第28章

aconductwhich，asmighthavebeenexpected，washighlyresentedbytheseinsulteddignitaries，andproducedfatalconsequencestotheEnglishdominationinIreland。ItisnecessarytokeeptheseinconsistenciesofJohn’scharacterinview，thatthereadermayunderstandhisconductduringthepresentevening。

Inexecutionoftheresolutionwhichhehadformedduringhiscoolermoments，PrinceJohnreceivedCedricandAthelstanewithdistinguishedcourtesy，andexpressedhisdisappointment，withoutresentment，whentheindispositionofRowenawasallegedbytheformerasareasonforhernotattendinguponhisgracioussummons。CedricandAthelstanewerebothdressedintheancientSaxongarb，which，althoughnotunhandsomeinitself，andinthepresentinstancecomposedofcostlymaterials，wassoremoteinshapeandappearancefromthatoftheotherguests，thatPrinceJohntookgreatcredittohimselfwithWaldemarFitzurseforrefrainingfromlaughteratasightwhichthefashionofthedayrenderedridiculous。Yet，intheeyeofsoberjudgment，theshortclosetunicandlongmantleoftheSaxonswasamoregraceful，aswellasamoreconvenientdress，thanthegarboftheNormans，whoseundergarmentwasalongdoublet，solooseastoresembleashirtorwaggoner’sfrock，coveredbyacloakofscantydimensions，neitherfittodefendthewearerfromcoldorfromrain，andtheonlypurposeofwhichappearedtobetodisplayasmuchfur，embroidery，andjewellerywork，astheingenuityofthetailorcouldcontrivetolayuponit。TheEmperorCharlemagne，inwhosereigntheywerefirstintroduced，seemstohavebeenverysensibleoftheinconveniencesarisingfromthefashionofthisgarment。``InHeaven’sname，’’saidhe，``towhatpurposeservetheseabridgedcloaks?Ifweareinbedtheyarenocover，onhorsebacktheyarenoprotectionfromthewindandrain，andwhenseated，theydonotguardourlegsfromthedamporthefrost。’’

Nevertheless，spiteofthisimperialobjurgation，theshortcloakscontinuedinfashiondowntothetimeofwhichwetreat，andparticularlyamongtheprincesoftheHouseofAnjou。TheywerethereforeinuniversaluseamongPrinceJohn’scourtiers；

andthelongmantle，whichformedtheuppergarmentoftheSaxons，washeldinproportionalderision。

Theguestswereseatedatatablewhichgroanedunderthequantityofgoodcheer。ThenumerouscookswhoattendedonthePrince’sprogress，havingexertedalltheirartinvaryingtheformsinwhichtheordinaryprovisionswereservedup，hadsucceededalmostaswellasthemodernprofessorsoftheculinaryartinrenderingthemperfectlyunliketheirnaturalappearance。Besidesthesedishesofdomesticorigin，therewerevariousdelicaciesbroughtfromforeignparts，andaquantityofrichpastry，aswellasofthesimnel-breadandwastlecakes，whichwereonlyusedatthetablesofthehighestnobility。Thebanquetwascrownedwiththerichestwines，bothforeignanddomestic。

But，thoughluxurious，theNormannobleswerenotgenerallyspeakinganintemperaterace。Whileindulgingthemselvesinthepleasuresofthetable，theyaimedatdelicacy，butavoidedexcess，andwereapttoattributegluttonyanddrunkennesstothevanquishedSaxons，asvicespeculiartotheirinferiorstation。PrinceJohn，indeed，andthosewhocourtedhispleasurebyimitatinghisfoibles，wereapttoindulgetoexcessinthepleasuresofthetrencherandthegoblet；andindeeditiswellknownthathisdeathwasoccasionedbyasurfeituponpeachesandnewale。Hisconduct，however，wasanexceptiontothegeneralmannersofhiscountrymen。

Withslygravity，interruptedonlybyprivatesignstoeachother，theNormanknightsandnoblesbeheldtheruderdemeanourofAthelstaneandCedricatab