Izolda : a Magyar romance

Preface

The greater number of those who peruse the following pages will doubtless suspect the author of no higher motive than to weave a pleasing tale, which would serve to while away a few leisure hours for the reader ; and perhaps success to a questionable extent in that regard is the utmost he has attained. But he has hopes that at least a few of the more thoughtfully inclined may here find food for reflection, and may, in the social and economic condition of the Hungarian peasantry of the sixteenth century, which he has attempted to portray, and in the disturbances such conditions gave rise to, find some points of similarity to the questions which agitate the public mind in the EngHsh speaking countries of the world, even now.

The political oligarchy with all its attendant evils and abuses, is fortunately no longer to be feared in this enlightened age ; though the death throes of the Boer system in South Africa, scarcely yet ceased, warn us that the gulf between the centuries of the past and the present is neither so great nor so fixed as we generally believe. But a financial oligarchy would prove just as hateful as the political. Yea, even more so, since political emancipation, with the educational, intellectual and religious liberty which follow in its train, renders man the more sensitive to izolda.

oppression of whatever nature. That there is in the Enghsh speaking world, at this dawning of the twentieth century, danger along this line, many will be found to affirm, and some— not a few — to declare that the evil is already established in our midst.

That any such outbreak of terrorism, amid blood, fire and fiendish horrors, as distracted Hungary during the Peasant uprising, were possible in our highly civilized communities, most of us would unhesitatingly deny. Yet must we not upon more mature reflection admit that on more than one occasion of recent date when organized labor, in its attempts to right real or fancied wrongs, has been brought into conflict with organized capital, overt acts have been committed by some firebrands, which have brought us unpleasantly near to flagrant anarchy : so close indeed that we have started back appalled and shuddering at the glimpse afforded us into the leering countenance of that hideous demon?

The writer, however, makes no claim of having discovered any panacea for such an evil : indeed, he doubts if any — other than as it rests upon a closer appHcation of the Golden Rule by mankind in general, — can be found. He therefore refrains from moralizing, but leaves what he has written to the indulgence of his readers.

J. W. F.

London, Canada. ^

Contents

CHAPTER. PAGE.

Prologue 7

I. The Tzigana's Warning 28

Prologue

as the Garden of Eden come again in its magnificence. Oft as the fair Izolda paced the shore and gazed across the waters, did she hear the sounds of Hght revel and see the gay courtiers in their rich attire and on prancing steeds come and go, and withal seemingly as light-hearted and joyous as though no shadow of care or sorrow ever dared to intrude within the gates of that favored place ; and often as the cavalcades moved out did she gaze and try to catch a view of Corvinus — that mighty and strong king, whose praises were in the mouths of all men — but never did she seem to gain her desire. Sometimes, at night the myriads of lights, which shone and danced about the tall towers of that high citadel, and were reflected again in the dark waters far down at the foot of the steep hill upon which the castle raised its proud head, while sweet strains of music mellowed by the distance fell upon the ear, made it seem almost as if there indeed was perched some phantom abode, a garden in the clouds not meet for sinful man to enter in. For those were the days of our Hungary's pride, when the grandeur of the court of the wearer of St. Stephen's triple crown was the wonder and envy of all Christendom ; and many came from far for no greater purpose than to see if the stories told of greatness and splendor could indeed be true.

''As the wilful maid walked daily in the view of such scenes she grew to live in a world of her own creation, peopled by kings, knights, gay courtiers and grand dames, and came to think almost, that she herself was some high princess ; and this made her still lO

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more harsh to the many suitors, who continued to sue for her heart and hand. To her father also, who had ever been her slave, she was more imperious than wont, until the poor man wondered what ailed his child, and feared that she was ill.

Of a sudden this all changed. One evening as she walked beside the water, just as the bright, red sun was hiding his broad face behind the heights of the Bakonyer Wald, even as it does at this moment, and steeping in mellow light the lovely plains, (all unnoticed, for the maid was lost in one of her bright dreams and gazing fixedly upon the highest tower of the rocky fortress, while pleasing phantoms chased each other across her mental vision) a single cavalier, quite unattended stepped lightly down the bank beneath the castle walls, and finding there a boat, entered and with firm strokes came quickly across the river and pushed his prow upon the shore, ere the maid was conscious of his coming. As h*e sprang lightly up the bank, however, she quickly recalled her gaze, and quite startled by his sudden appearance made as though she would flee; but he, dofifing his cap with courtly grace, beseeched in soft tones that she tarry and fear not, since he was in truth a friend. Izolda was again her natural self — the coy and sweetly demure child of Nickolas — and answered simply to the questions put her by this stranger knight, as to the occupants of her father's villa, which it seemed he had marked from the farther side.

