CHAPTER I.

Produced by Charles Bowen, from page scans provided by the Web Archive

Transcriber's Notes:

1. Page scan source:

http://www.archive.org/details/ekkehardtaleofte01scheuoft

2. The diphthong oe is represented by [oe].

COLLECTION

OF

GERMAN AUTHORS.

VOL. 21.

* * * * *

EKKEHARD BY JOSEPH VICTOR SCHEFFEL.

IN TWO VOLUMES.

VOL. I.

EKKEHARD.

A TALE OF THE TENTH CENTURY

BY

JOSEPH VICTOR SCHEFFEL.

_Authorized Edition_.

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN

BY

SOFIE DELFFS.

IN TWO VOLUMES.--VOL. I.

LEIPZIG 1872

BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ.

LONDON: SAMPSON LOW, MARSTON, SEARLE & RIVINGTON.

CROWN BUILDINGS, 188, FLEET STREET.

PARIS: C. REINWALD, 15, RUE DES SAINTS PERES.

TO HER DEAR FRIEND

MRS. EMILY CHAMIER

THE ENGLISH VERSION OF THIS BOOK

IS DEDICATED

BY

THE TRANSLATOR.

CONTENTS

OF VOLUME I.

Preface of the Translator

The Author's Preface

CHAPTER I. Hadwig, the Duchess of Suabia

II. The Disciples of St. Gallus

III. Wiborad the Recluse

IV. In the Monastery

V. Ekkehard's Departure

VI. Moengal

VII. Virgilius on the Hohentweil

VIII. Audifax

IX. The Woman of the Wood

X. Christmas

XI. The old Man of the Heidenhoehle

XII. The Approach of the Huns

XIII. Heribald and his Guests

XIV. The Battle with the Huns

PREFACE

OF THE TRANSLATOR.

Heine, that sharp-witted and unsparing critic once said that the

relation of translator to author, were about the same as that of a

monkey to a human being,--while G[oe]the, a man of larger mind and more

harmonious nature, compared the translator to a prophet, quoting a

verse from the Koran which says: "God gives a prophet to every nation

in its own tongue."--For sixteen years the following "Tale,"--which

since its first appearance has made and held its place, not only in the

esteem, but in the hearts of the German reading public, and which has

already been translated into several languages,--has waited in vain for

an _English_ "_prophet_" to render it into that tongue, which being

that most akin to the German language, is therefore, also the one best

fitted for this purpose. It is true that the peculiarity of the style,

which in the original is so wonderfully adapted to the matter it

treats, as well as the number of old German words, might have proved a

not inconsiderable difficulty for any but a German translator, and

therefore, it is to be hoped, that the venturesome attempt of a German

girl to render the book into English, may be excused. It need hardly be

said, that with regard to expression she may often have need to appeal

to the indulgence of the reader, but perhaps these defects may at least

in some degree be compensated, by the strict, truthful adherence to the

original, and further it should be observed that great care has been

taken in choosing words of Saxon derivation whenever they were to be

had. Her love for the book, and her admiration for the writer thereof,

have made her spare no trouble in this undertaking, and if she could

but hope to win some friends to "Ekkehard" in an English dress, she

would deem herself amply repaid for the many hours spent over this

work. May her critics "take all in all," and treat her _fairly_!

_Heidelberg, December_, 1871.

THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

This book was written with the firm belief that neither history nor

poetry will lose anything, by forming a close alliance, and uniting

their strength by working together.

For the last thirty years or so, the bequest of our ancestors has been

the subject of universal investigation. A swarm of busy moles have

undermined the ground of the middle-ages in all directions, and

produced by their untiring industry such a quantity of old material, as

to surprise even the collectors themselves. A whole literature,

beautiful and perfect in itself; an abundance of monuments of the

plastic art; a well organized political and social life, lies extended

before our eyes. And yet all the labour and goodwill spent on this

subject, has hardly succeeded in spreading to wider circles, pleasure

and interest in this newly won historical knowledge. The numberless

volumes stand quietly on the shelves of our libraries. Here and there,

well-to-do spiders have begun to spin their cobwebs, and the pitiless,

all-covering dust has come too, so that the thought is hardly

improbable, that all this old German splendour, but just conjured back

into life, may one morning at cockcrow fade away and be buried in the

dust and mouldering rubbish of the Past,--like to that weird cloister

by the lake, the existence of which is only betrayed by the faint low

tinkle of the bell, deep, deep under the waters.

