CHAPTER XIV. THE CORSELET OF CAMBRIC.
IT is nine o clock. All is quiet in the camp. The fires have beenextinguished as a measure of prudence, and only the moon is allowed togleam.
In the plain, however, a few tumblers displayed their feats bytorchlight to a few spectators, but ere long, losing their public, theywere fain to pack up their traps and seek repose beneath some foresttree. By degrees every noise died away. Hardly a chirrup was heard togive life to a lovely night; still, now and then, one heard from afarthe ringing of steel. It was some watch on its rounds. The armourglittered a moment in the moonbeams and then disappeared, and that wasall.
Let us, too, go our rounds, and see what is passing in the camp. Wewill begin with the Royal tent. If you were not with me, my dear youngpeople, I would defy you to enter it. Never was treasure or sacredrelic so carefully guarded. Charles slept in a great bed of state, anda hundred of his bravest and stoutest men were appointed to guard him.Forty knights kept watch, changing guard three times a night, accordingto the muster-roll--ten at the head, ten at the foot, and ten on eitherside, each with a drawn sword and a torch.
Aude, too, had retired to her pavilion. She could not sleep, however,for thinking of all that had happened during the day--a day that hadbeen at once hateful and glad: hateful, because it had nearly deprivedher of her dear Oliver; joyful, because it had decided her marriage withRoland--her dear Roland. Her waiting-women surrounded her. Ten Moorishmaidens sang to her Spanish ballads, which she preferred to all others,but to-night she heard them not--she was lost in meditation. Four Saxondamsels combed her long tresses, waiting for the signal to dress it forthe night, a signal she forgot to give. Eight Lombard girls had madeready a perfumed bath, but it had been three times prepared already, forit grew cold while she was musing. Oghris was not more fortunate. Hehad gently placed his head in her lap, but she had not bestowed on hima single glance. He was a guard that made a mockery of the precautiontaken to put sentinels at the tent-door.
Roland slept beside Oliver. The two gallant fellows had fallen asleephand in hand. The friends were now virtually brothers.
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Meanwhile Ganelon and Wolf had concocted a murderous undertaking.
"Don't you think Marsillus would give a handsome price for Roland'sbody?"
"I believe you," answered the Duke of Aquitaine; "but it would be betterto deliver him up alive, and let the king manage him. It is by craft wemust oppose him; as to force, we must not dream of that, for neither younor I could do anything with him in that line."
Let us take a Stroll now Roland and Oliver reposing, beyond thecamp, and see who they are that wander in the skirts of the forest. Adelightful couple are whispering together. Mita, the worthy sister ofAude, whom we remarked at the head of the royal _cortege_, and who wascalled "the little knight of pearls," Mita was walking along, leaning onthe arm of Miton of Rennes, the friend of Roland. They were followed bya waiting-maid and a page.
"My sister is fortunate in having for her knight such a man as Roland."'
"Cannot you see how it breaks my heart to hear you speak so? To win yourfavour must one be the only knight who has no equal in the field?"
"I know my own value, and it seems to me that I deserve to haveprodigies of valour done to win me. Listen, Sir Miton. You would wedme: is it not so? You repeat, over and over again, you would achievemiracles for my sake!"
"It is true."
"Then I shall seek a proof of this to-morrow. At daybreak you willreceive my commands. If you carry out well the enterprise I shall planfor you, I will be yours--yours devotedly. If you attempt it, but do notsucceed, I shall be your friend as heretofore, but nothing beyond. Ifyou draw back, never speak to me again, for I should speak to you as toa poltroon."
They had now reached the camp, where they must part.
"Farewell, Miton; may you succeed to-morrow. I go to pray for yoursuccess."
She reached out a hand, which trembled in that of the knight, and whichhe kissed respectfully. Miton returned to his tent, but did not closehis eyes all night. Every time a footstep passed near his tent he rushedto the door, expecting to receive the message from Mila. At early dawnan attendant came with a packet, which she gave to him, and said--
"My mistress sends me to you to communicate her wishes. 'Go seek SirMiton,' she said to me, 'and bid him rejoice it he be truly desirous ofproving to me that he is worthy of my love, for I am going to give himan opportunity of proving it. Give to him this cambric garment of mine,and bid him wear it to-morrow in the fight. If he loves me he willconsider it a talisman more potent and more secure than steel, and, fullof confidence, will present himself at the tournament without any otherarmour except his greaves, his shield, and his helmet. If he does thisand triumphs, I shall be ready to give him any proof of my love that hemay demand. If he does not succeed, he shall none the less have myesteem and friendship for having essayed it. If he should fall, Iwill wear mourning for him and die in a convent. If he refuse, I shalldespise him as the falsest and most cowardly of men.'"
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Miton, who had sunk on his knees to receive from the messenger of hislove the packet, which he covered with kisses, rose smilingly, and spokethus to the attendant:--
"Return to her whom you have the honour to serve, and tell her that Iam happy and proud that she has given me an opportunity of dying for herpleasure. Without her, life is nothing to me: and this is putting me totoo easy a trial, for I feared she would send me away from her, and thatwould have been to put me to a slow and lingering death. I feel trulyblest now, since I can devote to her openly every minute as it passes toher service."
Miton gave all the gold and silver he possessed to the messenger,dismissed her, and prepared himself for the battle.
He put on the garment sent him by Mita, and I assure you he looked verywell, and not at all ridiculous, when he was equipped as his lady hadcommanded.
I ought to tell you, my friends, that our knight was about twenty-three,and had a handsome face, framed in long yellow locks. He was second tonone in either elegance or strength.
The cambric corselet which he had assumed, bound round his waist witha rich girdle, came down to his knees, leaving bare his neck and arms,which were very white.
Thus equipped he visited the Archbishop Turpin, related to him hisadventure, confessed to him, took the sacrament, and then gave himselfup to prayer until the hour for entering the lists.
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