The Prince of India, Volume II

pillars square ties;-the wall above the pillars elaborately scrolled;-three curtains of woollen stuff uniformly Tyrian dyed filling the open places-the central curtain drawn to the pillars, and held t

ks of jasper, mostly red and yellow-on the tables murrhine pitchers vase-shaped, with crystal drinking goblets about them;-the skylights conical and of clear glass;-the walls panelled, a picture in every panel, and

ed with the bright materials in use, the slanted frame, and a flexible lion's skin under her feet-she was a picture once seen never forgotten. The wonderful setting of the head and neck upon the Phidian shoulders was admirably compl

d overtaken her father, and the disappearance of the Prince of India, the latter unaccountable except upon the hypothesis of death in the great fire. The dying prayer of the son of Jahdai had not failed wit

ary. They read, sang, accepted tasks in embroidery from their mistress, accompanied her abroad, loved her-in a word, their service was in every respect compatible with high rank, and in return they derived a certain education from her. For by un

mpressive than sermons in words. In illustration of the freedom they enjoyed in her presence and hearing, one of them

OLDEN

fe were

rn, on

lden noon

, of

y what I

what wou

o me-e'en

te or

Love rem

golde

ful-I w

, what w

eased there was a mer

doors, and, after ringing the tiled floor with the butt of his javelin, and bowing statelywi

kissed her hand; then, leaving her to re

ever indulged that vulgarism-something quite out of character with him-it was not in his intercourse with the Princess. She did not require formality; she simply re

ntle and unconventional never one knowing so little of the world. With life all before him, with its ways to learn, she saw he required an adviser through a period of tutelage, and as

disguise of their feeling; and while disallowing the passion a place in her own breast, she did not deprecate or seek to smother it in others. Far from that, in

the death of the Greek. They went so far as to accuse him of a double murder-of the son first, then of the father. A terrible indictment! And they were bold and open-mouthed. Out of respect for the Emperor, who was equally outspoken in commendation of Sergius, they had not proceeded to the point of expulsion. The young man was still of the Brotherhood; nevertheless he did not venture to exercise any of the privileges of a member. His cell was vacant. The five services of the day were he

seat by her was very noticeable; and when she reached him her hand, t

iend is better, to-d

cess says I may go out soon

at, and two master rowers. Yesterday they carried me to the Black Sea and back, stopping for a lunch of bread and

White Castle?" she

and in her absence, I feared the Govern

e frame before her. She knew so much more of the

ve you be

they make clear, this is the clearest-the joys of eternal life lie in the saying of the Lord, 'I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.' ... After my hours of study, I went to see an old church over in the low gard

hurch?" the Pri

the aqueduct, and the gates

Brotherhoods. They have

rry to h

k again, he went on with

I decided to go to the Port of Blacherne-a long walk, but not too long, cons

of him

flies an unknown flag. They report him further as standing much on his deck in a suit of armor glistening like silver. And what is he? Mouth speaketh unto mouth, with no one to answer. They go then to his ship, pronouncing it the most perfect thing of the kind ever seen in the harbor. Those who have rowed around it say the sailor

ecital gradually changed; she seemed disposed

body exclaimed: 'Arabs, Arabs!' There was a groom for each horse-tall men, lean, dust-hued, turbaned, and in black gowns. At sight of the animals, an old Persian who, from his appearance, might have been grandfather of the grooms, begged permission-I could not understand the tongue he used-put his arms around the necks of the animals, and kissed them between the eyes, his own full of tears the while. I suppose they reminded him of his own country.... Then two officers from the palace, representatives doubtless of the Emperor, rode out of the gate in armor, and immediately the stranger issued from his cabin, and came ashore. I confess I lost interest in the horses, although he went to them and scanned them over, lifting their feet and tapping their hoofs with the handle of a dagger. By that time the two offic

m closely?"

passed near me as I am

did he

each link-limbs to the knees in mail. From the knees down there were splints of steel inlaid with silver; his shoes were of steel, and on the heels long golden spurs.

old i

eminded me of what I have heard of th

llowing

from the

y unfamiliarity with military fashions, I will call equerry, armorer, and squire or page. What

as of his per

ch, the most unusual thing observable in his followers was, the

to return to his native land and engage in the baronial wars which prevail there at present, he offered his services to His Majesty. He is an Italian nobleman, entitled Count Corti, and submitted to His Majesty a certificate, under the hand and seal of the Holy Father, showing that the Holy Father knighted him, and authorized his crusade against the infidels. The preference for a following composed of Orientals is singular; but after all, it is only a matter of taste. The day may come, dear Sergius, when the Chris

resuming work, when Lysander entered, and, afte

same time there was a commotion behind the curtain, and presen

rself," Lael said,

rk over me; but my faith is not shaken; they will blow away; and in the m

she said, with ch

s elected a new Heg

man, I

t. Against them the Hegumen will be slow in proceeding to my expulsion. I am not afraid. I will go on doing what I think right. Time and patience are good angels

d N

ing in the way

oor man the first th

why he is a prisoner, but behaves quietly. I took him a supply of tools, and he passes the time making things in use in his country, mostly implements of war and hunting. The walls of

a very noble l

ist, and I could see the result-the brute caught in the meshes, and entangled. Then the brave fellow proceeded with his pantomime. He threw himself to one side out of the way of the leap-drew a sword, and stabbed and stabbed-and the triumph in his face told me plainly enough. 'There-he is dead!' Just now he is engaged on another work scarcely less interesting to him. A dealer in ivory sent him an elephant's tusk, and he is covering it with the story of a campaign. You see the warriors setting out on the march-in another picture they are in battle-a cloud of arrows in flight-s

sob recalled him. Bending lower over the hand, he caressed it more assiduously than ever, af

iend, you forgive

ught he had committed an offence f

for me to think of you, not you o

sweet gift to take away.... The Princess is going to Sancta S

kissed her on the forehead