Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/64

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Libussa.

with storm-like impetuosity, and mowed down everything before them like the scythe of the reaper in a corn-field. Zornebock succumbed under their powerful strokes; and they returned in triumph to Vizegrade, carrying with them the booty they were ordered to bring. Thus they washed out in the blood of their foes the blots and stains which had previously spotted their knightly honour.

The duchess presented them with many tokens of her princely favour, dismissed them to their homes, and gave them, as an additional proof of her good-will, a purple apple, which she enjoined them to divide between themselves, but without cutting it. They then went their way, having the apple carried before them upon a shield, and consulting together how they should divide it cleverly without disobeying the injunction of the gentle donor. They were thus amicably discussing the mode of its partition, till they came to a crossway, where they had to separate; when both wanted to keep possession of the apple, which only one could have, without dividing it. Thereupon they began to disagree, and were upon the point of deciding by the sword to whose lot the indivisible apple should fall, when a shepherd came up to them who was driving his