The Challenge of Barletta, Rendered Into Engl. [From Ettore Fieramosca] by Lady L. Magenis - Softcover

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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880. Excerpt: ... 219 CHAPTER VII. THE TOUENAY. "Breathes there a man with soul so dead Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land? # The wretch concentred all in self, Living shall forfeit fair renown, And, doubly dying, shall go down To the vile dust from whence he sprung, Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung." Lay of Last Minstrel. At an equal distance from Barletta and the French camp, where the flat country begins to slope upwards into the mountainous, there lies. embosomed in low hills, a plain which extends about thirteen hundred paces each way, and has probably been formed by some ancient alluvial deposit. The soil, consisting of fine gravel and silicious sand bound firm by the hand of time, is clear both of shrubs and grass, and affords a free course and good going for horses' feet. This was the spot selected for the contest. The previous day, men had been sent, by both parties, to level any inequalities in the ground. The limits were marked out by a ridge, as well as by large stones set all round; and beneath the shade of some huge oaks, which grew on the top of a mound commanding a view over the whole lists, were placed seats for the umpires, under a striped red and white awning, which was bound to the branches of the trees. In front of this tribunal, the shields and lances of the men-at-arms of both nations were fixed in a row, in the sight of every one, and their names were inscribed in large letters on a placard. Curiosity had attracted, from the neighbouring villages and country places, a great crowd of peasants and small gentry who had taken up positions on the adjacent heights before sunrise. Those of a certain position amongst them sat on the grass with the women and old men; the others, such as boys, poor people, and roughs, perched the...

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