Huánuco, 60 leagues, 8 days; to Playa reward the enterprize of the Southern States. Grande, 30 leagues, 4 days; to Mayabamba It is not easy to estimate the vast commerce 111 leagues, 7 days; to Yurimagnas, 63 leagues, 3 days; to the lake, 40 leagues, 1 day; to Tefe on the line dividing the territories of Spain and Portugal, 8 days, and hence to Pará 15 days, in all 46 days. This was by navigation in canoes, which allowed 45 days to cross the Atlantic. which will be borne over those waters in the next fifty years. Through them the cities of Cusco, Lima, and even Quito, may be brought in proximity to the Atlantic. Brazil may be regarded, in a degree, as being placed in the centre of the civilized and commercial world. Its ports are within fifty The Apurimac arises in the Peruvian days sail of the markets of Europe and the province of Tinta, latitude 16° South, and United States; thirty from the Cape of Good takes an eastward direction. In latitude 12° Hope; seventy to eighty from China and 6' South, it receives the river Jauja, which Java, New Zealand and Australia; forty to rises from the lake Chinchaycecha, 11° 3' Chili and fifty to Peru. A Brazilian squadSouth; also on the plains of Boubon. About ron cruising between cape St. Roque and the latitude 10° 45', it is joined by the Beni, western coast of Africa, would, in a short which is supposed to arise from the Cordil- time, be able to intercept the commerce of leras in the neighborhood of Cusco. the world. More than forty streams empty into the The above notes are chiefly derived from Apurimac before the Beni reaches it, and the Corografia Paraense of Ignacio Accioli de then it takes the name of Ucayali, which pur- Cerqueira e Silva, (Bahia, 1833;) Memorias sues a north-easterly direction and forms a Historicas, e Politicas da Provincia da Bahia junction with the Marañon in latitude 4° 45' by the same author, (Bahia 1835 ;) El MercuSouth, near the village of Omaguas. From rio Peruano, (Lima, 1791;) and the Diccionthis point to the sea, the stream takes the ario Geographico Historico e Descriptivo do name of Amazon. Imperio do Brazil, by J. G. R. Millet de The Ucayali was explored in the year 1790, Saint-Adolphe; Dr. Gaetano Lopes de Mouby the Fray Narciso Girbal y Barcelo, and ra, and J. P. Aillaud, Vice-Consul de Portuan account of his perigrinations was publish- gal em Caen, (Pariz, 1845.) ed the following year in the Mercurio Peruano, (volume 3.) Thirty leagues beyond the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañon; the Napó, which arises in the vicinity of Quito, empties into the Amazon, latitude 4° 15' South. Fifteen leagues beyond the junction of the Napó, is the mouth of the Cassiquim, which runs a hundred leagues in a southwardly direction. Thus, streams which penetrate the country to the North and the South successively, pour their waters into the Amazon or Orillana, swelling its current until it falls into the ocean under the equator. This mighty river and its tributaries, form a water communication with not less than 100,000 square leagues of land, unsurpassed in fertility and variety of natural productions by any in the world. These streams should be explored, and where found practicable, navigated by steam or caloric ships from the United States. We should be the first to profit by the mines and forests of the country watered by the Amazon, a country in every respect adapted to THE MAID O' BALCARRIE. Cauld blew the wind an' fast fell the sleet, Like the blush on the rose so lovely the hue Her voice is like music in summer winds sighing, Sae gentle and sweet is my ain bonnie Mary ; And aft might be heard the saft echo replying— She's the fairest fair maid o' Balcarrie. I made her my proffer by the light o' the moon, I saw by the blush on her cheek that she'd soon THE CAPTIVE TROUBADOUR: An Historical Sketch of the Olden Time. BY M. J. CHAPTER I. All readers of history are familiar with the character of the troubles which embittered the latter days of England's second Henry, and brought him at length, in brokenness of heart, to the grave. He experienced to the full, with the outcast King Lear,— "How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless child." the French monarch. He deemed it safest to place her under watch and ward, and thenceforward she was kept a close prisoner. This was very irritating to her loyal vassals of Aquitaine and Poictou, among whom she had been born and brought up; and they, in their turn, found little difficulty in inciting the wild, reckless spirits of her sons to a resistance which bore the appearance of championship for their mother's rights. Among the boldest and most untiring of these instigators, was Sir Bertrand de Born a Baron of Aquitaine, and one of that race of Troubadours whose lays of love and war were even more potent than their swords. Through the medium of the soft, Italian-like "Langue d'Oc," peculiar to the South of France, he aimed many a keen shaft of saHis queen, the intriguing and beautiful tire at the English King. All the chivalry Eleanor of Aquitaine, sought to be revenged of his poetic