Historical Tales Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Historical Tales novel. A total of 410 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Historic Tales.Vol. 1.by Charles Morris.PREFACE.It has become a commonplace remark that
Historic Tales.Vol. 1.by Charles Morris.PREFACE.It has become a commonplace remark that fact is often stranger than fiction. It may be said, as a variant of this, that history is often more romantic than romance. The pages of the record of man's doin
- 101 Fortunately, there was an eleventh general, Callimachus, the war archon, or polemarch, who had a casting vote in the council of generals, and who, under persuasion of Miltiades, cast his vote for an immediate march to Marathon. The other generals who favo
- 102 But they did not remain there. The Persians were still distant, and while the Greeks awaited their approach new counsels prevailed. There was another pa.s.s by which the mountains might be crossed,--which pa.s.s, in fact, the Persians took. Also the fleet
- 103 These words convinced Eurybiades. Without the Athenian s.h.i.+ps the fleet would indeed be powerless. He asked for no vote, but gave the word that they should stay and fight, and bade the captains to make ready for battle. Thus it was that at dawn of day
- 104 Of the Greeks, Plutarch tells us that the total loss in the battle was thirteen hundred and sixty men.The spoil found in the Persian camp was rich and varied. It included money and ornaments of gold and silver, carpets, splendid arms and clothing, horses,
- 105 _HOW ATHENS ROSE FROM ITS ASHES._ The torch of Xerxes and Mardonius left Athens a heap of ashes. But, like the new birth of the fabled phoenix, there rose out of these ashes a city that became the wonder of the world, and whose time-worn ruins are still w
- 106 The news greatly disturbed the Athenians. They had their hands full of war. But Mitylene had asked aid from Sparta, and unless brought under subjection to Athens it would become an ally of her enemy. No time was therefore to be lost. A fleet was sent in h
- 107 And now an interesting scene began. Every day the Athenian fleet crossed the strait and offered battle to the Spartans, daring them to come out from their sheltered position. And every day, when the Spartans had refused, it would go back to the opposite s
- 108 _THE RETREAT OF THE TEN THOUSAND._ We have now to tell of one of the most remarkable events in Grecian history, to describe how ten thousand Greeks, who found themselves in the heart of the great Persian empire, without a leader and almost without food, m
- 109 On a certain cold and wet evening, in the month of December of the year 379 B.C., seven men, dressed as rustics or hunters, and to all appearance unarmed, though each man had a dagger concealed beneath his clothes, appeared at the gate of Thebes, the prin
- 110 Pelopidas belonged to one of the richest and highest families of Thebes.He was one of the youngest of the exiles, yet a man of earnest patriotism and unbounded daring. It was his ardent spirit that gave life to the conspiracy, and his boldness and enterpr
- 111 He who had saved his brother's life at the risk of his own had now consented to his death to save his country. But personally, although all Corinth warmly applauded his patriotic act, he was thrown into the most violent grief and remorse. This was th
- 112 The temple of Apollo at Delphi had long been held so inviolate that it became a rich reservoir of treasures, gathered throughout the centuries.Croesus, the rich king of Lydia, sent thither the overflow of his wealth, and hundreds of others paid liberally
- 113 The affair, in fact, proved but a repet.i.tion of that at Issus. The chariots, on which Darius had counted to break the enemy's line, proved useless. Some of the horses were killed; others refused to face the Macedonian pikes; some were scared by the
- 114 [Ill.u.s.tration: THE MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES IN THE STADIUM.]Each city had its costly edifices devoted to this purpose. The Stadion at Athens, within whose restored walls the modern games took place, was about six hundred and fifty feet long and one hundred
- 115 On this field, for the first time, the Greek spear encountered the Roman sword. The Macedonian phalanx with its long pikes was met by the Roman legion with its heavy blades. The pike of the phalanx had hitherto conquered the world. The sword of the legion
- 116 "The most of them got off safe," said the man."It is well," said Philopoemen, with a cheerful look, "that we have not been in every way unfortunate."Then, without a word more, he drank the poison and lay down again. As he was
- 117 Her fort.i.tude, however, did not last. The soldiers, with angry clamor, demanded her immediate execution, and the unhappy queen, losing for the first time the courage which had so long sustained her, gave way to terror, and declared that her resistance w
- 118 Historic Tales.Volume 11.by Charles Morris.HOW ROME WAS FOUNDED.Very far back in time, more than twenty-six hundred years ago, on the banks of a small Italian river, known as the Tiber, were laid the foundations of a city which was in time to become the c
