maid marian-第13章

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　whom　he　considered　indispensable　to　the　exercise　of　a　vigour　beyond　the　law　in　maintaining　wholesome　discipline　over　the　refractory　English。　　The　ignorant　impatience　of　the　swinish　multitude　with　these　fruits　of　good　living；　brought　forth　by　one　of　the　meek　who　had　inherited　the　earth；　displayed　itself　in　a　general　ferment；　of　which　Prince　John　took　advantage　to　make　the　experiment　of　getting　possession　of　his　brother's　crown　in　his　absence。　　He　began　by　calling　at　Reading　a　council　of　barons；　whose　aspect　induced　the　holy　bishop　to　disguise　himself　（some　say　as　an　old　woman；　which；　in　the　twelfth　century；　perhaps　might　have　been　a　disguise　for　a　bishop）；　and　make　his　escape　beyond　sea。　Prince　John　followed　up　his　advantage　by　obtaining　possession　of　several　strong　posts；　and　among　others　of　the　castle　of　Nottingham。

While　John　was　conducting　his　operations　at　Nottingham；　he　rode　at　times　past　the　castle　of　Arlingford。　　He　stopped　on　one　occasion　to　claim　Lord　Fitzwater's　hospitality；　and　made　most　princely　havoc　among　his　venison　and　brawn。　　Now　it　is　a　matter　of　record　among　divers　great　historians　and　learned　clerks；　that　he　was　then　and　there　grievously　smitten　by　the　charms　of　the　lovely　Matilda；　and　that　a　few　days　after　he　despatched　his　travelling　minstrel；　or　laureate；　Harpiton；＇3＇　（whom　he　retained　at　moderate　wages；　to　keep　a　journal　of　his　proceedings；　and　prove　them　all　just　and　legitimate）；　to　the　castle　of　Arlingford；　to　make　proposals　to　the　lady。　This　Harpiton　was　a　very　useful　person。　　He　was　always　ready；　not　only　to　maintain　the　cause　of　his　master　with　his　pen；　and　to　sing　his　eulogies　to　his　harp；　but　to　undertake　at　a　moment's　notice

any　kind　of　courtly　employment；　called　dirty　work　by　the　profane；　which　the　blessings　of　civil　government；　namely；　his　master's　pleasure；　and　the　interests　of　social　order；　namely；　his　own　emolument；　might　require。　　In　short；

　Il　eut　l'emploi　qui　certes　n'est　pas　mince；　　Et　qu'a　la　cour；　ou　tout　se　peint　en　beau；　　On　appelloit　etre　l'ami　du　prince；　　Mais　qu'a　la　ville；　et　surtout　en　province；　　Les　gens　grossiers　ont　nomme　maquereau。


＇3＇　Harp…it…on：　or；　a　corruption　of