Святой Вольфганг и Дьявол [с устройством ввода-вывода на голове]

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Михаэль Пахер, Вена, 1475



По легенде, Святой Вольфганг поклялся построить церковь там, где упадет топор, и топор, брошенный с вершины холма, упал у самого озера, там и появилась церковь.

Построить храм у воды помог дьявол в обмен на душу первого прихожанина, и благодаря молитве Вольфганга, первым прихожанином оказался волк. В одном из приделов церкви на потолке изображен разъяренный дьявол. С тех пор церковь много раз опускалась под воду, но люди устанавливали её на прежнее место. Бытует мнение, что это дьявол мстит Святому за обман. От Святого Вольфганга здесь также осталась лестница со следами его ног, которые были настолько горячи, что расплавили камень.

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The Legend of St. Wolfgang

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One day, Wolfgang saw a church within his heart, which church he vowed to build. Straightway he took up an ax to clear land. Up Schafberg’s slopes went he, his soul keen to find a fitting site. Having gained the summit, however, no place had he found. Then, as the world lay at his feet, Wolfgang raised his ax on high with broad day blazing in the blade. “I cannot break through heaven’s floor to ask God where to build,” said he. “Therefore I vow upon this mountain to build where this shall drop!”

The Bishop cast his ax to earth—a bolt from Schafberg’s peak. It spun and clove through sun and cloud till it fell out of sight. Then down through winding waldschrat tracks went Wolfgang for his ax. At length, he found it wedged in an outcrop of ground between the mountain and the lake.

A shock of grey shot through the wood hard by—a Wolf it was upon the run. “O Wolf!” the Bishop hailed. “A boon! Cease roaming as the Waldgeist roams. To build a church upon this place is what I have in hand. Wilt thou assist me in this task?”

The Wolf growled, “No help from me wilt thou receive. The Hunter follows and I must hence.”

Away from Wolfgang flew the Wolf. Anon there came a Hunter, armed to the teeth, togged in skins, and the chase burning in his eyes.

The Bishop shouted, “Ho there, good Hunter! This day God hunteth after thee. Help me build a church for His glory. Broad art thou belike the Rübezahl. Therefore, do join me in this task. Put by thy restless pursuit and heed the Lord’s call.”

The Hunter sneered, “A pox on thy pious plot! My prey lies in my crossbow range. I want his hide and claws. Besides the Wolf I long to slay, some evil dogs me so I durst not linger here.”

Then off he went, as clouds obscured the sun and through the murk his stalker came: Master Urian, known as the Evil One. “Wolfgang,” Urian cried, “what brings thee, Bishop, here?”

Spoke Wolfgang, “Avaunt, thou alp! Though men are feared of thee like lambs when lightnings flash, such fear dwells not in me. A goodly church here will I build, and as thou art up to no good, I ask thy help.”

Said Urian, “Thou biddest me to build a house of God?”

“I do,” quoth Wolfgang.

Then Urian, “I consent! But mark! The first soul that enters it must be mine.”

“Agreed,” said Wolfgang then and there. “This pact I place in God’s good hands. So, monstrous though it be, that first soul goes to thee.”

To work went Master Urian without another word. The clamor of his hammer clanged. His saw-blade buzzed. With chiseled stone and lumbered wood, the Devil by his hallmark built: irregularity that is a joy to see. His lines were straight but strange. North of a flawless nave and roof, a crooked passage wound to cloisters tucked behind. He raised a steeple squat and square. The walls were wintry white.