KING ROTHER (RUOTHER).
THE TWELVE MESSENGERS.
Bari is the name of an Italian town which, small and as it
is now, was once a sea-port. In those old days the was
deep and large and full of ships, while in the town itself were
numerous and houses by gardens and orange-groves.
Here it was that the great and King Rother, the father of his
people and the terror of his foes, the dukes, counts
and of the land. The race-course was close to the sea, and there
the were to congregate, to the and
practise such as teach agility, while the and maidens
looked on and to the successful for
honour.
One day King Rother was seated on his by his
counsellors, now the people, now the sports, and now the
restless that were against the shore. There was a
troubled look upon his face. Turning to his old and faithful
banner-bearer, Duke Berchther of Meran, who sat him, "Look," he
said, "do you see how the their foam-crowned high in
the air, forward, and then without a behind?
The kings of the earth them in this, so do all men."
"What do you say?" the duke. "Do you not how many are
sung in your praise? Know you not that such live on from
generation to generation, and that your name and will therefore
be spoken of with till the end of time?"
"That is comfort," the king. "What is the to me,
when the present is so and joyless? A happy home were to me
than the of which you speak. There go your seven sons, bold
Leupold at their head, their in of victory. You
live a second life in them, and their love will you in your old
age. What good is my to me? I have not wife child. I shall
wither like an old tree, or the laughing-stock of children in my
age!"
"Then why do you not marry?" asked the duke, laughing heartily. "You
are in your and a famous warrior. You might and choose any
one you liked for a wife, no one would say you nay, from a simple
maiden to a high-born princess."
"You say that I am free to choose," said Rother bitterly; "kings are
more in their choice than other men. They must in their
own degree, or their children cannot succeed them, and may live to
curse them. I have in many lands, but I have yet seen
the I have to make my wife."
"Nay then, sire, if you are so hard to please," returned Berchther
after a and silence; "I think I know of a lady who
might you, if you are to your for her sake."
The king information, Berchther him the
portrait of a girl, who, he said, was the of the
Emperor of Constantinople. Rother not take his off the
picture, and that she, and she alone, must be his wife.
"Very good, my lord," said Berchther; "but that is a more difficult
matter to about than you think. I must what I mean. The
Emperor Constantine is so to his that he will not part
with her; and if any man-be he count, or king-is to
go and ask for her hand, he at once orders his to be cut off. And
what is the good of a wooer?"
"I think," answered Rother, "that I shall meet with a reception
than that. The of the East will know how to himself to the
ruler of the West. But now call my together, that I may
tell them what I to do."
When the was assembled, the king told his ministers the whole
story, adding in that he to do his in
person. They him from this, upon the plea, that the
king, being the of the state, had no right to its safety
by his unnecessarily. Rother at last gave way, much
against his will. The as to who should go to Constantinople
lasted a long time, for each man that his was of at least as
much value to himself as the king's possibly be to the state.
Then Leupold, Berchther's son, rose with six of his brothers, and
declared in their name and his own that they were to go as soon
as the ships were out for the journey; five noble
counts, the of these seven, their
willingness to them.
Preparations were for the of the twelve ambassadors, and
at last the day came on which they were to set sail. Just the
anchors were lifted, the king came to the harbour, his
gold-stringed in his hand, and sang them a song, so
strangely sweet and that it moved them as Wodan's used
to move the of their fathers in the time. It to
them as though the god of were calling on them to be up and
doing. The music ceased; and then Rother took of them, saying,
"If you are in need, and you that song, you may know that I
am near and will help you."
The were and the ship set sail. After a that
lasted for days and weeks, the travellers the Golden Horn, the
port of Constantinople; and as the sun was over the city, they
landed at the wharf. They themselves in and gold
brocade, and with ermine. Every one to after
them as they passed up the the palace. None who
they were or they came, but all they must be the
ambassadors of some prince.
The was yet in bed, of the and in
which his delighted, when the him, and said, "Get
up, Constantine; the of a great king have come to see you.
They of importance. You must them with all
due and respect."
When the was ready, he the to be to
him in the throne-room, where he them courteously. At first
all well. Constantine was pleased that his and alliance
should be by the ruler of the West, and his in
no terms; but when Leupold on to say that his master
had also him to ask in his name for the hand of the
Princess Oda, the emperor's no bounds, and he ordered his
guards to the "foreign hounds" and them into prison.
When the had left the with the twelve ambassadors,
Constantine to the floor, his hands, and muttering,
"Behead, drown, hang-which shall it be? Ah, it were best to them.
