Toast after toast was drunk to the king: he
was compared to Apollo for his beauty, and Elgiva to Venus, while the
old northern mythology was ransacked also for appellations in honour of
the youthful pair.
Adjoining, in the outer hall, the higher domestics had their music and
dancing, and the king and queen came to honour the entertainment by
their presence. So the happy hours wore away, and at length the company
were on the eve of departure, for fatigue was making itself felt, when
an ominous blowing of a horn was heard at the outer gate.
A pause, during which the company looked at each other, so strangely had
the sound struck them, and yet they knew not why, save that it was an
unlikely hour for such an occurrence.
There was one only who knew what the message would probably be--
Redwald; and he had kept the secret purposely from the king.
The doors opened, and an usher brought in a messenger who had only been
allowed a moment to change a dusty dress, ere he broke into the presence
of royalty.
"Speak," said Edwy, as the messenger bowed before him, and kissed his hand.
"My lord and king--" and the messenger glanced at Elgiva.
"Let him speak, Edwy, my lord. Are we not one? What you can bear, your
wife must bear also."
Thus adjured, the messenger spoke his news.
"Mercia has revolted, and proclaimed Edgar king."
"The cause alleged?"
"I know not, my lord.
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