He knit his brows, and fixed his eyes for an instant
on the ground; as he raised them, the folding doors
at the bottom of the hall were cast wide, and, preceded
by the major-domo with his wand, and four domestics
bearing blazing torches, the guests of the evening
entered the apartment.
With sheep and shaggy goats the porkers bled,
And the proud steer was on the marble spread;
With fire prepared, they deal the morsels round,
Wine rosy bright the brimming goblets crown’d.
* * * * *
Disposed apart, Ulysses shares the treat;
A trivet table and ignobler seat,
The Prince assigns—–
Odyssey, Book XXI
The Prior Aymer had taken the opportunity afforded
him, of changing his riding robe for one of yet more
costly materials, over which he wore a cope curiously
embroidered. Besides the massive golden signet
ring, which marked his ecclesiastical dignity, his
fingers, though contrary to the canon, were loaded
with precious gems; his sandals were of the finest
leather which was imported from Spain; his beard trimmed
to as small dimensions as his order would possibly
permit, and his shaven crown concealed by a scarlet
cap richly embroidered.
The appearance of the Knight Templar was also changed;
and, though less studiously bedecked with ornament,
his dress was as rich, and his appearance far more
commanding, than that of his companion. He had
exchanged his shirt of mail for an under tunic of
dark purple silk, garnished with furs, over which flowed
his long robe of spotless white, in ample folds.
The eight-pointed cross of his order was cut on the
shoulder of his mantle in black velvet. The high
cap no longer invested his brows, which were only
shaded by short and thick curled hair of a raven blackness,
corresponding to his unusually swart complexion.
Nothing could be more gracefully majestic than his
step and manner, had they not been marked by a predominant
air of haughtiness, easily acquired by the exercise
of unresisted authority.
These two dignified persons were followed by their
respective attendants, and at a more humble distance
by their guide, whose figure had nothing more remarkable
than it derived from the usual weeds of a pilgrim.
A cloak or mantle of coarse black serge, enveloped
his whole body. It was in shape something like
the cloak of a modern hussar, having similar flaps
for covering the arms, and was called a “Sclaveyn”,
or “Sclavonian”. Coarse sandals,
bound with thongs, on his bare feet; a broad and shadowy
hat, with cockle-shells stitched on its brim, and a
long staff shod with iron, to the upper end of which
was attached a branch of palm, completed the palmer’s
attire. He followed modestly the last of the
train which entered the hall, and, observing that the
lower table scarce afforded room sufficient for the
domestics of Cedric and the retinue of his guests,
he withdrew to a settle placed beside and almost under
one of the large chimneys, and seemed to employ himself
in drying his garments, until the retreat of some
one should make room at the board, or the hospitality
of the steward should supply him with refreshments
in the place he had chosen apart.
