CHAPTER XXI.

How Sir Otto heard from the Chevalier de Montfaucon, a Story of the Ring.

With the first sun-rays of the following morning, all those valiant knights and other guests had arisen, and departed on their way to Normandy. It was a pleasure to look on them as they proceeded on their journey, now half lost amid the shadowy copsewoods, then breaking out again along the bright green meadows; poets and painters, renowned in their several arts, mingling in groupes, with warriors and their squires in bright-gleaming armour, attended too by sumpter-horses in rich coverings fringed with gold and silver. Among the most brilliant figures was that of the Count Alessandro de Vinciguerra, wearing a great cloak embroidered with the arms of his family, which waved and fluttered in the wind. His garments, too, glittered in the sunlight, and feathers of all colours in a vast plume surmounted his barett. He had laid aside his coat of mail, wearing only a travelling dress, and riding on a stately mule, richly caparisoned, with no other weapons but a sword and a small glancing buckler, both of which hung from his blue velvet saddle. Not far distant, however, was a squire, who led by the golden reins his war-steed, prancing and snorting, and there was also a sumpter-horse, bearing his massive armour, surmounted by the close head-piece, with nodding plumes of heron’s feathers, all arranged as if it had been to make up a subject for the painter. The brave Chevalier de Montfaucon and the young Knight of Trautwangen rode for the most part together, deeply engrossed in their discourse, and always feeling more and more friendship for each other. In like manner, also, Sir Otto’s light-brown steed and De Montfaucon’s silver-grey seemed to acquire mutual good-will and attachment, notwithstanding the hatred which the former used to entertain towards all strangers. Of the conversation which passed between the knights it may be allowed us here to divulge what follows:--

“I had at length almost despaired of finding you in France,” said Sir Otto. “At the holy sepulchre rather, I thought we should meet one day, or perhaps on the road thither. For are not all the noblest hearts in Europe now attracted to that sacred monument, which, environed and profaned by Saracens with their heathenish abominations, draws, like an irresistible magnet, the processions of pilgrims and warriors from all quarters to effect its liberation? Your heart too, my noble adversary, doubtless beats in unison with these devout feelings. Wherefore then do I not behold the cross on your shoulders?”

“Because,” answered Sir Folko, “it is not for the holy war only that soldiers are required. Our king demands the services of his barons for the protection of our own blooming land. He indeed is himself gone to the crusades, and for that reason has enjoined me and others of my rank to remain at home, in order to guard the terrestrial paradise of France until his return from Palestine. The Moors of Spain are here not so far remote that we can feel in security, nor are we divided from them by any arm of the sea. If the valiant champions of Castile do their utmost to keep off those assailants, we too must lend our aid to that brave nation, or appear even in our own estimation like abject cowards. I think, in the next place, to ride into Spain, in company with the valiant Don Hernandez, and perhaps also with you, provided I should fall, and yet survive our combat; for in that event you are doubtless aware that you become a vassal of France.” Otto looked at him inquiringly, and the chevalier continued:--“I thought you must have known that the beautiful Gabrielle has promised to bestow herself, as well as all her possessions, on the knight who is so fortunate as to win back her ring. How your eyes now gleam with hope and anticipated triumph!” In truth, Sir Otto’s whole mind was lighted up by a joy such as he had never before felt; and yet, when he had time for reflection, he could not help being more than ever agitated by doubts, whether he should win the victory,--or (so overpowering was his emotion) whether he should even live to see the day when he might try his fortune in a combat so glorious. Sir Folko meanwhile seemed delighted by the mood of mind into which he had brought his companion; and then, after a space, he looked on him with a changed and melancholy aspect, perchance, because he remembered that Sir Otto’s courage and joy of heart might lead him on to destruction, dealt out by that arm which had already sent so many adversaries to the grave. Thereafter both of them endeavoured, by a change of discourse, to forget mutually, that they were shortly to engage with each other in a mortal combat. Among various questions, Sir Otto inquired of De Montfaucon, what he had actually learned of the Magic Ring’s wonderful history and virtues; whereupon the chevalier answered him as follows:--

“The ring is an inheritance derived from my stepfather, a renowned and valiant hero, by name Sir Huguenin, and who was held in high honour at our king’s court. Although he had come as a stranger into the land, some said from the East, and others from the North, yet he had obtained, as a reward for his brave exploits, great feudal territories; over which his right of disposal was so unlimited, that he could leave them to whomsoever he pleased, whether lady or knight. Appearing with great splendour at all the court-festivals, he had fallen in love with a beautiful damsel, descended from one of the first houses in France; they were regularly betrothed, and, among other gifts, he had promised her a wonderful ring, possessed of many magical virtues, which it was said that he had brought with him from distant realms of the North. This ring was also to serve his bride for a pledge, that the feudal tenures in France were to be hers; and it was affirmed, that the lady had even appeared with it on her finger at grand festivals; yet it always returned again into the possession of Sir Huguenin.

