The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-07-04
A LEGAND OF THE RHINE.
Richard Cnur De Lion, or CastI,
TrieFelg.

A LEGAND OF THE RHINE.
Richard Crur-De Lion, or Castle
Trie felE.
The beautiful river Rhine, in some O.
its windings, is not unlike that portion
of our Hudson which flows through the
Highlands. But it differs vastly from
the latter, in that the grand old hills
and immense rocks lying on either side
are covered with ruins of what were
once massive towers, castles and strong.
holds. These frowning battlements,
pearched upon jagged rocks and steer
| mountain passes, were the homes of the
warlike knights and barons of olden
time, whose lives seemed spent in war.
ring against each other. To all these
ancient ruins throughout Germany, as
well as on the Rhine, are attached some
story or romance woven from history
and tradition. A charming German
| author has gathered into little volume
| many of these legends. One of the
1 legends is connected with Richard l.,
king of England, called Richard Occur
| de-Lion," because of his indomitable
| courage and bravery.
| Richard was born in Oxford, and in
| 11SO succeeded his father, Henry IL It
is said that mis- naughty spirit and
| unbending Will hastened the death of
| the old king. Partly for remorse for
past misconduct, partly from martial
taste, which early in life distinguished
| him, soon after his accession to the
throne he leagued with Philip of France
for a second crusade in Palestine
| against the famous Saladin, emperor of
Egyrt and Syria. Saladin had wrested
| Jerusalem from the hands of the Christ
| ian knight, Reginald de Chatillion, and
slain many of his followers. News of
this disaster reaching England. Richard
determined to regain possession of the
| holy city. The key to Syria was the
fortress st Jean-D'Acre, which endured
| a siege of two years before yielding to
the combined forces of England and
1 France. However, before the lion
| hearted monarch had time to take per
sonal possession of Jerusalem, news
reached him of war at home. He con-
| cluded truce with SaladiH, and quickly
embarked to quell the revolt in his own
| kingdom. On the coast of italy he was
| shipwrecked. Nothing daunted by this
| new misfortune, he disguised himself as
a pilgrim, hoping to pass through Ger
many unseen. By some means, how
| ever, he became known to Leopold,
duke of Austria, who, to crafty a per-
sonal prejudice, caused him to be
| arrested and secretly imprisoned. The
| fame of this great monarch has been
spread far and near by pilgrims to the
Holy Land by the songs of trouba-
| dours, and the plaudits of those who
| had fought under him. His own
| knights worshiped him, and a number
| of them banded together, determined,
if he was still living, to find his hiding
place and deliver him.
On lovely summer morning, a troop
| of horsemen were passing through the
| country, in which lay a portion of the
1 Hartz mountains. Three noble-looking
men rode forward, evidently the lead
ers of the troop which followed. The
1 middle hOrseman was dressed as min
strel. and on his face was an expression
of deep pain and anxiety. Suddenly
he stopped his horse, to catch the notes
of a shepherd singing in the far-off
l field. No sooner was the song finished
4 than he dashed toward the astonished
l singer.
"My boy, sing that again? See, I
have gold for your
"'Tis a song l love !" said the boy,
as he took the gold and recommended
his music.
"Now, tell me, Iad," said the min
strel, "who taught you that song"
''I dare not tell p replied the boy, as
he glanced with suspicion at the knight.
cay! But you must tell me No
harm shall come to you {! See, here is
more gold for you"
'I have heard it sung in the castle of
Triefels, near which 1 often feed my
sheep"
ooh, God !'' exclaimed the minstrel,
bursting into tears, as he knelt on the
ground, Chow wounderous are thy
/ ways -
His companions approached him with
amazement, to hear him exclaim : ''We
have found himl On to Triefels -
After the excitement of their sup
posed discovery had somewhat abated,
| they decided, first, to get view of the
fortress, and then mature their plans
for getting within it. The shepherd
boy, who was to guide them thither,
told them no strangers were allowed to
cross the draw-bridge and the keeper
was imperious and unsociable. Soon
the towers of Triefels glittered in the
sun, and after a careful survey of its
surroundings, they moved away for fur
ther dehberation.
"My friends" said the knight, "in
my minstrels dress, I must try alone to
gain admission to the castle. Mean
time this boy will find you lodgings in
the hamlet below. If our noble king
is imprisoned here, we must release
him" Thus saying, and with one SER
want to bear his shield and harp, he
rode to the bridge and demanded food
and shelter for himself and servant.
After much parley, he was received
but very ungraciously. However,
within these dreary walls he found
beautiful woman, the keepers neice,
whose smile was like the warm sun
light of winters day.
After dinner, the minstrels sung to
the drowsy uncle and the charming
niece. As the former, after a while,
seemed to sleep soundly, the knight
began -
You seem to love music, fair lady
But surely you do not often hear it in
this lonely castle.
":No only myself and one psor pris-
oner sing"
"A prisoner?"
Yes and he must be of a gentle
birth But dare not say more lest my
uncle wake. He will be angry if talk
of him."
TELL me one thing dear madame,
coD 7 baar the sOno of this one Who