The Burgomaster's Wife — Complete

by Georg Ebers

  CHAPTER XIV.

  Maria had not mounted the stairs so joyously for weeks as she didto-day. She would have sung, had it been seemly, though she felt alittle anxious; for perhaps her husband would not think she had doneright to invite, on her own authority, a stranger, especially a sickstranger, who was a friend of Spain, to be their guest.

  As she passed the dining-room, she heard the gentlemen consultingtogether. Then Peter began to speak. She noticed the pleasant depth ofhis voice, and said to herself that Henrica would like to hear it. A fewminutes after she entered the apartment, to greet her husband's guests,who were also hers. Joyous excitement and the rapid walk through the airof the May evening, which, though the day had been warm, was still cool,had flushed her cheeks and, as she modestly crossed the threshold witha respectful greeting, which nevertheless plainly revealed the pleasureafforded by the visit of such guests, she looked so winning and lovely,that not a single person present remained unmoved by the sight. Theolder Herr Van der Does clapped Peter on the shoulder and then struckthe palm of his hand with his fist, as if to say: "I won't questionthat!" Janus Dousa whispered gaily to Van Hout, who was a good Latinscholar:

  "Oculi sunt in amore duces."

  Captain Allertssohn started up and raised his hand to his hat witha military salute; Van Bronkhorst, the Prince's Commissioner, gaveexpression to his feelings in a courtly bow, Doctor Bontius smiledcontentedly, like a person who has successfully accomplished a hazardousenterprise, and Peter proudly and happily strove to attract his wife'sattention to himself. But this was not to be, for as soon as Mariaperceived that she was the mark for so many glances, she lowered hereyes with a deep blush, and then said far more firmly than would havebeen expected from her timid manner:

  "Welcome, gentlemen! My greeting comes late, but I would have gladlyoffered it earlier."

  "I can bear witness to that," cried Doctor Bontius, rising and shakinghands with Maria more cordially than ever before. Then he motionedtowards Peter, and exclaimed to the assembled guests: "Will you excusethe burgomaster for a moment?"

  As soon as he stood apart with the husband and wife at the door, hebegan:

  "You have invited a new visitor to the house, Frau Van der Werff; Iwon't drink another drop of Malmsey, if I'm mistaken."

  "How do you know?" asked Maria gaily. "I see it in your face."

  "And the young lady shall be cordially welcome to me," added Peter.

  "Then you know?" asked Maria.

  "The doctor did not conceal his conjecture from me."

  "Why yes, the sick girl will be glad to come to us, and to-morrow--"

  "No, I'll send for her to-day," interrupted Peter. "To-day? But dearme! It's so late; perhaps she is asleep, the gentlemen are here, and ourspare bed--" exclaimed Maria, glancing disapprovingly and irresolutelyfrom the physician to her husband.

  "Calm yourself; child," replied Peter. "The doctor has ordered a coveredlitter from St. Catharine's hospital, Jan and one of the city-guard willcarry her, and Barbara has nothing more to do in the kitchen and is nowpreparing her own chamber for her."

  "And," chimed in the physician, "perhaps the sick girl may find sleephere. Besides, it will be far more agreeable to her pride to be carriedthrough the streets unseen, under cover of the darkness."

  "Yes, yes," said Maria sadly, "that may be so; but I had beenthinking--People ought not to do anything too hastily."

  "Will you be glad to receive the young lady as a guest?" asked Peter.

  "Why, certainly."

  "Then we won't do things by halves, but show her all the kindness in ourpower. There is Barbara beckoning; the litter has come, Doctor. Guidethe nocturnal procession in God's name, but don't keep us waiting toolong."

  The burgomaster returned to his seat, and Bontius left the room.

  Maria followed him. In the entry, he laid his hand on her arm and asked:

  "Will you know next time, what I expect from you?"

  "No," replied the burgomaster's wife, in a tone which sounded gay,though it revealed the disappointment she felt; "no--but you havetaught me that you are a man who understands how to spoil one's bestpleasures."

