The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 373 insisted upon being led forth in pursuit of the flying reformers. To this de- mand the Baron of Altendorf, though fearful of the consequences, was com- pelled to submit; and the entire aristo- cratic army sallying out of the castle, the conflict was renewed in the fields, the gardens, the roads, and the forest, which lay around the ancient strong- hold. And now was it that Zitzka’s skill ‘form of the younger noble appeared to» as a commander shone to such tran- scendant advantage. Taking his stand uponan elevation, he thence despatched a dozen pages, one after another, to all oints where his troops were either flying, rallying, pausing, or remaining in uncertainty how to act; and so lucid as well as so positive were the instruc- tions which the captain-general thus sent to the various officers in command of those corps and detachments, that a new spirit appeared to be suddenly in- fused into the whole Taborite army. Here columns, a moment before broken up and flying in confusion, suddenly ' Heaps of the dying and the dead were the ghastly trophies of this terrible pro- ‘gress; and his steed, as it thundered ‘on amidst the contending cohorts, seem- ‘ed gifted with the same invulnerable ‘power which characterised the hero ‘who bestrode that gallant charger. | Nor less did the Baron of Altendorf ‘and Lord Rodolph bear themselves bravely in the mortal contest. The dilate in size and assume a heroic dig- nity as he spurred his steed into the thickest of the fight, with the hardy ‘resolution of opposing himself hand to hand against the Captain-General of the Reformers. They met,—the stripling champion» ‘of Bohemia’s aristocratic cause, and the sturdy chieftain of the Taborites'— Yes, they met; but scarcely had they ‘looked each other in the face, scarcely ‘had their weapons crossed, when Litz- ka’s mighty sword dashed Rodolph’s brand from his comparatively feeble grasp. The Baron of Altendort, in- rallied and took up a position on some | stuntaneously perceiving that his son eminence; there divisions, not know- ing what course to pursue, were all in | was at the mercy of John Zitzka, dash- 'ed the rowels into the sides of his war- an instant rescuing themselves from steed and urged the animal in thunder- confusion and looking their dangers ing career against the charger bestrid- boldiy in the face. Discipline, order, |den by the Captain-General. But im- and a spirit of reorganization seized moveable as a rock was the noble ani- upon the myriads like a wholesome | mal that bore the chieftain of the Ta- spell suddenly counteracting anevil one ; and in an incredibly short space the T'aborite battle-array was formed around three sides of Altendorf Castle. And now the conflict recommenced outside the walls; and clouds of smoke and dust soon enveloped the combatants. The flashes of the artillery resembled the dartings of vivid lightning through a dense sulphurous cloud; and the suc- cdeeing roar of the dread ordnance,rever- berating through the depths of the for- est and amidst the buildings of the cas- tle, sounded like the thunder-voices in which the storms of heaven speak in the sublime and awful periods of ele- mental war. But darker and deeper raged the conflict wherever the plume of the for- midable Zitzka was seen breaking through the smoke of the cannon or waving to and fro amidst the desperate strife of furious multitudes. Nothing could equal the courage with which he fought, the strength with which he dashed aside all impediments to his course, the annihilating power with which he clave for himself a bloody pathway through the ranks of battle. borites; and this redoubtable warrior ‘with one blow of his two-handed ‘sword struck the Baron of Altendorf from his horse. The next moment this proad peer and Lord Rodolph were both prtsoners ‘in the hands of the Taborites. | The news of their capture spread like wild fire throughout the ranks of ‘both armies, infusing a still more de- | termined spirit into the breasts of the ‘yeformers, and throwing a damp upon ‘all the energies of the aristocratic forces. 'At the moment that the desperate, fa- mine-stricken warriors of the garrison were charging the Taborites with whirl- wind fury, when blood was being poured forth like water. and human life was dealt with as if it were the mere hew- ing down of noxious weeds ina gar- den; when valor was exerting all its |energies, and prowess distinguishing it- self with mighty achievements ; and Serre the demon of slaughter was dis- playing all the ghastlier phases of his accursed craft, and the voice of battle was roaring in allits most terrific tones, lat this instant was it that the intelligence of the capture of the baron and his som: comicbooks.com ‘ “ . -* . v . 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