritical use, so much the worse. 'Be not +deceived, God is not mocked.'' + +'Woman, thou art more righteous than we!' cried the monk, with deep +emotion; and, covering his head with his cowl, he departed, weeping +audibly. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +The infant was still slumbering upon Katharine's bosom. The door was +again thrown open and the captain entered, this time without +attendants, bolting the door after him. + +'The hour is past,' said he with a demoniac smile. 'Have you a +certificate?' + +'No,' answered she, and at that moment the child in her arms awoke and +cried for its nourishment. 'Poor thing,' said she, bearing it towards +an alcove. + +'Where are you going?' asked the captain, seizing her arm as though he +would crush it in his ferocious grasp. + +'To nurse my child,' answered Katharine. 'You cannot wish that I should +do it in the presence of a stranger!' + +'You shall not nurse your child!' cried the captain, forcing it from +her arms. 'It shall not imbibe heresy with its mother's milk.' + +'What would you with my child, horrible man?' shrieked Katharine, +rushing upon him. + +'There it shall lie,' said he, putting it upon the floor. + +The poor infant uttered the most lamentable shrieks. + +'For God's sake, let me go to my child!' exclaimed Katharine. 'It is +dying.' + +'In that case I shall have saved a soul to heaven,' answered the +captain. + +'You cannot be a man!' cried the miserable mother. 'You must be satan +disguised in the human form.' Convulsive spasms seized her. Her eyes +closed, her lips became blue, and her senses fled. + +Some one knocked loudly at the door. 'Are you here, Frau Katharine?' +asked a voice which the captain recognized with terror. + +'Back!' cried the sentinel without. 'The captain is with the lady.' + +'The captain! and she answers not, and the child is screaming!' +exclaimed the same voice, with wild alarm,--and powerful blows +thundered upon the door. + +'Back!' again cried the sentinel, and immediately afterwards, with the +exclamation, 'Jesus Maria!' a heavy fall was heard near the door, which +now flew in fragments. Dorn rushed into the room over the body of the +wounded sentinel, who lay groaning upon the floor, with a drawn sword +in his hand. The captain sprang to meet the intruder, but shrunk back, +pale and trembling, the moment he recognized him. + +'Cut him down from behind!' cried he to his soldiers who now came +rushing into the room. + +'Down to hell!' thundered Dorn, thrusting the captain through the body. +With a frightful death-cry he fell to the earth, and Dorn threw down +his bloody weapon, 'I am your prisoner,' said he, with imposing +dignity, to the soldiers, and took the child from the floor. 'Call the +maidens to take care of the mother and infant, and then lead me to your +colonel, to whom I have something of importance to say.' + +Hardly knowing what they were about, the astonished and confounded +soldiers obeyed the bold youth. With loud cries the maidens rushed in +to assist their adored mistress and quiet the screaming infant. Dorn +impressed a last kiss upon the hand of the insensible Katharine, and +then in a commanding tone he cried to the soldiers, 'now forward!' +leading them off with a step as proud and as confident as if he were +marching to battle and victory. + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +The generalissimo of the converters, count Karl Hannibal von Dohna, +with the governor, baron von Bibran, the Jesuit, Lamormaine, and some +field officers, were sitting at a table, in the quarters of colonel von +Goes. A large pile of ready prepared tickets, for quarters, were lying +upon the table, among flasks and goblets, and the gloves and swords of +the officers. A crucifix, kept upon the table for momentary use, seemed +to look sorrowfully upon the horrors which were here perpetrated under +its sanction. At the door stood colonel von Goes, to whom a deputation +of the inhabitants of the suburbs were complaining with trembling +humility, that his quarter-master had exempted each householder among +them, for the sum of two dollars each, from having troops quartered in +their houses, and now he had compelled them to receive two squadrons, +who were allowed to oppress them with every species of cruelty. + +'If the quarter-master has deceived you,' answered the colonel, 'he +will not escape due punishment; but you must submit to the quartering +until you return to the only true church; for on no other condition can +you be relieved.' + +The poor denizens departed with heavy hearts. 'Inquire into this +villany,' said the colonel to a subaltern officer, 'and if you detect a +rogue, let him be arrested and reported.' + +The officer went in obedience to the command. The colonel seated +himself with the others, drained a goblet, and striking his fist upon +the table, exclaimed, 'a curse upon this whole expedition!' + +'Jesus Maria!' cried Bibran and Lamormaine, crossing themselves, while +Dohna earnestly inquired why he uttered such an imprecation. + +'Because so much baseness, sir count,' fiercely answered Goes, 'mingles +with the performance of our great and holy duty. Our people plainly +show, that they are more anxious about the gold than the souls of the +heretics. Every thief in the regiment will become a rich man in +Schweidnitz. In the end it will become a disgrace to be called a +Lichtensteiner, and I have a hundred times regretted, that in my pious +zeal I opened a path for the entrance of these vagabonds into the poor +city.' + +'It could be wished,' interposed father Lamormaine, in a conciliatory +manner, 'that the business had been undertaken in a less public and +violent manner, and I have heretofore expressed the same opinion to the +count. This open and public assault upon these heretics will serve as a +warning to the others, and enable them to rally in their own defence. +By rallying their forces they will learn their strength; their courage +and obstinacy will increase, all who suffer for their erroneous belief +will be considered martyrs, and in the end they will make many +converts. We should have operated cautiously and quietly; commencing +with them softly, we should have increased the pressure by slow +degrees, and should have thus avoided every open scandal. A constant +dropping will wear a stone, and I am confident that we could easily and +quietly have converted all Silesia in the course of a year.' + +'Yes, that is the way with you gentlemen with shaven crowns,' cried the +count with a savage laugh. 'You step very softly by nature, but when +you have an object to attain, you also bind _felt_ upon the soles of +your shoes. Not so with me. My motto is, 'bend or break,--and so far I +have found it a very good one. I can boast of having accomplished more +than the apostle Peter. He indeed, upon one occasion, converted three +thousand souls by preaching a sermon: but I have many times converted a +greater number in a day, and that too without preaching. One year for +Silesia! Give me soldiers enough, and I will convert all Europe for you +in a year, by my method.' + +'What sort of a conversion would it be?' asked Lamormaine, shrugging +his shoulders. At that moment Dohna's adjutant entered the room. + +'The rich Heinze,' whispered he to his chief, 'will make a present to +you of that costly writing table, if you will allow him the quiet +enjoyment of his faith. You know the splendid article, the one for +which the duke of Leignitz offered him four thousand dollars. It is +below. + +'I will be with him directly,' cried Dohna, and taking a blank license +from the table, he hastened out. + +Meantime a tumult out of doors had attracted the whole company to the +windows. 'Do you know the cause of this disturbance?' asked Goes of the +adjutant. + +'A merchant's clerk has killed captain Hurka in his quarters,' answered +the latter. 'The guard are bringing him here.' + +'That Hurka must have learnt the art of tormenting from satan himself,' +growled the colonel. 'What was the provocation?' + +'They say,' answered the adjutant, 'that, in order to compel his +hostess to procure a certificate of confession, the captain tore her +infant from her breast, and threw it upon the floor.' + +This announcement caused a universal and simultaneous shudder among +those present, despite the triple mail of pride and intolerance which +encased their hearts, and Lamormaine discontentedly remarked, 'that is +the way to _make_ heretics, not to convert them.' + +'This is a case in which mercy, rather than severe justice, should +prevail,' remarked the strong-believing Bibran. 'The captain's conduct +was too horribly severe, and must lead to greater evils.' + +'Let the murderer be led hither,' said Goes. 'I will examine him.' + +The adjutant retired, and soon returned with Dorn in chains and +surrounded by guards. + +As Goes glanced towards him, he started back with fright, exclaiming, +'my God, what a terrible resemblance!' + +Calm and collected, the young man stood there, with his eyes stedfastly +fixed upon the colonel. + +With, much effort the latter recovered his equanimity, and now asked, +'know you what sentence the laws pronounce upon the assassin of one of +the emperor's officers?' + +'I have committed no murder,' resolutely replied Dorn. 'I have only +punished, in the presence of his soldiers, a villain who abused his +power, and trod under foot the holiest laws of nature.' + +'That voice, too!' said the colonel to himself, then turning to Dorn, +'self-avenging is not to be justified. Your act is treasonable, and no +evasion can save your forfeited life.' + +'Well, then, pronounce sentence upon your son!' cried Dorn, with a +sorrow which he could no longer control. + +'Son!' exclaimed all present with the utmost astonishment, and the +horror-stricken Goes fell back into a chair, sighing, 'it is, indeed, +my son!' + +The son beheld his father with deep emotion, and his tears freely +flowed at the sight of the old man's grief. At length, falling upon his +knee, he stretched forth his hands and said, 'I am sensible that +according to your laws my life is forfeited; therefore give me your +blessing, and then quickly pronounce the sentence that shall bring +peace to this troubled heart.' + +'Oswald, Oswald!' cried Goes, 'what a terrible meeting, after ten years +of separation! Wretched youth! why did you flee from your father's +house?' + +'The conflicting opinions which now lacerate Germany,' answered the +youth, 'placed a dreadful gulf between you and me. The idea of +constraining the consciences of men by means of the sword was revolting +to me, and, unable to approve or participate in your acts, and +shuddering at your sectarian zeal, I left you, that no unnatural +contest might arise between father and son.' + +'Where have you been until now?' asked the colonel with an anxiety +which indicated that he feared to hear the worst. + +'In the military service of Denmark,' answered Oswald, 'until two years +ago I found here in Schweidnitz, in the seclusion of humble life, the +peace and quiet which I sought.' + +'In the Danish service!' murmured the colonel; 'fighting for heresy +against the mother church!' + +His grief overpowered him. At length he roused himself by a powerful +effort from the whirlpool of conflicting feelings into which he had +sunk. 'What could prompt you,' he asked his son in a tone of firmness +and severity, 'to the senseless deed of murdering an imperial officer +in a city under the control of his brethren in arms?' + +'Eternal ignomy to the man,' cried Oswald, 'who would see an honorable +woman, a tender mother, a fellow believer, outraged and insulted by a +brutal villain, on account of her faith, and not strike down the +monster, reckless of consequences, as did Peter when his Lord was +assailed!' + +'A fellow believer?' cried Goes with terror. 'Hast thou then become a +heretic?' + +'I hesitate not,' said the youth with modest resolution, 'to avow +myself a believer in the pure faith of Zuinglius.' + +'He cuts me to the heart,' groaned the colonel. Then, summoning +resolution, he turned to Dorn and said, 'I hope you have now perceived +and are ready to recant your errors. That is the only way to save your +life.' + +'Would you have me deny what I believe to be true, through a +pusillanimous fear of death? Is it possible you can have so poor an +opinion of your son?' + +The rage of the proselyting chief, which had been hitherto with +difficulty restrained, now broke through all bounds. He caught the +crucifix from the table, unsheathed his sword, and holding them both +before his son, exclaimed, 'better to be childless than have a heretic +for a son! Choose instantly. Abjure your false belief, or die by my +hands!' + +'You gave me life, my father,' said Oswald; and you can also take it +from me. I remain stedfast in the truth. Therefore end quickly with me, +in God's name.' + +'God of Abraham strengthen me! cried the father, looking wildly towards +heaven and raising his weapon; but Bibran and Lamormaine caught his +arm. + +'God does not require a father to sacrifice his son,' said the +governor. + +'Would you give the heretics cause to curse our holy faith through your +senseless fury?' cried the Jesuit to him, in a tone of reprehension. + +'Take him to prison!' commanded Dohna, who had returned to the room. +'He may there consider until morning, whether he will or will not +abjure his heresy.' Should he continue obstinate, I will then permit +justice to take its course upon the murderer of my officer.' + +'God grant thee his light and peace, my poor father! Then shall we +again meet above!' cried Oswald with filial tenderness to the colonel, +who, exhausted by excess of anger, stared wildly about him as if bereft +of consciousness, and finally rushed from the room without speaking. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +Overcome by sorrow for his father's anger, and racked with anxiety for +the fate of his beloved Faith, whom he could protect no longer, Oswald +sat in the criminal's apartment of the guard-house, looking listlessly +through his grated window upon the snow-covered market-place. It was a +cold still night, and the stars shone through the clear atmosphere with +unusual brilliancy. The persecutors and the afflicted were finally at +peace, and had forgotten their insolence and their sufferings in the +embraces of sleep. The clocks of the church towers struck the midnight +hour. The guard was aroused for the purpose of relieving the sentinels +on post, and the rattling of arms resounded through the guard-house. +The noise, however, soon subsiding, quiet again prevailed, and Oswald, +to whom the confused and restless working of his mind had become almost +insupportable, laid his weary head upon the table and tried to sleep. +Just then the bolts were drawn and his door was softly opened. A +corporal of the Lichtensteins, with a dark lantern, and accompanied by +two soldiers, entered the prison. Releasing the prisoner from his +chains, he commanded him, 'follow me to the count!' + +'Am I already sentenced?' asked Oswald, with bitterness. 'Am I to be +executed secretly, under the veil of night? It is a sad confession that +your deeds will not bear the light of day!' + +'Silence!' said the corporal, motioning him to follow. + +'God help me!' cried Oswald, throwing his mantle over his shoulders and +advancing. + +The whole guard were snoring upon their benches, the officer was in his +well warmed little room slumbering amidst his wine flasks, and even the +sentinel without, leaned nodding upon his halberd. He was roused, +however, by the approaching foot-steps, and presenting his halberd to +the corporal he cried, 'who goes there?' + +'A good friend!' boldly answered the corporal, whispering the +countersign. 'We are commanded to bring the prisoner to the general.' + +'Pass!' said the sentinel, shouldering his arms. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + +The four hastened forth together. A sharp wind whistled over the +market, while a raven, scared by the wanderers, arose with loud +croakings from its snowy bed and with its heavy flapping wings slowly +moved away. The shivering youth wrapped his mantle more closely about +him and followed the corporal without troubling himself respecting the +soldiers; these last soon fell into the rear, and, dexterously turning +into another street, disappeared. + +'Here we are,' said the corporal, suddenly turning to Oswald. The +latter, startled from his death-dream, looked wildly about him. He was +standing among the graves in a parish churchyard. + +'Is this indeed to be my last resting place?' he asked, throwing off +his mantle. 'Only direct me where to kneel, and be sure you take good +aim.' + +'Kneel, indeed, you must, my worthy youngster,' cried the corporal, +with joyful emotion, and thank God for your rescue, as soon as you are +in safety; but with the death shot we have now nothing to do. You are +free.' + +'Free!' cried Oswald, now for the first time missing the two soldiers. + +'Have you really forgotten your old friend Florian?' asked the +corporal, throwing the light of the lantern upon his face, of which +Oswald soon recognized the well known lineaments. + +'Thou true friend!' cried Oswald, embracing the good old man with +grateful affection. 'Thou, who once so carefully guarded the boy +against the trifling dangers of youth, wouldst thou now save the life +of the man! I dare not accept the freedom you offer me,' he +thoughtfully added. 'According to martial law you forfeit your life by +this act. Rather than expose you to such consequences, I would prefer +to resume my chains.' + +'Do not trouble yourself,' answered the corporal. 'The two soldiers who +accompanied me are secretly Lutherans, and had previously determined to +desert this night. Your father supposes I am already gone. I have my +discharge in my pocket. Although I am a good catholic christian, I +cannot bring myself to approve of his method of making people blessed, +and prefer quitting the service before I have wholly unlearned to be a +man. As soon as the gates open in the morning I shall leave this +wretched city for my peaceful home. If you are willing to accompany me, +I will provide you with other clothes and pass you off as my son.' + +'No, my old friend,' said Oswald. 'I am bound to these walls by strong +ties. They enclose what is dearest to me on earth; and I must remain +here to watch over and protect, until I succeed in rescuing her, or +fall in the attempt.' + +'Of course you will act your pleasure,' said the corporal. 'Besides, +they will not seek for you very earnestly, for captain Hurka is by no +means dead.' + +'How, Hurka living?' asked Oswald with mingled regret and joy. + +'It is harder to root out weeds than wholesome plants,' said the old +man. 'Your blow was right well intended, but did not penetrate very +deeply, and the long swoon which they mistook for death was only +stupefaction.' + +'Ha, how furiously will the fiend rage again!' cried Oswald with +anxiety and indignation. + +'Make yourself easy upon that score!' said the old man consolingly. 'He +is now disabled by his wound, and your father has caused a lecture to +be read to him, that may well satisfy him for the present. Besides, the +merchant Fessel has been released from his imprisonment, together with +his children.' + +'How stands it with his wife?' asked Oswald. + +'Indeed, she is to be buried the day after tomorrow,' slowly answered +the old man. + +'Eternal God!' shrieked Oswald in the wildest sorrow. 'Vice saved and +virtue in the grave, and shall we yet believe in thy providence?' + +'Yes, my son, we must!' said the old man, reprovingly. 'We must believe +in the Father's guiding hand, not merely in the sunshine before the +gathered sheaves, but also in the tempest which scatters the harvest. +Else have we not the true faith. Treasure up this sentiment, even +though it comes from the lips of an unlettered catholic. It has been a +friendly light to me upon life's weary road, and will continue to cheer +me onward to the grave. Now farewell. The morning wind already blows +across the graves, and I have yet many preparations to make for my +journey. Farewell, and remember me kindly. Should I never see you again +upon earth, God grant that we may hereafter meet where the true +Shepherd shall gather all his lambs, even those who have here strayed +from the flock, into one fold.' + +He once more shook the youth most cordially by the hand, and then with +hasty and vigorous strides left the church-yard. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + +The day appointed for madam Fessel's interment was drawing to a close. +A crowd of people had assembled in the parish church-yard, with weeping +eyes and pallid faces, awaiting in gloomy silence the arrival of the +funeral procession. Two grave-diggers stood leaning upon their spades +beside the open grave. + +The procession came. 'Now for God's sake summon resolution,' said a +young Franciscan monk, whose face was almost wholly covered by his +cowl, to an elderly rustic woman and a beautiful young peasant boy, +whose eyes were almost blinded by their tears, pressing forward with +them to a grassy hillock in the vicinity of the grave. A Lichtensteiner +who had found himself in the crowd, surprised at the exclamation, +placed himself near them and continued to watch their movements +narrowly. + +The mournful hymn of the choristers was now heard approaching. High +waved the crucifix upon the church yard gate, shining silvery bright +through the evening twilight, and the choristers in double ranks drew +slowly toward the grave. After them came the Lutheran preachers, with +their heads cast down. Next came the black coffin upon the shoulders of +the bearers; upon its appearance the whole assembly broke into loud +sobs, and notwithstanding all the efforts of the monk to restrain them, +the peasant woman and young man upon the hillock wrung their hands with +irrepressible sorrow. After the coffin, came the weeping clerks, +apprentices, and household servants. Then followed the bereaved +husband, pale and tearless. With each hand he led one of his little +daughters, who again each led a brother. To them succeeded, a nursery +maid, bearing the little Johannes with his blooming angel face, who +smiled upon the crowd and by his happy unconsciousness stirred the +hearts of the people even more than the sight of the father and +sisters, who followed their best beloved to the grave with a full +knowledge of their irreparable loss. + +An immeasurable line of neighbors and friends closed the procession, +whose tears and sighs, an ample testimony of the worth of the deceased, +solemnized the burial instead of tolling bells and funereal music, +which the rigor of the new church government denied to heretics. + +The corpse had now reached the grave. The bearers sat it down and +removed the lid of the coffin, and a loud lament filled the air at the +sight of the martyr. The kiss of the angel of death had removed all +traces of her late sufferings from her countenance. With softly closed +eyes, and a heavenly smile upon her lips, she lay, as if awaiting that +blessed morning whose aurora seemed already dawning upon her spiritual +vision. + +With outward composure the widower approached the coffin, clasped the +folded hands of the pale corpse, murmured, 'Farewell, thou true one; +soon shall we meet again,'--and silently retired. + +The weeping children now rushed forward, but the clergyman, Beer, +directed the servants to lead them back. He then stepped to the coffin, +requested the audience to be silent, and with a loud voice addressed +them as follows: + + +''Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!' These words of +Christ, with which he prayed for his persecutors, were the last words I +heard from the blessed being whose earthly remains we are now about to +consign to the grave. My anger was inflamed by the atrocities which +were daily committed in our city under the mantle of religion, and I +prayed that the avenging fire of God's wrath might descend and consume +our tormentors. This deceased saint checked my imprecation by calling +to my mind the divine prayer of our holy Savior, and with a chastened +and humble spirit I repeated after her: 'Father forgive them, for they +know not what they do.' + +'And so must you henceforth pray, my hearers. Of the men who now by +divine permission pursue and persecute us, by far the greater number +are acting not from inveterate cruelty but under the influence of a +mistaken sense of religious duty, and desire to lead us back to that +path which they deem the only safe one; and this desire is not +censurable. + +'But that they seek, by means of persecution and torture, to compel us +to receive what they hold to be the true faith,--that they would bind +the immortal spirit with earthly chains, when the word of God cannot be +bound or confined,--therein lies their error. It therefore becomes us +as christians to forgive them; 'they know not what they do.' + +'Even that terrible man whose barbarity has destroyed this blessed +martyr to our faith, knew not, as we charitably hope, what he did,--and +therefore will we not curse him, but pray to God that he will purify +his heart and enlighten his mind. + +'Therefore let us patiently suffer the afflictions which the Lord may +yet send us for our good, without hatred towards the instruments he may +employ for that purpose, and thus seek to become worthy of the glorious +martyrs to the pure Christianity of the first ages, and of this our +blessed friend. Should He require us also to lay down our lives for our +faith, so will we without anger or opposition bow our necks to the +death-dealing axe, and die with the departing exclamation of our +Savior, 'it is fulfilled!--Amen.'' + + +He retired. The lid of the coffin was fastened down, and it was then +lowered into the earth. + +In accordance with a pious old custom, the husband and orphans each +cast three handsful of earth into the grave, as a last farewell, and +the bereaved man then retired, tearless as he had come, while the +children found relief for their sorrow in audible weeping. + +All the spectators now-pressed about the grave to pay the last honors +to the dear departed, and from hundreds of hands fell the earth upon +the coffin below. The young Franciscan also, by great exertion made a +path for himself to the grave; having thrown in his handful of earth, +he hastily caught hold of his companions, and exclaiming, 'now forward, +the moments are precious!' led them away. + +'Why should the moments be so precious to this monk?' mused the +observant Lichtensteiner; and then, after a moment's reflection, he +suddenly cried, 'the captain may be able to explain it!'--and ran from +the church-yard. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + +In a low chamber in the little village of Friedland, eight days later, +lay the aged Mrs. Rosen on the sick bed upon which the effects of her +long confinement in the cellar, the extraordinary exertions consequent +upon her sudden flight, and more than all, her sorrow for the loss of +her beloved daughter, had thrown her. The owner of the house, a +weaver's widow, who had formerly been a servant to her, and who had +been indebted to her liberality for her comfortable establishment, +stood at the head of her bed with a phial and spoon in her hand, and +with a countenance expressive of the tenderest sympathy. Before the bed +sat Oswald and the weeping Faith. + +'Compose yourself, my daughter,' said the matron. 'I shall surely +recover from this illness. Alas, one may suffer much before the thread +of life will break! I feel much better to-day than I did yesterday, and +I hope not to be the cause of anxiety much longer.' + +'God grant it!' sobbed Faith, sinking upon her knees before the bed, +and covering her dear mother's hand with her kisses and tears. + +At that moment Jonas, the widow's son, entered the cottage with his hat +and traveling staff, gave them a melancholy and silent greeting, and +began to unpack his bundle. + +'So soon returned from Schweidnitz?' asked Oswald. 'What is the state +of affairs there?' + +'Still very bad, sir,' answered Jonas. 'The soldiers abuse and oppress +the people in a manner that might soften a heart of stone; and you may +consider it fortunate that you are here.' + +'Did you succeed in speaking to my brother-in-law, my good friend?' +anxiously asked Faith. + +'I saw him last evening, and told and gave him all. He keeps about with +difficulty, to save his household from entire ruin. He gave me this +letter and this bag of gold for you, and sends kind greetings to you +all.' + +Oswald took the letter, broke the seal and read: + + +'The persecution still rages, and I thank heaven that you are for the +present in a place of safety. Immediately after the funeral of my dear +Katharine, the clergymen were all compelled to leave the city. In the +course of the night my house underwent a strict search, and even the +vault in which you were so long concealed did not escape. The captain +has already nearly recovered, and left his bed to-day for the first +time, to wait upon the colonel. The latter, as I understand, gave him a +very unpleasant reception. They afterwards conferred together for two +hours, with closed doors. What was there agreed upon God only knows; +but when the captain returned, I was standing in front of my shop, and +he greeted me in a manner so terribly courteous that it made me +shudder. I have just heard that a squadron of dragoons have orders to +be ready for a movement to-morrow morning at day-break; but their +destination is kept secret. God be merciful to the poor people upon +whom they may fall. I send you what I can spare, and beg that you will +not again write or send any message to me until I make known to you +that you can do so with safety. My guests keep a sharp watch upon me, +and I am very anxious about your last letter, which I mislaid in +consequence of one of the soldiers having interrupted me while reading +it. I yet hope to find it again. God preserve you and me!' + + +A death-like stillness prevailed in the room at the conclusion of the +reading, and no one ventured to express the renewed apprehensions which +the letter had inspired. + +'This is a discouraging letter,' at length observed Oswald, +interrupting the general silence; 'and I begin to fear we are not +entirely safe even here. Would that we had fled to Breslau, as I +advised! The capital of the province, which is at the same time the +seat of government of the principality, will surely be spared the +longest.' + +He was interrupted by a disturbance out of doors very unusual for that +quiet and retired village. People were running to and fro and calling +to each other in the Streets, and Oswald, alarmed, sprang for his sword +which lay in the recess of the window. + +'Go out and see what is the cause of this disturbance,' said he to +Jonas, and bring us word as soon as possible.' + +Jonas obeyed, and his mother observed, 'something very dreadful must +have happened; for the people are running and screaming, as if a fire +had broken out or an enemy were at the gates.' + +'Protect us, Oswald,' begged Faith, leaning tremblingly upon the youth. + +'While I live!' answered he, grasping his sword. + +'Save yourselves--the converters are coming!' cried Jonas, rushing into +the room. + +'It must be a false alarm,' cried Oswald. 'You must be mistaken.' + +'I was told so by a farmer who has just returned from Waldenburg. He +was about to leave that city, when a squadron of the Lichtenstein +dragoons entered it. They dismounted for breakfast, and he had it from +the mouth of one of the soldiers that this village was their place of +destination. Whereupon he immediately left the city and drove home as +fast as possible to give the alarm.' + +'Then we must have at least an hour's start of them,' said Oswald; and +turning to madam Rosen, 'if you feel able to travel, I will immediately +provide a conveyance to Bohemia.' + +'No, my son,' said the matron, with a melancholy smile. 'For this time +I must remain here and await the providence of God. I should only +hinder you in your flight, and you would at last have only a corpse to +convey across the border.' + +'I stir not from your side!' sobbed the tender Faith, clasping her +mother with anxious affection. + +'That would be folly, my child,' said the mother, earnestly, 'and a +very childish demonstration of your love. You and your betrothed are +the objects of the search of our persecutors. They would have little +desire to encumber themselves with me. I have wandered here as a +peasant woman, and our hostess can give them to understand, that I am a +yarn gatherer suddenly taken ill at her house. Your charms, and +Oswald's stately figure render it impossible for you to be concealed in +the same way, and therefore you must instantly forth.' + +'Never!' cried Faith, wringing her hands. + +'It is my will,' said the mother, with decision. 'Will you, my +daughter, increase the sorrows of your sick mother by disobedience, and +betray by your presence what otherwise may remain undiscovered? Would +you see your lover fall before your eyes, unable to defend you against +superior force?' + +'I obey,' sighed Faith; and she hastened to pack a small bundle and put +on her cloak. + +'By the holy faith which we profess in common,' said the hostess, 'you +leave your mother in good hands.' + +'I am sure of that, and consequently depart with confidence,' said +Oswald, leading the inconsolable maiden to her mother's bed-side. + +With bright eyes the mother placed her daughter's hand in that of +Oswald. 'Be ye one, here and hereafter!' cried she. 'That is my +blessing upon your espousals; and now let me beg of you to go directly, +without any leave-taking, for which I have not strength, and which will +rob you of time, every moment of which is invaluable.' + +Faith attempted to speak again, but her mother pointed towards the +door, and Oswald led her forth. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + +Daylight had long since disappeared when Oswald and Faith alighted from +their wagon at a solitary inn beyond the Bohemian boundary. 'Here you +are for the present in safety,' said the conductor who had brought them +from Friedland, knocking at the door. 'The people of the house are +honest, and of our faith at heart. The vicinity is full of secret +Hussites.' + +'Who comes so late?' asked a little, dark-complexioned old woman, +opening the door with her hand held before a flickering torch. + +'A young wedded pair, mother Thekla,' answered the conductor, 'who are +fleeing before the converters. Receive them kindly and take good care +of them. God will reward you for it.' + +'It is but our duty,' said the woman. 'Come in, poor creatures.' + +'Farewell,' said the conductor to Oswald. 'I intend to return directly; +for my wife and children may not be safely left without a protector +among the reckless soldiery.' + +'And, that you have brought me here--' said Oswald, forcing into his +hand a couple of dollars over and above the fee agreed upon.... + +'I have already forgotten it,' said the conductor, laughing. 'Besides, +when I get into the forest, I intend to load my wagon with wood, which +I shall gaily drag into Friedland early in the morning, and nobody will +think of asking me what freight I took thence. May God protect you!' + +He mounted his wagon and drove rapidly away, while Oswald led his +companion into the bar-room. To their great satisfaction it was +tolerably empty. Only in one corner of the room snored three men and +four large hounds on some straw, and at a table near the gray-headed +host, with a goblet before him, sat a large strongly built man in the +dress of a Bohemian peasant. Oswald observed the sabre which the guest +bore, and the large knife in his girdle, with some suspicion; but the +honest lineaments and saddened expression of his brown, haggard face, +again inspired him with confidence. He courteously seated himself at +the table and called for a glass of wine, while Faith was arranging +with the hostess for a supper and accommodations for the night. + +'You are in flight on account of your faith, as I hear, my dear sir?' +asked the stranger in a voice of the deepest bass, and at the same time +glancing at him mistrustfully with his wild, black eyes. + +'The time and weather would have been badly chosen for a journey of +pleasure,' peevishly answered Dorn. + +'You must surely have come from Jauer, or Loewenberg, or Schweidnitz?' +further asked the man; 'for they are very strenuously pushing the +counter-reformation in those places just now. 'You are by far too +curious!' cried Oswald, with displeasure. 'I do not willingly listen to +such questions from strangers.' + +'It is the business of my office to ask questions, my young gentleman,' +thundered the stranger; 'for I am a captain of Bohemian provincial +troops, and am stationed here upon the border to guard against the +influx of Silesian heretics.' + +While he said this, the four hounds sprang up and placed themselves +growling before Oswald, and the three men half raised their bodies from +the straw, their flashing eyes peering from their dark brown faces, and +their well scoured muskets glistening in their hands. Oswald instantly +arose and drew his sword. + +'Put up your weapon!' the man now cried in an altered tone, seizing his +goblet. 'I but wished to be certain of my man. Come, be again quietly +seated, and do me justice in a fresh goblet. The Bohemian goose and +Silesian swan!' + +'Huss and Luther!' cried Oswald touching glasses and emptying his own +with a lighter heart, while the hounds and soldiers again stretched +themselves upon the straw. + +'Do not be offended that I thought it necessary to prove you,' said the +Bohemian; 'but the tricks and artifices of the papists are so manifold, +that these precautions are rendered quite necessary. You might have +been a spy of the Jesuits. Since we now understand each other, however, +I may converse with you without reserve. You are not safe even here. +For my old friend, our host, I will indeed be answerable; but the +converters sometimes come over the border to us; especially when they +deem that they have important game in view; and you appear to me as +though you might be of some consequence. Therefore, if it be agreeable, +I will conduct you and your little wife to a place, where you may dwell +in peace behind the everlasting walls which the Lord himself has built +for the defence of persecuted innocents.' + +'There is no falsehood in that face!' answered Oswald; 'and I accept +your offer with gratitude.' + +'You will not indeed find our residence very elegant,' said the +Bohemian; 'and that delicate female form may be wholly unaccustomed to +such quarters; but necessity reconciles one to privations, and a very +little suffices for our actual necessities.' + +'Be not concerned on that account,' said Faith, who had now seated +herself near Oswald. 