aconductwhich，asmighthavebeenexpected，washighlyresentedbytheseinsulteddignitaries，andproducedfatalconsequencestotheEnglishdominationinIreland。ItisnecessarytokeeptheseinconsistenciesofJohn’scharacterinview，thatthereadermayunderstandhisconductduringthepresentevening。
Inexecutionoftheresolutionwhichhehadformedduringhiscoolermoments，PrinceJohnreceivedCedricandAthelstanewithdistinguishedcourtesy，andexpressedhisdisappointment，withoutresentment，whentheindispositionofRowenawasallegedbytheformerasareasonforhernotattendinguponhisgracioussummons。CedricandAthelstanewerebothdressedintheancientSaxongarb，which，althoughnotunhandsomeinitself，andinthepresentinstancecomposedofcostlymaterials，wassoremoteinshapeandappearancefromthatoftheotherguests，thatPrinceJohntookgreatcredittohimselfwithWaldemarFitzurseforrefrainingfromlaughteratasightwhichthefashionofthedayrenderedridiculous。Yet，intheeyeofsoberjudgment，theshortclosetunicandlongmantleoftheSaxonswasamoregraceful，aswellasamoreconvenientdress，thanthegarboftheNormans，whoseundergarmentwasalongdoublet，solooseastoresembleashirtorwaggoner’sfrock，coveredbyacloakofscantydimensions，neitherfittodefendthewearerfromcoldorfromrain，andtheonlypurposeofwhichappearedtobetodisplayasmuchfur，embroidery，andjewellerywork，astheingenuityofthetailorcouldcontrivetolayuponit。TheEmperorCharlemagne，inwhosereigntheywerefirstintroduced，seemstohavebeenverysensibleoftheinconveniencesarisingfromthefashionofthisgarment。``InHeaven’sname，’’saidhe，``towhatpurposeservetheseabridgedcloaks?Ifweareinbedtheyarenocover，onhorsebacktheyarenoprotectionfromthewindandrain，andwhenseated，theydonotguardourlegsfromthedamporthefrost。’’
Nevertheless，spiteofthisimperialobjurgation，theshortcloakscontinuedinfashiondowntothetimeofwhichwetreat，andparticularlyamongtheprincesoftheHouseofAnjou。TheywerethereforeinuniversaluseamongPrinceJohn’scourtiers；
andthelongmantle，whichformedtheuppergarmentoftheSaxons，washeldinproportionalderision。
Theguestswereseatedatatablewhichgroanedunderthequantityofgoodcheer。ThenumerouscookswhoattendedonthePrince’sprogress，havingexertedalltheirartinvaryingtheformsinwhichtheordinaryprovisionswereservedup，hadsucceededalmostaswellasthemodernprofessorsoftheculinaryartinrenderingthemperfectlyunliketheirnaturalappearance。Besidesthesedishesofdomesticorigin，therewerevariousdelicaciesbroughtfromforeignparts，andaquantityofrichpastry，aswellasofthesimnel-breadandwastlecakes，whichwereonlyusedatthetablesofthehighestnobility。Thebanquetwascrownedwiththerichestwines，bothforeignanddomestic。
But，thoughluxurious，theNormannobleswerenotgenerallyspeakinganintemperaterace。Whileindulgingthemselvesinthepleasuresofthetable，theyaimedatdelicacy，butavoidedexcess，andwereapttoattributegluttonyanddrunkennesstothevanquishedSaxons，asvicespeculiartotheirinferiorstation。PrinceJohn，indeed，andthosewhocourtedhispleasurebyimitatinghisfoibles，wereapttoindulgetoexcessinthepleasuresofthetrencherandthegoblet；andindeeditiswellknownthathisdeathwasoccasionedbyasurfeituponpeachesandnewale。Hisconduct，however，wasanexceptiontothegeneralmannersofhiscountrymen。
