a sensation at once awful and pleasurable, lights were seen twinkling through a wood to the left, which till then had appeared like a mass of solid and sable rock, and a band of monks emerging from it with tapers in their hands in regular procession, offered, in the name of the abbot of Normoutier, the hospitality of the abbey for the night.

The night had become intensely still; not a breeze stirred a leaf of the wood, or ruffled a fold of the churchmen's garments; the tapers, burning upright and steadily, gave their strong light to the mailed forms, floating plumes, and reined and pawing steeds of the crusaders, and to the sombre habits and white scalps of the monks, the latter strongly defined on the dark and clustered trees that formed the back ground of the scene. To the bishop's indications of reluctance and distaste at this unwelcome invitation, Sir Aymer replied, by urging the impossibility of reaching the castle of Courtenaye that night. To his further intimation of danger from wandering bands of the heretics, who were known to be dispersed

over the country, the bishop replied only by an impatient movement to pursue his journey. But when Sir Aymer, whose heart was in the cause, whispered to the prelate the loose discipline and luxurious accommodation of the abbey, and swore that they would be little molested by any bell within its walls, save those which ever tolled punctually for the service of Saint Jentaculum, Saint Prandium, and Saint Coena, the muscles of the bishop's face began to relax, and with them relaxed his resolution.

"Sith better may not be," said the bishop in a reluctant tone-then casting his eye on the armed train, who, at the tidings that they were about to halt for the night, began to gather fast round their leaders" where, in the name of Lot and his guests, are all these to be housed and fed to-night?"

"My holy lord," said Sir Aymer, "you are not to learn that the abbot of Clugny hath received into his hospitalitium three kings, with their trains, yet never a monk was dislodged from his pallet to make room for a page in

the royal following-I trust there is not less wealth or less courtesy within the walls of the jolly abbot of Normoutier-trust me, we shall fare well."

"On, then, in the name of Heaven, since it must be so," quoth the bishop; "I shall at least escape the sufferings of St. Jerome, who was punished by the angels for his unchristian familiarity with the writings of Cicero. I am not likely to hear much of him to-night, and if I did, the ancient, if raised from the dead, could not swear to his own name were it uttered by the abbot of Normoutier."

As the prelate spoke, the train of knights and men-at-arms approached the gates of the abbey of Normoutier.

CHAPTER IV.

There was high feasting held at Vaucouleur.
SOUTHEY.

THE valves of the great entrance were displayed to their utmost extent on the approach of the crusaders, and the bishop rode through them in pride, recollecting that such entrance was never opened but for a royal visitor, or for one honoured next to royalty*. Sir Aymer and the young knights followed; and fast behind them came the mingled and multitudinous throng of men at-arms, Pelerins, and military stragglers, all zealously inclined to put to the proof the munificent hospitality of the princely-revenued abbot of Normoutier. The group rallied, and formed in a vast square,

* See a curious passage to this purpose in Madame Genlis' Life of Madame La Valiere.

which was enclosed by the buildings of the abbey.

The lord abbot, who was engaged with a guest whom he much wished to conceal, and who, like many modern inviters, had sent the invitation in strong hopes of its being rejected, now rushed forward, in his first trepidation, issuing contradictory orders, and uttering unintelligible quotations, in the same breath, to his visitor, and to the monastic officials, who crowded into his presence for direction and orders. To the former he whispered, "Hide thyself with that speed thou hast. Alack! thou hast not had a morsel of food or a cup of wine. Lusisti satis edisti atque bibisti." To his cross-bearer, "Do me thine office seemly; knowest thou not its dignity, and to what thou mayst yet aspire?-Hum. - Pasces in cruce corvos." And as the friars thronged into the procession, eyeing their stony figures, and the perpendicular and motionless folds of their drapery, he murmured, "Ay, this looks well.Sinuantur flamine vestes."