'A safe shelter is all we wish.' + +'Well, eat your supper,' said the Bohemian, 'and retire quickly to +rest, that you may be ready to start by day-break in the morning. I +have been long accustomed to watch through the night, and will guard +you faithfully. With the rising sun we shall be among the rocks.' + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Wrapped in his cloak, Oswald was yet sweetly and soundly sleeping upon +the floor, before the only bed in the house, in which his fair +companion was slumbering. A knock was heard at the door, and the +Bohemian cried, 'bestir yourself, sir. The morning breaks, and we must +away!' The youth sprang upon his feet and awoke the maiden with a kiss. +Soon ready to set out, they took a grateful leave of their worthy hosts +and stepped to the door. Every object was obscured by a thick morning +mist; and the sun, like a large red ball of fearful size, was just +rising in the east. + +'Let us wait a little, until the sun has dissipated the mist,' said the +Bohemian, 'lest the lady should hurt her feet among the rocks.' + +They stood a short time, waiting and shivering in the morning wind. +Oswald had thrown his cloak over Faith, and held her closely clasped to +keep her warm. The mist moved before them like a waving ocean, and +apparently resolved itself into numerous dark clouds, which settled +down upon the earth, and seemed to root themselves there. Meanwhile the +sun had mounted higher, the waving of the ocean of mist increased, and +suddenly there came a powerful gust of wind which rent and pressed down +the immense cloud-curtain, when a scene as singular as it was +magnificent, lay before Oswald's astonished eyes. The dark clouds that +had appeared to sink down upon the earth, had changed to huge masses of +gray rocks, which, rising up into the blue ether like countless +palaces, churches and high towers, assumed the appearance of a gigantic +city. Softly rounded snow-domes, crimsoned by the rays of the morning +sun and glistening with thousands of diamonds, adorned the summits of +these natural edifices, and the undying verdure of the pines and firs +which arose here and there from the clefts of the rocks, gave a +cheerful aspect to the view. + +'Great is the Lord, when seen in his works!' cried the enraptured +Oswald, withdrawing his mantle from Faith, to enable her to enjoy the +spectacle. + +Opening her large and beautiful eyes, she stood awhile as if blinded. +'How came this strange and wonderful city here?' asked she with +astonishment 'Is it indeed a city?' + +'Certainly,' answered the Bohemian, laughing. 'We call it the stone +city, and divide it into city and suburbs. It is here, however, +properly called the rocks of Aldersbach.' + +'Are we to go in among those rocks?' anxiously asked Faith, clasping +her Oswald more closely. + +'There is no other way, my child,' answered the latter. 'Be not +alarmed--you see that I am not disturbed, which I should be, if I +anticipated any danger to you.' + +'Ah, you iron-nerved men never anticipate danger until it is close at +hand,' said the maiden; 'and then it is too late to avoid it.' + +'Go on in advance, Lotek,' said the Bohemian to one of his companions. +'Beat the path a little where the snow lies too deep; announce to the +worthy pastor that I bring him guests, and kindle a good fire in my +quarters, that the lady may be rendered comfortable on her arrival.' + +Lotek threw his musket upon his back, whistled to his wolf-dog, stepped +off with long strides, and soon disappeared among the rocks. + +'Now, if agreeable, we also will start,' said the Bohemian. 'The sun is +tolerably high, and I would not willingly remain abroad, in open day.' + +'Come, my child,' said Oswald, offering his arm to Faith, which she +took with a sigh, and they briskly entered among the rocks. The +procession was led by the Bohemian, closed by his armed companions, and +flanked by the hounds. + +'These masses are frightfully high,' said Faith, looking anxiously up +at their summits. + +'They appear so to you,' said the Bohemian, looking back. 'These, +however, are but small affairs. We are now only in the suburbs. In the +city you will see rocks worth talking about.' + +'Heaven take pity on us!' sighed Faith, wandering on until she came to +an open space. Here towered up, solitary and frightful, a single +monstrous gray rock, formed like an inverted cone with its base +stretching high up into the clouds and its apex imbedded in a lake of +ice. + +'Do not go so near, Oswald,' said Faith. 'This large rock must in the +next moment tumble over.' + +'Fear it not,' said the Bohemian. 'This is the Sugarloaf, which has +been standing thus upon its head for thousands of years, and will +surely retain its position long after we are in our graves.' + +They were still advancing, when Faith, who was somewhat ashamed to +exhibit her fears to the Bohemian, whispered to Oswald, 'only see that +horrible gray giant's head projecting over us from between those high +towers. I can plainly discern a monstrous, solemn looking face, +surrounded by flowing gray locks.' + +'That is the burgomaster,' said the laughing Bohemian, who well +understood the whisper. 'So is this sport of nature called, and it is +the most beautiful of any here. You need not fear him, for he is the +only burgomaster on earth who never troubled any one.' + +They continued to proceed farther and farther, until at length they +were interrupted by a purling mountain stream. Beyond it, stood a broad +mass of stone. The Bohemian leaped across the rivulet, rattling down a +quantity of loose stones behind him, and with the humming operation of +some wheel-work, the heavy stone moved slowly aside, and discovered a +low, narrow opening. + +'Do we enter there?' asked Faith in a tone so disconsolate as to call +forth a hearty laugh from all the Bohemians. Even Oswald joined in the +laugh, and, clasping the maiden in his arms, he sprung with her to +the opposite bank. They all now stood within a narrow passage, the +wheel-work again moved, the entrance closed, and they were enveloped in +darkness. + +'It is very dark here!' cried Faith. + +'We shall soon come into the light,' said their leader, advancing. The +others followed, and they thus proceeded in a narrow path, floored with +yielding planks, and bounded by high perpendicular walls of dark gray +stone, between which was seen the dark blue sky--so dark indeed, that +they could almost distinguish the stars in broad day-light. The +trickling water glistened upon the walls like silver threads upon a +black velvet ground; and here and there little waterfalls, forming +dazzling crystals with their congealing spray, bounded down the rocks +and disappeared under the planks upon which they were walking. + +'If we follow this path much longer,' protested Faith, 'I shall die of +fear and anxiety.' + +'For shame, my love!' answered Oswald. 'Will you, who spoke so boldly +for me to the grim Wallenstein, lose your courage here in the bosom of +harmonious nature, where we are especially and wholly in the hands of a +protecting God?' + +'We are at the end!' exclaimed the Bohemian, stepping out into the +clear sunshine. The fugitives followed him, and found themselves in a +narrow but pleasant valley, surrounded by high snow-covered rocks which +cut off this quiet retreat from the rest of the world. A clear, silver +fountain, which gushed from a cleft in the rocks, meandered through the +vale, while among and upon the rocks, like eyries, were to be seen +about ten huts, built of rough branches, and well covered with moss, to +secure their inhabitants from the inclemencies of the weather. Men, +women, and children, were moving in and about these simple dwellings as +quietly and confidently as if they had resided there all their lives. +The fire ordered by the Bohemian twirled its smoke up into the clear +heavens, and there sat Lotek, assiduously turning a haunch of venison +which was roasting before it. An old and venerable man with a long +white beard, in a black clerical dress, and with a black cap +surmounting his white hairs, came forth from one of the best of the +huts to meet the new comers. + +'Welcome, ye who have become outcasts and wanderers for the sake of +your faith!' said he, with solemnity, as he extended to them the hand +of friendship. 'Welcome to the Hussite's Rest. In my hut there is yet +room for you. Come, eat of my bread and drink of my cup. By the grace +of God you have here found an asylum which will conceal and protect you +as long as may be necessary; for the destructive storm which now rages +over the land, reaches not here.' + +'Heartfelt thanks for your hospitable offer, reverend father,' said +Oswald. 'Have you dwelt long among these rocks?' + +'For the last five years,' answered the venerable pastor. 'After our +emperor (who will one day have to answer for the deed before the +judgment seat) destroyed the sacred edict which assured toleration, and +burned its seal, there was no longer peace or safety for the poor +Hussites in Bohemia. As he openly declared that 'he would have none but +catholic subjects,' more than thirty thousand of our most respected +families, embracing all ranks, wandered abroad to strengthen and enrich +foreign countries by their wealth and industry. The poor cultivators of +the soil could not avail themselves of the generous permission to +emigrate with their property. They could not carry the soil with them, +and being thus compelled to remain, they seized their arms and fell +upon their persecutors. I myself, with the cross in my hand, led my +parishioners against the enemy, and we struck boldly for our religion. +Fresh armies were sent against us; the gallows and racks were +encumbered with the corpses of our brethren, and we were compelled to +yield; but it was impossible for us wholly to abandon our father-land, +and we therefore threw ourselves into the caverns among these rocks, +where a deep seclusion from the world is our only safety. Here we live +quietly and peacefully upon the produce of our labor and the chase, +which we dispose of in Bohemia and Silesia, and are much rejoiced +whenever a victim of priestly rage wanders hither to claim our +protection and hospitality.' + +'We may now dismiss all anxiety,' said Oswald to Faith. 'We have at +last reached a safe and well concealed haven.' + +'That beauteous form inclines so confidingly and yet so modestly toward +you, young man,' said the venerable pastor, 'that I should judge you +were not yet man and wife, but only lovers. If you desire it, I will +pronounce the blessing of the church over you. I am fully authorized to +perform the ceremony, having received ordination from our right +reverend bishop, who now wears the crown of martyrdom before the throne +of the Lamb.' + +'Have I your consent, my dearest?' asked Oswald, warmly pressing the +maiden's hand. 'We already have your mother's blessing.' + +'Not now, dear Oswald,' said Faith, with mingled sadness and +resignation. 'I cannot consent to take that important step while yet so +deeply impressed with sorrow for the fate of my dearest relatives. Our +love must now wear the mourning dress in which it has been clad by +these unhappy times. It would be almost wicked to put on the myrtle +now; and the decisive _yes_, which should be spoken out of a joyful +heart, would be stifled by my sobs and tears, under the present +circumstances.' + +'Your wish can alone decide the question,' said Oswald, tenderly, +impressing a chaste kiss upon her forehead. + +'Maiden, it is evident you have chosen a worthy partner,' said the +pastor. 'And early has your betrothed learnt the lesson of self-denial, +the hardest in this life to be acquired.' + +Delighted to hear from such reverend lips the praise of one so dear to +her, the maiden threw her arms about Oswald's neck and embraced him +with love and joy. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + +'The morning is fine,' said Faith to Oswald after breakfast, as their +venerable host seated himself with his bible upon his knee; 'and the +valley here is so narrow and close that these huge rocks seem to press +upon my heart. Let us therefore walk out a short distance beyond their +confines.' + +'Venture not too far, my children!' said the pastor, in a warning voice +without raising his eyes from his book. 'My old body is a true and +faithful weather-prophet, and tells me that we shall have a severe +storm to-day. These storms rage much more furiously here than in the +plains, and, when they come, every living creature finds it necessary +to seek a shelter.' + +'We will soon return,' promised Faith, skipping forth by Oswald's side. + +'Mark well the place of entrance to our retreat,' said the Hussite, who +opened the outer stone door for them; 'that you may be sure to find it +again. The passages among the rocks are very similar, and if by mistake +you enter a wrong one you may be compelled to wander about all day +long.' + +'Never fear! 'answered Oswald. 'It would illy become a soldier to be +unable to remember any locality it might be necessary for him to find +again. He then looked at the highest peaks in the vicinity, impressed +their relative positions upon his memory, carefully examined the secret +door, and thus prepared, they went forth into the clear fresh morning +air and soon became engaged in a conversation of such interest as to +render them entirely heedless of the lapse of time. + +'I know not how it is,' said Faith, fanning her glowing face with her +handkerchief; 'it is yet mid winter here, and I am so very warm.' + +'It is incident to the summer of life,' said their former guide, who +suddenly stood before them as they turned a corner; 'especially when +the sun of love shines warmly. It is not probable you will have much +further occasion to complain of the heat to-day, for a storm is +approaching.' + +'With the sky so clear? Impossible!' cried Faith. + +'You know nothing of the tricks of the mountain-sprites,' said the +Bohemian. 'One moment we have sunshine, the next thunder and lightning. +That is the way with them. You will do well to return to the valley +betimes.' + +He passed on and was soon out of sight. + +'We had better follow him,' said Oswald. + +'Yet but one quarter of an hour,' begged Faith; 'and then we will +return as fast as we can.' + +'Who can deny you any thing,' said the youth; 'even when you solicit +what should not be granted?' + +They still continued to advance, until they came where the rocks were +less compactly clustered, and glimpses of the plain, presenting +brilliant winter landscapes, were occasionally obtained through the +openings. + +'Ah, how much pleasanter it is here than in the pent up valley!' cried +Faith, clapping her hands with childish joy. + +Oswald suddenly started and listened. 'Did you hear nothing?' he asked +the maiden. 'It sounded like a distant trumpet.' + +'Yes,' said Faith, after listening a moment; 'it must be the blast of a +trumpet.' + +'It may be our pursuers!' cried Oswald. 'Let us hasten back to our +asylum.' + +He now turned quickly about with Faith, and, rather bearing than +leading her, hastened to retrace the path by which they had come. +Before proceeding far on their return, they were met by a colder and +sharper wind, and the snow which it blew from the summits of the rocks +involved them in a white fleecy cloud. + +'Alas, Oswald, I can no longer see,' complained Faith. + +'It is but little better with me,' answered Oswald, groping after the +path to the right, which he supposed to be the one he should take. +Still sharper blew the wind as the storm rapidly approached, and the +dark gray mountain-clouds lashed the immense rocks with their mighty +wings, sending down their accumulated snows upon the heads of the poor +wanderers. Still more wildly rushed and whistled and howled the winds +among the rocks, in strangely horrible tones, and in the midst of the +uproar they distinguished the sounds of distant rolling thunder and the +flashes of lightning in the low dark clouds. In this struggle of the +elements, all the summits and other landmarks which Oswald had noted to +guide his returning steps, had completely disappeared, and at length he +impatiently cried: 'I have lost the way. Why was I weak enough to yield +to the wishes of a child!' + +'Chide not, dear Oswald,' entreated Faith, submissively. 'I will +willingly endure every hardship which is suffered with you.' + +'That is what distresses me,' said Oswald. 'Were I alone, I should +enjoy this storm instead of trembling at it; for nature appears to me +most beautiful in anger, and I have already been compelled to expose +this brow to many a wild tempest. My anxiety for you troubles me. If +your health should be injured by this exposure I should be +inconsolable, and have only my own thoughtlessness to blame for it.' + +A brighter flash and louder report now put it beyond doubt that a +terrible storm was at hand. The echoes thundered among the rocks, now +nearer and now farther off, until they finally died away in indistinct +murmurs. + +'A thunderstorm in winter!' cried the trembling Faith. 'That is doubly +horrible.' + +'Who knows that this tempest may not bring a blessing; and certainly it +cannot do much harm here among these old rocks,' said Oswald by way of +consoling her, still continuing to advance at random. + +'Thank heaven, I hear human voices!' exultingly shouted Faith: and like +a doe she skipped towards an eminence with such speed that Oswald could +scarcely follow her. + +A multitude of people were approaching, sure enough. It was composed of +colonel Goes, the detestable Hurka, and a troop of the Lichtenstein +dragoons, who immediately aimed their arms at the fugitives. + +'Stand!' cried Goes, amid the thunder of the storm, to his son, whom he +instantly recognised. 'Stand, or I command the troops to fire.' + +'Father, do no violence!' cried the despairing youth, throwing himself +before the maiden, who had sunk upon her knees; 'God judges righteously +and protects the innocent! Hear how he warns you with the voice of his +thunder!' + +The captain gave a loud and scornful laugh. + +'Seize the rebel and his heretic bride,' shrieked the angry colonel. +The captain, nothing loth, motioning his dragoons to follow him and +confiding in his superior force, hastened forward, swinging his sword +high above his head. The colonel accompanied him and the dragoons +followed. + +'Save me, my God, from the crime of parricide!' cried Oswald, advancing +to meet his opponents. + +At that moment came a blinding flash of lightning, accompanied by a +deafening clap of thunder, and with it rushed down from the highest +summit a monstrous mass of stone which caused the earth to tremble as +if there had been an earthquake; a short, sharp cry was heard, and the +pursuers and pursued were prostrated upon their faces. + + + + + CHAPTER XX. + + +The first glance of Oswald's opening eyes, when consciousness returned, +was directed in search of poor Faith. She lay near him in a deep swoon. +Flying to her aid, he applied snow to her temples and warmed her lips +with his kisses. At length she opened her eyes. + +'You are yet alive, my Oswald!' cried she, with pious ecstasy, folding +her hands as if giving thanks. 'The Lord has passed over us in the +tempest; but he has remembered us in mercy!' + +'Pious maiden,' said Goes, who stood behind them, leaning like a dying +man upon a dragoon. 'Pious maiden, so mayest thou speak, out of the +fulness of thy pure heart,--but the sinner must smite upon his breast +and cry. The Lord is just, and in his wrath has executed a righteous +judgment! Yet I may also give thanks for his mercy; for he has only +punished the incorrigibly wicked, warning the deluded with the voice of +his thunder, and leaving him yet a space for repentance and amendment. +Forgive me, my son. I had unlearned to be a man and a father; but will +again become one, even at this late hour of my life.' + +'Your goodness restores me to new life, my father,' said Oswald, +pressing the paternal hand to his lips. His thoughts then instantly +recurred to the monster who had allured, his father there and +stimulated him to the commission of crime; and, catching up his sword +from the ground, his death-flashing glance sought the captain. + +'He whom you seek is not far off,' said Goes, speaking low, so as not +to attract the maiden's attention, lest she should be too much shocked. +With a trembling hand he directed his son to the enormous rock which, +still smoking with the fire of heaven, lay in the path. The youth +shuddered as he turned his head and beheld a naked sword projecting +from under the mass, in the grasp of a stiffened hand. The captain's +plumed hat lay near, and the surrounding snow was reddened by a small +rivulet of blood which came trickling forth. + +'Behold the judgment of God, and implore his mercy for your repentant +father,' said Goes, sinking into the arms of his son. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + +Three months later, Frau Rosen was sitting in the little cottage of the +weaver's widow in Friedland, with an expression of soil serenity upon +her still pale countenance. On either side of her sat Oswald and Faith, +each holding one of her hands, and all rejoicing at her convalescence. +The rattle of an approaching carriage was heard without, and directly +four black horses, attached to the carriage of colonel Goes, trotted up +to the cottage door. The merchant Fessel, yet thin and pale from his +past illness and sorrows, descended from the carriage and entered the +room. + +As calamities suffered in common, only strengthen the bands by which +good hearts are united, so the meeting of these friends evinced +increased tenderness and affection; while the memory of the dear +departed, which it called up, received the tribute of many tears. + +'How stand matters in our good city of Schweidnitz? at length asked the +matron. + +'Badly enough, as yet,' answered Fessel; 'but not near so bad as when +you left us. There seems, indeed, no prospect of an end to our +oppressions. The Jesuits are constantly multiplying their encroachments +and assumptions, and the royal judge whom the count has installed there +commands that all shall become catholic communicants, and prohibits +attendance upon the Lutheran churches out of town. These commands +cannot be very effectively enforced, and the military executions have +been discontinued ever since the departure of the tyrannical Dohna. +Many of the troops also have been withdrawn, and but two squadrons now +remain in the city. I must do the colonel the justice to say, moreover, +that he has done every thing in his power to mitigate our sufferings, +even at great hazard of injuring himself.' + +'The Lord reward him for it,' said Frau Rosen, 'and allow it to balance +the long account in that book where his sins are recorded.' + +'I am here as his messenger,' continued Fessel; 'to conduct you all to +the little inn near the rocks of Aldersbach, where he intends to hold a +family festival.' + +'There?' asked Oswald with surprise. 'That indicates some important, +and certainly some joyful purpose.' + +'He keeps his plans and objects very secret,' said Fessel. 'I have my +conjectures; but can divulge nothing. That it is to be a great festival +I know by the extent of the preparations. He has been there with a +stone-cutter and gardener from Schweidnitz, since the day before +yesterday; and he wishes you all to come in full dress to-day.' + +Fessel, having returned to his carriage, soon came in again with two +large packages, which he delivered to the lovers. Faith hastened to her +mother with hers, that they might examine and comment upon its contents +together. + +Meanwhile, Oswald opened his package and found therein a splendid +Danish officer's uniform with all its usual appendages. 'The time for +these gilded ornaments has long since passed with me,' he observed with +a feeling of dissatisfaction; 'and I do not deem it proper to wear the +costume of a station which I intend never again to occupy.' + +'He anticipated the objection,' said Fessel; 'and requests me to beg of +you to wear it only this day, for his sake, notwithstanding your own +disinclination.' + +'Ah, Oswald, look!' exclaimed the happy Faith, holding out her present +for his examination. 'See this beautiful white silken dress and this +splendid diamond ornament!' + +'It is very beautiful,' said Oswald, giving it a careless glance; 'but +is there no myrtle-wreath with the dress?' + +'I have already sought it in vain,' answered Faith, with a slight +blush. + +'Alas!' sighed Oswald, 'then the most acceptable present is wanting. My +dearest hope for to-day is at once annihilated.' + +'Murmur not against your father, my dear brother-in-law,' begged +Fessel. 'I will be answerable that he means well with you and our +little Faith.' + +'It is well!' said Oswald, taking his package under his arm and +retiring to dress; 'but he ought not to have forgotten the +myrtle-wreath!' + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + +Panting and foaming, the four black steeds drew up before the little +inn at Aldersbach, which was now gaily decorated with evergreens. The +happy old colonel stood in the door, ready to receive them. Oswald +assisted Faith, and Fessel his mother-in-law, to alight. Goes advanced +to the latter and clasped her hand. 'You have lost much through us,' he +sorrowfully said, 'can you forgive?' + +'Should I else deserve to be called a christian?' answered the matron. + +'May God reward your kindness!' said the colonel, leading her into the +house, in the largest room of which several protestant officers of the +imperial army were assembled. Oswald then entered with Faith, in all +her youthful beauty, which was much heightened by her rich dress. + +'Ha, what a charming maiden!' exclaimed Goes. 'Yes, my son, her +appearance would excuse thy choice, if indeed it needed an excuse.' + +'I cannot share any part of the satisfaction which seems to be so +general,' said Oswald with forced gaiety, 'as it is impossible for me +to feel comfortable in a dress which is unsuited to my station and +calling.' + +'It is exactly suited to your station,' said the colonel with +solemnity, handing a folded paper to him. It was a major's commission +in the Danish service. + +'This is wholly contrary to my wish,' exclaimed Oswald with surprise, +as he perceived the nature of the document. 'I have laid down the sword +forever!' + +'That cannot be done with safety at present in any part of Europe, my +dear Oswald,' said Goes. 'In these rough times a man must bear the +sword, if he would not be compelled to bow his neck under it; nor is +there any prospect that it will soon be otherwise. You have repeatedly +shown, that you will never be able to reconcile yourself to the humble +and submissive condition of a burgher. Whenever occasion has offered, +you have unhesitatingly drawn that sword with which you have +professedly wished to have nothing more to do. I most heartily rejoice +at it, because of the evidence it affords that my blood flows in your +veins; but at the same time it proves your unfitness for the counter +and yard-stick. You must again serve,--it is required both for your +honor and mine. To serve the emperor would be against your conscience. +I have therefore sought out a service which, as matters now stand, +cannot be objectionable to either of us. A permanent peace has been +concluded between the emperor and the king of Denmark. Your new +situation will lead you from Silesia to the land where your own faith, +which is persecuted here, is openly and triumphantly professed. You +will be spared the grief of being compelled to witness innumerable +evils which you can have no power to remedy. All these considerations +were well weighed by me before I applied in your name for the honorable +appointment which you surely will not now reject.' + +'You are right,' cried Oswald. 'You see farther than I do, and I +gratefully receive the commission from your paternal hands.' + +'My application alone would not have met with such ready success,' +continued Goes. 'For that, you have to thank one whose friendship and +patronage you literally conquered at Dessau,--the duke of Friedland. He +wrote himself to Copenhagen in your behalf; and the mediator who +brought about the treaty of Lubeck could hardly be refused so small a +request by the king of Denmark.' + +'Honor to the lion!' jocosely exclaimed Frau Rosen. 'Those large wild +beasts generally have some generosity about them.' + +'All is in readiness!' said the old Hussite host, entering the room and +throwing open the doors. + +'Give your arm to Faith, my son, and follow this man,' said Goes. The +lovers looked at each other with some surprise, and obeyed the command. +After them came the matron, supported by Goes and Fessel. The officers +followed. + +The procession entered directly among the rocks, and at length, +magnificently gilded by the evening sun, the eventful mass of stone +which had been detached and overthrown by the lightning, shone upon +them with a far different and more friendly aspect than when it had +last met their view. It was hung around with evergreens and adorned +with flowery garlands; and upon the most conspicuous part of it a +medallion had been cut out, with these words engraved upon it: '_The +lightning of heaven here punished and warned._' Underneath was cut out +the day of the month and the year. In front of the huge mass stood an +altar, built of the fragments which were shivered from it when it fell. +The old pastor of Huss's Rest waited at the altar, in his clerical +robes and with opened book. On each side of him stood Fessel's +children, holding wreaths of flowers. + +'What can all this mean?' whispered Faith to Oswald, in sweet +confusion, while the colonel placed the missing myrtle wreath upon her +blond locks. + +'Unite this pair in marriage, reverend father,' cried the colonel, with +gushing tears, leading the lovers to the altar. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + +Mild toleration has spread its dove-like wings over the states of +Austria for many long years since the period above referred to,--the +colony of Huss's Rest is no longer to be found among the rocks of +Aldersbach,--and the silver rivulet again meanders in silent solitude +through the concealed valley. The huge rock hurled down by the +lightning's stroke yet lies, a lasting monument, in the middle of the +road, and the medallion may yet be recognised. Time has effaced the +inscription, and the guide who now conducts the curious visitor knows +only a legend of an English gentleman, who atoned for his desire to +view a thunderstorm among the rocks by being very nearly crushed by the +fall of this rifted fragment. In memory of his imminent danger, and in +gratitude for his almost miraculous preservation, he is said to have +caused the medallion to be carved in the rock. Of the punishment of the +reprobate captain and the deep repentance of the colonel of the +converters, they have long since forgotten the tradition; and FANCY may +therefore be allowed to erect her light and airy castle upon the +granite foundation of history; to picture forth to those now living the +savage contests for opinion, of former times,--and to warn them against +the evils of an exclusive and intolerant spirit, into which we are in +constant danger of relapsing. + + + + + + + THE SORCERESS. + + + BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +The first rays of the morning sun were brilliantly reflected by the +polished arms of Ryno and Idallan, as they rode gaily forth in search +of adventures. It was not their first similar excursion. As usual with +errant knights, they had struck down many a dragon, vanquished many a +giant, and rescued many a damsel from the clutches of wicked magicians. +Delicate arms had clasped their knees in gratitude, tender bosoms had +feverishly beat against their iron breastplates, ruby lips had pledged +them in golden cups of the juice of the Syracusan grape, and yet their +hearts remained cold and impenetrable as the pure steel of their armor. +The delightful consciousness of freedom, strength, and youthful +spirits, spoke in their every movement. Stately and beautiful they +passed on their way, their sharp lances resting quietly upon their +right stirrups, their swords peacefully clinking in their scabbards, +and their hands carelessly holding their highly ornamented bridle +reins. + +Suddenly they heard female voices uttering distressing cries for help. +The steeds snorted and pricked up their ears; the knights involuntarily +drew a tighter rein, seized their lances, and applied the spur; and +thus they darted forward with perfect indifference whether this new +adventure should be crowned with wounds or kisses, blows or treasures, +a martyr's chains, or an hymeneal altar. + +Their panting chargers soon bore them to a forest filled with oaks of a +thousand years, whence had proceeded those outcries, which were now +subsiding to sobs so low as to be almost lost to the ear. At length a +green meadow opened upon them through the wood, and there, enclosed by +a circle of Moors, stood two powerless maidens of angelic beauty, bound +to a tree. An old, meagre, yellow monster, in the rich dress of the +east, appeared to be feasting himself with gazing upon their charms. He +had just drawn a dagger from his girdle and was about to approach one +of the maidens, when Ryno and Idallan burst upon them from the thicket +with the suddenness of the lightning's flash, and the fury of the +storm. Knight-errant like, without asking any questions, they nailed +six of the Moors to the nearest oaks with their lances, and then, (as +if Vulcan had sent his cyclops to the work,) their blows fell like hail +upon the astonished Moors. + +Courage, strength, knowledge of the use of arms, and the consciousness +of a good cause, enabled them quickly to overpower their venal +opponents. Those, who were not killed by the sword or trampled down by +the horses, threw away their weapons and fled. Only the horrid looking +yellow old man kept his ground, and he was busily employed in drawing +strange characters in the air with a black wand. 'You lose your pains!' +cried Idallan, laughing. 'You must know, sir wizard, that our arms, +tempered by the fairy Diamanta, fear no magic charm, and that only +superior natural power can prevail against them.' + +'If you wish a proof of it,' interposed Ryno, springing from his horse, +'I am here ready for the trial, and you may call back your flying Moors +to arm you.' + +Without answer, but with a glance that disclosed the hell within, the +sorcerer strode with uplifted dagger, towards his poor bound victim; +but Ryno's ready weapon interrupted him in full career. With rifted +head the fiend sank to the earth, which immediately opened and +swallowed his hideous form; while a blue smoke, accompanied by fearful +sounds, gnashing of the teeth and scornful laughter, issued from the +spot where he had disappeared. + +The knights hastened to the damsels, and by the aid of their bloody +swords quickly severed the bands by which they were confined. Water +brought from a neighboring spring soon restored the fainting sufferers +to consciousness, and with the first glances of their large blue eyes +arose a new sun upon their deliverers. The charming girls cast a +shuddering glance upon the field of slaughter, kneeled before the +knights with their arms folded in thanksgiving, timidly murmured to +them some words in an unknown language, and, after a short internal +struggle, rushed into their preservers' arms. An ardent kiss burned +upon the lips of each of the enraptured heroes; but before they could +recover from their delightful surprise, the maidens had escaped from +their embraces. One bound of their little feet lifted them into the +air,--a zephyr expanded their dresses into sails,--and with glances of +ineffable sweetness they rose high over the gigantic trees, and swept +beyond the vision of their astonished beholders. + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +'By my knightly oath, it is not fair,' said Ryno, after a long pause, +'to leave us standing here alone.' + +'It is ungrateful,' murmured Idallan. + +_Ryno._--Say not that; for had all my heart's blood flowed upon this +spot, the kiss impressed upon my lips would have been a sufficient +reward. + +_Idallan._--I am wounded in the arm. + +_Ryno._--And I in the heart, which is far more dangerous. + +_Idallan._--What is now to be done? + +_Ryno._--Resume our travels. The heavenly forms moved towards the west, +and happily no direction can be the wrong one for us. + +Idallan sighed, and they proceeded towards their horses. + +'Hold! what do I see?' cried Ryno. + +'Where?' asked Idallan. + +'A white veil, the earthly covering which the fairies left behind them +when they mounted into the air.' + +The two knights rushed towards the veil, and both caught hold of it at +the same moment. 'It belonged to the damsel saved by me, and is +therefore mine!' exclaimed Idallan. + +_Ryno._--I saw it first. + +_Idallan._--My blood flowed in the strife by which we have obtained it! + +_Ryno._--It is mine, I will not yield it up. + +_Idallan._--Nor I, but with my life. + +Both held the veil fast, and it was in imminent danger of being torn in +pieces. + +'Hold!' said Ryno. 'Why should we senselessly destroy that which, +uninjured, would make one of us happy. Let us calmly and peacefully +determine our respective claims by an appeal to argument and reason.' + +'I never will resign my claim,' scornfully exclaimed Idallan. 'If you +persist in yours, the sword must decide.' + +_Ryno._--You are my brother in arms, and wounded; I will not fight with +you! + +_Idallan._--Has the struggle with the Moors already exhausted your +stock of courage? + +_Ryno._--Idallan! Even this shall not provoke me! + +Idallan in a rage seized the veil, which Ryno reluctantly released, to +save it from destruction. He hung it upon a high branch, and placed +himself before it with his sword drawn. 'The veil is mine, if you are +too cowardly to contend for it.' The noble Ryno half drew his sword, +but, recollecting himself, immediately returned it to its sheath, and +was about to mount his horse. + +'Do you slight me?' roared Idallan, running after him sword in hand. +Ryno was compelled to turn and draw, and a furious battle commenced +over the dead bodies of the Moors. The attack and defence were +conducted on both sides with equal courage and skill, so that neither +obtained any advantage over the other. Sparks flew at every encounter +of their weapons, the frightened birds flew screaming from the place, +and the timid deer fled to the protection of the remotest thickets. + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +Under a natural arch of primeval granite, in the most secluded recess +of a wild and savage mountain, was situated the deeply indented cave of +the sorceress, Hiorba. The cavern was filled with sieves and cauldrons, +mummies and bundles of herbs, hieroglyphics and mirrors, crystal globes +and crocodiles, in mystical confusion. Two torches, held by skeleton +hands, lighted the whole. In a circle of strange characters and human +bones, lay the aged and despairing Hiorba, her face to the ground, +frantically tearing the last remains of her silver hair with her +withered hands. Two large black cats were caressingly and soothingly +purring about her. Suddenly she appeared to be shaken as by an electric +shock. She arose with flashing eyes, stretched out her magic wand +towards the largest of the mirrors, and murmured some words of unknown +meaning. Strange confused images appeared upon the clear crystal. As +she anxiously watched the figures her interest seemed to increase every +moment, and every moment her joy became more plainly visible, until at +length she gave a cry of ecstatic delight as Aliande and Daura, her +charming foster-daughters, rushed breathlessly into the cave. + +'Here we are, good mother,' cried Daura, embracing her with ardor. + +'Escaped from death, from shame, and from the terrible Rasalkol!' cried +Aliande, pressing the old woman's hand to her lips with filial love. +'Saved by the noblest, bravest and handsomest youths....' + +'Silence, children!' said the sorceress, interrupting them. 'My true +mirror has already told me all, and more perhaps than you will be +willing to confess.' + +Blushing and confused, the maidens cast their sparkling eyes upon the +ground. + +'Quickly, ah too quickly, has love for your deliverers found its way to +your young hearts. Faithfully until now have I guarded you against this +dangerous passion; but the moment in which the traitor Rasalkol +succeeded in abducting you from this protecting cavern, my power over +you ceased. The reprobate's hellish plan of destroying both you and me +has indeed failed; but you may yet one day wish that you had bled under +his dagger;--for the sorrows of unrequited love cut more keenly into +weak woman's heart than a thousand daggers.' + +'You do not know our knights,' interposed Aliande in a scarcely audible +murmur. + +'I know them to be men. As the wolf resembles the hyena, and both of +these the jackal, so also do the whole profligate sex resemble each +other,--differing only in their outward appearance and capacity for +seizing their prey. The inexperienced eyes of the harmless doe are +easily fascinated by the beautiful stripes of the blood-thirsty tiger!' + +Tears trickled down the maidens' cheeks, at this reproof. + +'I love you my children,' continued Hiorba in a tenderer tone. 