TheyoungCountVonAltenburgwastranquillypursuinghisroutein
thatsoberjog—trotway，inwhichamantravelstowardmatrimony
whenhisfriendshavetakenallthetroubleanduncertaintyof
courtshipoffhishands，andabrideiswaitingforhim，as
certainlyasadinnerattheendofhisjourney。Hehadencounteredat
Wurtzburg，ayouthfulcompanioninarms，withwhomhehadseensome
serviceonthefrontiers；HermanVonStarkenfaust，oneofthestoutest
hands，andworthiesthearts，ofGermanchivalry，whowasnowreturning
fromthearmy。Hisfather’scastlewasnotfardistantfromtheold
fortressofLandshort，althoughanhereditaryfeudrenderedthe
familieshostile，andstrangerstoeachother。
Inthewarm—heartedmomentofrecognition，theyoungfriendsrelated
alltheirpastadventuresandfortunes，andthecountgavethewhole
historyofhisintendednuptialswithayoungladywhomhehadnever
seen，butofwhosecharmshehadreceivedthemostenrapturing
descriptions。
Astherouteofthefriendslayinthesamedirection，theyagreed
toperformtherestoftheirjourneytogether；and，thattheymightdo
itthemoreleisurely，setofffromWurtzburgatanearlyhour，the
counthavinggivendirectionsforhisretinuetofollowandovertake
him。
Theybeguiledtheirwayfaringwithrecollectionsoftheirmilitary
scenesandadventures；butthecountwasapttobealittletedious，
nowandthen，aboutthereputedcharmsofhisbride，andthe
felicitythatawaitedhim。
InthiswaytheyhadenteredamongthemountainsoftheOdenwald，
andweretraversingoneofitsmostlonelyandthickly—wooded
passes。ItiswellknownthattheforestsofGermanyhavealways
beenasmuchinfestedbyrobbersasitscastlesbyspectres；and，at
thistime，theformerwereparticularlynumerous，fromthehordesof
disbandedsoldierswanderingaboutthecountry。Itwillnotappear
extraordinary，therefore，thatthecavalierswereattackedbyagang
ofthesestragglers，inthemidstoftheforest。Theydefended
themselveswithbravery，butwerenearlyoverpowered，whenthecount’s
retinuearrivedtotheirassistance。Atsightofthemtherobbers
fled，butnotuntilthecounthadreceivedamortalwound。Hewas
slowlyandcarefullyconveyedbacktothecityofWurtzburg，anda
friarsummonedfromaneighboringconvent，whowasfamousforhis
skillinadministeringtobothsoulandbody；buthalfofhisskill
wassuperfluous；themomentsoftheunfortunatecountwerenumbered。
Withhisdyingbreathheentreatedhisfriendtorepairinstantlyto
thecastleofLandshort，andexplainthefatalcauseofhisnot
keepinghisappointmentwithhisbride。Thoughnotthemostardent
oflovers，hewasoneofthemostpunctiliousofmen，andappeared
earnestlysolicitousthathismissionshouldbespeedilyand
courteouslyexecuted。"Unlessthisisdone，"saidhe，"Ishallnot
sleepquietlyinmygrave！"Herepeatedtheselastwordswithpeculiar
solemnity。Arequest，atamomentsoimpressive，admittedno
hesitation。Starkenfaustendeavoredtosoothehimtocalmness；
promisedfaithfullytoexecutehiswish，andgavehimhishandin
solemnpledge。Thedyingmanpresseditinacknowledgment，butsoon
lapsedintodelirium—ravedabouthisbride—hisengagements—his
plightedword；orderedhishorse，thathemightridetothecastle
ofLandshort；andexpiredinthefanciedactofvaultingintothe
saddle。
Starkenfaustbestowedasighandasoldier’stearontheuntimely
fateofhiscomrade；andthenponderedontheawkwardmissionhehad
undertaken。Hisheartwasheavy，andhisheadperplexed；forhewasto
presenthimselfanunbiddenguestamonghostilepeople，andtodamp
theirfestivitywithtidingsfataltotheirhopes。Stilltherewere
