So
rode he through his glorious array of knights, checking his fiery steed to
gentle gait with practised hand, while thus spake the pursuivant:
"Behold here Jocelyn, Duke of Brocelaunde, to claim this day in marriage
the Lady Yolande according to her word."
"Stay, my lords!" cried a sweet, clear voice, and forth before them all
stood Yolande herself, pale-cheeked but stately of bearing and very bright
of eye.
"Be it known to all here that I, Yolande, have given neither pledge nor
troth unto Duke Jocelyn--"
Now here was silence sudden and profound that none dared break saving only
the haughty Chief Herald.
"How lady, how," quoth he, "no pledge, no troth, quotha--"
"Neither one nor other, messire, nor shall there ever be--"
"Here is madness, lady, madness--"
"Here is truth, messire, truth; I may not pledge my troth with Duke Jocelyn
since I have this day pledged myself unto Duke Jocelyn's jester--"
"Jester, lady, jester? Venus aid us--Cupid shield us! A jester, a Fool, a
motley mountebank, a--"
"Aye!" cried Yolande.
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