Anne of Geierstein; Or, The Maiden of the Mist. Volume 1 (of 2)

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER V.

  I was one Who loved the greenwood bank and lowing herd, The russet prize, the lowly peasant's life, Season'd with sweet content, more than the halls Where revellers feast to fever-height. Believe me, There ne'er was poison mix'd in maple bowl. ANONYMOUS.

  Leaving the young persons engaged with their sports, the Landamman ofUnterwalden and the elder Philipson walked on in company, conversingchiefly on the political relations of France, England, and Burgundy,until the conversation was changed as they entered the gate of the oldcastle-yard of Geierstein, where arose the lonely and dismantled keep,surrounded by the ruins of other buildings.

  "This has been a proud and a strong habitation in its time," saidPhilipson.

  "They were a proud and powerful race who held it," replied theLandamman. "The Counts of Geierstein have a history which runs back tothe times of the old Helvetians, and their deeds are reported to havematched their antiquity. But all earthly grandeur has an end, and freemen tread the ruins of their feudal castle, at the most distant sightof whose turrets serfs were formerly obliged to vail their bonnets, ifthey would escape the chastisement of contumacious rebels."

  "I observe," said the merchant, "engraved on a stone under yonderturret, the crest, I conceive, of the last family, a vulture perchedon a rock, descriptive, doubtless, of the word Geierstein."

  "It is the ancient cognisance of the family," replied ArnoldBiederman, "and, as you say, expresses the name of the castle, beingthe same with that of the knights who so long held it."

  "I also remarked in your hall," continued the merchant, "a helmetbearing the same crest or cognisance. It is, I suppose, a trophy ofthe triumph of the Swiss peasants over the nobles of Geierstein, asthe English bow is preserved in remembrance of the battle ofButtisholz?"

  "And you, fair sir," replied the Landamman, "would, I perceive, fromthe prejudices of your education, regard the one victory with asunpleasant feelings as the other?--Strange, that the veneration forrank should be rooted even in the minds of those who have no claim toshare it! But clear up your downcast brows, my worthy guest, and beassured, that though many a proud baron's castle, when Switzerlandthrew off the bonds of feudal slavery, was plundered and destroyed bythe just vengeance of an incensed people, such was not the lot ofGeierstein. The blood of the old possessors of these towers stillflows in the veins of him by whom these lands are occupied."

  "What am I to understand by that, Sir Landamman?" said Philipson. "Arenot you yourself the occupant of this place?"

  "And you think, probably," answered Arnold, "because I live like theother shepherds, wear homespun grey, and hold the plough with my ownhands, I cannot be descended from a line of ancient nobility? Thisland holds many such gentle peasants, Sir Merchant; nor is there amore ancient nobility than that of which the remains are to be foundin my native country. But they have voluntarily resigned theoppressive part of their feudal power, and are no longer regarded aswolves amongst the flock, but as sagacious mastiffs, who attend thesheep in time of peace, and are prompt in their defence when warthreatens our community."

  "But," repeated the merchant, who could not yet reconcile himself tothe idea that his plain and peasant-seeming host was a man ofdistinguished birth, "you bear not the name, worthy sir, of yourfathers--They were, you say, the Counts of Geierstein, and youare"----

  "Arnold Biederman, at your command," answered the magistrate. "Butknow,--if the knowledge can make you sup with more sense of dignity orcomfort,--I need but put on yonder old helmet, or, if that were toomuch trouble, I have only to stick a falcon's feather into my cap, andcall myself Arnold, Count of Geierstein. No man could gainsayme--though whether it would become my Lord Count to drive his bullocksto the pasture, and whether his Excellency the High and Well-borncould, without derogation, sow a field or reap it, are questions whichshould be settled beforehand. I see you are confounded, my respectedguest, at my degeneracy; but the state of my family is very soonexplained.

