Butitdoesnotpleaseme，thouknave，’’saidCedric，``thatIshouldbemadetosupposeotherwisefortwohours，andsitheredevisingvengeanceagainstmyneighboursforwrongstheyhavenotdoneme。Itellthee，shacklesandtheprison-houseshallpunishthenextoffenceofthiskind。’’
Gurth，knowinghismaster’sirritabletemper，attemptednoexculpation；buttheJester，whocouldpresumeuponCedric’stolerance，byvirtueofhisprivilegesasafool，repliedforthemboth；``Introth，uncleCedric，youareneitherwisenorreasonableto-night。’’
`How，sir?’’saidhismaster；``youshalltotheporter’slodge，andtasteofthedisciplinethere，ifyougiveyourfoolerysuchlicense。’’
``Firstletyourwisdomtellme，’’saidWamba，``isitjustandreasonabletopunishonepersonforthefaultofanother?’’
``Certainlynot，fool，’’answeredCedric。
`ThenwhyshouldyoushacklepoorGurth，uncle，forthefaultofhisdogFangs?forIdarebeswornwelostnotaminutebytheway，whenwehadgotourherdtogether，whichFangsdidnotmanageuntilweheardthevesper-bell。’’
ThenhangupFangs，’’saidCedric，turninghastilytowardstheswineherd，ifthefaultishis，andgettheeanotherdog。’’
``Underfavour，uncle，’’saidtheJester，``thatwerestillsomewhatonthebow-handoffairjustice；
foritwasnofaultofFangsthathewaslameandcouldnotgathertheherd，butthefaultofthosethatstruckofftwoofhisfore-claws，anoperationforwhich，ifthepoorfellowhadbeenconsulted，hewouldscarcehavegivenhisvoice。’’
``Andwhodaredtolameananimalwhichbelongedtomybondsman?’’saidtheSaxon，kindlinginwrath。
``Marry，thatdidoldHubert，’’saidWamba，``SirPhilipdeMalvoisin’skeeperofthechase。
HecaughtFangsstrollingintheforest，andsaidhechasedthedeercontrarytohismaster’sright，aswardenofthewalk。’’
``ThefoulfiendtakeMalvoisin，’’answeredtheSaxon，``andhiskeeperboth！IwillteachthemthatthewoodwasdisforestedintermsofthegreatForestCharter。Butenoughofthis。Goto，knave，gotothyplace——andthou，Gurth，gettheeanotherdog，andshouldthekeeperdaretotouchit，Iwillmarhisarchery；thecurseofacowardonmyhead，ifIstrikenotofftheforefingerofhisrighthand！——
heshalldrawbowstringnomore——Icraveyourpardon，myworthyguests。Iambesetherewithneighboursthatmatchyourinfidels，SirKnight，inHolyLand。Butyourhomelyfareisbeforeyou；
feed，andletwelcomemakeamendsforhardfare。’’
Thefeast，however，whichwasspreadupontheboard，needednoapologiesfromthelordofthemansion。Swine’sflesh，dressedinseveralmodes，appearedonthelowerpartoftheboard，asalsothatoffowls，deer，goats，andhares，andvariouskindsoffish，togetherwithhugeloavesandcakesofbread，andsundryconfectionsmadeoffruitsandhoney。Thesmallersortsofwild-fowl，ofwhichtherewasabundance，werenotservedupinplatters，butbroughtinuponsmallwoodenspitsorbroaches，andofferedbythepagesanddomesticswhoborethem，toeachguestinsuccession，whocutfromthemsuchaportionashepleased。Besideeachpersonofrankwasplacedagobletofsilver；
thelowerboardwasaccommodatedwithlargedrinkinghorns。
Whentherepastwasabouttocommence，themajor-domo，orsteward，suddenlyraisinghiswand，saidaloud，——``Forbear！——PlacefortheLadyRowena。’’Aside-doorattheupperendofthehallnowopenedbehindthebanquettable，andRowena，followedbyfourfemaleattendants，enteredtheapartment。Cedric，thoughsurprised，andperhapsnotaltogetheragreeablyso，athiswardappearinginpubliconthisoccasion，hastenedtomeether，andtoconducther，withrespectfulceremony，totheelevatedseatathisownrighthand，appropriatedtotheladyofthemansion。Allstooduptoreceiveher；and，replyingtotheircourtesybyamutegestureofsalutation，shemovedgracefullyforwardtoassumeherplaceattheboard。Ereshehadtimetodoso，theTemplarwhisperedtothePrior，``Ishallwearnocollarofgoldofyoursatthetournament。TheChianwineisyourown。’’
