King Eric and the Outlaws, Vol. 1

  CHAP. V.

  Prince Christopher and his train meanwhile pursued their way toSjoeborg. They rode at a slow pace, to suit the convenience of theforeign prelate. The mysterious importance which Cardinal Isarnus knewhow to assume as the pope's legate, and the reserve with which heevaded every close question, had worked up the prince to a pitch ofanxious expectation, which he vainly endeavoured to hide. Isarnusappeared with a splendour corresponding to his high rank as a dignitaryof the church; his richly attired attendants followed him at arespectful distance, together with his famulus and secretary; near himrode the Abbot of Esrom and two foreign ecclesiastics. Isarnusconversed with his countrymen and with the abbot by turns, in theItalian and Latin tongue: his converse with the prince and the margravewas short and abrupt, and carried on in almost unintelligible German.He appeared, indeed, to avail himself of the want of a common language,by leaving every query unanswered to which he considered it might beimpolitic to reply. In important negociations he made use of hisfamulus as an interpreter. Wherever this powerful prelate appeared inthe country, he was the object of superstitious awe. The unusualspectacle of the cardinal's red hat worked upon the imagination of thepeople like the appearance of a comet, and was considered to be asominous of evil, as that dreaded phenomenon of the heavens. Some of themost ignorant among the lower orders even believed it was the popehimself who had arrived in Denmark to dethrone the king andexcommunicate the kingdom; and it was not alone from reverence, but asmuch from fear, that the wonder-stricken peasants and old womenespecially, knelt down whenever they encountered the cardinal. Hislong, sallow, and imperturbable visage, with its expression of coolmenace, and foreign aspect, combined with the preconceived notion of asupernatural and mysterious power, seemed endowed with the petrifyinginfluence of Medusa's head.

  "Dear Sir Pope! harm us not!" frequently whimpered forth the sick andcrippled who knelt in his path. He understood them not, and no wordproceeded from his thin compressed lips, but he extended his arm, witha cold unchanging mien, and with his three fingers, which sparkled withcostly rings, signed over their uncovered heads the silent token of ablessing, which they feared would soon be changed into a curse, for thethreats with which he had last left the king and the country, weregenerally made known through the fears of the clergy themselves, andtheir zealous exhortations to repentance.

  Accompanied by this ecclesiastical scarecrow. Prince Christopher nowapproached Sjoeborg. After several fruitless attempts to gain theconfidence of the mysterious legate, the prince withdrew, leaving hisplace by the cardinal's side to the Abbot of Esrom and the otherecclesiastics, who conversed with him, in Latin, upon philosophical andtheological subjects. The bold and joyous margrave rode by the side ofSir Helmer Blaa, and talked eagerly of campaigns and tournaments. Theprince allowed them to pass him, and remained alone behind with theSwedish statesman, Drost Bruncke, to whom he appeared desirous ofcommunicating something of importance ere they reached Sjoeborg.

  "You will now probably delay your homeward journey, Sir Drost!" saidthe prince, in a confidential tone. "That which yon mysterious guestbrings with him may prove as important to your sovereign and to theSwedish council as to us."

  "Perhaps it may alter the state of things here rather more than yourroyal house would wish," answered Bruncke, ambiguously; "what else canyour highness mean?"

  "Yonder red cloud is doubtless charged with holy lightnings," continuedthe prince, pointing to the cardinal, whose red hat flared through thetrees in the moonlight. "If my stiff-necked brother does not now givein, misfortune stands at his door; such is ever the result of all halfmeasures. An important state prisoner should be either timely buried,or else let loose. Was not that your opinion also, Sir Drost?"

  "It is often the wisest policy," answered Bruncke. "The dead _cannot_tell tales; and the generous, once restored to freedom, _will not_."

  "You know the individual I allude to," continued the prince; "he willnow either be let loose, and become perhaps more dangerous than ever,or the storm will burst which he hath conjured over us hither fromRome. He was as good as buried--that was my doing, but I got sorrythanks for it. Out of mistimed compassion he was brought up once morefrom the grave;--to spare a sick priest, they had the folly to letloose the bishop's understrapper, so that he was able to flee, and stirup heaven and earth to work our ruin. I then counselled a timelyreconciliation; but when sternness should have been used they were weakand mild, and when reconciliation became the wisest policy they werestern and pertinacious. My counsel was never heeded; hate and disfavourwere my thanks. The people will now have their eyes opened, and perhapsyour young king also, provided he will be guided by his wisestcounsellor."

