The Shame of Motley

as I had to make w

hat I should afford myself more protection against the inclement January night than that of my foliated cape, my crested cap and silken hose. So, a black cloak, heavy and ample, a broad-brimmed hat, and a pair of riding boots

was I booted when someone knocked at my door. I opened, and there entered a very mountain of a man, whose corselet flash

and grim brutality. He was, as I have said, an enormous man, of prodigious bodily strength, heavy, yet of good proportions. Of his face one gathered the impression of a blazing furnace. His cheeks and nose were of a vivid red, and still more fiery was the

you to the gates. There is a horse ready saddled for you. It is the Lord Cardinal's parting gif

, as I took up my cloak and hat.

you, sir Foo

ursued, in that back-biting strain, which is the very essence of the jester's wit, "were you to make a trio of us, including Messer Ramiro del

ean?" he asked, wi

iously of dull perceptions." Then stepping forward briskly: "Come, sir," I sharply urged him, "whilst we engage upo

rong, white teeth i

r that same bus

hings, I am assured,

wringing your pert neck, or laying bare your bones wi

m with pleasan

ion that is popularly

is eyes very evil. "In Rome, I'

r, and his hands were jerked to the level o

red fiercely, "I'll tea

d incline to raillery you'll find your match in some lad of the stables. As for me, I have

t him of the journey I must go, on which

assion that was only curbed by the consideration

for a Fool-a treatment to which time might have inured me; for had I not for three years already been exposed to rough usage of this kind at the hands of every man above the rank of groom? And had I once

hour, and the ground was white in

passing whiteness, and a groom was leading forward the horse that was destined to bear me. I donned my broad-brimmed hat, and wrapped my cloak about me. Som

, and be off

; if ever surly dog wore human shape, and the sh

farewell,"

f yours, Fool

fool of art is no brothe

ed to his grooms.

lf-dozen men, looking black against the whiteness of the ground. Behind them rose the brown walls of the rocca illumined by the flare of torches, from which the smell of rosin reached my nost

upon the snow in earnest of the snug warmth within. Silence reigned, broken only by the moan of the wind under the eaves, for although

ess that might have given pause to one whose haste to be

had suffered by the journey more than had I, and I would have taken a fresh one at Magliano, but there was none to be had-so they

me that no horses might be had. And so, leading by the bridle the animal I dared no longer ride, lest I should kill it outright, I entered the territory of Urbino on foot, and trudged w

y motley-when I had thrown off my sodden cloak and hat-pressed me, willy-nilly, into amusing them. And so I spent the n

sky was of an unbroken blue, and for all that the air was sharp there was warmth in the sunshine. All day I rode hard, and never rested until towards nightfall I found myself on the spurs of the Apennin

wn from my wearied horse. Despite the early hour the door was already barred, for the bedding of travellers formed no part of the traffic of so lowly a house as this nameless, waysi

a woman as you might look to find the mate of such a man: broad and tall of frame and most scurvily cross-grained of face. It may well be that had he bidden me welcome, she had driven me back into the n

ade disclosed. I bade the man see to my horse, and then escorted by the woman, I made my way to

razy chair beside it. The floor was black with age and filth, and broken everywhere by rat-holes. She set her noisome, smoking oil lamp

be the key to the respect of such a creature; "a king m

I had not, but sooner would I have starved than have been poisoned by such foulnesses

Now that the half of my journey was accomplished, I found myself beset by doubts which had not before assailed me, touching the manner in which this mission of mine was to be accomplished. It would prove no easy thing for me to penetrate unnoticed into the town of Pesaro, much less into the Sforza Court, where for three years I had pursued my Fool's trade. There was scarce a

d that it meant the ruin of Giovanni Sforza-a ruin so utter, so complete and humiliating that it must provoke the scornful mirth of all Italy-the knowledge of it must soon be mine. Meanwhile I was an agent of that ruin. Dear God! how that reflection warmed me! What joy I took in the thought that, though he knew it not, nor could

o arise within me, to cry out i

that had thrust its head above the boards. Then I quenched the light, and flung myself once more upon my bed, in the hope that darkness would prove

ay. And by its light the place wore a more loathsome look than it had done last night, so that at the very sight of it I leapt from my couch and grew eager to be gone. I

d out in amazement first, and then in rage-deeming me one of those parasites who tramp the world in the gar

was her cry. "Have

our tumbling ruin of a tavern has bee

woman' me?"

as at fault. I'll keep the title

iled g

h a ferocious sarcasm, "the jes

ess who has never housed a fool." And with a splendid gesture I pointed to the

iece in her hand, to assure herself that she was not

ing so much as one of the rats that tenanted her unclean sty. She was back in a moment, all servility, and wondering whether there was a rent ab

which it stood in need. Then I donned my hat, and, cloak on sh

to tender. I urged the taverner to hasten with my horse, and stood waiting in the squalid common-room, my mind divided 'twixt impatience to resume t

lcade: the noise of voices and the soft fall of hoofs upon the thick snow car

e! Afoot,

that nothing might be seen of him or her that rode within. Grooms were those four, as all the world might see at the first glance, and the li

n guessed they had spent the night in the saddle. Their horses were in a fo

an inn the traveller that arrives is ever of more importance than he that departs. At sight of those hors

aid he to that liveri

the fellow answered

rious?" quoth th

d you never of such animals? We need a man who knows

dly. He bowed again until I fancied I

gnificent," he deplore

lacquey!-"it is not our wish to pursue the road as far as

er of that rascal of a groom was little prepossessing, and his master, I doubted, could be little b

u were journeying to

his sight. My cloak, my hat and boots allowed naught of my true condition to appear, and might as well

urpose of your que

n him. I, too, am journeying to Cagli, and like yourselves, I am in haste and go the shorter way across the hill

urney in company I should not have earned me the half of the deference which was

did he give me thanks

deeper and firmer underfoot as we advanced. And as I went, still plaguing my mind to devise a means by which I might penetrate to the Court of