The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-07-09
Poetry.
Written for the RECORD.
THE SPECTRE KNIGHT.
A Gkhenish Tradition.
BY "a MANN
BY c. A MANN.
PhRT FIRST.


From the iron-bonn portcullis,
- From the walls meath moss and lichen
Aud from every trellscd window
NJ. OF tha castle IIohcn Rheincck
uxuH tNow in rItins--sad mcmento
Unto coming generations
As for centuries it has Been
y OF its masters cruel spirit
And bis foul crimes there enacted
And the punishment swift-f footed
Which at banquet overlook HIM
Sounded voice Of ioudcSt rcreI ."
'~ on a certain night III winter.
On the hoiicst night in hundreds,
, On the birth night Of the savior,
Years ago eight and six hundred.
WassAil-hal by hind and master,
Mistress knapp and scrYant--maiden,
Jester, boor and all the rabblc
Those vast halls within, gave witness
That the coming Of the Infant
/ With delight was hailed by all who
stood around the tables, laden
With the roasted OK, and tankards
F. FILLED with mead and beer, all homo -brcwc,l-
~ the custom was in those days
By = master hand, from sweetest
Herbs and honey, hops and barley;
J Wines that ON the neighboring hil1Sides
Ripcnnd under glowing sunbcams
And transform the blood to fire;
But Of all, the most conspicuous
Was-hcil-hpwl, wrought with much cunning
, From the precious Saxon silver
/ Ot The ancient mines round Freibcrg--
In the land whose warrior chieftains
Led their hnrries to sea a>Gid Albion
tnngucrinS the savage Angles
And again in turn subiueh
by tlle li0u-hcartcd Norman
william, C0Fucror justly surnamcd.
Now, the Angle. Sax aud Norman
In the course Of many ages
InterminglnE form the nation
OF the hoastful Anglo SAXON
Was-heil-bowi wrought with much cunning
From the precious Saxon silver
And with drink horns ali surrounded
From its golden hooks sllsDendcd;
Stood upon the central table
Wrought of massive oak. and inaid
| With the ebony from far off
! Afric's shores, and pearly ivory
From the sunburnt Negro-countrics.
/ Now the master with his mistress
And their daughter. fair as morning
{ Ger tnc rosy hills ascending,
AMI youth from neighboring castle
+ To the blnshng maid bctrothcd
With the choicest OF his warriors
stood with claspcd hands around the
Nas-heIl-b0Wl while tuncfut ministries
Sang the Christmas carol blithelv
10 The music Of the swcct-toued
Harp and Tyre. and tinkling cymbas:
sang :!tc;- Of the Christ whose coming
Fills the human heart with gIa,Encss
And with heavenly grace adorneth
willing souls who. tho oft falling
let return with true repentance
To the mHngcr. where the Infant
WilI receive them, ever smiling.
Sang they of the earthly peace and
Goodwill toward mankind given
Into man who. ilI-descrving
This Of all the hoOns the greatest
lisregards the sacred prcccpts
Love thy God, and love thy ncighbor
Assshom lowest thine own self and
Thus attain unto perfection.
sang they To the sWeet-toned music
OF the harp and Tyre and cymbals,
Whilst with bowed heads all listed
Save the master, lord of Rhencck,
Who with flashing eye erect stood
Casting glances full Of scorning ...".M"..
1T the unsuspecting minstrels.
When the minstrcls song had ended "..
Raised tiiey-those around the table
Raised tEc drink horns from the hooks and
Dipped them altogether, first the
Master down the deep, capacious .3.#
Vhs-hcl-bowl, and raised them, waiting
Till the lord Of Hohcn -Rheineck
houd his wAssail give; all waited
While the youth and blnshing maiden
'aaa N masters flashing slances
omethng Of no good Lctidng.
pake the lord Of Hohen- Rhcineck
Raising h.gh the trimming drink-horn
pake he, Lady mine, and daughter,
>eighbors son and trustv warriors
iou have listened to the MINISTRIES
Vow TO me you all shall listen:
am lord Of Iiohcn- -Rheineck
With its meadows and its forests
Fith it& trickling brooks and fountains
With its terraced, golden vineyards ..""
With its villages and churches
Win its warriors, hindS and servants: "".".
am master Of my household "..-. .m.."
md no dread of Christ ut Christmas
n at Easter swaNs my bosom;
acknowledge no one master -..>..-
1Fcr stic or mine at Khcineck,
o one do ] love- but hate ali
tho, my soTcrcign " i'll disputing
ct themselves to lord it Der me. ..4
Icrc they como with anclcnt fable
f the son of God descending,
orn Of woman in astabIc.
hivcring i'll It mapger y ing
lo can credcncc give to such
able. is most welcome to it.
The lord ofIEohan- -Rheincck.
o believe in myself only:
nd this peace on earth. and goodwill
oward mankind ] ,lisdain. ana
age fierce war, Whcne'rc it suits me
f;tinst ali those who dare dispute met
lille these blasphcmies he utters
nrnch TO stone the others listen
D hs fearful, daring utterancc,
nd tho drink-horns from their hands fall,
rilsing with discordant jingle
n the stone paved, chilly hall floor.
vi the lord of dohen-Rheincck
God erect and drank wassail
, himself AS lord ;lnsl master.
,arcc the tIrink-hoIm had his lips left
'hen mighty, rushing windstream
erteEy hoWIine tore tho hall through
Iting it with suIrhurous yaror, --e
ueHching oiI-iamp,, tapels. 1amtrauN.
DG instead quaint cllin lightlcte
:,iret ;t,ltt spun through inky darkness
.rilie,l, aghast, bcWitlered,
teccbless, faintIn@, horror-stricken,
ooh the company assembled
ii |" the lord of Ilohcn- -Rheineck's
ountenancs. sgtow and heated -..
rom hi, maEce aud potaiions
lonc with phosphorescent brightness:
rnkhorn yet in outstfctehed hand sr"sped
ooti he. while :. form beside him
ainIy seen by all the people
a in garments black and sombrc
,reigl, in appearance. giirled
9uud the waist with bright-hucd satin.
nd di#mond-hiltcd dagger
asling li&htnings through tIc darkness:
AIMED cap and velvet mantle
tting.on' Il face whose paleness
as 4s oi the grave begotten:
Yes of lire aud skin Of parchment
,-ciIcad high. ans raven ringlcts
nSG ring Pound his snnkcn temples.
ustache, whiskcrs, mouth widegrinning,
7ug Of jlpI::nd tall Of stature,
4et. whose outlines no one could see;
tch appc red he TO all those who
ool around the Christmas Wassail.
id he spakc unto the master,
J the lord Of Hohen- -Rheineck,
tying: u have keard thy Was-leil,
nd II pleaSuEed me to listen
. my valiant champion Rollo,
III to yisit thee in person
'ear my gnerdon, and ifeNcr
clip thou neelest, call thy MASTER
,hy master a1n. and will be,
M, ~, II tyn s,pt Xrftf bp