Ekkehard. Vol. II (of II).

the Chamberl

s in his heart, and in his head there was a buzzing and humming, as if a covey of wild ducks were flying about there. He shunned Dame Hadwig's presence, and yet longed every moment that he was away, to be near her. The old happy ingenuousnes

e fierce sheets of lightning, flashing through the gathering darkness, and every now and then, lighting up the shores

. Quiet and peace were now reigning over hill and vale, but the ears of the blasted cornfields, hung down their broken heads, for the hail

el, a man was striding along. It was the Hunnic convert. He carried willow branches and all sorts of slings, and was just setting out on his work to wage war on the field-mi

a piece of weatherbeaten rock, over which an elder-tree spread its boughs, richly laden with luxuriant white blossoms. Ekkehard sat down on it, and after dreamily gazing into the distance for some time, he drew out from under his habit, a neatly bound little book, and began to read. It was neither a breviary nor the Psalter. It was called, "The song of Solomon," and it was not good

d terrible as an army with banners?" He looked up to the towers of the Hohentwiel, wh

love, my dove, for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of night."--A stirring breeze shook down some of the

il. To that spot, Cappan had received orders to betake himself. Like a statesman in a rebellious province, he was to restore order, and cleanse the land of all obnoxious subjects. The floods of the late thunderstorm, had laid open the hidden refuges. He dug them up gently, and slew many a field-mouse before it was aware of it. Then,

ged to the monastery. A pious widow had left it to St. Pirmin, in order to secure eternal bliss for her soul. They had let it to a farmer, who was rather a rough man with a thick knotty skull, full of hard, stubborn thoughts. He had many men and maid-servants, as well as horses and cattle, and was altogether a thriving man, for he

d by, without doing any damage, he had a horse put to a cart, on which was placed a sack of last year's rye, and with that he drove over to the deacon of Singen. He, on seeing the cart app

aster Otfried, you have taken good care of me, and have prayed away the thunde

he holy water three times towards the tempest, in the shape of the holy cross; besides saying the verse of the three holy nails. That, drove away

oak-wood, a whitish-grey smaller cloud hurried up after them. It had five points like to the fingers of a hand, and swelled and shot forth sheets of lightning, and soon a hail-storm, far worse than any previous ones, came down. The convent-farmer had at first stood confidently unde

But the merciless hailstones continued to beat down the corn, in spite of wedding-coat and oak-leaves. Like a statue, the convent-farmer stood there, with his eyes riveted on the bundle in the air, hoping that the wind which would drive the thunderstorm away, would come out of it,--but it came not! Then, biting his lips

h him now. He was of gigantic stature, but be

the cursed old hag! She should not have shaken out her skirts over t

nce the woman of the wood has been driven away from the

hou art asked!" fiercely

that his turn would come. After some time th

" replied the other,

t-farmer looked out of the window. The

," cri

nes?" said the man. "What else can it have been, but the cloud-s

himself, as if he wanted

d Magonia, and is always white, and sails on black clouds. Fasolt and Mermuth sit in it, and throw down the hailstones on the fields, if the great weather-wizard has given them the power to do so. Then, they lift up our

servant by the collar, and shaking him violently, cried: "who?" But the

fields, to look at the damage. Neither of them said a word. The loss in crops was considerable, but they did not fail to observe

as the newly fallen snow, and looked so tempting that he could not help thinking of his spouse with deep gratitude, for having provided him with such food. Further, he thought about many another thing which had occurred since the

treat, by lying down full length on the ground, whilst he ate his food; for at

m to pronounce some words, which were to exorcise the vermin; exhorting him very earnestly not to f

ling off his wooden shoe from his right foot, he stood barefoot and stretched out his arms towards the wood. The convent-farmer and his head-servan

bid ye all to go away from the fields and meads below; and may fever, p

ias, palamiasit!" said Cappan for the second time, when a blow from behind, hit him right on the neck, so that he fell down. Strange, unintelligib

vent-farmer. "What has the Schlangenhof ever done t

ow was perfectly bewildered, but thi

hings are reflected wrongly in them," called he out to

in the eye

ift up

his fact had almost restored him to favour in their eyes, for folks were then quick and changeable in their passions, as an historian of those days informs us. Just at that moment however, the servant-man's eyes fell on the ground, where a large stag-

nt started bac

rguggi," e

st. That he, together with the beetle, had made the storm, was now beyond all

, but here an idea struck him and he continued, "he shall meet with his punishment

