CHAPTER V
THE WONDERFUL WISDOM OF PITTACUS
To go away at that moment, to leave the hated soil of Franceforevermore, was now the ardent desire of the little princess, but evenroyal ladies can not always do as they would like, and she was made torealize that some days must elapse before it would be possible for herto set out for her own country, where her father and her brother wouldbe waiting for her.
The chief delight of the princess at this time was in listening to thesongs of Burgundy as sung by the tuneful voice of Antoine. Anne ofBeaujeu entered her apartments one morning when the boy was singing hisBurgundian chansons. That cold and dignified lady was quite favorablyimpressed by the singer's talent, and requested him to sing a well-knownFrench song.
"Madame," said the princess, "I shall be pleased to have my page singfor you anything that you may fancy, but you will pardon me if I leavethe room while he sings of the glories of France!" And she walked outwith her head held high in the air.
Cunegunda was now utterly happy. Her migraine had been cured, thanks toSaint Roch or to the change of air and scene necessitated by thejourney to his shrine, and she was going to return to her belovedcountry.
"Ah, there is a land governed by a majestic ruler, a man who looks likea sovereign," said she proudly. "But the kings of France, pouf! The oldking, who was alive when we came, looked like an old peasant, with hisclaw-like hands and his awkward legs, and the present one, who in thevery bloom of his youth should be ruddy and handsome, has a large headand is undersized and is not at all kingly in appearance."
"But let us think only of the real man shut inside of thatunprepossessing shell," said Le Glorieux, adding, "There is that cleversentence again; I was afraid I had forgotten it."
"I do not see anything so very clever about it," retorted DameCunegunda; "anybody could have thought it out."
"Anybody might think out things, my good Frau," he replied, "but it isthe knowing just when to say them that counts. But I have very bad newsfor you, and instead of discussing my wonderful gift of always beingable to say the right thing at the right time, I really should be bathedin tears."
"Has something dreadful happened to my father? Has news come fromAustria?" asked Marguerite, in alarm.
"By no means. Calm yourself, my little princess. The King of the Romansmay be at this moment climbing the cliffs to surprise the wary chamois,or he may be defying some unlucky knight to mortal combat in thetournament."
"Then it must have been decided that we are to remain in France," criedCunegunda. "Oh, unlucky was the day that we ever set foot in this unholyland! I might have known that there was no such good luck for me as toleave it!"
"Now you are preparing to cry," said the jester reproachfully, "and ifthere is anything in this world I dislike to see it is a woman with herface all wrinkled up ready for a boohoo. Your face is round and rosy,and looks well enough when you let it alone, but ever since I havebecome acquainted with you, you have been ready to weep at a moment'swarning; you have shed at least a barrel of tears, and what good has itdone you? Learn a lesson of me and smile at things instead of cryingabout them."
"I never should want to smile had I so wide a mouth as yours," retortedCunegunda, forgetting in her indignation that she had not yet learnedthe news that Le Glorieux had come to tell.
"My mouth is the right width for a man of my height," returned he, "andcould not be improved upon. But to return to the matter in hand, I willsay right here and now that we are going to sail away as soon as thegood ships can be made ready for us."
"Then, what is your news? be not so long about telling it," saidMarguerite, knitting her straight brows into a frown.
"It is, alas, alas, that Clotilde is going with us to the domains ofyour royal grandfather!"
"This is news, indeed. Why must she go?"
"It appears that the new Queen of France, who so cleverly slipped intoyour place, my little princess, and caught the crown as it was about tosettle itself upon your golden head--let me see, where was I?"
"What of the Queen of France?" asked Marguerite.
"Oh, yes; Anne wants a lady of her own kin to accompany you to yournative country, to escort you, to watch over you; and Clotilde, youknow, is a relative of Anne's, though they are about as much alike asPandora, my hawk, is like a meek little dove. Nature makes a mistakesometimes and links the wrong people together by the ties of blood; I donot know why, but so it is. I had hoped that the shores of France andthe sour face of Clotilde would disappear together from my view, butperfect happiness is possible for no one, and moreover, I never was verylucky."
