destruction in the interim,
in 1758,--Bodmer and Breitinger editing;--at Zurich, 2 vols. 4to.]
Madrigals all; MINNE-Songs, describing the passion of love; how Otto
felt under it,--well and also ill; with little peculiarity of symptom,
as appears. One of his lines is,

_"Ich wunsch ich were tot,_
I wish that I were dead:"

--the others shall remain safe in Manesse's _Collection._

This same Markgraf Otto IV., Year 1278, had a dreadful quarrel with
the See of Magdeburg, about electing a Brother of his. The Chapter had
chosen another than Otto's Brother; Otto makes war upon the Chapter.
Comes storming along; "will stable my horses in your Cathedral," on
such and such a day! But the Archbishop chosen, who had been a fighter
formerly, stirs up the Magdeburgers, by preaching ("Horses to be stabled
here, my Christian brethren"), by relics, and quasi-miracles, to a
furious condition; leads them out against Otto, beats Otto utterly;
brings him in captive, amid hooting jubilations of the conceivable kind:
"Stable ready; but where are the horses,--Serene child of Satanas!"
Archbishop makes a Wooden Cage for Otto (big beams, spars stout enough,
mere straw to lie on), and locks him up there. In a public situation in
the City of Magdeburg;--visible to mankind so, during certain months
of that year 1278. It was in the very time while Ottocar was getting
finished in the Marchfeld; much mutiny still abroad, and the new Kaiser
Rudolf very busy.

Otto's Wife, all streaming in tears, and flaming in zeal, what shall
she do? "Sell your jewels," so advises a certain old Johann von Buch,
discarded Ex-official: "Sell your jewels, Madam; bribe the Canons of
Magdeburg with extreme secrecy, none knowing of his neighbor; they will
consent to ransom on terms possible. Poor Wife bribed as was bidden;
Canons voted as they undertook; unanimous for ransom,--high, but humanly
possible. Markgraf Otto gets out on parole. But now, How raise such a
ransom, our very jewels being sold? Old Johann von Buch again indicates
ways and means,--miraculous old gentleman:--Markgraf Otto returns, money
in hand; pays, and is solemnly discharged. The title of the sum I could
give exact; but as none will in the least tell me what the value is, I
humbly forbear.

"We are clear, then, at this date?" said Markgraf Otto from his
horse, just taking leave of the Magdeburg Canonry. "Yes," answered
they.--"Pshaw, you don't know the value of a Markgraf!