第3章
作者:Thomas Carlyle | 字数:27748 字

toshakethedustoffhisfeetagainstPrag,anddevotehimselftoconvertingthosePrussianHeathen,who,acrossthefrontiers,werelivinginsuchsavagery,andexpressbondagetotheDevil,worshippingmerestocksandstones。InthisenterprisehewasencouragedbytheChristianpotentateswholaycontiguous;

especiallybytheDukeofPoland,towhomsuchnext—neighbors,forallreasons,wereaneye—sorrow。

Adalbertwent,accordingly,withstaffandscrip,twomonksattendinghim,intothatdangerouscountry:notinfear,he;

adevouthigh—temperedman,vergingnowonfifty,hishairgettinggray,andfacemarredwithinnumerabletroublesandprovocationsofpasttime。Hepreachedzealously,almostfiercely,——thoughchieflywithhiseyesandgestures,Ishouldthink,havingnocommandofthelanguage。AtDantzig,amongtheSwedish—GothkindofHeathen,hehadsomesuccess,oraffluenceofattendance;

notelsewherethatwehearof。InthePillauregion,forexample,wherehenextlanded,anamphibiousHeathenlouthithimheavilyacrosstheshoulderswiththeflatofhisoar;sentthepoorPreachertotheground,faceforemost,andsuddenlyendedhissalutarydiscourseforthattime。However,hepressedforward,regardlessofresults,preachingtheEvangeltoallcreatureswhowerewillingorunwilling;——andpressedatlastintotheSacredCircuit,theROMOVA,orPlaceofOak—trees,andofWoodenorStoneIdols(Bangputtis,Patkullos,andIknownotwhatdiabolicdumbBlocks),whichitwasdeathtoenter。TheHeathenPriests,aswemayconceiveit,rushedout;beckonedhim,withloudunintelligiblebullyingsandfiercegestures,tobegone;

hustled,shookhim,shovedhim,ashedidnotgo;thentooktoconfusedstriking,struckfinallyadeath—strokeontheheadofpoorAdalbert:sothat"hestretchedoutbothhisarms(’Jesus,receivemethou!’)andfellwithhisfacetotheground,andlaydeadthere,——intheformofacrucifix,"sayhisBiographers:

onlytheattendantmonksescapingtotell。

Attendantmonks,orAdalbert,hadknownnothingoftheirbeingonforbiddenground。Theiraccountsofthephenomenonaccordinglyleaveitonlyhalfexplained:HowhewassurprisedbyarmedHeathenDevil’s—servantsinhissleep;wasviolentlysetupon,andhis"beautifulbowels(<italic>pulchraviscera<enditalic>)

wererunthroughwithsevenspears:"butthisoftheROMOVA,orSacredBangputtisChurchofOak—trees,perhapschiefROMOVAoftheCountry,rashlyintrudedinto,withconsequentstrokes,andfallintheformofacrucifix,appearsnowtobetheintelligibleaccount。[Baillet,<italic>ViesdesSaints<enditalic>(Paris,1739),iii。722。Bollandus,<italic>ActaSanetorum,Aprilistom。iii(DIE23;inEdition<italic>venetiis,<enditalic>

1738),pp。174—205。Voigt,<italic>GeschichtePreussens<enditalic>(Konigsberg,1827—1839),i。266—270。]WewilltakeitfortherealmannerofAdalbert’sexit;——nodoubtoftheessentialtransaction,orthatitwasaveryflamingoneonbothsides。

Thedategivenis23dApril,997;datefamousintheRomishCalendarsince。

HewasaCzechbybirth,sonofaHeathenBohemianmanofrank:

hisname(Adalbert,A’lbert,BRIGHT—in—Nobleness)hegot"atMagdeburg,whitherhehadgonetostudy"andseekbaptism;where,asgenerallyelsewhere,hisferventdevoutwayswereadmirabletohisfellow—creatures。A"manofgenius,"wemaywellsay:oneofHeaven’sbrightsouls,bornintothemuddydarknessofthisworld;——laidholdofbyatranscendentMessage,intheduetranscendentdegree。HeenteredPrag,asBishop,notinacarriageandsix,but"walkingbarefoot;"hiscontemptforearthlyshadowsbeingalwaysextreme。Accordingly,hisquarrelswiththeSOECULUM

wereconstantandendless;hiswanderingsupanddown,andvehementarguings,inthisworld,tolittlevisibleeffect,lastedallhisdays。Wecanperceivehewasshort—tempered,thinofskin:

aviolentlysensitiveman。Forexample,onceintheBohemiansolitudes,onasummerafternoon,inoneofhisthousand—foldpilgrimingsandwayfarings,hehadlaindowntorest,hisoneortwomonksandhe,insomestillglade,"withastoneforhispillow"(aswasalwayshiscustomeveninPrag),andhadfallensoundasleep。ABohemianshepherdchancedtopassthatway,warblingsomethingonhispipe,ashewendedtowardslookingafterhisflock。Seeingthesleepersontheirstonepillows,thethoughtlessCzechmischievouslyblewlouder,——startedAdalbertbroadawakeuponhim;who,inthefuryofthefirstmoment,shrieked:"Deafnessonthee!Mancrueltothehumansenseofhearing!"orwordstothateffect。Whichcurse,likethemostofAdalbert’s,waspunctuallyfulfilled:theamazedCzechstooddeafasapost,andwentaboutsoallhisdaysafter;nay,forlongcenturies(perhapsdowntothepresenttime,inremoteparts),noCzechblowsintohispipeinthewoodlands,withoutcertainprecautions,andpreliminaryfuglingsofadevotionalnature。

[Bollandus,ubisupra。]——Fromwhichmiracle,asindeedfrommanyotherindications,Iinferanirritablenervous—systeminpoorAdalbert;andfindthisdeathintheRomovawasprobablyafuriousmixtureofEarthandHeaven。

Atallevents,heliesthere,beautifulthoughbloody,"intheformofacrucifix;"zealousAdalbert,thehotspiritofhimnowatlastcold;——andhasclapthismarkupontheHeathencountry,protestingtothelast。Thiswasintheyear997,thinkthebest@@@@@

Antiquaries。IthappenedataplacecalledFISCHHAUSEN,nearPillau,saythey;onthat,narrowstripofcountrywhichliesbetweentheBalticaadtheFrischeHaf(immenseLake,WASH,asweshouldsay,orleakageofshallowwater,oneoftwosuch,whichtheBaltichasspiltoutofitinthatquarter),——neartheFortandHavenofPillau;wheretherehasbeenmuchstirsince;whereNapoleon,foronething,hadsometoughfighting,priortotheTreatyofTilsit,fiftyyearsago。Theplace——orifnotthisplace,thenGneseninPoland,thefinalburial—placeofAdalbert,whichisbetterknown——haseversincehadakindofsacredness;

betterorworseexpressedbymankind:intheformofcanonization,endlesspilgrimages,rumoredmiracles,andsuchlike。Forshortlyafterwards,theneighboringPotentate,BoleslausDukeofPoland,heart—struckattheevent,drewswordontheseHeathens,andhaving(ifIremember)gainedsomevictory,bargainedtohavetheBodyofAdalbertdeliveredtohimatitsweightingold。Body,allcutinpieces,andnailedtopoles,hadlongignominiouslywitheredinthewind;perhapsitwasnowonlyburiedovernightforthenonce?Beingdugup,orbeingcutdown,andputintothebalance,itweighed——lessthanwasexpected。Itwasaslightasgossamer,saidpiousrumor,Hadsuchanexcellentodortoo;——andcameforamerenothingofgold!ThiswasAdalbert’sfirstmiracleafterdeath;inlifehehaddonemanyhundredsofthem,andhasdonemillionssince,——chieflyuponparalyticnervous—systems,andtheelementofpiousrumor;——whichanyDevil’s—Advocatethenextantmayexplainifhecan!KaiserOtto,WonderoftheWorld,whohadknownSt。Adalbertinlife,andmuchhonoredhim,"madeapilgrimagetohistombatGnesenintheyear1000;"——andkneltthere,wemaybelieve,withthoughtswondrousenough,greatandsadenough。

ThereisnohopeofconvertingPreussen,then?ItwillneverleaveoffitsdireworshipofSatan,then?Saynot,Never;thatisaweakword。St。Adalberthasstampedhislifeuponit,intheformofacrucifix,inlastingprotestagainstthat。

ChapterIII。

MARKGRAVESOFBRANDENBURG。

MeanwhileourfirstenigmaticsetofMarkgraves,orDeputy—

Markgraves,atBrandenburg,arelikewisefaringill。Whoeverthesevaliantsteel—graygentlemenmightbe(whichDryasdustdoesnottheleastknow,andonlymakesyoumoreuncertainthemorehepretendstotell),onethingisveryevident,theyhadnopeaceablepossessionoftheplace,norforaboveahundredyears,aconstantoneonanyterms。TheWendswerehighlydisinclinedtoconversionandobedience:onceandagain,andstillagain,theyburstup;gottemporaryholdofBrandenburg,hopingtokeepit;

anddidfrightfulheterodoxiesthere。Sothattoourdistressedimaginationthosepoor"MarkgravesofWitekinddescent,"ourfirstsetinBrandenburg,becomealtogethershadowy,intermittent,enigmatic,painfullyactualastheyoncewere。Takeoneinstance,omittingothers;whichhappilyprovestobethefinishofthatfirstshadowyline,andintroducesustoanewsetveryslightlymoresubstantial。

