Charles Cowden Clarke

“ Oh, the race-week! thought I: the race-week at Baden-Baden, which, to my uninitiated mind, represented something like half-a-dozen donkeys on Hampstead Heath or the sands at Brighton. After all, they can only last a day or two. So, about dinner-time, I returned to my hotel, feeling that, for the present, I was not much better off than at Interlachen or Lucerne, where some thousand excursion-tickets were manifestly in circulation, and where, by the appearance of some of the company, they had been evidently treated for at a reduced rate of so much per hundred. ”

“ Poverty is a hateful good, though the redeemer from the cares of life: the improver of wisdom, to him who bears it patiently. Poverty makes a man know himself and his Maker too. It is a glass in which he may discover his true friends. Reprove me, therefore, no more for my poverty.
'As for my great age—though we had no written authority for the command—you men of gentle blood have ever held that age, in man or woman, is entitled to honour.
'And, to conclude, since I am loathsome as well as old, you will be in no danger that any one will seduce away your wife. ”

“ Now were the perplexity and sorrow of Arcite at their height. Release from affliction had now become his bane: 'Had I never known Perithous,' said he, 'I might still have been dwelling with Theseus, though fettered in his prison: I had then been in bliss; for the simple sight of her whom I serve, although I might never have merited the favour of her regard, would have been sufficient recompence to me. Yours is the victory, my dear Palamon, in this adventure: for you will remain in this blessed prison:—prison did I call it?—a paradise. ”

“ On the morrow the messenger made his way to the constable's castle, and delivered to him the letter: who, when he had read its contents, grievously lamented the bitter wickedness of the sentence, crying, 'Alas! alas! how can this world continue, so steeped in sin and cruelty is every creature!—Gracious God! if it be thy will, how can it meet the righteousness of thy judgment thus to suffer innocence to be betrayed, and wicked men to reign on in prosperity?—O! blameless Constance! ”

“ But when you offer to restore such dowry as I first brought, too well do I bear in mind that it was my wretched clothes—Oh! good God! how gentle and kind you seemed by your speech and your countenance on the day of our marriage! True it is, and I find it so, for in myself I have proved the effect, that love when old is not the same as love when it is young. Yet, be sure, my Lord, that for no adversity, even were it to die upon this occasion, shall it ever be, that either in word or deed, I repent of having given you my whole heart, freely, and without reserve. ”

“ Many noble ladies had assembled to hear the sentence, the Queen sitting as judge, when the Knight was commanded to appear in Court:—and, silence being obtained, the question, 'What is it that women love best?' was put to him in due form and solemnity: when, in the audience of the whole Court, and in a bold manly voice, our knight answered; 'My Liege Lady, and most Royal Mistress,—what women desire above all things in this life is, to obtain dominion over their lovers and husbands, and in all matters to sway them to their will. ”

“ After, she addressed the goddess of the green woods, the protectress of maidenhood, and queen of the deep dark realm of Pluto. 'O chaste Goddess!' said she, 'thou knowest the desire of my heart, that I should all my days remain a maiden, taking delight in the wild woods and the cry of the hunters. Help me now, lady queen of night, since thou canst help; send peace between this Palamon and Arcite, who now strive for love of me. Quench the busy torment and fire of their hearts, and turn their love towards another. ”

“ The stands were filled moderately with well-dressed persons of both sexes; and on the lawn in front, and beneath the flowering shrubs, and luxuriant creepers of the balcony, in every variety of charming summer toilette, were seated crowds of pretty women. Between the races military bands played the exquisite music of Rossini and Mozart. The whole wore an air of enchantment. For the first time in my life I enjoyed a race without a single alloy. The Derby has its host of London pleasure-seekers, a motley crowd of confusion and intemperance. ”

“ Not even one Syrian of the Sultan's council who had been converted, escaped the frightful massacre: and Constance, who was wild with horror and dismay, they hurried into a vessel that had no rudder, bidding her find her way to Italy. A certain treasure she had brought to Syria, and store of provision, with clothing, they yielded to her; and forth she drifted on the salt sea. The ruler of all events be thy Pilot, gentlest and most forlorn of women! ”

“ With all these rough and unchamber-like accomplishments, he was in his demeanour and address as meek as a young maiden. No villainous or injurious speech was ever heard to pass his lips—in short, he was a perfect knight of gentle blood. As regards his furniture and equipment, he rode a good and serviceable horse, which had become staid, and somewhat the worse from hard campaigning. His dress was a short fustian cassock, or gaberdine, soiled and fretted with his armour; for he had newly arrived from foreign travel, and was proceeding straight to the shrine of our holy martyr at Canterbury. ”

