CHAPTER IV
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 XXI
The Prior Aymer had taken the opportunity afforded him, of changing hisriding robe for one of yet more costly materials, over which he worea cope curiously embroidered. Besides the massive golden signet ring,which marked his ecclesiastical dignity, his fingers, though contraryto the canon, were loaded with precious gems; his sandals were of thefinest leather which was imported from Spain; his beard trimmed to assmall dimensions as his order would possibly permit, and his shavencrown concealed by a scarlet cap richly embroidered.
The appearance of the Knight Templar was also changed; and, thoughless studiously bedecked with ornament, his dress was as rich, andhis appearance far more commanding, than that of his companion. He hadexchanged 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 theshoulder of his mantle in black velvet. The high cap no longer investedhis brows, which were only shaded by short and thick curled hair ofa 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, easilyacquired by the exercise of unresisted authority.
These two dignified persons were followed by their respectiveattendants, and at a more humble distance by their guide, whose figurehad nothing more remarkable than it derived from the usual weeds of apilgrim. A cloak or mantle of coarse black serge, enveloped his wholebody. 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, anda long staff shod with iron, to the upper end of which was attached abranch of palm, completed the palmer's attire. He followed modestly thelast of the train which entered the hall, and, observing that the lowertable scarce afforded room sufficient for the domestics of Cedric andthe retinue of his guests, he withdrew to a settle placed beside andalmost under one of the large chimneys, and seemed to employ himself indrying his garments, until the retreat of some one should make roomat the board, or the hospitality of the steward should supply him withrefreshments 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 threesteps towards them, and then awaited their approach.
"I grieve," he said, "reverend Prior, that my vow binds me to advanceno farther upon this floor of my fathers, even to receive such guestsas you, and this valiant Knight of the Holy Temple. But my steward hasexpounded 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 thatyou will reply in the same if your knowledge of it permits; if not, Isufficiently understand Norman to follow your meaning."
"Vows," said the Abbot, "must be unloosed, worthy Franklin, or permitme rather to say, worthy Thane, though the title is antiquated. Vowsare the knots which tie us to Heaven--they are the cords which bindthe sacrifice to the horns of the altar,--and are therefore,--as I saidbefore,--to be unloosened and discharged, unless our holy Mother Churchshall pronounce the contrary. And respecting language, I willinglyhold communication in that spoken by my respected grandmother, Hildaof Middleham, who died in odour of sanctity, little short, if we maypresume to say so, of her glorious namesake, the blessed Saint Hilda ofWhitby, 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 Englishsufficiently 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 callforth; but, recollecting the duties of hospitality, he suppressedfurther show of resentment, and, motioning with his hand, caused hisguests to assume two seats a little lower than his own, but placed closebeside him, and gave a signal that the evening meal should be placedupon the board.
While the attendants hastened to obey Cedric's commands, his eyedistinguished Gurth the swineherd, who, with his companion Wamba, hadjust entered the hall. "Send these loitering knaves up hither," said theSaxon, impatiently. And when the culprits came before the dais,--"Howcomes it, villains! that you have loitered abroad so late as this? Hastthou brought home thy charge, sirrah Gurth, or hast thou left them torobbers and marauders?"
"The herd is safe, so please ye," said Gurth.
"But it does not please me, thou knave," said Cedric, "that I should bemade to suppose otherwise for two hours, and sit here devising vengeanceagainst my neighbours for wrongs they have not done me. I tell thee,shackles and the prison-house shall punish the next offence of thiskind."
Gurth, knowing his master's irritable temper, attempted no exculpation;but the Jester, who could presume upon Cedric's tolerance, by virtueof his privileges as a fool, replied for them both; "In troth, uncleCedric, you are neither wise nor reasonable to-night."
"'How, sir?" said his master; "you shall to the porter's lodge, andtaste of the discipline there, if you give your foolery such license."
"First let your wisdom tell me," said Wamba, "is it just and reasonableto 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 dogFangs? for I dare be sworn we lost not a minute by the way, when we hadgot our herd together, which Fangs did not manage until we heard thevesper-bell."
