The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-04-12

SU 1ftdDOur.
TIE fatal third day had come about, and
,:.f !, all the dreadful preparations for the ju-
G,id combat.
With what had passed in the long interval,
lam, 10 those whose more than lives, whose
,..-r hearts and souls, whose ancient names and
,..-.l bonors. were staked on the event, it is
nj, f,r rs to know or inquire. Whether the
,ar,g champion, for it was generally known
ia, Sir Aradas de Radcliffe, invested with the
,,len spurs and consecrated with the order Of
.as.thood by the sword of the Earl Mare
,.ssI IN order to enable him to meet the ap-
-sl-e on equal terms, was appointed, with the
m consent Of the court of chivalry, champion
5- the appellan:-whether, say, the young
CHAMPION ever doubted, and wished he had
saitsd some iarer opportunity, when he might
VII the golden spurs without the fearful risk of
DING shameful death, and furnishing forever
an unb!emished name, | know not. If he did,
i vas human hesitation, and one which had
MT dishonored the bravest man who ever died
IN battle
Whether the young and gentle maiden, the
lsyely Glendolen, the most delicate and tender
Of women, who scarce might walk the earth, lest
she should dash her foot against a stone. or
breathe the free air of Heaven, lest it should
los on her damask cheek too rudely-whether
,is never repented that she had told him, " for
a. "a 4 . L. ~
high when she thought of the bloody strife
aEhich two must engage, but whence one only
could come forth alive; when she thought of
the mangled corpse Of the black gibbet; of
the reversed escutcheon; of the dishonored
name: whether she never wept, and trembled,
and almost despaired, | know not. If she did
sOi she was more or less than woman. But
Ter face was pale as ivory, and her eyes wore
faint rose-colored margin, as if she had
either wept, or been sleepless, for above one
night, when she appeared from her lodging on
hat awful morning; though her features were
as firm and rigid as if they had been carved
ont Of that Paran marble which their COM
llezion most resembled, and her gait and
bearing we're as steady and as proud as if she
we're going to a coronation, rather than to the
awful trial that should seal her every hope on
earb, Of happiness or misery.
They little know the spirit Of the age of chiv-
airy, who imagine that, because in the tilt, the
tournament. the joust, and the carrousel, all was
iomp and splendor, music and minstrelsy, and
military glory, largesSe of heralds and love of
AIDES, los on earth and fame immortal after
cath, there was any such illusion or enchant-
n'ni IN the dreadful spectacle of an appeal to
he Judgment OF God by wager of battle.
In t there were no gaily decorated lists,
haunting with tapestries and glittering with
eno.azoned shields; no gorgeous galleries
crowded with ladies', galaxy of beauty in its
Foudest adornment; no banners, no heralds
10 their armorial tabards, no spirit-thrilling
SHOUTS, no soulinspiring music, and solitary
trumpet for the signals; but, instead of this, a
rsra space strewed with sawdust, and surround
ed With bare piles, rudely fashioned with the
saw and Ratchet; an entrance at either end,
guarded By men-atarms, and at one angle, just
Trholi the barrier, huge black gibbet, a
o.ocS' with the broad axe, the disembowelling
1nh' and all the hideous paraphernalia of the
nealsmans trade, and himself dark and
srild figure, masked and clad in buff of bulls
noe Speckled and splashed with the CORY stains
" many previous slaughter, leaning against
Ne SaUows. The seats for the spectators-for,
= 81 other tragedies of awful and engrossing
+'sFes'- judicial combat never lacked specta-
.''-Tere strewed, in lieu of silken hangings
~ sehdai cushions, with plain black serge
I'D Inc spectators themselves in lieu of the
-'.' MONDAY yesiments in which they were
-. 70 attend the gay and gentle passages of
go wore only their everyday attire, except
.T'e some friend OF favorer of the appellant
q! t-ce' Affected to wear white, in token of
~, 'h DIS innocence, with belt or kerchief
~ go'.rs worn by the favored party.
H. - al 'Als gloom and horror, the only re-
CO. punt was the superb surcoats and armor
,,Iorl. unstable and mareschal, and the re-
i, ~. SoaTd OF the king-at-arms, who safe
i },,L-,, 0'iafSoaed horses without the lists,
81 .! 9Tertul body of men-at-arms and
,t,L, a judges of the field, and doomsters
r5: ,"l{ lIshed in that strife which must
r.,i... ..a.a and lniamy to one or other of the
.-- ''51 an early hour, long before the first
80. IaFn Of day, all the seats. save those pre.
!l ''r certain distinguished nersonages
stA .''n occupied BY well.dressed crowd
= .e avenues to the place were filled. cboked'
ss5o.- The roofs, the balconies, the
yisT of 4 VI every house that commanded a
nT cbu. .-g llS's, the steeples of the neighbor-
,s3, &c nus the battlements and the barti-
"a 1e gray old castle, already gray and
pe-e 60 o. sYcGhd century Of Norman dominion,
tela,- -.Y"le0 with eager and excited multi
lirg, ~ great was the interest created by the
q, me- :. mat awful combat, and the repute
t, ms..so9I The knights who were pitted in
:ya f-rs~ ',l part no more, until one should go
t1ss n s ~ 'le shadow was cast upon the dial,
sn,rv -. le lated hour of ten, from the clear
a5derr - 70 borrow the words of the greatest
A. lose upon that heavy day
Tbs,., O' 'ed II with its steadiesi ray.
Tam, 80 49,. gates rolled open on their hinges,
lice,s;- ISL !, thunder; and forth came proud
Gaze inI - NE nigh justiciary and his FIVE asso-
a,iha rs. with their guard of halberdiers,
as n. @i Il nigh officers of the court, among
boz. And -eIil' whose anxious and interested
'ig7a,sr yet more whose pale and lovely
tF,s -. .5;auglng on his arm, so firm and vet
hr 1-' "o-begone, excited general sympa-
tie :, :, was whispered through the null
ee tbir,. was almost instantaneously-fo
ts 5etrr,ILa. gayei as by instinct-that she was
as1 b s- ei.t OF the young appellant, and that,
bed lis nm ~l1 his spurs of gold, he had assn
" maDo errl9ie emprize, all other excitement
/ i and NC" up IN the interest created by the
zsares IN stern expression of her lovely
4s5 a. r ahd her brave demeanor.
u Of tbos 1e ladies' than one whispered in the
+'aaor. Ie VINO were dearest to them, off he
l,d ' mane' she will not survive him!p
as,apss.'! manly voice, shaken little of
he les rs made reply
@bsd NC slain, but he cannot be van
xsdi WI lSo the members of the court been
q, who ,H L lh9se of the higher gentry and no
n, from, n ,. waited to follow in their suite,
. hop Um N the tower of neighboring cister.
i Ia dolsf me clock struck ten; and, now, as
''ul death scene in Parisina,