The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-12-25

lot blessed with wife, | ;row it would not have

L /
been So"
"Ah! you may well say it," said another elder
y magnate, sand if the young knights of this da,
were only such as we were in our YOUTH thel
would not De Thievry win the lady Blanche with
out one lance at least being lifted against him, ;
and he struck the hand of his furrcd arm, empha
cally against the railing,
"By our lady you are right there" interposcd
another gray-haired baron, " this DE Thievry is
after ALL nothing to what you and were twenty
or thirty years ago; and besides he is no true born
veins" but Dragging, Wanting Gascon. Would
that heaven would send some one to overthrow
him, even yet, the proud boastern'
"And by the holy cross" echoed the second
speaker, there is one now-hark! how his lone
trumpet walls over the dying huzzas"
The three speakers started at once eagerly to
their feet, and leaning over the railing in front,
gazed toward the upper end of the lists from which
garter the defiance proceeded. As they looked
they saw solitary knight slowly pace into the cir
Gle, and at the same time a note Of defiance rung
out from a trumpet behind him. lie was cascd,
from head to foot in steel, and rode heavy char
ger admirably fitted for joust. His visor was
down, and he bore for device on his shield sin
gle spear head, with the word, ALONE for mot
to. His appearance was noble, and he sat his seed
with exquisite skill A murmur of applause ran
around the lists as he appeared, which he acknowl-
edged by dropping the point of his lance, After
moving slowly along the lists, he stopped before
the throne Of blanche, and making low obeisancc,
claimed the right of challenging the victorious
knight, The murshals approached, and one of
them hurried to the prince, to ask if the stranger
should be allowed 10 run a course with De Ihicvy.
"Who is the vagabond knight grant," answer
ed the usurpcr, " that comes thus in disguise, to
compete with our mobiles for the hand of the richest
and lovcest hercss in the rcalm' Bid the nso-
lent varlel bcgonc, or may, despite his seeming
knighthood, have the upstart scourged by horse
boys from the lists"
"But," in,crposcd noble, who, jealous of De
Thicvry, could i'll brook his present success, has
your highncss forgotten the regulations of the tour
nament. For three hours, say the rules must the
victor await the challenge of all comers."
"True, but not of every wandering fellow who
has stolen II atrvd, ur borrowed II suit Of mail"
d" But The honor of your highncss is involved
said one of the old counsellors, " remember that
De Thieyry, himself, will suffer insult, if he meets
no, this stranger, whom God speed or defend for
his hardihood'
Impatient at the delay in answering his challenge,
the strange knight now ordered his defiance TO be
repeated, and n, the close, slightly raised his visor
and exclaimed in voice Of thunder,
"And /, knight of the holy crusade, pronounce
the victor hitherto in this days tournament, and all
who have assisted him, lorsworn, if this, my last
challenge is refused. | claim the observance Of
the conditions on which this tournament was be-
gun, and proclaim" he exclaimed, rising threat
cningIy in his srrups, call knights here, rccrcant,
be they who they may, that stand in the way OF
the free fullmcn ofilesc conditions, and as such
will proclaim them in every court in Europe, 50
help me God and his san,s-and there lies my
gague."
"Bravely spokcn--gallant knight-he has the
Trcuchman there" shouted forth the three mobiles
whom we have introduced to our readers, while
the mob around burst into an approving shout
which rolled like thunder far away across the plain
"Who is this braggar, !" said De Thieyry, APP
pcarins at the tent door. "Lct him make ready
since he wishes it, Ilo! thcre-bring me new
lance
The usurper, however, would have lnlcricred
but the messenger whom he sent to inform tho
Frenchman that he was no, bound TO accept thu
challenge of an unknown knight, received for an
swcr, that De Thicvry was ready to maintain IN
renown, against all the lanccs i'll Chrlstendon, b.
they strangers or not.
There was nothing now left but TO submit to thu
trial of Skill and accordingly, the Prince gave or
ders for the course 10 be run.
Not an eye but was fixed upon the two antago
nis,s as they moved stcrnly 10 their places BLANCHE
knew not why, but strange wild hope was in he
bosom, that the stranger might prevail. lie nigh
CAFE little for her hand and suffer her to retire to
convent the only place she now cared for, this sid
the grave-or he might, at most, surrender he
person to herself, and content himself with her for
tune. At least, she might hope for lenicncy fror
him--De Thievry she felt would exact everyihin
reenilcssly. She gasped for breath when she say
+ them dart from their siaiion-and bending eagerl
, forward, she watched their encounter with an in
tensity of feeling, 10 pen can describe.
The two knights met with the shock of an earth
quake in mid-career. Both their stecds had bee
at their iopmost speed AS the conbatants ar
preached each other, the lance Of DE 'l'hcyry wa
! seen pointed out at his adyersnry's breast, but Va
rying it almost at the instant of the encounter, b
directed it full at the strangers head. The acio
q was not quicker however than the stranger. Stool
{; ing his head rapidly as he saw the change, an
: altering the point of his lance so as 10 direct
( against the heart of De Thevry, he at once ayoi'
J., ed the blow of his antagonist, and driving his ow