Stilfrid and Brunswik/Brunswik
Brunswik.
FTER the death of Stilfrid, Brunswik his son took possession of all his lands and all his goods. And he began to rule them with great diligence, making use of the counsel of the elders, according to the direction and instruction of his father. He knew how to honour all persons according to their rank, persons lay, and persons spiritual, orphans, widows, damsels, ladies; for he was an honourable and very noble prince, so that they spake a good report of him in all other countries.
Two years and three months after the death of his father, Brunswik called to mind the excellence of his father, and what good he had done and won for the land of Bohemia in his lifetime. Then he said to his wife: “My Neomenia! I give thee to know this, that I intend to ride forth and seek honour for my nation, for it is not seemly for any brave man to die without doing something that shall be memorable after him. My father won an eagle in his lifetime, and, please God, I intend to win a lion. And now a ring I give thee as a token, and take thy ring from thy finger, that thou mayest trust no man, unless thou seest this thy ring thyself. Mark it well; if thou seest it not in seven years, know that I am no more. And as to what I have devised in my mind, that will I do and nought else, should I lose my life for it.” Neomenia began to weep sorrowfully, saying: “Woe is me, unhappy woman! to whom dost thou commit me, my dearest lord My father and mother are very far from me, to whom shall I look for comfort?” Saith Brunswik: “Dear queen! I depart not from thee so lightly as thou thinkest; I will send for thy father, that he may govern my possessions in my stead, and aid and counsel thee. I shall not commit thee to any one save thy father, and be assured of this; if it is sorrow to thee, that I depart from thee, it is much greater sorrow to me; but now it cannot be otherwise.” Saith Queen Neomenia: “If it were sorrow to thee, thou wouldest of right come from far to me and comfort me; but now, alas! I see that thou desirest to forget me; woe is me, that I have lived to see this!” And embracing him with great weeping, she lamented over him, and began to entreat him to bethink himself and remain with her. Saith Brunswik with a loud voice: “Weep not, dearest lady! I alter not my word; for the words of a prince cannot go back, neither, please God, shall they go back.”
Meanwhile he sent for his father to come to her, and ordered thirty horses to be saddled. And he rode into divers lands, winning himself a good name, and at length he rode so far, that he could not ride further because of the waters. And when they came to the sea, as he rode on the shore, he bethought himself what he should do; and obtaining a ship, embarked with his men.
When he had been a quarter of a year voyaging on the sea, one night a great wind arose on the sea, and the sea becaming boisterous, the waves rose up mightily and buffeted the ship, so that sometimes it was three ells under water. Brunswik was in great danger, so that it is written of him, that when he was in this great storm, the raging and roaring of the sea with the mighty wind drove the ship far out of its course, so that it now approached the Yak-stone mountain.[1]
When the mariners perceived this, great was their weeping, wailing and lamenting, and they spake, saying: “Now doth misfortune meet us!” And so, alas! it came to pass. When they were fifty miles from the mountain, they were smitten by an exceedingly great flash and a mighty scent from the Yak-stone mountain, so that in a moment it drew them all to it. Now the mountain possesses this power: whatever is within fifty miles of it on every side, whether people, birds, fish, logs or sea-creatures, it draws to it in a moment, and every thing must stay for ever beside the Yak-stone mountain. Beneath the mountain there is nothing save a very beautiful island, named Zelator, which word signifieth pleasant and delightful.
Brunswik, finding himself on this with his company, began to be very sorrowful. And he saw on the island many decayed ships and likewise great heaps of bones of men and other animals. Brunswik, seeing these things, began to be very downcast, yet partly cheered himself, saying: “He who sits at home in his chamber meets with misfortunes; neither can any man speak of aught, unless he experiences adventures, which he afterwards relates to others.” And so long as they had provisions, so long were they all merry; when there were no provisions more, then were they in great fear. Then they made divers attempts with great art, endeavouring to depart, but their art availed them little; if they sailed half a mile away, in a moment they found themselves back again at the island. Then, as they knew not what to do and were in great want of provisions, they began to eat their horses, hoping always that God would shew them mercy. Afterwards, when there were no more horses, they began to eat each other, always hoping that God would have compassion upon them.
