Page:Legends of Rubezahl, and Other Tales (1845).djvu/287

 love is all I desire in return.” Such generous sentiments from Lucretia astonished the Empress and the whole Court; Ulric, moved even to tears, seized the hand of his mistress, pressed it to his heart, and exclaimed: “Receive my earnest gratitude, my immutable love; and rest assured, that ere long my good sword shall secure for you a position worthy of you.”

The Empress immmediatelyimmediately [sic] sent a request to the Bishop, that he would personally bestow the nuptial benediction on the now happy pair, and herself undertook all the preparations for the wedding, which was celebrated at Court the next morning, with the utmost magnificence. In a few days, after a long struggle between love and duty, Count Ulric, in fulfilment of his promise, proposed forthwith to join the Emperor’s army; but Lucretia would not permit him to depart: “Dear Ulric,” said she, “during the honey-moon, at least, you must not oppose my wishes; when that is past you must, I suppose, take your own way, as you men always do; at present, I require you to accompany me to Bamburg, on a visit to my mother, whom it becomes you, as a dutiful son-in-law, to pay your respects to.”

The wedded pair next day set out for Bamburg, and great was the rejoicing in the house of Mama on the arrival of these beloved visitors. The only