COUNT ROBERT 
 OF PARIS 
 
 BY SIR WALTER SCOTT. 
 
 THE ASSASSIN AND VARANGIAN. 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK. 
 
COUNT EGBERT OF PARIS 
 
 BY 
 
 SIR WALTER SCOTT, Baet. 
 
 The European with the Asian shore — 
 
 Sophia's cupola with golden gleam — 
 The cypress groves— Olympus high and hoar— 
 
 The twelve isles, and the more than I could dream. 
 Far less describe, present tlie very view 
 That charm'd the charming Mary Montagu. 
 
 Don Jtutn. 
 
 EDIj^BUKGIi 
 
 ADAM AND CHAELES BLACK 
 
 1863 
 
PRssn 
 
 TALES OF MY LANDLORD, 
 
 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 [Sir Walter Scott transmitted from Naples, in February 1832, an 
 Introduction for Castle Dangerous ; but if he ever wrote one for a 
 Second Edition of Robert op Paris^ it has. not been discovered among 
 his papers. 
 
 Some notes, chiefly extracts from the books which he had been obsen^ed 
 to consult while dictatiiuj this novel, are now appended to its jDages ; and 
 in addition to what the author had given in the shape of historical infor- 
 mation respecting the principal real persons introduced, the ro*ider is hero 
 presented with what may probably amuse him, the passage of the Alexiad, 
 in which Anna Comnena describes the incident which originally, no doubt, 
 determined Sir Walter's choice of a hero. 
 
 May, A.D. 1097. — " As for the multitude of those who advanced towards 
 THE GREAT CITY, let it bo enough to say that they were as the stars in the 
 heaven, or as the sand upon the sea-shore. They were, in the words of 
 Homer, as many as the leaves and fiowers of spring. But for the names of 
 the leaders, though they are present in my memory, I will not relate them. 
 The numbers of these would alone deter me, even if my language furnished 
 the means of expressing their barbarous sounds ; and for what purpose 
 should I afflict my readers with a long enumeration of the names of those, 
 whose visible presence gave so much horror to all that beheld them ? 
 
 *' As soon, therefore, as they approached the Great City, they occupied 
 .the station ai^pointed for them by the Emperor, near to the monastery of 
 Cosmidius. But this multitude were not, like the Hellenic one of old, to 
 be restrained and governed by the loud voices of nine heralds ; they re- 
 quired the constant superintendence of chosen and valiant soldiers, to 
 keep them from violating the commands of the Emperor. 
 
 " He, meantime, laboured to obtain from the other leaders that acknow- 
 ledgment of his supreme authority, which had already been drawn from 
 Godfrey [rourocppe] himself. But, notwithstanding the willingness of some 
 to accede to tliis proposal, and their assistance in working on the minds 
 of their associates, the Emperor's endeavours had little success, as the 
 majority were looking for the arrival of Bohemund [Bai/.ioi'Tos], in whon^ 
 they placed their chief confidence, and resorted to eYsij ai-t with the view 
 
iV ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 of gaining time. The Emperor, whom it was not easy to deceive, pene- 
 trated their motives ; and by granting to one powerful person demands 
 which had been supposed out of all bounds of expectation, and by resort- 
 ing to a variety of other devices, he at leng-th prevailed, and won general 
 assent to the following of the example of Godfrey, who also was sent for in 
 person to assist in this business. 
 
 ''All, therefore, being assembled, and Godfrey among them, the oath 
 was taken ; but when all was finished, a certain Noble among these Counts 
 had the audacity to seat himself on the throne of the Emperor. [ToAurjoros 
 Tis OTTO TravTuy rcav Ko/jLrjrcou ivyevris cis top aKifj^noSa tov BactAecoy 
 iKaOicrev']. The Emperor restrained himself and said nothing, for he was 
 well acquainted of old with the nature of the Latins. 
 
 " But the Count Baldwin [BaASouivos] stepping forth, and seizing him 
 by the hand, dragged him thence, and with many reproaches said, ' It 
 becomes thee not to do such things here, especially after having taken the 
 oath of fealty [^8ov\eiav uTrotrxOjUe^'cJj. It is not the custom of the Koman 
 Emperors to permit any of their inferiors to sit beside thorn, not even of 
 such as are born subjects of their empire ; and it is necessary to respect 
 the customs of the country,' But he, answering nothing to Baldwin, 
 stared yet more fixedly upon the Emperor, and muttered to himself some- 
 thing in his own dialect, which, being interpreted, was to this effect — 
 ' Behold what rustic fellow [x^p'''^iis] is this, to be seated alone while 
 such leaders stand arovmd him ! ' The movement of his lips did not escape 
 the Emperor, who called to him one that understood the Latin dialect, and 
 inquired what words the man had spoken. When he heard them, the 
 Emperor said nothing to the other Latins, but kept the thing to himself. 
 When, however, the business was all over, he called near to him by him- 
 self that swelling and shameless Latin [v^^v^ocppoua iKeivov kui ayaiSi^, 
 and asked of him, who he was, of what lineage, and from what region he 
 had come. * I am a Frank,' said he, 'of pure blood, of the Nobles. One 
 thing I know, that where thi^ee roads meet in the place from which I came, 
 there is an ancient church, in which whosoever has the desire to measure 
 himself against another in single combat, prays God to help him therein, 
 and afterwards abides the coming of one willing to encounter him. At 
 that spot long time did I remain, but the man bold enough to stand against 
 me I found not.' Hearing these w^ords the Emperor said, 'If hitherto 
 thou hast sought battles in vain, the time is at hand which will furnish thee 
 with abundance of them. And I advise thee to place thyself neither before 
 tlie phalanx, nor in its rear, but to stand fast in the midst of thy fellow- 
 soldiers ; for of old time I am well acquainted with the warfare of the 
 Turks.' With such advice he dismissed not only this man, but the rest 
 of those who were about to depart on that expedition." — Alexiad, Book x., 
 pp. 237, 238. 
 
 Ducange, as is mentioned in the novel, identifies the church, thus do- 
 scribed by the crusader, with that of Oitr Lady of Soissons, of which a 
 French poet of the days of Louis VII. says — 
 
 Veiller y vont encore li Pelerin 
 
 Cil qui bataille veulent fere et fournir. 
 
 Ducange in Alexiad, p. 86. 
 
 The Princess Anna Comnena, it may be proper to observe, was born on 
 the first of December, a.D. 1083, and was consequently in her fifteenth 
 year when the chiefs of the first crusade made their appearance in her 
 father's court. Even then, however, it is not improbable that she might 
 have been the wife of Nicephorus Bryennius, whom, many years after his 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. y 
 
 death, she speaks of in her history as rou €iJ.ov Kaicrapa, and in other terms 
 equally affectionate. The bitterness with which she uniformly mentions 
 Bohemund, Count of Tarentum, afterwards Prince of Antioch, has, how- 
 ever^ been ascribed to a disappointment in love ; and on one remarkable 
 occasion, the Princess certainly expressed great contempt of her husband, 
 I am aware of no other authorities for the liberties taken with this lady's 
 conjugal character in the novel. 
 
 Her husband, Nicephorus Bryennius, was the grandson of the person of 
 that name, who figures in history as the rival, in a contest for the imperial 
 throne, of Nicephorus Botoniates, He was, on his marriage with Anna 
 Comnena, invested with the rank of Pojihypersehastos, or Oranium Av.gv.s- 
 iissimus ; but Alexius deeply offended him, by afterwards recognising the 
 superior and simpler dignity of a Sehasios. His eminent qualities, both in 
 peace and war, are acknowledged by Gibbon : and he has left us four books 
 of Memoirs, detailing the early part of his father-indaw's history, and 
 valuable as being the woi'k of an eyewitness of the most important events 
 which he describes. Anna Comnena appears to have considered it her 
 duty to take up the task Avhich her husband had not lived to complete ; 
 and hence the Alexiad — certainlj'-, with all its defects, the first historical 
 work that has as yet proceeded from a female pen. 
 
 ''The life of the Emperor Alexius," says Gibbon, "has been delineated 
 by the pen of a favourite daughter, who was inspired by tender regard for 
 his person, and a laudable zeal to perpetuate his virtues. Conscious of the 
 just suspicion of her readers, the Princess repeatedly protests that, besides 
 her personal knowledge, she had searched the discourses and writings of 
 the most respectable veterans ; and that after an interval of thirty years, 
 forgotten by, and forgetful of the world, her mournful solitude was inac- 
 cessible to hope and fear : that truth, the naked perfect truth, was more 
 dear than the memory of her parent. Yet instead of the simplicity of 
 style and narrative which wins our belief, an elaborate affectation of 
 rhetoric and science betrays in every page the vanity of a female author. 
 The genuine character of Alexius is lost in a vague constellation of virtues ; 
 and the perpetual strain of panegyric and apology awakens our jealousy to 
 question the veracity of the historian, and the merit of her hero. We 
 cannot, however, refuse her judicious and important remark, that the 
 disorders of the times were the misfortune and the glory of Alexius ; and 
 that every calamity which can afflict a declining empire was accumulated 
 on his reign by the justice of Heaven and the vices of his predecessors. 
 In the east, the victorious Turks had spread, from Persia to the Hellespont, 
 the reign of the Koran and the Crescent ; the west was invaded by the 
 adventui'ous valour of the Normans ; and, in the moments of peace, the 
 Danube poured forth new swarms, who had gained in the science of war 
 what they had lost in the ferociousness of their manners. The sea was not 
 less hostile than the land ; and, while the frontiers were assaulted by an 
 open enemy, the palace was disti-acted with secret conspiracy and treason. 
 
 " On a sudden, the banner of the Cross was displa3^ed by the Latins ; 
 Europe was precipitated on Asia ; and Constantinople had almost been 
 swept away by this impetuous deluge. In the tempest Alexius steered 
 the imperial vessel with dexterity and courage. At the head of his armies, 
 he was bold in action, skilful in stratagem, patient of fatigue, ready to 
 improve his advantages, and rising from his defeats with inexhaustible 
 vigour. The discipline of the camp was reversed, and a new generation of 
 men and soldiers was created by the precepts and example of their leader. 
 In his intercourse with the Latins, Alexius was patient and artful ; his dis- 
 cerning eye pervaded the new system of an unknown world. 
 
 "The increase of the male and female branches of his family adorned 
 
t! advertisement. 
 
 the throne, and secured the succession ; but their princely luxury and 
 pride offended the patricians, exhausted the revenue, and insulted the 
 misery of the people. Anna is a faithful witness that his happiness was 
 destroyed and his health broken by the cares of a public life ; the patience 
 of Constantinople was fatigued by the length and severity of his reign ; and 
 before Alexius expired, he had lost the love and reverence of bis sxibjects. The 
 clergy could not forgive his application of the sacred riches to the defence 
 of the state ; but they applauded his theological learning, and ardent zeal 
 for the oi-thodox faith, which he defended with his tongue, his pen, and 
 bis sv/ord. Even the sincerity of his moral and religious virtues was sus- 
 pected by the persons who had passed their lives in his confidence. In 
 his last hours, when he was pressed by his wife Irene to alter the succes- 
 sion, he raised his head, and breathed a pious ejaculation on the vanity of 
 the world. The indignant reply of the Empress maj be inscribed as an 
 epitaph on his tomb, — ' You die, as you have lived — a hypocrite.' 
 
 " it was the wish of Irene to supplant the eldest of her sons in favour of 
 her daughter, the Princess Anna, whose philosophy woiild not have refused 
 the v/eight of a diadem. But the order of male succession was asserted by 
 the friends of then- country ; the lawful heir drew the royal sig-net from the 
 finger of his insensible or conscious father, and the empire obeyed the 
 master of the palace, Anna Comnena was stimulated by ambition and 
 revenge to conspire against the life of her brother ; and when the design 
 was prevented b}'- the fears or scruples of her husband, she passionately ex- 
 claimed that nature had mistaken the two sexes, and had endowed Brycn- 
 nius with the soul of a woman. After the discovery of her treason, the life 
 and fortune of Anna were justly forfeited to the laws. Her life was spared 
 by the clemencj'- of the emperor, but he visited the jJomp and treas\ares of 
 her palace, and bestowed the rich confiscation on the m.ost deserving of 
 his friends." — Histonj of the Decline and Fall of the Roriian Empire, chap, 
 siviii. 
 
 The year of Anna's death is nowhere recorded. She appears to have 
 written the Alexioxl in a convent ; and to have spent nearly thirty. years 
 m this retirement, before her book was published. 
 
 For accurate particulars of the public events touched on in .Rohert of 
 Paris, the reader is referred to the above quoted author, chapters xlviii., 
 xlix., and 1. ; and to the first volume of Mills' Historj- of the Crusades. 
 
 J. G. L.j 
 
 LoxDON, 1st March 18X3. 
 
INTRODUCTOEY ADDRESS. 
 
 JEDEDIAII CLEISHBOTHAM, U.A, 
 
 To the loving Reader wisheth Jcealth and jjrosyjeriti/. 
 
 It would ill become me, whose name has been spread aoroad by those for- 
 mer collections bearing this title of " Tales of my Landlord," and who 
 have, by the candid voice of a numerons crowd of readers, been taught to 
 think that I merit not the empty fame alone, but also the more substantial 
 rewards, of successful pencraft — it would, I say, ill become me to suffer 
 this, my youngest literary babe, and, jjrobably at the same time, the last 
 child of mine old age, to pass into the world without some such modest 
 apology for its defects as it has been my custom to put forth on preceding 
 occasions of the like nature. The world has been sufficiently instnacted, 
 of a truth, that I am not individually the person to whom is to be ascribed 
 the actual inventing or designing of the scheme upon which these Tales, 
 which men have found so pleasing, were originally constructed ; as also 
 that neither am I the actual workman, who, furnished by a skilful archi- 
 tect with an acciu-ate plan, including elevations and directions both general 
 and particular, has from thence toiled to bring forth and complete the 
 intended shape and projDortion of each division of the edifice. Neverthe- 
 less, I have been indisputably the man, who, in placing my name at the 
 head of the undertaking, have rendered myself mainly and principally re- 
 sponsible for its general success. When a ship of war goeth forth to battle 
 with her crew, consisting of sundry foremast-men and various officers, 
 such subordinate persons are not said to gain or lose the vessel which thej'- 
 have manned or" attacked (although each was natheless suflftciently active 
 in his own department) ; but it is forthwith bruited and noised abroad, 
 without further phrase, that Captain Jedediah Cleishbotham hath lost 
 such a seventy-four, or won that which, by the united exertions of all 
 thereto pertaining, is taken from the enemy. In the same manner, shame 
 and soxTow it were, if I, the voluntary captain and founder of these adven- 
 tures, after having uj^on throe divers occasions assumed to myself the 
 emoluments and reputation thereof, should now withdraw myself from the 
 risks of failure proper to this fourth and last outgoing. No ! I will rather 
 addi-ess my associates in this bottom with the constant spirit of Matthew 
 Prioi''s heroine : — 
 
 " Did I hut purpose to embark with tliee 
 On the smooth surface of some sunmiev sea, 
 But would forsake tlie waves, and make the shore, 
 When the winds whistle, and the billows roar ? " 
 
y;\\[ INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
 
 As little, nevertheless, would it become my years and station not to admit 
 without cavil certain errors which may justly be pointed out in these con- 
 cluding " Tales of My Landlord/' — the last, and, it is manifest, never 
 carefully revised or corrected handiwork, of Mr Peter Pattison, now no 
 more ; the same worthy young man now so repeatedly mentioned in these 
 Introductory Essays, and never without that tribute to his good sense and 
 talents, nay, even genius, which his contributions to this my undertaking 
 fairly entitled him to claim at the hands of his surviving friend and patron. 
 These pages, I have said, were the nltimus labor of mine ingenious assist- 
 ant ; but I say not, as the great Dr Pitcairn of his hero — uliimus aiqitc 
 optimus. Alas ! even the giddiness attendant on a journey on this Man- 
 chester railroad is not so perilous to the nerves, as that too frequent exer- 
 cise in the merry-go-round of the ideal world, whereof the tendency to 
 render the fancj^ confused, and the judgment inert, hath in all ages been 
 noted, not only by the erudite of the earth, but even by many of the thick- 
 witted Ofelli themselves ; whether the rapid pace at which the fancy 
 moveth in such exercitations, where the wish of the penman is to him like 
 Prince Houssain's tapestry, in the Eastern fable, be the chief source of 
 peril— or whether, without reference to this wearing speed of movement, 
 the dwelling habitually in those realms of imagination, be as little suited 
 for a man's intellect, as to breathe for any considerable space ''the diffi- 
 cult air of the mountain- top " is to the physical structure of his outward 
 frame — this question belongeth not to me ; but certain it is, that we often 
 discover in the works of the foremost of this order of men, marks of be- 
 wilderment and confusion, such as do not so frequently occur in those of 
 persons to whom nature hath conceded fancy weaker of wing, or less am- 
 bitious in fhght. 
 
 It is affecting to see the gi'eat Miguel Cervantes himself, even like the 
 sons of meaner men, defending himself against the critics of the day, who 
 assailed him upon such little discrepancies and inaccuracies as are apt to 
 cloud the progress even of a mind like his, when the evening is closing 
 around it, " It is quite a common thing," says Don Quixote, " for men 
 who have gained a very great reputation by their writings before they 
 were printed, quite to lose it afterwards, or, at least, the greater part." 
 — "The reason is plain," answers the Bachelor Carrasco ; "their faults 
 are more easily discovered after the books are jDrinted, as being then 
 more read, and more narrowly examined, especially if the author has 
 been much, cried up before, for then the severity of the scrutiny is sure 
 to be the greater. Those who have raised themselves a name by their 
 own ingenuity, great poets and celebrated historians, are commonly, if 
 not always, envied by a set of men who delight in censuring the writings 
 of others, though they could never produce any of their own." — "That is 
 no wonder," quoth Don Quixote; "there are many divines that would 
 make but very dull preachers, and yet are quick enough at finding faults 
 and superfluities in other men s sermons." — " All this is true," says Car- 
 rasco, " and therefore I could wish such censurers would be more mer- 
 ciful and less scrupulous, and not dwell ungenerously upon small spots 
 that are in a manner but so many atoms on the face of the clear sun they 
 murmur at. If aliqiiando dormital Homerus, let them consider how many 
 nights he kept himself awake to bring his noble works to light as little 
 dai'kened with defects as might be. But, indeed, it may many times 
 haj^pen, that what is censured for a fault, is rather an ornament, as moles 
 often add to the beauty of a face. When all is said, he that jiublishes a 
 book runs a great risk, since nothing can be so unlikely as that he should 
 have composed one capable of securing the approbation of every reader." 
 — " Sure," says Don Quixote, "that which treats of me can have pleased 
 
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. ix 
 
 but few?" — ''Quite the contrary," says Carrasco ; "for as iitjlnitns est 
 numei-us stultomm, so an infinite number have admired your history. 
 Only some there are who have taxed the author with want of memory or 
 sincerity, because he forgot to give an account who it was that stole 
 Sancho's Dapple, for that particular is not mentioned there, only we find, 
 by the story, that it was stolen ; and yet, by and by, we find him riding 
 the same ass again, without any previous light given us into the matter. 
 Then they say that the author forgot to tell the reader what Sancho did 
 with the hundred pieces of gold he found in the portmanteau in the Sierra 
 Morena, for there is not a word said of them more ; and many people have 
 a great mind to know what he did with them, and how he spent them ; 
 which is one of the most material points in which the work is defective." 
 
 How amusingly Sancho is made to clear up the obscurities thus alluded 
 to by the Bachelor Carrasco, no reader can have forgotten ; but there re- 
 mained enough of similar lacunce, inadvertencies, and mistakes, to exer- 
 cise the ingenuity of those Spanish critics who were too wise in their own 
 conceit to profit by the good-natured and modest apology of this immortal 
 author. 
 
 There can be no doubt that, if Cervantes had deigned to use it, he 
 might have pleaded also the apologj^ of indifferent health, under which he 
 certainly labom-ed while finishing the second part of " Don Quixote." It 
 must be too obvious that the intervals of such a malady as then affected 
 Cervantes, could not be the most favourable in the world for revising 
 lighter compositions, and correcting, at least, those grosser eiTors and 
 Imperfections which each author should, if it were but for shame's sake, 
 remove from his work, before bringing it forth into the broad light of day, 
 where they will never fail to be cUstinctly seen, nor lack ingenious per- 
 sons, who will be too happy in discharging the office of pointing them 
 out. 
 
 It is more than time to explain with what pmpose we have called thus 
 fully to memory the many venial errors of the inimitable Cervantes, and 
 those passages in which he has rather defied his adversaries than pleaded 
 his own justification ; for I suppose it will be readily granted, that the 
 difference is too wide betwixt that great wit of Spain and ourselves, to 
 permit us to use a buckler which was rendered sufficiently formidable 
 only by the strenuous hand in which it was placed. 
 
 The history of my first publications is sufficiently well known. Nor did 
 I relinquish the purpose of concluding these ^'^ Tales of My Landlord," 
 K^hich had been so remarkably fortunate ; but Death, which steals upon 
 us all with an inaudible foot, cut short the ingenious young man to whose 
 memory I composed that inscription, and erected, at my own charge, that 
 monument which protects his remains, by the side of the river CTander, 
 which he has contributed so much to render immortal, and in a place of 
 his own selection, not very distant from the school under my care. i In a 
 word, the ingenious INIr Pattison was removed from his place. 
 
 Nor did I confine my care to his posthumous fame alone, but carefully 
 inventoried and preserved the effects which he left behind him, namely, 
 the contents of his small wardrobe, and a number of printed books of 
 somewhat more consequence, together with certain woefully blurred manu- 
 scripts, discovered in his repository. On looking these over, I found 
 them to contain two Tales, called " Coimt Robert of Paris," and " Castle 
 Dangerous ; " but was seriously disappointed to perceive that they were 
 by no means in that state of correctness which would induce an experi- 
 
 1 See Volume v. of the New Edition of the Waverley Novels, p. 22, for some cir- 
 cumstances attending this erection. 
 
X INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
 
 cnced person to pronounce any writing', in tlie technical langnasfo of book- 
 craft, "prepared for press." There were not ovAy hiatus valde deflendi, 
 but even grievous inconsistencies, and other mistalces, which tlie penman's 
 leisurely revision, had he been spared to bestow it, would doubtless have 
 cleared away. After a considerate perusal, I no question flattered myself 
 that these manuscripts, with all their faults, contained here and there 
 passages v/hich seemed plainly to intimate that severe indisposition had 
 been unable to extinguisli altogether th.e brilliancy of that fancy which the 
 world had been pleased to acknowledge in the creations of Old Mortality, 
 the Bride of Lammennoor, and others of tliese narratives. But I, never- 
 theless, threw the manuscripts into my drawer, resolving not to think of 
 committing them to the Ballantynian ordeal, until I could either obtain 
 the assistance of some capable person to supply deficiencies and correct 
 errors, so as they might face the public with credit, or perhaps niimerous 
 and more serious avocations might permit me to dedicate my own time 
 and laboiu' to that task. 
 
 While I was in this uncertainty, I had a visit from a stranger, who was 
 announced as a j'oung gentleman desirous of speaking with me on parti- 
 cular business. I immediately augured the accession of a new boarder, 
 but was at once checked by observing that the outward man of the stranger 
 was, in a most remarkable degree, what mine host of the Sir William Wal- 
 lace, in his phraseology, calls seexbj. His black coat had seen service ; the 
 waistcoat of grey plaid bore yet stronger marks of having encountered 
 more than one campaign ; his third piece of dress was an absolute veteran i 
 compared to the others ; his shoes were so loaded with mud as showed his I 
 journey must have been pedestrian ; and a grey inand, which fluttered I 
 around his wasted limbs, completed such an equipment as, since Juvenal's 
 days, has been the livery of the poor scholar. I therefore concluded that 
 I beheld a candidate for the vacant office of usher, and prepared to listen 
 to his proposals with the dignity becoming my station ; but v/hat was my 
 surprise when I fouiid I had before me, in this rusty student, no less a 
 man than Paul, the brother of Peter Pattison, come to gather in his bro- 
 ther's succession, and possessed, it seemed, with no small idea of the value 
 of that pai-t of it which consisted in the productions of his pen ! 
 
 By the rapid study I made of him, this Paul was a sharp lad, imbuoci 
 with some tincture of letters, like his regi'etted brother, but totally desti- 
 tute of those amiable qualities which had often induced me' to say within 
 liiyself, that Peter was, like the famous John Gay, — 
 
 " In wit a man, simplicitj'^ a child." 
 
 He set little by the legacy of my deceased assistant's wardrobe, nor did 
 the books hold much greater value in his eyes : but be peremptorily de- 
 manded to be put in possession of the manuscri]jts, alleging, with obsti- 
 nacy, that no definite bargain had been completed between his late brother 
 and me, and at length produced tlie opinion to that effect of a writer, or 
 man of business, — a class of persons with whom I have always chosen to 
 have as little concern as possible. 
 
 But I had one defence left, which came to my aid, tanquam dens ex 
 inachhiA. This I'apacious Paul Pattison could not pretend to wrest the 
 disputed nraiuiscripts out of my possession, unless upon repayment of a 
 considerable sum of money, which I had advanced from time to time to 
 the deceased Peter, and particularly to purchase a small annuity fur his 
 aged mother. These advances, with the charges of the funeral and other 
 expenses, amounted to a considerable s^im, which the poverty-struck stu- 
 dent and his acute legal adviser equally foresaw great difficulty in liqviid- 
 
INTEODUCTORY ADDRESS. x} 
 
 ating. The said Mr Paul Pattison, therefore, listened to a suggestion, 
 
 I which I dropped as if by accident, that if he thought himself capable of 
 
 filling his brother's place of carrying the v/ork through the press, I would 
 
 I make him -welcome to bed and board within mj^ mansion while he was thus 
 
 engaged, onl}'- requiring his occasional assistance at hearing the more ad- 
 
 j vanced scholars. This seemed to promise a close of our dispute, alike 
 
 f satisfactory to all parties, and the first act of Paul was to draw on me for 
 
 I a. round sum, under pretence that his wardrobe must be wliolly refitted. 
 
 I To this I made no objection, though it certainly showed like' vanity to 
 
 purchase garments in the extremity of the mode, when not only great 
 
 part of the defunct's habiliments were very fit for a twelvemonth's use, 
 
 but as I myself had been, but yesterday as it were, equipped in a becoming 
 
 new stand of black clothes, Mr Pattison would have been welcome to the 
 
 use of such of my quondam raiment as lie thought suitable, as indeed had 
 
 always been the case with his deceased brother. 
 
 The school, I must needs say, came tolerably on. My j'oungster was 
 very smart, and seemed to be so active in his duty of usher, if I may so 
 speak, that he even overdid his part therein, and I began to feel myself a 
 cipher in my own school. 
 
 I comforted myself with the belief that the publication was advancing 
 as fast as I could desire. On this subject, Paul Pattison, like ancient Pis- 
 tol, " talked bold words at the bridge," and that not only at our house, 
 but in the society of our neighbours, amongst whom, instead of imitat- 
 ing the retired and monastic manner of his brother deceased, he became 
 a gay visitor, and such a reveller, that in process of time he was observed 
 to vilipend the modest fare which had at first been esteemed a banquet by 
 his hungiy appetite, and thei-eby highly displeased my wife, who, Avith. 
 justice, applauds herself for the plentiful, clcanl}-, and healthy victuals, 
 ■wherewith she maintains her ushers and boarders. 
 
 Upon the whole, I rather hoped than entertained a sincere confidence 
 that all was going on well, and was in that unpleasant state of m.ind v.inch 
 j)i-ecedes the open breach betv.'cen two associates who have been long jea- 
 lous of each other, but are as yet deterred by a sense of mutual interest 
 from coming to an open ruptiire. 
 
 The first thing which alarmed mo was a rumour in the village, that Paul 
 Pattison intended, in some little space, to undertake a voyage to the Con- 
 tinent — on account of his health, as was pretended, but"^ as the same 
 report averred, much more with the view of gratifying the curiosity which 
 his perusal of the classics had impressed upon him, than for any otlicr 
 purpose. I was, I say, rather alarmed at this susiimis, and began to 
 reflect that the retirement of Mr Pattison, unless his loss could be supplied 
 in good time, was like to be a blow to the establishment ; for, in truth, 
 this Paul had a winning way with the boys, especially those who v/ere 
 gentle-tempered ; so that I must confess my doubts v/hether, in certain 
 respects, I myself could have fully supplied his place in the school, with 
 all my authority and experience. My wife, jealous, as became her station, 
 of Mr Pattison's intentions, adAdsed me to take the matter up immediately, 
 and go to the bottom at once ; and, indeed, 1 had always found that 
 way answered best with my boys. 
 
 Mrs Cleishbotham was not long before renewing the siibject ; for, like 
 roost of the race of Xantippe (though my helpmate is a well-spoken w^oman), 
 she loves to thrust in her oar where she is not able to pull it to purpose. 
 *' You are a shai-p-witted man, Mr Cleishbotham," would she observe, 
 '' and a learned man, Mr Cleishbotham — and the schoolmaster of Gander- 
 cleuch, Mr Cleishbotham, which is saying all in one word ; but many a 
 man almost as great as yourself has lost the saddle by suffering an inferior 
 
Xll INTllODUCTOUY ADDRESS. 
 
 to get up behind him ; and tbongli, with tlie world, Mr Cleishbotham, you 
 have the name of doing- everything, both in directing the school and in 
 this new profitable book line which you have taken up, yet it begins to be 
 the common talk of Gandercleuch, both up the water and down the water, 
 that the usher both writes the dominie's books, and teaches the dominie's 
 school. Ay, ay, ask maid, wife, or widow, and she'll tell ye, the least 
 gaitling among them all comes to Paul Pattison with his lesson as natur- 
 ally as they come to me for their four-hours, puir things ; and never ane 
 thmks of applying to you aboot a kittle turn, or a crabbed word, or about 
 onything else, unless it were for licet exire, or the mending of an auld pen." 
 
 Now, this address assailed me on a summer evening, when I was whiling 
 away my leisure hours with the end of a cutty pipe, and indulging in such 
 bland imaginations as the Nicotian weed is wont to produce, more especi- 
 ally in the case of studious persons, devoted tmisis severioribus. I was na- 
 turally loth to leave my misty sanctuary ; and endeavoured to silence the 
 clamour of Mrs Cleishbotham's tongue, which has something in it pecul- 
 iarly shrill and penetrating. " Woman," said I, with a tone of domestic 
 authority befitting the occasion, " res tuas agas ; — mind your washings and 
 your wringings, your stufiings and your physicking, or whatever concerns 
 the outward person of the pupils, and leave the progress of their education 
 to my usher, Paul Pattison, and myself." 
 
 " I am glad to see," added the accursed woman (that T should say so !), 
 '^ that ye have the grace to name him foremost, for there is little doubt, 
 that he ranks first of the troop, if ye wad but hear what the neighbours 
 speak — or whisper." 
 
 '' What do they whisper, thou sworn sister of the Eumenides V cried T, 
 —the irritating oestrum of the woman's objurgation totally counterbalanc- 
 ing tbe sedative effects both of pipe and pot. 
 
 " Whisper ? " resumed she in her shrillest note — '^ why, they whisper 
 .loud enough for me at least to hear them, that the schoolmaster of Gandei-- 
 cleuch is turned a doited auld woman, and spends all his; time in tippling 
 strong drink with the keeper of the public-house, and leaves school and 
 bootmaking, and a' the rest o't, to the care of his usher ; and, also, the 
 wives in Gandercleuch say, that you have engaged Paul Pattison to write 
 a new book, which is to beat a' the lave that gaed afore it ; and to show 
 what a sair lift you have o' the job, j'ou didna sae muckie as ken the name 
 o't — no, nor whether it was to be about some Heathen Greek, or the Black 
 Douglas." 
 
 This was said with such bitterness that it penetrated to the very quick, 
 and I hurled the poor old pipe, like one of Homer's spears, not in the face 
 of my provoking helpmate, though the temptation was strong, but into the 
 river Gander, which, as is now well known to tourists from the uttermost 
 parts of the earth, pm-sues its quiet meanders beneath the bank on which 
 the schoolhouse is pleasantly situated ; and, starting up, fixed on my head 
 the cocked hat (the pride of Messrs Grieve and Scott's repositoiy), and 
 plunging into the valley of the brook, pursued my way upwai'ds, the voice 
 of Mrs Cleishbotham accompanying me in my retreat with something like 
 the angry scream of triumph with which the brood-goose pursues the flight 
 of some unmannerly cur or idle boy who has intruded upon her premises, 
 and fled before her. Indeed, so great was the influence of this clamour of 
 scorn and wrath which hung upon my rear, that while it rung in my ears, 
 I was so moved that I instinctively tucked the skirts of my black coat 
 under my arm, as if I had been in actual danger of being seized on by the 
 grasp of the pursuing enemy. Nor was it till I had almost reached the 
 well-known burial-place, in which it was Peter Pattison's hap to meet the 
 far-famed personage called Old Mortality, that I made a halt for the pur- 
 
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. xill 
 
 pose of composing my perturbed si^irits, and considering* what was to be 
 done ; for as yet my mind was agitated by a chaos of passions, of wldcb 
 anger was predominant ; and for what reason, or against whom, I enter 
 tained such tumultuous displeasure, it was not easy for me to determine. 
 
 Nevertheless, having settled my cocked hat with becoming accuracy on 
 my well-powdered wig, and suffered it to remain uplifted for a moment to 
 cool my flushed brow — having, moreover, re-adjusted and shaken to rights 
 the skirts of my black coat, I came into case to answer to my own questions, 
 w-hich, till these manoeuvres had been sedately accomplished, I might have 
 asked myself in vain. 
 
 In the first place, therefore, to use the phrase of Mr Docket, the writer 
 
 (that is, the attorney) of our village of Gandercleuch, I became satisfied that 
 
 my anger was directed against all and sundry, or, in law Latin, contre omnes 
 
 mortales, and more particularly against the neighbourhood of Gandercleuch, 
 
 , for cii'culating reports to the prejudice of my literary talents, as well as my 
 
 accomplishments as a pedagogue, and transferring the fame thereof to mine 
 
 own usher. Secondly, against my spouse, Dorothea Cleishbotham, for 
 
 transferring- the said calumnious reports to my ears in a preruj:)± and un- 
 
 I seemly manner, and without due respect either to the language which she 
 
 I made use of, or the person to whom she spoke, — treating affairs in which I 
 
 ' was so intimately concerned as if they were proper subjects for jest among 
 
 1 gossips at a christening, where the womankind claim the privilege of wor- 
 
 } shipping the Bona Dca according to their secret female rites. Thirdly, I 
 
 : became clear that I was entitled to respond to any whom it concerned to 
 
 I inquire, that my wrath was kindled against Paul Pattison, my usher, for 
 
 \ giving occasion both for the neighbours of Gandercleuch entertaining such 
 
 1 opinions, and for Mrs Cleishbotham disrespectfully urging them to my face, 
 
 since neither circumstance could have existed, without he had put forth 
 
 \ sinful misrepresentations of transactions, private and confidential, and of 
 
 j( which I had myself entirely refrained from dropping any the least hint to 
 
 [! any third person. 
 
 This arrangement of my ideas having contributed to soothe the stormy 
 atmosphere of which they had been the oflspring, gave reason a time to pre- 
 dominate, and to ask me, with her calm but clear voice, whether, under all 
 the circumstances, I did well to nourish so indiscriminate an indignation ? 
 In fine, on closer examination, the various splenetic thoughts I had been in- 
 dulging against other parties, began to be merged in that resentment 
 against my perfidious usher, which, like the serpent of Moses, swallowed 
 up all subordinate objects of displeasure. To put myself at open feud with 
 the whole of my neighbours, unless I had been certain of some effectual 
 mode of avenging myself upon them, -would have been an undertaking too 
 weighty for my means, and not unlikely, if rashly grappled withal, to end 
 in my ruin. To make a public quarrel with my wife, on such an account 
 as her opinion of my literary accomplishments, would sound ridiculous : and, 
 besides, Mrs C. was sure to have all the women on her side, who vfould re- 
 present her as a wife persecuted by her husband for offering him good 
 advice, and urging it vipon him with only too enthusiastic sincerity. 
 
 There remained Paul Pattison, undoubtedly, the most natural and proper 
 object of my indignation, since I might be said to have him in my own 
 power, and might punish him by dismissal, at my pleasure. Yet even vin- 
 dictive proceedings against the said Paul, however easy to be enforced, 
 might be productive of serious consequences to my own purse ; and I began 
 to reflect, with anxiety, that in this world it is not often that the gratifica- 
 tion of our angry passions lies in the same road with the advancement of 
 our interest, and that the wise man, the vere so.jnens, seldom hesitates which 
 of these two he ought to prefer. 
 
XIV l.NTllODUCTORY ADDllESS. 
 
 I recollected also that I was quite uncertain how far the present usher 
 had really been guilty of the foul acts of assumption charged against him. 
 In a word, I began to perceive that it would be no light matter, at once, 
 and without maturer jjerpending of sundiy collateral punctiunctda, to break 
 up a joint-stock adventure, or society, as civilians term it, which, if profit- 
 able to him, had at least promised to be no less so to me, established in 
 years and learning and reputation so much his superior. Moved by which, 
 and other the like considerations, I resolved to proceed with becoming cau- 
 tion on the occasion, and not, by stating my causes of complaint too hastily 
 in the outset, exasperate into a positive breach what might only prove some 
 small misunderstanding, easily explained or apologised for, and which, like 
 a leak in a new vessel, being once discovered and carefully stopped, renders 
 the vessel but more sea-worthj'- than it was before. 
 
 About the time that I had adopted this healing resolution, I reached the 
 spot where the almost perpendicular face of a steep hill seems to terminate 
 the valley, or at least divides it into two dells, each serving as a cradle to 
 its own mountain-stream, the Gruff-quack, namely, and the shallower, but 
 more noigy, Gusedub, on the left hand, which, at their union, form the 
 Gander, properly so called. Each of these little valleys has a walk winding 
 up to its recesses, rendered more easy by the laboiu-s of the poor during the 
 late hard season, and one of vv'hich bears the name of Pattison's path, while 
 the other had been kindly consecrated to my own memory, by the title of 
 the Dominie's Daidling-bit. Here I made certain to meet my associate, 
 Paul Pattison, for by one or other of these roads he wa,s wont to return to 
 my house of an evenir,;^-, after his lengthened rambles. 
 
 Nor was it long l-.c\;i-e I espied him descending the Gusedub by that tor- 
 tuous path, markii);c po strongly the character of a Scottish glen. He was 
 easily distinguished, indeed, at some distance, bj^ his jaunty swagger, in 
 which he presented to you the flat of his leg, like the manly knave of clubs, 
 apparently with the most perfect contentment, not only with liis leg and 
 boot, but with every part of his outward man, and the whole fashion of his 
 garments, and, one would almost have thought, the contents of his pockets. 
 
 In this, his wonted guise, he approached me, where I was seated near 
 the meeting of the waters, and I could not but discern, that his first impulse 
 was to pass me witliout any jirolonged or formal greeting. But as that 
 would not have been decent, considering the terms on which we stood, he 
 seemed to adopt, on reflection, a course directly opposite ; bustled up to 
 me with an air of alacrity, and, I may add, impudence ; and hastened at 
 once into the middle of the impoitant affairs which it had been my pui^pose 
 to bring under discussion in a manner more becoming their gravity. " I 
 amgiad to see you, Mr Cleishbotham," said he, with an inimitable mixture 
 of confusion and effrontery; ''the most wonderful news which has been 
 heard in the literary world in my time — all Gandercleuch rings with it — 
 they positively speak of nothing else, fi'om Miss Buskbody's youngest ap- 
 prentice to the minister himself, and ask each other in amazement, whether 
 the tidings are true or false — to be sure they are of an astounding complex- 
 ion, especially to you and me." 
 
 " Mr Pattison," said I, " I am quite at a loss to guess at j-our meaning. 
 Davus sum, non CEdipus — I am Jedediah Cleishbotham, Schoolmaster of 
 the parish of Gandercleuch ; no conjuror, and neither reader of riddles^ nor 
 expounder of enigmata." 
 
 " Well," replied Paul Pattison, " Mr Jedediah Cleishbotham, School- 
 Jpiaster of the parish of Gandercleuch, and so forth, all I have to inform you 
 is, that our hopeful scheme is entirely blown up. The tales, on publish- 
 ing which we reckoned with so much confidence, have already been printed ; 
 they are abroad, over all America, and the British papers are clamorous." 
 
INTKODUCTOKY ADDRESS. XV 
 
 I received this news with the same eqnaniraity with which I should have 
 accepted a blow addressed to my stomach by a modern gladiator, with the 
 full energy of his fist. " If this be correct information, Mr Pattison," said 
 I, '' I must of necessity suspect you to be the person who Lave supplied 
 the foreign press with the copy which the printers have thus made an un- 
 scrupulous use of, without respect to the rights of the undeniable proprie- 
 tors of the manuscripts ; and I request to know whether this American 
 production embraces the alterations which you as well as I judged neces- 
 sary, before the work could be fitted to meet the pul>lic eye ? " To this 
 my gentleman saw it necessary to make a direct answer, for my manner 
 was impressive, and my tone decisive. His native audacity enabled him, 
 however, to keep his ground, and he answered with firmness: — 
 
 " Mr Cleishbotham, in the first place, these manuscripts, over which you 
 claim a very doubtful right, were never given to any one by me, and must 
 have been sent to America either by yourself, or by some one of the vari- 
 ous gentlemen to whom, I am well aware, you have afforded opportunities 
 of perusing my brother's MS. remains." 
 
 " Mr Pattison," I replied, " I beg to remind you that it never, could be 
 my intention, either by my own bands, or through those of another, to re- 
 mit these manuscripts to the press, until, by the alterations which I medi- 
 tated, and which you yourself engaged to makt., !iiey were rendered fit for 
 public perusal." 
 
 Mr Pattison answered me with much heat : — " Sii-, I would have you to 
 know, that if I accepted your paltry offer, it was with less regard to its 
 amount, than to the honour and literary fame of my late brother. I fore- 
 saw that if I declined it, you would not hesitate to throw the task into in- 
 capable hands, or, perhaps, have taken it upon j^ourself, the most i;nfit of 
 all men to tamper with the works of departed genius, and that, God willing, 
 I was determined to prevent — but the justice of Heaven has taken the 
 matter into its own hands. Peter Pattison's last labours shall now go 
 down to posterity unscathed by the scalping-knife of alteration, in the hands 
 of a false friend — shame on the thought that the tmnaturai weapon could 
 ever be wielded by the hand of a brother ! " 
 
 I heard this sjieech not without a species of vertigo or dizziness in my 
 head, which would probably have struck me lifeloss'at his feet, had not a 
 thought like that of the old ballad — 
 
 ** Earl Percy sees my fall,'' 
 
 called to my recollection, that I should only afford an additional triumph 
 by giving way to mj^ feelings in the presence of Mr Paul Pattison, who, I 
 could not doubt, must be more or less directly at the bottom of the Trans- 
 atlantic publication, and had, in one way or another found his own inte- 
 rest in that nefarious transaction. 
 
 To get quit of his odious presence T bid him an unceremonious good- 
 night, and marched down the glen with the air not of one who has pai-ted 
 with a friend, but who rather has shaken oft' an intrusive companion. On 
 the road I pondered the whole matter over with an anxiety which did not 
 in the smallest degree tend to relieve me. Had I felt adequate to the ex- 
 ertion, I might, of com'se, have supplanted this spurious edition (of which 
 the literary gazettes are already doling out copious specimens) by introduc- 
 ing into a copy, to be instantly published at Edinburgh, adequate correc- 
 tion of the various inconsistencies and imperfections which have already 
 been alluded to. I remember the easy victory of the real second part of 
 these " Tales of my Landlord " over the performance sent forth by an inter- 
 loper under the same title ; and why should not the same triurx ph be 
 
XVI INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
 
 repeated now ? There would, in short, have been a pride of talent in this 
 manner of avenging myself, which would have been justifiable in the case 
 of an injured man ; but the state of my health has for some time been such 
 as to render any attempt of this nature in every way imprudent. 
 
 Under such circumstances, the last " llemains" of Peter Pattison must 
 even be accepted, as they were left in his desk ; and I humbly retire in the 
 hope that, such as they are, they may receive the indulgence of those who 
 have ever been but too merciful to the productions of his pen, and in all 
 respects to the courteous reader's obliged servant, 
 
 J. C. 
 
 Gandercleuch, IStli Oct. 1831. 
 
COUNT EGBERT OF PARIS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Leo)-Uius. That power that kindly spreads 
 
 The clouds, a signal of impending showers, 
 To warn the wandering linnet to the shade, 
 Beheld without concern expiring Greece, 
 And not one prodigy foretold our fate. 
 
 Demetrius. A thousand horrid prodigies foretold it : 
 A feeble government, eluded laws, 
 A factious populace, luxurious nobles, 
 And all the maladies of sinking states. 
 When public villany, too strong for justice, 
 Shows his bold front, the harbinger of ruin. 
 Can brave Leontius call for airy wonders. 
 Which cheats interpret, and which fools regard? 
 
 Irene, Act I. 
 
 The close observers of veg-etable nature have remarked that 
 when a new graft is taken from an ag'ed iree, it possesses indeed 
 in exterior form the appearance of a youthful shoot, but has in fact 
 attained to the same state of maturity, or even decay, which lias 
 been reached by the parent stem. Hence, it is said, arises the 
 general dechne and death that about the same season is often ob- 
 served to spread itself through individual trees of some particular 
 species, all of which, deriving their vital powers from the parent 
 stock, are therefore incapable of protracting their existence longer 
 than it does. 
 
 In the same manner efforts have been made by the mighty of the 
 earth to transplant large cities, states, and communities, by one 
 great and sudden exertion, expecting to secure to the new capital 
 the wealth, the dig-nity, the magniticent decorations, and unlimited 
 extent of the ancient city, which they desire to renovate ; while, at 
 the same time, they hope to begin a new succession of ages from the 
 date of the new structure, to last, they imagine, as long, and with as 
 much fame as its predecessor, which the founder hopes his new 
 metropolis may replace in all its youthful glories. But nature has 
 her laws, which seem to apply to the social as well as the vegetable 
 system. It appears to be a general rule that what is to last long 
 ehould be slowly matured and gradually improved, while every sud- 
 
 B 
 
2 COUNT ROBERT OF TARTS. 
 
 den effort, however gig-antic, to bring about the speedy execution of 
 a plan calculated to endure for ages, is doomed to exhibit symptoms 
 of premature decay from its very commencement. Thus, in a beauti- 
 ful Oriental tale, a dervise explains to the Sultan how he had reared 
 the magnificent trees among wliich they walked, by nursing their 
 shoots from the seed ; and the prince's pride is damped when he re- 
 flects that those plantations, so simply raised, were gathering new 
 Tigour from each returning- sun, while his own exhausted cedars, 
 which had been transplanted by one violent effort; were drooping 
 their majestic heads in the Valley of Orez.^ 
 
 It has been allowed, I believe, by all men of taste, many of whom 
 have been late visitants of Constantinople, that if it were possible to 
 survey the whole globe with a view to fixing a seat of universal 
 empire, all who are capable of making such a choice would give 
 their preference to the city of Constantine, as including the great 
 recommendations of beauty, wealth, security, and eminence. Yet 
 with all these advantages of situation and climate, and with all the 
 architectural splendour of its churches and halls, its quarries of 
 marble, and its treasure-houses of gold, the imperial founder must 
 himself have learned that although he could employ all these rich 
 materials in obedience to his own wish, it Avas the mind of man 
 itself, those intellectual faculties refined by the ancients to the 
 highest degree, which had produced the specimens of talent at which 
 men paused and wondered, whether as subjects of art or of moral 
 labour. The power of the Emperor might indeed strip other cities 
 of their statues and their shrines, in order to decorate that which he 
 had fixed upon as his new capital ; but the men who had performed 
 great actions, and those, almost equally esteemed, by whom such 
 deeds were celebrated, in poetry, in painting, and in music, had 
 ceased to exist. The nation, though still the most civilised in the 
 world, had passed beyond that period of society when the desire of 
 fair fame is of itself the sole or chief motive for the labour of the 
 historian or the poet, the painter or the statuary. The slavish and 
 despotic constitution introduced into the empire had long since en- 
 tirely destroyed that public spirit wliich animated the free history of 
 Rome, leaving nothing but feeble recollections, which produced no 
 emulation. 
 
 To speak as of an animated substance, if Constantine could have 
 regenerated his new metropolis by transfusing into it the vital and 
 vivifying principles of old Rome, — that brilliant spark no longer re- 
 mained for Constantinople to borrow, or for Rome to lend. 
 
 In one most important circumstance, the state of the capital of 
 Constantine had been totally changed, and imspeakably to its ad- 
 vantage. The world was now Christian, and, with the Pagan code, 
 had got rid of its load of disgraceful superstition. Nor is there 
 the least doubt that the better faith produced its natural and de- 
 sirable fruits in society, in gradually ameliorating the hearts and 
 taming the passions of the peo[)le. But while many of the converts 
 "were turning meekly towards their new creed, some, in the arro- 
 
 1 Tale of Mirgljp the Persian, in the Tales of the Genii. 
 
COU.NT ROBERT OF PARIS. 8 
 
 gance of their understanding-, were limiting' the Scriptures by their 
 own devices, and others foiled not to make religions character or 
 spiritual rank the means of rising" to temporal power. Thus it 
 happened at this critical period that the effects of this great change 
 in the religion of the country, although producing an immediate 
 harvest, as well as sowing* much good seed v/hich was to grow here- 
 after, did not, in the fourth century, flourish so as shed at once that 
 predominating influence which its principles might have taught men 
 to expect. 
 
 Even the borrowed splendour, in which Constaniine decked his 
 city, bore in it something which seemed to mark premature decay. 
 The imperial founder, in seizing upon the ancient statues, pictures, 
 obelisks, and works of art, acknowledged his ov/n incapacity to sup- 
 ply their place with the productions of later genius : and when the 
 world, and particularly Rome, was plundered to adorn Constantin- 
 ople, the Emperor, under whom the work was carried on, mJght be 
 compared to a prodigal youth, who strips an aged parent of her 
 youthful ornaments, in order to decorate a flaunting paramour, on 
 whose brow all must consider them as misplaced. 
 
 Constantinople, therefore, when in 324 it first arose in imperial 
 majesty out of the humble Byzantium, showed, even in its birth, and 
 amid its adventitious splendour, as we have already said, some inti- 
 mations of that speedy decay to which the whole civilised world, 
 then limited Avithin the Roman empire, was internally and imper- 
 ceptibly tending. Nor was it many ages ere these prognostications 
 of declension were fully verified. 
 
 In the year 1080, Alexius Comnenus^ ascended the throne of the 
 Empire ; that is, he was declared sovereign of Constantinople, its 
 precincts and dependencies ; nor, if he was disposed to lead a life of 
 relaxation, would the savage incursions of the Scytliialis or the 
 Hungarians frequently disturb the imperial slumbers, if limited to 
 his own capital. It may be supposed that this safety did not extend 
 much farther ; for it is said that the Empress Pulcheria had built a 
 churcli to the Virgin Mary as remote as possible from the gate of 
 the city, to save her devotions from the risk of beino- interrupted 
 by the hostile yell of the barbarians, and the reigning EmperoE 
 had constructed a palace near the same spot, and for the same 
 reason. 
 
 Alexius Comnenus was in the condition of a monarch who rather 
 derives consequence from the wealth and importance of his prede- 
 cessors, and the great extent of their original dominions, than from 
 what remnants of fortune had descende'd^to the present generation. 
 This Emperor, except nominally, no more ruled over his dismem- 
 bered provinces than a half-dead horse can exercise power over those 
 limbs on which the hooded crow and the vulture have already begun 
 to settle and select their prey. 
 
 In diflerent parts of his territory difl"erent enemies arose, who 
 waged successful or dubious war against the Emperor ; and, of the 
 
 1 See Gibbon, chap- xlviii., for the origin and eavly history of the house of the 
 Coraneui. 
 
4 COUJsT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 numerous nations with whom he was eng'ag-ed in hostilities, whether 
 tlie Franks from the west, tlie Turks advancing- from the east, the 
 Cumans and Scythians pouring- their barbarous numbers and un- 
 ceasing' storm of arrows from'^the north, and the Saracens, or the 
 tribes into which they were divided, pressing- from the south, there 
 was not one for whom the Grecian empire did not spread a tempt- 
 ing repast. Each of these various enemies had their own particular 
 liabits of war, and a way of manoeuvring' in battle peculiar to them- 
 selves. But tlie Roman, as the unfortunate subject of the Greek 
 em]3ire was still called, was by far the Aveakest, the most ignorant, 
 a«!d most timid, wlio could be dragged into the field ;_ and the Emperor 
 was happy in his own good-luck, when he found it possible to con- 
 duct a defensive war on a counterbalancing principle, making- use 
 of the Scythian to repel the Turk, or of both these savage people to 
 drive back the fiery-footed Frank, Avhom Peter the Hermit had, in 
 the time of Alexius, waked to double fury by the powerful influence 
 of the crusades. 
 
 If, therefore, Alexius Coranenus was, during his anxious seat 
 upon the throne of the East, reduced to use a base and truckling- 
 course of policy — if he was sometimes reluctant to fight when he 
 had a conscious doubt of the valour of his troops— if he commonly 
 employed cunning and dissimulation instead of wisdom, and perfidy 
 instead of courage— his expedients were the disgrace of the age 
 rather than his own. 
 
 Again, the Emperor Alexius may be blamed fov affecting- a degree 
 of state wdiich was closely allied to imbecility. He was proud of as- 
 suming in his own person, and of bestowing upon others, the painted 
 show of various orders of nobility, even now, when the rank within 
 the prince's gift was become an additional reason for the free bar- 
 barian despising the imperial noble. That the Greek court was 
 encumbered with unmeaning ceremonies, in order to make amends 
 for the want of that veneration which ought to have been called 
 fortli by real worth, and the presence of actual power, was not the 
 particular fault of that prince, but belonged to tlie system of the 
 g'overnment of Constantinople for ages. Indeed, in its trumpery 
 etiquette, which provided rules for the most trivial points of a man's 
 behaviour during- the day, the Greek empire resembled no existing- 
 power in its minute follies except that of Pekin ; both, doubtless, 
 being influenced by the same vain wish, to add seriousness and an 
 appearance of importance to objects which, from their trivial nature, 
 could admit no such distinction. 
 
 Yet thus far we must justify Alexius, that, humble as were the 
 expedients he had recourse to, they v/ere more useful to his empire 
 than the measures of a more proud and liigh-spirited prince might 
 have proved in the same circumstances. He was no champion to 
 break a lance against the breastplate of his Prankish rival, the famous 
 Bohemond of Antioch,^ but there were many occasions on which lie 
 liazarded his life freely ; and, so far as we can see from a minute 
 perusal of his achievements, the Emperor of Greece v/as never so 
 
 1 See Note A. Bohemond. 
 
COU.NT liODERT OF VAKIH. 5 
 
 dan^'erous "under shield" as when any foeman desired to stop him 
 Avliifc retreating' from a conflict in which he had been worsted. 
 
 But, besides that he did not hesitate, according to the custom of 
 the time, at least occasionally, to commit his person to the perils of 
 close combat, Alexins also possessed such knowledge of a general's 
 profession as is required in our modern days. He knew how to oc- 
 cupy military positions to the best advantage, and often covered 
 defeats, or improved dubious conflicts, in a manner highly to the 
 disappointment of those who deemed that the work of war was done 
 only on the field of battle. 
 
 If Alexius Comnenus thus understood the evolutions of war, lie 
 was still better skilled in those of politics, where, soaring far above 
 the express purpose of his immediate negotiation, the Emperor was 
 sure to gain some important and permanent advantage ; though 
 Tcry often he was ultimately defeated by the unblushing fickleness 
 or avowed treachery of the barbarians, as the Greeks generally 
 termed all other nations, and particularly those tribes (they cau 
 hardly be termed states) by which their own empire was surrounded. 
 
 We may conclude our brief character of Comnenus by saying, 
 that, had he not been called on to fill the station of a monarch who 
 was under the necessity of making himself dreaded, as one who was 
 exposed to all manner of conspiracies, both in and out of his own 
 family, he might, in all probability, have been regarded as an honest 
 and humane prince. Certainly he showed himself a good-natured 
 man, and dealt less in cutting off" heads and extinguishing eyes than 
 had been the practice of his predecessors, who generally took this 
 method of shortening- the ambitious views of competitors. 
 
 It remains to be mentioned that Alexius had his full share of the 
 superstition of the age, which he covered v/ith a species of hypocrisy. 
 It is even said that his wife Irene, who of course was best acquainted 
 wdth the real character of the Emperor, taxed her dying husband with 
 practising, in his last moments, the dissimulation which had been his 
 companion during life.^ He took also a deep interest in all matters 
 respecting the Church, where heresy, which the Emperor held, or 
 aff'ected to hold, in great horror, appeared to him to lurk. _ Nor do 
 we discover in his treatment of the Manichseans, or Paulicians, that 
 pity for their speculative errors which modern times might think 
 had been well purchased by the extent of the temporal services of 
 these unfortunate sectaries." Alexius knew no indulgence for those 
 who misinterpreted the mysteries of the Church, or of its doctrines; 
 and the duty of defending religion against schismatics was, in his 
 opinion, as peremptorily demanded from him as that of protecting 
 the empire against the numberless tribes of barbarians who were 
 encroaching on its boundaries on every side. 
 
 Such a mixture of sense and weakness, of meannessaud dig'nity, 
 of prudent discretion and poverty of spirit, which last, in the Euro- 
 pean mode of viewing things, approached to cowardice, formed the 
 leading traits of the character of Alexius Comnenus, at a period 
 when the fate of Greece, and all that was left in that country of art 
 
 1 See Gibbon, chap. Ivi, 
 
6 cou>;t iioBEirr of tauis. 
 
 and civilisation, was trembling- in the balance, and likely to be saved 
 or lost according- to the abilities of the Emperor for playing the very 
 difficult game which was put into his hands. 
 
 These few leading circumstances will recall, to any one who_ is 
 tolerably well read in history, the peculiarities of the period at which 
 we have found a resting-place for the foundation of our story. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 OtJius. This superb successor 
 
 Of tlie earth's mistress, as tbou vainly speakest, 
 Stands midst these ages as, on tlie wide oc^an. 
 The last spared fragment of a spacious land. 
 That, in some grand and awful ministration 
 <.)f mighty nature has engulfed been, 
 Dotli lift aloft its dark and rocky cliffs 
 O'er the wild waste around, and sadly Ifrowns 
 In lonely majesty. 
 
 ConstantviU Paleologus, Scene I. 
 
 Our scene in the capital of the Eastern Empire opens at what is 
 termed the Golden Gate of Constantinople ; and it may be said, in 
 passing, that this splendid epithet is not so lightly bestowed as may 
 be expected from the inflated language of the Greeks, which throws 
 such an appearance of exaggeration about them, their buildings, and 
 moiniments. 
 
 The massive and seemingly irapreg-nable walls with which Con- 
 stantino surrounded the city were greatly improved and added to by 
 Theodosius, called the Great. A triumphal arch, decorated with the 
 architecture of a better, though already a degenerate age, and serv- 
 ing, at the same time, as a useful entrance, introduced the stranger 
 into the city. On the top, a statue of bronze represented Victory, 
 the goddess who had inclined the scales of battle in favour of Theo- 
 dosius ; and, as the artist determined to be wealthy if he could not 
 be tasteful, the gilded ornaments with which the inscriptions were 
 set off readily led to the popular name of the gate. Figures carved 
 in a distant and happier period of the art glanced from the walls, 
 without assorting happily with the taste in which these were built. 
 The more modern ornaments of the Golden Gate bore, at the period 
 of our story, an aspect very different from those indicating the " con- 
 quest brought back to the city," and the "eternal peace" which the 
 flattering inscriptions recorded as having been extorted by the sword 
 of Theodosius. Four or five military engines for throwing darts of 
 the largest size were placed upon the summit of the arch ; and what 
 had been originally designed as a specimen of architectural embel- 
 lishment was now applied to the purposes of defence. 
 
 It was the hour of evening, and the cool and refreshing breeze 
 from the sea inclined each passenger whose business was not of a 
 very urgent description, to loiter on his way, and cast a glance at 
 the romantic gateway, and the various interesting objects of nature 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 7 
 
 and art which the city of Constautinople presented, as well to the 
 inhabitants as to strang-ers.- 
 
 One individual, however, seemed to indulg-e more wonder and 
 curiosity tlian could have been expected from a' native of the city, 
 and looked upon the rarities around Avith a quick and startled eye, 
 that marked an imagination awakened by sights that were new ancl 
 strange. The appearance of this person bespoke a foreigner of 
 aiilitary habits, who seemed, from his complexion, to have his birth- 
 place far from the Grecian metropolis, whatever chance had at pre- 
 sent brought him to the Golden Gate, or Avhatever place he filled in 
 the Emperor's service. 
 
 This young" man was about two-and-twenty years old, remarkably 
 finely formed and athletic — qualities well understood by the citizens 
 of Constantinople, whose habits of frequenting* the public games 
 had taught them at least an acquaintance with the human person, 
 and where, in tlie select of their own countrymen, they saw the 
 handsomest specimens T)f the human race. 
 
 These were, however, not gener.illy so tall as the stranger at the 
 Golden Gate, while his piercing" blue eyes, and the fair hair which 
 descended from under a light helmet gaily ornamented with silver, 
 bearing' on its summit a crest resembling a dragon in the act of ex- 
 panding its terrible jaws, intimated a northern descent, to which the 
 extreme purity of his complexion also bore witness. His beauty, 
 however, though he was eminently distinguished both in features 
 and in person, was not liable to the charge of efi'eminacy. From 
 this it was rescued both by his strength and by the air of confidence 
 and self-possession with which the youth seemed to regard the won- 
 ders around him, not indicating- the stupid and helpless gaze of a 
 mind equally inexperienced and incapable of receiving* instruction, 
 but expressing- the bold intellect which at once understands the 
 greater part of the information which it receives, and commands 
 the spirit to toil in search of the meaning- of that which it has not 
 comprehended, or may fear it has misinterpreted. This look of 
 awakened attention and intelligence gave interest to the young- bar- 
 barian; and while the bystanders were amazed that a savage from 
 some unknown or remote corner of the universe should possess a 
 noble countenance bespeaking a mind so elevated, they respected 
 him for the composure with which he witnessed so many tilings, the 
 fashion, the splendour, nay, the very use of which, must have been 
 recently new to him. 
 
 The young man's personal equipments exhibited a singular mix- 
 ture of splendour and efleminacy, and enabled the experienced spec- 
 tators to ascertain his nation, and the capacity in which he served. 
 We have already mentioned the fanciful and crested helmet, which 
 was a distinction of the foreigner, to which the reader must add in 
 his imagination a small cuirass, or breastplate of silver, so sparingly 
 fashioned as obviously to afford little security to the broad chest, on 
 which it rather hung like an ornament than covered as a buckler; 
 nor, if a well-thrown dart, or strongly-shod arrow, should alight full 
 
 1 See Note J3. Constantiiiople. 
 
8 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 on tbis rich piece of armour, was there much hope that it could pro- 
 tect the bosom which it partially shielded. 
 
 From betwixt the shoulders hung down over the back what had 
 the appearance of a bearskin ; but, when more closely examined, it 
 was only a very skilful imitation of the spoils of the chase, being" in 
 reahty a surco'at composed of strong- shaggy silk, so woven as to 
 exhibit, at a little distance, no inaccurate representation of a bear's 
 hide. A light crooked sword, or scimitar, sheathed in a scabbard of 
 gold and ivory, hung by the left side of the stranger, the ornamented 
 hilt of which appeared much too small for the large-jointed hand of 
 the young Hercules who was thus gaily attired. A tlresa, purple in 
 colour, and sitting close to the limbs, covered the body of the soldier 
 to a little above the knee ; from tbence the knees and legs were bare 
 to the calf, to which the reticulated strings of the sandals rose from 
 the instep, the ligatures being there fixed by a golden coin of the 
 reigning Emperor, converted into a species of clasp for the purpose. 
 
 But a weapon which seemed more particularly adapted to the 
 young barbarian's size, and incapable of being useci by a man of less 
 formidable limbs and sinews, was a battle-axe, the firm iron-guarded 
 staff of which was formed of tough elm, strongly inlaid and defended 
 with brass, while many a plate and rhig were indented in the handle 
 to hold the wood and the steel parts together. The axe itself was 
 composed of two blades, turning different ways, with a sharp steel 
 spike projecting from between them. The steel part, both spike 
 and blade, was burnished as bright as a mirror ; and though its pon- 
 derous size must have been burdensome to one weaker than himself, 
 yet the young soldier carried it as carelessly along as if it were but 
 a feather's weight. It was, indeed, a skilfully constructed weapon, 
 so well balanced that it was much lighter in striking and in recovery 
 than he who saw it in the hands of another could easily have believed. 
 
 The carrying arms of itself showed that the military man was a 
 stranger. The native Greeks had that mark of a civilised people, 
 that they never bore weapons during the time of peace, unless the 
 wearer chanced to be numbered among those whose military profes- 
 sion and employment required them to be always in arms. Such 
 soldiers by profession were easily distinguished from the peaceful 
 citizens ; and it was with some evident show of fear as well as dislike, 
 that the passengers observed to each other, that the stranger was a 
 Varangian, an expression which intimated a barbarian of the imperial 
 body-guard. 
 
 To supply the deficiency of valour among his own subjects, and to 
 procure soldiers who should be personally dependent on the Emperor, 
 the Greek sovereigns had been, for a great many years, in the cus- 
 tom of maintaining in their pay, as near their person as they could, 
 the steady services of a select number of mercenaries in the capacity 
 of body-guards, which were numerous enough, when their steady dis- 
 cipline and inflexible loyalty were taken in conjunction with their 
 personal strength and indomitable courage, to defeat, not only any 
 traitorous attempt on the imperial person, but to quell open rebellions 
 unless such were supported by a great proportion of the military force. 
 Their pay was therefore liberal; their rank and established character 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 9 
 
 for prowess g\ive them a degree of considevation among- tlie people, 
 whose reputation for valour had not for some ages stood higli ; and 
 if, as foreigners, and the members of a privileged body, the Varan- 
 gians were sometimes employed in arbitrary and unpopular services, 
 the natives were so apt to fear, while they disliked them, that the 
 hardy strangers disturbed themselves but little about the light in 
 which tliey were regarded by the inhabitants of Constantinople. 
 Their dress and accoutrements, while witliin the city, ])artook of the 
 rich, or rather gaudy costume, which we have described, bearing only 
 a sort of affected resemblance to that which the Varangians wore in 
 their native forests. But the indis'iduals of this select corps were, 
 when their services were required beyond the city, furnished with 
 armour and weapons more resembling those which tliey were accus- 
 tomed to wieid in their own country, possessing much less of the 
 splendour of war, and afar greater portion of its cfFective terrors; 
 and thus they were summoned to take the field. 
 
 This body of Varangians (whicli term is, according to one inter- 
 pretation, merely a g-eneral expression for barbarians) was, in an 
 early age of the empire, formed of the roving and piratical inhabitants 
 ^f the north, whom a love of adventure, the greatest perhaps that 
 ever was indulged, and a contempt of danger, which never had a 
 parallel in the history of human nature, drove forth upon the path- 
 less ocean. "Piracy,'' says Gibbon, with his usual spirit, "was the 
 exercise, the trade, the glory, and the virtue of the Scandinavian 
 youth. Impatient of a bleak climate and narrow limits, they started 
 from the banquet, grasped their arms, sounded their horn, ascended 
 their ships, and exjjlored every coast that promised either spoil or 
 settlement."^ 
 
 The conquests made in France and Britain by these wild sea-kings, 
 as they were called, have obscured the remembrance of other northern 
 champions, who, long before the time of Connieuus, made excursions 
 as far as Constantinople, and witnessed with their own eyes the 
 wealth and the weakness of the Grecian empire itself. Numbers 
 found their way thither through the pathless wastes of Russia; others 
 navigated the Mediterranean in their sea-serpents, as they termed 
 their piratical vessels. The Emperors, terrified at the appearance 
 of these daring inhabitants of th.o frozen zone, had recourse to the 
 usual policy of a rich and unwarlike people, bought with gold the 
 service of their swords, and thus formed a corps of satellites more 
 distinguished for valour than the ftxmed Praetorian Bands of Rome, 
 and, perhaps because fewer in number, unalterably loyal to their 
 new princes. 
 
 But, at a later period of the empire, it began to be more difficult 
 for the Emperors to obtain recruits for their favourite and selected 
 corps, the northern nations having now in a great measure laid aside 
 the piratical and roving habits, which had driven their ancestors from 
 the straits of Elsinore to those of Sestos and Abydos. The corps of 
 the Varangians must therefore have died out, or have been filled up 
 with less worthy materials, had not the conquest made by the Nor- 
 
 1 Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Chapter Iv. vol. x. p. 221, Svo edition. 
 
iO COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 mans in tlie far-distant west, sent to the aid of Comnenus a large 
 body of the dis])ossessed inhabitants of tlie Islands of Britain, and 
 particularly of England, who furnished recruits to his chosen body- 
 g-uard. These were, in fact, Anfilo-Saxons; but, in the confused idea 
 of g'eography received at the court of Constantinople, they were 
 naturally enough called Angio-Danes, as their native country was 
 confounded with the Thule of the ancients, by which expression the 
 archipelag'o of Zetland and Orkney is properly to be understood, 
 thoug'h, according- to the notions of the Greeks, it comprised either 
 Denmark or Britain. Tlie emig-rants, however, spoke a lang'uag-e 
 not very dissimilar to the original Varang-ians, and adopted the 
 name more readily that it seemed to remind them of their unhappy 
 fate, the ap])ellation being" in one sense capable of being* interpreted 
 as exiles. Excepting* one or two chief commanders, whom the Em- 
 peror judg-ed woriJiy of such high trust, the Varangians were officered 
 by men of their own nation ; and with so many privileg-es, being- 
 joined by many of their countrymen from time to time, -as the cru- 
 sades, pilgrimages, or discontent at home, drove fresh supplies of 
 the Ang-lo-Saxons, or Anglo-Danes, to the east, the Varangians sub- 
 sisted in strength to the last days of the Greek empire, retaining 
 their native laug-uag-e, along- with the unblemished loyalty, and un- 
 abated martial spirit, which characterised their fathers. 
 
 This account of the Varangian Guard is strictly historical, and 
 might be proved by reference to the Byzantine historians ; most of 
 whom, and also Villehardouin's account of the taking' of the city of 
 Constantinople by the Franks and Venetians, make repeated men- 
 tion of this celebi-ated and sing'ular body of Englishmen, forming" a 
 mercenary guard attendant on the person of the Greek Emperors.^ 
 
 liaving" said enough to explain why an individual Varangian should 
 be strolling about tlie Golden Gate, we may proceed in the story 
 which we have commenced. 
 
 Let it not be thought extraordinary, that this soldier of the life- 
 guard should be looked upon with some degree of curiosity by the 
 passing citizens. It must be supposed that, fi'om their peculiar duties, 
 they were not encouraged to hold frequent intercourse or communi- 
 cation with the inhabitants; and besides that they had duties of 
 police occasionally to exercise amongst them, which made them gen- 
 erally more dreaded than beloved, they w^ere at the same time con- 
 scious that their high pay, splendid appointments, and immediate 
 dependence on the Emperor, were subjects of envy to the other forces. 
 They, therefore, kept much in the neighbourhood of their own bar- 
 racks, and were seldom seen straggling remote from them, unless 
 they had a commission of government intrusted to their charge. 
 
 This being the case, it was natural that a people so curious as tlie 
 Greeks should busy themselves in eyeing the stranger as he loitered 
 in one spot, or wandered to and fro, like a man who either could not 
 find some place which he was seeking, or had failed to meet some 
 
 1 Ducange has poured forth a tide of learning on this curious subject, which v/ill ba 
 found in his Notes ou Villehardouin's Constantinople under tlse French Emperors. — Paris, 
 1637, folio, p. 19G. Gibbon's History may also be consulted, vol, x. p. 231. [See NotQ 
 C. Varangians.] 
 
COU^'T ROBERT OF PARIS. U 
 
 person with whom he liad an appointmenf, for vvhicli the iiig-cimity 
 of the passengers found a thousand different ar.d inconsistent reasons. 
 "A Varangian," said one citizen to another, "and upon dtity— ahem! 
 Then I presume to say in your ear " 
 
 '• Yv^hat do you imagine is liis object?" inquired the party to whom 
 this information was addressed. 
 
 " Gods and goddesses I do you think I can tell you ? hut suppose 
 that he is lurking here to hear what folk say of the Emperor," an- 
 swered the quidmuic of Constantinople. 
 
 "That is not likely," said the querist; "these Varangians do not 
 speak our language, and are not extremely well fitted for spies, since 
 few of them pretend to any intelligible notion of the Grecian tongue. 
 It is not likely, 1 think, that the Emperor would employ as a spy a 
 man who did not understand the language of the country." 
 
 "But if there are, as all men fancy," answered the politician, "per- 
 sons among these barbarian soldiers wiio can speak almost all lan- 
 g-uages, you will admit that such are cxcellei:tly qualified for seeing 
 clearly around them, since they possess the talent of beholding 
 and reporting, while no one has the slightest idea of suspecting 
 them." 
 
 "It may well be," replied his companion; "but since we see so 
 clearly the fox's foot and paws protruding from beneath the seeming 
 sheep's fleece, or rather, by your leave, the heafs hide yonder, had 
 we not better be jogging homeward, ere it be pretended we have in- 
 sulted a Varangian Guard ? " 
 
 This surmise of danger insinuated by the last speaker, who was a 
 much older and more experienced politician than his friend, deter- 
 mined both on a hasty retreat. They adjusted their cloaks, caught 
 hold of each other's arm, and, speaking fast and thick as they started 
 new subjects of sHspicion, they sped, close coupled together, towards 
 their habitations, in a different and distant quarter of the town. 
 
 In the mean time, the sunset was nigh over; and the long shadows 
 of the walls, bulwarks, and arches, were projecting from the westward 
 in deeper and blacker shade. The Varangian seemed tired of the 
 short and lingering circle in which he had now trodden for more 
 than an hoin-, and m which he still loitered like an unliberated spirit 
 which cannot leave the haimted spot till licensed by the spell which 
 has brought it hither. Even so the barbarian, casting an impatient 
 glance to the sun, which was setting in a blaze of light behind a rich 
 grove of cypress-trees, looked for some accommodation on the benches 
 of stone which were placed under shadow of the triumphal arch of 
 Theodosius, drew the axe, which Avas his principal weapon, close to 
 his side, wrapped his cloak about him, and, though his dress was not 
 in other respects a fit attire for slumber, any more than the place 
 well selected for repose, yet in less than three minutes he was fast 
 asleep. The irresistible impulse which induced him to seek for re- 
 pose in a place very indifferently fitted for the purpose, might be 
 weariness consequent upon the military vigils, which had proved a 
 part of his duty on the preceding evening. At the same time, his 
 spirit was so alive v.ithin him, even while he gave way to this tran- 
 sient fit of oblivion, that he remained almost awake even with shut 
 
12 COUNT KOBERT OF PAllIS. 
 
 eyes, and no hound ever seemed to sleep more lightly than our 
 Ang-lo-Saxon at the Golden Gate of Constantmople. 
 
 And now the slumberer, as the loiterer had been before, was the 
 subject of observation to the accidental passeng-ers. Two men en- 
 tered the porch in company. One was a somewhat slight-made, but 
 alert-looking- man, by name Lysimachus, and by profession a designer. 
 A roll of paper in his hand, with a little satchel containing a few 
 chalks, or pencils, completed his stock in trade ; and his acquaintance 
 with the remains of ancient art gave liim a power of talking on the sub- 
 iect, which unfortunately bore more than due proportion to his talents 
 sf execution. His companion, a magnificen t-looking man in form, and 
 io far resembling the young barbarian, but more clownish and peas- 
 ant-like in the expression of his features, was Stephanos the wrestler, 
 well known in the Palestra. 
 
 " Stop here, my friend," said the artist, producing his pencils, "till 
 I make a sketch for my youthful Hercules." 
 
 " I thought Hercules had been a Greek," said the wrestler. " This 
 sleeping animal is a barbarian," 
 
 The tone intimated some offence, and the designer hastened to 
 soothe the displeasure which he had thoughtlessly excited. Stephanos, 
 known by the surname of Castor, who was highly distinguished for 
 gymnastic exercises, was a sort of patron to the little artist, and not 
 unlikely by his own reputation to bring the talents of his friend into 
 notice. 
 
 " Beauty and strength," said the adroit artist, " are of no particu- 
 lar nation ; and may our Muse never deign me her prize, but it is my 
 greatest pleasure to compare them, as existing in the uncultivated 
 savage of the north, and when they are found in the darling of an 
 enlightened people, who has added the height of gymnastic skill to 
 the most distinguished natural qualities, such as we can now only see 
 in the works of Phidias and Praxiteles— or in our living model of the 
 gymnastic champions of antiquity." 
 
 " Nay, I acknowledge that the Varangian is a proper man," said 
 the athletic hero, softening his tone ; " but the poor savage hath not, 
 perhaps, in his lifetime, liad a single drop of oil on his bosom ! Her- 
 cules instituted the Isthmian Games " 
 
 " But hold ! what sleeps he with, wrapt so close in his bear-skin? " 
 said the artist. "Is it a club ? " 
 
 ''Away, awa}'-, my friend ! " cried Stephanos, as they looked closer 
 on the sleeper. "Do you not know that is the instrument of their 
 barbarous office ? They do not war with swords or lances, as if des- 
 tined to attack men of flesh and blood ; but with maces and axes, as 
 if they were to hack limbs formed of stone, and sinews of oak. I 
 will wager my crown [of withered parsley] that he lies here to ar- 
 rest some distinguished commander who has offended the govern- 
 ment ! He would not have been thus formidably armed otherwise 
 — Away, away, good Lysimaialus ; let us respect the slumbers of the 
 bear." 
 
 So saying, the champion of the Palestra made off with less appar- 
 ent confidence than his size and strength might have inspired. 
 
 Others, now thinly straggling, passed onward as the evening closed, 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 13 
 
 and the shadows of the cypress-trees fell darker around. Two females 
 of the lower rank cast their eyes on the sleeper. " Holy Maria ! " 
 said one, " if he does not put me in mind of the Eastern tale, how 
 the Genie brought a gallant young' prince from his nuptial chamber 
 in Egypt, and left him sleeping at the gate of Damascus. I will 
 awake the poor lamb, lest he catch harm from the night dew." 
 
 " Harm ? " answered the older and crosser-looking woman. *•' Ay, 
 such harm as the cold water of the Cydnus does to the wild-swan. 
 A lamb ?— ay, forsooth ! Why he's a wolf or a bear, at least a Varan- 
 gian, and no modest matron would exchange a word with such an un- 
 mannered barbarian. I'll tell you what one of these English Danes 
 did to me " 
 
 So saying, she drew on her companion, who followed with some 
 reluctance, seeming to listen to her gabble, while she looked back 
 upon the sleeper. 
 
 The total disappearance of the sun, and nearly at the same time 
 the departure of the twilight, which lasts so short time in that tropi- 
 cal region — one of the few advantages which a more temperate 
 climate possesses over it, being the longer continuance of that sweet 
 and placid light — gave signal to the warders of the city to shut the 
 folding leaves of the Golden Gate, leaving a wicket lightly bolted for 
 the passage of those whom business mig-ht have detained too late 
 without the walls, and indeed for all who cliose to pay a small coin. 
 The position and apparent insensibility of the Varangian did not 
 escape those who had charge of the gate, of whom there was a strong 
 guard, which belonged to the ordinary Greek forces. 
 
 "By Castor and by Pollux," said the centurion— for the Greeks 
 swore by the ancient deities, although they no longer worshipped 
 them, and preserved those military distinctions with which "the steady 
 Komans shook the world," although they were altogether degener- 
 ated from their original manners— "by Castor and Pollux, comrades, 
 we cannot gather gold in this gate, according as its legend tells us : 
 yet it will be our fault if we cannot glean a goodly crop of silver; 
 and though the golden age be the most ancient and honourable, yet 
 in this degenerate time it is much if we see a glimpse of the inferior 
 metal." 
 
 " Unworthy are we to follow the noble centurion Harpax," answered 
 one of the soldiers of the watch, who showed the shaven head and 
 the single tuft ^ of a Mussulman, " if we do not hold silver a sufficient 
 cause to bestir ourselves, when there has been no gold to be had — as, 
 by the faith of an honest man, I think we can hardly tell its colour — 
 whether out of the imperial treasury, or obtained at the expense of 
 individuals, for many long moons ! " 
 
 "But this silver," said the centurion, "thou shalt see with thine 
 own eye, and hear it ring a knell in the purse which holds our 
 common stock." ^^ 
 
 " Which did hold it, as thou wouldst say, most valiant commander^ 
 replied the inferior warder ; " but what tliat purse holds now, save a 
 
 1 One tuft is left on the shaven crown of the "jroslcm, for the angel to grasp by whea 
 conveying liim to Paradise. 
 
14 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 few miserable oboli for purchasing- certain piclded pot-herbs and salt 
 fish, to relish our allowance of stummed wine, I cannot tell, but 
 willing-ly give my share of the contents to the devil, if either purse 
 or platter exhibits symptom of any age richer than the age of copper." 
 
 " I will replenish our treasury," said the centurion, " were our 
 stock yet lower than it is. Stand up close by the wicket, my masters. 
 Bethink you we are the Imperial Guards, or the Guards of the Im- 
 perial City, it is all one, and let us have no man rush past us on a 
 sudden ; — and now that we are on our guard, I will unfold to you 
 
 But stop," said the valiant centurion, " are we all here true 
 
 brothers ? Do all well understand the ancient and laudable customs 
 of our watch — keeping- all things secret which concern the profit and 
 advantage of this our vigil, and aiding" aud abetting the common 
 cause, without information or treachery ? " 
 
 " You are strangely suspicious to-night," answered the sentinel. 
 *' Methinks we have stood by you without tale-telling in matters which 
 were more weight)'. Have you forgot the passag-e of the jeweller — 
 which v/as neither the gold uor silver ag'e ; but if there were a dia- 
 mond one " 
 
 "Peace, good Ismail the Infidel," said the centurion, — "for, I 
 thank Heaven, we are of all religions, so it is to be hoped we must 
 have the true one among-st us, — Peace, I say ; it is unnecessary to 
 prove thou canst keep new secrets by ripping- up old ones. Come 
 hither — look through the wicket to the stone bench, on the shady 
 side of the grand porch— tell me, old lad, what dost thou see there ? " 
 
 "A man asleep," said Ismail. "By Heaven, I think, from what I 
 can see by the moonlight, that it is one of those barbarians— one of 
 those island dog's, whom the Emperor sets such store by ! " 
 
 "Andean thy fertile brain," said the centurion, "spin nothing- out 
 of his present situation tending" towards our advantage? " 
 
 " Why, ay," said Ismail ; " they have large pay, though they are not 
 only barbarians, but pagan dogs, in comparison with us Moslems and 
 Nazarenes. That fellow hath besotted himself with liquor, and hath 
 not found his way home to his barracks in good time. He will be 
 severely punished, unless we consent to admit him ; and to prevail on 
 us to do so, he must empty the contents of his g'irdle." 
 
 " That, at least — that, at least," answered the soldiers of the city 
 ■yvatch, but carefully suppressing" their voices, though they spoke in 
 an eager tone. 
 
 " And is that all that you would make of such an opportunity ? " 
 said Harpax, scornfully. "No, no, comrades. If this outlandish 
 animal indeed escape us, he must at least leave his fleece behind. See 
 you not the gleams from his head-piece and his cuirass ? I presume 
 these betoken substantial silver, though it may be of the thinnest. 
 There lies the silver mine I spoke of, ready to enrich the dexterous 
 hands who shall labour it." 
 
 " But," said timidly a young" Greek, a companion of their watcli, 
 lately enlisted in the corps, and unacquainted with their habits, "still 
 this barbarian, as you call him, is a soldier of the Em])eror; and if 
 we are convicted of depriving- him of his arms, we sliall be justly 
 punished for a military crime." 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 15 
 
 "Here to a new Lycnrgiis come to teach us our duty ! " said the 
 centurion. " Learn first, young- man, that the nietropoHtan cohort 
 never can commit a crime ; and learn next, of course, that they can 
 never be convicted of one. Suppose we found a strag-gKng ba.rbarian, 
 a Varangian, like this shimberer, perhaps a Frank, or some other of 
 these foreigners bearing- unpronounceable names, while they dis- 
 honour us by putting' on the arms and apparel of the real Roman 
 soldier, are we, placed to defend an important post, to admit a man 
 so suspicious within our postern, when the event may probably be to 
 betray both the Golden Gate and the hearts of gold who guard it, — 
 to have the one seized, and the throats of the others handsomely 
 cut?" 
 
 " Keep him without side the gate, then," replied the novice, " if 
 you think him so dangerous. For my part, I should not fear, him, 
 were he deprived of that hug-e double-edged axe, which gleams from 
 under his cloak, having' a more deadly glare than the comet which 
 astrologers prophesy such strange things of." 
 
 " Nay, then, we agree together," answered Ilarpax, "and you 
 speak like a youth. of modesty and sense; and I promise you the 
 state will lose nothing in the despoiling- of this same barbarian. Each 
 of these savages hath a double set of accoutrements, the one wrought 
 with gold, silver, inlaid-work, and ivory, as becomes their duties in 
 the prince's household ; the other fashioned of triple steel, strong-, 
 weighty, and irresistible. Now, in taking* from this suspicious 
 character his silver helmet and cuirass, you reduce him to his proper 
 w'eapons, and you will see him start up in arms fit for duty." 
 
 "Yes," said the novice ; " but I do not see that this reasoning" will 
 do more than warrant our stripping the Varangian of his armour, to 
 be afterwards heedfully returned to liim on the morrow, if he prove 
 a true man. How, I know not, but I had adopted some idea that it 
 was to be confiscated for our joint behoof." 
 
 "Unquestionably," said Harpax ; "for such has been the rule of 
 our watch ever since the days of the excellent centurion Sisyphus,_in 
 whose time it first was determined, that all contraband commodities 
 or suspicious weapons, or the like, which were brought into the city 
 during the night-watch, should be uniformly forfeited to tlie use of 
 the soldiery of the guard; and where the Emperor finds the goods 
 or arms unjustly seized, I hope he is rich enough to make it up to 
 the sufferer." 
 
 " But stiJl— but still," said Sebastes of Mitylene, the young Greek 
 aforesaid, "' were the Emperor to discover " 
 
 " Ass 1 " replied Harpax, " he cannot discover, if he had all the eyes 
 of Argus's tail. — Here are tvv'elvc of us sworn according to the rules 
 of the watch, to abide in the same story. Here is a barbarian, who, 
 if he remembers anything of the matter — which I greatly doubt — his 
 choice of a lodging arguing his familiarity with the wine-pot— tells 
 but a wild tale of losing his armour, which we, my masters " (looking 
 round to his companions), "deny stoutly— I hope we have courage 
 enough for that— and which partly will be believed ? the companions 
 of the watch surely ! " 
 
 " Quite the contrary," said Sebastes. " I was born at a distance 
 
16 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 from hence; yet even in tlie island of Mifcylene, the rumour had reached 
 me that the cavaliers of the city-guard of Constantinople were so 
 accomplished in falsehood, that the oath of a sing-le barbarian would 
 outweig'ii the Christian oath of the whole body, if Christians some 
 of thera are— for example, this dark man with a sing-le tuft on his 
 head." 
 
 " And if it were even so," said the centurion, with a gloomy and 
 sinister look, " there is another way of making the transaction a safe 
 one." 
 
 Sebastes, fixing liis eye on his commander, moved his hand to the 
 hilt of an Eastern poniard whch he wore, as if to penetrate his exact 
 meaning. The centurion nodded in acquiescence. 
 
 " Young as I am," said Sebastes, " I have been already a pirate 
 five years at sea, and a robber three years now in the hills, and it is 
 the iirst time I have seen or heard a man hesitate, in such a case, to 
 take the only part which is worth a brave man's while to resort to 
 in a pressing affiiir." 
 
 Harpax struck his hand into that of the soldier, as sharing his un- 
 compromising sentiments ; but when he spoke, it was in a tremulous 
 voice. 
 
 " How shall we deal with him ? " said he to Sebastes, who, from 
 the most raw recruit in the corps, had now risen to the highest place 
 in his estimation. 
 
 "Any how," returned the islander; "I see bows here and shafts, 
 and if no other person can use them " 
 
 "They are not," said the centurion, "the regular arms of our 
 corps." 
 
 " The fitter you to guard the gates of a city," said the young soldier 
 with a horse-laugh, which had something insulting in it. " Well — be 
 it so. I can shoot Hke a Scythian," he proceeded ; " nod but with 
 your head, one shaft shall crash among the splinters of his skull and 
 his brains ; the second shall quiver in his heart." 
 
 " Bravo, my noble comrade ! " said Harpax, in a tone of ajapected 
 rapture, always lowering his voice, however, as respecting the 
 slumbers of the Varangian. " Such were the robbers of ancient 
 days, the Diomedes, Corynetes, Synnes, Scyrons, Procrustes, whom 
 it required demigods to bring to what was miscalled justice, and 
 v/hose compeers and fellows will remain masters of the continent 
 and isles of Greece, until Hercules and Theseus shall again appear 
 upon earth. Nevertheless, shoot not, my valiant Sebastes— draw not 
 the bow, my invaluable Mitylenian ; you may wound and not kill." 
 
 " I am little wont to do so," said Sebastes, again repeating the 
 hoarse, chuckling, discordant laugh, which grated upon the ears of 
 the centurion, though he could hardly tell the reason why it was so 
 uncommonly unpleasant. 
 
 "If I look not about me," was his internal reflection, "we shall 
 have two centurions of the watch, instead of one. This Mitylenian, 
 or be he who the devil will, is a bow's lengtli beyond me. " I must 
 kesp my eye on him." He then spoke aloud, in a tone of authority. 
 " But come, young man. it is hard to discourage a young beginner. 
 If you liave been such a rover of wood and river as you tell us of, 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 17 
 
 you know how to play the Sicarius : there lies your object, drunk or 
 asleep, we know not which ; — you will deal with him in either case." 
 " Will you g'ive me no odds to stab a stupified or drunken man, 
 most noble centurion ? " answered the Greek. " You Avonid perhaps 
 love the commission yourself? " he continued, somewhat ironically, 
 
 "Do as you are directed, friend," said Harpax, pointing- to the 
 turret staircase which led down from the battlement to the arched 
 entrance underneath the porch. 
 
 '•'He has the true cat-like stealthy pace," half muttered the cen- 
 turion, as his sentinel descended to do such a crime as he was posted 
 there to prevent. " This cockerel's comb must be cut, or he will be- 
 come king- of the roost. But let us see if his hand be as resolute as 
 his tong'ue; then we will consider what turn to give to the con- 
 clusion." 
 
 As Harpax spoke between his teeth, and rather to himself than 
 I any of his companions, the Mitylenian emerg-ed from under the arch- 
 [ w;ay, treading- on tiptoe, yet swiftly, with an admirable mixture of 
 I silence and celerity. His poniard, drawn as he descended, gleamed 
 in his hand, which was held a little behind the rest of his person, so 
 ; as to conceal it. The assassin hovered less than an instant over the 
 i sleeper, as if to mark the interval between the ill-fated silver corslet 
 I and the body which it was desig-ned to protect, when, at the instant 
 I the blow was rushing- to its descent, the Varang-ian started up at once, 
 I arrested the armed hand of the assassin, by striking it upwards with 
 the head of his battle-axe ; and while he thus parried the intended 
 stab, struck the Greek a blow heavier than Sebastes had ever learned 
 ', at the Pancration, which left him scarce the power to cry help to his 
 ' comrades on the battlements. They saw what had happened, how- 
 ever, and beheld the barbarian set his foot on their companion, and 
 brandish high his formidable weapon, the whistling- sound of which 
 made the old arch ring- oluinously, while he paused an instant, v/ith 
 his weapon upheaved, ere he g-ave the finishing'-blow to his enemy. 
 The warders made a bustle, as if some of them would descend to the 
 assistance of Sebastes, without, however, appearing- very eager to do 
 so, when Harpax, in a rapid whisper, commanded them to stand fast. 
 *Eacli man to his place," he said, "happen what may. Yonder 
 comes a captain of the g-uard — the secret is our own, if the savage 
 has killed the Mitylenian, as I well trust, for he stirs neither hand 
 nor foot. But if he lives, my comrades, make hard your faces as 
 flints — he is but one man, we are twelve. We know nothing of his 
 purpose, save that he went to see wherefore the barbarian slept so 
 near the post." 
 
 While the centurion thus bruited his purpose in busy insinuation 
 to the companions of his watch, the stately figure of a tall soldier, 
 I'ichly armed, and presenting a lofty crest, which glistened as he 
 stept from the open moonlight into the shade of the vault, became 
 visible beneatli. A whisper passed among the warders on the top of 
 the gate. 
 
 " Draw bolt, shut gate, come of the Mitylenian what will," said the 
 3enturion ; " we are lost men if we own him. — Here comes the diicf 
 of the Varangian axes, the Follower himself." 
 
 c 
 
■'8. COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " Well, ITcreward," said the officer who came last npou the scene, 
 ill a sort of lingua Frcaica, g-enerally used by the barbarians of the 
 guard, " hast thou caught a night-hawk ?" 
 
 "Ay, by Saint George! " answered the soldier; "and yet, in my 
 country, we would call him but a kite." 
 
 " What is he? " said the leader. 
 
 *' He will tell you that himself," replied the Varangian, "when I 
 take my grasp from his windpipe." 
 
 " Let him go then," said the officer. 
 
 The Englishman did as he was commanded ; but escaping-, as soon 
 as he felt himself at liberty, with an alertness which could scarce 
 Jiave been anticipated, the Mitylenian rushed out at the arch, an.d, 
 availing himself of the complicated ornaments which had originally 
 graced the exterior of the gateway, Im fled around buttress and pro- 
 jection, closely pursued by the Varangian, who, cumbered with 
 Jiis armour, was hardly a match in the course for the light-footed 
 Grecian, as he dodged his i)ursuer from one skulking place to an- 
 other. The officer laughed heartily, as the two figures, like shadows 
 appearing, and disappearing as suddenly, held rapid flight and chase 
 around the arch of Theodosius. 
 
 " By Hercules ! it is Hector pursued round the walls of Ilion by 
 Achilles," said the officer; "but my Pelides will scarce overtake the 
 son of Priam. What, ho ! goddess-born— son of the white-footed 
 Thetis!— But the allusion is lost on the poor savage — Hollo, Here- 
 ward ! I say, stop — know thine own most barbarous name." These 
 last words were muttered ; then raising his voice, "Ho not outrun 
 thy wind, good Hereward. Thou mayst have more occasion for 
 breath to-night." 
 
 " If it had been my leader's will," answered the Varangian, coming 
 back in sulky mood, and breathing like one who had been at the top 
 of his speed, " I would have had him as tast as ever greyhound held 
 hare, ere I left off the chase. Were it not for this foolish armour, 
 which encumbeiJS without defending one, I would not have made two 
 bounds without taking him by the throat." 
 
 " As well as it is," said the officer, who was, in fact, the Acou- 
 louthos, or FoUoiver, so called because it was the duty of this highly 
 trusted officer of the Varangian Guards constantly to attend on the 
 person of the Emperor. " But let us noAV see by what means we are 
 to regain our entrance through the gate ; for if, as I suspect, it was 
 one of those warders who was willing to have played thee a trick, 
 his companions may not let us enter willingly." 
 
 " And is it not," said the Varangian, " your Valours duty to probe 
 this want of discipline to the bottom ? " 
 
 " Hush thee here, my simple-minded savage ! I have often told 
 you, most ignorant Hereward, that the skulls of those who come 
 from your cold and muddy Boeotia of the North, are fitter to bear 
 out twenty blows with a sledge-hammer, than turn off one witty or 
 nigenious idea. But follow me, Hereward, and although I am aware 
 that showing the fine meshes of Grecian policy to the coarse eye of 
 an unpractised barbarian like thee, is much like casting pearls before 
 swine, a thing forbidden in the Blessed Gospel, yet, as thou hast so 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 19 
 
 i;'-oo(l a lieart, ana so trusty, as is scarce to be met with among- my 
 Varangians themselves, I care not if, Avhile thou art in attendance 
 on my person, I endeavour to indoctrinate thee in some of that 
 policy by which I myself— the Follower— the cliief of the Varangians, 
 and therefore erected by their axis into the most valiant of the 
 valiant, am content to guide myself, although every way qualified to 
 bear me throu»-h the cross currents of the court by main pull of oar 
 and press of sail — a condescension in me, to do that by policy, which 
 no man in this imperial court, the chosen sphere of superior wits, 
 could so well accomplish by open force as myself. What thinkst 
 thou, good savage ? " 
 
 " I know," answered the Varangian, who walked about a step and 
 a half 'behind his leader, like an orderly of the present day behind 
 his officer's shoulder, " I should be sorry to trouble my head with 
 what I could do by my hands at once." 
 
 "Did I not say so ?" replied the Follower, who had now for some 
 minutes led the way from the Golden Gate, and was seen gliding 
 along the outside of the moonlight walls, as if seeking an entrance 
 elsewhere. " Lo, such is the stuff of what you call your head is 
 made ! Your hands and arms are perfect Ahitophels compared to 
 it. Hearken to me, thou most ignorant of all animals, — but, for that 
 very reason, thou stoutest of confidants and bravest of soldiers, — I 
 will tell thee the very riddle of this night-work, and yet, even then, 
 I doubt if thou canst understand me." 
 
 " It is my present duty to try to comprehend your Valour," said 
 the Varangian — " 1 would say your policy, since you condescend 
 to expound it to me. As for your valour," he added, " I should 
 be unlucky if I did not think I understand its length and breadth 
 already." » 
 
 The Greek general coloured a little, but replied, with unaltered 
 voice, " True, good Hereward. We have seen each other iu battle." 
 
 Hereward here could not suppress a short cough, which to those 
 grammarians of the day who were skilful in applying the use of 
 accents, would have implied no peculiar eulogium on his officer's 
 military bravery. Indeed, during their whole intercourse, the con- 
 versation of the General, in spite of his tone of affected importance 
 and superiority, displayed an obvious respect for his companion, as 
 one who, in many points of action, might, if brought to the test, 
 prove a more eflective soldier than hiuiself. On the other hand, 
 when the powerful Northern warrior replied, although it was with 
 all observance of discipline and duty, yet the discussion might some- 
 times resemble that between an ignorant macaroni officer, before 
 the Duke of York's reformation of the British army, and a steady 
 sergeant of the regiment in which they both served. There was a 
 consciousness of superiority, disguised by external respect, and half 
 admitted by the leader. 
 
 " You will grant me, my simple friend," continued the chief, in 
 the same tone as before, " in order to lead thee by a short passage 
 into the deepest principle of policy which pervades this same court 
 of Constantinople, that the favour of the Emperor "—(here the 
 officer raised his casque, and the soldier made a semblance of doing 
 
20 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 SO also)—" who (be the place where he puts his foot sacred !) is the 
 vivifying" principle of the sphere in which we live, as the sun itself 
 is that of humanity " 
 
 " I have heard something like this said by our tribunes," said the 
 Varangian. 
 
 " It is their duty so to instruct you/' answered the leader, " and I 
 trust that the priests also, in their sphere, forget not to teach my 
 Varangians their constant service to their Emperor." 
 
 " They do not omit it," replied the soldier, " though we of the exiles 
 know our duty." 
 
 " God forbid I should doubt it," said the commander of the battle- 
 axes. " All 1 mean is to make thee understand, my dear Hereward, 
 that as there are, though perhaps such do not exist in thy dark and 
 gloomy climate, a race of insects which are born in the first rays of 
 the morning and expire with those of sunset (thence called by us 
 epliemerse, as enduring one day only), such is the case of a ftivour- 
 ite at court, while enjoying the smiles of the most sacred Emperor. 
 And happy is he whose favour, rising as the person of the sove- 
 reign emerges from the level space which extends around the 
 throne, displays itself in the first imperial blaze of glory, and who, 
 keeping his post during the meridian splendour of the crown, has 
 only the fate to disappear and die with the last .beam of imperial 
 brightness. " 
 
 " Your Valour," said the islander, " speaks higher language than 
 my Northern wits are able to comprehend. Only, methinks, rather 
 than part with life at the sunset, I would, since insect I must needs 
 be, become a moth for two or three dark hours." 
 
 " Such is the sordid desire of the vulgar, Hereward," answered 
 the Follower, with assumed superiority, " who are contented to en- 
 joy life, lacking distinction ; whereas we, on the other hand, we of 
 choicer quality, who form the nearest and innermost circle around 
 the Imperial Alexius, in which he himself forms the central point, 
 are watchful, to woman's jealousy, of the distribution of his favours, 
 and omit no opportunity, whether by leaguing with or against each 
 other, to recommend ourselves individually to the peculiar light of 
 his countenance." 
 
 "I think I comprehend what you mean," said the guardsman; 
 " although as for living such a life of intrigue— but that matters 
 not." 
 
 '•' It does indeed matter not, my good Hereward," said his officer, 
 "' and thou art lucky in having no appetite for the life I have de- 
 scribed. Yet have I seen barbarians rise high in the empire, and if 
 they have not altogether the flexibility, the malleability, as it is 
 called — that happy ductility which can give way to circumstances, I 
 have yet known those of barbaric tribes, especially if bred up at 
 court from their youth, who joined to a limited portion of this flexile 
 quality enough of a certain tough durability of temper, which, if it 
 does not excel in availing itself of opportunity, has no contemptible 
 talent at creating it. But letting comparisons pass, it follows, 
 from tJiis emulation of glory, that is, of royal favour, amongst 
 the servants of tlie imperch and most sacred court, that each is 
 
cou^^: Robert of parts. 21 
 
 desirous of distiiiguisliing- himself by showing' to the Emperor, not 
 only that he fully understands the duties of his own employments, 
 but that he is capable, in case of necessity, of discharging- those of 
 others." 
 
 " I understand," said the Saxon ; '" and thence it happens that the 
 under ministers, soldiers, and assistants of the great crown -officers, 
 are perpetually engaged, not in aiding each other^ but in acting as 
 spies on their neighbours' actions ? " 
 
 "Even so," answered the commander; " it is but few days since 
 I had a disagreeable instance of it. Every one, however dull in the 
 intellect, hath understood thus much, that the great Protospathan-e,^ 
 which title thou knowest signifies the General-in-Chief of the forces 
 of the empire, hath me at hatred, because I am the leader of those 
 redoubtable Varangians, who enjoy, and well deserve, privileges ex- 
 empting them from the absolute command which he possesses over 
 fill other corps of the army— an authority which becomes Nicanor, 
 notwithstanding the victorious sound of his name, nearly as well as 
 a war-saddle would become a bullock." 
 
 "How!" said the Varangian, "does the Protospathaire pretend 
 •to any authority over the noble exiles ? — By the red dragon, under 
 which we will live and die, we will obey no man alive but Alexius 
 Comnenus himself and our own officers ! " 
 
 " Rightly and bravely resolved/' said the leader ; " but, my good 
 Hereward, let not your just indignation hurry you so far as to name 
 the most sacred Emperor without raising your hand to your casque, 
 and adding the epithets of his lofty rank." 
 
 " I will raise my hand often enough and high enough," said the 
 Norseman, "when the Emperor's service requires it." 
 
 " I dare be sworn thou wilt," said Achilles Tatius, the commander 
 of the Varangian Imperial Body Guard, who thought the time was 
 unfavourable for distinguishing himself by insisting on that exact 
 i observance of etiquette, which was one of his great pretensions to 
 the name of a soldier. " Yet, were it not for the constant vigilance 
 of your leader, my child, the noble Varangians would be trode down, 
 in the common mass of the army, with the heathen cohorts of Huns, 
 Scythians, or those turban'd infidels the renegade Turks ; and even 
 for this is your commander here in peril, because he vindicates his 
 axe-men as worthy of being prized above the paltry shafts of the 
 Eastern tribes and the javelins of the Moors, which are only fit to be 
 playthings for children." 
 
 " You are exposed to no danger," said the soldier, closing up to 
 Achilles in a confidential manner, " from which these axes can pro- 
 tect you." 
 
 "Do I not know it?" said Achilles. "But it is to your arm 
 alone that the Follower of his most sacred Majesty now intrusts his 
 safety." 
 
 " In aught that a soldier may do," answered Hereward ; " make 
 your own computation, and then reckon this single arm worth two 
 against any man the Emperor has, not being of our own corps." _. 
 
 1 Literally, the First Swordsman. 
 
22 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " Listen, my br<ave friend," continued Acliilles. " This Nicanor 
 •was daring enough to throw a reproach on our noble corps, accusing- 
 them — g-ods and goddesses ! — of pkmdering in the field, and, yet 
 more sacrilegious, of drinking the precious wine which was pre- 
 pared for his most sacred Majesty's own blessed consumption. I, 
 the sacred person of the Emperor being present, proceeded, as thou 
 mayst well believe " 
 
 " To give him the lie in his audacious throat ! " burst in the Var- 
 angian — " named a place of meeting somewhere in the vicinity, and 
 called the attendance of your poor follower, Hereward of Hampton, 
 who is your bond-slave for life long, for such an honour ! I wish 
 only you had told me to get my work-day arms ; but, however, I 
 have my battle-axe, and " Here his companion seized a mo- 
 ment to break in, for he was somewhat abashed at the lively tone of 
 the young soldier. 
 
 " Hush thee, ray son," said Achilles Tatius ; " speak low, my ex- 
 cellent Hereward. Thou mistakest this thing. With thee, by my 
 side, I would not, indeed, hesitate to meet five such as Nicanor ; but 
 such is not the law of this most hallowed empire, nor the sentiments 
 of the three times illustrious Prince who now rules it. Tliou art 
 debauched, my soldier, with the swaggering stories of the Franks, 
 of whom we hear more and more every day." 
 
 "I would not willingly borrow anytliing from those whom you 
 call Franks, and we Normans," answered the Varangian, in a disap- 
 pointed, dogged tone. 
 
 " Why listen, then," said the officer, as they proceeded on their 
 walk, " listen to the reason of the trhing, and consider whether such 
 a custom can obtain, as that which they term the duello, in any 
 country of civilisation and common sense, to say nothing of one 
 which is blessed with the domination of the most rare Alexius Com- 
 nenus. Two great lords, or high officers, quarrel in the court, and 
 before the reverend person of the Emperor. They dispute about a 
 point of fact. Now, instead of each maintaining his own opinion, 
 by argument or evidence, suppose they had adopted the custom of 
 these barbarous Franks,—' Why, thou liest in thy throat,' says the 
 one ; ' and thou liest in thy very Imigs,' says another ; and they 
 measure forth the lists of battle in the next meadow. Each swears 
 to the truth of his quarrel, though probably neither well knows pre- 
 cisely how the fact stands. One, perhaps the hardier, truer, and 
 better man of the two, the Follower of the Emperor, and father of 
 the Varangians (for death, my faithful follower, spares no man), lies 
 dead on the ground, and the other comes back to predominate in 
 the court where, had the matter been inquired into by the rules of 
 common sense and reason, the victor, as he is termed, would have 
 been sent to the gallows. And yet this is the law of arms as your 
 fancy pleases to call it, friend Hereward ! " 
 
 "May it please your Valour," answered the barbarian, "there is a 
 show of sense in what you say; but you will sooner convince me tliat 
 this blessed moonlight is the blackness of a wolf's mouth, than that 
 I ought to hear myself called liar without cramming tlie cpilliet 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 23 
 
 down the speaker's throat witli the spike of my battle-axe. The lie 
 is to a man tlie same as a blo\v, and a blow degrades him into a slave 
 and a beast of burden, if endured without retaliation." 
 
 " Ay, tliere it is ! " said Achilles ; " could I but g'et you to lay aside 
 that inborn barbarism which leads you, otherwise the most disciplined 
 soldiers who serve the sacred Emperor, into such deadly quarrels 
 and feuds " 
 
 "Sir Captain," said the Varangian, in a sullen tone, "take my 
 advice, and take the Varangians as you have them ; for, believe my 
 word, that if you could teach them to endure reproaches, bear the 
 lie, or tolerate stripes, you would hardly find them, when their dis- 
 cipline is completed, worth the single day's salt which they cost to 
 his holiness, if that be his title. I must tell you, moreover, valorous 
 sir, that the Varangians will little thank their leader, who heard 
 them called marauders, drunkards, and what not, and repelled not 
 the charge on the spot." 
 
 "Now, if I knew not the humours of my barbarians," thought 
 Tatius, in his own mind, " I should bring on myself a quarrel with 
 these untamed islanders, who, the Emperor thinks, can be so easily 
 kept in discipline. But I will settle this sport presently." Accord- 
 ingly he addressed the Saxon in a soothing tone. 
 
 " My faithful soldier," he proceeded aloud, " we Romans, according 
 to the custom of our ancestors, set as much glory on actually telling 
 the truth as you do in resenting the imputation of falsehood ; and I 
 could not with honour return a charge of falsehood upon Nicanor, 
 since what he said was substantially true." 
 
 '•'What ! that we Varangians were plunderers, drunkards, and the 
 like ? " said Hereward, more impatient than before. 
 
 "No, surely, not in that broad sense," said Achilles ; "but there 
 was too much foundation for the legend." 
 
 "When and where ?" asked the Anglo-Saxon. 
 
 "You remember," replied his leader, " the long march near Lao- 
 dicea, v/here the Varangians beat off a cloud of Turks, and retook a 
 train of the imperial baggage ? You know what was done that day 
 —how you quenched your thirst, I mean ?" 
 
 "' I have some reason to remember it," said Hereward of Hampton ; 
 " for we were half choked with dust, fatigue, and, which was worst 
 of all, constantly fighting with our faces to the rear, when we found 
 some firkins of wine in certain carriages which were broken down — 
 down our throats it .went, as if it had been the best ale in South- 
 ampton." 
 
 " Ah, unhappy ! " said the Follower ; " saw you not that the firkins 
 were stamped with the thrice excellent Grand Butler's own inviolable 
 seal, and set apart for the private use of his Imperial Majesty's most 
 sacred lips ? " 
 
 "By good Saint George of merry England, worth a dozen of your 
 Saint George of Cappadocia, I neither thought nor cared about the 
 matter," answered Hereward. "And I know your Valour drank a 
 mighty draught yourself out of my head-piece— not this silver ])auble, 
 but my steel-cap, which is twice as ample. By the same loken, thai 
 
24 COUxNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 whereas before you were griving- orders to fall back, you were a 
 changed man when you had cleared your throat of the dust, and 
 cried, ' Bide the otlier brunt, my brave and stout boys of Britain ! ' " 
 
 "Ay," said Achilles, "I know I am but too apt to be venturous iu 
 action. But you mistake, good Hereward ; the wine I tasted in the 
 extremity of martial fatigue was not that set apart for his sacred 
 Majesty's own peculiar mouth, but a secondary sort, preserved for 
 the Grand Butler himself, of which, as one of the great officers of 
 the household, I might right lawfully partake — the chance was never- 
 theless sinfully happy." 
 
 "On ray life," replied Hereward, "I canuot see the infelicity of 
 drinking when we are dying- of thirst." 
 
 " But cheer up, my noble comrade," said Achilles, after he had 
 hurried over his own exculpation, and without noticing the Varan- 
 gian's light estimation of the crime, "his Imperial Majesty, in his 
 ineffable graciousness, imputes these ill-advised draughts as a crime 
 to no one who partook of them. He rebuked the Protospatliaire 
 for fishing- up this accusation, and said, when he had recalled the 
 bustle and confusion of that toilsome day, ' I thought myself well off 
 aniid that seven times heated furnace, when we obtained a draught 
 of the barley-wine drank by ray poor Varangians ; and I drank their 
 health, as well I might, since, had it not been for their services, I 
 had drunk my last ; and v/ell fare their liearts, though they quaffed, 
 my wine in return!' And with that he turned off, as one who said, 
 *I have too much of this, being a finding of matter and ripping up 
 of stories against Achilles Tatius and his g-allant Varangians.' " 
 
 "Now, may God bless his honest heart for it!" said Hereward, 
 Avith more downright heartiness than formal respect, " I'll drink to 
 liis health in what I put next to my lips that quenches thirst, whether 
 it may be ale, v/ine, or ditch-water." 
 
 "Why, well said, but speak not above thy breath! and remember 
 to put thy hand to thyTorehead when naming-, or even thinking of 
 the Emperor! — Well, thou knowest, Hereward, that having thus 
 obtained the advantage, I knew that the moment of a repulsed attack 
 is always that of a successful charge ; and so I brought against the 
 Protospathaire, Nicanor, the robberies which have been committed 
 at the Golden Gate, and other entrances of the city, ^vhere a mer- 
 chant was but of late kidnapped and murdered, having- on him cer- 
 tain jewels, the property of the Patriarch. " 
 
 "Ay! indeed?" said the Varangian; "and what said Alex 
 
 I mean the most sacred Emperor, when he heard such things said 
 of the city warders — though he had himself given, as we say in our 
 land, the fox the g-eese to keep ? " 
 
 "It maybe he did," replied Achilles ; "but he is a sovereign of 
 deep policy, and was resolved not to proceed against these treacher- 
 ous warders, or their general, tlie Protospathaire, without decisive 
 pi'oof. His Sacred Majesty, therefore, charg-ed me to obtain specific 
 circumstantial proof by thy means." 
 
