``Well，’’answeredtheTemplar，``anthouwilttarrythere，rememberIhaveredeemedwordandglove。Bethehawkswheretheywill，methinksthewallsofthePreceptoryofTemplestowewillbecoversufficient，andthitherwillI，likeherontoherhaunt。’’
　　Havingthusspoken，hegallopedoffwithhisfollowers。
　　Thoseofthecastlewhohadnotgottentohorse，stillcontinuedtofightdesperatelywiththebesiegers，afterthedepartureoftheTemplar，butratherindespairofquarterthanthattheyentertainedanyhopeofescape。Thefirewasspreadingrapidlythroughallpartsofthecastle，whenUlrica，whohadfirstkindledit，appearedonaturret，intheguiseofoneoftheancientfuries，yellingforthawar-song，suchaswasofyoreraisedonthefieldofbattlebythescaldsoftheyetheathenSaxons。
　　Herlongdishevelledgreyhairflewbackfromheruncoveredhead；theinebriatingdelightofgratifiedvengeancecontendedinhereyeswiththefireofinsanity；andshebrandishedthedistaffwhichsheheldinherhand，asifshehadbeenoneoftheFatalSisters，whospinandabridgethethreadofhumanlife。Traditionhaspreservedsomewildstrophesofthebarbaroushymnwhichshechantedwildlyamidthatsceneoffireandofslaughter：——
　　1。
　　Whetthebrightsteel，SonsoftheWhiteDragon！
　　Kindlethetorch，DaughterofHengist！
　　Thesteelglimmersnotforthecarvingofthebanquet，Itishard，broad，andsharplypointed；
　　Thetorchgoethnottothebridalchamber，Itsteamsandglittersbluewithsulphur。
　　Whetthesteel，theravencroaks！
　　Lightthetorch，Zernebockisyelling！
　　Whetthesteel，sonsoftheDragon！
　　Kindlethetorch，daughterofHengist！
　　2。
　　Theblackcloudislowoverthethane’scastleTheeaglescreams——heridesonitsbosom。
　　Screamnot，greyriderofthesablecloud，Thybanquetisprepared！
　　ThemaidensofValhallalookforth，TheraceofHengistwillsendthemguests。
　　Shakeyourblacktresses，maidensofValhalla！
　　Andstrikeyourloudtimbrelsforjoy！
　　Manyahaughtystepbendstoyourhalls，Manyahelmedhead。
　　3。
　　Darksitstheeveninguponthethanescastle，Theblackcloudsgatherround；
　　Soonshalltheyberedasthebloodofthevaliant！
　　Thedestroyerofforestsshallshakehisredcrestagainstthem。
　　He，thebrightconsumerofpalaces，Broadwaveshehisblazingbanner，Red，wideanddusky，Overthestrifeofthevaliant：
　　Hisjoyisintheclashingswordsandbrokenbucklers；
　　Helovestolickthehissingbloodasitburstswarmfromthewound！
　　4。
　　Allmustperish！
　　Theswordcleaveththehelmet；
　　Thestrongarmourispiercedbythelance；
　　Firedevoureththedwellingofprinces，Enginesbreakdownthefencesofthebattle。
　　Allmustperish！
　　TheraceofHengistisgone——
　　ThenameofHorsaisnomore！
　　Shrinknotthenfromyourdoom，sonsofthesword！
　　Letyourbladesdrinkbloodlikewine；
　　Feastyeinthebanquetofslaughter，Bythelightoftheblazinghalls！
　　Strongbeyourswordswhileyourbloodiswarm，Andspareneitherforpitynorfear，Forvengeancehathbutanhour；
　　StronghateitselfshallexpireIalsomustperish！*
　　*NoteF。Ulrica’sDeathSongThetoweringflameshadnowsurmountedeveryobstruction，androsetotheeveningskiesonehugeandburningbeacon，seenfarandwidethroughtheadjacentcountry。Toweraftertowercrasheddown，withblazingroofandrafter；andthecombatantsweredrivenfromthecourt-yard。Thevanquished，ofwhomveryfewremained，scatteredandescapedintotheneighbouringwood。Thevictors，assemblinginlargebands，gazedwithwonder，notunmixedwithfear，upontheflames，inwhichtheirownranksandarmsglancedduskyred。ThemaniacfigureoftheSaxonUlricawasforalongtimevisibleontheloftystandshehadchosen，tossingherarmsabroadwithwildexultation，asifshereinedempressoftheconflagrationwhichshehadraised。
　　Atlength，withaterrificcrash，thewholeturretgaveway，andsheperishedintheflameswhichhadconsumedhertyrant。Anawfulpauseofhorrorsilencedeachmurmurofthearmedspectators，who，forthespaceofseveralminutes，stirrednotafinger，savetosignthecross。ThevoiceofLocksleywasthenheard，``Shout，yeomen！——thedenoftyrantsisnomore！LeteachbringhisspoiltoourchosenplaceofrendezvousattheTrysting-treeintheHarthill-walk；forthereatbreakofdaywillwemakejustpartitionamongourownbands，togetherwithourworthyalliesinthisgreatdeedofvengeance。’’
　　CHAPTERXXXII。
　　Trustmeeachstatemusthaveitspolicies：
　　Kingdomshaveedicts，citieshavetheircharters；
