Айвенго

Chapter 12

           Meantimetheclangoftheblows,andtheshoutsofthecombatants,mixedfearfullywiththesoundofthetrumpets,anddrownedthegroansofthosewhofell,andlayrollingdefencelessbeneaththefeetofthehorses.Thesplendidarmourofthecombatantswasnowdefacedwithdustandblood,andgavewayateverystrokeoftheswordandbattle-axe.Thegayplumage,shornfromthecrests,drifteduponthebreezelikesnow-flakes.Allthatwasbeautifulandgracefulinthemartialarrayhaddisappeared,andwhatwasnowvisiblewasonlycalculatedtoawaketerrororcompassion.

           Yetsuchistheforceofhabit,thatnotonlythevulgarspectators,whoarenaturallyattractedbysightsofhorror,buteventheladiesofdistinctionwhocrowdedthegalleries,sawtheconflictwithathrillinginterestcertainly,butwithoutawishtowithdrawtheireyesfromasightsoterrible.Hereandthere,indeed,afaircheekmightturnpale,orafaintscreammightbeheard,asalover,abrother,orahusband,wasstruckfromhishorse.But,ingeneral,theladiesaroundencouragedthecombatants,notonlybyclappingtheirhandsandwavingtheirveilsandkerchiefs,butevenbyexclaiming,"Bravelance!Goodsword!"whenanysuccessfulthrustorblowtookplaceundertheirobservation.

           Suchbeingtheinteresttakenbythefairsexinthisbloodygame,thatofthemenisthemoreeasilyunderstood.

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