wear their linked hauberks with as much ease as if the meshes had been formed of cobwebs."

We certainly concur with the sentiments of the author himself, as hinted in his preface, in giving the preference to the Talisman upon the whole. It is true that the interest of the Betrothed commences at an earlier period of the story, and is kept up to the last by a succession of noble and touching incidents. That, however, of the Talisman is more intense and uninterrupted when it once begins, and its crisis more startling, nor do we recur to the Betrothed with the same lively zest, to discover fresh beauties of plot and character. Although too every means be taken to render the final event of the Betrothed uncertain to the last, yet we can foresee pretty well the general train of occurrences by which either the happiness or misery of the lovers is to be brought about while in the Talisman our curiosity is kept more perplexingly on the alert. We are besides disappointed to find the Crusade itself treated as an object merely secondary, in a tale which we had expected to find replete with that never-wearying theme, and its accompaniments of battles, shipwrecks, witchcraft, "antres vast and deserts idle," Paynims and Paladins of all tribes and nations, perchance even Huns and Troglodytes; in short, to have our imaginations launched into the boundless field of the east, under the auspices of our modern Ariosto: and we turn therefore to the second tale with more pleasure, as fulfilling more exactly the pledge implied in the title of the work.

Of these causes of inferiority as affecting the Betrothed, the author is obviously aware, and has therefore neglected no means of awakening and refreshing that interest which depends upon suspense. Hence the evil omens and prognostics which are studiously multiplied from the first, as in the Bride of Lammermoor; the accidental stain of Damian's blood, the curse of Ermengarde, and the episode of Randal and Cadwallon, who seem introduced chiefly to create an alarm and interest in behalf of the Constable, just when the reader is puzzled how to dispose of his claims. A ghost also is brought in to threaten and predict, if indeed the apparition of Vanda is intended for any thing but a nightmare, occasioned by former impressions and the recent repletion of the Baldingham supper. (Damian, we are assured by the Wardour MSS., always spoke of it as the gorge in the Saxon wolf brach's kennel.) Nor is the destiny of the parties finally settled till the prison scene, which, full of interest as it is, we think somewhat too long, and far inferior in original conception to the ordeal which Sir Kenneth encounters in vol. iv. p. 257.

The character of "grim old Hugh" is one of those which improve on acquaintance, and which the author is conscious of describing well; rough and austere, like strong bodied wine, but possessing spirit, flavour, and generous qualities, which are developed by the mellowing test of time:

Hugo de Lacy paced a short turn before the stone monument, endeavouring to conquer the deep emotion which he felt. 'I forgive her,' he said. 'Forgive, did I say ?-Alas! I have nothing to forgive. She used but the right I left in her hand-yes-our date of engagement was out-she had heard of my losses-my defeats-the destruction of my hopes the expenditure of my wealth; and has taken the first opportunity which strict law afforded, to break off her engagement with one bankrupt in fortune and fame. Many a maiden would have done,perhaps in prudence should have done, this ;-but that woman's name should not have been Eveline Berenger.'

"He leaned on his esquire's arm, and for an instant laid his head on his shoulder with a depth of emotion which Guarine had never before seen him betray, and which, in awkward kindness, he could only attempt to console by bidding his master 'be of good courage he had lost but a woman.'

"This is no selfish emotion, Philip,' said the Constable, resuming self-command. 'I grieve less that she has left me, than that she has misjudged me that she has treated me as the pawnbroker does his wretched creditor, who arrests the pledge as the very moment elapses within which it might have been relieved. Did she then think that I in my turn would have been a creditor so rigid ?—that I, who, since I knew, her, scarce deemed myself worthy of her when I had wealth and fame, should insist on her sharing my diminished and degraded fortunes? How little she ever knew me, or how selfish must she have supposed my misfortunes to have made me! But be it so-she is gone, and may she be happy. The thought that she disturbed me shall pass from my mind; and I will think she has done that which I myself, as her best friend, must in honour have advised.'

"So saying, his countenance, to the surprise of his attendants, resumed its usual firm composure."-p. 259-60.

"The minstrel was so much astonished at this change of deportment, from the sensitive acuteness of agony which attended the beginning of his narrative, that he stepped back two paces, and gazing on the Constable with wonder, mixed with admiration, exclaimed, 'We have heard of martyrs in Palestine, but this exceeds them.'

"Wonder not so much, good friend,' said the Constable, patiently; it is the first blow of the lance or mace which pierces or stuns-those which follow are little felt.'

"Think, my lord,' said Vidal, all is lost-love, dominion, high office, and bright fame-so late a chief among nobles-now a poor palmer.'

*

"Wouldst thou make sport with my misery?' said Hugo, sternly; but even that comes of course behind my back, and why should it not be endured when said to my face? Know, then, minstrel, and put it in song, if you list, that Hugo de Lacy, having lost all he carried to Palestine, and all which he left at home, is still lord of his own mind; and adversity can no more shake him, than the breeze which strips the oak of its leaves can tear up the trunk by the roots."

To use the words of his favourite Wilkin Flammock, he is "of a generation that will not shrink in the washing."

Honest Flammock himself, on the contrary, may be compared to his native schwartz-bier, excellent for every ordinary use, and possessing in his own gross and muddy fashion, the genial good qualities of more refined liquor. His probity is invincible, his affections kindly, his homespun acuteness more than a match for finer intellects, and his courage and presence of mind as ready at any hour of the day or night as that of the brave Crillon :" but all after a manner of his own, and totally abstracted from those notions of honour and delicacy, for which he entertains a sovereign contempt. Even his benevolence, which is genuine, is qualified by the following downright Dutch sorites, which would be worth its weight in gold in the eyes of Malthus:

"Foreign expeditions and profligate habits have made many poor; and he that is poor will murder his father for money. I hate poor people; and I would the devil had every man who cannot keep himself by the work of his own hand!"