 "And that I would have manag-ed in t'wo minutes, had you not 
 called me off the chase of yon cutthroat vagabond. But his grace 
 knows the word of a Varangian: and I can assure hira that either 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 25 
 
 iiicre of my silver g-aberdine, which they nickname a cuirass, or the 
 hatred of my corps, would be sufficient to incite any of these knaves 
 to cut the throat of a Varangian who appeared to be asleep— So we 
 g'o, I suppose, Captain, to bear evidence before tlie Emperor to this 
 night's work ? " 
 
 "No, my active soldier, hadst thou taken the runaway villain, my 
 first act must have been to set him free again ; and ray present 
 charge to you is, to forget that such an adventure has ever taken 
 place." 
 
 '•' Ha ! " said the Varangian ; " this is a change of policy indeed ! " 
 
 '•' Why, yes, brave Here ward ; ere I left the palace this niglit the 
 Patriarch made overtures of reconciliation betwixt me and the Pro- 
 tespathaire, which, as our agreement is of much consequence to tlie 
 state, I could not very well reject, either as a g-ood soldier or a good 
 Christian. All offences to my honour are to be in the fullest deg-ree 
 repaid, for which the Patriarch interposes his warrant. The Em- 
 peror, who will rather wink hard than see disagreements, loves better 
 the matter should be slurred over thus." 
 
 "And the reproaches upon the Varangians," said Hereward 
 
 " Shall be fully retracted and atoned for," answered Achilles ; " and 
 a weighty donative in gold dealt among the corps of the Ang-lo-Danish 
 axe-men. Thou, my Hereward, mayst be distributor; and thus, if 
 well-managed, mayst plate thy battle-axe with g'old." 
 
 " I love my axe better as it is," said the Varangian. *•' My father 
 bore it against the robber Normans at Hasting-s. Steel instead of 
 g-old for my money." 
 
 " Thou mayst make thy choice, Hereward," answered his officer ; 
 **'only, if thou art poor, say the fault was thine own," 
 
 But here, in the course of their circuit round Constantinople, the 
 officer and his soldier came to a very small wicket or sally-port, open- 
 ing on the interior of a larg-e and massiva advanced v,'ork, which 
 terminated an entrance to the city itself. Here the officer halted, 
 -and made his obedience, as a devotee who is about to enter a chapel 
 i-A' peculiar sanctity. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 Here, youth, thy foot unbrai 
 
 Here, youih, thy brow unbi 
 Each tribute that may grace 
 
 The threshold here be paid. 
 Walk with the stealthy pace 
 
 Which Nature teaches deer, 
 When, echoing in the chase. 
 
 The hunter's horn they hear, 
 
 
 Lihranj. 
 
 The CouH. 
 
 Br.FOiiE entering, Achilles Tatius made various gesticulations, 
 ■which were imitated roughly and awkwardly by the unpractised 
 Varangian, v/hose scrvice^vith his corps had been almost entirely 
 
26 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 m the field, his routine of duty not hiiving", till very lately, called him 
 to serve as one of the garrison of Constantinople. He was not, 
 therefore, acquainted with the minute observances which the Greeks, 
 who were the most formal and ceremonious soldiers and courtiers in 
 the world, rendered not merely to the Greek Emperor in person, 
 but throug-hout the sphere which peculiarly partook of his influence. 
 Achilles, having gesticulated after his own fashion, at length 
 touched the door with a rap, distinct at once and modest. This was 
 thrice repeated, when the captain whispered to his attendant, " The 
 interior ! —for thy life, do as thou seest me do." At the same moment 
 he started back, and, stooping his head on his breast, with his hands 
 over his eyes, as if to save them from being dazzled by an expected 
 burst of light, awaited the answer to his summons. The Anglo- 
 Dane, desirous to obey his leader, imitating him as near as he could, 
 stood side by side in the posture of Oriental humiliation. The little 
 portal opened inwards, when no burst of light was seen, but four of 
 the Varangians were made visible in the entrance, holding each his 
 battle-axe, as if about to strike down the intruders who had disturbed 
 the silence of their watch. 
 
 " Acoulouthos," said the leader, by way of pass-word. 
 
 " Tatius and Acoulouthos," murmured the warders, as a coun>er- 
 sign. 
 
 Each sentinel sunk his weapon. 
 
 Achilles then reared his stately crest with a conscious dignity at 
 making this display of court influence in the eyes of his soldiers. 
 Hereward observed an undisturbed gravity, to the surprise of his 
 officer, who marvelled in his own mind how he could be such a bar- 
 barian as to regard with apathy a scene which had in his eyes the 
 most impressive and peculiar awe. This indiflerence he imputed to 
 the stupid insensibility of his companion. 
 
 They passed on between the sentinels, who wheeled backward in 
 file, on each side of the portal, and gave the strangers entrance to a 
 long narrow plank, stretched across the city-moat, which Avas here 
 drawn within the enclosure of an external rampart, projecting beyond 
 the principal wall of the city. 
 
 "This," he whispered to HereAvard, "is called the Bridge of 
 Peril, and it is said that it has been occasionally smeared with oil, 
 or strewed' with dried peas, and that the bodies of men, known to 
 have been ii^company with the Emperor's most sacred person, have 
 been taken out of the Golden Horn,^ into which the moat empties it- 
 self." 
 
 '* I would not have thought," said the islander, raising his voice to 
 its usual rough tone, " that Alexius Comneims " 
 
 " Hush, rash and regardless of your life ! " said Achilles Tatius ; 
 " to awaken the daughter of the imperial arch,^ is to incur deep pen- 
 alty at all times ; but when a rash delinquent has disturbed her with 
 reflections on his most sacred Highness the Emperor, death is a 
 punishment far too light for the eifrontery which has interrupted her 
 
 1 The harboui- of Constantinople. 
 
 2 The daughter of the arch was a courtly expression fo' the echo, as we find cxplaiaed 
 by the courtly commander himself. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 27 
 
 blessed slumber! — 111 hath been my fate, to have positive commands 
 laid on me. enjoining- me to bring into the sacred precincts a creature 
 who hath no more of the salt of civilisation in him than to keep his 
 mortal frame from corruption, since of all mental culture he is totally 
 incapable. Consider thyself, Hereward, ami bethink thee what thou 
 art. By nature a poor barbarian — thy best boast that thou hast slain 
 certain Mussulmans in thy sacred master's quarrel; and here art 
 thou admitted into the inviolable enclosure of the Blaq^uernal, and in 
 the hearing- not only of the royal daughter of the imperial arch, which 
 means," said the eloquent leader, " the echo of the sublime vaults ; 
 but— Heaven be our guide,— for what I know, within the natural 
 hearing- of the Sacred Ear itself! " 
 
 "Well, my captain," replied the Varangian, "I cannot presume 
 
 to speak my mind after the fashion of this place ; but I can easily 
 
 suppose I am but ill qualified to converse in the presence of the court, 
 
 nor do I mean therefore to say a word till lam spoken to, unless when 
 
 I shall see no better company than ourselves. To be plain, I find 
 
 ! difficulty in modelling my voice to a smoother tone than nature has 
 
 given it. So, henceforth, my brave captain, I will be mute, unless 
 
 when you give me a sign to speak," 
 
 I " You will act wisely," said the captain. " Here be certain persons 
 
 I of high rank, nay, some that have been born in the purple itself, that 
 
 [ will, Hereward (alas,for thee !), prepare to sound with the line of their 
 
 \ courtly understanding the depths of thy barbarous and shallow conceit. 
 
 ! Do not, therefore, then, join their graceful smiles with thy inhuman 
 
 bursts of cachinnation, with which thou art wont to thunder forth 
 
 j when opening in chorus with thy messmates." 
 
 *' I tell thee I will be silent," said the Varangian, moved some- 
 what beyond his mood. " If you trust my word, so ; if you think I am 
 ft jackdaw that must be speaking, whether in or out of place and pur- 
 pose, I am contented to go back again, and therein we can end the 
 matter." 
 
 Achilles, conscious perhaps that it was his best policy not to drive 
 his subaltern to extremity, lowered his tone somewhat in reply to the 
 uncourtly note of the soldier, as if allowing something for the rude 
 manners of one whom he considered as not easily matched among 
 the Varangians themselves, for strength and valour; qualities which, 
 in despite of Hereward's discourtes}', Achilles suspected in his heart 
 were fully more valuable than all those nameless graceo which a more 
 courtly and accomplished soldier might possess. 
 
 The expert navigator of the intricacies of the imperial residence 
 carried the Varangian through two or three small complicated courts, 
 forming apart of the extensive palace of the Blaquernal,^ and entered 
 the buijding itself by a side-door— watched in like manner by a sen-^ 
 tinel of the Varangian guard, whom they passed on being recognised 
 In the next apartment was stationed the Court of Guard, where were 
 certain soldiers of the same corps amusing themselves at games 
 somewhat resembling the modern draughts and dice, while they 
 seasoned their pastime with frequent applications to deep flagons of 
 
 1 Thia place dei-ived its name from the neiglibourins Blachernian Gate and Bridge. 
 
'28 COUNT IU)BEnT OF TARTS. ' 
 
 :ile, which were furnished to them while passing- away their hours ot 
 duty. Some o'lances passed between Hereward and his comrades, 
 nnd he would have joined them, or at least spoke to them ; for since 
 the adventure of the Mitylenian, Ilereward liad rather thought him- 
 self annoyed than distinguislied by his moonlight ramble in the com- 
 pany of his commander, excepting always the short and interesting- 
 period during which he conceived they were on the way to fight a 
 duel. Still, hov/ever negligent in the strict observance of the cere- 
 monies of the sacred palace, the Varangians had, in their own way, 
 rigid notions of calculating their military duty ; in consequence of 
 which Hereward, without speaking- to his companions, followed his 
 leader through the guard-room, and one or two antechambers adja- 
 <;ent, the splendid and luxurious furniture of which convinced him that 
 he could be nowhere else save in the sacred residence of his master 
 the Emperor. 
 
 At length, having- traversed passages and apartments with whicli 
 the captain seemed familiar, and which he threaded with a stealthy, 
 silent, and apparently reverential pace, as if, in his own inflated 
 phrase, afraid to awaken the sounding- echoes of those lofty and 
 monumental halls, another species of inhabitants beg-an to be visible. 
 In different entrances and in different apartments, the northern 
 soldier beheld those unfortunate slaves, chiefly of African descent, 
 xaised occasionally under the Emperors of Greece to groat power 
 and honours, who, in that respect, imitated one of the most barbar- 
 ous points of Oriental despotism. These slaves were differently oc- 
 <!upied ; some standing-, as if on guard, at gates or in passag-es, with 
 their drawn sabres in their hands; some were sitting- in the Oriental 
 fashion on carpets, reposing themselves, or playing- at various g-ames, 
 all of a character profoundly silent. Not a word passed between 
 the guide of Hereward and the withered and deformed beings whom 
 ■they thus encountered. The exchange of a glance with the prin- 
 cipal soldier seemed all that was necessary to ensure both an unin- 
 terrupted passag-e. 
 
 After making their way through several apartments, empty or 
 thus occupied, they at length entered one of black marble, or some 
 other dark-coloured stone, much loftier and long-er than the rest. 
 Side passages opened into it, so far as the islander could discern, 
 descending- from several portals in the wall; but as the oils and 
 ^uras with which the lamps in these passag-es were fed diffused a 
 dim vapour around, it was difficult to ascertain, from the imperfect 
 lig-ht, either the shape of the hall or the style of its architecture. 
 At the upper and lower ends of the chamber there was a strong-er 
 and clearer lig-ht. It was when they were in the middle of this 
 huge and long- apartment that Achilles said to the soldier, in the 
 sort of cautionary whisper which he appeared to have substituted 
 in place of his natural voice since he had crossed the Bridg-e of 
 Peril— 
 
 " Remain here till I return, and stir from this hall on no ac- 
 count." 
 
 " To hear is to obey," answered the Varangian, an expression of 
 obedience, which, like many other phrases and fashions, the empire. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 20" 
 
 which still affected the name of Roman, had borrowed from the bar- 
 barians of the East. Achilles Tatiiis then hastened up the steps 
 which led to one of the side-doors of the hall, which being slightly 
 pressed, its noiseless hinge gave way and admitted him. 
 
 Left alone to amuse himself as he best could within the limits 
 permitted to him, the Varangian visited in succession both ends of 
 the hall, where the objects were more visible than elsewhere. Tlie 
 lower end had in its centre a small low-browed door of iron. Over 
 it was displayed the Greek crucifix in bronze, and around and on 
 every side, the representation of shackles, fetter-bolts, and the like, 
 were also executed in bronze, and disposed as appropriate orna- 
 ments over the entrance. The door of the dark archway was half 
 open, and Hereward naturally looked in, the orders of his chief not 
 prohibiting his satisfying his curiosity thus far. A dense red lights 
 more like a distant spark than a lamp, affixed to the wall of what 
 seemed a very narrow and winding stair, resembling in shape and 
 size a draw-well, the verge of which opened on the threshold of the 
 iron door, showed a descent which seemed to conduct to the infernal 
 regions. The Varangian, however obtuse he might be considered 
 by the quick-witted Greeks, had no difficulty iu comprehending that 
 a staircase having such a gloomy appearance, and the access to 
 which was by a portal decorated in such a melancholy style of archi- 
 tecture, could only lead to the dungeons of the imperial palace, the 
 size and complicated number of which were neither the least re- 
 markable, nor the least awe-imposing portion of the sacred edifice. 
 Listening profoundly, he even thought he caught such accents as 
 befit those graves of living men, the faint echoing of groans and 
 sighs, sounding as it were from the deep abyss beneath. But in this 
 respect his fancy probably filled up the sketch which his conjectures 
 bodied out. 
 
 " I have done nothing," he thought, " to merit being immured 
 in one of these subterranean dens. Surely, though my captain^ 
 Achilles Tatius, is, under favour, little better than an ass, he cannot 
 be so false of word as to train me to prison under false pretexts ? 
 I trow he shall first see for the last time how the English axe plays^ 
 if such is to be the sport of the evening. But let us see the upper 
 end of this enormous vault ; it may bear a better omen." 
 
 Thus thinking, and not quite ruling the tramp of his armed foot- 
 step according to the ceremonies of the place, the large-limbed 
 Saxon strode to the upper end of the black marble hall. The orna- 
 ment of the portal here was a small altar, like those in the temples 
 of the heathen deities, which projected above the centre of the arch. 
 On this altar smoked incense of some sort, the fumes of which rose 
 curling in a thin cloud to the roof, and thence extending through 
 the hall, enveloped in its column of smoke a singular emblem, of 
 which the Varangian could make nothing. It was the representa- 
 tion of two human arms and hands, seeming to issue from the wall, 
 having the palms extended and open, as about to confer some boon 
 on those who approached the altar. These arms were formed of 
 bronze, and, being placed farther back than the aUar with its in- 
 cense, were seen through the curling smoke by lamps so disposed as 
 
30 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 to illuminate the whole arcliWcay. '*' The raeaiiing- of this," thought 
 the simple barbarian, " I should well know how to explain were 
 these fists clenched, and were the hall dedicated to the 'pancration, 
 which we call boxing- ; but as even these helpless Greeks use not 
 their hands without their fingers being' closed, by St George, I can 
 make out nothing of their meaning." 
 
 At this instant Achilles entered the black marble hall at the same 
 door by which he had left it, and came up to his neophyte, as the 
 Varangian might be termed. 
 
 " Come with me now, Hereward, for here approaches the thick of 
 the onset. Now, display the utmost courage that thou canst sum- 
 mon up, for believe me thy credit and name also depend on it." 
 
 " Fear nothing for either," said Hereward, " if the heart or hand 
 of one man can bear him through the adventure by the help of a toy 
 like this." 
 
 " Keep thy voice low and submissive, I have told thee a score of 
 times," said the leader, "and lower thine axe, which, as I bethink 
 me, thou hadst better leave in the outer apartment." 
 
 " With your leave, noble captain," repUed flereward, *' I am un- 
 willing to lay aside my bread-winner. I am one of those awkward 
 clowns who cannot behave seemly unless I have something to oc- 
 cupy my hands, and my faithful battle-axe comes most natural to 
 me." 
 
 " Keep it, then ; but remember thou dash it not about according 
 to thy custom, nor bellow, nor shout, nor cry as in a battle-field; 
 think of the sacred character of the place, which exaggerates riot 
 into blasphemy, and remember the persons whom thou mayst chance 
 to see, an ofl:ence to some of whom it may be, ranks in the same 
 sense with blasphemy against Heaven itself" 
 
 This lecture carried the tutor and the pupil so far as to the side- 
 door, and thence inducted them into a species of anteroom, from 
 which Achilles led his Varangian forward, until a pair of folding- 
 doors, opening into what proved to be a principal apartment of the 
 palace, exhibited to the rough-hewn native of the north a sight 
 equally new and surprising. 
 
 It was an apartment of the palace of the Blaquernal, dedicated to 
 the special service of the beloved daughter of the Emperor Alexius, 
 the Princess Anna Comnena, known to our times by her literary 
 talents, which record the history of her father's reign. She was 
 seated, the queen and sovereign of a literary circle, such as an im- 
 perial Princess, porphyrogenita, or born in the sacred purple cham- 
 ber itself, could assemble in those days, and a glance round will 
 enable us to form an idea of her guests or companions. 
 
 The literary Princess herself had the bright eyes, straight features, 
 and comely and pleasing manners which all would have allovved to 
 the Emperor's daughter, even if she could not have been, with severe 
 truth, said to have possessed them. She was placed upon a small 
 bench, or sofa, the fair sex here not being permitted to recline, as 
 was the fashion of the Roman ladies. A table before her was loaded 
 with books, plants, herbs, and drawings. She sat on a slight eleva- 
 tion and those who enjoyed the intimacy of the Princess, or to 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 31 
 
 whom she wished to speak in r»arfcicular, were allowed, during- such 
 sublime colloquy, to rest their knees on the little dais, or elevated 
 place where her chair found its station, in a posture half standing-, 
 half kneeling-. Three other seats, of different heights, were placed 
 on the dais, and under the same canopy of state which overshadowed 
 that of the Princess Anna, 
 
 The first, which strictly resembled her own chair in size and con- 
 venience, Avas one designed for her husband, Nicephorus Briennius. 
 He was said to entertain or affect the greatest respect for his wife's 
 erudition, though the courtiers were of opinion he would have liked 
 to absent himself from her evening parties more frequently than 
 was parti^larly agreeable to the Princess Anna and her imperial 
 parents. rThis was partly explained by the private tattle of the 
 court, wlm;]i averred that the Princess Anna Comnena had been 
 more beautiful when she was less learned ; and that, though still a 
 fine woman, she had somewhat lost the charms of her person as she 
 became enriched in her mindj 
 
 To atone for the lowly fashion of the seat of Nicephorus Briennius, 
 it was placed as near to his princess as it could possibly be edged by 
 the ushers, so that slie miglifc not lose one look of her handsome 
 spouse, nor he the least particle of wisdom which might drop from 
 the lips of his erudite consort. 
 
 Two other seats of honour, or rather thrones, — for they had foot- 
 stools placed for the support of the feet, rests for the arms, and em- 
 broidered pillows for the comfort of the back, not to mention the 
 glories of the outspreading canopy, — were destined for the imperial 
 €Ouple, who frequently attended their daughter's studies, which she 
 prosecuted in public iu the way we have intimated. On such occa- 
 sions, the Empress Irene enjoyed the triumph peculiar to the mother 
 of an accomplished daughter, while Alexius, as it might happen, 
 sometimes listened with complacency to the rehearsal of his own 
 exploits in the inflated language of the Princess, and sometimes 
 mildly nodded over her dialogues upon the mysteries of philosophy, 
 with the Patriarch Zosimus and other sages. 
 
 All these four distinguished seats for the persons of the Imperial 
 family were occupied at the moment which we have described, ex- 
 cepting that which ought to have been filled by Nicephorus Brien- 
 ■nius, the husband of the fair Anna Comnena. To his negligence 
 ;and absence was perhaps owing the angry spot on the brow of his 
 fair bride. Beside her on the platform _ were two white-robed 
 nymphs of her household ; female slaves, in a word, who reposed 
 themselves on their knees on cushions, when their assistance was 
 not wanted as a species of living book-desks, to support and extend 
 the' parchment rolls, in which the Princess recorded her own wis- 
 dom, or from which she quoted that of others. One of these young 
 maidens, called Astarte, was so distinguished as a calligrapher, or 
 beautiful writer of various alphabets and languages, that she nar- 
 rowly escaped bein^ sent as a present to the caliph (who could 
 neither read nor write), at a time when it was necessary to bribe 
 him into peace. Violante, usually called the Muse, the other atten- 
 'dant of the Princess, a mistress of the vocal and instrumental art of 
 
32 COUNT IIOBEKT OF PARIS. 
 
 music, was actually sent in a compliment to soothe the temper of 
 Robert Guiscard, "the Archduke of Apulia, who being" ag-ed and 
 stone-deaf, and the girl under ten years old at the time, returned 
 the valued present to the imperial donor, and with the selfishness 
 which was one of that v/ily Norman's characteristics, desired to have 
 some one sent him who could contribute to his pleasure, instead of 
 a twangling' squalling infant. 
 
 Beneath these elevated seats there sat, or reposed on the floor of 
 the hall, such favourites as were admitted. The Patriarch Zosimus, 
 and one or two old men, were permitted the use of certain lowly 
 stools, which were the only seats prepared for the learned members 
 of the Princess's evening parties, as they would have been called in 
 our days. As for the younger magnates, the honour of being per- 
 mitted to join the imperial conversation was expected to render them 
 far superior to the paltry accommodation of a joint-stool. Five or 
 six courtiers, of different dress and ages, might compose the party, 
 who either stood, or relieved their posture by kneeling along the 
 verge of an adorned fountain, which shed a mist of such very small 
 rain as to dispel almost insensibly, cooling the fragrant breeze which 
 breathed from the flowers and slirubs that were so disposed as to 
 send a waste of sweets around. One goodly old man, named Micliael 
 Agelastes, big, burly, and dressed like an ancient Cynic philosopher, 
 was distinguished by assuming, in a great measure, the ragged garb 
 and mad bearing of that sect, and by his inflexible practice of the 
 strictest ceremonies exigible by the Imperial family. He was known 
 by an afi'ectation of cynical principle and language, and of republican 
 lihilosophy, strangely contradicted by his practical deference to the 
 great. It was wonderful hoAv long this man, now sixty years old 
 and upwards, disdained to avail himself of the accustomed privilege 
 of leaning, or supporting his limbs, and with what regularity he 
 maintained either the standing posture or that of absolute kneeling; 
 but the fir^t was so much his usual attitude that he acquired among" 
 his court friends the name of Elephas, or the Elephant, because the 
 ancients had an idea that the half-reasoning animal, as it is called, 
 has joints incapable of kneeling down. 
 
 "Yet I have seen them kneel when I was in the country of the 
 Gymnosophists," said a person present on the evening- of Hereward's 
 introduction. 
 
 "To take up their master on their shoulders? so will ours," said 
 the Patriarch Zosimus, with the slight sneer which was the nearest 
 advance to a sarcasm that the etiquette of the Greek court per- 
 mitted ; for on all ordinary occasions it would not have ofi"ended the 
 Presence more surely literally to have drawn a poniard than to ex- 
 change a repartee in the imperial circle. Even the sarcasm, such 
 as it was, would have been thought censurable by that ceremonious 
 court in any but the Patriarch, to whose high rank some license was 
 allowed. 
 
 Just as he had thus far offended decorum, Achilles Tatius and his 
 soldier Hereward entered the apartment. The former bore him with 
 eren more than his usual degree of courtliness, as if to set his own 
 g"ood-breeding off by a comparison with the inexpert bearing of his 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 33 
 
 follower ; while, iievertlieloss, lie had a secret pride in exhibiting-, a^ 
 
 one under his own immediate and distinct command, a man whom 
 
 lie was accustomed to consider as one of the finest soldiers in the 
 
 array of Alexius, whether appearance or reality were to be considered. 
 
 Some astonishment followed the abrupt "entrance of the new- 
 
 I comers. Achilles indeed glided into the presence with the easy and 
 
 quiet extremity of respect which intimated his habitude in these 
 
 regions. But Hereward started on his entrance, and, perceiving- 
 
 I himself in company of the court, hastily strove to remedy his dis- 
 
 J order. His commander, throwing' round a scarce visible shrug- of 
 
 I apology, made then a confidential and monitory sign to Hereward 
 
 to mind his conduct. What he meant was, that he should doff his 
 
 helmet and fall prostrate on the ground. But the Anglo-Saxon, 
 
 ' unaccustomed to interpret obscure inferences, naturally thoug-ht ot 
 
 his military duties, and advanced in front of the Emperor, as when 
 
 he rendered his military homage. He made reverence with his 
 
 knee, half touched his cap, and then recovering- and shouldering hm 
 
 axe, stood in advance of the imperial chair, as if on duty as a sentinel. 
 
 A g-entle smile of surprise went round the circle as they g-azed oE 
 
 the manly appearance, and somewhat unceremonious but martial 
 
 deportment of the northern soldier. The various spectators around 
 
 consulted the Emperor's face, not knowing- whether they were to 
 
 take the intrusive manner of the Varang-ian's entrance as matter of 
 
 i ill-breeding-, and manifest their horror, or whether they ought rather 
 
 • to consider the bearing- of the life-g-uardsman as indicating- blunt and 
 
 . manly zeal, and therefore to be received with applause. 
 
 It was some little time ere the Emperor recovered himself suf- 
 I ficiently to strike a key-note, as was usual upon such occasions. 
 Alexius Comnenus had been wrapt for a moment into some species 
 of slumber, or at least absence of mind. Out of this he had been 
 startled by the sudden appearance of the Varangian ; for though he 
 was accustomed to commit the outer g-uards of the palate to this 
 trusty corps, yet the deformed blacks wdiom we have mentioned, and 
 who sometimes rose to be ministers of state and commanders of 
 armies, were, on all ordinary occasions, intrusted with the guard of 
 the interior of the palace. Alexius, therefore, aw^akened from his 
 slumber, and the military phrase of his daughter still ringing- in his 
 ears as she was reading- a description of the g-reat historical work, 
 in which she had detailed the conflicts of his reig-n, felt somewhat 
 unprepared for the entrance and military deportment of one of the 
 Saxon g-uard, with whom he was accustomed to associate, in general, 
 scenes of blows, dang-er, and death. 
 
 After a troubled glance around, his look rested on Achilles Tatius. 
 " Why here," he said, " trusty Follower ? why this soldier here at 
 this time of night?" Here, of course, was the moment for model- 
 ling the visages regis ad exemxolum; but, ere the Patriarch could 
 frame his countenance into devout apprehension of danger, Achilles 
 Tatius had spoken a word or two, which reminded Alexius's me^iory 
 that the soldier had been brought there by his own special orders. 
 "Oh, ay! true, good fellow," said he, smoothing his troubled brov/; 
 " we had forgot that passage among the cares of state." He then 
 
 D 
 
34 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 spoke to the Yarang-ian with a countenance more frank, and a 
 heartier accent, than he nsed to his courtiers ; for, to a despotic 
 monarch, a faithful life-g'uardsman is a person of confidence, while 
 an ofiicer of high rank is always in some deg-ree a subject of distrust. 
 "Ila!" said he, "our worthy Anglo-Dane, how fares he?" This 
 unceremonious salutation surprised all but him to whom it was ad- 
 dressed. Hereward answered, accompanying- his words with a mili- 
 tary obeisance which partook of heartiness rather than reverence, 
 with a loud unsubdued voice, which startled the presence still more 
 that the language was Saxon, which these foreigners occasionally 
 used, " Waes hael Kaisar ■mhrig unci machtigh!" — that is. Be of 
 good health, stout and mighty Emperor. The Emperor, with a 
 smile of intelligence, to show he could speak to his guards in their 
 own foreign lang-uage, replied, by the well-known counter-sig'ual — 
 *' Drink hael I" 
 
 Immediately a page brought a silver g'oblet of wine. The Em- 
 peror put his lips to it, though he scarce tasted the liquor, then 
 commanded it to be handed to Hereward, and bade the soldier drink. 
 The Saxon did not wait till he was desired a second time, but took 
 off the contents without hesitation. A gentle smile, decorous as tlie 
 presence required, passed over the assembly, at a feat which, though 
 by no means wonderful in a hyperborean, seemed prodig-ious in the 
 estimation of the moderate Greeks. Alexius himself laug'hed more 
 loudly than his courtiers thought might be becoming' on their part^ 
 and mustering what few words of Varangian he possessed, which he 
 eked out with Greek, demanded of his life-guardsman — "Well, my 
 bold Briton, or Edward, as men call thee, dost thou know the flavour 
 of that wine ? " 
 
 " Yes," answered the Varang-ian, without chang-e of countenance, 
 "I tasted it once before at Laodicea " 
 
 Here his officer, Achilles Tatius, became sensible that his soldier 
 approached delicate ground, and in vain endeavoured to g-ain his 
 attention, in order that he might furtively convey to him a hint to 
 be silent, or at least take heed what he said in such a presence. 
 But the soldier, who, with proper military observance, continued to 
 have his eye and attention fixed on the Emperor, as the prince whom 
 he was bound to answer or to serve, saw none of the hints, which 
 Achilles at length suffered to become so broad that Zosimus and the 
 Protospathaire exchanged expressive glances, as calling on each 
 other to notice the byplay of the leader of the Varangians. 
 
 In the meanwhile, the dialogue between the Emperor and his sol- 
 dier continued :—" How," said Alexius, "did this draught relish, 
 compared with the former ? " 
 
 " There is fairer company here, my liege, than that of the Arabian 
 archers," answered Hereward, with a look and bow of instinctive 
 good-breeding ; " Nevertheless, there lacks the flavour which the 
 heat of the sun, the dust of the combat, with the fatigue of wielding 
 such a weapon as this" (advancing his axe) "for eight hours together, 
 give to a cup of rare wine." 
 
 " Another deficiency there might be," said Agelastes the Elephant, 
 *' provided I am pardoned hinting at it," he added, with a look to the 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 35 
 
 throne, — "it mig-ht be the smaller size of the cup compared with 
 that at Laodicea/' 
 
 "By Tarauis, you say true," answered the life-guardsman; "at 
 Laodicea I used my helmet." 
 
 " Let us see the cups compared together, good friend," said Age- 
 lastes, continuing his raillery, " that we may be sure thou hast not 
 swallowed the present goblet ; for I thought, from the manner of 
 the draught, there was a chance of its going dowii with its contents." 
 
 *' There are some things which I do not easily swallow," answered 
 the Varangian, in a calm and indifferent tone ; " but they must come 
 from a younger and more active man than you." 
 
 The company again smiled to each other, as if to hint that the 
 philosopher, though also parcel wit by profession, had the worst of 
 the encounter. 
 
 The Emperor at the same time interfered— " Nor did' I send for 
 thee hither, good fellow, to be baited by idle taunts." 
 
 Here Agelastes shrunk back in the circle, as a hound that has 
 been rebuked by the huntsman for babbling ; and the Princess Anna 
 Comnena, who had indicated by her fjiir features a certain degree 
 of impatience, at length spoke — "Will it then please you, my impe- 
 rial and much-beloved father, to inform those blessed with admission 
 to the Muses' temple, for what is it that you have ordered this sol- 
 dier to be this night admitted to a place so ftir above his rank in life? 
 Permit me to say, we ought not to waste, in frivolous and silly jests, 
 the time which is sacred to the welfare of the empire, as every mo- 
 ment of your leisure must be." 
 
 "Our daughter speaks wisely,"' said the Empress Irene, who, like 
 most mothers who do not possess much talent themselves, and are 
 not very capable of estimating it in others, was, nevertheless, a great 
 admirer of her favourite daughter's accomplishments, and ready to 
 draw them out on all occasions. "Permit me to remark, that in 
 this divine and selected palace of the Muses, dedicated to the studies 
 of our well-beloved and highly-gifted daughter, whose pen will pre- 
 serve your reputation, our most imperial husband, till the desolation 
 of the universe, and which enlivens and delights this society, the 
 very flower of the wits of our sublime court; — permit me to say that 
 we have, merely by admitting a single life-guardsman, given our 
 conversation the character of that which distinguishes a barrack." 
 
 Now the Emperor Alexius Comnenus had the same feeling with 
 many an honest man in ordinary life when his wife begins a long 
 oration, especially as the Empress Irene did not always retain the 
 observance consistent with his awful rule and right supremacy, al- 
 though especially severe in exacting it from all others, in reference 
 to her lord. Therefore, though he had felt some pleasure in gaining 
 a short release from the monotonous recitation of the Princess's 
 history, he now saw the necessity of resuming it, or of listening to 
 the matrimonial eloquence of the Empress. He sighed, therefore, 
 as he said, " I crave your pardon, good our imperial spouse, and our 
 daughter born in tbe purple chamber. I remember me, our most 
 amiable and accompHshed daughter, that last night you wished to 
 know the particulars of the battle of Laodicea, with the heathenish 
 
S6 COUNT ROBECT OF PARIS. 
 
 Arabs, whom Heaven confound. And for certain consideratwna 
 wliicli moved ourselves to add otiier inquiries to our own recollection, 
 Achilles Tatius, our most trusty Follower, was commissioned to in- 
 troduce into this place one of those soldiers under his command, bein^ 
 such a one whose courage and presence of mind could best enable 
 liim to remark what passed around him on that remarkable and 
 bloody day. And this I suppose to be the mau brought to us for that 
 purpose." 
 
 " If I am permitted to speak, and live," answered the Follower, 
 *' your Imperial Highness, with those divine Princesses, whose name 
 is to us as those of blessed saints, have in your presence the flov/er 
 of my Anglo-Danes, or whatsoever unbaptised name is given to 
 my soldiers. He is, as I may say, ti barbarian of barbarians ; for, 
 although in birth and breeding unfit to soil with his feet the carpet 
 of this precinct of accomplishment and eloquence, he is so brave — 
 EO trusty — so devotedly attached — and so unhesitatingly zealous, 
 that " 
 
 " Enough, good Follower," said the Emperor ; " let us only know 
 that he is cool and observant, not confused and ^ fluttered during- 
 close battle, as we have sometimes observed in you and other great 
 commanders — and, to speak truth, have even felt in our imperial self 
 on extraordinary occasions. Which difference in man's constitution 
 is not owing to any inferiority of courage, but, in us, to a certain con- 
 sciousness of the importance of our own safety to the welfare of the 
 whole, and to a feeling of the number of duties which at once devolve 
 on us. Speak then, and speak quickly, Tatius ; for I discern that 
 our dearest consort, and our thrice fortunate daughter, born in the 
 imperial chamber of purple, seem to wax somewhat impatient." 
 
 '•' Hereward," answered Tatius, " is as composed and observant in 
 battle, as another in a festive dance. The dust of war is the breath 
 of his nostrils; and he will prove his worth in combat against any 
 four others (Varangians excepted), who shall term themselves your 
 Imperial Highness's bravest servants." 
 
 "FolloAver," said the Emperor, with a displeased look and tone, 
 " instead of instructing these poor ignorant barbarians in the rules 
 and civilisation of our enlightened empire, you foster, by such boast- 
 ful words, the idle pride and fury of their temper, which hurries tlieni 
 into brawls with the legions of other foreign countries, and even 
 breeds quarrels among themselves." 
 
 " If my mouth may be opened in the way of most humble excuse," 
 said the Follower, " I would presume to reply, that I but an hour 
 hence talked with this poor ignorant Anglo-Dane, on the paternal 
 care with which the Imperial Majesty of Greece regards the preser- 
 vation of that concord which unites the followers of his standard, and 
 how desirous he is to promote that harmony, more especially amongst 
 the various nations who have the happiness to serve you, in spite of 
 the bloodthirsty quarrels of the Franks, and other northern men, 
 who are never free from civil broil. I think the poor youth's under- 
 standing can bear witness to this much in my behalf." He then looked 
 towards Hereward, who gravely inclined his head in token of assent 
 to what his captain said. His excuse thus ratified, Achilles proceeded 
 
COUNT EGBERT OF PARIS. g7 
 
 in his apolog-y more firmly. " What I have said even now was spoken 
 ■without consideration ; for, instead of pretending- that this liereward 
 would face four of yonr Imperial liig'hness's servants, I oug-ht to 
 have said, that he was willing- to defy six of your Imperial Majesty's 
 most deadly enemies, and permit them to choose every circumstance 
 of time, arras, and place of combat." 
 
 " That hath a better sound," said the Emperor; " and in truth, for 
 the information of my dearest daughter, who pionsly has undertaken 
 to record the thing-s which I have been the blessed means of doing- 
 for the Empire, I earnestly wish that she should remember that, 
 though the sword of Alexius hath not slept in its sheath, yet he hathi 
 never soug-ht his own ag-g'randisement of fame at the price of blood- 
 shed among' his subjects." 
 
 "I trust," said Anna Comnena, "that, in my humble sketch of i\\Q 
 life of the princely sire from whom I derive my existence, I have not 
 forgot to notice his love of peace, and care for the lives of his sol- 
 diery, and abhorrence of the bloody manners of the heretic Franks, 
 as one of his most distinguishing characteristics." 
 
 Assuming then an attitude more commanding, as one v/ho was 
 about to claim the attention of the company, the Princess inclined 
 her head gently around to the audience, and taking a roll of parch- 
 ment from the fair amanuensis^ which she had, in a most beautiful 
 handwriting, engrossed to her mistress's dictation, Anna Comnena 
 prepared to read its contents. 
 
 At this moment the eyes of the Princess rested for an instant on 
 the barbarian Hereward,to whom she deigned this greeting — "Vali- 
 ant barbarian, of whom my fancy recalls some memory, as if in a 
 dream, thou art now to hear a work, v/hich, if the author be put into 
 comparison with the subject, might be likened to a portrait of Alex- 
 ander, in executing which some inferior dauber has usurped the 
 pencil of Apelles ; but which essay, however it may appear unworthy 
 of the subject in the eyes of many, must yet command some envy in 
 those v/ho candidly consider its contents, and the difficulty of por- 
 traying the great personage concerning whom it is written. Still, I 
 pray thee, give thine attention to what I have now to read, since this 
 account of the battle of Laodicca, the details thereof being princi- 
 pally derived from his Imperial Highness, my excellent father, from 
 the altog'ether valiant Protospathaire, his invincible general, together 
 with Achilles Tatius, the faithful Follower of our victorious Emperor, 
 may nevertheless be in some circumstances inaccurate. For it is to 
 be thought, that the high offices of those great commanders retained 
 them at a distance from some particularly active parts of the fray, in 
 order that they might have more cool and accurate opportunity to 
 form a judgment upon tlie whole, and transmit their orders, without 
 being disturbed by any thoughts of personal safety. Even so, brave 
 I barbarian, in the art of embroidery (marvel not tliat we are a pro- 
 ficient in that mechanical process since it is patronised by Minerva, 
 whose studies we affect to follow), we reserve to ourselves the super- 
 intendence of the entire web, and commit to our maidens and others 
 the execution of particular parts. Thus, in the same manner, thou, 
 valiant Varangian, being engaged iu the very thickest of the affray 
 
38 COUNT llOBERT OF TARIS 
 
 before Laodicca, mayst point out to us, tlie unworthy liistorian of ro 
 renowned a war, those chances which befell where men fought hand 
 to hand, and where the fate of war was decided by the edge of the 
 sword. Therefore, dread not, thou bravest of the axe-men to v/hom 
 we owe that victory, and so many others, to correct any mistake or 
 misapprehension which we may have been led into coucerning- the 
 details of that glorious event." 
 
 " Madam," said the Varangian, "I shall attend with diligence to 
 what your Highness may be pleased to read to me ; although, as to 
 presuming to blame the history of a Princess born in the purple, far 
 be such a presumption from me ; still less would it become a barbaric 
 Varangian to pass a judgment on the military conduct of the Em- 
 peror, by whom lie is liberally paid, or of the commander, by whom 
 he is well treated. Before an action, if our advice is required, it is 
 ever faithfully tendered; but according to my rough wit, our censure 
 after the field is fought would be more invidious than useful. Touch- 
 ing tlie Protospathaire, if it be the duty of a general to absent him- 
 self from close action, I can safely say, or swear, were it necessary, 
 that the invincible commander was never seen by me within a javelin's 
 cast of aught that looked like danger." 
 
 This speech, boldly and bluntly delivered, had a general effect on 
 the company present. The Emperor himself, and Achilles Tntius, 
 looked like men who had got off from a danger better than they ex- 
 pected. The Protospathaire laboured to conceal a movement of re- 
 sentment. Agelastes whispered to the Patriarch, near whom lie was 
 placed, " The northern battle-axe lacks neither point nor edge." 
 
 "Hush!" said Zosimus, "let us hear how this is to end; the 
 Princess is about to speak." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 We heard the Tecbir, so these Arabs call 
 Their shout of onset, when with loud acclaim 
 They challenged Heaven, as if demanding conquest. 
 The battle join'd, and through the barb'rous herd, 
 Fight, fight ! and Paradise ! was all their cry. 
 
 The Siege of Damascus. 
 
 The voice of the northern soldier, although modified by feelings 
 of respect to the Emperor, and even attachment to his captain, had 
 more of a tone of l^unt sincerity, nevertheless, than was usually 
 heard by the sacred echoes of the nnperial pakce; and though the 
 Princess Anna Comnena began to think that she had invoked the 
 opinion of a severe judge, she was sensible, at the same time, by the 
 deference of his manner, that his respect was of a character more 
 real, and his. applause, should she gain it, would prove more truly 
 flattering, than the gilded assent of the whole court of her father. 
 She gazed with some surprise and attention on Hereward, already 
 :tescribed as a very handsome young man, and felt the nntural desire 
 lo pleascj which is easily created in the mind towards a fine person 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 39 
 
 of the other sex. His attitude was easy and bold, but neither clown- 
 ish nor uncourtly. His title of a barbarian placed him at once free 
 from the forms of civilised life, and the rules of artificial politeness. 
 But his character for valour, and the noble self-confidence of his 
 bearing-, g-ave him a deeper interest than would have been acquired 
 by a more studied and anxious address, or an excess of reverential awe. 
 In short, the Princess Anna Coranena, hig-h in rank as she was, 
 and born in the imperial purple, which she herself deemed the first 
 of all attributes, felt herself nevertheless, in preparing- to resume the 
 recitation of her history, more anxious to obtain the approbation of 
 this rude soldier, than that of all the rest of the courteous audience. 
 She knew them well, it is true, and felt nowise solicitous about the 
 applause which the daugliter of the Emperor was sure to receive Avith 
 full hands from those of the Grecian court to whom she mi^ht choose 
 to communicate the productions of her father's daug-hter. But she 
 had now a judge of a new character, whose applause, if bestowed, 
 must have something- in it intrinsically real, since it could only be 
 obtained by affecting- his head or his heart. 
 
 It was perhaps under the influence of these feeling-s that the Prin- 
 cess was somewhat long-er than usual in finding- out the passage in 
 the roll of history at which she purposed to commence. It was also 
 noticed, that she beg-an her recitation with a diffidence and embarrass- 
 ment surprising- to the noble hearers, who had often seen her in full 
 possession of her presence of mind before what they conceived a more 
 disting-uished, and even more critical audience. 
 i Neither were the circmnstances of the Varangian such as rendered 
 ^ the scene indifierent to him. Anna Comnena had indeed attained 
 j her fifth lustre, and that is a period after which Grecian beauty is 
 ; understood to commence its decline. How long she had passed that 
 I critical period was a secret to all but the trusted ward-women of the 
 . purple chamber. Enough that it was affirmed by the popular tongue, 
 ! and seemed to be attested by that bent towards philosophy and litera- 
 j ture, which is not supposed to be congenial to beauty in its earlier 
 I buds, to amount to one or two years more. She might be seven-and- 
 I twenty. 
 
 ! Still Anna Comnena was, or had very lately been, a beauty of the 
 I very first rank, and must be supposed to have still retained charms 
 I to captivate a barbarian of the north ; if, indeed, he himself was not 
 j careful to maintain an heedful recollection of the immeasurable dis- 
 tance between -them. Indeed, even this recollection might hardly 
 ; have saved Hereward from the charms of this enchantress, bold, free- 
 ' born, and fearless as he was ; for, during that time of strange revolu- 
 tions, there were many instances of successful generals sharing the 
 ! couch of imperial princesses, whom perhaps they had themselves 
 , rendered widows in order to make way for their own pretensions. 
 But, besides the influence of other recollections, which the reader may 
 learn hereafter, Hereward, though flattered by the unusual degree of 
 attention which the Princess bestowed upon him, saw in her only 
 the daughter of his Emperor and adopted liege lord, and the wife of 
 a noble prince, whom reason and duty alike forbade him to think of 
 in any other lig'ht. 
 
40 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 It was after one or two preliminary efforts that the Princess Anna 
 began her reading-, with an uncertain voice, which gained strength 
 and fortitude as she proceeded with the following passage from a 
 well-known part of her history of Alexius Comnenus, but which un- 
 fortunately has not been republished in the Byzantine historians. 
 The narrative cannot, therefore, be otherwise than acceptable to the 
 antiquarian reader ; and the author hopes to receive the thanks of 
 the learned world for the recovery of a curious fragment, which, 
 without his exertions, must probably have passed to the gulf of total 
 oblivion. 
 
 '^ijt J^ctteat of Saotiicca, 
 
 NOW FIRST PUBLISHED FROM THE GREEK OF THE PRINCESS 
 COMNENa's history of HER FATHER. 
 
 " The sun had betaken himself to his bed in the ocean, ashamed, 
 it would seem, to see the immortal array of our most sacred Emperor 
 Alexius surrounded by those barbarous hordes of unbelieving barbae 
 rians, who, as described in our last chapter, had occupied the various 
 passes both in front and rear of the Komans,i secured during the 
 preceding night by the wily barbarians. Although, therefore, a 
 triumphant course of advance had brought us to this point, it now 
 became a serious and doubtful question whether our victorious eagles- 
 might be able to penetrate any farther into the country of the enemy, 
 or even to retreat with safety into their own. 
 
 " The extensive acquaintance of the Emperor with military affairs, 
 m which he exceeds mosi living princes, had induced him, on the 
 preceding evening, to ascertain, with marvellous exactitude and fore- 
 sight, the precise position of the enemy. In this most necessary 
 service he employed certain light-armed barbarians, whose habits and 
 oiscipline had been originally derived from the wilds of Syria ; and 
 if I am required to speak according to the dictation of Truth, seeing* 
 she ought always to sit upon the pen of a Instorian, I must needs say 
 they were infidels hke their enemies ; ftiithfully attached, however, to 
 the Roman service, and, as I believe, true slaves of the Emperor, to 
 whom they communicated the information required by him respect- 
 ing the position of his dreaded opponent Jezdegerd. These men did 
 not bring in their information till long after the hour when the Em- 
 peror usually betook himself to rest. 
 
 " Notwithstanding this derangement of his most sacred time, our 
 imperial father, who had postponed the ceremony of disrobing, so 
 important were the necessities of the moment, continued, until deep 
 in the night, to hold a council of his wisest chiefs, men whose deptt 
 of judgment might have saved a sinking world, and who now consult- 
 ed what was to be done under the pressure of the circumstances ifc 
 which they were now placed. And so great was the urgency, that 
 all ordinary observances of the household were set aside, since I have 
 
 1 More properly termed the Greeks ; but we follow the phraseology of tJie fair 
 authorcss. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 41 
 
 heard from tliose Avho witnessed the fact, that the royal bed was- 
 displayed in the very room where the council assembled, and that 
 the sacred lamp, called the Lig-ht of the Council, and which always 
 burns when the Emperor presides in person over the deliberations 
 of his servants, was for that night — a thing unknown in our annals — 
 fed with uni)erfiimed oil ! ! " "• 
 
 The fair speaker here threw her fine form into an attitude which 
 I expressed holy horror, and the hearers intimated their sympathy in 
 [; the exciting' cause by corresponding signs of interest ; as to which 
 j we need only say, that tlie sigh of Achilles Tatius was the most 
 j pathetic ; while the groan of Agelastes the Elephant was deepest 
 J and most tremendously bestial in its sound, Hereward seemed. 
 I little moved, except by a slight motion of surprise at the wonder 
 expressed by the others. The Princess, having allowed due time 
 I for the sympathy of her hearers to exhibit itself, proceeded as fol- 
 1 lows : — 
 
 "In this melancholy situation, when even the best-established and 
 
 i, most sacred rites of the imperial household gave way to the necessity 
 
 !| of a hasty provision for the morrow, the opinions of the counsellors' 
 
 were different, according to their tempers and habits ; a thing, by 
 
 the way, v.diich may be remarked as likely to happen among the best- 
 
 and wisest on such occasions of doubt and danger. 
 
 " I do not in this place put down the names and opinions of those 
 whose counsels were proposed and rejected, herein paying respect to- 
 the secresy and freedom of debate justly attached to the imperial 
 cabinet. Enough it is to say that some there were who advised a^ 
 speedy attack upon the enemy, in the direction of our original ad- 
 vance. Others thought it was safer, and miglit be easier, to force 
 I our way to the rear, and retreat by the same course which had 
 i brought us hither ; nor must it be concealed, that there were per- 
 sons of unsuspected fidelity who proposed a third course, safer in- 
 deed than the others, but totally alien to the mind of our most- 
 magnanimous father. They recommended that a confidential slave, 
 in company with a minister of the interior of our imperial palace^, 
 should be sent to the tent of Jezdegerd, in order to ascertain upon 
 what terms the barbarian would permit our triumphant father to re- 
 treat in safety at the head of his victorious army. On learning sucli. 
 opinion, our imperial father was heard to exclaim, 'Sancta Sophia!' 
 being the nearest approach to an adjuration which he has been 
 known to permit himself, and was apparently about to say some- 
 thing violent, both concerning the dishonour of the advice, and the 
 cowardice of those by v/hora it was preferred, when, recoilecling the 
 mutability of human things, and the misfortune of several of his- 
 Majesty's gracious predecessors, some of whom had been com])elled 
 to surrender their sacred persons to the infidels in the same region, 
 his Imperial iMajesty repressed his generous feelings, and only suf- 
 fered his army counsellors to understand his sentiments by a speech, 
 in which he declared so desperate and so dislionourable a course 
 would be the last which he would ado])t., even in the last extremity- 
 of danger. Thus did the judgment of this mighty Prince at once 
 reject counsel that seemed sliamcfrd ti; lii.s urms, and thereby encour- 
 
42 COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 
 
 age the zeal of his troops, while pnvatcl}' he kept this postern in 
 reserve, which iu utmost need mig-lit serve for a safe, though not 
 altogether, iu less urg-eut circumstances, an honourable retreat. 
 
 " Wlieu the discussion had reached this melancholy crisis, tlie re- 
 iicwned Achilles Tatius arrived with the hopeful intellig-ence that he 
 himself and some soldiers of his corps had discovered an opening on 
 the left flank of our present encampment, by which, making- indeed 
 a considerable circuit, but reaching, if we marched with vigour, the 
 town of Laodicea, we might, by fixlliug back on our resources, be in 
 some measure in surety from the enemy. 
 
 " So soon as this ray of hope darted on the troubled mmd of our 
 gracious father, he proceeded to make such arrangements as might 
 secure the full benefit of the advantage. His Imperial Highness 
 would not permit the brave Varangians, Avhose battle-axes lie ac- 
 counted the flower of his imperial army, to take the advanced posts 
 of assailants on the present occasion. He repressed the love of 
 battle by which tliese generous foreigners have been at all times dis- 
 tinguished, and directed that the Syrian forces in the army, who have 
 been before mentioned, should be assembled with as little noise as 
 possible iu the vicinity of the deserted pass, with instructions to 
 occupy it. The good genius of the empire suggested that, as their 
 speech, arms, and appearance, resembled those of the enemy, they 
 might be permitted unopposed to take post in the defile with their 
 light-armed forces, and thus secure it for the passage of the rest of 
 the army, of which he proposed that the Varangians, as immediately 
 attached to his own sacred person, should form the vanguard. The 
 well-known battalions, termed the Immortals, came next, comprising 
 the gross of the army, and forming the centre and rear. Achilles 
 Tatius, the faithful Follower of his Royal Master, although mortified 
 that he was not permitted to assume the charge of the rear, which 
 he had proposed for himself and his valiant troops, as the post of 
 danger at the time, cheerfully acquiesced, nevertheless, in the ar- 
 rangement proposed by the Emperor, as most fit to efi'ect the impe- 
 rial safety, and that of the army. 
 
 " The imperial orders, as they were sent instantly abroad, were in 
 like manner executed with the readiest punctuality, the rather that 
 'they indicated a course of safety which had been almost despaired of 
 even by the oldest soldiers. During the dead period of time when, 
 as the divine Homer tells us, gods and men are alike asleep, it was 
 found that the vigilance and prudence of a single individual had pro- 
 vided safety for the whole Roman army. The pinnacles of the moun- 
 tain-passes were scarcely touched by the earliest beams of the dawn, 
 wdien these beams were also reflected from the steel caps and spears 
 of the Syrians, under the command of a captain named Monastras, 
 who, with his tribe, had attached himself to the empire. The Em- 
 peror, at the head of his faithful Varangians, defiled through the 
 passes, in order to gain that degree of advance on the road to the 
 oity of liaodicea which was desired, so as to avoid coming into colli- 
 sion with the barbarians. 
 
 " It was a goodly sight to see the dark mass of northern warriors, 
 v-'ho now led the van of the army, moving slowly and steadily through 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 43 
 
 the defiles of the mountains, around the insuhitcd rocks and preci- 
 pices, and surmounting- the g-entler acclivities, like the course of a 
 strong- and mighty river ; while the loose bands of archers and javc- 
 lin-raen, armed after the Eastern manner, were dispersed on the 
 steep sides of the defiles, and might be compared to light foam upon 
 the edge of the torrent. In the midst of the squadrons of the life- 
 guard might be seen the proud war-horse of his Imperial Majesty, 
 which pav/ed the earth indignantly, as if impatient at the delay winch 
 separated him from his august burden. The Emperor Alexius him- 
 self travelled in a litter, borne by eight strong African slaves, that he 
 might rise perfectly refreshed if the army sh«Tild be overtaken by 
 the enemy. The valiant Achilles Tatius rode near the couch of his 
 master, that none of those luminous ideas, by which our august sire 
 so often decided the fate of battle, might be lost for want of instant 
 communication to those whose duty it was to execute them. I may 
 also say, tliat there were close to the litter of the Emperor three or 
 four carriages of the same kind ; one prepared for the Moon, as she 
 may be termed, of the universe, the gracious Empress Irene. Among 
 the*^ others which might be mentioned was that which contained the 
 authoress of this history, unworthy as she may be of distinction, save 
 as the daughter of the eminent and sacred persons Avhom the narra- 
 tion chiefly concerns. In this manner the imperial army pressed on 
 through the dangerous defiles, where their march was exposed to 
 insults from the barbarians. They were happily cleared without any 
 opposition. When we came to the descent of the pass which looks 
 down on the city of Laodicea, the sagacity of the Emperor com- 
 manded the van — which, though the soldiers composing- the same 
 were heavily armed, had hitherto marched extremely fast — to halt, 
 as well that they themselves might take some repose and refresh- 
 ment, as to give the rearward forces time to come up, and close 
 various gaps which the rapid movement of those in front had occa- 
 sioned in the line of march. 
 
 " The place chosen for this purpose was eminently beautiful, from 
 the small and comparatively insignificant ridge of hills which melt 
 irregularly down into the plains stretching betv/een the pass which 
 we occupied and Laodicea. The town was about one hundred stadia 
 distant, and some of our more sanguine warriors pretended that they 
 could already discern its towers and pinnacles glittering in the early 
 beams of the sun, which had not as yet risen high into the horizon. 
 A mountain torrent, which found its source at the foot of a huge 
 rock, that yawned to give it birth, as if struck by the rod of the 
 prophet Moses, poured its liquid treasure down to the more level 
 country, nourishing herbage and even large trees in its descent, un- 
 til, at the distance of some four or five miles, the stream, at least in 
 dry seasons, was lost amid heaps of sand and stones, which in the 
 rainy season marked the strength and fury of its current. 
 
 " It was pleasant to see the attention of the Emperor to the com- 
 forts of the companions and guardians of his march. The trumpets 
 from time to time gave license to various parties of the Varangians 
 to lay down their arms, to eat the food which was distributed to 
 them, and quench their thirst at the pure stream, which poured its 
 
44 COUJS'T ROBEKT OF PAEIS. 
 
 bounties down the hill, or they mig-lit be seen to extend their bulky 
 forms upon the turf around them. The Emperor, his most serene 
 spouse, iind the princesses and hidies, were also served with break- 
 fast, at the fountain formed b}' the small brook in its very birth, and 
 which the reverent feelings of the soldiers had left unpolluted by 
 vulgar touch, for the use of that family, emphatically said to be born 
 in the purple. Our beloved husband was also present on this occa- 
 sion, and was among- the first to detect one of the disasters of the 
 day. For although all the rest of the repast had been, by the dex- 
 terity of the officers of the imperial mouth, so arranged, even on s,3 
 awful an occasion, as to exhibit little difference from the ordinary 
 provisions of the household, yet, Avhen his Imperial Highness called 
 for wine, behold, not only was the sacred liquor, dedicated to his own 
 pecuhar imperial use, wholly exhausted or left behind, but, to use 
 the language of Horace, not the vilest Sabine vintage could be pro- 
 cured ; so that his Imperial Highness was glad to accept the offer of 
 a rude Varangian, who proffered his modicum of decocted barley, 
 which these barbarians prefer to the juice of the grape. The Empe- 
 ror, nevertheless, accepted of this coarse tribute." 
 
 " Insert," said the Emperor, who had been hitherto either plunged 
 in deep contemplation, or in an incipient slumber, "insert, I say, 
 these \erj words : ' And with the heat of the morning, and anxiety 
 of so rapid a march, with a numerous enemy in his rear, the Em- 
 peror was so thirsty, as never in his life to think beverage more 
 delicious.' " 
 
 In obedience to her imperial father's orders, the Princess resigned 
 the manuscript to the beautiful slave by whom it was written, re- 
 peating to the fair scribe the commanded addition, requiring her to 
 note it, as made by the express sacred command of the Emperor, and 
 then proceeded thus :— " More I had said here respecting the fav- 
 ourite liquor of your Imperial Highness's faithful Varangians ; but 
 your Highness having once graced it with a word of commendation, 
 this ail, as they call it, doubtless because removing all disorders, 
 which they term ' ailments,' becomes a theme too lofty for the discus- 
 sion of any inferior person. Suffice it to say, that thus were we all 
 pleasantly engaged, the ladies and slaves trying to find some amuse- 
 ment for the imperial ears ; the soldiers, in a long line down the 
 ravine, seen in different postures, some straggling to the watercourse, 
 some keeping' guard over the arms of their comi'ades, in which duty 
 they relieved each other, while body after body of the remaining 
 troops, under command of the Protospatliaire, and particularly 
 those called Immortals,^ joined the main army as they came up. 
 Those soldiers who were already exhausted were allowed to take a 
 short repose, after which they were sent forward, with directions to 
 advance steadily on the road to Laodicea ; while their leader was 
 instructed, so soon as he should open a free communication with that 
 city, to send thither a command for reinforcements and refreshments 
 not forgetting fitting provision of the sacred wine for the imperial 
 
 1 The ABetiiKres, or Immortals, of the army of Constantinople, were a select body 
 so nnuied, in imitation of tJie ancient Persians. Tliey were first embodied, according 
 to Duc;a;gc, by Itlicbael Duciis. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 45 
 
 mouth. According-Iy, the Roman bands of Immortals and others 
 had resumed their march, and held some way on their journey, it 
 "being" the imperial pleasure that the Varangians, lately the van- 
 g'uard, sliould now form the rear of the whole arm}^ so as to bring- 
 off in safety the Syrian light troops, by whom tlie hilly pass was still 
 occupied, when we heard upon the other side of this defile, which we 
 had traversed with so much safety, the awful sound of the Lelies, as 
 the Arabs name their shout of onset, though in what language it is 
 expressed, it would be hard to say. Perchance some in this audience 
 may enlighten ray ignorance." 
 
 _" May I speak and live ! " said the Acoulouthos Achilles, proud of 
 his literary knowledge, "the words are. Alia ilia alia, Mohamed re- 
 sold alia} These, or something like them, contain the Arabs' pro- 
 fession of faith, which they always call out when they join battle ; I 
 have heard them many times." 
 
 " And so have I," said the Emperor ; " and as thou didst, I warrant 
 me, I have sometimes wished myself anywhere else than within hear- 
 ing-." 
 
 All the circle were alive to hear the answer of Achilles Tatius. He 
 was too good a courtier, however, to make any imprudent reply. " It 
 was my duty," he replied, " to desire to be as near your Imperial 
 Highness as your faithful Follower ought, wherever you might wish 
 yourself for the time." 
 
 Agelastes and Zosimus exchanged looks, and the Princess Anna 
 Comnena proceeded in her recitation. 
 
 " The cause of these ominous sounds, which came in wild confusion 
 lip the rocky pass, were soon explained to us by a dozen cavaliers, 
 to whom the task of bringing intelligence had been assigned. 
 
 "These informed us that the barbarians, whose host had been dis- 
 persed around the position in which we had encamped the preceding- 
 day, had not been enabled to get their forces together until our light 
 troops were evacuating- the posts they had occupied for securing- 
 the retreat of our army. They were then drawing off from the tops 
 of the hills into the pass itself, when, in despite of the rocky ground, 
 they were charged furiously by Jezdegerd, at the head of a large 
 body of his followers, which, after repeated exertions, he had at 
 length brought to operate on the rear of the Syrians. Notwith- 
 standing that the pass was unfavourable for cavalry, the personal ex- 
 ertions of the infidel chief made his followers advance with a degree 
 of resolution unknown to the Syrians of the Roman army, who, find- 
 ing themselves at a distance from their companions, formed the 
 injurious idea that they were left there to be sacrificed, and thought 
 of flight in various directions, rather than of a combined and resolute 
 resistance. The state of affairs, therefore, at the further end of the 
 pass, was less favourable than we could wish, and those whose curi- 
 osity desired to see something which might be termed the rout of 
 the rear of an army, beheld the Syrians pursued from the hill tops, 
 overwhelmed, and individually cut down and made prisoners by the 
 bauds of caitiff Mussulmans. 
 
 1 i.e. ' ' God is God— Mahomet is the prophet of God." 
 
46 COUNT KOBEIIT OF PARIS. 
 
 "His Imperial Higlmess looked upon the scene of battle for a few 
 minutes, and, much commoved at wliat lie saAV, was somewhat liasty 
 in his directions to the Varangians to resume their arras, and pre- 
 cipitate their marcli towards Laodicea ; whereupon one of those 
 northern soldiers said boldly, though in opposition to the imperial 
 command, ' If we attempt to g'o hastily down this hill, our rear-guard 
 will be confused, not only by our own hurry, but by these runaway 
 scoundrels of Syrians, who in their headlong flight will not fail to 
 mix themselves among our ranks. Let two hundred Varangians, 
 who will live and die for the honour of England, abide in the very 
 throat of this pass with me, while the rest escort the Emperor to 
 this Laodicea, or whatever it is called. We may perish in our defence, 
 but we shall die in our duty ; and I have little doubt but we shall fur- 
 nish such a meal as will stay the stomach of these yelping hounds 
 from seeking- any farther banquet this day.' 
 
 "My imperial father at once discovered the importance of this ad- 
 vice, though it made him well-nigh weep to see with what unshrink- 
 ing" fidelity these poor barbarians pressed to fill up the number of 
 those who were to undertake this desperate duty — with what kind- 
 ness they took leave of their comrades, and with what jovial shouts 
 they followed their sovereign with their eyes as he proceeded on his 
 march down the hill, leaving them behind to resist and perish. The 
 Imperial eyes were filled with tears ; and I am not ashamed to con- 
 fess, that amid the terror of the moment, the Empress, and I myself, 
 forgot our rank in paying a similar tribute to these bold and self-de- 
 voted men. 
 
 "We left their leader carefully carrying* his handful of comrades 
 in defence of the pass, where the middle path was occupied by their 
 centre, while their wings on either side were so disposed as to act 
 upon the flanks of the enemy, should he rashly press upon such as 
 appeared opposed to him in the road. We had not proceeded half 
 way towards the plain, when a dreadful shout arose, in which the 
 yells of the Arabs were mingled with the deep and more regular shout 
 which these strangers usually repeat thrice, as well when biddings 
 hail to their commanders and princes, as when in the act of eng-ag- 
 ing- in battle. Many a look was turned back by their comrades, and 
 many a form was seen in the ranks which might have claimed the 
 chisel of a sculptor, while the soldier hesitated whether to follow the 
 line of his duty, which called him to march forward with his Empe- 
 ror, or the impulse of courage, which prompted him to rush back to 
 join his companions. Discipline, however, prevailed, and the main 
 body marched on. 
 
 *' An hour had elapsed, during which we heard, from time to time, 
 the noise of battle, when a mounted Varangian presented himself at 
 the side of the Emperor's litter. The horse was covered with foam, 
 and had obviously, from his trappings, the fineness of his limbs, and 
 the smallness of his joints, been the charger of some chief of the 
 desert, which had fallen by the chance of battle into the possession 
 of the northern warrior. The broad axe which the Varangian bore 
 was also stained with blood, and the paleness of death itself was 
 upon his countenance. These marks of recent battle were held suf- 
 
COUXT ROBERT OF PARIS. 47 
 
 ficient to excuse the irregularity of his sahitation, ^Yhi]e he exolaimed, 
 — 'Noble Prinee,_the Arabs are defeated, and you may pursue your 
 march at more leisure.' 
 
 " ' Where is Jezdeg-erd ?' said the Emperor, who had many reasons 
 for dreading' tliis celebrated chief. 
 
 '" Jezdegerd,' continued the Varangian, *is where brave men are 
 who fall in their duty.' 
 
 "'And that is/ said the Emperor, impatient to know distinctly 
 the fate of so formidable an adversary 
 
 "'Where I am novv^ g'oing-,' answered the_ faithful soldier, who 
 dropped from his horse as he spoke, and expired at the feet of the 
 litter-bearers. 
 
 " The Emperor called to his attendants to see that the body of this 
 faithful retainer, to whom he destined an honourable sepulchre, was 
 not left to the jackall or vulture ; and some of his brethren, the 
 Anglo-Saxons, among whom he was a man of no mean repute, raised 
 the body on their shoulders, and resumed their march with this 
 additional encumbrance, prepared to fight for their ])recious burden, 
 like the valiant Menelaus for the body of Patroclus." 
 
 The Princess Anna Comnena here naturally paused; for, having* 
 attained what she probably considered as the rounding of a period, 
 she was willing to gather an idea of the feelings of her audience. 
 Indeed, but that she had been intent upon her own manuscript, the 
 emotions of the foreign soldier must have more early attracted her 
 attention. In the beginning of her recitation, he had retained the 
 same attitude which he had at first assumed, stiff and rigid as a sen- 
 tinel upon duty, and apparently remembering nothing save that he 
 was performing that duty iu presence of the imperial court. As the 
 narrative advanced, however, he appeared to take more interest in 
 what was read. The anxious fears expressed by the various leaders 
 in the midnight council, he listened to with a smile of suppressed 
 contempt, and he almost laughed at the praises bestowed upon the 
 leader of his own corps, Achilles Tatius. Nor did even the name of 
 the Emperor, though listened to respectful^, gain that applause for 
 which his daugliter fought so hard, and used so much exaggeration. 
 
 Hitherto the Varangian's countenance indicated very slightly any 
 internal emotions; but they appeared to take a deeper hold on his 
 mind as she came to the description of the halt after the main army 
 had cleared the pass ; the unexpected advance of the Arabs ; the re- 
 treat of the column which escorted the Emperor ; and the account 
 of the distant engagement. He lost, on hearing the narration of 
 these events, the rigid and constrained look of a soldier, who listened 
 to the history of his Emperor with the same feelings with which he 
 would have mounted guard at his palace. His colour began to come 
 and go; his eyes to fill and to sparkle; his limbs to become more 
 agitated than their owner seemed to assent to ; and his whole ap- 
 pearance was changed into that of a listener, highly interested by the 
 recitation which he hears, and insensible, or forgetful, of whatever 
 else is passing before him, as well as of the quality of those who are 
 present. 
 
 As the historian proceeded, Hereward became less able to conceal 
 
48 COUNT rvOBEUT OF TAKIS. 
 
 liis ag-itation ; and at the moment the Princess looked round, his 
 feeling's became so acute, that, forg-ettiug- where he was, he dropped 
 his ponderous axe upon the floor, and, clasping- his hands together, 
 exclaimed,— "My unfortunate brother! " 
 
 All v/ere startled by the clang of the falling* weapon, and several 
 •persons at once attempted to interfere, as called upon to explain a 
 circumstance so unusual. Achilles Tatius made some small progress 
 in a speech designed to apologise for the rough mode of venting" his 
 sorrows to v/hich Hereward had given way, by assuring" the eminent 
 persons present, that the poor uncultivated barbarian was actually 
 younger brother to him who had commanded and fallen at the me- 
 morable defile. The Princess said nothing", but was evidently struck, 
 and affected, and not ill-pleased, perhaps, at having given rise to 
 feelings of interest so flattering" to her as an authoress. The others, 
 each in their character, uttered incoherent words of what was meant 
 to be consolation; for distress which flows from a natural cause, 
 generally attracts sympathy even from the most artificial characters. 
 The voice of Alexius silenced all these imperfect speakers : " Hah, 
 my brave soldier, Edward ! " said the Emperor, " I must have been 
 blind that I did not sooner recognise thee, as I think there is a me- 
 morandum entered, respecting' five hundred pieces of gold due from 
 us to Edward the Varangian ; we have it in our secret scroll of such 
 liberalities for which we stand indebted to our servitors, nor shall 
 the payment be longer deferred." 
 
 "Not to me, if it may please you, my liege," said the Anglo-Dane, 
 hastily composing" his countenance into its rough gravity of linea- 
 ment, "lest it should be to one who can claim no interest in your 
 imperial munificence. My name is Hereward ; that of Edward is 
 borne by three of my companions, all of them as likely as I to have 
 deserved your Highness's reward for the faithful performance of 
 their duty." 
 
 Many a sign was made by Tatius in order to guard his soldier 
 against the folly of declining the liberality of the Emperor. Age- 
 lastes spoke more plainly: "Young man," he said, "rejoice in an 
 honour so unexpected, and answer henceforth to no other name save 
 that of Edward, by which it hath pleased the light of the world, as it 
 poured a ray upon thee, to distinguish thee from other barbarians. 
 What is to thee the font-stone, or the priest officiating thereat, 
 shouldst thou have derived from either any epithet different from 
 that by which it hath now pleased the Emperor to distinguish thee 
 from the common mass of humanity, and by which proud distinction 
 thou hast now a right to be known ever afterwards?" 
 
 "Hereward was the name of my father," said the soldier, v/ho had 
 now altogether recovered his composure. "I cannot abandon it 
 while I honour his memory in death. Edward is the title of my 
 comrade — I must not run the risk of usurping his interest." 
 
 " Peace all! " interrupted the Emperor. " If we have made a mis- 
 take, we are rich enough to right it ; nor shall Hereward be the 
 poorer, if an Edward shall be found to merit this gratuity." 
 
 " Your Highness may trust that to your affectionate consort," an- 
 swered the Eranress Ii-ene. 
 
COUNT ROBEKT OF PARIS. 49 
 
 " His most sacred Hig-hness," said the Princess Anna Comnena, 
 "is so avariciously desirous to do whatever is good and gracious, 
 that he leaves no room even for his nearest connections to display 
 generosity or munificence. Nevertheless, I, in my degree, will 
 testify my gratitude to this brave man ; for where his exploits are 
 mentioned in this history, I will cause to be recorded, — ' This feat 
 was done by Hereward the Anglo-Dane, whom it hath pleased his 
 Imperial Majesty to call Edward.' Keep this, good youth," she con- 
 tinued, bestowing at the same time a ring of price, " in token that 
 we will not forget our engagement." 
 
 Hereward accepted the token wdth a profound obeisance, and a 
 discomposure which his station rendered not unbecoming". It was 
 obvious to most persons present, that the gratitude of the beautiful 
 Princess was expressed in a manner more acceptable to the youthful 
 life-guardsman, than that of Alexius Comnenus. He took the ring- 
 with great demonstration of thankfulness : — '•' Precious relic ! " he 
 said, as he saluted this pledge of esteem by pressing it to his lips ; 
 "we may not remain long together, but be assured," bending reve- 
 rently to the Princess, '"that death alone shall part us." 
 
 " Proceed, our princely daughter," said the Empress Irene ; " you 
 have done enough to show that valour is precious to her who can 
 confer fame, whether it be found in a Roman or a barbarian." 
 
 The Princess resumed her narrative with some slight appearance 
 of embarrassment. 
 
 " Our movement upon Laodicea was now resumed, and continued 
 with good hopes on the part of those engaged in the march. Yet 
 instinctively we could not help casting our eyes to the rear, which 
 }»ad been so long the direction in which we feared attack. At length, 
 to our surprise, a thick cloud of dust was visible on the descent of 
 the hill, half way betwixt us and the place at which we had halted. 
 Some of the troops who composed our retreating body, particularly 
 those in the rear, began to exclaim, 'The Arabs! the Arabs !' and 
 their march assumed a more precipitate character when they be- 
 lieved themselves pursued by the enemy. But the Varangian g'uards 
 affirmed with one voice, that the dust was raised by the remains of 
 their own comrades, who, left in the defence of the pass, had marched 
 off" after having so valiantly maintained the station intrusted to them. 
 They fortified their opinion by professional remarks that the cloud 
 of dust was more concentrated than if raised by the Arab horse, and 
 they even pretended to assert, from their knowledge of such cases, 
 that the number of their comrades had been much diminished in the 
 action, _ Some Syrian horsemen, despatched to reconnoitre the ap- 
 proaching body, brought intelligence corresponding with the opinion 
 of the Varangians in every particular. The portion of the body- 
 guard had beaten back the Arabs, and their gallant leader had slain 
 their chief Jezdegerd, in which service he was mortally wounded, as 
 this history hath already mentioned. The survivors of the detacli- 
 ment, diminished by one half, were now on their march to join the 
 |EmperQr, as fast as the encumbrance of bearing their Avounded to a 
 place of safety would permit. 
 " The Emperor Alexius, with one of tlwse^brilliant and benevolent 
 
50 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS, 
 
 iLieas wliicli mark liis paternal character towards liis soldiers, ordered 
 all the litters, even that for his own most sacred use, to he instantly 
 sent hack to relieve the hold Varang-ians of the task of bearing- the 
 v/ounded. The shouts of the Varan^iians' g-ratitude may he more 
 easily conceived than described, when they beheld the Emperor him- 
 self descend from his litter, like an ordinary cavalier, and assume his 
 war-horse, at the same time that the most sacred Empress, as well as 
 the authoress of this history, with other princesses born in the purple, 
 mounted upon mules, in order to proceed upon the march, while their 
 litters were unhesitatingly assigned for the accommodation of the 
 wounded men. This was indeed a mark, as well of military sagacity 
 as of humanity; for tlie relief afforded to the bearers of the wounded, 
 enabled the survivors of those who had defended the defile at the 
 fountain, to join us sooner than would otherv/ise have been possible. 
 
 *'It was an awful thin^ to see those men who had left us in the 
 full splendour which military equipment gives to youth and strength, 
 again appearing- in diminished numbers — their armour shattered — ■ 
 their shields full of arrows — their oifensive weapons marked with 
 blood, and they themselves exhibiting- all the signs of desperate and 
 recent battle. Nor was it less interesting to remark the meeting of 
 the soldiers who had been engaged, with the comrades whom they 
 liad rejoined. The Emperor, at the suggestion of the trusty Acou- 
 louthos, permitted them a few moments to leave their ranks, and 
 learn from each other the fate of the battle. 
 
 " As the two bands mingled, it seemed a meeting- where grief and 
 joy had a contest together. The most rugged of these barbarians, — 
 and i who saw it can bear witness to the iact, — as he welcomed with 
 a grasp of his strong hand some comrade whom he liad g-iven up for 
 lost, had his large bhie eyes filled with tears at hearing- of the loss of 
 some one whom he had hoped might have survived. Other veterans 
 reviewed the standards which had been in the conflict, satisfied them- 
 selves that they had all been brought back in honour and safety, and 
 counted the fresh arrow-shots with which they had been pierced, in ad- 
 dition to similar marks of former battles. All were loud in the praises 
 of the brave young leader they had lost, nor were the acclamations 
 less general in laud of him v»'ho had succeeded to the command, who 
 brought up the party of his deceased brother— and whom," said the 
 Princess, in a few words which seemed apparently interpolated for 
 tlie occasion, "I now assure of the high honour and estimation in 
 which he Ls held by the author of this history — that is, I would say 
 by every member of the imperial family — for liis g-allant services in 
 such an important crisis." 
 
 1 laving hurried over her tribute to her friend the Varangian, in 
 which emotions mingled that are not willingly expressed before so 
 many hearers, Anna Comnena proceeded with composure in the part 
 of !;er history which was less personal. 
 
 '• We had not much time to make more observations on what passed 
 among those brave soldiers; for a few minutes having- been allowed 
 to their feelings, the -trumpet sounded the advance towards Laodicea, 
 and we soon beheld the town, now about four miles from us, in fields 
 which were chiefly covered with trees. Apparently the g-arrison had 
 
COdNT ItOUfilir OF PARIS. 61 
 
 already some notice of our approach, for carts ar.d wains were seen 
 advancing- from the gates with refreshments, which the heat of the 
 day, the length of the march, and cokunns of dust, as well as tlie 
 want of water, had rendered of the last necessity to us. The soldiers 
 joyfully mended their pace in order to meet the sooner with the sup- 
 plies of which they stood so much in need. But as the cup doth not 
 carry in all cases the liquid treasure to the lips for which it was in- 
 tended, however much it may be longed for, what was our mortifica- 
 tion to behold a cloud of Arabs issue at full gallop from the wooded 
 plain betwixt the Roman army and the city, and tln-ow themselves 
 upon the waggons, slaying the drivers, and making- havoc and spoil 
 of the contents ! This, we afterwards learned, was a body of the 
 enemy, headed by Varanes, equal in military fame, among those in- 
 fidels, to Jezdegerd, hk slain brother. When this chieftain saw that 
 it was probable that the Varangians would succeed in their desperate 
 defence of the pass, he put himself at the head of a large body of 
 cavalry; and as these infidels are mounted on horses unmatched 
 either in speed or wind, performed a long- circuit, traversed the stony 
 ridge of hills at a more northerly defile, and placed himself in am- 
 buscade in the v/ooded plain I have mentioned, with the hope of 
 making" an unexpected assault upon the Emperor and his army, at 
 the verj; time when they might be supposed to reckon upon an un- 
 disputed retreat. This surprise Avould certainly have taken place, 
 and it is not easy to say what might have been the consequence, had 
 not the unexpected appearance of the train of wagg-ons awakened 
 the unbridled rapacity of the Arabs, in spite of their commander's 
 prudence, and attempts to restrain them. In this manner the pro- 
 posed ambuscade was discovered. 
 
 " But Varanes, willing still to g'ain some advantage from the ra- 
 pidity of his movements, assembled as many of his horsemen as could 
 be collected from the spoil, and pushed forward towards the Romans, 
 who had stopt short on their march at so unlooked for an apparition. 
 There was an uncertainty and wavering- in our first ranks which made 
 their hesitation known even to so poor a judge of military demeanour 
 as myself. On the contrary, the Varangians joined in a unanimous 
 cry of ' Bills ' ^ (that is, in their languag-e, battle-axes) ' to the front 1' 
 and the Emperor's most g-racious will acceding- to their valorous 
 desire, they pressed forward from the rear to the head of the column. 
 i can hardly say how this manoeuvre was executed, but it was doubt- 
 less by the wise directions of my most serene father, distinguished 
 for his presence of mind upon such difficult occasions. It was, no 
 doubt, much facilitated by the good-will of the troops themselves ; the 
 Roman bands, called the Immortals, showing, as it seemed to me, no 
 less desire to fall into the rear, than did the Varangians to occupy 
 the places which the Immortals left vacant in front. The manoeuvre 
 was so happily executed, that before Varanes and his Arabs had ar- 
 rived at the van of our troops, they found it occupied by the inflexible 
 guard of northern soldiers. I might have seen with my own eyes, 
 
 1 Villeliardouln says, "Les Aiglois et Danols muU bien rombattoint avec leurs 
 haches.'" 
 
52 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 and called upon them as sure evidences of that which chanced upon 
 the occasion. But, to confess the truth, ray eyes were little used to 
 look upon such sig-hts ; for of Varanes's charge I only beheld, as ife 
 were, a thick cloud of dust rapidly driven forward, through which 
 were seen the glittering points of lances, and the waving plumes of 
 turbaned cavaliers imperfectly visible. The tecbir was so loudly ut- 
 tered, that I was scarcely aware that kettle-drums and brazen cym- 
 bals were sounding in concert with it. But this wild and outrageous 
 storm was met as effectually as if encountered by a rock. 
 
 " The Varangians, unshaken by the furious charge of the Arabs, 
 received horse and rider with a shower of blows from their massive 
 battle-axes, which the bravest of the enemy could not face, nor the 
 strongest endure. The guards strengthened their ranks also, by 
 the hindmost pressing so close upon those that went before, after 
 the manner of the ancient Macedonians, that the fine-limbed, though 
 slight steeds of these Idumeans could not make the least inroad upon 
 the northern phalanx. The bravest men, the most gallant horses, 
 fell in the first rank. The weighty, though short horse javelins, 
 flung from the rear ranks of the brave Varangians, with good aim 
 and sturd;y- arm, completed the confusion of the assailants, who 
 turned their back in affright, and fled from the field in total confusion. 
 
 " The enemy thus repulsed, we proceeded on our march, and only 
 halted when we recovered our half-plundered waggons. Here, also 
 some invidious remarks were made by certain officers of the interior 
 of the household, who had been on duty over the stores, and having 
 fled from their posts on the assault of the infidels, had only returned 
 upon their being repulsed. These men, quick in malice, though 
 slow in perilous service, reported that, on this occasion, the Varan- 
 gians so far forgot their duty as to consume a part of the sacred wine 
 reserved for the imperial lips alone. It would be criminal to deny 
 that this was a great and culpable oversight ; nevertheless, our im- 
 perial hero passed it over as a pardonable off'ence ; remarking in a 
 jesting manner, that since he had drunk the ail, as they termed it, 
 of his trusty guard, the Varangians had acquired a right to quench 
 the thirst, and to relieve the fatigue, which they had undergone that 
 day in his defence, though they used for these purposes the sacred 
 contents of the imperial cellar. 
 
 " In the mean time, the cavalry of the army were despatched in 
 pursuit of the fugitive Arabs ; and having succeeded in driving them 
 behind the chain of hills which had so recently divided them from 
 the Romans, the imperial arms might justly be considered as having 
 obtained a complete and glorious victory. 
 
 "We are now to mention the rejoicings of the citizens of Laodicea, 
 who, having witnessed from their ramparts, with alternate fear and 
 hope, the fluctuations of the battle, now descended to congratulate 
 the imperial conqueror." 
 
 Here the fair narrator was interrupted. The principal entrance 
 of the apartment flew open, noiselessly indeed, but with both folding 
 leaves at once, not as if to accommodate the entrance of an ordinary 
 courtier, studying to create as little disturbance as possible, but as 
 if there was entering a person, who ranked so high as to make ife 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS.. 53 
 
 indifferent liow much attention Avas drawn to his motions. It could 
 only be one born in the purple, or nearly allied to it, to whom such 
 freedom was lawful; and most of the guests, knowing- who were 
 likely to appear in that Temple of the Muses, anticipated from the 
 degree of bustle, the arrival of Nicephorus Briennius, the son-in-law 
 of Alexius Comnenus, the husband to the fair historian, and in the 
 rank of Cfesar, which, however, did not at that period imply, as in 
 early a^-es, the dignity of second person in the Empire. The policy 
 of Alexius had interposed more than one person of condition between 
 the Csesar and his original rights and rank, which had once been 
 second to those only of the Emperor himself. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The storm increases — 'tis no sunny shower) 
 
 Foster'd in the moist breast of March or Apr 
 
 Or such as parched Summer cools his lip with V ' ^ 
 
 Heaven's windows are flung wide ; the inmost d^6eps ' 
 
 Call iu hoarse p;reeting one upon another ; 
 
 On comes the flood' in all its foaming horrors, 
 
 And Where's the dike shall stop it ! 
 
 The Deluge, a Poeni. 
 
 The distinguished individual who entered was a noble Grecian, of 
 stately presence, whose habit was adorned with every mark of dig- 
 nity, saving those which Alexius had declared sacred to the Emperor's 
 OAvn person, and that of the Sebastocrator, whom he had established 
 as next in rank to the head of the Empire. Nicephorus Briennius, 
 who was in the bloom of youth, retained all the marks of that manly 
 ' beauty which had made the match acceptable to Anna Comnena ; 
 ' while political considerations, and the desire of attaching a powerful 
 1 house as friendly adherents of the throne, recommended the union 
 to the Emperor. 
 
 We have already hinted that the royal bride had, though in no 
 
 great degree, the very doubtful advantage of years. Of her literary 
 
 talents we have seen tokens. Yet it was not believed by those who 
 
 best knew, that, with the aid of those claims to respect, Anna Com- 
 
 ' nena was successful iu possessing the unlimited attachment of her 
 
 handsome husband. To treat her v/ith apparent neglect, lier con- 
 
 I nection with the crown rendered impossible ; while, on the other 
 
 ; hand, the power of Xicephorus's family was too great to permit his 
 
 ! being dictated to even by the Emperor himself He was possessed 
 
 I of talents, as it was believed, calculated both for war and peace. 
 
 ' His advice was, therefore, listened to, and his assistance required, so 
 
 ' that he claim etl complete liberty with respect to his own time, which 
 
 I he sometimes used with less regular attendance upon the Temple of 
 
 the Muses, tlian the goddess of the place thought herself entitled to, 
 
 I or than the Empress Irene was disposed to exact on the part of her 
 
 j daughter. The good-humoured Alexius observed a sort of neutrality 
 
 I in this matter, and kept it as much as possible from becoming visible 
 
54 COUNT KOBEUT OF PARIS. 
 
 to the public, conscious that it required the whole united streng-th of 
 Lis family to maintain liis place in so aofitated an empire. 
 
 He pressed his son-in-law's hand, as Nicephorus, passing his father- 
 in-law's seat, bent his knee in token of homage. The constrained 
 manner of tlie Empress indicated a more cold reception of her sou- i 
 in-law, while the fair muse herself scarcely deigned to signify her j| 
 attention to his arrival, when her handsome mate assumed the vacant 1 
 seat by her side, which we have already made mentio)i of. 
 
 There was an awkward pause, during Avhich the imperial son-in- 
 law, coldly received when he expected to be welcomed, attempted to 
 enter into some light conversation with the fair slave Astarte, who 
 knelt behind her mistress. This was interrupted by the Princess 
 commanding her attendant to enclose the manuscript within its 
 appropiate casket, and convey it with her own hands to the cabinet 
 of Apollo, the usual scene of the Princess's studies, as the Temple of 
 the Muses was that commonly dedicated to her recitations. 
 
 The Emperor himself was the first to break an unpleasant silence. 
 " Fair son-in-law," he said, *' tliough it now wears something late in 
 the night, you will do yourself wrong if you permit our Anna to 
 send away that volume, with which this company have been so delect- 
 ably entertained that they may well sa)', that the desert hath pro- 
 duced roses, and the barren rocks have poured forth milk and honey, 
 so agreeable is the narrative of a toilsome and dang^erous campaign, 
 in the language of our daughter." 
 
 "The Cfesar," said the Empress, "seems to have little taste for 
 such dainties as this family can produce. He hath of late repeatedly 
 absented himself from this Temple of the Pluses, and found doubt- 
 less more agreeable conversation and amusement elsewhere." 
 
 " I trust, madam," said Nicephorus, " that my taste may vindicate 
 me from the charge implied. But it is natural that our sacred 
 father should be most delighted with the milk and honey which is pro- 
 duced for his own special use." 
 
 The Princess spoke in the tone of a handsome woman offended by 
 her lover, and, feeling the offence, yet not indisposed to a recon- 
 ciliation. 
 
 "If," she said, "the deeds of Nicephorus Briennius are less fre- 
 quently celebrated in that poor roll of parchment than those of my 
 illustrious father, he must do me the justice to remember that such 
 was his own special request ; either proceeding from that modesty 
 which is justly ascribed to him as serving to soften and adorn his 
 other attributes, or because he with justice distrusts his wife's power 
 to compose their eulogium." 
 
 " We will then summon back Astarte," said the Empress, " who 
 cannot yet have carried her offering to the cabinet of Apollo." 
 
 " With your imperial pleasure," said Nice])horus, "it might incense 
 the Phythian god were a deposit to be recalled of which he alone can 
 fitly estimate the value. I came liither to speak with the Emperor 
 upon pressing affairs of state, and not to hold a literary conversation | 
 with a company which I must needs say is something of a miscel-| 
 laneous description, since I behold an ordinary life-guardsman in the 
 imperial circle.'' 
 
COUXT FtOBERT OF PARIS. 55 
 
 "By the rood, son-iii-la-\v," said Alexius, "you do tliis gallant man 
 wrong'. He is the brother of that brave Anglo-Dane who secured 
 tlie victory at Laodicea by his valiant conduct and death ; he himself 
 is that Edmund— or Edward— or Herev/ard— to whom v/e are ever 
 bound for securing the success of that victorious day. He was called 
 into our presence, son-indaw, since it imports that you should know 
 so much, to refresh the memory of my Follower, Achilles Tatiiis,_as 
 well as mine own, concerning some transactions of the day of which 
 we had become in some degree oblivious.'' 
 
 "Truly, imperial mv," answered Criennius, "I grieve that,, by 
 having intruded on such important researches, I may have, in some 
 degree, intercepted a portion of that light which is to illuminate 
 future ages. Methinks that in a battle-held, fought under your im- 
 perial guidance, and that of your great captains, your evidence migh^fc 
 well supersede tlie testimony of such a man as this.— Let me know," 
 he added, turning haughtily to the Varangian, "what p_articul:ir 
 thou canst add that is unnoticed in the Princess's narrative ?'' 
 
 The Varangian replied instantly, "Only that when we made a 
 halt at the fountain, the music that was there made by the ladies of 
 the Emperor's household, and particularly by those to whom I now 
 behold, v/as the most exquisite that ever reached my cars.'"' 
 
 " Hah ! darest thou to speak so audacious an opinion ? " exclaimed 
 Nicephorus; "is it for such as thou to suppose for a moment that 
 the music vvliich the wife and daughter of tlie Emperor^ might con- 
 descend to make, was intended to afford either matter of pleasure or 
 of criticism to every plebeian barbarian who might hear them? 
 Begone from this place ! nor dare, on any pretext, again to appear 
 before mine eyes — under allowance always of our imperial father's 
 pleasure." 
 
 The Varangian bent his looks upon Achilles Tatius, as the person 
 from whom he was to take his orders to stay or withdraw. But the 
 Emperor himself took up the subject with considerable dignity. 
 
 " Son," he said, " we cannot permit this. On account of some love 
 quarrel, as it would seem, betwixt you and our daughter, you allow 
 yourself strangely to forget our imperial rank, and to order from our 
 presence those whom we have pleased to call to attend us. This is 
 neither right nor seemly, nor is it our pleasure that this same llerc- 
 ward— or Edward—or whatever be his name— either leave us at this 
 present moment, or do at any time hereafter regulate liimself by any 
 commands save our own, or those of our Follower, Achilles Tatius. 
 And now, allowing this foolish affair, which I think was blovrn among 
 us by the wind, to pass as it came, without farther notice, we crave 
 to know the grave matters of state which brought you to our pre- 
 sence at so late an hour. — You look again at this Varangian. — With- 
 hold not your vrords, I pray you, on account of his presence ; for he 
 stands as high in our trust, and we are convinced with as good^reason, 
 as any counsellor who has been sworn our domestic servant." 
 
 " To hear is to obey," returned the Emperor's son-in-law, whosav. 
 that Alexius was somewhat moved, and knew that in such cases i; 
 was neither safe nor expedient to drive him to extremity. 
 
 " What I have to say," continued he, " naist so soon be publ^^ 
 
GG COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 news, that it little matters who hears it ; and yet the West, so full of 
 straii.£>'e changes, never sent to the Eastern half of the g-lobe tidings 
 so alarming' as those I now come to tell your Imperial Highness. 
 Europe, to borrow an expression from this lady, who honours me by 
 calling' me husband, seems loosened from its foundations and about 
 
 to precipitate itself upon Asia " 
 
 " So I did express myself," said the Princess Anna Comnena, " and, 
 as I trust, not altogether unforcibly, when we first heard that the 
 wild impulse of those restless barbarians of Europe had driven c 
 tempest as of a thousand nations upon our western frontier, with the 
 extravagant purpose, as they pretended, of possessing themselves of 
 Syria, and the holy places there marked as the sepulchres of pro- 
 phets, the martyrdom of saints, and the great events detailed in the 
 blessed gospel. But that storm, by all accounts, hath burst and 
 passed away, and we well hoped that the danger had gone with it. 
 Devoutly shall we sorrow to find it otherwise." 
 
 "And otherwise we must expect to find it," said her husband. "It 
 is very true, as reported to us, that a huge body of men of low rank 
 and little understanding, assumed arms at the instigation of a mad 
 hermit, and took the road from Germany to Hungary, expecting 
 miracles to be wrought in their favour, as when Israel was guided 
 through the wilderness by a pillar of flame and a cloud. But no 
 showers of manna or of quails relieved their necessities, or pro- 
 claimed them the chosen people of God. No waters gushed from 
 the rock for their refreshment. They were enraged at their suffer- 
 ings, and endeavoured to obtain supplies by pillaging the country. 
 The Hungarians, and other nations on our western frontiers, Chris- 
 tians, like themselves, did not hesitate to fall upon this disorderly 
 rabble ; and immense piles of bones, in wild passes and unfrequented 
 deserts, attest the calamitous defeats Avhich extirpated these unholy 
 pilgrims." 
 
 ''All this," said the Emperor, " we knew before: — but what new 
 evil now tlireatens, since we have already escaped so important a 
 one?" 
 
 " Knew before ? " said the Prince Nicephorus. " We knew notliing 
 of our real danger before, save that a wild herd of animals, as brutal 
 and as furious as wild bulls, threatened to bend their way to a pas- 
 ture for which they had formed a fancy, and deluged the Grecian 
 empire and its vicinity in their passage, expecting that Palestine, 
 with its streams of milk and honey, once more awaited them, as God's 
 predestined people. But so wild and disorderly an invasion had no 
 terrors for a civilised nation like the Romans. The brute herd was 
 terrified by our Greek fire ; it was snared and shot down by the wild 
 nations who, while they pretend to independence, cover our frontier 
 as with a protecting fortification. The vile multitude has been con- 
 sumed even by the very quality of the provisions thrown in their way, 
 — those wise means of resistance which were at once suggested by 
 the paternal care of the Emperor, and by his unfailing policy. Thus 
 wisdom has played its part, and the bark over which the tempest had 
 poured its thunder, has escaped, notwithstanding' all its violence. 
 But the second storm, by which the former is so closely followed, ia 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 57 
 
 of a new descent of these Western nations, more formidable than 
 any which we or our fathers have yet seen. This consists not of tlie 
 ig-norant or of tlie fanatical — not of the base, the need}', and the im- 
 provident. Now, — all that wide Europe possesses of what is wise and 
 worthy, brave and noble, are united by the most religious vows, in 
 the same purpose." 
 
 " And what is that purpose ? Speak plainly," said Alexius, " The 
 destruction of our whole Roman empire, and the blotting- out the 
 very name of its chief from among- the princes of the earth, among- 
 which it has long been predominant, can alone be an adequate mo- 
 tive for a confederacy such as thy speech infers." 
 
 "No such design is avowed," said Nicephorus; "and so many 
 princes, wise men, and statesmen of eminence, aim, it is pretended, 
 at nothing' else than the same extravag-ant purpose announced by 
 the brute multitude who first appeared in these regions. Here, 
 most gracious Emperor, is a scroll, in which you will find marked 
 down a list of the various armies which, by different routes, are ap- 
 proaching- the vicinity of the empire. Behold, Hug-h of Vermandois, 
 called from his dignity Hugh the Great, hath set sail from the shores 
 of Italy. Twenty knights have already announced their coming-, 
 sheathed in armour of steel, inlaid with g-old, bearing- this proud 
 greeting : 'Let the Emperor of Greece, and his lieutenants, under- 
 stand that Hugo, Earl of Vermandois, is approaching- his territories. 
 He is brother to the king- of kings — The King of France,^ namely — 
 and is attended by the flower of the French nobility. He bears the 
 blessed banner of St Peter, intrusted to his victorious care by the 
 holy successor of the apostle, and warns thee of all this, that thou 
 mayst provide a reception suitable to his rank.' " 
 
 "Here are sounding words," said the Emperor; "but the wind 
 which whistles loudest is not always most dangerous to the vessel. 
 We know something of this nation of France, and have heard more. 
 They are as petulant at least as they are valiant; we will flatter 
 their vanity till we get time and opportunity for more effectual de- 
 fence. Tush ! if words can pay debt, there is no fear of our exchequer 
 becoming insolvent. — What follows here, Nicephorus ? A list, I sup- 
 pose, of the followers of this great count ? " 
 
 " My liege, no ! " answered Nicephorus Briennius ; " so many 
 independent chiefs as your Imperial Highness sees in that memorial, 
 so many independent European armies are advancing by different 
 routes towards the East, and announce the conquest of Palestine 
 from the infidels as their common object." 
 
 "A dreadful enumeration," said the Emperor, as he perused the 
 list; "yet so far happy, that its very length assures us of the impos- 
 vsibility that so many princes can be seriously and consistently united 
 in so wild a project. Thus already my eyes catch the well-known 
 name of an old friend, our enemy — for such are the alternate chances 
 •of i^eace and war — Bohemond of Antioch. Is not he the son of the 
 celebrated Robert of Apulia, so renowned among his countrymen, 
 who raised himself to the rank of grand-duke from a simple cavalier, 
 
 1 See Note D. King of France, 
 
5S COU^'T llOBliilT OF PARIS. 
 
 fiiul became sovereig-n of those of liis warlike nation, both in Sicily 
 and Italy? Did not the standards of the German Emperor, of the 
 Roman Pontiff, nay, our o^yn imperial banners, g-ive way before him ; 
 until, equally a wily statesman and a brave warrior, he became the 
 terror of Europe, from being" a knight whose Norman castle v/ould 
 have been easily g-arrisoned by six cross-bows, and as many lances? 
 It is a dreadful family, a race of craft as well as power. But Bohe- 
 mond, the son of old Robert, will follow his father's politics. Mo 
 may talk of Palestine and of the interests of Christendom ; but if I 
 can make his interests the same with mine, he is not likely to be 
 g'uided by any other object. So then, with the knowledge I already 
 possess of his wishes and projects, it may chance that Heaven sends 
 US an ally in the g-uise of an enemy. — Whom have we next? God- 
 frey,-^ Duke of Bouillon — leading', I see, a most formidable band from 
 the banks of a hug-e river called the Rhine. What is this persoi^s 
 character?" 
 
 "As we hear," replied Nicephorus, "this Godfrey is one of the 
 wisest, noblest, and bravest of the leaders who have tlius strang-ely 
 put themselves in motion ; and among- a list of independent princes, 
 as many in number as those who assembled for the sieg-e of Troy, 
 and followed, most of them, by subjects ten times more numerous, 
 this Godfrey may be reg-arded as the Ag-amemnon. The princes 
 and counts esteem him, because he is the foremost in the ranks of 
 those whom they fantastically call Knig'hts, and also on account of 
 the g-ood faith and g-enero»ity which he practises in all his transac- 
 tions. Tne cierg-y g-ive him credit for the highest zeal for the doc- 
 trines of relig-ion, and a corresponding- respect for the Church and 
 its dig-nitaries. Justice, liberality, and frankness, have equally at- 
 tached to this Godfrey the lower class of the people. His g-eneral 
 attention to moral oblig-ations is a pledg-e to them that his religion 
 is real; and, gifted with so much that is excellent, he is already, 
 although_ inferior in rank, birth, and power to many chiefs of the 
 crusade, justly reg-arded as one of its principal leaders." 
 
 "Pity," said the Emperor, "that a character sueli as you describe 
 this Prince to be, should be under the dominion of a fanaticism 
 scarce worthy of Peter the Hermit, or the clownish multitude which 
 he led, or of the very ass which he rode upon ! which I am apt to 
 think the Avisest of the first multitude whom we belield, seeing- that 
 it ran away towards Europe as soon as water and barley became 
 scarce." 
 
 "Mig-ht I be permitted hero to speak, and yet live," said Ag-elastes, 
 "I would remark that the Patriarch himself made a similar retreat 
 so soon as blows became plenty and food scarce." 
 ^ "Thouhast hit it, Ag-elastes," said the Emperor; "but the ques- 
 tion now is, whether an honourable and important principality could 
 not be formed out of part of the provinces of the Lesser Asia, now- 
 laid waste by the Turks. Such a principality, methinks, Avith its 
 various advantages of soil, climate, industrious inhabitants, and a 
 
 * Godfrey of Bonillon, Duke of Lower Lorraine — the great Cr.ptn.in of the first Cru- 
 sade, afterwards King of Jerusalem. See Gibbon, — or jMills, passim. 
 
COUxNT UOBEirr OF PAKIS. 50 
 
 healthy atmosphere, were well worth the morasses of Bouillon, Ifc 
 
 mig-lit be held as a dependence upon the sacred Roman empire, and, 
 
 g-arrisoned as it were by Godfrey and his victorious Franks, would 
 
 I be a bulwark on that point to our just and sacred person. Ha! most 
 
 holy Patriarch, would not such a prospect shake the most devout 
 
 j Crusader's attachment to the burning- sands of Palestine ?" 
 
 I "Especially," answered the Patriarcli, "if the prince for whom 
 
 I such a rich theme'^ v.'as changed into a feudal appanage, should be 
 
 ►previously converted to the only true faith, as your Imperial Hig-h- 
 
 liness undoubtedly means." 
 
 i " Certainly — most unquestionably," answered the Emperor, with a 
 I due aflectation of g-ravity, notv/ithstanding' he was internally con- 
 ! scious how often he had been compelled, by state necessities,_ to 
 ' admit, not only Latin Christians, but Manicheans and otlier heretics, 
 ) nay, Mohamedan barbarians, into the number of his subjects, and 
 ; that without experiencing' opposition from the scruples of the Pa- 
 triarch. " Here I find," continued the Emperor, "such a numerous 
 list of princes and principalities in the act of approaching our boun- 
 daries as might well rival the armies of old, who were said to have 
 drunk up rivers, exhausted realms, and trode down forests, in their 
 wasteful advance." As he pronounced these words a shade of pale- 
 ness came over the Imperial brow, similar to that which had already 
 clothed in sadness most of his counsellors. 
 
 "This war of nations," said Kicephorus, "has also circumstances 
 distinguishing' it from every other, save that which his Imperial 
 Highness hath waged in former times against those whom we are 
 . accustomed to call Franks. We must go forth against a people to 
 whom the strife of combat is as the breath of their nostrils ; who, 
 rather than not be engaged in war, will do battle with their nearest 
 neighbours, and challenge each other to mortal fight, as much in 
 sport as Ave would defy a comrade to a chariot race. Theyarc 
 covered with an impenetrable armour of steel, defending' them from 
 blows of the lance and sv/ord, and which the uncommon strength of 
 their horses renders them able to support, though one of ours could 
 as well bear Mount Olympus upon his loins. Their foot-ranks carry 
 a missile weapon unknown to us, termed an arbelast, or crossbow. 
 It is not drawn with the right hand, like the bow of other nations, 
 but by placing the feet upon the Aveapon itself, and pulling' witli the 
 whole force of the body ; and it despatches arroAvs called bolts, of 
 hard Avood pointed Avith iron, Avhich the strength of the boAV can send 
 through the strongest breastplates, and even through stone Avails, 
 where not of uncommon thickness." 
 
 " Enough," said the Emperor ; "we have seen Avith our OAvn eyes 
 the lances of Prankish knights, and the crossbows of their infantry. 
 If Heaven has allotted them a deg-ree of bravery Avhich to other na- 
 tions seems Avell-nigh preternaturid, the Divine Avill has given to the 
 Greek councils that Avisdom which it hath refused to barbarians; 
 the art of achieving conquest by Avisdom rather than brute force — 
 obtaining' by our skill in treaty advantag'cs Avhich victory itself could 
 
 ^ Tlie provinces vrere called Themes. 
 
60 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 not have procured. If we have not the use of that dreadful weapon 
 which our son-in-law terms the crossbow, Heaven, in its favour, has 
 concealed from these western barbarians the composition and use of 
 the Greek fire — well so called, since by Grecian hands alone it is 
 prepared, and by such only can its lightnings be darted upon the 
 astonished foe." The Emperor paused, and looked around him; 
 and although the faces of his counsellors still looked blank, he boldly 
 proceeded :— " But to return yet again to this black scroll, containing 
 the names of those nations who approach our frontier, here occur 
 more than one with which, methinks, old memory should make us 
 familiar, though our recollections are distant and confused. It be- 
 comes us to know who these men are, that we may avail ourselves 
 of those feuds and quarrels among them which, being blown into 
 life, may happily divert them from the prosecution of this extraordi- 
 nary attempt in which they are now united. Here is, for example, 
 one Robert, styled Duke of Normandy, who commands a goodly 
 band of counts, with which title we are but too well acquainted ; of 
 earls, a word totally strange to us, but apparently some barbaric title 
 of honour; and of knights whose names are compounded, as we 
 think, chiefly of the French language, but also of another jargon, 
 which we are not ourselves competent to understand. To you, most 
 reverend and most learned Patriarch, we may fittest apply for infor- 
 mation on this subject." 
 
 "The duties of my station," replied the patriarch Zosimus, "have 
 withheld my riper years from studying the history of distant realms ; 
 but the wise Agelastes, who hath read as many volumes as would fill 
 the shelves of the famous Alexandrian library, can no doubt satisfy 
 your Imperial Majesty's inquiries." 
 
 Agelastes erected himself on those enduring legs which had pro- 
 cured him the surname of Elephant, and began a reply to the inquiries 
 of the Emperor, rather remarkable for readiness than accuracy. " I 
 have read," said he, " in that brilliant mirror which reflects the time 
 of our fathers, the volumes of the learned Procopius, that the people 
 separately called Normans and Angles are in truth the same race, 
 and that Normandy, sometimes so called, is in fact a part of a district 
 of Gaul. Beyond, and nearly opposite to it, but separated by an arm 
 of the sea, lies a ghastly region, on which clouds and tempests for 
 •ever rest, and which is well known to its continental neighbours as 
 the abode to which departed spirits are sent after this life. On one 
 side of the strait dwell a few fishermen, men possessed of a strange 
 charter, and enjoying singular privileges, in consideration of their 
 being the living ferrymen who, performing the office of the heathen 
 •Charon, carry the spirits of the departed to the island which is their 
 residence after death. At the dead of night these fishermen are, in 
 rotation, summoned to perform the duty by which they seem to hold 
 the permission to reside on this strange coast. A knock is heard at 
 the door of his cottage who holds the turn of this singular service, 
 sounded by no mortal hand. A whispering, as of a decaying breeze, 
 summons the ferryman to his duty. He hastens to his bark on the 
 sea-shore, and has no sooner launched it than he perceives its hull 
 sink sensibly in the water, so as to express the weight of the dead 
 
COU^fT KOBEUT OF TARIS. 61 
 
 I \yitli whom it is filled. No form is seen ; and tlioiig-li voices are 
 licard, yet the accents are undisting-uishable, as of one who speaks 
 
 ■ ill his sleep. Thus he traverses tlie strait between the continent 
 and the island, impressed with the mysterious awe which affects the 
 living' when they are conscious of the presence of the dead. They 
 arrive upon the opposite coast, where the cliffs of white chalk form 
 
 I a strange contrast with the eternal darkness of the atmosphere. 
 They stop at a landing-place appointed, but disembark not, for the 
 
 ' land is never trodden by earthly feet. Here the passage-boat is 
 gradually lightened of its unearthly inmates, who wander forth in 
 the way appointed to them, while the mariners slowly return to their 
 own side of the strait, having performed for the time this singular 
 service, by which they hold their fishing-huts and their possessions 
 on that strange coast." Here he ceasecl, and the Emperor replied — 
 "If this legend be actually told us by Procopius, most learned 
 Ag-elastes, it shows that that celebrated historian came more near 
 the heathen than the Christian belief respecting the future state. In 
 truth, this is little more than the old fable of the infernal Styx. Pro- 
 copious, we believe, lived before the decay of heathenism, and, as we 
 would gladly disbelieve much which he hath told us respecting our 
 ancestor and predecessor Justinian, so we will not pay him much 
 credit in future in point of geographical knowledge. Meanwhile, 
 what ails thee, Achilles Tatius, and why dost thou whisper with that 
 
 I soldier ? " 
 
 " My head," answered Achilles Tatius, " is at your imperial com- 
 mand, prompt to pay for the unbecoming trespass of my tongue. I 
 did but ask of this Hereward here what he knew of this matter ; for 
 I have heard my Varangians repeatedly call themselves Anglo-Danes, 
 Normans, Britons, or some other barbaric epithet, and I am sure that 
 one or other, or it may be all, of these barbarous sounds, at difierent 
 times serve to designate the birth-place of these exiles, too happy in 
 being banished from the darkness of barbarism, to the luminous 
 vicinity of your imperial presence." 
 
 "Speak, then, Varangian, in the name of Heaven," said the Em- 
 peror, " and let us know whether we are to look for friends or 
 enemies in those men of Normandy who are now approaching- our 
 frontier. Speak with courage, man ; and if thou apprehendesc 
 danger, remember thou servest a prince well qualified to protect 
 thee." 
 
 " Since I am at liberty to speak," answered the life-guardsman, 
 " although my knowledge of the Greek language, which you term 
 the Roman, is but shght, I trust it is enough to demand of his Im- 
 perial Highness, in place of all pay, donative, or gift whatsoever, 
 since he has been pleased to talk of designing such for me, that he 
 would place me in the first line of battle which shall be formed 
 against these same Normans, and their Duke Robert; and if he 
 pleases to allow me the aid of such Varangians as, for love of me, or 
 hatred of their ancient tyrants, may be disposed to join their arms 
 to mine, I have little doubt so to settle our long accounts with these 
 men, that the Grecian eagles and wolves shall do them the last office, 
 by tearing the flesh from their bones." 
 
C2 COUNT IIOBEIIT OF PARIS. 
 
 " Wliat dreadful feud is tliis, my soldier " said the Emperor, " that 
 after so many years still drives tliee to such extremities when the 
 very name of Normandy is mentioned?" 
 
 " Your Imperial llig'hness shall he judge ! " said the Varangiai: 
 " My fathers, and those of most, tlioug-li not all of the corps to wlion 
 I helong-, are descended from a valiant race who dwelb in the North 
 of Germany, called Anglo-Saxons. Nohody, save a priest possessed 
 of the art of consulting ancient chronicles, can even guess how long 
 it is since they came to the island of Britain, then distracted with 
 civil war. They came, however, on the petition of the natives of tlie 
 island, for the aid of the Angles was requested hy the southern in- 
 habitants. Provinces were granted in recompense of the aid thus 
 liberally afforded, and the greater proportion of the island became, 
 by degrees, the property of the Anglo-Saxons, who occupied it at 
 first a^ several principalities, and latterly as one kingdom, speaking 
 the language and observing the laws of most of those who now form 
 your imperial body-guard of Varangians, or exiles. In process of 
 time, the Northmen became known to the people of the more 
 southern climates. They were so called from their coming from the 
 distant regions of the Baltic Sea— an immense ocean, sometimes 
 frozen with ice as hard as the cliffs of Mount Caucasus.- They came 
 seeking milder regions than nature had assigned them at home; and 
 the climate of France being delightful, and its people slow in battle, 
 they extorted from them the grant of a large province, which was, 
 from the name of the new settlers, called Normandy, though I have 
 heard my father say that was not its proper appellation. They settled 
 there under a Duke, who acknowledged the superior authority of the 
 King of France, that is to say, obeying him when it suited his con- 
 venience so to do. 
 