  "My lordly fathers ruled this same domain of Geierstein, which intheir time was very extensive, much after the mode of feudalbarons--that is, they were sometimes the protectors and patrons, butoftener the oppressors of their subjects. But when my grandfather,Heinrich of Geierstein, flourished, he not only joined theConfederates to repel Ingelram de Couci and his roving bands, as Ialready told you, but, when the wars with Austria were renewed, andmany of his degree joined with the host of the Emperor Leopold, myancestor adopted the opposite side, fought in front of theConfederates, and contributed by his skill and valour to the decisivevictory at Sempach, in which Leopold lost his life, and the flower ofAustrian chivalry fell around him. My father, Count Williewald,followed the same course, both from inclination and policy. He unitedhimself closely with the state of Unterwalden, became a citizen of theConfederacy, and distinguished himself so much that he was chosenLandamman of the Republic. He had two sons,--myself, and a youngerbrother, Albert; and possessed, as he felt himself, of a species ofdouble character, he was desirous, perhaps unwisely (if I may censurethe purpose of a deceased parent), that one of his sons should succeedhim in his Lordship of Geierstein, and the other support the lessostentatious, though not in my thought less honourable condition, of afree citizen of Unterwalden, possessing such influence among hisequals in the Canton as might be acquired by his father's merits andhis own. When Albert was twelve years old, our father took us on ashort excursion to Germany, where the form, pomp, and magnificencewhich we witnessed made a very different impression on the mind of mybrother and on my own. What appeared to Albert the consummation ofearthly splendour seemed to me a weary display of tiresome and uselessceremonials. Our father explained his purpose, and offered to me, ashis eldest son, the large estate belonging to Geierstein, reservingsuch a portion of the most fertile ground as might make my brother oneof the wealthiest citizens, in a district where competence is esteemedwealth. The tears gushed from Albert's eyes--'And must my brother,' hesaid, 'be a noble Count, honoured and followed by vassals andattendants, and I a homespun peasant among the grey-bearded shepherdsof Unterwalden?--No, father--I respect your will--but I will notsacrifice my own rights. Geierstein is a fief held of the empire, andthe laws entitle me to my equal half of the lands. If my brother beCount of Geierstein, I am not the less Count Albert of Geierstein; andI will appeal to the Emperor, rather than that the arbitrary will ofone ancestor, though he be my father, shall cancel in me the rank andrights which I have derived from a hundred.' My father was greatlyincensed. 'Go,' he said, 'proud boy, give the enemy of thy country apretext to interfere in her affairs--appeal to the will of a foreignprince from the pleasure of thy father. Go, but never again look me inthe face, and dread my eternal malediction!' Albert was about to replywith vehemence, when I entreated him to be silent and hear me speak. Ihad, I said, all my life loved the mountain better than the plain; hadbeen more pleased to walk than to ride; more proud to contend withshepherds in their sports than with nobles in the lists; and happierin the village dance than among the feasts of the German nobles. 'Letme, therefore,' I said, 'be a citizen of the republic of Unterwalden;you will relieve me of a thousand cares; and let my brother Albertwear the coronet and bear the honours of Geierstein.' After somefurther discussion, my father was at length contented to adopt myproposal, in order to attain the object which he had so much at heart.Albert was declared heir of his castle and his rank, by the title ofCount Albert of Geierstein; and I was placed in possession of thesefields and fertile meadows amidst which my house is situated, and myneighbours called me Arnold Biederman."

  "And if Biederman," said the merchant, "means, as I understand theword, a man of worth, candour, and generosity, I know none on whom theepithet could be so justly conferred. Yet let me observe, that Ipraise the conduct which, in your circumstances, I could not havebowed my spirit to practise. Proceed, I pray you, with the history ofyour house, if the recital be not painful to you."