This is not the place to examine how far this result is attributable to

the ways and methods of our scientific men.

The accumulation of antiquarian lore, as well as the accumulation of

gold, may become a passion, which collects and scrapes together for the

sake and pleasure of scraping; quite forgetting that the metal which

has been won, needs to be purified, remelted, and put to use. For else,

what do we attain by it? Merely the being for ever confined within the

narrow limits of the rough material; an equal valuation of the

unimportant and the important; an unwillingness ever to finish and

conclude anything, because here and there some scrap might still be

added, which would lend a new significance to the subject;--and finally

a literature _of_ scholars _for_ scholars, which the majority of the

nation passes by with indifference and while looking up at the blue sky

feel intensely grateful to their Creator, that _they_ need read nothing

of it.--

The writer of this book,--in the sunny days of his youth,--once took a

ramble with some friends through the Roman Campagna. There, they lit on

the remains of an old monument, and amongst other rubbish and

fragments, there lay, half hidden by dark green acanthus leaves, a heap

of mosaic stones, which, united into a fine picture with graceful

ornaments, had formerly adorned the floor of a grave. Then, there arose

a lively discussion as to what all the dispersed square little stones

might have represented, when they were still united. One, a student of

archaeology, took up some of the pieces, to examine whether they were

black or white marble. A second who occupied himself with historical

studies, talked very learnedly about ancient sepulchres;--meanwhile a

third had quietly sat down on the old wall, taken out his sketch-book

and drawn a fine chariot with four prancing steeds, and charioteers,

and around it some handsome Ionic ornaments. He had discovered in a

corner of the floor, some insignificant remains of the old picture;

horses feet and fragments of a chariot wheel, and at once the whole

design stood clearly before his mind, and he dashed it down with a few

bold strokes, whilst the others dealt in words merely ...

This little incident may serve to throw some light on the question, how

one can work with success, at the historical resurrection of the Past.

Surely, this can be done then only, when to a creative, reproducing

imagination are given its full rights; when he who digs out the old

bodies, breathes upon them the breath of a living soul, so that they

may rise and walk about, like the resuscitated dead.

In this sense, the historical novel may become what epic poetry was in

the time of the blooming youth of the nations,--a piece of national

history, in the conception of the artist, who within a certain space,

shows us a series of distinctly-drawn, clearly coloured figures, in

whose individual lives, strivings and sufferings, the life and

substance of the time in which they lived, is reflected as in a mirror.

Erected on the basis of historical studies, and embracing the beautiful

and important part of an epoch, the historical novel may well claim to

be the twin brother of history; and those who, shrugging their

shoulders are inclined to reject the former as the production of an

arbitrary and falsifying caprice, will please to remember, that history

as it is generally written, is also but a traditional conglomeration of

the true and the false, which merely by its greater clumsiness is

prevented from filling up the occasional gaps, as the more graceful

poesy can do.

If all the signs are not deceiving us, our present time is in a

peculiar state of transition.

In all branches of knowledge, the perception is gaining ground, how

intensely our thinking and feeling has been damaged by the supremacy of

the Abstract and of Phraseology. Here and there, efforts are being

made, to return from dry, colourless, hyperbolical abstractions, to the

tangible, living, glowing Concrete; from idle self-contemplation, into

close relation with life and the present, and from hackneyed formulas

and patterns, to an investigating analysis of nature, and a creative

productivity, instead of mere barren criticism.

Who knows, but our grandchildren may yet live to see the day, when

people will speak of many a former colossus of science, with the same

smiling veneration, as of the remains of a gigantic antediluvian

animal; and when one may avow, without fear of being cried down as a

barbarian, that in a jug of good old wine, there is as much wisdom, as

in many a voluminous production of dry dialectics.

To the restitution of a serene, unbiassed view of things, adorned by

poetry, the following work would wish to contribute; taking its

materials out of our German Past.

Amongst the vast collection of valuable matter, enclosed in the big

folios of the "_Monumenta Germaniae_" by Pertz, are the tales of the

monasteries in St. Gall, which monk Ratpert began, and Ekkehard the

younger (called also the fourth, to distinguish him, from three other

members of the cloister, bearing the same name), continued till the end

of the 10th century.

