"
"The lion hath taken a spring above the eagle," said Conrade
carelessly.
The Archduke reddened, and fixed his eyes on the speaker, while
the SPRUCH-SPRECHER answered, after a minute's consideration,
"The Lord Marquis will pardon me--a lion cannot fly above an
eagle, because no lion hath got wings."
"Except the lion of Saint Mark," responded the jester.
"That is the Venetian's banner," said the Duke; "but assuredly
that amphibious race, half nobles, half merchants, will not dare
to place their rank in comparison with ours."
"Nay, it was not of the Venetian lion that I spoke," said the
Marquis of Montserrat, "but of the three lions passant of
England. Formerly, it is said, they were leopards; but now they
are become lions at all points, and must take precedence of
beast, fish, or fowl, or woe worth the gainstander."
"Mean you seriously, my lord?" said the Austrian, now
considerably flushed with wine. "Think you that Richard of
England asserts any pre-eminence over the free sovereigns who
have been his voluntary allies in this Crusade?"
"I know not but from circumstances," answered Conrade.
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