So saying, he again bent his bow, but on the present
occasion looked with attention to his weapon, and
changed the string, which he thought was no longer
truly round, having been a little frayed by the two
former shots. He then took his aim with some
deliberation, and the multitude awaited the event in
breathless silence. The archer vindicated their
opinion of his skill: his arrow split the willow
rod against which it was aimed. A jubilee of
acclamations followed; and even Prince John, in admiration
of Locksley’s skill, lost for an instant his
dislike to his person. “These twenty nobles,”
he said, “which, with the bugle, thou hast fairly
won, are thine own; we will make them fifty, if thou
wilt take livery and service with us as a yeoman of
our body guard, and be near to our person. For
never did so strong a hand bend a bow, or so true
an eye direct a shaft.”
“Pardon me, noble Prince,” said Locksley;
“but I have vowed, that if ever I take service,
it should be with your royal brother King Richard.
These twenty nobles I leave to Hubert, who has this
day drawn as brave a bow as his grandsire did at Hastings.
Had his modesty not refused the trial, he would have
hit the wand as well I.”
Hubert shook his head as he received with reluctance
the bounty of the stranger, and Locksley, anxious
to escape further observation, mixed with the crowd,
and was seen no more.
The victorious archer would not perhaps have escaped
John’s attention so easily, had not that Prince
had other subjects of anxious and more important meditation
pressing upon his mind at that instant. He called
upon his chamberlain as he gave the signal for retiring
from the lists, and commanded him instantly to gallop
to Ashby, and seek out Isaac the Jew. “Tell
the dog,” he said, “to send me, before
sun-down, two thousand crowns. He knows the security;
but thou mayst show him this ring for a token.
The rest of the money must be paid at York within six
days. If he neglects, I will have the unbelieving
villain’s head. Look that thou pass him
not on the way; for the circumcised slave was displaying
his stolen finery amongst us.”
So saying, the Prince resumed his horse, and returned
to Ashby, the whole crowd breaking up and dispersing
upon his retreat.
CHAPTER XIV
In rough magnificence array’d,
When ancient Chivalry display’d
The pomp of her heroic games,
And crested chiefs and tissued dames
Assembled, at the clarion’s call,
In some proud castle’s high arch’d hall.
Warton
