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Article DAS VHEME GERICHT. ← Page 2 of 4 →
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Das Vheme Gericht.
for the peculiar state of the German Empire at thc period when thc Vheme flourished . Feudalism in all its anti-sociai terrors existed ; the warlike nobility of the age claimed a jurisdiction in life and property over their vassals , and were each sovereigns on their own estates . The Vheme , like most abuses , grew out of the social disorganization of the country ; outlived the necessity which called it into existence , and , like most phcenomena , has left no successor to the world .
It was on a cold stormy night , in the month of December , towards the close of the 14 th century , that a traveller , mounted upon a jaded steed , endeavoured to trace the bridle path through the forest of Blitzfield , which skirts the borders of Suabia . Although the minivar-lined cloak , golden chain , and gilt spurs of the horseman denoted that his rank was that of a noble , yet his o ' er-soiled dress , worn steed , and look of alarm at the least sound made b y the rustling of the trees as the roused fawn
bounded from its cover at the approach of his horse ' s steps , at once proclaimed him a hunted fugitive . " I cannot have mistaken the track ! " exclaimed Graf Ulrich , for such was the name and rank of the traveller . " Years have elapsed since I hunted in the green woods of Blitzfield , but memory has treasured too well the scenes of my childhood , to permit me to be mistaken . Ha ! ha ! " he continued , as an ancient crosshalf bedded in ivy and mossmet bis view" I right
, , . am ; there stands the Abbot ' s cross . Thank Heaven ! I am out of his jurisdiction , and safe in the lands of my cousin , Herman of Wolfenstein . The priest bears no great love to our house , and would scarcel y have risked the ban of the empire to have afforded me shelter . " Thus communing with himself , the proscribed mail once more urged his half worn steed along the narrowand precipitous path which led to the refuge from which he had for so been a wandererSom
many years . e doubts of the kind of reception he was likely to meet with from the relative whose hospitality and protection he was abotit to claim , evidently oppressed him ; for at intervals the following disjointed soliloquy might have been overheard from him : —
"Will Wolfenstein protect me ! " muttered Ulrich , " he hath a kind heart , and I am sure he loves me—did , " bitterly added the unhappy man , as the recollections of the crimes and oppressions , which had divided him from his once chosen friend , rushed upon his soul— " did love me . And why not still . My hand may be red , but it hath ever been faithful to him . I may have braved the ban of the free-judges , but have never broken faith with him . Shelter and security I may at least rel
y upon . " Four persons were seated in the guest-chamber of Wolfenstein : its young and noble owner , and three travellers , whose staid and grave demeanour , sober costume , and severe countenances , would , to the eye of the physiognomists , have proclaimed them to be magistrates , or persons clothed in the terrors of authority . " You have heard the will of the tribunal . '" exclaimed the elder .
" Count of Wolfenstein—your answer . " " I cannot do it i" exclaimed their young host , starting from his seat , his jewelled breast heaving with tbe powerful emotions by which he was distracted . " Ulrich was—is my friend , for in the hour of his danger I feel that he is clear to me as ever : and you ask that I should deliver him into the hands of the Vheme . I cannot do it . " " He is a murderer , " drily iterated the first speaker , " under the ban of the Empire and the Most Holy Vheme . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Das Vheme Gericht.
for the peculiar state of the German Empire at thc period when thc Vheme flourished . Feudalism in all its anti-sociai terrors existed ; the warlike nobility of the age claimed a jurisdiction in life and property over their vassals , and were each sovereigns on their own estates . The Vheme , like most abuses , grew out of the social disorganization of the country ; outlived the necessity which called it into existence , and , like most phcenomena , has left no successor to the world .
It was on a cold stormy night , in the month of December , towards the close of the 14 th century , that a traveller , mounted upon a jaded steed , endeavoured to trace the bridle path through the forest of Blitzfield , which skirts the borders of Suabia . Although the minivar-lined cloak , golden chain , and gilt spurs of the horseman denoted that his rank was that of a noble , yet his o ' er-soiled dress , worn steed , and look of alarm at the least sound made b y the rustling of the trees as the roused fawn
bounded from its cover at the approach of his horse ' s steps , at once proclaimed him a hunted fugitive . " I cannot have mistaken the track ! " exclaimed Graf Ulrich , for such was the name and rank of the traveller . " Years have elapsed since I hunted in the green woods of Blitzfield , but memory has treasured too well the scenes of my childhood , to permit me to be mistaken . Ha ! ha ! " he continued , as an ancient crosshalf bedded in ivy and mossmet bis view" I right
, , . am ; there stands the Abbot ' s cross . Thank Heaven ! I am out of his jurisdiction , and safe in the lands of my cousin , Herman of Wolfenstein . The priest bears no great love to our house , and would scarcel y have risked the ban of the empire to have afforded me shelter . " Thus communing with himself , the proscribed mail once more urged his half worn steed along the narrowand precipitous path which led to the refuge from which he had for so been a wandererSom
many years . e doubts of the kind of reception he was likely to meet with from the relative whose hospitality and protection he was abotit to claim , evidently oppressed him ; for at intervals the following disjointed soliloquy might have been overheard from him : —
"Will Wolfenstein protect me ! " muttered Ulrich , " he hath a kind heart , and I am sure he loves me—did , " bitterly added the unhappy man , as the recollections of the crimes and oppressions , which had divided him from his once chosen friend , rushed upon his soul— " did love me . And why not still . My hand may be red , but it hath ever been faithful to him . I may have braved the ban of the free-judges , but have never broken faith with him . Shelter and security I may at least rel
y upon . " Four persons were seated in the guest-chamber of Wolfenstein : its young and noble owner , and three travellers , whose staid and grave demeanour , sober costume , and severe countenances , would , to the eye of the physiognomists , have proclaimed them to be magistrates , or persons clothed in the terrors of authority . " You have heard the will of the tribunal . '" exclaimed the elder .
" Count of Wolfenstein—your answer . " " I cannot do it i" exclaimed their young host , starting from his seat , his jewelled breast heaving with tbe powerful emotions by which he was distracted . " Ulrich was—is my friend , for in the hour of his danger I feel that he is clear to me as ever : and you ask that I should deliver him into the hands of the Vheme . I cannot do it . " " He is a murderer , " drily iterated the first speaker , " under the ban of the Empire and the Most Holy Vheme . "