How Sir Otto and Sir Arinbiorn again returned to the
mountains.
It was a clear and fresh autumnal morning, when the whole army
were drawn up on the plain, with their armour and weapons brightly
burnished. The captains rode up and down the ranks, dealing out their
applause and thanks for the deeds of the preceding day; the war-horns
also were sounded in triumph for the victory.
There was one, however, among the chiefs there assembled, whose heart
seemed yet impenetrable to the joy that prevailed; and this was Sir
Otto von Trautwangen. Still, though it was now bright morning, and all
were active and cheerful around him, he could not help recollecting the
horrible double-goer whom he had beheld on the preceding night; and
though such phantasms might have been overcome by the light of day, and
the pleasant society of his comrades, yet he involuntarily persisted
in recalling to his own mind those impressions which he ought to have
banished. These were to him like a basilisk, or some other frightful
sight, which one abhors, yet cannot forbear to look upon. Even with the
mind’s eye, courteous reader, you must now and then have contemplated
spectral objects such as that which we have here described. But in
such cases we beseech you to imitate the example of the Knight of
Trautwangen. He could not avoid always thinking on his abominable
double; but at last he encountered him as a valiant knight ought ever
to do. He looked him in the face with the frown of defiance, till at
last it seemed as if the vile spectre had vanished, and Sir Otto became
as cheerful and free-hearted as he had been heretofore.
At length the Swedish prince, who commanded the army, came riding
along the ranks. He saluted his soldiers with great courtesy; and,
arriving at the top of a little eminence before the centre of his
army, brandished his spear, that gleamed like a meteor in the red
light of the morning, and struck therewith three times on his shield
so powerfully, that the mountains repeated the sound in thundering
reverberation. Thereupon all the war-horns throughout the army were
sounded in token of rejoicing, and the squadrons, both horse and
foot, advanced towards their commander, till they had formed a narrow
half-circle round the height on which he had taken his station. When
the captains galloped forward, and whilst they were receiving their
orders, the young Sir Kolbein drew up to the Knight of Trautwangen,
and said,--“Noble sir, in the sea-monarch’s squadron I had the honour
yesterday of playing my part. Will you for the future vouchsafe to me
some share of your friendship and good opinion?”--Sir Otto took his
hand accordingly, and pressed it with fervour; but he had not time
to return any other answer, for the old Swedish prince now raised his
voice.
His tones were deep, clear, and powerful, so that he was heard plainly
by every one throughout the army. The old hero returned thanks, in
the name of his native land and its holy religion, to all his brave
soldiers; then directed his attention in particular to the circle of
officers around him, where his eyes were in the first place fixed upon
Sir Arinbiorn. “Knight of the sea,” said he, “by your timely coming
the battle was decided in our favour. Your stratagem of sailing round
the country, landing quickly and unobserved, and then joining us at
the proper moment,--all this was managed in such a manner, that only
a great and experienced general could have succeeded therein. But
then, as for the brave young eagle, which, with victorious beak, so
long maintained for us the dangerous pass on our left wing, until your
vulture’s wings appeared in our defence, him too we know full well,
and he must not be forgotten. Thanks then, dear son,” added he, giving
his hand to the Knight of Trautwangen. “Even at our first meeting, I
expected from you all that prudence and valour which you have since so
nobly proved.” Then he turned round to a squire who stood near, took
from him the banner which Sir Otto had forced from the pagans, and gave
it to the knight, saying,--“That was indeed already won by your own
unassisted arm; but, in remembrance of the love and affection which all
true-hearted Swedes bear towards you, we have inscribed a few words
thereon; and so, if it be your pleasure, let it be preserved by you,
and your children and grandchildren, in your father’s ancestral halls.”
