Айвенго

Chapter 9

           PrinceJohnrepliednot;but,spurringhishorse,asiftogiveventtohisvexation,hemadetheanimalboundforwardtothegallerywhereRowenawasseated,withthecrownstillatherfeet.

           "Assume,"hesaid,"fairlady,themarkofyoursovereignty,towhichnonevowshomagemoresincerelythanourself,JohnofAnjou;andifitpleaseyouto-day,withyournoblesireandfriends,tograceourbanquetintheCastleofAshby,weshalllearntoknowtheempresstowhoseservicewedevoteto-morrow."

           Rowenaremainedsilent,andCedricansweredforherinhisnativeSaxon.

           "TheLadyRowena,"hesaid,"possessesnotthelanguageinwhichtoreplytoyourcourtesy,ortosustainherpartinyourfestival.Ialso,andthenobleAthelstaneofConingsburgh,speakonlythelanguage,andpractiseonlythemanners,ofourfathers.WethereforedeclinewiththanksyourHighness’scourteousinvitationtothebanquet.To-morrow,theLadyRowenawilltakeuponherthestatetowhichshehasbeencalledbythefreeelectionofthevictorKnight,confirmedbytheacclamationsofthepeople."

           Sosaying,heliftedthecoronet,andplacedituponRowena’shead,intokenofheracceptanceofthetemporaryauthorityassignedtoher.

           "Whatsayshe?"saidPrinceJohn,affectingnottounderstandtheSaxonlanguage,inwhich,however,hewaswellskilled.ThepurportofCedric’sspeechwasrepeatedtohiminFrench."Itiswell,"hesaid;"to-morrowwewillourselfconductthismutesovereigntoherseatofdignity.

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