Hisguestsstaredathimdoubtingly;andwithastrangeairofunconcern，asthoughthestormhadawakenedallthefiercenessofhissoul，hebeganthefollowinghistory：
\"Iwasonceahappymanmyself;Icouldsmile，asyoudo，andIcouldrejoiceinthemorningasyoudo;thatwasbeforethehypocriticalchaplainhadsobewilderedthewisemindofmylovelywifewithhiscantingtalk，thatshewentintoacloister，andleftmealonewithourwildboy。ThatwasnotfairusagefromthefairVerena。Well，soitwas，thatinthefirstdaysofherdawningbeauty，beforeI
knewher，manyknightssoughtherhand，amongstwhomwasSirWeigandtheSlender;andtowardshimthegentlemaidenshowedherselfthemostfavourablyinclined。HerparentswerewellawarethatWeigand’srankandstationwerelittlebelowtheirown，andthathisearlyfameasawarriorwithoutreproachstoodhigh;sothatbeforelongVerenaandhewereaccountedasaffianced。Ithappenedonedaythattheywerewalkingtogetherintheorchard，whenashepherdwasdrivinghisflockupthemountainbeyond。Themaidensawalittlesnow-whitelambfrolickinggaily，andlongedforit。Weigandvaultsovertherailings，overtakestheshepherd，andoffershimtwogoldbraceletsforthelamb。Buttheshepherdwillnotpartwithit，andscarcelylistenstotheknight，goingquietlythewhileupthemountain-side，withWeigandcloseuponhim。AtlastWeigandlosespatience。Hethreatens;andtheshepherd，sturdyandproudlikeallofhisraceinournorthernland，threatensinreturn。SuddenlyWeigand’sswordresoundsuponhishead，——thestrokeshouldhavefallenflat，butwhocancontrolafieryhorseoradrawnsword？Thebleedingshepherd，withaclovenskull，fallsdowntheprecipice;hisfrightenedflockbleatsonthemountain。Onlythelittlelambrunsinitsterrortotheorchard，pushesitselfthroughthegarden-rails，andliesatVerena’sfeet，asifaskingforhelp，allredwithitsmaster’sblood。Shetookitupinherarms，andfromthatmomentneversufferedWeigandtheSlendertoappearagainbeforeherface。Shecontinuedtocherishthelittlelamb，andseemedtotakepleasureinnothingelseintheworld，andbecamepaleandturnedtowardsheaven，astheliliesare。Shewouldsoonhavetakentheveil，butjustthenIcametoaidherfatherinabloodywar，andrescuedhimfromhisenemies。Theoldmanrepresentedthistoher，and，softlysmiling，shegavemeherlovelyhand。HisgriefwouldnotsuffertheunhappyWeigandtoremaininhisowncountry。ItdrovehimforthasapilgrimtoAsia，whenceourforefatherscame，andtherehedidwonderfuldeeds，bothofvalourandself-abasement。Truly，myheartwasstrangelyweakwhenIheardhimspokenofatthattime。Aftersomeyearshereturned，andwishedtobuildachurchormonasteryonthatmountaintowardsthewest，whencethewallsofmycastlearedistinctlyseen。Itwassaidthathewishedtobecomeapriestthere，butitfelloutotherwise。Forsomepirateshadsailedfromthesouthernseas，and，hearingofthebuildingofthismonastery，theirchiefthoughttofindmuchgoldbelongingtothelordofthecastleandtothemasterbuilders，orelse，ifhesurprisedandcarriedthemoff，toextortfromthemamightyransom。Hedidnotyetknownortherncourageandnorthernweapons;buthesoongainedthatknowledge。Havinglandedinthecreekundertheblackrocks，hemadehiswaythroughaby-pathuptothebuilding，surroundedit，andthoughtinhimselfthattheaffairwasnowended。Ha！thenoutrushedWeigandandhisbuilders，andfelluponthemwithswordsandhatchetsandhammers。Theheathensfledawaytotheirships，withWeigandbehindtotakevengeanceonthem。InpassingbyourcastlehecaughtasightofVerenaontheterrace，and，forthefirsttimeduringsomanyyears，shebestowedacourteousandkindsalutationontheglowingvictor。Atthatmomentadagger，hurledbyoneofthepiratesinthemidstofhishastyflight，struckWeigand’suncoveredhead，andhefelltothegroundbleedingandinsensible。Wecompletedtheroutoftheheathens：thenIhadthewoundedknightbroughtintothecastle;andmypaleVerenaglowedasliliesinthelightofthemorningsun，andWeigandopenedhiseyeswithasmilewhenhewasbroughtnearher。Herefusedtobetakenintoanyroombutthesmalloneclosetothiswherethearmourisnowplaced;forhesaidthathefeltasifitwereacelllikethatwhichhehopedsoontoinhabitinhisquietcloister。Allwasdoneafterhiswish：
mysweetVerenanursedhim，andheappearedatfirsttobeonthestraightestroadtorecovery;buthisheadcontinuedweakandliabletobeconfusedbytheslightestemotion，hiswalkwasratherafallingthanawalking，andhischeekswerecolourless。Wecouldnotlethimgo。Whenweweresittingheretogetherintheevening，heusedalwaystocometotteringintothehallthroughthelowdoorway;
andmyheartwassadandwrathfultoo，whenthesofteyesofVerenabeamedsosweetlyonhim，andaglowlikethatoftheeveningskyhoveredoverherlilycheeks。ButIboreit，andIcouldhaveborneittotheendofourlives，——when，alas！Verenawentintoacloister！\"