Otto now read on a golden scroll, which was wound round the stem of the
banner, a long inscription, wherein his own name and valiant deeds were
amply commemorated, and exclaimed, “Thanks, noble prince and valiant
commander!” while, at the same time, he looked humbly on the ground,
and could not bring out another word. But the old hero, smiling kindly
on his embarrassment, began to speak as follows:--“My noble comrades
and brave champions, there is yet one important and serious question
which we have to answer. Our enemies have retreated, it is true, and
taken shelter behind their own frontiers; our husbandmen have sown the
seeds of their future harvest, and wait with confidence to reap the
fruits at the fitting time. That their hopes may not be disappointed,
that the winter may pass over their heads in peace, seems, according
to the will of Providence, to depend on us. For this purpose it is
requisite that some of our bands should, through the cold months of
winter, remain here to guard the passes of the mountains. It is true,
that these regions are haunted by spectres and demons; at least so
the people say; and, moreover, the winter cold, as we all know, is
very bitter and hard to withstand. However, methinks a true hero of
the north would for once gladly contend with such evils, and look on
them as but a pastime. Say then, who is there among you that is most
inclined to this duty?”
Hereupon not a word was for some time clearly heard. The officers
reflected and communed with each other, and it was easy to perceive
that though many a one was willing to undertake the task, yet questions
and doubts occurred to him which it was not easy to solve. Meanwhile
Sir Otto of Trautwangen and the sea-monarch looked at each other,
and, as if inspired at one moment by the same emotion, both presented
themselves before the royal commander. “We would gladly try our fortune
through the winter in the mountains,” said they; “yet if the result
should be different from that which you desire, at least you may be
assured that our good intentions and best endeavours were not wanting.”
Thereupon the old prince with great joy accepted their offer, and
invited them with all the other chiefs to the banquet. Farther, it was
agreed that the two champions, the sea-monarch and the knight, this
very day should proceed towards the mountains; for this was according
to their own earnest request. They failed not to remember, how much
in such undertakings depends on gaining possession of this or that
advantageous position, before the enemy has had time to rally after a
repulse.
While the troops, all shouting and rejoicing, drew again into the camp,
the Knight of Trautwangen said to the sea-monarch, “How thankful am
I to Heaven that I am thus again sent to the land of those mysteries
wherewith I have already so often contended; for otherwise they would
evermore have lingered in my heart, casting their dark shadows over
my future life! Now, perchance, if I boldly look upon them, their
gloom will change into light, and I shall no more be perplexed as
heretofore.” “Truly my thoughts are like unto yours,” answered Sir
Arinbiorn. “Now would I discover the true history of that magic
mirror; I shall either break the spells which are locked up therein, or
forfeit mine own life in the attempt; so that I shall then, at least,
know what mysteries lurk behind those delusive charms, which in this
world we call our senses.”
Before his tent Sir Otto now found the brave Swerker, of whom he had
made a prisoner in the battle of the preceding day. The youth fixed his
eyes on the ground with an aspect of deep melancholy; but, hearing the
approach of Sir Otto’s prancing steed, he looked up, and contemplated
his victor, not, as it seemed, without satisfaction and confidence.
“Mark you, Swerker,” said the Knight of Trautwangen, “for we must now
make a bargain with each other.” “That depends on what sort of bargain
you have to propose,” said the Swede. “In the first place,” said Sir
Otto, “you must allow yourself to be taught the Christian faith.” “You
may teach as much as you please,” answered the Swede, “and if your
doctrines be worth learning, I am willing to believe in them; if not,
your trouble will be thrown away.”--“’Tis well,” answered Sir Otto;
“although you are a prisoner, and should properly be detained among us,
yet I shall send you, on your parole of honour, into Germany. There
you will go into the blooming land of Swabia, and on the shores of
the Danube you will inquire for an old knight, who is named Sir Hugh
von Trautwangen, and for a castle of the same name, which is situated
on the banks of that river. To Sir Hugh you will offer many courteous
greetings from his loving son; you will deliver to him the banner which
I took from your comrades, and give him a faithful account of all that
has happened here. Then you shall return to me; for meanwhile I am to
remain among your mountains of the north, and you shall afterwards be
instructed in the faith of the Christians. Are you now willing to make
this contract?”--“So may the gods of Valhalla help or renounce me!”
answered the Swede.--“You shall one day learn better oaths to swear
by,” said Sir Otto; “but for this time it shall suffice. Take the
banner, and set out in God’s name.”--So, when the Swede had found a
swift horse among those which had been taken from the Finlanders, and
Sir Otto had given him a bag of silver money, they shook hands, and the
messenger departed.