" The stranger seemed but simple knight, yet was he a man such aa maidens love to look upon. Not

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over middle height, but broad chested, strong armed, as one to whom to wield the sword and heavy battle-axe were but as child's play. A princely head, poised between his massive shoulders, with keen, flashing eyes which seemed to see into the inmost thoughts. An almost gentle voice which spoke in tones which soothed and made one feel as though he could listen always, even when it was raised in louder key and spoke in accents of mastery, with intent to bend men's minds to his, and brook of no dispute. The maid had now no wish to flee, but stayed and listened to his talk and herself answered — of what she scarcely knew — till he, — hearing some sound from Visegrad, the purport of which he seemed to know, — bade her farewell and stepping again into his boat returned as he had come.

^'Another night as Izolda walked in the garden, he came again and tarried long time to talk with her, and soon he came again and still again, until she had come to feel him not a stranger, but one to whom she could talk freely ; and as he seemed to know all things about whatsoever she chose to speak, she asked him many eager questions, but most oft about the Hfe within those great walls around the frowning keep of Visegrad. He, answering well, told much of courtly scenes and noble jousts and knightly tournaments, himself the while finding deep pleasure in watching the eagerness with which she drank in all his words, and how the color mounted to her cheeks and brow, vvhen he spoke of noble deeds of arms and skill as done within the lists before the king, when

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some great feast and show was made to impress the mind of the ambassador of foreign state. So much was she entranced in Hstening to the things he had to tell in answer to her questions, that it never came to her to ask why he had first come across the stream, and come again ; and soon she came to look for his coming as surely as the setting sun touched the far off hills with his fiery disc and bathed the peaceful land in ruddy glow^ — and seldom was it, all that summer long, that she had to look in vain.

"And so the days and wrecks passed quickly by in great delight to Izolda. Each even the knight would have much to entertain her with, while he described the scene when the envoy of some mighty potentate was brought into the presence of king Matthias^ — (for the knight it seemed did hold some office which kept him much near the person of the sovereign, and knew all of any moment that happened in the castle, or indeed at any place within the realm) ; and when at times an evening came when the maiden's wistful looks across the wave passed unrewarded, he had explained when next they met that business for the king of much import had kept him away. It was at times a sight to see him laugh, as he described the startled looks and mute amazement of some of these lords, who had travelled much and visited strange lands and mighty princes, yet, when they came before our Hungary's king, the rickness and the grandeur they saw there, surpassed all else which they had seen. One indeed (in reporting to his sovereign) had said that this Visegrad was in truth an earthly para-

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dise. Once he described to her the mighty train, which was at dawn to set forth to bear communication from the king to the Court of Naples, — hundreds of prancing steeds, mounted by youthful knights, the flower of chivalry and of grace, with rich trappings and harnessings ablaze with precious stones, while their riders were clothed in rich and costly raiment as many colored as the rainbow; the splendor of the whole suite far outshone any such array since the days of the great Solomon. He was not soon tired of telling of all this pomp and grand display, and the maiden listening gloried in it too.

'And the King,' quoth she, 'Is he not a grand and goodly man, fair to the eye, one whom you love to look -upon, yet tremble at his word ? I think the great King Corvinus must be such, for many are the tales the peasants tell of his wondrous deeds, of his mighty strength with arms, and yet how that he is kind and filled with tenderness toward the weak and sufifering ones.^

'' 'In that I scarce can prompt you,' laughingly retorts the knight. 'I myself have found him much as other men : at times most fair and gentle, yet at others not so fair of word or deed, and as for looks, is to the eye much such another one as I.'

"At this the maiden was covered with confusion and blushed rosy red, for in her heart she was fain to think that, if her sovereign was even such another as this knight, — then was he perforce both great and noble, full of kingly grace and one most fair to look upon.

Izolda.

