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diff --git a/old/1377-0.txt b/old/1377-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..354aaac --- /dev/null +++ b/old/1377-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13880 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Talisman, by Sir Walter Scott + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Talisman + +Author: Sir Walter Scott + +Release Date: July, 1998 [Etext #1377] +Posting Date: 8, 2009 +Last Updated: February 27, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALISMAN *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonomous Volunteer + + + + + +THE TALISMAN + +By Sir Walter Scott + + + + +INTRODUCTION TO THE TALISMAN. + +The “Betrothed” did not greatly please one or two friends, who thought +that it did not well correspond to the general title of “The Crusaders.” + They urged, therefore, that, without direct allusion to the manners of +the Eastern tribes, and to the romantic conflicts of the period, the +title of a “Tale of the Crusaders” would resemble the playbill, which +is said to have announced the tragedy of Hamlet, the character of +the Prince of Denmark being left out. On the other hand, I felt the +difficulty of giving a vivid picture of a part of the world with which +I was almost totally unacquainted, unless by early recollections of +the Arabian Nights' Entertainments; and not only did I labour under the +incapacity of ignorance--in which, as far as regards Eastern manners, I +was as thickly wrapped as an Egyptian in his fog--but my contemporaries +were, many of them, as much enlightened upon the subject as if they had +been inhabitants of the favoured land of Goshen. The love of travelling +had pervaded all ranks, and carried the subjects of Britain into all +quarters of the world. Greece, so attractive by its remains of art, by +its struggles for freedom against a Mohammedan tyrant, by its very name, +where every fountain had its classical legend--Palestine, endeared +to the imagination by yet more sacred remembrances--had been of late +surveyed by British eyes, and described by recent travellers. Had I, +therefore, attempted the difficult task of substituting manners of my +own invention, instead of the genuine costume of the East, almost every +traveller I met who had extended his route beyond what was anciently +called “The Grand Tour,” had acquired a right, by ocular inspection, to +chastise me for my presumption. Every member of the Travellers' Club who +could pretend to have thrown his shoe over Edom was, by having done so, +constituted my lawful critic and corrector. It occurred, therefore, +that where the author of Anastasius, as well as he of Hadji Baba, had +described the manners and vices of the Eastern nations, not only with +fidelity, but with the humour of Le Sage and the ludicrous power of +Fielding himself, one who was a perfect stranger to the subject must +necessarily produce an unfavourable contrast. The Poet Laureate also, +in the charming tale of “Thalaba,” had shown how extensive might be +the researches of a person of acquirements and talent, by dint of +investigation alone, into the ancient doctrines, history, and manners of +the Eastern countries, in which we are probably to look for the cradle +of mankind; Moore, in his “Lalla Rookh,” had successfully trod the +same path; in which, too, Byron, joining ocular experience to extensive +reading, had written some of his most attractive poems. In a word, the +Eastern themes had been already so successfully handled by those who +were acknowledged to be masters of their craft, that I was diffident of +making the attempt. + +These were powerful objections; nor did they lose force when they +became the subject of anxious reflection, although they did not finally +prevail. The arguments on the other side were, that though I had no hope +of rivalling the contemporaries whom I have mentioned, yet it occurred +to me as possible to acquit myself of the task I was engaged in without +entering into competition with them. + +The period relating more immediately to the Crusades which I at last +fixed upon was that at which the warlike character of Richard I., wild +and generous, a pattern of chivalry, with all its extravagant virtues, +and its no less absurd errors, was opposed to that of Saladin, in which +the Christian and English monarch showed all the cruelty and violence +of an Eastern sultan, and Saladin, on the other hand, displayed the deep +policy and prudence of a European sovereign, whilst each contended +which should excel the other in the knightly qualities of bravery and +generosity. This singular contrast afforded, as the author conceived, +materials for a work of fiction possessing peculiar interest. One of the +inferior characters introduced was a supposed relation of Richard Coeur +de Lion--a violation of the truth of history which gave offence to Mr. +Mills, the author of the “History of Chivalry and the Crusades,” who was +not, it may be presumed, aware that romantic fiction naturally includes +the power of such invention, which is indeed one of the requisites of +the art. + +Prince David of Scotland, who was actually in the host, and was the hero +of some very romantic adventures on his way home, was also pressed into +my service, and constitutes one of my DRAMATIS PERSONAE. + +It is true I had already brought upon the field him of the lion heart. +But it was in a more private capacity than he was here to be exhibited +in the Talisman--then as a disguised knight, now in the avowed character +of a conquering monarch; so that I doubted not a name so dear to +Englishmen as that of King Richard I. might contribute to their +amusement for more than once. + +I had access to all which antiquity believed, whether of reality or +fable, on the subject of that magnificent warrior, who was the proudest +boast of Europe and their chivalry, and with whose dreadful name the +Saracens, according to a historian of their own country, were wont to +rebuke their startled horses. “Do you think,” said they, “that King +Richard is on the track, that you stray so wildly from it?” The most +curious register of the history of King Richard is an ancient romance, +translated originally from the Norman; and at first certainly having a +pretence to be termed a work of chivalry, but latterly becoming stuffed +with the most astonishing and monstrous fables. There is perhaps no +metrical romance upon record where, along with curious and genuine +history, are mingled more absurd and exaggerated incidents. We have +placed in the Appendix to this Introduction the passage of the romance +in which Richard figures as an ogre, or literal cannibal. + +A principal incident in the story is that from which the title is +derived. Of all people who ever lived, the Persians were perhaps most +remarkable for their unshaken credulity in amulets, spells, periapts, +and similar charms, framed, it was said, under the influence of +particular planets, and bestowing high medical powers, as well as the +means of advancing men's fortunes in various manners. A story of this +kind, relating to a Crusader of eminence, is often told in the west of +Scotland, and the relic alluded to is still in existence, and even yet +held in veneration. + +Sir Simon Lockhart of Lee and Gartland made a considerable figure in the +reigns of Robert the Bruce and of his son David. He was one of the chief +of that band of Scottish chivalry who accompanied James, the Good Lord +Douglas, on his expedition to the Holy Land with the heart of King +Robert Bruce. Douglas, impatient to get at the Saracens, entered into +war with those of Spain, and was killed there. Lockhart proceeded to the +Holy Land with such Scottish knights as had escaped the fate of their +leader and assisted for some time in the wars against the Saracens. + +The following adventure is said by tradition to have befallen him:-- + +He made prisoner in battle an Emir of considerable wealth and +consequence. The aged mother of the captive came to the Christian camp, +to redeem her son from his state of captivity. Lockhart is said to have +fixed the price at which his prisoner should ransom himself; and the +lady, pulling out a large embroidered purse, proceeded to tell down the +ransom, like a mother who pays little respect to gold in comparison of +her son's liberty. In this operation, a pebble inserted in a coin, some +say of the Lower Empire, fell out of the purse, and the Saracen matron +testified so much haste to recover it as gave the Scottish knight a +high idea of its value, when compared with gold or silver. “I will not +consent,” he said, “to grant your son's liberty, unless that amulet be +added to his ransom.” The lady not only consented to this, but explained +to Sir Simon Lockhart the mode in which the talisman was to be used, +and the uses to which it might be put. The water in which it was dipped +operated as a styptic, as a febrifuge, and possessed other properties as +a medical talisman. + +Sir Simon Lockhart, after much experience of the wonders which it +wrought, brought it to his own country, and left it to his heirs, by +whom, and by Clydesdale in general, it was, and is still, distinguished +by the name of the Lee-penny, from the name of his native seat of Lee. + +The most remarkable part of its history, perhaps, was that it so +especially escaped condemnation when the Church of Scotland chose to +impeach many other cures which savoured of the miraculous, as occasioned +by sorcery, and censured the appeal to them, “excepting only that to +the amulet, called the Lee-penny, to which it had pleased God to annex +certain healing virtues which the Church did not presume to condemn.” It +still, as has been said, exists, and its powers are sometimes resorted +to. Of late, they have been chiefly restricted to the cure of persons +bitten by mad dogs; and as the illness in such cases frequently arises +from imagination, there can be no reason for doubting that water which +has been poured on the Lee-penny furnishes a congenial cure. + +Such is the tradition concerning the talisman, which the author has +taken the liberty to vary in applying it to his own purposes. + +Considerable liberties have also been taken with the truth of history, +both with respect to Conrade of Montserrat's life, as well as his death. +That Conrade, however, was reckoned the enemy of Richard is agreed both +in history and romance. The general opinion of the terms upon which they +stood may be guessed from the proposal of the Saracens that the Marquis +of Montserrat should be invested with certain parts of Syria, which they +were to yield to the Christians. Richard, according to the romance which +bears his name, “could no longer repress his fury. The Marquis he said, +was a traitor, who had robbed the Knights Hospitallers of sixty thousand +pounds, the present of his father Henry; that he was a renegade, whose +treachery had occasioned the loss of Acre; and he concluded by a solemn +oath, that he would cause him to be drawn to pieces by wild horses, if +he should ever venture to pollute the Christian camp by his presence. +Philip attempted to intercede in favour of the Marquis, and throwing +down his glove, offered to become a pledge for his fidelity to the +Christians; but his offer was rejected, and he was obliged to give way +to Richard's impetuosity.”--HISTORY OF CHIVALRY. + +Conrade of Montserrat makes a considerable figure in those wars, and was +at length put to death by one of the followers of the Scheik, or Old Man +of the Mountain; nor did Richard remain free of the suspicion of having +instigated his death. + +It may be said, in general, that most of the incidents introduced in +the following tale are fictitious, and that reality, where it exists, is +only retained in the characters of the piece. + +ABBOTSFORD, 1st July, 1832 + + + + +APPENDIX TO INTRODUCTION. + +While warring in the Holy Land, Richard was seized with an ague. + +The best leeches of the camp were unable to effect the cure of the +King's disease; but the prayers of the army were more successful. He +became convalescent, and the first symptom of his recovery was a violent +longing for pork. But pork was not likely to be plentiful in a country +whose inhabitants had an abhorrence for swine's flesh; and + + “Though his men should be hanged, + They ne might, in that countrey, + For gold, ne silver, ne no money, + No pork find, take, ne get, + That King Richard might aught of eat. + An old knight with Richard biding, + When he heard of that tiding, + That the king's wants were swyche, + To the steward he spake privyliche-- + “Our lord the king sore is sick, I wis, + After porck he alonged is; + Ye may none find to selle; + No man be hardy him so to telle! + If he did he might die. + Now behoves to done as I shall say, + Tho' he wete nought of that. + Take a Saracen, young and fat; + In haste let the thief be slain, + Opened, and his skin off flayn; + And sodden full hastily, + With powder and with spicery, + And with saffron of good colour. + When the king feels thereof savour, + Out of ague if he be went, + He shall have thereto good talent. + When he has a good taste, + And eaten well a good repast, + And supped of the BREWIS [Broth] a sup, + Slept after and swet a drop, + Through Goddis help and my counsail, + Soon he shall be fresh and hail.' + The sooth to say, at wordes few, + Slain and sodden was the heathen shrew. + Before the king it was forth brought: + Quod his men, 'Lord, we have pork sought; + Eates and sups of the brewis SOOTE,[Sweet] + Thorough grace of God it shall be your boot.' + Before King Richard carff a knight, + He ate faster than he carve might. + The king ate the flesh and GNEW [Gnawed] the bones, + And drank well after for the nonce. + And when he had eaten enough, + His folk hem turned away, and LOUGH.[Laughed] + He lay still and drew in his arm; + His chamberlain him wrapped warm. + He lay and slept, and swet a stound, + And became whole and sound. + King Richard clad him and arose, + And walked abouten in the close.” + +An attack of the Saracens was repelled by Richard in person, the +consequence of which is told in the following lines:-- + + “When King Richard had rested a whyle, + A knight his arms 'gan unlace, + Him to comfort and solace. + Him was brought a sop in wine. + 'The head of that ilke swine, + That I of ate!' (the cook he bade,) + 'For feeble I am, and faint and mad. + Of mine evil now I am fear; + Serve me therewith at my soupere!' + Quod the cook, 'That head I ne have.' + Then said the king, 'So God me save, + But I see the head of that swine, + For sooth, thou shalt lesen thine!' + The cook saw none other might be; + He fet the head and let him see. + He fell on knees, and made a cry-- + 'Lo, here the head! my Lord, mercy!'” + +The cook had certainly some reason to fear that his master would be +struck with horror at the recollection of the dreadful banquet to which +he owed his recovery; but his fears were soon dissipated. + + “The swarte vis [Black face] when the king seeth, + His black beard and white teeth, + How his lippes grinned wide, + 'What devil is this?' the king cried, + And 'gan to laugh as he were wode. + 'What! is Saracen's flesh thus good? + That never erst I nought wist! + By God's death and his uprist, + Shall we never die for default, + While we may in any assault, + Slee Saracens, the flesh may take, + And seethen and roasten and do hem bake, + [And] Gnawen her flesh to the bones! + Now I have it proved once, + For hunger ere I be wo, + I and my folk shall eat mo!”' + +The besieged now offered to surrender, upon conditions of safety to the +inhabitants; while all the public treasure, military machines, and arms +were delivered to the victors, together with the further ransom of +one hundred thousand bezants. After this capitulation, the following +extraordinary scene took place. We shall give it in the words of the +humorous and amiable George Ellis, the collector and the editor of these +Romances:-- + +“Though the garrison had faithfully performed the other articles of +their contract, they were unable to restore the cross, which was not +in their possession, and were therefore treated by the Christians +with great cruelty. Daily reports of their sufferings were carried to +Saladin; and as many of them were persons of the highest distinction, +that monarch, at the solicitation of their friends, dispatched an +embassy to King Richard with magnificent presents, which he offered +for the ransom of the captives. The ambassadors were persons the most +respectable from their age, their rank, and their eloquence. They +delivered their message in terms of the utmost humility; and without +arraigning the justice of the conqueror in his severe treatment of their +countrymen, only solicited a period to that severity, laying at his feet +the treasures with which they were entrusted, and pledging themselves +and their master for the payment of any further sums which he might +demand as the price of mercy. + + “King Richard spake with wordes mild. + 'The gold to take, God me shield! + Among you partes [Divide] every charge. + I brought in shippes and in barge, + More gold and silver with me, + Than has your lord, and swilke three. + To his treasure have I no need! + But for my love I you bid, + To meat with me that ye dwell; + And afterward I shall you tell. + Thorough counsel I shall you answer, + What BODE [Message] ye shall to your lord bear. + +“The invitation was gratefully accepted. Richard, in the meantime, gave +secret orders to his marshal that he should repair to the prison, +select a certain number of the most distinguished captives, and, after +carefully noting their names on a roll of parchment, cause their heads +to be instantly struck off; that these heads should be delivered to the +cook, with instructions to clear away the hair, and, after boiling +them in a cauldron, to distribute them on several platters, one to +each guest, observing to fasten on the forehead of each the piece of +parchment expressing the name and family of the victim. + + “'An hot head bring me beforn, + As I were well apayed withall, + Eat thereof fast I shall; + As it were a tender chick, + To see how the others will like.' + +“This horrible order was punctually executed. At noon the guests were +summoned to wash by the music of the waits. The king took his seat +attended by the principal officers of his court, at the high table, and +the rest of the company were marshalled at a long table below him. +On the cloth were placed portions of salt at the usual distances, but +neither bread, wine, nor water. The ambassadors, rather surprised at +this omission, but still free from apprehension, awaited in silence +the arrival of the dinner, which was announced by the sound of pipes, +trumpets, and tabours; and beheld, with horror and dismay, the unnatural +banquet introduced by the steward and his officers. Yet their sentiments +of disgust and abhorrence, and even their fears, were for a time +suspended by their curiosity. Their eyes were fixed on the king, who, +without the slightest change of countenance, swallowed the morsels as +fast as they could be supplied by the knight who carved them. + + “Every man then poked other; + They said, 'This is the devil's brother, + That slays our men, and thus hem eats!' + +“Their attention was then involuntarily fixed on the smoking heads +before them. They traced in the swollen and distorted features the +resemblance of a friend or near relation, and received from the +fatal scroll which accompanied each dish the sad assurance that this +resemblance was not imaginary. They sat in torpid silence, anticipating +their own fate in that of their countrymen; while their ferocious +entertainer, with fury in his eyes, but with courtesy on his lips, +insulted them by frequent invitations to merriment. At length this first +course was removed, and its place supplied by venison, cranes, and other +dainties, accompanied by the richest wines. The king then apologized to +them for what had passed, which he attributed to his ignorance of their +taste; and assured them of his religious respect for their characters as +ambassadors, and of his readiness to grant them a safe-conduct for their +return. This boon was all that they now wished to claim; and + + “King Richard spake to an old man, + 'Wendes home to your Soudan! + His melancholy that ye abate; + And sayes that ye came too late. + Too slowly was your time y-guessed; + Ere ye came, the flesh was dressed, + That men shoulden serve with me, + Thus at noon, and my meynie. + Say him, it shall him nought avail, + Though he for-bar us our vitail, + Bread, wine, fish, flesh, salmon, and conger; + Of us none shall die with hunger, + While we may wenden to fight, + And slay the Saracens downright, + Wash the flesh, and roast the head. + With 0 [One] Saracen I may well feed + Well a nine or a ten + Of my good Christian men. + King Richard shall warrant, + There is no flesh so nourissant + Unto an English man, + Partridge, plover, heron, ne swan, + Cow ne ox, sheep ne swine, + As the head of a Sarazyn. + There he is fat, and thereto tender, + And my men be lean and slender. + While any Saracen quick be, + Livand now in this Syrie, + For meat will we nothing care. + Abouten fast we shall rare, + And every day we shall eat + All as many as we may get. + To England will we nought gon, + Till they be eaten every one.'” + + + ELLIS'S SPECIMENS OF EARLY ENGLISH METRICEL ROMANCES. + +The reader may be curious to know owing to what circumstances so +extraordinary an invention as that which imputed cannibalism to the King +of England should have found its way into his history. Mr. James, to +whom we owe so much that is curious, seems to have traced the origin of +this extraordinary rumour. + +“With the army of the cross also was a multitude of men,” the same +author declares, “who made it a profession to be without money. They +walked barefoot, carried no arms, and even preceded the beasts of burden +in their march, living upon roots and herbs, and presenting a spectacle +both disgusting and pitiable. + +“A Norman, who, according to all accounts, was of noble birth, but who, +having lost his horse, continued to follow as a foot soldier, took +the strange resolution of putting himself at the head of this race +of vagabonds, who willingly received him as their king. Amongst the +Saracens these men became well known under the name of THAFURS (which +Guibert translates TRUDENTES), and were beheld with great horror +from the general persuasion that they fed on the dead bodies of their +enemies; a report which was occasionally justified, and which the king +of the Thafurs took care to encourage. This respectable monarch was +frequently in the habit of stopping his followers, one by one, in a +narrow defile, and of causing them to be searched carefully, lest the +possession of the least sum of money should render them unworthy of the +name of his subjects. If even two sous were found upon any one, he +was instantly expelled the society of his tribe, the king bidding him +contemptuously buy arms and fight. + +“This troop, so far from being cumbersome to the army, was infinitely +serviceable, carrying burdens, bringing in forage, provisions, and +tribute; working the machines in the sieges; and, above all, spreading +consternation among the Turks, who feared death from the lances of the +knights less than that further consummation they heard of under the +teeth of the Thafurs.” [James's “History of Chivalry.”] + +It is easy to conceive that an ignorant minstrel, finding the taste and +ferocity of the Thafurs commemorated in the historical accounts of the +Holy Wars, has ascribed their practices and propensities to the Monarch +of England, whose ferocity was considered as an object of exaggeration +as legitimate as his valour. + +ABBOTSFORD, 1st July, 1832. + + + + + +TALES OF THE CRUSADERS. TALE II.--THE TALISMAN. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + They, too, retired + To the wilderness, but 'twas with arms. + PARADISE REGAINED. + +The burning sun of Syria had not yet attained its highest point in +the horizon, when a knight of the Red Cross, who had left his distant +northern home and joined the host of the Crusaders in Palestine, was +pacing slowly along the sandy deserts which lie in the vicinity of the +Dead Sea, or, as it is called, the Lake Asphaltites, where the waves of +the Jordan pour themselves into an inland sea, from which there is no +discharge of waters. + +The warlike pilgrim had toiled among cliffs and precipices during the +earlier part of the morning. More lately, issuing from those rocky +and dangerous defiles, he had entered upon that great plain, where +the accursed cities provoked, in ancient days, the direct and dreadful +vengeance of the Omnipotent. + +The toil, the thirst, the dangers of the way, were forgotten, as the +traveller recalled the fearful catastrophe which had converted into an +arid and dismal wilderness the fair and fertile valley of Siddim, once +well watered, even as the Garden of the Lord, now a parched and blighted +waste, condemned to eternal sterility. + +Crossing himself, as he viewed the dark mass of rolling waters, in +colour as in duality unlike those of any other lake, the traveller +shuddered as he remembered that beneath these sluggish waves lay the +once proud cities of the plain, whose grave was dug by the thunder of +the heavens, or the eruption of subterraneous fire, and whose remains +were hid, even by that sea which holds no living fish in its bosom, +bears no skiff on its surface, and, as if its own dreadful bed were the +only fit receptacle for its sullen waters, sends not, like other lakes, +a tribute to the ocean. The whole land around, as in the days of Moses, +was “brimstone and salt; it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass +groweth thereon.” The land as well as the lake might be termed dead, as +producing nothing having resemblance to vegetation, and even the very +air was entirely devoid of its ordinary winged inhabitants, deterred +probably by the odour of bitumen and sulphur which the burning sun +exhaled from the waters of the lake in steaming clouds, frequently +assuming the appearance of waterspouts. Masses of the slimy and +sulphureous substance called naphtha, which floated idly on the sluggish +and sullen waves, supplied those rolling clouds with new vapours, and +afforded awful testimony to the truth of the Mosaic history. + +Upon this scene of desolation the sun shone with almost intolerable +splendour, and all living nature seemed to have hidden itself from the +rays, excepting the solitary figure which moved through the flitting +sand at a foot's pace, and appeared the sole breathing thing on the wide +surface of the plain. The dress of the rider and the accoutrements of +his horse were peculiarly unfit for the traveller in such a country. A +coat of linked mail, with long sleeves, plated gauntlets, and a steel +breastplate, had not been esteemed a sufficient weight of armour; there +were also his triangular shield suspended round his neck, and his barred +helmet of steel, over which he had a hood and collar of mail, which +was drawn around the warrior's shoulders and throat, and filled up the +vacancy between the hauberk and the headpiece. His lower limbs were +sheathed, like his body, in flexible mail, securing the legs and thighs, +while the feet rested in plated shoes, which corresponded with the +gauntlets. A long, broad, straight-shaped, double-edged falchion, with +a handle formed like a cross, corresponded with a stout poniard on the +other side. The knight also bore, secured to his saddle, with one end +resting on his stirrup, the long steel-headed lance, his own proper +weapon, which, as he rode, projected backwards, and displayed its little +pennoncelle, to dally with the faint breeze, or drop in the dead calm. +To this cumbrous equipment must be added a surcoat of embroidered cloth, +much frayed and worn, which was thus far useful that it excluded the +burning rays of the sun from the armour, which they would otherwise have +rendered intolerable to the wearer. The surcoat bore, in several places, +the arms of the owner, although much defaced. These seemed to be a +couchant leopard, with the motto, “I sleep; wake me not.” An outline of +the same device might be traced on his shield, though many a blow had +almost effaced the painting. The flat top of his cumbrous cylindrical +helmet was unadorned with any crest. In retaining their own unwieldy +defensive armour, the Northern Crusaders seemed to set at defiance the +nature of the climate and country to which they had come to war. + +The accoutrements of the horse were scarcely less massive and unwieldy +than those of the rider. The animal had a heavy saddle plated with +steel, uniting in front with a species of breastplate, and behind with +defensive armour made to cover the loins. Then there was a steel axe, +or hammer, called a mace-of-arms, and which hung to the saddle-bow. The +reins were secured by chain-work, and the front-stall of the bridle was +a steel plate, with apertures for the eyes and nostrils, having in the +midst a short, sharp pike, projecting from the forehead of the horse +like the horn of the fabulous unicorn. + +But habit had made the endurance of this load of panoply a second +nature, both to the knight and his gallant charger. Numbers, indeed, +of the Western warriors who hurried to Palestine died ere they became +inured to the burning climate; but there were others to whom that +climate became innocent and even friendly, and among this fortunate +number was the solitary horseman who now traversed the border of the +Dead Sea. + +Nature, which cast his limbs in a mould of uncommon strength, fitted +to wear his linked hauberk with as much ease as if the meshes had been +formed of cobwebs, had endowed him with a constitution as strong as his +limbs, and which bade defiance to almost all changes of climate, as well +as to fatigue and privations of every kind. His disposition seemed, in +some degree, to partake of the qualities of his bodily frame; and as +the one possessed great strength and endurance, united with the power of +violent exertion, the other, under a calm and undisturbed semblance, had +much of the fiery and enthusiastic love of glory which constituted the +principal attribute of the renowned Norman line, and had rendered +them sovereigns in every corner of Europe where they had drawn their +adventurous swords. + +It was not, however, to all the race that fortune proposed such tempting +rewards; and those obtained by the solitary knight during two years' +campaign in Palestine had been only temporal fame, and, as he was taught +to believe, spiritual privileges. Meantime, his slender stock of money +had melted away, the rather that he did not pursue any of the ordinary +modes by which the followers of the Crusade condescended to recruit +their diminished resources at the expense of the people of Palestine--he +exacted no gifts from the wretched natives for sparing their possessions +when engaged in warfare with the Saracens, and he had not availed +himself of any opportunity of enriching himself by the ransom of +prisoners of consequence. The small train which had followed him from +his native country had been gradually diminished, as the means of +maintaining them disappeared, and his only remaining squire was at +present on a sick-bed, and unable to attend his master, who travelled, +as we have seen, singly and alone. This was of little consequence to the +Crusader, who was accustomed to consider his good sword as his safest +escort, and devout thoughts as his best companion. + +Nature had, however, her demands for refreshment and repose even on +the iron frame and patient disposition of the Knight of the Sleeping +Leopard; and at noon, when the Dead Sea lay at some distance on his +right, he joyfully hailed the sight of two or three palm-trees, which +arose beside the well which was assigned for his mid-day station. His +good horse, too, which had plodded forward with the steady endurance of +his master, now lifted his head, expanded his nostrils, and quickened +his pace, as if he snuffed afar off the living waters which marked the +place of repose and refreshment. But labour and danger were doomed to +intervene ere the horse or horseman reached the desired spot. + +As the Knight of the Couchant Leopard continued to fix his eyes +attentively on the yet distant cluster of palm-trees, it seemed to him +as if some object was moving among them. The distant form separated +itself from the trees, which partly hid its motions, and advanced +towards the knight with a speed which soon showed a mounted horseman, +whom his turban, long spear, and green caftan floating in the wind, on +his nearer approach showed to be a Saracen cavalier. “In the desert,” + saith an Eastern proverb, “no man meets a friend.” The Crusader was +totally indifferent whether the infidel, who now approached on his +gallant barb as if borne on the wings of an eagle, came as friend or +foe--perhaps, as a vowed champion of the Cross, he might rather have +preferred the latter. He disengaged his lance from his saddle, seized +it with the right hand, placed it in rest with its point half elevated, +gathered up the reins in the left, waked his horse's mettle with +the spur, and prepared to encounter the stranger with the calm +self-confidence belonging to the victor in many contests. + +The Saracen came on at the speedy gallop of an Arab horseman, managing +his steed more by his limbs and the inflection of his body than by any +use of the reins, which hung loose in his left hand; so that he was +enabled to wield the light, round buckler of the skin of the rhinoceros, +ornamented with silver loops, which he wore on his arm, swinging it as +if he meant to oppose its slender circle to the formidable thrust of the +Western lance. His own long spear was not couched or levelled like that +of his antagonist, but grasped by the middle with his right hand, and +brandished at arm's-length above his head. As the cavalier approached +his enemy at full career, he seemed to expect that the Knight of the +Leopard should put his horse to the gallop to encounter him. But the +Christian knight, well acquainted with the customs of Eastern warriors, +did not mean to exhaust his good horse by any unnecessary exertion; and, +on the contrary, made a dead halt, confident that if the enemy advanced +to the actual shock, his own weight, and that of his powerful charger, +would give him sufficient advantage, without the additional momentum +of rapid motion. Equally sensible and apprehensive of such a probable +result, the Saracen cavalier, when he had approached towards the +Christian within twice the length of his lance, wheeled his steed to the +left