第15章

butDeBracy，whoseprofessionfreedhimfromallscruples，extendedhislonglanceoverthespacewhichseparatedthegalleryfromthelists，andwouldhaveexecutedthecommandsofthePrincebeforeAthelstanetheUnreadyhadrecoveredpresenceofmindsufficienteventodrawbackhispersonfromtheweapon，hadnotCedric，aspromptashiscompanionwastardy，unsheathed，withthespeedoflightning，theshortswordwhichhewore，andatasingleblowseveredthepointofthelancefromthehandle。ThebloodrushedintothecountenanceofPrinceJohn。Hesworeoneofhisdeepestoaths，andwasabouttouttersomethreatcorrespondinginviolence，whenhewasdivertedfromhispurpose，partlybyhisownattendants，whogatheredaroundhimconjuringhimtobepatient，partlybyageneralexclamationofthecrowd，utteredinloudapplauseofthespiritedconductofCedric。ThePrincerolledhiseyesinindignation，asiftocollectsomesafeandeasyvictim；andchancingtoencounterthefirmglanceofthesamearcherwhomwehavealreadynoticed，andwhoseemedtopersistinhisgestureofapplause，inspiteofthefrowningaspectwhichthePrincebentuponhim，hedemandedhisreasonforclamouringthus。

``Ialwaysaddmyhollo，’’saidtheyeoman，``whenIseeagoodshot，oragallantblow。’’

``Saystthou?’’answeredthePrince；``thenthoucansthitthewhitethyself，I’llwarrant。’’

``Awoodsman’smark，andatwoodsman’sdistance，Icanhit，’’answeredtheyeoman。

``AndWatTyrrel’smark，atahundredyards，’’

saidavoicefrombehind，butbywhomutteredcouldnotbediscerned。

ThisallusiontothefateofWilliamRufus，hisRelative，atonceincensedandalarmedPrinceJohn。Hesatisfiedhimself，however，withcommandingthemen-at-arms，whosurroundedthelists，tokeepaneyeonthebraggart，pointingtotheyeoman。

``ByStGrizzel，’’headded，``wewilltryhisownskill，whoissoreadytogivehisvoicetothefeatsofothers！’’

``Ishallnotflythetrial，’’saidtheyeoman，withthecomposurewhichmarkedhiswholedeportment。

``Meanwhile，standup，yeSaxonchurls，’’saidthefieryPrince；``for，bythelightofHeaven，sinceIhavesaidit，theJewshallhavehisseatamongstye！’’

``Bynomeans，anitpleaseyourGrace！——itisnotfitforsuchaswetositwiththerulersoftheland，’’saidtheJew；whoseambitionforprecedencethoughithadledhimtodisputePlacewiththeextenuatedandimpoverisheddescendantofthelineofMontdidier，bynomeansstimulatedhimtoanintrusionupontheprivilegesofthewealthySaxons。

``Up，infideldogwhenIcommandyou，’’saidPrinceJohn，``orIwillhavethyswarthyhidestriptoff，andtannedforhorse-furniture。’’

Thusurged，theJewbegantoascendthesteepandnarrowstepswhichleduptothegallery。

``Letmesee，’’saidthePrince，``whodarestophim，’’fixinghiseyeonCedric，whoseattitudeintimatedhisintentiontohurltheJewdownheadlong。

ThecatastrophewaspreventedbytheclownWamba，who，springingbetwixthismasterandIsaac，andexclaiming，inanswertothePrince’sdefiance，``Marry，thatwillI！’’opposedtothebeardoftheJewashieldofbrawn，whichhepluckedfrombeneathhiscloak，andwithwhich，doubtless，hehadfurnishedhimself，lestthetournamentshouldhaveprovedlongerthanhisappetitecouldendureabstinence。Findingtheabominationofhistribeopposedtohisverynose，whiletheJester，atthesametime，flourishedhiswoodenswordabovehishead，theJewrecoiled，missedhisfooting，androlleddownthesteps，——anexcellentjesttothespectators，whosetupaloudlaughter，inwhichPrinceJohnandhisattendantsheartilyjoined。

``Dealmetheprize，cousinPrince，’’saidWamba；

``Ihavevanquishedmyfoeinfairfightwithswordandshield，’’headded，brandishingthebrawninonehandandthewoodenswordintheother。

``Who，andwhatartthou，noblechampion?’’

saidPrinceJohn，stilllaughing。

``Afoolbyrightofdescent，’’answeredtheJester；``IamWamba，thesonofWitless，whowasthesonofWeatherbrain，whowasthesonofanAlderman。’’

``MakeroomfortheJewinfrontofthelowerring，’’saidPrinceJohn，notunwillingperhapsto，seizeanapologytodesistfromhisoriginalpurpose；

``toplacethevanquishedbesidethevictorwerefalseheraldry。’’

``Knaveuponfoolwereworse，’’answeredtheJester，``andJewuponbaconworstofall。’’

``Gramercy！goodfellow，’’criedPrinceJohn，``thoupleasestme——Here，Isaac，lendmeahandfulofbyzants。’’