II

''One eve, when the knight came not, the great castle appeared all one mass of light which blazed with steady glory all night long and only paled when the morning sun shone forth again. And all that day from early dawn, throngs of gay troopers, courtiers and fair ladies rode to and fro, while later in the day there came the blare of trumpets ringing loud across the water, and at one time toward even, a mighty shout went up which seemed to cleave the vault of heaven. All this and more Izolda saw and heard from her own bower in the garden. Her father had in truth told her (who knew so well already), of the noble tournay, v/hich on that day was to be at Visegrad and to which the knights were gathering from throughout the land, also that some famous warriors were come from far countries : and he had wished for her to go with him to see this brave show, as were all the populace from near and far. But she, who at one time would gladly hurry to all such play, now the rather remained at home, knowing full well that when the even came, or in short space, she would hear of all from the lips of brave Sir Matthias (for he did bear ^,he same good name as Hungary's king) ; and the hearing of any tale from those lips was now to her more pleasure than the seeing for herself.

"That night he came not near, but on the next the boatman, as was his wont, pushed off from 'neath the walls of Visegrad, and soon with Izolda paced the farther shore, while she listened to the full concern-

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ing the brilliance and the richness of the spectacle : and her eyes flashed and her breath came quickly as she drank in his talk of the many brave deeds of arms, which had been done that day. To her questioning as to the cause of that great shout which still seemed ringing in her ears, the knight made answer that the king in person had chosen to meet within the lists a great warrior from North Germany, who had appeared invincible, and had proven himself the champion of the day, and the sound she had heard was the pean of triumph which had arisen from the vast throng of spectators when the giant was hurled head-' long from his saddle by the prowess of their sovereign.

'But you yourself are wearied as though shaken in some onslaught,' cried Izolda, unable to quite conceal the anxiety which she felt as she noticed that the knight moved more stiffly than was his wont.

" 'Oh!/tis nothing,' he said jestingly, 'I also had to have my jostle with the German's bulk, and to-day can well remember it. The king himself, although he proved victorious, was not without a few bruises for his pains. But, it were well worth while to have jostled with a dozen Teuton foes, to see that look of pained concern in your sweet face, my Izolda.' Here he paused a space, then added earnestly, scanning her flushed face most ardently the while :

'Now tell me, dear one ; does not my heart beat true when it tells me that she who is the fairest maid in all Hungary, does love unworthy me? And does not your own heart tell you, sweet one, that 'twas for

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love of you that I first did come across the Danube and have come hither almost nightly since ? ' The girl looked down in silence all trembling for a time, then raising up her head she faced him firmly and thus spake :

' Your heart tells you no falsehood, Sir Matthias, and I hold it no shame to tell you plainly that my heart doth beat in unison with yours. Were you to step into yon boat and row away in anger, the light would fade from out my life forever. But I must not forget my low estate and your exalted station. Wrong, wrong, have I been to meet you thus from eve to eve; but I paused not to think what way the stream was leading, for blind was I to all save the pleasure of the hour, and now must I take up the burden of my folly. Depart, Sir Knight. Choose some fair bride of thine own estate, and forget that Izolda Gerhard doth live.'

'Not so, not so !' protested Sir Matthias with that commanding air of his which seemed ever to bring him the mastery in dispute. 'It shall not be thus! i cannot have it so ! Not so easily will I give you up and seizing her in his arms he covered her face with caresses, then adding:

' You are as fair and graceful as any of those of nobler line and could well perform with all stateliness the duties of a high estate. You shall not say me no.'

Sighing the maid made answer: " ' It must be so ; for I am nought but a simple peasant maid and such I must remain. The wild flower of the fields would not look well beside the

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stately plants in lordly bower. There I would but droop and fade and fear ever that my lord was secretly ashamed of me, though always he might loyally speak me fair.'

" 'No, no !' again the knight rejoined.

" 'It must be,' firmly spake the maid.

^'Much more in this same strain they argued, until at length Sir Matthias broke forth :

'Well, let be as you will, and why not ? Hear me now, sweet Izolda. If indeed you will not come to grace a diflferent scene, will you not be my own 'Xove's bride" while still living on in this favored spot ? I must in truth be much at Visegrad, but I will surely come each night across to keep my tryst with you. We will enrich this bower and make it even such a paradise on earth as is Visegrad, for I am not poor and can command all the joys that riches give. I will be true to you, and though I must oft be absent with the court at Buda and at other castles, yet will I always return to you, and we will make this spot sacred to our joys which shall continue on while life shall last. Here, too, shall our declining hours be spent, when the race of life is run, and as long as breath fails not ; I swear I shall be true to you.'

