Notes and Meanings.

2 Joust, mock combat on horseback. E-spouse', choose; take the part of.

4 Des-tined, intended.

7 Mu-tu-al an-i-mos-i-ty, the hatred which they felt for each other.

De-ci-sive, deciding; making certain. 9 Warder, baton or staff of office carried by one in authority. Odds, numbers against him. Sprin-gal, active young man.

Summary:-The second day's sports took the form of a mêlée, or general encounter, in which two parties, each of an equal number of knights, met in combat. The one party was led by Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert, and the other by the Disinherited Knight. Not till many of those who had taken part in the mêlée had been overcome, and their numbers thinned, did the two leaders meet. But others attacking the Disinherited Knight at the same time, it seemed as if he would be defeated by overpowering numbers.

Exercises-1. In what particulars do the arms and dress of a soldier now differ from those in use in the time of the Normans? 2. Explain-"A necessary precaution;" "Amid the varied fortunes of the fight."

According to due formality;"

3. The Latin prefix ante means before, in time or place-as, antedate, to date before; antecedent, that which goes before; antechamber, the chamber before the principal one to which it leads. Make sentences containing antedate, antecedent, antechamber.

VII. CROWNING THE VICTOR.

1. There was among the ranks of the Disinherited Knight a champion in black armour, mounted on a black horse, large of size, tall, and to all appearance powerful and strong, like the rider by whom he was mounted. This knight, who bore on his shield no device of any kind, had hitherto evinced very little interest in the event of the fight, beating off with seeming ease those combatants who attacked him, but neither pursuing his advantages nor himself assailing any one. In short, he had hitherto acted the part rather of a spectator than of a party in the tournament-a circumstance which procured him among the spectators a name in French meaning the Black Sluggard.

2. At once this knight seemed to throw aside his apathy, when he discovered the leader of his party

so hard bestead; for, setting spurs to his horse, which was quite fresh, he came to his assistance like a thunderbolt, exclaiming, in a voice like a trumpet-call, "To the rescue!" It was high time; for, while the Disinherited Knight was pressing upon the Templar, Front-de-Bœuf had got nigh to him with his uplifted sword; but ere the blow could descend, the Sable Knight dealt a stroke on his head, which, glancing from the polished helmet, lighted with violence scarcely abated on his steed, and Front-de-Bœuf rolled on the ground, horse and man equally stunned by the fury of the blow.

3. He then wrenched from the hand of another of the three antagonists the battle-axe which he wielded, and, like one familiar with the use of the weapon, bestowed him such a blow upon the crest that he also lay senseless on the field. Having achieved this double feat, the knight seemed to resume the sluggishness of his character, returning calmly to the northern extremity of the lists, and leaving his leader to cope as he best could with Brian de BoisGuilbert.

4. This was no longer matter of so much difficulty as formerly. The Templar's horse had bled much, and gave way under the shock of the Disinherited Knight's charge. Brian de Bois-Guilbert rolled on the field, encumbered with the stirrup, from which he was unable to draw his foot. His antagonist sprung from horseback, waved his fatal sword over the head of his adversary, and commanded him to yield himself; when Prince John saved him the mortification of confessing himself vanquished, by

casting down his warder, and putting an end to the conflict.

Thus ended the memorable field of Ashby-de-laZouche, one of the most gallantly contested tournaments of that age.

5. The marshals of the lists once more conducted the victor to the foot of Prince John's throne.

"Disinherited Knight," said Prince John, "since by that title only you will consent to be known to us, we a second time award to you the honours of this tournament, and announce to you your right to claim and receive from the hands of the Queen of Love and Beauty the Chaplet of Honour which your valour has justly deserved." The knight bowed low and gracefully, but returned no answer.

6. While the trumpets sounded, and while the heralds strained their voices in proclaiming honour to the brave and glory to the victor, the marshals conducted the Disinherited Knight across the lists to the foot of that throne of honour which was occupied by the Lady Rowena.

7. On the lower step of this throne the champion was made to kneel down. Indeed his whole action since the fight had ended seemed rather to have been upon the impulse of those around him than from his own free will; and it was observed that he tottered as they guided him the second time across the lists. Rowena, descending from her station with a graceful and dignified step, was about to place the chaplet which she held in her hand upon the helmet of the champion, when the

marshals exclaimed with one voice, "It must not be thus; his head must be bare." The knight muttered faintly a few words, which were lost in the hollow of his helmet. When the helmet was removed by gentle force, the well-formed yet sunburned features of a young man of twenty-five were seen, amidst a profusion of short fair hair. His countenance was as pale as death, and marked in one or two places with streaks of blood.

8. Rowena had no sooner beheld him than she uttered a faint shriek; but at once summoning up the energy of her disposition, and compelling herself, as it were, to proceed, while her frame yet trembled with the violence of sudden emotion, she placed upon the drooping head of the victor the splendid chaplet which was the destined reward of the day, and pronounced, in a clear and distinct tone, these words: "I bestow on thee this chaplet, Sir Knight, as the meed of valour assigned to this day's victor." Here she paused a moment, and then firmly added, And upon brows more worthy could a wreath of chivalry never be placed!"

9. The knight stooped his head and kissed the hand of the lovely Sovereign by whom his valour had been rewarded; and then, sinking yet further forward, lay prostrate at her feet.

Cedric, who

There was a general consternation. had been struck mute by the sudden appearance of his banished son, now rushed forward, as if to separate him from Rowena. But this had been already accomplished by the marshals of the field, who, guessing the cause of Ivanhoe's swoon, had