Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-09-12
A YEAR OF JOY.
A Legend Of he T,cevM Century.


many, was yet youth, and his uncle,
Conrad, the Duke of Swabia, still liv-
ing, he was the hero of little tale of
love, SO wonderously pure in its nature,
as to throw reproach on stories of
periods more refined, and to convince
us that that master passion was not de-
pendent on the progress of civilization
for its most genuine and delicate deve-
lopement.
The young knight of Hohenstauffen,
as Frederick was then called, possess
ed many of the qualities of heroism;
and even in his earliest youth he gave
proofs of the character which after
wards became so celebrated.
But historians care little to seek for
or to dwell on the romantic episodes of
early life, which give truer insight in
to the dispositions of public men than
those glazing actions either of virtue
or vice, which, instead of being Illus
trative of the natural character, most
commonly proceed from influences out
of its control.
Among the lovelest Of the daugh-
ters of the Duke of Swabia's vassals,
was Celia, whose father was but serf,
and she, like the other maidens of her
station, exposed, of course, to all the
temptations by which the son Of her
feudal lord might choose to assail her.
Frederick heard of her beauty, and
with the natural ardor of youth and
the usual motives of a feudai knight,
he went expressly from the heart of his
uncle's estate to its confines, which ex-
tended to the Rhine, and there, in the
town of Muhlburg, he waited an oppor-
tunity to crafty his excited curiosity.
After several Intellectual attempts,
which but infamed his wishes and pro-
duced that preparatory excitement SO
favorable to one who was determined
to be enamoured to a certain point, the
young knight at last succeeded in get
ting view of the unsuspecting maiden,
without letting her know the rank OF
her observer; for in the romantic mood
! he resolved to encourage, he was de-
termined that no influence but that OF
4 his personal persuasion should induce
q Celia to listen to his suit.
1t was passing under an arcade that
connected the principal square of the
town with the church, where the limo.
cent girl regularly repaired to her de.
votion, that Frederick first met her
and was told by the dependent, whom
& he had taken as pilot on his voyage
Of discovery, that he now gazed on the
/ celebrated beauty of Muhlburg. Struck
with admiration, and already before he
saw her half in love, the looks of Ere
derrick did not fail to express all the ar
dor of his feelings. Gela's eye caugh
the looks so intently. following he
movements and so fixed upon her face
She blushed deeply, and betrayed ;
n consciousness-and as Frederick tho't
Il q sympathy-which vanity Whispered
1 him she would not have accorded s,
. promptly to common admirer. FL
81 followed her into the church, and plac
81 ed himself near her so as to have full
view Of her beauty, and during tn
time of service he thought little of tn
holy Office celebrated by priests, bu
much, very much, of the lovely votar,
who silently offered up her prayers t
81 Heaven.
Il Satisfied as to the real charms of tn
h reputed beauty, he now began to dc
wise the best means of securing them
himself-and having ascertained tn
place where Celia lived, he entered III
to a consultation with Rudolf, the de
voted attendant who was his conider
in this adventure.
"Oh, Rudolph! she is indeed lovely
too lovely for her low rank in life; an
far too lovely for my happiness, unle'
she can be mine."
"Why not, my gracious lordl M.
self and your two horse grooms ca
drag her from her fathers and brot
ers' arms this very night"
''Forbid it, saints of heaven!"
Il ''Count Frederick, you were not
scrupulous when Gertrude of Arnhei
was carried to your bower"
"Rudolph, thy reproach is scarce
Just. She whom you name was mo
than half won when she was led fro
her fathers cottage. She wore +
the innocent smile of Gela!"
"Well, then, my master, if force !
volts you, try persuasion. A hea
purse of gold secured you the poss
sion of Anne of Ebersdorf."