ariondas/full_text_dataset · Datasets at Hugging Face

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that his brother, so much injured, and to whom he was so much indebted,
had suddenly arrived in his native kingdom, even the distinctions
pointed out by Fitzurse did not altogether remove the Prince's
apprehensions; and while, with a short and embarrassed eulogy upon his
valour, he caused to be delivered to him the war-horse assigned as the
prize, he trembled lest from the barred visor of the mailed form before
him, an answer might be returned, in the deep and awful accents of
Richard the Lion-hearted.

But the Disinherited Knight spoke not a word in reply to the compliment
of the Prince, which he only acknowledged with a profound obeisance.

The horse was led into the lists by two grooms richly dressed, the
animal itself being fully accoutred with the richest war-furniture;
which, however, scarcely added to the value of the noble creature in the
eyes of those who were judges. Laying one hand upon the pommel of the
saddle, the Disinherited Knight vaulted at once upon the back of the
steed without making use of the stirrup, and, brandishing aloft his
lance, rode twice around the lists, exhibiting the points and paces of
the horse with the skill of a perfect horseman.

The appearance of vanity, which might otherwise have been attributed to
this display, was removed by the propriety shown in exhibiting to the
best advantage the princely reward with which he had been just honoured,
and the Knight was again greeted by the acclamations of all present.

In the meanwhile, the bustling Prior of Jorvaulx had reminded Prince
John, in a whisper, that the victor must now display his good judgment,
instead of his valour, by selecting from among the beauties who graced
the galleries a lady, who should fill the throne of the Queen of Beauty
and of Love, and deliver the prize of the tourney upon the ensuing day.
The Prince accordingly made a sign with his truncheon, as the Knight
passed him in his second career around the lists. The Knight turned
towards the throne, and, sinking his lance, until the point was within
a foot of the ground, remained motionless, as if expecting John's
commands; while all admired the sudden dexterity with which he instantly
reduced his fiery steed from a state of violent emotion and high
excitation to the stillness of an equestrian statue.

"Sir Disinherited Knight," said Prince John, "since that is the only
title by which we can address you, it is now your duty, as well as
privilege, to name the fair lady, who, as Queen of Honour and of Love,
is to preside over next day's festival. If, as a stranger in our land,
you should require the aid of other judgment to guide your own, we
can only say that Alicia, the daughter of our gallant knight Waldemar
Fitzurse, has at our court been long held the first in beauty as in
place. Nevertheless, it is your undoubted prerogative to confer on whom
you please this crown, by the delivery of which to the lady of
your choice, the election of to-morrow's Queen will be formal and
complete.--Raise your lance."

The Knight obeyed; and Prince John placed upon its point a coronet of
green satin, having around its edge a circlet of gold, the upper edge
of which was relieved by arrow-points and hearts placed interchangeably,
like the strawberry leaves and balls upon a ducal crown.

In the broad hint which he dropped respecting the daughter of Waldemar
Fitzurse, John had more than one motive, each the offspring of a mind,
which was a strange mixture of carelessness and presumption with low
artifice and cunning. He wished to banish from the minds of the chivalry
around him his own indecent and unacceptable jest respecting the Jewess
Rebecca; he was desirous of conciliating Alicia's father Waldemar,
of whom he stood in awe, and who had more than once shown himself
dissatisfied during the course of the day's proceedings. He had also a
wish to establish himself in the good graces of the lady; for John was
at least as licentious in his pleasures as profligate in his ambition.
But besides all these reasons, he was desirous to raise up against
the Disinherited Knight (towards whom he already entertained a strong
dislike) a powerful enemy in the person of Waldemar Fitzurse, who was
likely, he thought, highly to resent the injury done to his daughter, in
case, as was not unlikely, the victor should make another choice.

And so indeed it proved. For the Disinherited Knight passed the gallery
close to that of the Prince, in which the Lady Alicia was seated in the
full pride of triumphant beauty, and, pacing forwards as slowly as he
had hitherto rode swiftly around the lists, he seemed to exercise his
right of examining the numerous fair faces which adorned that splendid
circle.

It was worth while to see the different conduct of the beauties who
underwent this examination, during the time it was proceeding. Some
blushed, some assumed an air of pride and dignity, some looked straight
forward, and essayed to seem utterly unconscious of what was going on,
some drew back in alarm, which was perhaps affected, some endeavoured to
forbear smiling, and there were two or three who laughed outright. There
were also some who dropped their veils over their charms; but, as the
Wardour Manuscript says these were fair ones of ten years standing, it
may be supposed that, having had their full share of such vanities, they
were willing to withdraw their claim, in order to give a fair chance to
the rising beauties of the age.

At length the champion paused beneath the balcony in which the Lady
Rowena was placed, and the expectation of the spectators was excited to
the utmost.

