CHAPTER XXVI. The hottest horse will oft be cool, The fool will play the friar. OLD SONG. WHEN the Jester, arrayed in the cowl and frock of the hermit, and having his knotted cord twisted around his middle, stood before the portal of the castle of Front-deBoeuf, the warder demanded of him his name and errand. "Pax vobiscum," answered the Jester, "I am a poor brother of the Order of Saint Francis, who come hither to do my office to certain unhappy prisoners now secured within this castle." "Thou art a bold friar," said the warder, "to come hither, where, saving our own drunken confessor, a cock of thy feather hath not crowed these twenty years." "Yet, I pray thee, do mine errand to the lord of the castle," answered the pretended friar; "trust me it will find good acceptance with him, and the cock shall crow, that the whole castle shall hear him." 66 Gramercy," said the warder; "but if I come to shame for leaving my post upon thine errand, I will try whether a friar's gray gown be proof against a graygoose shaft." With this threat he left his turret, and carried to the hall of the castle his unwonted intelligence, that a holy friar stood before the gate and demanded instant admission. With no small wonder he received his master's commands to admit the holy man immediately; and, having previously manned the entrance to guard against surprise, he obeyed, without farther scruple, the commands which he had received. The harebrained selfconceit which had emboldened Wamba to undertake this dangerous office, was scarce sufficient to support him when he found himself in the presence of a man so dreadful, and so much dreaded, as Reginald Front-de-Boeuf, and he brought out his pax vobiscum, to which he, in a good measure, trusted for supporting his character, with more anxiety and hesitation than had hitherto accompanied it. But Front-de-Boeuf was accustomed to see men of all ranks tremble in his presence, so that the timidity of the supposed father did not give him any cause of suspicion. "Who and whence art thou, priest?" said he. "Pax vobiscum," reiterated the Jester, "I am a poor servant of Saint Francis, who, travelling through this wilderness, have fallen among thieves, (as Scripture hath it,) quidam viator incidit in latrones, which thieves have sent me unto this castle in order to do my ghostly office on two persons condemned by your honourable justice." "Ay, right," answered Front-de-Boeuf; "and canst thou tell me, holy father, the number of those banditti ?" "Gallant sir," answered the Jester, nomen illis legio, their name is legion." 66 "Tell me in plain terms what numbers there are, or, priest, thy cloak and cord will ill protect thee." "Alas!" said the supposed friar, 66 cor meum eructavit, that is to say, I was like to burst with fear! But I con ceive they may be-what of yeomen-what of commons, at least five hundred men." "What!" said the Templar, who came into the hall that moment, 66 muster the wasps so thick here? it is time to stifle such a mischievous brood." Then taking Frontde-Bœuf aside, “Knowest thou the priest?" "He is a stranger from a distant convent," said Frontde-Bœuf; "I know him not." "Then trust him not with thy purpose in words," answered the Templar. "Let him carry a written order to De Bracy's company of Free Companions, to repair instantly to their master's aid. In the meantime, and that the shaveling may suspect nothing, permit him to go freely about his task of preparing the Saxon hogs for the slaughter-house." "It shall be so," said Front-de-Bœuf. And he forthwith appointed a domestic to conduct Wamba to the apartment where Cedric and Athelstane were confined. The impatience of Cedric had been rather enhanced than diminished by his confinement. He walked from one end of the hall to the other, with the attitude of one who advances to charge an enemy, or to storm the breach of a beleaguered place, sometimes ejaculating to himself, sometimes addressing Athelstane, who stoutly and stoically awaited the issue of the adventure, digesting, in the meantime, with great composure, the liberal meal which he had made at noon, and not greatly interesting himself about the duration of his captivity, which he concluded would, like all earthly evils, find an end in Heaven's good time. "Pax vobiscum," said the Jester, entering the apartment; "the blessing of Saint Dunstan, Saint Dennis, Saint Duthoc, and all other saints whatsoever, be upon ye and about ye." "Enter freely," answered Cedric to the supposed friar ; "with what intent art thou come hither?" "To bid you prepare yourselves for death," answered the Jester. "It is impossible !" replied Cedric, starting, "Fearless and wicked as they are, they dare not attempt such open and gratuitous cruelty!" "Alas!" said the Jester, "to restrain them by their sense of humanity, is the same as to stop a runaway horse with a bridle of silk thread. Bethink thee, therefore, noble Cedric, and you, also, gallant Athelstane, what crimes you have committed in the flesh; for this very day will ye be called to answer at a higher tribunal." 66 "Hearest thou this, Athelstane?" said Cedric; we must rouse up our hearts to this last action, since better it is we should die like men, than live like slaves." "I am ready," answered Athelstane, "to stand the worst of their malice, and shall walk to my death with as much composure as ever I did to my dinner." "Let us, then, unto our holy gear, father," said Cedric. "Wait yet a moment, good uncle," said the Jester, in his natural tone; "better look long before you leap in the dark." "By my faith," said Cedric, "I should know that voice!" "It is that of your trusty slave and Jester," answered Wamba; throwing back his cowl. "Had you taken a fool's advice formerly, you would not have been here at all. Take a fool's advice now, and you will not be here long." "How meanest thou, knave?" answered the Saxon. "Even thus," replied Wamba; "take thou this frock and cord, which are all the orders I ever had, and march quietly out of the castle, leaving me your cloak and girdle to take the long leap in thy stead.” "Leave thee in my stead!" said Cedric, astonished at the proposal; "why, they would hang thee, my poor knave." “E'en let them do as they are permitted," said Wamba; "I trust no disparagement to your birth—that the son of Witless may hang in a chain with as much gravity as the chain hung upon his ancestor the alderman." 66 Well, Wamba," answered Cedric, "for one thing will I grant thy request. And that is, if thou wilt make the exchange of garments with Lord Athelstane instead of me." "No, by Saint Dunstan," answered Wamba; "there were little reason in that. Good right there is, that the son of Witless should suffer to save the son of Hereward; but little wisdom there were in his dying for the benefit of one whose fathers were strangers to his." 66 Villain," said Cedric, "the fathers of Athelstane were monarchs of England!" "They might be whomsoever they pleased," replied Wamba; "but my neck stands too straight upon my shoulders to have it twisted for their sake. Wherefore, good my master, either take my proffer yourself, or suffer me to leave this dungeon as free as I entered." "Let the old tree wither," continued Cedric, 66 so the stately hope of the forest be preserved. Save the noble Athelstane, my trusty Wamba! it is the duty of each who has Saxon blood in his veins. Thou and I will abide together the utmost rage of our injurious oppres |