How two Strangers (a Lady and a Knight) suddenly arrived,
and how the Lady told a marvellous Story of a Ring.
There were indeed many horses, from which had alighted a number of
well-dressed squires, (or serving-men at arms,) who were already busily
employed in pitching on the meadow handsome ornamental tents, coloured
red, blue, green, and yellow. Then there came a most beautiful lady,
with a train of female attendants, all on horseback, and a knight in
full armour was waiting to receive her, by whom she was lifted from
her white palfrey with great respect and attention. Thereafter it
was a pleasure to see how the lady and knight walked backwards and
forwards for pastime on the green level plain; the former dressed in
sky-blue velvet, with a border of rich gold embroidery; the latter
in a black coat of mail, yet finely burnished and inlaid with many
emblematic devices in bright silver. His appearance altogether was
not a little strange and mysterious, the fashion of his accoutrements
being such as Bertha and Otto had till now never beheld. His demeanour,
though courteous, was grave and solemn; yet, as he wore no helmet,
they perceived that he was a young man of very agreeable and sprightly
features.
The two strangers, in the course of their walk, came very near the spot
where Otto and Bertha were stationed, who of course greeted them with
a respectful salutation. The lady returned this compliment, and her
looks seemed irresistibly attracted by the tall graceful figures of
the young people. She made a signal that they should approach nearer,
and began a conversation, from which she learned at once the whole
history of their peaceful, regular, and happy life. Their narrative,
indeed, was so short and simple, and had so few adventures, that more
words would have been superfluous. With a melancholy smile then the
lady turned to her companion; “Count Archimbald,” said she, “if we were
called on to narrate our history, could the task have been so easily
accomplished? And yet,” said she, turning to the young couple, “it
seems to me as if I had incurred a debt which I must compensate, by
telling you the strange events of my pilgrimage. You will no doubt find
some entertainment therein; and methinks it is only your modesty and
polite behaviour that prevent you from asking who we are, and what has
brought us hither? But since you have spoken so kindly and confidently
to me, I should be very ungrateful if I wrapt myself any longer under
the veil of mystery. Come then with us.”
With these words, Otto and Bertha were led by the stranger into one
of the tents, which were by this time already spread. The lady seated
herself on a sofa, and made them take their places beside her. Count
Archimbald went out to make divers arrangements as to his little camp,
and, in a few minutes, the lady began the following narration:--
“My name is Gabrielle, and I am descended from the ancient race of
Portamour.--Being from my earliest infancy an orphan, I yet frequently
heard from the people to whom I was given in charge, that I ought to
be one of the noblest and richest ladies in all France, were it not
for the absence of a certain ring, which a countess of the Norman
family Montfaucon had contrived to get into her possession; and which
had been inherited by her daughter, who was about the same age with
myself. So the ring was constantly held out to me as the most desirable
and important of all worldly possessions;--whether waking or asleep,
I thought and dreamed but of this alone, knowing that this wonderful
gem would not only convey to me some extensive territories, but,
what was far more important in my estimation, would bring along with
it the knowledge of several magical spells, and even a commanding
influence over the world of spirits. Judge what were my feelings,
when one evening at the King’s court, where I had just then made my
first appearance, a young lady was introduced, by name Blanchefleur
de Montfaucon, on whose beautiful hand (for she was indeed very
beautiful) I directly recognized the ring, which, from the frequent
descriptions that I had heard of it, was perfectly known to me! To
get this treasure into my own possession was, for the first time, an
easy task; for, during the festival, we were to pass the night in
the same chamber, and Blanchefleur having carelessly taken it from
her finger, I seized on my own family-property as soon as she fell
asleep. Next morning she scarcely seemed to regret her loss; but, after
searching for a few moments in vain, she went away gayly to attend the
tournament, which had just then begun. Thither I followed her, and
soon after we had taken our places, a graceful and warlike knight rode
up towards her, who, as I understand, was her brother, Sir Folko de
Montfaucon. His bright falconlike eyes had, in a moment, observed the
absence of the ring on her finger, and its appearance on mine. After
having interchanged a few words with his sister, he came to me with
looks respectful indeed, but grave and determined; then, pointing his
lance to the ground, ‘Lady,’ said he, ‘may it please you to select a
champion, with whom I may try my fortune in the lists, and from whom
I may win back that ring which now shines on your beautiful hand, but
which belongs to my sister, Blanchefleur?’ Of course I did according
as he desired; but, in consequence of this agreement, one of the most
renowned and skilful knights in France, whom I had chosen for my
defender, was thrown prostrate on the sand, so quickly and decisively,
that, according to the rules of the combat, I had no alternative
left, but must immediately restore to him the family-jewel, which I
had possessed for so short a while,--to be given back to his admired
sister, Blanchefleur.