- 119 The temple in which these books were kept was the grandest edifice Rome had yet known. When Tarquin proposed to build it he found the chosen site already occupied by many holy places, sacred to the G.o.ds of the Sabines, the first dwellers on the Capitoli
- 120 "Back!" cried Horatius to his comrades, and they hastily retreated; but he stood unmoving, still boldly facing the foe."Fly! It is about to fall!" was the shout."Let it," cried Horatius, without yielding a step.And there he s
- 121 The senate was thrown into a panic by this decided action. When the hostile cities without should learn of it, they might send armies in haste to undefended Rome. The people left in the city feared the Patricians, and the Patricians feared them. All was d
- 122 When he had lured them fairly into this trap, he sent a force to close up the entrance of the valley. The Romans suddenly found that they had been entrapped into a _cul-de-sac_, with impa.s.sable hills in front and on each side, and a strong body of aequi
- 123 Appius, with a show of moderation, consented, and the distracted father drew the nurse and his daughter aside to a spot where stood some butchers' booths, for the Forum of Rome was then a place of trade as well as of justice. Here he s.n.a.t.c.hed a
- 124 _THE GAULS AT ROME._ We have related in the preceding tale how a Veientian prophet predicted the ruin of Rome, in retribution for the cruelty of the Romans to the people of Veii. It is the story of this disaster which we have now to tell. While the Romans
- 125 In a later battle Marcus Valerius fought with a second gigantic Gaul.During the combat a wonderful thing happened. A crow perched on the helmet of the Roman, and continued there as the combatants fought.Occasionally it flew up into the air, and darted dow
- 126 The Samnites could well afford to let them wait. The rear was held by the bulk of their army. The obstacles in front were strongly guarded.Every possible track by which the Romans might try to scale the hills was held. Some desperate attempts to break out
- 127 In the year 235 B.C. the gates of the Temple of Ja.n.u.s were closed, for the first time since the reign of Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome, nearly five centuries before. During all that long period war had hardly ever ceased in Rome. And these ga
- 128 Yet for four years more Hannibal remained in the mountains of Southern Italy, holding his own against Rome, though he had lost all hopes of conquering that city. But Rome had now a new general, with a new policy.This was the famous Scipio, and the policy
- 129 "The guarantee refers to the people of Carthage, not to her houses,"answered the consul. "You have heard the will of the senate; it must be obeyed, and quickly."Carthage, meanwhile, waited in gloomy dread the return of the commissioner
- 130 There was no resistance. Gracchus sought refuge at first in the Temple of Diana, and afterwards made his way to the Grove of the Furies, several of his friends dying in defence of his flight. A single slave accompanied him. When the grove was reached by h
- 131 And now we have a story of striking interest to tell. It would need the powers of invention of a romancer to devise a series of adventures as remarkable as those which befell old Marius in his flight. It is one of the strangest stories in all the annals o
- 132 Murder was followed by confiscation. Sulla ordered that the property of the slain should be sold at auction and the proceeds put in the treasury. But the favorites of the dictator were the chief bidders, the property was sold at a t.i.the of its value, an
- 133 There was a fourth man of prominence, Cicero, the great scholar, philosopher, and orator. He prosecuted Verres, who, as governor of Sicily, had committed frightful excesses, and drove him from Rome. He prosecuted Catiline, who had made a conspiracy to sei
- 134 Decimus Brutus, one of the conspirators who had been favored by Caesar's bounty, went hastily to his house, and, telling him that the senate proposed that day to make him king of the provinces, bade him not to yield to such idle matters as auguries a
- 135 Thus ends the story of these two famous lovers of old. Octavius, afterwards known as Caesar Augustus, reigned sole emperor of Rome, and the republic was at an end. He was not formally proclaimed emperor, but liberty and independence were thereafter forgot
- 136 While they were speaking a body of soldiers, led by Anicetus, arrived, and with threats of violence dispersed the peasant throng. Then, planting a guard round the mansion, Anicetus burst open its doors, seized the slaves who appeared, and forced his way t
- 137 _THE DOOM OF NERO._ We have perhaps paid too much attention to the enormities of Caligula and Nero. Yet the mad freakishness of the one and the cowardly dissimulation of the other give to their stories a dramatic interest which seems to render them worth
- 138 The first show of gladiators in Rome was one given by Marcus and Decius Brutus, on the occasion of the death of their father, 264 B.C. Three pairs of gladiators fought in this first contest. This gladiatorial spectacle was continued on funeral occasions,
