bardon me!-as if he were an elector of on one of your vassals, who has deeply he Holy Empire?". wronged me!" An aged knight, who, in spite of co- The Emperor frowned. Justice," he bious libations, still retained some presence murmured; "that eternal word, justice, f mind, at length broke silence. "Sire," is ever in all their mouths. One would aid he, "if the somewhat savage dress think, to hear them, that a sovereign once which distinguishes this bold knight, did seated on the throne of the Cæsars, had ot of itself identify him, his bearing and no future occupation save that of listening his language would proclaim him to be the to complaints. Herrmann! could not you, noble Herrmann, Lord of Lueg, common- after the practice of so many of your class, called The Bear of Carniola." do yourself justice ?—and, if not, think "I begin to understand," said the Em- you that you have chosen a place and an peror; the Eear has quitted his forests, hour the most fitting to put the wisdom of allured by the scent of our imperial kit- our judgment to the proof?" chen. Lord of Lueg, your little castle is "The rank of the offender," gravely far from Vienna; what pressing motive replied the knight, "did not permit me to has driven you to this journey?-Is it hun- take justice into my own hands, until I ger or cold? Or have a few robbers had first tried the effect of an appeal to ken your domain by assault, and have your sovereign decision. As for the time you come to apply for some dozen of our and place which I have chosen, they seem men to aid you in reconquering your heri- to me fitting, since your majesty can at Stage?" once hear the parties, and form your opi "In my castle," replied the indignant nion, my adversary being now in your Herrmann," we suffer neither from hun- presence." er nor from cold. If it should please "Here!" cried the Emperor; "your foe our majesty to honour it with a visit, I, here!-who, then, is he?"

ke upon myself to feast you and your "Behold him!" cried Herrmann, pointetinue with fresh meats, green vegetables, ing to the noble who sat on the monarch's nd juicy fruits, in that rigorous season right hand; "I demand justice against hen, as I here perceive, your majesty's the grand marshal, the Count Pappenable is covered only with confectionary heim!" and dried fruits. As for an attack on my

"Pappenheim," exclaimed the emperor, astle by a few robbers, so far from need-" thou hearest! What dealings can there ng your majesty's aid in such a peril, I'be between the Bear of Carniola and thee? should not be afraid to undertake its de- How hast thou wronged him?" ence against your majesty's self, in case The grand marshal, according to his You should take it into your head to be- custom, was the least sober of the comfege it with your entire army." pany. He had arrived at that middle A long and unanimous burst of laughter state, between sleeping and waking, in replied to this declaration of the knight's. which it is alike fatiguing to hear, to speak, Maximilian himself, in spite of his efforts, or to think. At his master's question, howas compelled to join in the general merri- ever, he raised his eyes heavily, gazed ment. Herimann's eyes flashed fire upon stupidly on Herrmann for a moment, then the assembly; and when they fell upon let them fall again, and replied, in a voice the emperor, it was evident that respect broken by hiccough, "I never saw the for his authority alone restrained the utte- man in my life-I have no dealings with rance of his indignation. The monarch him."

at length perceived that the dignity of his "More than you think, Count Pappenrank was suffering from this scene, and he heim," said Herrmann. "It may be that assumed a tone more befitting himself, as you know me not; but you have not forhe again addressed the knight. gotten the young girl whom you carried "High and puissant Lord of Lueg"" he off last summer from the monastery of said, "who possess such mighty riches, Inspruck, and foully abandoned at Salzand a fortress of such strength, what can burg." you have to ask at hands weak as ours?"

"A young girl carried off! Is this true "I have said it, sire-Justice!-justice Pappenheim?" said the Emperor mildly

to his favourite. "By my faith another of which the guests whispered with each thy wild tricks this! Wilt thou be for ever other. The grand marshal gazed by turns incorrigible?" on the Emperor and the knight, and seem