Whoever has painfully tracked his weary road, through the many

unsatisfactory dry-as-dust chronicles of other monasteries, will linger

with real pleasure and inward delight, over these last named annals.

There, one finds, in spite of manifold prejudices and awkwardnesses, an

abundance of graceful and interesting tales, taken from accounts of eye

and ear witnesses. Persons and circumstances are drawn with rough, but

distinct lineaments, whilst a sort of unconscious poetry,--a thoroughly

honest and genuine view of life and the world, as well as a naive

freshness and originality, puts a stamp of truth and genuineness on

everything that is told; even when persons and events are not strictly

subjected to the laws of time; and when a very tangible anachronism,

causes very slight uneasiness to the chronicler.

Quite unintentionally, these sketches lead one far beyond the

boundaries of the cloister-walls; painting the life and ways, the

education and customs of the _Allemannic_ country,[1] as it then was,

with all the fidelity of a picture painted from nature. Times were

pleasant then in the south-western part of Germany, and everyone who

prefers a striving and healthy, though rough and imperfect strength, to

a certain varnished finish, will feel much sympathy with them. The

beginning of church and state,--whilst a considerable roughness,

tempered by much natural kindliness, still clung to the people in

general; the feudal spirit, so pernicious to all later development, as

yet harmless, in its first stage of existence; no supercilious,

overbearing knighthood, and wanton ignorant priesthood as yet,--but

rough, plainspoken, honest fellows, whose social intercourse frequently

consisted in an extended system of verbal and real injuries, but who,

under their coarse husk, hid an excellent kernel; susceptible of all

good and noble things. Scholars, who in the morning translate Aristotle

into German, and go wolf-hunting in the evening; noble ladies, full of

enthusiasm for the old classics; peasants, in whose memory the old

heathen beliefs of their forefathers still exist, unimpaired and side

by side with the new christian creed,--in short, everywhere primitive

but vigorous life, and conditions under which one feels inclined

without contempt or rational ire, to put up even with sprites and

hobgoblins.

In spite of political discord and a certain indifference towards the

empire, of which Saxony had become the central point, there was much

courage and valour, inspiring even monks in their cells, to exchange

the breviary for the sword, in order to resist the Hungarian invasion;

and although there were many elements opposed to science, serious study

and much enthusiasm for the classics were preserved.

The highly frequented cloister-schools were full of zealous disciples,

and the humane principles taught there, remind one of the best times in

the 16th century. Besides this, the fine arts began to bud,--some

eminent minds rising here and there above the multitude; a general

culture of national history, though mostly dressed up in outlandish

garments.

No wonder then, that the author of this book, when making some other

researches concerning the first stages of the middle-ages, chancing to

meet with those chronicles, felt like a man, who after long wanderings

through a barren unfertile land, comes suddenly upon a comfortable

wayside inn; which, with excellent kitchen and cellar, and a lovely

view from the windows, offers all that heart could desire.

So he began to settle down in that cozy nook, and by diligently

exploring the surrounding land, to gain the best possible knowledge of

the country and people who lived in it.

But the poet meets with a peculiar fate, when trying to acquaint

himself with the old Past. Where others, into whose veins nature has

instilled some "_aqua fortis_,"--as the result of their labours produce

many an abstract theory, and a quantity of instructive deductions,--to

him appear a host of fantastic figures, that, at first surrounded by

floating mists, become always clearer and clearer; and they look at him

with pleading eyes, dance around his couch in midnight hours, and

always whisper to him, "give us a living form."

Thus it was here. Out of the old Latin cloister-tales there arose, like

rocks out of the water, the towers and walls of the monastery of St.

Gall. Scores of grey-headed, venerable friars wandered up and down in

the ancient cross-passages; behind the old manuscripts sat those who

had once written them; the cloister-pupils played merrily in the

courtyard; from the choir rose the solemn chaunts at midnight, and from

the tower the clear sound of the bugle announced the approach of

visitors. But before all other forms, there arose in dazzling beauty,

that noble, haughty Dame, who carried off the youthful master from the

quiet and peace of the cloister of St. Gall, to her rocky castle high

over the Bodensee, there, to teach and propagate the old classics. The

simple account given by the chronicler, of that quiet life, dedicated

to the study of Virgil, is in itself a piece of poetry as beautiful and

genuine as can be found anywhere.

