Waverley Novels — Volume 12

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH.

  Agelastes gained his threshold before Count Robert of Paris and hislady. He had, therefore, time to make his prostrations before a hugeanimal, then unknown to the western world, but now universallydistinguished as the elephant. On its back was a pavilion or palanquin,within which were enclosed the august persons of the Empress Irene, andher daughter Anna Comnena. Nicephorus Briennius attended the Princessesin the command of a gallant body of light horse, whose splendid armourwould have given more pleasure to the crusader, if it had possessedless an air of useless wealth and effeminate magnificence. But theeffect which it produced in its appearance was as brilliant as couldwell be conceived. The officers alone of this _corps de garde_ followedNicephorus to the platform, prostrated themselves while the ladies ofthe Imperial house descended, and rose up again under a cloud of wavingplumes and flashing lances, when they stood secure upon the platform infront of the building. Here the somewhat aged, but commanding form ofthe Empress, and the still juvenile beauties of the fair historian,were seen to great advantage. In the front of a deep back-ground ofspears and waving crests, stood the sounder of the sacred trumpet,conspicuous by his size and the richness of his apparel; he kept hispost on a rock above the stone staircase, and, by an occasional note ofhis instrument, intimated to the squadrons beneath that they shouldstay their progress, and attend the motions of the Empress and the wifeof the Caesar.

  The fair form of the Countess Brenhilda, and the fantastic appearanceof her half masculine garb, attracted the attention of the ladies ofAlexius' family, but was too extraordinary to command their admiration.Agelastes became sensible there was a necessity that he shouldintroduce his guests to each other, if he desired they should meet onsatisfactory terms. "May I speak," he said, "and live? The armedstrangers whom you find now with me are worthy companions of thosemyriads, whom zeal for the suffering inhabitants of Palestine hasbrought from the western extremity of Europe, at once to enjoy thecountenance of Alexius Comnenus, and to aid him, since it pleases himto accept their assistance, in expelling the Paynims from the bounds ofthe sacred empire, and garrison those regions in their stead, asvassals of his Imperial Majesty."

  "We are pleased," said the Empress, "worthy Agelastes, that you shouldbe kind to those who are disposed to be so reverent to the Emperor. AndWe are rather disposed to talk with them ourselves, that our daughter(whom Apollo hath gifted with the choice talent of recording what shesees) may become acquainted with one of those female warriors of theWest, of whom we have heard so much by common fame, and yet know solittle with certainty."

  "Madam," said the Count, "I can but rudely express to you what I haveto find fault with in the explanation which this old man hath given ofour purpose in coming hither. Certain it is, we neither owe Alexiusfealty, nor had we the purpose of paying him any, when we took the vowupon ourselves which brought us against Asia. We came, because weunderstood that the Holy Land had been torn from the Greek Emperor bythe Pagans, Saracens, Turks, and other infidels, from whom we are cometo win it back. The wisest and most prudent among us have judged itnecessary to acknowledge the Emperor's authority, since there was nosuch safe way of passing to the discharge of our vow, as that ofacknowledging fealty to him, as the best mode of preventing quarrelsamong Christian States. We, though independent of any earthly king, donot pretend to be greater men than they, and therefore havecondescended to pay the same homage."

  The Empress coloured several times with indignation in the course ofthis speech, which, in more passages than one, was at variance withthose imperial maxims of the Grecian court, which held its dignity sohigh, and plainly intimated a tone of opinion which was depreciating tothe Emperor's power. But the Empress Irene had received instructionsfrom her imperial spouse to beware how she gave, or even took, anyground of quarrel with the crusaders, who, though coming in theappearance of subjects, were, nevertheless, too punctilious and readyto take fire, to render them safe discussers of delicate differences.She made a graceful reverence accordingly, as if she had scarceunderstood what the Count of Paris had explained so bluntly.

  At this moment the appearance of the principal persons on either handattracted, in a wonderful degree, the attention of the other party, andthere seemed to exist among them a general desire of furtheracquaintance, and, at the same time, a manifest difficulty inexpressing such a wish.

  Agelastes--to begin with the master of the house--had risen from theground indeed, but without venturing to assume an upright posture; heremained before the Imperial ladies with his body and head still bent,his hand interposed between his eyes and their faces, like a man thatwould shade his eyesight from the level sun, and awaited in silence thecommands of those to whom he seemed to think it disrespectful topropose the slightest action, save by testifying in general, that hishouse and his slaves were at their unlimited command. The Countess ofParis, on the other hand, and her warlike husband, were the peculiarobjects of curiosity to Irene, and her accomplished daughter, AnnaComnena; and it occurred to both these Imperial ladies, that they hadnever seen finer specimens of human strength and beauty; but by anatural instinct, they preferred the manly bearing of the husband tothat of the wife, which seemed to her own sex rather too haughty andtoo masculine to be altogether pleasing.

  Count Robert and his lady had also their own object of attention in thenewly arrived group, and, to speak truth, it was nothing else than thepeculiarities of the monstrous animal which they now saw, for the firsttime, employed as a beast of burden in the service of the fair Ireneand her daughter. The dignity and splendour of the elder Princess, thegrace and vivacity of the younger, were alike lost in Brenhilda'searnest inquiries into the history of the elephant, and the use whichit made of its trunk, tusks, and huge ears, upon different occasions.

