Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“

parture; directing our course in the first instance towards Kington and Thornbury, and after some distance, striking into the wild woodland paths of the more elevated ground, which gave us here and there a picturesque view of the winding course of the Severn, and the blue hills beyond. At length we penetrated the forest of Alweston, which I had heard my father say had been in the custody of the Berkeley family since the reign of King John.* Here we entered on, to me, a fairy land of imagination; my horse now trod that soil where the heroes of many a well-remembered tale had chased the herds of deer, the antlered descendants of whom I now saw browsing beneath the gnarled and stately oaks, that in former times had afforded umbrage to their slayers.

Although our previous rides had never extended so far as this, yet I knew the situation of the forest well, and taking an observation of the position of the sun, that I might the better be able to retrace our steps, we now bore to the left, and continued

* MS. apud Castro de Berkeley.

our course for some miles further.

conversation respecting the events

We were in

of the last

night, unheeding both time and distance, when our attention to surrounding objects was suddenly recalled by the appearance of two men, who had not as yet observed our near approach. They were speaking earnestly, and apparently about to conclude their conference, for I saw the more distinguished of the two, evidently a person of rank by his arms and bearing, place in the hand of the other what, from the action of the receiver, seemed to be a pecuniary donation of some value. The smooth damp turf, on which we were riding, prevented the tramp of our horses from being audible, and it was probable that we should have approached them nearer, so deeply were they occupied, had not a stumble which my horse made on the root of a tree, caused Isabel's mare to prance sufficiently to alarm the parties.

The knight, for such he evidently was, sprung to his horse, paused, and gazed at us for a moment, when, seeming to think it best to meet us,

he passed at a slow trot within a few yards of me. I remarked him and his horse narrowly; he was of the middle size, and certainly had not reached his twentieth year; his countenance was rather handsome, his frame well-knit and active and he had a graceful seat and carriage. The steed on which he rode was a bright bay, and singular, from having one white leg behind, reaching nearly to the hock. As soon as he had passed, I heard him put his horse to the gallop.

By this time we had gained the spot where their conference had been held, and the retainer, for such his appearance bespoke him, though there was neither badge nor cognizance visible, had just concluded the disentanglement of his bridle from the bough of a tree to which he had fastened his horse. The man civilly saluted us as we came up, though I fancied that his weather-beaten countenance betrayed some signs of confusion; and as he appeared to be journeying in the same direction that we were, I put several questions to him as to the localities of the surrounding country. Among

other things, I ascertained that we were now approaching the confines of Whitcliff Park, having passed the forest bounds, and that we had entered upon the private domains of Berkeley Castle. Here was news for me; and I whispered to Isabel to let us ride to some situation whence the castle might be visible; for though residing within ten miles, we had neither of us ever seen it, as often happens to others, who travel long distances in their own and foreign countries, for the sake of admiring nature or art, and miss some worthier object, merely because they could have reached it without difficulty.

Waiting not for my cousin's reply, I asked the man the nearest point from which we could obtain a view of the object of my solicitude. He replied, that not far hence we might see it; but, at the name of the castle, I thought his embarrassment increased. However, he continued to conduct us along a ridge of hill, abruptly sloping down on each side into the vale, for some way further; and then shortly reining in his horse, he exclaimed,-listen! I could hear, or at least distinguish nothing but

the lowing of cattle, which arose from the rich grazing pastures in the vale on either side: but probably his ear was more skilled in the woodland echoes than mine, for hastily indicating with his hand the direction in which we were to proceed, he dashed the spurs in his horse's sides, and plunging down the right hand declivity, vanished from our sight among the intervening oak trees.

Continuing our way, wondering what he could have heard, all at once we came to the extreme point of the rising ground, on which we had been for a long time riding; and I shall never forget my sensations on looking down from beneath the spreading oaks above my head on the wide and sun-lit vale of Berkeley. There stood the castle, rising in the midst of its green pastures, surmounted by the crimson banner of its lord, which waved the emblazoned lion on its folds like some good genius presiding over, and protecting the small town that had clustered for safety at its foot. It

*

* Probably about where the summer-house is now situated.EDITOR.

« AnkstesnisTęsti »