LOOSE PAGES FROM A POET'S PORTFOLIO. BY G. W. THORNBURY FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S INTERMENT PROGRESS OF THE CHOREGRAPHIC ART IN ENGLAND. I'M SO HAPPY WHEN YOU'RE NEAR ME. BY J. E. CARPENTER THE SEVEN AGES OF POVERTY AND CRIME IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. 1 AINSWORTH'S MAGAZINE. NICHOLAS FLAMEL. 66 BY THE AUTHOR OF THE CONFEDERATES; OR, THE DAYS OF MARGARET OF PARMA." X. WHEN the knights unclosed their eyes they were lying on the slope of a gentle hillock, a vast plain extending like the ocean before them; the sun was in its zenith, and they had reason to be thankful that a shady nook had been selected for their place of repose. Gazing around in surprise, they perceived their steeds tied to a tree close at hand, and springing into the saddle they rode off, little caring for further adventure. At no great distance stood a boor, evidently posted there to serve as a guide; and unscrupulously accepting his services, they reached their goal, accomplished their mission, returned in safety to Jerusalem; and, until their final destruction, the assassins continued our bounden allies, faithfully paying a large yearly tribute, and ever ready to sweep from our path any who might be bold enough to obstruct it. "Now, may I never gab again," exclaimed Hughes de Fravaux, as the narrator rose from his cushions, "but when thou sentest thy knights to their psalmody in that same cave, I expected, in lieu thereof, to see them summon up, by certain potent spells, some demon from the abyss to bind that old murderous villain and his gang, and lead them off in triumph to the Temple. Instead of which, thou drawlest out a chronicle of our brotherhood, such as the youngest knight might con over to his heart's content, could he but read the records of our clerks." "Ay, could he but read, as thou sayest, Hughes," observed Flexian. "However, if, as thou wouldst hint, Masvaliers' tale be true, there is both bad and good in it. Slay me, but I think an alliance with these vile assassins redounded as little to the credit of our Order as would one with the powers of darkness! and were it not for thy glowing description of yon hall, Masvaliers, in spite of record or chronicle I should pronounce thee a vile slanderer, as in duty bound." "I tell "The powers of darkness, sayest thou ?" rejoined Fravaux. thee there be things which thou wilt not find in the Temple archives, but which are, nevertheless, as true as if Peter of Boulogne had penned them. Our clerks know better than to register the frailty of their brethren.” "By my knighthood," exclaimed Flexian, "if that same Saracenic alliance be registered, I know not what our scribes should wince at! But come, Fravaux-1 see thou art dying to disburden thyself and outdo Masvaliers-mount the tribune at once, man, in St. Bernard's name, and give us the benefit of thy knowledge." Hughes de Fravaux needed no second invitation; but ascending the pile of cushions at a leap, in his turn began as follows: You all know something of the Pilgrim's Castle, not far from Acco, the last of our commanderies in Holy Land, built by our own hands on a desolate rock beetling a savage sea, and inaccessible to human foot except at one narrow and dangerous point. Thither our statute-books, our treasures, our reliquaries, our arms were removed; and there, surrounded by our bravest knights, our high dignitaries made their last desperate stand, hoping still to defy the power of the infidels 66 Dogs!" exclaimed several voices. Ay-dogs that could bite as well as bark (continued Hughes). A set of younkers, including myself, who had but just received the white mantle -and it lay lighter on our shoulders then than now, I promise you, for we were all full of hope and excitement-were bound for this castle. An old knight who had us in charge checked somewhat our glad anticipations by his gloomy silence, in spite of many endeavours on our part to obtain from him some information as to our new home, and the existence upon which we were about to enter. After a long sea voyage, whose adventures it were tedious to relate, we came in sight of the Pilgrim's Castle. The sun was fast descending towards the horizon, and the moon, as if in defiance of its sinking rays, grew more and more radiant as the shadows lengthened, and presented to our fancy an ominous presage-the darkness of the Crescent was about to obscure fair Christianity's light in the East; but we had our part to play in the final struggle, and were not likely to recede either from fear or the certainty of failure. The approach to the fort was too dangerous and fatiguing for that late hour; so abandoning all thought of landing until morn, the men betook themselves to rest, none remaining on the galley's deck but Nipurias-the old knight I mentioned above and myself. The dark towers of the Pilgrim's Castle, as they stood frowning from the heights of inaccessible cliffs, against which the waves, chafed by sunken rocks, dashed incessantly in foaming spray, had in them something of melancholy grandeur. They reminded me involuntarily of our strength and our pride bought by so many a painful sacrifice as to cast an unshakable gloom over our towering prospects. Impregnable as the castle was from the sea, I now perceived that it was not equally so from the plateau behind it; and began discussing with my sole companion the probable chances against us. "We might be penned in here and destroyed like rabbits in a burrow," said I, slowly taking in the leading features of the landscape. "Most true," he answered, "and be cut off to a man but for the Mysterious Head!'" I pressed him more closely upon the nature and properties of the strange object thus casually introduced; but he broke off abruptly, and soon after retired to the poop of the galley, where from respect I could not follow him. My curiosity thus roused did not certainly slumber; but for a long time I had no means whatever of ascertaining anything more, not ventur ing to question the elders, and the youngsters knowing even less about the subject than myself. There was, indeed, a vague rumour current among them concerning the miraculous properties of some mysterious image or head kept concealed from the vulgar eye within the most secret recesses of the Temple; but of what nature it was, or if it were really in existence, they were uncertain. We had been for some time at the Pilgrim's Castle, during which but scant breathing was allowed us-having to relieve each other on the walls every hour when one day the foul hounds surrounded us in such shoals, and pressed the siege so hotly, that it was next to a miracle they did not carry the outworks. Having received a slight wound, I withdrew from my post to refresh myself, and found Nipurias alone in the hall, who, seeing my plight, came forward to assist me. Always foremost in the fight, this old warrior was never known to be wounded by dart or scimitar. It was so on the morning in question-I made the remark-he smiled. 