It would be a sight! Twelve in raiment
brought at once to the gallows. St. Maurice that the wondrous
spectacle may us glory!"
"Constantine," said the empress, "beware what you do. Is our
beautiful to marry? Would it not be a good thing to give
her to King Rother, and let her the West with him, as we the East?
If you the he has sent, Rother will ally
himself with the king of Desert-Babylon, and, with his help,
seek your destruction."
"St. Michael and his will protect us against the might of
the of infidels," the sanctimoniously.
"Ah," said the wife, "do not be too sure of that. He has other
things to do. He has to for the and of the
wild tribes. Take my advice, and keep Rother's as
hostages, that our hands may be when their king comes over
the western sea and them from us at the of his army."
The pleased the emperor, and he gave orders that the prisoners
should be well guarded.
THE SAILING OF THE HEROES.
The and months rolled into a year, and still the did
not return to Bari. Every was full of an dread. Had
they at sea, or at the hands of the to they
had been sent? None answer.
Old Berchther one day to the king, and said, "Sire, my is
sad. I can my no longer. I had twelve sons.
Helfrich, the eldest, was the near the Elbe
in the north. Seven have gone to Constantinople in your service,
and have returned. I will go and see if I can them."
"You must not go alone," returned the king. "I will call a meeting of
the council, and ask my wise what were best to be done."
After a discussion, in which were often
enforced with still blows, it was to the
advice of the counsellors. These and men were of
opinion that it would be policy to send an army against
Constantinople; for were the still alive, the would
assuredly put them to death when he that Rother had appeared in
the of an enemy. It would be better, they contended, to send
a embassage, of good men and true, to out
the land, and see if it were not possible to save their friends, and
gain the hand of the at the same time.
King Rother his of himself at the of
the expedition, and as Berchther to be left behind, Count
Amelger of Tengeling was regent.
Preparations for their on apace. Noble came
from all parts of the to offer their services. Among those
accepted were twelve men who were so tall and so heavy, that they could
nowhere have to their weight. King
Rother alone who they were, and he them as old and
trusted friends. They were Asprian (Osbern), of the Northern
giants, and eleven of his men.
At length all was ready, and the ship set sail a of
trumpets. A wind the sheets, which were with cloth of
silver, and the through the as if by
swans. The king high on the of his galley: when he touched
his and sang of woman's love and courage, the of the
heroes were to of daring. And the and dolphins
dipt their out of the waves, and played about the prows, and
listened to the lay.
Then Rother called his about him, and told them that he intended
to go to work when he got to Constantinople. He would
introduce himself to the as Dietrich, a of King Rother's
country, who had been by his sovereign, and who now craved
Constantine's protection. He them to at once to
call him by his name, that they might make no mistakes on their
arrival.
The was uneventful, and the soon their
destination.
[Illustration: KING ROTHER'S VOYAGE.]
The to land were "Dietrich" and old Berchther, and then followed
the flower of Rother's army. Lastly the appeared, awe
and in every heart. All were like in splendid
attire and with armour.
The the with grace, and the
emperor looked pleased to see them. "Strangers," he said, "we should
like to know from you come, who you are, and what you to
our good city. Before you permission to here, we would
fain know more about you."
"Mighty of Greece, Hungary and Bulgaria," answered Dietrich,
"we come from the of King Rother, where I the title and
power of duke. I helped my lord in all his battles; but as I was
always victorious, he of my good fortune, and I had to fly
for my life. I have come here as a with my vassals,
and all the I carry, and now I of you to me
your protection, for which I will you by service in the
field."
"You are an man," the emperor, "and you shall a
fitting welcome. I was at that you had come on the same
errand as the of King Rother, who asked me to give my
daughter in marriage to their master. I have them safe under lock and
key, where the light of the sun cannot them. Had your
request been the same as theirs, you and your men should have suffered
the like fate."
On these the Asprian started forward, the whole
room his tread. "My lord," he cried, laying
his hand upon his sword, "you might have that a more
difficult than you imagine. Before you took us many of
your would low, and who can tell you would
have scatheless? _We_ are not to be at the
will of any man."
Constantine did not much like this address, and to down
the of the giant. After some he
invited the to at his table. While they were eating, a
tame lion, of which the was very fond, to the food
from under the hands of the guests. Asprian's was by the
tempting being away from him, and starting up he seized
the in his powerful hands, and him with such against
the of the room, that he fell, to rise
again. Constantine the to turn the out of the
hall, but the whispered, "Oh, take what you do. That man
is not to be with impunity. King Rother must be very powerful to
have such men as these. Take my advice, and set his messengers
free. Let them take our home with them that she may be the
wife of a great king, and that she may her husband to be our
friend and ally."
