University of Virginia Library

THE TALE OF ROTHER DE ERNEST, THE GERMAN KNIGHT.

At the close of the fifth day of the journey of the seven knights, they came
to a convent situated in the bosom of a delightful vale, and surrounded with
meadows, groves and broad fields waving in the evening sun rays, like seas of
golden waves. Attached to the convent was a spacious court, overshadowed
with olive trees, which was appropriated, like the caravanserai of the east, to
the accommodation of travellers. Hither the knights turned in just as the sun
set, and were hospitably received by the Lady Superior, who, from a wicket
above the gate, gave them welcome. Between the outer court and the court
of the castle, was a very high wall, which prevented all communication with
the sacred retirement of the sisterhood. Provisions, in hospitable profusion
were lowered down to the knights from the wicket, and as the prace was large
and well roofed, the travellers fared well. After their repast had been made,
the Roman cavalies, Vitelli de Braganti, seeing sundry bright eyes peeping
down through the lattice, and willing to entertain the fair nuns in their loneliness
as well, may be, as to display his rich voice, sung a Romancero, which
however, was better fitting beneath a lady's bower than the lattice of a holy
convent. This is one of the stanzas:

`Such songs of love ill become a convent's walls,' said the Spanish knight
Don Fernando de Valor. `If we must be in a merry mood, let us sing some
ballad recounting the doughty deeds of good Christian knights against the
Moors. I remember a ballad recounting the achievement of Garci Perez de
Vargas, that showeth how he got the name of Machuca, or `The Pounder;'
for, he having broken his sword in battle, pulled up by the roots, a wild olive
tree, and with the trunk thereof performed such wondrous deeds, that the holy
maidens will esteem themselves happy in having had the pleasure to hear them.'

`Nay,' said the Scottish knight, `this were too warlike for a convent's ear.
If you will listen, I will, by your leave, fair cavaliers, sing you a famous Scottish
ballad, recounting a deed of charity of that good and gentle-hearted
knight, King Robert the Bruce, and for which the Spanish bards have given
credit to Rodrigo de Bivar. It is a holy ballad and befitting this place.' Being
requested to sing it, the Scottish knight thus began;

This ballad was listened to by all present with great attention; and when the
Scottish knight had ended, the character of King Robert was commended in
terms of great praise. It now being the turn, on this night, of Rother de Ernest
to relate a tale in proof of the superiority of German knighthood over that of
the other lands whose chivalry had been illustrated by the three foregoing tales,
he placed himself in an attitude to command their attention, and the regard of
the listening nuns from the casement around, and thus, in a pleasant voice, began
his story:

`Next to deeds of great valor in a knight, are those noble acts which have
for their base the gentler feelings of the heart, and which are shown, not so
much by deeds of warlike character and high emprise of arms, as in relieving
the distressed and averting wrong. The story of Sieur de Linant, in the history
of Don Alarcos, has shown us that a knight may achieve the greatest acts
of valor and strength and excel in skill of arms all his fellow knights, yet stain
the glory and excellence of his brilliant deeds by moral actions that will degrade
him as low as his bravery hath before elevated him. My story, therefore, fair
dames and gentle cavaliers, will not touch so much upon doughty deeds, though
we can show our share of these in Germany, I wot, but upon those higher attributes
of chivalry which adorn a knight.

Olof St. Morin was the son of a woodman who dwelt in the black forest of
Baden. He was, when in his eighteenth year, a tall, manly, handsome lad,
with flowing brown hair, a brilliant eye and finely shaped features looking, save
his sun-browned cheek and coarse attire, rather like a prince's son than a peasant's.
He had already evinced great courage both to do and to endure, which
latter is the nobler quality! In his disposition he was mild and amiable to a fault,
in his manners gentle, but in spirit firm and indomitable. His mind was also
above his birth, and his skill in books, which the good monks in a neighboring
convent loaned him, was by no means to be despised even by the holy fathers
themselves! It was a marvel how, amid the gloom of the forest, the wildness
of its cataracts, and the savage character of the scenes around him, he
should have become what he was; but nature sometimes goes out of her path
to strike out her best achievements.

