Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1842-09-08
MiafeIIaiIroua.


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One Of The. most beautiful traits tba,
characterised. the chIyalrid age. was !
profound reverence fof Won an-whence
sprung sresults Of infinite Importance il
iheI' well-belng pr society. To such as
| reEfamilias With The his,dries Of those
good old tirpesr il win bot sap. al strange
whsn-I asseu that. dtspiieI The N martial
split which then ruled supTenely tie
hearts Of men and iinge al the relation.
Of lite, a refinement 81 feeling and a
greatness oi3soul pergaded Tie nalions Of
Europe. which max Be- mora easily scot.
ed At aow- q days Than minated The
annals Of the thirteenth, fourteentf. ft-
tteenih, and sixteenth centuries are. re-.
plete With instances offloiiiest honor and
magnauiuity. Much Il 10 Be attributed
TO The Influence 81 woman. She was,
rext 70 Religion tie perennial fount Of
poetic inspiration, and Of heroic enthusi.
asms Beneath her lattice, tie gentle
greetings -oi the Trosbadour. we're beard
by poonflghf-and as The piaiaiiye meIo-
dy Of his harp tioaled on the midnight
air she caught fronfhe sad story Of his
WandeIings the words most dear 10 lady's
heart, for, 10 ihe stirring hustle .of the
NeaMp, or in The heat 81 mortal conflict
the gage d amour more po!ent than ori.
entail talisman. had been preserved un.
snllledT by The dust Of craven flight. The
steel clad conqueroF 81 Pagan Toes laid his
proud trophies al her ieet--snd as she
smiled approval ofhis vslor and devotion,
arose, with kindiing eve 10 enter the lists
and breska lance With rival lovers in The
mock conbal-of The tournament. Kings
and mighty Emperors bowed 10 the do
minion of her beau;y and her virtue
and cavaliers1sof high courtesy attended
her steps, with keen wit ls4 honor, and
keener swords 10. defend.
Il Upon the uaited thrones or CastIle and
Arragon sits the pride Dc Europe. Pure
as The lily, and. Beautiful as the rosesie
hdes of morn Isabella rules the des,infes
and Feigns in theshearls Of The high mind9s
ed sons Of Iberia Around her are
gathered the loseliest 81 the dark. eyed
maidens Of the South, and many a GAL
liant youth Of sm6iiioushopes and daunt.
less bravery. Here areihe stern signiors,
very models Of Spanish chiyaIfysl and,
there, the s,alwart Knights OF old England,
allured BY bright smiles and The syren
voice Of tame, TO temptthe Moorish sci
milaf, Upon The hilltqp and III The valz
ley. burn the huge watch-fres-for, tKeI
4arim Of war hath been rung from every
tower, and the enthusiastic multitude roll
On their deepening tide towards TIE rich
plains Of the Vega To-day, The Chris
tan Queen fulfls The beaiituges OF the
New Law-she clothes the NAKED gives
drink 10 The t1irstys whispers solace 10
The disconsblate; and 5jdz God rese1 The
departing spirit. To.5houow, glowing
With zeal and lofty Ipstfiotism, she smiles
the MosleIm in the< strong hold Of bis
power; and. plants|the ensign Of Salvation
upon lie ramparH .pf. The Alhafnbra -
The neutrality-suspicious. Of The discover
er Of a new aorld; The intrepid heroine
the sage rulsf of bel people 10 The hour
q trial tbe philanlhropls, and benefac-
tress Of mankind: tbe devoted friend
the mild and loving wife. Isabella pre-.
g nts 70 our views model Of a Christian
woman, and proves more urgently than
cold argument could do, the moral OF nv
subject: TO wit, that to Religian, Womsn
& indebted Tor her exaltation. Under its
benign influence she has attained. and
will retain her position without il, she
would, Of very necessity be buried back
Iaio The ABYSS Of heather debasement, and
rank With the degraded inmate Of tbe |
Turkish haren, orthe AFFECT creature who
asndsrs over the prairies of the West,
nd ebeys in servils humility the harsh |
oehests Of het savage lord.
i AsI,he reign Of Augustus may be con-
iidetsd the epoch Of re action ID the des
my Of Woman, so The age II chivsly is
MARKED as being the acme .oi her influ. |
,nee III the social state. Hsnceforih we
ind hseliding gently into The quiet and |
ovel seiirement Of domestic life, honor /
q and reyered BY man. She may no
ongeF preside al the tourney. and crown
beyictor but her cheerful smile sheds /
happiness around the evening hearth II
ind her generous hand is ever open 10
distress.
4 fne ueTce CIV Of battle sounds IN her /
ar, and her country is insaded by the
nercenaTies Of foreign despoi, she is |
-eadyh like the noble N s,voos 81 Dur revo. /
u.lon. n make every sacrifice. share
very hardsbipl incur every danger. in
be holy cause Of liberty. With holierA
ievoilon than that Of The Spartan mother.
he makes an offering Of Ter only son at
he shrine Of Freedom ;.girds on The =
senging sword. and bids bin return
'onqgeror. or ind hero's grave. The
oloody field Of action loses rs lsrrors.-:l
charity and frsn fesoIve. she
'toops over the fallen soldier, binds up bis
wounds. bathes his throbbine
temple, and coos bis Parched lip with
water from The passing stream.
And when grim visagsd wsr hath