ENDOFTHEFIRSTSHADOWYLINE。

Intheyear1023,nearacenturyafterHenrytheFowler’sfeat,theWendsburstingupinnever—imaginedfury,getholdofBrandenburgagain,——forthethirdand,onewouldfainhope,thelasttime。Thereasonwas,wordsspokenbythethenMarkgrafofBrandenburg,DietrichorTheodoric,lastoftheWitekindMarkgraves;whohearingthataCousinofhis(MarkgraforDeputy—

Markgraflikehimself)wasaboutweddinghisdaughterto"MistevoiKingoftheWends,"saidtooearnestly:"Don’t!Willyougiveyourdaughtertoadog?"Word"dog"wasused,saysmyauthority。[SeeMichaelis<italic>ChurundFurstlichenHauser,<enditalic>

i。257—259:Pauli,<italic>AllgemeinePreussischeStaats—

Geschichte<enditalic>(Halle,1760—1769),i。l—182(the"standardwork"onPrussianHistory;ineightwateryquartos,intolerabletohumannature):Kloss,<italic>VuterlandischeGemalde<enditalic>(Berlin,1833),i。59—108(aBookseller’scompilation,withsomecuriousExcerpts):——underwhichliemodernSagittarius,ancientAdamofBremen,<italic>DitmarusMerseburgensis,WitichindusCorbeiensis,ArnoldusLubecensis,<enditalic>&c。&c。toalllengthsandbreadths。]WhichthrewKingMistevoiintoaparoxysm,andraisedtheWends。TheirbutcheryoftheGermanpopulationinpoorBrandenburg,especiallyofthePriests;theirburningoftheCathedral,andofChurchandStategenerally,maybeconceived。TheHARLUNGSBERG,——inourtimeMARIENBERG,pleasantHillnearBrandenburg,withitsgardens,vines,andwhitenedcottages:——onthetopofthisHarlungshergtheWends"setuptheirgodTriglaph;"athree—headedMonsterofwhichIhaveseenprints,beyondmeasureugly。Somethinglikethreewhale’s—cubscombinedbyboiling,oratripleporpoisedead—

drunk(forthedulleyesareinexpressible,aswellastheamorphousshape):ugliestandstupidestofallfalsegods。

ThisthesevictoriousWendssetupontheHarlungsberg,Year1023;

andworshippedaftertheirsort,benightedmortals,——withjoy,foratime。TheCathedralwasinashes,Priestsallslainorfled,shadowyMarkgravesthelike;ChurchandStatelayinashes;

andTriglaph,likeaTriplePorpoiseundertheinfluenceoflaudanum,stood(Iknownotwhetheronhisheadoronhistail)

aloftontheHarlungsberg,astheSupremeofthisUniverse,forthetimebeing。

SECONDSHADOWYLINE。

WhereupontheDITMARSCH—STADEMarkgrafs(assomedesignatethem)

hadtointerfere,theseshadowyDeputiesoftheWitekindbreedhavingvanishedinthatmanner。TheDitmarschersrecoveredtheplace;andwithsomefighting,didinthemainatleastkeepTriglaphandtheWendsoutofitintimecoming。TheWendswerefiercelytroublesome,andfoughtmuch;butIthinktheyneveractuallygotholdofBrandenburgagain。Theywerebeginningtogetnotionsofconversion:wellpreachedtoandwellbeatenupon,youcannotholdoutforever。EvenMistevoiatonetimeprofessedtendenciestoChristianity;perhapspartlyforhisBride’ssake,——

thedog,wemaycallhim,inamildersense!Butherelapseddreadfully,afterthatinsult;andhissonworse。Ontheotherhand,Mistevoi’sgrandsonwassozealoushewentaboutwiththeMissionaryPreachers,andinterpretedtheirGermanintoWendish:

"Oh,mypoorWends,willyouhear,then,willyouunderstand?

ThissolidEarthisbutashadow:HeavenforeverorelseHellforever,thatisthereality!"SUCH"differencebetweenrightandwrong"noWendhadheardofbefore:quitetremendously"importantiftrue!"——Anddoubtlessitimpressedmany。ThereareheavyDitmarschstrokesfortheunimpressible。Bydegreesallgotconverted,thoughmanywerekilledfirst;and,onewayorother,theWendsarepreparingtoeffacethemselvesasadistinctpeople。

ThisSTADE—AND—DITMARSCHfamily(ofAnglishorSaxonbreed,ifthatisanadvantage)seemgenerallytohavefurnishedtheSALZWEDELOfficeaswell,ofwhichBrandenburgwasanoffshoot,donebydeputy,usuallyalsooftheirkin。TheylastedinBrandenburgrathermorethanahundredyears;——withlittleornoBook—Historythatisgoodtoread;theirHistoryinarticulaterather,andstampedbeneficentlyonthefaceofthings。Ottoisacommonnameamongthem。Oneoftheirsisters,too,Adelheid(Adelaide,NOBLENESS)hadastrangeadventurewith"LudwigtheSpringer:"romanticmythicman,famousintheGermanworld,overwhommyreadersandImustnotpauseatthistime。

InSalzwedel,inDitmarsch,orwhereverstationed,theyhadatoilsomefightinglife:soredifficultieswiththeirDITMARSCHERS

too,withtheplunderingDanishpopulations;MarkgrafafterMarkgrafgettingkilledinthebusiness。"ERSCHLAGEN,slainfightingwiththeHeathen,"saytheoldBooks,andpassontoanother。Ofallwhichthereisnowsilenceforever。Somanyyearsmenfoughtandplannedandstruggledthere,allforgottennowexceptbythegods;andsilentlygaveawaytheirlife,beforethosecountriescouldbecomefencibleandhabitable!Nay,myfriend,itisourlottoo:andifwewouldwinhonorinthisUniverse,therumorofHistoriesandMorningNewspapers,——whichhavetobecomewhollyzero,oneday,andfalldumbasstones,andwhichwerenotperhapsverywiseevenwhilespeaking,——willhelpuslittle!——

SUBSTANTIALMARKGRAVES:GLIMPSEOFTHECONTEMPORARYKAISERS。

TheDitmarsch—Stadekindred,muchslaininbattlewiththeHeathen,andotherwisebeatenupon,diedout,abouttheyear1l30

(earlierperhaps,perhapslater,forallisshadowystill);

andweresucceededintheSalzwedelpartoftheirfunctionbyakindredcalled"ofAscanienandBallenstadt;"theASCANIERorANALTMarkgraves;whoseHistory,andthatofBrandenburg,becomeshencefortharticulatetous;aHistorynotdoubtfulorshadowyanylonger;butascertainable,ifreckonedworthascertaining。

WhosucceededinDitmarsch,letusbynomeansinquire。TheEmpireitselfwasinsomedisorderatthistime,moreabstruseofaspectthanusual;andtheseNorthernMarkgrafs,alreadybecomeimportantpeople,anddeepingeneralpolitics,hadtheirownshareintheconfusionthatwasgoing。

ItwasaboutthissametimethatasecondlineofKaisershaddiedout:theFRANKISHorSALICline,whohadsucceededtotheSAXON,ofHenrytheFowler’sblood。FortheEmpiretoo,thoughelective,hadalwaysatendencytobecomehereditary,andgoinlines:

ifthelastKaiserleftasonnotunfit,whosolikelyastheson?

Butheneededtobefit,otherwiseitwouldnotanswer,——otherwiseitmightbeworseforhim!ThereweregreatlaborsintheEmpiretoo,aswellasontheSclavicfrontierofit:bravemenfightingagainstanarchy(actuallysetinpitchedfightagainstit,andnotalwaysstrongenough),——toilingsore,accordingtotheirfaculty,topulltheinnumerablecrookedthingsstraight。SomeagreedwellwiththePope,——asHenryII。,whofoundedBambergBishopric,andmuchelseofthelike;[Kohler,pp。102—104。See,forinstance,<italic>DescriptiondelaTabled’Aute1enorfin,donneealaCathedraledeBale,parl’EmpereurHenriII。en1019<enditalic>

(Porentruy,1838)。]"asoresaintforthecrown,"aswassaidofDavidI。,hisScotchcongener,byadescendant。Othersdisagreedverymuchindeed;——HenryIV。’ssceneatCanossa,withPopeHildebrandandthepiousCountess(year1077,KaiseroftheHolyRomanEmpirewaiting,threedays,inthesnow,tokissthefootofexcommunicativeHildebrand),hasimpresseditselfonallmemories!

