第49章

Theanxiouseyeoftheminstrel，however，dweltonEdith，anditwasnottillheobservedherreturningcolourthatheobeyedtherepeatedcommandsoftheKing。Then，accompanyinghisvoicewiththeharp，soastograce，butyetnotdrown，thesenseofwhathesang，hechantedinasortofrecitativeoneofthoseancientadventuresofloveandknighthood，whichwerewontofyoretowinthepublicattention。Sosoonashebegantoprelude，theinsignificanceofhispersonalappearanceseemedtodisappear，andhiscountenanceglowedwithenergyandinspiration。Hisfull，manly，mellowvoice，soabsolutelyundercommandofthepuresttaste，thrilledoneveryear，andtoeveryheart。Richard，rejoicedasaftervictory，calledouttheappropriatesummonsforsilence，Listen，lords，inbowerandhall；’’

whilewiththezealofapatronatonceandapupil，hearrangedthecirclearound，andhushedthemintosilence；andhehimselfsatdownwithanairofexpectationandinterestnotaltogetherunmixedwiththegravityoftheprofessedcritic。ThecourtiersturnedtheireyesontheKing，thattheymightbereadytotraceandimitatetheemotionshisfeaturesshouldexpress，andThomasdeVauxyawnedtremendously，asonewhosubmittedunwillinglytoawearisomepenance。ThesongofBlondelwasofcourseintheNormanlanguage；buttheverseswhichfollowexpressitsmeaninganditsmanner。

TheBloodyVest’TwasnearthefaircityofBenevent，Whenthesunwassettingonboughandbent，Andknightswerepreparinginbowerandtent，OntheeveoftheBaptist’stournamentWheninLincolngreenastriplinggent，Wellseemingapagebyaprincesssent，Wander’dthecamp，and，stillashewent，EnquiredfortheEnglishman，ThomasKent。

Farhathhefared，andfarthermustfare，Tillhefindshispavilionnorstatelynorrare，-

Littlesaveironandsteelwasthere:

And，aslackingthecointopayarmourer’scare，Withhissinewyarmstotheshouldersbare，ThegoodknightwithhammerandfiledidrepairThemailthatto-morrowmustseehimwear，ForthehonourofSaintJohnandhisladyfair。

Thusspeaksmylady，’’thepagesaidhe，Andtheknightbentlowlybothheadandknee，SheisBenevent’sPrincesssohighindegree，Andthouartaslowlyasknightmaywellbe-

Hethatwouldclimbsoloftyatree，Orspringsuchagulfasdividesherfromthee，Mustdaresomehighdeed，bywhichallmenmayseeHisambitionisback’dbyhishiechivalrie。

Thereforethusspeaksmylady，’’thefairpagehesaid，Andtheknightlowlyloutedwithhandandwithhead，Flingasidethegoodarmourinwhichthouartclad，Anddonthouthisweedofhernight-gearinstead，Forahauberkofsteel，akirtleofthread:。

Andchargethusattired，inthetournamentdread，Andfightasthywontiswheremostbloodisshed，Andbringhonouraway，orremainwiththedead。’’

Untroubledinhislook，anduntroubledinhisbreast，Theknighttheweedhathtaken，andreverentlyhathkiss’d:

Nowblessedbethemoment，themessengerbeblest！

Muchhonour’ddoIholdmeinmylady’shighbehest；

Andsayuntomylady，inthisdearnight-weeddress’d，TothebestarmedchampionIwillnotveilmycrest；

ButifIliveandbearmewell’tisherturntotakethetest。’’

Here，gentles，endstheforemostfytteoftheLayoftheBloodyVest。

Thouhastchangedthemeasureuponusunawaresinthatlastcouplet，myBlondel？’’saidtheKing。

Mosttrue，mylord，’’saidBlondel。IrenderedtheversesfromtheItalianofanoldharper，whomImetinCyprus，andnothavinghadtimeeithertotranslateitaccurately，orcommitittomemory，IamfaintosupplygapsinthemusicandtheverseasIcanuponthespurofthemoment，asyouseeboorsmendaquicksetfencewithafagot。’’

Nay，onmyfaith，’’saidtheKing，IliketheserattlingrollingAlexandrines-methinkstheycomemoretwanginglyofftothemusicthanthatbriefe

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