no complaints reached the throne of the duchess. She, however, by means of her second sight, was well aware of the injustice committed within the limits of her realm. Her character being in unison with her soft features, she was deeply affected by the wrongs perpetrated by her vassals, the violence used by the powerful, and the injury suffered by the weak. She communed with herself how to check the mischief, and, inspired by wisdom, decided upon following the example of the gods, who do not punish criminals on the instant they commit their misdeeds, although their slowly-pursuing vengeance overtakes them sooner or later. The young princess convened the states and the knighthood to a general court of justice, and had it publicly announced, that whoever had a complaint to make might come boldly forward, and should have a safe-conduct.
From all parts of the country the oppressed and injured arrived, but at the same time came the quarrelsome and litigious. Libussa sat upon the throne, like the goddess Themis with sword and scales, and distributed justice with unfailing equity, without regard to rank or person; for she was not as easily misled by the labyrinthine ways of chicanery, as are often the heavy heads