 many occasions, a brave and determined soldier. He looked anxiously
to Athelstane, who had learned the accomplishments of the age, as if desiring
that he should make some personal effort to recover the victory which was
passing into the hands of the Templar and his associates. But though both stout
of heart and strong of person, Athelstane had a disposition too inert and
unambitious to make the exertions which Cedric seemed to expect from him.
    »The day is against England, my lord,« said Cedric, in a marked tone; »are
you not tempted to take the lance?«
    »I shalt tilt to-morrow,« answered Athelstane, »in the mêlée; it is not
worth while for me to arm myself to-day.«
    Two things displeased Cedric in this speech. It contained the Norman word
mêlée (to express the general conflict), and it evinced some indifference to the
honour of the country; but it was spoken by Athelstane, whom he held in such
profound respect, that he would not trust himself to canvass his motives or his
foibles. Moreover, he had no time to make any remark, for Wamba thrust in his
word, observing, »It was better, though scarce easier, to be the best man among
a hundred, than the best man of two.«
    Athelstane took the observation as a serious compliment; but Cedric, who
better understood the Jester's meaning, darted at him a severe and menacing
look; and lucky it was for Wamba, perhaps, that the time and place prevented his
receiving, notwithstanding his place and service, more sensible marks of his
master's resentment.
    The pause in the tournament was still uninterrupted, excepting by the voices
of the heralds exclaiming - »Love of ladies, splintering of lances! stand forth,
gallant knights, fair eyes look upon your deeds!«
    The music also of the challengers breathed from time to time wild bursts
expressive of triumph or defiance, while the clowns grudged a holiday which
seemed to pass away in inactivity; and old knights and nobles lamented in
whispers the decay of martial spirit, spoke of the triumphs of their younger
days, but agreed that the land did not now supply dames of such transcendent
beauty as had animated the jousts of former times. Prince John began to talk to
his attendants about making ready the banquet, and the necessity of adjudging
the prize to Brian de Bois-Guilbert, who had, with a single spear, overthrown
two knights, and foiled a third.
    At length, as the Saracenic music of the challengers concluded one of those
long and high flourishes
