ariondas/full_text_dataset · Datasets at Hugging Face

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got our herd together, which Fangs did not manage until we heard the
vesper-bell."

"Then hang up Fangs," said Cedric, turning hastily towards the
swineherd, "if the fault is his, and get thee another dog."

"Under favour, uncle," said the Jester, "that were still somewhat on the
bow-hand of fair justice; for it was no fault of Fangs that he was lame
and could not gather the herd, but the fault of those that struck off
two of his fore-claws, an operation for which, if the poor fellow had
been consulted, he would scarce have given his voice."

"And who dared to lame an animal which belonged to my bondsman?" said
the Saxon, kindling in wrath.

"Marry, that did old Hubert," said Wamba, "Sir Philip de Malvoisin's
keeper of the chase. He caught Fangs strolling in the forest, and said
he chased the deer contrary to his master's right, as warden of the
walk."

"The foul fiend take Malvoisin," answered the Saxon, "and his keeper
both! I will teach them that the wood was disforested in terms of
the great Forest Charter. But enough of this. Go to, knave, go to thy
place--and thou, Gurth, get thee another dog, and should the keeper dare
to touch it, I will mar his archery; the curse of a coward on my head,
if I strike not off the forefinger of his right hand!--he shall draw
bowstring no more.--I crave your pardon, my worthy guests. I am beset
here with neighbours that match your infidels, Sir Knight, in Holy Land.
But your homely fare is before you; feed, and let welcome make amends
for hard fare."

The feast, however, which was spread upon the board, needed no apologies
from the lord of the mansion. Swine's flesh, dressed in several modes,
appeared on the lower part of the board, as also that of fowls, deer,
goats, and hares, and various kinds of fish, together with huge loaves
and cakes of bread, and sundry confections made of fruits and honey.
The smaller sorts of wild-fowl, of which there was abundance, were
not served up in platters, but brought in upon small wooden spits or
broaches, and offered by the pages and domestics who bore them, to each
guest in succession, who cut from them such a portion as he pleased.
Beside each person of rank was placed a goblet of silver; the lower
board was accommodated with large drinking horns.

When the repast was about to commence, the major-domo, or steward,
suddenly raising his wand, said aloud,--"Forbear!--Place for the Lady
Rowena."

A side-door at the upper end of the hall now opened behind the banquet
table, and Rowena, followed by four female attendants, entered the
apartment. Cedric, though surprised, and perhaps not altogether
agreeably so, at his ward appearing in public on this occasion, hastened
to meet her, and to conduct her, with respectful ceremony, to the
elevated seat at his own right hand, appropriated to the lady of the
mansion. All stood up to receive her; and, replying to their courtesy by
a mute gesture of salutation, she moved gracefully forward to assume her
place at the board. Ere she had time to do so, the Templar whispered to
the Prior, "I shall wear no collar of gold of yours at the tournament.
The Chian wine is your own."

"Said I not so?" answered the Prior; "but check your raptures, the
Franklin observes you."

Unheeding this remonstrance, and accustomed only to act upon the
immediate impulse of his own wishes, Brian de Bois-Guilbert kept
his eyes riveted on the Saxon beauty, more striking perhaps to his
imagination, because differing widely from those of the Eastern
sultanas.

Formed in the best proportions of her sex, Rowena was tall in stature,
yet not so much so as to attract observation on account of superior
height. Her complexion was exquisitely fair, but the noble cast of her
head and features prevented the insipidity which sometimes attaches
to fair beauties. Her clear blue eye, which sat enshrined beneath a
graceful eyebrow of brown sufficiently marked to give expression to the
forehead, seemed capable to kindle as well as melt, to command as well
as to beseech. If mildness were the more natural expression of such a
combination of features, it was plain, that in the present instance, the
exercise of habitual superiority, and the reception of general homage,
had given to the Saxon lady a loftier character, which mingled with and
qualified that bestowed by nature. Her profuse hair, of a colour betwixt
brown and flaxen, was arranged in a fanciful and graceful manner in
numerous ringlets, to form which art had probably aided nature. These
locks were braided with gems, and, being worn at full length, intimated
the noble birth and free-born condition of the maiden. A golden chain,
to which was attached a small reliquary of the same metal, hung round
her neck. She wore bracelets on her arms, which were bare. Her dress was
an under-gown and kirtle of pale sea-green silk, over which hung a long
loose robe, which reached to the ground, having very wide sleeves, which
came down, however, very little below the elbow. This robe was crimson,
and manufactured out of the very finest wool. A veil of silk, interwoven
with gold, was attached to the upper part of it, which could be, at
the wearer's pleasure, either drawn over the face and bosom after the
Spanish fashion, or disposed as a sort of drapery round the shoulders.

When Rowena perceived the Knight Templar's eyes bent on her with an
ardour, that, compared with the dark caverns under which they moved,
gave them the effect of lighted charcoal, she drew with dignity the veil
around her face, as an intimation that the determined freedom of his
glance was disagreeable. Cedric saw the motion and its cause. "Sir
Templar," said he, "the cheeks of our Saxon maidens have seen too little

got our herd together, which Fangs did not manage until we heard the

vesper-bell."

