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The fourth day of their journey, as the sun was declining below the Sierra
Moeda, leaving a golden effulgence suffusing all the sky, the company
of cavaliers approached a stately castle, the abode of a famous knight, Don
Alonzo de Aguilar, now stricken in years. He was seated in his hall, before
an open casement, looking forth upon the highway, as they slowly
wound up the valley. His grand-daughter was reading to him an ancient
ballad called `The Lady of the Tree; for though no longer able to engage
in knightly achievements, and do chivalrous deeds for love and lealty, he
delighted to sit in his oaken chair and listen to the sweet voice of Donna
Violante; and certes, never were ballads given in sweeter melody than discoursed
in her low musical tones. This is the ballad the maiden was reading
to the old knight:

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`He was a false knight, child,' said the old noble, when Donna Violante
had ended; `he should have forthwith delivered the charmed maiden from
her thralment! For such emprises is chivalry maintained!'

`She rightly treated him, sire, by not speaking to him, for all his kneeling
on the sword,' said Donna Violante; no doubt this shameful knight killed
himself in the wood, as he promised.'

`He should ha' done it, daughter! But what company journeyeth hitherward?
Look!—thy eyes are young. I see the glancing of steel and the
flutter of bonnets.'

`It is a brave company of knights and men-at-arms, sire,' exclaimed Donna
Violante, clapping her bands and looking delighted as she gazed forth
`One, two, five, seven brave knights are riding in advance, on prancing
steeds, and their esquires and retinue come up behind!'

`They doubtless come from the tournament, and journey homeward. It
is evening, and they should soon encamp. Let us go forth to the castle
gate, and as they ride past I will offer them hospitality.'

When the knights got opposite the great gate of the castle, not knowing
its lord, they were riding by, when suddenly they beheld it thrown open,
and the old noble appear, his locks white as wool, leaning on his sweet
grand-daughter's arm.

`God save you all, gentle knights,' he said, waving his hand for them to
stop; the day is past, and it is many a mile to hamlet or hostel; and I should
bring shame upon my head to let so brave a company take lodging in the
forest, when my castle hath roof and room. So alight, fair cavaliers, and
share the hospitality of Alonzo de Aguilar.'

When the knights heard this name, and so knew who the fine old knight
was, they one and all lifted their travelling honnets and did him reverence,
for chivalry acknowledged no better or nobler name than his. Donna Violante
modestly seconded the hospitable invitation of her grandsire, and the
knights, thanking them for their courtesy, which would not be said nay,
rode into the court of the castle, and became their guests for the night.

After the hospitable meal, which Donna Violante and her maids had
quickly provided for them, was over, the whole party remained seated in
pleasant talk around the board. Sir Henry Percie, whose heart was deeply
smitten by the gentle beauty of the fair hostess, being seated near her, was
entertaining her with accounts of the tournament, and of his journey, and
how they had beguiled the hour of their encampment, by tales of each other's
lands. On hearing this, Donna Violante signified her desire that the
Venetian knight, whose lot Sir Henry Percie had told her it was, should relate
his story for the evening's pastime. The old knight of Aguilar, also
pressing him to tell it, he thus began;

`It was in the year 1204,' began the handsome and gallant signor Pier
Farnese, looking respectfully towards the maiden, `when the combined
chivalry of France and Venice lay before Constantinople. The bosom of
the Golden Horn was covered with the war galleys of the Venetians, and
its shores were white with the warlike tents of their allies, the Franks.—
The siege had lasted long, and yet the infidel Turks held their city untouched
by a Christian foot, though a hundred thousand soldiers of the cross were
encamped around her gates within bolt shot. One brilliant morning the

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rising sun shimmered the rippling Bosphorus with liquid gold, flashed back
from a hundred minarets of silver, and blazed from myriads of lances,
helms and banners. The fleet of numerous war galleys looked like burnished
barks in the radiant splendor of its beams, and the satin tents of the
princes and chief knights lining the green shores of the Bosphorus, shone
like palaces of pearl. Never such morning beamed on such gallant show;
while from the minarets was heard the loud cry of the muezzin of `Allah il
allah,' calling the infidel to prayer, mingling with trumpets of the Christian
hosts assembling to battle outside the walls. It was the fortieth day of the
siege, and the Turks had kept themselves so close within their city that no
warlike deed had yet been done. There was many a brave knight, who,
riding up to the city gates, threw defiance at the Saracen, and challenged a
combatant, but none up to this time had appeared to answer any of these
numerous invitations to fair and open battle.