  Another person, who took a less direct opportunity to gaze on Brenhildawith a deep degree of interest, was the Caesar, Nicephorus. This Princekept his eye as steadily upon the Frankish Countess as he could welldo, without attracting the attention, and exciting perhaps thesuspicions, of his wife and mother-in-law; he therefore endeavoured torestore speech to an interview which would have been awkward withoutit. "It is possible," he said, "beautiful Countess, that this beingyour first visit to the Queen, of the world, you have never hithertoseen the singularly curious animal called the elephant."

  "Pardon me," said the Countess, "I have been treated by this learnedgentleman to a sight, and some account of that wonderful creature."

  By all who heard this observation, the Lady Brenhilda was supposed tohave made a satirical thrust at the philosopher himself, who, in theimperial court, usually went by the name of the elephant.

  "No one could describe the beast more accurately than Agelastes," saidthe Princess, with a smile of intelligence, which went round herattendants.

  "He knows its docility, its sensibility, and its fidelity," said thephilosopher, in a subdued tone.

  "True, good Agelastes," said the Princess; "we should not criticise theanimal which kneels to take us up.--Come, lady of a foreign land," shecontinued, turning to the Frank Count, and especially hisCountess--"and you her gallant lord! When you return to your nativecountry, you shall say you have seen the imperial family partake oftheir food, and in so far acknowledge themselves to be of the same claywith other mortals, sharing their poorest wants, and relieving them inthe same manner."

  "That, gentle lady, I can well believe," said Count Robert; "mycuriosity would be more indulged by seeing this strange animal at hisfood."

  "You will see the elephant more conveniently at his mess within doors,"answered the Princess, looking at Agelastes.

  "Lady," said Brenhilda, "I would not willingly refuse an invitationgiven in courtesy, but the sun has waxed low unnoticed, and we mustreturn to the city."

  "Be not afraid," said the fair historian; "you shall have the advantageof our Imperial escort to protect you in your return."

  "Fear?---afraid?--escort?--protect?--These are words I know not. Know,lady, that my husband, the noble Count
of Paris, is my sufficientescort; and even were he not with me, Brenhilda de Aspramonte fearsnothing, and can defend herself."

  "Fair daughter," said Agelastes, "if I may be permitted to speak, youmistake the gracious intentions of the Princess, who expresses herselfas to a lady of her own land. What she desires is to learn from yousome of the most marked habits and manners of the Franks, of which youare so beautiful an example; and in return for such information theillustrious Princess would be glad to procure your entrance to thosespacious collections, where animals from all corners of the habitableworld have been assembled at the command of our Emperor Alexius, as ifto satisfy the wisdom of those sages to whom all creation is known,from the deer so small in size that it is exceeded by an ordinary rat,to that huge and singular inhabitant of Africa that can browse on thetops of trees that are forty feet high, while the length of itshind-legs does not exceed the half of that wondrous height."

  "It is enough," said the Countess, with some eagerness; but Agelasteshad got a point of discussion after his own mind.

  "There is also," he said, "that huge lizard, which, resembling in shapethe harmless inhabitant of the moors of other countries, is in Egypt amonster thirty feet in length, clothed in impenetrable scales, andmoaning over his prey when he catches it, with the hope and purpose ofdrawing others within his danger, by mimicking the lamentations ofhumanity."

  "Say no more, father!" exclaimed the lady. "My Robert, we will go--willwe not, where such objects are to be seen?"

  "There is also," said Agelastes, who saw that he would gain his pointby addressing himself to the curiosity of the strangers, "the hugeanimal, wearing on its back an invulnerable vestment, having on itsnose a horn, and sometimes two, the folds of whose hide are of the mostimmense thickness, and which never knight was able to wound."

  "We will go, Robert--will we not?" reiterated the Countess.

  "Ay," replied the Count, "and teach, these Easterns how to judge of aknight's sword, by a single blow of my trusty Tranchefer."

  "And who knows," said Brenhilda, "since this is a land of enchantment,but what some person, who is languishing in a foreign shape, may havetheir enchantment unexpectedly dissolved by a stroke of the goodweapon?"

  "Say no more, father!" exclaimed the Count. "We will attend thisPrincess, since such she is, were her whole escort bent to oppose ourpassage, instead of being by her command to be our guard. For know, allwho hear me, thus much of the nature of the Franks, that when you tellus of danger and difficulties, you give us the same desire to travelthe road where they lie, as other men have in seeking either pleasureor profit in the paths in which such are to be found."

  As the Count pronounced these words, he struck his hand upon hisTranchefer, as an illustration of the manner in which he purposed uponoccasion to make good his way. The courtly circle startled somewhat atthe clash of steel, and the fiery look of the chivalrous Count Robert.The Empress indulged her alarm by retreating into the inner apartmentof the pavilion.

  With a grace, which was rarely deigned to any but those in closealliance with the Imperial family, Anna Comnena took the arm of thenoble Count. "I see," she said, "that the Imperial Mother has honouredthe house of the learned Agelastes, by leading the way; therefore, toteach you Grecian breeding must fall to my share." Saying this sheconducted him to the inner apartment.

  "Fear not for your wife," she said, as she noticed the Frank lookround; "our husband, like ourselves, has pleasure in showing attentionto the stranger, and will lead the Countess to our board. It is not thecustom of the Imperial family to eat in company with strangers; but wethank Heaven for having instructed us in that civility, which can knowno degradation in dispensing with ordinary rules to do honour tostrangers of such merit as yours. I know it will be my mother'srequest, that you will take your places without ceremony; and also,although the grace be somewhat particular, I am sure that it will havemy Imperial father's approbation.

