The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-04-08

taors, both male ard female, from the castle anC
The village stood there to see the match, all beau
tfully drest. The good people believed in rea
earnest that the King was master ofthe cross bow
for he had almost grazed the orange with his ar
row. They did not yet understand the courlier''
mode of shooting.
"Now for the Prince of Bearn!" Young Hen
ry stepped forward with his cross-bow, aimed, and
at the first shot split the golden orange asunde1
with his arrow. There arose a murmur of ap-
pause among the spectators. The ladies, smiling
whispered in each others ears, know not what.
The King appeared dspleased, and looked dark
and gloomy
According to the rules of game, Henry would
now begin again, and shoot first at the new orange.
The King, however, thought, am yet King! and
would not be deprived of the honor of the first shot
and said, "We must go on according TO regular
order" Henry said, certainly, according to
rule" Kings, however, when angry, pay little
attention TO rules. As Henry, Notwithstanding,
took his place and aim the King rudely pushed
back. This would not have been thought so
strange, for he was as the Prince of Bearn. But
Henry, lay nature mad cap. sprung back few
steps from the enclosure, bent his bow, placed an
arrow on the string, and aimed at the King,
His majesty, alarmed ran quickly back and
sheltered himself behind the stoutest Of his cour-
tiers. The stout man who in Imagination already
felt the arrow in his body, cried out 'murder' and
placed his broad hands, as well as he could before
his body, Henry, although he was somewhat ex-
cited, could not restrain his laughter at the sight of
the stout man, who stood like totterng wall be-
fore the King, and laughed aloud The madens
of Nerac, when they saw the Young Prince laugh
ing so Justify, began to utter, the ladies ALSO
Laughing, like crying, is, among females, very
contagious And as Eve of old seducod Adam by
an apple, the women here seduced the men to
laugh All laughed except the courtiers, who
knew not what faces TO make on the OCCASION
The King, however, was as little disposed to laugh
as his stout cour'Ier, "Brng away the prince Of
Bearnn cried she.
Fortunately the wise Lagauchcrie, IIenry's tu-
tor, was present; who took the young man by the
arm and led him into the castle. ienry's laugh
was heard in the distance.
This little quarrel between Charles and Henry
was soon settled, and 10 serious consequences en-
sued, Henry was lhoughlless young fellow-he
must ask pardon, and there the matter ended.
III.-TuE ROSE ON THE ARROW.
On the following day there was another match
nj cross-bow. All The archers came-all the mai
dens came-all ,he ladies' came-aso all the men.
The spectators were now more than before. For
they hoped to laugh all day long. But ho who
came was not the king. Under some prelence he
remained at the palace; probably he had great bu-
sncss of state
At this time they all sho, better than on the pre-
cecding day, The people of Nerac could not con-
ceive how they had become so skllfull IN single
night. All the oranges ware shot Off The mark
was removed farther Even there was the same
fortune. The Duke Of Guisc especially displayed
the skill of Il master He aimed at the last orange
and spit it.
Henry was now troubled, because there was no !
more oranges. lie would gladly have had another
trial with his young opponet for the palm orvicory,
liz looked on the RICH, and on the left to find some
Thing for mark He deserted among the specta-
tors young maiden about as old or as young as
HIMSELF lovely girl of about fifteen. She stood
here in simple dress, her fine counenancc half
shaded by her hat, enchanting as love, harmless as
innocence.
Henry sprang hastily towards the little Venus of
Nerac lie would not indeed have chosen her rs
The marklor his arrow; but the rose which she
wore in her bosom. The rose was like the maiden
herself, in charming luIIness half unblown; deli
'aeIy arched around its deep crimson centre with
he pale encircling leaves. Henry asked for the
lower and stretched forth his hand to the maden's
BOSOM, which 1t adorned. The little Venus blush
I'd, and smiling, handed him the emblem ofherself
lie ran with it TO the gao, placed the rose there,
md then back to the orchcrs place. "Now Duke,
you are victor iOus. There is new mark. Th
irs, shot is yours" Thus cried Henry brea,hessly,
lUu suchcu. IDc DIOOd rom his wounded hnIeT,
which he had scratched wit brer liom the rose.
The finger panied him not half so much as--he
knew not what. Then looked he aside TO the mod
est image of the rose, whence he derived his swee,
sorrow.
Guise aimcd-the arrow new-and missed
Then Henry advanced, bent his bow, aimed, and
ylancng once sideways over his arm, whence his
sorrow came, and then at the rose twanred The
string. The arrow pierced the heart of the now-
rr
"Iou are conquered"' said Guise. But the
Young Prince of Bearn was not so easily convin-
;cd; he ran 10 the mark, and drew the arrow from
he goal. The pierced rose sat as firmly there as
IN its stalk. lie flew with it to the pretty maiden,
o return 10 her the borrowed flower With a
graceful bow he offered to the fair one the rose and
he victorious arrow also
ssEnur uili n, IN mo c,rf,,o Ill L..