How the Knights went down to the subterraneous castle of
Gerda.
The three knights had determined to leave their horses at the
charcoal-man’s hut, because he had described to them how slippery and
dangerous were the paths leading up to the pagan altar. Meanwhile De
Montfaucon’s falcon, which since that evening (of which we have already
told) never deserted the Knight of Trautwangen, flew gayly before them,
as if to marshal their way, now and then resting too on the plume of
his master’s helmet. Thereupon they were all of good courage; for the
noble bird hovered around them like a guardian spirit, and at his
approach all the ominous brood of bats and owls were dispersed, and
fled screaming to hide themselves in the forest.
Through luxuriant brush-wood, and rugged cliffs, the warriors pursued
their toilsome way, while, as they gained the higher ground, the storm
howled around them, and the voice of the moaning blast contended with
the loud roar of a cataract that rushed through a deep ravine. At
length they saw, through the naked branches of the beech-trees and the
snow-laden pines, an open glade, which at once they recognised for the
spot of which the charcoal-man had spoken; for, in the midst of this
level ground, almost like a pile of rocks, was reared the lofty altar
for pagan sacrifice; and the moon, just then breaking through a cloud,
threw her pale death-like lustre on black half-burnt brands and bones,
which lay mouldering on its broad hearth.
Still the knights stood doubtful and irresolute, whether they should
quietly wait for the supernatural apparitions that might come forth,
or try to force open those concealed gates of the altar, from which the
charcoal-man had before seen the two knights emerge. All at once they
perceived, not without some terror, that their number was increased to
four. A tall, gigantic, but shadowy figure of a man, was among them,
who now spoke with a hollow and murmuring voice,--“You mean well,”
said he, “but, as a friend, I would rather advise you to desist from
this encounter; for the inhabitants of that altar are strong as any
devil. If you are determined to proceed, however, you must go to the
north side, at which is the only entrance. You must knock three times
for admittance; for, trust me, it is always best, in such adventures,
to make the first attack. Through my whole life, when I have had wild
beasts to contend with, I always found it better to fall straightway
on them, than wait till they had made a spring at me.”--The knights
looked at him in silent astonishment; whereupon he added,--“I would
gladly play to you a bold hunting-piece on my bugle, in order that
your spirits may be the better roused for the conflict that awaits you.
However, my voice dare not for this time be raised here. May good luck
attend you, brave foresters!”--With these words the shadowy stranger
vanished away into the wood, and the knights resolved to follow his
counsel; especially because whatever he had said chimed well with their
notions of honour and bravery. Accordingly they knocked with their
sword-hilts on the north side of the altar, and Sir Heerdegen, in a
stern voice, demanded that the door should be opened.
Then the solid walls began to move, and roll asunder as if on hinges,
till at last an entrance was visible, and they looked down a steep
narrow descent, with broken steps, whereon gleams of uncertain
light played fitfully at intervals.--Gazing thereon, “Your mother’s
apprehensions,” said the sea-monarch to Sir Otto, “might now readily be
fulfilled; for some one among us might perchance here find a grave.
In truth, this looks altogether like a mansion of the dead.”--“Nay,”
said Sir Heerdegen, “the whole world would seem no better to one whose
thoughts were thus inclined; for all must one day come to an end. If
we but arrive at the goal by the paths of honour and virtue, what more
could we desire? and surely we come hither with intentions virtuous and
praiseworthy;--wherefore then such consultation and delay?”--“Who dares
affirm that I wish for delay or consultation?” said the sea-monarch
proudly, and thereupon marched straightway into the cavern. Sir Otto
followed him, casting one look backwards, ere he went into the vault,
on the moon’s beautiful broad shield, that then again emerged from a
cloud, and reminded him of Hildiridur. Last came Sir Heerdegen, humming
over to himself an old ballad telling of the swarthy spirits of the
mines and mountains; and meanwhile De Montfaucon’s noble falcon had
clung fearfully to Sir Otto’s breast, feeling that, in this narrow
vault, he had no longer space for his usual flights. Ere long, however,
the road became more spacious, so that three could walk abreast; and
the noble determination, not to be last in the path of danger, forced
Sir Otto and Sir Heerdegen forward, till they had come up with the
sea-monarch;--then they went on ranked together, and holding out their
long gleaming swords to guide them through the darkness.
They met not with any obstacles. On the contrary, the farther they
descended, the wider and loftier became the roof, and the steps less
uneven, till suddenly they found themselves once more on plain ground.
