Айвенго

Chapter 18

           Athelstanehadthisqualityatleast;andthoughhehadfewmentalaccomplishmentsortalentstorecommendhimasaleader,hehadstillagoodlyperson,wasnocoward,hadbeenaccustomedtomartialexercises,andseemedwillingtodefertotheadviceofcounsellorsmorewisethanhimself.Aboveall,hewasknowntobeliberalandhospitable,andbelievedtobegood-natured.ButwhateverpretensionsAthelstanehadtobeconsideredasheadoftheSaxonconfederacy,manyofthatnationweredisposedtoprefertothetitleoftheLadyRowena,whodrewherdescentfromAlfred,andwhosefatherhavingbeenachiefrenownedforwisdom,courage,andgenerosity,hismemorywashighlyhonouredbyhisoppressedcountrymen.

           ItwouldhavebeennodifficultthingforCedric,hadhebeensodisposed,tohaveplacedhimselfattheheadofathirdparty,asformidableatleastasanyoftheothers.Tocounterbalancetheirroyaldescent,hehadcourage,activity,energy,and,aboveall,thatdevotedattachmenttothecausewhichhadprocuredhimtheepithetofTheSaxon,andhisbirthwasinferiortonone,exceptingonlythatofAthelstaneandhisward.Thesequalities,however,wereunalloyedbytheslightestshadeofselfishness;and,insteadofdividingyetfartherhisweakenednationbyformingafactionofhisown,itwasaleadingpartofCedric’splantoextinguishthatwhichalreadyexisted,bypromotingamarriagebetwixtRowenaandAthelstane.

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