In the midst of this brilliant and stirring scene on the morning I have described,
the attention of Turk, Gascon and Venetian, was drawn to a superb
galley that suddenly shot round a point of the Golden Horn, and gallantly
and swiftly approached the Doge's galley of state. It was a fair and stately
vessel, with three banks of plashing oars, and it skimmed the waters as if
its feathery sweeps were living wings. On all sides, as it advanced into the
port, were heard exclamations of delight and surprise at its great velocity,
as well as at its splendor; for many a morn one would look seaward and
not such a bark behold! It had three tall masts of cedar, polished like ivory;
broad sails of blue satin; a burnished poop of beaten gold, and on her
lofty prow was perched the bronzed eagle of St. Marc. Her decks were
bristling with casques, cuisses and shields, and ever and anon a shout would
be borne therefrom over the water, which was answered back from galley
and camp.

`By the good rood, messieurs,' said Charles of Anjou, who from his tent
beheld the approach of the galley; `this is a fair show! Hath Cleopatra
risen from the sea to visit us? 'Tis a Venetian bark by her sign of the lion
of San Marco! Who knoweth her?'

`It must be the nephew of the Doge, my liege, the young knight Medici
de Contavini, who is daily looked for to join us,' answered one.

`He must be a rare youth to come in such guise! By my beard, I would
have sworn a maiden sailed in you pretty toy! Yet, 'fore God! there is
good warlike show of steel heads on her decks, and her rowers have sinews!
'

`'Tis said he is a gallant, my liege, and spendeth great incomes upon his
apparel; yet I have heard he knoweth how to use steel as well as glitter in
gold!'

`Certes, he shall here have opportunity,' said the French king. `Methinks
such gairish outside should be a braggart's! We will try him. See,
he hath anchored his gilded plaything by the Doge's galley, which with its
iron prow, steel plated poop, tall black sides and warlike garniture contrasts
it well.'

The Doge, in the meanwhile, the brave, blind old Dandolo, received the
newly arrived knight on board his galley with an affectionate embrace, and
leading him into his room of state, there discoursed with him of Venice.—
The same afternoon, Charles of Anjou gave an entertainment to the chief
knights of Venice and of France, in his princely tent. The young knight
Medici di Contavini was invited and came. He was a tall, finely moulded
young man, clad in armor of Damascus steel, embossed and inlaid with
gold. His lose were silk, worked with gold; he wore a collar of diamonds,
clasped with an emerald, and jewels of great beauty sparkled on the cross

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of his sword. The pole of his lance was of cedar wood, inlaid with silver'
and an amethyst was set in its handle. Gloves of chamois, worked with
the needle in brilliant devices, and scented with perfumes, were on his
hands, and a gorgeous cap, adorned with a priceless pearl, was upon his
head. He was mounted on a snow-white palfrey, with housings of cloth of
gold, with a tread as dainty as a lady's. When Charles of Anjou who was
clad in mailed steel, without ornament, saw him approach, he spoke some
words of contempt to those around him, and when he came up, received
him with ill grace, not concealing his dislike. The Venetian knight did not
heed this manner; but gracefully saluted him, and dismounting, gave his
palfrey in charge to a page, who, scarce less richly attired than his master,
had attended him, riding a slender-limbed snow-white Arabian.

`Now, by my knighthood,' said Anjou to an English knight, `I have not
seen in Christendom such discredit to Christian arms. He bringeth contempt
on chivalry, and is only fit for spoil to these mussulmen, who, if they
knew what a gay popinjay we had in camp, would make a special sally for
his capture. So long as they know they would get only steel and iron
knocks, they have kept close enough.'

Thus spoke the brave and rough French prince before the banquet began;
and took thence no further heed of the knight of Venice; who mating
with cavaliers of his own age, soon made himself quite at his ease.

The entertainment was sumptuous and hospitable as became a prince's
board. The discourse among the guests was of the long leaguer that probably
was before them ere they could take the city. Many a plan was discussed
for shortening the seige; but none pleased the prince, who, knowing the
strength of the walls, was content to get the victory by-and-by with patient
waiting for it. After several knights had spoke their minds of the matter,
the young Venitian knight, Medici di Contavini, having listened to each
with great attention, rose up and said,

`It were no difficult matter, methinks, to take the city! The infidels are
brave in their defences! A well-directed attack upon the gate over against
St. Sophia, would be successful, and entrance once made, the city would fall
into our hands.'