It must be owned, that if an interest displayed in his success could
have bribed the Disinherited Knight, the part of the lists before which
he paused had merited his predilection. Cedric the Saxon, overjoyed at
the discomfiture of the Templar, and still more so at the miscarriage of
his two malevolent neighbours, Front-de-Boeuf and Malvoisin, had, with

that his brother, so much injured, and to whom he was so much indebted,

had suddenly arrived in his native kingdom, even the distinctions

pointed out by Fitzurse did not altogether remove the Prince's

apprehensions; and while, with a short and embarrassed eulogy upon his

valour, he caused to be delivered to him the war-horse assigned as the

prize, he trembled lest from the barred visor of the mailed form before

him, an answer might be returned, in the deep and awful accents of

Richard the Lion-hearted.

But the Disinherited Knight spoke not a word in reply to the compliment

of the Prince, which he only acknowledged with a profound obeisance.

The horse was led into the lists by two grooms richly dressed, the

animal itself being fully accoutred with the richest war-furniture;

which, however, scarcely added to the value of the noble creature in the

eyes of those who were judges. Laying one hand upon the pommel of the

saddle, the Disinherited Knight vaulted at once upon the back of the

steed without making use of the stirrup, and, brandishing aloft his

lance, rode twice around the lists, exhibiting the points and paces of

the horse with the skill of a perfect horseman.

The appearance of vanity, which might otherwise have been attributed to

this display, was removed by the propriety shown in exhibiting to the

best advantage the princely reward with which he had been just honoured,

and the Knight was again greeted by the acclamations of all present.

In the meanwhile, the bustling Prior of Jorvaulx had reminded Prince

John, in a whisper, that the victor must now display his good judgment,

instead of his valour, by selecting from among the beauties who graced

the galleries a lady, who should fill the throne of the Queen of Beauty

and of Love, and deliver the prize of the tourney upon the ensuing day.

The Prince accordingly made a sign with his truncheon, as the Knight

passed him in his second career around the lists. The Knight turned

towards the throne, and, sinking his lance, until the point was within

a foot of the ground, remained motionless, as if expecting John's

commands; while all admired the sudden dexterity with which he instantly

reduced his fiery steed from a state of violent emotion and high

excitation to the stillness of an equestrian statue.

"Sir Disinherited Knight," said Prince John, "since that is the only

title by which we can address you, it is now your duty, as well as

privilege, to name the fair lady, who, as Queen of Honour and of Love,

is to preside over next day's festival. If, as a stranger in our land,

you should require the aid of other judgment to guide your own, we

can only say that Alicia, the daughter of our gallant knight Waldemar

Fitzurse, has at our court been long held the first in beauty as in

place. Nevertheless, it is your undoubted prerogative to confer on whom

you please this crown, by the delivery of which to the lady of

your choice, the election of to-morrow's Queen will be formal and

complete.--Raise your lance."

The Knight obeyed; and Prince John placed upon its point a coronet of

green satin, having around its edge a circlet of gold, the upper edge

of which was relieved by arrow-points and hearts placed interchangeably,

like the strawberry leaves and balls upon a ducal crown.

In the broad hint which he dropped respecting the daughter of Waldemar

Fitzurse, John had more than one motive, each the offspring of a mind,

which was a strange mixture of carelessness and presumption with low

artifice and cunning. He wished to banish from the minds of the chivalry

around him his own indecent and unacceptable jest respecting the Jewess

Rebecca; he was desirous of conciliating Alicia's father Waldemar,

of whom he stood in awe, and who had more than once shown himself

dissatisfied during the course of the day's proceedings. He had also a

wish to establish himself in the good graces of the lady; for John was

at least as licentious in his pleasures as profligate in his ambition.

But besides all these reasons, he was desirous to raise up against

the Disinherited Knight (towards whom he already entertained a strong

dislike) a powerful enemy in the person of Waldemar Fitzurse, who was

likely, he thought, highly to resent the injury done to his daughter, in

case, as was not unlikely, the victor should make another choice.

And so indeed it proved. For the Disinherited Knight passed the gallery

close to that of the Prince, in which the Lady Alicia was seated in the

full pride of triumphant beauty, and, pacing forwards as slowly as he

had hitherto rode swiftly around the lists, he seemed to exercise his

right of examining the numerous fair faces which adorned that splendid

circle.

It was worth while to see the different conduct of the beauties who

underwent this examination, during the time it was proceeding. Some

blushed, some assumed an air of pride and dignity, some looked straight

forward, and essayed to seem utterly unconscious of what was going on,

some drew back in alarm, which was perhaps affected, some endeavoured to

forbear smiling, and there were two or three who laughed outright. There

were also some who dropped their veils over their charms; but, as the

Wardour Manuscript says these were fair ones of ten years standing, it

may be supposed that, having had their full share of such vanities, they

were willing to withdraw their claim, in order to give a fair chance to

the rising beauties of the age.

At length the champion paused beneath the balcony in which the Lady

Rowena was placed, and the expectation of the spectators was excited to

the utmost.

It must be owned, that if an interest displayed in his success could

have bribed the Disinherited Knight, the part of the lists before which

he paused had merited his predilection. Cedric the Saxon, overjoyed at

the discomfiture of the Templar, and still more so at the miscarriage of

his two malevolent neighbours, Front-de-Boeuf and Malvoisin, had, with