with inimitable dexterity, and rode twice around his antagonist, +who, turning without quitting his ground, and presenting his front +constantly to his enemy, frustrated his attempts to attack him on an +unguarded point; so that the Saracen, wheeling his horse, was fain to +retreat to the distance of a hundred yards. A second time, like a hawk +attacking a heron, the heathen renewed the charge, and a second time +was fain to retreat without coming to a close struggle. A third time he +approached in the same manner, when the Christian knight, desirous to +terminate this illusory warfare, in which he might at length have been +worn out by the activity of his foeman, suddenly seized the mace which +hung at his saddle-bow, and, with a strong hand and unerring aim, +hurled it against the head of the Emir, for such and not less his enemy +appeared. The Saracen was just aware of the formidable missile in time +to interpose his light buckler betwixt the mace and his head; but the +violence of the blow forced the buckler down on his turban, and though +that defence also contributed to deaden its violence, the Saracen was +beaten from his horse. Ere the Christian could avail himself of this +mishap, his nimble foeman sprung from the ground, and, calling on his +steed, which instantly returned to his side, he leaped into his seat +without touching the stirrup, and regained all the advantage of which +the Knight of the Leopard hoped to deprive him. But the latter had +in the meanwhile recovered his mace, and the Eastern cavalier, who +remembered the strength and dexterity with which his antagonist had +aimed it, seemed to keep cautiously out of reach of that weapon of which +he had so lately felt the force, while he showed his purpose of waging a +distant warfare with missile weapons of his own. Planting his long spear +in the sand at a distance from the scene of combat, he strung, with +great address, a short bow, which he carried at his back; and putting +his horse to the gallop, once more described two or three circles of +a wider extent than formerly, in the course of which he discharged six +arrows at the Christian with such unerring skill that the goodness of +his harness alone saved him from being wounded in as many places. The +seventh shaft apparently found a less perfect part of the armour, and +the Christian dropped heavily from his horse. But what was the surprise +of the Saracen, when, dismounting to examine the condition of his +prostrate enemy, he found himself suddenly within the grasp of the +European, who had had recourse to this artifice to bring his enemy +within his reach! Even in this deadly grapple the Saracen was saved by +his agility and presence of mind. He unloosed the sword-belt, in which +the Knight of the Leopard had fixed his hold, and, thus eluding his +fatal grasp, mounted his horse, which seemed to watch his motions with +the intelligence of a human being, and again rode off. But in the last +encounter the Saracen had lost his sword and his quiver of arrows, both +of which were attached to the girdle which he was obliged to abandon. He +had also lost his turban in the struggle. + +These disadvantages seemed to incline the Moslem to a truce. He +approached the Christian with his right hand extended, but no longer in +a menacing attitude. + +“There is truce betwixt our nations,” he said, in the lingua franca +commonly used for the purpose of communication with the Crusaders; +“wherefore should there be war betwixt thee and me? Let there be peace +betwixt us.” + +“I am well contented,” answered he of the Couchant Leopard; “but what +security dost thou offer that thou wilt observe the truce?” + +“The word of a follower of the Prophet was never broken,” answered the +Emir. “It is thou, brave Nazarene, from whom I should demand security, +did I not know that treason seldom dwells with courage.” + +The Crusader felt that the confidence of the Moslem made him ashamed of +his own doubts. + +“By the cross of my sword,” he said, laying his hand on the weapon as +he spoke, “I will be true companion to thee, Saracen, while our fortune +wills that we remain in company together.” + +“By Mohammed, Prophet of God, and by Allah, God of the Prophet,” replied +his late foeman, “there is not treachery in my heart towards thee. And +now wend we to yonder fountain, for the hour of rest is at hand, and +the stream had hardly touched my lip when I was called to battle by thy +approach.” + +The Knight of the Couchant Leopard yielded a ready and courteous assent; +and the late foes, without an angry look or gesture of doubt, rode side +by side to the little cluster of palm-trees. + + + +CHAPTER II. + +Times of danger have always, and in a peculiar degree, their seasons +of good-will and security; and this was particularly so in the ancient +feudal ages, in which, as the manners of the period had assigned war +to be the chief and most worthy occupation of mankind, the intervals +of peace, or rather of truce, were highly relished by those warriors to +whom they were seldom granted, and endeared by the very circumstances +which rendered them transitory. It is not worth while preserving any +permanent enmity against a foe whom a champion has fought with to-day, +and may again stand in bloody opposition to on the next morning. The +time and situation afforded so much room for the ebullition of violent +passions, that men, unless when peculiarly opposed to each other, +or provoked by the recollection of private and individual wrongs, +cheerfully enjoyed in each other's society the brief intervals of +pacific intercourse which a warlike life admitted. + +The distinction of religions, nay, the fanatical zeal which animated the +followers of the Cross and of the Crescent against each other, was much +softened by a feeling so natural to generous combatants, and especially +cherished by the spirit of chivalry. This last strong impulse had +extended itself gradually from the Christians to their mortal enemies +the Saracens, both of Spain and of Palestine. The latter were, indeed, +no longer the fanatical savages who had burst from the centre of Arabian +deserts, with the sabre in one hand and the Koran in the other, to +inflict death or the faith of Mohammed, or, at the best, slavery and +tribute, upon all who dared to oppose the belief of the prophet of +Mecca. These alternatives indeed had been offered to the unwarlike +Greeks and Syrians; but in contending with the Western Christians, +animated by a zeal as fiery as their own, and possessed of as +unconquerable courage, address, and success in arms, the Saracens +gradually caught a part of their manners, and especially of those +chivalrous observances which were so well calculated to charm the minds +of a proud and conquering people. They had their tournaments and games +of chivalry; they had even their knights, or some rank analogous; and +above all, the Saracens observed their plighted faith with an accuracy +which might sometimes put to shame those who owned a better religion. +Their truces, whether national or betwixt individuals, were faithfully +observed; and thus it was that war, in itself perhaps the greatest +of evils, yet gave occasion for display of good faith, generosity, +clemency, and even kindly affections, which less frequently occur in +more tranquil periods, where the passions of men, experiencing wrongs or +entertaining quarrels which cannot be brought to instant decision, are +apt to smoulder for a length of time in the bosoms of those who are so +unhappy as to be their prey. + +It was under the influence of these milder feelings which soften the +horrors of warfare that the Christian and Saracen, who had so lately +done their best for each other's mutual destruction, rode at a slow pace +towards the fountain of palm-trees to which the Knight of the Couchant +Leopard had been tending, when interrupted in mid-passage by his +fleet and dangerous adversary. Each was wrapt for some time in his own +reflections, and took breath after an encounter which had threatened to +be fatal to one or both; and their good horses seemed no less to enjoy +the interval of repose. + +That of the Saracen, however, though he had been forced into much the +more violent and extended sphere of motion, appeared to have suffered +less from fatigue than the charger of the European knight. The sweat +hung still clammy on the limbs of the latter, when those of the noble +Arab were completely dried by the interval of tranquil exercise, all +saving the foam-flakes which were still visible on his bridle and +housings. The loose soil on which he trod so much augmented the distress +of the Christian's horse, heavily loaded by his own armour and the +weight of his rider, that the latter jumped from his saddle, and led his +charger along the deep dust of the loamy soil, which was burnt in the +sun into a substance more impalpable than the finest sand, and thus +gave the faithful horse refreshment at the expense of his own additional +toil; for, iron-sheathed as he was, he sunk over the mailed shoes at +every step which he placed on a surface so light and unresisting. + +“You are right,” said the Saracen--and it was the first word that either +had spoken since their truce was concluded; “your strong horse deserves +your care. But what do you in the desert with an animal which sinks over +the fetlock at every step as if he would plant each foot deep as the +root of a date-tree?” + +“Thou speakest rightly, Saracen,” said the Christian knight, not +delighted at the tone with which the infidel criticized his favourite +steed--“rightly, according to thy knowledge and observation. But my good +horse hath ere now borne me, in mine own land, over as wide a lake as +thou seest yonder spread out behind us, yet not wet one hair above his +hoof.” + +The Saracen looked at him with as much surprise as his manners permitted +him to testify, which was only expressed by a slight approach to a +disdainful smile, that hardly curled perceptibly the broad, thick +moustache which enveloped his upper lip. + +“It is justly spoken,” he said, instantly composing himself to his usual +serene gravity; “List to a Frank, and hear a fable.” + +“Thou art not courteous, misbeliever,” replied the Crusader, “to doubt +the word of a dubbed knight; and were it not that thou speakest in +ignorance, and not in malice, our truce had its ending ere it is well +begun. Thinkest thou I tell thee an untruth when I say that I, one of +five hundred horsemen, armed in complete mail, have ridden--ay, and +ridden for miles, upon water as solid as the crystal, and ten times less +brittle?” + +“What wouldst thou tell me?” answered the Moslem. “Yonder inland sea +thou dost point at is peculiar in this, that, by the especial curse of +God, it suffereth nothing to sink in its waves, but wafts them away, and +casts them on its margin; but neither the Dead Sea, nor any of the +seven oceans which environ the earth, will endure on their surface the +pressure of a horse's foot, more than the Red Sea endured to sustain the +advance of Pharaoh and his host.” + +“You speak truth after your knowledge, Saracen,” said the Christian +knight; “and yet, trust me, I fable not, according to mine. Heat, in +this climate, converts the soil into something almost as unstable +as water; and in my land cold often converts the water itself into +a substance as hard as rock. Let us speak of this no longer, for +the thoughts of the calm, clear, blue refulgence of a winter's lake, +glimmering to stars and moonbeam, aggravate the horrors of this fiery +desert, where, methinks, the very air which we breathe is like the +vapour of a fiery furnace seven times heated.” + +The Saracen looked on him with some attention, as if to discover in +what sense he was to understand words which, to him, must have appeared +either to contain something of mystery or of imposition. At length he +seemed determined in what manner to receive the language of his new +companion. + +“You are,” he said, “of a nation that loves to laugh, and you make sport +with yourselves, and with others, by telling what is impossible, and +reporting what never chanced. Thou art one of the knights of France, who +hold it for glee and pastime to GAB, as they term it, of exploits that +are beyond human power. [Gaber. This French word signified a sort of +sport much used among the French chivalry, which consisted in vying +with each other in making the most romantic gasconades. The verb and the +meaning are retained in Scottish.] I were wrong to challenge, for the +time, the privilege of thy speech, since boasting is more natural to +thee than truth.” + +“I am not of their land, neither of their fashion,” said the Knight, +“which is, as thou well sayest, to GAB of that which they dare not +undertake--or, undertaking, cannot perfect. But in this I have imitated +their folly, brave Saracen, that in talking to thee of what thou canst +not comprehend, I have, even in speaking most simple truth, fully +incurred the character of a braggart in thy eyes; so, I pray you, let my +words pass.” + +They had now arrived at the knot of palm-trees and the fountain which +welled out from beneath their shade in sparkling profusion. + +We have spoken of a moment of truce in the midst of war; and this, a +spot of beauty in the midst of a sterile desert, was scarce less dear +to the imagination. It was a scene which, perhaps, would elsewhere have +deserved little notice; but as the single speck, in a boundless +horizon, which promised the refreshment of shade and living water, these +blessings, held cheap where they are common, rendered the fountain and +its neighbourhood a little paradise. Some generous or charitable hand, +ere yet the evil days of Palestine began, had walled in and arched over +the fountain, to preserve it from being absorbed in the earth, or choked +by the flitting clouds of dust with which the least breath of wind +covered the desert. The arch was now broken, and partly ruinous; but it +still so far projected over and covered in the fountain that it excluded +the sun in a great measure from its waters, which, hardly touched by a +straggling beam, while all around was blazing, lay in a steady repose, +alike delightful to the eye and the imagination. Stealing from under the +arch, they were first received in a marble basin, much defaced indeed, +but still cheering the eye, by showing that the place was anciently +considered as a station, that the hand of man had been there and that +man's accommodation had been in some measure attended to. The thirsty +and weary traveller was reminded by these signs that others had suffered +similar difficulties, reposed in the same spot, and, doubtless, found +their way in safety to a more fertile country. Again, the scarce visible +current which escaped from the basin served to nourish the few trees +which surrounded the fountain, and where it sunk into the ground and +disappeared, its refreshing presence was acknowledged by a carpet of +velvet verdure. + +In this delightful spot the two warriors halted, and each, after his own +fashion, proceeded to relieve his horse from saddle, bit, and rein, +and permitted the animals to drink at the basin, ere they refreshed +themselves from the fountain head, which arose under the vault. They +then suffered the steeds to go loose, confident that their interest, as +well as their domesticated habits, would prevent their straying from the +pure water and fresh grass. + +Christian and Saracen next sat down together on the turf, and produced +each the small allowance of store which they carried for their own +refreshment. Yet, ere they severally proceeded to their scanty meal, +they eyed each other with that curiosity which the close and doubtful +conflict in which they had been so lately engaged was calculated to +inspire. Each was desirous to measure the strength, and form some +estimate of the character, of an adversary so formidable; and each was +compelled to acknowledge that, had he fallen in the conflict, it had +been by a noble hand. + +The champions formed a striking contrast to each other in person and +features, and might have formed no inaccurate representatives of their +different nations. The Frank seemed a powerful man, built after the +ancient Gothic cast of form, with light brown hair, which, on the +removal of his helmet, was seen to curl thick and profusely over his +head. His features had acquired, from the hot climate, a hue much darker +than those parts of his neck which were less frequently exposed to view, +or than was warranted by his full and well-opened blue eye, the colour +of his hair, and of the moustaches which thickly shaded his upper +lip, while his chin was carefully divested of beard, after the Norman +fashion. His nose was Grecian and well formed; his mouth rather large +in proportion, but filled with well-set, strong, and beautifully white +teeth; his head small, and set upon the neck with much grace. His age +could not exceed thirty, but if the effects of toil and climate were +allowed for, might be three or four years under that period. His form +was tall, powerful, and athletic, like that of a man whose strength +might, in later life, become unwieldy, but which was hitherto united +with lightness and activity. His hands, when he withdrew the mailed +gloves, were long, fair, and well-proportioned; the wrist-bones +peculiarly large and strong; and the arms remarkably well-shaped and +brawny. A military hardihood and careless frankness of expression +characterized his language and his motions; and his voice had the tone +of one more accustomed to command than to obey, and who was in the habit +of expressing his sentiments aloud and boldly, whenever he was called +upon to announce them. + +The Saracen Emir formed a marked and striking contrast with the Western +Crusader. His stature was indeed above the middle size, but he was at +least three inches shorter than the European, whose size approached the +gigantic. His slender limbs and long, spare hands and arms, though well +proportioned to his person, and suited to the style of his countenance, +did not at first aspect promise the display of vigour and elasticity +which the Emir had lately exhibited. But on looking more closely, his +limbs, where exposed to view, seemed divested of all that was fleshy or +cumbersome; so that nothing being left but bone, brawn, and sinew, it +was a frame fitted for exertion and fatigue, far beyond that of a bulky +champion, whose strength and size are counterbalanced by weight, and +who is exhausted by his own exertions. The countenance of the Saracen +naturally bore a general national resemblance to the Eastern tribe from +whom he descended, and was as unlike as possible to the exaggerated +terms in which the minstrels of the day were wont to represent the +infidel champions, and the fabulous description which a sister art still +presents as the Saracen's Head upon signposts. His features were small, +well-formed, and delicate, though deeply embrowned by the Eastern sun, +and terminated by a flowing and curled black beard, which seemed trimmed +with peculiar care. The nose was straight and regular, the eyes keen, +deep-set, black, and glowing, and his teeth equalled in beauty the ivory +of his deserts. The person and proportions of the Saracen, in short, +stretched on the turf near to his powerful antagonist, might have been +compared to his sheeny and crescent-formed sabre, with its narrow and +light but bright and keen Damascus blade, contrasted with the long and +ponderous Gothic war-sword which was flung unbuckled on the same sod. +The Emir was in the very flower of his age, and might perhaps have been +termed eminently beautiful, but for the narrowness of his forehead and +something of too much thinness and sharpness of feature, or at least +what might have seemed such in a European estimate of beauty. + +The manners of the Eastern warrior were grave, graceful, and decorous; +indicating, however, in some particulars, the habitual restraint which +men of warm and choleric tempers often set as a guard upon their native +impetuosity of disposition, and at the same time a sense of his own +dignity, which seemed to impose a certain formality of behaviour in him +who entertained it. + +This haughty feeling of superiority was perhaps equally entertained by +his new European acquaintance, but the effect was different; and the +same feeling, which dictated to the Christian knight a bold, blunt, and +somewhat careless bearing, as one too conscious of his own importance +to be anxious about the opinions of others, appeared to prescribe to the +Saracen a style of courtesy more studiously and formally observant of +ceremony. Both were courteous; but the courtesy of the Christian seemed +to flow rather from a good humoured sense of what was due to others; +that of the Moslem, from a high feeling of what was to be expected from +himself. + +The provision which each had made for his refreshment was simple, but +the meal of the Saracen was abstemious. A handful of dates and a morsel +of coarse barley-bread sufficed to relieve the hunger of the latter, +whose education had habituated them to the fare of the desert, although, +since their Syrian conquests, the Arabian simplicity of life frequently +gave place to the most unbounded profusion of luxury. A few draughts +from the lovely fountain by which they reposed completed his meal. That +of the Christian, though coarse, was more genial. Dried hog's flesh, the +abomination of the Moslemah, was the chief part of his repast; and his +drink, derived from a leathern bottle, contained something better than +pure element. He fed with more display of appetite, and drank with more +appearance of satisfaction, than the Saracen judged it becoming to show +in the performance of a mere bodily function; and, doubtless, the secret +contempt which each entertained for the other, as the follower of a +false religion, was considerably increased by the marked difference of +their diet and manners. But each had found the weight of his opponent's +arm, and the mutual respect which the bold struggle had created was +sufficient to subdue other and inferior considerations. Yet the Saracen +could not help remarking the circumstances which displeased him in the +Christian's conduct and manners; and, after he had witnessed for some +time in silence the keen appetite which protracted the knight's banquet +long after his own was concluded, he thus addressed him:-- + +“Valiant Nazarene, is it fitting that one who can fight like a man +should feed like a dog or a wolf? Even a misbelieving Jew would shudder +at the food which you seem to eat with as much relish as if it were +fruit from the trees of Paradise.” + +“Valiant Saracen,” answered the Christian, looking up with some surprise +at the accusation thus unexpectedly brought, “know thou that I exercise +my Christian freedom in using that which is forbidden to the Jews, +being, as they esteem themselves, under the bondage of the old law of +Moses. We, Saracen, be it known to thee, have a better warrant for +what we do--Ave Maria!--be we thankful.” And, as if in defiance of +his companion's scruples, he concluded a short Latin grace with a long +draught from the leathern bottle. + +“That, too, you call a part of your liberty,” said the Saracen; “and +as you feed like the brutes, so you degrade yourself to the bestial +condition by drinking a poisonous liquor which even they refuse!” + +“Know, foolish Saracen,” replied the Christian, without hesitation, +“that thou blasphemest the gifts of God, even with the blasphemy of thy +father Ishmael. The juice of the grape is given to him that will use it +wisely, as that which cheers the heart of man after toil, refreshes him +in sickness, and comforts him in sorrow. He who so enjoyeth it may thank +God for his winecup as for his daily bread; and he who abuseth the gift +of Heaven is not a greater fool in his intoxication than thou in thine +abstinence.” + +The keen eye of the Saracen kindled at this sarcasm, and his hand sought +the hilt of his poniard. It was but a momentary thought, however, and +died away in the recollection of the powerful champion with whom he +had to deal, and the desperate grapple, the impression of which still +throbbed in his limbs and veins; and he contented himself with pursuing +the contest in colloquy, as more convenient for the time. + +“Thy words” he said, “O Nazarene, might create anger, did not thy +ignorance raise compassion. Seest thou not, O thou more blind than any +who asks alms at the door of the Mosque, that the liberty thou dost +boast of is restrained even in that which is dearest to man's happiness +and to his household; and that thy law, if thou dost practise it, binds +thee in marriage to one single mate, be she sick or healthy, be she +fruitful or barren, bring she comfort and joy, or clamour and strife, +to thy table and to thy bed? This, Nazarene, I do indeed call slavery; +whereas, to the faithful, hath the Prophet assigned upon earth the +patriarchal privileges of Abraham our father, and of Solomon, the wisest +of mankind, having given us here a succession of beauty at our pleasure, +and beyond the grave the black-eyed houris of Paradise.” + +“Now, by His name that I most reverence in heaven,” said the Christian, +“and by hers whom I most worship on earth, thou art but a blinded and +a bewildered infidel!--That diamond signet which thou wearest on thy +finger, thou holdest it, doubtless, as of inestimable value?” + +“Balsora and Bagdad cannot show the like,” replied the Saracen; “but +what avails it to our purpose?” + +“Much,” replied the Frank, “as thou shalt thyself confess. Take my +war-axe and dash the stone into twenty shivers: would each fragment be +as valuable as the original gem, or would they, all collected, bear the +tenth part of its estimation?” + +“That is a child's question,” answered the Saracen; “the fragments of +such a stone would not equal the entire jewel in the degree of hundreds +to one.” + +“Saracen,” replied the Christian warrior, “the love which a true knight +binds on one only, fair and faithful, is the gem entire; the affection +thou flingest among thy enslaved wives and half-wedded slaves is +worthless, comparatively, as the sparkling shivers of the broken +diamond.” + +“Now, by the Holy Caaba,” said the Emir, “thou art a madman who hugs +his chain of iron as if it were of gold! Look more closely. This ring +of mine would lose half its beauty were not the signet encircled and +enchased with these lesser brilliants, which grace it and set it off. +The central diamond is man, firm and entire, his value depending on +himself alone; and this circle of lesser jewels are women, borrowing +his lustre, which he deals out to them as best suits his pleasure or +his convenience. Take the central stone from the signet, and the +diamond itself remains as valuable as ever, while the lesser gems are +comparatively of little value. And this is the true reading of thy +parable; for what sayeth the poet Mansour: 'It is the favour of man +which giveth beauty and comeliness to woman, as the stream glitters no +longer when the sun ceaseth to shine.'” + +“Saracen,” replied the Crusader, “thou speakest like one who never saw +a woman worthy the affection of a soldier. Believe me, couldst thou +look upon those of Europe, to whom, after Heaven, we of the order of +knighthood vow fealty and devotion, thou wouldst loathe for ever the +poor sensual slaves who form thy haram. The beauty of our fair ones +gives point to our spears and edge to our swords; their words are our +law; and as soon will a lamp shed lustre when unkindled, as a knight +distinguish himself by feats of arms, having no mistress of his +affection.” + +“I have heard of this frenzy among the warriors of the West,” said the +Emir, “and have ever accounted it one of the accompanying symptoms of +that insanity which brings you hither to obtain possession of an empty +sepulchre. But yet, methinks, so highly have the Franks whom I have met +with extolled the beauty of their women, I could be well contented to +behold with mine own eyes those charms which can transform such brave +warriors into the tools of their pleasure.” + +“Brave Saracen,” said the Knight, “if I were not on a pilgrimage to the +Holy Sepulchre, it should be my pride to conduct you, on assurance of +safety, to the camp of Richard of England, than whom none knows better +how to do honour to a noble foe; and though I be poor and unattended +yet have I interest to secure for thee, or any such as thou seemest, not +safety only, but respect and esteem. There shouldst thou see several +of the fairest beauties of France and Britain form a small circle, the +brilliancy of which exceeds ten-thousandfold the lustre of mines of +diamonds such as thine.” + +“Now, by the corner-stone of the Caaba!” said the Saracen, “I will +accept thy invitation as freely as it is given, if thou wilt postpone +thy present intent; and, credit me, brave Nazarene, it were better for +thyself to turn back thy horse's head towards the camp of thy people, +for to travel towards Jerusalem without a passport is but a wilful +casting-away of thy life.” + +“I have a pass,” answered the Knight, producing a parchment, “Under +Saladin's hand and signet.” + +The Saracen bent his head to the dust as he recognized the seal and +handwriting of the renowned Soldan of Egypt and Syria; and having kissed +the paper with profound respect, he pressed it to his forehead, then +returned it to the Christian, saying, “Rash Frank, thou hast sinned +against thine own blood and mine, for not showing this to me when we +met.” + +“You came with levelled spear,” said the Knight. “Had a troop of +Saracens so assailed me, it might have stood with my honour to have +shown the Soldan's pass, but never to one man.” + +“And yet one man,” said the Saracen haughtily, “was enough to interrupt +your journey.” + +“True, brave Moslem,” replied the Christian; “but there are few such as +thou art. Such falcons fly not in flocks; or, if they do, they pounce +not in numbers upon one.” + +“Thou dost us but justice,” said the Saracen, evidently gratified by +the compliment, as he had been touched by the implied scorn of the +European's previous boast; “from us thou shouldst have had no wrong. But +well was it for me that I failed to slay thee, with the safeguard of +the king of kings upon thy person. Certain it were, that the cord or the +sabre had justly avenged such guilt.” + +“I am glad to hear that its influence shall be availing to me,” said the +Knight; “for I have heard that the road is infested with robber-tribes, +who regard nothing in comparison of an opportunity of plunder.” + +“The truth has been told to thee, brave Christian,” said the Saracen; +“but I swear to thee, by the turban of the Prophet, that shouldst thou +miscarry in any haunt of such villains, I will myself undertake thy +revenge with five thousand horse. I will slay every male of them, and +send their women into such distant captivity that the name of their +tribe shall never again be heard within five hundred miles of Damascus. +I will sow with salt the foundations of their village, and there shall +never live thing dwell there, even from that time forward.” + +“I had rather the trouble which you design for yourself were in revenge +of some other more important person than of me, noble Emir,” replied the +Knight; “but my vow is recorded in heaven, for good or for evil, and I +must be indebted to you for pointing me out the way to my resting-place +for this evening.” + +“That,” said the Saracen, “must be under the black covering of my +father's tent.” + +“This night,” answered the Christian, “I must pass in prayer and +penitence with a holy man, Theodorick of Engaddi, who dwells amongst +these wilds, and spends his life in the service of God.” + +“I will at least see you safe thither,” said the Saracen. + +“That would be pleasant convoy for me,” said the Christian; “yet might +endanger the future security of the good father; for the cruel hand of +your people has been red with the blood of the servants of the Lord, and +therefore do we come hither in plate and mail, with sword and lance, to +open the road to the Holy Sepulchre, and protect the chosen saints and +anchorites who yet dwell in this land of promise and of miracle.” + +“Nazarene,” said the Moslem, “in this the Greeks and Syrians have much +belied us, seeing we do but after the word of Abubeker Alwakel, the +successor of the Prophet, and, after him, the first commander of true +believers. 