Delphi Works of Ford Madox Ford (Illustrated) by Ford Madox Ford Read Free Book Online Page A

you would protect me. However, you don’t seem very glad to see me — perhaps you think I shall hinder you — so I’ll go and ask some one else to take care of me, as you don’t seem to relish the task. Good-morning’; and she began to move off; but she knew very well that he would not let her go like that, and to tell the truth she rather hoped he wouldn’t, for she thought she would like him to take care of her better than any one else in the army. Of course he did stop her and said.
    ‘If you really insist on stopping on the field no one is more fit to take care of you than I. So do stop.’
    And she allowed herself to be persuaded to stop with him.
    Just as they had managed to arrange it so, a trumpet blew in the direction of the town, and immediately troops of knights and men-at-arms began to pour out of the gates, and to form the line of battle, and as each band of men came along they cheered long and loud at the sight of the Princess, and the Princess felt very happy, for she liked to know that her people loved her. Gradually the immense army came into one long line of glistening steel, and again the trumpets sounded, and the line began to move forward like a wave of the sea as it runs up the smooth sand sweeping all before it. The smooth plain which was to form the battlefield was dotted here and there with troops of cattle which had come down in the night from the hills to feed on the long sweet grass, and they raised their heads in astonishment at the line of knights and bowmen that marched slowly down on them; so they shook their heads and galloped off straight in front of the line, with their tails high in the air, and they were in such blind haste that they charged right through the lines of the enemy who were now approaching, and not only through them they went, but also through their camp, tossing the tents into the air with their horns as they went by. However, at last they reached the hills, and did not disturb the combatants any more.
    Meanwhile the armies had got quite close together — so close indeed that they could see each other’s faces quite plainly — but they did not seem particularly eager to fight So when they had got thus far they halted, and looked at one another.
    As yet Merrymineral had not arrived, for to tell the truth he was never a very early riser, and he did not see why he should hurry himself — for you see he was quite sure of winning the battle without much trouble.
    Just opposite the Princess was the flower of the enemy, and she recognised many of the great men of the countries that had rebelled with Merrymineral. They did not seem particularly happy where they were, and especially when the Princess looked at them they looked very red and uncomfortable, as if they did not like it at all.
    ‘I do believe they’re ashamed of themselves,’ she said to the Prince; and he answered:
    ‘They certainly look like it.’
    ‘Do you think,’ she asked, ‘if I were to go over to them and offer to pardon them that they would leave Merrymineral and come on my side?’ The Prince thought a moment.
    ‘I believe they would,’ he said; ‘only if I were you I would not go, I should send an ambassador or a herald.’
    But the Princess shook her head. ‘That would never do,’ she said. ‘I’m sure they’d be offended at that. Why, it would look as if I thought they were not to be trusted, and besides they would not hurt me. No, I’ll go to them quite alone.’
    But the Prince said: - ‘You had better let me go with you, for if they did attack you it would be awkward; besides, you know you promised to keep near me all the morning, and if you go without me you will not be keeping your promise, don’t you see?’
    So the Princess said:
    ‘Well, I suppose you’re right, only you must come alone.’
    And as he agreed to this they went forward. Her own army evidently did not understand what she meant to do, nor, for the matter of that, did the enemy, but as they had neither of