"If the Lady Clotilde is a relative of the young Queen of France, howdoes it happen that she has lived so long in Burgundy?" asked Cunegunda.
"My good friend," replied the jester, "you may have forgotten thatsometimes even the sourest of women have an opportunity to marry. Theymanage it, I think, by the aid of witchcraft, and in her youth thesharp black eyes of Clotilde captivated a Burgundian noble who afterwardwas killed in the wars, and probably was glad of it, considering thelife she must have led him."
A number of proverbs have been suggested by the fact that people oftenappear upon the scene while they are being talked about, and just as hefinished his sentence the Lady Clotilde parted the curtains that hung atthe doorway. She looked as pleased as her usually stern countenancewould permit, and she was accompanied by a boy about fourteen years ofage. This boy, afterward Duke of Savoy, and called Philibert theHandsome, was so beautiful that it was a joy to look upon him. Thecontour of his head, his straight nose, and his well-cut lips were asperfect as if they had been carved from marble by the skillful, lovinghand of a sculptor, while his brilliant coloring, his dark and shiningeyes, were made still more attractive by the expression of hiscountenance, which was frank and pleasing. For those days, when men andwomen vied with each other in the selection of gaudy colors, he wasquite plainly clad, wearing a suit of dark velvet with no ornamentswhatever.
"I wish to present to your Highness a young relative of mine," announcedthe Lady Clotilde. "He is Philibert, son of the Count de Bresse ofSavoy."
The boy kissed the hand Marguerite extended to him, and the LadyClotilde continued, "His father is an ally, as your Highness probablyknows, of the King of France."
"To gain my favor it is not necessary to be an ally of France," saidMarguerite shortly.
"And you are right, Madame," replied the boy quickly. "Were I in myfather's place never again would I draw my sword for France, for nationsas well as gentlemen should keep their promises."
This reply pleased the princess so much that her heart was won at once,and she smiled brightly upon the boy as Le Glorieux said, "And now tellme, Cousin Clotilde, how this young gentleman happens to be of your kin.He does not resemble you in the least."
"I am not so sure about that," said the lady. "On the contrary, I thinkthat he looks quite as I did at his age, and even now I can trace agreat resemblance between his countenance and my own."
"Your eyes are very sharp, my lady, and you possess the gift of seeingthings that are visible to no one else," replied the jester.
"So I have been told," she responded, taking the remark as a compliment."Philibert's mother was a relative of my own, and this is the first timeI have seen the lad, who, young as he is, his father takes with him tothe wars."
"I wish," said Marguerite shyly, "that your father would ally himselfwith Austria, since you no longer feel friendly toward France."
Philibert colored with pleasure as he replied, "Indeed, your Highness, Ishould like it of all things, but my father must do as he thinks best."
"Would you like to go to Austria for a time, Philibert?" asked the LadyClotilde, who seemed to be in an unusually obliging mood. Then sheadded, "A visit to a foreign court is of great advantage to a youth ofrank, and I will see what I can do to induce your father to allow you tomake the journey in my company."
There was no need for the boy to make a reply to this question, hisbeaming face and spark
ling eyes being sufficient to convince any whocared to know that the very thought of such a trip made him happy, andthe Lady Clotilde left the room with the words of Le Glorieux ringing inher ears, "She will succeed in her attempt, for those who do not obeyour Cousin Clotilde from love do so from fear," a doubtful compliment towhich she paid no attention. She was quite pleased with the thought ofprocuring the companionship of this handsome and gracious boy, who, shefelt confident, would reflect great credit upon herself.
"Oh, you will be permitted to go with us, I am sure of it!" cried thelittle princess enthusiastically. "Have you ever sailed in a ship?"
"No, Madame," replied the boy; "I have never been on the sea."
"Nor I, since I can remember it," returned she, "but I long to make avoyage. It must be fine to be so far away from land as to see nothingbut the sky and the foam-capped waves, to be on the dark, cold sea andyet be snug and comfortable."
