Upon the confines of the Hartz Mountains, in a lowly hut, I first saw
the light. My mother yielded up her life in giving me birth, and the
nourishment of a pet goat sustained the feeble spark of infancy. My
remaining parent proved, though rough and uncultivated, a kind nurse.
The hours of childhood were passed in assisting my father in collecting
dried wood for burning charcoal, and oft, as I penetrated through the
tangled forest, would I stand and gaze upon the clear blue flame that
night after night arose from one of the highest peaks, and though an
ague would creep over me at the recollection of some of the tales of
horror that clothed those mountains in such fearful dread, still an
unconquerable desire to witness their midnight orgies grew with my
growth and strengthened with my strength.
About two hundred feet from the base of the loftiest of that extended
chain of mountains, jutted out a perpendicular rock. Upon the summit
stood the castle of Rudolfo, whose weather-beaten battlements had for
ages frowned defiance upon the plain below. Dark hints and mysterious
whispers surrounded that isolated spot with gloom and fear; no footsteps
ever approached its portals after sundown, and an Ave Maria was
silently, though fervently breathed, when the benighted hunter or weary
traveller caught a glimpse of the solitary light that was ever seen in
one of the casements of the castle.
Count Rudolph was a man of valor; his arm was held invincible in the
battle field; but of a temperament morose and savage, his vassals
quailed beneath the glance of his bright gray eye, and trembled when the
sound of his loud clear voice rang through the vaulted halls. Among the
dependants that sat at his board below the salt, or rallied around his
banner, were hearts that thirsted to bury their daggers in his blood;
but the mantle of superstitious mystery so completely enveloped him,
that the hand, however daring, shrunk from the murderous deed.
The iron-bound features of Count Rudolph never relaxed, save when his
looks rested upon his daughter. Then would the contracted brow expand,
and those eyes so formidable emit a ray of feeling. He seldom smiled,
but the effect was startling; a meteor, dazzling by its brightness, to
render the darkness more visible. And that daughter was a glorious
creature! The tall, graceful form, the dark hazel eyes, commanded the
allegiance of all that looked upon her. To her father her features bore
a strong resemblance, but moulded in the most perfect female softness.
The lady Auzella was seldom seen beyond the boundaries of the castle,
but the report of her wondrous beauty had spread far over Germany, and
many a valiant knight had sued in vain for her fair hand,
notwithstanding the vague and strange reports that were ever afloat
about Count Rudolph and his unhallowed deeds.
It was my twentieth birthday. The hours of labor were exchanged for
hunting, a pastime of which I was most fond. So intent was I in chasing
the chamois and hungry wolves that infest those regions, I thought not
of the departure of day, until warned by the declining sun shedding its
golden rays through the “forest’s thickening gloom.” An unconquerable
feeling of dread at being thus benighted, caused me to hasten my
footsteps towards my humble cot. With a steady eye and nervous limbs, I
bounded over the impetuous stream that rolls down the mountain side, and
springing from crag to crag, I emerged from the dense shadow of trees,
and stood upon a platform of rock overgrown with moss and stunted oak.
Involuntarily I lingered to gaze upon the scene before me. The whole
country glowed with the effulgence of the setting sun, whilst the
amphitheatre of hills that bounded the horizon was clothed in gorgeous
purple. On the right stood the castle, its turrets and towers catching
the lingering sunbeams, bringing them out in bold relief from the mass
of frowning mountains that formed the back ground. The only sound that
broke upon the ear was the incessant roar of the cataract. Whilst thus I
stood entranced, a strain of music suddenly burst through the air, so
wild, so melodious, that it seemed an echo from the spheres. Amazed, I
listened breathlessly; again the same sweet notes were borne upon the
gentle gales. I turned, when lo! beside the rushing torrent sat a
female; her long tresses were floating upon the breeze, and revealed the
features of the Lady Auzella! Ere the melting strains were ended that
had held bound my soul, shrieking, affrighted, she fled towards me. With
horror I beheld a huge bear spring from the overhanging crag, and stand
within a foot of his prey. In one moment I took a sure and deadly
aim—fired—the monster rolled head-long down the rapid stream; the next
instant the fainting form of Auzella reposed within my arms! My fate was
sealed; the past, the future, all, all were forgotten. We met again and
again; I loved, ardently, madly, and was beloved! Yes! the high-born,
haughty damsel loved the humble youth.