  "Be it as your ladyship lists," said Count Robert. "There are few mento whom I would yield place at the board, if they had not gone beforeme in the battle-field. To a lady, especially so fair a one, Iwillingly yield my place, and bend my knee, whenever I have the goodhap to meet her."

  The Princess Anna, instead of feeling herself awkward in the dischargeof the extraordinary, and, as she might have thought it, degradingoffice of ushering a barbarian chief to the banquet, felt, on thecontrary, flattered, at having bent to her purpose a heart so obstinateas that of Count Robert, and elated, perhaps, with a certain degree ofsatisfied pride while under his momentary protection.

  The Empress Irene had already seated herself at the head of the table.She looked with some astonishment, when her daughter and son-in-law,taking their seats at her right and left hand, invited the Count andCountess of Paris, the former to recline, the latter to sit at theboard, in the places next to themselves; but she had received thestrictest orders from her husband to be deferential in every respect tothe strangers, and did not think it right, therefore, to interpose anyceremonious scruples.

  The Countess took her seat, as indicated, beside the Caesar; and theCount, instead of reclining in the mode of the Grecian men, also seatedhimself in the European fashion by the Princess.

  "I will not lie prostrate," said he, laughing, "except in considerationof a blow weighty enough to compel me to do so; nor then either, if Iam able to start up and return it."

  The service of the table then began, and, to say truth, it appeared tobe an important part of the business of the day. The officers whoattended to perform their several duties of deckers of the table,sewers of the banquet, removers and tasters to the Imperial family,thronged into the banqueting room, and seemed to vie with each other incalling upon Agelastes for spices, condiments, sauces, and wines ofvarious kinds, the variety and multiplicity of their demands beingapparently devised _ex preposito_, for stirring the patience of thephilosopher. But Agelastes, who had anticipated most of their requests,however unusual, supplied them completely, or in the greatest part, bythe ready agency of his active slave Diogenes, to whom, at the sametime, he contrived to transfer all blame for the absence of sucharticles as he was unable to provide.

  "Be Homer my witness, the accomplished Virgil, and the curious felicityof Horace, that, trifling and unworthy as this banquet was, my note ofdirections to this thrice unhappy slave gave the instructions toprocure every ingredient necessary to convey to each dish its propergusto.--Ill-omened carrion that thou art, wherefore placedst thou thepickled cucumber so far apart from the boar's head? and why are thesesuperb congers unprovided with a requisite quantity of fennel? Thedivorce betwixt the shell-fish and the Chian wine, in a presence likethis, is worthy of the divorce of thine own soul from thy body; or, tosay the least, of a lifelong residence in the Pistrinum." While thusthe philosopher proceeded with threats, curses, and menaces against hisslave, the stranger might have an opportunity of comparing the littletorrent of his domestic eloquence, which the manners of the times didnot consider as ill-bred, with the louder and deeper share of adulationtowards his guests. They mingled like the oil with the vinegar andpickles which Diogenes mixed for the sauce. Thus the Count and Countesshad an opportunity to estimate the happiness and the felicity reservedfor those slaves, whom the Omnipotent Jupiter, in the plenitude ofcompassion for their state, and in guerdon of their good morals, haddedicated to the service of a philosopher. The share they themselvestook in the banquet, was finished with a degree of speed which gavesurprise not only to their host, but also to the Imperial guests.

  The Count helped himself carelessly out of a dish which stood near him,and partaking of a draught of wine, without enquiring whether it was ofthe vintage which the Greeks held it matter of conscience to minglewith that species of food, he declared himself satisfied; nor could theobliging entreaties of his neighbour, Anna Comnena, induce him topartake of other messes represented as being either delicacies orcuriosities. His spouse ate still more moderately of the food whichseemed most simply cooked, and stood nearest her at the board, andpa
rtook of a cup of crystal water, which she slightly tinged with wine,at the persevering entreaty of the Caesar. They then relinquished thefarther business of the banquet, and leaning back upon their seats,occupied themselves in watching the liberal credit done to the feast bythe rest of the guests present.

  A modern synod of gourmands would hardly have equalled the Imperialfamily of Greece seated, at a philosophical banquet, whether in thecritical knowledge displayed of the science of eating in all itsbranches, or in the practical cost and patience with which theyexercised it. The ladies, indeed, did not eat much of any one dish, butthey tasted of almost all that were presented to them, and their namewas Legion. Yet, after a short time, in Homeric phrase, the rage ofthirst and hunger was assuaged, or, more probably, the Princess AnnaComnena was tired of being an object of some inattention to the guestwho sat next her, and who, joining his high military character to hisvery handsome presence, was a person by whom few ladies would willinglybe neglected. There is no new guise, says our father Chaucer, but whatresembles an old one; and the address of Anna Comnena to the FrankishCount might resemble that of a modern lady of fashion, in her attemptsto engage in conversation the _exquisite_, who sits by her side in anapparently absent fit. "We have piped unto you," said the Princess,"and you have not danced! We have sung to you the jovial chorus of_Evoe, evoe,_ and you will neither worship Comus nor Bacchus! Are wethen to judge you a follower of the Muses, in whose service, as well asin that of Phoebus, we ourselves pretend to be enlisted?"