He, however, who is beset by such apparitions cannot exorcise them

otherwise, but by doing their will; trying to condense and fix their

fleeting shapes. And not having read in vain in the old stories, how

"Notker the stutterer," once treated similar visions, viz. by taking a

strong hazel wand and therewith belabouring the spectres, until they

revealed unto him their finest songs,--I also took to my arms, the

steel-pen, and saying good-bye to the old folios which had been the

sources of all these visionary fancies, I betook myself to the ground

which had once been trodden by the Duchess Hadwig, and her

contemporaries.

There, I sat in the venerable library of St. Gallus; took long rows in

little rocking boats over the Bodensee; found a nest for myself under

the old linden-tree at the foot of the Hohentwiel, where a worthy old

Suabian bailiff has at present charge of the ruins of the ancient

fortress, and finally climbed the airy Alpine heights of the Saentis,

where the "_Wildkirchlein_" hangs like an eagle's nest over the green

valley of Appenzell. There, in the wards of the "_Suabian Sea_," mind

and soul filled with the life of bygone generations; the heart

refreshed by warm sunshine and balmy mountain air, I first sketched and

then completed the greater part of this story.

That not much has been said therein, which is not founded on

conscientious historical studies, can be boldly asserted; though

persons and dates have sometimes been dealt with a little freely. The

poet, in order to enhance the inward harmony of his work, may

occasionally take liberties which would be most blameworthy, if

indulged in by the strict historian. And yet the great historian

Macaulay himself says: "I shall cheerfully bear the reproach of having

descended below the dignity of history if I can succeed in placing

before the English of the 19th century, a true picture of the life of

their ancestors."

Following the advice of some competent judges, I have given in an

appendix some proofs and references to the sources out of which I have

taken my materials, in order to satisfy those, who might otherwise be

inclined to treat the subject as a mere fable or idle invention. Those,

however, who do not require these same proofs to believe in the

genuineness of the matter, are requested not to trouble themselves

further with the notes, as they are otherwise of little import, and

would be quite superfluous, if this book did not go out into the world

in the garb of a novel, which is somewhat open to the suspicion of

playing carelessly with facts and truths.[2]

The attacks of the critics will be received with great

imperturbability. "A tale of the 10th century?" will they exclaim. "Who

rideth so late, through night and wind?" And has it not been printed in

the last manual of our national literature, in the chapter treating of

the national novel: "If we ask which epoch in German history might be

best suited to combine the local with the national interests, we must

begin by excluding the middle-ages. Even the times of the Hohenstaufen,

can only be treated in a lyrical style, as all efforts in other

directions, are sure to turn out utter failures."

All the scruples and objections of those who prefer an anatomizing

criticism, to a harmless enjoyment, and who spend all their strength in

trying to force the German spirit into an Alexandrine or Byzantine

form,--these have already been well answered by a literary lady of the

tenth century, viz. the venerable nun Hroswitha of Gandersheim, who

wrote in happy, self-conscious pleasure in her own work, in the preface

to her graceful comedies: "If anybody should derive pleasure, from

these my modest productions, I shall be much pleased thereat; but if on

the contrary, on account of the objectivity displayed therein, or of

the roughness of an imperfect style, it should please no one, then at

least I myself shall take pleasure in that which I have created."

_Heidelberg, February_, 1855.

J. V. SCHEFFEL.

EKKEHARD.

CHAPTER I.

Hadwig, the Duchess of Suabia.

It was almost a thousand years ago. The world knew as yet nothing of

gunpowder or the art of printing.

Over the Hegau there hung a gloomy leaden grey sky, corresponding to

the mental darkness, which, according to general opinion, oppressed the

whole time of the middle ages. From the lake of Constance white mists

floated over the meads, covering up the whole country. Even the tower

of the new church at Radolfszell was thickly enveloped, but the

matinbell had rung merrily through mist and fog like the words of a

sensible man, which pierce the cloudy atmosphere, that fools create.

It is a lovely part of Germany which lies there, between the

Blackforest and the Suabian lake. All those who are not too strict and

particular with poetical similes, may be reminded of the following

words of the poet:

"Ah fair is the Allemannic land

With its bright transparent sky;

And fair is its lake, so clear and blue

Like a bonny maiden's eye;

Like yellow locks, the corn-clad fields

Surround this picture fair:

And to a genuine German face

This land one may compare."

