The Two Captains Read online

  Produced by Sandra Laythorpe

  THE TWO CAPTAINS.

  By Friedrich Heinrich Karl, Freiherr de La Motte-Fouque

  CHAPTER I.

  A Mild summer evening was resting on the shores of Malaga, awakening theguitar of many a merry singer among the ships in the harbor, and inthe city houses, and in many an ornamental garden villa. Emulatingthe voices of the birds, the melodious tones greeted the refreshingcoolness, and floated like perfumed exhalations from meadow and water,over the enchanting region. Some troops of infantry who were on theshore, and who purposed to spend the night there, that they might beready for embarkation early on the following morning, forgot amid thecharms of the pleasant eventide that they ought to devote these last fewhours on European soil to ease and slumber; they began to sing militarysongs, to drink to each other with their flasks filled to the brim withthe rich wine of Xeres, toasting to the long life of the mighty EmperorCharles V., who was now besieging the pirate-nest Tunis, and to whoseassistance they were about to sail. The merry soldiers were not allof one race. Only two companies consisted of Spaniards; the thirdwas formed of pure Germans, and now and then among the variousfellow-combatants the difference of manners and language had givenrise to much bantering. Now, however, the fellowship of the approachingsea-voyage and of the glorious perils to be shared, as well as therefreshing feeling which the soft southern evening poured over soul andsense, united the band of comrades in perfect and undisturbed harmony.The Germans tried to speak Castilian, and the Spaniards to speak German,without its occurring to any one to make a fuss about the mistakes andconfusions that happened. They mutually helped each other, thinking ofnothing else but the good-will of their companions, each drawing near tohis fellow by means of his own language.

  Somewhat apart from the merry tumult, a young German captain, SirHeimbert of Waldhausen, was reclining under a cork-tree, gazingearnestly up at the stars, apparently in a very different mood to thefresh, merry sociability which his comrades knew and loved in him.Presently the Spanish captain, Don Fadrique Mendez, approached him;he was a youth like the other, and was equally skilled in martialexercises, but he was generally as austere and thoughtful as Heimbertwas cheerful and gentle. "Pardon, Senor," began the solemn Spaniard, "ifI disturb you in your meditations. But as I have had the honor of oftenseeing you as a courageous warrior and faithful brother in amrs in manya hot encounter, I would gladly solicit you above all others to do mea knightly service, if it does not interfere with your own plans andprojects for this night." "Dear sir," returned Heimbert courteously, "Ihave certainly an affair of importance to attend to before sunrise,but till midnight I am perfectly free, and ready to render you anyassistance as a brother in aims." "Enough," said Fadrique, "for atmidnight the tones must long have ceased with which I shall have takenfarewell of the dearest being I have ever known in this my native city.But that you may be as fully acquainted with the whole affair as behovesa noble companion, listen to me attentively for a few moments.