`It were easy to get words, sir Venitian,' scornfully answered Charles of
Anjou, who with all the knights present, had looked on the speaker with
surprise; `words are easily got: but deeds we want!'

`My liege,' said a young French knight present, `this gilded cavalier did
openly boast without the tents, before we sat down to the repast, that he
with a thousand men could easily take the city; and wondering much that
we should lay thus quietly before its gates.'

`Said he so?' shouted Anjou fiercely.

`I did, noble prince,' said the young Medici in a firm tone.

`Then by the throne of France, you shall not want the occasion to put
your words to proof!'

`If you will place at my command one thousand men, I will, ere to-morrow's
sun, plant the standard of St. Marc where over yonder gate now waves
the cresent of the infidel!'

`Good words these, fair sir,' said Charles, who was not a little astonished
to hear such come from a `boudoir knight,' as he had contemptuously termed
him when he first beheld him. `Seven times we have been driven back
from her gates with great loss of life.'

`Give me the men I ask, and the deeds they betoken shall be as good,'
answered Medici de Contavini, with quiet determination. `If I fail, let my
head answer it.'

`By Saint Dennis! but his speech rings like good metal, if there be gilt
atop,' said the prince to those near by. Thou shalt have thy wish, sir

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knight. As this is a venture of thy own seeking, and in which we have little
faith, and do consent to it only to punish thy vain boasting, the condition
of thy failure shall be the loss of thy spurs; they being of gold will serve
the soldiers better than they will have done thee, by being coined into sterling
bezants.'

The Venetian knight little heeded the contemptuous manner of the
French king, nor the smiles of the knights, who could not help comparing
his bravery of words with the fippery of his apparelling.

`When wilt thou go on this emprise to take the city for us, sir knight of
the casket?' asked the king's fool.

`I am now ready, good fool; wilt be my esquire?' replied the knight
playfully; so that all wondered that he kept his temper so colly.

`Art ready say'st thou?' demanded the king! `'Tis two hours to the setting
of the sun, a short time forsooth, in which to take a city. But so doughty
a knight need not have many minutes in achieving the exploit he boasts
of. If thou art ready, I will soon have not only one, but five thousand halberds,
and a hundred lances a-saddle!'

The young Venetian smiled haughtily, and rising from the table, went
out, the knights and gentlemen also going after him. At the prince's command,
a thousand stout men-at-arms, all in iron breast and back pieces
filed before his tent; and a hundred knights mounted on proud and pawing
horses, with great bravery of targets and glittering lances, their banners all
displayed, pranced by with waving plumes, and beneath each corselet a
buoyant heart and bold.

All the while the young Venetian knight, whose words had called forth
this warlike cavalcade, stood near the prince, calm and unmoved, watching
the brave show of war. When he saw that all had passed by, and were
ready marshalled on the plain, he turned to his page and spoke low in his
ear. The boy left him and the prince said,

`Now, sir Venetian, the lances I lend thee are in rest, waiting thee to
mount. By the mass, I look to see thy jewelled mail rolling in the dust
beneath yonder towers, if thou darest trust thy perfumed locks so near
them! But the issue be thine!'

`Noble prince of Anjou, that a knight's valor lieth not in his apparel but
in his heart, I trust this day to teach thee and thy gentlemen,' answered
Medici di Contavini.

The prince was about to reply hastily, when his attention was drawn to
an esquire of gigantic stature, armed cap-a-pie, in plain iron mail, mounted
upon a brown horse of large size, and leading a jet black steed glittering
with Milan mail. This esquire rode up to the Venetian knight, and dismounting,
gave him a polished steel helmet in place of his golden one,
which his page took from him; an iron collar for the jewelled one he wore;
a cuirass of proof mail, and a sword with an iron hilt, in exchange for the
one with the jewelled handle; stout gauntlets of steel replaced his perfumed
chamois gloves; and iron boots with iron spurs, the embroidered hose.

The transformation was soon made; and the late beau cavalier stood before
the surprised Charles of Anjou, a well-appointed knight, clad in steel
from head to heel. Ere he could express his surprise, Medici di Contavini
receiving his horse from his esquire, leaped into his steel saddle and
sat erect thereon, before the prince and the whole camp of warriors.—
Charles of Anjou gazed a moment upon the warlike and knightly figure
which the Venetian presented, then struck his gauntlet-armed hand upon
his thigh, and swore ne'er knight of braver presence had sat on horseback
before him.