'You are +the grand-children of my good niece, whom I buried on my hundredth +birth day. Willingly would I have rendered you happy, which you can +only be in an unmarried state; but you are in love, and all my warnings +are spoken to the winds. For once, however, yield to a mother's +anxiety: Let me _prove_ the men of your choice.' + +'Has not their battle with Rasalkol and his Moors already proved them +sufficiently?' asked Aliande. + +'Their knightly courage,--but not their hearts.' + +'If all men were proved in advance,' answered Daura, with a faint +smile, 'who would come unscathed from the furnace?' + +'Your questions contain a significant denial of my request,' answered +Hiorba. 'Since you have seen these strangers I have no longer any +influence over your hearts. Consider well my last warning.' + +She again raised her wand to the mirror and the field of battle again +presented itself. Aliande saw the fluttering veil, and the furious +contention of the knights. + +'For God's sake, Hiorba,' shrieked the maidens; 'help, protect save!' + +'See you those rough and savage men?' said Hiorba; 'They do not know +which has the best right to the flimsy web, and yet each knight is +ready to murder his brother-in-arms for its possession. You have here a +specimen of what men call honor; and believe me, as their feet now +recklessly trample upon the delicate wood-flower in their deadly +struggle, so will the tyranny of their strength, their pride, and their +sensuality, trample upon all your tenderest feelings and finally break +your hearts.' + +'Why waste so many words,' complained the maidens; 'save, good mother, +separate the frantic knights.' + +Shaking her head in token of disapprobation, Hiorba reluctantly took +her wand and opened a cage which hung from the arch above; a bird of +paradise came chirping thence, and perched confidingly upon her +shoulder. + +'Go, bring me the veil, Immo!' said Hiorba; 'and lead hither the +contending knights, also.' + +With her wand she softly touched the bird between its wings, and, +sweetly warbling, it shot off like an arrow from the bow. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +Ryno and Idallan still continued their insane struggle. Their helmets +and scarfs were hacked to pieces, and hung in fragments about their +shoulders. The green sward was already dyed crimson from their many +wounds, when the thrilling song of a bird, fuller and sweeter than the +voluptuous tones of the nightingale, filled the neighboring air. +Through the soothing influence of those tones, softer feelings were +awakened in the breasts of the combatants. An armistice was tacitly +concluded; and with suspended breath they listened to the heavenly +music, until they at length perceived a beautiful winged songster +fluttering about the branch upon which the veil was hanging. Softer and +more soul-thrilling were the seductive tones poured from its little +throat, and Ryno hazarded the remark: + +'How foolish to be hacking each other's bones for a thing of so little +consequence!' + +'You are right!' said Idallan, putting up his sword and extending his +hand to his brother-in-arms. A clear-ringing song of triumph resounded +from the beak of the wonderful bird as their hands met with the grasp +of reconciliation, while the little mediator seized the veil in its +purple claws, and moved slowly and gracefully toward the west, still +continuing its enticing music. 'It calls us, brother, shall we not +follow?' asked Ryno. + +'Yes, let us pursue the veil!' cried Idallan: 'this beauteous banner +leads us to more delightful conquests!' + +They resumed their saddles and hastened to follow their mysterious +guide, keeping their eyes immovably fixed upon the bright and waving +emblem, which remained constantly visible in the distance. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +The gray-haired Hiorba was standing with her blooming daughters upon +the ruins of an ancient castle. 'You will not listen to my warnings,' +she sadly and affectionately remarked. 'You scorn to consecrate your +virgin purity to the gods, as I have done, and receive rare knowledge, +great power, and almost an earthly immortality, in return. The ardent +wishes of youth kindle only for sensual enjoyments, which are ever +mingled with sorrow and of short duration. Your desires shall be +gratified. You shall possess whatever can bless mortal maidens: wealth, +splendor, honors, and the husbands of your choice. The rest must depend +upon the gods.' + +'Why so earnest and solemn, good mother?' said Aliande. + +'Your present situation, your inconsiderate choice for a whole life, +the reflection that your days will be embittered and abridged by +unappreciated and betrayed love, all contribute to make me sad. An +equal affliction threatens both of you, for it is not in my power to +call back spirits from the blooming fields of Walhalla to furnish +husbands for you. It is done! I hear the distant song of Immo, and +hasten to prepare your future abodes.' + +Drawing a circle which included herself and the maidens, Hiorba then +pronounced the mysterious words of conjuration. Subterranean thunder +was heard, the earth heaved, gleams of lightning escaped through the +cleft rocks, and a thick smoke almost destroyed the power of +respiration. In an instant they became fearfully conscious that they +were no longer alone among the ruins. Innumerable demons surrounded +Hiorba's magic circle, respectfully awaiting her commands. + +'Spirits of the Earth!' cried the antiquated virgin with great dignity, +'my foster-daughters, Aliande and Daura, require of me a dowry. Spirits +of the east and west! I command you to convert these ruins into a +splendid castle for the residence of Aliande. Spirits of the north and +south! Prepare upon yonder hill a similar abode for my Daura. To the +work! In nine times nine twinklings of the eye must all be completed.' + +A motion of her wand, and half of the demons disappeared. The other +half cleaved the earth for the purpose of bringing forth the granite, +marble, gold, iron and other materials required for the edifice. The +lightning played and the thunder rolled incessantly, earthquakes +followed each other in quick succession, the winds howled, and the +subterranean waters rushed and roared most fearfully. All nature +appeared to lie in convulsions, as if it were a wicked invasion of her +rights that immortal hands should perform the work of mortals. +Powerless and insensible lay Aliande and Daura within the circle. +Terrible flames burst from the crevices of the earth, giving fearful +tokens of the subterranean labors of the gnomes. Hiorba stood amid the +general uproar, calmly directing the raging elements, which never for a +moment disturbed so much as one of the silver hairs of her head. + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +The nine times nine moments had expired; the subterranean flames were +extinguished, and the bright sun shone upon a magnificent palace +encompassed by high walls, while its rays were brilliantly reflected by +the metal roof. The gilded summits of its seven towers flashed in the +sunlight like the seven stars. Hiorba viewed the labor of her +mysterious agents with satisfaction, and then awoke the damsels with a +touch of her wand. They looked around with astonishment upon the new +world in which they found themselves. They had fallen asleep among +ruins, upon damp moss overgrown with thorns and nettles, and now awoke +upon soft couches of velvet and gold, in the balcony of a splendid +edifice. The building was of granite, faced with marble, uniting the +strength of the Gothic with the lightness and beauty of the Grecian +style. Masterpieces of Grecian sculpture adorned every nook, step, and +landing-place,--while the magnificent pleasure-garden, with all its +fountains, cascades, lakes, temples, shaded walks, islands and +obelisks, extended down the mountain slope. It was some time before +they were convinced that it was not all a dream. + +The damsels embraced their kind foster-mother, while tears of affection +and gratitude eloquently spoke their thanks. 'Enough,' said Hiorba, +withdrawing herself from their embraces; 'you know not, as yet, whether +I deserve your thanks. That will be discovered hereafter, when the +roses and thorns of this life shall have been weighed and balanced by +the immortal gods. I must be brief, for already do I hear the +approaching steeds of Ryno and Idallan, and I cannot look upon the men +who are about to pluck, and perhaps to crush and destroy, the two +sweetest roses of my garden. I now take my leave. I shall always act a +mother's part by you,--but, only three times is it allowed me to become +visible to the wives of Ryno and Idallan; at the moments of their +greatest happiness, of their deepest misery, and of their untimely +deaths. Preserve the same purity of soul which I have so carefully +nurtured, so that in your last sad hour I may kiss the dews of death +from your foreheads, and conduct your liberated spirits to the elysian +fields of Walhalla.' + +A soft and heavenly light overspread Hiorba's countenance, the wrinkles +of age disappeared, and golden locks surrounded her clear forehead like +a halo. Azure and purple wings unfolded from her shoulders, a robe of +light enveloped her tall, majestic form, and on an amber cloud she +floated away from the sisters, who watched her disappearance with +speechless awe. + +The tuneful Immo now fluttered through the castle gate with Aliande's +veil. The draw-bridge fell, and the two knights, who had closely +followed her, leaped from their horses, bounded up the steps, and threw +themselves at the feet of the maidens; whilst Immo, perched upon the +highest castle tower, sweetly warbled forth the bridal song. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +A crystal lamp, suspended from the arched ceiling of a lofty chamber, +shed a soft moonlight over the silken tapestry of the bridal bed where +Ryno was slumbering upon the bosom of the happy Aliande. The beauteous +bride was watching the peaceful slumber of her beloved partner with +mingled and undefinable feelings of joy and sorrow, when she suddenly +heard a rustling of the drapery, and immediately the well known form of +the sorceress stood before her. + +'You are happy, Aliande?' she asked. + +'Unspeakably!' murmured Aliande, hiding her blushing cheek in the bosom +of her faithful foster-mother. + +'Does your heart suggest no wish yet ungratified?' + +'Only one!' timidly answered the lovely bride. + +'Yet one?' rejoined the astonished Hiorba. 'Thus it is with poor +mortals. Upon the highest pinnacle of earthly happiness they are still +tormented by insatiable aspirations. Confide your secret wish to me, my +daughter.' + +'During the bridal supper, as my husband was giving a rapid sketch of +his knightly adventures, and painting the charms of the various damsels +he had saved, in glowing colors, I began to fear that I--perhaps +soon--might be no longer the _only_ object of his love.' + +'Already jealous, Aliande, on this your bridal night!....' + +'Death, rather than a rival!' + +'What is your wish of me?' asked Hiorba. + +'To relieve me from the torture of uncertainty, I desire a faithful +monitor which shall inform me when Ryno kneels before strange altars, +that I may win back the idol of my heart with redoubled love, +or,--learn to despise and scorn the inconstant.' + +'An unfriendly star rules over both you and me,' said Hiorba in a +desponding tone. 'I am convinced that the fulfilment of this wish will +make you most miserable, and yet I am constrained by a power greater +than my own to grant it.' + +She stamped upon the floor, and immediately two hideous gnomes appeared +with a time-piece made of the most costly materials, curiously wrought +into the form of a temple of Venus. + +'Take this production of magic art,' said Hiorba, 'but conceal it +carefully from your husband, lest in the exasperation of conscious +guilt he should destroy his innocent accuser. This clock will always +stand still, this bell will always remain silent, and this mirror will +reflect only your own features, so long as Ryno remains true to his +vows; but should he ever yield to the common vice of his sex, +voluptuous melodies will issue from the temple, the index will indicate +the time, and the crystal mirror will reflect the image of the favored +rival.' + +Aliande was about to express her gratitude, but Hiorba interrupted her. +'Thank me not,--for with this present you receive enduring sorrow and +late repentance. Soon shall I greet you a second time, but then it will +be in tears.' She spoke, and disappeared. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Transporting herself to the splendid seven-towered palace of the other +sister, the sorceress entered Daura's chamber and awoke her from her +sweet dreams of happiness with a kiss. Then came the same questions, +and the same protestations of unspeakable happiness; yet the quiet and +contented Daura, also, seemed to have _one_ wish concealed in the +secret recesses of her bosom. After Hiorba's long and tender entreaties +for her confidence, she finally said: 'through repeated and pressing +inquiries of both Ryno and Idallan, I have learned of the exhibition of +savage rage by my husband in the bloody contest for the lost veil, +which Ryno would have resigned for the sake of peace and friendship, +refusing to fight until he was compelled to do so in his own defence. I +fear that Idallan's violence, which did not spare even his beloved +brother-in-arms, will also rend my heart and prepare many sad days and +tearful nights for me. Oh that I were in possession of a charm which, +like David's harp, would allay the demon of anger! What then could be +wanting to my happiness?' + +'Immo!' cried Hiorba, with a complacent smile, opening the window. In +came the delicate bird, bearing about its neck a radiant diamond chain +to which a small ivory flute was attached. 'Take this flute, my gentle +Daura,' said the sorceress; 'pass this chain about your neck, and let +your faithful mother's gift remain always upon your bosom. When +Idallan's wild passions begin to kindle, when his inconsiderate bursts +of anger threaten to wound the peace of my gentle daughter, then will +the soothing tones of this instrument soften his rage and shed balm +upon his mind.' + +With glad surprise Daura extended her fair hand for the talisman, and +Hiorba vanished. + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +A year had passed from the stream of time into the ocean of eternity +since the marriage of the two sisters, when Hiorba arose out of the +rocks in the oak forest between the two palaces. The proud edifices yet +shone in all their original splendor, and their majestic walls cast +long shadows over the vale below; but the rock upon which the sorceress +was standing had changed its appearance. Instead of being bare, as +formerly, it was now shaded by tall cedars, lofty pines, and trembling +poplars, and encircled with blooming rose-hedges, A gilded dome, +supported by nine Corinthian pillars of alabaster, adorned the summit. +The sorceress inquisitively examined the temple, and with surprise and +pleasure encountered her own statue crowned with fresh cypress and +faded roses. Tears of joyful emotion filled Hiorba's eyes, and her +first impulse was to fly immediately to her foster-daughters, that she +might, invisible to them, impress a kiss of gratitude upon their +unconscious foreheads; but while hesitating which of the happy brides +she should first visit, she discerned two female forms approaching from +opposite directions. Discovering that they were her two daughters, she +wrapped herself in impenetrable clouds, that she might be a secret +witness of their interview. Their appearance gave her no pleasure. +Their pale cheeks were not lighted by the sun of matrimonial +peace,--their lingering steps and downcast eyes spoke not of +happiness,--and with fear and sorrow Hiorba leaned against the altar +which supported her statue. At length the sisters reached the place and +rushed sobbing into each other's arms. + +'My sufferings have reached their utmost limit!' exclaimed Aliande. + +'My last hope is annihilated!' sighed Daura. + +'How ineffably miserable,' said Aliande, 'has our good mother's last +gift made me! With almost every change of the moon does the warning +voice of my magic clock rend my poor betrayed heart. My fatal mirror is +constantly reflecting new faces which seldom indicate delicate feminine +charms, never mental elevation. All my tears have hitherto been able to +obtain but empty promises of amendment from the faithless one; and my +just reproaches only exasperate him. To-day I see the hated features of +my last waiting maid, the light and impudent Rosa! No, I will bear +these mortifications, these repeated insults, no longer!' + +'Ah, how much more miserable am I, good sister!' sobbed Daura. 'It was +but the intoxication of the senses which led Idallan to my arms; and in +addition to my other sorrows I now feel that he has never, never loved +me. The first week of our honey-moon had scarcely passed when he found +himself annoyed by the gentle tones of my flute, which, against his +will, moderated the severity of his fierce disposition. In a confiding +moment, after he had successfully feigned the tenderest affection, he +succeeded in drawing from me the secret of the maternal gift. With +pleasant jests and agreeable trifling he unwound the chain from my +neck; but no sooner was the delicate instrument in his hands, than his +brow became clouded, his eyes flashed with an unnatural fire, and with +a voice of thunder he denounced me as a vile sorceress who had +disgraced his knightly bed. Then with furious rage he dashed the flute +to the earth. Yet once more were heard its soft and tranquilizing +tones. Too late! Idallan's foot was already raised, and trampling it in +his anger, he annihilated its sweet melody forever. What, what have I +not suffered since that unhappy hour!....' + +'His heart is depraved--forget him!' cried Hiorba, stepping visibly +between the sisters, who threw themselves at her feet in glad surprise. + +'You both decided too rashly!' continued the weeping foster-mother. 'I +warned you in vain. In vain did I entreat permission to prove your +lovers. The evil is done,--and requires help, not reproaches. Your +case, Aliande, may possibly be remedied; yours, poor Daura--never! That +you may not doubt the truth of my words, I will now commence the trial +of both husbands, and wo to him who shall prove base!' + +She concluded with a voice of thunder, and disappeared. The unhappy +sisters silently embraced each other, and then slowly returned to their +splendid prisons. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +Idallan was restlessly tossing upon his solitary bed on the first +anniversary of his marriage night, whilst the repudiated and suffering +Daura rested in a distant chamber, steeping her pillow with her tears. + +Idallan's heart was radically bad, as might be inferred from his +conduct in the contest for the veil. Savage and boisterous passions +tarnished the splendor of the many knightly virtues which adorned his +nature; and his real character appeared, when fortune, from her +cornucopia, suddenly poured the full stream of love, wealth and +splendor upon him. This unexpected and overabundant fulfilment of all +his wildest hopes, gave the finishing touch to his temperament. The +beauteous woman, whom unreflecting love had conducted to his arms, he +valued merely as the slave of his rough and savage will. The princely +treasures which Hiorba's generosity had heaped in his coffers, had only +excited his thirst for gold. Hundreds of families who had sought the +protection of his castle, and converted the surrounding forest into +fruitful fields, were happy to be considered his subjects, and thus +ministered to his love of power and dominion. Schemes of ambition +disturbed his brain. He already in imagination saw himself a prince, +perhaps of the whole earth, with Ryno his vassal, and an emperor's +daughter for his wife; but he looked upon his gentle and faithful Daura +as the greatest obstacle in the way of his success. His undisguised +scorn and contempt had taught her to weep the rash choice made during +the brief intoxication of love. There lay Idallan, disturbed by dreams +which naturally took the tone of his daily thoughts and the color of +the black soul whence they emanated. A glimmering light suddenly +disturbed his uneasy sleep. Idallan leaped wildly from his bed, and +before him stood the monster Rasalkol, surrounded by a pale sulphurous +light, and horribly disfigured by the wound which Ryno gave him in the +oak forest. + +'Your first matrimonial year is ended!' said the fearful phantom in a +sepulchral tone, 'and thank the Gods! you are unhappy. Your great soul +must feel the pressure of the chains which bind you forever to a lowly +bride. Daura suffices not for a man of noble ambition, and fate has +destined you for greater things. Three crowns are waiting to grace your +brow, when you shall have rendered yourself worthy of them.' + +'Messenger of Heaven!' cried Idallan in ecstasies. + +'You must know,' continued the spectre, 'that since the day when you +and Ryno attacked me with such inconsiderate zeal, I have been +condemned through Hiorba's cruelty, to wander about among the +subterranean caves of this mountain, until some firm and courageous +adventurer deliver me from the power of that ugly witch. The brave man +who shall accomplish this, I will raise to the first throne in the +world, give him the daughter of the most powerful ruler for a wife, and +lay my inexhaustible treasures open to him.' + +'O that it may be my destiny to end your sorrows, wise magician!' said +Idallan, sighing. + +'You alone can do it, brave and noble knight,' answered Rasalkol. 'You +alone have the means in your hands, to destroy Hiorba, deliver me, and +procure unspeakable happiness for yourself; but he who would serve +Rasalkol must not fear to shed blood!' + +'Give me but wealth and power, and I will slay millions for you.' + +'Take this withered twig,' said the phantom, handing him a wand. 'Bear +it to the chamber where Daura sleeps, strike your dagger to her heart +in such a manner that the warm blood shall sprinkle the wand. The twig +will acquire new life; leaves, buds and flowers will instantly put +forth, it will take root in the earth and bear a magnificent fruit, +containing within itself the seeds of death. Divide the fruit and send +it in the name of Daura to Ryno and Aliande. As soon as you hear that +they are dead, bring their bodies here and lay them by the corpse of +your wife. Then tear out their hearts and burn them with the wood of +the tree. When the fire shall have destroyed the last fibre, Hiorba +will expire with dreadful torments. I shall then be free and eternally +grateful.' + +'I am yours!' cried Idallan, cautiously proceeding to the sleeping +chamber of the unhappy Daura, with the magic wand in one hand and his +dagger in the other. A mysterious light preceded the monster's steps. +Softly opening the door, the angelic form lay before him, wrapped in +peaceful slumber. The sweet smile of innocence played upon her pale +lips. In a tone of melancholy tenderness which would have softened a +tiger, she exclaimed in her sleep, 'lovest thou me no longer, Idallan?' +Yet did Idallan, with a malicious scowl, raise his arm to strike. At +that instant a flash of lightning hurled the dagger from his hand, and, +instead of Rasalkol, the sorceress Hiorba stood before him. Her +piercing glance seemed almost annihilating, and the trembling culprit +cast his eyes upon the earth, as if imploring it to open and swallow +him. + +'Daughter, your tender husband would become your murderer!' said +Hiorba. 'Thus is your hasty choice rewarded.' Then turning to Idallan: +'the soul's deepest grief, the eternal loss of her heart's peace, +punishes your unhappy wife for her disregard of the maternal advice; +but what can be a sufficient punishment for you?' + +Idallan was silent. + +'Your obdurate heart was steeled against your wife, your faithful +brother-in-arms, and against me, to whose kindness you were indebted +for the foundation of your fortunes. Ambition and shameful avarice have +incited you to the blackest crimes! Be your punishment proportioned to +your deeds! Therefore up, demons! drag this condemned one to Hecla's +ever flaming gulf! There let soul and body suffer the pain of the +dreadful sulphur bath, until the mortal part has become changed to +gold. For a thousand years may the sordid dross remain, until by +millions of accidents it becomes transformed into a circle, and presses +a crowned and joyless head. When the crown thus formed sparkles with +gems, awaken in the miserable metal its gnawing consciousness, and, so +long as the diadem endures, torture the soul with the perception of +treasures and honors never to be enjoyed!' + +Having spoken thus, Hiorba waved her fearful wand. Two horrible demons +appeared, and, with a laugh, which extorted a howl of anguish from the +criminal, forced him away. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +The inconstant Ryno had one day been belated while engaged in the +chase, which had become his favorite occupation since the destruction +of his matrimonial peace. He had pursued a wounded doe into a thicket +out of which he was unable to find his way. The evening air blew chill, +the stars shone faintly through the nebulous atmosphere, and the +moonless night was spreading its brown mantle over the earth. A deep +silence pervaded the forest, broken only by the hootings of the owl, +and the howlings of the wolf. Ryno dismounted to grope for the devious +path. He wandered on in this manner for the space of a quarter of an +hour, leading his horse by the bridle-rein, when suddenly he heard a +flourish of drums and trumpets. Looking up, he was astonished to find +himself at no great distance from a magnificent and brilliantly +illuminated castle. Pleased and surprised, for in all his hunting +excursions he had never encountered it before, he threw himself upon +his horse and hastened toward its gates. Trumpets and comets rang a +merry peal, the drawbridge descended, the gate flew open, and he soon +found himself in the inner court, surrounded by a band of richly clad +and golden locked pages. They seized his bridle, relieved him of his +hunting-spear, bow and quiver,--one of them respectfully held his +stirrup, while another, on bended knee, bade him welcome. + +'Do you know me?' asked Ryno with astonishment. + +'Who does not know the knightly Ryno, so renowned for his personal +beauty, and indomitable courage!' humbly answered the courtly page. +'Will you please to follow me to the banqueting hall? You are expected +there with affectionate impatience by count Arno, the lord of the +castle, and Rosamunda his charming daughter.' + +Readily yielding to this welcome invitation, he left his horse to the +attendants, and followed the smooth-tongued flatterer into the castle. +A marble vestibule, supported by a colonade of porphyry, led him to a +broad alabaster stair-case, which was surmounted by a gilded and richly +ornamented balustrade. Twelve servants in dresses of white silk, +embroidered with gold, preceded him with torches to light his steps. +The folding doors of the banqueting room flew open. A richly covered +table, glittering with golden vessels and surrounded by knights and +ladies, stood in the middle of the hall, and a splendid chandelier +poured a flood of light from above. Uncertain whether he could trust +his senses, Ryno entered, and the most delightful music from the +balcony of the hall greeted his arrival. The knights and dames rose +respectfully from their seats, while a venerable old man in a knightly +costume, with a delicate female whose beauty was too dazzling for +mortal pen to describe, advanced to meet him. Touching a full goblet +with her rosy lips, the female thus addressed him: 'With this cup, +Rosamunda, the daughter of the house, greets the brave Ryno, in the +name of the lord of the castle.' + +Already intoxicated by what he saw, Ryno drained the golden cup, +impressed a glowing kiss upon Rosamunda's delicate fingers, shook the +proffered hand of the old knight, who led him to the upper end of the +table and seated him by Rosamunda's side. Familiar conversation, jests +and laughter, the delightful music, the exhilarating cup, and, more +than all these, the proximity of the blooming maiden, so warmed his +blood and confused his mind, that the question never occurred to him +how the castle came to be there, and its inhabitants to know him. He +soon became engaged in a tender conversation with Rosamunda, and but +too soon did they comprehend each other's glances. The table was now +cleared, and the dance began. Drunk with pleasure, Ryno floated through +the assembly with Rosamunda, pressing her divine form to his beating +heart, and amid the tumult and giddiness of the waltz robbing her of a +first kiss, which was warmly returned. When the dance was ended, the +company sought the refreshing coolness of the gardens. The lovers soon +found themselves in a solitary grotto, where, sunk in Ryno's embrace, +Rosamunda murmured that she would be his forever, and that she doubted +not of her father's consent to their union. + +This brought the inconstant Ryno to his senses. With much embarrassment +he stammered: + +'By my knightly oath and duty, I love you beyond measure, charming +girl, but I cannot become your husband, for--I am already another's.' + +Tears flowed in torrents from Rosamunda's eyes, upon this declaration. +With the most violent sorrow she reproached him for having stormed her +heart and destroyed its peace, while bound by earlier ties. She +declared that she could not live without him, and at last implored him +to dissolve his first marriage, that he might become her's alone. + +Ryno anxiously endeavored to effect a retreat. 'Aliande is my lawful +wife,' said he, in a tone of decision: 'and never, never will I +repudiate her.' + +New reproaches, new tears, and new solicitations followed. Ardent +kisses burned upon his lips, the softest arms twined about his neck, +and the most voluptuous bosom beat against his throbbing heart. He was +almost subdued; but he summoned resolution and, gently repulsing her, +said: 'Leave me, charming maiden,--my integrity must soon wither under +your warm embrace, and with a consciousness of my baseness, I should +then stand before you as a faithless husband, a seducer of innocence, +and a dishonored knight. Pardon my frankness. Your personal charms and +yielding disposition captivate my senses, which have too often led me +astray. You desire marriage. That must not, cannot be! I am weak and +giddy; but no severity of torment shall make me a faithless villain! My +wife is good; I am indebted to her for all my earthly prosperity +and happiness. She has already suffered too much through my +inconstancy,--and rather should this hand wither than I would repudiate +Aliande for the purpose of pledging it to another; even were that other +the divine Rosamunda.' + +Once more she threw her arms around him in a last effort to subdue his +heart;--and while he was vainly striving to escape from her embrace, +the grotto was suddenly illuminated by torches, and the lord of the +castle stood before him surrounded by knights and servants, and foaming +with rage. + +'What do I see!' thundered he: 'What shame and disgrace are visited +upon my gray hairs! Rosamunda in this solitary grotto under the mantle +of night, in the arms of a youthful stranger! My house is forever +degraded and my lineage dishonored!' + +'Your daughter is innocent and inviolate,' answered Ryno; 'and her lips +will inform you, that no unworthy knight now stands before you.' + +'You are in error, my good father,' cried Rosamunda, embracing his +knees with anguish; 'Ryno is already married!' + +'Married!' growled the old man, repulsing his daughter with a violence +that caused her to sink to the earth in a swoon: 'Married! Then is my +daughter's dishonor beyond remedy! That word decides your fate, Ryno! +and you shall feel how the abuser of the laws of hospitality is +punished in Arno's castle. Seize him, slaves! bind the wretch in +fetters!' + +Ryno's hand rushed to his side, but having thrown off his sword for the +dance, he found no weapon there. He struggled manfully against the +rabble host however, until he was finally overcome, cast upon the +ground, bound, and thrown into a deep dungeon beneath the castle. + +He lay upon mouldering straw, confined with clanking chains which were +made fast to the wall. A dim lamp lighted the place clearly enough to +show all its horrors. 'This is undeserved!' cried Ryno, as his eye +wandered about his new residence and finally rested upon the heavy iron +door. 'How many times have heavenly enjoyments rewarded my +faithlessness to my Aliande; and now that I, for the first time, have +conducted myself as became a virtuous knight, I sigh in these chains. +If dame fortune will persist in such blindness and stupidity, I shall +take care how I trust her hereafter!' + +The prisoner had lost himself in sad rumination, the name of Aliande +now and then escaping from his laboring bosom with many a sigh. At +length a lively contention arose outside his prison door. A female +voice was heard in earnest solicitation, and a manly one opposing; +finally he heard the clinking of gold, and the bolts were withdrawn. + +In the most seductive night dress, with streaming hair, tearful eyes +and pale cheeks, which increased her beauty a thousand fold, Rosamunda +tottered into the prison. With a trembling and mournful voice she said +to him, 'you have rejected me when you were yet free to choose; but I +come not now to speak of myself, of my love, or of the grief inflicted +by your rejection. Your welfare alone has induced me to seek you once +more. Your life, which is dearer to me than my own,--dearer even than +my eternal happiness,--stands upon a cast.' + +'I am sorry that such a momentary hallucination should be followed by +such serious consequences,' said Ryno. + +'The lioness robbed of her young, is a lamb in comparison with my +father when the honor of his family is concerned. You have only the +cruel choice between my hand and a miserable death.' + +'That is a hard alternative!' said Ryno with a shudder. + +'Reflect that you are forever lost to Aliande. If your wife loves like +Rosamunda, she would rather yield you to another's arms than deliver +you up to a horrible death.' + +'No artful sophistry, or seductive blandishments, can change my +resolution. Your father must cite me before a court of honor, if he be +an honorable knight. There will I answer his charge, and give him all +the satisfaction he has a right to claim. If he do not that, if he be +determined to destroy a chained and defenceless man in a secret +dungeon, he is a despicable assassin.' + +'Ryno!' cried Rosamunda, again clasping him with wild self-abandonment. +Gently releasing himself from her embrace he bore her as far as his +chains would permit, and called the sentinels. Upon their entrance he +committed the weeping maiden to their care and commanded them to +conduct her to her father. + +'A night of torment!' sighed Ryno, throwing himself back upon his +straw: 'but I have one consolation amid all my sorrows. By my death I +shall seal that fidelity which I have heretofore but ill kept, and +expiate the tears which my inconstancy has cost Aliande,--thus becoming +purified and prepared for the joys of Walhalla. The gods bless and +protect my wife and children!' + +Again were the bolts withdrawn, and, in a mourning dress, the lord of +the castle entered. + +'You may thank a feeling of compassion that I condescend once more to +parley with you!' said the old man with a painful suppression of his +rage. + +'I desire not your compassion.' + +'You have violated the laws of hospitality and seduced my only child.' + +'That is not true!' + +'Knights and serfs were witnesses of my shame, which blood alone can +efface. Were your previous marriage dissolved, however, and Rosamunda +your wife, I might, perhaps, forgive you.' + +'That can never be.' + +'Rosamunda's person is fair, and yet fairer is her guileless heart. She +is of the noblest lineage. Immense treasures lie in the caves of this +castle, and my lands extend twenty days' journey towards the north. +Take your life from my daughter's hand!' + +'Place everlasting torments in one scale, and an imperial crown in the +other, I repudiate my wife at no price.' + +'Will Aliande be less inconsolable as a widow than divorced?' + +'Waste not your breath!' + +'By the eternal gods! I warn you for the last time. These prison walls +see you Rosamunda's husband, or echo the death-sigh forced from you by +the rack!' + +Ryno tore one of the golden locks from his head and handed it to his +persecutor. 'If one spark of humanity yet slumbers in your bosom you +will send this lock to my poor wife, with the message--That I die +faithful to her, and that I wish her to train up my son as a good and +virtuous knight.--Now let your executioners come on, I am ready.' + +'Then, by Woden!' roared the foaming parent, 'you never behold the +rising of another sun!' + +He struck a bell, and twelve armed men with closed visors and drawn +swords, slowly and silently entered. One of them detached Ryno's chains +from the wall. Again the bell sounded, and at the other end of the +prison the heavy doors of the torture vault flew open with a horrible +clang. The cave-like room was hung with black and lighted with torches. +Every instrument which the cruelty of man has invented for the torment +of his fellow man, brightly polished and arranged with frightful +regularity, met the glance of the unfortunate prisoner. Large pincers +were glowing in a chafing dish, and in the centre of the room stood the +dreadful rack with its fearful and mysterious equipments. Three hideous +ruffians, with naked arms, in blood-red caps and doublets, stood +waiting beside it. On the right was an open and empty coffin. + +'For the last time, choose!' cried the incensed tyrant. + +'Death!' said Ryno, calmly, and sighing the name of Aliande, he +advanced toward the rack with a firm step. A beam of light suddenly +illuminated the dungeon. The torture-chamber, the guards, the rack, the +executioners, had all vanished,--and Ryno found himself again in a +magnificent room whose azure star-besprinkled dome was supported by +rose-crowned pillars. With a friendly smile the sorceress Hiorba +approached him; and, as on the first day of his marriage, with the glow +of newly awakened love, sank the happy Aliande upon his breast, +thanking him for his unshaken fidelity to his early vows. + +'You have sustained the trial!' said Hiorba, 'and thereby expiated many +a former folly, which Aliande must now forget. Love has returned, +confidence is born anew, and I shall leave the again united pair with +unshaken hope. The unhappy Daura will accompany me. Possibly she may +learn forgetfulness in my quiet and peaceful retreat, which she ought +never to hare left. Farewell, my children. Forget not the true +watchwords of hymen--LOVE AND FIDELITY! Ryno, remain the same Ryno you +were in the grotto and in Arno's dungeon. Aliande, never forget that, +not tears and reproaches, but kindness and affection only, can reclaim +an erring husband.' + +She disappeared in a cloud of incense, and the reunited lovers sealed +their mutual promise to obey her sage instructions, with a kiss. + +Faithfully was that promise kept. Even when Aliande's head had become +silvered with age she alone was the happiness of Ryno, as he was hers; +and it was many years before the venerable matron, surrounded by her +grandchildren, was surprised by her friend Hiorba, who came in a robe +of light to kiss her expiring breath from her pale lips. + + + + + + + THE ANABAPTIST. + + A TALE OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. + + BY C. F. VAN DER VELDE. + + + + + CHAPTER I. + + +It was on a fine morning in February of the year 1534, that the +journeyman armorer, Alf Kippenbrock, proceeded from Coesfeld toward the +free imperial city of Munster. Already had he left Baumberg and +Stestendorp behind--Saint Lambert's tower stretched high its gigantic +head at the edge of the distant horizon,--and the fruitful plain, in +which venerable old Munster is situated, gradually spread itself out +before the wanderer with its other towers and churches peeping from the +broad level,--while the bright silver of the distant and beautiful +river Aa glistened in the rays of the morning sun. + +Alf stopped at a stone cross which stood by the road side,--and while a +deeper red suffused his blooming cheeks, and his pious eyes sparkled +with enthusiasm at the sight of the ancient episcopal seat, he took off +his hat and swung it toward the city for joy. + +'God bless thee, dear native city!' he rapturously exclaimed; 'it is +long since we parted--and I now look in vain for my good old parents, +who, seven years ago, accompanied me as far as this cross. Nevertheless +thou appearest kind and friendly, and ready to offer me a hearty +welcome. Ah, nothing is dearer to man than his native home; thank God I +have again found mine, and in it that true and genuine faith in which I +hope to live, and, one day, happily die.' + +He then replaced his hat and walked briskly in the direction of St. +Lambert's tower. At that moment the morning breeze brought suddenly the +sound of the many voiced bells to the youth's ear, while an immense +cloud of vapor rolled up in the well known region of St. Mauritius's +cloisters. 