  "Fair lady," replied the Frank, "be not offended at my stating once forall, in plain terms, that I am a Christian man, spitting at, andbidding defiance to Apollo, Bacchus, Comus, and all other heathendeities whatsoever."

  "O! cruel interpretation of my unwary words!" said the Princess; "I didbut mention the gods of music, poetry, and eloquence, worshipped by ourdivine philosophers, and whose names are still used to distinguish thearts and sciences over which they presided--and the Count interprets itseriously into a breach of the second commandment! Our Lady preserveme, we must take care how we speak, when our words are so sharplyinterpreted."

  The Count laughed as the Princess spoke. "I had no offensive meaning,madam," he said, "nor would I wish to interpret your words otherwisethan as being most innocent and praiseworthy. I shall suppose that yourspeech contained all that was fair and blameless. You are, I haveunderstood, one of those who, like our worthy host, express incomposition the history and feats of the warlike time in which youlive, and give to the posterity which shall succeed us, the knowledgeof the brave deeds which have been achieved in our day. I respect thetask to which you have dedicated yourself, and know not how a ladycould lay after ages under an obligation to her in the same degree,unless, like my wife, Brenhilda, she were herself to be the actress ofdeeds which she recorded. And, by the way, she now looks towards herneighbour at the table, as if she were about to rise and leave him; herinclinations are towards Constantinople, and, with your ladyship'spermission, I cannot allow her to go thither alone."

  "That you shall neither of you do," said Anna Comnena; "since we all goto the capital directly, and for the purpose of seeing those wonders ofnature, of which numerous examples have been collected by the splendourof my Imperial father.--If my husband seems to have given offence tothe Countess, do not suppose that it was intentionally dealt to her; onthe contrary, you will find the good man, when you are betteracquainted with him, to be one of those simple persons who manage sounhappily what they mean for civilties, that those to whom they areaddressed receive them frequently in another sense."

  The Countess of Paris, however, refused again to sit down to the tablefrom which she had risen, so that Agelastes and his Imperial guests sawthemselves under the necessity either to permit the strangers todepart, which they seemed unwilling to do, or to detain them by force,to attempt which might not perhaps have been either safe or pleasant;or, lastly, to have waived the etiquette of rank and set out along withthem, at the same time managing their dignity, so as to take theinitiatory step, though the departure took place upon the motion oftheir wilful guests. Much tumult there was--bustling, disputing, andshouting--among the troops and officers who were thus moved from theirrepast, two hours at least sooner than had been experienced uponsimilar occasions in the memory of the oldest among them. A differentarrangement of the Imperial party likewise seemed to take place bymutual consent.

  Nicephorus Briennius ascended the seat upon the elephant, and remainedthere placed beside his august mother-in-law. Agelastes, on asober-minded palfrey, which permitted him to prolong his philosophicalharangues at his own pleasure, rode beside the Countess Brenhilda, whomhe made the principal object of his oratory. The fair historian, thoughshe usually travelled in a litter, preferred upon this occasion aspirited horse, which enabled her to keep pace with Count Robert ofParis, on whose imagination, if not his feelings, she seemed to have itin view to work a marked impression. The conversation of the Empresswith her son-in-law requires no special detail. It was a tissue ofcriticisms upon the manners and behaviour of the Franks, and a heartywish that they might be soon transported from the realms of Greece,never more to return. Such was at least the tone of the Empress, nordid the Caesar find it convenient to express any more tolerant opinionof the strangers. On the other hand, Agelastes made a long circuit erehe ventured to approach the subject which he wished to introduce. Hespoke of the menagerie of the Emperor as a most superb collection ofnatural history; he extolled different persons at court for havingencouraged Alexius Comnenus in this wise and philosophical amusement.But, finally, the praise of all others was abandoned that thephilosopher might dwell upon that of Nicephorus Briennius, to whom thecabinet or collection of Constantinople was indebted, he said, for theprincipal treasures it contained.

  "I am glad it is so," said the haughty Countess, without lowering hervoice or affecting any change of manner; "I am glad that he understandssome things better worth understanding than whispering with strangeryoung women. Credit me, if he gives much license to his tongue amongsuch women of nay country as these stirring times may bring hither,some one or other of them will fling him into the cataract which dashesbelow."

  "Pardon me, fair lady," said Agelastes; "no female heart could meditatean action so atrocious against so fine a form as that of the CaesarNicephorus Briennius."

  "Put it not on that issue, father," said the offended Countess; "for,by my patroness Saint, our Lady of the Broken Lances, had it not beenfor regard to these two ladies, who seemed to intend some respect to myhusband and myself, that same Nicephorus should have been as perfectlya Lord of the Broken Bones as any Caesar who has borne the title sincethe great Julius!"

  The philosopher, upon this explicit information, began to entertainsome personal fear for himself, and hastened, by diverting theconversation, which he did with great dexterity, to the story of Heroand Leander, to put the affront received out of the head of thisunscrupulous Amazon.

