Chapter X. - THE CLOISTER OF CAMENS.
It was a still, lovely morning. The sun gilded the lofty, giant mountain and irradiated its snow-crowned top with shifting and many- colored light; it appeared like a giant lily, luminous and odorous. The air was so clear and pure, that even in the far distance this range of mountains looked grand and sublime. The spectator was deluded by the hope of reaching their green and smiling summits in a few moments. In their majestic and sunny beauty they seemed to beckon and to lure you on. Even those who had been for a long time accustomed to this enchanting region would have been impressed to- day with its exalted beauty. Grand old Nature is a woman, and has her feminine peculiarities; she rejoices in her beaux jours, even as other women.
The landscape spread out at the feet of those two monks now walking in silent contemplation on the platform before the Cloister of Camens, had truly to-day her beau jour, and sparkled and glittered in undisturbed repose.
„How beautiful is the world!“ said one, folding his hands piously, and gazing up into the valley; „created by wisdom and love, adapted to our necessities and enjoyments, to a life well-pleasing to God. Look now, brother, at the imposing majesty of that mountain, and at the lovely, smiling valley which lies at its feet. There, in the little village of Camens, this busy world is in motion, and from the city of Frankenstein I distinguish the sound of the bells calling to early morning prayer.“
„That is, perhaps, the alarm-bell,“ said the second monk; „the wind is against us; we could not hear the sound of the small bells. I fear that is the alarm-bell.“
„Why should the Frankensteiners sound the alarm-bell, Brother Tobias?“ said his companion, with a soft, incredulous smile.
„Why, Brother Anastasius, because the Austrians have possibly sent their advance guard to Frankenstein. The Frankensteiners have sworn allegiance to the King of Prussia, and probably desire to keep this oath; they sound the alarm, therefore, to call the lusty burghers to arms.“
„And do you truly believe that the Austrians are so near us, Brother Tobias?“
„I do not believe--I know it. Before three days General Count Wallis will enter our cloister with his staff, and, in the name of Maria Theresa, command us to take the oath.“
„You can never forget that we were once Austrians, Brother Tobias. Your eyes sparkle when you think that the Austrians are coming, and you forget that his excellency the Abbot Stusche is, with his whole heart, devoted to the King of Prussia, and that he will never again subject himself to Austrian rule.“
„He will be forced to it, Brother Anastasius. The star of the Prussian king has declined; his war triumphs are at an end; God has turned away His face from him, because he is not a true Christian; he is, indeed, a heathen and an infidel.“
„Still, still, Brother Tobias! if the abbot heard you, he would punish you with twenty pater-nosters, and you know very well that praying is not the business of your choice.“
„It is true; I am fonder of war and politics. I can never forget that in my youth I was a brave soldier, and have more than once shed my blood for Austria. You will understand now why I am an Austrian. I declare to you, I would cheerfully say thirty pater-nosters every day, if we could be once more subject to Austria.“
„Well, happily, there is no hope of that.“
„Happily, there is great hope of it. You know nothing about it. You read your holy prayers, you study your learned books, and take but little interest in the outward world. I know all, hear all, take part in all. I study politics and the world's history, as diligently as you study the old Fathers.“
„Well, Brother Tobias, instruct me a little in your studies. You are right; I care but little for these things, and I am heartily glad of it. It grieves me to hear of the wrath and contentions of men. God sent us into the world to live in peace and love with one another.“
„If that be so, why has God permitted us to discover gunpowder?“ said Brother Tobias, whistling merrily. „I say to you that by the power of gunpowder and the naked sword Silesia will soon be in possession of the faithful believer Maria Theresa. Is it not manifest that God is with her? The devil in the beginning, with the help of the Prussian king and his wild army, did seem more powerful than God himself! Only think that the gates of Breslau were opened by a box on the ear! that the year before, Prague was taken almost without a blow! It seemed indeed like child's play. Frederick was in possession of almost the whole of Bohemia, but like a besieged and suffering garrison he was obliged to creep away. God sent an enemy against him who is more powerful than all mortal foes, his army was perishing with hunger. There is no difference between the bravest soldier and the little maiden when they fall into the hands of this adversary. Hunger drove the victorious King of Prussia out of Bohemia; hunger made him abandon Silesia and seek refuge in Berlin. [Footnote: Preuss's „History of Frederick the Great.“] Oh, I assure you, we will soon cease to be Prussians. While King Frederick is refreshing and amusing himself in Berlin, the Austrians have entered Glatz, and bring us greetings from our gracious queen, Maria Theresa.“
„If the King of Prussia hears of these greetings, he will answer them by cannon-balls.“
„Did I not tell you that Frederick of Prussia was idling away in Berlin, and recovering from his disastrous campaign in Bohemia? The Austrians will have taken possession of all Upper Silesia before the king and his soldiers have satisfied their hunger, I tell you, in a few days they will be with us.“
„God forbid!“ said Brother Anastasius; „then will the torch of war burn anew, and misfortune and misery will reign again throughout Silesia.“
„Yes, that is true. I will tell you another piece of news, which I heard yesterday in Frankenstein; it is said that the King of Prussia has quietly left Berlin and gone himself into Silesia to look after the Austrians. Would it not be charming if Frederick should make our cloister a visit, just as General Count Wallis and his troops entered Camens?“
„And you would call that charming?“ said Brother Anastasius, with a reproachful look.
