Attempt > Volume 1 and Select writings

THE ATTEMPT.
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of boats. Next morning at an early hour they left Cologne the Holy, as it was once
called, on their way to Bonn, at which place you may expect to find them in next
Number.
Part III.
We now see the tourists at the pleasant and ancient city of Bonn, for which
place, you may rememher, they started from Cologne. Not long after arriving, they
walked a short distance to the Kreuzherg, a moderately high hill, where a Roman
Catholic church stands, which, from its elevated postition and white appearance,
commands the attention of all strangers. In it, made of Italian marble, are the holy
steps, which none are allowed to ascend unless they do so on their knees, so our British
travellers, not being very anxious either to ascend in such a lowly manner, or to
perform penance, were obliged to go up a side stair. They noticed that two of the
steps were broken, and their guide informed them that this impious deed was done in
the time of the French war by one of Bonaparte’s officers, who, in spite of repeated
remonstrances, attempted to ascend them on horseback, hut as a punishment for his
temerity, the horse fell with his rider, who was killed on the spot. Having seen all
that was interesting in the church, they went to the railway station, in order to get the
train going to Rolandseck, or Roland’s Corner, the scene of the touching legend of
Sir Roland and his betrothed.
Sir Roland (from whom the rock derives its name) one of Charlemagne’s paladins,
was traversing the hanks of the Rhine in search of adventures, when he found himself
the guest of the Lord of the Seven Mountains, at his castle of "Drachenburg. Here he
was most cordially welcomed by his host’s lovely daughter Hildegunde, who, according
to the custom of the times, presented him with bread, fish, and wine. He was
captivated by the beauty of the maiden, who, in her turn, could not help admiring the
handsome knight. But the time came when they must part, for Roland was summoned
by his master Charlemagne to the wars. Anxiously did the sad Hildegunde await the
return of her lover, earnestly hoping that Death, who ever attends the warrior on the
battle-field, would spare him; but no tidings could be heard of him, until one day
some one, to put an end to her vain wishes, said he had been slain by the Infidels.
This was more than she could bear, and as earth had no longer charms for her, she
retired to the Kloster, a convent in the isle of Nonnenwerth. After several years had
passed away, the knight, who had been badly wounded, returned to the old castle halls
to claim her for his bride; but she was not there—she had taken the veil, and was