With sheep and shaggy goats the porkers bled,
And the proud steer was on the marble spread;
With fire prepared, they deal the morsels round,
Wine rosy bright the brimming goblets crown'd.
- - - - - - -
Disposed apart, Ulysses shares the treat;
A trivet table and ignobler seat,
The Prince assigns---
-Odyssey, Book 21-.
The Prior Aymer had taken the opportunity
afforded him, of changing his riding robe for one
of yet more costly materials, over which he wore a
cope curiously embroidered. Besides the massive
golden signet ring, which marked his ecclesiastical
dignity, his fingers, though contrary to the canon,
were loaded with precious gems; his sandals were
of the finest leather which was imported from
Spain; his beard trimmed to as small dimensions
as his order would possibly permit, and his shaven
crown concealed by a scarlet cap richly embroidered.
The appearance of the Knight Templar was also
changed; and, though less studiously bedecked with
ornament, his dress was as rich, and his appearance
far more commanding, than that of his companion.
He had exchanged his shirt of mail for an under
tunic of dark purple silk, garnished with furs, over
which flowed his long robe of spotless white, in
ample folds. The eight-pointed cross of his order
was cut on the shoulder of his mantle in black velvet.
The high cap no longer invested his brows,
which were only shaded by short and thick curled
hair of a raven blackness, corresponding to his unusually
swart complexion. Nothing could be more
gracefully majestic than his step and manner, had
they not been marked by a predominant air of
haughtiness, easily acquired by the exercise of unresisted
authority.
These two dignified persons were followed by
their respective attendants, and at a more humble
distance by their guide, whose figure had nothing
more remarkable than it derived from the usual
weeds of a pilgrim. A cloak or mantle of coarse
black serge, enveloped his whole body. It was in
shape something like the cloak of a modern hussar,
having similar flaps for covering the arms, and was
called a _Sclaveyn_, or _Sclavonian_. Coarse sandals,
bound with thongs, on his bare feet; a broad and
shadowy hat, with cockle-shells stitched on its brim,
and a long staff shod with iron, to the upper end
of which was attached a branch of palm, completed
the palmer's attire. He followed modestly the last
of the train which entered the hall, and, observing
that the lower table scarce afforded room sufficient
for the domestics of Cedric and the retinue of his
guests, he withdrew to a settle placed beside and
almost under one of the large chimneys, and seemed
to employ himself in drying his garments, until
the retreat of some one should make room at the
board, or the hospitality of the steward should
supply him with refreshments in the place he had
chosen apart.
Cedric rose to receive his guests with an air of
dignified hospitality, and, descending from the dais,
or elevated part of his hall, made three steps towards
them, and then awaited their approach.
"I grieve," he said, "reverend Prior, that my
vow binds me to advance no farther upon this floor
of my fathers, even to receive such guests as you,
and this valiant Knight of the Holy Temple. But
my steward has expounded to you the cause of my
seeming discourtesy. Let me also pray, that you
will excuse my speaking to you in my native language,
and that you will reply in the same if your
knowledge of it permits; if not, I sufficiently understand
Norman to follow your meaning."
"Vows," said the Abbot, "must be unloosed,
worthy Franklin, or permit me rather to say, worthy
Thane, though the title is antiquated. Vows
are the knots which tie us to Heaven---they are the
cords which bind the sacrifice to the horns of the
altar,---and are therefore,---as I said before,---to be
unloosened and discharged, unless our holy Mother
Church shall pronounce the contrary. And respecting
language, I willingly hold communication in
that spoken by my respected grandmother, Hilda
of Middleham, who died in odour of sanctity, little
short, if we may presume to say so, of her glorious
namesake, the blessed Saint Hilda of Whitby, God
be gracious to her soul!"
When the Prior had ceased what he meant as a
conciliatory harangue, his companion said briefly
and emphatically, "I speak ever French, the language
of King Richard and his nobles; but I understand
English sufficiently to communicate with
the natives of the country."
Cedric darted at the speaker one of those hasty
and impatient glances, which comparisons between
the two rival nations seldom failed to call forth;
but, recollecting the duties of hospitality, he suppressed
further show of resentment, and, motioning
with his hand, caused his guests to assume two
seats a little lower than his own, but placed close
beside him, and gave a signal that the evening meal
should be placed upon the board.
While the attendants hastened to obey Cedric's
commands, his eye distinguished Gurth the swineherd,
who, with his companion Wamba, had just
entered the hall. "Send these loitering knaves up
hither," said the Saxon, impatiently. And when
the culprits came before the dais,---"How comes
it, villains! that you have loitered abroad so late
as this? Hast thou brought home thy charge, sirrah
Gurth, or hast thou left them to robbers and
marauders?"
"The herd is safe, so please ye," said Gurth.
"But it does not please me, thou knave," said
Cedric, "that I should be made to suppose otherwise
for two hours, and sit here devising vengeance
against my neighbours for wrongs they have not
done me. I tell thee, shackles and the prison-house
shall punish the next offence of this kind."