"Once when I was a boy I made a trip on the sea," remarked Le Glorieux,"and I remember that there were times when I was not so snug andcomfortable as I could have wished. Believe me, my little princess, youwould be much happier traveling on land this time of year than you wouldbe out on the stormy seas. But France will send you home in whatever wayit best pleases her, and we shall have but little to say about it."
And it so happened that it was deemed best to send the little princessback to her father by land instead of intrusting her to the sea. Thiswas a disappointment to Marguerite, though she was glad to know thatthey were to start at once. Already the palace of Amboise was beingrefitted and refurnished in a style of great magnificence for the newqueen, who would not come to occupy it until after her coronation at St.Denis. There was an atmosphere of joy throughout the kingdom inanticipation of the new regime, which was expected to be very differentfrom the terrible days of the previous reign.
Lady Clotilde, who, as the jester had remarked, always managed in someway to get what she wanted, succeeded in persuading the Count de Bresseto allow his son to accompany her to Austria, and it was with lighthearts that the party set out on the journey, for a trip that hassomething pleasant at the end of it is always begun joyously, and thereis ever a feeling of exhilaration in the thought of seeing a newcountry. To the little princess her native land would be as an unknowncountry, for to her it was not even a memory. Not for a moment did sheforget her grudge against France. At the first stop they made, when aglass of wine was offered her with an apology for its sourness, she saidwith a curl of her red lips, "Even the wine is sour in a country thatcan not keep its promises." And the day they passed through Arras, thetown where the treaty was concluded that was to unite her to Charles,and the people ran out with cries of greeting, she turned her head awaywith a contemptuous reply.
As soon as they crossed the line that divided France from Flanders, LeGlorieux put spurs to his steed and advanced to the side of the litterin which the princess was seated.
"Little Cousin," said he. The curtains were parted and Marguerite'spretty face smiled at him. "You are now in your very own land ofFlanders," said he, "the country your mother brought to Austria as herdower."
"And I am glad to be here," replied she. "I could kiss the very soil ofthe land that is my own!"
The jester now gradually fell behind, and once more rode at the rear ofthe procession. "Why do you always ride so far behind?" asked Philibert,checking his own horse to wait for Le Glorieux.
"Do you want me to tell you the real reason?" asked the fool.
"Certainly I do."
"It is because I wish to spare the feelings of Pittacus."
"The legs, rather," laughed the boy.
"I mean exactly what I say--the feelings," persisted the fool. "Do younot think that a donkey can have feelings as well as a person? Of coursehe can," he went on, answering his own question. "And do you not thinkthat he is greatly humiliated in a company like this?"
"What is there to humiliate him?" asked Antoine, who rode on the otherside of the jester.
"Why, look you, many of the other steeds are mounted by the nobility andbear the richest trappings, while poor unfortunate Pittacus has nothingbut a common saddle. Do you not suppose that it cuts him to the heartwhen he notices the contrast? How would either of you feel to minglewith a gay company where jewels flashed and velvets shimmered, while youwore the coarsest fustian?"
"We should not like it, of course," replied Philibert, "but what does adonkey know about such things?"
"If you should ask him about it, you would be very soon convinced of thetruth of what I have told you, by the reply that he would make," saidLe Glorieux.
"Then let us ask him," said Antoine, and immediately raised his voice,saying, "Pittacus, do you mind whether or not you are wearing gaytrappings? If you do, just move your right ear." But the donkey refusedto make a sign.
"What did I tell you?" asked Antoine mockingly. "He does not know orcare what kind of a saddle you have placed on his back."
"He did not hear you," replied the jester.
"I should like to know why he did not hear me; what are such long earsfor, if not for use?"
"If you will stop a moment you will see that he will answer me," said LeGlorieux.
"He can not understand conversation when he is walking," said Philibert,laughing.
"Nor well enough to make a reply even when he is standing still,"remarked Antoine. "A donkey is nothing but a donkey, and you can makenothing more out of him."
"There are some donkeys, two legged ones, that can not understand thingsthat are told them," retorted the jester, "but if you will stop amoment, you will see that he will answer me. Pittacus is haughty andparticular in the choice of his friends, and he will not reply to everyjackanapes who asks him a question."
