Ekkehard. Vol. II (of II).

gets

muddy; and so, a great stirring event, is generally followed by a time of

rder, after the driving away of the Huns; but this she did willingly enough, as her lively spirit an

n the grave of the christian warriors, was decided upon. With Reichenau and St. Gall, there was also a good deal of business to transact, for ecclesiastics seldom forget to present their bills, for any services that they have rendered. They well knew how to bemoan and bewail the damages done to their monasteries, as well as the great loss of goods and chattels, which they had experienced; and every day some delicate hint was dropped to the Duchess, that a donation of land, would be most desirable for the afflicted servants of God. Far

yard, with all that was in it; cultivated and uncultivated land; woods and vineyards; meadows and brooks, with the right of building mills and of fishing; as well as the vassals, both male and female, who were living there ... even the customary curse was not wanting, and ran as follows: "If anyone should dare to doubt the donation, or, worse still

elf," said the Subprior. "There has been left an empty space, for adding the name and boundarie

doings?" replied Dame Hadwig. "I will look at

g him back the deed, signed and sealed by your Highness, to-day. It is only on

roperty on the Rhine, and that" ... she wanted to add a few more bitter words, but the Subprior here fell in coaxingly, telling her a number of cases where Christian kings and princes had done the same. How the King of France for instance, had generously indemnified St. Martin of Tours, for the losses which he had suff

the proverb has it." Dame Hadwig having reached the entrance, turned round once more, and with

ade his

ay, sent a golden chain to the venerable Simon Bard

il dreams came to him. Then he saw large flowery plains, on which numberless gallows were growing like thistles, and on every one of them, hung one of his countrymen, and he himself was suspended from the highest of all; and he could not find fault with this, as it was the usual fate allotted to war-pris

t is true, he still thought that a man's home, ought to be the back of his horse; and that a skin-covered cart sufficed for women and children; but when it rained, or the evenings were cool, the hearth-fire and the sheltering walls did not appear altogethe

, as her affections had been bestowed these many years on a herdsman, who had met his death in the ranks of the arrier-ban, by some Hunnic arrow,--and so her heart was lonely now. Very tall people are generally goodnatured, and do not suffer under the evil consequences of too much thinking. So she cast her eyes on the Hun, who was slinking about all alone in the courtyard, and her compassionate heart fastened on him, like a glistening dew-drop on a toad-stool. She tried to instruct him

a piece of game was entrusted to him, to beat tender with a wooden drumstick, old memories arose in his mind; and s

tting wood in the courtyard. A deep blush covered the cheeks of the tall one, who cast down her eyes. "If he could only

ongue was loosened. "With regard to the speaking of German,"--said she, still looking down,--"I really s

t w

, when he eats. If he is to enjoy his meals,

im of. How is it, hast thou already some sor

apping him first on the back to make him look up, he pointed with his forefinger at the flying Friderun, nodded his head interrogatively, and looked at him sharply. Cappan first pressed his rig

; therefore she had gone out of the castle-gate. There, she plucked a wild flower, and was now eagerly pulling off the white leaflets, one after the other, murmuring, "he loves me, loves me no

l knew for instance, how to stop the cunning subterranean digging of the moles. With bent willow-boughs, at the end of which a nooze was fastened, he had contrived an untimely end, for many a one of the black little anima

can wage war against all obnoxious and injurious animals, as far as our land goes; and if the tall Friderun really likes

e shook his head, rather doubtfully, Dame Hadwig added: "The good will must here make up, for that which is wanting, in the understanding. The inst

him, even when the words had not been quite understood. Signs and tokens, also helped a good deal; for when Ekkehard sat before him, with the open bible with golden initials on his knee, and pointed heavenwards, the Hun knew of what he was

he now diligently learned to express his guilt in words, and whenever a word was missing, Friderun helped him. So, in a short time, Ekkehard could declare himself satisfied; though his mind certainly had not yet taken in all that St. Augustine requires, in his book on the teaching of infidels. The same day was then fixed upon, for both baptism and wedding. According to the Duchess's desire, he was to have three godfathers; one from Reichenau, one from St. Gall, and a third from the arrier-ban, in remembrance of the b