AstheJew，stunnedbytherequest，afraidtorefuse，andunwillingtocomply，fumbledinthefurredbagwhichhungbyhisgirdle，andwasperhapsendeavouringtoascertainhowfewcoinsmightpassforahandful，thePrincestoopedfromhisjennetandsettledIsaac’sdoubtsbysnatchingthepouchitselffromhisside；andflingingtoWambaacoupleofthegoldpieceswhichitcontained，hepursuedhiscareerroundthelists，leavingtheJewtothederisionofthosearoundhim，andhimselfreceivingasmuchapplausefromthespectatorsasifhehaddonesomehonestandhonourableaction。

CHAPTERVIII

AtthisthechallengerwithfiercedefyHistrumpetsounds；thechallengedmakesreply：

Withclangourringsthefield，resoundsthevaultedsky。

Theirvisorsclosed，theirlancesintherest，Oratthehelmetpointedorthecrest，Theyvanishfromthebarrier，speedtherace，Andspurringseedecreasethemiddlespace。

_PalamonandArcite_。

InthemidstofPrinceJohn’scavalcade，hesuddenlystopt，andappealingtothePriorofJorvaulx，declaredtheprincipalbusinessofthedayhadbeenforgotten。

``Bymyhalidom，’’saidhe，``wehaveforgotten，SirPrior，tonamethefairSovereignofLoveandofBeauty，bywhosewhitehandthepalmistobedistributed。Formypart，Iamliberalinmyideas，andIcarenotifIgivemyvotefortheblack-eyedRebecca。’’

``HolyVirgin，’’answeredthePrior，turninguphiseyesinhorror，``aJewess！——Weshoulddeservetobestonedoutofthelists；andIamnotyetoldenoughtobeamartyr。Besides，Iswearbymypatronsaint，thatsheisfarinferiortothelovelySaxon，Rowena。’’

``SaxonorJew，’’answeredthePrince，``SaxonorJew，dogorhog，whatmattersit?Isay，nameRebecca，wereitonlytomortifytheSaxonchurls。’’

Amurmuraroseevenamonghisownimmediateattendants。

``Thispassesajest，mylord，’’saidDeBracy；

``noknightherewilllaylanceinrestifsuchaninsultisattempted。’’

``Itisthemerewantonnessofinsult，’’saidoneoftheoldestandmostimportantofPrinceJohn’sfollowers，WaldemarFitzurse，``andifyourGraceattemptit，cannotbutproveruinoustoyourprojects。’’

``Ientertainedyou，sir，’’saidJohn，reininguphispalfreyhaughtily，``formyfollower，butnotformycounsellor。’’

``ThosewhofollowyourGraceinthepathswhichyoutread，’’saidWaldemar，butspeakinginalowvoice，``acquiretherightofcounsellors；foryourinterestandsafetyarenotmoredeeplygagedthantheirown。’’

Fromthetoneinwhichthiswasspoken，Johnsawthenecessityofacquiescence``Ididbutjest，’’

hesaid；``andyouturnuponmelikesomanyadders！

Namewhomyouwill，inthefiend’sname，andpleaseyourselves。’’

``Nay，nay，’’saidDeBracy，``letthefairsovereign’sthroneremainunoccupied，untiltheconquerorshallbenamed，andthenlethimchoosetheladybywhomitshallbefilled。Itwilladdanothergracetohistriumph，andteachfairladiestoprizetheloveofvaliantknights，whocanexaltthemtosuchdistinction。’’

``IfBriandeBois-Guilbertgaintheprize，’’saidthePrior，``IwillgagemyrosarythatInametheSovereignofLoveandBeauty。’’

``Bois-Guilbert，’’answeredDeBracy，``isagoodlance；butthereareothersaroundtheselists，SirPrior，whowillnotfeartoencounterhim。’’

``Silence，sirs，’’saidWaldemar，``andletthePrinceassumehisseat。Theknightsandspectatorsarealikeimpatient，thetimeadvances，andhighlyfititisthatthesportsshouldcommence。’’

PrinceJohn，thoughnotyetamonarch，hadinWaldemarFitzursealltheinconveniencesofafavouriteminister，who，inservinghissovereign，mustalwaysdosoinhisownway。ThePrinceacquiesced，however，althoughhisdispositionwaspreciselyofthatkindwhichisapttobeobstinateupontrifles，and，assuminghisthrone，andbeingsurroundedbyhisfollowers，gavesignaltotheheraldstoproclaimthelawsofthetournament，whichwerebrieflyasfollows：

First，thefivechallengersweretoundertakeallcomers。

Secondly，anyknightproposingtocombat，might，ifhepleased，selectaspecialantagonistfromamongthechallengers，bytouchinghisshield。Ifhedidsowiththereverseofhislance，thetrialofskillwasmadewithwhatwerecalledthearmsofcourtesy，thatis，withlancesatwhoseextremityapieceofroundflatboardwasfixed，sothatnodangerwasencountered，savefromtheshockofthehorsesandriders。Butiftheshieldwastouchedwiththesharpendofthelance，thecombatwasunderstoodtobeat_outrance_，thatis，theknightsweretofightwithsharpweapons，asinactualbattle。

Thirdly，whentheknightspresenthadaccomplishedtheirvow，byeachofthembreakingfivelances，thePrincewastodeclarethevictorinthefirstday’stourney，whoshouldreceiveasprizeawarhorseofexquisitebeautyandmatchlessstrength；