TheapartmentinwhichtheSaxonchiefswereconfined，fortothemweturnourfirstattention，althoughatpresentusedasasortofguard-room，hadformerlybeenthegreathallofthecastle。Itwasnowabandonedtomeanerpurposes，becausethepresentlord，amongotheradditionstotheconvenience，security，andbeautyofhisbaronialresidence，haderectedanewandnoblehall，whosevaultedroofwassupportedbylighterandmoreelegantpillars，andfittedupwiththathigherdegreeofornament，whichtheNormanshadalreadyintroducedintoarchitecture。
　　Cedricpacedtheapartment，filledwithindignantreflectionsonthepastandonthepresent，whiletheapathyofhiscompanionserved，insteadofpatienceandphilosophy，todefendhimagainsteverythingsavetheinconvenienceofthepresentmoment；andsolittledidhefeeleventhislast，thathewasonlyfromtimetotimerousedtoareplybyCedric’sanimatedandimpassionedappealtohim。
　　``Yes，’’saidCedric，halfspeakingtohimself，andhalfaddressinghimselftoAthelstane，``itwasinthisveryhallthatmyfatherfeastedwithTorquilWolfganger，whenheentertainedthevaliantandunfortunateHarold，thenadvancingagainsttheNorwegians，whohadunitedthemselvestotherebelTosti。ItwasinthishallthatHaroldreturnedthemagnanimousanswertotheambassadorofhisrebelbrother。OfthaveIheardmyfatherkindleashetoldthetale。TheenvoyofTostiwasadmitted，whenthisampleroomcouldscarcecontainthecrowdofnobleSaxonleaders，whowerequaffingtheblood-redwinearoundtheirmonarch。’’
　　``Ihope，’’saidAthelstane，somewhatmovedbythispartofhisfriend’sdiscourse，``theywillnotforgettosendussomewineandrefactionsatnoon——wehadscarceabreathing-spaceallowedtobreakourfast，andIneverhavethebenefitofmyfoodwhenIeatimmediatelyafterdismountingfromhorseback，thoughtheleechesrecommendthatpractice。’’
　　Cedricwentonwithhisstorywithoutnoticingthisinterjectionalobservationofhisfriend。
　　``TheenvoyofTosti，’’hesaid，``movedupthehall，undismayedbythefrowningcountenancesofallaroundhim，untilhemadehisobeisancebeforethethroneofKingHarold。
　　```Whatterms，’hesaid，`LordKing，haththybrotherTostitohope，ifheshouldlaydownhisarms，andcravepeaceatthyhands?’
　　```Abrother’slove，’criedthegenerousHarold，`andthefairearldomofNorthumberland。’
　　```ButshouldTostiaccepttheseterms，’continuedtheenvoy，`whatlandsshallbeassignedtohisfaithfulally，Hardrada，KingofNorway?’
　　```SevenfeetofEnglishground，’answeredHarold，fiercely，’or，asHardradaissaidtobeagiant，perhapswemayallowhimtwelveinchesmore。’
　　``Thehallrungwithacclamations，andcupandhornwasfilledtotheNorwegian，whoshouldbespeedilyinpossessionofhisEnglishterritory。’’
　　``Icouldhavepledgedhimwithallmysoul，’’
　　saidAthelstane，``formytonguecleavestomypalate。’’
　　``Thebaffledenvoy，’’continuedCedric，pursuingwithanimationhistale，thoughitinterestednotthelistener，``retreated，tocarrytoTostiandhisallytheominousanswerofhisinjuredbrother。ItwasthenthatthedistanttowersofYork，andthebloodystreamsoftheDerwent，*beheldthatdireful*NoteD。BattleofStamford。
　　conflict，inwhich，afterdisplayingthemostundauntedvalour，theKingofNorway，andTosti，bothfell，withtenthousandoftheirbravestfollowers。
　　Whowouldhavethoughtthatupontheprouddaywhenthisbattlewaswon，theverygalewhichwavedtheSaxonbannersintriumph，wasfillingtheNormansails，andimpellingthemtothefatalshoresofSussex?——WhowouldhavethoughtthatHarold，withinafewbriefdays，wouldhimselfpossessnomoreofhiskingdom，thanthesharewhichheallottedinhiswrathtotheNorwegianinvader?——
　　Whowouldhavethoughtthatyou，nobleAthelstane——
　　thatyou，descendedofHarold’sblood，andthatI，whosefatherwasnottheworstdefenderoftheSaxoncrown，shouldbeprisonerstoavileNorman，intheveryhallinwhichourancestorsheldsuchhighfestival?’’
