Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-12-10
EVENING STAR.
The -FOUR HEERIEs.

The following tale is translsted from the
French. 1t contains the account Of rather a
strange rencounter of four individuals, who
made themselves prominent in France, during
the middle and end of the sixteenth century,
and is as follows:
One stormy evening as the rain fell in tor.
rents, an old woman who lived in a miserable
hut, in the forest Of st. Gcrmain. and who
passed in the surrounding country for kind
of witch, heard loud knocking at her door.
She opened it, young man on horseback pre-
sented himself, and craved hospitality
By the dull light of lamp which she held
in her hand, she perceived him to be young
nobleman lie appeared to be quite young,
and his dress denoted rank The old woman
lighted FIRE, and inquired Of the stranger
whether he wss hungry and desired food. The
appetite Of youth at sixteen is like his heart
at the same age, craving, and not difficult to
please, and he immediately accepted her Of
fer. A morsel of cheese and loaf of black
break from the cupboard was all the old dame
could produce.
az have nothing more" said she to the
young nobleman; +; E" this is all that your grind
ing taxes leave poor creature to offer q tray
eler; the peasants, too, in this country call me
| a witch and sorceress, and make that excuse
to their consciences for stealing from me the
little that my poor old field produces
" Ma tot ~ said the young man, "if ever
L become King of France, will suppress the
| taxes, and teach the people better
"G God grant it !" replied the old woman.
At these words the gentleman drew to the
table to commence his repast; but, at the
same moment fresh knock at the door ar
rested him.
| The old woman opened it, and perceived
another horseman, drenched with rain, who
also begged for shelter. The same hOsp;tali-
| ty was instantly granted him, and 0n the
| strangers entrance she perceived that he teo
was young, and judging from his appearance,
Of noble descent
"WLat is it you, Henry?" cried one.
| "Yes, Henry" replied the other: both
were named Henry.
The old woman discovered from their con-
versatiOn, that they were of the number of a
large hunting party, conducted by the King,
Charles IN which had been dispersed by the
| storm.
Mother" said the second officer, " have
you nothing better to offer u.s.
Nothing" replied she.
"Then," said ne, "we will 60 shares
The first Henry demurred, but glancing at
the resOute eye and strong frame of the sec
ond Henry, said, in somewhat chagrined
tone
agreed; we will go shares.'
He dared not express his secret motive, but
he feared, if not sharing equally, his compan-
ion would appropriate the whole. They ac-
cOrdingly sat down on either side of the table,
and one had already begun to cut the bread
| with his dagger, when a third knock was
heard at the door. The meeting was indeed
singular. 1t was again youth, a nObleman,
and a Henry. The old woman looked at them
| with amazement.
The first conner wished to hide the bread
and cheese, the second replaced them on the
table, and laid his sword by the side. The
third Henry smiled.
"You do not wish then nat should share
your supper" said he. "Well L can wait
have strong stomach"
"The supper" said the first Henry, " be-
longs, by right, to the first conner"
NO." said the second, cit belongs to him
who can best defend it,"
The third Henry became red with anger,
and said haughtily:
Perhaps it belongs to him Who knows how
to fight for it best -
| These words were scarcely uttered, when
the first Henry drew his poignard, the two
others their swords. AS they were just begin
ming the fray, they were startled by fourth
knock at the cabin door; fourth young man,
fourth nobleman, fourth Henry is intro
duced. At the sight Of drawn swords he pro-
duces his own, and attaching himself to the
weakest party, he joined in the combat
| The old woman, terrified, hid herself, and
the blades strike everything in their reach.
The lamp fell down and was extinguished, but
they continued to light in the darkness. The
noise of the swords lasted some time, then
gradually became less, and at length ceased
altogether. Then the old woman ventured Il
issue forth from her hiding place, and relight-
ing the lamp she perceived the four young
men stretched on the ground, each having a
slight wound. She examined them carefully
and found that fatigue, rather than loss oi
blood, had overcome them.
They rose from the ground one after the
other, and, ashamed of what had transpired il
the heat Of passion, they began laughing, and
exclaimed
"Come, let US now sup together, without
| fighting more"
But when they came to look for their supper
they found it on the ground, all trodden undel
foot and stained with blood. Meagre as il was
they regretted it. In addition to this, tn,
cabin was destroyed, and the old witch, SCI
ed in her corner, fixed her pale red eyes OF
the four young men.
"Why dost thou stare on US thus?" said tn,
first Henry, who was troubled at her gaze
" am reading the fates on your fOreheads,
replied she.
The second Henry commanded her sternly
to disclose them; the two others laughinglJ
acquiesced. Tho old woman replied
"As you have all four met in this cabin, 81
shall you all meet in like destiny. AS yor
have trampled under foot and stained with
blood the bread offered you by hospitality, 81
will you trample under foot and stain with
blood power you might mutually share. Al
you have devastated and impoverished thi,
cottage, so will you devastate and lay waste
France. AS you have all four been wounded
in the darkness so will you all four perish BY
treason and a violent death F"
The four young noblemen could not refrain
from laughing at the old woman's prediction
These four noblemen were the four heroes
Of the League, two as its leaders, and two a.
its enemies:
Hsnry of Conde: poisoned by his wife a
St. Jean d'Augely.
Henry Of Guise: assassinated at Blois, BY
the Forty 1--WE.
Henry Of Vatois: assassinated by Jaque
| Clement, at St. Cloud.
Henry Of Bourbon: assassinated at Paris
by Ravaillac,