Tales of the Crusaders; In Four Volumes. the Betrothed Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1825 edition. Excerpt: ...stars, and the pale crescent. All was still, excepting the solemn rush of the waters, and now and then the shrill tinkle of a harp, which, heard from more than a mile s distance through the midnight silence, announced that some of the V'elchmen still protracted their most beloved amusement. The wild notes, partially heard, seemed like the voice of some passing spirit; and, connected as they were with ideas of fierce and unrelenting hostility, thrilled on E_veline s ear, as if prophetic of war and woe, captivity and death. The only other sounds which disturbed the extreme stillness of the night, was the occasional step of a sentinel upon his post, or the booting of the owls, which seemed to wail the approaching downfall of the moon-light turrets, in which they had established their ancient habitations. The calmness of all-around seemed to press like a weight on the bosom of the unhappy Eveline, and brought to her bosom _a deeper sense of present grief, and keener fear of fu ture horrors, than had reigned there during the hustle, blood, and confusion of the preceding day. _She rose up--she sat down--she moved to and fro on the platform--she remained fixed like a statue to a single spot, as if she were trying by variety of posture to divert her internal sense of fear and sorrow. At length, looking at the monk and the Fleming as they slept soundly under the shade of the battlement, she could no longer forbear breaking silence. n Men aye happy, - she said, u my beloved Rose; their anxious thoughts are either diverted by toilsome exertion, or drowned in the. insensibility which follows it. They may encounter wounds and death; but it is we who feel in the spirit a more keen anguish than the body knows, and in the gnawing sense of present...