Anon they were ushered into a spacious hall; and while they unarmed, the board was spread with substantial fare for their refection.

"I am anxious to pay my respects to the lady," said the Knight. "And I to the fare," replied Grummel, vigorously attacking a boar's head.

"She is not visible, Sir Knight," said the warder.

"Then it's impossible we can see her," said Grummel, falling to. "She is doubtless a morning star, your Worship?"

"6 "What then?"

"Why then, your Worship, the Knight cannot expect her presence."

CHAP. II. An engagement, both in love and war.

At an early hour the following morning, Grummel having dressed his master in a superb blue velvet doublet and suit, proceeded to the kitchen to dress his breakfast. Sir Wilhelm, meanwhile, descended to the castle garden, where he encountered the blushing Elvina.

After the due acknowledgement of her hospitality, the Knight, who was, of course, deeply enamoured at the first glance by her transcendant charms, began to make a little love on his own account. The innocent Elvina listened with pleasure to the silver music of his sweet discourse and courtly compliments, for he had been to court, and now had come to court again. And in a few minutes after the fashion of those romantic times, she surrendered the fortress of her affections. She did not indeed "tell her love," but referred him to her father with such an expressive blush as gave him confidence. At this pleasant juncture, the old warder rushed breathlessly into the garden, and interrupted their placid felicity, by hurriedly informing them that a petty Baron, with whom his lord was at feud, had just appeared before the castle with a force one hundred and fifty strong, and demanded the immediate surrender, threatening to put the whole garrison to the sword if they resisted.

"O! Sir Knight," exclaimed he, "repay our hospitality by thy succour and counsel in this extremity. What's to be done?"

"Arm instantly, and let us defend the castle to the death," replied the brave Sir Wilhelm. "Lady, retire to thy chamber; put up thy prayer for our success, and Heaven and St. Grimbald help us. Hastily quitting Elvina, he retired to arm.

the kitchen, preparing his morning repast.

Grummel was still in

Away with these rashers," exclaimed the esquire, on hearing the news, "there is a less savoury broil preparing for us by the enemy. We are in a pickle, 'tis true; but small as we are, as the capsicums said to the cauliflower, they shall find us hot withal, and not at all to their palate."

"If they ford the moat, and scale the walls, we are lost," said one of the three vassals.

"Tut, man," exclaimed Grummel, who was an old soldier, and knew all the resources of war, "fill the kettles presently with pitch, and hand me the ladle, and long ere they reach the parapet, I'll-pitch 'em over." "There's the horn again," cried the warder," summoning us to surrender."

"What o' that," said Grummel, encouragingly; "we're not veal to be spoiled by their blowing. Pluck up thy courage, my boys, and lend

me a bow,-an I do not put a cloth-yard shaft into the varlet, and pin him like a cockchafer to the gate, I'm a ninny!"

While he kept talking in this strain, he armed himself and his

master.

The "garrison" was soon in battle array. Grummel now proceeded to his post with two of the vassals, and proved his skill and strength by executing his vaunt, for at the identical moment the herald was about to blow another blast, he shot an arrow through his heart, and transfixed him to the spot.

"If all the rest run," said he, coolly, "there is no chance of that fellow quitting his post! Nailed, by St. Grimbald! There is no succour for him, poor fellow! May all the rest of the wounded find leeches in the moat."

This exploit was the signal of assault, and a shower of arrows fell upon the castle.

"Let the porcupine shoot his quills at the boar!" said Grummel, "he is only throwing away his means of defence. Hand me that pebble," continued he, pointing to a stone of half a hundred weight. It was soon raised, and hurled by one of their warlike machines, into the thickest of their foes. "That has made an impression," cried he; "it is quite a smasher; there's half-a-dozen at least stone dead; another little one," said he, "we shan't miss that, though it should miss them. Besides, it will be as well, as they have challenged us, to show them we have a second."