Constantine in angry silence. At length he his wife to
be silent, her that when once he had up his mind on any
subject, he changed.
Dietrich and his friends took up their in the the emperor
had to them, and there they had their by the
sailors: a that many days. Many were the gifts they
showered on their new acquaintances, others, on Lord Helme and
a and named Arnold. The was so
touched by their that he to help his whenever
he could.
THE FAIR ODA.
The of Dietrich's and in the
palace, and Princess Oda was with an to see
the hero of so many tales. She took with Herlind, her chief
lady-in-waiting, as to how she might her purpose with most
propriety. Then, acting on her advice, she her father to up
some races, and allow her and her ladies to watch the sport. The
emperor consented, and on the day a large of
spectators appeared on the course. The of people who collected
round Dietrich was so great that none of the ladies of the were
able to so much as a of him. The next day Oda called
Herlind into her room, and promised her five gold if she
would a meeting her and the stranger. Herlind
promised to do her best. She to Dietrich's lodging, taking every
precaution against being seen, and gave him her mistress's message. He
refused to go and see the princess, the news of his having done so
should out and come to the emperor's ears. But dismissing
Herlind, he gave her a and a shoe as a present. She
hastened to her lady and told her all.
"He is a man," said Oda, "and more for our than for
his own safety. I will keep the shoes in of him, and will
give you as many gold pieces as they will hold."
Herlind was satisfied with the and now to put the shoes
on her lady's feet, but not, for they were for the same
foot.
"Go," the princess, "he is not true. I will have none of his
gifts, and will think of him no more. Take the shoes and throw
them at his feet."
Wise Herlind how to her mistress's command. She
hastened to Dietrich, and told him that the was angry with
him, but that her to see him was so great that she would no
doubt him if he took a proper pair of shoes with his own hand.
Dietrich the moment when he the princess's
apartments unobserved, and at the door.
He stopped on the in at the of the
maiden who to meet him. She was also by his stately
bearing and the of his face. She had
intended to him her displeasure, but she not; she only
listen to the and he gave of his in
not at once her commands. And when he asked permission to put
the shoes on her feet, she not him. In of
conversation he mentioned Rother's offer for her hand, and then, little
by little, told her his secret, and the that had him to
Constantinople. He asked her for her love, and she promised to be his
wife. He now her that her father's being what they
were, their only of was to together, and explained
that they attempt to make their his faithful
servants, who were still in the emperor's dungeons, must be
set at liberty. He Oda to try to them set free. She promised
to do her best, and pointed out the tower in which they were
imprisoned.
Next day the appeared her father, in deep
mourning, and told him that she had had a that night.
Her room had full of from the hell, and she
had a voice call to her that if King Rother's twelve messengers
were not out of their dungeons, and with clothes,
food and wine, she would under condemnation.
"That was the devil's voice, not an angel's," answered Constantine,
"and I will not, on such a command, give up the I by the
grace of God. But if it will make you happier, Oda, I will allow the
prisoners to have their for a time, on condition that
some one will offer his life to me as for them that they will not
try to make their escape."
Oda left her father's presence much comforted, for she had up her
mind what to do.
THE LIBERATION OF THE MESSENGERS.
When the emperor, his guests and were seated at dinner that
day, Princess Oda entered the hall, by her ladies. She went
round the table, and told all and of her to the
twelve prisoners, and of the condition her father had made. "Now who"
she asked, "will let his be for the of these unhappy
men?"
A in the hall. At last Dietrich rose in his place,
and in a loud clear voice offered himself as for the men. Upon
which the ordered the twelve to be out of their
prison, taken to the and provided with to their
rank and condition. This was done, and while the fellows, scarcely
able to their senses, were seated at the provided for
them, some one to play the harp. They intently,
a their cheeks, and a of surprise
brightening their sad eyes, for they the air. "It is he! Our
king is near. He has come to save us!" they in awe-struck
accents. Weeks passed, and light and food did their work in restoring
the of the prisoners.
One day the door of their room opened, and Rother came in in
his full armour. "You are free," he said joyously, but he had scarcely
had time to them when Berchther to his
sons, by Wolfrat, the hero of Tegeling, Asprian, and
Widolt, his companion.
Rother told Leupold, and the rest, about their voyage, and that he was
only to the Greeks by the name of Dietrich. Then he told how he
had the love of Oda, and through her help had their
freedom at the of his own life. But the best was yet to come.