„Yes, most assuredly; the king would be taken prisoner, and the war would be at an end. You may rest assured the Austrians would not give the king his liberty till he had yielded up Silesia for ransom.“
„May God be gracious, and guard us from war and pestilence!“ murmured Brother Anastasius, folding his hands piously in prayer.
The thrice-repeated stroke of the bell in the cloister interrupted his devotions, and the full, round face of Brother Tobias glowed with pleasing anticipations.
„They ring for breakfast, Brother Anastasius,“ said he; „let us hasten before Brother Baptist, who is ever the first at the table, appropriates the best morsels and lays them on his plate. Come, come, brother; after breakfast we will go into the garden and water our flowers. We have a lovely day and ample time--it will be three hours before mass.“
„Come, then, brother, and may your dangerous prophecies and expectations not be fulfilled!“
The two monks stepped into the cloister, and a deep and unbroken silence reigned around, interrupted only by the sweet songs of the birds and the light movements of their wings. The building was in the noble style of the middle ages, and stood out in grand and harmonious proportions against the deep blue of the horizon.
It was, without doubt, to observe the beauty and grandeur of this structure, that two travellers who had toiled slowly up the path leading from the village of Camens, now paused and looked with wondering glances at the cloister.
„There must be a splendid view from the tower,“ said the oldest and smaller of the travellers to his tall and slender companion, who was gazing with rapture at the enchanting landscape.
„It must indeed be a glorious prospect,“ he replied with a respectful bow.
„It affords a splendid opportunity to look far and wide over the land, and to see if the Austrian troops are really on the march,“ said the other, with a stern and somewhat hasty tone. „Let us enter and ascend the tower.“
The youth bowed silently, and followed, at some little distance, the hasty steps of his companion. They reached the platform, and stood for a moment to recover breath.
„We have reached the summit--if we were only safely down again.“
„We can certainly descend; the question is, under what circumstances?“
„You mean, whether free or as prisoners? Well, I see no danger; we are completely disguised, and no one knows me here. The Abbot Amandus is dead, and the new abbot is unknown to me. Let us make haste; ring the bell.“
The youth was in the act of obeying, when suddenly a voice cried out: „Don't sound the bell--I will come myself and open the door.“
A man had been standing at the upper story, by an open window, and heard the conversation of the two travellers. He drew in his head hastily and disappeared.
„It seems I am not so unknown as I supposed,“ said the smaller of the two gentlemen, with a quiet smile.
„Who knows whether these monks are reliable and true?“ whispered the other.
„You certainly would not doubt these exalted servants of God? I, for my part, shall believe in their sincerity till they convince me of the contrary. Ah! the door is opened.“
The small door was indeed open, and a monk came out, and hastily drew near to the two travellers.
„I am the Abbot Tobias Stusche; I am also a man wholly devoted to the King of Prussia, though he does not know me.“
The abbot laid such a peculiar expression upon these last words, that the strangers were forced to remark them.
„Do you not know the King of Prussia?“ said the elder, fixing his eagle eye upon the kindly and friendly face of the abbot.
„I know the king when he does not wish to be incognito,“ said the abbot, with a smile.
„If the king were here, would you counsel him to remain incognito?“
„I would counsel that; some among my monks are Austrian in sympathy, and I hear the Austrians are at hand.“
„My object is to look out from your tower after the Austrians. Let us enter; show us the way.“
The abbot said nothing, but entered the cloister hastily, and cast a searching glance in every direction.
„They are all yet in the refectory, and the windows open upon the gardens. But no--there is Brother Anastasius.“
It was truly Brother Anastasius, who stood at the window, and regarded them with astonished and sympathetic glances. The abbot nodded to him and laid his forefinger lightly upon his lips; he then hastily crossed the threshold of the little door.
