sister, and the ladies formed a circle round it “that if any. one shot at the carriage we might receive the stroke." When the danger was over the child was taken out again, for he would be content nowhere b.it in the arms of either his nurse or of faithful Helen, who took turns to carry him on foot nearly all the way, sometimes in a high wind which covered them with dust, sometimes in great heat, sometimes in rain so heavy that Helen's fur pelisse, with which she covered his cradle, had to be wrung out several times. They slept at an inn, round which the gentlemen lighted a circle of fires, and kept watch all night. Weissenburg was loyal, five hundred armed gentlemen came out to meet them, and on Whitsun-eve they entered the city, Helen carrying her little king in her arms in the midst of a circle of these five hundred holding their naked swords aloft. On Whitsunday, Helen rose early, bathed the little fellow, who was twelve weeks old that day, and dressed him. He was then carried in her arms to the church, beside his mother. According to the old Hungarian customs, the choir door was closed,-the burghers were within, and would not open till the new monarch should have taken the great coronation oath to respect the Hungarian liberties and laws. This oath was taken by the queen in the name of her son, the doors were opened, and all the train entered, the little princess being lifted up to stand by the organ, lest she should be hurt in the throng. First Helen held her charge up to be confirmed, and then she had to hold him while he was knighted with a richly-adorned sword bearing the motto "Indestructible," and by a stout Hungarian knight, called Mikosch Weida, who struck with such a good will that Helen felt the blow on her arm, and the queen cried out to him not to hurt the child. The Archbishop of Gran anointed the little creature, dressed him in the red and gold robe, and put on his head the holy crown, and the people admired to see how straight he held up his neck under it; indeed they admired the loudness and strength of his cries, when, as the good lady records, "the noble king had little pleasure in his coronation for he wept aloud." She had to hold him up for the rest of the service, while Count Ulric of Eily held the crown over his head, and afterwards to seat him in a chair in St. Peter's Church, and then he was carried home in his cradle, with the count holding the crown over his head, and the other regalia borne before him. And thus Ladislas became king of Hungary at twelve weeks old, and was then carried off by his mother into Austria for safety. Whether this secret robbery of the crown, and coronation by stealth, was wise or just on the mother's part is a question not easy of answer,-though of course she deemed it her duty to do her utmost for her child's right. Of Helen Kottenner's deep fidelity and con scientious feeling there can be no doubt, and her having acted with her eyes fully open to the risk she ran, her trust in Heaven overcoming her fears and terrors, rendered her truly a heroine. The crown has had many other adventures, and afterwards was kept in an apartment of its own, in the castle of Ofen, with an antechamber guarded by two grenadiers. The door was of iron, with three locks, and the crown itself was contained in an iron chest with five seals. All this, however, did not prevent it from being taken away and lost in the Revolution of 1849. 66 GEORGE THE TRILLER 1455. HY, lady dear, so sad of cheer? Hast waked the livelong night?" Ernst bold and Albrecht bright. "From the dark glades of forest shades 86 Ah, lady dear, dismiss thy fear Of phantoms haunting sleep!" "My lord, o'erbold, hath kept his gold, "See, o'er the plain, with all his train, Some danger near my children dear "The warder waits before the gates, The massive walls protect the halls, II. "Tis night's full noon, fair shines the moon On Altenburg's old halls, The silver beams in tranquil streams Within their tower the midnight hour What sudden sound is stirring round? Swift from her bed, in sudden dread, Oh! sight of woe, from far below And from yon tower, her children's bower, Lo! giant Kunz descending! Ernst, in his clasp of iron grasp, His cries with hers is blending. "Oh! hear my prayer, my children spare, The sum shall be restored; Nay, twenty-fold returned the gold, With mocking grace he bowed his face Oh! double fright, a second knight And in his arm, with wild alarm, Would she had wings! She wildly springs To rouse her slumbering train; Bolted without her door so stout Resists her efforts vain! No mortal ear her calls can hear, A ery below, "Oh ! let me go, I am no prince's brother; Their playmate I-Oh! hear my cry, With anguish sore she shakes the door Her second child in terror wild "I greet thee well, the Elector tell III. 46 'Swift, swift, good steed, death's on thy speed Gain Isenburg ere morn; Though far the way, there lodged our prey, We laugh the Prince to scorn. "Their Konrad's den and merry men Will safely hold the boys, The prince shall grieve long ere we leave Our hold upon his joys. "But hark! but hark! how through the dark The castle bell is tolling, From tower and town, o'er wood and down, The like alarm notes rolling. "The peal rings out! echoes the shout! Groom, turn aside, swift must we ride Far on before, of men a score Prince Ernst bore still sleeping; The clanging bell with distant swell The morn's fresh beam lights a cool stream, "Sir Konrad good, be mild of mood, For love of heaven, one drop be given Kunz' savage heart feels pity's smart, A deep-toned bark! A figure dark, Comes through the wood in wondering mood, "Oh, to my aid, I am betrayed, The Elector's son forlorn, From out my bed these men of dread Have this night hither borne !" "Peace, if thou'rt wise," the false groom cries, See, turned aside, the weapon glide To Albrecht's clasp his friendly grasp Loud the hound's note as at the throat Back at the sounds Sir Konrad bounds: The robber lord with mighty sword, Unequal fight! Yet for the right "His whistle clear rings full of cheer, And lo! his comrades true, |