Newspaper Page Text
him his abbacy. “ A sense of past benefits
alone,” said the speaker, “to say nothing of
what may follow hereafter, should make you
incline to the application of your nephew.—
He has already won honor for his name, is in
high favor with the king and my lord of Lig
ny, and will you, for a matter of two hun
dred crowns, endanger his future prospects,
which may be worth to you ten thousand.”
A hint adroitly administered, that his nig
gardliness toward his nephew*, with whom
every body else was pleased, would be very
apt to provoke the disgust of the king and all
the courtiers, concluded the discussion, which
had taken place in the garden. Sore, but
consenting, the penurious abbot led the way
to the dwelling, and opening a window*, he
drew* from it a little purse, which he put into
the hands of Bellabre. “ Here,” said he, with
a biting sarcasm, “are an hundred crowns,
which 1 put into your charge, that you may
buy two horses for this valiant man-at-arms,
seeing that he is himself quite too young to
handle money. 1 shall write to Laurencin to
furnish him with the necessary habiliments.”
The good abbot never fancied that these ha
biliments would cost more than a hundred
francs* but as the order was unlimited, Bel
labre assumed the privilege of judgi4* for his
young friend what should be the proper ex
tent of the expenditure. Possessed of the
purse and order, they took their leave with
many expressions of gratitude, to which the
abbot • seems to have listened with indiffer
ence, Once out of his sight, Bellabre con
veyed to his companion a portion of that pe
culiar moral philosophy which, in those days,
did no discredit to the soldier. “You must
know, comrade, that when God bestows good
fortune upon men, as he has done this day
upon you, they should do wrong not to profit
by his bounty: the bread is holy which w*e
rob from the priesthood. Here, now*, is the
order to Laurencin —let us use it quickly, ere
the abbot reconsiders. When he remembers
that he hath set no limits to his bounty in this
order, he will amend it. Let us use it quick
ly to procure all your accoutrements, not sim
ply for the tourney, hut for the year to come.
You will get nothing farther from his hands.”
Bayard laughed at the philosophy of his
friend- the propriety of which he had no rea
son to doubt. The age, in which religion
was quite too frequently employed as the.
cloak for crime and idleness, did not visit,
with much severity, offences of this sort
against a luxurious priesthood. The advice
of Bellabre was adopted. Laurencin was
waited upon the moment that they reach
ed Lyons; the order w*as promptly honored
by the merchant, to w*hom Bellabre told a
story highly creditable to the abbot; whom
li ‘ ted with the
hom he had
• :>i Yum idredcrowns,
Laurencin was
u sman placed
. o. He para
his rich vcl
v. . , c: •>>. ii< ■ i■ l l n gorgeous silks,
;e was even
the young knight
- va- ‘ -m :! •<! stint himself, by the
4ii-vv. .1 oir. j :,!non ; 1 s s.iie. He took what
wo m e -;i r w\ <. and what was
at fu.; ’ hi ; ( .i dt? ■ Jailors were soon
put r -J. v t coiiv a his goods into
hero ving garments.
scover the ex
cel ! (>c i he e.st Boasting at dinner of
hi i 1 *nc r My, he to! 1 what he had
f tl abbey applauded
tli( int, e ire-ring (lou!<t, however, wheth
er ‘ “ e Jtr hoi wisely in not limit
-1 “I fear,” said
ia -ihat oin nep “W* ,v* H t ike more than
y< i r’e, end, instead -t • hundred crowns,
vo thousand."—
flj alarmed, and des
tcin. was con
?<>::! e 1 irn and the < unt of Bayard’s
pu 1 *. j v v 1 handled francs instead
e t i ■- and: ■ Ln.'t .undred francs!
.St. Mary!” exclaimed the reverend father, as
he received this intelligence. “Make haste
to his lodgings,” he cried to his steward,
“and say to him that if he does not instantly
restore to Laurencin what he hath taken, lie
shall never be the better by another franc of
mine.”
But our friends had anticipated this mis
sion. and the servants were instructed that
none of the people of the Lord of Esnay were
to find their way to the presence of their
master. The pages amused themselves, ac
cordingly, at the expense of the messenger.
