Page:Francesca Carrara 1.pdf/138

134 graceful flattery of the Duke's ingenious device. It represented a funeral pile, from whose embers a phœnix was rising, animated by the sun, whose light was its life. Beneath was inscribed in golden letters,—

All took the courtly insinuation, for the Guise had but lately been restored to royal favour. A third call of the trumpets announced the approach of the Duc de Candale from the avenue on the left. The livery of his company was forest green and gold; but perhaps he himself most attracted Francesca's attention. He had not yet put on his plumed casque, which a page on foot at his side carried; and he held his mask in his hand. It was one of those faces—so pale, yet so beautiful, with large melancholy blue eyes, and profusion of fair golden hair—with that ethereal seeming, whose associations are not of this earth—one of those that we unconsciously connect with early death. The presage here was prophecy;—a little while, and that youthful and brilliant head found its pillow in the grave. After riding round the circle, the three companies drew up in a line before the narrow space which led to the point where the ring hung.