'Go forth,' he said, 'Yezed Ben Sophian,' when he sent that +renowned general to take Syria from the infidels; 'quit yourselves like +men in battle, but slay neither the aged, the infirm, the women, nor the +children. Waste not the land, neither destroy corn and fruit-trees; they +are the gifts of Allah. Keep faith when you have made any covenant, +even if it be to your own harm. If ye find holy men labouring with their +hands, and serving God in the desert, hurt them not, neither destroy +their dwellings. But when you find them with shaven crowns, they are of +the synagogue of Satan! Smite with the sabre, slay, cease not till +they become believers or tributaries.' As the Caliph, companion of the +Prophet, hath told us, so have we done, and those whom our justice has +smitten are but the priests of Satan. But unto the good men who, without +stirring up nation against nation, worship sincerely in the faith of +Issa Ben Mariam, we are a shadow and a shield; and such being he whom +you seek, even though the light of the Prophet hath not reached him, +from me he will only have love, favour, and regard.” + +“The anchorite whom I would now visit,” said the warlike pilgrim, “is, I +have heard, no priest; but were he of that anointed and sacred order, I +would prove with my good lance, against paynim and infidel--” + +“Let us not defy each other, brother,” interrupted the Saracen; “we +shall find, either of us, enough of Franks or of Moslemah on whom to +exercise both sword and lance. This Theodorick is protected both by Turk +and Arab; and, though one of strange conditions at intervals, yet, on +the whole, he bears himself so well as the follower of his own prophet, +that he merits the protection of him who was sent--” + +“Now, by Our Lady, Saracen,” exclaimed the Christian, “if thou darest +name in the same breath the camel-driver of Mecca with--” + +An electrical shock of passion thrilled through the form of the Emir; +but it was only momentary, and the calmness of his reply had both +dignity and reason in it, when he said, “Slander not him whom thou +knowest not--the rather that we venerate the founder of thy religion, +while we condemn the doctrine which your priests have spun from it. I +will myself guide thee to the cavern of the hermit, which, methinks, +without my help, thou wouldst find it a hard matter to reach. And, +on the way, let us leave to mollahs and to monks to dispute about the +divinity of our faith, and speak on themes which belong to youthful +warriors--upon battles, upon beautiful women, upon sharp swords, and +upon bright armour.” + + + +CHAPTER III. + +The warriors arose from their place of brief rest and simple +refreshment, and courteously aided each other while they carefully +replaced and adjusted the harness from which they had relieved for the +time their trusty steeds. Each seemed familiar with an employment which +at that time was a part of necessary and, indeed, of indispensable duty. +Each also seemed to possess, as far as the difference betwixt the animal +and rational species admitted, the confidence and affection of the horse +which was the constant companion of his travels and his warfare. With +the Saracen this familiar intimacy was a part of his early habits; for, +in the tents of the Eastern military tribes, the horse of the soldier +ranks next to, and almost equal in importance with, his wife and +his family; and with the European warrior, circumstances, and indeed +necessity, rendered his war-horse scarcely less than his brother in +arms. The steeds, therefore, suffered themselves quietly to be taken +from their food and liberty, and neighed and snuffled fondly around +their masters, while they were adjusting their accoutrements for further +travel and additional toil. And each warrior, as he prosecuted his own +task, or assisted with courtesy his companion, looked with observant +curiosity at the equipments of his fellow-traveller, and noted +particularly what struck him as peculiar in the fashion in which he +arranged his riding accoutrements. + +Ere they remounted to resume their journey, the Christian Knight again +moistened his lips and dipped his hands in the living fountain, and said +to his pagan associate of the journey, “I would I knew the name of this +delicious fountain, that I might hold it in my grateful remembrance; for +never did water slake more deliciously a more oppressive thirst than I +have this day experienced.” + +“It is called in the Arabic language,” answered the Saracen, “by a name +which signifies the Diamond of the Desert.” + +“And well is it so named,” replied the Christian. “My native valley hath +a thousand springs, but not to one of them shall I attach hereafter +such precious recollection as to this solitary fount, which bestows +its liquid treasures where they are not only delightful, but nearly +indispensable.” + +“You say truth,” said the Saracen; “for the curse is still on yonder +sea of death, and neither man nor beast drinks of its waves, nor of the +river which feeds without filling it, until this inhospitable desert be +passed.” + +They mounted, and pursued their journey across the sandy waste. The +ardour of noon was now past, and a light breeze somewhat alleviated +the terrors of the desert, though not without bearing on its wings +an impalpable dust, which the Saracen little heeded, though his +heavily-armed companion felt it as such an annoyance that he hung his +iron casque at his saddle-bow, and substituted the light riding-cap, +termed in the language of the time a MORTIER, from its resemblance +in shape to an ordinary mortar. They rode together for some time in +silence, the Saracen performing the part of director and guide of the +journey, which he did by observing minute marks and bearings of the +distant rocks, to a ridge of which they were gradually approaching. For +a little time he seemed absorbed in the task, as a pilot when navigating +a vessel through a difficult channel; but they had not proceeded half +a league when he seemed secure of his route, and disposed, with more +frankness than was usual to his nation, to enter into conversation. + +“You have asked the name,” he said, “of a mute fountain, which hath the +semblance, but not the reality, of a living thing. Let me be pardoned +to ask the name of the companion with whom I have this day encountered, +both in danger and in repose, and which I cannot fancy unknown even here +among the deserts of Palestine?” + +“It is not yet worth publishing,” said the Christian. “Know, however, +that among the soldiers of the Cross I am called Kenneth--Kenneth of +the Couching Leopard; at home I have other titles, but they would sound +harsh in an Eastern ear. Brave Saracen, let me ask which of the tribes +of Arabia claims your descent, and by what name you are known?” + +“Sir Kenneth,” said the Moslem, “I joy that your name is such as my lips +can easily utter. For me, I am no Arab, yet derive my descent from +a line neither less wild nor less warlike. Know, Sir Knight of the +Leopard, that I am Sheerkohf, the Lion of the Mountain, and that +Kurdistan, from which I derive my descent, holds no family more noble +than that of Seljook.” + +“I have heard,” answered the Christian, “that your great Soldan claims +his blood from the same source?” + +“Thanks to the Prophet that hath so far honoured our mountains as to +send from their bosom him whose word is victory,” answered the paynim. +“I am but as a worm before the King of Egypt and Syria, and yet in my +own land something my name may avail. Stranger, with how many men didst +thou come on this warfare?” + +“By my faith,” said Sir Kenneth, “with aid of friends and kinsmen, I was +hardly pinched to furnish forth ten well-appointed lances, with maybe +some fifty more men, archers and varlets included. Some have deserted +my unlucky pennon--some have fallen in battle--several have died of +disease--and one trusty armour-bearer, for whose life I am now doing my +pilgrimage, lies on the bed of sickness.” + +“Christian,” said Sheerkohf, “here I have five arrows in my quiver, +each feathered from the wing of an eagle. When I send one of them to my +tents, a thousand warriors mount on horseback--when I send another, an +equal force will arise--for the five, I can command five thousand men; +and if I send my bow, ten thousand mounted riders will shake the desert. +And with thy fifty followers thou hast come to invade a land in which I +am one of the meanest!” + +“Now, by the rood, Saracen,” retorted the Western warrior, “thou +shouldst know, ere thou vauntest thyself, that one steel glove can crush +a whole handful of hornets.” + +“Ay, but it must first enclose them within its grasp,” said the Saracen, +with a smile which might have endangered their new alliance, had he not +changed the subject by adding, “And is bravery so much esteemed amongst +the Christian princes that thou, thus void of means and of men, canst +offer, as thou didst of late, to be my protector and security in the +camp of thy brethren?” + +“Know, Saracen,” said the Christian, “since such is thy style, that the +name of a knight, and the blood of a gentleman, entitle him to place +himself on the same rank with sovereigns even of the first degree, in +so far as regards all but regal authority and dominion. Were Richard +of England himself to wound the honour of a knight as poor as I am, he +could not, by the law of chivalry, deny him the combat.” + +“Methinks I should like to look upon so strange a scene,” said the Emir, +“in which a leathern belt and a pair of spurs put the poorest on a level +with the most powerful.” + +“You must add free blood and a fearless heart,” said the Christian; +“then, perhaps, you will not have spoken untruly of the dignity of +knighthood.” + +“And mix you as boldly amongst the females of your chiefs and leaders?” + asked the Saracen. + +“God forbid,” said the Knight of the Leopard, “that the poorest knight +in Christendom should not be free, in all honourable service, to devote +his hand and sword, the fame of his actions, and the fixed devotion of +his heart, to the fairest princess who ever wore coronet on her brow!” + +“But a little while since,” said the Saracen, “and you described love as +the highest treasure of the heart--thine hath undoubtedly been high and +nobly bestowed?” + +“Stranger,” answered the Christian, blushing deeply as he spoke, “we +tell not rashly where it is we have bestowed our choicest treasures. It +is enough for thee to know that, as thou sayest, my love is highly and +nobly bestowed--most highly--most nobly; but if thou wouldst hear of +love and broken lances, venture thyself, as thou sayest, to the camp of +the Crusaders, and thou wilt find exercise for thine ears, and, if thou +wilt, for thy hands too.” + +The Eastern warrior, raising himself in his stirrups, and shaking aloft +his lance, replied, “Hardly, I fear, shall I find one with a crossed +shoulder who will exchange with me the cast of the jerrid.” + +“I will not promise for that,” replied the Knight; “though there be in +the camp certain Spaniards, who have right good skill in your Eastern +game of hurling the javelin.” + +“Dogs, and sons of dogs!” ejaculated the Saracen; “what have these +Spaniards to do to come hither to combat the true believers, who, in +their own land, are their lords and taskmasters? with them I would mix +in no warlike pastime.” + +“Let not the knights of Leon or Asturias hear you speak thus of them,” + said the Knight of the Leopard. “But,” added he, smiling at the +recollection of the morning's combat, “if, instead of a reed, you were +inclined to stand the cast of a battle-axe, there are enough of Western +warriors who would gratify your longing.” + +“By the beard of my father, sir,” said the Saracen, with an approach to +laughter, “the game is too rough for mere sport. I will never shun them +in battle, but my head” (pressing his hand to his brow) “will not, for a +while, permit me to seek them in sport.” + +“I would you saw the axe of King Richard,” answered the Western warrior, +“to which that which hangs at my saddle-bow weighs but as a feather.” + +“We hear much of that island sovereign,” said the Saracen. “Art thou one +of his subjects?” + +“One of his followers I am, for this expedition,” answered the Knight, +“and honoured in the service; but not born his subject, although a +native of the island in which he reigns.” + +“How mean you? “ said the Eastern soldier; “have you then two kings in +one poor island?” + +“As thou sayest,” said the Scot, for such was Sir Kenneth by birth. “It +is even so; and yet, although the inhabitants of the two extremities of +that island are engaged in frequent war, the country can, as thou seest, +furnish forth such a body of men-at-arms as may go far to shake the +unholy hold which your master hath laid on the cities of Zion.” + +“By the beard of Saladin, Nazarene, but that it is a thoughtless and +boyish folly, I could laugh at the simplicity of your great Sultan, who +comes hither to make conquests of deserts and rocks, and dispute the +possession of them with those who have tenfold numbers at command, while +he leaves a part of his narrow islet, in which he was born a sovereign, +to the dominion of another sceptre than his. Surely, Sir Kenneth, you +and the other good men of your country should have submitted yourselves +to the dominion of this King Richard ere you left your native land, +divided against itself, to set forth on this expedition?” + +Hasty and fierce was Kenneth's answer. “No, by the bright light of +Heaven! If the King of England had not set forth to the Crusade till +he was sovereign of Scotland, the Crescent might, for me, and all +true-hearted Scots, glimmer for ever on the walls of Zion.” + +Thus far he had proceeded, when, suddenly recollecting himself, he +muttered, “MEA CULPA! MEA CULPA! what have I, a soldier of the Cross, to +do with recollection of war betwixt Christian nations!” + +The rapid expression of feeling corrected by the dictates of duty did +not escape the Moslem, who, if he did not entirely understand all +which it conveyed, saw enough to convince him with the assurance that +Christians, as well as Moslemah, had private feelings of personal pique, +and national quarrels, which were not entirely reconcilable. But the +Saracens were a race, polished, perhaps, to the utmost extent which +their religion permitted, and particularly capable of entertaining high +ideas of courtesy and politeness; and such sentiments prevented his +taking any notice of the inconsistency of Sir Kenneth's feelings in the +opposite characters of a Scot and a Crusader. + +Meanwhile, as they advanced, the scene began to change around them. They +were now turning to the eastward, and had reached the range of steep and +barren hills which binds in that quarter the naked plain, and varies the +surface of the country, without changing its sterile character. Sharp, +rocky eminences began to rise around them, and, in a short time, deep +declivities and ascents, both formidable in height and difficult from +the narrowness of the path, offered to the travellers obstacles of a +different kind from those with which they had recently contended. + +Dark caverns and chasms amongst the rocks--those grottoes so often +alluded to in Scripture--yawned fearfully on either side as they +proceeded, and the Scottish knight was informed by the Emir that these +were often the refuge of beasts of prey, or of men still more ferocious, +who, driven to desperation by the constant war, and the oppression +exercised by the soldiery, as well of the Cross as of the Crescent, had +become robbers, and spared neither rank nor religion, neither sex nor +age, in their depredations. + +The Scottish knight listened with indifference to the accounts of +ravages committed by wild beasts or wicked men, secure as he felt +himself in his own valour and personal strength; but he was struck +with mysterious dread when he recollected that he was now in the awful +wilderness of the forty days' fast, and the scene of the actual personal +temptation, wherewith the Evil Principle was permitted to assail the Son +of Man. He withdrew his attention gradually from the light and worldly +conversation of the infidel warrior beside him, and, however acceptable +his gay and gallant bravery would have rendered him as a companion +elsewhere, Sir Kenneth felt as if, in those wildernesses the waste and +dry places in which the foul spirits were wont to wander when expelled +the mortals whose forms they possessed, a bare-footed friar would have +been a better associate than the gay but unbelieving paynim. + +These feelings embarrassed him the rather that the Saracen's spirits +appeared to rise with the journey, and because the farther he penetrated +into the gloomy recesses of the mountains, the lighter became his +conversation, and when he found that unanswered, the louder grew his +song. Sir Kenneth knew enough of the Eastern languages to be assured +that he chanted sonnets of love, containing all the glowing praises +of beauty in which the Oriental poets are so fond of luxuriating, and +which, therefore, were peculiarly unfitted for a serious or devotional +strain of thought, the feeling best becoming the Wilderness of the +Temptation. With inconsistency enough, the Saracen also sung lays in +praise of wine, the liquid ruby of the Persian poets; and his gaiety at +length became so unsuitable to the Christian knight's contrary train of +sentiments, as, but for the promise of amity which they had exchanged, +would most likely have made Sir Kenneth take measures to change his +note. As it was, the Crusader felt as if he had by his side some gay, +licentious fiend, who endeavoured to ensnare his soul, and endanger his +immortal salvation, by inspiring loose thoughts of earthly pleasure, and +thus polluting his devotion, at a time when his faith as a Christian and +his vow as a pilgrim called on him for a serious and penitential state +of mind. He was thus greatly perplexed, and undecided how to act; and it +was in a tone of hasty displeasure that, at length breaking silence, he +interrupted the lay of the celebrated Rudpiki, in which he prefers the +mole on his mistress's bosom to all the wealth of Bokhara and Samarcand. + +“Saracen,” said the Crusader sternly, “blinded as thou art, and plunged +amidst the errors of a false law, thou shouldst yet comprehend that +there are some places more holy than others, and that there are some +scenes also in which the Evil One hath more than ordinary power +over sinful mortals. I will not tell thee for what awful reason this +place--these rocks--these caverns with their gloomy arches, leading as +it were to the central abyss--are held an especial haunt of Satan and +his angels. It is enough that I have been long warned to beware of this +place by wise and holy men, to whom the qualities of the unholy region +are well known. Wherefore, Saracen, forbear thy foolish and +ill-timed levity, and turn thy thoughts to things more suited to the +spot--although, alas for thee! thy best prayers are but as blasphemy and +sin.” + +The Saracen listened with some surprise, and then replied, with +good-humour and gaiety, only so far repressed as courtesy required, +“Good Sir Kenneth, methinks you deal unequally by your companion, or +else ceremony is but indifferently taught amongst your Western tribes. +I took no offence when I saw you gorge hog's flesh and drink wine, and +permitted you to enjoy a treat which you called your Christian liberty, +only pitying in my heart your foul pastimes. Wherefore, then, shouldst +thou take scandal, because I cheer, to the best of my power, a gloomy +road with a cheerful verse? What saith the poet, 'Song is like the +dews of heaven on the bosom of the desert; it cools the path of the +traveller.'” + +“Friend Saracen,” said the Christian, “I blame not the love of +minstrelsy and of the GAI SCIENCE; albeit, we yield unto it even too +much room in our thoughts when they should be bent on better things. +But prayers and holy psalms are better fitting than LAIS of love, or of +wine-cups, when men walk in this Valley of the Shadow of Death, full of +fiends and demons, whom the prayers of holy men have driven forth +from the haunts of humanity to wander amidst scenes as accursed as +themselves.” + +“Speak not thus of the Genii, Christian,” answered the Saracen, “for +know thou speakest to one whose line and nation drew their origin from +the immortal race which your sect fear and blaspheme.” + +“I well thought,” answered the Crusader, “that your blinded race had +their descent from the foul fiend, without whose aid you would never +have been able to maintain this blessed land of Palestine against so +many valiant soldiers of God. I speak not thus of thee in particular, +Saracen, but generally of thy people and religion. Strange is it to me, +however, not that you should have the descent from the Evil One, but +that you should boast of it.” + +“From whom should the bravest boast of descending, saving from him that +is bravest?” said the Saracen; “from whom should the proudest trace +their line so well as from the Dark Spirit, which would rather fall +headlong by force than bend the knee by his will? Eblis may be hated, +stranger, but he must be feared; and such as Eblis are his descendants +of Kurdistan.” + +Tales of magic and of necromancy were the learning of the period, and +Sir Kenneth heard his companion's confession of diabolical descent +without any disbelief, and without much wonder; yet not without a secret +shudder at finding himself in this fearful place, in the company of +one who avouched himself to belong to such a lineage. Naturally +insusceptible, however, of fear, he crossed himself, and stoutly +demanded of the Saracen an account of the pedigree which he had boasted. +The latter readily complied. + +“Know, brave stranger,” he said, “that when the cruel Zohauk, one of the +descendants of Giamschid, held the throne of Persia, he formed a league +with the Powers of Darkness, amidst the secret vaults of Istakhar, +vaults which the hands of the elementary spirits had hewn out of the +living rock long before Adam himself had an existence. Here he fed, +with daily oblations of human blood, two devouring serpents, which had +become, according to the poets, a part of himself, and to sustain whom +he levied a tax of daily human sacrifices, till the exhausted patience +of his subjects caused some to raise up the scimitar of resistance, like +the valiant Blacksmith and the victorious Feridoun, by whom the tyrant +was at length dethroned, and imprisoned for ever in the dismal caverns +of the mountain Damavend. But ere that deliverance had taken place, and +whilst the power of the bloodthirsty tyrant was at its height, the band +of ravening slaves whom he had sent forth to purvey victims for his +daily sacrifice brought to the vaults of the palace of Istakhar seven +sisters so beautiful that they seemed seven houris. These seven maidens +were the daughters of a sage, who had no treasures save those beauties +and his own wisdom. The last was not sufficient to foresee this +misfortune, the former seemed ineffectual to prevent it. The eldest +exceeded not her twentieth year, the youngest had scarce attained her +thirteenth; and so like were they to each other that they could not +have been distinguished but for the difference of height, in which they +gradually rose in easy gradation above each other, like the ascent which +leads to the gates of Paradise. So lovely were these seven sisters when +they stood in the darksome vault, disrobed of all clothing saving a +cymar of white silk, that their charms moved the hearts of those who +were not mortal. Thunder muttered, the earth shook, the wall of the +vault was rent, and at the chasm entered one dressed like a hunter, with +bow and shafts, and followed by six others, his brethren. They were tall +men, and, though dark, yet comely to behold; but their eyes had more the +glare of those of the dead than the light which lives under the eyelids +of the living. 'Zeineb,' said the leader of the band--and as he spoke +he took the eldest sister by the hand, and his voice was soft, low, and +melancholy--'I am Cothrob, king of the subterranean world, and supreme +chief of Ginnistan. I and my brethren are of those who, created out of +the pure elementary fire, disdained, even at the command of Omnipotence, +to do homage to a clod of earth, because it was called Man. Thou mayest +have heard of us as cruel, unrelenting, and persecuting. It is false. We +are by nature kind and generous; only vengeful when insulted, only cruel +when affronted. We are true to those who trust us; and we have heard the +invocations of thy father, the sage Mithrasp, who wisely worships not +alone the Origin of Good, but that which is called the Source of Evil. +You and your sisters are on the eve of death; but let each give to us +one hair from your fair tresses, in token of fealty, and we will carry +you many miles from hence to a place of safety, where you may bid +defiance to Zohauk and his ministers.' The fear of instant death, saith +the poet, is like the rod of the prophet Haroun, which devoured all +other rods when transformed into snakes before the King of Pharaoh; and +the daughters of the Persian sage were less apt than others to be +afraid of the addresses of a spirit. They gave the tribute which Cothrob +demanded, and in an instant the sisters were transported to an enchanted +castle on the mountains of Tugrut, in Kurdistan, and were never again +seen by mortal eye. But in process of time seven youths, distinguished +in the war and in the chase, appeared in the environs of the castle of +the demons. They were darker, taller, fiercer, and more resolute than +any of the scattered inhabitants of the valleys of Kurdistan; and they +took to themselves wives, and became fathers of the seven tribes of the +Kurdmans, whose valour is known throughout the universe.” + +The Christian knight heard with wonder the wild tale, of which Kurdistan +still possesses the traces, and, after a moment's thought, replied, +“Verily, Sir Knight, you have spoken well--your genealogy may be dreaded +and hated, but it cannot be contemned. Neither do I any longer wonder +at your obstinacy in a false faith, since, doubtless, it is part of the +fiendish disposition which hath descended from your ancestors, those +infernal huntsmen, as you have described them, to love falsehood rather +than truth; and I no longer marvel that your spirits become high and +exalted, and vent themselves in verse and in tunes, when you approach to +the places encumbered by the haunting of evil spirits, which must excite +in you that joyous feeling which others experience when approaching the +land of their human ancestry.” + +“By my father's beard, I think thou hast the right,” said the Saracen, +rather amused than offended by the freedom with which the Christian had +uttered his reflections; “for, though the Prophet (blessed be his name!) +hath sown amongst us the seed of a better faith than our ancestors +learned in the ghostly halls of Tugrut, yet we are not willing, like +other Moslemah, to pass hasty doom on the lofty and powerful elementary +spirits from whom we claim our origin. These Genii, according to our +belief and hope, are not altogether reprobate, but are still in the way +of probation, and may hereafter be punished or rewarded. Leave we this +to the mollahs and the imauns. Enough that with us the reverence for +these spirits is not altogether effaced by what we have learned from the +Koran, and that many of us still sing, in memorial of our fathers' more +ancient faith, such verses as these.” + +So saying, he proceeded to chant verses, very ancient in the language +and structure, which some have thought derive their source from the +worshippers of Arimanes, the Evil Principle. + + + AHRIMAN. + + Dark Ahriman, whom Irak still + Holds origin of woe and ill! + When, bending at thy shrine, + We view the world with troubled eye, + Where see we 'neath the extended sky, + An empire matching thine! + + If the Benigner Power can yield + A fountain in the desert field, + Where weary pilgrims drink; + Thine are the waves that lash the rock, + Thine the tornado's deadly shock, + Where countless navies sink! + + Or if he bid the soil dispense + Balsams to cheer the sinking sense, + How few can they deliver + From lingering pains, or pang intense, + Red Fever, spotted Pestilence, + The arrows of thy quiver! + + Chief in Man's bosom sits thy sway, + And frequent, while in words we pray + Before another throne, + Whate'er of specious form be there, + The secret meaning of the prayer + Is, Ahriman, thine own. + + Say, hast thou feeling, sense, and form, + Thunder thy voice, thy garments storm, + As Eastern Magi say; + With sentient soul of hate and wrath, + And wings to sweep thy deadly path, + And fangs to tear thy prey? + + Or art thou mix'd in Nature's source, + An ever-operating force, + Converting good to ill; + An evil principle innate, + Contending with our better fate, + And, oh! victorious still? + + Howe'er it be, dispute is vain. + On all without thou hold'st thy reign, + Nor less on all within; + Each mortal passion's fierce career, + Love, hate, ambition, joy, and fear, + Thou goadest into sin. + + Whene'er a sunny gleam appears, + To brighten up our vale of tears, + Thou art not distant far; + 'Mid such brief solace of our lives, + Thou whett'st our very banquet-knives + To tools of death and war. + + Thus, from the moment of our birth, + Long as we linger on the earth, + Thou rulest the fate of men; + Thine are the pangs of life's last hour, + And--who dare answer?--is thy power, + Dark Spirit! ended THEN? + + [The worthy and learned clergyman by whom this species of + hymn has been translated desires, that, for fear of + misconception, we should warn the reader to recollect that + it is composed by a heathen, to whom the real causes of + moral and physical evil are unknown, and who views their + predominance in the system of the universe as all must view + that appalling fact who have not the benefit of the + Christian revelation. On our own part, we beg to add, that + we understand the style of the translator is more + paraphrastic than can be approved by those who are + acquainted with the singularly curious original. The + translator seems to have despaired of rendering into English + verse the flights of Oriental poetry; and, possibly, like + many learned and ingenious men, finding it impossible to + discover the sense of the original, he may have tacitly + substituted his own.] + +These verses may perhaps have been the not unnatural effusion of some +half-enlightened philosopher, who, in the fabled deity, Arimanes, saw +but the prevalence of moral and physical evil; but in the ears of Sir +Kenneth of the Leopard they had a different effect, and, sung as they +were by one who had just boasted himself a descendant of demons, sounded +very like an address of worship to the arch-fiend himself. He weighed +within himself whether, on hearing such blasphemy in the very desert +where Satan had stood rebuked for demanding homage, taking an abrupt +leave of the Saracen was sufficient to testify his abhorrence; or +whether he was not rather constrained by his vow as a Crusader to defy +the infidel to combat on the spot, and leave him food for the beasts of +the wilderness, when his attention was suddenly caught by an unexpected +apparition. + +The light was now verging low, yet served the knight still to discern +that they two were no longer alone in the desert, but were closely +watched by a figure of great height and very thin, which skipped over +rocks and bushes with so much agility as, added to the wild and hirsute +appearance of the individual, reminded him of the fauns and silvans, +whose images he had seen in the ancient temples of Rome. As the +single-hearted Scottishman had never for a moment doubted these gods of +the ancient Gentiles to be actually devils, so he now hesitated not +to believe that the blasphemous hymn of the Saracen had raised up an +infernal spirit. + +“But what recks it?” said stout Sir Kenneth to himself; “down with the +fiend and his worshippers!” + +He did not, however, think it necessary to give the same warning of +defiance to two enemies as he would unquestionably have afforded to one. +His hand was upon his mace, and perhaps the unwary Saracen would have +been paid for his Persian poetry by having his brains dashed out on the +spot, without any reason assigned for it; but the Scottish Knight was +spared from committing what would have been a sore blot in his shield +of arms. The apparition, on which his eyes had been fixed for some time, +had at first appeared to dog their path by concealing itself behind +rocks and shrubs, using those advantages of the ground with great +address, and surmounting its irregularities with surprising agility. At +length, just as the Saracen paused in his song, the figure, which was +that of a tall man clothed in goat-skins, sprung into the midst of +the path, and seized a rein of the Saracen's bridle in either hand, +confronting thus and bearing back the noble horse, which, unable to +endure the manner in which this sudden assailant pressed the long-armed +bit, and the severe curb, which, according to the Eastern fashion, was +a solid ring of iron, reared upright, and finally fell backwards on his +master, who, however, avoided the peril of the fall by lightly throwing +himself to one side. + +The assailant then shifted his grasp from the bridle of the horse to the +throat of the rider, flung himself above the struggling Saracen, and, +despite of his youth and activity kept him undermost, wreathing his +long arms above those of his prisoner, who called out angrily, and yet +half-laughing at the same time--“Hamako--fool--unloose me--this passes +thy privilege--unloose me, or I will use my dagger.” + +“Thy dagger!--infidel dog!” said the figure in the goat-skins, “hold it +in thy gripe if thou canst!” and in an instant he wrenched the Saracen's +weapon out of its owner's hand, and brandished it over his head. + +“Help, Nazarene!” cried Sheerkohf, now seriously alarmed; “help, or the +Hamako will slay me.” + +“Slay thee!” replied the dweller of the desert; “and well hast thou +merited death, for singing thy blasphemous hymns, not only to the praise +of thy false prophet, who is the foul fiend's harbinger, but to that of +the Author of Evil himself.” + +The Christian Knight had hitherto looked on as one stupefied, so +strangely had this rencontre contradicted, in its progress and event, +all that he had previously conjectured. He felt, however, at length, +that it touched his honour to interfere in behalf of his discomfited +companion, and therefore addressed himself to the victorious figure in +the goat-skins. + +“Whosoe'er thou art,” he said, “and whether of good or of evil, know +that I am sworn for the time to be true companion to the Saracen whom +thou holdest under thee; therefore, I pray thee to let him arise, else I +will do battle with thee in his behalf.” + +“And a proper quarrel it were,” answered the Hamako, “for a Crusader to +do battle in--for the sake of an unbaptized dog, to combat one of his +own holy faith! Art thou come forth to the wilderness to fight for the +Crescent against the Cross? A goodly soldier of God art thou to listen +to those who sing the praises of Satan!” + +Yet, while he spoke thus, he arose himself, and, suffering the Saracen +to rise also, returned him his cangiar, or poniard. + +“Thou seest to what a point of peril thy presumption hath brought thee,” + continued he of the goat-skins, now addressing Sheerkohf, “and by what +weak means thy practised skill and boasted agility can be foiled, when +such is Heaven's pleasure. Wherefore, beware, O Ilderim! for know that, +were there not a twinkle in the star of thy nativity which promises for +thee something that is good and gracious in Heaven's good time, we +two had not parted till I had torn asunder the throat which so lately +trilled forth blasphemies.” + +“Hamako,” said the Saracen, without any appearance of resenting the +violent language and yet more violent assault to which he had been +subjected, “I pray thee, good Hamako, to beware how thou dost again urge +thy privilege over far; for though, as a good Moslem, I respect those +whom Heaven hath deprived of ordinary reason, in order to endow them +with the spirit of prophecy, yet I like not other men's hands on the +bridle of my horse, neither upon my own person. Speak, therefore, what +thou wilt, secure of any resentment from me; but gather so much sense +as to apprehend that if thou shalt again proffer me any violence, I will +strike thy shagged head from thy meagre shoulders.