ariondas/full_text_dataset · Datasets at Hugging Face

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"Aymer, the Prior Aymer? Brian de Bois-Guilbert?"--muttered Cedric;
"Normans both;--but Norman or Saxon, the hospitality of Rotherwood must
not be impeached; they are welcome, since they have chosen to halt--more
welcome would they have been to have ridden further on their way--But it
were unworthy to murmur for a night's lodging and a night's food; in
the quality of guests, at least, even Normans must suppress their
insolence.--Go, Hundebert," he added, to a sort of major-domo who stood
behind him with a white wand; "take six of the attendants, and introduce
the strangers to the guests' lodging. Look after their horses and mules,
and see their train lack nothing. Let them have change of vestments if
they require it, and fire, and water to wash, and wine and ale; and bid
the cooks add what they hastily can to our evening meal; and let it
be put on the board when those strangers are ready to share it. Say to
them, Hundebert, that Cedric would himself bid them welcome, but he is
under a vow never to step more than three steps from the dais of his own
hall to meet any who shares not the blood of Saxon royalty. Begone! see
them carefully tended; let them not say in their pride, the Saxon churl
has shown at once his poverty and his avarice."

The major-domo departed with several attendants, to execute his master's
commands.

"The Prior Aymer!" repeated Cedric, looking to Oswald, "the brother, if
I mistake not, of Giles de Mauleverer, now lord of Middleham?"

Oswald made a respectful sign of assent. "His brother sits in the
seat, and usurps the patrimony, of a better race, the race of Ulfgar of
Middleham; but what Norman lord doth not the same? This Prior is, they
say, a free and jovial priest, who loves the wine-cup and the bugle-horn
better than bell and book: Good; let him come, he shall be welcome. How
named ye the Templar?"

"Brian de Bois-Guilbert."

"Bois-Guilbert," said Cedric, still in the musing, half-arguing tone,
which the habit of living among dependants had accustomed him to employ,
and which resembled a man who talks to himself rather than to those
around him--"Bois-Guilbert? that name has been spread wide both for
good and evil. They say he is valiant as the bravest of his order;
but stained with their usual vices, pride, arrogance, cruelty, and
voluptuousness; a hard-hearted man, who knows neither fear of earth,
nor awe of heaven. So say the few warriors who have returned from
Palestine.--Well; it is but for one night; he shall be welcome
too.--Oswald, broach the oldest wine-cask; place the best mead, the
mightiest ale, the richest morat, the most sparkling cider, the most
odoriferous pigments, upon the board; fill the largest horns [13]
--Templars and Abbots love good wines and good measure.--Elgitha, let
thy Lady Rowena, know we shall not this night expect her in the hall,
unless such be her especial pleasure."

"But it will be her especial pleasure," answered Elgitha, with great
readiness, "for she is ever desirous to hear the latest news from
Palestine."

Cedric darted at the forward damsel a glance of hasty resentment; but
Rowena, and whatever belonged to her, were privileged and secure from
his anger. He only replied, "Silence, maiden; thy tongue outruns thy
discretion. Say my message to thy mistress, and let her do her pleasure.
Here, at least, the descendant of Alfred still reigns a princess."
Elgitha left the apartment.

"Palestine!" repeated the Saxon; "Palestine! how many ears are turned
to the tales which dissolute crusaders, or hypocritical pilgrims, bring
from that fatal land! I too might ask--I too might enquire--I too might
listen with a beating heart to fables which the wily strollers devise
to cheat us into hospitality--but no--The son who has disobeyed me is no
longer mine; nor will I concern myself more for his fate than for that
of the most worthless among the millions that ever shaped the cross on
their shoulder, rushed into excess and blood-guiltiness, and called it
an accomplishment of the will of God."

He knit his brows, and fixed his eyes for an instant on the ground; as
he raised them, the folding doors at the bottom of the hall were cast
wide, and, preceded by the major-domo with his wand, and four domestics
bearing blazing torches, the guests of the evening entered the
apartment.






With sheep and shaggy goats the porkers bled,
And the proud steer was on the marble spread;
With fire prepared, they deal the morsels round,
Wine rosy bright the brimming goblets crown'd.
* * * * *
Disposed apart, Ulysses shares the treat;
A trivet table and ignobler seat,
The Prince assigns--
--Odyssey, Book XXI

The Prior Aymer had taken the opportunity afforded him, of changing his
riding robe for one of yet more costly materials, over which he wore
a cope curiously embroidered. Besides the massive golden signet ring,
which marked his ecclesiastical dignity, his fingers, though contrary
to the canon, were loaded with precious gems; his sandals were of the
finest leather which was imported from Spain; his beard trimmed to as
small dimensions as his order would possibly permit, and his shaven

