The Drachenfels
I.
When the wanderer has left the "city of the Muses," Bonn, he
perceives to the left the mighty summits of the Seven Mountains. The
rocky
point of one of these hills is still crowned by the tower and walls of
an
old knight's castle. A most touching legend is related of the mountain
with
the terrible name.
In the first centuries after the birth of the
world's
Redeemer, the Germans on the left side of the Rhine accepted willingly
the
doctrines of the Cross; Maternus, a disciple of the great Apostle, had
brought
them over from Gaul. At first the pious messenger of Christ worked
among
the heathen tribes in vain. They persisted in their paganism, and even
prevented
the priests from coming into their country.
At that time there was a terrible dragon living in the
hollow of the rock, which even now is called the Dragon's hole. He was
of
a hideous form, and every day he used to leave his den and rage through
the
forests and valleys, threatening men and animals. Human strength was
powerless
against this monster; the people thought that an angry deity had his
abode
in this terrible beast, so they bestowed godlike honours on him,
sacrificing
criminals and prisoners to him.
A tribe of heathens lived at the foot of the
mountain.
These men, desirous of war, often made raids on the neighbouring
countries,
carrying fire and sword among their Christian brothers. They once
crossed
the water, plundering the land and making prisoners of the people.
Among
the latter there was one most lovely maiden, whose beauty and grace
inflamed
two of the leaders so much, that each of them desired to have her for
himself.
One was called Horsrik the Elder, a famous chieftain, known to have the
strength
of a bear and the wildness of a tiger; the other, Rinbold, of a less
rough
nature, but .of equal bravery.
The beautiful maiden turned aside shuddering when
she
saw the two chiefs' glaring eyes, contending for possession of her. All
round
were their men intoxicated with victory. The struggle for the Christian
maid
affected the two leaders more than the division of the booty. Soon the
angry
words of the two opponents found an echo in the hearts of the men
standing
round.
Horsrik, the much-feared fighter, claimed her, and
was
received with cheers. Rinbold, the proud young chieftain, claimed her
also,
– great applause
greeted him. The
former glared sternly, grasping his
club
in a threatening manner. The high-priest, an old man with silver-white
hair
and stern features, stepped in between the two combatants, and in a
voice
surging with anger he said:
"Cursed be every dissension for the possession of
this
stranger! A Christian must not disunite the noblest of our tribe. A
daughter
of those we hate, she shall fall to nobody's share. She, the author of
so
much strife, shall be sacrificed to the Dragon, and shall be dedicated
to
Woden's honour at the next rising of the sun."
The men murmured applause, Horsrik more than the
rest.
The maiden held her head upright. Rinbold, the proud young chieftain,
looked
sorrowfully at her angel-like face.
II.
Early the following day before the sur had poured
his
bright beams on the earth, the valley showed signs of life. Through the
dusk
of the forest a noisy procession moved upwards towards the highest
point,
the priest in the middle, behind him the prisoner, pale but resolute.
Silently,
for her Lord's sake, she had allowed the priest to bind her forehead as
a
victim, and to place consecrated flowers in her loose flowing hair.
Many
a sympathetic look from the crowd had been cast at the steadfast
maiden.
The young chieftain was stricken with pain at the sight ,of her
death-like
countenance.
There stood the projecting rock which had often
been
dishonoured by human blood. The fanatical priests wound ropes round the
maiden's
body, and then tied her to St. Woden's tree which overhung the
precipice.
No complaint escaped the Christian's white lips, no tears glistened in
her
.eyes which were glancing up at the morning sky. The throng of people
moved
off, waiting silently in the distance to see what would happen.
The first rays of the sun streamed over the
mountain;
they lighted up the wreath of flowers in the maiden's hair, playing
about
her lovely face, and crowning it with glory. The Christian maid was
awaiting
death, as a bride awaits her bridegroom, her lips moving slightly as in
prayer.
A gloomy sound came up from the depths. The Dragon started
from his den, spitting fire on his path. He cast a look at his victim
there
on the spot which his blood-thirsty maw knew so well. He raised his
scaly
body, thus letting his sharp claws be more visible, moved his snaky
tail
in a circle, and showed his gaping mouth. Snorting the monster crawled
along,
shooting flames out of his bloodshot eyes.
A shudder of death crept over the maiden at the
sight
of this awful beast. Tremblingly she tore a sparkling golden crucifix
from
her breast, held it towards the monster piteously, and called on her
Lord
in a heart-rending voice. Wonder of wonders! Raising himself, as if
struck
by lightning, the monster turned, dashing himself backwards over the
jagged
stones into the waters below, and disappearing in the river among the
failing
rocks.
Wondering cries arose from the waiting heathens.
Astonishment
and wonder were depicted on every face. In quiet submission, her eyes
half-closed, the maiden stood, praying to Him who had saved her. The
cords
fell from her sides; two strong arms caught her and carried her into
the
midst of the astonished crowd. She raised her eyes and perceived the
younger
of the two chieftains. His rough warlike hand had seized hers. The
young
man bent his knee as if to a heavenly being, and touched her white
fingers
with his lips, Loud applause greeted him on all sides.
The old priest came forward, the people waiting in
great
expectation. "Who had saved her from certain destruction? Who was the
God
who so visibly aided His own?" asked he solemnly of the Christian. With
bright
eyes the maiden answered triumphantly:
"This picture of Christ has crushed the Dragon and
saved
me. The salvation of the world and the welfare of man lies in Him." The
priest
glanced at the crucifix with reverent awe.
"May it soon lighten your spirit and those of all
these
people round," said the maiden earnestly. "It will reveal greater
wonders
than this to you, for our God is great."
The maiden and all the other prisoners were
conducted
back to their own country. But the former soon returned again,
accompanied
by a Christian priest. The voice of truth and innocence worked wonders
in
the hearts of the heathens. Thousands were converted and baptized. The
old
priest and Rinbold were the first who bowed their heads in submission
to
the new doctrine. Great rejoicings were held among the tribe when the
maiden
gave her hand to the young chieftain. A Christian temple was erected in
the
valley, and a splendid castle was built on the summit of the rocks for
the
newly-married couple. For about ten centuries their descendants
flourished
there, a very powerful race in the Rhine countries.
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