 "Now, it chanced many years since, while these two nations of 
 Normans and Anglo-Saxons were cxnietly residing upon difi'erent 
 sides of the salt-water channel which divides France from England, 
 that William, Duke of Normandy, suddenly levied a large army, came 
 over to Kent, which is on the opposite side of the channel, and there 
 defeated in a great battle, Harold, who was at that time King of the 
 Anglo-Saxons. It is but grief to tell what followed. Battles have 
 been fought in old time, that have had dreadful results, which 
 years, nevertheless, could wash away ; but at Hastings — O woe's me ! 
 — the banner of my country fell, never again to be raised up. Op- 
 pression has driven her wheel over us. All that was valiant amongst 
 us have left the land ; and of Englishmen — for such is our proper 
 designation — no one remains in England save as the thrall of the 
 invaders. Many men of l^ani:sh descent, who had found their way 
 on different occasions to England, were blended in the common ca- 
 lamity. All was laid desolate by the command of the victors. My 
 father's home lies now an undistinguished ruin, amid an extensive 
 forest, composed out of what were formerly fair fields and domestic 
 pastures, where a manly race derived nourishment by cultivating a 
 friendly soil. The fire has destroyed the church where sleep the 
 fathers of my race ; and I, the last of their line, am a wanderer in 
 other climates — a fighter of the battles of others — the servant of a 
 
CULX-l KUliCUr OF TARIS. 63 
 
 foreig'D, though u kind master: in a word, one of the banished— a 
 Varang'ian." 
 
 "Happier in that station," said Achilles Tatius, " than in all the 
 barbaric simplicity which your forefothers prized so hio-hly, since you 
 arc HOW under the cheering- influence of that smile which is the life 
 of tlie world." 
 
 " ] t avails not talking of this," said the Varangian, with a cold 
 gesture. 
 
 " '.riiese Normans," said the Emperor, " are then the people 
 i by whom the celebrated island of Britain is now conquered and 
 governed ? " 
 
 " Jt is but too true," answered the Varangian. 
 
 " They are, then, a brave and warlike people ? " said Alexius. 
 
 " It would be base and false to say otherwise of an enemy," said 
 Ilereward. " Wrono- have they done me, and a wrong never to be 
 atoniid ; but to speak falsehood of them were but a woman's ven- 
 geance. IMortal enemies as they are to me, and mingling with all 
 , my recollections as that which is hateful and odious, yet were the 
 , troops of Europe mustered, as it seems they are likely to be, no 
 1 nation or tribe dared in gallantry claim the advance of the haughty 
 I Norman." 
 
 " And this Duke Robert, who is he ? " 
 
 " That," answered the Varangian, " I cannot so well explain. He 
 i is the son — the eldest son, as men say — of the tyrant William, who 
 subdued England when I hardly existed, or was a child in the cradle. 
 That William, the victor of Hastings, is now dead, we are assured 
 by concurring testimony ; but while it seems his eldest son Duke 
 Robert has become his heir to the Duchy of Normandy, some other of 
 his children have been so fortunate as to acquire the throne of Eng- 
 land,— unless, indeed, like the petty farm of some obscure yeoman, 
 the fair kingdom has been divided among the tyrant's issue." 
 
 " Concerning this," said the Emperor, "we have heard something, 
 wliich we shall try to reconcile with the soldier's narrative at leisure, 
 holding the words of this honest Varangian as positive proof, in what- 
 soever he avers from his own knowledge. — And now, my grave and 
 worthy counsellors, we must close this evening's service in the Temple 
 of the"^ Muses, this distressing news, brought us by our dearest son- 
 in-law the Cfesar, having induced us to prolong our worship of these 
 learned goddesses deeper into the night than is consistent with the 
 health of our beloved wife and daughter ; while to ourselves this 
 intelligence brings subject for grave deliberation." 
 
 The courtiers exhausted their ingenuity in forming the most in- 
 genious prayers, that all evil consequences should be averted which 
 could attend this excessive vigilance. 
 
 Nicephorus and his fair bride spoke together as a pair equally 
 desirous to close an accidental breach between them. " Some things 
 thou hast said, my Caesar," observed the lady, "in detailing this 
 dreadful intelligence, as elegantly turned as if the nine goddesses, 
 to whom this Temple is dedicated, had lent each her aid to the sense 
 iind expression." 
 
 " I need none of their assistance," answered Nicephorus, " since 
 
64 COU-XT ROBEIIT OF PARIS. 
 
 I possess a muse of my own, in whose g-enius are included all those 
 attributes which the heathens vainly ascribed to the nine deities of 
 Parnassus ! " 
 
 " It is well," said the fair historian, retiring' by the assistance of 
 her husband's arm ; " but if you will load your wife with praises far 
 beyond her merits, you must lend her your arm to support her under 
 the weighty burden you have been pleased to impose." The council 
 parted when the imperial persons had retired, and most of them 
 sought to indemnify themselves in more free though less dignified 
 circles, for the constraint which they had practised in the Temple of 
 t|>4?^'I^es. 
 
 ^/^ 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 ! tliou mayst esteem thy love as fair 
 
 1^ ^V^i -^^ ^^""^ Iiyperboles suffice to raise. 
 
 ► *'*^' .ShC'may be all that's matchless in her person, 
 
 ft A. ^"^ all-divine in soul to match her body ; 
 
 ^* ^s V Bub take this from me— thou shalt never call her 
 
 p» tJs- '-. ^Superior to her sex, while o?2£ survives, 
 
 ^ ' .-''And I am her true votary. 
 
 ^ y' Old Play. 
 
 Achilles Tatius, with his faithful Varangian close by his shoulder, 
 melted from the dispersing assembly silently and almost invisibly, as 
 snow is dissolved from its Alpine abodes as the days become more 
 genial. No lordly step or clash of armour betokened the retreat of 
 the military persons. The very idea of the necessity of guards was 
 not ostentatiously brought forward, because, so near the presence of 
 the Emperor, the emanation supposed to iiit around that divinity of 
 earthly sovereigns, had credit for rendering it impassive and un- 
 assailable. Thus the oldest and most skilful courtiers, among whom 
 our friend Agelastes was not to be forgotten, were of opinion, that, 
 although the Emperor employed the ministry of the Varangians and 
 other guards, it was rather for form's sake, than from any danger 
 of the commission of a crime so heinous, that it was the fashion to 
 account it almost impossible. And this doctrine, of the rare occur- 
 rence of such a crime, was repeated from month to month in those 
 very chambers, where it had oftener than once been perpetrated, 
 and sometimes by the very persons who monthly laid schemes for 
 carrying some dark conspiracy against the reigning Emperor into 
 positive execution. 
 
 At length the captain of the life-guardsmen and his faithful atten-^- 
 dant found themselves on the outside of the Blacquernal Palace. 
 The passage which Achilles found for their exit was closed by a pos- 
 tern which a single Varangian shut behind them, drawing*, at the 
 same time, bolt and bar with an ill-omened and jarring sound. 
 Looking back at the mass of turrets, battlements, and spires, out of 
 which they had at length emerged, Hereward could not but feel 
 his heart lighten to find himself once more under the deep blue of a 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 65 
 
 Grecian heaven, where the pl.anets were burning- with unusual histre. 
 He sighed and rubbed his hands with pleasure, like a man newly 
 restored to liberty. He even spoke to his leader, contrary to his 
 custom unless addressed : — " Methinks the air of yonder halls, valor- 
 ous Captain, carries with it a perfume, which, thoiig-h it may be well 
 termed sweet, is so suffocating-, as to be more suitable to sepulch- 
 rous chambers than to the dwellings of men. Happy I am that I 
 am free, as I trust, from its influences." 
 
 " Be happy, then," said Achilles Tatius, " since thy vile, cloddish 
 spirit feels suffocation rather than refreshment in gales, which, in- 
 stead of causing- death, might recall the dead themselves to life. 
 Yet this I will say for thee, Hereward, that, born a barbarian, within 
 the narrow circle of a savag'e's desires and pleasures, and having no 
 idea of life save what thou derivest from such vile and base con- 
 nections, thou art, nevertheless, designed by nature for better tilings, 
 and hast this day sustained a trial, in which, I fear me, not even one 
 of my own noble corps, frozen as they are into lumps of unfashioned 
 barbarity, could have equalled thy bearing-. And speak now in true 
 faith, hast not thou been rewarded ? " 
 
 " That will I never deny," said the Varangian. " The pleasure 
 of knowing-, twenty-four hours perhaps before my comrades, that 
 the Normans are coming- hither to afford us a full revenge of the 
 bloody day of Hasting-s, is a lordly recompense for the task of spend- 
 ing- some hours in hearing the lengthened chat of a lady, who hasi 
 written about she knows not what, and the flattering- commentaries 
 of the bystanders, who pretended to give her an account of what- 
 they did not themselves stop to witness." 
 
 " Hereward, my good youth," said Achilles Tatius, " thou ravest, 
 and I think I should do well to place thee under the custody of some 
 person of skill. Too much hardihood^ my valiant soldier, is in sober- 
 ness allied to overdaring-. It was only natural that thou shouldst 
 feel a becoming- pride in thy late position ; yet, let it but taint thee 
 with vanity, and the eftect will be little short of madness. Why, 
 thou hast looked boldly in the face of a Princess born in the purple, 
 before Avhom my own eyes, though well used to such spectacles, are 
 never raised beyond the foldings of her veil." 
 
 " So be it in the name of Heaven ! '*' replied Hereward. '' Never- 
 theless, handsome faces were made to look upon, and the eyes of 
 young' men to see withal." 
 
 " If such be their final end," said Achilles, " never did thine, I 
 will freely suppose, find a richer apology for the somewhat over- 
 bold licence which thou tookest in thy gaze upon the Princess this 
 evening." 
 
 " Good leader, or Follower, whichever is your favourite title,'' said 
 the Anglo-Briton, " drive not to extremity a plain man, Avho desires 
 to hold his duty in all honour to the imperial family. The Princess, 
 wife of the Caesar, and born, you tell me, of a purple colour, has now 
 inherited, notwithstanding, the features of a most lovely woman. 
 She hath composed a history, of which I presume not to form a 
 judgment, since I cannot understand it; she sings like an angel; 
 and, to conclude, after the fashion of the knights of this day— though 
 
 F 
 
66 COUNT ROBEUT OF TARIS. 
 
 I deal not ovdiiianly with tlioir lang-uag-e— I would say cheerfully 
 that I am ready to place myself in lists against any one whomsoever, 
 who dares detract from the beauty of tlie imperial Anna Com- 
 iiena's person, or from the virtues of her mind. Having- said this, 
 my noble Captain, we have said all that it is competent for you to in- 
 quire into, or for me to answer. That there are handsomer womiCn 
 than the Princess is unquestionable ; and I question it the less that 
 I hare myself seen a person whom I think far her superior ; and 
 with that let us close the dialogue." 
 
 " Thy beauty, thou unparalleled fool," said Achilles, " must, I 
 ween, be the daughter of the large-bodied northern boor, living next 
 door to him upon whose farm was brought up the person of an ass, 
 curst with such intolerable want of judgment." 
 
 " You may say your pleasure, captain," rephed Hereward ; " be- 
 cause it is the safer for us both that thou canst not on such a topic 
 either offend me, who hold thy judgment as light as thou canst 
 esteem mine, or speak any derogation of a person whom you never 
 saw, but whom, if you had seen, perchance I might not so patiently 
 have brooked any reflections upon, even at the hands of a military 
 superior." 
 
 Achilles Tatius had a good deal of the penetration necessary for 
 one in his situation. He never provoked to extremity the daring 
 spirits whom he commanded, and never used any freedom with them 
 beyond the extent that he knew their patience could bear. Here- 
 ward was a favourite soldier, and had, in that respect at least, a 
 sincere liking and regard for his commander : when, therefore, the 
 Follower, instead of resenting his petulance, good-humouredly apo- 
 logised for having hurt his feelings, the momentary displeasure be- 
 tween them was at an end ; the officer at once reassumed his super- 
 iority, and the soldier sunk back with a deep sigh, given to some 
 period which was long past, into his wonted silence and reserve. 
 Indeed the Follower had another and further design upon Here- 
 ward, of which he was as yet unwilling to do more than give a dis- 
 tant hint. 
 
 After a long pause, during which they approached the barracks, 
 a gloomy fortified building constructed for the residence of their 
 corps, the captain motioned his soldier to draw close np to his side, 
 and proceeded to ask him, in a confidential tone — " Hereward, my 
 friend, although it is scarce to be supposed that in the presence of 
 the imperial family thou shouldst mark any one who did not partake 
 of their blood, or rather, as Homer has it, who did not participate of 
 the divine ichor, which, in their sacred persons, supphes the place of 
 that vulgar fluid ; yet, during so long an audience, thou mightst 
 possibly, from his uncourtly person and attire, have distinguished 
 Agelastes, whom we courtiers call the Elephant, from his strict ob- 
 servation of the rule w^hich forbids any one to sit down or rest in 
 the Imperial presence ? " 
 
 " I think," replied the soldier, "I marked the man you mean ; his 
 age was some seventy and upwards, — a big burly person; — and 
 the baldness v/hich reached to the top of his head was v/ell atoned 
 for by a white beard of prodigious size, which descended in waving 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 67 
 
 curls over his breast and rcaclied to the to\yol with whicli his lohi.i 
 v/ere girded, instead of the silken sash used by other persons of 
 rank." 
 
 " Most accurate!}' marked, my Yarang-ian," said the officer. " What 
 else didst thou note about this person ? " 
 
 " His cloak was in its texture as coarse as tliat of the mcanef^t of 
 the people, but it was strictly clean, as if it had been the intention of 
 the wearer to exhibit poverty, or carelessness and contempt of dress, 
 avoiding-, at the same time, every particular which implied anything" 
 neg-lig-ent, sordid, or diso-usting'.^' 
 
 "By St Sophia! " said the officer, "thou astonishest me! The 
 Pro]>het Balaam was not more surprised when his ass turned, round 
 her head and spoke to him ! — And what else didst thou note con- 
 cerning' this man ? I see those who meet thee must beware of thy 
 observation, as well as of thy battle-axe." 
 
 '•'If it please your Valour," answered the soldier, "we English 
 have eyes as well as hands ; but it is only when discharg'ing- our 
 duty that we permit our tongues to dwell on what we have ob- 
 served. I noted but httle of this man's conversation, but from what 
 I heard, it seemed he was not unwilling- to play what we call the 
 jester, or jack-pudding-, in the conversation, a character wliich, 
 considering the man's ag-e and physiog-nomy, is not, I shouiri be 
 tempted to say, natural, but assumed for some purpose of deeper 
 import." 
 
 "Hereward," answered his officer, "thou hast spoken like.aai 
 ang-el sent down to examine men's bosoms : that mnn. Ag-elasles, is 
 a contradiction, such as earth has seldom witnessed. Possessiiig- all 
 that wisdom which in former times united the sag-es of this nation 
 with the g-ods themselves, Ag'elastes has the same cunning- as the 
 elder Brutus, who disg-uised his talents under the semblance of au 
 idle jester. He appears to seek no office — he desires no considera- 
 tion — he pays suit at court only when positively required to do so ; 
 yet what shall I say, my soldier, concerning tlie cause of an_ in- 
 fluence gained without apparent eftbrf, and extending- almost into 
 the very thoughts of men, M'ho appear to act as he would desire, 
 witliout liis soliciting them to that purpose ? Men say strange 
 things concerning the extent of his communications with other 
 beings, whom our fathers worshipped with prayer and sacrifice. I 
 am determined, however, to know the road by which he climbs so 
 high and so easily towards the point to v/hich all men aspire at 
 court, and it will go hard but he shall either share his ladder witli 
 me, or 1 will strike its support from under him. Thee, Hereward, I 
 have chosen to assist me in this matter, as the knights among these 
 Frankish iniidels select, when going upon an adventure, a sturdy 
 squire, or inferior attendant, io share the dangers and the recom- 
 pense ; and this I am moved to as much by the shrewdness thou 
 hast this night manifested, as by the courage vvhich thou mayst; 
 boast, in common with, or rather beyond, thy companions." 
 
 " I am obliged, and I thank your Valour," replied the Varangian, 
 more coldly perhaps than his officer expected ; " I am ready, as ia 
 my duty, to serve you in anything consistent v.ith God and the Em- 
 
B8 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 peror's claims upon iny service. I would only say that, as a sworn 
 inferior soldier, I will do notliing- contrary to the laws of the empire, 
 and, as a sincere though ignorant Christian, I will have nothing- to 
 do with the gods of the heathens, save to defy them in the name and 
 strength of the holy saints." 
 
 " Idiot ! '• said Achilles Tatius, " dost thou think that I, already 
 possessed of one of the first dignities of the empire, could meditate 
 anything contrary to the interests of Alexius Comneuus ? or, what 
 would be scarce more atrocious, that I, the cliosen friend and ally of 
 the reverend Patriarch Zosimus, should meddle with anything bear- 
 ing a relation, however remote, to heresy or idolatry ? " 
 
 "Truly," answered the Varangian, '* no one would be more sur- 
 prised or grieved than I should ; but when we walk in a labyrinth, 
 we must assume and announce that we have a steady and forward 
 purpose, wliich is one mode at least of keeping a straight path. The 
 people of this country have so many ways of saying the same thing, 
 that one can hardly know at last what is their real meaning. We 
 English, on the other hand, can only express ourselves in one set of 
 words, but it is one out of which all the ingenuity of the world could 
 not extract a double meaning." 
 
 " 'Tis well," said his officer ; " to-morrow we will talk more of this, 
 for which purpose thou wilt come to my quarters a little after sun- 
 set. And, hark thee, to-morrow, while the smi is in heaven, shall bo 
 thine own, either to sport thyself or to repose. Employ thy time in 
 the latter, by my advice, since to-morrow night, like the present, may 
 find us both watchers." 
 
 So saying, they entered the barracks, where they parted company 
 —the commander of the life-guards taking his way to a splendid set 
 of apartments which belonged to him in that capacity, and the Anglo- 
 Saxon seeking his more humble accommodations as a subaltern 
 officer of the same corps. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Sucli forces met not, nor so vast a camp, 
 
 When Agrican, with all his Nortlierii powers, 
 
 Besieged Albracca, as romances tell, 
 
 The city of Gallaphron, from thence to win 
 
 The fairest of her sex, Angelica, 
 
 His daughter, sought by many prowess'd knights, 
 
 Both Paynim, and the Peers of Charlemagne. 
 
 Paradise Begaimd. 
 
 Early on the morning of the day following that which we have 
 commemorated, the Imperial Council was assembled, where the 
 number of general officers with sounding titles, disguised under a 
 thin veil the real weakness of the Grecian empire. The commanders 
 were numerous and the distinctions of their rank minute, but the 
 soldiers were very few in comparison. 
 
 The offices formerly filled by prefects, praetors, and questors, were 
 
t'OUM llOiiEllT OF TARLS. 69 
 
 now liekl by persons who had gradually risen into the aulhority of 
 those officers, and who, thong-h desig-nated from their domestic 
 duties about the Emperor, yet, from that very circumstance, pos- 
 sessed what, in that despotic court, was the most effectual source of 
 power. A long' train of officers entered the g'reat hall of the Castle 
 of Blacquernal, and proceeded so far tog-ether as their difl'erent 
 gTades admitted, while in each chamber throuo^h which they passed 
 in succession, a certain number of the train whose rank permitted 
 them to advance no farther, remained behind the others. Thus Avhen 
 the interior cabinet of audience was g-ained, which was not until their 
 passage through ten ante-rooms, five persons only found themselves 
 in the presence of the Emperor in this innermost and most sacred 
 recess of royalty, decorated by all the splendour of the period. 
 
 The Emperor Alexius sat upon a stately throne, rich with barbaric 
 gems and gold, and flanked on either hand, in imitation probably of 
 Solomon's magnificence, with the form of a couchant lion in the same 
 precious metal. Not to dwell upon other marks of splendour, a tree 
 whose trunk seemed also of gold, shot np behind the throne, which 
 it overcanopied with its branches. Amid the boughs were birds of 
 various kinds curiously wrought and enamelled, and fruit composed 
 of precious stones seemed to glisten among the leaves. Five officers 
 alone, the highest in the state, had the privilege of entering this 
 sacred recess when the Emperor held council. These were — the 
 Grand Domestic, who might be termed of rank with a modern prime 
 minister— the Logothete, or chancellor — the Protospathaire, or com- 
 mander of the guards, already mentioned— the Acolyte, or Follower, 
 and leader of the Varangians — and the Patriarch. 
 
 The doors of this secret apartment, and the adjacent ante-chamber, 
 were guarded by six deformed Nubian slaves, whose writhen and 
 withered countenances formed a hideous contrast with their snow- 
 white dresses and splendid equipment. They were mutes, a species 
 of wretches borrowed from the despotism of the East, that they 
 might be unable to proclaim the deeds of tyranny of which they were 
 the unscrupulous agents. They were generally held in a kind of 
 horror, rather than compassion, for men considered that slaves of 
 this sort had a malignant pleasure in avenging upon others the irre- 
 parable wrongs which had severed themselves from humanity. 
 
 It was a general custom, though, like many other usages of the 
 Greeks, it would be held childish in modern times, that by means of 
 machinery easily conceived, the lions, at the entrance of a stranger, 
 were made, as it were, to rouse themselves and roar, after which a 
 wind seemed to rustle the foliage of the tree, the birds hopped from 
 branch to branch, pecked the fruit, and appeared to fill the chamber 
 with their carolling. This display had alarmed many an ignorant 
 foreign ambassador, and even the Grecian counsellors theraseves 
 were expected to display the same sensations of fear, succeeded by 
 surprise, when they heard the roar of the lions, followed by the con- 
 cert of the birds, although perhaps it was for the fiftieth time. On 
 this occasion, as a proof of the urgency of the present meeting of 
 the council, these ceremonies were entirely omitted. 
 
 The speech of tlie Einperor himself seemed to supply by its com- 
 
70 COU^■T RODEUT OF PARIS. 
 
 niencemeiit the bellowing- of tlio lions, Avliile it ended in a strain more 
 rcrierabling- the warbling- of tlie birds. 
 
 In his first sentences, he treated of the audacity and unheard-of 
 boldness of the millions of Franks, who, under the pretence of wrest- 
 ir;g Palestine from the infidels, had ventured to invade the sacred 
 territories of the empire. He threatened thern with such chastise- 
 ment as his innumerable forces and ofiicers would, be afiirmed, find 
 it easy to inflict. To all this the audience, and especially the mili- 
 tary otHcers, gave symptoms of ready assent. 
 
 Alexius, however, did not long persist in the warlike intentions 
 which he at first avowed. The Franks, he at length seemed to re- 
 flect, were, in profession. Christians. They might possibly be seri- 
 ous in their pretext of the crusade, in which case their motives 
 claimed a degree of indulg'encc, ami, although erring, a certain por- 
 tion of respect. Their numbers also were great, and their valour 
 could not be desi)ised by those who had seen them fight at Durazzo,' 
 and elsewhere. They 'might also, by the permission of Supreme 
 Providence, be, in the long run, the iristruments of advantag-e to the 
 most sacred empire, though they approached it v.'ith so liTtle cere- 
 mony. He had, therefore, mingling the virtues of prudence, human- 
 ity, and g-enerosity, with that valour which must always burn in the 
 heart of an Emperor, formed a plan, which he was about to submit 
 to their consideration, for ])resent execution ; and, in the first place, 
 lie requested of the Grand Domestic, to let him know what forces he 
 might count upon on the western side of the Bosphorus. 
 
 " Innumerable are the forces of the empire as the stars in heaven, 
 or the sand on the sea-shore," answered the Grand Domestic. 
 
 "That is a g-oodly answer," said the Emperor, "provided there 
 were strangers present at this conference : but since we hold con- 
 sultation in private, it is necessary that I know precisely to what 
 number that army amounts which I have to rely upon. Reserve 
 your eloquence till some fitter time, and let me know what you, at 
 this present moment, mean by the v/ord innumerable?" 
 
 The Grand Domestic paused, and hesitated for a short space; but 
 as he became aware that the moment was one in which the Empe- 
 ror could not be trifled with (for Alexius Comnenus was at times 
 dangerous), he answered thus, but not without hesitation. " Impe- 
 rial master and lord, none better knows that such an answer cannot 
 be hastily made, if it is at the sam.e time to be correct in its results. 
 The number of the imperial host betwixt this city and the western 
 frontier of the empire, deducing those absent upon furlough, cannot 
 be counted upon as amounting- to more than twenty-five thousand 
 men, or thirty thousand at most." 
 • Alexius struck his forohead with his hand; and the counsellors, 
 seeing him give way to such violent expressions of grief and sur- 
 prise, began to enter into discussions, which they -would otherwis* 
 have reserved for a fitter place and time. 
 
 " By the trust your Higiiness reposes in me," said the Logothctej 
 
 T- For tlie battle of Durozzo, Oct. lOSl, in which Alexius was defeated with grea 
 slaughter by Robert Guiscard, and escajed only by the swiftness of his horse, see jGit 
 \0T\, ch. 56. 
 
COtWT ROBERT OF rXRIS. 71 
 
 ^ tliore has been drawn from your Highness's coifers during- the last 
 .year, gold cnongli to pay double the number of the armed warriors 
 whom the Grand Domestic now mentions." 
 
 '•Your Imperial Highness," retorted the impeached minister, with 
 no small animation, "will at once remember the stationary garrisons, 
 I in addition to the movable troops, for which this figure-caster makes 
 I no allowance." 
 
 I "Peace, both of you!" said Alexius, composing himself hastily; 
 ■ "our actual numbers are in truth less than we counted on, but let 
 us not by wrangling augment the difficulties of the time. Let those 
 troops be dispersed in valleys, in passes, behind ridges of hills, and 
 ' in difficult ground, where, a little art being used in the position, can 
 make few men supply the appearance of numbers, between this city 
 and the western frontier of the empire. While this disposal is made, 
 i we will continue to adjust with these crusaders, as they call them- 
 selves, the terms on which we will consent to let them pass through 
 our dominions : nor are we without hope of negotiating with them, 
 so as to gain great advantage to our kingdom. We will insist that 
 ; they pass through our country only by armies of perhaps fifty thou- 
 i sand at once, whom Ave will successively transport into Asia, so that no 
 greater number shall, by assembling beneath our walls, ever endanger 
 the safety of the metropolis of the world. 
 ' •' On tiieir way towards the banks of the Bosphorus, we v.ill sup- 
 I ply them with provisions, if they march peaceably, and in order ; and 
 if any straggle from their standards, or insult the country by maraud- 
 I ing, Ve suppose our valiant peasants will not hesitate to repress 
 1 their excesses, and that without our giving positive orders, since mo 
 i would not willingly be charged with anything like a breach of 
 engagement. We suppose, also, that the Scythians, Arabs, Syrians, 
 and other mercenaries in our service, will not suft'er our subjects to 
 be overpowered in their own just defence; as, besides that there is 
 no justice in stripping our own country of provisions, in order to feed 
 strangers, we will not be surprised, nor unpardonably displeased to 
 learn, that of the ostensible quantity of flour, some sacks should be 
 found filled with chalk, or lime, or some such substance. It is, in- 
 deed, truly wonderful, what the stomach of a Frank will digest com- 
 fortably. 'Their guides, also, whom you shall choose with reference 
 to such duty, will take care to conduct the crusaders by difficult and 
 circuitous routes ; which will be doing them a real service, by inur- 
 ing them to the hardships of the country and climate, M'hich they 
 would otherwise have to face without seasoning. 
 
 '• In the mean time, in your^intercourse with theu* chiefs, whom 
 they call counts, each of whom thinks himself as great as an Empe- 
 ror, you will take care to give no offence to their natural presump- 
 tion,' and omit no opportunity of informing them of the weahh and 
 bounty of our government. Sums of money may be even given to 
 persons of note, and largesses of less avail to those under them. 
 You. our Logothete, will take good order for this, and you, our 
 Grand Domestic, will take care that sucli soldiers as may cut off 
 detached parties of tlic Franks shall be presented, if possible, in 
 savage dress, and under the show of infidels. In commending these 
 
72 COUNT KOBEllT OF PARIS. 
 
 injunctions to your care, I purpose that, the crusaders having' found 
 the value of our friendship, and also in some sort the danger of our 
 enmity, those whom we shall safely transport to Asia, shall be, how- 
 ever unwieldy, still a smaller and more compact body, whom we may 
 deal with in all Christian prudence. Thus, by using- fair words to 
 one, threats to another, gold to the avaricious, power to the ambiti- 
 ous, and reasons to those that are capable of listening to them, we 
 doubt not but to prevail upon those Franks, met as they are from a 
 thousand points, and enemies of each other, to acknowledge us as 
 their common superior, rather than choose a leader among them- 
 selves, when they are made aware of the great fact, that every vil- 
 lage in Palestine, from Dan to Beersheba, is the original property of 
 the sacred Roman empire, and that whatever Christian goes to war 
 for their recovery, must go as our subject, and hold any conquest 
 which lie may make, as our vassal. Vice and virtue, sense and 
 folly, ambition and disinterested devotion, will alike recommend to 
 the survivors of these singular-minded men, to become the feudato- 
 ries of the empire, not its foe, and the shield, not the enemy, of your 
 paternal Emperor." 
 
 There was a general inclination of the head among the courtiers, 
 with the Eastern exclamation of, — "Long live the Emperor ! " 
 
 When the murmur of this applausive exclamation had subsided^ 
 Alexius proceeded: "Once more, I say, that my faithful Grand 
 Domestic, and those who act under him, will take care to commit 
 the execution of such part of these orders as may seem aggressive, 
 to troops of foreign appearance and language, which, I grieve to 
 say, are more numerous in our imperial army than our natural-born 
 and orthodox subjects." 
 
 The Patriarch here interposed his opinion. — " There is a consola- 
 tion," he said, " in the thought, that the genuine Romans in the 
 imperial army are but few, since a trade so bloody as war is most 
 fitly prosecuted by those whose doctrines, as well as their doings, on 
 earth, merit eternal condemnation in the next world." 
 
 " Reverend Patriarch," said the Emperor, "we would not willingly 
 lold, with the wild infidels, that Paradise is to be gained by the 
 sabre ; nevertheless, we hope that a Roman dying in battle for his 
 religion and his Emperor, may find as good hope of acceptation, after 
 the mortal pang is over, as a man who dies in peace, and with un- 
 blooded hand." 
 
 "It is enough for me to say," resumed the Patriarch, "that the 
 Church's doctrine is not so indulgent : she is herself peaceful, and 
 her promises of favour are for those who have been men of peace 
 Yet think not I bar the gates of Heaven against a soldier, as such, 
 if believing all the doctrines of our Church, and complying with all 
 our observances; far less would I condemn your Imperial Majesty's 
 wise precautions, both for diminishing the power and thinning the 
 ranks of those Latin heretics, who come hither to despoil us, and 
 plunder perhaps both church and temple, under the vain pretext 
 that Heaven would permit them, stained with so many heresies, to 
 reconquer that Holy Land, which true orthodox Christians, your 
 Majesty's sacred predecessors, have not been enabled to retain from 
 
COUNT EOBEUT OF PARIS. 7^ 
 
 the infidel. And well I trust that no settlement made under the 
 Latins will be permitted by your Majesty to establish itself, in which 
 the Cross shall not be elevated with limbs of tlie same leng-th, instead 
 of that irregular and most damnable error which prolongs, in west- 
 ern churches, the nether limb of that most holy emblem." 
 
 " Keverend Patriarch/' answered the Emperor, " do not deem 
 that we think lightly of your weighty scruples ; but the question is 
 now, not in what manner we may convert these Latin heretics to the 
 true faith, but how we may avoid being- overrun by their myriads, 
 which resemble those of the locusts by which their approach was 
 preceded and intimated." 
 
 "Your Majesty," said the Patriarch, "will act with your usual 
 wisdom ; for my part, I have only stated my doubts, that I may save 
 my own soul alive." 
 
 '' Our construction," said the Emperor, " does your sentiments no 
 wrong, most reverend Patriarch; and you," addressing himself to the 
 other c(mnsellors, "will attend to these separate charges given out for 
 directing the execution of the commands which have been generally 
 intimated to you. They are written out in the sacred ink, and our 
 sacred subscription is duly marked with the fitting' tinge of g-reen 
 and purple. Let them, therefore, be strictly obeyed. Ourselves- 
 will assume the command of such of the Immortal Bands as remain 
 in the city, and join to them the cohorts of our faithful Varangians. 
 At the head of these troops, we will await the arrival of these strang- 
 ers under the walls of the city, and, avoiding- combat while our policy 
 can postpone it, we will be ready, in case of the worst, to take what- 
 soever chance it shall please the Almighty to send us." 
 
 Here the council broke up, and the diflerent chiefs began to exert 
 themselves in the execution of their various instructions, civil and 
 mihtary, secret or public, fovourable or hostile to the crusaders. 
 The peculiar genius of the Grecian people was seen upon this occa- 
 sion. Their loud and boastful talking corresponded with the ideas 
 which the Emperor wished to enforce upon the crusaders concerning- 
 the extent of his power and resources. Nor is it to be disguised, 
 that the wily selfishness of most of those in the service of Alexius, 
 endeavoured to find some indirect way of applying- the imperial 
 instruction, so as might best suit their own private ends. 
 
 Meantime the news had gone abroad in Constantinople of the 
 arrival of the huge miscellaneous army of the West upon the limits 
 of the Grecian empire, and of their purpose to pass to Palestine. A 
 thousand reports magnified, if that was possible, an event so wonder- 
 ful. Some said, that their ultimate view was the conquest of Arabia, 
 the destruction of the Prophet's tomb, and the conversion of his green 
 banner into a horse-cloth for the King' of France's brother. Others 
 supposed that the ruin and sack of Constantinople was the real object 
 of the war. A third class thought it v/as in order to compel the Pa- 
 triarch to submit himself to the Pope, adopt the Latin form of the 
 cross, and put an end to the schism. 
 
 The Varangians enjoyed an addition to this wonderful news, 
 seasoned as it everywhere was with something peculiarly suited to 
 the prejudices of the hearers. It was gathered originally from what 
 
74 COU>'T ROBERT OF PARLS. 
 
 our friend Herewfird, who was one of their inferior officers, called 
 serg-eants or constables, had suffered to transpire of what he had 
 heard the preceding- evening-. Considering- that the fact must be 
 soon matter of notoriety, he had no hesitation to give his comrades 
 to understand that a Norman army was coming hither under Duke 
 Robert, the son of the far-famed William the Conqueror, and with 
 hostile intentions, he concluded, against them in particular. Like 
 iill other men in peculiar circumstances, the Varangians adopted an 
 explanation applicable to their own condition. These Normans, who 
 liated the Saxon nation, and had done so much to dishonour and 
 oppress them, were now following them, they supposed, to the foreign 
 capital where they had found refuge, with the purpose of making- 
 war on the bountiful prince v»'ho protected their sad remnant. Under 
 this belief, many a deep oath was sworn in Norse and Anglo-Saxon, 
 that their keen battle-axes should avcMge the slaughter of Hast- 
 ings, and many a pledge, both in wine and ale, v/as quaft'ed, who 
 should most deeply resent, aiul most eftectually revenge, the wrongs- 
 which the Anglo-Saxons of England had received at the hand of their 
 oppressors. 
 
 Here ward, the author of this intelligence, began soon to be sorry 
 that he had ever suffered it to escape him, so closely was he cross- 
 examined concerning its precise import, by the inquiries of his com- 
 rades, from whom he thought himself obliged to keep concealed the 
 adventures of the preceding- evening-, and the place in which he had 
 gained his information. 
 
 About noon, when he was effectually tired with returning- the same 
 answer to the same questions, and evading- similar others which were 
 repeatedly put to him, the sound of trumpets announced the presence 
 of the Acolyte Achilles Tatius, who came immediately, it was indus- 
 triously whispered, from the sacred Interior, with news of tlie imme- 
 diate approach of war. 
 
 The Varangians, and the Roman bauds called Immortal, it was 
 said, were to form a camp under the city, in order to be prompt to 
 defend it at the shortest notice. This put the whole barracks into 
 commotion, each man making the necessary ]«-ovision for the ap- 
 proaching- campaign. The noise was chiefly that of joyful bustle 
 and acclamation ; and it was so general, that Hereward, whose rank 
 permitted him to commit to a page or esquire, the task of prepar- 
 ing- his equipments, took the opportunity to leave the barracks, in 
 order to seek some distant place apart from his comrades, and enjoy 
 his solitary reflections upon the singular connection into v/hich he 
 had been drawn, and his direct communication with the Imperial 
 family. 
 
 Passing" through the narrow streets, then deserted on account of 
 the heat of the sun, he reached at length one of those broad terraces, 
 M'hich, descending as it were by steps, upon the margin of the Bos- 
 phorus, formed one of the most splendid walks in the universe, and 
 still, it is believed, preserved as a jjublic promenade for the pleasure 
 of the Turks, as formerly for that of the Christians. These gradu- 
 ated terraces were planted with many trees, among which the cypress, 
 as usual, was most g-enerally cultivated. Here bauds of the inhabi- 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF VAUVi. 75 
 
 taiits were to be seen : some passing' to and fro, with business and 
 anxiety in their faces; some standing- still in groups, as if discusshig- 
 the strange and weighty tidings of the day ; and some, with the in- 
 dolent carelessness of an eastern climate, eating their noontide re- 
 freshment in the shade, and spending their time as if their sole object 
 was to make much of the day as it passed, and let the cares of to- 
 morrow ansvrer for themselves. 
 
 While the Varangian, afraid of meeting some acquaintance in this 
 concourse, which would have been inconsistent with the desire of 
 seclusion Mhich had brought him thither, descended or passecl from 
 one terrace to another, all marked him with looks of curiosity and 
 inquiry, considering him to be one, who, from his arms and connec- 
 tion with the court, must necessarily know more than others con- 
 cerning the singular invasion by numerous enemies, and from vari- 
 ous quarters, which was the news of the day. None, however, had 
 the hardihood to address the soldier of the guard, though all looked 
 at him with uncommon interest. He walked from the lighter to the 
 darker alleys, from the more closed to the more open teiTaces, with- 
 out interruption from any one, yet not without a feeling that he must 
 not consider himself as alone. 
 
 The desire that he felt to be solitary rendered him at last somewhat 
 watchful, so that he became sensible that he was dogged by a black 
 slave, a personage not so unfrequent in the streets of Constantinople 
 as to excite any particular notice. His attention, however, being at 
 length fixed on this individual, he began to be desirous to escape his 
 observation ; and the change of place which he had at first adopted 
 to avoid society in general, he had now recourse to, in order to rid 
 himself of this distant, thougli apparently watchful^ attendant. Still, 
 however, though he by change of place had lost sight of the negro 
 for a few minutes, it was not long ere he again discovered him^ at a 
 distance too far for a companion, but near enough to serve all the 
 purposes of a spy. Displeased at this, the Varangian turned short 
 in his walk, and, cl oosing a spot where none v^'as in sight but the 
 object of his resentment, walked suddenly up to him, and demanded 
 wherefore, and by whose orders, he presumed to doghis footsteps. 
 The negro answered in a jargon as bad as that in which he was ad- 
 dressed, though of a different kind, " that he had orders to remark 
 whither he went." 
 
 " Orders from whom ? " said tlie Varangian. 
 
 " From my master and yours," answered the negro, boldly. 
 
 "Thou infidel villain ! " exclaimed the angry soldier, "when was 
 it that we became fellow-servants, and who is it that thou darest to 
 call my master?" 
 
 '• One who is master of the world," said the slave, " since he com- 
 mands his own passions." 
 
 " I shall scarce command mine," said the Varangian, " if thoure- 
 pliest to my earnest questions with thine affected quirks of philo- 
 sophy. Once more, what dost thou want with me ? and why hast 
 thou'^thc boldness to watch me?" 
 
 " I have told thee already," said the slave, " that I do my master's 
 commands." 
 
76 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " But I must know who thy master h," said Hereward. 
 
 " He must tell thee that himself," replied the negro ; " he trusts- 
 not a poor slave like me with the purpose of the errands on which 
 he sends me." 
 
 " He has left thee a tongue, however," said the Varangian, " which 
 some of thy countrymen would, I think, be glad to possess. Do not 
 provoke me to abridge it by refusing me the information which I 
 have a right to demand." 
 
 The black meditated, as it seemed from the grin on his face, 
 further evasions, when Hereward cut them short by raising the 
 staif of his battle-axe. ''Put me not," he said, " to dishonour my- 
 self by striking thee with this weapon, calculated for a use so much 
 more noble." 
 
 " I may not do so, valiant sir," said the negro, laying aside an 
 impudent, half-gibing tone which he had hitherto made use of, and 
 betraying personal fear in his manner. " If you beat the poor slave 
 to death you cannot learn what his master hath forbid him to tell. 
 A short walk will save your honour the stain, and yourself the 
 trouble, of beating what cannot resist, and me the pain of enduring 
 what I can neither retahate nor avoid." 
 
 " Lead on then," said the Varangian. " Be assured thou shalt not 
 fool me by thy fiiir words, and I will know the person who is im- 
 pudent enough to assume the right of watching ray motions." 
 
 The black walked on with a species of leer peculiar to his physiog- 
 nomy, which might be construed as expressive either of malice or of 
 mere humour. The Varangian followed him with some suspicion, 
 for it happened that he had had little intercourse with the unhappy 
 raee of Africa, and had not totally overcome the feeling of sur- 
 prise with which he had at first regarded them, when he arrived a 
 stranger from the north. So often did this man look back upon 
 him during their walk, and with so penetrating and observing a 
 cast of countenance, that Hereward felt irresistibly renewed in his 
 mind the English prejudices, which assigned to the demons the 
 sable colour and distorted cast of visage of his conductor. The 
 scene into which he was guided strengthened an association which 
 was not of itself unlikely to occur to the ignorant and martial 
 islander. 
 
 The negro led the way from the splendid terraced walks which we 
 have described, to a path descending to the sea-shore, when a place 
 appeared, which, far from being trimmed, like other parts of the 
 coast, into walks of embankment, seemed, on the contrary, aban- 
 doned to neglect, and was covered with the mouldering ruins of anti- 
 quity, where these had not been overgrown by the luxuriant vegeta- 
 tion of the climate. These fragments of building, occupying a sort 
 of recess of the bay, were hidden by steep banks on each side, and 
 although in fact they formed part of the city, yet they were not seen 
 from any part of it, and, embosomed in the manner we have described, 
 did not in turn command any view of the churches, palaces, towers, 
 and fortifications, amongst which they lay. The sight of this soli- 
 tary and apparently deserted spot, encumbered with ruins and over- 
 grown with cypress and other trees, situated as it was in the midst 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 77 
 
 •of fi populous city, had somethinj^ in it impressive and awful to the 
 imagination. The ruins were of an ancient date, and in the style of 
 a foreign people. The gig-antic remains of a portico, the mutilated 
 fragments of statues of great size, but executed in a taste and atti- 
 tude so narrow and barbaric as to seem perfectly the reverse of tlie 
 ■Grecian, and the half-defaced hieroglyphics which could be 'traced 
 •on some part of the decayed sculpture, corroborated the popular ac- 
 count of their origin, which we shall briefly detail. 
 
 According to tradition this had been a temple dedicated to the 
 Egyptian goddess Cybele, built while the Roman empire was yet 
 heathen, and while Constantinople was still called by the name of 
 Byzantium. It is well known that the superstitution of the Egyp- 
 tians — vulgarly gross in its literal meaning as well as in its mystical 
 interpretation, and peculiarly the foundation of many wild doctrines, 
 — was disowned by the principles of general toleration, and the 
 system of polytheism received b}[ Rome, and was excluded by re- 
 peated laws from the respect paid by the empire to almost every 
 other religion, however extravagant or absurd. Nevertheless, these 
 Egyptian rites had charms for the curious and the superstitious, and 
 had, after long opposition, obtained a footing in the empire. 
 
 Still, although tolerated, the Egyptian priests were rather con- 
 sidered as sorcerers than as pontiffs, and their whole ritual had a 
 nearer relation to magic in popular estimation, than to any regular 
 system of devotion. 
 
 Stained with these accusations, even among the heathen themselves, 
 the Avorship of Egypt was held in more mortal abhorrence by the 
 Christians than the other and more rational kinds of heathen devo- 
 tion ; that is, if any at all had a right to be termed so. The brutal 
 worship of Apis and Cybele was regarded, not only as a pretext for 
 obscene and profligate pleasures, but as having a direct tendency to 
 open and encourage a dangerous commerce with evil spirits, who 
 were supposed to take upon themselves, at these unhallowed altars, 
 the names and characters of these foul deities. Not only, therefore, 
 the temple of Cybele, with its gigantic portico, its huge and in- 
 elegant statues, and its fantastic hierogylphics, was thrown down 
 and defaced when the empire was converted to the Christian faith, 
 but the very ground on which it stood w^as considered as polluted 
 and unhallowed ; and no emperor having yet occupied the site with 
 a Christian church, the place still remained neglected and deserted 
 as we have described it. 
 
 The Varangian Plereward was perfectly acquainted with the evil 
 reputation of the place ; and when the negro seemed disposed to 
 advance into the interior of the ruins, he hesitated, and addressed 
 his guide thus : — " Hark thee, my black friend, these huge fantastic 
 images, some having dogs' heads, some cows' heads, and some no 
 heads at all, are not held reverently in popular estimation. Your 
 own colour, also, my comrade, is greatly too like that of Satan 
 himself, to render you an unsuspicious companion amid ruins, in 
 which the false spirit, it is said, daily walks his rounds. Midnight 
 and noon are the times, it is rumoured, of his appearance. I will go 
 no farther with you unless you assign me a fit reason for so doing." 
 
78 COUNT ROBEKT OF PARIS. 
 
 "In milking" so childish a proposal," said the v.egvo, "you take 
 from me, in effect, all desire to g'uide you to my iiiastei-. 1 thought 
 I spoke to a man of invincihle courag-e, and of that g-ood sense upon 
 which courag-e is hest founded. But your valour only emboldens 
 you to beat a black slave, who has neither streng-th nor title to 
 resist you ; and your courag-e is not enoug-h to enable you to look 
 without trembling" on the dark side of a wall, even when the sun is 
 in the heavens." 
 
 " Thou art insolent," said Hereward, raising- his axe. 
 
 "And thou art foolish," said the negro, " to attempt to prove thy 
 manhood and thy wisdom by the very mode which gives reason for 
 calling them both in question. I have already said there can be 
 little valour in beating a wretch like me ; and no man, surely, who 
 wishes to discover his way, would begin by chasing away his guide." 
 
 " I follow thee," said Hereward, stung with the insinuation of 
 covrardice ; " but if thou leadest me into a snare, thy free talk shall 
 not save thy bones, if a thousand of thy complexion from earth or 
 hell, were standing ready to back thee." 
 
 " Thou objectest sorely to my complexion," said the negro ; " how 
 kuowest thou that it is, in fact, a thing to be counted and acted 
 upon as matter of reality ? Thine own eyes daily apprise thee, 
 that the colour of the sky nightly changes from bright to black, yet 
 thou knowest that this is by no means owing- to any habitual colour 
 of the heavens themselves. The same change that takes place in 
 the hue of the heavens has existence in the tinge of the deep sea — 
 How canst thou tell but what the difference of my colour from thine 
 own may be owing to some deceptions change of a similar nature — 
 not real in itself, but only creating an apparent reality ?" 
 
 " Thou mayst have painted thyself, no doubt," answered the Varan- 
 gian, upon reflection, "and thy blackness, therefore, may be only 
 apparent; but I think thy old friend himself could hardly have pre- 
 sented these grinning lips, with the white teeth and flattened nose, 
 so much to the life, unless that peculiarity of Nubian physiognomy, 
 as they call it, had accurately and really an existence; and, to save 
 thee some trouble, my dark friend, I will tell thee, that though thou 
 speakest to an uneducated Varangian, I am not entirely unskilled 
 in the Grecian art of making subtle words pass upon the hearers 
 instead of reason." 
 
 " Ay ? " said the negro, doubtfully, and somewhat surprised ; 
 " and may the slave Diogenes — for so my master has christened 
 me— inquire into the means by which yoii reached knowledge so 
 unusual?" 
 
 "It is soon told," replied Hereward. "My countryman, Witi- 
 kind, being a constable of our bands, retired from active service, 
 and spent the end of a long life in this city of Constantinople. 
 Being past all toils of battle, either those of reality, as you word it, 
 or the pomp and fatigue of the exercising ground, the poor old man, 
 in despair of something to pass his time, attended the lectures of the 
 philosophers." 
 
 " And what did he learn there ? " said the negro ; "for a barbarian, 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 79 
 
 grown grey under the helmet, was not, as I tliink, a very hopeful 
 student in our schools." 
 
 "As much though, I should think, as a menial slave, wliicli I 
 understaud to be thy condition," replied the soldier. _ " But 1 have 
 understood from him that the masters of this idle science make it 
 their business to substitute, in their argumentations, mere words 
 iustead of ideas ; and as they never agree upon the precise meauing 
 of the former, their disputes can never arrive at a fair or settled 
 conclusiou, since they do not agree in the language in wliich they 
 express them. Their theories, as they call them, are built on the 
 sand, and the wind and tide shall prevail against them." 
 
 " Say so to my master," answered the black, in a serious tone. 
 
 " 1 will," said the Varangian ; " and he shall know me as an igno- 
 rant soldier, having but few ideas, and those only concerning my 
 rehgion and my military duty. But out of these opinions I will 
 neither be beaten by a battery of sophisms, nor cheated by the arts 
 or the terrors of the friends of heathenism, either in this world or 
 the next." 
 
 " You may speak your mind to him then yourself," said Diogenes. 
 He stepped to a side as if to make way for the Varangian, to whom 
 he motioned to go forward. 
 
 Hereward advanced accordingly, by a half- worn and almost imper- 
 ceptible path leading through the long rough grass, and, turning 
 round a half-demolished shrine, which exhibited the remains of 
 Apis, the bovine deity, he came immediately in front of the philoso- 
 pher, Agelastes, who, sitting among the ruins, reposed his limbs on 
 the grass. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Through the vain webs which puzzle sophists' skill. 
 Plain sense and honest meaning work their way ; 
 So sink the varying clouds upon the hill, 
 When the clear dawning brightens into dav. 
 
 Dr Watts. 
 
 The old man rose from the ground with alacrity, as Hereward 
 approached. "My bold Varangian," he said, "thou who vainest 
 men and things, not accordino- to the false estimate ascribed to 
 them in this world, but to their real importance and actual value, 
 thou art welcome, whatever has brought thee hither — thou art wel- 
 come to a place where it is held the best business of philosophy to 
 strip man of his borrowed ornaments, and reduce him to the just 
 value of his own attributes of body and mind, singly considered." 
 
 "' You are a courtier, sir," said the Saxon, " and as a permitted 
 companion of the Emperor's Highness, you must be aware, that 
 there are twenty times more ceremonies than such a man as I can 
 be acquainted with, for regulating the diHerent ranks in society ; 
 while a plain man like myself may be well excused from pusliinp; 
 
80 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 himself into the company of those above him, where he does not 
 exactly know how he should comport himself." 
 
 " True," said the philosopher ; " but a man like yourself, noble 
 Hereward, merits more consideration in the eyes of a real philoso- 
 pher, than a thousand of those mere insects, whom the smiles of a 
 <jourt call into life, and whom its frowns reduce to annihilation." 
 
 "You are yourself, grave sir, a follower of the court," said Here- 
 ward. 
 
 " And a most punctilious one," said Ag-elastes. " There is not, I 
 trust, a subject in the empire who knows better the ten thousand 
 punctilios exig-ible from those of different ranks, and due to different 
 authorities. The man is yet to be born who has seen me take advan- 
 tage of any more commodious posture than that of standing in pre- 
 sence of the royal family. But though I use those false scales in 
 society, and so far conform to its errors, my real judgment rs of a 
 more grave character, and more worthy of man, as said to be formed 
 in the image of his Creator." 
 
 "There can be small occasion," said the Varangian, "to exercise 
 your judgment in any respect upon me, nor am I desirous that any 
 one should think of me otherwise than I am ; — a poor exile, namely, 
 who endeavours to fix his faith upon Heaven, and to perform his 
 duty to the world he lives in, and to the prince in whose service he 
 is engaged. — And now, grave sir, permit me to ask, whether this 
 meeting is by your desire, and for what is its purpose? An African 
 slave, whom I met in the public walks, and who calls himself Dio- 
 g-enes, tells me that you desired to speak with me; he hath somewhat 
 the humour of the old scoffer, and so he may have lied. If so, I will 
 even forgive him the beating which I owe his assurance, and make 
 my excuse at the same time for having broken in upon your retire- 
 ment, which I am totally unfit to share." 
 
 " Diogenes has not played you false," answered Agelastes ; " he 
 has his liumours, as you remarked even now, and with these some 
 qualities also that put him upon a level with those of fairer com- 
 plexion and better features." 
 
 " And for what," said the Varangian, " have you so employed 
 him ? Can your Avisdom possibly entertain a wish to converse with 
 me ? " 
 
 "I am an observer of nature and of humanity," answered the 
 philosopher; "is it not natural that I should tire of those beings 
 who are formed entirely upon artifice, and long to see something 
 more fresh from the hand of nature? " 
 
 " You see not that in me," said the Varangian ; " the rigour of 
 military discipline — the camp— the centurion — the armour — frame a 
 man's sentiments and limbs to them, as the sea-crab is framed to its 
 shell. See one of us, and you see us all." 
 
 " Permit me to doubt that," said Agelastes ; " and to suppose that 
 in Hereward, the son of WaltheofF, I see an extraordinary man, 
 although lie himself may be ignorant, owing to his modest}^ of the 
 rarity of his own good qualities." 
 
 "The son of Waltheoff ! " answered the Varangian, somewhat 
 startled.—" Do you know my father's name ? " 
 
COUNT ROBKIIT OF PARIS. 81 
 
 "Be not surprised," answered tlie philosopher, '-'at my possessing 
 
 so simple a piece of information. It has cost me but little troubk; 
 
 to attain it, yet I ^YOuld gladly hope that the labour I have taken in 
 
 that matter may convince you of my real desire to call you friend." 
 
 " It was indeed an unusual compliment," said Hereward, " that a 
 
 I man of your knowledge and station should be at the trouble to 
 
 I inquire, among the Varangian cohorts, concerning the descent of 
 
 I one of their constables. I scarcely think that my commander, the 
 
 j Acolyte himself, would think such 'knowledge worthy of being col- 
 
 [ lected or preserved." 
 
 " Greater men than he," said Agelastes, ''certainly would not 
 
 You know one in high office, who thinks the names of his most 
 faithful soldiers of less moment than those of his hunting dogs or 
 his hawks, and would wiUingly save himself the trouble of calling 
 them otherwise than by a whistle." 
 
 " I may not hear this,'' answered the Varangian. 
 "I would not ofiend you," said the philosopher, "I would not even 
 shake your good opinion of the person I allude to ; yet it surprises 
 me that such should be entertained by one of your great qualities.'"' 
 "A truce with this, grave sir, which is in fact trifling in a person 
 of your character and appearance," answered the Anglo-Saxon. '' I 
 am like the rocks of my country ; the fierce winds cannot shake me, 
 the soft rains cannot melt me ; flattery and loud words are alike lost 
 upon me." 
 
 " And it is even for that inflexibility of mind," replied Agelastes, 
 '• that steady contempt of everything that approaches thee, save in 
 the light of a duty, that I demand, almost like a beggar, that per- 
 sonal acquaintance, which thou refusest like a churl." 
 
 "Pardon me," said Hereward, "if I doubt this. Whatever stories 
 you may have picked up concerning me, not unexaggerated probably 
 — since the Greeks do not keep the privilege of boasting so entirely 
 to themselves but the Varangians have learned a little of it — you 
 can have heard nothing of me which can authorise your using your 
 present language, excepting in jest." 
 
 " You mistake, my son," said Agelastes ; " believe me not a person 
 to mix in the idle talk respecting you, with your comrades at the 
 ale-cup. Such as 1 am, I can strike on this broken image of Anubis 
 — (here he touched a gigantic fragment of a statue by his side) — 
 " and bid the spirit who long prompted the oracle descend, and once 
 more reanimate the trembling mass. We that are initiated enjoy 
 high privileges — we stamp upon those ruined vaults, and the echo 
 which dwells there answers to our demand. Do not think that, 
 although I crave thy friendship, I need therefore supplicate thee for 
 information either respecting thyself or others." 
 
 "Your words are wonderful," said the Anglo-Saxon; "but by 
 such promising words I liave heard that many souls have been 
 seduced from the path of heaven. My grandsire, Kenelm, was 
 wont to say, that the fair words of the heathen philosophy were 
 more hurtful to the Christian faith than the menaces of the heathen 
 tyrants." 
 "I knew him," said Agelastes. "What avails it whether it was 
 
 G 
 
82 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 in the body or in the spirit?— He was converted from the faith of 
 Wcden by a noble monk, and died a priest at the shrine of St 
 Aucfustin."^ 
 
 ''True/' said Hereward ; " all this is certain— and I am the rather 
 bound to remember his words, now that he is dead and gone. When 
 I luirdly knew his meaning', he bid me beware of the doctrine which 
 causeth to err, which is taught by false prophets, who attest their 
 doctrine by unreal miracles." 
 
 " This," said Ag-elastes, " is mere superstition. Thy grandsire was 
 a g'ood and excellent man, but narrow-minded, like other priests ; 
 and, deceived by their example, he wished but to open a small 
 wicket in the gate of truth, and admit the world only on that 
 limited scale. Seest thou, Plereward, thy grandsire and most men 
 of religion would fain narrow our intellect to the consideration of 
 such parts of the immaterial world as are essential to our moral 
 guidance here, and our final salvation hereafter ; but it is not the 
 less true, that man has liberty, provided he has wisdom and courage 
 to form intimacies with beings more powerful than himself, who can 
 defy the bounds of space by which he is circumscribed, and over- 
 come, by their metaphysical powers, difficulties which, to the timid 
 and unlearned, may appear wild and impossible." 
 
 '• You talk of a folly," answered Hereward, " at which childhood 
 gapes and manhood smiles." 
 
 '' On the contrary," said the sage, " I talk of a longing wish which 
 every man feels at the bottom of his heart, to hold communication 
 with beings more powerful than himselfj and who are not naturally 
 accessible to our organs. Believe me, Hereward, so ardent and 
 universal an aspiration had not existed in our bosoms, liad there not 
 also been means, if steadily and wisely sought, of attaining its accom- 
 plishment. I will appeal to thine own heart, and prove to thee, even 
 by a single word, that what I say is truth. Thy thoughts are even 
 now upon a being long absent or dead, and with the name of Bertha, 
 -a, thousand emotions rush to thy heart, which in thy ignorance thou 
 hadst esteemed furled up for ever, like spoils of the dead hung 
 above a tombstone ! — Thou startest and cliangest thy colour — I joy 
 to see by tliese signs that the firmness and indomitable courage 
 which men ascribe to thee have left the avenues of the heart as free 
 as ever to kindly and to generous affections, Avliile they have barred 
 them against those of fear, uncertainty, and all the caitiff tribe of 
 meaner sensations. I have proffered to esteem thee, and I have no 
 liesitation in proving it. 1 will tell thee, if thou desirest to know it, 
 the fate of tliafc very Bertha, whose memory thou hast cherished in 
 thy breast in spite of thee, amidst the toil of the day and the repose 
 of the night, in the battle and in the truce, when sporting with thy 
 companions in the fields of exercise, or attempting to prosecute the 
 study of Greek learning, in which, if thou wouldst advance, 1 can 
 teach it by a short road." 
 
 WJiile Agelastes thus spoke, the Varangian in some degree re- 
 covered his composure, and made answer, though his voice was 
 somewliat tremulous. 
 
 1 At Canterbury. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 8S 
 
 " Who thou art, I know not — what thou wouldst with me, I cannot 
 tell — by what means thou hast g-athered intelligence of such conse- 
 nuence to me, and of so little to another, I have no conception — But 
 tliis I know, that by intention or accident, thou hast pronounced a 
 name which agitates my heart to its deepest recesses ; yet am I a 
 Christian and Varangian, and neither to my God nor to my adopted 
 prince will I willingly stagger in my faith. Wiiat is to be wrought 
 by idols or by false deities, must be a treason to the real divinity. 
 Nor is it less certain that thou hast let glance some arrows, though 
 the rules of thy allegiance strictly forbid it, at the Emperor himself. 
 Henceforward, therefore, I refuse to communicate with thee, be it 
 for weal or woe. I am the Emperor's waged soldier, and although I 
 affect not the nice precisions of respect and obedience, which are ex- 
 acted in so many various cases, and by so many various rules, yet I 
 am his defence, and my battle-axe is his body-g-uard." 
 
 " No one doubts it," said the philosopher. " But art not thou also 
 bound to a nearer dependence upon the great Acolyte, Achilles Ta- 
 tius ? " 
 
 " No. He is my general, according' to the rules of our service," 
 answered the Varangian ; " to me he has always shown himself as a 
 kind and good-natured man, and, his dues of rank apart, I may say 
 has deported himself as a friend rather than a commander. He is, 
 however, my master's servant as well as I am ; nor do I hold the 
 difference of great amount, which the word of a man can give or take 
 away at pleasure." 
 
 "It is nobly spoken," said Agelastes; "and you yourself are surely 
 entitled to stand erect before one whom you supersede in courage 
 and in the art of war. " 
 
 " Pardon me," returned the Briton, " if I decline the attributed 
 compliment, as what in no respect belongs to me. The Emperor 
 chooses his own officers, in respect of their power of serving him as 
 he desires to be served. In this it is likely I might fail ; I have 
 said already, I owe my Emperor my obedience, my duty, and my 
 service, nor does it seem to me necessary to carry our explanation 
 farther." 
 
 " Singular man ! " said Agelastes ; " is there nothing that can move 
 thee but things that are foreign to thyself? The name of thy Em- 
 peror and thy commander are no spell upon thee, and even that of 
 the object thou hast loved " 
 
 Here the Varangian interrupted him. 
 
 '•' I have thought," he said, " upon the words thou hast spoken — 
 thou hast found the means to shake my heart-strings, but not to un- 
 settle my principles. I will hold no converse with thee on a matter 
 hi which thou canst not have interest. — Necromancers, it is said, per- 
 form their spells by means of the epithets of the Holiest ; no marvel, 
 then, should they use the names of the purest of his creation to serve 
 their unhallowed piu'poses. I will none of such truckling, disgrace- 
 ful to the dead perhaps as to the living. Whatever has been thy 
 purpose, old man — for, think not thy strange words have passed un- 
 noticed — be thou assured I bear that in my heart which defies alike 
 the seduction of men and of fiends." 
 
8-1 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 With this tlie soldier turned, and left the ruined temple, after a 
 slight inclination of his head to the philosopher. 
 
 Ag-elastes, after the departure of the soldier, remained alone, ap- 
 parently absorbed in meditation, until he was suddenly disturbed by 
 the entrance, into the ruins, of Achilles Tatius. The leader of the 
 Varani^ians spoke not until he had time to form some result from 
 the pliilosopher's features. He then said, "Thou remainest, sag-e 
 Ag'elastes, confident in the purpose of which we have lately spoken 
 together? " 
 
 " I do," said Agelastes, with gravity and firmness. 
 
 " But," replied Achilles Tatius, " thou hast not gained to our side 
 that proselyte, whose coolness and courage would serve us better 
 in our hour of need than the service of a thousand cold-hearted 
 slaves ? " 
 
 ' I have not succeeded," answered the philosopher. 
 
 "And thou dost not blush to own it?" said the imperial officer in 
 reply. " Thou, the wisest of those who yet pretend to Grecian wis- 
 dom, the most powerful of those who still assert the skill by words, 
 signs, names, periapts, and spells, to exceed the sphere to which thy 
 faculties belong, hast been foiled in thy trade of persuasion, like an 
 infant worsted in debate with its domestic tutor ? Out upon thee, 
 that thou canst not sustain in argument the character which thou 
 wouldst so fain assume to thyself! " 
 
 "Peace!" said the Grecian. "I have as yet gained nothing, it 
 is true, over this obstinate and inflexible man ; but, Achilles Tatius, 
 neither have I lost. We both stand where yesterday we did, with 
 this advantage on ray side, that I have suggested to him such an ob- 
 ject of interest as he shall never be able to expel from his mind, until 
 he hath had recourse to me to obtain farther knowledge concerning 
 it. — And now let this singular person remain for a time unmentioned ; 
 yet, trust me, though flattery, avarice, and ambition may fail to gain 
 him, a bait nevertheless remains, tliat shall make him as completely 
 our own as any that is bound within our mystic and inviolable con- 
 tract. Tell me, then, how go on the affairs of the empire ? Does 
 this\tide of Latin warriors, so strangely set aflowing, still rush on to 
 the banks of the Bosphorus ? and does Alexius still entertain hopes 
 to diminish and divide the strength of numbers, which he could in 
 vain hope to defy ? " 
 
 " Something further of intelhgence has been gained, even within 
 a very few hours," answered Achilles Tatius. "Bohemond came to 
 the city with some six or eight light horse, and in a species of dis- 
 guise. Considering how often he had been the Emperor's enemy, 
 his project was a perilous one. But when is it that these Franks 
 draw back on account of danger? The Emperor perceived at once' 
 that the Count was cotne to see what he might obtain, by presenting 
 himself as the very first object of his liberality, and by oflTering his 
 assistance as mediator with Godfrey of Bouillon and the other princes 
 of the Crusade." 
 
 " It is a species of policy," answered the sage, " for which he would 
 receive full credit from the Emperor." 
 
 Achilles Tatius proceeded : — " Count Bohemond v/as discovered 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 85 
 
 to the imperial court us if it were by mere accident, and he was 
 welcomed with marks of favour and splendour which had never been 
 even mentioned as being- fit for any one of the Frankish race. There 
 was no word of ancient enmity or of former wars, no mention of 
 ^' Bo^emond as the ancient usurper of Antioch, and the encroacher 
 " tipoii the empire. But thanks to Heaven were returned on all sides 
 whi<S^had sent a faithful ally to the imperial assistance at a moment 
 of such imminent peril." 
 
 " And what said Bohemond ? " inquired the philosopher. 
 
 " Little or nothing','' said the captain of the Varangians, " until, as 
 I learned from the domestic slave Narses, a large sum of gold had- 
 been abandoned to him. Considerable districts were afterwards 
 agreed to be ceded to him, and other advantages granted, on condi- 
 tion he should stand on this occasion the steady friend of the empire 
 and its master. Such was the Emperor's munificence towards the 
 greedy barbarian, that a chamber in the palace was, by chance, as it 
 were, left exposed to his view, containing large quantities of manu- 
 factured silks, of jewellers' work, of gold and silver, and other arti- 
 cles of great value. When the rapacious Frank could not forbear 
 some expressions of admiration, he was assured that the contents of 
 the treasure-chamber were his own, provided he valued them as 
 showing forth the warmth and sincerity of his imperial ally towards 
 his friends ; and these precious articles were accordingly conveyed 
 to the tent of the Norman leader. By such measures, the Emperor 
 must make himself master of Bohemond, both body and soul, for the 
 Franks themselves say it is strange to see a man of undaunted 
 bravery, and towering ambition, so infected, nevertheless, with avar- 
 ice, which they term a mean and unnatural vice." 
 
 " Bohemond," said Agelastes, " is then the Emperor's for life and 
 death — always, that is, till the recollection of the royal munificence 
 be effiiced by a greater gratuity. Alexius, proud as he naturally is 
 of his management with this important chieftain, will no doubt ex- 
 pect to prevail by his counsels, on most of the other crusaders, and 
 even on Godfrey of Bouillon himself, to take an oath of submission 
 and fidelity to the Emperor, which, were it not for the sacred nature 
 of their warfare, the meanest gentleman among them would not 
 submit to, were it to be lord of a province. There, then, we rest. A 
 few days must determine what we have to do. An earlier discovery 
 would be destruction." 
 
 " We meet not then to-night?" said the Acolyte. 
 
 " No," replied the sage ; *' unless we are summoned to that fool- 
 ish stage-play or recitation ; and then we meet as playthings in the 
 hand of a silly woman, the spoiled child of a weak-minded parent." 
 
 Tatius then took his leave of the philosopher^ and, as if fearful of 
 bein^ seen in each other's company, they left -their solitary place of 
 meeting by different routes. The Varangian, Hereward, received, 
 shortly after, a summons from his superior, who acquainted him, that 
 he should not, as formerly intimated, require his attendance that 
 evening. 
 
 Achilles then paused, and added, — " Thou hast something on thy lips 
 thou wouldst say to me, which nevertheless hesitates to break forth." 
 
86 
 
 COUXT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " It is only this," answered the soldier ; " I have had an interview 
 with the man called Ag'clastes, and he seems something' so different 
 from what he appeared wlien we last spoke of him, that I cannot for- 
 bear mentioning- to you what I have seen. He is not an insignificant 
 trifler, whose object it is to raise a laugh at his own expense, or that 
 of any other. He is a deep-thinking and far-reaching" man, who, 
 for some reason or other, is desirous of forming friends, and draw- 
 ing a party to- himself Your own wisdom will teach you to beware 
 of him." 
 
 " Thou art an honest fellow, my poor Hereward," said Achilles 
 Tatius, with an affectation of good-natured contempt. " Such men 
 as Agelastes do often frame their severest jests in the shape of for- 
 mal gravity— they will pretend to possess the most unbounded power 
 over elements and elemental spirits — they will make themselves mas- 
 ters of the names and anecdotes best known to those whom they make 
 their sport ; and any one who shall listen to them, shall, in the words 
 of the divine Homer, only expose himself to a flood of inextinguish- 
 able laugliter. I have often known him select one of the rawest and 
 most ignorant persons in presence, and to him, for the amusement of 
 the rest, he has pretended to cause the absent to appear, the distant 
 to draw near, and the dead themselves to burst the cerements of the 
 grave. Take care, Hereward, that his arts make not a stain on the 
 credit of one of my bravest Varangians." 
 
 " There is no danger," answered Hereward, " I shall not be fond 
 of being often with this man. If he jests upon one subject which he 
 hath mentioned to me, I shall be but too likely to teach him serious- 
 ness after a rough manner. And if he is serious in his pretensions 
 in such mystical matters, we should, according to the faith of my 
 grandfather Kenelm, do insult to the deceased, whose name is taken 
 in the mouth of a soothsayer, or impious enchanter. I will not, 
 therefore, again go near this Agelastes, be he wizard, or be he im- 
 postor." 
 
 " You apprehend me not," said the Acolj^te, hastily: " you mistake 
 my meaning. He is a man from whom, if he pleases to converse 
 with such as you, you may derive much knowledge ; keeping out of 
 the reach of those pretended secret arts, which he will only use to 
 turn thee into ridicule." With these words, which he himself would 
 perhaps have felt it difficult to reconcile, the leader and his follower 
 parted. 
 
 Library, J 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF RARLS. 87 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Between tlie foaming jaws of the white torrent, X 
 
 The skilful artist draws a sudden mound ; 
 
 By level long he subdivides their strength, 
 
 Stealing the waters from their rocky bed, 
 
 First to diminish what he means to conquer ; 
 
 Then for the residue he forms a road. 
 
 Easy to heep, and painful to desert. 
 
 And guiding to the end the planner aim'd at. 
 
 Tlve Engineer. 
 
 It would have been easy for Alexius, by a course of avowed sus- 
 picion, or any false step in the manner of receiving- this tumultuary 
 mvasion of the European nations, to have blown into a fianie the 
 numerous but smothered grievances under which they laboured ; and 
 a similar catastrophe would not have been less certain, had he at 
 once abandoned all thoughts of resistance, and placed his hope of 
 safety in surrendering to the multitudes of the Avest v/hatsoever they 
 accounted worth taking. The Emperor chose a middle course ; and, 
 unquestionably, in the weakness of the Greek empire, it M-as the 
 only one which Avould have given him at once safety, and a great 
 degree of consequence, in the eyes of the Frank invaders and those 
 of his own subjects. The means with which he acted Avere of various 
 kinds, and, rather from policy than inclination, were often stained 
 Avith falsehood or meanness; tlierefore it follows that the measures 
 of the Emperor resembled those of the snake, Avho twines himself 
 through the grass, for the purpose of stinging insidiously those 
 Avhom he fears to approach with the step of the bold and generous 
 lion. We are not, however, writing the History of the Crusades, 
 and what Ave have already said of the Emperor's precautions on the 
 first appearance of Godfrey of Bouillon and his associates may suf- 
 fice for the elucidation of our story. 
 
 About four Aveeks had now passed over, marked by quarrels and 
 reconcilements between the crusaders and the Grecians of the em- 
 pire. The former Avere, as Alexius's policy dictated, occasionally 
 and individually received Avith extreme honour, and their leaders 
 loaded Avith respect and favour; while, from time to time, such bodies 
 of them as sought distant or circuitous routes to the capital Avere 
 intercepted and cut to pieces by light-armed troops, who easily passed 
 upon their ignorant opponents* for Turks, Scythians, or other infidels, 
 and sometimes were actually such, but in the service of the Grecian 
 monarch. Often, too, it happened, that Avhile the more powerful 
 chiefs of the crusade Avere feasted by the Emperor and his ministers 
 with the richest delicacies, and their thirst slaked with iced Avines. 
 their followers Avere left at a distance, Avhere, intentionally supplied 
 Avith adulterated flour, tainted provisions, and bad water, they con- 
 tracted diseases, and died in great numbers, Avithout having oncc 
 seen a foot of the Holy Land, for the recovery of Avhich they ha- 
 abandoned their peace, their competence, and their native country 
 
8d COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 These ag'gTessions did not pass without complaint. Many of the 
 crusading- chiefs impug-ned tlie fidelity of their allies, exposed the 
 losses sustained by their armies as evils voluntarily inflicted on them 
 by the Greeks, and on more than one occasion the two nations stood 
 opposed to each other on such terms that a g'eneral war seemed to 
 be inevitable. 
 
 Alexius, however, though oblig-ed to have recourse to every finesse, 
 still kept his gTound, and made peace with the most poM'crful chiefs, 
 under one pretence or other. The actual losses of the crusaders by 
 the sword he imputed to their own ag-gressions— their misguidance, 
 to accident and to wilfulness— the effects produced on them by the 
 adulterated provisions, to the vehemence of their own appetite for 
 raw fruits and unripened wines. In short, there was no disaster of 
 any kind whatsoever which could possibly befall the unhappy pilg'rims 
 but the Emperor stood prepared to prove that it was the natural 
 consequence of their own violence, wilfulness of conduct, or hostile 
 precipitancy. 
 
 The chiefs, who were not ig'norant of their streng'th, would not, it 
 was likely, have tamely suffered injuries from a power so inferior to 
 their own, v^ere it not that they had formed extravagant ideas of the 
 wealth of the Eastern empire, which Alexius seemed willing' to share 
 •with them with an excess of bounty as new to the leaders as the rich 
 productions of the East Avere tempting to their followers. 
 
 The French nobles v/ould perhaps have been the most difficult to 
 be brought into order when differences arose, but an accident, which 
 the Emperor might have termed providential, reduced the high- 
 spirited Count of Vermandois to the situation of a suppliant, when 
 he expected to hold that of a dictator. A fierce tempest surprised 
 his fleet after he set sail from Italy, and he was finally driven on tlie 
 coast of Greece. Many ships were destroyed, and those troops who 
 got ashore were so much distressed that they were obliged to sur- 
 render themselves to the lieutenants of Alexius. So that the Count 
 of Vermandois, so haughty in his bearing v/hen he first embarked, 
 was sent to the court of Constantinople, not as a prince, but as a 
 prisoner. In this case, the Emperor instantly set the soldiers at 
 liberty, and loaded them with presents.^ 
 
 Grateful, therefore, for attentions in which Alexius was unremit- 
 ting, Count Hugh was, by gratitude as well as interest, inclined to 
 join the opinion of those who, for other reasons, desired the subsist- 
 ence of peace betwixt the crusaders and the empire of Greece. A 
 better principle determined the celebrated Godfrey, Raymond of 
 Thoulouse, and some others, in whom devotion was something more 
 than a mere burst of fanaticism. These princes considered with 
 what scandal their whole journey must be stained, if the first of their 
 exploits should be a war upon the Grecian empire, which might 
 justly be called the barrier of Christendom. If it was weak, and at 
 the same time rich— if at the same time it invited rapine, and was 
 unable to protect itself against it — it was the more their interest and 
 duty, as Christian soldiers, to protect a Christian state, whose exist- 
 
 1 See Mill's Hldory of the Cri'mdcs, vol. i. \\ ^Q. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 89 
 
 ence was of so ranch consequence to the common cause, even when 
 it could not defend itself. It was the wish of these frank-hearted 
 men to receive the Emperor's professions of friendship with such 
 sincere returns of amity — to return his kindness with so much usury, 
 as to convince him that tlieir purpose towards him was in every 
 respect fair and honourable, and that it would he his interest to 
 abstain from every injurious treatment which might induce or com- 
 pel them to alter their measures towards him. 
 
 It was with this accommodating" spirit towards Alexius, which, for 
 many different and complicated reasons, had now animated most of 
 the crusaders, that the chiefs consented to a measure which, in other 
 circumstances, they would probably have refused, as undue to the 
 Greeks, and dishonourable to themselves. This was the famous 
 resolution, that, before crossing- the Bosphorous to g-o in quest of 
 that Palestine which they had vowed to regain, each chief of crusa- 
 ders would acknowledge individually the Grecian Emperor, orig-i- 
 nally lord paramount of all these regions, as their liege lord and 
 suzerain. 
 
 The Emperor Alexius, with trembling- joy, beheld the crusaders 
 approach a conclusion to which he had hoped to bribe them rather 
 by interested means than by reasoning-, although much might be said 
 wliy provinces reconquered from the Turks or Saracens should, if 
 recovered from the infidel, become ag'ain a part of the Grecian em- 
 pire, from which they had been rent without any pretence, save that 
 of violence. 
 
 Though fearful, and almost despairing- of being' able to manag-e 
 the rude and discordant army of haughty chiefs, who were wholly 
 independent of each other, Alexius failed not, with eagerness and 
 dexterity, to seize upon the admission of Godfrey and his compeers, 
 that the Emperor was entitled to the allegiance of all who should 
 war on Palestine, and natural lord paramount of all the conquests 
 which should be made in the course of the expedition. He was 
 resolved to make this ceremony so public, and to interest m^n's 
 minds in it by such a display of the imperial pomp and munificence, 
 that it should not either pass unknown, or be readily forgotten. 
 
 An extensive terrace, one of the numerous spaces which extend 
 along the coast of the Propontis, was chosen for the site of the mag- 
 nificent ceremon}'. Here was placed an elevated and august throne, 
 calculated for the use of the Emperor alone. On this occasion, by 
 suffering no other seats within view of the pageant, the Greeks 
 endeavoured to secure a point of ceremony peculiarly dear to their 
 vanity, namely, that none of that presence, save the Emperor him- 
 self, should be seated. Around the throne of Alexius Comnenus 
 were placed in order, but standing, the various dignitaries of his 
 splendid court, in their different ranks, from the Protosebastos and 
 the Cjiesar, to the Patriarcji, splendid in his ecclesiastical robes, and 
 to Agelastes, who, in his simple habit, gave also the necessary attend- 
 ance. Behind and around the splendid display of the Emperor's 
 court, were drawn many dark circles of the exiled Anglo-Saxons. 
 These, by their own desire, were not, on that memorable day, ac- 
 coutred in the silver corslets which were the fashion of an idle court. 
 
90 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 but sheathed in mail and plate. They desired, they said, to be 
 known as warriors to warriors. This was the more readily granted, 
 as there was no knowing- what trifle might infring*e a truce between 
 parties so inflammable as were now assembled. 
 
 Beyond the Varangians, in much greater numbers, were drawn up 
 the bands of Grecians, or Romans, then known by the title of Im- 
 mortals, which had been borrowed by the Romans originally from 
 the empire of Persia. The stately form, lofty crests, and splendid 
 apparel of these guards, would have given the foreign princes pre- 
 sent a higher idea of their military prowess, had there not occurred 
 in their ranks a frequent indication of loquacity and of motion, form- 
 ing a strong contrast to the steady composure and deathlike silence 
 with which the well-trained Varangians stood in the parade, like 
 statues made of iron. 
 
 The reader must then conceive this throne in all the pomp of Ori- 
 ental greatness, surrounded by the foreign and Roman troops of the 
 empire, and closed on the rear by clouds of light-horse, who shifted 
 their places repeatedly, so as to convey an idea of their multitude, 
 without afibrding the exact means of estimating it. Through the 
 dust Vv'liich they raised by these evolutions, might be seen banners 
 and standards, among which could be discovered by glances, the 
 celebrated Labarum,^ the pledge of conquest to the imperial ban- 
 ners, but whose sacred efficacy had somewhat failed of late days. 
 The rude soldiers of the West, who viewed the Grecian army, main- 
 tained that the standards which were exhibited in front of their line, 
 were at least sufficient for the array of ten times the number of sol- 
 diers. 
 
 Far on the right, the appearance of a very large body of European 
 cavalry drawn up on the sea-shore, intimated the presence of the 
 crusaders. So great was the desire to follow the example of the 
 chief Princes, Dukes, and Counts, in making the proposed fealty, 
 that the number of independent knights and nobles, who were to 
 perform this service, seemed very great when collected together 
 for that purpose ; for every crusader who possessed a tower, and led 
 six lances, would have thought himself abridged of his dignity if he 
 had not been called to acknowledge the Grecian Emperor, and hold 
 the lands he should conquer of his throne, as well as Godfrey of 
 Bouillon, or Hugh the Great, Count of Vermandois. And yet, with 
 strange inconsistency, though they pressed to fulfil the homage as that 
 which was paid by greater persons than themselves, they seemed, at 
 the very same time, desirous to find some mode of intimating that 
 the homage which they rendered they felt as an idle degradation, 
 and in fact held the whole show as a mere piece of mockery. 
 
 The order of the procession had been thus settled : — The Cru- 
 saders, or, as the Grecians called them, the Cou7its,—tha,t being the 
 most common title among them, — were to advance from the left of 
 their body, and passing the Emperor one by one, were apprised that, 
 in passing, each was to render to him, in as few v^ords as possible, 
 the homage which had been previously agreed on. Godfrey of 
 
 1 See Note E. Laharnm. 
 
COinS'T ROBERT OF PARIS. 91 
 
 Bouillon, his brother Baldwin, Bohemond of Antioch, and several 
 other crusaders of eminence, were the first to perform the ceremony, 
 alig-hting- when their own part was performed, and remaining- in at- 
 tendance by the Emperor's chair, to prevent, by the awe of their 
 presence, any of their numerous associates from being- guilty of 
 petulance or presumption during the solemnity. Other crusaders 
 of less degree retained their station near the Emperor, when they 
 had once gained it, out of mere curiosity, or to show that they were 
 as much at liberty to do so as the greater commanders who assumed 
 that privilege. 
 
 Thus two great bodies of troops, Grecian and European, paused 
 at some distance from each other on the banks of the Bosphorus 
 canal, differing in language, arms, and appearance. The small 
 troops of horse which from time to time issued forth from these 
 bodies, resembled the flashes of lightning passing from one thunder- 
 cloud to another, which communicate to each other by such emis- 
 saries their overcharged contents. After some halt on the margin 
 of the Bosphorus, the Franks who had performed homage, straggled 
 irregularly forward to a quay on the shore, where innumerable 
 galleys and smaller vessels, provided for the purpose, lay with sails 
 and oars prepared to waft the warlike pilgrims across the passage, 
 and place them on that Asia which they longed so passionately to 
 visit, and from which but few of them were likely to return. The 
 gay appearance of the vessels which were to receive them, the readi- 
 ness with which they were supplied with refreshments, the narrow- 
 ness of the strait they had to cross, the near approach of that 
 active service which they had vowed and longed to discharge, put 
 the warriors intog'ay spirits, and songs and music bore chorus to the 
 departing oars. 
 
 While such was the temper of the crusaders, the Grecian Emperor 
 did his best through the w^hole ceremonial to impress on the armed 
 multitude the highest ideas of his own grandeur, and the importance 
 of the occasion which had brought them together. This was readily 
 admitted by the higher chiefs ; some because their vanity had been 
 propitiated, — some because their avarice had been gratified,— some 
 because their ambition had been inflamed,— and a few, a very few, 
 because to remain friends with Alexius was the most probable means 
 of advancing the purposes of their expedition. Accordingly the 
 great lords, from these various motives, practised a humility which 
 perhaps they were far from feeling', and carefully abstained from all 
 which might seem like irreverence at the solemn festival of the 
 Grecians. But there were very many of a difterent temper. 
 
 Of the great number of counts, lords, and knights, under whose 
 variety of banners the crusaders were led to the w^alls of Constan- 
 tinople, many were too insignificant to be bribed to this distasteful 
 measure of homage ; and these, though they felt it dangerous to op- 
 pose resistance, yet mixed their submission with taunts, ridicule, and 
 such contraventions of decorum, as plainly intimated that they enter- 
 tained resentment and scorn at the step they were about to take, and 
 esteemed it a3 proclaiming themselves vassals to a prince, heretic in 
 I his faith, limited in the exercise of his boasted power, their enemy 
 
-92 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 when he dared show himself such, and the friend of those only 
 among their number, who were able to compel him to be so ; and 
 who, though to them an obsequious ally, was to the others, when 
 occasion offered, an insidious and murderous enemy. 
 
 The nobles of Frankish origin and descent were chiefly remark- 
 able for their presumptuous contempt of every other nation engaged 
 in the crusade, as well as for their dauntless bravery, and for the scorn 
 with which they regarded the power and authority of the Greek 
 empire. It was a common saying among them, that if the skies 
 should fall, the French crusaders alone were able to hold them up 
 with their lances. The same bold and arrogant disposition showed 
 itself in occasional quarrels with their unwilling hosts, in which the 
 Greeks, notwithstanding all their art, were often worsted ; so that 
 Alexius was determined, at all events, to get rid of these intractable 
 and fiery allies, by ferrying them over the Bosphorus with all manner 
 of diligence. To do this with safety, he availed himself of the pre- 
 sence of the Count of Vermandois, Godfrey of Bouillon, and other 
 €hiefs of great influence, to keep in order the lesser Frankish knights, 
 who were so numerous and unruly.^ 
 
 Struggling with his feelings of offended pride, tempered by a pru- 
 dent degree of apprehension, the Emperor endeavoured to receive 
 with complacence a homage tendered in mockery. An incident 
 shortly took place of a character highly descriptive of the nations 
 Itrought together in so extraordinary a manner, and with such dif- 
 ferent feelings and sentiments. Several bands of French had passed, 
 in a sort of procession, the throne of the Emperor, and rendered, 
 with some appearance of gravity, the usual homage. On this occa- 
 sion they bent their knees to Alexius, placed their hands within his, 
 and in that posture paid the ceremonies of feudal fealty. But when 
 it came to the turn of Bohemond of Antioch, already mentioned, to 
 render this fealty, the Emperor, desirous to show every species of 
 honour to this Avily person, his former enemy, and now apparently 
 his ally, advanced two or three paces towards the sea-side, where the 
 boats lay as if in readiness for his use. 
 
 The distance to which the Emperor moved was very small, and it 
 was assumed as a piece of deference to Bohemond; hut it became 
 the means of exposing Alexius himself to a cutting affront, which 
 his guards and subjects felt deeply as an intentional humiliation. 
 A half score of horsemen, attendants of the Frankish Count who was 
 next to perform the liomage, with their lord at their head, set off at 
 full gallop from the right flank of the French squadrons, and, ar- 
 riving before the throne, which was yet empty, they at once halted. 
 The rider at the head of the band was a strong herculean figure, 
 with a decided and stern countenance, though extremely handsome, 
 looking out from thick black curls. His head was surmounted with 
 a barret cap, while his hands, limbs, and feet were covered with gar- 
 ments of chamois leather, over which he in general wore the pon- 
 derous and complete armour of his country. This, however, he had 
 laid aside for personal convenience, though in doing so he evinced a 
 
 1 See Mills, vol. i., chrvp. 3. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF rAlU.-J. 93. 
 
 total neg-lect of the ceremonial wliicli marked so important a meeting-. 
 He waited not a moment for the Emperor's return, nor regarded the 
 impropriety of obliging- Alexius to hurry his steps back to his tin-one, 
 but sprung from his gigantic horse, and threw the reins loose, wliicli 
 were instantly seized by one of the attendant pages. Without a 
 moment's hesitation the Frank seated himself in the vacant throne 
 of the Emperor, and, extending his half-armed and robust figure on 
 the golden cushions which v/ere destined for Alexius, he indolently 
 began to caress a large wolf-hound which had followed him, and 
 which, feeling itself as much at ease as its master, reposed its grim 
 form on the carpets of silk and gold damask, which tapestried the 
 imperial footstool. The very hound stretched itself with a bold, 
 ferocious insolence, and seemed to regard no one with respect save 
 the stern knight whom it called master. 
 
 The Emperor, turning back from the short space which, as a 
 special mark of favour, he had accompanied Bohemond, beheld with 
 astonishment his seat occupied by this insolent Frank. The bands 
 of the half-savage Varangians who were stationed around would not 
 have hesitated an instant in avenging the insult, by prostrating the 
 violator of their master's throne even in this act of his contempt, 
 had they not been restrained by Achilles Tatius and other officers, 
 who were uncertain what the Emperor would do, and somewhat 
 timorous of taking a resolution for themselves. 
 
 Meanwhile the unceremonious knight spoke aloud, in a speech 
 which, though provincial, might be understood by all to whom the 
 French language was known, while even those who understood it 
 not, gathered its interpretation from his tone and manner. " "What 
 churl is this," he said, " who has remained sitting stationary, like a 
 
 |. block of wood or the fragment of a rock, when so many noble 
 knights, the flower of chivalry and muster of gallantry, stand un- 
 covered around, among the thrice-conquered Varangians ? " 
 
 A deep, clear accent replied, as if from the bottom of the earth, 
 so like it was to the accents of some being from the other world, — 
 
 I "If the Normans desire battle of the Varangians, they will meet 
 them in the lists man to man, without the poor boast of insulting 
 the Emperor of Greece, who is well known to fight only by the 
 battle-axes of his guard." 
 
 The astonishment vras so great when this answer was heard as to 
 affect even the knight, whose insult upon the Emperor had occa- 
 sioned it; and amid the efforts of Achilles to retain his soldiers 
 within the bounds of subordination and silence, a loud murmur 
 seemed to intimate that they would not long remain so. Bohemond 
 returned through the press with a celerity which did not so well suit 
 the dignity of Alexius, and, catching the crusader by the arm, he, 
 something between fair means and a gentle degree of force, obliged 
 him to leave the chair of the Emperor, in which he had placed him- 
 self so boldly. 
 
 "How is it," said Bohemond, ''noble Count of Paris? Is there 
 one of this great assembly who can see with patience that your 
 
 ! name, so widely renowned for valour, is nov/ to be quoted in an idle 
 
 1 brawl with hirelings, whose utmost boast it is to bear a mercenary 
 
94 COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 
 
 battle-axe in the ranks of the Emperor's guards? For shame — for 
 shame — do not, for the discredit of Norman chivalry, let it be so ! " 
 
 "I know not," said the crusader, rising- reluctantly — "I am not 
 nice in choosing" the degree of my adversary, when he bears himself 
 like one who is willing and forward in battle. I am good-natured, 
 I tell thee, Count Boheraond; and Turk or Tartar, or wandering 
 Anglo-Saxon, who only escapes from the chain of the Normans to 
 become the slave of the Greek, is equally welcome to wliet his blade 
 clean against my armour, if he desires to achieve such an honourable 
 office." 
 
 The Emperor had heard what passed — had heard it with indigna- 
 tion, mixed with fear ; for he imagined the whole scheme of his policy 
 was about to be overturned at once by a premeditated plan of per- 
 sonal affront, and probably an assault upon his person. He was 
 about to call to arms, when, casting his e3'es on the right flank of 
 the crusaders, he saw that all remained quiet after the Frank Baron 
 had transferred himself from thence. He therefore instantly re- 
 solved to let the insult pass, as one of the rough pleasantries of the 
 Franks, since the advance of more troops did not give any symptom 
 of an actual onset. 
 
 Resolving on his line of conduct with the quickness of thought, 
 he glided back to his canopy, and stood beside his throne, of which, 
 however, he chose not instantly to take possession, lest he should 
 give the insolent stranger some ground for renewing and persisting 
 in a competition for it. 
 
 '•' What bold Vavasour is this," said he to Count Baldwin, " whom, 
 as is apparent from his dignity, I ought to have received seated 
 upon my throne, and who thinks proper thus to vindicate his rank ? " 
 
 " He is reckoned one of the bravest men in our host," answered 
 Baldwin, "though the brave are as numerous there as the sands of 
 the sea. He will himself tell you his name and rank." 
 
 Alexius looked at the Vavasour. He saw nothing in his large, 
 well-formed features, lighted by a wild touch of enthusiasm which 
 spoke in his quick eye, that intimated premeditated insult, and was 
 induced to suppose that what had occurred, so contrary to the form 
 and ceremonial of the Grecian court, was neither an intentional 
 afi'ront, nor designed as the means of introducing a quarrel. He 
 therefore spoke with comparative ease, when he addressed the 
 stranger thus:— "We know not by what dignified name to salute 
 you ; but we are aware, from Count Baldwin's information, that we 
 are honoured in having in our presence one of the bravest knights 
 whom a sense of the wrongs done to the Holy Land has brought 
 thus far on his way to Palestine, to free it from its bondage." 
 
 " If you mean to ask my name," answered the European knight, 
 " any one of these pilgrims can readily satisfy you, and more grace- 
 fully than I can myself; since we use to say in our country that 
 many a fierce quo,rrel is prevented from being fought out by an un- 
 timely disclosure of names, when men, who might have fought with 
 the fear of God before their eyes, must, when theh* names are mani- 
 fested, recognise each other as spiritual allies, by baptism, gossipred, 
 or some such irresistible bond of friendship ; whereas, had they 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 96 
 
 foiig'ht first and told their names afterwards, tliey could have Jiad 
 some assurance of each other's valour, and have been able to view 
 their friendship as an honour to both." 
 
 " Still," said the Emperor, " methinks I would know if you, who, 
 in this extraordinary press of knig-hts, seem to assert a precedence 
 to yourself, claim the dignity due to a king- or prince ? " 
 
 " Plow speak you that ? " said the Frank, Avith a brow somewhat 
 overclouded ; " do you feel that I have not left you unjostled by my 
 advance to these squadrons of yours ? " 
 
 Alexius hastened to answer that he felt no particular desire to 
 connect the Count with an affront or offence ; observing that, in the 
 extreme necessity of the Empii'e, it was no time for him, who was at 
 the helm, to engage in idle or unnecessary quarrels." 
 
 The Frankisli knight heard him, and answered drily — " Since 
 such are your sentiments, 1 wonder that you have ever resided long- 
 enough within the hearing of the French lang-uag-e to learn to speak 
 it as you do. I would have thought some of the sentiments of the 
 chivalry of the nation, since you are neither a monk nor a woman, 
 would, at the same time with the words of the dialect, have found 
 their way into your heart." 
 
 " Hush, Sir Count," said Bohemond, who remained by the Em- 
 peror to avert the threatening- quarrel. " It is surely requisite to 
 answer the Emperor with civility ; and those who are impatient for 
 warfare will have infidels enoug-h to wag-e it with. He only de- 
 manded your name and lineag-e, which you of all men can have least 
 objection to disclose." 
 
 '-'I know not if it will interest this prince, or Emperor as you 
 term him," answered the Frank Count; " but all the account I can 
 give of myself is this : — In the midst of one of the vast forests which 
 occupy the centre of France, my native country, there stands a 
 chapel, sunk so low into the ground, that it seems as if it were be- 
 come decrepid by its own great age. The image of the Holy Vir- 
 gin who presides over its altar is called by all men our Lady of the 
 Broken Lances, and is accounted through the whole kingdom the 
 most celebrated for military adventures. Four beaten roads, each 
 leading from an opposite point in the compass, meet before the 
 principal door of the chapel ; and ever and anon, as a good knight 
 arrives at this place, he passes in to the performance of his devotions 
 in the chapel, having first sounded his horn three times, till ash and 
 oak tree quiver and ring. Having then kneeled down to his devo- 
 tions, he seldom arises from the mass of Her of the Broken Lances, 
 but there is attending on his leisure some adventurous knight 
 ready to satisfy the new-comer's desire of battle. This station 
 have I held for a month and more against all comers, and all gave 
 me fair thanks for the knightly manner of quitting myself towards 
 them, except one who had the evil hap to fall from his horse and 
 did break his neck ; and another who was struck through the body, 
 so that the lance came out behind his back about a cloth-yard, all 
 dripping with blood. Allowing for such accidents, which cannot 
 easily be avoided, my opponents parted with me with fair acknow- 
 ledgment of the grace I had done them." 
 
06 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " I conceive, Sir Knight," said the Emperor, " that a forra like 
 youra, animated by the coiirag-e you display, is hkely to find few 
 equals even among your adventurous countrymen ; far less among 
 men who are taught that to cast away their lives in a senseless quar- 
 rel among themselves, is to throw away, like a boy, the gift of Pro- 
 vidence." 
 
 " You are welcome to your opinion," said the Frank, somewhat 
 contemptuously ; " yet I assure you, if you doubt that our gallant 
 strife was unmixed with sullenness and anger, and that we hunt not 
 the hart or the boar with merrier hearts in the evening, than we 
 discharge our task of chivalry by the morn had arisen, before the 
 portal of the old chapel, you do us foul injustice." 
 
 " With the Turks you will not enjoy this amiable exchange of 
 courtesies," answered Alexius. "Wherefore I would advise you 
 neither to stray far into the van nor into the rear, but to abide by 
 the standard where the best infidels make their efforts, and the best 
 knights are required to repel them." 
 
 " By our Lady of the Broken Lances," said the Crusader, " 1 
 would not that the Turks were more courteous than they are Chris- 
 tian^ and am well pleased that unbeliever and heathen hound are a 
 proper description for the best of them, as being traitor alike to 
 their God and to the laws of chivalry ; and devoutly do I trust that 
 I shall meet with them in the front rank of our army, beside our 
 standard, or elsewhere, and have an open field to do my devoir 
 against them, both as the enemies of Our Lady and the holy saints, 
 and as, by their evil customs, more expressly my own. Me^anwhile 
 you have time to seat yourself and receive my homage, and I will be 
 bound to you for despatching this foolish ceremony with as little 
 waste and delay of time as the occasion will permit." 
 
 The Emperor hastily seated himself, and received into his the 
 sinewy hands of the Crusader, who made the acknowledgment of 
 his homage, and was then guided off by Count Baldwin, who walked 
 with the stranger to the ships, and then, apparently well pleased at 
 seeing him in the course of going on board, returned back to the 
 side of the Emperor. 
 
 " What is the name," said the Emperor, " of that singular and 
 assuming man ? " 
 
 " It is Robert, Count of Paris," answered Baldwin, " accounted 
 one of the bravest peers Avho stand around the throne of France." 
 
 After a moment's recollection, Alexius Comnenus issued orders 
 that the ceremonial of the day should be discontinued, afraid, per- 
 haps, lest the rough and careless humour of the strangers should 
 Eroduce some new quarrel. The crusaders were led, nothing lotl), 
 ack to palaces in which they had already been hospitably received, 
 and readily resumed the interrupted feast, from which they had been 
 called to pay their homage. The trumpets of the various leaders 
 blew the recall of the few troops of an ordinary character Avho were 
 attendant, together with the host of knights and leaders, who, pleased 
 with the indulgences provided for them, and obscurely foreseeing 
 that the passage of the Bosphorus would be the commencement of 
 their actual suffering, rejoiced in being called to the hither side. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 97 
 
 It was not probably intended ; but the hero, as he might be styled, 
 of the tumultuous day, Count Robert of Paris, who was already on 
 his road to embarkation on the strait, was disturbed in his purpose 
 by the sound of recall Avhich was echoed around; nor could Bohe- 
 mond, Godfrey, or any who took upon him to explain the signal, 
 alter his resolution of returning" to Constantinople. He laughed to 
 scorn the threatened displeasure of the Emperor, and seemed to 
 think there would be a peculiar pleasure in braving Alexius at his 
 own board, or, at least, that nothing could be more indifferent than 
 whether he gave offence or not. 
 
 _To Godfrey of Bouillon, to whom he showed some respect, he was 
 still far from paying deference ; and that sagacious prince, having 
 used every argument which might shake his purpose of returning to 
 the imperial city, to the very point of making it a quarrel with him 
 in person, at length abandoned him to his own discretion, and pointed 
 him out to the Count of Thoulouse, as he passed, as a wild knight- 
 errant, incapable of being influenced by anything save his own way- 
 ward^ fancy. " He brings not five hundred men to the crusade," said 
 Godfrey ; " and I dare be sworn that even in this, the very outset of 
 the undertaking, he knows not where these five hundred men are, 
 and how their wants are provided for. There is an eternal trumpet 
 in^ his ear sounding to assault, nor has he room or time to hear a 
 milder or more rational signal. See how he strolls along yonder, 
 the very emblem of an idle schoolboy, broke out of the school- 
 bounds upon a holiday, half animated by curiosity and half by love 
 of mischief." 
 
 " And," said Raymond, Count of Thoulouse, "with resolution suffi- 
 cient to support the desperate purpose of the whole army of devoted 
 Crusaders. And yet so passionate a Rodomont is Count Robert, that 
 he would rather risk the success of the whole expedition, than omit 
 an opportunity of meeting a worthy antagonist en cliam'p-clos, or 
 lose, as he terms it, a chance of v/orshipping our Lady of the 
 Broken Lances. Who are yon with whom he has now met, and 
 who are apparently walking', or rather strolling, in the same way 
 with him, back to Constantinople?" 
 
 "An armed knight, brilliantly equipped— yet of something less 
 than knightly stature,"' answered Godfrey. "It is, I suppose, the 
 celebrated lady who won Robert's heart in the lists of battle, by 
 bravery and valour equal to his own ; and the pilgrim form in the 
 long vestments may be their daughter or niece." 
 
 "A singular spectacle, worthy knight," said the Count of Thou- 
 louse, " do our days present to us, to which we have had nothing 
 similar, since Gaita,^ wife of Robert Guiscard, first took upon her 
 to distinguish herself by manly deeds of emprise, and rival her 
 husband, as v>'ell in the front of battle as at the dancing-rooni or 
 "banquet." 
 
 " Such is the custom of this pair, most noble knight," answered 
 another Crusader, who had joined them, " and Heaven pity the poor 
 man who has no power to keep domestic peace by an appeal to the 
 {Stronger hand! " 
 
 1 See Note F, GoAta. 
 
 H 
 
98 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " Well ! " replied Raymond, "if it be rather a mortifying" reflection 
 that the lady of our love is far past the bloom of youth, it is a conso- 
 lation that she is too old-fashioned to beat us, when we return back 
 with no more of youth or manhood than a long crusade has left. But 
 come, follow on the road to Constantinople, and in the rear of this 
 most doughty knight." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Thoee were wild times — the antipodes of ours 5 
 
 Ladies were there, who oftener saw themselves 
 
 In the broad lustre of a foeman's shield 
 
 Than in a mirror, and who rather sought 
 
 To match themselves in battle, than in dalliance 
 
 To meet a lover's onset. — But though Nature 
 
 Was outraged thus, she was not overcome. 
 
 Feudal Times. 
 
 Brenhilda, Countess of Paris, was one of those stalwart dames 
 who willingly hazarded themselves in the front of battle, which, dur- 
 ing the first crusade, was as common as it was possible for a very- 
 unnatural custom to be, and, in fact, gave the real instances of the 
 Marphisas and Bradamantes, whom the writers of romance delighted 
 to paint, assigning them sometimes the advantage of invulnerable 
 armour, or a spear whose thrust did not admit of being resisted, in 
 order to soften the improbability of the weaker sex being frequently 
 victorious over the male part of the creation. 
 
 But the spell of Brenhilda was of a more simple nature, and rested 
 chiefly in her great beauty. 
 
 From a girl, she despised the pursuits of her sex ; and they who. 
 ventured to become suitors for the hand of the young Lady of Aspra 
 monte, to which warlike fief she had succeeded, and which perhaps 
 encouraged her in her fancy, received for answer, that they must 
 first merit it by their good behaviour in the lists. The father ol 
 Brenhilda was dead ; her mother was of a gentle temper, and easily 
 kept under management by the young lady herself. 
 
 Brenhilda's numerous suitors readily agreed to terms which were 
 too much according to the manners of the age to be disputed. A 
 tournament was held at the Castle of Aspramonte, in which one half 
 of the gallant assembly rolled headlong before their successful rivals, 
 and withdrew from the lists mortified and disappointed. The success' 
 ful party among the suitors were expected to be summoned to joust 
 among themselves. But they were surprised at being made ac- 
 quainted with the lady's further will. She aspired to wear armour 
 herself, to wield a lance, and back a steed, and prayed the knights 
 that they would permit a lady, whom they professed to honour so 
 highly, to mingle in their games of chivalry. The young knights 
 courteously received their young mistress in the lists, and smiled at 
 the idea of her holding them triumphantly against so many gallant 
 champions of the other sex. But the vassals and old servants of the 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF TARLS. 99 
 
 Count, her father, smiled to each other, and intimated a different 
 result than the gallants anticipated. The knights who encomitered 
 the fair Brenhilda were one by one stretched on the sand ; nor was 
 it to be denied, that the situation of tilting- with one of the hand- 
 s-omest women of the time, was an extremely embarrassing one. 
 Each youth was bent to withhold his charge in full volley, to cause 
 his steed to swerve at the full shock, or in some other way to flinch 
 |- from doing the utmost which was necessary to gain the victory, lest, 
 in so gaining it, he might cause irreparable injury to the beautiful 
 opponent he tilted with. But the Lady of Aspramoute was not one 
 who could be conquered by less than the exertion of the whole 
 strength and talents of the victor. The defeated suitors departed 
 from the lists the more mortified at their discomfiture, because 
 Robert of Paris arrived at sunset, and, understanding what was 
 going forward, sent his name to the barriers, as that of a knight 
 who would willingly forego the reward of the tournament, in case he 
 had the fortune to gain it, declaring, that neither lands nor ladies' 
 charms were what he came thither to seek. Brenhilda, piqued and 
 mortified, chose a new lance, mounted her best steed, and advanced 
 into the lists as one determined to avenge upon the new assailant's 
 brow the slight of her charms which he seemed to express. But 
 whether her displeasure had somewhat interfered with her usual 
 skill, or whether she had, like others of her sex, felt a partiality 
 towards one whose heart was not particularly set upon gaining hers 
 — or whether, as is often said on such occasions, her fated hour was 
 come, so it w^as that Count Robert tilted with his usual address and 
 good fortune. Brenhilda of Aspramonte was unhorsed and un- 
 helmed, and stretched on the earth, and the beautiful face, which 
 faded from very red to deadly pale before the eyes of the victor, pro- 
 duced its natural effect in raising the value of his conquest. He 
 would, in conformity witli his resolution, have left the castle, after 
 having mortified the vanity of the lady ; but her mother opportunely 
 interposed ; and when she had satisfied herself that no serious in- 
 jury had been sustained by the young heiress, she returned her 
 thanks to the stranger knight who had taught her daughter a 
 lesson, wdiich, she trusted, she would not easily forget. Thus 
 tempted to do what he secretly wished, Count Robert gave ear to 
 those sentiments, which naturally whispered to him to be in no hurry 
 to withdraw. 
 
 He was of the blood of Charlemagne, and, what was still of more 
 consequence in the young lady's eyes, one of the most renowned of 
 Norman knights in that jousting day. After a residence of ten days 
 in the castle of Aspramonte, the bride and bridegroom set out, for 
 such was Count Robert's will, with a competent train, to our Lady of 
 the Broken Lances, where it pleased him to be wedded . Two knights, 
 who were waiting to do battle, as was the custom of the place, were 
 rather disappointed at the nature of the cavalcade, which seemed to 
 interrupt their purpose. But greatly were they surprised when they 
 received a cartel from the betrothed couple, offering to substitute 
 their own persons in the room of other antagonists, and congratulat- 
 ing themselves in commencing their married life in a manner so eon- 
 
100 COUiNT ROBEllT OF PARIS. 
 
 sistenfc with that which they head hitherto led. They were victorioua 
 as usual ; and the only persons having- occasion to rue the complais- 
 ance of the Count and his bride, were the two strangers, one of 
 whom broke an arm in the rencontre, and the other dislocated a col- 
 lar-bone. 
 
 Count Robert's course of knight-errantry did not seem to be in 
 the least intermitted by his marriage ; on the contrary, when he was 
 called upon to support his renown, his wife was often known also in 
 military exploits, nor was she inferior to him in thirst after fame. 
 They both assumed the cross at the same time, that being then the 
 predominating folly in Europe. 
 
 The Countess Brenhilda was now above six-and-twenty years old, 
 with as much beauty as can well fall to the share of an Amazon. A 
 figure, of the largest feminine size, was surmounted by a noble coun- 
 tenance, to which even repeated v/arlike toils had not given more 
 than a sunny hue, relieved by the dazzling whiteness of such parts of 
 her face as were not usually displayed. 
 
 As Alexius gave orders that his retinue should return to Constan- 
 tinople, he spoke in private to the Follower, Achilles Tatius. Tlie 
 Satrap answered with a submissive bend of the head, and separated 
 ■with a few attendants from the main body of the Emperor's train. 
 The principal road to the city was, of course, iilled with the troops, 
 and with the numerous crow^ds of spectators, all of whom were incon- 
 venienced in some degree by the dust and heat of the weather. 
 
 Count Robert of Paris had embarked his horses on board of ship, 
 and all his retinue, except an old squire or valet of his own, and an 
 attendant of his wife. He felt himself more incommoded in this 
 crowd than he desired, especially as his wife shared it with him, and 
 began to look among the scattered trees which fringed the shores, 
 down almost to the tide-mark, to see if he could discern any bypath 
 which might carry them more circuitously, but more pleasantly, to 
 the city, and afford them at the same time, what was their principal 
 object in the East, strange sights, or adventures of chivalry. A broad 
 and beaten path seemed to promise them all the enjoyment which 
 shade could give in a w\arm climate. The ground through which it 
 wound its way was beautifully broken by the appearance of temples, 
 churches, and kiosks, and here and there a fountain distributed its 
 silver produce, like a benevolent individual, who, self-denying to him- 
 self, is liberal to all others who are in necessity. The distant sound 
 of the martial music still regaled their way ; and, at the same time, 
 as it detained the populace on the high-road, prevented the strangers 
 from becoming incommoded Vv'ith fellow-travellers. 
 
 Rejoicing in the abated heat of the day — wondering, at the same 
 time, at the various kinds of architecture, the strange features of the 
 landscape, or accidental touches of manners exhibited by those who 
 met or passed them upon their journey, they strolled easily onwards. 
 One figure particularly caught the attention of the Countess Bren- 
 hilda. This was an old man of great stature, engaged, apparently, 
 so deeply wdth the roll of parchment wdiich he held in his hand, 
 that he paid no attention to the objects which were passing around 
 him. Deep thought appeared to reign on his brow, and his eye was : 
 
COUNT KOBERT OF PARIS. 101 
 
 of that piercing kind which seems designed to search and winnow 
 the frivolous from the edifying part of human discussion, and limit 
 its inquiry to the last. Raising his eyes slowly from the parchment 
 on wliich he had been gazing, the look of Agelastes — for it was the 
 sage himself^encountered those of Count Robert and his lady, and 
 addressing them with the kindly epithet of " my children," he asked 
 if they liad missed their road, or whether there was anything in which 
 
 I he could do them any pleasure. 
 
 " We are strangers, father," was the answer, " from a distant 
 country, and belonging to the army which has passed hither upon 
 pilgrimage ; one object brings us here in common, we hope, with all 
 that host. We desire to pay our devotions where the great ransom 
 was paid for us, and to free, by our good swords, enslaved Palestine, 
 from the usurpation and tyranny of the infidel. When we have said 
 this, we have announced our highest human motive. Yet Robert of 
 Paris and his Countess would not willingly set their foot on a land, 
 save Avhat should resound its echo. They have not been accustomed 
 to move in silence upon the face of the earth, and they would pur- 
 chase an eternal life of fame, though it were at the price of mortal 
 existence." 
 
 "You seek, then, to barter safety for fame," said Agelastes, 
 "though you may, perchance, throw death into the scale by which 
 
 i you hope to gain it ? " 
 
 "Assuredly," said Count Robert ; "nor is there one wearing such 
 
 1 a belt as this, to whom such a thought is stranger." 
 
 "And as I understand," said Agelastes, "your lady shares with 
 your honourable self in these valorous resolutions ? — Can this be? " 
 
 "You may undervalue my female courage, father, if such is your 
 will," said the Countess ; " but I speak in presence of a witness who 
 can attest the truth, when I say that a man of half your years had 
 not doubted the truth with impunity." 
 
 ; " Nay, Heaven protect me from the lightning of your eyes," said 
 
 i Agelastes, " whether in anger or in scorn. I bear an segis about 
 myself against what I should else have feared. But age, with its 
 incapacities, brings also its apologies. Perhaps, indeed, it is one 
 like me whom you seek to find, and in that case I should be happy 
 to render to you such services as it is my duty to oifer to all worthy 
 knights." 
 
