Айвенго

Chapter 14

           Whileindulgingthemselvesinthepleasuresofthetable,theyaimedatdelicacy,butavoidedexcess,andwereapttoattributegluttonyanddrunkennesstothevanquishedSaxons,asvicespeculiartotheirinferiorstation.PrinceJohn,indeed,andthosewhocourtedhispleasurebyimitatinghisfoibles,wereapttoindulgetoexcessinthepleasuresofthetrencherandthegoblet;andindeeditiswellknownthathisdeathwasoccasionedbyasurfeituponpeachesandnewale.Hisconduct,however,wasanexceptiontothegeneralmannersofhiscountrymen.

           Withslygravity,interruptedonlybyprivatesignstoeachother,theNormanknightsandnoblesbeheldtheruderdemeanourofAthelstaneandCedricatabanquet,totheformandfashionofwhichtheywereunaccustomed.Andwhiletheirmannerswerethusthesubjectofsarcasticobservation,theuntaughtSaxonsunwittinglytransgressedseveralofthearbitraryrulesestablishedfortheregulationofsociety.Now,itiswellknown,thatamanmaywithmoreimpunitybeguiltyofanactualbreacheitherofrealgoodbreedingorofgoodmorals,thanappearignorantofthemostminutepointoffashionableetiquette.ThusCedric,whodriedhishandswithatowel,insteadofsufferingthemoisturetoexhalebywavingthemgracefullyintheair,incurredmoreridiculethanhiscompanionAthelstane,whenheswallowedtohisownsinglesharethewholeofalargepastycomposedofthemostexquisiteforeigndelicacies,andtermedatthattimea"Karum-Pie".

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