It was served up in the great hall of the castle. Around the wallshung the hard-favored portraits of the heroes of the house ofKatzenellenbogen, and the trophies which they had gained in thefield and in the chase. Hacked corslets, splintered jousting spears,and tattered banners, were mingled with the spoils of sylvanwarfare; the jaws of the wolf, and the tusks of the boar, grinnedhorribly among cross-bows and battle-axes, and a huge pair ofantlers branched immediately over the head of the youthful bridegroom.
The cavalier took but little notice of the company or theentertainment. He scarcely tasted the banquet, but seemed absorbedin admiration of his bride. He conversed in a low tone that couldnot be overheard- for the language of love is never loud; but where isthe female ear so dull that it cannot catch the softest whisper of thelover? There was a mingled tenderness and gravity in his manner,that appeared to have a powerful effect upon the young lady. Her colorcame and went as she listened with deep attention. Now and then shemade some blushing reply, and when his eye was turned away, shewould steal a sidelong glance at his romantic countenance, and heave agentle sigh of tender happiness. It was evident that the youngcouple were completely enamored. The aunts, who were deeply versedin the mysteries of the heart, declared that they had fallen in lovewith each other at first sight.
The feast went on merrily, or at least noisily, for the guestswere all blessed with those keen appetites that attend upon lightpurses and mountain air. The baron told his best and longeststories, and never had he told them so well, or with such greateffect. If there was any thing marvellous, his auditors were lost inastonishment; and if any thing facetious, they were sure to laughexactly in the right place. The baron, it is true, like most greatmen, was too dignified to utter any joke but a dull one; it was alwaysenforced, however, by a bumper of excellent Hochheimer; and even adull joke, at one's own table, served up with jolly old wine, isirresistible. Many good things were said by poorer and keener wits,that would not bear repeating except on similar occasions; many slyspeeches whispered in ladies' ears, that almost convulsed them withsuppressed laughter; and a song or two roared out by a poor, but merryand broad-faced cousin of the baron, that absolutely made the maidenaunts hold up their fans.
Amidst all this revelry, the stranger guest maintained a mostsingular and unseasonable gravity. His countenance assumed a deepercast of dejection as the evening advanced; and, strange as it mayappear, even the baron's jokes seemed only to render him the moremelancholy. At times he was lost in thought, and at times there wasa perturbed and restless wandering of the eye that bespoke a mindbut ill at ease. His conversations with the bride became more and moreearnest and mysterious. Lowering clouds began to steal over the fairserenity of her brow, and tremors to run through her tender frame.
All this could not escape the notice of the company. Their gayetywas chilled by the unaccountable gloom of the bridegroom; theirspirits were infected; whispers and glances were interchanged,accompanied by shrugs and dubious shakes of the head. The song and thelaugh grew less and less frequent; there were dreary pauses in theconversation, which were at length succeeded by wild tales andsupernatural legends. One dismal story produced another still moredismal, and the baron nearly frightened some of the ladies intohysterics with the history of the goblin horseman that carried awaythe fair Leonora; a dreadful story, which has since been put intoexcellent verse, and is read and believed by all the world.
The bridegroom listened to this tale with profound attention. Hekept his eyes steadily fixed on the baron, and, as the story drew to aclose, began gradually to rise from his seat, growing taller andtaller, until, in the baron's entranced eye, he seemed almost to towerinto a giant. The moment the tale was finished, he heaved a deep sigh,and took a solemn farewell of the company. They were all amazement.
The baron was perfectly thunderstruck.
"What! going to leave the castle at midnight? why, every thing wasprepared for his reception; a chamber was ready for him if he wishedto retire."The stranger shook his head mournfully and mysteriously; "I must laymy head in a different chamber to-night!"There was something in this reply, and the tone in which it wasuttered, that made the baron's heart misgive him; but he rallied hisforces, and repeated his hospitable entreaties.
The stranger shook his head silently, but positively, at everyoffer, and, waving his farewell to the company, stalked slowly outof the hall. The maiden aunts were absolutely petrified- the bridehung her head, and a tear stole to her eye.
The baron followed the stranger to the great court of the castle,where the black charger stood pawing the earth, and snorting withimpatience.- When they had reached the portal, whose deep archwaywas dimly lighted by a cresset, the stranger paused, and addressed thebaron in a hollow tone of voice, which the vaulted roof rendered stillmore sepulchral.