as might be judged, from the steel-clad warder pacing his round upon the ballium, and the swallow-tailed pennoncelle floating above the keep, was evidently on good terms with the neighbourhood; for its drawbridge was lowered across the deep dry moat, hewn, like the road, out of the solid rock, and the steelclenched and grated leaves of the gate stood wide open. In the small court-yard, a groom was leading to and fro a splendid charger of the high breed of Andalusia, which, even at that early age, had been improved by mixture of the Arab blood, introduced by the Moorish victors, coal black, without a single speck of white, except a small star on his brow, with a keen, vicious eye, and a mane that almost swept the ground, when it escaped from the confinement of the iron barbings, which, running all along the neck, connected the bright chamfront with the steel-plated saddle and scaled poitrel. Another menial held the long lance, and small, three-cornered shield, waiting, as it should seem, until the rider might come forth; while several others, pages, and men-at-arms, and one or two girls, seemingly belonging to the household, were loitering round the entrance, admiring the fine horse, and laughing merrily among themselves at fifty trifles, such as youths and maidens have laughed at, and will laugh at still, despite philosophy and common sense to boot, from the creation downward.

In the third story of that ruined keep, accessible even now to an adventurous climber, there is a little chamber, occupying onethird of the area of the tower, irregular in shape, for two of its walls are segments, and the two others radii of a circle; its longest side being the outer wall of the castle, and its two ends, partitions diverging from a central circle, which is occupied through the whole height of the building by a steep, winding staircase. Though small, it is a pleasant spot even now, with three tall lanceolated windows; through which the green leaves of the ivy flutter at every breath of air, commanding a wide prospect of the deep chasm-like valley of the Lignon, from its far mountain cradle down to its confluence with the majestic Loire, which, from that giddy height, may be seen winding its silver way through many a golden corn-field-many a teeming vineyard. In this apartment, de. corated with the best skill of that early day, were two young persons, deeply engaged in conversation seemingly of a description the most interesting to their feelings. They were of different sexes, both in the prime of youthful life — both eminently handsome; and, though there might be something of resemblance in their high features and rather dark complexions, it was yet the resemblance rather of very distant kindred, or perhaps of dwellers under the same ripe climate, than

Her

of more close connexions. The girl had not seen, certainly, her eighteenth summer; yet she was tall and fully formed; her glowing bust, and all the wavy outlines of that most lovely of all lovely things--her woman figure, developed to the full extent of that volup tuous roundness, which in a colder climate would have betokened a maturer age. face was not less perfect than her form, perfectly oval, with large dark Italian eyes, half languor and half fire; a nose, in which the slightest tendency toward the aquiline redeemed the insipid character of the more classic outline; lips exquisitely arched and pouting, with a perpetual dimple playing at either corner; and hair, the most superb that ever added to woman's beauty-dark as the wings of night, and so redundant, that if it had escaped from the confinement of the fillet which restrained it, it would have flowed down to her very feet, veiling her person by its ample waves. Nor was her beauty anywise impaired by the pensive, melancholy attitude which she maintained; as, half reclined on a settee within the embrasure of one of the tall windows, with her chin propped upon an arm of the most perfect symmetry, she suffered her right hand to lie all unresisting in the fervent grasp of her companion; while of her eyes, which were bent earthward, nothing could be discovered but the long silky lashes so exquisitely pencilled in relief on her transparent cheek.He, too, was young-too young, as it would have seemed from the first glance, for the gilded spurs which showed he had attained already to the rank of knighthood; his hair, like hers, was coal black, but different in this, that it was wreathed above a broad, high forehead with a thousand natural curls; his eyes were also dark, and sparkled with a quickness that showed him prone, at least, to gusts of passion; while the compression of his thin lips told as clearly of a character resolved and positive, as did the deep lines on his brow, and from each nostril downward to the angles of the mouth, speak the dominion of unconquerable passions; - still was the whole contour decidedly impressive, and even handsome, though it might well be doubted whether, at an age more advanced, the less attractive features might not predominate. He was attired from the throat downward in a complete suit of chain mail, exquisitely wrought, and yielding to the play of every swelling muscle, polished, too, with such rare skill, that every ring flashed to the early sunbeams, as if it had been wrought of fabled adamant. This dress, however, was only visible at the neck, where it was firmly riveted to a broad gorget of bright steel, and on the arms and legs which it completely covered; these to the wrist, leaving the bony but white hand defenceless; those to the ancles, where it was joined by splented shoes of