We lived in the spring-time of love; the cold, bleak winds of autumn had
not yet chilled our hearts, when, with the impassioned fervor of
affection, I besought the gentle Auzella to fly with me to other lands,
where with my sword I would carve for myself a name worthy for her to
share. Silently she listened, then raising her head from my bosom, fixed
her expressive eyes upon me, and whispered, as soft as a zephyr’s sigh—
“Hast thou dear Carl, resolution to win fame and wealth, and, with my
father’s consent, this hand?”
“Try me, beloved, and thou wilt find no braggart in thy lover.”
“Then, by thy vows of love, ere ‘yon moon fills her horn,’ pluck from
the mountain’s blazing pile a firebrand; bear it with all speed to my
father’s feet, and by that token fearlessly claim the hand of Auzella!”
She ceased, and fled from me. In that brief space a new existence burst
upon my senses. The voice of love had pointed out the way to the
possession of _gold_ and the hand of her whom I adored; but how? To
league myself with devils! A cold shudder crept over me; within my
breast raged a fearful struggle. It passed away, and, with the purpose
of my soul determined, I awoke from the _dream_ of life to the reality
of existence.
* * * * *
Strange, that man should shrink in after years from lifting the veil
that has shadowed crimes recklessly committed in youth. Does he scorn
and bid defiance to the eyes of Omnipotence, and tremble at the opinions
of his fellow worms? How incongruous, but alas! how true!
Although years have rolled past—and time, as it has flown onward, has
hurried with them into the vast abyss of eternity, pleasures, sins and
sorrows—the events of that _fearful_ night, that fatal hour, are
concentrated in one burning spot within my brain.
Like king Midas, the cravings of discontent proved my destruction.
Destruction! aye, one endless chain of wretchedness, perpetuated through
life, with no oblivion in the _grave_.
* * * * *
With desperate energy I braved the lightning’s lurid gleam, and heeded
not the tempest that raged around me. As I bent my footsteps towards the
ever-burning flame, sounds, as if from the abyss of Hades, burst upon my
ear. I stood palsied with horror, and as a bright flash burst through
the gloom, shrieks and wild laughter rang through the air, and revealed
my presence! “Ah! standest thou there to mock me, thou fiend, thou
devil? Hurl not reason _yet_ from its tottering throne! Begone!”
The hour was past, the trophy _gained_, my bride _won_; but an _oath_
was taken that is engraved upon my heart with a firebrand, and ever
thrills my frame with anguish—with never-ceasing torture!
How shall I unravel the tangled thread of my after life? Shall I dwell
upon the hour that called Auzella _mine_?—the joy I felt as I clasped
my beautiful, my adored _wife_ to my heart, notwithstanding the dark
flash from Count Rudolph’s eyes? A brief state of happiness was mine—an
oasis in the wilderness of life.
I _now_ had gold unbounded. We left the frowning castle for the gay
metropolis. The mountain boy was no longer the shy boor, but the wealthy
_noble_ and the crafty man.
Once launched upon the ocean of dissipation, I trimmed my sails to catch
the breeze of pleasure, and thought not of the whirlpools that
surrounded me; when, one night, in the midst of a gay revel, whilst the
sparkling cup and the merry jest passed freely round the festive board,
a touch of _fire_, a whisper which penetrated my very soul, reminded me
of my _oath_—that _fearful oath_! Then fled the scene of enchantment,
the faces of beauty, the chrystal lights, and the music, breathing its
soft strains through the fragrant air; and, in the mind’s eye, the
burning mountain, the horrid yells of demoniacal laughter, were beheld
with frightful distinctness.
