CHAPTER III. Ulysses, with a heavy heart, Unto them then did mildly say, My honour calls me hence away. CONSTANT PENELOPE. PUDENS seemed to make daily progress in the esteem and affection of the family of Arviragus; for he not only rendered his society very agreeable to Roscrana and the bard, but he also contrived to ingratiate himself in an especial manner with the King. Arviragus was a polite, warlike prince, and, so far from despising the youth of Pudens, drew from him a great deal of information, very useful to him and his subjects; particularly as to the Roman mode of warfare, and the art of fortification. Nor did Pudens fail to obtain the friendship of Brennus, whose manly amusements he shared as soon as his health allowed him to do On one of these occasions a little incident occurred, which totally obliterated the so. somewhat unfavourable impression which the invalid's partiality to the peaceful pursuits of old Morgan and his fair pupil had, at first, made upon the young warrior. Pudens and Brennus were one day trying their dexterity in throwing the javelin in the presence of Roscrana, whom they had appointed their arbitress. The young chief, taking his stand at about fifty strides from a rude figure of a wolf cut in wood and fixed on a pivot, which served as a mark, hurled his unerring weapon so precisely to the centre that the figure remained stationary! Pudens now advanced with his brazen-headed missive, and, finding it impossible to surpass this throw in precision, took his aim at the wolf's head, thinking that he should display the force of the blow, as well as the correctness of his aim, by making the figure revolve on its centre. Just as his hand was upraised with the weapon, and he had said "To the head," a real wolf rushed by at a little distance beyond the goal, bearing away Roscrana's pet lamb. She screamed, and her brother shouted; but Pudens seizing the opportunity, hurled his javelin, with all his might, at the depredator, and actually pinned him to the earth by the nape of his neck. The young chief testified his applause by a long vociferation; and Roscrana, with more humanity than caution, ran to secure her little favourite. Unfortunately, in endeavouring to rescue the lamb, she liberated the wolf, which, as the javelin had only penetrated the skin, was but slightly wounded, and immediately turned upon her. Pudens, seeing her danger, flew to her relief, and having seized the fell beast by the throat, drew its fury upon himself, and a violent struggle ensued. Our hero having no weapon to inflict a death wound, his only expedient was to maintain his grasp until he had strangled his assailant; which was, in the meantime, tearing his flesh with his claws. They tugged-they plunged-they rolled over each other; but although the agonies of death rendered the writhing monster more desperate, and his antagonist's strength was waning from the protraction of the effort, and from loss of blood, Pudens did not relax his hold until his enemy had yielded up his life. Brennus had, during the latter part of this conflict, been leaning on his javelin, at a little distance, enjoying the spectacle, and refusing to interfere, although implored so to do by the cries and tears of his sister. "Now give me your hand," said he to Pudens, as soon as it was over, "I never saw a match better fought in my life, and I did not like to deprive you of the triumph; or I would have ended it much sooner for you. But were I in your place," he continued, "I would never cramp up my limbs in armour if I could fight so well without it. I am afraid, however," he added, "that here is another week's task for your nursewhat say you, Roscrana ?" Roscrana's reply was prevented by Pudens, who, as he arranged his soiled vestments, said smilingly to her, "Nay, my kind nurse, be not alarmed, I have only received a few scratches; but even if I had been more seriously hurt, I could not have allowed you more than twentyfour hours to attend me; for, at the end of that time, I must take my leave of your hospitable house." "That shall never be," said Brennus, "you shall have whatever is ours to give; a new chariot (M) shall be made for you, as handsome as my father's which you so much admired: you shall choose your horses; and you shall share my dogs, my bows and arrows, my hunting spears, and, indeed, you shall have whatever you like; but you shall not leave us." Pudens assured him that the Arch Druid had made his arrangements to part on the morrow, and that he must accompany him. The idea of parting had never before been seriously contemplated by Roscrana; and she wept now because she reflected, for the first time, that such a thing was possible; nor were her tears the less bitter on account of her having just witnessed the dangers to which Pudens had exposed himself for her sake. He, for whom those tears flowed, felt a strange uneasiness at seeing her weep; but was less affected at this sight than by her artlessness in not attempting to conceal them, or to disguise the cause. She added her expressive intreaties to the more rude, but not less sincere, persuasions of her brother; and told Pudens that she had just been planning in her mind that she would ask him to instruct her in the Latin language; and that, in return, old Morgan, or herself, would teach him to play on the harp. These friendly invitations of his family were very warmly seconded by the King; and, although they were not successful in inducing the Arch Druid to change his purposes, yet he consented to leave his son behind him. He would, indeed, have gladly remained until his |