--though the continuation of this allegory might tempt one to celebrate

either of the Hegau mountains, as the prominent feature on the face of

this country.

Sternly the summit of the Hohentwiel, with its craggy points and

pinnacles rises into the air. Like monuments of the stormy stirring

Past of our old mother Earth those steep picturesque mountain-pyramids

rise from the plains which were once covered by undulating waves, as

the bed of the present lake is now. For the fish and sea-gulls it must

have been a memorable day, when the roaring and hissing began in the

depths below, and the fiery basaltic masses, made their way, rising out

of the very bowels of earth, above the surface of the waters. But that

was long, long ago, and the sufferings of those, who were pitilessly

annihilated in that mighty revolution, have long been forgotten. Only

the hills are there still to tell the weird tale. There they stand,

unconnected with their neighbours, solitary and defiant; as those, who

with fiery glowing hearts break through the bars and fetters of

existing opinions, must always be. Whether they in their inmost heart

have still a recollection of the glorious time of their youth, when

they greeted this beautiful upper world, for the first time with a

jubilant cry, who knows?

At the time when our story begins, the Hohentwiel was crested already

by stately towers and walls. This fortress had been held during his

lifetime by Sir Burkhard, Duke of Suabia. He had been a valiant knight,

and done many a good day's fighting in his time. The enemies of the

Emperor, were also his, and so there was always work to do. If

everything was quiet in Italy, then the Normans became troublesome, and

when these were fairly subjugated, perhaps the Hungarians would make an

invasion, or some bishop or mighty earl grew insolent and rebellious,

and had to be put down. In this way Sir Burkhard had spent his days

more in the saddle than in the easy-chair, and it was not to be

wondered at, that he had gained for himself the reputation of great

valour and bravery.

In Suabia it was said that he reigned like a true despot; and in far

off Saxony the monks wrote down in their chronicles, that he had been

an almost "invincible warrior."

Before Sir Burkhard was gathered to his forefathers, he had chosen a

spouse for himself, in the person of the young Princess Hadwig,

daughter of the Duke of Bavaria. But the evening-glow of a declining

life is but ill matched with the light of the morning-star. Such a

union is against nature's laws and Dame Hadwig had accepted the old

Duke of Suabia, merely to please her father. It is true that she had

nursed and tended him well, and held his grey hairs in honour; but when

the old man laid himself down to die, grief did not break her heart.

When all was over, she buried him in the vault of his ancestors,

erected a monument of grey sandstone lo his memory, placed an

everburning lamp over his grave, and sometimes, not too often, came

down there to pray.

Thus Dame Hadwig lived now all alone in the castle of Hohentwiel. She

remained in possession of all the landed property of her husband, with

the full rights to do with it what she pleased. Besides this she was

lady patroness of the bishopric of Constance and all the cloisters near

the lake, and the emperor had given her a bill of feoffment signed and

sealed by his own hand, by which the regency of Suabia remained her

own, as long as she kept true to her widowhood. The young widow

possessed a very aristocratic mind and no ordinary amount of beauty.

Her nose however was a trifle short, the lovely lips had a strong

tendency to pout, and in her boldly projecting chin, the graceful

dimple so becoming to women, was not to be found. All those whose

features are thus formed, unite to a clear intellect, a not over

tender heart, and their disposition is more severe than charitable. For

this reason the Duchess in spite of her soft beautiful complexion,

inspired many of her subjects with a sort of trembling awe.--On that

misty day mentioned before, the Duchess was standing at one of her

chamber-windows, looking out into the distance. She wore a steelgrey

undergarment, which fell down in graceful folds on her embroidered

sandals; and over this a tightfitting black tunic, reaching to the

knees. In the girdle, encircling her waist, there glittered a large

precious beryl. Her chestnut brown hair was confined within a net of

gold thread, but round her clear forehead some stray curls played

unrestrainedly. On a small table of white marble, stood a fantastically

shaped vessel of dark green bronze, in which some foreign frankincense

was burning, sending its fragrant white little cloudlets up to the

ceiling. The walls were covered with many-coloured finely woven

tapestry.