''Not easily did the maid agree, but eve after eve did the knight with passion press his suit, until at length wearied with the argument and also feeling in her heart that if she forced her lover from her, she would likewise force the life from out her body, sweet Izolda gave consent, and henceforth the seemingly quiet stream of life flowed on serenely. As before 2

Izolda.

she looked each eve across the flood to see her lover coming in his boat, and her heart would sing within her as she marked him push out from the farther shore to keep his tryst with her — his 'well-beloved' — his 'heart's true mate' — as he was wont to call her. And if perchance the gentle maiden in her quiet hours had aught of doubts as to the wisdom of this course, she quickly made the unwelcome thoughts to flee by calling up to her assistance, other thoughts more joyful, full of the goodness of her mate, the fervor of his love, his gallantry, his grace of carriage and the wondrous gentleness which he, so strong, yet seemed all naturally to adopt with her. Many hours also did she spend in the glad contemplation of the many precious gems and jewels of strange and cunning workmanship, which her lord, despite her protests, did press upon her. This or that rich stone had, he would tell her, been brought to the court by the Am- ])assador of the Turkish Sultan, the envoy of the French king or other great potentate. The king himself cared little for such baubles, save that they served his purpose in decking out his own ambassadors to some foreign court, and in this wise these had come into the hands of the knight Matthias, who slood high in favor with his sovereign.

''Those bright and blissful days moved on apace, and Izolda ever seemed to walk on air and tripped about as light of foot as the startled fawn, which flees affrighted from the hunter's face. But all things end, and the joyous always more quickly than the sober da}s of life — at least it so doth seem. One

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night when her lover came he was graver than was his wont, though he strove to laugh and sport with her and be as gay as ever while they w^alked and talked in close embrace about that little bower where shrub, plant and budding flower made the air redolent with their sweet perfume. She, with that quick sympathy which all women feel with those they love, soon knew that he was troubled, and in sudden dread cried out to know his trial. He smiled to note that all her thought seemed to be lest some great evil had befallen him, and hastened to quiet her fears. No real evil had arisen, yet had he that to tell which he fain would leave untold as he knew full well 'twould cause her grief. In short — the king had that very day decided that in three days' time the court must be removed to Buda ; for though the monarch ever loved to linger at Visegrad, yet had he at this time stayed far beyond his wont, till all the gallants and the ladies were becoming weary for a change, and grumbled as openly as they dared at the prolonged dalliance of their liege. All save Sir Matthias, who was well content to linger and would indeed have it that the Royal court abide for all time in this, now to him, choicest spot in all the earth — for did it not hold that which in his eyes was the most priceless Jew^el of all God's universe ? But go he must, for though he himself would be well content to sacrifice all future honors and distinctions that might come to him at court, for the privilege of remaining always in this their earthly paradise with his gentle Izolda, the king forbade and would in noways brook that he should absent himself

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from his daily tasks, as one in closest companionship with his liege lord.

'The king-/ he said, 'is of the mind that our fair Hungary hath need of my poor services, and therefore it behooves us not to rebel and hold our private joys as of greater import than our country's good.'

''The maid was grieved at heart to hear of this, yet strove to show brave front before her lover ; because, dear soul, she thought that did he see her grieved, 'twould cause him greater pain. So, though her heart sank as a stone within her and she felt a fear of she knew not what, to him she appeared to listen hopefully as he, in effort now to cheer them both, spoke of the shortness of the time they would be asunder, and how he knew that the court would surely move hither again quite early in the spring; for he would do his utmost to augment the sovereign's already strong desire to spend much time in sojourning at this his favorite castle.

"Three days pass quickly by, and so at length fair Izolda stood upon the brink of Danube wrapt in one last long embrace of her heart's love, ere he stepped into his skiff to leave her.

" 'Dear lover,' did she say in parting, 'for thy sweet sake have I striven to be joyful, and not over sad at this farewell ; yet can I not o'ercome a feeling that this will after all prove our last embrace, and that when next you turn your prow in this direction you may seek in vain for your Izolda. It may be but a passing shadow, and I am foolish to burden you with it, my sweet one. Yet, if my fear come true, know

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this that my heart is Hnked with bands of steel to this scene of all our joys, and if I be not here in the body to welcome thee, still will my spirit refuse to be torn away from Visegrad. So, heart's love, here will you find me on your return whether in life or seeming death, I know not.' And with these words ringing in his ears, Sir Matthias departed.