The stranger laid his hand upon the shoulder of the abbot, and said sternly, „Did you not give a sign to this monk?“
„Yes, the sign of silence,“ answered the abbot; and turning back, he looked calmly upon the strangers.
„Let us go onward.“ And with a firm step they entered the cloister.
The landscape spread out at the feet of those two monks now walking in silent contemplation on the platform before the Cloister of Camens, had truly to-day her beau jour, and sparkled and glittered in undisturbed repose.
„How beautiful is the world!“ said one, folding his hands piously, and gazing up into the valley; „created by wisdom and love, adapted to our necessities and enjoyments, to a life well-pleasing to God. Look now, brother, at the imposing majesty of that mountain, and at the lovely, smiling valley which lies at its feet. There, in the little village of Camens, this busy world is in motion, and from the city of Frankenstein I distinguish the sound of the bells calling to early morning prayer.“
„That is, perhaps, the alarm-bell,“ said the second monk; „the wind is against us; we could not hear the sound of the small bells. I fear that is the alarm-bell.“
„Why should the Frankensteiners sound the alarm-bell, Brother Tobias?“ said his companion, with a soft, incredulous smile.
„Why, Brother Anastasius, because the Austrians have possibly sent their advance guard to Frankenstein. The Frankensteiners have sworn allegiance to the King of Prussia, and probably desire to keep this oath; they sound the alarm, therefore, to call the lusty burghers to arms.“
„And do you truly believe that the Austrians are so near us, Brother Tobias?“
„I do not believe--I know it. Before three days General Count Wallis will enter our cloister with his staff, and, in the name of Maria Theresa, command us to take the oath.“
„You can never forget that we were once Austrians, Brother Tobias. Your eyes sparkle when you think that the Austrians are coming, and you forget that his excellency the Abbot Stusche is, with his whole heart, devoted to the King of Prussia, and that he will never again subject himself to Austrian rule.“
„He will be forced to it, Brother Anastasius. The star of the Prussian king has declined; his war triumphs are at an end; God has turned away His face from him, because he is not a true Christian; he is, indeed, a heathen and an infidel.“
„Still, still, Brother Tobias! if the abbot heard you, he would punish you with twenty pater-nosters, and you know very well that praying is not the business of your choice.“
„It is true; I am fonder of war and politics. I can never forget that in my youth I was a brave soldier, and have more than once shed my blood for Austria. You will understand now why I am an Austrian. I declare to you, I would cheerfully say thirty pater-nosters every day, if we could be once more subject to Austria.“
„Well, happily, there is no hope of that.“
„Happily, there is great hope of it. You know nothing about it. You read your holy prayers, you study your learned books, and take but little interest in the outward world. I know all, hear all, take part in all. I study politics and the world's history, as diligently as you study the old Fathers.“
„Well, Brother Tobias, instruct me a little in your studies. You are right; I care but little for these things, and I am heartily glad of it. It grieves me to hear of the wrath and contentions of men. God sent us into the world to live in peace and love with one another.“
„If that be so, why has God permitted us to discover gunpowder?“ said Brother Tobias, whistling merrily. „I say to you that by the power of gunpowder and the naked sword Silesia will soon be in possession of the faithful believer Maria Theresa. Is it not manifest that God is with her? The devil in the beginning, with the help of the Prussian king and his wild army, did seem more powerful than God himself! Only think that the gates of Breslau were opened by a box on the ear! that the year before, Prague was taken almost without a blow! It seemed indeed like child's play. Frederick was in possession of almost the whole of Bohemia, but like a besieged and suffering garrison he was obliged to creep away. God sent an enemy against him who is more powerful than all mortal foes, his army was perishing with hunger. There is no difference between the bravest soldier and the little maiden when they fall into the hands of this adversary. Hunger drove the victorious King of Prussia out of Bohemia; hunger made him abandon Silesia and seek refuge in Berlin. [Footnote: Preuss's „History of Frederick the Great.“] Oh, I assure you, we will soon cease to be Prussians. While King Frederick is refreshing and amusing himself in Berlin, the Austrians have entered Glatz, and bring us greetings from our gracious queen, Maria Theresa.“
„If the King of Prussia hears of these greetings, he will answer them by cannon-balls.“
„Did I not tell you that Frederick of Prussia was idling away in Berlin, and recovering from his disastrous campaign in Bohemia? The Austrians will have taken possession of all Upper Silesia before the king and his soldiers have satisfied their hunger, I tell you, in a few days they will be with us.“
„God forbid!“ said Brother Anastasius; „then will the torch of war burn anew, and misfortune and misery will reign again throughout Silesia.“
„Yes, that is true. I will tell you another piece of news, which I heard yesterday in Frankenstein; it is said that the King of Prussia has quietly left Berlin and gone himself into Silesia to look after the Austrians. Would it not be charming if Frederick should make our cloister a visit, just as General Count Wallis and his troops entered Camens?“
„And you would call that charming?“ said Brother Anastasius, with a reproachful look.