nature was stirred when he upon him for his many neglects of her, by thought of Eleanor of Aquitaine—his own employing her utmost arts-which were of liege lady-pining in lonely captivity, far no mean quality-in fomenting discord be- away from the sunny valleys of her childtween him and his fiery and ungovernable hood, in a land over which her own husband sons. Times and again had these most dis- held sway. loyal and unnatural children, urged on by The Troubadour had never rested in his their no less unnatural mother, raised the endeavors to assist in breaking down the parricidal hand of war against their father; power of Henry, whom he only thought of and as often had the latter, with too indul- as the harsh jailor of his Princess. He had gent a clemency, and too ready a trust, par- been the soul of every confederacy, and was doned their revolt and received them again possessed of unbounded power over the into favor, when the failure of their enter- young Prince Henry. But the energetic prises placed them at his mercy. The reader needs not to be reminded of machination-in uprooting every conspiracy, the disgraceful league of Prince Henry, the eldest, with his father-in-law, Louis VII. of France, to obtain forcible possession of the sovereign power of England; nor of his many hollow reconciliations and treacherous trea- But a hand against which it was in vain to ties; nor of the headlong and restless ambi- contend, was now raised against the young tion of Richard, over whom the romance of Prince; and, in the very height of his most later days has shed so glorifying a halo; nor disloyal opposition, he was seized by mortal of the fierce turbulence of the young Geoffrey; nor the false-heartedness of the favorite John. It must be confessed, however, that these undutiful sons were not wholly without plea, in thus arraying themselves in open warfare against their father. English King succeeded in thwarting every and in quelling every rebellion of his reluctant French subject, notwithstanding that his own heart, which was naturally a tender one, was in the meanwhile slowly breaking. sickness, and died, leaving his forgiving father as much overwhelmed with sorrow, as though the life he mourned, had never been disgraced by one act of disobedience. But the King's grief did not overcome his indignation against the abettors of his son's wrongdoing; and he had no sooner seen the latter committed to the tomb, than he pounced upon them in his fury, and put them to complete rout. Eleanor was too thoroughly-bred a mischiefmaker to render it prudent for Henry to permit her to go at large, especially after she had sought to abandon him and fly for protection to the court of her former husband, The revolt was effectually quelled; and, VOL. XIX-13. among the many insurgents that were made thou'lt rather plead that they belied thee, I prisoners, was the warrior-minstrel, Sir Ber- wot, when thou art brought forth to confront trand de Born. the King, and receive sentence from his mouth. Thou wouldst be willing then-wil "That would not I!" answered De Born, In a dungeon-like apartment, whose dusk-ling enough, I dare be sworn, to give up thy iness was relieved only by a faint ray of light knightly name and thy clerkly qualities even, that feebly found its way through a narrow for a condition no better than mine, if thou loop-hole in the massive wall, sat the Cap- might'st thereby purchase his grace." tive Troubadour. As he leaned forward with a dejected air, supporting his head with both his haughtily. "Better that my life be short, hands, his companions of the battle-field and and be that of an honorable Knight, and a banquet hall and tournament, would scarcely scholar, and a fair gentleman of Aquitaine, have recognised in him, the gayest sharer in than that it be lengthened out to four-score their jousts and revels. He started up after such vulgar years as thine." some time, with a vehement gesture, as if to stride the gloomy vaulted chamber, but was immediately jerked back by the chain about wears a traitor's chain. No marvel it chafeth his wrist which was fastened to an iron ring thee; for in my mind, the two agree not overin the wall. He had for an instant forgotten well together." its restraint, and muttering, as he was thus re"Insolent caitiff!" exclaimed the troubaminded of it, a curse between his teeth, dour, contemptuously: "I would like to try against the evil fortune which had brought these links against thy villain's scull, did I him to his present condition, he threw him- not feel there would be dishonor in matching self moodily upon the low stone seat as be- myself with such as thou." fore. "I' faith, he is somewhat of a braggart, methinks, who boasts of his honor, while he "Troth," cried the soldier," thou hast a bold tongue in thy head, considering how short a time it may have to wag. I thought your Troubadours were ever soft-spoken gentlemen; but methinks I might go elsewhere Just then the heavy door was unbarred and one of King Henry's Norman men-at-arms, who was acting as temporary warder of the conquered castle, entered, bearing a