The third year now came and Brunswik was left alone with an old knight, whose name was Balad, He said to Brunswik: “Dear lord! thy dear lady knoweth not thine adventure, neither do they know what has happened to us.” Brunswik heard these words and was very sorrowful. Then said Balad: “Be not sorrowful, my dear lord! If thou wilt hearken to me, I will give thee such counsel, that thou shalt escape hence, but I know not whether thou wilt then go far or near. I am now old and care not; I must now remain here; but if ever thou comest to happiness, think on my faithful service.” Saith Brunswik: “Faithful knight of mine! how can it be possible for me to escape hence? For I have heard, that whoso comes to the Yak-stone mountain must remain there for ever.” Saith Balad: “There is a bird called ‘Noh,’ and its wont is to fly hither once every year and in a moment to seize what corpses there are remaining and fly away; and it well knows the hour when it ought to come. This bird will take thee away, if thou wilt, but further than that I know not what will happen.” Saith Brunswik: “Faithful Balad! indeed this is good counsel; if I could but get out of this prison, it would not be a sorrow to me to die; and perhaps it may yet come to pass, that I shall return to mine own country.”
Then Balad took a horse’s hide and smeared it well with blood, and put Brunswik within, and sewed him well up with a thong and placed him on the mountain. On the ninth day the Noh appeared, flying up at its proper time, and in a moment seized and flew away with him to desolate mountains at such a distance, that a foot passenger could not reach them in three years from the Yak-stone mountain. And on the third day the Noh took him and cast him among her young ones for them to eat; and leaving him there, flew away for another dainty. And when they pecked the hide around him, Brunswik, knowing no other counsel, drew his sword and leapt out and cut off their heads. Here Brunswik played the part of a valiant man, for it was very needful for him so to do. And it is written in other books of these birds, that each of them is so strong, that he can take up a horse on each talon, and so large, that he steps from one mountain to another; and on each foot he has three talons. And there are not many of these birds, for they slay and eat each other.
And when Brunswik had done this, and the Lord God had aided him to kill them, he marvelled thereat, and began with great fear to traverse those desolate mountains, for there was neither bird nor beast there. And when Brunswik had wandered thence nine days and nine nights and had always come to greater and more desolate mountains, it came to pass that he entered into a deep valley. There he heard a noise and great tumult, and stopped, listening how the tumult continually increased. And approaching nearer he saw a lion and a dragon fighting together. Then Brunswik stood still and began to consider, saying: “Now, O God, which shall I aid? It was for that beast, the lion, that I rode out of mine own land; likewise I am in great fear and know not what will become of me. Therefore I must needs aid the lion, come what will.” So drawing his sword, he rushed up to the dragon and began to fight with it, defending the lion, for the lion was in great straits. The dragon had nine heads, from each of which fire issued, as from a forge. Again was Brunswik in great danger, for the dragon burned him greatly, and on the other hand he feared the lion also, and thus thought himself in two-fold danger. The lion, seing the great faithfulness of Brunswik, fell on the ground and rested, for the dragon had greatly wounded it; while Brunswik so fought with the dragon, that he had hewn off six of its heads. Then the dragon became furiously enraged, and smote Brunswik even to the ground many times with its flame, so that he became faint and weary, and now defended himself with great difficulty. Seeing this, the lion bestirred himself, and tore it with great wrath into halves, and rent it into small pieces.
