Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/63

Rh great reluctance. Wladomir gave to his neighbour, the farmer, a sevenfold compensation for the loss he had sustained; and the Nimrod Mizislas was obliged to promise, on the honour of a knight, not to choose any more the corn-fields of his neighbours for his hunting-ground. Libussa also gave them a more glorious occupation to exercise their activity upon, which at the same time was fitted to re-establish their reputation for knightly valour, which had somewhat suffered by their late exploits. She put them both at the head of her army, which she was sending against Zornebock, prince of the Serbes, a giant and powerful sorcerer, who at the very time was making war against Bohemia. As a penitence, she ordered them not to return to her court till the one could bring her the crest, and the other the golden spurs, of the vanquished enemy as trophies.

The never-fading rose proved its magic power throughout this campaign. Prince Wladomir had become, through it, as invulnerable as the hero Achilles, and as quick, light, and skilful as Achilles the butterfly. The armies met on the northern confines of the country, and the signal for battle was given. The Bohemian heroes broke through the enemy’s squadrons