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forest-land, where those animals easily found their food.

Besides these subjects of anxiety, the Saxon thane was impatient for the

presence of his favourite clown Wamba, whose jests, such as they were,

served for a sort of seasoning to his evening meal, and to the deep

draughts of ale and wine with which he was in the habit of accompanying

it. Add to all this, Cedric had fasted since noon, and his usual supper

hour was long past, a cause of irritation common to country squires,

both in ancient and modern times. His displeasure was expressed in

broken sentences, partly muttered to himself, partly addressed to the

domestics who stood around; and particularly to his cupbearer, who

offered him from time to time, as a sedative, a silver goblet filled

with wine--" Why tarries the Lady Rowena? "

" She is but changing her head-gear, " replied a female attendant, with as

much confidence as the favourite lady's-maid usually answers the master

of a modern family; " you would not wish her to sit down to the banquet

in her hood and kirtle? and no lady within the shire can be quicker in

arraying herself than my mistress. "

This undeniable argument produced a sort of acquiescent umph! on the

part of the Saxon, with the addition, " I wish her devotion may choose

fair weather for the next visit to St John's Kirk; --but what, in the

name of ten devils, " continued he, turning to the cupbearer, and raising

his voice as if happy to have found a channel into which he might divert

his indignation without fear or control--" what, in the name of ten

devils, keeps Gurth so long afield? I suppose we shall have an evil

account of the herd; he was wont to be a faithful and cautious drudge,

and I had destined him for something better; perchance I might even have

made him one of my warders. " [11]

Oswald the cupbearer modestly suggested, " that it was scarce an hour

since the tolling of the curfew; " an ill-chosen apology, since it turned

upon a topic so harsh to Saxon ears.

" The foul fiend, " exclaimed Cedric, " take the curfew-bell, and the

tyrannical bastard by whom it was devised, and the heartless slave who

names it with a Saxon tongue to a Saxon ear! The curfew! " he added,

pausing, " ay, the curfew; which compels true men to extinguish their

lights, that thieves and robbers may work their deeds in darkness! --Ay,

the curfew; --Reginald Front-de-Boeuf and Philip de Malvoisin know the

use of the curfew as well as William the Bastard himself, or e'er a

Norman adventurer that fought at Hastings. I shall hear, I guess,

that my property has been swept off to save from starving the hungry

banditti, whom they cannot support but by theft and robbery. My faithful

slave is murdered, and my goods are taken for a prey--and Wamba--where

is Wamba? Said not some one he had gone forth with Gurth? "

Oswald replied in the affirmative.

" Ay? why this is better and better! he is carried off too, the Saxon

fool, to serve the Norman lord. Fools are we all indeed that serve them,

and fitter subjects for their scorn and laughter, than if we were born

with but half our wits. But I will be avenged, " he added, starting from

his chair in impatience at the supposed injury, and catching hold of his

boar-spear; " I will go with my complaint to the great council; I have

friends, I have followers--man to man will I appeal the Norman to the

lists; let him come in his plate and his mail, and all that can render

cowardice bold; I have sent such a javelin as this through a stronger

fence than three of their war shields! --Haply they think me old; but

they shall find, alone and childless as I am, the blood of Hereward is

in the veins of Cedric. --Ah, Wilfred, Wilfred! " he exclaimed in a lower

tone, " couldst thou have ruled thine unreasonable passion, thy father

had not been left in his age like the solitary oak that throws out

its shattered and unprotected branches against the full sweep of the

tempest! " The reflection seemed to conjure into sadness his irritated

feelings. Replacing his javelin, he resumed his seat, bent his looks

downward, and appeared to be absorbed in melancholy reflection.

From his musing, Cedric was suddenly awakened by the blast of a horn,

which was replied to by the clamorous yells and barking of all the dogs

in the hall, and some twenty or thirty which were quartered in other

parts of the building. It cost some exercise of the white truncheon,

well seconded by the exertions of the domestics, to silence this canine

clamour.

