“On the following day, I perceived now and then the Lady Minnatrost walking with that lovelorn damsel on the castle ramparts, among tall white flowers that grew there, and from whose blossoms, as they waved in the morning air, there exhaled the sweetest odours. Often, however, the maiden wept bitterly, and called aloud for Sir Frederick von Edekon. At such time the Druda spoke not; she offered neither consolations nor promises, but only fixed on the weeping girl her thoughtful eyes, whose light was always mild and soothing as the moonbeams, or broke off a blooming sprig from the white flowers that grew there, and with it fanned her burning cheeks. At last too she sung old simple ballads, till the listener was calmed, and even smiled with wondrous cheerfulness. Such too was the conduct of the white-robed lady every time when the damsel’s brother and the knight appeared, and with threatening looks and angry words demanded her release. The Druda only smiled, and looked on them in silence; whereupon their angry words died away on their lips like a mournful sigh, or changed into humble and patient entreaties. After they had thus come three times, they were on the ninth day all become mild, submissive, and pious. Then the Lady Minnatrost gave them back the now smiling damsel, who soon afterwards was led to the altar, in peace and unanimity, betwixt her brother and the knight. Thereafter they all lived happily together; nor were there ever dissensions any more betwixt that chief and his vassals. “Many other stories are told in that neighbourhood of the consolation which the wonderful lady of the castle has afforded to those in distress, especially to victims of unfortunate love; so that she well deserves the name that is bestowed on her, since her aid has always been afforded in the spirit of love and charity, not in that of violence or constraint.” FOOTNOTES: [1] _Minne_ (pronounced _minna_) is an obsolete word for _love_, and _trost_ means _consolation_. CHAPTER XII. How the Lady Bertha went with her brother in quest of the Lady Minnatrost. By degrees, as the knight spoke thus with his sister, and told her more and more stories of that wonderful lady, his own feelings, both of mind and body, became soothed and tranquil. He no longer raved in feverish delirium, but asked calmly for his uncle; and when Sir Hugh came into his apartment, spoke respectfully and kindly, entreating forgiveness, if his words before had been wild and unbecoming. The old knight, therefore, often sat by his couch, but this was not long needful; for scarcely had the wounded youth begun to obtain a victory over his illness, ere he went gaily forth into the fields and forests to enjoy the sports of the chase, and sat with Sir Hugh at the mid-day and evening banquet, over full mantling goblets of old Hungarian or Johannisberg.