Page:The Chronicle of Clemendy.pdf/132

 tainment it had made for all the noble folk; and presently he and Master Geoffrey Tudor the romancer were observed to put their heads together, as if they were concocting some good and joyous invention. And while somebody was saying, "We see the preëxcellence of the one over the other by the lively symbols wherein Maistre Jehan has set forth his parable; for the vane is ever gay and merry, still on the viretot, and always tells us something; whereas the dial has no story in the shadow, and is but a useless piece of brass while the vanes are clattering and swinging joyously"; Master Tudor stood up and prayed for the High Constable's ear, the which was readily granted him and all kept silence. "I would make an oration to you, my lord," said he, "for that my brother, Maistre Jehan Doucereutz and I, have, unless I am mistaken, concocted for your pleasure and the pleasure of fair ladies and the noble chivalry of Christendom, so choice an adventure and rare an emprise that I believe no deeds that are written in the Book of the Round Table nor in any writings of errantry shall be found worthy to be compared with it. And in fine our plan is this: namely, let each array in this gentle battle choose a champion, the most worthy and knightly that may be, and let them ride forth, the one in quest of Constancy and the other of Variety; and let the one bear the badge of a dial and the other the badge of a vane; so when their quest be done they shall return again to Caldicot and give us the history of whatsoever they have done or seen. I pray you my lord consider this, and advise