Klytia Part 7

"That is Xylander, our celebrated philologist."

"Hem," murmured Felix, "our great humanists look a little different.

And the haggard looking man, who behaves in so condescending a manner, as if he feared to tread unawares upon us poor worms with his leonine paws?"

"Be quiet," whispered Paul, "that is the renowned Pithopous, the great Aristotelean of Deventer."

"He may be stolen from me for aught I care," calmly replied Felix.

"The gentlemen may prepare themselves for severe trials," now began Chancellor Probus raising his voice to call attention. "The introduction of the Genevese Church discipline is almost a foregone conclusion. Presbyteries are to be formed which together with the ministry will carry out the Church excommunication. To sweep before strange doors will now be a profitable occupation. 'The office of the elders,' say Calvin's ordinances, 'consists in watching the life of others.' The quarters of the town will be divided among the elders, who will have to inspect the different houses and verify whether the fathers and the mothers have thoroughly studied the new Catechism, whether the family lives in peace, whether the husband gets drunk, or the wife rails at her neighbors, whether every one goes to Church and Communion, whether dice or cards are in the house, and whether the daughters dance round dances. The Parsons themselves will see to the reform of those denounced. In a word the observance of public order pa.s.ses from the hands of the officials to those of the clerics."

"That will cause some trouble, as the sparrow said, when called upon to lay a goose's egg," called out a shrill but somewhat husky voice.

The Chancellor wrinkled his brow. "Aha, our Klaus falls again into his _role_ of fool," said the Inspector apologetically.

"He is not so wrong. Children and fools speak the truth," now spake out Erast, rubbing with his yellow wash-leather glove the lame arm which was paining him. "The clergy will not be strong enough to keep public order. The authorities will be there, but still under the orders of the Theologians. If the Magistrate Hartmann Hartmanni can preserve order by Olevia.n.u.s' directions, I cannot see why he should not have been able to do so before. For one thing is certain, that the riotous living now carried on in Heidelberg can no longer be tolerated, the noise in the streets till late at night, that everlasting firing, music, and rioting. This the Magistrate could put a stop to without the clergy, were he not himself a gallivanter, and in every respect a boon companion, not to mention also, that he considers himself to be quite a humanist, and makes verses instead of sitting in the Court house."

"Verily a little discipline is necessary in Heidelberg," said Probus confirmingly, "and now punishment follows after its neglect."

The clerical gentlemen returned no answer but looked rather confused.

An angel, or even two angels had time to pa.s.s through the room, before that the Philosopher Pithopous helped these gentlemen to give expression to their thoughts, by jokingly remarking. "Then shall we not see our spiritual friends any more in the Hirsch, for if the Theologians must break the members of their flocks of the habit of sitting in taverns, they themselves must set the example."

"Thus, Herr Neuser, the whole advantage of an early morning service is lost to you, and all these nice free hours from eight o'clock on,"

added Xylander with an amused glance from under his eyebrows.

"If Olevia.n.u.s' propositions take effect," said the Chancellor Probus, "you yourself will also be spared that trouble, Professor. The taverns will be closed, and in their place we shall have monasteries in which the unmarried citizens will be allowed to meet together of an evening under the supervision of Olevia.n.u.s, Ursinus, or Zanchi. None will receive anything to eat or drink, till he has said 'Grace,' or as the Gospel has it, prayed in the corners, A resolution of the Presbyterium fixes the number of gla.s.ses."

A general groan of disapproval followed this incredible statement.

"You are joking, Sir Chancellor," said Parson Suter with a puzzled look.

"How," rejoined Probus, "have you not read the Geneva ordinances, which prescribe what the Genevese are allowed to eat and drink? Did not Calvin forbid them to eat the dried fruits of the South, did he not also refuse to allow the poorer cla.s.ses to feast on baked meats, venison, or game? Did he not make it a law, that no Genevese should invite more than ten persons to dinner? Did he not order that none dare wear velvet, silk, or garments of a red color, although Geneva possesses the largest dye-works and velvet manufactures? If the Presbyterium can determine that Hans cannot tie the nosegay for Gretchen with costly ribbons or gold threads, as decreed by the Geneva ordinances, why shall it not cast a fatherly eye on the number of gla.s.ses, swallowed down every evening by Parson Neuser? Should that thirsty gentleman exceed the number limited, he must beg pardon of the congregation in the Church on bended knee."

