Page:Libussa, Duchess of Bohemia; also, The Man Without a Name.djvu/77

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Libussa.
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against her, and general discord be the signal for murder and rebellion. Therefore she hid carefully the desires of her heart, so that the eyes of the prying should perceive nothing. But now, since the people longed for a prince, the case had taken a different turn, and it was only required to reconcile her wishes with the desire of the nation. She fortified her courage with a manly energy, and on the dawn of the third day she put on her jewels, and placed a chaste crown of myrtle upon her head. Surrounded by the whole suite of her maids of honour, who were all adorned with garlands, she mounted the ducal throne, full of spirit and easy dignity.

The assembly of the knights and vassals was wrapt in silence, to hear the name of the happy prince with whom she had decided to share her throne.

“Ye nobles of my country,” she spoke; “the decision of fate still remains untouched in the urn of secrecy; ye are still free, like my coursers which are grazing in the meadows, before they are tamed by bridle and bit, and their slim back is oppressed by the burden of a saddle and a rider. It is now your turn to tell me, if during the time which you have given me for the choice