The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

a a+ <—- = — tiie a é a — a ~ « b — < o = ee “= o n a =" — £ : _— = _~ er et a . _ _ - - —— — a" 2 tm — os oo a : ge _—_ . + + = ~ - 2 ry = 7. ee Sa St. St gba ~~ TE &© oh ) — re s -2% . <“he 7 he a Se", ae eo hg in nS ae we a} * > ~ FF _ ——— =: 3 - _ - a. “ez >) = * a? ee e ee ee = =— ~~ ~ ae 2 os — < o - —— , - —_ * , = > 2 a ~ 2 - ~ : om = = ~ = ~~ << ~ i = = _- — ———— 2 < - a te Ae —e ate - . « — - > - fa = 7 J = 4 . a 4 ine oes — — = Pe een SS = * ; = a -_ - ° - Pe + as = . ~~ er -.— ts —- - - . a + - *~ a) ~ + ~ - - - > ~ : —s - - —_—- - ™ > _ ce = - = - . eee - > “ wl = Ay — -e4* oe =r _ . es + a { ° n.- - . Po - '_- 7 er » = a 94 Oe < - c~ « - > = ’ ~ j > e . + * * « ~ ~~ e é - a . —- Td e » » . ‘ a : - _ a . - > red we > — , = 4 a +, J amet ~~ - « * o * iar dena ae - _ - . ye Se eee ee nm “ae a \. aii. ‘ - >» =” Sed oe 4 = 2 * . ‘ ae » > aa ee Tue ' i . im aw . * Oe gg te _ S ¥ TT x * sed —*, on - ‘<< x ~~ =e 4 * “te — 2 > +. ; ro « a of &, 7 . : ~ 5 > ~< ; Me ——— -—- + — ai + - >< — . ok . J - ~— . aay - \ : & é 4 2 = ‘ . * i Se a ‘ a : ~~ > e So vs es ee gw here < > > ee. ae Se eee + >, : - . . ba ee ~ . — 4, or = d = ~ = = > _ —— = . -. « 7 a t —-— * e ~ * —hd, * * Py . * “ he hee y ™ * * - « oo oe = = 5 wer + - _ = 4 i a 7 . 298 THE BRONZE STATUE. spite the lines of care and deep meptal suffering which were traced upon it. His form was tall and well proportion- ed: his limbs denoted great muscular power; and there was something 1n the expression of his eyes and the cur! of his lip which indicated a strong mind struggling against a sense of misfortunes which would have overwhelmed an or- dinary mortal. At that period none foresaw the future creatuess of the man who was destined to break the royal sceptre of Bohemia and raise the Phry- sian cap of Liberty on the point of his lanée; but often, as [I watched the workings of his countenance when he was plunged in a deep reverie and fan- | {i thought cied himself unobserved, within myself that he would not be doomed to remain all his life in a de- pendant condition. Not that there was any intellectual superiority depicted upon the lineaments of John Zitzka,— existence; and the Lady Emilia, ob- serving that such was the effect of those pursuits, encouraged her beloved hus- band to devote his time to them. Zitz- ka apparently found a similar relief from the contemplation of his own se- upon him. cret afflictions, whatever they were; and he was, therefore, a constant at- tendant upon his noble master on those OCCASIONS. ‘One day the baron, having outstrip- ped his followers in the ardor of the chase, was thrown from his horse just at the very moment when a monstrous boar was turning ferociously round Another instant, and Ilde- gardo would have been no more; buta horseman galloped upto the spot,— sprang from his steed,—attacked the furious animal; and, after sustaining some severe injuries, succeéded in de- spatching it. ‘hus was the baron’s life saved: and his lordship. failed not to no, for I had seen many, many counte- | nances on which the word ‘** Mind” was | more deeply impressed. but there was a firmness of purpose evinced in his’ looks, an iron resolution stamped upon his features, and the reflex of an indo- mitable’ spirit apparent in his haughty smile, which forced upon me the con-. > > a. -*« : viction that [I beheld in John Zitzka a’ man of dauntless energy, inflexible de- termination, and of inexhaustible per- severance. ‘l’o say that he soon be- came a favorite at the castle, would be | perhaps an exaggeration ; inasmuch as|ard this was John Zitzka. ; proffer his sincerest gratitude to the va- lorous Zitzka. On another occasion the circumstances of the chase led the hunting train along the banks of the Moldau; and in leaping a diverging streamlet, the baron’s horse missed its footing upon the opposite side and fell back into the water. The river was swollen with recent rains, and the cur- rent, which. flowed rapidly, instantly swept the baron and his steed into the middle of the flood. All his attendants were paralysed with fear, save one,— To leap his manners were too gloomy and re-|from his own steed, plunge into the served at one time and too abrupt and | Moldau, and swim to the rescue of’ his even blunt at another to render him | master, all this was the work of a mo- either affable or agreeable. But his ge- ment. ‘lhe baron’s position seemed al- nerous disposition, his dauntless bra- | most desperate, for his feet were entan- very in the boar hunt, his skill as a} gled in the stirrups, and the drowning horseman, his experience in the uses of all martial weapons, and the fearless- | ness with which he invariably espoused the cause of the weak against the strong in any disputes that occurred amongst the baron’s dependants,—all these traits won at least the good will of the men and the admiration of the women. ‘The debt of gratitude which John Zitzka owed the baron for taking him into his service, was speedily repaid,— for on two separate occasions within the first few months of his residence at the castle did the young man save his lordship’s life. The fact was that the baron became more and more at- tached to the sports of the fleld and the steed was dragging him rapidly to de- struction. ‘The quick glance of Zitzka saw in a moment what was to be done, —and with his dagger he cut the stir- rup-leathers, thus extricating the baron from his perilous embarrassment. The steed was swept away, but Lord IIde- gardo reached the bank in safety; and again did he pour forth his gratitude to his gallant deliverer. Nor less, on re- turning to the castle, did John Zitzka receive the heartfelt thanks of Lady Kmilia, who presented him with a blue silk searf which she herself had em- broidered in gold with her own fair hands. In the midst of this scarf a wreath of flowers, exquisitely worked, forest as he found that they succeeded | encircled the letter E; andthe moment in diverting his mind from brooding over the one grand misfortune of his vice, his whole countenance became John Zitzka caught sight of that de- comicbooks.com