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lords. What, then, would it avail the reader to know their names, or the
evanescent symbols of their martial rank!

Now, however, no whit anticipating the oblivion which awaited their
names and feats, the champions advanced through the lists, restraining
their fiery steeds, and compelling them to move slowly, while, at the
same time, they exhibited their paces, together with the grace and
dexterity of the riders. As the procession entered the lists, the
sound of a wild Barbaric music was heard from behind the tents of the
challengers, where the performers were concealed. It was of Eastern
origin, having been brought from the Holy Land; and the mixture of the
cymbals and bells seemed to bid welcome at once, and defiance, to the
knights as they advanced. With the eyes of an immense concourse of
spectators fixed upon them, the five knights advanced up the platform
upon which the tents of the challengers stood, and there separating
themselves, each touched slightly, and with the reverse of his lance,
the shield of the antagonist to whom he wished to oppose himself. The
lower orders of spectators in general--nay, many of the higher class,
and it is even said several of the ladies, were rather disappointed
at the champions choosing the arms of courtesy. For the same sort
of persons, who, in the present day, applaud most highly the deepest
tragedies, were then interested in a tournament exactly in proportion to
the danger incurred by the champions engaged.

Having intimated their more pacific purpose, the champions retreated
to the extremity of the lists, where they remained drawn up in a line;
while the challengers, sallying each from his pavilion, mounted their
horses, and, headed by Brian de Bois-Guilbert, descended from the
platform, and opposed themselves individually to the knights who had
touched their respective shields.

At the flourish of clarions and trumpets, they started out against
each other at full gallop; and such was the superior dexterity or
good fortune of the challengers, that those opposed to Bois-Guilbert,
Malvoisin, and Front-de-Boeuf, rolled on the ground. The antagonist of
Grantmesnil, instead of bearing his lance-point fair against the crest
or the shield of his enemy, swerved so much from the direct line as
to break the weapon athwart the person of his opponent--a circumstance
which was accounted more disgraceful than that of being actually
unhorsed; because the latter might happen from accident, whereas the
former evinced awkwardness and want of management of the weapon and of
the horse. The fifth knight alone maintained the honour of his party,
and parted fairly with the Knight of St John, both splintering their
lances without advantage on either side.

The shouts of the multitude, together with the acclamations of the
heralds, and the clangour of the trumpets, announced the triumph of the
victors and the defeat of the vanquished. The former retreated to
their pavilions, and the latter, gathering themselves up as they could,
withdrew from the lists in disgrace and dejection, to agree with their
victors concerning the redemption of their arms and their horses, which,
according to the laws of the tournament, they had forfeited. The fifth
of their number alone tarried in the lists long enough to be greeted
by the applauses of the spectators, amongst whom he retreated, to the
aggravation, doubtless, of his companions' mortification.

A second and a third party of knights took the field; and although
they had various success, yet, upon the whole, the advantage decidedly
remained with the challengers, not one of whom lost his seat or
swerved from his charge--misfortunes which befell one or two of their
antagonists in each encounter. The spirits, therefore, of those opposed
to them, seemed to be considerably damped by their continued success.
Three knights only appeared on the fourth entry, who, avoiding the
shields of Bois-Guilbert and Front-de-Boeuf, contented themselves
with touching those of the three other knights, who had not altogether
manifested the same strength and dexterity. This politic selection
did not alter the fortune of the field, the challengers were still
successful: one of their antagonists was overthrown, and both the others
failed in the "attaint", [18] that is, in striking the helmet and shield
of their antagonist firmly and strongly, with the lance held in a direct
line, so that the weapon might break unless the champion was overthrown.

After this fourth encounter, there was a considerable pause; nor did
it appear that any one was very desirous of renewing the contest.
The spectators murmured among themselves; for, among the challengers,
Malvoisin and Front-de-Boeuf were unpopular from their characters,
and the others, except Grantmesnil, were disliked as strangers and
foreigners.

But none shared the general feeling of dissatisfaction so keenly as
Cedric the Saxon, who saw, in each advantage gained by the Norman
challengers, a repeated triumph over the honour of England. His own
education had taught him no skill in the games of chivalry, although,
with the arms of his Saxon ancestors, he had manifested himself, on
many occasions, a brave and determined soldier. He looked anxiously
to Athelstane, who had learned the accomplishments of the age, as if
desiring that he should make some personal effort to recover the victory
which was passing into the hands of the Templar and his associates.
But, though both stout of heart, and strong of person, Athelstane had a
disposition too inert and unambitious to make the exertions which Cedric
seemed to expect from him.

"The day is against England, my lord," said Cedric, in a marked tone;
"are you not tempted to take the lance?"

"I shall tilt to-morrow" answered Athelstane, "in the 'melee'; it is not
worth while for me to arm myself to-day."

Two things displeased Cedric in this speech. It contained the Norman
word "melee", (to express the general conflict,) and it evinced

lords. What, then, would it avail the reader to know their names, or the

evanescent symbols of their martial rank!