--and to thee, friend +Kenneth,” he added, as he remounted his steed, “I must needs say, that +in a companion through the desert, I love friendly deeds better than +fair words. Of the last thou hast given me enough; but it had been +better to have aided me more speedily in my struggle with this Hamako, +who had well-nigh taken my life in his frenzy.” + +“By my faith,” said the Knight, “I did somewhat fail--was somewhat tardy +in rendering thee instant help; but the strangeness of the assailant, +the suddenness of the scene--it was as if thy wild and wicked lay had +raised the devil among us--and such was my confusion, that two or three +minutes elapsed ere I could take to my weapon.” + +“Thou art but a cold and considerate friend,” said the Saracen; “and, +had the Hamako been one grain more frantic, thy companion had been slain +by thy side, to thy eternal dishonour, without thy stirring a finger in +his aid, although thou satest by, mounted, and in arms.” + +“By my word, Saracen,” said the Christian, “if thou wilt have it in +plain terms, I thought that strange figure was the devil; and being of +thy lineage, I knew not what family secret you might be communicating to +each other, as you lay lovingly rolling together on the sand.” + +“Thy gibe is no answer, brother Kenneth,” said the Saracen; “for know, +that had my assailant been in very deed the Prince of Darkness, thou +wert bound not the less to enter into combat with him in thy comrade's +behalf. Know, also, that whatever there may be of foul or of fiendish +about the Hamako belongs more to your lineage than to mine--this Hamako +being, in truth, the anchorite whom thou art come hither to visit.” + +“This!” said Sir Kenneth, looking at the athletic yet wasted figure +before him--“this! Thou mockest, Saracen--this cannot be the venerable +Theodorick!” + +“Ask himself, if thou wilt not believe me,” answered Sheerkohf; and +ere the words had left his mouth, the hermit gave evidence in his own +behalf. + +“I am Theodorick of Engaddi,” he said--“I am the walker of the desert--I +am friend of the Cross, and flail of all infidels, heretics, and +devil-worshippers. Avoid ye, avoid ye! Down with Mahound, Termagaunt, +and all their adherents!”--So saying, he pulled from under his shaggy +garment a sort of flail or jointed club, bound with iron, which he +brandished round his head with singular dexterity. + +“Thou seest thy saint,” said the Saracen, laughing, for the first time, +at the unmitigated astonishment with which Sir Kenneth looked on the +wild gestures and heard the wayward muttering of Theodorick, who, after +swinging his flail in every direction, apparently quite reckless whether +it encountered the head of either of his companions, finally showed +his own strength, and the soundness of the weapon, by striking into +fragments a large stone which lay near him. + +“This is a madman,” said Sir Kenneth. + +“Not the worse saint,” returned the Moslem, speaking according to +the well-known Eastern belief, that madmen are under the influence +of immediate inspiration. “Know, Christian, that when one eye is +extinguished, the other becomes more keen; when one hand is cut off, +the other becomes more powerful; so, when our reason in human things +is disturbed or destroyed, our view heavenward becomes more acute and +perfect.” + +Here the voice of the Saracen was drowned in that of the hermit, who +began to hollo aloud in a wild, chanting tone, “I am Theodorick of +Engaddi--I am the torch-brand of the desert--I am the flail of the +infidels! The lion and the leopard shall be my comrades, and draw nigh +to my cell for shelter; neither shall the goat be afraid of their fangs. +I am the torch and the lantern--Kyrie Eleison!” + +He closed his song by a short race, and ended that again by three +forward bounds, which would have done him great credit in a gymnastic +academy, but became his character of hermit so indifferently that the +Scottish Knight was altogether confounded and bewildered. + +The Saracen seemed to understand him better. “You see,” he said, “that +he expects us to follow him to his cell, which, indeed, is our only +place of refuge for the night. You are the leopard, from the portrait +on your shield; I am the lion, as my name imports; and by the goat, +alluding to his garb of goat-skins, he means himself. We must keep him +in sight, however, for he is as fleet as a dromedary.” + +In fact, the task was a difficult one, for though the reverend guide +stopped from time to time, and waved his hand, as if to encourage them +to come on, yet, well acquainted with all the winding dells and passes +of the desert, and gifted with uncommon activity, which, perhaps, an +unsettled state of mind kept in constant exercise, he led the knights +through chasms and along footpaths where even the light-armed Saracen, +with his well-trained barb, was in considerable risk, and where the +iron-sheathed European and his over-burdened steed found themselves in +such imminent peril as the rider would gladly have exchanged for the +dangers of a general action. Glad he was when, at length, after this +wild race, he beheld the holy man who had led it standing in front of +a cavern, with a large torch in his hand, composed of a piece of wood +dipped in bitumen, which cast a broad and flickering light, and emitted +a strong sulphureous smell. + +Undeterred by the stifling vapour, the knight threw himself from +his horse and entered the cavern, which afforded small appearance of +accommodation. The cell was divided into two parts, in the outward of +which were an altar of stone and a crucifix made of reeds: this served +the anchorite for his chapel. On one side of this outward cave the +Christian knight, though not without scruple, arising from religious +reverence to the objects around, fastened up his horse, and arranged him +for the night, in imitation of the Saracen, who gave him to understand +that such was the custom of the place. The hermit, meanwhile, was busied +putting his inner apartment in order to receive his guests, and there +they soon joined him. At the bottom of the outer cave, a small aperture, +closed with a door of rough plank, led into the sleeping apartment of +the hermit, which was more commodious. The floor had been brought to a +rough level by the labour of the inhabitant, and then strewed with white +sand, which he daily sprinkled with water from a small fountain which +bubbled out of the rock in one corner, affording in that stifling +climate, refreshment alike to the ear and the taste. Mattresses, wrought +of twisted flags, lay by the side of the cell; the sides, like the +floor, had been roughly brought to shape, and several herbs and flowers +were hung around them. Two waxen torches, which the hermit lighted, +gave a cheerful air to the place, which was rendered agreeable by its +fragrance and coolness. + +There were implements of labour in one corner of the apartment, in +another was a niche for a rude statue of the Virgin. A table and two +chairs showed that they must be the handiwork of the anchorite, being +different in their form from Oriental accommodations. The former was +covered, not only with reeds and pulse, but also with dried flesh, which +Theodorick assiduously placed in such arrangement as should invite the +appetite of his guests. This appearance of courtesy, though mute, and +expressed by gestures only, seemed to Sir Kenneth something entirely +irreconcilable with his former wild and violent demeanour. The movements +of the hermit were now become composed, and apparently it was only a +sense of religious humiliation which prevented his features, emaciated +as they were by his austere mode of life, from being majestic and noble. +He trod his cell as one who seemed born to rule over men, but who had +abdicated his empire to become the servant of Heaven. Still, it must +be allowed that his gigantic size, the length of his unshaven locks and +beard, and the fire of a deep-set and wild eye were rather attributes of +a soldier than of a recluse. + +Even the Saracen seemed to regard the anchorite with some veneration, +while he was thus employed, and he whispered in a low tone to Sir +Kenneth, “The Hamako is now in his better mind, but he will not speak +until we have eaten--such is his vow.” + +It was in silence, accordingly, that Theodorick motioned to the Scot to +take his place on one of the low chairs, while Sheerkohf placed himself, +after the custom of his nation, upon a cushion of mats. The hermit then +held up both hands, as if blessing the refreshment which he had placed +before his guests, and they proceeded to eat in silence as profound +as his own. To the Saracen this gravity was natural; and the Christian +imitated his taciturnity, while he employed his thoughts on the +singularity of his own situation, and the contrast betwixt the wild, +furious gesticulations, loud cries, and fierce actions of Theodorick, +when they first met him, and the demure, solemn, decorous assiduity with +which he now performed the duties of hospitality. + +When their meal was ended, the hermit, who had not himself eaten a +morsel, removed the fragments from the table, and placing before the +Saracen a pitcher of sherbet, assigned to the Scot a flask of wine. + +“Drink,” he said, “my children”--they were the first words he had +spoken--“the gifts of God are to be enjoyed, when the Giver is +remembered.” + +Having said this, he retired to the outward cell, probably for +performance of his devotions, and left his guests together in the inner +apartment; when Sir Kenneth endeavoured, by various questions, to +draw from Sheerkohf what that Emir knew concerning his host. He was +interested by more than mere curiosity in these inquiries. Difficult as +it was to reconcile the outrageous demeanour of the recluse at his first +appearance with his present humble and placid behaviour, it seemed yet +more impossible to think it consistent with the high consideration in +which, according to what Sir Kenneth had learned, this hermit was held +by the most enlightened divines of the Christian world. Theodorick, the +hermit of Engaddi, had, in that character, been the correspondent of +popes and councils; to whom his letters, full of eloquent fervour, +had described the miseries imposed by the unbelievers upon the Latin +Christians in the Holy Land, in colours scarce inferior to those +employed at the Council of Clermont by the Hermit Peter, when he +preached the first Crusade. To find, in a person so reverend and so +much revered, the frantic gestures of a mad fakir, induced the Christian +knight to pause ere he could resolve to communicate to him certain +important matters, which he had in charge from some of the leaders of +the Crusade. + +It had been a main object of Sir Kenneth's pilgrimage, attempted by +a route so unusual, to make such communications; but what he had that +night seen induced him to pause and reflect ere he proceeded to the +execution of his commission. From the Emir he could not extract much +information, but the general tenor was as follows:--That, as he had +heard, the hermit had been once a brave and valiant soldier, wise in +council and fortunate in battle, which last he could easily believe from +the great strength and agility which he had often seen him display; that +he had appeared at Jerusalem in the character not of a pilgrim, but in +that of one who had devoted himself to dwell for the remainder of his +life in the Holy Land. Shortly afterwards, he fixed his residence amid +the scenes of desolation where they now found him, respected by the +Latins for his austere devotion, and by the Turks and Arabs on account +of the symptoms of insanity which he displayed, and which they ascribed +to inspiration. It was from them he had the name of Hamako, which +expresses such a character in the Turkish language. Sheerkohf himself +seemed at a loss how to rank their host. He had been, he said, a wise +man, and could often for many hours together speak lessons of virtue or +wisdom, without the slightest appearance of inaccuracy. At other +times he was wild and violent, but never before had he seen him so +mischievously disposed as he had that day appeared to be. His rage was +chiefly provoked by any affront to his religion; and there was a story +of some wandering Arabs, who had insulted his worship and defaced his +altar, and whom he had on that account attacked and slain with the +short flail which he carried with him in lieu of all other weapons. +This incident had made a great noise, and it was as much the fear of the +hermit's iron flail as regard for his character as a Hamako which caused +the roving tribes to respect his dwelling and his chapel. His fame had +spread so far that Saladin had issued particular orders that he should +be spared and protected. He himself, and other Moslem lords of rank, had +visited the cell more than once, partly from curiosity, partly that they +expected from a man so learned as the Christian Hamako some insight into +the secrets of futurity. “He had,” continued the Saracen, “a rashid, or +observatory, of great height, contrived to view the heavenly bodies, and +particularly the planetary system--by whose movements and influences, +as both Christian and Moslem believed, the course of human events was +regulated, and might be predicted.” + +This was the substance of the Emir Sheerkohf's information, and it left +Sir Kenneth in doubt whether the character of insanity arose from the +occasional excessive fervour of the hermit's zeal, or whether it was not +altogether fictitious, and assumed for the sake of the immunities +which it afforded. Yet it seemed that the infidels had carried their +complaisance towards him to an uncommon length, considering the +fanaticism of the followers of Mohammed, in the midst of whom he was +living, though the professed enemy of their faith. He thought also there +was more intimacy of acquaintance betwixt the hermit and the Saracen +than the words of the latter had induced him to anticipate; and it +had not escaped him that the former had called the latter by a +name different from that which he himself had assumed. All these +considerations authorized caution, if not suspicion. He determined to +observe his host closely, and not to be over-hasty in communicating with +him on the important charge entrusted to him. + +“Beware, Saracen,” he said; “methinks our host's imagination wanders +as well on the subject of names as upon other matters. Thy name is +Sheerkohf, and he called thee but now by another.” + +“My name, when in the tent of my father,” replied the Kurdman, “was +Ilderim, and by this I am still distinguished by many. In the field, and +to soldiers, I am known as the Lion of the Mountain, being the name my +good sword hath won for me. But hush, the Hamako comes--it is to warn us +to rest. I know his custom; none must watch him at his vigils.” + +The anchorite accordingly entered, and folding his arms on his bosom as +he stood before them, said with a solemn voice, “Blessed be His name, +who hath appointed the quiet night to follow the busy day, and the calm +sleep to refresh the wearied limbs and to compose the troubled spirit!” + +Both warriors replied “Amen!” and, arising from the table, prepared to +betake themselves to the couches, which their host indicated by waving +his hand, as, making a reverence to each, he again withdrew from the +apartment. + +The Knight of the Leopard then disarmed himself of his heavy panoply, +his Saracen companion kindly assisting him to undo his buckler and +clasps, until he remained in the close dress of chamois leather, which +knights and men-at-arms used to wear under their harness. The Saracen, +if he had admired the strength of his adversary when sheathed in steel, +was now no less struck with the accuracy of proportion displayed in his +nervous and well-compacted figure. The knight, on the other hand, as, in +exchange of courtesy, he assisted the Saracen to disrobe himself of his +upper garments, that he might sleep with more convenience, was, on his +side, at a loss to conceive how such slender proportions and slimness of +figure could be reconciled with the vigour he had displayed in personal +contest. + +Each warrior prayed ere he addressed himself to his place of rest. The +Moslem turned towards his KEBLAH, the point to which the prayer of each +follower of the Prophet was to be addressed, and murmured his heathen +orisons; while the Christian, withdrawing from the contamination of the +infidel's neighbourhood, placed his huge cross-handled sword upright, +and kneeling before it as the sign of salvation, told his rosary with +a devotion which was enhanced by the recollection of the scenes through +which he had passed, and the dangers from which he had been rescued, in +the course of the day. Both warriors, worn by toil and travel, were soon +fast asleep, each on his separate pallet. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +Kenneth the Scot was uncertain how long his senses had been lost in +profound repose, when he was roused to recollection by a sense of +oppression on his chest, which at first suggested a flirting dream of +struggling with a powerful opponent, and at length recalled him fully +to his senses. He was about to demand who was there, when, opening his +eyes, he beheld the figure of the anchorite, wild and savage-looking as +we have described him, standing by his bedside, and pressing his right +hand upon his breast, while he held a small silver lamp in the other. + +“Be silent,” said the hermit, as the prostrate knight looked up in +surprise; “I have that to say to you which yonder infidel must not +hear.” + +These words he spoke in the French language, and not in the lingua +franca, or compound of Eastern and European dialects, which had hitherto +been used amongst them. + +“Arise,” he continued, “put on thy mantle; speak not, but tread lightly, +and follow me.” + +Sir Kenneth arose, and took his sword. + +“It needs not,” answered the anchorite, in a whisper; “we are going +where spiritual arms avail much, and fleshly weapons are but as the reed +and the decayed gourd.” + +The knight deposited his sword by the bedside as before, and, armed only +with his dagger, from which in this perilous country he never parted, +prepared to attend his mysterious host. + +The hermit then moved slowly forwards, and was followed by the knight, +still under some uncertainty whether the dark form which glided +on before to show him the path was not, in fact, the creation of a +disturbed dream. They passed, like shadows, into the outer apartment, +without disturbing the paynim Emir, who lay still buried in repose. +Before the cross and altar, in the outward room, a lamp was still +burning, a missal was displayed, and on the floor lay a discipline, or +penitential scourge of small cord and wire, the lashes of which were +recently stained with blood--a token, no doubt, of the severe penance of +the recluse. Here Theodorick kneeled down, and pointed to the knight to +take his place beside him upon the sharp flints, which seemed placed for +the purpose of rendering the posture of reverential devotion as uneasy +as possible. He read many prayers of the Catholic Church, and chanted, +in a low but earnest voice, three of the penitential psalms. These last +he intermixed with sighs, and tears, and convulsive throbs, which bore +witness how deeply he felt the divine poetry which he recited. The +Scottish knight assisted with profound sincerity at these acts of +devotion, his opinion of his host beginning, in the meantime, to be so +much changed, that he doubted whether, from the severity of his penance +and the ardour of his prayers, he ought not to regard him as a saint; +and when they arose from the ground, he stood with reverence before +him, as a pupil before an honoured master. The hermit was, on his side, +silent and abstracted for the space of a few minutes. + +“Look into yonder recess, my son,” he said, pointing to the farther +corner of the cell; “there thou wilt find a veil--bring it hither.” + +The knight obeyed, and in a small aperture cut out of the wall, and +secured with a door of wicker, he found the veil inquired for. When he +brought it to the light, he discovered that it was torn, and soiled in +some places with some dark substance. The anchorite looked at it with +a deep but smothered emotion, and ere he could speak to the Scottish +knight, was compelled to vent his feelings in a convulsive groan. + +“Thou art now about to look upon the richest treasure that the earth +possesses,” he at length said; “woe is me, that my eyes are unworthy to +be lifted towards it! Alas! I am but the vile and despised sign, which +points out to the wearied traveller a harbour of rest and security, but +must itself remain for ever without doors. In vain have I fled to the +very depths of the rocks, and the very bosom of the thirsty desert. Mine +enemy hath found me--even he whom I have denied has pursued me to my +fortresses.” + +He paused again for a moment, and turning to the Scottish knight, said, +in a firmer tone of voice, “You bring me a greeting from Richard of +England?” + +“I come from the Council of Christian Princes,” said the knight; +“but the King of England being indisposed, I am not honoured with his +Majesty's commands.” + +“Your token?” demanded the recluse. + +Sir Kenneth hesitated. Former suspicions, and the marks of insanity +which the hermit had formerly exhibited, rushed suddenly on his +thoughts; but how suspect a man whose manners were so saintly? “My +password,” he said at length, “is this--Kings begged of a beggar.” + +“It is right,” said the hermit, while he paused. “I know you well; but +the sentinel upon his post--and mine is an important one--challenges +friend as well as foe.” + +He then moved forward with the lamp, leading the way into the room which +they had left. The Saracen lay on his couch, still fast asleep. The +hermit paused by his side, and looked down on him. + +“He sleeps,” he said, “in darkness, and must not be awakened.” + +The attitude of the Emir did indeed convey the idea of profound repose. +One arm, flung across his body, as he lay with his face half turned to +the wall, concealed, with its loose and long sleeve, the greater part +of his face; but the high forehead was yet visible. Its nerves, which +during his waking hours were so uncommonly active, were now motionless, +as if the face had been composed of dark marble, and his long silken +eyelashes closed over his piercing and hawklike eyes. The open and +relaxed hand, and the deep, regular, and soft breathing, all gave tokens +of the most profound repose. The slumberer formed a singular group along +with the tall forms of the hermit in his shaggy dress of goat-skins, +bearing the lamp, and the knight in his close leathern coat--the former +with an austere expression of ascetic gloom, the latter with anxious +curiosity deeply impressed on his manly features. + +“He sleeps soundly,” said the hermit, in the same low tone as before; +and repeating the words, though he had changed the meaning from that +which is literal to a metaphorical sense--“he sleeps in darkness, but +there shall be for him a dayspring.--O Ilderim, thy waking thoughts +are yet as vain and wild as those which are wheeling their giddy dance +through thy sleeping brain; but the trumpet shall be heard, and the +dream shall be dissolved.” + +So saying, and making the knight a sign to follow him, the hermit went +towards the altar, and passing behind it, pressed a spring, which, +opening without noise, showed a small iron door wrought in the side +of the cavern, so as to be almost imperceptible, unless upon the most +severe scrutiny. The hermit, ere he ventured fully to open the door, +dropped some oil on the hinges, which the lamp supplied. A small +staircase, hewn in the rock, was discovered, when the iron door was at +length completely opened. + +“Take the veil which I hold,” said the hermit, in a melancholy tone, +“and blind mine eyes; For I may not look on the treasure which thou art +presently to behold, without sin and presumption.” + +Without reply, the knight hastily muffled the recluse's head in the +veil, and the latter began to ascend the staircase as one too much +accustomed to the way to require the use of light, while at the same +time he held the lamp to the Scot, who followed him for many steps up +the narrow ascent. At length they rested in a small vault of irregular +form, in one nook of which the staircase terminated, while in another +corner a corresponding stair was seen to continue the ascent. In a +third angle was a Gothic door, very rudely ornamented with the usual +attributes of clustered columns and carving, and defended by a wicket, +strongly guarded with iron, and studded with large nails. To this +last point the hermit directed his steps, which seemed to falter as he +approached it. + +“Put off thy shoes,” he said to his attendant; “the ground on which +thou standest is holy. Banish from thy innermost heart each profane and +carnal thought, for to harbour such while in this place were a deadly +impiety.” + +The knight laid aside his shoes as he was commanded, and the hermit +stood in the meanwhile as if communing with his soul in secret prayer, +and when he again moved, commanded the knight to knock at the wicket +three times. He did so. The door opened spontaneously--at least Sir +Kenneth beheld no one--and his senses were at once assailed by a stream +of the purest light, and by a strong and almost oppressive sense of the +richest perfumes. He stepped two or three paces back, and it was the +space of a minute ere he recovered the dazzling and overpowering effects +of the sudden change from darkness to light. + +When he entered the apartment in which this brilliant lustre was +displayed, he perceived that the light proceeded from a combination of +silver lamps, fed with purest oil, and sending forth the richest odours, +hanging by silver chains from the roof of a small Gothic chapel, hewn, +like most part of the hermit's singular mansion, out of the sound and +solid rock. But whereas, in every other place which Sir Kenneth had +seen, the labour employed upon the rock had been of the simplest and +coarsest description, it had in this chapel employed the invention and +the chisels of the most able architects. The groined roofs rose from six +columns on each side, carved with the rarest skill; and the manner in +which the crossings of the concave arches were bound together, as it +were, with appropriate ornaments, were all in the finest tone of the +architecture of the age. Corresponding to the line of pillars, there +were on each side six richly-wrought niches, each of which contained the +image of one of the twelve apostles. + +At the upper and eastern end of the chapel stood the altar, behind +which a very rich curtain of Persian silk, embroidered deeply with gold, +covered a recess, containing, unquestionably, some image or relic of no +ordinary sanctity, in honour of which this singular place of worship +had been erected, Under the persuasion that this must be the case, the +knight advanced to the shrine, and kneeling down before it, repeated his +devotions with fervency, during which his attention was disturbed by the +curtain being suddenly raised, or rather pulled aside, how or by whom he +saw not; but in the niche which was thus disclosed he beheld a cabinet +of silver and ebony, with a double folding-door, the whole formed into +the miniature resemblance of a Gothic church. + +As he gazed with anxious curiosity on the shrine, the two folding-doors +also flew open, discovering a large piece of wood, on which were +blazoned the words, VERA CRUX; at the same time a choir of female voices +sung GLORIA PATRI. The instant the strain had ceased, the shrine was +closed, and the curtain again drawn, and the knight who knelt at the +altar might now continue his devotions undisturbed, in honour of the +holy relic which had been just disclosed to his view. He did this under +the profound impression of one who had witnessed, with his own eyes, an +awful evidence of the truth of his religion; and it was some time ere, +concluding his orisons, he arose, and ventured to look around him for +the hermit, who had guided him to this sacred and mysterious spot. He +beheld him, his head still muffled in the veil which he had himself +wrapped around it, crouching, like a rated hound, upon the threshold of +the chapel; but, apparently, without venturing to cross it--the holiest +reverence, the most penitential remorse, was expressed by his posture, +which seemed that of a man borne down and crushed to the earth by the +burden of his inward feelings. It seemed to the Scot that only the +sense of the deepest penitence, remorse, and humiliation could have thus +prostrated a frame so strong and a spirit so fiery. + +He approached him as if to speak; but the recluse anticipated his +purpose, murmuring in stifled tones, from beneath the fold in which his +head was muffled, and which sounded like a voice proceeding from the +cerements of a corpse,--“Abide, abide--happy thou that mayest--the +vision is not yet ended.” So saying, he reared himself from the ground, +drew back from the threshold on which he had hitherto lain prostrate, +and closed the door of the chapel, which, secured by a spring bolt +within, the snap of which resounded through the place, appeared so much +like a part of the living rock from which the cavern was hewn, that +Kenneth could hardly discern where the aperture had been. He was now +alone in the lighted chapel which contained the relic to which he had +lately rendered his homage, without other arms than his dagger, or other +companion than his pious thoughts and dauntless courage. + +Uncertain what was next to happen, but resolved to abide the course of +events, Sir Kenneth paced the solitary chapel till about the time of the +earliest cock-crowing. At this dead season, when night and morning met +together, he heard, but from what quarter he could not discover, the +sound of such a small silver bell as is rung at the elevation of the +host in the ceremony, or sacrifice, as it has been called, of the mass. +The hour and the place rendered the sound fearfully solemn, and, bold as +he was, the knight withdrew himself into the farther nook of the +chapel, at the end opposite to the altar, in order to observe, without +interruption, the consequences of this unexpected signal. + +He did not wait long ere the silken curtain was again withdrawn, and the +relic again presented to his view. As he sunk reverentially on his knee, +he heard the sound of the lauds, or earliest office of the Catholic +Church, sung by female voices, which united together in the performance +as they had done in the former service. The knight was soon aware that +the voices were no longer stationary in the distance, but approached the +chapel and became louder, when a door, imperceptible when closed, like +that by which he had himself entered, opened on the other side of the +vault, and gave the tones of the choir more room to swell along the +ribbed arches of the roof. + +The knight fixed his eyes on the opening with breathless anxiety, and, +continuing to kneel in the attitude of devotion which the place and +scene required, expected the consequence of these preparations. A +procession appeared about to issue from the door. First, four beautiful +boys, whose arms, necks, and legs were bare, showing the bronze +complexion of the East, and contrasting with the snow-white tunics +which they wore, entered the chapel by two and two. The first pair bore +censers, which they swung from side to side, adding double fragrance +to the odours with which the chapel already was impregnated. The second +pair scattered flowers. + +After these followed, in due and majestic order, the females who +composed the choir--six, who from their black scapularies, and black +veils over their white garments, appeared to be professed nuns of the +order of Mount Carmel; and as many whose veils, being white, argued them +to be novices, or occasional inhabitants in the cloister, who were +not as yet bound to it by vows. The former held in their hands large +rosaries, while the younger and lighter figures who followed carried +each a chaplet of red and white roses. They moved in procession around +the chapel, without appearing to take the slightest notice of Kenneth, +although passing so near him that their robes almost touched him, while +they continued to sing. The knight doubted not that he was in one of +those cloisters where the noble Christian maidens had formerly openly +devoted themselves to the services of the church. Most of them had been +suppressed since the Mohammedans had reconquered Palestine, but many, +purchasing connivance by presents, or receiving it from the clemency +or contempt of the victors, still continued to observe in private the +ritual to which their vows had consecrated them. Yet, though Kenneth +knew this to be the case, the solemnity of the place and hour, the +surprise at the sudden appearance of these votaresses, and the +visionary manner in which they moved past him, had such influence on his +imagination that he could scarce conceive that the fair procession +which he beheld was formed of creatures of this world, so much did +they resemble a choir of supernatural beings, rendering homage to the +universal object of adoration. + +Such was the knight's first idea, as the procession passed him, scarce +moving, save just sufficiently to continue their progress; so that, +seen by the shadowy and religious light which the lamps shed through the +clouds of incense which darkened the apartment, they appeared rather to +glide than to walk. + +But as a second time, in surrounding the chapel, they passed the spot on +which he kneeled, one of the white-stoled maidens, as she glided by him, +detached from the chaplet which she carried a rosebud, which dropped +from her fingers, perhaps unconsciously, on the foot of Sir Kenneth. The +knight started as if a dart had suddenly struck his person; for, when +the mind is wound up to a high pitch of feeling and expectation, +the slightest incident, if unexpected, gives fire to the train +which imagination has already laid. But he suppressed his emotion, +recollecting how easily an incident so indifferent might have happened, +and that it was only the uniform monotony of the movement of the +choristers which made the incident in the slightest degree remarkable. + +Still, while the procession, for the third time, surrounded the chapel, +the thoughts and the eyes of Kenneth followed exclusively the one among +the novices who had dropped the rosebud. Her step, her face, her form +were so completely assimilated to the rest of the choristers that it +was impossible to perceive the least marks of individuality; and yet +Kenneth's heart throbbed like a bird that would burst from its cage, as +if to assure him, by its sympathetic suggestions, that the female who +held the right file on the second rank of the novices was dearer to him, +not only than all the rest that were present, but than the whole sex +besides. The romantic passion of love, as it was cherished, and indeed +enjoined, by the rules of chivalry, associated well with the no less +romantic feelings of devotion; and they