"Aymer, the Prior Aymer? Brian de Bois-Guilbert?"--muttered Cedric;

"Normans both;--but Norman or Saxon, the hospitality of Rotherwood must

not be impeached; they are welcome, since they have chosen to halt--more

welcome would they have been to have ridden further on their way--But it

were unworthy to murmur for a night's lodging and a night's food; in

the quality of guests, at least, even Normans must suppress their

insolence.--Go, Hundebert," he added, to a sort of major-domo who stood

behind him with a white wand; "take six of the attendants, and introduce

the strangers to the guests' lodging. Look after their horses and mules,

and see their train lack nothing. Let them have change of vestments if

they require it, and fire, and water to wash, and wine and ale; and bid

the cooks add what they hastily can to our evening meal; and let it

be put on the board when those strangers are ready to share it. Say to

them, Hundebert, that Cedric would himself bid them welcome, but he is

under a vow never to step more than three steps from the dais of his own

hall to meet any who shares not the blood of Saxon royalty. Begone! see

them carefully tended; let them not say in their pride, the Saxon churl

has shown at once his poverty and his avarice."

The major-domo departed with several attendants, to execute his master's

commands.

"The Prior Aymer!" repeated Cedric, looking to Oswald, "the brother, if

I mistake not, of Giles de Mauleverer, now lord of Middleham?"

Oswald made a respectful sign of assent. "His brother sits in the

seat, and usurps the patrimony, of a better race, the race of Ulfgar of

Middleham; but what Norman lord doth not the same? This Prior is, they

say, a free and jovial priest, who loves the wine-cup and the bugle-horn

better than bell and book: Good; let him come, he shall be welcome. How

named ye the Templar?"

"Brian de Bois-Guilbert."

"Bois-Guilbert," said Cedric, still in the musing, half-arguing tone,

which the habit of living among dependants had accustomed him to employ,

and which resembled a man who talks to himself rather than to those

around him--"Bois-Guilbert? that name has been spread wide both for

good and evil. They say he is valiant as the bravest of his order;

but stained with their usual vices, pride, arrogance, cruelty, and

voluptuousness; a hard-hearted man, who knows neither fear of earth,

nor awe of heaven. So say the few warriors who have returned from

Palestine.--Well; it is but for one night; he shall be welcome

too.--Oswald, broach the oldest wine-cask; place the best mead, the

mightiest ale, the richest morat, the most sparkling cider, the most

odoriferous pigments, upon the board; fill the largest horns [13]

--Templars and Abbots love good wines and good measure.--Elgitha, let

thy Lady Rowena, know we shall not this night expect her in the hall,

unless such be her especial pleasure."

"But it will be her especial pleasure," answered Elgitha, with great

readiness, "for she is ever desirous to hear the latest news from

Palestine."

Cedric darted at the forward damsel a glance of hasty resentment; but

Rowena, and whatever belonged to her, were privileged and secure from

his anger. He only replied, "Silence, maiden; thy tongue outruns thy

discretion. Say my message to thy mistress, and let her do her pleasure.

Here, at least, the descendant of Alfred still reigns a princess."

Elgitha left the apartment.

"Palestine!" repeated the Saxon; "Palestine! how many ears are turned

to the tales which dissolute crusaders, or hypocritical pilgrims, bring

from that fatal land! I too might ask--I too might enquire--I too might

listen with a beating heart to fables which the wily strollers devise

to cheat us into hospitality--but no--The son who has disobeyed me is no

longer mine; nor will I concern myself more for his fate than for that

of the most worthless among the millions that ever shaped the cross on

their shoulder, rushed into excess and blood-guiltiness, and called it

an accomplishment of the will of God."

He knit his brows, and fixed his eyes for an instant on the ground; as

he raised them, the folding doors at the bottom of the hall were cast

wide, and, preceded by the major-domo with his wand, and four domestics

bearing blazing torches, the guests of the evening entered the

apartment.

With sheep and shaggy goats the porkers bled,

And the proud steer was on the marble spread;

With fire prepared, they deal the morsels round,

Wine rosy bright the brimming goblets crown'd.

* * * * *

Disposed apart, Ulysses shares the treat;

A trivet table and ignobler seat,

The Prince assigns--

--Odyssey, Book XXI

The Prior Aymer had taken the opportunity afforded him, of changing his

riding robe for one of yet more costly materials, over which he wore

a cope curiously embroidered. Besides the massive golden signet ring,

which marked his ecclesiastical dignity, his fingers, though contrary

to the canon, were loaded with precious gems; his sandals were of the

finest leather which was imported from Spain; his beard trimmed to as

small dimensions as his order would possibly permit, and his shaven