  "Some time before I left Malaga to join the army of our great emperorand to aid in spreading the glory of his arms through Italy, I wasdevoted, after the fashion of young knights, to the service of abeautiful girl in this city, named Lucila. She had at that time scarcelyreached the period which separates childhood from ripe maidenhood, andas I--a boy only just capable of bearing arms--offered my homage with achildlike, friendly feeling, it was also received by my young mistressin a similar childlike manner. I marched at length to Italy, and as youyourself know, for we have been companions since then, I was in many ahot fight and in many an enchantingly alluring region in that luxuriousland. Amid all our changes, I held unalterably within me the image of mygentle mistress, never pausing in the honorable service I had vowed toher, although I cannot conceal from you that in so doing it was ratherto fulfil the word I had pledged at my departure than from any impellingand immoderately ardent feeling in my heart. When we returned to mynative city from our foreign wanderings, a few weeks ago, I found mymistress married to a rich and noble knight residing here. Fiercerfar than love had been was the jealousy--that almost almighty child ofheaven and hell--which now spurred me on to follow Lucila's steps,from her home to the church, from thence to the house of a friend, fromthence again to her home or to some noble circle of knights and ladies,and all this as unweariedly and as closely as was possible. When I hadat length assured myself that no other young knight attended her, andthat she devoted herself entirely to the husband chosen for her by herparents rather than desired by herself, I felt perfectly satisfied, andI should not have troubled you at this moment had not Lucila approachedme the day before yesterday and whispered in my ear that I must notprovoke her husband, for he was very passionate and bold; that not theslightest danger threatened her in the matter, because he loved andhonored her above everything, but that his wrath would vent itselfall the more furiously upon me. You can readily understand, my noblecomrade, that I could not help proving my contempt of all personaldanger by following Lucila more closely than ever, and singing nightlyserenades beneath her flower-decked windows till the morning star beganto be reflected in the sea. This very night Lucila's husband sets outat midnight for Madrid, and from that hour I will in every way avoidthe street in which they live; until then, however, as soon as itis sufficiently dark to be suitable for a serenade, I will havelove-romances unceasingly sang before his house. It is true I haveinformation that not only he but Lucila's brothers are really to enterupon a quarrel with me, and it is for this reason, Senor, that I haverequested you to bear me company with your good sword in this shortexpedition."

  Heimbert seized the Spaniard's hand as a pledge of his readiness, sayingas he did so, "To show you, dear sir, how gladly I will do what youdesire of me, I will requite your confidence with confidence, and willrelate a little incident which occurred to me in this city, and will begyou after midnight also to render me a small service. My story is short,and will not detain us longer than we must wait before the twilight hasbecome deeper and more gloomy.

  "On the day after we arrived here I amused myself with walking in thebeautiful gardens with which the place abounds. I have now been longin these southern lands, but I cannot but believe that the dreams whichtransport me nightly back to my German home are the cause for my feelingeverything here so strange and astonishing. At all events, every morningwhen I wake I wonder anew, as if I were only just arrived. So I waswalking then, like one infatuated, among the aloe trees, which werescattered among the laurels and oleanders. Suddenly a cry sounded nearme, and a slender girl, dressed in white, fled into my arms, fainting,while her companions dispersed past us in every direction. A soldiercan always tolerably soon gather his senses together, and I speedilyperceived a furious bull was pursuing the beautiful maiden. I threwher quickly over a thickly planted hedge, and followed her myself, uponwhich the beast, blind with rage, passed us by, and I have heard no moreof it since, except that some young knights in an adjacent courtyard hadbeen making a trial with it previous to a bull-fight, and that it was onthis account that it had broken so furiously through the gardens.

  "I was now standing quite alone, with the fainting lady in my arms, andshe was so wonderfully beautiful to look at that I have never in my lifefelt happier than I then did, and also never sadder. At last I laidher down on the turf, and sprinkled her angelic brow, with water from aneighboring little fountain. And so she came to herself again, and whenshe opened her bright and lovely eyes I thought I could imagine how theglorified spirits must feel in heaven.

  "She thanked me with graceful and courteous words, and called me herknight; but in my state of enchantment I could not utter a syllable, andshe must have almost thought me dumb. At length my speech returned, andthe prayer at once was breathed forth from my heart, that the sweet ladywou
ld often again allow me to see her in this garden; for that in a fewweeks the service of the emperor would drive me into the burning landof Africa, and that until then she should vouchsafe me the happinessof beholding her. She looked at me half smiling, half sadly, and said,'Yes.' And she has kept her word and has appeared almost daily, withoutour having yet spoken much to each other. For although she has beensometimes quite alone, I could never begin any other topic but that ofthe happiness of walking by her side. Often she has sung to me, and Ihave sung to her also. When I told her yesterday that our departure wasso near, her heavenly eyes seemed to me suffused with tears. I must alsohave looked sorrowful, for she said to me, in a consoling tone, 'Oh,pious, childlike warrior! one may trust you as one trusts an angel.'After midnight, before the morning dawn breaks for your departure, Igive you leave to take farewell of me in this very spot. If you could,however, find a true and discreet comrade to watch the entrance from thestreet, it would be well, for many a soldier may be passing at that hourthrough the city on his way from some farewell carouse. Providence hasnow sent me such a comrade, and at one o'clock I shall go joyfully tothe lovely maiden."