  "I will procure you others," replied the doctor laughing and descendedthe stairs. He was Peter's oldest friend, and had made many objectionsto the burgomaster's marriage with a girl so many years his junior, inthese evil times, but to-day he showed himself satisfied with Van derWerff's choice.

  Maria returned to the guests, filled and offered glasses of wine tothe gentlemen, and then went to her sister-in-law's room, to help herprepare everything for the sick girl as well as possible. She did not doso unwillingly, but it seemed as if she would have gone to the work withfar greater pleasure early the next morning.

  Barbara's spacious chamber looked out upon the court-yard. No soundcould be heard there of the conversation going on between the gentlemenin the dining-room, yet it was by no means quiet among these men who,though animated by the same purpose, differed widely about the ways andmeans of bringing it to a successful issue.

  There they sat, the brave sons of a little nation, the stately leadersof a small community, poor in numbers and means of defence, which hadundertaken to bid defiance to the mightiest power and finest armies ofits age. They knew that the storm-clouds, which had been threatening forweeks on the horizon, would rise faster and faster, mass together,and burst in a furious tempest over Leyden, for Herr Van der Werff hadsummoned them to his house because a letter addressed to himself andCommissioner Van Bronkhorst by the Prince, contained tidings, that theGovernor of King Philip of Spain had ordered Senor del Campo Valdezto besiege Leyden a second time and reduce it to subjection. They wereaware, that William of Orange could not raise an army to divert thehostile troops from their aim or relieve the city before the lapse ofseveral months; they had experienced how little aid was to be expectedfrom the Queen of England and the Protestant Princes of Germany, whilethe horrible fate of Haarlem, a neighboring and more powerful city,rose as a menacing example before their eyes. But they were conscious ofserving a good cause, relied upon the faith, courage and statesmanshipof Orange, were ready to die rather than allow themselves to be enslavedbody and soul by the Spanish tyrant. Their belief in God's justice wasdeep and earnest, and each individual possessed a joyous confidence inhis own resolute, manly strength.

  In truth, the men who sat around the table, so daintily decked withflowers by a woman's hand, understood how to empty the large flutedgoblets so nimbly, that jug after jug of Peter's Malmsey and Rhine winewere brought up from the cellar, the men who made breaches in the roundpies and huge joints of meat, juicier and more nourishing than anycountry except theirs can furnish--did not look as if pallid fear hadbrought them together.

  The hat is the sign of liberty, and the free man keeps his hat on. Sosome of the burgomaster's guests sat at the board with covered heads,and how admirably the high plaited cap of dark-red velvet, with its richornaments of plumes, suited the fresh old face of the senior Seigneur ofNordwyk and the clever countenance of his nephew Janus Dousa; how wellthe broad-brimmed hat with blue and orange ostrich-feathers--the colorsof the House of Orange--became the waving locks of the young Seigneurof Warmond, Jan Van Duivenvoorde. How strongly marked and healthful werethe faces of the other men assembled here! Few countenances lacked ruddycolor, and strong vitality, clear intellect, immovable will and firmresolution flashed from many blue eyes around the table. Even theblack-robed magistrates, whose plaited ruffs and high white collarswere very becoming, did not look as if the dust of documents had injuredtheir health. The moustaches and beards on the lips of each, gave themalso a manly appearance. They were all joyously ready to sacrificethemselves and their property for a great spiritual prize, yet looked asif they had a firm foothold in the midst of life; their hale, sensiblefaces showed no traces of enthusiasm; only the young Seigneur ofWarmond's eyes sparkled with a touch of this feeling, while JanusDousa's glance often seemed turned within, to seek things hidden inhis own heart; and at such moments his sharply-cu
t, irregular featurespossessed a strange charm.

  The broad, stout figure of Commissioner Van Bronkhorst occupied agreat deal of room. His body was by no means agile, but from theround, closely shaven head looked forth a pair of prominent eyes, thatexpressed unyielding resolution.