- 139 _THE FAITHFUL EPONINA._ Though Rome had extended its conquests over numerous tribes and nations of barbarians, and reduced them to subjection, much of the old love of liberty remained, and many of the later Roman wars were devoted to the suppression of ou
- 140 "The ashes now began to fall on us, though in no great quant.i.ty. I turned my head, and observed behind us a thick smoke, which came rolling after us like a torrent. I proposed, while we yet had any light, to turn out of the high-road, lest she shou
- 141 _THE DEEDS OF CONSTANTINE._ In the century that followed the reign of Maximin great changes came upon the empire of Rome. The process of decline went steadily on. The city of Rome sank in importance as the centre of the empire. The armies were recruited f
- 142 In these games the cruel combat of gladiators was shown for the last time to the blood-thirsty populace of Rome. The edict of Constantine had failed to stop these frightful sports. The appeal of a Christian poet was equally without effect. A more decisive
- 143 Historic Tales.Vol. 12.by Charles Morris._THE FIRST OF THE MIKADOS._ The year 1 in j.a.pan is the same date as 660 B.C. of the Christian era, so that j.a.pan is now in its twenty-sixth century. Then everything began.Before that date all is mystery and myt
- 144 Jingu now issued her final orders, to the following effect: "There must be no plundering."Despise not a few enemies, and fear not many."Give mercy to those who yield, but no quarter to the stubborn."The victors shall be rewarded; deser
- 145 The story of Yoritomo's courts.h.i.+p and marriage is one of much interest.Hojo Tokimasa, a n.o.ble with royal blood in his veins, had two daughters, the elder being of noted beauty, the younger lacking in personal charms.The exiled youth, who wished
- 146 Weary of waiting, he went to Kioto, where he found himself pursued by a.s.sa.s.sins. He escaped into Yamato, but was again pursued. Once more he escaped and concealed himself, but spies traced him out and the son of his host tried to murder him.What final
- 147 The lesson was an effective one. The Chinese have never since attempted the conquest of j.a.pan, and it is the boast of the people of that country that no invading army has ever set foot upon their sh.o.r.es. Six centuries afterwards the case was to be re
- 148 Nearly fourteen hundred years had elapsed since the previous conquest of Corea by the famous empress Jingu. Now an army said to have been five hundred thousand strong was sent across the ocean channel between Kius.h.i.+u and the Corean coast. Hideyos.h.i.
- 149 For the next European knowledge of j.a.pan we must step forward to the year 1542. Columbus had discovered America, and Portugal had found an ocean highway to the spice islands of the East. A Portuguese adventurer, Mendez Pinto by name, ventured as far as
- 150 In this condition they were conveyed to Hakodate, in the island of Yeso, a distance of six or seven hundred miles, being carried, on the land part of the route, in a sort of palanquin made of planks, unless they preferred to walk, in which case the cords
- 151 The success of the Americans in this negotiation stimulated the other maritime nations, and in the same year a British fleet visited Nagasaki and obtained commercial concessions. In 1858 the treaties were extended, the port of Yokohama replacing that of S
- 152 In the period to which we have now come, China was far from being the great empire it is to-day. On the south it did not extend beyond the great river Yang-tse-Kiang, all the region to the south being still held by the native tribes. On the north the Tart
- 153 The event proved the soundness of the old warrior's judgment and his warlike skill. A great battle soon took place, in which w.a.n.g Tsein, taking advantage of a false movement of the enemy, drove him in panic flight from the field. This was soon fol
- 154 [Ill.u.s.tration: Reproduced by permission of The Philadelphia Museums.AN ITINERANT COBBLER. CANTON, CHINA.]_THE EMPRESS POISONER OF CHINA._ About two centuries before Christ a woman came to the head of affairs in China whose deeds recall the worst of tho
- 155 The end of the war was not the end of the "Crimson Eyebrows." Fanchong was ambitious, and a large number of his followers continued under his flag. They had aided greatly in putting a Han emperor on the throne, but they now became his most formi
- 156 Of the ceremony of invest.i.ture the princ.i.p.al feature was the a.s.sumption of the imperial cap or crown, which has long been the chief mark of royalty worn by the Chinese emperor. This is a cap of peculiar shape, round in front and straight behind, an
- 157 Under her control China retained abroad the proud position which Taitsong had won. For years war went on with Corea, who called in the j.a.panese to their aid. But the allies were defeated and four hundred of the war-junks of j.a.pan given to the flames.
- 158 After his visit information concerning these remote regions ceased until the publication of the remarkably interesting book of Marco Polo, the first to write of China from an actual visit to its court. The story of his visit must be left for a later tale.