Imelot, king of Desert-Babylon, had Constantine's with a
mighty army, and had the empire, and the hand of Princess
Oda for his son Basilistum. "The not what to do,"
continued Rother, "I offered to help him if he would allow you to join
me and my friends. He consented, and so you are free to my
comrades in battle. Your and without."
Widolt was so at the of that he gave way to
a of laughter, and nearly the by
accident when he came in to tell the that they were free.
WAR AND VICTORY.
Of all who Constantine into the on that occasion,
Dietrich and his men were most of notice; not only of
the of their accoutrements, but from their noble
appearance. Chief them were Wolfrat of Tegeling in
Bavaria, old Duke Berchther of Meran, his son Leupold of Milan, and
other of the West, and Asprian and his giants. These
consulted together on the of the day on for the great battle,
and that when the Greek and Babylonian were asleep,
they would out of their own camp, and, if possible, into
that of the enemy. At midnight they set out on their dangerous
enterprise. They passed the by means of the pass-word they
had taken to out, and their way to the king's
tent. It was a warm, but dark night; not a star was visible; the
king's body-guard were asleep at their post. They again on
earth. Wolfrat them as they slept, to against surprise.
Widolt entered the tent, and Imelot up in his arms as
though he had been an infant, him to be as he valued his
life. The giant's loud voice some who slept near, and
they into the to save their master, but were speedily
slain. The whole was now astir, but the of the soldiery
were in vain. Confused by the and their awakening, many
were killed, while the number fled, and in their
ships.
[Illustration: GIANT WIDOLT CARRIES OFF KING IMELOT.]
Rother and his of had thus a complete victory,
and had returned to their with Imelot and some
other of Desert-Babylon they had taken prisoners.
Thoroughly with their hard night's work, they themselves on
their couches, and well-merited repose.
Not so the Emperor Constantine. Contrary to his habit, he was up
and about at a very early hour, and ordered the to to rouse
the camp. This done, he that his should pass him
in companies. All were present Lord Dietrich and his companions.
"Ha! ha!" laughed the scornfully, "so that fellow's high talk
was all swagger. I will go and see what him," and he away
to Dietrich's tent.
When he got there, he that all was as the grave. Motioning
to his to help him from his horse, he to wake the
sleepers. In the tent, he saw the Widolt stretched
upon a skin, while in the a man was about on
a of straw, hand and foot. The did not to wake
the sleeper. He over him carefully, and close to the
prisoner. Imelot, in he should be on the
spot, out who he was, and offered the of his in
exchange for his life. The noise the giant. He to his
feet, and his club, to Dietrich to come, for some
treason was being in their very tents. He would have
killed on the spot, had his not to
his and him. When Constantine the of
the previous night, he was with and admiration. He gave
a in of the victory, which in public he to
himself, for were not Dietrich and his in his pay at the
time? In order that the and her ladies might not be in
ignorance of what had happened, Constantine sent Dietrich and his men
on in to the news to the capital.
BRINGING HOME THE BRIDE.
The Western to Constantinople light-hearted and happy,
for Dietrich had told them that the hour of their return home was near.
The step, in his opinion, was to that Imelot had
conquered and the Greek army, and was on the
capital.
"All is lost," they cried, when the citizens came out to meet them,
"fly, save yourselves while you may. Imelot's wild of savages
will soon be upon you." Then to the palace, Dietrich
entreated the to come on his with her and
her ladies, and to anything of value that she particularly cared
for.
They soon the strand. Oda the leading to the
vessel, her hand on Dietrich's arm. Then the plank
was and the ship pushed from land. The and
begged that she might be taken too, but Dietrich to her the
true of the case, and telling her who he was, her that
Oda was going home with him to over the West as his queen.
"Ah," said the mother, much comforted, "be to her, hero, and
take my on you both. Think of me sometimes, as I shall think
of you."
After a the travellers at Bari, where the
marriage of King Rother to the was with all pomp.
When Constantine returned with his army to Constantinople,
and learnt what had happened, he was very angry. Had he not feared
Rother and his allies, he would have sent an army to Bari to
fetch the princess. The whole city was in such confusion, that
King Imelot had not much in his and
returning to his own land. The did not much when he heard
this news. He think of nothing but the of his daughter. He
cared not for the rich in which he used to delight, for the
delicate his to his appetite. He thin
and pale, and his on his frame.
THE MOUNTEBANK.