" To the gate, knaves! " said the Saxon, hastily, as soon as the tumult

was so much appeased that the dependants could hear his voice. " See what

tidings that horn tells us of--to announce, I ween, some hership [12]

and robbery which has been done upon my lands. "

Returning in less than three minutes, a warder announced " that the Prior

Aymer of Jorvaulx, and the good knight Brian de Bois-Guilbert, commander

of the valiant and venerable order of Knights Templars, with a small

retinue, requested hospitality and lodging for the night, being on

their way to a tournament which was to be held not far from

Ashby-de-la-Zouche, on the second day from the present. "

" Aymer, the Prior Aymer? Brian de Bois-Guilbert? " --muttered Cedric;

" Normans both; --but Norman or Saxon, the hospitality of Rotherwood must

not be impeached; they are welcome, since they have chosen to halt--more

welcome would they have been to have ridden further on their way--But it

were unworthy to murmur for a night's lodging and a night's food; in

the quality of guests, at least, even Normans must suppress their

insolence. --Go, Hundebert, " he added, to a sort of major-domo who stood

behind him with a white wand; " take six of the attendants, and introduce

the strangers to the guests' lodging. Look after their horses and mules,

and see their train lack nothing. Let them have change of vestments if

they require it, and fire, and water to wash, and wine and ale; and bid

the cooks add what they hastily can to our evening meal; and let it

be put on the board when those strangers are ready to share it. Say to

them, Hundebert, that Cedric would himself bid them welcome, but he is

under a vow never to step more than three steps from the dais of his own

hall to meet any who shares not the blood of Saxon royalty. Begone! see

them carefully tended; let them not say in their pride, the Saxon churl

has shown at once his poverty and his avarice. "

The major-domo departed with several attendants, to execute his master's

commands.

" The Prior Aymer! " repeated Cedric, looking to Oswald, " the brother, if

I mistake not, of Giles de Mauleverer, now lord of Middleham? "

Oswald made a respectful sign of assent. " His brother sits in the

seat, and usurps the patrimony, of a better race, the race of Ulfgar of

Middleham; but what Norman lord doth not the same? This Prior is, they

say, a free and jovial priest, who loves the wine-cup and the bugle-horn

better than bell and book: Good; let him come, he shall be welcome. How

named ye the Templar? "

" Brian de Bois-Guilbert. "

" Bois-Guilbert, " said Cedric, still in the musing, half-arguing tone,

which the habit of living among dependants had accustomed him to employ,

and which resembled a man who talks to himself rather than to those

around him--" Bois-Guilbert? that name has been spread wide both for

good and evil. They say he is valiant as the bravest of his order;

but stained with their usual vices, pride, arrogance, cruelty, and

voluptuousness; a hard-hearted man, who knows neither fear of earth,

nor awe of heaven. So say the few warriors who have returned from

Palestine. --Well; it is but for one night; he shall be welcome

too. --Oswald, broach the oldest wine-cask; place the best mead, the

mightiest ale, the richest morat, the most sparkling cider, the most

odoriferous pigments, upon the board; fill the largest horns [13]

--Templars and Abbots love good wines and good measure. --Elgitha, let

thy Lady Rowena, know we shall not this night expect her in the hall,

unless such be her especial pleasure. "

" But it will be her especial pleasure, " answered Elgitha, with great

readiness, " for she is ever desirous to hear the latest news from

Palestine. "

Cedric darted at the forward damsel a glance of hasty resentment; but

Rowena, and whatever belonged to her, were privileged and secure from

his anger. He only replied, " Silence, maiden; thy tongue outruns thy

discretion. Say my message to thy mistress, and let her do her pleasure.

Here, at least, the descendant of Alfred still reigns a princess. "

Elgitha left the apartment.

" Palestine! " repeated the Saxon; " Palestine! how many ears are turned

to the tales which dissolute crusaders, or hypocritical pilgrims, bring

from that fatal land! I too might ask--I too might enquire--I too might

listen with a beating heart to fables which the wily strollers devise

to cheat us into hospitality--but no--The son who has disobeyed me is no

longer mine; nor will I concern myself more for his fate than for that

of the most worthless among the millions that ever shaped the cross on

their shoulder, rushed into excess and blood-guiltiness, and called it

an accomplishment of the will of God. "

He knit his brows, and fixed his eyes for an instant on the ground; as

he raised them, the folding doors at the bottom of the hall were cast

wide, and, preceded by the major-domo with his wand, and four domestics

bearing blazing torches, the guests of the evening entered the

apartment.

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 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 sat 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. "

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