Klytia: A Story of Heidelberg Castle

by Adolf Hausrath

CHAPTER III.

The full moon shone brightly over the Königsstuhl and shed its gentle light o'er the gables and crooked streets of the old town, as the Italian doctor left the Castle, and descended through the Bergstadt to his home in the so-called Klingenthor. A clear spring pattered cheerily to the right of the dark gate-way, and the water reflected back the silver rays of the moon. At an open bay-window of a room in a neighbouring house stood the tall figure of a young priest, who gazed sadly at the quivering play of the light and at the Church of St. Peter, whose vast nave appeared doubly massive in the moonlight, and his ear was turned towards the bustling town, from which arose a confused wild noise of drunken voices, the screaming of shrieking girls, and the ear-rending din of the various bands of music in the taverns, "What has come over thee, thou noisy raging town? Thy slain men are not slain with the sword," murmured the young Priest in the words of Isaiah. Sounds from the Neckar were mingled with those of the streets. These were caused by fifers and cornet-players on board a brilliantly lighted up ship bearing the guests of the Kurfürst to the landing-place near the bridge, and salutes fired from the "Trutzbaier" lighted up the darkness for seconds and re-echoed through the valley. "Oh! that thou wouldest come down that the mountains might flow at thy presence," sighed the pale young man. Then he heard a quick step coming from the Castle way and soon Pigavetta's voice said from beneath: "You have been obliged to wait for a long time, my dear Master, but His Lordship could to-day hardly make any end to his scruples. I am coming at once." A key was turned in the heavy lock and after a time our excellent physician entered the lofty room in the mansarde holding a brilliant lamp, and offered with all the grace of an Italian his hand to his countryman who reluctantly placed therein his long slender fingers. "I bring you good news. Master Paul," continued Pigavetta, "your brother is here and was received by the Kurfürst in the most friendly manner." The young Laurenzano quickly raised his head for a moment and the name "Felice" came like a note of joy from his thin pale lips. Then he was silent and passing his hand over his high forehead, the old expression of melancholy resignation returned to his face. "You mean," said Pigavetta in the tone of a man of the world, "that it does not become a monk to make a relation in the flesh an object of rejoicing, and the Holy Ignatius forbids them to be considered in any other light than that of the Church and her Holy Cause; but my dear Friend, a man is often a better Jesuit by not being so according to rule. It is not necessary to hide your feelings before me."

"My brother will be useful to me," answered the young Priest shortly. Then he drew from his pocket and handed to Pigavetta a number of papers. "Here are the reports as to the state of the Church in the Stift; here, what I could learn without exciting comment concerning the religious relations of the families of my pupils. Here are the astronomical calculations, so far as I, owing to the scanty means at my disposal, could add them together from the tables."

"Let us sit down, my dear Master," said Pigavetta, throwing himself back in a chair, and drawing the Priest towards him with offensive familiarity. "You are not satisfied with your position?" asked he confidentially.

"All delays and evasions have availed nothing," replied the other in a low tone. "Yesterday I was again bound and have moreover to subscribe by oath that I would render my teaching more in accordance with the fundamental doctrines of the Augsburg Confession and the Catechism of the Kurfürst. You know that I cannot do this, therefore help me to quit this position."

"You are not bound to fulfil this promise, since you never intended carrying it out when you gave it."

"But the black gown of the heretics chokes me."

"Now, my dear young friend, I am for my part ready to rid you at once of this Nessus robe if you prove yourself disposed for other duties." The pale young man raised his large black eyes and fixed them attentively on his superior. "They are looking out for a tutor for the young Counts Palatine," continued the older man, "and as you are an excellent teacher I shall recommend you for the post, but the young Princes could help us but little if you do not obtain influence over the new Kurfürstin and even over the old Count. I am told that she affects the Kabbalah and astrological studies. This may be the reason why the thick-headed Count growls and opposes so violently the noble science of astrology, by means of which many a court chaplain has made a fool of his Sovereign during his lifetime. Do you know anything of this science?"

"I can decipher the rota vitae et mortis" said Paul Laurenzano sadly, "draw a horoscope, calculate the appearances, and the rest I can easily learn, if you only provide me with the necessary books and instruments."

