Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-04-02
The Story of Candace.
TFRoM CHAUCER AND spenser.l

made a grand feast in his royal palace
to celebrate his victory over the sover-
eign of the Russias. On his right
hand was his son Cambello, bravest OF
knights, and on the other side sat his
fair daughter Can3ace, who was of all
princesses most learned and prudent.
While they sat amid the noise and
rejoicing of the feast, word was
brought to the emperor that messen-
ger stayed without, bearing presents to
the court. On this he was ordered to
be ushered into the royal presence.
In few moments, while all waited ex-
pectant, swarthy figure, dressed in
oriental guise. came In.
With one hand he led by a silver
bride horse of shining brass, which
moved obedient to its keepers bidding.
In his other hand he held small mir
ror; by his side hung sword bare of
its scabbard, and on the thumb of his
right hand he wore ring OF dazzling
brightness.
When he had approached the EN-
peror Cambuscan, this stranger knight
bowed low and spoke thus:
"Most potent sovereign Of the West,
the lord of Araby and Ind sends you
these gifts with friendly greeting.
This horse, of such magic power that
he who knows it's secret can ride
through the air as if he were born aloft
on things wheresoever he chooses ; a
mirror, in which he who looks can see
who is his true friend or his sworn foe.
In it any lady can see if her lover be
true, or any prince can determine who
among his subjects is traitor. With
these, he sends also this sword, which
makes its owner invincible to enemies,
and this ring, whose wonderful powers
are unequaled in magic. He upon
whose finger it is worn, can understand
the language of animals, the properties
of plants, and it shall also have power
to stanch the blood from any wound.
howsoever dangerous, which its wearer
shall receive"
The Emperor thanked the ambassa-
dor from his brother of Araby, with
many thanks, and made him welcome
at his festivities. The gifts were re-
ceived with great honor, and were di-
vided between the monarch and his
children. Cambusean himself retained
the magic horse aud the mirror, Cam
bello took the sword, and to Candace,
already noted for her learning, the ring
was given, so that by it's aid she be-
came the wisest princess in all Europe.
Now upon each Of these gifts there
hangs tale more wonderful than any
of those with which the Persian Sui
taua beguiled her lord. But our for
tunes go now with Candace and her
ring, ard the happy issue out of dead
ly battle which it brought to her broth
er Cambello.
Now this brother and sister loved
each other with great affection, SO that
their friendship stood as a pattern of
fraternal love. Although Candace
had many suitors among the best-born
knights, yet she refused all, content in
the society Of her brother and her
books, and caring naught for any WOO
ers who appeared to sue for her.
But at length the people began to
clamor for the marriage Of the prin-
cess, desiring that she should be uni=
ted to some one worthy of her high de-
serts. When Cambello saw that this
was the peoples will, he announced
tnat he would hold grand tournament
in the kingdom, at which. all brave
foreign princes and knights should be
bidden. Each who entered the lists
should engage in fight with Cambello,
and he who was able to conquer him,
should be the husband Of Can3ace.
There were three lovers of Candace,
who, on hearing this announcement,
resolved at once to risk their lives for
her. These three were the twin broth
ers, Priamond, Dyamond, and Tria-
mond, who all bore charmed lives. 1t
happened in this wise They were
the children of fay who dwelt deep in
the heart of an enchanted forest.
There in a secluded bower had the fay
reared her brave SONS. But alas they
we're of mortal sire, and from their
earliest youth the shadow of their
death hung over their mother, who
was fairy of immortal birth and line
age.
When they were all babes, she went
to the dread abode of the Fates, to en-
treat them to spare the lives of her
three boys. Atropos, angry at the re-
quest. refused her such a boon, but
Clotho. the youngest and most pitiful
of the Parcae, permitted her to look
into the web of destiny and behold the
threads of her sons lives.
To her grief the fay beheld them
clipped short in early manhood Then
the mother, with moving words, en-
treated the Fates to let each inherit
the others life, so that when the fatal
shears of Atropos severed the thread
of Priamond's life, his ghost should
pass into Diamonds frame, and when
his life was ended, both together should
be added to Triamond, that his life and
strength might be pieced out with the
warp of his brothers lives. This boon
was granted to her prayers, and with
this the fav was forced to be content.
These three brothers came to the
tournament of Cambello, in martial