--- title: Legends and Tales., part 15 — Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains · full text with trees · page 2 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/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 15 # Legends and Tales., part 15 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/16/) **2** From the high fortress the robber-band of knights rode down the mountain, for they perceived the long-desired prey in the distance.[48](../../48/ "tree and pragmatics") Beneath, by the quiet hermitage, appeared the pious old hermit, looked reprovingly upon them, and shook his silver-white locks.[49](../../49/ "tree and pragmatics") "Ye wild knights!" he cried, "ye shall no longer bring disgrace and shame upon the honour of knighthood.[50](../../50/ "tree and pragmatics") No longer shall ye march forth to rob and plunder.[51](../../51/ "tree and pragmatics") Know, thou leader of thy robber-troop, thy time is expired.[52](../../52/ "tree and pragmatics") Enter my hermitage, confess, and take the communion, for thou shalt never again ride living into the valley."[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") But the proud knight fell in a rage at the solemn admonition. "[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") Punish the old bird of ill omen!" he cried in a fury, and rode away.[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the hermitage chapel is wrapped in flames, and the aged hermit sinks to the ground from many wounds.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") Dying, he stretches forth his hands in pain, and cries after the retreating knight, "Ride on, ride till the judgment day; ride every night through the forests, till thy horse sinks exhausted under thee, and may no pious one meet thee, but only the foul fiend of perdition!"[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") Mourning, the robber-band rode back to the high castle, for their leader had fallen with his horse and broken his neck.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") They laid him in the still vault, but he cannot enjoy the peace of the grave.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") When the moonbeams fall soft and pale on castle and rocks, he tears in a wild gallop on his black horse below into the quiet valley.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") To the grave of the hermit is the ghostly ride, and there, a grey, bleeding shadow, stands the murdered old man.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") And a ghostly voice whispers, "Ride on, wicked knight, till the day of eternal retribution; but do not terrify the good, only the wicked.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") And where the stumbling of thy horse once brought thee death, there shall thy ride end, there shalt thou stumble every night."[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") Already long the castle has laid in ruins; but the knight rides ever, without rest, on a wild black steed from its lonely tower to the hermit's weeping-willow-shaded grave; and the enchantment can only be broken when the robber-knight, on his night ride, meets one more wicked than himself.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") Legend of Silberhohl.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") In the neighbourhood of Leesen lies a spot called Silberhohl.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") It is almost round, and several feet deeper than the ground around it, and quite overgrown with swamp-moss.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") People go by with a shudder, for there is something the matter with the place.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") Centuries ago a stately castle stood on the spot, in which there was always much drinking, gambling and wild merriment.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") The nobles of the castle acted as if they owned the whole world; and everything did belong to them that they could take by force, for they lived by robbing, and were guilty of much violence and cruelty.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") One could say with truth, there was not a single good heart in the Burg except the young girl Jutta.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Everybody loved her, and often, when the robbers had marched out to plunder, she would visit the poor and the sick, and even the robbed, giving them food and the money she had saved.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") The suffering and poor called her Saint Jutta.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") Once the robbers had committed a monster crime.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") Covered with the blood of those they had robbed, they returned laden with booty to the castle.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon the goblets stood on the oaken tables, and the unholy, lawless revel began.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly the most terrible thunder rolled, a mighty flash of lightning swept the hall, the earth quaked and opened, the walls trembled, the tower shook and fell with an awful noise that was heard miles away.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") All sank in the gulf, which closed again, and nothing was left of the castle but a deep round spot where it had stood.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") Many came to see the place so marked by a Divine vengeance, and every one said, "Poor Jutta!"[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Not long after the destruction of the Burg, a poor woman in a neighbouring village fell ill.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") She wept sore, for her three little children cried for bread, and she could work no longer.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") The mother folded her hands and prayed.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") Then she said to herself, "Oh! if the dear Jutta were only alive!"[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the door was opened softly; a light form wrapped in a white veil, with a gleaming diadem in her hair, came forward to the bed.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") "Jutta!" cried the poor mother.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") The figure waved the hand, glanced kindly at the sleeping children, set down a peculiar shaped basket on a table, drew a cross over the mother, and vanished.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") A deep sleep fell on the poor woman, and when she awoke the next morning she found the basket full of gold pieces.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") Lautenthal.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1\][89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") "\_Harmonieen hör' ich klingen, Töne süsser Himmelsrüh.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") "Harmonies I hear resounding, Tones of sweet, heavenly music."[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") \[1\] The valley of the lute.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Why dost thou sit so lonely on the declivity of the mountain, innocent daughter of the Felsenburg?[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Why does the cloud of care rest on thy countenance?[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Why dost thou gaze with such sad longing into the vale below?[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") The light of thy eyes is dimmed by a tear; heavy and anxious rests thy curly head on thy snowy arm; as the heavenly glory crowns the head of a martyred saint, so the splendour of sunset bathes thy form.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") Deep and great must be the anguish that fills thy breast, and yet thou dost endure speechless and silent.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") Not a sigh breaks from thy swelling heart, not a lament from thy lips, not a sad note from the strings of the lute that lies hushed before thee.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Weep no longer, child of grief; brighten thy saddened countenance.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") He for whom thou art waiting, the beloved of thy soul, will come; he will come with the quick step of love, and his glance will chase away grief and care from thy soul.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Hark\![101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Already it rustles in the wood, already his tread resounds on the rocks; he climbs the mountain.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") With the bliss of the purest love he clasps the sorrowing maiden in his strong arms--and yet thou remainest in mourning and tears?[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Fairest of the blue-eyed daughters of the Harz, is thy heart cold in presence of the flame of love, as the ice of the Brocken is proof against the sun of the spring-time?[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Ah! not cold and hard was her heart; pure and tender, as the dewdrops in the lily, it lay in her innocent breast, and adorned the morning of her life, till the sunny fire of love smiled down upon her.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Then a never-before-imagined bliss trembled through the pure flower, her heart was filled with joy, the clear dewdrop dissolved in love.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") The dewdrop belongs to the sunbeams, and the heart of the maiden to the youth she loves.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") But fate was not favourable to the lovers--fate, the destroyer of so many blissful bonds.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") Jutta was the daughter of a noble whose Schloss lay near Leesen, and Ernst the son of an old warrior, who, after having fought many a battle in his youth and won many honours, now poor, weak from wounds, and forgotten by the world, had retired into solitude, to spend the remainder of his days in memories of his active life, and in the education of his only son.[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") Under his guidance Ernst grew up strong and free, a true son of the Harz, lofty of stature and of an exalted mind, with a noble heart and countenance, with a fearless glance and bold design.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/16/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/16/) - next →: [Legends and Tales., part 16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/17/) - ↑ back to [Legends and tales of the Harz Mountains](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg74323/)