Produced by Karl Hagen Dan Moynihan Charles Franks and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading TeamIllustration HEREWARD RESISTING THE GREEK ASSASSINWAVERLY NOVELSABBOTSFORD EDITIONTHE WAVERLY NOVELSBY SIR WALTER SCOTTCOMPLETEIN TWELVE VOLUMESEMBRACINGTHE AUTHORS LAST CORRECTIONS PREFACES AND NOTESVOL XIICOUNT ROBERT OF PARISCASTLE DANGEROUSMY AUNT MARGARETS MIRROR c cTales of my LandlordCOUNT ROBERT OF PARIS     The European with the Asian shore       Sophias cupola with golden gleam     The cypress grovesOlympus high and hoar       The twelve isles and the more than I could dream     Far less describe present the very view       That charmd the charming Mary Montagu                                        DON JUANADVERTISEMENT1833Sir Walter Scott transmitted from Naples in February 1832 anIntroduction for CASTLE DANGEROUS but if he ever wrote one for asecond Edition of ROBERT OF PARIS it has not been discovered among hispapers Some notes chiefly extracts from the books which he had beenobserved to consult while _dictating_ this novel are now appendedto its pages and in addition to what the author had given in the shapeof historical information respecting the principal real personsintroduced the reader is here presented with what may probably amusehim the passage of the Alexiad in which Anna Comnena describes theincident which originally no doubt determined Sir Walters choice ofa heroMay AD 1097As for the multitude of those who advanced towardsTHE GREAT CITY let it be enough to say that they were as the stars inthe heaven or as the sand upon the seashore They were in the wordsof Homer _as many as the leaves and flowers of spring_ But forthe names of the leaders though they are present in my memory I willnot relate them The numbers of these would alone deter me even if mylanguage furnished the means of expressing their barbarous sounds andfor what purpose should I afflict my readers with a long enumeration ofthe names of those whose visible presence gave so much horror to allthat beheld themAs soon therefore as they approached the Great City they occupiedthe station appointed for them by the Emperor near to the monastery ofCosmidius But this multitude were not like the Hellenic one of oldto be restrained and governed by the loud voices of nine heralds theyrequired the constant superintendence of chosen and valiant soldiersto keep them from violating the commands of the EmperorHe meantime laboured to obtain from the other leaders thatacknowledgment of his supreme authority which had already been drawnfrom Godfrey Greek Gontophre himself But notwithstanding thewillingness of some to accede to this proposal and their assistance inworking on the minds of their associates the Emperors endeavours hadlittle success as the majority were looking for the arrival ofBohemund Greek Baimontos in whom they placed their chief confidenceand resorted to every art with the view of gaining time The Emperorwhom it was not easy to deceive penetrated their motives and bygranting to one powerful person demands which had been supposed out ofall bounds of expectation and by resorting to a variety of otherdevices he at length prevailed and won general assent to thefollowing of the example of Godfrey who also was sent for in person toassist in this businessAll therefore being assembled and Godfrey among them the oath wastaken but when all was finished a certain Noble among these Countshad the audacity to seat himself on the throne of the Emperor GreekTolmaesas tis apo panton ton komaeton eugenaes eis ton skimpoda tonBasileos ekathisen The Emperor restrained himself and said nothingfor he was well acquainted of old with the nature of the LatinsBut the Count Baldwin Greek Baldoninos stepping forth and seizinghim by the hand dragged him thence and with many reproaches said Itbecomes thee not to do such things here especially after having takenthe oath of fealty Greek douleian haeposchomeno It is not thecustom of the Roman Emperors to permit any of their inferiors to sitbeside them not even of such as are born subjects of their empire andit is necessary to respect the customs of the country But heanswering nothing to Baldwin stared yet more fixedly upon the Emperorand muttered to himself something in his own dialect which beinginterpreted was to this effectBehold what rustic fellow Greekchoritaes is this to be seated alone while such leaders stand aroundhim The movement of his lips did not escape the Emperor who calledto him one that understood the Latin dialect and enquired what wordsthe man had spoken When he heard them the Emperor said nothing to theother Latins but kept the thing to himself When however thebusiness was all over he called near to him by himself that swellingand shameless Latin Greek hypsaelophrona ekeinon kai anaidae andasked of him who he was of what lineage and from what region he hadcome I am a Frank said he of pure blood of the Nobles One thingI know that where three roads meet in the place from which I camethere is an ancient church in which whosoever has the desire tomeasure himself against another in single combat prays God to help himtherein and afterwards abides the coming of one willing to encounterhim At that spot long time did I remain but the man bold enough tostand against me I found not Hearing these words the Emperor saidIf hitherto thou hast sought battles in vain the time is at handwhich will furnish thee with abundance of them And I advise thee toplace thyself neither before the phalanx nor in its rear but to standfast in the midst of thy fellowsoldiers for of old time I am wellacquainted with the warfare of the Turks With such advice hedismissed not only this man but the rest of those who were about todepart on that expedition_Alexiad_ Book x pp 237 238Ducange as is mentioned