'Holy God! some terrible misfortune has happened!' exclaimed +Alf, redoubling his pace. At the same time he saw an immense multitude +of people running toward him from the city. The nearer they approached +the more distinctly he discerned the motly combination of the crowd +that came gushing forth on foot, on horseback and in carriages. It had +the appearance of a formal national migration. Judges and clergymen, +patricians and plebeians, the old and the infirm, women and children, +indiscriminately mingled with various kinds of property apparently +collected in the haste incidental to a sudden conflagration, packed up +and borne along with them, successively and rapidly passed the +wanderer. The men in a state of great excitement conversing eagerly +with each other, the women weeping, and the children crying, they moved +on in a seemingly endless procession. + +Alf, transfixed with surprise and astonishment, and resting on his +walking staff with his heavy knapsack on his hack, stood gazing upon +the passing multitude. All had finally passed except one old burgher +who toiled singly on after the crowd, panting for breath. Alf stopped +him in the way and said, 'by your leave father, what means this general +flight? Is Munster beset by hostile armies?' + +'Alas, worse than that,' answered the graybeard, wiping his eyes, 'the +anabaptists have become masters of the city this fearful night, and are +driving before them all who do not belong to their sect, sword in +hand.' + +'God be praised!' cried Alf with wild enthusiasm, 'the true faith is +triumphant!' + +The burgher cast upon the youngster an angry and scornful look. 'Folly +may be forgiven to rash, inexperienced and imprudent youth,' said he, +'yet you may nevertheless be compelled to answer to the Lord for this +horrible praise of his name.' + +He then turned his back upon the youth and strode on after the +procession. Alf no longer felt the weight of his knapsack, but sprang +forward toward Munster with joyful leaps. He soon, however, encountered +a new mass of fugitives, among whom he could not easily penetrate--and +the dust raised by people, cattle, horses and carriages, becoming +insufferable, Alf retreated into a solitary inn by the way side, until +the tumult had passed away. + +As he laid down his knapsack in the tap room and called for a cup of +wine, the door opened and in tottered a pale thin man in a long black +clerical robe. He was followed by a light dashing fellow with the +countenance of a satyr, who carried his bundle for him. + +'I can go no further,' groaned the pale man, sinking down upon the +nearest seat. + +'Now, doctor, you are for the present indeed in safety,' said his +attendant to him, depositing the bundle upon the stove-bench. 'Permit +me to take a refreshing draught, and then to bid you farewell.' + +'Thou dost not wish, then, to go to the good Hessenland, my son?' asked +the doctor, sorrowfully. + +'No,' answered the youth, 'but do not consider me unkind. I return to +Munster. New governors will require new clothes, because much of the +dignity of office consists in the dress. My needle will not be +permitted to remain idle there, and I shall make great profits. +Moreover the doctrine of liberty and equality was plain to me from the +beginning; and if the good people would not come so easily to blows, +nothing could be said against it.' + +'I thought you held fast to the ancient faith,' said the doctor +complainingly, 'since you sustained me so truly.' + +'No,' laughingly replied the hare-brained youth. 'I held to you while +you benefitted me; and on that account I could not reconcile it to +myself to desert you in your hour of need. Now you are in safety; and I +must return to the only place where fellows like myself are held in +some degree of estimation; in any other I might remain all my life a +wandering ragamuffin.' + +'One deception less,' sighed the doctor sinking into gloomy meditation, +when the host entered with a mug of wine for Alf. When he perceived the +doctor the mug fell, and, clasping his hands over his head, he cried: +'Holy God! are you also driven away, reverend sir?' + +'The true shepherds must first be driven away,' said the doctor with a +melancholy smile, 'when the wolf desires undisturbedly to break into +the unfortunate fold. Nevertheless I may congratulate myself that I +held out until the last moment, and only yielded to open violence.' + +'How was that possible in so short a time, doctor?' asked the host. +'The adherents of the Augsburg confession were certainly very powerful +as yet, in the city, as the papists also were.' + +'The terrible Matthias,' replied the doctor, 'had sent circulars +through the neighborhood and collected all the anabaptists at Munster. +Consequently, all the low rabble, who had nothing at home to lose, +rushed into the poor city, and last night, taking possession of the +arsenal and town house, they set fire to the cloisters of Mauritius. +They ran, as if possessed, howling through the streets with naked +swords, crying, 'Repent and be baptised!' and 'Depart ye Godless!' +Neither condition, age, nor sex availed; delicate women, the sick and +dying, were all mercilessly thrust out at the gates of their native +city unless they would profess the heretical, heathenish worship. The +choice between death, flight, and apostacy, only remained, even to me; +and as I thought it better to be useful through the preaching of the +word to honest christians than through martyrdom in the paws of such +raging brutes, I shook the dust from my feet and escaped,--and God must +judge.' + +'I am very sorry for you,' cried Alf, much agitated: 'because you have +such a venerable appearance, and doubtless think yourself truly +faithful, though you wander in darkness. Nevertheless, it is a culpable +stubbornness in you Lutherans, to struggle so violently against the new +doctrines, which have the right and the holy scriptures so clearly on +their side. Has not our Lord and Savior expressly commanded his +Apostles--'Go ye into all the world and teach all people and baptize +them?' So therefore, the teaching must precede the baptism, according +to Christ's own words. How dare you, then, presume to baptize new born +children who can know nothing of God?' + +'What, another anabaptist!' grumbled the host, with a discontented +glance at the speaker; and the worthy doctor directed his eyes, full of +heartfelt sorrow, upon the youth, and sighed--'Another lamb gone astray +from the flock, whom I cannot lead back to the protecting fold. This it +is, that makes me sad.' + +'You have not answered my question,' said Alf, with the triumph of the +controversialist. + +'Of what advantage is it to show the way to the blind, who will not see +it?' cried the doctor: 'I could answer you, that Christ's apostles +could only baptize adults, because those only came over to christianity +at first; but that, at a later period, the burning zeal of the great +Augustine placed near the heart of the christian fathers the duty of +consecrating their children to Christ through the holy baptism into the +covenant, and thereby to deliver them from the original sin and impart +to them the redemption through Christ, before peradventure they should +be snatched away in their tender youth by a premature death. Would to +God that this schism was the only one that your companions in your +mistaken faith defend with such terrible obstinacy and fierceness. You +have yet other dogmas which you advance, sufficient to convert our +earth, God's beautiful temple, into a den of murderers. Your community +of goods, your equality of rank, your struggle against secular +authority, lead directly to lawless confusion, robbery, murder, and +unhappy revolution.' + +'Even the best opinions may be misconstrued,' replied Alf, angrily. +'The gospel looks upon all men as equal. The distinctions made among +them by birth, rank, and wealth, are contrary to its spirit. Christians +who possess the doctrines of God as precepts, and take his spirit for +their guide, need no power that destroys religious liberty without +authority. They are able to govern themselves by the word of God, and +the Holy Spirit will always guide them, that they stumble not in the +paths in which they are led by their faith.' + +'Unhappy, infatuated youth!' cried the doctor, with a majestic +prophetic look and tone. 'Go now into the unfortunate city, and behold +how the anabaptist spirit has conducted your companions to robbery, +incendiarism and murder, in the smoking ruins of the cloister, and in +the bleeding bodies which strew the highways! If this horrible +spectacle be not enough to move your heart, think of the words which in +this sad hour I address to you in the name of that God whom your +proceedings profane. These crimes will be but the beginning of your +afflictions. Your equality will yet be to you but equality of +misery--your community of goods will bring you to beggary. Instead of +the magistracy which you now drive away, miscreants will rise up from +the midst of you, and with bloody hands rend your own entrails, until +the wrath of a long suffering God finally awakes, until the avenger +appears, and you all perish in one common ruin.' + +'There come horsemen galloping,' cried the doctor's attendant, who was +standing at the window with his cup; 'and, if I see rightly, they bear +our lord bishop's colors. It might be well for me to go back to the +city.' + +'The bishop's riders!' sighed the doctor. 'It often happens that the +avenger only lingers near; but this time the Lord in his anger has +given him wings.' + +'The bishop's riders!' cried the host, anxiously: 'May God be merciful +to us. Those fellows make no distinctions, but shear both Lutherans and +anabaptists over one comb.' + +Alf's eyes flashed fire at this; he drew from his portmanteau a large, +two edged dirk-knife, screwed it upon his walking stick, and placed +himself in a defensive attitude. + +Meanwhile the horsemen had stalked into the inn. + +'Here is a whole band of anabaptists collected together,' cried the +officer. 'Halters from the horses! we will bind them together in +couples.' + +'I am the doctor of theology, Theodore Fabricius,' cried the reverend +gentleman, with all the dignity of his station; 'driven from Munster by +the anabaptists, and am under the special protection of his grace the +landgrave of Hesse.' + +'Why should we trouble ourselves much about the heretics,' exclaimed +the serjeant. 'Don't trifle and spend your time in unnecessary +discourse; submit without resistance!' cried another, seizing the poor +doctor by the collar. + +Then sprang forward Alf, and struck aside the strong hand of the +horseman. 'Back!' cried he, holding his dirk-spear before him, 'I will +stab the first who touches the old man.' + +'That is brave!' cried the host, exultingly; and, armed with a small +hatchet, he stationed himself at Alf's side. + +'Young man, why do you interfere?' cried the horseman, recoiling. 'Out +broadswords!' shouted the officer, and the broad blades were already +flashing, when a new trampling of horses drew all eyes to the window, +and in an instant a fresh band of horsemen crowded into the room. + +'God be praised!' cried Fabricius, with folded hands; 'those are the +colors of my lord, the landgrave.' + +'What mischief are you episcopalians carrying on here?' angrily asked +the captain of the new comers. + +'We surely shall not answer to a Hessian concerning that, while +standing upon our lord bishop's own ground,' blustered the serjeant. +'With greater right may I ask how you could yourself venture upon our +territory with weapons and arms, without escort?' + +'Madman!' cried the captain, 'is that the way you speak to your allies? +We are sent by our lord to help yours against the rebellious +anabaptists. At present I am commanded to the defence of the +evangelical preachers, who are compelled to flee from Munster, and I +will not permit you to abuse them.' + +'If you expect that I shall believe every thing you say upon your mere +assertion,' sneeringly answered the bishop's serjeant-major, 'you are +for once mistaken. The heretic priest is my prisoner.' + +'Contemptible slave of a priest!' thundered the captain, 'when the word +of a knight is doubted, he has no other voucher than his good sword;' +and drawing forth his blade, he called to his followers, 'strike flat, +comrades.' + +As if all the furriers of Munster had collected together in the tavern +to beat their skins, so clattered the Hessian blades upon the broad +backs of the episcopalians in mighty chorus. In a moment the room was +cleared, and the Hessians were sitting behind their full jugs, making +themselves merry over their easy and bloodless victory. + +'Where do you desire to be conducted, reverend doctor?' asked the +captain courteously. + +'I intend to go direct to Cassel,' answered Fabricius, 'to give an +account of my mission to the landgrave. If you will give me a file of +horsemen as far as Paderborn, I shall reach my destination without +difficulty.' + +'With your permission, Mr. Captain,' said the landlord, 'I will myself +convey my confessor as far as Paderborn in my little wagon.' + +'It is well!' answered the captain, casting a glance upon Alf, who had +unscrewed the knife from his staff and was preparing to proceed on his +way. + +'Who art thou?' he asked in a severe tone. + +'An honest journeyman armorer,' answered Alf, boldly, 'who am returning +to Munster in search of employment.' + +'To Munster?' angrily repeated the captain: 'to that heated furnace +where the frantic mob are preparing misery for the country?--and +now,--directly? Dost thou belong to them?' + +'Shame to him who denies his faith through fear of men,' cried Alf; +'yes, I am an anabaptist.' + +'Munster needs no armorer now,' said the captain, with decision; 'sharp +weapons are not good for children and drunken men: they injure +themselves and others with them. Thou goest with us back to the head +quarters at Walbeck.' + +'Never!' exclaimed Alf, in wrath, drawing his knife. + +'Pardon his imprudence,' entreated Fabricius, stepping between them. +'His spirit is diseased and heavily weighed down; but his heart is +better than his mistaken faith. He has hazarded his life in my defence +against the episcopalians, regardless of the difference of our creeds. +Let him go in freedom.' + +'You know not what you ask, doctor,' said the captain, displeased. +'Ought I to permit the rebels to strengthen themselves by the +acquisition of such a stout fellow?' + +'There are already, alas! a plenty of wicked men,' said Fabricius, +'ferociously raging in the unhappy city. It seems to me it is to be +wished, that there should be some good souls among them, who might +mitigate many an evil, and prevent many a crime. The whole conduct of +this youth convinces me, that his erroneous opinions will not hold out +against the misdeeds he will witness, and against the voice of truth in +his own heart; and then may even he become a fit instrument in God's +cause. Let him go, by my desire.' + +'Go then,' impatiently cried the captain, returning to the drinking +table. + +'God reward thee,' said Alf, with deep feeling, and pressing the hand +of Fabricius to his bosom; 'thou hast saved me from murder.' + +'The Lord enlighten thee!' said Fabricius, laying his hands upon the +youth's head for a farewell blessing, 'so that we may one day joyfully +meet again.' + +'Yon say that with great confidence, sir,' cried Alf, perplexedly, 'as +if the error were certainly upon _our_ side. I firmly believe it to be +upon _yours_. For God's sake, then, which of us two is right in these +dreadful contentions?' + +'If that doubt itself do not already tell thee, my son,' said +Fabricius, in a friendly manner, 'only submit the new belief to the +touchstone of thy reason and thy honest heart--bring it to the test of +the holy scriptures,--seek the truth with diligence and thou shalt find +it.' + +'No, no!' cried Alf, in the wild conflict of his soul. 'The holy +spirit, that spoke by our prophets, cannot err. Satan himself must have +whispered the wicked doubt to me: I reject and cast it from me, as, +according to God's commandment, I ought the eye that offends me. I am, +here, yet within the confines of anti-christ, and his power darkens my +vision. Wherefore, forward to the realm of light! Up, toward the holy +Zion!' + +As if beside himself, the enthusiast strode out of the house, the +worthy Fabricius with saddened looks, watching his retreating form. + +Alf was already advancing toward the city with vigorous strides, when +he heard some one calling behind, and the nimble tailor came running +after him. 'Take me with you, compatriot,' begged he: 'I have taken my +leave of the worthy doctor, and would willingly return to the city in +good company.' + +'Where were you during the first part of the fight?' asked Alf of him. + +'Behind the stove, dear compatriot,' laughingly confessed the tailor; +'and when it began between the Hessians and the episcopalians, I +crawled under the stove, lest perhaps both parties might take me for an +enemy, and I thus receive a double portion of blows.' + +'For shame,' said Alf, scornfully. + +'What is there in that to be ashamed of?' babbled the tailor. 'Let each +honor his profession. An armorer, with legs and arms to his body, as +you have, by the grace of God, must hammer upon his enemies as he would +upon old iron--it is his duty; but a poor little tailor, like me, has +the privilege of running away from such affairs of honor; and I should +little grace my fraternity by exhibiting an ill-timed valor in old +quarrels.' + +'Under such circumstances,' said Alf, 'I cannot understand how your +cowardice can suffer you to return to Munster, which just now is very +tempestuous and clanging with arms.' + +'Why, not a hair of my head can be injured!' triumphantly answered the +tailor. 'I am the old boon companion of the second of the prophets who +are now very powerful in the government of the city, and they cannot +fail me. When once the old order of affairs shall be wholly overturned, +I may be clothed with a station of high honor in the new government. +For a generalship in the field my stars have certainly not directly +designed me; but a chancellorship or treasurership I may fill as well +as another.' + +'For that must God in his anger have created you,' cried Alf, with +indignant laughter. + +'Because I am a tailor?' asked the chancellor-in-expectancy, angrily. +'How blind does the pride of your hands make you, friend armorer! Does +every thing depend upon strong bones in this world? What was Johannes +Bockhold of Leyden, our great prophet, more than a tailor? What does he +now appear, and to what will he not hereafter attain! The days and +nights have not yet all passed. He has a head for twenty; and when we +loitered about together as comedians, while business in our line was +dull, then did he play the parts of emperors and kings, and played and +ranted in such a manner as to compel respect from all. Give him the +world and he will govern it in fine style.' + +'A man who plays the buffoon for bread, selected to carry on the work +of the spirit in my native city!' sighed Alf, losing himself in sad +reflections until they arrived at the closed gates. + +Here all was crowded with the busy activity of the burghers. The city +walls were repaired and raised,--the ditches were deepened and +furnished with palisades,--new bulwarks and towers arose on +high,--hammer and trowel, shovel and pickaxe, were in constant +motion,--and the dirt carts creaked incessantly. Aged and distinguished +men worked unweariedly, like day-laborers; women and children assisted; +and the pleasure and satisfaction, with which every thing was +accomplished, rendered it very apparent that the most ardent enthusiasm +was the soul of this body. + +'Do you not perceive,' cried the tailor, gaily slapping Alf's shoulder, +'that the bishop will be compelled to break many a tooth upon our walls +before he will be able to eat us up?' + +'What does that denote?' asked Alf, disregarding the boast, and +pointing to two large stone slabs covered with letters which were +hanging upon the gates. + +'Those are the commands of our second Moses, of our great Matthias,' +replied the tailor, reverently. 'He has caused them to be cut in stone +and to be hung thus on all the gates of the city, to keep the people in +the fear of God, so that every man may conduct according to them.' + +At that moment a confused drumming alarm rattled in the city, and a +desolate thrilling cry of the raging populace answered the warlike +call; an icy chill diffused itself through every member of Alf's body, +as it seemed to him as if the people were roaring for blood. + +'The prophets are calling the people together,' said the tailor, +dragging Alf forward. 'Come, we must hear what they have to say to us; +we belong to the mass, and can give our opinions upon public affairs +whenever it may seem good to us.' + +They hastened toward the market, where the human tide, as if agitated +by the wildest storms, waved to and fro, thundering and roaring. + +The thickest crowd was about St. Lambert's church, and the mass, armed +with clubs and spears and muskets, seemed here to form a large circle, +from the centre of which a single commanding voice occasionally rose +above the general bustle of the crowd. + +Alf swung himself up to the corner stone of a house near the market, +held fast to the iron supporters of a pitch-pan, and looked towards the +centre of the circle. + +'What do you see,' cried the tailor to him above. + +'A stout man,' answered Alf, 'clad in a coarse woolen capote. I can +scarcely see his face through his disheveled hair and bushy beard. He +poises a stout spear over a vigorous burgher who is kneeling before +him.' + +'That is our great Matthias,' exclaimed the tailor. + +A fresh multitude at that instant came up and pulled Alf down from his +corner stone. The tailor held on with all his might to prevent being +borne away by the crowd, and grumbled, 'it is very wrong that one +should be hindered by the crowd from seeing what the people do in their +sovereign judicial capacity.' + +'Thank God! I find one acquaintance here at least!' exclaimed a pale +girl, tremblingly seizing the hand of the tailor. 'If you have the +heart of a man, my good fellow, help us out of this great difficulty. +You have much influence with Johannes Bockhold, the prophet; beg of +him, therefore, mercy for my poor uncle!' + +'For your uncle, mademoiselle Clara?' inquired he with astonishment. +'What has happened to the worthy master Trutlinger?' + +'Trutlinger, Hubert Trutlinger, the armorer?' exclaimed Alf, in great +agitation; 'my good old master? What has happened to him?' + +'Alas, they have dragged him before the tribunal of the people!' +complained the weeping girl; 'he is said to have spoken evil of the +prophets.' + +'That is a bad case,' said the tailor, 'and in such an unpleasant +predicament there is not much to be hoped from any interference.' + +'But you must attempt that possibility,' said Alf, 'of serving the +upright man and this loving child.' + +There fell a shot in the midst of the circle, which was directly +followed by a horrible cry from the thousand voiced multitude. 'God! +what was that?' exclaimed the girl, aghast. 'I fear my intercession +comes too late,' said the tailor dubiously. At that moment the circle +opened and the doomed one was brought forth, borne in mournful silence +upon the halberds of several burghers. The blood was streaming from a +spear wound in his side, and from a reeking shot wound in his breast; +yet the unhappy man was not dead, but breathed, although with infinite +pain, and had his eyes directed imploringly toward heaven. 'Not even to +be able to die,' groaned he. 'Thou punishest heavily my foolishness, O +God!' + +'Be satisfied unhappy man,' exclaimed the terrible prophet, who had +followed him. 'Heaven has revealed to me that the hour of thy death has +not yet come. God has determined to show thee mercy. Convey him to his +dwelling,' said he to the bearers, 'so that he may be taken care of by +his own family. The Lord desires not the death of sinners, but that +they should be converted and live.' + +'Bear me forward quickly,' begged the dying man to those who were +carrying him. 'These bible-sayings cut me to the heart,--for, out of +his mouth, they sound to me like a blaspheming of God.' + +They bore him toward his house. Alf tremblingly followed the poor +Clara, whose eyes were streaming with countless tears, and who on the +way vainly sought to check with her handkerchief the flow of blood from +the gushing wounds. + +At the door of Trutlinger's house the sad train was received by a +beauteous maiden. Around her noble, blooming face, floated in profusion +the rich curls of her dark locks. The fire of her black eyes, increased +by enthusiasm, pierced deep into the heart. Her high forehead, her +finely arched nose, her slender and majestic figure, imparted to her +whole appearance something queenlike, which even her burgher garb, (in +consequence of the strictness of the new belief deprived of every +ornament) could not counteract. When she perceived the situation of her +unhappy uncle, she wrung her white hands, tears burst from her eyes, +which in the bitterness of her grief were raised to heaven, and +embellished by her sorrow she stood, a weeping Madonna. The meek, +unassuming Clara became wholly eclipsed by her noble figure, at which +Alf stood gazing with true devotion. 'For God's sake, what has happened +to you, dear uncle?' cried she, accompanying the bearers, who conveyed +the sufferer into the nearest lower room and there laid him upon a bed. + +'He has practised continual mocking of the holy mission of our +prophets,' answered one of the bearers, 'and the prophet Matthias has +judged him before the congregation.' + +'God be merciful to his poor soul!' murmured the departing populace, +and Alf was left alone with the maidens and the dying man. + +'How came your senses so entirely to desert you, my poor uncle, as to +permit you to fall into so heavy a sin?' moaned the beauteous girl, who +was bandaging his wounds with the quiet sorrowful Clara. + +'Be silent, simpleton!' angrily replied the old man with his remaining +strength. 'My senses have indeed deserted me; but only with the lying +spirit of the wicked wretches whom in my madness I held for God's +prophets. With my gushing blood departs the delusion which perhaps has +cost me my salvation, and I perceive with horror that my poor native +city, led astray by crafty imposters, is on the way to ruin for time +and eternity.' + +'Gracious heavens! he already repeats his offences,' sobbed the gentle +maiden. 'We are not alone, uncle,' Clara reminded him in a voice of +gentle entreaty. + +Trutlinger, raising his weary eyes toward the youth, remained fixedly +considering him for a long time; and, as if he finally recollected him, +a smile dawned upon his face, which his sufferings chased away. 'If I +see rightly,' said he faintly, 'that is a good old acquaintance, before +whom no precaution or constraint is necessary. Do I mistake, comrade? +Are you not my former faithful apprentice, Alf Kippenbrock?' + +'I am the same, my worthy master,' said Alf, approaching and taking his +hand, while his tears flowed more mildly. + +'This is the finger of God!' exclaimed Trutlinger, and a feeble light +relumed his eyes. 'These girls are orphans--their last protector goes +to the grave in me. The thought that I must leave their inexperienced +youth behind me without protection in this den of murderers, renders my +death most afflicting. You were always a good and capable man, +Kippenbrock. Promise, then, to your dying master, with the hand and +word of a man, that you will shelter and protect these poor children +according to the best of your ability.' + +Alf cast a friendly glance upon the proteges confided to him. The +dark-haired young maiden gleamed upon him with a burning glance, while +Clara timidly cast her blue eyes upon the ground. The heart of the +youth swelled. He quickly pressed Trutlinger's cold hand and cried, 'I +promise it.' + +'God reward thee!' faintly uttered the hoary man, his head sank hack +and his lacerated breast labored with the death-struggle. Yet once more +he suddenly opened his eyes. All radiant were they raised toward +heaven. 'Yes,' cried he aloud and joyfully,--'yes, thou hast forgiven +the son of earth his errors! I see thy brightness!'--and he was no +more. + +'Lord, deal not with him in judgment!' prayed the enthusiastic young +woman, with pious zeal. + +'My second father!' cried Clara, mildly weeping, and, bending down over +the dead body, she softly kissed his pale lips. + +'No,' cried Alf, with angry grief, 'this sentence was not pronounced +and executed in accordance with thy will, Spirit of Mercy!' + + + + + CHAPTER II. + + +The next morning Alf stepped into the apartment of his kinsman, Gerhard +Kippenbrock, to salute him. The good old man, a worthy butcher by +calling, had by the overthrow of all established customs been made +second burgomaster of the imperial free city of Munster, without +clearly knowing how that precise result had been attained. He advanced +to meet the new comer, uncommonly magnificent in his black official +dress, with the lace collar and golden chain of honor, and introduced +him to a large, raw-boned, meagre man, in a similar dress, who sat at +the table staring on vacancy with half-extinguished eyes, in which the +flashes of a quiet insanity were occasionally playing. + +'Thou hast here the best opportunity to recommend thyself to the favor +of our first burgomaster, of brother Bernd Knipperdolling,' said the +elder Kippenbrock to the youth. Alf bowed himself low before the +singular man, whose appearance affected him disagreeably, and stammered +some expressions of respect. + +Knipperdolling cast upon him a searching glance, and then said in a +hollow and monotonous voice, 'a well formed vessel for the spirit!--thy +kinsman, my brother? He may become a bailiff of the city of Zion.' + +'God preserve me, revered sir burgomaster!' protested Alf. 'I by no +means understand all that the office requires, and should disgrace my +undeserved promotion.' + +'Whoever hath the spirit,' said Knipperdolling, decisively, 'needs no +earthly wisdom.' + +'I have taken upon myself a holy duty!' exclaimed the youth with +anxiety, shuddering at the burthen of the proffered dignity. 'I have +promised to the unfortunate Trutlinger on his death-bed, to take upon +myself the care of his two nieces, whom he left unprotected. I shall +have plenty to do,--for six journeymen are employed in the workshop of +the orphans, and much work is ordered.' + +'Let him have his will,' entreated the elder Kippenbrock of his +colleague. 'I have known him from his youth up; his head is not equal +to the governing of lands and people, but he is a capable armorer, whom +we much need in these times when our all rests upon the points of our +swords.' + +'Have you already been baptised?' asked Knipperdolling. + +'Your faith became mine at Amsterdam,' answered Alf, but I have +postponed being baptised until I could receive that holy ordinance +here, in my native city.' + +'Our orator, brother Rothman, will prepare you for it,' said +Knipperdolling. + +'I hope this brother has already laid a good ground,' said a man in a +black ministerial robe, with a cunning, bold, peaked face. 'I shall +hold a great baptizing one of these days at the river Aa, and shall +expect to see the catechumen previously at my house.' + +'We will be his witnesses on that holy occasion,' said Knipperdolling, +with a gracious nod of his head, 'I and my colleague Kippenbrock.' + +The candidate for baptism stammered his thanks for the unexpected +honor, when the door of the room was thrown open with violence, and a +young man of Alf's age strode fiercely in. His countenance might have +been considered handsome, had it not been for the deathlike paleness +and distortion which disfigured it. His large and restlessly rolling +eyes--his dishevelled, bristling hair--his loose coarse garments, which +scarcely covered the nakedness of his body--all these gave to his +figure a frightful appearance; and Alf was thereby reminded, with a +secret shudder, of the altar-piece of a church, where he had seen the +adversary represented as tempting our Savior in the wilderness. All +present rose reverently at his entrance, and, with their hands crossed +upon their breasts, bowed low before the youth. + +'Thus speaks the spirit by the mouth of your prophets,' cried he with +singular gestures. 'Make outcry in all the streets of Zion, that every +one bring all his wealth in gold, silver and jewels, and lay it at the +feet of the great prophet, Matthias. There must no longer be rich or +poor in the community which the Lord has chosen for himself. Let all +belong to all!' + +'So mote it be,' cried the hearers, and a gentle sigh from the rich +butcher accompanied the response. + +'A true christian needs no erudition,' continued he prophet. 'The +internal word is of more value than the outward. All books written with +the insolent wisdom of men are fruitless and unprofitable, if the +doctrines they contain are already proved in the holy scriptures,-- +ungodly, if they are opposed to them. Wherefore you must bring all +books, except the bible, out of Zion, and collect them at the market +before St. Lambert's church, and cause them to be consumed by fire, a +burnt offering to the Lord.' + +'So mote it be!' again submissively repeated all mouths. + +'Whoever sins against one of these commands, roared the prophet, with +wild flashing eyes, 'shall die the death!' + +'Amen!' said the trembling chorus, and the prophet stalked haughtily +out of the door. + +'Who was that!' Alf timidly asked his kinsman. 'Johannes Bockhold, our +second prophet,' answered he, dejectedly, 'the right hand of the great +Matthias.' + +'All the books!' sighed the orator Rothman. + +'All the gold and silver!' sighed the worthy Kippenbrock, after him, +involuntarily raising his hand to his head, as if for the purpose of +scratching it, but recollecting in season that this movement was rather +unseemly for a new burgomaster, he quickly let it fall again. + +'The Lord wills it, and his servants must be obedient,' said +Knipperdolling to Kippenbrock. 'Let the commands of the prophet be +proclaimed, my brother. I have yet much to do with recording the +estates of the exiles, which have become forfeit to the community!' + +He departed, and Rothman followed him. 