against her. Still Prince Wladomir and his confederates did not abandon their project. They whispered to one another: “The chamois does not like to abandon the fat pasture ground;(24) but the hunting-horn shall send forth a still louder blast, and drive her away.”
The next day they persuaded the knighthood to demand imperatively that she should choose, in the space of three days, a consort, to give by the choice of her heart a prince to the people, who might divide the government with her.
At this rash demand, which seemed to be the voice of the nation, a virgin blush overspread the cheeks of the beautiful Libussa. Her clear-sighted eye saw all the cliffs under water, which menaced her with danger on this occasion. Even if she were to sacrifice her inclination, as is the custom in high life, she still could give her hand but to one suitor, and she was well aware that all the other pretenders would consider it an humiliation, and try to avenge themselves. Besides, she considered the secret vow of her heart as inviolable and sacred. She therefore tried to persuade the states to abandon their importunate demand, and made another essay to dissuade them altogether from their project of choosing a duke.