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。’’