  "I have little mor
e to say," replied the Landamman. "My father diedsoon after the settlement of his estate in the manner I have told you.My brother had other possessions in Swabia and Westphalia, and seldomvisited his paternal castle, which was chiefly occupied by aseneschal, a man so obnoxious to the vassals of the family, that butfor the protection afforded by my near residence, and relationshipwith his lord, he would have been plucked out of the Vulture's Nest,and treated with as little ceremony as if he had been the vulturehimself. Neither, to say the truth, did my brother's occasional visitsto Geierstein afford his vassals much relief, or acquire anypopularity for himself. He heard with the ears and saw with the eyesof his cruel and interested steward, Ital Schreckenwald, and would notlisten even to my interference and admonition. Indeed, though healways demeaned himself with personal kindness towards me, I believehe considered me as a dull and poor-spirited clown, who had disgracedmy noble blood by my mean propensities. He showed contempt on everyoccasion for the prejudices of his countrymen, and particularly bywearing a peacock's feather in public, and causing his followers todisplay the same badge, though the cognisance of the House of Austria,and so unpopular in this country, that men have been put to death forno better reason than for carrying it in their caps. In the meantime Iwas married to my Bertha, now a saint in heaven, by whom I had sixstately sons, five of whom you saw surrounding my table this day.Albert also married. His wife was a lady of rank in Westphalia, buthis bridal-bed was less fruitful; he had only one daughter, Anne ofGeierstein. Then came on the wars between the city of Zurich and ourForest Cantons, in which so much blood was shed, and when our brethrenof Zurich were so ill advised as to embrace the alliance of Austria.Their Emperor strained every nerve to avail himself of the favourableopportunity afforded by the disunion of the Swiss, and engaged allwith whom he had influence to second his efforts. With my brother hewas but too successful; for Albert not only took arms in the Emperor'scause, but admitted into the strong fortress of Geierstein a band ofAustrian soldiers, with whom the wicked Ital Schreckenwald laid wastethe whole country, excepting my little patrimony."

  "It came to a severe pass with you, my worthy host," said themerchant, "since you were to decide against the cause of your countryor that of your brother."

  "I did not hesitate," continued Arnold Biederman. "My brother was inthe Emperor's army, and I was not therefore reduced to act personallyagainst him; but I denounced war against the robbers and thieves withwhom Schreckenwald had filled my father's house. It was waged withvarious fortune. The seneschal, during my absence, burnt down myhouse, and slew my youngest son, who died, alas! in defence of hisfather's hearth. It is little to add that my lands were wasted and myflocks destroyed. On the other hand, I succeeded, with help of a bodyof the peasants of Unterwalden, in storming the Castle of Geierstein.It was offered back to me by the Confederates; but I had no desire tosully the fair cause in which I had assumed arms, by enriching myselfat the expense of my brother; and besides, to have dwelt in thatguarded hold would have been a penance to one the sole protectors ofwhose house of late years had been a latch and a shepherd's cur. Thecastle was therefore dismantled, as you see, by order of the elders ofthe Canton; and I even think that, considering the uses it was toooften put to, I look with more pleasure on the rugged remains ofGeierstein, than I ever did when it was entire, and apparentlyimpregnable."

  "I can understand your feelings," said the Englishman, "though Irepeat, my virtue would not perhaps have extended so far beyond thecircle of my family affections.--Your brother, what said he to yourpatriotic exertions?"

  "He was, as I learnt," answered the Landamman, "dreadfully incensed,having no doubt been informed that I had taken his castle with a viewto my own aggrandisement. He even swore he would renounce my kindred,seek me through the battle, and slay me with his own hand. We were, infact, both at the battle of Freyenbach, but my brother was preventedfrom attempting the execution of his vindictive purpose by a woundfrom an arrow, which occasioned his being carried out of the melee. Iwas afterwards in the bloody and melancholy fight at Mount-Herzel, andthat other onslaught at the Chapel of St. Jacob [_d_], which broughtour brethren of Zurich to terms, and reduced Austria once more to thenecessity of making peace with us. After this war of thirteen years,the Diet passed sentence of banishment for life on my brother Albert,and would have deprived him of his possessions, but forbore inconsideration of what they thought my good service. When the sentencewas intimated to the Count of Geierstein, he returned an answer ofdefiance; yet a singular circumstance showed us not long afterwardsthat he retained an attachment to his country, and amidst hisresentment against me, his brother, did justice to my unalteredaffection for him."

  "I would pledge my credit," said the merchant, "that what followsrelates to yonder fair maiden, your niece?"