PoorHenryralliedoutofthatabasement,anddealtastrokeortwoonHildebrand;butfellstilllowerbeforelong,hisverySongoingagainsthim;andcamealmosttoactualwantofbread,hadnottheBishopofLiegebeengoodtohim。Nay,afterdeath,helayfouryearswaitingvainlyevenforburial,——butindeedcaredlittleaboutthat。

CertainlythisSonofhis,KaiserHenryV。,doesnotshineinfilialpiety:butprobablythepoorladhimselfwashardbested。

Healsocametodie,A。D。1125,stilllittleoverforty,andwasthelastoftheFrankishKaisers。He"lefttheREICHS—INSIGNIEN

[Crown,SceptreandCoronationgear]tohisWidowandyoungFriedrichofHohenstauffen,"asister’ssonofhis,——hopingthesaidFriedrichmight,partlybythathelp,followasKaiser。

WhichFriedrichcouldnotdo;beingwheedled,boththeWidowandhe,outoftheirinsignia,underfalsepretences,andotherwiseleftinthelurch。NotFriedrich,butoneLothar,astirringmanwhohadgrownpotentintheSaxoncountries,waselectedKaiser。

Intheend,afterwaitingtillLotharwasdone,Friedrich’sracedidsucceed,andwithbrilliancy,——KaiserBarbarossabeingthatsameFriedrich’sson。Inregardtowhichdimcomplicacies,takethisExcerptfromtheimbroglioofManuscripts,beforetheygointothefire:——

"BynomeanstobeforgottenthattheWidowweherespeakof,KaiserHenryV。’sWidow,whobroughtnoheirtoHenryV。,wasourEnglishHenryBeauclerc’sdaughter,——granddaughterthereforeofWilliamConqueror,——thesamewho,having(in1127,thesecondyearofherwidowhood)marriedGodefroiCountofAnjou,producedourHenryII。andourPlantagenets;andthereby,throughhervictoriousControversieswithKingStephen(thatnoblepeerwhosebreechesstoodhimsocheap),becameverycelebratedas’theEmpressMaud,’inouroldHistory—Books。Mathildis,DowagerofKaiserHenryV。,towhomhegavehisReichs—Insigniaatdying:

sheisthe’EmpressMaud’ofEnglishBooks;andrelatesherselfinthismannertotheHohenstauffenDynasty,andintricateGermanvicissitudes。Bethankfulforanyhookwhateveronwhichtohanghalfanacreofthrumsinfixedposition,outofyourway;

thesmallestflint—spark,inaworldallblackandunrememberable,willbewelcome。"——

AndsowereturntoBrandenburgandthe"ASCANIENandBALLENSTADT"

seriesofMarkgraves。

ChapterIV。

ALBERTTHEBEAR。

ThisAscanien,happily,hasnothingtodowithBruteofTroyorthepiousAEneas’sson;itissimplythenameofamostancientCastle(etymologyunknowntome,ruinsstilldimlytraceable)onthenorthslopeoftheHartzMountains;shortwayfromAschersleben,——theCastleandTownofAscherslebenare,sotospeak,asecondeditionofAscanien。Ballenstadtisstillolder;

BallenstadtwasofageinCharlemagne’stime;andisstillarespectablelittleTowninthatuplandrangeofcountry。

Thekindred,calledGRAFSandultimatelyHERZOGS(Dukes)of"AscanienandBallenstadt,"areveryfamousinoldGermanHistory,especiallydownfromthisdate。SomereckonthattheyhadintermittentlybeenMarkgrafs,intheirregion,longbeforethis;

whichisconceivableenough:atalleventsitisveryplaintheydidnowattaintheOfficeinSALZWEDEL(straightwayshiftingittoBrandenburg);andhelditcontinuously,itandmuchelsethatlayadjacent,forcenturies,inahighlyconspicuousmanner。

InBrandenburgtheylastedforabouttwohundredyears;intheirSaxondignities,theyoungerbranchofthemdidnotdieout(andgiveplacetotheWettinsthatnoware)forfivehundred。NaytheyhavestilltheirrepresentativesontheEarth:LeopoldofAnhalt—

Dessau,celebrated"OldDessauer,"comeofthejuniorbranches,islinealheadofthekininFriedrichWilhelm’stime(whileourlittleFritzchenliesasleepinhiscradleatBerlin);andacertainPrinceofAnhalt—Zerbst,ColonelinthePrussianArmy,authenticPRINCE,butwithpursemuchshorterthanpedigree,willhaveaDaughterbyandby,whowillgotoRussia,andbecomealmosttooconspicuous,asCatharineII。,there!——

"Brandenburgnowasafterwards,"saysoneofmyoldPapers,"wasofficiallyreckonedSAXON;partofthebigDuchyofSaxony;

wherecertainfamedBILLUNGS,lineageofanold’CountBillung’

(connectedornotwithBILLINGS—gateinourcountry,Idonotknow)hadlongbornesway。OfwhichbigoldBillungsIwillsaynothingatall;——thisonly,thattheydiedout;andacertainAlbert,’CountofAscanienandBallenstadt’(say,ofANHALT,inmodernterms),whosemotherwasoneoftheirdaughters,cameinforthenorthernpartoftheirinheritance。HemadeaclutchattheSoutherntoo,butdidnotlongretainthat。Beingamanveryswiftandverysharp,atoncenimbleandstrong,inthehugescramblethattherethenwas,——UncleBillungdeadwithoutheirs,aSALIClineofemperorsgoingorgoneout,andaHOHENSTAUFFEN

notyetcomein,——hemadearichgameofitforhimself;theratherasLothar,theintermediateKaiser,washiscousin,andtherewereothergoodcardswhichheplayedwell。

"Thisishetheycall’AlberttheBear(<italic>AlbrechtderBar<enditalic>);’firstoftheASCANIENMarkgravesofBrandenburg;

——firstwhollydefiniteMARKGRAFOFBRANDENBURGthatthereis;

onceaveryshiningfigureintheworld,thoughnowfallendimenoughagain。Itisevidenthehadaquickeye,aswellasastronghand;andcouldpickwhatwaywasstraightestamongcrookedthings。HegottheNorthernpartofwhatisstillcalledSaxony,andkeptitinhisfamily;gottheBrandenburgCountrieswithal,gottheLausitz;wastheshiningfigureandgreatmanoftheNorthinhisday。TheMarkgrafdomofSALZWEDEL(whichsoonbecameofBRANDENBURG)heverynaturallyacquired(A。D。1142orearlier);

verynaturally,consideringwhatSaxonandotherhonorsandpossessionshehadalreadygotholdof。"——

Wecanonlysay,itwastheluckiestofeventsforBrandenburg,andthebeginningofallthebetterdestiniesithashad。

AconspicuousCountryeversinceintheworld,andwhichgrowsevermoresoinourlatetimes。

Hehadmanywars;inextricablecoilofclaimings,quarrellingsandagreeings:foughtmuch,——foughtinItaly,too,"againstthePagans"(Saracens,thatis)。CousintooneKaiser,theLotharabovenamed;thenachiefstayoftheHohenstauffen,ofthetwoHohenstauffenswhofollowed:arestless,much—managing,wide—

warringman。HestoodtruebythegreatBarbarossa,secondoftheHohenstauffen,greatestofalltheKaisers;whichwasaluckforhim,andperhapsamerit。HekeptwellwiththreeKaisersinhistime。Hadgreatquarrelswith"HenrytheLion"aboutthat"Billung"SaxonHeritage;HenrycarryingoffthebetterpartofitfromAlbert。ExceptthatsameHenry,headoftheGuelphsorWelfs,whohadnotAlbert’stalent,thoughwiderlandsthanAlbert,therewasnoGermanprincesoimportantinthattime。

HetransferredtheMarkgrafdomtoBRANDENBURG,probablyasmorecentralinhiswidelands;SALZWEDELishenceforththeledMarkgrafdomorMARCK,andsoonfallsoutofnoticeintheworld。

Salzwedeliscalledhencefortheversincethe"OldMarck(<italic>

AlteMarck,Altmarck<enditalic>);"theBrandenburgcountriesgettingthenameof"NewMarck。"ModernNEUMARK,modern"Middle—

Marck"(inwhichstandsBrandenburgitselfinourtime),"UCKER—

Marck"(OUTSIDEMarck,——wordUCKERisstillseeninUKRAINE,forinstance):theseareposteriorDivisions,fallenuponasBrandenburg(underAlbertchiefly)enlargeditself,andneedednewOfficialparcellingsintodepartments。

UnderAlberttheMarkgrafdomhadrisentobeanELECTORATEwithal。

TheMarkgrafofBrandenburgwasnowfurthermoretheKURFURSTofBrandenburg;officially"Arch—treasureroftheHolyRomanEmpire;

"andoneoftheSevenwhohavearight(whichbecameaboutthistimeanexclusiveoneforthoseSeven)tochoose,toKIERENtheRomishKaiser;andwhoarethereforecalledKURPrinces,KURFURSTE

orElectors,asthehighestdignityexcepttheKaiser’sown。

Inreferencetowhichabstrusematter,likelytoconcernussomewhat,willtheuninstructedEnglishreaderconsenttothefollowingExcerpt,slightlyelucidatoryofKURFURSTSandtheirfunction?

