r accusations of sorcery,
which in those days generally led to the death of the victim by burning.
So grievously did these malign whispers add to the already heavy burden
of the maid that she surrendered herself to be tried, hardly caring
whether or not she were found guilty. She was summoned before the
criminal court held at Rhens by the Archbishop of Cologne, and charged
with practising the black art in order to ensnare men's affections.

However, when she appeared before the court her beauty so impressed the
assembly, and even the old Archbishop himself, that none could believe
her guilty. Her lovely face bore the imprint of innocence, her grief
touched every heart, and on all sides she was treated with the greatest
respect and kindness. The old prelate assured her that she would not
be judged harshly, but begged to hear from her own lips that she was
innocent of the foul charge brought against her. This assurance she
gave with artless simplicity, and a murmur of approval went up from
the crowd. The sympathy of those present--for even her accusers were
melted--and the kindness of the aged Churchman who was her judge moved
her to confess her unhappy love-story.

"I pray thee," she concluded wearily, "I pray thee, my lord, let me die.
I know, alas! that many true knights have died for love of me, and now I
fain would die for the sake of one who hath forsaken me."

The prelate, moved almost to tears by the pathetic story, laid his hand
on the head of the weeping maid.

"Thou shalt not die, fair maiden," he said. "I will send thee to a
convent, where thou mayst live in peace." And calling to his side three
trusty old knights, he bade them conduct Lorelei to the convent
across the river, and charge the abbess to treat her with the greatest
kindness. Having blessed the maid once more, he bade them go. On their
way to the convent they must needs pass the rock since known as the
Lorelei-berg, and the girl, who had maintained a pensive silence all the
way, now observed that she would fain ascend the rock and look for the
last time at the castle of her betrothed knight.

Her escort would have courteously assisted her, but she, with the
agility of youth, easily outstripped them, and stood alone on the
summit, surveying the fair scene before her. A light barque was sailing
up the river, and as she gazed on it Lorelei uttered a loud cry, for
there in the bow stood her truant lover! The knight and his train heard
the shriek a