``Atrucewithyourraillery，SirKnights，’’saidFitzurse；——``anditwerewell，’’headded，addressingthePrince，``thatyourhighnessshouldassuretheworthyCedricthereisnoinsultintendedhimbyjests，whichmustsoundbutharshlyintheearofastranger。’’
``Insult?’’answeredPrinceJohn，resuminghiscourtesyofdemeanour；``ItrustitwillnotbethoughtthatIcouldmean，orpermitany，tobeofferedinmypresence。Here！IfillmycuptoCedrichimself，sinceherefusestopledgehisson’shealth。’’
Thecupwentroundamidthewell-dissembledapplauseofthecourtiers，which，however，failedtomaketheimpressiononthemindoftheSaxonthathadbeendesigned。Hewasnotnaturallyacuteofperception，butthosetoomuchundervaluedhisunderstandingwhodeemedthatthisflatteringcomplimentwouldobliteratethesenseofthepriorinsult。
Hewassilent，however，whentheroyalpledgeagainpassedround，``ToSirAthelstaneofConingsburgh。’’
Theknightmadehisobeisance，andshowedhissenseofthehonourbydrainingahugegobletinanswertoit。
``Andnow，sirs，’’saidPrinceJohn，whobegantobewarmedwiththewinewhichhehaddrank，``havingdonejusticetoourSaxonguests，wewillprayofthemsomerequitaltoourcourtesy——WorthyThane，’’hecontinued，addressingCedric，``mayweprayyoutonametoussomeNormanwhosementionmayleastsullyyourmouth，andtowashdownwithagobletofwineallbitternesswhichthesoundmayleavebehindit?’’
FitzursearosewhilePrinceJohnspoke，andglidingbehindtheseatoftheSaxon，whisperedtohimnottoomittheopportunityofputtinganendtounkindnessbetwixtthetworaces，bynamingPrinceJohn。TheSaxonrepliednottothispoliticinsinuation，but，risingup，andfillinghiscuptothebrim，beaddressedPrinceJohninthesewords：
``YourhighnesshasrequiredthatIshouldnameaNormandeservingtoberememberedatourbanquet。
This，perchance，isahardtask，sinceitcallsontheslavetosingthepraisesofthemaster——
uponthevanquished，whilepressedbyalltheevilsofconquest，tosingthepraisesoftheconqueror。
YetIwillnameaNorman——thefirstinarmsandinplace——thebestandthenoblestofhisrace。Andthelipsthatshallrefusetopledgemetohiswell-earnedfame，Itermfalseanddishonoured，andwillsomaintainthemwithmylife——IquaffthisgoblettothehealthofRichardtheLion-hearted！’’
PrinceJohn，whohadexpectedthathisownnamewouldhaveclosedtheSaxon’sspeech，startedwhenthatofhisinjuredbrotherwassounexpectedlyintroduced。Heraisedmechanicallythewine-cuptohislips，theninstantlysetitdown，toviewthedemeanourofthecompanyatthisunexpectedproposal，whichmanyofthemfeltitasunsafetoopposeastocomplywith。Someofthem，ancientandexperiencedcourtiers，closelyimitatedtheexampleofthePrincehimself，raisingthegoblettotheirlips，andagainreplacingitbeforethem。Thereweremanywho，withamoregenerousfeeling，exclaimed，``LongliveKingRichard！andmayhebespeedilyrestoredtous！’’Andsomefew，amongwhomwereFront-de-BufandtheTemplar，insullendisdainsufferedtheirgobletstostanduntastedbeforethem。Butnomanventureddirectlytogainsayapledgefilledtothehealthofthereigningmonarch。
Havingenjoyedhistriumphforaboutaminute，Cedricsaidtohiscompanion，``Up，nobleAthelstane！
wehaveremainedherelongenough，sincewehaverequitedthehospitablecourtesyofPrinceJohn’sbanquet。ThosewhowishtoknowfurtherofourrudeSaxonmannersmusthenceforthseekusinthehomesofourfathers，sincewehaveseenenoughofroyalbanquets，andenoughofNormancourtesy。’’
Sosaying，hearoseandleftthebanquetingroom，followedbyAthelstane，andbyseveralotherguests，who，partakingoftheSaxonlineage，heldthemselvesinsultedbythesarcasmsofPrinceJohnandhiscourtiers。
``BythebonesofStThomas，’’saidPrinceJohn，astheyretreated，``theSaxonchurlshaveborneoffthebestoftheday，andhaveretreatedwithtriumph！’’
``_Conclamatumest，poculatumest_，’’saidPriorAymer；``wehavedrunkandwehaveshouted，——
itweretimeweleftourwineflagons。’’
