14 Emily Gertrude Moore 



partly for the sake of sympathy, partly to see what he makes of 

 Gersuind. Alcuin represents a type of Weisheitslehrer some four 

 centuries later than the era of Kaiser und Galilder. He stands 

 for scholasticism at its best, and in simplicity and sincerity of 

 character is far superior to the type of Weisheitslehrer repre- 

 sented by Libanios. His attitude toward Gersuind is, however, 

 frankly heathen. If her youth and charm can bring rejuvenation 

 to "this earthly Zeus," as he calls Karl, why not? Yet he sees 

 in her much that Karl does. Her words, all that she is and does, 

 set him to pondering. 



The wild revel at the tavern is proof of Gersuind's continued 

 refusal to accept Christian standards. This comes partly as a 

 reaction from long confinement, partly because Karl's unrespon- 

 siveness has wrought her to a frenzy. 



The natural man in Karl blazes out when he hears this. It is 

 not merely jealousy. He realizes that she has put him in the light 

 of a dupe and a laughing-stock before the people, and feels that 

 his kingly honor demands her death. This threat awakens in 

 Gersuind the blind and passionate craving for life that is wholly 

 primitive. She sinks to her lowest in a wild appeal : 



" Lass mich leben ! lass mich leben ! 

 schliess mich in schwere Ketten, Konig Karl : 

 und keiner soil mich sehn als du ! und niemand 

 als du, soil mich fortan beruhren ! niemand 

 die Ketten, siisser Vater, urn mich tun, 

 als du ! auch losen, starker Cherub, niemand 

 als du ! nur du ! du Gott des Himmels ! du ! " 



She rallies from this and returns to her natural pride and defi- 

 ance in the next appeal, which arouses Karl's sense of justice and 

 prompts him to set her free : 



" Was hebst du Wegwurf auf ? was liessest du 

 mich Wegwurf denn nicht liegen, wo ich lag, 

 und hobst mich auf? du tatest's ungebeten ! 

 Ich klagte nicht ! ich schrie nicht, rief dich nicht ! 

 Ich warf mich nicht vor deine Fiisse hin 

 und bettelte : nimm, heb' mich aus dem Staube ! 

 du aber packtest mich und hieltest mich : 

 Warum? wozu? der du doch mein nicht achtest, 

 nur meiner spottest, meiner nie begehrst! " 



256 



