第35章

ThissternmeasureCedrichadadopted，inhopesthat，duringWilfred’sabsence，Rowenamightrelinquishherpreference，butinthishopehewasdisappointed；adisappointmentwhichmightbeattributedinparttothemodeinwhichhiswardhadbeeneducated。Cedric，towhomthenameofAlfredwasasthatofadeity，hadtreatedthesoleremainingscionofthatgreatmonarchwithadegreeofobservance，suchas，perhaps，wasinthosedaysscarcepaidtoanacknowledgedprincess。

Rowena’swillhadbeeninalmostallcasesalawtohishousehold；andCedrichimself，asifdeterminedthathersovereigntyshouldbefullyacknowledgedwithinthatlittlecircleatleast，seemedtotakeaprideinactingasthefirstofhersubjects。

Thustrainedintheexercisenotonlyoffreewill，butdespoticauthority，Rowenawas，byherpreviouseducation，disposedbothtoresistandtoresentanyattempttocontrolheraffections，ordisposeofherhandcontrarytoherinclinations，andtoassertherindependenceinacaseinwhicheventhosefemaleswhohavebeentraineduptoobedienceandsubjection，arenotinfrequentlyapttodisputetheauthorityofguardiansandparents。Theopinionswhichshefeltstrongly，sheavowedboldly；andCedric，whocouldnotfreehimselffromhishabitualdeferencetoheropinions，felttotallyatalosshowtoenforcehisauthorityofguardian。

Itwasinvainthatheattemptedtodazzleherwiththeprospectofavisionarythrone。Rowena，whopossessedstrongsense，neitherconsideredhisplanaspracticable，norasdesirable，sofarasshewasconcerned，couldithavebeenachieved。WithoutattemptingtoconcealheravowedpreferenceofWilfredofIvanhoe，shedeclaredthat，werethatfavouredknightoutofquestion，shewouldrathertakerefugeinaconvent，thanshareathronewithAthelstane，whom，havingalwaysdespised，shenowbegan，onaccountofthetroubleshereceivedonhisaccount，thoroughlytodetest。

Nevertheless，Cedric，whoseopinionsofwomen’sconstancywasfarfromstrong，persistedinusingeverymeansinhispowertobringabouttheproposedmatch，inwhichheconceivedhewasrenderinganimportantservicetotheSaxoncause。ThesuddenandromanticappearanceofhissoninthelistsatAshby，hehadjustlyregardedasalmostadeath’sblowtohishopes。Hispaternalaffection，itistrue，hadforaninstantgainedthevictoryoverprideandpatriotism；butbothhadreturnedinfullforce，andundertheirjointoperation，hewasnowbentuponmakingadeterminedeffortfortheunionofAthelstaneandRowena，togetherwithexpeditingthoseothermeasureswhichseemednecessarytoforwardtherestorationofSaxonindependence。

Onthislastsubject，hewasnowlabouringwithAthelstane，notwithouthavingreason，everynowandthen，tolament，likeHotspur，thatheshouldhavemovedsuchadishofskimmedmilktosohonourableanaction。Athelstane，itistrue，wasvainenough，andlovedtohavehisearstickledwithtalesofhishighdescent，andofhisrightbyinheritancetohomageandsovereignty。Buthispettyvanitywassufficientlygratifiedbyreceivingthishomageatthehandsofhisimmediateattendants，andoftheSaxonswhoapproachedhim。Ifhehadthecouragetoencounterdanger，heatleasthatedthetroubleofgoingtoseekit；andwhileheagreedinthegeneralprincipleslaiddownbyCedricconcerningtheclaimoftheSaxonstoindependence，andwasstillmoreeasilyconvincedofhisowntitletoreignoverthemwhenthatindependenceshouldbeattained，yetwhenthemeansofassertingtheserightscametobediscussed，hewasstill``AthelstanetheUnready，’’slow，irresolute，procrastinating，andunenterprising。ThewarmandimpassionedexhortationsofCedrichadaslittleeffectuponhisimpassivetemper，asred-hotballsalightinginthewater，whichproducealittlesoundandsmoke，andareinstantlyextinguished。

If，leavingthistask，whichmightbecomparedtospurringatiredjade，ortohammeringuponcoldiron，CedricfellbacktohiswardRowena，hereceivedlittlemoresatisfactionfromconferringwithher。For，ashispresenceinterruptedthediscoursebetweentheladyandherfavouriteattendantuponthegallantryandfateofWilfred，Elgitha，failednottorevengebothhermistressandherself，byrecurringtotheoverthrowofAthelstaneinthelists，themostdisagreeablesubjectwhichcouldgreettheearsofCedric。TothissturdySaxon，therefore，theday’sjourneywasfraughtwithallmannerofdispleasureanddiscomfort；sothathemorethanonceinternallycursedthetournament，andhimwhohadproclaimedit，togetherwithhisownfollyineverthinkingofgoingthither。

Atnoon，uponthemotionofAthelstane，thetravellerspausedinawoodlandshadebyafountain，toreposetheirhorsesandpartakeofsomeprovisions，withwhichthehospitableAbbothadloadedasumptermule。Theirrepastwas