The Betrothed

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he captai

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'd her ca

STEWAR

, in the manner of the times, was gathered around her slender waist by a girdle, embroidered with precious stones, and secured by a large buckle of gold. From one side of the girdle was suspended a pouch or purse, splendidly adorned with needle-work, and on the left side it sustained a small dagger of exquisite workmanship. A dark-coloured mantle, chosen as emblematic of her clouded fortunes, was flung loosely around her; and i

wed to disadvantage the extent of walls, compared with the number of the defenders; and though Wilkin Flammock had contrived several means of concealing this deficiency of force from the enemy, he could not disguise it from the defenders of the

opriate language. To the English, she spoke as children of the soil-to the Flemings, as men who had become denizens by the right of hospitality-to the Normans, as descendants of that victorious race, whose sword had made them the nobles and sovereigns of every land where its edge had been tried. To them she used the language of chivalry, by whose rules the meanest of that nation regulated, or affected to regulate, his actions. The

y rising shall sink in the sea, you will see it shining on the ranks of Shrewsbury and Chester. When did the Welshmen wait to hear the clangour of their trumpets, or the rustling of their silken banners? Fight bravely-fight freely but awhile!-our castle is strong-our munition ample-your hearts are good-your arms are powerful-God is ni

hey would die to a man ere they would surrender their posts-the blunter Anglo-Saxons cried, "Shame on him who would render up such a lamb as Eveline to a Welsh wolf, while he could make her a bulwark with his body!"- Even

d eye expressed how far she felt or comprehended the extent of the danger, or the force of the exhortations. There was, however, a moment when the youthful maiden's eye became more bright, her step more confident, her looks more elevated. This was when they approached the spot where her father, having discharged the duties of commander of the garrison, was now exercising those of engineer, and displaying great skill, as well as wonderful personal strength, in directing and assisting the establishment of

reason so lately cast upon him; but he coloured high, and was confused, while, hastily throwing on his cassock, he endeavoured, to conceal the dishabille in which he had been surprised by the Lady Evelin

a ring of value; "in small amends," she said, "of a momentary misconstruction." "It needs not, lady," said Flammock, with his usual bluntness

aid Eveline; "the stone it bear

een the site of the castle and the river, observed how silent and still the morn

mock; "we shall have noise enough, and

d Eveline; "methinks I can spy

ey lie on both sides of the river, covered with nought but their white mantles. Would one think that a host of thieves and cut-throats could look s

g the Welsh army a low and in

and arming i

l the irritability of a sensitive temperament, clung to her father's arm, saying, in a t

Flammock. "Go to your chamber, Lady Eveline, if it be your will-and

wn heart should infect others, Eveline took her vassal's advice, and withdrew slowly to her own apartment, often casting back her eye t

ted a plan of attack suitable to the fiery genius of his follow

of these formidable bodies consisted entirely of archers, who dispersed themselves in front of the beleaguered place, and took advantage of every bush and rising ground which could afford them shelter; and then began to bend their bows and shower their arrows on the battlements and loop-holes, suffering, however, a great deal more damage than they were able to inflict, as the garrison returned their shot in comparative safety, and with more secure and deliberate aim. [Footnote: The Welsh were excellent bowmen; but, under favour of Lord Lyttleton, they

saw the shaft, he swore his usual oath, by the death of our Lord, that the arrow came not from a Welsh but an English bow; and, influenced by this belief hastily put an end to the war.] Under cover, however, of their discharge of arrows, two very strong bodies of Welsh a

s which more than recruited their diminished numbers. When they were at last compelled to retreat, they seemed to adopt a new and yet more harassing species of attack. A large body assaulted one exposed point of the fortress with such fury as to d

and drive him to despair by their numbers, and the boldness and multiplicity of their attacks. The postern being of course a principal point of attack, Father Aldrovand, whose anxiety would no

orking with his own hands the great engine which he had lately helped to e

this day's work?" said

r?" replied Flammock; "thou art no s

hese strange devices-not even the names. But our rule commands us to labour; there can be no harm therefore, in turning this winch-or in placing this steel-hea

essfully aimed, that it struck down a Welsh chief of eminence, to w

ble to contain his delight, and giving in his triumph, the true t

kin Flammock; "I think thou knowe

u seest I can work an engine, and that the Welsh knaves seem

h, not of iron, and we may be at last wearied out by numbers. Only one soldier to four yar

scarce time to breathe, or to take a moment's refreshment. Yet the Welsh paid a severe price for their temerity; for, while nothing could exceed the bravery with which their men repeatedly advanced to the attack, those which were made latest in the day had less of animated desperatio

ecollection of the signal victory which had preceded this siege; and the dispirited garrison could hear from their

at a time which appeared favourable to any sudden nocturnal alarm; and, so urgent was this duty, that those who had been more slightly wounded on the preceding day, were obliged to take their share in it, notwithstanding their hurts. The monk and Fleming, who now perfectly understood each other, went in company around the walls at midnight, exhorting the warders to be watchful, and examining with their own eyes the state of the fortress. It was in the

urself to your tools-es spuck

mortal enemy; but he began to recite, with chattering teeth, the exorcism of the church, "Conjuro vos omnes, spiritus mal

and the priest advanced hastily to the platform, where they found the lady with h

here, and thus armed? and where is the sentinel,-the

se, who was ever awakened by anything which seemed a reflection upon

maiden," said her father. "Once more, where is

had fought hard through the day, and when I saw him asleep as I came hither, like a wandering spirit that cannot take slumber or repose, I would not disturb the rest which I

d have communicated to the next sentinels and to the whole garrison, by crying out that the Welsh were upon the walls, had not the monk covered his broad mouth with his hand just as the roar was issuing forth.-"Peace, and get

tuation, to sneak off without reply, after two or three awkward congees, as well

ymen cannot live without rest or sleep." So saying, he gave a yawn so wide, as if he had proposed to swallow o

e rest, and trust to my watchfulness, at least till the guards ar

lace, and the rounds must pass in an hour at farthest, I will e'en clo

o her sire's unceremonious neglect of decorum

the presence of a noble Norman maiden is no plac

he most decided tokens of profound repose, long ere the monk had done speaking.-"Forms and fashions of respect," she continued, "are for times of ease and nicety;-when in danger, the soldier's bedchamber is wherever h

a recitation of the penitentiary psalms, in which task he continued until fatigue became too powerful for him also, when he comm