The Betrothed

m barefaced

r youths

tear bedew'

on kirky

R OF ORD

ed him in the great hall of the castle, seated beneath the dais, or canopy, and waited upon by Rose and other female attendants; of whom the first alone was p

esent upon the occasion. Eveline naturally blushed, as she advanced two steps to receive the handsome youthful envoy; and her bashfulness seemed infectious, for it was with s

to greet with our thanks the messenger who brings us tidings

lty into the tone of courtesy which his errand and character required, "who ap

erson honour with his presence the

ch had distinguished the rank of the Welsh Prince. [Footnote: Eudorchawg, or Gold Chains of the Welsh. These were the distinguished marks of rank and valour among the numerous tribes of Celtic extraction. Manlius, the Roman Champion, gained the name of Torquatus, or he of the chain, on account of an ornament of this kind, won, in single combat, from a gigantic Gaul. Aneurin, the Welsh bard, mentions, in his poem on the battle of Catterath, that no less than three hundred of t

with the feelings of gratified vengeance, as she beheld that the tro

eath so bloody!-One question I would ask you, noble sir. My father's remains--" She paused unable to proceed. "An hour will place them at your disposal, most honoured lady," replied the squire, in the tone of sympathy which the sorrows of so young and so fair an orphan called irresistibly forth. "Such preparations as time admitted were making even when I

er, and she was obliged to withdraw abruptly, in order to give vent to her sorrow, and prepare for the funeral rites with such ceremony as circumstances should permit. Damian bowed t

esolate habitations. Numbers also of the loose and profligate characters which abound in a country subject to the frequent changes of war, had flocked thither in quest of spoil, or to gratify a spirit of restless curiosity. The Jew and the Lombard, despising danger where there was a chance of gain, might be already seen bartering liquors and wares with the victorious men-at-arms, for the blood-stained ornaments of

in many a joyous group, to congratulate the victors. Close to the parties which they formed for the dance, the song, or the tale, upon the yet bloody field, the countrymen, summoned in for the purpose, were opening large trenches for depositing the dead-leeches were seen tending the wounded- priests and monks confessing those in extremity-soldiers transporting from the field the bodies of the more honoured among the slain-peasants mourning over their trample

pairs, headed by their abbot, who bore a large cross, and thundered forth the sublime notes of the Catholic Miserere me, Domine. Then came a chosen body of men-at-arms, trailing their lances, with their points reversed and pointed to the earth; and after them the body of the valiant Berenger, wrapped in his own knightly banner, which, regained from the hands of the Welsh, now served its noble owner instead of a funeral pall. The most gallant Knights of the Constable's household (for, like other great nobles of t

moment turned from her own griefs, to witness the last honours bestow

lourish, the fortress to receive the remains of its late gallant defender. The melancholy summons was answered by the warder's horn-the drawbridge sunk-the portcullis rose-and Father Aldrovand appeared in the middle of the

to his nephew, Damian, the task of attending the remains of Raymond Berenger to the chapel within the castle. The soldiers of Hugo de Lacy, most of whom were bound by the same

ere most of the inhabitants of the fortress, and those who, under recent circumstances, had taken refuge there, were drawn up, in order to look, for the last time, on their departed lord. Among these were mingled a

of which formed one side of the court-yard, until certain prayers were recited by t

air of a Lombard merchant, addressed Margery, the nurse of Eveline, in a whispering tone, and with a foreign accent.-"I am a tr

er-you may yourself see that this is a pl

rincess might mourn for a deceased monarch-cyprus, such as the East hath seldom sent forth -black cloth for mourning hangings-all that may express sorrow and reverence in fashion and attire; and I know how to be grateful to those who

er importunate, I must speak to those who will show you the outward side of the castle gate. I marvel the warders would admit pedlars upon a day

n captivating when young, since they retained so many good points when at least forty years had passed over them. She winked to the merchant, touching at the same time her under lip with her forefinger, to announce the propriety of silence and secrecy; then gliding from the crowd, retreated to a small recess for

ery, as I call her-heard as much, at least, as led me to gues

dame, and as bright as drop

call me buxom Gillian of Croydon-not that the good gentleman was ever uncivil, for he would thrust a silver twopennies into my hand at the same time.- Oh! the friend that I have lost!-And I have had anger on his account too-I have seen old R

ry for so kind a master,

of these Lacys that they talk so much of-or, at any rate, she will leave the castle; and it's like old Raoul and I will be turned to grass with the lord's old

ourning mantle," said the merchant, "who s

se she has to sink down. I am sure she

p Gillian," answered the merchant; "and yonde

er," said Gillian; "and so have I for that m

ng lady's marriage?

iage talked of, that is certain-and most folk think it must be for this smooth-cheeked boy, Damian, as they call him; for though the Constable has gotten a beard, which his nephew hath not, it is something too grizzled for a bridegroom's chin- Besides, he goes to the

must

and dri

e dead go

ord as Mannerly Margery, provided you bid fair for it; since, if th

up, I will consider you amply, if I get good sale by your favourable report.-But how shall I get into the

glish stick all together, were it but to spite the Normans;-but if a Norman be on duty, you must ask for old Raoul, and say you come to speak of dogs and hawks for sal

ctators, leaving her to congratulate herself on having gained a brace of florins by the indulgen

esently after left the castle, headed by young Damian, in the same slow and melancholy form in which they had entered. The monks remained within the castle to sing repeated services for the soul of the deceased, and for those of his faithful men-at-arms who had fallen around him, and who had been so much mangled during, and after, the contest with the Welsh

noble

n of Herefords

rregular and

e hands of that

d of his peop

corpse there w

shameless tr

hwomen done,

hame, retold o