him, in prayer. The Hun was resigned and devout, and on the whole in a becoming frame of mind. He believed that the spirit of his mother, dressed in lambs'

rass, and the first lark was soaring up to the bright blue sky, a small troop,

little river Aach. Arrived there, they stuck the cross into the white sand, and then formed a semi-circle round him who for the last time, was to be called Cappan. In the quiet of that Sabbath mornin

the action impressed him, and when Ekkehard asked him, in the words of the prescribed formula: "Dost thou renounce the Devil and all his works and doings?" he replied with a clear voice: "I renounce him!" and then repeated the words of the creed, as well as he could. Upon this, Ekkehard immersed him in the river; the baptism was pronounced, and the new Paul rose from the waters.... One melancholy look he cast at the fresh mound on the newly dug grave, at the border of the wood,--then his god-fathers drew

, to array the awkward bride, on this her day of honour. Her hair was already entwined with red ribbons, and the apron with its wonderful amount of folds, falling down to the high-heeled shoes, was put on. Over

hou walkest along in that head-gear, they will believe in the distan

be," said

reath, or the silver-green olive branch in her locks, and it was well so. To be sure, neither myrtl

do well enough for foreigners, but when a Hegau maiden, goes to her wedding, the Schappel-crown must adorn her head. Thus it has always been, eve

said Praxedis, fastening th

ered on her forehead, like a fleeting clou

that the tears may be spared th

outh assumed a very sorrowful expression, so that

ssed," said the

future rival of the pine-tre

se on the wedding-night, and with bull's horns, brass kettles and sea-shells made such a terrible noise, as if a hail-storm was to be frightened away; and when the miller of Rielasingen came out of

" said Praxed

he married the apprentice boy? Her roof was cut intwain during the night, so that one half fell down to the right and one to the le

good conscience, Friderun?" said she signific

id she evasively, "

axedis cor

suddenly a Hunnic woman, with yellow face and black hair, came and tore him away. 'He is mine,' cr

, "and get thyself ready, for they are already coming up the hill

oding thoughts, and walked out. The bride's-maids welcomed her outside; he who had just been baptized,

e neighbouring lands, and had come to help in lighting the first fire on the new hearth, at the foot of the Hohenstoffeln, and to celebrate the wedding in all due form. On a cart decorated with garlands, which headed the train, the bride's outfit was to be seen. Th

and the prettily adorned bridal broom, made of white birch twigs

rly, he walked along with his new relations, as if he had been a bailiff, or magistrate of Hegau, since his youth. Before the noise of the merry-makers going down the hill, had died away, two nice-looking lads, the sons of the

ing-feast of their cousin, begging her, to follow them over dale and vale, roads and moats, bridges and water to the house of the wedding. There she would find some vegetables, such as the good God had given. A tun would be tapped, and violins ringing,

hat questions which were so graciously put, must not be answered in the negative. So they all rode over in the afternoon. Rudimann, the

ighest of the three points stood a deserted tower. Somewhat lower down, on a projecting part of the hill, there was a modest little house, hidden amongst the trees, which was to be the domicile of the ne

tremendous cooking and frying was going on; and he who could not get some dish or plate, feasted off

e; but in the depth of his mind, he was revolving the thought, whether after s

the repast had begun at midday, it was to last until sunset,--the Hu

nd whistled his own time, wheeling his tall spouse about, in a labyrinthine dance. It looked like a walking tower, dancing with a wild cat; the slow one, dancing with the swift; now together, then apart; now breast to breast, then back to back. Sometimes he would suddenly thrust his partner

selves instructed in the art; for one still hears a legendary account of the "seven capers," or the Hunnic "hop" in those parts, whic

t, where a gigantic pine-tree lifted its dark-green top towards the sky. On its knotty, rugged roots, the monk was sitting. The loud merriment of the crowd of people

