These streaming tears bode but ill success, I wilt be in my country's cause, and for the fear." protection and honor of our ducal house? I With another convulsive effort, Therese know thou dost not forget the saying of the raised the head that had again fallen to its old poetformer position, and with a startling, terrible calmness upon her ashy face, breathed forth, rather than spoke "He said he said—thou hadst treasona "Dulce et decorum est pro patriâ mori.” "I only know," exclaimed Therese, pasbly taken up arms against thy leige lord,—sionately, "that all patriotism—everything, and hadst been the upholder of his sons in is merged in thee. Thou art more to me their rebellion,—and that every law of jus- than King-country-home-friends: everytice required thou shouldst suffer therefor. thing but God and Heaven!" And oh my Bertrand! he swore by the holy rood, that to-morrow-to-morrow-" she gasped, shudderingly-" thy life should pay the forfeit--" In the overburdening excess of her anguish, Therese had sunk helplessly at her husband's feet. And the warder, who had been standing a silent spectator of the scene, stepped forward with an exclamation of rude pity, as if to raise her. "Then, if thou wilt not lay thine aching head on that pillow," said De Born with a tone of undisguised hopelessness-"where shall I point thee for comfort!" "Here-here alone!" sobbed Therese, lifting as she spoke, a golden Agnus Dei that hung suspended from her neck. "In His hour of strong agony, our Saviour turned to the Father: so let us turn to Him. Look, my beloved, to His Cross: hang thine every hope there; it is all I can do: and then, though man do his worst, we shall only be parted for a little while." Away!" cried the Knight, stretching his arm protectingly over her. "Retire beyond hearing, if thou hast any humanity in thy bosom, and let these moments, which may She pressed the symbol of her faith fervidbe our last together, be without an audi-ly to her quivering lips, and then lifted it to tor." those of her husband. The soldier, unable to resist the lofty air "Let us kneel together" said he, asof command with which these words were suming an attitude of devotion, and drawing uttered, did as he was bidden, and withdrew her to his side. "Thou, Therese, wert ever to another part of the cell. Sir Bertrand my better angel: pray for me now, and on then raised the young, sorrow-stricken form, the wings of thy petition, my spirit will strive and placed her in the seat beside him." 66 to rise." 'Be comforted, Carissima"-he said in a "Nay-thou too, shalt pray: Heaven may voice which he strove to compel to steadi- not be won by mediation such as mine." ness. "I am not wholly without hope. After their overcharged hearts had relievThou knowest the King's devotion to Prince ed themselves by this outpouring of their Henry, and how his heart, they say, bleeds sorrow, they rose from their lowly posture, over his loss: and thou knowest too, how with a momentary feeling of calmness, as if dearly the Prince loved me. Think'st thou the compassionate hand whose aid they this advantage will avail me nothing?" "Nay-nay!" cried Therese, despairingly: "Trust no such vain hope. Did not these ears hear the vow pass his lips!" sought, had been laid in soothing benediction upon each uplifted brow. "Thou wilt wait!" said the Knight, questioningly, after they had sat sometime in perfect silence. “Ah, yes, I should remember,—“ rejoined Sir Bertrand, after a sad and thoughtful "Oh! no, no!" exclaimed Therese, with a pause "I should remember that all elo- newly awakened gush of agony: "I know quence of mine must prove powerless, indeed, my heart will break with the tidings, and I upon the nature that could withstand such would fain die among friends. Part of my tears and such entreaties as thine, my The- attendants shall remain, if the King will perrese. But if I die, beloved!—if I must die- mit; and when they come and tell me allwill it not soften the thought to thee, that it then it will not be long until the holy sisters of Saint Ursula lay me to rest in their quiet unloose these vile shackles, and I am ready cloisters." to follow thee forthwith." They were interrupted at this moment by the approach of the halberdier, who announced that the lady's time was up, and he could wait for her no longer. By the direction of the official, one of the attendants immediately struck off his chains, and the prisoner stepped forward with an elastic energy that betokened how little power "Oh! for the love of Heaven-" cried the desperate circumstances in which he Therese, imploringly, as she knelt at his found himself placed, had had to break, or feet-"let me pass this last night with my even bend, his undaunted spirit for more than husband?" a moment. His very hand seemed to rejoice "Nay-nay—” he said, turning away his in its release from the fetters it had so indigface, as though unwilling to trust the influ- nantly worn, as with a graceful wave of it, ence of the beautiful eyes streaming with he said— tears, raised so supplicatingly