The grand marshal made a prodigious ed suddenly to comprehend what was pas effort at attention, and sought from amid sing: for bursting into a drunken laugh, the chaos which the wine had produced he exclaimed, "I!-marry Ida-Ha! ha!" in his brain to muster a few recollections. The Emperor darted on him an indigAt length he appeared to have succeeded, nant. look, and for an instant seemed unfor he made an attempt at a smile, and certain how to act. At length he turned murmured, in an under-voice, "At Salz- towards the knight, with that air of princeburg! Oh, Ida! the charming girl!-Ay, ly dignity which he could assume upon by my faith she was handsome!" occasion, and thus addressed him: "Lord "That Ida," cried Herrmann, in a voice of Lueg-were it even fully demonstrated which sounded as if issued from a tomb- that your complaint is well founded-that "that Ida whom her beauty had plunged all the blame is on the side of the grand into the ruin which you prepared for her marshal alone that your daughter is, in -that Ida was my own blood-my own truth, the victim of seduction;, carried on child-the last scion of the house of Lueg!" by artifice and crowned by perfidy-and At these words, a deep silence fell upon were I-overlooking all the difficulties the assembly, and its gaiety went out, as which stand in the way of this unequal by sudden chill. The face of the Emperor union to employ all my authority in combecame grave, and his voice was solemn pelling him to contract it-he could not and kind and when he again spoke to obey me. Pappenheim is married." Herrmann. As he spoke, a sudden and dealy pale"Knight of Lueg," he said the charge ness overspread the face of Herrmann of which you prefer against our grand mar- Lueg, and his teeth chattered as with shal is a heavy one. This matter shall be mortal cold. A violent spasm shook his investigated with scrupulous care; but at whole frame; and a sort of growl strugthis moment, Pappenheim is, as you see, gled from his throat, which made, the asin no condition to reply. Return to-mor- sembly shudder. Even the intoxication row, and we will take counsel on the means of Pappenheim seemed to vanish before of healing this grievous wound." the savage aspect of his furious accuser.

"And how then does your majesty ima- He half rose from his seat, and gazed on gine that a quarrel like this can be recon- his foe with a lived lip and a quailing eye. ciled?" vehemently asked the knight of At a sign from the Emperor, two of the Carniola. guards had placed themselves by the side

"Only by proportioning the reparation of Herrmann, who struggled fearfully with to the greatness of the outrage, and the the feelings that for many seconds were rank and fortune of the offender, replied his uncontrolled masters. At length, and the Emperor. after terrible efforts, he succeeded in re

"One only reparation is possible!" vo- gaining articulation; and his voice brociferated Herrmann, in a voice hoarse ken, and interrupted at first by the strong from the concentration of many feelings. contest of the passions, grew clear as ho "And, oh that I should be driven to receive proceeded, and before he ceased, was loud that from a man degraded by debauch, like and wild, and shrill, as when he shouted him whom I now see before me! But ho-his war-cry in the rush and whirlwind of nour sways all other feelings. Your ma- the fight.

jesty has heard from that drunkard's "Married!-monster-my poor, poor," mouth the avowal of his crime and the Ida-lost for ever lost!-no more then proof of my wrong. There needs no coun- of reparation! no more appeals to justice! sel, and can be no delay. Here, on this -but blood --vengeance!--vile seducer! spot, and at this moment, your majesty To the sanctuary of this palace thou ow will order the Count Pappenheim to es-est that this moment is not the last of thy pouse my daughter, whom he has sedu- life! But I defy thee!--Count of Pappenced and dishonoured." heim, I defy thee to mortal combat, afoot There was a moments' silence, during or on horse, with lance, sword and dagger!

Take my battle-gage--and be it a presage inhabitants of Idra, in the morning, a few of thine overthrow !". miles from this place, on the mountain. While thus speaking, Herrman had The horse worn out by fatigue, had broloosed from his arm a heavy gauntlet of ken down; and Herrmann was in the act iron, and, as he finished, he hurled it with of abandoning it, carrying in hand his prodigious force in the face of the grand cloak-bag, and with the other supporting marshal. The blow was so violent that the young girl, who appeared to be very Pappenheim, overthrown, fell on the breast weak and ill and whom the peasants. beof the Emperor, bathing the garments with lieve to have been his daughter. They his blood. His left temple was beat in by lost sight of the travellers amid the windthe stroke of the terrible gauntlet. A mo- ing paths which lead to the castle of Lueg. mentary spasm convulsed him-his limbs On the receipt of this information, I sent stiffened--and there remained in the arms a sergeant and ten men-at-arms to seize of maximillion only the corpse of his fa- the murderer in his den. The sergeant had vourite.. not returned, and one only of his ten comThe spectators rushed forward with panions has this morning come back, cries of horror and affright, and the next bringing the following extraordinary parmovement was to seize the murderer. But ticulars:

he was gone. One of the guards was rising Though the castle of Lueg is but a day's slowly from the floor, on which he had journey from this place, the men were unbeen flung; and the other yet staggered able to reach their destination before the under a blow which Herman had dealt second evening. The difficulty of adhim as he retreated. Some of the party vancing at this season of the year, by had hurried into the hall, in the hope of paths buried in snow, cut through gloomy overtaking the knight before he could pass forests, and along abrupt precipices, was the guards stationed at the palace gates; partly the cause of this delay; but it was but it was soon discovered that he had greatly increased by the absolute necesentered these apartments by a door com- sity of seeking guides and the great diffimunicating with the exterior of the palace culty of procuring them. The peasants which, being usually kept closed, was left of the neighbourhood, apprised of the purungarded, and that he had thus effected pose of the expedition, fled at the approach his unobstructed escape. of the soldiers; and the women only re