  "You guess rightly," said the Landamman. "For some time we heard,though indistinctly (for we have, as you know, but littlecommunication with foreign countries), that my brother was high infavour at the court of the Emperor, but latterly that he had fallenunder suspicion, and, in the course of some of those revolutionscommon at the courts of princes, had been driven into exile. It wasshortly after this news, and, as I think, more than seven years ago,that I was returning from hunting on the farther side of the river,had passed the narrow bridge as usual, and was walking through thecourtyard which we have lately left" (for their walk was now turnedhomeward), "when a voice said, in the German language, 'Uncle, havecompassion upon me!' As I looked around, I beheld a girl of ten yearsold approach timidly from the shelter of the ruins, and kneel down atmy feet. 'Uncle, spare my life,' she said, holding up her little handsin the act of supplication, while mortal terror was painted upon hercountenance.--'Am I your uncle, little maiden?' said I; 'and if I am,why should you fear me?'--'Because you are the head of the wicked andbase clowns who delight to spill noble blood,' replied the girl, witha courage which surprised me.--'What is your name, my little maiden?'said I; 'and who, having planted in your mind opinions so unfavourableto your kinsman, has brought you hither, to see if he resembles thepicture you have received of him?'--'It was Ital Schreckenwald thatbrought me hither,' said the girl, only half comprehending the natureof my question.--'Ital Schreckenwald?' I repeated, shocked at the nameof a wretch I have so much reason to hate. A voice from the ruins,like that of a sullen echo from the grave, answered, 'ItalSchreckenwald!' and the caitiff issued from his place of concealment,and stood before me, with that singular indifference to danger whichhe unites to his atrocity of character. I had my spiked mountain-staffin my hand--What should I have done--or what would you have done,under like circumstances?"

  "I would have laid him on the earth, with his skull shivered like anicicle!" said the Englishman, fiercely.

  "I had well-nigh done so," replied the Swiss, "but he was unarmed, amessenger from my brother, and therefore no object of revenge. His ownundismayed and audacious conduct contributed to save him. 'Let thevassal of the noble and high-born Count of Geierstein hear the wordsof his master, and let him look that they are obeyed,' said the insolentruffian. 'Doff thy cap, and listen; for though the voice is mine, thewords are those of the noble Count.'--'God and man know,' replied I,'if I owe my brother respect or homage--it is much if, in respect forhim, I defer paying to his messenger the meed I dearly owe him.Proceed with thy tale, and rid me of thy hateful presence.'--'AlbertCount of Geierstein, thy lord and my lord,' proceeded Schreckenwald,'having on his hand wars, and other affairs of weight, sends hisdaughter, the Countess Anne, to thy charge, and graces thee so far asto intrust to thee her support and nurture, until it shall suit hispurposes to require her back from thee; and he desires that thou applyto her maintenance the rents and profits of the lands of Geierstein,which thou hast usurped from him.'--'Ital Schreckenwald,' I replied,'I will not stop to ask if this mode of addressing me be according tomy brother's directions, or thine own insolent pleasure. Ifcircumstances have, as thou sayest, deprived my niece of her naturalprotector, I will be to her as a father, nor shall she want aughtwhich I have to give
her. The lands of Geierstein are forfeited to thestate, the castle is ruinous, as thou seest, and it is much of thycrimes that the house of my fathers is desolate. But where I dwellAnne of Geierstein shall dwell, as my children fare shall she fare,and she shall be to me as a daughter. And now thou hast thineerrand--Go hence, if thou lovest thy life; for it is unsafe parleyingwith the father, when thy hands are stained with the blood of theson.' The wretch retired as I spoke, but took his leave with his usualdetermined insolence of manner.--'Farewell,' he said, 'Count of thePlough and Harrow--farewell, noble companion of paltry burghers!' Hedisappeared, and released me from the strong temptation under which Ilaboured, and which urged me to stain with his blood the place whichhad witnessed his cruelty and his crimes. I conveyed my niece to myhouse, and soon convinced her that I was her sincere friend. I inuredher, as if she had been my daughter, to all our mountain exercises;and while she excels in these the damsels of the district, there burstfrom her such sparkles of sense and courage, mingled with delicacy, asbelong not--I must needs own the truth--to the simple maidens of thesewild hills, but relish of a nobler stem, and higher breeding. Yet theyare so happily mixed with simplicity and courtesy, that Anne ofGeierstein is justly considered as the pride of the district; nor do Idoubt but that, if she should make a worthy choice of a husband, thestate would assign her a large dower out of her father's possessions,since it is not our maxim to punish the child for the faults of theparent."