Here too the wind blew on them as if they were once more in the open
country; and on looking up, they could almost have believed that
they had left the cavern; for the roof was now lost in distance, and
glimmering lights were visible like stars above them. On this strange
appearance they were reflecting in silent wonder, when the falcon
started from Sir Otto’s breast, and, rejoicing to find himself once
more with the realms of space around him, he flew up, and disappeared
amid those twinkling lights. All of a sudden, however, he came back
terrified, and tumbling through the air; they saw well that he had
begun his flight after prey, and had been scared by hideous shapes,
which had now descended along with him, and floated right over their
own heads. So strange and shadowy were these shapes, that they knew
not whether they were gigantic birds of some unknown race, or vapours
bred by the noisome damps of the cavern, that assumed those living
forms: for now that their eyes had become more accustomed to the
uncertain light, they could no longer doubt that they were still in
a vast cavern, of which the roof was indeed so lofty, that it might
be compared to the firmament, and lamps were hung therein, that shone
downward on them like stars.
Moreover, a great lake now lay at their feet, reflecting gloomily the
black vault with its twinkling lights. The knights assayed to prove
its depth with their swords; and Sir Arinbiorn groped therein with his
long halbert. Even close to the shore, however, they could find no
ground; and though shuddering to think of this horrid and bottomless
abyss, they determined in all haste to go through with their adventure,
walking boldly round the banks of that subterraneous sea, while the
falcon now sat quietly on Sir Otto’s helmet.
They had walked thus for more than a mile along the shore, when, lo!
there arose before them a steep hill, crowned by a fortress with many
towers. When they had determined to proceed thither, they found to
their great disappointment, that the lake now changed into a wild
roaring stream, which came betwixt them and the mountain. The waters
foamed and raged in such manner, that to swim across was impossible;
the strongest giant would have been borne away by such a current.
They continued their landward course therefore, till they arrived at
a bridge built of iron and brass; the metal rung beneath their steps
almost like the notes of a frightful battle-march. Having come to the
other side, they saw before them a wide level field, and might at
first have named it a blooming meadow, for it seemed studded over with
bright flowers; but when they came nearer, these were changed into
yellow flames, that rose in many strange forms, and almost choked them
with sulphureous smoke as they trod upon them. Yet to their greater
amazement, there were living creatures, like horses, deer, and bulls,
in the field, that had their noses on the ground, and cropped these
fiery flowers as if they had from thence derived good refreshment; and
when the strangers approached, they lifted their heads and trotted away.
“Had we not better catch two or three of these native horses, and
so ride into the castle?” said Sir Otto, in a bold tone, hoping by
these words to banish the apprehensions of his comrades. But the
jest inspired by such horrid sights only increased the horror of
the listeners, and the three brave knights trembled, so that their
iron-coats rattled on their limbs. At this moment there came up to them
a hateful lame dwarf, hopping on one leg; “Nay,” said he, “it were
better that you did not meddle with these horses, for they are the
war-steeds of the great goddess, Freia. Therewith she is wont to ride
through the forest, and hunt down the wild hunter, Hakelnberg, and the
mortals who will not do her homage. Moreover, I am appointed here to
be their groom and watcher.” With these words, he began to blow into
an enormous horn that was hung by his side, of which the noise was so
loud and hideous, that the knights could scarce help recoiling. “Has
this alarmed you?” said the dwarf; “I play thus now and then a little
music on my shepherd’s pipe to beguile the tedious hours; but if it
so pleases you, I shall also treat you with a dance to the same tune:
my brother shepherds are not far distant.” Hereupon the knights made
him a signal that he should retreat, and went forward towards the
fortress-gates. While they proceeded on their way, the dwarf uttered
a long and loud sound of scornful laughter, and the demoniacal horses
leaped and plunged about on the fiery meadow.
On their route towards the castle, instead of finding a smooth road,
they had to clamber over rugged fragments of rock, overgrown with
thorns and brambles. Sir Heerdegen and the sea-monarch, who had both
travelled in the East, were of opinion that such caverns were to be
found there also, and that they had been formed by wonderful boiling
springs and volcanoes.
At last the knights had arrived at the portal; they found the
drawbridges down, as if awaiting their approach, and passed over them
quietly as they would have done in any ordinary fortress above ground.
In the court, it seemed to them as if some soldiers in complete armour
were keeping watch; and bowing at the approach of the strange guests,
these men lowered their arms in respectful salutation; though, for the
rest, one could not say whether these were not mere statues of iron or
stone, that bowed themselves for the moment, and then recovered their
position erect and motionless.
Thereafter their way led onwards through empty and silent corridors and
apartments, wherein even the echo of their own steps sounded horribly
in this desolate mansion. Here and there glimmering lamps hung upon
the walls, whose light only served to remind the knights of a funeral
procession. At last they came into a large inhabited chamber, of which
the adornments were ghostly spectral forms and death’s heads. In this
room there was seated a knight at a large round table, who had a
book open before him. On the leaves they could perceive, even with a
flitting glance, that there were inscribed many strange characters and
figures intermixed with old Runic letters; and Sir Otto recollected
that, at one time or another, all this had appeared to him in a dream.
