THE GOLD CROWN.
A little way out of the village of Punderich stands a small chapel, within which, on a stone altar, is a figure of the mother of God. A crown of silver shines on her head, and a white veil flows over her shoulders.
A long while ago the Virgin was crowned with a crown of pure gold; but a wicked knight, named Klodwig, who owned many forts on the banks of the river, passed by. When he was near to the chapel a great storm arose, and the fierce thunder crashed round him. Seeing the chapel he sought refuge there, and guided his horse up to the altar. Thankless for shelter, on perceiving the crown he snatched it down from the image’s head, and placed it upon that of his courser.
No sooner was the sacrilege committed than off started the courser, and fled frantically over the fields; the guilty knight, seeing the river before him, endeavoured to throw himself down from his horse, but before he could accomplish his purpose the river received them, and down sank the gold crown, the knight, and his charger.
At the end of the Marienburg promontory, round which we are now passing, is the village of Kaimt, and on the opposite shore stands the bright town of Zell.
Zell is a flourishing place, extending along the bank of the river; its general aspect is cheerful and new, but here and there an old house with little quaint pinnacles reminds us of the age of the place. These little old houses seem squeezed into corners by the pretentious new-comers, whose elbows push into the ribs of the poor old fellows, until their timbers or ribs are bulged out by the pressure.
There is a round tower above, and lines of poplars reach out of the town; the mountain overhead is full of ravines, and bushes of stunted growth here and there appear on the surface. A little higher up stream, where the river turns round, resuming her course to the north, the hills are most beautiful; for, covered with trees, the shadows as the day lengthens creep on, and break into masses the huge cliffs and sons of the forest.
Zell is renowned for the bravery of its inhabitants, which at one time had passed into a proverb.
The village of Kaimt, from whose gardens the vine-wreaths sweep down just over our heads as we pass, was always unlucky; as the weaker in war go to the wall, so, being close to the strong fort of Zell and the fortified cloister of Marienburg, Kaimt was generally burnt by one or other of the contending parties, and always plundered by both.
Merl.
Soon we reach Merl, where the Knight Carl of Zant lived, who loved the Pale Nun of Marienburg. Many other distinguished families lived in this town, which is very old, and full of quaint houses; its situation is very delightful: sheltered from cold by the vine-covered mountain behind, it looks out on the bend of the river, with Marienburg opposite and Alf in the distance.
Before arriving at Alf is Bullay. This charming town is celebrated for its fêtes and its gaiety; on one of its fêtes, a noble and numerous company being collected, the host of the party, a relation of the Knight Carl of Zant, filled a huge bumper and asked one of his guests, named Frederick of Hattstein, if he could drink it down at a draught, as he thought he seemed afraid of his wine.
Frederick being a very strong man (not liking to be mocked), seized a full cask that stood in the room and lifted it up; then exclaiming, “I take this draught in honour of the Elector of Trèves, my good master;” he finished the ohme.
Excited by this, and not wishing to be outdone by a stranger, the host and his brother each seized a like cask, and emptied them in honour of the Emperor and the Abbess of Marienburg: these three are still known as the three topers of Bullay.
Without answering for the truth of this story, we believe it is an undoubted fact, that in the “old times” German nobles daily drank a portion of wine equal to about sixteen of our bottles.