  "It will naturally be your anxious desire, my worthy host," repliedthe Englishman, "to secure to your niece, in whose praises I have deepcause to join with a grateful voice, such a suitable match as herbirth and expectations, but above all her merit, demand."

  "It is, my good guest," said the Landamman, "that which hath oftenoccupied my thoughts. The over-near relationship prohibits what wouldhave been my most earnest desire, the hope of seeing her wedded to oneof my own sons. This young man, Rudolph Donnerhugel, is brave, andhighly esteemed by his fellow-citizens; but more ambitious, and moredesirous of distinction, than I would desire for my niece's companionthrough life. His temper is violent, though his heart, I trust, isgood. But I am like to be unpleasantly released from all care on thisscore, since my brother, having, as it seemed, forgotten Anne forseven years and upwards, has, by a letter which I have latelyreceived, demanded that she shall be restored to him.--You can read,my worthy sir, for your profession requires it. See, here is thescroll, coldly worded, but far less unkindly than his unbrotherlymessage by Ital Schreckenwald--Read it, I pray you, aloud."

  The merchant read accordingly.

  "BROTHER--I thank you for the care you have taken of my daughter, for she has been in safety when she would otherwise have been in peril, and kindly used, when she would have been in hardship. I now entreat you to restore her to me, and trust that she will come with the virtues which become a woman in every station, and a disposition to lay aside the habits of a Swiss villager, for the graces of a high-born maiden.--Adieu. I thank you once more for your care, and would repay it were it in my power; but you need nothing I can give, having renounced the rank to which you were born, and made your nest on the ground where the storm passes over you. I rest your brother,

  "GEIERSTEIN."

  "It is addressed 'to Count Arnold of Geierstein, called ArnoldBiederman.' A postscript requires you to send the maiden to the courtof the Duke of Burgundy.--This, good sir, appears to me the languageof a haughty man, divided betwixt the recollection of old offence andrecent obligation. The speech of his messenger was that of a maliciousvassal, desirous of venting his own spite under pretence of doing hislord's errand."

  "I so receive both," replied Arnold Biederman.

  "And do you intend," continued the merchant, "to resign this beautifuland interesting creature to the conduct of her father, wilful as heseems to be, without knowing what his condition is, or what his powerof protecting her?"

  The Landamman hastened to reply. "The tie which unites the parent tothe child is the earliest and the most hallowed that binds the humanrace. The difficulty of her travelling in safety has hithertoprevented my attempting to carry my brother's instructions intoexecution. But as I am now likely to journey in person towards thecourt of Charles, I have determined that Anne shall accompany me; andas I will myself converse with my brother, whom I have not seen formany years, I shall learn his purpose respecting his daughter, and itmay be I may prevail on Albert to suffer her to remain under mycharge.--And now, sir, having told you of my family affairs at somegreater length than was necessary, I must crave your attention, as awise man, to what further I have to say. You know the dispositionwhich young men and women naturally have to talk, jest, and sport witheach other, out of which practice arise often more seriousattachments, which they call loving _par amours_. I trust, if we areto travel together, you will so school your young man as to make himaware that Anne of Geierstein cannot, with propriety on her part, bemade the object of his thoughts or attentions."

  The merchant coloured with resentment, or something like it. "I askednot to join your company, Sir Landamman--it was you who requestedmine," he said; "if my son and I have since become in any respect theobjects of your suspicion, we will gladly pursue our way separately."