``SaidInotso?’’answeredthePrior；``butcheckyourraptures，theFranklinobservesyou。’’
Unheedingthisremonstrance，andaccustomedonlytoactupontheimmediateimpulseofhisownwishes，BriandeBois-GuilbertkepthiseyesrivetedontheSaxonbeauty，morestrikingperhapstohisimagination，becausedifferingwidelyfromthoseoftheEasternsultanas。
Formedinthebestproportionsofhersex，Rowenawastallinstature，yetnotsomuchsoastoattractobservationonaccountofsuperiorheight。
Hercomplexionwasexquisitelyfair，butthenoblecastofherheadandfeaturespreventedtheinsipiditywhichsometimesattachestofairbeauties。Herclearblueeye，whichsateenshrinedbeneathagracefuleyebrowofbrownsufficientlymarkedtogiveexpressiontotheforehead，seemedcapabletokindleaswellasmelt，tocommandaswellastobeseech。
Ifmildnesswerethemorenaturalexpressionofsuchacombinationoffeatures，itwasplain，thatinthepresentinstance，theexerciseofhabitualsuperiority，andthereceptionofgeneralhomage，hadgiventotheSaxonladyaloftiercharacter，whichmingledwithandqualifiedthatbestowedbynature。Herprofusehair，ofacolourbetwixtbrownandflaxen，wasarrangedinafancifulandgracefulmannerinnumerousringlets，toformwhicharthadprobablyaidednature。Theselockswerebraidedwithgems，and，beingwornatfulllength，intimatedthenoblebirthandfree-bornconditionofthemaiden。Agoldenchain，towhichwasattachedasmallreliquaryofthesamemetal，hungroundherneck。Sheworebraceletsonherarms，whichwerebare。Herdresswasanunder-gownandkirtleofpalesea-greensilk，overwhichhungalonglooserobe，whichreachedtotheground，havingverywidesleeves，whichcamedown，however，verylittlebelowtheelbow。Thisrobewascrimson，andmanufacturedoutoftheveryfinestwool。Aveilofsilk，interwovenwithgold，wasattachedtotheupperpartofit，whichcouldbe，atthewearer’spleasure，eitherdrawnoverthefaceandbosomaftertheSpanishfashion，ordisposedasasortofdraperyroundtheshoulders。
WhenRowenaperceivedtheKnightTemplar’seyesbentonherwithanardour，that，comparedwiththedarkcavernsunderwhichtheymoved，gavethemtheeffectoflightedcharcoal，shedrewwithdignitytheveilaroundherface，asanintimationthatthedeterminedfreedomofhisglancewasdisagreeable。Cedricsawthemotionanditscause。``SirTemplar，’’saidhe，``thecheeksofourSaxonmaidenshaveseentoolittleofthesuntoenablethemtobearthefixedglanceofacrusader。’’
``IfIhaveoffended，’’repliedSirBrian，``Icraveyourpardon，——thatis，IcravetheLadyRowena’spardon，——formyhumilitywillcarrymenolower。’’
``TheLadyRowena，’’saidthePrior，``haspunishedusall，inchastisingtheboldnessofmyfriend。Letmehopeshewillbelesscrueltothesplendidtrainwhicharetomeetatthetournament。’’
``Ourgoingthither，’’saidCedric，``isuncertain。
Ilovenotthesevanities，whichwereunknowntomyfatherswhenEnglandwasfree。’’
``Letushope，nevertheless，’’saidthePrior，``ourcompanymaydetermineyoutotravelthitherward；
whentheroadsaresounsafe，theescortofSirBriandeBois-Guilbertisnottobedespised。’’