"FURST(Prince)Isupposeisequivalentoriginallytoournounofnumber,First。TheoldverbKIEREN(participleERKORENstillinuse,nottomention’Val—KYR’andotherinstances)isessentiallythesamewordasourCHOOSE,beingwrittenKIESENaswellasKIEREN。Nay,saytheetymologists,itisalsowrittenKUSSEN(toKISS,——toCHOOSEwithsuchemphasis!),andisnotlikelytofallobsoleteinthatform。——TheotherSixElectoralDignitarieswhogrewtoEightbydegrees,andmaybeworthnotingoncebythereadersofthisBook;are:——

"1。ThreeEcclesiastical,MAINZ,COLN,TRIER(Mentz,Cologne,Treves),Archbishopsall,withsovereigntyandterritorymoreorlessconsiderable;——whousedtobeelectedasPopesare,theoreticallybytheirrespectiveChaptersandtheHeavenlyInspirations,butpracticallybytheintriguesandpressuresoftheneighboringPotentates,especiallyFranceandAustria。

"2。ThreeSecular,SACHSEN,PFALZ,BOHMEN(Saxony,Palatinate,Bohemia);ofwhichthelast,BOHMEN,sinceitfellfrombeingaKingdominitself,tobeingaProvinceofAustria,isnotveryvocalintheDiets。TheseSix,withBrandenburg,aretheSevenKurfurstsinoldtime;SEPTEMVIRSoftheCountry,sotospeak。

"ButnowPFALZ,intheThirty—YearsWar(underourPrinceRupert’sFather,whomtheGermanscallthe`Winter—King’),gotabrogated,puttotheban,sofarasanindignantKaisercould;andthevoteandKURofPfalzwasgiventohisCousinofBAIERN(Bavaria),——

sofarasanindignantKaisercould。However,atthePeaceofWestphalia(1648)itwasfoundincompetenttoanyKaisertoabrogatePFULZorthelikeofPfalz,aKurfurstoftheEmpire。

So,afterjargoninconceivable,itwassettled,ThatPFALZmustbereinstated,thoughwithterritoriesmuchclipped,andatthebottomofthelist,notthetopasformerly;andthatBAIERN,whocouldnotstandtobebalkedaftertwentyyears’possession,mustbemadeEIGHTHElector。TheNINTH,wesaw(Year1692),wasGentlemanErnstofHANOVER。ThereneverwasanyTenth;andtheHolyROMISCHEREICH,whichwasagrandobjectonce,buthadgoneaboutinasuperannuatedandplainlycrazystateforsomecenturiesback,wasatlastputoutofpain,byNapoleon,’6thAugust,1806,’andallowedtoceasefromthisworld。"

[Ms。<italic>penesme。<enditalic>]

NoneofAlbert’swarsaresocomfortabletoreflectonasthosehehadwiththeanarchicWends;whomhenowfairlybeattopowder,andeithersweptaway,orelsedampeddownintoChristianityandkeepingofthepeace。Sweptthemawayotherwise;"peoplingtheirlandsextensivelywithColonistsfromHolland,whomaninroadoftheseahadrenderedhomelessthere。"Whichsurelywasausefulexchange。NothingbetterisknowntomeofAlberttheBearthanthishisintroducinglargenumbersofDutchNetherlandersintothosecountries;menthrownoutofwork,whoalreadyknewhowtodealwithbogandsand,bymixinganddelving,andwhofirsttaughtBrandenburgwhatgreennessandcow—pasturewas。TheWends,inpresenceofsuchthings,couldnotbutconsentmoreandmoretoeffacethemselves,——eithertobecomeGerman,andgrowmilkandcheeseintheDutchmanner,ortodisappearfromtheworld。

TheWendishPrinceshadatasteforGermanwives;inwhichjusttastetheAlbertgenealogywasextremelywillingtoindulgethem。

Affinitiesproduceinheritances;bypropermarriage—contractsyoucansettleonwhatsidethemostcontingentinheritanceshallatlengthfall。DimbutprettycertainliesatimecomingwhentheWendishPrincesalsoshallhaveeffacedthemselves;andallshallbeGerman—Brandenburgish,notWendishanymore。——TheactualInhabitantsofBrandenburg,therefore,areeithercomeofDutchBog—farmers,oraresimpleLowerSAXONS("Anglo—Saxon,"ifyoulikethatbetter),PLATT—TEUTSCHofthecommontype;anunexceptionablebreedofpeople。StreaksofWendishpopulation,extrudedgraduallyintotheremoterquagmires,andmoreinaccessible,lessvaluablesedgymoorsandsea—strands,arescatteredabout;Mecklenburg,whichstillsubsistsseparatelyafterasort,isreckonedpeculiarlyWendish。InMecklenburg,Pommern,Pommerellen(LittlePomerania),arestilltobeseenphysiognomiesofaWendishorVandalictype(moreofcheekthanthereoughttobe,andlessofbrow;otherwisegoodenoughphysiognomiesoftheirkind):butthegeneralmass,temperedwithsuchadmixtures,isofthePlatt—Deutsch,SaxonorevenAnglishcharacterwearefamiliarwithhereathome。Apatientstoutpeople;meaningconsiderablethings,andveryincapableofspeakingwhatitmeans。

Albertwasafinetallfigurehimself;DERSCHONE,"AlberttheHandsome,"washisnameasoftenas"AlberttheBear。"Thatlatterepithethegot,notfromhislooksorqualities,butmerelyfromhisheraldiccognizance:aBearonhisshield。Aswasthenthemodeofnames;surnamesbeingscant,andnotyetfixedlyinexistence。Thustoohiscontemporaries,HenryTHELIONofSaxonyandWelfdom,WilliamTHELIONofScotland,werenot,eitherofthem,speciallyleoninemen:norhadthePLANTAGENETS,orGeoffreyofAnjou,anyconnectionwiththePLANTofBROOM,exceptwearingatwigofitintheircapsonoccasion。MenaregladtogetsomedesignationforagrandAlberttheyareoftenspeakingof,whichshalldistinguishhimfromthemanysmallones。Albert"theBear,DERBAR,"willdoaswellasanother。

ItwasthisonefirstthatmadeBrandenburgpeaceableandnotable。

WemightcallhimthesecondfounderofBrandenburg;he,inthemiddleoftheTwelfthCentury,completedforitwhatHenrytheFowlerhadbegunearlyintheTenth。Aftertwohundredandfiftyyearsofbarkingandworrying,theWendsarenowfinallyreducedtosilence;theiranarchywellburied,andwholesomeDutchcabbageplantedoverit:Albertdidseveralgreatthingsintheworld;

but,this,forposterity,remainshismemorablefeat。Notdonequiteeasily;but,done:bigdestiniesofNationsorofPersonsarenotfoundedGRATISinthisworld。Hehadasoretoilsometimeofit,coercing,warring,managingamonghisfellow—creatures,whilehisday’sworklasted,——fiftyyearsorso,foritbeganearly。HediedinhisCastleofBallenstadt,peaceablyamongtheHartzMountainsatlast,intheyear1170,ageaboutsixty—five。

ItwasinthetimewhileThomasaBecketwasrovingabouttheworld,cominghomeexcommunicative,andfinallygettingkilledinCanterburyCathedral;——whileAbbotSamson,stillapoorlittlebrownBoy,cameoverfromNorfolk,holdingbyhismother’shand,toSt。Edmundsbury;havingseen"SANTANASswithoutspreadwings"

fearfullybusyinthisworld。

ChapterV。

CONRADOFHOHENZOLLERN;ANDKAISERBARBAROSSA。

Itwasinthosesameyearsthatastoutyoungfellow,Conradbyname,faroffinthesouthernpartsofGermany,setoutfromtheoldCastleofHohenzollern,wherehewasbutjunior,andhadsmalloutlooks,uponaverygreaterrandintheworld。

>FromHohenzollern;boundnowtowardsGelnhausen,Kaiserslautern,orwhatevertemporarylodgingthegreatKaiserBarbarossamightbeknowntohave,whowasawanderingman,hisbusinesslyingeverywhereoverhalftheworld,andneedingthemaster’seye。

Conrad’spurposeistofindBarbarossa,andseekfortuneunderhim。

Thisisaveryindisputableeventofthosesameyears。Theexactdate,thefigure,circumstancesofitwere,mostlikely,neverwrittenanywherebutonConrad’sownbrain,andarenowrubbedoutforevermore;buttheeventitselfiscertain;andofthehighestconcernmenttothisNarrative。Somewhereabouttheyear1170,likeliestafewyearsbeforethat,[Rentsch,<italic>

BrandenburgischerCeder—Hein<enditalic>(Baireuth,l682),pp。273—276。——SeealsoJohannUlrichPregitzern,<italic>