There are days when one is dissatisfied with everything and everybody,

and if one were suddenly transported into paradise itself, even

paradise would not give contentment. At such times the thoughts wander

gloomily from this to that subject, not knowing on what to fix

themselves,--out of every corner a distorted face seems grinning at us,

and he who is gifted with a very fine ear, may even hear the derisive

laughter of the goblins. It is a belief in those parts that the

universal contrariety of such days, arises from people having stepped

out of bed with their left foot foremost; which is held to be in direct

opposition to nature.

Under the spell of such a day, the Duchess was labouring just now. She

wanted to look out of the window, and a subtle wind blew the mist right

into her face, which annoyed her. She began to cough hastily, but no

doubt if the whole country had lain before her bathed in sunshine, she

would have found fault with that also.

Spazzo the chamberlain had come in meanwhile and stood respectfully

waiting near the entrance. He threw a smiling complacent look on his

outward equipment, feeling sure to attract his mistress's eye to-day,

for he had put on an embroidered shirt of finest linen and a splendid

sapphire coloured upper-garment, with purple seams. Everything was made

in the latest fashion; and the bishop's tailor at Constance had brought

the articles over only the day before.

The wolf-dog of the knight of Friedingen had killed two lambs of the

ducal herd; therefore Master Spazzo intended to make his dutiful report

and obtain Dame Hadwig's princely opinion, whether he should conclude a

peaceful agreement with the dog's master, or whether he were to bring

in a suit at the next session of the tribunal, to have him fined and

sentenced to pay damages. So he began his well-prepared speech, but

before he had got to the end, he saw the duchess make a sign, the

meaning of which could not remain unintelligible to a sensible man.

She put her forefinger first up to her forehead, and then pointed with

it to the door. So the chamberlain perceived that it was left to his

own wits, not only to find the best expedient with regard to the

lambs,--but also to take himself off as quickly as possible. With a

profound bow he withdrew accordingly.

In clear tones Dame Hadwig called out now: "Praxedis!"--and when the

person thus named did not instantly make her appearance, she repeated

in sharper accents, "Praxedis!"

It was not long before Praxedis with light, graceful steps entered the

closet. Praxedis was waiting-maid to the Duchess of Suabia. She was a

Greek and a living proof, that the son of the Byzantine Emperor

Basilius had once asked the fair Hadwig's hand in marriage. He had made

a present of the clever child, well instructed in music and the art of

the needle, together with many jewels and precious stones, to the

German duke's daughter, and in return had received a refusal. At that

time one could give away human beings, as well as buy and sell them.

Liberty was not everybody's birthright. But a slavery, such as the

Greek child had to endure, in the ducal castle in Suabia, was not a

very hard lot.

Praxedis had a small head with pale delicate features; out of which a

pair of large dark eyes looked into the world, unspeakably sad one

moment and in the next sparkling with merriment. Her hair was arranged

over her forehead in heavy braids, like a coronet. She was very

beautiful.

"Praxedis, where is the starling?" said Dame Hadwig.

"I will bring it," replied the Greek maid; and she went and fetched the

black little fellow, who sat in his cage, with an important impudent

air, as if his existence were filling up a vast gap in the universe.

The starling had made his fortune at Hadwig's wedding-feast. An old

fiddler and juggler had taught him with infinite pains, to repeat a

Latin wedding-speech, and great was the merriment, when at the banquet

the bird was put on the table, to say his lesson, "A new star has risen

on the Suabian firmament, its name is Hadwig. Hail all hail!" and so

forth.

But this was not all the knowledge which the starling possessed.

Besides these rhymes, he could also recite the Lord's prayer. Now the

bird was very obstinate, and had his caprices, as well as the Duchess

of Suabia.

On this particular day, the latter must have been thinking of old

times, and the starling was to deliver the wedding-speech. The

starling, however, had one of his pious moods, and when Praxedis

brought him into the chamber he called out solemnly: "Amen!" and when

Dame Hadwig gave him a piece of gingerbread, and asked him in coaxing

tones: "what was the name of the star on the Suabian firmament, my

pretty one?"--he slowly responded: "Lead us not into temptation." But

when she whispered to him to brighten his memory: "The star's name is

Hadwig, all hail!"--then the starling continuing in his pious strain,

said: "And deliver us from evil."--

"What, do birds even become insolent now?" exclaimed Dame Hadwig

angrily. "Pussy, where art thou?" and she enticed towards her the black

cat, which had long had an evil eye upon the starling, and who crept

near softly, but with glittering eyes.

