The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 41, April 10, 1841Various
History
The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 41, April 10, 1841
Various
Ireland -- Periodicals
But in all that crowded assembly there was not one who came forward to
take up the guage of Garcia. They all pitied the queen, and believed her
innocent, but the dread of the future tyrant was too powerful a motive to
keep them, so far at least, on his side.
“At the end of three days,” said the king, “if no champion appear for
the queen, she shall perish by the flames, and with her, her alleged
paramour.”
* * * * *
The lists were prepared, and at the noon of the second day a knight in
bright silver armour, whose name was unknown, appeared in the queen’s
defence. His vizor was drawn over his face, and his device gave no clue
to the curious. The whole court was assembled to witness the combat,
and Elvira occupied a seat nearest to the side at which her champion
appeared. The signal was given, and the contest commenced. It was soon
decided. The unknown knight quickly unhorsed his antagonist, and after
a brief struggle with the sword, Garcia fell to the earth desperately
wounded.
“Confess the innocence of the queen,” said the unknown knight, in a
voice which struck Garcia to the soul, “or thou diest on the spot.”
“She is innocent!” feebly articulated Garcia, as he writhed in the agony
of his wounds.
Taking up the sword of his vanquished adversary, the unknown cavalier
brought it to the feet of Elvira, and then, gracefully bending on one
knee, he lifted the vizor from his casque, and for the first time the
queen knew that she had been indebted for life and the preservation of
her fair fame to the son of the king by her Moorish rival.
“Madam,” said Ramiro, “not to me alone, but to Caya thy friend, thy
thanks are due. Thou hast been a sister to her--let me be a son to thee.”
Elvira could only weep her thanks.
* * * * *
We find in Mariana, and also in Rodrigo of Toledo, that Sancho of
Navarre, at his death, partitioned his kingdom thus:--To his eldest son
Garcia he left Navarre and Biscay; to Gonsalo he left Ribagorza; to
Fernando, Castile; and Arragon to a natural son named Ramiro. This was
that Ramiro of whom mention is made in the preceding narrative. But we
do not find in any of the old authors (and much we wonder that any event
connected with so curious and touching a piece of history could have
escaped them) that this same Ramiro enjoyed the lordship of Arragon with
Blanca, the beautiful and virtuous daughter of the cavalier Don Pedro
Sesse.
R. M.
[1] Wordsworth.
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SELECTING CLEAN FLAX SEED.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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