第16章

andinadditiontothisrewardofvalour，itwasnowdeclared，heshouldhavethepeculiarhonourofnamingtheQueenofLoveandBeauty，bywhomtheprizeshouldbegivenontheensuingday。

Fourthly，itwasannounced，that，onthesecondday，thereshouldbeageneraltournament，inwhichalltheknightspresent，whoweredesiroustowinpraise，mighttakepart；andbeingdividedintotwobandsofequalnumbers，mightfightitoutmanfully，untilthesignalwasgivenbyPrinceJohntoceasethecombat。TheelectedQueenofLoveandBeautywasthentocrowntheknightwhomthePrinceshouldadjudgetohavebornehimselfbestinthissecondday，withacoronetcomposedofthingoldplate，cutintotheshapeofalaurelcrown。Onthisseconddaytheknightlygamesceased。Butonthatwhichwastofollow，featsofarchery，ofbull-baiting，andotherpopularamusements，weretobepractised，forthemoreimmediateamusementofthepopulace。InthismannerdidPrinceJohnendeavourtolaythefoundationofapopularity，whichhewasperpetuallythrowingdownbysomeinconsiderateactofwantonaggressionuponthefeelingsandprejudicesofthepeople。

Thelistsnowpresentedamostsplendidspectacle。

Theslopinggallerieswerecrowdedwithallthatwasnoble，great，wealthy，andbeautifulinthenorthernandmidlandpartsofEngland；andthecontrastofthevariousdressesofthesedignifiedspectators，renderedtheviewasgayasitwasrich，whiletheinteriorandlowerspace，filledwiththesubstantialburgessesandyeomenofmerryEngland，formed，intheirmoreplainattire，adarkfringe，orborder，aroundthiscircleofbrilliantembroidery，relieving，and，atthesametime，settingoffitssplendour。

Theheraldsfinishedtheirproclamationwiththeirusualcryof``Largesse，largesse，gallantknights！’’

andgoldandsilverpieceswereshoweredonthemfromthegalleries，itbeingahighpointofchivalrytoexhibitliberalitytowardsthosewhomtheageaccountedatoncethesecretariesandthehistoriansofhonour。Thebountyofthespectatorswasacknowledgedbythecustomaryshoutsof``LoveofLadies——DeathofChampions——HonourtotheGenerous——

GlorytotheBrave！’’Towhichthemorehumblespectatorsaddedtheiracclamations，andanumerousbandoftrumpeterstheflourishoftheirmartialinstruments。Whenthesesoundshadceased，theheraldswithdrewfromthelistsingayandglitteringprocession，andnoneremainedwithinthemsavethemarshalsofthefield，who，armedcap-a-pie，satonhorseback，motionlessasstatues，attheoppositeendsofthelists。Meantime，theenclosedspaceatthenorthernextremityofthelists，largeasitwas，wasnowcompletelycrowdedwithknightsdesiroustoprovetheirskillagainstthechallengers，and，whenviewedfromthegalleries，presentedtheappearanceofaseaofwavingplumage，intermixedwithglisteninghelmets，andtalllances，totheextremitiesofwhichwere，inmanycases，attachedsmallpennonsofaboutaspan’sbreadth，which，flutteringintheairasthebreezecaughtthem，joinedwiththerestlessmotionofthefeatherstoaddlivelinesstothescene。

Atlengththebarrierswereopened，andfiveknights，chosenbylot，advancedslowlyintothearea；asinglechampionridinginfront，andtheotherfourfollowinginpairs。Allweresplendidlyarmed，andmySaxonauthority(intheWardourManuscript)

recordsatgreatlengththeirdevices，theircolours，andtheembroideryoftheirhorsetrappings。

Itisunnecessarytobeparticularonthesesubjects。

Toborrowlinesfromacontemporarypoet，whohaswrittenbuttoolittle——

``Theknightsaredust，Andtheirgoodswordsarerust，Theirsoulsarewiththesaints，wetrust。’’*

*Theselinesarepartofanunpublishedpoem。byColeridge，*whoseMusesooftentantalizeswithfragmentswhichindicate*herpowers，whilethemannerinwhichsheflingsthemfrom*herbetrayshercaprice，yetwhoseunfinishedsketchesdisplay*moretalentthanthelabouredmasterpiecesofothers。

Theirescutcheonshavelongmoulderedfromthewallsoftheircastles。Theircastlesthemselvesarebutgreenmoundsandshatteredruins——theplacethatonceknewthem，knowsthemnomore——nay，manyaracesincetheirshasdiedoutandbeenforgottenintheverylandwhichtheyoccupied，withalltheauthorityoffeudalproprietorsandfeudallords。What，then，woulditavailthereadertoknowtheirnames，ortheevanescentsymbolsoftheirmartialrank！

