he Christian tradition, Ursula is the pure Artemis; but,
in accordance with her ancient character, she is likewise the sensual
Aphrodite, who haunts the Venusberg; and this brings us to the story of
Tannhauser.

The Horselberg, or mountain of Venus, lies in Thuringia, between
Eisenach and Gotha. High up on its slope yawns a cavern, the
Horselloch, or cave of Venus within which is heard a muffled roar, as
of subterranean water. From this cave, in old times, the frightened
inhabitants of the neighbouring valley would hear at night wild moans
and cries issuing, mingled with peals of demon-like laughter. Here it
was believed that Venus held her court; "and there were not a few who
declared that they had seen fair forms of female beauty beckoning them
from the mouth of the chasm." [16] Tannhauser was a Frankish knight and
famous minnesinger, who, travelling at twilight past the Horselberg,
"saw a white glimmering figure of matchless beauty standing before him
and beckoning him to her." Leaving his horse, he went up to meet her,
whom he knew to be none other than Venus. He descended to her palace
in the heart of the mountain, and there passed seven years in careless
revelry. Then, stricken with remorse and yearning for another glimpse
of the pure light of day, he called in agony upon the Virgin Mother, who
took compassion on him and released him. He sought a village church, and
to priest after priest confessed his sin, without obtaining absolution,
until finally he had recourse to the Pope. But the holy father,
horrified at the enormity of his misdoing, declared that guilt such as
his could never be remitted sooner should the staff in his hand grow
green and blossom. "Then Tannhauser, full of despair and with his soul
darkened, went away, and returned to the only asylum open to him, the
Venusberg. But lo! three days after he had gone, Pope Urban discovered
that his pastoral staff had put forth buds and had burst into flower.
Then he sent messengers after Tannhauser, and they reached the Horsel
vale to hear that a wayworn man, with haggard brow and bowed head, had
just entered the Horselloch. Since then Tannhauser has not been seen."
(p. 201.)

As Mr. Baring-Gould rightly observes, this sad legend, in its
Christianized form, is doubtless descriptive of the struggle between
the new and the old faiths. The knightly Tannhauser, satiated with
pagan sensuality, turns to Christianity for relief, but, repelled by
the hypocrisy, pri