While Grummel was thus ably executing his part, the Blue Knight (for so was Sir Wilhelm called, from the favourite colour of his armour and appurtenances) directed his little force with equal skill, dexterity, and advantage. The engagement now began to assume a more serious appearance; the enemy began to fill the moat, in order to proceed to the escalade. The little garrison was now concentrated. The boiling pitch and water were supplied by two of the vassals, and the besieging party had no sooner succeeded in raising a scaling ladder, and began to mount, than they were saluted by a cataract-like discharge of scalding

water.

as they keep us in susDown with it, my comlobsters in their shells!

''Tis but a fair return," said Grummel, pense that we should keep them in hot water! rades, till they're done in their armour like Another pebble! What, no more! Then up with the flags from the court-yard, and break their ladder-they're the only flags we'll lower to them."

These new missiles were speedily provided, and did great execution; the ladder was dashed to fragments, and numbers of the assailants were precipitated headlong into the moat. The Blue Knight was unwearied in his exertions, and encouraged his little force by his daring example.

"Bravo!" exclaimed Grummel; "we have wetted the enemy's courage, and sharpened our own."

The discomfited leader now retreated, and rallied together his rem

nant."

"By George!" exclaimed the 'Squire," they are forming for a fresh assault. We have so far lost nothing; and yet in the language of the lawyers they may be said to have gained the action,' for they have already got considerable damages.'

"And see yonder," cried the Warder, extending his right arm, "there comes my liege lord. I recognise his banner. What a happy diversion!"

"Very diverting, indeed!" replied Grummel; "mark how the scamps are making ready to scamper. The bow-men are all like crossbows, prepared for a bolt!"

The Baron Ulric von Altenberg now gallopped to the scene of action with all his band. The besiegers were in an instant scattered over the plain, like a flight of affrighted sparrows in a corn-field, when some adventurous Cockney boldly takes the field to-waste his powder.

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Wheugh!" whistled the 'Squire," that fellow hath truly brought his pigs to a fine market. While the Baron is pickling the lot, let us descend and clear away the litter he has left."

The Warder lowered the drawbridge, and the Blue Knight sallied forth with the " garrison to pick up the wounded which they had so dexterously picked off. The moat was so full that Grummel declared it was more like a folk-mote than anything else. When they had got in the living," which the 'Squire declared was no "sinecure," the gentle Elvina, as was the wont of those days, humanely busied herself in dressing their wounds.

They then proceeded to draw the moat, and fished up many a pike! The trumpets of the victorious Baron now sounded merrily, and they all rushed out to greet him. Ulric and the Blue Knight embraced with true chivalric ardour, and when the Baron learned from the blushing Elvina the extent of his obligation to Sir Wilhelm, the expressions of his gratitude were unbounded.

CHAP. III.-A Remark.

"Fool that I was to leave my castle alone," said the Baron.

"And wise would the enemy have been if had they done so!" said Grummel.

CHAP. IV-A Cloudy Prospect.

"I'm bound to serve you," said the Missal to the Monk as he clasped it-and so said the bold Baron Altenberg when he encountered the Blue Knight on the morning following the affray. Grummel, like an independent man, was serving himself; for chine, chickens, and flowing flaggons graced the baronial board in the most tempting profusion.

"Left wing forward!" exclaimed the 'Squire, dismembering a pullet; "right wing advance! chine support right wing! Fall in!" and at the word of command he commenced a vigorous assault. He then proceeded to demolish the "breast-work as he termed it, and finally completed his gastronomico-military evolutions, by ordering the "left leg first," when the "right" followed as a matter of course!

Meanwhile the Blue Knight was doing the agreeable to the old Baron, and insidiously insinuating that he was a single man; and plainly demonstrated that he was an eligible match for any young lady who (in the advertising phrase)" Wanted a partner who could command," &c. &c. The Baron was confused, and not knowing exactly what to reply, he endeavoured to divert the attack by simply looking under the table, and ingeniously calling "Puss! puss!"

"What does he mean?" said the Blue Knight, looking bluer. "He smells a rat to be sure," whispered the acute Grummel.

When they retired Grummel addressed his master in these words "I can tell which way the wind blows, your worship, as well as a weather-cock. It's my mind the Baron wishes to deprive us of the Lady Elvina."

"Us?" repeated Sir Wilhelm.

"To be sure, when she's your wife will she not be my mistress?" replied Grummel. "Now I'm resolved on the match, for thereby you'll get a better half and I better quarters. Two things no less agreeable than essential to our happiness."

