A loud shout 38 from the spectators, waving of scarfs and handkerchiefs, and general acclamations, attested the interest taken by the spectators in this encounter; the most equal as well as the best performed which had graced the day. But no sooner had the knights resumed their stations than the clamour 39 of applause was hushed into a silence so deep and so dead that it seemed that the multitude were afraid even to breathe. A few minutes' pause having been allowed that the combatants and their horses might recover breath,40 Prince John, with truncheon, signed to the trumpets to sound the onset.*1 The champions a second time sprang from their stations and closed in the centre of the lists, with the same speed, the same dexterity, the same violence, but not the same equal fortune as before. In this second encounter, the Templar aimed at the centre of his antagonist's shield, and struck it so fair 42 and forcibly that his spear went to shivers, and the Disinherited Knight reeled in his saddle.43 On the other hand, that champion had from the beginning of his career, directed the point of his spear towards Bois-Guilbert's shield, but changing his aim almost in the moment of encounter,44 he addressed it to the helmet, a mark more difficult to hit, but which, if attained, 46 rendered the shock more irresistible. Yet, even at this disadvantage, the Templar sustained his high reputation, and had not the girths of his saddle 47 burst 48 he might not have been unhorsed.49 As it chanced, however,50 saddle, horse, and man, rolled on the ground under a cloud of dust. To extricate himself from the stirrups and fallen steed was to the Templar scarce the work of a moment; and stung with madness, both at his disgrace, and at the acclamations with which it was hailed by the spectators, he drew his sword and waved it in defiance of his conqueror. The Disinherited Knight sprang from his seat, and also unsheathed his sword. The marshals of the field, however, 52 spurred their horses between them, and reminded them that the laws of the tournament did not, on the present occasion, permit this species of encounter. "We shall meet again 53 I trust," said the Templar, casting a resentful glance at his antagonist; "and where there are none to separate us." "If we do not," said the Disinherited Knight, "the fault shall not be mine. On foot, or horseback, with spear, with axe, or with sword, I am alike ready to encounter thee."54 More and angrier 55 words would have been exchanged, but the marshals, crossing their lances betwixt them, compelled them to separate. The Disinherited Knight returned to his first station, and Bois-Guilbert to his tent, where he remained for the rest of the day in the agony of despair.56 Without alighting from his horse, the comqueror called for a bowl of wine, and opening the beaver, or lower part 57 of his helmet, announced that he quaffed it "to all true English hearts, and to the confusion of foreign tyrants." He then commanded his trumpeter to sound a defiance to the challengers, 58 and desired a herald to announce to them that he should make no election, but was willing to encounter them in the order in which they pleased to advance against him. The gigantic Front-de-Bœuf, armed in sable armour, was the first who took the field.59 He bore on a white shield a black bull's head, half-defaced by the numerous encounters which he had undergone, and bearing the arrogant motto, "Cave, adsum." Over this champion, the Disinherited Knight obtained a slight but decisive advantage. Both champions broke their lances fairly,60 but Front-deBoeuf, who lost his stirrup in the encounter, was adjudged to have the disadvantage. 61 63 In the stranger's third encounter, with Sir Philip de Malvoisin, he was equally successful, striking 6 that baron so forcibly on the casque, that the laces 62 of the helmet broke, and Malvoisin, only saved from falling by being unhelmeted, was declared vanquished like his companions. In his fourth encounter, with De Grandmesnil, the Disinherited Knight showed as much courtesy as he had hitherto evinced courage and dexterity. De Grandmesnil's horse, which was young and violent, reared and plunged 65 in the course of the career so as to dis 54 Se mesurer contre quelqu'un, se battre avec, combattre. 55 This phrase must be turned: such as, "the quarrel would not have ended with these words," &c. 56 En proie à la rage et au désespoir. 57 Partie inférieure. 59 Descendre, or entrer, or se présenter dans l'arène. 60 Egalement. 61 Change the tense. 62 Courroies. 63 The remainder of this sentence may be translated by, "and his head remained uncovered; which spared him the shame of being dismounted "-the other part having already been mentioned. 64 Fougueux. 