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"title": "Richard and Blondel",
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"language": "en",
"summary": "Richard and Blondel is a short story about Richard I of England — known as Lionheart — who is secretly seized by a jealous king on his way home from the Holy Land and thrown into a foreign prison. Stripped of sunlight and freedom, the brave warrior king sits alone until a familiar voice drifts through his prison window, singing a song only one person would know. That voice belongs to Blondel, a loyal friend who has spent many days searching for his lost king.",
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"In a gloomy prison, in a foreign land, lay Richard I, King of England. He had been with some other kings to a great war in the Holy Land, where he had won battles, and taken cities, and gained much honour. Men called him Richard Lion-heart, because he was as brave as a lion in fighting, and his soldiers loved him and would follow him into any danger. One strong city, called Acre, held out for nearly two years against the armies of the other kings, but when Richard arrived it gave way almost at once.",
"Because of his bravery, and his many victories, all men praised King Richard, and this made some of the other kings hate him, for they were jealous that he should have more honour than they. When he was on his way back to England, one of these envious men seized him secretly, and threw him into prison.",
"And now poor Richard could fight no more, nor could he see the blue sky, and the green fields which he loved. One day, as he sat sad and lonely in his prison, he heard a voice singing, beneath the window. He started. “Surely,” said he, “that is the voice of my old friend Blondel, and that is the song we used to sing together.” When the song was ended, the king sang it again in a low voice. Then there was a joyful cry from the man outside, and Richard knew that it was indeed his friend.",
"Blondel had journeyed many days seeking his lost master. Now he hastened to England, and told the people where to find their king, and very soon Richard was set free, and went back to his own land.",
"Unknown writer is the attributed author of this short tale, which draws on a popular medieval legend surrounding the real historical figure King Richard I of England and his troubadour companion Blondel de Nesle. The story of Blondel's quest to locate the imprisoned king through a shared song circulated widely in European folklore and has inspired retellings across centuries. Its origins lie somewhere between historical romance and legend, with no single author ever confirmed."
],
"body_text": "In a gloomy prison, in a foreign land, lay Richard I, King of England. He had been with some other kings to a great war in the Holy Land, where he had won battles, and taken cities, and gained much honour. Men called him Richard Lion-heart, because he was as brave as a lion in fighting, and his soldiers loved him and would follow him into any danger. One strong city, called Acre, held out for nearly two years against the armies of the other kings, but when Richard arrived it gave way almost at once.\n\nBecause of his bravery, and his many victories, all men praised King Richard, and this made some of the other kings hate him, for they were jealous that he should have more honour than they. When he was on his way back to England, one of these envious men seized him secretly, and threw him into prison.\n\nAnd now poor Richard could fight no more, nor could he see the blue sky, and the green fields which he loved. One day, as he sat sad and lonely in his prison, he heard a voice singing, beneath the window. He started. “Surely,” said he, “that is the voice of my old friend Blondel, and that is the song we used to sing together.” When the song was ended, the king sang it again in a low voice. Then there was a joyful cry from the man outside, and Richard knew that it was indeed his friend.\n\nBlondel had journeyed many days seeking his lost master. Now he hastened to England, and told the people where to find their king, and very soon Richard was set free, and went back to his own land.\n\nUnknown writer is the attributed author of this short tale, which draws on a popular medieval legend surrounding the real historical figure King Richard I of England and his troubadour companion Blondel de Nesle. The story of Blondel's quest to locate the imprisoned king through a shared song circulated widely in European folklore and has inspired retellings across centuries. Its origins lie somewhere between historical romance and legend, with no single author ever confirmed.",
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