 " I have already said," replied Count Robert, " that after the ac- 
 complishment of my vow," — he looked upwards, and crossed himself, 
 — " there is nothing on earth to which I am more bound than to 
 celebrate my name in arms as becomes a valiant cavalier. When 
 men die obscurely, they die for ever. Had my ancestor Charles 
 never left the paltry banks of the Saale, he had not now been mych 
 better known than any vine-dresser who wielded his pruning-hook 
 in the same territories. But he bore him like a brave man, and his 
 
 \ name is deathless in the memory of the worthy." 
 
 " Young man," said the old Grecian, " although it is but seldom 
 that such as you, whom I was made to serve and to value, visit this 
 country, it is not the less true that I am well qualified to serve you 
 
 I in the matter Avhich you have so much at heart. My acquaintance 
 
102 COUNT EGBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 with nature has been so perfect and so long-, that, during- its contiuii- 
 ancCj she has disappeared, and another world has been spread before 
 me, in wliich she has but little to do. Thus the curious stores which 
 I have assembled are beyond the researches of other men, and not 
 to be laid before those whose deeds of valour are to be bounded by 
 the ordinary probabilities of everyday nature. No romancer of your 
 romantic country ever devised such extraordinary adventures out of 
 his own imagination, and to feed the idle wonder of those who sat 
 listening around, as those which I know, not of idle invention, but of 
 real positive existence, with the means of achieving and accomplish- 
 ing" the conditions of each adventure." 
 
 "If such be your real profession," said the French Count, "you 
 have met one of those whom you chiefly search for; nor will my 
 Countess and I stir farther upon our road until you have pointed out 
 to us some one of those adventures which it is the business of errant- 
 knights to be industrious in seeking out." 
 
 So saying, he sat down by the side of the old man; and his lady, 
 with a degree of reverence which had something in it almost divert- 
 ing-, followed his example. 
 
 "We have fallen right, Brenhilda," said Count Robert; "our 
 guardian angel has watched his charge carefully. Here have we 
 come among an ignorant set of pedants, chattering- their absurd lan- 
 guage, and holding more important the least look that a cowardly 
 Emperor can give, than the best blow that a good knight can deal. 
 Believe me, I was well-nigh thinking that we had done ill to take 
 the cross — God forgive such an impious doubt ! Yet here, when we 
 were even despairing to find the road to fame, we have met with one 
 of those excellent men whom the knights of yore were wont to find 
 sitting by springs, by crosses, and by altars, ready to direct the wan- 
 dering knight where fame was to be found. Disturb him not, my 
 Brenhilda," said the Count, " but let him recall to himself his stories 
 of the ancient time, and thou shalt see he will enrich us with the 
 treasures of his information." 
 
 "If," repHed Agelastes, after some pause, "I have waited for a 
 longer term than human life is granted to most men, I shall still be 
 overpaid by dedicating what remains of existence to the service of a 
 pair so devoted to chivalry. What first occurs to me is a story of 
 our Greek country, so famous in adventures, and which I shall 
 briefly detail to you : — 
 
 "Afar hence, in our renowned Grecian Archipelago, amid storms 
 and whirlpools, rocks which, changing their character, appear to 
 13recipitate themselves against each other, and billows that are never 
 in a pacific state, lies the rich island of Zulichium, inliabited, not- 
 withstanding its wealth, by a very few natives, ^vho live only upon 
 the sea-coast. The inland part of the island is one immense moun- 
 tain, or pile of mountains, amongst wdiich, those who dare approach 
 near enough, may, we are assured, discern the moss-grown and anti- 
 quated towers and pinnacles of a stately, but ruinous castle, the 
 habitation of the sovereign of the isiand,'in which she has been en- 
 chanted for a great many years. 
 
 "A bold knight, who came upon a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, made 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 10$ 
 
 a VOW to deliver this unhappy victim of pain and sorcery ; feelingv 
 with justice, vehemently ofleuded, that the fiends of darkness should 
 exercise any authority near the Holy Land, which might be termed 
 the very fountain of lig-ht. Two of the oldest inhabitants of the 
 island undertook to guide him as near to the main gate as they 
 durst, nor did they approach it more closely than the length of a 
 bow-shot. Here, then, abandoned to himself, the brave Frank set 
 forth upon his enterprise, with a stout heart, and Heaven alone to 
 friend. The fabric which he approached showed, by its gigantic 
 size, and splendour of outline, the power and wealth of the potentate 
 who had erected it. The brazen gates unfolded themselves as if 
 with hope and pleasure; and aerial voices swept around the spires 
 and turrets, congratulating the genius of the place, it might be, 
 upon the expected approach of its deliverer. 
 
 '•'The knight passed on, not unmoved with wonder, though un- 
 tainted by fear ; and the Gothic splendours which he saw were of a 
 kind highly to exalt his idea of the beauty of the mistress for whom 
 a prison-house had been so richly decorated. Guards there were in 
 Eastern dress and arms, upon bulwark and buttress, in readiness, it 
 appeared, to bend their bows ; but the v/arriors were motionless and 
 silent, and took no more notice of the armed step of the knight than 
 if a monk or hermit had approached their guarded post. They were 
 living, and yet, as to all power and sense, they might be considered 
 among the dead. If there was truth in the old tradition, the sun had 
 shone and the rain had fallen upon them for more than four hundred 
 changing seasons, without their being sensible of the genial warmth 
 of the one or the coldness of the other. Like the Israelites in the 
 desert, their shoes had not decayed, nor their vestments waxed old. 
 As Time left them, so and without alteration was he again to find 
 them. " The philosopher began now to recall what he had heard of 
 the cause of their enchantment. 
 
 " The sage to whom this potent charm is imputed was one of the 
 Magi who followed the tenets of Zoroaster. He had come to the 
 court of this youthful Princess, who received him with every atten- 
 tion which gratified vanity could dictate, so that in a short time her 
 awe of this grave personage was lost in the sense of ascenocfi^icy 
 which her beauty gave her over him. It was no difficult matter— m 
 fact, it happens every day— for the beautiful woman to lull the wise 
 man into what is not inaptly called a fool's paradise. The sage was 
 induced to attempt feats of youth which his years rendered ridiculous; 
 he could command the elements, but the common course of nature 
 was beyond his power. When, therefore, he exerted his magic 
 strength, the mountains bent and the seas receded ; but when the 
 philosopher attempted to lead forth the Princess of Zulichium in the 
 youthful dance, youths and maidens turned their heads aside lest 
 they should make too manifest the ludicrous ideas with which they 
 were impressed. 
 
 " Unliappily, as the aged, even the wisest of them, will forget 
 themselves, so the young naturally enter into an alliance to spy out, 
 ridicule, and enjoy their foibles. Many were the glances which 
 the Princess sent among her retinue, intimating the nature of the 
 
104 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 amusement which she received from the attentions of her formidable 
 lover. In process of time she lost her caution, and a glance was de- 
 tected, expressing- to the old man the ridicule and contempt in whicb 
 he had been all along held by the object of his affections. Earth has 
 no passion so bitter as love converted to hatred ; and while the sage 
 bitterly regretted what he had done, he did not the less resent the 
 light-hearted folly of the Princess by whom he had been duped. 
 
 " If, however, he was angry, he possessed the art to conceal it. 
 Not a word, not a look, expressed the bitter disappointment which 
 he had received. A shade of melancholy, or rather gloom, upon his 
 brow, alone intimated the coming storm. The Princess became 
 somewhat alarmed; she was besides extremely good-natured, nor 
 had her intentions of leading the old man into what would render 
 him ridiculous been so accurately planned with malice prepense, as 
 they were the effect of accident and chance. She saw the pain 
 which he suffered, and thought to end it by going up to him, when 
 about to retire, and kindly wishing him good-night. 
 
 " ' You say well, daughter,' said the sage, ' good-night — but who, 
 of the numbers who hear me, shall say good-morning ? ' 
 
 " The speech drew little attention, although two or three persons 
 to whom the character of the sage was known, fled from the island 
 that very night, and by their report made known the circumstances 
 attending the first infliction of this extraordinary spell on those 
 who remained within the Castle. A sleep like that of death fell upon 
 them, and was not removed. Most of the inhabitants left the island ; 
 the few who remained were cautious how they approached the Castle, 
 and watched until some bold adventurer should bring that happy 
 awakening which the speech of the sorcerer seemed in some degree 
 to intimate. 
 
 " Never seemed there a fairer opportunity for that awakening to 
 take place than when the proud step of Artavan de Hautlieu was 
 placed upon those enchanted courts. On the left lay the palace 
 and donjon-keep ; but the right, more attractive, seemed to invite to 
 the apartment of the women. At a side door, reclined on a couch, 
 two guards of the haram, with their naked swords grasped in their 
 hands, and features fiendishly contorted between sleep and dissolu- 
 tion, seemed to menace death to any who should venture to approach. 
 This threat deterred not Artavan de Hautlieu. He approached tlie 
 entrance, when the doors, like those of the great entrance to the 
 Castle, made themselves instantly accessible to him. A guard-room 
 of the same effeminate soldiers received him, nor could the strictest 
 examination have discovered to him whether it was sleep or death 
 which arrested the eyes that seemed to look upon and prohibit his 
 advance. Unheeding the presence of these ghastly sentinels, Arta- 
 van pressed forward into an inner apartment, where female slaves of 
 the most distinguished beauty were visible in the attitude of those 
 who had already assumed their dress for the night. There was 
 much in this scene which might have arrested so young a pilgrim 
 as Artavan of Hautlieu; but his heart was fixed upon achieving the 
 freedom of the beautiful Princess, nor did he suffer himself to be 
 withdrawn from that object by any inferior consideration. He passed 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 105 
 
 on, therefore, to a little ivory door, which, after a moment's pause, 
 as if in maidenly hesitation, gave way like the rest, and yielded 
 access to the sleeping- apartment of the Princess herself A soft light, 
 resembling that of evening, penetrated into a chamber where every- 
 thing seemed contrived to exalt the luxury of slumber. The heaps 
 of cushions, which formed a stately bed, seemed rather to be touched 
 than impressed by the form of a nymph of fifteen, the renowned 
 Princess of Zulichium." 
 
 " Without interrupting you, good father," said the Countess Bren- 
 hilda, "it seems to me that we can comprehend the picture of a 
 woman asleep without much dilating upon it, and that such a subject 
 is little recommended either by our age or by yours." 
 
 " Pardon me, noble lady," answered Agelastes, " the most ap- 
 proved part of my story has ever been this passage, and while I now 
 suppress it in obedience to your command, bear notice, I pray you, 
 that I sacrifice the most beautiful part of the tale." 
 
 "Brenhilda," added the Count, "I am surprised you think of in- 
 terrupting a story which has hitherto proceeded with so much fire ; 
 the telling of a few words more or less will surely have a much 
 greater influence upon the sense of the narrative, than such an 
 addition can possibly possess over our sentiments of action." 
 
 " As you will," said his lady, throwing herself carelessly back upon 
 the seat ; " but methinks the worthy father protracts this discourse, 
 till it becomes of a nature more trifling than interesting." 
 
 " Brenhilda," said the Count, " this is the first time I have re- 
 marked in you a woman's weakness." 
 
 "I may as well say, Count Robert, that it is the first time,'* 
 answered Brenhilda, "that you have shown to me the inconstancy of 
 I your sex." 
 
 " Gods and goddesses," said the philosopher, " was ever known a 
 quarrel more absurdly founded ! The Countess is jealous of one 
 whom her husband probably never will see, nor is there any prospect 
 that the Princess of Zulichium will be hereafter better known to the 
 modern world, than if the curtain hung before her tomb." 
 
 "Proceed," said Count Robert of Paris ; " if Sir Artavanof Haut- 
 lieu has not accomplished the enfranchisement of the Princess of 
 Zulichium, I make a vow to our Lady of the Broken Lances, " 
 
 "Remember," said his lady interfering, "that you are already 
 under a vow to free the Sepulchre of God ; and to that, methinks, 
 all lighter engagements might give place." 
 
 " Well, lady — well," said Count Robert, but half satisfied with this 
 interference, " I will not engage myself, you may be assured, on any 
 adventure which may claim precedence of the enterprise of the Holy 
 Sepulchre, to which we are all bound." 
 
 " Alas ! " said Agelastes, " the distance of Zulichium from the 
 speediest route to the Sepulchre is so small, that " 
 
 " Worthy father," said the Countess, " we will, if it pleases you, 
 hear your tale to an end, and then determine what we will do. We 
 Norman ladies, descendant^ of the old Geinians, claim a voice with 
 our lords in the council which precedes the battle ; nor has our as- 
 sistance in tlie conflict been deemed altogether useless." 
 
106 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 The tone in wliicli this was spoken conveyed an awkward innuendo 
 to the philosopher, who began to foresee that the guidance of the 
 Norman knight woukl be more difficult than ho had foreseen, while 
 his consort remained by his side. He took up, therefore, his oratory 
 on somewhat a lower key than before, and avoided those warm 
 descriptions which had given such offence to the Countess Brenhilda. 
 
 " Sir Artavan de Hautlieu, says the story, considered in what way 
 he should accost the sleeping damsel, when it occurred to him in 
 what manner the charm would be most likely to be reversed. I am 
 in your judgment, fair lady, if he judged wrong in resolving that the 
 method of his address should be a kiss upon the lips." The colour 
 of Brenhilda was somewhat heightened, but she did not deem the 
 observation worthy of notice. 
 
 "Never had so innocent an action," continued the philosopher, 
 " an effect more horrible. The delightful light of a summer evening 
 ■was instantly changed into a strange lurid hue, which, infected with 
 sulphur, seemed to^breath suffocation through the apartment. The 
 rich hangings, and splendid furniture of the chamber, the very walls 
 themselves, were changed into huge stones tossed together at random, 
 like the inside of a wl'd beast's den, nor was the den without an in- 
 habitant. The beautiful and innocent lips to which Artavan de 
 Hautlieu had approached his own, were now changed into the 
 hideous and bizarre form, and bestial aspect of a fiery dragon. A 
 moment she hovered upon the wing, and it is said, had Sir Artavan 
 found courage to repeat his salute three times, he would then have 
 remained master of all the wealth, and of the disenchanted princess. 
 But the opportunity was lost, and the dragon, or the creature who 
 seemed such, sailed out at a side window upon its broad pennons, 
 uttering loud wails of disappointment." 
 
 Here ended the story of Agelastes. " The Princess," he said, " is 
 still supposed to abide her doom in the Island of Zulichium, and 
 several knights have undertaken the adventure ; but I know not 
 whetlier it was the fear of saluting the sleeping maiden, or that of 
 approaching the dragon into which she was transformed, but so it 
 is, the spell remains "unachieved. I know the way, and if you say 
 the word, you may be to-morrow on the road to the castle of en- 
 chantment." 
 
 The Countess heard this proposal with the deepest anxiety, for 
 she knew that she might, by opposition, determine her husband 
 irrevocably upon folloAving out the enterprise. She stood therefore 
 with a timid and bashful look, strange in a person whose bearing 
 was generally so dauntless, and prudently left it to tlie uninfluenced 
 mind of Count Robert to form the resolution which should best 
 please him. 
 
 "Brenhilda," he said, taking her hand, "fame and honour are dear 
 to thy husband as ever they were to knight who buckled 'a brand 
 upon his side. Thou hast done, perhaps, I may say, for me, what I 
 might in vain have looked for from ladies of thy condition ; and 
 therefore thou mayst well expect a casting voice in such points of 
 deliberation. — Why dost thou wander by the side of a foreign and 
 unhealthy shore, instead of the banks of the lovely Seine?— Why 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 107 
 
 doBt thou wear a dress unusual to thy sex ?— Why dost thou seek 
 death, and think it little in comparison of shame ? — Why ? but that 
 the Count of Paris may have a bride worthy of him. — Dost thou 
 think that this aftection is thrown away ? No, by the saints ! Thy 
 knig-ht repays it as he best oug'ht^ and sacrifices to thee every thought 
 which thy affection may less than entirely approve ! " 
 
 Poor Brenhilda, confused as she was by the various emotions with 
 wliicl\ she was agitated, now in vain endeavoured to maintain the 
 heroic deportment which her character as an Amazon required from 
 her. She attempted to assume the proud and lofty look which was 
 properly her own, but failing in the effort, she threw herself into the 
 Count's arms, hung round his neck, and wept like a village maiden, 
 whose true love is pressed for the wars. Her husband, a little 
 ashamed, while he was much moved by this burst of affection in one 
 to whose character it seemed an unusual attribute, was, at the same 
 time, pleased and proud that he could have awakened an affection so 
 genuine and so g'eutle in a soul so high-spirited and so unbending. 
 
 "Not thus,'*' he said, "my Brenhilda! I would not have it thus, 
 either for thine own sake or for mine. Do not let this wise old man 
 suppose that thy heart is made of the malleable stuff which forms 
 that of other maidens ; and apologise to him, as may well become 
 thee, for having- prevented ray undertaking the adventure of Zuli- 
 chium, which he recommends." 
 
 It was not easy for Brenhilda to recover herself, after having 
 afforded so notable an instance how nature can vindicate her rights, 
 with whatever rigour she may have been disciplined and tyrannised 
 over. With a look of ineffable affection, she disjoined herself from 
 her husband, still keeping- hold of liis hand, and turning- to the old 
 man with a countenance in which the half-efiaced tears were suc- 
 ceeded by smiles of pleasure and of modesty, she spoke to Agelastes 
 as she would to a person whom she respected, and towards whom 
 she had some offence to atone. "Father," she said respectfully, "be 
 not angry with me that I should have been an obstacle to one of the 
 l3est knights that ever spurred steed, undertaking the enterprise of 
 thine enchanted Princess ; but the truth is, that in our land, where 
 knighthood and religion agree in permitting only one lady love, and 
 one lady wife, we do not quite so willingly see our husbands run into 
 danger — especially of that kind where lonely ladies are the parties 
 relieved— and— and kisses are the ransom paid. I have as much con- 
 fidence in my Robert's fidelity, as a lady can have in a loving knight, 
 but still " 
 
 "Lovely lady," said Agelastes, who, notwithstanding his highly 
 artificial character, could not help being moved by the simple and 
 sincere aftection of the handsome young' pair, "you have done no 
 evil. The state of the Princess is no worse than it was, and there 
 cannot be a doubt that the knight fated to relieve her, will appear at 
 the destined period." 
 
 The Countess smiled sadly, and shook her head. "You do not 
 know," she said, "how powerful is the aid of which I have unhappily 
 deprived this unfortunate lady, by a jealousy which I now feel to 
 have been alike paltry and unworthy ; and, such is m.y regret, that I 
 
108 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 could find in my heart to retract my opposition to Count Robert's 
 undertaking" this adventure." She looked at her husband with some 
 anxiety, as one that had made an offer she would not willingly see 
 accepted, and did not recover her courage until he said, decidedly, 
 " Brenhilda, that may not be." 
 
 " And why, then, may not Brenhilda herself take the adventure," 
 continued the Countess, " since she can neither fear the charms of 
 the Princess nor the terrors of the dragon ? " 
 
 " Lady," said Agelastes, " the Princess must be awakened by the 
 kiss of love, and not by that of friendship." 
 
 "A sufficient reason," said the Countess, smiling, "why a lady may 
 not wish her lord to go forth upon an adventure of which the condi- 
 tions are so regulated." 
 
 "Noble minstrel, or herald, or by whatever name this country calls 
 you," said Count Robert, " accept a small remuneration for an hour 
 pleasantly spent, though spent, unhappily, in vain. I should make 
 some apology for the meanness of my offering, but French knights, 
 you may have occasion to know, are more full of fame than of wealth." 
 "Not for that, noble sir," replied Agelastes, "would I refuse your 
 munificence; a besant from your worthy hand, or that of your noble- 
 minded lady, were centupled in its value, by the eminence of the per- 
 sons from whom it came. I would hang it round my neck by a string 
 of pearls, and when I came into the presence of knights and of ladies, 
 I would proclaim that this addition to my achievement of armorial 
 distinction, was bestowed by the renowned Count Robert of Paris, 
 and his unequalled lady." The Knight and the Countess looked on 
 each other, and the lady, taking from her finger a ring of pure gold, 
 prayed the old man to accept of it, as a mark of her esteem and her 
 husband's. " With one other condition," said the philosopher, 
 "which I trust you will not find altogether unsatisfactory. I have, 
 on the way to the city by the most pleasant road, a small kiosk, or 
 hermitage, where I sometimes receive my friends, who, I venture ta 
 say, are among the most respectable personages of this empire. 
 Two or three of these will probably honour my residence to-day, and 
 partake of the provision it afffords. Could I add to these the com- 
 pany of the noble Count and Countess of Paris, I should deem my 
 poor habitation honoured for ever." 
 
 " How say you, my noble wife?" said the Count. " The company 
 of a minstrel befits the highest birth, honours the highest rank, and 
 adds to the greatest achievements ; and the invitation does us too 
 much credit to be rejected." 
 
 "It grows somewhat late," said the Countess; "but we came not 
 here to shun a sinking sun or a darkening sky, and I feel it my duty, 
 as well as my satisfaction, to place at the command of the good father 
 every pleasure which it is in my power to offer to him, for having been 
 the means of your neglecting his advice." 
 
 " The path is so short," said Agelastes, " that we had better keep 
 our present mode of travelling, if the lady should not want the as- 
 sistance of horses." 
 
 " No horses on my account," said the Lady Brenhilda. " My wait- 
 ing-woman, Agatha, has what necessaries I may require ; and for the 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 109 
 
 rest, no knight ever travelled so little embarrassed with Lag-g-ag-e as 
 my husband." 
 
 Agelastes, therefore, led the way through the deepening wood, 
 which was freshened by the cooler breath of evening, and his guests 
 accompanied him. ^-^ a V M. H 'k ->> 
 
 CHAPTER XIl 
 
 i Library, 
 
 Without a ruin, broken, tangled, cui 
 
 Witliin it was a little paradise, Xx (Jt ,. ^ .^ 
 
 Where Taste had made her dwelling. StStimg^' (mllfOrTJ* ' ^ 
 First-born of human art, moulded ter images^**;;;;;;;^^ -■^.:,„J^-'^ 
 And bade men mark and worship. ""' 
 
 Anomjmous. 
 
 The Count of Paris and his lady attended the old man, whose ad- 
 vanced age, his excellence in the use of the French language, which 
 he spoke to admiration, — above all, his skill in applying it to poetical 
 and romantic subjects, which was essential to v/hat was then termed 
 history and belles lettres, — drew from the noble hearers a degree of 
 applause, which, as Agelastes had seldom been vain enough to con- 
 sider as his due, so, on the part of the Knight of Paris and his lady, 
 had it been but rarely conferred. 
 
 They had walked for some time by a path which sometimes seemed 
 to hide itself among the woods that came down to the shore of the 
 Propontis, sometimes emerged from concealment, and skirted the 
 open margin of the strait, while, at every turn, it seemed guided by 
 the desire to select a choice and contrast of beauty. Variety of 
 scenes and manners enlivened, from their novelty, the landscape to 
 the pilgrims. By the sea-shore, nymphs were seen danchig, and 
 shepherds piping, or beating the tambourine to their steps, as repre- 
 sented in some groups of ancient statuary. The very faces had a 
 singular resemblance to the antique. If old, their long robes, their 
 attitudes, and magnificent heads, presented the ideas which distin- 
 guish prophets and saints ; while, on the other hand, the features of 
 the yoiiDg recalled the expressive countenances of the heroes of an- 
 tiquity, and the charms of those lovely females by whom their deeds 
 were inspired. 
 
 But the race of the Greeks was no longer to be seen, even in its 
 native country, unmixed, or in absolute purity; on the contrary, 
 they saw groups of persons with features which argued a different 
 descent. 
 
 In a retiring bosom of the shore, which was traversed by the path, 
 the rocks, receding from the beach, rounded off a spacious portion 
 of level sand, and, in some degree, enclosed it. A party of heathen 
 Scythians whom they beheld, presented the deformed features of the 
 demons they v/ere said to worship— flat noses with expanded nostrils, 
 which seemed to admit the sight to their very brain ; faces which ex- 
 tended rather in breadth than length, with strange unintellectual_ eyes 
 placed in the extremity ; figures short and dwarfish, yet garnished 
 
110 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 witli legs and arras of astonishing" sinewy streng-tb, disproportioned 
 to their bodies. As the travellers passed, the savages held a species 
 of tournumentj as the Count termed it. In this tliey exercised them- 
 selves by darting at each other long reeds, or canes, balanced for the 
 purpose, which, in this rude sport, they threv/ with such force, as not 
 unfrequently to strike each other from their steeds, and otherwise to 
 cause serious damage. Some of the combatants being-, for the time, 
 out of the play, devoured with greedy looks the beauty of the Countess, 
 and eyed her in such a manner, that she said to Count Robert, — " I 
 have never known fear, my husband, nor is it for me to acknowledge 
 it now ; but if disgust be an ingredient of it, these misformed brutes 
 are qualified to inspire it." 
 
 "What, ho, Sir Knight!" exclaimed one of the infidels, "your 
 wife, or your lady love, has committed a fault against the privileges 
 of the Imperial Scythians, and not small will be the penalty she has 
 incurred. You may go your way as fast as you will out of this place, 
 which is, for the present, our hippodrome, or atmeidan, call it which 
 you will, as you prize the Roman or the Saracen language; but for your 
 wife, if the sacrament has united you, believe my word, that she parts 
 not so soon or so easy." 
 
 " Scoundrel heathen," said the Christian Knight, " dost thou hold 
 that language to a Peer of France ? " 
 
 Agelastes here interposed, and using the sounding language of a 
 Grecian courtier, reminded the Scythians (mercenary soldiers, as 
 they seemed, of the empire), that all violence ag'ainst the European 
 pilgrims was, by the Imperial orders, strictly prohibited under pain 
 of death. 
 
 " I know better," said the exulting" savage, shaking one or two 
 javelins with broad steel heads, and wings of the eagle's feather, 
 which last were dabbled in blood. " Ask the wings of ray javelin," 
 he said, " in whose heart's blood these feathers have been dyed. 
 They shall reply to you, that if Alexius Comnenus be the friend of 
 the European pilgrims, it is only while he looks upon them ; and we 
 are too exemplary soldiers to serve our Emperor otherwise than he 
 wishes to be served." 
 
 " Peace, Toxartis," said the philosopher, " thou beliest thine Em- 
 peror." 
 
 " Peace thou ! " said Toxartis, " or I will do a deed that misbecomes 
 a soldier, and rid the world of a prating old man," 
 
 So saying", he put forth his hand to take hold of the Countess's 
 veil. With the readiness which frequent use had given to the 
 warlike lady, she withdrew herself from the heathen's grasp, and 
 with her trenchant sword dealt him so sufficient a blow that Toxar- 
 tis lay lifeless on the plain. The Count leapt on the fallen leader's 
 steed, and crying his war-cry, " Son of Charlemagne, to the res- 
 cue ! " he rode amid the rout of her*then cavaliers with a battle-axe, 
 which he found at the saddle-bow of the deceased chieftain, and, 
 wielding it with remorseless dexterity, he soon slew or wounded, or 
 compelled to flight, the objects of bis resentment ; nor was there 
 any of them who abode an instant to support the boast which they 
 had made. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. Ill 
 
 " The despicable churls ! " said the Countess to Ag-elastes ; " it 
 irks me that a drop of such coward blood should stain the hands of 
 a noble knig-ht. They call their exercise a tournament, although in 
 their whole exertions every blow is aimed behind the back, and not 
 one has the courag'e to throw his windlestraw wliile he perceives 
 that of another pointed against himself." 
 
 " Such is their custom," said Agelastes ; " not perhaps so much 
 from cowardice as from habit, in exercising before his Imperial 
 Majesty. I have seen that Toxartis literally turn his back upon the 
 mark when he bent his bow in full career, and when in the act of 
 galloping' the farthest from his object, he pierced it through the very- 
 centre with a broad arrow." 
 
 " A force of such soldiers," said Count Robert, who had now re- 
 joined his friends, " could not, methinks, be very formidable, where 
 there was but an ounce of g-enuine courag-e in the assailants." 
 
 "Meantime, let us pass on to my kiosk," said Ag-elastes, "lest 
 the fugitives find friends to encourag-e them in thoughts of re- 
 venge." 
 
 " Such friends," said Count Robert, " methinks the insolent 
 heathens ought not to find in any land which calls itself Christian ; 
 and if I survive the conquest of the Holy Sepulchre, I shall make it 
 my first business to inquire by what right your Emperor retains in 
 his service a band of Paynim and unmannerly cut-throats, who dare 
 offer injury upon the highway which ought to be sacred to the peace 
 of God and the king, and to noble ladies and inoffensive pilgrims. 
 It is one of a list of many questions which, my vow accomplished, I 
 will not fail to put to him ; ay, and expecting an answer, as they 
 say, prompt and categorical." 
 
 " You shall gain no answer from me, though," said Agelastes to 
 himself. "Your demands, Sir Knight, are over peremptory, and 
 imposed under too rigid conditions, to be replied to by those who 
 can evade them." 
 
 He changed the conversation, accordingly, with easy dexterity ; 
 and they had not proceeded much farther before they reached a 
 spot, the natural beauties of which called forth the admiration of 
 his foreigu companions. A copious brook, gushing out of the wood- 
 land, descended to the sea wdth no small noise and tumult ; and as 
 if disdaining a quieter course, which it might have gained by a little 
 circuit to the right, it took the readiest route to the ocean, plung- 
 ing over the face of a lofty and barren precipice which overhung" 
 the sea-shore, and from thence led its little tribute, with as much 
 noise as if it had the stream of a full river to boast of, to the waters 
 of the Hellespont. 
 
 The rock, we have said, was bare, unless in so far as it was clothed 
 with the foaming waters of the cataract ; but the banks on each 
 side were covered with plane-trees, walnut-trees, cypresses, and 
 other kinds of large timber proper to the East. The fall of water, 
 always agreeable in a warm chmate. and generally produced by 
 artificial means, was here natural, and had been chosen, something 
 like the Sibyl's temple at Tivoli, for the seat of a goddess to whom 
 the invention of Polytheism had assigned a sovereignty over the de- 
 
112 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 pavtment uroiind. The shrine was small and circular, like many of 
 the lesser temples of the rustic deities, and enclosed by the wall of 
 an outer court. After its desecration it had probably been con- 
 verted into a luxurious summer retreat by Ag-elastes, or some Epi- 
 curean philosopher. As the building", itself of a light, airy, and fan- 
 tastic character, was dimly seen through the branches and foliag-e 
 on the edg-e of the rock, so the mode by which it was accessible was 
 not at first apparent amongst the mist of the cascade. A pathway, 
 a good deal hidden by vegetation, ascended by a gentle acclivity, and 
 prolonged by the architect by means of a few broad and easy marble 
 steps, making part of the orig-inal approach, conducted the pas- 
 senger to a small, but exquisitely lovely velvet lawn, in front of the 
 turret or temple we have described, the back part of which build- 
 ing- overhung the cataract. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 The parties met. The wily, wordy Greek, 
 Weighing each word, and canvassing each syllable ; 
 Evading, arguing, equivocating. 
 And the stern Frank came with his two-hand sword, 
 Watching to see wliich way the balance sways. 
 That he may throw it in and turn the scales. 
 
 Palestine. 
 
 At a sig-nal made by Ag-elastes the door of this romantic retreat 
 was opened by Diogenes, the ne^ro slave, to whom our readers have 
 been already introduced ; nor did it escape the wily old man that 
 the Count and his lady testified some wonder at his form and linea- 
 ments, being the first African perhaps whom they had ever seen so 
 closely. The philosopher lost not the opportunity of making- an 
 impression on their minds, by a display of the superiority of his 
 knowledge. 
 
 "This poor being-," he observed, " is of the race of Ham, the un- 
 dutiful son of Noah ; for his transgressions ag-ainst his parent he 
 was banished to the sands of Africa, and was condemned to be the 
 father of a race doomed to be the slaves of the issue of his more 
 dutiful brethren.'' 
 
 The knig-ht and his lady gazed on the wonderful appearance before 
 thpm, and did not, it may be believed, think of doubting- the inform- 
 ation, which was so much of a piece with their prejudices, while 
 their opinion of their host was g-reatly augmented by the supposed 
 extent of his knowledge. 
 
 '• It g-ives pleasure to a man of humanity/' continued Agelastes, 
 "when, in old age or sickness, v/e must employ the services of 
 others, which is at other times scarce lawful, to choose his assistants 
 out of a race of beings, hev/ers of v/ood and drawers of water— from 
 their birth upwards destined to slavery ; and to whom, therefore, 
 by employing- them as slaves, we render no injury, but carry into 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 113 
 
 effect, in a slight degree, the intentions of the Great Being- who 
 made us all." 
 
 '* Are there many of a race," said the Countess, " so singularly 
 unhappy in their destination ? I have hitherto thought the stories 
 of black men as idle as those -which minstrels tell of fairies and 
 ghosts." 
 
 " Do not believe so," said the philosopher ; " the race is numerous 
 as the sands of the sea, neither are they altogether unhappy in dis- 
 charging the duties which tJieir fate has allotted them. Those who 
 are of worse character suffer even in this life the penance due to 
 their guilt ; they become the slaves of the cruel and tyrannical, are 
 beaten, starved, and mutilated. To those whose moral characters 
 are better, better masters are provided, who share with their slaves, 
 as with their children, food and raiment and the other good things 
 which they themselves enjoy. To some. Heaven allots the favour 
 of kings and of conquerors, and to a few, but those the chief favour- 
 ites of the species, hath been assigned a place in the mansions of 
 philosophy, where, by availing themselves of the lights which their 
 masters can afford, they gain a prospect into that world which is the 
 residence of true happiness." 
 
 " Methinks I understand you," replied the Countess, " and 'if so, 
 1 ought rather to envy our sable friend here than to pity him, for 
 having been allotted in the partition of his kind to the possession 
 of his present master, from whom, doubtless, he has acquired the 
 desirable knowledge wliich you mention." 
 
 " He learns, at least," said Agelastes, modestly, " what I can teach, 
 and, above all, to be contented with his situation. — Diogenes, my 
 I good child," said he, changing his address to the slave, " thou freest 
 jThave company — What does the poor hermit's larder afford, with 
 which he may regale his honoured guests." 
 
 Hitherto they had advanced no farther than a sort of outer room, 
 or hall of entrance, fitted up with no more expense than miglit have 
 suited one who desired at some outlay, and more taste, to avail him- 
 (Self of the ancient building for a sequestered and private retirement. 
 The chairs and couches were covered with Eastern wove mats, and 
 were of the simplest and most primitive form. But on touching a 
 pring, an interior apartment was displayed, which had considerabl« 
 pretension to splendour and magnificence. 
 
 The furniture and hangings of this apartment were of straw- 
 coloured silk, wrought on the looms of Persia, and crossed with 
 embroidery, which produced a rich yet simple effect. The ceiling- 
 was carved in Arabesque, and the four corners of the apartment 
 were formed into recesses for statuary, Avliich had been produced in 
 a better age of the art than that which existed at the period of our 
 story. In one nook, a shepherd seemed to withdraw himself, as if 
 ashamed to produce his scantily-covered person, while he was_ will- 
 ing to afford the audience the music of the reed which he held in his 
 hand. Three damsels, resembling the Graces in the beautiful pro- 
 )ortions of their limbs, and the slender clothing which they wore, 
 urked in difierent attitudes, each in her own niche, and seemed but 
 to await the first sound of the music to bound forth from thence and 
 
 I 
 
114 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 join in the frolic dance. The subject was beautiful, yet somewhat 
 lig-ht, to ornament the study of such a sage as Agelastes represented 
 himself to be. 
 
 He seemed to be sensible that this might attract observation — 
 " These figures," he said, " executed at the period of the highest 
 excellence of Grecian art, were considered of old as the choral 
 nymphs assembled to adore the goddess of the place, waiting but 
 the music to join in the worship of the temple. And, in trutii, the 
 wisest may be interested in seeing how near to animation the genius 
 of these wonierful men could bring the inflexible marble. Allow 
 but for the absence of the divine afflatus, or breath of animation, 
 and an unenlightened heathen might suppose the miracle of Prome- 
 theus was about to be realised. But we," said he, looking upwards, 
 " are taught to form a better judgment between what man can do 
 and the productions of the Deity." 
 
 Some subjects of natural history were painted on the walls, and 
 the philosopher fixed the attention of his guests upon the half-rea- 
 soning elephant, of which he mentioned several anecdotes, which 
 they listened to with great eagerness. 
 
 A distant strain was here heard, as if of music in the woods, pene- 
 tratino" by fits through the hoarse roar of the cascade, which, as it 
 sunk immediately below the windows, filled the apartment with its 
 deep voice. 
 
 " Apparently," said Agelastes, " the friends whom I expected are 
 approachino', and bring with them the means of enchanting another 
 Sr-nse. It IS well they do so, since wisdom tells us that we best 
 honour the Deity by enjoying the gifts he has provided us." 
 
 These words called the attention of the philosopher's Frankish 
 guests to the preparations exhibited in this tasteful saloon. These 
 were made for an entertainment in the manner of the ancient 
 Romans, and couches, which were laid beside a table ready decked, 
 announced that the male guests, at least, were to assist at the ban- 
 quet in the usual recumbent posture of the ancients ; while seats, 
 placed among the couches, seemed to say that females were ex- 
 pected, who would observe the Grecian customs, in eating seated. 
 The preparations for good cheer were such as, though limited in 
 extent, could scarce be excelled in quality, either by the si)lendid 
 dishes which decked Trimalchio's banquet of former days, or the 
 lighter delicacies of Grecian cookery, or the succulent and highly- 
 spiced messes indulged in by the nations of the East, to whichever 
 they happened to give the preference ; and it was with an air of 
 some vanity that Agelastes asked his guests to share a poor pilgrim's 
 meal. 
 
 " We care little for dainties," said the Count ; " nor does our pre- 
 sent course of life as pilgrims, bound by a vow, allow us much choice 
 on such subjects. Whatever is food for soldiers suffices the Countess 
 and myself; for, with our will, we would at every hour be ready for 
 battle, and the less time we use in preparing for the field, it is even 
 so much the better. Sit then, Brenhilda, since the good man will 
 have it so, and let us lose no time in refreshment, lest we waste that 
 which should be otherwise employed." 
 
COU>"T ROBERT OF PARIS. 115 
 
 "A moment's forgiveness," said Agelastes, "until the arrival of 
 my other friends, whose music you may now hear is close at hand, 
 and who will not long-, I may safely promise, divide you from your 
 meal." 
 
 "For that," said the Count, "there is no haste; and since you 
 seem to account it a part of civil manners, Brenhilda and I can with 
 ease postpone our repast, unless you will permit us, what I own 
 would he more pleasing*, to take a morsel of bread and a cup of 
 water presently ; and, thus refreshed, to leave the space clear for 
 your more curious and more famihar guests." 
 
 " The saints above forbid ! " said Agelastes ; " guests so honoured 
 never before pressed these cushions, nor could do so, if the sacred 
 family of the imperial Alexius himself even now stood at the gate." 
 
 He had hardly uttered these words when the full-blown peal of a 
 trumpet, louder in a tenfold degree than the strains of music they 
 had before heard, was now sounded in the front of the temple, pierc- 
 ing through the murmur of the waterfall, as a Damascus blade 
 penetrates the armour, and assailing the ears of the hearers, as the 
 sword pierces the flesh of him who wears the harness. 
 
 " You seem surprised or alarmed, father," said Count Robert. 
 " Is there danger near, and do you distrust our protection ? " 
 
 "No," said Agelastes, "that would give me confidence in any ex- 
 tremity; but these sounds excite awe, not fear. They tell me that 
 some of the Imperial family are about to be my guests. Yet fear 
 nothing, my noble friends — they, M'hose look is life, are ready to 
 shower their favours with profusion upon strangers so worthy of 
 honour as they will see here. Meantime, my brow must touch my 
 threshold, in order duly to welcome them." So saying, he hurried 
 to the outer door of the building. 
 
 " Each land has its customs," said the Count, as he followed his 
 host, with his wife hanging on his arm ; " but, Brenhilda, as they are 
 so various, it is little wonder that they appear unseemly to each 
 other. Here, however, in deference to my entertainer, I stoop my 
 crest, in the manner which seems to be required." So saying, he 
 followed Agelastes into the anteroom, w^here a new scene awaited 
 them. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Agelastes gained his threshold before Count Robert of Paris and 
 his lady. He had, therefore, time to make his prostrations before a 
 iuige animal, then unknown to the western world, but now univer- 
 sally distinguished as the elephant. On its back was a pavilion or 
 palanquin, within which were enclosed the august persons of the 
 Empress Irene, and her daughter Anna Coranena. Nicephorus 
 Briennius attended the Princesses in the command of a gallant 
 body of light horse, whose splendid armour would have given more 
 pleasure to the crusader, if it had possessed less an air of useless 
 
116 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 wealth and eifeminate magnificence. But the effect which it pro- 
 duced in its appearance was as brilliant as could well be conceived. 
 The officers alone of this corps de garde followed Nicephorus to the 
 platform, prostrated themselves while the ladies of the Imperial 
 house descended, and rose up ag-ain under a cloud of waving- plumes 
 and flashing lances, when they stood secure upon the platform in 
 front of the building. Here the somewhat aged, but commanding 
 form of the Empress, and the still juvenile beauties of the fair his- 
 torian, were seen to great advantage. In the front of a deep back- 
 ground of spears and waving crests, stood the sounder of the sacred 
 trumpet, conspicuous by his size and the richness of his apparel ; he 
 kept his post on a rock above the stone staircase, and, by an occa- 
 sional note of his instrument, intimated to the squadrons beneath 
 that they should stay their progress, and attend the motions of the 
 Empress and the wife of the Caesar. 
 
 The fair form of the Countess Brenhilda, and the fantastic appear- 
 ance of her half masculine garb, attracted the attention of the ladies 
 of Alexius' family, but was too extraordinary to command their ad- 
 miration. Agelastes became sensible there was a necessity that he 
 should introduce his guests to each other, if he desired they should 
 meet on satisfactory terms. "May I speak," he said, "and live? 
 The armed strangers whom you find now with me are worthy com- 
 panions of those myriads, whom zeal for the sufferino" inhabitants of 
 Palestine has brought from the western extremity of Europe, at once 
 to enjoy the countenance of Alexius Comnenus, and to aid him, since 
 it pleases him to accept their assistance, in expelling the Paynims 
 from the bounds of the sacred empire, and garrison those regions in 
 their stead, as vassals of his Imperial Majesty." 
 
 " We are pleased," said the Empress, " worthy Agelastes, that you 
 should be kind to those who are disposed to be so reverent to the 
 Emperor. And we are rather disposed to talk with them ourselves, 
 that our daughter (whom Apollo hath gifted with the choice talent 
 of recording what she sees) may become acquainted with one of 
 those female warriors of the West of whom we have heard so much 
 by common fame, and yet know so little with certainty." 
 
 "Madam," said the Count, "I can but rudely express to you what 
 I have to find fault with in the explanation which this old man hath 
 given of our purpose in coming hither. Certain it is, we neither 
 owe Alexius fealty, nor had we the purpose of paying him any when 
 we took the vow upon ourselves which brought us against Asia. 
 We came because we understood that the Holy Land had been torn 
 from the Greek Emperor by the Pagans, Saracens, Turks, and other 
 infidels, from whom we are come to win it back. The wisest and 
 most prudent among us have judged it necessary to acknowledge 
 the Emperor's authority, since there was no such safe way of passing 
 to the discharge of our vow, as that of acknowledging fealty to him, 
 as the best mode of preventing quarrels among Christian States. 
 We, though independent of any earthly king, do not pretend to be 
 greater men than they, and therefore have condescended to pay the 
 same homage." 
 
 The Empress coloured several times with indignation in the course 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 117 
 
 of tills speech, which, in more passages than one, -was at variance 
 with those imperial maxims of the Grecian court, which held its 
 (lig-nity so high, and plainly intimated a tone of opinion which was 
 depreciating to the Emperor's power. But the Empress Irene had 
 received instructions from her imperial spouse to beware how she 
 gave, or even took, any ground of quarrel with the crusaders, who, 
 though coming in the appearance of subjects, were, nevertheless, 
 too punctilious and ready to take fire, to render them safe discussers 
 of delicate differences. She made a graceful reverence accordingly, 
 as if she had scarce understood what the Count of Paris had explained 
 so bluntly. 
 
 At this moment the appearance of the principal persons on either 
 liand attracted, in a wonderful degree, the attention of the other 
 party, and there seemed to exist among them a general desire of 
 further acquaintance, and, at the same time, a manifest difficulty in 
 expressing such a wish. 
 
 Agelastes — to begin with the master of the house — had risen from 
 the ground indeed, but without venturing to assume an upright pos- 
 ture : he remained before the Imperial ladies with his body and head 
 still bent, his hand interposed between his eyes and their faces, like 
 a man that would shade his eyesight from the level sun, and awaited 
 in silence the commands of those to whom he seemed to think it 
 disrespectful to propose the slightest action, save by testifying in 
 general that his house and his slaves were at their unlimited com- 
 mand. The Countess of Paris, on the other hand, and her warlike 
 husband were the peculiar objects of curiosity to Irene and her ac- 
 complished daughter, Anna Comnena; and it occurred to both these 
 Imperial ladies that they had never seen finer specimens of human 
 strength and beauty ; but, by a natural instinct, they preferred the 
 manly bearing of the husband to that of the wife, which seemed to 
 her own sex rather too haughty and too masculine to be altogether 
 pleasing. 
 
 Count Robert and his lady had also their own object of attention 
 in the newly arrived group, and, to speak truth, it was nothing else 
 than the peculiarities of tlie monstrous animal which they now saw, 
 for the first time, employed as a beast of burden in the service of the 
 fair Irene and her daughter. The dignity and splendour of the 
 elder Princess, the grace and vivacity of the younger, were alike 
 lost in Brenhilda's earnest inquiries into the history of the elephant, 
 and the use which it made of its trunk, tusks, and huge ears, upon 
 diff"erent occasions. 
 
 Another person who took a less direct opportunity to gaze on 
 Brenhilda with a deep degree of interest was the Caesar, Nicephorus. 
 This Prince kept his eye as steadily upon the Prankish Countess as 
 he could well do, without attracting the attention, and exciting per- 
 haps the suspicions, of his wife and mother-in-law ; he therefore en- 
 deavoured to restore speech to an interview which would have been 
 awkward without it. "It is possible," \\e said, ''beautiful Countess, 
 that tliis being your first visit to the Queen of the world, you have 
 never hitherto seen the singularly curious animal called the elephant." 
 
 '"' Pardon me," said the Countess, " I have been treated by this 
 
118 COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 
 
 learned g-entleman to a sight, and some account of that wonderful 
 creature." 
 
 By all who heard this observation, the Lady Brenhilda was sup- 
 posed to have made a satirical thrust at the philosopher himself, 
 who, in the imperial court, usually went by the name of the Ele- 
 phant. 
 
 " No one could describe the beast more accurately than Agelas- 
 tes," said the Princess, with a smile of intellig-ence, which went round 
 her attendants. 
 
 ''He knows its docility, its sensibility, and its fidelity," said the 
 philosopher, in a subdued tone. 
 
 " True, good Agelastes," said the Princess ; " we should not criti- 
 cise the animal which kneels to take us up. — Come, lady of a foreign 
 land," she continued, turning to the Frank Count, and especially his 
 Countess— "and you her gallant lord! When you return to your 
 native country, you shall say you have seen the Imperial family par- 
 take of their food, and in so far acknowledge themselves to be of 
 the same clay with other mortals, sharing their poorest wants, and 
 relieving them in the same manner." 
 
 " That, gentle lady, I can well believe," said Count Kobert ; " my 
 curiosity would be more indulged by seeing this strange animal at 
 his food." 
 
 " You will see the elephant more conreniently at his mess within 
 doors," answered the Pnncess, looking at A^elastes. 
 _ " Lady," said Brenhilda, " 1 would not willingly refuse an invita- 
 tion given in courtesy, but the sun has waxed low unnoticed, and we 
 must return to the cit^'." 
 
 " Be not afraid," said the fair historian ; " you shall have the ad- 
 vantage of 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 
 sufficient escort;' and even v>'ere he not with me, Brenhilda de Aspra- 
 monte fears nothing, and can defend herself" 
 
 ''Fair daughter," said Agelastes, "if I may be permitted to speak, 
 you mistake the gracious intentions of the Princess, who expresses 
 Jierself as to a lady of her own land. What she desires is to learn 
 from you some of the most marked habits and manners of the 
 Franks, of which you are so beautiful an example ; and in return 
 for such information the illustrious Princess would be glad to pro- 
 cure your entrance to those spacious collections, where animals from 
 all corners of the habitable world have been assembled at the com- 
 mand of our Emperor Alexius, as if to 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 in- 
 habitant of Africa that can browse on the tops of trees that are forty 
 feet high, while the length of its hind-legs does not exceed the half 
 of that wondrous height." 
 
 " It is enough," said the Countess, v/ith some eagerness ; but Age- 
 lastes had got a point of discussion after his own mind. 
 
 "There is also," he said, "that huge lizard, which, resembling in 
 shape the harmless inhabitant of the moors of other countries, is in 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 119 
 
 EgTpt a monster thirty feet in lengtli, clothed in impenetrable scales, 
 and moaning over his prey when he catches it, with the hope and 
 purpose of drawiiig others within his danger, by mimicking the 
 lamentations of humanity." 
 
 "Say no more^ fatlier!" exclaimed the lady. "My Robert, we 
 will go — will we not, where such objects are to be seen? " 
 
 '' There is also," said Agelastes, who saw that he would gain his 
 
 Eoint by addressing himself to the curiosity of the strangers, " th© 
 uge animal, wearing on its back an invulnerable vestment, having' 
 on its nose a horn, and sometimes two, the folds of whose hide are 
 of the most immense thickness, aud 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 a knight^'s sword, by a single blow of my trust;y Tranchefer." 
 
 "And who knows," said Brenhilda, "since this is a land of enchant- 
 ment, but what some person, who is languishing in a foreign shape, 
 may have their enchantment unexpectedly dissolved by a stroke of 
 the good weapon?'' 
 
 " Say no more, father ! " exclaimed the Count. " We will attend 
 this Princess, since such she is, were her whole escort bent to oppose 
 our passage, instead of being by her command to be our guard. 
 For know, all who hear me, thus much of the nature of the Franks, 
 that when you tell us of danger and difficulties, you give us the same 
 desire to travel the road where they lie, as other men have in seek- 
 ing either pleasure or profit in the paths in which such are to be 
 found." 
 
 As the Count pronounced these words, he struck his hand upon 
 his Tranchefer, as an illustration of the manner in which he pur- 
 posed upon occasion to make good his way. The courtly circle 
 startled somewhat at the clash of steel, and the fiery look of the 
 chivalrous Count Robert. The Empress indiilged her alarm by re- 
 treating into the inner apartment of the pavilion. 
 
 With a grace, wdiich was rarely deigned to any but those in close 
 alliance with the Imperial family, Anna Comnena took the arm of 
 the noble Count. "I see," she said, "tliat the Imperial Mother has 
 honoured the house of the learned Agelastes, by leading the way j 
 therefore, to teach you Grecian breeding must fall to my share." 
 Saying this, she conducted him to the inner apartment. ^ 
 
 "Fear not for your wife," she said, as she noticed the Frank Iook 
 round ; " our husband, like ourselves, has pleasure in showing atten- 
 tion^ to tne stranger, and will lead the Countess to our board. It is not 
 the custom of the Imperial family to eat in company with strangers ; 
 but we thank Heaven for having instructed us in that civility, which 
 can know no degradation in dispensing with ordinary rules to do 
 honour to strangers of such merit as yours. I know it will be my 
 mother's request, that you will take your places without ceremony ; 
 and also, although the grace be somewhat particular, I am sure that 
 it will have my Imperial fathers approbation." 
 
 " V>Q it as your ladyship lists," said Count Robert. " There are few 
 men to whom I would yield place at the board, if they had not gone 
 
120 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 "before me in the battle-field. To a lady, especially so fair a one, I 
 willingly yield my place, and bend my knee, whenever I have the 
 good hap to meet her." 
 
 The Princess Anna, instead of feeling- herself awkward in the dis- 
 charge of the extraordinary, and, as she might have thought it, de- 
 grading office of ushering a barbarian chief to the banquet, felt, on 
 the contrary, flattered, at having bent to her purpose a heart so ob- 
 stinate as that of Count Robert, and elated, perhaps, with a certain 
 degree of satisfied pride while under his momentary protection. 
 
 The Empress Irene had already seated herself at the head of tlie 
 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 and Countess of Paris, the former to recline, the latter to sit at 
 the board, in the places next to themselves ; but she had received the 
 strictest orders from her husband to be deferential in every respect 
 to the strangers, and did not think it right, therefore, to interpose 
 any ceremonious scruples. 
 
 The Countess took her seat, as indicated, beside the Csesar ; and 
 the Count instead of reclining in the mode of the Grecian men, also 
 seated himself in the European fashion by the princess. 
 
 " I will not lie prostrate," said he, laughing, " except in considera- 
 tion of a blow weighty enough to compel me to do so ; nor then either, 
 if I am able to start up and return it." 
 
 The service of the table then began, and, to say truth, it appeared 
 to be an important part of the business of the day. The officers 
 who attended 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 eack 
 other in calling upon Agelastes for spices, condiments, sauces, and 
 wines of various kinds, the variety and multiplicity of their demands 
 being apparently devised ex preposito^ for stirring the patience of the 
 philosopher. But Agelastes, who had anticipated most of their re- 
 quests, however unusual, supplied them completely, or in the great- 
 est part, by the ready agency of his active slave Diogenes, to whom, 
 at the same time, he contrived to transfer all blame for the absence 
 of such articles as he was unable to provide. 
 
 " Be Homer my witness, the accomplished Virgil, and the curious 
 felicity of Horace, that, trifling and unworthy as this banquet was, 
 my note of directions to this thrice unhappy slave gave the instruc- 
 tions to procure every ingredient necessary to convey to each dish 
 its proper gusto. — Ill-omened carrion that thou art, wherefore 
 placedst thou the pickled cucumber so far apart from the boar's 
 head ? and why are these superb congers unprovided with a requisite 
 quantity of fennel ? The divorce betwixt the shell-fish and the Chian 
 wine, in a presence like this, is worthy of tlie divorce of thine own 
 soul from thy body ; or, to say the least, of a lifelong residence in 
 the Pistrinum." While thus the philosopher proceeded with threats, 
 curses, and menaces against his slave, the stranger might have an 
 opportunity of comparing the little torrent of his domestic eloquence, 
 which the manners of the times did not consider as ill-bred, with the 
 louder and deeper share of adulation towards his guests. They 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 121 
 
 miiig'led like tlie oil Avith the vineg-ar and pickles which Diogenes 
 mixed for the sauce. Thus the Count and Countess had an oppor- 
 tunity to estimate the happiness and the felicity reserved for those 
 slaves, whom the omnipotent Jupiter, in the plenitude of compassion 
 for their state, and in guerdon of their g'ood morals, had dedicated to 
 the service of a philosopher. The share they themselves took in the 
 banquet, was finished with a degree of speed which g-ave surprise not 
 only to their host, but also to the Imperial guests. 
 
 The Count helped himself carelessly but of a dish which stood near 
 him, and partaking' of a draught of wine, without inquiring" whether 
 it was of the vintage which the Greeks held it matter of conscience 
 to mingle with that species of food, he declared himself satisfied; nor 
 could the obliging' entreaties of his neighbour, Anna Comnena, in- 
 duce him to partake of other messes represented as being' either 
 delicacies or curiosities. His spouse eat still more moderately of the 
 food which seemed most simply cooked, and stood nearest her at the 
 board, and partook of a cup of crystal water, which she slightly ting'ed 
 with wine, at the persevering' entreaty of the Osesar. They then re- 
 Jinquished the farther business of the banquet, and, leaning back upon 
 their seats, occupied themselves in watching- the liberal credit done 
 to the feast by the rest of the guests present. 
 
 A modern synod of gourmands would hardly have equalled the 
 Imperial family of Greece seated at a philosophical banquet, whether 
 in the critical knowledge displayed of the science of eating- in all its 
 branches, or in the practical cost and patience with which they exer- 
 cised it, the ladies, indeed, did not eat much of any one dish, but they 
 lasted of almost all that were presented to them, and their name was 
 Legion. Yet, after a short time, in Homeric phrase, the rage of 
 thirst and hung-er was assuaged, or, more probably, the Princess 
 Anna Comnena was tired of being- an object of some inattention to 
 the guest who sat next her, and who, joining his high military cha- 
 racter to his very handsome presence, was a person by whom few 
 ladies would willingly be neglected. There is no new guise, says our 
 father Chaucer, but what resembles an old one ; and the address of 
 Anna Comnena to the Frankish Count might resemble that of a 
 modern lady of fashion, in her attempts to eng-age in conversation 
 the exquisite, who sits by her side in an apparently 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 we then to judge you a 
 follower of the Muses, in whose service, as well as in that of Phoebus, 
 we ourselves pretend to be enlisted?" 
 
 " Fair lady," replied the Frank, " be not offended at my stating 
 once for all, in plain terms, that I am a Christian man, spitting at, 
 and bidding defiance to, Apollo, Bacchus, Comus, and all other 
 heathen deities whatsoever." 
 
 " O ! cruel interpretation of my unwary words ! " said the Prin- 
 cess ; " I did but mention the gods of music, poetry, and eloquence, 
 worshipped by our divine philosophers, and whose names are still 
 used to distinguish the arts and sciences over which they presided — 
 and the Count interprets it seriously into a breach of the second 
 
122 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 commandment ! Our Lady preserve me, we must take care how wo 
 speak, when our words are so sharply interpreted." 
 
 The Count laug-lied as the Princess spoke. " 1 had no offensive 
 meaning", madam," he said, *'nor would I wish to interpret j'our 
 words otherwise than as being most innocent and praise-worthy. T 
 shall suppose that your speech contained all that was fair and blame- 
 less. You are, I have understood, one of those who, like our worthy 
 host, express in composition the history and feats of the warlike time 
 in which you live, and give to the posterity which shall succeed us, 
 the knowledge of the brave deeds which have been achieved in our 
 day. I respect the task to which you have dedicated yourself, and 
 know not how a lady could lay after ages under an obligation to her 
 in the same degree, unless, like my wife, Brenhilda, she were herself 
 to be the actress of deeds which she recorded. And, by the way, she 
 now looks towards her neighbour at the table, as if she were_ about 
 to rise and leave him ; her inclinations are towards Constantinople, 
 and, with your ladyship's permission, I cannot allow her to go thitlier 
 alone." 
 
 "That you shall neither of you do," said Anna Comnena; "since 
 we all go to the capital directly, and for the purpose of seeing those 
 wonders of nature, of which numerous examples have been collected 
 by the splendour of my Imperial father — If my husband seems to 
 have given offence to the Countess, do not suppose that it was in- 
 tentionally dealt to her ; on the contrary, you will find the goodman, 
 when you are better acquainted with him, to be one of those simple 
 persons who manage so unhappily what they mean for civilities, that 
 those to whom they are addressed receive them frequently in another 
 sense." 
 
 Tlie Countess of Paris, however, refused again to sit down to the 
 table from which she had risen, so that Agelastes and his Imperial 
 guests saw themselves under the necessity either to permit the 
 strangers to depart, 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 with them, at the same time managing their dignity, 
 so as to take the initiatory step, though the departure took place 
 upon the motion of their wilful guests. Much tumult there v/as — 
 bustling, disputing, and shouting— among the troops and officers 
 who v/ere thus moved from their repast, two hours at least sooner 
 than had been experienced upon similar occasions in the memory of 
 the oldest among them. A different arrangement of the Imperial 
 party likewise seemed to take place by mutual consent. 
 
 Nicephorus Briennius ascended the seat upon the elephant, and 
 remained there placed beside his august mother-in-law. Agelastes, 
 on a sober-minded palfrey which permitted him to prolong his philo- 
 sophical harangues at his own pleasure, rode beside the Countess 
 Brenhilda, whom he made the principal object of his oratory. The 
 fair historian, though she usually travelled in a litter, preferred upon 
 this occasion a spirited horse, which enabled her to keep pace with 
 Count llobert of Paris, on v>-hose imagination, if not his feelings, she 
 seemed to have it in view to work a marked impression. The con- 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 123 
 
 Tcrsation of the Empress with her son-iii law requires no special de- 
 tail. It was a tissue of criticisms upon the manners and behaviour of 
 of the Franks, and a hearty wish that they mig-ht be soon transported 
 from the realms of Greece, never more to return. Such was at least 
 the tone of the Empress, nor did the Csesar find it convenient to ex- 
 press any more tolerant opinion of the strangers. On the other hand, 
 Agelastes made a long- circuit ere he ventured to approach the sub- 
 ject which he wished to introduce. He spoke of the menagerie of 
 the Emperor as a most superb collection of natural history ; he ex- 
 tolled different persons at court for having encouraged Alexius Com- 
 neuus in this wise and philosophical amusement. But, finally, the 
 praise of all others was abandoned that the philosopher might dvv^ell 
 upon that of Nicephorus Briennius, to whom the cabinet or collection 
 of Constantinople was indebted, he said, for the principal treasures 
 it contained. 
 
 " I am glad it is so," said the haughty Coimtess, witliout lowering 
 her voice or afi'ecting any change of manner ; " I am glad that he 
 understands some things better worth understanding than whispering 
 with stranger young women. Credit me, if he gives much license to 
 his tong-ue among such women of my country as these stirring times 
 may brmg hither, some one or other of them will fling him into the 
 cataract which dashes below." 
 
 " Pardon me, fair lady," said Agelastes ; " no female heart could 
 meditate an action so atrocious against so fine a form as that of the 
 Caesar Nicephorus Briennius." 
 
 "Put it not on that issue, father," said the oflended Countess; 
 " for, by my patroness Saint, our Lady of the Broken Lances, had it 
 not been for regard to these two ladies, who seemed to intend some 
 respect to my husband and myself, that same Nicephorus should 
 have been as perfectly a Lord of the Broken Bones as any C£ssar 
 who has borne the title since the great Julius ! " 
 
 The philosopher, upon this explicit information, began to enter- 
 tain some personal fear for himself, and hastened, by diverting the 
 conversatioD, which he did with great dexterity, to the story of Hero 
 and Leander, to put the afiront received out of the head of this un- 
 scrupulous Amazon. 
 
 Meantime, Count Robert of Paris was engrossed, as it may be 
 termed, by the fair Anna Comuena. She spoke on all subjects, on 
 some better, doubtless, others worse, but on none did she suspect 
 herself of any deficiercy ; while the good Count wished heartily 
 within himself that his companion had been safely in bed with the 
 enchanted Princess of Zulichium. She performed, right or wrong, 
 the part of a panegyrist of the Normans, until at length the Count, 
 tired of hearing her prate of she knew not exactly what, broke in as 
 follows : — 
 
 " Lady," he said, " notwithstanding I and my followers are some- 
 times so named, yet we are not Normans, who ome hither as a 
 numerous and separate body of pilgrims, under the command of 
 tlieir Duke Robert, a valiant, though extravagant, thoughtless, and 
 weak man. I say nothing against the fame of these Normans. 
 They conquered, in our fathers' days, a kingdom fav stronger than 
 
124 COUNT ROBEUT OF PARIS. 
 
 their own, Avliicli men call England; 1 sec that you entertain some 
 of the natives of Avhich country in your pay, under the name of Var- 
 ang'ians. Although defeated, as 1 said, by the Normans, they are, 
 nevertheless, a brave race ; nor would we think ourselves much dis- 
 honoured by mixing in battle with them. Still we are the valiant 
 Franks, who had their dwelling on the eastern banks of the Rhine 
 and of the Saale, who were converted to the Christian faith by the 
 celebrated Clovis, and are sufficient, by our numbers and courage, 
 to reconquer the Holy Land, should all Europe besides stand neutral 
 in the contest." 
 
 There are few things more painful to the vanity of a person like 
 the Princess, than the being detected in an egregious error, at the 
 moment she is taking credit to herself for being peculiarly accurately 
 informed. 
 
 " A false slave, who knew not what he was saying, 1 suppose," said 
 the Princess, " imposed upon me the behef that the Varangians were 
 the natural enemies of the Normans. I see him marching there by 
 the side of Achilles Tatius, the leader of his corps. — Call him hither, 
 you officers ! — Yonder tall man, I mean, with the battle-axe upon his 
 shoulder." 
 
 Ilereward, distinguished by liis post at the head of the squadron, 
 was summoned from thence to the presence of the Princess, where 
 he made his military obeisance with a cast of sternness in his aspect, 
 as liis glance lighted upon the proud look of the Frenchman who 
 rode beside Anna Comnena. 
 
 " Did I not understand thee, fellow," said Anna Comnena, '' to 
 have informed me, nearly a month ago, that the Normans and the 
 Franks were the same people, and enemies to the race from which 
 you spring ? " 
 
 " The Normans are our mortal enemies, Lady," answered Here- 
 ■Nvard, " by whom we were driven from our native land. The Franks 
 are subjects of the same Lord-Paramount with the Normans, and 
 therefore they neither love the Varangians, nor are beloved by 
 them." 
 
 " Good fellow," said the French Count, " you do the Franks wrong, 
 and ascribe to the Varangians, although not unnaturally, an undue 
 degree of importance, when you suppose that a race which has 
 ceased to exist as an independent nation for more than a generation, 
 can be either an object of interest or resentment to such as we are." 
 
 " I am no stranger," said the Varangiaii, " to the pride of your 
 heart, or the precedence which you assume over those who have been 
 less fortunate in 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 look forward with more pleasure than that 
 a hundred of their number should meet in a fiiir field, either with 
 the oppressive Normans, or their modern compatriots, the vain 
 Frenchmen, and let God be the judge which is most worthy of 
 victory." 
 
 "You take an insolent advantage of the chance," said the Count 
 of Paris, " which gives you an unlooked-for opportunity to brave a 
 rifihlemnn *' 
 
COUNT nOBERT OF PAIlIS. 125 
 
 "It is my sorrow and shame," said the Varangian, " tliat that 
 opportunity is not complete ; and that there is a chain around me 
 which forbids me to say, Slay me, or I'll kill thee before we part 
 from this spot ! " 
 
 " Why, thou foolish and hot-brained churl," replied the Count, 
 " what right hast thou to the honour of dying- by my blade ? Thou 
 art mad, or hast drained the ale-cup so deeply that tliou knowest not 
 what thou thinkest or sayest." 
 
 " Thou liest ! " said the Varangian ; '" though such a reproach be 
 the utmost scandal of thy race." 
 
 The Frenchman motioned his hand quicker than light to his 
 sword, but instantly withdrew it, and said with dignity, " thou canst 
 not offend me." 
 
 " But thou," said the exile, " hast offended me in a matter which 
 can only be atoned by thy manhood." 
 
 '' Where and how ? " answered the Count ; '"' although it is need- 
 less to ask the question which thou canst not answer rationally." 
 
 "Thou hast this day," answered the Varangian, "put a mortal 
 affront upon a great prince, whom thy master calls his ally, and "by 
 ^hom thou hast been received with every rite of hospitality. Him 
 thou hast affronted 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 own chiefs and princes, and the nobles from every 
 court of Europe." 
 
 " It was thy master's part to resent my conduct," said the French- 
 man, " if in reality he so much felt it as an affront." 
 
 " But that," said Hereward, " did not consist with the manners of 
 his country to do. Besides that, we trusty Varangians esteem our- 
 selves bound by our oath as much to defend our Emperor, while the 
 service lasts, on every inch of his honour as on every foot of his 
 territory ; I therefore tell thee. Sir Knight, Sir Count, or whatever 
 thou callest thyself, there is mortal quarrel between thee and the 
 Varangian guard ever and until thou hast fought it out in fair and 
 manly battle, body to body, with one of the said Imperial Varan- 
 gians, when duty and opportunity shall permit : — and so God schaw 
 tlie right ! " 
 
 As this passed in the French language, tlie meaning escaped the 
 understanding of such Imperialists as were within hearing at the 
 time ; and the Princess, who waited v/ith some astonishment till the 
 Crusader and the Varangian had finished their conference, when it 
 was oyer, said to him with interest, " I trust you feel that poor man's 
 situation to be too much at a distance from your own, to admit of 
 your meeting him in v/hat is termed knightly battle ? " 
 
 " On such a question," said the knigjit, ""l have but one answer 
 to any lady who does not, like my Brenhilda, cover lierself with a 
 sliield, and bear a sword by her side, and the heart of a knight in 
 her bosom." 
 
 " And suppose for once,'*said the Princess Anna Comnena, "that 
 I possessed such titles to your confidence, what would your answer 
 be to me ? " 
 
 ''There can be little reason for concealing it," said the Count. 
 
126 COU^'T ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " The Varang'iau is a brave man, and a strong" one ; it is contrary to 
 my vow to shun liin challeng-e, and perhaps I shall derog-ate from 
 ray rank by accepting' it ; but the world is wide, and he is yet to be 
 born who has seen Robert of Paris shun the face of mortal man. By 
 means of some g-allant officer among- the Emperor's guards, this 
 poor fellow, who nourishes so strange an ambition, shall learn that 
 he shall have his wish g-ratified." 
 
 " And then ? " said Anna Comnena. 
 
 " Why, then," said the Count, " in the poor man's own lang-uage, 
 Ood schaw the right ! " 
 
 " Which is to say," said the Princess, " that if my father has an 
 officer of his guards honourable enough to forward so pious and 
 reasonable a purpose, the Emperor must lose an all}', in whose faith 
 he puts confidence, or a most trusty and fiiithful soldier of his per- 
 sonal guard, who has distinguished himself upon many occasions ? " 
 
 "I am happy to hear," said the Count, " that the man bears such 
 a character. In truth, his ambition ought to have some foundation. 
 The more I think of it, the rather am I of opinion that there is 
 something generous, rather than derogatory, in giving to the poor 
 exile, whose thoughts are so high and noble, those privileges of a 
 man of rank, which some who were born in such lofty station are 
 too cowardly to avail themselves of. Yet despond not, noble 
 Princess ; the challenge is not yet accepted of, and if it was, the 
 issue is in the hand of God. As for me, whose trade is war, the 
 sense that 1 have something so serious to transact with this resolute 
 man, will keep me from other less honourable quarrels, in which a 
 lack of occupation might be apt to involve me." 
 
 The Princess made no farther observation, being resolved, by pri- 
 vate remonstrance to Achilles Tatius, to engage him to prevent a 
 meeting which might be fatal to the one or the other of two brave 
 men. The town now darkened before them, sparkling, at the same 
 time, through its obscurity, by the many lights which illuminated 
 the houses of the citizens. The royal cavalcade held their way to 
 the Golden Gate, where the trusty centurion put his guard under 
 ^rms 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 
 of the Blacquernal Palace, " and find as we can, the lodgings Avhich 
 we occupied last night." 
 
 " Under your favour, no," said the Empress. " You must be con- 
 tent to take your supper and repose in quarters more fitting your 
 rank ; and," added Irene, " with no worse quartermaster .than one 
 of the Imperial family who has been your travelling companion." 
 
 This the Count heard, with considerable inclination to accept the 
 Iiospitality which was so readily offered. Although as devoted as a • 
 man could v/ell be to the charms of his Brenhilda, the very idea 
 never having entered his head of preferring another's beauty to 
 hers, yet, nevertheless, he had naturally felt himself flattered by the 
 attentions of a woman of eminent beauty and very high rank ; and 
 the praises with which the Princess had loaded him had not_ entirely 
 fallen to the ground. He was no longer in the humour in which 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 127 
 
 the morniiig' Iiaci found Iiim, disposed to outrag-e the feeliiifjs of the 
 Emperor, and to insult his dig-nity ; but, flattered by the adroit 
 sycophancy which the old philosopher had learned from the schools, 
 and the beautiful Princess had been gifted with by nature, he as- 
 sented to the Empress's proposal ; the more readily, perhaps, that 
 the darkness did not permit him to see that there was distinctly a 
 shade of displeasure on the brow of Brenhilda. Whatever the 
 cause, she cared not to express it, and the married pair had just 
 entered that labyrinth of passag'es through which Hereward had 
 formerly Avandered, when a chamberlain and a female attendant, 
 richly dressed, bent the knee before them, and oifered them the 
 means and place to adjust their attire, ere they entered the Im- 
 perial presence. Brenhilda looked upon her apparel and arms, 
 spotted with the blood of the insolent Scythian, and Amazon as she 
 M^as, felt the shame of being' carelessly and improperly dressed. 
 The arms of the knight were also bloody and in disarrangement. 
 
 " Tell my female squire, Agatha, to give her attendance,"' said the 
 Countess. " She alone is iu the habit of assisting- to unarm and to 
 attire 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 are like to be the instruments most in request 1 " 
 
 " Tell Marcian, my armourer," said the Count, " to attend with 
 the silver and blue suit of plate and mail which I won in a wager 
 from the Count of Thoulouse."^ 
 
 " Might I not have the honour of adjusting' your armour," said a 
 splendidly dressed courtier, with some marks of the armourer's pro- 
 fession, '■ sine^ I have put on that of the Emperor himself? — may 
 his name be sacred ! " 
 
 " And how many rivets hast thou clenched upon the occasion with 
 this hand," said the Count, catching- hold of it, " which looks as if it 
 bad never been washed, save with milk of roses, and with tliis childish 
 toy?" pointing' to a hammer with ivory haft and silver head,-which, 
 stuck into a milk-white kid-skin apron, the official wore as badges of 
 his duty. The armourer fell back in some confusion. " His grasp," 
 he said 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 a necessary change in their apparel. Immediately after, 
 Agelastes was required to attend the Emperor, and the strangers 
 were conducted to two adjacent chambers of retirement, splendidly 
 fitted up, and placed for the present at their disposal, and that of 
 their attendants. There we shall for a time leave them, assiiming', 
 with the assistance of their own attendants, a dress which their ideas 
 regarded as most fit for a g'reat occasion ; those of the Grecian court 
 willingly keeping* apart from a task which they held nearly as for- 
 midable as assisting- at the lair of a royal tiger or his bride. ^ 
 
 Ag'elastes found the Emperor sedulously arranging his most 
 splendid court dress ; for, as in the court of Pekin, the chaug'e of 
 
 1 See Note G. Rcxymond. 
 
128 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 ceremonial attire was a great part of the ritual observed at Con- 
 stantinople. 
 
 " Thou hast done well, wise Ag-elastes," said Alexius to the philos- 
 opher, as he approached with abundance of prostrations and genu- 
 flexions—" Thou hast done well, and we are content with thee. Less 
 tlian thy wit and address must have failed in separating- from their 
 company this tameless bull, and unyoked heifer, over whom, if we 
 obtam influence, we shall command, by every account, no small 
 interest among those who esteem them the bravest in the host." 
 
 " My humble understanding-," said Agelastes, " had been infinitely 
 inferior to the management of so prudent and sagacious a scheme, 
 had it not been shaped forth and suggested by the inimitable wisdom 
 of your most sacred Imperial Highness." 
 
 " We are aware," said Alexius, " that we had the merit of blocking' 
 forth the scheme of detaining- these persons, either by their choice 
 as allies, or by main force as hostages. Their friends ere yet they 
 have missed them, will be engaged in war with the Turks, and at no 
 liberty, if the devil should suggest such an undertaking, to take 
 arms against the sacred empire. Thus, Agelastes, we shall obtain 
 hostages at least as important and as valuable as that Count of Ver- 
 mandois, whose liberty the tremendous Godfrey of Bouillon extorted 
 from us by threats of instant war," 
 
 " Pardon," said Agelastes, " if I add another reason to those whicli 
 of themselves so happily support your august resolution. It is 
 possible tliat we may, by observiog- the greatest caution and courtesy 
 towards these strangers, win them in g-ood earnest to our side." 
 
 " I conceive you, I conceive you" — said the Emperor ; " and this 
 very night I will exhibit myself to this Count and his lady in the 
 royal presence-chamber, in the richest robes which our wardrobe can 
 furnish. The lions of Solomon shall roar, the golden tree of Comnenus 
 shall display its wonders, and the feeble eyes of these Franks shall 
 be altogether dazzled by the splendour of the empire. These spec- 
 tacles cannot but sink into their minds, and dispose them to become 
 the allies and servants of a nation so much more powerful, skilful, 
 and wealthy than their own. — Thou hast something to say, Agelastes. 
 Years and long- study have made thee wise ; though we have given 
 our opinion, thou mayst speak thine own, and live." 
 
 Thrice three times did Agelastes press his brow against the hem 
 of the Emperors garment, and great seemed his anxiety to find such 
 words as might intimate his dissent from his sovereign, yet save him 
 from the informality of contradicting him expressly. 
 
 " These sacred words, in which your sacred Highness has uttered 
 your most just and accurate opinions, are undeniable, and incapable 
 of contradiction, were any vain enough to attempt to impugn them. 
 Nevertheless, be it lawful to say, that men show the wisest arguments 
 in vain to those v/ho do not understand reason, just as you would in 
 vain exhibit a curious piece of limning to the blind, or endeavour to 
 bribe, as scripture saith, a sow by the ofi'er of a precious stone. The 
 fault is not, in such case, in the accuracy of your sacred reasoning, 
 but in the obtuseness and perverseness of the barbarians to whom it 
 is applied." 
 
COUKT ROBERT OF PARIS. 12J; 
 
 "Speak more plainly," said the Emperor; "how often must we 
 tell tliee, that in cases in Avhicli we really want counsel, we know vre 
 must be contented to sacrifice ceremony?" 
 
 " Then in plain words," said Agelastes, " these European barbari- 
 ans are like no others under the cope of the universe, either on the 
 things on which they look with desire, or on those which they con- 
 sider as discouraging'. The treasures of this noble empire, so far as 
 they aftected their wishes, would merely inspire them with the desire 
 to ^0 to war with a nation possessed of so much wealth, and who, in 
 I then- self-conceited estimation, were less able to defend, than they 
 themselves are powerful to assail. Of such a description, for instance, 
 is Boheraond of Tarentum, — and such a one is many a crusader less 
 able and sagacious thL'.n he ; — for I think I need not tell your Impe- 
 rial Divinity, that he holds his own self-interest to be the devoted 
 guide of his whole conduct through this extraordinary war ; and that, 
 therefore, you can justly calculate his course, when once you are 
 aware from which point of the compass the wind of avarice and self- 
 interest breathes M'ith respect to him. But there are spirits among 
 tlie Franks of a very different nature, and who must be acted upon 
 ' by very different motives, if we would make ourselves masters of 
 their actions, and the principles by which they are governed. If it 
 were lawful to do so, I would request your Majesty to look at the 
 manner by which an artful juggler of your court achieves his imposi- 
 tion upon the eyes of spectators, yet heedfully disguises the means 
 jby which he attains his object. This people— I mean the more lofty- 
 minded of these crusaders, who act up to the pretences of the doctrine 
 which they call chivalry — despise the thirst of gold, and gold itself, 
 unless to hilt their swords, or to furnish forth some necessary ex- 
 penses, as ahke useless and contemptible. The man who can be 
 moved by the thirst of gain, they contemn, scorn, and despise, and 
 liken him, in the meanness of his objects, to the most paltry serf that 
 ever followed the plough or wielded the spade. On the other hand, 
 if it happens that they actually need gold, they are sufficiently un- 
 oeremonious in taking it where they can most easily find it. Thus, 
 they are neither easily to be bribed by giving them sums of gold, nor 
 to be starved into compliance by withholding what chance may render 
 ecessary for them. In the one case, they set no value upon the gift 
 of a little paltry yellow dross ; on 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 great and mean, by churchmen and laymen, which all mankind 
 iire fighting for, plotting for, planning for, intriguing for, and damn- 
 ing themselves for, both soul and body — by the opprobrious name of 
 yellow dross ? They are mad, Agelastes, utterly mad. Perils and 
 'dangers, penalties and scourges, are the only arguments to which 
 men who are above the universal influence which moves all others, 
 jan possibly be accessible." 
 
 " Nor are they," said Agelastes, " more accessible to fear than they 
 ire to self-interest. They are indeed, from their boyhood, brouglft 
 ap to scorn those passions which influence ordinary rainds, whether 
 
130 COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 
 
 l)y means of avarice to impel, or of fear to hold back. So much h 
 this the case, that what is enticing" to other men, must, to interest 
 them, have the piquant sauce of extreme dang-er. I told, for instance, 
 to this very hero, a legend of a Princess of Zulichium, who lay ou an 
 enchanted couch, beautiful as an angel, awaiting the chosen knig'ht who 
 should, by dispelling* her enchanted slumbers, become master of her 
 person, of her kingdom of Zulichium, and of her countless treasures ; 
 and would your Imperial Majesty believe me, I could scarce get the 
 g-allant to attend to my legend, or take any interest in the adventure, 
 till I assured him he would have to encounter a wing-ed dragon, com- 
 pared to which the largest of those in the Frank romances was but 
 like a mere dragonfly? " 
 
 " And did this move the gallant? " said the Emperor. 
 
 " So much so," replied the philosopher, " that had I not unfortu- 
 nately, by the earnestness of my description, awakened the jealousy 
 of his Penthesilea of a Countess, he had forgotten the craisade and 
 all belong-ing to it, to go in quest of Zulichium and its slumbering- 
 sovereig-n." 
 
 "Nay, then," said the Emperor, "we have in our empire (make 
 us sensible of the advantage !) innumerable tale-tellers who are not 
 possessed in the slightest deg-ree of that noble scorn of g-old which is 
 proper to the Franks, but shall, for a brace of besants, lie with the 
 devil, and beat him to boot, if in that manner we can gain, as mari- 
 ners say, the weathergag-e 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 from 
 the truth, which is little diflferent from missing a mark at archery, 
 •where the whole horizon, one point alone excepted, will alike serve 
 the shooter's purpose ; but to move the Frank as is desired, requires 
 a perfect knowledge of his temper and disposition, great caution 
 and presence of mind, and the most versatile readiness in changing 
 from one subject to another. Had I not myself been somewhat i 
 alert, I might have paid the penalty of a false step in your Majesty's j 
 service, by being flung into my own cascade by the virago whom I 
 offended." 
 
 "A perfect Thalestris!" said the Emperor; "I shall take care jj 
 what oflfence I give her." 
 
 " If I might speak and live," said Agelastes, " the Csesar Nicepho- 
 rus Briennius had best adopt the same precaution." 
 
 " Nicephorus," said the Emperor, "must settle that with our 
 daughter. I have ever told her that she gives him too much of thafc: 
 history, of M'hich a page or two is suflEiciently refreshing ; but by our 
 own self we must swear it, Agelastes, that, night after night, hearing 
 nothing else, would subdue the patience of a saint ! — Forget, good 
 Agelastes, that thou hast heard me say such a thing — more especially, 
 remember it not when thou art in presence of our Imperial wife audi 
 daughter. " 
 
 "JSTor were the freedoms taken by the Csesar beyond the bounds: 
 of an innocent gallantry," said Agelastes; "but the Countess, I must 
 needs say, is dangerous. Slie killed this day the Scythian Toxartis, 
 bv what seemed a mere fillip on the head." 
 
COUNT EGBERT OF PARIS. 131 
 
 " Hall ! " said the Emperor ; " I knew tliat Toxartis, and he was 
 like enough to deserve his death, being- a bold unscrupulous marauder. 
 Take notes, however, how it happened, the names of witnesses, &cc., 
 that, if necessary, we may exhibit the fact as a deed of aggression on 
 the part of the Count and Countess of Paris, to the assembly of the 
 crusaders." 
 
 " I trust," said Agelastcs, " your Imperial Majesty will not etisily 
 resign the golden opportunity of gaining to your standard persons 
 •whose character stands so very high in chivalry. It would cost you 
 but little to bestow upon them a Grecian island, worth a hundred of 
 their own paltry lordship of Paris ; and if it were given under the 
 condition of their expelling the infidels or the disaffected who may 
 have obtained the temporary possession, it would be so much the 
 more likely to be an acceptable offer. I need not say that the whole 
 knowledge, wisdom, and skill of the poor Agelastes is at jour Im- 
 perial Majesty's disposal." 
 
 The Emperor paused for a moment, and then said, as if on full 
 consideration, " Worthy Agelastes, I dare trust thee in this difficult 
 and somewhat dangerous matter ; but I will keep my purpose of 
 exhibiting to them the lions of Solomon, and the golden tree of our 
 Imperial house." 
 
 " To that there can be no objection," returned the philosopher; 
 *' only remember to exhibit few guards, for these Franks are like a 
 fiery horse ; when in temper he may be ridden with a silk thread, 
 but when he has taken umbrage or suspicion, as they would likely 
 do if they saw many armed men, a steel bridle would not restrain him." 
 
 "I will be cautious," said the Emperor, "in that particular, as 
 well as others. — Sound the silver bell, Agelastes, that the officers of 
 our wardrobe may attend." 
 
 " One siDgle word, while your Highness is alone," said Agelastes. 
 "Will your Imperial Majesty transf'er to me the direction of your 
 menagerie, or collection of extraordinary creatures ? " 
 
 " You make me wonder," said the Emperor, taking a signet, bear- 
 ing upon it a lion, with the legend, Vicit Leo ex tinbu Judce. " This," 
 he said, " will give thee the command of our dens. And nov/, be can- 
 did for once with thy master — for deception is thy nature even with 
 me — by what charm wilt thou subdue these untamed savages ? " 
 
 " By the power of falsehood," replied Agelastes, with deep rever- 
 ence. 
 
 " I believe thee an adept in it," said the Emperor. " And to which 
 of their foibles wilt thou address it?" 
 
 " To their love of fame," said the philosopher ; and retreated back- 
 
 I wards out of the royal apartment, as the officers of the wardrobe 
 
 entered to complete the investment of the Emperor in his Imperial 
 
 I habiliments. -''';ll* i I' J^, #• ' ' 
 
 r 
 
 i Lihrnrti, 
 
132 COUNT EGBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 CHArTER XIV. 
 
 1 will converse with iroii-witted fools, 
 And unrespective boys ; none are for me, 
 That look into me with considerate eyes ; — 
 High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect 
 
 llicharcl III. 
 
 As tlicy parted from each other, the Emperor and philosopher had 
 each their own anxious thoughts on the interview which had passed 
 between them ; thoug-hts which they expressed in broken sentences 
 and cjacuhitions, though for the better understanding of the degree 
 of estimation in which they held each other, we will give them a more 
 regular and intelligible form. 
 
 ^'Thus, then," half muttered half said Alexius, but so low as to 
 hide his meaning from the officers of the wardrobe, who entered to 
 do their office, — " thus, tlien, this bookworm — this remnant of old 
 heathen philosophy, who hardly believes, so God save me, the truth 
 of the Christian creed, has topp'd his part so well that he forces his 
 Emperor to diasemble in his presence. Beginning by being the buf- 
 foon of the court, he has wormed himself into all its secrets, made 
 liimself master of all its intrigues, conspired with my own son-in-law 
 against me, debauched my guards,— indeed so woven his web of de- 
 ceit, that my life is safe no longer, than he believes me the imperial 
 dolt which I have effected to seem, in order to deceive him ; fortu- 
 nate that even so I can escape his cautionary anticipation of ray dis- 
 pleasure, by avoiding to precipitate his measures of violence. But 
 were this sudden storm of the crusade fairly passed over, the ungrate- 
 ful Csesar, the boastful coward Achilles Tatius, and the bosom ser- 
 pent Agelastes, shall know whether Alexius Comnenus has been born 
 their dupe. When Greek meets Greek, comes the strife of subtlety, 
 as well as the tug of war." Thus saying, he resigned himself to the 
 officers of his wardrobe, who proceeded to ornament him as the solem- 
 nity required. 
 
 " I trust him not," said Agelastes, the meaning of whose gestures 
 and exclamations we, in like manner, render into a connected mean- 
 ing. " I cannot and do not trust him— he somewhat overacts his 
 part. He has borne himself upon other occasions with the shrewd 
 wit of his family the Comneni ; yet he now trusts to the effect of his 
 trumpery lions upon such a shrewd people as the Franks and Nor- 
 mans, and seems to rely upon me for the character of men with whom 
 he has been engaged in peace and war for man^ years. This can be 
 but to gain my confidence; for there were imperfect looks and 
 broken sentences, which seemed to say, ' Agelastes, the Emperor 
 knows thee, and confides not in thee.' Yet the plot is successful and 
 undiscovered, so far as can be judged ; and were I to attempt to 
 »^cede now, I were lost for ever. A little time to carry on this in- 
 i?rigue with the Frank, when possibly, by the assistance of this gallant, 
 Alexius shall exchange the crown for a cloister, or a still narrower 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 133 
 
 abode; and then, Ag'elastes, thou deservest to be blotted from the 
 roll of philosophers, if thou canst not push out of the throne the con- 
 ceited and luxurious Csesar, and reig'u in his stead, a second Marcus 
 Antoninus, when the wisdom of thy rule, lono- unfelt in a vrorld wliich 
 has been guided by tyrants and voluptuaries, shall soon obliterate 
 recollection of the manner in which thy power was acquired. To 
 work then— be active and be cautious. The time requires it, and the 
 prize deserves it." 
 
 While these thoughts passed through his mind, he arrayed himself, 
 by the assistance of Diogenes, in a clean suit of that simple apparel 
 in which he always frequented the court ; a garb as unlike that of a 
 candidate for royalty, as it was a contrast to the magnificent robes 
 with which Alexius was now investing himself. 
 
 In their separate apartments, or dressing-rooms, tlie Count of 
 Paris and his lady put on the best apparel which they had prepared 
 to meet such a chance upon their journey. Even in Franc% Robert 
 w^as seldom seen in the peaceful cap and sweeping mantle, whose 
 high plumes and flowing folds were the garb of knights in times of 
 peace. lie was now arrayed in a splendid suit of armour, nil except 
 the head, which was bare otherwise than as covered by his curled 
 locks. The rest of his person was sheathed in the complete mail of 
 the time, richly inlaid with silver, which contrasted with the azure in 
 which the steel was damasked. His spurs were upon his heels — his 
 sword was by his side, and his triangular shield was suspended round 
 his neck, bearing, painted upon it, a number oi fleurs-de-lis semees, as 
 it is called, upon the field, being the origin of those lily flowers which 
 aftertimes were reduced to three only, and Avhich were the terror of 
 Europe, until they suffered so many reverses in our own time. 
 
 The extreme height of Count Kobert's person adapted him for a 
 garb which had a tendency to make persons of a lower stature appear 
 rather dwarfish and thick when arrayed cajy-d-pie. The features, 
 with their self-collected composure, and noble contempt of whatever 
 could have astounded or shaken an ordinary mind, formed a well- 
 fitted capital to the excellently proportioned and vigorous frame 
 which they terminated. The Countess Avas in more peaceful attire ; 
 but her robes Avere short and succinct, like those of one Avho might 
 be called to hasty exercise. The upper part of her dress consisted 
 of more than one tunic, sitting close to the body, Avhile a skirt, 
 descending from the girdle, and reaching to the ankles, embroidered 
 elegantly but richly, completed an attire Avhich a lady might haA'e 
 worn in much more modern times. Her tresses Avere covered Avitli 
 a light steel head-piece, though some of them, escaping, played 
 round her face, and gave relief to those handsome features Avhich 
 might otherwise have seemed too formal, if closed entirely Avithin the 
 A'erg'e of steel. Over these under garments Avas flung a rich veh'et 
 cloak of a deep green colour, descending from the head, Avhere a 
 species of hood Avas loosely acljusted over the helmet, deeply laced 
 u|>on its verges and seams, and so long as to sAveep the ground be- 
 hind. A dagger of rich materials ornamented a girdle of curious 
 goldsmith's Avork, and Avas the only oftensive Aveapon Avhich, notAvith- 
 standing her military occupation, she bore upon this occasion. 
 
134 COUNT robeut of pakis. 
 
 The toilet — as modern times would say— of the Countess, was not 
 nearly so soon ended as that of Count Robert, who occupied his time, 
 as husbands of every period are apt to do, in little sub-acid com- 
 plaints between jest and earnest, upon tlie dilatory nature of ladies, 
 and the time which they lose in dofiing' and donnin<^ their g-arments. 
 But when the Countess Brenhilda came forth in the pride of loveli- 
 ness, from the inner chamber where she had attired herself, her 
 husband, who was still her lover, clasped her to his breast, and ex- 
 pressed his privileg-e by the kiss which he took as of right from a 
 creature so beautiful. Chiding- him for his folly, yet almost return- 
 ing- the kiss which she received, Brenhilda began now to wonder how 
 they were to find their way to the presence of the Emperor. 
 
 The query was soon solved, for a g-entie knock at thQ door an- 
 nouncea Ag-elastes, to whom, as best acquainted with the Frankish 
 manners, had been committed, by the Emperor, the charg-e of intro- 
 ducing the noble strangers. A distant sound, like that of the roar- 
 ing of a lion, or not unsimilar to a large and deep §'ong of modern 
 times, intimated the commencement of the ceremonial. The black 
 slaves upon g-uard, who, as hath been observed, were in small num- 
 bers, stood ranged in their state dresses of white and gold, bearing 
 in one hand a naked sabre, and in the other a torch of white wax, 
 which served to guide the Count and Countess through the passages 
 that led to the interior of the palace, and to the most secret hall of 
 audience. 
 
 The door of this sanctum sanctorum was lower than usual, a simple 
 stratagem devised by some superstitious officer of the Imperial house- 
 hold, to compel the lofty-crested Frank to lower his body, as he pre- 
 sented himself in the Imperial presence. Robert, when the door 
 flew open, and he discovered in the background the Emperor seated 
 upon his throne amidst a glare of light, which was broken and 
 reflected in ten thousand folds by the jewels with which his vest- 
 ments were covered, stopt short, and demanded the meaning of 
 introducing him through so low an arch ? Agelastes pointed, to the 
 Emperor by way of shifting from himself a question which he could 
 not have answered. The mute, to apologise for his silence, yaAvned, 
 and showed the loss of his tongue. 
 
 "Holy Virgin!" said the Countess, "what can these unhappy 
 Africans have done to have deserved a condemnation which involves 
 so cruel a fate ? " 
 
 "The hour of retribution is perhaps come," said the Count, in a 
 displeased tone, while Agelastes, with such hurry as time and place 
 permitted, entered, making his prostrations and genuflexions, little 
 doubting that the Frank must follow him, and to do so must lower 
 his body to the Emperor. The Count, however, in the height of 
 displeasure at the trick which he conceived had been intended him, 
 turned himself round, and entered the presence-chamber with his 
 back purposely turned to the sovereign, and did not face Alexius 
 until lie reached the middle of the apartment, when he was joined 
 by the Countess, who had made her approach in a more seemly man- 
 ner. The Emperor, who had prepared to acknowledge the Count's 
 expected homage in the most gracious manner, found himself now 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 135 
 
 cren more uupleasantly circumstanced than when this uncompromis- 
 ing- Frank had usurped the royal throne in the course of the day. 
 
 The officers and nobles v/ho stood around, though a very select 
 number, were more numerous than usual, as the meeting- was not 
 held for counsel, but merely for state. These assumed such an ap- 
 pearance of mingled displeasure and confusion as might best suit 
 with the perplexity of Alexius, while the wily features of the Nor- 
 man-Italian, Bohemond of Tarentum, who was also present, had a 
 singular mixture of fantastical glee and derision. It is the misfor-* 
 tune of the weaker on such occasions, or at least the more timid, to 
 be obliged to take the petty part of winking hard, as if not able to 
 see what they cannot avenge. 
 
 Alexius made the signal that the ceremonial of the grand recep- 
 tion should immediately commence. Instantly the lions of Solomon, 
 which had been newly furbished, raised their heads, erected their 
 manes, brandished their tails, until they excited the imagination of 
 Count Robert, who, being already on fire at the circumstances of 
 his reception, conceired tlie bellowing of these automata to be the 
 actual annunciation of immediate assault. Whether the lions whose 
 forms he beheld were actually lords of the forest, — whether they were 
 mortals who had suffered transformation, — whether they were pro- 
 ductions of the skill of an artful jugo-ler, or profound naturalist, the 
 Count neither knew nor cared. Alt that he thought of the danger 
 was, that it was worthy of his courage ; nor did his heart permit him 
 a moment's irresolution. He strode to the nearest lion, which seemed 
 in the act of springing up, and said, in a tone loud and formidable as 
 its own, '•' How now, dog ! " At the same time he struck the figure 
 with his clenched fist and steel gauntlet with so much force that its 
 liead burst, and the steps and carpet of the throne were covered with 
 wheels, springs, and other machinery, which had been the means of 
 producing its mimic terrors. 
 
 On this display of the real nature of the cause of his anger, Count 
 Robert could not but feel a little ashamed of having given wav to 
 passion on such an occasion. He was still more confused when 
 Bohemond, descending from his station near the Emperor, addressed 
 him in the Frank language : — " You have done a gallant deed, truly, 
 Count Robert, in.freeing the court of Byzantium from an object of 
 fear which has long been used to frighten peevish children and un- 
 ruly barbarians ! " 
 
 Enthusiasm has no greater enemy than ridicule. "Why, then," 
 said Count Robert, blushing deeply at the same time, "did they 
 exhibit its fantastic terrors to me ? I am neither child nor barbarian." 
 
 "Address yourself to the Emperor, then, as an intelligent man," 
 answered Bohemond. " Say something to him in excuse of your 
 conduct, and show that our bravery has not entirely run away with 
 our common sense. And hark you also, while I have a moment's 
 speech of you, — do you and your wife heedfully follow my example 
 at supper ! " These words were spoken with a significant tone and 
 corresponding look. 
 
 The opinion of Bohemond, from his long intercourse, both in peace 
 and war, with the Grecian Emperor, gave him great influence with 
 
136 CuU^l KOBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 the other crusaders, and Count Robert yielded to his advice. He 
 turned towards the Emperor with something liker an obeisance than 
 he had hitherto paid. " I crave your pardon," he said, " for breaking- 
 that g'ikled piece of pageantry; but, in sooth, the wonders of sorcery, 
 and the portents of accomplished and skilful jugglers, are so numer- 
 ous in this country, that one does not clearly distinguish what is true 
 from what is false, or what is real from what is illusory." 
 
 The Emperor, notwithstanding the presence of mind for which he 
 was remarkable, and the courage in which he was not held by his 
 countrymen to be deficient, received this apology somewhat awk- 
 wardly. Perhaps the rueful complaisance with which he accepted 
 the Count's apology might be best compared to that of a lady of the 
 present day when an awkward guest has broken a valuable piece of 
 chine. He muttered something* about the machines having been 
 long preserved in the Imperial family, as being made on the model 
 of those which guarded the throne of the wise King of Israel; to 
 which the blunt plain-spoken Count expressed his doubt, in reply, 
 whether the wisest prince in the world ever condescended to frighten 
 his subjects or guests by the mimic roarings of a wooden lion. " If," 
 said he, "I too hastily took it for a living creature, I have had the 
 worst, by damaging" my excellent gauntlet in dashing to pieces its 
 timber skull." 
 
 The Emperor, after a little more had been said, chiefly on the 
 same subject, proposed that they should pass to the banquet-room. 
 Marshalled, accordingly, by the grand sewer of the Imperial table, 
 and attended by all present, excepting the Emperor and the imme- 
 diate members of his family, the Frankish guests were guided through 
 a labyrinth of apartments, each of which was filled with wonders of 
 nature and art, calculated to enhance their opinion of the wealth 
 and grandeur which had assembled together so much that was won- 
 derful. Their passage being necessarily slow and interrupted, gave 
 the Emperor time to change his dress, according to the ritual of Jiis 
 court, which did not permit his appearing twice in the same vesture 
 before the same spectators. He took the opportunity to summon 
 Agelastes into his presence, and, that their conference miglit be 
 secret, he used, in assisting' his toilet, the agency of some of the 
 mutes destined for the service of the interior. 
 
 The temper of Alexius Comnenus was considerably moved, although 
 it was one of the peculiarities of his situation to be ever under ^^e 
 necessity of disguising the emotions of his mind, and of affecting, in 
 presence of his subjects, a superiority to human passion, which he 
 was far from feeling. It was therefore with gravity, and even re- 
 prehension, that he asked, "By whose error it was that the wily 
 Bohemond, half-Italian, and half-Norman, was present at this inter- 
 view ? Surely, if there be one in the crusading army likely to con- 
 duct that foolish youth and his wife behind the scenes of the exhibi- 
 tion by which we hoped to impose upon them, the Count of Taren- 
 tum, as he entitles himself, is that person." 
 
 " It was that old man," said Agelastes, " (if I may re])ly and live), 
 Michael Cantacuzene, who deemed that his presence was peculiarly 
 desired ; but he returns to the camp this very night." 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 137 
 
 "Yes," said Alexius, "to inform Godfrey, and the rest of the 
 crusaders, that one of the boldest and most highly esteemed of tlieir 
 number is left, with his wife, a hostag-e in our Imperial city, and to 
 bring- back, perhaps, an alternative of instant war, unless "they are 
 delivered up ! " 
 
 " If it is your Imperial Ilig'hness's will to think so," said Ag-elas- 
 tes, "you can suffer Count Robert and his wife to return to the camp 
 with the Italian-Norman." 
 
 " What ?" answered the Emperor, "and so lose all the fruits of 
 an enterprise, the preparations for which have already cost us so 
 much in actual expense ; and, were our heart made of the same 
 stuff with that^ of ordinary mortals, v/ould have cost us so much 
 more in vexation and anxiety ? No, no ; issue warning- to the 
 crusadera, who are still on the hither side, that farther rendering- 
 of homag-e is dispensed with, and that they repair to the quays on 
 the banks of the Bosphorus, by peep of light to-morrow. Let our 
 ndmiral, as he values his head, pass every man of them over to the 
 A'arthcr side before noon. Let there be largesses, a princely banquet 
 on the fiirther bank — all that may increase their anxiety to pass. 
 Then, Agelastes, we will trust to ourselves to meet this additional 
 danger, either by bribing the venality of Bohemond, or by bidding- 
 defiance to the crusaders. Their forces are scattered, and the chief 
 of them, with the leaders themselves, are all now — or by far the 
 greater part — on the east side of the Bosphorus. — And now to the 
 banquet ! seeing that the change of dress has been made sufficient) 
 to answer the statutes of the household ; since our ancestors cliose 
 to make rules for exhibiting us to our subjects, as priests exhibit 
 their images at their shrines ! " 
 
 "Under grant of life," said Agelastes, "it was not done incon- 
 siderately, but in order that the Emperor, ruled over by the same 
 laws from father to son, might ever be regarded as something be- 
 yond the common laws of humanity— the divine image of a saint, 
 therefore, rather than a human being." 
 
 "We know it, good Agelastes," answered the Emperor, with a 
 smile, " and we are also aware that many of our subjects, like the wor- 
 shippers of Bel in holy writ, treat us so far as an image, as to assist 
 us in devouring the revenues of our provinces, which are gathered in 
 our name, and for our use. These things we now only touch lightly, 
 the time not suiting them." 
 
 Alexius left the secret council accordingly, after the order for the 
 passage of the crusaders had been written out and subscribed in due 
 form, and in the sacred ink of the Imperial chancery. 
 
 ^Icantime, the rest of the company had arrived in a hall, whicii, 
 like the other apartments in the palace, was most tastefully as well 
 as gorgeously fitted up, except that a table, which presented a 
 princely banquet, might have been deemed faulty in this respect, 
 that the dishes, which were most splendid, both in the materials of 
 which they were composed, and in the viands which they held, were 
 elevated by means of feet, so as to he upon a level with female 
 guests as they sat, and with men as they lay recumbent at the ban- 
 quet which it offered. 
 
138 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 Around stood a luimber of black slaves richly attired, wliile the 
 grand sewer, Michael Cantacuzene, arranged tiie strangers with his 
 golden wand, and conveyed orders to them, by signs, that all should 
 remain standing around the table, until a signal should be given. 
 
 The upper end of the board, thus furnished, and thus surrounded, 
 was hidden by a curtain of muslin and silver, which fell from the top 
 of the arch under which the upper part seemed to pass. On this 
 curtain the sewer kept a wary eye ; and when he observed it slightly 
 shake, he waved his wand of office, and all expected the result. 
 
 As is self-moved, the mystic curtain arose, and discovered behind 
 it a throne eight steps higher than the end of the table, decorated in 
 the most magnificent manner, and having placed before it a small 
 table of ivory inlaid with silver, behind which was seated Alexius 
 Comnenus, in a dress entirely different from what he had worn in the 
 course of the day, and so much more gorgeous than his former vest- 
 ments, that it seemed not unnatural that his subjects should pros- 
 trate themselves before a figure so splendid. His wife, liis daughter, 
 and his son-in-law the Ceesar, stood behind him with faces bent to the 
 ground, and it was with deep humility, that, descending from the 
 throne at the Emperor's command, they mingled with the guests of 
 the lower table, and, exalted as they were, proceeded to the festive 
 board at the signal of the grand sewer. So that they could not be 
 said to partake of the repast with the Emperor, nor to be placed at 
 the Imperial table, although they supped in his presence, and were 
 encouraged by his repeated request to them to make good cheer. 
 Ko dishes presented at the lower table were offered at the higher; 
 but wines, and more delicate sorts of food, which arose before the 
 Emperor as if by magic, and seemed designed for his own proper 
 use, were repeatedly sent, by his special directions, to one or other 
 of the guests whom Alexius delighted to honour — among these the 
 Franks being particularly distinguished. 
 
 The behaviour of Bohemond was on this occasion particularly 
 remarkable. 
 
 Count Robert, who kept an eye upon him, both from his recent 
 words, and owing to an expressive look which he once or twice 
 darted towards him, observed, that in no liquors or food, not even 
 those sent from the Emperor's OAvn table, did this astucious prince 
 choose to indulge. A piece of bread, taken from the canister at 
 random, and a glass of pure water, was the only refreshment of 
 which he was pleased to partake. His alleged excuse was, the 
 veneration due to the Holy Festival of the Advent, M'hicli chanced 
 to occur that very night, and v,-liich both the Greek and Latin rule 
 agree to hold sacred. 
 
 "I had not expected this of you, Sir Bohemond," said the Em- 
 peror, " that you should have refused my personal hospitality at my 
 own board, on the very day on which you honoured me by entering 
 into my service as vassal for the principality of Antioch." 
 
 "Antiochis not yet conquered," said Sir Bohemond; "and con- 
 science, dread sovereign, must always have its exceptions, in what- • 
 ever temporal contracts v>^e may engage." 
 
 " Come, gentle Count,'"' said the Emperor, Avho obviously regarded 
 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 139 
 
 Boi'iemond's inhospitable liumour as something arising' more from 
 suspicion than devotion. '•' we invite, thoug^h it is not our custom^ our 
 chifdren, our noble g-uests, and our principal officers here present, to 
 a general carouse. Fill the cups called the Nine Muses ! let them 
 be brimful of the wine which is said to be sacred to the Imperial 
 lips ! " 
 
 At the Emperor's command the cups were filled ; they were of pure 
 g'old, and there was richly engraved upon each the effigy of the IMuse 
 to whom it was dedicated. 
 
 " You at least " said the Emperor, " my gentle Count Robert, you 
 and your lovely lady, will not have any scruple to pledge your Im- 
 perial host ? " 
 
 "' If that scruple is to imply suspicion of the provisions with which 
 we are here served, I disdain to nourish such," said Count Robert. 
 " If it is a sin which I commit by tasting wine to-night, it is a venial 
 one ; nor shall I greatly augment my load by carrying it, with the 
 rest of my trespasses, to the next confessional." 
 
 " Will you then, Prince Bohemond, not be ruled by the conduct 
 of your friend ?" said the Emperor. 
 
 " Methinks," replied the Norman-Italian, '•' my friend might have 
 done better to have been ruled by mine ; but be it as his wisdom 
 pleases. _ The flavour of such exquisite wine is sufficient for me." 
 
 So saying, he emptied the wine into another goblet, and seemed 
 alternately to admire the carving of the cup, and the flavour of what 
 it had lately contained. 
 
 " You are right, Sir Bohemond," said the Emperor ; " the fiibric 
 of that cup is beautiful ; it was done by one of the ancient gravers 
 of Greece. The boasted cup of Nestor, which Homer has handed 
 dov/n to us, was a good deal larger perhaps, but neither equalled 
 these in the value of the material, nor the exquisite beauty of the 
 workmanship. Let each one, therefore, of my stranger guests, 
 accept of the cup which he either has or might have drunk out of, 
 as a recollection of me ; and may the expedition against the infidels 
 be as propitious as their confidence and courage deserve ! " 
 
 " If I accept your gift, mighty Emperor," said Bohemond, " it is 
 only to atone for the apparent discourtesy, when my devotion com- 
 pels me to decline your Imperial pledge, and to show you that we 
 part on the most intimate terms ot friendship." 
 
 _So saying, he bowed deeply to the Emperor, who answered hini 
 with a smile, into which was tlirown a considertible portion of 
 sarcastic expression. 
 
 " And I," said the Count of Paris, " having taken upon my con- 
 science the fault of meeting your Imperial pledge, may stand excused 
 from incurring the blame of aiding to dismantle your table of these 
 curious drinking cups. We empty them to your health, and we can- 
 not in any other respect profit by them." 
 
 '•' But Prince Bohemond can," said the Em.peror ; " to whose quar- 
 ters they shall be carried, sanctioned by your generous use. And 
 we have still a set for you, and for your lovely Countess, equal to 
 that of the Graces, though no longer matching in number the 
 nymphs of Parnassus. — The evening bell rings, and calls us to re- 
 
140 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 member the hour of rest, that we may be ready to meet the labours 
 of to-morrow." 
 
 The party then broke up for the eveniii*^. Bohemond left the 
 palace that night, not forg-etting" the Muses, of whom he was not in 
 general a devotee. The result was, as the wily Greek had intended, 
 that he had established between Bohemond and the Count, not in- 
 deed a quarrel, but a kind of difference of opinion ; Bohemond feel- 
 ing that the fiery Count of Paris must think his conduct sordid and 
 avaricious, while Count Robert was far less inclined than before to 
 rely on him as a counsellor. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 The Count of Paris and his lady were that night lodged in tlie 
 Imperial Palace of Blacquernal. Their apartments were contiguous, 
 but the commimication between them was cut off for the night by the 
 mutual door being locked and barred. They marvelled somewhat 
 at this precaution. The observance, however, of the festival of the 
 Church, was pleaded as an admissible, and not unnatural, excuse for 
 this extraordinary circumstance. Neither the Count nor his lady 
 entertained, it may be believed, the slightest personal fear for any- 
 thing which could happen to them. Their attendants, Marcian and 
 Agatha, having assisted their master and mistress in the performance 
 of their usual offices, left them, in order to seek the places of repose 
 assigned to them among persons of their degree. 
 
 The preceding day had been one of excitation, and of much bustle 
 and interest; perhaps, also, the wine, sacred to the Imperial lips, of 
 which Count Robert had taken a single, indeed, but a deep draught, 
 was more potent than the delicate and high-flavoured juice of the 
 Gascogne grape, to which he was accustomed ; at any rate, it seemed 
 to liim that, from the time he felt that he had slept, daylight ought 
 to have been broad in his chamber when he awaked, and yet it was 
 still darkness almost palpable. Somewhat surprised, he gazed eagerly 
 around, but could discern nothing, except two balls of red light which 
 shone from among the darkness with a self-emitted brilliancy, like 
 the eyes of a wild animal while it glares upon its prey. The Count 
 started from bed to put on his armour, a necessary precaution if 
 what he saw should really be a wild creature and at liberty : but the 
 instant he stirred, a deep «-rowl was uttered, sucli as the Count had 
 never heard, but which might be compared to the sound of a thou- 
 sand monsters at once; and, as the symphony, Avas heard the clash of 
 iron chains, and the springing of a monstrous creature towards the 
 bedside, which appeared, however, to be withheld by some fastening 
 from attaining the end of its bound. The roars which it uttered now 
 ran thick on each otlier. They were most tremendous, and must 
 have been heard throughout the whole palace. The creature seemed 
 to gather itself many yards nearer to the bed than by its glaring eye- 
 balls it appeared at first to be stationed, and how much nearer, or 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 141 
 
 vihsit dog-roc of motion, might place him within the monster's reach, 
 the Count was totally uncertain. Its hreathing- was even heard, and 
 Count Robert thought he felt the heat of its respiration, while his 
 defenceless limbs might not be two yards distant from the fangs 
 ! which he heard grinding against each other, and the claws which 
 tore up fragments of wood from the oaken floor. The Count of 
 Paris was one of the bravest men who lived in a time when bravery 
 was the universal property of all who claimed a drop of noble blood, 
 and the knight was a descendant of Charlemagne. He was, however, 
 a man, and therefore cannot be said to have endured unappalled a 
 sense of danger so unexpected and so extraordinary. But his was 
 not a sudden alarm or panic, it was a calm sense of extreme peril, 
 qualified by a resolution to exert his faculties to the uttermost, to 
 save his life if it were possible. He withdrew himself within the 
 bed, no longer a place of rest, being thus a few feet further from the 
 two o'laring eyeballs which remained so closely fixed upon him, that, 
 in spite of his courage, nature painfully suggested the bitter imagin- 
 ation of his limbs being mangled, torn, and churned with their life- 
 blood, in the jaws of some monstrous beast of prey. One saving 
 thought alone presented itself — this might be a trial, an experiment. 
 of the philosopher Agelastes, or of the Emperor his master, for the 
 purpose of proving the courage of which the Christians vaunted so 
 highly, and punishing the thoughtless insult which the Count had 
 been unadvised enough to put upon the Emperor the preceding day. 
 
