Page:Zawis and Kunigunde (1895).djvu/126

 beyond the suburbs of Iglau. There in a smooth meadow lawn, decked and green with soft grass and modest, simple flowers, near the confluence of two clear and rippling brooks, about forty persons quietly met from different directions.

A sloping undulation of the ground, aided by still blossoming shrubs, effectually secluded the company from observation. All other eyes turned towards the scene of the approaching tourney. There in the pure air of the early day, while birds flitted and sang uninterrupted, the fair lawn smiled in placid beauty, and all told loveliness and peace, the little assembly formed into about equal portions. In the midst stood a grave man sedately robed; and before him two younger persons, each seeming calmly happy, yet with a slight air of solicitude. One of these was a young man of six and twenty summers, of studious aspect, intellectual and kind. Beside him now, and slightly apart from the company, stood a young woman veiled in white. Each bore sabbata tied in front in cross fashion. “Brethren and sisters,” exclaimed the venerable Prokop, “this man and this woman, of mature years and goodly reputation, professing sincere affection for each other, present themselves as desiring to enter the holy estate of matrimony. Does any brother or sister know of any good reason why this marriage should not be? A second time, is there objection to this marriage? And yet, a third time.” At this point two younger women approached the bride, and two younger men approached the bridegroom. One of these on each