Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-08
CUNIGUNDA AND HER LOVERS.

~ .
Mrs. Russell, in describing the Schnee-
hoppe, high mountain in Silesia, intro
duces tho following story:
On scanty and bold projection of
the rock, stand the ruins Of the Kenaust,
so separated on all sides from tho body
OF the mountain by prccipitous dells, ex-
ccpt where narrow ledge on the south
Connects it with the hill, that the rising
of single drawbridge must have rem
dered it utterly inaccessible. Enough
Ofthe outer wall still remains to preserve
the memory ofthc fair Cunigunda, equal
ly celebrated for her charms and her cruz
city. She was the daughter and heiress
of the lord of the Kienaust; and the most
blooming Of Silesian beauties. Her
wealth and charms attracted crowds of
knightly woOrs TO her fathers castle; but
the maiden, like another Camilla, was
entirely devoted to the boisterous exer-
cis9 Of the chase, in which she excelied
many of her suitors; she would listen to
no tale Of love, and dreaded marriage as
she did ''rison. AT length, to free her.
self from all opportunities, she made a
solemn vow never to give her hand but
to the knight who should ride round the
castle on the outer wall. Now, this wall
is not only too narrow to furnish Sc
cure or pleasing promenade in any cir
cumstances, but, throughout nearly its
whole course, it runs along the very
brink of hideous precipices, and, in one
place, hangs over q frig ghtful abyss, which
to this day, bears the name Of He'll
The number Of the lady's woors rapidly
diminished. The more prudent wisely
considered that the prize was not worth
the risk; the vain proposed themselves
to the trial, in the hope that their pres
ence would mollify Cunigunda's heart,
and procure dispensation from the hard
conditions; but the mount ain-b beauty was
proof against all arts, and when the mo-
ment Of danger come, the courage of
the suitor generally gave way. History
has not recorded the precise number of
those who actually made the attempt; it
is only certain that every one of them
broke his neck, (as he we'll deserved,)
and the lady lived in her wild and vir-
gin independence. At length, a young
aud handsome knight appeared at the
castle gate, and requested to be admitted
to the presence Of its mistress, that he
might try his fortune. Cunigunda re-
ceived him, and her hour was come, his
manly beauty, the courtesy Of his beha-
viour, and his noble spirit, made her re-
pent; for the first time, Of the price which
she had set upon her hand. Having re-
ccived, in presence Of the inmates of
the castle, her promise to become his
bride If he returned in safety from the
trial, he rode forth to the wall, accom-
panied by tl,e tears and wishes Of the re-
pentant beauty. In short time, shout
from the menials announced that the adj
venture had been achieved; and Cuni-
gunda, exulting that she was conquered,
fastened into the court, which the tri,
umphant knight was just entering, to
meet his ardent caresses. But the
knight stood aIoof, gloomy and severe.
"i can claim you," said he, "but I am
come, and have risked my life, not to
win your hand, but to humble your pride
and punish your barbarity"-and there
upon he read harsh lecture Of the cru
city and arrogance Of her conduct tow
ards her suitors. The spirit of chivalry
weeps at recording, that he finished his
oration by giving the astonished beauty
a box on the ear, sprung Oh his saddle
and galloped forth from the gate. 1t
was the Landgrave Albert of Tburingia,
already married man, and who had
long trained his favouritc stecd to this
perilous exercise. The memory of the
ulterior fate Of Cunigunda has not sur
vived."