Theanxiouseyeoftheminstrel，however，dweltonEdith，anditwasnottillheobservedherreturningcolourthatheobeyedtherepeatedcommandsoftheKing。Then，accompanyinghisvoicewiththeharp，soastograce，butyetnotdrown，thesenseofwhathesang，hechantedinasortofrecitativeoneofthoseancientadventuresofloveandknighthood，whichwerewontofyoretowinthepublicattention。Sosoonashebegantoprelude，theinsignificanceofhispersonalappearanceseemedtodisappear，andhiscountenanceglowedwithenergyandinspiration。Hisfull，manly，mellowvoice，soabsolutelyundercommandofthepuresttaste，thrilledoneveryear，andtoeveryheart。Richard，rejoicedasaftervictory，calledouttheappropriatesummonsforsilence，Listen，lords，inbowerandhall；’’
whilewiththezealofapatronatonceandapupil，hearrangedthecirclearound，andhushedthemintosilence；andhehimselfsatdownwithanairofexpectationandinterestnotaltogetherunmixedwiththegravityoftheprofessedcritic。ThecourtiersturnedtheireyesontheKing，thattheymightbereadytotraceandimitatetheemotionshisfeaturesshouldexpress，andThomasdeVauxyawnedtremendously，asonewhosubmittedunwillinglytoawearisomepenance。ThesongofBlondelwasofcourseintheNormanlanguage；buttheverseswhichfollowexpressitsmeaninganditsmanner。
TheBloodyVest’TwasnearthefaircityofBenevent，Whenthesunwassettingonboughandbent，Andknightswerepreparinginbowerandtent，OntheeveoftheBaptist’stournamentWheninLincolngreenastriplinggent，Wellseemingapagebyaprincesssent，Wander’dthecamp，and，stillashewent，EnquiredfortheEnglishman，ThomasKent。
Farhathhefared，andfarthermustfare，Tillhefindshispavilionnorstatelynorrare，-
Littlesaveironandsteelwasthere:
And，aslackingthecointopayarmourer’scare，Withhissinewyarmstotheshouldersbare，ThegoodknightwithhammerandfiledidrepairThemailthatto-morrowmustseehimwear，ForthehonourofSaintJohnandhisladyfair。
Thusspeaksmylady，’’thepagesaidhe，Andtheknightbentlowlybothheadandknee，SheisBenevent’sPrincesssohighindegree，Andthouartaslowlyasknightmaywellbe-
Hethatwouldclimbsoloftyatree，Orspringsuchagulfasdividesherfromthee，Mustdaresomehighdeed，bywhichallmenmayseeHisambitionisback’dbyhishiechivalrie。
Thereforethusspeaksmylady，’’thefairpagehesaid，Andtheknightlowlyloutedwithhandandwithhead，Flingasidethegoodarmourinwhichthouartclad，Anddonthouthisweedofhernight-gearinstead，Forahauberkofsteel，akirtleofthread:。
Andchargethusattired，inthetournamentdread，Andfightasthywontiswheremostbloodisshed，Andbringhonouraway，orremainwiththedead。’’
Untroubledinhislook，anduntroubledinhisbreast，Theknighttheweedhathtaken，andreverentlyhathkiss’d:
Nowblessedbethemoment，themessengerbeblest！
Muchhonour’ddoIholdmeinmylady’shighbehest；
Andsayuntomylady，inthisdearnight-weeddress’d，TothebestarmedchampionIwillnotveilmycrest；
ButifIliveandbearmewell’tisherturntotakethetest。’’
Here，gentles，endstheforemostfytteoftheLayoftheBloodyVest。
Thouhastchangedthemeasureuponusunawaresinthatlastcouplet，myBlondel？’’saidtheKing。
Mosttrue，mylord，’’saidBlondel。IrenderedtheversesfromtheItalianofanoldharper，whomImetinCyprus，andnothavinghadtimeeithertotranslateitaccurately，orcommitittomemory，IamfaintosupplygapsinthemusicandtheverseasIcanuponthespurofthemoment，asyouseeboorsmendaquicksetfencewithafagot。’’
Nay，onmyfaith，’’saidtheKing，IliketheserattlingrollingAlexandrines-methinkstheycomemoretwanginglyofftothemusicthanthatbriefermeasure。’’
