Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1896-05-08
THE TWO KNIGHTS.

Two knights dwelt at the court of Rome
many years ago who shed a lustcr over it
by their deeds of valor. For years they had
fought in the tournaments and had taken
pilgrimages to distant lands, bringing
home the pledges of their victories.
One night Sir Guido, one of these
knights, had dream. He saw radiant
image before him and heard it speak.
"Why rest ye here, Sir Guido? Arise,
take thy sword and depart to the east.
where tho holy sepulchor is resting among
the inildels Fight for the glory of the
cross and conqucr'
But, said Sir Guido, II have fought
much and often"
Yea answered the celestial visitor,
you have fought much and often but
you have fought for the glory of man.
Now hear me and give heed Depart and
fight for tho glory of the cross and the res
cue of the holy sepulchcrp'
Then the vision melted from view and
Sir Guido awoke The next day he told
Sir Tyrius. the other brave knight of the
vision. ard they called their vassals to-
gether and departed for the east. When
they came to the borders of Dacia, Chris
tian land overrun by the intidels, Sir Gut
do said:
Sir Tyrius, my brother, let us here sop
arate l will go on to the Holy Land, but
you stay here and free this king from his
enemies, and shall return and meet you
here FAREWELL
And so they each went his way. Sir
Guido reached his destination in safety,
after performing marvellous feats on the
way. Years passed by, and the fight ragged,
but Sir Guido held the cross aloft, ever
above the crescent. And in time the inf
dels were put down and the sepulcher was
gained. Then Sir Guido turned his steps
homeward.
In the meantime Sir Tyrius had entered
Dacia and was warmly greeted by the
king
There he performed great deeds, as his
friend and brother knight did in the Holy
Land. The inlldes succumbed to his pow
er and were driven out of the land. Then
thanks and rewards were rained upon
Tyrius. and the king considered no mark
of esteem too high to be bestowed upon
the savior of his throne.
But can greatness ever come to man.
be he ever so just and good, without bring
ing jealousy to the hearts of the smallf
And Tyrius though he deserved all that
was given to him, had in time to drink
the drop of bitterness from the cup of joy
There lived at the Dacian court a knight
called Sir Plebius. He had seven sons-tall,
stalwart youths, all skilled in the use of
arms and well acquainted with the sports
of the day But Plebius was greater than
all his SONS Until the coming of Sir Tyri-
us he was deemed the greatest warrior of
his time And now to be superseded by II
stranger was as gall and wormwood to the
proud knight
AT first he feared Tyrius, but fear soon
gave place to hatred, and hatred begot
thoughts of revenge. At last came an OPP
port unity for him to work out his scheme.
The king was loud in his praises of Sir
Tyrius, but Plebius remained silent. The
! king questioned his silence, and then, as
| if in great burst of love and sorrow PIE
bus told the king that Sir Tyrius aimed
at obtaining the crown for himself. With
much subtle acting and careful distorting
of the words and actions of Sir Tyrius he
succeeded in poisoning the mind of the
monarch against the noble knight.
1t is not hard to make right conduct
seem wrong to the wicked, nor is it hard
10 believe wrong of one we have reason to
fear And the king, jealous of the knights
greatness and power, was an easy victim
10 the Vaccinations of an intriguing mind.
He called Sir Tyrius before him and ac
oused him of treason and ingratitude.
Coz said the king II have honored
you much ! would have honored You
more | give you your life in return for
the deeds that you have done for me, but
leave my kingdom on pain Of DEATH
Alas. alas" cried Sir Tyrus Where
can 90 in my poverty
But the sons of plebius gave him no
the city gates where, exhausted with
grief he sank down by the wayside.
He had not been there long when tall
man approached him.
O." Friend, said the stranger, whose dress
betokrncd him palmer and whose wruicd
locks showed that lac had Travelled far,
friend whence art thou?'
AIMS, answered Sir Tyrius, Il am
from Rome, which, seven years ago, left
with my friend We parted near here
and he went to the Holy Land Woe is
me for Know not whether he be alive or
dead And T. All these years have lived
here but now must | seek "A new home. ="
And he buried his face in his hands
| am weary friend. For the sake of
your lost brother knight will you let me
rest my head upon your knees while |
sleepy'
And Sir TyriCs, forgetting his own sor-
row IN seeing the suffering of fellow
creature, did rs he was asked
Soon the palmer slept, his cowl nearly
covering his face SO that Sir Tyrius could
not see how he looked But suddenly a
little snow white weasel came from the
mouth of the sleeping man and ran across
the fields to distant hill where it disap-
peared from view. While sir Tyrius still
looked in wonderment he saw the weasel
return and enter again the mouth of the
palmer soon afterward the holy man
lwoke,
Il dreamed" said he, THAT a snow
white weasel came from my mouth and
ran to yonder hill. And then l thought II
returned aud re-entered my mouth"
You did not dream, said Iyrius foI
I saw this strange thing. know not what
the weasel did in yonder hill, but l saw
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