'All the gold and silver!' +repeated the elder Kippenbrock sorrowfully, yet once more, and he went +after them. + +'God forgive me if this feeling be a sin,' cried Alf, when he saw +himself alone; 'but these prophets appear horrible to me, and I shall +never be able to reconcile my heart to them.' + + + + + CHAPTER III. + + +Some days passed away; daring which Alf, without troubling himself much +about the disturbances of the city, labored unweariedly in the workshop +of the deceased Trutlinger, which in these times gave him an immense +deal to do. He was animated by the idea of working and accumulating for +the beauteous dark-haired Eliza; and although he could not gain any +decided token of favor from the haughty girl, the friendly glances, +which she now and then bestowed upon him, were sufficient to keep the +flame of love always brightly burning at his heart; and the poor Clara, +whose eyes ventured towards him when she thought herself unobserved, +became wholly overlooked, as usually happens to the modest violet in +the neighborhood of the queenly rose. + +One day the wild rattling of the drums called all who could bear arms +to the market place. Obedient to the call, Alf equipped himself and his +journeymen from the military stock of his workshop, and they were all +standing in polished casques and coats of mail, well armed with swords +and halberds, when Trutlinger's two nieces entered the shop. + +'You are going forth to battle, Kippenbrock!' said Eliza, pressing his +hand for the first time with the kindest affability,--whilst Clara +remained silently and sadly standing at a distance. + +'And with a right good will, dear maiden,' answered Alf, tenderly, 'if +your kind wishes accompany the new warrior upon his first expedition.' + +'You go to the field of battle for the Word!' exclaimed Eliza with +enthusiasm; 'the Holy Spirit is with you and you must conquer.' + +'Be careful of your life!' whispered the timorous Clara, scarcely +audible, and Alf hastened forth with his companions. + +The place of rendezvous, before St. Lambert's church, was already +crowded by the people of Munster, collected in compliance with various +commands from their prophets. Here, a great fire which was consuming +the doomed books of the city, blazed to the heavens,--there, stood two +of Munster's deacons for the reception of the jewels of the citizens; +two female diviners, well acquainted with the jewels of the city, had +the oversight of the business, and accused every one who endeavored to +keep back any thing. Many a pearl, from beauteous eyes, silently +bedewed the costly trinkets which were compulsorily brought as +offerings to the spirit. + +Meantime the military power of the anabaptists had assembled at the +rendezvous, and now appeared Matthias in his dark hair-cloth robe. In +his hand he held the spear still clotted with the unhappy Trutlinger's +blood, and his mouth was foaming with rage. + +At his nod the armed men closed in a circle around him. + +'That true son of anti-christ,' roared he, 'that reprobate priest of +Baal, who once tyrannically ruled over the free burghers of this city, +the bishop, with his mercenary troops, comes against you. He has +already stretched his camp all about the city; and if we give him time +to perfect his entrenchments, the cowards, who dare not meet us man to +man, may conquer us at last through hunger. Wherefore thus speaks the +spirit: 'Arise, Matthias, gird on thy sword, take with thee five +hundred men from out the congregation, go forth and destroy the ungodly +whom I have this day given into thy hand.' Arise, then, my brethren! +Whoever is truly devoted to our holy cause, whoever is determined never +again to bend his neck under the iron yoke, which we have just thrown +off, let him step forth from the congregation; the Lord has chosen him +for his champion, and the host of the enemy shall be scattered before +his arm like chaff before the wind. Amen.' + +During this speech Alf was suffering a severe mental conflict. Too +readily would he once have measured himself with the episcopalians, +whom in his fanaticism he fiercely hated; and nevertheless he had a +decided aversion to the prophet under whom he must fight. He was +finally decided by the hope of the reception which he should meet with +from the fair Eliza, returning home a conqueror; and, as the amen of +the prophet was heard, he stepped forth into the centre of the circle. +His journeymen and all those who were armorers by trade followed him. +To these were joined the other workers in iron, from connection in +business. The butchers attached themselves to the nephew of their +chief; and, this example being actively imitated, the number of five +hundred volunteers was soon more than complete and ready for the field. + +'Thou wast the first to step forth,' said Matthias to Alf; 'therefore +be thou the first in the army, after me, and lead it on as my general.' + +The orator Rothman then embraced the youth, saying: 'Thou shouldst +surely this day be taken up into our band through the holy baptism--but +now, proceed to the greater business to which the Lord hath called +thee;--and shouldst thou even fall in the field in the cause of God, so +wilt thou win the baptism of blood, which is still more efficacious for +the remission of sin, according to the doctrines of the oldest church.' + +'Come holy spirit, O Lord God!' sang Matthias, the whole multitude +joining him in chorus; and brandishing his spear, singing with a louder +voice, with uncovered head, and without protective armor, the prophet +led to the gates. Alf followed him with the singing host. No sooner had +they left the last outworks behind them, than they were met by a +portion of the enemy's forces, who were making an attempt to win the +city by surprise. The episcopalians were not a little startled when +they perceived so stout a band, which, in consequence of the shining +mail of the armorers in the front ranks, seemed to them extremely well +accoutred. + +'Now ask we the Holy Spirit!' exclaimed Matthias, commencing anew the +harsh chant, in which his troops joyfully joined. The prophet plunged, +singing, spear in hand, into the enemy's ranks. Near him fought Alf, +who, more than true to the duty he had undertaken, made of his armor a +shield for the protection of the defenceless body of the prophet. The +troops, all singing, followed them with the impetuosity of fanaticism. +The episcopalian mercenaries, frightened by the furious assault, (and +not, like their opponents, inspired with a contempt for death,) made a +feeble resistance, soon gave ground, and finally fled with winged feet +back to their camp. + +'The Spirit has heard us, brethren!' cried Matthias. 'Let us now +startle the crimson, seven headed animal, whose name is full of +blasphemy, from his den. Let us hurl down the great Babylon from its +golden saddle,--that they both may fall into the fiery lake which burns +with brimstone. On, on, on!' and, commencing the death song that, under +the command of Munzer and Metzler, had before inflamed the unfortunate +German peasants to the most furious war of extermination, the prophet +pursued the flying episcopalians. 'On, on, on!' he roared incessantly, +his spear dripping with the blood of the cowards who gave themselves up +to slaughter rather than fight. 'On, on, on!' song the troops, who +followed him in quick step, and the victors soon stood before the +fortified camp, behind which the armed episcopalians were crowded. + +'Yield or die! 'cried Alf, in whom the battle had kindled the warrior's +enthusiasm,--and, rushing, to the barrier, he surmounted all obstacles, +and stood upon the wall, where his halberd became like the scythe of +the angel of death to the besieged. Incited, unceasingly, by Matthias, +the crowd followed him as the defenders were driven back, and the +anabaptists penetrated deep into their camp, until they reached the +place where the banner of the church waved over a richly decorated +tent. + +'That is the hold of anti-christ!' cried Matthias, rushing into the +tent, while Alf drove the enemy wholly out of the camp. As he returned +from the pursuit, he heard a mournful cry in the bishop's tent. Pushing +in, he saw the prophet pitilessly raging among the defenceless +domestics of the runaway bishop. Many dead bodies were already +stretched upon the ground, and two beautiful pages were kneeling with +closed eyes, before the monster, about to receive the death blow. + +Alf forcibly seized the uplifted spear. 'Thou hast appointed me to be +the leader of the forces, brother Matthias,' said he, earnestly, 'and I +dare not allow that thou shouldst give my troops an evil example by the +murder of these defenceless boys, whom we had better take prisoners and +keep as hostages, preparing their souls for heaven through our holy +baptism. Besides, we have not a moment to lose. The flying men have +carried the alarm to the other camp, and new multitudes will soon be +thronging here to oppose us. Let us therefore return to Munster while +we can convey the booty there in safety.' + +'Thou art right, brother!' cried the prophet, subdued by the boldness +and decision of the youth. 'Thou understandest the business of +war. We will forth. Let our people be called together. This young +dragon's-brood, however, we will take with us, and thou shalt be +answerable for them with thy head. I will baptise them myself to-morrow +morning before all the people.' + +The drums called the plundering anabaptists together. The host +retreated to the city, laden with rich booty, and the bishop's troops, +who had hastened to the assistance of the assailed quarter of the +encampment, came just in time to see the rejoicing anabaptists +reentering the gates of Munster. + + + + + CHAPTER IV. + + +A countless multitude exultingly met the returning victors. The prophet +Johannes Bockhold at their head, in white festival garments, with green +branches of fir in their hands, the maidens of the city sang to them in +loud, joyful hosannas. It pleased the gallant, good humored Alf +uncommonly well to receive praise from such beautiful lips. As he +reflected, however, that this song of praise was intended as much for +Matthias as for himself, there came over Alf a silent vexation, instead +of the pleasure of flattered vanity, and he strode on gloomily in front +of his troops. The army halted upon the market place, and the booty, +being common property, was secured in St. Lambert's church; the two +pages were given over to the orator Rothman, preparatory to their +baptism; the soldiers having been praised and dismissed, and the +evening having already approached, Alf with his surviving journeymen, +half their number having fallen either in the first battle or in the +storming of the camp, proceeded toward Trutlinger's house. + +As he approached the house door, which was surmounted by a triumphal +arch covered with pine boughs, he was met by the bewitching smiles of +the beautiful Eliza, who was still clad in her white festival garments. + +'Welcome from battle and victory, brave soldier of the Spirit!' cried +she; and, casting aside all maidenly bashfulness and constraint, she +spread wide her arms toward the youth. + +'Dear maiden!' stammered he, most agreeably surprised by this second +and dearest triumph. He pressed the charming girl to his mailed bosom, +when, notwithstanding his unaccommodating helmet, they sought and found +each other's lips, and united them with the double glow of fanaticism +and sensuality, which both in their blindness mistook for the fire of +pure love. + +At that moment out stepped from the parlor door a little, withered, +yellow man, whose tattered garments were covered by a ragged black +mantle. With friendly simpers he squinted out of his little, gray, +malicious eyes upon the pair, and then, stretching his meager, +death-like hand towards Alf, cried with a hoarse howl, 'Thee have I +this day seen in my dreams, brother, contending and conquering in God's +cause, and lo! my eyes have verified it, and the Lord has achieved +great things through thee, his servant. Wherefore be glad, because God +has chosen thee for yet greater things, and through thee shall his name +become glorified in Zion!' + +The little hobgoblin with ridiculous pomposity then strode out of the +house. Alf looked after him with his hand over his forehead, and said, +'sometimes, though in my native city, it appears to me as if I were in +a residence of madmen, where all the fools go at large. Who was that +strange man?' + +'John Tuiskoshirer,' answered Eliza, reprovingly, 'an impoverished +goldsmith; but a great man since the spirit has come upon him. Often, +already, has he edified the public by his elevated discourses and +divine prophecies; and, next to our great Matthias and Johannes, he is +now the first prophet in Munster.' + +'Good God! what a multitude of prophets,' sighed Alf; and by this time +Eliza had led him into the room. + +Behind a table illuminated with wax tapers and decorated as for a +festival, sat the fair Clara. Her loose golden locks flowed down over +her white gala dress. Her right arm supported her pale, sad face, and +bright tears were falling from her eyes upon her white bosom. + +'Do you not bid me welcome, lovely little Clara?' Alf kindly asked of +the sorrowing girl. 'Do you celebrate our victory with such bitter +tears?' + +Clara lifted up her eyes toward the youth with gentle sorrow. 'Be not +angry with me for it, dear Alf,' she begged in a soft, subdued tone; +'every drop of blood shed in this unhappy war of opinion, falls +envenomed upon my heart. Never shall I lose the remembrance of my poor +uncle. He also was butchered for the new faith, of which I do not yet +rightly understand whether it is the genuine worship of God, or a +hellish sacrifice.' + +'Leave the foolish girl!' cried Eliza, handing a goblet to Alf. 'Her +spirit is not yet born again to the light. She still lies bound in the +chains of darkness. She is not able to offer every feeling joyfully +upon the altar of the holy God.' + +'May He preserve me from such joy!' sighed Clara, almost inaudibly; and +Eliza with a quick warm pressure of the hand drew the youth upon a seat +near herself. His fellow soldiers seated themselves opposite the +beautiful couple, and the ceremonies of the repast began. With the +pleasing narration of the conquering warriors and the sweeter praises +of the fair Eliza, the generous Rhenish of old Trutlinger glided +swiftly and deliciously down, and gradually extinguished in Alf all +thoughts of the movements in Munster, which his right worthy head and +heart had from time to time obtruded upon him. Deeper glowed the flush +upon the blooming faces of the youth and maiden; constantly brisker and +more radiantly moved their eyes; with constantly increasing warmth were +their kisses given and received. The journeymen, rejected by the +grieving Clara, could only keep to the goblet, until, overcome by +Bacchus, they staggered one after the other to their places of rest. +Alf and Eliza remained quietly sitting at table, as much occupied with +each other as if there had been nobody else in the world. Leaning sadly +upon her arm, Clara looked through her tears upon the happy pair. Now +and then a half suppressed sigh stole from her bosom, and she then +placed her hand upon her heart as if she felt a sudden pain there. +Already had the second hour after midnight struck upon St. Lambert's +tower. Finally Clara rose from her seat, took one of the low-burnt +tapers from the table, and remarked with assumed tranquillity, 'it is +late, and I am now going to bed,--wilt thou not go with me, sister?' + +No answer came, and the poor maiden sorrowfully retired to her own +sleeping room. + + + + + CHAPTER V. + + +Early in the morning Clara was awakened by a disturbance in the street +and came from her chamber, when she saw the couple still there. She +hastily disappeared with an exclamation of alarm and grief. + +'That must have been my sister!' cried Eliza, starting up with terror, +her dark locks breaking loose from the band which had confined them. + +'Be not alarmed my beloved,' said Alf with sweetly soothing tones. +'Immediately after my baptism brother Rothman shall bless our union, +and our weakness will meet with mild judgment from the spirit of mercy +which rules over the new Zion.' + +'I will so explain the matter to that foolish girl,' cried Eliza, +eagerly--'that she may not again offend me by her cold insufferable +silence, her customary weapon when we occasionally disagree. She may +censure and envy, but she shall respect me even in my aberration.' + +She hastened to her chamber, while Alf prepared to go about his daily +pursuits in the workshop. He was met at the door by his fellow wanderer +the tailor. + +'What have I prophesied?' asked the latter, unceremoniously seating +himself at the table which remained as it had been prepared the +previous evening. 'What have I prophesied?' he asked again, helping +himself to a large slice of the gammon of bacon which he found opposite +him upon the table. Then, pouring out a goblet of wine from the bottle +and swallowing it, he a third time asked, 'what have I prophesied?' + +'The devil only knows!' cried Alf, impatiently. 'There are so many +prophecies in Munster that my head has already become wholly confused +by them.' + +'I have foretold,' said the tailor, with pathos, 'that my beloved +friend and brother, the prophet Johannes Bockhold, would one day become +a great man in the world. You would not believe it, because in the +pride of your big fist, you could not be brought to entertain a good +opinion of a tailor. And now a tailor has become your master and +sovereign; lord over your life and death.' + +'You have got into your cups early,' growled Alf, 'and now being drunk, +you make me lose the precious morning hours with your miserable +fables.' + +'What I say is true,' muttered the tailor through his stuffed cheeks; +'and it is you who are mad and foolish. Only hear how cleverly every +thing has been brought about. This morning by day-break, while you were +indolently sleeping, the prophet Matthias called all the people to the +market. He there declared to them that he would go forth with a handful +of people, like Gideon, and slay the host of the ungodly. He called and +took with him to the bishop's camp, only thirty men. I know not whether +he had not asked of the Spirit aright, or whether the Spirit did not +answer him rightly: to be brief, a slaughter did indeed follow,--not of +the host of the ungodly, but of the good Gideon and his thirty men; not +a man of them escaped. As I afterwards went to the market place, a +mournful wailing sounded in my ears. The people were beside themselves, +to think that they had lost their ruler in so shameful a manner; and +here and there some fools maintained, that the great Matthias must have +misinterpreted the Spirit in this affair. Then the still greater +Johannes Bockhold stepped forward, and spoke to the multitude. God! +what words did this man use to calm, console, and elevate the people! +He had known the death of Matthias beforehand. He had seen in the +spirit that that great prophet must fall, a second Maccabeus, fighting +for the people. Thence we directly perceived that all was in order, +that it could by no means be otherwise, and we were content. Then, upon +the market-place, we called the preacher of consolation to be our chief +ruler,--and he already commands in such a way that it is a pleasure to +see him,--he has a wilder and more lordly manner than his predecessor +Matthias. His maxim is--that the high shall be brought down, and the +lowly shall be exalted. Consequently we shall destroy the churches and +make them level with the earth,--because they are the highest buildings +in the city. It will be a little tedious, and we also need stout arms +for the defence of the walls; we shall, therefore, for the present only +plunder the churches a little, until we have leisure for their complete +demolition.' + +'The churches also to be destroyed!' sighed Alf, 'must that also be? it +is most horrible!' + +Meanwhile a wild popular tumult arose out of doors. Both hastened to +the window. A great multitude of the populace ran by, shouting +incoherently. They were followed by a naked man, who came leaping +forward as if impelled by a demon, and who, with foaming mouth and +strange bodily contortions, incessantly bawled, 'the King of Zion +comes!' Thus vociferating, he passed rapidly by. 'The King of Zion +comes!' cried the mob who followed him; and Alf, disgusted with such +indecent madness, withdrew from the window. + +'Who was that madman?' asked he of the tailor, after a moment's pause. + +'Did you not know him?' asked the tailor in return. 'That was our +highest prophet, Johannes Bockhold himself. The spirit has come over +him. I must follow and see what further he will do.' + +He went; and Alf, in fearful dubitation said to himself, 'by such a +chief is Munster to be governed! It will not and it cannot come to +good.' + + + + + CHAPTER VI. + + +This last specimen of fanatical rage had made such a decided impression +upon the good Alf, that he no longer felt any special desire for that +baptism which was to complete his spiritual union with the great +prophet; and as, notwithstanding his adherence to the new doctrines, he +began to feel a secret loathing of the unceasing exhortations, +revelations and prophecies, by means of which the people were kept in +such a constant ferment, he devoted himself to assiduous labor for +arming the defences of the city, and under this excuse withdrew himself +from the public meetings of the populace which were daily drummed +together. + +For a time his attention was entirely absorbed by his workshop and his +Eliza, whose wild tenderness steeped his youthful senses in a sea of +pleasure, such as he had never before dreamed of. Clara in her quiet, +patient way, observed the happiness of the lovers, who placed no +restraint upon themselves on her account; and the only discoverable +effect it produced on her was, that she became every day paler and more +fragile. + +This was perceived by the kind-hearted Alf, and as he happened to find +the good child on one occasion alone in her sitting room, engaged at +her distaff, he seated himself beside her in a familiar manner and, +pressing her hand, asked her, 'what ails thee, my good sister?' + +'Ah! call me not so, Kippenbrock,' said Clara, sorrowfully; and gently +withdrew her hand. + +'Wherefore not?' cried Alf, surprised. 'May I not call thee sister, as +thy brother in the faith, and as the future husband of the dear Eliza?' + +The maiden raised her tearful eyes to Him on high. 'You pierce my +wounded heart,' said she, 'but you do not know the pain you inflict, +and therefore do I right willingly forgive you.' + +'Again I do not understand you,' said Alf. 'I see you always sorrowful, +and I can endure it no longer. I feel myself so happy with your sister, +that I desire to render all about me as happy as myself. Therefore +confide in me, good maiden, and take my word for it, I will do +everything in my power to mitigate your sorrow.' + +'_I_ confide in _you_! in _you_!' cried Clara, rising and attempting to +retire. + +The stout youth held her fast in his arms. 'No,' said he, 'beloved +Clara, I will not let you go until you have opened your heart to me. By +the holy God, mine is well disposed toward you.' + +At that moment the door opened, and the detestable Tuiskoshirer, +closely wrapped in his tattered mantle, walked in. + +'My God!' shrieked Clara, as she caught a glimpse of him, and violently +disengaging herself from Alf's arms, she sprang out of the room. + +With a smirk upon his lips, which he seemed to have borrowed from a +monkey, the little man followed her with his eyes until she +disappeared--then, stepping solemnly in front of Alf, called to him in +a hoarse, howling voice, 'art thou willing to become king of Zion, +brother?' + +'I king of Zion?' asked Alf in return, with the greatest astonishment. +'How can such a thing be?' + +'I ask thee,' howled Tuiskoshirer, 'if thou wilt be king over the new +Zion, formerly under the anti-christ, called Munster?' + +'I rule over this same Munster as its chief magistrate?' cried Alf, +laughing. 'That is a wonderful proposition, and besides, it appears to +me as if we were not the men to accomplish it.' + +'Short sighted man!' growled Tuiskoshirer, 'knowest thou not that the +first shall be last and the last shall be first? We are all clay in the +hands of the Potter. The Spirit has just seated himself near the board +in order to make a king. To that eminence will I raise thee up; for +thou art a brave warrior, and moreover a handsome youth, and wilt +administer the government with power and mildness, for the welfare of +all.' + +'Ah! do not propose such pranks to me,' said Alf. 'You have others more +suitable for that office than I; and besides, Johannes Bockhold would +make a powerful opposition to my mounting the throne.' + +'Johannes Bockhold,' answered Tuiskoshirer, 'is a feather in the breath +of my mouth. He has indeed thought of announcing himself as the new +king of this city, yet shall have only served you, if you will but +accept the sceptre. I have seen through the prophet's character; he has +much madness, yet little courage, and we need a consummate man upon +this iron throne.' + +'Are you wholly in earnest in making these propositions?' asked Alf. +'Then I must indeed answer in earnest. I do not feel myself fit to +govern a nation and people, nor to take upon myself an office for which +I have not been prepared,--from which may God mercifully preserve me!' + +'Fool!' cried Tuiskoshirer; 'ruling is as light and easy as it is +pleasant.' + +'Yet heavy and severe is the reckoning above for bad government,' +replied Alf. 'No, seek thee another king.' + +Tuiskoshirer then flung open his tattered mantle, and drew from under +its folds a magnificent regal crown, ingeniously formed of fine gold, +and splendidly radiant with diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires, +and, as he turned and waved it here and there in the sunlight, the +golden and colored sparkles played so gaily about the room, that Alf +was compelled to turn away his blinded eyes. + +'In this crown is placed all my earthly wealth,' said Tuiskoshirer, +pathetically. 'Ingeniously have I made it, during the stillness of the +night, as an offering for the Spirit, that he therewith might crown the +new king of Zion. Thee have I selected therefor, from among a thousand. +Do you but consent, and I will set this emblem of royalty upon your +head, and with God's help I will maintain it there.' + +The youth looked at the beautiful crown for a moment, and its golden +lustre seemed to awaken his ambition; but his better self soon +conquered. 'Leave me, tempter!' cried he with vehemence, and forcibly +replacing the bauble under the prophet's mantle, he dexterously pushed +him out through the door. + +'You will repent of this,' howled the little man as he disappeared. + + + + + CHAPTER VII. + + +'The duodecemvir, Dilbek, would speak with you,' announced an +apprentice to the industrious Alf an hour afterwards. Surprised at the +visit of a person whose name and office were alike unknown to him, he +repaired to the parlor, where, in respectable black judicial robes, his +comical fool's face peeping above a colossal white ruff, and his +diminutive form attached to a long thrusting sword, strutted before him +the aerial tailor. + +'Knowing that you would feel an interest in my happiness, my good +fellow,' (snarled and lisped the new duodecemvir, in an incredibly +gentlemanlike manner,) 'I could not forbear informing you in person of +the good fortune which has come to me through the mercy of the Spirit.' + +'What means this masquerade?' cried Alf, peevishly. 'Take off that +fool's jacket again; it does not become you, upon my word.' + +'Have respect, my friend,' said Dilbek, earnestly. 'Every official +dress confers honor upon its wearer, and this it has become my duty to +wear, as one of the twelve judges over Israel.' + +'You? you become a judge?' laughed Alf. 'Go and seek some other fool to +believe you.' + +'You are and always will be an unbelieving Thomas,' cried Dilbek +angrily; 'and doubt every thing that you cannot feel with your hands. I +repeat to you that I have even now come from the market, where the +people have established the new tribunal.' + +'And the mayor and aldermen, who governed until now?' asked Alf. + +'Unseated, all unseated!' answered the tailor, who stalked about the +room examining himself. 'Your kinsman again slays his cattle and his +swine with his own hands; and the good Knipperdolling, a learned man, +and therefore not able to turn his hand to any thing useful, has become +the official hangman, with which the poor man will still be able to +procure a livelihood.' + +'Good God!' exclaimed Alf, 'who has done this?' + +'This wise transformation of our government proceeds from our chief +prophet,' answered the tailor-judge. 'Since he, moved by the Spirit, +ran through the streets in the condition of holy nature, he had not +spoken a word, but made himself understood by writing; he was compelled +to remain mute three days. When that time had elapsed he declared the +new commands of the Spirit. Yesterday the honorable counsellors +obediently laid down their offices, and today I have been installed +with my lordly colleagues.' + +'God preserve my reason!' cried Alf. 'By these mad movements and +continual changes, I incur the danger of losing it.' + +'Only be patient,' said the tailor mysteriously. 'Better things will +come. I have already heard various whispers. Our prophet is not the man +to stop half way. Think of what I told you when we were traveling to +Munster; it is not yet the end of time! I must now leave you, as we +judges are invited to a feast by the chief prophet. He marries, this +day, the beautiful widow of his predecessor, the great Matthias. +Farewell! I shall always remain friendly to you, and should I hereafter +rise yet higher on the scale of honor, you will always find in me a +patron and protector.' + +After one or two failures, the duodecemvir finally succeeded in passing +himself and his new sword through the room door. + +'Surely!' cried Alf impatiently, 'if this tailor-spirit is to set such +vagabonds upon the judgment-seat of my native city, I may soon repent +that I refused the crown. It would at least have given me the power to +hinder many acts of madness.' + + + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + +Some time afterwards, Alf was sitting arm in arm with his Eliza in the +family sitting-room, while Clara was spinning near the window, and +moistening the thread with her bitter tears. Suddenly the door flew +open, and in clattered a stout young trooper, who extended his hand to +Alf, joyously exclaiming, 'God bless you, my dear school fellow! Do you +not know me?' + +'Hanslein of the long street!' cried Alf, embracing the friend of his +youth. 'Welcome to Munster!' + +'Hanslein of the long street?' asked the beautiful Eliza, with surprise +and displeasure. 'How is this? were you not an episcopalian?' + +'Certainly,' answered Hanslein, 'with body and soul, until the day +before yesterday. On that day I got into a quarrel with my serjeant +while drinking with him, and laid my blade over his head in a way that +he will not easily forget. Life is as dear to me as to any other man, +and therefore I made my way out of the bishop's camp, rode over to +yours, and now let your orator but once more wash my head, and I am +prepared to contend bravely with my old brethren in arms.' + +'When the chief prophet holds you worthy of being received into our +community!' sharply observed Eliza, who was highly offended at the +frivolous conversation of the renegade. + +'The worthy tailor has already received me with open arms,' answered +Hanslein. 'I have become captain of the seventh company, and am +quartered with the burgomaster-hangman Knipperdolling, where we have +wine and women in abundance.' + +Eliza rose up indignant, and silently motioned to Clara to follow her. +The latter obeyed, and the two friends were left alone. + +'A pair of pretty maidens!' said Hanslein, looking admiringly after +them; 'and you are indeed a lucky dog, to be a favorite with both.' + +'I am the promised bridegroom of the eldest,' answered Alf, 'and know +my duty.' + +'An anabaptist, and so affectedly coy?' laughed the hair-brained +fellow. 'You court them both at the same time, I'll be sworn; and +should any one attack you on that account, you need only refer to the +example of our chief prophet.' + +'It cannot be possible!' exclaimed Alf with abhorrence. + +At this moment Clara stepped into the room, placed before Alf a pitcher +of wine and two goblets, and then again retired. + +Hanslein observed her attentively, and said as she went out, 'deny no +longer, you rogue, that both the maidens are yours. I found you in the +arms of one of them, and the long, tender glance which the other just +now threw upon you, confesses enough.' + +'I tell you that you are mistaken!' cried Alf impatiently, filling the +cups to the brim; 'leave your joking, and join me in drinking success +to our good cause.' + +'With all my heart!' said Hanslein, striking his glass against Alf's, +and then pouring down the wine; 'although I am not yet quite clear as +to exactly where the good cause is to be found, here, or in the camp of +our old master. To return once more to my former theme, you render life +needlessly unpleasant both to yourself and to the poor damsels. You +would do much better to marry them both.' + +'You are out of your senses!' exclaimed Alf, angrily. 'How can I sin +against the commandments of God?' + +'First point out to me one passage in the bible which prohibits +polygamy,' said Hanslein; 'and what is not prohibited is allowed! The +old beards, the patriarchs, always indulged themselves in that way. To +be sure, when the wives come directly in each other's way, it may be a +little stormy in the house, as father Abraham learned long ago to his +sorrow; but, after all, you are the man to seize and hold the reins of +government firmly, and to interfere decidedly, if your wives should +show a disposition to kick out of the traces.' + +Alf could not refrain from laughing at the chatterer, and finally said, +'I know not how you came by the conceit of advocating double marriages, +but to a poacher like you, I should suppose it would be pleasanter to +beat up game in the preserves of others.' + +'There will remain enough for me on both sides of the hedge,' said +Hanslein; 'and a handsome young man like you must be the first to +follow any new fashion, especially so pleasant a one as this.' + +'The chief prophet might disapprove of the new fashion,' said Alf; +'even according to our old laws, there is a heavy penalty against +polygamy.' + +'The chief prophet!' laughed Hanslein. 'The doctrine which I have just +now been preaching to you came from his own mouth. How else could I +have conversed so learnedly upon the subject?' + +'The chief prophet!' cried Alf in amazement. + +'Just so,' answered Hanslein. 'When he saw that I recognized him, he +beckoned me to approach, and presented a purse of ducats to me, giving +me at the same time an excellent lecture upon the duty of every +christian to take more than one wife; it is a prerogative, said he, +which God reserves for his holy children; and he intimated his +determination to explain the matter to the community, and moreover that +he would himself take fifteen wives, on account of the good example +which he was bound to set the people.' + +'This can never prosper!' thought Alf, shaking his head. + +'What can be impossible to the godly tailor?' exclaimed Hanslein, +swallowing the last glass. 'Farewell brother! I must now to the parade, +and relieve the early morning watch. When I am at liberty, if you +should indeed conclude to marry both of the damsels, then I ask it as a +particular favor that I may be invited to the marriage feast.' + +He bustled forth; but Alf remained sitting in a melancholy reverie. +'Even polygamy is now encouraged!' sighed he. 'Every good old moral +custom is broken! How must it end?' + + + + + CHAPTER IX. + + +At the new gate, where the river Aa empties itself into the Ems, Alf +had his watch as the chosen captain of the armorers. It was already +deep night--he lay upon his field bed, and the images of Eliza and +Clara were floating confusedly before his half closed eyes. Suddenly he +heard the burgher sentinel hail some one, and immediately afterwards +Hanslein stepped into the officers' quarters, wrapped in a mantle. + +'What brings you here so late, brother?' asked Alf, springing up in +astonishment. + +'Mischief, my brother,' whispered Hanslein. 'I come in the name of the +chief prophet. First of all, get your men quickly and quietly under +arms, and let their guns be carefully loaded; double all the guards, +and let strong patrols be sent out. The city is in danger from without +and within!' + +Alf proceeded silently to the large guard room, to execute the command; +then, returning to his friend, he eagerly asked him the cause of the +alarm. + +'Polygamy,' answered Hanslein, of which we examined the pleasant +bearings the day before yesterday has now turned out confoundedly +serious. Early this morning while you were upon guard, the prophet +Johannes Bockhold caused the populace to be drummed together and laid +the hazardous question before them. An old burgher, who might already +have had domestic trouble enough at home, coldly gave his opinion that +the adoption of such a course would be warring against the bible and +against all christendom. Thereupon Johannes, who cannot bear much +contradiction, became furious, caused the old man to be seized on the +spot, and made, by the aid of friend Knipperdolling, a head shorter. +Such a mode of stating the counter argument was too sudden and too +violent for the people. They laid their heads together here and there, +and a number of malcontents determined, at a secret meeting, to give up +the city to the episcopalians this night. But lord Johannes, who has a +very fine nose, got wind of them in time. He has taken his measures yet +more secretly than his foes, and Knipperdolling will do a fine business +early in the morning.' + +'Never-ending slaughters!' murmured Alf, sorrowfully. 'What we have +gained is hardly an equivalent for the blood spilled in its +attainment.' + +'The tree of spiritual freedom,' said Hanslein ironically, shrugging +his shoulders, 'must be properly watered, if you would have it grow and +thrive.' + +Meanwhile, the patrols having returned to the guard room, Hanslein went +out to meet them. 'All right!' was the word from all sides. Only the +detachment who had been scouring the out works, thought that they had +heard a suspicious rustling of arms in the distance. + +'And you went no nearer to see what was going on?' interrupted Alf: +'Then I must take a turn myself, and see what mischief is brewing. +Forward!' + +He and Hanslein carefully led the patrol through the little side-door +out over the bridges. 'Stand here silently,' commanded Alf,--'I will go +softly forward with the captain. As soon as you hear any noise, move +quickly towards it.' + +Alf and Hanslein now proceeded stealthily forward, constantly further +and further, behind the angles of the outworks, carefully bending close +to them. Suddenly they heard at a distance the clattering of spurs +which rapidly approached. + +'Let us conceal ourselves behind the palisades,' whispered Hanslein to +Alf. They had hardly concealed themselves when the rattling of the +spurred heels approached. The obscure forms of two men became visible +in the darkness. They passed by the concealed friends and then stopped. + +'That is the place,' said a deep bass voice. 'Give the sign, serjeant.' +The other figure then raised his hand to his mouth, and repeated three +times a clear-sounding tone imitating a bird-call. + +'Now upon them!' cried Alf, springing from behind the palisades, +seizing the first figure by the right arm with the strength of a bear, +and placing his sword at his breast. At the same moment Hanslein dealt +a powerful blow upon the second figure. 'Jesus Maria!' cried the +latter, and instantly disappeared in the darkness. + +'Coward! 'growled the other; but Alf mastered him. 'No noise, nor any +attempt at resistance, or I shall be compelled to strike you down. You +must follow us into the city.' + +'Thus to end!' groaned the prisoner--and at that moment the first rays +of the rising moon beamed over the edge of the horizon and threw their +light upon the captive. He was a stately old cavalier, with a chain of +honor over his shining silver harness, and a most venerable +countenance, from which even his unhappy accident had not been able to +drive the impress of determined spirit and courage. + +Alf was troubled by his steady gaze, which excited emotions of respect +and esteem. He looked inquiringly at Hanslein, who returned a similar +glance, and both remained standing by their prisoner, as if by tacit +agreement. + +'Shall we deliver this noble form to the terrible Johannes?' at last +asked Alf of his fellow soldier. + +'It would certainly make me very unhappy to see this head fall under +the axe of the executioner,' murmured Hanslein. + +'You think and feel as I do, brother,' cried Alf, joyfully. 'Therefore +pursue your way in peace, sir colonel, or whatever else you may chance +to be. We will have no part in the shedding of your blood!' + +'Shall I have to thank anabaptists for my life and liberty?' asked the +knight, half indignant and half astonished. + +'Accept it, however,' said Alf, 'and with it the proof that the people +of Munster are not all such monsters as you may have believed until +now. If this friendly service appears to you to be thankworthy, you can +repay it with like clemency when one of our brethren falls into your +hands.' + +'That will I, comrade, by my word,' answered the knight, much affected. +'To prove that my feelings are equally good toward you, I invite you to +follow me into our camp. People of your stamp are not in their right +place in that den of wild beasts, who sooner or later must come to an +ignominious end.' + +'Spare your words,' answered Alf. 'We hold fast to our faith.' + +'And have divers cogent reasons besides,' said Hanslein, (grasping his +neck in a manner not to be misunderstood,) 'to decline the honor of +visiting the lord bishop.' + +'Our men approach,' said Alf, looking toward the city. 'Depart, sir +knight, before it is too late.' + +'God teach you the right path, poor erring wanderers,' said the knight, +compassionately, as he hastened away. + +Scolding as he went, Alf approached his troops. 'Were you not ordered +to advance upon the first alarm?' growled he. 