Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-09-12
THE TWO KNIGHTS.

Two knights dwelt at the court of Rome
many years ago who shed luster over 1t
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 1t speak.
"Why rest ye here Sir GuidoS Arise,
take thy sword and depart to the east,
where the holy sepuloher is resting among
the infldels! Fight for the glory OF the
cross and conquerP'
But" said Sir Guido, ~ 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 the glory of the cross and the res
cue Of the holy sepulcher!'
Then the vision melted from view and
Sir Guido awoke. The next day he told
Sir Tyrius the other brave knight, OF the
vision, and 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 infdels, Sir Gull
do said:
"Sir Tyrius, my brother, let us here sep
arate. 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 60 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 infdels sucoumbed to his pow
or 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 smallP
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 knight
called Sir Plebius. He had seven sons--tall,
stalwart youths, all skilled In the use Of
arms and we'll 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 q
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 op-
portunity 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
- S~>S
monarch against the noble knight
It is not hard to make right conduct
seem wrong to the wicked, nor Is 1t hard
| to believe wrong Of one we have reason to
fear. And the king, jealous of the knights
greatness and power, was an easy victim
to the Vaccinations of an intriguing mind.
He called Sir Tyrius before him and &C.
cused him of treason and ingratitude.
| "GoP' said the king. II have honored
you much; would have honored you
more. I give you your life in return for
the deeds that you have done for me, but
leave my kingdom on pain of death J"
"Alas, alas!' cried Sir Tyrius. where
can GO in my poverty"
But the sons OF Plebius gave him no
time to lament. They drove him out Of
| the city gates, where, exhausted with
grief, he sank down by the wayside.
He had not been there long when tall
! man approached him.
Friend, said the stranger, whose dress
betokened him palmer and whose wearied
looks showed that he had travelled far,
friend, whence art thou?"
"Alas," answered Sir Tyrius, II am
| from Rome, which, seven years ago, left
with my friend. We parted near here
and he went to the Holy Land. Woe II
/ me, for know not whether he be alive Of
dead. And II All these years have I lived
here, but now must seek new home. :
And he buried his face In his hands.
II am weary, friend. For the sake o.
your lost brother knight will you let mt
rest my head upon your knees while
sleepy"
i And Sir Tyrius, forgetting his own sor
row In seeing the suffering Of fellow
creature, did as he was asked.
| Soon the palmer slept, his oowl nearl,
covering his face 90 that Sir Tyrius coult
| not zee how he looked. But suddenly /
little snow white weasel came from thu
mouth Of the sleeping man and ran acros
the fields to distant hill, where 1t disap
peared from view. While Sir Tyrius still
looked In wonderment he saw the wease
return and enter again the mouth Of tn
palmer Soon afterward the holy maj
awoke.
1 II dreamed, said he, '.thAt q snow
white weasel came from my mouth ant
ran to yonder hill. And then thought 4
returned and re-entered my mouth"
"You did not dream, said Tyrius, $50
| / saw this strange thing. / know not wha
the weasel did In yonder hill, but saw
him we'll with my waking eyes"
LET US 60 and see" said the palmer
"Perchanoe we may ind treasure"
When they reached the hill, dark, over
hanging crags half hid cave from view
Stepping into the darkness, they beheld |
} dragon, slain, and In it, akin great treas
ure Of gold and silver and precious stones