might be said much more to +enhance than to counteract each other. It was, therefore, with a glow +of expectation that had something even of a religious character that +Sir Kenneth, his sensations thrilling from his heart to the ends of +his fingers, expected some second sign of the presence of one who, he +strongly fancied, had already bestowed on him the first. Short as +the space was during which the procession again completed a third +perambulation of the chapel, it seemed an eternity to Kenneth. At length +the form which he had watched with such devoted attention drew nigh. +There was no difference betwixt that shrouded figure and the others, +with whom it moved in concert and in unison, until, just as she passed +for the third time the kneeling Crusader, a part of a little and +well-proportioned hand, so beautifully formed as to give the highest +idea of the perfect proportions of the form to which it belonged, stole +through the folds of the gauze, like a moonbeam through the fleecy cloud +of a summer night, and again a rosebud lay at the feet of the Knight of +the Leopard. + +This second intimation could not be accidental---it could not be +fortuitous, the resemblance of that half-seen but beautiful female hand +with one which his lips had once touched, and, while they touched it, +had internally sworn allegiance to the lovely owner. Had further proof +been wanting, there was the glimmer of that matchless ruby ring on that +snow-white finger, whose invaluable worth Kenneth would yet have prized +less than the slightest sign which that finger could have made; and, +veiled too, as she was, he might see, by chance or by favour, a stray +curl of the dark tresses, each hair of which was dearer to him a hundred +times than a chain of massive gold. It was the lady of his love! But +that she should be here--in the savage and sequestered desert--among +vestals, who rendered themselves habitants of wilds and of caverns, that +they might perform in secret those Christian rites which they dared +not assist in openly; that this should be so, in truth and in reality, +seemed too incredible--it must be a dream--a delusive trance of the +imagination. While these thoughts passed through the mind of Kenneth, +the same passage, by which the procession had entered the chapel, +received them on their return. The young sacristans, the sable nuns, +vanished successively through the open door. At length she from whom he +had received this double intimation passed also; yet, in passing, turned +her head, slightly indeed, but perceptibly, towards the place where he +remained fixed as an image. He marked the last wave of her veil--it was +gone--and a darkness sunk upon his soul, scarce less palpable than that +which almost immediately enveloped his external sense; for the last +chorister had no sooner crossed the threshold of the door than it shut +with a loud sound, and at the same instant the voices of the choir were +silent, the lights of the chapel were at once extinguished, and Sir +Kenneth remained solitary and in total darkness. But to Kenneth, +solitude, and darkness, and the uncertainty of his mysterious situation +were as nothing--he thought not of them--cared not for them--cared for +nought in the world save the flitting vision which had just glided past +him, and the tokens of her favour which she had bestowed. To grope on +the floor for the buds which she had dropped--to press them to his lips, +to his bosom, now alternately, now together--to rivet his lips to the +cold stones on which, as near as he could judge, she had so lately +stepped--to play all the extravagances which strong affection suggests +and vindicates to those who yield themselves up to it, were but the +tokens of passionate love common to all ages. But it was peculiar to the +times of chivalry that, in his wildest rapture, the knight imagined of +no attempt to follow or to trace the object of such romantic attachment; +that he thought of her as of a deity, who, having deigned to show +herself for an instant to her devoted worshipper, had again returned +to the darkness of her sanctuary--or as an influential planet, which, +having darted in some auspicious minute one favourable ray, wrapped +itself again in its veil of mist. The motions of the lady of his love +were to him those of a superior being, who was to move without watch or +control, rejoice him by her appearance, or depress him by her absence, +animate him by her kindness, or drive him to despair by her cruelty--all +at her own free will, and without other importunity or remonstrance than +that expressed by the most devoted services of the heart and sword of +the champion, whose sole object in life was to fulfil her commands, and, +by the splendour of his own achievements, to exalt her fame. + +Such were the rules of chivalry, and of the love which was its ruling +principle. But Sir Kenneth's attachment was rendered romantic by other +and still more peculiar circumstances. He had never even heard the sound +of his lady's voice, though he had often beheld her beauty with rapture. +She moved in a circle which his rank of knighthood permitted him +indeed to approach, but not to mingle with; and highly as he stood +distinguished for warlike skill and enterprise, still the poor Scottish +soldier was compelled to worship his divinity at a distance almost as +great as divides the Persian from the sun which he adores. But when was +the pride of woman too lofty to overlook the passionate devotion of +a lover, however inferior in degree? Her eye had been on him in the +tournament, her ear had heard his praises in the report of the battles +which were daily fought; and while count, duke, and lord contended +for her grace, it flowed, unwillingly perhaps at first, or even +unconsciously, towards the poor Knight of the Leopard, who, to support +his rank, had little besides his sword. When she looked, and when she +listened, the lady saw and heard enough to encourage her in a partiality +which had at first crept on her unawares. If a knight's personal beauty +was praised, even the most prudish dames of the military court of +England would make an exception in favour of the Scottish Kenneth; +and it oftentimes happened that, notwithstanding the very considerable +largesses which princes and peers bestowed on the minstrels, an +impartial spirit of independence would seize the poet, and the harp was +swept to the heroism of one who had neither palfreys nor garments to +bestow in guerdon of his applause. + +The moments when she listened to the praises of her lover became +gradually more and more dear to the high-born Edith, relieving the +flattery with which her ear was weary, and presenting to her a subject +of secret contemplation, more worthy, as he seemed by general report, +than those who surpassed him in rank and in the gifts of fortune. As her +attention became constantly, though cautiously, fixed on Sir Kenneth, +she grew more and more convinced of his personal devotion to herself and +more and more certain in her mind that in Kenneth of Scotland she beheld +the fated knight doomed to share with her through weal and woe--and the +prospect looked gloomy and dangerous--the passionate attachment to which +the poets of the age ascribed such universal dominion, and which its +manners and morals placed nearly on the same rank with devotion itself. + +Let us not disguise the truth from our readers. When Edith became aware +of the state of her own sentiments, chivalrous as were her sentiments, +becoming a maiden not distant from the throne of England--gratified as +her pride must have been with the mute though unceasing homage rendered +to her by the knight whom she had distinguished, there were moments +when the feelings of the woman, loving and beloved, murmured against the +restraints of state and form by which she was surrounded, and when she +almost blamed the timidity of her lover, who seemed resolved not to +infringe them. The etiquette, to use a modern phrase, of birth and rank, +had drawn around her a magical circle, beyond which Sir Kenneth might +indeed bow and gaze, but within which he could no more pass than an +evoked spirit can transgress the boundaries prescribed by the rod of a +powerful enchanter. The thought involuntarily pressed on her that she +herself must venture, were it but the point of her fairy foot, beyond +the prescribed boundary, if she ever hoped to give a lover so reserved +and bashful an opportunity of so slight a favour as but to salute her +shoe-tie. There was an example--the noted precedent of the “King's +daughter of Hungary,” who thus generously encouraged the “squire of low +degree;” and Edith, though of kingly blood, was no king's daughter, any +more than her lover was of low degree--fortune had put no such extreme +barrier in obstacle to their affections. Something, however, within +the maiden's bosom--that modest pride which throws fetters even on love +itself forbade her, notwithstanding the superiority of her condition, to +make those advances, which, in every case, delicacy assigns to the other +sex; above all, Sir Kenneth was a knight so gentle and honourable, so +highly accomplished, as her imagination at least suggested, together +with the strictest feelings of what was due to himself and to her, +that however constrained her attitude might be while receiving his +adorations, like the image of some deity, who is neither supposed to +feel nor to reply to the homage of its votaries, still the idol feared +that to step prematurely from her pedestal would be to degrade herself +in the eyes of her devoted worshipper. + +Yet the devout adorer of an actual idol can even discover signs of +approbation in the rigid and immovable features of a marble image; +and it is no wonder that something, which could be as favourably +interpreted, glanced from the bright eye of the lovely Edith, whose +beauty, indeed, consisted rather more in that very power of expression, +than an absolute regularity of contour or brilliancy of complexion. Some +slight marks of distinction had escaped from her, notwithstanding her +own jealous vigilance, else how could Sir Kenneth have so readily and +so undoubtingly recognized the lovely hand, of which scarce two fingers +were visible from under the veil, or how could he have rested so +thoroughly assured that two flowers, successively dropped on the spot, +were intended as a recognition on the part of his lady-love? By what +train of observation--by what secret signs, looks, or gestures--by what +instinctive freemasonry of love, this degree of intelligence came to +subsist between Edith and her lover, we cannot attempt to trace; for we +are old, and such slight vestiges of affection, quickly discovered by +younger eyes, defy the power of ours. Enough that such affection +did subsist between parties who had never even spoken to one +another--though, on the side of Edith, it was checked by a deep sense of +the difficulties and dangers which must necessarily attend the further +progress of their attachment; and upon that of the knight by a thousand +doubts and fears lest he had overestimated the slight tokens of the +lady's notice, varied, as they necessarily were, by long intervals +of apparent coldness, during which either the fear of exciting the +observation of others, and thus drawing danger upon her lover, or that +of sinking in his esteem by seeming too willing to be won, made her +behave with indifference, and as if unobservant of his presence. + +This narrative, tedious perhaps, but which the story renders necessary, +may serve to explain the state of intelligence, if it deserves so strong +a name, betwixt the lovers, when Edith's unexpected appearance in the +chapel produced so powerful an effect on the feelings of her knight. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + Their necromantic forms in vain + Haunt us on the tented plain; + We bid these spectre shapes avaunt, + Ashtaroth and Termagaunt. WARTON. + +The most profound silence, the deepest darkness, continued to brood for +more than an hour over the chapel in which we left the Knight of the +Leopard still kneeling, alternately expressing thanks to Heaven and +gratitude to his lady for the boon which had been vouchsafed to him. +His own safety, his own destiny, for which he was at all times little +anxious, had not now the weight of a grain of dust in his reflections. +He was in the neighbourhood of Lady Edith; he had received tokens of her +grace; he was in a place hallowed by relics of the most awful sanctity. +A Christian soldier, a devoted lover, could fear nothing, think of +nothing, but his duty to Heaven and his devoir to his lady. + +At the lapse of the space of time which we have noticed, a shrill +whistle, like that with which a falconer calls his hawk, was heard to +ring sharply through the vaulted chapel. It was a sound ill suited to +the place, and reminded Sir Kenneth how necessary it was he should be +upon his guard. He started from his knee, and laid his hand upon his +poniard. A creaking sound, as of a screw or pulleys, succeeded, and a +light streaming upwards, as from an opening in the floor, showed that +a trap-door had been raised or depressed. In less than a minute a long, +skinny arm, partly naked, partly clothed in a sleeve of red samite, +arose out of the aperture, holding a lamp as high as it could stretch +upwards, and the figure to which the arm belonged ascended step by step +to the level of the chapel floor. The form and face of the being who +thus presented himself were those of a frightful dwarf, with a large +head, a cap fantastically adorned with three peacock feathers, a +dress of red samite, the richness of which rendered his ugliness more +conspicuous, distinguished by gold bracelets and armlets, and a white +silk sash, in which he wore a gold-hilted dagger. This singular figure +had in his left hand a kind of broom. So soon as he had stepped from +the aperture through which he arose, he stood still, and, as if to show +himself more distinctly, moved the lamp which he held slowly over +his face and person, successively illuminating his wild and fantastic +features, and his misshapen but nervous limbs. Though disproportioned in +person, the dwarf was not so distorted as to argue any want of strength +or activity. While Sir Kenneth gazed on this disagreeable object, the +popular creed occurred to his remembrance concerning the gnomes or +earthly spirits which make their abode in the caverns of the earth; and +so much did this figure correspond with ideas he had formed of their +appearance, that he looked on it with disgust, mingled not indeed with +fear, but that sort of awe which the presence of a supernatural creature +may infuse into the most steady bosom. + +The dwarf again whistled, and summoned from beneath a companion. This +second figure ascended in the same manner as the first; but it was +a female arm in this second instance which upheld the lamp from the +subterranean vault out of which these presentments arose, and it was a +female form, much resembling the first in shape and proportions, +which slowly emerged from the floor. Her dress was also of red samite, +fantastically cut and flounced, as if she had been dressed for some +exhibition of mimes or jugglers; and with the same minuteness which her +predecessor had exhibited, she passed the lamp over her face and person, +which seemed to rival the male's in ugliness. But with all this most +unfavourable exterior, there was one trait in the features of both which +argued alertness and intelligence in the most uncommon degree. This +arose from the brilliancy of their eyes, which, deep-set beneath black +and shaggy brows, gleamed with a lustre which, like that in the eye +of the toad, seemed to make some amends for the extreme ugliness of +countenance and person. + +Sir Kenneth remained as if spellbound, while this unlovely pair, moving +round the chapel close to each other, appeared to perform the duty of +sweeping it, like menials; but as they used only one hand, the floor was +not much benefited by the exercise, which they plied with such oddity of +gestures and manner as befitted their bizarre and fantastic appearance. +When they approached near to the knight in the course of their +occupation, they ceased to use their brooms; and placing themselves side +by side, directly opposite to Sir Kenneth, they again slowly shifted the +lights which they held, so as to allow him distinctly to survey features +which were not rendered more agreeable by being brought nearer, and to +observe the extreme quickness and keenness with which their black and +glittering eyes flashed back the light of the lamps. They then turned +the gleam of both lights upon the knight, and having accurately surveyed +him, turned their faces to each other, and set up a loud, yelling laugh, +which resounded in his ears. The sound was so ghastly that Sir Kenneth +started at hearing it, and hastily demanded, in the name of God, who +they were who profaned that holy place with such antic gestures and +elritch exclamations. + +“I am the dwarf Nectabanus,” said the abortion-seeming male, in a voice +corresponding to his figure, and resembling the voice of the night-crow +more than any sound which is heard by daylight. + +“And I am Guenevra, his lady and his love,” replied the female, in tones +which, being shriller, were yet wilder than those of her companion. + +“Wherefore are you here?” again demanded the knight, scarcely yet +assured that they were human beings which he saw before him. + +“I am,” replied the male dwarf, with much assumed gravity and dignity, +“the twelfth Imaum. I am Mohammed Mohadi, the guide and the conductor of +the faithful. A hundred horses stand ready saddled for me and my train +at the Holy City, and as many at the City of Refuge. I am he who shall +bear witness, and this is one of my houris.” + +“Thou liest!” answered the female, interrupting her companion, in tones +yet shriller than his own; “I am none of thy houris, and thou art no +such infidel trash as the Mohammed of whom thou speakest. May my curse +rest upon his coffin! I tell thee, thou ass of Issachar, thou art King +Arthur of Britain, whom the fairies stole away from the field of Avalon; +and I am Dame Guenevra, famed for her beauty.” + +“But in truth, noble sir,” said the male, “we are distressed princes, +dwelling under the wing of King Guy of Jerusalem, until he was driven +out from his own nest by the foul infidels--Heaven's bolts consume +them!” + +“Hush,” said a voice from the side upon which the knight had +entered--“hush, fools, and begone; your ministry is ended.” + +The dwarfs had no sooner heard the command than, gibbering in discordant +whispers to each other, they blew out their lights at once, and left the +knight in utter darkness, which, when the pattering of their retiring +feet had died away, was soon accompanied by its fittest companion, total +silence. + +The knight felt the departure of these unfortunate creatures a relief. +He could not, from their language, manners, and appearance, doubt that +they belonged to the degraded class of beings whom deformity of person +and weakness of intellect recommended to the painful situation of +appendages to great families, where their personal appearance and +imbecility were food for merriment to the household. Superior in no +respect to the ideas and manners of his time, the Scottish knight might, +at another period, have been much amused by the mummery of these poor +effigies of humanity; but now their appearance, gesticulations, and +language broke the train of deep and solemn feeling with which he was +impressed, and he rejoiced in the disappearance of the unhappy objects. + +A few minutes after they had retired, the door at which he had entered +opened slowly, and remaining ajar, discovered a faint light arising from +a lantern placed upon the threshold. Its doubtful and wavering gleam +showed a dark form reclined beside the entrance, but without its +precincts, which, on approaching it more nearly, he recognized to be the +hermit, crouching in the same humble posture in which he had at first +laid himself down, and which, doubtless, he had retained during the +whole time of his guest's continuing in the chapel. + +“All is over,” said the hermit, as he heard the knight approaching, “and +the most wretched of earthly sinners, with him who should think himself +most honoured and most happy among the race of humanity, must retire +from this place. Take the light, and guide me down the descent, for I +must not uncover my eyes until I am far from this hallowed spot.” + +The Scottish knight obeyed in silence, for a solemn and yet ecstatic +sense of what he had seen had silenced even the eager workings of +curiosity. He led the way, with considerable accuracy, through the +various secret passages and stairs by which they had ascended, until at +length they found themselves in the outward cell of the hermit's cavern. + +“The condemned criminal is restored to his dungeon, reprieved from one +miserable day to another, until his awful Judge shall at length appoint +the well-deserved sentence to be carried into execution.” + +As the hermit spoke these words, he laid aside the veil with which his +eyes had been bound, and looked at it with a suppressed and hollow sigh. +No sooner had he restored it to the crypt from which he had caused the +Scot to bring it, than he said hastily and sternly to his companion; +“Begone, begone--to rest, to rest. You may sleep--you can sleep--I +neither can nor may.” + +Respecting the profound agitation with which this was spoken, the knight +retired into the inner cell; but casting back his eye as he left the +exterior grotto, he beheld the anchorite stripping his shoulders with +frantic haste of their shaggy mantle, and ere he could shut the frail +door which separated the two compartments of the cavern, he heard +the clang of the scourge and the groans of the penitent under his +self-inflicted penance. A cold shudder came over the knight as he +reflected what could be the foulness of the sin, what the depth of the +remorse, which, apparently, such severe penance could neither cleanse +nor assuage. He told his beads devoutly, and flung himself on his rude +couch, after a glance at the still sleeping Moslem, and, wearied by the +various scenes of the day and the night, soon slept as sound as infancy. +Upon his awaking in the morning, he held certain conferences with the +hermit upon matters of importance, and the result of their intercourse +induced him to remain for two days longer in the grotto. He was regular, +as became a pilgrim, in his devotional exercises, but was not again +admitted to the chapel in which he had seen such wonders. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + Now change the scene--and let the trumpets sound, + For we must rouse the lion from his lair. OLD PLAY. + +The scene must change, as our programme has announced, from the mountain +wilderness of Jordan to the camp of King Richard of England, then +stationed betwixt Jean d'Acre and Ascalon, and containing that army with +which he of the lion heart had promised himself a triumphant march +to Jerusalem, and in which he would probably have succeeded, if not +hindered by the jealousies of the Christian princes engaged in the same +enterprise, and the offence taken by them at the uncurbed haughtiness +of the English monarch, and Richard's unveiled contempt for his brother +sovereigns, who, his equals in rank, were yet far his inferiors +in courage, hardihood, and military talents. Such discords, and +particularly those betwixt Richard and Philip of France, created +disputes and obstacles which impeded every active measure proposed by +the heroic though impetuous Richard, while the ranks of the Crusaders +were daily thinned, not only by the desertion of individuals, but of +entire bands, headed by their respective feudal leaders, who withdrew +from a contest in which they had ceased to hope for success. + +The effects of the climate became, as usual, fatal to soldiers from +the north, and the more so that the dissolute license of the Crusaders, +forming a singular contrast to the principles and purpose of their +taking up arms, rendered them more easy victims to the insalubrious +influence of burning heat and chilling dews. To these discouraging +causes of loss was to be added the sword of the enemy. Saladin, than +whom no greater name is recorded in Eastern history, had learned, to +his fatal experience, that his light-armed followers were little able to +meet in close encounter with the iron-clad Franks, and had been taught, +at the same time, to apprehend and dread the adventurous character of +his antagonist Richard. But if his armies were more than once routed +with great slaughter, his numbers gave the Saracen the advantage in +those lighter skirmishes, of which many were inevitable. + +As the army of his assailants decreased, the enterprises of the Sultan +became more numerous and more bold in this species of petty warfare. The +camp of the Crusaders was surrounded, and almost besieged, by clouds of +light cavalry, resembling swarms of wasps, easily crushed when they are +once grasped, but furnished with wings to elude superior strength, and +stings to inflict harm and mischief. There was perpetual warfare of +posts and foragers, in which many valuable lives were lost, without +any corresponding object being gained; convoys were intercepted, and +communications were cut off. The Crusaders had to purchase the means +of sustaining life, by life itself; and water, like that of the well of +Bethlehem, longed for by King David, one of its ancient monarchs, was +then, as before, only obtained by the expenditure of blood. + +These evils were in a great measure counterbalanced by the stern +resolution and restless activity of King Richard, who, with some of his +best knights, was ever on horseback, ready to repair to any point where +danger occurred, and often not only bringing unexpected succour to the +Christians, but discomfiting the infidels when they seemed most secure +of victory. But even the iron frame of Coeur de Lion could not support +without injury the alternations of the unwholesome climate, joined to +ceaseless exertions of body and mind. He became afflicted with one of +those slow and wasting fevers peculiar to Asia, and in despite of his +great strength and still greater courage, grew first unfit to mount on +horseback, and then unable to attend the councils of war which were from +time to time held by the Crusaders. It was difficult to say whether this +state of personal inactivity was rendered more galling or more endurable +to the English monarch by the resolution of the council to engage in a +truce of thirty days with the Sultan Saladin; for on the one hand, if he +was incensed at the delay which this interposed to the progress of the +great enterprise, he was, on the other, somewhat consoled by knowing +that others were not acquiring laurels while he remained inactive upon a +sick-bed. + +That, however, which Coeur de Lion could least excuse was the general +inactivity which prevailed in the camp of the Crusaders so soon as his +illness assumed a serious aspect; and the reports which he extracted +from his unwilling attendants gave him to understand that the hopes of +the host had abated in proportion to his illness, and that the interval +of truce was employed, not in recruiting their numbers, reanimating +their courage, fostering their spirit of conquest, and preparing for a +speedy and determined advance upon the Holy City, which was the +object of their expedition, but in securing the camp occupied by their +diminished followers with trenches, palisades, and other fortifications, +as if preparing rather to repel an attack from a powerful enemy so soon +as hostilities should recommence, than to assume the proud character of +conquerors and assailants. + +The English king chafed under these reports, like the imprisoned lion +viewing his prey from the iron barriers of his cage. Naturally rash +and impetuous, the irritability of his temper preyed on itself. He was +dreaded by his attendants and even the medical assistants feared to +assume the necessary authority which a physician, to do justice to his +patient, must needs exercise over him. One faithful baron, who, perhaps, +from the congenial nature of his disposition, was devoutly attached to +the King's person, dared alone to come between the dragon and his wrath, +and quietly, but firmly, maintained a control which no other dared +assume over the dangerous invalid, and which Thomas de Multon only +exercised because he esteemed his sovereign's life and honour more than +he did the degree of favour which he might lose, or even the risk +which he might incur, in nursing a patient so intractable, and whose +displeasure was so perilous. + +Sir Thomas was the Lord of Gilsland, in Cumberland, and in an age +when surnames and titles were not distinctly attached, as now, to the +individuals who bore them, he was called by the Normans the Lord de +Vaux; and in English by the Saxons, who clung to their native language, +and were proud of the share of Saxon blood in this renowned warrior's +veins, he was termed Thomas, or, more familiarly, Thom of the Gills, +or Narrow Valleys, from which his extensive domains derived their +well-known appellation. + +This chief had been exercised in almost all the wars, whether waged +betwixt England and Scotland, or amongst the various domestic factions +which then tore the former country asunder, and in all had been +distinguished, as well from his military conduct as his personal +prowess. He was, in other respects, a rude soldier, blunt and careless +in his bearing, and taciturn--nay, almost sullen--in his habits of +society, and seeming, at least, to disclaim all knowledge of policy and +of courtly art. There were men, however, who pretended to look deeply +into character, who asserted that the Lord de Vaux was not less shrewd +and aspiring than he was blunt and bold, and who thought that, while he +assimilated himself to the king's own character of blunt hardihood, it +was, in some degree at least, with an eye to establish his favour, and +to gratify his own hopes of deep-laid ambition. But no one cared to +thwart his schemes, if such he had, by rivalling him in the dangerous +occupation of daily attendance on the sick-bed of a patient whose +disease was pronounced infectious, and more especially when it was +remembered that the patient was Coeur de Lion, suffering under all the +furious impatience of a soldier withheld from battle, and a sovereign +sequestered from authority; and the common soldiers, at least in the +English army, were generally of opinion that De Vaux attended on +the King like comrade upon comrade, in the honest and disinterested +frankness of military friendship contracted between the partakers of +daily dangers. + +It was on the decline of a Syrian day that Richard lay on his couch of +sickness, loathing it as much in mind as his illness made it irksome to +his body. His bright blue eye, which at all times shone with uncommon +keenness and splendour, had its vivacity augmented by fever and mental +impatience, and glanced from among his curled and unshorn locks of +yellow hair as fitfully and as vividly as the last gleams of the sun +shoot through the clouds of an approaching thunderstorm, which still, +however, are gilded by its beams. His manly features showed the +progress of wasting illness, and his beard, neglected and untrimmed, +had overgrown both lips and chin. Casting himself from side to side, now +clutching towards him the coverings, which at the next moment he flung +as impatiently from him, his tossed couch and impatient gestures showed +at once the energy and the reckless impatience of a disposition whose +natural sphere was that of the most active exertion. + +Beside his couch stood Thomas de Vaux, in face, attitude, and manner +the strongest possible contrast to the suffering monarch. His stature +approached the gigantic, and his hair in thickness might have resembled +that of Samson, though only after the Israelitish champion's locks had +passed under the shears of the Philistines, for those of De Vaux were +cut short, that they might be enclosed under his helmet. The light of +his broad, large hazel eye resembled that of the autumn morn; and it was +only perturbed for a moment, when from time to time it was attracted by +Richard's vehement marks of agitation and restlessness. His features, +though massive like his person, might have been handsome before they +were defaced with scars; his upper lip, after the fashion of the +Normans, was covered with thick moustaches, which grew so long and +luxuriantly as to mingle with his hair, and, like his hair, were dark +brown, slightly brindled with grey. His frame seemed of that kind which +most readily defies both toil and climate, for he was thin-flanked, +broad-chested, long-armed, deep-breathed, and strong-limbed. He had not +laid aside his buff-coat, which displayed the cross cut on the shoulder, +for more than three nights, enjoying but such momentary repose as the +warder of a sick monarch's couch might by snatches indulge. This Baron +rarely changed his posture, except to administer to Richard the medicine +or refreshments which none of his less favoured attendants could +persuade the impatient monarch to take; and there was something +affecting in the kindly yet awkward manner in which he discharged +offices so strangely contrasted with his blunt and soldierly habits and +manners. + +The pavilion in which these personages were, had, as became the time, +as well as the personal character of Richard, more of a warlike than a +sumptuous or royal character. Weapons offensive and defensive, several +of them of strange and newly-invented construction, were scattered about +the tented apartment, or disposed upon the pillars which supported it. +Skins of animals slain in the chase were stretched on the ground, or +extended along the sides of the pavilion; and upon a heap of +these silvan spoils lay three ALANS, as they were then called +(wolf-greyhounds, that is), of the largest size, and as white as snow. +Their faces, marked with many a scar from clutch and fang, showed their +share in collecting the trophies upon which they reposed; and their +eyes, fixed from time to time with an expressive stretch and yawn upon +the bed of Richard, evinced how much they marvelled at and regretted the +unwonted inactivity which they were compelled to share. These were but +the accompaniments of the soldier and huntsman; but on a small table +close by the bed was placed a shield of wrought steel, of triangular +form, bearing the three lions passant first assumed by the chivalrous +monarch, and before it the golden circlet, resembling much a ducal +coronet, only that it was higher in front than