　　``Itissadenough，’’repliedAthelstane；``butItrusttheywillholdustoamoderateransom——
　　Atanyrateitcannotbetheirpurposetostarveusoutright；andyet，althoughitishighnoon，Iseenopreparationsforservingdinner。Lookupatthewindow，nobleCedric，andjudgebythesunbeamsifitisnotonthevergeofnoon。’’
　　``Itmaybeso，’’answeredCedric；``butIcannotlookonthatstainedlatticewithoutitsawakeningotherreflectionsthanthosewhichconcernthepassingmoment，oritsprivations。Whenthatwindowwaswrought，mynoblefriend，ourhardyfathersknewnottheartofmakingglass，orofstainingit——TheprideofWolfganger’sfatherbroughtanartistfromNormandytoadornhishallwiththisnewspeciesofemblazonment，thatbreaksthegoldenlightofGod’sblesseddayintosomanyfantastichues。Theforeignercameherepoor，beggarly，cringing，andsubservient，readytodoffhiscaptothemeanestnativeofthehousehold。Hereturnedpamperedandproud，totellhisrapaciouscountrymenofthewealthandthesimplicityoftheSaxonnobles——afolly，oh，Athelstane，forebodedofold，aswellasforeseen，bythosedescendantsofHengistandhishardytribes，whoretainedthesimplicityoftheirmanners。Wemadethesestrangersourbosomfriends，ourconfidentialservants；weborrowedtheirartistsandtheirarts，anddespisedthehonestsimplicityandhardihoodwithwhichourbraveancestorssupportedthemselves，andwebecameenervatedbyNormanartslongerewefellunderNormanarms。Farbetterwasourhomelydiet，eateninpeaceandliberty，thantheluxuriousdainties，theloveofwhichhathdeliveredusasbondsmentotheforeignconqueror！’’
　　``Ishould，’’repliedAthelstane，``holdveryhumbledietaluxuryatpresent；anditastonishesme，nobleCedric，thatyoucanbearsotrulyinmindthememoryofpastdeeds，whenitappearethyouforgettheveryhourofdinner。’’
　　``Itistimelost，’’mutteredCedricapartandimpatiently，``tospeaktohimofaughtelsebutthatwhichconcernshisappetite！ThesoulofHardicanutehathtakenpossessionofhim，andhehathnopleasuresavetofill，toswill，andtocallformore——
　　Alas！’’saidhe，lookingatAthelstanewithcompassion，``thatsodullaspiritshouldbelodgedinsogoodlyaform！Alas！thatsuchanenterpriseastheregenerationofEnglandshouldturnonahingesoimperfect！WeddedtoRowena，indeed，hernoblerandmoregeneroussoulmayyetawakethebetternaturewhichistorpidwithinhim。Yethowshouldthisbe，whileRowena，Athelstane，andImyself，remaintheprisonersofthisbrutalmarauderandhavebeenmadesoperhapsfromasenseofthedangerswhichourlibertymightbringtotheusurpedpowerofhisnation?’’
　　WhiletheSaxonwasplungedinthesepainfulreflections，thedooroftheirprisonopened，andgaveentrancetoasewer，holdinghiswhiterodofoffice。
　　Thisimportantpersonadvancedintothechamberwithagravepace，followedbyfourattendants，bearinginatablecoveredwithdishes，thesightandsmellofwhichseemedtobeaninstantcompensationtoAthelstaneforalltheinconveniencehehadundergone。Thepersonswhoattendedonthefeastweremaskedandcloaked。
　　``Whatmummeryisthis?’’saidCedric；``thinkyouthatweareignorantwhoseprisonersweare，whenweareinthecastleofyourmaster?Tellhim，’’hecontinued，willingtousethisopportunitytoopenanegotiationforhisfreedom，——``Tellyourmaster，ReginaldFront-de-Buf，thatweknownoreasonhecanhaveforwithholdingourliberty，exceptinghisunlawfuldesiretoenrichhimselfatourexpense。Tellhimthatweyieldtohisrapacity，asinsimilarcircumstancesweshoulddotothatofaliteralrobber。Lethimnametheransomatwhichheratesourliberty，anditshallbepaid，providingtheexactionissuitedtoourmeans。’’
　　Thesewermadenoanswer，butbowedhishead。
　　``AndtellSirReginaldFront-de-Buf，’’saidAthelstane，``thatIsendhimmymortaldefiance，andchallengehimtocombatwithme，onfootorhorseback，atanysecureplace，withineightdaysafterourliberation；which，ifhebeatrueknight，hewillnot，underthesecircumstances，venturetorefuseortodelay。’’
