ory was now completed, and the whole place resounded with shouts
of admiration. The incognito knight having thus vanquished the
champions, for some time gallantly paraded the lists, making his
obedient and tutored steed perform several graceful evolutions. Then
suddenly advancing before the throne of the queen, he lowered the point
of his lance and made his charger to kneel. Passing onwards to Leonor de
Aguilar, he again made the graceful salute, whilst a shower of
many-colored ribbons, white and highly-scented gloves, flowers, and
other favors, fell profusely from fair hands--a due tribute to bravery
and skill. Having performed this mark of courtesy, without waiting to
receive the guerdon he had so well merited, he applied spurs to his
horse and was soon lost to the sight of the delighted and admiring
multitude.

The incognito knight became the subject of general speculation--he had
overcome five champions to whom the court of Isabella could afford no
equals--only one man perhaps might be capable of such valorous
achievements, but he was now an exile whom the law pursued, and whose
appearance in the lists would be attended with danger. Still the
extraordinary prowess of the knight, and the circumstance of Don Pedro
coming forward to answer for him when he entered the lists, left no room
to doubt that he was that illustrious exile. Indeed the significant
smile which the queen directed to Alonso de Aguilar, when the champion
saluted his daughter, and the blush that mantled on the cheek of that
lady implied a perfect recognition of her lover.

His absence from the lists gave the judges an opportunity of awarding
the principal prize to Don Antonio de Leyva, by whom, according to their
own, as well as the general opinion, it was more justly merited. The
different bands now struck up a martial air; the queen departed with her
numerous and splendid train, and every one retired from the lists,
perfectly satisfied with the sports of the day, to spend the remainder
of it in feasting and discussing the various merits of the knights who
had afforded them so much pleasure.

CHAPTER IV.

Poi la Vittoria da quel canto stia,
Che vorra la divina providenza:
Il cavalier non havra colpa alcuna,
Ma il tutto impulterassi a la fortuna.

_Ariosto._

The following morning shone equally bright as the preceding, and the
expectations of the public were equally sanguine. The same pomp