Below Schloss Falkenstein, in the valley where the gentle Selke winds
through her flower-strewn paths, the shepherd of the Graf von
Falkenstein grazed his sheep on the dew-gathering meadows.
It was the morning of St. John's Day, and every Härzer knows that St.
John's Eve and St. John's Day are rich in miracles in these
mountains, and unfold many a mysterious flower.
Not only at this time is the St. John's wort gathered, which is said
to bear a red dewdrop at midnight--hence called St. John's blood--and
to be a sure remedy against every disease; but also the
_Spring-wursel_, or caper-spurge, which bursts open gates, and even
opens the earth and the rocks; the magic
wand--_Wünschelruthe_--Aaron's rod--which points out the spot where
buried treasures or the precious metals lie hidden; and the
_Wunderblume_--marvel of Peru--which opens the eyes of him who is so
fortunate as to find this wonder-flower, so that he sees sunken or
enchanted castles, and discovers untold riches in gold, diamonds, and
rubies.
Tidian found a tiny blue flower, attracted to it by its perfume and
its beauty, which must have been one of these miracle-working plants,
for no sooner had he stuck it in his hatband than a never-before-seen
cave in the side of the mountain opened its splendours to his dazzled
eyes.
He entered it, his mind full of tales of buried treasures, filled his
pockets with the glittering sand and stones, with the intention of
offering them for sale to a jeweller in Aschersleben.
They proved to be more valuable than he had hoped, and the jeweller
begged him to sell to no one but himself.
The fame of this gold speedily spread, and it happened the Graf von
Falkenstein himself visited the goldsmith, when by chance this gold
was spoken of.
"Yes," said the jeweller, "it is indisputable that Tidian's gold is
as good again as any other."
"Tidian's gold!" cried the Earl, surprised. "Why do you give it that
name?"
"The man from whom I buy it is Tidian."
Instantly it occurred to the Earl that his shepherd Tidian had lately
grown rich, and he might be the seller. His avarice awoke; he
hastened home, and demanded to know the cause of Tidian's wealth.
True of heart, the shepherd told him everything, showed him the
concealed way to the cave, and in company they carried away much of
the costly treasure; till at last avarice awaked the fear in the mind
of the Earl that Tidian might at some future time reveal the secret
to some one else.
This thought left him no peace. At length, to make himself secure of
the entire wealth of the cave, he put out Tidian's eyes and shut him
up in the castle dungeon.
Then the Earl hurried alone to the cave; he did not know that the
flower which Tidian wore in his hat caused the cave to remain open.
The unhappy shepherd tore the flower in pieces, stamped upon and
cursed it and the cave, and wished it to close and never again to
open until, among the descendants of the Earl, a lame, a dumb, and a
blind Falkenstein had ruled.
Immediately the cave shut with a thundering noise, and the greedy
Earl wanders there yet, for the enchantment is not yet broken.