"And Wat Tyrrel's mark, at a hundred yards," said a voice from behind,

but by whom uttered could not be discerned.

This allusion to the fate of William Rufus, his Relative, at once

incensed and alarmed Prince John. He satisfied himself, however, with

commanding the men-at-arms, who surrounded the lists, to keep an eye on

the braggart, pointing to the yeoman.

"By St Grizzel," he added, "we will try his own skill, who is so ready

to give his voice to the feats of others!"

"I shall not fly the trial," said the yeoman, with the composure which

marked his whole deportment.

"Meanwhile, stand up, ye Saxon churls," said the fiery Prince; "for, by

the light of Heaven, since I have said it, the Jew shall have his seat

amongst ye!"

"By no means, an it please your Grace!--it is not fit for such as we

to sit with the rulers of the land," said the Jew; whose ambition for

precedence though it had led him to dispute Place with the extenuated

and impoverished descendant of the line of Montdidier, by no means

stimulated him to an intrusion upon the privileges of the wealthy

Saxons.

"Up, infidel dog when I command you," said Prince John, "or I will have

thy swarthy hide stript off, and tanned for horse-furniture."

Thus urged, the Jew began to ascend the steep and narrow steps which led

up to the gallery.

"Let me see," said the Prince, "who dare stop him," fixing his eye on

Cedric, whose attitude intimated his intention to hurl the Jew down

headlong.

The catastrophe was prevented by the clown Wamba, who, springing

betwixt his master and Isaac, and exclaiming, in answer to the Prince's

defiance, "Marry, that will I!" opposed to the beard of the Jew a shield

of brawn, which he plucked from beneath his cloak, and with which,

doubtless, he had furnished himself, lest the tournament should have

proved longer than his appetite could endure abstinence. Finding the

abomination of his tribe opposed to his very nose, while the Jester,

at the same time, flourished his wooden sword above his head, the Jew

recoiled, missed his footing, and rolled down the steps,--an excellent

jest to the spectators, who set up a loud laughter, in which Prince John

and his attendants heartily joined.

"Deal me the prize, cousin Prince," said Wamba; "I have vanquished my

foe in fair fight with sword and shield," he added, brandishing the

brawn in one hand and the wooden sword in the other.




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