Memorials and Other Papers, vol 2 | Page 2

of the intense cold, persons of every rank were seen
crowding from an early hour to the city walls, and returning
homewards at intervals, with anxious and dissatisfied looks. Groups of
both sexes were collected at every corner of the wider streets, keenly
debating, or angrily protesting; at one time denouncing vengeance to
some great enemy; at another, passionately lamenting some past or
half-forgotten calamity, recalled to their thoughts whilst anticipating a
similar catastrophe for the present day.
Above all, the great square, upon which the ancient castellated palace
or schloss opened by one of its fronts, as well as a principal convent of
the city, was the resort of many turbulent spirits. Most of these were
young men, and amongst them many students of the university: for the
war, which had thinned or totally dispersed some of the greatest
universities in Germany, under the particular circumstances of its
situation, had greatly increased that of Klosterheim. Judging by the
tone which prevailed, and the random expressions which fell upon the
ear at intervals, a stranger might conjecture that it was no empty
lamentation over impending evils which occupied this crowd, but some
serious preparation for meeting or redressing them. An officer of some
distinction had been for some time observing them from the antique
portals of the palace. It was probable, however, that little more than
their gestures had reached him; for at length he moved nearer, and
gradually insinuated himself into the thickest part of the mob, with the
air of one who took no further concern in their proceedings than that of
simple curiosity. But his martial air and his dress allowed him no
means of covering his purpose. With more warning and leisure to
arrange his precautions, he might have passed as an indifferent
spectator; as it was, his jewel-hilted sabre, the massy gold chain,
depending in front from a costly button and loop which secured it half
way down his back, and his broad crimson scarf, embroidered in a style
of peculiar splendor, announced him as a favored officer of the
Landgrave, whose ambitious pretensions, and tyrannical mode of
supporting them, were just now the objects of general abhorrence in
Klosterheim. His own appearance did not belie the service which he
had adopted. He was a man of stout person, somewhat elegantly formed,
in age about three or four and thirty, though perhaps a year or two of

his apparent age might be charged upon the bronzing effects of sun and
wind. In bearing and carriage he announced to every eye the mixed
carelessness and self-possession of a military training; and as his
features were regular, and remarkably intelligent, he would have been
pronounced, on the whole, a man of winning exterior, were it not for
the repulsive effect of his eye, in which there was a sinister expression
of treachery, and at times a ferocious one of cruelty.
Placed upon their guard by his costume, and the severity of his
countenance, those of the lower rank were silent as he moved along, or
lowered their voices into whispers and inaudible murmurs. Amongst
the students, however, whenever they happened to muster strongly,
were many fiery young men, who disdained to temper the expression of
their feelings, or to moderate their tone. A large group of these at one
corner of the square drew attention upon themselves, as well by the
conspicuous station which they occupied upon the steps of a church
portico, as by the loudness of their voices. Towards them the officer
directed his steps; and probably no lover of scenes would have had very
long to wait for some explosion between parties both equally ready to
take offence, and careless of giving it; but at that moment, from an
opposite angle of the square, was seen approaching a young man in
plain clothes, who drew off the universal regard of the mob upon
himself, and by the uproar of welcome which saluted him occasioned
all other sounds to be stifled. "Long life to our noble
leader!"--"Welcome to the good Max!" resounded through the square.
"Hail to our noble brother!" was the acclamation of the students. And
everybody hastened forward to meet him with an impetuosity which for
the moment drew off all attention from the officer: he was left standing
by himself on the steps of the church, looking down upon this scene of
joyous welcome-- the sole spectator who neither fully understood its
meaning, nor shared in its feelings.
The stranger, who wore in part the antique costume of the university of
Klosterheim, except where he still retained underneath a travelling
dress, stained with recent marks of the roads and the weather, advanced
amongst his friends with an air at once frank, kind, and dignified. He
replied to their greetings in the language of