Historical Tales, Vol 5 (of 15) - The Romance of Reality, German by Charles Morris
page 52 of 289 (17%)
page 52 of 289 (17%)
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that it was their custom to bind the captured women and maidens with
their own long hair as fetters, and drive them, thus bound, in flocks to Hungary. We may conclude with a touching story told of these unquiet and misery-haunted times. Ulrich, Count of Linzgau, was, so the story goes, taken prisoner by the Magyars, and long held captive in their hands. Wendelgarde, his beautiful wife, after waiting long in sorrow for his return, believed him to be dead, and resolved to devote the remainder of her life to charity and devotion. Crowds of beggars came to her castle gates, to whom she daily distributed alms. One day, while she was thus engaged, one of the beggars suddenly threw his arms around her neck and kissed her. Her attendants angrily interposed, but the stranger waved them aside with a smile, and said,-- "Forbear, I have endured blows and misery enough during my imprisonment without needing more from you; I am Ulrich, your lord." Truly, in this instance, charity brought its reward. _THE MISFORTUNES OF DUKE ERNST._ In the reign of Conrad II., Emperor of Germany, took place the event which we have now to tell, one of those interesting examples of romance which give vitality to history. On the death of Henry II., the last of the great house of the Othos, a vast assembly from all the states of the |
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