The summit of the wall is gain'd
All in the silent night,
And now the fortress is attain'd!
We do not fear the light.
Now, let us sound the battle cry,
And be it "Death or victory!"
SCHILLER.

Duke Ulerich appeared before the gate of Stuttgardt, called the Red
Hill Gate, on the night previous to the holiday of the Assumption of
the Virgin Mary. Having captured the little town of Leonberg on his
way, he prosecuted his march on the capital without further
interruption. The news of his being in the country spread through the
land like wild-fire, and judging by the numbers that joined his
colours, as well as by the joy with which he was everywhere received,
he had reason to suppose the people would rejoice to see their
legitimate Prince re-established in his rights, and the hateful
government of the League abolished.

The intelligence of his advance had reached Stuttgardt, and had caused
much difference of feeling amongst its inhabitants. The nobility
scarcely knew what they had to expect from the Duke; the shameful
surrender of Tuebingen being an event of too recent a date to leave them
wholly without fear of his wrath. But the recollection of the brilliant
court of Ulerich von Wuertemberg and the merry days they had formerly
passed under his sway, compared to the oppressions the League had
inflicted on them, led them to incline to submission. Not a few,
however, among them had reason to dread his return. The citizens could
scarcely restrain their joy; and, quitting their houses, assembled in
groups about the streets, talking over coming events. They cursed the
League in strong terms, but silently, clenching their fists in their
pockets, and were beyond measure patriotically inclined, and full of
pugnacious propensities. Calling to mind the illustrious ancestors of
their exiled Prince, whose name of Wuertemberg they themselves bore;
they reckoned up the many noble lords sprung from the same family,
under whom they and their fathers had lived happily, and whose glorious
deeds had spread their country's fame abroad. But the most important
topic of their conversation was, that upon them depended, in a great
measure, the decision of the struggle between the League and the Duke,
as the whole country would now look upon the Stuttgardters as the
fuglemen in the contest. They were, however, no way inclined of