behind, which, with +the purple velvet and embroidered tiara that lined it, formed then the +emblem of England's sovereignty. Beside it, as if prompt for defending +the regal symbol, lay a mighty curtal-axe, which would have wearied the +arm of any other than Coeur de Lion. + +In an outer partition of the pavilion waited two or three officers of +the royal household, depressed, anxious for their master's health, and +not less so for their own safety, in case of his decease. Their gloomy +apprehensions spread themselves to the warders without, who paced about +in downcast and silent contemplation, or, resting on their halberds, +stood motionless on their post, rather like armed trophies than living +warriors. + +“So thou hast no better news to bring me from without, Sir Thomas!” + said the King, after a long and perturbed silence, spent in the feverish +agitation which we have endeavoured to describe. “All our knights turned +women, and our ladies become devotees, and neither a spark of valour nor +of gallantry to enlighten a camp which contains the choicest of Europe's +chivalry--ha!” + +“The truce, my lord,” said De Vaux, with the same patience with which +he had twenty times repeated the explanation--“the truce prevents us +bearing ourselves as men of action; and for the ladies, I am no great +reveller, as is well known to your Majesty, and seldom exchange steel +and buff for velvet and gold--but thus far I know, that our choicest +beauties are waiting upon the Queen's Majesty and the Princess, to a +pilgrimage to the convent of Engaddi, to accomplish their vows for your +Highness's deliverance from this trouble.” + +“And is it thus,” said Richard, with the impatience of indisposition, +“that royal matrons and maidens should risk themselves, where the dogs +who defile the land have as little truth to man as they have faith +towards God?” + +“Nay, my lord,” said De Vaux, “they have Saladin's word for their +safety.” + +“True, true!” replied Richard; “and I did the heathen Soldan +injustice--I owe him reparation for it. Would God I were but fit +to offer it him upon my body between the two hosts--Christendom and +heathenesse both looking on!” + +As Richard spoke, he thrust his right arm out of bed naked to the +shoulder, and painfully raising himself in his couch, shook his clenched +hand, as if it grasped sword or battle-axe, and was then brandished over +the jewelled turban of the Soldan. It was not without a gentle degree of +violence, which the King would scarce have endured from another, that +De Vaux, in his character of sick-nurse, compelled his royal master +to replace himself in the couch, and covered his sinewy arm, neck, and +shoulders with the care which a mother bestows upon an impatient child. + +“Thou art a rough nurse, though a willing one, De Vaux,” said the King, +laughing with a bitter expression, while he submitted to the strength +which he was unable to resist; “methinks a coif would become thy +lowering features as well as a child's biggin would beseem mine. We +should be a babe and nurse to frighten girls with.” + +“We have frightened men in our time, my liege,” said De Vaux; “and, I +trust, may live to frighten them again. What is a fever-fit, that we +should not endure it patiently, in order to get rid of it easily?” + +“Fever-fit!” exclaimed Richard impetuously; “thou mayest think, and +justly, that it is a fever-fit with me; but what is it with all the +other Christian princes--with Philip of France, with that dull Austrian, +with him of Montserrat, with the Hospitallers, with the Templars--what +is it with all them? I will tell thee. It is a cold palsy, a dead +lethargy, a disease that deprives them of speech and action, a canker +that has eaten into the heart of all that is noble, and chivalrous, and +virtuous among them--that has made them false to the noblest vow ever +knights were sworn to--has made them indifferent to their fame, and +forgetful of their God!” + +“For the love of Heaven, my liege,” said De Vaux, “take it less +violently--you will be heard without doors, where such speeches are but +too current already among the common soldiery, and engender discord and +contention in the Christian host. Bethink you that your illness mars the +mainspring of their enterprise; a mangonel will work without screw and +lever better than the Christian host without King Richard.” + +“Thou flatterest me, De Vaux,” said Richard, and not insensible to +the power of praise, he reclined his head on the pillow with a more +deliberate attempt to repose than he had yet exhibited. But Thomas +de Vaux was no courtier; the phrase which had offered had risen +spontaneously to his lips, and he knew not how to pursue the pleasing +theme so as to soothe and prolong the vein which he had excited. He was +silent, therefore, until, relapsing into his moody contemplations, the +King demanded of him sharply, “Despardieux! This is smoothly said to +soothe a sick man; but does a league of monarchs, an assemblage or +nobles, a convocation of all the chivalry of Europe, droop with the +sickness of one man, though he chances to be King of England? Why +should Richard's illness, or Richard's death, check the march of thirty +thousand men as brave as himself? When the master stag is struck down, +the herd do not disperse upon his fall; when the falcon strikes the +leading crane, another takes the guidance of the phalanx. Why do not +the powers assemble and choose some one to whom they may entrust the +guidance of the host?” + +“Forsooth, and if it please your Majesty,” said De Vaux, “I hear +consultations have been held among the royal leaders for some such +purpose.” + +“Ha!” exclaimed Richard, his jealousy awakened, giving his mental +irritation another direction, “am I forgot by my allies ere I have taken +the last sacrament? Do they hold me dead already? But no, no, they are +right. And whom do they select as leader of the Christian host?” + +“Rank and dignity,” said De Vaux, “point to the King of France.” + +“Oh, ay,” answered the English monarch, “Philip of France and +Navarre--Denis Mountjoie--his most Christian Majesty! Mouth-filling +words these! There is but one risk--that he might mistake the words EN +ARRIERE for EN AVANT, and lead us back to Paris, instead of marching to +Jerusalem. His politic head has learned by this time that there is more +to be gotten by oppressing his feudatories, and pillaging his allies, +than fighting with the Turks for the Holy Sepulchre.” + +“They might choose the Archduke of Austria,” said De Vaux. + +“What! because he is big and burly like thyself, Thomas--nearly as +thick-headed, but without thy indifference to danger and carelessness +of offence? I tell thee that Austria has in all that mass of flesh no +bolder animation than is afforded by the peevishness of a wasp and the +courage of a wren. Out upon him! He a leader of chivalry to deeds +of glory! Give him a flagon of Rhenish to drink with his besmirched +baaren-hauters and lance-knechts.” + +“There is the Grand Master of the Templars,” continued the baron, not +sorry to keep his master's attention engaged on other topics than his +own illness, though at the expense of the characters of prince and +potentate. “There is the Grand Master of the Templars,” he continued, +“undaunted, skilful, brave in battle, and sage in council, having no +separate kingdoms of his own to divert his exertions from the recovery +of the Holy Land--what thinks your Majesty of the Master as a general +leader of the Christian host?” + +“Ha, Beau-Seant?” answered the King. “Oh, no exception can be taken to +Brother Giles Amaury; he understands the ordering of a battle, and the +fighting in front when it begins. But, Sir Thomas, were it fair to take +the Holy Land from the heathen Saladin, so full of all the virtues which +may distinguish unchristened man, and give it to Giles Amaury, a worse +pagan than himself, an idolater, a devil-worshipper, a necromancer, who +practises crimes the most dark and unnatural in the vaults and secret +places of abomination and darkness?” + +“The Grand Master of the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem is not +tainted by fame, either with heresy or magic,” said Thomas de Vaux. + +“But is he not a sordid miser?” said Richard hastily; “has he not been +suspected--ay, more than suspected--of selling to the infidels those +advantages which they would never have won by fair force? Tush, man, +better give the army to be made merchandise of by Venetian skippers and +Lombardy pedlars, than trust it to the Grand Master of St. John.” + +“Well, then, I will venture but another guess,” said the Baron de Vaux. +“What say you to the gallant Marquis of Montserrat, so wise, so elegant, +such a good man-at-arms?” + +“Wise?--cunning, you would say,” replied Richard; “elegant in a lady's +chamber, if you will. Oh, ay, Conrade of Montserrat--who knows not the +popinjay? Politic and versatile, he will change you his purposes as +often as the trimmings of his doublet, and you shall never be able to +guess the hue of his inmost vestments from their outward colours. A +man-at-arms? Ay, a fine figure on horseback, and can bear him well in +the tilt-yard, and at the barriers, when swords are blunted at point +and edge, and spears are tipped with trenchers of wood instead of steel +pikes. Wert thou not with me when I said to that same gay Marquis, 'Here +we be, three good Christians, and on yonder plain there pricks a band of +some threescore Saracens--what say you to charge them briskly? There are +but twenty unbelieving miscreants to each true knight.” + +“I recollect the Marquis replied,” said De Vaux, “that his limbs were +of flesh, not of iron, and that he would rather bear the heart of a +man than of a beast, though that beast were the lion, But I see how +it is--we shall end where we began, without hope of praying at the +Sepulchre until Heaven shall restore King Richard to health.” + +At this grave remark Richard burst out into a hearty fit of laughter, +the first which he had for some time indulged in. “Why what a thing is +conscience,” he said, “that through its means even such a thick-witted +northern lord as thou canst bring thy sovereign to confess his folly! +It is true that, did they not propose themselves as fit to hold my +leading-staff, little should I care for plucking the silken trappings +off the puppets thou hast shown me in succession. What concerns it me +what fine tinsel robes they swagger in, unless when they are named as +rivals in the glorious enterprise to which I have vowed myself? Yes, +De Vaux, I confess my weakness, and the wilfulness of my ambition. The +Christian camp contains, doubtless, many a better knight than Richard of +England, and it would be wise and worthy to assign to the best of them +the leading of the host. But,” continued the warlike monarch, raising +himself in his bed, and shaking the cover from his head, while his eyes +sparkled as they were wont to do on the eve of battle, “were such a +knight to plant the banner of the Cross on the Temple of Jerusalem while +I was unable to bear my share in the noble task, he should, so soon as I +was fit to lay lance in rest, undergo my challenge to mortal combat, +for having diminished my fame, and pressed in before to the object of my +enterprise. But hark, what trumpets are those at a distance?” + +“Those of King Philip, as I guess, my liege,” said the stout Englishman. + +“Thou art dull of ear, Thomas,” said the King, endeavouring to start up; +“hearest thou not that clash and clang? By Heaven, the Turks are in the +camp--I hear their LELIES.” [The war-cries of the Moslemah.] + +He again endeavoured to get out of bed, and De Vaux was obliged to +exercise his own great strength, and also to summon the assistance of +the chamberlains from the inner tent, to restrain him. + +“Thou art a false traitor, De Vaux,” said the incensed monarch, when, +breathless and exhausted with struggling, he was compelled to submit +to superior strength, and to repose in quiet on his couch. “I would I +were--I would I were but strong enough to dash thy brains out with my +battle-axe!” + +“I would you had the strength, my liege,” said De Vaux, “and would +even take the risk of its being so employed. The odds would be great in +favour of Christendom were Thomas Multon dead and Coeur de Lion himself +again.” + +“Mine honest faithful servant,” said Richard, extending his hand, which +the baron reverentially saluted, “forgive thy master's impatience of +mood. It is this burning fever which chides thee, and not thy kind +master, Richard of England. But go, I prithee, and bring me word what +strangers are in the camp, for these sounds are not of Christendom.” + +De Vaux left the pavilion on the errand assigned, and in his absence, +which he had resolved should be brief, he charged the chamberlains, +pages, and attendants to redouble their attention on their sovereign, +with threats of holding them to responsibility, which rather added to +than diminished their timid anxiety in the discharge of their duty; for +next, perhaps, to the ire of the monarch himself, they dreaded that +of the stern and inexorable Lord of Gilsland. [Sir Thomas Multon of +Gilsland.] + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + There never was a time on the march parts yet, + When Scottish with English met, + But it was marvel if the red blood ran not + As the rain does in the street. + --BATTLE OF OTTERBOURNE. + +A considerable band of Scottish warriors had joined the Crusaders, +and had naturally placed themselves under the command of the English +monarch, being, like his native troops, most of them of Saxon and +Norman descent, speaking the same languages, possessed, some of them, of +English as well as Scottish demesnes, and allied in some cases by blood +and intermarriage. The period also preceded that when the grasping +ambition of Edward I. gave a deadly and envenomed character to the wars +betwixt the two nations--the English fighting for the subjugation +of Scotland, and the Scottish, with all the stern determination and +obstinacy which has ever characterized their nation, for the defence +of their independence, by the most violent means, under the most +disadvantageous circumstances, and at the most extreme hazard. As yet, +wars betwixt the two nations, though fierce and frequent, had been +conducted on principles of fair hostility, and admitted of those +softening shades by which courtesy and the respect for open and generous +foemen qualify and mitigate the horrors of war. In time of peace, +therefore, and especially when both, as at present, were engaged in war, +waged in behalf of a common cause, and rendered dear to them by their +ideas of religion, the adventurers of both countries frequently fought +side by side, their national emulation serving only to stimulate them to +excel each other in their efforts against the common enemy. + +The frank and martial character of Richard, who made no distinction +betwixt his own subjects and those of William of Scotland, excepting as +they bore themselves in the field of battle, tended much to +conciliate the troops of both nations. But upon his illness, and the +disadvantageous circumstances in which the Crusaders were placed, the +national disunion between the various bands united in the Crusade, began +to display itself, just as old wounds break out afresh in the human body +when under the influence of disease or debility. + +The Scottish and English, equally jealous and high-spirited, and apt to +take offence--the former the more so, because the poorer and the weaker +nation--began to fill up by internal dissension the period when the +truce forbade them to wreak their united vengeance on the Saracens. +Like the contending Roman chiefs of old, the Scottish would admit no +superiority, and their southern neighbours would brook no equality. +There were charges and recriminations, and both the common soldiery +and their leaders and commanders, who had been good comrades in time of +victory, lowered on each other in the period of adversity, as if their +union had not been then more essential than ever, not only to the +success of their common cause, but to their joint safety. The same +disunion had begun to show itself betwixt the French and English, the +Italians and the Germans, and even between the Danes and Swedes; but it +is only that which divided the two nations whom one island bred, and who +seemed more animated against each other for the very reason, that our +narrative is principally concerned with. + +Of all the English nobles who had followed their King to Palestine, +De Vaux was most prejudiced against the Scottish. They were his near +neighbours, with whom he had been engaged during his whole life in +private or public warfare, and on whom he had inflicted many calamities, +while he had sustained at their hands not a few. His love and devotion +to the King was like the vivid affection of the old English mastiff to +his master, leaving him churlish and inaccessible to all others even +towards those to whom he was indifferent--and rough and dangerous to +any against whom he entertained a prejudice. De Vaux had never observed +without jealousy and displeasure his King exhibit any mark of courtesy +or favour to the wicked, deceitful, and ferocious race born on the +other side of a river, or an imaginary line drawn through waste and +wilderness; and he even doubted the success of a Crusade in which they +were suffered to bear arms, holding them in his secret soul little +better than the Saracens whom he came to combat. It may be added that, +as being himself a blunt and downright Englishman, unaccustomed +to conceal the slightest movement either of love or of dislike, he +accounted the fair-spoken courtesy which the Scots had learned, either +from imitation of their frequent allies, the French, or which might +have arisen from their own proud and reserved character, as a false and +astucious mark of the most dangerous designs against their neighbours, +over whom he believed, with genuine English confidence, they could, by +fair manhood, never obtain any advantage. + +Yet, though De Vaux entertained these sentiments concerning his Northern +neighbours, and extended them, with little mitigation, even to such as +had assumed the Cross, his respect for the King, and a sense of the duty +imposed by his vow as a Crusader, prevented him from displaying them +otherwise than by regularly shunning all intercourse with his Scottish +brethren-at-arms as far as possible, by observing a sullen taciturnity +when compelled to meet them occasionally, and by looking scornfully upon +them when they encountered on the march and in camp. The Scottish barons +and knights were not men to bear his scorn unobserved or unreplied to; +and it came to that pass that he was regarded as the determined and +active enemy of a nation, whom, after all, he only disliked, and in some +sort despised. Nay, it was remarked by close observers that, if he had +not towards them the charity of Scripture, which suffereth long, and +judges kindly, he was by no means deficient in the subordinate and +limited virtue, which alleviates and relieves the wants of others. +The wealth of Thomas of Gilsland procured supplies of provisions and +medicines, and some of these usually flowed by secret channels into +the quarters of the Scottish--his surly benevolence proceeding on the +principle that, next to a man's friend, his foe was of most importance +to him, passing over all the intermediate relations as too indifferent +to merit even a thought. This explanation is necessary, in order that +the reader may fully understand what we are now to detail. + +Thomas de Vaux had not made many steps beyond the entrance of the royal +pavilion when he was aware of what the far more acute ear of the English +monarch--no mean proficient in the art of minstrelsy--had instantly +discovered, that the musical strains, namely, which had reached their +ears, were produced by the pipes, shalms, and kettle-drums of the +Saracens; and at the bottom of an avenue of tents, which formed a broad +access to the pavilion of Richard, he could see a crowd of idle soldiers +assembled around the spot from which the music was heard, almost in the +centre of the camp; and he saw, with great surprise, mingled amid the +helmets of various forms worn by the Crusaders of different nations, +white turbans and long pikes, announcing the presence of armed +Saracens, and the huge deformed heads of several camels or dromedaries, +overlooking the multitude by aid of their long, disproportioned necks. + +Wondering, and displeased at a sight so unexpected and singular--for it +was customary to leave all flags of truce and other communications from +the enemy at an appointed place without the barriers--the baron looked +eagerly round for some one of whom he might inquire the cause of this +alarming novelty. + +The first person whom he met advancing to him he set down at once, by +his grave and haughty step, as a Spaniard or a Scot; and presently after +muttered to himself, “And a Scot it is--he of the Leopard. I have seen +him fight indifferently well, for one of his country.” + +Loath to ask even a passing question, he was about to pass Sir Kenneth, +with that sullen and lowering port which seems to say, “I know thee, but +I will hold no communication with thee.” But his purpose was defeated +by the Northern Knight, who moved forward directly to him, and accosting +him with formal courtesy, said, “My Lord de Vaux of Gilsland, I have in +charge to speak with you.” + +“Ha!” returned the English baron, “with me? But say your pleasure, so it +be shortly spoken--I am on the King's errand.” + +“Mine touches King Richard yet more nearly,” answered Sir Kenneth; “I +bring him, I trust, health.” + +The Lord of Gilsland measured the Scot with incredulous eyes, and +replied, “Thou art no leech, I think, Sir Scot; I had as soon thought of +your bringing the King of England wealth.” + +Sir Kenneth, though displeased with the manner of the baron's +reply, answered calmly, “Health to Richard is glory and wealth to +Christendom.--But my time presses; I pray you, may I see the King?” + +“Surely not, fair sir,” said the baron, “until your errand be told more +distinctly. The sick chambers of princes open not to all who inquire, +like a northern hostelry.” + +“My lord,” said Kenneth, “the cross which I wear in common with +yourself, and the importance of what I have to tell, must, for the +present, cause me to pass over a bearing which else I were unapt to +endure. In plain language, then, I bring with me a Moorish physician, +who undertakes to work a cure on King Richard.” + +“A Moorish physician!” said De Vaux; “and who will warrant that he +brings not poisons instead of remedies?” + +“His own life, my lord--his head, which he offers as a guarantee.” + +“I have known many a resolute ruffian,” said De Vaux, “who valued his +own life as little as it deserved, and would troop to the gallows as +merrily as if the hangman were his partner in a dance.” + +“But thus it is, my lord,” replied the Scot. “Saladin, to whom none will +deny the credit of a generous and valiant enemy, hath sent this +leech hither with an honourable retinue and guard, befitting the high +estimation in which El Hakim [The Physician] is held by the Soldan, and +with fruits and refreshments for the King's private chamber, and such +message as may pass betwixt honourable enemies, praying him to be +recovered of his fever, that he may be the fitter to receive a visit +from the Soldan, with his naked scimitar in his hand, and a hundred +thousand cavaliers at his back. Will it please you, who are of the +King's secret council, to cause these camels to be discharged of +their burdens, and some order taken as to the reception of the learned +physician?” + +“Wonderful!” said De Vaux, as speaking to himself.--“And who will vouch +for the honour of Saladin, in a case when bad faith would rid him at +once of his most powerful adversary?” + +“I myself,” replied Sir Kenneth, “will be his guarantee, with honour, +life, and fortune.” + +“Strange!” again ejaculated De Vaux; “the North vouches for the +South--the Scot for the Turk! May I crave of you, Sir Knight, how you +became concerned in this affair?” + +“I have been absent on a pilgrimage, in the course of which,” replied +Sir Kenneth “I had a message to discharge towards the holy hermit of +Engaddi.” + +“May I not be entrusted with it, Sir Kenneth, and with the answer of the +holy man?” + +“It may not be, my lord,” answered the Scot. + +“I am of the secret council of England,” said the Englishman haughtily. + +“To which land I owe no allegiance,” said Kenneth. “Though I have +voluntarily followed in this war the personal fortunes of England's +sovereign, I was dispatched by the General Council of the kings, +princes, and supreme leaders of the army of the Blessed Cross, and to +them only I render my errand.” + +“Ha! sayest thou?” said the proud Baron de Vaux. “But know, messenger +of the kings and princes as thou mayest be, no leech shall approach the +sick-bed of Richard of England without the consent of him of Gilsland; +and they will come on evil errand who dare to intrude themselves against +it.” + +He was turning loftily away, when the Scot, placing himself closer, and +more opposite to him, asked, in a calm voice, yet not without expressing +his share of pride, whether the Lord of Gilsland esteemed him a +gentleman and a good knight. + +“All Scots are ennobled by their birthright,” answered Thomas de Vaux, +something ironically; but sensible of his own injustice, and perceiving +that Kenneth's colour rose, he added, “For a good knight it were sin to +doubt you, in one at least who has seen you well and bravely discharge +your devoir.” + +“Well, then,” said the Scottish knight, satisfied with the frankness of +the last admission, “and let me swear to you, Thomas of Gilsland, that, +as I am true Scottish man, which I hold a privilege equal to my ancient +gentry, and as sure as I am a belted knight, and come hither to acquire +LOS [Los--laus, praise, or renown] and fame in this mortal life, and +forgiveness of my sins in that which is to come--so truly, and by the +blessed Cross which I wear, do I protest unto you that I desire but the +safety of Richard Coeur de Lion, in recommending the ministry of this +Moslem physician.” + +The Englishman was struck with the solemnity of the obtestation, and +answered with more cordiality than he had yet exhibited, “Tell me, Sir +Knight of the Leopard, granting (which I do not doubt) that thou art +thyself satisfied in this matter, shall I do well, in a land where the +art of poisoning is as general as that of cooking, to bring this +unknown physician to practise with his drugs on a health so valuable to +Christendom?” + +“My lord,” replied the Scot, “thus only can I reply--that my squire, the +only one of my retinue whom war and disease had left in attendance on +me, has been of late suffering dangerously under this same fever, which, +in valiant King Richard, has disabled the principal limb of our holy +enterprise. This leech, this El Hakim, hath ministered remedies to him +not two hours since, and already he hath fallen into a refreshing sleep. +That he can cure the disorder, which has proved so fatal, I nothing +doubt; that he hath the purpose to do it is, I think, warranted by his +mission from the royal Soldan, who is true-hearted and loyal, so far as +a blinded infidel may be called so; and for his eventual success, the +certainty of reward in case of succeeding, and punishment in case of +voluntary failure, may be a sufficient guarantee.” + +The Englishman listened with downcast looks, as one who doubted, yet was +not unwilling to receive conviction. At length he looked up and said, +“May I see your sick squire, fair sir?” + +The Scottish knight hesitated and coloured, yet answered at last, +“Willingly, my Lord of Gilsland. But you must remember, when you see my +poor quarter, that the nobles and knights of Scotland feed not so high, +sleep not so soft, and care not for the magnificence of lodgment which +is Proper to their southern neighbours. I am POORLY lodged, my Lord of +Gilsland,” he added, with a haughty emphasis on the word, while, with +some unwillingness, he led the way to his temporary place of abode. + +Whatever were the prejudices of De Vaux against the nation of his new +acquaintance, and though we undertake not to deny that some of these +were excited by its proverbial poverty, he had too much nobleness +of disposition to enjoy the mortification of a brave individual +thus compelled to make known wants which his pride would gladly have +concealed. + +“Shame to the soldier of the Cross,” he said, “who thinks of worldly +splendour, or of luxurious accommodation, when pressing forward to +the conquest of the Holy City. Fare as hard as we may, we shall yet be +better than the host of martyrs and of saints, who, having trod these +scenes before us, now hold golden lamps and evergreen palms.” + +This was the most metaphorical speech which Thomas of Gilsland was ever +known to utter, the rather, perhaps (as will sometimes happen), that it +did not entirely express his own sentiments, being somewhat a lover of +good cheer and splendid accommodation. By this time they reached the +place of the camp where the Knight of the Leopard had assumed his abode. + +Appearances here did indeed promise no breach of the laws of +mortification, to which the Crusaders, according to the opinion +expressed by him of Gilsland, ought to subject themselves. A space of +ground, large enough to accommodate perhaps thirty tents, according to +the Crusaders' rules of castrametation, was partly vacant--because, +in ostentation, the knight had demanded ground to the extent of his +original retinue--partly occupied by a few miserable huts, hastily +constructed of boughs, and covered with palm-leaves. These habitations +seemed entirely deserted, and several of them were ruinous. The central +hut, which represented the pavilion of the leader, was distinguished by +his swallow-tailed pennon, placed on the point of a spear, from which +its long folds dropped motionless to the ground, as if sickening under +the scorching rays of the Asiatic sun. But no pages or squires--not even +a solitary warder--was placed by the emblem of feudal power and knightly +degree. If its reputation defended it not from insult, it had no other +guard. + +Sir Kenneth cast a melancholy look around him, but suppressing his +feelings, entered the hut, making a sign to the Baron of Gilsland to +follow. He also cast around a glance of examination, which implied pity +not altogether unmingled with contempt, to which, perhaps, it is as +nearly akin as it is said to be to love. He then stooped his lofty +crest, and entered a lowly hut, which his bulky form seemed almost +entirely to fill. + +The interior of the hut was chiefly occupied by two beds. One was empty, +but composed of collected leaves, and spread with an antelope's hide. It +seemed, from the articles of armour laid beside it, and from a crucifix +of silver, carefully and reverentially disposed at the head, to be the +couch of the knight himself. The other contained the invalid, of whom +Sir Kenneth had spoken, a strong-built and harsh-featured man, past, as +his looks betokened, the middle age of life. His couch was trimmed +more softly than his master's, and it was plain that the more courtly +garments of the latter, the loose robe in which the knights showed +themselves on pacific occasions, and the other little spare articles +of dress and adornment, had been applied by Sir Kenneth to the +accommodation of his sick domestic. In an outward part of the hut, +which yet was within the range of the English baron's eye, a boy, +rudely attired with buskins of deer's hide, a blue cap or bonnet, and a +doublet, whose original finery was much tarnished, sat on his knees by +a chafing-dish filled with charcoal, cooking upon a plate of iron the +cakes of barley-bread, which were then, and still are, a favourite food +with the Scottish people. Part of an antelope was suspended against one +of the main props of the hut. Nor was it difficult to know how it had +been procured; for a large stag greyhound, nobler in size and appearance +than those even which guarded King Richard's sick-bed, lay eyeing +the process of baking the cake. The sagacious animal, on their first +entrance, uttered a stifled growl, which sounded from his deep chest +like distant thunder. But he saw his master, and acknowledged his +presence by wagging his tail and couching his head, abstaining from more +tumultuous or noisy greeting, as if his noble instinct had taught him +the propriety of silence in a sick man's chamber. + +Beside the couch sat on a cushion, also composed of skins, the Moorish +physician of whom Sir Kenneth had spoken, cross-legged, after the +Eastern fashion. The imperfect light showed little of him, save that +the lower part of his face was covered with a long, black beard, which +descended over his breast; that he wore a high TOLPACH, a Tartar cap of +the lamb's wool manufactured at Astracan, bearing the same dusky colour; +and that his ample caftan, or Turkish robe, was also of a dark hue. +Two piercing eyes, which gleamed with unusual lustre, were the only +lineaments of his visage that could be discerned amid the darkness in +which he was enveloped. + +The English lord stood silent with a sort of reverential awe; for +notwithstanding the roughness of his general bearing, a scene of +distress and poverty, firmly endured without complaint or murmur, would +at any time have claimed more reverence from Thomas de Vaux than would +all the splendid formalities of a royal presence-chamber, unless that +presence-chamber were King Richard's own. Nothing was for a time heard +but the heavy and regular breathings of the invalid, who seemed in +profound repose. + +“He hath not slept for six nights before,” said Sir Kenneth, “as I am +assured by the youth, his attendant.” + +“Noble Scot,” said Thomas de Vaux, grasping the Scottish knight's hand, +with a pressure which had more of cordiality than he permitted his words +to utter, “this gear must be amended. Your esquire is but too evil fed +and looked to.” + +In the latter part of this speech he naturally raised his voice to its +usual decided tone, The sick man was disturbed in his slumbers. + +“My master,” he said, murmuring as in a dream, “noble Sir Kenneth, taste +not, to you as to me, the waters of the Clyde cold and refreshing after +the brackish springs of Palestine?” + +“He dreams of his native land, and is happy in his slumbers,” whispered +Sir Kenneth to De Vaux; but had scarce uttered the words, when the +physician, arising from the place which he had taken near the couch of +the sick, and laying the hand of the patient, whose pulse he had been +carefully watching, quietly upon the couch, came to the two knights, +and taking them each by the arm, while he intimated to them to remain +silent, led them to the front of the hut. + +“In the name of Issa Ben Mariam,” he said, “whom we honour as you, +though not with the same blinded superstition, disturb not the effect +of the blessed medicine of which he hath partaken. To awaken him now is +death or deprivation of reason; but return at the hour when the muezzin +calls from the minaret to evening prayer in the mosque, and if left +undisturbed until then, I promise you this same Frankish soldier shall +be able, without prejudice to his health, to hold some brief converse +with you on any matters on which either, and especially his master, may +have to question him.” + +The knights retreated before the authoritative commands of the leech, +who seemed fully to comprehend the importance of the Eastern proverb +that the sick chamber of the patient is the kingdom of the physician. + +They paused, and remained standing together at the door of the hut--Sir +Kenneth with the air of one who expected his visitor to say farewell, +and De Vaux as if he had something on his mind which prevented him from +doing so. The hound, however, had pressed out of the tent after them, +and now thrust his long, rough countenance into the hand of his master, +as if modestly soliciting some mark of his kindness. He had no sooner +received the notice which he desired, in the shape of a kind word and +slight caress, than, eager to acknowledge his gratitude and joy for his +master's return, he flew off at full speed, galloping in full career, +and with outstretched tail, here and there, about and around, cross-ways +and endlong, through the decayed huts and the esplanade we have +described, but never transgressing those precincts which his sagacity +knew were protected by his master's pennon. After a few gambols of this +kind, the dog, coming close up to his master, laid at once aside his +frolicsome mood, relapsed into his usual gravity and slowness of gesture +and deportment, and looked as if he were ashamed that anything should +have moved him to depart so far out of his sober self-control. + +Both knights looked on with pleasure; for Sir Kenneth was justly proud +of his noble hound, and the northern English baron was, of course, an +admirer of the chase, and a judge of the animal's merits. + +“A right able dog,” he said. “I think, fair sir, King Richard hath not +an ALAN which may match him, if he be as stanch as he is swift. But let +me pray you--speaking in all honour and kindness--have you not heard the +proclamation that no one under the rank of earl shall keep hunting dogs +within King Richard's camp without the royal license, which, I think, +Sir Kenneth, hath not been issued to you? I speak as Master of the +Horse.” + +“And I answer as a free Scottish knight,” said Kenneth sternly. “For +the present I follow the banner of England, but I cannot remember that I +have ever subjected myself to the forest-laws of that kingdom, nor have +I such respect for them as would incline me to do so. When the trumpet +sounds to arms, my foot is in the stirrup as soon as any--when it clangs +for the charge, my lance has not yet been the last laid in the rest. But +for my hours of liberty or of idleness King Richard has no title to bar +my recreation.” + +“Nevertheless,” said De Vaux, “it is a folly to disobey the King's +ordinance; so, with your good leave, I, as having authority in that +matter, will send you a protection for my friend here.” + +“I thank you,” said the Scot coldly; “but he knows my allotted quarters, +and within these I can protect him myself.