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

the model Of an Antinous than Hercules
IT tic was not very broad in the shoulders,
he was singulally deep and round in the
chest, and remarkable for the arched hollow
of his back and the thinness Of his TANKS
Ills arms and legs were irreproachable, and,
all i'll all, he trod the firm earth with
"A station like the herald Mercury,
Ncw-lightcd on n heaven kissing hill "
But it was from the features of the two
men that most took their auspices, and that
the friends Of Aradas drew confident augury
Of his triumph.
The face of Sir Foulkc Dol ly was placid
and colorlcss, with huge overlapping brows
shading his small, keen eyes, with pcnt-
house of grizzly bristlcs, large pendant
checks sinister hooked nose, and mouth
indicative of lust, cruelty, and iron lirmncss
-altogctll,r sordid vulturinc type of man.
The features of Aradas, on the contrary,
were clean. clear, hcshlcss, and finely mark
cd; broad, smooth forehead, straight-cut
black eve brows, wcll-opcned hazel eyes,
with a tawny flesh When excited, like that
of lion or an eagle nose slightly aquiine
and mouth not less benevolent than rcso-
lutte. No one could look at him and his OPP
ponent, without thinking instinctiycly of the
gallant hcavcn-a aspiring falcon matched with
the earthly carrior vultup.
Nor was there less meaning or omen in
the tone Of their voices, as they swore.
Men paused to listen breathltsslv: for
amohg the lower classes on the field there
were bets pending on the issue, and the crit
ical Judges Of those days believed that there
was much in the voice of a man.
|. AS each entered the lists. he was met by
friar, who encountered him with the queS-
ton, Brother hast thou confessed thy sins
this morning O.
TO this, d'Oilly muttercd, a reply, inaudi-
bic to the qucstioncr; but Aradas rSat'c. an
swcr, in voice that rang like silver bell,
Il have confessed my sins, father, and,
thanks TO the Lord Jesus, have received alb
solution and the most holy sacrament of his
body"
Tie questions were then put the both, to
be answered with the hand on the cvangclists
ard the lip on the cruriiix--
"Do you hereby swear that your former
answers and allegations are all true; that
you bear no weapons but those allotted by
the court; that you have no cha rms about
you; that you place your whole trust in God,
in the goodness of your cause. and i'll your
own prowcss
TO this solemn query, Sir Foulke replied
only by the two words, II swear" and
those so obScurcly uttered, that the consta-
bic caIlrd on him to repeat them.
But Sir .tradas raised his head, and look
ed about him with a frank and princcy air.
Il hereby swear" he said, "that which |
swore hcretoiorc--that Sir Foulkc dolly is
a murlhorcr, liar and a tlaitor--to be true,
and on his body will prove IT. that have
not nor will use any weapons save what the
court a'lot me; thar wear neither charm nor
talisman: and that, save in my good cause.
my own right hand, and my trust in God, !
have rot wherein to rest my hope, here or
Hereafter. So may He help me, or desert me
at my utmost need, on whose cvangclists |
am now sworn.'
Then the godfathcrs led the men up face
to face, and, each grasping the other by the
mailed right hand, they again swore---
The appellant "My uttcrmost will do,
and more than my uttormoSt, if it may be,
t. Slay thee on this ground " hcrron we stand
OF 70 force thee to cry crayer'--so help me
God, IN his most holy heaven ~
And the appellee, My uttcrmost will
do, and more, if it may be, than my utter
most, prove my innocence upon thy body,
on this ground whercon we stand-so help
me God in the hghestn'
voices Of the two men, as they again sworc:
for while the tones Of Aradas had the steel
tempered ring Of the gallant gamc-cock'
challenge, the notes Of Sir Foulkc were likcr
to lie quavcrng croak of the obscene raven.
Then the solfathcrs retired them, till they
stood face to face, with thirty feet between
them, and delivered to them the arms allott,
ed by the court These wcrc-a dagger,
~, u,t To- Il.
length, worn in scaLbard on the right side,
behind the hip; an cstoc, or short sword, of
about two feet six inches, with sharp point
and groovcd bayonet- blade, hanging pcrpcn-
dicular!y on the left thigh: and huge two
handed broadsword, four feet from guard to
point, with hilt of twenty inches, and
weight Of the blade in striking.
The defensive arms were nearly similar.
Eacn wore habcrgcon or closely fitting
shirt of linked matt, with mail sleeves, mail
hose, poldrous, gcnonilicrcs, and shoes, of
plated splents of steel: and hat-toppcd he'll
NETS, with avantilles and beavers. But the
neck of Sir Foulke dolly was defended by
the new fashioned gorgct of steel plates,
while Aradas adhered to the old mail hood
or tippet, hooked on to the lower rim of his
beaver. And it was observed, that while
dolly wore his small heater shaped shield
on his left arm, de Ratchffe threw his over
his shoulder, suspended from the chain which
held j. about his neck, so as to leave both
his arms free to WELD his mighty war sword.
Beyond this, it was only noted that in the
casque of Sir Aradas was a ladys glove, and
on his left arm an azure scarf, fringed with
gold, such as the pale girl on the seneschal's
arm wore over her SNOW White cymar cross
ing her left shoulder and the region Of her
heart
And now the godfathers left the lists, and
none were left within them, save the two
champions facing each other, like two pillars
of steel, as solid and as motionless, until the
word should be given to set on, and the two
ba, efootcd friars, COUGHING on their knees in
the angles of the lists, inuttering their ORR
sons before the cluciiixes, which they held
close before their eyes, as if to shut out every
antoward sight Which might mar their medi-
tations.
Then single trumpet was blown, sharp,
stcrn warning blast, and herald made pro-
clamation:
"Oyez! oycz! oyez! This is champ clos,
for the Judgment of God. Therefore, BE-
ware all men, to give no aid or comfort to
either combatant, by word, deed, sign, or
token. on pain of infamy and NUT lation."
Then the Constable rose III his stirIups,
and cried nloud-