Aguilar_The_Days_of_Bruce.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
cry thee mercy, good my lord," was the laughing reply ;
and the young nobleman extricated his robe from -
ward's grasp, and joyously departed.
glowing scene of life and splendor, royalty and beauty,
did the old abbey church of present the following morn-
ing. was nigh noon, and a winter sun played so brightly on
the illumined panes, that they flung down innumerable shades
of gorgeous coloring on the marble pavement as if vying with
the splendid robes and glittering gems with which the olden
shrine was peopled. good , and bis meek and
gentle queen, from whose heart even the memories of the past
had vanished before the gladsomeness of the present, sur-
rounded by a host of 's noblest peers and matrons, of
names too numerous for mention, but including all whom, in
their country's service, we have met so oft before, and all at-
tired with a richness well suited to their rank and the ceremony
they stood there to witness ; and the group around the altar,
how may the chronicler's dull pen do justice unto them?
lovely brides were dear to , the one for herself
)3i :: ,
. 225
alone, for not a toil, a danger, a triumph was recalled in which
the had not borne a conspicuous part softening
the first, sharing the second, shedding new glory over the last,
binding herself to every warrior and matron heart as part of
; and the other, too, was. dear, for they saw but the
in his beauteous child. princess, blushing and
paling, smiling and tearful, alternately, gleamed like some love-
ly flower, drooping its head from the ardent gaze, seeking to
hide the glory of its own soft beauty. , lofty,
majestic as her wont, perchance a degree more pale, but per-
mitting no emotion to vary her pure cheek her mouth, her
full dark eye, her glorious brow, all breathing a tale of soul, so
thrillingly and forcibly, she needed neither tears nor smiles, and
might be likened to a radiant star alone in the purple heavens,
speaking of more than the beauty it reveals, and chaining our
gaze as oar hearts 'neath the voiceless magic of its charm, seem-
ing lovelier and more lovely the longer that we gaze.
the respective bridegrooms might have been guessed, had they
been placed other than they were. young -,
flushed with high excitement, buoyancy and joyance so strug-
gling for dominion that he could with difficulty effect control
eye, thought, heart, seeing, feeling naught but her thus soon
to be his own, as one in a delicious dream, whose bliss was as
yet too deep, too sparkling for reality. so for
we must still call him so; calm, collected, every feature
breathing the deep, unshadowed fulness of bliss within, but
bliss chastened, heightened by previous trial, he seemed well
suited to take the vows of love, protection, faithfulness to that
glorious one who knelt beside him, and whose eye, when it did
not rest on him, so softly and sweetly acknowledged that for
him even love of power was subdued, that she could bow her
soul to his. their thoughts, even in that solemn hour,
were not alone on themselves; they thought on to whom
that joy was owing, and deep, unutterable gratitude to him
swelled either heart.
of , with the parents of , stood
on the left side of the high altar ; the king and queen on the
right, where the knelt. lovely maidens
and as many high-born youths, scions of 's nobles and
knights, ranged alternately, the former bearing wreaths of myr-
tle and other exotic plants, formed an inner circle two deep,
10*
226 07 .
directly around the bridal group ; the remainder of tbe choir
and aisles crowded with the noble spectators. aged
of , released from his weary captivity by exchange of
prisoners, officiated at the altar, seconded by the monks of the
abbey; the olden organ and its choir, concealed by a rich dra-
pery of velvet and gold, rose behind them, and silence had fall-
en on that noble multitude, prefacing the burst of choral har-
mony with which the rites were to begin.
was at that moment a hurried but military step was heard
advancing up the nave and through the choir ; it reached a va-
cant place between the of and .
and looked up in inquiring wonder, little dreaming
on what noble form their gaze would fall, for tbe kindly policy
of the king had found some distant mission on which to employ
the , till that eventful day had passed : yet there he
stood, and there was no sign either of haste or negligence in his
almost sumptuous apparel, naught which might betray the
mental struggle which men gazed on bun but to trace.
stood looking yet nobler, more gloriously majestic than e'en on
the battle-field, when hundreds fled before his victorious brand,
and hailed him patriot and deliverer. eye was
as bright, his lip as red as was their wont, and who, as they
marked the glance of deep yet unim passioned interest which
rested on the bridal pair, might guess what had been the strug-
gle of his soul ?
impressive service commenced, and not a sound was
heard in that vast and crowded edifice, but the abbot's voice in
all the eloquence of prayer. responses of the princess
were scarcely audible, but those of fell in thrilling rich-
ness on every ear and every heart.
