The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. ‘Welcome to my halls, illustrious Queen of Bohemia!’ . Again and again did the shouts ascent from all points, making the welkin ring ; and now for the first time that day did a roseate tinge animate the pale cheeks of Elizabetha, and a faint smile appear upon her lips. Ina few words, spoken ‘in a low and tremulous voice, thanked the Baron of Altendorf and his son for their courtesy; then, beck- oning her handmaidens to follow her, she hastened to the suite of chambers which had been prepared for her re- | ception. In the evening a grand banquet took lace in the great hall which was deco- rated for the occasion. Elizabetha was now called) excused herself from being present on the plea of excessive fatigue; but the assem- blage was a brilliant one, invitations having been sent to all the noble famt- lies residing in that district. Upwards of two hundred guests, male and female, were then gathered around the Baron of Altendorf’s hospi- table board; and the health of the new Queen of Bohemia was pledged in brimming goblets. Confusion and death were as fervently drunk to John Zitzka and his Taborite host; and thus, by th proceedings of this was the gauntlet as resolute down on the side of the royalists as the civil war had been deliberately pro- claimed at Prague on the occasion of the review of the armaments 0 ‘Tabor. Tt was near midnight ; the lamps still burnt brilliantly in the banquetting-hall, and the festivity was prolonged. Few of the ladies had as yet retired; and the eyes of those who remained sparkled memorable day, | ly thrown | dity | she | 'bleman was none other than the Mar- ‘dorf on the unanimity which to all ap- The queen (as | : } ; ' ) : e| was at its height, ! ' ‘ : ¢ Mount | ceased a stirring air of martial fervor— | —_— — — / ; : of Altendorf, would have been taken into consideration—the more especially ORT as he was chosen president of the coun- cil of nobles that assembled a few weeks previously at Prague, and whose delibe- rations were so abruptly cut short by the expeditious as well as the resolute measures adopted on that occasion by the captain-general of the Taborites. The reader, therefore, has already comprehended that the dissatisfied no- quis of Schomberg; and while the nu- merous guests present at the banquet were congratulating the Baron of Alten- pearance prevailed in recognising him as the most fit and proper chieftain to conduct the mighty undertaking resolv- ved upon, the demon of discontent, bat- fled rivalry, and jealous hatred, was already torturing the heart of the Mar- quis. But he composed his countevance and veiled his feelings with a strong ef- fort; nay, more, he even forced his lips to frame words of compliment amongst the rest, and no one suspected his sin- cerity. It was near midnight, we said; and still the feast was prolonged. And it was at a moment when the enthusiasm when the wine was circulating with a more than usual rapi- , when the eyes of the ladies shone like stars, and the cheeks of the nobles were flushed with the juice of the grape —and when, too, the music had just ‘t was at this moment, we suy, that one of the peers arose and waved his hand to enjoin silence. Then, in a strain of burning elo- quence, the speaker expatiated upon the position of her whom they had all ‘that day acknowledged as their queen; ‘an orphan, without relatives to advise ‘or succor her, and with no dear or va- ‘lued friends of her own sex, to become ‘her confidants. ‘The noble orator rep- resented her as standing more isolated ‘in the world than the meanest of her subjects, although she was surrounded ‘by thousands ready to die for her; and he drew a pathetic picture of the hap- less lot of a youthful queen unsupported by loving relatives, possessed of no ‘friends familiarized to her by long ac- quaintance, and compelled to unbosom himself. His haughty nature was of- | all her little secret thoughts, her hopes, fended—his pride was wounded—his | and her fears, to strangers, or else keep ambition was disappointed. He had them pent up in her own breast. ‘The hoped that his exalted rank and his im- | speaker then dexterously touched upon mense wealth, both superior to the Lord | thé valor, loyalty, and patriotism, exhi- as lustrously as the gems which glis- tened on their hair. The ruby wine had circulated freely; the nobles had all with one accSrd given in their ad- hesion to the royalist rebellion; and the same unanimity had prevailed in acknowledging the baron of Altendorf eneralissimo of the queen’s forces. Nevertheless, there was one present who, although he dared not offer any objections to that appointment, nor even suffer his features to wear an expres- sion of dissatisfaction, was deeply cha- rined atthe slight thus passed upon er > Bo . 7 a) . = 4 * —_ ‘J a - —_: = * ~~ * « ‘ - a a ri MP2 > Sap! Saha Pee Te, — » — -* &, . eres ee he - ~ o— ~ - on -_e- we = < o . « wt ., wo %, . » ™ ‘ - P, - a9 | { 4 ’ - ak comicbooks.com