One day when he was alone in his room, a came to him and
announced that a had come, who would be sure to amuse
his Majesty and turn his into a channel. The
mountebank was admitted. The him perform all his
curious without a smile. But when the man sang of a woman who
had been from her home, and friends had her by means
of cunning, not strength, he with his whole in his eyes.
When the song was finished, he to the man to approach him, and
asked him if he Oda home to Constantinople.
"Give me," answered the mountebank, "a ship, well with
merchandise, and I promise to the lady to you. You may send
some of your soldiers with me if you like, that they may cut off my
head if I fail to keep my promise."
Before long the ship was and for sea. It was a fast sailer,
and there were many able on board, to say nothing of the
soldiers the had sent to see that the player was true to his
bargain.
All well the voyage, and the ship at last the port
of Bari. The and set to work to out all that he
could about the family. He that King Rother had gone to
Riffland with his troops, Leupold of Milan in his place.
He himself on his good luck when he this, for he
thought his plan would be of the king's
absence. On his return to his ship he to off his
conjuring on the vessel. Crowds came, by the
unusual sight. He then out his and and
offered them for sale. Amongst his was a pebble. The people asked
what good a common do him.
"This stone," he said, taking it in his hand, "is a of
gold, for if a queen should touch a or man with it, he
would at once and well again."
"Ah," one of the lords, "if that were only true! I would give
half my were it so, for I have three children, all of
whom have been from their birth."
"They would soon jump about and play like other children," the
mountebank, "if your good queen would only come on my ship and
try the of the pebble."
The count to Queen Oda and told her his story, and she, with
her kindliness, said how she was to the children if
she could. She at once set out for the vessel, but no sooner were she
and her ladies on than the landing was slipped, the hawsers
were unloosed, and a fresh wind the sails, the ship was soon
out of of land.
ROTHER TO THE RESCUE.
The citizens of Bari about the not what to
do, and Leupold a ship that be got ready
immediately to and overtake the robber's vessel. At the same
moment King Rother's were his return. As soon
as the king was told what had happened, his was formed.
"We must take an army to Constantinople," he cried. "My dear wife has
been from me by and cunning, and by and I
will win her back."
Old Duke Berchther his head, but said that he and his men
would the king. Leupold, Wolfrat and the other of the
realm promised to do the same. Messengers were sent to the tidings
to all parts of the kingdom, and soon a great army was assembled.
Rother out the to him, whom
were Asprian and his giants; the he sent home. Meantime the ships
that were to the little army had been got ready, and after a
favourable the of Constantinople. Rother
gave orders that the should be in a small bay,
surrounded on all by a thick which in the
direction of the city, and which would to ships and
men.
"We are safe here," said Rother to his nobles. "The have an
unspeakable terror of this wood, which they to be by
monsters of all sorts. Let the men here, and I will go to the
city in a pilgrim's dress and see what is going on."
There was a at the idea of the king himself
alone in the enemy's stronghold, and many of the offered to go
with him. He, therefore, to take the Duke of Meran and his
son Leupold. Before starting Wolfrat gave him a horn, telling him
the it was so that it be for miles around.
"As soon as we it," said Asprian, "we shall come to your help with
clubs and swords."
"Yes," laughed Widolt, "and then there will be many a head, I
can promise you."
The three pilgrims set out on their way. After going some they
saw a them in armour. They asked him if
there were good news in Constantinople.
"Not at all," he answered. "Look, King Rother gave me this of
mail, and my good sword, and a thousand gold pieces to boot, for I had
lost land and at the hands of miscreants; and now I find
that the Greeks have away his wife, and are about to marry
her to that Basilistum, son of Imelot, King of
Desert-Babylon. For, when Imelot from here, he a
great army, and into the Emperor Constantine's land, took him
prisoner, and now the of his and the Lady Oda for
that cub, his son, who, according to the present arrangement,
is to here after his marriage, that Constantine may not be
deprived of his daughter's society. All the Christians in the place
tremble to think of the that will follow. Oh that King
Rother would only come! I would join him with all my men as sure as my
name is Arnold."
"Truly," said Rother as they parted, "a action often brings
unlooked-for reward."
The city was full of life and feasting. Imelot, Constantine, and their
followers were together in the room in the
greatest peace and concord, for Constantine was at having
settled the question of his daughter's marriage without losing
her altogether. The sat his father and
his would-be father-in-law and close to sad Oda and her equally
sorrowful mother. The doors were wide open, that the might
come in and watch the proceedings. So the three pilgrims were able to
enter unnoticed, with their low over their brows. They
heard Constantine, Imelot, and Basilistum of how they would
scornfully and King Rother and all his if they
ventured to come their reach. During the and confusion
caused by these speeches, Rother managed to a ring his
name into his wife's hand, and she, with a look of relief,
showed it to her mother.
