Henry Walter.
STORY OF GENOVEVA.
(Vol. vii., p. 133.)
The story of Genoveva is a popular German legend, and is given in No. 8 of the Volksbücher, published at Leipzig, 1838.
Genoveva was a daughter of the Duke of Brabant, and wife of Count Siegfried, of Treves. When Charles Martel was attacked by the Saracens, Siegfried went to his assistance, leaving his wife to the care of his steward Golo. Golo fell in love with Genoveva, and being rejected, resolved to destroy her. To do so, he got up a charge against her of incontinency with the cook, and put both in confinement. On Siegfried's return, Golo convinced him, by the help of a witch and false witnesses, that his wife was guilty, and that the child to which she had given birth in prison was born eleven months after her husband's departure. Siegfried ordered Golo to bring the criminals to justice. He, fearing exposure, had the cook poisoned in gaol, and commissioned two of his servants to take the countess and her boy into a wood and kill them; but, moved by her tears, they left the intended victims, and deceived their master. Genoveva took shelter in a cavern, and lived upon roots; but her milk failing, the child was about to die. She prayed fervently, and a beautiful doe, tame as a domestic cow, came and suckled the child, and returned daily for that purpose for seven years. The passage illustrated in Silurian's picture is as follows:
"Als die weinende Mutter dies gefleht hatte, sihe, da kam eine Hirschkuh zu ihr, welche sich als ein zahmes Vieh anstellte, und freundlich um sie herstrich; gleichsam, als wollte sie sagen: Gott habe sie dahin gesendet, dass sie das Kindlein ernähren sollte. Die betrübte Mutter erstaunte, und erkannte alsbald die Vorsehung Gottes, legte das Kind an die Zitzen des Wildes, und liess es so lange saugen, bis es wieder Kraft bekam. Durch diese himmlische Wohlthat wurde die liebe Genoveva so sehr erfreut, dass sie mit vielen süssen Thränen den gütigen Gott Dank sagte, und ihn demüthig um Fortsetzung solcher gnädigen Hilfe anflehte."—P. 24.
The story ends happily. Siegfried discovers that his wife is innocent, takes her back, and punishes Golo: but for these matters I refer those who are curious to the book, which is well worth reading. Genoveva died April 2, 750, and the doe pined to death at her grave.
H. B. C.
U. U. Club.