Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 6Sylvester, Charles Herbert
General
Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 6
Sylvester, Charles Herbert
Children's literature; Literature -- Collections
A more sincere and more general, as well as a better merited
acclamation, attended the victor of the day, until, anxious to withdraw
himself from popular notice, he accepted the accommodation of one of
those pavilions pitched at the extremities of the lists, the use of
which was courteously tendered him by the marshals of the field. On his
retiring to his tent, many who had lingered in the lists, to look upon
and form conjectures concerning him, also dispersed.
The signs and sounds of a tumultuous concourse of men lately crowded
together in one place, and agitated by the same passing events, were now
exchanged for the distant hum of voices of different groups retreating
in all directions, and these speedily died away in silence. No other
sounds were heard save the voices of the menials who stripped the
galleries of their cushions and tapestry, in order to put them in safety
for the night, and wrangled among themselves for half-used bottles of
wine and relics of the refreshments which had been served round to the
spectators.
[Illustration: THE ARMOUR MAKERS]
Beyond the precincts of the lists more than one forge was erected; and
these now began to glimmer through the twilight, announcing the toil of
the armorers, which was to continue through the whole night, in order to
repair or alter the suits of armor to be used again on the morrow.
A strong guard of men-at-arms, renewed at intervals, from two hours to
two hours, surrounded the lists, and kept watch during the night.
The Disinherited Knight had no sooner reached his pavilion than squires
and pages in abundance tendered their services to disarm him, to bring
fresh attire, and to offer him the refreshment of the bath. Their zeal
on this occasion was perhaps sharpened by curiosity, since every one
desired to know who the knight was that had gained so many laurels, yet
had refused, even at the command of Prince John, to lift his visor or to
name his name. But their officious inquisitiveness was not gratified.
The Disinherited Knight refused all other assistance save that of his
own squire, or rather yeoman--a clownish-looking man, who, wrapped in a
cloak of dark-colored felt, and having his head and face half buried in
a Norman bonnet made of black fur, seemed to affect the incognito as
much as his master. All others being excluded from the tent, this
attendant relieved his master from the more burdensome parts of his
armor, and placed food and wine before him, which the exertions of the
body rendered very acceptable.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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