Page:Select Popular Tales from the German of Musaeus.djvu/124

110 of former ages, who bloomed many hundred years ago, were not spared, and were most unjustly and severely criticised.

The beautiful Richiida was acknowledged in her court as the only and highest image of womanly beauty, and because by the testimony of the magic mirror she was indeed the most beautiful woman in Brabant, and possessed great wealth, even many cities and castles, high-born suitors were not wanting. She counted as many of them as did formerly Dame Penelope, and wished to encourage them with sweet hope as cunningly and artfully, as in later times did the British Queen Elizabeth. All the wishes that Henry’s daughter in our days used to dream;—to be admired, flattered, adored, to stand foremost in the ranks of her companions, and to shine above all, like the lovely moon among the little stars; to have a circle of admirers and worshippers around her, who were ready, according to the old fashions, to orler up their life for their lady, in the lists, to seek adventures at her command, and to conquer giants and dwarfs for her,—or, according to modern usage, to weep, to moan, to look up mournfully at the moon, to rave, to throw themselves from precipices, to rush into water, &c. &c.;—all these dreams of giddy maidens took place in reality at the Countess Richilda’s. Her charms had cost many young knights their lives, and the enthusiasm of secret love had reduced many unhappy princes to mere skin and bone. The cruel beauty was secretly delighted at these victims, whom her vanity daily slew, and the torments of these unfortunates pleased her more than the soft feelings of happy and virtuous love: her heart had till now only been sensible of a slight impression of a superficial passion; she did not properly know to what this belonged; each sighing Damon stood before her, but according to the rules of hospitality, usually not longer than three days. When a new comer took possession, the former inhabitant of her heart was coldly dismissed. The Counts of Artois, of Flanders, of Hennegan, of Namur, of Gelder, of Gröningen, in short, all the seventeen Counts of the Netherlands (with some exceptions, of those who were already married, or who were quite grey-headed) courted the heart of the beautiful Richilda and desired her for a wife.

The wise Aja found that her young mistress could not long continue such coquetry: her good reputation seemed to diminish, and it was to be feared that the deceived suitors would revenge their insult on the beautiful prude. She therefore represented this to Richiida, and extorted from her a promise to choose a husband within three days. At this resolution, which was soon made openly known in the court, all the wooers were greatly rejoiced. Each candidate hoped the chance of love would favour him; they agreed together to sanction the choice (whoever was favoured with it), and to maintain it with united hands.

The strict Aja, by her well-intentioned importunity, had only