Brunswik, seeing so great power in the lion, began to be afraid of it, lest it should do the same to him. So he went away, desiring to escape from the lion. But the lion would not leave him, for whithersoever Brunswik turned himself, he always saw the lion behind him; and for some days he went on day and night, endeavouring to escape from the lion. And taking acorns and beechmast into his bosom, for other food there he had none, he climbed an exceedingly high tree, to see whether the lion would meanwhile go away anywhither. There he sat on that high tree three days and three nights, and the lion sat all the time under the tree looking upwards. The lion was very sorrowful, that Brunswik would not trust it, and in distress roared so mightily, that the earth quaked thereat, and Brunswik fell in great fear from the tree and hurt himself greatly. The lion, seeing this, went quickly away, dug up certain roots, brought them in his mouth and laid them on Brunswik, so that in a short time he was whole. Here again evil befel Brunswik, for he fell from a high tree, but when the lion helped him, he loved it greatly and never distrusted it any more.
After this fall Brunswik sat in great weakness from hunger, having nothing to eat; and the lion, seeing his hunger, went and caught a roe, brought it and tore it into halves, and taking it into his own mouth, baked it there with as great heat as in the hottest bake-house, and then took it out and set it before him. Brunswik now seeing the great faithfulness of the lion, loved it exceedingly, and the lion reverently lying down beside him, laid its head on his lap. Then Brunswik began to stroke and caress it.
Afterwards Brunswik, having gained strength, arose and went among great forests from mountain to mountain, and thus again wandered full three years on those great and desolate mountains, the lion always following him and providing him with food. And when it came to pass that he came on to an exceedingly high mountain, he clomb a tree, to see whether he could espy a castle or town. Looking on every side he espied a castle in the sea very far off, and coming down he kneeled on his knees and besought the Lord God to deliver him out of that wandering; for he knew nought else, but whithersoever his eyes took him and his mind led him, thither he went. And having considered the way to the castle, he proceeded thitherward. And when he had been on his way fifteen days, he came out of those desolate mountains on to the shore of a desolate sea, and standing by the sea began to consider how he might reach the castle. Not knowing what else to devise, he began with his sword to cut stakes and faggots, and the lion collected them together. Then he constructed himself a broad raft and launched it on the water and embarked upon it. Just at that time the lion had stayed away a little longer than usual, seeking food, and Brunswik, wishing to escape from the lion, thrust himself from the shore. Just then the lion came up, bearing a wild swine in his mouth, and becoming enraged sprang after Brunswik, bearing the swine in his mouth, so that he barely sprang on to the raft with his forefeet, and thus with two feet the lion held fast the raft and swam a good while. Brunswik, seeing again that the lion would never leave him, began with great difficulty to help him, till he helped him onto the raft. Here again Brunswik was in great danger, scarcely being able to keep himself on the raft so as not to fall into the sea; and though he did keep himself on the raft, yet he was always sitting in the water, sometimes up to his neck, sometimes to his waist. And thus he floated in the water eighteen days, the lion sitting at one end of the raft, and he at the other, and thus they saved each other from drowning. Nine days and nine nights did the sea sport with them, and for another nine days and nights they found themselves in great darkness between mountains. When he approached one mountain, he saw from afar how the mountain gleamed like fire. Then, drawing his sword and sailing under it, he gave it a mighty blow, so that he hewed off a piece about the bigness of a man’s head. That mountain was a very pure carbuncle, and the light therefrom guided them till they issued from those mountains and dark places. And when he approached the castle, he marvelled how divers sea creatures were around it.
