Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-08-20
FAIR ETHNE'S CHOICE.
A TALE OF THE oLDBN TIME,


Stately as lily, beautiful as a rose,
modest as a violet, was Ethne, daughter
of Great Florimond, King of the Franks.
Sole heiress of her fathers domain, she
had been taught as baftted powerful
monarch's daughter. No brighter eye
flashed responsive to noble deed, no tea
derer heart wept over knights wounds,
no more daring huntress hasted to the
chase, no maiden in all her train was as
skilled at the embroidery frame as she.
But her heart was ice. This beautiful
being, who cou'd pity the squire's mis-.
hap, had no mercy upon the noble knights
whose hearts she had pierced by her
glances.
Right well did King Florimond like to
6eep his daughter to himself, and it was
with scarce concealed Joy that he saw
suitor after suitor depart from his court
with detected mier and donncast head.
But it came to pass, as he grew older,
his ministers began to consider that
there must be some rule capable of hold
ing the turbulent Princes of the provinces
In subsection. Sa they petitioned Flori.
mond to select from the Princes, who
every day besought Ethne's favor, one
who should become her consort.
Florimond knew that his daughter
must wed one whom he should adopt ere
she could sit upon his throne; so, with
a great sigh, he prepared to give up his
daring to another. But when he
broached the mat er to Ethne she looked
1t him reproachfully, and asked:
"And hast thou tired Of me, my
father2"
"No, no." answered he, fright sore
would it grieve me to find thy heat held
me second; yet thou know'st am wax
ing to the end, and I fain would see thee
happy e:e | 60"
Then Ethne clung to him, shuddeFing,
as strong young natures will, at thought
of death, and bade him not name the
ug'y word, it wrung her heart; and said
did he wish her to marry, she wonld,
not that her heart could be won by
prince or duke-no no; but only to please
her dear father.
The King smiled, for he was q shrewd
old fellow and knew woman's heart, or
thought he id, and when she asked that
she might make her own choice, he
laughed in his beard. But he readily
promised, and royal couriers were des-
patched to the. east ard the west, and the
north and the south, to announce that the
Princess Ethne had at last agreed to
wed. Great was the rejoicing, and for
space all thoughts of war left even the
most puissant warriors head, and In their
stead came dreams of love and ambit on
and the beautiful Ethne. To every
Prince had come most faithful miniature
of the Kings daughter, and many IL man,
as he gazed upon the dazzling counter
felt, felt that he would gladly barter his
7oul to possess the real.
Be sure the Princess had gazed upon
the portraits of her fathers most re-
nOwned vas'als, but if any among them
had stirred her heart none knew it, not
even her faithful maid, Grunelle. She
hunted, and rode and played her harp,
and worked her tapestry with serene
mien, and hung over her father with
tender minlstration; but Prince after
Prince rode away from the palace more
than ever the beautiful Ethne's slave.
further than ever from Florimond's
throne.
Then Florimond began to wax little
angry, as the b, st of men will when
they find themselves thwarted by wo
mans obstinacy, and he swore by the
bones of his fore 'athers that he would
give six days tournament, to which al
his neighbors aud princely vassals should
be hidden, and on the sixth day Ethnt
must choose one for her husband. Such
an obedient child was she that she smiled
and kissed his anger away.
The tournament came off at length
after vast preparation. Florimond's cap
ital was thronged with strangers, anC
squires dozed in the saddle in the streets
while their noble masters were content
to sleep upon bare floors. All the beauty
and chivalry of the world was assembled
all that man and wealth could do wal
done to make the tournament of Ethn,
the Fair unequaled. And nature, smil
ing, viewed the gay pageant. The Fiet
Of Love was a great plain outside thu
gates and thither thou >ands wendeC
their way from early dawn. At the ex
tremity Of the en- losed lists was a raised
dais covered with purple velvet, ant
upon this was placed the golden thron,
of the Queen of the Tournament, shaded
from the June sun by canopy of silvel
and azure, Right glorious was the day
The green earth was bathed in tn,
golden sunlight and the soft zephyr'
played with the ladies' tresses and touched
their rounded necks like O trembling
lovers kiss. Heralds rode up and dowl
the lists, proclaiming in sonorous vote,
the knights deeds of prowess. Nor,
than three hundred of the proudest anC
bravest Princes and Dukes of Christen
dom had entered the contest and a
knight after knight paid his obeisanc
to the queen, many a brave bosom
swelled, and many noble warrio
vowed to perform plodigies which should
win look of regard from those match
less orbs. But though the Princes
! Joined in the storms Of applause, whicl
gree ed each valiant deed, and bestowed
upon each victor his need with words o
gracious cheer that sent the blood ting
ling through the veins Of the kneelin
Lnif,ht tbtre WAS no tenderneaa In IN