'Heard you not when I +gave the word for the onset? Had you been there, as it was your duty to +have been, we should have taken an episcopalian field officer. He has +escaped to his followers, and we must hasten back to the city, lest we +be finally cut off and taken prisoners.' + +The honest Munsterers exculpated themselves in the best way they could, +entreating that their oversight might not be made known to the grim +prophet; and with drooping heads followed the two friends back into the +city. + + + + + CHAPTER X. + + +An alarm, as if the world were sinking, was now raised in Munster. The +bells rung, the drums beat, and the armed masses ran together, filling +the air with their wild shouts. Alf and Hanslein mounted the wall over +the gate and looked down upon the city, in the streets of which torches +were every where blazing. From the market before St. Lambert's church +the light of an immense fire arose to the heavens, and the sounds of a +horrible shouting and screaming as from many thousands came thence over +the city. + +'This is a dreadful night,' said Alf, leaning sadly upon his sword. + +'If I should say,' observed Hanslein, 'that the appearance of the city +was particularly pleasing to me, I should tell a falsehood. Were it not +for my unlucky affair with the serjeant, I would have gone to the +episcopalian camp with the field officer, in God's name.' + +Finally, a certain degree of order seemed to prevail in the chaos about +the market place, although like every thing there, it was of a horrible +nature. To a short, ferocious yell of the populace succeeded a profound +and terrible pause--then cracked a volley of musketry, and then again +another pause--and so alternately screams, pauses and reports of +fire-arms, until Hanslein had counted twenty volleys. + +'What can that musketry mean?' asked Alf in an undertone, with some +misgivings as to the nature of the proceedings. + +'Master Johannes may just now be undertaking to sift his flock,' said +Hanslein. + +'Must it then be,' exclaimed Alf with bitter grief, 'that by every +revolution, although intended to promote the welfare of the whole +people, men must be placed at the head who have no hearts in their +bodies, and who rule by destroying the lives of their brethren!' + +'It appears so, answered Hanslein; 'Whoever is placed at the head by +popular commotions, must himself be a bold demagogue who has no +property, character or conscience to lose. To leap over every obstacle +and ward off every danger by the destruction of a dozen or two of his +fellow men, is nothing at all to him. People like you, my brother, +would make right good leaders, for which nothing is really requisite +but vigor, honesty and sound sense; but honest people draw back from +such opportunities from a want of self confidence, and thereby give the +devils free scope to do evil, which is very wrong!' + +Alf, reminded by this conversation of Tuiskoshirer's rejected crown, +and of old Fabricius's prophecy, at last sorrowfully exclaimed, 'in an +unhappy hour came I home, to my native city!' and proceeded to join the +guard. + + + + + CHAPTER XI. + + +The next morning, when Alf's guard was relieved, he marched his men by +the market place. Horrible was the sight which there awaited him. The +square before St. Lambert's church was converted into an immense +slaughter yard, and filled with human flesh. A great number of +unfortunates were bound to stakes and shot through; a part of whom had +bled out their lives, and a part were still writhing and twisting in +the agonies of the death struggle. Others lay upon the bloody pavement, +some hacked to pieces with the sword and some beheaded, The ranting +Knipperdolling in his robes of office, his face flushed, with naked and +blood-sprinkled arms, was continually and unweariedly swinging his +broad executioner's sword over victims, who, either voluntarily or +forced by armed men, were kneeling before him. + +'Left wheel!' commanded Alf, averting his eyes; and he led his men +through side-streets and by-ways to the company's parade ground. + +As the men were separating, and Alf proceeding to his own quarters, he +was met by poor Clara, who came to him, her eyes red with weeping, and +with despair depicted on her countenance. + +'Will you grant me a private conversation?' said she; 'it concerns my +life--and though you may deem that of little consequence, still your +heart is too good not to feel a sympathy for an unfortunate being, +whose last hope is in your protection.' + +'In God's name, what is going forward?' asked Alf, alarmed, leading the +maiden into the garden adjoining the house. 'Speak, dear Clara, and +open your heart to me. My blood for thee!' + +'The chief prophet and the twelve judges,' answered Clara, 'have +published a mandate, by which a plurality of wives is not only allowed +but commanded. Not to avail one's self of this spiritual license, is +deemed a crime. Spies search all houses and drag forth the marriageable +maidens; who are compelled to marry instantly. I hoped to find a +defence of my maiden honor in my insignificance; but the hideous +Tuiskoshirer has selected me for his third wife. Rather than consummate +my ruin by giving my hand to that disgusting madman, I would jump into +the river Aa, and there find an end to my life and my afflictions.' + +'With God's help,' cried Alf, 'you shall neither jump into the river, +Clara, nor into Tuiskoshirer's arms; in which indeed you might find +worse repose. Is the old wizard mad, that he lifts his eyes to so +pretty a maiden?' + +'There is but one way left for my deliverance,' said Clara. 'You are to +many my sister, dear brother-in-law--wherefore I beg of you to bestow +upon me, out of compassion, the name of one of your wives, that it may +protect me from the impudence of his hateful assaults. Understand me +rightly,' added she, earnestly;' I ask to be one of your wives in _name +only_. This relation shall give neither to you nor me new duties nor +new rights--and when the fate of this unhappy city once changes, then +shall we two in no respect be bound to each other.' + +'Such an apparent marriage only, will be but little pleasant to either +party,' replied Alf. 'Should you not rather find in Munster some young +handsome fellow, with whom you may be married in a proper and orderly +manner, according to the commandments of God?' + +'God preserve me from men!' cried Clara, a deep crimson suddenly +suffusing her pale cheeks. 'After what I have here witnessed they have +all become my detestation. Even you I select only upon irresistible +compulsion, and because the connection can be so arranged that I may be +called by your name without belonging to you.' + +'This courtship is certainly not particularly polite, my little Clara,' +said Alf; 'but before you leap into the water with me, it is necessary +that I should say yes. I wish I could have first explained the matter +properly to your sister--I know not whether the imperious damsel will +be so willing to accommodate herself to the new decree of the twelve +judges.' + +'The life of her sister is at stake,' cried Clara, in deep agony, 'who +will most willingly remain a maiden after, as before, and renounce +every right to even a friendly look from her husband.' + +'It will be a strange marriage,' mustered Alf, rubbing his hands in +much perplexity; 'nevertheless let us trust in God. It would be well, +if these times produced nothing more wonderful in old Munster.' + +'There comes the monster! Protect me, Kippenbrock!' shrieked Clara, +hiding her face in Alf's bosom. + +Alf looked up and saw Eliza conducting Tuiskoshirer into the garden. +After him pressed a ragged and armed multitude. + +'Whatever you may do, my brother,' howled the prophet, 'I yet cannot +desert you. Our names must stand near each other in the book of the +Spirit. You have contemptuously rejected the alliance which I proposed +to you out of the goodness of my heart; nevertheless, to-day I propose +a new band which shall bind us both in brotherhood. I ask for the +sister of your betrothed, dear brother-in-law, and desire to take her +home with me as my christian wife.' + +'I regret, my brother,' said Alf, encircling Clara with his arms, 'that +you come too late. In obedience to the new law, I have asked the maiden +to become my second wife, and have obtained her consent.' + +'Indeed!' escaped from the proud Eliza, while she bit her lips and +darted a not altogether sisterly glance at the poor Clara. + +'Heigh!' stammered Tuiskoshirer, in a tone of mingled fear and anger. + +'Your courtship take precedence of that of the great prophet +Tuiskoshirer!' cried one of the ragged bridal train, springing towards +Clara, seizing her by the arm and endeavoring forcibly to drag her to +her detested suitor. Alf instantly seized him by the body and with a +powerful swing threw him over the garden fence. 'Who else will +interfere?' cried he, lustily, making after the multitude, who in great +trepidation were seeking the door. + +'An insolent reply was all that I wanted,' snarled Tuiskoshirer, as he +followed his retreating rabble. + +'Sister and sister-in-law at the same time?' asked Eliza in a tone of +bitterness, pointing towards Clara. 'I might at least have been +previously informed of it,' said she, leaving the garden in a rage. + +'Necessity knows no law, dear Eliza,' pleaded Alf, following her. + +'It is a heavy duty which I have taken upon me,' said Clara to herself, +'to preserve the appearance of coldness toward the man whom I love +better than all the world beside; but God will help me.' + + + + + CHAPTER XII. + + +In the course of the next week Alf had sufficiently softened Eliza's +anger: she had with a heavy heart learned to share her beloved +husband's name with her unloved sister, and Alf now went to his worthy +kinsman, the former burgomaster Kippenbrock, to invite him to the +marriage feast. He found the good man a perfect contrast to his +terrible ex-colleague; in the short brown butcher's jacket and white +apron, with his sleeves rolled up, he was standing in his shop, making +sausages;--his full, red, contented face covered with glistening drops +of perspiration, a proof that he pursued his occupation with right good +will. + +'I am rejoiced, good kinsman, that you have so easily submitted to the +loss of political greatness.' + +'Yes, kinsman,' answered Gerhard familiarly, laying down his +sausage-knife, 'to thee I may say it; thou wilt keep clean lips, and so +it will remain in the family--when I was compelled to lay down the +burgomastership and take off the chain of honor, I might as well have +been knocked on the head with an axe, like one of my own fat oxen, and +I bore my deposition not at all submissively; but as I reflected more +upon the subject, I came to consider it less an evil, and now all is +well with me. There was much vexation about the office also, and I +oftentimes felt that I was not adapted to it. When a man once +undertakes to perform duties, which his education has not prepared him +for, he always continues unsuitable for the place, and often +inadvertently does great injustice to the people. It was truly a +fortunate circumstance, however, that my learned colleague +Knipperdolling had sufficient acuteness to keep us out of difficulty, +else I should have been compelled to abandon my office on the first +day. Now, comparatively, I live in heaven, slaughtering my oxen and my +swine, which I understand thoroughly--my sausages are always the best +in Munster--and it is wholly a different thing when one is quite at +home in his employment. Mark me, if the chief prophet should at any +time offer me an office, so true as my name is Gerhard Kippenbrock, I +would say NO, and would stick to my hatchet and chopping-block!' + +Alf praised his noble renunciation of office, and then formally brought +forward his invitation. + +'I wish you much happiness!' cried Gerhard, heartily shaking his +kinsman's hand. 'That all the preparations of the meat kind for the +marriage and festival are to be my care, is already understood; and I +may, moreover, take some care for the new housekeeping.' + +Alf wished to protest against such great generosity; but he +answered,--'I, an old housekeeper, must understand these things better +than a young chicken like you,--I know what one housewife has cost me, +and you take two at once. There are the rich trencher-caps, the +bodices, the cloth and silk doublets and robes, and the furred cloak, +and shoes and stockings, and the golden ornaments, and the bed and +other white linen, all in double proportion--and, God preserve us, +finally the baby-clothes and the cradle also. You will be compelled to +wield your hammer merrily in the workshop, and will be too much +occupied to be able to make the necessary preparations, and your old +butcher kinsman will stand you in good stead. + +To strike out one half of this formidable list, Alf related to him how +he had come by his second bride. + +'Heigh! surely! let us see!' exclaimed Gerhard: 'the child's conduct +pleases me very much. To be sure it is a singular circumstance, and the +prophet might make various objections to it if it were made known to +him; but I rejoice heartily that it has afforded you an opportunity to +obtain the maiden; who, I honestly confess to you, was the one of the +two sisters whom I always wished you might have. She has an angel's +heart. Eliza is not bad; but she has an imperious domineering spirit, +and will often warm your head for you; particularly if the little Clara +should in time excite an interest in your heart.' + +Alf's asseverations, that he could be in no danger of so great an evil, +were drowned by the noise and cries of an immense multitude of people +who crowded the streets on their return from the market place. + +'There has been another public day,' grumbled Gerhard, looking through +the window; 'and so it goes on continually. They crowd to the public +meetings and make much noise with their debates; but nothing is +effected for the general good, and meanwhile the bishop is constantly +diminishing the limits within which he has enclosed us; so that we +shall soon be unable to go outside the city walls. I am heartily tired +of the whole business. So long as my oxen hold out, and I can drive +them to our pasture, so long will I look on; but when that ends, God +will forgive my sins if I become an episcopalian as well as others.' + +'Hush, kinsman!' cried Alf, who that moment caught a glimpse of the +duodecemvir Dilbek, passing by the street window. + +Gerhard clapped his hands upon his mouth as the tailor danced into the +shop and embraced the stout butcher with friendly warmth. + +'I greet thee dear brother and colleague!' cried he in ecstasy. + +'Colleague?' murmured Gerhard, turning himself again to his sausage +table. 'We are not so far.' + +'What did I say,' cried Dilbek, slapping Alf upon the shoulder: 'what +did I say to you on our way towards Munster?' + +'Your conversation has not so much weight with me as to cause me to +mark or remember it,' answered Alf, peevishly. + +'I said,' declaimed Dilbek, 'give to our prophet, our great Johannes, +the world, and he would govern it in fine style. Now, the commencement +is made. Johannes the First, has this day become king over Zion, +otherwise called Munster.' + +'King!' cried Alf and Gerhard in a breath. + +'King,' repeated Dilbek. 'And he has obtained the honor in his usually +sly way. Early this morning he caused us, the twelve judges, to be +called to his house. 'Thus saith the Lord,' declared he to us; 'Even as +I aforetime have taken Saul and after him David, from tending their +sheep, and made them kings over my people, so set I Johannes Bockhold, +my prophet, to be king over Zion.' + +'King!' sighed Alf inaudibly, and once again thought with bitter +repentance of Tuiskoshirer's crown. + +'Honestly to confess it,' pursued the chattering Dilbek, 'this +declaration was not much to our taste, as it lessened our official +authority, and we had much to urge against it; but there we struck the +wrong chord. 'Ye short sighted men!' cried the prophet; 'must I not +take this office upon myself against my will? Rather would I drive +horses and oxen, did I not feel myself irresistibly drawn by the hand +of God. Therefore down, instantly;--resign your offices and do homage +to your king.' + +'The man has a methodical madness in depriving people of offices and +honors,' growled Gerhard, vexed by his reminiscences. + +'Still we were not satisfied,' continued Dilbek; 'and as we knew of no +other expedient, we referred the whole matter to the people. That, +however, did not help us. While Johannes labored with us, that withered +old fox, Tuiskoshirer, wrought upon the people; and as we judges in a +body accompanied the prophet to the market-place, the little man came +to meet us there with a large naked sword, which he presented to +Johannes, saying in a howling voice, 'In the name of God I give to +thee, Johannes, the kingly dignity: govern thy people well! Long live +the king of Zion! shouted the multitude with one voice, while we judges +were standing and looking as though the butter had fallen from our +bread. His kingly majesty, however, permitted mercy to prevail over +right, and advanced a part of us to high honors; graciously remembering +his old fellow laborers in God's kingdom. Knipperdolling is raised from +the office of executioner to be governor of the city, Varend Rothman is +the royal orator, I am lord steward, four of the twelve judges have +been made royal counsellors, and in you, sir Gerhard, have I the honor +and pleasure of greeting the royal treasurer.' + +'No jokes!' blustered the butcher, whilst his full-moon face, lighted +up by joy, once more exhibited a glistening crimson. + +'I should be ashamed of myself,' said Dilbek, 'to jest in an unseemly +manner with one of the high officers of the kingdom of Zion.' + +'These incessant changes and innovations are almost enough to turn +one's brain,' said Gerhard, while Alf was pouring water upon his hands +with which he carefully washed his face and arms. + +At the same time Dilbek continued: 'I bring to the lord treasurer the +invitation of his majesty to repair immediately to the royal palace, to +receive further commands.' + +'My black dress suit, Susanna!' cried Gerhard, looking into the sitting +room; 'my mantle, my plumed cap, my golden chain and sword!' + +'Is your name nevertheless still called Kippenbrock?' asked Alf, +significantly, by way of reminding his fickle kinsman, of his former +protestations. + +'Hold your tongue!' cried the new treasurer, as with inconceivable +celerity (notwithstanding his corpulency) he encased himself in the +official robes which his wife with joyful surprise had brought him. + +'If it be agreeable to you, my lord steward,' said Gerhard to Dilbek, +'I will now accompany you to the king's majesty.' + +'I commend myself to you, lady treasurer,' said Dilbek with a profound +bow to the butcher's wife, and the two lords of the new kingdom +departed. + +'Now is Munster indeed wholly mad,' said Alf, 'and my worthy kinsman +with the rest. If I were only so myself, I should feel better than I +now do in my clear moments.' + + + + + CHAPTER XIII. + + +About mid-day some time afterwards, Alf came from his workshop to the +parlor. The dinner already smoked upon the table; but his two elected +brides were standing at the window eagerly examining some pieces of +money which Tuiskoshirer was showing to them. Alf approached the group. + +'The gold and silver money which the new king has caused to be coined,' +said Tuiskoshirer in a friendly and honied tone, laying a couple of +pieces in his hand. Alf read on the reverse: + +'The Word has become flesh and dwells amongst us. Whosoever is not born +of water and of the Spirit cannot enter into the kingdom of God. One +king over us, one God, one Faith, one Baptism. At Munster, 1534.' + +'That is God's government, may it soon extend over the whole world!' +sighed Tuiskoshirer, most religiously rolling up his eyes. + +'Under these kings we shall soon arrive at the pinnacle of prosperity!' +exclaimed Eliza, turning over the money in Alf's hand. On the other +side, the wild inspired face of the prophet, in his kingly dress, +boldly cut and well resembling the original, presented itself to the +eyes of the beholder. + +Alf looked upon the wild and passionate eyes of the presentment, which +seemed almost to roll in the masterly impression, and, mentally +recurring to the pitiless human butchery with which the prophet had +commenced the exercise of power, shudderingly cast the money upon the +table. + +Eliza hastily took up the largest piece to gaze once more upon the +crowned figure. 'Yes,' she finally exclaimed, forgetting herself, 'that +is a king for the whole world or none.' + +'What is the matter with you, Eliza?' asked Alf, with surprise. 'You +have never before spoken of the prophet with such partiality.' + +'Crowns make beautiful!' whispered Tuiskoshirer, with a malicious +laugh, and at that instant lord steward Dilbek rushed into the room. + +'To the windows, children, if you wish to see something very +particularly magnificent. The king is making his first tour through the +city on horseback, and will immediately pass this way.' + +'The king?' asked Eliza with joyful surprise, a deeper and more +beautiful crimson suffusing her face as she hastened out of the room. + +'What can all this mean?' sighed Alf, looking a moment after her, and +then stepping to the window. + +Nearer and nearer sounded the cry, 'Hail king of Zion!' from the dense +multitude who preceded the royal procession through the streets. + +'Now give attention,--here comes the procession,' cried Dilbek. +Already were heard the snorting and neighing of the first of the king's +horses. At the head of the procession came four pages, in costly +gold-embroidered velvet garments; a naked sword with a golden hilt, +Tuiskoshirer's crown upon an open bible, the golden globe (emblem of +imperial power), and two crossed swords, borne by lords and gentlemen, +followed. + +'That beautiful, light-haired boy who bears the great sword, is the +bishop's own son,' whispered Dilbek to Alf, who recognized in the two +foremost pages the victims he had torn from the tiger claws of the +ferocious Matthias. + +'Poor youths,' said he, 'hardly may I rejoice that I saved your +miserable lives, since this compulsory servile duty rendered to your +father's deadly enemy, must destroy the Spirit; which is a far greater +evil than the destruction of the body.' + +Now came, snorting and prancing, the dapple-grey charger that bore the +king. The fair youth, who found himself quite at home in his high +station, presented in his princely attire a truly majestic appearance. +High white ostrich feathers waved over the jeweled ornaments of his +purple cap. Through the slashed folds of his gold-embroidered +over-dress appeared the under garment of purple velvet, trimmed with +gold lace. The ermine mantle which floated down upon the golden saddle +cloth of the noble steed, completed the beautiful _tout-ensemble_, and +Alf himself, notwithstanding his inward dislike of the prophet, could +hardly conceal his admiration. + +'Is it not true, that dress makes the man?' triumphantly whispered the +lord steward to him. 'All this is the work of my ingenious needle. For +three nights I have not been in bed,--in which time I directed the +execution of all the difficult portions of the work. Now, God be +praised! every thing has prospered with me, and I want to see, who will +recognize the mass-dress out of which I have put it all together.' + +Meanwhile the king had passed by. Behind him came governor +Knipperdolling and treasurer Kippenbrock, superbly mounted. Twelve +yeomen of the guard, clothed in the royal livery, ash-color and green, +upon princely horses with golden saddles, brought up the rear. The +procession now halted a moment. Alf leaned farther out of the window to +see what had occurred. He just then perceived that the king was bowing +with indescribable grace to the fair Eliza, who, to see the better, had +stationed herself before the house door. In sweet confusion the +graceful girl returned the royal greeting, and, as the prince finally +rode on after the bearers of the regalia, looked long and earnestly +after him. + +'This is a sudden and wonderful change!' exclaimed Alf, angrily. 'I see +well that I must celebrate my nuptials to-morrow; if, indeed they are +ever to be celebrated.' + +'Hadst thou accepted my offer, brother,' said Tuiskoshirer, in a tone +of friendly reproach, 'thou wouldst have spared thyself this, and who +knows how many more afflictions.' + +Followed by Dilbek, he went forth. Alf remained, in a pensive mood, +thoughtlessly playing with the coins which had been left upon the +table. 'Yes, truly,' murmured he at length, with bitterness, 'he who +dares to coin money is held in higher consideration than he who is +obliged to receive it in the way of business.' + +The gentle Clara then approached him. 'Do not be angry with my sister,' +said she, entreatingly, in her kind way. 'Her heart is good in the +main, and she will soon repent of an error into which she has been led +by her vanity and pride.' + +'Good hearted child!' exclaimed Alf, affected by the faithful +intercession of the rejected one; 'why has not that ungrateful girl thy +heart and soul, or thou her beautiful exterior? Then nothing would have +been wanting to my happiness!' He went out; and Clara retired to her +chamber, where she secretly and bitterly wept over the well intended +but deeply wounding eulogium of the beloved youth. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV. + + +The next morning Alf returned from a visit to the royal orator Rothman, +with whom, to make an end at once of all apprehensions, he had arranged +that his baptism and his marriage with both of the sisters should take +place that afternoon. As he approached Trutlinger's house he was not a +little astonished to find some of the yeomen of the guard, in the green +and ash-colored livery, before the house door, holding some saddle +horses. A milk white palfrey with costly trimmings and a purple +gold-embroidered covering, particularly attracted his attention. +Anxious to learn what it all meant, he walked into the parlor, where he +encountered Tuiskoshirer and the lord steward Dilbek, in their court +dresses. + +'Hail, hail! prosperity has befallen thee, my brother!' cried the +little prophet, ardently embracing him. 'Even as Abraham was accounted +worthy of being commanded to offer to the Lord the most beloved object +which he possessed upon earth, so likewise art thou also elected and +favored among thousands; not merely to present, but really and truly to +offer up, thy heart upon the altar of duty to thy king and lord.' + +'Madness seems to catch early in the morning,' sighed Alf peevishly, +'and I cannot understand a word of all this. Both of you being +gentlemen, you have nothing to neglect, and have leisure to spend the +day as you please. I, however, am a handicraftsman, who must labor for +my livelihood; therefore tell me in short plain words what you want of +me, so that I may give you a proper answer and then go to my workshop.' + +'Thy answer, my good fellow, is of very little consequence,' replied +Tuiskoshirer with a malicious laugh. 'We await our answer from the +worthy maiden Eliza, to whom we are sent by our all-merciful king to +request her to become his third wife and queen of Zion.' + +'My God!' stammered Alf, becoming deathly pale and leaning against the +wall for support. + +'It cannot be helped now, my friend,' whispered the lord steward to +him; 'therefore submit with a good grace to what must at any rate +happen; so that you may hereafter be able to claim a recompense for +your ready acquiescence.' + +'Has Eliza already consented?' asked Alf, with tremulous lips. + +'She has retired to her chamber,' answered Tuiskoshirer, 'to take +counsel of the Spirit. As soon as she comes forth we shall all be +enlightened as to her decision.' + +'No, no!' cried Alf, wringing his hands, 'nature and love have bound us +too closely; she cannot leave me.' + +Meanwhile the chamber door flew open and the beautiful Eliza appeared. +At the first glance she was not recognized by Alf. A dress embroidered +with silver and fastened with a jewelled girdle, rustled about her +slender and fascinating figure; her bosom and arms sparkled with the +richest gems, and from her dark locks arose, meteor-like, a radiant +diadem. + +'Hail to our queen Eliza!' cried Tuiskoshirer and Dilbek, sinking upon +their knees before her majestic form. + +'The Spirit has decided,' said Eliza, giving them her hand to kiss. 'I +have listened to its voice. Conduct me to my king and husband.' + +'Eliza!' cried Alf, in boundless sorrow, stepping before the false fair +one. + +'Thou here, Alf?' said she, with some slight agitation. 'I would +willingly have spared thee the pain of this parting.' + +'Thou art my promised bride, my wife in the sight of God!' shrieked he, +despairingly. 'Thou canst not, thou darest not leave me!' + +'Before the great affairs of the world, the little interests of private +and humble life must yield,' answered Eliza pathetically. 'The king of +Zion needs me, that my kiss may sweeten the wearisomeness of governing. +How then can I be so selfish as to regard the bands which previously +connected me with thee? The people of Israel have a claim upon me +paramount to thine, and joyfully I go to fulfil my exalted duties in +obedience to the voice of the Spirit.' + +'No, thou hast never loved me!' exclaimed Alf. + +'I was always well disposed towards thee,' stammered the new queen, +affected by sudden emotion. Soon however recovering herself, she said +to him in the tone of a mistress, 'when I am seated upon Zion's throne +you may safely rely upon my favor.' + +She now quickly took Dilbek's proffered arm and hastened forth with +him, without giving a single glance backward. Tuiskoshirer, however, +stopped long enough to ask the astonished and bewildered Alf, +'dost thou not now repent, my brother, that thou rejectedst my +proposition?'--and then followed the pair. + +'Woman's love and woman's truth!' indignantly, exclaimed the unhappy +youth, seizing his dark brown locks with powerless rage. + + + + + CHAPTER XV. + + +At Clara's request the previously arranged marriage was postponed. +Alf's baptism, also, for which his desire daily decreased, had not yet +taken place. The pretext for the delay of both ceremonies was the +changes which had been occasioned in Trutlinger's house by Eliza's +sudden elevation. In consequence of the daily increasing disorder and +confusion in Munster these omissions were not noticed by any body; and +half the city, who, since the polygamy ordinance of the twelve judges, +were living unrestrainedly with their newly selected partners, saw +nothing amiss in Alf and the little Clara's following the general +example. They lived together, quiet and retired, like orphan brother +and sister; and it became for Alf quite a soothing custom to extract +consolation and encouragement, under his bitter disappointment, from +the mild and friendly eyes of Clara. The maiden also, now that she no +longer felt the yoke of her proud sister, and no longer saw the beloved +youth in the arms of another, began to recover herself, and gradually +resumed her florid complexion, so that Alf contemplated her with +increasing pleasure from day to day; but the maiden kept her love for +him deeply buried in her own chaste bosom, and closely guarded her eyes +and lips lest they should betray her heart. Her deportment towards Alf, +however, was always kind and affectionate, and she assiduously +endeavored to anticipate all his wants. This peaceful mode of life, +also restored to her mind a portion of that serenity which had +gladdened her earlier and happier days. Already were her softly tinged +cheeks graced by frequent smiles; her fine blue eyes, which formerly +always looked through a veil of tears towards heaven or upon the +ground, now often sparkled with a playful archness which rendered the +thoughtful maiden doubly charming; and from her lips escaped many a +pleasing lighthearted jest. Alf, wondering at the change which had +taken place, could hardly turn his eyes away from her; and, as a +natural consequence, the wound which Eliza's unfaithfulness had made in +his heart was daily less and less felt. + +While the storm of wild passions began to subside in the narrow circle +in which Alf and Clara moved, the whirlwind which menaced the state was +rushing and roaring constantly nearer and nearer. The frivolities and +horrors, which the anabaptists had up to this period enacted under the +shield of a fanatical schism, had excited the indignation of the +virtuous and intelligent portion of the people throughout Germany. +Disregarding all existing differences upon other subjects, catholics +and protestants united in the determination that their misrule should +no longer be suffered; and that if neither the deceivers nor deceived +would listen to christian instruction and mild admonition, there was no +other course left but to root them out with the sword. The Rhenish +provinces held a convention at Coblentz, at which John Frederick, the +Lutheran electoral prince of Saxony, voluntarily appeared. At this +convention it was agreed to furnish the bishop of Munster three hundred +cavalry and three thousand foot soldiers, as auxiliaries against his +rebellious subjects. The brave Ulrich, count Oberstein, held the +command of the forces and directed the siege. + +Yet Munster's walls, towers and ditches were, through the providence of +the prophets (who, in this, acted with great foresight,) in such +excellent condition, and the fanatical garrison exhibited every where +so much watchfulness and spirit, that Oberstein was convinced, that a +storm attempted under these circumstances might indeed conduct his +soldiers to butchery but would not accomplish his object. Accordingly, +after the attempt to enter the city by treason from within had been +frustrated, the commander contented himself with closely investing it +on all sides and cutting off its supplies. The light minded people +troubled themselves very little about this investment of their city, at +first, as the consequences were not immediately felt; but no sooner did +the scarcity of provisions become so pressing that the public tables +spread by order of the king could no longer be supplied, and the people +actually began to feel hunger, than their spirits began to sink, and +here and there murmurings and complaints were heard. These complaints, +to be sure, were made covertly, from fear of the iron sceptre which +weighed upon the necks of the free and privileged anabaptists; but +nevertheless they reached the ears of the king, who saw that something +must be done, however unwillingly, in conformity with the example of +his bold predecessor; and he therefore determined to try how far +fanaticism and cunning, without courage, would answer the purpose. +Besides, he was desirous of ridding himself of some of the prophets, +who were disposed to play the Samuel to his Saul, and sought to relieve +him of the cares of government. To reach all these objects with one +blow, he devised a new piece of jugglery, which did honor at least to +his practical knowledge of stage effect. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI. + + +While from the cathedral yard the trumpet blasts sounded through the +streets as if they were blowing for the last judgment, Hanslein rushed +into Alf's shop in complete armor. 'How, comrade, not yet in armor?' +cried he. 'Arm thyself and thy people quickly. The whole community is +called together to-day, and none should fail to be present.' + +'Is the enemy already at the gates?' asked Alf, busily equipping +himself. + +'Not quite, this time,' answered Hanslein. 'I hope, too, that the +ceremonies of to-day will go off peaceably. We may, however, expect +important occurrences. The prophet Tuiskoshirer has commanded the king +to hold the sacrament of the Lord's supper at the cathedral, and then +send out his apostles to all parts of the world. The last thought is +not so bad; for the bishop has us enclosed within such narrow limits, +that if the eloquence of our orators does not succeed in bringing us +speedy help from without, it will soon be time to be thinking of a +decent capitulation.' + +'As long as our walls stand,' said Alf, 'and we are able to use our +weapons, I do not fear for the city.' + +'That is bravely spoken,' said Hanslein, 'but I have already perceived +evidences that the people begin to grow hungry. When starvation once +commences, it will be easy to calculate how long we can keep the city, +and when the strong hands in which you trust will become powerless. So +much do I know of the state of affairs, that I am determined this very +day to cut off my connection with this place, and seek an opportunity +to save myself quietly before the closing of the gates. A good cat +always finds a loop-hole, and, if I may take the liberty, I wish to +give you a friendly invitation to accompany me in my evasion. By +heavens, it is surely better to be off in time, than to stay and starve +here, or in the end to become too intimately acquainted with the tender +mercies of his reverence's bailiff.' + +During this conversation Hanslein, with Alf and his men had arrived at +the church yard, through the whole of which were placed immensely long +tables, covered with white cloths. Upon these tables the royal pages +were serving up smoking flesh to the great satisfaction of the men of +Munster, who, to the number of four thousand stout hearts, in complete +armor, their hungry stomachs tightly compressed under their coats of +mail, were standing by. + +The king now appeared in majestic dignity, wearing a short silk body +coat instead of his royal robes. At a signal from him the servants +placed the people at the tables. After a short prayer, full of unction, +he nodded graciously to the multitude and the repast began. + +After the first course had been consumed, the roasted meats were +removed, and the flagons began to circulate. + +'This is a strange sort of a holy supper,' whispered Alf to Hanslein, +as he passed a full jug to him. + +'It appears to be only the introduction,' whispered Hanslein in answer. +'It is a sort of love feast, such as was customary with the old +christians. Have but a little patience, the best is yet to come.' + +No sooner were the meats gone, than the king again approached the +assembly. He was accompanied by two pages of honor, who brought the +holy bread upon golden plates. 'Take and eat,' said he, with earnest +solemnity, 'in commemoration of the Lord's death!' Thus saying, he went +through the long ranks, breaking the bread to every man, who received +it with great devotion. Hanslein, who best knew the worthiness of the +new high priest, was not able to suppress a satirical laugh, when his +turn came. After the king, followed the first queen, the beautiful +widow of Matthias, in a simple white dress, the golden chalice in her +hand, accompanied by the second and third queens, who brought golden +vessels of wine after her. + +As she came to Alf for the purpose of presenting the chalice to him, +she started back in soft confusion, surprised at the beauty of the +youth, whose dark curling locks contrasted finely with his blooming +face and true German eyes. Alf, also, paralysed by the appearance of +such wonderful beauty as he had never before seen, remained motionless. +Here were more than Eliza's and Clara's united charms, and the +_tout-ensemble_ seemed to approach perfection. Large, full and +voluptuous, an ideality in form, arose her stately figure. Her queenly +bosom, upon which her brown locks were restlessly waving, shamed the +whiteness of her dress; and her alabaster neck was surmounted by a +cherub head, whose deep blue interrogating eyes spoke so plainly of +soft wishes and glowing desires, that Alf's senses were wrapped in a +flame. + +'Take and drink!' murmured the sweet vision, presenting the chalice, +with trembling hands. The youth eagerly drained it, while his eyes were +immovably fixed upon the dispenser, who was so disturbed by his gaze +that she forgot the last words of the ritual, and, covered with crimson +blushes, proceeded to his next neighbor. As Eliza, who followed her, +rustled by Alf's seat, she gave him a strange look with those eyes +which in former times had made him so happy. There was much in that +glance--repentance, grief, rage and jealousy--while through the whole +was yet to be discerned a glimpse of her former love; but the +impression, which that glance made upon Alf, was not strong enough to +withdraw his attention from the first queen, and he followed her, as +she went along the ranks, with gleaming eyes. + +At that moment his friend Hanslein passed his hand over his eyes, and +said in an under tone, 'forget not my brother, that it is the first +queen after whom you are gazing, and that our lord the king allows no +jesting in such affairs.' + +'Let him come and call me to account!' blustered Alf. 