Where is his harp-bearer?--or, soft, lend him my harp, his own
may be damaged by
the journey."
"I would your Grace would take my report," said Thomas de Vaux.
"I have ridden far, and have more list to my bed than to have my
ears tickled."
"THY ears tickled!" said the King; "that must be with a
woodcock's feather, and not with sweet sounds. Hark thee,
Thomas, do thine ears know the singing of Blondel from the
braying of an ass?"
"In faith, my liege," replied Thomas, "I cannot well say; but
setting Blondel out of the question, who is a born gentleman, and
doubtless of high acquirements, I shall never, for the sake of
your Grace's question, look on a minstrel but I shall think upon
an ass."
"And might not your manners," said Richard, "have excepted me,
who am a gentleman born as well as Blondel, and, like him, a
guild-brother of the joyeuse science?"
"Your Grace should remember," said De Vaux, smiling, "that 'tis
useless asking for manners from a mule."
"Most truly spoken," said the King; "and an ill-conditioned
animal thou art.
Pages:
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574