"Rother is here," the suddenly. "He has
just my wife a ring with his name on it. Seek him out
and him."
Swords were drawn, tables overturned, and noisy on every
side. Rother and his came forward, and the said
clearly and distinctly-
"Yes, I am here. I have come to my wife, and if the king of
Desert-Babylon or his son my right, I am to
prove it on their with my good sword."
Imelot laughed till the re-echoed. "Fight with _you_," he cried,
"a little like _you_! No, no, you must be hung."
"He must be hung!" the courtiers.
"To the with him, and his too," the
Babylonish king, "seize them and them till the blood from
their fingers."
The had only their pilgrim's staves, and these were weapons
wherewith to themselves against the and that were
pointed at them. They were taken and bound. No hand was to help
them, although many a in the had to remember
Dietrich's kindness.
"A king," said Rother proudly, "who has often looked death in the face
on the battle-field, how to die when his time comes. Let the
executioner do his work in the wood, where Constantine has
already had so many men put to a death."
"A good idea," the grimly. "There are there that
will just do to the of and his on."
"That is right," laughed Imelot, "and then the who the
wood will come at night and play many a with their bones.
If their friends the should come over the sea in search of
Rother and his crew, we will them too, that they may find
themselves in good company. The whole army shall see how great Imelot
revenges himself upon his foes."
The for the were in a hours, and
the were to the an crowd
and the music of and trumpets. The were to see a
king hanged.
"And so it is Dietrich, Dietrich," one; while another
laughed and answered, "What that to us? It is all the same
whether a man is a king or a when he comes to be hung." "Ah
yes," said a third, "the rope is an for any man,
but that it should be on a is a thing I never
expected to see."
The at its destination. The were to
the of the gallows.
"Be of good cheer, Sir King," said the executioner; "you once gave me a
handful of gold pieces, and to you my I have provided a
silken rope for you, that will do the very quickly. The other
two must put up with common hemp, I am sorry to say. By St.
Michael, I did a day's work before, that I liked so ill."
"Pray my hands for a moment, good fellow," asked Rother, "that I
may say a prayer."
"A wish," the man. "I will also pray to my saint,
and him to take you to from the gallows-tree."
He the king's hands as he spoke, and then to pray.
Meanwhile Rother out his from under the pilgrim's mantle,
where it was concealed. Three times its wild call over mountain
and valley, like a for help to the friends who were
waiting in the of the wood. But King Imelot, growing
impatient, that the should himself be if he
delayed any to do his duty. The man was and to
bind Rother's hands again; but at that moment a loud noise was in
the background.
It was Arnold, who, with his men, had joined Rother's other friends,
and who now came with them to the of his benefactor.
There was a battle. Imelot and many more fighting
desperately, while Basilistum was the flight. The whole
army of Desert-Babylon was or destroyed.
After the victory King Rother asked for the emperor, but that
Constantine had "prudence the part of valour," and had
long to the palace, where he had taken in the
women's apartments. His had all away, and he his
wife and to Rother to save him out of the hand of the
giants, those children of the one. The ladies were soon
ready to go out and meet the ruler of the West. They the timid
emperor in their midst, and by a train, set out
for the wood. The people they met were the giants. Asprian's
falcon-eyes at once out the emperor, as he to
hide himself. Stretching his long arm over the empress, he him
by the of the and him on the ground. Widolt raised
his to put an end to him as he there senseless, but his master
stopped him, saying-
"Not so, Widolt; away with the to the gallows."
The the up as easily as if he had been a baby, and
went dancing along the road to the with him in his arms. But
they soon came up with Rother and his heroes, and the king pardoned
Constantine. He not have done otherwise: his wife was once more
in his arms, and where love rules, and have no place.
When they all met in the room that evening, the emperor
found himself after the many and he
had gone through, and it is said that he a whole leg of
mutton, and an quantity of wine.
King Rother left the whole of the Eastern empire, which he had just
conquered, in the hands of his father-in-law, and then set sail for
Bari by Queen Oda. Arrived there, they on to Rome,
where a second marriage was with great pomp. Rother and his
wife long and together, and had many children. We shall
hear of their Herka (or Herche, Helche), and
their grand-daughter Herat, as time goes on.
[Illustration: ORTNIT AND ALBERICH.]