Botharelicensed，asiswellknowntoyourGrace，’’answeredBlondel。
Theyareso，Blondel，’’saidRichard；yetmethinksthescene，wherethereisliketobefighting，willgobestoninthesesamethunderingAlexandrines，whichsoundlikethechargeofcavalry；whiletheothermeasureisbutlikethesidelongambleofalady’spalfrey。’’
ItshallbeasyourGracepleases，’’repliedBlondel，andbeganagaintoprelude。
Nay，firstcherishthyfancywithacupoffieryChioswine，’’
saidtheKing；andharkthee，Iwouldhavetheeflingawaythatnewfangledrestrictionofthine，ofterminatinginaccurateandsimilarrhymes-Theyareaconstraintonthyflowoffancy，andmaketheeresembleamandancinginfetters。’’
Thefettersareeasilyflungoff，atleast，’’saidBlondel，againsweepinghisfingersoverthestrings，asonewhowouldratherhaveplayedthanlistenedtocriticism。
Butwhyputthemon，man？’’continuedtheKing-Whereforethrustthygeniusintoironbracelets？Imarvelhowyougotforwardatall-IamsureIshouldnothavebeenabletocomposeastanzainyonderhamperedmeasure。’’
Blondellookeddownandbusiedhimselfwiththestringsofhisharp，tohideaninvoluntarysmilewhichcreptoverhisfeatures；butitescapednotRichard’sobservation。
Bymyfaiththoulaugh’statme，Blondel，’’hesaid；and，ingoodtruth，everymandeservesit，whopresumestoplaythemasterwhenheshouldbethepupil；butwekingsgetbadhabitsofself-opinion-Come，onwiththylay，dearestBlondel-onafterthineownfashion，betterthanaughtthatwecansuggest，thoughwemustneedsbetalking。’’
Blondelresumedthelay；but，asextemporaneouscompositionwasfamiliartohim，hefailednottocomplywiththeKing’shints，andwasperhapsnotdispleasedtoshowwithhowmucheasehecouldnew-modelapoem，evenwhileintheactofrecitation。
TheBloodyVest=fyttesecond=
TheBaptist’sfairmorrowbeheldgallantfeats-
Therewaswinningofhonour，andlosingofseats-
Therewashewingwithfalchions，andsplinteringofstaves，Thevictorswonglory，thevanquish’dwongraves。
Oh，manyaknighttherefoughtbravelyandwell，Yetonewasaccountedhispeerstoexcel，And’twashewhosesolearmouronbodyandbreast，Seem’dtheweedofadamselwhenboundforherrest。
Thereweresomedealthimwounds，thatwerebloodyandsore，Butothersrespectedhisplight，andforbore。
Itissomeoathofhonour，’’theysaid，andItrow，’Twereunknightlytoslayhimachievinghisvow。’’
ThenthePrince，forhissake，badethetournamentcease，Heflungdownhiswarder，thetrumpetssungpeaceAndthejudgesdeclare，andcompetitorsyield，ThattheKnightoftheNight-gearwasfirstinthefield。
Thefeastitwasnigh，andthemassitwasnigher，WhenbeforethefairPrincesslowloutedasquire，Anddeliver’dagarmentunseemlytoview，Withsword-cutandspear-thrustallhack’dandpiercedthrough；
Allrentandalltatter’d，allclottedwithblood，Withfoamofthehorses，withdust，andwithmudNotthepointofthatlady’ssmallfinger，Iween，Couldhaverestedonspotwasunsulliedandclean。
Thistoken，mymaster，SirThomasKent，RestorestothePrincessoffairBenevent:
Hethatclimbsthetalltreehaswonrighttothefruit，HethatleapsthewidegulfshouldprevailinhissuitThroughlife’sutmostperiltheprizeIhavewon，Andnowmustthefaithofmymistressbeshown；
Forshewhopromptsknightsonsuchdangertorun，Mustavouchhistrueserviceinfrontofthesun。
Irestore，’’saysmymaster，thegarmentI’veworn，AndIclaimofthePrincesstodonitinturn；
Foritsstainsanditsrentssheshouldprizeitthemore，Sincebyshame’tisunsullied，thoughcrimson’dwithgore。’’
Thendeepblush’dthePrincess-yetkiss’dsheandpress’dTheblood-spottedrobestoherlipsandherbreast。