　　Eventhewildoutlaw，inhisforest-walk，Keepsyetsometouchofcivildiscipline；
　　FornotsinceAdamworehisverdantapron，Hathmanwithmaninsocialuniondwelt，Butlawsweremadetodrawthatunioncloser。
　　_OldPlay。_
　　Thedaylighthaddawneduponthegladesoftheoakforest。Thegreenboughsglitteredwithalltheirpearlsofdew。Thehindledherfawnfromthecovertofhighferntothemoreopenwalksofthegreenwood，andnohuntsmanwastheretowatchorinterceptthestatelyhart，ashepacedattheheadoftheantler’dherd。
　　TheoutlawswereallassembledaroundtheTrysting-treeintheHarthill-walk，wheretheyhadspentthenightinrefreshingthemselvesafterthefatiguesofthesiege，somewithwine，somewithslumber，manywithhearingandrecountingtheeventsoftheday，andcomputingtheheapsofplunderwhichtheirsuccesshadplacedatthedisposaloftheirChief。
　　Thespoilswereindeedverylarge；for，notwithstandingthatmuchwasconsumed，agreatdealofplate，richarmour，andsplendidclothing，hadbeensecuredbytheexertionsofthedauntlessoutlaws，whocouldbeappalledbynodangerwhensuchrewardswereinview。Yetsostrictwerethelawsoftheirsociety，thatnooneventuredtoappropriateanypartofthebooty，whichwasbroughtintoonecommonmass，tobeatthedisposaloftheirleader。
　　Theplaceofrendezvouswasanagedoak；nothoweverthesametowhichLocksleyhadconductedGurthandWambaintheearlierpartofthestory，butonewhichwasthecentreofasilvanamphitheatre，withinhalfamileofthedemolishedcastleofTorquilstone。HereLocksleyassumedhisseat——athroneofturferectedunderthetwistedbranchesofthehugeoak，andthesilvanfollowersweregatheredaroundhim。HeassignedtotheBlackKnightaseatathisrighthand，andtoCedricaplaceuponhisleft。
　　``Pardonmyfreedom，noblesirs，’’hesaid，``butinthesegladesIammonarch——theyaremykingdom；
　　andthesemywildsubjectswouldreckbutlittleofmypower，wereI，withinmyowndominions，toyieldplacetomortalman——Now，sirs，whohathseenourchaplain?whereisourcurtalFriar?AmassamongstChristianmenbestbeginsabusymorning。’’——NoonehadseentheClerkofCopmanhurst。``Overgodsforbode！’’saidtheoutlawchief，``Itrustthejollypriesthathbutabiddenbythewine-potathoughttoolate。Whosawhimsincethecastlewasta’en?’’
　　``I，’’quoththeMiller，``markedhimbusyaboutthedoorofacellar，swearingbyeachsaintinthecalendarhewouldtastethesmackofFront-de-Buf’sGascoignewine。’’
　　``Now，thesaints，asmanyastherebeofthem，’’
　　saidtheCaptain，``forefend，lesthehasdrunktoodeepofthewine-butts，andperishedbythefallofthecastle！——Away，Miller！——takewithyouenowofmen，seektheplacewhereyoulastsawhim——
　　throwwaterfromthemoatonthescorchingruins——IwillhavethemremovedstonebystoneereI
　　losemycurtalFriar。’’
　　Thenumberswhohastenedtoexecutethisduty，consideringthataninterestingdivisionofspoilwasabouttotakeplace，showedhowmuchthetroophadatheartthesafetyoftheirspiritualfather。
　　``Meanwhile，letusproceed，’’saidLocksley；
　　``forwhenthisbolddeedshallbesoundedabroad，thebandsofDeBracy，ofMalvoisin，andotheralliesofFront-de-Buf，willbeinmotionagainstus，anditwerewellforoursafetythatweretreatfromthevicinity——NobleCedric，’’hesaid，turningtotheSaxon，``thatspoilisdividedintotwoportions；
　　dothoumakechoiceofthatwhichbestsuitsthee，torecompensethypeoplewhowerepartakerswithusinthisadventure。’’
　　``Goodyeoman，’’saidCedric，``myheartisoppressedwithsadness。ThenobleAthelstaneofConingsburghisnomore——thelastsproutofthesaintedConfessor！Hopeshaveperishedwithhimwhichcanneverreturn！——Asparklehathbeenquenchedbyhisblood，whichnohumanbreathcanagainrekindle！Mypeople，savethefewwhoarenowwithme，dobuttarrymypresencetotransporthishonouredremainstotheirlastmansion。
　　TheLadyRowenaisdesiroustoreturntoRotherwood，andmustbeescortedbyasufficientforce。I
　　should，therefore，erenow，haveleftthisplace；andIwaited——nottosharethebooty，for，sohelpmeGodandSaintWithold！asneitherInoranyofminewilltouchthevalueofaliard，——Iwaitedbuttorendermythankstotheeandtothyboldyeomen，forthelifeandhonouryehavesaved。’’
　　``Nay，but，’’saidthechiefOutlaw，``wedidbuthalftheworkatmost——takeofthespoilwhatmayrewardyourownneighboursandfollowers。’’
　　``Iamrichenoughtorewardthemfrommineownwealth，’’answeredCedric。