  The brightly-lighted table, around which such guests had gathered,presented a gay, magnificent spectacle. The yellow leather of thedoublets worn by Junker von Warmond, Colonel Mulder, and CaptainAllertssohn, the colored silk scarfs that adorned them, and the scarletcoat of brave Dirk Smaling contrasted admirably with the deep blackrobes of Pastor Verstroot, the burgomaster, the city clerk, and theirassociates! The violet of the commissioner's dress and the dark hues ofthe fur-bordered surcoats worn by the elder Herr Van der Does andHerr Van Montfort blended pleasantly and harmonized the light and darkshades. Everything sorrowful seemed to have been banished far fromthis brilliant, vigorous round table, so words flowed freely and voicessounded full and strong enough.

  Danger was close at hand. The Spanish vanguard might appear beforeLeyden any day. Many preparations were made. English auxiliaries wereto garrison the fortifications of Alfen and defend the Gouda lock. Thedefensive works of Valkenburg had been strengthened and entrusted toother British troops, the city soldiers, the militia and volunteers wereadmirably drilled. They did not wish to admit foreign troops within thewalls, for during the first siege they had proved far more troublesomethan useful, and there was little reason to fear that a city guarded bywater, walls and trees would be taken by storm.

  What most excited the gentlemen was the news Van Hout had brought. RichHerr Baersdorp, one of the four burgomasters, who had the largest grainbusiness in Leyden, had undertaken to purchase considerable quantitiesof bread-stuffs in the name of the city. Several ship loads of wheatand rye had been delivered by him the day before, but he was still inarrears with three-quarters of what was ordered. He openly said thathe had as yet given no positive orders for it, because owing to theprospect of a good harvest, a fall in the price of grain was expectedin the exchanges of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, and he would still haveseveral weeks time before the commencement of the new blockade.

  Van Hout was full of indignation, especially as two out of the fourburgomasters sided with their colleague Baersdorp.

  The elder Herr von Nordwyk agreed with him, exclaiming:

  "With all due respect to your dignity, Herr Peter, your three companionsin office belong to the ranks of bad friends, who would willingly beexchanged for open enemies."

  "Herr von Noyelles," said Colonel Mulder, "has written about them to thePrince, the good and truthful words, that they ought to be sent to thegallows."

  "And they will suit them," cried Captain Allertssohn, "so long ashangmen's nooses and traitors' necks are made for each other."

  "Traitors--no," said Van der Werff resolutely. "Call them cowards, callthem selfish and base-minded--but not one of them is a Judas."

  "Right, Meister Peter, that they certainly are not, and perhaps evencowardice has nothing to do with their conduct," added Herr von Nordwyk."Whoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, knows the views of thegentlemen belonging to the old city families, who are reared frominfancy as future magistrates; and I speak not only of Leyden, but theresidents of Gouda and Delft, Rotterdam and Dortrecht. Among a hundred,sixty would bear the Spanish yoke, even do violence to conscience, ifonly their liberties and rights were guaranteed. The cities must ruleand they themselves in them; that is all they desire. Whether peoplepreach sermons or read mass in the church, whether a Spaniard or aHollander rules, is a matter of secondary importance to them. I exceptthe present company, for you would not be here, gentlemen, if your viewswere similar to those of the men of whom I speak."

  "Thanks for those words," said Dirk Smaling, "but with all due honor toyour opinion, you have painted matters in too dark colors. May I ask ifthe nobles do not also cling to their rights and liberties?"

  "Certainly, Herr Dirk; but they are commonly of longer date than yours,"replied Van Bronkhorst. "The nobleman needs a ruler. He is a lustrelessstar, if the sun that lends him light is lacking. I, and with me all thenobles who have sworn fealty to him, now believe that our sun mustand can be no other person than the Prince of Orange, who is one ofourselves, knows, loves, and understands us; not Philip, who has nocomprehension of what is passing within and around us, is a foreignerand detests us. We will uphold William with our fortunes and our livesfor, as I have already said, we need a sun, that is, a monarch--but thecities think they have power to shine and wish to be admired as brightstars themselves. True, they feel that, in these troublous times, thecountry needs a leader, and that they can find no better, wiser and morefaithful one than Orange; but if it comes to pass--and may God grantit--that the Spanish yoke is broken, the noble William's rule will seemwearisome, because they enjoy playing sovereign themselves. In short:the cities endure a ruler, the nobles gather round him and need him.No real good will be accomplished until noble, burgher and peasantcheerfully yield to him, and unite to battle under his leadership forthe highest blessings of life."