The castle was very beautiful, but there were sea creatures everywhere upon it. Then said Brunswik to himself: “Betide evil or good, I must enter that castle, if I am to suffer I know not what.” And when he entered the castle, again did great fear take possession of him, when he saw how the king of the city, Olibrius, had eyes before and behind, and eighteen fingers on each hand, and on each foot eighteen toes. And around him he saw a multitude of divers people, some with one eye, others with one foot, many with horns over their eyes, others with two heads, others with dog’s heads, others half grey and half white, others humped like camels and others red like foxes. Then fear began to take possession of Brunswik, for the cry and noise from them was great; for some howled, others growled and others screamed, thus serving their king. Brunswik began to retire, wishing to quit the castle. Olibrius, seeing this, saith to him: “Brunswik! I know thy good name, although it hath never come to pass in our regions, that such a man hath been seen among us; hast thou therefore come voluntarily or perforce?” Saith Brunswik: “Dear king! of my own will indeed did I ride abroad out of mine own country, but now, alas! this mine unhappy adventure befalleth me perforce.” Saith King Olibrius: “Brunswik! I believe that thou must abide with us perforce; nevertheless, if thou wilt bind thyself to one thing and recover my daughter Africa, who hath been imprisoned three years by the dragon Basiliscus in a castle named Arabia on a desolate sea three hundred miles hence, know that I will help thee to thy country and let thee go through the iron gate,”—over which King Olibrius had power, but in no other way was it possible for Brunswik to go save through that gate. Then saith Brunswik: “O king! in the first place this is marvellous to me, that, without having ever seen me, thou namest me; and as to what thou sayest concerning thy daughter, thou puttest me upon a hard matter; nevertheless, if thou wilt fulfil what thou promisest, I will attempt it, taking my God for my help.” And the king promised him and honoured him greatly.
Then Brunswik commanded a ship to be got ready on the third day, on board whereof he took provisions to last for five months, and embarked with the lion and departed. And when he arrived under the castle, which was very magnificent, he moored the ship and proceeded, and the lion after him. And when they came to the first gate, they saw two savage wild beasts that guarded the castle. Espying Brunswik with the lion, they shook themselves in wrath, so that the whole castle quaked. Brunswik, seeing this, drew his sword and fought manfully with them for possession of the gate. The lion, seeing that his lord was wearied, rushed into the fray, and with great wrath tore in twain the one on the right hand and afterwards the other.
Having thus gained the first gate, they proceeded further. And when they came to the second gate, again they saw two stronger beasts, which were called Glato; each had two horns two ells long and as sharp as razors. This kind of creature at the present day, if it contends with anyone, fights with one horn, and lays the other on its back; and if one is wearied, it puts it back and fights with the other. This beast fears nought save the colour red, and is as strong and valiant in the water as on land. With these again Brunswik had a hard labour, nevertheless, drawing his sword, he began again to fight with them so vehemently that the castle quaked. Here again the lion was grateful to him, for it again fiercely tore them in pieces; and thus having gained possession of the second gate, they went on to the third gate.
Here first they saw wild beasts terrible and great, which are called Sidfors. These beasts had fur like a bear and horns like devils and black teeth like horse’s teeth; and each of them had a very large mouth, so that it could swallow a man at one gulp. All other land and sea beasts are afraid of these beasts, with which Brunswik had to fight. Nevertheless, commending himself to God, he fought with them so vehemently, that the noise thereof was heard at the bays of the sea, but, alas! had it not been for God and the lion, Brunswik’s life would have been but short. The lion collected all his strength and began to fight with them furiously and to tear them to pieces, and by God's help the lion tore them all to pieces.
Thus having gained all the gates, they entered into the castle itself. There they saw many beautiful things, but there was no man therein. Silver and gold there was in plenty, but no man did they see. And when they came to the keep, Brunswik saw a very beautiful damsel ; her head and hands down to the waist were of human shape, but she had two serpent’s tails instead of feet. When she espied Brunswik, she said: “Dear youth! a marvel above marvels has happened; tell me, Brunswik! how thou camest hither?” Saith he: “Africa, dear damsel! thy father Olibrius hath sent me hither, and hath promised to let me pass through the iron gate, if I can regain thee for him.” The damsel Africa said: “Dear Brunswik! that is a hard matter; if thou hadst the strength of a thousand men, I would bid thee rather fight with them all at once than with these divers land and sea monsters. And therefore, dear Brunswik! tell me whether the beasts