Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-20
Winning n Mistress by n Herculean Feat
The Triumph of Love in Death.
BY LEIGH HUNT.

We forget what book it was, many years
ago, that we read the story of lover who
as tt win bis mistress by carrying her to
the top of a mountain, and how he did win
hef.
We think the scene was in Switzer-
land; Tut the mountain, though high enough
TO tax his stout heart to the utmost, must
have heen among the lowest Let us fancy
it good, lofty hill, in the summer time. It
was, at any rate, so high that the father of
the lady, proud nobleman, thought it i'm
possible for young man, so burdened, to
scale it. For this reason alone, in scorn he
bade him do it, and his daughter should be
his.
The peasantry assembled in the valley to
witness so extraordinary a sight. They
measured the mountain with their eyes; they
communed with one another and shook
their heads; but all admired the young man;
and some of his fellows looking at their
mistresses, thought they could do as much.
The father, on horseback, apart and sullen,
repented that he had subjected his daughter
even 10 the show of such hazard, but he
thought that it would teach his interiors a
lesson.
The young man, (the son of a small land
proprietor, who had some pretensions to
wealth, though none to nobility, stood re-
spectfully looking, but csnfdent rejoicing
III ulo utdTJ ludI 5uOulu VIII u ull5lI6bSt
though at the tost of noble pain, which he
could hi rdly tllnk of as pain, considering
v =" it was he was TO carry. If he died for
il he huuld at least have had her in his
ar s, and have looked her in the face. To
$50 her Terson in that manner was pleas
ur he contemplated with such transport as
IL ki own only to real lovers; Tor none other
know how respect hightens the joy of dis
| pensing with formality and ennobles and
makes grateful the respect.
The lady stood by the side of her father,
pale, desirous, and dreading. She thought
her lover would succeed, but only because
she thought him in every respect the noblest
Of his sex, and that nothing was too much
for his strength and valor. Great fears came
over her nevertheless. She knew not what
might happen in the chances common to all.
| She felt The bitterness of being herself the
| burden to him and the task; she dared not
| look at her father nor the mountain. She
fixed her eyes on the crowd (Which, never
theless, she beheld not), and now, on her
hand and her fingers end, which she doubled
up toward her with pretense-the only de-
cer'ion she had ever used. Once or twice a
daugh'er or mother s pped out Of the crowd,
and coming up TO her, Notwithstanding their
fus 0. IL Lord FarnD, Kissed the hand
which she kl v not what to do with.
The father SAID, Now, slr, puLan end to this
mummery." verturned pale for the first
time and took up the lady. The spectators re-
jolce to see the manner in which he moved
of, slow but secure, as if encouraging his
mistress. They mount the hill; they proceed
well; he halts an instant before he gets mid
way, and seems to refuse something; then
he ascends at quicker rate, and now, being
al the midway point shifts the lady from one
side to the other. The spectators give a
great shout. The Baron, with an air of in
difference, bites the tip of mis- gauntlet, and
then c'sts on them the air of rebuke. At
the shout the lover resumed his way. Slow,
but not feeble in his step, yet it grows
slower. He stops again, and they think they
see the lady kiss him on the forehead. The
women begin to tremble, but the men say he
will be victorious. He resumes again; he is
halfway between the middle and the top; he
Iushes, he stops, he staggers, but does not
fall; another shout from the men, and he re-
sumes once more; two-thirds of the remain
ing part Of the way are conquered. They
are certain the lady kisses his forenead and
eyes.
The women burst into tears, and the stout
est men look pale. He assembled slower than
ever, but seems TO be more sure; he hats,
but 1t is only to plant his foot to go on again,
aud thus he picks his way, planting his foot
at every step, and then gaining ground with
an effort. The lady hits up her arms as if to
tighten him; he stops, he struggles, and
moves sideways, taking very little steps, and
bringing one foot every time close to the
other. Now he is all but on the top; he halts
again, he is fixed, he staggers groan goes
through the multitude suddenly he turns
full from toward the top; it is luckily almost
level; he staggers, but it is forward. Yes,
every limb in the multitude makes a move
ment as if to assist him; see, at last he is on
the top, and down he falls with his burden.
An enormous shout-he has won he has
wonl Now he has a right to caress his mis-
tress, and she is caressing him, for neither of
them get up. If he has tainted, it is with
JOY, and in her arms.
The Baron puts spurs to his horse, the
crowd following him; Sway up he is
obliged TO dismount; they ascend the hill
together, the crowd silent and happy, the
Baron ready TO burst with shame and impa-
thence. They reach the top the lovers are
face 10 face on the ground, the lady claspine
him with both arms, his lying on each side
"Traitorl" exclaimed the Baron, ''thou
hast practc this feat before, on purpose to
deceive me Arise !"
You can not expect it, sir" said a worthy
man who was nch enough to speak his mind;
Sampson himself might take his rest after
such deed B."
'Part them |" said the Baron.
Several persons went up, not to part them
but to congratulate and Keep them together
These people look close; they kneel down
and bend an ear; they bury their faces on
them GGnd forbid fbau sbn,Id o,rov l..