Page:Archaeologia Volume 13.djvu/305

 of fever at Anglo-Norman Poets of the i$th Century. 2, 43 poffibility of a reverfe continually tormented his mind, and in fhort, that he fo ftrenuoufly defired to know the future deftinies of his children, that he affembled the wife men of his ftates, and particularly the clergy of England and of Normandy, to afk of them an explication on this fubjecl:, clear and decided. We muft allow that this was no eafy matter, and that no council could have met with more caufe of embarraiTment. Our poet fays, that they difputed, and quarrelled a long time. While fome wifhed to argue from the known character, others from the complexion of the children, their opinions were divided ; and the diverfity of their fentiments only rendered more impenetrably obfcure the darknefs in which we view futurity. It was abfolutely necefTary, however, that an anfwer Hiould be returned to the impatient monarch ; but the fitting was protracted by incefTant difpute, without fixing on any ; when one of its mem- bers enforced, and with fuccefs, that it was flrft neceflary to eftablifh. order, and that He would folve the difficulty if they preferved tran- quillity. The embarraflment was fo general that they foon adopted this offer, although from an individual. They fate down in filence, and this fagacious leader directs, that the children of the Conqueror fhould appear before them, one after the other. .Robert Curthofe came the firft. " Fine boy," fays he, " if God, who is all powerful, had been inclined to make you a bird, to what kind, of all created, would you wilh to belong ?" " I would be a hawk," anfwers the young prince. " Why?" replies the fagacious leader. " Becaufe," fays he, " this bird is noble, bold, and always ready to pounce upon his prey ; becaufe his valour makes him be- loved by princes and warriors, and I would be like him courageous and valiant, honoured by all the world, and, what is more than all, feared by my enemies." I i .3 After