Chapter 14 - Page 2

lovers, said, "she was his very heart, his life, his light." Having
laid aside all violence, he humbly sued that she would accompany him
to his retreat, near by. It was a ruined chapel from which the monks
had been driven by the disorders of the time, and which Rodomont had
taken possession of. Isabella, who had no choice but to obey, followed
him, meditating as she went what resource she could find to escape out
of his power, and keep her vow to her dead husband, to be faithful
to his memory as long as life should last. At length she said, "If, my
lord, you will let me go and fulfil my vow, and my intention, as I
have already declared it, I will bestow upon you what will be to you
of more value than a hundred women's hearts. I know an herb, and I
have seen it on our way, which, rightly prepared, affords a juice of
such power, that the flesh, if laved with it, becomes impenetrable
to sword or fire. This liquor I can make, and will, to-day, if you
will accept my offer; and when you have seen its virtue, you will
value it more than if all Europe were made your own."
Rodomont, at hearing this, readily promised all that was asked, so
eager was he to learn a secret that would make him as Achilles was
of yore. Isabella, having collected such herbs as she thought
proper, and boiled them, with certain mysterious signs and words, at
length declared her labor done, and, as a test, offered to try its
virtue on herself. She bathed her neck and bosom with the liquor,
and then called on Rodomont to smite with all his force, and see
whether his sword had power to harm. The pagan, who during the
preparations had taken frequent draughts of wine, and scarce knew what
he did, drew his sword at the word, and struck across her neck with
all his might, and the fair head leapt sundered from the snowy neck
and breast.
Rude and unfeeling as he was, the pagan knight lamented bitterly
this sad result. To honor her memory he resolved to do a work as
unparalleled as her devotion. From all parts round he caused
laborers to be brought, and had a tower built to enclose the chapel,
within which the remains of Zerbino and Isabella were entombed. Across
the stream which flowed near by he built a bridge, scarce two yards
wide, and added neither parapet nor rail. On the top of the tower a
sentry was placed, who, when any traveller approached the bridge, gave
notice to his master. Rodomont thereupon sallied out, and defied the
approaching knight to fight him upon the bridge, where any chance step
a little aside would plunge the rider headlong in the stream. This
bridge he vowed to keep until a thousand suits of armor should be
won from conquered knights, wherewith to build a trophy to his
victim and her lord.
Within ten days the bridge was