One morning Olof was roaming the forest in search of kine which had strayed
from his father's cot, when the distant winding of a bugle fell upon his ears,
and in a few moments he caught a glimpse of a party of knights who were
passing along the imperial road which wound through the forest. Instigated
by curiosity he turned back to take a place on the high way whence he might
behold the passage of the cavalcade. It came prancing on with the sound of
bugles, the ringing of steel, and clangor of shields, swords and spurs. In advance,
rode an imperial herald on his gorgeously emblazoned tabard; then
came two knights abreast attended by their esquires bearing their shields and
spurs; then pranced a company of the gentlemen of the court in gallant costume,
in high and merry converse. But what especially drew the eyes of the
young forester as he stood leaning upon a tree, was a beautiful palanquin with
curtains of azure silk spangled with silver and canopy of cloth of gold, beneath
which sat a lovely lady whom he was assured could be none less than a
princess. It was followed a few paces behind by a score of mounted men-at-arms!
He saw that amid all her splendor, her face was sad, and immediately
his heart felt sympathy for her. On either hand or the palanquin which was
borne on the shoulders of four strong serfs, rode in silence a lady on a white
palfrey, one of whom was elderly and stern, the other a dark-eyed beauty whose
dazzling charms at once struck the peasant lad with a sort of bewildering fascination;
for he could not keep from her his eyes; and as she saw him she
smiled upon him with such dazzling power that, for a moment, in the wild
rushing of blood to his brain he lost all consciousness. At this moment the
chief of the party riding up to the palanquin spoke to the occupant and then ordered
a halt and beckoned to the young forester who alertly yet modestly advanced
towards him where he sat upon his horse beside the palanquin.

`Thou seemest as if thou should st know these forest's well,' said the old
knight, `canst thou tell us how far it is to the convent of St. Mark?'

`It is half a league, turning to the left after you ford the wolf's glen and

keeping the beaten path,' he answered, embarrassed, for the large sweet eyes of
the lady in the palanquin were fixed upon him with an expression of interest.
His own fell beneath them, and he felt as if tears would come to his eyes, he
knew not wherefore. The other female whose dark glance had flashed upon
him so vividly was forgotten, and his thoughts were filled with the pale and
beautiful creature who appeared to him like some of the celestial beings he had
seen in dreams. He looked up an instant under the influence of these feelings,
and his eye met hers fixed upon him so large, blue and tearful, that for the first
time in his life he felt unhappy.

The cavalcade was passing on again when a strange noise to the left in the
depths of the forest drew all eyes. It mereased; and though at first faint and
far distant, advanced rapidly nearer and louder, till there fell upon their appalled
ears the prolonged and continuous yell of pursuing wolves, mingled with
loud crackling of the underbrush and a wild indiscribable cry that at intervals
rose above all!

`Knights to your defence! Men at arms rally before the Princess!' cried
the chief of the party. `Come they along the high-way or across the forest,
peasant?' he cried to Olof, who, on first hearing the well known sound had instantly
run forward to a rising ground and was now intently looking in the direction
in which they seemed to be coming.

`They will cross the way,' he shouted. `They are in pursuit of a horse who
is flying this way. Let me advise you, my lord, to have open-spaces between
your men-at-arms that they may have clear pathway before them! There are
above three hundred in the pack, and nothing can resist them!'

`Let us defend the princess with our lives, knights,' said the knight, `and
throw ourselves in a body before her with our spears in rest! Hear their infernal
yells! The ground shakes! Nay, lady, keep seated till this fierce storm
go by!'

The forests now fairly echoed with the yells of the approaching pack, and
the moment after he had spoken they beheld advancing along a glade that intersected
the road, a dark cloud of wolves in close pursuit of a flying steed, who,
with his mane erect, his eyes starting from their sockets, and every muscle
strained, was making supernatural exertions to escape from them. Beneath
his belly was a knight's saddle and his bridle and stirrups were flying in the
wind. Upon his bleeding flanks hung a huge wolf, and ever and anon the
victim would give vent to a wild agonizing cry that seemed human in its mortal
terror.

In silence and horror the little band stood in the paths awaiting their fate.
The yells of the wolves were now so clear and deafening that no voice could
be heard. At this crisis Oiof, who had stood in advance awaiting them, as if
first to offer his body a sacrifice, bounded towards a man-at-arms who held a
scarlet banner aloft, and suatching it from him, placed himself a few rods in
advance of them and waved it.

The maddened steed came plunging on, and, startled by the flutter of the
streamer shaken in his path by the fearless youth, turned slightly aside from
his course which was directly for the palanquin, and was dashing past in his
furious career, when suddenly at the sight of men and horses, he checked his
speed and threw himself bleeding and exhausted upon the ground in front of
them, and cast upon the party a glance of human supplication.

There was no time, however, for regarding him, as the peril of all was equal,
though each good knight, as he gazed on him, felt as if he would cheerfully do
battle in his defence had he none other to defend. The wolves came up at
headlong leaps and the head of the pack were speared, or fell beneath blows of
sword, while many rushed through the spaces left, and alarmed by the sudden
encounter, by the shouts of the knights and men and the shrill shriek of the
larum bugles, kept on in flight. About a score, however, gave desperate battle
around the fugitive steed, and many of the horses were thrown down and their
riders dragged to the earth.

