Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-25
THE KNIGHT OF THE SWAN.

The young Countess of Cleye was deeply
troubled and in great distress. One of her
ysssals, an audaciOus, insOlent fellow, had not
only presumed to renounce his allegiance to her,
hut he had also made himself master Of her cas-
tie and her liberty nay, he even demanded her
hand, and Herewith the dominion of her lands
She saw no means of saving herself from this
rebelliOus subject for no knight of her land
would dare to throw the glove in challenge to
An antagonist, from whose skill in fighting &C.
lossal figure and strength, no happy result could
be hoped for. Without ceasing, the distressed
but devout woman addressed her prayer to
heaven, that helper might appear to her in
her trouble, and the heart Of some good cham
PiOn be aroused TO contend for her good cause,
and free her from the troublesome, importunate
vassal.
According to the tradition, It is said that
there hung on her rosary a little silver bell
with the wonderful popularity that its gentle
tone increased in power and sound in the dis
tance, but that in a particular direction only;
and remote king is said to have heard il like
n call for help, and the summons TO send up the
Rhine assistance for the oppressed innocent.
This demand, arising, perhaps, from phan-
tasm, the king considered an adventure for his
only son, and it was embraced by him with that
eagerness with which the noble knight of olden
time seized every occasion TO lend a protecting
arm to the weaker, and especially to the women.
swan appeared on the waves of the stream;
II drew boat by golden chain, and, as if Of
fering itself for use, halted at the shore, whence
the kings son was looking wistfully into the
mysterious distance.
This appeared to the young man an evident
sign and command Of the higher powers to enter
the bark, and scarcely was this done when the
swan padded swiftly up the Rhine and vanished
from the sight of the king.
At Cleve, in the meantime, the day had ar
rived which the rebel, now lord, had appointed
for his marriage to the countess, and she could
not avoid this fate, unless some knight should
present himself bold enough to challenge the
villain to mortal combat
just when she, full of anguish, was obliged to
attire herself for the ceremony, and believed
herself already lost, she eheld from the windows
Of her high castle a swan towing a boat up the
stream, in which lay a sleeping young knight.
she Immediately remembered that il had been
prophesied to her by piOus nun, that sleep
ing youth would sometime rescue her from
great distress; and jOyfully surprised, she was
looking upon the wonder, when the beautiful
stranger awoke, stepped on shore, and the swan
immediately turning back, disappeared from
her sight The knight directed his steps to the
castle, knelt on one knee to the countess, and
begged permission to fight for her possession.
The maid gladly accepted his offer, and an
appeal was made TO the judgment of God in
the spacious court of the castle Raging like
grim, wild boar, the vassal attacked the strange
champion. Many sympathizing heart friendly
this apparently so unfortunate contest, in which
1t appeared inevitable that the youth, though
adrolt and valiant indeed, yet by no means
equal in size to his powerful antagonist, must
be overcome.
But the righteous cause prevailed; severely
smltten by the sharp sword Of the brave youth,
the offender sank down dead, and then. amid
the loud rejoicing of the multitude, the victor
knelt before her he had so fortunately rescued.
With looks OF the most cordial love- she eayo
him her thanks but not with words alone did
she reward the hero, for after few weeks the
haPpy youth led the countess TO the altar, to be
united with her in the firm bonds of wedlOck
No loving wife could easily be happier than
the countess was with her husband who re-
Quilted her fondneSs with the most sincere fdel-
ity.
Only one thing disturbed the bliss in the
countess heart, namely, neither she nor any
one else knew from whence the knight came
and OF what descent he was. Before they were
united she was obliged to give him the mos:
sacred assurance that she would never question
hum about his home and name, for on this ques-
ton-SO he with full warning informed her
was linked his destiny, and should she ever
make the inquiry he must leave her forever.
The countess had made it point to conform
TO his wishes, and years passed by withsut dis
turbance OF her happiness, which was height
ened by the growing of three sons who promised
10 be an honor 10 knighthOod
But the more manly and strong the boys be-
came, the more it panied the mothers heart
that they should not enjoy the ancestral name
the name of their father who was undoubtedly
OF high extraction. So once, when she could no
Longer resist the impulses of her heart, she i'm
plored her husband not 10 leave his sons longer
without the paternal name-fOr the humbiest
one amongst the people inherits from his father
and not to wait till they should be looked upon
and despiSed as bastards. He must therefore
no longer conceal his name and whence he
came
Wan and amazed he heard her words, and
with painful emotion cried, ''Wo to thee, un-
happy mother, what hast thou done? The hap
Piness Of Us all is destroyed by thy words
From this hour forth, must I leave thee and
never return" Then he sounded his silver horn
out on the waters, and it echoed far through
the night. Behold with the breaking morn
the swan appeared swimming on the waves.
but not bringing blessings as before The hus-
band, the father, stepped in the boat before the
eyes Of the hOrror-stricken, stupeied countess,
and the mighty swan went back from whence
he came, and never more was seen. Death soon
snstched away the fOrsaken wife in her sorrow.
but her sons became progenitors of noble lines,
all OF which to this day wear the swan upon
their arms