in not a few
cases displacing the rightful hero of still older myths, which thus
became grafted on to the Dietrich legends. Originally he was a bona-fide
historical personage, Theodoric the Ostrogoth, and as such gained
a widespread popularity among his people. His historical character,
however, was soon lost in the maze of legendary lore which surrounded
his name, and which, as time went on, ascribed to him feats ever more
wildly heroic. Among the various traditions there is one relating to the
Rhenish town of Worms which calls for inclusion here as much on account
of its intrinsic merit as because of its undoubted popularity. The
legend of the Rose Garden of Worms is a quaint and fanciful tale,
and even the circumstance that it ends with the death of several good
knights and true does not rob it of a certain humorous quality it
possesses.

By the time Dietrich had reached the prime of his adventurous life--so
runs the story--he had gathered a considerable company of doughty
paladins at his court--he formed, in fact, a kind of Round Table--and
the knights who composed it were as eager as their lord to seek fresh
fields wherein to display their prowess, and were second only to him in
skill and valour. Among them were numbered such illustrious warriors as
Herbrand, his son Hildebrand, Eckehart, Wolfhart, and Amelung.

On one occasion, as Dietrich was seated at table with his followers, he
vowed that no court in Christendom could boast of such warriors as he
could muster. The assembled knights greeted the assertion with hearty
acclamations--all, that is, save the old warrior Herbrand, and he was
silent. Dietrich looked at him in surprise.

"Hast thou nothing to say, Herbrand?" he asked.

"Thinkest thou to find better knights than these?"--indicating his
followers with a wave of his hand.

Herbrand seemed somewhat reluctant to uphold his tacit objection to
Dietrich's claim. "Ay," he said at length, "there are such warriors to
be found."

"And where may we seek such paragons?" inquired the king, none too well
pleased.

"In the town of Worms," replied the old knight, "there lies a wondrous
rose garden, of great extent, where the queen and her ladies take their
pleasure. None save these may enter its precincts unless the queen give
him leave, and that the sacred boundaries may not be overstepped twelve
warriors are set to guard the garth. Such is their strength and courage
that none has ever succeeded in passing them