he exclaimed, “do you dare to insult me at my own table?  But I will soon be revenged.”  At these words he threw the cup at the head of his nephew, who caught it with his left hand, while with the other he snatched the turban, with its crescent, from the Governor’s head and threw it on the floor.  All the Saracens started up from table, with loud outcries, and prepared to avenge the insult.  Huon and Sherasmin put themselves on their defence, and met with their swords the scimitars directed against them.  At this moment the doors of the hall opened and a crowd of soldiers and armed eunuchs rushed in, who joined in the attack upon Huon and Sherasmin.  The Prince and his followers took refuge on a broad shelf or side-board, where they kept at bay the crowd of assailants, making the most forward of them smart for their audacity.  But more troops came pressing in and the brave Huon, inspired by the wine of Bordeaux, and not angry enough to lose his relish for a joke, blew a gentle note on his horn, and no sooner was it heard than it quelled the rage of the combatants and set them to dancing.  Huon and Sherasmin, no longer attacked, looked down from their elevated position on a scene the most singular and amusing.  Very soon the Sultanas, hearing the sound of the dance and finding their guards withdrawn, came into the hall and mixed with the dancers.  The favorite Sultana seized upon a young Santon, who performed jumps two feet high; but soon the long dresses of this couple got intermingled and threw them down.  The Santon’s beard was caught in the Sultana’s necklace, and they could not disentangle them.  The Governor by no means approved this familiarity, and took two steps forward to get at the Santon, but he stumbled over a prostrate Dervise and measured his length on the floor.  The dancing continued till the strength of the performers was exhausted, and they fell, one after the other, and lay helpless.  The Governor at length made signs to Huon that he would yield everything if he would but allow him to rest.  The bargain was ratified; the Governor allowed Huon and Sherasmin to depart on their way, and even gave them a ring which would procure them safe passage through his country and access to the Sultan Gaudisso.  The two friends hastened to avail themselves of this favorable turn, and taking leave of Floriac, pursued their journey.

Huon of Bordeaux (Continued)

Huon had seen many beauties at his mother’s court, but his heart had never been touched with love.  Honor had been his mistress, and in pursuit of that he had never found time to give a thought to softer cares.  Strange that a heart so insensible should first be touched by something so unsubstantial as a dream; but so it was.