The Champion of Virtue, now known with the later title of The Old English Baron (1777), is a chivalric tale (= racconto cavalleresco) with gothic elements, written by Clara Reeve (1729–1807). Ms Reeve herself admitted that it was written in imitation of, or rivalry with (= in contrapposizione) , the Castle of Otranto Richardson
In the preface C. Reeve wrote (1778)
“This Story is the literary offspring (= inizio) of the Castle of Otranto, written upon the same plan, with a design to unite the most attractive and interesting circumstances of the ancient Romance and modern Novel, at the same time it assumes a character and manner of its own, that differs from both; it is distinguished by the appellation (= appellativo) of a Gothic Story, being a picture of Gothic times and manners.”
She used a more limited view of the supernatural inventions employed (= impiegate) by Horace Walpole. She criticized The Castle of Otranto for the extravagance: the gigantic sword and helmet, the violent fictions of a walking picture, and of ghosts. For Ms Reeve a ghost should behave (= comportarsi) more soberly (=sobriamente) .
The story tell about Sir Philip Harclay who returns to England after a long absence, and finds that his childhood friend, Arthur, Lord Lovel, is no longer alive, and that the castle and estates (= possedimenti terrieri) of the Lovel family have twice (= due volte) changed hands. But a mysteriously abandoned set of rooms (= gruppo di stanze) in the castle promises to disclose the secrets of the past. After a series of frenetic episodes and surprising revelations, culminating in a trial by combat (=processo per combattimento) , the crimes of the usurper and the legitimacy of the true heir are finally discovered