TeutscherRegierungs—undEhren—Spiegel,vorbildend&c。desHausesHohenzollern<enditalic>(Berlin,1703),pp。90—93。AlearnedandpainfulBook:byaTubingenProfessor,whoisdeeplyreadintheoldHistories,andgivesPortraitsandotherEngravingsofsomevalue。]thisConrad,ridingdownfromHohenzoliern,probablywithnogreatstockofluggageabout,him,——littledreamsofbeingconnectedwithBrandenburgontheothersideoftheworld;butIS

unconsciouslymoresothananyotherofthethensonsofAdam。

Heisthelinealancestor,twentiethindirectascent,ofthelittleBoynowsleepinginhiscradleatBerlin;lethimwaittillnineteengenerations,valiantlylikeConrad,havedonetheirpart,andgoneout,Conradwillfindheiscometothis!Aman’sdestinyisstrangealways;andneverwantsformiracles,orwillwant,thoughitsometimesmayforeyestodiscernthem。

HohenzollernliesfarsouthinSCHWABEN(Suabia),onthesunwardslopeoftheRauhe—AlpCountry;nogreatwaynorthfromConstanceanditsLake;butwellaloft,nearthespringsoftheDanube;

itsbackleaningontheBlackForest;itisperhapsdefinableasthesouthernsummitofthatsamehugeoldHercynianWood,whichisstillcalledtheSCHWARZWALD(BlackForest),thoughnowcomparativelybareoftrees。["Therearestillconsiderablespottingsofwood(pinemainly,and’black’enough);HOLZ—HANDEL

(timber—trade)stillaconsiderablebranchofbusinessthere;——andonthestreamsofthecountryarecunningcontrivancesnoticeable,forfloatingdownthearticleintotheNeckarriver,andthenceintotheRhineandtoHolland。"(<italic>Tourist’sNote。<enditalic>)]FancifulDryasdust,doingalittleetymology,willtellyouthenameZOLLERNisequivalenttoTOLLERYorPlaceofTolls。

WherebyHOHENZOLLERNcomestomeantheHIGHorUpperTOLLERY;——

andgivesonethenotionofantiquepedlersclimbingpainfully,outofItalyandtheSwissvalleys,thusfar;unstrappingtheirpack—horseshere,andchafferinginunknowndialectaboutTOLL。

Poorsouls;——itmaybeso,butwedonotknow,norshallitconcernus。Thisonlyisknown:Thatahumankindred,probablyofsometalentforcoercinganarchyandguidingmankind,had,centuriesago,builtitsBURGthere,anddonethatfunctioninasmallbutcreditablewayeversince;——kindredpossiblyenoughderivablefrom"Thassilo,"Charlemagne,KingDagobert,andotherKings,butcertainlyfromAdamandtheAlmightyMaker,whohadgivenitthosequalities;——andthatConrad,ajuniormemberofthesame,nowgoesforthfromitinthewaywesee。"Whyshouldayoungfellowthathascapabilities,"thoughtConrad,"stayathomeinhungryidleness,withnoestatebuthisjavelinandbuffjerkin,andnoemploymentbuthishawks,whenthereisawideopulentworldwaitingonlytobeconquered?"ThiswasConrad’sthought;anditprovedtobeaveryjustone。

Itwasnowtheflower—timeoftheRomishKaisershipofGermany;

aboutthemiddleornoonofBarbarossahimself,secondoftheHohenstauffens,andgreatestofalltheKaisersofthatoranyotherhouse。Kaiserfallenunintelligibletomostmodernreaders,andwhollyunknown,whichisapity。NoKingsofurnishedoutwithapparatusandarena,withpersonalfacultytoruleandscenetodoitin,hasappearedelsewhere。Amagnificentmagnanimousman;

holdingthereinsoftheworld,notquiteintheimaginarysense;

scourginganarchydown,andurgingnobleeffortup,reallyonagrandScale。Aterrortoevil—doersandapraisetowell—doersinthisworld,probablybeyondwhatwaseverseensince。Whomalsowesaluteacrossthecenturies,asachoiceBeneficenceofHeaven。

EncampedonthePlainofRoncaglia[whenheenteredItaly,ashetoooftenhadoccasiontodo],hisshieldwashungoutonahighmastoverhistent;"anditmeantinthoseolddays,"Ho,everyonethathassufferedwrong;hereisaKaisercometojudgeyou,asheshallanswerittoHISMaster。"Andmengatheredroundhim;

andactuallyfoundsomejustice,——iftheycoulddiscernitwhenfound。Whichtheycouldnotalwaysdo;neitherwasthejusticecapableofbeingperfectalways。Afearfullydifficultfunction,thatofFriedrichRedbeard。Butaninexorablyindispensableoneinthisworld;——thoughsometimesdispensedwith(tothehugejoyofAnarchy,whichsingsHallelujahthroughallitsNewspapers)

foraseason!

KaiserFriedrichhadimmensedifficultieswithhisPopes,withhisMilanese,andthelike;——besiegedMilansixtimesover,amongotheranarchies;——hadindeedaheavy—ladenhardtimeofit,histaskbeinggreatandthegreatest。HemadeGebhardus,theanarchicGovernorofMilan,"liechainedunderhistable,likeadog,forthreedays。"Forthemanwasinearnest,inthatearnesttime:——

andletussay,theyarebutpaltrysham—menwhoarenotso,inanytime;paltry,andfarworsethanpaltry,howeverhightheirplumesmaybe。Ofwhomthesickworld(Anarchy,bothvocalandsilent,havingnowswolnratherhigh)iseverywheregettingweary。——Gebhardus,theanarchicGovernor,laythreedaysundertheKaiser’stable;asitwouldbewellifeveryanarchicGovernor,ofthesofttypeandofthehard,weremadetodoonoccasion;askinghimself,interribleearnest,"AmIadog,then;alas,amnotIadog?"Thosewereseriousoldtimes。

Ontheotherhand,KaiserFriedrichhadhisTourneys,hisgleamsofbrightjoyancesnowandthen;onegreatgatheringofallthechivalriesatMainz,whichlastedforthreeweekslong,thegrandestTourneyeverseeninthisworld。Gelnhausen,intheWetterau(ruinstillworthseeing,onitsIslandintheKinzigriver),isunderstoodtohavebeenoneofhisHouses;

Kaiserslautern(Kaiser’sLIMPID,fromitsclearspring—water)inthePfalz(whatwecallPALATINATE),another。HewentontheCrusadeinhisseventiethyear;[1189,A。D。;Saladinhaving,totheuniversalsorrow,takenJerusalem。]thinkingtohimself,"Letusendwithoneclearactofpiety:"——hecuthiswaythroughthedangerousGreekattorneyisms,throughthehungrymountainpasses,furiousTurkfanaticisms,likeagrayoldhero:"Woeisme,mysonhasperished,then?"saidheonce,tearswettingthebeardnowwhiteenough;"Mysonisslain!——ButChriststilllives;

letuson,mymen!"Andgainedgreatvictories,andevenfoundhisson;butneverreturnedhome;——died,someunknownsuddendeath,"intheriverCydnus,"saythemost。[Kohler(p。188),andtheAuthoritiescitedbyhim。Bunau’s<italic>DeutscheKaiser—undReichs—Historie<enditalic>(Leipzig,1728—1743),i。,istheexpressBookofBarbarossa:anelaborate,instructiveVolume。]

NayGermanTraditionthinksheisnotyetdead;butonlysleeping,tillthebadworldreachitsworst,whenhewillreappear。HesitswithintheHillnearSalzburgyonder,——saysGermanTradition,itsfancykindledbythestrangenoisesinthatHill(limestoneHill)

fromhiddenwaters,andbythegrandrockylookoftheplace:——

Apeasantonce,stumblingintotheinterior,sawtheKaiserinhisstonecavern;Kaisersatatamarbletable,leaningonhiselbow;

winking,onlyhalfasleep;beardhadgrownthroughthetable,andstreamedoutonthefloor;helookedatthepeasantonemoment;

askedhimsomethingaboutthetimeitwas;thendroppedhiseyelidsagain:Notyettime,butwillbesoon![Riesebeck’s<italic>Travels<enditalic>(EnglishTranslation,London,1787),i。140,Busching,<italic>Volks—Sagen,<enditalic>&c。(Leipzig,1820),i。333,&c。&x。]Heiswinkingasiftoawake。Toawake,andsethisshieldaloftbytheRoncalicFieldsagain,with:

Ho,everyonethatissufferingwrong;——orthathasstrayedguideless,devil—ward,anddonewrong,whichisfarfataler!