"Then hang up Fangs," said Cedric, turning hastily towards the

swineherd, "if the fault is his, and get thee another dog."

"Under favour, uncle," said the Jester, "that were still somewhat on the

bow-hand of fair justice; for it was no fault of Fangs that he was lame

and could not gather the herd, but the fault of those that struck off

two of his fore-claws, an operation for which, if the poor fellow had

been consulted, he would scarce have given his voice."

"And who dared to lame an animal which belonged to my bondsman?" said

the Saxon, kindling in wrath.

"Marry, that did old Hubert," said Wamba, "Sir Philip de Malvoisin's

keeper of the chase. He caught Fangs strolling in the forest, and said

he chased the deer contrary to his master's right, as warden of the

walk."

"The foul fiend take Malvoisin," answered the Saxon, "and his keeper

both! I will teach them that the wood was disforested in terms of

the great Forest Charter. But enough of this. Go to, knave, go to thy

place--and thou, Gurth, get thee another dog, and should the keeper dare

to touch it, I will mar his archery; the curse of a coward on my head,

if I strike not off the forefinger of his right hand!--he shall draw

bowstring no more.--I crave your pardon, my worthy guests. I am beset

here with neighbours that match your infidels, Sir Knight, in Holy Land.

But your homely fare is before you; feed, and let welcome make amends

for hard fare."

The feast, however, which was spread upon the board, needed no apologies

from the lord of the mansion. Swine's flesh, dressed in several modes,

appeared on the lower part of the board, as also that of fowls, deer,

goats, and hares, and various kinds of fish, together with huge loaves

and cakes of bread, and sundry confections made of fruits and honey.

The smaller sorts of wild-fowl, of which there was abundance, were

not served up in platters, but brought in upon small wooden spits or

broaches, and offered by the pages and domestics who bore them, to each

guest in succession, who cut from them such a portion as he pleased.

Beside each person of rank was placed a goblet of silver; the lower

board was accommodated with large drinking horns.

When the repast was about to commence, the major-domo, or steward,

suddenly raising his wand, said aloud,--"Forbear!--Place for the Lady

Rowena."

A side-door at the upper end of the hall now opened behind the banquet

table, and Rowena, followed by four female attendants, entered the

apartment. Cedric, though surprised, and perhaps not altogether

agreeably so, at his ward appearing in public on this occasion, hastened

to meet her, and to conduct her, with respectful ceremony, to the

elevated seat at his own right hand, appropriated to the lady of the

mansion. All stood up to receive her; and, replying to their courtesy by

a mute gesture of salutation, she moved gracefully forward to assume her

place at the board. Ere she had time to do so, the Templar whispered to

the Prior, "I shall wear no collar of gold of yours at the tournament.

The Chian wine is your own."

"Said I not so?" answered the Prior; "but check your raptures, the

Franklin observes you."

Unheeding this remonstrance, and accustomed only to act upon the

immediate impulse of his own wishes, Brian de Bois-Guilbert kept

his eyes riveted on the Saxon beauty, more striking perhaps to his

imagination, because differing widely from those of the Eastern

sultanas.

Formed in the best proportions of her sex, Rowena was tall in stature,

yet not so much so as to attract observation on account of superior

height. Her complexion was exquisitely fair, but the noble cast of her

head and features prevented the insipidity which sometimes attaches

to fair beauties. Her clear blue eye, which sat enshrined beneath a

graceful eyebrow of brown sufficiently marked to give expression to the

forehead, seemed capable to kindle as well as melt, to command as well

as to beseech. If mildness were the more natural expression of such a

combination of features, it was plain, that in the present instance, the

exercise of habitual superiority, and the reception of general homage,

had given to the Saxon lady a loftier character, which mingled with and

qualified that bestowed by nature. Her profuse hair, of a colour betwixt

brown and flaxen, was arranged in a fanciful and graceful manner in

numerous ringlets, to form which art had probably aided nature. These

locks were braided with gems, and, being worn at full length, intimated

the noble birth and free-born condition of the maiden. A golden chain,

to which was attached a small reliquary of the same metal, hung round

her neck. She wore bracelets on her arms, which were bare. Her dress was

an under-gown and kirtle of pale sea-green silk, over which hung a long

loose robe, which reached to the ground, having very wide sleeves, which

came down, however, very little below the elbow. This robe was crimson,

and manufactured out of the very finest wool. A veil of silk, interwoven

with gold, was attached to the upper part of it, which could be, at

the wearer's pleasure, either drawn over the face and bosom after the

Spanish fashion, or disposed as a sort of drapery round the shoulders.

When Rowena perceived the Knight Templar's eyes bent on her with an

ardour, that, compared with the dark caverns under which they moved,

gave them the effect of lighted charcoal, she drew with dignity the veil

around her face, as an intimation that the determined freedom of his

glance was disagreeable. Cedric saw the motion and its cause. "Sir

Templar," said he, "the cheeks of our Saxon maidens have seen too little