"What art thou after with this herd of black cattle, Blondel?"
said the King; "wherefore goest thou not into the tent?"
"Because my trade can neither spare the head nor the fingers,"
said Blondel, "and these honest blackamoors threatened to cut me
joint from joint if I pressed forward."
"Well, enter with me," said the King, "and I will be thy
safeguard."
The blacks accordingly lowered pikes and swords to King Richard,
and bent their eyes on the ground, as if unworthy to look upon
him. In the interior of the pavilion they found Thomas de Vaux
in attendance on the Queen. While Berengaria welcomed Blondel,
King Richard spoke for some time secretly and apart with his fair
kinswoman.
At length, "Are we still foes, my fair Edith?" he said, in a
whisper.
"No, my liege," said Edith, in a voice just so low as not to
interrupt the music; "none can bear enmity against King Richard
when he deigns to show himself, as he really is, generous and
noble, as well as valiant and honourable."
So saying, she extended her hand to him.
Pages:
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622