Page:Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations (Volume 2).djvu/93

 shameless infidel within this castle, who mocked both at priests and laymen. Count Hartman no body’s friend: he acknowledged neither divine nor human laws, and violated the sacred rules of hospitality. The stranger who sought refuge under his roof, the beggar who asked alms of him, was always seized and tormented. I was his barber, flattered his passions, and lived as I chose. Many a pious pilgrim, passing the gates, was invited into the castle; a bath was prepared for him, and, when he meant to enjoy himself, I took hold of him according to orders, shaved him quite bald, and then turned him out of the castle, with scorn and mockery. In such cases Count Hartman used to look out at the window, and to enjoy the sport, particularly if a number of malicious boys collected round the insulted pilgrim, and laughed and mocked at him, calling out after him: “Bald head, bald head!” as the virulent boys of old called after the prophet.

“Once a holy pilgrim came from abroad; like a penitent he carried a heavy cross on his Rh