Olof, immediately on seeing the horse turn aside, had placed a tree between
him and the fierce current, which, parting on either side, rushing on leaving
him unharmed! He now hastened to the assistance of the party, when he saw

a wolf of enormous size, who had fled beyond the spot, turn back and make
with fierce determination towards the palanquin, which was in the rear. The
next instant he was flying over the shoulders of the terrified bearers and lighted
upon its side.

With a cry of horror the young forester bounded to her rescue, for all around
were appalled and motionless, and the palanquin had been thrown down. He
was unarmed; but regardless of this he sprung upon the wolf as he laid his
huge paw upon the bosom of the insensible lady, and fastening his hands upon
his open jaws, broke the lower; and then grappling with the furious beast, who
howled with pain, he fell with him to the ground. For a few moments a terrific
contest ensued, but the courageous youth, grasping a knight's dagger from
the earth, which had been dropped in the fray, succeeded in thrusting the brute
through the gorget and slaying him! This act was witnessed by the princess,
who had recovered from her swoon on the fall of the wolf from the palanquin,
and by all the knights who, having beaten off the rest of the pack, were spectators
of his achievement. The princess thanked him warmly for the preservation
of her life; and after the knights had got their party together again, and
each had his wounds bound up, and the march was resumed, she detained him
by the palanquin and inquired his name and parentage.

When she found that he was as modest as he was brave, and had wit and
gentle manners, she was greatly pleased with him, more than she dared suffer
herself to express in that company.

`This forest life befits you not,' she said gazing upon his blushing cheek and
downcast eyes. `Will you not come to court and serve me?' she asked with a
gentle voice and winning smile.

`I will serve you, noble lady, in court or forest,' he answered warmly; `so
that my poor services may be accepted with one so high and lovely.'

`He is a courtier already, your Highness,' laughed and said the dark-eyed
horsewoman who had all the while been riding near. `He bath the court's
tongue.'

`Hush, Rachel,' said the princess; `be not pert.'

The Jewess, for such she was, and the confidential maid of the princess
Brynhilda, looked vexed and displeased to be rebuked so openly, let her palfrey
fall back a pace and rode moodily along.

The noble steed which had been rescued, though wounded sorely, was led behind
by a man-at-arms, and numerous were the conjectures as to the fate of the
unfortunate rider, for nothing of his rank could be told from his soiled and torn
accoutrements, when a man was seen advancing through the forest, hailing the
party. As he came nearer, it was discovered that he was a knight in a plain
suit of russet mail and that he was bare headed. On his nearer approach the
chief knight exclaimed with astonishment,

`It is the emperor!' and instantly spurring forward into the forest, he threw
himself to the ground and kneeled before him.

At his exclamation there was a general murmur of surprise and recognition.
The effect of the announcement upon the princess was remarked with marvel
by the peasant. Her face became deadly pale, and she seemed to him to be
stricken with fear.

The emperor mounted the knight's horse, and came forward saluting the
company, and riding up and seeing the beautiful Jewess mounted on her palfrey,
which she had switched to bring him nearer the emperor, he bent towards,
and gallantly saluting her upon the cheek, said, while he gazed admiringly
upon her dark and voluptuous beauty;

`By my halidom, Sir Bertrand, but you have brought me a brave wife!'

`Your majesty,' said the knight, who with all the company had witnessed
with surprise the king's salutation, to which, be it said, the Jewess seemed
nothing loth, `Your majesty has fallen into a great error! The Princess Brynhilda
is in the palanqnin! She whom you have honored is but a Jewess,

`Fore heaven. Bertrand, were the princess fairer than the Jewess, she were
an angel,' said Otho.

As he spoke he lifted the curtain and looked in, where, pale, injured in feelings,
and instinctively feeling repugnance towards the emperor, reclined the

princess. She had been married by proxy, at her father's court, three weeks
before, and was now on her way to her husband's court, who, having taken a
fancy to surprise her, whom he had never seen, rode alone into the forest,
three leagues from the capital, to meet them, clad in plain armor

He gazed upon his lovely bride an instant, with a look of evident disappointment,
slightly pressed his cheek, not his lips, to hers, and dropped the curtain,
leaving her in tears of grief and indignation.

`Ha, here is my horse! How rescued you him?' he inquired, with surprise,
`I believed he had been, ere this, food for wolves. I was set upon, a half
league hence by a hungry pack, and only saved myself by springing from his
back into the branch of a tree, when he took flight, with the whole horde in full
cry after him!'

The knight narrated their adventure, and the escape of the princess, by the
gallantry of the forester, whom the emperor, after casting a searching look
upon him as he stood aloof from the company, beckoned to advance.

`I am told thou art a forester, and hast shown bravery of no mean degree. I
need such youths about me! Go, take leave of thy father, and follow me to
court.'