``Themonkhathsomefairpenitenttoshriveto-night，thatheisinsuchahurrytodepart，’’saidDeBracy。
``Notso，SirKnight，’’repliedtheAbbot；``butImustmoveseveralmilesforwardthiseveninguponmyhomewardjourney。’’
``Theyarebreakingup，’’saidthePrinceinawhispertoFitzurse；``theirfearsanticipatetheevent，andthiscowardPrioristhefirsttoshrinkfromme。’’
``Fearnot，mylord，’’saidWaldemar；``IwillshowhimsuchreasonsasshallinducehimtojoinuswhenweholdourmeetingatYork——SirPrior，’’
hesaid，``Imustspeakwithyouinprivate，beforeyoumountyourpalfrey。’’
Theotherguestswerenowfastdispersing，withtheexceptionofthoseimmediatelyattachedto，PrinceJohn’sfaction，andhisretinue。
``This，then，istheresultofyouradvice，’’saidthePrince，turninganangrycountenanceuponFitzurse；``thatIshouldbebeardedatmyownboardbyadrunkenSaxonchurl，andthat，onthemeresoundofmybrother’sname，menshouldfallofffrommeasifIhadtheleprosy?’’
``Havepatience，sir，’’repliedhiscounsellor；``I
mightretortyouraccusation，andblametheinconsideratelevitywhichfoiledmydesign，andmisledyourownbetterjudgment。Butthisisnotimeforrecrimination。DeBracyandIwillinstantlygoamongtheseshufflingcowards，andconvincethemtheyhavegonetoofartorecede。’’
``Itwillbeinvain，’’saidPrinceJohn，pacingtheapartmentwithdisorderedsteps，andexpressinghimselfwithanagitationtowhichthewinehehaddrankpartlycontributed——``Itwillbeinvain——theyhaveseenthehandwritingonthewall——
theyhavemarkedthepawofthelioninthesand——theyhaveheardhisapproachingroarshakethewood——nothingwillreanimatetheircourage。’’
``WouldtoGod，’’saidFitzursetoDeBracy，``thataughtcouldreanimatehisown！Hisbrother’sverynameisanaguetohim。UnhappyarethecounsellorsofaPrince，whowantsfortitudeandperseverancealikeingoodandinevil！’’
CHAPTERXV
Andyethethinks，——ha，ha，ha，ha，——hethinksIamthetoolandservantofhiswill。
Well，letitbe；throughallthemazeoftroubleHisplotsandbaseoppressionmustcreate，I’llshapemyselfawaytohigherthings，Andwhowillsay’tiswrong?
_Basil，aTragedy_。
Nospiderevertookmorepainstorepairtheshatteredmeshesofhisweb，thandidWaldemarFitzursetoreuniteandcombinethescatteredmembersofPrinceJohn’scabal。Fewofthesewereattachedtohimfrominclination，andnonefrompersonalregard。Itwasthereforenecessary，thatFitzurseshouldopentothemnewprospectsofadvantage，andremindthemofthosewhichtheyatpresentenjoyed。Totheyoungandwildnobles，heheldouttheprospectofunpunishedlicenseanduncontrolledrevelry；totheambitious，thatofpower，andtothecovetous，thatofincreasedwealthandextendeddomains。Theleadersofthemercenariesreceivedadonationingold；anargumentthemostpersuasivetotheirminds，andwithoutwhichallotherswouldhaveprovedinvain。Promiseswerestillmoreliberallydistributedthanmoneybythisactiveagent；and，infine，nothingwasleftundonethatcoulddeterminethewavering，oranimatethedisheartened。ThereturnofKingRichardhespokeofasaneventaltogetherbeyondthereachofprobability；yet，whenheobserved，fromthedoubtfullooksanduncertainanswerswhichhereceived，thatthiswastheapprehensionbywhichthemindsofhisaccomplicesweremosthaunted，heboldlytreatedthatevent，shoulditreallytakeplace，asonewhichoughtnottoaltertheirpoliticalcalculations。
``IfRichardreturns，’’saidFitzurse，``hereturnstoenrichhisneedyandimpoverishedcrusadersattheexpenseofthosewhodidnotfollowhimtotheHolyLand。Hereturnstocalltoafearfulreckoning，thosewho，duringhisabsence，havedoneaughtthatcanbeconstruedoffenceorencroachmentuponeitherthelawsofthelandortheprivilegesofthecrown。HereturnstoavengeupontheOrdersoftheTempleandtheHospital，thepreferencewhichtheyshowedtoPhilipofFranceduringthewarsintheHolyLand。Hereturns，infine，topunishasarebeleveryadherentofhisbrotherPrinceJohn。Areyeafraidofhispower?’’