Now, however, no whit anticipating the oblivion which awaited their

names and feats, the champions advanced through the lists, restraining

their fiery steeds, and compelling them to move slowly, while, at the

same time, they exhibited their paces, together with the grace and

dexterity of the riders. As the procession entered the lists, the

sound of a wild Barbaric music was heard from behind the tents of the

challengers, where the performers were concealed. It was of Eastern

origin, having been brought from the Holy Land; and the mixture of the

cymbals and bells seemed to bid welcome at once, and defiance, to the

knights as they advanced. With the eyes of an immense concourse of

spectators fixed upon them, the five knights advanced up the platform

upon which the tents of the challengers stood, and there separating

themselves, each touched slightly, and with the reverse of his lance,

the shield of the antagonist to whom he wished to oppose himself. The

lower orders of spectators in general--nay, many of the higher class,

and it is even said several of the ladies, were rather disappointed

at the champions choosing the arms of courtesy. For the same sort

of persons, who, in the present day, applaud most highly the deepest

tragedies, were then interested in a tournament exactly in proportion to

the danger incurred by the champions engaged.

Having intimated their more pacific purpose, the champions retreated

to the extremity of the lists, where they remained drawn up in a line;

while the challengers, sallying each from his pavilion, mounted their

horses, and, headed by Brian de Bois-Guilbert, descended from the

platform, and opposed themselves individually to the knights who had

touched their respective shields.

At the flourish of clarions and trumpets, they started out against

each other at full gallop; and such was the superior dexterity or

good fortune of the challengers, that those opposed to Bois-Guilbert,

Malvoisin, and Front-de-Boeuf, rolled on the ground. The antagonist of

Grantmesnil, instead of bearing his lance-point fair against the crest

or the shield of his enemy, swerved so much from the direct line as

to break the weapon athwart the person of his opponent--a circumstance

which was accounted more disgraceful than that of being actually

unhorsed; because the latter might happen from accident, whereas the

former evinced awkwardness and want of management of the weapon and of

the horse. The fifth knight alone maintained the honour of his party,

and parted fairly with the Knight of St John, both splintering their

lances without advantage on either side.

The shouts of the multitude, together with the acclamations of the

heralds, and the clangour of the trumpets, announced the triumph of the

victors and the defeat of the vanquished. The former retreated to

their pavilions, and the latter, gathering themselves up as they could,

withdrew from the lists in disgrace and dejection, to agree with their

victors concerning the redemption of their arms and their horses, which,

according to the laws of the tournament, they had forfeited. The fifth

of their number alone tarried in the lists long enough to be greeted

by the applauses of the spectators, amongst whom he retreated, to the

aggravation, doubtless, of his companions' mortification.

A second and a third party of knights took the field; and although

they had various success, yet, upon the whole, the advantage decidedly

remained with the challengers, not one of whom lost his seat or

swerved from his charge--misfortunes which befell one or two of their

antagonists in each encounter. The spirits, therefore, of those opposed

to them, seemed to be considerably damped by their continued success.

Three knights only appeared on the fourth entry, who, avoiding the

shields of Bois-Guilbert and Front-de-Boeuf, contented themselves

with touching those of the three other knights, who had not altogether

manifested the same strength and dexterity. This politic selection

did not alter the fortune of the field, the challengers were still

successful: one of their antagonists was overthrown, and both the others

failed in the "attaint", [18] that is, in striking the helmet and shield

of their antagonist firmly and strongly, with the lance held in a direct

line, so that the weapon might break unless the champion was overthrown.

After this fourth encounter, there was a considerable pause; nor did

it appear that any one was very desirous of renewing the contest.

The spectators murmured among themselves; for, among the challengers,

Malvoisin and Front-de-Boeuf were unpopular from their characters,

and the others, except Grantmesnil, were disliked as strangers and

foreigners.

But none shared the general feeling of dissatisfaction so keenly as

Cedric the Saxon, who saw, in each advantage gained by the Norman

challengers, a repeated triumph over the honour of England. His own

education had taught him no skill in the games of chivalry, although,

with the arms of his Saxon ancestors, he had manifested himself, on

many occasions, a brave and determined soldier. He looked anxiously

to Athelstane, who had learned the accomplishments of the age, as if

desiring that he should make some personal effort to recover the victory

which was passing into the hands of the Templar and his associates.

But, though both stout of heart, and strong of person, Athelstane had a

disposition too inert and unambitious to make the exertions which Cedric

seemed to expect from him.

"The day is against England, my lord," said Cedric, in a marked tone;

"are you not tempted to take the lance?"

"I shall tilt to-morrow" answered Athelstane, "in the 'melee'; it is not

worth while for me to arm myself to-day."

Two things displeased Cedric in this speech. It contained the Norman

word "melee", (to express the general conflict,) and it evinced