The Betrothed

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rmit any prolonged or needless indulgence of inactive sorrow. In raising the young and beautiful of the female sex to the rank of princesses, or rather goddesses, the spirit of that singular system exacted from them, in requital, a tone of character, and a line of conduct, superior and something contradictory to that of na

gether so appalling to her as to a maiden whose eye had not been accustomed to the rough, and often fatal sports of chivalry, and whose residence had not been among scenes and men where war and death had been the unceasing theme of every tongue, whose imagination had not been familiarized with wild and bloody events, or, finally, who had not been trained up to consider an honourable "death under shield," as that of a field of battle was termed, as a more desirable termination to the life of a warrior,

ary, revered as a household and peculiar deity by the family of Berenger, one of whose ancestors had brought it from the Holy Land, whither he had gone upon pilgrimage. It was of the period of the Lower Empire, a Grecian painting, not unlike those which in Catholic countries are often imputed to the Evangelist Luke. The crypt in which it was placed w

red, and though something within her remonstrated against the vow,) that whatsoever favoured knight Our Lady of the Garde Doloureuse might employ for her rescue, should obtain from her in guerdon whatever boon she might honourably grant, were it that of her virgin hand at the holy altar. Taught as she was to believe, by the assurances of many a knight, that such a surrender was the highest boon which Heaven could bestow, she felt as discharging a debt of gratitude when she placed herself entirely

she was selected to bestow the prize of chivalry in the lists of Chester. It was no wonder that, in such a moment of high excitation, when prostrated in devotion before a being of whose power to protect her, and to make her protection assured by a visible sign, she doubted nothing, the Lady Eveline conceived she saw with her own eyes the acceptance of her vow. As she gazed on the picture with an over

question the reality, the Lady Eveline folded her arms on her bosom, and prostrated her

etched them, saving that, to Eveline's imagination, they still retained an august and yet gracious expression, which she had not before remarked upon the countenance. With awful reverence, almost amounting to fear, yet comforted, and even elated, with the

of the terrified suppliants, too anxious to prolong their devotions, had dispersed through the castle to learn tiding

a louder voice than suited the holy place, unless when need was most urgent, demanded the Lady Eveline. Impressed with the feelings of veneration which the late scene had produced, she was about to rebuke his military rudeness, when he spoke again, and in anxious h

the confidence in Heaven which you are wont to recommend,

nn'd this harness to discover treachery, not to resist force. Ah! my beloved daughter- we are dreadfully beset-

g unnoticed in a sequestered corner of the chapel, but who now

the monk, surprised at this bold int

st with the very fair complexion, and almost infantine features of the speaker, whose whole form and figure was that of a girl who has scarce emerged from childhood, and indeed whose general manners were as gentle and bashful as they now seemed bold,

the good father, though he cannot intentionally calum

s Wilkin Flammock chaffering with the Welshman for the surrender of the Garde Doloureuse. By help of this hauberk and mail hood, I

the brave warriors who fought against the Roman Kaisars, when Britain bent the neck to them-and as for this he has said of Wilkin Flammock," she continued, collecting her ideas into more order as she went on, "believe it not, m

en, and misunderstandings will arise among the best friends.-Let us hear the good father state what he hath to charge

n casque or cowl." So saying, she went hastily out of the chapel, while the monk, after some pedantic circumlocution, acquainted the Lady Eveline with what he had overheard betwixt Jorworth and Wilkin; and proposed to her to draw together the few English who were in the

ngst themselves. I have a strong, and not unwarranted confidence, good father, in our blessed Lady of the Garde Doloureuse, that we shall attain at once vengeance on our barbarous enemies, and escape from our

continued after the proper ejaculation had been made, "have you never heard, even by a hint, that there was a treaty for your

yes, while a slight tinge suffused her cheek; "but I refer

ity of her motions, and the anxious animation of her address. Her task of dragging him forward might have reminded the spectator of some of those ancient monuments, on which a small cherub, singularly inadequate to the task, is often repr

's violence with a smile, which, being on the countenance of a father, had more of express

who can or dare! There stands Wilkin Flammock, son of Dieterick, the Cramer o

d, alas! the duty hath descended upon us in an evil hour; yet we will, so may God a

th made himself in villany, dares not deny that I heard hi

sguised mummer! The steel hauberk may be struck, though not t

nk hath more truth than sense about him, and I would his ears had

he dropt the hand by which she had dragged him into the chapel, and stared on the Lady Eveline, with eyes which seemed starting from t

's death, canst thou have been tampering with his murderers, to deliver up the castle, and betray thy trust!-But I will not upbraid thee-I deprive thee of the trust reposed in so unworthy a person, and appoint

s fast and vehemently as she could articulate-"Let us go-let us

ged treason to your liege lady," would have laid hand upon him, had not the Fleming stepped back and warned him off, with a menacing and determined gesture, while he said,-"Ye are mad!-all of you English are mad when the moon is full, and my silly girl hath caught the malady.-Lady,

bity.-Confide in him, dearest lady; he is wise though he is grave, and kind though he is plain and homely in his speech. Should he prove false he will fare the w

wed traitors? -Here, Normans, English, to the rescu

id the Netherlander, "or call in good Flemish, since you understa

o courtesy as his manners and features could assume. He bade her good-night, and assuring her that he would act for the b

but hope that this man'

that very word!" said Rose, eagerly i

can bring him to a better purpose. Good father, give an eye to the preparations for re

e still some English hearts amongst us, and we will rather kil

ther," answered Rose, bitterly, still on fire with the idea t

seem to indicate treachery. His eye, however, though sharpened by strong suspicion, saw nothing to strengthen his fears, excepting that the Fleming had, with considerable military skill, placed the principal posts of the castle in the charge of his own cou