The Mysteries of Udolpho

THE PROVENCAL TALE

'There lived, in the province of Bretagne, a noble Baron, famous for

his magnificence and courtly hospitalities. His castle was graced with

ladies of exquisite beauty, and thronged with illustrious knights; for

the honour he paid to feats of chivalry invited the brave of distant

countries to enter his lists, and his court was more splendid than those

of many princes. Eight minstrels were retained in his service, who used

to sing to their harps romantic fictions, taken from the Arabians, or

adventures of chivalry, that befel knights during the crusades, or the

martial deeds of the Baron, their lord;--while he, surrounded by his

knights and ladies, banqueted in the great hall of his castle, where the

costly tapestry, that adorned the walls with pictured exploits of

his ancestors, the casements of painted glass, enriched with armorial

bearings, the gorgeous banners, that waved along the roof, the sumptuous

canopies, the profusion of gold and silver, that glittered on the

sideboards, the numerous dishes, that covered the tables, the number and

gay liveries of the attendants, with the chivalric and splendid attire

of the guests, united to form a scene of magnificence, such as we may

not hope to see in these DEGENERATE DAYS.

'Of the Baron, the following adventure is related. One night, having

retired late from the banquet to his chamber, and dismissed his

attendants, he was surprised by the appearance of a stranger of a noble

air, but of a sorrowful and dejected countenance. Believing, that this

person had been secreted in the apartment, since it appeared impossible

he could have lately passed the anti-room, unobserved by the pages in

waiting, who would have prevented this intrusion on their lord, the

Baron, calling loudly for his people, drew his sword, which he had not

yet taken from his side, and stood upon his defence. The stranger slowly

advancing, told him, that there was nothing to fear; that he came with

no hostile design, but to communicate to him a terrible secret, which it

was necessary for him to know.

'The Baron, appeased by the courteous manners of the stranger, after

surveying him, for some time, in silence, returned his sword into the

scabbard, and desired him to explain the means, by which he had obtained

access to the chamber, and the purpose of this extraordinary visit.

'Without answering either of these enquiries, the stranger said, that he

could not then explain himself, but that, if the Baron would follow him

to the edge of the forest, at a short distance from the castle walls,

he would there convince him, that he had something of importance to

disclose. 'This proposal again alarmed the Baron, who could scarcely believe, that

the stranger meant to draw him to so solitary a spot, at this hour of

the night, without harbouring a design against his life, and he refused

to go, observing, at the same time, that, if the stranger's purpose

was an honourable one, he would not persist in refusing to reveal the

occasion of his visit, in the apartment where they were.