BERTHA .
38
tre in hand , robed in purple and ermine , and blazing with gold and gems , the conqueror , no- ble in aspect , and almost gigantic in stature , seemed to be something more than man ; and the Greeks , confounded by every thing they had encountered , bewildered by a display of power and wealth they had never seen before , even in dreams , and dazzled by the glory which was at- tached throughout the world to the name of the hero , were unable to support a presence so ma- jestic , and fell on their faces upon the floor .
The young cavalier alone , of all the embassy , remained erect , and this apparently more from surprise than philosophy . He stared at the king as if he had been a spectre ; and at length , wiping the perspiration from his brow-
" Tis he , ' tis he , indeed , " he muttered . " I know him by the great eyes , the long nose , and the bull neck . The peasant lord , or the lordly peasant - he of the short cloak and the heavy arm ! By the holy Virgin ! this churl Angilbert is no ungenerous foe , to lug me , yea or nay , out of the lion's maw , into which - blisters on my tongue ! I would fain have thrust myself . As I live , there he is , bolt upright behind his master , and as fine as jewels and cloth of gold can make him ! -Hark ye , fair sir , who is that handsome cavalier - he who stands next the king ? "
" His nephew , Angilbert . "
" Nephew ! Oh ye saints ! so much the better ; for that is within the forbidden line of consan- guinity , and Angilbert , no doubt , bristled up so fiercely for the honour rather of his cousin , than his love . "
Before the young Greek had ended his medi- tations , the eunuch , who represented on this oc- casion the Empress of the East , had recovered his presence of mind , and delivered the greeting of Irene with a good grace . The reply of Charles to the powerful princess who demanded his daughter for the wife of the heir of her crown , was as favourable as might have been expected either from the courtesy or ambition of his cha- racter ; and the embassy was at length dismissed , from the presence , every individual overwhelmed at once with the condescension of the king and the splendour of his court .
The young Greek , ever unmindful of the form of , etiquette , stood absorbed in the gratification of his curiosity , as the pageant dissolved before his eyes , and at length found , with a start , that he was the only stranger remaining in the room . When about to follow his companions hastily , a voice called to him , which he recognised , with a thrill , as that of the king-
" Ho ! young sir , a word with thee ; " and obey- ing what in that place was a command , he walk- ed to the other end of the hall , where the monarch stood in conversation with his courtiers . Charles then opened a small door behind , and beckoning him to follow , disappeared : and the Greek , mut- tering an invocation to his patron saint , followed him in silence into the passage . They walked on for some time almost in darkness , till the king , suddenly throwing open a door , slapped his visitor familiarly upon the shoulder .
" Thou art
impatient , " said he , " to know whether the merits of the Princess Bertha equal her reputation ; and I deem it a duty of hospitality to gratify so laud- able a curiosity . Wait in this apartment , and thou wilt see anon . " The Greek entered the room , and the door was shut behind him .
Ardent as Charles imagined the youth's curio- sity to be with regard to his daughter , it was for some time entirely forgotten , so much was he absorbed in examining the magnificent chamber where he now found himself . The few articles of furniture with which the customs of the age and people had garnished their dwelling - houses , and which , indeed , consisted of nothing more than stools , benches , and tables , here made up for their want of variety by the extraordinary richness of each individual piece . The stools and benches were covered with fine carpeting , and three of the tables were of silver , and the fourth of gold . The silver tables exhibited the most rare and beautiful workmanship , the sur- face of each presenting a picture in carved work . On one the city of Rome was displayed ; on another that of Constantinople ; and on the third the whole world . The table of gold , of a plain and solid construction , appeared to be used in common by the king , for on it lay his implements of writing , books , and other articles . The books , which , indeed , formed nearly his whole library , consisted of some of the works of Saint Augus- tine , the Psalms of David , a history of Jerusa- lem , and certain chronicles of the ancient kings of the Franks . These , and more particularly the City of God of Saint Angustine , of which he was a great admirer , Charles was in the habit of having read to him every day after dinner , to prepare him for his customary nap of three or four hours . Notwithstanding the display of writing materials , there lay a glove beside them stained with ink , which gave rise to a just im- pression on the part of the visitor , that this great prince had not yet succeeded in learning the mystery of the alphabetical signs , and adopted , therefore , the practice common in his age , of using for a signature a daub made with the end of his glove . A sword , with the hilt carved , for sealing letters , and a wine cup of gold , enriched with sapphires , completed the furniture of the table ; although the latter was probably more for show than use , Charles , unlike his subjects , being said to be a decided enemy to drinking . {
While the stranger was engaged in examining curiously these tools of royalty , he was startled by hearing the breathing of some person near him ; and looking up , he saw a lady gazing at him , with a mixture of surprise and bashfulness . She was of the age when the greenness of
- Bancs ; these were used at table , whence the word ban . quet .
† Poesies de Fortunat .
Eginhard in Vit . Carol . Magn .
His enactments against this sort of excess show what was its extent among the people . Challenges to drink are forbidden in his Capitulaires ; as also " drinking healths to the dead saints . " The latter practice was anathematized by a council of Nantes ; and Hincmar , Archbishop of Rheims , wrote against it .
