Legends -- France; Legends -- Germany; Legends -- Rhine River Valley
Kneeling down to receive his reward, he demanded the valuable
drinking-cups, whereupon with scornful and mocking words the lady who
was the leader of the band fixed on his breast the hump she had taken
from Friedel. Immediately the clock struck one, and all disappeared. The
poor man's rage was boundless, for he found himself now saddled with
two humps. He became an object of ridicule to the townsfolk, but Friedel
pitied him, and maintained him ever after.
The Legend of the Cathedral of Aix-la-Chapelle
In former times the zealous and devout inhabitants of Aix-la-Chapelle
determined to build a cathedral. For six months the clang of the hammer
and axe resounded with wonderful activity, but, alas! the money
which had been supplied by pious Christians for this holy work became
exhausted, the wages of the masons were perforce suspended, and with
them their desire to hew and hammer, for, after all, men must have money
wherewith to feed their families.
Thus the cathedral stood, half finished, resembling a falling ruin.
Moss, grass, and wild parsley flourished in the cracks of the walls,
screech-owls already discovered convenient places for their nests, and
amorous sparrows hopped lovingly about where holy priests should have
been teaching lessons of chastity.
The builders were confounded. They endeavoured to borrow here and there,
but no rich man could be induced to advance the large sum required. The
collections from house to house produced little, so that instead of the
much-wished-for golden coins nothing was found in the boxes but copper.
When the magistracy received this report they were out of humour, and
looked with desponding countenances toward the cathedral walls, as
fathers look upon the remains of favourite children.
At this moment a stranger of commanding figure and something of pride
in his voice and bearing entered the council chamber and exclaimed: "Bon
Dieu! it is said that you are out of spirits. Hem! if nothing but money
is wanting, you may console yourselves, gentlemen. I possess mines of
gold and silver, and both can and will most willingly supply you with a
ton of them."
The astounded magistrates sat like a row of pillars, measuring the
stranger from head to foot. The Burgomaster first found his tongue. "Who
are you, noble lord," said he, "that thus, entirely unknown, speak of
tons of gold as though they were sacks of beans? Tell us your name, your
rank in this world, and whether you are sent from the regions above to
assist us."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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