RUFUS, OR THE RED RING,
Is an attempt to revive the public interest in the age of chivalry, or rather of knighthood. In a preface of some judgment, but of little taste, the author lays down at length these true and general principles of criticism,—that, even in a story of past times, the clothes are to be subordinate to the person, the manners to the men. But he no sooner begins his tale, than he violates his own anon, and exhibits the difference between theory and practice. The equipments of his persons and the peculiar customs of the times are described at a length which would be more than ample even if they were original ; but it, is easy to see that the writer is merely a reproducer of the thoughts of others, and that if Scotr bad never written, Rufus or the Red King would never have appeared. From the same storehouse of historical novelists, he he has derived his brief historical sketches of the state of the country his dialogues, designed to exhibit the prevalent mode of speech, and to inform the reader of the character, position, and prospects of the persons—as well as his introduction of the leading historical characters of the period. It is a fault of another kind, though springing from the same source, that the language of his characters is artificial—made to look like an- tiquity by old forms of oath or cant phrases; and tied the interest of his tale is merged in a description of the national feel- ings, public persons, and public events of the time. If the term may be diverted front a man to a book, the tale wants individu- al' ty—it is too abstract.
These are grave defects; are certainly counter to the author's declaration that he has "not trusted toforrns of any kind, or to any thing simply extern'al ; " and are likely to militate against its ardent reception by the public. The work, however, displays ability, mid the results of labour. Its author is acquainted with the history of the reign about which he has undertaken to write ; and be so far gives evidence of having studied its customs, that all his descriptions have the distinctness of knowledge, however elaborate or literal. His narrative marches quickly, if it does not run ; the story is contrived with care, if it may not be called skill ; and there is no lack of the usual staple of ro- mances—crossed lovers, rivals, hairbreadth escapes, battles, dun- geons, and single combats. An extract may at the same time furnish a variety, give a specimen of the author's style, and illustrate some of our critical opinions. The following description, however readable, as cone pletely recalls Scorr to mind in prose, as innumerable imitators have done in poetry.
It was the noon of a summer's day. All in the sequestered glade was mute and stirless, except the song of a few birds, the stilly flow of a brouk, the losm of insect life—which seems rather to deepen than to disturb silence—the waaing of foliage in a light breeze, and the shadows of clouile that drifted, spirit-like, before it, hurrying over bank and wood, and m chequering the with a hundred changeful effects .of light and shadow. One moment such was the noontide hush and quiet ; in the next they were broken by the neigh of it courser and the clank of steel, and a mouuted traveller, solitary, as it accused, rod,: heedfully down the mild declivity.
The appearance of the cavalier who broke thus picturesquely upon the still life
of the landscape, was at once striking and prepossessing,. He was well armed- from head to foot, and had that sort of seat upon the war-saddle which indicated a long familiarity with its occupation. Ile seemed, however, to be little past what is commonly einerideted the heyalay of youth, if, indeed, that climacteric had not been prolonged as well as anticipated by constitutional ardour ; as was strongly suggested by the fire of a quick dark eye, a cheek and blow unrough.-- coed except by military exposure to sun and blast, and, above all, glancing over features irregularly handsome, the spirit of adventurous levity, the laughing genius of impudenee, proper only to the period of untamed passion and restless desire. Something of voluptuousness there was, but certainly allied neither to the cruel nor the effeminate. In short, it was a bold, flank, happy countenance, full of mercurial life, good-humour, and imperturbable self-confidence. His equipments, offensive and defensive, weie those of a knight, or well-ac- coutred man.at-arms uf the time. First, a gambeson, or cumbrous inner vest- ment of woollen, SO thickly quilted as to deaden the stroke of a battle-axe. Over this, a hauberk of double chain-mail, that is to say, a complete flexible dress of eteel rings interlaced, and bedded upon strong linen. The upper, or body part of this "excellent garment of durance," might, for lemoval, open in front, like a modern coat, but was always worn closed and fast clasped, and riveted. Ap- pended to it was a hood or cap of the same linked construction, which protested both neck and head, although the latter was still further serured by a powerful conical helmet, truncated as if for the very purpose of receiving a hostile blow with its full vigour, instead of g/aucing it off as might be supposed desirable.. With this exception, however, the defence was very per feet ; the chausses, or mailed hose, fitting tight to the limbs, like pantaloons, passed also over the feet, while the terminations of the hauberk-sleeves were joined by niunnrk;lis, or mailed glevea of like texture.
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