`Fore God! brave Venetian, I have done thee wrong, I fear me,' said Anjou
bluntly.

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`Let the issue of this day tell,' answered the knight of Venice quietly.
`If you have given me these brave knights and soldiers to aid me in my enterprise,
let me at once lead them forth.'

The knight of Medici then placed himself at the head of the troops, the
trumpets sounded with loud and stirring notes; and in sight of the whole
French army and fleet of Venetian galleys, the young Venetian knight rode
at easy pace across the plain, towards the city walls. When the Mussulmen,
from the towers and battlements, beheld this warlike array approach
ing the principal gate of their city, the alarm flew round that the whole
christian army was moving to the attack. The infidel leaders gathered
their forces at the weakest points, the walls were trebly manned, and every
preparation was made to meet the anticipated assault.

When Medici de Contavini had come at the head of his hundred lances
and thousand mounted men-at-arms within hearing of the gate, he rode a
little ways in advance of his followers, who kept back from the arrows
which the Turks began to shower from the walls, and sounding his bugle
called for a parley.

The Turkish prince Saladin, admiring the courage which rode so fearlessly
amid falling shafts as if it were a shower of snow-flakes instead of
steel heads, bade his bowmen and archers cease discharging their missiles.

`What wouldst thou, christian knight?' demanded Saladin, `that thou
bravest death to get speech of me?'

The knight made no answer, but riding closer to the gates intently surveyed
them, his motive being to stop the flight of the arrows till he could
carefully inspect their strength. Saladin waiting for him to reply, unwittingly
let him take a good view of the defences before he suspected his intention;
which he no sooner began to do than he sent upon him such a
cloud of yard-long shafts that the air was darkened above his head. They
rattled against his helmet, shield and corselet, like hail; but this brave knight
knew well the proof of his good armour. Slowly he rode back to the hundred
knights who had witnessed his courage and now respected him as
much for his bravery of soul as before they had held him in contempt for
his finery of apparel.

`Noble knights and men-at-arms,' he said lifting his visor and addressing
them, `I find I have made your prince Charles of Anjou a hasty promise
to raise in one day a city which should, as I find on viewing its high
walls and brazen gates, well nigh cost a year! But I have given my
knights pledge and will redeem it if my life be the forfiet. I would, ye
were assure of possessing yonder city to-night as I am of my grave. But
repentance comes too late. I have idly given my pledge and will redeem
it. Once more I shall approach to yonder gate, and when you see them
open it, if by stratagem I can prevail on them to do so, it shall be my part
to keep it open till you enter.'

Thus speaking this brave knight turned his horse's head and devoutly
saying an Ave, spurred a second time alone back towards the gate.

`Saint Dennis! but this knight means to out do chivalry this day;' said
Charles of Anjou, who saw him again advance; `he is either mad or the
devil in mail. See him wave his head to the Turk!'

When Saladin saw the knight come forward before the gate a second
time, he forbade his bowmen to shoot their arrows; thinking that he was
under a vow to some lady, and was fulfilling it by this bravery; and being
a good knight himself and not fearing any danger to the city from a single
man, he was inclined to see the issue of it.

The infidel prince had rightly guessed the secret of the adventurous daring
of the Venetian knight. He loved a fair and noble lady, the daughter

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of the Duke of Nuben, who, promised to reward his love only when a
christian banner should be placed by his hand on the wall of Constantinople.
It was this vow that brought the knight now to the siege, and led
him by boasting words to induce Charles of Anjou to give him men for
making the attempt. Thus the words of Medici di Contavini, were not
the mere vain bravado of a fool-hardy boaster, but the leal love of a brave
knight, seeking glory which was to have such reward. How he was to effect
his object he knew not when he went forth from the banqueting tent;
but he had resolved not to return to the French camp till he had succeeded
or fallen in the attempt, All that truest valor, though strangely mixed with
an extravagant love of gorgeous and costly display, could effect he knew
he was able to achieve. The rest, like a pious knight whose heart was
Heaven's and his ladye-loves, he left to God!

Slowly and composedly he pranced up towards the bronzed gates, his
visor closed, his lance in rest, and seated in his saddle like a rock. It was
a gallant sight, and the eye of Christian and Infidel was on him as he rode.