the same hard and glistening material. All else was covered by a surcoat, resembling in form a herald's tabard, or the poncho of the South American, of pure white cloth, bisected in the front by a broad cross of scarlet. This over-dress was fastened round the waist by an embroidered belt, through which was thrust a long, stout, two-edged dagger, the only weapon of offence he bore about his persou. On a small oaken table, in the centre of the room, were placed his helmet, a cumbrous flat-topped casque, with neither crest nor plume, and his gauntlets, delicately wrought in scale; while his two-handed sword-a massive blade, four feet at least in length, with a cross-handled hilt proportionately large and heavy rested against it, with a rich baldric trailing down upon the oaken floor.

"A thousand-thousand thanks, sweet Adelaide!" he said, pressing the fair hand which he grasped to his hot lips. "That word hath made me all invincible! that word hath given me the strength, the resolution, to dare all, to endure all, and, by the aid of blessed Mary and her Son, to conquer all!Three years, when passed, are but so many days of retrospection. Three years, sweet Adelaide! three little years, and, by your father's promise-by your own dear avowal, you will be mine-mine own for ever! Is it not so is it not, loveliest ?"

66

"Have I not said it, Brian ?" she replied, raising her liquid eyes to his, but dropping them again upon the instant, before the glance of fiery passion which encountered hers : have I not said it, Brian? How often must I promise- how often vow, to satisfy your craving earnestness? Is it that you misdoubt my word? Is it that I have all misread your soul, and that you are, in truth, as they rumour you, jealous unto suspicion-distrustful of all faith?"

"No! no! believe it not," he answered in tones absolutely choked with passionate emotion"doubt thee!- -as soon doubt Heaven!-as soon Heaven's King in all his glory! Doubt thee!-By all the gods, thy name, before three years be flown, shall be acknowledged through every realm of Europe -shall be as widely bruited for the paragon of constancy and beauty, as the four winds can blow the tidings. From the remotest point of Spain, to the blue waters of Byzantium, all shall admit thine eminence! Say only, Adelaide, say only, once again, that thou dost love me!"

"I have said so. I have said so, again and again, Brian! Yet, since it seems nought else will satisfy you-I do! I do! with all my heart and soul, most singly and most wholly, love you!" she exclaimed, a deep crimson flush pervading as she spoke, not her cheeks only, but her brow, her neck, her bosom, and those exquisitively falling shoul

ders, as far as they were visible above the collar of her low velvet boddice-while her full eye met his with so deep an expression of voluptuous passion, and dwelt on his face so languidly, that Brian was emboldened to throw his right hand round her sylph-like waist, and clasp her to his bosom. Nor did the maid resist, but twining her soft arms about his neck, she met his kiss half-way; and, for ten seconds' space, their hearts beat sensibly against each other's boson in tumultuous union, their eyes grew dim with passion, their lips were glued together. But after that one burst of irresistible, uncontrolled phrensy for love, in its excess, is phrensy-the maiden, extricating herself from his embrace, parted the close curls on his forehead, and imprinted there one long kiss-then arising, with a blush yet deeper than before-"There, Brian, there," she said, playfully smiling, "that must both satisfy thee, and convince! More, I cannot say-more I cannot give thee

