she could save his life. And then the
thought suddenly came to her that she would make the greatest sacrifice
of all and give her life, so that the cure of which the learned doctors
of Salerno had written might be carried out.

Filled with this resolve, she told her father and mother, who wept
bitterly and sought by every means in their power to dissuade her, but
all in vain. Then Elsie sought the Prince and begged him to allow her to
do this for him. His life, she said, was valuable to his country and his
people, for he would be restored to health and rule over them again,
whereas she was but a poor peasant girl and her place could easily be
filled.

Prince Henry struggled for some time against the temptation to accept
the sacrifice of this young life, and finally determined to go to the
village church and ask the advice of the priest in the matter. But the
Prince delayed his coming, and the priest had to leave the church at
sunset and go forth to visit the sick and needy. Lucifer, who was
watching his opportunity, slipped into the church, disguised this time
as a priest, and took his seat in the confessional. When the Prince at
length appeared and besought the priest to tell him whether he might
justly allow the maiden to give her life for his, instead of showing him
how wicked such an action would be and that it would be far better in
God's eyes that he should bear his sufferings uncomplainingly, the evil
spirit persuaded the wavering youth that the deed was right and
necessary and had the Church's full approval.

[Illustration]

Heedless of the voice of his good angel, which whispered to his
conscience that he was doing wrong, the Prince returned to the farm
and announced that he was prepared to accept the divine gift of life
from Elsie's hands. One request only did the maiden make, that, on their
pilgrimage to Salerno, neither by word nor deed should Prince Henry
attempt to dissuade her from her purpose. Elsie had no fear of death
and, when she had taken a last farewell of her grief-stricken parents,
the Prince set out with her on their long journey.

Easter Sunday found them in Strasburg, where the Prince tarried with
Elsie in order that they might witness the Miracle Play, which was acted
within the cathedral. After that, the next stage of their journey
brought them to Hirschau, where Prince Henry sought a night's shelter at
the monastery, after having placed Elsie under the charge of the Abbess
Irmingard