Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-10-07
AT length all the knights who had distin.

~ lehgth all Tue knlSnlS VINO nad ulStin-
guished themselves above their compeers
were summoned by marshals before the
throne and there the Duke, in token of
his gratitude, swore by his knightly honor,
that he would grant each ones request
even were it half of his Dukedom. Many
a splendid fef, and many lovely dame,
did the good old Duke bestow that day on
those whose valiancy had saved their coun-
try. ... .......
Last of all, that lonely warrior in the
battered armor and broken helm, presented
himself before the throne; he offered pow
erful contrast to the younger knights,
whose breastpates of gold, silken scarfs,
and ornaments sparkling with jewels, shone
like the setting sun upon the towers of
Turkish mnaret. He approached rever-
entlally, and even with an air of timdity;
the Duke arose, and taking him by the
hand, babe him stand up.
"Brave man." said he, "under God, thou
hast been the means of delivering my peo
pie from oppression; gallant have been the
deeds, and although thou dearest not bla.
zoned on thy shield, the badge Of knghty
honor, still art thou of natures nobility,
thy deeds have ennobled thee; name thy
reward, for glorious shall it be, worthy thy
proves and my ducal name, that thy de-
scendants may boast of thee, as their coun-
tr1' 1p1, III I'D
vance thee; speak!-what is thy wsh7'
"Sir Duke" replied the warrior in bro
ken accents, and in a tone, as from the
depths of charnel house, "honors cannot
descend from me to my posteriiy-I am
the scathed trunk, which storms have
stripped of all its branches-I therefore
ask nought of thee, save 4 fresh stecd, for
mine own is nearly spent with toll; and a
suit of armor. But forewarn thee, noble
Duke! for the use | shall make of these,
will turn thy thanks to curses, and show.
merit not favor from thee!"
stranger" replied the Duke. "thy words
are full of mystery, but thy boon is grarf-
edr'
81 have yet another question" hastily re-
joined the warrior, "may any knight in the
world, whether he be King, Emperor, or
Kaisar, refuse my challenge, consistently
with honor?"
"Of certainty not" answered the Duke,
Il pronounce thee noble, if thou vert not
so before-Julo, my son, thy sword
kneel stranger at my throne-revercnce
thy God, serve thy country, be true to thy
lady love, and arise q knight of the order
of Medina. and COUNT Msrcsehal. of our
realm! Now thous art a. match for the
proudest hero in Christendom~ =
Then" Numbered forth the stranger,
springing like lightning to his feet, with
nervous haste, Il challenge thine own son,
Count Julio, he whose sword is still in
thine hand--the heir of thy dukedom-to
mortal combat for life and death--as one
who has been false to the honor of knight,
and to his oath--as a remcrseless, treach-
erous vllain!--the which will prove, SO
God maintain me-"
An awful silence rcigned around;-the
young Count, who was standing at his
fathers side, appeared thunderstruck!--t
Duke himself was speeches. with surprise,
and the numerous armed retainers, partook
of the general establishment. Count Julio
was the first who recovered himself, and
Thus broke silence:-
"Stern libeler of knightly fame, know
thee not, and might refuse an unaccredited
challenger, but my liege father has pro-
nounced thee noble, and accept the chal-
lenge:--so keep me heaven as thou liest'
"Amen" sternly CALCULATED the stranger
knight. and every one who heard the voice
trembled, for il seemed unearthly, so deep
and dreadful was its tone.
Heaven Judge thee right" exclaimed
the Duke, "to-morrow's dawn shall witness
the combat; ourself will be the sponsor OF
our new created Mareschal. for such asser.
tons against our son, must speedily be eff
faced or proven;-the air which a true
knight inhales, is polluted by such dreadful
examinations"
On the following day, while darkness
was yet struggling with the rising sun
thousands had assembled around the lists
At length the Duke and his mobiles entered
the arena; they were not greeted with th'
same inyouS shnnts thny were accistompi