A thoughtful brain could never cease to marvel at the wonders which
happen at every step and turn, were it not that due reflection proves
that strange events are no less necessary and frequent links in the
mingled chain of our life’s experience than commonplace and every-day
things; wherefor sheer wonder at matters new to our experience we leave
for the most part to children and fools. And nevertheless the question
many a time arose in my mind: how a woman whose heart was so truly in
the right place as my aunt’s could cast off her only son for the cause
of an ill-match, and notwithstanding strive with might and main to
remove all hindrances in the way of another such ill-match.
This indeed brought to my mind other, no less miracles. Thus, after
Ann’s home-coming, when I would go to see her at Pernhart’s house,
I often found her sitting with the old dame, who would tell her many
things, and those right secret matters. Once, when I found Ann with the
old woman from whom she had formerly been so alien, they were sitting
together in the window-bay with their arms about each other, and looking
in each other’s face with loving but tearful eyes. My entrance disturbed
them; Dame Magdalen had been telling her new favorite many matters
concerning her son’s youthful days, and it was plain to see that she
rejoiced in these memories of the best days of her life, when her two
fine lads had ever been at the head of their school. Her eldest, indeed,
had done so well that the Lord Bishop of Bamberg, in his own person, had
pressingly desired her late departed husband to make him a priest. Then
the father had apprenticed Ulman to himself, and dedicated the elder,
who else should have inherited the dwelling-house and smithy, to the
service of the Church, whereupon he had ere long risen to great dignity.
None, to be sure, listened so well as Ann, open-eared to all these
tales, and it did old Dame Magdalen good to see the maid bestir herself
contentedly about the house-keeping; but her changed mind proceeded from
yet another cause. My aunt had done a noble deed of pure human kindness,
of real and true Christian charity, and the bright beam of that love
which could drag her feeble body out into the winter’s cold and to her
foe’s dwelling, cast its light on both these miracles at once. This it
was which had led the high-born dame to cast aside all the vanities and
foolishness in which she had grown up, to the end that she might protect
a young and oppressed creature whom she truly cared for from an ill
fate. Yea, and that sunbeam had cast its light far and wide in the
coppersmith’s home, and illumined Ann likewise, so that she now saw the
old mother of the household in a new light.
When the very noblest and most worshipful deems it worthy to make a
great sacrifice out of pure love for a fellow-creature, that one is,
as it were, ennobled by it; it opens ways which before were closed; and
such a way was that to old Dame Magdalen’s heart, who now, on a sudden,
bethought her that she found in Ann all she had lost in her well-beloved
grandchild Gertrude.
Never had Ann and I been closer friends than we were that winter, and
to many matters which bound us, another was now added--a sweet secret,
concerning me this time, which, strange to tell, drew us even more near
together.
The weeks before Lent presently came upon us; Ann, however, would take
part in no pleasures, albeit she was now a welcome guest, since her
step-father was a member of the worshipful council. Only once did she
yield to my beseeching and go with me to a dance at a noble house;
but whereas I perceived that it disturbed her cheerful peace of mind,
although she was treated with hearty respect, I troubled her no
more, and for her sake withdrew myself in some measure from such
merry-makings.
After Easter, when the spring-tide was already blossoming, my soul
likewise went forth to seek joy and gladness, and now will I tell of the
new marvel which found fulfilment in my heart.
A grand dance was to be given in honor of certain ambassadors from the
Emperor Sigismund, who had come to treat with his Highness the Elector
and the Town Council as to the Assembly of the States to be held in the
summer at Ratisbon, at the desire of Theodoric, Archbishop of Cologne.
The illustrious chief of this Embassy, Duke Rumpold of Glogau in
Silesia, had been received as guest in a house whither, that very
spring, the eldest son had come home from Padua and Paris, where he had
taken the dignity of Doctor of Ecclesiastical and Civil Laws with great
honors, and he it was who first moved my young heart to true love.
As a child I had paid small heed to Hans Haller, as a lad so much older
that he overlooked little Margery, and by no means took her fancy like
Cousin Gotz; thus he came upon me as one new and strange.
He had dwelt five years in other lands and the first time ever I looked
into his truthful eyes methought that the maid he should choose to wife
was born in a lucky hour.
But every mother and daughter of patrician rank doubtless thought the
same; and that he should ever uplift me, giddy, hasty Margery, to his
side, was more than I dared look for. Yet, covertly, I could not but
hope; inasmuch as at our first meeting again he had seemed well-pleased
and amazed at my being so well-favored, and a few days later, when many
young folks were gathered together at the Hallers’ house, he spoke a
great while and right kindly with me in especial. Nor was it as though I
were some unripe child, such as these young gentlemen are wont to esteem
us maids under twenty--nay, but as though I were his equal.
