It was when returning from crusading in the east that Richard, travelling disguised through Austria--the Duke of which he had offended at Ascalon--was recognized and so fell into the hands of his enemy and came to be imprisoned in this powerful castle, under the charge of Hadmar, the father of that Hadmar the Hound of Kuenring, of whom we learned at Aggstein. The romantic story runs, that the place of Richard’s imprisonment being unknown, his faithful minstrel Blondel de Nesle set out, wandering all over Europe to learn if he could the fate or whereabouts of the King of England. Accidentally he learned that in Dürrenstein Castle some distinguished person was confined and guarded with unusual vigilance. Not unnaturally he thought that this mysterious prisoner must be the royal master whom he sought. He reached Dürrenstein, but could get no news as to who the prisoner was, and the gates of the castle were shut against him. Blondel then bethought him of a _chanson_ which he and King Richard had composed together, and getting as near within hearing of the prisoner’s place of concealment as he could, he sang his own part of the song: “Your beauty, lady fair, None view without delight, But still as cold as air, No passion you excite; Yet this I patient see, While all are shunned by me.” The minstrel paused, and at once came the second part of the _chanson_ sung from within and proving beyond doubt the identity of the prisoner with the king of whom the minstrel was in search: “No nymph my heart can wound, If favours she divide, And smile on all around, Unwilling to decide; I’d rather hatred bear, Than love with others share.” The wonderful metrical romance dealing with the life of Richard Cœur de Lion does not--judging by so much of it as was given by Sir Henry Ellis--refer to the place of the king’s incarceration by name; therefore we may place here the wonderful incident of his wooing by Margery the daughter of the King of Almain--who should presumably be Duke of Austria--and of the way in which he won his nickname. Richard the prisoner and the King of Almain’s son had had a buffeting duel. Richard received the first blow which made him stagger, but when he gave his blow in return the prince’s “cheek bone was crushed ... he sank to the ground and instantly expired.” “The offended monarch now sent in haste for his great council-- “Earls, barons and wise clerks, To tell of these woeful werks--