THE LEGEND OF ROSE ROCHE. 275 



the lady took advantage of a loose parchment, which 

 should have bound her better ? Is it that the lord of 

 Dhu Castle was once a page ? What was thy ancestor, 

 De Moore (I mean not to offend thee), but usher to the 

 Lord Justice ? And thine, Mandeville, but chamber- 

 groom to Strongbow ? Aylmer, I love thee too well 

 to envy thee thy good fortune : — ^thy lute has won the 

 lady — thy lance must keep her lands. Kneel down, 

 minstrel no longer — rise up, my own knight banneret ! 

 And now. Lords of the Pale, Henry himself could not 

 confer a nobler dignity ; for O'Connor's knight is 

 standard-bearer to the King of Connaught ! Does 

 any here gainsay his rank and dignity ? The sword 

 that conferred the honour is ready and able to maintain 

 it ! " And O'Connor, as he ended, flung belt and rapier 

 on the table. 



But none seemed disposed to quarrel with him : and 

 g'-adually they followed his example, and admitted the 

 lady's right of choice. The mirth and feasting were 

 resumed ; and each, after reasoning with himself, finding 

 that the chances of individual success were greatly 

 against him, became reconciled to lose the lady and her 

 lands. Before midnight struck, the Prior performed 

 the marriage ceremony ; and while O'Connor bestowed 

 the beauteous bride, De Moore himself attended upon 

 the fortunate minstrel. 



Nor did Sir Aylmer Mowbray disappoint his patron's 

 expectation. As his lute was sweetest in the bower, his 

 plume was foremost in the field. He held the posses- 

 sions he gained by his lady against every claimant ; 

 sons and daughters blessed his bed, and tran "emitted 

 his titles and estates to posterity : and thus, more than 

 one powerful house traces its lineage back to an " eleve " 

 of the Ursulines and the black-eyed Page, 



