Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1853-12-15
THE KNIGHT OF LEON:
THE MONARCH'S LAST BRIDE
A TALE OF MOORISH GRENADA
BY sYLyANUs COBB, JR.
CHPPTER /.
VII LIN L.
THE KNIGHT OF LEON.

CHPPIER /.
THE KNIGHT OF LEON.
GRANADA The simple name fills the
mind with ideas of romance and more
than real grandeur. Even her misfortu-
mes are romantic, and if she once had re-
gal sins, we are led to pity rather than
censure her. The Last Sigh of the
Moor" still overlooks the home of the
long line of Moslem kings, and the han
diwork of those who have long since pass
us what Moorish Granada was.
The fifteenth century had dawned upon
Spain, and the Christians had by degrees
possessed themselves of all the Spanish
Peninsula save Granada; but Granada
still gave home and kingdom to the
Moor, and here the Moslem held his scep-
tre against the mighty powers that were
growing in the North. There were see
nes of festivity in Grenada, and magnif-
cent tournaments, too, were held there =
nor was the participation in these confined
to the Moors, for Christian knights, from
Spain, and France, and Germany, fire.
quently came and joined in the lists The
Moor was wary, however, and his dark
flashing eye slept not upon his Christian
visitors.
Il was bright morning in early sum-
mer The gardens, the fields, and the
forests, were clothed in their gayest vest
ments, and the birds sent aloft the notes
of their thanksgiving IL sweetly sounding,
musical peans. Near the river Guadix,
and upon its northern bank, appeared two
horsemen their beasts were standing
still, and the riders were gazing upon the
stream that flowed before them. Back of
them, towards the north, was deep for
est, from which they had just emerged,
while ahead, to the southwark, some twelve
miles distant, few glittering spires could
be seen, and near these loomed up the
bright towers of the Alhambra. Further
on, the eye rested upon the snow-clad
SUBMITS of the heaven reaching Alpujar-
ras, with the Sierra Nevada, towering aloft
with its crown of regal white, the monarch
of Mountain Spain.
The first of the horsemen was young
man attired in a gorgeous suit of mail
The subtle links were of the brightest
steel, and they were wrought with the
most exquisite skill aud workmanship
Over this suit of full mail the man wore
" ALVIN VI SiiHtSou Silh, upOu IuC VI CdSG VI
which was wrought in golden threads the
cross of Leon. Upon his head he wore a
steel cap, formed of nicely adjusted plates,
slightly conical in its form, and from the
top of which waved triple plume of white
ostrich feathers. If the cross upon the
knights breast did not at once betray the
kingdom from whence he came. the rich
dress of the black steed that bore him
would have cleared the matter at once
Over the plates of steel that the horse
wore upon his breast, and covering the
back and sides of the animal, was dra
perry of crimson silk, upon which was
wrought in various colors of silver and
gold the cross and the Li0n-the insignia
of Christian Leon
The knight was not over six and twenty
years of age, being tall and well-formed,
with a fullness of limb and muscle that
spoke Of much strength and manly exer-
else. His hair was worn in the usual
manner of the times, long and flowing,
the dark curls of which escaped freely
from beneath the steel cap. His features
were noble in their moulding, and pos
sessed a degree of beauty that can be
made up only from the promptings of a
generous SOU, and noble and brave heart
The knights companion was an odd
looking being, dressed in the common garb
| of an humble esquire, with leggings of half
armor, and bearing stout breast plate =
He wore upon his head steel skull cap,
and the face that looked out from beneath
the small visor was beaming with good na-
ture and shrewd cunning. He was some
years older than his master, and though
not SO tall by several inches, he yet pos
! sessed a quantity of muscle that showed
itself in big masses about his breast and
limbs, and those who had come within his
clutches never afterwards doubted that
Pedro Banbino's muscle was as good in
quality as III quantity The horse he rode
was of an iron gray color, and full as stout
as his masters
Pedro said the knight, as he reined
his horse farther back from the edge of the
river, there must be bridge somewhere
about here
In truth there is returned the esquire.
'or at least there used TO be one, for [
crossed it myself not dozen years ago
but | think it's farther up the stream
Then up the stream we'll 60, said the
| knight. as he turned his horses head in
that direction.
Accordingly both riders started off, I'D
at the end of half an hour they came to
the place where bridge was thrown a.
cross the river They passed over to the
other side, and there they found them
selves in broad road that led to tt e city
of Granada
We are in the right way now, said
Pedro Bambino.
Yes returned the knight
But what would all this gain US if they
wouldn't let US into the city2 suggested
the esquire.
.There'ii be no trouble about that Pc
dro a peaceable Christian knight viii
not be refused admittance within the city.
Nor a peaccable Christian esquire, re-
piled Pedro