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。’’
SomethingIhavelearned，andsomethingIhavedone，nobleKing，’’answeredthecelebratedBlondel，witharetiringmodesty，whichallRichard’senthusiasticadmirationofhisskillhadbeenunabletobanish。
Wewillhearthee，man-wewillheartheeinstantly，’’
saidtheKing；-then，touchingBlondel’sshoulderkindly，headded，thatis，ifthouartnotfatiguedwiththyjourney；forIwouldsoonerridemybesthorsetodeath，thaninjureanoteofthyvoice。’’
Myvoiceis，asever，attheserviceofmyroyalpatron，’’
saidBlondel；butyourMajesty，’’headded，lookingatsomepapersonthetable，`seemsmoreimportantlyengaged，andthehourwaxeslate。’’
Notawhit，man，notawhit，mydearestBlondel。IdidbutsketchanarrayofbattleagainsttheSaracens，athingofamoment-almostassoondoneastheroutingofthem。’’
Methinks，however，’’saidThomasdeVaux，itwerenotunfittoinquirewhatsoldiersyourGracehathtoarray。IbringreportsonthatsubjectfromAscalon。’’
Thouartamule，Thomas，’’saidtheKing-averymulefordulnessandobstinacy！-Come，nobles-ahall-ahall！-
rangeyearoundhim-GiveBlondelthetabouret-Whereishisharp-bearer？-or，soft-lendhimmyharp，hisownmaybedamagedbythejourney。’’
IwouldyourGracewouldtakemyreport，’’saidThomasdeVaux。Ihaveriddenfar，andhavemorelisttomybedthantohavemyearstickled。’’
_Thy_earstickled！’’saidtheKing；thatmustbewithawoodcock’sfeather，andnotwithsweetsounds。Harkthee，Thomas，dothineearsknowthesingingofBlondelfromthebrayingofanass？’’
Infaith，myliege，’’repliedThomas，Icannotwellsay；
butsettingBlondeloutofthequestion，whoisaborngentleman，anddoubtlessofhighacquirements，Ishallnever，forthesakeofyourGrace’squestion，lookonaminstrel，butIshallthinkuponanass。’’
Andmightnotyourmanners，’’saidRichard，haveexceptedme，whoamagentlemanbornaswellasBlondel，and，likehim，aguild-brotheroftheJoyeusescience？’’
YourGraceshouldremember，’’saidDeVaux，smiling，that’tisuselessaskingformannersfromamule。’’
Mosttrulyspoken，’’saidtheKing；andanill-conditionedanimalthouart-Butcomehither，mastermule，andbeunloaded，thatthoumay’stgettheetothylitter，withoutanymusicbeingwastedonthee-Meantime，dothou，goodbrotherofSalisbury，gotoourconsort’stent，andtellherthatBlondelhasarrived，withhisbudgetfraughtwiththenewestminstrelsy-Bidhercomehitherinstantly，and。dothouescorther，andseethatourcousin，EdithPlantagenet，remainnotbehind。’’
HiseyethenrestedforamomentontheNubian，withthatexpressionofdoubtfulmeaning，whichhiscountenanceusuallydisplayedwhenhelookedathim。
Ha，oursilentandsecretmessengerreturned？-Standup，slave，behindthebackofDeNeville，andthoushalthearpresentlysoundswhichwillmaketheeblessGodthatheafflictedtheeratherwithdumbnessthandeafness。’’
Sosaying，heturnedfromtherestofthecompanytowardsDeVaux，andplungedimmediatelyintothemilitarydetailswhichthatbaronlaidbeforehim。
AboutthetimethattheLordofGilslandhadfinishedhisaudience，amessengerannouncedthattheQueenandherattendantswereapproachingtheroyaltent-Aflaskofwine，ho！’’saidtheKing；ofoldKingIsaac’slong-savedCyprus，whichwewonwhenwestormedFamagosta-filltothestoutLordofGilsland，gentles-amorecarefulandfaithfulservantneverhadanyprince。’’
Iamglad，’’saidThomasdeVaux，thatyourGracefindsthemuleausefulslave，thoughhisvoicebelessmusicalthanhorse-hairorwire。’’
What，thoucanstnotyetdigestthatquipofthemule？’’
saidRichard。Washitdownwithabrimmingflagon，man，orthouwiltchokeuponit-Why，so-wellpulled！-andnowIwilltellthee，thouartasoldieraswellasI，andwemustbrookeachother’sjestsinthehall，aseachother’sblowsinthetourney，andloveeachothertheharderwehit。Bymyfaith，ifthoudidstnothitmeashardasIdidtheeinourlateencounter，thougavestallthywittothethrust。ButhereliesthedifferencebetwixttheeandBlondel。Thouartbutmycomrade-
