Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-04-06

through the naII, and having palu MS salu-
ta,ion TO the sovereign, advanced and,
with the customary form of accusation,
arrested Philippa, and her grand daughter
the Countess Of Murzano.
Amusement, terror. and at last irrepres-
sible indignation. took possession of the
Queen. She had started to her feet at The
frs, ann fling announcement, and stood
mia and mo,,o,o less for few seconds
space; then. the rich b.C"" again tnan'l'ng
cheek and brow, she hastily @."Vancea'
What is this, my lords p she eXcalm-u u,
in accents of deep feeling and still deeper
scorn: I'VE trow- this touches US too
nearly! Shame on thee. Sir Hugh she
continued, addressing the commissioner,
while her eyes flashed dIspleasure; I'VE
gave you power, as n true servant of the
state. and one Jealous for the honor Of
your Sovereign, not as the weak churl who
can be swaycd by the lightest breath OF
calumpy!'
Fairly and honorably oh Queen. hath
he quilted him Of his trust !! cried the
deep hoarse voice of Durazzo; # pledge
my knightly word in witness -
What would your Grace p interrupted
Joanna, turning to the Duke, and speaking
in tones Of bitter irony. we know your
genteness and courtesy, fair kinsman !;
aye, and your love to ourself! We should
be bounden, sooth, for your vigilance so
far surprising our own! Yet pardon if we
dispute your jurisdiction over the ladies OF
the bed chamber!
Your Majesty would not protect the
guilty. You may not, if yon would, re-
piled the Duke. rudey. Your commits.
sloner holds, at this moment, the recorded
confessions Of sic criminals, who have this
day undergone the notwithstanding
yonder danes as their accomplces. Sur
render them, then, TO the just doom that
awaits them
.Never will surrender them Take
rather mine own life Base. base are We,
and inhuman !-striving to fix stain like
this upon the fame Of your mistress
Nevcr-while the lips of Joa una can
unclose to utter a COMMUNICATIVE she has
vassals ready to start at her bIdding--nye,
and to smlle down tyranny and insoIence--
NEVER shall they be surrendered to you :
We know not what the over5earIng
Inso'ence of Durazzo might have prompted
in reply, but the dispute was terminated by
Phippa herself Approaching with her
won,ed air of ma esty, she kissed the hand
ofthe Queen. Let me depart, oh gracious
and beloved mistress = she said; let me
depart with your officer, 10 answer the
foul charge before the Tribunal. Believe
me, it needs but encounter. Truth will
must triumph in the end Then turning
to De Baux, 4 60 with you,' she said, 'of
nine own free will !
D1razzo was disconnected at this ready
submission, where he expected resistance
he stepped back abashed; out the Queen
gave way to the burst of grief and illnging
her arms round her aged nurse, wept So
long and bitterly, that the sterncst in the
circle was moved at the sight Of such
anguish in one so young and lovely. There
was general movement; some cried
shame upon Durazzo ranged them.
selves round her, as if to shield Joanna
from her kinsman. Thrice, silently invo-
king blessing, did the old Countess bend
over the far head that lay on her bosom !;
ciaspng Joanna in last embrace, she
turned to follow the guard.
Not so ! cried the Queen, vet strug-
Cling with emotion; you shall not 90
hence in shame, as if already condemned
Nay, IN this | will be heard! Let the
examination proceed; in the face of all
Naples will proclaim your innocence =
Alas {! was the reply, 1T would but
brand with rebuke unmerted a nobler and
holier head than mine will meet the
peril brief prison will be no hardship
even to these aged limbs, If truth prevail
through me! Sancha, my beloved, it is n
sorer trial for youth like thine-but our
cause is righteous one =
The party moved towards the door :;
Joanna sprang forward as they stirred, and
erasped Durazzo's arm lmploringly.
: 1t is in your hands. oh spare an aged
and faithful servant Promise me, her
restraint shall be brief-it is but to satisfy
the people
Madam it is not who am to Judge in
this matter returned the Duke. assuming
however, in his tone and manner, all the
authority his words dscalmed. For your
sake and the insulting emphasis brought
the indignant blood like lightning to the
Queens cheek-'we will hope her acquit-
tall!
To save even the life Of her only friend
Joanna could not have uttered one word
more The implied lmputaion was already
known to her through the warnings of the
deputallon of Lords, who had judged ii
fitting to inform her of the ISLANDERS in cir.
culaton, Had she obcyed the impulse o.
her Indignation, it would have been repealed
with scorn; but her instructive delcacy
taught her it was uubecomng that Queer
should condescend to protest her innocence
of crime SO horrible. The exhibition
even of consciousness of being suspected
would have degraded her in the eyes o
her subjects; aud though her bosom burned
with Just anger, which prompted her 20 tn,
punishment Of the bold traitors who hat
dared breathe calumny against her fame