  Meantime, Count Robert of Paris was engrossed, as it may be termed, bythe fair Anna Comnena. She spoke on all subjects, on some better,doubtless, others worse, but on none did she suspect herself of anydeficiency; while the good Count wished heartily within himself thathis companion had been safely in bed with the enchanted Princess ofZulichium. She performed, right or wrong, the part of a panegyrist ofthe Normans, until at length the Count, tired of hearing her prate ofshe knew not exactly what, broke in as follows:--

  "Lady," he said, "notwithstanding I and my followers are sometimes sonamed, yet we are not Normans, who come hither as a numerous andseparate body of pilgrims, under the command of their Duke Robert, avaliant, though extravagant, thoughtless, and weak man. I say nothingagainst the fame of these Normans. They conquered, in our fathers'days, a kingdom far stronger than their own, which men call England; Isee that you entertain some of the natives of which country in yourpay, under the name of Varangians. Although defeated, as I said, by theNormans, they are, nevertheless, a brave race; nor would we thinkourselves much dishonoured by mixing in bat
tle with them. Still we arethe valiant Franks, who had their dwelling on the eastern banks of theRhine and of the Saale, who were converted to the Christian faith bythe celebrated Clovis, and are sufficient, by our numbers and courage,to re-conquer the Holy Land, should all Europe besides stand neutral inthe contest."

  There are few things more painful to the vanity of a person like thePrincess, than the being detected in an egregious error, at the momentshe is taking credit to herself for being peculiarly accuratelyinformed.

  "A false slave, who knew not what he was saying, I suppose," said thePrincess, "imposed upon me the belief that the Varangians were thenatural enemies of the Normans. I see him marching there by the side ofAchilles Tatius, the leader of his corps.--Call him hither, youofficers!--Yonder tall man, I mean, with the battle-axe upon hisshoulder."

  Hereward, distinguished by his post at the head of the squadron, wassummoned from thence to the presence of the Princess, where he made hismilitary obeisance with a cast of sternness in his aspect, as hisglance lighted upon the proud look of the Frenchman who rode besideAnna Comnena.

  "Did I not understand thee, fellow," said Anna Comnena, "to haveinformed me, nearly a month ago, that the Normans and the Franks werethe same people, and enemies to the race from which you spring?"

  "The Normans are our mortal enemies, Lady," answered Hereward, "by whomwe were driven from our native land. The Franks are subjects of thesame Lord-Paramount with the Normans, and therefore they neither lovethe Varangians, nor are beloved by them."

  "Good fellow," said the French Count, "you do the Franks wrong, andascribe to the Varangians, although not unnaturally, an undue degree ofimportance, when you suppose that a race which has ceased to exist asan independent nation for more than a generation, can be either anobject of interest or resentment to such as we are."

  "I am no stranger," said the Varangian, "to the pride of your heart, orthe precedence which you assume over those who have been less fortunatein war than yourselves. It is God who casteth down and who buildeth up,nor is there in the world a prospect to which the Varangians would lookforward with more pleasure than that a hundred of their number shouldmeet in a fair field, either with the oppressive Normans, or theirmodern compatriots, the vain Frenchmen, and let God be the judge whichis most worthy of victory."

  "You take an insolent advantage of the chance," said the Count ofParis, "which gives you an unlooked-for opportunity to brave anobleman."

  "It is my sorrow and shame," said the Varangian, "that that opportunityis not complete; and that there is a chain around me which forbids meto say, Slay me, or I'll kill thee before we part from this spot!"

  "Why, thou foolish and hot-brained churl," replied the Count, "whatright hast thou to the honour of dying by my blade? Thou art mad, orhast drained the ale-cup so deeply that thou knowest not what thouthinkest or sayest."

  "Thou liest," said the Varangian; "though such a reproach be the utmostscandal of thy race."

  The Frenchman motioned his hand quicker than light to his sword, butinstantly withdrew it, and said with dignity, "thou canst not offendme."

  "But thou," said the exile, "hast offended me in a matter which canonly be atoned by thy manhood."

  "Where and how?" answered the Count; "although it is needless to askthe question, which thou canst not answer rationally."

  "Thou hast this day," answered the Varangian, "put a mortal affrontupon a great prince, whom thy master calls his ally, and by whom thouhast been received with every rite of hospitality. Him thou hastaffronted as one peasant at a merry-making would do shame to another,and this dishonour thou hast done to him in the very face of his ownchiefs and princes, and the nobles from every court of Europe."

  "It was thy master's part to resent my conduct," said the Frenchman,"if in reality he so much felt it as an affront."

  "But that," said Hereward, "did not consist with the manners of hiscountry to do. Besides that, we trusty Varangians esteem ourselvesbound by our oath as much to defend our Emperor, while the servicelasts, on every inch of his honour as on every foot of his territory; Itherefore tell thee, Sir Knight, Sir Count, or whatever thou callestthyself, there is mortal quarrel between thee and the Varangian guard,ever and until thou hast fought it out in fair and manly battle, bodyto body, with one of the said Imperial Varangians, when duty andopportunity shall permit:--and so God schaw the right!"

  As this passed in the French language, the meaning escaped theunderstanding of such Imperialists as were within hearing at the time;and the Princess, who waited with some astonishment till the Crusaderand the Varangian had finished their conference, when it was over, saidto him with interest, "I trust you feel that poor man's situation to betoo much at a distance from your own, to admit of your meeting him inwhat is termed knightly battle?"

  "On such a question," said the knight, "I have but one answer to anylady who does not, like my Brenhilda, cover herself with a shield, andbear a sword by her side, and the heart of a knight in her bosom."

  "And suppose for once," said the Princess Anna Comnena, "that Ipossessed such titles to your confidence, what would your answer be tome?"