towards him; "that is counter to my order. It hath been a great stretch of grace on our master's part to admit thee here at all. Abuse it not by asking too much." "Oh! part us not yet!" she cried, locking her arms convulsively about Sir Bertrand. "Part us not yet!" "Lead on, good squires-I am panting for a breath of other air than this mouldy prison affords, and I pine to stand once more in the free light of day: that at least, will not be denied me." The guard passed on: the Knight ascended the dark stairway closely behind them, and in a few minutes he was ushered by them "What must be, must be," said the sol- into the great hall of the castle, where King dier. "Tis a sorry business enough, good, Henry, surrounded by many of his Norman mistress, and the sooner ye make an end on't nobles, awaited him. The impulsive monthe better, for both of ye." And he laid his arch, subject to sudden and generous emohand on her shoulder as if to enforce his tions, and swayed with equal readiness, by words. passions of an opposite character, shot lightShe uttered a low, piercing shriek that rung ning glances of anger from his eyes as soon startlingly through the gloomy apartment; as they rested upon the prisoner; and his and the warder, without any further delay, hand was thrust nervously under his short wrested her from her husband's embrace, and Norman mantle, as if in search of the hilt of bore her in a state of merciful insensibility his poignard, as he exclaimed in a boisterous away. CHAPTER III. tone: "Ha! traitor! so thou hast come to answer for thy treacheries at last! How didst thou dare do so godless a thing as sow discord in the family of thy sovereign? How The next morning at an early hour, the didst thou dare instigate my sons to rebellion, rusty key turned in the massive lock, and and embroil me and my subjects of these, the door of Sir Bertrand de Born's cell was my southern provinces, in civil conflict? once more opened. An official of somewhat gentler bearing than the attendant of the preceding day entered, followed by several men-at-arms. Certes, so surely as there is justice in heaven, such offices shall not go unrewarded." Sir Bertram had doffed his velvet cap and made a courteous salutation, as soon as he "Good morrow, Sir Knight," said he, ad- had entered the royal presence; and now vancing toward the prisoner-" good morrow stood below the dais on which the king sat, to thee; though I wot, thou'lt think me no with his arms calmly folded upon his breast, welcome visitor when thou knowest mine er- and with a dignified gracefulness of mien rand: it is to conduct thee into the presence that contrasted strangely with the bluff and of the king." uncouth manners of the sovereign. To cringe Nay, thou art none the less welcome for and sue humbly for his life, was something that," said Sir Bertrand, rising from his seat, which the pride of a baron of Aquitaine could "anything is better than this suspense: only not brook; and life on such terms the bold troubadour would have scorned to receive such an excuse in the very face of thy sovereign: I'll have no more of it." from any hands, much less from those of the monarch whom he considered himself justified in opposing. "Hear me, Sire," he began, in a firm voice, "Then I may not defend myself?" asked Sir Bertrand, hesitating. "If thou hast no better defence to offer as the gh he felt sure of being able to vindi- than the specimen thou hast furnished, it cate his honor, and cast away from himself would be as well for thee to hold thy tongue. the imputation of treason, "hear my vindi- Speak no more!" exclaimed the irascible. cation before thou dost wholly condemn me." monarch, as he saw the prisoner about to “Thy_vindication!" exclaimed the King continue-"thy arguments are worse than contemptuously, "thou canst find fine schol- useless." arly excuses, forsooth, for teaching the royal "If thou wilt not hear me," said the trouPrinces of England to break the fifth com- badour, in a somewhat lowered voice, for mandment; and thou wouldst array thyself mine own sake, then listen to me, I pray, for with most specious sophistries to prove that his sake"thou still maintainest thy fair honor, although Aye, aye," broke in the king in a tauntthou hast broken thine oaths to thy sovereign, ing tone, not in the least heeding the Knight; whose liegeman thou art sworn to be against "I have heard that thou art wont to boast all men ;—and thou thinkest to explain away thyself possessed of such an overabundance the traitorous ditties which thou hast put into of wit, that thou hadst never found use for the mouths of the strolling Provençal bards more than one-half of it. I trow-an I am who sing in every castle hall from Langue- not grievously mistaken, that thou mightst doc to Calais. Thy vindication, indeed! I summon thy whole force to thy aid to-day, wot it would be a sorry enough one." "I am not the traitor thou would'st brand me," said Sir Bertrand, proudly—“I have ever acted as my conscience bade me" and yet find it far too little to