  "I only wish the service on which you require me were more rich indanger," rejoined Fadrique, "so that I might better prove to you thatI am yours with life and limb. But come, noble brother, the hour for myadventure is arrived."

  And wrapped in their mantles, the youths walked hastily toward the city,Fadrique carrying his beautiful guitar under his arm.

  CHAPTER II.

  The night-smelling flowers in Lucila's window were already beginning toemit their refreshing perfume when Fadrique, leaning in the shadow ofthe angle of an old church opposite, began to tune his guitar. Heimberthad stationed himself not far from him, behind a pillar, his drawn swordunder his mantle, and his clear blue eyes, like two watching stars,looking calmly and penetrating around. Fadrique sang:

  "Upon a meadow green with spring, A little flower was blossoming, With petals red and snowy white; To me, a youth, my soul's delight Within that blossom lay, And I have loved my song to indite And flattering homage pay.

  "Since then a wanderer I have been, And many a bloody strife have seen; And now returned, I see The little floweret stands no more Upon the meadow as before; Transplanted by a gardener's care, And hedged by golden trellis there, It is denied to me.

  "I grudge him not his trelllsed guard, His bolts of iron, strongly barred; Yet, wandering in the cool night-air, I touch my zither's string, And as afore her beauties rare, Her wondrous graces sing, And e'en the gardener shall not dare Refuse the praise I bring."

  "That depends, Senor," said a man, stepping close, and as he thoughtunobserved, before Fadrique; but the latter had already been informedof his approach by a sign from his watchful friend, and he was thereforeready to answer with the greater coolness, "If you wish, Senor, tocommence a suit with my guitar, she has, at all events, a tongue ofsteel, which has already on many occasions done her excellent service.With whom is it your pleasure to speak, with the guitar or theadvocate?"

  While the stranger was silent from embarrassment, two mantled figureshad approached Heimbert and remained standing a few steps from him,as if to cut off Fadrique's flight in case he intended to escape. "Ibelieve, dear sirs," said Heimbert in a courteous tone, "we are here onthe same errand--namely, to prevent any intrusion upon the conference ofyonder knights. At least, as far as I am concerned, you may rely upon itthat any one who attempts to interfere in their affair will receive mydagger in his heart. Be of good cheer, therefore; I think we shall bothdo our duty." The two gentlemen bowed courteously and were silent.

  The quiet self-possession with which the two soldiers carried on thewhole affair was most embarrassing to their three adversaries, andthey were at a loss to know how they should begin the dispute. At lastFadrique again touched the strings of his guitar, and was preparingto begin another song. This mark of contempt and apparent disregard ofdanger and hazard so enraged Lucila's husband (for it was he who hadtaken his stand by Don Fadrique) that without further delay he drew hissword from his sheath, and with a voice of suppressed rage called out,"Draw, or I shall stab you!" "Very gladly, Senor," replied Fadriquequietly; "you need not threaten me; you might as well have said socalmly." And so saying he placed his guitar carefully in a niche in thechurch wall, seized his sword, and, bowing gracefully to his opponent,the fight, began.

  At first the two figures by Heimbert's side, who were Lucila's brothers,remained quite quiet; but when Fadrique began to get the better of theirbrother-in-law they appeared as if they intended to take part in thefight. Heimbert therefore made his mighty sword gleam in the moonlight,and said, "Dear sirs, you will not surely oblige me to execute that ofwhich I previously assured you? I pray you not to compel me to do so;but if it cannot be otherwise, I must honorably keep my word, you mayrely upon it." The two young men remained from that time motionless,surprised both at the decision and at the true-hearted friendliness thatlay in Heimbert's words.

