Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-04
CAsrON DIE BLONDEVILLE.

introduced IN the new Romance OF .hrs. hao'
Clife:
"The king had given back the cup into the
hands Of lord Norfolk, and was resIlng him In
his chair, when he saw the curtain drawn oack
oftbat window which opened from his own
chamber upon the gallery Of arms, and per-
son standing there. While his highness mar
yelled, by what means any one could have ad-
mittance into tha. chamber, the keys being In
the custody Of the lord constable, the window
was uufolded, and the person advancing into
the gallery, came forward to the front, & there
stood still, and with great seeming confidence,
beside the armour of Richard the Lion. All
though the light that fell there from the rooi
was not so strong that his highness at such dis
tance could distinguish the countenance oil this
person, yet, by the gray CLEAN reflected there,
he seemed TO be clothed in steel, with helmet on
his head; and so like was he 10 the form OF King
Richard, that, had not his highness seen him
advance, and the real shape Of motionless ar
rnour standing by, he would have thought this
but figure for show, like the others there. The
King no less surprised by the suangeness OF his
appearance, than displeased by the boldness
which had thus openly de6ed his command re-
spec,ing that chamber, ordered an esquire 10 re-
pairto the lord constable, who was himself m
the hall and learn whom he had admitted there
The baron, who stood by, looking whittier The
King looked, on sudden changed coun,enance;
and his highness again observed that stuPor x
dismay which he had noticed in the morning
beginning to fix his eyes and to spread over ev-
ery feature. The king spike sharply 10 him,
20 rouse him, as was supposed, from his trance,
but without effect for he stood fixed and stiten-
ed like to a marble statue, yet with looks bent
on the gallery where the stranger stood.
"Now the king.rose impa,iently from his chair
with looks of anger, and was about to inquire
who had invented this deception, when he per-
ceiyed before him again, standing on the steps
Of the dais, that very figure, clad in arms, when
had before ppeared there; and he knew 1t Tor
the likeness Of that murdered knight whose
fate he had Just witnessed. There stood the
raven on his helm, and there too, within It's
shade, appeared a countenance OF deadly pale
ness. shrunk, and fixed somewhat aEgrly upon
the king. His higness, for while stood petri-
fed aud with eyes amazed, as IL he saw some
thing that might not, with any endeavou', oe
understood, he seemed TO strive Tor speech, ana
al last family utterred-Wh no art thou! ana
what is thy errapG? Then the knight pointing
with his sword 10 the Baron de BlondeViie,
who stood, trance bound, beside the King S
chair, his eyes glared, and terrible irowh came
over his face. The archbishop made the noiy
sion as he had already done, this night before,
when the king had seen nothing strange near
him. aud then stood with arms extended on
high. The figure still pointed with MS SWORD
20 the baron. Again, the king Valnly dethahosu
of the stranger who ne was! ana RECEIVING no
avs wer Gave order that he should be seized
Thep i WAS that the prior Of St. Mary's hay-
mo anDroached the king, suddenly stepped for
ward to the stranger, though such service per
,,ined norto him; but he might have spared his
a;ns. Cor where he would have seized upon
The stranger, he eluded his grasp, and stood "a
far off IN the hall; and the prior struck with
d;sr,av attempted not to pursue him.
The nrio- mentioned in the last quotation is
d.rl and san,ic character, reminding one CT
80 of Mrs. RadcliGe's most fearful delinea-
ions There is one scene in particular--where
he tempts the imprisoned accuser oil 1as'on 10
,rns, himself TO his guidance, with pretended
"a, 80 his escape, i'm order that he might be-
.r.v him m more certain fate-which we wish
we could find room to lay before our readers
Ru, we must quote the account ola striking E.
ysot which occurred during the interminabe
wanderiugs through the suoterranean mazes oil
the castle.
.eThe merchant followed down very long
flight of steps, ending in passage, which he
supposed lay under the fosse. here the ali
was so changed by an unwholesome vaPor, that
il was painful to breathe it; and the lamp burn
4 50 dimy al times, that he feared 1t would
expire. The prior often stopped to nurse the
Game. and once, as he lifted the lamp high, and
!, revived. his garment flew back, and Wood
reeve now saw, beyond all possibility of doubt,
= dagger a, his girdle. His eyes were fixed up
an it' till his conductor saw that he observed il
and then laying his hand upon the hit, he said
SIN times like these, every one should be some
1vhat armed But now another object had
cid .be attention of the merchant and hi
Stood in horror. In drawing forth the dagger
his companion had turned aside MS Testure'
behold! a chain Of gold hung about MS meek
which, from its ponderous bu, highly wrough
ornaments, woodreeve instantly thought wa
,he very chain worn by his kinsman at the tim
This death; and he doubled not, that IN IN
or;or he saw one of his assassins. A SORT
irr,,Ie, box was suspended to the chain, out
tha, he had no recollection"