Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-07-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE FALCONS FLIGHT,

cloud. Now he descendS!--Ha, ha' III,
Queen wears the heron's feather, or
have small skill in ialconry,
As he spoke, the royal bird, Tor inc la''
con" was Queen Mary's, and nnhooded by
her own fair hands, darled like lightning
through the air, aud bouncing upon a
tall grey heron that stood dreamiIy by the
ouiel Ioch side, atruck his talons in the
lazy bird, ere it could move wing, -
But the falcon had risen too high; the he
ron was powerful bird, and although
startled by the shock of the attack, he in.
sincliveIy spread open his strong pinions
before the falcon could make good his
hold, and the fiery bird still propelled by
the impetus of his own descent, fell heav-
lily to the earth. The heron raised his
tall body, glanced round him a single
second, and then with ou-stretched neck
and wide Tapping wings, began to fly rap
idly over the loch, But the long hawking
poles, and the green doubIets of the
mounted sportsmcn, the gaily dressed
ladies on their caparisoncd palIreys, with
the crowds Of followers that now appear
ed on various parts of the shore, and the
cries Of falconry, that broke IN a thou
sand echoes over the loCh, warned the
heron that a hght beyond the banks
would by causing him 10 rise far from
ground, make him an easy prey to the
falcons that would then cleave the air in
pursuit, and he accordingly perched his
wings on the peak of sharp pointed rock
in the middle of The och, where he seem
ed resolved to stand at bay. The foiled
falcon did not pursue, but as if feeling the
disgrace of his defeat, answered slowly
to the call, and with dropping pinions,
suffered himself to be hooded by the
Queens falconer.
Norman Bruce is bnt false prophet,
said one of the ladies whom the youth had
Just addressed. The Queen wears not the
heron's feather 1t may be- said a
laughing dark-eycd girl, that Norman
dreams o'nights of crowns and heron's
feathers. They say it bctokens rank, to
dream of badges of chietlainry.'
Or it may chance be" said the third Of
the smiling group, that Norman remem-
bers he bears the name of Bruce, and
looks kindly on lofty flight BY the
rood fair ladies', know moi what we hint
at. Canst tell me, Elem said he, look
ing up to the face Of a lovely GIRL beside
whose palirey he STOOD and who had hith-
erlo been silent. 'Canst read me the
riddles Of these merry companions of
thine?'
Nay said the maiden codIy:'Norman
Bruce in that, must needs be his own IN
terpreler'
Meantime Queen Mary looked displeas.
ed at the bad success of her fayorite fall
con, and something like an impatient
irown darkened for moment hel beauti-
full features. Lords and ladies' all, said
she, at length ungloving her little hand and
patting the glossy arched neck of her
light limbed steed, whilst a smile once
more played upon her lips, My falcon
has been banked, but only because he
scared too high, and in good sooih, ]
ne'er could chide those who had no other
fault than that to answer for
Many a heart beat quickly at these
words, and many a hidden hope rose
boldly in the bosoms of gaIlants arouud
the Queen.
And now continued Mary, Il will
grant a boom to him among ye whose fall
con brings down yon suIen bird, and by
orr word, let not the victor fear to urge a
noble one
Loud was the tumult that now arose a.
mong the youths, some claiming the first
flight in virtue of their rank, others by
their date Of knighthood, and others by
the fame Of their birds; until the Earl Of
Morton, who rode near the Queen, ex-
claimed,
Gods life my royal lady, we shall have
brawls anon; there are falcons here enow
to scare herons from Scottish rivers, and
youths who CLAIM their rights as though
like the Hay* they were to win them
lands. Would it consot with your royal
wish to choose three from among that
noisy group, to whom alone you would
give right to dispute the prize"
The Queen saw the wisdom OF this ad-
vice for the sounds Of angry words had
already reached her cars. The youths
became instantly silent, when the stout
Earl proclaimed this new arrangement TO
hem, and waited with some anxiety for ;
he selection of the competitors
Queen Mary chose Lord DarnIey, Sir !
George Gordon and Norman Bruce
These three youths, it was whispered, en-. s
ertaIned passion of the royal beauty, {
md the choice she now made, together
With the encouraging words she had spo- /
Ken, made ladies smile, and galIants look a
Onward to the contest with brealhless in S
crest. S
But there was one among the maidens, =,
Who did not smile, but whose cheek turned Il
eadly pale as the Queen pronounced the !
ZANE of Norman Bruce. Something like Il
tear too ,glistened in her blue eye as the
outh with all the impotence of hope left c
Ter side and calling for his falcon, began b
o prepar for the contest This was Ell.
IN Lindsay, neice to the naughty baron
fthat name, He loves me not, SAID y
he, with sigh, as she gently refined hock h