Now，however，nowhitanticipatingtheoblivionwhichawaitedtheirnamesandfeats，thechampionsadvancedthroughthelists，restrainingtheirfierysteeds，andcompellingthemtomoveslowly，while，atthesametime，theyexhibitedtheirpaces，togetherwiththegraceanddexterityoftheriders。

Astheprocessionenteredthelists，thesoundofawildBarbaricmusicwasheardfrombehindthetentsofthechallengers，wheretheperformerswereconcealed。ItwasofEasternorigin，havingbeenbroughtfromtheHolyLand；andthemixtureofthecymbalsandbellsseemedtobidwelcomeatonce，anddefiance，totheknightsastheyadvanced。

Withtheeyesofanimmenseconcourseofspectatorsfixeduponthem，thefiveknightsadvanceduptheplatformuponwhichthetentsofthechallengersstood，andthereseparatingthemselves，eachtouchedslightly，andwiththereverseofhislance，theshieldoftheantagonisttowhomhewishedtoopposehimself。Thelowerordersofspectatorsingeneral——nay，manyofthehigherclass，anditisevensaidseveraloftheladies，wereratherdisappointedatthechampionschoosingthearmsofcourtesy。

Forthesamesortofpersons，who，inthepresentday，applaudmosthighlythedeepesttragedies，weretheninterestedinatournamentexactlyinproportiontothedangerincurredbythechampionsengaged。

Havingintimatedtheirmorepacificpurpose，thechampionsretreatedtotheextremityofthelists，wheretheyremaineddrawnupinaline；whilethechallengers，sallyingeachfromhispavilion，mountedtheirhorses，and，headedbyBriandeBois-Guilbert，descendedfromtheplatform，andopposedthemselvesindividuallytotheknightswhohadtouchedtheirrespectiveshields。

Attheflourishofclarionsandtrumpets，theystartedoutagainsteachotheratfullgallop；andsuchwasthesuperiordexterityorgoodfortuneofthechallengers，thatthoseopposedtoBois-Guilbert，Malvoisin，andFront-de-Buf，rolledontheground。TheantagonistofGrantmesnil，insteadofbearinghislance-pointfairagainstthecrestortheshieldofhisenemy，swervedsomuchfromthedirectlineastobreaktheweaponathwartthepersonofhisopponent——acircumstancewhichwasaccountedmoredisgracefulthanthatofbeingactuallyunhorsed；becausethelattermighthappenfromaccident，whereastheformerevincedawkwardnessandwantofmanagementoftheweaponandofthehorse。Thefifthknightalonemaintainedthehonourofhisparty，andpartedfairlywiththeKnightofStJohn，bothsplinteringtheirlanceswithoutadvantageoneitherside。

Theshoutsofthemultitude，togetherwiththeacclamationsoftheheralds，andtheclangourofthetrumpets，announcedthetriumphofthevictorsandthedefeatofthevanquished。Theformerretreatedtotheirpavilions，andthelatter，gatheringthemselvesupastheycould，withdrewfromthelistsindisgraceanddejection，toagreewiththeirvictorsconcerningtheredemptionoftheirarmsandtheirhorses，which，accordingtothelawsofthetournament，theyhadforfeited。Thefifthoftheirnumberalonetarriedinthelistslongenoughtobegreetedbytheapplausesofthespectators，amongstwhomheretreated，totheaggravation，doubtless，ofhiscompanions’mortification。

Asecondandathirdpartyofknightstookthefield；andalthoughtheyhadvarioussuccess，yet，uponthewhole，theadvantagedecidedlyremainedwiththechallengers，notoneofwhomlosthisseatorswervedfromhischarge——misfortuneswhichbefelloneortwooftheirantagonistsineachencounter。

Thespirits，therefore，ofthoseopposedtothem，seemedtobeconsiderablydampedbytheircontinuedsuccess。Threeknightsonlyappearedonthefourthentry，who，avoidingtheshieldsofBois-GuilbertandFront-de-Buf，contentedthemselveswithtouchingthoseofthethreeotherknights，whohadnotaltogethermanifestedthesamestrengthanddexterity。Thispoliticselectiondidnotalterthefortuneofthefield，thechallengerswerestillsuccessful：oneoftheirantagonistswasoverthrown，andboththeothersfailedinthe_attaint_，*thatis，*Thistermofchivalry，transferredtothelaw，givesthe*phraseofbeingattaintedoftreason。

instrikingthehelmetandshieldoftheirantagonistfirmlyandstrongly，withthelanceheldinadirectline，sothattheweaponmightbreakunlessthechampionwasoverthrown。