The lovers are tolerably well rescued from the influence of that dulness which is usually attendant on the predicament of love; indeed we could even have borne a little more of it towards the conclusion, where it would not have been misplaced. Too much, however, cannot be said of the pure and lofty principles on which they were made to act, and which it is this writer's delight to exemplify, both in his romantic and more familiar works. It is hardly possible, indeed, to draw other than a favourable augury from the first appearance of Damian upon the scene, which after all the elaborate descriptions we have read of the persons of heroes, has nothing trite in it:

"They found him just alighted from the raven-coloured horse, which was slightly flecked with blood as well as foam, and still panted with the exertions of the evening; though, answering to the caressing hand of his youthful rider, he arched his neck, shook his steel caparison, and snorted to announce his unabated mettle and unwearied love of combat. The young man's eagle look bore the same token of unabated vigour,

mingled with the signs of recent exertion. His helmet hanging at his saddle-bow, showed a gallant countenance, coloured highly, but not inflamed, which looked out from a rich profusion of short chestnut curls ; and although his armour was of a massive and simple form, he moved under it with such elasticity and ease, that it seemed a graceful attire, not a burthen or incumbrance. A furred mantle had not sat on him with more easy grace than the heavy hauberk which complied with every gesture of his noble form. Yet his countenance was so juvenile, that only the down on the upper lip announced decisively the approach to manhood. The females, who thronged into the court to see the first envoy of their deliverers, could not forbear mixing praises of his beauty with blessings on his valour; and one comely middle-aged dame, in particular, distinguished by the tightness with which her scarlet hose sat on a well-shaped leg and ancle, and by the cleanness of her coif, pressed close up to the young squire, and, more forward than the rest, doubled the crimson hue of his cheek, by crying aloud, that Our Lady of the Garde Doloureuse had sent them news of their redemption by an angel from the sanctuary ;-a speech which, although Father Aldrovand shook his head, was received by her companions with such general acclamation, as greatly embarrassed the young man's modesty.'

Of Eveline more hereafter. From her natural and spirited little handmaid Rose, less is required, and fewer traits therefore serve to compose the character. In our eyes she is a delightful personage; but whether the gentle Amelot maintained in subsequent life the needful authority over a wife somewhat his senior, whose propensity to govern had perplexed his liege lady at so early a period, (i. 224.) the Wardour MSS. saith not.

We must confess to the same dislike of buxom dame Gillian the tire-woman, which poor Rose betrays; indeed the former abuses rather too broadly the privilege of tongue granted to the wife of Bath, and ladies of her school; but as it appears that Eveline finally restored her to favour for the sake of honest Raoul her spouse, (who with Mahound his horse, somewhat resembles crusty Christy and Pepper in Bracebridge Hall,) it is not for us to impeach the fair Castellane's choice. The warm-hearted Father Aldrovand is worthy of a far kinder feeling, though in truth the education which has taught him to use the "trebuchet and quarrel" with such dexterity, has rendered him somewhat of a betterconditioned Friar Tuck.

We hardly know whether to like or not the episode of the disguised Cadwallon, which can only be called for by reasons already alluded to. The death of Gwenwyn certainly needed no revenge. Like the white dragon his symbol, and all other

dragons, white, red, and green, down to the dragon of Wantley, his business was to be slain in due course, and duly slain he is, in a manner highly creditable to the strength of the Constable's arm and lance. The night-march which precedes this event, is in the following passage strikingly brought home to the ear and imagination of the reader :

"At length Rose suddenly felt her young mistress shiver in her embrace, and that Eveline's hand grasped her own arm rigidly as she whispered, 'Do you hear nothing?'

"No-nothing but the hooting of the owl,' answered Rose timo

rously.

"I heard a distant sound,' said Eveline, I thought I heard it— hark, it comes again - Look from the battlements, Rose, while I awaken the priest and thy father.'

"Dearest lady,' said Rose,' I dare not-What can this sound be that is heard by one only?-You are deceived by the rush of the river.' "I would not alarm the castle unnecessarily,' said Eveline, pausing, or even break your father's needful slumbers, by a fancy of mine-But hark-hark-I hear it again-distinct amidst the intermitting sound of the rushing water-a low tremulous sound, mingled with a tinkling like smiths or armourers at work upon their anvils.'

"Rose had by this time sprung up on the banquette, and flinging back her rich tresses of fair hair, had applied her hand behind her ear to collect the distant sound. 'I hear it,' she cried, and it increases-Awake them, for Heaven's sake, and without a moment's delay!'

"Eveline accordingly stirred the sleepers with the reversed end of the lance, and as they started to their feet in haste, she whispered, in a hasty but cautious voice, To arms-the Welch are upon us!'

“What—where?' said Wilkin Flammock, where be they?' "Listen and you will hear them arming,' she replied.

"The noise is but in thine own fancy, lady,' said the Fleming, whose organs were of the same heavy character with his form and his disposition. I would I had not gone to sleep at all, since I was to be awakened so soon.'

"Nay, but listen, good Flammock-the sound of armour comes from the north-east.'

"The Welch lie not in that quarter, lady,' said Wilkin, and, besides, they wear no armour.'

"I hear it, I hear it!' said Father Aldrovand, who had been listening for some time. All praise to St. Benedict! Our Lady of the Garde Doloureuse has been gracious to her servants as ever! It is the tramp of horse; it is the clash of armour; the chivalry of the Marches are coming to our relief..Kyrie Eleison !'

"I hear something too,' said Flammock, something like the hollow sound of the great sea, when it burst into my neighbour Klinkerman's warehouse, and rolled his pots and pans against each other. But it were