--And yet,” he said, suddenly +changing his manner, “this is but a cold return for a well-meant +kindness. I thank you, my lord, most heartily. The King's equerries +or prickers might find Roswal at disadvantage, and do him some injury, +which I should not, perhaps, be slow in returning, and so ill might come +of it. You have seen so much of my house-keeping, my lord,” he added, +with a smile, “that I need not shame to say that Roswal is our principal +purveyor, and well I hope our Lion Richard will not be like the lion +in the minstrel fable, that went a-hunting, and kept the whole booty to +himself. I cannot think he would grudge a poor gentleman, who follows +him faithfully, his hour of sport and his morsel of game, more +especially when other food is hard enough to come by.” + +“By my faith, you do the King no more than justice; and yet,” said the +baron, “there is something in these words, vert and venison, that turns +the very brains of our Norman princes.” + +“We have heard of late,” said the Scot, “by minstrels and pilgrims, that +your outlawed yeomen have formed great bands in the shires of York and +Nottingham, having at their head a most stout archer, called Robin Hood, +with his lieutenant, Little John. Methinks it were better that Richard +relaxed his forest-code in England, than endeavour to enforce it in the +Holy Land.” + +“Wild work, Sir Kenneth,” replied De Vaux, shrugging his shoulders, as +one who would avoid a perilous or unpleasing topic--“a mad world, sir. +I must now bid you adieu, having presently to return to the King's +pavilion. At vespers I will again, with your leave, visit your quarters, +and speak with this same infidel physician. I would, in the meantime, +were it no offence, willingly send you what would somewhat mend your +cheer.” + +“I thank you, sir,” said Sir Kenneth, “but it needs not. Roswal hath +already stocked my larder for two weeks, since the sun of Palestine, if +it brings diseases, serves also to dry venison.” + +The two warriors parted much better friends than they had met; but ere +they separated, Thomas de Vaux informed himself at more length of +the circumstances attending the mission of the Eastern physician, and +received from the Scottish knight the credentials which he had brought +to King Richard on the part of Saladin. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + A wise physician, skilled our wounds to heal, + Is more than armies to the common weal. + POPE'S ILLIAD. + + +“This is a strange tale, Sir Thomas,” said the sick monarch, when he had +heard the report of the trusty Baron of Gilsland. “Art thou sure this +Scottish man is a tall man and true?” + +“I cannot say, my lord,” replied the jealous Borderer. “I live a little +too near the Scots to gather much truth among them, having found them +ever fair and false. But this man's bearing is that of a true man, +were he a devil as well as a Scot; that I must needs say for him in +conscience.” + +“And for his carriage as a knight, how sayest thou, De Vaux?” demanded +the King. + +“It is your Majesty's business more than mine to note men's bearings; +and I warrant you have noted the manner in which this man of the Leopard +hath borne himself. He hath been full well spoken of.” + +“And justly, Thomas,” said the King. “We have ourselves witnessed him. +It is indeed our purpose in placing ourselves ever in the front of +battle, to see how our liegemen and followers acquit themselves, and +not from a desire to accumulate vainglory to ourselves, as some have +supposed. We know the vanity of the praise of man, which is but a +vapour, and buckle on our armour for other purposes than to win it.” + +De Vaux was alarmed when he heard the King make a declaration so +inconsistent with his nature, and believed at first that nothing short +of the approach of death could have brought him to speak in depreciating +terms of military renown, which was the very breath of his nostrils. But +recollecting he had met the royal confessor in the outer pavilion, he +was shrewd enough to place this temporary self-abasement to the effect +of the reverend man's lesson, and suffered the King to proceed without +reply. + +“Yes,” continued Richard, “I have indeed marked the manner in which this +knight does his devoir. My leading-staff were not worth a fool's bauble +had he escaped my notice; and he had ere now tasted of our bounty, but +that I have also marked his overweening and audacious presumption.” + +“My liege,” said the Baron of Gilsland, observing the King's countenance +change, “I fear I have transgressed your pleasure in lending some +countenance to his transgression.” + +“How, De Multon, thou?” said the King, contracting his brows, and +speaking in a tone of angry surprise. “Thou countenance his insolence? +It cannot be.” + +“Nay, your Majesty will pardon me to remind you that I have by mine +office right to grant liberty to men of gentle blood to keep them a +hound or two within camp, just to cherish the noble art of venerie; and +besides, it were a sin to have maimed or harmed a thing so noble as this +gentleman's dog.” + +“Has he, then, a dog so handsome?” said the King. + +“A most perfect creature of Heaven,” said the baron, who was an +enthusiast in field-sports--“of the noblest Northern breed--deep in the +chest, strong in the stern--black colour, and brindled on the breast +and legs, not spotted with white, but just shaded into grey--strength to +pull down a bull, swiftness to cote an antelope.” + +The King laughed at his enthusiasm. “Well, thou hast given him leave to +keep the hound, so there is an end of it. Be not, however, liberal of +your licenses among those knights adventurers who have no prince or +leader to depend upon; they are ungovernable, and leave no game in +Palestine.--But to this piece of learned heathenesse--sayest thou the +Scot met him in the desert?” + +“No, my liege; the Scot's tale runs thus. He was dispatched to the old +hermit of Engaddi, of whom men talk so much--” + +“'Sdeath and hell!” said Richard, starting up. “By whom dispatched, +and for what? Who dared send any one thither, when our Queen was in the +Convent of Engaddi, upon her pilgrimage for our recovery?” + +“The Council of the Crusade sent him, my lord,” answered the Baron de +Vaux; “for what purpose, he declined to account to me. I think it is +scarce known in the camp that your royal consort is on a pilgrimage; +and even the princes may not have been aware, as the Queen has been +sequestered from company since your love prohibited her attendance in +case of infection.” + +“Well, it shall be looked into,” said Richard. “So this Scottish +man, this envoy, met with a wandering physician at the grotto of +Engaddi--ha?” + +“Not so my liege,” replied De Vaux? “but he met, I think, near that +place, with a Saracen Emir with whom he had some MELEE in the way of +proof of valour, and finding him worthy to bear brave men company, they +went together, as errant knights are wont, to the grotto of Engaddi.” + +Here De Vaux stopped, for he was not one of those who can tell a long +story in a sentence. + +“And did they there meet the physician?” demanded the King impatiently. + +“No, my liege,” replied De Vaux; “but the Saracen, learning your +Majesty's grievous illness, undertook that Saladin should send his own +physician to you, and with many assurances of his eminent skill; and he +came to the grotto accordingly, after the Scottish knight had tarried a +day for him and more. He is attended as if he were a prince, with drums +and atabals, and servants on horse and foot, and brings with him letters +of credence from Saladin.” + +“Have they been examined by Giacomo Loredani?” + +“I showed them to the interpreter ere bringing them hither, and behold +their contents in English.” + +Richard took a scroll, in which were inscribed these words: The blessing +of Allah and his Prophet Mohammed [“Out upon the hound!” said Richard, +spitting in contempt, by way of interjection], Saladin, king of kings, +Saldan of Egypt and of Syria, the light and refuge of the earth, to the +great Melech Ric, Richard of England, greeting. Whereas, we have been +informed that the hand of sickness hath been heavy upon thee, our royal +brother, and that thou hast with thee only such Nazarene and Jewish +mediciners as work without the blessing of Allah and our holy Prophet +[“Confusion on his head!” again muttered the English monarch], we have +therefore sent to tend and wait upon thee at this time the physician +to our own person, Adonbec el Hakim, before whose face the angel Azrael +[The Angel of Death.] spreads his wings and departs from the sick +chamber; who knows the virtues of herbs and stones, the path of the sun, +moon, and stars, and can save man from all that is not written on his +forehead. And this we do, praying you heartily to honour and make use +of his skill; not only that we may do service to thy worth and valour, +which is the glory of all the nations of Frangistan, but that we may +bring the controversy which is at present between us to an end, either +by honourable agreement, or by open trial thereof with our weapons, in a +fair field--seeing that it neither becomes thy place and courage to die +the death of a slave who hath been overwrought by his taskmaster, nor +befits it our fame that a brave adversary be snatched from our weapon by +such a disease. And, therefore, may the holy--” + +“Hold, hold,” said Richard, “I will have no more of his dog of a +prophet! It makes me sick to think the valiant and worthy Soldan should +believe in a dead dog. Yes, I will see his physician. I will put +myself into the charge of this Hakim--I will repay the noble Soldan +his generosity--I will meet Saladin in the field, as he so worthily +proposes, and he shall have no cause to term Richard of England +ungrateful. I will strike him to the earth with my battle-axe--I will +convert him to Holy Church with such blows as he has rarely endured. He +shall recant his errors before my good cross-handled sword, and I will +have him baptized on the battle-field, from my own helmet, though the +cleansing waters were mixed with the blood of us both.--Haste, De Vaux, +why dost thou delay a conclusion so pleasing? Fetch the Hakim hither.” + +“My lord,” said the baron, who perhaps saw some accession of fever in +this overflow of confidence, “bethink you, the Soldan is a pagan, and +that you are his most formidable enemy--” + +“For which reason he is the more bound to do me service in this matter, +lest a paltry fever end the quarrel betwixt two such kings. I tell thee +he loves me as I love him--as noble adversaries ever love each other. By +my honour, it were sin to doubt his good faith!” + +“Nevertheless, my lord, it were well to wait the issue of these +medicines upon the Scottish squire,” said the Lord of Gilsland. “My own +life depends upon it, for worthy were I to die like a dog did I proceed +rashly in this matter, and make shipwreck of the weal of Christendom.” + +“I never knew thee before hesitate for fear of life,” said Richard +upbraidingly. + +“Nor would I now, my liege,” replied the stout-hearted baron, “save that +yours lies at pledge as well as my own.” + +“Well, thou suspicious mortal,” answered Richard, “begone then, and +watch the progress of this remedy. I could almost wish it might either +cure or kill me, for I am weary of lying here like an ox dying of +the murrain, when tambours are beating, horses stamping, and trumpets +sounding without.” + +The baron hastily departed, resolved, however, to communicate his errand +to some churchman, as he felt something burdened in conscience at the +idea of his master being attended by an unbeliever. + +The Archbishop of Tyre was the first to whom he confided his doubts, +knowing his interest with his master, Richard, who both loved and +honoured that sagacious prelate. The bishop heard the doubts which De +Vaux stated, with that acuteness of intelligence which distinguishes the +Roman Catholic clergy. The religious scruples of De Vaux he treated +with as much lightness as propriety permitted him to exhibit on such a +subject to a layman. + +“Mediciners,” he said, “like the medicines which they employed, were +often useful, though the one were by birth or manners the vilest of +humanity, as the others are, in many cases, extracted from the basest +materials. Men may use the assistance of pagans and infidels,” he +continued, “in their need, and there is reason to think that one cause +of their being permitted to remain on earth is that they might minister +to the convenience of true Christians. Thus we lawfully make slaves of +heathen captives. Again,” proceeded the prelate, “there is no doubt that +the primitive Christians used the services of the unconverted heathen. +Thus in the ship of Alexandria, in which the blessed Apostle Paul sailed +to Italy, the sailors were doubtless pagans; yet what said the holy +saint when their ministry was needful?--'NISI HI IN NAVI MANSERINT, VOS +SALVI FIERI NON POTESTIS'--Unless these men abide in the ship, ye +cannot be saved. Again, Jews are infidels to Christianity, as well as +Mohammedans. But there are few physicians in the camp excepting Jews, +and such are employed without scandal or scruple. Therefore, +Mohammedans may be used for their service in that capacity--QUOD ERAT +DEMONSTRANDUM.” + +This reasoning entirely removed the scruples of Thomas de Vaux, who was +particularly moved by the Latin quotation, as he did not understand a +word of it. + +But the bishop proceeded with far less fluency when he considered the +possibility of the Saracen's acting with bad faith; and here he came not +to a speedy decision. The baron showed him the letters of credence. He +read and re-read them, and compared the original with the translation. + +“It is a dish choicely cooked,” he said, “to the palate of King Richard, +and I cannot but have my suspicions of the wily Saracen. They are +curious in the art of poisons, and can so temper them that they shall +be weeks in acting upon the party, during which time the perpetrator +has leisure to escape. They can impregnate cloth and leather, nay, even +paper and parchment, with the most subtle venom. Our Lady forgive me! +And wherefore, knowing this, hold I these letters of credence so close +to my face? Take them, Sir Thomas--take them speedily!” + +Here he gave them at arm's-length, and with some appearance of haste, +to the baron. “But come, my Lord de Vaux,” he continued, “wend we to the +tent of this sick squire, where we shall learn whether this Hakim hath +really the art of curing which he professeth, ere we consider whether +there be safety in permitting him to exercise his art upon King +Richard.--Yet, hold! let me first take my pouncet-box, for these fevers +spread like an infection. I would advise you to use dried rosemary +steeped in vinegar, my lord. I, too, know something of the healing art.” + +“I thank your reverend lordship,” replied Thomas of Gilsland; “but had +I been accessible to the fever, I had caught it long since by the bed of +my master.” + +The Bishop of Tyre blushed, for he had rather avoided the presence of +the sick monarch; and he bid the baron lead on. + +As they paused before the wretched hut in which Kenneth of the Leopard +and his follower abode, the bishop said to De Vaux, “Now, of a surety, +my lord, these Scottish Knights have worse care of their followers than +we of our dogs. Here is a knight, valiant, they say, in battle, and +thought fitting to be graced with charges of weight in time of truce, +whose esquire of the body is lodged worse than in the worst dog-kennel +in England. What say you of your neighbours?” + +“That a master doth well enough for his servant when he lodgeth him in +no worse dwelling than his own,” said De Vaux, and entered the hut. + +The bishop followed, not without evident reluctance; for though he +lacked not courage in some respects, yet it was tempered with a strong +and lively regard for his own safety. He recollected, however, the +necessity there was for judging personally of the skill of the Arabian +physician, and entered the hut with a stateliness of manner calculated, +as he thought, to impose respect on the stranger. + +The prelate was, indeed, a striking and commanding figure. In his youth +he had been eminently handsome, and even in age was unwilling to appear +less so. His episcopal dress was of the richest fashion, trimmed with +costly fur, and surrounded by a cope of curious needlework. The rings +on his fingers were worth a goodly barony, and the hood which he wore, +though now unclasped and thrown back for heat, had studs of pure gold to +fasten it around his throat and under his chin when he so inclined. His +long beard, now silvered with age, descended over his breast. One of two +youthful acolytes who attended him created an artificial shade, peculiar +then to the East, by bearing over his head an umbrella of palmetto +leaves, while the other refreshed his reverend master by agitating a fan +of peacock-feathers. + +When the Bishop of Tyre entered the hut of the Scottish knight, the +master was absent, and the Moorish physician, whom he had come to see, +sat in the very posture in which De Vaux had left him several hours +before, cross-legged upon a mat made of twisted leaves, by the side of +the patient, who appeared in deep slumber, and whose pulse he felt from +time to time. The bishop remained standing before him in silence for +two or three minutes, as if expecting some honourable salutation, or +at least that the Saracen would seem struck with the dignity of his +appearance. But Adonbec el Hakim took no notice of him beyond a passing +glance, and when the prelate at length saluted him in the lingua +franca current in the country, he only replied by the ordinary Oriental +greeting, “SALAM ALICUM--Peace be with you.” + +“Art thou a physician, infidel?” said the bishop, somewhat mortified at +this cold reception. “I would speak with thee on that art.” + +“If thou knewest aught of medicine,” answered El Hakim, “thou wouldst be +aware that physicians hold no counsel or debate in the sick chamber of +their patient. Hear,” he added, as the low growling of the staghound was +heard from the inner hut, “even the dog might teach thee reason, Ulemat. +His instinct teaches him to suppress his barking in the sick man's +hearing. Come without the tent,” said he, rising and leading the way, +“if thou hast ought to say with me.” + +Notwithstanding the plainness of the Saracen leech's dress, and his +inferiority of size when contrasted with the tall prelate and +gigantic English baron, there was something striking in his manner and +countenance, which prevented the Bishop of Tyre from expressing strongly +the displeasure he felt at this unceremonious rebuke. When without the +hut, he gazed upon Adonbec in silence for several minutes before he +could fix on the best manner to renew the conversation. No locks were +seen under the high bonnet of the Arabian, which hid also part of a brow +that seemed lofty and expanded, smooth, and free from wrinkles, as were +his cheeks, where they were seen under the shade of his long beard. We +have elsewhere noticed the piercing quality of his dark eyes. + +The prelate, struck with his apparent youth, at length broke a pause, +which the other seemed in no haste to interrupt, by demanding of the +Arabian how old he was? + +“The years of ordinary men,” said the Saracen, “are counted by their +wrinkles; those of sages by their studies. I dare not call myself older +than a hundred revolutions of the Hegira.” [Meaning that his attainments +were those which might have been made in a hundred years.] + +The Baron of Gilsland, who took this for a literal assertion that he was +a century old, looked doubtfully upon the prelate, who, though he better +understood the meaning of El Hakim, answered his glance by mysteriously +shaking his head. He resumed an air of importance when he again +authoritatively demanded what evidence Adonbec could produce of his +medical proficiency. + +“Ye have the word of the mighty Saladin,” said the sage, touching his +cap in sign of reverence--“a word which was never broken towards friend +or foe. What, Nazarene, wouldst thou demand more?” + +“I would have ocular proof of thy skill,” said the baron, “and without +it thou approachest not to the couch of King Richard.” + +“The praise of the physician,” said the Arabian, “is in the recovery of +his patient. Behold this sergeant, whose blood has been dried up by the +fever which has whitened your camp with skeletons, and against which the +art of your Nazarene leeches hath been like a silken doublet against a +lance of steel. Look at his fingers and arms, wasted like the claws and +shanks of the crane. Death had this morning his clutch on him; but had +Azrael been on one side of the couch, I being on the other, his soul +should not have been left from his body. Disturb me not with further +questions, but await the critical minute, and behold in silent wonder +the marvellous event.” + +The physician had then recourse to his astrolabe, the oracle of Eastern +science, and watching with grave precision until the precise time of the +evening prayer had arrived, he sunk on his knees, with his face turned +to Mecca, and recited the petitions which close the Moslemah's day of +toil. The bishop and the English baron looked on each other, meanwhile, +with symptoms of contempt and indignation, but neither judged it fit to +interrupt El Hakim in his devotions, unholy as they considered them to +be. + +The Arab arose from the earth, on which he had prostrated himself, and +walking into the hut where the patient lay extended, he drew a sponge +from a small silver box, dipped perhaps in some aromatic distillation, +for when he put it to the sleeper's nose, he sneezed, awoke, and looked +wildly around. He was a ghastly spectacle as he sat up almost naked on +his couch, the bones and cartilages as visible through the surface of +his skin as if they had never been clothed with flesh. His face was +long, and furrowed with wrinkles; but his eye, though it wandered at +first, became gradually more settled. He seemed to be aware of the +presence of his dignified visitors, for he attempted feebly to pull +the covering from his head in token of reverence, as he inquired, in a +subdued and submissive voice, for his master. + +“Do you know us, vassal?” said the Lord of Gilsland. + +“Not perfectly, my lord,” replied the squire faintly. “My sleep has been +long and full of dreams. Yet I know that you are a great English lord, +as seemeth by the red cross, and this a holy prelate, whose blessing I +crave on me a poor sinner.” + +“Thou hast it--BENEDICTIO DOMINI SIT VOBISCUM,” said the prelate, making +the sign of the cross, but without approaching nearer to the patient's +bed. + +“Your eyes witness,” said the Arabian, “the fever hath been subdued. +He speaks with calmness and recollection--his pulse beats composedly as +yours--try its pulsations yourself.” + +The prelate declined the experiment; but Thomas of Gilsland, more +determined on making the trial, did so, and satisfied himself that the +fever was indeed gone. + +“This is most wonderful,” said the knight, looking to the bishop; “the +man is assuredly cured. I must conduct this mediciner presently to King +Richard's tent. What thinks your reverence?” + +“Stay, let me finish one cure ere I commence another,” said the Arab; “I +will pass with you when I have given my patient the second cup of this +most holy elixir.” + +So saying he pulled out a silver cup, and filling it with water from a +gourd which stood by the bedside, he next drew forth a small silken +bag made of network, twisted with silver, the contents of which the +bystanders could not discover, and immersing it in the cup, continued to +watch it in silence during the space of five minutes. It seemed to the +spectators as if some effervescence took place during the operation; but +if so, it instantly subsided. + +“Drink,” said the physician to the sick man--“sleep, and awaken free +from malady.” + +“And with this simple-seeming draught thou wilt undertake to cure a +monarch?” said the Bishop of Tyre. + +“I have cured a beggar, as you may behold,” replied the sage. “Are +the Kings of Frangistan made of other clay than the meanest of their +subjects?” + +“Let us have him presently to the King,” said the Baron of Gilsland. “He +hath shown that he possesses the secret which may restore his health. If +he fails to exercise it, I will put himself past the power of medicine.” + +As they were about to leave the hut, the sick man, raising his voice +as much as his weakness permitted, exclaimed, “Reverend father, noble +knight, and you, kind leech, if you would have me sleep and recover, +tell me in charity what is become of my dear master?” + +“He is upon a distant expedition, friend,” replied the prelate--“on an +honourable embassy, which may detain him for some days.” + +“Nay,” said the Baron of Gilsland, “why deceive the poor +fellow?--Friend, thy master has returned to the camp, and you will +presently see him.” + +The invalid held up, as if in thankfulness, his wasted hands to Heaven, +and resisting no longer the soporiferous operation of the elixir, sunk +down in a gentle sleep. + +“You are a better physician than I, Sir Thomas,” said the prelate--“a +soothing falsehood is fitter for a sick-room than an unpleasing truth.” + +“How mean you, my reverend lord?” said De Vaux hastily. “Think you I +would tell a falsehood to save the lives of a dozen such as he?” + +“You said,” replied the bishop, with manifest symptoms of alarm--“you +said the esquire's master was returned--he, I mean, of the Couchant +Leopard.” + +“And he IS returned,” said De Vaux. “I spoke with him but a few hours +since. This learned leech came in his company.” + +“Holy Virgin! why told you not of his return to me?” said the bishop, in +evident perturbation. + +“Did I not say that this same Knight of the Leopard had returned +in company with the physician? I thought I had,” replied De Vaux +carelessly. “But what signified his return to the skill of the +physician, or the cure of his Majesty?” + +“Much, Sir Thomas--it signified much,” said the bishop, clenching +his hands, pressing his foot against the earth, and giving signs of +impatience, as if in an involuntary manner. “But where can he be gone +now, this same knight? God be with us--here may be some fatal errors!” + +“Yonder serf in the outer space,” said De Vaux, not without wonder +at the bishop's emotion, “can probably tell us whither his master has +gone.” + +The lad was summoned, and in a language nearly incomprehensible to +them, gave them at length to understand that an officer had summoned his +master to the royal tent some time before their arrival at that of his +master. The anxiety of the bishop appeared to rise to the highest, and +became evident to De Vaux, though, neither an acute observer nor of a +suspicious temper. But with his anxiety seemed to increase his wish to +keep it subdued and unobserved. He took a hasty leave of De Vaux, who +looked after him with astonishment, and after shrugging his shoulders in +silent wonder, proceeded to conduct the Arabian physician to the tent of +King Richard. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + This is the prince of leeches; fever, plague, + Cold rheum, and hot podagra, do but look on him, + And quit their grasp upon the tortured sinews. + ANONYMOUS. + +The Baron of Gilsland walked with slow step and an anxious countenance +towards the royal pavilion. He had much diffidence of his own capacity, +except in a field of battle, and conscious of no very acute intellect, +was usually contented to wonder at circumstances which a man of livelier +imagination would have endeavoured to investigate and understand, or +at least would have made the subject of speculation. But it seemed very +extraordinary, even to him, that the attention of the bishop should have +been at once abstracted from all reflection on the marvellous cure which +they had witnessed, and upon the probability it afforded of Richard +being restored to health, by what seemed a very trivial piece of +information announcing the motions of a beggardly Scottish knight, than +whom Thomas of Gilsland knew nothing within the circle of gentle +blood more unimportant or contemptible; and despite his usual habit +of passively beholding passing events, the baron's spirit toiled with +unwonted attempts to form conjectures on the cause. + +At length the idea occurred at once to him that the whole might be a +conspiracy against King Richard, formed within the camp of the allies, +and to which the bishop, who was by some represented as a politic and +unscrupulous person, was not unlikely to have been accessory. It was +true that, in his own opinion, there existed no character so perfect as +that of his master; for Richard being the flower of chivalry, and the +chief of Christian leaders, and obeying in all points the commands of +Holy Church, De Vaux's ideas of perfection went no further. Still, he +knew that, however unworthily, it had been always his master's fate +to draw as much reproach and dislike as honour and attachment from the +display of his great qualities; and that in the very camp, and amongst +those princes bound by oath to the Crusade, were many who would have +sacrificed all hope of victory over the Saracens to the pleasure of +ruining, or at least of humbling, Richard of England. + +“Wherefore,” said the baron to himself, “it is in no sense impossible +that this El Hakim, with this his cure, or seeming cure, wrought on the +body of the Scottish squire, may mean nothing but a trick, to which he +of the Leopard may be accessory, and wherein the Bishop of Tyre, prelate +as he is, may have some share.” + +This hypothesis, indeed, could not be so easily reconciled with the +alarm manifested by the bishop on learning that, contrary to his +expectation, the Scottish knight had suddenly returned to the Crusaders' +camp. But De Vaux was influenced only by his general prejudices, +which dictated to him the assured belief that a wily Italian priest, +a false-hearted Scot, and an infidel physician, formed a set of +ingredients from which all evil, and no good, was likely to be +extracted. He resolved, however, to lay his scruples bluntly before +the King, of whose judgment he had nearly as high an opinion as of his +valour. + +Meantime, events had taken place very contrary to the suppositions which +Thomas de Vaux had entertained. Scarce had he left the royal pavilion, +when, betwixt the impatience of the fever, and that which was natural +to his disposition, Richard began to murmur at his delay, and express +an earnest desire for his return. He had seen enough to try to reason +himself out of this irritation, which greatly increased his bodily +malady. He wearied his attendants by demanding from them amusements, and +the breviary of the priest, the romance of the clerk, even the harp of +his favourite minstrel, were had recourse to in vain. At length, some +two hours before sundown, and long, therefore, ere he could expect +a satisfactory account of the process of the cure which the Moor or +Arabian had undertaken, he sent, as we have already heard, a messenger +commanding the attendance of the Knight of the Leopard, determined to +soothe his impatience by obtaining from Sir Kenneth a more particular +account of the cause of his absence from the camp, and the circumstances +of his meeting with this celebrated physician. + +The Scottish knight, thus summoned, entered the royal presence as one +who was no stranger to such scenes. He was scarcely known to the King +of England, even by sight, although, tenacious of his rank, as devout in +the adoration of the lady of his secret heart, he had never been absent +on those occasions when the munificence and hospitality of England +opened the Court of its monarch to all who held a certain rank in +chivalry. The King gazed fixedly on Sir Kenneth approaching his bedside, +while the knight bent his knee for a moment, then arose, and stood +before him in a posture of deference, but not of subservience or +humility, as became an officer in the presence of his sovereign. + +“Thy name,” said the King, “is Kenneth of the Leopard--from whom hadst +thou degree of knighthood?” + +“I took it from the sword of William the Lion, King of Scotland,” + replied the Scot. + +“A weapon,” said the King, “well worthy to confer honour; nor has it +been laid on an undeserving shoulder. We have seen thee bear thyself +knightly and valiantly in press of battle, when most need there was; and +thou hadst not been yet to learn that thy deserts were known to us, but +that thy presumption in other points has been such that thy services can +challenge no better reward than that of pardon for thy transgression. +What sayest thou--ha?” + +Kenneth attempted to speak, but was unable to express himself +distinctly; the consciousness of his too ambitious love, and the keen, +falcon glance with which Coeur de Lion seemed to penetrate his inmost +soul, combining to disconcert him. + +“And yet,” said the King, “although soldiers should obey command, and +vassals be respectful towards their superiors, we might forgive a brave +knight greater offence than the keeping a simple hound, though it were +contrary to our express public ordinance.” + +Richard kept his eye fixed on the Scot's face, beheld and beholding, +smiling inwardly at the relief produced by the turn he had given to his +general accusation. + +“So please you, my lord,” said the Scot, “your majesty must be good +to us poor gentlemen of Scotland in this matter. We are far from home, +scant of revenues, and cannot support ourselves as your wealthy nobles, +who have credit of the Lombards. The Saracens shall feel our blows the +harder that we eat a piece of dried venison from time to time with our +herbs and barley-cakes.” + +“It skills not asking my leave,” said Richard, “since Thomas de Vaux, +who doth, like all around me, that which is fittest in his own eyes, +hath already given thee permission for hunting and hawking.” + +“For hunting only, and please you,” said the Scot. “But if it please +your Majesty to indulge me with the privilege of hawking also, and you +list to trust me with a falcon on fist, I trust I could supply your +royal mess with some choice waterfowl.” + +“I dread me, if thou hadst but the falcon,” said the King, “thou wouldst +scarce wait for the permission. I wot well it is said abroad that we of +the line of Anjou resent offence against our forest-laws as highly as we +would do treason against our crown. To brave and worthy men, however, we +could pardon either misdemeanour.