guideless, devil-ward, and done wrong, which is far fataler!


CONRAD HAS BECOME BURGGRAF OF NURNBERG (A.D. 1170).

This was the Kaiser to whom Conrad addressed himself; and he did
it with success; which may be taken as a kind of testimonial to
the worth of the young man. Details we have absolutely none:
but there is no doubt that Conrad recommended himself to Kaiser
Redbeard, nor any that the Kaiser was a judge of men. Very earnest
to discern men's worth and capabilities; having unspeakable need
of worth, instead of unworth, in those under him! We may conclude
he had found capabilities in Conrad; found that the young fellow
did effective services as the occasion rose, and knew how to work,
in a swift, resolute, judicious and exact manner. Promotion was
not likely on other terms; still less, high promotion.

One thing farther is known, significant for his successes: Conrad
found favor with "the Heiress of the Vohburg Family," desirable
young heiress, and got her to wife. The Vohburg Family, now much
forgotten everywhere, and never heard of in England before, had
long been of supreme importance, of immense possessions, and
opulent in territories, and we need not add, in honors and
offices, in those Franconian Nurnberg regions; and was now gone to
this one girl. I know not that she had much inheritance after all;
the vast Vohburg properties lapsing all to the Kaiser, when the
male heirs were out. But she had pretensions, tacit claims;
in particular, the Vohburgs had long been habitual or in effect
hereditary Burggrafs of Nurnberg; and if Conrad had the talent for
that office; he now, in preference to others, might have a chance