Tidian’s Höhle, or Cave
Below Schloss Falkenstein, in the valley where the gentle Selke winds through her flower-strewn paths, the shepherd of the Graf von Falkenstein grazed his sheep on the dew-gathering meadows.
It was the morning of St. John’s Day, and every Härzer knows that St. John’s Eve and St. John’s Day are rich in miracles in these mountains, and unfold many a mysterious flower.
Not only at this time is the St. John’s wort gathered, which is said to bear a red dewdrop at midnight—hence called St. John’s blood—and to be a sure remedy against every disease; but also the Spring-wursel, or caper-spurge, which bursts open gates, and even opens the earth and the rocks; the magic wand—Wünschelruthe—Aaron’s rod—which points out the spot where buried treasures or the precious metals lie hidden; and the Wunderblume—marvel of Peru—which opens the eyes of him who is so fortunate as to find this wonder-flower, so that he sees sunken or enchanted castles, and discovers untold riches in gold, diamonds, and rubies.
Tidian found a tiny blue flower, attracted to it by its perfume and its beauty, which must have been one of these miracle-working plants, for no sooner had he stuck it in his hatband than a never-before-seen cave in the side of the mountain opened its splendours to his dazzled eyes.
He entered it, his mind full of tales of buried treasures, filled his pockets with the glittering sand and stones, with the intention of offering them for sale to a jeweller in Aschersleben.
They proved to be more valuable than he had hoped, and the jeweller begged him to sell to no one but himself.
The fame of this gold speedily spread, and it happened the Graf von Falkenstein himself visited the goldsmith, when by chance this gold was spoken of.
“Yes,” said the jeweller, “it is indisputable that Tidian’s gold is as good again as any other.”
“Tidian’s gold!” cried the Earl, surprised. “Why do you give it that name?”
“The man from whom I buy it is Tidian.”
Instantly it occurred to the Earl that his shepherd Tidian had lately grown rich, and he might be the seller. His avarice awoke; he hastened home, and demanded to know the cause of Tidian’s wealth.
True of heart, the shepherd told him everything, showed him the concealed way to the cave, and in company they carried away much of the costly treasure; till at last avarice awaked the fear in the mind of the Earl that Tidian might at some future time reveal the secret to some one else.
This thought left him no peace. At length, to make himself secure of the entire wealth of the cave, he put out Tidian’s eyes and shut him up in the castle dungeon.
Then the Earl hurried alone to the cave; he did not know that the flower which Tidian wore in his hat caused the cave to remain open.
The unhappy shepherd tore the flower in pieces, stamped upon and cursed it and the cave, and wished it to close and never again to open until, among the descendants of the Earl, a lame, a dumb, and a blind Falkenstein had ruled.
Immediately the cave shut with a thundering noise, and the greedy Earl wanders there yet, for the enchantment is not yet broken.