Part 35 (1/2)
He had seen her for the first time in Ulm, when she appeared to him like a messenger from a fairy land, so dignified was the expression of her eyes, majesty sat upon her brow, and her whole countenance bespoke a mind far above the common stamp of mortals. The scribe had often puzzled his mind in the attempt to unravel the mystery by which she had gained such influence over him. The damsels of Ulm possessed perhaps cheeks fresher and more plump, eyes more lively, a more attractive smile, and perhaps greater brilliancy of youth. But there was a something in Bertha which he could not account for, which inspired him with awe. Was it the dark eyelashes, which, like a veil, fell over her eyes, and concealed the starting tear? Was it the delicately compressed lip, upon which was encamped the expression of painful grief? or the rapid change of colour upon her features, which appeared to betray suffering of some acute feeling--perhaps of love? Marie's cheerfulness, her easy manners, a certain art of teasing, which imparted life and good will to all around her, had long since driven her cousin's image from his heart; but now that he came again in contact with the influence of the lady of Lichtenstein, poor Dieterich von Kraft felt all his old wounds bleed afresh. What was the power which worked in so different a manner upon his feelings was a question beyond his comprehension. Though there was the same dignity, the same expression, which commands the respect and admiration of the beholder, her eye was now animated with placid joy, a pleasing smile played on her lips, and her cheeks bloomed with unalloyed happiness. Dieterich von Kraft had made these observations in speechless astonishment, when the old knight first noticed him. ”Do my eyes deceive me?” he cried, ”Dieterich von Kraft, my nephew! What brings you to Stuttgardt? Perhaps you come to the wedding of my daughter with Albert von Sturmfeder? But how you look! What's the matter with you? How pale and miserable your whole appearance, and your clothes hang about your body all in rags! What has happened?”
The scribe eyed his rose-coloured gown in despair and dismay, and blushed; ”G.o.d knows!” he said, ”I am ashamed to shew myself before any decent person. These cursed Wurtembergers, these vine-dressers and contemptible shoemakers, have mangled me in this way. Verily, and in truth, the whole ill.u.s.trious League has been attacked and insulted in my individual person!”
”You ought to be thankful, cousin, that it was no worse,” said Albert, as he led the travellers into his apartment; ”only think, father, last night, when we stood before the gates, he was exciting the burghers to rebellion against us, for which the chancellor wanted to have his head this morning. It was with very great difficulty I could persuade the Duke to pardon him; and now he complains of the Wurtembergers having torn his cloak.”
”With your gracious permission,” said Mrs. Rosel, the old nurse, and curtsied three times to the scribe, ”if my a.s.sistance is agreeable, I'll mend the gown, so that you shall not know it has been torn. The proverb says,
'If the young man his new gown has torn, The old woman can mend it fit to be worn.'”
Dieterich von Kraft accepted the offer with many thanks. He retired to a window with old Rosel, when she pulled out of her large leather pocket all the necessary articles for the purpose of repairing his damages. She entertained him upon the inexhaustible subject of housekeeping, particularly upon the important science of dressing certain dishes not to be found in Mrs. Sabina's catalogue of cookery.
At a distance from this couple, at the other end of the room, sat Bertha and Albert, engaged in the confidential whisperings of love.
Neither Johannes Thethingerus, nor Johannes Bezius, neither Gabelkofer nor Crusius, though we have to thank them for much important information of old times, have mentioned what these two lovers had to say to each other on that morning. Thus much we know, however, that satisfaction rested upon Bertha's features, expressive of her joy at the near approach of the happy moment to complete her union with Albert.