certainwhisperingsofcuriosityinhisbosomtoseethisfar—famed
beautyofKatzenellenbogen，socautiouslyshutupfromtheworld；
forhewasapassionateadmirerofthesex，andtherewasadashof
eccentricityandenterpriseinhischaracterthatmadehimfondofall
singularadventure。
Previoustohisdeparturehemadeallduearrangementswiththeholy
fraternityoftheconventforthefuneralsolemnitiesofhisfriend，
whowastobeburiedinthecathedralofWurtzburg，nearsomeofhis
illustriousrelatives；andthemourningretinueofthecounttook
chargeofhisremains。
Itisnowhightimethatweshouldreturntotheancientfamilyof
Katzenellenbogen，whowereimpatientfortheirguest，andstillmore
fortheirdinner；andtotheworthylittlebaron，whomweleft
airinghimselfonthewatchtower。
Nightclosedin，butstillnoguestarrived。Thebarondescended
fromthetowerindespair。Thebanquet，whichhadbeendelayedfrom
hourtohour，couldnolongerbepostponed。Themeatswerealready
overdone；thecookinanagony；andthewholehouseholdhadthelook
ofagarrisonthathadbeenreducedbyfamine。Thebaronwasobliged
reluctantlytogiveordersforthefeastwithoutthepresenceofthe
guest。Allwereseatedattable，andjustonthepointof
commencing，whenthesoundofahornfromwithoutthegategavenotice
oftheapproachofastranger。Anotherlongblastfilledtheold
courtsofthecastlewithitsechoes，andwasansweredbythewarder
fromthewalls。Thebaronhastenedtoreceivehisfutureson—in—law。
Thedrawbridgehadbeenletdown，andthestrangerwasbeforethe
gate。Hewasatall，gallantcavalier，mountedonablacksteed。His
countenancewaspale，buthehadabeaming，romanticeye，andanair
ofstatelymelancholy。Thebaronwasalittlemortifiedthatheshould
havecomeinthissimple，solitarystyle。Hisdignityforamomentwas
ruffled，andhefeltdisposedtoconsideritawantofproper
respectfortheimportantoccasion，andtheimportantfamilywith
whichhewastobeconnected。Hepacifiedhimself，however，withthe
conclusion，thatitmusthavebeenyouthfulimpatiencewhichhad
inducedhimthustospuronsoonerthanhisattendants。
"Iamsorry，"saidthestranger，"tobreakinuponyouthus
unseasonably—"
Herethebaroninterruptedhimwithaworldofcomplimentsand
greetings；for，totellthetruth，hepridedhimselfuponhiscourtesy
andeloquence。Thestrangerattempted，onceortwice，tostemthe
torrentofwords，butinvain，sohebowedhisheadandsuffereditto
flowon。Bythetimethebaronhadcometoapause，theyhadreached
theinnercourtofthecastle；andthestrangerwasagainaboutto
speak，whenhewasoncemoreinterruptedbytheappearanceofthe
femalepartofthefamily，leadingforththeshrinkingandblushing
bride。Hegazedonherforamomentasoneentranced；itseemedas
ifhiswholesoulbeamedforthinthegaze，andresteduponthat
lovelyform。Oneofthemaidenauntswhisperedsomethinginherear；
shemadeanefforttospeak；hermoistblueeyewastimidlyraised；
gaveashyglanceofinquiryonthestranger；andwascastagainto
theground。Thewordsdiedaway；buttherewasasweetsmileplaying
aboutherlips，andasoftdimplingofthecheekthatshowedher
glancehadnotbeenunsatisfactory。Itwasimpossibleforagirlof
thefondageofeighteen，highlypredisposedforloveandmatrimony，
nottobepleasedwithsogallantacavalier。
Thelatehouratwhichtheguesthadarrivedleftnotimefor
parley。Thebaronwasperemptory，anddeferredallparticular
conversationuntilthemorning，andledthewaytotheuntasted
banquet。
Itwasservedupinthegreathallofthecastle。Aroundthewalls