„Yes, most assuredly; the king would be taken prisoner, and the war would be at an end. You may rest assured the Austrians would not give the king his liberty till he had yielded up Silesia for ransom.“
„May God be gracious, and guard us from war and pestilence!“ murmured Brother Anastasius, folding his hands piously in prayer.
The thrice-repeated stroke of the bell in the cloister interrupted his devotions, and the full, round face of Brother Tobias glowed with pleasing anticipations.
„They ring for breakfast, Brother Anastasius,“ said he; „let us hasten before Brother Baptist, who is ever the first at the table, appropriates the best morsels and lays them on his plate. Come, come, brother; after breakfast we will go into the garden and water our flowers. We have a lovely day and ample time--it will be three hours before mass.“
„Come, then, brother, and may your dangerous prophecies and expectations not be fulfilled!“
The two monks stepped into the cloister, and a deep and unbroken silence reigned around, interrupted only by the sweet songs of the birds and the light movements of their wings. The building was in the noble style of the middle ages, and stood out in grand and harmonious proportions against the deep blue of the horizon.
It was, without doubt, to observe the beauty and grandeur of this structure, that two travellers who had toiled slowly up the path leading from the village of Camens, now paused and looked with wondering glances at the cloister.
„There must be a splendid view from the tower,“ said the oldest and smaller of the travellers to his tall and slender companion, who was gazing with rapture at the enchanting landscape.
„It must indeed be a glorious prospect,“ he replied with a respectful bow.
„It affords a splendid opportunity to look far and wide over the land, and to see if the Austrian troops are really on the march,“ said the other, with a stern and somewhat hasty tone. „Let us enter and ascend the tower.“
The youth bowed silently, and followed, at some little distance, the hasty steps of his companion. They reached the platform, and stood for a moment to recover breath.
„We have reached the summit--if we were only safely down again.“
„We can certainly descend; the question is, under what circumstances?“
„You mean, whether free or as prisoners? Well, I see no danger; we are completely disguised, and no one knows me here. The Abbot Amandus is dead, and the new abbot is unknown to me. Let us make haste; ring the bell.“
The youth was in the act of obeying, when suddenly a voice cried out: „Don't sound the bell--I will come myself and open the door.“
A man had been standing at the upper story, by an open window, and heard the conversation of the two travellers. He drew in his head hastily and disappeared.
„It seems I am not so unknown as I supposed,“ said the smaller of the two gentlemen, with a quiet smile.
„Who knows whether these monks are reliable and true?“ whispered the other.
„You certainly would not doubt these exalted servants of God? I, for my part, shall believe in their sincerity till they convince me of the contrary. Ah! the door is opened.“
The small door was indeed open, and a monk came out, and hastily drew near to the two travellers.
„I am the Abbot Tobias Stusche; I am also a man wholly devoted to the King of Prussia, though he does not know me.“
The abbot laid such a peculiar expression upon these last words, that the strangers were forced to remark them.
„Do you not know the King of Prussia?“ said the elder, fixing his eagle eye upon the kindly and friendly face of the abbot.
„I know the king when he does not wish to be incognito,“ said the abbot, with a smile.
„If the king were here, would you counsel him to remain incognito?“
„I would counsel that; some among my monks are Austrian in sympathy, and I hear the Austrians are at hand.“
„My object is to look out from your tower after the Austrians. Let us enter; show us the way.“
The abbot said nothing, but entered the cloister hastily, and cast a searching glance in every direction.
„They are all yet in the refectory, and the windows open upon the gardens. But no--there is Brother Anastasius.“
It was truly Brother Anastasius, who stood at the window, and regarded them with astonished and sympathetic glances. The abbot nodded to him and laid his forefinger lightly upon his lips; he then hastily crossed the threshold of the little door.
The stranger laid his hand upon the shoulder of the abbot, and said sternly, „Did you not give a sign to this monk?“
„Yes, the sign of silence,“ answered the abbot; and turning back, he looked calmly upon the strangers.
„Let us go onward.“ And with a firm step they entered the cloister.
Dieses Kapitel ist Teil des Buches Berlin and Sans-Souci; or, Frederick the Great and his friends. Book II.