The reader will thank us if we lead him from a scene of so little historical interest, and of which every one is supposed to know more or less, to follow the path of the knight of Lichtenstein. Having left his daughter to the care of Albert, and his nephew to the ingenious hand of Mrs. Rosel, he himself repaired to the apartment of the Duke. Age had imprinted on his countenance an air of gravity, which at this hour appeared to have received an additional stamp of painful thought, amounting almost to despondency. This man had inherited his love for the house of Wurtemberg from his ancestors. Habit and inclination had bound him to the sovereigns who had presided over Wurtemberg during the course of his long life. The misfortunes and calumnies which, had been heaped upon Ulerich, had not had the effect of shaking the faithful heart of the old man in the Duke's cause. On the contrary, they tended only to draw the ties of friends.h.i.+p tighter. With the joy of a bridegroom who hastens to the wedding, and with the strength and vivacity of youth, he undertook the long and fatiguing journey from his castle to Stuttgardt, when he heard the Duke had taken Leonberg, and had advanced to the capital. Having entertained no doubt of the Duke's success, he was not deceived in his calculation, and he arrived at Stuttgardt the morning after the establishment of the new authority.
The news which Albert imparted to him as they proceeded up stairs, was not calculated to excite the joy of the old man. ”The Duke,” he whispered to him, ”the Duke does not appear to be inclined to act with prudence; G.o.d knows what his intentions may be respecting the government of the country, for he let fall some extraordinary sentiments on the road, which I fear will not be improved in the hands of his chancellor, Ambrosius Bolland.” The mere mention of this name was sufficient to raise great uneasiness in the breast of the knight of Lichtenstein. He was acquainted with Bolland; and though he knew him to be expert, and particularly well versed in state affairs, and capable of executing any intricate piece of service, yet he was a man who had often played a deep, if not a false game. ”Should the Duke give his confidence to this man, and follow his council, may G.o.d be merciful to him! The country is a mere bit of parchment in the eyes of Ambrosius, to be turned and twisted according to his whim. He'll know how to shape and fas.h.i.+on it preparatory to meeting the Duke's eye; but he'll keep the pen in his own hand. But, as old Rosel would say, 'Any fool can cut out; the art is to sew the garment together.'” Thus thought the knight of Lichtenstein, in pa.s.sing along the gallery. He seized his long white beard in anger; whilst his heart beat with zeal in the cause of Wurtemberg.
He was immediately admitted to the presence of the Duke, whom he found in deep; consultation with Ambrosius. The latter was seated, holding a large swan's pen in one hand and a parchment in the other, which was written over with black, red, and blue ink, in many neat columns. The Duke was playing with a piece of sealing wax, which he held in his hand; and appeared in a state of indecision, first casting a penetrating glance at the chancellor, and then looking at the wax, as if it were destined to seal some important doc.u.ment. They were both so deeply immersed in their occupation, that Lichtenstein stood some minutes in the room, contemplating with intense interest the n.o.ble features of the Duke, without being remarked. The various sensations which were agitating him were plainly visible upon his countenance and in his expressive eyes. The frown upon his forehead, giving place in rapid succession to a milder expression, bespoke a mind hesitating between an act of severity and one of grace, whilst his companion, presenting him with the pen which he held in his hand, sat before him like the tempter. He turned and moved about like the serpent; and the eternal hypocritical smile, which his little green eyes could with ease convert into the expression of humility when his master looked at him sharply, appeared to urge him to taste the forbidden fruit.
”I cannot comprehend,” said the chancellor with an insinuating tone of voice, ”why your Grace will not do it! Did Caesar hesitate to pa.s.s the Rubicon? A great man must use strong measures. The present age and futurity will laud your courage in having burst asunder the chains which now bind your hands.”
”Are you so sure of that, Ambrosius Bolland?” replied the Duke, with a look of doubt. ”Will it not be said, Duke Ulerich was a tyrant: he abrogated the old order of things, which was held sacred by his forefathers; and, having broken the contract which he himself established, treated his country as an enemy, and trod under foot the laws which----”
”Permit me,” interrupted the other: ”the only question is, who is to be master--the Duke or the country? If the country is to govern, the case is different; for then pacts, contracts, clauses, and such like, are necessary. The n.o.bles, clergy, and commons, would be the masters, and your grace--a mere cypher; but if you hold the reins in your own hand, and wield your own will unrestricted, from that moment you become the source of all law. The sword is now in your hand,--you are lord and master; therefore, away with the old law--here is a new one--take the pen, and, in G.o.d's name, sign.”