stone pitcher filled with water, and a loaf of coarse to learn courtesy." bread which he deposited at the prisoner's side. Sir Bertrand flashed a scornful glance at the speaker, but deigned no further reply; "So thy jesses chafe thee, my falcon- and the latter seeing he had not taken any heart," he said, curtly, as he observed Sir notice of the food that had been placed for Bertrand indignantly regarding his chain: him, proceeded to remind him of it. "Well, it may be a comfort to thee to know thou shalt not have to wear them over-long." "Ha! how say'st thou so?" asked the prisoner, looking up with an eager expression of inquiry. "Thou hadst better eat and refresh thyself; for by this hour, I should think thou hadst come to thine appetite. To be sure, thou'lt not find in what I have brought, anything to remind thee of the wassail thou hast Why, our master will take pains to make held with our young Princes in the days gone them needless; and thou'lt understand with- by. Dost thou know," he added, coming out any help from me, how that may easiest closely up to the prisoner, to compel his atbe done. I tell thee, Sir Knight, the King's tention, " or if thou dost not, thou'lt learn it anger is at its hottest, and nothing can cool soon enough to thy sorrow, that the King it but blood-the blood of his enemies, I blameth this very wassailing of thine, and mean; and thy actions have well proved thee the drunken feasting into which thou and one of the staunchest of them." "They have spoken but the truth"-responded Sir Bertrand, the sudden light that had for a moment overspread his countenance giving way again to gloom. such as thee wert so wont to tempt Prince Henry-God rest his soul!-as the cause of his sickness and death?" "Hold thy peace, knave!" said Sir Bertrand, impatiently: "I have not been used "By Saint Denis," returned the warder, to be called to account by such as thou art. It will be time enough for me to answer leaving him to be enveloped in a less palpawhatever charge may be urged against me, ble, but intenser gloom. when I am summoned before a fit judge." " That may be sooner than thou wishest. The King rides hither this very night." He was not left long however, to brood over the intelligence which had been so recently conveyed to him, before he was star"Doth he so, indeed? That is the best tled from his most painful reverie by sounds word I have heard from thy churl's lips." without the castle gate which clearly enough "Not so good if it puts such end to thy betokened to him that an armed train awaitcaptivity as they say it will." ed admission there. The swell of a trumpet "And what kind of an end may that be?" came distinctly to his ear, and he heard al"Why thou might'st hit the truth without most instantly after, the ponderous fall of the much danger of missing, I should think, and drawbridge, succeeded by the ringing tramp without having my hand to guide thine ar- of horsemen upon it, and the prancing of row. Thou'rt better read in the old chroni- many hoofs on the flagged pavement of the cles than most men, I trow; and thou'lt re- courtyard. member-for even I have heard the storyhow Beauclerc rewarded the troubadour who did for him, what thou hast done for his grandson: only, mayhap, thou'lt not be so fortunate as to escape so easily as he." He knew at once that it must be the arrival of the King; and his bold and confident heart, which would have scorned to quail upon the bloody battle-field and in the face of thousands of enemies, when he had a free A perceptible shudder for an instant passed arm for his defence and a tried weapon in over the stalwart form of the Knight, as he his hand, had some misgivings now, as he recalled the incident to which such cruel re- thought upon himself, a hopeless prisoner ference had been made; but raising himself under the same roof with the judge from the next moment he said, proudly: "Death at once were far, far kinder. I should rather, like De Barré, beat out mine own brains against these walls, than live on in darkness, to be pointed at as a monument of the mercy of the English King. But, away, away! if my time is to be short, torture me not farther with thy presence." whom, as his keeper had intimated, he had little to hope of clemency or favor. He reflected on the small reliance there was to be placed in the mediation of Prince Richard, who was now reconciled to his father, and might, if he were so disposed, use his influence in behalf of his old and sworn ally. But what of generosity or nobleness was to be The rude soldier, with the insensibility pe- expected from him who, while styling himculiar to his class, had done his part towards ling himself "Duke of Aquitaine," had turnrendering the situation of his prisoner as hope-ed his arms against the cause of the men of less as he well knew how; so without further Aquitaine? word, he unbarred the heavy door again and passed out, leaving the dark and dreary cell infinitely drearier for his visit. CHAPTER II. Scarce an hour had he been indulging in such troubled ruminations as these, when he again heard the winding of a horn; but