第48章

HeardstthounotwhatIsaid，dullslave？’’shesaid，turningshortroundonhim，andspeakingwithemphasis；telltheheathenSoldan，thymaster，thatIscornhissuitasmuchasI

despisetheprostrationofaworthlessrenegadetoreligionandchivalry-toGodandtohislady！’’

Sosaying，sheburstfromhim，torehergarmentfromhisgrasp，andleftthetent。

ThevoiceofNeville，atthesametime，summonedhimfromwithout。Exhaustedandstupifiedbythedistresshehadundergoneduringthisinterview，fromwhichhecouldonlyhaveextricatedhimselfbybreachoftheengagementwhichhehadformedwithKingRichard，theunfortunateknightstaggeredratherthanwalkedaftertheEnglishbaron，tilltheyreachedtheroyalpavilion，beforewhichapartyofhorsemenhadjustdismounted。

Therewaslightandmotionwithinthetent，andwhenNevilleenteredwithhisdisguisedattendant，theyfoundtheKing，withseveralofhisnobility，engagedinwelcomingthosewhowerenewlyarrived。

ThetearsIshedmusteverfall！

Iweepnotforanabsentswain，Fortimemayhappierhoursrecall，Andpartedloversmeetagain。

Iweepnotforthesilentdead，Theirpainsarepast，theirsorrowso’er，Andthosethatlovedtheirstepsmusttread，Whendeathshalljointopartnomore。’’

Butworsethanabsence，worsethandeath，Sheweptherlover’ssulliedfame，And，firedwithalltheprideofbirth，Sheweptasoldier’sinjuredname。

Ballad。<*>

*[ThelastfourlinesofthisBallad’’arebytheAuthorhimself，andtheprevious*linesfromTheSongofGenius，’’byHelenD’ArcyCranstoun，afterwardsMrs。

*DugaldStewart。]

ThefrankandboldvoiceofRichardwasheardinjoyousgratulation。

ThomasdeVaux！stoutTomoftheGills！bytheheadofKingHenry，thouartwelcometomeaseverwasflaskofwinetoajollytoper！Ishouldscarcehaveknownhowtoordermybattlearray，unlessIhadthybulkyforminmyeyeasalandmarktoformmyranksupon。Weshallhaveblowsanon，Thomas，ifthesaintsbegracioustous；andhadwefoughtinthineabsence，Iwouldhavelookedtohearofthybeingfoundhanginguponanelder-tree。’’

IshouldhavebornemydisappointmentwithmoreChristianpatience，Itrust，’’saidThomasdeVaux，thantohavediedthedeathofanapostate。ButIthankyourGraceformywelcome，whichisthemoregenerous，asitrespectsabanquetofblows，ofwhich，savingyourpleasure，youareevertooapttoengrossthelargershare；butherehaveIbroughtonetowhomyourGracewill，Iknow，giveayetwarmerwelcome。’’

ThepersonwhonowsteppedforwardtomakeobeisancetoRichard，wasayoungmanoflowstatureandslightform。Hisdresswasasmodestashisfigurewasunimpressive，butheboreonhisbonnetagoldbuckle，withagem，thelustreofwhichcouldonlyberivalledbythebrilliancyoftheeyewhichthebonnetshaded。Itwastheonlystrikingfeatureinhiscountenance；but，whenoncenoticed，ituniformlymadeastrongimpressiononthespectator。Abouthisnecktherehunginascarfofsky-bluesilkawrest，asitwascalled，-thatis，thekeywithwhichaharpistuned，andwhichwasofsolidgold。

ThispersonagewouldhavekneeledreverentlytoRichard，butthemonarchraisedhiminjoyfulhaste，pressedhimtohisbosomwarmly，andkissedhimoneithersideoftheface。

BlondeldeNesle！’’heexclaimedjoyfully-welcomefromCyprus，mykingofminstrels！-welcometotheKingofEngland，whoratesnothisowndignitymorehighlythanhedoesthine，Ihavebeensick，man，and，bymysoul，Ibelieveitwasforlackofthee；for，wereIhalf-waytothegateofHeaven，methinksthystrainscouldcallmeback-Andwhatnews，mygentlemaster，fromthelandofthelyre？Anythingfreshfromthe_trouveurs_ofProvence？-anythingfromtheminstrelsofMerryNormandy？-aboveall，hastthouthyselfbeenbusy？-ButIneednotaskthee-thoucanstnotbeidle，ifthouwouldst-thynoblequalitiesarelikeafireburningwithin，andcompeltheetopourthyselfoutinmusicandsong

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