and keep thy confidence or love. And now, God speed thee. Let not the lip of woman bear away that kiss which I have left upon thy brow;-as I shall keep for thee the burning one which thou hast printed on my lip-nay! rather, on my soul! not e'en my father shall press his mouth to mine, ere your kiss shall release me. And now, God speed thee, Brian. I need not bid thee be foremost ever-for that I know thou wilt! But, oh! be not too rash! Few demoiselles, I trow, need so advise their chevaliers ;-but I know thee too well-too well have marked thy daring, thine enthusiastic, all-pervading valour, to fancy that thy spirit lacks the stimulus of words, more than thy gallant Andalusian needs the spur to urge him to the charge. God speed thee, Brian, and farewell." And even as she spoke, a distant swell of martial music, the prolonged cadences of the shrill trumpet blent with the deep clang of the Norman nakir, came floating on the gentle breeze, from the far valley of the Loire. "There! hear you not," she added, "hear you not, even now, the music of your comrades?-and see! see! there they file, band after band, and banner after banner, across the bridge that spans our valley! Blessed Maria, what a gorgeous train-lo! how their spear-heads twinkle in the sunbeams-how their plate armour flashes!-pennon, and pennoncelle, and banderol wavering and fluttering to the free winds, above a sea of plumage!-there, the square banner of the Great Counts of Auvergne-and there, the Lion flag of Ferrand of Clermont-and Guy de Ponthieu's Ravens--and Tankerville's chained dragon!-and there!-haste, Brian, haste! Do on your helmet quick, and belt your espaldron, and spur Black Tristram to his speed-there floats the oriflamme itselfthe gorgeous oriflamme of France, above King Philip and his peers. Linger not

loiter not, my beloved-God speed thee! and farewell! And be thou fortunate, as I will still be faithful, and we shall be a pair hercafter for chroniclers to tell of in set prose, and trouveres to descant upon in lay, and virelay, and sonnet!"

His helmet was braced on-his espaldron was belted-snatching his gauntlets from the table, with the rich scarf, which she had given, bound on his left arm, he cast one long, long glance upon the lady of his heart; and, daring not to trust himself to speak, rushed down the winding staircase, taking three steps at one, his steel shoes clanging, and the point of his huge broadsword clashing and jarring on the stones. He gained the court, and scattering his largesse to the menials, who, cap in hand, saluted him with loud lip-love, vaulted at once into the saddle; dashed like an arrow through the gateway, over the clattering drawbridge; and, at a pace positively fearful, plunged down the steep descent, his horse's hoofs striking at every bound the fire from the flinty road, that rang beneath the fury of his gallop. Once he looked back, just where the traverse from the castle joined the road down the Lignon! A fair round arm was waving from the lattice, where they but now had stood together, a white kerchief; and the proverbially quick eye of the lover fancied it could have recognised that arm of snow among ten thousand. Bowing his helmed head quite to the saddle-bow, he brandished his fance high in air, making the pennoncelle, which graced it, rustle and waver in the sunlit atmosphere, like the flash of a shooting star; and, spurring his hot Andalusian to yet fiercer speed, devoured both hill and valley in his course; and joined his comrades on their way toward the fatal sands of Syria, long ere their rear had passed the high and narrow bridge which spans, even to the present day, the confluence of the Loire and Lignon.

Three years had passed away-passed as the young man had expressed himself to her he loved so dearly, but as so many days of retrospection. That gallant army, which had leaped so dauntlessly ashore from their proud red-cross gallies, had whitened with their bones the pestilential fields of Palestine. Disease, and want, and treason of false friends, and, more than all, dissensions in the host, had marred the progress of that superb array, which-led by the unrivalled Lion-heart, the wise and wary Philip, and scores of other chiefs, whose names were second to these only -had threatened the extermination of the Saracen dominion. Philip Augustus had returned to his paternal kingdom; and was occupied more wisely, if less gloriously, in fixing himself more firmly on his throne than any king, who had sat there since the Great Charles. Richard-who had, reluctant to