  "There can be little reason for concealing it," said the Count. "TheVarangian is a brave man, and a strong one; it is contrary to my vow toshun his challenge, and perhaps I shall derogate from my rank byaccepting it; but the world is wide, and he is yet to be born who hasseen Robert of Paris shun the face of mortal man. By means of somegallant officer among the Emperor's guards, this poor fellow, whonourishes so strange an ambition, shall learn that he shall have hiswish gratified."

  "And then?"--said Anna Comnena.

  "Why, then," said the Count, "in the poor man's own language, God schawthe right!"

  "Which is to say," said the Princess, "that if my father has an officerof his guards honourable enough to forward so pious and reasonable apurpose, the Emperor must lose an ally, in whose faith he putsconfidence, or a most trusty and faithful soldier of his personalguard, who has distinguished himself upon many occasions?"

  "I am happy to hear," said the Count, "that the man bears such acharacter. In truth, his ambition ought to have some foundation. Themore I think of it, the rather am I of opinion that there is somethinggenerous, rather than derogatory, in giving to the poor exile, whosethoughts are so high and noble, those privileges of a man of rank,which some who were born in such lofty station are too cowardly toavail themselves of. Yet despond not, noble Princess; the challenge isnot yet accepted of, and if it was, the issue is in the hand of God. Asfor me, whose trade is war, the sense that I have something so seriousto transact with this resolute man, will keep me from other lesshonourable quarrels, in which a lack of occupation might be apt toinvolve me."

  The Princess made no farther observation, being resolved, by privateremonstrance to Achilles Tatius, to engage him to prevent a meetingwhich might be fatal to the one or the other of two brave men. The townnow darkened before them, sparkling, at the same time, through itsobscurity, by the many lights which illuminated the houses of thecitizens. The royal cavalcade held their way to the Golden Gate, wherethe trusty centurion put his guard under arms to receive them.

  "We must now break off, fair ladies," said the Count, as the party,having now dismounted, were standing together at the private gate ofthe Blacquernal Palace, "and find as we can, the lodgings which weoccupied last night."

  "Under your favour, no," said the Empress. "You must be content to takeyour supper and repose in quarters more fitting your rank; and," addedIrene, "with no worse quartermaster than one of the Imperial family whohag been your travelling companion."

  This the Count heard, with considerable inclination to accept thehospitality which was so readily offered. Although as devoted as a mancould well be to the charms of his Brenhilda, the very idea neverhaving entered his head of preferring another's beauty to hers, yet,nevertheless, he had naturally felt himself flattered by the attentionsof a woman of eminent beauty and very high rank; and the praises withwhich the Princess had loaded him, had
not entirely fallen to theground. He was no longer in the humour in which the morning had foundhim, disposed to outrage the feelings of the Emperor, and to insult hisdignity; but, flattered by the adroit sycophancy which the oldphilosopher had learned from the schools, and the beautiful Princesshad been gifted with by nature, he assented to the Empress's proposal;the more readily, perhaps, that the darkness did not permit him to seethat there was distinctly a shade of displeasure on the brow ofBrenhilda. Whatever the cause, she cared not to express it, and themarried pair had just entered that labyrinth of passages through whichHereward had formerly wandered, when a chamberlain, and a femaleattendant, richly dressed, bent the knee before them, and offered themthe means and place to adjust their attire, ere they entered theImperial presence. Brenhilda looked upon her apparel and arms, spottedwith the blood of the insolent Scythian, and, Amazon as she was, feltthe shame of being carelessly and improperly dressed. The arms of theknight were also bloody, and in disarrangement.

  "Tell my female squire, Agatha, to give her attendance," said theCountess. "She alone is in the habit of assisting to unarm and toattire me."

  "Now, God be praised," thought the Grecian lady of the bed-chamber,"that I am not called to a toilet where smiths' hammers and tongs arelike to be the instruments most in request!"

  "Tell Marcian, my armourer," said the Count, "to attend with the silverand blue suit of plate and mail which I won in a wager from the Countof Thoulouse." [Footnote: Raymond Count of Thoulouse, and St. Giles,Duke of Carboune, and Marquis of Provence, an aged warrior who had wonhigh distinction in the contests against the Saracens in Spain, was thechief leader of the Crusaders from the south of France. His title ofSt. Giles is corrupted by Anna Comnena into _Sangles_, by which nameshe constantly mentions him in the Alexiad.]

  "Might I not have the honour of adjusting your armour," said asplendidly drest courtier, with some marks of the armourer'sprofession, "since I have put on that of the Emperor himself?--may hisname be sacred!"

  "And how many rivets hast thou clenched upon the occasion with thishand," said the Count, catching hold of it, "which looks as if it hadnever been washed, save with milk of roses,--and with this childishtoy?" pointing to a hammer with ivory haft and silver head, which,stuck into a milk-white kidskin apron, the official wore as badges ofhis duty. The armourer fell back in some confusion. "His grasp," hesaid to another domestic, "is like the seizure of a vice!"

  While this little scene passed apart, the Empress Irene, her daughter,and her son-in-law, left the company, under pretence of making anecessary change in their apparel. Immediately after, Agelastes wasrequired to attend the Emperor, and the strangers were conducted to twoadjacent chambers of retirement, splendidly fitted up, and placed forthe present at their disposal, and that of their attendants. There weshall for a time leave them, assuming, with the assistance of their ownattendants, a dress which their ideas regarded as most fit for a greatoccasion; those of the Grecian court willingly keeping apart from atask which they held nearly as formidable as assisting at the lair of aroyal tiger or his bride.

