Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1839-03-23
MIS0INMLA NNOUSo
DUEL OF BARLETTA.
Il Y b U L W T. x .


ents, while the numerous chivalry on both sides
.ti.ed their tastes a I'D h,s, for honor BIS
arious challenges and duels. Gonzalvo reaped
vesy advantage from this species Of warfare.
nd in the delay that ensucd The Due dc Ne
hours endeavored to draw bis antagonist into
attic, and failed: but while despisirg any enc
ny who refused TO fight, he marched with the ut
most careIessness. The Spanisrds fell on his
roops, and made a grea, many prisoners.
Among these Charles Hcunuyer dc la
Motto, a French officer Of distinguished bravery.
He and his friends in misfortune we're invited to
partske Of n feast given by Mendoza his con-
queror. During the conversation that took place
on this occasion, Mendoza attributed his victory
to tho admirable man1uvring Of tho Italian ca
valry, commanded by Prospero Colonna. The
French despised the Italians, and La Motto ex-
claimed that, vanqushed as they were on all oc-
casions, they could not presume to compare with |
the French in any species of warfare and were
Only worthy 10 hold the stirrup to the knigts Of
France. The good humor of the festival was not
interrupted by this insult, but, on the morrow,
Prospero Colonn. called on La Motto to re,ract
his words: he refused. The honor of both ma
tions appeared to be engaged and the generals on
Ottu0S ebuc PoIWAtsCu tiC HuSSuou W 10 u0otuOu
by an appeal to arms. Thirteen Italians and
thirteen Frenchmen. completely armed, agreed
to meet in the lists to fight. till they fell were
made prisoners. The lists were selected mid
way between Barletta and the quarters Of the
Due do Nemours. They were surrounded only
by furrow made by pIoughshare: but it was
settled that whoever among the combatants
could be driven beyond this boundary, must sur.
render vanquished.
Such was the origin of this famous duel, which
forms tho subject Of Bsmonti's romance, por-
ton Of which IS translated in the pages before
US. The Italians have reached the ground first,
and are waiting the approach Of their oppo-
nents:
ss'rhe French presented themseives.-
First came a gentleman carrying the helmet and
lance Of Monseignsur de Ia Motto; twelve other
gentlemen followed, two by two, who in like
manner carried the lances and helmets Of their
friends. Then at fighting intervals, the six
couples Of combatants followed, armed and mount
ed the Italians were; then La Motto
alone; behind him eame his spotted charger, and
lastly, tho twelve chargers, led by twelve gen.
tlemen, two by two.
ola Motto, seeing that the Italian cavaliers
were prepared alighted from his back, and caus
cd his comrades to dismount also. Custom de-
manded that the loader, such occasion, should
make short harangue; but the eager La Motto,
excited by the sight Of the enemy, and naturally
adverse to all formality, burst forth at once
There they are, my friends, only thirteen-thir-
teen exactly, as we are! Shall we allow our
selves to be vanquished at equal arms-we, who
have always seen a double and triple number fly
before US? By my faith! this is the first time
we have met SO exactly; and the best is that they
are all alike, and there they are, you behold them
70 light and airy-,n a little while not will
be seen on the field. Come, let us teach then
how arrogant they to compete with the caval
iers Of the King Of Franco. But l implore you
spare that youth on tho bay, with the blue an,
white scarf; it belongs to me to attack that mil
Iansorc Fieramosca but afterwards have par
ticular engagement with that boy-reserve hin
for me-he challenged me, NOR bleu' so have
caro- Of him.
"They then knelt and addressed prayer I
Heaven, armed themselves, and being in the sac
die, began also with infinite delight to scour tn
field; and then the standards were placed at eac
extremity of the field, in expectation of the m,
msnt when the judges should give the signal f
battls,''
Tho combat itself is described with great v
vacity and in particular the encounter Of L
Motto and BraEcaleone. Brancaleone is the he
Of the tale, bnt he is a mere youth; and the a
thor, while he wished to attribute to him Il
honor of vanquishing the French leader, felt til
it was too much to make him fall by his hand
But no cxtrcates himself from this difficulty a
mirably. They had already met and fought, a
been separated IN the melee, and now they me
again. "The dauntlc,s La Motto had began
lose faith in his unvanquishing prowess; since
this species of skirmsh his giant stature and i
mense strength were of less avail than the az
ity Of the youth, whom with presumptuous c,
fidencc he had despised. He wri.hed and foa
ed, and became confused through rage; his des
to conquer became baik; and the more blint
no rushed to wound his adversary, the mi
he exposed himself to his blows. So much bic
flowed from his body, and he was wounded in
many places, that he no longer feared inju
since, could he strike to earth his adversary,