  "Nay, be not angry, worthy guest," said the Landamman; "we Switzers donot rashly harbour suspicions; and that we may not harbour them, wespeak, respecting the circumstances out of which they might arise,more plainly than is the wont of more civilised countries. When Iproposed to you to be my companion on the journey, to speak the truth,though it may displease a father's ear, I regarded your son as a soft,faint-hearted youth, who was, as yet at least, too timid andmilky-blooded to attract either respect or regard from the maidens.But a few hours have presented him to us in the character of such aone as is sure to interest them. He has accomplished the emprise ofthe bow, long thought unattainable, and with which a popular reportconnects an idle prophecy. He has wit to make verses, and knowsdoubtless how to recommend himself by other accomplishments which bindyoung persons to each other, though they are lightly esteemed by menwhose beards are mixed with grey, like yours, friend merchant, andmine own. Now, you must be aware, that since my brother broke termswith me, simply for preferring the freedom of a Swiss citizen to thetawdry and servile condition of a German courtier, he will not approveof any one looking towards his daughter who hath not the advantage ofnoble blood, or who hath, what he would call, debased himself byattention to merchandise, to the cultivation of land--in a word, toany art that is useful. Should your son love Anne of Geierstein, heprepares for himself danger and disappointment. And, now you know thewhole,--I ask you, Do we travel together or apart?"

  "Even as ye list, my worthy host," said Philipson, in an indifferenttone; "for me, I can but say that such an attachment as you speak ofwould be as contrary to my wishes as to those of your brother, or whatI suppose are your own. Arthur Philipson has duties to perform totallyinconsistent with his playing the gentle bachelor to any maiden inSwitzerland, take Germany to boot, whether of high or low degree. Heis an obedient son, besides--hath never seriously disobeyed mycommands, and I will have an eye upon his motions."

  "Enough, my friend," said the Landamman; "we travel together, then,and I willingly keep my original purpose, being both pleased andinstructed by your discourse."

  Then changing the conversation, he began to ask whether hisacquaintance thought that the league entered into by the King ofEngland and the Duke of Burgundy would continue stable. "We hearmuch," continued the Swiss, "of the immense army with which KingEdward proposes the recovery of the English dominions in France."

  "I am well aware," said Philipson, "that nothing can be so popular inmy country as the invasion of France, and the attempt to reconquerNormandy, Maine, and Gascony, the ancient appanages of our Englishcrown. But I greatly doubt whether the voluptuous usurper, who nowcalls himself king, will be graced by Heaven with success in such anadventure. This Fourth Edward is brave indeed, and has g
ained everybattle in which he drew his sword, and they have been many in number.But since he reached, through a bloody path, to the summit of hisambition, he has shown himself rather a sensual debauchee than avaliant knight; and it is my firm belief, that not even the chance ofrecovering all the fair dominions which were lost during the civilwars excited by his ambitious house will tempt him to exchange thesoft beds of London, with sheets of silk and pillows of down, and themusic of a dying lute to lull him to rest, for the turf of France andthe reveille of an alarm trumpet."

  "It is the better for us should it prove so," said the Landamman; "forif England and Burgundy were to dismember France, as in our father'sdays was nearly accomplished, Duke Charles would then have leisure toexhaust his long-hoarded vengeance against our Confederacy."

  As they conversed thus, they attained once more the lawn in front ofArnold Biederman's mansion, where the contention of the young men hadgiven place to the dance performed by the young persons of both sexes.The dance was led by Anne of Geierstein and the youthful stranger;which, although it was the most natural arrangement, where the one wasa guest, and the other represented the mistress of the family,occasioned the Landamman's exchanging a glance with the elderPhilipson, as if it had held some relation to the suspicions he hadrecently expressed.

  But so soon as her uncle and his elder guest appeared, Anne ofGeierstein took the earliest opportunity of a pause to break off thedance, and to enter into conversation with her kinsman, as if on thedomestic affairs under her attendance. Philipson observed that hishost listened seriously to his niece's communication; and, nodding inhis frank manner, seemed to intimate that her request should receive afavourable consideration.

  The family were presently afterwards summoned to attend the eveningmeal, which consisted chiefly of the excellent fish afforded by theneighbouring streams and lakes. A large cup, containing what wascalled the _schlaf-trunk_, or sleeping-drink, then went round, whichwas first quaffed by the master of the household, then modestly tastedby the maiden, next pledged by the two strangers, and finally emptiedby the rest of the company. Such were then the sober manners of theSwiss, afterwards much corrupted by their intercourse with moreluxurious regions. The guests were conducted to the sleeping-apartments,where Philipson and young Arthur occupied the same couch, and shortlyafter the whole inhabitants of the household were locked in soundrepose.