  Agelastes found the Emperor sedulously arranging his most splendidcourt-dress; for, as in the court of Pekin, the change of ceremonialattire was a great part of the ritual observed at Constantinople.

  "Thou hast done well, wise Agelastes," said Alexius to the philosopher,as he approached with abundance of prostrations and genuflexions--"Thouhast done well, and we are content with thee. Less than thy wit andaddress must have failed in separating from their company this tamelessbull, and unyoked heifer, over whom, if we obtain influence, we shallcommand, by every account, no small interest among those who esteemthem the bravest in the host."

  "My humble understanding," said Agelastes, "had been infinitelyinferior to the management of so prudent and sagacious a scheme, had itnot been shaped forth and suggested by the inimitable wisdom of yourmost sacred Imperial Highness."

  "We are aware," said Alexius, "that we had the merit of blocking forththe scheme of detaining these persons, either by their choice asallies, or by main force as hostages. Their friends, ere yet they havemissed them, will be engaged in war with the Turks, and at no liberty,if the devil should suggest such an undertaking, to take arms againstthe sacred empire. Thus, Agelastes, we shall obtain hostages at leastas important and as valuable as that Count of Vermandois, whose libertythe tremendous Godfrey of Bouillon extorted from us by threats ofinstant war."

  "Pardon," said Agelastes, "if I add another reason to those which ofthemselves so heavily support your august resolution. It is possiblethat we may, by observing the greatest caution and courtesy towardsthese strangers, win them in good earnest to our side."

  "I conceive you, I conceive you,"--said the Emperor; "and this verynight I will exhibit myself to this Count and his lady in the royalpresence chamber, in the richest robes which our wardrobe can furnish.The lions of Solomon shall roar, the golden tree of Comnenus shalldisplay its wonders, and the feeble eyes of these Franks shall bealtogether dazzled by the splendour of the empire. These spectaclescannot but sink into their minds, and dispose them to become the alliesand servants of a nation so much more powerful, skilful, and wealthythan their own--Thou hast something to say, Agelastes. Years and longstudy have made thee wise; though we have given our opinion, thou maystspeak thine own, and live."

  Thrice three times did Agelastes press his brow against the hem of theEmperor's garment, and great seemed his anxiety to find such words asmight intimate his dissent from his sovereign, yet save him from theinformality of contradicting him expressly.

  "These sacred words, in which your sacred Highness has uttered yourmost just and accurate opinions, are undeniable, and incapable ofcontradiction, were any vain enough to attempt to impugn them.Nevertheless, be it lawful to say, that men show the wisest argumentsin vain to those who do not understand reason, just as you would invain exhibit a curious piece of limning to the blind, or endeavour tobribe, as scripture saith, a sow by the offer of a precious stone. Thefault is not, in such case, in the accuracy of your sacred reasoning,but in the obtuseness and perverseness of the barbarians to whom it isapplied."

  "Speak more plainly," said the Emperor; "how often must we tell thee,that in cases in which we really want counsel, we know we must becontented to sacrifice ceremony?"

  "Then in plain words," said Agelastes, "these European barbarians arelike no others under the cope of the universe, either on the things onwhich they look with desire, or on those which they consider asdiscouraging. The treasures of this noble empire, so far as theyaffected their wishes, would merely inspire them with the desire to goto war with a nation possessed of so much wealth, and who, in theirself-conceited estimation, were less able to defend, than theythemselves are powerful to assail. Of such a description, for instance,is Bohemond of Tarentum,--and such, a one is many a crusader less ableand sagacious than he;--for I think I need not tell your ImperialDivinity, that he holds his own self-interest to be the devoted guideof his whole conduct through this extraordinary war; and that,therefore, you can justly calculate his course, when once you are awarefrom which point of the compass the wind of avarice and self-interestbreathes with respect to him. But there are spirits among the Franks ofa very different nature, and who must be acted upon by very differentmotives, if we would make ourselves masters of their actions, and theprinciples by which they are governed. If it were lawful to do so, Iwould request your Majesty to look at the manner by which an artfuljuggler of your court achieves his imposition upon the eyes ofspectators, yet needfully disguises the means by which he attains hisobject. This people--I mean the more lofty-minded of these crusaders,who act up to the pretences of the doctrines which they callchivalry--despise the thirst of gold, and gold itself, unless to hilttheir swords, or to furnish forth some necessary expenses, as alikeuseless and contemptible. The man who can be moved by the thirst ofgain, they contemn, scorn, and despise, and liken him, in the meannessof his objects, to the most paltry serf that ever followed the plough,or wielded the spade. On th
e other hand, if it happens that theyactually need gold, they are sufficiently unceremonious in taking itwhere they can most easily find it. Thus, they are neither easily to bebribed by giving them sums of gold, nor to be starved into complianceby withholding what chance may render necessary for them. In the onecase, they set no value upon the gift of a little paltry yellow dross;in the other, they are accustomed to take what they want."

  "Yellow dross," interrupted Alexius. "Do they call that noble metal,equally respected by Roman and barbarian, by rich and poor, by greatand mean, by churchmen and laymen, which all mankind are fighting for,plotting for, planning for, intriguing for, and damning themselves for,both soul and body--by the opprobrious name of yellow dross? They aremad, Agelastes, utterly mad. Perils and dangers, penalties andscourges, are the arguments to which men who are above the universalinfluence which moves all others, can possibly be accessible."

