almost to shine in the light which they shed. 'Poor youth,'
said she then, 'you love truly, and can well understand how
a lofty woman's heart burns in keenest sorrow when a noble
knight, who vowed himself to be her own, withdraws his heart,
and, like a weak bondman, is led away to meaner hopes.'
Hereupon she arose, and, sighing, disappeared in yonder
thicket. It almost seemed to me, Froda, as though she uttered
your name."

"Yes, it was me she named," answered Froda; "and not in vain
she named me. Aslauga, thy knight comes, and enters the
lists, and all for thee and thy reward alone! At the same
time, my Edchen, we will win for you your haughty bride."
With this he sprang upon his steed, full of the proud joy of
former times; and when the magic of Hildegardis' beauty,
dazzling and bewildering, would rise up before him, he said,
smiling, "Aslauga!" and the sun of his inner life shone forth
again cloudless and serene.




CHAPTER III.



>From a balcony of her castle on the Maine Hildegardis was wont
to refresh herself in the cool of the evening by gazing on the
rich landscape below, but gazing more eagerly on the glitter
of arms, which often came in sight from many a distant road;