Suzdal

“ The boyars put Rostislav in a boat with three men and sent him up the river. His warriors were retained, and his property taken.
Rostislav bowed down to his father in Suzdal, and said: “The whole Russian land desires thee. Men say in Kief that their prince has dishonored them. March thou against Izyaslav.” These words imply clearly that Yuri’s son had worked with zeal against Izyaslav, and that the complaint of the boyars was well founded. ”

“ Vladimir is only an adjunct.” But these people knew that they were powerless against a prince who had the common men, the land-tillers and craftsmen in full force behind him. Because of this relation of common men to Andrei, and the hostility of most of the boyars and the wielders of weapons who had lost places, there rose reports and explanations quite opposite, the substance of which was expressed by the phrase: “There is a fierce battle in Rostoff and Suzdal.” This was uttered by “proud high people,” and by men thrown out of office. ”

“ The boyars of Rostoff and [112] their followers fought with great valor. The men of Vladimir, “the masons and carpenters,” needed no urging to pay back the insults which they had received, and strike down the men who had tried to enslave them. The battle hung long in even balance, till the Pereyaslavl men “tore forward with all their strength,” and pushed back the right wing of Mystislav’s forces; at this juncture the Vladimir men, aided by a regiment from Suzdal, swept everything before them. Mystislav fled from the field with few followers; not many of his adherents could save themselves. ”

“ Exeunt the watchers.
(Bishop lets go the hands of the bridal pair, and turns back to Amalaberga.)
(Teja stands gloomy and brooding. Balthilda casts a shy imploring look around her. Painful silence.)
Ildibad (softly) .
Now must thou say something, King, to welcome thy young wife.
Teja (softly) .
Must I? (Taking one of the choir-boys by the nape of the neck.) Not so vehemently, boy; the smoke cometh up into our nostrils. What dost thou when thou wieldest not thy censer?
Boy.
I wield my sword, King.
Teja.
That is right. But make ye haste with wielding the sword, or ye may easily be too late. ”

“ He then went up to Sudun, kissed his head, and said, "Rise up, O warrior of the age, for you and your companions are safe from me." They now all embraced each other, and made an offensive and defensive compact. "Take me with you alive, O brave man," said Sudun, "and hand me over to the King as his daughter's dowry. If he consents, well; but if not, take my head, and woo your wife." "God forbid," said Wakhs El Fellat, "that I should act thus after your magnanimity. Rather return to the castle, and assure your companions of your safety." All this passed under the eyes of the other armed men. ”

“ As the youth Sudhana has come to man’s estate, and is proud of his strength and courage, you can send him out with the troops.” The king said, “I will do so.” Thereupon the king summoned the youth, and said to him, “O youth, march forth with the troops and subdue the mountaineers.” “Your majesty, I will act in accordance with your commands.”
Having thus spoken, Sudhana prepared to obey his father. On betaking himself to the zenana, he saw Manoharā there, and not only forgot all his other wives, [58] but also, as soon as he saw her, forgot the commands laid upon him by the king. ”

“ An ugly word, which was suppressed with difficulty, was on the tip of his tongue.
"Leo, I am desperate without you," she complained, in a subdued tone. "Why have you forsaken me?"
"How can you talk of forsaking?" he muttered. "While Ulrich is away, I can't come. That is all."
"Why not?"
"How can you ask?"
"But I do ask. We have repented and confessed. We have expiated our sin before God and man. We know that we are on the right footing now."
"Indeed! That is how you feel about it?"
"Yes; and don't you feel the same?" she asked, looking up at him innocently.
His answer stuck in his throat. ”

“ And there on the edge of the boscage was the old sacrificial stone, standing like an altar ready for a new offering of blood.
A cold shiver began to creep over her, but she suppressed it quickly. Let those who were cowards or who had guilty consciences be afraid. She stood still in front of the temple of friendship, and gazed up in astonishment at the sandstone figures.
"Which of the two is meant for Leo?" she wondered, and for the first time she fully realised the great wrong which was being done the man called Ulrich. ”