CONRADHASBECOMEBURGGRAFOFNURNBERG(A。D。1170)。

ThiswastheKaisertowhomConradaddressedhimself;andhediditwithsuccess;whichmaybetakenasakindoftestimonialtotheworthoftheyoungman。Detailswehaveabsolutelynone:

butthereisnodoubtthatConradrecommendedhimselftoKaiserRedbeard,noranythattheKaiserwasajudgeofmen。Veryearnesttodiscernmen’sworthandcapabilities;havingunspeakableneedofworth,insteadofunworth,inthoseunderhim!WemayconcludehehadfoundcapabilitiesinConrad;foundthattheyoungfellowdideffectiveservicesastheoccasionrose,andknewhowtowork,inaswift,resolute,judiciousandexactmanner。Promotionwasnotlikelyonotherterms;stillless,highpromotion。

Onethingfartherisknown,significantforhissuccesses:Conradfoundfavorwith"theHeiressoftheVohburgFamily,"desirableyoungheiress,andgothertowife。TheVohburgFamily,nowmuchforgotteneverywhere,andneverheardofinEnglandbefore,hadlongbeenofsupremeimportance,ofimmensepossessions,andopulentinterritories,andweneednotadd,inhonorsandoffices,inthoseFranconianNurnbergregions;andwasnowgonetothisonegirl。Iknownotthatshehadmuchinheritanceafterall;

thevastVohburgpropertieslapsingalltotheKaiser,whenthemaleheirswereout。Butshehadpretensions,tacitclaims;

inparticular,theVohburgshadlongbeenhabitualorineffecthereditaryBurggrafsofNurnberg;andifConradhadthetalentforthatoffice;henow,inpreferencetoothers,mighthaveachanceforit。Sureenough,hegotit;tookrootinit,heandhis;and,inthecourseofcenturies,branchedupfromit,highandwide,overtheadjoiningcountries;waxingtowardsstillhigherdestinies。ThatistheepitomeofConrad’shistory;historynowbecomeverygreat,butthennobiggerthanitsneighbors,andverymeagrelyrecorded;ofwhichthereflectivereaderistomakewhathecan。

ThereisnothingclearlyknownofConradmorethanthesethreefacts:ThathewasacadetofHohenzollern(whosefather’sname,andsomeforefathers’namesaredefinitelyknowninthefamilyarchives,butdonotconcernus);thathemarriedtheHeiressoftheVohburgs,whosehistoryisonrecordinlikemanner;andthathewasappointedBurggrafofNurnberg,yearnotpreciselyknown,——

butbefore1170,aswouldseem。"InaREICHSTAG(DietoftheEmpire)heldatRegensburginorabout1170,"heformallycomplains,heandcertainothers,allstanchKaiser’sfriends(forinfactitwaswiththeKaiser’sknowledge,orathisinstigation),ofHenrytheLion’shighproceduresandmalpractices;ofHenry’sLeaguewiththePope,LeaguewiththeKingofDenmark,andsoforth;thesaidHenryhavingindeedfallenintoopposition,toadangerousdegree;——andsignshimselfBURGGRAFOFNURNBERG,saytheoldChronicles。[Rentsch,p。276

(whocites<italic>Aventinus,Trittheim,<enditalic>&c。)。]

TheoldDocumentitselfhaslongsinceperished,Iconclude:buttheChroniclesmaybeacceptedasreportersofsoconspicuousathing;whichwasthebeginningoflongstrifeinGermany,andprovedtheruinofHenrytheLion,supremeWelfgrownover—big,——

andcostourEnglishHenryII。,whosedaughterhehadmarried,aworldoftroubleandexpense,wemayremarkwithal。ConradthereforeisalreadyBurggrafofNurnberg,andamanofmark,in1170:andhismarriage,stillmorehisfirstsallyfromthepaternalCastletoseekhisfortune,mustallbedatedearlier。

MoreisnotknownofConrad:exceptindeedthathedidnotperishinBarbarossa’sgrandfinalCrusade。Fortheantiquarieshaveagainfoundhimsignedtosomecontract,orotherwiseinsignificantdocument,A。D。1200。WhichisproofpositivethathedidnotdieintheCrusade;andproofprobablethathewasnotofit,——few,hardlyany,ofthosestalwart150,000championsoftheCrosshavingevergothomeagain。Conrad,bythistime,mighthavesonscometoage;fitterforarmsandfatiguesthanhe:andindeedatNurnberg,inDeutschlandgenerally,asOfficialPrinceoftheEmpire,andmanofweightandjudgment,Conrad’sservicesmightbestillmoreuseful,andtheKaiser’sinterestsmightrequirehimrathertostayathomeinthatjuncture。BurggrafofNurnberghecontinuedtobe;heandhisdescendants,firstinaselective,thenatlengthinadirectlyhereditaryway,centuryaftercentury;andsolongasthatofficelastedinNurnberg(whichitdidtheremuchlongerthaninotherImperialFree—Cities),aCOMESDEZOLREofConrad’sproducingwasalwaysthemanthenceforth。

Theiracts,inthatstationandcapacity,asBurggravesandPrincesoftheEmpire,wereonceconspicuousenoughinGermanHistory;andindeedareonlysodimnow,becausetheHistoryitselfis,andwasalways,dimtousonthissideofthesea。

Theydidstrenuousworkintheirday;andoccasionallytoweredup(thoughlittledrivenbythepoorwishof"towering,"or"shining"

withoutneed)intothehighplacesofPublicHistory。Theyrestnowfromtheirlabors,Conradandhissuccessors,inlongseries,intheoldMonasteryofHeilsbronn(betweenNurnbergandAnspach),withTombstomanyofthem,whichwereverylegibleforslightBiographicpurposesinmypoorfriendRentsch’stime,ahundredandfiftyyearsago;andmayperhapsstillhavesomequasi—use,as"sepulchralbrasses,"toanotherclassofpersons。OneortwoofthoseoldburiedFigures,morepeculiarlyimportantforourlittleFriendnowsleepinginhiscradleyonder,wemustendeavor,astheNarrativeproceeds,toresuscitatealittleandrendervisibleformoments。

OFTHEHOHENZOLLERNBURGGRAVESGENERALLY。

AstotheOffice,itwasmoreimportantthanperhapsthereaderimagines。WealreadysawConradfirstBurggraf,amongthemagnatesofthecountry,denouncingHenrytheLion。EveryBurggrafofNurnbergis,invirtueofhisofice,"PrinceoftheEmpire:"ifamanhappenedtohavetalentofhisown,andsolidresourcesofhisown(whicharealwaysonthegrowinghandwiththisfamily),hereisabasisfromwhichhemaygofarenough。BurggrafofNurnberg:

thatmeansagainGRAF(judge,defender,manager,G’REEVE)oftheKaiser’sBURGorCastle,——inawordKaiser’sRepresentativeandALTEREGO,——intheoldImperialFree—TownofNurnberg;withmuchadjacentverycomplexterritory,also,toadministerfortheKaiser。AflourishingextensiveCity,thisoldNurnberg,withvaluableadjacentterritory,civicandimperial,intricatelyintermixed;fullofcommercialindustries,opulences,notwithoutdemocratictendencies。Nayitisalmost,insomesenses,theLONDONANDMIDDLESEXoftheGermanythatthenwas,ifwewillconsiderit!

Thisisaplacetogiveamanchances,andtrywhatstuffisinhim。Theofficeinvolvesatalentforgoverning,aswellasforjudging;talentforfightingalso,incasesofextremity,andwhatisstillbetter,atalentforavoidingtofight。Nonebutamanofcompetentsuperiorpartscandothatfunction;Isuppose,noimbecilecouldhaveexistedmanymonthsinit,intheoldearnesttimes。ConradandhissucceedingHohenzollernsprovedverycapabletodoit,aswouldseem;andgrewandspreadinit,waxingbiggerandbigger,fromtheirfirstplantingtherebyKaiserBarbarossa,asuccessfuljudgeofmen。Andeversincethattime,from"abouttheyear1170,"downtotheyear1815,——whensomuchwaschanged,owingtoanother(temporary)"Kaiser"ofnewtype,Napoleonhisname,——theHohenzollernshavehadafootinginFrankedand;

anddonesovereigntyinandroundNurnberg,withanenlargingTerritoryinthatregion。Territoryatlastoflargecompass;

which,underthenamesMARGRAFDOMOFANSPACH,andofBAIREUTH,oringeneralMARGRAFDOMOFCULMBACH,whichincludesboth,hasbecomefamiliarinHistory。

FortheHousewentonsteadilyincreasing,asitwere,fromthefirstday;theHohenzollernsbeingalwaysofagrowing,gainingnature;——asmenarethatliveconformablytothelawsofthisUniverse,andoftheirplacetherein;which,aswillappearfromgoodstudyoftheiroldrecords,thoughidlerumor,groundedonnostudy,sometimessaysthecontrary,theseHohenzollernseminentlywere。Athrifty,steadfast,diligent,clear—sighted,stout—heartedlineofmen;ofloyalnaturewithal,andeventobecalledjustandpious,sometimestoanotabledegree。Mennotgiventofighting,whereitcouldbeavoided;yetwithagoodswiftstrokeinthem,whereitcouldnot:princelypeopleaftertheirsort,withahigh,notanostentatiousturnofmind。They,formostpart,gouponsolidprudence;ifpossible,areanxioustoreachthegoalwithouttreadingonanyone;arepeaceable,asIoftensay,andbynomeansquarrelsome,inaspectanddemeanor;

yetthereisgenerallyintheHohenzollernsaveryfierceflashofanger,capableofblazingoutincasesofurgency:thislatteralsoisoneofthemostconstantfeaturesIhavenotedinthelongseriesofthem。ThattheygrewinFrankenland,yearafteryear,andcenturyaftercentury,whileitwastheirfortunetolast,aliveandactivethere,isnomiracle,onsuchterms。

