Page:Marquis de Sade - Adelaide of Brunswick.djvu/167

 were lined up and the two warriors appeared at opposite sides with their horses.

At the agreed-upon signal, the two men sprang on their horses and armed with their lances and protected by their shields they rode their horses rapidly at each other. For a long time the victory was not decided. Their shields sent out sparks at the terrific blows of the lances. Finally, however, a terrific blow by Thuringia struck the prince at a weak place in his armor and he fell to the middle of the arena bathed in his blood.

Thuringia jumped off his horse and ran to the one he had just knocked down trying in vain to help him. His tears mingled with the blood of his enemy. He wept on the laurels which he never wanted to harvest, but ran nevertheless to take them to the one he adored. To his surprise, she refused to see him at first, but finally agreed after Bathilda told her that she would have to see him eventually.

"Princess," said Thuringia after she had finally appeared, "there was never a victory more fateful. I am only, in your eyes, the killer of your husband and as such I have no right to ask your hand."

"Sir," said Adelaide, "I esteem you for your realization that this unfortunate victory raises barriers between you and me. They will put the scepter in my hands, but it belongs to you. The Saxons accustomed to marching under your orders will like to see in your hands this scepter which you have adorned so often with laurels. Accept it; it is worthy of you, but in fulfilling all your duties of state, forget an unfortunate woman who cannot share these glorious duties with you. Sit on the throne which belongs only to you and reign. I have no other function left except to weep. We will both be accomplishing what we can do best and the happiness of being satisfied in what we are doing is the most important thing in life."

The princess on finishing these words rushed back into her apartment. Thuringia wanted to hold her back, but she fled.

The assembly of states convoked by Adelaide the next day awaited with much interest what she was going to tell them. She went arrayed in her royal ornaments which she was