"These will be forthcoming, still you must not enter into the study of this foolery too earnestly. I have seen, how at times even the most steady heads went mad on the Kabbalah and astrology, for once the mind has got accustomed to wander about the starry fields, it returns unwillingly to earth. The young Princess has eyes like stars, and to gaze into them will reward you better than looking at Sirius or Jupiter, and your own are not bad," added he with a gallant smile. "Once win over the young Princess, and then can we do with the Kurfürst what we wish, that is," correcting himself sanctimoniously, "what is required for the benefit of the Church. When a Prince at the age of sixty marries a young widow he is a lost man. The widow Brederode brings with her all the charms of youth, but not its inexperience; so the good old animal is doubly lost. You are young and handsome, and it must come to pass, that she will prefer you to her fat German husband. Thus we shall soon compel the old man to do what you read in the stars, and what you have to read there, that we shall arrange together in yonder observatory," and he pointed through the window to the tower of the Klingenthor. Paul made an impatient gesture of dissension, but Pigavetta continued quietly. "Other secret sciences would be of use. The Kurfürst is heavily in debt. Otto Heinrich lived fast, and Simmern was ever a land of need. How would it answer, should we fit up a laboratorium. You must study the fixing of metals, making gold, must gather falling-stars so as to extract the materia prima, collect the night-dews in buckets, with which the Princess may wash her alabaster neck ... You will find me no bad preceptor, I think I have proved to you that I can do more than eat bread. I will instruct you, especially in white magic," said he emphatically, with a sharp look at Paul, "not in the black art."

"Excuse me from studying either. It might suit certain people later on to turn white into black, and I have not vowed to spread the devil's arts and idol worship over Germany."

"Idol worship!" screamed the Physician. "You speak like a Calvinist. In matters of religion the question is not what is true, but what is efficacious. Properly handled, belief in the Philosophers' stone or in the Elixir vitae of Bombastus Paracelsus can bear fruit just as profitable to the Holy Church, as belief in the scapulary of the Holy Franciscus or the bones of the Apostles."

The young Priest remained silent, but a hard sarcastic smile played over his pale thin lips.

Pigavetta's brow wrinkled. "Brother Paul," said he then, "it appears to me, that the air of this heretic town is dangerous to your vows. Did you not promise to obey your superior, silently, unconditionally, submissively as the stick in his hand? It seems to me that you are falling back into the spirit of opposition for which the Principal once reproved you so severely. It grieves me, but I shall not be able to praise your obedience, when I send my report concerning you." The young man bowed his head and looked down in silence without returning any answer.

"Well," continued the old man more kindly, "if alchemy is obnoxious to you, let us see what we can do through the stars. Our principal adversary at this court is Erastus. Why am I not yet private physician to this fat gentleman? Because the Kurfürst has a blind confidence in this Moor. Why is it that the Church Council has not been able to introduce its regimen, which would certainly have driven the population into our net? Because the Count was warned by this Erastus! He has also written a book against astrology, and is full of ridiculous zeal against the Chaldæans as he calls us. If we succeed in winning the Princess over to the stars, and a pretty woman likes standing, on a warm summer's night, near a telescope close to a young man of your appearance, then is the war against the presumptuous court-physician waged in the bed-chamber, and it is your business to get rid of Erastus in this or that manner."

A burning blush had risen to Paul's cheeks whilst listening to the wanton speech of his superior and his breath became audible. Was there any temptation in the proposition for the pale young man, that he answered so eagerly, and his words issued from his throat cutting and sharp as the stiletto of his countrymen. "Your Theology, most worthy father, becomes every day more wonderful. I thought that it was written: 'Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife.'"

The old Physician looked at him sarcastically. "San Giuseppe, what have I now said? On the whole you would commit no mortal sin, in as much as your intention would not be to destroy the sacrament of marriage but simply to amuse yourself and in this particular case for the advantage of the Church. Here can I refer you also to the moral guides of the Holy Ignatius: 'Discrimination with less sanctity is better than greater sanctity with less discrimination.' You may also shut your eyes to certain advances made to you by the beauteous woman, for as the General of our Society says: 'An experienced proselyter may overlook much which he need not understand.' Prudens tempore illo tacebit. Moreover if you do not wish for the post, I know a dozen of the affiliated who would only be too happy."