65 Caracola et se cabra. turb the rider's aim,66 and the stranger, declining 67 to take the advantage which 6 this accident afforded him, raised his lance, and passing his 69 antagonist without touching him, wheeled 70 his horse and rode again to his own end of the lists, offering his antagonist, by a herald, the chance of a second encounter.71 This De Grandmesnil declined, avowing himself vanquished, as much by courtesy as by the address of his opponent. Ralph de Vipont summed 72 the list of the stranger's triumphs, being 73 hurled to the ground 74 with such force, that the blood gushed from 75 his nose, and from his mouth, and he was borne senseless 76 from the lists.77 The acclamations of thousands applauded the unanimous award 78 of the prince and marshals, announcing 79 the day's honours to the Disinherited Knight. EXTRACT FROM THE COMEDY OF THE GOOD-NATURED MAN.' BY O. GOLDSMITH. CROAKER AND HONEYWOOD. Croaker. A pleasant morning to you, Mr. Honeywood, and many of them. How is this? You look shockingly to-day, my dear friend. I hope this weather does not affect your spirits.3 To be sure, if this weather continues-I say nothing—but Heaven send 5 we be all better this day three months. Honeywood. I heartily concur in the wish, Mr. Croaker, though, I own, not in your apprehension. Cro. May be not. Indeed, what signifies what weather we have in a country going to ruin like ours ?6 Taxes rising, trade falling, money flying out of the kingdom, and foreigners swarming into it to eat us up, and pervert our morals and religion. Hon. They will scarcely pervert you and me. Cro. May be not. Indeed what signifies whom they pervert in a country that has scarce any religion to lose? I am afraid for our families. Hon. I have no apprehension for the ladies, I assure you. Cro. May be not. Indeed, what signifies whether they be perverted or not. The women in my time were good for something. I have seen a lady dressed from top to toe in her own manufacture formerly; but now-a-days not anything about them is of their own manufacture except their faces. Hon. But although these faults may be practised abroad, you don't find them at home: there, at least, a due respect for your authority prevents them. Cro. Ah! my dear friend, you know but little of my authority at home. People think, indeed, because they see me come out in a morning thus with a pleasant face, and to make my friends merry, that all is well within.10 But I have cares that would break a heart of stone. My wife has so 12 encroached on every one of my privileges that I am now no more than a mere lodger in my own house. Hon. But a little spirit 13 exerted on your side might, perhaps, restore your authority. Cro. No, though I had 14 the spirit 15 of a lion. I do rouse sometimes: but what then? 16 always haggling,17 haggling. A man is tired of getting the better before his wife is tired of losing the victory. Hon. It is a melancholy consideration, indeed, that our chief comforts 18 often produce our greatest anxieties, and that an increase of our possessions is but an inlet 19 to new disquietudes. Cro. Ah! my dear friend, those were 20 the very words of poor Dick Doleful to me not a week before he made an end with himself. Indeed, Mr. Honeywood, I never see you but you put me in mind of 6 Comme celui-ci. 7 Où les impôts ne font qu'augmenter. And so on with the rest. 8 Qui portait un habillement de sa, &c. 9 Le visage rayonnant. 10 Que tout va bien dans mon intérieur. 11 Rocher. 12 Tellement. 13 Fermeté. 14 Pas même quand j'aurais, &c. 15 Le courage. 16 Eh bien, quel en est le résultat? 17 Toujours se chamailler. The second "haggling" need not be expressed. 18 Ce qui devrait être notre plus douce consolation. 19 Une source de nouvelles in quiétudes. 20 Telles étaient, &c. poor Dick. Ah! there was merit neglected for you! And so true a friend: we loved each other for thirty years, and yet he never asked me to lend him a single farthing. Hon. Pray, what could induce him to commit so rash an act at last? Cro. I don't know; some people were malicious enough to say it was keeping company with me, because we used to meet now and then, and open our hearts to each other. To be sure I loved to hear him talk, and he loved to hear me talk. Poor Dick! He used to say that Croaker rimed to joker; and so we used to laugh.21 Hon. His fate affects me. Cro. Ay, he grew sick of this miserable life, where we do nothing but eat and grow hungry, dress and undress, get up and lie down : while reason, that should watch like a nurse 22 by our side, falls asleep as fast as we do. Hon. To say truth, if we compare that part of life which is to come by 28 that which is past, the prospect 24 is hideous. 23 Cro. Life at the greatest and best 25 is but a froward child, that must be coaxed and humoured 26 till it falls asleep, and then all the care is over. Hon. Very true, sir; nothing can exceed the vanity of our existence but 27 the folly of our prusuits.28 We wept when we came into the world, and every day tells us why. Cro. Ah, my dear friend, it is a perfect satisfaction to be miserable with you. My son shall not lose the benefit of such fine conversation. I'll just step home for him: I am willing to show him so much seriousness in one' 29 scarce older than himself. And what if 30 I bring my last letter to the Gazetteer on the increase and progress of earthquakes? It will amuse us, I promise you. I there 31 prove that the earthquake is coming to pay us a visit from Lisbon to the Canary Islands, from the Canary Islands to Palmyra, from Palmyra to Constantinople, and from Constantinople to London. 21 Et voilà comme nous aimions nous égayer. 22 Garde-malade. 23 D'après. 24 La perspective. 25 Quelque agréable qu'elle puisse être, or à tout prendre, la vie, &c. 26 Lui passer ses humeurs, ses caprices. 27 Excepté, or si ce n'est. 28 Occupations. 29 Lui montrer qu'il est possible de trouver de la réflexion dans une personne à peu près de son âge. 30 Et que dira-t-on. |