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KENILWORTH - Penn State University

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Kenilworthtions at a little distance, he extricated himself from the press,and walking towards the Chase, made his way through thecrowds of ordinary spectators, who, with open mouth, stoodgazing on the battle of the English and the Danes. When hehad accomplished this, which was a work of some difficulty,he shot another glance behind him to see that Tressilian hadbeen equally successful; and as soon as he saw him also freefrom the crowd, he led the way to a small thicket, behindwhich stood a lackey, with two horses ready saddled. He flunghimself on the one, and made signs to Tressilian to mountthe other, who obeyed without speaking a single word.Leicester then spurred his horse, and galloped without stoppinguntil he reached a sequestered spot, environed by loftyoaks, about a mile’s distance from the Castle, and in an oppositedirection from the scene to which curiosity was drawingevery spectator. He there dismounted, bound his horse to atree, and only pronouncing the words, “Here there is no risk ofinterruption,” laid his cloak across his saddle, and drew his sword.Tressilian imitated his example punctually, yet could notforbear saying, as he drew his weapon, “My lord, as I havebeen known to many as one who does not fear death whenplaced in balance with honour, methinks I may, without derogation,ask wherefore, in the name of all that is honourable,your lordship has dared to offer me such a mark of disgrace asplaces us on these terms with respect to each other?”“If you like not such marks of my scorn,” replied the Earl,“betake yourself instantly to your weapon, lest I repeat theusage you complain of.”“It shall not need, my lord,” said Tressilian. “God judgebetwixt us! and your blood, if you fall, be on your own head.”He had scarce completed the sentence when they instantlyclosed in combat.But Leicester, who was a perfect master of defence amongall other exterior accomplishments of the time, had seen onthe preceding night enough of Tressilian’s strength and skillto make him fight with more caution than heretofore, andprefer a secure revenge to a hasty one. For some minutes theyfought with equal skill and fortune, till, in a desperate lungewhich Leicester successfully put aside, Tressilian exposed himselfat disadvantage; and in a subsequent attempt to close, theEarl forced his sword from his hand, and stretched him onthe ground. With a grim smile he held the point of his rapier434

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