TheiroldbigCastleofPlassenburg(nowaPenitentiary,withtreadmillandtheotherfurnishings)stillstandsonitsHeight,nearCulmbach,lookingdownoverthepleasantmeetingoftheRedandWhiteMaynRiversandoftheirfruitfulvalleys;awakeningmanythoughtsinthetraveller。AnspachSchloss,andstillmoreBaireuthSchloss(Mansion,oneday,ofourlittleWilhelminaofBerlin,Fritzkin’ssister,nowprattlingthereinsooldaway;

wherenotabilitieshavebeen,oneandanother;whichJeanPaul,too,sawdailyinhiswalks,whilealiveandlookingskyward):

these,andmanyothercastlesandthings,belongingnowwhollytoBavaria,willcontinuememorableforHohenzollernhistory。

TheFamilydiditsdueshare,sometimesanexcessiveone,inreligiousbeneficencesandfoundations;whichwasnotquiteleftoffinrecenttimes,thoughmuchalteringitsfigure。ErlangenUniversity,forexample,wasofWilhelmina’sdoing。ErlangenUniversity;——andalsoanOpera—HouseofexcessivesizeinBaireuth。SuchwaspoorWilhelmina’ssadfigureof"religion。"

Intheolddays,theirlargestbequestthatIrecollectwastotheTEUTSCHERITTER,OrderofTeutonicKnights,verycelebratedinthosedays。JuniorbranchesfromHohenzollern,asfromotherfamilies,soughtacareerinthatchivalrousdevoutBrotherhoodnowandthen;onepiousBurggrafhadthreesonsatonceinit;

he,averybequeathingHerrotherwise,settledoneofhismansions,Virnsperg,withrentsandincomings,ontheOrder。

WhichaccordinglyhadthenceforthaCOMTHUREI(Commandery)inthatcountry;ComthureiofVirnspergthenameofit:thedateofdonationisA。D。1294;andtwooftheoldHerr’sthreeRITTER

sons,wecanremark,weresuccessivelyCOMTHURS(Commanders,steward—prefects)ofVirnsperg,thefirsttwoithad。[Rentsch,p。288。]

Thiswasin1294;thepalmyperiod,orculminationtimeoftheTEUTSCHESRITTERTHUM。Concerningwhich,onwideraccounts,wemustnowsayaword。

ChapterVI。

THETEUTSCHRITTERSORTEUTONICORDER。

Barbarossa’sArmyofCrusadersdidnotcomehomeagain,anymorethanBarbarossa。TheywerestrongerthanTurkorSaracen,butnotthanHungerandDisease;Leadersdidnotknowthen,asourlittleFriendatBerlincametoknow,that"anArmy,likeaserpent,goesuponitsbelly。"Afterfinefightingandconsiderablevictories,theendofthisCrusadewas,ittookto"besiegingAcre,"andinrealitylayperishingasofmurrainonthebeachatAcre,withoutshelter,withoutmedicine,withoutfood。NotevenRichardCoeur—

de—Lion,andhisbestprowessandhelp,couldavertsuchissuefromit。

Richard’sCrusadefellinwiththefag—endofBarbarossa’s;anditwasRichardchieflythatmanagedtotakeAcre;——atleastsoRichardflatteredhimself,whenhepulledpoorLeopoldofAustria’sstandardfromthetowers,andtraileditthroughthegutters:"Yourstandard?YOUhavetakenAcre?"WhichturnedoutillforRichardafterwards。AndDukeLeopoldhasabadnameamongusinconsequence;muchworsethanhedeserves。Leopoldhadstuffinhimtoo。Hedied,forexample,inthismanner:fallingwithhishorse,Ithinkinsomesiegeorother,hehadgothisleghurt;

whichhinderedhiminfighting。Legcouldnotbecured:"Cutitoff,then!"saidLeopold。Thisalsotheleechcouldnotdo;

durstnot,andwouldnot;sothatLeopoldwascomequitetoahalt。Leopoldorderedouttwosquires;puthisthighuponablockthesharpedgeofanaxeattherightpointacrosshisthigh:

"Squirefirst,holdyouthataxe;steady!Squiresecond,smiteyouonitwithforge—hammer,withallyourstrength,heavyenough!"

Squiresecondstruck,heavyenough,andthelegflewoff;

butLeopoldtookinflammation,diedinadayortwo,astheleechhadpredicted。Thatisafacttobefoundincurrentauthors(quiteexactornotquite),thatsurgicaloperation:[Mentzel,<italic>GeschichtederDeutschen<enditalic>(StuttgardandTubingen,1837),p。309。]suchamancannothavehisflagtrailedthroughtheguttersbyanyCoeur—de—Lion。——ButwereturntothebeachatAcre,andthepoorCrusaders,dyingasofmurrainthere。

Itistheyear1190,Acrenotyettaken,northesequarrelsgottoaheight。

"TheveryTemplars,Hospitallers,neglectus,"murmuredthedyingGermans;"theyhaveperhapsenoughtodo,andmorethanenough,withtheirowncountrymen,whosespeechisintelligibletothem?

Forus,itwouldappear,thereisnohelp!"Notaltogethernone。

Acompanyofpioussouls——compassionateLubeckship—captainsdiligentlyforwardingit,andoneWalpotvonBassenheim,acitizenofBremen,takingthelead——formedthemselvesintoaunionforsuccorofthesickanddying;"setupcanvastents,"medicinalassuagements,fromtheLubeckship—stores;anddidwhatutmostwasinthem,silentlyinthenameofMercyandHeaven。"ThisWalpotasnotbybirthanobleman,"saysoneoftheoldChroniclers,"buthisdeedswerenoble。"Thispiouslittleunionprovedunconsciouslythebeginningofagreatthing。Findingitsworkprosperhere,andgainfavor,thelittleuniontookvowsonitself,strictchivalryforms,anddecidedtobecomepermanent。

"KnightsHospitallersofourdearLadyofMountZion,"thatorsomethingequivalentwastheirfirsttitle,underWalpottheirfirstGrand—Master;whichsoongrewtobe"GermanOrderofSt。

Mary"(TEUTSCHERITTERoftheMARIE—ORDEN),orforshortnessTEUTSCHESRITTERTHUM;underwhichnameitplayedagreatpartintheworldforabovethreecenturiestocome,andeclipsedinimportanceboththeTemplarsandHospitallersofSt。John。

ThiswastheeraofChivalryOrders,andGELUBDE;timeforBodiesofMenunitingthemselvesbyaSacredVow,"GELUBDE"——whichwordandthinghavepassedovertousinasingularlydwindledcondition:"CLUB"wenowcallit;andthevow,ifsacred,doesnotaimveryhigh!TemplarsandHospitallerswerealreadyfamousbodies;thelatternowalmostacenturyold。Walpot’snewGELUBDEwasofsimilarintent,onlyGermaninkind,——theprotection,defenceandsolacementofPilgrims,withwhateverthatmightinvolve。

HEADOFTEUTSCHORDERMOVESTOVENICE。

TheTeutschRittersearnedcharacterinPalestine,andbegantogetbequestsandrecognition;butdidnotlongcontinuethere,liketheirtworivalOrders。ItwasnotinPalestine,whethertheOrdersmightbeawareofitornot,thattheirworkcouldnowlie。

PiousPilgrimscertainlytherestillareingreatnumbers;

totheseyoushalldothesacredrites:butthese,underaSaladinboundbyhisword,needlittleprotectionbythesword。AndasforCrusadinginthearmedfashion,thathasfallenvisiblyintothedecline。AfterBarbarossa,Coeur—de—LionandPhilippeAugustehavetrieditwithsuchfailure,whatwisemanwillbeinhastetotryitagain?ZealousPopescontinuetostirupCrusades;buttheSecularPowersarenotinearnestasformerly;SecularPowers,whentheydogo,"takeConstantinople,""conquerSicily,"nevertakeorconqueranythinginPalestine。TheTeutschOrderhelpsvaliantlyinPalestine,orwouldhelp;butwhatistheuseofhelping?TheTeutschOrderhasalreadypossessionsinEurope,bypiousbequestandotherwise;allitsmaininterestsliethere;

infine,afterlessthanthirtyyears,HermannvonderSalza,anewsagaciousTEUTSCHMEISTERorHOCHMEISTER(sotheycalltheheadoftheOrder),fourthintheseries,afar—seeing,negotiatingman,findsthatVenicewillbeafitterplaceoflodgingforhimthanAcre:andaccordinglyduringhislongMastership(A。D。1210—1239),heismostlytobefoundthere,andnotatAcreorJerusalem。