help thee out of thy troublesome plight.” "Ah! yes," and the prisoner's voice grew suddenly subdued and sad-" such, indeed was once my boast. Many straits have "A most vilely kept conscience, by Saint Dunstan ! Who was thy father-confessor, I been placed in during my past life, and that he could have done his duty so illy by never before have I found these same wits thee? No other, I ween, than Satan himself, fail me ;-but now❞— that prince of traitors. Hear him, my lords," "'Tis a pity," interrupted the King with continued the King, turning to his nobles with an affectation of sympathy-"'tis a grave a sardonic smile overspreading his features- pity they should fly thee at a time when thou "hear him plead conscientious reasons for standest in sorer need of them than ever behis treason." fore. Certes, they have taken a lesson from "My first duty as a vassal," said the their master, and learned to play traitor too!” Knight, with a still undaunted front, 66 was "Sire," replied De Born, extending his to my Princess, through whom alone, as all arms toward the monarch, and speaking with men know, the fealty of these southern prov- a voice tremulous through its emotion, and an inces can be claimed by thee; and when, in air of irresistible pathos-"Sire, since the my judgment, fidelity to a less binding oath day when these arms received into their embecame incompatible with fidelity to the one brace the dying form of the valiant young that bound me still more strongly, where Prince Henry,-since the hour this bosom would have been my knightly honor-where supported his drooping head-and these would have been my chivalry-where my hands closed his eyes forever,-since then, patriotism, if I had preferred thy cause to indeed, I am no longer myself. All wit-all Eleanor of Aquitaine !" wisdom and sense, have alike forsaken me: they are buried with my heart in his grave!” "Fool!" cried the irritated King—" how dar'st thou even in word divorce them? They and covering his face with his hands, the are one and the same cause, and it is only Knight sank down upon the dais, as if wholly such firebrands as thou, that would make them overpowered by the mournful memories his different. Thou art bold, indeed, to thrust words had summoned up. The King, who had been seeking ever since the death of his son, to divert his acute grief| by unceasing activity in prosecuting his designs of vengeance, was so overcome by this sudden and unlooked-for allusion, that he burst into tears, and fell back into the arms of his attendants. CHAPTER IV. Within one of the quiet chambers of the convent of Saint Ursula, lay the Lady Therese in a state of the utmost fatigue and exhaustion. Her hurried ride of several leagues on the preceding evening,-the anguish her It created no little alarm throughout the interview with her husband had cost her,hall, to see a strong, athletic frame, such as the night of sleepless woe that followed,— the English's monarch's, felled by the vio- and the dreary return on that morning, would lence of his rushing emotions, as by a blow have been enough of themselves to have from a battle-axe: but some of those present overborne a less delicate frame. But superhad seen him swoon repeatedly away only a added to these, was the harrowing suspense few weeks before, when the tidings of his which seemed too much for her wrung heart son's death had been brought to him. The to bear, and which she expected would be lords and vassals crowded anxiously around, terminated in a few hours by still more tercurious witnesses of such an exhibition of rible tidings. feeling as those stern, rude times rarely ever Hopeless grief is passionless,"-and as furnished. Restoratives were speedily pro- she lay with her eyes shut and her lips rigvided; the King's senses began to return idly compressed, and her pale fingers clasped after a short interval, and leaning upon the tightly over the crucifix on her bosom,-the arm of one of the barons, he resumed his two or three nuns who were hovering about her, whispered their fears to one another that But the wrathful expression had passed she was indeed passing away. The words away from his countenance, leaving it pale did not escape the sufferer, whose every and sad, and the glancing fire of his eye had sense had become only too painfully acute, become tempered to a strange softness. Under and she opened her eyes and looked kindly the spell of the masterly touch of the Trou- upon them to allay their apprehensions ;badour, upon the tender and delicate chords then without speaking, closed them again. of parental affection, had the evil spirit of The sympathizing Sisters moved noiselessly vengeance been exorcised and banished around, sometimes giving low utterance to wholly away. the consolations and prayers of the Church; "Where is the prisoner?" he asked, in sometimes arranging the cushions of her tones no longer loud and passionate, but couch, or moistening her lips with wine, or choked with his deeply stirred emotions; seeking to revive her with aromatic odors. "where