The three stopped and Le Glorieux dismounted, and going close to thedonkey's ear, he said, "Pittacus, joy of my heart, it makes you veryunhappy to see the other horses dressed so gay while you are wearingyour plain old saddle and blanket, I know it does. If I am right, justmove your right ear, Pittacus." And Pittacus did move his right ear, andthat quite vigorously.
"Now what have you to say?" asked his master triumphantly.
"You touched him with the point of your dagger and that was the cause ofit," said Philibert.
"I did nothing of the kind. See, I will ask him the same question againwith my hands clasped behind me. If you meant what you said just now,move your right ear again, Pittacus." Again the donkey's long ear movedas before, and, mounting him, the fool said with great satisfaction, "Ihope you will believe a thing when you have seen it with your own eyes,and perhaps you will be careful in what you say about him in hispresence."
"I do not see that we need to be so very cautious in what we say, sincehe does not seem to understand what is said to him, even by you, untilthe question is bawled into his ear," said Philibert.
"He does not take the trouble to answer unless some one he respectstalks into his ear; in fact, he hears no questions asked by ordinarypeople, but he would hear any gossip about himself, for all that,"replied Le Glorieux.
Antoine was very much surprised at the superior intelligence of thedonkey, but he did not pursue the subject further. It was a popularbelief at this period that animals actually could talk on Christmas Eve,and if this were true, he did not see any reason why they should not beable to move their ears in reply to a question at any time of the year.But Philibert, although he kept perfectly quiet regarding the matter,suspected the truth, which was that with the word "Pittacus" at the endof the sentence the jester blew into the donkey's ear, which caused theanimal to move his generous organ of hearing. He was also convinced thatit was not the sensitiveness of the animal to the fine trappings of theother horses that kept him in the rear, but that it was because he wastoo fat and lazy to keep up a brisk pace.
It was a tiresome journey, though they stopped at the towns, andsometimes were entertained at the mansion of some noble family along theroute. Not far from Cologne the princess called to Le Glorieux, who,though there were p
lenty of attendants to see that she was comfortable,was in the habit of riding forward once in a while to make sure that sheneeded nothing, "I am told that we are not far from Castle Hohenberg,"said she. "Ask two of the gentlemen to ride on and notify them of ourcoming."
"May I accompany them?" asked the fool.
"Certainly, if you like."
"And I should like to exchange horses with one of the guards."
"Why?"
"Because my donkey, Pittacus, is so sensitive."
"Sensitive?" repeated the princess, looking puzzled.
"Pittacus, little Cousin, is perfectly well aware of the shabbiness ofhis wardrobe, and to prance into a castle courtyard caparisoned as heis, with two other horses that are well dressed, would be more painfulto him than to enter in a crowd where he would not be so likely to benoticed."
"Just as you please," replied the princess, smiling. "One of the guardswill exchange steeds with you."
"See the fibs your utter indolence and indifference force me to tell,"muttered the fool, as he rode away from the litter. "It is I who amsensitive, and on account of your slowness, but all this does not seemto have the least effect upon you or to make you go a jot faster."
Having exchanged with one of the guards, who did not seem at all anxiousto make the trade, Le Glorieux galloped gayly away with the twogentlemen, very glad to be one of the first to arrive at the castle.
Some youths and maidens had been to the woods]
Wrapped in his robes of crimson, the sun was sinking behind the foresttrees when Le Glorieux and his two companions came in sight of thefamily seat of the Von Hohenbergs. The building was a grim oldstructure, turreted and rugged, which had seen two centuries come andgo, and seemed able to greet many more. Some youths and maidens who hadbeen to the wood to gather fagots were singing and chattering as if theworld for them had not a care, though they possessed but the merenecessaries of life. The count and countess had not yet returned fromthe chase, so the strangers were informed by the haughty seneschal, whoimmediately softened and almost groveled when informed that the LadyMarguerite of Hapsburg was about to honor the castle with her presence,while every being under that roof seemed to be on the alert to put thebest foot foremost, in order properly to receive the little princess.Even Le Glorieux was treated with a degree of deference that caused himto throw back his shoulders and strut about with a great deal of pride.