“ Not far from the palace of the Marquis stood a village, pleasantly situated, which supplied ample provision both for the inhabitants and cattle in its neighbourhood. Among the poor folk of this village lived one, named Janicola, who was accounted the poorest of them all, and he had a fair daughter, called Griselda. Fair she was to behold; but if I were to speak of virtuous beauty, then was she the fairest under the sun. Poorly and humbly brought up, her wants were all of the simplest nature. Simple was her diet, and constantly laborious was her life. ”

“ Having done all this and a great deal more, and being, strange to say, still a little tired, like the man who after three dozen of oysters before dinner did not feel more hungry than before, I was induced to turn towards the Black Forest, in search of complete retirement. I knew Baden-Baden years ago as a quiet little place, with much beauty of scenery within a reasonable distance, where the gambling tables were the chief inducement to a few German, Russian, and English gentlemen to pass a month or two of the autumn. ”

“ But say, who are ye, who are thus boldly fighting here, as if in the actual lists, without judge or other officer?'
To whom Palamon answered hastily:—'Sir, there need few words. We have both deserved death: we are two unfortunate wretches burthened with our lives; as, therefore, you are a just judge, grant us neither refuge nor mercy. Slay me first, but let him follow—or rather let him first die; for, though you little know it, this is Arcite your mortal foe, whom you banished from Athens: this, his return, alone, merits death. ”

“ This divine creature travelled back to Rome, where she found her friends living and well. All her adventures had come to an end. And, weeping before her father's knees, with tender and sad thoughts, she returned thanks to God for her deliverance. Thus they lived in virtue and deeds of alms-giving, till they were separated for ever in this life. And now fare you well; my tale is over; and may He who protected Constance, keep all here, and send them gladness after sorrow. ”

“ The fame of her high bounty had spread so far and wide, that all ranks, young and old, went to Saluzzo only to behold her.
Thus, Walter, not lowly, but royally wedded, lived in peace and honour; and because he had the sense to discern honest virtue in a mean estate, he enjoyed the rare credit of being esteemed by all a prudent man. Not only, however, was the understanding of Griselda equal to every wifely accomplishment, but when the case required it, she could dispose herself for the common benefit. ”

“ The figure of the goddess, glorious to behold, was seen naked floating in the wide sea: half her form hidden by the bright green waves. In her hand she bore a harp, and on her head a fresh garland of roses: above it were her doves hovering. Before her stood her son Cupid, winged and hoodwinked. He carried a bow with bright and keen arrows.
The interior of the mighty Mars' temple was painted like the famous one in Thrace, that frosty region where the god holds his chief dwelling. ”

“ Time is ever on the wane, and steals away from us, both while we sleep, and during our waking hours of negligence—as the mountain stream never returns from the plain to its source. Sir Man of Law, since you have consented to submit to my judgment, now tell your tale according to agreement:—abide by the summons, and you will at least have acquitted yourself of your duty.' 'Mine host,' said he, 'I have no intention to break my covenant:—duty is a debt, and I cheerfully perform my best—I can say no more: for the law by which man restrains his fellow, he himself should abide by. ”

“ The Marquis listened to their petition with much kindness of manner, and answered, that although he had never thought to be restricted within the bonds of matrimony, yet, for the welfare and safe government of his people, that he would consent to choose for himself a wife upon the earliest occasion. 'And now,' he concluded, 'I charge you on your lives to assure me, that whoever I may think fit to wed, you will, during her whole life, bear her all honour and worship, both in word and work, as though she were the daughter of an Emperor. ”

“ Before we proceed farther, draw lots, and let him who draws the shortest, begin.'
'Sir Knight,' said he, 'my lord and master, be pleased to draw: and come you near, my Lady Prioress: and you, Sir Clerk, oblige us by laying aside your bashfulness and your studying: so—every man lay hand.'
After each had drawn, the lot fell upon the Knight, to the satisfaction of the whole company. When this worthy man found he must abide by the general covenant, he said:—'Since I am fated to begin this sport, in Heaven's name welcome be the lot. ”

“ Love is itself a higher law than any framed by man!" All decrees, therefore, however stern, are daily broken in favour of the more positive commands of love. Whether maiden or widow, a man must needs love in spite of his head; he not help himself. There is no likelihood that you, any more than myself, shall ever stand in her favour; seeing that we are condemned to perpetual imprisonment without hope of ransom. We are but like the two hounds striving for a bone ”

“ Benazet, Benazet, Benazet, is on every lip. M. Benazet built the theatre, decorated the rooms; is proprietor of the baths; engages singers; supplies the charities, and establishes the races. M. Benazet cures the sick, amuses the ennuyés, clothes the naked, and feeds the poor. The concert for twenty francs, places reservées, was for the benefit of the hospital! Truly, M. Benazet is a great man, and charity will have us say, a good man too. And M. Benazet is neither more nor less than the lessee of the gaming tables. Of course I went to the races—races in the Black Forest! ”