- 159 The roof on the exterior was painted red, green, azure, and violet, the colors being highly durable, while the glazing of the windows was so neatly done that they were transparent as crystal. In the rear of the palace were arranged the treasure-rooms, whi
- 160 In 1618 the Manchus crossed their southern frontier and boldly set foot on the soil of China, their movement being so sudden and unexpected that the border town of Fooshun was taken almost without a blow. The army sent to retake it was hurled back in defe
- 161 This victory ended the war. Kanghi, on hearing of it, returned to Peking, having sent word to Feyanku to pursue Galdan with unrelenting vigor, there being no security while he remained at large. The recent powerful chief was now at the end of his resource
- 162 On the 5th of October, 1860, the allied armies of England and France approached the Celestial capital, the officers obtaining their first view of its far-stretching wall from the tops of some gra.s.s-grown brick-kilns. On the next day the march was resume
- 163 confinement. Dread of China and j.a.pan induced the king to send envoys with tribute to Peking and Yedo, but the tribute was small, and the isolation was maintained, Corea winning for itself the names of the Hermit Nation and the Forbidden Land.It was not
- 164 When the American fleet entered the Bay of Yedo it found itself in the heart of a civilization and inst.i.tutions a thousand years and more of age. The shogun, the military chief, was the actual ruler of j.a.pan, as he had been for many centuries before,
- 165 Historic Tales.Vol. XIII.by Charles Morris.INTRODUCTORY.Geoffrey of Monmouth, the famous chronicler of legendary British history, tells us,--in reference to the time when the Celtic kings of Britain were struggling against the Saxon invaders,--that "
- 166 "Sir," said Merlin, "fight not with the sword that you had by miracle, till you see things go to the worst; then draw it out and strike shrewdly for your throne."These words said, Arthur sallied from the tower at the head of all his kn
- 167 "I am a woman, and I may not fight," said Queen Igraine to this. "But there are men here will take my quarrel. Merlin will bear me witness that it was King Uther's wish, for reasons of state, that the birth of my child should be concea
- 168 "Lo! yonder is the sword I spoke of," said Merlin.Then another wonder met their eyes, for a woman came walking towards them upon the surface of the lake."What damsel is that?" asked Arthur. "And what means all this wondrous thing?
- 169 [Here it is proper to say that Arthur had three sisters, the daughters of Queen Igraine and her first husband, the Duke of Tintagil. One of these, Margawse, had married King Lot, and had four sons, all of whom became valiant knights; Elaine, the second, h
- 170 "Damsel," said the king in wonder, "why wear you that sword? It beseems you not.""Indeed, sir, it is a sore burden to me," replied the damsel, "but I must wear it till a knight of the highest honor and virtue can be foun
- 171 "Stop, sir knight. You shall halt whether you will or not, and the s.h.i.+eld you bear shall prove but light defence to you, for I am come to punish you for your crime."Hearing this outcry, Balin turned fiercely, and demanded,-- "What do yo
- 172 "How shall we know the king?" asked Balin."Hereby is a narrow way where you shall meet him," said Merlin.They followed him to the place, where they lay in ambush till the rattle of harness showed that the party approached. Then, at Mer
- 173 "Then you must make ready to fight," said Balin. "I have my order to bring you willingly or by force, and I should be loath to have a fight with you.""Will you be my warrant if I go with you?" asked the knight. "For trul
- 174 "Here I stand," said Balin. "If you wish revenge, seek it yourself. I stand in my defence.""It is well said," cried the king. "Stand back, all. For the love I bore my brother I will take his revenge on myself. Let no one
- 175 "Now will you send for a priest," asked Balan, "that we may receive the sacrament?""It shall be done," said the lady.And so she sent for a priest and gave them the rites of the church."When we are buried in one tomb,&quo
- 176 CHAPTER I.THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED s.h.i.+P.On a day not long after the event of Balin's death, it befell that Arthur and many of his knights went out hunting in a great forest, where, as fortune willed, King Arthur, Sir Accolan of Gaul, and Ki
- 177 "That my lady has not told me."As they spoke there came to them a knight and a lady, with six squires, who asked Sir Accolan why he lay there, and begged him to rise and come with them to a neighboring manor, where he might rest in better ease.
- 178 "Yesterday," said the knight, "Morgan le Fay sent me that sword by a dwarf, that with it I might slay the knight with whom I should fight this day! And she would also pledge me to slay King Arthur, her brother, for she hates him above any m
- 179 Saying this, she sprang from her horse and entered the abbey, going straight to Arthur's chamber. None dare hinder her, and she suffered no one to accompany her. Reaching the chamber she found her brother asleep in bed, with the sword Excalibur clasp
- 180 The king's anger burst out fiercely at this, and his face flamed with the fire of rage. He turned to King Uriens and his son, who stood among the knights."My sister, your wife, is doing her utmost to destroy me," he said, in burning wrath.
