The Truce of God / A Tale of the Eleventh Century

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itation. His varying face betrayed the character of each thought as it filed before his mind in rapid review. For more than an hour h

d was perpetually recurring to the events at the spring, from which they wandered to his father's lonely and anxious chamber: now he remembered the earnest appeal of Father Omehr, and now pondered the injuries he had received from the house of Stramen. Through a narrow opening in the wall he could see the noble church sleeping in the moonlight. Its walls of variegated marble had

himself to corporal chastisement. He did not live in an age when voluntary mortification was ridiculed, when a sacred ambition to imitate a crucified God insured contempt from man. Then, those self-denying religious were not taunted with "the hope of gaining heaven by making earth a hell." And perhaps Gilbert knew that the spiritual peace and delight derived from such chastisements, were infinitely sweeter,

ter the sounds had ceased he fell asleep, and was only roused by the su

nd. But Gilbert was ill-prepared to enjoy this blaze of beauty. In a melancholy mood he leaned against the window, watching the sturdy serf in the centre of his family, as he came to share the blessings of the Mass. He was rather startled when the outer door opened and admitted the lady he had

the woman from the drudge of man to be the ornament of society, created a chivalric courtesy long before the cry of "Deus vult!" rang from Italy to England. Gilbert de Hers, born and bred in the courtly circle of Suabia, though his spurs were not yet won, was still familiar with t

soon arrested by a strange, wild-looking being upon the church steps. She was apparently not over forty, tall, slightly built, and evidently the victim of insanity. Her long black hair hung in thick masses over her pale face and deathly-white neck; her arms swung to and fro with a restless motion, and she sang at intervals snatches from the ballads for which Suabia is so renown

was recognized as an enemy, yet respected as one under the aegis of religion. These glances became more frequent when Father Omehr, in his brief discourse, eloquently adverted to the example of Jesus in the forgiveness of injuries, and e

owerful exhortation. But the train of his thoughts was broken upon the steps by that wild fac

im 'neath a

lossy hea

e cold earth

him help

nd upon him before he could wrench it from her determined grasp. The knife had penetrated to the rib, but not farther, having glanced off

t is red, as

ood is e

is side was c

told me he

wildly than before, and, darting into the w

hemselves in mute astonishment. At this juncture, while Gilbert was examining the extent of the wound, and vainly endeavoring to stan

Gilbert had been wounded, Fathe

the youth, anxious to relieve the

d examining the path of the knife. After which, having carefully replaced the garment, h

us enough to draw blood during the truce of G

m hastened

y Bertha. God preserve us from such a de

ed it?" continued the priest, e

t inte

"I did not expect the attack myself, and

sued the priest, agai

reluctantly the youth allowed himself to be supported by two of

ght some salves and stringents with which she stood ready at the door. She washed the wound and dressed it with the tenderness peculiar to woman, and received Gilb

ave been poiso

at first, and the next moment became pale as death. Father Omehr notic

oxysm prompted the deed; there could have

Hers who lies there, and I have drunk too deeply in the prejudices of our family to repine at any calamity that may befall him. But this impious outrage can insure nothing but the Divine vengeance up

t the wound is not dangerous. Perhaps the accident, apparently so untoward, may in the end be productive of good. We are

o reply, but advanced

that I desire and will pray for your speedy recovery. You cannot suspect the house of Stramen of conniving at such a cowardly assault;

s she spoke. Feeble with pain and the l

y father's foes; but come what may, kind lady, I shall never forget your services. I feel as

g to her pride, and so earnestly pronounced. Her cheek became brighter than Gi

in the care of Father Omehr, to follow t

exchanging a few words with the old woman, dismissed both domestics to the castle, and galloped off alone in an opposite direction. As she rode al

gry captive. The way, thickly strewn with moss-bound stones and the mouldering skeletons of trees, required all the maiden's horsemanship. But she struggled on, until she reached something midway betw

iven in the ground, shed a fierce, and flickering light over the interior of this gloomy abode, for it was an abode-and more, a home-the home of Bertha! The maniac was sitting upon a rude bench,