hungthehard—favoredportraitsoftheheroesofthehouseof
Katzenellenbogen，andthetrophieswhichtheyhadgainedinthe
fieldandinthechase。Hackedcorslets，splinteredjoustingspears，
andtatteredbanners，weremingledwiththespoilsofsylvan
warfare；thejawsofthewolf，andthetusksoftheboar，grinned
horriblyamongcross—bowsandbattle—axes，andahugepairof
antlersbranchedimmediatelyovertheheadoftheyouthfulbridegroom。
Thecavaliertookbutlittlenoticeofthecompanyorthe
entertainment。Hescarcelytastedthebanquet，butseemedabsorbed
inadmirationofhisbride。Heconversedinalowtonethatcould
notbeoverheard—forthelanguageofloveisneverloud；butwhereis
thefemaleearsodullthatitcannotcatchthesoftestwhisperofthe
lover？Therewasamingledtendernessandgravityinhismanner，
thatappearedtohaveapowerfuleffectupontheyounglady。Hercolor
cameandwentasshelistenedwithdeepattention。Nowandthenshe
madesomeblushingreply，andwhenhiseyewasturnedaway，she
wouldstealasidelongglanceathisromanticcountenance，andheavea
gentlesighoftenderhappiness。Itwasevidentthattheyoung
couplewerecompletelyenamored。Theaunts，whoweredeeplyversed
inthemysteriesoftheheart，declaredthattheyhadfalleninlove
witheachotheratfirstsight。
Thefeastwentonmerrily，oratleastnoisily，fortheguests
wereallblessedwiththosekeenappetitesthatattenduponlight
pursesandmountainair。Thebarontoldhisbestandlongest
stories，andneverhadhetoldthemsowell，orwithsuchgreat
effect。Iftherewasanythingmarvellous，hisauditorswerelostin
astonishment；andifanythingfacetious，theyweresuretolaugh
exactlyintherightplace。Thebaron，itistrue，likemostgreat
men，wastoodignifiedtoutteranyjokebutadullone；itwasalways
enforced，however，byabumperofexcellentHochheimer；andevena
dulljoke，atone’sowntable，servedupwithjollyoldwine，is
irresistible。Manygoodthingsweresaidbypoorerandkeenerwits，
thatwouldnotbearrepeatingexceptonsimilaroccasions；manysly
speecheswhisperedinladies’ears，thatalmostconvulsedthemwith
suppressedlaughter；andasongortworoaredoutbyapoor，butmerry
andbroad—facedcousinofthebaron，thatabsolutelymadethemaiden
auntsholduptheirfans。
Amidstallthisrevelry，thestrangerguestmaintainedamost
singularandunseasonablegravity。Hiscountenanceassumedadeeper
castofdejectionastheeveningadvanced；and，strangeasitmay
appear，eventhebaron’sjokesseemedonlytorenderhimthemore
melancholy。Attimeshewaslostinthought，andattimestherewas
aperturbedandrestlesswanderingoftheeyethatbespokeamind
butillatease。Hisconversationswiththebridebecamemoreandmore
earnestandmysterious。Loweringcloudsbegantostealoverthefair
serenityofherbrow，andtremorstorunthroughhertenderframe。
Allthiscouldnotescapethenoticeofthecompany。Theirgayety
waschilledbytheunaccountablegloomofthebridegroom；their
spiritswereinfected；whispersandglanceswereinterchanged，
accompaniedbyshrugsanddubiousshakesofthehead。Thesongandthe
laughgrewlessandlessfrequent；thereweredrearypausesinthe
conversation，whichwereatlengthsucceededbywildtalesand
supernaturallegends。Onedismalstoryproducedanotherstillmore
dismal，andthebaronnearlyfrightenedsomeoftheladiesinto
hystericswiththehistoryofthegoblinhorsemanthatcarriedaway
thefairLeonora；adreadfulstory，whichhassincebeenputinto
excellentverse，andisreadandbelievedbyalltheworld。
Thebridegroomlistenedtothistalewithprofoundattention。He
