Page:The Lady's Book Vol. V.pdf/40

 BERTHA.

38

tre in hand, robed in purple and ermine , and blazing with gold and gems , the conqueror , no- ble in aspect , and almost gigantic in stature , seemed to be something more than man ; and the Greeks , confounded by every thing they had encountered , bewildered by a display of power and wealth they had never seen before , even in dreams , and dazzled by the glory which was at- tached throughout the world to the name of the hero , were unable to support a presence so ma- jestic , and fell on their faces upon the floor.

The young cavalier alone, of all the embassy , remained erect , and this apparently more from surprise than philosophy. He stared at the king as if he had been a spectre ; and at length, wiping the perspiration from his brow-

" Tis he, ' tis he , indeed , " he muttered. " I know him by the great eyes, the long nose , and the bull neck . The peasant lord , or the lordly peasant - he of the short cloak and the heavy arm ! By the holy Virgin ! this churl Angilbert is no ungenerous foe , to lug me , yea or nay , out of the lion's maw , into which - blisters on my tongue ! I would fain have thrust myself . As I live , there he is , bolt upright behind his master , and as fine as jewels and cloth of gold can make him ! -Hark ye , fair sir , who is that handsome cavalier - he who stands next the king ? "

" His nephew, Angilbert . "

" Nephew ! Oh ye saints ! so much the better ; for that is within the forbidden line of consan- guinity, and Angilbert , no doubt , bristled up so fiercely for the honour rather of his cousin , than his love . "

Before the young Greek had ended his medi- tations, the eunuch , who represented on this oc- casion the Empress of the East , had recovered his presence of mind , and delivered the greeting of Irene with a good grace. The reply of Charles to the powerful princess who demanded his daughter for the wife of the heir of her crown, was as favourable as might have been expected either from the courtesy or ambition of his cha- racter ; and the embassy was at length dismissed , from the presence , every individual overwhelmed at once with the condescension of the king and the splendour of his court.

The young Greek, ever unmindful of the form of , etiquette , stood absorbed in the gratification of his curiosity , as the pageant dissolved before his eyes , and at length found , with a start , that he was the only stranger remaining in the room. When about to follow his companions hastily, a voice called to him , which he recognised , with a thrill , as that of the king-

" Ho ! young sir, a word with thee ; " and obey- ing what in that place was a command , he walk- ed to the other end of the hall , where the monarch stood in conversation with his courtiers. Charles then opened a small door behind, and beckoning him to follow , disappeared : and the Greek , mut- tering an invocation to his patron saint , followed him in silence into the passage. They walked on for some time almost in darkness, till the king , suddenly throwing open a door , slapped his visitor familiarly upon the shoulder.

" Thou art

impatient, " said he , " to know whether the merits of the Princess Bertha equal her reputation ; and I deem it a duty of hospitality to gratify so laud- able a curiosity. Wait in this apartment, and thou wilt see anon. " The Greek entered the room, and the door was shut behind him.

Ardent as Charles imagined the youth's curio- sity to be with regard to his daughter, it was for some time entirely forgotten , so much was he absorbed in examining the magnificent chamber where he now found himself. The few articles of furniture with which the customs of the age and people had garnished their dwelling - houses, and which , indeed , consisted of nothing more than stools , benches , and tables , here made up for their want of variety by the extraordinary richness of each individual piece. The stools and benches were covered with fine carpeting, and three of the tables were of silver , and the fourth of gold. The silver tables exhibited the most rare and beautiful workmanship, the sur- face of each presenting a picture in carved work. On one the city of Rome was displayed ; on another that of Constantinople ; and on the third the whole world. The table of gold, of a plain and solid construction , appeared to be used in common by the king , for on it lay his implements of writing , books , and other articles. The books, which , indeed , formed nearly his whole library , consisted of some of the works of Saint Augus- tine , the Psalms of David , a history of Jerusa- lem , and certain chronicles of the ancient kings of the Franks. These, and more particularly the City of God of Saint Angustine , of which he was a great admirer , Charles was in the habit of having read to him every day after dinner , to prepare him for his customary nap of three or four hours. Notwithstanding the display of writing materials, there lay a glove beside them stained with ink , which gave rise to a just im- pression on the part of the visitor , that this great prince had not yet succeeded in learning the mystery of the alphabetical signs , and adopted , therefore , the practice common in his age , of using for a signature a daub made with the end of his glove. A sword, with the hilt carved , for sealing letters , and a wine cup of gold , enriched with sapphires , completed the furniture of the table ; although the latter was probably more for show than use , Charles , unlike his subjects , being said to be a decided enemy to drinking. {

While the stranger was engaged in examining curiously these tools of royalty, he was startled by hearing the breathing of some person near him ; and looking up , he saw a lady gazing at him , with a mixture of surprise and bashfulness. She was of the age when the greenness of


 * Bancs ; these were used at table, whence the word ban . quet.

† Poesies de Fortunat.

Eginhard in Vit. Carol. Magn.

His enactments against this sort of excess show what was its extent among the people. Challenges to drink are forbidden in his Capitulaires ; as also " drinking healths to the dead saints . " The latter practice was anathematized by a council of Nantes ; and Hincmar, Archbishop of Rheims , wrote against it.