was lord of Valencia. And now, after a long life of continued action, the Cid began to exhibit as much skill in legislation as he had heretofore shewn in the field. With the exception of a few skirmishes with the Moors, the Cid Campeador passed the remainder of his life in quiet. His death took place in 1099. Such is the authentic history of the Cid, on the authority of his countryman, Quintana. His romantic history is quite a different affair. This must

be sought in those old heroic songs, which the German critic, Schlegel, considers the most valuable, as they undoubtedly are the most national, portion of the Spanish literature. Lockhart's translation has familiarized English readers with some of the best of these national ballads; and in these the Cid figures as the leading hero. His lady, the Donna Ximena, his sword, his very horse, Bavieca, are all immortalized in song. Indeed, in some of the ballads, Bavieca takes the leading part. Nor is the romantic fame of the Cid confined to his native country. Corneille owes much of his celebrity to a fortunate adaptation of his adventures to dramatic effect; and Herder has wrought all the adventures of Ruy Diaz, recorded in the Spanish ballads, into one grand heroic poem.

206

PRINCE SCHWARZENBERG'S BALL.

PRINCE CHARLES SCHWARZENBERG, the Austrian ambassador, lived in Paris at the Hotel de Montesson, a large house with a court on one side and a garden on the other, in the Rue de Mont Blanc. But this space was not reckoned sufficient for the extraordinary entertainment to be given, and the neighbouring hotel was expressly hired for the occasion. The necessary communications were made, and the rooms duly arranged for their several purposes. An immense room had been thrown out into the garden, adjoining the reception-rooms, the whole built of planks by artists who had constructed similar works for former entertainments. The roof and the side were covered outside with cerecloth, and lined with tapestry; mirrors, candelabras, and coloured lamps ornamented the walls. The pillars, which separated the centre from a species of gallery which ran round the room, were coated with the richest stuffs, and festoons of artificial flowers, muslin, and gauze were hung in all directions. Gold and silver chains, connected by draperies and flowers with the other ornaments of the saloon, supported magnificent lustres. On an elevated stage, covered with a gold embroidered carpet, at the farther extremity of the room, two thrones had been erected, in front of which the floor had been prepared for dancing. There were three entrances-one towards the back, near the thrones, leading to the interior of the house,

was intended for the household; in the front, towards the garden on the left, was a long and broad gallery, built of the same materials, and ornamented in the same manner as the saloon, which ran all along the back of the hotel, and served to connect the rooms and the garden. To the right, opposite this gallery, a stage had been erected for the musicians, the only access to which was by a staircase outside. A handsome doorway, which led directly from the garden by a flight of broad steps, wide enough to allow the passage in and out of a huge mass of human beings, was the chief entrance into the saloon.

The greatest care was taken that everything should be magnificent, suitable, and convenient; nothing was neglected that could distinguish this ball from all others. As an inscription was to be placed over the doorway, it was determined that it should be in the German tongue. Should the French wonder and take offence at it, they could not dare to complain too loudly, as it was the mother tongue of their empress, and the Austrian embassy surely had the right, at a ball given in her honour, to use her native language. It was easy to find space for two lines, but not so easy to find the verses. Many prudently declined the invidious office; but at length two most common-place lines were selected, and were cut, not indeed on stone, but on strong pasteboard. The important thing was the German characters, and these, in a transparency, shone proudly from their high position.

The eventful day at length arrived, everything was

completed, and even those last and most busily employed were able to devote themselves to the adornment of their own persons; and here the Austrians had the advantage, as the richness and beauty of their uniforms far surpassed those of the French. The servants, numerous as they were, had been increased by some hundreds, and a portion of them wore the French state livery.

Early in the evening, a division of the imperial guard occupied the post assigned to them as a guard of honour. While it was still broad day, the whole hotel, with its garden and outhouses, sparkled with thousands of lamps, and the carriages which brought the guests drove through the masses of people collected on both sides of the street. Parties of Austrians were in readiness to receive the visitors as they arrived; the ladies were presented with flowers, and led into the grand saloon,

The seats round the walls were soon filled, and the middle of the room began to be crowded. Every moment the number of persons remarkable for beauty, birth, and importance, increased. Kings and queens were among the company, and were expecting one greater than they. At length the sound of presenting arms, the clash of trumpets and roll of drums, announced the approach of the emperor and his empress. Their carriage dashed up to the door between the files of soldiers. The families of Schwarzenberg and Metternich received their illustrious guests at the foot of the stairs. The ambassador made a short speech,

while the ladies presented flowers to Napoleon, who handed them to his wife; then, giving her his arm, he entered the house, accompanied by Prince Schwarzenberg, and followed by a crowd of people. I was near the emperor, and looked closely at him; for the first time I was struck by his great beauty, and also by the power of his iron countenance. His air was fixed, unbending, almost cruel; his look steadfast, and directed to the ground; not a trace of kindness in his manner, and his mouth seemed ever ready to pronounce some fearful order.

The emperor walked through the rooms and the gallery, until he reached the saloon, where he remained a few minutes, cast a rapid glance at everything and everybody, refused the proffered refreshments, and spoke a few words to several persons near him. A flourish of trumpets accompanied his entrance. Napoleon and the empress, accompanied Prince Schwarzenberg, at his invitation, into the garden, and the whole assembly followed them. Singers and musicians, distributed at intervals behind trees and bushes, began to sing as they approached. Other surprises were in store for them.

The party stopped before a well-mown lawn, on which seats had been placed for the emperor and a few others; and where an accurate representation of the château of Luxemburg had been prepared. In order to recall still more vividly to the empress's recollection the scenes of her home, dancers in Austrian costumes suddenly appeared, and performed dances