LOVE OF COUNTRY. SIR WALTER SCOTT. BREATHES there the man, with soul so dead, "This is my own, my native land!" From wandering on a foreign strand? To the vile dust, from whence he sprung, From The Lay of the Last Minstrel." THE HEROINE OF NANCY. In the year 1476, Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, laid siege to the town of Nancy, capital of the duchy of Lorraine. In the absence of the young duke, René II., who had gone to raise troops among the enemies of Charles, the town and its little garrison were 5 left in charge of a brave and patriotic governor, who had an only daughter, named Télésile. It is with the noble conduct of this heroic young girl that our story has chiefly to do. 5 Charles the Bold who ought rather to have been called the Rash, or the Furious, from his headlong and violent disposition had sought to erect a kingdom within the dominions of his great rival, Louis XI. of France. To extend his power, he had overrun prov10 inces, which, as soon as his strong hand was withdrawn, took the first opportunity to revolt against him. Lorraine was one of these; and he now appeared before the walls of Nancy, resolved to punish its inhabitants, whom he regarded as rebels. 15 But, thanks to the governor and his heroic daughter, the city held out bravely, both against the assaults of his soldiers, and the threats and promises with which he tried to induce a surrender. While the governor directed and encouraged the defenders, Télésile inspired 20 their wives and daughters. "Let us do," she cried, " as did the women of Beauvais when this same cruel Charles laid siege to their town. Mothers armed themselves, young girls seized whatever weapons they could find, -- hatchets, broken 25 lances, which they bound together with their hair; and they joined their sons and brothers in the fight. They drove the invader from their walls; and so will we defeat and drive him back!" "Put no trust in the tyrant!" said the intrepid governor, addressing the people. "He is as faithless as he is cruel. He has promised to spare our lives and our property if we will accept him as our ruler; but be not deceived. Once within our walls, he will give up to massacre and pillage the city that has cost him so 5 dear. "then "But if not for our own sakes," he went on, for the love of our rightful lord, Duke René, let us continue the glorious struggle. Already at the head of a brave Swiss army, he is hastening to our relief. He 10 will soon be at our gates. Let us hold out till then; or, sooner than betray our trust, let us fall with our defenses and be buried in the ruins of our beloved city!" Thus defended, Nancy held out until Charles, maddened to fury by so unexpected and so prolonged a 15 resistance, made a final, desperate attempt to carry the town. By stratagem, quite as much as by force, he succeeded in gaining an entrance within the walls; and Nancy was at his mercy. In the flush of vengeance and success, he was for 20 putting at once all the inhabitants. men, women, and children to the sword. to the sword. A young maiden was brought before him. "Barbarian!" she cried, "if we are all to perish, over whom will you reign?" "Who are you, bold girl! that dare to speak to me thus?" said the astonished Charles. "Your prisoner, and one who would prevent you from adding to the list of your cruelties!" 25 Her beauty, her courage, and the prophetic tones in which she spoke, arrested Charles's fury. "Give up to me your governor, whom I have sworn to punish," he said, "and a portion of the inhabitants 5 shall be spared." But the governor was her own father, - for the young girl was no other than Télésile. Listening to the entreaties of his friends, he had assumed the dress of a private citizen; and all loved the good old man 10 too well to point him out to the tyrant. 15 When Télésile sorrowfully reported to her father the duke's words, he smiled. "Be of good cheer, my daughter!" he said. "I will see the Duke Charles, and try what I can do to persuade him." When brought before the conqueror, he said, "There is but one man who can bring the governor to you: Swear on your sword to spare all the inhabitants of the town, and he shall be given up." "That will I not!" cried the angry duke. "They 20 have braved my power too long; they have scorned my offers; they have laughed at my threats; now woe to the people of Nancy!" Then, turning to his officers, he commanded that every tenth person in the town should be slain, and they at 25 once gave orders for the decimation. The inhabitants, young and old, women and infants, were assembled in a line which extended through the principal street of the city; while soldiers ransacked the houses, in order to drive forth or kill any that might remain concealed. It was a terrible day for the doomed city. Families clung together, friends embraced friends; some weeping and lamenting, some trying to comfort and sustain those who were weaker than they, others calmly awaiting their fate. Then, at a word from the conqueror, a herald went forth, and, waving his hand before the gathered multitude, began to count. Each on whom fell the fatal number ten was to be given at once to the sword. But at the outset a difficulty arose. 10 Near the head of the line Télésile and the governor were placed; and the devoted girl, watching the movements of the herald, and hearing him count aloud, saw by a rapid glance that the dreaded number was about to fall upon her father. Quick as thought, she slipped 15 behind him and placed herself at his other side. Before the old man was aware of her object, the doom which should have been his had fallen upon his daughter. He stood for a moment stupefied with astonishment and grief, then called out to the herald, "Justice! justice!" 20 "What is the matter, old man ?" demanded the herald, before passing on. "The count is wrong! there is a mistake! Not her!" exclaimed the father, as the executioners were laying hands upon Télésile; "take me, for I was the tenth!" 25 "Not so," said Télésile calmly. "You all saw that the number came to me." "She put herself in my way, she took my place, on me! let the blow fall on me!" pleaded the old man ; |