  "Nor are they," said Agelastes, "more accessible to fear than they areto self-interest. They are indeed, from their boyhood, brought up toscorn those passions which influence ordinary minds, whether by meansof avarice to impel, or of fear to hold back. So much is this the case,that what is enticing to other men, must, to interest them, have thepiquant sauce of extreme danger. I told, for instance, to this veryhero, a legend of a Princess of Zulichium, who lay on an enchantedcouch, beautiful as an angel, awaiting the chosen knight who should, bydispelling her enchanted slumbers, become master of her person, of herkingdom of Zulichium, and of her countless treasures; and, would yourImperial Majesty believe me, I could scarce get the gallant to attendto my legend or take any interest in the adventure, till I assured himhe would have to encounter a winged dragon, compared to which thelargest of those in the Frank romances was but like a mere dragon-fly?"

  "And did this move the gallant?" said the Emperor.

  "So much so," replied the philosopher, "that had I not unfortunately,by the earnestness of my description, awakened the jealousy of hisPenthesilea of a Countess, he had forgotten the crusade and allbelonging to it, to go in quest of Zulichium and its slumberingsovereign."

  "Nay, then," said the Emperor, "we have in our empire (make us sensibleof the advantage!) innumerable tale-tellers who are not possessed inthe slightest degree of that noble scorn of gold which is proper to theFranks, but shall, for a brace of besants, lie with the devil, and beathim to boot, if in that manner we can gain, as mariners say, theweathergage of the Franks."

  "Discretion," said Agelastes, "is in the highest degree necessary.Simply to lie is no very great matter; it is merely a departure fromthe truth, which is little different from missing a mark at archery,where the whole horizon, one point alone excepted, will alike serve theshooter's purpose; but to move the Frank as is desired, requires aperfect knowledge of his temper and disposition, great caution andpresence of mind, and the most versatile readiness in changing from onesubject to another. Had I not myself been, somewhat alert, I might havepaid the penalty of a false step in your Majesty's service, by beingflung into my own cascade by the virago whom I offended."

  "A perfect Thalestris!" said the Emperor; "I shall take care whatoffence I give her."

  "If I might speak and live," said Agelastes, "the Caesar NicephorusBriennius had best adopt the same precaution."

  "Nicephorus," said the Emperor, "must settle that with our daughter. Ihave ever told her that she gives him too much of that history, ofwhich a page or two is sufficiently refreshing; but by our own self wemust swear it, Agelastes, that, night after night, hearing nothingelse, would subdue the patience of a saint!--Forget, good Agelastes,that them hast heard me say such a thing--more especially, remember itnot when thou art in presence of our Imperial wife and daughter."

  "Nor were the freedoms taken by the Caesar beyond the bounds of aninnocent gallantry," said Agelastes; "but the Countess, I must needssay, is dangerous. She killed this day the Scythian Toxartis, by whatseemed a mere fillip on the head."

  "Hah!" said the Emperor; "I knew that Toxartis, and he was like enoughto deserve his death, being a bold unscrupulous marauder. Take notes,however, how it happened, the names of witnesses, &c., that, ifnecessary, we may exhibit the fact as a deed of aggression on the partof the Count and Countess of Paris, to the assembly of the crusaders."

  "I trust," said Agelastes, "your Imperial Majesty will not easilyresign the golden opportunity of gaining to your standard persons whosecharacter stands so very high in chivalry. It would cost you but littleto bestow upon them a Grecian island, worth a hundred of their ownpaltry lordship of Paris; and if it were given under the condition oftheir expelling the infidels or the disaffected who may have obtainedthe temporary possession, it would be so much the more likely to be anacceptable offer. I need not say that the whole knowledge, wisdom, andskill of the poor Agelastes is at your Imperial Majesty's disposal."

  The Emperor paused for a moment, and then said, as if on fullconsideration, "Worthy Agelastes, I dare trust thee in this difficultand somewhat dangerous matter; but I will keep my purpose of exhibitingto them the lions of Solomon, and the golden tree of our Imperialhouse."

  "To that there can be no objection," returned the philosopher; "onlyremember to exhibit few guards, for these Franks are like a fieryhorse; when in temper he may be ridden with a silk thread, but when hehas taken umbrage or suspicion, as they would likely do if they sawmany armed men, a steel bridle would not restrain him."

  "I will be cautious," said the Emperor, "in that particular, as well asothers.--Sound the silver bell, Agelastes, that the officers of ourwardrobe may attend."

  "One single word, while your Highness is alone," said Agelastes. "Willyour Imperial Majesty transfer to me the direction of your menagerie,or collection of extraordinary creatures?"

  "You make me wonder," said the Emperor, taking a signet, bearing uponit a lion, with the legend, _Vicit Leo ex tribu Judae_. "This," hesaid, "will give thee the command of our dens. And now, be candid foronce with thy master--for deception is thy nature even with me--By whatcharm wilt thou subdue these untamed savages?"

  "By the power of falsehood," replied Agelastes, with deep reverence.

  "I believe thee an adept in it," said the Emperor. "And to which oftheir foibles wilt thou address it?"

  "To their love of fame," said the philosopher; and retreated backwardsout of the royal apartment, as the officers of the wardrobe entered tocomplete the investment of the Emperor in his Imperial habiliments.