The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-01-23
A Legend of the South of France

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A Legend of the South of France.
BY ALEXANDER DUMAS.
The Knights of st. John of Jerusalem,
which order is well known, was founded by
Gerard Tauques, Provencal gentleman,
whose birthplace we shall meet with by-and.
by at Mariigues, inhabited during the four
teenth century the island of Rhodes, from
whence they derive their name. Now, Rhodes,
is derived from the Phenician word Rod, sig
nifying serpent. This name originated, as no
doubt will be Inferred in a cause, and that
cause from the fact that innumerable reptiles
from time immemorial had made this land of
colossal notoriety their home.
ltis, however, only fair TO observe, that these
same serpents began rapidly TO diminish in
number during the two centuries that these
warrior monks occupied the island, who, no
doubt, during their spare hours, amused them
selves in hunting them down. The result of
their activity was such, that the notion soon
became prevalent throughout the commandery
that the dreaded enemies had been extirpated,
when, one day, TO the dsagreeable surprise of
all, monstrous and gigantic dragon, in CON-
parison with which the famous serpent of Re-
gulus was buta mere adder, stalked forth over
the land.
The knights, faithful to their traditionary
glory, destructive as that fidelity might prove
TO them, offered themselves in numbers to COM
bat with the monster, and went forth, one after
the other, TO drive him out of his cavern in the
valley OF Rhodes but of all those who sailed
forth, not one returned, consequently each day
witnessed, as matter of course, the loss of
some one of the most valiant members of the
order. The grand master, HELEN de Vile.
neuve, rendered desperate by the result of
these attempts, prohibited, under pain of de-
gradation, any knight of his order from COM
batting with the monster, assigning as a reason
that so fearfal a scourge could only have been
raised up by God. and that itmust consequent
ly be met, not by temporal, but by spiritual
weapons; whereupon the knights relaxed
their exertions, much TO the disappointment, no
doubt, of the monster, vi no having accustomed
himself to the delicate flavor of human flesh,
was now compelled TO fall back upon ordi-
nary beef and mutton.
While affairs were in this position Dieu-
donne de Gozon arrived at Rhodes. This
knight of Canargue, who united in his own
person great bravery with equally great pru-
dence, but who had hitherto signaiiZed linn
self only in the west, landed here with the
view of impressing his fellow knights with a
due notion of his prowess. But, as we have
said, his bravery was only equal!ed by his pru-
dence; he therefore determined upon not rash
ly risking his life, like his predecessors in this
adventure, without first obtaining some know
ledge of the enemy he had to deal with.
Consequently, Dieudonne de Gozon made
the most minute inquiries possible about the
monster, which he ascertained inhabited a
marshy fen some two leagues from the town.
He further learnt that at eleven in the morning
that is to say, the hottest period in the day
il was his habit to come forth from his cavern
and bask in the sunbeams, where he would re-
in Fnro hon fam on he tct, for
victim, and then return to his cell till the next
day.
This, however, was not sufficient; GoZon
desired TO see the serpent with his own eyes.
Consequently he sailed forth one morning,
furnished, not with arms offensive or defensive,
but simply with pencil and sheet of paper.
Arrived within some thousand PAGES Of the
cavern, he looked out anxiOusly, as may be
supposed, for place of safety, from whence
he might make his observations without being
noticed; when having ensconced himself to
his satisfaction, he impatenly awaited, pencil
in hand, the coming out OF the serpent. The
exact habits of the monster brought him out at
his usual hour, when his first at was to
pouDce upon an unfortunate bull that had
strayed within his domains, and which he forth
with belted whole; thus satisfied with his
mornings performance, he stretched bimself
out in the sun within five hundred PAGES OF the
bled to complete his portrait; the serpent, as
he lay extended, was so perfect Il specimen
OF a model, that he was Immediately sketched
off, with the most scrupulous regard TO detail.
The picture completed, the knight retired with
the greatest possible precauton, AND retraced
his way 10 Rhodes.
His comrades inquired if he had seen the
serpent, and on being shown the portrait, those
who had simply reconnotered the monster at
Il H. he "a, l. nf,,l
likeness. On the morrow, GoZon again sailed
forth from Rhodes, and betook himself to his
old hiding place. In the evening he returned
al the same hour as previously, and on being
interroga,ed as to his days achievements
replied that he had made corrections in his
drawing; an announcement which gave rise
to much mirth. The following day he again
went out, again took the same precautions,
and returned again with the same reply TO the
inquiries of the knis hts, who, believing him 10
be madman, troubled themselves no further
about him. This process continued for three
weeks, at the end of which period, the young
knight had learnt his serpent off by heart
He then asked for six months leave Of absence
of the Grand Master, and having obtained il,
returned to his Chateau de Gozon, situated on
the lower Rhone, in Camargue.
On his return, he was made much of by
every one, particularly by two magnificent
dogs which he possessed; these animals were
of the largest description, and had been trained
TO keep bulls at bay during the process OF
marking them with red hot iron. Gozon, in
return, caressed them, as he had his own ulte-
rior ends in view. Fearing that their training
during his absence might have somewhat de-
generated, he Immediately exercised them upon
three bulls.
Satisfied that he could depend upon them
as two capital auxiliaries, Gozon iinme diateiy
set 10 work TO carry out his plans. Thanks ia
the drawing which he had taken onsthe spot o
closely after nature, Gozon was enabled 10
construct q perfect serpent, both in shane,