28

On the following morning, the trumpets mained behind, who assured them that the of the heralds sounded in the streets of castle was impregnable, and defended by Vienna; and they proclaimed a reward unearthly powers. In the end, however, of four hundred golden ducats to any one a young peasant was forcibly placed at who should bring in, dead or alive, the the head of the detachment, and compellknight Herrmann of Lueg, murderer of ed to show the way to the fortress. Arthe grand marshal. Orders were also rived at the foot of the rock on which the despatched to the governors and councils castle stands, the soldiers began to climb of the different towns of the empire, to the narrow and dangerous road which scize him wherever he might be found. conducts to its principal entrance; but, The funeral of the Count Pappenheim was before they had proceeded far, they were celebrated with great pomp, and the mau- stopped by a wall of snow, of fearful soleum raised to his memory may still be height, and extending directly across their seen in the cathedral of St. Stephen. path. Whilst they were seeking some A month passed away without tidings of means of passing this barrier, their attenthe knight of Carniola. At the end of tion was attracted by a sound overhead; that time the following report from the and, looking up, they saw (says the solcommander of the district of Laybach was dier), a troop of bears, furiously pawing transmitted to the imperial chancery: amid the snow, and growling defiance, as According to intelligence which I have it were, against the assailants. While obtained, it appears that the knight Herr- their attention was riveted upon this mann of Lueg passed through this town strange sight, the terrified guide fled, and about three weeks ago. In his company the surviving soldier was directed by his vas a young girl, who travelled on a pil- sergeant to pursue. This order saved on behind him. They were met by two life; for, at the moment he overtook VOL. III.2-1.

peasant, the wall of show was shaken be-separately examined, and unanimous in hind him, and an avalanche, huge as a declaring that they were ignorant of the mountain, overwhelmed his miserable com-means by which they had been brought panions. He affirms that at this moment to Italy; having no consciousness of any. he heard the hideous roar of the bears thing which had happened to them since rise up like a shout of victory, and that they, were stricken insensible by the falling he saw the animals fly like shadows to-snow. They appeared to be quite as ward the pinnacle of the rock. The much astonished at the event and at their dreadful and momentary scene was suc-present situation as their interrogators. ceeded by an awful silence; and the two One of them related, as the confused and sole survivors returned to make their re-wandering recollection of a painful dream, port of it to me. Every where on their that he had been in hell; where he had route this singular catastrophe only served beheld demons dancing round a huge fire to confirm the terrified peasants in their and been forced to swallow burning liprevious belief that the castle of Luegquids; and all were firmly persuaded that is protected by supernatural agents. they had been under the influence of evil Upon receipt of this report, the Aulic spirits, who had ultimately carried them ·Council of War despatched immediate or-through the air, and laid them down in ders to the military governor of Carniola, the square of Wipach.

to invest the castle of Lueg, to destroy it The governor, however, despising the by fire and sword, and to sieze all, with- popular rumours, set about executing his out exception, who should be found with-orders, and, in person, lcd a body of troops in its walls. But, before this order reach to the siege of Lueg. He took with him ed him, circumstances still more extraor two very light pieces of artillery, of a kind dinary than those which we have narrated then recently come into use, called falcohad occurred to strengthen the belief of nets; and made all possible arrangements of the neighbourhood in the magic resour-for supplying his camp with provisions as ces of the castle.. amply as the severity of the season and

On the morning which succeeded the the sterility of the country would permit. mission ef the former expedition, the inhab The castle of Lueg is built in an imitants of Wipach, a village in Upper Italy, mense hollow, formed by nature in the situate to the left of the road leading from face of a perpendicular rock, at about two Udine to Laybach, and more than twelvethirds of its height, the sides of which miles from Lueg, discovered on the en-shelter it in every direction except towtrance-steps of their church, in the public ards the east. From the almost in acsquare, ten sleeping men. They were re-cessible summit of the mountain which cognised by their dress as soldiers of the overhangs it a stone would fall to the bot imperial guard; but, on awaking them; itom of the hollow, passing in front of the was found impossible to learn from them castle, but without striking it. It cannot the motive of their entering the states of be seen from the foot of the rock, or from Venice, then in profound peace with the the valley which it commands, and is visEmperor. As they appeared to be suffer-ible, only from the surrounding heights, ing and exhausted, the local magistrate which are at too great a distance for ar ordered refreshments to be distributed te tillery planted on them to bear upon th them, and furnished them on the following fortress. At the time of which we sper day with a conveyance to Adelsburgh, a narrow path, cut in the face of the ro the nearest imperial town, .where they and winding in many zigzags, was were taken before.the commandment. of only one which afforded access to the castle. To his unbounded astonish-castle; and it was at the entrance of ment, they turned out to be the sergeant path that the soldiers first sent ag. and the nine soldiers who were believed Herrmann had been overwhelmed) to have been lying for two days beneath the falling snow, snow in the gloomy valley of Lueg.