as was the countess in the solemn rites, her eye
moved not from the face of him to whose exalted virtue her son
owed his present bliss. was no change, no shade in that
face, whose deep repose might be likened unto marble ; but as
the words, " whom ( hath joined, let no man put
asunder," thrilled along the incensed air, the suddenly be-
came compressed, the contracted, lasting but a brief mo-
ment; but as the lightning flash discloses the wreck its bolt
hath made, so did that momentary change reveal the wreck of
happiness within.
there came no further change in mien or feature ; even
. 227
when the voice of prayer had ceased, when naught but joyous
gratulation sparkled round, when breaking from their thronging
friends, e'en from the congratulations of the king, ere they
sought the blessing and embrace of the of ,
and , with deep emotion, in brief but heartfelt
words besought the to accept their gratitude, then-
lore, and let them feel and reverence, and call him brother,
from whom alone of earth their bliss had sprung.
" your bliss have made mine own," he cried ; " let -
las claim a brother's privilege, and be the first to give thee joy,
to wish thee all of bliss that love and truth may give."
held their united hands in his, pressed them kindly, and
turned to greet the princess and her with such smiles
and courteous jest as the hour might call.
" thou not the very king of mysteries, thou naughty
rebel?" was the salutation of after warmly
saluting his favorite niece. " darest thou tell me he who
wore my golden brooch was the minstrel sought ? me,
an thou wdt not dare my wrath e'en on thy wedding day, how
earnest thou to possess it ? where is the prince of soft lays to
whom gave it?"
" , please your highness, can say no more than have
said. prince of soft lays, as thou art pleased to call him,
is before you, ready and willing to don the minstrel's garb
wherever and whenever thou may est command it."
" that king of minstrels, ? this passes credence ;
why he had auburn locks soft and flowing as a maiden's, and a
voice melodious and thrilling as, as "
" of my husband," archly answered ; " try him,
uncle mine, and trust me for the soft auburn locks so easily as-
sumed, particularly as the face they shaded had been hid from
all before."
" wherefore, why so madly thrust himself on a pike's
head, by tempting discovery in ? , friend
, if they dub me a mad knight-errant, what art thou ?
what, in the name of all that's marvellous, took thee there !"
" mother," interposed the countess, ere could re-
ply.- " highness was informed the prisoner he sought lay
within those beleaguered walls. think you this discovery
bad been made ?"
" by such madness, lady, trust me ; truly can scarce
228 .
credit it now. thj minstrel robe and viol, and may be-
lieve thee."
" so he shall, good brother, in a more fitting season,"
answered ; " but. for the present day he must fill
a somewhat higher station. lords and gentles, we crave
your noble company in our royal nails. church hath done
her duty, now then let the palace."
winds and heavy storms had detained the
of some weeks longer than she desired in ,
but at length wind and time appeared more favorable, and the
vessels prepared for her escort lay manned and ready along the
coast of , waiting her commands. in those
commands were given, and active preparations in the of
announced her rapidly-approaching departure. morn-
ing dawned heavily and stormily, but she needed not the ele-
ments; her mind, fixed on a self-imposed duty, longed but to
obey its dictates, and feel that between herself and her husband
all was at length perfect reconciliation and peace. bad
and her husband wavered in their determination ; and
now, surrounded by her retainers and by many other noble
friends, who had assembled to attend her with all the honor,
the respect she so well deserved, of stood
upon the beach. boat had been dispatched from the
principal galley, it neared the shore, it stranded, and with a
kindly gesture of farewell the countess, leaning on the arm
of her son, placed her foot upon the plank. that moment
there was some movement increasing to confusion amongst the
crowd ; and , springing to his master's side, besought
him to wait one moment, as he had discerned a horseman riding
such full speed towards them, that their detention for a brief
while was evidently sought. ere the words bad passed
his lips a very aged man had rushed through the crowd, had
hurried down the beach, flinging himself at the feet of the
countess, and grasping her robe as to detain her, ere breath re-
turned for speech.
words "," "my father," burst simultaneously
from the lips of the countess and her son and , bend-
ing kindly over him, bade him rise and rest, she would wait to
speak with him till he could tell her all he needed.
" can now, most noble lady," he answered, rising and
standing before her. " task is soon accomplished. fear-
ed but that bad arrived too late, and thy pilgrimage of mercy
had already commenced. thou not to ?"
" , to my husband ; come ye from him ?"
"", yes ; bearing that charity and reconciliation ye go to
give. thy , lady, for them thou hast no need."
" , my faithful follower, thy mission bears not on my
purpose ; wherefore should not proceed ?"
" , he whom ye seek, the injurer and the penitent, thy
noble, thy generous kindness can no longer avail ; he hath gone
where man may not reach him where earth may not bless.
, of , sinning but repentant, cruel but
atoning, lies with the dead."