depart, lingered with his bold islanders as long as any hope remained-was now a captive in the dungeons of the mean-spirited and vengeful Austrian. None of that lordly expedition yet remained in the land, which the most superstitious now scarcely hoped to win, except the Templars and the Hospitallers, whose vow permitted to them neither peace nor truce, so long as Infidels possessed the city of the Tomb. Three years had passed, and more!-and from the first glad tidings, which reached France of their triumphant debarkation, of their first mighty victory, no ship arrived, but brought reports proving that Brian de Latouche had well made good his boast to Adelaide de Montemar. At Ascalon, it was his lance that bore Iconium's Soldan from the saddle-before the leaguered walls of Acre, it was his sword that won Zamor, "the good horse that never failed his rider," the choicest of that breed of Yemen, emphatically styled the winged, in single fight, from the proud Prince of Trebizond, who lost his charger and his life together! And when the axe of England's Lion-heart had dashed the gates of that same city into atoms, forcing its way through heart of oak and bars of steel, as though they had been reeds and pasteboard, it was the foot of Brian de Latouche that pressed the threshold, second to Richard's only. Nay, more! When France had treacherously fallen from the league, though still a few of her best warriors tarried to win them laurels under the flag of their hereditary foe-when, after having relieved Jaffa, that most unequalled hero sustained with "seventeen knights, and three hundred archers," according to Gibbon, "the charge of sixty thousand Turks, and grasping his lance, rode furiously along their front, from the right to the left wing, without meeting an adversary who dared encounter his career," it was again the hand of Brian de Latouche that couched his spear by Richard's bridle-arm. Nor, when his fame was at the highest, did he forget his plighted word-whenever he couched lance, his cry was "Adelaide de Montemar!"-till, at that cri de guerre alone, a hundred of the boldest mussulmen would draw their reins in terror-till, as the youth had boasted, each knight of the Christian host had heard the fame, and, judging of the beauty by the exploits it produced, had willingly admitted the pre-eminence of her, whose charms and constancy were backed by so strong an arm, and a heart so dauntless, as those of Brian de Latouche.

Three years had passed, and more, when, in a gloomy evening in November-on which the winds, sullenly wailing through the overcast and cloudy sky, were whirling the sere leaves from every tree- a stately knight, followed by four attendants-two of them negro slaves, with caftan, scymetar, and turban! two Christian men-at-arins, in plate and mail!

-rode wearily along the rocky path, which, following the valley of the Lignon, leads to the Mountain keep of Euguerrand de Montemar, the chastelain of Issengeaux.

The knight was a tall, powerful figure, sheathed cap-a-pie in armour of linked mail, partially covered by the white surcoat of a crusader. He sat with practised grace, on a superb blood bay Arabian, sixteen hands high, at least, and powerful enough-unusual as such stature is among the generally slight coursers of the East-to bear a knight in complete panoply, throughout the longest day that ever yet was spent in battle. The noble steed was not caprisoned for battle, but decorated with the lightest furniture then used; as though the practised eye of his owner was aware that every thing which tended to conceal the exquisite proportions of the animal, must be a blemish rather than an ornament. Yet, light as was the saddle, and all the corresponding housings, a heavy battle-axe of steel, magnificently wrought with carvings of Damascus, was slung on one side of the pummel, while from the other was suspended, as if to balance it, a yet more ponderous mace of similar material, workmanship, and decoration-these, save the dagger at his belt, were the offensive weapons which the rider bore; for one of the esquires, in addition to his own arms, carried the long lance and heater-shaped shield of the knight; while the other led a coal-black Andalusian, fully barbed for battle, to whose steel saddle was attached, besides the usual mace and battle-axe, his long two-handed broadsword. The face of the warrior, as, also, his strong hands, were bare, for his casque and gauntlets hung with his battle-axe at the saddle-bow, while his head was protected only by a low cap of scarlet cloth, with a long drooping plume, leaving his strongly-marked and noble features exposed to the eye, which there might read strange tales of pride, and energy, and passion. Short coal-black hair, curled round a forehead unusually high and massive, worn away, somewhat, at the temples, by the pressure of the helmet, and closely cut behind, that it might not impede the fastenings of the mail hood, displayed a set of high, thin features; the predominant expression of which was overruling and all-mastering pride, although the thick and corded veins upon the forehead, and the deep lines furrowed by the hot ploughshare of an excitable and ever restless soul, betokened other and more fiery impulses, that well might aspire for preeminence against the master passion. The mouth was shadowed by a thick black moustache, which quivered, as it were, instinct with life, at every transient emotion, while, to complete the picture, a deep scar crossing the forehead, and narrowly missing the right eye, gave an expression of additional sternness to a countenance, which, in spite of its