And thus he had brought to light all that lay hid in my soul. I had
answered him on all points freely and gladly; yet, meanwhile, I had been
on my guard not to let slip any heedless speech, deeming it a precious
favor to stand well in the opinion of so noble and learned a gentleman.
And presently, when it was time for departing, he held my hand and
pressed it; and, as he wrapped me in my cloak, he said in a low voice
that, whereas he had thought it hard to make himself at home once more
in our little native town, now, if I would, I might make Nuremberg as
dear--nay, dearer to him than ever it had been of yore; and the hot
blood boiled in my veins as I looked up at him beseechingly and bid him
never mock me thus.
But he answered with all his heart that it was sacred earnest and that,
if I would make home sweet to him and himself one of the happiest of
mankind, I must be his, inasmuch as in all the lands of the earth he had
seen nought so dear to him as the child whom he had found grown to be so
sweet a maid, and, quoth he, if I loved him never so little, would I not
give him some little token.
I looked into his eyes, and my heart was so full that no word could I
say but his Christian name “Hans,” whereas hitherto I had ever called
him Master Hailer. And meseemed that all the bells in the town together
were ringing a merry peal; and he understood at once the intent of my
brief answer, and murmured right loving words in mine ear. Then did
he walk home with me and Cousin Maud; and meseemed the honored mothers
among our friends, who were wont so to bewail my loneliness as a
motherless maid, had never looked upon me with so little kindness as
that evening which love had made so blessed.
By next morning the tidings were in every mouth that a new couple had
plighted their troth, and that the Hallers’ three chevronells were to be
quartered with the three links of the Schoppers.
Ann was the first to be told of my happiness, and whereas she had
hitherto been steadfastly set on eschewing the great dances of the upper
class so long as she was unwed, this time she did our will, for that she
had no mind to spoil my pleasure by her absence.
Thus had Love taken up his abode with me likewise; and meseemed it was
like a fair, still, blooming morning in the Forest. A pure, perfect,
and peaceful gladness had opened in my soul, a way of seeing which lent
sweetness and glory to all things far and wide, and joyful thanksgiving
for that all things were so good.
As I looked back on that morning when Ann had flown to Herdegen’s
breast, and as I called to mind the turmoil of passion of which I
had read in many a poem and love-tale, I weened that I had dreamed of
somewhat else as the first blossoming of love in my heart, that I had
looked to feel a fierce and glowing flame, a burning anguish, a wild and
stormy fever. And yet, as it had come upon me, methought it was better;
albeit the sun of my love had not risen in scarlet fire, it was not
therefore small nor cool; the image of my dear mother was ever-present
with me; and methought that the love I felt was as pure and fair as
though it had come upon me from her heavenly home.
And how loving and hearty was the welcome given me by my lover’s
parents, when they received me in their noble dwelling, and called me
their dear daughter, and showed me all the treasures contained in the
home of the Hallers’. In this fine house, with its broad fair gardens--a
truly lordly dwelling, for which many a prince would have been fain
to exchange his castle and hunting demesne--I was to rule as wife and
mistress at the right hand of my Hans’ mother, whose kind and dignified
countenance pleased me well indeed, and by whose friendly lips I, an
orphan, was so glad to be called “Child” and daughter. Nor were his
worshipful father and his younger brethren one whit less dear to me.
I was to become a member--nay, as the eldest son’s wife, the female
head--of one of the highest families in the town, of one whose sons
would have a hand in its government so long as there should be a
town-council in Nuremberg.
My lover had indeed been elected to sit in the minor council soon after
his homecoming, being no longer a boy, but near on thirty years of
age. And his manners befitted his years; dignified and modest, albeit
cheerful and full of a young man’s open-minded ardor for everything that
was above the vulgar. With him, for certain, if with any man, might I
grow to be all I desired to become; and could I but learn to rule my
fiery temper, I might hope to follow in the ways of his mother, whom
he held above all other women. The great dance, of which I have already
made mention, and whither Ann had agreed to come with us, was the first
I should go to with my well-beloved Hans. The worshipful Council had
taken care to display all their best bravery in honor of the Emperor’s
envoys; they had indeed allied themselves with the constable of the
Castle, the Prince Elector, to do all in their power to have the
Assembly held at Nuremberg, rather than at Ratisbon, and to that end it
was needful to win the good graces of the Ambassadors.
All the patricians and youth of the good city were gathered at the
town-hall, and the beginning of the feast was pure enjoyment. The guests
were indeed amazed at the richness of our great hall and civic treasure,
as likewise at the brave apparel and great show of jewels worn by the
gentlemen and ladies.
