The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-09-06

Lord of Maldegem, Charles Lord of Knesse1are
Sir Roger of Akxpoele, Sir Jan of Cavern, Ras
Mulaert, Diederik die Vos (the for), and Gerart
die Moor.
The French knights, Jacques de Chatillon
Gui de st. Pol, Raoule de Nesle, and their com
rades, rode among the Flemish mobiles, ant
each engaged in courteous conversation will
such of them as happened to come in his way
Last of all came Adolf of Nieuwland young
knight of one of the noblest houses of The
wealthy city of Bruges. His face was not one
of those that attract by their effeminate
beauty; he was none of the carpet heroes
with rosy cheeks and smiling lips, who want
nothing but bodice to transform them into
young ladies. Nature had made no such mis-
take with him. His checks, slightly sun burnt,
gave him look of seriousness beyond his
years; his forehead was already marked with
the two significant burrows which early thought
rarely fails to imprint. His features were
striking and manly; his eyes, half hidden IN
der their brows, indicated a soul at once ardent
and reserved. Although in rank and position
| inferior to none of the knights in whose COM
| pany he now was, he held back behind the
rest. More than once had others made room to
allow him to come forward; but their ciyility
had hitherto been quite thrown away upon
him,-in fact, he seemed altogether lost in
thought.
At the first glance, the young knight might
have been taken for son of Robert de Be-
thune; for the very considerable difference of
age apart, There was no little likeness between
them there was the same figure, the same
bearing, the same cast of feature. But
their dress was not alike; the cognizance
embroidered upon Adolfs breast showed
three golden-haired maidens in a red shield
Over his arms stood his chosen motto: Pulchram
pro patria snori
From his earliest youth Adolf had been
brought up in Count Roberts house, whose
bosom con6dant he now was, and always
treated by him like dear son. He on his part
honored his benefactor at once as his father
and his prince, and entertained for him and
his an affection which know no bounds.
Immediately behind came the ladies, all SO
gorgeously attired, that the eye could hardly
bear the flash of the gold and silver with which
they glittered. Each one rode her ambling
palfrey; her feet were concealed under long
dress which reached nearly to the ground the
bosom was encased in a bodice of cloth of gold;
and lofty head-dress, adorned with pearls,
was further' decorated with long streamers
which fluttered down behind. Most of them,
too, bore falcons on their wrists.
Among them was one who quite eclipsed the
rest both ia magnifcence and beauty. This
was Count Roberts youngest daughter, by
name Matilda. She was still very young (she
might count some fifteen summers); but the
tall, we'll developed figure which she had in
herited from the vigorous stock from which
she sprang, the serene beauty of her features,
and the seriousness of her whole department.,
gave royalty to her air and bearing that made
it impossible to look on her without respect
and even something of awe. All the knights
about her showed her every possible attention,
but each carefully guarded his heart against
all venturous thoughts. They we'll knew that
none but prince could, without folly lift his
eyes to Matilda of Flanders. Lovely as some
delightful dream hovored, to say, the grace
full maiden over her saddle, with Head proudly
uplifted, while her left hand lightly held the
rein, and on her right sat a falcon with Grim
son hood and golden bells.
Immediately after this glittering bevy came
a multitude of pages and other attendants all
in silken attire of various colors. Such of
them as belonged to Count Guys court were
S'-S Wy Gu0 IISub Sue OF GD6lr
dresses being black, the left golden yellow.
The rest were in purple and green, or red and
blue, according to the colors of their respect
i've masters.
Lastly followed the huntsmen and falconers.
Before the former ran some fifty dogs in leash
sleath hounds, gaze hounds, and dogs of chase
of every variety.
The Impotence of these spirited animals was
SO great, and they pulled 80 hard at the leashes
that every now and then the huntsmen had to
bend forward down to the very names of their
horses.
The falconers bore each his bird on portable
perches. Hawks of all kinds were there, ger
falcons and tercels gentle, hobbies and sparrow
hawks; every one with red hood set with
bells on its head and light leathern cases on
its legs. Besides these, tne falconers had their
decoys, false birds with movable wings, by
means OF which the hawk was lured back from
VIA