第29章

``Atrucewithyourraillery，SirKnights，’’saidFitzurse；——``anditwerewell，’’headded，addressingthePrince，``thatyourhighnessshouldassuretheworthyCedricthereisnoinsultintendedhimbyjests，whichmustsoundbutharshlyintheearofastranger。’’

``Insult?’’answeredPrinceJohn，resuminghiscourtesyofdemeanour；``ItrustitwillnotbethoughtthatIcouldmean，orpermitany，tobeofferedinmypresence。Here！IfillmycuptoCedrichimself，sinceherefusestopledgehisson’shealth。’’

Thecupwentroundamidthewell-dissembledapplauseofthecourtiers，which，however，failedtomaketheimpressiononthemindoftheSaxonthathadbeendesigned。Hewasnotnaturallyacuteofperception，butthosetoomuchundervaluedhisunderstandingwhodeemedthatthisflatteringcomplimentwouldobliteratethesenseofthepriorinsult。

Hewassilent，however，whentheroyalpledgeagainpassedround，``ToSirAthelstaneofConingsburgh。’’

Theknightmadehisobeisance，andshowedhissenseofthehonourbydrainingahugegobletinanswertoit。

``Andnow，sirs，’’saidPrinceJohn，whobegantobewarmedwiththewinewhichhehaddrank，``havingdonejusticetoourSaxonguests，wewillprayofthemsomerequitaltoourcourtesy——WorthyThane，’’hecontinued，addressingCedric，``mayweprayyoutonametoussomeNormanwhosementionmayleastsullyyourmouth，andtowashdownwithagobletofwineallbitternesswhichthesoundmayleavebehindit?’’

FitzursearosewhilePrinceJohnspoke，andglidingbehindtheseatoftheSaxon，whisperedtohimnottoomittheopportunityofputtinganendtounkindnessbetwixtthetworaces，bynamingPrinceJohn。TheSaxonrepliednottothispoliticinsinuation，but，risingup，andfillinghiscuptothebrim，beaddressedPrinceJohninthesewords：

``YourhighnesshasrequiredthatIshouldnameaNormandeservingtoberememberedatourbanquet。

This，perchance，isahardtask，sinceitcallsontheslavetosingthepraisesofthemaster——

uponthevanquished，whilepressedbyalltheevilsofconquest，tosingthepraisesoftheconqueror。

YetIwillnameaNorman——thefirstinarmsandinplace——thebestandthenoblestofhisrace。Andthelipsthatshallrefusetopledgemetohiswell-earnedfame，Itermfalseanddishonoured，andwillsomaintainthemwithmylife——IquaffthisgoblettothehealthofRichardtheLion-hearted！’’

PrinceJohn，whohadexpectedthathisownnamewouldhaveclosedtheSaxon’sspeech，startedwhenthatofhisinjuredbrotherwassounexpectedlyintroduced。Heraisedmechanicallythewine-cuptohislips，theninstantlysetitdown，toviewthedemeanourofthecompanyatthisunexpectedproposal，whichmanyofthemfeltitasunsafetoopposeastocomplywith。Someofthem，ancientandexperiencedcourtiers，closelyimitatedtheexampleofthePrincehimself，raisingthegoblettotheirlips，andagainreplacingitbeforethem。Thereweremanywho，withamoregenerousfeeling，exclaimed，``LongliveKingRichard！andmayhebespeedilyrestoredtous！’’Andsomefew，amongwhomwereFront-de-BufandtheTemplar，insullendisdainsufferedtheirgobletstostanduntastedbeforethem。Butnomanventureddirectlytogainsayapledgefilledtothehealthofthereigningmonarch。

Havingenjoyedhistriumphforaboutaminute，Cedricsaidtohiscompanion，``Up，nobleAthelstane！

wehaveremainedherelongenough，sincewehaverequitedthehospitablecourtesyofPrinceJohn’sbanquet。ThosewhowishtoknowfurtherofourrudeSaxonmannersmusthenceforthseekusinthehomesofourfathers，sincewehaveseenenoughofroyalbanquets，andenoughofNormancourtesy。’’

Sosaying，hearoseandleftthebanquetingroom，followedbyAthelstane，andbyseveralotherguests，who，partakingoftheSaxonlineage，heldthemselvesinsulte