those quiet mountain-tops, when on a bright, radiant day, the sun is slowly sinking down, arrayed in all the splendour of his royal robes; when heaven and earth are palpitating with warmth and light, whilst dark purple shadows, fill up the valleys, and a margin-glory, li

rious expression on his countenance;

used to be," said Dame

au, in their holiday-garments; and whilst scrutinizing those high, stiff bodices; and tun-like, starched skirts, she wond

hard. He started up from his mo

he merry-makers?" asked she

eal happiness may be fo

a fickle dame, who seldom stays long anywhere,'

yes on the ground. With renewed vigour, the m

arts, are happy," continued he. "Perhaps one requires very little to be happy; but above all,"--pointing over to

her tongue. "And how fares your Virgil," said she, changing the conversation. "During tho

culture, passed through my mind. Yonder the little house, nestling in the shade-giving trees; down below, the dark fertile fields; and a newly we

his life is with many

joy, and peaceful

etreats, affording a

uties of destroying the moles, and the obnoxious field-mice. And then the joys of winter! when the snow rises like a wall up t

ear with composure, and Virgil

winter, will sit by

hen; the light-giving

his wife his favourit

ong, with a dexterous h

asked the Duchess. "But

on a board, and were carrying him high above their heads; as they used to carry the newly chosen king o

ed, the sight pained him. Yonder, the loud joy of the wedding-guests; here the Duchess, and in the distance, the glittering moun

ight, he was haunted by the recollection, how she had stood before him, hanging the relic round his neck, and giving him the sword, that had been her husband's; and in evil moments, self-reproaches,--misty and unexpressed as yet,--that he had received these gifts so silently, passed through his troubled soul. Dame Hadwig had no id

The Abbot of Reichenau has provoked me. To think of asking for the pearl of my estates, as if it were

did not notice it. A dark brown colour might have been se

ly to-day; and far more still. My Saspach is situated on the merry old Rhine, and the Kaiserstuhl boasts the honour, that it was

were still resti

me. You have led a healthy life; getting up with the sun, and going to bed with the chickens,--and so vintage-time has arrived.

rustling

over at you, as bright and blue, as the Alps do from here; and as you are gazing at them, you see a cloud of dust rising o

ely followed her recit

ill not give up her sovereign right

d t

ties; and they will all say: 'he is good and earnest, and if he would not think and brood q

e once more. His vo

hou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful ove

us. He lifted one arm, and let it fall again. A

let his habit, which had been gathered up, drop down. Looking stealthily back once more at the two, standing there,

ten years ago, sat gloomily at the table, where he had emptied many a goblet, and looking down at the ants, that crept about on the floor, said to himself: "Heigho! None of them is worth a straw."--The two youths, who had looked so very shy in the morning, when they came to invite the Duchess, were now playing an Allemannic trick, on their Hunnic kinsman. They h

. The two cousins almost let fall the sheet, when a shout of delight broke forth, so loud and uproarious, that even th

the treasure-boxes, by the reins, and with beaming faces, the two children walked side by side. That day they had once more beheld the top of the Ho

them, and snatching Hadumoth up from th

they cried on all sides, for they all knew of his captiv

the road, in what way they should ac

said. "And I must give her back the gold Thale

his we will present, begging her to remain our gracious mistress as before. That sh

t the gold all

unding along, to impart the wondrous news, and following on her heels, the two youthful runaways, walked hand in hand. They both knelt down before Dame Hadwig; Hadumoth

affords me an opportunity, to give them a

flew into the grass, she touched their heads with the branch, saying: "Arise, and in future scissors shall never cut off your hair any more. As vassals b

shaken the golden Denar, out of his old servant Doda's hand; thus freeing her from the yoke of slave

y feeling had seized the little goat-herd's brain. The dream of his youth,--libert

's serious countenance, and throwing himself at his feet with Hadumoth, h

ave joined another pair in wedlock; or at least have sanctified a solemn

. Laying his hands on their heads and making the sign of the cro

gleam of light still fell on the lake. So Rudimann knocked at his door, and but half opening it said: "My ears have taken in more to-day, t

ever fickle and changeable!" murmured the