GUTENFELS.CAUR.

Alphonso the Tenth, king of Castile, commonly Richard was chosen called Alphonso the Wise.

by a majority of the electors of the empire-a distinction which Hume says he owed to his "immense opulence," but which romantic story tells us was entirely due to his own noble and knightly virtues; and he was accordingly crowned with all due solemnity* King of the Romans and Emperor of Germany. Philip von Falkenstein Earl of Cornwall's party, had sided with the and given heart and hand to his cause, Guda remained in the lonely castle of Caub brooding over her hapless destiny, and dreaming of her seeming faithless lover. Now, however, that peace was restored for a while, he once more made the halls of his fathers his abode.

while

The sixth month had commenced, when one morning at early dawn, as the sleepless maiden sat in her chamber window watching the course of the current, and thinking of him, without whom the world was to her as nothing, a stately cavalcade became visible at a distance, sweeping swiftly along the river-shore, and appearing to The polished armour of the approach the castle. knights who composed it glanced like sparks of brilliant fire in the rising sunbeams, and the tramp and neigh of their noble steeds, multiplied by echo, came like the sound of distant thunder on her ear. She felt agitated, although she knew not why. It was not that she expected to meet her lover among the gallant train, for she had long since given him up as lost-slain,

Hume says he was only crowned king of the Romans; he adds, "which seemed to render his "a circumstance, succession infallible to the imperial throne."

she was led to think, in the strife which preceded the elevation of his countryman, the Earl of Cornwall; and yet, for a moment, a thought of the kind would involuntarily mingle with the (umultuous rush of sensations which filled her mind, and almost overwhelmed her by their vehemence and vividness. In a few moments nore the gay train was at the castle-gate-the warder's horn sounded aloud, and a herald demanded admission for "Richard of Cornwall, king of the Romans, and kaiser of Germany.

There was tumult enough among the menials and retainers in Caub that morning; and even Philip von Falkenstein, their lord, was so overpowered with the honour of a visit from his sovereign, that he scarce could control his own emotions. However, he received the prince in as princely a fashion as he could, and besought him to honour his paternal halls with his presence. The usual ceremonies done and over, the monarch's train disposed of, and something like order restored among the domestics of the castle, Richard and his host sat together to the morning meal. The great feudatories of the empire stood around their chief, to render him the nominal domestic service which their tenure of office implied. The monarch partook but sparingly of the entertainment; his mind seemed not quite at ease; he was reserved in his manner, and sometimes absent in his conversation; but altogether his remarks gave much gratification to his entertainer, for they were principally in praise of his fidelity to his cause, interspersed with thanks and expressions of gratitude for the good service he had personally rendered him.

"But I am not come hither solely for the purpose of praise and thanksgiving, proceeded the emperor. "You have a fair sister, Sir Philip von Falkenstein ?"

Philip bowed his head; but he was, nothwithstanding, all amazement.

"Why graces she not your board?" continued Richard. "The fairest maiden in Germany should not be absent from the court of her sovereign."

"My lord and master," said Philip von Falkenstein, "it is not of her own free will that she sits in her bower alone; neither is it by my desire that she tarries to humble herself in your presence; but she is ill-deadly ill-that fair flower, once the fairest on the waters of the Rhine, has sorely withered, and I fear me much is about to pass away from us for ever.

"For ever!" exclaimed the monarch,-" deadly ill!-Guda withered!-I came to ask of thee her hand. It mus not be !-she shall not die! Bring her hither.

With these words he raised the visor of his helmet, which until then had entirely concealed his face; and Philip von Falkenstein fell at the feet of his former guest, the stranger of the tournay at Cologne, the unknown victor of the lists in that splendid festal.

Richard raised and embraced him.

66 From this moment be thou my brother, said he; "and now go and bring to me my beloved Guda.

Philip hastened to obey his sovereign's behest; but ere he reached the door he was recalled.

"Yet, stay cried Richard; "say not to her who I am, Tell her that a crowned king offers

her his kingdom; tell her that the empire is hers, if she so wills it; that Richard of Cornwall woos her to become his bride; and then bring to me her answer.

Philip disappeared: a happy man was he to ' be the bearer of that message. Richard once more let down his visor, so as to hide his countenance. In a short while his host returned: but his step was slow to approach the emperor, and his brow was clouded.

"Well, asked Richard, "what says she? Grants she my suit?"

"My lord," replied Philip, hesitating to speak

"She

"Out with the word!" cried Richard. refuses the hand of her sovereign-she will not be my empress?" and he laughed loudly as he said the words.

"She tells me," continued Philip, somewhat reassured by the mood of the monarch, "that her heart is not hers to give: and that her hand goes only with her heart, even were it to the grave! She bade me thank you for the high honour you intended for her; but to tell you, that her troth is plighted to another, who sleeps the sleep of death, and whom she hopes speedily to follow to where the weary are at rest.' More she would not say; neither would she mention his name.

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Well, well, quoth the emperor, still laughing heartily, "bring her hither; say, her sovereign would hear his fate from her Own lips. But be secret still. "

Philip again departed, and again returned. This time he led the lovely Guda into the im

perial presence. Notwithstanding that sorrow had blanched the rose on her cheek, she was still so surpassingly beautiful, that all around the monarch were struck with amazement to see her.

"Ladye" began the monarch, "you have rejected my suit? you refuse my offer?"

Guda would fain have spoken, but the words died in her throat, and she could find no utterance for them.

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Nay, never heed," nought about it."

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continued he; say

Until this time he had disguised his voice; a deception which was much aided by his closed visor. Now, however, he resumed his natural tones; as, drawing forth from his baldric a small white glove, he asked the trembling maiden, in accents which thrilled through her soul "Know ye this guerdon, dear Guda?" "Yes, yes!" she shrieked, "'tis mine!—I gave it to him!"

--

It was with difficulty she sustained herself in the sight of the emperor.

"That glove you gave to a poor knight of Richard's army, and with it you gave your troth; where is he?"

"Where is he?" she cried, echoing the monarch's question: "Where is he? Alas! alas!" A flood of tears came to her relief; she hung down her head, and wept copiously.

"Be comforted, fair Guda," said Richard, soothingly.

In the meanwhile he had raised his visor, while the sorrowing maiden wept; and he now revealed to her view the hero of the tournay at