“ Balthilda.
Sire, may I not offer thee the food, and the wine?
Teja.
Nay, nay!... Hearken, Balthilda: without, by our fires, are warriors--they are hungry--I am not hungry.
Balthilda.
Sire, give them what thou pleasest ... give them everything!
Teja.
I thank thee, Balthilda. (Raising the curtain.) Ho there, watch! Come in, but prudently so as not to wake the old man.... (Watcher enters.) Here, take this basket with food and wine, and divide it honestly.... Say your Queen sends it.
Watcher.
May I thank the Queen, Sire?
(Teja nods. Watcher shakes her hand heartily. Exit.) ”

“ And directly we reach Halewitz, I shall say, 'Now my mission is ended. Good-bye.'"
"In your place," suggested Elly, "I should marry him."
"I shall never marry," replied Hertha. "I am an orphan, and shall go into a convent."
Leo closed his eyes with an amused smile. This charming nonsense was music to him. Meanwhile, the drunken merriment in the bailiff's house grew louder. At the sound of it, Hertha spoke her mind with a will.
"It is a shame that an end cannot be put to such mismanagement. The master roams about the world, and his estates are going to ruin." ”

“ But your crying just now--all this excitement--I think your illness is still hanging about you and rest will do you good. If only it did not take so long to fetch the carriage! I believe it would be best if you could walk the short distance across the fields--of course, only if you have no more pain. Can you manage it?"
Trude gives Johannes a look; then nods eagerly.
"The air is warm, the grass is dry," Martin continues, "and Johannes can accompany you."
Trude gives a start, and he feels his blood mount in a hot wave to his head. His eyes seek hers, but she avoids his glance. ”

“ He is sold as a slave, and Zuleika becomes his purchaser, to the great rage and envy of all her rivals, amongst whom was included the Princess Nasigha, of the race of Aad. The beautiful Yussuf now enters her service, and, at his own desire, a flock of sheep are given to his special keeping, his admiring mistress wishing, by every indulgence, to attach him to her. The nurse of Zuleika is the confidante of the passion which she cannot control, and which, at length, in an imprudent moment, she discloses to its object himself. ”

“ With her perpetual smile, she folded her hands and said--
"I deceive him every day and every hour, Leo. My life is a disgraceful sham. Ulrich at my side is in hell."
"Who is the scoundrel?" he asked, grinding his teeth. "Tell me his name? You shall not go away from here alive, unless you tell me his name."
"Well, why shouldn't I tell you," she answered, with the same mysterious smile. "His name is Leo Sellenthin."
He fell back against the wall of the temple with a deep sigh of relief. After all she was only acting. Thank God! Thank God!
"Listen, Felicitas," he said then. ”

“ I am not even sorry for her. My guilt, if she dies, seems far worse than her death itself." But the child, and Ulrich--in thinking of them too, the hideous spectre of his own guilt reared itself, grimacing, before him.
Everything in the courtyard at Uhlenfelde was the same as usual, which surprised him. He expected, at least, that the barns would be on fire.
A two-horsed sleigh was waiting at the door. "Who is there?" he inquired of old Wilhelm, who, red and half frozen, touched his fur cap with his customary imperturbable air of deference. ”

“ Now he was on the war-path, and with the babbling rhetoric peculiar to him, shouted--
"Schrandeners, duty calls! Arm yourselves against the traitors. I am an unhappy father. Robbed of my child. I'll shoot him dead, the brute."
"But he is dead," some one interposed.
"Is he? Well, it doesn't matter--the other must be shot--all must be shot down."
Meanwhile Felix Merckel was ramping about the parlour of the Black Eagle like a bull of Bashan. He remembered enough about the Heide youths to know that when once irritated or attacked they would go any length. ”

“ One sunny day in May Johannes arrived in Marienfeld.
Franz Mass, who had set up the autumn before as a worthy baker, was standing, with his legs apart, in front of his shop, looking up contentedly at the tin "Bretzel" swinging over his door in the gentle noon-day breeze, when he saw an Uhlan come swaggering down the village street with his cap cocked to one side and clinking his spurs. His brave ex-soldier's heart beat quicker under his white baker's apron as he took his pipe out of his mouth and shaded his eyes with his hand. ”