continuedtheartfulconfidentofthatPrince，``weacknowledgehimastrongandvaliantknight；butthesearenotthedaysofKingArthur，whenachampioncouldencounteranarmy。IfRichardindeedcomesback，itmustbealone，——unfollowed——unfriended。ThebonesofhisgallantarmyhavewhitenedthesandsofPalestine。ThefewofhisfollowerswhohavereturnedhavestraggledhitherlikethisWilfredofIvanhoe，beggaredandbrokenmen——AndwhattalkyeofRichard’srightofbirth?’’heproceeded，inanswertothosewhoobjectedscruplesonthathead。``IsRichard’stitleofprimogenituremoredecidedlycertainthanthatofDukeRobertofNormandy，theConqueror’seldestson?AndyetWilliamtheRed，andHenry，hissecondandthirdbrothers，weresuccessivelypreferredtohimbythevoiceofthenation，RoberthadeverymeritwhichcanbepleadedforRichard；
hewasaboldknight，agoodleader，generoustohisfriendsandtothechurch，and，tocrownthewhole，acrusaderandaconqueroroftheHolySepulchre；
andyethediedablindandmiserableprisonerintheCastleofCardiff，becauseheopposedhimselftothewillofthepeople，whochosethatheshouldnotruleoverthem。Itisourright，’’hesaid，``tochoosefromthebloodroyaltheprincewhoisbestqualifiedtoholdthesupremepower——
thatis，’’saidhe，correctinghimself，``himwhoseelectionwillbestpromotetheinterestsofthenobility。
Inpersonalqualifications，’’headded，``itwaspossiblethatPrinceJohnmightbeinferiortohisbrotherRichard；butwhenitwasconsideredthatthelatterreturnedwiththeswordofvengeanceinhishand，whiletheformerheldoutrewards，immunities，privileges，wealth，andhonours，itcouldnotbedoubtedwhichwasthekingwhominwisdomthenobilitywerecalledontosupport。’’
These，andmanymorearguments，someadaptedtothepeculiarcircumstancesofthosewhomheaddressed，hadtheexpectedweightwiththenoblesofPrinceJohn’sfaction。MostofthemconsentedtoattendtheproposedmeetingatYork，forthepurposeofmakinggeneralarrangementsforplacingthecrownupontheheadofPrinceJohn。
Itwaslateatnight，when，wornoutandexhaustedwithhisvariousexertions，howevergratifiedwiththeresult，Fitzurse，returningtotheCastleofAshby，metwithDeBracy，whohadexchangedhisbanquetinggarmentsforashortgreenkittle，withhoseofthesameclothandcolour，aleatherncaporhead-piece，ashortsword，ahornslungoverhisshoulder，alongbowinhishand，andabundleofarrowsstuckinhisbelt。HadFitzursemetthisfigureinanouterapartment，hewouldhavepassedhimwithoutnotice，asoneoftheyeomenoftheguard；butfindinghimintheinnerhall，helookedathimwithmoreattention，andrecognisedtheNormanknightinthedressofanEnglishyeoman。
``Whatmummeryisthis，DeBracy?’’saidFitzurse，somewhatangrily；``isthisatimeforChristmasgambolsandquaintmaskings，whenthefateofourmaster，PrinceJohn，isontheveryvergeofdecision?
Whyhastthounotbeen，likeme，amongtheseheartlesscravens，whomtheverynameofKingRichardterrifies，asitissaidtodothechildrenoftheSaracens?’