Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-27

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abbcss and her nuns rose and bowed
to her, while one offered her the chair
of state that was set apart to be used
by the bishop in his visitations.
"Nay,' said the queen, mock me
with no honora BILE seat who come here
as humble suppliant."
| So down she went upon the marble
| floor with all her ladies and the follow.
/ ing women, while the solemn Saracens
| looked at her wondering and the
| knights and mobiles massed themselves
behind
what can we give you, o queen
asked the abbess. who have nothing
left save our treasure to which you are
most welcome, our honor and our
! livesT"
ALAS" answered the royal lady
"Alas that must say It. I come to
ask the life Of one of you"
"Of whom. o queen"
Sybilla lifted her head, and with her
outstretched arm pointed to ROsamund,
who stood above them al hy the high
| altar
For a moment Rosamund turned
pale, then spoke in a steady voice:
Say what service can my poor life
be to you, o queen, and by whom Is it
sought:'
Thrice Sybilla strove to answer, and
at last murmured:
Il cannot. Let the ENJOYS give her
the letter. IL she is able to read their
tongue"
Il am able" answered Rosamund.
and Saracen emlr drew forth q roll
and laid it against his forehead, then
gave it to the abbess. who brought it
TO Rosamund. With her dagger blade
she cut its silk, opened 1t and read
aloud, always In the same quiet voice,
translatlng as she read:
In the name OF Allah the one. the all
merciful. to my niece. aforetime the Prln-
cess OF Baalbec, Rosamund Darcy by
name, now a fugitive hidden In n convent
Of the Franks in the city el-Kuds Lsh-
sheriff, the holy city OF Jerusalem:
Mccall my promises to You I have
performed and more. since for your sake
1 spared the lives of your cousins, the
twin knights. But you have repaid mo
with inSratitude and triokcry, sfter the
manner of those of your false and accurs-
cd faith and have ned from me. | prom
isod you also, again and yet again, that
If you attempted this thing death should
be youy portion. No longer, therefore, are
you tho Princess OF BaalHec, but only an
escaped Christian slave and as such DOOM
ed TO die whenever my sword reaches
you.
or my vision concerning you, which
caused me to bring you to the east from
| England. you know well. Repeat II in
your heart before you answer. Tina,
vision told me that by your nobleness and
sacrifice you should save tho lives OF
many. ! demanded that you should be
brought back TO me. and the request was
refused-why, it matters not Now l UNI
derstand the reason-that this was sc
ordained. ! demand no more that force
should be used to you. / demand that you
shall come of your own FREQ will to suf'
fer the bitter and shameful reward OF
your sin. or If YOU so desire, bide where
you are OF your own free will and be
dealt with as God shall decree
This hangs upon your Judgment: II YOU
como and ask II of me. / will consider
the question of tho sparing of Jerusalem
and its inhabitants. If you refuse tc
come, ! will certainly put every ono OF
them to the sword. save such of tho
women and children as may be kept fol
slaves, Decide, thSn, niece, and quickly
whether you viii return with my cnvoy'
or bidc where they find YOU.
yVeAUF SALAH-ED-DIN.