flourish from all the instruments. Combats by individuals and by companies succeeded to this sport; and he who had been victor the greatest number of times in each quadrille, being proclaimed such by sound of trumpet, was escorted to the temporary throne of Mademoiselle, the daughter of the Duke of Orleans, who distributed the prizes, which terminated the first day's entertainment.

The second day's ceremony was of a more important and interesting character, the King reserving to himself the distribution of the prizes; and the combat between the four victors, by two and two, armed cap-à-pie, being of a much more serious and perilous nature. Every thing having been arranged in the place du Carousel with the same magnificence and solemnity as before, the trumpet. sounded to command silence and attention, while a herald proclaimed the names of the four champions. These consisted of Sir Guy Narborough, a Bohemian Baron, and two French Marquisses; all of whom paraded on horseback round the course, while the ladies in the balconies and galleries selected each a favourite knight, and made little bets with one another upon the success of their chosen cavalier. The order of combat being decided by lots, the two French noblemen found themselves opposed to each other as openers of the field. Taking their stations accordingly, the trumpets were about to sound, and their lances were already couched, when the King holding up his

hand forbade the battle to proceed, and sent a herald to summon the parties into his presence. "Sir Knights!" said the Monarch, with a severe look as they stood before him-" we have been informed, that you have mutually agreed to divide whatever prizes either of you may obtain. Is this so?"

Both knights signified assent.

"Then, gentlemen," resumed the King in a sterner voice, "you have presumed to pervert the sole object with which I bestow them. Unearned by the wearer and unvalued for the donor's sake, such distinctions are merely vulgar baubles. Glory is the knight's best guerdon; he should weigh his badges of achievement in the scale of honour, not value them with the sordid calculation of a pedlar. When an ancient Roman had conquered a kingdom, he felt himself amply rewarded by a few leaves of laurel; and it was by this disinterested love of fame, that they were enabled to subdue the world. Here, gentlemen, is a golden spur for each, that each may wear it upon that side of his body where the knightly feeling predominates. And here," continued the King, snapping a diamond hilted sword across his knee, and tossing the fragments towards the intended combatants, "here is a sword, which you may apportion between yourselves, when you have settled which is to be the huckster and which the nobleman. Gentlemen, you wished your prizes to be shared. You are gratified. You may retire."

Covered with confusion at this public and severe rebuke, the crest-fallen knights withdrew silently from the royal presence, and quitting the lists, hastened to conceal their disgrace by mingling with the crowd; while a respectful murmur of applause ran round the assembly, in approbation of the King's conduct. There were now but two combatants left, whose conflict was therefore anticipated with a deeper and more condensed interest. The Bohemian Baron, a man of large stature, and who had shown that he possessed activity commensurate with his strength, wore a dark steel armour, damascened all over with wavy lines of light blue, and enriched with gold bosses; his casque being surrounded with an open-mouthed dragon, but without device or feathers. Sir Guy Narborough was equipped in burnished steel, inlaid with gold; and his glittering helmet, in whose front was emblazoned his family motto, was tipped with a small plume of white feathers. Both had approved themselves proficients in every exercise of chivalry, and opinion seemed equally divided as to the probability of their success; for though the Bohemian had the advantage in personal vigour, his antagonist was considered to have better experience in these rude encounterings.

Attended by their respective squires, both parties had now taken their stations, when, at the sound of the trumpet, which was the signal for the charge, Sir Guy's spirited horse reared and leapt 3*

VOL. II.

forward with such a sudden spring, that he jerked the lance out of its rest, and accidentally striking it to the earth with his hoof, galloped forwards as he had been accustomed to do in former tiltings. No sooner had Jocelyn perceived the accident, than darting to the spot with a speed scarcely inferior to that of the animal, he snatched up the weapon, and ran rapidly after Sir Guy, who was at the same time checking his almost ungovernable steed, and looking round, with extended hand, to receive the lance. Taking an ungenerous advantage of this unguarded and defenceless moment, the Bohemian spurred forward, and tilting at him on the opposite side, just as Sir Guy was leaning over towards his squire, easily unhorsed him, and threw him to the ground with considerable violence. Clamour and confusion instantly pervaded the whole assemblage, some calling out that it was a base blow, and ought not to be allowed; others supporting the Bohemian, and crying, that it was good and warranted law of battle. Crofts had run up to assist Sir Guy, whe seemed to be sorely bruised, while Jocelyn, feeling the lance still in his hand, and wound up to one of his passionate impulses by his indignation at such an unmanly attack, ran after the steed, which was still caracoling wildly round the ring, seized the reins, vaulted into the saddle, placed his lance in the rest, wheeled round, and called out to the Bohemian, in a loud and angry voice, to put himself upon his guard.

At this most unexpected renewal of the contest, silence was instantly restored; many, who were standing up, suddenly reseated themselves, and all waited the issue with a breathless impatience. Although the Baron had already shown that he was by no means a scrupulous antagonist, he would probably have declined the encounter with an opponent only half armed and unprovided with a casque of any sort, but that the impetuosity and hostile demeanour of Jocelyn allowed him no time for parley or compromise. He therefore couched his weapon, and prepared for the onset. Jocelyn urged his horse to its full speed, and lowering his head to the off-side of the animal's neck as he approached, contrived to avoid the Bohemian's lance, at the same time directing his own so fortunately, that it fixed itself in the dragon's mouth of his adversary's helmet, dragging him backwards from his horse by the violence of the concussion, while the casque, wrenched from its fastenings as he fell to the earth, remained transfixed upon the lance.

Apparently unconscious of the applauses with which the whole circus rang at this achievement, Jocelyn rode round to that part of the lists, whither Sir Guy had been conveyed, and dismounting from his steed, presented to him the lance with the trophy at its head. Fresh acclamations were now heard, and Jocelyn accidentally looking up to the gallery immediately above him, was struck by the singular