“ The mystical meaning of the Sufi saying came home for once to Birbal. As usual, he resented the intrusion and stood up ready to go, prepared to jest.
"Farewell, then, widow! God send thee a lover if thou hast not one, since even Châranship to Kings is not sufficient for a woman! Now, wert thou but man thou mightst be true.----"
It was as if the dam of the lake below had suddenly given way, letting loose a flood over the land, and he raised his arm in unconscious self-defence as, like a tornado, Âtma swept upon him, flourishing the sword. ”

“ Hertha felt an internal swooning; but defiance choked in her throat.
"You needn't rate Elly like that," she said, getting up; "as the door was locked, we naturally got through the window. There is nothing to be surprised at in that."
"Indeed?" he said. "Nothing to be surprised at! And what brings you here?"
"That we don't intend to tell," Hertha answered; "it is our concern alone."
"Now, we shall see about that," he said. "I am not going to argue with you, my dear Hertha; you are beyond discipline. But you, Elly, come here a minute." ”

“ Hereupon he was driven from the farm.
Next day Meyerhofer sent for the village blacksmith, that he might look at the damage. He again fumbled about the engine for a few days, ate and drank for two, and declared in the end that if it was not all right now the devil was in it.
The heating was repeated; but “Black Susy” was not to be brought to life again.
When, towards Christmas, Lob Levy came to the farm to fetch the rest of the grain, Myerhofer thrashed him with the handle of his own whip. The Jew screamed “Murder!” and drove away hastily. ”

“ On the veranda Martin receives them with a good-natured scolding. He declares he is ravenously hungry, and supper is not yet served.
Trude hurries to the kitchen to give a helping hand herself.... The meal is consumed in silence. The two do not raise their eyes from their plates. An atmosphere of unbearable sultriness oppresses the earth. The hot wind whirls up small dust clouds and bluish grey veils of mist settle down slowly.
Johannes leans his head against the glass of the veranda window, but that is as hot as if it had been all day in a fiery furnace. Then Trude suddenly jumps up. ”

“ Ulrich turned round. Pure joy, succeeded the next moment by horror, lit up his emaciated features.
"You at Uhlenfelde?" he gasped.
"How do you do, little girl?" cried Leo, forcing himself into an assumption of his old genial manner. "Don't let your eyes quite start out of your head. You can set the dogs on me to chase me out of the yard if I am not welcome." ”

“ THE SAME. ILDIBAD.
(Hangs the shield in its place, and puts away the weapons lying about.) Hath any news been sent down?
First Camp Watcher.
Nay!
Ildibad.
Are ye hungry?
Second Camp Watcher.
Oh, yea.
Ildibad.
Hunger is for women--mark ye that! And show not such dark faces to our young Queen. That becometh not a marriage day.
THIRD SCENE. Surrounded by noisy people, Teja and Balthilda have appeared in front of the tent. They enter led by Bishop Agila. Before them, two choir-boys swinging censers. Behind them, Amalaberga, Euric, Athanaric, Theodemir, and other lords and military leaders. ”

“ Ulrich's only sign of forgiveness was in those two words, "Poor boy." And to these Leo had to cling desperately, now and later in many an hour of suspense, till he could be certain what Fate had in store for him.
With merciless calm the flakes whirled down. There was a cruel and restful peace in their endless descent--a sort of eternal repose, like a silent burying of countless races.
Leo shivered. His shirt was wet through, and a feeling of numbness crept over his stiff arms.
Where should he take the sick man? ”

“ But Hertha slightly curled her lips and remarked, "Many thanks; when I care to visit the island, I will row myself over."
"You'll try again?" he laughed.
"Yes, why not? There are two boats there now, and you can't want more than one at a time when you happen to be visiting Uhlenfelde."
There was something in her pronunciation of the last few words which vexed and irritated him.
"Nevertheless, my dear child," he replied, "I must ask you kindly to refrain from any more mad escapades; there really is no necessity for you periodically to rouse the neighbourhood." ”

“ Midst clinking and clanking, midst skipping and tripping, the guild march along the street in solemn procession. On in front ride two heralds on horseback--Franz Maas and Johannes Rockhammer, the two Uhlans of the Guard. Nothing would induce them to give up their privilege--even did it mean rack and ruin to the guild.
Franz's countenance is beaming, but Johannes looks serious--indifferent almost; what does he care about all these people from whom he has become estranged? He salutes no one, his gaze rests on none ”