Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-03-19
A Castle and Ncart Ecsciged.

The following romantic story is one of soy
oral, which pleasantly relieve the graver His
tory of Hungary, introductory to Kossulh ant
his Generals, b. II. w. De Puy--now in tn,
press Of Phlnney and Co., Buffalo,
Murany, one OF the most important lortrcs
ses in the possession of the Transyvanans
was lost III manner characteristic of the agt
of Chlvary. A castle Of great strength. i'll the
center of a country so often the seat of ciyi
war, the name Of Murany frequently occurs il
Hungarian history. At one time the Diet com
plains oft as harbor for traitors and robbers
at another, Il solemn decree of the nation indi.
Gates it as the safeguard of the kingdom, anc
appoints it as the place where the sacred crow
Of St Stephen should be deposited At thi:
period it was III the hands of woman. Ma
ria, the lady of Murany, Il young and bcautiiu
widow, educated a strict Protestant, had little
difficulty in choosing the party she should
adopt; and readily admitted q detachment Of
, Transyyanian troops to strengthen the gargi.
son Of her castle, but only Oh condition that
she should retain the command. The ill-dls
ciplined soldiery Of Transylvania were easily
conquered in the field, but as long as Murany
protected their retreat, their entire subiecton
was almost hopeless. 4 stroLg boil of troops
under WeSselcnyi were detached 10 boscgG
the castle. As " esseeny surveyed its nat
ural and artificial detpnces. he Utmost despair
ed of affecting Its reduction; and. when he
heard that Maria commanded the garrison, his
despair was embIttcred by the thought that his
hard-carned laurcls might now be tarnished by
defeat at the hands Of woman. All the arts
Of war were expended in vain against the huge
mountain fortress: every attempt cost the blood
of some of the kings best troops. and served
to l,,
ted siege rarely improves the discipline of an
army, and rumOrS otVictUries on the side Of the
enemy were not wanting to discourage the be-
sicgers. Time, too. now pressed; and, as force
was still evidently poweress against Murany.
/ Wcssclenyi at last determined to try what per-
suaslon might effect on It's COMMANDERS. Dis
gulsng himself in the dress Of an inferior OIL
GER the general appeared before the gates as
bearer Of flag Of truce, to demand Il parley
! with the mistress Of the castle: and cununglv
did he talk Of favorable conditions and royal
rewards; but his opponent only laughed at his
offers. as she had done at his threats. i goud
I general. however, always finds out the weak
points in his enemy's dcfenccS; and perhaps
the eyes Of Maria had expressed no dspleasure
at the handsome face and manly figure of the
envoy, nor probably were the beauty and cour-
age ot'the commandress without tLeir influence
on WcsseenyIs determination. Certain it is
that next day another trumpet summoned the
garrison to parley. and that tins time the her
aid bore letter offering the heart and hand Of
Wesselcnvi to his bea, ttul enemy, to whom
he confessed the ruse he had pructised, but
vowed that love had taken ample revenge for
his tcmerity Caug!lt with the romance. but
determined to test lis sincerity, Maria answer
ed that if the writer's courage cqualed his au