The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-05-08
From The London Literary Gazette.
Gertrude de Uart. or Fidelitu until
BeUtb

/ y
Death.
iranslh'"d from the German Of Aprenzeller,
svo. up. l73, London. 1926.
Founded on the most exact histo.
ric truth. with all the fearful and
intense interest Of the most appal-
ling romance. Gertrude de Wart is
striking instance. amid the many,
of that devotcdnrss in affection.
which will support a woman through
scenes of which, in hours Of ease
and happiness. the very thought had
been too much 10 bear. Gertrude
had been for many years the below
ed (and does not that imply the hap.
py = wife of Rodolph dc Wart: in
an unfortunate hour his attachment
TO his master, the Duke of Swabia,
whose lands were unlustly retained
by tho avaricious Albert. plunged
him into misery. Though not one
oil the assassins himself. yet being
present AT the murder of the empc-
ror, he is involved in all their guilt.
anti III all their dangers and after
temporary Concealment, he is be-
trayed by a relation into the hands
OF the Queen of Hungary and the
ArChduke Leopold. who had pursu.
ed the murderers of their father with
the most unrclenting vengeance.
His wife, who had borne with
the most unshrinking Iortitude all
the misery of poverty to which she
had been reduced by the burning of
their castle and the coniisCation of
their estates. joins her husband,
shares his prison. supports him at
his trial and at last, wheu, despite
oil her entrratics for mercy, he is
condemned u the dreadful death of
breaking on the wheel, she is still his
stay and snccour bat here VIC will
give place to her own words; she
has escaped from her friends TO seek
the place of Rodolph's suffering.
3" The rising moon began 10 Up
With silver the dark pines and the
turret of the castle Of kyboufg. |
discovered the path | Was in search
OF. AID bkirting the great forest
which is pear Wintcrthur, heard
more and more distinctly the noise
OF mill. This should be the mead.
dow where was to look for my nus
band. The mill and a ri.ulct only
separated me from him. passed
the water. and, going round the mill.
perceived the wheel, and the un-
happy victim laid on it. The guard
was frightened at my appearance,
and ran off, with every mark of ter
ror. heard the breathing Of Ro-
dolph, deep, and at intervals rescm-
bling sighs; | saw his broken mem
bers, agitated by con,nIslve move
ments, like those of a lamb, palpita-
ting under the knife Of the butcher:
yea, Margaretta, all this l was
doomed to hear and see.
Is 1T is me- said | softly; he i'm
mediately knew my voice. is il
thee Gertrude i? Jcsu Mariah !! this
is all that was wanting y
II came near to the post on which
the wheel was suspended. l saw
there some pieces of wood. ltook
one Of them, which placed close to
the wheel. ! got upon it, and was
enabled to seize, and cover with
kisses, one OF his hands, which hung
moistencd with cold sweat.
Spare me ! spare me y said he
with tremulous voice: thy pres
cnCe adds to my sufferings. | call
for death. and thou art come to re-
tard it. Gertrude Gertrude where
do you come from? what will you
have My limbs are broken; my
Joints are dislocated my heart on
ly still beats. Go from me--let me
die-this is too much y
81 saw him pale and motionless,
cntangIed in the spokes of the wheel.
the shisering of a fever pcrvaded his
memberships sroans mingled with
the murmuring of the rivulet and
the clappins Of the mill. fell on
my knees, and prayed under the
wheel, and exhorted my unhappy
husband to resignation. AT last,
joining together some pieces of wood
| made sort of scailolding, by
which means | could raise myself
up to him, and, leaning over him,
free his face from the hairs which
the wind blew over it. i entrcat
thee OIL entreat thee y repeated