The Duke remained some time in doubtful suspense, agitated between conflicting struggles of conscience. At length, as if impelled by some evil genius, he said, ”Am not I Wurtemberg itself? the country and laws are concentrated in my person--I will sign!” He stretched out his hand to receive the pen from the chancellor, when he felt his arm arrested.
He looked around in surprise, and met the placid but stern eye of the knight of Lichtenstein.
”Ha! welcome, my faithful Lichtenstein; I will be ready to speak with you instantly, only let me sign this parchment.”
”Allow me, your grace,” said the old man: ”having promised me a voice in your council, may I look at the first ordinance which you are about to issue to your country.”
”With your most n.o.ble permission,” said Ambrosius Holland, hastily, ”delay were dangerous: the citizens of Stuttgardt are already a.s.sembled, and it is requisite to read the proclamation without loss of time.”
”The thing is not so very pressing, after all,” said the Duke, ”that we cannot impart the contents to our friend. We have accordingly determined,” he added, addressing Lichtenstein, ”to administer a new oath of fidelity, making the people swear allegiance to us, under a fresh contract and different laws. The old ones are null and void from henceforth.”
”Is that your determination?” replied the knight of Lichtenstein; ”and have you maturely considered what will be the consequences of this act?
Did you not swear but a few years ago to the Tubingen compact?”
”Tubingen!” cried the Duke with a terrible voice, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng the fire of indignation; ”Tubingen! mention that word no more! In that vile city were centred all my hopes, my country, my children,--ha! and on that spot was I betrayed and sold. I begged, I implored them to hold out to the last; I was ready to share my property, my blood with them in its defence; but no! they would not hear of Ulerich, nor listen to his voice. They preferred the new order of things; they suffered me to linger in the misery of banishment, and caused the name of Wurtemberg to become the contempt and derision of all the world. But now that I am lord and master again, with my sword in my hand, I'll not allow it to be wrenched a second time from my grasp. If they have forgotten their oath, by Saint Hubertus, my memory is also equally treacherous. The Tubingen compact, did you say? May dire necessity confound every thing connected with that name!”
”But recollect, your grace!” said Lichtenstein, staggered at this burst of pa.s.sion; ”think of the impression such a step will make throughout the country. At this moment you have only Stuttgardt and its neighbourhood in your possession; whereas Urach, Asperg, Tubingen, and Goppingen, have all Leaguist garrisons. Will the country people; stand by you to drive them out, when they become acquainted with the new ordinance to which they are to swear allegiance?”
”I maintain it,” said the Duke; ”did the country stand by me when I was forced to turn my back upon Wurtemberg? No! they saw me hunted down like a wild beast, and sided with the League!”
”Pardon me, my Lord Duke,” replied the old man; ”but that is not the case. I recollect well that day in Blaubeuren. Who held to you on that occasion, when the Swiss deserted you? who implored you not to leave the country? who offered to sacrifice their lives in your cause? It was eight thousand Wurtembergers! Have you forgotten that day?”
”Ay-ay! most worthy sir,” said the chancellor, who was aware what an impression these remarks were likely to make on Ulerich; ”ay! but that's nothing to the purpose. Besides, we have not to legislate upon what took place at that time, but upon the actual state of affairs. The country has completely absolved itself of the former oath, by swearing allegiance to the usurpations of the League. His grace is now to be considered in the light of a new Lord, having subdued the country by force of arms; and, therefore, as the League inst.i.tuted their own peculiar measures, the Duke has a right to follow their example. A new Lord gives new laws. He has the privilege at all times to govern according to his own will and pleasure. Shall I dip the pen in the ink, gracious sir?”
”Sir Chancellor!” said Lichtenstein, with a determined voice, ”though I have all possible respect for your learning and foresight, you advance that which is positively false, and your counsel is dangerous. The question now is, to ascertain who it is that the people love. The League, by their violent measures, have estranged the public mind from them; this was therefore precisely the most favourable moment for the Duke to appear in the country, for all hearts are with him; but if you repel the good feeling of the people by insidious measures, if you attempt to destroy the ancient laws and inst.i.tutions, and build upon their ruins your own invented const.i.tution, oh, beware! beware of the consequences, and remember that the love of the people is the only powerful support upon which you can rely.”