'I will so defend +myself, that of a thousand questions he shall not answer one. Already +in possession of the masterpiece of the universe, and able to make his +selection from all the beauty of Munster, he has yet torn my promised +bride from my heart, like the merciless rich man in the bible, who, +despite his numerous flocks, must rob his poor neighbor of his only +lamb, to satisfy his wicked appetite.' + +In the hymn of praise, with the singing of which by the whole assembly +the festival was closed, the complaints of the youth were lost, until +with much difficulty Hanslein finally succeeded in assuaging his anger. + +The king now once more presented himself before the multitude; this +time in full regal attire, with all the insignia of his high office, +and surrounded by his insignia bearers and guards. With a loud voice he +asked the people whether they were prepared to fulfil the will of God, +and to live and die for the faith. Like the murmuring of the ocean +before a storm, a loud awful 'Aye!' roared through the human mass +standing there. + +Then from behind the king, pressed forward a new prophet, named +Wahrendorf. 'Thus saith the Lord,' cried he with a glowing fanatical +enthusiasm: 'choose a number from among my people of Zion, and let them +go out to all the ends of the earth, to work miracles and do my work +publicly before all people. Whoever receives this command and obeys it +not, shall die the death.' + +The prophet then drew forth a scroll from his bosom, and hastened to +read the names of the new missionaries. The prophet Tuiskoshirer drew +near to the reader with his usual knavish smile, to listen; nodding his +head exultingly as the names of some of his opponents were read; but +when he heard Wahrendorf cry, 'John Tuiskoshirer!' as if astounded by a +clap of thunder the little withered man shrunk within himself and +turned his red glowing eyes upon the king. 'I, also, deceived!' +murmured he to himself. 'The villain shall not obtain his victory +easily.' + +'Thou errest, my brother!' howled he to Wahrendorf: 'and mistakest the +word of man for the voice of the Spirit. The night before the last I +had a vision, in which I was commanded to remain in Zion to guard these +flocks from their adversaries.' + +'Silence!' thundered the king. 'At this moment has the father entrusted +to me an important duty, for the execution of which I must prepare,' +and, beckoning to his guards, they dragged before him a mercenary +soldier in chains. + +'This unhappy man,' said the king solemnly and significantly, 'has, +like a second Judas, been planning treason against Zion, and has +publicly manifested his wicked intentions through disobedience to the +commandments of the Spirit. His blood be upon his own head.' + +The king's sword swung, the head of the victim fell, and the horrible +man stepped directly before Tuiskoshirer with the bloody sword in his +hand and asked him, 'what hast thou particularly to say to this +assembly, my brother?' + +'That I bow myself under the hand of the Lord,' tremblingly answered +Tuiskoshirer, and Wahrendorf proceeded to read the list of names to the +end. + +There were named, in the whole, eight and twenty missionaries. The king +dispersed them toward Osnabruck, Coesfeld, Warendorf and Soest. +'Forsake every thing,' he admonished them, 'fear nothing, and +promulgate the faith.' 'Amen!' cried the multitude, as they departed +from the cathedral. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII. + + +Alf was sitting in the twilight near the good Clara, narrating to her +at full length the singular proceedings at the cathedral, at which he +had been present, when his friend Hanslein entered in a state of great +excitement. + +'How much can be made of a good-for-nothing fellow!' cried he. 'Would +you ever have thought, brother, that I was a block out of which a duke +could have been carved?' + +'Duke!' asked Alf in astonishment, supposing that he must have heard +falsely. + +'A duke! nothing less!' laughingly answered Hanslein. 'The king's +majesty has become a little anxious about his personal safety in the +midst of his trusty subjects; and he no longer considers his dear life +entirely secure among them. He has therefore divided Zion into twelve +districts and appointed a duke for each, from among his trustiest +supporters; and he, with an adequate military force, is to watch over +the order and repose of his district and smother every disturbance at +its birth. Having become such a thing, I beg of you to show me all +proper respect.' + +'What new experiment will not this wicked king try in my poor native +city?' sighed Alf. + +'This lamentation comes from sheer envy,' said Hanslein, jestingly, +'because you are not created a duke. Make yourself easy, however; for +you also are raised to high honors. The king has named you commander of +the life guards, and I bring you his gracious commands that you +forthwith appear before him. You will commence duty even to-day, that +the timid tailor may this night sleep under the safeguard of your good +sword.' + +'I commander of the life guards!' repeated Alf, moodily. 'How can it +have happened that the king selected me?' + +'That has happened as many other things do in this world,' answered +Hanslein, with a significant smile. 'I can explain all these things +satisfactorily to myself, and I consider that you, with the command of +the guards, have drawn a much better prize than I with my dukedom. +Enjoy your good fortune with circumspection.' So saying he departed. + +'Strange!' said Alf, buckling on again his scarcely laid aside coat of +mail. 'Strange!' cried he again, as he girded on his sword, when his +eye fell upon a small fresh wine spot on the neck-piece of his armor. +The charming queen with the chalice instantly stood before his mind's +eye, and an obscure suspicion of a connection between the recent +occurrence and his present elevation sent a burning blush to his face. +To conceal it, he pressed the knight's helmet low down upon his +forehead, which he had sought out as becoming his new office, extended +his hand to the good Clara for a hasty farewell, and with winged +strides proceeded toward the royal palace. + +A royal page conducted him immediately to the king, who advanced to +meet him as graciously as if he had been born to a throne. + +'The affair of the bishop's camp has proved thee to be an able +warrior,' said the king, with a dignity becoming his station; 'I owe +thee some recompense for a great loss; and thou hast moreover been so +much commended on all sides, that I have determined to bring thee +nearer to my person. Thou shalt henceforth lead my body guard as its +commander; so that the head upon which the welfare of Zion depends may +at least sleep in safety.' + +Alf suggested some doubts of his fitness for the office. + +'No qualifications are needed,' replied the king, 'but watchfulness, +courage and truth. I desire no oath from you. Christ says, 'Let your +communication be yea, yea; nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these +cometh of evil.' Give me therefore the hand grip of an honest man, that +you will be my faithful guard.' + +Alf reluctantly gave his right hand to the king, for he shuddered at +the idea of connecting himself personally with this man--he shuddered +at touching a hand that had shed so much blood. + +'The yeomen of the guard are already assigned to you,' proceeded the +king; 'but now it is fitting that you be introduced to the first queen; +'and he signified to him by a gracious nod that the audience was over. +Alf proceeded with a beating heart towards the apartments of the queen. + +'Walk in! walk in!' cried a silvery voice in the room, at the door of +which Alf's name and dignity had been announced by the lady in waiting. +He stepped in. Upon an elevated and gilded chair, in full dignity, sat +the queen. He was so much dazzled by her beauty that he scarcely +observed the other two queens, who were sitting upon less elevated +seats on each side of her. + +'It is you, young man,' said the enchantress, in the sweetest tones, +'whom henceforth we shall have to thank for the safety of our days and +the tranquillity of our nights.' + +Alf bowed in silence. + +'Only be careful continued the queen, with an alluring smile, 'that you +do not rob the ladies of the palace of their repose, whom it is your +duty to guard.' + +The embarrassed Alf could not find presence of mind to enable him to +answer, and queen Eliza sprang from her seat and hastened to the +window. + +'You are already married?' asked the queen. + +'Only engaged--I am--I was--and am half way so yet,' stammered Alf, +very unintelligibly. + +'And the other half?' asked the queen, mischievously. Eliza turned her +burning glance upon the floor. + +'Permit me to be silent upon that point,' said Alf, with becoming +modesty. + +The charming woman extended her hand to him to kiss. + +Alf seized it hastily, and impressed upon the warm, yielding, velvet +skin an almost endless kiss, believing at the same time that he felt a +slight pressure from her taper fingers. Heading the confirmation of his +suspicions, as he looked up, in the melting eyes of the lady, and +forgetting every thing in the momentary transport, he spread out his +arms as if he would have fallen upon her neck. + +He was rebuked however by a severe look; but in contradiction to that +look, the queen said to him in the tenderest and most friendly manner, +'we shall see each other again soon,'--and dismissed him. + +Intoxicated, confused, and entirely incapable of connected thought, the +youth withdrew. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII. + + +On the following night Alf, installed in his new office and fully +equipped, sat in an arm chair before the door of the royal sleeping +apartments. He was even lightly slumbering, and a well known trio of +beautiful women led by the god of dreams were dancing around him, when +he was dazzled by a ray of light which fell suddenly upon his face. He +awoke, sprang upon his feet and drew his sword. + +'Put up your sword, brother,' whispered a hoarse voice to him; and the +worthy Tuiskoshirer, in his traveling cloak, with his bundle swung over +his back and a dark lantern in his hand, stood before him. + +'What do you want here?' quickly asked Alf. 'Ought you not, according +to the king's command, to have been already on your way to Osnabruck +with your companion?' + +'Yes,' answered Tuiskoshirer, with a bitter smile, 'so has the great +king who has become a severe and mighty lord over our heads commanded; +and the leaders who faithfully placed him upon the summit, he +scornfully thrusts from him, now that he no longer needs their aid. +Luckily, he has allowed me to delay my departure a few hours, and a +skilful head can accomplish much in that time.' + +'Tell me briefly what you want of me,' said Alf, 'and then take +yourself hence, that your chattering may not awaken the king.' + +'God forbid!' hissed Tuiskoshirer. 'Who would awaken the sleeping +tiger? While he sleeps, at least, he murders not. Rather would I +prolong his sleep into eternity.' + +'Man, what is your design?' exclaimed Alf, partly guessing his horrible +intentions. + +'Thou hast already once rejected my good will,' answered Tuiskoshirer; +and, since this ungrateful bedlamite has been placed upon the throne to +which I would have raised thee, thou must more than once have regretted +thy folly. I have this day closely watched thee, and know the magnet +with which thy apparently insensible and rugged nature is to be moved. +Wherefore I have taken my life in my hand, and once more ventured into +this den of murderers, to offer to thee life's sweetest blossoms, which +none but a fool would leave unplucked when they fell in his path +radiant with exhaling beauty. Oppose me not now,' begged he, as Alf was +about to reply. 'Thou shalt go with me, and see and hear for thyself, +and then decide as may seem good to thee.' + +'Whither wouldst thou lead me?' asked Alf, drawing back. + +'Do you not suspect?' asked Tuiskoshirer, smiling; and Alf, on whom a +light suddenly began to dawn, delightedly followed the tempter, who led +him through the dark, silent passage toward the apartments of the +queen. + +'We have attained our object,' said Tuiskoshirer, on arriving before a +room the door of which he opened with a false key. They entered and +passed through the anti-chamber, where the waiting women were sleeping, +to the bed-chamber of the first queen. + +'Behold!' said Tuiskoshirer, impressively, as he directed the rays from +his lantern upon the bed in which the beauteous woman was sleeping. + +Alf drew nearer. A heavenly smile played upon the sweet face of the +queen, to which a sound sleep gave a yet lovelier tint of rose. Alf was +about to rush forward, when Tuiskoshirer forcibly dragged him back. +'Wilt thou mar all?' whispered the prophet to him; 'and deprive thyself +of the greatest earthly happiness through thy impetuosity? That +beauteous woman shall indeed be thine; but now is not the time. Such +ware is to be purchased only at a price about which we must have some +conversation. As yet you have only seen, now I must be heard; and when +you have decided, act with the speed and energy which become a man +about to attain the accomplishment of all his dearest wishes.' + +During this conversation he drew the youth through the rooms, closed +the last with his false key, and they went both together back to the +royal anti-chamber. Tuiskoshirer, in whose little dull eyes twinkled a +hellish triumph, bolted the outer door on the inner side, motioned to +Alf to walk softly, and cautiously opening the door of the king's +bed-chamber entered on tiptoe, making a sign to Alf to follow. + +Alf obeyed, and both now stood before the bed of the king, near which, +upon velvet cushions, lay the crown and other emblems of royalty. +Tuiskoshirer drew aside the heavy, purple, gold-embroidered silk +curtains, and disclosed the sleeper lying there with open staring eyes, +large drops of sweat upon his forehead, froth about his mouth, and +clenched fists,--a shocking sight. + +'The king is ill and must soon awaken,' said Alf, apprehensively. + +'Oh no,' said Tuiskoshirer, calmly. 'Since sleep always flies the night +couch of the murderer, he never goes to bed without his sleeping +draught. He cannot escape the dreams which then torment him +undisturbedly; and it is well, that in this life he should learn +something of that world of spirits, which darkly and heavily rules over +him with arm already outstretched for his terrible reward.' + +'Kneel down!' the slumberer now cried. 'Down! I must see blood, blood!' +and he swung his right arm as if his death-dealing sword was at its +usual occupation. + +'I have first shown you the reward,' said Tuiskoshirer, to Alf,--'here +is the deed which is to merit it. Here sleeps the cowardly, sensual, +cold, murderous, inhuman monster. Thousands more will he yet destroy, +if life and power remain to him. Can another word be necessary to +determine your course? Reject not again, for the third time, the good +fortune which twice you have thrust from you. Here lies the king's +sword drunk with innocent blood,--one determined thrust therewith,--we +can bruit it abroad that he has committed suicide,--Munster will be +relieved from his tyranny,--thou wilt mount the vacant throne, thine +will be the glorious Gertrude, the false Eliza, and the other beauteous +wives,--and that the crown shall stand firmly upon thy head, leave to +the care of old Tuiskoshirer, who will give it to thee in the presence +of the assembled multitude.' + +Alf stood there upon the narrow passage way, glanced with flashing eyes +upon the sleeping tyrant, and his hand already moved towards the +weapon. + +'Now strike!' urged Tuiskoshirer. 'Every moment's delay will be at the +expense of human life. Thou wilt take upon thyself all the crimes which +this wretch may in future commit, if now thou sparest him, through +foolish tenderness.' + +The true German honesty had soon conquered in the pure mind of the +youth. 'He has my pledge,' said he to himself. 'Confiding in my faith +he laid him down to sleep.' Then Alf turned to the venomous little man +with all the fury which the latter, to satisfy his own revenge, had +kindled in his breast; suddenly seizing him by the nape of his neck, he +dragged him sprawling through all the apartments and down the stairs, +until he reached the outer door of the palace, when he roughly sat him +down. 'Go thy ways thither!' cried the youth, pointing the way towards +Osnabruck, 'and if thou art in Munster at sunrise, I will expose thee +to the king, that he may execute justice upon thee.' + +Gasping for breath and groaning with anguish, the foiled tempter +staggered forth into the midnight darkness of the streets. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX. + + +Munster continued to sustain herself with a resolution worthy of a +better cause. At the imperial diet at Worms, which the Romish king +Ferdinand opened in April, 1536, great sums were granted to the +besieging bishop, to enable him to support the war; but as the payments +were made very irregularly, the scarcity of money kindled a revolt +among the mercenary soldiery in the bishop's camp, who would no longer +serve without pay. Nor was it without great trouble and peril to the +commander that the insurrection could be suppressed. With such +troublesome troops, offensive warfare was not deemed prudent. +Consequently, the besiegers confined themselves to the continuance of +the blockade, and to drawing their lines closer and closer, so as +completely to shut up the unfortunate city and deprive it of supplies +and assistance. + +Constantly increasing suffering in the city, was the consequence of +this course. The poorer classes, obliged to subsist upon roots, herbs, +bark, and leaves, swarmed about the king with sunken eyes and haggard +faces, whenever he passed through the streets in lordly dignity, and +howled for bread. The royal courtiers themselves were compelled to +accept such small portions as could be spared from the table where sat +the king with his fourteen wives and principal officers. + +In vain did the bishop call upon the citizens to surrender the city, +under promise of full pardon for all except the king and a few of his +principal accomplices. The fear of the terrible Johannes was stronger +than the ardent desire for deliverance which had now arisen in many +hearts. In vain did the landgrave of Hesse, by a special embassy to his +brother in the faith, endeavor to bring him to reason. The king, to +prove how much greater a man he was than the landgrave, refused to give +audience to his ambassadors, and thus compelled them to leave their +business unaccomplished. + +Meanwhile the eight and twenty prophets had arrived at the cities of +their destination, and had preached their customary fanatical nonsense +with frantic zeal. The magistrates, warned by the example of Munster, +were vigilant and energetic. The brawlers were every where arrested and +questioned as to their doctrines; and, as they stubbornly maintained +their faith, were immediately beheaded. Only one of them, Heinrich +Hilversum, obtained deliverance. He was imprisoned by the bishop of +Munster, bought his liberty with the promise that he would act as a spy +in the rebel city, and returned back to the king. He related how an +angel had delivered him from imprisonment and commanded him to announce +to the king that Amsterdam, Wesel, and Deventer would come under his +sceptre if he would send more prophets there. + +These were sweet sounds to the ears of the king. He immediately sent +out prophets, among whom were Johann von Seelen and Johann von Kempen, +to those beautiful and important cities, to convert and win them for +himself. The smooth-tongued Hilversum, however, he took into his own +palace, clothed him in his ash-grey and green court-livery, charged the +officers of the court to attend him, entrusted him with considerable +sums, and, in short, confided to him the duty of negotiating with those +from whom aid and assistance were expected from without. + +With these presents Hilversum went over to the bishop on the first +convenient opportunity; leaving a letter in Munster exhorting the +citizens to desert the impostor and return to their old religion and +their rightful lord. + +This event touched the king in the tenderest point; as it tended to +destroy the belief in the infallibility of his inspiration with those +who were yet able to see. To a portion of the inhabitants of the +distressed city it now appeared clear, that they had become the slaves +of a wicked impostor, who was leading them to destruction; but the fear +of the monster was stronger than this just conviction, and the king, +comprehending that fear was the only lever now remaining to him, made +the utmost use of it, and thenceforth, like Draco, he wrote his laws in +blood. No punishment milder than death awaited disobedience to the +least of his commands. Alf, notwithstanding, in his new situation, +strove to shield, defend, and rescue the sufferers; yet new victims +fell daily, and the slavish population daily trembled more and more +before their cowardly and tyrannical tailor-king. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + + +Meanwhile Alf went on, truly and honorably discharging the duties of +his office, although, after the first arrangement had been effected he +had given up the personal guard of the royal bedchamber to other +officers, reserving to himself only a general nightly superintendance; +and the cruel Johannes passed his nights under as good a defence as if +angels with flaming swords had guarded him. His office, however, daily +called the youth to the palace, and he could not but perceive that the +magnificent Gertrude often threw herself in his way. She evidently +loved the beautiful youth as only an unprincipled woman can love,--and +her passion had nothing to combat but the fear of the sultan of the +harem, whose discovery of the least infidelity would have brought +instant death upon the guilty. Yet so powerful was her passion that it +conquered even this fear. + +At one of those intoxicating court festivals with which the king sought +to stupify himself and those about him, Alf was standing to take breath +after a brisk dance, with his hands behind him, when suddenly he felt a +warm soft pressure of his right hand, a piece of paper being +simultaneously slipped into it, and a moment afterwards the first queen +stepped forward from behind him, giving him a significant glance as she +passed. He left the room immediately, and by the nearest lamp in the +corridor read the following words:-- + +'An hour after midnight, in the upper passage on the left; the first +door.' + +Hastening back to the dancing-hall, his glowing cheeks and triumphant +carriage immediately betrayed to the beauteous syren, that he had read +and comprehended her billet. + +Meanwhile the midnight hour struck. Gertrude was suddenly attacked by a +headache and suffered her attendants to lead her to her chamber. The +king smilingly whispered a word to Eliza, which caused a flush to pass +over her cheeks, and which she answered with downcast eyes. The +assembly gradually departed, and Alf, lost in pleasing dreams, +proceeded to his dwelling. + +He found the devoted little Clara yet patiently waiting for him, +occupying herself at the spinning wheel; her now constantly bright eyes +a little dimmed; but whether from late watching, or weeping, or from +both together, he could not exactly decide. + +'I began to think you were not coming home tonight,' said the maiden in +a friendly tone, which yet had something of sadness in it. + +'The dancing to-night continued unusually late,' replied Alf; casting a +glance at the mirror, and coming to the conclusion that he was right +worthy of the beauteous queen, he proudly pressed his richly plumed cap +over his eyes. + +Meanwhile Clara had lighted his chamber lamp and handed it to him. + +'I am going out again immediately, dear Clara,' said Alf, with some +little embarrassment. 'I came merely to tell you, that you might not +sit up all night waiting for me.' + +'You are going out again?' asked Clara, looking intently at him. 'This +is not your time for guard duty.' + +'The feast of to-day has disturbed all our arrangements,' stammered Alf +with embarrassment. 'I must actually go to the palace once more +to-night.' + +Clara seized his hand with both of hers, and with her mild honest eyes +gave him a piercing look. His guilty conscience deprived him of the +power to meet her gaze. 'Kippenbrock,' cried she, suddenly alarmed, +'are you not going for some wicked purpose?' + +'You are already dreaming, from having watched so long, my child. Go to +bed, pretty one,' said Alf, bending down to kiss the maiden as he +wished her good night; a friendly habit in which he had for some time +indulged. But Clara avoided his embrace, saying earnestly to him, 'not +this evening, dear Kippenbrock, all is not as it should be.' + +'You are a little simpleton!' cried he half indignantly, and hastened +forth as if he wished to run away from the 'unpleasant feelings her +suspicions had given him. As the third quarter after midnight struck, +he stood by the stove, closely wrapped in his mantle, in the upper +passage way of the palace, watching with anxious eyes, by the dim light +of the almost expiring lamps, the first door on the left. Finally, the +hour struck, and still no door was opened. + +'It is in reality a great wrong for me to be standing here,' said Alf +to himself. 'Let the king now be what he may, and do what he will, yet +I have once for all acknowledged him as my lord, and this Gertrude is +his wife. It is the duty of my office to preserve order and propriety +in the royal palace, which I in intention am so vile as to violate. +Moreover, I encroach upon the rights of the good Clara, who so secretly +and tenderly loves me, and whom I should look upon as my affianced +bride. Did she but know that I was standing here waiting for the +creaking of that door, she would weep her eyes out of her head; and she +even appeared to suspect some intrigue. Her manner toward me appeared +very strange at my departure. Good God! with what face shall I appear +before her in the morning! No! it is settled,--the beautiful Gertrude +shall wait for me in vain, and thus shall we both be spared a sin.' + + + + + CHAPTER XXI. + + +On the subsequent morning Alf was standing in the king's anti-chamber +awaiting his commands for the day. There came the high bailiff +Krechting, a raging fanatic, a true second Johannes, with some soldiers +who were dragging along two of the royal pages, bound. Alf perceived by +their faces, which hunger and affliction had paled and emaciated, that +they were the two whom he had rescued from the hands of Matthias, and +compassionately asked the bailiff what crime the poor children had +committed. + +'We caught them in the outworks,' answered the bailiff fiercely, 'as +they were attempting to escape to their old lord, the bishop. Announce +us to the king, brother officer.' + +'Alas! dear lord,' said one of the boys, weeping; 'we have certainly +done nothing; but we could no longer hold out for hunger.' + +'This affair might well be overlooked,' said Alf. 'To announce the +children to the king is to lead them to death,--and I do not wish to +take upon ray conscience such bloodguiltiness.' + +The bailiff gave him a venomous look and hastily stepped into the royal +apartment. He soon made a signal at the door, and the soldiers dragged +the boys in after him. Immediately a loud noise was heard within,--the +king stormed, the boys wept and plead pitifully, and amidst all arose +Eliza's supplicating voice. 'For our love's sake, Johannes, only for +this time let mercy take the place of justice!' Simultaneously were +heard the lamentations of the two boys. Alf heard two hard falls upon +the floor, and, as if drawn by some irresistible power, he pushed into +the apartment. + +What horrors had been perpetrated! The two boys lay dead upon the +floor, the king strode before them with his sword drawn, and at his +feet lay Eliza, who loosed her arms from his knees and sprang up. +Excited by the cruelty of her husband, and by her having pleaded in +vain against what he had done, the proud woman now exclaimed in the +bitterest tone, 'I do not believe, Johannes, that our God is served by +the calamities you have brought upon this people.' + +Krechting absolutely screamed with amazement at the audacious speech. +The king, however, merely gave Eliza a cold, satanic glance, and +quietly said to her, 'in the market-place will I answer thee upon that +matter.' Turning then to Alf, 'let my wives and my whole court be +summoned hither!' commanded he him. 'Also let my trumpeters and fifers +assemble,--we would move to the market-place, where I have to-day to +exercise my judicial office before the whole people. Thou wilt +accompany me, Kippenbrock, with thy whole band.' + +This strange solemnity excited various evil forebodings in the mind of +Alf, and with a heavy heart he proceeded to execute the king's +commands. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII. + + +The multitude crowded the market-place, waiting to see what new thing +was to be done there. Then sounded in the distance a solemn funeral +march from the trumpets and horns, and duke Hanslein with his soldiers +formed a wide circle to admit the king and his household. + +Next came the procession. After the music followed Alf, with a division +of his guards; then the king, and then the high bailiff; between them, +yet in her night-gown, pale and tottering, with streaming hair and +folded hands, Eliza. After these followed the stately Gertrude, the +other wives, and the persons connected with the court. Another division +of the guards closed. + +At a signal from the king, Krechting stepped reverently back and the +thirteen wives formed a circle about their lord and Eliza. 'Kneel down, +ye pure!' thundered the king, and the circle of women fell upon their +knees; in an instant the king's sword glistened in the air and Eliza's +head flew from its bloody trunk! + +'Accursed murderer,' screamed Alf, frantic with grief and terror at the +wholly unexpected death of the once so well beloved woman, and sprang +forward with high waving sword to hew down the king where he stood. The +faithful Hanslein caught his upraised arm. 'Good colonel,' cried he, +'it was only yesterday that you were sick with a fever, and now the +paroxysms have returned again. Help me, friends, to overpower him and +bear him to his house where he can be taken care of.' + +He was seized by the guards from all sides, and notwithstanding his +furious opposition, was soon disarmed and carried away. + +'The person who has been judged has blasphemed the Spirit as manifested +through her king and husband,' said Johannes, to the people. 'She had +in a spiritual sense broken her marriage vows, and well deserved her +punishment. Give to God the glory!' + +The remaining thirteen wives rose up and with clear voices sang, 'Glory +to God in the highest!' The horns and the trumpets triumphantly fell +in. The king seized Gertrude's hand and commenced a merry dance with +her upon the open market-place. The other wives and the courtiers +followed the high example. The poor infatuated people likewise joined +in the dance and sprang actively about, notwithstanding their empty +stomachs; and from all mouths arose the cry of jubilee; 'glory be to +God in the highest!' + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII. + + +The disease which Hanslein had invented, in his well intended eagerness +to save Alf, had seized him in good earnest. The disquiet of mind in +which the youth had been kept through the most diverse and almost +always terrible occurrences,--the storm, so every way affecting, which +had lacerated the deepest recesses of his heart,--above all, the daily +increasing conviction of the flagitiousness of the new doctrines to +which he had adhered so strongly,--and the remorse of conscience for +the part which he had acted,--all this had destroyed the freshness of +his youthful vigor; and only the tension in which his mind was kept by +the constantly recurring horrors of every succeeding day, gave him the +artificial support, which had hitherto kept him up. The last act of +Johannes, the tender interest which Alf still felt for the fair victim, +and the frustration of his just vengeance upon the infamous murderer, +had weighed down the poor youth with resistless power, and he lay many +weeks in Trutlinger's house in a high fever, carefully waited upon and +nursed by the pale and pensive Clara. + +The energies of youth finally prevailed over the fever. When once the +crisis had passed, his strength returned as quickly as it had flown; +and Alf had even left his room for the first time, to enjoy the mild +air and warm sun of summer, when he encountered his friend Hanslein, +who, in spite of all resistance, cordially embraced and congratulated +him on his recovery. + +'Go thy way!' said Alf, angrily. 'With the defender of tyrants I have +no more to do in this life.' + +'Always precipitate,' laughed Hanslein; 'and always letting your heart +run away with your head. It was ever your way when a boy. I considered +for you better than you considered for yourself. The poor queen once +dead, we could do nothing more to help her. You might indeed have +destroyed the king, but the fanatical people would have torn you to +pieces for it on the spot; that would have been paying a greater price +than his majesty's life was worth. Nor would Munster have gained any +thing. Knipperdolling & Co. would have possessed themselves of the +government, and it would thereby have remained the executioner's head +quarters as before. I have therefore preserved you for greater things, +which, now that you are so well upon your legs again, we may soon see.' + +Alf looked inquiringly at his friend, and suffered himself to be led by +him back to his own sitting room and to be seated upon a stool. + +'The affairs of Munster stand badly,' said Hanslein. 'The famine +increases, and I see the moment very near when the unhappy people will +be driven to despair. Succor is not to be expected. At Bolswart in +Friesland, the strongest power of the anabaptists had been collected, +and would soon have marched to our aid; but the governor of Friesland +surrounded the place with his forces, and after four assaults forced +it, putting almost the whole population to the sword. In Amsterdam, von +Kempen and von Seelen have done their best to bring us aid. As the +council and chief burghers of the cross-guild retired from the +council-room, our people stormed the city hall, overpowered all who +opposed them, and the burgomasters, Peter Colyn and Simon Bute, were +left dead upon the spot; but the burgomaster Goswin Rekalf collected +the citizens, a severely contested battle ensued, and our people were +slain, or taken and executed, including poor Kempen, who had caused +himself to be declared bishop of Amsterdam. Seelen exposed himself upon +the tower of the city hall, where he was afterwards shot down and fell +dead upon the market place. With him expired our last hope.' + +'Oh God, will these horrors never end?' sighed Alf, casting his eyes +toward heaven. + +'Here probably soon,' said Hanslein; 'but it will be a fearful end. The +city must shortly surrender, and then the lord bishop Franciscus may +not treat us more mildly than king Johannes has hitherto done. I have +least reason to hope for pardon then, and have therefore determined to +go back to my old master immediately. I have discovered a place through +which an escape from the city can be made. By the same way I trust I +can lead the troops of the enemy into Munster, and with this secret I +intend to purchase my peace with the bishop. Will you make the +experiment with me this night? The sentinels now upon the night posts +sleep away their hunger and will not hinder us.' + +'My father's house is a house of prayer,' said Alf, after musing a long +time; 'but you have made it a den of murderers. Yes, the originally +pure doctrine of the anabaptists might perhaps have been a glorious +gift from the merciful hand of God;--but the monsters, who preach it to +us, have so perverted it according to their own wicked purposes, and +shed so much blood in its name, that its noble image can no longer be +recognized. A doctrine which empowers a Johannes to rage among mankind +like a famished wolf among defenceless lambs, cannot come from God. I +disclaim it. May God forgive me that I also have labored and fought for +a cause which must have been wicked, since it elevated the bad and +destroyed the good.' + +'Thou wilt accompany me then!' asked Hanslein, giving his hand a +friendly pressure. + +'If Clara can and will go with us,' answered Alf. 'I have loved her +uncle, whom they shot, and cannot leave her behind in a city upon which +all the horrors of war are soon to fall.' + +At that moment Clara entered the room to set before the guest what the +house afforded at a time when provisions outweighed gold,--a cup of +water and a slice of bread with salt. + +'You come to us too confidingly, young lady,' said Hanslein jestingly, +while he helped himself. 'We have evil thoughts concerning you,--we +have an idea of taking you out of Munster.' + +'Ah, would to God!' sighed the maiden. + +'The jest is earnest,' said Alf. 'This night I and my friend intend to +leave Munster, if you will accompany us, my little Clara.' + +'Through the whole world!' cried Clara with heartfelt fervor. 'Whom +have I on earth beside you?' + +'So then the thing is settled,' cried Hanslein. 'Prepare yourselves for +the journey; but do not encumber yourselves with needless baggage. No +armor, Alf. A short sword will be sufficient for all emergencies. Clara +had better put on male attire--there will be some places difficult to +climb, and I cannot allow any thing that might prove an obstacle to the +rapidity of our movements. Hold yourselves in readiness; for I shall +come for you precisely at midnight.' He departed. Intoxicated with joy +at the near approach of her deliverance, Clara threw her arms +affectionately around the youth and cried, 'with you out of this place +of torment, dear Alf! Now for the first time I have reason to hope that +there is earthly happiness in store for me yet.' + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Softly creeping by the sleeping sentinels, climbing walls and wading +through ditches, the three fugitives proceeded in the dead of the +night, until they finally found themselves in freedom; and then with +fresh confidence they moved onward toward the besiegers' camp fires. + +Soon a clattering of arms was heard near them, and a rough voice cried, +'Who goes there?' + +'I have no desire to be caught here,' whispered Hanslein to Alf; 'for +in that case I should get no credit for my voluntary return, which I +particularly need on account of old scores. Wherefore I must endeavor +to reach the bishop through indirect paths, while you boldly go +straight forward.' + +'Who goes there?' cried the challenger much louder. + +'A friend!' answered Alf, whilst Hanslein went off to the right with +great rapidity; 'deserters from Munster!' and in a moment he and the +trembling Clara were surrounded by a squad of soldiers. + +'Deserters?' asked the serjeant who led the squad. 