* * * * *
_Murder my friend!_—the companion of my midnight revels, the sharer of
my pleasures—_never!_ But thine oath! Ah! then did I feel the serpent’s
sting; his envenomed coil compressed every fibre of my defenceless body;
no escape from his toils. I had voluntarily _sold myself_ to the demon
of the burning mountain!
Out upon it! why quakes this feeble frame as the hour approaches when I
shall “throw off this mortal coil?” Can tortures be greater than what I
do and _ever will_ suffer? Why not snap asunder the cord at once?
But the deed was _done_, and _then_ deeper did I plunge into the vortex
of vice, for the slight barrier of conscience was broken down, and I
moved through the gazing crowd an envied man. Ah, ah, envied! How little
dreamed the gaping fools of the livid spot _within_. But, amidst the
volcano that was consuming me, burned one pure flame—the shrine on
which it was kindled was still unpolluted—my love for Auzella. She was
my day-star, my dream of all that was pure. Her smile would chase the
demon from my breast, and lull me into forgetfulness.
But the cup of misery that I had tasted was not yet drained. Jealousy
mingled with its bitter dregs, and poisoned my blood and shot through
every vein.
Suddenly there appeared among us a youth of striking mien and of great
beauty, though of a wild and singular aspect. He was ever with Auzella!
I chased from my breast the dark thoughts that would sometimes enter.
With the madness of despair, I bore her to the gloomy castle where dwelt
her father. She murmured not at thus being torn from scenes of festive
mirth to hours of dreary sadness; her eyes still sparkled with their
wonted fire. We visited the spot where first I dared breathe my aspiring
hopes, and as I folded her to my breast again, I told her how dear she
still was to me.
Count Rudolph had become more morose, and seldom went beyond the castle
walls. He seemed to take no pleasure in the presence of his child, and
when I encountered the glance of his eye fixed upon me, a strange,
undefinable sensation would creep over me: a vague recollection of
scenes gone by. Thus passed four long, weary weeks. For me were no
dreams of the future, no surveying of the past; all, all was a chaos of
guilt and dread.
Twice, in the still hour of midnight, did I miss Auzella from my side.
At first I heeded it not, but as thought pressed upon thought, my brain
became maddened; horrible suspicions crept over me. Grasping my pistols,
I fled from the castle, and, without one definite object, I strode
hastily towards _that_ fatal spot. The same wild yells met my ear, and,
by the clear blue flame, I beheld a scene of sickening horror!—while I
think upon it, my brain becomes frenzied—but I must relieve the
tortures of this breast by tracing my sum of misery.
Aye! I beheld a motley group sitting around the fire, who, with shouts
of laughter and demoniacal gestures, were tearing asunder a human frame,
a fresh victim! There was a pause, when a voice arose upon the stillness
that sent my blood curdling to my heart; I looked, and saw _my wife_,
and by her side that stranger youth! Slowly I moved my hand towards my
pistol, and, setting my teeth, grasped it firmly. Another voice rang
through the air, and there sat Count Rudolph, the demon of the burning
mountain; well did I remember, by that light, those unhallowed eyes and
_that smile_. The glance was but momentary, for revenge was heaving my
bosom almost to bursting. There sat the only object on earth that was
dear to me; for _her_ I had bartered my _soul_, and there she was, in
seeming fellowship with devils. Ages of misery were crowded in that
moment. She turned, and smiled upon the beardless boy. Nature could
endure no longer—I fired! Loud yells and horrid imprecations mingled
with the thunder’s roar; one fierce scream was borne upon the blast,
and, from the spot where sat Auzella, up rose a _vulture_! For a moment
she hovered near me; I saw the crimson blood stream from its breast, and
casting a look upon me, (which, by day and night, haunts the deepest
spot in memory’s waste,) flapped her broad wings, and was soon lost in
the impenetrable gloom.
* * * * *
Darkness fell upon me; reason was lost amid the breakers of despair. A
wreck, deserted by Hope, within my heart is the torch of anguish,
kindled at the funeral pile of Vice.