fierce and audacious character, could not be looked upon without both admiration and respect. The age of this formidable-looking person was, probably, not more than six or seven and twenty, although exposure to the fierce suns of the East, while it had burnt his naturally dark complexion to almost negro blackness, had given him the appearance of being several years farther advanced toward the mid vale of life.

"That is the fortress, Amelot," he said, in deep, sonorous tones, "that is the fortresswe shall be there anon-the ascent turns abruptly beyond that mighty chestnut, which has not yet lost all its leaves."

"And in good time here comes a woodcutter, Sir Brian!" answered the man-atarms, a favourite esquire, whom he had addressed. "Were I not best inquire?"

Inquire what?" retorted the knight. "Inquire what, fool, what?" he once again repeated, as the esquire, little encouraged by his manner, hesitated to speak out.

"Whether the Chastelain be at the fort," at length he faltered out.

"Why, where else should he be, thou dolt?" returned his master. "He hath no other castle-he dwells even here."

For, strange though it may seem, it yet was most characteristic of the determined, reso. lute, and yet enthusiastic character of Brian de Latouche, that since he had returned to France, he had made no inquiry-had asked no question, concerning her whom he loved so devotedly. He would have deemed it ominous of evil to inquire of her health, and, as to asking of her constancy, he would have spurned the very thought, as something nearly allied to sacrilege-and equally dishonourable to her and to himself, as auguring the existence, on his own part, of a most base and narrow-minded jealousy, and authoriz ing a suspicion against her of the most shameful fickleness. And, therefore, though his heart might throb at mention of the name of Montemar, he had repressed his doubts, his terrors, his emotions, within that most inscrutable of mysteries, the heart of a strongminded, crafty man. Nor, indeed, had he asked, would he have found any one to answer; for so small was the consequence of Euguerrand de Montemar, and so small the renown of his daughter, except in so far as it had been promulgated by the deeds of Latouche himself, that scarcely any one in France, except the dwellers in their close vicinity, could have afforded him the smallest tidings of the object of his anxiety.

He passed the angle of the road; and great was his astonishment when he perceived that there waved no pennoncelle above the battlements, glanced no light through the casements of the tower. Goaded almost to madness at the sight, he spurred his good horse to its utmost speed, and in a moment stood

within the shadow of the drawbridge. Raising his bugle to his lips, he blew a blast that made wood, rock, and river echo, for minutes, to its prolonged and piercing summons.And long ere any answer could have been returned, again he sent it forth !-again!and yet again!-waking the peasantry for miles around, yet bringing no response from the apparently deserted fortalice. At length, when Brian's patience was well nigh exhausted, a feeble light gleamed from a shot-hole near the summit of the tower-was lost-shone out again, a story lower, and at last reached the court. A moment after, it flashed from a crenelle in the watch-tower by the gate, displaying the white hair and well-known features of the old seneschal, who tremulously craved to know who claimed admittance.

"I!-death to your soul!" fiercely exclaimed the soldier. "I, Brian de Latouche! Up! up with your portcullis, and down drawbridge-why keep you me here shivering in the night wind ?"

