Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/65

Rh The morning on which they urged this so strongly, Duke Walter stood on the steps of his palace, in his hunting-suit of green velvet, with his beautiful falcon perched on his wrist, while a page in waiting stood by holding his horse. Suddenly he faced about, and looked full at his advisers.

“What you say is very wise,” he answered. “To-day I am going to follow your advice. This is my wedding-day.”

Here all the counselors stared at each other with round eyes.

“Only you must promise me one thing,” continued the Duke. “Whoever I marry, be she duchess or beggar, old or young, ugly or handsome, not one of you must find fault with her, but welcome her as my wife, and your honored lady.”

All the courtiers, recovering from their surprise, cried out, “We will; we promise.”

Thereupon, all the court who were standing about gave a loud cheer; and the little page, who held the horse’s bridle, tossed up his cap, and turned two double somersaults on the pavement of the court-yard. Then the Duke leaped into his saddle, humming a song of how King Cophetua wooed a beggar maid; tootle-te-tootle went the huntsmen’s bugles; clampety-clamp went the horse’s hoofs on the stones, and out into the green forest galloped the royal hunt.