--- title: Legends and Tales., part 13 — Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains · full text with trees · page 2 description: Legends and Tales., part 13, «Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains» by Toofie Lauder: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: "Yes, your Worship!" cried the chamberlain. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/14/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/) / Legends and Tales., part 13 # Legends and Tales., part 13 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/14/) **2** It was already late when he reached his cottage, and mother and children were asleep.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") The thought of their distress when they awoke caused him to try what he could do in the village, but all were deaf to his entreaties.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") It was a very dark night, and returning home from the village and opening the cottage door he almost sank down from terror, for it was light as if the house were on fire.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") He opened the door leading into the court; there it was as if all were in flames.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") He stood astonished, and gazed at the wonderful light, observed the direction whence it came, and perceived it came from the little room in which he had laid the pebble on the window bench.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") He recollected the stone he had picked up, and the belief in a good mountain spirit, and hurried to the room.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") The varied splendid colours of the pebble quite dazzled his eyes; he wrapped it in a cloth, and hastened to his neighbour Bergmann, who knew all the stones of the Harz, and showed it to him.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Bergmann examined it well, and said, "I don't know this stone, but it must be worth money.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Come with me to-morrow to the town, and if you only get a Thaler for it, it is some help."[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") The following day they went to a jeweller, a Jew, and offered him the stone.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") Hardly had he cast eyes on it than he started, and cried, "Wonderful\![87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") How did you come by the stone?"[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") The poor man was so frightened he was unable to reply; but Bergmann, who had more experience, said, "It does not matter where the stone comes from; you need only tell us how much you will give for it."[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") "Well!" replied the Jew, "shall I have it for a hundred Thaler?"[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") "How much?" cried the finder, who could hardly believe his ears. "[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") I am not in a mood for jokes; say honestly how much you will give."[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") "What, did I say a hundred Thaler?" replied the Jew, for he thought the apparent anger of the seller had another cause. "[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") I beg pardon; I meant to say a thousand Thaler."[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") The two friends were speechless with astonishment; Bergmann, however, answered, "How could you make us such an offer?[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Give us the stone, for you will not pay what it is worth."[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") "Indeed you are right," said the Jew with a low bow. "[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") You must be joking with poor Levi, for you must know I could not command a sufficient sum to buy so costly a jewel."[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") The amazement of the two friends increased every moment, for the Jew was known to be one of the richest men in the place.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Bergmann, however, replied with caution, "You have guessed it; we only made a joke of the matter, and came really to beg you to recommend a purchaser."[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") "Why should I not?" replied the jeweller. "[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") But as true as I am an honest Jew, there is only one person in the whole German Empire that could purchase the jewel, and that is Fugger in Augsburg."[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") "And how high do you value it?"[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") "Well," said Levi, after having put his spectacles again on his nose, and examining the stone carefully, "if I am to give my honest opinion, it is worth three kingdoms."[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") The finder almost lost his equilibrium, while Bergmann put his hand to his head to see if it stood in the right place. "[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Three kingdoms, did you say?"[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") "Three kingdoms; and the purchaser could make money in the transaction."[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") An hour after, the two friends stood before the treasurer of the Prince, for the finder could not make up his mind to undertake the journey to Augsburg until he had provided for his wife and children, and asked him if he would advance a hundred thousand Thaler on the jewel, till they could sell it to Fugger.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") But the treasurer was a vicious and avaricious man, who resolved to have the stone at any price, even by force if necessary, and as the friends would leave him, he threatened to throw them into prison if the stone were not delivered to him as his property for the hundred thousand Thaler.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") To prevent unpleasantness they consented, and went home laden with gold.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") Mother and children were provided with every comfort, and soon after they went to live in Aschersleben, for they could not be happy among people who had refused assistance in their need but fawned upon them now they were become rich.[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") The Jew received a handsome sum, and Bergmann was independent for life through his grateful friend.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") But how did matters go with the dishonourable treasurer?[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") His punishment was swift and terrible.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day he broke a piece from the stone, the tenth part of it, and presented himself before the Prince.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") "Your Highness has given me a command to purchase jewels, as precious and costly as were to be found, that you might present them to the Princess of the adjoining dominions, and thereby win her hand and realm.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") "I have not been able to find anything costly enough, and hence only one thing remains to be done.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") I possess a stone of priceless value, an heirloom of my family, which one of my ancestors took from a Mahomedan Sultan.[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") I will resign it, however painful it may be.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") Only look at it and judge if any female heart could withstand such splendour.[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") The Princess will bestow her hand upon your Highness, and I only ask in payment a few towns and villages, and a thousand acres of forest, and a thousand acres of arable land.[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Judge if I am unreasonable."[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") "Thou shalt have it; thou shalt have more than thy demand!" cried the Prince, as he beheld the glittering jewel, and embraced the treasurer, called him friend and brother, and commanded his secretary to draw up the documents giving the treasurer the half of his kingdom.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") The treasurer went joyfully home, dreaming of princely honours, for had he not still a greater part of the stone in his possession?[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile the Prince called his favourite courtiers, and showed them the stone.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") No one spoke for astonishment.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") At last one of the surveyors of the mines remarked how wonderful it was that many pebbles possessed such brilliant colours, and it was to be regretted that they faded in a few days.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") "What? a pebble?" cried the Prince.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") "Yes, your Highness, only a pebble."[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") "A pebble?[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") Not a precious stone?[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") Then I have been deceived."[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") "Has your Highness bought it at a high price?[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") Such stones are found in the earth, but the sunlight soon fades the colours."[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") "I have promised the treasurer half my kingdom for the stone."[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") Command was given to arrest the treasurer, but a friend had given him warning, and he had fled.[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") They pursued him, the Prince at their head, found the unhappy man, deceived as well as deceiving, in a tree, and shot him dead on the spot.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") The Monk and the Spring.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") It was at Whitsuntide of the year 1292, as tradition tells us, that the town council of the free, imperial Möhlhausen issued a proclamation, that whoever could discover and conduct a spring into the upper town, which suffered much from fires through want of water, should be richly rewarded; and in case he had committed a crime, he should be pardoned.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") At that time a monk of Kloster Reifenstein sat in the dungeon of the Rabenthurm\[1\]--now called the Adlerthurm\[2\]---under sentence of death.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/14/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/14/) - next →: [Legends and Tales., part 14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/15/) - ↑ back to [Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/)