Legends -- France; Legends -- Germany; Legends -- Rhine River Valley
Ere long Karloman and his train moved up the Rhine, and this prince
also, when he beheld the shrine of St. Goar, was touched with a feeling
of tenderness for his absent brother. Recollections of the time when
Pepin and he had been inseparable surged over him, and he too stepped
ashore and made his way through the wood to the sacred spot.
Meanwhile Pepin still knelt before the shrine, and great indeed was
Karloman's astonishment when he beheld his brother. But when he heard
Pepin pray aloud that they might be reconciled his joy and surprise knew
no bounds. All armed as he was, he strode up to his kneeling brother
and embraced him with tears, entreating his forgiveness for past
harshnesses. When Pepin raised the prince's visor and beheld the beloved
features of Karloman, his happiness was complete. Together the brothers
made for their ships; not, however, till they had left valuable gifts
at the shrine of the saint whose good offices had brought about their
reconciliation. Together they proceeded to the court of Charlemagne, who
partitioned his Empire between his three sons, making each a regent of
his portion during his father's lifetime.
From that time onward the brothers were fast friends. Karloman and
Pepin, however, had not long to live, for the former died in 810 and the
latter in the following year.
Gutenfels, a Romance
A very charming story, and one entirely lacking in the element of gloom
and tragedy which is so marked a feature of most Rhenish tales, is that
which tradition assigns to the castle of Gutenfels. Its ancient name
of Caub, or Chaube, still clings to the town above which it towers
majestically.
In the thirteenth century Caub was the habitation of Sir Philip of
Falkenstein and his sister Guta, the latter justly acclaimed as the
most beautiful woman in Germany. She was reputed as proud as she was
beautiful, and of the many suitors who flocked to Caub to seek her hand
in marriage none could win from her a word of encouragement or even a
tender glance.
On one occasion she and her brother were present at a great tourney held
at Cologne, where the flower of knightly chivalry and maidenly beauty
were gathered in a brilliant assembly. Many an ardent glance was
directed to the fair maid of Caub, but she, accustomed to such homage,
was not moved thereby from her wonted composure.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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