Gurth, knowing his master's irritable temper, attempted
no exculpation; but the Jester, who could
presume upon Cedric's tolerance, by virtue of his
privileges as a fool, replied for them both; "In
troth, uncle Cedric, you are neither wise nor reasonable
to-night."
"How, sir?" said his master; "you shall to the
porter's lodge, and taste of the discipline there, if
you give your foolery such license."
"First let your wisdom tell me," said Wamba,
"is it just and reasonable to punish one person for
the fault of another?"
"Certainly not, fool," answered Cedric.
"Then why should you shackle poor Gurth, uncle,
for the fault of his dog Fangs? for I dare be
sworn we lost not a minute by the way, when we
had got our herd together, which Fangs did not
manage until we heard the vesper-bell."
"Then hang up Fangs," said Cedric, turning
hastily towards the swineherd, "if the fault is his,
and get thee another dog."
"Under favour, uncle," said the Jester, "that
were still somewhat on the bow-hand of fair justice;
for it was no fault of Fangs that he was lame
and could not gather the herd, but the fault of
those that struck off two of his fore-claws, an operation
for which, if the poor fellow had been consulted,
he would scarce have given his voice."
"And who dared to lame an animal which belonged
to my bondsman?" said the Saxon, kindling
in wrath.
"Marry, that did old Hubert," said Wamba,
"Sir Philip de Malvoisin's keeper of the chase.
He caught Fangs strolling in the forest, and said he
chased the deer contrary to his master's right, as
warden of the walk."
"The foul fiend take Malvoisin," answered the
Saxon, "and his keeper both! I will teach them
that the wood was disforested in terms of the great
Forest Charter. But enough of this. Go to, knave,
go to thy place---and thou, Gurth, get thee another
dog, and should the keeper dare to touch it, I will
mar his archery; the curse of a coward on my head,
if I strike not off the forefinger of his right hand!
---he shall draw bowstring no more.---I crave your
pardon, my worthy guests. I am beset here with
neighbours that match your infidels, Sir Knight, in
Holy Land. But your homely fare is before you;
feed, and let welcome make amends for hard fare."
The feast, however, which was spread upon the
board, needed no apologies from the lord of the
mansion. Swine's flesh, dressed in several modes,
appeared on the lower part of the board, as also
that of fowls, deer, goats, and hares, and various
kinds of fish, together with huge loaves and cakes
of bread, and sundry confections made of fruits and
honey. The smaller sorts of wild-fowl, of which
there was abundance, were not served up in platters,
but brought in upon small wooden spits or
broaches, and offered by the pages and domestics
who bore them, to each guest in succession, who cut
from them such a portion as he pleased. Beside
each person of rank was placed a goblet of silver;
the lower board was accommodated with large
drinking horns.
When the repast was about to commence, the
major-domo, or steward, suddenly raising his wand,
said aloud,---"Forbear!---Place for the Lady
Rowena." A side-door at the upper end of the hall
now opened behind the banquet table, and Rowena,
followed by four female attendants, entered the
apartment. Cedric, though surprised, and perhaps
not altogether agreeably so, at his ward appearing
in public on this occasion, hastened to meet her,
and to conduct her, with respectful ceremony, to
the elevated seat at his own right hand, appropriated
to the lady of the mansion. All stood up to
receive her; and, replying to their courtesy by a
mute gesture of salutation, she moved gracefully
forward to assume her place at the board. Ere she
had time to do so, the Templar whispered to the
Prior, "I shall wear no collar of gold of yours at
the tournament. The Chian wine is your own."
"Said I not so?" answered the Prior; "but
check your raptures, the Franklin observes you."
Unheeding this remonstrance, and accustomed
only to act upon the immediate impulse of his own
wishes, Brian de Bois-Guilbert kept his eyes riveted
on the Saxon beauty, more striking perhaps to
his imagination, because differing widely from those
of the Eastern sultanas.
Formed in the best proportions of her sex,
Rowena was tall in stature, yet not so much so as
to attract observation on account of superior height.
Her complexion was exquisitely fair, but the noble
cast of her head and features prevented the insipidity
which sometimes attaches to fair beauties. Her
clear blue eye, which sate enshrined beneath a graceful
eyebrow of brown sufficiently marked to give
expression to the forehead, seemed capable to kindle
as well as melt, to command as well as to beseech.
If mildness were the more natural expression
of such a combination of features, it was plain,
that in the present instance, the exercise of habitual
superiority, and the reception of general homage,
had given to the Saxon lady a loftier character,
which mingled with and qualified that bestowed
by nature. Her profuse hair, of a colour betwixt
brown and flaxen, was arranged in a fanciful and
graceful manner in numerous ringlets, to form which
art had probably aided nature. These locks were
braided with gems, and, being worn at full length,
intimated the noble birth and free-born condition
of the maiden. A golden chain, to which was attached
a small reliquary of the same metal, hung
round her neck. She wore bracelets on her arms,
which were bare. Her dress was an under-gown
and kirtle of pale sea-green silk, over which hung
a long loose robe, which reached to the ground,
having very wide sleeves, which came down, however,
very little below the elbow. This robe was
crimson, and manufactured out of the very finest
wool. A veil of silk, interwoven with gold, was
attached to the upper part of it, which could be, at
the wearer's pleasure, either drawn over the face
and bosom after the Spanish fashion, or disposed
as a sort of drapery round the shoulders.
