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 first 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!”