and
ceremony presided in the court; the same precision and gallant
deportment was observable in the knights, the heralds, and all other
persons connected with the sports.

As these, however, as far as concerned the tournament, were but a
repetition of the antecedent day, and more to be enjoyed by being an
active witness than a passive reader of them, we will not dwell on the
subject further than to observe, that those of the castle sustained the
challenge most gallantly. Although many were the fresh arrivals of
adventurers who fearlessly advanced to engage the _Mantenedor_ and his
comrades, none were sufficiently accomplished to bear away the palm.
Indeed, the incognito knight, the most redoubtable of all the
combatants, either from fear of discovery, or from some secret
injunction, had abstained from making a second appearance in the lists.

The signal was now given, and the heralds proclaimed that the games of
valour and strength were ended, and those of skill about to commence.

An interval of two hours was employed in clearing the lists, and
preparing the ground for the _juego de la sortija_,[9] which was
peculiarly gratifying to the queen. This intermediate time was devoted
by the assembled and motley crowd, to the rational, and provident
purpose of a substantial repast.

A tall and slight pine tree, beautifully decorated with ribbons, was
placed in the ground, and a gold ring of proportion suitable to the
occasion, suspended on one of the projecting branches, under which the
candidates were to pass at full career. The queen herself resolved to
reward the victor with her own royal hand. Her portrait, superbly set in
sparkling jewellery, and hanging on a ponderous gold chain of curious
workmanship, was suspended by her side--a meet reward for the successful
competitor. The nature of the guerdon, the quality of the bestower, and
the circumstance that there was but one prize to be obtained, greatly
stimulated the emulation of every knight to deserve an honor the more
desirable from its admitting of no participation.

_Chirimias_, _dulzainas_,[10] and other musical instruments which are
now grown obsolete, but which in those days were in high request, now
filled the air with harmony, while the attention of the gay and motley
concourse was arrested by the sudden arrival of heralds on horseback,
gorgeously apparelled, and preceded by black slaves playing on the
cymbals. These paraded the lists for a short time, and