  "Very possibly, noble prince!" answered Bruncke, with a crafty smile;"but as yet I see not the danger, and even were I so fortunate as toperceive it, and to understand you, so long as Thorkild Knudson is atthe head of state affairs, and in such high honour and favour"--hepaused, and shrugged his shoulders.

  "He rises but to fall," continued the prince, "should he even win mybrother's favour also. By his friendship with your dangerous dukes, andthe high alliance which is spoken of, he is sealing his own doom."

  "That is very possible, your highness," answered Bruncke, with amalicious smile; "his vaunted wisdom is not infallible; with timecometh experience. Were but your royal brother only not so ardent alover, and our fair princess somewhat less devoted to him"--

  "Childish fancies!" interrupted the prince. "State policy alone, notchildish folly, should counsel here. Your young king hastes notso with his marriage, and therein he acts wisely. Between ourselves,Bruncke,"--here he whispered confidentially, while he nearly drewbridle,--"my sister Merete is little suited to your king, but hissoft-hearted sister is still less so to my brother. This doublealliance will be ruinous for both kingdoms. You may easily come toshare our unhappy position with regard to the papal see; and if enmitybreaks out betwixt your king and his ambitious brother, there is nodoubt against whom Princess Ingeborg, as queen, will arm Denmark and myenamoured brother. That she holds the haughty warlike duke, Eric, fardearer than his crowned brother, you know yourself much better than I."

  "Truly, I cannot but admire your highness's policy," replied Bruncke,in a fawning tone, while his wily glance seemed to penetrate theprince's most secret thoughts. "You are as wise as generous; prizingDenmark and Sweden's happiness higher than your own sister's andbrother's domestic felicity! Here I recognise the lofty, princelyspirit, which soars above the petty interests of private life. But, tospeak truly, I see not how this double alliance can be prevented orbroken off, without a breach of peace, while your royal brother swayshere, and follows nought but his own inclinations."

  "We must have time, Bruncke" whispered the prince; "the guest we bringhim to-night will soon change the aspect of affairs in Denmark. Ishudder myself to think of what may happen, but things cannot remain asthey are; your young king will always need a wise counsellor, who canrule people and kingdom in his name. For this office no one is so fitas yourself. Set your head to work, sage Bruncke; if it should beendangered, you may count on me."

  "Let us reserve these matters for your private chamber, noble prince,"whispered Bruncke, looking cautiously around. "Woods have ears, andplains have eyes, they say. It were, perhaps, good policy that I shouldhenceforth be apparently somewhat out of favour with your highness."

  "Right, Bruncke; contradict me tomorrow at table, in the king'shearing, and I will reply in a manner which you must only _feign_ totake amiss."

  "Every ungracious word spoken to me by your highness in public, I shalltake to be a proof of your secret favour. All that I can promise you,"he added in a whisper, raising his hand so as to screen his face on theother side, "is the delay of both marriages as long as possible; as towhat concerns me personally, I depend upon your princely word."

  "I give you my hand upon it, sage Bruncke" answered the prince,extending to him his hand. "Now let us be off; the cardinal hathreached the lake already." br />
  They spurred their horses, and overtook the rest of their party by theshore of the lake, where a floating bridge had been contrived for theconvenience of this unusual throng of passengers. While they haltedhere, Sir Palle returned at full gallop, and told the prince, almostpanting for breath, that he had been murderously attacked by Drost Aageand both his huntsmen at once.

  "Indeed, I am glad of it," answered the prince, in a tone ofsatisfaction. "The Drost shall dearly rue such unchivalrous conduct.You can of course swear to what you say, Palle! else no one will creditit."

  "Swear to it!" repeated Palle, with glowing cheeks, and endeavouring tohide his confusion; "those who will not believe me, by my troth may letit alone; ungodly oaths I have forsworn."

  "Then the devil take your chatter," muttered the prince, in displeasure,and turned from him.