The Geste of Duke Jocelyn Part 1

The Geste of Duke Jocelyn.

by Jeffery Farnol.

PRELUDE

Long, long ago when castles grim did frown, When ma.s.sy wall and gate did 'fend each town; When mighty lords in armour bright were seen, And stealthy outlaws lurked amid the green And oft were hanged for poaching of the deer, Or, gasping, died upon a hunting spear; When barons bold did on their rights insist And hanged or burned all rogues who dared resist; When humble folk on life had no freehold And were in open market bought and sold; When grisly witches (lean and bony hags) Cast spells most dire yet, meantime, starved in rags; When kings did lightly a-crusading fare And left their kingdoms to the devil's care-- At such a time there lived a n.o.ble knight Who sweet could sing and doughtily could fight, Whose lance thrust strong, whose long sword bit full deep With darting point or mighty two-edged sweep.

A duke was he, rich, powerful--and yet Fate had on him a heavy burden set, For, while a youth, as he did hunt the boar, The savage beast his goodly steed did gore, And as the young duke thus defenceless lay, With cruel tusk had reft his looks away, Had marred his comely features and so mauled him That, 'hind his back, "The ugly Duke" folk called him--

My daughter GILLIAN interposeth:

GILL: An ugly hero?

MYSELF: That is so.

GILL: An ugly hero, father? O, absurd! Whoever of an "ugly" hero heard?

MYSELF: I'll own, indeed, I've come across but few--

GILL: But a duke--and ugly! Father, this from you?

MYSELF: My duke is ugly, very, for good reason, As shall appear in due and proper season!

GILL: I'm sure no one will want to read him then, For "heroes" all should be most handsome men. So make him handsome, please, or he won't do.

MYSELF: By heaven, girl--no, plain heroes are too few!

GILL: Then ev'ry one will leave him on the shelf!

MYSELF: Why, then, I'll read the poor fellow myself.

GILL: I won't!

MYSELF: Then don't! Though, I might say, since you're set on it, child, My duke was not so ugly when he smiled--

GILL: Then make him smile as often as you can.

MYSELF: I might do that, 't is none so bad a plan.

GILL: And the lady--she must be a lady fair.

MYSELF: My dear, she's beautiful beyond compare.

GILL: Why, then--

MYSELF: My pen!

So here and now I do begin The tale of young Duke Jocelyn, For critics, schools, And cramping rules, Heedless and caring not a pin.

The t.i.tle here behold On this fair page enrolled, In letters big and bold, As seemeth fit-- To wit:--

FYTTE I

Upon a day, but when it matters not, Nor where, but mark! the sun was plaguy hot Falling athwart a long and dusty road In which same dust two dusty fellows strode.

One was a tall, broad-shouldered, goodly wight In garb of motley like a jester dight, Fool's cap on head with a.s.s's ears a-swing, While, with each stride, his bells did gaily ring; But, 'neath his c.o.c.k's-comb showed a face so marred With cheek, with brow and lip so strangely scarred As might scare tender maid or timid child Unless, by chance, they saw him when he smiled, For then his eyes, so deeply blue and bright, Did hold in them such joyous, kindly light, That sorrow was from heavy hearts beguiled-- This jester seemed less ugly when he smiled.

Here, O my Gill, right deftly, in a trice I've made him smile and made him do it--twice.

That 't was the Duke of course you've guessed at once Since you, I know, we nothing of a dunce.

But, what should bring a duke in cap and bells?

Read on and mark, while he the reason tells.

Now, 'spite of dust and heat, his lute he strummed, And s.n.a.t.c.hes of a merry song he hummed, The while askance full merrily he eyed The dusty knave who plodded at his side.

A bony fellow, this, and long of limb,

His habit poor, his aspect swart and grim; His belt to bear a long broad-sword did serve, His eye was bold, his nose did fiercely curve Down which he snorted oft and (what is worse) Beneath his breath gave vent to many a curse.

Whereat the Duke, sly laughing, plucked lutestring And thus, in voice melodious did sing:

"Sir Pertinax, why curse ye so?

Since thus in humble guise we go We merry chances oft may know, Sir Pertinax of Shene."

"And chances woeful, lord, also!"

Quoth Pertinax of Shene.

"To every fool that pa.s.seth by These foolish bells shall testify That very fool, forsooth, am I, Good Pertinax of Shene!"

"And, lord, methinks they'll tell no lie!"

Growled Pertinax of Shene.

Then spake the Knight in something of a pet, "Par Dex, lord Duke--plague take it, how I sweat, By c.o.c.k, messire, ye know I have small l.u.s.t Like hind or serf to tramp it i' the dust!

Per De, my lord, a parch-ed pea am I-- I'm all athirst! Athirst? I am so dry My very bones do rattle to and fro And jig about within me as I go!

Why tramp we thus, bereft of state and rank?

Why go ye, lord, like foolish mountebank?

And whither doth our madcap journey trend?

And wherefore? Why? And, prithee, to what end?"

Then quoth the Duke, "See yonder in the green Doth run a cooling water-brook I ween, Come, Pertinax, beneath yon shady trees, And there whiles we do rest outstretched at ease Thy 'wherefores' and thy 'whys' shall answered be, And of our doings I will counsel thee."

So turned they from the hot and dusty road Where, 'mid green shade, a rill soft-bubbling flowed, A brook that leapt and laughed in roguish wise, Whereat Sir Pertinax with scowling eyes Did frown upon the rippling water clear, And sware sad oaths because it was not beer; Sighful he knelt beside this murmurous rill, Bent steel-clad head and bravely drank his fill.

Then sitting down, quoth he: "By Og and Gog, I'll drink no more--nor horse am I nor dog To gulp down water--pest, I hate the stuff!"

"Ah!" laughed the Duke, "'tis plain hast had enough, And since well filled with water thou dost lie To answer thee thy questions fain am I.

First then--thou art in lowly guise bedight, For that thou art my trusty, most-loved knight, Who at my side in many a b.l.o.o.d.y fray, With thy good sword hath smit grim Death away--"

"Lord," quoth the Knight, "what's done is past return, 'Tis of our future doings I would learn."

"Aye," said the Duke, "list, Pertinax, and know 'Tis on a pilgrimage of love we go: Mayhap hast heard the beauty and the fame Of fair Yolande, that young and peerless dame