see，heisagainabouttogouptobattleagainstthePhilistine——Pray，child——prayforthesafetyofthegoodyouth，——andofthespeedyhorse，andthericharmour——Godofmyfathers！’’heagainexclaimed，``hehathconquered，andtheuncircumcisedPhilistinehathfallenbeforehislance，——evenasOgtheKingofBashan，andSihon，KingoftheAmorites，fellbeforetheswordofourfathers！——Surelyheshalltaketheirgoldandtheirsilver，andtheirwar-horses，andtheirarmourofbrassandofsteel，forapreyandforaspoil。’’
　　ThesameanxietydidtheworthyJewdisplayduringeverycoursethatwasrun，seldomfailingtohazardahastycalculationconcerningthevalueofthehorseandarmourwhichwasforfeitedtothechampionuponeachnewsuccess。TherehadbeenthereforenosmallinteresttakeninthesuccessoftheDisinheritedKnight，bythosewhooccupiedthepartofthelistsbeforewhichhenowpaused。
　　Whetherfromindecision，orsomeothermotiveofhesitation，thechampionofthedayremainedstationaryformorethanaminute，whiletheeyesofthesilentaudiencewereriveteduponhismotions；
　　andthen，graduallyandgracefullysinkingthepointofhislance，hedepositedthecoronetWhichitsupportedatthefeetofthefairRowena。
　　Thetrumpetsinstantlysounded，whiletheheraldsproclaimedtheLadyRowenatheQueenofBeautyandofLovefortheensuingday，menacingwithsuitablepenaltiesthosewhoshouldbedisobedienttoherauthority。TheythenrepeatedtheircryofLargesse，towhichCedric，intheheightofhisjoy，repliedbyanampledonative，andtowhichAthelstane，thoughlesspromptly，addedoneequallylarge。
　　TherewassomemurmuringamongthedamselsofNormandescent，whowereasmuchunusedtoseethepreferencegiventoaSaxonbeauty，astheNormannoblesweretosustaindefeatinthegamesofchivalrywhichtheythemselveshadintroduced。
　　Butthesesoundsofdisaffectionweredrownedbythepopularshoutof``LonglivetheLadyRowena，thechosenandlawfulQueenofLoveandofBeauty！’’
　　Towhichmanyinthelowerareaadded，``LonglivetheSaxonPrincess！longlivetheraceoftheimmortalAlfred！’’
　　HoweverunacceptablethesesoundsmightbetoPrinceJohn，andtothosearoundhim，hesawhimselfneverthelessobligedtoconfirmthenominationofthevictor，andaccordinglycallingtohorse，helefthisthrone；andmountinghisjennet，accompaniedbyhistrain，heagainenteredthelists。
　　ThePrincepausedamomentbeneaththegalleryoftheLadyAlicia，towhomhepaidhiscompliments，observing，atthesametime，tothosearoundhim——``Bymyhalidome，sirs！iftheKnight’sfeatsinarmshaveshownthathehathlimbsandsinews，hischoicehathnolessprovedthathiseyesarenoneoftheclearest。’’
　　Itwasonthisoccasion，asduringhiswholelife，John’smisfortune，notperfectlytounderstandthecharactersofthosewhomhewishedtoconciliate。
　　WaldemarFitzursewasratheroffendedthanpleasedatthePrincestatingthusbroadlyanopinion，thathisdaughterhadbeenslighted。
　　``Iknownorightofchivalry，’’hesaid，``morepreciousorinalienablethanthatofeachfreeknighttochoosehislady-lovebyhisownjudgment。Mydaughtercourtsdistinctionfromnoone；andinherowncharacter，andinherownsphere，willneverfailtoreceivethefullproportionofthatwhichisherdue。’’
　　PrinceJohnrepliednot；but，spurringhishorse，asiftogiveventtohisvexation，hemadetheanimalboundforwardtothegallerywhereRowenawasseated，withthecrownstillatherfeet。
　　``Assume，’’hesaid，``fairlady，themarkofyoursovereignty，towhichnonevowshomagemoresincerelythanourself，JohnofAnjou；andifitpleaseyouto-day，withyournoblesireandfriends，tograceourbanquetintheCastleofAshby，weshalllearntoknowtheempresstowhoseservicewedevoteto-morrow。’’
　　Rowenaremainedsilent，andCedricansweredforherinhisnativeSaxon。
　　``TheLadyRowena，’’hesaid，``possessesnotthelanguageinwhichtoreplytoyourcourtesy，ortosustainherpartinyourfestival。Ialso，andthenobleAthelstaneofConingsburgh，speakonlythelanguage，andpractiseonlythemanners，ofourfathers。WethereforedeclinewiththanksyourHighness’scourteousinvitationtothebanquet。
　　To-morrow，theLadyRowenawilltakeuponherthestatetowhichshehasbeencalledbythefreeelectionofthevictorKnight，confirmedbytheacclamationsofthepeople。’’
　　Sosaying，heliftedthecoronet，andplacedituponRowena’shead，intokenofheracceptanceofthetemporaryauthorityassignedtoher。
　　``Whatsayshe?’’saidPrinceJohn，affectingnottounderstandtheSaxonlanguage，inwhich，however，hewaswellskilled。ThepurportofCedric’sspeechwasrepeatedtohiminFrench。``Itiswell，’’hesaid；``to-morrowwewillourselfconductthismutesovereigntoherseatofdignity——
　　You，atleast，SirKnight，’’headded，turningtothevictor，whohadremainednearthegallery，``willthisdayshareourbanquet?’’
