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