The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-04-21


she never wcpt, and tremblcd, ard alli.ost
dcSpaircd, | know not. If she did not, she
was more or less than woman. But her face
was pale as ivory. and her eyes were a faint
rose-colorcd margin, A. if she had either wcpt
or been slpcplcSs, for above one night, when
she appeared from her lodgings on that awful
morning: though her features were as firm
and rigid as if they had been carved out Of
that Parian marble which their complexion
most rescmbled, and her gait and bearing
were as steady and as proud as if she were
going to- correlation, rather than to the aw
full trial that should seal her every hope on
earth, of happiness or misery.
They little know the spirit of the age of
chivalry, who imagine that, because of the
tilt, the tournament, the ioust and the car
reused, all was pomp and splcndor, music
and minstrelsv. and military glory, largeSse
of hcralds and love of ladies, los on earth and
fame immortal after death, there was any
such illusion or enchantmcnt in tho dreadful
spectacle Of an appeal to the Judgement of
God by wager of battle.
In it there were no gaily decorated lists,
haunting With tapestries and glittcrng with
cmbloZcd shields; no gorgeous galleries
crowded with ladies', galaxy OF beauty in its
=, ~ -, ~.
~ 'icir arlhoIia' taotrdS' 10 SVlrit-tlriiilnS
shouts, no soul Inspiring music, and a soil
tary trumpet for the signals; but, instead of
this, bare space Strcwed WIKI Shwdust ana
surrounding with bare piles, rudcly fashion
cd with the saw and hatchct; all entrance at
either end, guarded by mcn-at-arms, and at
one angle just without the barrier, a huge
black giblct, block, with the broad axe.
tho disrmLowcll;nr knife and all fine hidrous
parophcrn,]io If The br,dsm,n's trade and
iiusrIfa dark and sor)id linurc, masked and
clad in Inf oc hnU's LiGn .nc,lIcd and
s,l,slcd with flo onr,, s,,;rs or r,.,,,. nro.
yinm, .lau"htcr lranin, ,.,;m.t tho 5ollnwS
rho ec.ty ,nr no s,octa ~, ,rr 49, ell otIor
tr,m,,InS NJ ,ur,I snJ ,,,a,ro.,mo ;n.,rost =
;nI,.;ar cn,nh,t nnrnr larlnJ onnct,tnr,
w,r,. .irovnI in lion nf s;l,,er h,nn;,nS and
,,nI,I cu.hor. With nl,,n Li,Ii, ,9roo a amI
,hn c,orr,tnr, tl,on.,l,,s i, l;n, ,f H.. ,a,
LJ, .d., ynst,,nnts i, ,,h;,.h ,har w,ro v.n;'i
,o ntteHd thc ray md rcn,ls n,..,ocs > Of arms
wnrc onl,. INV ayr,,.d,r o,,irs ox.a,,
where snnr friend or f,v,.cr If ,he onnrIapt
ar ,nn, , anct1I 70 WOW vh ito ~ toI'.,
Of ,r,iSt in his iunoccnre with a hi, or Lrr.
chief or tho coIors worn I,v tho r,vorrl no,tv
Amid AL this ploom and horror, the oniy
rcl;rv,no no;ni w,s tho smr.rh surco,is ,nI
ormor Of ihr constable and morcschol and
thc rcsnlndnt tal,r1 IF the kino. at.arms
who sotc IN their canar;soncl horses without
,hr isis hacked hv n ncwcrfnl bodv Of men,
,t.,r,,s ,,I orrh,rs a. ;,,drr, of ibn GJI
and doonstrrs If tho y,nr,;,hcJ !, that
strif, which must end in I,ath and inc,mv
TO one or other of the conbatanls.
From an carly hour, long before the first
GRAY da VI, ur dny all the sr,tS. save thosc
G,,.o,,.,.I e.. o.,,; I;,;,,;,a,I ,,.,,,,
l''"'' ~" "' e'' lam distinguished, pc' sui
ages lihu D'ch occupied ny Wcil-urtSStd
crowd: all the avenues to the place were fill
I'd, chokcd, to oyertowng: the roofs and bal
comics thr windows or every house that com.
,na,,lnl - H. I;,.,s' m,' ,t'H,,o, ar
the nciehhoring churches, the batllcmens
and the LaytiZans Of the u1av old casll. al
ready gray and old in the second century of
dominion, were crowded with eager and cx-
cited multimdrs-- so.grvat was the interest
created by the tdings of that awful combat
and the rcputc for proves of tie knights who
were piltel in it to meet and part no more,
until one should - lowa forever.
And now the shadow was cast upon the
dial, close to the fatcd hour of ten, from the
clear wlntry sun, to borrow the words Of the
greatest modern poet
Which rose rnon tba. hc,vxd,v
And mockcI it with It's steudiest, ray.
Tho castle natcs rolled opcn ON Their HINGES
grating harsh thunder. and forth came