at the first three gates are asleep, that thou hast come hither so easily in spite of them?” Saith Brunswik: “Africa, dear damsel! in truth they do sleep and will sleep.” The damsel saith: “If they are asleep, dear Brunswik! depart from the castle and tell my father, that I am well and that I thank him for caring for me.” Saith Brunswik: “Africa, dear damsel! live I or die I, let God's will be done, betide me evil or betide me good, out of this castle without thee I do not go.” When the damsel heard this, she gazed on him and began to love him greatly, and making him sit beside her she gave him information with tears, saying: “Dear Brunswik! if thou wilt not go without me, take my ring and, I beseech thee, remember this: if any fear shall seize thee and they begin to smite at thee, delay not to put it on thy right thumb. This ring has the strength of twenty-four men, but it is nothing in comparison with that against which thou hast to contend; if thou hadst a hundred such rings on each finger, it would nought avail against such might. For my father has sent several thousands at a time, desiring to regain me, but hath not been able to effect aught; how then wilt thou, alone by thyself, regain me? O wicked, faithless father! thou mightest almost have slain me in thine own castle rather than have renewed this great anguish for me! For see, dear Brunswik! and understand these golden girdles of mine; two serpent’s tails have now enveloped my feet up to the girdle, and every day from noon to evening my lord, Basiliscus, envelopes me with these serpents, and then all night long and until noon I am a pure and beautiful maiden without the serpents. And this is his custom: he comes to me three hours after noon and lies till vespers on my lap, having no other pleasance with me; and in half-an-hour, unhappy man! it thou dost not depart, thy sorrow and woe will begin.” Brunswik rose up and began to pray to the Lord God to help him out of those horrors.
And when the time arrived, the dragon Basiliscus moved in his cave, so that the whole castle quaked. Then said the damsel Africa: “Recollect thyself and flee not ; now wilt thou be in such danger as thou hast never heard of nor seen.” And then there came a screaming, hissing and noise of serpents, such that, if four trumpeters had trumpeted with all their might, they could not have been heard for the hissing and noise. And when there crowded up from all sides a multitude of serpents and great lizards and other venomous creatures, eager to slay Brunswik, then began Brunswik to defend himself against them with his sword, slaughtering them by fifty at a single blow; but the more of them he slew, the more there came; some were as thick as beams and others screamed with the voices of devils. Brunswik paid no regard thereto, but met them manfully, and waded in venom to the girdle; the lion, too, tore them mightily and cast them out of the castle by the windows.
The dragon Basiliscus, seeing that he was slaughtering his servants, then approached himself with great wrath, eager to avenge them, wearing a golden crown, and being as thick as a ladder, and having eighteen tails and scions of serpents, which were so sharp that at one blow he could cut a beam in twain. Then first in the combat did Brunswik have great pain, for the dragon smote him mightily, so that ofttimes he fell to the ground on his face. Then the lion defended him and fought strongly with the dragon. Brunswik rose up and went to the aid of the lion; and thus they aided each other faithfully and fought with him all night long from vespers even until noon. Brunswik was now bleeding all over, and fell to the ground from excessive faintness. The lion, seeing that his lord was now fallen, roared loudly with great sorrow and began to fight furiously with the dragon and to rend off the tails round about him, till he had rent off all the scions from the dragon. Brunswik with great anguish sprang up, and they fought valiantly with the dragon, who had now nothing to wound them with; and the lion tore him in pieces, so that streams like brooks flowed from him.
When the dragon was slain, Brunswik fell to the ground from great wounds; for three days and three nights he spake no word, and the lion stood always sorrowfully beside him. The damsel Africa mourned for him greatly and stood also sorrowfully beside him. The lion, not knowing what to do, hastened out of the castle in search of certain roots. Having dug up the roots, he brought them in his mouth, and the damsel Africa made medicine for him, so that in nine days he was healed.
After this Brunswik saith to the damsel: “Now, Africa, dear damsel! I have had great trouble for thee; therefore delay not to journey with joy to thy father.” She embraced Brunswik, saying: “Dearest Brunswik! I will gladly journey with thee.” Then, taking silver and gold and precious stones and jewels to the value of thousands, they went to the king.
And when they arrived at the castle, the king came down with great joy to meet Brunswik and to meet his daughter, and gave them a gracious welcome, saying: “Blessed be thou, Brunswik, dear son! I will give thee my daughter and all my goods.” To this Brunswik, though reluctantly, consented. But, when he had been with her some time, he was always thinking how he might return to his own country.
