The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-09-16

4
; assertion, they would suddenly kn
. their brows, swell, look big, and pt
> their hands upon their swords. A
few people like to fight in cause ths
does not touch their own interests, th
nephew and the uncles were sllffere
; to have their way, and swaggerer ur
contradicted.
The matter was at length referred
tribunal composed of all the dgnita
ries of the dukedom, and many and re
peated consultations were held. Th
character of the dutchess, throughou
the year, was rs bright and sp0tless a
the moon in the clOudless night; on
fatal hour of darkness alone intervene,
to eclipse its brightness. Finding hu
man sagacity incapable of dispellin,
the mystery, it was determined to leav
the question to heaven; or in othe
words, to decide it by the ordeal of tn,
sword-a sage tribunal in the age o
chivalry. The nephew and two bully
uncles were to maintain their accuse
ton in listed combat, and six months
were allowed to the dutchess to prOvid,
herself with three champions, to nree
them in the field. Should she fail in
this, or should her champions he van
quished, her honor would be considered
as attainted, her fidelity as forfeit, and
her dukedum would go to the nephew
as matter of right.
With this determination the dutchess
was fain to comply. Proclamations
were accordingly made, and heralds
sent to various parts; but day after day
week after week, and month after
month elapsed, without any champion
appearing 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 nuptials of Don Roderick,
the last of the Gothic kings, with the
Morisco Princess ExilOna. 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 a blaze
of jewels.
In the midst of all this pageantry,
the beautiful, but afflicted, dutchess of
Lorraine made her appearance to the
throne. She was dressed in 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 defOrmed and
diminutive dwarfS in existence.
Advancing to the foot of the throne,
she knelt down, and throwing up her
veil, revealed countenance so beauti-
tul that half the cOuTtiers 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 inquiring into the merits of the
case; for it seemed clear that so beau
teous 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
dutchess suffered herself to be raised
from the ground, and related the whole
story of her distress. When she con-
cluded, the king remained for some time
silent, charmed by the music of her
voice. At length GAS hope for sal
vatiOn, most beautiful dutchess," said
he, "were l 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, / here
give full permission to my knights,
and promise lists and 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.
Missives were sent, summoning the
nephew and his two uncles to Toledo,
to maintain their accusation, and a day
was appointed for the combat. 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
and decorated with their ladies'
devices, were managing their superhly-
steeds about the field. The
king, at length, came forth in state, ac-
companied by the queen ExilOna.
They took their seats i'm q raised balcO>
ny, under a canopy of rich damask
and, at sight of them, the people rent
tine air with acclamations.
The nephew and his uncles now rode
into the field, armed cdp-a-pie, and
followed by train of cavaliers of their
own registering cast, great swearers and
carousers, arrant swashbucklers, that
went about with clanking armour and
jingling spurs. When the people of
Toledo beheld the vaunting and dis
courteous appearance of these knights,
they We're more anxious than ever for
the success of the gentle dutchess; but,
at the same time, the sturdy and stall
'. art frames of these warriors, showed
that whoever won the victory from
them, must do it at the cost of many a
bitter blow. ..
AS the nephew and his riotOus crew
rode in at one side of the field, the fair
widow appeared at the other, with her
suite of grave, gray-headed courtiers,
her ancient duennas and dainty demOi- |
selles, 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 success to her cause. She !
took her seat in a lower balcony, not |
far from the sovereign's; and her pale |
face, set off by her mourning weeds,
was as the moon shining forth from |
among the clouds of night.
The trumpets sounded for the combat. |
The warriors were just entering the |,
lists, when a stranger knight, armed |
in panoply, and followed by two pages |
and an esquire, came galloping into the !
field, and riding up to the royal bal
cony, and claimed the combat as
matter of right.
"In me-" cried he, "bellold the cav
alier who had the happiness to rescue
the beautiful dutchess from the peril of !
the forest, and the misfortune to bring /