The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1881-04-13
For THE RFcoRD.
THE OLD SQUIRE ALMANAC.


One of the most striking objects within the
precincts of England's magnificent Parliament
Houses, is colossa statue of Richard Ceur
de Lion. The monuments well placed = for
next to Arthur aud Alfred, the Lion-hearted
,.3'''. hams holds the first place in the
Affections of the Natluus----s 49,. =.
pore than any of her kings, except the Slime
what my thical Arthur, has infused an air of
rersls..--,----- = erirsi wise prosaie h;-.grJ'
He is, indeed, one OF ms most romantic of all
the Crusadng Kings of Europe the theme of
many amiddle age ballad and the inspira-
tion of much of the romance story in every
age down to our own.
Even Sir Walter, whose preferences were
for subjects of a much later history, could not
refrain from descending twice into this polific
mire of chivalrous fancy and in Iuanhoe and
The TdlSsman celebrated the heroic deeds of
Richard and his comrades in the second cru
SADIE, and the return of the ransomed King to
his country.
The ascertaned facts of his life may be
briefly told. His youth was turbulent. In
the Summer of 1889 he assembled the throne,
aud in December set ont for the Hcly Land,
MO dufChehtOus JoutnNJ idctiuR HuddItl Two
years. Joining the King of France. at length,
Acre fell before their united forces In July,
1872. Then the two Kings quarrelled. -
Philip went home but Richard stayed for
several months more of marvellous exploits
against the Saracens, ending in a truce with
sSaladin. Then he sailed for home, but was
wrecked in the Mediterranean taken prisoner
shy i,ie eoer,p Tho DuLa ~ A us,r;, ,,,a Lau.
captive fora year and half by tho Emperor
,.of Germany. His subjects paid an immense
sum for his release and hc camo home. to
neglect the affairs of his own realm, wage
prohtless wars with France. and lie in an g-
noble quarrel with one of his subjects overthe
possession of some treasure tr0pe.
1t was an easy thing, uuder the mauipua-
tions of the treabadors, to transform these
fewthreads of history into a splendid tissue
,,of romance the hero of which Incomes
smythic parsonage and even supernatural, his
mother being an elf woman, daughter of the
King of Antioch. an infdel, whose false re-
ligion led to various strange mishaps. The
epithet of lion hearted, fairly won and natur-
ally bestowed, where brute courage was so
eminent, gave n hint which the fabnlsts dex-
terously worked up into The exciting episode
which several centuries accepted as a part of
his vertable history.
Having excited the just wrath Of Modard
King Of Germany. who held him captive
Richards death was resolved upon and a
powerful lion vas kept fasting three days and
nights, 10 make him still moro ferocious. when |
let loose uponthe aoyal victim. But Richard |
faced him feailessiy. tl.tast his arm down his
throat, drew eat his heart, and killed him on
fhe spot. Then, bearing the lions heart into
Moda,d's banquet bah, and seating himself
among his courtiers, he dipped the dice
Wand in salt, aud ate it raw, +" without
bread ," His appetite grew still more keen
thus pampered-so says the old romance--and
many savoury meal he made off the. bodies
of the SaIaceils whom be slew in his second
cfusadr G,si ens'kipg them with his own
bands. Esen shakespeare keeps upthe legend
of the lion acI
:. ri herd Thru roh'd the lion oi his heart
aud makes shis deed Of eseiage an earnest of
his success IN the mnie tender essay Of love
$ Tile aweless lioa could moi wage the Sight
Nor keep his princely heart from Richards hand.
/. He that pcrIoFee rpbS / ons of their hearts,
May easily win woman's."
But an unspeakably nobler hero than the
Lion.hcarted OF England claims our notice
this week. For the Old Almanac marks last
Sunday as Pain Sunday. and the week which