more timidly blown, as if those who sought admission, were doubtful of gaining it. He turned his ear eagerly in the direction of the sound, and listened with subdued breath, in the fluttering hope that some attempt on the The last glimmer of light had faded away part of his friends was about to be made for from the gloomy prison walls, for the sun had his ransom. He fancied that they might now set, and the softened rays strove in vain have received intimation of the King's exto pierce the narrow slit into which not even pected arrival, and have come in hot haste to the broad glare of noontide could penetrate grant such concessions, or to lay such treawithout being subdued to a twilight shadow- sure at his feet as would purchase his freeiness. In like manner did Sir Bertrand feel, dom. as he gazed into the deepening darkness, that There seemed to be long parley held with the light of hope was withdrawing itself, and those who desired admittance; for a con "But how didst thou hope to gain admission into this stronghold, or to be suffered the privilege of seeing me? Who are thine Only a score of our own retainers-" "Ah! I see thou art true to the Roman siderable time elapsed before he heard the| "Love knoweth no fear: anything-everyfall of the drawbridge; and from the indis- thing could I dare for thy dear sake?" tinct clatter of the horses' feet, the retinue that entered did not appear to be a large one. Some time passed by, lengthened most wearily out to the captive, as he sat in the attendants?" deep darkness, waiting in anxious suspense for some further development-when, with a throb of intensest expectancy, he saw be- blood in thy veins, my own brave-hearted neath the door of his cell, the gleam of an wife!" interrupted De Born, with unspeakaapproaching light, and heard footsteps uable tenderness, as he put back the disorderthe stone-paved corridor. His suspense was ed hair from the brow of the beautiful Italonly momentary, for the bolts were soon ian, and pressed his lips against it: “And withdrawn, and he saw standing in the door- hadst thou no dread lest thou shouldst be way--not as he had fain hoped, the chivalric thyself detained a prisoner?" Richard, come with knightly generosity to tell him that he had plead their old friendship with his father, and had succeeded in effecting his forgiveness; nor yet any body of mediating companions,-but the same gruff halberdier who had left him, but an hour or two before. "Dread? could that be dreaded which might restore me to thee? Ah! my heart wears a heavier chain than this"-she continued, as she wound her fingers about his fettered wrist-"though my body were free as the winds to rove whither it will." "But I did not fear it"-she went on to Sir Bertrand's excited hopes sank heavily back upon his scarcely beating heart; and say after an interval of tearful silence: "My as he put up his fettered hand to shade his page Rupert-thou rememberest the boywas for some time about the English court eyes from the glare of his torch, he did not before he came into my servicce, and he told notice the hooded female figure that followed his jailor into the cell. With a faint shriek me that King Henry was never proof against of mingled joy and anguish, she darted for- the petition of a woman-" ward and flung herself, with a passionate exclamation, upon the bosom of the astonished knight. "Nay, say not so-" interrupted Sir Bertrand-" while our own Lady of Aquitaine languisheth year after year in confinement: her distresses at least, move him not—” "My Therese!" he cried, clasping as well as his chains would allow, the almost swoon"But I remembered," proceeded Therese, ing form to his heart," my poor Therese!" I remembered how often he had forgiven It was all the tremulous lips could utter. the young Princes when they threw themMoments passed-they were not many, as selves upon his clemency; and I augured men count time; but if reckoned by the thence, that he could not be so stern-natured spirit's admeasurement-if summed and as his enemies represented him-" weighed by the agony of love and devotion that was crowded into their brief spacethey would have more than overbalanced many a heart's lifetime. "Hast thou had audience of him?" asked the Knight, turning his eyes with sudden and eager inquiry upon her. Therese's head sank till her white forehead sustained itself "How in the name of all the blessed saints against Sir Bertrand's knee, and her frame camest thou hither?" Sir Bertrand asked, shook, as shakes the frail forest flower under when his emotions had so far subsided as to the sweep of the deluging tempest. The permit him to speak. "Was my dove not question was repeated in her ear; and lookafraid to trust herself in such an eagle's nest?" The lady raised her head, and fastening her swimming eyes upon the Knight, with a look in which all her woman's soul was concentrated, she said brokenly ing up, she answered with all of heart-brokenness that the voice can take into its tone "Yes-yes: I have thrown myself at his feet, and prayed for thy precious life-" "And what heed gave he to thy quest? |