Terribly, beautifully romantic story.
"The Wives of Weinsberg"
This story, I took from "Chicken Soup for the Couples' Soul". So it's true.
It happened in Germany, in the Middle Ages. The year was 1141. Wolf, the Duke of Bavaria, sat trapped inside his castle of Weinsberg. Outside his walls lay the army of Frederick, the duke of Swabia, and his brother, the emperor Konrad.
The siege had lasted long, and the time had come when Wolf knew he must surrender. Messengers rode back and forth, terms were proposed, conditions allowed, arrangements completed. Sadly, Wolf and his officers prepared to give themselves to their bitter enemy.
But the wives of Weinsberg were not ready to lose all. They sent a message to Konrad, asking the emperor to promise safe conduct for all the women in the castle. They also asked if they might come out with as many of their valuables as they could carry in their arms as they left.
The request was freely granted, and soon the castle gates opened. Out came the ladies-- but in startling fashion. They carried not gold or jewels. Each one was bending under the weight of her husband, whom she hoped to save from the vengeance of the victorious host.
Konrad, who was a really generous and merciful man, is said to have been brought to tears by the extraordinary performance. He hastened to assure the women of their husband's perfect safety and freedom. Then he invited them all to a banquet and made peace with the Duke of Bavaria on terms much more favorable than expected.
The castle was afterwards known as the 'Hill of Weibertreue', or woman's fidelity.
I read that story and nearly had a tear in my own eye, just imagining it-- it is conceivable that in real life it would most certainly do that to someone, especially a hardened warrior like the emperor, who had ravaged a castle for days on end.
It is absolutely beautiful, terribly romantic, amazing. I can only hope that if I were married an in a similar situation, I would have the gall and hope to pull such a thing.
If you believe yourself to be in love, ask yourself this: would you forgo all that you possess and pull such a stunt-- without knowing if it would work at all, and for that matter, if you would be beheaded or some such murderous thing for doing that? Would your partner be so brave and loving to return the favor if in that instance as well? Ask yourself. Find to the extent of what your love is.
Quickly, another instance:
A man was trapped in the wooden hills of Laguna Canyon, his left leg bent horribly, obviously broken. He, for over twelve hours, slowly crawled on his hands to get himself off of the ledge, and onto a pathway that people actually walk on-- for, the place he was, was relatively unexplored. As night began to beckon, the temperature dropped, he grabbed a rock and carved into the surface of the rock wall beside him:
Elizabeth, I love you.
In what might possibly be your last moments of life, would your thoughts run to your lover? Would you use your last ounce of strength to carve them a message in case you die, so that they may know the depth of your love-- that they were your thoughts-- that your thoughts were not selfish? I can only hope I could be so unselfish. I can only hope to have a love to that extent.
-Jessica-Lyn.
That book is amazing, by the way. Read it... Excellent bathroom material. /coughs/
This story, I took from "Chicken Soup for the Couples' Soul". So it's true.
It happened in Germany, in the Middle Ages. The year was 1141. Wolf, the Duke of Bavaria, sat trapped inside his castle of Weinsberg. Outside his walls lay the army of Frederick, the duke of Swabia, and his brother, the emperor Konrad.
The siege had lasted long, and the time had come when Wolf knew he must surrender. Messengers rode back and forth, terms were proposed, conditions allowed, arrangements completed. Sadly, Wolf and his officers prepared to give themselves to their bitter enemy.
But the wives of Weinsberg were not ready to lose all. They sent a message to Konrad, asking the emperor to promise safe conduct for all the women in the castle. They also asked if they might come out with as many of their valuables as they could carry in their arms as they left.
The request was freely granted, and soon the castle gates opened. Out came the ladies-- but in startling fashion. They carried not gold or jewels. Each one was bending under the weight of her husband, whom she hoped to save from the vengeance of the victorious host.
Konrad, who was a really generous and merciful man, is said to have been brought to tears by the extraordinary performance. He hastened to assure the women of their husband's perfect safety and freedom. Then he invited them all to a banquet and made peace with the Duke of Bavaria on terms much more favorable than expected.
The castle was afterwards known as the 'Hill of Weibertreue', or woman's fidelity.
I read that story and nearly had a tear in my own eye, just imagining it-- it is conceivable that in real life it would most certainly do that to someone, especially a hardened warrior like the emperor, who had ravaged a castle for days on end.
It is absolutely beautiful, terribly romantic, amazing. I can only hope that if I were married an in a similar situation, I would have the gall and hope to pull such a thing.
If you believe yourself to be in love, ask yourself this: would you forgo all that you possess and pull such a stunt-- without knowing if it would work at all, and for that matter, if you would be beheaded or some such murderous thing for doing that? Would your partner be so brave and loving to return the favor if in that instance as well? Ask yourself. Find to the extent of what your love is.
Quickly, another instance:
A man was trapped in the wooden hills of Laguna Canyon, his left leg bent horribly, obviously broken. He, for over twelve hours, slowly crawled on his hands to get himself off of the ledge, and onto a pathway that people actually walk on-- for, the place he was, was relatively unexplored. As night began to beckon, the temperature dropped, he grabbed a rock and carved into the surface of the rock wall beside him:
Elizabeth, I love you.
In what might possibly be your last moments of life, would your thoughts run to your lover? Would you use your last ounce of strength to carve them a message in case you die, so that they may know the depth of your love-- that they were your thoughts-- that your thoughts were not selfish? I can only hope I could be so unselfish. I can only hope to have a love to that extent.
-Jessica-Lyn.
That book is amazing, by the way. Read it... Excellent bathroom material. /coughs/