At another table were five abbes and two knights of Arragon; at another, knights and squires of Gascony and Bigorre; and the _sovereign master of the hall_ was Messire Espaign de Lyon, and four knights _maitres d'hotel_.

And the count's two natural brothers, Messire Ernould Guillaume and Messire Pierre de Bearn, served him, together with his two sons, Messire Yvain de l'Escale and Messire Gratien.

I must tell you that there was a crowd of minstrels, as well belonging to the count as strangers, who filled up every interval with specimens of their art.
And this day the count gave to both minstrels and heralds the sum of five hundred francs; and habits of cloth of gold, furred with _menu vair_, he gave to the minstrels of the Duke of Touraine; the which dresses were valued at two hundred francs.

And the dinner lasted till four hours after noon." One figure is wanting in this brilliant account--the only legitimate son of the magnificent Count of Foix, his child by Agnes of Navarre, whose place, as well as that of her son, is vacant at her husband's table.
What might, even then, be the pangs of remorse that shot along the mind of the mighty chief, as he looked round that brilliant assembly and felt that his honours would end with himself?
"No son of his succeeding." Where was the young, blooming, accomplished, and promising heir, so loved by his people, and once the object of his pride and hope?
Brilliant and gorgeous as was the present scene, what would have been that which should have welcomed the affianced bride of his son to his court?
and many such would have hailed the happy events which might have ensued.

His two _natural_ sons, Yvain and Gratien, are there, full of beauty, grace, and health; but, as the first approaches, and hands him a cup of wine, he trembles and sets down the goblet, untasted, for an instant.