🧚 Legends and Tales., part 16

Where the Innerste, which springs from the Barenbruche, approaches her issue from the Harz, she quickens her course, flowing among steep, well-wooded mountains in youthful mirth, or silently over sands, playing with the water-violets, which from the damp moss bend their blue heads in the crystal ripples.1 Beautiful rises on either bank the forest.2 Here grow mighty firs, whose roots spring from the metal-rich graywacke; there, slender beeches in the clay-slate; yonder, maples with their lovely leaves.3 Wild lettuce, yellow and red, grows next the round shave-grass, and the water-lily and mallow rock themselves on the fragrant banks; on the rocky mountain wall shimmers the white-browed swallow-wort, the saxifrage, and the yellow wall-pepper; from the mossy ground of the forest spring the flaming purple toad-stool, the agaric, and the pale goat's-beard.4

The classic wood-singers fill the air with wondrous melodies.5

From the topmost branches of the firs, where he has built his nest, the tiny greenfinch sings his little song.6 Beneath, on the river-banks, sounds the soft flute-like voice of the white-breasted plover, the whistling of the thistle-finch; and the blackbird and linnet, the cross-bill and thrush make the green halls merry with their ringing voices.7

In this valley, on the rushing, roaring Innerste, stood the cottage of unhewn trees and stones, covered with moss, in which father and son led a contented life.8 A small garden surrounded it, in which Ernst loved to work; there he listened to the tales of his father, or hunted in the mountain forests.9

One day, as he had gone in the direction of Goslar, a singular howling fell upon his ear.10 He listened, recognised the howl of a wolf, mingled with the piercing neighing of a horse in deadly terror, and at the same time saw a rider tearing in fear over the mountains, without giving any heed to his calls.11

He hurried in the direction of the neighing and howling, where he heard at the same time a female voice crying for help.12

A large wolf hung on the neck of the almost prostrate horse, on whose back sat a charming maiden.13

To see this, and with practised hand to throw the javelin in the body of the beast of prey, that he sank at the feet of the horse, was the work of an instant.14 Quickly the youth thrust his hunting-knife in the beast, and the bowlings ceased.15

The maiden was saved, and looked gratefully upon her deliverer--and what a look!16 An unspeakable bliss penetrated his breast, he stood speechless before the pure rescued maiden, and his whole soul hung on her eye.17

It was not the rosy cheek, not the crimson lips, that wounded his heart so deliciously, but her eye.18

The horse was not able to carry her home, her servant had fled, and Ernst undertook to conduct her to her father's Burg.19 Arrived there, not all the entreaties of the rescued maiden could induce him to enter, but already it was difficult to tear himself away.20

The impression she had made did not escape her notice, and as she gave him her hand at parting, carried away by the depth of her own emotions, she yielded to his entreaties to meet him sometimes, and promised with tears in her eyes.21

Ernst hunted no more on the mountains, but stood dreaming on a high spot whence he could see her father's castle.22 And when he espied Jutta with her lute descend into the castle garden, and wander into the wood, he rushed to meet her, and lived a blissful hour in listening to her voice and lute, and she at last confessed she loved him with all her heart.23

But now a rich earl sought Jutta's hand, and the lord of the Felsenburg promised this suitor his daughter, because his debts were so great that only a wealthy son-in-law could save his estates.24

In vain Jutta threw herself at her father's feet and declared she loved a handsome, good, and noble youth of ancient race.25

"Is he rich?" was the father's sole question.26

"No!"27 Alas, "no!"28 Ernst was in despair, and Jutta wept hours at a time, which only spoiled her pretty eyes without doing her the least good.29

Jutta at last resolved to give up Ernst for her father's benefit, but she would see him once more, and assure him that her filial love could not lessen her affection for the choice of her heart.30

That was what caused her sadness as we first saw her, and Ernst, as he rushed towards her, must have had some presentiment of the coming trouble in her resolve.31 But she could not tell him her purpose, and, as they parted, whispered, "to-morrow we will see each other again."32

The following day was nearly gone, and evening had sent on her shadow before her.33 Jutta strengthened herself for her sad walk with a prayer, took her lute, and went through the garden into the forest, to the spot where she usually met her lover.34

Ernst was not yet there.35 She walked some distance in the direction of his cottage to a projection of the mountain, whence she could look down into the vale, and waited there for him.36

Lost in her sad thoughts, her fingers swept lightly the strings of the lute, calling forth soft melodious notes.37 Finding comfort in the tones, the harmonies grew louder and louder, and she listened with joy to the tones, now fancying them the voice of the nightingale or the thrush.38

At last her hands swept wildly over the strings in the strength of her sorrow.39

Meanwhile Ernst had approached.40 He listened amazed to the tones, which floated to meet him, sounding entirely different from anything he had ever heard from Jutta's lute before.41

It was as if a clear harmonious voice called back every note that flew from the strings.42

Slowly and in indescribable purity the harmonies echoed through the mountains, and just where Ernst stood the sweet tones trembled in the air, as if the whole vale were one great harp.43

"Can there be a cave here," thought Ernst, "which has such a wonderful echo?" and turned over a moss-grown stone with his foot.44 Who shall describe his astonishment as he saw a white shimmering stone before him, which extended so deep as he removed the moss?45

His exclamation brought Jutta to his side, who at the sight threw herself into his arms with tears of joy.46

"We are saved!47 It is silver!" they both exclaimed in the same breath.48

Of course the earl received a _Korb_.49 [2] Ernst and Jutta were married.50 Ernst became the director of the mine, loaded with honours for his discovery, and ever since the valley has been called the Valley of the Lute.51

[2] _Korb_--basket.52 _Er hat einen Korb bekomnen_, is the German or "He has been rejected;" "he has got the mitten;" that is, "he has got the basket."53

Eva von Trotta.54