“I wept bitterly, and retired to my chamber, where I would not listen
to the messages of my friends and youthful companions, who wished
me to join with them in the amusements appointed for that afternoon
and evening. I spoke harshly too with my attendant, when she brought
into the room a finely-made fishing-rod, inlaid with mother-of-pearl,
with a golden line and silver hook, which I was to have used on the
following day at a gay party on the water. But of what consequence
were to me such diversions now that I had lost my ring! The girl,
discontentedly, set the fishing-rod in the window-corner, and, as I
would not notice her, left me alone to weep. Towards evening I became
more tranquil, and the loud laughing of my young companions, who were
playing at ball in the garden, induced me at last to look through
the window. Then I observed that Blanchefleur, feeling that her ring
was inconvenient, took it from her finger, laid it on a moss-covered
seat under my window, and thoughtlessly ran back to her game. With a
beating heart and anxious wishes, I drew open the lattice, upon which
motion the fishing-rod, as if offering its services, fell into my arms.
I immediately made a trial,--found that the golden line reached down
to the ring, which, on the first touch, as if I had been assisted by
magic, attached itself to the hook, and was drawn up and received by me
with a thousand kisses.
“My triumph, however, was again but short-lived. No sooner had
the childish Blanchefleur complained to her brother, and the ring
been observed on my finger, (for I was too proud to conceal what I
supposed to be my own property,) than he again requested that I would
appoint a champion to defend my cause. And how could any one resist
the giant strength of Sir Folko? My new warrior was overthrown like
his predecessor; and this time Blanchefleur gave the ring into her
brother’s care, so that I had less hope than ever of regaining it.
However, I did not fail to keep constantly in view an object which
was so dear to me; and one day, when, after a hunting-party, we were
resting beneath a tree almost without branches, some one said, that
it would be quite impossible to climb to the top of it. Then, in a
tone of mockery, I challenged Sir Folko de Montfaucon to make a trial
of his hitherto invincible powers in this adventure. Just as I had
hoped, his ambition and excessive delight in all knightly exercises
made him quite lose sight of every other consideration. Consequently
he laid the ring, which he generally wore always on his finger, on the
grass, because it hindered him in climbing, then began his endeavours.
I understood afterwards, that, after many vain attempts, he succeeded
in reaching the top of the tree; but meanwhile, I had, unobserved,
availed myself of the opportunity to seize on my treasure, and was on
my way to England, in order that, in the court of King Richard Cœur de
Lion, I might find out a knight able to maintain my rights against the
frightfully victorious Folko de Montfaucon.
“The great King Richard received me with all the courtesy which was to
be expected from that mirror of knighthood; and when I besought him to
grant me a protector, he made his most chosen favourite, and brother
in the battle-field, be introduced, commanding him to kneel down, and
beg for the honour of devoting his life to my service. How proud then
was I, and with what indifferent and cold looks did I soon afterwards
see Folko de Montfaucon enter the English court in order to renew the
combat for the ring! Alas! my hopes were then vain. I should have
known that the English champions, however brave and steadfast, are
yet inferior to the French in the sports of the tournament. Indeed,
my valiant defender, conscious of this, had insisted, as a condition
of the fight, that it was not to be decided by the lance only, but
that the vanquished party might maintain his rights afterwards with
the sword. In consequence of that precaution, Folko’s victory was
more laborious and more honourable, but by no means less certain or
less decisive. My champion was carried insensible, with three sword
wounds, out of the lists, and Folko at the same moment kneeled before
me, requesting that I would give him back the ring. The generous King
Richard addressed him, saying, that he should be satisfied with having
thus maintained and supported his pretensions in the combat, but as
for the ring, he should leave it in the hands of the fair lady to whom
the possession of it was evidently so very dear. ‘Most noble king
and pattern of all Christian knights,’ said Folko, ‘if it depended
on myself alone, this beautiful lady should most certainly remain in
undisturbed possession of the ring; nay, my life should be sacrificed
if it would offer any compensation for the tears with which her bright
eyes are now clouded; but the jewel is the property of my sister,
Blanchefleur de Montfaucon, as whose champion I have now the honour of
appearing here; and, as your majesty best knows, a knight dare not give
away the rights of her for whom he has fought in the lists.’
