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Article THE RING OF CHARLEMAGNE. ← Page 5 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ring Of Charlemagne.
repeated them slowly one by one in a hoarse voice , stopping almost at each syllable , as if her breath was about to fail . " Take thou the ring , " said she , gazing at the mysterious sapphire on her finger ; " the talisman of glory and good fortune ; in your hands may it again prove the talisman of love ; never lose it , and you shall be always beloved , always powerful . Preserve it carefully ; and when you are about to die , instead of the obolus put under the tongue of the dead , to pay for
the last voyage , keep this ring in your mouth , and Charles will love you , even in death . —Farewell ' . " Thus had the Bohemian sorceress spoken , and Saphira seemed to feel a _ species of deadly satisfaction in repeating the words of the fatal prediction . When she had finished , her looks assumed a strange expression . She appeared wholly absorbed in some fixed purpose ; her lips moved with a convulsive effort . Alcuin , motionless and anxiously attentive , beheld her take the magic ring off her finger . She raised it first to her eyes , gazed on it a moment , and then placed it in her mouth .
As she did so , Charles entered , accompanied by several physicians , and the most experienced matrons that could be found . Saphira uttered a feeble cry as he entered , and expired . The grief of the monarch was extreme . He cast himself upon fthe body like a madman , and shed torrents of tears . In vain did his faithful attendant beseech him to quit the apartment where Saphira had just breathed her last . TheEmperor , who ivould not be consoled , heeded not
his entreaties , but remained near the dead body of her whom he had so loved while living , and whom he swore to follow to the grave . When the men appointed for the last solemn office due to mortality entered the apartment to remove the body of Saphira , —¦ " What want you ?—who sent you hither ? " he demanded in loud and angry tones . They recognised the voice of the Emperorand fled in dismay .
, In fact , the Emperor seemed determined to keep his oath . Several days and nights had passed , during ivhich , Charles , inaccessible to reason , obstinately resisted the efforts of the attendants to remove the body . At length , however , overcome by fatigue , he fell asleep . Alcuin proceeded directl y to the chamber where tlie body of Saphira was deposited ; he pushed open the door , and entered . He then approached the bedmade the sign of the crossand opened
, , the compressed teeth of the dead . Tremblingly he raised the stiff and cold tongue , and ivith some difficulty removed a ring which almost adhered to the flesh beneath it . This pious sacrilege committed , he again closed the mouth of the corpse , and , kneeling , prayed ferventl y for some time , Ms brow bathed in profuse perspiration . While he was thus occupied , Charles awoke . At sight of his aged councillor kneeling beside him , he exhibited some degree of surprise ;
but , recognising him almost immediately , he stretched forth his hand to him kindly , when his eyes lighting upon the corpse of Saphira , — " What is that ? " he asked , recoiling from the sight ; " who has brought a corpse within the palace ?" Alcuin had some difficulty to persuade him it was the body of her whom he had loved . " Remove the corpse , " cried Charles , with horror ; " let it be buried without delay . "
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Ring Of Charlemagne.
repeated them slowly one by one in a hoarse voice , stopping almost at each syllable , as if her breath was about to fail . " Take thou the ring , " said she , gazing at the mysterious sapphire on her finger ; " the talisman of glory and good fortune ; in your hands may it again prove the talisman of love ; never lose it , and you shall be always beloved , always powerful . Preserve it carefully ; and when you are about to die , instead of the obolus put under the tongue of the dead , to pay for
the last voyage , keep this ring in your mouth , and Charles will love you , even in death . —Farewell ' . " Thus had the Bohemian sorceress spoken , and Saphira seemed to feel a _ species of deadly satisfaction in repeating the words of the fatal prediction . When she had finished , her looks assumed a strange expression . She appeared wholly absorbed in some fixed purpose ; her lips moved with a convulsive effort . Alcuin , motionless and anxiously attentive , beheld her take the magic ring off her finger . She raised it first to her eyes , gazed on it a moment , and then placed it in her mouth .
As she did so , Charles entered , accompanied by several physicians , and the most experienced matrons that could be found . Saphira uttered a feeble cry as he entered , and expired . The grief of the monarch was extreme . He cast himself upon fthe body like a madman , and shed torrents of tears . In vain did his faithful attendant beseech him to quit the apartment where Saphira had just breathed her last . TheEmperor , who ivould not be consoled , heeded not
his entreaties , but remained near the dead body of her whom he had so loved while living , and whom he swore to follow to the grave . When the men appointed for the last solemn office due to mortality entered the apartment to remove the body of Saphira , —¦ " What want you ?—who sent you hither ? " he demanded in loud and angry tones . They recognised the voice of the Emperorand fled in dismay .
, In fact , the Emperor seemed determined to keep his oath . Several days and nights had passed , during ivhich , Charles , inaccessible to reason , obstinately resisted the efforts of the attendants to remove the body . At length , however , overcome by fatigue , he fell asleep . Alcuin proceeded directl y to the chamber where tlie body of Saphira was deposited ; he pushed open the door , and entered . He then approached the bedmade the sign of the crossand opened
, , the compressed teeth of the dead . Tremblingly he raised the stiff and cold tongue , and ivith some difficulty removed a ring which almost adhered to the flesh beneath it . This pious sacrilege committed , he again closed the mouth of the corpse , and , kneeling , prayed ferventl y for some time , Ms brow bathed in profuse perspiration . While he was thus occupied , Charles awoke . At sight of his aged councillor kneeling beside him , he exhibited some degree of surprise ;
but , recognising him almost immediately , he stretched forth his hand to him kindly , when his eyes lighting upon the corpse of Saphira , — " What is that ? " he asked , recoiling from the sight ; " who has brought a corpse within the palace ?" Alcuin had some difficulty to persuade him it was the body of her whom he had loved . " Remove the corpse , " cried Charles , with horror ; " let it be buried without delay . "