CHAPTER I.
At a time when in our fatherland a cold raw wind made its presence felt, and the sharp frost at night checked the growth of the early bud, the Rhine valley between the Bergstrasse and Hardtgebirge had revelled for many weeks in the timely spring, the especial privilege of this garden of Germany. Even three hundred years ago at the time of our narrative the Neckar valley shimmered with the white and red blossoms of the various fruit-trees and yellow fields of rape, as if spring had wished to see how an illumination looked by day. The Jettenbühl above Heidelberg which to-day resembles a green velvet pillow, on which the ruins of the castle stand out like an offering to some Deity, was at that date but a bare glacis, surmounted by massive turrets and angular fortresses, the palace of the Kurfürsts of the Palatinate looming out severe and threatening over the smiling valley of Heidelberg, as does at the present time the gloomy residence of the Popes over Avignon, or the menacing Ehrenbreitstein over the green Rhine. Between the octagonal belfry and the "thick Tower" of which at the present time only the inner walls are visible, the gorgeous palaces of Frederic IV. and Frederic V. did not exist, but on the right the peaky gables of the Chapel and of the roof of the old castle reared above the scarped fortress wall; "the new court," erected by Frederic II., was built against the octagonal tower.
In the low but spacious halls of the building which by its mixture of the Gothic and Renaissance schools recalls to the memory the Flemish architecture of the period, a numerous throng crowded together seeking an audience of the Kurfürst, in the latter part of a spring afternoon of the year 1570. Before the door of the Prince stood the portly court-servant Bachmann, attired in the resplendent livery of a Heiduck of the Pfalz, his jovial expression forming a pleasing contrast to the grim heraldic lions ornamenting his breast. Solemnly did he call out the names of those to whom an audience was granted. Huguenots from France begging for aid. Theologians warmly recommended to the notice of the Kurfürst, wandering Scots eager for service, Italian artists who had obtained commissions were received in order, and dismissed. Finally, there remained but two couples, widely differing in appearance, representatives of the two classes which everywhere throng the ante-chambers of sovereigns, resembling in their demeanour Grief and Hope.
The two "Hopefuls" paced up and down the now empty hall in lively discussion, whilst the two sorrowful guests sat sullenly in a corner. One of these, addressed as Your Reverence, was an undersized well fed man with fresh ruddy complexion and coarse features. His companion, on the other hand, was a small dwarf-like being, whose dark costume stood out in marked contrast to his fiery-red-face, one of those figures only to be met with at the interment of a circus-rider. With a deep sigh the dwarf addressed his reverend companion: "Yes, yes. Your Reverence. How often have I, as counsellor of our beloved ruler, shortened with my timely jokes the dreary hours of many awaiting an audience, who, even if not favourably received, nevertheless laughed at my excellent quibbles. At that time I little thought, that I myself should have to sit here and beg for a small pension."
"We both owe our misfortunes to that vagabond Olevianus," said the Parson. "Because I defeated him in a public argument--he knows as much about theology as your cow does of a bag-pipe--and because he cannot bear to see how I filled my church, therefore has he deprived me of my position in the Church of St. Peter, leaving me only matins in the Holy Ghost, which no one ever attends. But that will help him little, let but the Heidelbergers have to choose between me and Olevianus and we shall see who gets the most votes. That he well knows, and on that account am I stuck in the background. But I seek an audience and intend to speak out my mind to the Kurfürst, although he does not like to hear the truth."
"Our day is over, Herr Neuser," said the discharged Court-fool; "these are the people who now have full swing," and he grimly pointed to the other couple, a well dressed old Italian with a head like a fox, listening covertly to anything said in his neighbourhood, whilst at the same time he earnestly addressed a young man, who appeared from his long locks and Raphael-cap to be an artist. "There is another of those starvelings, which the Italian Doctor trots up and down. At the 'Stag' where he has stopped a whole week, he has not as yet drunk a whole bottle of wine. That cock-sparrow has most surely got in his pocket a letter from Herr Beza recommending him for a post as Privy, or Church Counsellor."
"Then ought he to have risen earlier," said the Parson, "the martyrs from Treves, Paris and Prague have long since snapped up those dainty morsels."
"Then in that case he will be paid, so that wolves may not gobble the moon, nor the people of Heilbronn set fire to the Neckar; bread and places are always to be found by the Italians."