"Then is it well to drink another beaker today," squeaked out Parson Suter in his thin voice, "here Klaus!"

"I was in Geneva," now began Parson Willing, with a diplomatic smile, while his cunning eyes winked slyly at the Chancellor. "I know from experience how things are managed. If a man lives too well, he is punished by flagellation and pillory. In my time a baker was imprisoned, for not eating meat on Fridays, as Master Calvin smelt Kryptopapism therein. A bereaved widow was even brought up before the Consistorium for having used the words over the grave of her husband '_requiescat in pace_.' That young women should be flogged because their way of dressing the hair and the cut of their clothes was not pleasing to Calvin, is easily understood, but he also imprisoned the dressmaker, who made the clothes, and the friends who helped to dress them. It will be a nice time for Heidelberg, when the consumptive b.u.t.ter-colored faces, which Ursinus and Zanchi have called together, stick their noses in every pot. I remember right well, how in Geneva they ordered me to repeat the Catechism like a school-boy, looked over my books, sent elderly gentlemen and worthy women to the head of the hospital to learn to pray, and made us attend for a whole year the Sunday-school, so that we might obtain proper notions on the matter of praedestination."

A pause testified to the impression produced by the remarks of the experienced Parson. "Even Sunday-walks," continued he, "picnics, bowling, singing and dancing must the inhabitants of the Palatinate banish from their minds, for those lead to Church excommunication, and excommunication means imprisonment and banishment."

"The foreign gentlemen need not banish me," said Neuser angrily, "for I am about to leave of my own accord."

"Where will you go then?" rejoined Xylander. "To the Hugenots, there will you have to rise even earlier, as they have early service before sun-rise. To the Saxons? Think of their wretched beer, and the doctrine of Ubiquity. To the Hanseatic towns? With Hesshufen and Westphal you jump from the frying pan into the fire. Easier is it to throw thirteen spots with a pair of dice than find a Church, which respects your freedom. It is of no avail, brother, you must submit."

"I know of a place, and the Inspector and my friend Suter know it also.

We shall soon have followers, if the foreigners have it here their own way. We quit."

"Klaus will also be of your company?" laughed Xylander.

"Klaus will become a Turk," put in the waiter, "there a man has but one G.o.d and three wives. That is better than the reverse way."

"Peace, blasphemer," said Probus.

"It is only a matter of essay, which is better, to be a Turk or a Palatine under Olevia.n.u.s and Frederic the Pious," murmured Neuser.

"Our stout Neuser is a man capable of bartering three Heavenly Fathers and twelve Apostles for a cask of Deidesheimer," said Xylander mockingly, "but only remember that in Turkey wine is not allowed, the Prophet had a weak stomach."

The Chancellor arose, the conversation was becoming too frivolous, and he had attained his end in arousing a feeling against the Church Council. Erast and the Professors also withdrew after a short time, followed at last by Parson Willing.

The two brothers still kept their seats at the table with the clergy, who openly showed that they wished for their departure. Sylvan went even so far at to ask the artist if he did not feel like accompanying his brother to the Stift by such a beauteous moonlight, but in vain, it seemed as if Paul was bent on sitting out the others. He ordered a fresh supply from Klaus, and Felix delighted at finding himself once more with his brother, willingly joined him.