  Meanwhile Don Fadrique, although pressing hard upon his adversary,had generously avoided wounding him, and when at last by a dexterousmovement he wrested his sword from him. Lucila's husband, surprised atthe unexpected advantage, and in alarm at being thus disarmed, retreateda few steps. But Fadrique threw the weapon adroitly into the air, andcatching it again near the point of the blade, he said, as he gracefullypresented the hilt to his opponent, "Take it, Senor, and I hopeour affair of honor is now settled, as you will grant under thesecircumstances that I am only here to show that I fear no sword-thrust inthe world. The bell of the old cathedral is now ringing twelve o'clock,and I give you my word of honor as a knight and a soldier that neitheris Dona Lucila pleased with my attentions nor am I pleased with payingthem; from henceforth, and were I to remain a hundred years in Malaga,I would not continue to serenade her in this spot. So proceed on yourjourney, and God be with you." He then once more greeted his conqueredadversary with serious and solemn courtesy, and withdrew. Heimbertfollowed him, after having cordially shaken hands with the two youths,saying, "No, dear young sirs, do not let it ever again enter your headsto interfere in any honorable contest. Do you understand me?"

  He soon overtook his companion, and walked on by his side so full ofardent expectation, and with his heart beating so joyfully and yet sopainfully, that he could not utter a single word. Don Fadrique Mendezwas also silent; it was not till Heimbert paused before an ornamentedgarden-gate, and pointed cheerfully to the pomegranate boughs richlyladen with fruits which overhung it, saying, "This is the place, dearcomrade," that the Spaniard appeared as if about to ask a question,but turning quickly round he merely said, "I am pledged to guard thisentrance for you till dawn. You have my word of honor for it." So sayinghe began walking to and fro before the gate, with drawn sword, like asentinel, and Heimbert, trembling with joy, glided within the gloomy andaromatic shrubberies.

  CHAPTER III

  He was not long in seeking the bright star, which he indeed felt wasdestined henceforth to guide the course of his whole life. The delicateform approached him not far from the entrance; weeping softly, it seemedto him, in the light of the full moon which was just rising, and yetsmiling with such infinite grace, that her tears were rather like apearly ornament than a veil of sorrow. In deep and infinite joy andsorrow the two lovers wandered silently together through the flowerygroves; now and then a branch waving in the night-air would touch theguitar on the lady's arm, and it would breathe forth a slight murmurwhich blended with the song of the nightingale, or the delicate fingersof the girl would tremble over the strings and awaken a few scatteredchords, while the shooting
stars seemed as if following the tones of theinstrument as they died away. Oh, truly happy was this night both tothe youth and the maiden, for no rash wish or impure desire passed evenfleetingly across their minds. They walked on side by side, happy thatProvidence had allowed them this delight, and so little desiring anyother blessing that even the transitoriness of that they were nowenjoying floated away into the background of their thoughts.

  In the middle of the beautiful garden there was a large open lawn,ornamented with statues and surrounding a beautiful and splashingfountain. The two lovers sat down on its brink, now gazing at the waterssparkling in the moonlight, and now delighting in the contemplationof each other's beauty. The maiden touched her guitar, and Heimbert,impelled by a feeling scarcely intelligible to himself, sang thefollowing words to it:

  "There is a sweet life linked with mine, But I cannot tell its name; Oh, would it but to me consign The secret of that life divine, That so my lips in whispers sweet And gentle songs might e'en repeat All that my heart would fain proclaim!"

  He suddenly paused, and blushed deeply, fearing he had been too bold.The lady blushed also, touched her guitar-strings with a half-abstractedair, and at last sang as if dreamily:

  "By the spring where moonlight's gleams O'er the sparkling waters pass, Who is sitting by the youth, Singing on the soft green grass? Shall the maiden tell her name, When though all unknown it be, Her heart is glowing with her shame, And her cheeks burn anxiously, First, let the youthful knight be named. 'Tis he that on that glorious day Fought in Castilla's proud array;