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and lord Fitzwater had just time to assemble his retainers； collect a hasty
supply of provision； raise the draw…bridge； and drop the portcullis； when
the castle was surrounded by the enemy。 The little fat friar； who during the
confusion was asleep in the buttery； found himself； on awaking； inclosed
in the besieged castle； and dolefully bewailed his evil chance。
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CHAPTER X
A noble girl； i' faith。 Heart！ I think I fight with a familiar； or the
ghost of a fencer。 Call you this an amorous visage？ Here's blood that
would have served me these seven years； in broken heads and cut fingers；
and now it runs out all together。MIDDLETON。 Roaring Girl。
Prince John sat down impatiently before Arlingford castle in the hope
of starving out the besieged； but finding the duration of their supplies
extend itself in an equal ratio with the prolongation of his hope； he made
vigorous preparations for carrying the place by storm。 He constructed an
immense machine on wheels； which； being advanced to the edge of the
moat； would lower a temporary bridge； of which one end would rest on the
bank； and the other on the battlements； and which； being well furnished
with stepping boards； would enable his men to ascend the inclined plane
with speed and facility。 Matilda received intimation of this design by the
usual friendly channel of a blunt arrow； which must either have been sent
from some secret friend in the prince's camp； or from some vigorous
archer beyond it： the latter will not appear improbable； when we consider
that Robin Hood and Little John could shoot two English miles and an
inch point…blank；
Come scrive Turpino； che non erra。
The machine was completed； and the ensuing morning fixed for the
assault。 Six men； relieved at intervals； kept watch over it during the night。
Prince John retired to sleep； congratulating himself in the expectation that
another day would place the fair culprit at his princely mercy。 His
anticipations mingled with the visions of his slumber； and he dreamed of
wounds and drums； and sacking and firing the castle； and bearing off in
his arms the beautiful prize through the midst of fire and smoke。 In the
height of this imaginary turmoil； he awoke； and conceived for a few
moments that certain sounds which rang in his ears； were the continuation
of those of his dream； in that sort of half…consciousness between sleeping
and waking； when reality and phantasy meet and mingle in dim and
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confused resemblance。 He was； however； very soon fully awake to the
fact of his guards calling on him to arm； which he did in haste； and beheld
the machine in flames； and a furious conflict raging around it。 He hurried
to the spot； and found that his camp had been suddenly assailed from one
side by a party of foresters； and that the baron's people had made a sortie
on the other； and that they had killed the guards； and set fire to the
machine； before the rest of the camp could come to the assistance of their
fellows。
The night was in itself intensely dark； and the fire…light shed around it
a vivid and unnatural radiance。 On one side； the crimson light quivered
by its own agitation on the waveless moat； and on the bastions and
buttresses of the castle； and their shadows lay in massy blackness on the
illuminated walls： on the other； it shone upon the woods； streaming far
within among the open trunks； or resting on the closer foliage。 The
circumference of darkness bounded the scene on all sides： and in the
centre raged the war； shields； helmets； and bucklers gleaming and
glittering as they rang and clashed against each other； plumes confusedly
tossing in the crimson light； and the messy light and shade that fell on the
faces of the combatants； giving additional energy to their ferocious
expression。
John； drawing nearer to the scene of action； observed two young
warriors fighting side by side； one of whom wore the habit of a forester；
the other that of a retainer of Arlingford。 He looked intently on them
both： their position towards the fire favoured the scrutiny； and the
hawk's eye of love very speedily discovered that the latter was the fair
Matilda。 The forester he did not know： but he had sufficient tact to
discern that his success would be very much facilitated by separating her
from this companion； above all others。 He therefore formed a party of men
into a wedge； only taking especial care not to be the point of it himself；
and drove it between them with so much precision； that they were in a
moment far asunder。
〃Lady Matilda；〃 said John； 〃yield yourself my prisoner。〃
〃If you would wear me； prince；〃 said Matilda； 〃you must win me：〃 and
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without giving him time to deliberate on the courtesy of fighting with the
lady of his love； she raised her sword in the air； and lowered it on his head
with an impetus that would have gone nigh to fathom even that
extraordinary depth of brain which always by divine grace furnishes the
interior of a head…royal； if he had not very dexterously parried the blow。
Prince John wished to disarm and take captive； not in any way to wound
or injure； least of all to kill； his fair opponent。 Matilda was only intent to
get rid of her antagonist at any rate： the edge of her weapon painted his
complexion with streaks of very unloverlike crimson； and she would
probably have marred John's hand for ever signing Magna Charta； but that
he was backed by the advantage of numbers； and that her sword broke
short on the boss of his buckler。 John was following up his advantage to
make a captive of the lady； when he was suddenly felled to the earth by an
unseen antagonist。 Some of his men picked him carefully up； and
conveyed him to his tent； stunned and stupified。
When he recovered； he found Harpiton diligently assisting in his
recovery； more in the fear of losing his place than in that of losing his
master： the prince's first inquiry was for the prisoner he had been on the
point of taking at the moment when his habeas corpus was so
unseasonably suspended。 He was told that his people had been on the
point of securing the said prisoner； when the devil suddenly appeared
among them in the likeness of a tall friar； having his grey frock cinctured
with a sword…belt； and his crown； which whether it were shaven or no they
could not see； surmounted with a helmet； and flourishing an eight…foot
staff； with which he laid about him to the right and to the left； knocking
down the prince and his men as if they had been so many nine…pins： in fine；
he had rescued the prisoner； and made a clear passage through friend and
foe； and in conjunction with a chosen party of archers； had covered the
retreat of the baron's men and the foresters； who had all gone off in a body
towards Sherwood forest。
Harpiton suggested that it would be desirable to sack the castle； and
volunteered to lead the van on the occasion； as the defenders were
withdrawn； and the exploit seemed to promise much profit and little
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danger： John considered that the castle would in itself be a great
acquisition to him； as a stronghold in furtherance of his design on his
brother's throne； and was determining to take possession with the first
light of morning； when he had the mortification to see the castle burst into
flames