in many cases, attached small pennons of
about a span's breadth, which, fluttering in the air as the
breeze caught them, joined with the restless motion of the
feathers to add liveliness to the scene.

At length the barriers were opened, and five knights 25
chosen by lot advanced slowly into the area; a single champion
riding in front and the other four following in pairs.
All were splendidly armed, and my Saxon authority records
at great length their devices, their colors, and the embroidery
of their horse trappings. It is unnecessary to be 30
particular on these subjects. To borrow lines from a
contemporary poet, who has written but too little--

"The knights are dust,
And their good swords are rust,
Their souls are with the saints, we trust."

Their escutcheons have long moldered from the walls of
their castles. Their castles themselves are but green 5
mounds and shattered ruins--the place that once knew
them knows them no more--nay, many a race since theirs
has died out and been forgotten in the very land which they
occupied with all the authority of feudal lords. What,
then, would it avail the reader to know their names or the 10
evanescent symbols of their martial rank!

Now, however, no whit anticipating the oblivion which
awaited their names and feats, the champions advanced
through the lists, restraining their fiery steeds and compelling
them to move slowly, while, at the same time, they 15
exhibited their paces, together with the grace and dexterity
of the riders. As the procession entered the lists, the sound
of a wild barbaric music was heard from behind the tents of
the challengers, where the performers were concealed. It
was of Eastern origin, having been brought from the Holy 20
Land; and the mixture of the cymbals and bells seemed to
bid welcome at once, and defiance, to the knights as they
advanced.

With the eyes of an immense concourse of spectators
fixed upon them, the five knights advanced up the platform 25
upon which the tents of the challengers stood, and
there separating themselves, each touched slightly, and
with the reverse of his lance, the shield of the antagonist to
whom he wished to oppose himself. The lower orders of
spectators in general--nay, many of the higher class, and 30
it