Withslygravity，interruptedonlybyprivatesignstoeachother，theNormanknightsandnoblesbeheldtheruderdemeanourofAthelstaneandCedricatabanquet，totheformandfashionofwhichtheywereunaccustomed。Andwhiletheirmannerswerethusthesubjectofsarcasticobservation，theuntaughtSaxonsunwittinglytransgressedseveralofthearbitraryrulesestablishedfortheregulationofsociety。Now，itiswellknown，thatamanmaywithmoreimpunitybeguiltyofanactualbreacheitherofrealgoodbreedingorofgoodmorals，thanappearignorantofthemostminutepointoffashionableetiquette。ThusCedric，whodriedhishandswithatowel，insteadofsufferingthemoisturetoexhalebywavingthemgracefullyintheair，incurredmoreridiculethanhiscompanionAthelstane，whenheswallowedtohisownsinglesharethewholeofalargepastycomposedofthemostexquisiteforeigndelicacies，andtermedatthattimea_Karum-Pie_。When，however，itwasdiscovered，byaseriouscross-examination，thattheThaneofConingsburghorFranklin，astheNormanstermedhimhadnoideawhathehadbeendevouring，andthathehadtakenthecontentsoftheKarum-pieforlarksandpigeons，whereastheywereinfactbeccaficoesandnightingales，hisignorancebroughthiminforanampleshareoftheridiculewhichwouldhavebeenmorejustlybestowedonhisgluttony。
Thelongfeasthadatlengthitsend；and，whilethegobletcirculatedfreely，mentalkedofthefeatsoftheprecedingtournament，——oftheunknownvictorinthearcherygames，oftheBlackKnight，whoseself-denialhadinducedhimtowithdrawfromthehonourshehadwon，——andofthegallantIvanhoe，whohadsodearlyboughtthehonoursoftheday。Thetopicsweretreatedwithmilitaryfrankness，andthejestandlaughwentroundthehall。ThebrowofPrinceJohnalonewasovercloudedduringthesediscussions；someoverpoweringcareseemedagitatinghismind，anditwasonlywhenhereceivedoccasionalhintsfromhisattendants，thatheseemedtotakeinterestinwhatwaspassingaroundhim。Onsuchoccasionshewouldstartup，quaffacupofwineasiftoraisehisspirits，andthenmingleintheconversationbysomeobservationmadeabruptlyoratrandom。
``Wedrinkthisbeaker，’’saidhe，``tothehealthofWilfredofIvanhoe，championofthisPassageofArms，andgrievethathiswoundrendershimabsentfromourboard——Letallfilltothepledge，andespeciallyCedricofRotherwood，theworthyfatherofasonsopromising。’’
``No，mylord，’’repliedCedric，standingup，andplacingonthetablehisuntastedcup，``Iyieldnotthenameofsontothedisobedientyouth，whoatoncedespisesmycommands，andrelinquishesthemannersandcustomsofhisfathers。’’
``’Tisimpossible，’’criedPrinceJohn，withwell-feignedastonishment，``thatsogallantaknightshouldbeanunworthyordisobedientson！’’
``Yet，mylord，’’answeredCedric，``soitiswiththisWilfred。Heleftmyhomelydwellingtominglewiththegaynobilityofyourbrother’scourt，wherehelearnedtodothosetricksofhorsemanshipwhichyouprizesohighly。Heleftitcontrarytomywishandcommand；andinthedaysofAlfredthatwouldhavebeentermeddisobedience——
ay，andacrimeseverelypunishable。’’
``Alas！’’repliedPrinceJohn，withadeepsighofaffectedsympathy，``sinceyoursonwasafollowerofmyunhappybrother，itneednotbeenquiredwhereorfromwhomhelearnedthelessonoffilialdisobedience。’’
ThusspakePrinceJohn，wilfullyforgetting，thatofallthesonsofHenrytheSecond，thoughnoonewasfreefromthecharge，hehimselfhadbeenmostdistinguishedforrebellionandingratitudetohisfather。
``Ithink，’’saidbe，afteramoment’spause，``thatmybrotherproposedtoconferuponhisfavouritetherichmanorofIvanhoe。’’
``Hedidendowhimwithit，’’answeredCedric；