When the steward asked for him in his own
lodgings, he was reported to be at those of
the Count de Ligny. There, he is told that
Bayard has gone forth beyond the Rhone to
try his horses; and thus, until he was wea
ry. the steward was kept passing to and fro
between the angry abbot, his master, and the
sfDHJM&M a, air ® mbit ins*
household of the offending nephew. Very
solemn then was the oath of the former that
the boy should repent of his wickedness.—
The crime of defrauding the church of its
revenues might well, by an abbot, be held as
an unpardonable one. He did not pardon
the offence, and not .mother copper of his
money found its way to the purse of the of
fender.
Bayard shared his livres equally with Bel
labre. Their friendship hitherto had been
such that they partook without scruple of
each other’s goods. Two horses were bought
between them for the tourney, the day as
signed for which was rapidly approaching.
An interval of three days was busily employ
ed in preparations—in going through the
hahds of the tailor, in choosing and fitting ar
mor, and decorating, in the customary style
of the times, the persons of horse and rider.—
The tourney took place on Monday, the ‘2oth
July, 1494. The public and private prepara
tions were such as to draw together numer
ous spectators. The lists were duly set in
order. Place was assigned to the king and
courtiers, the noblesse, and the citizens, and
the ladies of Lyons made no inferior part of
the imposing spectacle. The knight, Claude
de Vaudray, the challenger, was the first per
son to make his appearance in the field. He
was encountered, in order, as the names of
the champions had been enrolled, by many
gallant gentlemen of the court and of the roy
al army. There were the Seneschal Galiot —
who proved himself an expert cavalier, —the
young Bonnival, Sandricourt, Chastillon,
Bourilillon, all intimates of the king, and ma
ny others, all doing their best, and all more
or less creditably. To stimulate the spirit of
the combatants, one of the rules of the tour
ney was, that each champion, after he had
run his course, should be conducted round
the lists, that he might receive the plaudits of
the spectators. Such a proceeding would
naturally prompt the ambition of the cavalier
to the utmost exertion of his powers.
The time at length came for Bayard to
make his appearance in the lists. He was at
this time not yet eighteen years of age, had
not attained his full growth, was tall and
spare of form, and of delicate complexion.—
His boyish aspect and person, in spite of his
manly bearing, awakened the sympathy, rath
er than the expectations, of the spectators. —
It was known that he had to do with one of
the most experienced and vigorous of living
knights. But Bayard was of rare agility,
and possessed, what was not apparent to the
eye, a degree of sinewy strength and well-de
veloped muscle, which were not common to
his years. He commenced rudely, we are
told, abashed most probably by the novelty
of the situation, and somewhat tremulous
from the excited desires of his own heart.—
But he soon recovered all his grace and cour
age, and the issue furnished a sufficient sanc
tion for his audacity. “How it happened.”
remarks the quaint old chronicler from which
we translate, “ I cannot tell; whether it was
that God willed that he should have the glo
ry, or that Messire Claude de Vaudray was
pleased to forbear somewhat in consideration
of his youth; but there was no man in the
whole course of the tourney, whether on
horse or foot, who performed his devoir bet
ter than he, or indeed quite so well!” And
ibis was the opinion of all the spectators —an
opinion which the fair ladies of Lyons did
not hesitate to avow with the frankness of
hearts delighting in deeds of gallantry.—
When it came to Bayard’s turn to make the
round of the lists, they awarded him, in their
Lyonese tongue, the highest honors of the
day—“ Vey vos ccsteu malotru! il a mieux
fay que tous las autros .” “ See you this awk
ward lad —he hath done better than all the
others!” Nor was this opinion confined to
the Lyonese ladies; the courtiers were quite
as much pleased with his performance. The
king said at supper, “Piquet halh made a
fine beginning ; in my belief he will go on to
a good end ; —cousin” —to the Lord of Ligny
—“ I never made you a better present in my
life, than when 1 gave you that boy.” To
which the count answered, “ Sire, it will be
more to your profit than mine if he becomes
a man of merit. It is your commendation
that hath made him undertake so nobly.” —
He added, “ There is one. however, who takes
no pleasure in his performances —his uncle,
the Abbot of Esnay. He alone looks reprov
ingly at the course which brings such pleas
ure to us;” and the count proceeded to tell
the story of the unlimited order, the eight
hundred crowns for which our two friends
had assessed the reverend father, and of his
unavailing dunning through the medium of
the steward; —a story Avhich provoked king
and courtiers to a very hearty fit of laughter.