　　``Ishalldelivertotheknightyourdefiance，’’
　　answeredthesewer；``meanwhileIleaveyoutoyourfood。’’
　　ThechallengeofAthelstanewasdeliveredwithnogoodgrace；foralargemouthful，whichrequiredtheexerciseofbothjawsatonce，addedtoanaturalhesitation，considerablydampedtheeffectofthebolddefianceitcontained。Still，however，hisspeechwashailedbyCedricasanincontestibletokenofrevivingspiritinhiscompanion，whosepreviousindifferencehadbegun，notwithstandinghisrespectforAthelstane’sdescent，towearouthispatience。Buthenowcordiallyshookhandswithhimintokenofhisapprobation，andwassomewhatgrievedwhenAthelstaneobserved，``thathewouldfightadozensuchmenasFront-de-Buf，if，bysodoing，hecouldhastenhisdeparturefromadungeonwheretheyputsomuchgarlicintotheirpottage。’’Notwithstandingthisintimationofarelapseintotheapathyofsensuality，CedricplacedhimselfoppositetoAthelstane，andsoonshowed，thatifthedistressesofhiscountrycouldbanishtherecollectionoffoodwhilethetablewasuncovered，yetnosoonerwerethevictualsputthere，thanheprovedthattheappetiteofhisSaxonancestorshaddescendedtohimalongwiththeirotherqualities。
　　Thecaptiveshadnotlongenjoyedtheirrefreshment，however，eretheirattentionwasdisturbedevenfromthismostseriousoccupationbytheblastofahornwindedbeforethegate。Itwasrepeatedthreetimes，withasmuchviolenceasifithadbeenblownbeforeanenchantedcastlebythedestinedknight，atwhosesummonshallsandtowers，barbicanandbattlement，weretorollofflikeamorningvapour。TheSaxonsstartedfromthetable，andhastenedtothewindow。Buttheircuriositywasdisappointed；fortheseoutletsonlylookeduponthecourtofthecastle，andthesoundcamefrombeyonditsprecincts。Thesummons，however，seemedofimportance，foraconsiderabledegreeofbustleinstantlytookplaceinthecastle。
　　CHAPTERXXII
　　Mydaughter——Omyducats——Omydaughter！
　　OmyChristianducats！
　　Justice——theLaw——myducats，andmydaughter！
　　_MerchantofVenice。_
　　LeavingtheSaxonchiefstoreturntotheirbanquetassoonastheirungratifiedcuriosityshouldpermitthemtoattendtothecallsoftheirhalf-satiatedappetite，wehavetolookinupontheyetmoresevereimprisonmentofIsaacofYork。ThepoorJewhadbeenhastilythrustintoadungeon-vaultofthecastle，thefloorofwhichwasdeepbeneaththeleveloftheground，andverydamp，beinglowerthaneventhemoatitself。Theonlylightwasreceivedthroughoneortwoloop-holesfarabovethereachofthecaptive’shand。Theseaperturesadmitted，evenatmid-day，onlyadimanduncertainlight，whichwaschangedforutterdarknesslongbeforetherestofthecastlehadlosttheblessingofday。Chainsandshackles，whichhadbeentheportionofformercaptives，fromwhomactiveexertionstoescapehadbeenapprehended，hungrustedandemptyonthewallsoftheprison，andintheringsofoneofthosesetsoffettersthereremainedtwomoulderingbones，whichseemedtohavebeenoncethoseofthehumanleg，asifsomeprisonerhadbeenleftnotonlytoperishthere，buttobeconsumedtoaskeleton。
　　Atoneendofthisghastlyapartmentwasalargefire-grate，overthetopofwhichwerestretchedsometransverseironbars，halfdevouredwithrust。
　　ThewholeappearanceofthedungeonmighthaveappalledastouterheartthanthatofIsaac，who，nevertheless，wasmorecomposedundertheimminentpressureofdanger，thanhehadseemedtobewhileaffectedbyterrors，ofwhichthecausewasasyetremoteandcontingent。Theloversofthechasesaythattheharefeelsmoreagonyduringthepursuitofthegreyhounds，thanwhensheisstrugglingintheirfangs。*Andthusitisprobable，that*_NotaBene。_——Webynomeanswarranttheaccuracyofthis*pieceofnaturalhistory，whichwegiveontheauthorityofthe*WardourMS。L。T。