When Rowena perceived the Knight Templar's
eyes bent on her with an ardour, that, compared
with the dark caverns under which they moved,
gave them the effect of lighted charcoal, she drew
with dignity the veil around her face, as an intimation
that the determined freedom of his glance
was disagreeable. Cedric saw the motion and its
cause. "Sir Templar," said he, "the cheeks of
our Saxon maidens have seen too little of the sun
to enable them to bear the fixed glance of a crusader."
"If I have offended," replied Sir Brian, "I crave
your pardon,---that is, I crave the Lady Rowena's
pardon,---for my humility will carry me no lower."
"The Lady Rowena," said the Prior, "has
punished us all, in chastising the boldness of my
friend. Let me hope she will be less cruel to the
splendid train which are to meet at the tournament."
"Our going thither," said Cedric, "is uncertain.
I love not these vanities, which were unknown to
my fathers when England was free."
"Let us hope, nevertheless," said the Prior, "our
company may determine you to travel thitherward;
when the roads are so unsafe, the escort of Sir
Brian de Bois-Guilbert is not to be despised."
"Sir Prior," answered the Saxon, "wheresoever
I have travelled in this land, I have hitherto found
myself, with the assistance of my good sword and
faithful followers, in no respect needful of other
aid. At present, if we indeed journey to Ashby-de-la-Zouche,
we do so with my noble neighbour
and countryman Athelstane of Coningsburgh, and
with such a train as would set outlaws and feudal
enemies at defiance.---I drink to you, Sir Prior,
in this cup of wine, which I trust your taste will
approve, and I thank you for your courtesy. Should
you be so rigid in adhering to monastic rule," he
added, "as to prefer your acid preparation of milk,
I hope you will not strain courtesy to do me reason."
"Nay," said the Priest, laughing, "it is only in
our abbey that we confine ourselves to the _lac dulce_
or the _lac acidum_ either. Conversing with, the
world, we use the world's fashions, and therefore
I answer your pledge in this honest wine, and leave
the weaker liquor to my lay-brother."
"And I," said the Templar, filling his goblet,
"drink wassail to the fair Rowena; for since her
namesake introduced the word into England, has
never been one more worthy of such a tribute. By
my faith, I could pardon the unhappy Vortigern,
had he half the cause that we now witness, for
making shipwreck of his honour and his kingdom."
"I will spare your courtesy, Sir Knight," said
Rowena with dignity, and without unveiling herself;
"or rather I will tax it so far as to require
of you the latest news from Palestine, a theme
more agreeable to our English ears than the compliments
which your French breeding teaches."
"I have little of importance to say, lady," answered
Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert, "excepting the
confirmed tidings of a truce with Saladin."
He was interrupted by Wamba, who had taken
his appropriated seat upon a chair, the back of
which was decorated with two ass's ears, and which
was placed about two steps behind that of his master,
who, from time to time, supplied him with victuals
from his own trencher; a favour, however,
which the Jester shared with the favourite dogs,
of whom, as we have already noticed, there were
several in attendance. Here sat Wamba, with a
small table before him, his heels tucked up against
the bar of the chair, his cheeks sucked up so as to
make his jaws resemble a pair of nut-crackers, and
his eyes half-shut, yet watching with alertness every
opportunity to exercise his licensed foolery.
"These truces with the infidels," he exclaimed,
without caring how suddenly he interrupted the
stately Templar, "make an old man of me!"
"Go to, knave, how so?" said Cedric, his features
prepared to receive favourably the expected
jest.
"Because," answered Wamba, "I remember
three of them in my day, each of which was to endure
for the course of fifty years; so that, by computation,
I must be at least a hundred and fifty
years old."
"I will warrant you against dying of old age,
however," said the Templar, who now recognised
his friend of the forest; "I will assure you from
all deaths but a violent one, if you give such directions
to wayfarers, as you did this night to the
Prior and me."
"How, sirrah!" said Cedric, "misdirect travellers?
We must have you whipt; you are at least
as much rogue as fool."
"I pray thee, uncle," answered the Jester, "let
my folly, for once, protect my roguery. I did but
make a mistake between my right hand and my
left; and he might have pardoned a greater, who
took a fool for his counsellor and guide."
Conversation was here interrupted by the entrance
of the porter's page, who announced that
there was a stranger at the gate, imploring admittance
and hospitality,
"Admit him," said Cedric, "be he who or what
he may;---a night like that which roars without,
compels even wild animals to herd with tame,
and to seek the protection of man, their mortal foe,
rather than perish by the elements. Let his wants
be ministered to with all care---look to it, Oswald."
And the steward left the banqueting hall to see
the commands of his patron obeyed.