Waverley Novels Volume 12
Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832
English
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[Illustration: HEREWARD RESISTING THE GREEK ASSASSIN.]
WAVERLY NOVELS
ABBOTSFORD EDITION
THE WAVERLY NOVELS,
BY SIR WALTER SCOTT.
COMPLETE
IN TWELVE VOLUMES.
EMBRACING
THE AUTHOR'S LAST CORRECTIONS, PREFACES, AND NOTES.
VOL. XII.
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS--CASTLE DANGEROUS--
MY AUNT MARGARET'S MIRROR, &c. &c.
Tales of my Landlord.
COUNT ROBERT OF PARIS.
The European with the Asian shore--
Sophia's cupola with golden gleam
The cypress groves--Olympus high and hoar--
The twelve isles, and the more than I could dream,
Far less describe, present the very view
That charm'd the charming Mary Montagu.
DON JUAN.
ADVERTISEMENT.--(1833.)
Sir Walter Scott transmitted from Naples, in February, 1832, an
Introduction for CASTLE DANGEROUS; but if he ever wrote one for a
second Edition of ROBERT OF PARIS, it has not been discovered among his
papers. Some notes, chiefly extracts from the books which he had been
observed to consult while _dictating_ this novel, are now appended
to its pages; and in addition to what the author had given in the shape
of historical information respecting the principal real persons
introduced, the reader is here presented with what may probably amuse
him, the passage of the Alexiad, in which Anna Comnena describes the
incident which originally, no doubt, determined Sir Walter's choice of
a hero.
May, A.D. 1097.--"As for the multitude of those who advanced towards
THE GREAT CITY, let it be enough to say that they were as the stars in
the heaven, or as the sand upon the sea-shore. They were, in the words
of Homer, _as many as the leaves and flowers of spring_. But for
the names of the leaders, though they are present in my memory, I will
not relate them. The numbers of these would alone deter me, even if my
language furnished the means of expressing their barbarous sounds; and
for what purpose should I afflict my readers with a long enumeration of
the names of those, whose visible presence gave so much horror to all
that beheld them?
"As soon, therefore, as they approached the Great City, they occupied
the station appointed for them by the Emperor, near to the monastery of
Cosmidius. But this multitude were not, like the Hellenic one of old,
to be restrained and governed by the loud voices of nine heralds; they
required the constant superintendence of chosen and valiant soldiers,
to keep them from violating the commands of the Emperor.
"He, meantime, laboured to obtain from the other leaders that
acknowledgment of his supreme authority, which had already been drawn
from Godfrey [Greek: Gontophre] himself. But, notwithstanding the
willingness of some to accede to this proposal, and their assistance in
working on the minds of their associates, the Emperor's endeavours had
little success, as the majority were looking for the arrival of
Bohemund [Greek: Baimontos], in whom they placed their chief confidence,
and resorted to every art with the view of gaining time. The Emperor,
whom it was not easy to deceive, penetrated their motives; and by
granting to one powerful person demands which had been supposed out of
all bounds of expectation, and by resorting to a variety of other
devices, he at length prevailed, and won general assent to the
following of the example of Godfrey, who also was sent for in person to
assist in this business.
"All, therefore, being assembled, and Godfrey among them, the oath was
taken; but when all was finished, a certain Noble among these Counts
had the audacity to seat himself on the throne of the Emperor. [Greek:
Tolmaesas tis apo panton ton komaeton eugenaes eis ton skimpoda ton
Basileos ekathisen.] The Emperor restrained himself and said nothing,
for he was well acquainted of old with the nature of the Latins.
"But the Count Baldwin [Greek: Baldoninos] stepping forth, and seizing
him by the hand, dragged him thence, and with many reproaches said, 'It
becomes thee not to do such things here, especially after having taken
the oath of fealty. [Greek: douleian haeposchomeno]. It is not the
custom of the Roman Emperors to permit any of their inferiors to sit
beside them, not even of such as are born subjects of their empire; and
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