The Trumpeter of Sakkingen Part 11

On the mountains snow is melting, In the valleys blossom fruit trees, May begins his reign at last.

In the path before the hall door Hiddigeigei took his comfort, Caring only that the sun's rays On his fur should fall and warm him.

Through the garden walked the Baron With his daughter, and with pleasure He beheld the trees in blossom.

"If my life should be preserved still For a hundred years or longer, I should always be delighted With this wonder-breathing May-time.

True, indeed, I set no value On the May-dew, though the women Like to wet with it their faces.

I have never seen a soul yet Who by it improved her beauty; Have no faith in arts of witchcraft In the night of St. Walpurgis, Nor in broomstick-riding squadrons.

Notwithstanding there belongs a Magic to the month of May.

My old weary bones have suffered Many painful gouty twinges From the chilly winds of April.

Now these pains are quite forgotten, And I feel as if the old strength Of my youth were through me streaming, And as if I were once more a Beardless trim and gay young ensign, In those days when at Noerdlingen I fought fiercely, in close combat With those brave blue Swedish horseman.

So I think, it would be pleasant To agree, this is a feast-day, Though no Saint has ever claimed it.

Let us saunter through the forest.

I will breathe the balmy pine air, And the young folks may try whether Fortune favours them at fis.h.i.+ng.

Yes, to-day I yearn for pleasure.

Anton, get the horses ready."

So 'twas done as he had ordered.

In the court, filled with impatience, Pawed and neighed the fiery horses.

Full of joyful expectation For the sport were the young people.

Bent on fis.h.i.+ng they had carried The great net up from the river.

Worthy Anton had invited Many friends of the old Baron, Also had communicated With the ladies of the convent; And, besides, some uninvited Guests had also here a.s.sembled.

When the landlord of the "b.u.t.ton"

Heard the news, he to his wife said: "To thy care I trust entirely All the business of the tavern; In thy hands I lay the keys now Of the cellar and the larder, I must join the fis.h.i.+ng-party."

Speaking thus he stole off quickly; Ne'er he missed a hunt or fis.h.i.+ng.

Strong and hearty looked the Baron, On his charger firmly seated Like a bronze equestrian statue.

By his side on her white palfrey Rode the lovely Margaretta.

Gracefully to her slim figure Clung in folds her riding-habit; Gracefully the blue veil floated From her riding-hat of velvet.

With a steady hand she boldly Reined her palfrey, who was bearing With delight so fair a burden.

Watchfully good Anton followed His fair mistress; also Werner After them was gaily trotting, Though at a respectful distance.

For, behind, in solemn grandeur, Came the big old-fas.h.i.+oned carriage Of the Lady Princess Abbess, With three ladies of the convent, Likewise old and venerable.

They by Werner were escorted.

He made many courtly speeches To these old and n.o.ble ladies, And broke many flowering branches From the trees, and most politely Handed them into the carriage; So that, struck with his fine manners, They unto each other whispered: "What a pity he's not n.o.ble!"

Up hill steep the road ascended, And the forest of dark pine-trees Now received the long procession.

Soon then through the dusky branches Silver like the mountain-lake shone, And already merry shouting Came from thence; for the young people Of the town had gained the lake-sh.o.r.e By a shorter steeper path.

At the summit, where the main-road Took a different direction, Carriages and riders halted, And the vehicles and horses To the servants' care were left.

Full of vigour, through the forest, Down the hill-slope walked the Baron, And the ladies followed bravely.

Mosses like the softest velvet Thickly covered all the ground there, And descending was not dangerous.

On a ridge, which wide and sunny, Far into the lake protruded, Numerous blocks of rock lay scattered.

There the Baron rested, and the Ladies followed his example.

Deep green lake, dense shade of fir-trees, Many thousand times I greet you.

I who now this song am singing Of the past, rejoice in you still.

Oh, how oft ye have refreshed me, When escaping from the daily Narrowness of petty town life, Out to you I used to wander.

Often on the rock I've rested, Which the roots of the old pine-trees Cling to, while beneath the lake lies With its gently rippled surface.

In deep shade the sh.o.r.es lie buried, But the glittering rays of sunlight Gaily dance across the water.

All around reigned holy silence, Only heard there was the hammering Of the p.e.c.k.e.r on the pine-trees.