Soon the sound of a hunting horn was heard, and a company of ladies andgentlemen dashed through the gate with hawks on their wrists andfollowed by hounds. They seemed more quiet and less happy than thefagot-gatherers, Le Glorieux thought, and he wondered if they werereally as happy as those young people who were working for their dailybread.
The Count and Countess Von Hohenberg were very pleasant elderly people,with a large family of sons and daughters, and a number of relatives whoalways lived with them, so their household was a very large one. Theywere charmed to hear of the unexpected arrival of the princess, who withher suite soon rode through the gates and received a hearty welcome. Abright fire was snapping in the broad fireplace of the great hall, anddid its part in cheering the fatigued and chilled travelers. The guestswere conducted to their rooms, which, if they did not contain theluxuries afforded by the sleeping apartments in the mansions of the richof the present day, were at least comfortable, though the huge beds,with their ghostly hangings, looked as if they might invite thenightmare.
It was a merry company which surrounded the supper table, whereMarguerite was, of course, given the seat of honor. Great indignationwas expressed at the double insult offered their country by France. "Ihave heard," said the count, "that Austria has taken up an alliance withEngland and Spain, so France may learn to fear the house of Hapsburg andits powerful friends."
"And France is no longer governed by the sly and scheming Louis, but bythe weakling Charles," said one of the gentlemen.
"I think you are wrong to call Charles a weakling," remarked LeGlorieux, who was sitting on a low stool at the side of his mistress,with his plate in his lap. "Charles has a dimple in his chin, which maymean weakness, but he also has a nose of great size, which may meananything that is bad for his neighbors."
Just as he finished this speech a mournful shriek was heard outside,which very nearly made the fool drop his plate. "What was that horriblenoise?" he gasped.
"It was only the wind whistling about the turrets," replied the count,laughing. "The night is growing colder and the wind is rising."
"I thought it was the wail of a witch," said the jester.
"Send for Antoine that he may sing the witch song he gave us one nightin Rennes," said the Lady Marguerite. "It is like the howl of the wind."
A servant was sent to fetch the boy, who came with his lute and took aseat by the fire, where he sang the witch song to such words as suitedhis fancy, for he was not playing a joke upon his friend as when he hadsung at the court of Brittany, but was now anxious to please this merrycompany of ladies and gentlemen. He told how a beauteous maiden with alovely voice was carried away one dark night by a witch, and changedinto a nightingale, where, lingering about her former home, she nightlypoured forth the woes of her heart in song. This production receivedsuch high praise from the listeners that Antoine blushed very red, anddid not know whether to look up the chimney or at the floor, to hide hisconfusion. Upon learning that he had set his own words to his own music,one of the ladies wanted to know whether the story was true, and if theunhappy maiden really had been thus bewitched. But Antoine was obligedto admit that he had not a personal acquaintance with the nightingalemaiden, intimating that the young woman was merely a creature of hisimagination. To-day this would seem a strange question to ask in allseriousness, but, as has already been said, the existence of witches andhobgoblins was taken as a matter of course in those days.
Then they began to talk of the tricks played by witches, and while noneof the company could say that he or she ever had actually seen a witch,still almost everybody had a story to tell that had been related bypeople who had seen those mysterious and treacherous females.
"My mother often talked with witches," said the Lady Clotilde in thatdecided way of hers which seemed to defy anybody to doubt her word. "Andthey caused her a great deal of annoyance," she went on. "One day whenmy mother was fastening a veil to her cap, a witch suddenly appeared andsaid, 'Oh, what a pretty cap! And that lace is as delicate as frostwork!Let me try it on, do!' And before my mother could say 'yes' or 'no,' thewitch had snatched the cap and put it on her head, and with a shrilllaugh vanished through the keyhole!"
"How did she get the cap through the keyhole?" asked Le Glorieux.
"That is no more wonderful than getting herself through the keyhole, isit?" asked the lady tartly, annoyed by the query.
"No," returned the fool, "I do not think it is."
"Then do not interrupt with silly questions," said she.