  "Right," said Van flout. "The well-disposed nobility may well serve asan example to the governing classes here and in the other cities, butthe people, the poor hard-working people, know what is coming and,thank God, have not yet lost a hearty love for what you call the highestblessings of life. They wish to be and remain Hollanders, curse theSpanish butchers with eloquent hatred, desire to serve God accordingto the yearning of their own souls, and believe what their own heartsdictate-and these men call the Prince their Father William. Wait alittle! As soon as trouble oppresses us, the poor and lowly will standfirm, if the rich and great waver and deny the good cause."

  "They are to be trusted," said Van der Werff, "firmly trusted."

  "And because I know them," cried Van Hout, "we shall conquer, with God'sassistance, come what may." Janus Dousa had been looking into his glass.Now he raised his head and with a hasty gesture, said:

  "Strange that those who toil for existence with their hands, and whoseuncultured brains only move when their daily needs require it, are mostready to sacrifice the little they possess, for spiritual blessings."

  "Yes," said the pastor, "the kingdom of heaven stands open to thesimple-hearted. It is strange that the poor and unlearned valuereligion, liberty and their native land far more than the perishablegifts of this world, the golden calf around which the generationsthrong."

  "My companions are not flattered to-day," replied Dirk Smaling; "butI beg you to remember in our favor, that we are playing a great anddangerous game, and property-holders must supply the lion's share of thestake."

  "By no means," retorted Van Hout, "the highest stake for which the diewill be cast is life, and this has the same value to rich and poor.Those who will hold back--I think I know them--have no plain motto orsign, but a proud escutcheon over their doors. Let us wait."

  "Yes, let us wait," said Van der Werff; "but there are more importantmatters to be considered now. Day after to-morrow will be AscensionDay, when the bells will ring for the great fair. More than one foreigntrader and traveller has passed through the gates yesterday and theday before. Shall we order the booths to be set up, or have the fairdeferred until some other time? If the enemy hastens his march, therewill be great confusion, and we shall perhaps throw a rich prize intohis hands. Pray give me your opinion, gentlemen."

  "The traders ought to be protected from loss and the fair postponed,"said Dirk Smaling.

  "No," replied Van Hout, "for if this prohibition is issued, we shalldeprive the small merchants of considerable profit and prematurely damptheir courage."

  "Let them have their festival," cried Janus Dousa. "We mustn't do comingtrouble the favor of spoiling the happy present on its account. If youwant to act wisely, follow the advice of Horace."

  "The Bible also teaches that 'sufficient unto the day is the evilthereof,'" added the pastor, and Captain Allertssohn exclaimed:

  "On my life, yes! My soldiers, the city-guard a
nd volunteers must havetheir parade. Marching in full uniform, with all their weapons, whilebeautiful eyes smile upon them, the old wave greetings, and children runbefore with exultant shouts, a man learns to feel himself a soldier forthe first time."

  So it was determined to let the fair be held. While other questions werebeing eagerly discussed, Henrica found a loving welcome in Barbara'spleasant room. When she had fallen asleep, Maria went back to herguests, but did not again approach the table; for the gentlemen's cheekswere flushed and they were no longer speaking in regular order, but eachwas talking about whatever he chose. The burgomaster was discussing withVan Hout and Van Bronkhorst the means of procuring a supply of grain forthe city, Janus Dousa and Herr von Warmond were speaking of the poem thecity clerk had repeated at the last meeting of the poets' club, Herr Vander Does senior and the pastor were arguing about the new rules ofthe church, and stout Captain Allertssohn, before whom stood a hugedrinking-horn drained to the dregs, had leaned his forehead on ColonelMulder's shoulder and, as usual when he felt particularly happy over hiswine, was shedding tears.