"What's to be done?"

"Why, the whole garrison are in favour of the alliance; therefore, pop the question-demand her hand-and if the old boy holds out"What then ?"

Why, then, filially kick him out! and take possession of the castle we have fairly won by force of arms."

"You forget he is Elvina's sire."

"Will she not get a more agreeable sigher-in the shape of a lover? But, lo! here comes the comely dame herself—I'll vanish.”

And the sagacious 'Squire walked off, leaving the lovers to their own sweet discourse.

CHAP. VII.-A Sudden Decision.

Although the Blue Knight and Elvina were elegantly slender in their personal proportions, the Baron declared in abrupt and vulgar phrase that" they were too thick."

"Honoured father," said Elvina, "it is impossible to conceal from your parental eyes that I entertain an affection for Sir Wilhelm-and I know that he returns it."

"So much the better!" replied the Baron, "for it would be dishonourable in him to keep your affections, when he knows he cannot keep you."

"A young lady of your rank has

"You mistake me, father," continued Elvina. "He has declared himself my suitor, and I have sworn"Sworn!" exclaimed the Baron. no right to swear. It is indelicate !" "But he swore first." "Then, i' faith, you two sworn shall be forsworn," said the Baron. "Remember you are my daughter, and I am positive——"

r

"And I'm positive I'm your daughter," replied Elvina, “ from the same feeling; for I have formed an unalterable resolution to become his!"

The Baron looked at the gentle damsel for a moment as in surprise, and then suddenly burst into an immoderate fit of laughter.

"Give me a buss," cried he, affectionately; "you are my own child-a chip of the old block!"

The affair was of course decided-the old Baron admired his daughter's firmness—the Blue Knight loved her for her tenderness; and the gordian knot of matrimony was soon after tied in the chapel of the castle of Altenberg. Beauty presented her hand to Valour as the palm of victory; and Grummel had the felicity of being at the marriage-feast celebrated in honour of the nuptials of Elvina and the Blue Knight.

Feb.-VOL. XLIX. NO. CXCIV.

T

STAND STILL.

DEAR Tom! if you would learn the way
To quaff life's true elixir,

To keep your curls from growing grey,
And, as joy flies, to fix her:
Though scholar in no modern schools,
Skill'd but in old romances,
I've yet a few old fashion'd rules
To check grim Time's advances:
And this the first-If day and night
You'd shun the dotard's hold,

Keep all about your conscience right,"
And then-you'll not grow old!

And never mind whate'er they tell,
Dear Tom! of modern uses,
Be sure you'll just do twice as well
To stick to old abuses;

So pay your taxes-love your king,
Howe'er our sages bore you,
Take op'ning med'cines in the spring,
As your fathers did before you;
Don't lend your razor-nor your hack,
And when you lend your gold,
Be sure you don't expect it back,
And then-you'll not grow old.
And stern howe'er you play your part
In life's more sober stages,
Keep one small corner in your heart
For boyhood's sunny pages:
Don't cut a friend because he's poor,
But pause before you choose him:
And when a man has shut the door,
Don't let his friends abuse him:
Sell off your claret-if you must-
But keep yourself unsold,
Then live upon a laugh, or crust,
And still-you'll not grow old!
And when, to dissipate your gloom,
You wander down, some even,
And sit within the long brick room,
Re-formed since old Saint Stephen,
If you should hear a sacred name
First taught by her who bore you,
And your father's ancient faith and fame,
Denounced as cant"
"before you;

66

Don't fancy that we're turn'd to Turks,
But just go home-unfold

Some page of Pitt's, or Fox, or Burke's

And then-you'll not grow old!

And welcome, Tom! on heath or hill,

Each bright, green spot may greet you ;

Call Hope delusion, if you will,

But let her-let her cheat you!

Don't rob life's roses of their bloom,

Tho' Benthamites deride you

Don't sit within a childless gloom,
Tho' Martineau may chide you.

But trust, when bright things round you die,
Something our mothers told

Of hopes and homes above the sky;
And then-you'll not grow old!

January 26th, 1837.

Φ.