butDeBracy，whoseprofessionfreedhimfromallscruples，extendedhislonglanceoverthespacewhichseparatedthegalleryfromthelists，andwouldhaveexecutedthecommandsofthePrincebeforeAthelstanetheUnreadyhadrecoveredpresenceofmindsufficienteventodrawbackhispersonfromtheweapon，hadnotCedric，aspromptashiscompanionwastardy，unsheathed，withthespeedoflightning，theshortswordwhichhewore，andatasingleblowseveredthepointofthelancefromthehandle。ThebloodrushedintothecountenanceofPrinceJohn。Hesworeoneofhisdeepestoaths，andwasabouttouttersomethreatcorrespondinginviolence，whenhewasdivertedfromhispurpose，partlybyhisownattendants，whogatheredaroundhimconjuringhimtobepatient，partlybyageneralexclamationofthecrowd，utteredinloudapplauseofthespiritedconductofCedric。ThePrincerolledhiseyesinindignation，asiftocollectsomesafeandeasyvictim；andchancingtoencounterthefirmglanceofthesamearcherwhomwehavealreadynoticed，andwhoseemedtopersistinhisgestureofapplause，inspiteofthefrowningaspectwhichthePrincebentuponhim，hedemandedhisreasonforclamouringthus。
``Ialwaysaddmyhollo，’’saidtheyeoman，``whenIseeagoodshot，oragallantblow。’’
``Saystthou?’’answeredthePrince；``thenthoucansthitthewhitethyself，I’llwarrant。’’
``Awoodsman’smark，andatwoodsman’sdistance，Icanhit，’’answeredtheyeoman。
``AndWatTyrrel’smark，atahundredyards，’’
saidavoicefrombehind，butbywhomutteredcouldnotbediscerned。
ThisallusiontothefateofWilliamRufus，hisRelative，atonceincensedandalarmedPrinceJohn。Hesatisfiedhimself，however，withcommandingthemen-at-arms，whosurroundedthelists，tokeepaneyeonthebraggart，pointingtotheyeoman。
``ByStGrizzel，’’headded，``wewilltryhisownskill，whoissoreadytogivehisvoicetothefeatsofothers！’’
``Ishallnotflythetrial，’’saidtheyeoman，withthecomposurewhichmarkedhiswholedeportment。
``Meanwhile，standup，yeSaxonchurls，’’saidthefieryPrince；``for，bythelightofHeaven，sinceIhavesaidit，theJewshallhavehisseatamongstye！’’
``Bynomeans，anitpleaseyourGrace！——itisnotfitforsuchaswetositwiththerulersoftheland，’’saidtheJew；whoseambitionforprecedencethoughithadledhimtodisputePlacewiththeextenuatedandimpoverisheddescendantofthelineofMontdidier，bynomeansstimulatedhimtoanintrusionupontheprivilegesofthewealthySaxons。
``Up，infideldogwhenIcommandyou，’’saidPrinceJohn，``orIwillhavethyswarthyhidestriptoff，andtannedforhorse-furniture。’’
Thusurged，theJewbegantoascendthesteepandnarrowstepswhichleduptothegallery。
``Letmesee，’’saidthePrince，``whodarestophim，’’fixinghiseyeonCedric，whoseattitudeintimatedhisintentiontohurltheJewdownheadlong。
ThecatastrophewaspreventedbytheclownWamba，who，springingbetwixthismasterandIsaac，andexclaiming，inanswertothePrince’sdefiance，``Marry，thatwillI！’’opposedtothebeardoftheJewashieldofbrawn，whichhepluckedfrombeneathhiscloak，andwithwhich，doubtless，hehadfurnishedhimself，lestthetournamentshouldhaveprovedlongerthanhisappetitecouldendureabstinence。Findingtheabominationofhistribeopposedtohisverynose，whiletheJester，atthesametime，flourishedhiswoodenswordabovehishead，theJewrecoiled，missedhisfooting，androlleddownthesteps，——anexcellentjesttothespectators，whosetupaloudlaughter，inwhichPrinceJohnandhisattendantsheartilyjoined。
``Dealmetheprize，cousinPrince，’’saidWamba；
``Ihavevanquishedmyfoeinfairfightwithswordandshield，’’headded，brandishingthebrawninonehandandthewoodenswordintheother。
``Who，andwhatartthou，noblechampion?’’
