It is curious to find this debased family, through all their misdeeds, crimes, and impotency, still regarded with affection and veneration by the mass of their subjects; and although mere puppets in the hands of the Mayors, the people must have been unaware of their loss of dignity, and their eyes must have been systematically blinded by a fictitious state being preserved round these nominal kings. The following legend of Theolinda will exemplify this; the Sigebert referred to is Sigebert III., son of Dagobert I., who was the last of the family that exercised anything like independent authority.
THEOLINDA.
On the banks of the Moselle, Theolinda was the fairest shepherdess; happy in love and beauty, she sat by the river’s bank, Alcidor’s arm around her. While sitting thus they were surprised by the approach of Sigebert and his Queen, who were passing a few days in a solitary castle which stood near the banks of the Moselle, surrounded by groves.
The King asked Alcidor if he would wish to serve in the army as a knight’s squire; and the Queen offered Theolinda to place her among her ladies, where she would be “as a rose among wild flowers.” Both humbly declined, urging that love was sufficient for them, but professed that they were ready to lay down their lives, if needful, for their King: he smiled and left them, assuring them of his protection and assistance, should they need it.
* * *
The hordes of the Vandals were threatening Austrasia, and Sigebert stood on the defensive, feeling his weakness; his general took up a strong position in the Vosges mountains, and there awaited the enemy.
The news of these events reached the quiet valleys of the Moselle, and Alcidor hastened to fulfil his promise to the King, and joined the army that was gathering in the forest of Ardennes; being known as a brave man, and perfectly acquainted with the intricacies of the forest, he was appointed to command a body of bowmen.
A battle ensued, and Alcidor, with his war-cry of “Theolinda,” drove all before him, but in the heat of the battle a javelin struck his heart; the battle was lost, and Theolinda heard the news from a grey-haired shepherd: she dropped senseless to the ground, but recovering, hastened to the royal camp.
The King was sitting in his council-chamber, surrounded by his courtiers, in the city of Metz, when a knight came in and said, “Gracious prince! while setting the watch a virgin approached me; she was majestically handsome and mild. First I took her for a divinity, but she addressed me in the following words,—’Permit me to speak to the General before the King quits the council-chamber.’”