Julius Caesar who settled a dispute and cemented a hearty friendship
with each other when engaged in the same bold fight； delivering each
other in the midst of a Gallic army。 I affirm； however； that you two
have done more for each other： and therefore I declare your affair of
honor to be settled； and at an end。 Sheathe your swords； and embrace
each other in my presence。〃
Obedient to the command of their general； the young knights for the
present sheathed their weapons； but anxious lest the slightest
possible shadow should fall on their honor they yet delayed the
reconciling embrace。
The great Alba looked at them with somewhat of an indignant air； and
said； 〃Do you then suppose； young knights； that I could wish to save
the lives of two heroes at the expense of their honor？ I would
rather at once have struck you dead； both of you at once。 But I see
plainly that with such obstinate minds one must have recourse to
other measures。〃
And； dismounting from his horse； he fastened it to a tree； and then
stepped forward between the two captains with a drawn sword in his
right hand； crying out； 〃Whoever will deny in any wise that the
quarrel between Sir Heimbert of Waldhausen and Don Fadrique Mendez is
honorably and gloriously settled must settle the matter at the peril
of his life with the Duke of Alba； and should the present knights
have any objection to raise to this； let them declare it。 I stand
here as champion for my own conviction。〃
The youths bowed submissively before the great umpire； and fell into
each other's arms。 The duke； however； embraced them both with hearty
affection； which appeared all the more charming and refreshing as it
rarely burst forth from this stern character。 Then he led the
reconciled friends back to their betrothed； and when these； after the
first joyful surprise was over at the presence of the honored
general； started back at seeing drops of blood on the garments of the
youths； the duke said； smiling； 〃Oh； ye brides elect of soldiers； you
must not shrink from such jewels of honor。 Your lovers could bring
you no fairer wedding gift。〃
The great Alba was not not be deprived of the pleasure of enacting
the office of father to the two happy brides； and the festival of
their union was fixed for the following day。 From that time forth
they lived in undisturbed and joyful concord； and though the Knight
Heimbert was recalled soon afterward with his lovely consort to the
bosom of his German Fatherland； he and Fadrique kept up the link
between them by letters and messages； and even in after times the
descendants of the lord of Waldhausen boasted of their connection
with the noble house of Mendez； while the latter have ever sacredly
preserved the tradition of the brave and magnanimous Heimbert。
End