Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-07
MTGCUELAiGY.
THE LADY'S TEST.

young PulautilS preSeiseu tHcHhsc'co III
crowds as candidates for the honour
and advantage Of obtaining rich ladies
in marriage, and were never dishearted
at any test however severe, which might
be required of them by their mistressesi
in these same times, which happily fol
suitors, are now no more, there lived q
young lady Of rank, who was alike re-
nowned for the antiquity of her family
her enormous wealth, and her cnchant-
ing beauty. She was courted by three
brave knights at once, but neither Of
them was to her taste; and what made
matters more distressing, was, that their
assiduities deprived her of the moments
which she would willingly have conse-
Grated to the sole object other affection
Hildevert, the man of her heart, was in
terior to her in rank, and she naturally
| presumed that innumcrable obstacles
would be raised as soon AS she should
| communicate to her proud parents the
name Of her lover; but she was firmly
resolved rather to renounCe all matrimo.
nial engagements than wed any one but
him. Hildevert was handsome young
man, who filled, in the castle Of her ia
ther, the Office of secretary. The young
lady had grown up by his side, and he
had, probably without being aware oft,
planted in her heart the seeds of the
tender sentiments which had afterwards
taken so deep root there: nor could
she, at the same time, forget that when
her father, comfortably to the pious
custom ofthe age, had quilted his do
mains to fight beneath the christian
standard in Palestine, Hildevert had, by
his bravery, saved her paternal roof
from the rage Of banditti who had at
licked it.
During certain winter season, when
the three knights cume regularly to WOO
this lady, she resolved to get rid Of
these importunate suitors at once, and
forever.
She announced, according to the Gus
tom Of the time, that test should
decide to which Of the three the prefer
ence was due-a declaration which sat
isfied at once her parents and her low
ers. The lady reserved to herself exclu-
sively, as was customary in such cases,
the right Of naas ing what the test should
be, of preparing it if necessary, and of
being present when it was executed
Tradition is silent as to whether she con-
suited her favoured lover upon this sub
ject-whether it was he who invented
the project which she executed-wheth-
er she was indebted to some ancient ro-
nance for the idea or whether it was al
together an invention of her own Ira.
dition, however, has not concealed from
us the fact that she was assisted in the
execution of her design by Hildevert,
and by an old faithful servant.
When all the preparations were COM
pleted, she desired the first of her suit
ors to be called, and addressed him
thus:
"My father has for somo time past,
had his coffin prepared, in order to re-
mind him that his term Of life is draw
ing to close. Tonight will order
the coffin to be placed in the hail. Put
yourself into it, like dead man, and do
not stir at all, whatever you may behold.
These commands obeyed, / shall know
that you really love me-"
"Charming lady," replied the kni ght,
"can it be difficult for him to act the
part Of a dead man, who is at every in
s. ant ready to expose himself to death
! for those bright eyes' Command what
you please, you will find your lover un-
! shaken to his latest breath"
The young lady afterwards spoke in
these terms to the second Of her suitors
awe have dead man in the castle:
tho corpse will be laid in the hall to-
night; do me the favour to watch by its
side, in order to prevent the occurrence
Of any accident. II is absolutely nec-
| essary that you should conduct yourself
J with resolution, and maintain your post
by the side Of the coffin whatever may
chance to happen. BY a strict fulflment
of these conditions, shall be enabled to
Judge Of the sincerity of your love for
me-"
"Vhat command has issued from that
lovely mouth" replied the knight. =
"This slender test my very squire would
willingly undergo for breakfast; and
wherein can il possibly offer any diff
Guilty TO one who is ready to brave
death that he may find favour in your
[ sight"
The lady then tool: the remaining
one of her three suitors aside:
81 intend" said she, "to amuse my
self at the expense Of a man who has
undertaken to watch a corpse tonight,
and who boasts and piques himself pro-
digiously upon his courage. Disguise
yourself as devil; have dress pre-