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  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(pulchraviscera)

  wererunthroughwithsevenspears:\"butthisoftheROMOVA,orSacredBangputtisChurchofOak—trees,perhapschiefROMOVAoftheCountry,rashlyintrudedinto,withconsequentstrokes,andfallintheformofacrucifix,appearsnowtobetheintelligibleaccount。[Baillet,ViesdesSaints(Paris,1739),iii。722。Bollandus,ActaSanetorum,Aprilistom。iii(DIE23;inEditionvenetiis,

  1738),pp。174—205。Voigt,GeschichtePreussens(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。[SeeMichaelisChurundFurstlichenHauser,

  i。257—259:Pauli,AllgemeinePreussischeStaats—

  Geschichte(Halle,1760—1769),i。l—182(the\"standardwork\"onPrussianHistory;ineightwateryquartos,intolerabletohumannature):Kloss,VuterlandischeGemalde(Berlin,1833),i。59—108(aBookseller’scompilation,withsomecuriousExcerpts):——underwhichliemodernSagittarius,ancientAdamofBremen,DitmarusMerseburgensis,WitichindusCorbeiensis,ArnoldusLubecensis,&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,DescriptiondelaTabled’Aute1enorfin,donneealaCathedraledeBale,parl’EmpereurHenriII。en1019

  (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(AlbrechtderBar);’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(

  AlteMarck,Altmarck);\"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。penesme。]

  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,

  BrandenburgischerCeder—Hein(Baireuth,l682),pp。273—276。——SeealsoJohannUlrichPregitzern,

  TeutscherRegierungs—undEhren—Spiegel,vorbildend&c。desHausesHohenzollern(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。\"(Tourist’sNote。)]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’sDeutscheKaiser—undReichs—Historie(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’sTravels(EnglishTranslation,London,1787),i。140,Busching,Volks—Sagen,&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

  (whocitesAventinus,Trittheim,&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,GeschichtederDeutschen(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。

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