d the
countries, through which they passed, fertile, inhabited, and
continually varied. The fertile Thuringian forest lay behind them. The
merchants, who had often travelled by the same road, were acquainted
with the people, and experienced everywhere the most hospitable
reception. They avoided the retired regions, and such as were infested
with robbers, or took a sufficient escort for their protection, when
obliged to travel through them. Many proprietors of the neighboring
castles were on good terms with the merchants. The latter visited them,
seeking orders for Augsburg. Much friendly hospitality was shown them,
and the old ladies with their daughters pressed around them with hearty
curiosity. Henry's mother immediately won their affection by her
good-natured complaisance and sympathy. They were rejoiced to see a
lady from the capital, who was willing to tell them new fashions, and
who taught them the recipes for many pleasant dishes. The young
Ofterdingen was praised by knights and ladies, on account of his
modesty and artless, mild behavior. The ladies lingered, too, with
pleasure upon his captivating form, which resembled the simple word of
some Unknown, which perhaps one scarcely regards, until, long after he
has gone, it gradually opens its bud, and at length presents a
beautiful flower in all the colored splendor of deeply interwoven
leaves, so that one never forgets it, nor is ever wearied of its
remembrance, but finds in it an exhaustless and ever-present treasure.
We now begin to divine the Unknown more exactly; and our presages take
form, till at once it becomes clear, that he was an inhabitant of a
higher world. The merchants received many orders, and parted from their
hosts with mutual hearty wishes, that they might see each other soon
again. In one of these castles, where they arrived towards evening, the
people were enjoying themselves right jovially. The lord of the castle
was an old soldier, who celebrated and interrupted the leisure of
peace, and the solitude of his situation, with frequent banquets; and
who, besides the tumult of war and the chase, knew no other means of
pastime, except the brimming beaker.

He received the new guests with brotherly heartiness, in the midst of
his noisy companions. The mother was conducted to the lady of the
castle. The merchants and Henry were obliged to seat themselves at the
merry table, where the beaker passed bravely around. Henry, after much
intreaty, was, in