The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1893-12-29
A HEROIC DAUGHTER


he Bold, duke of Burgundy, warrior
If the most heroic daring, but whose
harsh and irritable temper often drove
him to commit acts of wanton cruelty.
The governor of Nancy at that time,
whose name history has not preserved,
was man of dauntless courage and
great military experience, and, more
over, an excellent and devoted father
His only child, whose mother had died
in giving her birth, was the joy and
pride of his heart and shone conspicu-
ously among all the maidens of her
time for her goodness and knowledge.
Telesila at the date of the siege was
in her eighteenth year, and had already
received many offers Of marriage from
mobiles attracted by the charms of her
beauty and amiability, but she refused
all suitors, preferring to watch over the
declining days of her gray haired fa-
ther, and by her love and devotion cheer
and prolong his existence.
The inhabitants, led by their govern
or, in whose skill and judgment they
had the utmost confidence, made brave
defense against the countless troops of
the fiery duke.
All the men and youths capable of
bearing arms had taken weapons, as
was fitting in the time of danger, and
posted themselves on the ramparts to
beat off every attack.
The aged men encouraged the faint
hearted and insisted on the women aid
ing, as far as their strength permitted,
by carrying stones to the walls to be
hurled down on the besiegers; they also
lighted fires under enormous caldrons
filled with pitch, oil and even water,
and when the enemy ventured on an
assault the seething mass was poured
on their devoted heads.
Nothing that the most resolute BRAY
cry and experienced skill could accom-
plish was left undOne to defend the
town, and Charles, after vainly endeav-
oring for a considerable time to take
the place by assault, at length resolved
to make overtures of peace, hoping thus
to gain the end which it seemed useless
to expect from force of arms.
He whose custom it was to deliver
every conquered city to be plundered
and burned: he who, after a successful
siege, invariably wreaked his bitterest
vengeance on the inhabitants and de-
tenders, now proposed to the governor
and inhabitants of Nancy that they
should surrender and open to him the
gates of the city, pledging himself to
protect their dwellings and property
from all plundering, and to take care
that no one should suffer the least harm
either in life or possessions. The pro-
posals caused many to waver, but the
noble governor, who had grown gray in
the service of his prince, stepped for
ward and declared that he would rath-
er be buried under the ruins of the ram
parts than deliver up the city to the en-
emy, so long as there were means to
defend it. He encouraged soldiers and
citizens to bravery and perseverance
and implored them to keep the city for
their sovereign, the Duke of Lorraine,
and he succeeded so we'll by his enthu-
siastic eloquence that all swOre to sacri-
fee their lives rather than surrender.
While the brave governor thus reani-
mated the courage of the men, his
daughter, on her side. raised the wom-
ems fainting spirits and cheered them
by her presence and inspiriting words,
and by her own conduct gave the exam
pie to maids and matrOns to share in
the hardships and dangers of the de-
fense. She reminded them how, a
short time before, when the Duke of
Burgundy besieged the town of Beau
vais, the women had taken up arms and
fought beside the men on the ramparts
and how they had succeeded in driving
back the besiegers.
"These brave women were far fewer
than we are, continued Telesila,
while the enemy was the same in num-
Der and strength. Why should we be
afraid, when we have before us such an
example of devoted patriotism?"
This speech made the greatest impress
sion on the minds of her listeners.
Fresh courage was instllled into men
and women, and no one spoke Of sur
render.
Meanwhile, Charles had recourse to
every stratagem that ingenuity could
devise to endeavor 10 render himself
master of the town. During the night
watches he kept the besieged in state
Of alarm by continual feints of attack,
and then, as morning advanced, when
they were quite wearied and worn out,
be would rush with tenfold violence to
the assault.
He caused large stones to be hurled
by the machines at the walls wherever
they were weakest, in the hope of max
ing breach, which at last, by the
greatest efforts, he succeeded in doing,
and after two hours desperate fighting
be forced a entrance into the city,
breathing vengeance against its defend
ers, whose obstinate resistance, COM
bined with the loss he had sustained of
his bravest warriors, had enraged him
beyond measure. But it was especially
against the governor that all his anger
and hatred were directed, as he knew
that the latter had steadfaStly refused
the terms of capitulation and had in
duced the inhabitants 10 offer such pro-
longed resistance.
He swore that the governor should be
the first on whom his relentless VEN
yeance would fail, but his intended VIC
Jim, to escape recognition, had disguis-
ID himself in an ordinary citizens
dress, and now stood, unknown, among
fha aSSamh1ad iDh a Infants wbo yUora