The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-12-01

contest. 1t was decided by lot, and the
successful candidates were objects Of
great envy, for every one was ambitious
Of finding favor in the eyes Of the beau-
tiful widow.
Missives were sent summonng the
nephew and his two unclcs 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 at the usual place, just
without the walls, at the foot of the rug
gcd rocks, on which the city is built,
and on that beautiful meadow along the
ra@us, known By the name of the kings
garden. The populace had already as
scmblcd. each one eager to secure Il fay
orable place; the balconies were filed
with,the ladies of the court, clad in their
richest attire, and bands of youthful
knights, splcndidly armed and decorated
with their ladies' devices, were seen man
aging their superbly caparisoned stccds
about the field. The king at length
came forth i'll state, accompanied by the
queen Exilona. They took their seats
in raised balcony, under canopy of
rich damask; and at the sight of them
the people rent the air with loud accla-
Matio:s.
The nephew and his uncle now rode
into the field, armed cap-a-pie, and fol-
lowed by a train ofcavalicrs Of their own
registering cast, great swcarcrs and ca
| !, Ill |,
clanking armor and jngling spurs.-
When the people Of Toledo ebehcld the
yaunting and discourteous appearance
Of these knights, they were more anx-
ious than ever for the success of the gen.
tie duchess: but, at the same time, the
sturdy and stalwart frames Of these war;
rors showed that whoever won the vic
tory from them, must do it at the cost
of many bitter blow.
AS the nephew and his riotous crew
rode in at one side of the fed, the fair
widow appeared at the door, with her
suite of grave erayhcadcd courticrs, her
ducnnas and dainty demoiscllcs, and the
little dwarf toiling along under the
weight of her train. Every one made
way for her as she passed, and blessed
her beautiful face, and prayed for sue
cess to her cause. She took her seat in
lower balcony, not far from the sovcr-
eigns: AND her pale face set off BY her
mourning weeds, was as the moon shin
ing forth from among the clouds of
night.
The trumpet sounded for the combat.
The warriors were just entering the lists,
when stranger knight, armed in rano-
ply, and followed by two pages and an
esquire, came galloping into the field,
and riding up to the royal balcony,
claimed the combat as a matter of right.
s.ln me, behold the cavalier who had
the happiness to rescue the beautiful
duchess from the peril of the forest, and
the misfortune Of bringing upon her this
grievous calumny. 1t was but recently,
in the course of my crrantry, that It'd
ings of her wrongs have reached my ears
and have urged hithcr at Ill speed, to
stand forth in her just vindication."
No sooner did the duchess hear the
accents of the knight, than she recog-
nizcd his voice, and joined her prayers
with his that he hi ght enter the lists
The difficulty was, to determine which
of the three champions already appointed
should yield his place, each insisting on
the honor of the combat. The stranger
knight would have settled the point, by
taking the whole contest upon himself :
but this the other kni gifts would not
permit. 1t was at length determined as
before, by lot. and the cavalier who lost
the chance retired murmuring and dis
consolatc.
The trumpcts again sounded-the lists
were opened. The arrogant nephew and
his two drawcansir unclcs appeared so
completely cascd in steel; that they and
their steeds were like moving masses OF
iron. When they understood the stran-
ger kni ght to be the same that had res
cued the duchess from her peril, they
greeted him with the most boisterous
dcrision.
go no. sir knight of the DRAGON
said they, "you who pretend to cham
pion fair widows in the dark, come OH
and vindicatc your deeds Of darkness i'll
the open day"
The only reply. of the cavalier was to
put lance in rest, and brace himself fol-
the encounter. Needless is it to relate
the particulars of a battle, which was
like so many hundred combats that have
been said and sung in prose and verse
Who is there but must have forcsccn the
event of contest, where Heaven had tC
decide ON the guilt or innocence of the
most beautiful and immaculate of Wild
ows
The sagacious reader, deeply read in
this kind Of judicial conlbats, can mag
} Inc the encounter Of the graccless ncph-
CIV and the stranger knight. IIc sees
their conclusion, man to man, and horse
to horse, in mad career, and sir Gracelcss
hurled to the ground, and slain. He
will not wonder that the assailants OF
) the brawy unclcs were less successful
} in their rude encounter; but he will pic
ture to himself the stout stranger, spur
ring to their rescue in the very critical
, moment; he will see him transfixing one
l with his lance, and clcaving the other to
the chin with black-stroke of his sword
, thus leaving the trio of accusers dead