The Betrothed

Chapter 30

A vow, a vow--I have a vow in Heaven.

Shall I bring perjury upon my soul?

No, not for Venice.

MERCHANT OF VENICE.

The conclusion of the last chapter contains the tidings with which

the minstrel greeted his unhappy master, Hugo de Lacy; not indeed

with the same detail of circumstances with which we have been able

to invest the narrative, but so as to infer the general and

appalling facts, that his betrothed bride, and beloved and trusted

kinsman, had leagued together for his dishonour--had raised the

banner of rebellion against their lawful sovereign, and, failing

in their audacious attempt, had brought the life of one of them,

at least, into the most imminent danger, and the fortunes of the

House of Lacy, unless some instant remedy could be found, to the

very verge of ruin.