The Necromancer by Lorenz Flammenberg

The Necromancer

THE NECROMANCER
COMPRISING A SERIES OF
WONDERFUL EVENTS,
FOUNDED ON FACT,
Translated from a New German Work,
By T. DUTTON, Esq.

Blustering winds and chilling rain proclaimed the unwelcome approach of winter; yellow Autumn saw her leafy honours fall to the ground; loud roared the storm across the Elbe, whose ruffled waves curled to the boisterous breath of Æolus. No more the silent grove resounded with the voice of harmony and love. In hollow trees or moss-bemantled walls the feathered songsters sought shelter from the rude unfriendly blast. The raven alone, from some sequestered tower, mixed his hoarse notes with the hoarser cries of the ominous bird of night. Safe in his peaceful cot, the honest husbandman relaxed his wonted toils, and, whilst his well-fed fire defended him from the inclemency of the weather, enjoyed in sweet tranquillity the fruits of his former labour.

After a long-lamented absence of more than thirty years, Herrman had the satisfaction of welcoming his friend Cronheim to his house. Educated together from their infancy, they had early formed a mutual attachment, which gradually ripened into the sincerest friendship, and united their hearts by the most endearing ties; ties not less binding, not less sacred and invincible, than those of blood. Great, therefore, was the reluctance with which they parted from each other, after having completed their studies at the University of Gottingen. Herrman engaged himself as private tutor to a nobleman of distinction, with whom he made the tour of Europe, whilst Cronheim, being of a more gay and volatile disposition, sought his fortune in the wars.

The feeling heart alone can picture to itself the mutual pleasure and rapturous delights which our two friends experienced at embracing each other, after an absence of so many years. Time had not yet extinguished the fire of youth and the wonted impetuosity of Cronheim's temper. "Brother," cried he, giving his hand to his friend,—"Brother, let us forget the dull counsels of age; let us, whilst indulgent fortune still grants me to enjoy your company, live as in the former days that are passed; let us live as if the thirty years we have spent separated from each other had never been registered in the iron calendar of time."

Eagerly did Herrman assent to this proposal of his friend. His estate lay on the pleasant banks of the Elbe, and was, for situation, unrivalled. Woods, meadows, brooks, warrens, hills, and dales, relieving each other, incessantly diversified the scene; Nature had thrown the whole into such agreeable confusion and disorder, that it required very little improvement to render his abode the most delightful, picturesque, and romantic spot that can possibly be conceived. Cronheim, who, for hunting, was at least a second Nimrod, had here the fairest opportunity of gratifying his favourite passion; nor was Herrman a whit behind him in his pursuits. Pleasing was it to behold the youthful ardour with which our sturdy veterans, at peep of dawn, would bound over hill and dale, to chase the flying stag or bristled boar.

Already had a week elapsed in these delightful health-bestowing exercises: every morning was devoted to the chase; and when, spent and languid, they returned from the pleasing sport, a rural repast and good old Rhenish wine refreshed their weary limbs; nor was the bottle or the pipe laid aside till evening long had spread her sable mantle over the globe, and steeped their eyelids in the dews of sleep.

But now a change of weather put a stop to their sports. Loud, as we have already observed, loud roared the bleak tempestuous storm; the rattling hailstones beat violently against the windows, threatening destruction to these brittle channels of light. Herrman and Cronheim saw themselves obliged to relinquish the chase: in pleasing conversation they endeavoured to beguile the tedious hours, whilst they recapitulated the deeds of former times, and rehearsed the past adventures of youth. Evening approached, and found them still indulging the talkative disposition of age.