University of Virginia Library

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21

THE STORY OF THE SIEUR LOUIS DE LINANT, CONCLUDED.

Early the ensuing morning, the knights mounted with their retinue of
esquires and men at arms, and throughout the day journeyed pleasantly amid
a fertile valley; their road winding beside a river, on whose banks stood many
a fair castle, and rural hamlet. At eventide they arrived at a noble wood of
palm-trees, the lofty and gigantic trunks of which, springing into the air,
noble columns, a hundred feet in height, expanded like the arches of a cathedral,
presenting a canopy which shut out the skies over their heads, while
beneath stretched arcades of the most magnificent dimensions. The nakedness
of the tall shafts was relieved by luxuriant tendrils of the wild grape vine,
twining in masses of verdure around them, or hanging in immense festoons
from tree to tree. Through the spacious avenues of this noble wood, the
knights advanced on horseback without obstruction. The declining sun
penetrated at intervals through the far asunder columns of the trees, in broad
lanes of light, like carpets of sun-gold unrolled along the level sward. On
all sides, cool and pleasant shades invited to repose; and, tempted by the
beauty of the spot, the travel-worn cavaliers resolved to pitch their tents for
the night. Having ended their frugal evening repast, they reclined before the
tent, each falling into such attitude for listening, as was his habit, and Sieur
de Linant then resumed his story which he called,