The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-09-09

lhiS, Salu ne, IS not the ring OF a
merchant it is that Of the King Of En-
land.
The page, On his return related the
conversation that had passed, and
Richard, in alarm, for which their were
indeed cause departed for Friesach.
Here Norman Knight recognized the
king IN spite Of his disguise intimateC
that danger was at hand, and presented
him with fleet steed on which to es-
cape.
Mounting, and attended only by
page who understood the German IAN
guage, Richard travelled without enter.
ing house till, hunger and wayworn
he halted at the inn of little village
near Vienna, and dispatched the page
to purchase provision.
Fortune again proved unfavorable.
The rich dress of the boy and the EN-.
| broidered purse that he carried excited
suspicion, and, being seized and threat
ened, he confessed that he had left his
master aslr, } in rustic hosiery. A
party OF Austrian soldiers, under orders
from Duke Leopold, Richards inveter
ate enemy, Immediately proceeded to
the inn, where they found.the royal
crusader in the kitchen, buslly employ
ed roasting fowls for dinner.
Seeing how matters stood, Richard
sprung up and made desperate resist
ance. When Leopold appeared, how
ever, the king, upon the promise of his
life being spared, surrendered his sword
to the Austrian.
Richard was imprisoned in strong
castle, and the business was managed
so secretly that his very existence be-
came a matter of doubt 10 his subjects.
Nearly everyone believed he was dead
and Prince John, his brother, ruled
England and Normandy as though he
were the righttul sovereign.
But there was one who refused to be-
lieve the story of the kings death, and
who resolved to tnd him If he was
alive, though he searched every
castle and prison in the German
land. This man was Blondel the trou-
badour.
With this determination the 49,
wandered through Frcrrs<s ,,d s.r;L
-, .ha Dl...,---.c.zz1----~ cz1----~'-s'ilee, anu ''iiN
ins - .ns Nhine, travelled along the road
i sides of Austria, cheering his way wit
song, now waiting his messages of low
: to the embowered lattice Of some for
t lorn maiden, and again raising cheer
A ing song of hope to the iron barre
window of captive.
! For a time the enterprise SCENE,
hopeless. Footsore andweary he reach
r ed the Danube, and there he learae'
that a castle in Tenebreuse contalner
S solitary prisoner, WHO; when he wa
tired of composing verses and toun'
the hours hanging heavy on his hand:
was not above indulglng in convivi
allty with his guards.
Blondel could not learn the name c
. the captive, but from the description h
} was convinced that his search had nc
been made in vain. Arriving one eve
ing under the tall, frowning walls of th
] dungeon, he struck his lutte ard began
song that the king and he hau Hmpo
ed together.
No sooner had Blondel finished tn
first stanza than, to his JOY, notes O
t music seemed to come from the turre
: far above in the misty moonlight and
deep toned voice sung the second. |
! was enough. DiOuuCi hSCuSu III III ti'S
proof to tell him that the solitary cap
S tive was King Richard himself. Witt
} winged feet the light hearted minstre
iourneyed back to England, where h
related his good tidings.
The people hearing that their kin!
was alive, parted with their jewels, ant
the churches melted down the plate tt
provide a ransom for him. In gooC
s time Richard returned and all England
and Normandy was filled with festlvit.
and rejoicing.
So Blondei, by his wit and his harI
and his faithfulness, performed what al
; the mailed knights in England coult
i not have done-rescued King Rlchart
i from his dungeon and restored him tt
his kingdom.
1t SAID that he and Richard after
ward sung many songs together, bu
that the king never more spoke light.
. of a mlnstrel's wit and skill.