 " Well is it said," he reflected in his agony, " beard not the lion in 
 his den ! Perhaps even now some base slave deliberates whether I 
 have yet tasted enough of the preliminary agonies of death, and 
 whether he shall yet slip the chain which keeps the savage from 
 doing his work. But come death when it Avill, it shall never be said 
 that Count Robert was heard to receive it with prayers for compas- 
 sion, or with cries of pain or terror." He turned his face to the wall, 
 and waited, with a strong mental exertion, the death which he con- 
 ceived to be fast approaching. 
 
 His first feelings had been unavoidably of a selfish nature. The 
 danger was too instant, and of a description too horrible, to admit 
 of any which involved a more comprehensive view of his calamity ; 
 and other reflections of a more distant kind, were at first swallowed 
 up in the all-engrossing thought of immediate death. But as his 
 ideas became clearer, the safety of his Countess rushed upon his 
 mind— what might she now be sufiering! and, while he was subjected 
 to a trial so extraordinary, for what were her weaker frame and 
 female courage reserved ? Was she still within a few yards of him, 
 as when he lay down the last night ? or had the barbarians, who had 
 devised for him a scene so cruel, availed themselves of his and his 
 lady's incautious confidence, to inflct upon her some villany of the 
 same kind, or even ^et more perfidious? Did she sleep or wake, or 
 could she sleep within the close hearing of that horrible cry, which 
 shook all around ? He resolved to utter her name, warning her, if 
 possible to be upon her guard, and to answer without venturing 
 rashly into the apartment which contained a guest so horribly 
 perilous. 
 
142 COUNT ROBERT OF PAPaS. 
 
 He uttered, therefore, his wife's name, but in trembling- accents, 
 fis if he had been afraid of the savage beast overhearing' him. 
 
 " Brenhilda ! Brenhilda ! — there is danger — awake, and speak to 
 me, but do not arise. " There was no answer. — "What am I become," 
 he said to himself, "that I call upon Brenhilda of Aspramonte, like 
 a child on its sleeping- nurse, and all because there is a wild-cat in 
 the same room with me ? Shame on thee, Count of Paris ! Let thy 
 arms be rent, and thy spurs be hacked from thy heels ! — What ho !" 
 he cried aloud, but still with a tremulous voice, " Brenhilda, we are 
 beset, the foe are upon us !— Answer me, but stir not.'' 
 
 A deep grov/1 from the monster which g-arrisoned his apartment 
 was the only answer. The sound seemed to say, " Thou hast no 
 hope!" and it ran to the knight's bosom as the g-enuine expression 
 of despair. 
 
 "Perhaps, however, I am still too cold in making- my misery 
 known. What ho ! my love ! Brenhilda ! " 
 
 A voice, hollow and disconsolate as that which might have served 
 an iriiiabitant of the grave, answered as if from a distance. " What 
 disconsolate wretch art thou, who expectest that the living can 
 answer thee from the habitations of the dead?" 
 
 "I am a Christian man, a free noble of the kingdom of France," 
 answered the Count. " Yesterday the captain of five hundred men, 
 the bravest in France — the bravest, that is, who breathe mortal air 
 — vand I am here without a glimpse of light, to direct m.e how to 
 avoid the corner in which lies a wild tiger-cat, prompt to spring 
 upon and to devour me." 
 
 " Thou art an example," replied the voice, "and wilt not long be 
 the last, of the changes of fortune. I, who am now suffering in my 
 third year, was that mighty Ursel, who rivalled Alexius Comnenus 
 for the Crown of Greece, was betrayed by my confederates, and 
 being deprived of that eyesight which is the chief blessing of human- 
 ity, I inhabit these vaults, no distant neighbour of the wild animals 
 by whom they are sometimes occupied, and whose cries of joy I hear 
 when unfortunate victims like thyself are delivered up to their fury;" 
 
 "Didst thou not then hear," said Count Robert, in return, ''a 
 warlike guest and his bride conducted hither last night, with sounds 
 as it might seem of bridal music?— 0, Brenhilda! hast thou, so 
 young— so beautiful— been so treacherously done to death by means 
 BO unutterably horrible ! " 
 
 " Think not," answered Ursel, as the voice had called its owner, 
 " that the Greeks pamper their wild beasts on such lordly fare. For 
 their enemies, which term includes not only all that are really such, 
 but all those whom they fear or hate, they have dungeons whose 
 locks never revolve ; hot instruments of steel, to sear the eyeballs in 
 the head; lions and tigers, when it pleases them to make a speedy 
 end_ of their captives — but these are only for the male prisoners. 
 While for the women — if they be young and beautiful, the princes of 
 the land have places in their bed and bower ; nor are they employed, 
 like the captives of Agamemnon's host, to draw water from an argive 
 spring, but are admired and adored by those whom fate Ims mado 
 the lords of their destiny." 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 143 
 
 " Such shall never be the doom of Brenliilda ! " exclaimed Count 
 Robert ; " her husband still lives to assist her, and should he die, she 
 knows well how to follow him without leaving a blot in the epitaph 
 of either." 
 
 The captive did not immediately reply, and a short pause ensued, 
 which was broken by Ursel's voice. "Stranger," he said, "what 
 noise is that I hear?" 
 
 "Nay, I hear nothing-," said Count Robert. 
 
 " But I do," said Ursel. " The cruel deprivation of my eyesight 
 renders my other senses more acute." 
 
 " Disquiet not thyself about the matter, fellow prisoner," answered 
 the Count, " but wait the event in silence." 
 
 Suddenly a light arose in the apartment, lurid, red, and smoky. 
 The knight had bethought him of a flint and match which he usually 
 carried about him, and with as little noise as possible had lighted 
 the torch by the bedside; this he instantly applied to the curtains of 
 the bed, which being of thin muslin, were in a moment in flanaes. 
 The knight sprung, at the same instant, from his bed. The tiger, 
 for such it was, terrified at the flame, leaped backwards as far as his 
 chain would permit, heedless of anything save this new object of ter- 
 ror. Count Robert upon this seized on a massive w^ooden stool, 
 which was the only ofi"ensive weapon on which he could lay his hand, 
 and, marking at those eyes which now reflected the blaze of fire, and 
 which had recently seemed so appalling, he discharged against them 
 this fragment of ponderous oak, with a force which less resembled 
 human strength than the impetus with which an engine hurls a stone. 
 He had employed his instant of time so well, and his aim was so 
 true, that the missile went right to the mark and with incredible 
 force. The skull of the tiger, Avhich might be, perhaps somewhat 
 exaggerated if described as being of the very largest size, was frac- 
 tured by the blow, and with the assistance of his dagger, which had 
 fortunately been left with him, the French Count despatched the 
 monster, and had the satisfaction to see him grin his last, and roll, 
 in the agony of death, those eyes which v/ere lately so formidable. 
 
 Looking around him he discovered, by the light of the fire which 
 he had raised, that the apartment in which he now lay was different 
 from that in which he had gone to bed overnight ; nor could there 
 be a stronger contrast between the furniture of both than the flicker- 
 ing half-burnt remains of the thin muslin curtains and the strong, 
 bare, dungeon-looking walls of the room itself, or the very service- 
 able wooden stool, of which he had made such good use. 
 
 • The knight had no leisure to form conclusions upon such a sub- 
 ject. He hastily extinguished the fire, which had, indeed, nothing 
 that it could lay hold of^ and proceeded, by the hght of the flambeau, 
 to examine the apartment and its means of entrance. It is scarce 
 necessary to say that he saw no communication with the room of 
 Brenhilda, which convinced him that they had been separated the 
 evening before under pretence of devotional scruples, in order to 
 . accomplish some most villanous design upon one or both of them. 
 Hif- own part of the night's adventure we have already seen, and 
 sucress so far over so formidable a danger, gave him a trembling 
 
144 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 hope tlmt Breiiliildn, by licr own worth and valour, would be able 
 to defend herself ag'ain.st all attacks of fraud or force, until he. could 
 find his way to her rescue. " I should have paid more re^^'ard," he 
 said, *•' to Boheraond's caution last nig'lit, who, I think, intimated to 
 me as plainly as if he had spoken it in direct terms, that that same 
 cup of wine was a drug-g-ed potion. But, then, fie upon him for an 
 avaricious hound ! how was it possible I should think he suspected 
 any such thing- when he spoke not out like a man, but, for sheer 
 coldness of heart or base self-interest, suflFered me to run the risk of 
 being" poisoned by the wily despot ? " 
 
 Here he heard a voice from the same quarter as before. '• Ho, 
 there ! Ho, strang-er ! Do you live, or have you been murdered ? 
 What means this stifling smell of smoke ? For God's sake, an- 
 swer him who can receive no information from eyes, closed, alas, 
 for ever ! " 
 
 "1 am at liberty," said the Count, "and the monster destined to 
 devour me has groaned its last. I would, my friend Ursel, since 
 such is thy name, thou hadst the advantage of thine eyes, to have 
 borne witness to yonder combat; it had been worth thy while, 
 though thou shouldst have lost them a minute afterwards, and it 
 would have greatly advantaged whoever shall have the task of com- 
 piling my history." 
 
 While he gave a thought to that vanity which strongly ruled him, 
 he lost no time in seeking some mode of escape from the dungeon, 
 for by that means only might he hope to recover his Countess. At 
 last he found an entrance in the wall, but it was strongly locked 
 and bolted. " I have found the passage," he called out ; and its 
 direction is the same in which thy voice is heard — But how shall I 
 undo the door ? " 
 
 " I'll teach thee that secret," said Ursel. " I would I could as 
 easily unlock each bolt that withholds us from the open air ; but, as 
 for thy seclusion within the dungeon, heave up the door by main 
 strength, and thou shalt lift the locks to a place where, pushing then 
 the door from thee, the fastenings will find a grooved passage in the 
 wall, and the door itself will open. Would that I could indeed see 
 thee, not only because, being a gallant man, thou must be a goodly 
 sight, but also because I should thereby know that I was not 
 cavern ed in darkness for ever." 
 
 While he spoke thus, the Count made a bundle of his armour, 
 from which he missed nothing except his sword, Tranchefer, and 
 then proceeded to try what efforts he could make, according to the 
 blind man's instructions, to open the door of his prison-house. 
 Pushing in a direct line was, he soon found, attended with no 
 efl'ect ; but when he applied his gigantic strength, and raised the 
 door as high as it would go, he had the satisfaction to find that the 
 bolts yielded, though reluctantly. A space had been cut so as to 
 allow them to move out of the socket into which they had been 
 forced ; and without the turn of a key, but by a powerful thrust for- 
 wards, a small passage was left open. The knight entered, bearing 
 his armour in his hand. 
 
 " I hear thee," said Ursel, " stranger ! and am aware thou art 
 
COUNT nOBEIlT OF VAV.lS. 145 
 
 come into my place of captivit}'. For three 3-cars have I been em- 
 ph^yed in cutting- tliese g-rooves, corres])onding- to tlie sockets which 
 hold these iron bolts, and preserving- the ki:iowledg'e of the secret 
 from the prison-keepers. Twenty such bolts, perhaps, must be 
 sawn through ere my stops shall approach the upper air. What 
 prospect is there that I shall have strength of mind sufficient to 
 continue the task ? Yet, credit me, noble stranger, I rejoice in 
 having been thus far aiding- to thy deliverance; for if Heaven blesses 
 not, in any farther degree, our aspirations after freedom, we may 
 still be a comfort to each other while tyranny permits our mutual 
 life." 
 
 Count Robert looked around and shuddered that a liuman being" 
 should talk of anything- approaching- to comfort connected with his 
 residence in what seemed a living- tomb. Ursel's dungeon was not 
 above twelve feet square, vaulted in the roof, and strongly built in 
 the walls by stones which tlie cliisel had morticed closely tog-ether. 
 A bed, a coarse footstool, like that which Robert had just launched 
 at tlie head of the tiger, and a table of equally massive materials, 
 were its only articles of furniture. On a long- stone, above the bed, 
 were these few but terrible words : " Zedekias Ursel, imprisoned 
 
 here on the Ides of March, a.d. . Died and interred on the 
 
 spot"' — A blank was left for filling up the period. The figure of 
 the captive could hardly be discerned amid the wildness of his 
 dress and dishabille. The hair of his head, uncut and uncombed, 
 descended in elf-locks, and ming-led with a beard of extravagant 
 length. 
 
 "Look on me," said the captive, "and rejoice that thou canst yet 
 see the wretched condition to which iron-hearted tyranny can reduce 
 a fellow-creature, both in mortal existence and in future hope." 
 
 " Was it thou," said Count Robert, Avhose blood ran cold in his 
 veins, '' that hadst the heart to spend thy time in sawing- through the 
 blocks of stone by which these bolts are'secured?" 
 
 " Alas ! " said IJrsel, " what could a blind man do ? Busy I must 
 be, if 1 would preserve my senses. Great as the labour vvas, it was 
 to me the task of three years; nor can you wonder that I should 
 have devoted to it my whole time, when I had no other means of 
 occupying- it. Perhaps, and most likely, my dung-eon does not admit 
 the distinction of day and night ; but a distant cathedral clock told 
 me how hour after hour fled away, and found me exjjcnding- them in 
 rubbing- one stone against ariother. But when the door gave way, 
 I found I had only cut an access into a prison more strong than that 
 which held me. I rejoice, nevertheless, since it has brought us to- 
 g-ether, given thee an entrance to my dung-eon, and me a companion 
 in my misery." 
 
 "Think better than that," said Count Robert, "think of liberty- 
 think of revenge! I cannot beHeve such unjust treachery will end 
 successfully, else needs must I say, the heavens are less just than 
 priests tell us of. How art thou supplied with food in this dung-eou 
 of thine?" 
 
 "A warder," said Ursel, "and who, I think, understands not the 
 Greek language— at least he never either answers or addresses mo 
 
 h 
 
146 COUNT llOBERT OF TAKIS. 
 
 — briiig-s a loaf and a pitcher of water, enough to supply my miser- 
 able life till two days are past. I must, therefore, pray that you will 
 retire for a space into the next prison, so that the warder may have 
 no means of laiowing- that we can hold correspondence together." 
 
 "I see not," said Count Robert, "by what access the barbarian, if 
 he is one, can enter my dungeon without passing through yours ; but 
 no matter, I will retire into the inner or outer room, whichever it 
 happens to be, and be thou then well aware that the warder will 
 have some one to grapple Avith ere he leaves his prison work to-day. 
 Meanwhile, think thyself dumb as thou art blind, and be assured thai 
 the oft'er of freedom itself would not induce me to desert the cause 
 of a companion in adversity." 
 
 "Alas," said the old man, "I hsten to thy promises as I should to 
 those of the morning gale, which tells me that the sun is about to 
 rise, although I know that I at least shall never behold it. Thou art ' 
 one of those wild and undespairing knights, whom for so many years 
 the west of Europe hath sent forth to attempt impossibilities, and 
 from thee, therefore, I can only hope for such a fabric of relief as an 
 idle boy would blow out of soap-bubbles." 
 
 " Think better of us, old man," said Count Robert, retiring ; 
 least let me die with my blood warm, and believing it possible for me 
 to be once more united to my beloved Breuhilda." 
 
 So saying', he retired into his own cell, and replaced the door, so 
 that the operations of Ursel, wliich indeed were only such as three 
 years' solitude could have achieved, should escape observation when 
 again visited by the warder. " It is ill luck," said he, when once more 
 •witliin his own prison— for that in which the tiger had been secured, 
 he instinctively concluded to be destined for him— "It is ill luck that 
 I had not found a young and able fellow-captive, instead of one de- 
 crepit by imprisonment, blind, and broken down past exertion. But 
 God's will be done ! I will not leave behind me the poor wretch whom 
 I have found in such a condition, though he is perfectly unable to 
 assist me in accomplishing my escape, and is rather more likely to 
 retard it. Meantime, before we put out the torch, let us see, if by 
 close examination, we can discover any door in the wall save that to 
 the blind man's dungeon. If not, I much suspect that my descent 
 lias been made through the roof. That cup of wine — tliat Muse, 
 they called it, had a taste more like medicine than merry compan- 
 ions' pledge." 
 
 He began, accordingly, a strict survey of the walls, which he r& 
 solved to conclude by extinguishing the torch, that he might take 
 the person who should enter his dungeon darkling and by surprise. 
 For a similar reason, he dra^'gcd into the darkest corner the carcass 
 of the tiger, and covered it with the remains of the bed-clothes, 
 sv/earing at the same time, that a half-tiger should be his crest in 
 future, if he had the fortune, which his bold heart would not sufter 
 him to doubt, of getting through the present danger. "But," he 
 added, " if these necromantic vassals of hell shall raise the devil upon 
 me, what shall I do then ? And so great is the chance, that methinka 
 I would fain dispense with extinguishing the flambeau. Yet it ia 
 childish for one dubbed in the chapel of Our Lady of the Broken 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 147 
 
 Lances, to make niucli difierence between a lig-lit room and a dark 
 one. Let tliem come, as many fiends as the cell can hold, and we 
 shall see if we receive them not as becomes a Christian knight : and 
 surely, Our Lady, to whom I was ever a true votary, will hold it an 
 acceptable sacrifice that I tore myself from ray Brenhilda, even for a 
 single moment, in honour of her advent, and thus led the way for our 
 woeful separation. Fiends ! I defy ye in tlie body as in the spirit, 
 and I retain the remains of this flambeau until some more convenient 
 opportunity," He dashed it against the wall as he spoke, and then 
 quietly sat down in a corner, to watch what should next happen. 
 
 Thought after thought chased each other through his mind. His 
 confidence in his wife's fidelity, and his trust in her uncommon 
 strength and activity, were the greatest comforts which he had ; nor 
 could her danger present itself to him in any shape so terrible, but 
 that he found consolation in these rellections : " She is pure," he 
 said, " as the dew of heaven, and heaven will not abandon its own. " 
 
 CHAPTER XVL 
 
 strange ape of mau ! who loathes thee while he scorns thee ; 
 
 Half a reproach to us and half a jest. 
 
 What fancies can be ours ere we havejjleasure 
 
 lu viewing our own form, our pride and passions, 
 
 Reflected in a shape grotesque as thine ! 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 CouKT RoBEUT OP Paris having ensconced himself behind the 
 ruins of the bed, so that he could not well be observed, unless a 
 strong light was at once flung upon the place of his retreat, waited 
 with anxiety how and in what manner the warder of the dungeon, 
 charged with the task of bringing food to the prisoners, should 
 make himself visible ; nor was it long ere symptoms of his approach 
 began to be heard and observed. 
 
 A light vras partially seen, as from a trap-door Ojjening in the 
 roof, and a voice was heard to utter these words in Anglo-Saxon, 
 '■ Leap, sirrah ; come, no delay ; leap, n]y good Sylvan, show your 
 Jionour's activity." A strange cliuckling hoarse voice, in a language 
 totally unintelligible to Count Robert, was lieard to respond, as if 
 disputing the orders Vv^hich were received. 
 
 "What, sir," said his companion, "you must contest the point, 
 must you ? Nay, if thou art so lazy, I must give your honour a lail- 
 der, and perhaps a kick to hasten your journey." Something, theri 
 of very great size, in the form of a human being, jumped down from 
 the trap-door, though the height might be above fourteen feet. This 
 figure was gigantic, being upwards of spven feet high. In its left 
 hand it held a torch, and in its right a skein of fine silk, whiph un- 
 winding itself as it descended, remained unbroken, though it was 
 easy to conceive it could not have aftorded a creature so large any 
 support i»^ liis descent from the roof. He alighted with perfect 
 
143 COUNT KOBERT OF V.KUIS. 
 
 safety and activity upon liis feet, and, as if rebounding" from the 
 lioor,'^he sprung' u]nvards again, so as almost to touclithe roof. In 
 this last gambaiid the torch wliich he bore was extinguished; but this 
 extraordinary warder whirled it round his head with infinite velocity, 
 so that it again ig'nited. The bearer, who appeared to intend tlie 
 accomplishment of this object, endeavoured to satisfy himself that it 
 Avas really attained by api)roaching-, as if cautiously, its left hand to 
 the flame of the torch. This practical experiment seemed attended 
 with consequences which the creatin-e had not expected, for it howled 
 with pain, shaking' the burnt hand, and chattering- as if bemoaning- 
 itself. 
 
 " Take heed there, Sylvanus ! " said the same voice in Ang-lo- 
 Saxon, and in a tone of rebuke. " IIo, there! mind thy duty, 
 Sylvan ! Carry food to tlie blind man, and stand not there to play 
 thyself, lest I trust thee not ag-ain alone on such an errand ! '"■' 
 
 The creature — for it would have been rash to have termed it a 
 man — turning- its eye upwards to the place from whence the voice 
 came, answered with a dreadful g'rin and shaking- of its fist, yet pre- 
 sently beg-an to undo a parcel, and rummag'e in the pockets of a sort 
 of jerkin and pantaloons which it wore, seeking-, it api)eared, a bunch 
 of "keys, which at length it produced, while it took from the pocket 
 a loaf of bread. Heating- the stone of the wall, it aflixed the torch 
 to it by a piece of wax, and then cautiously looked out for the en- 
 trance to the old man's dung-eon, which it opened with a key selected 
 from the bunch. Within the passage it seemed to look for and dis- 
 cover the handle of a pump, at which it filled a pitcher that it bore, 
 and l3ringing- back the fragments of the former loaf, and remains of 
 the pitcher of Avater, it ate a little, as if it were in sport, and very 
 soon making- a frightful g'rimace, flung- the frag-ments away. The 
 Count of Paris, in the meanwhile, Avatched anxiously the proceed- 
 ing's of this unknown animal. His first thought Avas that tlie crea- 
 ture, Avhose limbs Avere so much larger than humanity, Avhose grim- 
 aces Avere so frightful, and Avliose activity seemed supernatural, could 
 be no other than the Devil himself, or some of his imps, whose situa- 
 tion and office in those gloomy regions seemed by no means hard to 
 conjecture. The human voice, however, Avhicli he had heard, Avas 
 less that of a necromancer conjuring a fiend than that of a person 
 giving commands to a Avild animal, over whom he had, by training, 
 obtained a great superiority. 
 
 "A shame on it," said the Count, "if I suffer a common jackan- 
 apes,— for such I take this devil-seeming beast to be, although twice 
 as large as any of its fellows Avhom I have ever seen, — to throw au 
 obstacle in the Avay of my obtaining daylight and freedom ! Let us 
 but Avatch, and the chance is that Ave make that furry gentleman our 
 guide to the upper regions." 
 
 Meantime the creature, Avhich rummaged about everyAvhere, at 
 length discovered the body of the tiger, — touched it, stirred it, with 
 many strange motions, and seemed to lament and Avonder at its 
 death. At once it seemed struck with the idea that some one must 
 have slain it, and Count Robert had the mortification to see it once 
 more select the key, and spring towards the door of Ursel's ijrison 
 
COU.NT ROBERT OF PARIS. 14S 
 
 with such alacrity, that litul its intention hccn to stran^^e him, ifc 
 would have acconiplislied its purpose before the interference of 
 Count Robert could have prevented its reveng'e taking- place. 
 Apparently, however, it reflected, that for reasons which seemed 
 satisfactor}', the death of the tiger could not be caused by the unfor- 
 tunate Ursel, but had been accomplished by some one concealed 
 within the outer prison. 
 
 Slowly gTumbling', therefore, and chattering" to itself, and peeping- 
 anxiously into every corner, the tremendous creature, so like, yet so 
 very unlike to the human form, came stealing- along' the walls, mov- 
 ing- whatever he thought could seclude a man from his observation. 
 Its extended leg-s and arms were protruded forward v/ith great strides, 
 and its sharp eyes, on the watch to discover the object of its search, 
 kept prying', with the assistance of the torch, into every corner. 
 
 Considering- the vicinity of Alexius's collection of animals, the 
 reader, by this time, can have little doubt that the creature in ques- 
 tion, v.hose appearance seemed to the Count of Paris so very proble- 
 matical, was a s])ecimen of that g'ig-antic species of ape — if it is not 
 indeed some animal more nearly allied to ourselves— to wliich, I 
 believe, naturalists have given the name of the Ourang" Outang-. 
 This creature dilFers from the rest of its fraternity in being- com- 
 paratively more docile and serviceable; and though possessing- the 
 power of imitation which is common to the whole race, yet making- 
 use of it less in mere mockery than in the desire of improvement 
 and instruction perfectly unknown to his brethren. The aptitude 
 which it possesses of acquiring- infurmiation is surprisingly great, 
 and probabl}', if ])laced in a favourable situation, it might admit of 
 being domesticated in a considerable degree; but such advantages 
 the ardour of scientific curiosity has never afforded this creature. 
 Tlie last Ave have heard of was seen, we believe, in the Island of 
 Sumatra — it was of great size and strength, and upwards of seven 
 feet high. It died defending desperately its innocent life against a 
 ])arty of Europeans, who, we cannot help thinking, might have better 
 employed the superiority which their knowledge gave thciu over the 
 ])oor native of the forest. It was probably this creature, seldom 
 seen, but when once seen never forgotten, which occasioned the 
 ancient belief in the god Pan, with his sylvans and satyrs. Nay, but 
 for the gift of speech, which wc cannot su]q)ose any of the family to 
 liave attained, we should have believed the satyr seen by St Anthony 
 in tlie desert to have belonged to this tribe. 
 
 Vv^e can, therefore, the more easily credit the annals which attest 
 that the collection of natural history belonging to Alexius Comncnus 
 preserved an animal of this kind, which had been domesticated and 
 reclaimed to a surprising extent, and sliowed a degree of intelligence 
 never perhaps to be attained in any other case. These explanations 
 beirig premised, we return to the thread of our story. 
 
 The animal advanced with long noiseless steps ; its sliadow on the 
 wall, when it lield the torch so as to make it visible to the Frank, 
 forming' another fiend-resembling mimicry of its own large figure 
 and extravagant-looking members. Count Robert remained in his 
 lurking-hole, in no liun-y to begin a strife of which it Avas im]iossible 
 
150 COUNT liOBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 to foretell the end. In the n^eaii time, the man of the Avoods came 
 nigh, and every step by which lie approached caused the Count's 
 lieart to vibrate almost audibly, at the idea of meeting danger of a 
 nature so strange and new. At length the creature approached the 
 bed — his hideous eyes were fixed on those of the Count ; and, as 
 much surprised at seeing him as Robert was at the meeting, he 
 skipped about fifteen paces backwards at one spring, with a cry of 
 instinctive terror, and then advanced on tiptoe, holding his torch as 
 far forward as he could, between him and the object of his fears, as 
 ]f to examine him at the safest possible distance. Count Robert 
 caught up a fragment of the bedstead, large enough to form a sort 
 of club, with which lie menaced the native of the wilds. 
 
 Apparently this poor creature's education, like education of most 
 kinds, had not been acquired without blows, of which the recollection 
 was as fresli as that of the lessons which they enforced. Sir Robert 
 of Paris was a man at once to discover and to avail himself of the 
 advantage obtained by finding that he possessed a degree of ascend- 
 ancy over his enemy which he had not suspected. He erected his 
 warlike figure, assumed a step as if triumphant in the lists, and 
 advanced threatening his enemy witli his club, as he would have 
 menaced his anta^'onist with the redoubtable Tranchefer. The man 
 of the woods, on the other h.and, obviously gave way, and converted 
 his cautious advance into a retreat no less cautious. Yet apparently 
 the creature had not renounced some plan of resistance: he chat- 
 tered in an angry and hostile tone, held out his torch in opposition, 
 and seemed about to strike the crusader with it. Count Robert, 
 however, determined to take his opponent at advantage, while his 
 fears influenced him, and for this purpose resolved, if possible,_to 
 deprive him of his natural superiority in strength and agility, which 
 his singular form showed he could not but possess over the humaai 
 species. A master of his weapon, therefore, the Count menaced his 
 savage antagonist with a stroke on the right side of his head, but 
 suddenly averting the blow, struck hiui with his whole force on the 
 left temple, and in an instant was kneeling above him, when, drawing 
 his dagger, he was about to deprive him of life. 
 
 The Ourang Outang, ignorant of the nature of this new weapon 
 v/ith which he was threatened, attempted, at one and the same mo- 
 ment, to rise from the g'round, overthrow his antagonist, and wrench 
 the dagger from his grasp. In the first attempt he would probably 
 have succeeded; and as it was, he gained his knees, and seemed 
 likely to prevail in the struggle, when he became sensible that the 
 knight, drawing his ])oniard sharply through his grasp, had cut his 
 paw severe!}', and seeing him aim the trenchant weapon at his throat, 
 l3ecame probably aware that his enemy had liis life at command. He 
 suffered himself to bo borne backwards without further resistance, 
 with a deep wailing and melancholy cry, having in it something 
 human, which excited compassion. He covered his eyes with the 
 unwounded hand, as if he would have hid from his own sight the 
 death which seemed approaching him. 
 
 Count Robert, notv/ithstandiug his military frenzy, was, in ordinary 
 matters, a calm-tempered and mild man, antl particularly benevolent 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 151 
 
 to the lower classes of creation. The thought rashecl througli his 
 mind, " Why take from this uufortimate monster the breath which 
 is in its nostrils, after which it cannot know another existence ? And 
 then, may it not be some prince or knig-ht changed to this grotesque 
 shape, that it may help to guard these vaults, and the wonderful 
 adventures that attach to them ? Should I not, then, be guilty of a 
 crime by slaying him, when he has rendered himself, rescue or no 
 rescue, which im nas done as completely as his transformed figure 
 permits ; and if he be actually a bestial creature, may he not have 
 some touch of gratitude? I have heard the minstrels sing the lay 
 of Androcles and the Lion. I will be on my guard with him. " _ 
 
 So saying, he rose from above the man of the woods, and permitted 
 him also to arise. The creature seemed sensible of the clemency, 
 for he muttered in a low and supplicfting tone, which seemed at 
 once to crave for mercy and to return thanks for what he had already 
 experienced. He wept, too, as he saw the blood dropping from his 
 wound, and with an anxious countenance, which had more of the 
 human now that it was composed into an expression of pain and 
 melancholy, seemed to await in terror the doom of a being more 
 powerful than himself. 
 
 The pocket which the knight wore under his armour, capable of 
 containing but few things, had, however, some vulnerary balsam, for 
 which its owner had often occasion, a little lint, and a small roll of 
 linen: these the knight took out, and motioned to the animal to 
 hold forth his wounded hand. The man of the woods obeyed witli 
 hesitation and reluctance, and Count Robert appliedthe balsam and 
 the dressings, acquainting' his patient, at the same time, in a severe 
 tone of voice, that perhaps he did wrong in putting to his use a bal- 
 sam compounded for the service of the noblest knights ; but that, if 
 he saw the least sign of his making an ungrateful use of the benefit 
 lie had conferred, he would bury the dagger, of whicli lie had felt 
 tlie efficacy, to the very handle, in his body. 
 
 The Sylvan looked "fixedly upon Count Robert, almost as if he 
 understood the language used to him, and, making one of its native 
 murmurs, it stooped to the earth, kissed the feet of the kniglit, and, 
 embracing his knees, seemed to swear to him eternal gratitude and 
 fidelity. Accordingly, when the Count retired to the bed and assumed 
 his armour, to await the reopening of the trap-door, the animal sat 
 down by his side, directing its eyes in the line with his, and seemed 
 quietly to wait till the door should open. 
 
 After waiting about an liour, a slight noise was heard in the upper 
 chamber, and the wild man plucked the Frank by the cloak, as if to 
 call his attention to what was about to happen. The same voice 
 v;hich had before spoken, was, after a whistle or two, heard to call, 
 " Sylvan, Sylvan ! where loitcrest thou? Come instantly, or, by the 
 rood, thou slialt abye thy sloth ! " 
 
 The poor monster, as Trinculo might have called him, seemed per- 
 fectly av,'{ire of the meaning of this threat, and showed his sense of it 
 by pressing close to the side of Count Robert, making at the sanxi 
 time a kind of vvhining, entreating, it would seem, the knight's pro- 
 tection. Forgetting the great improbability there was, even in hia 
 
152 COUXT ROBERT OF TAKK. 
 
 own opinion, that the creature could understand him, Count Robert 
 said, " Wliy, my friend, thou hast ah'eady learned the principal court 
 prayer of this country, by which men entreat permission to speak and 
 live. Fear nothing-, poor creature — I am thy protector." 
 
 " Sylvan ! what, ho ! " said the voice again ; " Avhom hast thou g'ot 
 for a companion?— some of the fiends, or ghosts of murdered men, 
 who, they say, are frequent in these dungeons ? or dost thou converse 
 with the oldblind rebel Grecian?— or, finally, is it true that men say 
 of thee, that thou canst talk intelligibly when thou Avilt, and only 
 gibberest and chatterest for fear thou art sent to work ? Come, thou 
 lazy rascal! tliou shalt have the advantage of the ladder to ascend 
 by, though tliou needst it no more than a daw to ascend the steeple 
 of the Catliedral of St Sophia.^ Come along tlien," he said, putting 
 u ladder down the trap-door, " and put me not to the trouble of de- 
 scending to fetch thee else, by St Switbin, it shall be the worse for 
 thee. Come alonj 
 spare the whip." 
 
 The animal, apparently, was moved by tliis rhetoric, for, with a 
 doleful look, wliich Count Robert saw by means of the nearly extin- 
 guished torch, he seemed to bid him farewell, and to creep away to- 
 wards the ladder with the same excellent good-will wherewith a con- 
 demned crimimil performs the like evolution. But no sooner did the 
 Count look angry, and shake the formidable dagger, than the intelli- 
 gent animal seemed at once to take his resolution, and clenching his 
 iiands firmly together in the fashion of one who has made up his 
 mind, he returned from the ladder's foot, and drew up behind Count 
 Robert, — with the air, however, of a deserter, who feels himself but 
 little at home when called into the field against his ancient com- 
 mander. 
 
 In a short time the warder's patience was exhausted, and despair- 
 ing of the Sylvan's voluntary return, he resolved to descend in quest 
 of him. Down tlie ladder he came, a bundle of keys in one hand, the 
 other assisting' his descent, and a sort of dark lantern, whose bottom 
 was so fashioned that he could wear it upon his head like a hat. He 
 had scarce stept on the floor, when he was surrounded by the nervous 
 arms of the Count of Paris. At first the warder's idea was, that he 
 was seized by tlie recusant Sylvan. 
 
 " How now, villain ! " he said ; '•' let me go, or thou shalt die the 
 death." 
 
 " Thou diest tliyself," said the Count, who, between the surprise 
 and his own skill in wrestling', felt fully his advantage in the struggle. 
 
 "Treason ! treason ! " cried the vrarder, hearing by the voice that 
 n stranger liad mingled in the contest; " help, ho ! above there! 
 help, Hereward — Varangian! — Anglo-Saxon, or whatever accursed 
 name tlnni callest thA'sclf ! " 
 
 While he s]wke tlius, tlic irresistible grasp of Count Robert seized 
 his throat, and choked his utterance. "They fell heavily, the jailor 
 undermost, upon the floor of the dungeon, and Robert of Paris, the 
 necessity of wliose case excused the action, plunged his dagger in 
 
 1 Xov/ tlie chief mosque cf the Ottoman cainta]. 
 
COUNT nOBEllT OF PAllIS. 1J,3 
 
 the tlivoiifc of tlio ip.ifortunate. Just as he did so, a iioisG of nvmoiir 
 •was heard, and rattling- down the ladder, our acquaintance llcreward 
 stood on the floor of the dung-eon. The lig'ht, which had rolled from 
 the head of the warder, continued to show him streaming- with blood, 
 and in the death-grasp of a stranger. Hereward hesitated not to 
 fly to his assistance, and, seizing upon the Count of Paris at the same 
 advantag'e which that knigdit had gained over his own adversary a 
 moment before, held him forcibly down with his face to the earth. 
 
 Count Robert was one of the strong-est men of that military age; 
 but then so was tlie Varangian ; and save that the latter liad obtained 
 a decided advantage by having his antagonist beneath him, it could 
 not certainly have been conjectured which way the combat was to go. 
 
 " Yield ! as your own jargon goes, rescue or no rescue," said the 
 Varangian, " or die on the point of my dagger ! " 
 
 '•' A French. Count never yields," answered Robert, who began to 
 conjecture with what sort of person he was engaged, '"'above all to 
 a vagabond slave like thee ! " With this he made an effort to rise, 
 so sudden, so strong, so powerful, that he had almost freed himself 
 from the Varangian's g'rasp, had not Plereward, by a violent exertion 
 of his great strength, preserved the advantage he had gained, and 
 raised his poniard to end the strife for ever; but a loud chuckling' 
 laugh of an unearthly sound was at this instant heard. The Varan- 
 gian's extended arm was seized with vigour, while a rough arm em- 
 bracing his throat, turned him over on his back, and gave the French 
 Count an opportunity of springing' up. 
 
 "Death to thee, wretch!'"' said the Varangian, scarce knov-'iug" 
 whom he threatened; but the man of the woods apparently had an 
 awful recollection of the prowess of human beings. He fled, there- 
 fore, swiftly up the ladder, and left Hereward and his deliverer to 
 light it out with what success chance might determine between 
 them. 
 
 The circumstances seemed to argue a desperate combat; both were 
 tall, strong, and courageous, both had defensive armour, and the fatal 
 and des])erate poniard was their only offensive weapon. They paused 
 facing each other, and examined eagerly into their respective means 
 of defence before hazarding- a blow, which if it missed, its attaint 
 v.'ould certainly be fatally requited. During' this deadly pause, a 
 gleam shone from the trap-door above, as the Vvild and alarmed vis- 
 age of the man of the woods was seen peering down by the light of 
 a newly kindled torch which he held as low into the dungeon as he 
 well could. 
 
 " Fight bravely, comrade," said Count Robert of Paris, " for wq 
 no longer battle in ])rivate : this respectable person having' chosen 
 to constitute himself judge of the field." 
 
 Hazardous as his situation was, the Varangian looked up, and was 
 so struck with the wild and terrified expression which the creature 
 had assumed, aiul the strife between curiosity and terror which its 
 grotesque features exhibited, that he could not help bursting- into a 
 fit of laughter. 
 
 "Sylvan is among those," said Hereward, " who would rather hold 
 the candle to a dance Si? formidable than join in it himself.'' 
 
154 COUNT ROBERT OF PARI?'. 
 
 "Is there then," said Count Robert, "any absolute necessity that 
 (liou and I perform this dance at all ? " 
 
 " None but our own pleasure," answered Hereward, " for I suspect 
 there is not between us any legitimate cause of quarrel demanding- 
 to be foU^^lit out in such a place, and before such a spectator. ThoM 
 art, if I mistake not, the bold Frank, who was yesternight imprisoned 
 in this place with a tiger, chained within no distant spring' of his bed ? " 
 
 " I am," answeretl the Count. 
 
 " And where is the animal who was opposed to thee ? '' 
 
 "He lies yonder," answered the Count, "never again to be the 
 object of more terror than the deer whom he may b.ave preyed on in 
 his day." lie pointed to the body of the tiger, v.liich Hereward, 
 examined by the light of the dark lantern already mentioned. 
 
 " And this, then, was thy handiwork ? " said the wondering Anglo- 
 Saxon. 
 
 " Sooth to say it was," answered the Count, with indifference. 
 
 " And thou hast slain my comrade of this strange watch ? " said 
 the Varangian. 
 
 " Mortally wounded him at the least," said Courit Robert. 
 
 " With your patience,- I will be beholden to you for a moment's 
 truce, while I examine his wound," said Hereward. 
 
 "Assuredly," answered the Count; "blighted be the arm which 
 ^:h:ikes a foul blov/ at an open antagonist ! " 
 
 Without demanding further securit)-, the Varangian quitted his 
 posture of defence and precaution, and set himself, by the assistance 
 of the dark lantern, to examine the wound of the first warder who 
 appeared on the field, who seemed, by his Roman military dress, to 
 be a soldier of the bands called Immortals. He found him in the 
 death-agony, but still able to speak. 
 
 " So, Varangian, thou art come at last, — and it is to thy sloth or 
 treachery tliat I am to impute my fate? — Nay, answer me not! — 
 The stranger struck me over the collar-bone — had we lived long- 
 together, or met often, I had done the like by thee, to wipe out the 
 memory of certain transactions at the Golden Gate. — I know the use 
 of the knife too well to doubt the effect of a blow aimed over the 
 collar-bone by so strong a hand— I feel it coming. The Immortal, 
 so called, becomes now, if priests say true, an immoi'tal indeed, 
 and Sebastes (-^f Mytilene's bow is broken ere his quiver is half 
 emptied." 
 
 The robber Greek sunk back in Hereward's arms, and closed his 
 life with a groan, which was the last sound he uttered. The Var- 
 angian laid the body at length on the dungeon lloor. 
 
 " This is a perplexed matter" — he said ; " I am certainly not called 
 upon to put to death a brave man, although my national enemy, 
 because he hath killed a miscreant who was privately meditating my 
 own murder. Neither is th^s a place or a light by which to fight as 
 becomes the champions of tv.'o nations. Let that quarrel be still for 
 the present. — How say you then, noble sir, if we adjourn th.e present 
 dispute till we effect your deliverance from the "dungeons of the 
 Blacquernal, and your restoration to your own friends and followers? 
 If a poor Varangian should be of service to you in this matter, 
 
COUNT UOREtrr OV PAIJIS. 155 
 
 would you, when it was settled, refuse to meet him in fair figlit, with 
 Yom- national weapons or his own?" 
 
 "If," said Count Robert, "whether friend or enemy, thou wilt 
 extend thy assistance to my wife, w'ho is also imprisoned somewhere 
 in this inhospitable palace, be assured, that whatever be thy rank, 
 whatever be thy country, whatever be thy condition, Robert of Paris 
 Avill, at thy choice, proffer thee his right hand in friendship, or raise 
 it ag'ainst thee in fair and manly battle — a strife not of hatred, but 
 of honoiu' and esteem ; and this I vov/ by the soul of Charlemagne, 
 my ancestor, and by the shrine of my patroness, Our Lady of the 
 Broken Lances." 
 
 "Enoug'h said," replied Hereward. "I am as much bound to the 
 assistance of your Lady Countess, being- a poor exile, as if 1 were the 
 first in the ranks of chivalry ; for if anything- can make the cause 
 of worth and bravery yet more obligatory, it must be its being' united 
 with that of a helpless and suffering- female." 
 
 "I oug-ht," said Count Robert, " to be here silent, without loading- 
 thy g-enerosity with farther requests, yet thou art a man, whom, if 
 fortune has not smiled at thy birth, by ordaining' thee to be born 
 within the ranks of noblesse and knighthood, yet Providence hath 
 done thee more justice by g-iving- thee a more g'allant heart than is 
 always possessed, I fear, by those wlio are inwoven in the g'ayest 
 wreath of chivalry. There lingers here in these dung-eons, for I can- 
 not say he lives — a blind old man, to whom for three years everything" 
 beyond his prison has been a universal blot. His food is bread and 
 water, his intercourse limited to the conversation of a sullen warder, 
 and if death can ever come as a dehverer, it must be to this dark old 
 man. What sayst thou ? Shall he, so unutterably miserable, not 
 profit by perhaps the only opportunity of freedom that may ever 
 occur to him ? " 
 
 " By St Dunstan," answered the Varangian, " thou keepest over 
 truly the oath thoti hast taken as a redresser of wrong-s ! Thine oavu 
 case is w-ell-nig'h desperate, and thou art willing' to make it utterly so 
 by uniting- with it that of every unhappy person whom fate throws in 
 tliy way!" 
 
 " The more of human misery we attempt to relieve," said Robert 
 of Paris, " the more v;e shall carry with us the blessing- of our merci- 
 ful saints, and Our Lady of the Broken Lances, who views w'itli so 
 niuch pain every species of human suffering- or misfortune, save that 
 which occurs within the enclosiu-e of the lists. But come, valiant 
 Anglo-Saxon, resolve me on my request as speedily as thou canst. 
 Tliere is something- in thy face of candour as well as sense, and it is 
 with no small conlidence that I desire to see us set fovth in quest of 
 my beloved Countess, who, when her deliverance is once achieved, 
 will be a powerful aid to us in recovering- that of others." 
 
 " So be it, then," said the Varangian ; " we will proceed in quest 
 of the Countess Brenhilda; and if, on recovering- her, we fnid our- 
 selves strong- enough to procure the freedmu of the dark old man, 
 my cowardice, or v.'ant of compassion, shall never stop the attempt." 
 
156 coUxVx noEEtiT OF PAr.is. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 'Tis stJ-anpc that, in tlie dark siilpliureoiis mine, 
 AVhorc wild ambition piles its ripeniii;^ stores 
 Of slumbering thunder, Love will iiUeri)ose 
 His tiny torch, and cause tl-.2 stern explosion 
 To burst, when the deviser's least aware. 
 
 Anonymous. 
 
 About noon of the same day, Ag-elastes met with Achilles Tatius, 
 the commander of the Varang-ian g-uard in those ruins of the Egyp- 
 tian temple in which we formerly mentioned Ilereward having- had 
 an interview with the ])hilosopher. They met, as it seemed, in a very 
 different humour. Tatius Wixs gdoomy, melancholy, and downcast; 
 while tlie philosoplier maintained tlie calm indiiference which pro- 
 cured f(n" him, and in some sort deserved, tlie title of tlie Elephiint. 
 '•Thou hlenchest, Achilles Tatius," said tlie philosopher, "now that 
 thou hast frankly o])posed thyself to all tlie dangers which stood 
 between thee and g-reatness. Thou art like the idle boy who turned 
 the miil-stream upon the machine, and that done, instead of making- 
 a ]3roper use of it, was terrified at seeing' it in motion." 
 
 " Thou dost me wrong', Ag-elastes," answered the Acolyte, " foul 
 wrong- ; I am hut like the mariner, who, altliougli determined u))on 
 liis voyag'e yet cannot forbear a sorrowing" g'lance at the sliore, before 
 he parts with it, it may be, for ever." 
 
 " It may have lieeu rig-ht to think of this, but pardon me, valiant 
 Tatius, when I tell you the account sliould have been made up before ; 
 and the grandson of Alg-uric the Ilun ought to iiave computed 
 cliances and consequences ere he stretched his hand to his master's 
 diadem." 
 
 " Hush ! for Heaven's sake," said Tatius, looking' round ; " that, 
 tliou knowest, is a secret betv/een our two selves; for if jSFicephorus, 
 the Csosar, should learn it, where were we and our conspiracy ? " 
 
 '■ Our bodies on the g-ibbet, probably," answered Agelastes, "and 
 our souls divorced from them, and in the M'ay of discovering- the 
 secrets which thou hast liitherto taken upon trust." 
 
 " Vv'ell," said Achilles, "and should not the consciousness of tlie 
 possibility of this fate render us cautious ? " 
 
 "Cautious men if you will," answered Ag'elastes, "but not timid 
 children." 
 
 " Stone walls can hear," said the Follower, lowering- liis voice. 
 "Dionysius the tyrant, I liave read had an ear which conveyed to 
 him the secrets spoken within his state-prison at Syracuse." 
 
 " And that Ear is still stationary at Syracuse," said the pliiloso])her, 
 " Tell me, my most simple friend, art thou afraid it has been trans- 
 ported hither in one night, as the Latins believe of Our Lady's house 
 ofLoretto?" 
 
 " No," answered Achilles, "but in an affair so important too much 
 caution cannot be used." 
 
 " Well, thou most cautious of candidates for empire, and most 
 
COUXT ROBERT OF PARIS. ' 157 
 
 co1 J of miliiiiry leaders, know that tlie Cicsar, deeiiiiiig', I think, tliat 
 there is no chance of the empire falling' to any one hut himself, hath 
 taken in his head to consider his succession to Alexius as a matter 
 of course, whenever the election takes place. In consequence, as 
 matters of course are usually matters of indifference, he has left all 
 thoug-hts of securing his interest upon this material occasion to thee 
 and to me, while the foolish voluptuary hath himself run mad— for 
 what think you ? Something- between man and woman — female m 
 her lineaments, her limbs, and a part at least of her g-arments ; but, 
 so help me St George, most masculine in the rest of her attire, in 
 her ])ropensities, and in her exercises." 
 
 " The Amazonian wife, thou meanest," said Achilles, " of that iroii- 
 handed Frank, who dashed to pieces last night the golden lion of 
 Solomon with a blow of his fist ? By St Georg'e, th-e least which can 
 come of such an amour is broken bones." 
 
 " That," said Agelastes, '' is not quite so improbable as that Diony- 
 sius's Ear should fly hither from Syracuse in a single night; but he 
 is presumptuous in respect of the influence which his supposed good 
 looks have gained him among the Grecian dames." 
 
 " He was too presumptuous, I suppose," said Achilles Tatius, " to 
 make a ])roper allowance for his situation as Csesar, and the prospect 
 of his bein.^' Emperor," 
 
 " Meantime," said Agelastes, " I have promised him an interview 
 with his Bradamante, who may perhaps reward his tender ei)ithets 
 of Zo6' hai x>syche} by divorcing' his amorous soul from his unrivalled 
 person." 
 
 '■'Meantime," said the Follower, " thou obtainesf, I conclude, such 
 orders and warrants as the CVesar can give for the furtherance of 
 our plot ? " 
 
 "Assuredly," said Agelastes, "it is an o])portunity not to be lost. 
 This love fit, or mad fit, has blinded him ; and without exciting too 
 much attention to the progress of the plot, we can thus in safety 
 conduct matters our own way, without causing' malevolent remarks ; 
 and though I am conscious that, in doing' so, 1 act somewhat at 
 variance with my age and character, yet the end being' to convert a 
 Avorthy Follower into an Imperial Leader, I shame me not in pro- 
 curing' that interview with the lady, of v/hicli the Ceesar, as they term 
 ])im, is so desirous. What progress, meanwhile, hast thou made 
 with the Varangians, who are, in respect of execution, the very arm 
 of our design?" 
 
 '•' Scarce so good as I could wish," said Achilles Tatius ; " yet I 
 have made siu'e of some two or three score of those whom I found 
 most accessible ; nor have I any doubt, that, when the Cajsar -is set 
 aside, their cry will be for Achilles Tatius." 
 
 '■'And what of the gallant who assisted at our prelections ? " said 
 Agelastes : "your Edward, as Alexius termed him ?" 
 
 '' I have made no impression upon him," said the Follower ; " and I 
 am sorry for it, for he is one whom his comrades think well of, and 
 would gladly follow. ^Meantime I have placed him as an additional 
 
 1 " Life and Soul." 
 
153 COUNT IIOBEIIT OP PA UTS. 
 
 sentinel. upon the iron-witted Count of Pari.s, whom, ])otli liaviiig" an 
 inveterate love of battle, he is very likely to put to death ; and if it 
 is afterwards challenged by the erusaders as a cause of war, it is only 
 delivering- up the Varangian, whose personal .hatred will needs be 
 represented as having occasioned the catastrophe. All this being 
 prepared beforehand, how and when shall we deal with the Emperor ?" 
 
 " For that," said Agelastes, " we must consult the Csesar, Avho, 
 although his expected happiness of to-day is not more certain than 
 the state preferment that he expects to-morrow, and although liis 
 ideas are much more anxiously fixed upon his success with this said 
 Countess than his succession to the empire, Avill, nevertheless, expect 
 to be treated as the head of the enterprise for accelerating the latter. 
 But, to speak my opinion, valiant Tatius, to-morrow will be the last 
 day that Alexius sliall hold the reins of empire." 
 
 '"Let me know for certain," said the Follower, "as soon as thou 
 canst, that I ma)[ warn our brethren, who are to have in readiness 
 [he insurgent citizens, and those of the Immortals who are combined 
 with us, in the neighbourhood of the court, and in readiness to act — 
 And, above all, that I may disperse upon distant guards such Varan- 
 gians as I cannot trust." 
 
 " Rely upon me," said Agelastes, '" for the most accurate informa- 
 tion and instructions, so soon as I have seen Nicephorus Briennius. 
 One word permit me to ask — in v/hat manner is the vfii'e of the 
 Caesar to be disposed of?" 
 
 " Somewliere," said the Follower, 'Svhere I can never be compelled 
 to hear more of her history. Were it not for that nightly pest of 
 her lectures, I could be good-natured enough to take care of lier^ 
 destiny myself, and teach lier the difference betwixt a real emperor 
 and this Briennius, Avho thinks so much of himself." So saying, 
 they separated : the Follower elated in look and manner consider- 
 ably above what he had been when they met. 
 
 Agelastes looked after his companion with a scornful laugh. 
 " There," he said, •'•' goes a fool whose lack of sense prevents his eyes 
 from being dazzled Ijv the torcli which cannot fail to consume him. 
 A half-bred, half-acting, balf-tliinking, half-daring caitiff, whose 
 poorest thoughts — and those which deserve that name must be poor 
 indeed — are not the produce of his own understanding. He ex- 
 pects to circumvent the hery, haughty, and proud Nicephorus Brien- 
 nius ! If he does so, it will not be by his own policy, and still less by 
 liis valour. Nor shall Anna Comnena, the soul of wit and genius, 
 be chained to such an unimaginative log as yonder half barbarian. 
 No— she shall have a husband of pure Grecian extraction, and well 
 stored with that learning which was studied when Home was great, 
 and Greece illustrious. Nor will it be the least charm of the Impe- 
 rial throne, that it is partaken by a partner whose personal studies 
 liave taught her to esteem and value those of the Emperor." lie 
 look a step or two with conscious elevation, and then, as conscience- 
 checked, he added, in a suppressed voice, " But then, if Anna were 
 destined for Empress, it follows of course that Alcxius'must die— no 
 consent could be trusted to.— An.d what then?— the death of an ordi- 
 
 % 
 
COUNT ROBERT 0\P PARIS. 159 
 
 nary man is indifferent, when it plants on the throne a philosopher 
 and a historian ; and at what time were the possessors of the empire 
 curious to enquire when or by whose agency their predecessors died? 
 — Diog-enes ! Ho, Diogenes ! " The slave did not immediately coine, 
 so that Agelastes, wrapt in the anticipation of his gTeatness, had time 
 to add a few more words— " Tush— I must reckon with Heaven, say 
 tlie priests, for many things, so I will throw this also into tlie account. 
 The death of the Emperor may be twenty ways achieved without 
 my having the blame of it. The blood which we have shed may spot 
 our hand, if closely regarded, but it shall scarce stain our forehead." 
 Diogenes here entered — " Has the Frank lady been removed ? " said 
 the philosopher. 
 
 The slave signified his assent. 
 
 "How did she bear her removal?" 
 
 "As authorised by your lordship, indifferently well. She had re- 
 sented lier separation from her husband, and her being detained in 
 the palace, and committed some violence upon the slaves of the 
 Household, several of whom were said to be slain, although we per- 
 haps ought only to read sorely frightened. She recognised me at 
 once, and v/hen I told her that I came to offer her a day's retirement 
 in your own lodgings, until it should be in your power to achieve the 
 liberation of her husband, she at once consented, and I deposited her 
 in the secret Cytherean garden-house." 
 
 " Admirably done, ray faithful Diogenes," said the philosopher ; 
 " thou art like the geni'i who attended on the Eastern tahsmaui; ; 1 
 have but to intimate my will to thee, and it is accomplished.". 
 
 Diogenes bowed deeply, and withdrev>% 
 
 "Yet remember slave!" said Agelastes, speaking to himself; 
 " there is danger in knowing too much— and should my character 
 ever become questioned, too many of my secrets are in the power of 
 Diogenes." 
 
 At this moment a blow thrice repeated, and struck upon one of the 
 images v/ithout, which had been so framed as to return a tingling 
 sound, and in so far deserved the praise of being vocal, interrupted 
 his soliloquy. 
 
 " There knocks," said he, " one of our allies ; who can it be that 
 comes so late?" He touched the figure of Isis with his staff, and the 
 Caesar Nicephorus Briennius entered in the full Grecian habit, and 
 that graceful dress anxiously arranged to the best advanta>i'e. "Let 
 me hope, my lord," said Agelastes, receiving the Csesar with an ap- 
 parently grave and reserved face, "your Highness comes to tell mc 
 that your sentiments are chan^-ed on refiection, and that whatever 
 you had to confer about with this Frankish lady, may be at least de- 
 ferred until the principal part of our conspiracy has been success- 
 fully executed." 
 
 "Philosopher," answered the Csesar, "no. My resolution, once 
 taken, is not the sport of circumstances. Believe me, that 1 have 
 not finished so many labours without being ready to undertake 
 others. The favour of Venus is the reward of the labours of Mars, 
 nor would 1 think it v.orth wliile to worship tlie god armipotcnt with 
 
IGO COUNT ROBERX OF PARIS. 
 
 tlio toil and risk attending' liis service, unless I liad previously 
 Attained some decided proofs that I was wreathed witli the myrtle, 
 iiiLimating- the favour of his beautiful mistress." 
 
 " I beg pardon for my boldness," said Agelastes ; " but has your 
 Imperial Highness reflected that you were wag-ering*, with the wild- 
 est rashness, an empire, including thine own life, mine, and all who 
 are joined Avith us in a hardy scheme ? And ag'ainst what were 
 they wag-ed ? Ag'ainst the very precarious fiivour of a woman, 
 who is altog-ether divided betwixt fiend and female, and in either 
 capacity is most likely to be fatal to our present scheme, either by 
 lier good-will or by the offence which she may take. If she prove 
 such as you wish, she will desire to keep her lover by her side, and 
 to s;pare him the danger of engaging' in a perilous conspiracy ; and 
 if slic remains, as the World believe her, constant to her husband and 
 to the sentiments she vowed to him at the altar, you may guess 
 Avhat cause of offence you are likely to give by urging a suit which 
 she has already received so very ill." 
 
 " Pshaw, old man ! Thou turnest a dotard, and in the great 
 knowledge thou possessest of other things, hast forgotten the know- 
 leilge best w^orth knowing— that of the beautiful part of the crea- 
 tion. Tliink of the impression likely to be made by a gallant neither 
 ignoble in situation nor unacceptable in presence upon a lady who 
 must fear the consequences of refusal ! Come, Agelastes, let me 
 have no more of thy croaking, auguring bad fortune like the raven 
 from the blasted oak on the left hand ; but declaim, as Avell thou 
 canst, how faint heart never won fair lady, and how those best de 
 serve empire who can wreathe the myrtles of Venus with the laurek 
 of Alars. Come, man, undo me the secret entrance which combines 
 these magical ruins with groves that are fashioned rather like those 
 of Cytheros or Naxos." 
 
 " It must be as you will ! " said the philosopher, with a deep and 
 somewhat aflccted sigh. 
 
 "Here, DiogenesT" called aloud the Csesar; '"when thou art 
 summoned, mischief is not far distant. Come, undo tlie secret en- 
 trance. ]\Iischief, my trusty negro, is not so distant but she Avili 
 answer the first clatter of the stones." 
 
 The negro looked at his master, who returned him a glance ac- 
 quiescirig in the Ca?sar's proposal. Diogenes then went to a part of 
 tiie ruined wall which was covered by some climbing shrubs, all of 
 Avliich he carefully removed. This show^ed a little postern door, 
 closed irregularly, and filled up, from tlie threshold to the top, with 
 large square stones, all of which the slave took out and piled aside 
 as if for the ])urpose of replacing them. " I leave thee," said 
 Agelastes to the negro, " to guard this door and let no one enter, 
 except he has the sign, upon the peril of thy life. It were danger- 
 ous it should be left open at this period of the day." 
 
 The obsequious Diogenes put his hand to his sabre and to his 
 liead, as if_to signify the usual promise of fidelity or death, ])y whicli 
 those of his condition generally expressed their answer to their 
 master's commands. Diogenes then lighted a small lantern, and 
 
COUMT ROr,EUT OF PAPJS. IGl 
 
 pulling" out a key, opened an inner door of Nvood, and prepared to 
 stc]) forward. 
 
 '• Hold, friend Diog'enes," said the Caesar ; " tliou wantest not my 
 lantern to discern an honest man, -whom, if tliou didst seek, I must 
 needs say thou hast come to the wrong* place to find one. Nail tlnvu 
 up these creeping- shrubs before the entrance of the place, and 
 abide thou there, as already directed, till our return, to pany the 
 curiosity of any who may be attracted by the sight of the private 
 passage." 
 
 The black slave drew back as he gave the lamp to the Ctesar, and 
 Agelastes followed the light through a long, but narrow, arched 
 passage, well supplied with air from space to space, and not ne- 
 glected in the inside to the degree Avhich its exterior would have 
 implied. 
 
 " I will not enter with you into the Gardens," said Ag-elastes, " or 
 to the bower of Cytlierea, where I am too old to be a worshipper. 
 Thou thyself, I think, Im])erial C?esar, art well aware of the road, 
 having travelled it divers times ! and, if I mistake not, for the fairest 
 reasons." 
 
 " The more thanks," said the Csesar, " are due to mine excellent 
 friend Agelastes, who forgets his own age to accommodate the youth 
 of his friends." 
 
 CHAPTErx XVIII. 
 
 We must now return to the dungeon of the Blacquernal, where 
 circumstances had formed at least a temporary union between the 
 stout Varang'ian and Count Robert of Paris, who had a stronger re- 
 semblance to each other in their dispositions than probably either of 
 them would liave been willing to admit. The virtues of the Varangian 
 were all of that natural and unrefined kind which Nature herself dic- 
 tates to a gallant man, to whom a total want of fear, and the most 
 prompt ahicrity to meet danger, had been attributes of a life-long 
 standing'. The Count, on the other hand, had all that bravery, gene- 
 rosity, and love of adventure, which was possessed by the rude soldier, 
 with the virtues, partly real, partly fantastic, which those of his rank 
 and country acquired from the spirit of chivalry. The one might be 
 compared to the diamond as it came from the mine, before it had yet 
 received the advantages of cuttiu','- and setting ; the other was the 
 ornamented gem, which, cut into facets and richly set, had lost per- 
 ha])3 a little of its original substance, yet still, at the same time, to 
 the eye of an inspector, had something' more showy and splendid 
 than when it was, according to the phrase of lapidaries, en hrut. \\\ 
 the one case, the value was more artificial ; in the other, it was the 
 more natural and real of the two. Chance, therefore, had made a 
 temporary alliance between two men, the foundation of whose 
 characters bore such strong resemblance to each otlier, that they 
 were only separated by a course of education, vt'hich had left rigid pre- 
 
 M 
 
iG2 couirr uobert of paris. 
 
 judiccs on both sidoi^, and which prejudices v/ere not unlikely to run 
 couriter to each otlicr. The Varangiap. coniraeiiced his conversation 
 with tlie Count in a tone of familiarity, approaching- nearer to rude- 
 ness than the speaker was aware of, and much of which, though 
 most innocently iutcnded by Hereward, might be taken amiss by his 
 new brotlier-in-arnis. The most offensiye part of his deportment, 
 however, v;as a blunt, bold disregard to the title of those whom he 
 addressed, adhering thereby to the manners of the Saxons, from 
 whora he drev,- liis descent, and which was likely to be at least un- 
 pleasing to the Franks as well as Normans, who had already re- 
 ceived and become very tenacious of tlie privileges of the feudnl 
 system, the mummery of herahlry, and the warlike claims assumed 
 by knights, as belonging only to their own order. 
 
 Hereward was apr, it must be owned, to think too little of these 
 distinctions; while he had at least a sufficient tendency to tliink 
 (Miough of the power and v/ealth of the Greek empire which he 
 ^■erved,— of the dignity inlierent in Alexius Comnenus.and which he 
 ^vas also disposed to grant to the Grecian officers, who, under the 
 Emperor, commanded liis own corps, and particularly to Achilles 
 I'atius. This man Hereward knew to be a coward, and half-suspected 
 to be a villain. Still, however, the follower was always the direct 
 cliamiel through which the Imperial graces were conferred on the 
 Varangians in general, as well as upon Hereward himself; and he 
 had always the policy to represent such favours as being more or 
 less indirectly the consequence of his own intercession. He was 
 supposed vigorously to espouse the quarrel of the Varangians, in all 
 the disputes betv/een them and the other corps; he was liberal and 
 open-handed ; gave every soldier his due ; and, bating the trifling 
 circumstance of valour, wliich was not particularly liis forte, it would 
 have been difficult for these strangers to have demanded a leader 
 more to their wishes. Besides this, our friend Hereward was ad- 
 mitted by him into his society, attended him, as we have seen, upon 
 secret expeditions, and shared, therefore, deeply, in what may be 
 termed by an expressive, though vulgar phrase, the sneaking kind- 
 ness entertained' for tln^s new Achilles by the greater part of his 
 myrmidons. 
 
 Their attachment might be explained, perhaps, as a liking to their 
 commander, as strong as could v;ell exist with a marvellous lack of 
 honour and esteem. The scheme, tlierefore, formed by Hereward 
 to effect the deliverance of the Count of Paris, comprehended as 
 mucli faith to the Emperor, and his representative, the Acolyte or 
 Follower, as was consistent with rendering justice to the injured 
 Frank. 
 
 In furtherance of this plan, he conducted Count Robert froin the 
 subterranean vaults of the Blacquernal, of the intricacies of which he 
 v.-as master, having been repeatedly, of late, stationed sentinel there, 
 for the ])ar})ose of acquiring that knowledge of which Tatius pro- 
 mised liimsclf the adviintage in the ensuing" conspiracy. When they 
 v.'cre in the open air, and at some distance from the gloomy towers 
 of the Palace, he bluntly asked the Count of Paris whether he knew 
 Agelastes the Philosopher. The other answered in the negative. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OP PARIS. 1G3 
 
 '•' Look you now, Sir Kiiig-ht, you hurt yourself in attempting to 
 impose upon me," said Hereward. '" You must know him ; for I saw 
 you dined with him yesterday." 
 
 "' O ! with that learned old man ? " said the count. " I kno\v 
 nothing- of him worth owning- or disguising to thee or any one. A 
 wily person he is, half herald and half minstrel." 
 
 " Half procurer and whole knave," subjoined the Varangian. 
 " With the mask of apparent good-humour he conceals his pander- 
 ing to the vices of others ; with the specious jargon of philosophy, 
 h.e has argued himself out of religious belief and moral principle ; 
 and, Avith the appearance of the most devoted loyalty, he will, if he 
 is not checked in time, either argue his too confiding master out of 
 life and empire, or, if he fails in this, reason his simple associates 
 into death and misery." 
 
 " And do you know all this," said Count Robert, " and permit tliis 
 man to go unimpeached r " 
 
 " 0, content you, sir," replied the Varangian ; " I cannot yet form 
 any plot which Agelastes may not countermine ; but the time will 
 come, nay, it is already approaching, when the Emperor's attention 
 shall be irresistibly turned to the conduct of this man, and then let 
 the philosopher sit fast, or by St Dunstan the barbarian overthrows 
 him ! I would only fain, methinks, save from his clutches a foolish 
 friend, who has listened to his delusions." 
 
 " But what have I to do," said the Count, " with this man, or with 
 his plots ? " 
 
 "Much," said Hereward, "although you know it not. The main 
 supporter of this plot is no other than the Csssar, who ought to be 
 the most faithful of men ; but ever since Alexius has named a Sebas- 
 tocrator, an officer that is higher in rank, and nearer to the throne 
 than the Csesar himself, so long has Nicephorus Briennius been dis- 
 pleased and dissatisfied, though for what length of time he has joined 
 the schemes of the astucious Agelastes, it is more difficult to say. 
 This I know, that for many months he has fed liberally, as his riches 
 enable him to do, tlie vices and prodigality of the Casar. He has 
 encouraged him to sliov/ disrespect to his wife, although the Empe- 
 ror's daughter ; has put ill-will between him and the royal family. 
 And if Briennius bears no longer the fame of a rational man, and 
 the renown of a good leader, he is deprived of both by following the 
 advice of this artful sycophant." 
 
 "And what is all this to m.e?" said the Frank. "Agelastes may 
 be a true man or a time-serving slave; his master, Alexius Comne- 
 nu9, is not so much allied to me or mine that I should meddle in the 
 intrigues of his court?" 
 
 "You maybe mistaken in that," said the blunt Varangian ; "if 
 these intrigues involve the happiness and virtue " 
 
 "Death of a thousand martyrs ! " said the Frank, "doth paltry in- 
 trigues and quarrels of slaves involve a single thought of suspicion 
 of the noble Countess of Paris ? The oaths of thy Avhole generation 
 were inefiectual to prove but that one of her hairs had changed its 
 colour to silver ! " 
 
 "Well imagined, gallant knight" said the Anglo-Saxon: "thou 
 
164 - C'OliNT ROEEUT OF TARIS. 
 
 art a Imsband fitted for the atmosphere of Constantinople, which 
 calls for little vigilance and a strong- belief. Thou wilt find many 
 followers and fellows in this conrt of ours." 
 
 "Hark thee, friend," replied the Frank, "let us have no more 
 words, nor walk farther tog-ether than just to the most solitary nook 
 of tliis bewildered city, and let us there set to that work which we 
 left even now unfinished." 
 
 "If thou wert a Duke, Sir Count," replied the Yarano-ian, "thou 
 couldst not invite to a combat one Avho is more ready for it. Yet 
 consider the odds on which we fight. If I fall, my moan is soon 
 made ; but will my death set thy wife at liberty if she is under re- 
 straint, or restore her honour if it is tarnished? — Will it do anything 
 more than remove from the world the only person who is willing to 
 give thee aid, at his own risk and danger, and who hopes to unite 
 thee to thy wife, and replace thee at the head of thy forces ? " 
 
 "I was wrong," said the Count of Paris; "I was entirely Avrong; 
 but beware, my good friend, how thou couplest the name of Brcn- 
 liilda of Aspramonte with the word of dishonour, and tell me, instead 
 of this irritating discourse, whitlier go we now ?" 
 
 "To the Cytherean g-ardens of Agelastes, from which we are not 
 far distant," said the Anglo-Saxon ; " yet he hath a nearer way to it 
 than that by wliich we now travel, else I should be at a loss to ac- 
 count for the short space in whicli he could exchange the charms 
 of his garden for the gloomy ruins of the Temple of Isis, and the 
 Imperial palace of the Bhicquernal." 
 
 "And wherefore, and hovv long," said Count Robert, "dost thou 
 conclude that my Countess is detained in these g-ardens?" 
 
 "Ever since yesterday," replied Hereward. "When both I, and 
 several of my companions, at my request, kept close watch upon tiie 
 Ceesar and your lady, we did plainly perceive passages of fiery admir- 
 ation on his part, and anger as it seemed on hers, which Agelastes, 
 being- Nicephorus's friend, was likely, as usual, to bring- to an entl, 
 by a separation of you both from the army of the crusaders, that your 
 wife, like many a matron before, might have the pleasure of taking" 
 lip her residence in the gardens of that worthy sage ; while you, 
 my Lord, might take up your own permanently in the castle of 
 Blacquernal." 
 
 " Villain ! why didst thou not apprise me of this yesterday ? " 
 
 "A likely thing," said Hereward, "that I should feel myself at 
 liberty to leave the ranks, and make such a communication to a man 
 whom, far from a friend, I then considered in the light of a personal 
 enemy ! Methinks that, instead of such languag-e as this, you should 
 be thankful that so many chance circumstances have at length brought 
 me to befriend and assist you." 
 
 Count Robert felt the truth of what was said, though at the same 
 time his fiery tem])er longed to avenge itself, according- to its wont, 
 upon the party which was nearest at hand. 
 
 But now" they arrived at what the citizens of Constantinople called 
 the Philosopher's Gardens. Here Hereward hoped to obtain entrance, 
 for he had gained a knowledge of some part, at least, of the private 
 signals of Achilles and Ag-elastes, since he had been introduced to 
 
COUXT llOBEUr OF PAKIS. 165 
 
 the last at the ruins of the Temple of Isis. Tliey had not, ludeod, 
 admitted liini to their entire secret; yet, confident in his connection 
 willi the Follower, they had no hesitation in commnnicatinf;- to him 
 snatches of knowledg'c, snch as, committed to a man of shrewd 
 liatural sense like the Ang-lo-Saxon, could scarce fail, in time and by 
 degrees, to make him master of the whole. Count llobert and his 
 companion stood before an arched door, the only opening" in a higli 
 wall, and the Anglo-Saxon was about to knock, Avhen, us if the idea 
 had suddenly struck him, — ^ 
 
 '•uHiat if the Mretcli Diog'cues opens the gate? \VoTOnst kill 
 him, ere lie can fly back and betray us. Well, it is a matter of neces- 
 sity, and the viilaiu has deserved his death by a hundred horrid 
 crimes." 
 
 "Kill him then, thyself," retorted Count Robert; "lie is nearer 
 thy degree ; and assuredly I will not detile the name of Charlemagne 
 with tiie blood of a black slave." 
 
 "Nay, God-a-mercY !" answered the Anglo-Saxon, "but you must 
 bestir yourself in the action, supposing' there come rescue, and that 
 1 be overborne by odds." 
 
 "Such odds,''" said the knight, "will render the action more like a 
 vielee, or general battle ; and assure yourself, I will not be slack when 
 I may, with my honour, be active." 
 
 "I doubt it not," said the Varangian ; "but the distiiiction seems 
 a strange one, that before permitting a man to defend himself, or 
 annoy his enemy, requires him to demand the pedig'ree of his an- 
 cestor." 
 
 " Fear you not, sir," said Count llobert. " The strict rule of 
 chivalry indeed bears what I tell thee, but Avhen the question is, 
 Fig-ht or not, there is great allowance to be made for a decision in 
 the affirmative." 
 
 "Let me give tliem the exorciser's raj)," replied Ilercward, " and 
 see what fiend will appear." 
 
 So saying', he knocked in a particular manner, and the door opened 
 inwards ; a dwarfish negress stood in the gap — her white hair con- 
 trasted singularly with her dark complexion, and witli the broad 
 laughing look peculiar to those slaves. She had something- in her 
 physiognomy which, severely construed, might argue malice, and a 
 delight in human miser}-. 
 
 " Is Agelastes " said the Varangian; but he had not completed 
 
 the sentence, when she answered him, by pointing- down a shadowed 
 walk. 
 
 The Anglo-Saxon and Frank turned in that direction when the 
 hag- rather muttered, than said distinctly, " You are one of the initi- 
 ated, Varangian ; take heed whom you take with you, when you may 
 hardly, peradventure, be welcomed even going alone." 
 
 Hereward made a sign that he understood her, and they were in- 
 stantly out of her sight. 'J.'he path winded beautifully tlirough the 
 shades of an Eastern garden, where clumps of flowers and labyrinths 
 of dowering shrubs, and the tall boughs of the forest trees, rendered 
 even the breath of noon cool and acceptable. 
 
 " JJcre we mu^t use our utmost cautiou;" said Hereward, speaking 
 
1G6 COUNT IIOBEUT 0¥ PARIS. 
 
 ill a, low tone of voice; "for liero it is most likely the deer that we 
 seek has found its refuge. Better allow rac to pass before, since you 
 are too deeply agitated to possess the coolness necessary for a scout. 
 Keep concealed beneath yon oak, and let no vain scruples of honour 
 deter you from creeping* beneath the underwood, or beneath the 
 earth itself, if you should hear a footfall. If the lovers have agreed, 
 Agelastcs, it is probable, walks his round, to prevent intrusion." 
 
 "Death and furies! it cannot be!" exclaimed the Sery Frank.— 
 "Lady of the Broken Lances, take thy votary's life, ere tliou torment 
 him wit^^lllis agony ! " 
 
 He saw, however, the necessity of keeping a strong force upon 
 himself, and permitted, without further remonstrance, the Varangian 
 to pursue his way, looking, however, earnestly after him. 
 
 By advancing forward a little, he could observe Herev/ard drav/ 
 near to a ])avilion which arose at no great distance from the place 
 Avhere they had parted. Here he observed him apply, first his eye, 
 and then his ear, to one of the casements, which were in a great 
 measure grown over, and excluded from the light, by various 
 flowering shrubs. He almost thought he saw a grave interest take 
 ])lace in the countenance of the Varangian, and he longed to have 
 his share of the information wliich he had doubtless obtained. 
 
 He crept, therefore, with noiseless steps, through the same laby- 
 rinth of foliage Avhich had covered the approaches of Herev/ard; and 
 so silent were his movements, that he touched the Anglo-Saxon, in 
 order to make him aware of his presence, before he observed his 
 approach. 
 
 Here^vard, not aware at first by whom he was approached, turned 
 on the intruder with a countenance like a burning coal. Seeing, 
 however, that it was the Frank, he shrugged his shoulders, as if pity- 
 ing the impatience which could not be kept under prudent restraint, 
 and drawing himself back allowed the Count the privilege of a peep- 
 ing place through pHnths of the casement, which could not be dis- 
 cerned by the sharpest eye from the inner side. The sombre cha- 
 racter of the hght which penetrated into this abode of pleasure, was 
 suited to that species of thought to which a Temple of Cytherea was 
 supposed to be dedicated. Portraits and groups of statuary were 
 also to be seen, in the taste of those which they had beheld at the 
 Kiosk of the waterfall, yet something more free in the ideas which 
 they conveyed than were to be found at their first resting-place. 
 Shortly after, the door of the pavilion oj)ened, and the Countess 
 entered, followed by her attendant Agatha. The lady threw herself 
 on a couch as she came in, while her attendant, who was a young 
 and very handsome woman, kept herself modestly in the background, 
 so much so as hardly to be distinguished. 
 
 " What dost thou think," said tl\p Countess, " of so suspicious a 
 friend as Ageiastes? so gallant an enemy as the Caesar, as he is 
 called ? " 
 
 "What should I thhik," returned the damsel," "except that what 
 the old man calls friendship is hatred, and what the Caesar terms a 
 patriotic love for his country, whicli will hot permit him to set its 
 enemies at liberty, is in fact too strong an aff'ection fbr his fair captive ? " 
 
COUNT ROBERT Oi-' PAKiS. 167 
 
 " For such an affection," said the Countess, " he sliail have tlie 
 same rcquiial as if it were indeed the hostility of which he wouhl 
 give it the colour. — My true and nohle lord! hadst thou an idea of 
 the ealamitie.s to which they have subjected me, how soon wuuldst 
 tliou break through every restraint to hasten to my relief!" 
 
 '•'Art thou a num," said Count Robert to his companion; "and 
 canst thou advise me to remain still and hear this?" 
 
 '' I am one man," said the Anglo-Saxon ; " you, sir, are another ; 
 but all our arithmetic v/ill not make us more than tv,-o ; and in tliis 
 place, it is probable that a whistle from the Cssar, or a scu|fem from 
 Ag-elastcs. would bring a thousand to match us, if we were as bold 
 as Bevis of Hampton — Stand still and keep quiet. I counsel this, 
 less as respecting my own life, v/hicli, by embarking upon a wild- 
 goose chase with so strange a partner, I have shown I put at little 
 value, tlian for thy safet)', and that of the lady tliy Countess, who 
 shows herself as virtuous as beautiful." 
 
 " 1 was imposed on at first," said the Lady Brenhilda to her attend- 
 ant. '' Affectation of severe morals, of deep learning-, and of rigid 
 rectitude, assumed by this wicked old man, made me believe in part 
 the character wliich he pretended; but the gloss is rubbed off since 
 he let me see into his alliance with tlie unworthy Caisar, and the 
 ugly picture remains in its native loathsomeness. ISTevertheless, if I 
 can, by address or subtlety, deceive this arch-deceiver, — as he has 
 taken from me, in a great measure, every other kind of assistance, 
 — 1 will not refuse that of craft, vvhicii he may find perhaps equal to 
 his own." 
 
 "Hear you that?" said the Varangian to the Count of Paris. 
 '•'Do not let your impatience mar the web of your lady's prudence. 
 I will v/eigh a woman's wit against a man's valour where there is 
 aught to do! Let us not come in with our assistance until time 
 shall show us that it is necessary for her safety and our success." 
 
 '•Amen," said the Count of Paris; "but hope not. Sir Saxon, that 
 thy prudence shall persuade me to leave this garden without takirig 
 full vengeance on that unwortliy Caesar, and the pretended philoso- 
 pher, if indeed he turns out to iiave assumed a character " Tlie 
 
 Count was here beginning to raise his voice, when the Saxon, with- 
 out ceremony, placed his hand on his mouth. " Thou takest a 
 liberty," said Count Robert, lo'A'ering, however, his tones. 
 
 "Ay, truly," said Hereward; "when the house is on fire, I do not 
 stop to ask wliether the water Vk'hich I ]jour on it be perfun^.ed or no." 
 
 This recalled the Frank to a sense of hi.-: situation; and if not con- 
 tented v/ith the Saxon's mode of making an apology, he was at least 
 silenced. A distant noise vras now heard— the Countess listened, 
 and changed colour. "Agatlia," slie said, "we are like champions 
 in the lists, and here comes the adversary. Let us retreat into this 
 side apartment, and so for a while put off an encounter thus alarm- 
 ing." So saying, tlie tv/o females withdrew into a sort of anteroom, 
 which opened from the principal apartment behind the seat which 
 Brenhilda had occupied. 
 
 They had scarcely disappeared v/hen, as the stage direction has it, 
 enter from the other side t!ie Ctesar and Agelastes. They had per- 
 
115S COUx\T ROBERT OF PARI^?. 
 
 Imps heard tlie last words of Brcnhilda, fo.r the CaDsar repeated m a 
 low tone— 
 
 " Militat omnis amans, liabet et sua castra Cupido. 
 
 "What, has our fan- opponent withdrawn her forces? No matter, 
 it shows slie thinks of the warfare, though tlie enemy be not in sight. 
 Well, thou slialt not liave to upbraid me this time, Agelastes, with 
 precipitating my amours, and depriving myself of the pleasure of 
 pursuit. By Heavens, I will be as regular 'in my progress as if iu 
 reality I bore on my shoulders the whole load of years wdiich make 
 the difference between us ; for I shrewdly suspect that with thee, old 
 man, it is that envious churl Time that hath plucked the wings of 
 Cupid." 
 
 "Say not so, mighty Gasar," said the old man; "it is the hnnd of 
 Prudence, which, depriving Cupid's vv'ing of some wild feathers, 
 leaves him still enough to fly with an equal and steady flight." 
 
 " Thy flight, however, was le.^s measured, Agelastes, when tliou 
 didst collect that armoury— that magazine of Cupid's panoply, out 
 of wliich thy kindness permitted me but uow to arm myself, or, rather, 
 to repair my accoutrements." 
 
 So saying, he glanced his eye over his own person, blazing with 
 gems, and adorned with a chain of gold, bracelets, rings, and other 
 ornaments, which, with a new and splendid habit, assumed since his 
 arrival at these Cytherean gardens, tended to set off his very hand- 
 some figure. 
 
 " I am glad," said Agelastes, '' if you have found among toys, which 
 I now never wear, and seldom made use of even when life was young 
 v,'ith me, anything which may set off' your natural advantages. Re- 
 member only this slight condition, that such of these trifles as have 
 made part of your Avearing apparel on this distinguished day cannot 
 return to a meaner owner, but must of necessity remain the projierty 
 of that greatness of wliicli they had once formed the ornament." 
 
 "I cannot consent to this, my worthy friend," said the Ca3sar; "I 
 know^ thou valuest these jewels only in so far as a philosopher may 
 value them— that is, for nothing save the remembrances which attach 
 to tliem. This large seal-ring, for instance, was— I have heard you 
 say — the property of Socrates; if so, you cannot view it save with 
 devout thankfalness that your ov.-n philosophy has never been tried 
 with the exercise of a Xantippe. These clasps released in older 
 times the lovely bosom of Thryne; and they now belong to one wlio 
 could do better homage to the beauties they concealed or discovered 
 than could the cynic Diogenes. These buckles, too " 
 
 " I will spare thy ingenuity, good youth," said Agelastes, some- 
 what nettled, "or, rather, noble Caesar. Keep thy wit— thou wilt 
 have ample occasion for it." 
 
 "Fear not me," said the Cresar. "Lot us proceed, since you will, 
 to exercise the gifts which we possess, such as they are, either 
 natural or bequeathed to us by our dear and respected friend. 
 Hah!'-' he said, the door opening suddenly, and the Countess almost 
 meeting him, "our wishes are here anticipated." 
 
 lie bowed accordingly with the deepest deference to the T^ady 
 
 1 
 
COUNT ROBEllT OF TARIS. 169 
 
 Breiiliilda, who, having" made some alterations to enhance the splen- 
 dour of lier attire, now moved forward from the withdrawing-room 
 into which slie liad retreated. 
 
 " Hail, noble huly," said the Cfe^ar, " whom I have visited with the 
 intention of apolog'ising" for detaining- you, in some deg-ree, against 
 your will, in those strange regions in which you unexpectedly find 
 yourself." 
 
 "Not in some degree," answered the hidy, ''but entirely contrary 
 to my inclinations, which are, to ])C v/ith my husband the Count of 
 Paris, and the follov/ers who have taken the cross under his banner." 
 
 " Such, doubtless, were your thoughts when you left the hind of 
 the west," said Agelastes; ''' but, fair Countess, have they experienced 
 no change? You have left a shore streaming with human blood 
 wlien the slightest provocation occurred, and thou hast come to one 
 whose principal maxim is to increase the sum of human happiness 
 by every mode which can be invented. In the west yonder, he or 
 she is respected most who can best exercise their tyrannical strength 
 in making others miserable, while in these more placid realms, we 
 reserve our garlands for the ingenious youth, or lovely lady, who can 
 best make happy the person whose afl'ection is fixed upon her." 
 
 "But, reverend philosopher," said the Countess, "who labourest so 
 artilieially in recommending the yoke of pleasure, know that you con- 
 tradict every notion which I have been taught from my infancy. In 
 the land where my nurture lay, so far are we from acknowledging 
 your doctrines, that we match not, except like the lion and the lioness, 
 Avlien the male has compelled the female to acknowledge his superior 
 worth and valour. Such is our rule, that a damsel, even of mean de- 
 gree, would think herself heinously undermatched, if wedded to n 
 gallant whose fame in arms was yet unknown." 
 
 " But, noble hidy," said the CiBsar, " a dying man may then fiud 
 room for some faint hope. Were there but a chance that distinc- 
 tion in arms could gain those aft'ections which have been stolen, 
 rather than fairly conferred, how many are there who would willingly 
 enter into the competition v/liere the prize is so fiiir! What is the 
 enterprise too bold to be undertaken on such a condition ! ■ And 
 where is the individual whose heart v/ould not feel, that in baring 
 his sword for the prize, he made vov/ never to return it to the scabbar<l 
 without the proud boast, What I have not yet won, I have deserved ! " 
 
 " You see, lady," said Agelastes, who, apprehending that the last 
 speech of the Cfesar had made some impression, hastened to follow 
 it up with a srdtable observation — "You see that the fire of chivalry 
 burns as gallantly in the bosom of the Grecians as in that of the 
 i western nations." 
 
 " Yes," answered Brenhilda, " and 1 have heard of the celebrated 
 siege of Troy, on which occasion a dastardly coAvard carried off the 
 wife of a brave man, shunned every proifer of encounter with the 
 luisband whom he had wronged, and finally caused the death of his 
 numerous brothers, the destruction of his native city, with all the 
 v/ealth which it contained, and died himself the death of a pitiful pol- 
 troon, lamented only by his Avorthless leman, to show how well the 
 , rules of chivalry were understood by your predecessors." 
 
170 C'OUKT UOLililT OF TAIUS. 
 
 " Lady, you misisilve," said the Csesar; '"'the offences of Paris v/ere 
 tiiosc of a dissolute Asiatic: the courage which aveng'ed them was ' 
 that of ilie Greek Empire." 
 
 " You are learned, sir," said the lady ; ''but think not that I will j 
 trust your words until you produce before me a Grecian knig'ht, 
 gallaut enoug-h to look upon the armed crest of my husband vathout 
 quaking-." 
 
 "That, methinks, were not extremely diificult." returned the Casar; 
 "if they have not flattered me, I have myself been thought equal in 
 battle to Tiinre dangerous men than him wlio has been strangely 
 mated v/itli the Lady Brenliilda." 
 
 " That is soon tried," answered the Courdess. '•' You will hardly, 
 I think, deny, that my husband, separated from me by some un- 
 worthy trick, is still at thy commarid, and could be produced at thy 
 pleasure. I will ask no armour for hina save wliat he wears, no 
 weapon but his good sword Tranclicfer; then place him in this 
 chamber, or any other lists equally narrow, and if he tiinch, or cry' 
 craven, or remain dead under shield, let Brenliilda be the prize of 
 the conqueror. — Merciful Heaven ! " she concluded, as she sunk back 
 upon her seat, "forgive me for the crime of even imagining sucli a 
 termination, which is equal almost to doubting tiiine unerring- judg- 
 ment ! " 
 
 " Let me, however," said the Cfcsar, "catch up these precious words 
 before they fall to the ground. — Let me hope that he, to wliom the 
 heavens shall give power and strength to conquer this highly-es- 
 teemed Count of Paris, shall succeed hira in the affections of Bren- 
 liilda ; and believe me, the sun plunges not through the sky to his 
 resting-place with the same celerity that I shall hasten to tlic en- 
 counter." 
 
 " Now, by Heaven ! " said Count Robert, in an anxious whisper to 
 Herevvard, "it is too much to expect me to stand by and hear a con- 
 temptible Greek, who durst not stand even the rattling farewell wliicii 
 Tranchefer takes of his scabbard, brave me in my absence, and affect 
 to make love to my \&i\y par amours ! And she, too — niethinks Bren- 
 liilda .allows more license than she is wont to do to yonder chattering 
 popinjay. By the rood ! I will spring into the apartment, fron.t them 
 with ray personal appearance, and confute yonder braggart in a man- 
 ner he is like to remember." 
 
 " Under favour," said the Varangian, who was the only auditor of 
 this violent speech, "you shall be ruled by calm reason"^ while 1 am 
 with you. When we are separated, let the devil of knight-errantry, 
 which has such possession of thee, take thee upon his shoulders, arid 
 carry tliee full tilt wheresoever he lists." 
 
 "Thou art a brute," said the Count, loolung at Idm with a con- 
 tempt corresponding to the expression he made use of; "not only 
 v/itliout humanity, but without the sense of natural honour or natural 
 shame. The most despicable of animals stands not by tamely and 
 sees another assail his mate. The bull offers his horns to a rival — 
 the mastiff uses his jaws — and even the timid stag becomes fu.rious, 
 and gores." 
 
X\;U:vT KOiJEUT OF PARIS. 171 
 
 '■Because they are beasts," said the Varangian, " and their mis- 
 tresses also creatures without shame or reason, who are not aware 
 of the sanctity of a choice. But tliou, too, Count, canst thou not see 
 the obvious purpose of tliis poor hidy, forsaken by all the world, to 
 keep her faith towards thee, by eluding' the snares with whic]; 
 wicked men have beset her? By the souls of my fathers! my heart 
 is so much moved by her ingenuity, mingled as I see it is with the 
 mo:i.t perfect candour and faith, that I myself, in fault of a better 
 champion, would willingly raise the axe in her behalf! " 
 
 "1 thank thee, my good friend," said the Count; "I thank thee 
 as heartily as if it were possible thou shouldst be left to do that good 
 olKce for Brenhilda, the beloved of many a noble lord, the mistress 
 f'^' many a powerful vassal ; and, what is more, much more tiiau 
 tj..tnks, I crave thy pardon for the wrong I did tliee but now." 
 
 "My pardon you cannot need," said the Varangian: "for I take 
 no offence that is not seriously meant. — Stay, they speak ngain.'"' 
 
 " It is strange it should be so," said the Csesar, as he paced the 
 apartment ; " but raethinks, nay, I am almost certain, Agelastes, tluit 
 I hear voices in the vicinity of this apartment of thy privacy." 
 
 " It is impossible," said Agelastes ; " but I will go and see." 
 
 Perceiving him to leave the pavilion, the Varangian made t])e 
 Frank sensible that they must crouch down among a little thicket 
 of evergreens, where they lay completely obscured. The philosopher 
 made his rounds with a heavy step, but a v/atchful eye ; and the tv/o 
 listeners were obliged to observe the strictest silence, without motion 
 of any kind, until he had completed an ineffectual search, and re- 
 turned into the pavilion. 
 
 " By my faith, brave man," said the Count, "ere we return to our 
 skulkmg-place, I must tell thee in thine ear, that never, in my life, 
 was temptation so strong upon me, as that which prompted me to 
 beat out that old hypocrite's brains, provided I could have reconciled 
 it with my honour ; and heartily do I v/ish that thou, whose honour 
 no way withheld thee, had experienced and given way to some im- 
 pulse of a similar nature." 
 
 " Such fancies have passed through my head," said the Varangian* 
 " but I will not follow them till they are consistent both with our 
 own safety, and more particularly vdth that of the Countess." 
 
 " I thank thee again for thy good-will to her," said Count Robert ; 
 " and, by Heaven ! if fight we must at length, as it seenis likely, 1 
 will neither grudge thee an honourable antagonist, nor fair Quarter 
 if the combat goes against thee." 
 
 " Thon hast my thanks," was the reply of Hereward; "only, for 
 Heaven's sake, be silent in this conjuncture, and do what thou wilt 
 afterwards. " 
 
 Before the Varangian and the Count had again resumed their 
 posture of listeners, the parties within the pavilion, conceiving them- 
 selves unwatched, had resumed their conversation, speaking low, yet 
 with considerable animation : 
 
 "It is in vain you would persuade me," said the Countess, " that 
 you know not where my husband is, or that you have not the most 
 
172 C0U:NT ROBERT OF PARIS. • 
 
 fil)3oIiite influence over liis Ccaptivifcy. Who else could have an in- 
 terest ill banisliiii!:;- or putting- to cteatli the husband; but he thi>t 
 ailVcts to admire the wife ? " 
 
 "You do me wrong-, beautiful lady," answered the Ctesar, " and 
 forg'ct that I can in no sha])e be termed the moving--spring of this 
 empire; that my father-in-law, Alexius, is the Emperor; and that 
 the woman who terms herself my wife, is jealous as a fiend can be 
 of my siiglitest motion. — What possibility was there that I should 
 work the captivity of your husband and your own? The open aft'ronfc 
 which the Count of Paris put upon the Emperor, was one which he 
 vv'as likely to avenge, either by secret guile or by open force. Me it 
 r.o way touched, save as the humble vassal of thy charms ; and it was 
 by the v/isdom and the art of the sage Agelastes, that I v/as able to 
 extricate thee from the gulf in Avhich thou hadst else certainly 
 pcrislied. Nay, weep not, lady, for as yet we know not the fiite of 
 Count Robert; but, credit me, it is wisdom to choose a better pro- 
 tector, and consider him as no more." 
 
 " A better than him," said Brenhilda, " I can never have, were 1 
 to choose out of the knighthood of all the world ! " 
 
 "This hand," said the Csesar, drawing himself into a martial at- 
 titude, ''should decide that question, were the man of whom thou 
 tliinkest so much yet moving on the face of this earth and at liberty." 
 
 " Thou art," said Brenhilda, looking fixedly at him with the hre of 
 indignation flashing from every feature — ''thou art — but it avails not 
 telling- thee what is tliy real name : believe me, the world shall one 
 day ring with it, and ))e justly sensible of its value. Observe what I 
 am about to say — Robert of Paris is gone — or captive, I know not 
 where. lie cannot fight the match of which thou seemest so desirous 
 —but here stands Brenhilda, born heiress of Aspramonte, by marriage 
 the wedded wife of the good Count of Paris. She was never matched 
 in the lists by mortal man, except the valiant Count, and since thou 
 art so grieved that thou canst not meet her husband in battle, thou 
 canst not surely object, if she is willing to meet thee in his stead I " 
 
 "How, madam?" said the Ceesar, astonished ; '"'do you propose 
 yourself to hold the lists ag'ainst me? " 
 
 "Against you!" said the Countess; "against all the Grecian 
 empire, if they sliall aflirm that Robert of Paris is justly used and 
 lawfully confined." 
 
 "And are the conditions," said the Cfcsar, "the same as if Count 
 Robert himself held the lists ? The vanquished must then be at the 
 })leasure of the conqueror for good or evil." 
 
 "It would seem so," said the Countess, "nor do I refuse the 
 liazard; only, that if the other champion shall bite the dust, the 
 noble Count Robert shall be set at liberty, and permitted to depart 
 with all suitable honours." 
 
 " This I refuse not," said the Cresar, " provided it is in my power." 
 
 A deep growling sound, like that of a modern gon^', here inters 
 rupted the conference. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 173 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Varan g-ian and Count Robert, at ever)' risk of discovery, had 
 rcnirtined so near as fully to conjecture, tlioug'h tliey could ucf ex- 
 Ijre.ssly overhear, the purport of the conversation. 
 
 " lie has accepted her challenge ? " said the Count of Faris. 
 
 " And with apparent willing-ness," said Hereward. 
 
 " O, doubtless, doubtless," answered the Crusader; " but he knows 
 not the skill in war which a woman mny attain ; for my part, God 
 knows I have enough depending upon the issue of this contest, yet 
 such is my confidence, that I would to God 1 had more. I vow' to 
 our Lady of the Broken Lances, that I desire every furrow of land I 
 possess— every honour which I can call my own, from the Countship 
 of Paris, down to the leather that binds my spur, were dependent 
 and at issue upon this fair field, betv/een your Caesar, as men term 
 him, and Brenhilda of Aspramonte." 
 
 " It is a noble confidence," said the Varangian, " nor durst I say it 
 is a rash one; only I cannot but remember that the Crssar is a strong 
 man as well as a handsome, expert in the use of arms, and, above 
 all, less strictly bound than you esteem yourself by the rules of hon- 
 our. There are many ways in which advantage may be given and 
 taken, wliich will not, in the Cssar's estimation, alter the character 
 of the field from an equal one, although it might do so in the opinion 
 of the chivalrous Count of Paris, or even in that of the poor Varan- 
 gian. But first let me conduct you to some place of safety, for your 
 escape must be soon, if it is not already, detected. The sounds 
 which we heard intimate that some of his confederate plotters have 
 visited the garden on other than love aftairs. I will guide thee to 
 another avenue than that by which we entered. But you would 
 hardly, I suppose, be pleased to adopt the wisest alternative ? " 
 
 " And what may that be ? " said the Count. 
 
 " To give thy purse, though it were thine all, to some poor ferry- 
 man to waft thee over the Hellespont, then hasten to carry thy com- 
 plaint to Godfrey of Bouillon, and what friends thou mayst have 
 among thy brethren crusaders, and determine as thou easily canst, 
 on a sufficient number of them to come back and menace the city 
 with instant war, unless the Emperor should deliver up thy lady, 
 most unfairly made prisoner, and prevent, by his authority, this 
 absurd and unnatural combat." 
 
 " And would you have me, then," said Count Robert, " move the 
 crusaders to break a fairly appointed field of battle ? Do you think 
 that Godfrey of Bouillon would turn back U]:ton his pilgrimage for 
 such an unworthy purpose ; or that the Countess of Paris would ac- 
 cept as a service, means of safety wliich w^ould stain her honour for 
 ever, by breaking an appointment solemnly made on her own chal- 
 lenge ? — Never ! " 
 
 "My judgment is then at fault,"' said the Varangian, ''for I see I 
 can hammer out no expedient which is jiot, in some extravagant 
 
174 COL'NT ilOBERT OF TARIS. 
 
 manner or anotlier, controlled by your foolish notions. Here is a 
 man who lias been trapped into the power of liis enemy, that he 
 mig-ht not interfere to prevent a base stratagem upon his lady, in- 
 volving- both her life and honour; yet he thinks it a matter of neces- 
 sity that he keeps fixith as precisely with these midnight poisoners, 
 as he would had it been pledged to'th.e most honourable men?" 
 
 " Thou sayst a painful truth," said Count Robert ; " but my word 
 is the enil)lem of ray faith ; and if I pass it to a dishonourable or 
 faithless foe, it is imprudently doiie on my part; but if I break it, 
 being once pledged, it is a dishonourable action, and the disgrace 
 can never be washed from my sliield." 
 
 " Do you mean, then," said the Varangian, " to sufl'er your wife's 
 liononr to remain pledg'ed as it at present is, on the event of an un- 
 equal combat ? " 
 
 " God and the saints pardon thee such a thought! " said the Count 
 of Paris. " I will go to see this combat with a heart as firm, if not 
 as light, as any time I ever saw spears splintered. If by the influ- 
 ence of any accident or treachery, — for fairly, and v/ith such an 
 antagonist, Brenhikla of Aspramonte cannot be overthrown, — I step 
 into the lists, proclaim tbe Csesar as he is — a villain— show the false- 
 hood of his conduct from beginning" to end, — appeal to every noble 
 lieart that hears me, and then — God show the right ! " 
 
 Hereward paused, and shook his head. "All this," he said, 
 '• might be feasible enough, provided the combat were to be fought 
 in tiie presence of your own countrymen, or even, by the mass! if 
 tlie Varangians were to be guards of the lists. But treachery of 
 every kind is so familiar to the Greeks, that I question if they would 
 viev/ the conduct of their Coasar, as anything else than a parclonable 
 and natural stratagem of Dan Cnpid, to be smiled at, rather than 
 subjected to disgrace or punishment." 
 
 " A nation,'' said Count Robert, "who could smile at such a jest, 
 may Heaven refuse them sympathy at tbeir utmost need, when their 
 sword is broken in their hand, and their wives and daughters shriek- 
 ing in the relentless grasp of a barbarous enemy! " 
 
 Hereward looked upon his companion, whose flushed cheeks and 
 sparkling- eyes bore witness to his enthusiasm. 
 
 " I see," iie said, " you are resolved, and I know that your resolu- 
 tion can in justice be called by no other name than an act of heroic 
 folly — Wliat then ? it is long" since life has been bitter to the Varan- 
 gian exile. Morn has raised him from a joyless bed, whicli night 
 has seen him lie down upon, wearied with wielding- a mercenary 
 weapon in the wars of strang-ers. He has longed to lay down his 
 life in an honourable cause, and this is one in which the extremity 
 and very essence of honour is implicated. It tallies also with my 
 scheme of saving the Emperor, which will be greatly facilitated by 
 tlie downfall of his ungrateful son-in-law." Then addressing' him- 
 self to the Count, he continued, " Well, Sir Count, as thou art the 
 l)er3on principally concerned, I am willing to yield to thy reasoning- 
 in this !?.frair ; but I hope you will permit me to mingle with your 
 resolution some advices of a more everyday and less fantastic 
 nature. For example, thy escape from the dungeons of the Blac- 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF r'AilLS. 1/5 
 
 qiiernal must soou be generoiiy known. In prudence, indeed, I my- 
 self must be the first to communicate it, since otherwise the suspi- 
 cion will tall on me— Where do you think of concealing- yourself ? 
 for assuredly the search will be close and g-eneral." 
 
 "For that," said the Count of Paris, ■•'• 1 must be indebted to thy 
 sug'g-estion, with thanks for every lie which thou findcst thyself 
 obliged to make, to contrive, and produce in my behalf, entreating- 
 thee only to render them as fev/ as possible, they being- a coin which 
 I myself never fabricate." 
 
 "Sir knig-ht," answered Hereward, " let me begin first by saying 
 that no knight that ever belted sword is more a slave to truth, when 
 truth is observed towards him, than the poor soldier vvho talks to 
 thee ; but when the game depends not upon fair play, but upon 
 lulling men's cautiousness asleep by falsehood, and drugging their 
 senses by opiate draughts, they who would scruple at no means of 
 deceiving me, can hardly expect that I, who am paid in such base 
 money, should pass notiiing on my part but what is lawful and 
 genuine. For the present thou must remain concealed within my 
 poor apartment, in the barracks of the Varangians, which is the 
 last place where they v/ili think of seeking for thee. Take this, my 
 upper cloak, and follow me ; and now that we are about to leave these 
 gardens, thou mayst follow me unsuspected as a sentinel attending 
 his officer; for, take it along with you, noble Count, that we Varan- 
 gians are a sort of persons upon whom the Greeks care not to look 
 very long or fixedly." 
 
 They now readied the gate where they had been admitted by tlie 
 n egress, and Hereward, who Vv'as intrusted with the power, it seems, 
 of letting himself out of the philosopher's premises, though not_ of 
 entering without assistance from the portress, took out a key which 
 turned the lock on the garden side, so tliat they soon found them- 
 selves at liberty. They then proceeded by bypaths through the 
 city, Hereward leading the way, and tlio Count following, without 
 speech or remonstrance, until they stood before the portal of the 
 barracks of the Varangians. 
 
 " Make haste," said tlie sentinel who was on duty, " dinner is al- 
 ready begun." The communication sounded joyfully In the ears 
 of Hereward, who was much afraid that his companion might have 
 been stopt and examined. By a side passage he reached his own 
 quarters, and introduced the Count into a small^room, the sleeping 
 chamber of his squire, where ho apologised for leaving him for 
 some time; and, going out, locked the door, for fear, as he said, of 
 intrusion. 
 
 The demon of suspicion was not very likely to molest a mind so 
 frankly constituted as that of Count Robert, and yet thelast action 
 of Hereward did not fail to occasion some painful reflections. 
 
 '' This man," he said, " had needs be true, for I have reposed in 
 him a mighty trust, wliicli few hirelings in his situation would hon- 
 ourably discharge. What is to prevent him to report to the prin- 
 cipal officer of "his watch that the Frank prisoner, Robert Count of 
 Paris, whose wife stands engaged for so desperate a combat with the 
 Csssar, has escaped, indeed, this morning, from the prisons of the 
 
176 COUNT ROEEnT OF TARIS. 
 
 Bliicqncrnal, but lias smTered himself to bo trepanned at noon, and 
 is ag-ain a captive in the barracks of the Varangian Guard ? — v/hat 
 means of defence are mine were I_discovered to these mercenaries ? 
 • — What man could do, by the faVour of our Lady of the Broken 
 Lances, 1 have not failed to achieve. I have slain a tiger in single 
 combat — I have killed one warder, and conquered the desperate and 
 gig-antic creature by whom ho was supported. I have had terms 
 enoug-h at command to bring over this Varangi-an to my side, in ap- 
 pearance at least ; yet all this does not encournge me to hope that 
 I could long keep at bay ten or a dozen such men as these beef- 
 fed knaves appear to be, led in upon me by a fellow of thewes 
 and sinews such as those of my late companion.— Yet for shame, 
 Robert ! such tlioughts are unworthy a descendant of Charle- 
 magne. When wert thou v/ont so curiously to count thine enemies, 
 and wlien wert thou wont to be suspicious, since he, whose bosom 
 may truly boast itself incapable of fraud, ought in honesty to be tlic 
 last to expect it in anotlier? The Varangian's look is open, liis 
 coolness in danger is striking, his speech is more frank and ready 
 than ever was that of a traitor. If he is false, there is no faith in 
 the hand of nature, for truth, sincerity, and courage are written 
 upon his forehead." 
 
 While Count Robert was thus reflecting upon his condition, and 
 combating the thick-coming doubts and suspicions which its uncer- 
 tainties gave rise to, he began to be sensible that he had not eaten 
 for many hours ; and amidst many doubts and fears of a more heroic 
 nature, he half entertained a lurking suspicion, that they meant to 
 let hunger undermine his strength before they adventured into the 
 apartment to deal with him. 
 
 We shall best see how far these doubts were deserved by Ilereward, 
 or how far they were unjust, by following his course after he left his 
 barrack-room. Snatching a morsel of dinner, wliicli he eat witli an 
 aifectation of great hunger, but, in ftict, that his attention to his food 
 might be a pretence for dispensing with disagreeable questions, or 
 Avith conversation of any kind, he pleaded duty, and immediately 
 leaving his comrades, directed his course to the lodgings of Achilles 
 Tatius, which were a part of the same building. A Syrian slave, wlio 
 opened the door, after a deep reverence to Ilereward, M'hom he knew 
 as a favourite attendant of the Acolyte, said to him that his master 
 was gone forth, but had desired him to say, that if he wished to see 
 him, "he would find him at the Philosopher's Gardens, so called, as 
 belonging to the sage Agelastes, 
 
 HereAvard turned about instantly, and availing himself of his know- 
 ledge of Constantinople to thread its streets in the shortest time pos- 
 sible, at length stood alone befoi-e the door in the garden-wall, at 
 which lie and the Count of Paris had previously been admitted in 
 the earlier part of the day. The same negress ap])eared at the same 
 private signal, and when he asked for Achilles Tatius, she replied, 
 with some sharpness, '-'Since you were here this morning, I marvel 
 you did not meet him, or that, having business with him, you did not 
 stay till ho arrived. Sure I am, that not long after you cntei'cd I he 
 garden the Acolyte wag ii^quiring for you." 
 
COUNT KGEERT OF PARIS. 
 
 177 
 
 "It skills not, old woman," said the Varang-ian ; " I communicate 
 the reason of my motions to my commander, but not to thee." lie 
 entered the g-arden according'ly, and avoidini^ the twilig'lit path that 
 led to the Bower of Love, — so was the pavilion named in which he 
 had overheard the dialog-ue between the Ccesar and the Countess of 
 Paris, — he arrived before a simple g-arden-house, whose humble and 
 modest front seemed to announce that it was the abode of philosophy 
 and learning-. Here, passing- before the Avindows, he made some 
 little noise, expecting- to attract the attention either of Achilles Tatius 
 or his accomplice Ag'elastes, as chance should determine. It was the 
 first who heard, and who replied. The door opened ; a lofty plume 
 stooped itself, that its owner might cross the threshold, and the stately 
 form of Achilles Tatius entered the g-ardens. " What now," he said, 
 "our trusty sentinel? what hast thou, at this time of da}^ come to> 
 report to us ? Thou art our good friend, and hig-hly esteemed sol- 
 dier, and well we Avot thine errand must be of importance, since thou 
 bast broug-ht it thyself, and at an hour so unusual." 
 
 " Pray Heaven," said HereAvard, " that the ncAvs I haA'e broug-ht 
 deserve a Avelcome." 
 
 '"'Speak them instantly," said the Acolyte, "g-ood or bad; thou 
 speakest to a man to Avhom fear is unknoAvn." P>ut his eye, Avhicli 
 quailed as he looked on the soldier — his colour, Avh.ich Avent and came 
 — his hands, Avhich busied themselves in an uncertain manner in ad- 
 justing- the belt of his sword, — all arg'ued a state of mind verA' difler- 
 'ent from that which his tone of defiance Avould fain liaA'e implied. 
 " Courage," he said, " my trusty soldier ! speak the news to me. I can 
 bear the AA'orst thou hast to tell." 
 
 "In a word, then," said the Varangian, " you i" Valour directed me 
 this morning to play tlie office of master of the rounds upon those dun- 
 geons of the Blacquernal palace, AA^here last night the boisterous Count 
 liobcrt of Paris AA^as incarcerated " 
 
 " I remember Avell,'' said Acliilles Tatius. — " What then?" 
 
 "As I reposed me," said Hereward, "in an apartment above the 
 vaults, I heard cries from beneath, of a kind Avhich attracted my atten- 
 tion. 1 hastened to examine, and my surprise Avas extreme, Avheu 
 looking doAvn into the dunq-eon, though" I could see nothing distinctly, 
 yet, by the Availing and Avhimpering sounds, I conceived that the Man 
 of tlie Forest, the animal called Sylvan, Avhom our soldiers have so 
 far indoctrinated in our Saxon tongue as to make him useful in the 
 AA'ards of the prison, Avas bemoaning himself on account of some vio- 
 lent injury. Descending? Avith a torch, I found the bed on Avhicli 
 the prisoner had been let down burnt to cinders ; the tiger Avhich 
 Jiad been chained within a spring of it, Avith its skull broken to pieces ; 
 the creature called Sylvan prostrate, and Avrithing under great paiu 
 and terror, and no prisoner Avhatever in the dungeon. There Avere 
 marks that all the fastenings had been Avithdrawn by a Mytilenian 
 soldier, companion of my Avatcli, Avhen he visited the dungeon at the 
 usual hour ; and as, in my anxious search, I at length found his dead 
 body, slain apparently by a stab in the throat, I Avas obliged to believe 
 that Avhile I Avas examining the cell, he, this Count Kobert, Avitli 
 Avhose daring life the adveuture is Avell consistent, had escaped to the 
 
 N 
 
178 COUNT U0i5KUT OF I'AllIS. 
 
 upper air, by means, doubtless, of the ladder and tra])-door by which 
 I had descended." 
 
 " And wherefore didst thou not instantly call treason, and I'aise 
 the hue and cry ? " demanded the Acolyte. 
 
 "I dared not venture to do so," repHed the Varangian, " till I had 
 instructions from your Valour. The alarming- cry of treason, and the 
 various rumours likely at this moment to ensue, might have involved 
 a search so close, as perchance would have discovered matters in 
 which the Acolyte himself Avould have been rendered subject to sus- 
 picion." 
 
 _" Thou art right," said Achilles Tatius, hi a whisper ; " and yet it 
 will be necessary that we do not pretend any longer to conceal the 
 flight of this important prisoner, if we would not pass for being his 
 accomplices. Where thinkest thou this unhappy fugitive can have 
 taken refuge ? " 
 
 " That 1 was in hopes of learning from your Valour's greater wis- 
 dom," said Here ward. 
 