Through the fallen leaves and mosses Rustled softly emerald lizards, And with clever questioning glances Curiously they eyed the stranger.

Yes, I often lay there dreaming; And when often still at night-fall I sat there, I heard a rustling Through the reeds, the water-lilies Whispered softly to each other.

Then arose from the deep water Mermaids, whose fair pallid faces Brightly shone in the soft moonlight.

Heart overwhelming, mind bewildering, Were their gliding graceful motions; And they beckoned me to come there.

But the fir-tree held and warned me: "Stay thou here on terra firma, Hast no business in the water."

Deep green lake, dense shade of fir-trees, Oft I think of you quite sadly.

Since those days I've been a wanderer: I have climbed up many mountains, And through many lands have travelled, Looked upon the restless ocean, And have heard the Sirens singing; But yet often through my memory Steal the lake's sweet soothing murmurs, And soft whispers from the fir-trees, Home, and love, and youth recalling.

Now there was a noisy thronging, Running, shouting, laughing, joking, Down beneath there on the sh.o.r.e.

Like a general, stood the cunning, Skilful landlord of the "b.u.t.ton,"

'Mid the crowd of younger people, And on every side was giving His wise counsels, how they might now Have a good successful fis.h.i.+ng.

There behind the rocks a boat lay In the reeds with brushwood covered, And with chains securely fastened, That no poachers should disturb it, Who might come along at midnight, And employ it for their fis.h.i.+ng.

From its hiding-place they dragged it Onward to the lake-sh.o.r.e, and there Placed the heavy net within it.

Closely netted were the meshes Of the coa.r.s.est twine, while many Leaden weights thereon were fastened.

When they tried the boat for leakage, Although somewhat out of order, They p.r.o.nounced it quite seaworthy.

Now the landlord and five comrades, Gay and hopeful, took their places, And one end of the great net threw To some friends on sh.o.r.e remaining, With the charge to hold it tightly.

From the sh.o.r.e they pushed away now, Rowing stoutly as the net sank Slowly down in a wide curve; Then returned with speed much lessened, Always dragging on the heavy Bulky net, so that the fishes Might therein become entangled.

On the sh.o.r.e they sprang out quickly, And drew after them the netting, Till they nigh approached those friends who Still upon the sh.o.r.e were waiting.

Stoutly pulling back the ends, they Raised the net out of the water, In great hopes of lots of booty.

But within itself entangled It came slowly to the surface Empty: some unskilful rower Had prevented it from sinking, And the dwellers of the lake laughed To have just escaped such danger.

Now the landlord cast sharp glances Over all the meshes. Nothing Met his anxious gaze but water; Not the smallest fish was caught there; Only an old boot half rotten, And a toad half crushed and flattened, Which with eyes protruding oddly Looked upon the sunlit forest, And the human faces round him, And he thought: "It is most truly Wonderful, how anybody Ever can enjoy existence, With this sky and this bright sunlight!

Well, it seems to me no one here E'er can have the slightest notion Of the mud and all its splendour.

Would I were in my own element!"

Those who stood upon the lake-sh.o.r.e Raised a long and roaring laughter At these first-fruits of the fis.h.i.+ng.

But in rage broke out the landlord, O'er their laughter rang his scolding: "Stupid fellows, bunglers, numskulls!"

And with angry kicks he sent then All the booty flying swiftly, Boot and toad in peace together To the water where they came from.

Loudly splas.h.i.+ng they sank downward.

But the disappointed fishers Would again now try their fortune, Loosened all the tangled meshes, And with greatest care they lowered Then the net and raised it slowly.

And to do so there were needed Many st.u.r.dy pulls and struggles.

Ringing shouts and cries of triumph Greeted this successful fis.h.i.+ng.

From the rock came down the Baron To the fishers, and the ladies Eagerly made haste to follow.

Over rocks and th.o.r.n.y brambles To the sh.o.r.e they found a pathway.

Margaretta followed also, Notwithstanding her long habit.

When young Werner saw her coming, Bashfully his arm he offered, And bewildered were his senses.

So Sir Walter Raleigh's heart once Must have beaten, when his mantle He made use of as a carpet For his gracious royal mistress.

Yet with thanks fair Margaretta Werner's arm and aid accepted.

Out there in the verdant forest Many useless scruples vanish, Which oft elsewhere greatly trouble Masters of the ceremonies.

The descent there was not easy, And no other arm was near her.