The brimming goblets yet circled round the board of the old Swedish
hero, and the minstrels had not sung half their ballads, when Sir Otto
and the sea-monarch requested leave to depart. The prince would have
gladly detained them, but he well knew the danger of delays in time
of war; so he stretched out his arms over the youths as they bowed
before him, and, with a voice that faltered with emotion, and gleaming
eyes, gave them his blessing. Thereafter their bands of horse and
foot were soon collected together, and, shouting and singing songs of
triumph, they proceeded on their way towards the mountains. The best
positions both on the hills and in the valleys were soon surveyed and
manned; watchers were appointed for the safety of all, and for the
ready communication of intelligence between the parties. While the
foot-soldiers were making arrangements for their own comforts, and
the cavalrymen attending, in the first place, to the safety of their
horses,--all being well aware that they were to winter in this desolate
region,--Sir Otto looked at the sea-monarch, and said, “methinks our
duties are already done, being anticipated by others, and yet it is
not near sunset; we might therefore ride out now on our campaign of
discovery, since the places of which we should be in search lead us
certainly in a forward rather than a retrograde direction.”
“I had myself thought so,” said Sir Arinbiorn; “before us, and on the
left hand, must be the old moss-grown watch-tower. A brave knight
cannot well rest, until he has forced out into the clear light of day
all the dark mysteries by which he has been so perplexed;--and so,
good friend,” added he, raising his voice, and turning to Sir Kolbein,
who then stood near him,--“take for a space the command of our troops
here, and see that your duty be performed faithfully. Sir Otto and I
must now ride hence to explore the mountains.”--Thereupon Sir Kolbein
bowed gracefully and like a true knight, and the two friends trotted
rapidly away through the shadowy valleys.
After no long space they came to a narrow path of the mountains, by
which they were led, under the covert of the densely entwined branches,
up a steep height, while ever and anon they espied the old battlements
of the watch-tower. They rode silently and slowly forwards; and when at
last they marked the building more clearly, and at no great distance
through the trees, the red light of the evening sun beamed brightly and
cheerfully on its windows. “It is very strange,” said Sir Otto to his
friend, “that now, when the setting sun thus glitters on the tower,
the whole building seems changed. I no longer look on it as frightful
and mysterious; but, on the contrary, methinks, I am now riding towards
my own home; for never have I felt a more cordial and deep longing to
reach the old castle of Trautwangen than that which attracts me at this
moment.”
“Can you then feel here as I do?” said Sir Arinbiorn; “I might indeed
say, that I had no home over the wide world; for what avails my castle
in Norway, wherein I have neither father, mother, wife, nor sister? But
now, methinks, I could almost believe that Blanchefleur dwelt here in
this old tower, and that I was returning hither as her husband from a
prosperous and honourable campaign. Good heavens! what a happy evening
this would then be!--and you, too, Sir Otto, must belong to the same
house; you should, methinks, be the Lady Blanchefleur’s brother; and,
if it were so, would you indeed give me your sister in marriage?”--“Of
that there can be no question,” answered Sir Otto, at the same time
shaking hands cordially with the sea-monarch. “If I had a sister with
whom you had fallen in love she would within this very hour become
your betrothed bride. To say the truth, however, I have not time at
the present moment to think of such matters,--scarcely even of my own
bride or wedding-day,--(had these been the subject of our discourse,)
so deeply am I now impressed with the feeling, as if, like a cheerful
free-hearted child, I were arrived, after long wandering through the
world, at my own home, and as if the air were filled with the pleasant
fragrance of the pine-tree logs blazing on my father’s hearth. Nay, I
could almost knock at the door, and ask if my father were within, were
I to give the reins to these strange feelings that have now possessed
me.”
