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Peter； whose church thou servest。〃
The young girl brought the pilgrim food； and then； according to
the custom of the day； kneeling on the earthen floor； she began
to bathe his feet。 But as she did so； the pilgrim； bending
forward； said in a low voice：
〃Lady； I have great matters to announce to thee； if thou deign to
permit me to reveal them。〃
Pilgrims in those days were frequently made the bearers of
special messages between distant friends； but this poor young
orphan princess could think of no one from whom a message to her
might come； Nevertheless； she simply said： 〃Say on。〃 In the same
low tone the beggar continued； 〃Clovis； King of the Franks； sends
thee greeting。〃
The girl looked up now； thoroughly surprised。 This beggar must be
a madman； she thought。 But the eyes of the pilgrim looked at her
reassuringly； and he said： 〃In token whereof； he sendeth thee
this ring by me； his confidant and comitatus；＇1＇ Aurelian of
Soissons。〃
＇1＇ One of the king's special body…guard； from which comes the
title comp； count。
The Princess Clotilda took； as if in a dream； the ring of
transparent jacinth set in solid gold； and asked quietly：
〃What would the king of the Franks with me？〃
〃The king； my master； hath heard from the holy Bishop Remi and
the good priest Ugo of thy beauty and discreetness；〃 replied
Aurelian； 〃and likewise of the sad condition of one who is the
daughter of a royal line。 He bade me use all my wit to come nigh
to thee； and to say that； if it be the will of the gods； he would
fain raise thee to his rank by marriage。〃
Those were days of swift and sudden surprises； when kings made up
their minds in royal haste； and princesses were not expected to
be surprised at whatever they might hear。 And so we must not feel
surprised to learn that all the dreams of her younger days came
into the girl's mind； and that； as the record states； 〃she
accepted the ring with great joy。〃
〃Return promptly to thy lord；〃 she said to the messenger； 〃and
bid him； if he would fain unite me to him in marriage； to send
messengers without delay to demand me of my uncle； King
Gundebald； and let those same messengers take me away in haste；
so soon as they shall have obtained permission。〃
For this wise young princess knew that her uncle's word was not
to be long depended upon； and she feared； too； that certain
advisers at her uncle's court might counsel him to do her harm
before the messengers of King Clovis could have conducted her
beyond the borders of Burgundy。
Aurelian； still in his pilgrim's disguise； for he feared
discovery in a hostile country； hastened back to King Clovis；
who； the record says； was 〃pleased with his success and with
Clotilda's notion； and at once sent a deputation to Gundebald to
demand his niece in marriage。〃
As Clotilda foresaw； her uncle stood in too much dread of this
fierce young conqueror of the north to say him nay。 And soon in
the palace at Lyons； so full of terrible memories to this orphan
girl； the courteous Aurelian； now no longer in beggar's rags； but
gorgeous in white silk and a flowing sagum； or mantle of
vermilion； publicly engaged himself； as the representative of
King Clovis； to the Princess Clotilda； and； according to the
curious custom of the time； cemented the engagement by giving to
the young girl a sou and a denier。＇1＇
＇1＇ Two pieces of old French coin； equalling about a cent and a
mill in American money。
〃Now deliver the princess into our hand； O king；〃 said the
messenger； 〃that we may take her to King Clovis； who waiteth for
us even now at Chalons to conclude these nuptials。〃
So； almost before he knew what he was doing； King Gundebald had
bidden his niece farewell； and the princess； with her escort of
Frankish spears； was rumbling away in a clumsy basterne； or
covered ox…wagon； toward the frontier of Burgundy。
But the slow…moving ox…wagon by no means suited the impatience of
this shrewd young princess。 She knew her uncle； the king of
Burgundy； too well。 When once he was roused to action； he was
fierce and furious。
〃Good Aurelian；〃 she said at length to the king's ambassador； who
rode by her side： 〃if that thou wouldst take me into the presence
of thy lord； the king of the Franks； let me descend from this
carriage； mount me on horseback； and let us speed hence as fast
as we may； for never in this carriage shall I reach the presence
of my lord； the king。〃
And none too soon was her advice acted； upon for； the counsellors
of King Gundebald； noticing Clotilda's anxiety to be gone；
concluded that； after all； they had made a mistake in betrothing
her to King Clovis。
〃Thou shouldst have remembered； my lord；〃 they said； 〃that thou
didst slay Clotilda's father； her mother； and the young princes；
her brothers。 If Clotilda become powerful； be sure she will
avenge the wrong thou hast wrought her。〃
And forthwith the king sent off an armed band； with orders to
bring back both the princess and the treasure he had sent with
her as her marriage portion。 But already the princess and her
escort were safely across the Seine； where； in the Campania； or
plain…country；later known as the province of Champagneshe met
the king of the Franks。
I am sorry to be obliged to confess that the first recorded
desire of this beautiful； brave； and devout young maiden； when
she found herself safely among the fierce followers of King
Clovis； was a request for vengeance。 But we must remember； girls
and boys； that this is a story of half…savage days when； as I
have already said； the desire for revenge on one's enemies was
common to all。
From the midst of his skin…clad and green…robed guards and
nobles； young Clovisin a dress of 〃crimson and gold； and
milk…white silk；〃 and with his yellow hair coiled in a great
top…knot on his uncovered headadvanced to meet his bride。
〃My lord king；〃 said Clotilda； 〃the bands of the king of Burgundy
follow hard upon us to bear me off。 Command； I pray thee； that
these； my escort； scatter themselves right and left for twoscore
miles； and plunder and burn the lands of the king of Burgundy。〃
Probably in no other way could this wise young girl of seventeen
have so thoroughly pleased the fierce and warlike young king。 He
gladly ordered her wishes to be carried out； and the plunderers
forthwith departed to carry out the royal command。
So her troubles were ended； and this prince and
princess；Hlodo…wig； or Clovis （meaning the 〃warrior youth〃）；
and Hlodo…hilde； or Clotilda （meaning the 〃brilliant and noble
maid〃）；in spite of the wicked uncle Gundebald； were married at
Soissons； in the year 493； and； as the fairy stories say； 〃lived
happily together ever after。〃
The record of their later years has no place in this sketch of
the girlhood of Clotilda； but it is one of the most interesting
and dramatic of the old…time historic stories。 The dream of that
sad little prin