Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-11-17
From the .Ne'c England HerhIy Rcrie".
THE TWO RRIDEGRUOtiS

The sun went down OH the plains ot Palestine,
tinging with Il redder hue the dark stains OF bat
tie. The iniidel had retired; and the held,
from whence but a lille time before. the clang
of arms went up into the skies Of SYRIA, where the
brazen helm and the pale crescent gave back
their double Hood of sun-light-and where the
chiyalerous lances Of Chrlstendum bore down the
Infidel scimetar. lay silent beneath the darkness
save when some stified groan-or muttered
prayer of the dying, told that the work OF Death
was vet unfinished
Bravely had Rupert Merton and his bosom
friend the young Knight of Anselm. borne them
selves in the terrible strfes Of that day. But in
the last strusgle-ius' as the vast sea OF turbans
and scimetars rolled backward from The fierce
onset of Christian chiyairy. they had been sepa-
rated from each other; and Rupert with a bod!ug
heart. discovered that his friend was rot among
the weary and war spent soldiers who gathered
together III the Syrian twilight. with those MN
gled emotions Of pain and triumph. which victory.
attained only by bitter sacrifices. must always IN
splre. He turned away from the congratulations
of his knightly brethren, and sought the bloody
scene OF the recent encounter
Fearful were the sights & sounds which pain
ed The senses of Rupert Merton as he stole watch
fully among The CHASTITY wrecks of the fierce death
grapple. On one hand lay the tall and graceful
form If the Moslem. with his braZen helmet and
light armor; and on the o;ner, the stalwat Knight
Of Chrislendom, sirdcd in his cumbrous armor.
like thrown down statue of iron. with bis cross
handled sword still grasped in hand which
might never more lift its heavy gauntlet. The
writing forms of the dying were around him.
their CHASTITY countenances turned upwards {"
the dim twilight-with here aud there a friend
bending anxiouslv over them. Rupert hurried
onward. low moan at his side at length Arrest
ed his attention. He paused. and by the dim
light he the familiar cOuntcnance OF his friend.
The helmet was ol-and there was a CHASTITY
paIeness in the features which family smiled up
on him-Robert Of Ansem had fallen.
Rupert kneIt by his side. The wounded man,
Eallvins his last energies, murmured family
:. Merton. tell my lady love how have fallen.
Let her know that her knight died in his arrnor-
as knight should die" There was Il struggle in
his CHASTITY features-his lips moved-the ear of
Rupert listned in vain.
peace to thee, valiant knight" said Rupert
Merton. as he rose from bending over the mani
mate form of his friend. 4 Drawer never
laid lance in rest. and worthier never kneIt at
the shrine of beauty and he left him to the
loneliness Of the gathering night, which now hung
over the battle field with the darkness of tuner-
al pail. sI
Two years had passed away; and one of Eng
lands pleasant villages was enivened with the
gaey and spendor of merry bridal. 1t was
the bridal of Rupert Merton to the ady-love of
Robert OF Anselm-the knight who fell with his
good sword in hand and his almor on. in the wars
of Palestine.
Marvel not, reader. that the betrothcd of An
selm should so soon yield herself to the address
es of another. Did she forget her lover-tl!e
good knight who had borne her name on his he'll
met through the reddest field of Palestine? Did
she cease to remember him, who had laid at her
feet the wrested sword and the conquered banner
Df his enemies-whose armur she had herseiriac |
I'd for its last tria-him at the mention of whose
name her heart had beat broader, and for whose |
return she had looked forward with the anxiety |
Of love? Never! She had wept sadly at the |
story ofhis fall-gloriOus as it was-she had Of |
cred at many shrine prayers for the noble spirit
which had passed away forever. But tears NAV
lot always how-the fountains which have been
lnsealed by the rude hand of affection, NAV close
again. So it was with the lady Eleanor. The
ide of agony settled down into the calm meIaD.
holy OF spirit sanctiied and made better by the
rial ofgref. And. when she knew that the early
owe OF Rupert Merton-a love which his friend.