They now perceived a knight, in complete armour, who stood before the
watch-tower, and seemed to speak vehemently with some one above. In
order to learn, in the first place, what was here going forward, they
checked their horses, and remained quiet; so that they were unperceived
by the knight, who never looked towards them. From the tower above they
now heard a mild female voice, that said, “Thou wild and untameable
youth! art thou then angry with me? Wouldst thou blame that maternal
care and love which may indeed be compared to a gleam of beneficence
from Heaven, which takes up its abode in the female heart, fitting it
with such divine goodness and anxiety for the welfare of others, that
to an earthly being such feelings are often changed into pain?”
“Am I not your son?” answered the knight, in a tone of anger and
defiance. “Wherefore then should you complain of me? And wherefore
torment me thus with your endless warnings, your white doves, swans,
and nightly visions, that follow me wherever I go? Either leave me in
peace, or assist me to gain the object of my affections, the beautiful
enchantress, who dwells yonder across the valley.”
“Nay, wild and restless warrior as thou art,” said the female voice,
“Heaven has not decreed that the beautiful young enchantress can be
yours. This would indeed be as if the fierce flame should woo the
mountain-torrent, both, no doubt, rapid and vehement in their nature,
but for ever divided and irreconcileable.”
“What means all this?” answered the youth angrily. “Doubtless I should
know my own wishes best; and I know but too well, that my whole heart
is fixed on this beautiful damsel, and on her alone. Should I not
obtain her, then, indeed, I may for the first time be transformed into
a devouring flame, by which the whole land of your favourite Christians
will be laid waste. This I swear to you by the great Odin, and all the
gods of Valhalla! Therefore, trouble me not with your counsels, but
assist me; though truly, by so doing, you do not assist yourself; for
were I once united to her, my power will be more formidable than ever
against those people, with their crosses and prayer-books, whom it is
your pleasure to protect. But mine in truth she shall be; my glorious
deeds on the battle-field, my long and faithful watching at her gate
among the rocks, must not pass unrewarded.” Thereupon the female voice
answered, “Her heart is indeed closed against thee, like a gate of rock
or adamant, which by thy power never may be shaken. Renounce then, poor
youth, such groundless hopes, and desist too from your foolish threats.
Heaven leads his chosen servants here on earth, as his wisdom sees
fitting, to victory and happiness. Hast thou not seen this proved but
yesterday, thou wild and reckless wanderer?”
Hereupon the knight laughed scornfully, and turned away, intending,
as it seemed, to retire down the rocks on the other side of the
watch-tower; then Sir Otto rode forwards from the thicket, saying,
“Yield, pagan, if thou art wise, for we are here two to one against
thee; give thyself up in peace, otherwise deeds instead of words shall
prove how wisely the lady has just now spoken from the watch-tower.”
The knight immediately turned towards Sir Otto, and poised his spear
in an attitude of wrath and defiance; but in the same instant both of
them exclaimed, “Ha! art thou here again, horrible spectre?” and both
turning ghastly pale, shrunk as if powerless from each other. “Shall
the pagan caitiff escape us then?” cried the sea-monarch, rushing
forward; but when he had gained the summit of the cliff, and beheld
the features of the youth, who was now descending on the other side,
and looked back upon him, he also became pale with affright, and in a
trembling voice, cried to Sir Otto, “What hellish sorcery is this? Art
thou then doubled? And which is the true knight, he who stands here, or
he who now runs down the mountain?” “Arinbiorn,” answered the Knight
of Trautwangen, “thou hast heard that cowardly fugitive blaspheme
against God and our holy faith; and canst thou ask, if by any power of
sorcery we could be made one and the same?” The sea-monarch took his
hand, saying, kindly, “You have indeed reminded me of the best proof,
and surest consolation. Still then, I have you and hold you as my tried
and faithful friend, nor shall the powers of darkness ever again force
such delusions upon me.” Meanwhile they heard the mild female voice
once more from the tower: “Alas, Ottur!” it exclaimed, “wild, reckless
Ottur! rush not so madly down the steep rocky cliffs!”