Philip Augustus: or, the brothers in arms. The works / Rev. ... by the author. Vol. v.

  • George Payne Rainsford James
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Philip Augustus: or, the brothers in arms. The works / Rev. ... by the author. Vol. v. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    iny friendsliip, when, hating sorrows as inueh as man an'cII may, I ask you to impart me yours ?” “ In truth, it is,” answered the Count d’Auvergne ; “ but yet I will not load your friendship so, ])e Coucy. Mine are heavy sorrows, which T ’■Tnuld put upon no man’s light heart. How- ever, I have this day given way to them more than I should do; but it is the very sight of my native land, beautiful and beloved as it is, which, waking in my breast the memory of hopes and joys passed away for ever, has made me less master of myself than I am wont.” “Fie now, fie !” cried his friend; “Thibalt d’Auvergne, wouldst thou make me think the heart of a bold knight as fragile as the egg of a chaffinch, on which if but a cat sets her paw, it is broken never to be mended again ? Nay, nay ! there is conso- lation even in the heart of all evils ; like the honey that the good knight. Sir Sampson, found in the jaws of the lion which he killed when he was out hunting with the king of the Saracens.” “ You mean, when he was going down to the Philistines,” said his friend with a slight smile ; though such mistakes were no way rare in those days; and De Coucy spoke it in somewhat of a jesting tone, as if laughing himself at the ignorance he assumed. “ Be it so, be it so !” proceeded the other. “ ’Tis all the same. But, as I said, there is consolation in every evil. Hast thou lost thy dearest friend in the battle field ? Thank God ! that he died knightly in his harness! Hast thou pawned thy estate to the Jew? Thank God ! that thou niayst curse him to thy heart’s content in this world, and feci sure of his damna- tion hereafter I” The Count smiled ; and his friend jn’occedcd, glad to see that he had won him even for a time from himself: —“ Has thy falcon strayed ? Say, ’twas a vile bird and a foul feeder, and call it a good loss. Has thy lady proved cold ? Has thy mistress betrayed thee ? Seek a warmer or a truer, and be liajipily deceived again.” The colour came and went in the check of the Count d’Au- vergne ; and for an instant his eyes flashed fire ; but reading perfect unconsciousness of all offence in the clear open counte- nance of De Coucy, he bit his lip till his teeth left a deep white dent therein, but remained silent. “ Fie, fic ! D’Auvcrgiic !” continued De Couc}^, not noticing
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