National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-08-08

through the deepening twilight, to find
the tower in which he supposed his
dear king to be. Soon, melancholy
voice was heard singing these words
"The golden stars wander over hill
and valley, messengers of my longings
/ and my griefs. In this gloomy prison,
| pass my life, and can only conhde my
woes to Heaven"
"Oh my king !" scbbed the knight,
as pale face appeared at tower win
dow. How can | tell you how near
your friends are ?"
"The harp" he cried suddenly, and,
snatching it up, with trembling fingers,
he played n romance which he had once
composed for the king.
No sooner ha he finished few bars
than the voice il the tower caught up
the air and finished it. Blondel 2"
exclaimed the king. For answer, the
minstrel again seized the harp and
sang
oh Richard oh. NV king,
The world aband0ns thee.
And no one now II seeking
Thy deliyerance but me.
I'll save thy precious person,
| will break thy cruel cl ain.
pledge myself in song
Thy freedom to regain
Blendel spent the night in laying
plans for the deliverance of Richard.
He resolved to gain admttance into the
castle for his followers through his
friendship for the lovely girl, who had
already made an impression on his
heart.
Within n day or two the newly elect
ed emperor was to be crowned at Frank
fort On the evening of the coronation,
he directed the landlord of the little
inn, near Trilfels, to give to the garrison
of the castle banquet, that with prop
er ceremony they might drink to the
health of the new monarch. Mean
while one by one, his own trusty
knights stole, through the twilight, to
The woods behind the castle.
At late hour of the evening the
little sidegate of the fortress opened,
rs the Young maiden cautiously stole
out to meet Blondel.
Then for the first time, he unfolded
to her the real object of his meeting
with her, entreating her to fly back to
England with the king (whom he was
about to liberate) and himself,
assuring her that every token of love
and gratitude should be shown her IL
she would yield to his wish.
With a cry of astonishment and pain,
she exclaimed, con, traitor oh, woe
my poor uncle !" AS she turned to fly
within the castle walls, the followers OF
Blondel-who, in the darkness. had |
rceived-f1ocked about |
her, and made their way to the castel- |
ian's room, where the tower keys We're |
kept. The few defenders of the fortress
who were not at the village feast were
soon oyerpowered. The old keeper |
was powerless to do aught but he
rried ont, as the liberated Richard stood |
before him: Against this deed, con
trary to the law of nations, protest,
and swear that you shall not leave Ger
many in safety - The poor maiden
thew herself upon her knees, and ac
cused herself as the cause OF this terri
BILE disaster.
Meanwhile, the report of the attack
upon the castle had reached the inn,
aud the warriors came back in hot haste
to find themselves barred outside the
walls, with threat that if they did not
lisperse the castellan should lose his
head and the castle be destroyed.
Blondel and the king urged the maid
an to return with them to England, but
she could not forgive the man who had
used her heart fer an act of treason.
Blondel left her, but not till she had
a ring and chain of gold in
oxen of his remembrance of her love
md service towards him. We do not
propose to follow the fortunes of C9ur
le-Lion after his escape from Triefels;
)ut to tell our readers what tradition
saws of the minstrel Blondel and the
unhappy maiden. Many, many years
lfter the events which we have described
md on another summer day, gray
laired cavalier rode over the same
pass, where the king had been
ought and found.
Here" murmured he, "here have |
elt in days gone b. the highest bliss
nd the deepest woe of my life " Slow
y he rode till he had reached the little
mn.
As he looked into the face of the land
ord he discovered the features of the
oung shepherd boy. With an almost
ender interest the two Zone of whom
7as BlondeD talked of the past.
In tears the now old minstrel learnt j
he sad fate of the castellan and his I
iece. He was killed by some hidden f
and after the flight of Richard was dis !
overed The broken-h hearted maiden i
ntered convent near Baden, where
enceforth her life and history were lost
, the world.
None can visit this ancient ruin of
riefels without a melancholy interest v
3 they recall the dreary prison-life of i
lie great King Richard, the touching '
,mance of the minstrel knight Blondel, t
nd the lovely, loving maiden over =
hose story centuries have now rolled. h