THE COUNTESS OF IDA, OF TOGGENBURG, AND HER RING.
The story of the ring is singular. She had placed her jewel case on the deep windowsill of the castle, to dry the outside leather, which had contracted damp. It was open, and a favourite hawk or raven, darting down, seized the ring. Fearlul of communicating her loss to so stern a Lord, she kepi it a secret to all (but a few chosen domestics, who were authorised to reward any one who might find it. The young page, unhappily not of the confidenliil party, picked it up at a g eat distance from the castle, and, showing it to another page, boasted that it was the gift of a lady. The baron heard the vain boast, desired to see the ring, recognised it as the <me presented by himself to his wife on her betrothal, rushed into the room, where he found her at the same open window from whence she had lost the ring, and, without saying a' word, threw her down into the woody dell, six hundred feet below ! The tardy truth availed not the unhappy youth, whose falsehood caused the ruin both of his lady and of liimself. Three days afterwards the innocence of both was made known by the pedlar, who had seen ] him pick it up, and had bid n price which the . other refused : he came to offer the sum originally demanded. Every| search was then made for the countess; but she had, though much bruised, escaped as by a mhacle, and , withdrawn into a hoUow cavern. There she lived four years on wild fruits, birls' epgs, and a little food, from time to time conveyed to her by an aged woman, to whom she com- ' municated her secret, and whoso bounty she i paid by spinning for her in the night. A favourite dog at length discovered her retreat, and the baron went in great pomp to remove her to his castle 5 but Ida rel'u«ed to return, and as an aionement for her sufferings and ' the death of the pane, he allowed her to , build a convent, of which she became abbess. The story is well authenticated, and has . perhaps served for the basis of miny others, ' founded on the same idea, in after ages.— 1 Historical Pictures of the Middle Ages. 1
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MMTKM18490913.2.17
Bibliographic details
Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 19, 13 September 1849, Page 4
Word Count
391THE COUNTESS OF IDA, OF TOGGENBURG, AND HER RING. Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 1, Issue 19, 13 September 1849, Page 4
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