The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 313: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ST A LAL A A THE BRONZE STATUE. dll withdraw his troops from the Ildegardo Castle and estates, under pretence that no command to that effect was contained in the royal document. Baron Georgey . was now irritated beyond all power of endurance; and he exclaimed, ‘My dear son-in-law, the hour is at hand to punish this haughty usurper, or perish inthe attempt. We will not waste time by again appealing to his Majesty and the Council: but we will take up arms to rescu your possessions from the de- spoiler.,.—Vast and rapid preparations were accordingly made for the feudal war; and ina few weeks the whole of Baron Georgey’s retainers were under arms. ‘hese were strengthened by a band of hired auxiliaries furnished by a powerful nobleman in an adjacent pro- vince; and Lord Ildegardo took the command of all the forces thus assem- | bled. The moment that his hostile in- tentions became known, the peasantry on his estates, being determined not to return to their duty towards him, occu- pied the Castle ; while Baron Manfredo on his side made vigorous preparations to resist a demunstration which, in con- sequence of the auxiliary band, assumed so formidable an aspect. The Baron of Iidegardo marched straight against the the occupants of his own Castle, which he attempted to carry by storm: but the peasantry defended it with a sort of frenzied sage, their courage being ex- cited to madness by the contents of the well-stored cellars. ‘Throughout an en- tire day and night did the conflict rage ; and in the morning Manfredo made his appearance at the head of his vassals. A desperate battle was fought, the re- sult of which was terribly disastrous to both sides; and while Manfredo was compelled on the one hand to retire to his own fortalice, my master was forced to abandon the attack upon Ildegardo Castle and return to his’ father-in-law’s stronghold to recruit his losses. Some weeks elapsed ere the field was again taken; and then the overflow of the Moldau. which flooded all the low lands, forced the hostile parties to abandon the campaign for the rest of the winter. ‘«« Meantime the peasantry, delighting +n their comfortable quarters, remained in Ildegardo Castle, feasting and revel- ling, and neglecting the culture of their fields. In the Spring the feudal war was renewed; aud until the close of Autumn did it last without any definite result. Manfredo kept Ildegardo so fully occupied that the peasantry were enabled to hold possession of the Castle ‘belonging to the latter ;—and thus was this disastrous war continued to the ruin of the pecuniary resources of all engaged in it, and the destruction of the fine estates in which it was carried on. | Again, when the Spring-flowers peeped ‘forth, were hostilities resumed :——and the Baron of Iidegardo was now enabled to direct his operations more vigorously ‘than on any former occasion against the ‘peasantry occupying his Castle. At length one night he obtained a footing on the inner rampart—and gallantly did his followers push oa to carry the place by storm. But, behold! the very hour of Iidegardo’s triumph was likewise that ‘of his ruin: for the peasants, driven to desperation—maddened by drink—and dreading the worst at the hand of the master whom they had so long resisted, set fire to the spacious pile. Irom the summit of Georgey Castle did I view the appalling conflagration ; and never— never can | forget the looks of despair which the unhappy Lady Emilia, who clung to my arm, fixed upon the awful spectacle—aye, doubly awful in the deep darkness of the night: + Yes—The Castle was destroyed— the old Castle which had existed for centuries, became a prey to the unspar- ing flames; and in a few hours it was reduced to the condition in which. it appears! Maddened at the sight, the Lord of Ildegardo commanded that no quarter should be given to the peasants ; and they were massacred almost to a man as they attempted to fly from amidst the scene of grand but awful destruction which they themselves had consummated. ‘«The flames were raging still, feed- ing upon the corpses of the peasants,— ‘and the sun was rising above the eastern hills—when Baron Mantredo suddenly ‘appeared at the head of his army ; and a frightful combat now ensued between that force and Lord Ildegardo’s troops. It was evident that Manfredo had wait- ed untilthe latter were thoroughly worn out, in order to strike a decisive blow; and his caleulations preved to be only too accurate. My noble master’s war; riors fought desperately ; but they were overwhelmed on every point—and their route was complete. Broken-hearted did the Baron of Ildegardo return to Georgey Castle :—and taking at once to his bed, he never rallied again, but breathed his last in a few hours! «The rapidity with which misfor- tunes now succeeded each other, and ‘the crushing weight with which they ——E —— a | — ——— el —————— ell LL LLL —_____-- ~ “ ; 7 eae - — a —+ oe Eee ) — oo a“ ty <—% ” (a. i a ee comicbooks.com oe = Se he % | te + re Sk ee ee ef ° * ~~ a - - aad . 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