 " Thinkest tliou not," said Acliilles, " tliat he may have crossed 
 the Hellespont, in order to rejoin his own countrymen and ad- 
 herents ? " 
 
 "It is much to be dreaded," said Hereward. " Undoubtedly, if 
 the Count listened to the advice of any one who knew the face of 
 the couptry, such would be the very counsel he would receive." 
 
 "The danger, then, of his return at the head of a vengeful body 
 of Franks," said the Acolyte, " is not so immediate as I appre- 
 hended at first, for the Emperor gave positive orders that the boats 
 and galleys which yesterday transported the crusaders to the shores 
 of Asia, should rccross the strait, and bring back no single one of 
 them from the step upon their journey on which he had so far fur- 
 thered them. — Besides, they all, — their leaders, that is to say,— 
 made their vows before crossing, that they w^oidd not turn back so 
 much as a foot's pace, now that they had set actually forth on the 
 road to Palestine. 
 
 "So, therefore," said Hereward, "one of two propositions is un- 
 questionable; either Count Robert is on the eastern side of tlie 
 strait, having no means of returning with his brethren to avenge 
 the usage he has received, and may therefore be securely set at de- 
 fiance, — or else he lurks somewliere in Constantinople, without a 
 friend or ally to take his part, or encourage him openly to state his 
 supposed wrongs; — in eitlier case, there can, I thhdc, be no tact in 
 conveying to the palace the news that he has freed himself, since it 
 woidd only alarm the Court, and aiford the Emperor ground for 
 many suspicions. But it is not for an ignorant barbarian like mo 
 to prescribe a course of conduct to your valour and Avisdom, and 
 methinks the sage Agelastes were a "fitter counsellor than such as 
 I am." 
 
 " No, no, no," said the Acolyte, in a hurried whisper ; " the philo- 
 soplier and I are right good friends, sworn good friends, very espe- 
 cially bound together ; but should it come to this, that one of us 
 must needs throw before the footstool of the Emperor the head of 
 the other, I think thou Avouldst not advise that I, whose liairs 
 
have Dot a trace of silver, should be the last in niuking- the ofFer- 
 iiif^' ; wherefore, we will say nothing- of this misliap, but give thee 
 full power and the hio-hest charg-e to seek for Count Robert of 
 Paris, be he dead or alive, to secure him within the dungeons set 
 apart for the discipline of our own corps, and when thou hast done 
 so, to bring' me notice. I may make him my friend in many ways, 
 by extricating- his wife from dang-er by the axes of my Varan- 
 gians. What is there in this metropolis that they have to oppose 
 them?" 
 
 "When raised in a just cause," answered Hereward, "nothing-." 
 
 "Hall! — sayst thou?" said the Acolyte ; " how meanest thou by 
 that ? — but I know — Thou art scrupulous about having- the just and 
 lawful command of thy officer in every action in which thou art en- 
 g-aged, and, thinking in that dutiful and soldierlike manner, it is my 
 duty as thine Acolyte to see thy scruples satisfied. A warrant shalt 
 thou have, with full powers, to seek for and imprison this foreign 
 Count of whom we have been speaking — And, hark thee, my excel- 
 lent friend," he continued, with some hesitation, "I think thou hadst 
 better begone, and begin, or rather continue thy search. It is unne- 
 cessary to inform our friend Agelastes of what has happened, until 
 his advice be more needful than as yet it is on the occasion. Home 
 —home to the barracks ; I will account to him for thy appearance 
 here, if he be curious on the subject, which, as a suspicious old man, 
 he is likely to be. Go to the barracks, and act as if thou hadst a 
 warrant in every respect full and ample. I will provide thee with 
 one when I come back to my quarters." 
 
 The Varangian turned hastily homewards. 
 
 "Now, is it not," he said, "a strange thing, and enough to make 
 a man a rogue for life — to observe how the devil encourages young 
 beginners in falsehood ! I have told a greater lie — at least I have 
 suppressed more truth — than on any occasion before in my whole 
 life — and what is the consequence ? Why, my commander throws 
 almost at my head a warrant sufficient to guarantee and protect me 
 in all I have done, or propose to do ! If the foul fiend were thus 
 regular in protecting his votaries, methinks they would have little 
 reason to complain of him, or better men to be astonished at their 
 imkiiber. But a time comes, they say, when he seldom fails to de- 
 sert them. Therefore, get thee behind me, Satan ! If I have seemed 
 to be thy servant for a short time, it is but with an honest and 
 Christian purpose." 
 
 As he entertained these thoughts, he looked back upon the path, 
 and was startled at an apparition of a creature of a much greater 
 size, and a stranger shape than human, covered, all but the face, 
 with a reddish-dun fur ; his expression an ugly and yet a sad melan- 
 choly ; a cloth was wrapt round one hand, and an air of pain and 
 languor bespoke suffering from a wound. So much was Hereward 
 preoccupied with his own reflections that at first he thought his 
 imagination had actually raised the devil ; but after a sudden start 
 of surprise, he recognised his acquaintance Sylvan. " Hah ! old 
 friend," he said, "I am happy thou hast made thy escape to a 
 place where thou wilt find plenty of fruit to support thee. Take 
 
ISO COUNT riOBEUT OF PARIS. 
 
 my advice— keep out of the way of discovery — keep thy friend's 
 counsel." 
 
 Tlie Mau of the Wood uttered a chattering- noise in return to this 
 address. 
 
 " I understand thee," said Ilereward, " thou wilt tell no tales, thou 
 sayest ; and faith I will trust thee rather than the hetter part of my 
 own two-leg-ged race, who are eternally circumventing- or murder- 
 ing- each other." 
 
 A minute after the creature was out of sight Hereward heard the 
 shriek of a female, and a voice which cried for help. The accents 
 must have been uncommonly interesting- to the Varangian, since, 
 forgetting his own dangerous situation, he immediately turned and 
 flew to tlie.aiiiipliant's assistance. 
 
 ^,%^4;«'^/>, 
 
 She corned ! she comes ! in all the charms of youth, 
 ', *,Unequaird love, and unsuspected truth I 
 
 ^*"**^*'^^EREWARD was uot loug- in tracing- the cry through the wooded 
 walks, when a female rushed into his arms, alarmed, as it appeared, 
 by Sylvan, who Avas ])ursuing- her closely. Tiie figure of Hereward, 
 with his axe uplifted, put an instant stop to his career, and, with a 
 terrified note of his native cries, he withdrew into the thickest of the 
 adjoining foliage. 
 
 Kelieved from his presence, Hereward had time to look at th( 
 female whom he had succoured: She was arrayed in a dress which 
 consisted of several colours, that which ])redominated being- a pale 
 yellow; her tunic was of this colour, and, like a modern gown, was 
 closely fitted to the body, which, in the present case, was that of 
 tall, but very well-formed person. The mantle, or upper g-arment, 
 in which the whole figure was wrapped, was of fine cloth ; and the 
 kind of hood which was attached to it having- flown back Avith the 
 rapidity of her motion, gave to view the hair, beautifully adorned 
 ; and twisted into a natural head-dress. Beneath this natural head- 
 gear appeared a face pale as death, from a sense of the supposed 
 danger, but which preserved, even amidst its terrors, an exquisite 
 degree of beauty. 
 
 Hereward was thunderstruck at this apparition. The dress was 
 neither Grecian, Italian, nor of the costume of the Franks; — it was 
 Saxon! — connected by a thousand tender remembrcances with Here- 
 Avard's childhood antl youth. Tiie circumstance Avas most extra- 
 ordinary. Saxon Avomen, indeed, there Avere in Constantinople, Avho 
 had united their fortunes Avith those of the Varangians ; and those 
 often chose to Avear their national dress in the city, because the 
 character and conduct of their husbands secured them a degree of 
 respect Avhicli they might not have met Avith either as Grecian or as 
 stranger females of a similar rank. But almost all these were per- 
 
COUNT ROBEnT OF PARIS. I8l 
 
 gonully known to I-Iere\Yanl. It was no time, however, for reverie- 
 lie was himself in danger — the situation of the 3'oung- female might 
 be no safe one. In every case it was jndicious to qnit the more 
 public part of the gardens; he therefore lost not a moment in con- 
 veying the fainting Saxon to a retreat he fortunately Avas acquainted 
 with. A covered path, obscured by vegetation, led through a species 
 of labyrinth to an artificial cave, at the bottom of which, half-paved 
 with shells, moss, and spar, lay the gigantic and half-recumbent 
 statue of a river deity, with its usual attributes — that is, its front 
 crowned with water-lilies and sedges, and its ample hand half-resting 
 upon an empty urn. The attitude of the whole figure corresponded 
 with the motto— "I sleep — awake me not." 
 
 " Accursed relic of paganism,'" said Ilereward, who was, in pro- 
 portion to his light, a zealous Christian— "brutish stock or stonf* 
 that thou art! I will wake thee with a vengeance." So saying, he 
 struck the head of the slumbering deity with his battle-axe, and de- 
 ranged the play of the fountain so much that the Avater began to 
 pour into the basin. 
 
 "Thou art a good block, nevertheless," said the Varangian, "to 
 send snccour so needful to the aid of my poor countrywoman. Thou 
 shalt give her also, with thy leave, a portion of thy couch." So say- 
 ing, he arranged his fair burden, Avho Avas as yet insensible, npon tlie 
 ])edestal Avhere the figure of the River God reclined. In doing this, 
 his attention Avas recalled to her face, and again and again he Avas 
 thrilled Avith an emotion of hope, but so excessively like fear that 
 it could only be compared to the flickering of a torch, uncertain 
 whether it is to light up or be instantly extinguished. With a sort 
 of mechanical attention, he continued to make such cftorts as ho 
 could to recall the intellect of the beautiful creature before him. 
 His feelings Avere those of the astronomical sage to Avliom the rise 
 of the moon slowly restores the contemplation of that lieaA^en Avliicli 
 is at once, as a Christian, his hope of felicity, and, as a philosopher, 
 the source of his knowledge. Tlie blood returned to her cheek, ancl 
 reanimation, and even recollection, took place in her earlier than in 
 the astonished Varangian. 
 
 "Blessed Mary!" she said, "liaA^e I indeed tasted the last bitter 
 cup, and is it here Avhere thou reunitest thy votaries after death! — • 
 Speak, HereAvard ! — if thou art aught but an empty creature of the 
 imagination !— speak, and tell me if I have but dreamed of that mon- 
 strous ogre ! " 
 
 "Collect thj'self, my beloved Bertha," said the Anglo-Saxon, re- 
 called by the sound of' her voice, " and prepare to endure Avhat thou 
 livest to witness, and thy Hereward survives to tell. That hideous 
 thing exists — nay, do not start, and look for a hiding-place — thy own 
 gentle hand Avith a riding-rod is snfiicient to tame its courage. And 
 am I not here. Bertha? Wouldst thou Avish another safeguard ?" 
 
 " No — no," exclaimed she, seizing on the arm of her recovered 
 .over. " Do I not knoAv you now ? " 
 
 And is it but noAV you know me, Bertha?" said Hereward. 
 
 '= I suspected before," she said, casting doAvn her eyes ; " but I 
 low with certainty that mark of the boar's tusk." 
 
 know 
 
182 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 Hereward suffered her imag-inatiou to clear itself from the sliock 
 it had received so suddenly before he ventured to enter upon present 
 events, in vi-hich there was so much both to doubt and to fear. He 
 permitted her, therefore, to recall to her memory all the circum- 
 stances of the rousing- the hideous animal, assisted by the tribes of 
 both their fathers. She mentioned in broken words the flig-ht of 
 arrows discharged against the boar by young and old, male and 
 female, and how her own well aimed, but feeble shaft wounded him 
 sharply ; she forgot not how, incensed at the pain, the creature 
 rushed upon her as the cause, laid her palfrey dead upon the spot, 
 and would soon have slain her, had not Hereward, when every at- 
 tempt failed to bring his horse up to the monster, thrown himself 
 from his seat, and interposed personally between the boar and Bertha. 
 The battle was not decided without a desperate struggle ; the boar 
 was slain, but Hereward received the deep gash upon his brow which 
 shp whom he had saved now recalled to her memory. '•' Alas ! " she 
 said, " what have we been to each other since that period ? and what 
 are we now, in this foreign land ? " 
 
 "Answer for thyself, my Bertha," said the Varangian, "if thou 
 canst ; — and if thou canst with truth say that thou art the same 
 Bertha who vowed affection to Hereward, believe me, it were sinful 
 to suppose that the saints have brought us together with a view of 
 our being' afterwards separated." 
 
 "Hereward," said Bertha, "you have not preserved the bird in 
 your bosom safer than I have ; at home or abroad, in servitude or iu 
 freedom, amidst sorrow or joy, plenty or want, my thought was 
 always on the troth I had plighted to Hereward at the stone of Odin." 
 
 " Say no more of that," said Hereward ; " it was an impious rite, 
 and good could not come of it." 
 
 "Was it then so impious? " she said, the unbidden tear rushing 
 into her large blue eye. — " Alas ! it was a pleasure to reflect that 
 Hereward was mine by that solemn engagement ! " 
 
 "Listen to me, my Bertha," said He'reward, taking" her hand: 
 " We were then almost children ; and though our vow was in itself 
 innocent, yet it was so far wrong, as being sworn in the presence of 
 a dumb idol, representing" one who was, while alive, a bloody and 
 cruel magician. But we Avill, the instant an opportunity offers 
 itself, renew our vow before a shrine of real sanctity, and promise 
 suitable penance for our ignorant acknowledgment of Odin, to pro- 
 jiitiate thereal Deity, who can bear us through those storms of ad- 
 versity which arc like to surround us." 
 
 Leaving them for the time to their love-discourse, of a nature 
 pure, simple, and interesting, we shall give, in few words, all that 
 the reader needs to know of their separate history between the boar's 
 hunt and the time of their meeting in the gardens of Agelastes. 
 
 In that doubtful state experienced by outlaws, Waltheoff, the 
 father of Hereward, and Engelred, the parent of Bertha, used to 
 assemble their unsubdued tribes, sometimes in the fertile regions of 
 Devonshire, sometimes in the dark wooded solitudes of Hampshire, 
 but as much as possible within the call of the bugle of the famous 
 Edric the Forester, so long leader of the insurgent Saxons. The 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 183 
 
 chiefs we have mentioned were among- the last bold men >Yho asserted 
 the independence of the Saxon race of England ; and like tlieir cap- 
 tain, Edric. they were g-euerally known by the name of Foresters, as 
 men wlio lived by hunting-, when their power of making' excursions 
 was checked and' repelled. Hence they made a step backwards in 
 civilisation, and becaine more like to their remote ancestors of Ger- 
 man descent, than they were to their more immediate and civilised 
 predecessors, who, before the battle of Hastings, had advanced con- 
 siderably in the arts of civilised life. 
 
 Old superstitions had begun to revive among them, and hence the 
 practice of youths and maidens plighting their troth at the stone 
 circles dedicated, as it was supposed, to Odin, in whom, however, 
 they had long ceased to nourish any of the sincere belief which was 
 entertained by their heathen ancestors. 
 
 In another respect, these outlaws were fast reassuming a striking- 
 peculiarity of the ancient Germans. Their circumstances naturally 
 brought the youth of both sexes much together, and by early marriage, 
 or less permanent connections, the population v/ould have increased 
 far beyond the means which the outlaws had to maintain, or even to 
 protect themselves. The laws of the Foresters, therefore, strictly 
 enjoined that marriages should be prohibited until the bridegroom 
 was twenty-one years complete. Future alliances were indeed often 
 formed by the young" people, nor was this discountenanced by their 
 parents, provided that the lovers waited until the period wkien the 
 majority of the bridegroom should permit them to marry, ^uch 
 youths as infringed this rule, incurred the dishonourable epithet of 
 niddering, or worthless, — an epithet of a nature so insulting, that 
 men were known to have slain themselves, rather than endure life 
 under such opprobrium. But the offenders were very few amidst a 
 race trained in moderation and self-denial; and hence it was that 
 woman, worshipped for so many years like something- sacred, was 
 received, when she became the head of a ftimily, into the arms and 
 heart of a husband who had so long expected hei-, was treated as 
 something more elevated than the mere idol of the moment; and 
 feeling the rate at which she v/as valued, endeavoured by her actions 
 to make her life correspond with it. 
 
 It was by the vrhole population of these tribes, as well as their 
 parents, that after the adventure of the boar hunt, Hereward and 
 Bertha were considered as lovers whose alliance was pointed out by 
 Heaven, and they were encouraged to approximate as much as their 
 niutual inclinations prompted them. The youths of the tribe avoided 
 asking Bertha's hand at the dance, and the maidens used no maidenly 
 ' '^treaty or artifice to detain Ilereward beside them, if Bertha was 
 sent at the feast. They clasped each other's hands througli the 
 ^ vibrated stone, which they called the altar of Odin, though later 
 ages have ascribed it to the Druids, and they implored that if they 
 broke their faith to each other, their fault might be avenged by the 
 twelve swords which were now drawn around them during the cere- 
 mony by as many youths, and that their misfortunes might be so 
 many as twelve maidens, who stood around with their hair loosened, 
 should be unable to recount, either in prose or verse. 
 
18-1 OOtJNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 The torcli of tlie Saxon Ciipicl shone for some years as brilliant as 
 ■when it was fii'st lighted. The time, however, came when they were 
 to he tried by adversity, thongh undeserved by the perfidy of either. 
 Years had gone past, and Ilereward had to count with anxiety how 
 many months and weeks were to separate him from the bride, who 
 Avas 'beginning- already by degrees to shrink less shyly from the ex- 
 pressions and caresses of one who was soon to term her all his own. 
 William Rufus, however, had formed apian of totally extirpating the 
 Foresters, whose implacable hatred, and restless love of freedom, 
 had so often disturbed the quiet of his kingdom, and despised his 
 forest laws. He assembled his Norman forces, and united to them 
 a body of Saxons who had submitted to his rule. lie thus brought 
 an overpowering force upon the bands of Waltheoff and Engelred, 
 who found no resource but to throw tlie females of their tribe, and 
 such as could not bear arms, into a convent dedicated to St Aug^astin, 
 of which Kenelm their relation was prior, and then turning to the 
 battle, vindicated their ancient valour by fighting it to the last. Botli 
 the unfortunate chiefs remained dead on tlie field, and Ilereward 
 and his brother had well-nigh shared their fate; but some Saxon 
 inhabitants of the neighbourhood, who adventured on the field of 
 battle, which the victors had left bare of everything save the booty 
 of the kites and the ravens, found the bodies of the youths still retain- 
 ing life. As they were generally well known and much beloved by 
 these people, Ilereward and his brother were taken care of till tlieir 
 wounds began to close, and their strength returned. Hereward 
 then heard the doleful news of the death of his father and Engelred. 
 His next inquiry was concerning his betrothed bride and her mother. 
 The poor inhabitants could give him little information. Some of 
 the females who had taken refuge in the convent, the Norman 
 knights and nobles had seized upon as their slaves, and the rest, wiiii 
 the monks who had harboured them, wei'e turned adrift, and their 
 place of retreat Avas completely sacked and burnt to the ground. 
 
 Half-dead himself at hearing these tidings, Herev/ard sallied out, 
 and at every risk of death, for the Saxon Foresters were treated as 
 outlaws, commenced inquiries after those so dear to him. He asked 
 concerning the particular fate of Bertlia and her mother, among the 
 miserable creatures who yet hovered about the neighbourhood of 
 the convent, like a few half-scorched bees about their smothered 
 hive. But, in the magnitude of their own terrors, none had retained 
 eyes for tlieir neighbours, and all that they could say was, that the 
 wife and daughter of Engelred were certainly lost; and their imagi- 
 nations suggested so many heart-rending details to this conclusion, 
 tliat Hereward gave up all thoughts of further researches, likely to 
 terminate so uselessly and so horribly. 
 
 The young Saxon had been all his life bred up in a patriotic 
 hatred to the Normans, who did not, it was likely, become dearer to 
 his thoughts in consequence of this victory. He dreamed at first of 
 crossing the Strait, to make v/ar against the hated enemy in their 
 own country; but an klea so extravagant did not long retain posses- 
 sion of his mind. His fate was decided by his encountering* an aged 
 palmer, who knew, or pretended to have known, his fiither, and to be 
 
COtXT IlOBEItT 01' PARIS. 185 
 
 a native of Eiioland. This man was a disg-nised Varans ian, selected 
 for the purpose, possessed of art and dexterity, and well provided 
 with money. He had little difficulty in persuading' HereNvard. in the 
 hopeless desolation of his condition, to join the Varangian Guard, 
 at this moment at war with the Normans, under which name it suited 
 Hereward's prepossessions to represent the Emperor's wars with 
 Robert Guiscard,his son Bohcraond, and other adventurers, in Italy, 
 Greece, or Sicily. A journey to the East also inferred a pilgTimage, 
 and g-ave the unfortunate Hereward the chance of purchasing- par- 
 don for his sins by visiting- the Holy Land. In g'aining- Hereward, 
 tlie recruiter also secured the services of his elder brother, who had 
 vowed not to separate from him. 
 
 The hig-h character of both brothers for courag-e, induced this wily 
 ag-ent to consider them as a great prize, and it was from the memo- 
 rand;i respecting' the history and character of those whom he re- 
 cruited, in which the ekler had been unreservedly communicative, 
 that Ag'elastes picked up the information respecting- Herewards 
 family and circumstances, which, at their first secret interview, lie 
 made" use of to impress upon the Yarang'ian the idea of his superna- 
 tural knowledge. Several of his companions in arms were thus 
 g-aincd over: for it will easily be guessed, that these memorials were 
 intrusted to the keeping- of Achilles Tatius, and he, to further their 
 joint purposes, imparted them to Agelastes, who thus obtained a 
 general credit for supernatural knowledge among these ignorant 
 men. But Hereward's blunt faith and honesty enabled him to shun 
 the snare. 
 
 Such being the fortunes of Hereward, those of Bertha formed the 
 subject of a broken and passionate connnunication between tlie 
 lovers, broken like an April day, and mingled with many a tender 
 caress, such as modesty permits to lovers when they meet again un- 
 expectedly after a separation which threatened to "be eternal. But 
 the story may be comprehended in few words. Amid the general 
 sack of the monastery, an old Norman knight seized upon Bertha 
 as his prize. Struck v.'ith her beauty, he designed her as an attend- 
 ant upon his daughter, just then come out of the years of childhpod, 
 and the very apple of her father's eye, being the only child of his 
 beloved Countess, and sent late in life to bless their marriage bed. 
 It was in the order of things that the Lady of Aspramonte, wdio was 
 considerably younger than the knight, should govern her husband, 
 ami tliat Brenhilda, their daughter, should govern both her parents. 
 
 Tlie Knight of Aspramonte, however, it may be observed, entpr- 
 tained some desire to direct his young' offspring- to more feminine 
 amusements than those which began already to put her life frequently 
 in danger. Contradiction was not to be thought of, as the good old 
 knight knew by experience. The influence and example of a com- 
 panion a little older than herself might be of some avail, and it v/as 
 with this view that, in the confusion of the sack, Aspramonte seized 
 upon the youthful Bertha. Terrified to the utmost degree, she clung 
 to her mother, and the Knight of Aspramonte, who had a softer heart 
 than was then usually found under a steel cuirass, moved by the af- 
 fliction of the mother and daughter, and recollecting that the former 
 
186 COUNT ROBEJtT OF TAiUS. 
 
 iniglit also be a usef'ui attendant upon his lady, extended his protec- 
 tion to both, and conveying- them out of the press, paid tlio soldiers 
 who ventured to dispute the spoil with him, partly in sonie small 
 pieces of money, and partly in dry blows with the reverse of his 
 lance. 
 
 The well-natured knight soon after returned to his own castle, and 
 being-^ a man of an orderly life and virtuous habits, the charming- 
 beauties of the Saxon virgin, and the more ripened charms of her 
 mother, did not prevent their travelling in all honour as well as 
 safety to his family fortress, the castle of Aspramonte. Hero such 
 masters as could be procured were got together to teach the y-ung 
 Bertha every sort of female accomplishment, in the hope that her 
 mistress, Brenhilda, might be inspired witli a desire to partake in 
 her education ; but although this so far succeeded, that the Saxon 
 captive became highly skilled in such music, needle- work, and other 
 female accomplishments as were known to the time, yet her young- 
 mistress, Brenliilda, retained the taste for those martial amusements 
 which had so sensibly grieved her father, but to which her mother, 
 who herself had nourished such fiincies in her youth, readily gave 
 sanction. 
 
 The captives, liowever, were kindly treated. Brenhilda became 
 infinitely attached to the young Anglo-Saxon, whom she loved less 
 for her ingenuity in arts, than for her activity in field sports, to which 
 her early state of independence had trained her. 
 
 The Lady of Aspramonte was also kind to both the captives ; but, 
 in one particular, she exercised a piece of petty tyranny over tliem. 
 She had imbibed an idea, strengthened by an old doting father-con- 
 fessor, that tbe Saxons were heathens at that time, or at least here- 
 tics, and madaa positive point with her husband that the bondswoman 
 and girl Avho were to attend on her person and that of her daughter, 
 should be qualified for the office by being anew admitted into tlie 
 Christian Church by baptism. 
 
 Though feeling the falsehood and injustice of the accusation, tlie 
 motlier had sense enough to submit to necessity, and recdved the 
 name of Martha in all form at the altar, to which she answered 
 during the rest of her life. 
 
 But Bertha showed a character upon this occasion inconsistent with 
 the general docility and gentleness of her temper. She boldly refused 
 tobe admitted anew into the pale of the Church, of which her con- 
 science told her she was already a member, or to exchange for another 
 the name originally given her at the font. It was in vain that the old 
 knight commanded, that the lady threatened, and that her mother 
 advised and entreated. IMorc closely pressed in private by lier mother, 
 she let her motive be known, which had not before been suspected. 
 "I know," she said, with a flood of tears, "that my f^ither would have 
 died ere I was subjected to this insult ; and then — who shall assure 
 me that vows which were made to the Saxon Bertha, will be binding 
 if a French Agath.a be substituted in jier stead ? They may banish 
 me," she said, "or kill me if they will, but if the son of WaltheofF 
 should again meet with (lie daughter of Engelred, he sluiU meet tliat 
 Bertha whom he knew in the forests of Hampton." 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 1S7 
 
 All argument was iu vain ; the Saxon maiden remained obstinate, 
 and to try to break her resolution, the Lady of Aspramonte at leng-th 
 spoke of dismissing- her from the service of her youn<>- mistress, and 
 banishing her from the castle. To this also she had made up her mind, 
 and she answered firmly though respectfully, that she would sorrow 
 bitterly at parting with her young lady; but as to the rest, she would 
 rather beg under her own name, than be recreant to the faith of her 
 fathers, and condemn it as heresy, by assuming one of Frank origin. 
 The Lady Brenhilda, in tlie mean time, entered the chamber, where 
 her mother was just about to pass the threatened doom of banish- 
 ment. — " Do not stop for my entrance, madam," said the dauntless 
 young lady ; " I am as much concerned in the doom which you are 
 about to pass as is Bertha; if she crosses the drawbridge of Aspra- 
 monte as an exile, so will I, when she has dried her tears, of which 
 even my petulance could never wring one from her eyes. She shall 
 be my squire and body attendant, and Launcelot, the bard, shall 
 follow with my spear and shield." 
 
 '^ And you will return, mistress," said her mother, " from so foolish 
 an expedition, before the sun sets? " 
 
 " So Heaven further me in my purpose, lady," answered the young 
 heiress, " the sun shall neither rise nor set that sees us return, till 
 this name of Bertha, and of her mistress, Brenhilda, are wafted as 
 far as the trumpet of fame can sound them. — Cheer up, my sweetest 
 Bertha ! " she said, taking her attendant by the hand, " if Heaven 
 hath torn thee from thy country and thy plighted troth, it hath 
 given thee a sister and a friend, with whom thy fam.e shall bo for 
 ever blended." 
 
 The Lady of Aspramonte was confounded : She knew that her 
 daughter was perfectly capable of the wild course whidi she had an- 
 nounced, and that she herself, even with her husband's assistance, 
 would be unable to prevent her following it. She passively listened, 
 therefore, while the Saxon matron, formerlyUrica, but nov/ Marthn, 
 addressed her daughter. " My child,'"' she said, "as you value honour, 
 virtue, safety, and gratitude, soften your heart towards your master 
 and mistress, and follow the advice of a parent, who has more years 
 and more judgment than you. And you, my dearest young lady, let 
 not your lady-mother think that an attachment to the exercises you 
 excel in, has destroyed in your bosom filial affection, and a regard to 
 the delicacy of your sex! — As they seem both obstinate, madam," 
 continued the matron, .after watching the influence of this advice 
 upon the 3'oung women, " perhaps, if it may be permitted me, I could 
 state an alternative, which might, in the meanwhile, satisfy your 
 latlyship's wishes, accommodate itself to the wilfulness of my obstinate 
 daugliter, and answer the kind purpose of her generous mistress." 
 The Lady of Aspramonte signed to the Saxou matron to proceed. 
 She went on accordingly " The Saxons, dearest lady, of the i)resent 
 day, are neither pagans nor heretics ; they are, in the time of keep- 
 ing Easter, as well as in all other disputable doctrine, humbly obe- 
 dient to the Pope of Rome; and this our good Bishop well knows, 
 since he upbi-aided some of the domestics for calling me an old 
 heathen. Yet our names arc uncouth in the ears of the Franks, and 
 
1S3 COUNT KOBERT OF PArJS. 
 
 boar, perhaps, a lieathenisli Rountl. If ifc be not exacted that my 
 tlaiigliter submit to a new rite of baptism, slie will lay aside her 
 Saxon name of Bertha upon all occasions while in your honourable 
 liouseliold. This will cut short a debate which, with forgiveness, I 
 tliiuk is scarce of importance enoug-h to break the peace of this castle. 
 I will eng-ag-e that, in g^ratitude for this indulg-ence of a trifling" scruple, 
 my daug-hter, if possible, shall double the zeal and assiduity of her 
 service to her young- lady." 
 
 Tlie Lady of Aspraraonte was g'lad to embrace the means, which 
 this offer presented, of extricating- herself from the dispute with as 
 little compromise of dig-nity as could well be. "If the g'ood Lord 
 Bishop approved of such a compromise," she said, "she would for 
 lierself withdraw her opposition." The prelate approved accord- 
 ingiy, the more readily that he was informed that the young' heiress 
 desired earnestly such an agreement. The peace of the castle was 
 restored, and Bertha recog-nised her new name of A^^atha as a name 
 of service, but not a name of baptism. 
 
 One effect the dispute certainly produced, and that was, increasing 
 in an enthusiastic deg-ree the love of Bertha for her young- mistress. 
 With that amiable failing- of attached domestics and liumble friends, 
 she endeavoured to serve her as slie knew she loved to be served ; 
 and tlierefore indulged her mistress in those chivalrous fancies which 
 distinguished her even in her own age, and in ours would have ren- 
 dered her a female Quixote. Bertha, indeed, never caught the frenzy 
 of her mistress; but, strong, willing, and able-bodied, she readily 
 qualified herself to act upon occasion as a squire of the body to a 
 Lady Adventuress; and, accustomed from her childhood to see blows 
 dealt, blood flowing, and men dying, she could look with an undazzled 
 eye upon the»dangers which her mistress encountered, and seldom 
 teased her with remonstrances, unless when those were unusually 
 great. This compliance on most occasions gave Bertha a right of 
 advice upon some, which, always given with the best intentions and 
 at fitting- times, strengthened her influence with her mistress, which 
 a course of conduct savouring of diametrical opposition would cer- 
 tainly have destroyed. 
 
 A few more words serve to announce the death of the Knight of 
 Aspramonte — the romantic marriage of the young lady with the 
 Count of Paris — their engagement in the crusade— and the detail of 
 events with which the reader is acquainted. 
 
 ilereward did not exactly comprehend some of the later incidents 
 of the story, owing to a slight strife which arose between Bertha 
 and liim during the course of her narrative. When she avowed the 
 girlish simplicity with which she obstinately refused to change her 
 name, because, in her apprehension, the troth-plight betwixt lier and 
 lier lover might be thereby prejudiced, it was impossible for Here- 
 ward not to acknowledge her tenderness, by snatching her to his 
 bosom, and im])rcssing his grateful thanks upon her lips. She ex- 
 tricated herself iran-iediately from his grasp, however, with cheeks 
 more crimsoned in modesty than in anger, and gravely addressed 
 her lover thus : " Enough, enough, Ilereward! this may be pardoned 
 to so unexpected a meeting ; but we must in future remember, that 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 189 
 
 we are probably the last of our race ; and let it not be said that the 
 manners of Iheir ancestors Avere forgotten by Hereward and by Ber- 
 tha ; think that, thoug'h we are alone, the shades of our fatliers are 
 not far off, andr watch to see what use we make of the meeting', which, 
 l)erhaps, their intercession has procured us." 
 
 " You wrong- me, Bertha," said Hereward, " if you tliink mc capa- 
 ble of forg-etting- my own duty and yours, at a moment when our 
 thanks are due to Heaven, to be testified very ditierently than by 
 infring-ing' on its behests, or the commands of our parents. The 
 question is now, How we shall rejoin each other when we separate ? 
 since separate, I fear, w^e must." 
 
 " O ! do not say so ! " exclaimed the unfortunate Bertha. 
 
 " It must be so," said Hereward, "for a time; but I swear to thee 
 by the hilt of my sword, and the handle of my battle-axe, that .blade 
 w'as never so true to shaft as I will be to thee ! " 
 
 '•But wherefore, then, leave me, Hereward ?" said the maiden; 
 " and oil ! wherefore not assist me in the release of my mistress ? " 
 
 " Of thy mistress ! " said Hereward. *' Shame ! that thou canst 
 give that name to mortal woman ! " 
 
 " But she is my mistress," answered Bertha, " and by a thousand 
 kind ties, which cannot be separated so long- as gratitude is the re- 
 ward of kindness.'" 
 
 " And what is her danger," said Hereward ; " what is it she wants, 
 this accomplished lady whom thou callest mistress?" 
 
 "Her honour, her life, are alike in danger," said Bertha. "She 
 has agreed to meet the Cfesar in the field, and he will not hesitate, 
 like a base-born miscreant, to take every advantage in the encounter, 
 which, I grieve to say, may in all likelihood be fatal to my mistress." 
 
 " Wliy dost thou think so ? " answered Herev/ard. "-This lady has 
 •won many single combats, unless she is belied, against adversaries 
 more formidable than the Caasar.'' 
 
 "True," said the Saxon maiden; '"'but you speak of things that 
 passed in a far different land, where faith and honour are not empty 
 sounds ; as, alas ! they seem but too surely to be here. Trust me, it 
 is no girlish terror which sends me out in this disguise of my coun- 
 try dress, which, they say, finds respect at Constantinople : I go to 
 let the cliiefs of the Crusade know the peril in which the noble lady 
 stands, and trust to their humanity, to their rehgion, to their love of 
 honour, and fear of disgrace, for assistance in this hour of need; and 
 now that I have had the blessing of meeting with thee, all besides 
 will go well — all will go well — and I will back to my mistress and 
 report whom I have seen." 
 
 '• Tarry yet another moment, my recovered treasure ! " said Here- 
 ward, "and let me balance this matter carefully. This Frankish 
 lady holds the Saxons like the very dust that thou brushest from the 
 hem of her garment. She treats — she regards — the Saxons as 
 pagans and heretics. She has dared to impose slavisli tasks upon 
 thee, born in freedom. Her father's sword has been imbrued to the 
 hilt with Anglo-Saxon blood— perhaps that of Waltheoff and Engel- 
 red has added death to the stain ! She has been, besides, a pre- 
 sumptuous fool, usurping for herself the trophies and warlike char- 
 
190 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 acter which belong' to the other sex. Lastly, it will be hard to fine. 
 ii chaini)ion to fig'lit in her stead, since all the crusaders have passed 
 over to Asia, which is the land, they say, in which they have come to 
 war; and by orders of the Emperor, no means of return to the 
 hither shore will be permitted to any of them." 
 
 " Alas ! alas ! " said Bertha, " how does this vorld change us ! 
 The son of Waltheoff I once knew brave, ready to assist distress, 
 bold and g-enerous. Such was what I pictured him to myself during- 
 his absence. I have met him ag-ain, and he is calculating', cold, and 
 selfish!" 
 
 "Hush, damsel," said the Varangian, "and know him of whom thou 
 speakest, ere thou judgest him. The Countess of Paris is such as I 
 have said ; yet let her appear boldly iu the lists, and when the trum- 
 pet shall sound thrice, another shall reply, which shall announce the 
 arrival of her own noble lord to do battle in her stead ; or should he 
 fail to appear — I will requite her kindness to thee, Bertha, and be 
 ready in his place." 
 
 "Wilt thou? wilt thou indeed?" said the damsel; "that was 
 spoken like the son of Waltheoff— like the genuine stock ! 1 will 
 home, and comfort my mistress ; for surely if the judgment of God 
 ever directed the issueof a judicial combat, its influence will descend 
 upon this. But you hint that the Count is here — that he is at 
 liberty — she will inquire about that." 
 
 " She must be satisfied," replied Hereward, " to know that her bus 
 band is under t)ie g"uidance of a friend, who will endeavour to pro 
 tect him from his own extravagances and follies : or, at all events, 
 of one who, if he cannot properly })e called a friend, has certainly 
 not acted, and will not act, towards him the part of an enemy. — And 
 
 now, farewell, long lost — long loved! " Before he could say more, 
 
 the Saxon maiden, after two or three vain attempts to express her 
 gratitude, threw herself into her lover's arms, and despite the coy- 
 ness which she had recently shown, impressed upon his lips the 
 thanks which she could not speak. 
 
 They parted. Bertha returning- to her mistress at the lodge, winch 
 she had left both with trouble and danger, and Hereward by the 
 portal kept by the negro-portress, who, comphmenting the hand- 
 some Varangian on his success among- the fair, intimated, that she 
 had been in some sort a witness of his meeting- with the Saxon dam- 
 sel, A piece cf gold, part of a late largesse, amply served to bribe 
 her tongue ; and the soldier, clear of the gardens of the philosopher, 
 sped back as he might to the barrack— judging- that it was full time 
 to carry some supply to Count Robert, who had been left without 
 food tlio whole day. 
 
 It is a common popular saying-, that as the sensation of hunger in 
 not connected with any pleasing- or gentle emotion, so it is particu- 
 larly remarkable for irritating- those of anger and spleen. It is not, 
 therefore, very surprising that Count Robert, who had been so un- 
 u.sually long without sustenance, should receive Herewal'd with a 
 degree of impatience beyond what the occasion merited, and injuri- 
 ous certainly to the honest Varangian, who had repeatedly exposed 
 liis life that day for the interest of tlie Countess and the Count himself. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 191 
 
 " Soil, sir ! '' be said, in that accent of affected restraint by wbicli a 
 superior modifies bis displeasure against bis inferior into a cold and 
 scornful expression — "You bave played a bberal bost to us !— Not 
 tbat it is of consequence; but metbinks a Count of tbe most Cbris- 
 tian kingdom dines not every day with a mercenary soldier, and 
 might expect, if not the ostentatious, at least the needful part of 
 hospitality." 
 
 " And metbinks," replied the Varangian, " O most Christian 
 Cumit, diat such of your high rank as, by cbuiee or fate, become 
 tbe guests of such as I, may think themselves pleased, and blame 
 not tiieir host's niggardhness, but tbe difficulty of his circumstances, 
 if dinner should not present itself oftener than once in four-and- 
 twenty hours." So saying, he clapped bis bands together, and his. 
 domestic Edric entered. His guest looked astonished at tbe entrance 
 of this third party into their retirement. '■' I will answer for this 
 man," said Hereward, and addressed him in the following words : 
 " What food hast thou, Edric, to place before the honourable 
 Count ? " 
 
 "Nothing but the cold pasty," replied the attendant, "marvel- 
 lously damaged by your honour's encounter at breakfast." 
 
 The military domestic, as intimated, brouglit forward a large 
 pasty, but Avhich bad already tbat morning sustained a furious at- 
 tack, insomuch tbat Count Robert of Paris, ^yho, like all noble Nor- 
 mans, was somewhat nice and delicate in his eating, was in some 
 doubt whether his scrupulousness should not prevail over bis hunger; 
 but on looking^ more closely, sight, smell, and a fast of twenty hours, 
 joined to convince him that the pasty was an excellent one, and that 
 tbe charger on which it was presented, possessed corners yet im- 
 touched. At length, having suppressed his scruples, and made 
 bold inroad upon the remains of tbe dish, be paused to partake of a 
 liask. of strong red wine which stood invitingly beside him, and a 
 lusty draught increased the good-bumour wliicb bad begun to take 
 place towards Hereward, in exchange for tiie displeasure with which 
 be bad received him. 
 
 " Now, by Heaven ! " be said, " I myself ought to be ashamed to 
 lack tbe courtesy which I recommeud to others ! Here have I, with 
 tbe manners of a Flemish boor, been devouring tbe provisions of my 
 gallant host, without even asking him to sit down^at bis own table, 
 and to ])artake of his own good cheer ! " 
 
 " I will not strain courtesies with you for that," said Hereward ; 
 and thrusting bis hand into the pasty, he proceeded with gnfat speed 
 and dexterity to devour the miscellaneous contents, a handful of 
 v/bicli was enclr. 1 in his grasp. The Count now withdrew from 
 the table, partly m disgust at tbe rustic i)roeeeding3 of Hereward, 
 who, however, by now calling Edric to join him in his attack 
 upon tbe pasty, showed that he had, in fact, according to bis man- 
 ners, subjected himself previously to some observance of respect to- 
 wards his guest ; while the assistance of bis attendant enabled hini 
 to make a clear cacaabulum of what was left. Count Robert at 
 length summoned up courage sufficient to put a question which had 
 been trembling upon his lips ever since Hereward liad returned. 
 
192 COUNT KOBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 "Have thine inquiries, my gallant friend, learned more concern- 
 ing* my unfortunate wife, my faithful Breiihilda?" 
 
 " Tidings I have," said the Anglo-Saxon, " but whether pleasing- 
 or not, yourself must be the judge. This much I have learned ;— 
 slie hath, as you know, come under an engagement to meet the 
 Csesar in arms in the lists, but under conditions which you may per- 
 haps think strange; these, however, she hath entertained without 
 scruple." 
 
 "Let me know these terms," said the Count of Paris ; " tiiey will, 
 I think, appear less strange in my eyes than in thine." 
 
 But while he aflected to speak with the utmost coolness, the hus- 
 band's sparkling eye and crimsoned check betrayed the alteration 
 which had taken place -in his feelings. " The lady and the Cffisar," , 
 said Hereward, " as you partly heard yourself, are to meet in fight ; 
 if the Countess wins, of course she remains the wife of the noble I 
 Count of Paris ; if she loses, she becomes the paramour of the 
 Csesar Nicephorus Briennius." 
 
 "Saints and angels forbid!" said Count Robert; "were they to 
 permit such treason to triumph, we might be pardoned for doubting- 
 their divinity ! " 
 
 " Yet methinks," said the Anglo-Saxon, " it were no disgraceful 
 precaution that both you and I, with other friends, if we can obtain 
 such, should be seen under shield in the li^^ts on the morning of the 
 conflict. To triumph, or to be defeated, is in the hand of fate ; but 
 what we cannot fail to witness is, whether or not the lady receives 
 that fair play which is the due of an lionourable combatant, and 
 which, as you have yourself seen, can be sometimes basely trans- 
 gressed in this Grecian empire." 
 
 "On that condition," said the Count, "and i)rotesting that not 
 even the extreme danger of my lady shall make me break througli 
 tlie rule of a fair fight, I will surely attend the lists, if thou, brave 
 Saxon, canst find me any means of doing so. — Yet stay," he con- 
 tinued, after reflecting for a moment, "thou shalt promise not to let 
 her know that her Count is on the field, far less to point him out to 
 her eye among the press of warriors. O, thou dost not know that 
 the sight of the beloved will sometimes steal from us our courage, 
 even when it has most to achieve ! " 
 
 " We will endeavour," said the Varangian, " to arrange matters 
 according to tliy pleasure, so that thou findest out no more fantas- 
 tical difliiculties ; for, by my word, an aftair so complicated in itself, 
 requires not to be confused by the fine-spun whims of tiiy nationnl 
 gallantry. Meantime, much must be done tliis night; and while I 
 go about it, thou, Sir Knight, liadst best remain here, with such dis- 
 guise of garments and such food as Edric may be able to procure 
 for tliee. Fear nothing from iritrusion on the part of thy neigh-r 
 bours. We Varangians resi)ect each other's secrets, of whatcvei* 
 Qiiture they may chance to be." 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 193 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 fiiit for our trusty brother-in-law — and tlie Abbot, 
 AVith all the rest of that cnnsorted crew, — 
 Destruction .straight shall dog them at the heels : — 
 Good uncle, help to order several powers 
 To Oxford, or where'er these traitors are : 
 They shall not live within this world, I swear. 
 ■■■ ElcMrdTL 
 
 As llerewartl spolce the last words narrated in tlie forcg'oin<^' cliap- 
 ter, he left the Count in his apartment, and proceeded to tlie Blac- 
 quernal Pahice. We traced his first entrance into the conrt, hnt 
 since then lie had frequently been summoned, not only by oi'der of 
 the Princess Anna Comnena, who delighted in asking him questions 
 concerning- the customs of his native country, and marking* down 
 the replies in her own inflated languag-e ; but also by the direct 
 command of the Emperor himself, who had the humour of many 
 princes, that of desiring to obtain direct information from persons 
 in a very inferior station in their Court. The ring which tlie Princess 
 liad given to the Varangian served as a pass-token more than once, 
 and was now so generally known by the slaves of the palace, t^aat 
 Hereward had only to slip it into the hand of a principal pei 3on 
 among' them, and was introduced into a small chamber, not distent 
 from the saloon already mentioned, dedicated to the Muses. In this 
 small apartment, the Emperor, his spouse Irene, and their accom- 
 plished daughter Anna Comnena, were seated together, clad in very 
 ordinary apparel, as indeed the furnittire of the room itself was of 
 I the kind used by respectable citizens, saving that mattresses, com- 
 posed of eider-down, hung- before the door to prevent the risk of 
 eaves-dropping'. 
 ^ " Our trusty Varangian," said the Empress. 
 
 "My g'uide and tutor respecting the manners of those steel-clad 
 men," said the Princess Anna Comnena, " of whom it is so necessary 
 that I should form an accurate idea." 
 
 "Your Imperial Majesty," said the Empress, "will not, I trust, 
 think your consort and your muse-inspired daughter are too many 
 to share with yon the intelligence brought by this brave and loval 
 man ? " 
 
 " Dearest wife and daughter," returned the Emperor, " I have 
 liitherto spared you the burden of a painful secret, which I have 
 locked in my own bosom, at whatever expense of solitary sorrow and 
 unimparted anxiety. Noble daughter, you in particular will feel 
 this calamity, learning, as you must learn, to think odiously of one, 
 of whom it has hitherto been your duty to hold a very different 
 opinion." 
 
 " Holy Mary ! " exclaimed the Princess. 
 
 '•'Rally yourself," said tlie Emperor; "remember you are a child 
 of the purple chamber, born, not to weep for your father's wrongs, 
 but to avenge them, —not to regard even him "who has lain by your 
 
 
 
194 COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 
 
 side US half so importaut as the sacred Imperial grandeur, of which 
 you are yourself a partaker." 
 
 " What can such words preface ? " said Anna Comnena, in great 
 agitation. 
 
 " They say," answered the Emperor, " that the Caesar is an ungrate- 
 ful man to all my bounties, and even to that which annexed hira to 
 my own house, and made hira by adoption my own son. He hath 
 consorted himself with a knot of traitors, whose very names arc 
 enough to raise the foul fiend, as if to snatch his assured prey ! " 
 
 "Could Nicephorus do this?" said the astonished and forlorn 
 Princess ; " Nicephorus, Avho has so often called my eyes the lights 
 by which he steered his path? Could he do this to my father, to 
 whose exploits he has listened hour after hour, protesting that he 
 knew not whether it was the beauty of the language, or the heroism 
 of the action, which most enchanted him ? Thinking' with the same 
 thought, seeing with the same eye, loving with the same heart, — O, 
 m;y father! it is impossible that he could be so false. Think of the 
 neighbouring Temple of the Muses ! " 
 
 " And if I did," murmured Alexius in his heart, " I should think 
 of the only apology which could be proposed for the traitor. A little 
 is well enough, but the full soul loatheth the honey-comb." Then 
 speaking aloud, " My daughter," ho said, "be comforted; we our- 
 selves were unwilling to believe the shameful truth; but our guards 
 have been debauched ; their commander, that ungrateful Achilles 
 Tatius, with tlie equal traitor, Agelastes, have been seduced to favour 
 our imprisonnnent or murder; and, alas for Greece! in the very 
 moment when she required the fostering care of a parent, she was 
 to be deprived of him by a sudden and merciless blow ! " 
 
 Here the Emperor wept, whether for the loss to be sustained by 
 his subjects, or of his own life, it is hard to say. 
 
 " Methinks," said Irene, ''your Imperial Highness is slow in taking 
 measures against the danger," 
 
 " Under your gracious permission, mother," answered the Prin- 
 cess, " I would rather say he was hasty in giving belief to it. Me- 
 thinks the evidence of a Varangian, granting him to be ever so stout 
 a man-at-arms, is but a frail guarantee against the honour of your 
 son-in-law — the approved bravery and fidelity of the captain of your 
 guards — the deep sense, virtue, and profound wisdom of the greatest 
 of your philosophers " 
 
 " And the conceit of an over-educated daughter," said the Emperor, 
 "who will not allow her parent to judge in what most concerns him. 
 I will tell thee, Anna, I know every one of them, and the trust which 
 may be reposed in them ; the honour of your Nicephorus — the bravery 
 and fidelity of the Acolyte — and the virtue and wisdom of Ag'clastes 
 — have I not had them all in my purse ? And had ray purse con- 
 tinued well filled, and my arm strong as it was of late, there they 
 would have still remained. But the butterflies went off as the weather 
 became cold, and I must meet the tempest without their assistance. 
 You talk of want of proof? I have proof sufficient v/hen I see danger; 
 this honest soldier brought me indications which corresponded v.ith 
 my own private remarks, made on purpose. Varangian he shall be of 
 
COUiV'f U0BEI5T OF PAUlf^ 195 
 
 Varangians; Acolyte he shall be named, m place of the present 
 traitor ; and wlio knows Avliat ina^y come thereafter ? " 
 
 "May it ])lcaso your Highness," said the Varang-ian, who had been 
 hitherto silent, " many men in this empire rise to dignity by the fall 
 of their original patrons, but it is a road to greatness to which lean- 
 not reconcile my conscience; moreover, having" recovered a friend 
 from whom I v>'as long ago separated, I shall require, in short space, 
 your Imperial licence for going hence, where I shall leave thousands 
 of enemies behind me, and, spending my life, like many of my coun- 
 trymen, under the banner of King 'William of Scotland " 
 
 "Part with tltce, most inimitable man! " cried the Emperor, with 
 emphasis; "where shall I get a soldier— a champion— a friend— so 
 faithful?" 
 
 "Noble sir," replied the Anglo-Saxon, "I am every way sensible 
 to your goodness and munificence ; but let me entreat you to call 
 mo by my own name, and to promise me nothing but your forgive- 
 ness for my having been the agent of such confusion among your 
 Imperial servants. Not only_ is the threatened fate of Achilles 
 Tatius, my benefactor; of the Caesar, whom I think ray well-v/isher ; 
 and even of Agelastes himself, painful, so far as it is of my bringing 
 round ; but also I have known it somehow happen that those on 
 vv'hom your Imperial Majesty has lavished the most valuable expres- 
 sions of your favour one day, were the next day food to fatten the 
 chough and crow. And this, I acknowledge, is a purpose for which 
 I would not willingly have it said I had brought my Englisli limbs 
 to these Grecian shores." 
 
 " Call thee by thine own name, my Edward," said the Emperor, 
 (while he muttered aside — "by Heaven, I have ao'ain forgot the 
 name of the barbarian ! ") — by thine own name certainly for the pre- 
 sent, but only until we shall Revise one more fitted for the trust we 
 repose in thee. Meantime, look at this scroll, M'hich contains, I 
 think, all the particulars v/hicli v/e have been able to learn of this 
 plot, and give it to these unbelieving women, who will not credit 
 that an Emperor is in dnngcr till the blades of the conspirators' 
 poniards arc cltishing witliin his ribs." 
 
 Hereward did as he was commanded, and having looked at the 
 scroll, and signified, by bending his head, his acquiescence in its 
 contents, he presented it to Irene, who had not read long ere, with 
 a countenance so embittered that she had diiiiculty in pointing out 
 the cause of her displeasure to her daughter, she bade her, with 
 animation, "Read that — read that, and judge of the gratitude and 
 affection of thy Cjesar ! " 
 
 The Princess Anna Comnena awoke from a state of profound and 
 overpowering' melanclioly, and looked at the passage pointed out to 
 lier, at first with an air of languid curiosity, which presently deep- 
 ened into the most intense interest. She clutched the scroll as a 
 falcon does his prey, her eye lightened v/ith indignation; aiid it was 
 with the cry of the bird when "in fury that she exclaimed, "Bloody- 
 minded, double-hearted traitor! what wouldst thou have? Yes, 
 father," she said, rising in fury, " it is no longer the voice of a 
 deceived princess that shall intercede to avert from tiie traitor 
 
100 COU^•T ROBEllT OF PAUIS. 
 
 Niccpliorus ilie doom lio lias deserved ! Did lie think that olie borri 
 in the purple cliamber could be divorced — murdered, perhaps — with 
 the petty formula of tlie Romans, 'Restore the keys— be no loug'cr 
 my domestic drudg-e?'^ Was a daug-hter of the blood of Comneiuis 
 liable to such insults as the meanest of Quirites mig'lit bestow on a 
 fixraily housekeeper ! " 
 
 So'saying', she dashed the tears from her eyes, and her countenance, 
 naturally that of beauty and g"entleness, became animated with the 
 expression of a fury, Ilereward looked at her with a mixture of 
 fear, dislike, and compassion. She ag'ain burst forth, for nature 
 having' given her considerable abilities, had lent her at the same 
 time an cnerg'y of passion far superior in power to the cold ambition 
 of Irene, or the wily, ambidexter, shuffling- policy of the Emperor. 
 
 "lie shall abye 'it," said the Princess; "he shall dearly abye it! 
 False, smiling-, cozening- traitor!— and for that unfeminine barba- 
 rian! Something- of this I g'uessed, even at that old fool's banquet- 
 ing-house ; and yet if this unworthy Cresar submits his body to the 
 chance of arms, he is less prudent than I have some reason to believe. 
 Think you he will have the madness to brand us with such open ne- 
 glect, my father? and will you not invent some mode of insuring- 
 our reveng-e ? " 
 
 "Soh!" thought the Emperor, "this difficulty is over; she will 
 run down hill to her reveng-e, and will need the snaffle and curb 
 more than the lash. If every jealous dame in Constantinople were 
 to pursue her fury as unrelenting-ly, our laws should be written, like 
 Draco's, not in ink, but in blood. — Attend to me now," he said aloud, 
 '■'my wife, my daughter, and thou, dear Edward, and you shall learn, 
 and you three only, my mode of navig-ating- the vessel of the state 
 throug-h these shoals." 
 
 "Let us sec distinctly," continued Alexius, "the means by which 
 they propose to act, and these shall instruct us how to meet them. 
 A certain number of the Varang-ians are unhappily seduced, under 
 pretence of wrong's, artfully stirred up by their villanous general. 
 A part of them ai-e studiously to be arrang-ed nigh our person — tlie 
 traitor XJrsel, some of them suppose, is dead, but if it were so, his 
 name is sufficient to draw tog-ether his old factionaries — I have a 
 means of satisfying- then.i on that point, on which I shall remain 
 silent for the present. — A considerable body of the Immortal Guards 
 have also g-iven way to seduction ; they are to be placed to sujiport 
 the handful of treaclierous Varang-ians, who are in the plot to attack 
 our person. — Now, a slight change in the stations of the soldiery, 
 which thou, my faithfnl Edward — or — a— a — whatever thou art 
 named, — for wliich thou, I say, shalt have full authority, will derange 
 the plans of the traitors, and place the true men in such position 
 around them as to cut them to pieces with little trouble.'"' 
 
 " And the combat, my lord?" said the Saxon. 
 
 '" Thou hadst been no true Varang-ian hadst thou not inquired 
 after that," said the Emperor, nodding- g-ood-humouredly towaa-ds 
 liim, "As to the combat, the Caesar has devised it, and it shall be 
 
 J TJic laor.ic ivna of the Roman divorce. 
 
COUJNT KOBEllT OF i'AFvlS, 107 
 
 my care that lie shall not retreat from tlie daiii^erous part of it. lie 
 cannot in honour avoid fig'hting- \yiLh this -woman, strang-e as the 
 combat is : and however it ends, the conspiracy will break forth, and 
 as assuredly as it comes ag'ainst persons prepared, and in arms, shall 
 it be stitled in the blood of the conspirators ! " 
 
 " iMy reveng-e does not require this,'' said the Princess; "and 
 your Imperial honour is also interested that this Countess shall be 
 protected." 
 
 '• It is little business of mine," said the Emperor. " She comes 
 here with her husband altog-ether uninvited. He behaves with inso- 
 lence in my presence, and deserves whatever may be the issue to 
 himself or his lady of their mad adventure. In sooth, I desired littJe 
 more than to give him a frig'ht with those animals whom their igno- 
 rance judg-ed enchanted, and to give his wife a slig-lit alarm about 
 the impetuosity of a Grecian lover, and there my veng-eance should 
 liave ended. But it may be that his Avife may be taken under my 
 protection, now that little reveng-e is over." 
 
 "And a paltry reveng-e it was," said the Empress, " that you, a man 
 past middle life, and with a wife who might command some attention, 
 should constitute yourself the object of alarm to such a handsome 
 man as Count Robert, and the Amazon his wife." 
 
 "l)y your favour, dame Irene, no," said the Empei-or. "I left 
 that part of the proposed comedy to my son-in-law the Ciesar." 
 
 But when the poor Emperor had in some measure stopt one flond- 
 g:ate, he effectually opened another, and one which was more formid- 
 able. "The more shame to your Imperial wisdom, my father!" 
 exclaimed the Princess Anna Comnena; "it is a shame, that with 
 wisdom and a beard like yours, you should be meddling' in such in- 
 decent follies as admit disturbance into private families, and that 
 family your ov.'u daughter's ! Who can say that the Caesar Niceplio- 
 rus Briennius ever looked astray towards another woman tlian his 
 wife, till the Emperor taught him to do so, and involved him in a 
 Aveb of intrigue and treachery, in which he has endangered the life 
 of his father-in-lav/ ?" 
 
 "Daughter! daugliter! daughter!" — said the Empress; "' daughter 
 of a she-v,-olf, I think, to goad her parent at such an unhappy lime, 
 when all the leisure he has is too little to defend his life ! " 
 
 "Peace, I pray you, women, both, with your senseless clamours," 
 answered Alexius, "and let me at least swim for my life undisturbed 
 Avith your folly. God knows if I am a man to encourage, I will not 
 say the reality of wrong", but even its mere appearance ! " 
 
 These words he uttered, crossing himself, with a devout groan. 
 His wife Irene, in the mean time, stept before him, and said, witli a 
 bitterness in her looks and accent, which only long-concealed nuptial 
 hatred breakin^^ forth at once could convey, — "Alexius, terminate 
 this affair how it will, you have lived a hypocrite, and thon wilt not 
 fail to die one." So saying, with an air of noble indignation, and 
 carrying her daughter along with her, she swept out of the apart- 
 ment. 
 
 The Emperor looked after her in some confusion. He soon, how- 
 ever, recovered his sclf-uosscssiou. and; turning to Ilercwardj with a 
 
198 COUKT ROBEHT OF PARIS. 
 
 look of injured majesty, said, "Ah! my dear Edward," — for the 
 word liad become rooted in his mind, instead of the less euphonic 
 name of Hereward, — "thou seest how it is even with the greatest, 
 juid tliat the Emperor, in moments of difficulty, is a suhject of mis- 
 construction, as well as the meanest burg-ess of Constantinople ; 
 nevevtheless, my trust is so great in thee, Edward, that I would have 
 thee believe, that my daughter, Anna Comnena, is not of the temper 
 of her mother, but rather of my own ; lionouring, thou mayst see, 
 ■\vitli religious fidelity, the unworthy ties which I hope soon to break, 
 and assort her with other fetters of Cupid, which sliall be borne more 
 lightly. Edward, my main trust is in thee. Accident presents us 
 with an opportunity, happy of the happiest so it be rightly improved, 
 of having all the traitors before us assembled on one fair field. Think, 
 then, on that day, as the Franks say at their tournaments, that fair 
 eyes behold thee. Thou canst not devise a gift within my power, 
 but I will gladly load thee with it." 
 
 '• It needs not," said the Varangian, somewhat coldly ; " my high- 
 est ambition is to merit the epitaph upon my torn!), 'Hereward was 
 faithful.' I am about, however, to demand a proof of your imperial 
 confidence, which, perhaps, you may think a startling one." 
 
 "Indeed! " said the Emperor. "What, in one word, is thy de- 
 mand ? " 
 
 " Permission," replied Hereward, " to go to the Duke of Bouillon's 
 encampment, and entreat his presence in the lists, to witness this 
 extraordinary combat." 
 
 '' That he may return with his crusading madmen," said the Em- 
 peror, "and sack Constantinople, under pretence of doing justice to 
 his Confederates ? This, Varangian, is at least speaking thy mind 
 openly." 
 
 "No, by Heavens!" said Hereward, suddenly; "the Duke of 
 Bouillon shall come with no more knights than may be a reasonable 
 guard, should treachery be ofiered to the Countess of Paris." 
 
 "Well, oven in this," said the Emperor, "v/ill I be conformable; 
 and if thou, Edward, betrayest my trust, think that thou forfeitest all 
 that my friendship has promised, and dost incur, besides, the dam- 
 nation that is due to the traitor who betrays with a kiss." 
 
 " For thy reward, noble sir," answered the Varangian, " I hereby 
 renounce all claim to it. When the diadem is once more firmly 
 fixed upon thy brow, and the sceptre in thy hand, if I am then alive, 
 if my poor services should deserve so much, I will petition thee for 
 the means of leaving this court, and returning to the distant island 
 in which I was born. Meanwhile, think me not unfaithful, because 
 I have for a time the means of being so with effect. Your Imperial 
 Highness shall learn that Hereward is as true as is your right hand 
 to your left." — So saying, he took his leave with a pi'ofound obei- 
 sance. 
 
 The Emperor gazed after him with a countenance in which doubt 
 was mingled with admiration. 
 
 " I have trusted him," he said, " with all he asked, and with the 
 pov/er of ruining me entirely, if such be his purpose. He has but 
 to breathe a whisper, and the whole mad crew of crusaders, kept iu 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 199 
 
 humour at the expense of so mucli current falsehood, and so much 
 more gold, will return with fire and sword to burn down (Constanti- 
 nople, and sow with salt the place where it stood. I have done \vhat 
 I had resolved never to do, — I have ventured kingdom and life on 
 the faith of a man born of v/oman. How often have I said, nay, 
 sworn, that I would not hazard myself on such peril, and yet, step 
 by step, I have done so ! I cannot tell — there is in that man's looks 
 and words a g'ood faith which overwhelms ine ; and, v>'hat is almost 
 incredible, my belief in hhn liaa increased in proportion to his show- 
 ing- mo how slight my power was over him. I threw, like the wily 
 angler, every bait I could devise, and some of them such as a king- 
 would scarcely liave disdained ; to none of these would he rise ; but 
 yet he gorges, I may say, the bare hook, and enters upon my service 
 without a shadow of self-interest. — Can this be double - distilled 
 treachery ? — or can it be what men call disinterestedness ? — If 1 
 thought him false, the moment is not yet past — he has not yet crossed 
 the bridge — he has not passed the guards of the palace, who have 
 no hesitation, and know no disobedience — But no — I were then alone 
 in the land, and without a friend or confidant. — I hear the sound of 
 the outer gate unclose, the sense of danger certainly renders my 
 ears more acute than usual. — It shuts again— the die is cast. He is 
 at liberty — and Alexius Comueuus must stand or fall, according to 
 the uncertain faith of a mercenary Varangian." He clapt his hands ; 
 a slave appeared, of whom he demanded wine. He drank, and his 
 heart Avas cheered within him. " I am decided," he said, " and will 
 abide with resolution the cast of the throw, for good or for evil." 
 
 So saying, he retired to his apartment, and was not again seen 
 during that night. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 And f\ye, as if for death, some lonely trumpet peal'd. 
 
 Cahfbell. 
 
 The Varangian, his head agitated with the weighty matters which 
 were imposed on him, stopt from time to time as he journeyed 
 through the moonlight streets, to arrest passing ideas as they shot 
 through his mind, and consider them with accuracy in all their 
 bearings. His thoughts were such as animated or alarmed him 
 alternately, each followed by a confused throng of accompaniments 
 which it suggested, and banished again in its turn by refleciions of 
 another description. It was one uf those conjunctures when the 
 minds of ordinary men feel themselves unable to support a burden 
 which is suddenly flung upon them, and when, on the contrary, those 
 of uncommon fortitude, and that best of Heaven's gifts, good sense, 
 founded on presence of mind, feel their talents awakened and regu- 
 lated for the occasion, like a good steed under the management of a 
 rider of courage and experience. 
 
 As he stood in one of those fits of reverie, which repeatedly during 
 
200 CUUA'T ItOEEilT OF i'AlliS. 
 
 tbafc mght arrested his stern iiiilitary mnrcb, Hereward tliong-lit tliat 
 liis ear cau£,''ht the note of a distant trumpet. This surprised him ; 
 ji trumpet blown at that Late liour, and in the streets of Constantinople, 
 argued something- extraordinary; for as all military movements were 
 the subject of special ordinance, the etiquette of the night could 
 hardly have been transgressed without some great cause. The 
 question was, what that cause could be ? 
 
 Had the insurrection broken out unexpectedly, and in a different 
 manner from Avhat the conspirators ])roposed to themselves? — If so, 
 liis meeting with his plighted bride, after so many years' absence, was 
 but a delusive preface to their separating for ever. Or had the cru- 
 saders, a race of men upon whose motions it w\as difficult to calculate, 
 suddenly taken arms and returned from the opposite shore to sur- 
 prise the city ? This might very possibly be the case ; so numerous 
 liad been tlie different causes of complaint afforded to the crusaders, 
 that, when they were now for tlie first time assembled into one body, 
 and had heard the stories which they could reciprocally tell concern- 
 ing the perfidy of the Greeks, nothing w^as so likely, so natural, even 
 perhaps so justifiable, as that they should study revenge. 
 
 But the sound rather resembled a point of Avar regularly blown, 
 than the tumultuous blare of bugle-horns and trumpets, the accom- 
 paniments at once, and the annunciation, of a taken town, in which 
 the horrid circumstances of storm had not yet given place to such 
 litem peace as the victors' weariness of slaughter and rapine allows 
 i\i length to the wretched inhabitants. Whatever it was, it was 
 necessary that Hereward should learn its purport, and therefore he 
 made his way into a broad street near the barracks, from which the 
 sound seemed to come, to which point, indeed, his way was directed 
 for other reasons. 
 
 The inhabitants of that quarter of the town did not appear vio- 
 lently startled by this military signal. The moonlight slept on the 
 street, crossed by the gigantic shadowy towers of Sancta Sophia. 
 No human being appeared in the streets, and such as for an instant 
 looked from tlieir doors or from their lattices, seemed to have their 
 curiosity quickly satisfied, for they withdrew their heads, and secured 
 the opening through which they had peeped. 
 
 Hereward could not help remembering the traditions which were 
 recounted by the fathers of his tribe, in the deep woods of Hamp- 
 shire, and which spoke of invisible huntsmen, who were heard to 
 follow with viewless horses and hounds the unseen chase through the 
 depths of the forests of Germany. Such, it seemed, were the sounds 
 with which these haunted woods were wont to ring while the wihl 
 chase was up ; and with such apparent terror did the hearers listen 
 to their clamour. 
 
 " Fie ! " he said, as he suppressed within him a tendency to the 
 same superstitious fears ; " do such childish fancies belong to a man 
 trusted with so much, and from whom so much is expected?" He 
 paced down the street, therefore, with his battle-axe over his shoulder, 
 und the first person whom he saw venturing to look out of his door, 
 lie questioned concerning the cause of this aiilitary music at such an 
 unaeoiistomed Uou;% 
 
COL.>ri' IJUBEllT Oi'- I'AlilS. 201 
 
 " I eaiHiot tell, so please you, my lonl/' said the citizen, unwilling-, 
 it appeared, to remain in the open air, or to enter into conversation, 
 and gTcatly di.sposed to decline further cjuestioning*. TJiis was tlie 
 l)olitical citizen of Constantino])le, whom we met with at the hes;-in- 
 nin.g- of this lustory, and ^s'h.o, hastily stepping into his habitation, 
 esciiewed ail further conversation. 
 
 The wrestler Stephanos sh.owed himself at the next door, whicli 
 was garlanded with oak and ivy leaves, in honour of some recent 
 victory. He stood unshrinking, partly encouraged by the conscious- 
 ness of personal strength, and i)artly by a rugged surliness of temper, 
 which is often mistaken among persons of this kind for real courage. 
 His admirer and flatterer, Lysimachus, kept himself ensconced 
 behind his ample shoulders. 
 
 As Uerev/ard passed, he put the same question as he did to the 
 former citizen, — " Know you the meaning of these trumpets sounding 
 so late? " 
 
 '•' You should know best yourself," answered Stephanos, doggedly ; 
 '■ for, to judge by your axe and helmet, they are your trumpets, and 
 not ours, which disturb honest men in their first sleep." 
 
 " Varlet ! " answered the Varangian, with an emphasis which 
 made the prizer start, — "but— Avhen that trumpet sounds, it is no 
 time for a soldier to punish insolence as it deserves." 
 
 The Greek started back and bolted into his house, nearly over- 
 throwing in the speed of his retreat the artist Lysimachus, who was 
 listening to what passed. 
 
 Ilereward passed on to the barracks, Vrliere the military music 
 had seemed to halt ; but on the Varangian crossing the threshold of 
 the ample courtyard, it broke forth again with a tremendous burst, 
 whose clangour almost stunned him, though well accustomed to the 
 sounds. " VvTiat is the meaning of this, Engelbreclit ?" he said to 
 tlie Varangian sentinel, who paced axe in hand before the entrance. 
 
 " The proclamation of a challenge and combat," answered Engel- 
 brecht. " Strange things toward, comrade ; the frantic crusaders 
 have bit the Grecians, and infected them with their humour of tilting, 
 as they say dogs do each other with madness." 
 
 Herev/ard made no reply to the sentinel's speech, but pressed for- 
 ward into a knot of his fellow-soldiers Avho vrere assem'bled in the 
 court, half-armed, or, more properly, in total. disarray, as ju.^t arisen 
 from their beds, and huddled around the trumpets of their corps, 
 which were drawn out in full pomp. He of the gigantic instrument, 
 whose duty it was to intimate the express commanus of the Emjieror, 
 v.^as not wanting in his place, and the musicians were supported by a 
 band of the Varangians in arms, headed by Achilles Tatius himself. 
 Hereward could also notice, on approaching nearer, as his comrades 
 made way for him, that six of the Imperial heralds were on duty on 
 this occasion ; four of these (two acting at the same time) had 
 already made proclamation, which was to be repeated for the third 
 time by the two last, as was the usual fashion in Constantinople with 
 Imperial mandates of great consequence. Achilles Tutius, the 
 moment he saw his confidant, made him a sign, which Ilere- 
 ward understood as conycying a desire to speak with him after the 
 
202 COUNT JiOlJJOHL' i)b' J'AJiLS. 
 
 proclamation was over. The herald, after the flourish of triirapeta 
 was finished, coinraenced in these words : — 
 
 "By the authority of the resplendent and divine Prince Alexius 
 Comnenus, Emperor of the most holy Roman Empire, his Imperial 
 Majesty desires it to be made known to all and sundry the subjects 
 of his empire, whatever their race of blood may be, or at whatever 
 shrine of divinity tliey happen to bend — Know ye, therefore, that 
 upon the second day after this is dated, our beloved son-in-law, the 
 much esteemed Caesar, hath taken upon him to do battle with out 
 sworn enemy, Robert, Count of Paris, on account of bis insolent 
 conduct, by presuming- publicly to occupy our royal seat, and no less 
 by breaking- in our Imperial presence, those curious specimens ol 
 art, ornamenting our throne, called by tradition the Lions of Solo- 
 mon. And that there may not remain a man in Europe who shall 
 dare to say that the Grecians are behind other parts of the world in 
 any of the manly exercises which Christian nations use, the said 
 noble enemies, renouncing all assistance from falsehood, from spclhj, 
 or from magic, shall debate this quarrel hi three courses with grinded 
 spears, and three passages of arms with sharpened swords ; the field 
 to be at the judgment of the honourable Emperor, and to be dc<.M\ied 
 at his most gracious and unerring pleasure. And so God show the 
 Tight ! " 
 
 Another formidable flourish of the trumpets concluded the cere- 
 mony. Achilles then dismissed the attendant troops, as well as the 
 heralds and musicians, to their respective quarters ; and having got 
 Hereward close to liis side, inquired of hira whether he had learned 
 anything of the prisoner, Robert, Count of Paris. 
 _ "Nothing-," said the Varangian, " save the tidings your prodiama- 
 tion contains." 
 
 "You tliink, then,'"' said Achilles, " that the Count has been a party 
 to it." 
 
 "lie ought to have been so," answered the Varangian. " 1 know 
 no one but himself entitled to take burden for his appearance iu the 
 lists." 
 
 '•'Why, look you," said the Acolyte, "my most excellent, thougli 
 blunt-witted Hereward, this Csesar of ours hath had the extravagance 
 to venture his tender wit in comparison to that of Achilles Tatius. 
 He stands upon his honour, too, this inefl'able fool, and is displeased 
 with the idea of being supposed either to challenge a woman, or to 
 receive a challenge at her hand. He has substituted, therefore, the 
 name of the lord instead of tlie lady. If the Count ftiil to appear, 
 the Caesar walks forward challenger and successful combatant a-fc a 
 cheap rate, since no one has encountered him, and claims that the 
 lady should be delivered up to him as captive of his dreaded bow aiul 
 spear. This will be the signal for a general tumult, in which, ii the 
 Emperor be not skin on the spot, he will be conveyed to the dun<';eon 
 of his own Blacquernal, there to endure the doom which his cruelty 
 has inflicted upon so many others." 
 
 " But "said the Varangian. 
 
 "But — but— but," said his officer; "but thou art a fool. Canst 
 thou not see that this gallant Cfesar is willing to avoid the rislc of 
 
COUXT UOliERT OF PAKIS. 203 
 
 eucoiinteriug- with this lady, while he earnestly desires to be supposed 
 willing- to meet her husband ? It is our business to fix the combat in 
 sucli a shape as to bring- all who are prepared for insurrection to- 
 g-ether in arms to play their parts. Do thou only see that our trusty 
 friends are placed near to the Emperor's person, and in such a 
 manner as to keep from him the officious and meddling portion of 
 guards, who may be supposed to assist him ; and whether the Caesar 
 fights a combat with lord or lady, or whether there be any combat at 
 all or not, the revolution shall bo accomplished, and the Tatii shall 
 replace the Comneni ui^on the Imperial throne of Constantinople. 
 Go, my trusty Hereward. Thou wilt not forget that the signal word 
 of the 'insurrection is Ursel, who lives in the aflections of the people, 
 although his body, it is said, has long lain a corpse in the dungeons 
 of the Blacquernal." 
 
 '• What was this Ursel," said Hereward, " of whom I hear men talk 
 so variously ? " 
 
 " A competitor for the crown with Alexius Comnenus — good, brave, 
 and honest ; but overpowered by the cunning, rather than the skill 
 or bravery of his foe. He died, as I believe, in the Blacquernal ; 
 though when, or how, there are few that can say. ]>ut, up and be 
 doing, my Hereward ! Speak encouragement to the Varangians- 
 Interest whomsoever thou canst to join us. Of the Immortals, as 
 they are called, and of the discontented citizens, enough are prepared 
 to fill up the cry, and follo-.v in the wake of those on whom wo must 
 rely as the beginners of the enterprise. No longer shall Alexius's 
 : cunning', in avoiding popular assemblies, avail to protect him; he 
 cannot, with regard to his honour, avoid being present at a combat 
 to be fought beneath his own eye ; and Mercury be praised for the 
 eloquence which inspired him, after some hesitation, to determine 
 [for the proclamation 1 " 
 
 "You have seen him, then, this evening ?" said the Varangian. 
 
 " Seen him ! Unquestionably/' answered the Acolyte. " Hud 1 
 ordered these trumpets to be sounded without his knowledge, the blast 
 ' had blown the head from my shoulders." 
 
 I " I had well-nigh met you at the palace," said Hereward ; while his 
 heart throbbed almost as high as if he had actually had such a dan- 
 ' gerous encounter. 
 
 '•' I heard something of it," said Achilles ; " that you came to take 
 ' the parting orders of him who now acts the sovereign. Surely, had 
 : I seen you there, with that steadfast, open, seemingly honest counte- 
 . nance, cheating tlie wily Greek by very dint of bluntness, I had not 
 forborne laughing at the contrast between that and the thoughts of 
 i thy heart." 
 
 \ '•' God alone," said Hereward, "knows the thoughts of our hearts ; 
 [but I take Him to witness, that I am faithfid to my promise, a.nd Avill 
 [discharge the task intrusted to me." 
 
 f " Bravo ! mine honest Anglo-Saxon," said Achilles. " I pray thee 
 
 1 to call my slaves to unarm me ; and when thou thyself doffest those 
 
 f weapons of an ordinary life-guardsman, tell them they never shall 
 
 above twice more enclose the limbs of one for whom fote has much 
 
 more fitting garments in store." 
 
204 COUNT ROBEKT OF PAKiS. 
 
 Hereward dared nofc intrust liis voice with an answer to so critical 
 a speech ; he bowed profoundly, and retired to his own quarters in 
 the building-. 
 
 Upon enterino' the apartment, he was immediately saluted by the 
 voice of Count Robert, in joyful accent?, not sup]n-essed by the fear 
 of making* himself heard, though prudence should have made that 
 uppermost in his mind. 
 
 "Hast thou heard it, my dear llerev,'ard," he said — '' liast thou 
 heard the proclamation, by which this Greek antelope hath defied 
 me to tilting with grinded spears, and fighting- three passages of 
 arms with sharpened swords? Yet there is something strange, too, 
 that he should not think it safer to hold my lady to the encounter ? 
 He may think, perhaps, that the crusaders would not permit such a 
 battle to be fought. But, by our Lady of the Broken Lances ! he little 
 knows that the men of the V/cst hold their ladies' character for cour- 
 age as jealously as they do their own. This v/hole night have I been 
 considering in what armour I shall clothe me ; what shift I shall mak ; 
 for a steed ; and whether I shall not honour him sufficiently by using- 
 Tranchefcr as my only weapon, against his whole armour, olfensive 
 and defensive." 
 
 "I shall take care, however," said Hereward, " that thou art better 
 provided in case of need. — Tliou knowest not the Greeks." 
 
 CHArXER XXHL 
 
 The Varangian did not leave the Count of Paris until the latter 
 liad placed in his hands his signet-ring semte (as the heralds exi)ress 
 \l),iinth lances splintered, M\(\.\>^iii\\\v^ the proud motto, "Mine yet 
 unscathed.'"' Provided with this symbol of confidence, it was now 
 his business to take order for communicating the approaching solem- 
 nity to the leader of the crusading' army, and demanding- for him, 
 in the name of Robert of Paris, and the Lady Brenhilda, such a de- 
 tachment of western cavaliers as might insure strict observance of 
 honour and honesty in the arrang-ement of the lists, and during- the 
 progress of the combat. The duties imposed on Hereward were 
 such as to render it impossible for him to proceed personally to the 
 camp of Godfrey; and though there were many of the Varangians 
 in whose fidelity he could have trusted, he knew of none among- those 
 under his immediate command whose intelligence, on so novel an 
 occasion, might be entirely depended on. h\ this perplexity, he 
 strolled, i)erliaps without well knowing why, to the gardens of 
 Agelastes, where fortune once more produced him an interviev/ with 
 Bertha. 
 
 No sooner had Hereward made her aware of his difficulty, than the 
 faitlifiil bower-maiden's resolution was taken. 
 
 "I see,'"' said she, "that the peril of this part of the adventure 
 must rest with me; and wherefore should it not? My mistress, in 
 the bosom of prosperity, offered herself to go forth into the wide 
 
COU^•T ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 world for "my snkc ; I will for hers go to the camp of tliis Frnnkisli 
 lord. He is an honourable man, and a pious Christian, and his fol- 
 lowers are faithful pilgrims. A woman can have nothing- to fear who 
 g"ocs to such men upon such an errand." 
 
 The Yarang-ian, however, was too well acquainted with the man- 
 ners of camps to permit the fair Bertha to go alone, lie ])rovided, 
 therefore, for her safe-guard a trusty old soldier, bound to his person 
 by long kindness and confidence, and having thoroughly possessed 
 her of the particulars of the message she was to deliver, and desired 
 her to be in readiness without the enclosure at peep of dawn, returned 
 once more to his barracks. 
 
 With the earliest light, Ilercward was again at the spot where he 
 had parted overnight with Bertha, accompanied by the honest soldier 
 to whose care he meant to confide her. In a sliort time, he had seen 
 them safely on board of a ferry-boat lying in the harbour ; the mas- 
 ter of which readily admitted them, after some examination of their 
 licence, to pass to Scutari, which was forged in the name of the Aco- 
 lyte, as authorised by that foul conspirator, and which agreed witii 
 the appearance of old Osmund and his young charge. 
 
 The morning was lovely : and erelong' the town of Scutari opened 
 on the view of the travellers, glittering, as now, with a variety of 
 architecture, which, though it might be termed fantastical, could not 
 be denied the praise of beauty. These buildings rose boldly out of 
 a thick grove of cypresses, and other huge trees, the larger, probably, 
 as they were respected for filling the cemetries, and being the guar- 
 dians of the dead. 
 
 At the period we mention, another circumstance, no less striking 
 than beautiful, rendered doubly interesting a scene which must have 
 been at all times greatly so. A large portion of that miscellaneous 
 army which came to regain the holy places of Palestine, and the 
 blessed Sepulchre itself, from the infidels, had established them- 
 selves in a camp within a mile, or thereabouts, of Scutari. Although, 
 therefore, the crusaders were destitute in a great measure of the 
 use of tents, the army (excepting the pavilions of some leaders of 
 In'gh rank) had constructed for themselves temporary huts, not un- 
 pleasing to the eye, being decorated with leaves and flowers, while 
 the tall pennons and banners that floated over them witli various de- 
 vices, showed that the flower of Europe were assembled at that place. 
 A loud and varied murmur, resembling that of a thronged hive, 
 floated from the camp of the crusaders to the neighbouring town of 
 Scutari, and every now and then the deep tone was broken by some 
 shriller sound, the note of some musical instrument, or the treble 
 scream of some child or female, in fear or in gaiety. 
 
 The party at length landed in safety; and as they approached one 
 of the gates of the camp, there sallied forth a brisk array of gallant 
 cavaliers, pages, and squires, exercising their masters' horses or their 
 own. From the noise they made, conversing at the very top of their 
 voices, galloping, curvetting-, and prancing their palfreys, it seemed 
 as if their early discipline had called them to exercise ere the fumes 
 of last night's revel were thoroughly dissipated by repose. So soon 
 iw they saw Bertha and her party, they approached them with ciica 
 
20G COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 which marked their country wjis Ital}'— *"' Al'erta ! al'erta ! — Roba de 
 g'luidao-no, cameradi ! "^ 
 
 Tlicy gatlierod round tlie Ang-lo-Saxon maiden and her com- 
 panions, re]ieatinp; their cries in a manner which made Bertha 
 treinble. Their g'cneral demand M'as, '' Wliat was her business in 
 their camp?" 
 
 " I wouhl to the g-encral-in-chief, cavaliers," answered Bertha, '• 
 " having- a secret message to liis ear." 
 
 " For whoso ear ? " said a leader of the party, a handsome youth 
 of about eighteen years of age, who seemed either to have a sounder 
 brain than his fellovrs, or to have overflowed it with less wine. " Wliich 
 of our leaders do you come hither to see?" he demanded. 
 
 " Godfrey of Bouillon." 
 
 " Indeed ! " said the page who had spoken first ; " can nothing of 
 less consequence serve thy turn? Take a look amongst us; young 
 are we all, and reasonably wealthy. My Lord of Bouillon is old, and 
 if he has any sequins, he is not like to lavish tliem in this way." 
 
 " Still I have a token to Godfrey of Bouillon," answered Bertha, 
 ''an assured one; and he will little thank any who obstructs my 
 free passag*e to him : " and therewithal showing a little case, in which 
 the signet of the Count of Paris was enclosed, " I will trust it in your 
 hands," she said, " if you promise not to open it, but to give mo free 
 access to the noble leader of the crusaders." 
 
 " I will," said the youth, " and if such be the Duke's pleasure, thou 
 shalt be admitted to him." 
 
 " Ernest the Apulian, thy dainty Italian wit is caught in a trap," 
 said one of his companions. 
 
 "Thou art an ultramontane fool, Polydore," returned Ernest; 
 " there may bo more in this than either thy Avit or mine is able to 
 fathom. This maiden and one of her attendants wear a dress be- 
 longing- to the Varangian Imperial Guard. They have perliaps been 
 intrusted with a message from the Emperor, and it is not irrecon- 
 cilable with Alexius's politics to send it through such messengers as 
 these. Let us, therefore, convey them in all honour to the General's 
 tent." 
 
 "With all my heart," said Polydore. "A blue-eyed wencli is a 
 pretty thing, but I like not the sauce of the camp-marshal, nor his 
 taste in attiring men who give way to temptation.^ Yet, ere I prove 
 a fool like my companion, I would ask who or what this pretty maiden 
 is, who comes to put noble princes and holy pilgrims in mind that 
 they have in their time had the follies of men ? " 
 
 Bertha advanced and whispered in the ear of Ernest. Meantime 
 joke followed jest, among Polydore and the rest of the gay yontlis, 
 in riotous and ribald succession, which, however characteristic of the 
 rude speakers, may as well be omitted here. Their efiect was to 
 shake in some degree the fortitude of the Saxon maiden, who had 
 some difficulty in mustering' courage to address them. "As you 
 have mothers, gentlemen," she said, " as you have fair sisters, whom 
 
 1 That is — " Take heed ! take heed ! there is booty, comrades .' ' 
 
 2 Persona among the Crusaders found guilty of certaiu offences, did penance in a 
 dress of tar and feathers, though it is supposed a nuni.shinent of modern invention. 
 
COUNT ROIJEllT OF PARIS. 207 
 
 •'I would protect from dishonour with your best blood— as you love 
 
 1 honour those holy places which you are sworn to freefroni the 
 
 .idei enemy, have compassion on me, that you may merit success 
 iw your undertaking" ! " 
 
 "Fear nothing-, maiden," said Ernest, "I will be your protector; 
 and you, uiy comrades, be ruled by me. I have, during" your brawl- 
 ing-, taken a view, though somewhat against my promise, of the 
 pledge which she bears, and if ^he who presents it is affronted or 
 maltreated, be assured Godfrey of Bouillon will severely avenge tlie 
 v»rong done her." 
 
 "Nay, comrade, if thou canst warrant us so much," said Polydore, 
 " i will myself be most anxious to conduct the young- w^oman in hon- 
 our and safety to Sir Godfrey's tent." 
 
 " The Princes," said Ernest, " must be nigh meeting there in 
 rouncil. What I have said I will warrant and uphold with handand 
 ' ?. More I might guess, but I conclude this sensible young maiden 
 
 :i speak for herself." 
 
 " Now, Heaven bless thee, gallant squire," said Bertha, " and make 
 thee ahke brave and fortunate ! Embarrass yourself no farther about 
 me, than to deliver me safe to your leader, Godfrey." 
 
 " We spend time," said Ernest, springing from his horse. " You 
 are no soft Eastern, fair maid, and I presume you will find yourself 
 under no difficulty in managing a quiet horse ? " 
 
 '-^ Not the least," said Bertha, as, wrapping herself in her cassock, 
 she sprung- from the ground, and alighted upon the spirited palfrey, 
 as a linnet stoops upon a rose-bush. " And now, sir, as my business 
 really brooks no delay, I will be indebted to you to show me instantly 
 to the tent of Duke Godfrey of Bouillon." 
 
 By availing herself of this courtesy of the young Apulian, Bertlia 
 imprudently separated herself from the old Varangian ; but tlie in- 
 tentions of the youth were honourable, and he conducted her through 
 the tents and huts to the pavilion of the celebrated General-in-chief 
 of the Crusade. 
 
 " Here," he said, " you must tarry for a space, under the guar- 
 dianship of my companions " (for two or three of the pages had 
 accompanied them, out of curiosity. to see the issue), "and I will 
 take the commands of the Duke of Bouillon upon the subject." 
 
 To this nothing^ could be objected, and Bertha had nothing better 
 to do than to admire the outside of the tent, which, in one of Alexius's 
 fits of generosity and munificence, had been presented by the Greek 
 Emperor to the Chief of the Franks. It was raised upon tall spear- 
 shaped poles, which had the semblance of gold ; its curtains were of 
 a thick stuff, manufactured of silk, cotton, and gold thread. The 
 vmrders who sto-.d round, were (at least during the time that the 
 council was held) old grave men, the personal squires of the body, 
 most of them, of the sovereigns who had taken the Cross, and who 
 could, therefore, be trusted as a guard over the assembly, without 
 danger of their b/itbbing what they might overhear. Their appear- 
 ance was serious and considerate, and they looked like men who had 
 taken upon them the Cross, not as an idle adventure of arms, but as 
 a purpose of the most solemn and serious nature. One of these 
 
£03 COUNT ROBLUT OF V*AR1S. 
 
 stopped the Italian, and demanded what business authorised liim to 
 l)ress forward into the council of the crusaders, who were already 
 taking- their seats. The pag'e answered by giving- his name, "Ernest 
 of Otranto, page of Prince Tancred;" and stated that he announced 
 a young woman, who bore a token to the Duke of Bouillon, adding- 
 that it was accompanied by a message for his own ear. 
 
 Bertha meantime laid aside her mantle, or upper garment, and 
 disposed the rest of her dress according to the Anglo-Saxon costume. 
 ►She had hardly completed this task, before the p;ige of Prince Tan- 
 cred returned, to conduct her into the presence of the council of the 
 Crusade. She followed his signal ; while the other young men who 
 had accompanied her, wondering at the apparent ease with which 
 she gained admittance, drew back to a respectful distance from the 
 tent, and there canvassed the singularity of their morning's ad- 
 venture. 
 
 In the meanwhile the ambassadress herself entered the council 
 chamber, exhibiting an agreeable mixture of shamefacedness and 
 reserve, together with a bold determination to do her duty at all 
 events. There were about fifteen of the principal crusaders assem- 
 bled iu council, with their chieftain Godfrey. He himself was a tall 
 strong man, arrived at that period of life in which men are supposed 
 to have lost none of their resolution, while they have acquired a wis- 
 dom and circumspection unknown to their earlier years. The coun- 
 tenance of Godfrey bespoke both prudence and boldness, and resem- 
 bled his hair, where a few threads of silver were already mingled 
 with his raven locks. 
 
 Tancred, the noblest knight of the Christian chivalry, sat at no 
 great distance from him, with tlugh, Earl of Verraandois, generally 
 called the Great Count, the selfish and wily Bohemond, the'powerfiil 
 Raymond of Provence, and others of the principal crusaders, all more 
 or less completely sheathed in armour. 
 
 Bertha did not allow her courage to be broken down, but advanc- 
 ing with a timid grace towards Godfrey, she placed in his hands the 
 signet which had been restored to her by the young page, an.d after 
 a deep obeisance, spoke these words : " Godfrey, Count of Bouillon, 
 Duke of Lorraine tlie Lower, Chief of the Holy Enterprise called the 
 Crusade, and you, his gallant comrades, peers, and companions, by 
 whatever titles you may be honoured, I, an humble maiden of Eng- 
 land, daughter of Engelrcd, originally a franklin of Hampshire, and 
 since Chieftain of the Foresters, or free Anglo-Saxons, under the 
 command of the celebrated Edric, do claim what credence is due to 
 the bearer of the true pledge which I put into your hand, on the part 
 of one not the least considerable of your own body. Count Bobert of 
 Paris " 
 
 " Our most honourable confederate," said Godfrey, looking at the 
 ring. " ]\Iost of you, my lords, must, I think, know this signet — a 
 field sown Avith the fragments of many splintered lances." The sig- 
 net was handed from one of the Assembly to another, and generally 
 recognised. 
 
 When Godfrey had signified so much, the maiden resumed her 
 message, "To all true crusaders, therefore, comrades of Godfrey 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 209 
 
 of Bouillon, and especially to tlie Duke himself, — to all I say except- 
 ing- Bohemond of Tarentum, whom he counts unworthy of his no- 
 tice " 
 
 "Hah! me unworthy of his notice," said Boliemond. "What 
 mean you by that, damsel?— But the Count of Paris shall answer it 
 to me." 
 
 "Under your favour, Sir Bohemond," said Godfrey, "no. Our 
 articles renounce tlie sending- of challeng-es among- ourselves, and 
 the matter, if not dropt betwixt the parties, must be referred to the 
 voice of this honourable council." 
 
 " I think I g-uess the business novr, my lord," said Boliemond. 
 "The Count of Paris is disposed to turn and tear me, becau.se I 
 offered him good counsel on the evening- before we left Constanti- 
 no])lo, wlien he neglected to accept or be g'uided by it " 
 
 " It will bo the more easily explained when we have heard his 
 raessag-e," said Godfrey. — " Speak forth Lord Robert of Paris'.s 
 charg-e, damsel, that we' may take some order with that which now 
 seems a perplexed business." 
 
 Bertha resumed her raessag'e; and, having- briefly narrated the 
 recent events, thus concluded: — "The battle is to be done to-mor- 
 row, about tvro hours after daybreak, and the Count entreats of the 
 noble Duke of Lorraine that he will permit some fifty of the lancos 
 of France to attend tlie deed of arms, and secure that fair and hon- 
 ourable conduct which he has otherwise some doubts of receiving- at 
 the hands of his adversary. Or if any young- and g-allant knight 
 should, of his own free will, wish to view the said combat, the Count 
 will feel his presence as an honour : ahvays he desires that the name 
 of such knight be numbered carefully Vv^itb the armed crusaders who 
 shall attend in the lists, and that the whole shall be limited, by Duke 
 Godfrey's ov/n inspection, to lifty lances only, which are enough to 
 obtain the protection required, while more would be considered as a 
 preparation for ag-o-ression upon the Grecians, and occasion the re- 
 vival of disputes which are nov/ happily at rest." 
 
 Bertha had no sooner finished delivering- her manifesto, and made 
 with g-reat grace her obeisance to the council, than a sort of whisper 
 took place in the assembly, v/hich soon assumed a more lively tone. 
 
 Their solemn vow not to turn their back upon Palestine, now that 
 they had set their hands to the plough, was strongly nrged by some 
 of the elder knights of the council, and two or three high prelates, 
 who had by this time entered to take share in the deliberations. 
 The young knights, on the other hand, were fired with indignation 
 on hearing the manner in which their comrade had been trepanned ; 
 and few of them could think of missing a combat in the lists in a 
 country in which such sights were so rare, and where one was to be 
 fought so near them. 
 
 Godfrey rested his brow on his hand, and seemed in great perplex- 
 ity. To break with the Greeks, after having suffered so many inju- 
 ries in order to maintain the advantage of keeping the peace with 
 them, seemed very impolitic, and a sacrifice of all he had obtained 
 by a long course of painful forbearance towards Alexius Comnenus. 
 On the other liaud, he was bound as a man of honour to resent the 
 
210 COUNT HOBERT OP PARIS, 
 
 injury offered to Count Robert of Paris, whose reckless spirit of chi 
 valry made him tlie darling- of the army. It was the cause, too, of a 
 beautiful lady, and a brave one: every knight in the host would 
 think Iiiraself bound, by his vow, to hasten to her defence. When 
 Godfrey spoke, it was to complain of the difficulty of the determina- 
 tion, and the short time there was to consider the case. 
 
 " With submission to my Lord Duke of Lorraine," said Tancred, 
 "I was a knig-ht ere I was a crusader, and took on me the vows of 
 chivalry, ere I placed this blessed sign upon my shoulder ; the vow 
 first made must be first discharged. I will therefore do penance for 
 neglecting, for a space, the obligations of the second vow, while I 
 observe that which recalls me to the first duty of knighthood, — the 
 relief of a distressed lady in the hands of men whose conduct towards 
 her, and towards this host, in every respect entitles me to call them 
 treacherous faitours." 
 
 " If my kinsman Tancred," said Bohemond, " will check his impe- 
 tuosity, and you, ray lords, will listen, as you have sometimes deigned 
 to do, to my advice, I think I can direct you how to keep clear of 
 any breach of your oath, and yet fully to relieve our distressed fel- 
 low-pilgrims.— I see some suspicious looks are cast towards me, 
 which are caused perhaps by the churlish manner in which this vio- 
 lent, and, in this case, almost insane young warrior, has protested 
 against receiving my assistance. My great offence is the having* 
 given him warning, by precept and example, of the treachery which 
 was about to be practised against him, and instructed him to use for- 
 bearance and temperance. My warning he altogether contemned 
 —my example he neglected to follow,.and fell into the snare which 
 was spread, as it were, before his very eyes. Yet the Count of 
 Paris, in rashly contemning me, has acted only from a temper which 
 misfortune and disappointment have rendered irrational and frantic. 
 I am so far from bearing him ill-will, that, with your lordship's per- 
 mission, and that of the present council, I will haste to the place of 
 rendezvous with fifty lances, making up the retinue which attends 
 upon each to at least ten men, which will make the stipulated auxi- 
 liary force equal to five hundred ; and with these I can have little 
 doubt of rescuing the Count and his lady." 
 
 "Nobly proposed," said the Duke of Bouillon ; "and with a chari- 
 table forgiveness of injuries which becomes our Christian expedition. 
 But thou hast forgot the main difficulty, brother Bohemond, that we 
 are sv/orn never to turn back upon the sacred journey." 
 
 " If we can elude that oath upon the present occasion," said Bohe- 
 mond, " it becomes our duty to do so. Are we such bad horsemen, 
 or are our steeds so awkward, that we cannot rein them back from 
 this to the landing-place at Scutari ? We can get them on shipboard 
 in the same retrograde manner, and when we arrive in Europe, 
 where our vov/ binds us no longer, the Count and Countess of Paris 
 are rescued, and our vow remains entire in the Chancery of Heaven." 
 
 A general shout arose— "Long life to the g-allant Bohemond! — 
 Shame to us if we do not fly to the assistance of so valiant a knighfc, 
 and a lady so lovely, since we can do so without breach of our vow.'* 
 - "The question," said Godfrey, "r.ppears to me to be eluded rather 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 211 
 
 thau solved ; yet such evasions have been admitted by tlie most 
 learned and scrupulous clerks; nor do I hesitate to admit of Bohe- 
 mond's expedient, any more than if the enemy had attacked our 
 rear, which might have occasioned our countermarching- to be a case 
 of absolute necessity." 
 
 Some there were in the assembly, particularly the churchmen, in- 
 clined to think that the oath by which the crusaders had solemnly 
 bound themselves, ought to be as literally obeyed. But Peter the 
 Hermit, who had a place in the council, and possessed great weight, 
 declared it as his opinion, "That since the precise observance of 
 their vow would tend to diminish the forces of the crusade, it was in 
 fact unlawful, and should not be kept according to the literal mean- 
 ing, if, by a fair construction, it could be eluded." 
 
 He offered himself to back the animal which he bestrode — that is, 
 his ass ; and though he was diverted from showing this example by 
 the remonstrances of Godfrey of Bouillon, who was afraid of his 
 becoming a scandal in the eyes of the heathen, yet he so prevailed 
 by his arguments, that the knights, far from scrupling to counter- 
 march, eagerly contended which should have the honour of making" 
 one of the party which should retrograde to Constantinople, see the 
 combat, and bring back to the host in safety the valorous Count 
 of Paris, of whose victory no one doubted, and his Amazonian 
 Countess. 
 
 This emulation was also put an end to by the authority of Godfrey, 
 who himself selected the fifty knights who were to compose the party. 
 They were chosen from different nations, and the command of the 
 whole was given to young Tancred of Otranto. Notwithstanding 
 the claim of Bohemond, Godfrey detained the latter, under the pre- 
 text that his knowledge of the country and people was absolutely 
 necessary to enable the council to form the plan of the campaign in 
 Syria ; but in reality he dreaded the selfishness of a man of great 
 ingenuity of as well as military skill, who, finding himself in a separ- 
 ate command, might be tempted, should opportunities arise, to 
 enlarge his own power and dominion at the expense of the pious 
 purposes of the crusade in general. The younger men of the expe- 
 dition were chiefly anxious to procure such horses as had been 
 thoroughly trained", and could go through with ease and temper the 
 manceuvre of equitation, by which it was designed to render l«giti- 
 mate the movement which they had recourse to. The selection was 
 at length made, and the detachment ordered to draw up in the rear, 
 or upon the eastward line of the Christian encampment. In the 
 meanwhile, Godfrey charged Bertha with a message for the Count 
 of Paris, in which, slightly censuring him for not observing more 
 caution in his intercourse Avith the Greeks, he informed him tha.t he 
 had sent a detachment of fifty lances, with the corresponding squires, 
 pages, men-at-arms, and cross-bows, five hundred in number, com- 
 manded by the rahant Tancred, to his assistance. The Duke also 
 informed him that he had added a suit of armour of the best temper 
 Milan could afford, together with a trusty war-horse, which he in- 
 treated him to use upon the field of battle; for Bertha had not 
 omitted to intimate Count Robert's want of the means of knightly 
 
212 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 equipment. The horse was broiig'lit before the pavilion accorcling-ly, 
 completely barbed or armed in steel, and laden with armour for the 
 knio'ht's body. Godfrey himself put the bridle into Bertha's hand. 
 
 " Thou needst not fear to trust thyself with this steed, he is as 
 gentle and docile as he is fleet and brave. Place thyself on his back, 
 and take heed thou stir not from the side of the noble Prince Tan- 
 cred of Otranto, who will be the faithful defender of a maiden that 
 has this day shown dexterity, courage, and fidelity." 
 
 Bertha bowed low, as her cheeks glowed at praise from one v/hose 
 talents ar.d worth were in such general esteem, as to have raised him 
 to the distinguished situation of leader of a host which numbered in 
 it the bravest and most distinguished captains of Christendom. 
 
 "Who are yon two persons ? " continued Godfrey, speaking of the 
 companions of Bertha, whom he saw in tlie distance before the tent 
 
 '•The one," answered the damsel, "is the master of the ferry-boat 
 which brought me over : and the other an old Varangian who came 
 hither as ray protector." 1 
 
 "As they may come to employ their eyes here, and their tongues; 
 on the opposite side," returned the general of the crusaders, "I do' 
 not think it prudent to let them accompany you. Tliey shall remain 
 here for some short time. The citizens of Scutari will not compre- 
 liend for some^ space v/hat our intention is, and 1 could wish Prince 
 Tancred and his attendants to be the first to announce their own 
 arrival." 
 
 Bertha accordingly intimated the pleasure of the French general! 
 to the ])arties, without naming his motives ; when the ferryman began 
 to exclaim on the hardship of intercepting him in his^ trade, and 
 Osmund to comjjlain of being detained from his duties. But Bertha, 
 by tlie orders of Godfrey, left them with the assurance that they 
 would be soon at liberty. Finding themselves thus abandoned, each 
 applied liimself to his favourite amusement. The ferryman occupied 
 himself in staring about at all that was new; and Osmund having-' 
 in the meantime accepted an oficr of breakfast from some of the do- 
 mestics, was presently engaged Vv'ith a flask of such red wine as would 
 liave reconciled him to a worse lot than that which he at present 
 experienced. 
 
 The detachment of Tancred, fifty spears and their armed retinue, 
 which amounted fully to five hundred men, after having taken a 
 short and hasty refreshment, were in arms and mounted before the 
 sultry hour of noon. After some manoeuvres, of which the Greeks 
 of Scutari, whose curiosity was av/akened by the preparations of the 
 detachment, were at a loss to comprehend the purpose, they formed 
 mto a single column, having four men in front. When tlie horses 
 were in this position, the whole riders at once began to rein back. 
 The action was one to which both the cavaliers and their horses were 
 well accustomed, nor did it at first afford much surprise to the spec- 
 tators; but when the same retrograde evolution was continued, and 
 the body of crusaders seemed about to enter the town of Scutari in 
 so extraordinary a fashion, some idea of the truth began to occupy 
 the citizens. The cry at length was general, v/lien Tancred and a 
 few others, whose horses were unusually well trained, arrived at the 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 213 
 
 port, and possessed lliemselves of a g-alley, into wliicli tliey led their 
 horses, and, disreg-arding- all opposition from the Imperial officers of 
 the haven, pushed the vessel off from the shore. 
 
 Other cavaliers did not accomplish their purpose so easily; the 
 riders or the horses were less accustomed to continue in tlie con- 
 strained pace for such a considerahle leng-thof time, so that many of 
 the knig'hts, havtnff retrog-raded for one or two hundred yards, thought 
 tlieirvowwas snfliciently observed by having so far deferred to it, 
 and riding- in the ordniary manner into the town, seized without 
 fjirther ceremony on some vessels which, notwithstanding- the orders 
 of the Greek Emperor, had been allowed to remain on the Asiatic 
 side of the strait. Some less able horsemen met with various acci- 
 dents ; for tliongh it was a proverb of the time that nothing was so 
 hold as a blind horse, yet from this mode of equitation, where neither 
 liorse nor rider sav/ the way he was going, some steeds were over- 
 thrown, others backed upon dangerous obstacles: and the bones of 
 the cavaliers themselves suffered much more than would have beeu 
 the case in an ordinary march. 
 
 Those horsemen also who met with falls incurred the danger of 
 being slain by the Greeks, had not Godfrey, surmounting- his reHgious 
 scruples, despatched a squadron to extricate them— a task v.hich 
 they performed with great ease. The greater part of Tancred's fol- 
 lowers succeeded in embarking, as was intended, nor was there more 
 than a score or two finally amissing'. To accomplish their voyage, 
 however, even the Prince of Otranto himself, and most of his fol- 
 lowers, were obliged to betake themselves to the unknightly labours 
 of the oar. This they found extremely difficult, as well from the 
 state both of the tide and the wind as from the v/ant of practice at 
 the exercise. Godfrey in person viewed their progress anxiously, 
 from a neighbouring height, and perceived with regret thedifficulty 
 which they found in making their way, which was still more increased 
 by the necessity for their keeping in a body, and waiting for the 
 slowest and worst manned vessels, which considerably detained those 
 that were more expeditious. They made some prog-ress, however ; 
 nor had the commander-in-chief the least doubt that, before sunset, 
 they would safely reach the opposite side of the strait. 
 
 He retired at length from his post of observation, having- placed 
 a careful sentinel in his stead, with directions to bring- him word the 
 instant that the detachment reached the opposite shore. This the 
 soldier could easily discern by the eye, if it was daylight at the time ; 
 if, on the contrary, it was night before they could arrive, the Prince 
 of Otranto had orders to show certain lights, which, in case of their 
 meeting resistance from the Greeks, should be arranged in a pecu- 
 liar manner, so as to indicate danger. 
 
 Godfrey then explained to the Greek authorities of Scutari, whom 
 he summoned before him, the necessity there was that he should 
 keep in readiness such vessels as could "be procured, with which, in 
 ease of need, he vras determined to transport a sti-ong division from 
 his army to support those Vvho had gone before. He then rode back 
 to his camp, the confused murmurs of which, rendered more r.oisy 
 by the various discussions concerning' the events of the day, rolled 
 
214 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 oil from the numerous host of the crusaders, and mingled with tbo 
 hoarse sound of the many-billowed Hellespont. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 All is prepared — tbe chambers of the mine 
 
 Are cramm'd with the combustible, which, harmless 
 
 While yet unkindled, as the sable sand, 
 
 Needs but a spark to change its nature so, 
 
 Tliat he who wakes it from its slumbrous mood, 
 
 Dreads scarce the explosion less than he who knows 
 
 That 'tis his towers which meet its fury. 
 
 Anonyvioiis. 
 
 When the sky is darkened suddenly, and the atmosphere grows 
 thick and stifling, the lower ranks of creation entertain the ominous 
 sense of a coming" tempest. The birds fly to the thickets, the wild 
 creatures retreat to the closest covers which their instinct gives 
 them the habit of frequenting, and domestic animals show their ap- 
 prehension of the approaching thunder-storm by singular actions 
 and movements inferring fear and disturbance. 
 
 It seems that human nature, when its original habits are cultivated 
 and attended to, possesses, on similar occasions, something of that 
 prescient foreboding which announces tlie approaching tempest to 
 the inferior ranks of creation. The cultivation of our intellectual 
 powers goes perhaps too far, when it teaches us entirely to suppress 
 and disregard those natural feelings which were originally designed 
 as sentinels by which nature warned us of impending danger. 
 
 Something of the kind, however, still remains, and that species of 
 feeling which announces to us sorrowful or alarming tidings may be 
 said, like the prophecies of the weird sisters, to come over us like a 
 sudden cloud. 
 
 During the fatal day which was to precede the combat of the Caesar 
 with the Count of Paris, there were current through the city of Con- 
 stantinople the most contradictory, and, at the same time, the most 
 terrific reports. Privy conspiracy, it was alleged, was on the very 
 eve of breaking out; open war, it was reported by others, v/as about 
 to shake her banners over the devoted city; the precise cause was 
 not agreed upon, any more than the nature of the enemy. Some 
 said tiliat the barbarians from the borders of Thracia, the Hunga- 
 rians, as they were termed, and the Comani, v/ere on their march 
 from the frontiers to surprise the city: another report stated that 
 the Turks, who, during this period, were established in Asia, had 
 resolved to prevent the threatened attack of the crusaders upon 
 Palestine by surprising not only the Western Pilgrims, but the 
 Christians of the East, by one of their innumerable invasions, exe- 
 cuted with their characteristic rapidity. 
 
 Another report, approaching more near to the truth, declared that 
 the crusaders themselves, having discovered their various causes of 
 
 ( 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 215 
 
 complaint against Alexius Coninenus, liad resolved to march back 
 their united forces to the capital, with a view of dethroning- or chas- 
 tising him; and the citizens were dreadfully alarmed for the con- 
 sequences of the resentment of men so fierce in their habits and so 
 strange in their manners. In short, although they did not all agree 
 on the i)recise cause of danger, it was yet generally allowed that 
 something' of a dreadful kind was impending, which appeared to be 
 in a certain degree confirmed by the motions that were taking place 
 among the troops. The Varangians, as well as the Immortals, were 
 gradually assembled, and placed in occupation of the strongest parts 
 of the city, until at length the fleet of galleys, row-boats, and trans- 
 ports, occupied by Tancred and his party, were observed to put them- 
 selves in motion from Scutari, and attempt to gain such a height in 
 the narrow sea as, upon the turn of the tide, should transport them 
 to the port of the capital. 
 
 Alexius Comnenus was himself struck at this unexpected move- 
 ment on the part of the crusaders. Yet, after some conversation 
 with Hereward, on whom he had determined to repose his confidence, 
 and had now gone too far to retreat, he became reassured, the more 
 especially by the limited size of the detachment which seemed to 
 meditate so bold a measure as an attack upon his capital. To those 
 around him he said with carelessness, that it was hardly to be sup- 
 posed that a trumpet could blow to the charge, within hearing of the 
 crusaders' camp, without some, out of so many knights, earning forth 
 to see the cause and the issue of the conflict. 
 
 The conspirators also had their secret fears when the little arma- 
 ment of Tancred had been seen on the straits. Agelastes mounted 
 a mule, and went to the shore of the sea, at the place now called 
 Galata. He met Bertha's old ferryman, whom Godfrey had set at 
 liberty, partly in contempt, and partly that the report he M-as likely 
 to make, might serve to amuse the conspirators in the city. Closely 
 examined by Agelastes, he confessed that the present detachment, 
 so far as he understood, was despatched at the instance of Bohemond, 
 and was under the command of his kinsman Tancred, whose well- 
 known banner was floating from the headmost vessel. This gave 
 courage to Agelastes, who, in the course of his intrigues, had opened 
 a private communication with the wily and ever mercenary Prince 
 of Antioch. The object of the philosopher had been to obtain from 
 Bohemond a body of his followers to co-operate in the intended con- 
 spiracy, and fortify the party of insurgents. It is true, that Bohe- 
 mond had returned no answer, but the account now given by the 
 ferryman, and the sight of Tancred the kinsman of Boliemond's 
 banner displayed on the straits, satisfied the philosopher that his 
 offers, his presents, and his promises, had gained to his side the avari- 
 cious Italian, and that this band had been selected by Bohemond, 
 and were coming to act in his favour. 
 
