the next
victor, took the roses and kissed the maiden heartily. But alas! a
bristly beard covered his chin, and the maid was left ruefully
rubbing her pouting lips. One by one Dietrich's knights overcame their
adversaries, some of whom were slain and some wounded. Toward nightfall
a truce was called, and Dietrich and his company set out to return to
Bern, well satisfied with having disproved the assertion of Herbrand
that there were better warriors in the world than Dietrich and his noble
company.

The Devil's Vineyard

There is a curious legend told to account for the excellent quality
of the wine of Worms. An old nobleman who at one time lived in that
neighbourhood was in the habit of drinking more of the Rhenish wine than
was good for him. In every other respect he was a most worthy man, kind,
generous, and pious.

His piety, in an age when such qualities were rare, roused the ire of
the Devil, who determined to bring about his fall, and as the old man's
love of wine was his only serious weakness, it was through this that the
Fiend set himself to compass the nobleman's destruction.

The Devil therefore disguised himself as a strolling musician and made
the acquaintance of the old man. The latter set before him some of the
wine of the country, extolling meanwhile its rare qualities. The guest
seemed not at all impressed by the recital, but spoke of a wine which he
had tasted in the South and which far surpassed any other vintage. The
nobleman was all curiosity. The stranger talked of the wonderful wine
with feigned reluctance, and at length his host promised to give him
anything he should ask if only he would fetch him some of the wine.
Satan promised to plant a vineyard in Worms, asking in exchange the soul
of his host, to be forfeited at the end of a fixed period.

To this the old man consented, and the strolling musician planted a
vineyard which sprang up as though by magic. When the first vintage
was produced it was found to be delicious beyond the dreams of the
old nobleman, who was indeed a connoisseur in wines. In his delight he
christened the wine Liebfrauenmilch, signifying 'Milk of our Blessed
Lady.' The Devil was furious at this reference to the Holy Virgin, but
he consoled himself with the thought that in due course the man's soul
would be his. But the Virgin herself was pleased with the christening
of the vineyard, and rather sorry for the foolish old nobleman who
had bartered his soul for the Devi