“To this King Richard could not make any reply; and I was obliged to
leave the court once more deprived of my ring, and in deep melancholy.
Yet I lingered for some time in that country, hoping that, as Sir Folko
had been always so fortunate in arms, I might yet get the better of
him by stratagem and artifice. Accordingly I learned that he intended
making a journey into Wales, in order to behold with his own eyes the
fortresses and ruined castles where, in old times, King Arthur, and
his knights of the round table, had fought and banquetted. Determined
to brave all dangers, I ventured before him among the Welsh mountains,
and, disguising myself in an old rusty coat of mail and helmet, with
the visor down, I waited for him in a retired valley, through which
I knew that he must of necessity pass. He came up in due time, and
in a deep rough voice, which my closed visor helped me to disguise,
I challenged him to an immediate and mortal combat. He demanded to
know my name, and the cause of my challenge, but I declined giving
that information, and affected to think that he only sought a pretext
to evade our engagement. Furiously incensed, he then leaped from his
horse, (as I was on foot), with his armour and weapons rattling and
glancing, so that I had almost fainted from terror. I recovered myself,
however, and said to him, that I would not fight with him till he had
taken his enchanted ring from his finger, as it was well known that
this alone made him invincible, and that without such aid he was weak
and cowardly as a child. With an exclamation of anger and contempt,
he then pulled off his iron glove, threw the ring down on the grass,
which I directly seized upon, at the same moment throwing off my
visor’d helmet, and saying,--‘Now, perhaps, Sir Folko de Montfaucon
will recognize Gabrielle de Portamour, and he will doubtless have too
much generosity to take the ring from a young damsel who has here no
protector, or even to delay her intended journey.’ He bowed, and was
silent. After a pause, however, he said, ‘I shall have the honour,
lady, to meet you again in inhabited places, where you will doubtless
find a choice of defenders.’ Thereupon I directly made my escape, and
having my attendants in waiting with my horses, I rode away as fast as
possible to the sea-shore, where I was lucky enough to find a ship that
brought me over in safety, and with favourable winds, to Germany, which
country I now preferred to France, because I had heard that it was the
very temple and chief resort of brave and generous knights.
“Accordingly, since I came thither, the noble Count Archimbald of
Waldeck has sworn that he will be my champion and defender of my
rights; so that I have scarcely any farther anxiety, as he is so
renowned a warrior, and has yet never been subdued in any rencontre.
Consequently, also, I wear the blue and gold colours of the Montfaucon
family, in order to indicate the claims which the ring gives me over
their property. Houses and lands, however, I shall willingly leave
in their power, provided I can still retain my beloved and wonderful
ring. Perhaps the frightful Folko has by this time given up thoughts
of it; for since our parting in Wales I have not seen him; so that
I may applaud my own artifice and resolution, thus affording me an
opportunity of becoming gradually acquainted with the wonderful
properties of the jewel, which hitherto I had known only by dark and
mysterious rumours.”
Otto and Bertha expressed in courteous and well-chosen words their
gratitude to the noble lady for her interesting story. Bertha
then said, in a low timid voice,--“This ring must surely be very
beautiful.”--“I shall shew it to you most willingly,” said the smiling
Gabrielle, thereupon drawing it, suspended on a gold chain, from her
snow-white bosom. It was fashioned as follows: Two serpents of the
purest gold were intertwined with each other, on whose heads were
crowns of rubies; on the circle were engraved characters such as Otto
could not read; but he remembered having seen such before on very old
weapons in his father’s armoury. He knew also, that they were called
Runic letters, and had their origin in distant countries of the north.
Over and between the serpents’ crowns was a bright green stone, which
in colour might be compared to the waters of the Danube, but Gabrielle
said that its hues were exactly like those of the sea.
While the young people were thus admiring the jewel, and wondering at
the strange characters, (the tent being now brightly illuminated,) the
curtain at the entrance was drawn aside, and Sir Archimbald entered,
followed by another knight.