Go，tellmytrueknight，churchandchambershallshow，IfIvaluethebloodonthisgarmentorno。’’
Andwhenitwastimeforthenoblestopass，Insolemnprocessiontominsterandmass，Thefirstwalk’dthePrincessinpurpleandpall，Buttheblood-besmear’dnight-robesheworeoverallAndeke，inthehall，wheretheyallsatatdine，Whensheknelttoherfatherandproffer’dthewine，OverallherrichrobesandstatejewelssheworeThatwimpleunseemlybedabbledwithgore。
Thenlordswhisper’dladies，aswellyoupaythink，Andladiesreplied，withnod，titter，andwink；
AndthePrince，whoinangerandshamehadlook’ddown，Turn’datlengthtohisdaughter，andspokewithafrownNowsincethouhastpublish’dthyfollyandguilt，E’enatonewiththyhandforthebloodthouhastspiltYetsoreforyourboldnessyoubothwillrepent，WhenyouwanderasexilesfromfairBenevent。’’
ThenoutspokestoutThomas，inhallwherehestood，Exhaustedandfeeble，butdauntlessofmood:
ThebloodthatIlostforthisdaughterofthine，Ipour’dforthasfreelyasflaskgivesitswine；
Andifformysakeshebrookspenanceandblame，DonotdoubtIwillsaveherfromsufferingandshame；
Andlightwillshereckofthyprincedomandrent，WhenIhailher，inEngland，theCountessofKent。’’
Amurmurofapplauseranthroughtheassembly，followingtheexampleofRichardhimself，wholoadedwithpraiseshisfavouriteminstrel，andendedbypresentinghimwitharingofconsiderablevalue。TheQueenhastenedtodistinguishthefavouritebyarichbracelet，andmanyofthenobleswhowerepresentfollowedtheroyalexample。
IsourcousinEdith，’’saidtheKing，becomeinsensibletothesoundoftheharpsheonceloved？’’
ShethanksBlondelforhislay，’’repliedEdith，butdoublythekindnessofthekinsmanwhosuggestedit。’’
Thouartangry，cousin，’’saidtheKing；angrybecausethouhastheardofawomanmorewaywardthanthyself。Butyouescapemenot-IwillwalkaspacehomewardwithyoutowardstheQueen’spavilion-wemusthaveconferencetogethererethenighthaswanedintomorning。’’
TheQueenandherattendantswerenowonfoot，andtheotherguestswithdrewfromtheroyaltent。Atrainwithblazingtorches，andanescortofarchers，awaitedBerengariawithoutthepavilion，andshewassoononherwayhomeward。Richard，ashehadproposed，walkedbesidehiskinswoman，andcompelledhertoacceptofhisarmashersupport，sothattheycouldspeaktoeachotherwithoutbeingoverheard。
Whatanswer，then，amItoreturntothenobleSoldan？’’
saidRichard。TheKingsandPrincesarefallingfromme，Edith-thisnewquarrelhathalienatedthemoncemore。I
woulddosomethingfortheHolySepulchrebycomposition，ifnotbyvictory；andthechanceofmydoingthisdepends，alas！
onthecapriceofawoman。IwouldlaymysinglespearintherestagainsttenofthebestlancesinChristendom，ratherthanarguewithawilfulwench，whoknowsnotwhatisforherowngood-Whatanswer，coz，amItoreturntotheSoldan？Itmustbedecisive。’’
Tellhim，’’saidEdith，thatthepoorestofthePlantagenetswillratherwedwithmiserythanwithmisbelief。’’
ShallIsaywith_slavery，_Edith？’’saidtheKing-Methinksthatisnearerthythoughts。’’
Thereisnoroom，’’saidEdith，forthesuspicionyousogrosslyinsinuate。Slaveryofthebodymighthavebeenpitied，butthatofthesoulisonlytobedespised。Shametothee，KingofmerryEngland。Thouhastenthralledboththelimbsandthespiritofaknight，onescarcelessfamedthanthyself。’’
ShouldInotpreventmykinswomanfromdrinkingpoison，bysullyingthevesselwhichcontainedit，ifIsawnoothermeansofdisgustingherwiththefatalliquor？’’repliedtheKing。
Itisthyself，’’answeredEdith，thatwouldpressmetodrinkpoison，becauseitisprofferedinagoldenchalice。’’