There were six envoys, and at their head was Duke Rumpold of Glogau; but
among the knights in attendance on him I need only name that very Baron
Franz von Welemisl who had been so sorely hurt out in the forest garden
for my sake, and a Junker of Altmark, by name Henning von Beust, son of
one of the rebellious houses who strove against the customs, laws, and
rights over the marches, as claimed by our Lord Constable the Elector.
Baron Franz was now become chamberlain to the emperor and, albeit cured
indeed of his wounds, was plagued by a bad cough. Still he could boast
of the same noble and knightly presence as of old, and his pale face,
paler than ever I had known it, under his straight black hair, with the
feeble tones of his soft voice, went right to many a maiden’s heart;
also his rich black dress, sparkling with fine gems, beseemed him well.
Presently, when he saw that Hans and I were plighted lovers, he feigned
as though his heart were stricken to death; but I soon perceived that
he could take comfort, and that he had bestowed the love he had once
professed for me, with compound increase on Ursula Tetzel. She was ready
enough to let him make love to her, and I wished the swarthy courtier
all good speed with the damsel.
A dancing-hall is in all lands a stew full of fish, as it were, for
gentlemen from court, and Junker Henning von Beust had no sooner come in
than he began to angle; and whereas Sir Franz’s bait was melancholy
and mourning, the Junker strove to win hearts by sheer mirth and bold
manners.
My lover himself had commended him to my favor by reason that the
gentleman was lodging under his parents’ roof; and he and I and Ann had
found much pleasure these two days past in his light and openhearted
friendliness. Nought more merry indeed might be seen than this
red-haired young nobleman, in parti-colored attire, with pointed
scallops round the neck and arm-holes, which fluttered as he moved and
many little bells twinkling merrily. Light and life beamed forth out
of this gladsome youth’s blue eyes. He had never sat at a school-desk;
while our boys had been poring over their books, he had been riding with
his father at a hunt or a fray, or had lurked in ambush by the highway
for the laden wagons of those very “pepper sacks”--[A nickname for
grocery merchants]--whose good wine and fair daughters he was so far
from scorning in their own town-hall.
He had already fallen in love with Ann at the Hallerhof, and never quit
her side although, after I had overheard certain sharp words by which
Ursula Tetzel strove to lower the maid in his opinion, I told him
plainly of what rank and birth she was.
For this he cared not one whit; nay, it increased his pleasure in making
much of her and trying to spoil her shrewish foe’s sport. It seemed as
though he could never have enough of dancing with Ann, and so soon as
the town pipers struck up, with cornets, trumpets, horns, and haut-boys,
fiddles, sack-buts and rebecks, the rattle of drums and the groaning of
bagpipes, while the Swiss fifes squeaked shrilly above the clatter of
the kettle-drums, methought the music itself flung him in the air and
brought him low again. With his free and mirthful ways he carried all
before him, and when presently it was plain to all that he could outdo
our nimblest dancers, and was a master of each kind of dance which was
held in favor at every court, whether of Brandenburg, of Saxony, of
Bohemia, or at our own Emperor Sigismund’s Hungarian court, he was ere
long entreated to show us some new figures of the dance; nor was he loth
to do so.
Nay, he presently went to such lengths that our Franconian and Nuremberg
nobles could but turn away their faces, inasmuch as he began so wild and
unseemly a dance as was overmuch even for me, despite my youth and sheer
delight in the quick measure.
My Hans, the young councillor, took pleasure in leading me forth in the
Polish dance, or with due dignity in the Swabian figure, but he held
back, as was fitting, from the mad whirl of the gipsy dance and of the
“Dove dance;” and he, and I likewise, courteously withstood his bidding
to join in the Dance of the Dead as it was in use in Brandenburg,
Hungary, and Schleswig: one has to be for dead, and as he lieth another
shall come to wake him with a kiss. On this Junker von Beust, who was,
as the march--men say, the dance-corpse, entrapped Ann in a strange
adventure. Ann kissed not his cheek, but in the air near by it, and the
bold knave, who had no mind to forego so sweet a boon, declared to her
after the dance was over that she was his debtor, and that he would give
her no peace till she should pay him his due.
Ann courteously prayed him that he would be a merciful creditor and
remit the payment of that she had indeed omitted, though truly out of
no ill-will. And whereas he would by no means consent, the dispute was
taken up by others present and Jorg Loffelholz devised the fancy of
holding a Court of Love to decide the case.
