upon him with interest and curiosity.
He is clad in brightly-shining steel, and no heraldic emblems show his
rank. His Moorish page bears before him his shield, upon the black
ground of which one blooming rose, and the motto _Quero_, "I seek," form
the only device. He is an utter stranger to all: yet both Emperor and
Princess command the herald to discover who he is. That he is
illustrious, none can doubt. A blue ribbon, worn upon his arm, shows
that he has not enlisted himself among the admirers of the Lady
Clotilda: in whose honor can he wear it?

When the heralds have taken the oath of the combatants that they will in
all respects obey the laws of chivalry in the approaching conflict, the
names and titles of those who were about to engage in it were called
aloud, with the sound of the trumpet. When the unknown knight was
courteously requested to announce his name, he gave that of "The Knight
of the Blooming Rose." The mystery as to who he could be increased the
interest felt in him; and as one after another of the cavaliers was
unhorsed by his firm and skilful arm and rolled in the dust, the
excitement became intense. The Grand Duke Udolpho had also greatly
distinguished himself, and it was soon very evident that the victory
would lie between these two. Clotilda's sympathies were enlisted on the
side of Udolpho: Edith's, for the Knight of the Blooming Rose, whose
success she watched with breathless interest. The contest was not long
undetermined: the shouts of the populace, and the waving of scarfs and
handkerchiefs by fair hands, soon proclaimed the unknown cavalier to be
the victor.

Escorted by the heralds he approached the Emperor, who, after
pronouncing a eulogy upon his bravery and skill, threw round his neck a
costly chain, and placed in his hand the wreath to be worn by the Queen
of Love and Beauty, whose duty it should be to preside over the games
during the remainder of the week, and to distribute prizes to the
winners. It was his envied privilege to confer this dignity upon the
lady who was fairest in his eyes. As he rode round the barriers, gazing
at the numberless lovely faces assembled there, many a heart thrilled
with emotion; and as he passed the Princess Clotilda, surprise,
mortification, and resentment could only too plainly be traced upon her
countenance. Never before had she been so slighted. But when the knight
stopped before the Lady Edith, and kneeling down, besought her to confer
dignity up