--- title: Legends and Tales., part 15 — Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains · full text with trees description: Legends and Tales., part 15, «Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains» by Toofie Lauder: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: The peculiar, reverence-awaking appearance of the stranger produced quiet among the raging throng. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/16/) [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 15 # Legends and Tales., part 15 Legends and Tales., part 15 of «Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains» by Toofie Lauder: the whole text, 110 sentences and 2568 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/16/page/2/) The peculiar, reverence-awaking appearance of the stranger produced quiet among the raging throng.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") One seated himself here, another there, another leaned on his spear, and all listened in silence and attention to what the strange figure might have to say to them.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") And as the tempest with hollow moans and wails sweeps over the tree-tops, so the aged stranger lifted up his voice, and preached to the assembly the Christian faith with ever-increasing enthusiasm.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") At first they heard quietly his earnest words; but as he began to condemn the gods so dear to them, and challenged them to break in pieces their idols, and turn to the worship of the only true God, their rage kindled.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") They sprang to their feet, forced him to silence, and after a short consultation voted unanimously that the blasphemer of their gods must die.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") In a few moments the trembling old man was seized by the giant forms, led down from the summit of the mountain to a place suitable for the execution.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") The hermit sent up a petition to the Almighty for strength and courage in the trying moment, released himself from their arms with a Samson strength, seized from one standing next him a wooden battle-axe, and thus addressed the bloodthirsty multitude:[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") "So sure as I with this weak tool split this firm rock, so sure as this wood produces a temple for the worship of the one eternal God in this immovable mass of stone, so true is the word, the gospel, which I proclaim to you."[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") When he had uttered these words, he struck with trembling arm the rough cliff, and lo! the firm rock yielded like soft clay to the weak blow of the wooden axe\![9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") And at this moment the sun shone forth from behind thick clouds, bathing rocks and wood with a warm, rosy light, and the birds in a thousand voices sang the praises of Creator and Father.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") And the hearts of the wild Sassen\[3\] were opened; with one mind they sank on their knees in reverence and adoration before the God of the white-headed old man who had received the power to work such a miracle.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") \[3\] \_Sassen\_--Old German for Saxon.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") They vowed to a man henceforth to forsake the worship of Krodo, to remain true to the new faith, followed the venerable hermit to the banks of the Oder, and were baptized into Christ's death and resurrection, and from every side the people flocked to hear the words of the apostle.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus was formed in the rugged, steep cliff the primeval cave, the Steinkirche, the meeting-place of the first Christians of this neighbourhood.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The Nymph Ruma and the Weingarten Höhle.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") In the middle of fruitful fields and green meadows not far from Scharzfels rises the ball-shaped alabaster Romerstein, on whose summit ragged cliffs rise in the air resembling the ruins of a castle.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") In the days before authentic history a race of giants dwelt hereabout, who, fearing the mountain-spirit,\[1\] piled up these cliffs and constructed thus a giant fortress, of which these cliffs are the proud remains.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1\] \_Berggeist.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") Romar, a blooming youth of this race, was once hunting in the neighbouring forest for deer or wild boar.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") The soft air fanned gently his glowing face, the birds sang in the thicket, and the gentle influence of the hour led him to slacken his pace.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly he stood still before a maiden asleep on a mossy bank under the rustling trees.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Silently admiring, Romar gazed at the sleeping beauty, and the sweetest emotions filled his breast, till the stranger opened her eyes and beheld him, uttered a scream of terror, sprang up, and fled into the thickest of the forest.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") A moment Romar stood rooted to the ground; then coming to his senses, he followed the fleeing maiden, and, soon overtaking her, quieted her fears by kind and honest words; and this first meeting gave rise to many others.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") All suspicion, every fear vanished, and love speedily filled the maiden's heart.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Romar inquired after the descent of his beloved, and turned pale as he discovered that she was a nymph, and the daughter of the Berggeist, so hostile to his race, and a river goddess, and dwelt in the neighbouring mountain lake.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The nymph reassured him, told him she was her father's favourite, and he had never refused her a single request, and certainly would not refuse his consent to their union.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Accordingly, during the absence of the Berggeist, they were married.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") A long time had passed, and Romar slept one day under an oak near Ruma, who held a lovely boy in her arms.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") Her father, returning from his journey, stepped out of the thicket, and came suddenly upon them.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") His first glance at the pair told him what had happened, and a smothered tone of anger forced itself from his trembling lips.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Terrified, the nymph sprang up, and as she saw her secret discovered, and her father so enraged, she rushed toward him and entreated him to be calm.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") Romar now came forward and sought from the old mountain god reconciliation; but the latter only became more enraged.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") A wave of his hand called whole troops of well-armed dwarfs together, who were commanded to lead away mother and child; while others so maltreated Romar, that he only escaped covered with wounds to the Giant Castle.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") The Berggeist now tormented his unhappy daughter every hour to give up her husband.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") But her love for Romar only increased, and her father in his insane rage seized the child, broke it in pieces on the rocks, cursed and swore because he could not take the same measures with his mother, created with a wave of his hand the cave, the Weingarten Höhle, banished her into it, and left her with a laugh of scorn.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Banished into the earth, shut up in a cave, the entrance guarded by malicious cobolds, the wretched Ruma sought to reach Romar, and a succession of cavings in proves her efforts to set herself free; but her watchful father always thrust her back into the depths of the earth.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") At last, after long years, she succeeded, by a subterranean way, in escaping from her father's dominions, as a full stream to spring into the light of day, and at a time when he, by the decree of an inscrutable destiny, had been attacked by a sort of torpor, she reached her old residence, the Nymph's lake, and was reunited to her faithful husband.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") The river which springs from the mountain on the border of the Gyps mountains is called, in honour of the faithful, loving nymph, the Ruma.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") Still its waters redden with the blood of her innocent child.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") The cliffs of the ruinated Giant Castle wear mourning still, and bear the name of the hero, the Romerstein, or Romar's rock.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Legend of the Schildberg.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Not far from the Lautenthal there existed in the pre-historic times the Schloss Schiltberg, or Schildberg, of whose builders, destroyers, and history we know next to nothing.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") All we know is that the Kaiser Frederic I., in war against Henry the Lion, took the castle in 1180.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") On the rugged, precipitous rocks stand the ruins of a dilapidated tower, now half veiled by clouds and mists, now echoing the roar of the savage tempest.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Beneath, in the still valley, is a half-sunken grave, and a weeping willow spreads sadly her branches over it.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Above, on the wild rocks, once stood a strong castle, whose walls hid many a deed of horror and crime.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Below, in the peaceful vale, there was a small, simple hermitage, where an old hermit had dwelt alone long years.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") **1** [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/16/page/2/) - ← previous: [Legends and Tales., part 14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/15/) - next →: [page 2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/16/page/2/) - ↑ back to [Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/)