Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-05-02

various parts; but day after day, week
5 after week, and month after month,
elapsed, without any champion appearing
to assert her loyalty throughout that
; darksome hour. The fair widow was re-
duced to despair, when tidings reached
her of grand tournaments to be held at
: Toledo, in celebration of the nuptials of
Don Roderick, the last of the Gothic
kings, with the Morisco princess Exilona.
As last resort, the duchess repaired to
the Spanish court, to implore the gal
lantry of the assembled chivalry.
: The ancient city of Toledo was a scene
of gorgeous revelry on the event of the
royal nuptials. The youthful king, brave,
ardent, and magnificent, and his lovely
bride, beaming with all the radiant beau.
ty of the east, were hailed with shouts
and aeclamations wherever they appear
ed. Their mobiles We'd with each other
in the luxury of their attire, their pranc-
ing steeds, and splendid retinues and
the naughty danes of the court appeared
in blaze of jewels.
In the midst of all this pageantry, the
beautiful, but afflicted Duchess of Lor-
raine made her approach to the throne.
She was dressed in black, and closely
yelled four duennas, of the most staid
and severe aspect, and six beautiful
demoiselles, formed her. female attend
ants. She was guarded by several very
ancient, withered, and gray-headed cav
alters; and her train was borne by one
of the most deformed and diminutive
dwarfs in existence.
Advancing to the foot of the throne,
she knelt down, and throwing up her
veil, revealed countenance so beautiful
that half the courtiers present were ready
to renounce wives and mistresses, and
devote themselves to her service but
when she made known that she came in
quest of champions to defend her fame,
every cavalier pressed forward to offer
his arm and sword, without inquiring
into the merits of the case for it seemed
clear that so beauteous lady could have
done nothing but what was right; and
that, at any rate, she ought to be cham
pioned in following the bent of her hu-
mcrs, whether right or wrong.
Encouraged by such gallant zeal. the
duchess suffered herself to be raised from
the ground, and related the whole story
of her distress. When she concluded,
the king remained for some time silent,
charmed by the music of her voice. AT
length: GAS 1 hope for salvation. most
beautiful Duchess said he, "were not
q sovereign king, and bound in duty to
my kingdom, myself would put lance
in rest to vindicate your cause as it is,
here give full permission to my knights,
and promise lists and a fair field, and
that the contest shall take place before
the walls of Toledo, in presence of my
assembled count"
As soon as the pleasure of the king
was known, there was a strife among the
cavaliers present, for the honor of the
contest 1t was decided by lot, and the
successful candidates we're objects of
great envy, for every one was ambitious
of finding favor in the eyes of the beau
tiful widow.
Missives were sent, summoning the
nephew and his two uncles to Toledo, to
maintain their accusation, and day was
appointed for the combat. When the
day arrived, all Toledo was in commo-
ton at an early hour. The lists had
been prepared in the usual place, just
without the walls, at the foot of the rug
ged rocks on which the city is built, and
on that beautiful meadow along the Ia
gus, known by the name of the kings
garden. The populace had already as
sembled, each one eager to secure a ia.
vorable place the balconies were filed
with the ladies of the court, clad in their
richest attire, and bands of youthful
knights, splendidly armed and decorated
with their ladies' devices, were managing
their superbly caparisoned steeds about
the field. The king at length came
forth in state, accompanied by the queen
Exilona. They took their seats in a
raised balcony, under a canopy of rich
damask and at the sight of them, the
people rent the air with acclamatiOns.
The nephew and his uncles now rode
into the field, armed cap-G-pis, and fol-
lowed by a train of cavaliers of their own
registering cast, great swearers and ca.
rousers, arrant swashbucklers, witt clank-
ing armor and jingling spurs. When the
people of Toledo beheld the daunting and
discourteOus appearance of these knights,
they were more anxious than ever for the
success of the gentle duchess; but, at the
same time, the sturdy and stalwart frames
of these warriors, showed that whoever
won the victory from them, must do it at
the cost of many bitter blow.
AS the nephew and his riotous crew
rode in al one side of the field, the fair
widow appeared at the other, with her
suite of grave grayheaded coul!iers, her
ancient duennas and dainty demoiselles,
and the little dwarf toiling along under
The weight of her train. Every one made
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