The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1870-09-16

! knight; nay, many Of them WOulC
willingly have incurred the danger
of the dragon to have enjoyed the hap
py deliverance of the dutchess. AS tC
the latter, she rode pensively along
! but said nothing.
No sooner was the adventure of the
wood made public, than a WhirlwinC
was raised about the ears Of the beauti-
full dutchess. The clustering nephew o.
I the deceased duke went about, armed
! to the teeth, with a staggering uncle
! at each shoulder, ready to back him
and swoTe the dutchess had forfeited
/ her domain. 1t was in vain she called
all the saints and angels, and her ladies
! in attendance into the bargain, to wit
ness that she had passed year and 8
| day of Immaculate fidelity. One fatal
| hour remained to be accounted for; and
| in the space of one little hour sins
enough may be conjured up by evil
| tongues, to blast the fame of a whole
| life Of virtue.
The two graceless uncles, who had
seen the world, were ready to bolster
the matter through, and as they were
| brawny, brOad-shouldered warriors,
and veterans in braWl as well as de-
bauch, they had great sway with the
multitude. If any one pretended to
assert the innocence of the dutchess,
they interrupted him with loud ha
hu-S of ierisie A pretty story, tru-
ly,7 would they cry, "abOuta a wolf and
a dragon, and a young widow rescued
in the dark by a sturdy varlet, who
dares not show his face in the daylight.
You may tell that to those who do not
know human nature for our parts,
we know the sex, aud that's enough" 1"
If, however, the other repeated his
assertion, they would suddenly Knit
their broWs, swell, look big, and put
their hands upon their swords. AS
few people like to fight in cause that
does not touch their own interests, the
nephew and the uncles were suffered
to have their way, and swaggerer un-
cOntradicted.
The matter was at length referred to
a tribunal composed of all the dignita-
ries of the dukedOm, aIfd many andAe-
peated consultations were held. Ghe
character of the dutchess, throughout
the year, was as bright and spOtless as
the moon in the clOudleSS night; one
fatal hour of darkness alone interviewed
to eclipse its brightness. Finding hu-
man sagacity incapable of dispelling
the mystery, it was determined to leave
the question to heaven; or in other
words, to decide it by the ordeal of the
sWOrd-a sage tribunal in the age of
chivalry. The nephew and two bully
uncles were to maintain their accusa-
ton in listed combat, and six months
were allowed to the dutchess to provide
herself with three champions, to meet
them in 1.-THE field. Should she fail in
this, or should her champions be van-
quished, her honor WGRld be considered
as attainted, her fidelity as forfeit, and
her dukedum would go to the nephew,
as a matter of right.
With this determination the detchesS
was fain to comply. PrOclamatiOns
were accordingly made, and heTalds
sent to various parts but day after day
week after week, and month after
month elapsed, without any champion
to assert her loyalty through
out that darksome hour. The fair wild
ow was reduced to despair, when It'd
ings reached her of grand tourna-
ments to be held at Toledo, in celebra-
ton of the nuptiae of Don ROderick,
the last of the Gothic kings, with the
MOriscO Princess ilOna. As last
resort, The dutcheSs repaired to the
Spanish court, to implOre the gallantry
of its 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 beauty of the east, were
hailed with shouts and acclamatiOns
whenever they Appeared. Their mobiles
We'd with each other in the luxury of
their attire, their splendid retinues and
prancing steeds; and the naughty
DANES of the court appeared in blaze
of jewels.
In the midst of all this pageantry,
the beautiful, but afflicted, dutchess of
Lorraine made her appearance to the
thr0Se. She was dressedEn black, and
closely veiled four duennas of the most
staid and severe aspect, and six beauti-
full demOiselles, formed her female at
tendants. She was guarded by several
very ancient, Withered, and gray
headed cavaliers; and her train was
borne by one of the most defOTmed and
dwarfs in existence.
Advancing to the foot of the throne,
she kneIt down, and throwing up her
veil, revealed Il countenance so beauti-
tul that half the cOuTtieTs present were
ready to renOunce their wives and mis-
tresses, and devote themselves to her
service: but when she made known
that she came in quest of champions to
defend her fame, every cavalier press
ed forward to offer his arm and sword,
without inuuiring into the merits of the
case: for it seemed clear that so beau
teOus a lady could have done nothing
but what was right; and that, at any
rate, she ought to be champiOned in
following the bent of her humOrs,
whether right or wrong.
Encouraged by such gallant zeal, the
suffered herself to be raised
from the ground, and related the whole
story of her distress. When she con-
cIuded, the king remained for some time
silent, charmed by the music of her
voice. At length GAS 1 hope for sal
walton, most beautiful duchess" said
he, were not sovereign king, and
bound in duty to my kingdom, my
self, would put lance in rest to vindi-
cate YOUR cause; and as it is, 1 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 court"
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 were objects of
great envy, for every one was ambitious
of finding favor in the eyes of the beau
tiful widow.
: AIissives were sent, summOning the
nephew and his two uncles to Toledo,
to maintain their accusation, and q day
was appointed for thezcOmbat. When
the day arrived, all Toledo was in COM
motion at an early hour. The lists
had been prepared in the usual place,
Just without the walls, at the foot of the
rugged rocks on which the city is built,
and on that beautiful meadow along
the Tagus, known by the name of the
kings garden. The pOpulace had al
ready assembled, each one eager to Sc
cure favorable place. The balconies
were soon filled with the ladies of the
court, clad in their richest attire, and
bands of youthful knights, splendidly
armed, and decorated with their ladies'