CHAPTER XXIII. HOW ENGLAND HELD THE LISTS AT BORDEAUX.

ereallmenwhohadspenttheirlivesuponthesaddle,andbraveryandstrengthcanavaillittleagainstexperienceandwisdomofwar. “Bymyfaith!SirJohn,”saidtheprinceasherodethroughthewindingstreetsonhiswaytothelist,“Ishouldhavebeengladtohavesplinteredalanceto-day.YouhaveseenmeholdaspearsinceIhadstrengthtoliftone,andshouldknowbestwhetherIdonotmeritaplaceamongthishonorablecompany.” “Thereisnobetterseatandnotruerlance,sire,”saidChandos“but,ifImaysaysowithoutfearofoffence,itwerenotfittingthatyoushouldjoininthisdebate.” “Andwhy,SirJohn?” “Because,sire,itisnotforyoutotakepartwithGasconsagainstEnglish,orwithEnglishagainstGascons,seeingthatyouarelordofboth.WearenottoowelllovedbytheGasconsnow,anditisbutthegoldenlinkofyourprincelycoronetwhichholdsustogether.IfthatbesnappedIknownotwhatwouldfollow.” “Snapped,SirJohn!”criedtheprince,withanangrysparkleinhisdarkeyes.“Whatmanneroftalkisthis?Youspeakasthoughtheallegianceofourpeoplewereathingwhichmightbethrownofforonlikeafalcon'sjessel.” “Withasorryhackoneuseswhipandspur,sire,”saidChandos“butwithahorseofbloodandspiritagoodcavalierisgentleandsoothing,coaxingratherthanforcing.Thesefolkarestrangepeople,andyoumustholdtheirlove,evenasyouhaveitnow,foryouwillgetfromtheirkindnesswhatallthepennonsinyourarmycouldnotwringfromthem.” “Youareover-graveto-day,John,”theprinceanswered.“Wemaykeepsuchquestionsforourcouncil-chamber.Buthownow,mybrothersofSpain,andofMajorca,whatthinkyouofthischallenge?” “Ilooktoseesomehandsomejoisting,”saidDonPedro,whorodewiththeKingofMajorcaupontherightoftheprince,whileChandoswasontheleft.“BySt.JamesofCompostella!buttheseburgherswouldbearsometaxing.Seetothebroadclothandvelvetthattheroguesbearupontheirbacks!Bymytroth!iftheyweremysubjectstheywouldbegladenoughtowearfaldingandleatherereIhaddonewiththem.Butmayhapitisbesttoletthewoolgrowlongereyouclipit.” “Itisourpride,”theprinceansweredcoldly,“thatweruleoverfreemenandnotslaves.” “Everymantohisownhumor,”saidPedrocarelessly.“Carajo!thereisasweetfaceatyonderwindow!DonFernando,Iprayyoutomarkthehouse,andtohavethemaidbroughttousattheabbey.” “Nay,brother,nay!”criedtheprinceimpatiently.“IhavehadoccasiontotellyoumorethanoncethatthingsarenotorderedinthiswayinAquitaine.” “Athousandpardons,dearfriend,”theSpaniardansweredquickly,foraflushofangerhadsprungtothedarkcheekoftheEnglishprince.“YoumakemyexilesolikeahomethatIforgetattimesthatIamnotinverytruthbackinCastile.EverylandhathindeeditswaysandmannersbutIpromiseyou,Edward,thatwhenyouaremyguestinToledoorMadridyoushallnotyearninvainforanycommoner'sdaughteronwhomyoumaydeigntocastyoureye.” “Yourtalk,sire,”saidtheprincestillmorecoldly,“isnotsuchasIlovetohearfromyourlips.Ihavenotasteforsuchamoursasyouspeakof,andIhaveswornthatmynameshallbecoupledwiththatofnowomansavemyeverdearwife.” “Everthemirroroftruechivalry!”exclaimedPedro,whileJamesofMajorca,frightenedatthesterncountenanceoftheirall-powerfulprotector,pluckedhardatthemantleofhisbrotherexile. “Haveacare,cousin,”hewhispered“forthesakeoftheVirginhaveacare,foryouhaveangeredhim.” “Pshaw!fearnot,”theotheransweredinthesamelowtone.“IfImissonestoopIwillstrikehimonthenext.Markmeelse.Faircousin,”hecontinued,turningtotheprince,“theseberaremen-at-armsandlustybowmen.Itwouldbehardindeedtomatchthem.” “Theyhavejourneyedfar,sire,buttheyhaveneveryetfoundtheirmatch.” “Noreverwill,Idoubtnot.IfeelmyselftobebackuponmythronewhenIlookatthem.Buttellme,dearcoz,whatshallwe