While he reflected silently on what now passed before him, the knight
closed his book, and rose from his chair. “You would have acted more
wisely,” said he, “if you had never come hither; but since you are
indeed among us, I shall announce your arrival.” With these words he
departed, casting, however, a look of sympathy and compassion on Sir
Otto, who at the same moment began to recognise in the strange man his
mysterious half-brother, Ottur of Norway. Truly he could not suppose
that he had deceived himself, for both his companions were at the
same moment eager to remark the resemblance. “If thou wert not here
beside us, Knight of Trautwangen,” said they, “we should assuredly have
believed that thou had’st even now departed through the door which we
see yonder.”
Thus they were speaking with each other, when, lo! there came into the
room a beautiful and stately damsel, in whom all three immediately
recognised the wonderful enchantress of Norway, the mysterious and
far-famed Gerda. Hereupon they all bowed courteously, as it beseemed
high-born knights, yet remained silent and doubtful in what manner they
should now address her; while Gerda looked on them with a smile of
indifference and self-complacency. At last she said,--“How comes it,
noble warriors, that you seem thus confused? Perchance you have lost
your way in the night, and arrived by accident at my castle; but though
this were the cause of your appearance here, wherefore should you now
be thus embarrassed?” “Nay,” said Heerdegen, knitting his brows, “there
is one reason at least for our being thus confused. We are now, Heaven
knows, here many fathoms deep under ground.” “Then,” added Sir Otto,
“your meadow-fields, with their burning flowers, your wild horses that
devour the flames, and your dwarf hopping on one leg,--are not these
enough to distract the mind of any Christian knight?” “In the first
place,” said Sir Arinbiorn, “and before all other questions, answer
whether thou art the lady who in these mountains demands homage as the
goddess Freia?” “Methinks, Sir Knight of the Sea,” answered Gerda,
“you have here assumed to yourself the right of command; and you think
by your high-sounding words to gain an influence over me. But in this
hope you are deceived. I am no longer a follower in your train; and if
in former years I loved you more than you deserved, yet that is long
past. Since then my head and heart are both changed; and as for your
appearance, and that of your comrades here, I can only say, that you
are all mad. You will visit me in my pleasant fortress, bright with the
morning gleams, and yet speak of caverns under ground, horses eating
fire, and such like delirious visions. If possible, let the clear
sunlight restore your wandering senses and recollection.” Hereupon she
drew aside a dark-red curtain that hung across the farther end of the
room, and, behold, there was behind it a large bright window, through
which they looked out on a rich blooming country!
Just then the cloudless skies were brightened with the red glow of
the rising sun; and by that pleasant light the astonished champions
beheld a beautiful valley, with many castles and pleasure-gardens,
where the trees had just begun to assume the verdant colouring of
spring. Shepherds, too, in their red and blue jackets, with flutes and
horns in their hands, were driving out their flocks, and young damsels
were twining flower-garlands on the meadows. “Good Heaven!” said Sir
Heerdegen, “methinks this appears as if we were now in Italy.” “Who has
told you then,” said Gerda smiling, “that you are not really there? If
you believe that what you now behold is but illusion, why not think the
same of your former wanderings through the snow-covered Hartz forest?
Besides, how can you pretend to measure space and time, since you
rashly brought yourselves under my power, and have travelled perhaps
many hundred miles, when you thought to have walked only one?”
The knights hereupon knew not what to believe, and looked anxiously
through the large gleaming window, while the scene became always more
lively; and at length they beheld three figures come through the gates
of a noble mansion, to whom their attention was especially directed.
These were a knight and two ladies, who were now walking together, as
if engaged in friendly discourse; whereupon Sir Otto sighed deeply,
and said to Sir Heerdegen, “Alas, I behold there Folko de Montfaucon,
with Gabrielle and Blanchefleur; but where is your sister Bertha von
Lichtenried?” “We shall straightway ask them that question,” said
Sir Heerdegen, and he was rushing onwards in order to force open the
window, when Gerda, by a threatening gesture, prevented him. “Then,”
said the Knight of Trautwangen, “brother, brother! I now remember well
how we have been here deceived. That is indeed no window, but a magic
mirror, such as my mother once had in her Swedish watch-tower; and who
can tell how far distant Sir Folko, with the two damsels, may now be
from us? Of such illusions, however, I shall quickly make an end, as I
have done before in that mysterious castle of the north.”
The good sword, that he had named Ottur, already gleamed in his hand;
but ere his blows had time to fall on the mirror, Gerda had snatched up
an enchanter’s rod, made of the medlar-tree, waved it three times round
her head, all the while muttering strange words, till at last the three
knights fell at the same moment to the ground, powerless and motionless.