``SirPrior，’’answeredtheSaxon，``wheresoeverIhavetravelledinthisland，Ihavehithertofoundmyself，withtheassistanceofmygoodswordandfaithfulfollowers，innorespectneedfulofotheraid。Atpresent，ifweindeedjourneytoAshby-de-la-Zouche，wedosowithmynobleneighbourandcountrymanAthelstaneofConingsburgh，andwithsuchatrainaswouldsetoutlawsandfeudalenemiesatdefiance——Idrinktoyou，SirPrior，inthiscupofwine，whichItrustyourtastewillapprove，andIthankyouforyourcourtesy。Shouldyoubesorigidinadheringtomonasticrule，’’headded，``astopreferyouracidpreparationofmilk，Ihopeyouwillnotstraincourtesytodomereason。’’
``Nay，’’saidthePriest，laughing，``itisonlyinourabbeythatweconfineourselvestothe_lacdulce_
orthe_lacacidum_either。Conversingwith，theworld，weusetheworld’sfashions，andthereforeIansweryourpledgeinthishonestwine，andleavetheweakerliquortomylay-brother。’’
``AndI，’’saidtheTemplar，fillinghisgoblet，``drinkwassailtothefairRowena；forsincehernamesakeintroducedthewordintoEngland，hasneverbeenonemoreworthyofsuchatribute。Bymyfaith，IcouldpardontheunhappyVortigern，hadhehalfthecausethatwenowwitness，formakingshipwreckofhishonourandhiskingdom。’’
``Iwillspareyourcourtesy，SirKnight，’’saidRowenawithdignity，andwithoutunveilingherself；
``orratherIwilltaxitsofarastorequireofyouthelatestnewsfromPalestine，athememoreagreeabletoourEnglishearsthanthecomplimentswhichyourFrenchbreedingteaches。’’
``Ihavelittleofimportancetosay，lady，’’answeredSirBriandeBois-Guilbert，``exceptingtheconfirmedtidingsofatrucewithSaladin。’’
HewasinterruptedbyWamba，whohadtakenhisappropriatedseatuponachair，thebackofwhichwasdecoratedwithtwoass’sears，andwhichwasplacedabouttwostepsbehindthatofhismaster，who，fromtimetotime，suppliedhimwithvictualsfromhisowntrencher；afavour，however，whichtheJestersharedwiththefavouritedogs，ofwhom，aswehavealreadynoticed，therewereseveralinattendance。HeresatWamba，withasmalltablebeforehim，hisheelstuckedupagainstthebarofthechair，hischeekssuckedupsoastomakehisjawsresembleapairofnut-crackers，andhiseyeshalf-shut，yetwatchingwithalertnesseveryopportunitytoexercisehislicensedfoolery。
``Thesetruceswiththeinfidels，’’heexclaimed，withoutcaringhowsuddenlyheinterruptedthestatelyTemplar，``makeanoldmanofme！’’
``Goto，knave，howso?’’saidCedric，hisfeaturespreparedtoreceivefavourablytheexpectedjest。
``Because，’’answeredWamba，``Irememberthreeoftheminmyday，eachofwhichwastoendureforthecourseoffiftyyears；sothat，bycomputation，Imustbeatleastahundredandfiftyyearsold。’’
``Iwillwarrantyouagainstdyingofoldage，however，’’saidtheTemplar，whonowrecognisedhisfriendoftheforest；``Iwillassureyoufromalldeathsbutaviolentone，ifyougivesuchdirectionstowayfarers，asyoudidthisnighttothePriorandme。’’
``How，sirrah！’’saidCedric，``misdirecttravellers?
Wemusthaveyouwhipt；youareatleastasmuchrogueasfool。’’
``Ipraythee，uncle，’’answeredtheJester，``letmyfolly，foronce，protectmyroguery。Ididbutmakeamistakebetweenmyrighthandandmyleft；andhemighthavepardonedagreater，whotookafoolforhiscounsellorandguide。’’
Conversationwashereinterruptedbytheentranceoftheporter’spage，whoannouncedthattherewasastrangeratthegate，imploringadmittanceandhospitality，``Admithim，’’saidCedric，``behewhoorwhathemay；——anightlikethatwhichroarswithout，compelsevenwildanimalstoherdwithtame，andtoseektheprotectionofman，theirmortalfoe，ratherthanperishbytheelements。Lethiswantsbeministeredtowithallcare——looktoit，Oswald。’’
Andthestewardleftthebanquetinghalltoseethecommandsofhispatronobeyed。
CHAPTERV