there was an
air of manly confidence on the brow of the Scot, a radiancy of hope,
which amounted even to cheerfulness, while, although pride and effort
had recalled much of Conrade's natural courage, there lowered still on
his brow a cloud of ominous despondence. Even his steed seemed to tread
less lightly and blithely to the trumpet-sound than the noble Arab which
was bestrode by Sir Kenneth; and the _spruch-sprecher_ shook his head
while he observed, that while the challenger rode around the lists in
the course of the sun--that is, from right to left--the defender made
the same circuit _widder-sins_--that is, from left to right--which is in
most countries held ominous.

A temporary altar was erected just beneath the gallery occupied by the
Queen, and beside it stood the Hermit in the dress of his order, as a
Carmelite friar. Other churchmen were also present. To this altar the
challenger and defender were successively brought forward, conducted by
their respective sponsors. Dismounting before it, each knight avouched
the justice of his cause by a solemn oath on the Evangelists, and prayed
that his success might be according to the truth or falsehood of what he
then swore. They also made oath, that they came to do battle in knightly
guise, and with the usual weapons, disclaiming the use of spells,
charms, or magical devices, to incline victory to their side. The
challenger pronounced his vow with a firm and manly voice, and a bold
and cheerful countenance. When the ceremony was finished, the Scottish
Knight looked at the gallery, and bent his head to the earth, as if in
honor of those invisible beauties which were enclosed within; then,
loaded with armor as he was, sprung to the saddle without the use of the
stirrup, and made his courser carry him in a succession of caracoles to
his station at the eastern extremity of the lists. Conrade also
presented himself before the altar with boldness enough; but his voice,
as he took the oath, sounded hollow, as if drowned in his helmet. The
lips with which he appealed to Heaven to adjudge victory to the just
quarrel, grew white as they uttered the impious mockery. As he turned
to remount his horse, the Grand Master approached him closer, as if to
rectify something about the sitting of his gorget, and whispered,
"Coward and fool! recall thy senses, and do me this battle bravely;
else, by Heaven, shouldst thou escape him, thou escapest not _me_!"

The savage tone in which this w