"This way, gentlemen, this way most honoured scum!" said the Priest in the tone of a showman. "Here may you see Boquin, Ramus, Du Jon, Tremelli and Sanchi, Ursinus and the Bohemian Zuleger, Olevianus from the lower Rhine, van Keulen, Pithopöus, Dathan, Marnix, and others whatever may be their names. For an honest Swabian there is no place, we may as well quit."
The expressions of the worthy couple would have in no wise lighted up, had they understood the advice which Professor Pigavetta, the hospital surgeon, strove to impress upon the young Felice Laurenzano, cautiously making use, however, of the Italian language. "Remember what you owe to the Society," said he earnestly, "it paid for your education, it sent you to Flanders, in order that you might acquire another style than that of Rome and Florence, it referred you to Master Colins, whose letter of recommendation brings you here under such creditable circumstances."
"Excellency," replied the young architect, "even without this reminder, I can never forget what the reverend Fathers have done for me and my brother. Show me how I can prove my gratitude to the College for its kindness? I am unfortunately so distracted, so accustomed to dream along as I go, that I fear to let a timely opportunity escape unseen, although ingratitude was never a sin of mine."
"That is very simple, my son," answered the older man. "You should look out for an occasion to introduce one of our party into this Court. You should inform us, should you think that anyone has the interest of the Holy Church at heart, and if affairs of any importance come under your hand, let me know at once, so that I can advise you how they are to be carried out. The Church does not consider her cause here as lost. Prince Ludwig is in no wise satisfied with his father's innovations. So soon as the old gentleman is dead, Calvinism will be as carefully rooted out, as it is now implanted, and then much depends on our having here a party, on which we can reckon. I have fought the cause of the Church on much more dangerous ground. If we succeed not in the immediate restoration of her rights, nevertheless we are contented if the excrescence of the adversary does not increase in growth. 'Trim the sails according to the wind,' said the holy father Ignatius. The Kurfürst intends introducing here the Calvinistic dogma, but he will find it difficult to accustom the population of this great vineyard as the Pfalz is called, to drink water and sing Calvin's psalms. To be inside the house an hour after sun-down, not to tipple, play, or swear, to sit on Sundays teaching children, instead of bowling and dancing, will not be easily forced into the crania of these bullet-headed Pfalzers. The dyspeptic Olevianus and our honest Ursinus will live to learn that it is easier to write a catechism, than to accustom the Heidelbergers to drink water. So soon as the Church Council obtains the signature of the Kurfürst, our time begins. I must myself be off to the Reichstag at Speyer, in the meantime do you reconnoitre the field of battle, support the opponents of church-discipline in their opposition, and throw as many difficulties in its way as you possibly can. For the moment to impede definite situations it is sufficient to back up the weak against the strong. When the heretics find that the heads of their party can never remain at peace, they will seize the first opportunity to re-enter the flock of the Holy Father, where only they can find rest."
The young Italian had been carefully scanning the face of his patron thus addressing him. But his eyes only had followed the play of the characteristic features, had observed the remarkable head of the eager man, noted his every twist and turn, his own fingers meanwhile moving as if he were kneading a lump of clay, endeavouring to retain the expression in this plastic material. "What a model," thought he, "for my picture of Cassius winning Brutus over to the idea of murdering Cæsar. This eloquence, this fanatical look, the cunning insinuating actor!" The latter looked up inquiringly at him, as if expecting an assentient answer. "Certainly, certainly," quickly replied the young artist, a deep blush rising to his face. He endeavoured to collect himself, but became the more absentminded as the wily politician continued to disclose to him the praiseworthy intentions of the Society of Jesus in regard to the Palatinate. An event of his early childhood came back to him, how when once his grandmother in Naples praised him for listening with profound attention to a long scolding, he very inopportunely pointed with his little finger to her meagre throat, and said: "Granny, when thou speakest such a funny little ball goes up and down;" for saying which his enraged grandmother gave him his first box on the ear. He could not help smiling as he thought how little he had improved since then. His illustrious patron ceased and the young man replied: "I am but an artist, seeing nought but colour, form and line, I do not behold with the eyes of a politician."
"Good," replied Pigavetta quite satisfied, "but your brother Paolo, Signor Felice, for that very reason is better informed in political matters. Tell him all that your falcon eye discovers, he will soon draw his conclusions and let me know. My address in Speyer is known to him."
The Prince's usher now stepped up to them, saying: "His Gracious Highness has ordered me to admit you two gentlemen, the audience will then be at an end."
"Come," said the physician to the young man, "answer boldly. The Prince likes straightforward people." They entered the audience chamber, leaving the Parson and his companion to retire grumbling.