Since columns must be filled, they say,
I’ll seize the pen and dash away.
*1
ATHENS, SATURDAY, MAY 13, 18*.
Our Inaugural.
It was with unfeigned regret that we found ourself
compelled by the force of circumstances, some four
years ago, to resign the Editorial Chair of a Literary
Magazine, and to say ‘ Farewell’ to readers and cor
respondents, whom long and delightful intercourse
had endeared to us. We never made a greater sa
crifice of inclination to duty, than we did at that
time. After having survived all our competitors, we
had reluctantly to bow to the decree of a Superior
Will, and abandon the field of literary labor, so con
genial to our wishes. Since that period, four years
have elapsed, and no one has appeared to occupy suc
cessfully, the vacated ground. Up to this time, no
Magazine or Journal of Belles-Lettres has been at
tempted in our midst. It is under these circumstan
ces that we have resolved on making another attempt
to occupy permanently, the field we abandoned only
from necessity. It would occupy too much space to
narrate the considerations that have incited us to this
resolve. Suffice it therefore, to say, that our reap
pearance before the public as the Editor of a Literary
Gazette, is the result of a protracted, deliberate, and,
we hope, well-advised regard to the wants and wishes
of the people of the Soutfl. We must await patiently
the developments of Time, to test the soundness of
the conclusion to which we have come.
Our friends know that we have not been governed in
this determination, by impulse or by imaginary con
siderations. We have proceeded step by step with
caution, and are now prepared to commence our En
terprise under such auspices as ought to convince the
most sceptical of the great probability of our success.
; \Ve have made a beginning, and in so doing, have
so committed ourself to the undertaking, that no or
j dinary discouragements will avail to turn us aside
, from it —no obstacle, not purely Providential—intim
j iuate our resolution. 4 Onward’ is our only motto,
and our only policy !
With this entireness of devotion to the cause we
love and labor for, have we not reason to congratulate
ourself and our friends upon the beginning we have
made 1 And will not all who feel an interest in the
intellectual advancement of the South, join the stand
ard we have set up, and help us to unfurl the bright
banner of Intellect over the beautiful land we love 1
It is customary for Editors in their opening ad
dresses to their readers, to lay down the landmarks
they design to keep in view; to indicate the policy
which will govern them, and to make some exposition
of their facilities and resources for their assumed task.
Obedient to custom, we shall briefly perform
this part of our duty.
The grand object of the paper we edit, is to devel
ope and foster the intellectual capital of the South ;
to open a channel for literary communication between
the scholars of our wide-spreading territory, to incite
to diligence latent talent, and to awaken from its
trance, slumbering genius in our midst, that 44 the
wilderness may blossom like the rose.’ It is further
more, to supply the growing demand of our people
in all conditions, for rational and instructive reading,
and to bring the almost magical aid of Literature
and the Arts, to bear upon the culture of the minds,
and feelings, and tastes of the community; to ex
hibit the true moral and intellectual dignity and des
tiny of man, and in short, to afford to all, the pure
and noble gratifications of the mental powers.
We seek, then, to establish a paper that shall be
avowedly sectional in its purpose; but while we thus
speak openly, let us not lie misunderstood. We love j
the South —for here all our interests for life are cen- ;
tered. We mourn that the South, preeminent in j
physical beauty and resources, is, beyond cavil, be- I
hind the North in intellectual development and cul- J
tivated taste. The confession is indeed humiliating,
but who will dare disclaim it 1 This single fact, then, j
is enough not only to justify, but to demand the es- ,
tablishment of an organ to arouse the people to a |
sense of their capabilities, and their duties, to them- j
selves and their country. We labor to promote Sout h- ;
era Literature —because it has been mournfully neg- |
lected amongst us. We have engrafted'the title, j
4 Southern’ upon our very name—not —Heaven- j
forbid—to cherish sectional prejudice! but to suggest, j
if no more, to our people, that Literature is as con- j
genial and indigenous to the South, as to any other j
region—to remind them that their own tardiness has j
given force and pertinence to the query sometimes
heard of this section of country, viewed in a liter
rary aspect—“ Can any good thing come out of Naz
areth I” We are avowedly aiul ostentatiously South
ern, then, because the South needs to be spurred on
to diligent effort and high attainment in the noble
departments of human progress—which we call Lit
eraturo and the Arts. We shall have aid from Nor
thern writers, and we shall accept it with many ex
pressions of thanks; for wo only seek to emulate the
example her sons have set us, in the cultivation of
the mind.