"I will accept any position," replied the young man quickly, "which will free me from the obligation of wearing the robes of a heretic priest, and of submitting to their laws. My own convictions are no longer a secret to any here. Help me therefore out of this ambiguous situation and I will render myself as useful as possible."

"Wait a moment," rejoined Pigavetta. "In the Rector's reports is not your wondrous skill in imitating handwriting mentioned?"

"I know not," hesitatingly answered the young man, "why the Rector had the whim to teach an art to the best draughtsmen of the class, which according to the code of the laws of the Emperor Charles is punished with the loss of the right hand. I will not practice it."

"You will obey the commands of your superiors." The young man sighed. "I will give you nothing to do which could make you or me responsible before God or to man. Shall our messengers be prevented from entering the territory of the heretics, because the authorities will grant them no safe-conduct, and is it a sin to render the presumptuous request of these tyrants of no avail through your innocent art, when the eternal salvation of millions is in question? Are not your bands as a clergyman of the reformed church, and your now hidden tonsure, forgeries? What mean these caprices?"

"I do not refuse to write a pass," answered the Priest in a smothered tone.

"Let us see what you can do," said Pigavetta, handing a sheet of paper and a pen to the young man. Then carelessly sorting a bundle of papers he took out a legal document. "Can you imitate this official hand-writing?"

The Priest looked carefully at the strokes. Then said: "What shall I write?"

"Well, as an attempt, anything you like, for instance: 'Dear Herr Adam! I have received your letter and quite agree with you. Matters are going on well; to-morrow you will receive the required pass, and then follow my directions exactly in all things, greet the Inspector. Your Friend.'"

The young Priest wrote, the Physician looking over his shoulder. "Optime, optime!" he then cried. "You are a finished artist. I will shortly bring you some forms, you will write out letters of safe-conduct for all our agents." He then with apparent indifference folded up the note and put it with his other papers. But the other said mistrustfully: "Give me back that sheet, I do not know what you may want to do with it."

"I think you are becoming childish," cried Pigavetta impatiently, "since when has it become the custom of the society for the novices to watch over the initiated." And he took the folded paper from his pocket and threw it out of the open window. "What sort of French scholar are you?" added he quickly. "The Countess Brederode, or Her Highness the Princess Amelia as she likes to be called, is very particular on that point."

"She will be contented with me," said Paul, "but now dismiss me, it is late. As you ordered me to conceal our interviews, I told the ladies of the Stift, that I was about to attend a meeting of the clergy, in the Hirsch, where I nearly die of ennui, therefore all the less do I dare stay out till midnight, lest my reputation should suffer in the eyes of these pious women."

Pigavetta gave him his hand. "I hope you will soon dwell in yonder castle, and the pretty Princess will have no objection to your then stopping somewhat later." The Priest blushed anew and hastily left. Through the open window could be heard the hurried footsteps of the young man for whom the fresh evening breeze was not sufficient to cool his fevered brow. Pigavetta's long foxy head was thrust out to watch him. "'One cannot angle without bait,' said the Holy Ignatius, and he was the only man who ever impressed me. Of what use hearing the confessions of this good youth, if I could not work upon his weak point. He seems however as if he would shortly break away, so it will be right to lay a new chain on him." After a while he added: "Leaving all higher considerations aside, it would be no bad spectacle, if I were to let this black panther loose on the white kitten in yonder castle. This would bring about some excitement in this tedious home of heretics, where we have five months of winter and seven months of rain." Carefully taking from his pocket a creased piece of paper, he laid another sheet over it, and began cautiously to smooth it out. When he had finished this piece of work, he added: "Exposed a few times to the night-air and this masterpiece of our good Magister will be quite smooth, and then, friend Erastus, thou wilt thyself swear, that thou at some time must have written this letter." After weighting down the paper near the window with a stone he took his lamp and sought his bed, saying: "The instruction in writing as given in Venice is worthy of all commendation. Now we have in black upon white, that Erastus is an Arian and therefore do not first require to turn white into black, as piped this fledgeling."