量 "Thou art right," he said; "but I have begirt my loins with a wonder-working cincture, and am well-nigh invulnerable, as are many among the elder brethren; but," he added, observing my amazement, "thou hast borne thyself so well of late that I do not care if I initiate thee in this great mystery." So saying he bade me follow him. I obeyed with a beating heart; and peering cautiously round to make certain that no one was nigh, he led on through the gallery, and glided into the chapel, which he carefully closed against further intrusion. Passing behind the high altar, he opened a small door concealed by its hangings, and entered a closet, which would have been dark but for our leaving the door ajar. Here Nipurias knelt beside a chest against the wall, and reverently raising the lid, drew thence a head of silver, curiously wrought, to which he addressed some prayers or incantations. I gazed the whilst upon the object of his devotion, or what seemed such, and although I could not, in that dim light, distinguish its features, they apparently represented those of a female. Having finished his mutterings, he held out the image to me, saying: Touch it with some portion of your dress that you need never take off;" and seeing I had nothing of the sort, bade me pay it homage whilst he procured the necessary article. I asked him in what way I was to do this. "As thou wouldst to the Holy Virgin," he replied. I simply obeyed his injunctions, whilst he fumbled about in the closet in search of something which it was long ere he hit upon. At last he found what he sought a long, narrow strip of white linen, which he bade me, whilst repeating a certain formula after him, twist three times round the head. I did so; and in compliance with his instructions wound the same round my own body, beneath my link mail. He then took up the image, and, turning it round, showed me a small opening at the back, through which a human skull was visible. I started with surprise. Before this you must once more prostrate yourself,” said he. Again I did as he desired. "You will now," he continued, "be more speedily healed than if sub mitted to the most expert leech or nurse; nor have you to fear a repetition of the accident. Nothing will impede the freedom of your movements; nay, should an enemy oppose you, too powerful for your own arm to defeat, take the skull that lies enshrined herein, let his it, and he flies from the spot or perishes the same instant." gaze meet Having returned the head to its place of concealment, we re-entered the main body of the church, and hastened along the gallery, ever looking behind as though we were midnight ruffians bent on some evil deed. Scarcely had we reached the hall when I urged my companion for an explanation of what I had just witnessed, which he gave me in the following words: Long ago-so long, indeed, that none can remember when-one of the boldest lances of the Temple was encountered and made prisoner by a party of Turks, as he was crossing a narrow pass, in order to claim relief for one of the solitary guard towers which we then possessed on the outskirts of the European territory, and which, if not timely succoured, was likely to fall into Moslem hands. The knight's name and country are not known; but his singular valour, and the success that generally attended his prowess have been handed down to us. Though still young, it had made him a theme for every Christian tongue--a mark for every Saracen arrow. None but one so daring-who had hitherto been in the habit of carrying everything before him, and who had repeatedly achieved what seemed to others impossible-would have dreamed of such a feat as passing through a swarm of enemies to reach his friends; nor did he find any in the lone tower so foolhardy as to leave the shelter, such as it was, of their solid walls to accompany him on so wild a venture. A prisoner for the first time in his life, and knowing well that our rules allow of no ransom adequate to the release of so important a captive, when questioned he boldy proclaimed his name; and when asked whether the Temple would not make some sacrifice to redeem its bravest lance, he coldly replied, a knife and a girdle was all that his victors had to expect. These words should have sealed his fate; and yet his impassible, haughty bearing, and the terror of his name, seemed to impose respect even upon his enemies; and though they proudly bore him away, they offered no useless insult or violence, seeming to dread him even in his bonds. The Soldan upon being informed what prize they had secured, could not credit his people, but must satisfy himself with his own eyes; no sooner, however, did he scan the knight's noble person and bearing, than he became convinced of his identity. He inquired into the circumstances of his capture; and when he heard on what expedition he was bound, and how he had ventured forth from the beleaguered tower alone, he cried out, "Allah!" and clasped his hands in utter amazement. "Were you my follower," he exclaimed, "I should not deem the most costly jewel in my turban, or the fairest girl in my harem, too great a ransom for you." The knight not heeding this flattering insinuation, the Soldan declared 'twere pity so brave a spirit were untimely dislodged from its earthly tenement, and required him to perform three-as he conceived it |