After a short delay, the bridge was lowered, and the gate opened. Recovering his good humour, the knight rode in, holding some gold coins in his right hand, about to throw them to the old faithful servant, whom he had known from his earliest boyhood when, to his wonder, the old man stepped before him, and catching old of his rein"Stop! stop!" he cried, "Sir Brian, there be none here save I!"

"None here save thee?" exclaimed the surprised and now thoroughly alarmed crusader. "Why, where then, i' the fiend's name, be they? Speak! speak! old man-see you not I am choking? Where is Euguerrandwhere Adelaide de Montemar?"

"My master-my master Euguerrand, that is," faltered the old man, "has been dead -these two years, come Martinmas ! He lies up yonder in the chapel of St. Thomas, at Issengeaux? And as for my lady-as for my Lady Adelaide—”

"Well! well! Speak! speak! thou torturer! or I will wring it forth, if it be with thy life-blood. What of thy lady?"

She hath been married-married these eighteen months, and better."

"Liar! Dog! Slave !" thundered the knight, leaping at one bound from the saddle, seizing him by the throat, and shaking him so furiously, that he had well nigh slain him. "Confess, confess, that thou hast lied, and I will pardon thee. Speak, speak, man "-still without relaxing his stern gripe on his throat speak! Say thou hast lied, and bless me," and with the words he loosed him, yet it was many minutes ere the terrified vassal could find breath to answer him.

"

"True! it is very true-true as the sun in heaven!"

"True!-the sun! The sun is not trueHeaven is not true! there is NO TRUTH! If

this be so-all is lie! all, all! The sun in heaven, the heaven itself, the God that made them all! But speak, speak out. I am patient now, and can hear-very-calmly!" and he choked down his fury into his heart of hearts, and stood pale, firm, and motionless, without once interrupting him, till his tale was concluded.

Within one year after his sailing for the East, while the first tidings of his valour and his glory were fresh and rife about her, she had inclined a willing ear to the addresses of a poor, nameless, Norman squire, whom chance had brought to that vicinity, and thrown upon her father's hospitality! The splendid evidences of her lover's faith, and worth, and glory, availed not anything to restrain her; and eighteen months before, her father having died but ten or twelve weeks, she had espoused him, and set forth at once to his demesnes, near to Avranches, on the Western coast.

"Ha! well-it is WELL! And for this I have won wealth, such as kings might envy! Fame, such as never king attained, nor dreamed of-save the Lion-heart! For this, I refused the daughter of Lusignan. For this,-God of my fathers-was it for this?" and he stamped furiously with his mailed heel upon the pavements, and bit his lip till the blood sprung. "But bear me, thou," he went on, turning his hands and eyes upward -"hear me, thou, for whose tomb I have fought-how, thou best knowest, hear me swear-that henceforth I live but for vengeance! Earth shall not driuk her bloodnor the cold waters choke her breath-nor the tomb cover her! but she shall witherwither-wither!-accursed-desolate-bro ken-hearted! The boldest soul shall tremble-the manliest ear shrink from the story of my terrible revenge! Grant me this-only this, and to thy service, and the warfare for thy temple and thy tomb, I do devote myself

for ever.

He turned abruptly, mounted his good horse, Zamor-rode many a mile toward Paris that same night. Within the week, he knelt to the grand master of the order-registered himself a Templar-swore to perpetual celibacy-and thenceforth never more on earth was the name heard of Brian de Latouche; but far and wide, both for good and for evil, was the more famous appellation spread abroad of Brian de Bois Gilbert!

LAST MOMENTS OF BEETHOVEN. Translated from the French, by Miss E. F. ELLET" In the spring of the year 1827, in a house in one of the faubourgs of Vienna, some amateurs of music were occupied in decyphering the last quatuor of Beethoven, just published. Surprise mingled with their vexation, as they followed the capricious turns of this whimsi