For some years past his aged father had committed to his charge the internal administration of the land. In every campaign it was he that had led the Flemish armies, and he had earned himself a glorious name, far and near. In the Sicilian war, in which he, with his soldiers, had formed a part of the French host, he had performed such wondrous feats of arms, that ever since he was hardly spoken of otherwise than as the Lion of Flanders. The people, which ever cherishes with love and admiration the name of a hero, sang many a lay of the Lion's deeds of valor, and was proud of him who was one day to wear the Flemish coronet. As Guy, from his great age, rarely left his home at Wynandael, and was, moreover, not very popular with the Flemings, the title of Count was equally given by them to his son Robert, who was regarded throughout the land as their lord and master, and met with joyful obedience from all.
On his right rode William, his youngest brother, whose pale cheeks and troubled air contrasted like the face of a delicate girl with the bronzed features of Robert. His equipment in no way differed from that of his brother, except by the crooked sword, which Robert alone wore.
Then followed many other lords and gentlemen, both Flemings and foreigners. Among the former were especially noticeable Walter Lord of Maldegem, Charles Lord of Knesselare, Sir Roger of Akxpoele, Sir Jan of Gavern, Rase Mulaert, Diederik die Vos (the fox) and Gerard die Moor.
The French knights, Jacques de Chatillon, Gui de St. Pol, Raoul de Nesle, and their comrades, rode among the Flemish nobles, and each engaged in courteous conversation with such of them as happened to come in his way.
Last of all came Adolf of Nieuwland, a young knight of one of the noblest houses of the wealthy city of Bruges. His face was not one of those that attract by their effeminate beauty; he was none of the carpet heroes, with rosy cheeks, and smiling lips, who want nothing but a bodice to transform them into young ladies. Nature had made no such mistake with him. His cheeks, slightly sunburnt, gave him a look of seriousness beyond his years; his forehead was already marked with the two significant furrows which early thought rarely fails to imprint. His features were striking and manly; his eyes, half-hidden under their brows, indicated a soul at once ardent and reserved. Although in rank and position inferior to none of the knights in whose company he now was, he held back behind the rest. More than once had others made room to allow him to come forward; but their civility had hitherto been quite thrown away upon him—in fact, he seemed altogether lost in thought.
At the first glance, the young knight might have been taken for a son of Robert de Bethune; for— the very considerable difference of age apart— there was no little likeness between them; there was the same figure, the same bearing, the same cast of features. But their dress was not alike; the cognizance embroidered upon Adolf's breast showed three golden-haired maidens in a red shield. Over his arms stood his chosen motto: Pulchrum pro patrid mori.
From his earliest youth Adolf had been brought up in Count Robert's house, whose bosom confidant he now was, and always treated by him like a dear son. He on his part honored his benefactor at once as his father and his prince, and entertained for him and his an affection which knew no bounds.
Immediately behind came the ladies, all so gorgeously attired that the eye could hardly bear the flash of the gold and silver with which they glittered. Each one rode her ambling palfrey; her feet were concealed under a long dress which reached nearly to the ground; the bosom was encased in a bodice of cloth-of-gold; and a lofty head-dress, adorned with pearls, was further decorated with long streamers which fluttered down behind. Most of them, too, bore falcons on their wrists.
Among them was one who quite eclipsed the rest both in magnificence and beauty. This was Count Robert's youngest daughter, by name Matilda. She was still very young (she might count some fifteen summers) ; but the tall well-developed figure which she had inherited from the vigorous stock from which she sprang, the serene beauty of her features, and the seriousness of her whole de portment, gave a royalty to her air and bearing that made it impossible to look on her without respect and even something of awe. All the knights about her showed her every possible attention, but each carefully guarded his heart against all venturous thoughts. They well knew that none but a prince could without folly lift his eyes to Matilda of Flanders. Lovely as some delightful dream hovered, so to say, the graceful maiden over her saddle, with head proudly uplifted, while her left hand lightly held the rein, and on her right sat a falcon with crimson hood and golden bells.
Immediately after this glittering bevy came a multitude of pages and other attendants, all in silken attire of various colors. Such of them as belonged to Count Guy's court were easily distinguished by the right side of their dresses being black, the left golden yellow. The rest were in purple and green, or red and blue, according to the colors of their respective masters.
Lastly followed the huntsmen and falconers. Before the former ran some fifty dogs in leash: sleuth-hounds, gaze-hounds, and dogs of chase of every variety.
The impatience of these spirited animals was so great, and they pulled so
