hy?--because in their loyal valour they placed not the
interests of a mortal man, but the cause of imperishable honour! And
though their son be a poor scholar, and wears not the spurs of gold;
though his frame be weak and his hairs gray, he loveth honour also well
eno' to look without dread on death!"

Fierce and ruthless, when irritated and opposed, as the prince was, he
was still in his first youth,--ambition had here no motive to harden
him into stone. He was naturally so brave himself that bravery could not
fail to win from him something of respect and sympathy, and he was taken
wholly by surprise in hearing the language of a knight and hero from
one whom he had regarded but as the artful impostor or the despicable
intriguer.

He changed countenance as Warner spoke, and remained a moment silent.
Then as a thought occurred to him, at which his features relaxed into
a half-smile, he beckoned to the tormentor, said a word in his ear, and
the horrible intruder nodded and withdrew.

"Master Warner," then said the prince, in his customary sweet and
gliding tones, "it were a pity that so gallant a gentleman should be
exposed to peril for adhesion to a cause that can never prosper, and
that would be fatal, could it prosper, to our common country. For look
you, this Margaret, who is now, we believe, in London" (here he examined
Adam's countenance, which evinced surprise), "this Margaret, who is
seeking to rekindle the brand and brennen of civil war, has already sold
for base gold to the enemy of the realm, to Louis XI., that very Calais
which your fathers, doubtless, lavished their blood to annex to our
possessions. Shame on the lewd harlot! What woman so bloody and so
dissolute? What man so feeble and craven as her lord?"

"Alas! sir," said Adam, "I am unfitted for these high considerations of
state. I live but for my art, and in it. And now, behold how my kingdom
is shaken and rent!" he pointed with so touching a smile, and so simple
a sadness, to the broken engine, that Richard was moved.

"Thou lovest this, thy toy? I can comprehend that love for some
dumb thing that we have toiled for. Ay!" continued the prince,
thoughtfully,--"ay! I have noted myself in life that there are objects,
senseless as that mould of iron, which if we labour at them wind round
our hearts as if they were flesh and blood. So some men love learning,
others glory, others power. Well, man, thou lovest that mechanical? How
many years hast thou b