`Ho, sir knight, dost thou mean to break thy lance at our city gate? If
such be thy vow, Allah speed thee!' cried Saladin scornfully, as he came
nearer than before he had done.

`Come down hither, infidel prince, and let my lance find better target
than thy gate, against thy breast-plate,' cried Medici di Contarini, laughtily.

`God and his prophet! But thou art full insolent for a Christian dog,'
cried Saladin, angrily. `If thou wert not a beardless boy by the beard of
Mahomet, I would come down and meet thee!'

The knight, riding within fifty yards, stopped before the gate brandishing
his lance, taunting him with cowardice, and calling upon him to come forth
and meet him in single combat. But Saladin wisely kept his place upon
his tower.

`If thou wilt not come open your gate then, and let forth twelve of your
infidel knights of unbelieving Mahouri, and I will encounter them in fair
battle,' he cried, coolly, while displaying before the armed legions upon the
walls, marvellous feats of horsemanship, with the same ease and grace of
carriage, as if he were disporting himself at a tournament. Never had the
Turks witnessed such bold courage; never had the French knights known
such fool-hardiness; for such they termed it while they admired his fearless
bearing and insensibility to danger.

Medici Contarini was not herein acting without purpose, however, as the
event will show! Failing to irritate the Turkish prince who stood upon the
wall in his gold wrought turban and jewelled tahali, so far as to induce him
to come out and give him fair combat, and finding none of the Saracen
knights disposed to accept his challenge, he resolved upon a course which
would he believed induce the Turks to make a sally; for from the strength
of the walls and gates he saw that no human efforts from without, could
open them; and that unless they were unbarred voluntarily from within,
he was likely to lose both his mistress and his knighthood. Suddenly putting
spurs to his steed he turned as if to flee. As he expected his feigned
flight drew after him a discharge of arrows and lances, to escape which he
bent to the saddle bow covering himself with his shield. The Moors on
seeing him turn shouted their war-cry in triumphant defiance at this flight
of the Christian champion, while Charles of Anjou and his knights felt
mortified at the sight.

`By the cross! I knew he was but a carpet knight, the gilded craven,'
cried Charles angrily. `Ha! he hath turned back and gallops towards the
gate again! See! The air above him is darkened with feathered shafts!

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He hath a charmed life or weareth the armour of William the Norman.—
Let us see the issue of this.'

Medici di Contavini finding that his flight had, as he desired, drawn upon
him a discharge of arrows, after riding away a little distance from the walls,
be all at once turned his horse and rode at full speed back again. The
Moors, seeing this, for a moment ceased discharging their missiles from surprise.
He dashed forward at full speed with his lance poised and his
shield covering his head, and when he came near enough he launched
his spear with great force at the oaken pillar of the gate where it struck
quivering!

`Behold, Saladin,' he cried in a loud voice which reached Charles of
Anjou, `a Christian spear with a christian cross thereon striking in the holy
gate of Saint Sophia. If thou art a true follower of Mahoun and hast the
courage of one of thy Nubian slaves thou wilt come down and pluck it
out!'

`By the sacred coffin of Mahomet, the Christian dog hath placed a curse
upon our city!' cried Saladin, on the wall to his soldiers around him. `Let
it not be bruited through Christendom that no Saracen knight was found
who dare remove it. I would have a huge stone slung upon the dog, but
knighthood would say none dare go down while he is before the gate. He
who goes forth must do it in his face. A thousand golden bezants, a horse
and suit of armour to him who will pluck me that accursed spear.'

None moved; for the prowess and bold daring and seemingly charmed
life of the Christian knight struck terror into their breasts, and while he sat
there upon his saddle like an iron tower, ready to fall upon them, no one
dared go out the gate.

`Now, by the prophets' sword!' said Saladin, `this dishonor shall never
be said of us. Give me my horse and armour.'

When his knights saw that he would himself ride forth they then offered
to go. But he would not listen to them, and arming himself and mounting
his war-horse he ordered the postern, a small gate beside the great gates, to
be thrown open; and clad in a rich coat of Damascus mail, with a glittering
crescent upon his helmet and a gleaming sabre in his hand be rode beneath
the narrow arch attended only by a gigantic Eunuch in sable armour. No
sooner did the Venetian kinght see the postern open and Saladin himself
ride forth, than he knew that the good Christ had given the infidel hold
into the hand of the Christian.