　　TheKnight，speakingforthefirsttime，inalowandhurriedvoice，excusedhimselfbypleadingfatigue，andthenecessityofpreparingforto-morrow’sencounter。
　　``Itiswell，’’saidPrinceJohn，haughtily；``althoughunusedtosuchrefusals，wewillendeavourtodigestourbanquetaswemay，thoughungracedbythemostsuccessfulinarms，andhiselectedQueenofBeauty。’’
　　Sosaying，hepreparedtoleavethelistswithhisglitteringtrain，andhisturninghissteedforthatpurpose，wasthesignalforthebreakingupanddispersionofthespectators。
　　Yet，withthevindictivememorypropertooffendedpride，especiallywhencombinedwithconsciouswantofdesert，Johnhadhardlyproceededthreepaces，ereagain，turningaround，hefixedaneyeofsternresentmentupontheyeomanwhohaddispleasedhimintheearlypartoftheday，andissuedhiscommandstothemen-at-armswhostoodnear——``Onyourlife，suffernotthatfellowtoescape。’’
　　TheyeomanstoodtheangryglanceofthePrincewiththesameunvariedsteadinesswhichhadmarkedhisformerdeportment，saying，withasmile，``I
　　havenointentiontoleaveAshbyuntilthedayafterto-morrow——ImustseehowStaffordshireandLeicestershirecandrawtheirbows——theforestsofNeedwoodandCharnwoodmustreargoodarchers。’’
　　``l，’’saidPrinceJohntohisattendants，butnotindirectreply，——``Iwillseehowhecandrawhisown；andwoebetidehimunlesshisskillshouldprovesomeapologyforhisinsolence！’’
　　``Itisfulltime，’’saidDeBracy，``thatthe_outrecuidance_*
　　*Presumption，insolence。
　　ofthesepeasantsshouldberestrainedbysomestrikingexample。’’
　　WaldemarFitzurse，whoprobablythoughthispatronwasnottakingthereadiestroadtopopularity，shruggeduphisshouldersandwassilent。
　　PrinceJohnresumedhisretreatfromthelists，andthedispersionofthemultitudebecamegeneral。
　　Invariousroutes，accordingtothedifferentquartersfromwhichtheycame，andingroupsofvariousnumbers，thespectatorswereseenretiringovertheplain。ByfarthemostnumerouspartstreamedtowardsthetownofAshby，wheremanyofthedistinguishedpersonswerelodgedinthecastle，andwhereothersfoundaccommodationinthetownitself。Amongtheseweremostoftheknightswhohadalreadyappearedinthetournament，orwhoproposedtofighttheretheensuingday，andwho，astheyrodeslowlyalong，talkingovertheeventsoftheday，weregreetedwithloudshoutsbythepopulace。ThesameacclamationswerebestoweduponPrinceJohn，althoughhewasindebtedforthemrathertothesplendourofhisappearanceandtrain，thantothepopularityofhischaracter。
　　Amoresincereandmoregeneral，aswellasabetter-meritedacclamation，attendedthevictoroftheday，until，anxioustowithdrawhimselffrompopularnotice，heacceptedtheaccommodationofoneofthosepavilionspitchedattheextremitiesofthelists，theuseofwhichwascourteouslytenderedhimbythemarshalsofthefield。Onhisretiringtohistent，manywhohadlingeredinthelists，tolookuponandformconjecturesconcerninghim，alsodispersed。
　　Thesignsandsoundsofatumultuousconcourseofmenlatelycrowdedtogetherinoneplace，andagitatedbythesamepassingevents，werenowexchangedforthedistanthumofvoicesofdifferentgroupsretreatinginalldirections，andthesespeedilydiedawayinsilence。Noothersoundswereheardsavethevoicesofthemenialswhostrippedthegalleriesoftheircushionsandtapestry，inordertoputtheminsafetyforthenight，andwrangledamongthemselvesforthehalf-usedbottlesofwineandrelicsoftherefreshmentwhichhadbeenservedroundtothespectators。
