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 Clovis--in a dress of "crimson and gold, and
milk-white silk," and with his yellow hair coiled in a great
top-knot on his uncovered head--advanced 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.
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