kepthiseyessteadilyfixedonthebaron，and，asthestorydrewtoa
close，begangraduallytorisefromhisseat，growingtallerand
taller，until，inthebaron’sentrancedeye，heseemedalmosttotower
intoagiant。Themomentthetalewasfinished，heheavedadeepsigh，
andtookasolemnfarewellofthecompany。Theywereallamazement。
Thebaronwasperfectlythunderstruck。
"What！goingtoleavethecastleatmidnight？why，everythingwas
preparedforhisreception；achamberwasreadyforhimifhewished
toretire。"
Thestrangershookhisheadmournfullyandmysteriously；"Imustlay
myheadinadifferentchamberto—night！"
Therewassomethinginthisreply，andthetoneinwhichitwas
uttered，thatmadethebaron’sheartmisgivehim；butheralliedhis
forces，andrepeatedhishospitableentreaties。
Thestrangershookhisheadsilently，butpositively，atevery
offer，and，wavinghisfarewelltothecompany，stalkedslowlyout
ofthehall。Themaidenauntswereabsolutelypetrified—thebride
hungherhead，andatearstoletohereye。
Thebaronfollowedthestrangertothegreatcourtofthecastle，
wheretheblackchargerstoodpawingtheearth，andsnortingwith
impatience。—Whentheyhadreachedtheportal，whosedeeparchway
wasdimlylightedbyacresset，thestrangerpaused，andaddressedthe
baroninahollowtoneofvoice，whichthevaultedroofrenderedstill
moresepulchral。
"Nowthatwearealone，"saidhe，"Iwillimparttoyouthereason
ofmygoing。Ihaveasolemn，andindispensableengagement—"
"Why，"saidthebaron，"cannotyousendsomeoneinyourplace？"
"Itadmitsofnosubstitute—Imustattenditinperson—Imustaway
toWurtzburgcathedral—"
"Ay，"saidthebaron，pluckingupspirit，"butnotuntil
to—morrow—to—morrowyoushalltakeyourbridethere。"
"No！no！"repliedthestranger，withtenfoldsolemnity，"my
engagementiswithnobride—theworms！thewormsexpectme！Iama
deadman—Ihavebeenslainbyrobbers—mybodyliesatWurtzburg—
atmidnightIamtobeburied—thegraveiswaitingforme—Imust
keepmyappointment！"
Hesprangonhisblackcharger，dashedoverthedrawbridge，and
theclatteringofhishorse’shoofswaslostinthewhistlingofthe
nightblast。
Thebaronreturnedtothehallintheutmostconsternation，and
relatedwhathadpassed。Twoladiesfaintedoutright，others
sickenedattheideaofhavingbanquetedwithaspectre。Itwasthe
opinionofsome，thatthismightbethewildhuntsman，famousin
Germanlegend。Sometalkedofmountainsprites，ofwood—demons，andof
othersupernaturalbeings，withwhichthegoodpeopleofGermany
havebeensogrievouslyharassedsincetimeimmemorial。Oneofthe
poorrelationsventuredtosuggestthatitmightbesomesportive
evasionoftheyoungcavalier，andthattheverygloominessofthe
capriceseemedtoaccordwithsomelancholyapersonage。This，
however，drewonhimtheindignationofthewholecompany，and
especiallyofthebaron，wholookeduponhimaslittlebetterthan
aninfidel；sothathewasfaintoabjurehisheresyasspeedilyas
possible，andcomeintothefaithofthetruebelievers。
Butwhatevermayhavebeenthedoubtsentertained，theywere
completelyputtoanendbythearrival，nextday，ofregular
missives，confirmingtheintelligenceoftheyoungcount’smurder，and
hisintermentinWurtzburgcathedral。
Thedismayatthecastlemaywellbeimagined。Thebaronshut
himselfupinhischamber。Theguests，whohadcometorejoicewith
him，couldnotthinkofabandoninghiminhisdistress。They
wanderedaboutthecourts，orcollectedingroupsinthehall，shaking
theirheadsandshruggingtheirshoulders，atthetroublesofso
goodaman；andsatlongerthaneverattable，andateanddrank