is Sir Bertrand de Born? Bring him hither again :" for the barons and attendants had so filled the upper part of the hall as quite to conceal him from view. seat. Suddenly the stillness that reigned throughout the chamber was broken by the sound of the quick tramp of horsemen that came borne on the summer breeze through the open case"Sir Bertrand," said the King, when he ment, succeeded by an unusual bustle about was once more brought into his presence, the convent gate. The Lady Therese's ear "Sir Bertrand, I well know that my son loved was the first to catch it, and she started up thee more than any man on earth; and thou wildly,-her beautifully arched brows knotmayst truly say that in losing him, thou didst ted through the intensity of her mental anlose everything. I had intended no less than guish, and her hands lifted aloft in an implothat thy blood should be the forfeit of thy many ring attitude. mal-practices towards me; but since he who was so dear to me, was also dear to thee, and died in thine arms,-I, for love of him, give thee back thy forfeited life, and thy liberty, and thy conquered castle. Take them,-and from henceforth learn to be a more loyal subject to Henry of England!" One of the nuns was about to leave the apartment with the evident view of learning the tidings, but she interposed beseechingly— "Go not yet, Sister Clotilde! I cannotcannot bear the truth: leave me one brief moment more of doubt, that I may pray for and-die!" strength; and then-then-I will hear it] "Then," cried Therese, rapturously throwing her arms about her husband-" then may She threw herself back upon the couch again, we indeed go back to that dear abode where and drew her mantle over her head, as though we were so happy together before thy sword she would thus shut out every intimation of was drawn in this unhallowed quarrel?" the dreaded tidings. Just then there was a "Aye, to-morrow if thou wilt, carissima, bounding footstep upon the stair-a hasty if thy to-day's surprise hath not shorn thee knock at the door, and in another moment, of too much strength; and once more there, Sir Bertrand had rushed into the room and I promise thee to sit at thy feet, and pour out snatched his wife with a cry of joy to his upon my lute such lays in praise of liberty as bosom. He tore the covering from her face, I never had sung, had I not known what it but the overwhelming revulsion of feeling is to have been a Captive Troubadour." was too simultaneous and too violent for the long distracted heart to support,-and to his agonized gaze, life seemed in the struggle to have departed. "Oh! wherefore!" he exclaimed, while a look of despair suddenly succeeded to that of delight—" wherefore was I spared to witness this! Of what avail is the King's clem ency to me now!" MARGARET DE VALOIS. BY H. H. CLEMENTS. "Dix et huit ans je vous donne, Mais à votre sens rassis J'en ordonne."-Clement Marot. 'Tis rare we find the woman now-a-days Who stands so fair in history's sculptured range, Star-chambered lity of a blighted King. The nuns, astonished by the apparition in their midst of the Knight himself, when they had fully expected to hear of his death, and alarmed at the idea that the Lady Therese was really dead, at once came forward, and in a bewildered way busied themselves in endeavoring to restore her. Sister Clotilde was possessed of much of a leech's skill, and she soon calmed the agitated Sir Ber- Faithful, when all were faithless, was thy lovetrand, by assuring him that the Lady The-Fraudless, when fraud was victory, was thy liferese had only swooned. It was long, how-Speechless, when words were trea-on to his fameThoughtless, when thought upbraided word or deed; ever, before she entirely recovered her con-Thy brother Francis, to Gaul's annals gav'st thou. sciousness; and when she did so, she lifted her eyes to her husband's face, as if to assure herself perfectly that she was not laboring under a strange delusion of her own over-wrought imagination; then falling upon her knees, the first words she uttered, were the "Te Deum laudamus,"—her Church's solemn hymn of thanksgiving,—in which all present joined with the most enthusiastic and religious fervor. When she had quite recovered herself, and was sufficiently composed to listen, Sir Bertrand recounted the manner of his release, and finished by saying-" Thou seest, my Therese, as I foretold thee, that my wit did not fail me in my hour of need, though thou hadst but a poor opinion of its efficacy; for not only has the king restored me my liberty, but in his generosity he has added thereto my confiscated estate." VOL.XIX-14. Like founts that bubble underneath the grass, They're wafted swiftly to these distant days, Tradition's noble visage wears for thee, 'Till excellence is made to live anew, In aspect fresh and fair, as when it grew Tear-chastened by thy brother's slavery. Affection makes life beautiful; it is The dew that paves the withered waste of years Bring pipes and lutes; Form to its own expression,-pictured dance;— Lily of the Valley. |