 As Agelastes turned to go oft', he almost jostled a person, as much 
 muffled up, and apparently as unwilling to be known, as the philoso- 
 
 Eher himself Alexius Comnenus, however — for it v/as the Emperor 
 imself — knew Agelastes, though rather from his stature and gestures, 
 than his countenance; and could not forbear whisperinj^ in his ear. 
 
216 COU^'T ROBERT OF PARK. 
 
 fts he passed, the well-known lines, to v^liicli the pretended safe's 
 various acquisitions gave some degree of point: — 
 
 " Grammaticus, rhetor, geometres, pietor, aliptes, \ ]'_ 
 
 Augur, schcenobates, medicus, magns ; omnia novit. 
 Grfcculus esurieus in crelum, jusseris, ibit."i 
 
 Agelastes first started at the unexpected sound of the Emperor's 
 voice, yet immediately recovered presence of mind, i\\e want of wliich 
 liad made him suspect himself betrayed ; and without taking notice 
 of tlie rank of the person to whom he spoke, he answered hy a quot- 
 ation which should return the alarm he had received. The s])eec]i 
 tliat sug'gested itself was said to be that v/hich the Phantom of Cleo- 
 nice dinned into the ears of the tyrant who murdered her : — 
 
 •' Tu cole justitiani ; teque atque alios manet ultor."2 
 
 The sentence, and the recollections which accompanied it, thrilled 
 through the heart of the Emperor, who walked on, however, without 
 any notice or reply. 
 
 '' Tlie vile conspirator," he said, "had his associates around him 
 otherwise he had not hazarded that threat. Or it may have been 
 worse — Agelastes himself, on the very brink of this world, may have 
 obtained that singular glance into futurity proper to that situation, 
 and perhaps speaks less from his own reflection than from a strange 
 spirit of prescience, which dictates his words. Have I then in earnest 
 sinned so far in my imperial duty, as to make it just to apply to me 
 the warning used by the injured Cleonice to her ravisher and mur- 
 derer? Mcthinks 1 have not. Methinks that at less expense than 
 that of a just severity, I could ill have kept my seat in the high place 
 v/here Heaven has been pleased to seat me, and where, as a ruler, I 
 am bound to maintain my station. Methinks the sum of tliose who 
 have experienced my clemency may be well numbered with that of 
 such as have sustained the deserved punishments of their guilt — But 
 hns that vengeance, however deserved in itself, been always taken in 
 a legal or justifiable manner ? My conscience, I doubt, will liai'dly 
 answer so home a question ; and where is the man, had he the virtues 
 of Antoninus himself, that can hold so high and responsible a place, 
 yet sustain such an interrogation as is implied in that sort of warning 
 which I have received from this traitor ? Tu cole just it t am — vre all 
 need to use justice to others — Tegice atque alios manet ultor — we are 
 all amenable to an avenging being — I will see the Patriarch — in- 
 s(antly will I see him ; and by confessing my transgressions to tlic 
 Church, I will, by her plenary indulgence, acquire the right of 
 spending the last day of my reign in a consciousness of innocence, 
 or at least of pardon — a slate of mind rarely the lot of those Vrhose 
 lines have fallen in lofty places." 
 
 1 The lines of Juvenal imitated by Jolmson in his London—' 
 
 " M\ sciences a fastin^r Jfciisicwv knot's, 
 And bid him go to hell— tc hell ho goes. " 
 
 2 " Do thou cultivate justice : for thee and for others there rciiiains an avenger."— 
 OviE. Md. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF TAIClS. 217 
 
 So saying", lie'passed to the palace of Zosimus tlic Patn'arcli, to 
 wliom he could unbosom himself with more safety, because he liad 
 long' considered Ag-elastcs as a private enemy to the Church, and a 
 man attached to the ancient doctrines of heathenism. In the coun- 
 cils of the state they were also opposed to each other, nor did the 
 Emperor doubt, that in communicating- the secret of tlie conspiracy 
 to the Patriarcli, he was sure to attain a loyal and firm supporter ii^i 
 the defence which he proposed to himself. He therefore g'ave a 
 sig-nal by a low whistle, and a confidential officer, well mounted, ap- 
 proached him, who attended him in his ride, though unostentatiously 
 and at some distance. 
 
 In this manner, therefore, Alexius Comnenus proceeded to the 
 palace of the Patriach, with as much speed as was consistent witli 
 his purpose of avoiding- to attract any particular notice as lie passed 
 throug'h the street. During- the whole ride, the warning- of Ag-ehis- 
 tes repeatedly occurred to him, and his conscience reminded him of 
 too many actions of his reig'u, which could only be justified by neces- 
 sity, emphatically said to be the tyrant's plea, and which were of 
 themselves deserving- the dire veng-eance so long- delayed. 
 
 When he came in sig-ht of the splendid tov/ers which adorned ihe 
 front of the patriarchal palace, he turned aside from the lofty g-ates, 
 repaired to a narrow court, and ag-ain giving- his mule to his attend- 
 ant, he stopt before a postern, whose low arch and humble architrave 
 seemed to exclude the possibility of its leading- to any place of im- 
 portance. On knocking-, however, a priest of an inferior order opened 
 the door, who, with a deep reverence, received the Emperor so soon 
 as he had made himself known, and conducted him into the interior 
 of the palace. Demanding- a secret interview with the Patriarcli, 
 Alexius was then ushered into his private librar}', where he was re- 
 ceived by the ag-ed priest with the deepest respect, which the nature 
 of his communication soon chang-ed into horror and astonisliraent. 
 
 Althoug-h Alexius was supposed by many of his own court, and 
 particularly by some members of his own family, to be little better 
 than a hypocrite in his religious professions, yet such severe obser- 
 vers were unjust in branding- him with a name so odious. lie was 
 indeed aware of the great support which he received from the good 
 opinion of the clergy, and to them he was willing- to make sacriliccs 
 for the advantage of the Church, or of individual prelates who mani- 
 fested fidelity to the crown ; but thou.gh, on the one hand sucli sac- 
 rifices were rarely made by x\lexius, without a view to temporal policy, 
 yet on the other, he regarded them as recommended by his devotional 
 ifeelings, and took credit to himself for various grants and action^, 
 as dictated by sincere piety, wliich, in another aspect, were the fruits 
 of temporal policy. His mode of looking on these measures was 
 that of a person v/ith oblique vision, who sees an object in a different 
 manner, according to the point from which he chances to contem- 
 plate it. 
 
 The Emperor placed his own errors of government before the 
 Patriarch in his confession, giving due weight to every breach of 
 morality as it occurred, and stripping from them the lineaments and 
 palliative circumstances which had iu his own imagination lessened 
 
218 CUUxNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 their guilt. The Patrir-Tcli heard to his astonishment, the real thread 
 of many ^ court iutrig-ue, which had borne a very different appear- 
 ance, till the Emperor's narrative either justified his conduct upon 
 the occasion, or left it totally unjustifiable. U])on the whole, the 
 balance was certainly more in favour of Alexius than the Patriarch 
 had supposed likely in that more distant view he had taken of the 
 intrigues of the court, when, as usual, the ministers and the courtiers 
 endeavoured to make up for the applause which they had g-iven in 
 council to the most blaraable actions of the absolute monarch, by 
 elsewhere imputing to his motives greater guilt than really belonged 
 to them. Many men who had fallen sacrifices, it was supposed to 
 the personal spleen or jealousy of the Emperor, appeared to have 
 been in fact removed from life, or from liberty, because their enjoy- 
 ing either was inconsistent with the quiet of the state and the safety 
 of the monarch, 
 
 Zosimus also learned, what he perli.ips already suspected, that 
 amidst the profound silence of despotism which seemed to pervade 
 the Grecian empire, it heaved frequently with convulsive throes, 
 which ever and anon made obvious the existence of a volcano under 
 the surface. Thus, while smaller delinquencies, or avowed discon- 
 tent with the Imperial government, seldom occurred, and were 
 severely punished when they did, the deepest and most mortal con- 
 spiracies against the life and the authority of the Emperor were 
 clierished by those nearest to his person ; and he was often himself 
 aware of them, though it was not until they approached an explosion 
 that he dared act upon his knowledge, and punish the conspirators. 
 
 The wdiole treason of the Csesar, with his associates, Agelastes 
 and Achilles Tatius, was heard by the Patriarch with wonder and 
 astonishment, and he was particularly suprised at the dexterity with 
 which the Emperor, knowing the existence of so dangerous a con- 
 spiracy at home, had been able to parry the danger from the crusa- 
 ders occurring at the same moment. 
 
 " In that respect," said the Emperor, to whom indeed the church- 
 man hinted his surprise, *' I have been singularly unfortunate. Had 
 I been secure of the forces of my own empire, I might have taken 
 one out of two manly and open courses with, these frantic warriors 
 of the west — I might, my reverend fiither, have devoted the sums paid 
 to Bohemond and other of the more selfish among the crusaders, to 
 the honest and open support of the army of western Christians, and 
 safely transported them to Palestine, without exposing them to the 
 great loss which they are likely to sustain by the opposition of the 
 Infidels ; their success would have been in fact my own, and a Latin 
 kingdom in Palestine, defended by its steel-clad warriors, would have 
 been a safe and unexpugnable barrier of the empire against the Sara- 
 cens. Or if it was thought more expedient for the protection of the 
 empire and the holy Church, over which you are ruler, we might at 
 once, and by open force, have defended the frontiers of our states, 
 against a host commanded by so many dillerent and discording chiefs, 
 and advancing upon us with such equivocal intentions. If the first 
 swarm of these locusts, under him whom tiiey called Walter the Penni- 
 less, vais thinned by the Hungarians, and totally destroyed by the 
 
COUxNT ROBEKT OF PARIS. 2,10 
 
 Turks, as the pyramids of bones on tlie frontiers of tlie country still 
 keep in memory, surely the united forces of the Grecian empire would 
 have had little difficulty in scattering'- this second flight, though com- 
 manded by these Godfreys, Bohemonds, and Tancreds." 
 
 The Patriarch was silent, for though he disliked, or rather de- 
 tested the crusaders, as members of the Latin Church, he yet thought 
 it highly doubtful that in feats of battle they could have been met 
 and overcome by the Grecian forces. 
 
 " At any rate," said Alexius, rightly interpretnig his silence, " if 
 vanquished, I had fallen under my shield as a Greek emperor should, 
 nor had I been forced into these mean measures of attacking men^ 
 by stealth, and with forces disguised as infidels ; while the lives of 
 the faithful soldiers of the empire, who have fallen in obscure skir- 
 mishes, had better, both for them and me, been lost bravely in their 
 ranks, avowedly fighting for their native emperor and Uieir native 
 country. Now, and as the matter stands, 1 shall be handed down to 
 posterity as a wily tyrant, who engaged his subjects in fatal feuds 
 for the safety of his own obscure life. Patriarch ! these crimes rest 
 not with me," but with the rebels whose intrigues compelled me into 
 such courses — What, reverend father, will be my fate hereafter ? — 
 and in what light shall I descend to posterity, the author of so many 
 disasters ? " 
 
 '' For futurity," said the Patriarch, " your grace hath referred 
 yourself to the holy Church, which hath power to bind and to lopse ; 
 your means of propitiating her are ample, and I have already indi- 
 cated such as she may reasonably expect, in consequence of your 
 repentance and forgiveness." 
 
 " They shall be granted," replied the Emperor, " in their fullest 
 extent ; nor will 1 injure you in doubting their effect in the next 
 world. In this present state of existence, however, the favourable 
 opinion of the Church may do much for me during this important 
 crisis. If we understand each other, good Zosimus, her doctors 
 and bishops are to thunder in my behalf, nor is my benefit fro_^in 
 her i)ardon to be deferred till the funeral monument closes upon me ? " 
 
 " Certainly not," said Zosimus; "the conditions which Ihave al- 
 ready stipulated being strictly attended to." 
 
 " And my memory in history," said Alexius, " in what manner is 
 that to be preserved ? " 
 
 " For that," answered the Patriarch, " your Imperial Majesty must 
 trust to the filial piety and literary talents of your accomplished 
 daughter, Anna Comnena." 
 
 The Emperor shook his head. " This unhappy Csesar," he said, 
 " is like to make a quarrel between us ; for I shall scarce pardon so 
 ungrateful a rebel as he is, because my daughter clings to him with 
 a woman's fondness. Besides, good Zosimus, it is not, I believe, the 
 page of a historian such as my daughter that is most likely to be re- 
 ceived without challenge by posterity. Some Procopius, some philo- 
 sophical slave, starving in a garret, aspires to write the life_ of an 
 emperor whom he durst not approach ; and although the principal 
 merit of his production be, that it contains particulars upon the sub- 
 ject which no man durst have promulgated while the prince was 
 
220 COUNT KOBERT OF TAKig. 
 
 Hviiif^-, 3^ct no man licsitates to admit such as true wlien lie 1ms 
 passed from the scene." 
 
 " On that subject," said Zosinm.-J, "I can neither afford your Im- 
 perial IMajcsty relief or protection. If, however, your memory is 
 unjustly slandered upon earth it will be a matter of indifference to 
 your lii^ichness, who will be then, I trust, enjoying' a state of beati- 
 tude which idle slander cannot assail. The only way, indeed, to 
 avoid it while on this side of time, would be to write your Majesty's 
 own memoirs while you are yet in the body ; so convinced am I 
 that it is in your power to assign leg'itimate excuses for those actions 
 of your life, which, without yoiu' doing- so, would seem most worthy 
 of censure." 
 
 "Chang-e we the subject," said the Emperor; "and since the 
 dang'er is imminent, let us take care for the present, and leave 
 future ages to judg-e for themselves. — What circumstance is it, re- 
 verend father, in your opinion, wliich encourag'ea these conspirators 
 to make so audacious an appeal to the populace and the Grecian 
 soldiers?" 
 
 " Certainly," answered the Patriarch, "the most irritating' incident 
 of your hig-hness's reig-n was the fate of Ursel, who, submitting-, it 
 is said, upon capitulation for life, limb, and liberty, was starved to 
 death by your orders, in the dung-eons of the Blacquernal, and whose 
 courage, liberality, and otlier popular virtues are still fondly remem- 
 bered by the citizens of this metropolis, and by the soldiers of the 
 guard, called Immortal." 
 
 '• And this," said the Em.peror, fixing' his eye upon his confessor, 
 "your reverence esteems actually the most dang-erous point of the 
 popular tumult?" 
 
 " I cannot doubt," said the Patriarcli, " that his very name, boldly 
 pronounced, and artfully repeated, will be the watchword, as has been 
 plotted, of a horrible tumult." 
 
 " I thank Heaven ! " said the Emperor ; " on that particular I will 
 be on my g-uard. Good-nig-ht to your reverence ! and, believe me, 
 that all ill this scroll, to which I have set my hand, shall be with tlie 
 ntmost fidelity accomplished. Be not, liowever, over impatient in 
 this business; — such a shower of benefits faUing' at once upon the 
 Church, would make men suspicions that tlie prelates and ministers 
 ])roceeded rather as acting upon a barg-ain between the Emperor and 
 Patriarch, than as paying- or receiving- an atonement ofiered by a sin- 
 ner in excuse of his crimes. This would be injurious, father, both to 
 yourself and me." 
 
 "All reg-ular delay," said the Patriarch, " shall be interposed at 
 your hig'hness's pleasure; and we shall trust to you for recollection 
 that the barg-ain, if it could be termed one, was of your own seeking', 
 and that the benefit to the Church was conting-ent upon the pardon 
 and tlie support which she has afforded to your majesty." 
 
 "True," said the Emperor — "most true — nor shall I forget it. 
 Once more adieu, and forg-et not what I liave told thee. This is a 
 iiig-ht, Zosimus, in wliich the Emperor must toil like a slave, if he 
 means not to return to the humble Alexius Comnenus, and even tlien 
 there were no resting-place," 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 221 
 
 So saying-, he took leave of the Patriarch, who \Yas liighly g-rati- 
 fied with the advantag-es he had obtained for the Church, wliich 
 many of his predecessors had strug-gled for in vain. lie resolved 
 therefore, to support the stag-g-ering- Alexius. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Heaven knows its time; the bullet has its billet. 
 Arrow and javelin each its destined purpose ; 
 The fated beasts of Nature's lower strain 
 Have each their separate task. 
 
 Old riaij. 
 
 Agelastes, after crossing- the Emperor in tlie manner we Irnve al- 
 ready described, and after having- taken such measures as occurred 
 to hira to ensure the success of the conspiracy, returned to the lodg-e 
 of his garden, where the lady of the Count of Paris still remained, 
 her only companion being' an old woman named Vexhelia, the wife 
 of the soldier who accompanied Bertha to the camp of the Crusaders; 
 the kind-hearted maiden having- stipulated that, during- her absence, 
 her mistress was not to be left without an attendant, and that atten- 
 dant connected with the Varang'ian g'uard. He had been all day 
 playing' the part of the ambitious politician, the selfish time-server, 
 the dark and subtle conspirator; and now it seemed, as if to exhaust 
 the catalogue of liis various parts in the human drama, he chose to 
 exhibit himself in the character of the wily sophist, and justify, or 
 seem to justify, the arts by which he had risen to wealth and emin- 
 ence, and hoped even now to arise to royalty itself. 
 
 "Fair Countess," he said, "what occasion is there for your wear- 
 ing' this veil of sadness over a countenance so lovely ? " 
 
 " Do you suppose me," said Brenhilda, " a stock, a stone, or a 
 creature without the feelings of a sensitive being-, that I should en- 
 dure mortification, imprisonment, danger, and distress, w'ithout ex- 
 pressing the natural feelings of humanity? Do you imagine that to 
 a lady like me, as free as the unreclaimed falcon, you can offer the 
 insult of captivity, without my being sensible to the disgrace, or in- 
 censed against the authors of it? And dost thou think tliat I will 
 receive consolation at thy hands— at thine— one of the most active 
 artificers in tliis web of treachery in which I am so basely entangled?" 
 
 "Not entangled certainly by my means," answered Agelastes; 
 *' clap your hands, call for what you wish, and the slave who refuses 
 instant obedience htid better been unborn. Had I not, with refer- 
 ence to your safety and your honour, agreed for a short time to be 
 your keeper, that office would have been usurped by the Cesar, whose 
 object you know, and may partly guess the modes by which it would 
 be pursued. Why then dost thou childishly weep at being held for 
 a short space in an honourable restraint, whicli the renowned arms 
 of your husband will probably put an end to long ere to-morrow at 
 noon V 
 
222 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 '• Canst tliou not comprehend," said the Countess, " thou man ol 
 many words, but of few honourable thoughts, that a heart like mine, 
 which has been trained in the feeling-s of reliance upon my own worth 
 and valour, must be necessarily affected with shame at being obliged 
 to accept, even from the sword of a husband, that safety which I would 
 gladly have owed only to my own ? " 
 
 " Thou art misled, Countess," answered the philosopher, " by thy 
 pride, a failing predominant in woman. Thinkest thou there has 
 been no offensive assumption in laying aside the character of a 
 mother and a wife, and adopting that of one of those brain-sick 
 female fools, who, like the bravoes of the other sex, sacrifice every- 
 thing that is honourable or useful to a frantic and insane affectation 
 of courage? Believe me, fair lady, that the true system of virtue 
 consists in filling thine own place gracefully in society, breeding up 
 thy children, and delighting those of the other sex ; and anything 
 beyond this, may well render thee hateful or terrible, but can add 
 nothing to thy amiable qualities." 
 
 " Thou pretendest," said the Countess, " to be a philosopher ; me- 
 thinks thou shouldst know, that the fame which hangs its chaplet on 
 the tomb of a brave hero or heroine, is worth all the petty engage- 
 ments in which ordinary persons spend the current of their time. 
 One hour of life, crowded to the full with glorious action, and filled 
 with noble risks, is worth whole years of those mean observances of 
 paltry decorum, in which men steal through existence, like sluggish 
 waters through a marsh, without either honour or observation." 
 
 " Daughter," said Agelastes, approaching nearer to the lady, " it 
 is with pain I see you bewildered in errors which a little calm reflec- 
 tion might remove. We may flatter ourselves, and human vanity 
 usually does so, that beings infinitely more powerful than those be- 
 longing to mere humanity, are employed daily in measuring out the 
 good and evil of this world, the termination of combats, or the fate 
 of empires, according to their own ideas of what is right or wrong, 
 or, more properly, according to what we ourselves conceive to be 
 such. The Greek heathens, renowned for their wisdom^^nd glori- 
 ous for their actions, explained to men of ordinary minds the sup- 
 posed existence of Jupiter and his Pantheon, where various deities 
 presided over various virtues and vices, and regulated the temporal 
 fortune and future happiness of such as practised them. The more 
 learned and wise of the ancients rejected such the vulgar interpre- 
 tation, and wisely, although affecting a deference to the pubhc faith, 
 denied before their disciples in private, the gross fallacies of Tartarus 
 and Olympus, the vain doctrines concerning the gods themselves, and 
 the extravagant expectations which the vulgar entertained of an 
 immortality, supposed to be possessed by creatui-es who were in 
 every respect mortal, both in the conformation of their bodies, and 
 in the internal belief of their souls. Of these wise and good men 
 some granted the existence of the supposed deities, but denied that 
 tlicy cared about tlic actions of mankind any more than those of the 
 inferior animals. A merry, jovial, careless life, such as the follo^vers 
 of Epicurus would choose for themselves, was what they assigned 
 for those gods whose being they admitted. Others, more bold or 
 
COUNT ROBERT oF PARIS. 223 
 
 more consistent, entirely denied the existence of deities wlio appar- 
 ently had no proper object or purpose, and believed that sucli of 
 them, whose being* and attributes were proved to us by no super- 
 natural appearances, had in reality no existence whatever." 
 
 "Stop, wretch!" said the Countess, "and know that thou speakest 
 not to one of those blinded heathens, of whose abominable doctrines 
 you are detailing- the result. Know, that if an erring-, I am never- 
 theless a sincere daug-hter of the Church, and this cross displayed on 
 my shoulder, is a sufficient emblem of tlie vows I have undertaken 
 in its cause. Be therefore wary, as thou art wily ; for, beheve me, 
 if thou scofFest or utterest reproach against my holy religion, what 1 
 am unable to answer in languag-e, I will reply to, without hesitation, 
 with the point of ray dag-ger." 
 
 ''To tliat argument," said A^elastes, drawing back from the 
 neighbourhood of Brenhilda, "believe me, fair lady, I am very un- 
 willing' to urge your g-entleness. But although I shall not venture 
 to say anything' of those superior and benevolent powers to whom you 
 ascribe the management of the world, you will surely not take offence 
 at my noticing- those base superstitions Avhich have been adopted in 
 explanation of what is called by the Magi, the Evil Principle. Was 
 there ever received into a human creed, a being so mean — almost so 
 ridiculous— as the Christian Sat-an ? A goatish figure and limbs, with 
 grotesque features, formed to express the most execrable passions ; 
 a degree of power scarce inferior to that of the Deity ; and a talent 
 at the same time scarce equal to that of the stupidest of the lowest 
 order ! What is he, this being, who is at least the second arbiter of 
 the human race, save an immortal spirit, with the petty spleen and 
 spite of a vindictive old man or old woman ? " 
 
 Agelastes made a singular pause in this part of his discourse. A 
 mirror of considerable size hung in the apartment, so that the philo- 
 sopher could see in its reflection the figure of Brenhilda, and remark 
 the change of her countenance, though she had averted her face 
 from him in hatred of the doctrines which he promulgated. On this 
 glass the philosopher had his eyes naturally fixed, land he was con- 
 founded at perceiving a figure glide from behind the shadow of a 
 curtain, and glare at him with the supposed mien and expression of 
 the Satan of monkish mythology, or a satyr of the heathen age. 
 
 " Man ! " said Brenhilda, whose attention was attracted by this ex- 
 traordinary apparition, as it seemed, of the fiend, " have thy wicked 
 words, and still more wicked thoughts, brought the devil amongst 
 us ? If so, dismiss him instantly, else, by Our Lady of the Broken 
 Lances ! thou shalt know better than at present, what is the temper 
 of a Frankish maiden, when in presence of the fiend himself, and 
 those who pretend skill to raise him ! I wish not to enter into a 
 contest unless compelled ; but if I am obliged to join battle with an 
 enemy so horrible, believe me, no one shall sav that Brenhilda feared 
 him." 
 
 Agelastes, after looking with surprise and horror at the figure a3 
 reflected in the glass, turned back his head to examine the sub- 
 stance, of which the reflection was so strange. The object, how- 
 ever, had disappeared behind the curtain, under which it proup.biy 
 
224 COUZS'T EGBERT OF TARIS. 
 
 lay liid, and it waa after a minute or two lliat the Iialf-gibing", half- 
 s^cowling" countenance showed itself again in the same position in 
 the mirror. 
 
 " By the gods ! " said Agelastes 
 
 " In whom but now," said the Countess, " you professed unbelief." 
 
 " By the gods ! " repeated Agelastes, in part recovering himself, 
 '" it is Sylvan ! tlmt singular mockery of humanitj', who was said to 
 liave been brought from Taprobana. I warrant he also believes in 
 liis jolly god Pan, or tlie veteran Sylvanus. He is to the uninitiated 
 a creature whose appearance is full of terrors, but he shrinks before 
 the philosopher like ignorance before knowledge." So saying, he 
 Viith one hand pulled down the curtain, under which the animal had 
 nestled itself when it entered from the garden-window of the pavi- 
 lion, and with the other, in which he had a staff uplifted, threatened 
 to chastise the creature, with the words — "How now, Sylvanus! 
 what insolence is this ? — To your place ! " 
 
 As, in uttering these words, he struck the animal, the blov/ un- 
 luckily lighted upon his wounded hand, and recalled its bitter smart. 
 The wild temper of the creature returned, unsubdued for the moment 
 by any awe of man ; uttering a fierce and, at the same time, stifled 
 cry, it flew on the philosopher and clasped its strong and sinewy 
 arras about his tliroat with the utmost fury. The old man twisted 
 ami struggled to deliver himself from the creature's grasp, but in 
 vain. Sylvan kept hold of his prize, compressed his sinewy arms, 
 and abode by his purpose of not quitting his hold of the ])hilo- 
 sopher's throat until he had breathed his last. Two more bitter 
 yells, accompanied each with a desperate contortion of the counten- 
 ance, and squeeze of the hands, concluded, in less than five minutes, 
 the dreadful strife. 
 
 Agelastes lay dead upon the ground, and his assassin Sylvan, 
 springing from the body as if terrified and alarmed at what he had 
 done, made his escape by the window. The Countess stood in as- 
 tonishment, not knowing- exactly whether she had witnessed a su])er- 
 natural display of the judgment of Heaven, or an instance of its 
 vengeance by mere mortal means. Her new attendant Vexhelia was 
 no less astonished, though her acquaintance v.'ith the animal was 
 considerably more intimate. 
 
 "Lady," she said, "th;it gigantic creature is an animal of great 
 strength, resembling mankind in form, but huge in its size, and, 
 encouraged by its immense power, sometimes malevolent in its in- 
 tercourse with mortals. I have heard the Varangians often talk of 
 it as belonging- to the Imperial museum. It is fitting we remove 
 the body of this unhappy man, and hide it in a plot of shrubbery in 
 the garden. It is not likely that he will be missed to-night, and to- 
 morrow there will be other matter astir, which will probably pre- 
 vent much inquiry about him." The Countess Brenhilda assented, 
 for she was not one of those timorous females to whom the counten- 
 ances of the dead are objects of terror. 
 
 Trusting to the parole which she had given, Agelastes had per- 
 mitted the Countess and her attendants the freedom of his gardens, 
 of that part at least adjacent to the payiliou. They therefore were 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 225 
 
 in little ridk of interruption as tliey bore fortii the dead body ])et\veeu 
 them, and without niucli trouble disposed of it in the thickest part 
 of one of the bosquets with which the garden was studded. 
 
 As they returned to their phice of abode or confinement, the 
 Countess, half speakinf^ to herself, half addressing- Vexhelia, said, 
 " I am sorry for this ; not that the infamous wretch did ^lot deserve 
 the full punishment of Heaven coming- upon him in the very mo- 
 ment of blasphemy and infidelity, but because the courage and truth 
 of tlie unfortunate Brenhilda may be brought into suspicion, as his 
 slaug-hter took place when he was alone v>ith her and ber attendant, 
 and as no one was witness of the sing-ular manner in which the old 
 blasphemer met his end. — Thou knowest," she added, addressing- 
 lierself to Heaven — " thou ! blessed Lady of the Broken Lances, 
 the protectress both of Brenhilda and her husband, well knowest 
 that, whatever faults may be mine, I am free from tlie slig-htest 
 suspicion of treachery ; and into tliy hands I pnt my cause, with a 
 perfect reliance upon thy wisdom and bounty to bear evidence in 
 my favour." So saying-, they returned to the lodg-e unseen, and 
 with pious and submissive prayers, the Countess closed tliat event- 
 ful evening-. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVL 
 
 vVill j'ou bear of a Spnnisli Indv, 
 
 How she wooed an Englishman? 
 Garments gay, as rich as may he, 
 Decli'd witli jewels she had on. 
 Of a comely conntenance and grrace was she, 
 And by birth and parentage of high degree. 
 
 Old Ballad. 
 
 We left Alexius Comnenus after he had unloaded his conscience 
 in the cars of the Patriarch, and received from him a faithful assur- 
 ance of the pardon and patronage of the national Church. He took 
 leave of the dignitary Mith sonie exulting- exclamations, so unex])li- 
 citly expressed, liowever, that it was by no means easy to conceive 
 the meaning- of what lie said. His first inquiry, when he reached 
 the Blacquernal, being- for his dauglitcr, he was directed to the room 
 encrusted with beautifully carved marble, from which she lierself 
 and many of her race derived the proud appellation of Forpltyro- 
 (jenita, or born in the purple. Her countenance was clouded with 
 anxiety, which, at the sight of her father, broke out into open and 
 uncontrollable g-rief. 
 
 " Daug-hter;" said the Emperor, with a harshness little common 
 to his manner, and a seriousness wliich he sternly maintained, in- 
 stead of sympathising- with his daughter's affliction, "as you would 
 prevent the silly fool with whom you are connected from displaying- 
 himself to the public both as an ungrateful monster and a traitor, 
 you will not fail to exhort him, by due submission, to make his peti- 
 tion for pardon, acco'^jpanied with a full confession of his crimes, 
 
 9. 
 
'22Cy COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 or, by my sceptre and my crown, he shall die the death ! Nor will 
 1 pardon any who rushes npon his doom in an open tone of defiance, 
 under such a standard of rebellion as ray ungrateful son-in-law has 
 hoistef ' 
 
 " What can you require of me, father ?" said the Princess. " Can 
 you expect that I am to dip my own hands in the blood of this nnfor- 
 tunate man : or wilt thou seek a reveng-e yet more bloody than that 
 which was exacted by the deities of antiquity, upon those criminals 
 who offended ag-ainst their divine power?" 
 
 " Think not so, my daug-hter ! " said the Emperor ; " but rather 
 believe that thou hast the last opportunity afforded by my filial, 
 aflection, of rescuinor, perhaps from death, that silly fool thy hus- 
 ban'd, who has so richly deserved it." 
 
 " My father," said the Princess, " God knows it is not at your risk 
 that 1 would wish to purchase the life of Nicephorus ; but he has 
 been the father of my children, thoug'h they are now no more, and 
 women cannot forg-et that such a tie has existed, even thoug-h it has 
 been broken by fate. Permit me only to hope that the unfortunate 
 culprit shall have an opportunity of retrieving- his errors; nor shall 
 it, believe me, be my fault, if he resumes those practices, treasonable 
 at once, and unnatural, by which his life is at present endang-ered." 
 
 " Follow me, then, daug-hter," said the Emperor, " and know, 
 tliat to thee alone I am about to intrust a secret, upon which the 
 safety of my life and crown, as well as the pardon of my son-in-law's 
 life, will be found eventually to depend." 
 
 lie then assumed in haste the g-arment of a slave of the Seraglio, 
 and commanded his daughter to arrange her dress in a more succinct 
 form, and to take in her hand a lighted lamp. 
 
 " Whither are we going, my father ? " said Anna Comnena. 
 
 " It matters not," replied her father, " since my destiny calls me, 
 and since thine ordains thee to be my torch-bearer. Believe it, 
 and record it, if thou darest, in thy book, that Alexius Comnenus does 
 not, without alarm, descend into those awful dungeons which his 
 pi-edecessors built for men, even when his intentions are innocent, 
 and free from harm. Be silent, and should we meet any inhabitant 
 of those inferior regions, speak not a word, nor make any observation 
 upon his appearance." 
 
 Passing through the intricate apartments of the palace, they now 
 came to that large hall through which Hereward had passed on the 
 iu'st night of his introduction to the place of Anna's recitation, called 
 the Temple of the Muses. It was constructed, as we have said, of 
 black marble, dimly illuminated. At the upper end of the apartment 
 wns a small altar, on which was laid some incense, while over the 
 smoke was suspended, as if projecting from the wall, two imitations 
 of human hands and arms, which were but imperfectly seen. 
 
 At the bottom of this hall, a small iron door led to a narrow and 
 winding staircase, resembling a draw-well in shape and size, the 
 ste])s of which were excessively steep, and which the Emperor, after 
 a solemn gesture to his daughter commanding her attendance, began 
 to descend with the imperfect light, and by the narrow and difficult 
 steps by which those who visited the under regions of the Blacquernal 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 227 
 
 seemed to bid adieu to the liglit of day. Door after door tliey passed 
 in their descent, leading', it was probable, to different rang'cs of dun- 
 g-eons, from which was obscurely heard the stifled voice of groans and 
 sig-hs, such as attracted Hereward's attention on a former occasion. 
 Tlie Emperor took no notice of tliese sig-ns of human misery, and 
 three stories or ranges of dungeons had been already passed ere the 
 father and daughter arrived at the lowest story of the building, the 
 base of which was the solid rock, rouglily carved, upon which were 
 erected the side-walls and arches of solid but unpolished marble. 
 
 "Here," said Alexius Comnenus, "all hope, all expectation takes 
 farewell, at the turn of a hinge or the grating of a lock. Yet shall 
 not this be always the case — the dead shall revive and resume their 
 right, and the disinherited of these regions shall again prefer their 
 claim to inhabit the upper world. If I cannot entreat Heaven to my 
 assistance, be assured, my daughter, that ratlier than be the poor 
 animal v/liich I have stooped to be thought, and even to be painted, 
 in thy history, I would sooner brave every danger of the multitude 
 which now erect themselves betwixt me and safety. Nothing is 
 resolved save that I will live and die an Emperor ; and thou, Anna,_ 
 be assured that if there is power in the beauty or in the talents of 
 which so much has been boasted, that power shall be this evening 
 exercised to the advantage of thy parent, from whom it is derived." 
 
 " What is it that you mean, Imperial fatlier ?— Holy Virgin ! is 
 this the promise you made me to save the life of the unfortunate 
 Nicephorus ? " 
 
 " And so I will," said the Emperor ; " and I am now about that 
 action of benevolence. But think not I will once more warm in my 
 bosom the household snake which had so nearly stung me to death. 
 No, daughter, I have provided for thee a fitting husband, in one who 
 is able to maintain and defend the rights of the Emperor thy father ; 
 —and beware how thou opposest an obstacle to what is my pleasure ! 
 for behold these walls of marble, though unpolished, and recollect it 
 is as possible to die within the marble as to be born there." 
 
 The Princess Anna Comnena was frightened at seeing her father 
 in a state of mind entirely different from any which she had before 
 witnessed. " O, Heaven ! that my mother were here I " she ejacu- 
 lated, in the terror of something she hardly knew what. 
 
 " Anna," said the Emperor, " your fears and your screams are alike 
 in vain. I am one of those, who, on ordinary occasions, hardly 
 nourish a wish of my own, and account myself obliged to those who, 
 like my wife and daughter, take care to save me all the trouble of 
 free judgment. But when the vessel is among the breakers, and the 
 master is called to the helm, believe that no meaner hand shall be 
 permitted to interfere with him, nor will the wife and daughter, 
 whom he indulged in prosperity, be allowed to thwart his will while 
 he can yet call it his own. Thou couldst scarcely fail to understand 
 that I was almost prepared to have given thee, as a mark of my sin- 
 cerity, to yonder obscure Varangian, without asking question of 
 either birth or blood. Thou mayst hear when I next promise thee 
 to a three years' inhabitant of these vaults, who shall be Caesar in 
 Briennius's stead, if I can move him to accept a princess for his bride, 
 
22S COUKT ROBERT OF TAIIS. 
 
 and an imperial crov/n for liis iiilieritance,in plnce of a sira-ving- dnii- 
 i;-eon." 
 
 "I tremble at your words, father," said Anna Comnena; ''how 
 canst thou trust a man wlio has felt tliy cruelty ?— How caust thou 
 dream that aught can ever in sincerity reconcile thee to one v»'honi 
 thou liast deprived of his eyesight ? " 
 
 " Care not for that," said Alexius ; " he becomes mine, or he shall 
 never know what it is to be again his own. — And thou, girl, mayst 
 rest assnred tliat, if I will it,'tliou art next day the bride of my pre- 
 sent captive, or thou rctirest to the most severe nunnery, never again 
 to mix with society. Be silent therefore, and await thy doom, as it 
 shall come, and hope not that thy utmost endeavours can avert the 
 current of thy destiny." 
 
 As he concluded this singular dialogue, in which he had assumed 
 a tone to which his daughter was a stranger, and before which she 
 trembled, he passed on through more than one strictly fastened door, 
 while his daughter, with a faltering step, illuminated him on the 
 obscure road. At length lie found admittance by another passage 
 into the cell in which Ursel was confmetl, and found him reclini'^g 
 in hopeless niisery, — all those expectations having- faded ^vim his 
 lieart which the Count of Pan's had by his indomitable gallantry for 
 a time excited. He turned his sightless eyes towards the place 
 where he heard the movinjr of bolts and the approach of steps. 
 
 "A new feature," he said, "in my imprisonment — a man cornea 
 v.'ith a heavy and determined step, and a woman or a child with one 
 that scarcely presses the floor!— is it my death that you bring?-— 
 Believe me, that I have lived long enough in these dungeons to bid 
 my doom welcome." 
 
 " It is not thy death, noble Ursel," said the Emperor, in a voice 
 somewhat disguised. " Life, liberty, whatever the world has to give, 
 is placed by the Emperor Alexius at the feet of his noble enemy, 
 and he trusts that many years of liappiness and power, together 
 with the command of a large share of the empire, will soor. obliter- 
 ate the recollection of the dungeons of the Bhicquernal." 
 
 "It cannot be," said Ursel, with a sigh. "He upon whose eyes 
 the sun has set even at middle day, can have nothing left to hope 
 from the most advantageous change of circnmstances." 
 
 '• You are not entirely assured of that," said the Emperor; "allow 
 us to convince you that what is intended towards you is truly fiivcur- 
 able and liberal, and I hope you will be rewarded by finding that 
 there is more possibility of amendment in your case, than your iirst 
 a])prehensions are willing to receive. Make an effort, and try 
 whether your eyes are not sensible of the light of the lamp." 
 
 "Do with me," said Ursel, "according to your pleasure; I have 
 neither strength to remonstrate nor the force of mind equal to make 
 me set your cruelty at defiance. Of something like light 1 am sen- 
 sible; but whether it is reality or illusion I cannot determine. If 
 you are come to deliver me from this living sepulchre, I pray God to 
 requite you ; and if, under such deceitful pretence, you mean to take 
 my life, I can only commend my soul to Heayen^ and tlie vengeance 
 
COUNT ROBEllT OF PARIS. 229 
 
 due to my death to Him who can behold the darkest places in which 
 injustice can shroud itself." 
 
 So saying", and the revulsion of his spirits rendering' him unable 
 to give almost any other sig^ns of existence, Ursel sunk back upon 
 his seat of captivity, and spoke not another word during the time 
 that Alexius disembarrassed him of those chains which had so loni^ 
 hung' about him, that they almost seemed to make a part of his per- 
 son. 
 
 " This is an affair in which thy aid can scarce be sufficient, Anna," 
 said the Emperor; "it Avould have been well if you and I could liavo 
 borne him into the open air by our joint strength, for there is little 
 wisdom in shov/ing the secrets of this prison-house to those to whom 
 they are not yet known ; nevertheless, go, my child, and at a short 
 distance from the head of the staircase whicli we descended, thou 
 wilt find Edward, the bold and trusty Varangian, who on your com- 
 municating to him my orders, will come hither and render his assist- 
 ance; and see that you send also the experienced leech, Douban." 
 
 Terrified, half-stifled, and half-struck with horror, the lady yet felt 
 a degree of relief from the somewhat milder tone in which her father 
 addressed her. With tottering steps, yet in some measure encour- 
 aged by the tenor of her instructions, she ascended the staircase 
 which yawned upon these infernal dungeons. As she approached 
 the top, a large and strong- figure threw its broad shadow between 
 the lamp and the opening of the hall. Frightened nearly to death 
 at the thoughts of becoming the wife of a squalid wretch like Ursel, 
 a moment of weakness seized upon the Princess's mind, and when 
 she considered the melancholy option which her father had plr.ced 
 before her, she could not but think that the handsome and gallant 
 Varangian, who had already rescued the royal family from such im- 
 minent danger, was a fitter person with whom to unite herself, if she 
 must needs make a second choice, than the singular and disgusting' 
 being whom her father's pohcy had raked from the bottom of the 
 lilacquernal dungeons. 
 
 I will not say of poor Anna Comnena, who was a timid but not an 
 lui feeling woman, that she vrould have embraced such a proposal, 
 liad not the life of her present husband, Nicephorus Briennius, been 
 in extreme danger; and it was obviously the determination of the 
 Emperor, that if he sjjared him, it should be on tlie sole condition of 
 unloosing his daughter's hand, and binding her to some one of better 
 faith, and possessed of a g-reater desire to prove an aflectionate son- 
 in-law. Neither did the plan of adopting- the Varangian as a second 
 husband enter decidedly into the mind of the Princess. The pre- 
 .scnt was a moment of danger, in whicli her rescue to be successful 
 must be sudden, and perhaps, if once achieved, the lady might have 
 liad an opportunity of freeing herself both from Ursel and the Var- 
 angian, without disjoining- either of them from lier father's assist- 
 ance, or of herself losing- it. At any rate, the surest means of safety 
 were to secure, if possible, the young soldier, Avhose features and 
 appearance were of a kind whicirrendered the task no way disagree^' 
 able to a beautiful woman. The schemes of connuest ai'e sq natural 
 
230 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 to the fail- sex,, and the whole idea passed so quickly through Anna 
 Comnena's mind, that having" first entered while the soldier's sha- 
 dovv' was interposed between her and the lamp, it had fully occupied 
 her quick imagination, when, with deep reverence and great surprise 
 at her sudden appearance on the ladder of Acheron, the Varangian 
 advancing, knelt down, and lent his arm to the assistance of the fair 
 lady, in order to help her out of the dreary staircase. 
 
 " Dearest Hereward," said the lady, with a degree of intin^acy 
 which seemed unusual, "how much do I rejoice, in this dreadful 
 night, to have fallen under your protection ! I have been in places 
 which the spirit of hell appears to have contrived for the human race." 
 The alarm of the Princess, the familiarity of a beautiful woman, who, 
 while in mortal fear, seeks refuge, like a frightened dove, in the 
 bosom of the strong and tlie brave, must be the excuse of Anna Oom- 
 nena for the tender epithet with which she greeted Hereward ; nor, 
 if he had chosen to answer in the same tone, which, faithful as he 
 was, might have proved the case if the meeting had chanced before 
 he saw Bertha, would the daughter of Alexius have been, to say the 
 truth, irreconcilably offended. Exliausted as she was, she suffered 
 herself to repose upon the broad breast and shoulder of the Anglo- 
 Saxon, nor did she make an attempt to recover herself, although the 
 decorum of her sex and station seemed to recommend such an exer- 
 tion. Hereward was obliged himself to ask her, with the unimpas- 
 sioned and reverential demeanour of a private soldier to a Princess, 
 Avhether he ought to summon her female attendants ? to which she 
 faintly uttered a negative. " No, no," said she, " I have a duty to 
 execute for my father, and I must not summon eyewitnesses ;— he 
 knows me to be in safety, Hereward, since he knows I am with thee ; 
 and if I am a burden to you in my present state of weakness, I shall 
 soon recover, if you Avill set me down upon the marble steps." 
 
 " Heaven forbid, lady," said Hereward, " that I were thus neglectful 
 of your Highness's gracious health ! 1 see your two young ladies, 
 Astarte and Violante, are in quest of you — Permit me to summon 
 them hither, and I will keep watcli upon you if you are unable to re- 
 tire to your chamber, where, methinks, the present disorder of your 
 nerves Avill be most properly treated." 
 
 *' Do as thou wilt, barbarian," said the Princess, rallying herself, 
 with a certain degree of pique, arising perhaps from her not think- 
 ing more dramatis personce were appropriate to the scene, than the 
 two who Avere already upon the stage. Then, as if for the first time, 
 appearing to recollect the message with which she had been com- 
 missioned, she exhorted the Varangian to repair instantly to her 
 father. 
 
 On such occasions the slightest circumstances have their effect 
 on the actors. The Anglo-Saxon was sensible that the Princess was 
 somewhat offended, though whether she was so, on account of her 
 being actually in Hereward's arms, or whether the cause of'lier anger 
 was the being nearly discovered there by the two young maidens, the 
 sentinel did not presume to guess, but departed for the gloomy vaults 
 to join Alexius with the never-failing double-edged axe, the bane of 
 many a Turk, glittering upon his shoulder. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 231 
 
 Aslarte and her companion had been despatched by the Empress 
 Irene in search of Anna Comnena, throug'h those apartments of the 
 ])ahice which she was wont to inhabit. The daughter of Alexius 
 coukl nowhere be found, although the business on which they were 
 seeking- her was described by the Empress as of the most pressing 
 nature. Nothing, however, in a palace passes altogether unespied, 
 so that the Empress's messeng-ers at length received information that 
 their mistress and the Emperor had been seen to descend that_ gloomy 
 access to the dungeons, which, by allusion to the classical infernal 
 regions, was termed the Pit of Acheron. They came thither, accoTrcl- 
 ingly, and we have related the consequences. Hereward thought it 
 necessary to say that her Imperial Highness had swooned upon being- 
 suddenly broug'ht into the upper air. The Princess, on the other 
 part, briskly shook off her juvenile attendants, and declared herself 
 ready to proceed to the chamber of her mother. The obeisance 
 whicli she made Hereward at parting-, had something- in it of haughti- 
 ness, yet evidently qualified by a look of friendship and regard. As 
 she passed an apartment in which some of the royal slaves were in 
 waiting', she addressed to one of them, an old respectable man, of 
 medical skill, a private and hurried order, desiring him to g'o to the 
 assistance of her father, whom he would find at the bottom of the 
 staircase called the Pit of Acheron, and to take his scimitar along- 
 with him. To hear, as usual, was to obey, and Douban, for that was 
 his name, only replied by that significant sign which indicates imme- 
 diate acquiescence. In the mean time Anna Comnena herself has- 
 tened onward to her mother's apartments, in which she found the 
 Empress alone. 
 
 " Go hence, maidens," said Irene, " and do not let any one have 
 access to these apartments, even if the Emperor himself should 
 command it. Shut the door," she said, "Anna Comnena; and if 
 the jealousy of the stronger sex do not allow us the masculine privi- 
 leg-es of bolts and bars to secure the insides of our apartments, let 
 us avail ourselves, as quickly as may be, of such opportunities as are 
 permitted us; and remember. Princess, that however implicit your 
 duty to your father, it is yet more so to me, who am of the same sex 
 witii thyself, and may truly call thee, even according to the letter, 
 blood of my blood and bone of my bone. Be assurc-d thy father 
 knows not, at this moment, the feelings of a woman. Neither he 
 nor any man alive can justly conceive the pangs of the heart which 
 beats under a woman's robe. These men, Anna, would tear asunder 
 without scruple the tenderest ties of affection, the whole structure of 
 domestic felicity, in which lie a woman's cares, her joy, her pain, her 
 love, and her despair. Trust, therefore, to me, my daughter! and, 
 believe me, I will at once save thy father's crown and thy happiness. 
 The conduct of t-hy husband has been wrong', most cruelly wrong; 
 but, Anna, he is a man— and in calling- him such, I lay to his charge, 
 as natural frailties, thoughtless treachery, wanton infidelity, every 
 species of folly and inconsistency to which his race is subject. You 
 ought not, therefore, to think of his faults, unless it be to forgive 
 them." 
 
 *' Madam," said Anna Comnena, " forgive me if I remind you that 
 
232 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS, 
 
 you recommend to a princess, born in the purple itself, a line of con- 
 duct which wonld hardly become the female who carries the pitcher 
 for the needful supply of water to the villag-e vrell. All who are 
 around me have been tnng'lit to pay me the obeisance due to my 
 birth; and while this jNicephorus Briennius crept 0!i his knees to 
 your daug-hter's hand, which you extended towards him, he was 
 ratlier receiving- the yoke of a mistress than accepting a household, 
 alliance with a wife. " He has incurred his doom, without a touch 
 even of that temptation which may be pled by lesser culprits in his 
 condition ; and if it is the will of my father that he should die, or 
 suffer banishment or imprisonment, for the crime he has committed, 
 it is not the business of Anna Comnena to interfere, she being- the 
 most injured among the imperial fiimily, who have in so many and 
 such gross res])ects the right to complain of his falsehood." 
 
 " Daughter,'"' replied the Empress, "so far I agree with you, that 
 the treason of Nicephorus towards your father and myself has been 
 in a great degree unpardonable ; nor do I easily see on Avhat footing-, 
 save that of generosity, his life could be saved. But still you are 
 yourself in difierent circumstances from me, and may, as an aflec- 
 tionate and fond wife, compare the intimacies of your former habits 
 Mith the bloody change which is so soon to be the consequence and 
 tiie conclusion of his crimes. He is possessed of that person and of 
 those features which women most readily recall to their n.iemory, 
 whether alive or dead. Think what it will cost you to recollect that 
 the rugged executioner received his last salute — that the shapely 
 neck had no better repose than the rough block — that the tongue, 
 the sound of which you used to prefer to the choicest instruments of 
 music, is silent in the dust!" 
 
 Anna, who was not insensible to the personal graces of her hus- 
 band, was much affected by this forcible appeal. "Why distress me 
 tlius, mother?" she replied, in a w^eeping accent. "Did I not feel 
 as acutely as you would have me to do, this moment, however awful, 
 would be easily borne. I had but to think of him as he is, to con- 
 trast his personal qualities with those of the mind, by which they 
 are more than overbalanced, and resign myself to his deserved fate 
 with unresisting submission to my father's will." 
 
 "And that," said the Empress, "would be to bind thee, by his sole 
 fiat, to some obscure wretch, whose habits of plotting and intriguing- 
 liad, by some miserable chance, given him the opportunity of becom- 
 ing of importance to the Emperor, and who is, therefore, to be re- 
 warded by the hand of Anna Comnena." 
 
 "Do not think so meanly of me, madam," said the Princess — "I 
 know, as avcU as ever Grecian maiden did, how I should free myself 
 from dishonour; and, you may trust me, you shall never blush for 
 your daughter." 
 
 "Tell me not that," said the Empress, "since I shall blush alike 
 for the relentless cruelty which gives up a once beloved husband to 
 an ignominious death, and for the passion, for which I want a name, 
 which would replace him by an obscure barbarian from the extremity 
 of Thule, or some wretch escaped from the Blacquernal dungeons." 
 
 The Princess was astonished to perceive that her mother was 
 
COUNT ITOBERT OF TAKIS. 233 
 
 ncquninted -uitU tlie purposes, even the most private, which licr 
 father liad fornied for his g-overuaiice during' this eraergeucv. She 
 was ignorant that Alexius and ^lis ro3'al consort, in other respects 
 living- together v/ith a decency ever exemphiry in people of their 
 rank, had sometimes, on interesting occasions, fiimily dehates, in 
 which the husband, provoked by the seeming- unbelief of his partner, 
 was tempted to let her guess more of his real purposes than he would 
 have coolly imparted of his own calm choice. 
 
 The Princess was affected at the anticipation of the death of her 
 luisband, nor could this have been reasonably supposed to be other- 
 Avise ; but she was still more luu't and atfronted by her mother taking 
 it for granted that she designed upon the instant to replace the 
 Csesarby an uncertain, and, at all events, an unworthy successor. 
 Whatever considerations had operated to make Ilereward lier choice, 
 their effect Avas lost when the match was placed in this odious and 
 degrading point of view; besides which is to be remembered, that 
 women almost instinctively deny their first thoug-hts in favour of a 
 suitor, and seldom willingly reveal them, unless time and circum- 
 stance concur to favour them. She called Heaven therefore passion- 
 ately to witness while she repelled the charge. 
 
 "Bear witness," she said, " Our Lady, Queen of Heaven! Bear 
 witness, saints and martyrs all, ye blessed ones, who are, more 
 than ourselves, the guardians of our mental purity ! that I know no 
 passion which I dare not avow, and that if Nicephorus's life depended 
 on my entreaty to God and men, all his injurious acts towards me 
 disregarded and despised, it should be as long as Heaven gave to 
 those servants whom it snatched from the earth, without suffering* 
 the pangs of mortality!" 
 
 "You have sworn boldly," said the Empress. "See, Anna Coui- 
 /icna, that you keep^ your word, for believe me it will be tried." 
 
 " What will be tried, mother? " said the Princess ; " or what have 
 I to do to pronounce the doom of the Caesar, who is not sulyect to 
 my power ? " 
 
 " I will show you," said the Empress, gravely ; and, leading- her 
 tov^^ards a sort of wardrobe, which formed a closet in the wall, she 
 withdrev/ a curtain which hung before it, and placed before her her 
 unfortunate husband, Nicephorus Bricnnius, half-attired, with his 
 sword drawn in his hand. Looking upon him as an enemy, and 
 conscious of some schemes with respect to him which had passed 
 through her mind in the course of these troubles, the Princess 
 screamed faintly, upon perceivings him so near her with a weapon 
 in his hand. 
 
 "Be more composed," said the Empress, "or this wretched man, 
 if discovered, falls no less a victim to thy idle fears than to thy bane- 
 ful revenge." 
 
 Nicephorus at this speech seemed to have adopted his cue, for, 
 dropping- the point of his sword, and falling- on his knees before the 
 Princess, he clasped his hands to entreat for mercy. 
 
 " What hast thou to ask from me ? " said his wife, naturally as- 
 sured, by her husband's prostration, that the stronger force waa 
 upon her own side — " what hast thou to ask from me^ that outraged 
 
234 COUISIT K013EUT OF PAULS. 
 
 gratiLude, betrayed afiection, the most solemn vows violated, and the 
 fondest ties of nature torn asunder like the spider's broken web, Avill 
 permit thee to put in Avords for very shame ? " 
 
 " Do not sup]K)se, Anna," replied the suppliant, "that I am at this 
 eventful period of my life to phiy the hypocrite, for the purpose of 
 saving' the wretched remnant of a dishonoured existence. I am but 
 desirous to part in charity with thee, to make my peace with Heaven, 
 and to nourish the last hope of making' my way, though burdened 
 with many crimes, to those regions in which alone 1 can find tliy 
 beauty, thy talents, equalled at least, if not excelled." 
 
 " You hear him, daughter? " said Irene ; " his boon is for forgive- 
 ness alone; tliy condition is the more godlike, since thou mayst 
 unite the safety of his life with the pardon of his offences." 
 
 " Thou art deceived, mother," answered Anna. " It is not mine to 
 pardon his g'uilt, far less to remit liis punishment. You have taught 
 me to think of myself as future ages shall know me; what will they 
 say of me, tliose future ages, when I am described as the unfeeling 
 daughter, wlio i^ardoned the intended assassin of h.or father, because 
 she saw in liim lier own unfaithful husband ! " 
 
 "See there," said the Ctesar, "is not that, most serene Empress, 
 tlie very pomt of despair ? and have I not in vain oifered my life- 
 blood to wipe out the stain of parricide and ingratitude? Have 1 
 not also vindicated myself from tlie most unpardonable part of the 
 accusation, wliich charged me with attempting- the murder of the 
 godlike Emperor? Have I not sworn by all that is sacred to man, 
 that my purpose went no farther than to sequestrate Alexius for a 
 little time from the fatigues of empire, and place him where he should 
 quietly enjoy ease and tranquillity ? while, at the same time, his 
 empire should be as implicitly regulated by himself, his sacred plea- 
 sure being transmitted through me, as in any respect, or at any 
 period, it had ever been ? " 
 
 " Erring- man ! " said the Princess, " hast thou approached so near 
 to the footstool of Alexius Coranenus, and durst tliou form so false 
 an estimate of him, as to conceive it possible that he would consent 
 to be a mere puppet by Avhose intervention you might have brouglit 
 his empire to submission ? Know that the blood of Comnenus is not 
 so poor ; my father Avould have resisted the treason in arms ; and ])y 
 tlie death of thy benefactor only couldst thou have gratified the 
 suggestions of thy criminal ambition." 
 
 " Be such your belief," said the Ca3sar ; " I have said enough for a 
 life which is not and ought not to be dear to me. Call your guards, 
 and let them take the life of the unfortunate Briennius, since it has 
 become hateful to his once beloved Anna Comnena. Be not afraid 
 that any resistance of mine shall render the scene of ray apprehen- 
 sion dubious or fatal. JSficephorus Briennius is Caesar no longer, and 
 he thus throws at the feet of his Princess and spouse the only poor 
 means which lie has of resisting the just doom which is therefore at 
 her pleasure to pass." 
 
 He cast his sword before the feet of the Princess, while Irene ex- 
 claimed, weeping-, or seeming to weep bitterly, " I have indeed read 
 of such scenes; but could I ever have thought that my own daughter 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 235 
 
 would have been the principal actress in one of tlieni— could I ever 
 have thonglit that her mind, admired by every one a.s a palace for 
 the occupation of Apollo and the Muses, should not have had room 
 enough for the humbler, but more amiable virtue of feminine charity 
 and compassion, which builds itself a nest in the bosom of the loAvest 
 villag-e girl? JDo thy gifts, accomplishments, and talents, spread 
 hardness as well as polish over thy heart ? If so, a hundred times 
 better renounce them all, and retain in their stead those gentle and 
 domestic virtues which are the first honours of the female heart. A 
 woman who is pitiless, is a worse monster than one who is unsexed 
 by any other passion." 
 
 "What would you have me do?" said Anna. "You, mother, 
 ought to k:^.ow better than I, that the life of my father is hardly 
 consistent with the existence of this bold and cruel man. 0, I am 
 sure he sti'l meditates his purpose of conspiracy ! lie that could 
 deceive a v. oman in the manner he has done me will not relinquish 
 a plan which is founded upon the death of his benefactor." 
 
 "You do me injustice, Anna," said Briennins, starting up, and 
 imprinting a kiss upon her lips ere she was aware. " By this caress, 
 the last tliat will pass between us, I swear that, if in my life I have 
 yielded to folly, I have, notwithstanding, never been guilty of a 
 treason of the heart towards a woman as superior to the rest of the 
 female world in talents and accomplishments as in personal beauty." 
 
 The Princess, much softened, shook her head as she replied — 
 " Ah, Nicepliorus ! — such were once your words ! such, ]ierliaps, were 
 then your thouglits ! But who, or what, shall now warrant to me 
 the veracity of either ? " 
 
 '•' Those very accomplishments and that very beauty itself," replied 
 Nicephorus. 
 
 "And if more is wanting," said Irene, " thy mother \yill enterher 
 security for him. Deem her not an insufficient pledge in this affair ; 
 she is thy mother, and the wife of Alexius Comnenus, interested be- 
 yond ;iH "human beings in the growth and increase of the power and 
 dignity of her husband and her child; and one who sees on this oc- 
 casion an oi)portunity for exercising generosity, for soldering up^ 
 the breaches of the Imperial house, and reconstructiiig tlie frame of 
 government upon a basis which, if there be faith and gratitude in 
 man, shall never be again exposed to hazard." 
 
 " To the reality of that faith and gratitude, then," said the Prin- 
 cess, "we must trust implicitly, as it is your will, motlier ; although 
 even my own knowledge of the subject, both through study and ex- 
 perience of the world, has called me to observe the rashness of such 
 confidence. But although we two may forgive Nicephorus's errors, 
 the Emperor is still the person to whom the final reference must be 
 had, both as to pardon and favour." 
 
 " Fear not Alexius," answered her mother ; " he will speak deter- 
 minedly and decidedly ; but, if he acts not in the very moment of 
 forming the resolution, it is no more to be relied on than an icicle 
 in time of thaw. Do thou apprise me, if thou canst, wliat the Em- 
 peror is at present doing, and take my word I will find means to 
 bring him round to our opinion." 
 
236 COUNT KOBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " Must I then betray secrets which my fatlier lias intrnsted to 
 ine?" said the Princess ; "and to one who has so lately held the 
 character of his avowed enemy ? " 
 
 " Call it not betray," said Irene, " since it is written, thou shalt 
 betray no one, least of all thy father, and the father of the emi)ire. 
 Yet ag-ain it is written by the holy Luke, that men sliall be betrayed, 
 botli by parents and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends, and there- 
 fore surely also by daughters ; by which 1 only mean thou shalt dis- 
 cover to us thy father's secrets, so far as may enable us to save tlje 
 life of thy husband. Tlie necessity of the case excuses whatever 
 may be otherwise considered as irreg-ular." 
 
 "Be it so then, mother. Having' yielded my consent perhaps too 
 easily to snatch this malefactor from my father's justice, 1 am sen- 
 sible I mnst secure his safety by such means as are in my power. 
 I left my father at the bottom of those stairs, called the Pit of 
 Acheron, in the cell of a blind man, to whom he gave the name of 
 Ursel." 
 
 *' Holy Mary ! " exclaimed the Empress, " thou hast named a name 
 v/hich has been long unspoken in the open air." 
 
 "Has the Emperor's sense of his danger from the living,"rsaid 
 the Caesar, "induced him to invoke the dead? — for Ursel has been 
 no living- man for tlie space of three years." 
 
 "It matters not," said Anna Comnena_; "I tell you true. My 
 father even now held conference with a miserable-looking' prisoner 
 whom he so named." 
 
 " It is a danger the more," said the Caisar ; " he cannot have for- 
 gotten the zeal with which I embraced the cause of the present 
 Emperor against his own ; and so soon as he is at liberty he will 
 study to avenge it. For this we must endeavour to make some pro- 
 vision, though it increases our difficulties. — Sit down then, my 
 gentle, my beneficent mother; and tliou, my wife, who hast pre- 
 ferred thy love for an unworthy husband to the suggestions of 
 jealous passion and of headlong revenge, sit down, and let us see in 
 what manner it may be in our pov/er, consistently with your duty to 
 the Emperor, to bring our broken vessel securely into port." 
 
 He employed much natural grace of manner in handing" the 
 mother and daughter to their scats ; and, taking his place confi- 
 dentially between them, all Avere soon engaged in concerting what 
 measures should be taken for the morrow, not forgetting- such as 
 should at once have the efiect of preserving- the Csesar's life, and at 
 the same time of securing- the Grecian empire against the con- 
 spiracy of which he had been tlie chief instigator. Briennius ven- 
 tured to hint, that perhaps the best way would be to sutFer tlie con- 
 spiracy to proceed as originally intended, pledging his own faith 
 that the rights of Alexius should be held inviolate during the 
 struggle ; but his influence over the Empress and her daughter did 
 not extend to obtaining- so great a trust. They plainly protested 
 against permitting- him to leave the palace, or taking the least share 
 in (he confusion which to-morrow was certain to witness. 
 
 " You forget, noble ladies," said the Caesar, " that my honour is 
 concerned in meeting- the Count of Pivvis," 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 237 
 
 "Prtllaw! tell ino not of your honour, Briennius," said Anna Com- 
 r.ena ; " do I not well know t]iat,alfc]iough tlie honour of the western 
 knights be a species of LIolocli, a flesh-devouring', blood- quaffing- 
 demon, yet that which is the god of idolatry to the eastern warriors, 
 thoug-li equally loud and noisy in the hall, is far less implacable in the 
 field ? Believe not that I have forg^iven great injuries and insults, in 
 order to take such false coin as honour in, payment, your ino-enuity 
 is but poor if you cannot devise some excuse which will satisfy the 
 Greeks; and in g-ood sooth, Briennius, to this battle you go not, 
 whether for your good or for your ill. Believe not that I will con- 
 sent to your meeting either Count or Countess, whether in warlike 
 combat or amorous parle}'. So you may at a word count upon re- 
 maining prisoner here until the hour appointed for such gross folly 
 be past and over." 
 
 The Cfesar, perhaps, was not in his heart angry that Iiis wife's 
 pleasure was so bluntly and resolutely expressed against the intended 
 combat. " If," said he, "you are determined to take my honour into 
 your own keeping, I am here for the present your prisoner, nor have 
 I the means of interfering with your pleasure. When once at liberty, 
 the free exercise of my valour and my lance is once more my own." 
 
 " Be it so, Sir Paladin," said the Princess, very composedly. " I 
 have good hope that neither of them will involve you with any of yon 
 dare-devils of Paris, whether male or female, and that Ave will regu- 
 late the pitch to which your courage soars, by the estimation of Greek 
 philosophy, and the judgment of our blessed Lady of Mercy, not lier 
 of tlie Broken Lances." 
 
 At this moment an authoritative knock at the door alarmed the 
 consultation of the Caisar and the ladies. 
 
 V - - ' ^' 
 
 
 HAPTER XXTIL / •/ 
 
 Pliyndan. Be comforted, g-ood madaTn '4^^ the great rage, ',* 
 
 You see, is cured in him : and yet it is danger. 
 
 To make him even o'er tlie time he lias lost. "><^^. "-'•.• > ,. - , , „,. * , 
 Desire him to go ill : trouble him no more, ^***Sii>> -^;^ •>«»-•> \rC^ 
 Till further setUing. ^"*'^S^. ,• - ;. -;—,.,;:— i-"^ 
 
 King Lear. 
 
 We left the Emperor Alexius Comnenus at the bottom of a sub- 
 terranean vault, v/ith a lamp expiring, and having charge of a pris- 
 oner who seemed himself nearly reduced to the same extremity. For 
 the first two or three moments he listened after his daughter's re- 
 tiring' footsteps. He grew impatient, and began to long for her 
 return before it was possible she could have traversed the path be- 
 tv/ixt him and the summit of these gloomy stairs. A minute or two 
 he endured with patience the absence of the assistance which he had 
 sent her to summon ; but strange suspicions began to cross his ima- 
 gination. Could it be possible ? Had she changed her purpose on 
 account of the hard words which lie had u^ied toward her ? Had she 
 
238 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 resolved to leave licr father to liis fate in his hour of utmost need ." 
 and was he to rely no longer upon the assistance which he had im- 
 plored her to send? 
 
 The short time which the Princess trifled away in a sort of gallan- 
 try with the Varangian Hereward was magnified tenfold by the 
 impatience of the Emperor, who began to think that she v;as gone to 
 fetch tlie accomplices of the Cjesar to assault their prince in his 
 defenceless condition, ar.d carry into effect their half-disconcerted 
 conspiracy. 
 
 After a considerable time, filled up with this feeling of agonising 
 uncertainty, he began at length, more composedly, to recollect the 
 little chance there was that the Princess would^ even for her own 
 sake, resentful as she was in the highest degree of her husband's ill 
 behaviour, join her resources to his, to the destruction of one who 
 had so generally showed himself an indulgent and affectionate father. 
 When he had adopted this better mood, a step was heard upon the 
 staircase, and after a long and unequal descent, Hereward, in his 
 heavy armour, at length coolly arrived at the bottom of the steps. 
 Beliind him, panting and trembling, partly with cold and partly with 
 terror, came Douban, the slave well skilled in D5edicine. 
 
 " Welcome, good Edward ! Welcome, Douban ! " he said, " whose 
 medical skill is sufficiently able to counterbalance the weight of years 
 which hang upon him." 
 
 " Your Highness is gracious," said Douban — but what he would 
 have farther said was cut off by a violent fit of cougliing, the con- 
 sequence of his age, of his feeble habit, of the damps of the dungeon, 
 and the rugged exercise of descending the long and difficult staircase. 
 
 " Thou art unaccustomed to visit thy patients in so rough an abode," 
 said Alexius, " and, nevertheless, to the damps of these dreary regions 
 state necessity obliges us to confine many, who are no less our be- 
 loved subjects in reality than they are in title." 
 
 The medical man continued his cough, perhaps as an apology for 
 not giving that answer of assent, with which his conscience did not 
 easily permit him to reply to an observation which, though stated by 
 one who should know the fact, seemed not to be in itself altogether 
 likely. 
 
 " Yes, my Douban," said the Emperor, " in this strong case of steel 
 and adamant have we found it necessary to enclose the redoubted 
 Ursel, whose fame is spread through the whole world, both for mili- 
 tary skill, political wisdom, personal bravery, and other noble gifts, 
 which wo have been obliged to obscure for a time, in order that we 
 jnighfc, at the fittest conjuncture, which is now arrived, restore them 
 to the world in their full lustre. Feel his pulse, therefore, Douban — 
 consider him as one who hath suffered severe confinement, with all 
 its privations, and is about to be suddenly restored to the full enjoy- 
 ment of life, and whatever renders life valuable." 
 
 " I will do my best," said Douban ; " but your Majesty must con- 
 sider, that we work upon a frail and exhausted subject, whose health 
 seems already well-nigh gone, and may perhaps vanish in an instant 
 — like this pale and trembling light, whose precarious condition the 
 life-breath of this unfortunate patient seems closely to resemble." 
 
C0U>;T ROBERT OF PARIS. 23t> 
 
 " Desire, therefore, good Doubaii, one or two of the mutes wiio 
 serve in the interior, and who have repeatedly been thy assistants in 
 sncli cases— or stay — Edward, thy motions will be more speedy ; do 
 thou g'o for the mutes— make them bring" some kind of litter to 
 transport the patient ; and, Douban, do thou superintend tlie whole. 
 Transport him instantly to a suitable apartment, only taking care 
 that it be secret, and let him enjoy the comforts of the bath, and 
 whatever else may tend to restore his feeble animation— keeping- in 
 mind that he must, if possible, appear to-morrow in the field." 
 
 "That will be hard," said Douban, "after having- been, it would 
 appear, subjected to such fare and such usage as his fluctuating 
 pulse intimates but too plainly." 
 
 "'Twas a mistake of the dungeon-keeper, the inhuman villain, 
 who should not go without his reward," continued the Emperor, 
 " had not Heaven already bestowed it by the strange means of a 
 sylvan man, or native of the woods, who yesterday put to death the 
 jiiilor who meditated the death of his prisoner — Yes", my dear Douban, 
 a private sentinel of our guards called the Immortal, had well-nigli 
 annihilated this flower of our trust, whom for a time we were com- 
 pelled to immure in secret. Then, indeed, a rude hammer had 
 dashed to pieces an unparalleled brilliant, but the fates have arrested 
 such a misfortune." 
 
 The assistance having arrived, the physician, who seemed more 
 accustomed to act than to speak, directed a bath to be prepared with 
 medicated herbs, and gave it as his opinion that the patient should 
 not be disturbed till to-morrow's sun was high in, the heavens. Ursel 
 accordingly was assisted to the bath, which was employed according 
 to the directions of the physician ; but without aff"or(ling any material 
 symptoms of recovery. From thence he was transferred to a cheer- 
 ful bed-chamber, opening by an ample window to one of the terraces 
 of the palace, which commanded an extensive prospect. These 
 operations were performed upon a frame so extremely stupefied by 
 previous suffering-, so dead to the usual sensations of existence, that 
 it was not till the sensibility should be gradually restored by friction 
 of the stiffened limbs, and other means, that the leech hoped the 
 mists of the intellect should at length begin to clear away. 
 
 Douban readily undertook to obey the commands of the Emperor, 
 and remained by the bed of the patient until the dawn of niorning, 
 ready to snpport nature as far as the skill of leechcraft admitted. 
 
 From the mutes, much more accustomed to be the executioners 
 of the Emperor's displeasure than of his humanity, Douban selected 
 one man of milder mood, and by Alexius's order, made him under- 
 stand that the task iu which he was engaged was to be kept most 
 strictly secret, while the hardened slave was astonished to find that 
 the attentions paid to the sick were to be rendered with yet more 
 mystery than the bloody offices of death and torture. 
 
 The passive patient received the various acts of attention which 
 were rendered to him in silence; and if not totally without conscious- 
 ness, at least without a distinct comprehension of their object. After 
 the soothing operation of the bath, and the voluptuous exchange of 
 the rude and musty pile of straw, on which he had stretched himself 
 
240 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 for years, for a coucli of tlie softest down, Ursel was presented wiili 
 a sedative draug'ht, slightly tinctured with an opiate. The balmy 
 restorer of nature came thus invoked, and the captive sunk into a 
 delicious slumber long- unknown to him, and which seemed to occupy 
 equally his mental faculties and his bodily frame, while the features 
 were released from their rigid tenor, and the posture of the limbs, 
 110 long-er disturbed by fits of cramp, and sudden and ag-onising* twists 
 and throes, seemed chang-ed for a placid state of the most perfect 
 ease and tranquillity. 
 
 The morn was already colouring- the horizon, and the freshness of 
 the breeze of dawn had insinuated itself into the lofty halls of the 
 lialace of the Blacquernal, when a g'entle tap at the door of the 
 chamber awakened Donban, who, undisturbed from the calm state 
 of his patient, had indulg-ed himself in a brief repose. The door 
 0])ened, and a figure ap])eared, disg'uised in the robes v/orn by an 
 officer of the palace, and concealed, beneath an artificial beard of 
 g-reat size, and of a white colour, the features of the Emperor him- 
 self. " Douban," said Alexius, " how fares it with thy patient, whose 
 safety is this day of such consequence to the Grecian state ? " 
 
 "Well, my lord," replied the physician, " excellently well ; and if 
 lie is not now disturbed, I will wag'er whatever skill I possess, that 
 nature, assisted by the art of the physician, will triumph over the 
 damps and the unwholesome air of the impure dung-eon. Only be 
 ])rudent, my lord, and let not an untimely haste bring' this IJrsel 
 forward into the contest ere he has arranged the disturbed current 
 of his ideas, and recovered, in some degree, the spring of his mind 
 and the powers of his body." 
 
 "I will rule my impatience," said the Emperor, "or, rather, Dou- 
 ban, I will be ruled by thee. Thinkest thou he is awake ?" 
 
 " I am inclined to think so," said the leech, "but he opens iiot his 
 eyes, and seems to me as if he absolutely resisted the natural impulse 
 to rouse himself and look around him." 
 
 "Speak to him," said the Emperor, "and let us know what 13 
 passing in his mind." 
 
 "It is at some risk," replied the physician, "but /ou shall be 
 obeyed — Ursel," he said, approaching the bed of his blind patient, 
 and" then, in a louder tone, he repeated again, "Ursel! Ursel ! " 
 
 "Peace — Hush ! " muttered the patient; " disturb not the blest in 
 their ecstasy — nor again recall the most miserable of mortals to 
 finish the draught of bitterness which his fate had compelled him to 
 commence." 
 
 " Again, again," said the Emperor, aside to Douban, " try him 
 yet agnin ; it is of importance for me to know in what degree he pos- 
 sesses his senses, or in what measure they have disappeared from him." 
 
 " I would not, however," said the ])hysician, " be the rash and 
 guilty person who, by an ill-timed urgency, should produce a total 
 alienation of mind, and plunge him back either into absolute lunacy, 
 or produce a stupor in which he might remain for a long period." 
 
 " Surely not," replied the Emperor; "my commands are those of 
 one Christian to another, nor do I wish them farther obeyed than as 
 ^hey arc consistent with the laws of God and man," 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF TAkIS. 241 
 
 He paused for a moment after this declaration, and yet but few 
 minutes liad elapsed ere he ag-ain urg-ed the leech to pursue the 
 interrogation of his patient. "If you hold me not competent," said 
 Douhan, somewhat vain of the trust necessarily reposed in him, "to 
 judge of the treatment of my patient, your Imperial Highness must 
 take the risk and the trouble upon yourself" 
 
 "Marry, I shall," said the Emperor, "for the scruples of leeches 
 are not to be indulged when the fate of kingdoms and the lives of 
 monarclis are placed against them in the scales. — Rouse thee, my 
 noble Ursel ! hear a voice, with which tliy ears were once well ac- 
 quainted, welcome thee back to glory and command! Look around 
 thee, and see how the world smiles to welcome thee back from im- 
 prisonment to empire ! " 
 
 "Cunning fiend !" said Ursel, "who usest the most wily baits in 
 order to augment the misery of the wretched ! Know, tempter, that 
 I am conscious of the whole trick of the soothing images of last 
 night — thy baths — thy beds— and thy bowers of bliss. But sooner 
 shalt thou be able to bring a smile upon the cheek of St Anthony 
 the Eremite than induce me to curl mine after the fixshion of earthly 
 voluptuaries." 
 
 "Try it, foolish man," insisted the Emperor, "and trust to the 
 evidence of thy senses for the reality of the pleasures by which thou 
 art now surrounded ; or, if thou art obstinate in thy lack of faith, 
 tarry as thou art for a single moment, and I will bring with me a 
 being so unparalleled in her loveliness that a single glance of her 
 were worth the restoration of thine eyes, v/ere it only to look upon 
 her for a moment." So saying, he left the apartment. 
 
 " Traitor," said Ursel, " and deceiver of old, bring no one hither ! 
 and strive not, by shadowy and ideal forms of beauty, to increase the 
 delusion that gilds my pi'ison-house for a moment, in order, doubt- 
 less, to destroy totally the spark of reason, and then exchange this 
 earthly hell for a dungeon in the infernal regions themselves." 
 
 "His mind is somev/hat shattered," mused the physician, "which 
 is often the consequence of a long solitary confinement. I marvel 
 much," was his farther thought, "if the Emperor can shape out any 
 rational service which this man can render him, after being so long 
 immured in so horrible a dungeon. — Thou tliinkest, then," continued 
 lie, addressing the patient, " that the seeming release of last night, 
 with its baths and refreshments, was only a delusive dream, without 
 any reality ? " 
 
 "Ay — what else?" answered Ursel. 
 
 "And that the arousing thyself, as we desire thee to do, would be 
 but a resigning to a vain temptation, in order to wake to more un- 
 Lappiness than formerly ?" 
 
 "Even so," returned the patient. 
 
 "What, then, are thy thoughts of the Emperor by whose command 
 thou sufferest so severe a restraint ?" 
 
 Perhaps Douban wished he had forborne this question, for, in the 
 very moment when he put it, the door of the chamber opened, and 
 the Emperor entered, with his daughter hanging upon his arm, 
 dressed with gimplicity, yet with becoming splendour. She had 
 
242 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 found time, it seems, to change her dress for a white robe, whioh 
 resembled a kind of mourning-, the chief ornament of which was a 
 diamond chaplet, of inestimable value, which surrounded and bound 
 the long' sable tresses that reached from her head to her waist. 
 Terrified almost to death, she had been surprised by her father in 
 the company of her husband, the Csesar, and her mother; and the 
 same thundering' mandate had at once ordered Briennius, in the 
 character of a more than suspected traitor, under the custody of a 
 strong- guard of Varangians, and commanded her to attend her father 
 to the bedchamber of Ursel, in which she now stood ; resolved, how- 
 ever, that she would stick by the sinking fortunes of her husband 
 even in the last extremity, yet no less determined that she would 
 not rely upon her own entreaties or remonstrances until she should 
 see whether her father's interference was likely to reassume a re- 
 solved and positive character. Hastily as the plans of Alexius had 
 been formed, and hastily as they had been disconcerted by accident, 
 there remained no slight chance that he might be forced to come 
 round to the purpose on which his wife and daughter had fixed their 
 heart; the forgiveness, namely, of the guilty Nicephorus Briennius. 
 To his astonishment, and not perhaps greatly to his satisfaction, he 
 heard the patient deeply engaged with the physician in canvassing 
 his own character. 
 
 " Think not," said Ursel in reply to him, " that though I am im- 
 mured in this dungeon, and treated as something worse than an out- 
 cast of humanity— and although I am, moreover, deprived of my eye- 
 sight, tlie dearest gift of Heaven — think not, I say, though I suffer 
 all this by the cruel will of Alexius Comnenus, that therefore I hold 
 him to be mine enemy; on the contrary, it is by his means that the 
 blinded and miserable prisoner has been taught to seek a liberty far 
 more unconstrained than this poor earth can afford, and a vision fai* 
 more clear than any Mount Pisgah on this wretched side of the 
 grave can give us : Shall I therefore account the Emperor among 
 mine enemies ? He who has taught me the vanity of earthly things 
 — the notliingness of earthly enjoyments — and the pure hope of a 
 better world, as a certain exchange for the misery of the present ? 
 No!" 
 
 The Emperor had stood somewhat disconcerted at the beginning 
 of this speech, but hearing it so very unexpectedly terminate, as he 
 was willing to suppose, much in his own favour, he threw himself 
 into an attitude which was partly that of a modest person listening 
 to his own praises, and partly that of a man highly struck with the 
 commendations heaped upon him by a generous advei-sary. 
 
 " My friend," he said aloud, "how truly do you read my purpose, 
 when you suppose that the knowledge which men of your disposition 
 can extract from evil, was all the experience which I wished you to 
 derive from a captivity protracted by adverse circumstances, far, very 
 far^ beyond my wishes ! Let me embrace the generous man who 
 knows so well how to construe the purpose of a perplexed, but still 
 foithful friend." 
 
 The paiient raised himself in his bed. 
 
 " Hold there ! '* he said, " raethinks mv faculties begin to collect 
 
COUIsI IIOBEIIT OF PARIS. 243 
 
 themselves. Yes," lie muttered, " that is the treacherous voice which 
 first bid me welcome as a friend, and then commanded fiercely that I 
 should be deprived of the sight of my eyes! — Increase thy rigour if 
 thou wilt, Comnenus— add, if thou canst, to the torture of my confine- 
 ment—but since I cannot see thy hypocritical and inhuman features, 
 spare me, in mercy, the sound of a voice more distressing- to mine ear 
 than toads, than serpents, — than whatever nature has most offensive 
 and disgusting ! " 
 
 This speech was delivered with so much energy, that it was in vain 
 that the Emperor strove to interrupt its tenor; although he himself, 
 as well as Douban and his daughter, heard a great deal more of the 
 language of unadorned aud natural passion than he had counted 
 upon, 
 
 "Raise thy head, rash man," he said, "and charm thy tongue, ere 
 it proceed in a strain which may cost thee dear. Look at me, and 
 see if I have not reserved a reward capable of atoning for all the evil 
 whicli thy folly may charge to my account. " 
 
 Hitherto the prisoner had remained with his eyes obstinately shut, 
 regarding the imperfect recollection he had of sights which had been 
 before his eyes the foregoing evening, as the mere suggestion of a 
 deluded imagination, if not actually presented by some seducing 
 spirit. But now, when his eyes fairly encountered the stately figure 
 of the Emperor, and the graceful form of his lovely daughter, painted 
 in the tender rays of the morning dawn, he ejaculated faintly, "I 
 see ! — I see ! " — And with that ejaculation fell back on the pillow in 
 a swoon, which instantly found employment for Douban and his re- 
 storatives. 
 
 " A most wonderful cure indeed ! " exclaimed the physician; "and 
 the height of my wishes would be to possess such another miraculous 
 restorative." 
 
 "Fool!" said the Emperor; "canst thou not conceive that what 
 has never been taken away is restored with little difficulty? He was 
 made," he said, lowering his voice, "to undergo a painful operation, 
 which led him to believe that the organs of sight were destroyed ; 
 and as light scarcely ever visited him, and when it did, only in doubt- 
 ful and almost invisible glimmerings, the prevailing darkness, both 
 physical and mental, that surrounded him, prevented him from being 
 sensible of the existence of that precious faculty, of which he ima- 
 gined himself bereft. Perhaps thou wilt ask my reason for inflicting 
 upon him so strange a deception ? — Simply it was, that being by it 
 conceived incapable of reigning, his memory might pass out of the 
 minds of the public, while, at the same time, I reserved his eyesight, 
 that, in case occasion should call, it might be in my power once more 
 to liberate him from his dungeon, and employ, as I now propose to 
 do, his courage and talents in the service of the empire, to counter- 
 balance those of other conspirators." 
 
 " And can your Imperial Highness," said Douban, " hope that you 
 have acquired this man's duty and afiection by the conduct you have 
 observed to him ? " 
 
 " I cannot tell," answered the Emperor; " that must be as futurity 
 shall determine. All I know is, that it is no fault of mine if Ursci 
 
244 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 does iiot reckon freedom and a long" course of empire — perliaps sanc- 
 tioned by an alliance with our own blood — and the continued enjoy- 
 ment of the precious org-ans of eyesig-ht, of which a less scrupulous 
 man would have deprived him, ag'ainst a maimed and darkened exist- 
 ence." 
 
 " S'nce such is your Hig-hness's opinion and resolution," said Don- 
 ban, "it is for me to aid, and not to counteract it. Permit me, there- 
 fore, to pray your Hig-lmess and the Princess to withdraw, that I may 
 use such remedies as may confirm a mind which has been so strang'ely 
 shaken, and restore to liim fully the use of those eyes, of which he 
 has been so long- deprived." 
 
 "I am content, Douban," said the Emperor; "but take notice, 
 XJrsel is not totally at liberty until he has expressed the resolution to 
 become actually mine. It may behove both him and thee to know, 
 that although there is no purpose of remitting- him to the dung-eons 
 of tlie Blacquernal palace, yet if he, or any on his part, should aspire 
 to head a party in these feverish times, — by tlie honour of a g-entle- 
 man, to swear a Frankish oath, he shall find that he is not out of the 
 reach of the battle-axes of my Varangians. I trust to thee to com- 
 municate this fact, which concerns alike him and all who have inte- 
 rest in liis fortunes. Come, daug-hter, we will withdraw, and leave 
 the leech with his patient. — Take notice, Douban, it is of importance 
 ' that you acquaint me the very first moment when the patient can 
 hold rational communication with me." 
 
 Alexius and his accomplished daughter departed aocording-ly, 
 
 CHAPTER XXYIIL 
 
 Sweet are the uses of adversity, 
 
 Whicli, like the toad, ugly and venomous, 
 
 Bears yet a precious jev/el in its head. 
 
 As You Like It. 
 
 From a terraced roof of the Blacquernal palace, accessible by a 
 sash-door, which opened from the bedchamber of Ursel, there was 
 commanded one of the most lovely and striking' views which the 
 romantic neig-hbourhood of Constantinople afi'orded. 
 
 After suffering- him to repose and rest his ag-itated faculties, it was 
 to this place that the physician led his patient; for when somewhat 
 composed, he had of himself requested to be permitted to verify tlie 
 truth of his restored eyesig-ht, by looking- out once more upon the 
 majestic face of nature. 
 
 On the one hand, the scene whicli he beheld was a masterpiece of 
 human art. The proud city, ornamented with stately building-s, as 
 became the capital of the world, showed a succession of g-littering* 
 spires and orders of architecture, some of tbem chaste and simple, 
 like those the capitals of which were borrowed from baskets-full of 
 acantliusj eome deriving" the fluting' of their shafts from the props 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 2-15 
 
 TAiide orig'inally to support the lances of the earlier G reeled— forms 
 simple, yet more gfraceful in their simplicity than any which human 
 ing-enuity has heen able since to invent. With the most splendicl 
 specimens which ancient art could aflbrJ of those strictly classical 
 models were associated those of a later ag-e, where more modem 
 taste had endeavoured at improvement, and, by mixing- the various 
 orders, had produced such as were eitlier composite, or totally out 
 of rule. The size of the building's in which they were displayed, 
 however, procured them respect ; nor could even the most perfect 
 judg-e of architecture avoid being' struck by the g'randeur of their 
 extent and effect, althoug-h hurt by the incorrectness of the tasto 
 in which they were executed. Arches of triumph, towers, obelisks, 
 and spires, desig-ned for various purposes, rose up into the air in 
 confused mag-niticence; v.-hile the lower view was filled by the streets 
 of the city, the domestic habitations forming' long' narrow alleys, on 
 either side of which the houses arose to various and unequal he'ig'hts, 
 but, being' g'enerally finished with terraced coverings, thick set v/illi 
 plants and flowers, and fountains, had, when seen from an eminence, 
 a more noble and interesting- aspect than is ever aflbrded by the 
 sloping- and uniform roofs of streets in the capitals of the north of 
 Eui'ope. 
 
 It has taken us some time to give, in words, the idea which was at 
 a sing'le gdance conveyed to Ursel, and afiected him at first with 
 great pain. His eyeballs had been long- strangers to that daily exer- 
 cise, which teaches us the habit of correcting- the scenes as they 
 appear to our sight, by the knowledge v/hich we derive from the use 
 of our other senses. His idea of distance was so confused, that it 
 seemed as if all the spires, turrets, and m.inarets which he beheld, 
 were crowded forward upon his eyeballs, and almost touching them. 
 With a shriek of horror, Ursel turned himself to the further side, 
 and cast his eyes upon a different scene. Here also he saw towers, 
 steeples, and turrets, but they were those of the churches and public 
 buildings beneath his feet, reflected from the dazzling piece of water 
 which formed the harbour of Constantinople, and which, from the 
 abundance of wealth which it transported to the city, was well termed 
 the Golden Horn. In one place, this superb basin was lined with 
 quays, where stately dromonds and argosies unloaded their wealth, 
 while, by the shore of the haven, galleys, feluccas, and other small 
 craft, idly flapped the singularly shaped and snow-white pinions 
 which served them for sails. In other i)laces, the Golden Horn lay 
 shrouded in a verdant mantle of trees, where the private gardens of 
 wealthy or distinguished individuals, or places of public recreation, 
 shot down upon and were bounded by the glassy waters. 
 
 On the Bos])horus, which might be seen in the distance, the little 
 fleet of Tancred was lying in the same station tliey had gained dur- 
 ing the night, which was fitted to command the opposite landing ; 
 this their general had preferred to a midnight descerit upon Con- 
 stantinople, not knowing whether, so coming', they might be received 
 as friends or enemies. This delay, however, had given the Greeks 
 an opportunity, either by tlie orders of Alexius, or the equally power- 
 ful msindnlr.s of some of the oonspivators, to tow six ships of war, 
 
246 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 lull of armed men, and provided with the maritime oftensive weapoua 
 peculiar to the Greeks at that period, which they had moored so as 
 exactly to cover the place where the troops of Tancred must neces- 
 sarily land. 
 
 This preparation gave some surprise to the valiant Tancred, who 
 did not know that such vessels had arrived in the harbour from Lem- 
 nos on the preceding- night. The undaunted courage of that prince 
 was, however, in no respect to be shaken by the degree of unexpected 
 danger with which his adventure now appeared to be attended. 
 
 This splendid view, from the description of which we have in some 
 degree digressed, was seen by the physician and Ursel from a ter- 
 race, the loftiest almost on the palace of the Blacquernal. To the 
 cityward, it was bounded by a solid wall, of considerable height, 
 giving a resting-place for the roof of a lower building, which, sloping 
 outward, broke to the view the vast height unobscured otherwise 
 save by a high and massy balustrade, composed of bronze, which, to 
 the havenward, sunk sheer down upon an uninterrupted precipice. 
 
 No sooner, therefore, had Ursel turned his eyes that way, than, 
 though placed far from the brink of the terrace, he exclaimed, with 
 a shriek, " Save me — save me ! if you are not indeed the destined 
 executors of the Emperor's will." 
 
 " We are indeed such," said Douban, " to save, and if possible to 
 bring you to complete recovery ; but by no means to do you injury, 
 or to suffer it to be offered by others." 
 
 " Guard me then from myself," said Ursel, " and save me from the 
 reeling and insane desire which I feel to plunge myself into the abyss, 
 to the edge of which you have guided me." 
 
 " Such a giddy and dangerous temptation is," said the physician, 
 " common to those who have not for a long time looked down from 
 precipitous heights, and are suddenly brought to them. Nature, 
 however bounteous, hath not provided for the cessation of our facul- 
 ties for years, and for their sudden resumption in full strength and 
 vigour. An interval, longer or shorter, must needs intervene. Can 
 you not believe this terrace a safe station while you have my sup- 
 port and that of this faithful slave ? " 
 
 " Certainly," said Ursel ; " but permit me to turn my face towards 
 this stone wall, for I cannot bear to look at the flimsy piece of wire, 
 which is the only battlement of defence that interposes betwixt me 
 and the precipice." He spoke of the bronze balustrade, six feet 
 high, and massive in proportion. Thus saying, and holding fast by 
 the physician's arm, Ursel, though himself a younger and more able 
 man, trembled, and moved his feet as slowly as if made of lead, until 
 he reached the sashed door, where stood a kind of balcony-seat, in 
 ^yhiel' l-u> -^aced himself. — " Here," he said, " will I remain." 
 
 ■^ And here," said Douban, " will I make the communication of the 
 Emperor, which it is necessary you should be prepared to reply to. 
 It places you, you will observe, at your own disposal for liberty or 
 captivity, bat it conditions for your resigning that sweet but sinfid 
 morsel termed revenge, which, I must not conceal from you, chance 
 appears willing to put into your hand. You know the degree of 
 rivalry in which you have been held by the Emperor, and you know 
 
COUNT ROBERT OP PARIS. 247 
 
 the measure of evil you liave sustained at his hand. The question 
 is, Can you forgive what has taken place ? " 
 
 " Let me wrap my head round with ray mantle," said Ursel, " to 
 dispel this dizziness which still oppresses my poor brain, and as soon 
 as tiie power of recollection is granted to me, you shall know my 
 sentiments." 
 
 He sunk upon the seat, raulllod in the way which he described, and 
 after a few minutes' reflection, with a trepidation which argued the 
 patient still to be under the nervous feeling of extreme horror mixed 
 with terror, he addressed Douban thus : " The operation of wrong 
 and cruelty, in the moment when they are first inflicted, excites, of 
 course, the utmost resentment of the sufl"erer ; nor is there, perhaps, 
 a passion which lives so long in his bosom as the natural desire of re- 
 venge. If, then, during the first month, when I lay stretched upon 
 my bed of want and misery, you had offered me an opportunity of 
 revenge upon my cruel oppressor, the remnant of miserable life 
 which remained to me should have been willingly bestowed to pur- 
 chase it. But a suft'ering of weeks, or even months, must not be 
 compared in effect with that of years. For a short space of endur- 
 ance, the body as well as the mind, retains that vigorous habit which 
 holds the prisoner still connected with life, and teaches him_ to thrill 
 at the long-forgotten chain of hopes, of wishes, of disappointments, 
 and mortifications, which afi'ected his former existence. But the 
 wounds become callous as they harden, and other and better feelings 
 occupy their place, while they gradually die away in forgetfulness. 
 The enjoyments, the amusements of this world, occupy no part of 
 his time upon whom the gates of despair have once closed. I tell 
 thee, my kind physician, that for a season, in an insane attempt to 
 effect my liberty, I cut through a large portion of the living rock. 
 But Heaven cured me of so foolish an idea ; and if I did not actually 
 come to love Alexius Comnenus — for how could that have been a 
 possible etteot in any rational state of my intellects ? — yet as I be- 
 came ccnvinced of my own crimes, sins, and follies, the more and 
 more I was also persuaded that Alexius was but the agent through 
 whom Heaven exercised a dearly-purchased right of punishing me 
 for my manifold offences and transgressions; and that it was not 
 therefore upon the Emperor that my resentment ought to visit itself. 
 And I can now say to thee, that, so far as a man who has under- 
 gone so dreadful a change can be supposed to know his own mind, I 
 feel no desire either to rival Alexius in a race for empire, or to avail 
 myself of any of the various proffers which he proposes to me as the 
 price of withdrawing -my claim. Let him keep unpurchased the 
 crown, for which he has paid, in my opinion, a price which it is not 
 worth." 
 
 " This is extraordinary stoicism, noble Ursel," answered the phy- 
 sician Douban. " Am I then to understand that you reject the fair 
 offers of Alexius, and desire, instead of all which he is willing— nay, 
 anxious to bestow — to be committed safely back to thy old blinded 
 dungeon in the Blacquernal, that you may continue at ease those 
 pietistic meditations which have already conducted thee to so extra- 
 vagant a conclusion ? " 
 
248 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " Pliysician," said Urscl, whilo a shuddering' fit that affected hi3 
 whole body testified his alarm at the alternative proposed — " one 
 would imagine thine own profession might have taught thee that no 
 mere mortal man, unless predestined to be a glorified saint, could 
 ever prefer darkness to the light of day ; blindness itself to the en- 
 joyment of the power of sight ; the pangs of starving to competent 
 sustenance, or the damps of a dungeon to the free air of God's 
 creation. No !— it may be virtue to do so, but to such a pitch mine 
 does not soar. All I require of the Emperor for standing by him 
 with all the power my name can give him at this crisis is, that he 
 will provide for my reception as a monk in some of those pleasant 
 and well-endowed seminaries of piety, to which his devotion, or his 
 fears, liave given rise. Let me not be again the object of his suspi- 
 cion, the operation of which is more dreadful than that of being- tlie 
 object of his hate. Forgotten by power, as I have myself lost the 
 remembrance of those that wielded it, let me find my way to the 
 g-rave, unnoticed, unconstrained, at liberty, in possession of my dim 
 and disused organs of sight, and, above all, at peace." 
 
 "If such be thy serious and earnest wish, noble Ursel," said tiie 
 physician, " I myself have no hesitation to warrant to thee the full 
 accomplishment of thy religious and moderate desires. But, be- 
 think thee, thou art once more an inhabitant of the court, in which 
 thou mayst obtain what thou wilt to-day; while to-morrow, shouldsfc 
 thou rcgTet thy indifference, it may be thy utmost entreaty v.ill not 
 suflke to gain'for thee the slightest extension of thy present con- 
 ditions." 
 
 " Be it so," said Ursel ; " I will then stipulate for another condi- 
 tion, which indeed has only reference to this day. I will solicit his 
 Imperial Majesty, with all humility, to spare me the pain of a ])er- 
 sonal treaty between himself and me, and that he will be satisfied 
 with the solemn assurance that I am most willing to do in liis favour 
 all that he is desirous of dictating ; while, on the other hand, I 
 desire only the execution of those moderate conditions of my future 
 aliment which I have already told thee at length." 
 
 " But wherefore," said Douban, " shouldst thou be afraid of an- 
 nouncing to the Emperor thy disposition to an agreement, Vv'hich 
 cannot be esteemed otherwise than extremely moderate on thy 
 part? Indeed, I fear the Emperor will insist on a brief personal 
 conference.'' 
 
 " I am not ashamed," said Ursel, " to confess the truth. It is 
 true that I have, or think I have, renounced what the Scripture calls 
 the pride of life ; but the old Adam still lives within us, and main- 
 tains against tlie better part of our nature an inextinguishable 
 quarrel, easy to be aroused from its slumber, but as difficult to be 
 again couched in peace. While last night I but half understood 
 that niine enemy was in my presence, and while my faculties per- 
 formed l)ut half their duty in recalling his deceitful and hated ac- 
 cents, did not my heart throb in my bosom with all the agitation of 
 a taken bird, and shall I again have to enter into a personal treaty 
 with the man who, be his general conduct what it may, has been the 
 constant and unprovoked cause of my unequalled misery ? Douban, 
 
COUNT ROCERT 01^ fARlS. 249 
 
 no!— to listen to liis voice ag-ain were to hoar an p.larm sounded to 
 every violent and vindictive passion of my heart; and though, may- 
 Heaven so lielp me as my intentions towards him are uprigiit, yet it 
 is impossible for me to listen to his professions with a chance of 
 safety either to him or to myself." 
 
 " If you be so minded," replied Douban, " I shall only repeat to 
 him your stipulation, and you must swear to liira that you will 
 strictly observe it. Without this being- done, it must be difficult, or 
 perhaps impossible, to settle the leag-ue of which both are desirous." 
 
 "Amen!" said Ursel ; "and as I am pure in my purpose, and 
 resolved to keep it to the uttermost, so may Heaven guard rnc 
 from t-lie influence of precipitate reveng-e, ancient grudge, or new 
 quarrel ! " 
 
 An authoritative knock at the door of the sleeping-chamber was 
 now lieard, and Ursel, relieved by more powerful feelings, from the 
 giddiness of which he had complained, walked firmly into the bed- 
 room, and seating himself, waited with averted eyes the entrance of 
 the person who demanded admittance, and who proved to be no 
 other tlian Alexius Comnenus. 
 
 The Emperor appeared at the door in a warlike dress, suited for 
 the decoration of a prince who was to witness a combat in the lists 
 fought out before him. 
 
 "Sage Douban," he said, "has our esteemed prisoner, Ursel, 
 made his choice between our peace and enmity ? " 
 
 " He liath, my lord," replied the pliysician, " embraced the lot of 
 that happy portion of mankind whose hearts and lives are devoted 
 to the service of your Majesty's government." 
 
 " He will then this day," continued tlie Emperor, "render me the 
 office of putting down all those who may pretend to abet insurrection 
 in liis nan;ie, and under pretext of his wrongs ?" 
 
 " He will, my lord," replied the physician, "act to the fullest the 
 part which you require." 
 
 " And in what way," said tlie Emperor, adopting his most gracious 
 tone of voice, " would our faithful Ursel desire that services like 
 these, rendered in the hour of extreme need, should be acknowledged 
 by the Emperor?" 
 
 " Simply," answered Douban, " by saying nothing upon the sub- 
 ject. He desires only that all jealousies between you and him may 
 be henceforth forgotten, and that he may be admitted into one of 
 your Highness's monastic institutions, v/itli leave to dedicate the 
 rest of his life to the worship of Heaven and its saints." 
 
 "Hath he ]^>ersuaded thee of this, Douban ? "—said the Emperor, 
 in a low and altered voice. "By Heaven! when I consider from 
 what prison he was brought, and in what guise he inhabited it, I 
 cannot believe in this gall-less disposition. He must at least speak 
 to me hipj.self, ere I can believe, in some degree, the transformation 
 of the fiery Ursel into a being so little capable of feeling the ordi- 
 nary impulses of mankind." 
 
 " Hear me, Alexius Comnenus," said the prisoner; "and so may 
 thine own prayers to Heaven find access and acceptation, as thou 
 believest the W'ords which I speak to thee in simplicity of heart. If 
 
250 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 Uiine empire of Greece were made of coined gold, it would hold 
 out no bait for my acceptance ; nor, I thank Heaven, have even the 
 injuries I Iiave experienced. at thy hand, cruel and extensive as they 
 have been, impressed upon me the slightest desire of requiting- 
 treachery with treachery. Think of me as thou wilt, so thou seekst 
 not ag-ain to exchange words with me ; and believe me, that when 
 thou hast put me under the most rig-id of thy ecclesiastical founda- 
 tions, the discipline, the fare, and the vigils will be far superior to 
 the existence falling to the share of those whom the King delights to 
 honour, and who therefore must afford the King their society when- 
 ever they are summoned to do so." 
 
 " It is'hardly for me," said the physician, "to interpose in so higli 
 a matter ; yet, as trusted both by the noble Ursel and by his high- 
 i^ss the Emperor, I have made a brief abstract of these short condi- 
 tions to be kept by the high parties towards each other, suh critiiine 
 falsi:' 
 
 The Emperor protracted the intercourse with Ursel, until he more 
 fully explamed to him the occasion which he should have that very 
 day for his services. When they parted, Alexius, with a great show 
 of affection, embraced his late prisoner, while it required all the self- 
 command and stoicism of Ursel to avoid expressing in plains terms 
 tlie extent to which he abhorred the person who thus caressed him. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 O, Conspiracy ! 
 
 Sham'st thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, 
 
 Wlien evils are most free? O, tlien, by day, 
 
 Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough 
 
 To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek uone, Conspira:y i 
 
 Hide it in smiles and affability : 
 
 I'^or if thou path thy native serablauce on, 
 
 Not Erebus itself were dim enough 
 
 To hide thee from prevention. 
 
 Julius Cixsar. 
 
 The important morning at last arrived, on which, by the Imperial 
 proclamation, the combat between the Caesar and Robert Count of 
 Paris, was appointed to take place. This was a circumstance in a 
 great measure foreign to the Grecian manners, and to which, there- 
 fore, the people annexed different ideas from those which were 
 associated with the same solemn decision of God, as the Latins called 
 it, by the Western nations. The consequence was a vague, but ex- 
 cessive agitation among the people, who connected the extraordinary 
 strife which they were to witness, with the various causes which had 
 been whispered abroad as likely to give occasion to some general 
 insurrection of a great and terrible nature. 
 
 By the Imperial order, regular lists had been prepared for the 
 combat, witli opposite gates or entrances, as was usual, for the ad- 
 mittance of the two champions ; and it was understood that the appeal 
 
COUNT ROBERT OP PARIS. 2&1 
 
 was to be made to the Divinity by each, according' to the forms pre- 
 scribed by the Church of which the combatants were respectively 
 members. The situation of these lists was on the side of the shore 
 iidjoiniuo: on the Avest to the continent. At no great distance, the 
 walls of the city were seen, of various architecture, composed of lime 
 and of stone, and furnished with no less than four-and-twenty gates, or 
 posterns, five of which regarded the land, and nineteen the water. 
 All this formed a beautiful prospect, much of which is still visible. 
 The town itself is about nineteen miles in circumference ; and as it 
 is on all sides surrounded with lofty cypresses, its general appearance 
 is that of a city arising out of a stately wood of these magnificent 
 trees, partly shrouding the pinnacles, obelisks, and minarets, whicli 
 then marked the site of many noble Christian temples ; but now, 
 generally speaking, intimate the position of as many Mohammedan 
 mosques. 
 
 These lists, for the convenience of spectators, were surrounded on 
 all sides by long rows of seats, sloping downwards. In the middle 
 of these seats, and exactly opposite the centre of the lists, was a high 
 throne, erected for the Emperor himself; and which was separated 
 from the more vulgar galleries by a circuit of wooden barricades, 
 which an experienced eye could perceive might, in case of need, be 
 made serviceable for purposes of defence. 
 
 The lists were sixty yards in length, by perhaps about forty in 
 breadth, and these afforded ample space for the exercise of the com- 
 bat, both on horseback aud on foot. Numerous bands of the Greek 
 citizens began, with the very break of day, to issue from the gates 
 and posterns of the city to examine and wonder at the construction 
 of the lists, pass their criticisms upon the purposes of the peculiar 
 parts of the fabric, and occupy places, to secure them for the spec- 
 tacle. Shortly after arrived a large band of those soldiers who were 
 called the Roman Immortals. These entered without^ ceremony, 
 and placed themselves on either hand of the wooden barricade which 
 fenced the Emperor's seat. Some of them took even a greater 
 liberty ; for, affecting to be pressed against the boundary, there were 
 individuals Avho approached the partition itself, and seemed to medi- 
 tate climbing over it, and placing themselves on the same side with 
 the Emperor. Some old domestic slaves of the household now 
 showed themselves, as if for the purpose of preserving this sacred 
 circle for Alexius and his court ; and, in proportion as the Immortals 
 began to show themselves encroaching and turbulent, the strength 
 of the defenders of the prohibited precincts seemed gradually to 
 increase. 
 
 There was, though scarcely to be observed, besides the grand 
 access to the Imperial seat from without, another opening also from 
 the outside, secured by a very strong door, by which different per- 
 sons received admissions beneath the seats destined for the Imperial 
 party. These persons, by their length of limb, breadth of shoulders, 
 by the fur of their cloaks, and especially by the redoubted battle- 
 axes which all of them bore, appeared to be Varangians ; but, al- 
 though neither dressed in their usual habit of pomp, nor in their more 
 effectual garb of war, still, when narrowly examined, they might be 
 
253 COU^T ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 seen to possei53 their usual offensive weapons. Tliese men, onferinf? 
 in separate and strag'oiing* parties, miglit be observed to join the 
 slaves of the interior of the palace in opposing- the intrusion of the 
 Immortals upon the seat of tlie Emperor and the benches around. 
 Two or three Immortals, Avho had actually made g-ood their frolic, 
 and climbed over the division, were flung- back again, very unceremo- 
 niously, by tlie barbaric streng-tli and sinewy arms of the Varang-ians. 
 The people around, and in the adjacent galleries, most of whom 
 had the air of citizens in their holiday dresses, commented a good 
 deal on tliese proceedings, and were inclined strongly to make part 
 with the Immortals. "It was a shame to the Emperor," they said, 
 "to encourage these British barbarians to interpose themselves by 
 violence between his person and the Immortal cohorts of the city, 
 who were in some sort his own children." 
 
 Ste])hanos, the gymnastic, whose bulky strength and stature ren- 
 dered him conspicuous amid his party, said, without hesitation, " If 
 there are two people here who will join in saying that the Immortals 
 arc unjustly deprived of their right of guarding the Emperor's per- 
 son, here is the hand that shall place them beside the Imperial chair." 
 "Not so," quoth a centurion of the Immortals, whom we have 
 already introduced to our readers by the name of Harpax: "Not so, 
 Stephanos; that happy time may arrive, but it is not yet come, my 
 gem of the circus. Thou knowest that on this occasion it is one of 
 these Comits, or western Franks, who undertakes the combat; and 
 tlie Varangians, who call these people their enemies, have some 
 reason to claim a precedency in guarding the lists, which it might 
 not at this moment be convenient to dispute with them. Why, man, 
 if thou wert half so witty as thou art long, tliou wouldst be sensible 
 that it were bad v/oodmanship to raise tlie hollo upon the game ere 
 it had been driven within compass of the nets." 
 
 Vv^hile the athlete rolled his huge grey eyes as if to conjure out 
 tlie sense of this intimation, his little friend Lysimachus, the artist, 
 putting himself to pain to stand upon his tiptoe and look intelligent, 
 said, approaching as near as he could to Harpax's ear, " Thou mayst 
 trust me, gallant centurion, that this man of mould and muscle shall 
 neither start like a babbling hound on a false scent, nor become 
 mute and inert when the general signal is given. But tell me," said 
 he, speaking' very low, and for that purpose mounting a bench, which 
 brought him on a level with the centurion's ear, "would it not have 
 been better that a strong guard of the valiant Immortals had been 
 placed in this wooden citadel to insure the object of the day?" 
 
 "^Vithout question," said the centurion, "it was so meant; but 
 these strolling Varangians have altered their station of their ov.n 
 authority." 
 
 " Vv^ere it not well," said Lysimachus, "that you, v,-ho are greatly 
 more numerous tijan the barbarians, should begin a fray before more 
 of these strangers arrive ? " 
 
 "Content ye, friend/' said the centurion, coldly; "we know our 
 time. An attack commenced too early v.-ould be worse than thrown 
 away, nor v;ould an opportunity occur of executing our prc^jcct ni 
 Uie fitting time if an alarm were prematurely given at this moment." 
 
COUNT 110T3EIIT OF PAUIS. 253 
 
 So saying', ho shuffled off among' his fellow-soldiers, so as to avoid 
 suspicious iutercourse with such persons as were only concerned 
 with the civic i)ortion of the conspirators. 
 
 As the morning- advanced, and the sun took a higher station in 
 the horizon, the various persons wlioni curiosity or some more de- 
 cided motive brought to see the proposed combat, were seen stream- 
 ing- from different parts of the town, and rushing to occu])y such 
 accommodation as the circuit round the lists afforded them. In 
 their road to the place where preparation for combat was made, 
 they had to ascend a sort of cape, which, in the form of a small hill, 
 projected into the Hellespont, and the buLt of which, connecting it 
 with the shore, afforded a considerable ascent, and of course a more 
 commanding view of the strait between Europe and Asia than either 
 the immediate vicinity of the city or the still lower ground upon 
 which the lists were erected. In passing- this height,_ the earlier 
 visitants of the lists made little or no halt; but after a time, when it 
 became obvious that those who had hurried forward to the place of 
 combat were lingering tliere without any object or occupation, they 
 that followed them in the same route, with natural curiosity, paid a 
 tribute to the landscape, bestowing- some attention on its beauty, 
 and paused to see Avhat auguries could be collected from the water, 
 Vvhich were likely to have any concern in indicating- the fate of the 
 events that were to take place. KSome straggling- seamen were the 
 first who remarked that a squadron of the Greek small craft (being 
 that of Tancred) were in the act of making- their Avay from Asia, 
 and threatening' a descent upon Constantinople. 
 
 " It is strang-e," said a person, by rank the captain of a galley, 
 " that these small vessels, which were ordered to return to Constan- 
 tinople as soon as they disembarked the Latins, should have remained 
 so long at Scutari, and should not be rowing back to the Imperial 
 city until this time, on the second day after their departure from 
 thence." 
 
 " I pray to Heaven," said another of the same profession, " that 
 these seamen may come alone. It seems to me as if their ensign- 
 staffs, bowsprits, and topmasts were decorated with the same ensigns, 
 or nearly the same, with those which the Latins displayed upon them, 
 when, by the Emperor's order, they were transported towards Pales- 
 tine ; so methinks the voyage back ag-ain resembles that of a fleet of 
 merchant vessels, who have been prevented from discharging their 
 cargo at the place of their destination." 
 