“About that time he travelled into Normandy, in order to survey his beautiful estates, some of which lay close to our family mansion, where my mother was living in seclusion, zealously occupied in the education of her son, so that he might become a brave knight, not unworthy of the name of Montfaucon. In her retirement, however, she was often disturbed, on account of her extraordinary and all-surpassing beauty, by the visits of numberless admirers, whose presence was in her estimation always troublesome and unwelcome. I can yet well recollect, how the brilliant Sir Huguenin came for the first time on horseback to our castle,--how my whole heart was won, by his fine figure and courteous demeanour, as he spoke with my mother; for I was then a boy ten years of age, and could well distinguish the difference between him and our other neighbours. If since then I have been fortunate enough to win the smiles of many noble ladies, I must say that I owe that distinction to the lessons and example which I received from Sir Huguenin, though I have never equalled that model of all noble and warlike accomplishments which was then set before me. On my mother too his appearance and conduct made a deep impression; while he, on the other hand, was so struck with her unrivalled beauty, that the thoughts of a marriage with any one else became insupportable. Henceforth his first care was to make himself free from his former engagements, and though the relations of the damsel to whom he had been betrothed were vehemently enraged, yet such was the terror they entertained of the renowned Sir Huguenin, more especially because he was the king’s chosen favourite, that the transaction was carried through without a murmur. The knight retained possession of his ring, and it was not till long after her marriage that my mother knew of the vows that for her sake had thus been broken.

“Willingly and confidently, therefore, had the beautiful widow resigned her person and fortune; and what was yet nearer and dearer to her heart,--the education of her son,--into the hands of the far-famed Sir Huguenin. In what degree he might have valued the possessions thus bestowed on him I know not; for the season of love, with its sunbeams and roses, was for them of brief duration. For a space of about two years, within which time my step-sister, Blanchefleur, a living picture of her beautiful mother, came into the world, Sir Huguenin lived in our castle; then he went out across the seas, and never more returned. For his fame, and his soul’s sake, we hope that a sudden and honourable death had somewhere overtaken him. My mother never heard of him again; and the more that her happiness had been increased during the short time of their union, the more resolutely she now devoted herself to penance and seclusion. For a few years grief preyed unceasingly on her frame; and at length, with a smile of melancholy resignation, she sank into the now welcome grave.

“As to that other duty, the care of my youthful education, which she had confided to him, it was, in truth, amply fulfilled. Grave, yet affectionate,--dignified, yet kind, like a guiding pillar of light, his image, even at this hour, always moves before me. Through the day he spoke with me indeed but little, but afforded me the most admirable example in the use of arms, in hunting, and in horsemanship. In the evenings he became eloquent, and proudly related to me many wondrous legends of the olden times. Little or no admonishment accompanied these stories; but they were told in such manner, that every glorious adventure came before my sight with all the force of reality, and my heart was filled with irresistible longing to obtain the brilliant honours of knighthood. This desire became the more passionate, when I reflected, that he, from whose lips I heard all those marvellous tales was himself a renowned hero, whose invincible arm had doubtless performed achievements equal to those which he described of others. Without boasting, I may truly say, that through those two years I proved myself no undeserving scholar; on which account he treated me with great kindness; and on the night before his departure, he led me into his chamber, shut the door, and said,--‘Folko, I am now going hence on a campaign;--how long I shall remain absent, Heaven knows,--perhaps it may be for ever! In your eyes I can already read the request that you would prefer, for my permission that you should accompany me to the battle-field; but that may not be; you must continue here to be the protector of your mother and the little Blanchefleur; for although you are now only in your thirteenth summer, yet, both from your prudence and skill in the use of arms, you might be counted full six years older. It shall be your duty, therefore, to protect your sister in the undisturbed possession of a wonderful ring, which I shall now leave in her hands; but of which, as I am well aware, many claimants will henceforth appear, wishing to deprive her of that valuable gift. But mark you, young lion of Montfaucon, let them not succeed in such attempts; and be it your care also, that, when at last you are both grown to man and woman’s estate, the Lady Blanchefleur shall bear the name of your house; for mine, though it is renowned and honourable, is yet less known here, and sounds strange to the inhabitants of Normandy. Wilt thou now promise to remember these injunctions?’ Proudly, and rejoiced in heart, I agreed to all that he desired; and, with God’s help, have been true to my word, even to the present day. The damsel, who had been betrothed formerly to Sir Huguenin, married afterwards the Knight of Portamour, and became the mother of Gabrielle. Thereafter the beautiful Gabrielle, who, in early youth, was left an orphan, heard from her guardians many stories of the Magic Ring, and how it should by right have been in her possession, in as much as her mother, in her dying moments, had called for it, as for some dear and precious gift, which, by solemn vows, had become hers. Thence arose the many conflicts for this mysterious gem. Perhaps, if it is the will of Heaven, and you are fortunate, these disputes may, to-day or to-morrow, be brought to an end; for, behold the towers of the Norman castle, to which I have invited my beautiful adversary, are now visible over the trees!”