　　Beyondtheprecinctsofthelistsmorethanoneforgewaserected；andthesenowbegantoglimmerthroughthetwilight，announcingthetoilofthearmourers，whichwastocontinuethroughthewholenight，inordertorepairoralterthesuitsofarmourtobeusedagainonthemorrow。
　　Astrongguardofmen-at-arms，renewedatintervals，fromtwohourstotwohours，surroundedthelists，andkeptwatchduringthenight。
　　CHAPTERX
　　Thus，likethesadpresagingraven，thattollsThesickman’spassportinherhollowbeak，AndintheshadowofthesilentnightDothshakecontagionfromhersablewings；
　　Vex’dandtormented，runspoorBarrabas，WithfatalcursestowardstheseChristians。
　　_JewofMalta_。
　　TheDisinheritedKnighthadnosoonerreachedhispavilion，thansquiresandpagesinabundancetenderedtheirservicestodisarmhim，tobringfreshattire，andtoofferhimtherefreshmentofthebath。
　　Theirzealonthisoccasionwasperhapssharpenedbycuriosity，sinceeveryonedesiredtoknowwhotheknightwasthathadgainedsomanylaurels，yethadrefused，evenatthecommandofPrinceJohn，tolifthisvisorortonamehisname。Buttheirofficiousinquisitivenesswasnotgratified。TheDisinheritedKnightrefusedallotherassistancesavethatofhisownsquire，orratheryeoman——aclownish-lookingman，who，wraptinacloakofdark-colouredfelt，andhavinghisheadandfacehalf-buriedinaNormanbonnetmadeofblackfur，seemedtoaffecttheincognitoasmuchashismaster。
　　Allothersbeingexcludedfromthetent，thisattendantrelievedhismasterfromthemoreburdensomepartsofhisarmour，andplacedfoodandwinebeforehim，whichtheexertionsofthedayrenderedveryacceptable。
　　TheKnighthadscarcelyfinishedahastymeal，erehismenialannouncedtohimthatfivemen，eachleadingabarbedsteed，desiredtospeakwithhim。
　　TheDisinheritedKnighthadexchangedhisarmourforthelongrobeusuallywornbythoseofhiscondition，which，beingfurnishedwithahood，concealedthefeatures，whensuchwasthepleasureofthewearer，almostascompletelyasthevisorofthehelmetitself，butthetwilight，whichwasnowfastdarkening，wouldofitselfhaverenderedadisguiseunnecessary，unlesstopersonstowhomthefaceofanindividualchancedtobeparticularlywellknown。
　　TheDisinheritedKnight，therefore，steptboldlyforthtothefrontofhistent，andfoundinattendancethesquiresofthechallengers，whomheeasilyknewbytheirrussetandblackdresses，eachofwhomledhismaster’scharger，loadedwiththearmourinwhichhehadthatdayfought。
　　``Accordingtothelawsofchivalry，’’saidtheforemostofthesemen，``I，BaldwindeOyley，squiretotheredoubtedKnightBriandeBois-Guilbert，makeoffertoyou，stylingyourself，forthepresent，theDisinheritedKnight，ofthehorseandarmourusedbythesaidBriandeBois-Guilbertinthisday’sPassageofArms，leavingitwithyournoblenesstoretainortoransomthesame，accordingtoyourpleasure；forsuchisthelawofarms。’’
　　Theothersquiresrepeatednearlythesameformula，andthenstoodtoawaitthedecisionoftheDisinheritedKnight。