- 181 Of these, the eldest was not less than threescore years of age. She wore a garland of gold upon her head, and her hair was white beneath it. The second damsel was thirty years of age, and she also wore a circlet of gold. The third was not over fifteen yea
- 182 "Take off your helm," she replied. "Let me see your face."Gawaine did so, and when she saw that he spoke the truth she bade him alight and led him into the castle, questioning him who he was and how he had slain her tormenting admirer.
- 183 And, as fortune and fate decreed, he loved Queen Guenever above all other ladies, while she held him in favor above all other knights,--a favor that was destined thereafter to bring deep sorrow and trouble to England's realm. For her sake he did many
- 184 With these words they departed, leaving Lancelot in gloom of mind but steadfastness of heart.At noon, the damsel who had brought him his supper the night before came with his dinner, and asked him again how he fared."Never so ill," said Lancelot
- 185 "Now is my turn," said Mordred.He rode fiercely on Lancelot, who turned nimbly and met him in full career, Mordred's spear s.h.i.+vering unto his hand when it struck the firm white s.h.i.+eld. But Lancelot gave him so shrewd a buffet that t
- 186 "That we shall not do," said they. "While we live we shall seek him.""So shall I," said Kay, who was among the prisoners, "as I am a true knight."Then the released knights sought their armor and horses, and as they
- 187 "I thought you were safe a-bed," he said."So I was. But I sprang from the window to help an old fellow of mine."When they came to the light, Kay recognized Lancelot, and fell on his knees to thank him for saving his life."What I h
- 188 "I got it not so easy that I should leave it for a threat," he replied."You are wise," she answered. "I did but test your judgment. If you had yielded the sword you would never have looked on Queen Guenever again.""Then
- 189 BOOK V.THE ADVENTURES OF BEAUMAINS.CHAPTER I.THE KNIGHTING OF KAY'S KITCHEN BOY.King Arthur had, early in his reign, established the custom that at the feast of Pentecost he would never dine until he had seen or heard of some marvellous event. Throug
- 190 "I grant your wish," said the king. "All shall be done as you desire.""Fie on you all!" cried the damsel. "I came here for a knight, and you offer me a kitchen scullion. Is this King Arthur's way of rescuing a lady
- 191 Other adventures were ready for Beaumains before they had ridden far, for they soon found themselves at the side of a river that had but a single ford, and on the opposite side stood two knights, ready to dispute the pa.s.sage with any who should attempt
- 192 "In the fiend's name!" cried the damsel, "shall such a knave have service of thee and thirty knights?""All this avails nothing," said Beaumains. "You shall have your life only at this damsel's request," an
- 193 Between them and the city extended a new-mown meadow, a mile and a half in width, on which were placed many handsome pavilions."These pavilions belong to the lord who owns that city," said the damsel. "It is his custom, during fair weather,
- 194 "Yonder," she said, pointing."I see her," said Beaumains. "And from here she seems the fairest lady I ever looked upon. I ask no better quarrel than to fight for her, and wish no better fate than to greet her as my lady," and
- 195 "As for that," said Gringamore, "it can wait. Let us go to dinner.""He may well be a king's son," said Linet to her sister, "for he is the most courteous and long-suffering man I ever met. I tried him with such revi
- 196 This advice pleased the lady, whose warm faith in the prowess of her lover told her that he would win in the tournament. She therefore set out with a n.o.ble escort and rode to King Arthur's court, where she was received with the highest honors. The
- 197 "Go thy way," cried the porter, surlily; "thou gettest no lodging here.""Say not so, fair sir. I am a knight of King Arthur's, and pray the lord or lady of this castle to give me harbor for love of the king."Then the por
- 198 As they thus stood in loving converse, the damsel Linet came up to them, and stanched their wounds, from which the blood was flowing freely."What will you do now?" she asked. "It seems to me that my lord Arthur should have news of you, for
- 199 But after that Meliodas would have nothing to do with her until after years had pa.s.sed, when Tristram reconciled them with each other. And he sent his son from the court, being afraid the pardoned murderess might devise some new scheme for his destructi
- 200 CHAPTER II.LA BELLE ISOLDE.When Tristram arrived in Ireland, chance so provided that he landed near a castle in which the king and queen, with all their court, then were.He had brought his harp with him, and on his arrival sat up in his bed and played a m