The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-10-26

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iers present. for The honor Of the contest.
II was decided by lot, and the successful
candidates were objects of greet envy, tor
every one was ambitious Of finding fayorin
the eyes OF the beautiful widow.
NIissives were sent, summoniuc the neps-
ew and his two unclcs to Toledo, TO maiil-
tain their ACCUSATIONS, and n day wis mp
pointed for the combat. When the day
arrived, all Toledo was in commotion NJ on
enrly hour. The lists had been prepared
in the usual place, just without the walls,
at the foot of the rugged rocks on which
the city is built, and on that beautiful inca
dow along the Tagus, known by tho nn,nc
Of the. kings garden. The populace had
already assembled. each one eager to Sc
cure favorable place; the balconies were
soon filed with the ladies' of the court, clsd
in>tfcir richest attire. and binds Of youth
ful knights, splendidIy armed, and decora-
ted with their ladies' devices, were mama
ging their neutrality-suspicious. steeds a
bout the field. The king at length cuule
forth in state, accompanied by the queen
ExiIonn They took their seats in ras-
ed balcony, under a canopy If rich damask;
and, nj sigh, Of them, the people rent the
air with acclamn,lons.
The nephew and his unclcs now rode IN
TO the field, armed cop-a-pie, and followed
by train Of cavaliers Of their own royster-
ing cast, great swearers and cnronsers, ar
rant swashhucklers, that went about with
clanking armor and jinging spurs. When
the people of Toledo beheld the yaunting
and dscouricous appearances of these
knights, they were more anxious thar ever
for the success of the gentle Duchess; but
at the same time, the sturdy and stalwat
finmes Of these warriors, showed that who
ever won the victory from them, must do It
at the cost of many bitter blow.
As the nephew and his riotous crew rode
in nj one side Of the ieIl the mir widow
appeared at the other, with her suite of
grave gray-hcadcd courtiefs, her nncient
ducnuns and dainty dcmoIscles, and the
little dwarf toling along under the weight
Of her traiu. Fiery one made way for her.
MS she passed. and blessed her beautiful
face, and prayed for success to her cause.
She took her scat Ia lower balcony, not
far from thr sovcrcisns and her pale face;
SET of by her mourning weeds, was as the
moon. shining forth from among the clouds
OF night. -
The trumpeis sounded for the combat.
! The warriors were just entering the lists,
when n stranger Knight, armed 10 panoply,
and followed hs two pages mud qn esquire,
cnme guiioping into the field, and, riding up
to the royal balcony, claimed the comba,
as rnailer Of right
'In me- cried he. behold the cavalier
who had the happiness 10 rescue the bcnn.
a AZ III -.C Al. +.
and The misfortune TO bring on her tins
gricyous calupny. Il was hut recently, IN
the course Of my crraniry, that tidings of
her wrongs lave reached my ears, and !
have urged lillcr at all speed, to stand forth
in her viridication.'
No sooner did the duchess hear tie ne.
cents Of ihc knight, than she recognised his
voice, and joined her prayers with his that
he ,asl,t enter the lists. The difficulty
was, TO determine wI,icI, of the three cham
pions already appointed should yicI! his
place, each insisting on the honor of the
combat. The stranger knight would have
settled the point. by taking the whole con-
test upen himself; but this the other knights
would not permit. II was ut length deter
mined, as before, by lot, aud the cavalier
who lost tie Glance retired murmuring aud
disconsOlatc.
The trumpcts again soundcd-thc lists
were opened. The arrogant nephew and
his two drawcansir uDclcs appeared so COM
pletcly cascd il steel, that they and their
steeds were like moving masses of iron.
When they understood the stranger knight
to be the same that had cscucd the d,ich-
css from her peril, they greeted him with
the most boistcrous dcrision:
30 ho sir Knight Of the Dragon said
they you who pretend to champion fair
widows in the dark, come on, and yindicatc
your deeds of darkness in the open day.
The only reply Of the cavalier was, to
put lance in rest, and brace himself for the
encounter Needless il is to rclnte the par
ticuars of battle, which was like so maiy
hundred combats that have been said and
sung in prose aud verse. Who is there but
must have forseen the event Of a c0nfeSt,~
where Heaven had 10 decide on the guilt or
innocence of the most beautiful and immac-'
ulatc of widows -.
The sagacious reader. deeply read in this
kind Of judicial combats, can Imagine the
encounter of the graceless nephew and the
stranger knight. lie sees their concussion,
man to man, and horse to horse, in mid ca
recr, and IN that Sir Graceless hurled IL the
ground, and slain. lie will not w"ndtr
that the assailsnss Of the brawny uncles
were unsucces, ful in their rude encounter
but he will picture to himself the stout stran-
ger squirting to their rescue, in the very
critical moment he will see him transfix-
ing one with his lance, md cleaving tho
other to the chime with back stroke of
his sword, thus leaving the trio Of seoueogs