The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1915-10-07

nm CoIlS W MS iIleIuS III Iue Vdlle1
of Eisenach. There was not one OF
them who could have dreamed where
Tannhauser had been that twelve
month past, nor, had they heard
would have believed the tale. For the
good knight, the sweetest singer who
plucked lutte in the courts of Her
mann, landgrave of Thuringia, had
lolled for a year among the rosy
witcheries of the grotto Of Venus,
loved by the heather goddess and low
ing her in return, in mad abandonment
of friends, religion and his better self.
Venus dwelt in great underground
realm, entrance to which was gained
| by certain dim old trails that wove in
and out along the rough side Of the
Horselberg, a lonely mountain. But
having once attained the realm of
Venus, men forgot for a space the
things that they had left behind, revel-
ing only in the music and the rosy
lights and the embraces of the white
armed nymphs who played in pie a5ant
pools. Here for a year Tannhauser
had dwelt, loved by the queen of love,
and yet he was unhappy. For some
thing in his forgotten better self rose
up to reproach the man. He was
weary of the soft comforts of the
Venusberg and longed for skies that
were sometimes gray, birds that did
not sing always, sorrow to leaven joy.
Now as he lolled at Venus's white feet
he was speaking his heart to the
heather goddess, begging that he
might go back to the world.
Long she sought to dissuade him;
the world was full of suffering and
sadness nor could he enter it as he had
left; men would scorn and contemn
him utterly when they learned that he
had spent a year in Venus's arms.
So she pouted and cajoled, seeking
delay, till with a cry of anguish Tam
hauser called upon the Virgin Mary to
succor him.
Then with a shrek, rush as of the |
wind, the whole scene of rose scented
gayety was blotted out, Venus had
vanished and the knight found himself /
alone upon the mountain side, blue
skies above him and green trees, and
a cool wind stung his languorous
limbs to brisk movement. Nearby
shepherd boy was singing song to
the goddess of spring, and playing on
a pipe; then far below he saw
band of pilgrims marching in slow
procession, chanting the praises of
the Lord of Hosts.
Now little knot of horsemen came
riding along the path; Tannhauser
them, the friends whom he
had left, the landgrave, Walther Won
Wolfram Won Eschenbach,
calm browed and kindly. And seeing
him they crowded round, all eager
and excited questions. Where
lad he been this twelve month past?
But Tannhauser answered them evas-
vely--a long journey, not satisfying,
ne had not found what he went out to
seek Then Wolfram, speaking to him
apart; "Come back with us and sing
n the contest of the minstrels."
And when Tannhauser would have
,ut him aside, Wolfram whispered:
"Nay then, if not for thy sake, or
or ours, for Elizabeth, our lady; for
ince thou went, she signs over much
md will not be persuaded to come any
more into the hall of song"
Hearing that, the heart of Tam
auser leapt at recollection of all the
dear charms of the land
raves niece; willingly he consented.
She welcomed him, too glad almost
Or speech, yielded him both her
ands, and:
at has been so long, so long," she
ighed.
Next day the knights met in the hall
SOilSy WuSIG q VI lllln- |
,relsy had been proclaimed; the man 4
no won should have the right to ask
ny favor, even the hand of the land
raves niece.
First Wolfram rose and drew his
and across his harp, and sang the
raise of love, how it was hign above
lie things of earth, like stars in the
light diadem of heaven, how it en-
,bled men, lifting them up out of
leir baser selves, making them but
little lower than the angels.
But ere the applause had died away,
annhauser sprang up, his dark face
orking, struck crashing chord, and
ing the throbbing praise of earthly
We, of warm, white flesh, bright eyes,
hair. And at the last:
queen of love, immortal fame attend