Imightsaymypupil-intheartofwar；Blondelismymasterinthescienceofminstrelsyandmusic。TotheeIpermitthefreedomofintimacy-tohimImustdoreverence，astomysuperiorinhisart。Come，man，benotpeevish，butremainandhearourglee。’’
ToseeyourMajestyinsuchcheerfulmood，’’saidtheLordofGilsland，bymyfaith，IcouldremaintillBlondelhadachievedthegreatRomanceofKingArthur，whichlastsforthreedays。’’
Wewillnottaxyourpatiencesodeeply，’’saidtheKing。
Butseeyonderglareoftorcheswithoutshowsthatourconsortapproaches-Awaytoreceiveher，man，andwinthyselfgraceinthebrightesteyesofChristendom-Nay，neverstoptoadjustthycloak。See，thouhastletNevillecomebetweenthewindandthesailsofthygalley。’’
Hewasneverbeforemeinthefieldofbattle，’’saidDeVaux，notgreatlypleasedtoseehimselfanticipatedbythemoreactiveserviceofthechamberlain。
No，neitherhenoranyonewentbeforetheethere，mygoodTomoftheGills，’’saidtheKing，unlessitwasourselfnowandthen。’’
Ay，myliege，’’saidDeVaux，andletusdojusticetotheunfortunate；-theunhappyKnightoftheLeopardhathbeenbeforeme，too，ataseason；for，lookyou，heweighslessonhorseback，andso’’-
Hush！’’saidtheKing，interruptinghiminaperemptorytone-notawordofhim，’’-andinstantlysteppedforwardtogreethisroyalconsort；andwhenhehaddoneso，hepresentedtoherBlondel，askingofminstrelsy，andhismasterinthegayscience。Berengaria，whowellknewthatherroyalhusband’spassionforpoetryandmusicalmostequalledhisappetiteforwarlikefame，andthatBlondelwashisespecialfavourite，tookanxiouscaretoreceivehimwithalltheflatteringdistinctionsduetoonewhomtheKingdelightedtohonour。Yetitwasevidentthat，thoughBlondelmadesuitablereturnstothecomplimentsshoweredonhimsomethingtooabundantlybytheroyalbeauty，heownedwithdeeperreverenceandmorehumblegratitudethesimpleandgracefulwelcomeofEdith，whosekindlygreetingappearedtohim，perhaps，sincereinproportiontoitsbrevityandsimplicity。
BoththeQueenandherroyalhusbandwereawareofthisdistinction，andRichard，seeinghisconsortsomewhatpiquedatthepreferenceassignedtohiscousin，bywhichperhapshehimselfdidnotfeelmuchgratified，saidinthehearingofboth，-Weminstrels，Berengaria，asthoumay’stseebythebearingofourmasterBlondel，paymorereverencetoaseverejudge，likeourkinswoman，thantoakindlypartialfriend，likethyself，whoiswillingtotakeourworthupontrust。’’
Edithwasmovedbythissarcasmofherroyalkinsman，andhesitatednottoreply，that，tobeaharshandseverejudge，wasnotanattributepropertoheraloneofallthePlantagenets。’’
Shehadperhapssaidmore，havingsometouchofthetemperofthathouse，which，derivingtheirnameandcognizancefromthelowlybroom_PlantaGenista_，assumedasanemblemofhumility，wereperhapsoneoftheproudestfamiliesthateverruledinEngland；buthereye，whenkindlinginherreply，suddenlycaughtthoseoftheNubian，althoughheendeavouredtoconcealhimselfbehindthenobleswhowerepresent，andshesunkuponaseat，turningsopale，thattheQueenBerengariadeemedherselfobligedtocallforwaterandessences，andtogothroughtheotherceremoniesappropriatetoalady’sswoon。
Richard，whobetterestimatedEdith’sstrengthofmind，calledtoBlondeltoassumehisseatandcommencehislay，declaringthatminstrelsywaswortheveryotherrecipetorecallaPlantagenettolife-Singus，’’hesaid，thatsongoftheBloodyVest，ofwhichthoudidstformerlygivemetheargument，ereIleftCyprus；thoumustbeperfectinitbythistime，or，asouryeomensay，thybowisbroken。’’