 "There is little good," said one of the politicians whom we for- 
 merly noticed, " in dealing v/ith such commodities, whether they are 
 imported or exported. Yon ample banner which streams over the 
 foremost galley, intimates the presence of a chieftain of no small 
 rank among the Counts, whether it be for valour or for nobility." 
 
 The seafaring- leader added, with the voice of one who hints 
 alarming tidings, " They seem to have got to a point in the straits 
 as high as will enable them to run dov/n with the tide, and clear the 
 cape which we stand on, although with what purpose they aim to 
 land so close beneath the walls of the city, he is a wiser man than I 
 ■who pretends to determine." 
 
264 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 " Assuredly," returned Iiis comrade, " the intention is not a kind 
 one. The wealth of the city has temptations to a poor people, who 
 only value the iron which they possess' as aflbrding- them the means 
 of procuring- the gold which they covet." 
 
 " Ay, brother," answerc-d Demetrius the politician, " but see you 
 not, lying at anchor within this bay which is formed by the cape, and 
 at the very point where these heretics are likely to be carried by the 
 tide, six strong vessels, having the power of sending forth, not 
 merely showers of darts and arrows, but of Grecian fire, as it is called, 
 from their hollow decks ? If these Frank gentry continue directing 
 their course upon the Imperial city, being-, as they are, 
 
 ' propago 
 
 Contemptrix Snperftra san^, sserseque avidissima coedis, 
 Et violenta,'! 
 
 we shall speedily see a combat better worth witnessing- than that 
 announced by the great trumpet of the Varangians, If you love me, 
 let us sit down here for a moment, and see how this matter is to 
 end." 
 
 " An excellent motion, my ingenious friend," said Lascaris, which 
 was the name of the other citizen ; "but, bethink you, shall we not 
 be in danger from the missiles with which the audacious Latins will 
 not fail to return the Greek fire, if, according to your conjecture, it 
 shall be poured upon them by the Imperial squadron ? " 
 
 "That is not ill-argued, my friend," said Demetrius; "but know 
 that you have to do with a man who has been in such extremities 
 before now; and if such a discharge should open from the sea, I 
 would propose to you to step back some fifty yards inland, and thus 
 to interpose the very crest of the cape between us and the discharge 
 of missiles ; a mere child might thus learn to face them without any 
 alarm." 
 
 " You are a wise man, neighbour," said Lascaris, " and possess 
 such a mixture of valour and knowledge as becomes a man whom a 
 friend might be supposed safely to risk his life with. There be 
 those, for instance, who cannot show you the slightest glimpse of 
 what is going on, without bringing you within peril of your life ; 
 whereas you, my worthy friend Demetrius, between your accurate 
 knowledge of military affairs, and your regard for your friend, are 
 sure to show him all that is to be seen without the least risk to a 
 person, who is naturally unwilling- to think of exposing himself to 
 injury. But, Holy Virgin! what is the meaning of that red flag- 
 which the Greek Admiral has this instant hoisted?" 
 
 " Why, you see, neighbour," answered Demetrius, " yonder western 
 heretic continues to advance without minding- the various signs which 
 our Admiral has made to him to desist, and now he hoists the bloody 
 colours, as if a man should clench his fist and say, If you persevere 
 in your uncivil intention, I will do so and so." 
 
 " By St Sophia," said Lascaris, " and that is giving him fair warn- 
 ing. But what is it the Imperial Admiral is about to do ? " 
 
 1 Ovid, Met. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OP TAKIS. 265 
 
 " Run . run ! friend Lascaris," said Demetrius, " or you will see 
 more of that than perchance you have any curiosity for." 
 
 According-ly, to add the strength of example to precept, Deme- 
 trius himself girt up his loins, and retreated mth the most edifying" 
 speed to the opposite side of the ridge, accompanied by the greater 
 part of the crowd, who had tarried there to witness the contest 
 which the newsmonger promised, and were determined to take his 
 word for their own safety. The sound and sight which had alarmed 
 Demetrius, was the discharge of a large portion of Greek fire, which 
 perhaps may be best compared to one of those immense Congreve 
 rockets of the present day, which takes on its shoulders_ a small 
 grapnel or anchor, and proceeds groaning through the air, like a 
 fiend overburdened by the mandate of some inexorable magician, and 
 of which the operation was so terrifying, that the crews of the ves- 
 sels attacked by this strange weapon frequently forsook every means 
 of defence, and ran themselves ashore. One of the principal ingre- 
 dients of this dreadful fire was supposed to be naphtha, or the bitu- 
 men which is collected on the banks of the Dead Sea, and which, 
 when in a state of ignition, could only be extinguished by a very sin- 
 gular mixture, and which it was not likely to come in contact with. 
 It produced a thick smoke and loud explosion, and was capable, says 
 Gibbon, of communicating its flames with equal vehemence in des- 
 cent or lateral progress.^ In sieges, it was poured from the ram- 
 parts, or launched like our bombs, in red-hot balls of stone or iron, 
 or it was darted in flax twisted round arrows and in javelins. It 
 was considered as a state secret of the greatest importance ; and for 
 well-nigh four centuries it was unknown to the Mohammedans. But 
 at length the composition was discovered by the Saracens, and used 
 by them for repelling the crusaders, and overpowering the Greeks, 
 upon whose side it had at one time been the most formidable imple- 
 ment of defence. Some exaggeration we must allow for a barbar- 
 ous period ; but there seems no doubt that the general description 
 of the crusader Joinville shotdd be admitted as correct : — " It came 
 flying through the air," says that good knight, "like a winged dra- 
 gon, about the thickness of a hogshead, with the report of thunder 
 and the speed of lightning, and the darkness of the night was dis- 
 pelled by this horrible illumination." 
 
 Not only the bold Demetrius and his pupil Lascaris, but all the 
 crowd whom they influenced, fled manfully when the commodore of 
 the Greeks fired the first discharge ; and as the other vessels in the 
 squadron followed his example, the heavens were filled with the 
 unusual and outrageous noise, while the smoke was so thick as to 
 darken the very air. As the fugitives passed the crest of the hill, 
 they saw the seaman, whom we formerly mentioned as a spectator, 
 snugly reclining under cover of a dry ditch, where he manao-ed so as 
 to secure himself as far as possible from any accident, lie could 
 not, however, omit breaking his jest on the politicians. 
 
 "What, ho!" he cried, "my good friends," without raising himself 
 above the counterscarp of his ditch, " will you not remain upon your 
 
 J For a full account of the Greek fire, see Gibbon, chapter lifL 
 
25G coujsrr robeut of imiiis. 
 
 station long' enoiig'li to finish that hopeful lecture upon battle by sea 
 and land, -which you had so happy an opportunity of comnienciug-? 
 Believe me, the noise is more alarming- than hurtful; the fire is all 
 pointed in a direction opposite to yours, and if one of those dragons ' 
 which you see does happen to fly landward instead of seaward, it is 
 but the mistake of some cabin-boy, who has used his linstock with 
 more willing-ness than ability." 
 
 Demetrius and Lascaris just heard enoug-h of the naval hero's 
 harangue, to acquaint them with the nev/ dang-er Avith which they 
 miglit be assailed by the possible misdirection of the v/capons, and, 
 rushing- down tovrards the lists at the head of a crowd half desperate 
 Avith fear, they hastily propagated the appalling news, that the Latins 
 were coming back from Asia with the purpose of landing in arms, 
 l)il]aging, and burning the city. 
 
 The uproar, in the mean time, of this unexpected occurrence, was 
 such as altogether to vindicate, in public opinion, the reported cause, 
 liowever exaggerated. The thunder of the Greek fire came succes- 
 sively, one hard upon the other, and each, in its turn, spread a blot 
 of black smoke upon the face of the landscape, which, tliickened by 
 so many successive clouds, seemed at last, like that raised by a sus- 
 tained fire of modern artillery, to overshadow the whole horizon. 
 
 The small squadron of Tancred were completely hid from view in 
 the surging volumes of darkness, which the breadth of the weapons 
 of the enemy had spread around him; and it seemed by a red light, 
 which began to show itself among the thickest of the veil of darkness, 
 that one of the flotilla at least had caught fire. Yet the Latins 
 resisted, with an obstinacy worthy of their own courage, and the 
 fame of their celebrated leader. Some advantage they had, on 
 account of their small size, and' their lowness in the water, as well as 
 tlie clouded state of the atmosphere, which rendered them difficult 
 marks for the fire of the Greeks. 
 
 To increase these advantages, Tancred, as well by boats as by the 
 kind of rude signals made use of at the period, dispersed orders to 
 his fleet, that each bark, disregarding the fixte of the others, should 
 press forward individually, and that the men from each should be 
 put on shore wheresoever and howsoever they could eficct that 
 manoeuvre. Tancred himself set a noble example ; he was on board a 
 stout vessel, fenced in some degree against the efi'ect of the Greek 
 fire by being in a great measure covered with raw hides, which hides 
 had also been recently steeped in water. This vessel contained up- 
 -wards of a hundred valiant warriors, several of them of knightly 
 order, who had all night toiled at the humble labours of the oar, and 
 iiov/- in the morning- applied their chivalrous hands to the arblasfc 
 and to the bow, v/hich were in general accounted the weapons of 
 persons of a lov/er rank. Thus armed, and thus manned, Prince 
 Tancred bestowed upon his bark the full velocity which wind, and 
 tide, and oar could enable her to obtain, and, placing her in the situa- 
 tion to profit by them as much as his maritime skill could direct, he 
 drove with the speed of lightning among the vessels of Lemnos, 
 plying on eitlier side bows, cross-bows, javelins, and military mis- 
 siles of every k\nx\, with the greater adYantaj^e that the Greeks 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARI3. 257 
 
 trusltng- to tlieir arLificial fire, liad omitted arming' tljcmsolves with 
 otlier weapons; so that when tlie valiant Crusader boro down on 
 them witli so much fury, repayino- the terrors of their lire v>ith a, 
 storm of bolts and arrows no less formidable, they began to feel that 
 their own advantage was much less than they had supposed, and tliat, 
 like most other dangers, the maritime fire of the Greeks, when un- 
 dauntedly confronted, lost at least one-half of its terrors. The Gre- 
 cian sailors, too, when they observed the vessels approacli so uear, 
 filled with the steel-clad Latins, began to shrink from a contest to be 
 maintained hand to hand with so terrible an enemy. 
 
 By^ degrees, smoke began to issue from the sides of the great 
 Grecian argosy, and the voice of Tancred announced to his soldiers 
 that the Grecian Admiral's vessel had taken fire, owing to negli- 
 gence in the management of the means of destruction she possessed, 
 and tliat all they had now to do was to maintain such a distance as 
 to avoid sharing her fate. Sparkles and flashes of flame were next 
 seen leaping from place to place on board of the great hulk, as if the 
 clement had had the sense and purpose of spreading wider the con- 
 sternation, and disabling the few who still paid attention to the com- 
 mands of their Admiral, and endeavoured to extinguish the fire. 
 The consciousness of the combustible nature of the freight, begau 
 to add despair to terror ; from the boltsprit, the rigging, the yards, 
 the sides, and every part of the vessel, the unfortunate crew were 
 seen dropping themselves, to exchange, for the most part, a watery 
 death for one by the more dreadful agency of fire. The crew of 
 Tancred's bark, ceasing, by that generous prince's commands, to 
 ofi'er any additional annoyance to an enemy who was at once threat- 
 ened by the perils of the ocean and of conflagration, rau their vessel 
 ashore in a smooth part of the bay, and jumping into the shallow sea, 
 ■ made the land v/ithout difficulty ; many of their steeds being, by the 
 I exertions of the owners, and the docility of the animals, brought 
 i ashore at the same time with their masters. Their commander lost 
 ': 110 time in forming their serried ranks into a phalanx of lancers, few 
 ' indeed at first, but perpetually increasing as ship after ship of tlie 
 I little flotilla rau ashore, or, having more deliberately moored their 
 [barks, landed their men, and joined their companions. 
 i The cloud which had been raised by the conflict was now driven to 
 leeward before the wind, and the strait exhibited only the relics of 
 the combat. Here tossed upon the billows the scattered and broken 
 remains of one or two of the Latin vessels which had been burnt at 
 the commencement of the combat, though their crews, by the exer- 
 tions of their comrades, had in general been saved. Lower down 
 were seen the remaining five vessels of the Lemnos squadron, holding 
 a disorderly and difficult retreat, with the purpose of gaining the 
 harbour of "Constantinople. In the place so late the scene of combat, 
 ilay moored the hulk of the Grecian Admiral, burnt to the water's 
 edge, and still sending forth a black smoke from its scathed beams 
 and planks. The flotilla of Tancred, busied in discharging its troops, 
 lay irregularly scattered along the ba}', the men making ashore as 
 they could and taking their course to join the standard of their leader. 
 Various bhick substances floated ou the surfixcc of the water, nearer, 
 
 s 
 
258 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS.^ 
 
 or more distant to the shore ; some proved to be tlie wreck of the vesseia 
 which had been destroyed, and others, more ominous still, the lifeless 
 bodies of mariners who had fallen in the conflict. 
 
 The standard had been borne ashore by tlie Prince's favourite 
 pag-e, Ernest of Apulia, so soon as the keel of Tancred's g'alley had 
 grazed upon the sand. It was then pitched on the top of that elevated 
 cape between Constantinople and the lists, where Lascaris, Deme- 
 trius, and other gossips, had hekl their station at the commencement 
 of the eng-agement, but from which all had ilcd, between the mingled 
 dread of the Greek fire and the missiles of the Latin crusaders. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Sheathed in complete armour, and supporting with his right 
 hand the standard of his fathers, Tancred remained with his hand- 
 ful of warriors like so many statues of steel, expecting some sort of 
 attack from the Grecian party which had occupied the lists, or from 
 the numbers whom the city gates began now to pour forth — soldiers 
 some of them, and others citizens, many of whom were arrayed as if 
 for conflict. These persons, alarmed by the various accounts which 
 were given of the combatants, and the progress of the fight, rushed 
 towa-rds the standard of Prince Tancred, with the intention of beat- 
 ing it to the earth, and dispersing the guards who owed it homage 
 and defence. But if the reader shall have happened to have ridden 
 at any time through a pastoral country, with a dog of a noble race 
 following him, he must have remarked, in the deference ultimately 
 paid to the high-bred animal by the shepherd's cur as he crosses the 
 lonely glen, of which the latter conceives himself the lord and 
 guardian, something very similar to the demeanour of the incensed 
 Greeks, wdien they approached near to the little band of Franks. 
 At the first symptom of the intrusion of a stranger, the dog of the 
 shepherd starts from his slumbers, and rushes towards the noble 
 intruder with a clamorous declaration of war ; but when the diminu- 
 tion of distance between them shows to the aggressor the size and 
 strength of his opponent, he becomes like a cruiser, who, in a chase, 
 has, to his surprise and alarm, found two tier of guns opposed to him 
 instead of one. He halts — suspends his clamorous yelping, and, in 
 fine, ingloriously retreats to his master, with all the dishonourable 
 marks of positively declining the combat. \ 
 
 It was in this manner that the troops of the noisy Greeks, with 
 much hallooing and many a boastful shout, hastened both from the 
 town and from the lists, with the apparent intention of sweeping 
 from the field the few companions of Tancred. As they advanced, 
 liowever, within the power of remarking the calm and regular order 
 of those men who had landed, and arranged themselves under this 
 noble chieftain's banner, their minds were altogether changed as to 
 the resolution of instant combat; their advance became an uncertain 
 and staggering gait, their heads were more frequently turned back 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 259 
 
 to the point from which they came, than towards the enemy ; and 
 their desire to provoke an instant scuffle vanislied totally, when there 
 did not appear the least symptom that their opponents cared about 
 the matter. 
 
 It added to the extreme confidence with whicli the Latins kept 
 their g-round, that they were receiving* frequent, though small rein- 
 forcements from their comrades, who were landing' by detachments 
 all along- the beach ; and that, in the course of a sliort hour, their 
 amount had been raised, on horseback and foot, to a number, allow- 
 ing- for a few casualties, not much less than that which set sail from 
 Scutari. 
 
 Another reason why the Latins remained unassailed, was certainly 
 the indisposition of the two principal armed parties on shore to enter 
 into a quarrel with them. The guards of every kind, who were 
 faithful to the Emperor, and more especially the Varangians, had 
 their orders to remain firm at their posts, some' in the lists, and others 
 at various places of rendezvous in Constantinople, wliere their pres- 
 ence was necessary to prevent the efi:ects of the sudden insurrection 
 which Alexius knew to be meditated against him. These, therefore, 
 made no hostile demonstration towards the baud of Latins, nor was 
 it the purpose of the Emperor they should do so. 
 
 On the other hand, the greater part of the Immortal Guards, and 
 those citizens who were prepared to play a part in the conspiracy, 
 had been impressed by the agents of tlie deceased Agelastes with 
 the opinion, that this band of Latins, commanded by Tancred, the 
 relative of Bohemond, had been despatched by the latter to their 
 assistance. These men, therefore, stood still, and made no attempt 
 to guide or direct the popular efforts of such as inclined to attack 
 these unexpected visitors ; in which purpose, therefore, no very great 
 party were united, while the majority were willing enough to find an 
 apology for remaining quiet. 
 
 In the mean time the Emperor, from his palace of Blacquernal, 
 observed what passed upon the straits, and beheld his navy from 
 Lemnos totally foiled in their attempt, by means of the Greek fire, 
 to check the intended passage of Tancred and his men. He had no 
 sooner seen the leading ship of this squadron begin to beacon the 
 darkness with its own fire, than the Emperor formed a secret resolu- 
 tion to disown the unfortunate Admiral, and make peace with the 
 Latins, if that should be absolutely necessary, by sending them his 
 head. He had hardly, therefore, seen the flames burst forth, and 
 the rest of the vessels retreat from their moorings, than in his own 
 mind, the doom of the unfortunate Phraortes, for such was the name 
 of the Admiral, was signed and sealed. 
 
 Achilles Tatius, at the same instant, determining to keep a close 
 eye upon the Emperor at this important crisis, came precipitately 
 into the palace, with an appearance of great alarm. 
 
 " My Lord ! — my Imperial Lord ! I am unhappy to be the messen- 
 ger of such unlucky news ; but the Latins have in great numbers 
 succeeded in crossing the strait from Scutari. The Lemnos squad- 
 ron endeavoured to stop them, as was last night determined upon in 
 tiie Imperial Council of War. By a heavy discharge of the Greek 
 
2G0 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 fire, 011G or two of the crusaders' vessels were consuraed, hut hy far 
 the greater luimher of them pushed on their course, hurnt the lead- 
 ing- ship of the unfortunate Phraortes, and it is strongly reported he 
 has himself perished, with almost all his men. The rest have cut 
 their cables, and abandoned the defence of the passage of the Helles- 
 pont." 
 
 '•' And you, Achilles Tatius," said the Emperor, " with what pur- 
 pose is it that you novv bring- me this melancholy news, at a period 
 so late, when I cannot amend the consequences?" 
 
 " Under favour, most gracious Emperor," replied the conspirator, 
 not without colouring and stammering, " such was not my intention 
 — I had hoped to submit a plan, by which I might easily have pre- 
 pared the way for correcting thas little error." 
 
 " Well, your plan, sir ? " said the Emperor, drily. 
 
 " With your sacred Majesty's leave," said the Acolyte, " I would 
 myself have undertaken instantly to lead against this Tancred and 
 liis Italians the battle-axes of the faithful Varangian guard, Vv'ho v/ill 
 make no more account of the small number of Franks who have come 
 ashore, than the farmer holds of the hordes of rats and miceand such 
 like mischievous vermin, who have harboured in his granaries."' 
 
 " And what mean you," said the Emperor, " that I am to do, while 
 my Anglo-Saxons fight for my sake ?" 
 
 '' Your Majesty," replied Achilles, not exactly satisfied Avith the 
 dry and caustic manner in which the Emperor addressed hinij '' may 
 put yourself at the head of the Immortal cohorts of Constantinople ; 
 and I am your security, that you may either perfect the victory over 
 the Latins, or at least redeem the most distant chance of a defeat, by 
 advancing at the head of this choice body of domestic troops, should 
 the day appear doubtful." 
 
 "You, yourself, Achilles Tatius," returned the Emperor, "have 
 repeatedly assured us that these Immortals retain a perverse attach- 
 ment to our rebel Ursel. How is it, then, you would have us intrust 
 our defence to these bands, when we have engaged our valiant Varan- 
 gians in the proposed conilict with the flower of the western army? 
 — Did you think of this risk, Sir Follower ? " 
 
 Achilles Tatius, much alarmed at an intimation indicative of his 
 purpose being known, answered, "That in his haste he had been more 
 anxious to recommend the plan which should expose his own person 
 to the greater danger than that perhaps which was most attended 
 with personal safety to his Imperial Master." 
 
 " I thank you for so doing," said the Emperor ; "you have anti- 
 cipated my wishes, though it is not in my power at present to follow 
 the -i^^W'-zQ you have given me. I would have been well contented, 
 undouoicdly, had these Latins measured their way over the strait 
 again, as suggested by last night's council; but since they have 
 arrived, and stand embattled on our shores, it is better that we pay 
 them with money and witU spoil than with the lives of our gallaiit 
 subjects. We cannot, after all, believe that they come with any 
 serious intention of doing us injury; it is but the insane desire of 
 witnessing feats of battle and single combat, which is to them the 
 breath of their nostrils, that can have impelled them to this v)artial 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 261 
 
 countormarcli. 1 impose upon you, Achilles Tatius, corabiniiig- the 
 Protosputluiire in the same commission with you, the duty of riding- 
 up to yonder standard, and learning" of their chief, called the Prince 
 Tancred, if he is there in person, the purpose of his return^ and the 
 cause of his entering- into debate with Phraortes and the Lemnos 
 squadron. If they send us any reasonable excuse, we shall not be 
 averse to receive it at their hands ; for we have not made so many 
 sacrifices for the preservation of peace, to break f(n-th into war, if, 
 after ail, so great an evil can be avoided. Thou Avilfc receive, there- 
 fore, with a candid and complacent mind, sucli apologies as they 
 may incline to bring forward; and be assured that the sight of 
 this puppet-show of a single combat will be enough of itself to 
 banish every other consideration from the reflection of these giddy 
 crusaders." 
 
 A knock was at this moment heard at the door of the Emperor's 
 apartment; and upon the word being' given to enter, tlie Protos- 
 pathaire made his appearance. He was arrayed in a splendid suit 
 of ancient Roman fashioned armour. The want of a visor left his 
 countenance entirely visible ; which, pale and anxious as it was, did 
 not well become the martial crest and dancing plume with which it 
 was decorated. He received the commission already mentioned 
 with the less alacrity, because the Acolyte was added to him as his 
 colleague ; for, as the reader may have observed, these two oliicei's 
 were of separate factions in the army, and on indifferent terms with 
 each other. Neither did the Acolyte consider his being' united in 
 commission with the Protospathaire as a mark either of the Em- 
 peror's confidence or of his ov/n safety. He was, liowever, in the 
 mean time, in the Blacquernal, where the slaves of the interior made 
 not the least hesitation, when ordered, to execute any ofificer of the 
 court. The two generals had, therefore, no other alternative than 
 that which is allowed to two greyhounds who are reluctantly coupled 
 together. The hope of Achilles Tatius was, that he might get safely 
 through his mission to Tancred, after which he thought the suc- 
 cessful explosion of the conspiracy might take ])lace and haveits 
 course, either as a matter desired and countenanced by those Latins, 
 or passed over as a thing- in which they took no interest on either 
 side. 
 
 By the parting order of the Emperor, they were to mount on horse- 
 back at the sounding of the great Varangian trumpet, put them- 
 selves at the head of those Anglo-Saxon guards in the courtyard of 
 their barrack, and await the Emperor's further orders. 
 
 There was something in this arrangement which pressed hard on 
 the conscience of Achilles Tatius, yet he was at a loss to justify his 
 apprehensions to himself, unless from a conscious feeling' of his own 
 guilt. He felt, however, that in being- detained, under pretence of 
 an honourable mission, at the head of the Varangians, he was de- 
 prived of the liberty of disposing- of himself, by wliich he had hoped 
 to communicate with the Caisar and Hereward, whom he reckoned 
 upon as his active accomplices, not knowing- that the first was at 
 this moment a prisoner in the Blacquernal, where Alexius had ar- 
 rested him in the apartments of the Empress, and that the second 
 
2G2 COUNT UOBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 was the most important support of Comneniis during- the wliole of 
 that eyentful day. 
 
 When the g-igantic trumpet of the Varangian guard sent forth 
 its deep signal through the city, the Protospathaire hurried Achilles 
 along with him to the rendezvous of the Varangians, and on the 
 way said to him, in an easy and indifferent tone, " As the Emperor 
 is in the field in person, you, his representative, or Follower, will of 
 course transmit no orders to the body-guard, except such as shall 
 receive their origin from himself, so that you will consider your 
 authority as this day suspended." 
 
 "I regret," said 'Achilles, "that there should have seemed any 
 cause for such precautions ; I had hoped my own truth and fidelity 
 —but— I am obsequious to his imperial pleasure in all things." 
 
 " Such are his orders," said the other oflicer, " and you know 
 under what penalty obedience is enforced." 
 
 " If I did not," said Achilles, " the composition of this body of 
 guards would remind me, since it comprehends not only great part 
 of those Varangians, who are the immediate defenders of the Em- 
 l)eror's throne, but those slaves of the interior, who are the execu- 
 tioners of his pleasure." 
 
 To this the Protospathaire returned no answer, while the more 
 closely the Acolyte looked upon the guard which attended, to the 
 unusual number of nearly three thousand men, the more had he 
 reason to believe that he might esteem himself fortunate, if, by the 
 intervention of either the Ctesar, Agelastes, or Hereward, he could 
 pass to the conspirators a signal to suspend the intended explosion, 
 which seemed to be provided against by the Emperor with unusual 
 caution. He would have given the full dream of empire, with which 
 he had been for a short time lulled asleep, to have seen but a glimpse 
 of the azure plume of Nicephorus, the white mantle of the philoso- 
 pher, or even a glimmer of Hereward's battle-axe. No such objects 
 could be seen anywhere, and not a little was the faithless Follower 
 displeased to see that whichever way he turned his eyes, those of the 
 Protospathaire, but especially of the trusty domestic officers of the 
 empire, seemed to follow and watch their occupation. 
 
 Amidst the numerous soldiers whom he saw on all sides, his eye 
 did not recognise a single man with whom he could exchange a 
 friendly or confidential glance, and he stood in all that agony of ter- 
 ror, which is rendered the more discomfiting, because the traitor is 
 conscious that, beset by various foes, his own fears are the most likely 
 of all to betray him. Internally, as the danger seemed to increase, 
 and as his alarmed imagination attempted to discern new reasons for 
 it, he could only conclude that either one of the three principal con- 
 spirators, or at least some of the inferiors, had turned informers ; 
 and his doubt was, whether he should not screen his own share of 
 what had been premeditated, by flinging himself at the feet of the 
 Emperor, and making a full confession. But still the fear of being- 
 premature in having recourse to such a base means of saving himself, 
 joined to the absence of the Emperor, united to keep within his lips 
 a secret, which concerned not only all his future fortunes, but life 
 itself. He was in the mean time, therefore, plunged as it were in a 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 233 
 
 sea of trouble and uncertainty, ^vhile the specks of land, which 
 seemed to promise him refug-e, were distant, dimly aecn, and ex- 
 tremely difficult of attainment. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 To-morrow— oh, that's sudden ! Spare him, spare hira : 
 lie's not prepared to die. 
 
 Shakespbark. 
 
 At the moment Avhen Achilles Tatius, with a feeling- of much inse- 
 curity, awaited the unwinding* of the perilous skein of state politics, 
 a private council of the Imperial family was held in the hall termed 
 the Temple of the Muses, repeatedly distinguished as the apartment 
 in which the Princess Anna Comnena was wont to make her evening- 
 recitations to those who were permitted the honour of hearing pre- 
 lections of her history. The council consisted of the Empress Irene, 
 the Princess herself, and the Emperor, with the Patriarch of the 
 Greek Church, as a sort of mediator between a course of severity 
 and a dangerous degree of lenity. 
 
 "Tell not me, Irene," said the Emperor, "of the tine things at- 
 tached to the praise of mercy. Here have I sacrificed my just re- 
 venge over my rival Ursel, and what good do I obtain by it? Why, 
 the old obstinate man, instead of being' tractable, and sehsible of the 
 g-enerosity whicli has spared his life and eyes, can be with difficulty 
 brought to exert himself in favour of the Prince to whom he owes 
 them. I used to think that eyesight and the breath of life were 
 things which one would preserve at any sacrifice ; but, on the con- 
 trary, I now beheve men value them like mere toys. Talk not to me, 
 therefore, of the gratitude to be excited by saving" this ungrateful 
 cub ; and believe me, girl," turning- to Anna, " that not only will all 
 my subjects, should I follow your advice, laugh at me for sparing-a 
 man so predetermined to work my ruin, but even thou thyself wilt 
 be the first to upbraid me with the'fooHsh kindness thou art now so 
 anxious to extort from me." 
 
 " Your Imperial pleasure then," said the Patriarch, " is fixed that 
 your unfortunate son-in-law shall suffer death for his accession to this 
 conspiracy, deluded by that heathen villain Agelastes, and the trai- 
 torous Achilles Tatius ? " 
 
 " Such is my purpose," said the Emperor ; " and in evidence that 
 I mean not again to pass over a sentence of this kind with a seeming- 
 execution only, as in the case of Ursel, this ungrateful traitor of ours 
 shall be led from the top of the staircase, or ladder of Acheron, as it 
 is called, through the large chamber named the Hall of Judgment, 
 at the upper end of which are arranged the apparati;:^ ior execution, 
 by which I swear " 
 
 " Swear not at all ! " said the Patriarch ; " I forbid thee, in the 
 name of that Heaven whose voice (though unworthy) speaks in my 
 person, to quench the smoking flax, or destroy the slight hope which 
 
264 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 there may remain, tliat you may finally bo persuaded to alter your 
 purpose respecting' your raisg-uided son-in-law, within the space al- 
 lotted to him to sue for your mercy. . Remember, I pray you, the re- 
 morse of Constantine." 
 
 " What means your reverence ?" said Irene. 
 
 "A trifle," replied the Emperor, "not worthy being quoted from 
 such a mouth as the Patriarch's, being, as it probably is, a relic of 
 paganism," 
 
 ''What is it?" exclaimed the females anxiously, in the hope of 
 liearing something which might strengthen their side of the ai'gu- 
 ment, and something- moved, perhaps, by curiosity, a motive whidi 
 seldom slumbers in a female bosom, even when the stronger passions 
 are in arms. 
 
 " The Patriarch will tell you," answered Alexius, " since you must 
 needs know; though I promise you, you will not receive any assist- 
 ance in your argument from a silly legendary tale." 
 
 "Hear it, however," said the Patriarch ; "for though it is a tale 
 of the olden time, and sometimes supposed to refer to the period 
 when heatlienism predominated, it is no less true, that it was a vow 
 made and registered in the chancery of the rightful Deity, by an 
 Em])eror of Greece. 
 
 "What I am now to relate to you," continued he, "is, in truth, a 
 tale not only of a Christian Emperor, but of him who made the whole 
 empire Christian ; and of that very Constantine, who was also the 
 first wlio declared Constantinople to be the metropolis of the empire. 
 This hero, remarkable alike for his zeal for religion and for his war- 
 like achievements, was crov/ned by Heaven with repeated victory, 
 and with all manner of blessings, save that unity in his family which 
 •wise men are most ambitious to possess. Not only was the blessing 
 of concord among brethren denied to the family of this triumphant 
 Emperor, but a deserving son of mature age, who had been supposed 
 to aspire to share the throne witli his father, was suddenly, and at 
 midnight, called upon to enter his defence against a capital charge 
 of treason. You will readily excuse my referring to the arts by 
 Avhicli the son was rendered guilty in the eyes of the father. Be it 
 enougli to say, that the unfortunate young man fell a victim to the 
 g"uilt of his stepmother, Fausta, and that he disdained to exculpate 
 liiraself from a charge so gross and so erroneous. It is said, that 
 the anger of the Emperor was kept up against liis son by the syco- 
 ])hants v*ho called upon Constantine to observe that the culprit dis- 
 dained even to supplicate for mercy, or vindicate his innocence from 
 •so foul a charge. 
 
 *'But the death-blow had no sooner struck the innocent youth, 
 than his father obtained proof of tiie rashness with which he liad 
 acted. He had at this period been engaged i^ constructing the 
 subterranean parts of tiie Blacquernal palace, which his remorse 
 appointed to contain a record of his paternal grief and contrition. 
 At the upper part of the staircase, called the Pit of Acheron, he 
 caused to be constructed a large chamber, still called the Hall of 
 Judgment, for the purpose of execution, A passage through an 
 archway in the upper wall leads from the hall to the place of misery, 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 2G5 
 
 where tlie axe, or other engine, is disposed for the execution of state 
 prisoners of consequence. Over this arclnvay was placed a species 
 of marble altar, surmounted by an image of the unfortunate Crispus 
 ^the materials were gold, and it bore the memorable inscription, To 
 
 MY SOX WHOM I RASnLY CONDEMNED, AND TOO HASTILY EXECUTED. 
 
 When constructing" this passage, Constantino made a vow, that he 
 himself and his posterity, being reigning Emperors, would stand be- 
 side the Statue of Crispus, at the time when any individual of their 
 family should be led to execution, and before they sujffered him to 
 pass from the Hall of Judgment to the Chamb«r of Death, that they 
 should themselves be personally convinced of the truth of the charge 
 under which he suftered. 
 
 "Time rolled on — the memory of Constantino v.'as remembered 
 almost like that of a saint, and the respect paid to it throve into 
 shadow the anecdote of his son's death. The exigencies of the state 
 rendered it difficult to keep so large a sum in specie invested in a 
 statue, which called to mind the unpleasant failings of so great a 
 man. Your Imperial Ilighness's predecessors applied the metal 
 which formed the statue to support the Turkish Avars; and the re- 
 morse and penance of Constantine died away in an obscure traditioii 
 of the Church or of the palace. Still, hov/ever, unless your Imperial 
 Majesty has strong reasons to the contrary, I should give it as my 
 opinion, that you will hardly achieve what is due to the memory of 
 the greatest of your predecessors, unless you give this unfortunate 
 criminal, being so near a relation of your own, an opportunity of 
 pleading his cause before passing by the altar of refuge; being the 
 name which is commonly given to the monument of the unfortunate 
 Crispus, son of Constantine, although now deprived both of the 
 golden letters which composed the inscription, and the golden 
 iniage which represented the roval sufferer." 
 
 A mournful strain of music was now heard to ascend the stair so 
 often mentioned. 
 
 " If I must hear the Csesar Nicephorus Bnennius, ere he pass the 
 altar of refuge, there must be no loss of time," said the Emperor; 
 " for these melancholy sounds announce that he has already ap- 
 proached the Hall of Judgment." 
 
 Both the Imperial ladies began instantly, Avith the utmost earnest- 
 ness, to deprecate the execution of the Casar s doom, and to conjure 
 Alexius, as he hoped for quiet in his household, and the everlasting 
 gratitude of his Avife and daughter, that he Avcaild listen to their 
 entreaties in behalf of an unfortunate man, Avho had been seduced 
 into guilt, but not from his heart. 
 
 "I Avill at least see him," said the Emperor, "and the holy voav of 
 Constantine shall be in the present instance strictly observed. But 
 remember, you foolish Avonaen, that the state of Crispus and the pre- 
 sent Csesar is as different as guilt from innocence, and that their 
 fates, therefore, may be justly decided upon opposite principles, and 
 Avith opposite results. But I Avill confront this criminal ; and 3'ou, 
 Patriarch,, may be present to render Avhat help is in your power to a 
 dying man ; for you, the Avife and mother of the traitor, you Avill, 
 methinks; do avcII to retire to the church, and pray God for the soul 
 
266 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 of the deceased, rather than disturb his last moments with unavailing 
 lamentations." 
 
 " Alexius," said the Empress Irene, "Ibascech you to be contented ; 
 be assured that we will not leave you in this dogged humour of blood- 
 shedding, lest you make such materials for history as are fitter for 
 the time of Nero than of Constantine.'' 
 
 The Emperor, without reply, led the way into the Hall of Judg- 
 ment, where a much stronger li^-ht than usual was already shining 
 up the stair of Acheron, from wnich were heard to sound, by sullen 
 and intermitted fits, the penitential psalms which the Greek Church 
 has appointed to be sung at executions. Twenty mute slaves, the 
 pale colour of whose turbans gave a ghastly look to the withered cast 
 of their features and the glaring whiteness of their eyeballs, ascended 
 two by two, as it were from the bowels of the earth, each of tliem 
 bearing in one hand a naked sabre, and in the other a lighted torch. 
 After these came the unfortunate Nicephorus ; his looks were those 
 of a man half-dead from the terror of immediate dissolution, and 
 what he possessed of remaining attention was turned successively to 
 two black-stoled monks, who were anxiously repeating religious pas- 
 sages to him alternately from the Greek Scripture, and the form of 
 devotion adopted by the Court of Constantinople. The Csesar's 
 dress also corresponded to his mournful fortunes : his legs and arms 
 were bare, and a simple white tunic, the neck of which was already 
 open, showed that he liad assumed the garments which were to serve 
 his last turn. A tall, muscular Nubian slave, who considered him- 
 self obviously as the principal person in the procession, bore on his 
 shoulder a large, heavy, headsman's axe, and, like a demon waiting 
 on a sorcerer, stalked step for step after his victim. The rear of the 
 procession was closed by a band of four priests, each of whom chanted 
 from time to time the devotional psalm which was thundered forth 
 on the occasion; and another of slaves, armed with bows and quivers 
 and with lances, to resist any attempt at rescue, if sucli should be 
 ofiered. 
 
 It would have required a harder heart than that of the unlucky 
 princess to have resisted this gloomy apparatus of fear and sorrow, 
 surrounding, at the same time directed against, a beloved object, 
 the lover of her youth, and the husband of her bosom, within a few 
 minutes of the termination of his mortal career. 
 
 As the mournful train approached towards the altar of refuge, 
 half-encircled as it now was by the two great and expanded arms 
 which projected from the wall, the Emperor, who stood directly in 
 the passage, threw upon the flame of the altar some chips of aromatic 
 wood, steeped in spirit of wine, which, leaping at once into a blaze, 
 illumiuated the doleful procession, the figure of the principal culprit, 
 and the slaves, who had most of them extinguished their flambeaux 
 so soon as they had served the purpose of lighting them up the 
 staircase. 
 
 The sudden light spread from the altar failed not to make the 
 Emperor and the Princesses visible to the mournful group which ap- 
 proached through the hall. All halted — all were silent. It was a 
 meeting, as the Princesshasexpressedherself in her historical work, 
 
COUNT K013ERT OF I'AUIS. 267 
 
 such as took place betwixt Ulyss(?s and the iuhabitants of the other 
 world, who, when they tasted of the blood of his sacrifices, recognised 
 him indeed, hut with empty lamentations, and gestures feeble and 
 shadowy. The hymn of contrition sunk also into silence ; and, of 
 the whole group, the only figure rendered more distinct, was the 
 gigantic execution yr, whose high and furrowed forehead, as well as 
 the broad steel of his axe, caught and reflected back the bright gleam 
 from the altar. Alexius saw the necessity of breaking the silence 
 which ensued, lest it should give the intercessors for the prisoner an 
 opportunity of renewing their entreaties. 
 
 "Nicephorus Briennius," he said, with a voice which, althougli 
 generally interrupted by a slight hesitation, which procured him, 
 among his enemies, the nickname of the Stutterer, yet, upon import- 
 ant occasions^like the present, was so judiciously tuned and balanced 
 in its sentences that no such defect was at all visible — " Nicephorus 
 Briennius," he said, " late Csesar, the lawful doom hath been spoken, 
 that, having conspired against the life of thy rightful sovereign ancl 
 affectionate father, Alexius Comnenus, thou shalt suffer the appro- 
 priate sentence, by having thy head struck from thy body. Here, 
 therefore, at the last altar of refuge, 1 meet thee, according to the 
 vow of the immortal Constantine, for the purpose of demanding 
 whether thou hast anything to allege why this doom should not be 
 executed? Even at this eleventh hour, thy tongue is unloosed to 
 speak with freedom what may concern thy life. All is prepared in 
 this world and in the next. Look forward beyond yon archway — the 
 block is fixed. Look behind thee, thou seest the axe already sharp- 
 ened — thy place for good or evil in the next world is already deter- 
 mined-— time flies— eternity approaches. If thou hast aught to say, 
 speak it freely — if nought, confess the justice of thy sentence, and 
 pass on to death. 
 
 The Emperor commenced this oration with those looks described 
 by his daughter as so piercing, that they dazzled like lightning, and 
 his periods, if not precisely flowing like burning lava, were yet the 
 accents of a man having the power of absolute command, and as such 
 produced an effect not only on the criminal, but also upon the Prince 
 himself, whose watery eyes" and fiilteriug voice acknowledged his 
 sense and feeling of the fatal import of the present moment. 
 
 Rousing himself to the conclusion of what he had commenced, the 
 Emperor again demanded whether the prisoner had anything to say 
 in his own defence. 
 
 Nicephorus was not one of those hardened criminals who may be 
 termed the very prodigies of history, from the coolness with which 
 they contemplated the consummation of their crimes, whether in 
 their own punishment or the misfortunes of others. " I have been 
 tempted," he said, dropping on his knees, '* and I have fallen. I 
 have nothing to allege in excuse of my folly and ingratitude ; but I 
 stand prepared to die to expiate my guilt." A deep sigh, almost 
 amounting to a scream, was here heard, close behind the Emperor, 
 and its cause assigned by the sudden exclamation of Irene — " My 
 lord! my lord! your daughter is gone!" And in fact Anna Com- 
 aena had sunk into her mother's avms without either sense or mo- 
 
2G8 COLLNT liOBEUT OV TAllIS. 
 
 lion. The fiitlier's attention was instantly called to support hia 
 swooning child, while the unhap'py husband strove with the guards 
 to be permitted to go to the assistance of his wife. " Give me but 
 five minutes of that time which the law lias abridged— let my efforta 
 but assist in recalling her to a life which should be as long as her 
 virtues and her talents deserve; and then let me die at her feet, for 
 I care not to go an inch beyond." 
 
 The Emperor, who in fact had been more astonished at the bold- 
 ness and rashness of Nicephorus than alarmed by his power, con- 
 sidered him as a man rather misled than misleading others, andfelt, 
 therefore, the full effect of this last interview. Pie was, besides, 
 not naturally cruel, where severities were to be enforced under his 
 own eye. 
 
 '•The divine and immortal Constantine," he said, "did not, I am 
 persuaded, subject his descendants to this severe trial in order fur- 
 tiicr to search out the innocence of the criminals, but rather to give 
 to those v/ho came after him an opportunity of generously forgiving 
 a crime which could not, without pardon— the express pardon of the 
 Prince— escape unpunished. 1 rejoice that I am born of the willow 
 rather than of tlie oak, and I acknowledge my weakness, that not 
 even the safety of my own life, or resentment of this unhappy man's 
 treasonable machinations, have the same effect with me as the tears 
 of my wife and the swooning of my daughter, llise up, Nicephorus 
 Jjriennius, freely pardoned, and restored even to the rank of Ctesar. 
 We will direct thy pardon to be made out by the great Logothete, 
 and sealed with tlie golden bull. For four-and-twenty hours thou 
 art a prisoner, until aii arrangement is made for preserving the pub- 
 lic peace. Meanwhile, thou wilt remain under the charge of the 
 l*atriarch, who will be answerable for thy forthcoming. — Daughter 
 and wife, you must now go hence to your own apartment ; a future 
 time will come, during which you may have enough of weeping and 
 embracing, mourning and rejoicing. Pray Heaven that I, who, hav- 
 ing been trained on till I have sacrificed justice and true policy to 
 uxorious compassion and paternal tenderness of heart, may not have 
 cause at last for grieving in good earnest for all the events of thia 
 miscellaneous drama." 
 
 The pardoned Caisar, who endeavoured to regulate his ideas ac- 
 cording to this unexpected cliange, foimd it as difficult to reconcile 
 himself to the reality of his situation as Ursel to the face of nature, 
 after having been long deprived of enjoying it ; so much do the diz- 
 ziness and confusion of ideas, occasioned by moral and physical 
 causes of surprise and terror, resemble each other in their effects on 
 the understanding. 
 
 At length he stammered forth a request that he might be permitted 
 to go to the field with the Emperor, and divert, by the interposition 
 of his own body, the traitorous blows which some desperate man 
 might aim against that of his Prince, in a day which v.'as too likely 
 to be one of danger and bloodshed. 
 
 "Hold there!" said Alexius Comnenus; — "we will not beginthy 
 newly-redeemed life by rencAved doubts of thine allegiance ; yet it ia 
 but fitting to remind thee that thou art still the nominal and ostcu 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF rARIS. 2G9 
 
 Bible head of those "who expect to take a part in this day's insurrec- 
 tion, and it will be the safest course to trust its pacification to others 
 than to thee. Go, sir, compare notes with the Patriarch, and merit 
 your pardon by confessing" to him any traitorous intentions concern- 
 ino' this 'oul conspiracy with which we may be as yet unacquainted. 
 — Daug'hter and wife, fiirewell! I must now depart for the lists, 
 where I have to speak witli the traitor Achilles Tatius and the 
 heathenish infidel Agelastes, if he still lives, but of whose providen- 
 tial death I hear a confirmed rumour." 
 
 " Yet do not go, my dearest father ! " said the Princess ; ''but let 
 me rather go to encourag-e the loyal subjects in your behalf. Tlie 
 extreme kindness which you have extended towards ray guilty hus- 
 band convinces me of the extent of your affection towards your un- 
 wortliy daughter, and the greatness of the sacrifice which you have 
 made to her almost childish affection for an ungrateful man who put 
 your life in danger." 
 
 '•' That is to say, daughter," said the Emperor, smiling, " that the 
 pardon of your husband is a boon which has lost its merit when it is 
 granted? Take my advice, Anna, and think otherwise; wives and 
 their husbands ought in prudence to forget their oftonces towards 
 each other as soon as human nature will permit them. Life is too 
 short, and conjugal tranquillity too uncertain, to admit of dwelling 
 long upon such irritating subjects. To your apartments, Princesses, 
 and prepare the scarlet buskins, and the embroidery which is dis- 
 played on the cuffs and collars of the Csesar's robe, indicative of his 
 high rank. He must not be seen without them on the morrow. — ■ 
 Reverend father, I remind you once more that the Cjesar is in your 
 personal custody from this moment until to-morrow at the same hour." 
 
 They parted ; the Emperor repairing to put himself at the head of 
 his Varangian Guards — the Csesar, under the superintendence of the 
 Patriarch, withdrawing into the interior of the Blacquernal Palace, 
 where Kicephorus Briennius was under the necessity of " unthread- 
 ing tlic rude eye of rebellion," and throwing such lights as were in 
 his power upon the progress of the conspiracy. 
 
 "Agelastes," he said, "Achilles Tatius, and Hereward the Varan- 
 gian, were the persons principally intrusted in its progress. But 
 whether they had been all true to their engagements, he did not pre- 
 tend to be assured." 
 
 In the female apartments, there was a violent discussion betwixt 
 Anna Comnena and her mother. The Princess had undergone dur- 
 ing the day many changes of sentiment and feeling; and though 
 they had finally united themselves into one strong interest in her 
 Imsband's favour, yet no sooner was the fear of his punishment re- 
 moved, than the sense of his ungrateful behaviour began to revive. 
 She became serisible also that a woman of her extraordinary attain- 
 ments, who had been by a universal course of flattery disposed to en- 
 tertain a very high opinion of her own consequence, made rather -a, 
 poor figure when she had been the passive subject of along series of 
 intrigues, by which she was destined to be disposed of in one way or 
 the other, according to the humour of a set of subordinate conspira- 
 tors, who never so much as dreamed of regarding her as a being 
 
270 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 capable of formings a wish in her own behalf, or even yielding' or re- 
 fusing' a consent. Her father's authority over her, and right to dis 
 pose of her, was less questionable ; but even then it was something- 
 derog'atory to the dignity of a Princess born in the purple —an au- 
 thoress besides, and g-iver of immortality — to be, without her own 
 consent, thrown, as it were, at the head now of one suitor, now of 
 another, however mean or disg'usting", whose alliance could for the 
 time benefit the Emperor. The consequence of these moody reflec- 
 tions was, that Anna Comnena deeply toiled in spirit for the discovery 
 of some means by which she mig-ht assert her sulHed dig-nity, and 
 various were the expedients which she revolved. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXn. 
 
 But now the band of fate is on the curtain , 
 And brings the scene to light. 
 
 Don Seiastian. 
 
 The g'ig'antic trumpet of the Yarang-ians sounded its loudest note 
 of march, and the squadrons of the faithful guards, sheathed in com- 
 plete mail, and enclosing- in their centre the person of their Imperial 
 master, set forth upon their procession through the streets of Con- 
 stantinople. The form of Alexius, glittering in his splendid armour, 
 seemed no unmeet central point for the force of an empire ; and, 
 while the citizens crowded in the train of him and his escort, there 
 might be seen a visible difference between those who came with the 
 premeditated intention of tumult, and the greater part, who, like the 
 multitude of every great city, thrust each other, and shout for rapture 
 on account of any cause for which a crowd maybe collected together. 
 The hope of the conspirators was lodged chiefly in the Immortal 
 Guards, who were levied principally for the defence of Constanti- 
 nople, parto"ok of the general prejudices of the citizens, and had been 
 particularly influenced by those in favour of Ursel, by whom, previous 
 to his imprisonment they had themselves been commanded. The 
 conspirators had determined that those of this body who were con- 
 sidered as most discontented, should early in the morning take posses- 
 sion of the posts in the lists most favourable for their purpose of as- 
 saulting the Emperor's person. But, in spite of all efforts short of 
 actual violence, for which the time did not seem to be come, they 
 found themselves disappointed in this purpose, by parties of the 
 Varangian Guards planted with apparent carelessness, but, in fact, 
 with perfect skill for the prevention of their enterprise. Some- 
 what confounded at perceiving that a design which they could not 
 suppose to be suspected, was, nevertheless, on every part controlled 
 and counter-checked, the conspirators began to look for the principal 
 persons of their own party, on whom they depended for orders in this 
 emergency; but neither the Csesar nor Agelastes was to be seen, 
 whether in the lists or on the military march from Constantinople 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 27l 
 
 find though Achilles Tatius rode in the latter asserably, yet it might 
 be plearly observed that he Avas rather attending- upon the Protospa- 
 thaire, than assuming that independence as an officer which he loved 
 to affect. 
 
 In tliis manner, as the Emperor with his glittering bands ap- 
 proached the phalanx of Tancred and his followers, who were drawn 
 up, it will be remembered, upon a rising cape between the city and 
 the lists, the main body of the Imperial procession deflected in some 
 degTee from the straight road in order to march past them without in- 
 terruption ; while the Protospathaire and the Acolyte passed under 
 the escort of a band of Varangians, to bear the Emperor's inquiries 
 to Prince Tancred, concerning the purpose of his being there with 
 his band. The short mf»;-cli was soon performed — the large trumpet 
 which attended the two officers sounded a ])arley, and Tancred him- 
 self, remarkable for that personal beauty which Tasso has preferred 
 to any of the crusaders, except Rinaldo d'Este, the creature of his 
 own poetical imagination, advanced to parley with them. 
 
 " The Emperor of Greece," said the Protospathaire to Tancred, 
 " requires the Prince of Otr.iiito to shew, by the two high officers who 
 shall deliver him this message, with what purpose lie has returned, 
 contrary to his oath, to the right side of these straits; assuring 
 Prince Tancred at the same time, that nothing will so much please 
 the Emperor, as to receive an answer not at variance with his treaty 
 with the Duke of Bouillon, and the oath which was taken by the 
 crusading nobles and their soldiers ; since that would enable the 
 Emperor, in conformity to his own wishes, by his kind reception of 
 Prince Tancred and his troop, to show how high is his estimation 
 of the dignity of the one, and the bravery of both — We wait an 
 answer. 
 
 The tone of the message had nothing in it very alarming, and its 
 substance cost Prince Tancred very little trouble to answer. *' The 
 cause," he said, " of the Prince of Otranto appearing here with fifty 
 lances, is this cartel, in which a combat is appointed betwixt Nice- 
 ph^vus Bi:?:inr,i , called the Csesar, a high member of this empire, 
 and a worthy knight of great fame, the partner of the Pilgrims who 
 have taken the Cross, in their high vow to rescue Palestine from the 
 infidels. The name of the said Knight is the redoubted Robert of 
 Paris. It becomes, therefore, an obligation, indispensable upon the 
 Holy Pilgrims of the Crusade, to send one chief of their number, with 
 a body of men-at-arms, sufficient to see, as is usual, fair play between 
 the combatants. That such is their intention, may be seen from their 
 sending no more than fifty lances, with their furniture and following; 
 whereas it would have cost them no trouble to have detached ten 
 times the number, had they nourished any purpose of interfering by 
 force, or disturbing the fair combat which is about to take place. 
 The Prince of Otranto, therefore, and his followers, will place them- 
 selves at the disposal of. the Imperial Court, and witness the proceed- 
 ings of the combat, with the most perfect confidence that the rules 
 of fjiir battle will be punctually observed." 
 
 The two Grecian officers transmitted this reply to the Emperor, 
 who heard it with pleasure, and, immediately proceeding' to act upon 
 
272 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 the principle wliieli he lifid laid down, of maintaining" peace, if pos- 
 sible, with the crusaders, named Prince Tancred with the Protos- 
 pathaire as Field Marslials of the lists, fully empowered, under the 
 Emperor, to decide all the terms of the combat, and to have recourse 
 to Alexias himself where there opinions disagTeed. This was made 
 known to the assistants, who were thus prepared for the entry into 
 the lists of the C4recian officer and the Italian prince in full armour, 
 v.hile a ])rociamation announced to all the spectators their solemn 
 office. The same annunciation commanded the assistants of every 
 kind to clear a convenient part of the seats which surrounded the lists 
 on one side, that it m.ig-ht serve for the accommodation of Prince Tan- 
 cred's followers. 
 
 Acliilles Tatius, who was a heedful observer of all these passng-es, 
 saw with alarm, that by the last collocation the armed Latins were 
 interposed between the Immortal Guards and the discontented citi- 
 zens, which made it most probable that the conspiracy was discovered, 
 and that Alexius found he had a i^ood rig-ht to reckon upon the assist- 
 ance of Tancred and his forces in the task of suppressing- it. This, 
 added to the cold and caustic manner in v>'hich the Emperor com- 
 municated his commands to him, made the Acolyte of opinion, that 
 liis best chance of escape from the dang-er in which he was now 
 ])laced, was, that the whole conspiracy should fall to the ground, and 
 that the day should pass without the least attempt to shake the throne 
 of Alexius Comnenus. Even then it continued highly doubtful 
 whether a despot, so v/ily and so suspicious as the Emperor, would 
 think it sufficient to rest satisfied with the private knowledge of the 
 undertaking-, and its failure, with which he appeared to be possessed, 
 without putting- into exercise the bow-strings and the blinding-irons 
 of the nmtes of the interior. There was, however, little possibility 
 either of flight or of resistance. The least attempt to withdraw iiini- 
 self from the neighbourhood of those faithful followers of the Em- 
 peror, personal foes of his own, by whom he was gradually and more 
 closely surrounded, became each moment more perilous, and more 
 certain to provoke a rupture, which it was the interest of the weaker 
 party to delay, with whatever difficulty. And while the soldiers under 
 Achilles's immediate authority seemed still to treat him as their su- 
 perior officer, and appeal to him for the word of command, it became 
 more and more evident that the slightest degree of suspicion which 
 should be excited, Avould be the instant signal for his being placed 
 under arrest. V/itli a trembling heart, therefore, and eyes dimmed 
 by the powerful idea of soon parting with the light of day, and all 
 that it made visible, the Acolyte sav/ himself condemned to watch the 
 turn of circumstances, over which he could have no influence, and to 
 content himself with waiting the result of a drama, in which his own 
 life was concerned, although the piece v/as played by others. Indeed, 
 it seemed as if through the whole assembly some signal v/as waited 
 for, which no one was in readiness to give. 
 
 The discontented citizens and soldiers looked in vain for Agelastes 
 and the C?esar ; and when they observed the condition of Achilles 
 Tatius, it seemed such as rather to express doubt and consternation, 
 than to give encouragement to the hopes they had entertained. 
 
COUNT KOBEKT OF PAEIS. 273 
 
 Many of the lower classes, however, felt too secure in (heir OAvn in- 
 sig-nificancc to fear the personal consequences of a tumult, and were 
 desirous, therefore, to provoke the disturbance, which seemed husli- 
 ing- itself to sleep. 
 
 A hoarse^ murmur, which attained almost the importance of a 
 shout, exclaimed, — " Justice, justice ! — Ursel, Ursel!— The rights of 
 the Immortal Guards ! " &c. At this the trumpet of the Varangians 
 awoke, and its tremendous tones were heard to peal loudly over the 
 whole assembly, as the voice of its presiding- deity. A dead silence 
 prevailed in the multitude, and the voice of a herald announced, iu 
 the name of Alexius Comnenus, his sovereig^n will and pleasure. 
 
 " Citizens of the Roman Empire, your complaints, stirred up by 
 factious men, have reached the ear of your Emperor; you shall your- 
 selves be witness to his power of g-ratifying his people. At your re- 
 quest, and before your own sight, the visual ray which hath been 
 quenched shall be re-illumined — the mind whose efforts were re- 
 stricted to the imperfect supply of individual wants shall be ag-ain 
 extended, if such is the owner's will, to the charge of an ample 
 Theme or division of the Empire. Political jealousy, more hard to 
 receive conviction than the blind to receive sight, shall yield itself 
 conquered, by the Emperor's paternal love of his people, and his 
 desire to give them satisfoction. Ursel, the darling- of your wishes, 
 supposed to be long- dead, or at least believed to exist in blinded 
 seclusion, is restored to you well in health, clear in eyesight, and 
 possessed of every faculty necessary to adorn the Emperor's favour, 
 or merit the affection of the people." 
 
 As the herald thus spoke, a figure, which had hitherto stood 
 shrouded behind some officers of the interior, now stepped forth, 
 and flinging from him a dusky veil, in which he was wrai)t, appeared 
 in a dazzling- scarlet garment, of which the sleeves and buskins dis- 
 played those ornaments which expressed a rank nearly adjacent to 
 that of the Emperor himself. He held in his hand a silver truncheon, 
 the badge ot delegated command over the Immortal Guards, and, 
 kneeling before the Emperor, presented it to his hands, intimating 
 a virtual resignation of the command which it implied. The whole as- 
 sembly were electrified nt tlie appearance of a person long' supposed 
 eithei' dead, or by cruel means rendered incapable of public trust. 
 Some recognised the man whose appearance and features were not 
 easily forgot, and gratulated him upon his most unexpected return 
 to the service of his country. Others stood suspended in amazement, 
 not knowing whether to trust their eyes, while a few determined 
 malcontents eagerly pressed upon the assembly an allegation that 
 the person presented as Ursel was only a counterfeit, and the whole 
 a trick of the Emperor. 
 
 " Speak to them, noble Ursel," said the Emperor. " Tell tliem, 
 that if I have sinned against thee, it has been because I was deceived, 
 and that my disposition to make thee amends is as ami)le as ever was 
 my purpose of doing thee wrong." 
 
 " Friends and countrymen," said Ursel, turning himself to the as- 
 sembly, "his Imperial Majesty permits me to offer my assurance, that 
 if in any former part of my life I have suffered at his hand, it is more 
 
 T 
 
274 COUNT ROBERT OF TARIS. 
 
 tliau wiped out by the feeling's of a moment so g-lorious as this; and 
 tliat I am well satisfied, from the present instant, to spend what re* 
 miiins of my life in tlie service of the most generous and beneficent 
 of soverei<?ns, or, with his permission, to bestow it in preparing", by 
 devotional exercises, for an infinite immortality to be apent in the 
 society of saints and angels. Whichever choice I shall make, I reckon 
 that you, my beloved countrymen, who have remembered me so kindly 
 during- years of darkness and captivity, will not fail to afford me the 
 advantage of your prayers." 
 
 This sudden apparition of the long lost Ursel had too^ much of 
 that which elevates and surprises not to captivate the multitude, and 
 they sealed their reconciliation with three tremendous shouts, which 
 are said to have shaken the air, that birds, incapable of sustaining 
 themselves, sunk down exhausted out of their native element. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIIL 
 
 " What, leave the combat out ! " exclaimed the knight. 
 " Yea 1 or we must renounce the Stagyrite. 
 So huge !i crowd the stage will ne'er contain." 
 — " Then build a new, or act it on a plain." 
 
 POPB. 
 
 The sounds of the g'ratulating- shout had expanded over the dis- 
 tant shores of the Bosphorus by mountain and forest, and died at 
 leng'th in the farthest echoes, when the people, in the silence which 
 ensued, appeared to ask each other what next scene was about to 
 adorn a pause so solemn and a stage so august. The pause would 
 probably have soon given place to some new clamour, for a multitude, 
 from whatever cause assembled, seldom remains long silent, had not 
 a new signal from the Varangian trumpet given notice of a fresh 
 purpose to solicit their attention. The blast had something in its 
 tone spirit-stirring and yet melancholy, partaking both of the char- 
 acter of a point of war, and of the doleful sounds which might be 
 chosen to announce an execution of peculiar solemnity. Its notes 
 were high and widely extended, and prolonged and long dwelt upon, 
 as if the brazen clamour had been waked by something more tre- 
 mendous than the lungs of mere mortals. 
 
 The multitude appeared to acknowledge these awful sounds, which 
 were indeed such as habitually solicited their attention to Imperial 
 edicts of melancholy import, by Avhich rebellions were announced, 
 dooms of treason discharged, and other tidings of a great and affect- 
 ing import intimated to the people of Constantinople. When the 
 trumpet had in its turn ceased, with its thrilling and doleful notes, 
 to agitate the immense assembly, the voice of the herald again ad- 
 dressed them. 
 
 It announced in a grave and affecting strain, that it sometimes 
 chanced how the people failed in their duty to a sovereign, who was 
 unto them as a father, and liow it became the painful duty of the 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 276 
 
 prince to use the rod of correction rather than the olive sceptre of 
 mercy. 
 
 "Fortunate," continued the herald, "it is, when the supreme 
 Deity, having" taken on himself the preservation of a throne, in 
 beneficence and justice resembling- his own, has also assumed the 
 most painful task of his eartlily delegate, by punishing those whom 
 his unerring judgment acknowledges as most guilty, and leaving to 
 his substitute the more agreeable task of pardoning' such of those as 
 art has misled, and treachery hath involved in its snares. 
 
 "Such being- the case, Greece and its accompanying Themes, are 
 called upon to listen and learn that a villain, namely Agelastes, who 
 had insinuated himself into the favour of the Emperor, by affecta- 
 tion of deep knowledge and severe virtue, had formed a treacherous 
 f)lan for the murder of the Emperor Alexius Comnenus, and a revo- 
 ution in the state. This person, who, under pretended wisdom, hid 
 the doctrines of a heretic and the vices of a sensualist, had found 
 proselytes to his doctrines even among the Emperor's household, and 
 those persons who were most bound to him, and down to the lower 
 order, to excite the last of whom were dispersed a multitude of 
 forged rumours, vsimilar to tliose concerning- Ursel's death and blind- 
 ness, of wiiich your own eyes have witnessed the falsehood." 
 
 The people, who had hitherto listened in silence, upon this appeal 
 broke forth in a clamorous assent. They had scarcely been again 
 silent, ere the iron-voiced herald continued his proclamation. 
 
 " Not Korab,Dathan, and Abiram," he said, "had more justly, or 
 more directly fallen under tlie doom of an offended Deity, than this 
 villain, Agelastes. The steadfast earth gaped to devour the apost- 
 ate sons of Israel, but the termination of this wretched man's exist- 
 ence has been, as far as can now be known, by the direct means of 
 an evil spirit, whom his own arts had evoked into the upper air. By 
 the spirit, as would appear by the testimony of a noble lady, and 
 other females, who witnessed the termination of his life, Agelastes 
 was strangled, a fate well becoming his odious crimes. Such a 
 death, even of a guilty man, must, indeed, be most painful to the 
 humane feelings of the Emperor, because it involves suffering' be- 
 yond this world. But the awful catastrophe carries with it this com- 
 fort, that it absolves the Emperor from the necessity of carrying any 
 farther a vengeance which Heaven itself seems to have limited to 
 the exemplary punishment of the principal conspirator. Some 
 changes of offices and situations shall be made, for the sake of safety 
 and good order ; but the secret who had or who had not, been con- 
 cerned in this awful crime, shall sleep in the bosoms of the persona 
 themselves implicated, since the Emperor is determined to dismiss 
 their offence from his memory, as the effect of a transient delusion. 
 Let all, therefore, who now hear me, whatever consciousness they 
 may possess of a knowledge of what was tiiis day intended, return 
 to their houses, assured that their own thoughts will be their only 
 punishment. Let them rejoice that Almighty goodne.ss Ims saved 
 them from the meditations of their own hearts, and, according to the 
 affecting- language of Scripture, — ' Let them repent and sin no more, 
 lest a worse thing befall them.'" 
 
276 COUKT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 Tlie voice of the herald then ceased, and was again answered by 
 the shouts of tlie audience. These were unanimous; for circum- 
 stances contributed to convince the malcontent party that they stood 
 at the Sovereig-n's mercy, and the edict that they heard having- 
 shown his acquaintance with their guilt, it lay at his pleasure to let 
 loose upon them the strength of the Varangians, while, from the 
 terms on which it had pleased him to receive Tancred, it was pro- 
 bable that the Apuleian forces were also at his disposal. 
 
 The voices, therefore, of the bulky Stephanos, of Harpax the cen- 
 turion, and other rebels, both of the camp and city, were the first to 
 thunder forth their gratitude for the clemency of the Emperor, and 
 their thanks to Heaven for his preservation. 
 
 The audience, reconciled to the thoughts of the discovered and 
 frustrated conspiracy, began meantime, according to their custom, 
 to turn themselves to the consideration of the matter which had 
 more avowedly called them together, and private whispers, swelling 
 by degrees into murmurs, began to express the dissatisfaction of the 
 citizens at being thus long assembled, without receiving any com- 
 munication respecting the announced purpose of their meeting. 
 
 Alexius was not slow to perceive the tendency of their thoughts ; 
 and, on a signal from his hand, the trumpets blew a point of war, in 
 sounds far more lively than those which had prefaced the Imperial 
 edict. " Robert, Count of Paris," then said a herald, " art thou here 
 in thy place, or by knightly proxy, to answer the challenge brought 
 against thee by his Imperial Highness Nicephorus Briennius, Csesar 
 of this empire ? " 
 
 The Emperor conceived himself to have equally provided against 
 the actual appearance at this call of either of the parties named, and 
 had prepared an exhibition of another kind, namely, certain cages, 
 tenanted by wild animals, which being' now loosened, should do their 
 pleasure with each other in the eyes of the assembly. His astonish- 
 ment and confusion, therefore, were great, when, as the last note of 
 the proclamation died in the echo, Count Robert of Paris stood 
 forth, armed cap-a-pie, his mailed charger led behind him from 
 within the curtained enclosure, at one end of the lists, as if ready to 
 mount at the signal of the marshal. 
 
 The alarm and the shame that were visible in every countenance 
 near the Imperial presence when no Csesar came forth in like fashion 
 to confront the formidable Frank, were not of long duration. Hardly 
 had the style and title of the Count of Paris been duly announced 
 by the heralds, and their second summons of his antagonist uttered 
 in due form, when a person, dressed like one of the Varangian 
 Guards, sprung into the lists, and announced himself as ready to do 
 battle in the name and place of the Csesar Nicephorus Briennius, 
 and for the honour of the empire. 
 
 Alexius, with the utmost joy, beheld this unexpected assistance, 
 and readily gave his consent to the bold soldier who stood thus for- 
 ward in the hour of utmost need, to take upon himself the danger- 
 ous office of champion. He the more readily acquiesced, as, from 
 tke size and appearance of the soldier, and the gallant bearing he 
 
COUNT ROBERT OP PARIS. 277 
 
 displayed, he had no doubt of his individual person, and fully con- 
 fided in his valour. But Prince Tancred interposed his opposition, 
 
 " The lists," he said, " were only open to knights and nobles ; or, 
 at any rate, men were not permitted to meet therein who were not 
 of some equality of birth and blood ; nor could he remain a silent 
 witness where the laws of chivalry were in such respects forgotten." 
 
 "Let Count Robert of Paris," said the Varangian, "look upon 
 my countenance, and say whether he has not, by promise, removed 
 all objection to our contest which might be founded upon an inequa- 
 lity of condition, and let him be judge himself, whether, by meeting 
 me in this field, he will do more than comply with a compact which 
 he has long since become bound by." 
 
 Count Robert, upon this appeal, advanced and acknowledged, 
 without further debate, that, nothwithstandiug their difference of 
 rank, he held himself bound by his solemn word to give this vahant 
 soldier a meeting in the field. That he regretted, on account of this 
 gallant man's eminent virtues, and the high services he had received 
 at his hands, that they Should now stand upon terms of such bloody 
 arbitration ; but since nothing was more common than that the fate 
 of war called on friends to meet each other in mortal combat, he 
 would not shrink from the engagement he had pledged himself to ; 
 nor did he think his quality in the slightest degree infringed or 
 diminished, by meeting in battle a warrior so well known and of 
 Buch good account as Hereward, the brave Varangian. He added, 
 that " he willingly admitted that the combat should take place on 
 foot, and with the battle-axe, which was tlie ordinary weapon of the 
 Varangian Guard." 
 
 Hereward had stood still, almost like a statue, while this discourse 
 passed; but when the Count of Paris had made. this speech, he in- 
 clined himself towards him with a graceful obeisance, and expressed 
 himself honoured and gratified by the manly manner in which the 
 Count acquitted himself, according to his promise, with complete 
 honour and fidelity. 
 
 " ^Yhat we are to do," said Count Robert, with a sigh of regret, 
 which even his love of battle could not prevent. " let us do quiclcly ; 
 the heart may be affected, but the hand nmst do its duty." 
 
 Hereward assented, with the additional remark, " l^et us then lose 
 no more time, which is already flying fast." And, grasping his axe, 
 he stood prepared for combat. 
 
 " I also am ready," said Count Robert of Paris, taking the same 
 weapon from a Varangian soldier, who stood by the lists. Both were 
 immediately upon the alert, nor did further forms or circumstances 
 put oft" the intended duel. 
 
 The first blows were given and parried with great caution, and 
 Prince Tancred and others thought that on the part of Count Robert 
 the caution ^yas much greater than usual ; but, in combat as in food, 
 the appetite increases Avith the exercise. The fiercer passions began, 
 as usual, to awaken with the clash of arms and the sense of deadly 
 blows, some of which were made with great fury on either side, and 
 parried with considerable difficulty, and not so completely but what 
 
278 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 blood flowed on both their parts. The Greeks looked with astonish- 
 ment on a single combat, such as they had seldom witnessed, and 
 held their breath as they beheld the furious blows dealt by either 
 warrior, and expected with each stroke the annihilation of one or 
 other of the combatants. As yet their strength and agility seemed 
 somewhat equally matched, although those who judged with more 
 pretension to knowledge, were of opinion, that Count Robert spared 
 putting forth some part of the military skill for which he was cele- 
 brated ; and the remark was generally made and allowed, that he 
 had surrendered a great advantage by not insisting upon his right to 
 fight upon horseback. On the other hand, it was the general opinion 
 that the gallant Varangian omitted to take advantage of one or two 
 opportunities afforded him by the heat of Count Robert's temper, 
 who obviously was incensed at the duration of the combat. 
 
 Accident at length seemed about to decide what had been hitherto 
 an equal contest. Count Robert, making a feint on one side of his 
 antagonist, struck him on the other, which was uncovered, with the 
 edge of his weapon, so that the Varangian reeled, and seemed in the 
 act of falling to the earth. The usual sound made by spectators at 
 the sight of any painful or unpleasant circumstance, by drawing the 
 breath between the teeth, was suddenly heard to pass through the 
 assembly, while a female voice loud and eagerly exclaimed, — 
 " Count Robert of Paris !— forget not this day that thou owest a 
 life to Heaven and me." The Count was in the act of again second- 
 ing his blow, with what effect could hardly be judged, when this cry 
 reached his ears, and apparently took away his disposition for farther 
 combat. 
 
 " 1 acknowledge the debt," he said, sinking his battle-axe, and re- 
 treating two steps from his antagonist, who stood in astonishment, 
 scarcely recovered from the stunning effect of the blow by which he 
 was so nearly prostrated. He sank the blade of his battle-axe in 
 imitation of his antagonist, and seemed to wait in suspense what was 
 to be the next process of the combat. " I acknowledge ray debt," 
 said the valiant Count of Paris, " alike to Bertha of Britain" and to 
 the Almighty, who has preserved me from the crime of ungrateful 
 blood-guiltiness.— You have seen the fight, gentlemen," turning to 
 Tancred and his chivalry, " and can testify, on your honour, that it 
 has been maintained fairly on both sides, and without advantage on 
 either. I presume my honourable antagonist has by this time satis- 
 fied the desire which brought me under his challenge, and vv'hich 
 certainly had no taste in it of personal or private quarrel. On my 
 part, I retain towards him such a sense of personal obligation as 
 would render my continuing this combat, unless compelled to it by 
 self-defence, a shameful and sinful action." 
 
 Alexius gladly embraced the terms of truce, which he was far 
 from expecting, and threw down hia warder, in signal that the duel 
 was ended. Tancred, though somew»lat surprised, and perhaps even 
 scandalised, that a private soldier of the Emperor's guard should 
 have so long resisted the utmost efforts of so approved a knight, 
 could not but own that the combat had been fought with perfect 
 fairnes'^ and equality, and decided upon terras dishonourable to 
 
COv^JTT ROBERT OF PARIS 279 
 
 neither party. The Count's character being well known and estab- 
 lished among'st the crusaders, tliey were compelled to believa that 
 some motive of a most potent nature formed the principle upon 
 which, very contrary to his general practice, he had proposed a ces- 
 sation of the combat before it AA'as broug-ht to a deadly, or at least 
 to a decisive- conclusion. The edict of the Emperor upon the occa- 
 sion, therefore, passed into a law, acknowledged by the assent of the 
 chiefs present, and especially affirmed and gratulated by the shouts 
 of the assembled spectators. 
 
 But perhaps the most interesting figure in the assembly was that 
 of the bold Varangian, arrived so suddenly at a promotion of mili- 
 tary renowu, which the extreme difficulty he had experienced in 
 keeping his ground against Count Robert had prevented him from 
 anticipating, although his modesty had not diminished the indomi- 
 table courage with which he maintained the contest. He stood 
 in the middle of the lists, his face ruddy with the exertion of the 
 combat, and not less so from the modest consciousness proper to the 
 plainness and simplicity of his character, which was disconcerted by 
 iiuding himself the central point of the gaze of the multitude. 
 
 " Speak to me, my soldier," said Alexius, strongly affected by the 
 gratitude which he felt was due to Hereward upon so singular an 
 occasion, " speak to thine Emperor as his superior, for such thou art 
 at this moment, and tell him if there is any manner, even at the 
 expense of half his kingdom, to atone for his own life saved, and, 
 what is yet dearer, for the honour of his country, which thou hast so 
 manfully defended and preserved ? " 
 
 " My Lord," answered Hereward, "j^our Imperial Highness values 
 my poor services over highly, and ought to attribute thera to the 
 noble Count of Paris, first, for his condescending to accept of an 
 antagonist so mean in quality as myself ; and next, in generously 
 relinquishing victory when he might have achieved it by an addi- 
 tional blow ; for I here confess before your Majesty, my brethren, 
 and the assembled Grecians, that my power of protracting the 
 combat was ended when the gallant Count, by his generosity, put a 
 stop to it. " 
 
 " Do not thyself that wrong, brave man," said Count Robert ; "for 
 I vow to our Lady of the Broken Lances that the combat was yet 
 within the undillermined doom of Providence, when the pressure of 
 my own feelings rendered me incapable of continuing it, to the kC' 
 cessary harm, perhaps to the mortal damage, of an antagonist to 
 whom I owe so much kindness. Choose, therefore, the recompense 
 which the generosity of thy Emperor offers in a manner so just and 
 grateful, and fear not lest mortal voice pronounces that reward 
 unmerited which Robert of Paris shall avouch with his sword to 
 have been gallantly won upon his own crest." 
 
 " You are too great, my lord, and too noble," answered the Anglo- 
 Saxon, " to be gainsaid by such as I am, and I must not awaken 
 new strife between us by contesting the circumstances under which 
 our combat so suddenly closed, nor would it be wise or prudent in 
 me further to contradict you. My noble Emperor generously offers 
 me the right of naming what he calls my recompense ; but let not 
 
280 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 liis jyenerosity be dispraised, althoug-li it is froin yon, ray lord, and 
 not from his Imperial Ilig-lniess, that I am to ask a boou, to me the 
 dearest to which my voice can give utterance.'' 
 
 "And that," said the Count, "has reference to Bertha, the faith- 
 ful attendant of my wife ? " 
 
 " Even so," said Hereward ; '"' it is my proposal to request my dis- 
 charg-e from the Varangian Guard, and permission to share in your 
 lordship's pious and lionourable vow for the recovery of Palestine, 
 with liberty to fight under your honoured banner, and permission 
 from time to time to recommend my love-suit to Bertha, the atten- 
 dant of the Countess of Paris, and the hope that it may find favour 
 in the eyes of her noble lord and lady. I may thus finally hope to 
 be restored to a country which I have never ceased to love over the 
 rest of the world." 
 
 " Thy service, noble soldier," said the Count, " shall be as ac- 
 ceptable to me as that of a born earl ; nor is there an opportunity 
 of acquiring honour which I can shape for thee, to which, as it oc- 
 curs, I will not gladly prefer thee. I will not boast of what interest 
 I have with the King of England, but something I can do with him, 
 and it shall be strained to the uttermost to settle thee in thine ov/n 
 beloved native country." 
 
 The Emperor then spoke. " Bear witness, heaven and earth, and 
 you, my faitlrful subjects, and you, my g-allant allies ; above all, you, 
 my bold and true Varangian Guard, that we would rather have lost 
 the brightest jewel from our Imperial crown, than have relinquished 
 the service of this true and faithful Anglo-Saxon. But since go 
 he must and will, it shall be my study to distinguish him by such 
 marks of beneficence as may make it known through his future life 
 that he is the person to whom the Emperor Alexius Comneims ac- 
 knowledged a debt larger than his empire could discharge. You, 
 my Lord Tancred, and your principal leaders, will sup with us this 
 evening, and to-morrow resume your lionourable and religious pur- 
 pose of pilgrimage. We trust both the combatants will also oblige 
 us by tlieir presence. Trumpets, give the signal for dismission." 
 
 The trumpets sounded accordingly, and the different classes of 
 spectators, armed and unarmed, broke up into various parties, or 
 formed into their military ranks, for the purpose of their return to 
 the city. ^ 
 
 The screams of women suddenly and strangely raised, was the 
 first thing that arrested the departure of the multitude, when those 
 who glanced their eyes back, saw Sylvan, the great ourang-outang, 
 produce himself in the lists, to their surprise and astonishment. The 
 women, and many of the men who were present, unaccustomed to 
 the ghastly look and savage appearance of a creature so extraordinary, 
 raised a yell of terror so loud, that it discomposed the animal who 
 was the occasion of its being raised. Sylvan, in the course of the 
 night, having escaped over the garden-wall of Agelastes, and clam- 
 bered over the ra-^tipart of the city, found no difficulty in hiding him- 
 self in the lists which were in the act of being raised, having found 
 a lurking-place m some dark corner under the seats of the spectators. 
 From this he was probably dislodged by the tumult of the dispersing* 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 281 
 
 multitude, aud had been compelled, therefore, to make an appearance 
 in pul)lic when he least desired it, not unlike that of the celebrated 
 Puliccinello, at the conclusion of his ov/n drama, when he enters in 
 mortal strife with the foul fiend himself, a scene which scarcely ex- 
 cites more terror among- the juvenile audience, than did the unex- 
 pected apparition of Sylvan among- the spectators of the duel. Bows 
 were bent, and javelins pointed by the braver part of the soldiery, 
 against an animal of an appearance so ambiguous, and whom his 
 uncommon size and grizzly look caused most who beheld him to 
 suppose either the devil himself, or the apparition of some fiendish 
 deity of ancient days, whom the heathens Avorshiped. Sylvan had so 
 far improved such opportunities as had been afforded him, as to 
 become sufficiently aware that the attitudes assumed by so many 
 military men, inferred immediate danger to his person, from which 
 he hastened to shelter himself by flying- to the protection of Here- 
 ward, with whom he had been in some degree familiarised. He 
 seized him, accordingly, by the cloak, and, by the absurd and alarmed 
 look of his fantastic features, and a certain wild and gibbering 
 chatter, endeavoured to express his fear and to ask protection. 
 Hereward understood the terrified creature, and, turning- to tlie 
 Emperor's throne, said aloud, — "Poor frightened being-, turn tliy 
 petition, and gestures, and tones, to a quarter which, having- to-day 
 pardoned so many offences whicli were wilfully and maiiciousij 
 schemed, will not be, I am sure, obdurate to such as thou, in thy 
 half-reasoning- capacity, may have been capable of committing." 
 
 The creature, aa is the nature of its tribe, caught from Hereward 
 himself the mode of applying- with most effect his g-estures and 
 pitiable supplication, while the Emperor, notwithstanding the serious 
 scene which had just passed, could not help laughing- at the touch of 
 comedy flung- into it by this last incident. 
 
 " My trusty Hereward," — he said aside, " (1 will not again call 
 him Edward if I can help it)— thou art the refuge of the distressed, 
 whether it be man or beast, and nothing- that sues through thy inter- 
 cession, while thou remainest in our service, shall find its suppli- 
 cation in vain. Do thou, g'ood Hereward," for the name was now 
 pretty well established in his Imperial memory, " and such of thy 
 companions as know the habits of the creature, lead him back to his 
 old quarters in the Blacquernal; and that done, my friend, observe 
 that we request thy company, and that of thy faithful mate Bertha, 
 to partake supper at our court, with our wife and daughter, and such 
 of our servants and allies as we shall request to share the same honour. 
 Be assured that while thou remainest with us, there is no poiut of dig-- 
 nity which shall not be willingly paid to tliee.— And do thou approach, 
 Achilles Tatius, as much favoured by thine Emperor as before this day 
 dawned. What charges are ag-ainst thee have been only whispered 
 in a friendly ear, which remembers them not, unless (which Heaven 
 forefend !) their remembrance is renewed by fresh ofi'ences." 
 
 Achilles Tatius bowed till the plume of his helmet mingled with 
 the mane of his fiery horse, but held it wisest to forbear any answer 
 in words, leaving- his crime and his pardon to stand upon those gene- 
 ral terras ia wliich the Emperor had expressed them. 
 
282 COTTNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 ^ Once more the multitude of all ranks returned on their way to the 
 city, nor did any second interruption arrest their inarch. Sylvan, 
 accompanied by one or two Varangians, who led him in a sort of 
 captivity, took his way to the vaults of the Blacquernal, which were 
 in ftict his proper habitation. 
 
 Upon the road to the city, Harpax, the notorious corporal of the 
 Immortal Guards, held a discourse with one or two of his own sol- 
 diers and of the citizens who had been members of the late con- 
 spiracy. 
 
 " So," said Stephanos, the prize-fighter, " a fine aflfair we have made 
 of it, to suffer ourselves to be all anticipated and betrayed by a thick- 
 skulled Varang-ian ; every chance turning* against us as they would 
 against Corydon, the shoemaker, if he were to defy me to the circus. 
 Ursel, whose death made so much work, turns out not to be dead 
 after all ; and what is worse, he lives not to our advantage. This 
 fellow Hereward, who was yesterday no better than myself — Whah 
 do I say ? — better ! — he was a great deal worse — an insignificant no- 
 body in every respect ! — is now crammed with honours, praises, and 
 gifts, till he well-nigh returns what they have given him, and the 
 Csesar and the Acolyte, our associates, have lost the Emperor's love 
 and confidence, and if they are suffered to survive, it must be like 
 the tame domestic poultry, wUora we pamper with food one day, that 
 upon the next their necks may be twisted for spit or pot." 
 
 " Stephanos," replied the centurion, " thy form of body fits thee 
 well for the Paltestra, but thy mind is not so acutely formed as to de- 
 tect that which is real from that which is only probable, in the politi- 
 cal world, of which thou art now judging. Considering the risk in- 
 curred by lending a man's ear to a conspiracy, thou oughtest to 
 reckon it a saving in every particular, where he escapes with his life 
 and character safe. This has been the case with Achilles Tatius, 
 and with the Csesar. They have remained also in their high place?, 
 of trust and power, and may be confident that the Emperor will 
 hardly dare to remove them at a future period, since the possession 
 of the full knowledge of their guilt has not emboldened him to do so. 
 Their power, thus left with them, is in fact ours ; nor is there a cir- 
 cumstance to be supposed, which can induce them to betray their 
 confederates to the governraenj;. It is much more likely that they 
 will remember them with the probability of renewing, at a fitter time, 
 the alliance which binds them together. Cheer up thy noble resolu- 
 tion, therefore, my Prince of the Circus, and think that thou shalt 
 stilll retain that predominant influence which the favourites of the 
 amphitheatre are sure to possess over the citizens of Constantinople." 
 
 " I cannot tell," answered Stephanos ; " but it gnaws at my heart 
 like the worm that dieth not, to' see this beggarly foreigner betray 
 the noblest blood in the land, not to mention the best athlete in the 
 Palsestra, and move off not only without punishment for his treachery, 
 but with praise, honour, and preferment." 
 
 " True," said Harpax ; " but observe, my friend that he does move 
 off to purpose. He leaves the land, quits the corps in which he might 
 claim preferment and a few vain honours, being valued at what such 
 trifles amount to. Hereward, in the course of one or two days, shall 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS- 283 
 
 be little better than a disbanded soldier, subsisting by the poor bread 
 which he can obtain as a follower of tin's beg'g'arly Count, or which 
 he is rather bound to dispute with the infidel, by encountering with 
 his battle-axe the Turkish sabres. What will it avail him amidst 
 the disasters, the slasgiiter, and the famine of Palestine, that he once 
 upon a time was admitted to supi)er with the Emperor ? We knoAV 
 Alexius Comneuus— he is willing- to discharo-e, at the highest cost, such 
 obligations as are incurred to men like this Hereward ; and, believe 
 me, I think that I see the wily despot shrug his shoulders in derision, 
 when one morning" he is saluted with the news of a battle in Pales- 
 tine lost by the crusaders, in which his old acquaintance has fallen 
 a dead man. I will not insult thee, by telling thee how easy it might 
 be to acquire the favour of a gentlewoman in waiting upon a lady of 
 quality: nor do I think: it would be difficult, should that be the object 
 of the prize-fighter, to acquire the property of a large baboon like 
 Sylvan, which no doubt would set up as a juggler any Frank who 
 had meanness of spirit to propose to gain his bread in such a capa- 
 city, from the alms of the starving chivalry of Europe. But he who 
 can stoop to envy the lot of such a person, ought not to be one whose 
 chief personal distinctions are sufficient to place him first in rank 
 over all the favourites of the amphitheatre." 
 
 There was something in this sophistical kind of reasoning, which 
 was but half satisfactory to the obtuse intellect of the prize-fighter, 
 to whom it was addressed, although the only answer which he at- 
 tempted was couched in this observation : — 
 
 " Ay, but, noble Centurion, you forget that, besides empty honours, 
 this Varangian Hereward, or Edward, whichever is his name, is pro- 
 mised a mighty donative of gold." 
 
 " Marry, you touch me there," said the centurion ; " and when you 
 tell me that the promise is fulfilled, I will willingly agree that the 
 Anglo-Saxon hath gained something to be envied for ; but while it 
 remains in the shape of a naked promise, you shall pardon me, my 
 worthy Stephanos, if I hold it of no more account than the mere 
 pledges which are distributed among ourselves as well as to the 
 Varangians, promising upon future occasions mints of money, which 
 we are likely to receive at the same time with the last year's snow. 
 Keep up your heart, therefore, noble Stephanos, and believe not that 
 your affairs are worse for the miscarriage of this day ; and let not 
 thy gallant courage sink, but, remembering those principles upon 
 which it was called into action, believe that thy objects are not the 
 less secure because fate has removed their acquisition to a more dis- 
 tant day." The veteran and unbendmg conspirator, Harpax, thus 
 strengthened for some future renewal of their enterprise the failing 
 spirits of Stephanos. 
 
 After this, such leaders as were included in the invitation given 
 by the Emperor, repaired to the evening meal, and from the general 
 content and complaisance expressed by Alexius and his guests of 
 every description, it could little have been supposed that the day 
 just passed over was one which had inferred a purpose so dangerous 
 and treacherous. 
 
 The absence of the Countess Brenhilda, during this eyentful day, 
 
28-4 COUiS'T ROBEUT OF PARIS, 
 
 created no small surprise to the Emperor and those in his immediate 
 confidence, who knew her enterprising spirit, and the interest she 
 must have felt in the issue of the combat. Bertha had made an early 
 communication to the Count, that his lady, agitated with the many 
 anxieties of the few preceding days, was unable to leave her apart- 
 ment. The valiant knight, therefore, lost no time in acquainting 
 his faithful Countess of his safety; and afterwards joining those who 
 partook of the banquet at the palace, he bore himself as if the least 
 recollection did not remain on his mind of the perfidious conduct of 
 the Emperor at the conclusion of the last entertainment. He knew, 
 in truth, that the knights of Prince Tancred not only maintained a 
 strict watch round the house where Brenhilda remained, but also 
 that they preserved a severe ward in the neighbourhood of the Blac- 
 quernal, as well for the safety of their heroic leader, as for that of 
 Count Robert, the respected companion of their military pilgrimage. 
 
 It was the general principle of the European chivalry, that distrust 
 was rarely permitted to survive open quarrels, and that whatever 
 was forgiven, was dismissed from their recollection, as unlikely to 
 recur ; but on the present occasion there was a more than usual as- 
 semblage of troops, which the occurrences of the day had drawn toge- 
 ther, so that the crusaders were called upon to be particularly watchful. 
 
 It may be believed that tlie evening passed over without any at- 
 tempt to renew the ceremonial in the council-chamber of the Lions, 
 which had been upon a former occasion terminated in such misunder- 
 standing. Indeed it would have been lucky if the explanation be- 
 tween the mighty Emperor of Greece and the chivalrous knight of 
 Paris had taken place earlier; for reflection on what had passed, 
 had convinced the Emperor that the Franks were not a people to be 
 imposed upon by pieces of clockwork, and similar trifles, and thnt 
 Avhat they did not understand, was sure, instead of procuring their 
 awe or admiration, to excite their anger and defiance. Nor had it 
 altogether escaped Count Robert, that the manners of the Eastern 
 people were upon a diff'erent scale from those to which he had been 
 accustomed; that they neither were so deeply aff'ected by the spirit 
 of chivalry, nor, in his own language, was the worship of the Lady 
 of the Broken Lances so congenial a subject of adoration. This not- 
 withstanding, Count Robert observed, that Alexius Coranenus was 
 a wise and politic prince; his wisdom perhaps too much allied to 
 cunning, but yet aiding him to maintain with great address that em- 
 pire over the minds of his subjects, which was necessary for their 
 good, and for maintaining his own authority. He therefore resolved 
 to receive with equanimity whatever should be oftered by the Empe- 
 ror, either in civility or in the way of jest, and not again to disturb 
 an understanding which might be of advantage to Christendom, by 
 a quarrel founded upon misconception of- terms or misapprehension 
 of manners. To this prudent resolution the Count of Paris adhered 
 during the whole evening ; with some difticulty, however, since it was 
 somewhat inconsistent witli his own fiery and inquisitive temper, 
 which was equally desirous to kuow tlie precise amount of whatever 
 was addressed to him, and to talce umbrage at it, should it appear iu 
 the least degree oflensivc, whether no intended or not. 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 285 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 It was not until after the conquest of Jerusalem that Count Ro- 
 bert of Paris returned to Constantinople, and with his wife, and 
 such proportion of his followers as the sword and pestilence had left 
 after that bloody warfare, resumed his course to his native kingdom. 
 Upon reaching Italy, the first care of the noble Count and Countess 
 was to celebrate in princely style the marriage of Hereward and his 
 faithful Bertha, who had added to their other claims upon their mas- 
 ter and mistress, those acquired by Hereward's faithful services in 
 Palestine, and no less by Bertha's affectionate ministry to her lady in 
 Constantinople. 
 
 As to the fate of Alexius Comnenus, it may be read at large in the 
 history of his daughter Anna, who has represented him as the hero 
 of many a victory, achieved, says the purple-born, in the third chapter 
 and fifteenth book of her history, sometimes by his arms and some- 
 times by his prudence. " His boldness alone has gained some battles, 
 at other times his success has been won by stratagem. _ He has erect- 
 ed the most illustrious of his trophies by confronting danger, by 
 combating like a simple soldier, and throwing himself bareheaded 
 into the thickest of the foe. But there are others," continues the 
 accomplished lady, " which he gained an opportunity of erecting by 
 assuming the appearance of terror and even of retreat. In a word,, 
 he knew alike how to triumph either in flight or in pursuit, and re- 
 mained upright even before those enemies who appeared to have 
 struck him down ; resembling the military implement termed the 
 calthrop, which remains always upright in whatever direction it is 
 thrown on the ground." 
 
 It would be unjust to deprive the Princess of the defence she her- 
 self makes against the obvious charge of partiality. 
 
 " I must still once more repel the reproach which some bring 
 a.£^ainst me, as if my history was composed merely according to the 
 dictates of the natural love for parents which is engraved in the 
 hearts of children. In truth, it is not the eff'ect of that affection 
 which I bear to mine, but it is the evidence of matter of fact, which 
 obliges me to speak as I have done. Is it not possible that one can 
 have at the same time an affection for the memory of a father and 
 for truth ? For myself, I have never directed my attempt to write 
 history, otherwise than for the ascertainment of the matter of fact. 
 With this purpose, I have taken for my subject the history of a worthy 
 man. Is it just, that, by the single accident of his being the author 
 of ray birth, his quality of my father ought to form a prejudice against 
 me, which would ruin my credit with my readers? I have given, 
 upon other occasions, proofs sufficiently strong of the ardour which 
 I had for tlie defence of my father's interests, which those that know 
 me can never doubt ; but, on the present, I have been limited by the 
 inviolable fidelity with which I respect the truth, which I should have 
 felt conscience to have veiled, under pretence of serving the renowu 
 of my fat\iQi\"—Akxiad, cliap. iii., book xv. 
 
286 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 This much we have deemed it our duty to quote, in justice to the 
 fair historian ; we will extract also her description of the Emperor's 
 death, and are not unwillinf^ to allow, that the character assigned to 
 the Princess by our own Gibbon, has in it a great deal of fairness 
 and of truth. 
 
 Notwithstanding her repeated protests of sacrificing rather to the 
 exact and absolute truth than to the memory of her deceased parent. 
 Gibbon remarks truly, that " instead of the simplicity of style and 
 narrative which wins a belief, an elaborate affectation of rhetoric 
 and science betrays in eve.ry page the vanity of a female author. 
 The genuine character of Alexius is lost in a vague constellation of 
 virtues ; and the perpetual strain of panegyric and apology awakens 
 our jealousy to question the veracity of the historian, and the merit 
 of the hero. We cannot, however, refuse her judicious and import- 
 ant remark, that the disorders of the times were the misfortune and 
 the glory of Alexius ; and that every calamity which can afflict a 
 declining empire was accumulated on his reign by the justice of 
 Heaven and the vices of his predecessors.'' — Gibbon's Roman 
 Einipre, vol. ix., p. 83, footnote. 
 
 The Princess accordingly feels the utmost assurance, that a num- 
 ber of signs which appeared in heaven and on earth, were interpreted 
 by the soothsayers of the day as foreboding the death of the Empe- 
 ror. By these means, Anna Comnena assigned to her father those 
 indications of consequence, which ancient historians represent as 
 necessary intimations of the sympathy of nature with the removal 
 of great characters from the world ; but she fails not to inform the 
 Christian reader that her father's belief attached to none of these prog- 
 nostics, and that even on the following remarkable occasion he main- 
 tained his incredulity: — A splendid statue, supposed generally to be 
 a relic of paganism, holding in its hand a golden sceptre, and stand- 
 ing upon a base of porphyry, was overturned by a tempest, and was 
 generally believed to be an intimation of the death of the Emperor. 
 This, however, hegenerously repelled. Phidias,he said, and other great 
 sculptors of antiquity, had the talent of imitating the human frame 
 with surprising accuracy ; but to suppose that the power of foretell- 
 ing future events was reposed in these masterpieces of art, would 
 be to ascribe to their makers the faculties reserved by the Deity for 
 himself, when he says "It is I who kill and make alive." During his 
 latter days, the Emperor was greatly afflicted with the gout, the 
 nature of which has exercised the wit of many persons of science as 
 well as of Anna Comnena. The poor patient was so much ex- 
 hausted, that when the_ Empress was talking of most eloquent per- 
 sons who should assist in the composition of his history, he said, with 
 a natural contempt of such vanities, " The passages of my unhappy 
 life call rather for tears and lamentation than for the praises you 
 speak of." 
 
 A species of asthma having come to the assistance of the gont, the 
 remedies of the physicians became as vain as the intercession of the 
 monks and clergy, as well as the alms which were indiscriminately 
 lavished. Two or three deep successive swoons gave ominous warn- 
 ing of the approaching blow; and at length was terminated the 
 
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 287 
 
 reig'ii and life of Alexius Comnenus, a prince wlio, with all the faults 
 which may be imputed to him, still possesses a real right, from the 
 purity of his general intentions, to be accounted one of the best 
 sovereigns of the Lower Empire. 
 
 For some time, the historian forgot her pride of literary rank, and, 
 like an ordinary person, burst into tears and shrieks, tore her hair, 
 and defaced her countenance, while the Empress Irene cast from her 
 her princely habits, cut off her hair, changed lier purple buskins for 
 black mourning shoes, and her daughter Mary, who had herself been 
 a widow, took a black robe from one of her own wardrobes, and pre- 
 sented it to her mother. "Even in the moment when she put it on," 
 says Anna Comnena, " the Emperor gave up the ghost, and in that 
 moment the sun of my life set." 
 
 We shall not pursue her lamentations farther. She upbraids her- 
 self that, after the death of her father, that light of the world, she 
 had also survived Irene, the delight alike of the east and of the west, 
 and survived her husband also. "I am indignant," she said, ''that 
 my soul, suffering under such torrents of misfortune, should still 
 deign to animate my body. Have I not," said she, " been more hard 
 and unfeeling than the rocks themselves ; and is it not just that one, 
 who could survive such a father and mother, and such a husband, 
 should be subjected to the influence of so much calamity ? But let 
 me finish this history, rather than any longer fatigue my readers 
 with my unavailing and tragical lamentation." 
 
 Having thus concluded her history, she adds the following two 
 lines : — 
 
 " The learned Comnena lays her pen aside, 
 What time her subject and her father died." i 
 
 These quotations will probably give the readers as much as they 
 wish to know of the real character of this Imperial historian. Fewer 
 words will suffice to dispose of the other parties who have been 
 selected from her pages, as persons in the foregoing drama. 
 
 There is very little doubt that the Count Robert of Paris, whose 
 audacity in seating himself upon the throne of the Emperor gives a 
 peculiar interest to his character, was in fact a person of the highest 
 rank; being no other, as has been conjectured by the learned Du 
 Cange, than an ancestor of the house of Bourbon, which has so long 
 given kings to France. He was a successor, it has been conceived, 
 of the Counts of Paris, by whom the city was valiantly defended 
 against the Normans, and an ancestor of Hugh Capet. There are 
 severaHiypotheses upon this subject, deriving the well-known Hugh 
 Capet, first, from the family of Saxony ; secondly, from St Arnoul, 
 afterwards Bishop of Altex ; third, from Nihil ong; fourth, from the 
 JDuke of Bavaria ; and, fifth, from a natural son of tlie Emperor 
 Charlemagne. Variously placed, but in each of these contested 
 pedigrees, appears this llobert surnamed the Strong, who was Count 
 of that district of which Paris was the capital, most peculiarly styled 
 
 1 [ATj^ei/ oTTOU fiioroio AKe^ios 6 Ko/ivriuos 
 Eyda KaXrj Qvyarrfo Xrj^ev AAe^mSos, ] 
 
288 COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
 the County, or Isle of France. Anna Comnena, wlio has recorded 
 the bold usurpation of the Emperor's seat by this haughty chieftain, 
 lias also acquainted us with his receiving- a severe, if not a mortal 
 wound, at the battle of Dorylseura, owing- to his neglecting- the war- 
 like instructions with which her father had favoured him on the 
 subject of the Turkish wars. The antiquary who is disposed to 
 investigate this subject, may consult the late Lord Ashburuham's 
 elaborate Genealogy of the Royal House of France ; also a note of 
 Du Gauge's on the Princess's history, p. 362, arguing for the identity 
 of her "Robert of Paris, a haughty barbarian," with the "Robert 
 called the Strong," mentioned as an ancestor of Hugh Gapet. Gib- 
 bon, vol. xi., p. 52, may also be consulted. The French antiquary 
 and the English historian seem alike disposed to find the church, 
 called in the tale that of the Lady of the Broken Lances, in that 
 dedicated to St Drusas, or Drosin of Soissons, who was supposed to 
 have peculiar influence on the issue of combats, and to be in the 
 habit of determining them in favour of such champions as spent the 
 night preceding at his shrine. 
 
 In consideration of the sex of one of the parties concerned, the 
 author has selected our Lady of the Broken Lances as a more appro- 
 priate patroness than St Dr^usas himself, for the Amazons, who were 
 not uncommon in that age. Gaita, for example, the wife of Robert 
 Guiscard, a redoubted hero, and the parent of a most heroic race of 
 sons, was herself an Amazon, fought in the foremost ranks of the 
 Normans, and is repeatedly commemorated by our Imperial historian, 
 A.nna Comnena. 
 
 The reader can easily conceive to himself that Robert of Paris 
 distinguished himself among his brethren -at -arms and fellow- 
 crusaders. His fame resounded from the walls of Antioch ; but, at 
 the battle of Dorylseum, he was so desperately wounded, as to be 
 disabled from taking a part in the grandest scene of the expedition. 
 His heroic Countess, however, enjoyed the great satisfaction of 
 mounting the walls of Jerusalem, and in so far discharging her own 
 vows and those of her husband. This was the more fortunate, as the 
 sentence of the physcians pronounced that the wounds of the Count 
 had been inflicted by a poisoned weapon, and that complete recovery 
 was only to be hoped for by having recourse to his native air. After 
 some time spent in- the vain hope of averting by patience this un- 
 pleasant alternative, Count Robert subjected himself to necessity, or 
 what was represented as such, and, with his wife and the 'faithful 
 Hereward, and all others of his followers who had been like himself 
 disabled from combat, took the way to Europe by sea. 
 
 A light galley, procured at a high rate, conducted them safely to 
 Venice, and from that then glorious city, the moderate portion of 
 spoil which had fallen to the Count's share among the conquerors of 
 Palestine, served to convey them to his own dominions, which, more 
 fortunate than those of most of his fellow-pilgrims, had been left 
 uninjured by their neighbours during the time of their proprietor's 
 absence on the Crusade. The report that the Count had lost his 
 health, and the power of continuing his homage to the Lady of the 
 Broken Lances, brought upon him the hostilities of one or two am- 
 
COuXT ROBERT OF PARIS. 289 
 
 bitious or envious neig-liboiirs, whose covetousnG=;s was, however, 
 sufficiently repressed by the bravo resistance of the Countess and the 
 resohite ilereward. Less than a twelvemonth was required to 
 restore the Count of Paris to his full health, and to render him, as 
 formerly, the assured protector of his own vassals, and the subject 
 in whom the possessors of the French throne reposed the utmost 
 confidence. * This latter capacity enabled Count Robert to discharge 
 his debt towards Hereward in a manner as ample as he could have 
 hoped or expected. Being' now respected alike for his wisdom and 
 his sag'acity, as much as he always was for his intrepidity and his 
 character as a successful crusader, he was repeatedly employed by 
 the Court of France in settling- the troublesome and intricate affiiirs 
 in which the Norman possessions of the English crown involved the 
 rival nations. William Rufus was not insensible to his merit, nor 
 blind to the importance of gaining his good-will ; and finding out 
 his anxiety that Hereward should be restored to the land of his 
 fathers, he took, or made an opportunity, by the forfeiture of some 
 rebellious noble, of conferring upon our Varangian a larg'e dis- 
 trict adjacent to the New Forest, being part of the scenes which his 
 father chiefly frequented, and where it is said the descendants of the 
 valiant squire and his Bertha have subsisted for many a long year, 
 surviving turns of time and chance, which are in general fatal to the 
 continuance of more distinguished families. 
 
 VBS END OF COTim ROBERT OF PARIS. 
 
JLihranj. 
 
 NOTES TO COUNT ROTeST OF PAEIS. 
 
 Note A, p. 4. BoHBMOKD. 
 
 BoHEMOND, son of Robert Guiscard, the Norman conqueror of Apulia, Calabria, 
 aud Sicily, was, at tlie time when the first crusade be;?an, Count of Tarentura. 
 Tliough far advanced in life, he eagerly joined the expedition of the Latins, and be- 
 came Prince of Antioch. For details of his adventures, death, and extraorduiary 
 character, see Gibbon, chap, lix., and Mills' History of the Crusades, vol. i. 
 
 Note B, p. 7. Constantinople. 
 
 The impression •which the imperial city was calculated to make on such visitors as 
 the Crusaders of the West, is given by the ancient French chronicler, Villehardonin, 
 who was present at the capture of a. d. 12U3. "When we hadcome,"lie says, " within 
 three leagues to a certain Abbey, then we could plainly survey Constantinople. There 
 the ships and the galleys came to anchor ; and much did they who had never been in that 
 quarter before gaze upon the city. That such a city could be in the world they had 
 never conceived, and they were never weary of staring at tlie high walls and towers with 
 which it was entirely encompassed, the rich palaces and lofty churches, of which there 
 were so many that no one could have believed it, if he had not seen with his own eyes 
 that city, the Queen of all cities. And know tliere was not so bold a heart there, that 
 it did iTot feel soixie terror at the stren;2t)i of Constantinople."— Chap. 66. 
 
 Again, — " And now many of those of the host went to see Constantinople within, 
 and the rich palaces and stately churches, of which it possesses so many, and the riches 
 of the place, which are such as no other city ever equalled. I need not speak of the 
 sanctuaries, which are as many as are iu all the world beside." — Chap 100. 
 
 Note C, p. 10. Vara.vgians. 
 
 Villehardouin, in describing the siege of Constantinople, a.d. 1203, says, "Li raurs 
 fu mult garnis d'Anglois et de Danois," hence the dissertation of Ducange here quoted, 
 and several articles besides iu his Glossarium, as Varangi, Warengangi, &c. The 
 etymology of the name is left uncertain, though the German fort-ganger, i. c, fovth- 
 goer, wanderer, exile, seems the most probable. The term occurs in various Italian 
 and Sicilian documents, anterior to the establishment of the Varangian Guards at 
 Constantinople, and collected by Muratori : as, for instance, in an edict of one of the 
 Lombard kings, •' Omnes Warengangi, qui de e.xteris finibus in regni nostri finibus 
 advenerint, seque sub scuto potestatis nostn« subdiderint, legibus nostris Longobar- 
 dorum vivere debeant," — and in another, ' ' De Warengangis, nobilibus, mediocribns, et 
 rusticis hominibus, qui usque nunc in terra vestra fugiti sunt, habeatis eos." — Mura- 
 tori, vol. ii., p. 201. 
 
 With regard to the origin of the Varansian Guard, the most distinct testimony 
 is that of Ordericus Vittalis, who says, "When therefore the English liad lost their 
 liberty, they turned themselves with zeal to discover the means of throwing off the 
 unaccustomed yoke. Some fled to Sueno, King of the Dnnes, to excite him to the 
 recovery of the inheritance of his grandfather, Canute. Not a few fled into exile inother 
 regions, either from the mere desire of escaping from under the Norman rule, or iu the 
 hope of acquiring wealth, and so being one day in a condition to renew the struggle 
 at home. Some of these, in the bloom of youth, penetrated into a far distant land, and 
 oflFered themselves to the military service"^ of the Constantinopolitan Emperor— that 
 wise prince, against whom Robert Guiscard, Duke of Apulia, had then raised all his 
 
292 KOTES TO COUNT KOBERT OP PARTS. 
 
 forces. The English exiles were favourably received, and opposed in battle to the Nor- 
 mans, for whose encounter the Greeks themselves were too weak. Alexius be^an to 
 build a town for the English, a little above Constantinople, at a place called Chevelot, 
 but the trouble of the Normans from Sicily still increasi g, he soon recalled them to 
 tlie capital, and intrusted the principal palace with all its tiea-ures to tlieir keeping. 
 This Avas the method in which the Saxnn-Engli.sh found tlieir way to Ionia, where 
 they still remain, highly valued by the Emperor and the people."— Book iv., p. 508. 
 
 Note P, p. 57. King of France. 
 Ducange pours out a whole ocean of authorities to show that the King of France 
 was in those days styled Rex, by way nf eminence. Sec his notes on the Alex'.id. 
 Anna Comnena in her history makes Hugh of Vermandois assume to himself trie 
 titles which could only, in the most enthusia^tic Frerichmans opiiiion, have been 
 claimed by his elder brother, the reigning monarch. 
 
 Note E, p. 90. LAEAurii. 
 
 Ducange fills half a column of his huge page with the mere names of the authors 
 who have written at length on the Labarum, or principal standard of the empire for 
 the time of Constantine. It consisted of a spear of silver, or plated with that metal, 
 having suspended from a cross beam below the spoke a small square silken banner, 
 adorned with portraits of the reigning family, and over tlie>e the famous monogram 
 which expresses at once the figure, of the cross and the initial letters of the name of 
 Christ. The bearer of the Labarum was an officer of high rank down to the last 
 day.s of the Byzantine government.— See Gibbon, chap. 20. 
 
 Ducdrg:! seems to have proved, from the evidence of coins and triumphal monu- 
 ments, that a standard of the fom of the Labarum was used by various barbaious 
 nations long before it was adopted by their Koman conqueror?, a'-d he is of opinion 
 that its name al o was borrowed from tither Teutonic Gdrm iny or Celtic Gaul, or Scla- 
 vonic IHyiia. It is certain that either tiie German languag or the Wel.-h may afford 
 at this day a perfectly .satisfactory etymon : Lap-heer in the former, and Lab-hair in 
 the latter, iiaving precisely the same meaning— </je cloth of the host. 
 
 The form of the Labarum may still be recogni-ied in the banners carried in ecclesias- 
 tical processions in ail Rjman Catholic countries. 
 
 Note F, p. 97. Gaita. 
 
 This Amazon rnnkes a conspicuous figure in Anna Comnena's account of her father's 
 campaigns agidnst Robert Guiscard. On one occasion (Alexiaci, lib. iv., p. 93) she 
 rcpn-sents her as 'hus recalling the fugitive soldiery ot her hiuband to their duty — 
 'II 6e ye Taira UaWo.s dWrj, /cat /jLT] AOrjurj, Kar avTCOU /uLeyicrr-qv d(peisa 
 (pcoPTjv, p-ovov oil TO 'Oi-irjpLKOV eirot ttj tdca SiaXeKTCp y€\€LV iwKet. Mexpt 
 Trotroi; cpev^eade ; (TTrjTe, dvepes iare. 'tis be en (pevyovras rovrovs, ewpa, 
 dopv paKpov kvayKoKLa-o.pevq, oKovs pvrtjpas evdovcra Kara twv (pevyovriov 
 Zfrat.— That is, exerting them, in all tut Homeric language, at the top of her voice; 
 and when this failed, brandishing a long spear, and rushing upon the fugitives at the 
 utmost speed ot her hor-^e. 
 
 This heroic lady, according to the Chronique ScandaUuse of those days, was after- 
 wards delud d by some c nning overtures of the Greek Emperor, and poisoned her 
 husband in expectation of gaining a place on the throne of ConaCantiuople. Ducange, 
 however, rejects tne ttory, and so dots Gibbon. ' 
 
 Note G, p. 127. Ratmond, 
 Raymond, Count of Thoulouse and St Giles, Duke of Carboune, and Marquis of 
 Provence, an aged warrior who hsid won hijih di-tii ction in the contests against the 
 Sarac. n.s -n Sp.iifi, was ihj ch ef leader of the Crusiti ers trom the South ot France. 
 Hi.^ title if St Giies is eon up ed by Anna Comntua into SangeU'S, by wmch name she 
 constantly menciuus him iu ih^ Alexiad. 
 
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