Dame Hadwig opened the cage, and left the bird to its mercy, but the

starling, although the sharp claws had got hold of him already,

ruffling and tearing his feathers, yet managed to escape, and flew out

at the open window.

In a few moments he had become a mere black speck in the mist.

"Well, now really I might as well have kept him in the cage," said Dame

Hadwig, "Praxedis, what dost thou think?"

"My mistress is always right whatever she does," replied the Greek

maiden.

"Praxedis," continued the Duchess, "go and fetch me my trinkets. I wish

to put on a bracelet."

So Praxedis, the everwilling, went away, and returned with the casket

of jewels. This casket was made of silver; on it a few figures had been

embossed, representing the Saviour as the good Shepherd; St. Peter with

the keys and St. Paul with the sword, and around these, manifold leaves

and twisted ornaments. Probably it had served for the keeping of relics

formerly. Sir Burkhard had once brought it home, but he did not like to

speak about it; for he returned at that time from a feud, in which he

had vanquished and heavily thrown some bishop of Burgundy.

When the Duchess opened the casket, the rich jewels sparkled and

glittered beautifully on their red velvet lining. Looking at such

tokens of remembrance, many old memories came floating up to the

surface again. Amongst other things there lay also the miniature of the

Greek prince Constantine, smooth, pretty and spiritless, it had been

painted by the Byzantine master on a background of gold.

"Praxedis," said Dame Hadwig, "how would it have been, if I had given

my hand to that yellow-cheeked peaknosed prince of yours."

"My liege Lady," was the answer, "I am sure that it would have been

well."

"Well," continued Dame Hadwig, "tell me something about your own dull

home. I should like to know what my entrance into Constantinopolis

would have been like."

"Oh, princess," said Praxedis, "my home is beautiful," and with a

melancholy look her dark eyes gazed into the misty distance--"and such

a dreary sky at least, would have been spared you on the Marmora sea.

Even you would have uttered a cry of surprise, when carried along by

the proud galley, past the seven towers, the glittering masses of

palaces, cupolas, churches, everything of dazzling white marble from

the quarries of Prokonnesos, had first burst on our sight. From the

blue waves the stately waterlily, proudly lifts her snowy petals, here

a wood of dark cypress trees, there the gigantic cupola of the Hagia

Sophia; on one side the long stretched cape of the Golden Horn, and

opposite on the Asiatic shore, another magnificent city. And like a

golden blue girdle, the sea, freighted with its innumerable ships,

encircles this magic sight,--oh, my mistress, even in my dreams far

away here in the Suabian land, I cannot realize the splendour of that

view. And then, when the sun has sunk down, and the sable night steals

over the glittering waves, then everything is bathed in blue Greek

fire, in honour of the royal bride. Now we enter the port. The big

chain which usually bars it, drops down before the bridal ship. Torches

burn on the shore. There stand the emperor's body-guard, the Waragians

with their two edged battle-axes, and the blue-eyed Normans; there the

patriarch with innumerable priests; everywhere one hears music and

shouts of joy, and the imperial prince in the bloom of youth, welcomes

his betrothed, and the royal train direct their steps towards the

palace of Blacharnae ..."

"And all this splendour I have thrown away," sneered Dame Hadwig.

"Praxedis, thy picture is not complete, for on the following day, comes

the patriarch, to hold a sharp discourse with the western Christian,

and to instruct her in all the heresies, which flourish on the barren,

arid soil of your religion, like deadly nightshade and henbane. Then I

am instructed what to believe of their monkish pictures and the decrees

of the Councils of Chalcedon and Nicaea. After him comes the mistress

of the ceremonies, to teach me the laws of etiquette and court-manners;

what expression to wear on my face, and how to manage my train; when

to prostrate myself before the emperor and when to embrace my

mother-in-law. Further, how to treat this favourite with courtesy, and

to use this or that monstrous form of speech, in addressing some

wonderful personage: 'If it please your Eminence, your Highness, your

adorable Greatness!'--Whatever can be called originality and natural

strength is nipped in the bud, and my Lord and Master turns out to be a

painted doll like the rest. Then perhaps some fine morning the enemy

appears before the gates, or the successor is not to the liking of the

blues and greens of the Circus; revolution rages through the streets,

and the German duke's daughter is put into a convent bereft of her

eyesight ... what good does it do her then, that her children were

addressed as their Highnesses when still in the cradle? Therefore,

Praxedis, I did not go to Constantinople!"

