Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injuriousJohnson, James
Science
Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injurious
Johnson, James
Balneology; Health resorts; Mineral waters
(_Legend the Fourth._)
In a lonely and desolate valley near the Rhine, some remains of a tomb
are seen, with an inscription, of which the word “LIBA” only is legible.
Liba was the beautiful daughter of the Chevalier Balther, and betrothed
to the brave and amiable Count de Grunstein, whom she loved. But, the
“days of true love seldom do run smooth.” Balther owed a grudge to the
pious but severe Englebert, Archbishop of Cologne, and instigated some
of the prelate’s vassals, who were also indisposed to the Archbishop,
to take away his life. Several of the malefactors were seized and
executed; all confessing at the scaffold that Balther was the person who
prompted them to the murder. These confessions induced the Emperor to
order a troop of soldiers to burn the original conspirator’s castle and
all within its walls. The order was duly executed, and, in the middle
of a stormy night, the flames ascended to the apartments of Balther
and Liba. The affectionate daughter, with the greatest difficulty, and
with wonderful presence of mind, conducted her aged father through a
subterranean passage, to the neighbourhood of the chateau; but not
before the old man was dreadfully scorched by the fire. A cavern in
the mountain’s side afforded them shelter from the vengeance of the
Emperor, and the affectionate daughter sustained her parent by fruits and
roots collected every night in the vicinity of their retreat. Meantime
Balther’s eyes were entirely destroyed by the inflammation resulting
from the flames of the castle; but he became reconciled, or at least
resigned, to his afflictions and fate. One day, he begged to be conducted
to the mouth of the cavern, where he might inhale the pure air, though
he could no longer enjoy the cheerful light of Heaven. The dutiful Liba
indulged the wish of her afflicted father, and, while they were sitting
there, she espied, at no great distance, her faithful lover, Grunstein,
leaning in melancholy mood against a tree, his javelin and dogs at his
side. The first impulse of nature was to rush into his arms, and implore
his assistance; but love and reason instantly checked her. She reflected
that the asylum in Grunstein’s castle would only expose her betrothed
lover to the persecution of the Emperor. At this moment, her father cried
out that he saw the sun and the blue sky, though his eyes were entirely
destroyed. The maiden looked around, and beheld a black speck in the
heavens. She fell on her knees, and implored the mercy and forgiveness of
the Almighty towards her parent. Balther joined in the prayer, and, at
that instant, the thunder roared, and a flash of lightning reduced the
father to a cinder, and the pious daughter to a corpse! Grunstein roused
from his reverie, commenced his descent, and, in his way down into the
valley, beheld the fair form of his betrothed Liba, apparently asleep—but
totally lifeless! He erected a chapel on the spot, dedicated to “Notre
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