'It is a question +whether that title will save your lives. In these days a thousand +Munsterers have come out, men, women and children, and a good part of +the men were cut down as they came in, by the bishop's command.' + +'It is the curse of these combats for opinion,' said Alf, sorrowfully, +'that even those, who are on the right side, are provoked to do wrong +by the crimes of their opponents--and then other crimes are the +consequence, until the horrible chain of wickedness is closed by the +conversion of men into relentless destroyers, in whose breasts the +voice of religion and mercy is stifled.' + +'You talk it as solemnly,' sneered the serjeant, 'as if you were one of +the prophets of Munster. First of all give up your sword and follow us +into the camp, together with your boy. The bishop must decide upon your +case.' + +'I wish previously to be conducted to your field captain,' said Alf in +a decided tone. + +'You speak as if you were our captain instead of our prisoner,' snarled +the serjeant. 'It will be necessary first to ascertain, whether the +lord general will permit you to be brought to him. For the present, +forward, march!' + +'God preserve us!' softly murmured the timid Clara, clinging closely to +her protector. + +'Do not be alarmed, my little Clara,' said Alf, consolingly. 'All will +go well.' They proceeded with the soldiers rapidly towards the camp. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV. + + +A fine June morning was shining upon the camp, as Alf and Clara stood +waiting with their escort before the tent of the commander in chief. +There came out of the tent a tall, meagre clergyman, in his black +clerical dress. He started when he saw the youth, and asked the +serjeant, 'who are these people?' + +'Deserters from Munster,' answered the serjeant, 'whom we found last +night. They insist upon seeing the general.' + +The preacher having closely scrutinized Alf, who stood there absorbed +in his own reflections, approached and spoke to him, taking his hand in +the most friendly manner. 'Do I see you again as a deserter? Now, God +be praised, my prophecy is fulfilled!' + +'Reverend doctor!' cried Alf in joyful surprise, as he recognised the +good Fabricius. + +'So, the disorders in the new Zion have become too great for you?' +asked the latter. 'I only wonder that you had not come to the +conclusion long ago,--that with your heart and head you could for so +long a time have been a contented observer of their pagan cruelty.' + +'When Germans have once become united with a ruler chosen by +themselves, worthy sir,' answered Alf, 'they can be disunited only by +hard blows, else they will hang fast to him until death.' + +'The hard blows, I perceive, have been given and received,' said +Fabricius. 'So you have again become one of us.' + +'With all my heart and soul,' answered Alf with great ardor. + +'We will leave the remainder of this for the confessional, where I may +soon expect you,' said Fabricius. 'At present I must exert myself to +prepare for you a good reception from the commanding general.' + +Again most cordially shaking Alf's hand, he passed into the tent. +Shortly afterward the youth and his girl-boy were bid to enter. Lord +Oberstein was sitting with the doctor at the field table, taking his +morning draught. + +'Come nearer!' commanded the general, sternly. + +'What have you to disclose to me?' + +The voice of the questioner satisfied Alf, that it was the commander in +chief whom he had caught and released on a former night; he however +concealed this recognition. + +'To make an end of the calamities of the city,' answered he, 'I am +prepared to show your soldiers a way to enter Munster--the same way by +which I have myself quitted it.' + +'I recognise that voice!' cried Oberstein, springing up, and stepping +directly in front of the youth. 'We have met before,' said he; 'it +surely was in the outworks before the new gate, by moonlight. You were +the officer who took me prisoner and then let me run? Is it not so?' + +'I was very glad,' answered Alf, 'that it was in my power to save so +old and merry a warrior.' + +'And now are you willing to deliver the city to me?' proceeded +Oberstein; 'to make a short ending to her long sufferings? You make me +doubly your debtor; your reward shall be great.' + +'Of myself little need be said,' answered Alf. 'My conditions are only +pardon for myself and my companion, and that the conqueror of the city +shall distinguish between the miscreants who have wilfully erred, and +those who with honest intentions have been led astray, and spare the +latter.' + +'We must act according to the instructions of the diet of Worms,' said +Oberstein. 'Whoever has not belonged to the leaders, and come not +against us in arms, to them is given life and freedom.' + +'Then should the lord bishop,' boldly replied Alf, 'have extended mercy +to the unhappy refugees who have lately been fleeing from the city.' + +'The bishop was exceedingly exasperated by events which accompanied the +revolution!' answered the general, shrugging his shoulders; 'and an +angry man does not always what is right in the sight of God.' + +His eyes now fell upon Clara, who had timidly placed herself in an +angle of the tent near the door. + +'Who is that pretty boy?' asked he. 'Some one of the bishop's pages? It +is to be hoped so. Two pages were made prisoners by the anabaptists and +carried off at the time they attacked our camp at the beginning of the +siege. To one of them particularly the worthy bishop was attached by a +truly paternal affection.' + +'Those boys have also fallen a sacrifice to the barbarity of the king,' +answered Alf. 'This maiden is the sister of the queen Eliza, who paid +with her head for having lamented the murder of the innocents.' + +'Great God, what an accumulation of crime!' cried Oberstein, while +Fabricius with upraised finger reprovingly asked, 'have you brought +with you a maiden in man's attire? Must there not yet remain something +of the old anabaptist leaven in you, which may in time again leaven the +whole lump, destroying your morals for time and eternity?' + +'All in honor, dear doctor,' protested Alf; 'and I shall have to +request you, as soon as may be convenient, to unite me in honorable +marriage with this blameless maiden, who is my beloved and betrothed +bride.' + +'That alters the case,' said Fabricius, affectionately patting Clara's +velvet cheeks. 'May God keep us in the good old order.' + +'The lord bishop's reverend and princely grace,' said an episcopalian +officer, stepping in, 'sends his compliments to the lord general and +politely requests him to repair immediately to his presence. An +anabaptist prisoner has brought before him some matters of consequence, +which demand a sudden meeting of the council.' + +'Yon shall accompany me there,' said Oberstein to Alf. + +'But where shall I remain?' anxiously whispered Clara to her betrothed. + +'May I be permitted to confide the maiden to your care, worthy sir?' +asked Alf of the doctor. + +'I will foster and protect her like a beloved daughter,' answered +Fabricius, taking Clara by the hand, and with a light heart the youth +then followed the general. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI. + + +Glowing with anger and sorrow, Graf von Waldeck, bishop of Munster, +strode up and down in his gilded tent. At the door, with a pale +malefactor face, stood poor Hanslein, in chains, and surrounded by +guards. Oberstein and Alf entered. + +'This wretch,' cried the bishop to the general, 'proposes to purchase +his forfeited life by betraying the city. He has, however, three times +forfeited his life,--formerly a rider in my cavalry, he wounded his +superior officer and went over to the enemy, swearing allegiance and +adopting their faith. I am half inclined to compel him to show us the +way to Munster and then hang him; for it would be contrary to all +right, human and divine, to allow him to escape punishment by such an +act.' + +'The greatest right is often the greatest wrong,' said the general +soothingly. 'Too much severity is often injurious, and with your +grace's permission, if the spiritual lords had not formerly held so +rigidly to their notions of right and wrong, and had not wielded the +rod of authority too vigorously, much of the mischief against which the +assembled christians of Germany of all denominations now appeal to +heaven, would have been avoided. My voice is for mildness.' + +'You have lost none who were dear to you, through these monsters!' +cried the bishop, making great efforts to suppress his tears. 'I have +just learned, that the reprobate tailor has murdered both of my pages, +for making an effort to rescue themselves from his paws.' + +'That is sad news,' said Oberstein, sympathisingly; 'but if you should +outdo all these horrors by committing greater, you might thereby bring +a stain upon your princely reputation; but you would remedy no evil. My +advice is, that you grant a free pardon to the deserter, and thereby +obtain a faithful guide into the city, the speedy surrender of which is +yet nearest your heart. A resort to the rack, is, in my mind, as it +must be in that of every man, highly objectionable, beside being a very +unsafe means of accomplishing our purpose.' + +'You may be right,' said the bishop, after a pause, somewhat softened +by the decided tone and plain good sense of the old warrior. + +'I bring you another individual who may be trusted to guide our forces +to the attack of Munster,' proceeded Oberstein, pointing to Alf, 'and +we shall be able by this means to divide and direct our troops.' + +'Is this he?' cried the bishop with suddenly rekindled rage. 'Wretch! +thank God--that I have you in my power. You shall learn to your sorrow +what it is to fall into my hands.' + +'What mean you, sir bishop?' asked the general. + +'What harm can have been done to you by a youth, whom you probably now +see for the first time in your life?' + +'Oh I know him but too well,' raved the bishop. 'When the lying prophet +Matthias surprised our camp last year, this villain led the anabaptists +as their commander. I saw him rushing onward at the head of his troops, +as I was mounting my horse to escape the danger of capture.' + +'Heigh! you are again strangely severe!' cried Oberstein. 'Misled, like +thousands of others in the city, to whom you long ago offered a general +pardon, the young man only fulfilled what at that time he considered +his duty as a christian and a soldier. Now, however, he has become +disgusted with the tailor's government, and has voluntarily come out to +us.' + +'At that onslaught was my unhappy----pupil taken prisoner with his +companion!' cried the bishop. 'Who was it, moreover, who dragged him to +his death, but the profligate leader of that frantic host? Matthias is +already judged. This one has the Most High given into my hands, and if +God from heaven should cry mercy! he should die.' + +'Such a speech little becomes a prince, much less a spiritual lord,' +said Oberstein with melancholy earnestness. 'As for the rest, the duty +of gratitude at this time compels me to spare you the commission of a +crime. This youth has saved my life. I will never deliver him up to +your revenge.' + +'Forget not, sir earl,' cried the bishop angrily, 'that I am a prince +upon this ground, and that you are only general of the forces!' + +'The forces of the empire!' vehemently exclaimed Oberstein,--'not +yours, and I am expressly commanded to execute the decrees of the Diet +of Worms,--of which, as you appear to have forgotten it, it is my duty +to remind you.' + +'Unheard of insolence!' growled the bishop. 'It may be worth while to +inquire whether I am yet sovereign of Munster.' With fury in his +rolling eyes, he beckoned to the door an officer who stood near him, as +if he desired to confide to him an order of serious consequence: + +'Spare yourself steps, your princely grace, which you will be compelled +to retrace,' said Oberstein; and at that moment the bishop's body +servant, a pious, blameless, silver haired old man, entered with his +master's morning meal. + +'Jesus Maria!' screamed the servant the moment he saw Alf; and, letting +fall the smoking platter, threw himself at the youth's feet and clasped +his knees. 'God in his mercy has granted me an opportunity to thank the +preserver of my life!' cried he, sobbing. + +'Preserver of your life!' cried the bishop wonderingly. + +'You are mistaken, father,' said Alf, gently putting aside the old man, +'I do not know you at all.' + +'I am not more certain of future bliss,' said the old servant.--'Know +you not, sir colonel, or whatever else you may have been, when you fell +upon our camp, with the terrible Matthias, and his princely grace had +fled, and Matthias had broken into this tent, and had already cut down +the cook and two lacqueys, and the pages were kneeling before him, and +the Goliath-spear was already raised to destroy them. I stood in a +corner tremblingly awaiting the moment when my turn would come. Then +you rushed into the tent and valiantly stayed the monster's upraised +arm, although he was your superior, and commanded him and gave him hard +words, and compelled him to spare their lives and take them with him +prisoners to Munster. And then you dragged him away, together with the +boys; I, however, slipped out of my corner, and in this place I kneeled +down and prayed a devout Ave Maria for myself, and two for the +salvation of your poor soul, that God might rescue you from eternal +death, as you had rescued me from the murderous prophet.' + +'How now, sir bishop?' said Oberstein, in an upbraiding tone. 'It +appears that the youth saved the lives of those whose blood you would +avenge on him. His crime is, that he could not be about them every +moment to guard them against the beasts of prey who constantly beset +their path.' + +'Can you swear upon the Host,' asked the bishop of the servant, 'that +this is the man who saved the lives of the boys?' + +'As God may help me to a good dying moment!' answered the servant with +his hand upon his heart. + +The traits of passion disappeared from the bishop's features. He +advanced towards Alf and said sorrowing, 'thou hast meant well, my son, +but God has willed it otherwise.' Then, turning to Oberstein, he +proceeded, 'I leave both the deserters to your unfettered disposal, and +shall expect from you some indication of what I can do for the youths. +I trust you will forget our little misunderstanding, when you recollect +in how many ways and how deeply I have been injured by all these +enormities, as a man, as a father, as a temporal prince, and as a +dignitary of the church.' + +Oberstein took the freely offered hand of the bishop, with a +reverential bow; after which the latter, with an humble air, passed to +an inner apartment of the tent. At the nod of the general, Hanslein's +chains fell from him. + +'It was hard clearing the gallows this time,' cried Hanslein, shaking +himself. 'It shall be a warning to me forever to avoid the spiritual +lords. I feared to make myself known to the general, who I supposed +would not be able to comprehend my position; and therefore I went to +the lord bishop;--but the crook, under which I had hoped safely to +repose, had very nearly broken my brain-pan.' + +'That also must be an old acquaintance,' said Oberstein, smilingly +contemplating the chatterer. + +'I now recognise his features. Anxiety about his fate had lengthened +them a little.' + +'Sure enough,' cried Hanslein, kissing his hand; 'and you, my prince of +warriors, have spoken like a man in behalf of an unknown anabaptist, +without suspecting that you were under obligations to him for a former +service.' + +'Follow me now, children,' said the good general, 'and forget in my +tent all the trouble you have just experienced, and so put an end to +the anxiety of the trembling little bride.' + +'With a thousand pleasures!' cried Hanslein; 'besides, it is not good +to set up our tabernacle here.' With a few vigorous leaps he found +himself before the general's tent. The others followed. + +'Perhaps you would like to be married to your little maiden to-day?' +Oberstein affectionately asked of Alf, while on their way to the tent. +'There is no lack of monks and preachers in the camp. I will furnish +forth the marriage feast, and you may safely reckon upon a magnificent +wedding present from the bishop.' + +'Until the city is gained,' answered Alf, 'I must postpone the +consummation of that holy act. If I should fall in the attack, then +would my wife become an early widow, and more unhappy than if she +mourned her promised bridegroom only as one betrothed. Besides, I +cannot be married with any satisfaction, or really enjoy the greatest +festival of my life, until my poor native city is freed from the +domination of the devil who now lacerates her with his infernal claws. +When good old Munster has found peace and safety I will seek the +consummation of my own domestic happiness.' + +'Thou hast a good faith, my son,' cried Oberstein, pleased with the +self-denial of the youth. + +By this time they stood before the general's tent, when they were met +by Fabricius holding by the hand the amiable and sweetly smiling Clara, +already modestly clad in the dress of her sex. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII. + + +Yielding to the voice of clemency, the worthy Oberstein sent messengers +into the city to admonish them to surrender and save the lives of the +starving people; but the answer which orator Rothman gave in the +presence of the king, was, like the preceding one, the sending back of +the messengers with a paraphrase of the passage in the prophet Daniel +of the four ferocious beasts, in the description of which, he said, the +bishop might easily learn to know himself. + +The last of mercy's sands had finally run, and the next night was +determined on for the attack. It was on the 13th of June, 1533, an hour +before midnight, that Hanslein, in perfect silence, led five hundred +volunteers through the shallow place in the ditch and thence upon the +walls. The sleeping sentinels were cut down, and the detachment reached +the little gate without hindrance. This was broken down and the +soldiers rushed into the city. The alarm was, however, now given. The +armed burghers, who had hastily collected, beat back the last of the +entering troops, closed, and occupied the gate, and then attacked with +redoubled rage those who had already entered. An hour and a half they +endured the bloody onslaught in the dark, until Hanslein with the rest +of his band broke through the nearest weakly guarded gate. The +commander in chief, guided by Alf, waited for this event with the main +force; and, as the gate was burst open from within and its wings flew +asunder, the bishop's troops poured with loud cries into the city. The +victory was not, however, yet won. Each footstep in advance was at the +expense of much blood of the half starved fanatics; and when finally +Oberstein with resistless power forced them back, they retired only +towards the market-place at St. Lambert's church; there once more to +make a stand. Here was the king, who had suddenly sprung from his bed, +with the best of his people, and this availed to renew the fight. +Bloodily the red morning rose upward over the promiscuous slaughter; +and the battle, now that friends and enemies could rightly discern each +other, became regular; by which the anabaptists gained nothing. Alf +kept himself constantly at the side of the general, only defending +himself when necessary, as he did not like to draw his sword against +his fellow citizens; but now, amid the tumult, he caught a glimpse of +the infamous Johannes as he was stimulating his troops to the fight. +Then the wrath of the youth kindled into a mightier flame. 'Eliza!' +cried he, urging his horse to the place occupied by the king. Right and +left the foot-soldiers were overthrown before the hoofs of his +springing charger, and he soon approached the spot. 'Eliza!' cried he +once again, as he reached the king,--and, as if he did not hold the +monster worthy a soldier's blade, he struck him so heavily on his +mailed breast with the hilt of his sword, that he shrunk almost double. +Then, with a strong hand, he lifted the swooning king from his horse, +and taking him like a stolen maiden before himself on the pummel of his +saddle, darted back to the commander in chief. 'I bring you here the +torch of this unrighteous war,' said he. 'Dispose of him as you deem +proper.' + +'The bishop has expressly reserved to himself,' answered Oberstein, +with sad earnestness, 'the duty of deciding on the fate of the leaders. +Therefore take a sufficient number of men; let the wretch be strongly +chained, and hold him in close custody. I shall require him at your +hands when the proper time arrives. You may safely count upon your +reward.' + +The battle had continued until now. Orator Rothman, observing the +capture of the king, and despairing of the fortune of the day, +precipitated himself, sword in hand, upon the thickest crowds of the +enemy, that he might not fall into their hands alive; and fell, bravely +fighting, more honorably than he had lived. Knipperdolling and +Krechting having disappeared, the rest of the anabaptists, deprived of +their frantic leaders, and terrified by the universal massacre, threw +away their arms and begged for quarter, which the commander in chief +immediately granted. The worthy old general gazed sorrowfully upon the +dead and dying, who deluged the marketplace with their blood, and upon +the pale, meagre countenances, distorted by the sufferings they had +experienced, of those who were left; and observed with heartfelt +compassion, 'poor fools, you might have obtained pardon at a cheaper +rate!' + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +The next morning the bishop entered the tranquilized city at the head +of fifteen hundred horsemen. All the houses had been strictly searched; +during which operation many a mad fanatical spirit was found, and the +exasperated soldiery did not always respect the general pardon which +had been granted. Among others Knipperdolling and Krechting were +drawn from their lurking holes; but their lives, with a cruel, +calculating forbearance were spared for a future and more solemn +execution. Alf's testimony as to the total inactivity and +inoffensiveness of his kinsman, the butcher-burgomaster-treasurer, and +also of the tailor-duodecemvir-lord-steward, Dilbek, rescued both from +imprisonment and death. The first, Alf charged with the duty of +collecting his little property, as well as that of Trutlinger's niece, +converting it into money and sending it after him, by the first +convenient opportunity, to the place where he might thereafter take up +his abode; he not feeling disposed to remain in his native city after +what he had experienced there,--and besides, the bishop, +notwithstanding the favor he shewed him during the audience, had not +gained his approbation to such a degree as to induce him to wish to +dwell under his sceptre. + +Nor was the bishop yet quite disposed to make his home at the episcopal +residence. He drove out to castle Dulmen, three miles from Munster, on +the day of his entrance; thereby giving to Oberstein a fine opportunity +to execute the decisions of the Diet of Worms in relation to the +unfortunate city without the interference of its irritable master. He +did every thing in his power to mitigate the measureless distress of +the citizens. Plentiful supplies of provisions put an end to the +torments of hunger. A general pardon, which the bishop himself could +not avoid signing, relieved the Munsterers from their incessant and +excessive fears of being yet reached by the sword of judicial power. +Only the king, Knipperdolling and Krechting were excepted from this +pardon. Every one, protestant or catholic, besieged or emigrant, was +allowed to take his property out of the public repository where the +prophet had sequestered it. The refugees returned again; particularly +the expelled burgomaster and aldermen, who immediately resumed their +functions, and every thing appeared as if the city was well pleased to +find itself returning to the old order of things. + +Three days had thus passed away. Early on the fourth, Oberstein sent +for Alf. 'I have caused St. Lambert's church to be repaired and +embellished a little,' said the general to him. 'It looked as drear and +desolate in its large plundered interior, as if the Zihim and Ohim[2] +were to rule in it--and the poor people must truly have some external +show with their public worship. We must in some measure provide for an +impression upon their senses, because their thoughts and feelings are +confined within a narrow circle. If you please my young friend, we will +go together and observe what great things the painters and garnishers +have accomplished in so short a time.' + +Alf proceeded to the church with the old hero, and could not refrain +from expressing his surprise when he found the lateral walks wholly +desolate and untrimmed. + +'Only be patient, the best is yet to come,' said the smiling Oberstein, +consolingly, and passed into the next lateral walk, where, turning +suddenly, they found themselves before the freshly gilded and well +adorned high altar. Before it, with the church service in his hand, +stood doctor Fabricius in his priestly robes. With a myrtle wreath in +her blond hair, in a simple white dress, her eyes cast down, her cheeks +glowing with love, joy and shame, stood the faithful little Clara, +opposite the youth; while his kinsman Gerhard, Hanslein, and the old +body servant of the bishop, as witnesses of the marriage ceremony, +approached to wish him joy. + +'Oh my God!' cried Alf, surprised and enraptured,--and the worthy +Oberstein himself accompanied the pair before the clergyman. + +The YES was spoken--the benediction pronounced--and Alf had seized the +hand of his young wife to lead her out of church--when an episcopalian +officer entered and delivered to the general a letter of which he was +the bearer. + +Oberstein opened, read, and angrily stamped his foot. 'No joy without +interruption,' cried he. 'More than a year have we been detained before +these rascally walls without any interruption of the everlasting +sameness. This is the first day which I had thought to spend happily +here, and now this is to be marred by such a bum-bailiff commission! I +cannot help you, my dear bridegroom,' proceeded he, turning to Alf; +'the bishop here commands that you immediately bring to Dulmen, under a +strong guard, the tailor-king whom you took prisoner.' + +'Is not my marriage a sufficient excuse?' asked Alf dejectedly. + +'With the bishop, hardly,' whispered Oberstein to him. 'Man-service +goes before God-service with these proud prelates--and we have already, +on account of the poor Munsterers, every motive to keep him in as good +a humor as possible. It will be fortunate if he satiate his anger upon +the wretch whom you are about to conduct to him.' + +'Poor little Clara,' sighed Alf, printing a passionate and sorrowful +kiss upon the lips of the maiden. + +'He named you and thought of himself,' said Oberstein, jestingly; 'but +in order that the happy couple may not be separated on this first day +of their espousal, I will ride out to Dulmen and endeavor to get you +excused by the lord bishop.' + +'You are very good!' said the little bride, bending over the hand of +the gray old general and pressing it to her lips. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX. + + +At Dulmen, in the hall of state, sat the prince-bishop upon his gilded +throne. On each side of him were placed his counsellors and field +officers. At a table covered with rich red cloth, sat two secretaries +with ready pens. Oberstein had announced the tailor-king, and after a +short conversation with the bishop resumed his place. The bishop made a +signal--the guards opened the door, and, accompanied by Alf, Johannes +entered, loaded with chains and very pale; but with a proud and solemn +bearing, casting round upon the assembly his wild, impudent and bold +glance. + +'That is the murderer of my son,' sighed the bishop in a suppressed +tone to Oberstein, covering his face with his hands from grief and +horror. + +'Remember that you are here as a prince and judge, and not as a party,' +whispered Oberstein in return. + +The bishop recovered himself with difficulty. 'Wretched man,' cried he +vehemently to the criminal: 'wherefore hast thou ruined my defenceless +people?' + +'I have not done less than you deserve, priest!' answered Johannes, as +proudly as if Zion's crown had yet stood upon his head. 'I have given +into thy hand a strong city which can stand against every power. +Nevertheless if I have injured you I have sufficient means to make you +reparation, in case you will but follow my counsels.' + +'Wretch!' growled the bishop, 'how wilt thou compensate for a single +drop of the innocent blood which thou hast caused to flow in streams?' + +'Human blood,' said Johannes, scornfully, 'comes not into the account +in the reckoning of kings. Here we can only speak respecting the +restitution of money. Therefore shut me up in an iron cage as Tamerlane +did Bajazet, take me through the neighboring countries and show me for +money--you will make more out of me in that way than the whole siege +has cost.' + +The whole assembly broke out into a loud cry of astonishment and +displeasure at the unparalleled insolence of the criminal, whose life +hung upon the nod of his judge. + +The latter was paralyzed by the extent of the monster's profligacy. He +soon however recovered himself, and silently viewed him for a long time +with a horrible smile upon his countenance. + +'My God!' murmured Alf, when he saw that smile; 'this will end +tragically.' + +'Thou hast advised well, wise Solomon,' said the bishop with great +calmness. 'Be it done to thee according to thy words. Deliver up your +prisoner to the constable of the castle,' he commanded Alf. 'Let him be +confined in the murderer's cell until further orders--and do you convey +to the smiths of Munster my command that they immediately make three +iron cages of a man's height. Therein shall this man and his coadjutors +be conducted round the land as he himself has desired, and be shown to +the people as they are accustomed to show wild beasts. What further is +to be done with the worthy trio, shall be duly pronounced at the proper +time in the criminal court.' + +With unaltered pride Johannes suffered himself to be led forth by Alf. +The bishop dismissed the assembly. Only Oberstein remained with him, +and now Alf returned to announce that he had deposited his prisoner in +his dungeon. + +'It was you who captured the hyaena who butchered my children for me,' +cried the bishop with horrible joy. 'I thank you for the opportunity to +avenge on him the blood of all his victims! Oh that he had more than +one life! Say, what reward do you desire for the deed!' + +'Such a reward would be the price of blood,' thought Alf, 'and +therefore God preserve me from it.' + +'Would you like a good military or civil office at my court?' asked the +bishop in his desire to express his gratitude. + +'I am a protestant, most reverend sir,' answered Alf: 'and hope to die +in the evangelical faith; but if I may prefer a petition to you, I have +to request that you will permit me without ceremony or hindrance to +take my own and my wife's property to the place where I am to settle +myself.' + +'Are you determined absolutely not to remain in my territories?' asked +the bishop resentfully. + +'I think of procuring for him a captaincy from the elector of Saxony,' +said Oberstein, with a view of softening the effect of Alf's short and +ungracious reply. + +'Pardon me sir earl,' said Alf, 'for respectfully declining that favor +also. I have lately seen so many people commanded, and so many evils +have been caused by the orders given--and I myself in my simplicity +have done so much mischief by my own commands, that I have become +utterly disgusted with the whole business. Wherefore I have solicited +the reverend doctor Fabricius to seek me out a quiet little place in +Hesse Cassel, were I may honorably employ myself as an armorer and +enjoy the society of my wife and the children with which God may bless +our union, until my happy end.' + +'Do you not think he has chosen the wisest part?' asked Oberstein of +the bishop, at the same time leaving the room. + +'O that I could find in Munster a hundred burghers like this who now +deserts me!' said the bishop, through forgetfulness, laying his hand in +blessing upon the heretic's head. + +'Think well of my request, reverend sir,' said Alf, bowing low and +following his friend and protector. + + + + + CHAPTER XXX. + + +When the happy Clara opened her blue eyes on the first morning after +her marriage, she saw that her young husband was already awake and +sitting upright in bed as if in deep and earnest meditation upon some +important matter. She threw her arms about his neck, kissed him +tenderly and asked him what he was meditating upon so intently. + +'Upon my future destiny, and the decision I must make as to what +business I shall hereafter pursue, my dear wife,' answered he with +seeming earnestness. 'So many offers were made to me yesterday that I +hardly know which of them to embrace. The lord bishop wishes to retain +me with him, either in a military capacity or as an officer of his +court, as I may choose; for the latter of which I suppose I am more +particularly well qualified. I can also at any moment become a captain +in the service of the elector of Saxony.' + +'You surely will not accept of either of them?' cried Clara, anxiously. +'Leave those high honors and dignities to others, and be satisfied with +the quiet domestic happiness which awaits you, and which your +unambitious disposition is best calculated to enjoy. Remain what you +are, a good armorer! As such only have I joined hands with you, before +God's altar, in the holy bands of matrimony. If now you wish the +captaincy, or a seat in the royal council, then have you deceived me, +even at the moment of marriage, and that would be very wrong in a +bridegroom.' + +'God be praised!' joyfully exclaimed Alf, pressing her to his bosom. +'That is precisely what I desired to hear from you, my dear Clara. I +only wished to ascertain whether you agreed with me upon a most +important question; and behold, our wishes and opinions are as similar +as if we had been made for each other.' + +'Ah, that was always clear to me from the first moment I saw you,' +stammered Clara, blushing; 'and it used to render me truly miserable to +see that you had eyes only for my unfortunate sister.' + +'Peace to her ashes!' said Alf with emotion; 'but I now perceive quite +clearly that she would have been no wife for me. What God brings to +pass is intended for our good.' + +At that moment began under the windows, arranged by the wedding guests, +an excellent morning serenade; and the vocalists, falling in, sang to +the bridal pair, in Martin Luther's words:[3] + + 'Oh happy man, whose soul is fill'd + With zeal and reverend awe! + His lips to God their honors yield, + His life adorns the law. + + 'A careful Providence shall stand + And ever guard thy head, + Shall on the labors of thy hand, + Its kindly blessings shed.' + +'Shall on the labors of thy hand,'--said the young couple joyfully to +each other at the same moment, and Alf smilingly remarked; 'now we +shall be sure to live together at least a year, my Clara, since we both +had the same thought at the same time.' + +Again sang the choir: + + 'Thy wife shall be a fruitful vine; + Thy children round thy board, + Each like an olive-plant shall shine, + And learn to fear the Lord. + + 'The Lord shall thy best hopes fulfil + For months and years to come; + The Lord who dwells on Zion's hill, + Shall send thee blessings home.' + +Reminded of the pleasures of paternity, Alf pressed his beloved wife +yet closer, while she hid her blushing face in his bosom. They listened +with delighted attention to the remainder of the hymn, and when the +last verse came they joined in with a pious ecstasy, and in thankful +remembrance of all that God had done for them: + + 'To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, + The God whom we adore, + Be everlasting honors paid + Henceforth, forevermore.' + + + + + CHAPTER XXXI. + + +Having obtained an honorable discharge from the army of the Diet, Alf +settled himself with his young wife under the shadow of Fabricius's +wing at Cassel, as a respectable armorer. The property which he took +with him from Munster, together with the rich marriage presents which +he received from the bishop and count Oberstein, rendered him a well +conditioned burgher. He enjoyed the blessings of a middle station in +society, in an unusual measure, and the painful remembrance of what he +had experienced, performed, and suffered, was merged by degrees in the +feeling of repose, and in the quiet enjoyment of well merited +prosperity. + +Meanwhile the timid and exasperated bishop began to bring poor Munster +fully under the yoke; so that it should never again be able to raise +its head in rebellion. Two castles arose towering over the city, with +the aid of which he hoped easily to suppress every disturbance, and +occasionally to curtail some of the ancient privileges of the people; +but the ambassadors of the Circle, who suddenly appeared in Munster, +efficaciously remedied this fault and many others. The peaceable +citizens of Munster, whom he had compelled to perform all sorts of +labor, were protected; the fortifications of the anabaptists as well as +the castles of the bishop were razed; and the latter was compelled to +permit a decision, by a trial and sentence, upon the fate of the +tailor-king and his companions, who, until then, had been, in mockery +and scorn, dragged through all the neighboring parts of Germany in +their cages. In February of the year 1536, the three criminals were +finally led to the scaffold. However great was their guilt, the cruelty +of their punishment seemed unworthy the mercy which should have been +exercised by the spiritual lords, from whom alone a mitigation of their +sentence could emanate; but who commanded its execution with +unrelenting severity. + +'Holy God!' exclaimed Alf, when he heard of their unhappy end; 'whither +will not fanaticism lead its unhappy devotees! Happy is he who confines +his attention to the narrow circle of his household and his business, +and who does not forget that prayer and labor are the best antidotes to +vain imaginings. Thrice happy is the man to whom God grants a good +wife, who, with gentle power, draws him from the wild impulses of the +world, and with flowery chains binds him to his own hearth. Under that +hearth lies buried the true treasure of life, which so few have the +desire and happiness to raise. We have disinterred it, have we not, my +Clara? When the olive plants stand around us, which Dr. Luther has +promised, what shall we then lack?' Saying this, he laid his hand +affectionately upon his young wife, who was most assiduously spinning +at the opposite side of the table. At first, with a sweet smile, she +clasped her beloved husband's hand, and then passing quickly round the +table, she fell upon his neck. 'Lord God, we thank thee!' cried the +superlatively happy husband, glowing with love and gratitude. + + +FOOTNOTES: + +[Footnote 1: The name of one of the imperial regiments, composed of +catholics.] + +[Footnote 2: Evil spirits.] + +[Footnote 3: We use the version of Dr. Watts.--TR.] + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales from the German. Volume II., by +Carl Franz van der Velde + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM THE GERMAN. 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