The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 261: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE BRON begins to be streaked and dotted with the brown tints of Autumn. And it was at the heur of noon such a day as this, that the martial music eehoed through the streets and around the walls of Prague, and that the serried bands of stern Re- formers. marched to the great square to 7 4A , on | tie enth sounds of | receive the idol of their hearts—John | Aitzka, the one-eyed Captain of Mount ‘Tabor. Upwards of. twenty thousand men were thus assembled at the review: and all the streets leading thither, all the casements, and tops overlooking the spot, all the towers. domes, and pinnacles, whence the eye could command the scene, were crowd- | ed with the inhabitants of the Bohe- | mian capital. For the most intense curlosify animated the citizens, diffus- | ing the excitement of a vivid interest throughout all grades of society, and all balconies, house- ws 7* ‘ ‘yy -_ a * e 259 their countenunces might be traced a sternness of purpose mingled with fana- usiasm, Which combined expres- sion was however subdued by a predo- minant air of patriarchal simplicity. — They were armed for the most part with steel caps and corselets, and the usual offensive weapons at that time in vogue; but the officers all had heavy petronels, or pistols, stuck in their belts. Ihe cavalry were well-mounted ; and although few in number, they constitu- ted an effective corps which no enemy could estimate lightly. Several pleces of cannon increased the streneth of 4itzka’s military resources: and there was likewise a band of sappers, armed with mighty axes which would either clear a road through a forest or a bloody path in the ranks of battle. Above the heads of this formidable array floated the innumerable hight blue standards bearing in gilt letters the ral- but in the midst lying word—Tapor. of the army there was borne a vast ban- ner of crimson-silk, suspended to two poles, and inscribed with the sainted name of Joun Huss. Upon all this martial scene shone the refulgent sun from a sky of cloudless quarters of the metropolis, prompting | even infirm old men and weak women} to dare the tremendous pressure and | jostling of the gathered myriads of spec- | tators, in order to obtain a glimpse of | the proceedings which were to mark a | day so memorable in the history of Bo- | hemia. For it had been whispered abroad from an early hour in the morning that General Zitzka would harangue his troops and proclaim his intentions: and conjecture, pluming its wings with the impulse of uncertainty, had soared from & thousand points, and in as many dif- ferent directions, but only to bring back on the pinions of fancy a variety of ru- mors of the most conflicting nature. And thus a vague terror was with that feeling of curiosity which led the inhabitants of Prague, rich and poor, high and low, male and female. to flock in such dense multitudes tow the great square, and to occupy every —_—_— associated | blue; and in the powerful lustre glit- tered the helm and spear, corselet and lance, sword and battle-axe, while the thrilling music sounded loud and cheer- ily through the heavy, listless air. Precisely at noon a cannon was fired from the castle to announce that the Captain-General was sallying forth to repair to the grand parade-ground; and the ‘l'aborite forces were drawn up in readiness to receive him. In a few minutes every eye was turned towards a particular spot where the troops, who | were ards | point where the foot could establish a) standing place, and whence. the eye | could obtain a glimpse of the proceed- ings. But apart from all those feelings of mingled apprehension and suspense which thus inspired the citizens of Prague, the spectacle itself was one well calculated to engender a deep in- terest. The ‘T'aborite warriors well armed and disciplined: were | their ap- | pearance was characterized by a clean- | Jiness and a physical comtort which placed them in strong contrast with the usual stamp of wretchedly-fed and i clothed soldiery of that age ; | upon or) ‘i if ihm | marshalled in lines round the square, fell back suddenly ; and through the opening thus formed, John Zitzka rode into the centre of the arena. But how came that mighty chieftain? and who constituted his train ? Attended only by two pages did he come; nor was his progress marked h the pomp, the ostentation, and the grandeur which follow the kings, and queens, and other false gods ef the earth. No rich apparel did he wear,—no jewels glistened on his martial raiment, tiis brow was surmounted not with a velvet cap and ostrich plumes, but was pressed with the good stee!] head-stee] that had turned aside many a sharp sabre in the midst of battle; and his body, clothed with UO silken doublet, comicbooks.com