orest (which is not saying little) of
all the 'masters,' as folks call them, up on the Wartburg there; and
that silly song, without either meaning or melody, could only have come
from your mouth."

"'Half still alarmed, half glowing in anger, Heinrich cried:

"'"And who may you be, who know me and think you can attack me here
with contumely and scorn?" And he laid his hand on his sword. But the
dark stranger gave another of his screaming laughs, and, as he did, a
ray of moonlight fell upon his deathly pale face, so that Ofterdingen
could see, with much distinctness, the wild-gleaming eyes, the sunken
cheeks, the pointed, reddish beard, the mouth with its fixed sneering
smile, and the barret-cap with its black feather.

"'"Heyday, young sir!" said the stranger; "are you going to come at me
with lethal weapons because I criticise your songs? I know you singers
do not like anything but praise, and expect to receive it for
everything that drops from your renowned lips, though there be nothing
good about it. But just because that is not my way, and because I tell
you candidly that instead of being a master you are but a mediocre
scholar and learner of the noble singer's craft, you ought to see that
I am your true friend, and mean you kindly."

"'"How," said Ofterdingen, who felt a secret shudder run through him;
"how can you, whom I do not remember to have seen before, be my friend
and mean me kindly?"

"'Without answering this question the stranger went on to say:

"'"This is a charming spot, and the night is delightful. I will sit
down beside you in the friendly light of the moon; you are not going
back to Eisenach just yet, so we can have a little chat together. Pay
attention to what I am going to tell you, it may prove instructive."

"'With this the stranger sat down on the large mossy rock, close beside
Ofterdingen. The latter struggled with the strangest feelings. With all
his fearlessness he could not, in the loneliness of the night, and in
that desert place, overcome the profound shuddering which the
stranger's voice and manner awakened in him. He felt as if he ought to
throw him down the steep precipice into the woodland stream which
roared beneath. Then, again, he felt as if paralyzed in all his
members.

"'Meanwhile the stranger came and sat quite close to Ofterdingen and
spoke very softly, almost whispering in his ear.

"'"I have just come from the Wartburg," he said, "where I have been
listening to th