The Red Romance Book

am of

rced into marriage by her father with the prince of Greece. At first Alexandrine declared that it was quite impossible to get them

r plan, and a v

big kitchens underneath the palace, where the wild beasts shot by the emperor were skinned and made into coats for the winter. Here she would have a chance of slipping out unnoticed wi

ound her cousin’s neck. ‘I am quite sure it will all go right, only let us m

said Alexandrine, ‘and you and

work on a pile of dead animals. The sun had set, and in the corner of the great hall where the flaying was going on, there was very little light, but Alexandrine marked that close to an open door was a heap of bearskins, and she took up her position as near them as she could. But the girl was careful not to stand to

men in darkness. One of them rose to fetch another, and, quick as thought, Alexandrine caught up t

n the floor. ‘But night is coming on apace, and we ha

lliam wore all their own clothes beneath, and d

he caught sight of herself in a polished shield on

bearskin, with an ass

S: AM NOT I

ndeed a grisly ghost, and no man will dare to come ne

eart?’ asked he, when the l

you!’ said she. And William laughed and begged Alexandrine to guide them throug

alking up to the palace saw them afar, and, seized with dread, took shelter in the nearest hut, where he told his tale. The men who heard it pai

emselves in a cave on the side of a hill. They had nothing to eat, but were too tired to think of that t

y and acorns and hazel-nuts, and there is a stream just below the cave —

tter than nuts and acorns. This, however, Melior would not hear of; they would certainly be followed and betrayed, s

dden himself under a clump of bushes close to the highway, and by-and-by he saw a man approaching, carrying a very fat wallet over his shoulder. The wolf bounded out of his cover, growling fiercely, which

was night, and the country was very lonely, they walked on two feet, but when morning came, or they saw signs that men were

on blithely in the palace, and none thought of asking for the bride. At last, when

he re-entered the hall; but the emperor only thought that his daugh

, which was locked. He shook and thumped and yelled with anger, till Alexandrine heard him fro

my daughter?’ he crie

e,’ answered

ake her instantly, for the bridegroom is

he has sworn that she will never wed one of that race. But, indeed, for my part, I think that is

mall boy with a wolf looking in

f’s visit

that be?’ ask

William himself,’ answered Alexandrine b

r was half beside himse

‘speak, girl, or I will

lior is not here, and William is not here, th

ed at her in sil

a body of soldiers shall go in search of him this moment, and when he is found I

. Party after party was sent out by the emperor, but they all returned without finding a trace of the runaways. Then at la

sing,’ ordered the chamberlain; and the page returned with th

. He hid in some bushes that lay in the path of the hounds, and let them get quite near him. As soon as they were close, he sprang out in front of their noses and they gave chase at once. And a fine dance he led

was exhausted. He gave up the hunt, and b

by-and-by. Let a reward be offered, and posted up on the gate of

followed their flocks. Once a man actually saw them, and gave notice to one of the royal officials, who brought a company of spearmen and surrounded the cave. Another moment, and they would have been seized, had not the wolf again co

astily stripped off the bearskins, and stole away, but they wou

William and Melior were running about as bears no more, but in the garments they always wore. So men began to look out for them, and once they were very nearly caught b

The king his father had been long dead, but the queen (his mother) and his sister were besieged in the city of Palermo by the king of Spain, who was full of wrath because the princess had refused

and there, under the trees, were the hart and the hind! Panting for joy, the queen summoned a priest, an

he hind is the daughter of the emperor of Rome, who

dered off to a part of the park that was full of rocks and caves. She greeted them

she; and William answered, ‘Good madam, I will have a werwol

l be done,

had been ridden by the late king his father. And the horse knew him, though his mother did not, and it neighed from pure delight. After that William called to

e the queen and Melior were awaiting him; suddenly, from the window, they behel

ean by that?’ a

at good to us,’

son was stolen away from me by such a one, when he was four years old, and never more have I h

forced to yield up his sword to William, who carried him captor to his mother Felice. The queen received him with gr

in turn what penalty the enemy should pay for having besieged their city and laid waste their cornfields. In the midst of this grave discussion a werwolf e

nexpected. They sprang up to pursue him, but like a flash of lightning William flung himself in their path, crying, ‘If any man dare to hurt

were all seated afresh round the council table, ‘w

again, and that his second wife had had a son also. One day when he came back from the wars she told him that his eldest son had

‘that this werwolf may

d if your wife had skill to turn him into a werwolf her charms can make him a man again. Therefore, sire, neither you nor your people shall go h

s she liked the summons, the Spanish queen dared not refuse, and on her arrival she was led at once into the great hall, which was filled with a vast company, both of Spa

tood up on his back, and with a snarl that chilled the blood of all that heard it he sprang towards the dais. But, l

wolf leaping towar

OF THE

ent for her for your sake, and if she does not undo her evil spells I w

she could resist no longer. Sinking on her knees before t

hamber, and, drawing from her wallet a thread of red silk, she bound it round a ring she wore, which no witchcraft could prevail against. This ring sh

came among them once more. He forgave the queen for her wickedness, an

ou, come to your aid. He is the rightful lord of this country, for he is the son of king Embrons and queen Felice, a

iam’s sister, and in due time ruled the kingdom of Spain, and William and Melior lived at P

more about them, you must re

of William

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