IIL

*'After joy comcth sorrow; though we oft deceive ourselves and would fain believe that 'tis the joy that follows sorrow. It matters little, for both we have, and though the joy may be fleeting, yet of the sorrow and to the full we shall all taste of a surety. So having had her joy, now Izolda had her sorrow ; though why it should be called sorrow is perhaps not easy of understanding, since it was none, save that the joy was no longer hers. For thus do weak beings so oft torture themselves unreasonably — the sorrows of many are but the absence of joy, while other deluded folk find their joy in the mere absence of sorrow. It may be, perhaps, that they are joys or sorrows, just as we choose to make them. Be that as it may, the maiden soon commenced to droop and fade, and her father, the good Nickolas, became quite concerned; but to all his inquiries and efforts to rouse her she had little to reply, save that she was quite as usual and he need have no anxiety for her welfare. He, poor man, was forced to content himself with watching in silence, and doing that which

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he conceived to be most pleasing to his child, and the most fitted to give her enjoyment ; yet was it seldom that he was rewarded by seeing the old gleam of mischief in her eyes, or hearing the gay laughter filling the now quiet house. He would have left the place, but to all word of that she made such vigorous protest that he gave up the plan and spoke of it no more.

"And so the wtary weeks and months passed slowly by, until one day Nickolas, returning from the village and speaking of what he had there seen and heard — as was his wont in striving to interest her wdiose life he himself lived but to gladden — said :

'I found all astir and eager among the people to-day ; for 'tis reported that King Corvinus does move his court hither to Visegrad ere long, and has sent his commands to hasten on the preparations for their housing.'

''The red flush mounted to the pale cheek of the fair maid at this, and she was quickly all attention.

'Surely, 'tis much earlier than the king doth usually come, father?' she questioned; and he well pleased that she should at last show interest in aught that he spake of, gladly poured out all that he had heard.

' 'Tis full a month earlier than the court came last year, and the people talk that its splendor will be far beyond what any former year hath seen. Already a:re many workmen at the castle in great haste to repair and alter to the king's pleasure, while many more are now on the w^ay and are coming in almost

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every hour. Some are cunning artificers that have been brought from different lands, who are to prove their skill in decorating and in devising new beauties to enhance the pleasures of the favorites of the sovereign/

"The maiden now listened eagerly, and w^as each day ready to hear all that her father chose to tell : how wondrous changes were being made in the old castle in readiness for the gay revels so soon to waken their small world again. Soon came the day when the sovereign was expected, and Nickolas, encouraged by his daughter's show of interest, made bold to plead that she set out with him beyond the Danube, to see the gay cavalcade as it journeyed to the castle. To this Izolda gladly gave consent, and together they sped across the flood and finding good position, waited for the coming of the monarch and wearied not, though 'twas high noon before a great shout went up from the waiting throng, and many commenced to call down blessings upon their well-beloved King Corvinus ; he who had made Hungary's name respected throughout the nations of the earth.

"Izolda gazed all eagerly at the gay company, which with nodding plumes, glittering apparel and shining arms rode slowly through the acclaiming populace. She, however, directed not a glance at the hionarch, but the rather searched closely the faces of those wdio pressed about him, fondly hoping to catch an early smile from the monarch of her heart ; but she looked and looked in vain, until at length her heart grew sad within her and she began to be

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filled with grave forebodings of what might have befallen him since they had parted. At length, sick at heart, she was fain to confess, though all unwillingly, that he was not of that company, so turned her gaze, listlessly enough, upon the sovereign who now rode close beside her and whom never 3^et had she seen, though he was so much at Visegrad. Truly a brave picture did he make, this soldier king. Not over tall, but broad-shouldered and deep chested, with mighty arms that had long ere this served more than 'prenticeship in wielding heavy sword and battle-axe in Hungary's quarrels. The gay trappings of his prancing charger and the rich apparel of the rider made pleasing center to the sparkling cavalcade. This much Izolda marked and then, as her eyes sought his face and met the admiring glance which he at that moment bent upon her, she reeled in sudden weakness, and as the throng closed in, fell back as lifeless in her father's arms. In that moment she had felt her doom was sealed ; for in that princely rider she had recognized her lover, and was filled with terror as she knew her ^heart's mate' was her king,