ragging him over the field, to the Hunnic mound, and there bound fast his hands and feet. This being done, the man ran over to the Schlangenhof, to call his fell

and awakened Ekkehard from his reverie, under the elder-tree. He recognized the voice of his god-child and looked down. A second time, Cappan's cry rose up to him, and then Ekkehard forgot Solomon's song, and hurried down the valley. He came in the nick of time. They had

n account of similar accusations; and the state signed the death-warrant; and the church gave its blessing thereto. Ekkehard, though convinced of the existence of witchcraft, had hi

he man has sinned, then wait till the new moon, when the parish-priest at Radolfszell will be holding court against all malef

uld not heed his words. A threaten

of striking another cho

gracious eyes, that such a poor, miserable Hun could have the power, to command the clouds? Do ye think that the clouds would obey

but the convent-farmer cried out: "The thunder-beetle! the thunde

hurled at the unfortunate Hun, making his blood flow. Upon this, Ekkehar

ad its

one of them turned round to go away, and the others following his

angrily, but on Ekkehard not giving an answer, he likewise

which has been under the treatment of Allemannian peasants' fists, "no

and then dressed the wound as well as he could. He thought of the parable of the Good Samaritan. The wounded man looked gratefully up at him. Slowly Ekkehard led him up to the castle,

. The Duchess descended into the courtyard, bestowing a friendly nod on Ekkehard, on account of his kindlin

wounded pate, that will equal a dowry. And for the broken peace of the realm, we shall decree the highest possible f

t of all was Master S

e content, godchild!" cried he, rattling his sword on the stone flags, "for as soon as thy scratch has been mended, I shall accompany thee on thy first walk, and then we will settle accounts with the convent-farmer. Hail and thunder, that we will! So, as to make the chips fly off his head! With those farmers, things cannot go

spass committed?"

stone with the raised half-moon, t

ground and territory," indignantly exclaimed the Duche

!" echoed the cha

d fine, for the peace which has been broken; as well as give us all possible sati

nastic insolence!" repeated Master

his taste. "We will mount, Sir Abbot!" cried he, go

d this, he put on the large greaves, which he had worn on the day of the battle. Fastening on them the biggest spurs he possessed, he tramped up and down a few times

l me what sort of expression, my face wears now?" He had pushed the steel ca

, indeed, Sir Chambe

he cantered out by the castle-gate, so that he made the sparks fly about; ha

had thrown down a fir-tree, to the roots of which the torn-up e

called out Master Spazzo to the fir-tree,

in one flying leap. Whilst the animal was performing this feat, Master S

im. It was about dinner-time. The imbecile Heribald, quickly came out of the convent-garden, to satisfy his curiosity with regard to the strange horseman. He pressed up close to the horse, when Master Spazzo dismounted. The watch-d

d he, stroking his beard, "it i

perfectly aghast, an

rmin!" w

min whatever," said Master S

hed, as if he knew

, and there was nobody but Heribald to receive them;

hamberlains, fool!" Maste

he worst guests, on German ground. He held his tongue, however, and returned

the interior. He had assumed his heaviest tread. The bell that announced dinner was just ringing.

. If you are invited, which however seems rather doubtful to me,"--with another ironical look, at Master Spazzo's outward man, ... but he was spared the end of his sentence, for the chamberla

on stepping up to the window, he was just in time to see the pious brother Ivo, sent flying out into the yard. "Happy is he, who knows the secret causes of things," says

d up from the courtyard, so that the pa

tory, so that the assembled brotherhood at last f

Gunzo, Gunzo! No one ought to wish ill to his neighbour, but still I cannot help revolving in my mind, whether our stro

ly entered the

ow accents. "There is somebody down stairs,

and that he is a perfect weather-cock. Whenever his mistress wears a smile round her haughty lips, then he laughs with

he thunder," added Rudimann. Heav

regret to the Duchess. Take some silver coins out of the convent-box, as smart-money for the wounded man, and

task," said Rudimann. "She is s

aid the Abbot. "Children a

ask, when the door was thrown open, and Master S

s rats' nest, poured lead into his ears, or has the gout got hold

. "Let me welcome you now." He lifted his

nsulted, grossly insulted! We exact a fine; two hundred pounds of silver at the least. Out with it! Murder a

his spurs o

could not recognize the ambassa

er Spazzo, "and if I were to come to you in my shirt, the garment w

med to nod triumphantly. "Pay me at once, so that I can

ur island. You are sharp and urgent, because you have not yet dined. Don't disdain