With the broadest fellowship for the sons and
daughters of Genius, whether nurtured under the
skies of the Old or the New World, we still declare
that we strive and hope for the intellectual progress
of the South. We wish to see the streams of knowl
edge flowing as freely and as boldly over the minds
of people, as do our noble rivers over her ample
territory. We ardently desire to witness the preva
lence of a highly cultivated taste—a generous spirit
of intellectual emulation amongst us. We shall
therefore advocate everything which, in our opinion,
will tend to accomplish these ends. We shall do all
that in us lies, to make the .Smth a source as well as
a mart of Literature. Every honest effort made to
increase our store of home literature, shall receive all
the regard and consideration to which it is entitled.
()ur columns shall be freely opened for the discussion
of systems and methods of Education, in all its grades
and bearings; and to all kindred topics. The youth
ful aspirant for literary fame shall not be coldly
frowned upon ; but when there is true merit the help
ing and fostering* hand shall be extended.
With the political strifes of the day, we shall not
intermeddle. They belong to ahother sphere.—
Strictly neutral in partisanship, we shall present our
readers with a bare synopsis of political intelligence,
possessing general interest.
Literature is the staple of our Journal. The use
ful and the ornamental Arts and Sciences will have
their appropriate departments in its pages; and noth
ing will be held completely foreign to our purpose that
is connected with the mental development of our peo
ple. In whatever we advocate .or censure, we trust
to exhibit a truly catholic spirit, and a warm sym
pathy with the best interests of our race.
Onr field is a wide one, and embraces a vast amount
of talent, now flowing into remote and irregular chan
nels, for want of those nearer to receive it. Is it a
vain thing to suppose that patriotism and the home
principle will induce many of those who possess this
talent, to rally around our Journal I But to set aside
all suppositious aid, we have actual resources ample,
and w.e believe, unparalleled in the history of South
ern Periodical Literature. Many able writers are
already aiding us, and others have pledged their as
sistance. The ready and skilful pencil of more than
one able artist will contribute to the embellishment
of our columns. We might say more in this connec
tion, but we forbear; preferring that our pages shall
afford the best evidence that our resources are great
and ample.
We have trespassed too long upon your patience,
gentle reader. We could, however, scarcely say
less. It was what you had a right to expect from us
in our first number—a frank expose of the principles
and objects we avow.
In conclusion, wc beg of you to exercise toward us,
those noble virtues —patience and leniency. We may
blunder —we may fall short ofyour expectations ; but
we will be honest and earnest in all that we do ; and
trusting to your indulgence for mistakes of the head
only, we commend to you this, the L st number of a
Journal, which —God helping us —siiT! nut lx! liglß
ly, or for small cause, abandoned.
Our Gossip Column,
In selecting the above title for a weekly heading
to one column of our paper, we kave been influenced
by a wish to have an appropriate place for those tri
fles which sustain the same relation to our periodical
feast, us the side dishes do to a well-appointed din
ner. Here we shall serve up, in such quantity as we
may, those literary tit-bits that are always palatable,
and in most cases, so eagerly sought for by the gen
eraljreader. It will not be supposed that every entree
in this department, shall possess the merit of origi
nality. We may occasionally do no more than add
fresh spice to a dish already familiar to some of our
readers—for a good thing will bear repeat ing—even
as a choice viand is welcomed at the table after it has
ceased to be a novelty. There we shall converse with
our beloved readers in a familiar manner —slip-shod,
as it were, by our own hearth, or, to use a mode of
expression more appropriate to the hot seusou fast
advancing— 44 under our own vine and fig-tree."—
We may, perchance, puss from “grave to gay” with
such a suddenness of transition, that in a more digni
fied place would shock the propriety of the reader ;
there, however, he will not expect to find either rhe
torical elegance or logical coherence.
4 Black spirits and white, blue spirits and gray,
Mingle, mingle, mingle,’
jn the tissue wo propose to weave weekly, with words,
without waxing weary.
5