d facile Edward.

The king rose as Warwick now approached him; and the appearance of these
two eminent persons was in singular contrast. Warwick, though richly and
even gorgeously attired,--nay, with all the care which in that age
was considered the imperative duty a man of station and birth owed to
himself,--held in lofty disdain whatever vagary of custom tended to
cripple the movements or womanize the man. No loose flowing robes, no
shoon half a yard long, no flaunting tawdriness of fringe and aiglet,
characterized the appearance of the baron, who, even in peace, gave his
address a half-martial fashion.

But Edward, who, in common with all the princes of the House of York,
carried dress to a passion, had not only reintroduced many of the most
effeminate modes in vogue under William the Red King, but added to them
whatever could tend to impart an almost oriental character to the old
Norman garb. His gown (a womanly garment which had greatly superseded,
with men of the highest rank, not only the mantle but the surcoat)
flowed to his heels, trimmed with ermine, and broidered with large
flowers of crimson wrought upon cloth-of-gold. Over this he wore a
tippet of ermine, and a collar or necklace of uncut jewels set in
filigree gold; the nether limbs were, it is true, clad in the more manly
fashion of tight-fitting hosen, but the folds of the gown, as the day
was somewhat fresh, were drawn around so as to conceal the only part of
the dress which really betokened the male sex. To add to this unwarlike
attire, Edward's locks of a rich golden colour, and perfuming the whole
air with odours, flowed not in curls, but straight to his shoulders, and
the cheek of the fairest lady in his court might have seemed less fair
beside the dazzling clearness of a complexion at once radiant with
health and delicate with youth. Yet, in spite of all this effeminacy,
the appearance of Edward IV. was not effeminate. From this it was
preserved, not only by a stature little less commanding than that of
Warwick himself, and of great strength and breadth of shoulder, but also
by features, beautiful indeed, but pre-eminently masculine,--large
and bold in their outline, and evincing by their expression all the
gallantry and daring characteristic of the hottest soldier, next to
Warwick, and without any exception the ablest captain, of the age.

"And welcome,--a merry welcome, dear Warwick, and cousin mine," said
Edward, as Warwick slightly bent his p