HeisverygreatwiththebusyKaiser,FriedrichII。,Barbarossa’sgrandson;whohastheusualquarrelswiththePope,andisgladofsuchanegotiator,statesmanaswellasarmedmonk。TheusualquarrelsthisgreatKaiserhad,allalong,andsomeunusual。

NormansoustedfromSicily,whousedtobesoPapal:aKaiserNOT

goneontheCrusade,ashehadvowed;Kaiseratlastsuspectedoffreethinkingeven:——inwhichmattersHermannmuchservestheKaiser。SometimesheisappointedarbiterbetweenthePopeandKaiser;——doesnotgiveitintheKaiser’sfavor,butagainsthim,wherehethinkstheKaiseriswrong。HeisreckonedthefirstgreatHochmeister,thisHermannvonderSalza,aThuringerbybirth,whoisfourthintheseriesofMasters:perhapsthegreatesttobefoundthereatall,thoughmanywereconsiderable。

Itisevidentthatnomanofhistimewasbusierinimportantpublicaffairs,orwithbetteracceptance,thanHermann。

HisOrder,bothPopeandEmperorsofavoringtheMasterofit,wasinavigorousstateofgrowthallthiswhile;HermannwellprovingthathecouldhelpitbetteratVenicethanatAcre。

ButiftheCrusadesareended,——asindeeditturnedout,onlyoneotherworthspeakingof,St。Louis’s,havinginearnestcometoeffect,orrathertomiserablenon—effect,andthatnotyetforfiftyyears;——iftheCrusadesareended,andtheTeutschOrderincreasesalwaysinpossessions,andfindslessandlesswork,whatprobablywillbecomeoftheTeutschOrder?Growfat,becomeluxurious,incredulous,dissolute,insolent;andneedtobeburntoutoftheway?ThatwasthecourseoftheTemplars,andtheirsadend。Theybeganpoorestofthepoor,"twoKnightstooneHorse,"

astheirSealbore;andtheyatlasttookFIREonveryoppositeaccounts。"TocarouselikeaTemplar:"thathadbecomeaproverbamongmen;thatwasthewaytoproducecombustion,"spontaneous"

orother!WhereastheirfellowHospitallersofSt。John,chancinguponnewwork(Anti—Turkgarrison—duty,sowemaycallit,successivelyinCyprus,Rhodes,Malta,foraseriesofages),anddoingitwell,managedtoescapethelike。AsdidtheTeutschOrderinastillmoreconspicuousmanner。

TEUTSCHORDERITSELFGOESTOPREUSSEN。

EversinceSt。AdalbertfellmassacredinPrussia,stampinghimselfasaCrucifixonthatHeathensoil,therehavebeenattemptsatconversiongoingonbytheChristianneighbors,DukesofPolandandothers:intermittentfitsoffightingandpreachingforthelasttwohundredyears,withextremelysmallresult。

BodyofSt。Adalbertwasgotatlightweight,andthepoormancanonized;thereisevenaTitularBishopofPrussia;

andpilgrimageswandertotheShrineofAdalbertinPoland,remindingyouofPrussiainatragicmanner;butwhatavailsit?

Missionaries,whentheysetfootinthecountry,arekilledorflungoutagain。TheBishopofPrussiaistitularmerely;livesinLiefland(LIVONIA)properlyBishopofRIGA,amongtheBrementrading—settlersandconvertedLieflandersthere,whichistheonlysafeplace,——ifeventhatweresafewithoutaidofarmedmen,suchashehasthereevennow。HekeepshisSCHWERTBRUDER

(BrothersoftheSword),asmallOrderofKnights,recentlygotupbyhim,forexpressbehoofofLieflanditself;andthese,fightingtheirbest,aresometimestroublesometotheBishop,anddonotmuchprosperuponHeathendom,orgainpopularityandresourcesintheChristianworld。NohopeintheSCHWERTBRUDERforPrussia;——

andinmassacredMissionarieswhathope?ThePrussianpopulationcontinuesHeathen,untamabletoGospelandLaw;andaftertwocenturiesofeffort,littleornorealprogresshasbeenmade。

Butnow,inthesecircumstances,intheyear1226,theTitularBishopofPrussia,havingwellconsideredthematterandarrangeditwiththePolishAuthorities,opensacommunicationwithHermannvonderSalza,atVenice,onthesubject;"CrusadingisoverintheEast,illustriousHochmeister;nodutyforaTeutschOrderthereatpresent:whatistheuseofcrusadingfaroffintheEast,whenHeathenismandtheKingdomofSatanhangsonourownborders,closeathand,intheNorth?LettheTeutschOrdercometoPreussen;headaCrusadethere。Thelandisfruitful;flowsreallywithmilkandhoney,nottospeakofamber,andwasoncecalledtheTERRESTRIALPARADISE"——byIforgetwhom。[Voigt,(ifhehadanIndex!)knows。]Infact,itisclear,thelandshouldbelongtoChrist;andiftheChristianTeutschRitterdomcouldconqueritfromSatanasforthemselves,itwouldbewellforallparties。Hermann,amanofsagaciousclearhead,listensattentively。Thenotionisperhapsnotquitenewtohim:atallevents,hetakesupthenotion;negotiatesuponit,withTitularBishop,withPope,Kaiser,DukeofPoland,TeutschOrder;andinbrief,abouttwoyearsafterwards(A。D。1228),havingdonethenegotiatingstothelastitem,heproduceshisactualTeutschRitters,ready,onPrussianground。

Year1225,thinksDryasdust,afterastruggle。Placewhere,provesalsoatlengthdiscoverableinDryasdust,——nottoofaracrossthenorthPolishfrontier,alwayswith"Masovia"(thenowWarsawregion)tofallbackupon。Butinwhatnumber;how;nayalmostwhen,toayear,——donotaskpoorDryasdust,whooverwhelmshimselfwithidledetails,andbyreasonofthetreesisunabletoseethewood。[Voigt,ii。177,184,192。]——TheTeutschRittersstraightwaybuildaBurgforheadquarters,spreadthemselvesonthishandandthat;andbegintheirgreattask。InthenameofHeaven,wemaystillsayinatruesense;asthey,everyRitterofthemtotheheart,feltittobeinallmannerofsenses。

ThePrussianswereafiercefightingpeople,fanaticallyAnti—

Christian:theTeutschRittershadaperilousnever—restingtimeofit,especiallyforthefirstfiftyyears。Theybuiltandburntinnumerablestockadesforandagainst;builtwoodenFortswhicharenowstoneTowns。Theyfoughtmuchandprevalently;gallopeddesperatelytoandfro,everonthealert。Inpeaceablerulteriortimes,theyfencedintheNogatandtheWeichselwithdams,wherebyunlimitedquagmiremightbecomegrassymeadow,——asitcontinuestothisday。Marienburg(MARY’SBurg),stillatownofimportanceinthatsamegrassyregion,withitsgrandstoneSchlossstillvisibleandevenhabitable;thiswasatlengththeirHeadquarter。ButhowmanyBurgsofwoodandstonetheybuilt,indifferentparts;whatrevolts,surprisals,furiousfightsinwoodyboggyplaces,theyhad,nomanhascounted。Theirlife,readinDryasdust’snewestchaoticBooks(whichareofendlesslength,amongotherillqualities),islikeadimnightmareofunintelligiblemarchingandfighting:onefeelsasifthemereamountofgallopingtheyhadwouldhavecarriedtheOrderseveraltimesroundtheGlobe。WhatmultipleoftheEquatorwasit,then,ODryasdust?TheHerrProfessor,littlestudiousofabridgment,doesnotsay。

Butalwayssomepreaching,byzealousmonks,accompaniedthechivalrousfighting。AndcolonistscameinfromGermany;tricklingin,orattimesstreaming。VictoriousRitterdomofferstermstothebeatenHeathen;termsnotoftolerantnature,butwhichwillbepunctuallykeptbyRitterdom。Whentheflameofrevoltorgeneralconspiracyburntupagaintooextensively,therewasanewCrusadeproclaimedinGermanyandChristendom;andtheHochmeister,atMarburgorelsewhere,andallhismarshalsandministerswerebusy,——generallywitheffect。Highpersonagescameoncrusadetothem。OttocarKingofBohemia,DukeofAustriaandmuchelse,thegreatmanofhisday,cameonce(A。D。1255);

JohannKingofBohemia,inthenextcentury,onceandagain。

ThemightyOttocar,[Voigt,iii。80—87。]withhisextensivefar—

shiningchivalry,"conqueredSamlandinamonth;"toreuptheRomovawhereAdalberthadbeenmassacred,andburntitfromthefaceoftheEarth。AcertainFortresswasfoundedatthattime,inOttocar’spresence;andinhonorofhimtheynameditKING’S

FORTRESS,"Konigsberg:"itisnowgrownabig—domedmetropolitanCity,——whereweofthisNarrativelatelysawaCoronationgoingon,andSophieCharlottefurtivelytakingapinchofsnuff。