It came to pass that one day, as he was going to bed, he looked into a very old vault: there he saw an exceedingly old sword without a hilt, and taking it out observed how exceedingly sharp it was, and it pleased him greatly. So, taking the hilt from his own sword, he put it on the other and placed it in his own sword-sheath, leaving his own sword in the vault. And when he came to the damsel, he asked her questions about the sword that was in the vault. On hearing him speak of the sword, she rose up very early, and fastened up the vault with nine locks, and lay down again beside Brunswik and said: “It is marvellous to me how thou hast seen that sword, which no male person hath seen for many years. If thou knewest how much power that sword hath, thou wouldst marvel thereat.” Saith Brunswik: “Dear damsel! thou canst tell me; thou hast it all the same in thine own power.” Saith the damsel Africa: “If thou desirest to know, I will tell thee that sword hath these powers: if any one were to draw it from the sheath and say: ‘Off with one, ten, twenty, thirty, a hundred, a thousand heads!’ the heads would immediately fall to the ground.” Brunswik laughed thereat, but bore it in mind.
Afterwards once upon a time the sea monsters came into his chamber. Brunswik took the sword, wishing to learn the truth, and only intending to observe the effect of the sword. So, drawing it from the sheath, he said: “Now by virtue of this sword off with the heads of the nearest monsters.” Immediately in a moment off fell all their heads, and he hastened and threw them into the sea, having thus ascertained the truth.
A little time afterwards, when the king was sitting with all his court at table, Brunswik drew out the sword and said: “Now, dear sword of mine! off with the heads of the monsters, of the king and of the damsel!” In a moment all the heads fell off. Then Brunswik took a bag full of gold and precious stones to the value of many thousands, unfastened the iron gate, embarked in a ship with the lion and the valuables and departed.
When he had again voyaged a great distance upon the sea, he passed by a certain island named Tripatrita.[2] Hearing the sound of trumpets, drums and all manner of singing, he desired to know what it could be that was going on, and disembarked on the island. There he saw large crowds on horseback and on foot, some of whom were riding in circles and others were dancing and making merry together. Brunswik stood and marvelled thereat. Then one of them came up and said to him: “O Brunswik! how hast thou come among us? But, in whatever way thou hast come, thou must dance and remain here with us.” And, giving his hand to Brunswik, he burned him sorely. Brunswik, seeing again that there was danger, drew his sword and said: “Now off with the head of this first man!” And immediately it was so. When the crowds saw that the head was off, many of them said: “O Brunswik! thou shalt not thereby escape our hands; thou must dance with us and ride on these horses.” These were devils, Asmodenses, and they were there tormented. Brunswik, seeing that they would constrain him, drew his sword and said: “Now off with the heads of all these devils!” Again did the heads of all the devils fall off.