This met with noisy approval, and albeit I and my dear Hans, and some
others with us, made protest, the damsels were presently seated in a
circle and Jorg Loffelholz, who was chosen to preside, asked of each to
pronounce sentence. Thus it came to the turn of Ursula Tetzel and she,
looking round on Junker Henning or ever she spoke, said, with a proud
curl of her red lips, that she could give no opinion, inasmuch as she
only knew what beseemed young maids of noble birth.
On this the Junker answered with such high and grave dignity as I should
not have looked for in so scatter-brained a wight: “The best patent
of nobility, fair lady, is that of the maid to whom God Almighty
has vouchsafed the gentlest soul and sweetest grace; and in all this
assembly I have found none more richly endowed with both than the
damsel against whom I in jest have made complaint. Wherefor I pray the
presiding judge of this Court of Love to ask you once more for your
verdict.”
Ursula found this ill to brook; nevertheless her high spirit was ready
to meet it. She laughed loudly, and with seeming lightness, as she
hastily answered him: “Then you haughty lords of the marches allow not
that it is in the Emperor’s power to grant letters of nobility, but
ascribe it to Heaven alone! A bold opinion. Howbeit, I care not for
politics, and will pronounce my sentence. If it had been Margery
Schopper, who had refused the kiss, or Elsa Ebner, or any one of us
whose ancestors bore arms by grace of the Emperor, and not of the God of
the Brandenburgers, I would have condemned her to give you, in lieu
of one kiss, two, in the presence of witnesses; but inasmuch as it is
Mistress Ann Spiesz who has dared to withhold from a noble gentleman,
a guest of the town, what we highborn damsels would readily have paid
I grant her of our mercy, grace and leave to kiss the hand of Junker
Henning von Beust, in token of penitence.” The words were spoken clearly
and steadfastly; all were silent, and I will confess that as Ursula gave
her answer to the Junker with beaming eyes and quivering lips, never had
I seen her more fair. It could plainly be seen by her heaving bosom how
gladly she gave free vent to her old cherished grudge; and that she had
in truth wounded the maid she hated to the very soul, Ann showed by her
deathly paleness. Yet found she not a word in reply; and while Ursula
was speaking, meseemed in the fullness of my wrath and grief as though a
cloud were rising before my eyes. But so soon as she ceased and my eyes
met the triumphant look in hers, my mind suddenly grew clear again, and
never heeding the multitude that stood about us, I went a step forward,
and cried: “We all thank you, Junker; you have taken the worthier part;
the only part, Ursula,” and I looked her sternly in the face, “the only
part which I would have a friend of mine take, or any true heart.”
The Junker bowed, and with a reproachful glance at Ursula he said:
“Would to God I might never have a harder choice to make!” Whereupon
he turned his back on her and went up to Ann; but Ursula again laughed
loudly and called after him in defiance: “Oh! may heaven ever keep your
wits clear when you have to choose, and especially when you have to
discern on the high-road betwixt what is your own and what belongs to
other folks.”
The blood mounted to the Junker’s face, and, as with a hasty gesture he
smoothed back the fierce hair on his lip, methought he might seem the
same as when he rose in his saddle to rush down on our merchants’
wains; for indeed it was the Beusts, with the Alvenslebens, their near
kinsfolks, who had fallen upon the train of waggons belonging to the
Muffels and the Tetzels, near Juterbock, not a year ago.
But, hotly as his blood boiled, the Junker refrained himself, inasmuch
as knightly courtesy forbade him to repay Ursula in the like coin;
and as it fell Cousin Maud was enabled to aid him in this praiseworthy
selfrule. She came forward with long strides, and her eyes flashed
wrathful threats, till meseemed they were more fiery than the jewels in
the tall plumes she wore on her head. She thrust aside the young men
and maid who made up the Court of Love as a swift ship cuts through the
small fry in the water. Without let or pause she pushed on, and as soon
as she caught sight of Ann she seized her by the arm, stroked her hair
and cheeks, and flung a few sharp words at Ursula:
“I will talk to you presently!” Then she bid me remain behind with
Hans and withdrew, carrying Ann with her, while Junker Henning followed
praying to be forgiven for all the discomfort she had suffered by reason
of him. This Ann gladly granted, and besought us and him alike to come
with her no further.
When he came back to us Ursula, who was aggrieved by the looks of
displeasure she met on all sides, cried out: “Back already, Sir Junker?
If you had so lightly yielded your rights to kiss of mine, you may be
certain that I would have appealed to any one who would do my behest to
call you to account for such scorn!”
She eyed the young nobleman with a bold gaze, never weening that this
challenge was all he waited for. He tossed his curly head, and cried
with sparkling eyes: “Then, mistress, I would have you to know that
I would take no kiss from you, even if you were to offer it. I have
spoken--now call forth your champions.”