The Inspector at last got up and took another seat at the further end of the table away from Paul and Felix, where he was eagerly surrounded by Suter, Neuser, and a third Parson, whom they called Vehe, deacon of Lauter. The stately Sylvan seated between the wine-soaked Neuser, the porpoiselike Suter, and the coa.r.s.e Vehe whose face seemed to consist entirely of underjaw, resembled Orpheus among the beasts. Whilst Paul was entertaining his brother with an account of his position, the Inspector brought out certain letters, and said to the other in a suppressed tone: "I went over to Speyer. Herr Kaspar Beckhess, the Chancellor of the Woywode received me in the most friendly manner. It would be very pleasing to him, if ripe and experienced Theologians entered into the service of the Transylvanian Church. But he thinks, that his Unitarians would be rather distrustful, lest the incoming Germans should introduce as many troubles as have the Italians, Belgians, and French in the Palatinate. Therefore we must clearly and distinctly abjure the doctrine of the Trinity, before that Superintendent Davidis sanctions our reception."

"To abjure the doctrine of the Trinity is rather a strong measure,"

said Vehe.

"That depends on the custom of the country," rejoined Sylva.n.u.s in measured tones. "What is in fact really known concerning this matter?

The relation of the three persons of the G.o.dhead is very like the declension of the three persons in the Grammar, here we decline: sum, es, est, there they decline: sum, sus, sut, which may also be correct."

"But if the affair gets known, before we have taken leave of the Kurfurst," piped Suter out in his squeaky tones, "then is the round tower our certain abode."

"I thought you would be afraid," said Sylvan laughing, "and therefore I will s.n.a.t.c.h the chestnuts out of the fire for you. I have already written a protest against the doctrine of the Trinity. I will send this to the body-surgeon of the Woywode, Blandrata. I will add that you think as I do, and I hope Davidis will be satisfied with this. Here is the protest."

Vehe took the papers and read out the t.i.tle: "Against the idolatry of the Trinity and the wors.h.i.+p of the two-fold Nature." "That t.i.tle is rather strong," said he, casting his wolfish eyes distrustfully in the direction of the Italian.

"The stronger the better," rejoined Sylvan. "The Amba.s.sador of the Woywode, and our friends in Transylvania must be convinced, that we seriously mean going over, otherwise we shall never receive any suitable livings. I am leaving here, because I have been thrust to one side, and these Northgerman and French starvelings have been stuck under my nose. A beggarly parish in Transylvania will therefore not suit me. I am better off in Ladenburg; are you not also of my opinion, Neuser?"

The latter raised his wine-sodden head. "What, another Superintendent,"

said he, "who requires a covenant? Is the whole world filled with this breed that one cannot live even in Klausenburg as one likes. Klaus is right, rather under the Turks than under the Superintendents; I will to-day write a memorial to the Sultan Selim. I will be freed from these bloodsuckers. Shall I leave the Palatinate to let myself be knocked about in Klausenburg."

"Don't shout so loud," said Sylvan, yon Jesuit pretends to be busily conversing with his brother, but I see how he p.r.i.c.ks up his ears. I know these gentry from my experience at Wurzburg.

"Klaus," cried Parson Vehe in his coa.r.s.e voice to the waiter, "why have a.s.ses such long ears?"

"Because their mothers did not put caps on their heads when they were young."

"A bad guess."

"So that they may better hear the sermons from the streets, since the Clergy forbid their entrance into the Church."

"That is better," said Vehe with a spiteful glance towards the Italian: "that they may overhear."

"Let us away from such a crowd," roared Neuser. "Nowhere now is a man at peace. Everywhere is listening, spying, ferreting out, denouncing, counting the drops in one's gla.s.s, I will be a free man."

"We are in the way here," said Felix to his brother, who apparently undisturbed by the conversation at the other side of the table, fixed his eyes on his brother's face, but none the less had kept his ears open to what had been said by the Parsons.

"Let them leave first," replied Paul in the Italian language, "it looks less remarkable." In fact the four parsons rose at the same moment and left the room in a noisy manner, without honoring the brothers with a bow.

"German politeness," laughed Paul.

"They are beasts," said the artist, "Could I but saw away the facade of the new building and send it off to Florence, I should consider it a good action;" was.h.i.+ng down by a last swallow of water the bad impression made on him, he took his brother's arm and went out on the Market place, where the dark ma.s.sive Church opposite stood out boldly in the quiet square now resplendent with the light of a clear moon.