morestoutlythanever，bywayofkeepinguptheirspirits。Butthe
situationofthewidowedbridewasthemostpitiable。Tohavelosta
husbandbeforeshehadevenembracedhim—andsuchahusband！ifthe
veryspectrecouldbesograciousandnoble，whatmusthavebeenthe
livingman。Shefilledthehousewithlamentations。
Onthenightoftheseconddayofherwidowhood，shehadretired
toherchamber，accompaniedbyoneofheraunts，whoinsistedon
sleepingwithher。Theaunt，whowasoneofthebesttellersof
ghoststoriesinallGermany，hadjustbeenrecountingoneofher
longest，andhadfallenasleepintheverymidstofit。Thechamber
wasremote，andoverlookedasmallgarden。Theniecelaypensively
gazingatthebeamsoftherisingmoon，astheytrembledontheleaves
ofanaspen—treebeforethelattice。Thecastleclockhadjust
tolledmidnight，whenasoftstrainofmusicstoleupfromthegarden。
Sherosehastilyfromherbed，andsteppedlightlytothewindow。A
tallfigurestoodamongtheshadowsofthetrees。Asitraisedits
head，abeamofmoonlightfelluponthecountenance。Heavenandearth！
shebeheldtheSpectreBridegroom！Aloudshriekatthatmoment
burstuponherear，andheraunt，whohadbeenawakenedbythe
music，andhadfollowedhersilentlytothewindow，fellintoher
arms。Whenshelookedagain，thespectrehaddisappeared。
Ofthetwofemales，theauntnowrequiredthemostsoothing，forshe
wasperfectlybesideherselfwithterror。Astotheyounglady，
therewassomething，eveninthespectreofherlover，thatseemed
endearing。Therewasstillthesemblanceofmanlybeauty；andthough
theshadowofamanisbutlittlecalculatedtosatisfytheaffections
ofalove—sickgirl，yet，wherethesubstanceisnottobehad，even
thatisconsoling。Theauntdeclaredshewouldneversleepinthat
chamberagain；theniece，foronce，wasrefractory，anddeclaredas
stronglythatshewouldsleepinnootherinthecastle：the
consequencewas，thatshehadtosleepinitalone：butshedrewa
promisefromherauntnottorelatethestoryofthespectre，lestshe
shouldbedeniedtheonlymelancholypleasureleftheronearth—
thatofinhabitingthechamberoverwhichtheguardianshadeofher
loverkeptitsnightlyvigils。
Howlongthegoodoldladywouldhaveobservedthispromiseis
uncertain，forshedearlylovedtotalkofthemarvellous，andthere
isatriumphinbeingthefirsttotellafrightfulstory；itis，
however，stillquotedintheneighborhood，asamemorableinstance
offemalesecrecy，thatshekeptittoherselfforawholeweek；
whenshewassuddenlyabsolvedfromallfurtherrestraint，by
intelligencebroughttothebreakfasttableonemorningthattheyoung
ladywasnottobefound。Herroomwasempty—thebedhadnotbeen
sleptin—thewindowwasopen，andthebirdhadflown！
Theastonishmentandconcernwithwhichtheintelligencewas
received，canonlybeimaginedbythosewhohavewitnessedthe
agitationwhichthemishapsofagreatmancauseamonghisfriends。
Eventhepoorrelationspausedforamomentfromtheindefatigable
laborsofthetrencher；whentheaunt，whohadatfirstbeenstruck
speechless，wrungherhands，andshriekedout，"Thegoblin！the
goblin！she’scarriedawaybythegoblin。"
Inafewwordssherelatedthefearfulsceneofthegarden，and
concludedthatthespectremusthavecarriedoffhisbride。Twoofthe
domesticscorroboratedtheopinion，fortheyhadheardthe
clatteringofahorse’shoofsdownthemountainaboutmidnight，and
hadnodoubtthatitwasthespectreonhisblackcharger，bearingher
awaytothetomb。Allpresentwerestruckwiththedireful
probability；foreventsofthekindareextremelycommoninGermany，