"Then hang up Fangs," said Cedric, turning hastily towards theswineherd, "if the fault is his, and get thee another dog."
"Under favour, uncle," said the Jester, "that were still somewhat on thebow-hand of fair justice; for it was no fault of Fangs that he was lameand could not gather the herd, but the fault of those that struck offtwo of his fore-claws, an operation for which, if the poor fellow hadbeen consulted, he would scarce have given his voice."
"And who dared to lame an animal which belonged to my bondsman?" saidthe Saxon, kindling in wrath.
"Marry, that did old Hubert," said Wamba, "Sir Philip de Malvoisin'skeeper of the chase. He caught Fangs strolling in the forest, and saidhe chased the deer contrary to his master's right, as warden of thewalk."
"The foul fiend take Malvoisin," answered the Saxon, "and his keeperboth! I will teach them that the wood was disforested in terms ofthe great Forest Charter. But enough of this. Go to, knave, go to thyplace--and thou, Gurth, get thee another dog, and should the keeper dareto 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 drawbowstring no more.--I crave your pardon, my worthy guests. I am besethere with neighbours that match your infidels, Sir Knight, in Holy Land.But your homely fare is before you; feed, and let welcome make amendsfor hard fare."
The feast, however, which was spread upon the board, needed no apologiesfrom 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 loavesand cakes of bread, and sundry confections made of fruits and honey.The smaller sorts of wild-fowl, of which there was abundance, werenot served up in platters, but brought in upon small wooden spits orbroaches, and offered by the pages and domestics who bore them, to eachguest in succession, who cut from them such a portion as he pleased.Beside each person of rank was placed a goblet of silver; the lowerboard was accommodated with larg
e drinking horns.
When the repast was about to commence, the major-domo, or steward,suddenly raising his wand, said aloud,--"Forbear!--Place for the LadyRowena."
A side-door at the upper end of the hall now opened behind the banquettable, and Rowena, followed by four female attendants, entered theapartment. Cedric, though surprised, and perhaps not altogetheragreeably so, at his ward appearing in public on this occasion, hastenedto meet her, and to conduct her, with respectful ceremony, to theelevated seat at his own right hand, appropriated to the lady of themansion. All stood up to receive her; and, replying to their courtesy bya mute gesture of salutation, she moved gracefully forward to assume herplace at the board. Ere she had time to do so, the Templar whispered tothe 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, theFranklin observes you."
Unheeding this remonstrance, and accustomed only to act upon theimmediate impulse of his own wishes, Brian de Bois-Guilbert kepthis eyes riveted on the Saxon beauty, more striking perhaps to hisimagination, because differing widely from those of the Easternsultanas.
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 superiorheight. Her complexion was exquisitely fair, but the noble cast of herhead and features prevented the insipidity which sometimes attachesto fair beauties. Her clear blue eye, which sat enshrined beneath agraceful eyebrow of brown sufficiently marked to give expression to theforehead, seemed capable to kindle as well as melt, to command as wellas to beseech. If mildness were the more natural expression of such acombination of features, it was plain, that in the present instance, theexercise of habitual superiority, and the reception of general homage,had given to the Saxon lady a loftier character, which mingled with andqualified that bestowed by nature. Her profuse hair, of a colour betwixtbrown and flaxen, was arranged in a fanciful and graceful manner innumerous ringlets, to form which art had probably aided nature. Theselocks were braided with gems, and, being worn at full length, intimatedthe noble birth and free-born condition of the maiden. A golden chain,to which was attached a small reliquary of the same metal, hung roundher neck. She wore bracelets on her arms, which were bare. Her dress wasan under-gown and kirtle of pale sea-green silk, over which hung a longloose robe, which reached to the ground, having very wide sleeves, whichcame down, however, very little below the elbow. This robe was crimson,and manufactured out of the very finest wool. A veil of silk, interwovenwith gold, was attached to the upper part of it, which could be, atthe wearer's pleasure, either drawn over the face and bosom after theSpanish fashion, or disposed as a sort of drapery round the shoulders.
