ich Schreiber and Johannes Bitterolff stripped
off the false and deceptive outward glitter from Ofterdingen's
compositions, and clearly demonstrated the feebleness of the skeleton
form hidden beneath. But Walther of the Vogelweid, and Reinhard of
Zweckhstein, went further. They maintained that Ofterdingen's conduct
was worthy of condign punishment, which they were prepared and eager to
inflict upon him, sword in hand.

"'Thus Heinrich of Ofterdingen saw his mastership contemptuously
trodden into the mire, and found even his very life in danger. Full of
despair and fury, he appealed to the Landgrave for protection; nay
more, to entrust the decision of the contest for the mastership to
Master Klingsohr, the most renowned master of the time.

"'The Landgrave said:

"'"Matters now have come, between you and the masters, to such a
point that it is no longer merely a question of mastership in the
singer-craft. In those wild, insane songs of yours you have outraged
me, as well as the noble ladies of my Court; therefore my honour and
theirs is involved in the question. But it must be decided in singing
contest, and I agree to this Master Klingsohr of yours being the
arbiter. One of my masters, who shall be chosen by lot, shall contend
with you, and the subject you shall treat of shall be left to your own
selection. But the headsman shall stand behind you with drawn sword,
and he who is vanquished shall be beheaded on the spot. About it,
therefore, arrange for Master Klingsohr's arrival at the Wartburg
within a year and a day, that he may settle the issue of this trial for
life and death."

"'Heinrich departed, and peace returned to the Wartburg for the time.

"'The songs which at this time the masters sang in contest with
Heinrich were spoken of as "the war of the Wartburg."

"'MASTER KLINGSOHR ARRIVES AT EISENACH.

"Nearly a year had elapsed when news came to the Wartburg that Master
Klingsohr had arrived at Eisenach, and taken up his abode in the house
of a citizen named Helgrefe, who lived near the St. George's Gate. The
masters were much relieved in their minds that now their bitter quarrel
with Heinrich of Ofterdingen would be brought to an end; but none of
them was so eager to see this world-renowned master face to face as
Wolfframb of Eschinbach. "It may be," he said to himself, "that, as the
people say, Klingsohr is devoted to unholy arts, that the powers of
evil are at his command, and have ai