saidPrinceJohn，stilllaughing。
``Afoolbyrightofdescent，’’answeredtheJester；``IamWamba，thesonofWitless，whowasthesonofWeatherbrain，whowasthesonofanAlderman。’’
``MakeroomfortheJewinfrontofthelowerring，’’saidPrinceJohn，notunwillingperhapsto，seizeanapologytodesistfromhisoriginalpurpose；
``toplacethevanquishedbesidethevictorwerefalseheraldry。’’
``Knaveuponfoolwereworse，’’answeredtheJester，``andJewuponbaconworstofall。’’
``Gramercy！goodfellow，’’criedPrinceJohn，``thoupleasestme——Here，Isaac，lendmeahandfulofbyzants。’’
AstheJew，stunnedbytherequest，afraidtorefuse，andunwillingtocomply，fumbledinthefurredbagwhichhungbyhisgirdle，andwasperhapsendeavouringtoascertainhowfewcoinsmightpassforahandful，thePrincestoopedfromhisjennetandsettledIsaac’sdoubtsbysnatchingthepouchitselffromhisside；andflingingtoWambaacoupleofthegoldpieceswhichitcontained，hepursuedhiscareerroundthelists，leavingtheJewtothederisionofthosearoundhim，andhimselfreceivingasmuchapplausefromthespectatorsasifhehaddonesomehonestandhonourableaction。
CHAPTERVIII
AtthisthechallengerwithfiercedefyHistrumpetsounds；thechallengedmakesreply：
Withclangourringsthefield，resoundsthevaultedsky。
Theirvisorsclosed，theirlancesintherest，Oratthehelmetpointedorthecrest，Theyvanishfromthebarrier，speedtherace，Andspurringseedecreasethemiddlespace。
_PalamonandArcite_。
InthemidstofPrinceJohn’scavalcade，hesuddenlystopt，andappealingtothePriorofJorvaulx，declaredtheprincipalbusinessofthedayhadbeenforgotten。
``Bymyhalidom，’’saidhe，``wehaveforgotten，SirPrior，tonamethefairSovereignofLoveandofBeauty，bywhosewhitehandthepalmistobedistributed。Formypart，Iamliberalinmyideas，andIcarenotifIgivemyvotefortheblack-eyedRebecca。’’
``HolyVirgin，’’answeredthePrior，turninguphiseyesinhorror，``aJewess！——Weshoulddeservetobestonedoutofthelists；andIamnotyetoldenoughtobeamartyr。Besides，Iswearbymypatronsaint，thatsheisfarinferiortothelovelySaxon，Rowena。’’
``SaxonorJew，’’answeredthePrince，``SaxonorJew，dogorhog，whatmattersit?Isay，nameRebecca，wereitonlytomortifytheSaxonchurls。’’
Amurmuraroseevenamonghisownimmediateattendants。
``Thispassesajest，mylord，’’saidDeBracy；
``noknightherewilllaylanceinrestifsuchaninsultisattempted。’’
``Itisthemerewantonnessofinsult，’’saidoneoftheoldestandmostimportantofPrinceJohn’sfollowers，WaldemarFitzurse，``andifyourGraceattemptit，cannotbutproveruinoustoyourprojects。’’
``Ientertainedyou，sir，’’saidJohn，reininguphispalfreyhaughtily，``formyfollower，butnotformycounsellor。’’
``ThosewhofollowyourGraceinthepathswhichyoutread，’’saidWaldemar，butspeakinginalowvoice，``acquiretherightofcounsellors；foryourinterestandsafetyarenotmoredeeplygagedthantheirown。’’
Fromthetoneinwhichthiswasspoken，Johnsawthenecessityofacquiescence``Ididbutjest，’’
hesaid；``andyouturnuponmelikesomanyadders！
Namewhomyouwill，inthefiend’sname，andpleaseyourselves。’’
``Nay，nay，’’saidDeBracy，``letthefairsovereign’sthroneremainunoccupied，untiltheconquerorshallbenamed，andthenlethimchoosetheladybywhomitshallbefilled。Itwilladdanothergracetohistriumph，andteachfairladiestoprizetheloveofvaliantknights，whocanexaltthemtosuchdistinction。’’
``IfBriandeBois-Guilbertgaintheprize，’’saidthePrior，``IwillgagemyrosarythatInametheSovereignofLoveandBeauty。’’
``Bois-Guilbert，’’answeredDeBracy，``isagoodlance；butthereareothersaroundtheselists，SirPrior，whowillnotfeartoencounterhim。’’
``Silence，sirs，’’saidWaldemar，``andletthePrinceassumehisseat。Theknightsandspectatorsarealikeimpatient，thetimeadvances，andhighlyfititisthatthesportsshouldcommence。’’
PrinceJohn，thoughnotyetamonarch，hadinWaldemarFitzursealltheinconveniencesofafavouriteminister，who，inservinghissovereign，mustalwaysdosoinhisownway。ThePrinceacquiesced，however，althoughhisdispositionwaspreciselyofthatkindwhichisapttobeobstinateupontrifles，and，assuminghisthrone，andbeingsurroundedbyhisfollowers，gavesignaltotheheraldstoproclaimthelawsofthetournament，whichwerebrieflyasfollows：
First，thefivechallengersweretoundertakeallcomers。
Secondly，anyknightproposingtocombat，might，ifhepleased，selectaspecialantagonistfromamongthechallengers，bytouchinghisshield。Ifhedidsowiththereverseofhislance，thetrialofskillwasmadewithwhatwerecalledthearmsofcourtesy，thatis，withlancesatwhoseextremityapieceofroundflatboardwasfixed，sothatnodangerwasencountered，savefromtheshockofthehorsesandriders。Butiftheshieldwastouchedwiththesharpendofthelance，thecombatwasunderstoodtobeat_outrance_，thatis，theknightsweretofightwithsharpweapons，asinactualbattle。
Thirdly，whentheknightspresenthadaccomplishedtheirvow，byeachofthembreakingfivelances，thePrincewastodeclarethevictorinthefirstday’stourney，whoshouldreceiveasprizeawarhorseofexquisitebeautyandmatchlessstrength；