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.'