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blood to the last rightful Lord； Alfonso the Good。 If thou dost not instantly comply with these just demands； he defies thee to single combat to the last extremity。〃 And so saying the Herald cast down his warder。
〃And where is this braggart who sends thee？〃 said Manfred。
〃At the distance of a league；〃 said the Herald： 〃he comes to make good his Lord's claim against thee； as he is a true knight； and thou an usurper and ravisher。〃
Injurious as this challenge was； Manfred reflected that it was not his interest to provoke the Marquis。 He knew how well founded the claim of Frederic was； nor was this the first time he had heard of it。 Frederic's ancestors had assumed the style of Princes of Otranto； from the death of Alfonso the Good without issue； but Manfred； his father； and grandfather； had been too powerful for the house of Vicenza to dispossess them。 Frederic； a martial and amorous young Prince； had married a beautiful young lady； of whom he was enamoured； and who had died in childbed of Isabella。 Her death affected him so much that he had taken the cross and gone to the Holy Land； where he was wounded in an engagement against the infidels； made prisoner； and reported to be dead。 When the news reached Manfred's ears； he bribed the guardians of the Lady Isabella to deliver her up to him as a bride for his son Conrad； by which alliance he had proposed to unite the claims of the two houses。 This motive； on Conrad's death； had co…operated to make him so suddenly resolve on espousing her himself； and the same reflection determined him now to endeavour at obtaining the consent of Frederic to this marriage。 A like policy inspired him with the thought of inviting Frederic's champion into the castle； lest he should be informed of Isabella's flight； which he strictly enjoined his domestics not to disclose to any of the Knight's retinue。
〃Herald；〃 said Manfred； as soon as he had digested these reflections； 〃return to thy master； and tell him； ere we liquidate our differences by the sword； Manfred would hold some converse with him。 Bid him welcome to my castle； where by my faith； as I am a true Knight； he shall have courteous reception； and full security for himself and followers。 If we cannot adjust our quarrel by amicable means； I swear he shall depart in safety； and shall have full satisfaction according to the laws of arms： So help me God and His holy Trinity！〃
The Herald made three obeisances and retired。
During this interview Jerome's mind was agitated by a thousand contrary passions。 He trembled for the life of his son； and his first thought was to persuade Isabella to return to the castle。 Yet he was scarce less alarmed at the thought of her union with Manfred。 He dreaded Hippolita's unbounded submission to the will of her Lord； and though he did not doubt but he could alarm her piety not to consent to a divorce； if he could get access to her； yet should Manfred discover that the obstruction came from him； it might be equally fatal to Theodore。 He was impatient to know whence came the Herald； who with so little management had questioned the title of Manfred： yet he did not dare absent himself from the convent； lest Isabella should leave it； and her flight be imputed to him。 He returned disconsolately to the monastery； uncertain on what conduct to resolve。 A Monk； who met him in the porch and observed his melancholy air； said …
〃Alas！ brother； is it then true that we have lost our excellent Princess Hippolita？〃
The holy man started； and cried； 〃What meanest thou； brother？ I come this instant from the castle； and left her in perfect health。〃
〃Martelli；〃 replied the other Friar； 〃passed by the convent but a quarter of an hour ago on his way from the castle； and reported that her Highness was dead。 All our brethren are gone to the chapel to pray for her happy transit to a better life； and willed me to wait thy arrival。 They know thy holy attachment to that good Lady； and are anxious for the affliction it will cause in thee … indeed we have all reason to weep； she was a mother to our house。 But this life is but a pilgrimage； we must not murmur … we shall all follow her！ May our end be like hers！〃
〃Good brother； thou dreamest；〃 said Jerome。 〃I tell thee I come from the castle； and left the Princess well。 Where is the Lady Isabella？〃
〃Poor Gentlewoman！〃 replied the Friar； 〃I told her the sad news； and offered her spiritual comfort。 I reminded her of the transitory condition of mortality； and advised her to take the veil： I quoted the example of the holy Princess Sanchia of Arragon。〃
〃Thy zeal was laudable；〃 said Jerome； impatiently； 〃but at present it was unnecessary： Hippolita is well … at least I trust in the Lord she is； I heard nothing to the contrary … yet； methinks； the Prince's earnestness … Well； brother； but where is the Lady Isabella？〃
〃I know not；〃 said the Friar； 〃she wept much； and said she would retire to her chamber。〃
Jerome left his comrade abruptly； and hastened to the Princess； but she was not in her chamber。 He inquired of the domestics of the convent； but could learn no news of her。 He searched in vain throughout the monastery and the church； and despatched messengers round the neighbourhood； to get intelligence if she had been seen； but to no purpose。 Nothing could equal the good man's perplexity。 He judged that Isabella； suspecting Manfred of having precipitated his wife's death； had taken the alarm； and withdrawn herself to some more secret place of concealment。 This new flight would probably carry the Prince's fury to the height。 The report of Hippolita's death； though it seemed almost incredible； increased his consternation； and though Isabella's escape bespoke her aversion of Manfred for a husband； Jerome could feel no comfort from it； while it endangered the life of his son。 He determined to return to the castle； and made several of his brethren accompany him to attest his innocence to Manfred； and； if necessary； join their intercession with his for Theodore。
The Prince； in the meantime； had passed into the court； and ordered the gates of the castle to be flung open for the reception of the stranger Knight and his train。 In a few minutes the cavalcade arrived。 First came two harbingers with wands。 Next a herald； followed by two pages and two trumpets。 Then a hundred foot…guards。 These were attended by as many horse。 After them fifty footmen； clothed in scarlet and black； the colours of the Knight。 Then a led horse。 Two heralds on each side of a gentleman on horseback bearing a banner with the arms of Vicenza and Otranto quarterly … a circumstance that much offended Manfred … but he stifled his resentment。 Two more pages。 The Knight's confessor telling his beads。 Fifty more footmen clad as before。 Two Knights habited in complete armour； their beavers down； comrades to the principal Knight。 The squires of the two Knights； carrying their shields and devices。 The Knight's own squire。 A hundred gentlemen bearing an enormous sword； and seeming to faint under the weight of it。 The Knight himself on a chestnut steed； in complete armo