Sisters, the
THE SISTERS By Georg Ebers Volume 2. CHAPTER VII. In the very midst of the white wall with its bastions and ramparts, which formed the fortifications of Memphis, stood the old palace of the kings, a stately structure built of bricks, recently plastered, and with courts, corridors, chambers and halls without number, and veranda-like out- buildings of gayly-painted wood, and a magnificent pillared banqueting- hall in the Greek style. It was surrounded by verdurous gardens, and a whole host of laborers tended the flower-beds and shady alleys, the shrubs and the trees; kept the tanks clean and fed the fish in them; guarded the beast-garden, in which quadrupeds of every kind, from the heavy-treading elephant to the light-footed antelope, were to be seen, associated with birds innumerable of every country and climate.
with a well-aimed thrust of his sword, pierced the great beast through
his heart.
By this time, night was falling. The duke knew that he was very far
from any town or castle, but he hoped that some of his men might be
within call. He took his horn, and blew it twice full loudly. But his
huntsmen were now riding into Valenciennes; nor did they think that
they had left their master behind them in the wood. With his flint the
duke kindled a fire; beneath an aspen tree, and made ready to spend the
night near the place where the slain wild boar lay.
The forester who kept the wood heard the sound of Bego's horn, and saw
the light of the fire gleaming through the trees. Cautiously he drew
nearer. He was surprised to see a knight so richly clad, with his
silken hose and his golden spurs, his ivory horn hanging from his neck
by a blue ribbon. He noticed the great sword that hung at Bego's side.
It was the fairest and fearfulest weapon he had ever seen. He hastened
as fast as he could ride to Lens, where Duke Fromont dwelt; but he
spoke not a word to Fromont. He took the steward of the castle aside,
and told him of what he had seen in the wood.
"He is no common huntsman," said the forester; "and you should see how
richly clad he is. No king was ever arrayed more gorgeously while
hunting. And his horse--I never saw a better."
"But what is all this to me?" asked the steward. "If he is trespassing
THE SISTERS By Georg Ebers Volume 2. CHAPTER VII. In the very midst of the white wall with its bastions and ramparts, which formed the fortifications of Memphis, stood the old palace of the kings, a stately structure built of bricks, recently plastered, and with courts, corridors, chambers and halls without number, and veranda-like out- buildings of gayly-painted wood, and a magnificent pillared banqueting- hall in the Greek style. It was surrounded by verdurous gardens, and a whole host of laborers tended the flower-beds and shady alleys, the shrubs and the trees; kept the tanks clean and fed the fish in them; guarded the beast-garden, in which quadrupeds of every kind, from the heavy-treading elephant to the light-footed antelope, were to be seen, associated with birds innumerable of every country and climate.