asmanywellauthenticatedhistoriesbearwitness。
Whatalamentablesituationwasthatofthepoorbaron！Whata
heart—rendingdilemmaforafondfather，andamemberofthegreat
familyofKatzenellenbogen！Hisonlydaughterhadeitherbeenrapt
awaytothegrave，orhewastohavesomewood—demonforason—in—law，
and，perchance，atroopofgoblingrandchildren。Asusual，hewas
completelybewildered，andallthecastleinanuproar。Themenwere
orderedtotakehorse，andscoureveryroadandpathandglenofthe
Odenwald。Thebaronhimselfhadjustdrawnonhisjack—boots，girded
onhissword，andwasabouttomounthissteedtosallyforthonthe
doubtfulquest，whenhewasbroughttoapausebyanewapparition。
Aladywasseenapproachingthecastle，mountedonapalfrey，attended
byacavalieronhorseback。Shegallopeduptothegate，sprangfrom
herhorse，andfallingatthebaron’sfeet，embracedhisknees。Itwas
hislostdaughter，andhercompanion—theSpectreBridegroom！The
baronwasastounded。Helookedathisdaughter，thenatthespectre，
andalmostdoubtedtheevidenceofhissenses。Thelatter，too，was
wonderfullyimprovedinhisappearancesincehisvisittotheworldof
spirits。Hisdresswassplendid，andsetoffanoblefigureofmanly
symmetry。Hewasnolongerpaleandmelancholy。Hisfinecountenance
wasflushedwiththeglowofyouth，andjoyriotedinhislargedark
eye。
Themysterywassoonclearedup。Thecavalier（for，intruth，asyou
musthaveknownallthewhile，hewasnogoblin）announcedhimself
asSirHermanVonStarkenfaust。Herelatedhisadventurewiththe
youngcount。Hetoldhowhehadhastenedtothecastletodeliver
theunwelcometidings，butthattheeloquenceofthebaronhad
interruptedhimineveryattempttotellhistale。Howthesightof
thebridehadcompletelycaptivatedhim，andthattopassafew
hoursnearher，hehadtacitlysufferedthemistaketocontinue。How
hehadbeensorelyperplexedinwhatwaytomakeadecentretreat，
untilthebaron’sgoblinstorieshadsuggestedhiseccentricexit。
How，fearingthefeudalhostilityofthefamily，hehadrepeatedhis
visitsbystealth—hadhauntedthegardenbeneaththeyounglady’s
window—hadwooed—hadwon—hadborneawayintriumph—and，inaword，
hadweddedthefair。
Underanyothercircumstancesthebaronwouldhavebeen
inflexible，forhewastenaciousofpaternalauthority，anddevoutly
obstinateinallfamilyfeuds；buthelovedhisdaughter；hehad
lamentedheraslost；herejoicedtofindherstillalive；and，though
herhusbandwasofahostilehouse，yet，thankHeaven，hewasnota
goblin。Therewassomething，itmustbeacknowledged，thatdidnot
exactlyaccordwithhisnotionsofstrictveracity，inthejokethe
knighthadpasseduponhimofhisbeingadeadman；butseveralold
friendspresent，whohadservedinthewars，assuredhimthatevery
stratagemwasexcusableinlove，andthatthecavalierwasentitledto
especialprivilege，havinglatelyservedasatrooper。
Matters，therefore，werehappilyarranged。Thebaronpardonedthe
youngcoupleonthespot。Therevelsatthecastlewereresumed。The
poorrelationsoverwhelmedthisnewmemberofthefamilywithloving
kindness；hewassogallant，sogenerous—andsorich。Theaunts，it
istrue，weresomewhatscandalizedthattheirsystemofstrict
seclusion，andpassiveobedienceshouldbesobadlyexemplified，but
attributeditalltotheirnegligenceinnothavingthewindows
grated。Oneofthemwasparticularlymortifiedathavingher
marvellousstorymarred，andthattheonlyspectreshehadeverseen
shouldturnoutacounterfeit；butthenieceseemedperfectlyhappyat
havingfoundhimsubstantialfleshandblood—andsothestoryends。
THEEND