HE SAINT-KING, 63

this stage, that Walter Espec, guided by the English
knight, made his appearance, not without exhibiting
symptoms of agitation when he found himself face
to face with the monarch, who, of all the princes of
Christendom, enjoyed, at that period, the highest
reputation in Europe and the East.

But the appearance and aspect of Louis were not
such as to daunt or dismay.

Nothing could have been more plain and simple
han the dress worn by the royal chief of the crusaders.
Indeed it was plain and simple to affectation; and
the coat of camlet, the surcoat of tyretaine, the
mantle of black sandal, contrasted remarkably with
the splendid garments of princes who were his con-
temporaries, especially Henry, King of England,
who, like most of the Plantagenets, was given to
magnificence of attire, and generally regarded as by
far the greatest dandy in his dominions. Nor had
Louis been endowed by nature with the qualities
which please the eye and impress the imaginaticn.
His figure, itis true, was tall and well proportioned ;
but his face and features were not calculated to
dazzle. When compared with men of such noble
presence and regal air as our English Edwards and
Henrys, he was decidedly plain. He had the pecu-
liar face and slanting features which distinguished so
many of the descendants of Hugh Capet, and that
large long straight nose, which, instead of keeping
the Greek facial line, inclined forward, and hung
slightly over the short upper lip. Not even flattery
could have described the saint-king as a model of
inanly beauty. |