Having reconnoitered the fort No rational or satisfactory account of decided that it was, inaccessib their strange adventure could, however, other way than the winding pa be extracted from the men. They were the governor signified his app

besieged by a discharge of arquebuses and that the besieged were making signals of artillery. The balls broke off some splin-surrender, he sent two officers to meet ters from the rock; but not one of them their flag of truce and conduct the bearers reached the castle, which, at this point, into the camp. At the same time, he as we have said, was invisible to the engi-perceived advancing down the tortuous neers. Guards were placed on all the ad-path of a superintendent. and four men jacent heights; the neighbouring forests bearing large baskets on their shoulders, were m vain explored in all directions, to which they finally deposited at the foot of ascertain if no, other road than that which the rock, Their leader at the same time. we have described could be discovered; delivered a dispatch for the governor, and and, as this only path was completely then with the rest of the envoys immedichoaked up with ice and snow and a single ately began to reclimb the precipice. man could, under such circumstances, The baskets and the dispatch were carhave readily stopped the advance of anried to the camp. The latter contained a entire army along its narrow and sinuous letter from Herrmann to the governor, defiles, the governor deemed, it advisible counselling him to abandon his useless to convert the siege into a blockade, and enterprise, and save himself and his solendeavour; by the aid of famine, to con-diers from perishing with cold, in the atquer those whom nature had taken pains tempt to blockade a fortress defended by to defend by so, extraordinary a posi a power mightier than that of the sove reign who had sent him.. It condoled with

tion.

It was drawing towards the close of him on the numberless privations to which Dcember; the cold was piercing, and the he had been subjected in the discharge of tents of the besiegers afforded very inade-his difficult duty; and knowing, said the quate shelter. Their provisions, brought letter, how much the governor must suffer from a considerable distance, were mostly from the scarcity of provisions in this rude frozen on the way. At the same time, the season, the, writer requested his cordial thick smoke which rose from the castle acceptance of the little present therewith overhead indicated that its occupants pos- sent-which present he undertook to resessed all the requisits for defending them new, during the continuance of the incle selves against the severity of the season.ment weather, as often as the governor To the shouts of menace which were di-would do him the honour to accept it, rected against them they had only replied After the reading of this singular epis by mocking cries. Each evening the ech-tle, the baskets were opened. The first oes of a falconet, discharged by the be-was filled with Cyprus wines, Italian lisiegers to awaken the attention of their queurs, and choice confections; the second outposts, resounded through the valley with fish of various kinds, which appear. and it was invariably replied to by a sim led to have left its native element but a few ilar discharge from the castle; after hours; the third, with oranges and lemons. which the soldiers fancied they could hear of great beauty and excellent quallity the sentinels relieved on the Alpine plat-and the fourth enclosed green herbs, salads 15 form overhead. fresh gathered, and strawberries and rasp Things continued in this state till tow-berries in full, ripeness.

ts,

ards the beginning of March, and the gov The surprise which this extraordinary ernor felt assured that the besieged could gift excited in the camp, soon, resolved not possibly hold out much longer; for he itself into a participation, by no means had learned that the castle was but slen-equivocal, of the popular terror on the derly provisioned at the moment of sin-part of the soldiers, who could not help vestment, and that Herrmann had not had attributing to sorcery that which it was. time or opportunity for collecting stores. impossible to account for by natural means. His conjectures appeared about to be rea- A few days afterwards, the governor, hav lised, when, after a siege of more than six-ing determined to accept the challenge of ty days, he beheld, one morning a white Herrmann, for the purpose of ascertainflag planted at the summit of the pathing how far it might be mere bravado, rewhich led to the castle, and two or three quested a supply of fresh provisions for unarmed men waving handkerchiefs over the festival of Mid-Lent, which, he re the parapet of the platform. Convinced minded the knight, was a flesh-day;