he cottage she had occupied in the hour of her joy; and though repeatedly offered a home by Father Omehr and the Baron of Stramen, she had built for herself this wild nest, and obstinately refused to leave it except to wander to the church or to the grave-yard. She was maintained by the Lady Margaret principally, and

her eyes from the knife, she bent them upon Margaret. In an instant a smile of strange sweetness stole over the poor creature's wasted face: every trace of anger disappeared as she fell upon her knees and raised the hem of the maiden's garment to her lips. W

blood,

ling, the

in swore on

for blood s

upon his coa

ed agains

rt you?" conti

ha only

swung his f

implored

t is gall

lies on t

s wrong: I hope you hav

fore, was given in ru

e had been poisoned. Finding that all question would be useless, she had recourse to an arti

y withdrew her hand, just as her mistress feigned to prepare for the incision. Margaret shuddered, for she naturally saw in that quick gesture a confirmation of her worst fea

lowly and sternly, "his bl

" pursued the lady, in

eived i

no poison

d Sir Jame

no poison

avenged

unsatisfied, the high-born

of Hers!" she c

assumed a look o

blood-stained instrum

a; you shall he

hich she had entered, leaving Bertha in blank amaze

he merry sun could not entirely dispel. It was not long before she passed the drawbridge, sped through the massive gate, and reined in her palfrey upon t

roducing the knife, before the faithful neif had fini

polished silver, and at the same time receiving the knife, she plunged them both into the hissing liquid. As the lady of Stramen, eagerly watching the experiment, stood bending over the water with her back to the door, she was not aware of her father's presence. He had entered unperceived, and was contemplating in s

woman with a trembling hand drew ou

-dove," she exclaimed, with the importance

answer?" said the Baron of Stramen, stepping forward; and he added, addressing Linda, w

ified into a corner, but

which occurred this morning. Our magic consisted only in the discove

result. That young stripling has cost me more lives than he numbers years; and though I could not co

little beneath her father's rigid scrutin

fiding in our generosity and in our plighted faith to the Church; but I have never worn the gauntlet, or drawn the sword; my heart has never exulted at the gladsome sight of an enemy's blood,

ight. "I would have you feel otherwise, but God ha

garity. A man of strong passions, yet the strongest of all was an unvarying love for his daughter, on whom seemed to have centered all the tenderness of which he wa

o second his energy, chastise the impious tyranny of the house of Franconia!" He spoke with deep feeling, and, after pacing the ro

lone, she knelt down before an ivory image of the Blessed Virgin and prayed-not to the polished ivory-but to the Mother of purity whose inter

sumes a form and hovers near in a detested shape. Having informed the youth that a messenger had been despatched to his father, the priest left Gilbert in charge of the sacristan, and proceeded on his daily errand of mercy through the neighborhood. By men like him, fervent, fearless,

ut in his hands a letter from a distinguished prelate, informin

res of the king, despotism and irreligion must inevitably ensue. How long will virtue be accounted a crime? Shall every faithful shepherd be

or. As soon as Father Omehr saw the youth awake, he approached him,

plied in the

d the husband of the woman who stabbed you, and though the chance thrust of an affray, it was noted, and communic

h he hailed this reply, as an omen of regret, and of a right apprehension of his former violence. But the youth was drowsy, and prudence forbade a longer conv

profoundly still. The dim light of the taper at his bedside revealed only the motionless figure of the sacristan, and the outline of a crucifix hanging against the wall. His eyes involuntarily closed, and in a momen

t tones, proclaimed his prowess-the troubador embalmed his deeds in immortal verse-the smiles of high-born damsels were l

a balm into his wound, with a prayer for its efficacy-but the figure lifted its finger with a menacing air, and pointed to a snake, hissing from

d not directly attributed the woman's insanity to her husband's death, Gilbert too clearly understood that such was the fact. His was too generous a heart, not to deplore bitterly so terrible a calamity, of which he was-however unintentionally-the cause. He felt no resentment for his misguided assailant-he would willingly have exposed himself to a second attack, cou

sufficiency, and feel our complete dependence upon an invisible and almighty power. We are much more disposed to appeal to heaven for protection, than to return thanks for repeated favors. It is not to be wondered at, then, that Gilbert sought relief i

Father Omehr was bending over his you