Proudly and fearless rode the Saracen prince forth his gate, and with one
stroke of his sabre shivered to pieces the lance and trampled its cross-shaped
head beneath the iron hoofs of his war horse. Then turning his charger
round he took his lance from the Nubian, set it in rest and charged the
christian knight, like a thunderbolt. Medici di Contavini bad no lance
wherewith to meet the Saracen's charge, and setting firm in bis saddle till
he had come close upon him, he suddenly leaped to the earth, leaving his
noble horse to be the sacrifice. The infidel who had calculated on overthrowing
horse and rider, was too near to turn aside and came against the
horse with such a shock as to cast him over headlong upon the earth. As
he passed him in the onset the Venitian gave him a back stroke with his
sword that made him reel in his saddle. Saladin turned short round and
setting his lance again charged the knight now afoot, who, nothing daunted
now awaited him. The infidel's advancing lance was turned aside with his
shield and his own well directed sword point entered between the joints of
the mail and penetrating the heart of his steed slew him upon the spot, while
Saladin was overthrown. The Eunuch flew to his aid and the brave Venetian
Knight with a courtesy as great as his courage waited to let him assist
his lord to his feet. They now renewed the contest fiercely on foot with

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their heavy swords, and the noise of their weapons as they fell upon each
other's mail was like that of armourers at work at their forge. At length a
heavy stroke of the Christian knight's sword fetched the Saracen to his knee:
a second brought him upon his face.

`Now ask thy life and yield thou the keys of the city,' cried Medici di
Contavini placing his sword point to his hearded throat.

`Not to a Christian dog,” he muttered through the bars of his visor, as he
lay upon his back.

`Then let dogs lick thy blood,' answered the Christian knight; and he
was pressing the sharp point of his weapon deep into the jugular of his neck,
when the Nubian assailed him with great fierceuess; while at the same
time several Turkish knights followed by soldiers of the guard rushed forth
afoot to the rescue of their prince, who, for the honor of Islam had thus put
his life in jeopardy.

`Now, by our knighthood it is time we gave our champion aid also,' said
the company of hundred knights he had left on the plain; and shouting

`Monjoie, monjoie! to the rescue,' they galloped at speed to the succor of
the knight, who, standing astride the fallen prince, had defended himself
singly a few moments against the eunuch, and then slew him ere the Turks
could come near. Fiercely, with cries of Allah il Allah they set upon him
ten to one; and as ten to one he kept them at bay. When he was the hardest
beset, and had twice got wounded, two knights of Gascony who had
got in advance of their companions, gave him their help. The Turks seeing
their prince still down and those who went to succor him hard pressed,
as knight after knight of the hundred came near and gave him his blow,
they threw open their gates and let forth a troop of three hundred horse who
charged upon the French knights with loud outcries.

`Now, God and St. Dennis!' cried Charles of Arjou seeing from the door
of his tent things at this crisis, `it is time we took horse! This gilded knight
hath turned out an iron warrior, and faith, is likely to give us the city as he
boasted! Onward to the assault knights all, each at the head of his own
battalion.'

The thousand men-at-arms whom Charles had sent with Medici di Contavini,
seeing the sally of the three hundred Turks, now came up to the aid
of the Knights, and a general battle ensued around the christian knight and
the fallen Saracen. Medici di Contavini seeing this, took Saladin's sword
from his grasp, thrust him through the neck, and then at one blow severed
his head from his body. Displaying it on high, he leaped with it upon the
horse of a Turk whom he hurled from it, crying aloud,

`Behold the head of Saladin!'

There was a loud and terrible cry from the fighting mussulmen, which
was echoed from the walls, at this sight, and those who had sallied from the
gates turned and fled in great panic to regain the city.

But Medici di Contavini anticipating this, had got before them, and followed
by his esquire and a score of French knights, got to the gates first, on
which those who kept it began with great haste to close them. The Christians
however, were too soon upon them; and Medici di Contavini, cutting
to the earth the warden, tore the heavy iron keys from his grasp, and for a
moment stood singly defending them and the opening of the gates which
other Turks would have closed. When the knight and his esquire got within
they quickly slew those around it and flung wide the leaves of the gates,
through which now poured the flying Turks closely pressed and mixed up
with the Christians. Thus like a mighty torrent of two rivers meeting and
foreing itself between rocky barriers, this fierce tide of battle flowed through
the broad portal into the city.

