Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene I.] THE VARANGIAN. 265
Thy thoughts do far outrun thy tender age.
Go, bid the grooms prepare my hunting-steeds,
And let those saddles with rich paintings decked
Be for our use to-day ;
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The golden bridles : bid my falconers,
well burnished, too,
In blue and scarlet, hood my noble birds,
And fasten well their broidered bewits on,
With all their silver bells. What shall I wear ?
O, I've bethought me. Palamon !
FALAMON.
Your gracious pleasure.
OSMOND.
My lord,
Gentle page, command
My chamber squires who on my wardrobe wait,
That they lay out my new surcoat of bright
Flesh-coloured silk, with emerald wreaths embossed
And fringed with silver : it befits me well.
And let me have my sapphire belt with clasps
Of figured gold, and the blue mantle lined
With snow-white ermine ;
nor forget my cap
Of crimson damask, with its blood-red plumes
Brought from the coast of Afric.
PALAMON.
I shall well
Remember, sir. [Exit Palamon.
OSMOND.
And yet, methinks, 'tis not
A day for
field-sports. No, Fitz-Rollo, no !
I will not hunt to-day.
FITZ-ROLLO.
Shall we then call
The mimic players
that follow still the court ?
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