He was silent a moment, and then, glancing round at the bystanders with
defiant looks, he went on: “If any gentleman here present sets a higher
price than I, the high-born Henning Beust, heir and Lord of Busta and
Schadstett, on a kiss from the lips which have wronged my fair lady with
spiteful speech, let him now stoop and pick up my glove. There it lies!”
And he flung it on the ground, while Ursula turned pale. Her eyes turned
from one to another of the young gentlemen who paid her court and they
were many--and the longer silence reigned the faster came her breath
and the hotter waxed her ire. But on a sudden she was calm; her eyes had
lighted on Sir Franz von Welemisl, and all might read what she demanded
of him. The Bohemian understood her; he picked up the glove and muttered
to the Junker with a shrug: “Mistress Ursula commands me!”
A look of pain passed over the brave youth’s merry face, for that
heretofore the young knight and he had been in good fellowship, and he
hastily answered: “Nay, Sir Knight; I would have crossed swords with you
readily enough or ever you had felt the prick of Swabian steel; but now
you are not yet fully yourself again, and to fight with a friend who is
sick is against the rule of my country.”
The words were spoken from a kind and honest heart, and I saw in Sir
Franz’s face that he knew their intent was true; but as he put forth his
hand to grasp the Junker’s, Ursula tossed her head in high disdain. Sir
Franz hastily changed his mien, and cried: “Then you will do well to act
against the rule of your country, and fight the champion of the lady you
have offended.”
Here the dispute had an end, forasmuch as that my lord the duke, leader
of the embassy, hearing the Brandenburger’s fierce voice, came in haste
from the supper-board to restore peace; and as he led away the Junker
it was plain to all that he was taking him sharply to task. It was, in
truth, a criminal misdeed in one of the Imperial envoy to cast down his
glove at a dance, where he was the guest of a peaceful city; and that
the duke imposed no severe penance for it the Junker might thank the
worshipful members of the council who were present; they were indeed
disposed to let well alone, inasmuch as they had it at heart to send the
whole party home again well-pleased with Nuremberg.
The music was soon sounding merrily again in the solemn town-hall,
and of all the young folks who danced so gleefully, and laughed and
chattered Ursula was the last to let it be seen how this grand revel had
been troubled by her fault. Her eyes were bright with glad contentment,
and she was so free with Sir Franz that it might have seemed that they
would quit the town hall a plighted couple.
The festival was drawing to an end, and when I had danced the last
dance, and was looking about me, I beheld to my amazement Ursula Tetzel
in eager speech with Junker Henning. On our way home the young gentleman
informed me that she had given him to understand that, during the
meeting of the Imperial Assembly, he might look to be waited on by a
noble youth who would pick up his glove in duty to her, and prove to
him that there were other than sick champions glad to draw the sword for
her.
The Brandenburger would fain have known with whom he would have to deal;
but I held my peace, albeit I felt certain that Ursula had set her hopes
on none other than my brother Herdegen.
On the morrow the whole of the Ambassadors’ fellowship rode away, back
to the emperor’s court; I, for my part made my way to the Pernharts,
where I found Ann amazed rather than wroth or distressed by Ursula’s
base attack. Also she was to have some amends; my dear godfather, Uncle
Christian, with certain other gentlemen of the council, had notified old
Tetzel that he was required to crave pardon of Ann and her stepfather
for his daughter’s haughty and reckless speech.
The proud and surly old man would have to submit to this penance without
cavil, by reason that Pernhart had, since Saint Walpurgis’ day, been a
member of the council, and he and his family had part and share in
the patrician festival. For, albeit craftsmen and petty merchants were
excluded, the worshipful councillors chosen by the guilds enjoyed the
same rights as those born to that high rank.
It was by mishap only that the coppersmith had not been at the town-hall
yestereve, and on a later day, when he and his wife appeared there, they
were among the finest of the elder couples. Ann did not, indeed, go with
them; but it was neither vexation nor sorrow that kept her at home. My
great gladness as it were warmed her likewise, and we were looking for
Herdegen’s speedy home-coming.
She looked forward to this with such firm hope as filled me with fears,
when I minded me of my brother’s letters, in which he never had aught to
tell of but vain pleasures and pastimes.
My betrothal to Hans Haller was after his own heart; he wrote of him
as of a man whose gifts and birth were worthy of me; and went on to say
that he would follow his example, and, whereas he had renounced love
in seeking a bride, he would take counsel of his head, and not of his
heart, and quarter our ancient coat of arms with one no less noble.