The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-01 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Mr. Ainsworth's New Historical Romance.
" THE CONSTABLE DE BOURBON."
In Bentley's Miscellany.
Harrison Ainsworth never commenced a work
more brilliantly than he has begun this new histori-
cal romance of his in the November number of
Bentley's Miscellany. We doubt even if any one of his
famous books ever made so immediate, so auspicious,
so radiant a display of excellence at its very outset.
And the title, the subject, the epoch he has selected
for his new work are as felicitous as any he has ever
yet hit upon, even if they be not, as we are almost
fain to regard them, the very happiest among his
many happy selections in that way. The title—
who does not recognise the. splendour of it upon
the instant, and, while doing so, marvel now that
Mr. Ainsworth has chosen it, that no Histori-
cal Romancist ever thought of it before—" THE
CONSTABLE DE BOURBON !" The subject that
great Constable's career and character 1 The epoch
—one with which, perhaps, among all past epochs,
Mr. Ainsworth is the most familiarly acquainted
—the gorgeous and heroic epoch of the Field of
the Cloth of Gold, when Henry the Eighth
ruled England, and Francis the First swayed
the destinies of the French Monarchy.
Already, in this opening instalment of the romance,
the bulk of the Two First Books of it will be found
to have been published in this current number of
Bentley's Miscellany. Nine chapters in all—and
chapters written, too, with a pen like a paint-brush
The story, as it is told by Mr. Ainsworth, would
illustrate magnificently. But—the author, with his
pen-point alone, is his own illustrator. And his
delineations, as they are here sketched, are as rich
in colouring as though the standish he dipped into
as he wrote, were the palette of one of the old
illuminators. Carmine and gamboge, cerulean
blue and vermilion, imperial purple and emerald
green—golden tissue and velvet draperies, glitter-
ing arms and priceless jewellery—tapestried cham-
bers and palace gardens are presented to our view in
dazzling profusion as we turn the pages that tell us
of "The Affront," "The Flight," " The Secret
Treaty "—conducting us, now to Fontainbleau
where Francois I. holds high revel, now to the
Chateau de Moulins where Charles de Bourbon the
Great Constable, eating his heart out with sup-
pressed rage, meditates, nay even prepares, the
deadliest treason against the King. As affording
the ampleit evidence that these our words of com-
mendation are in no way exaggerated, we will give
here, by way of extract, Mr. Ainsworth's radiant
portraiture of his newly-chosen hero of romance—
THE CONSTABLE DE BOURBON.
The leader of the troop, a very striking personage,whom
it was impossible to regard without interest, was a man of
large stature, with handsome, strongly-marked features,
very stern in expression. An ample chest and muscular
throat indicated the possession of great personal strength,
but his frame, though stalwart, was admirably proportioned,
and it was easy to discern, from the manner in which he
bestrode his steed—a powerful black charger—that he was
a consummate horseman. His looks and deportment were
those of one accustomed to command. If not absolutely
young, he was in the very prime of life, being just thirty-
three. His complexion was swarthy, his eyes dark and
piercing, and his beard, which he wore exceedingly long,
black as jet. His firm-set mouth betokened inflexible re-
solution, while his towering forehead indicated great saga-
city. Though ho was magnificently arrayed, his bearing
showed that he was not one of the silken gallants who
thronged the gay and chivalrous court of Francois 1., and
who delighted in the banquet, the masquerade, or the tour-
nay—but a hardy warrior, who had displayed prowess in
the field, and could lead hosts to conquest.
Like his followers, this noble-looking personage was clad
in black velvet, but his habiliments were ornamented with
precious stones. His girdle was set thick with gems, as
was the handle of his poniard, and his plumed toque
was ornamented in a similar manner. Around his
neck he wore the superb collar of the order of St. Michael,
bestowed upon him by Francois 1., and upon the capari-
sons of his steed was embroidered a sword, a symbol of
the dignity with which he had been invested some eight
years ago, on the accession of the Duke d'Angouleme to
the throne of France.
This noble warrior, who equalled Roland in bravery
and military science, was the illustrious Charles de Bour-
bon, Constable of France.
Here, as a companion picture, is our author's
limning of the King himself, the handsome, haughty,
heroic presence of—