He embarked again in the ship with the lion and departed. Again he wandered over the sea fifteen weeks, and was again in great fear. Then he espied a most beautiful city, which glittered with gold and precious stones, so that the radiance thereof spread itself ten miles over the sea.[3] Brunswik sailed up to it and entered into the city. The city was named Egbatanis;[4] there were most beautiful houses, but no man therein. He went from house to house and found every where plenty to eat and to drink; the tables were covered and there was plenty of meat in the kitchens. Thereat Brunswik marvelled greatly, seeing no man in the city. All at once, after a little while, he heard trumpets and drums, which made an exceeding great noise, and an army marched into the city. These were the Astriols, that is, the Invisibles, who lived in that city. Brunswik perceived again that there was danger, and therefore began to walk amongst them. They said to him: “Brunswik, unhappy man! how hast thou come hither?” Saith he: “I know that I fear you not, however I may have come hither among you.” Then they seized him and led him before their lord Astriolus, who said: “Either promise to remain for ever here with us, or I will command thee to be set on a fiery horse, and thus thou shall burn on him for ever.” Saith Brunswik: “Faithless Astriolus! I fear not thy threats; I hope in my God, since he hath helped me out of great terrors and dangers, that he will also help me hence. As for thee, wicked Astriolus! thou hast merited it, thou oughtest to be here and shalt be.” Saith Astriolus: “Thou art proudly minded, nevertheless I will try thy pride.” Then he commanded the fiery horse to brought, and four men darted up and began to struggle with Brunswik, wishing to set him upon the horse. Brunswik, being unable to delay longer, drew his sword and said: “Now off with the heads of these four!” Immediately their heads fell off, and the lion bounded up and tore them in pieces. Astriolus, seeing that there was no deception, called for an army. Then several thousands surrounded him with great outcries. Again said Brunswik: ‘Now off with the heads of twenty men, now of thirty, now of a hundred, now of a thousand!” Immediately there was such a clatter of heads, that the whole earth quaked. Astriolus, seeing this said: ‘Recollect thyself Brunswik! Recollect thyself for the sake of thy God and sheath thy sword! I promise to conduct thee to thine own country, only commit no more slaughter.” Then said Brunswik: “In sooth I will do so for the sake of my God, but not for thy sake, if thou fulfillest that which thou hast promised, to convey me to mine own land without fear and injury and with the lion.” He made him the promise again.
And it came to pass, that on a Thursday at the first dawn he set Brunswik on a cross-road with all his goods and the lion, When Brunswik found himself before Prague, he put on the garments of a hermit and entered with the lion. Just then King Astronomus was giving his daughter, Brunswik’s wife, to an Assyrian prince named Cleofas; for seven years had now passed since she had seen Brunswik. Brunswik, learning this, went into the castle and the lion with him. And when he espied his queen sitting with prince Cleofas, he was very sorrowful; nevertheless he bided his time. And after dinner they brought drink in gold and silver cups, and observing Brunswik, gave him to drink out of the golden cup, out of which prince Cleofas and princess Neomenia drank. Brunswik took the ring from his finger and put it into the golden cup, and immediately did them reverence and went out of the castle. But, as he went out of the castle, he wrote on the gate, that he who had departed seven years ago, had been in the castle. They began to talk together, asking who it could be. And when the queen was putting away the golden cup, she found the ring and recognized it for that of her beloved Brunswik. This she told to her father, and great rumours arose concerning it.
But prince Cleofas was exceedingly grieved thereat, and mounted on horseback with twenty-nine men and pursued after Brunswik. And when he overtook him, he seized Brunswik and would have slain him. Brunswik, seeing this, drew his sword and said: “Now off with the heads of this paramour and his servants!” So the heads of them all fell off, and the lion tore the bodies in pieces, and the horses ran into the town.
After this Brunswik went to a certain castle and sent secretly for the barons of the land. Then the barons and nobles[5] came with great joy as to their beloved lord and rode with him to Prague. Then, when King Astronomus and his daughter Neomenia learned the truth, they went out far to meet him with great joy. Likewise many others, old and young, went out of Prague to meet him. Then was there great joy in all the land, that their prince had brought the lion. And he related to all how great labour he had had, and his beloved queen, Neomenia, rejoiced above all others. Then Brunswik commanded proclamation to be made in all towns, and a lion to be painted on all gates, and on one side of the banner of the land he commanded a white lion to be embroidered on a red field.
When he was forty and five years old, he had a son by his queen, whom he named Ladislaw, and ended his days in a good old age. Through great faithfulness and sorrow the lion would not remain alive after him, but roared and died. Praise be to God in the highest!
- ↑ The Yak-stone or Ταγάτης Λίθος, so called from the river Gages in Lycia, is a kind of black bitumen. Various fabulous properties are ascribed to it by Pliny, N. H. xxxvi. 19.
- ↑ This reminds us of Trinacria, the old Greek name of Sicily.
- ↑ Reckoning the present Bohemian miles, this would be nearly fifty English miles.
- ↑ This name is borrowed from Ecbatana, the old capital of Media.
- ↑ Zemané, from zeme, land; properly, possessors of landed property.
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