; but the Abbot pointed over to the open cloister-kitchen. The fair-haired kitchen-boy was turning the spit before the fire and smacking his lips, for a lovely smell of the roast meat had entered his nostrils just then. Some covered dishes, calling up

more scarce, and when the red wine of Meersburg, was sparkling in t

Duchess. Before he set out, however, he had still something to do in the copying room of the monastery. A lay-brother was to accompany him, with the huge fish, packed up in straw, lying before him on the saddle. Master Spazzo had ridden over i

ttage on the Hohenstoffeln, where he is nursing h

he granite table in the middle of the courtyard. The tall lime-tree threw its cool shade over the glistening scales of the royal fish, and it was as if

off a strong branch from the tree, a piece of which he put between the jaws of the fish, so that it remained with wide open mouth. With some of the leaves, he carefully lined the inside

t, Praxedis had been watch

nce for the convent's bondsman, he told her how sorry the Abbot was; spoke with appreciation of the wounded man; e

cluded he, stepping aside, so that the salmon could shine out in full glory. The Duchess smiled, h

n. With a deep bow he then took leave, and remounti

could be done quickly. He persevered before the wine-jug, like a general besieging a city; and sitting immo

the cellar?" he said to the Abbot when the first jug was emptied. His wanting to drink mor

en he knocked his beaker against that of the Abbot. "Certai

us come, and the sounds of the bell

t, "we must now go to vesp

the long neck of the wine-jug. It contained ample provision, for at least an

n he had ridden over to the monastery, but the fact was that he cou

ntertain yours

Master Spazzo. T

ow ..." bega

azzo, nodding his head. The

r inclining to the west; the sky was all a-glow and faint purple gleams

old in the cup, and he saw an aureole of light, flickering round the Abbot's head. He trie

id not unde

ce. "Ah so," cried he, striking the oak table with his fist. "The s

ot," rejoine

he was sitting behind the wine-jug, and whenever it announced itself, it was a sure signal, that in half an hour later, the tongue would be paralys

f witnessing, how their wine shuts up the mouth of a ducal

t, "we must not forge

may yet happen. He drank again, but when he wanted to put down his beaker, he placed it in the empty air, so that it fell down

got him?" cried

ho

tried to murder my god-child!" He threateningly advanced

ot, "and I willingly deliver him up to you; only yo

he strode towards the door. "We will drag him out of his bed even, the rascal! And whe

stood still now, like the sun at Joshuah's

But his speech did not return. A sweet placid smile now settled o

tried to say with stammering tongue, but he could only utter some unintelligible sounds. He pres

bed for the night to his exhausted guest, but the embrace and the pain in his toes, chan

he intended to light and then to stick in the nostrils of the chamberlain's horse; thus to revenge himself for the blow which he had received. Master Spazzo, having scraped t

an he glided down again on the other side. Heribald who was near, hurried up to catch h

Master Spazzo. "Be my friend!" kissing him. Then Her

have come to us in a different manner from the Huns, and therefore your de

the reins. Something was still weighing on his mind, and made him struggle with his heavy tongue. At l

by monastic insolence!" cried he, so that his voice

d the Abbot of the success which h

ith the torch, he threw a gold ring, which induced the torch-bear

ghtly in his right hand. The moon was shining brightly, whilst dark clouds were gathering round the peaks of the Helvetian mountains. Mast

easant recollection? or, longing hope for t

ped his

tting on its tree. He counted the calls, but the cuckoo this time was indefatigabl

d!" cried he. But the cuckoo cal

exclaimed Master Spazzo, "and thirteen more, would ma

g out for the

lowed, and now there began a chorus of emulating cuckoo-voices ar

ience left

hat's what you are," cried he furiously. "Wou

ely dark; the pine-trees had assumed a strange weird look, and everything was silent around. Willingly would Master Spazzo now ha

is early infancy, how the bad wolf Hati and Monagarm the moon-dog, persecuted the radiant astre. Looking up, he clearly recognised, both wolf and moon-dog in

the top of his voice, and rattling his sword

ud-monsters did not loosen their hold on the moon; only the chamberlain's hors

hanging down on one side, and the reins were torn. Falada, however, was eating the young grass and flowers with evident enjoyment. Slowly the exhausted man lifted his head, and looked about yawning. The convent-tower of Reichenau w