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the bloody fray, shewed every attention to her safety. Repeatedly he was by her side, and, neglecting his own defence, held before her the fence of his triangular steel-plated shield; and anon starting from her side, he cried his war-cry, dashed forward, struck to earth the most forward of the assailants, and was on the same instant once more at her bridle rein..

Athelstane, who, as the reader knows, was slothful, but not cowardly, beheld the female form whom the Templar protected thus sedulously, and doubted not that it was Rowena that the knight was carrying off, in despite of all resistance which could be offered.

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By the soul of Saint Edward," he said, "I will rescue her from yonder over-proud knight, and he shall die by my hand!"

"the

"Think what you do," said Wamba; hasty hand catches frog for fish-by my bauble, yonder is none of my Lady Rowena-see but her long dark locks!-Nay, an ye will not know black from white, ye may be leader, but I will be no follower-no bones of mine shall be broken unless I know for whom.-And you without armour too!

-Bethink you, silk bonnet never kept out steel blade-Nay, then, if wilful will to water, wilful must drench.-Deus vobiscum, most doughty Athelstane"-he concluded, loosening the hold which he had hitherto kept upon the Saxon's tunic.

To snatch a mace from the pavement, on which it lay beside one whose dying grasp had just relinquished it-to rush on the Templar's band, and to strike in quick succession to the right and left, levelling a warrior at each blow, was, for Athelstane's great strength, now animated with unusual fury, but the work of a single moment; he was soon within two yards of Bois-Guilbert, whom he defied in his loudest tone.

"Turn, false-hearted Templar!-let go her whom thou art unworthy to touch-turn, limb of a band of murdering robbers!"

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'Dog!" said the Templar, grinding his teeth, "I will teach thee to blaspheme the holy Order of the Temple of Zion ;" and with these words, halfwheeling his steed, he made a demi-courbette towards the Saxon, and rising in the stirrups, so as to take full advantage of the descent of the horse, he discharged a fearful blow upon the head of Athel

stane.

Well said Wamba, that silken bonnet keeps out no steel blade. So trenchant was the Templar's weapon, that it shore asunder, as it had been a willow twig, the tough and plaited handle of the mace, which the ill-fated Saxon reared to parry the blow, and, descending on his head, levelled him with the earth.

"Ha! Beau-scant !" exclaimed Bois-Guilbert, thus be it to the maligners of the Temple

knights!" Taking advantage of the dismay which was spread by the fall of Athelstane, and calling aloud, "Those who would save themselves, follow me!" he pushed over the draw-bridge, dispersing the archers who would have intercepted them. He was followed by his Saracens, and some five or six men-at-arms, who had mounted their horses. The Templar's retreat was rendered perilous by the numbers of arrows shot off at him and his party; but this did not prevent him from gallopping round to the barbican, of which, according to his previous plan, he supposed it possible De Bracy might have been in possession.

"De Bracy! De Bracy!" he shouted, thou there?"

"art

"I am here,” replied De Bracy, "but I am a prisoner."

"Can I rescue thee ?" cried Bois-Guilbert.

No," replied De Bracy; "I have rendered me, rescue or no rescue. I will be true prisoner. Save thyself-there are hawks abroad-put the seas betwixt you and England-I dare not say

more."

"Well," answered the Templar, "an thou wilt tarry there, remember I have redeemed word and glove. Be the hawks where they will, methinks the walls of the Preceptory of Templestowe will be cover sufficient, and thither will I, like heron to her haunt."

Having thus spoken, he gallopped off, with his followers.

Those of the castle who had not gotten to horse, still continued to fight desperately against the besiegers, after the departure of the Templar, but rather in despair of quarter than that they entertained any hope of escape. The fire was spreading rapidly through all parts of the castle, when Ulrica, who had first kindled it, appeared on a turret, in the guise of one of the ancient furies, yelling forth a war-song, such as was of yore chaunted on the field of battle by the scalds of the yet heathen Saxons. Her long dishevelled grey hair flew back from her uncovered head; the inebriating delight of gratified vengeance contended in her eyes with the fire of insanity; and she brandished the distaff which she held in her hand, as if she had been one of the Fatal Sisters, who spin and abridge the thread of human life. Tradition has preserved some wild strophes of the barbarous hymn which she chaunted wildly amid that scene of fire and of slaughter

Whet the bright steel,

1.

Sons of the White Dragon!

Kindle the torch,

Daughter of Hengist !

The steel glimmers not for the carving of the banquet,
It is hard, broad, and sharply pointed;

The torch goeth not to the bridal chamber,
It steams and glitters blue with sulphur,
Whet the steel, the raven croaks!
Light the torch, Zernebock is yelling!
Whe: the steel, sons of the Dragon!
Kindle the torch, daughter of Hengist !

2.

The black cloud is low over the thane's castle;

she rides on their bosom.

The eagle screams

Scream not, grey rider of the sable cloud,
Thy banquet is prepared!

The maidens of Valhalla look forth,

The race of Hengist will send them guests.

Shake your black tresses, maidens of Valhalla!

And strike your loud timbrels for joy!

Many a haughty step bends to your halls,
Many a helmed head.

8.

Dark sits the evening upon the thane's castle,

The black clouds gather round;

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Soon shall they be red as the blood of the valiant!

The destroyer of forests shall shake his red crest against them,

He, the bright consumer of palaces,

Broad waves he his blazing banner,

Red, wide, and dusky,

Over the strife of the valiant:

His joy is in the clashing swords and broken bucklers;

He loves to lick the hissing blood as it bursts warm from the wound!

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