noon
That gentle lady in that robber hold , severed from all she had been taught most to prize -- mother , friends , and fair fame -- only loved her seducer the more intensely ; only the more concentrated upon one object all the womanly and tender feelings denied every other and less sinful vent . But she felt her shame , though she sought to conceal it , and a yet more gnawing grief than even that of shame contributed to prey upon her spirits and undermine her health . Yet , withal , in Montreal 's presence she was happy , even in regret ; and in her declining health she had at least a consolation in the hope to die while his love was undiminished . Sometimes they made short excursions , for the disturbed state of the country forbade them to wander far from the castle , through the sunny woods , and along the glassy sea , which make the charm of that delicious scenery ; and that mixture of the savage with the tender , the wild escort , the tent in some green glade in the woods at noon , the lute and voice of Adeline , with the fierce soldiers grouped and listening at the distance , might have well suited the verse of Ariosto , and harmonised singularly with that strange , disordered , yet chivalric time , in which the Classic South became the seat of the Northern Romance . Still , however , Montreal maintained his secret intercourse with the Hungarian king , and , plunged in new projects , willingly forsook for the present all his designs on Rome . Yet deemed he that his more august ambition was only delayed , and , bright in the more distant prospects of his adventurous career , rose the Capitol of Rome and shone the sceptre of the Caesars . One day , as Montreal , with a small troop in attendance , passed on horseback near the walls of Terracina , the gates were suddenly thrown open , and a numerous throng issued forth , preceded by a singular figure , whose steps they followed bareheaded and with loud blessings ; a train of monks closed the procession , chanting a hymn , of which the concluding words were as follows : -- Beauteous on the mountains -- lo , The feet of him glad tidings gladly bringing ; The flowers along his pathway grow , And voices , heard aloft , to angel harps are singing : And strife and slaughter cease Before thy blessed way , Young Messenger of Peace !