When Rowena perceived the Knight Templar's eyes bent on her with anardour, that, compared with the dark caverns under which they moved,gave them the effect of lighted charcoal, she drew with dignity the veilaround her face, as an intimation that the determined freedom of hisglance was disagreeable. Cedric saw the motion and its cause. "SirTemplar," said he, "the cheeks of our Saxon maidens have seen too littleof the sun to enable them to bear the fixed glance of a crusader."
"If I have offended," replied Sir Brian, "I crave your pardon,--thatis, I crave the Lady Rowena's pardon,--for my humility will carry me nolower."
"The Lady Rowena," said the Prior, "has punished us all, in chastisingthe boldness of my friend. Let me hope she will be less cruel to thesplendid train which are to meet at the tournament."
"Our going thither," said Cedric, "is uncertain. I love not thesevanities, which were unknown to my fathers when England was free."
"Let us hope, nevertheless," said the Prior, "our company may determineyou to travel thitherward; when the roads are so unsafe, the escort ofSir Brian de Bois-Guilbert is not to be despised."
"Sir Prior," answered the Saxon, "wheresoever I have travelled in thisland, I have hitherto found myself, with the assistance of my good swordand 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 nobleneighbour and countryman Athelstane of Coningsburgh, and with such atrain as would set outlaws and feudal enemies at defiance.--I drinkto you, Sir Prior, in this cup of wine, which I trust your taste willapprove, and I thank you for your courtesy. Should you be so rigidin adhering to monastic rule," he added, "as to prefer your acidpreparation of milk, I hope you will not strain courtesy to do mereason."
"Nay," said the Priest, laughing, "it is only in our abbey that weconfine ourselves to the 'lac dulce' or the 'lac acidum' either.Conversing with, the world, we use the world's fashions, and thereforeI answer your pledge in this honest wine, and leave the weaker liquor tomy lay-brother."
"And I," said the Templar, filling his goblet, "drink wassail to thefair Rowena; for since her namesake introduced the word into England,has never been one more worthy of such a tribute. By my faith, I couldpardon 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, andwithout unveiling herself; "or rather I will tax it so far as to requireof you the latest news from Palestine, a theme more agreeable to ourEnglish ears than the compliments which your French breeding teaches."
"I have little of importance to say, lady," answered Sir Brian deBois-Guilbert, "excepting the confirmed tidings of a truce withSaladin."
He was interrupted by Wamba, who had taken his appropriated seat upona chair, the back of which was decorated with two ass's ears, and whichwas placed about two steps behind that of his master, who, from timeto time, supplied him with victuals from his own trencher; a favour,however, which the Jester shared with the favourite dogs, of whom, as wehave already noticed, there were several in attendance. Here sat Wamba,with a small table before him, his heels tucked up against the bar ofthe chair, his cheeks sucked up so as to make his jaws resemble a pairof nut-crackers, and his eyes half-shut, yet watching with alertnessevery opportunity to exercise his licensed foolery.
"These truces with the infidels," he exclaimed, without caring howsuddenly he interrupted the stately Templar, "make an old man of me!"
"Go to, knave, how so?" said Cedric, his features prepared to receivefavourably the expected jest.
"Because," answered Wamba, "I remember three of them in my day, eachof which was to endure for the course of fifty years; so that, bycomputation, I must be at least a hundred and fifty years old."
"I will warrant you against dying of old age, however," said theTemplar, who now recognised his friend of the forest; "I will assureyou from all deaths but a violent one, if you give such directions towayfarers, as you did this night to the Prior and me."
"How, sirrah!" said Cedric, "misdirect travellers? We must have youwhipt; 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 andmy left; and he might have pardoned a greater, who took a fool for hiscounsellor and guide."
Conversation was here interrupted by the entrance of the porter'spage, who announced that there was a stranger at the gate, imploringadmittance and hospitality.
"Admit him," said Cedric, "be he who or what he may;--a night like thatwhich roars without, compels even wild animals to herd with tame, and toseek the protection of man, their mortal foe, rather than perish bythe 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 hispatron obeyed.