``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。