Afterthisfourthencounter，therewasaconsiderablepause；nordiditappearthatanyonewasverydesirousofrenewingthecontestThespectatorsmurmuredamongthemselves；for，amongthechallengers，MalvoisinandFront-de-Bufwereunpopularfromtheircharacters，andtheothers，exceptGrantmesnil，weredislikedasstrangersandforeigners。

ButnonesharedthegeneralfeelingofdissatisfactionsokeenlyasCedrictheSaxon，whosaw，ineachadvantagegainedbytheNormanchallengers，arepeatedtriumphoverthehonourofEngland。

Hisowneducationhadtaughthimnoskillinthegamesofchivalry，although，withthearmsofhisSaxonancestors，hehadmanifestedhimself，onmanyoccasions，abraveanddeterminedsoldier。

HelookedanxiouslytoAthelstane，whohadlearnedtheaccomplishmentsoftheage，asifdesiringthatheshouldmakesomepersonalefforttorecoverthevictorywhichwaspassingintothehandsoftheTemplarandhisassociates。But，thoughbothstoutofheart，andstrongofperson，AthelstanehadadispositiontooinertandunambitioustomaketheexertionswhichCedricseemedtoexpectfromhim。

``ThedayisagainstEngland，mylord，’’saidCedric，inamarkedtone；``areyounottemptedtotakethelance?’’

``Ishalltiltto-morrow”answeredAthelstane，``inthe_mle_；itisnotworthwhileformetoarmmyselfto-day。’’

TwothingsdispleasedCedricinthisspeech。ItcontainedtheNormanword_mele_，(toexpressthegeneralconflict，)anditevincedsomeindifferencetothehonourofthecountry；butitwasspokenbyAthelstane，whomheheldinsuchprofoundrespect，thathewouldnottrusthimselftocanvasshismotivesorhisfoibles。Moreover，hehadnotimetomakeanyremark，forWambathrustinhisword，observing，``Itwasbetter，thoughscarceeasier，tobethebestmanamongahundred，thanthebestmanoftwo。’’

Athelstanetooktheobservationasaseriouscompliment；

butCedric，whobetterunderstoodtheJester’smeaning，dartedathimasevereandmenacinglook；andluckyitwasforWamba，perhaps，thatthetimeandplacepreventedhisreceiving，notwithstandinghisplaceandservice，moresensiblemarksofhismaster’sresentment。

Thepauseinthetournamentwasstilluninterrupted，exceptingbythevoicesoftheheraldsexclaiming——

``Loveofladies，splinteringoflances！

standforthgallantknights，faireyeslookuponyourdeeds！’’

Themusicalsoofthechallengersbreathedfromtimetotimewildburstsexpressiveoftriumphordefiance，whiletheclownsgrudgedaholidaywhichseemedtopassawayininactivity；andoldknightsandnobleslamentedinwhispersthedecayofmartialspirit，spokeofthetriumphsoftheiryoungerdays，butagreedthatthelanddidnotnowsupplydamesofsuchtranscendentbeautyashadanimatedthejoustsofformertimes。PrinceJohnbegantotalktohisattendantsaboutmakingreadythebanquet，andthenecessityofadjudgingtheprizetoBriandeBois-Guilbert，whohad，withasinglespear，overthrowntwoknights，andfoiledathird。

Atlength，astheSaracenicmusicofthechallengersconcludedoneofthoselongandhighflourisheswithwhichtheyhadbrokenthesilenceofthelists，itwasansweredbyasolitarytrumpet，whichbreathedanoteofdefiancefromthenorthernextremity。Alleyeswereturnedtoseethenewchampionwhichthesesoundsannounced，andnosoonerwerethebarriersopenedthanhepacedintothelists。Asfarascouldbejudgedofamansheathedinarmour，thenewadventurerdidnotgreatlyexceedthemiddlesize，andseemedtoberatherslenderthanstronglymade。Hissuitofarmourwasformedofsteel，richlyinlaidwithgold，andthedeviceonhisshieldwasayoungoak-treepulledupbytheroots，withtheSpanishwordDesdichado，signifyingDisinherited。Hewasmountedonagallantblackhorse，andashepassedthroughthelistshegracefullysalutedthePrinceandtheladiesbyloweringhislance。Thedexteritywithwhichhemanagedhissteed，andsomethingofyouthfulgracewhichhedisplayedinhismanner，wonhimthefavourofthemultitude，whichsomeofthelowerclassesexpressedbycallingout，``TouchRalphdeVipont’sshield——touchtheHospitallersshield；hehastheleastsureseat，heisyourcheapestbargain。’’