"The emperor is the Master of the universe, and his will is for ever

just," said the Greek, "so I have been taught to believe."

"Hast thou ever reflected, that it is a very precious boon, for a man

to be his own master?"

"No," said Praxedis.

The turn which the conversation had taken pleased the Duchess.

"What account of me did your Byzantine painter, who was sent to take my

likeness, carry home, I wonder?"

The Greek maid seemed not to have heard the question. She had risen

from her seat and gone to the window.

"Praxedis," said the Duchess with asperity, "I want an answer."

Thus questioned Praxedis turned round, and faintly smiling said: "that

was a pretty long time ago, but Master Michael Thallelaios did not

speak over well of you. He told us that he had prepared his finest

colours and goldleaves, and that you had been a lovely child, and when

brought before him to be painted, that he had felt as if he must do his

very utmost, and a thrill of awe had come over him, as when he painted

God's holy mother, for the monastery of Athos. But Princess Hadwig had

been pleased to distort her eyes; and when he had ventured to raise a

modest objection, her Grace put out her tongue, held two openspread

hands to her nose, and said in very graceful broken Greek, that this

was the right position to be painted in. The imperial court-painter

profited by the occasion to express his opinion, about the want of

manners and education in German lands, and has vowed never again to try

and paint a German Fraeulein. And the emperor Basilius on hearing this

account growled fiercely through his beard ..."

"Let his Majesty growl, as long as he chooses," said the Duchess, "and

pray to Heaven that he may bestow the patience which I then lacked on

others. I have not yet had an opportunity of seeing a monkey, but

according to all that is told about them, by trustworthy men, Master

Michael's pedigree must extend to those members of creation."

Meanwhile she had put on the bracelets. It represented two serpents

twisted together and kissing each other. On the head of each rested a

tiny crown. From the mass of other trinkets, a heavy silver arrow, had

got into her hands and it also left its prison-house for a fairer

abode. It was drawn through the meshes of the golden threaded net.

As if to try the effect of the ornaments, Dame Hadwig now walked with

stately steps through the chamber. Her attitude seemed to challenge

admiration, but the hall was empty; even the cat had slunk away.

Mirrors there were none on the walls, and as for the furniture, its

adaptation to comfort was but small, according to our present views.

Praxedis' thoughts were still busy with the subject just discussed. "My

gracious Mistress," said she, "I nevertheless felt very sorry for him."

"Sorry for whom?"

"For the emperor's son. He said that you had appeared to him in a

dream, and that all his happiness depended upon you."

"Let the dead rest," said Dame Hadwig testily, "I had rather that you

took your guitar and sang me the Greek ditty:

"Constantine thou foolish lad,

Constantine leave off thy weeping!"

"The lute is broken, and all the strings torn, since my Lady Duchess

pleased to ..."

"To throw it at the head of Count Boso of Burgundy," said Dame Hadwig.

"That was well done indeed, for who told him to come uninvited to Sir

Burkhard's funeral, and to preach to me, as if he were a saint?--So we

will have the lute mended, and meanwhile, my Greek treasure, canst thou

tell me, why I have donned these glittering ornaments to-day?"

"God is all-knowing," said the Greek maid, "I cannot tell."

After this she was silent. So was Dame Hadwig, and there ensued one of

those long significant pauses generally preceding self-knowledge.

At last the Duchess said: "Well to say the truth I don't know

myself!"--and looking dismally at the floor, added: "I believe I did

it from ennui. But then the top of the Hohentwiel is but a dreary

nest,--especially for a widow. Praxedis, dost thou know a remedy

against dullness?"

"I once heard from a very wise preacher" said Praxedis, "that there are

several remedies. Sleeping, drinking and travelling--but that the best

is fasting and praying."

Then Dame Hadwig rested her head on her lily-white hand, and looking

sharply at the quick-witted Greek, she said: "To-morrow we will go on a

journey."