"I can tell a story of something that happened over a hundred years ago,in this very house, to one of my husband's ancestors," said thecountess. Everybody shivered with expectancy, while the wind outsidehowled louder than ever; Antoine turned his back to the fire so that itwould not be convenient for anything to grab him from that direction,while even Philibert, who was two years older, and who sat beside thecountess, regretted vaguely that the dagger at his side would be of noavail against witches. For it seemed that if such creatures ever wouldfeel an inclination to meddle with the affairs of mortals, this oldcastle with its vast rooms and dark corners would be the scene of theirliveliest performances.
"As I said," began the countess, "it was a hundred years ago. The LadyIolantha, whose father and brothers had all been killed in the wars,lived here alone. She was the most beautiful woman of her time, and shewas betrothed to her cousin, Count Wolfgang, who had inherited the titlewithout the wealth, for the money all had come from her mother's side ofthe house, and there was nothing left for the count but the emptycastle, which he scorned to take unless the lady should come with it.
"Iolantha, who was willful, detested her cousin, having bestowed heraffections upon a wandering minstrel by the name of Rudolph Eberhard, ahandsome youth, and one who sang in a most charming voice. He lingeredhere day after day, and sang so many songs in praise of her beauty thatshe determined to marry him, come what would. Wolfgang was not a man towin the heart of a maiden, for, though young, he had a dark, forbiddingcountenance, and a harsh, discordant voice. Every one feared him, and itwas believed by many that he was in league with evil spirits."
"A cheerful kind of an ancestor, that one of yours," remarked LeGlorieux to the count.
"But he lived a hundred years ago; his blood has been filtered away bythis time, at least all that was bad in it," said the countess. "TheCount Wolfgang knew that his cousin cared nothing for him, still he wasdetermined to hold her to her promise, and he was resolved, by fairmeans or foul, to get the young minstrel out of the way." The countessnow unclasped a girdle that hung loosely about her waist, with long endscoming almost to the floor, and held it up that all might see it. It wasmade of flexible silver fretwork, and was set with emeralds. "There is atradition that when this girdle is lost by the Von Hohenbergs their luckwill go with it," went on the countess, "so Iolantha cherished it veryhighly. One night after dancing in the great hall, a dance in whichRudolph was her partner, the girdle suddenly disappeared in a mannerthat was most unaccountable. They searched everywhere, but it could notbe found, and one by one the servants were accused, but all to no avail.Then tauntingly Wolfgang demanded that Rudolph be searched. Iolanthaindignantly refused to have this done, deeming the very suggestion aninsult to the man she loved and respected. But without more ado Wolfgangwalked up to the young minstrel, and tearing open his doublet, found thegirdle concealed on the inside of it."
"I suspected as much," remarked Le Glorieux, who, like every one else,had been very much interested in the story. "You see," he went on, "theminstrel was dancing with the lady, and it would be easy enough for himto unclasp the girdle and hide it in the folds of his mantle until hehad a chance to tuck it away in his doublet."
"But wait," said the countess. "Rudolph was as much surprised as any oneelse and declared that he did not know how it came there."
"He, would naturally make that very remark," observed the fool.
"But Rudolph had not taken the girdle," said the countess triumphantly."The Count Wolfgang was in league with witches, and it was by theirspells that the girdle had come into the minstrel's possession. Servantstold the story to their children, and so on down, of how that very nightthey had heard the witches singing their wild songs, and the oldhousekeeper saw them dancing in the moonlight. She said they weredressed in a gray, misty material like cobwebs."
"Did Iolantha marry the minstrel?" asked the princess.
"No, your Highness. There was nothing to prove that the witches did thetrick, and she could not marry a man with so deep a stain upon his goodname. So Rudolph marched away to the crusades, and Iolantha marriedCount Wolfgang."
"And she did a sensible thing," said Le Glorieux decisively. "I havedistrusted that minstrel ever since you brought him into the story,which teaches that the man who does a wicked thing is bound to come outat the small end of the horn."
"Thank you, Fool," said the count, laughing. "You have cleared the goodname of my ancestor and you are the first one in all these years to saya word in his favor, all preferring to take sides with the handsomeminstrel."