Thus speaking, the emperor, remounting his own horse, rode forward; and
Olof saw as he followed them with his eyes, that he talked and laughed with
the Jewess, as he rode, without taking notice of the palanquin, or its occupant.

The young peasant went to court the next day, in obedience to the command
of the emperor, and was made a page of his person, to attend him in hunting.—
His courage, his manliness, and his superior excellence in all things appertaining
to his new station, as if born and educated to it, won for him the emperor's
regard, who did not fail to heap honors upon him. Nevertheless, Olof remained
the same modest and unassuming person as before. He had been but a few
weeks in the palace when he discovered that the emperor neglected the youthful
empress, whom be kept almost a prisoner in her own apartments; while he
spent many of his leisure hours in the company of the beautiful, artful and ambitious
Jewess. Olof's heart bled for her, and he was daily contriving ways to
do her kindnesses, which his position enabled him to do. At length, for some
bold deed, in which he saved the emperor's life from an assassin, he was ennobled,
and made a knight of the first order in the empire.

Two years he had remained attached to the emperor's person—a bold soldier
and gallant warrior in the field, and a polished courtier in the palace,—when it
was discovered by some means, and with certain proof, that he was a nephew of
the emperor! being the son of his younger brother, who had been taken from
its nurse's arms in the forest, by a bear, and borne into the wilderness, where he
was supposed to have been devoured, or to have perished. He was, however,
found by the forester's wife, who nurtured him as her own. This discovery
produced a great change in the condition of Olof, but none in his heart! He
modestly assumed the honors of his high rank, yet wore them as became his
birth. During the two years he had become loyally attached to the empress,
whom the emperor had now deserted for the beautiful Jewess, who became his
concubine, and held great influence over his mind. At length she succeeded
in prevailing upon him to imprison Brynhilda in a remote castle on the Rhine,
on the accusation of an attempt to poison him.

This act roused the indignation of the nobles, for the mild and gentle character
of the empress had won their attachment, and enlisted their sympathy; and
being also incensed that a Jewess should be elevated to her place in the imperial
palace, they drew up a formidable petition of remonstrance at this injustice
done to the empress. This bold procedure incensed the haughty and reckless
emperor; and, determined, under the smarting rage of the insult, to be
revenged on both her and the nobles, for their interference, he sent for Olof,
who was now nearest his throne and his confidential adviser. The young
prince appeared before him, tall, noble and commanding in person, the first
knight, already, in arms and gentle deeds, in all Germany, though scarce twenty
two.

`Olof,' said the emperor, `you are my next of blood, and heir of an empire!

If this wicked empress lives, she will seek your life as she has mine! Go to
her, and take with you a trusty slave, and see that she be put to the death! It
is the only course I have of ensuring my own life, or you the imperial sceptre?'

The young prince started, and his eloquently-speaking countenance showed
his compassion and grief. The emperor observing this, said sternly,

`On your obedience hangs your own life, and thence your crown!'

The prince bowed low, and left the imperial presence. The same night he
took horse and attendants, and the third day reached the fortress, in which the
hapless empress was cruelly confined.

The lady beholding him approach, from her grated lattice, and recognizing
him, began to hope her deliverance had come, for she could not believe she
could receive evil from his gentle hands. He alighted; the warder opened the
heavy barriers! the locks gave back at his onward course through the passages!
she heard his step upon the paved hall without, and the next moment the young
forester-prince stood in her presence. He closed the door, and they were alone!
She stood still, uncertain whether to advance or not, when he came forward,
and, kneeling silently at her feet, took her hand, and she felt hot tears drop
upon it!

`What means this grief, Olof!' she said, as he rose to his feet and gazed upon
it!

`What means this grief, Olof?' she said, as he rose to his feet and gazed upon
her with pity.

`It is the emperor's commands, lady, that you prepare to die! I am commissioned
to put them into execution!'

`And will you be so cruel? I am innocent, Olof, of all he could charge
against me! My guilt lies in his own dark heart! I am innocent!' and she
fell on her knees and looked up to heaven!

`I know it, lady!' he said, with deep grief; it is the emperor's command that
I slay you presentty.

`Then give me a moment, Olof, to make my peace with God,' said the patient
lady.

`Nay, I shall not harm thee! Your death or mine is my alternative! It becomes
not a knight to harm woman—a subject to lay his hand upon his empress!
Thus, lady, I show my loyalty and maintain my honor!'

Thus speaking the noble youth threw himself forward upon his naked sword,
and died at the feet of her whom he had been commanded to slay!

Here the German knight paused!

A murmur of surprise and admiration rose both from the knights and the listening
sisterhood in the casement above, and it was acknowledged, without a
dissenting voice, that Olof of St. Morin had shown himself worthy the appellation
of a true knight; inasmuch as this deed of his was inspired by the noblest
sentiments that can inhabit the bosom of a man, or give glory to chivalry