3. CHAPTER III.
And well, apart from every consideration yet to be developed,
might they gaze upon the princely form that now stood erect,
and with something approaching to defiance in his air and manner,
in the centre of the vast assemblage. He was habited in
chain armor, the admirable work, in all probability, of the shops
of Milan. This, though painted or stained thoroughly black, yet
threw out a glossy lustre of incredible brightness. Upon his
breast, as if the love token of some noble damsel, a broad scarf
of the most delicate blue was seen to float. A cap of velvet,
with a double loop in front, bearing a very large brilliant from
which rose a bunch of sable plumes, was discarded from his
brows the moment that he stood within the royal presence. He
stood for a brief space, seeming to survey the scene, then advanced
with a bold and somewhat rapid step, as if a natural spirit
of fearlessness had been stimulated into eagerness by a consciousness
of wrong and a just feeling of indignation. His face
was scarcely less noble than his form and manner, but it was
marked by angry passions — was red and swollen — and as he
passed onward to the foot of the throne, he glanced fiercely on
either hand, as if seeking for an enemy. In spite of the fearlessness
of his progress, I could now perceive that he was under
constraint and in duresse. A strong body of halberdiers closed
upon his course, and evidently stood prepared and watchful of
his every movement. As he approached the throne, the several
groups gave way before him, and he stood, with unobstructed
vision, in the immediate presence of the monarch. For an instant
he remained erect, with a mien unsubdued and almost
haughty, while a low murmur — as I fancied, of indignation —
rose in various portions of the hall. The face of the king himself
seemed suddenly flushed, and a lively play of the muscles
of his countenance led me to believe that he was about to give
utterance to his anger; but, at this moment, the stranger sunk
gracefully but proudly upon his knee, and, bending his forehead,
with a studied humility in his prostration, disarmed, if it had been
felt, the indignation of his sovereign. This done, he rose to his
feet with a manly ease, and stood silent, in an attitude of expectation,
but with a calm, martial erectness, as rigid as if cut from
the inflexible rock.
The king spoke, but the words were inaudible to my ears.
There was a murmur from various parts of the assembly. Several
voices followed that of the monarch, but of these I could
not comprehend the purport. I could only judge of the character
of what was said by its startling effect upon the stranger. If
excited before, he seemed to be almost maddened now. His
eyes followed the murmuring voices from side to side of the assembly,
with a fearful flashing energy, which made them dilate,
as if endangering the limits of their reddened sockets. A like
feverish and impatient fury threw his form into spasmodic action.
His figure seemed to rise and swell, towering above the rest.
His arms were stretched in the direction of the assailing voices.
His clenched fist seemed to threaten the speakers with instant
violence. Unintimidated by the presence in which he
stood, his appearance was that of a subject, not only too strong
for his superior, but too confident and presumptuous for his own
self-subjection, even in the moment of greatest peril to himself.
He resumed his composure at last, and the murmur ceased
around him. There was deep silence, and the eyes of the stranger
were fixed rigidly upon those of his prince. The latter was
evidently moved. His hand was extended — something he spoke
which I again lost; but, strange to say, the reply of the stranger
came sharply and distinctly to my ear.
“Swear! Why should I swear? Should I call upon the
Holy Evangel as my witness, when I see not my accuser? Let
him appear. Let him look me in the face, if there be lord or
knight in this assembly so bold, and tell me that I am guilty of
this treason. Sire! I challenge my accuser. I have no other
answer to the charge!”