``norisitmyleastquarrelwithmyson，thathestoopedtohold，asafeudalvassal，theverydomainswhichhisfatherspossessedinfreeandindependentright。’’
``Weshallthenhaveyourwillingsanction，goodCedric，’’saidPrinceJohn，``toconferthisfiefuponapersonwhosedignitywillnotbediminishedbyholdinglandoftheBritishcrown——SirReginaldFront-de-Buf，’’hesaid，turningtowardsthatBaron，``ItrustyouwillsokeepthegoodlyBaronyofIvanhoe，thatSirWilfredshallnotincurhisfather’sfartherdispleasurebyagainenteringuponthatfief。’’
``ByStAnthony！’’answeredtheblack-brow’dgiant，``IwillconsentthatyourhighnessshallholdmeaSaxon，ifeitherCedricorWilfred，orthebestthateverboreEnglishblood，shallwrenchfrommethegiftwithwhichyourhighnesshasgracedme。’’
``WhoevershallcalltheeSaxon，SirBaron，’’repliedCedric，offendedatamodeofexpressionbywhichtheNormansfrequentlyexpressedtheirhabitualcontemptoftheEnglish，``willdotheeanhonourasgreatasitisundeserved。’’
Front-de-Bufwouldhavereplied，butPrinceJohn’spetulanceandlevitygotthestart。
``Assuredly，’’saidbe，``mylords，thenobleCedricspeakstruth；andhisracemayclaimprecedenceoverusasmuchinthelengthoftheirpedigreesasinthelongitudeoftheircloaks。’’
``Theygobeforeusindeedinthefield——asdeerbeforedogs，’’saidMalvoisin。
``Andwithgoodrightmaytheygobeforeus——
forgetnot，’’saidthePriorAymer，``thesuperiordecencyanddecorumoftheirmanners。’’
``Theirsingularabstemiousnessandtemperance，’’
saidDeBracy，forgettingtheplanwhichpromisedhimaSaxonbride。
``Togetherwiththecourageandconduct，’’saidBriandeBois-Guilbert，``bywhichtheydistinguishedthemselvesatHastingsandelsewhere。’’
While，withsmoothandsmilingcheek，thecourtiers，eachinturn，followedtheirPrince’sexample，andaimedashaftofridiculeatCedric，thefaceoftheSaxonbecameinflamedwithpassion，andheglancedhiseyesfiercelyfromonetoanother，asifthequicksuccessionofsomanyinjurieshadpreventedhisreplyingtotheminturn；or，likeabaitedbull，who，surroundedbyhistormentors，isatalosstochoosefromamongthemtheimmediateobjectofhisrevenge。Atlengthhespoke，inavoicehalfchokedwithpassion；and，addressinghimselftoPrinceJohnastheheadandfrontoftheoffencewhichhehadreceived，``Whatever，’’hesaid，``havebeenthefolliesandvicesofourrace，aSaxonwouldhavebeenheld_nidering_，’’*themostemphatic*Therewasnothingaccountedsoignominiousamongthe*Saxonsastomeritthisdisgracefulepithet。EvenWilliamthe*Conqueror，hatedashewasbythem，continuedtodrawaconsiderable*armyofAnglo-Saxonstohisstandard，bythreatening*tostigmatizethosewhostaidathome，asnidering。Bartholinus，*Ithink，mentionsasimilarphrasewhichhadlikeinfluenceon*theDanes。L。T。
termforabjectworthlessness，``whoshouldinhisownhall，andwhilehisownwine-cuppassed，havetreated，orsufferedtobetreated，anunoffendingguestasyourhighnesshasthisdaybeheldmeused；andwhateverwasthemisfortuneofourfathersonthefieldofHastings，thosemayatleastbesilent，’’herehelookedatFront-de-BufandtheTemplar，``whohavewithinthesefewhoursonceandagainlostsaddleandstirrupbeforethelanceofaSaxon。’’
``Bymyfaith，abitingjest！’’saidPrinceJohn。
``Howlikeyouit，sirs?——OurSaxonsubjectsriseinspiritandcourage；becomeshrewdinwit，andboldinbearing，intheseunsettledtimes——Whatsayye，mylords?——Bythisgoodlight，Iholditbesttotakeourgalleys，andreturntoNormandyintime。’’
``ForfearoftheSaxons?’’saidDeBracy，laughing；
``weshouldneednoweaponbutourhuntingspearstobringtheseboarstobay。’’