Medici di Contavini first sought the flight of stone stairs leading to the

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two towers above the arch of the gate where waved the green banner of the
Prophet crowned with the silver crescen:. Desperately did the Turks defend
the passage; but the brave Medici knew not what it was to give back,
and aided by those behind he pressed forward and upward till he stood upon
the terrace. Before him at the summit of a gilded pole, floated in the sunlight
the flag of the infidel. With a single stroke of his cross hilted dagger,
for his sword had been broken in the fight, he severed the silken cords that
fixed it in the air, and down it came earthward fluttering like a wounded
bird. A loud and triumphant shout rose from the van of the christian army
which was rolling like a deep sea against the walls, the Prince of Anjou in
advance conspicuous with his snowy plume. Onward he galloped at the
head of a thousand knights and entered, amid the clash of arms and the
shrieking of trumpets, the gate beneath him.

`Now, fair Biancha thou art mine,' cried the victorious knight as he
caught the descending flag and cast it beneath his feet! And thus I win
thee and give the infidel city to God!' As he said these words he ascended
the staff, and striking the silver crescent from its top, planted deep in its
stead his dagger, the hilt of which was a crucifix.

`Now for the flag of Venice and San Marco to float beneath it.'

His page, as he spoke, sprang to his side unfolding the Venitian Eagle!
The next moment the broad flag of the city of the Isles, was waving to the
breeze and flashing in the sun above the Moslem towers!

`Make room too for France beneath it, brave Venitian,' said Charles of
Anjou appearing on the terrace with dented shield, blood streaming sword,
and soiled plume; and giving him, with his own hand the colors of France,
the knight hoisted them with those of the Eagle and Lion of St. Mark.

`Now, valorous Medici di Contavini, said the prince, `let me embrace the
best knight in Europe!'

And thus saying, Charles of Anjou took the brave Venetian in his arms
before all his chivalry. But the favor of the prince, the possession of the
city, the glory he had won, were all less to him than the love of his lady.—
The battle meanwhile raged fiercely in the city, and great was the slaughter
of the infidels. By the time the sun had gone down beneath the waves of
the Hellespont, Constantinople was in the hands of the French and Venitians,
and the cross of Christ was floating above every tower and citadel of
Islam. The honors that fell to Medici di Contavini for this gallant achievement
which had placed the capital of Islam in the hands of the Christians,
were modestly received and humbly worn as became such a valorous knight.
The next day the prince gave a banquet in the hall of the Emperial Seraglio
and when all the Knights present looked to see the Champion of Christendom
as they termed him, appear in the armor he had fought so well in, great
was their surprise to see him enter, flashing with gems and gay in silks and
velvet, with waving plumes dancing above his fragrant locks, and instead
of his iron gauntlet, gloves of chamois, sweet scented with ottar; his motion
as he moved, sesding waves of perfume from him through the hall.

`Sit here, my lord of Contavini,' said Anjou advancing to meet him, and
seating him by his right hand; `the fragrance of thy step, which yesterday
so grieved our humor, we look upon to-day as the sweet breath of valor;
and thy glittering silks and sparkling gems, and gold and velvet apparelling
look to our eyes the true and proper garniture of knighthood, of which thou
art henceforth the mirror.'

The brave knight was greatly honored at the feast; but being impatient
to return to take the prize of love and beauty he had with such chivalrous
deeds of valor won, he soon took his leave; and before night his gorgeous
galley was far down the Bosphorous.'

Thus ended the story of Pier Farnese the knight of Venice, which he

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narrated with grace and modest eloquence; Dona Voilante expressed himself
greatly entertained, and was full of admiration at the exploits of the brave
Medici di Contavini. The old lord of Aguilar said how such a knight was
a glory to Chivalry, and that he liked much his strategy of fixing his lance
in the gate, than which he said, nothing would quicker make them open it
to pluck it forth. The companions of Pier Farnese having severally spoken
their minds, each greatly lauding the courage and noble character of Medici
di Contavini, it was unanimously decided by the lovely Dona Violante, to
whom judgment was referred, that unless the other knights could offer as
fair a champion for the knightly honor of their own land, the palm of knighthood
must in truth and honor be given to Venice.

So, after they had all thanked the knight of Farnese for his chivalrous
tale, the lot for the ensuing evening was cast, and it fell upon the German
knight named Rother de Ernest, to narrate the next story of knightly
achievement.

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