--But enough of this. I desire to know +of you, Sir Knight, wherefore, and by whose authority, you took this +recent journey to the wilderness of the Dead Sea and Engaddi?” + +“By order,” replied the knight, “of the Council of Princes of the Holy +Crusade.” + +“And how dared any one to give such an order, when I--not the least, +surely, in the league--was unacquainted with it?” + +“It was not my part, please your highness,” said the Scot, “to inquire +into such particulars. I am a soldier of the Cross--serving, doubtless, +for the present, under your highness's banner, and proud of the +permission to do so, but still one who hath taken on him the holy symbol +for the rights of Christianity and the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre, +and bound, therefore, to obey without question the orders of the +princes and chiefs by whom the blessed enterprise is directed. That +indisposition should seclude, I trust for but a short time, your +highness from their councils, in which you hold so potential a voice, I +must lament with all Christendom; but, as a soldier, I must obey those +on whom the lawful right of command devolves, or set but an evil example +in the Christian camp.” + +“Thou sayest well,” said King Richard; “and the blame rests not with +thee, but with those with whom, when it shall please Heaven to raise me +from this accursed bed of pain and inactivity, I hope to reckon roundly. +What was the purport of thy message?” + +“Methinks, and please your highness,” replied Sir Kenneth, “that were +best asked of those who sent me, and who can render the reasons of mine +errand; whereas I can only tell its outward form and purport.” + +“Palter not with me, Sir Scot--it were ill for thy safety,” said the +irritable monarch. + +“My safety, my lord,” replied the knight firmly, “I cast behind me as a +regardless thing when I vowed myself to this enterprise, looking rather +to my immortal welfare than to that which concerns my earthly body.” + +“By the mass,” said King Richard, “thou art a brave fellow! Hark thee, +Sir Knight, I love the Scottish people; they are hardy, though dogged +and stubborn, and, I think, true men in the main, though the necessity +of state has sometimes constrained them to be dissemblers. I deserve +some love at their hand, for I have voluntarily done what they could not +by arms have extorted from me any more than from my predecessors, I +have re-established the fortresses of Roxburgh and Berwick, which lay +in pledge to England; I have restored your ancient boundaries; and, +finally, I have renounced a claim to homage upon the crown of England, +which I thought unjustly forced on you. I have endeavoured to make +honourable and independent friends, where former kings of England +attempted only to compel unwilling and rebellious vassals.” + +“All this you have done, my Lord King,” said Sir Kenneth, bowing--“all +this you have done, by your royal treaty with our sovereign at +Canterbury. Therefore have you me, and many better Scottish men, making +war against the infidels, under your banners, who would else have been +ravaging your frontiers in England. If their numbers are now few, it is +because their lives have been freely waged and wasted.” + +“I grant it true,” said the King; “and for the good offices I have done +your land I require you to remember that, as a principal member of +the Christian league, I have a right to know the negotiations of my +confederates. Do me, therefore, the justice to tell me what I have a +title to be acquainted with, and which I am certain to know more truly +from you than from others.” + +“My lord,” said the Scot, “thus conjured, I will speak the truth; for +I well believe that your purposes towards the principal object of our +expedition are single-hearted and honest, and it is more than I dare +warrant for others of the Holy League. Be pleased, therefore, to know +my charge was to propose, through the medium of the hermit of Engaddi--a +holy man, respected and protected by Saladin himself--” + +“A continuation of the truce, I doubt not,” said Richard, hastily +interrupting him. + +“No, by Saint Andrew, my liege,” said the Scottish knight; “but the +establishment of a lasting peace, and the withdrawing our armies from +Palestine.” + +“Saint George!” said Richard, in astonishment. “Ill as I have justly +thought of them, I could not have dreamed they would have humbled +themselves to such dishonour. Speak, Sir Kenneth, with what will did you +carry such a message?” + +“With right good will, my lord,” said Kenneth; “because, when we had +lost our noble leader, under whose guidance alone I hoped for victory, +I saw none who could succeed him likely to lead us to conquest, and I +accounted it well in such circumstances to avoid defeat.” + +“And on what conditions was this hopeful peace to be contracted?” said +King Richard, painfully suppressing the passion with which his heart was +almost bursting. + +“These were not entrusted to me, my lord,” answered the Knight of the +Couchant Leopard. “I delivered them sealed to the hermit.” + +“And for what hold you this reverend hermit--for fool, madman, traitor, +or saint?” said Richard. + +“His folly, sire,” replied the shrewd Scottish man, “I hold to be +assumed to win favour and reverence from the Paynimrie, who regard +madmen as the inspired of Heaven--at least it seemed to me as exhibited +only occasionally, and not as mixing, like natural folly, with the +general tenor of his mind.” + +“Shrewdly replied,” said the monarch, throwing himself back on his +couch, from which he had half-raised himself. “Now of his penitence?” + +“His penitence,” continued Kenneth, “appears to me sincere, and the +fruits of remorse for some dreadful crime, for which he seems, in his +own opinion, condemned to reprobation.” + +“And for his policy?” said King Richard. + +“Methinks, my lord,” said the Scottish knight, “he despairs of the +security of Palestine, as of his own salvation, by any means short of +a miracle--at least, since the arm of Richard of England hath ceased to +strike for it.” + +“And, therefore, the coward policy of this hermit is like that of these +miserable princes, who, forgetful of their knighthood and their faith, +are only resolved and determined when the question is retreat, and +rather than go forward against an armed Saracen, would trample in their +flight over a dying ally!” + +“Might I so far presume, my Lord King,” said the Scottish knight, “this +discourse but heats your disease, the enemy from which Christendom +dreads more evil than from armed hosts of infidels.” + +The countenance of King Richard was, indeed, more flushed, and his +action became more feverishly vehement, as, with clenched hand, extended +arm, and flashing eyes, he seemed at once to suffer under bodily pain, +and at the same time under vexation of mind, while his high spirit led +him to speak on, as if in contempt of both. + +“You can flatter, Sir Knight,” he said, “but you escape me not. I must +know more from you than you have yet told me. Saw you my royal consort +when at Engaddi?” + +“To my knowledge--no, my lord,” replied Sir Kenneth, with considerable +perturbation, for he remembered the midnight procession in the chapel of +the rocks. + +“I ask you,” said the King, in a sterner voice, “whether you were not in +the chapel of the Carmelite nuns at Engaddi, and there saw Berengaria, +Queen of England, and the ladies of her Court, who went thither on +pilgrimage?” + +“My lord,” said Sir Kenneth, “I will speak the truth as in the +confessional. In a subterranean chapel, to which the anchorite conducted +me, I beheld a choir of ladies do homage to a relic of the highest +sanctity; but as I saw not their faces, nor heard their voices, unless +in the hymns which they chanted, I cannot tell whether the Queen of +England was of the bevy.” + +“And was there no one of these ladies known to you?” + +Sir Kenneth stood silent. + +“I ask you,” said Richard, raising himself on his elbow, “as a knight +and a gentleman--and I shall know by your answer how you value either +character--did you, or did you not, know any lady amongst that band of +worshippers?” + +“My lord,” said Kenneth, not without much hesitation, “I might guess.” + +“And I also may guess,” said the King, frowning sternly; “but it is +enough. Leopard as you are, Sir Knight, beware tempting the lion's paw. +Hark ye--to become enamoured of the moon would be but an act of folly; +but to leap from the battlements of a lofty tower, in the wild hope of +coming within her sphere, were self-destructive madness.” + +At this moment some bustling was heard in the outer apartment, and +the King, hastily changing to his more natural manner, said, +“Enough--begone--speed to De Vaux, and send him hither with the Arabian +physician. My life for the faith of the Soldan! Would he but abjure his +false law, I would aid him with my sword to drive this scum of French +and Austrians from his dominions, and think Palestine as well ruled by +him as when her kings were anointed by the decree of Heaven itself.” + +The Knight of the Leopard retired, and presently afterwards the +chamberlain announced a deputation from the Council, who had come to +wait on the Majesty of England. + +“It is well they allow that I am living yet,” was his reply. “Who are +the reverend ambassadors?” + +“The Grand Master of the Templars and the Marquis of Montserrat.” + +“Our brother of France loves not sick-beds,” said Richard; “yet, had +Philip been ill, I had stood by his couch long since.--Jocelyn, lay me +the couch more fairly--it is tumbled like a stormy sea. Reach me yonder +steel mirror--pass a comb through my hair and beard. They look, indeed, +liker a lion's mane than a Christian man's locks. Bring water.” + +“My lord,” said the trembling chamberlain, “the leeches say that cold +water may be fatal.” + +“To the foul fiend with the leeches!” replied the monarch; “if they +cannot cure me, think you I will allow them to torment me?--There, +then,” he said, after having made his ablutions, “admit the worshipful +envoys; they will now, I think, scarcely see that disease has made +Richard negligent of his person.” + +The celebrated Master of the Templars was a tall, thin, war-worn man, +with a slow yet penetrating eye, and a brow on which a thousand dark +intrigues had stamped a portion of their obscurity. At the head of +that singular body, to whom their order was everything, and their +individuality nothing--seeking the advancement of its power, even at +the hazard of that very religion which the fraternity were originally +associated to protect--accused of heresy and witchcraft, although by +their character Christian priests--suspected of secret league with the +Soldan, though by oath devoted to the protection of the Holy Temple, or +its recovery--the whole order, and the whole personal character of its +commander, or Grand Master, was a riddle, at the exposition of which +most men shuddered. The Grand Master was dressed in his white robes +of solemnity, and he bore the ABACUS, a mystic staff of office, the +peculiar form of which has given rise to such singular conjectures and +commentaries, leading to suspicions that this celebrated fraternity of +Christian knights were embodied under the foulest symbols of paganism. + +Conrade of Montserrat had a much more pleasing exterior than the dark +and mysterious priest-soldier by whom he was accompanied. He was a +handsome man, of middle age, or something past that term, bold in the +field, sagacious in council, gay and gallant in times of festivity; but, +on the other hand, he was generally accused of versatility, of a narrow +and selfish ambition, of a desire to extend his own principality, +without regard to the weal of the Latin kingdom of Palestine, and of +seeking his own interest, by private negotiations with Saladin, to the +prejudice of the Christian leaguers. + +When the usual salutations had been made by these dignitaries, and +courteously returned by King Richard, the Marquis of Montserrat +commenced an explanation of the motives of their visit, sent, as he said +they were, by the anxious kings and princes who composed the Council of +the Crusaders, “to inquire into the health of their magnanimous ally, +the valiant King of England.” + +“We know the importance in which the princes of the Council hold our +health,” replied the English King; “and are well aware how much they +must have suffered by suppressing all curiosity concerning it for +fourteen days, for fear, doubtless, of aggravating our disorder, by +showing their anxiety regarding the event.” + +The flow of the Marquis's eloquence being checked, and he himself thrown +into some confusion by this reply, his more austere companion took up +the thread of the conversation, and with as much dry and brief gravity +as was consistent with the presence which he addressed, informed +the King that they came from the Council, to pray, in the name of +Christendom, “that he would not suffer his health to be tampered with +by an infidel physician, said to be dispatched by Saladin, until the +Council had taken measures to remove or confirm the suspicion which they +at present conceived did attach itself to the mission of such a person.” + +“Grand Master of the Holy and Valiant Order of Knights Templars, and +you, most noble Marquis of Montserrat,” replied Richard, “if it please +you to retire into the adjoining pavilion, you shall presently see what +account we make of the tender remonstrances of our royal and princely +colleagues in this religious warfare.” + +The Marquis and Grand Master retired accordingly; nor had they been +many minutes in the outward pavilion when the Eastern physician arrived, +accompanied by the Baron of Gilsland and Kenneth of Scotland. The baron, +however, was a little later of entering the tent than the other two, +stopping, perchance, to issue some orders to the warders without. + +As the Arabian physician entered, he made his obeisance, after the +Oriental fashion, to the Marquis and Grand Master, whose dignity was +apparent, both from their appearance and their bearing. The Grand Master +returned the salutation with an expression of disdainful coldness, the +Marquis with the popular courtesy which he habitually practised to men +of every rank and nation. There was a pause, for the Scottish knight, +waiting for the arrival of De Vaux, presumed not, of his own authority, +to enter the tent of the King of England; and during this interval the +Grand Master sternly demanded of the Moslem, “Infidel, hast thou the +courage to practise thine art upon the person of an anointed sovereign +of the Christian host?” + +“The sun of Allah,” answered the sage, “shines on the Nazarene as +well as on the true believer, and His servant dare make no distinction +betwixt them when called on to exercise the art of healing.” + +“Misbelieving Hakim,” said the Grand Master, “or whatsoever they call +thee for an unbaptized slave of darkness, dost thou well know that thou +shalt be torn asunder by wild horses should King Richard die under thy +charge?” + +“That were hard justice,” answered the physician, “seeing that I can but +use human means, and that the issue is written in the book of light.” + +“Nay, reverend and valiant Grand Master,” said the Marquis of +Montserrat, “consider that this learned man is not acquainted with our +Christian order, adopted in the fear of God, and for the safety of His +anointed.--Be it known to thee, grave physician, whose skill we doubt +not, that your wisest course is to repair to the presence of the +illustrious Council of our Holy League, and there to give account and +reckoning to such wise and learned leeches as they shall nominate, +concerning your means of process and cure of this illustrious patient; +so shall you escape all the danger which, rashly taking such a high +matter upon your sole answer, you may else most likely incur.” + +“My lords,” said El Hakim, “I understand you well. But knowledge hath +its champions as well as your military art--nay, hath sometimes had its +martyrs as well as religion. I have the command of my sovereign, the +Soldan Saladin, to heal this Nazarene King, and, with the blessing +of the Prophet, I will obey his commands. If I fail, ye wear swords +thirsting for the blood of the faithful, and I proffer my body to your +weapons. But I will not reason with one uncircumcised upon the virtue +of the medicines of which I have obtained knowledge through the grace +of the Prophet, and I pray you interpose no delay between me and my +office.” + +“Who talks of delay?” said the Baron de Vaux, hastily entering the tent; +“we have had but too much already. I salute you, my Lord of Montserrat, +and you, valiant Grand Master. But I must presently pass with this +learned physician to the bedside of my master.” + +“My lord,” said the Marquis, in Norman-French, or the language of +Ouie, as it was then called, “are you well advised that we came to +expostulate, on the part of the Council of the Monarchs and Princes +of the Crusade, against the risk of permitting an infidel and Eastern +physician to tamper with a health so valuable as that of your master, +King Richard?” + +“Noble Lord Marquis,” replied the Englishman bluntly, “I can neither use +many words, nor do I delight in listening to them; moreover, I am much +more ready to believe what my eyes have seen than what my ears have +heard. I am satisfied that this heathen can cure the sickness of King +Richard, and I believe and trust he will labour to do so. Time is +precious. If Mohammed--may God's curse be on him! stood at the door of +the tent, with such fair purpose as this Adonbec el Hakim entertains, +I would hold it sin to delay him for a minute. So, give ye God'en, my +lords.” + +“Nay, but,” said Conrade of Montserrat, “the King himself said we should +be present when this same physician dealt upon him.” + +The baron whispered the chamberlain, probably to know whether the +Marquis spoke truly, and then replied, “My lords, if you will hold your +patience, you are welcome to enter with us; but if you interrupt, by +action or threat, this accomplished physician in his duty, be it known +that, without respect to your high quality, I will enforce your absence +from Richard's tent; for know, I am so well satisfied of the virtue of +this man's medicines, that were Richard himself to refuse them, by our +Lady of Lanercost, I think I could find in my heart to force him to take +the means of his cure whether he would or no.--Move onward, El Hakim.” + +The last word was spoken in the lingua franca, and instantly obeyed by +the physician. The Grand Master looked grimly on the unceremonious old +soldier, but, on exchanging a glance with the Marquis, smoothed his +frowning brow as well as he could, and both followed De Vaux and the +Arabian into the inner tent, where Richard lay expecting them, with that +impatience with which the sick man watches the step of his physician. +Sir Kenneth, whose attendance seemed neither asked nor prohibited, felt +himself, by the circumstances in which he stood, entitled to follow +these high dignitaries; but, conscious of his inferior power and rank, +remained aloof during the scene which took place. + +Richard, when they entered his apartment, immediately exclaimed, “So ho! +a goodly fellowship come to see Richard take his leap in the dark. +My noble allies, I greet you as the representatives of our assembled +league; Richard will again be amongst you in his former fashion, or ye +shall bear to the grave what is left of him.--De Vaux, lives he or dies +he, thou hast the thanks of thy prince. There is yet another--but this +fever hath wasted my eyesight. What, the bold Scot, who would climb +heaven without a ladder! He is welcome too.--Come, Sir Hakim, to the +work, to the work!” + +The physician, who had already informed himself of the various symptoms +of the King's illness, now felt his pulse for a long time, and with deep +attention, while all around stood silent, and in breathless expectation. +The sage next filled a cup with spring water, and dipped into it the +small red purse, which, as formerly, he took from his bosom. When he +seemed to think it sufficiently medicated, he was about to offer it to +the sovereign, who prevented him by saying, “Hold an instant. Thou hast +felt my pulse--let me lay my finger on thine. I too, as becomes a good +knight, know something of thine art.” + +The Arabian yielded his hand without hesitation, and his long, slender +dark fingers were for an instant enclosed, and almost buried, in the +large enfoldment of King Richard's hand. + +“His blood beats calm as an infant's,” said the King; “so throbs not +theirs who poison princes. De Vaux, whether we live or die, dismiss this +Hakim with honour and safety.--Commend us, friend, to the noble Saladin. +Should I die, it is without doubt of his faith; should I live, it will +be to thank him as a warrior would desire to be thanked.” + +He then raised himself in bed, took the cup in his hand, and turning +to the Marquis and the Grand Master--“Mark what I say, and let my royal +brethren pledge me in Cyprus wine, 'To the immortal honour of the first +Crusader who shall strike lance or sword on the gate of Jerusalem; and +to the shame and eternal infamy of whomsoever shall turn back from the +plough on which he hath laid his hand!'” + +He drained the cup to the bottom, resigned it to the Arabian, and sunk +back, as if exhausted, upon the cushions which were arranged to receive +him. The physician then, with silent but expressive signs, directed +that all should leave the tent excepting himself and De Vaux, whom +no remonstrance could induce to withdraw. The apartment was cleared +accordingly. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + And now I will unclasp a secret book, + And, to your quick-conceiving discontent, + I'll read you matter deep and dangerous. + HENRY IV., PART I. + +The Marquis of Montserrat and the Grand Master of the Knights Templars +stood together in the front of the royal pavilion, within which this +singular scene had passed, and beheld a strong guard of bills and bows +drawn out to form a circle around it, and keep at distance all which +might disturb the sleeping monarch. The soldiers wore the downcast, +silent, and sullen looks with which they trail their arms at a funeral, +and stepped with such caution that you could not hear a buckler ring +or a sword clatter, though so many men in armour were moving around the +tent. They lowered their weapons in deep reverence as the dignitaries +passed through their files, but with the same profound silence. + +“There is a change of cheer among these island dogs,” said the Grand +Master to Conrade, when they had passed Richard's guards. “What hoarse +tumult and revel used to be before this pavilion!--nought but pitching +the bar, hurling the ball, wrestling, roaring of songs, clattering of +wine pots, and quaffing of flagons among these burly yeomen, as if they +were holding some country wake, with a Maypole in the midst of them +instead of a royal standard.” + +“Mastiffs are a faithful race,” said Conrade; “and the King their Master +has won their love by being ready to wrestle, brawl, or revel amongst +the foremost of them, whenever the humour seized him.” + +“He is totally compounded of humours,” said the Grand Master. “Marked +you the pledge he gave us! instead of a prayer, over his grace-cup +yonder.” + +“He would have felt it a grace-cup, and a well-spiced one too,” said +the Marquis, “were Saladin like any other Turk that ever wore turban, +or turned him to Mecca at call of the muezzin. But he affects faith, and +honour, and generosity, as if it were for an unbaptized dog like him to +practise the virtuous bearing of a Christian knight. It is said he hath +applied to Richard to be admitted within the pale of chivalry.” + +“By Saint Bernard!” exclaimed the Grand Master, “it were time then +to throw off our belts and spurs, Sir Conrade, deface our armorial +bearings, and renounce our burgonets, if the highest honour of +Christianity were conferred on an unchristened Turk of tenpence.” + +“You rate the Soldan cheap,” replied the Marquis; “yet though he be a +likely man, I have seen a better heathen sold for forty pence at the +bagnio.” + +They were now near their horses, which stood at some distance from the +royal tent, prancing among the gallant train of esquires and pages by +whom they were attended, when Conrade, after a moment's pause, proposed +that they should enjoy the coolness of the evening breeze which had +arisen, and, dismissing their steeds and attendants, walk homewards to +their own quarters through the lines of the extended Christian camp. The +Grand Master assented, and they proceeded to walk together accordingly, +avoiding, as if by mutual consent, the more inhabited parts of the +canvas city, and tracing the broad esplanade which lay between the tents +and the external defences, where they could converse in private, and +unmarked, save by the sentinels as they passed them. + +They spoke for a time upon the military points and preparations for +defence; but this sort of discourse, in which neither seemed to take +interest, at length died away, and there was a long pause, which +terminated by the Marquis of Montserrat stopping short, like a man who +has formed a sudden resolution, and gazing for some moments on the dark, +inflexible countenance of the Grand Master, he at length addressed him +thus: “Might it consist with your valour and sanctity, reverend Sir +Giles Amaury, I would pray you for once to lay aside the dark visor +which you wear, and to converse with a friend barefaced.” + +The Templar half smiled. + +“There are light-coloured masks,” he said, “as well as dark visors, and +the one conceals the natural features as completely as the other.” + +“Be it so,” said the Marquis, putting his hand to his chin, and +withdrawing it with the action of one who unmasks himself; “there lies +my disguise. And now, what think you, as touching the interests of your +own order, of the prospects of this Crusade?” + +“This is tearing the veil from my thoughts rather than exposing your +own,” said the Grand Master; “yet I will reply with a parable told to me +by a santon of the desert. 'A certain farmer prayed to Heaven for rain, +and murmured when it fell not at his need. To punish his impatience, +Allah,' said the santon, 'sent the Euphrates upon his farm, and he was +destroyed, with all his possessions, even by the granting of his own +wishes.'” + +“Most truly spoken,” said the Marquis Conrade. “Would that the ocean had +swallowed up nineteen parts of the armaments of these Western princes! +What remained would better have served the purpose of the Christian +nobles of Palestine, the wretched remnant of the Latin kingdom of +Jerusalem. Left to ourselves, we might have bent to the storm; or, +moderately supported with money and troops, we might have compelled +Saladin to respect our valour, and grant us peace and protection on easy +terms. But from the extremity of danger with which this powerful Crusade +threatens the Soldan, we cannot suppose, should it pass over, that the +Saracen will suffer any one of us to hold possessions or principalities +in Syria, far less permit the existence of the Christian military +fraternities, from whom they have experienced so much mischief.” + +“Ay, but,” said the Templar, “these adventurous Crusaders may succeed, +and again plant the Cross on the bulwarks of Zion.” + +“And what will that advantage either the Order of the Templars, or +Conrade of Montserrat?” said the Marquis. + +“You it may advantage,” replied the Grand Master. “Conrade of Montserrat +might become Conrade King of Jerusalem.” + +“That sounds like something,” said the Marquis, “and yet it rings but +hollow. Godfrey of Bouillon might well choose the crown of thorns for +his emblem. Grand Master, I will confess to you I have caught some +attachment to the Eastern form of government--a pure and simple +monarchy should consist but of king and subjects. Such is the simple and +primitive structure--a shepherd and his flock. All this internal chain +of feudal dependance is artificial and sophisticated; and I would rather +hold the baton of my poor marquisate with a firm gripe, and wield +it after my pleasure, than the sceptre of a monarch, to be in effect +restrained and curbed by the will of as many proud feudal barons as hold +land under the Assizes of Jerusalem. [The Assises de Jerusalem were +the digest of feudal law, composed by Godfrey of Boulogne, for the +government of the Latin kingdom of Palestine, when reconquered from the +Saracens. “It was composed with advice of the patriarch and barons, +the clergy and laity, and is,” says the historian Gibbon, “a precious +monument of feudatory jurisprudence, founded upon those principles +of freedom which were essential to the system.”] A king should tread +freely, Grand Master, and should not be controlled by here a ditch, and +there a fence-here a feudal privilege, and there a mail-clad baron with +his sword in his hand to maintain it. To sum the whole, I am aware that +Guy de Lusignan's claims to the throne would be preferred to mine, if +Richard recovers, and has aught to say in the choice.” + +“Enough,” said the Grand Master; “thou hast indeed convinced me of thy +sincerity. Others may hold the same opinions, but few, save Conrade of +Montserrat, dared frankly avow that he desires not the restitution of +the kingdom of Jerusalem, but rather prefers being master of a portion +of its fragments--like the barbarous islanders, who labour not for the +deliverance of a goodly vessel from the billows, expecting rather to +enrich themselves at the expense of the wreck.” + +“Thou wilt not betray my counsel?” said Conrade, looking sharply and +suspiciously. “Know, for certain, that my tongue shall never wrong my +head, nor my hand forsake the defence of either. Impeach me if thou +wilt--I am prepared to defend myself in the lists against the best +Templar who ever laid lance in rest.” + +“Yet thou start'st somewhat suddenly for so bold a steed,” said the +Grand Master. “However, I swear to thee by the Holy Temple, which our +Order is sworn to defend, that I will keep counsel with thee as a true +comrade.” + +“By which Temple?” said the Marquis of Montserrat, whose love of sarcasm +often outran his policy and discretion; “swearest thou by that on the +hill of Zion, which was built by King Solomon, or by that symbolical, +emblematical edifice, which is said to be spoken of in the councils +held in the vaults of your Preceptories, as something which infers the +aggrandizement of thy valiant and venerable Order?” + +The Templar scowled upon him with an eye of death, but answered calmly, +“By whatever Temple I swear, be assured, Lord Marquis, my oath is +sacred. I would I knew how to bind THEE by one of equal obligation.” + +“I will swear truth to thee,” said the Marquis, laughing, “by the +earl's coronet, which I hope to convert, ere these wars are over, into +something better. It feels cold on my brow, that same slight coronal; +a duke's cap of maintenance were a better protection against such a +night-breeze as now blows, and a king's crown more preferable still, +being lined with comfortable ermine and velvet. In a word, our interests +bind us together; for think not, Lord Grand Master, that, were these +allied princes to regain Jerusalem, and place a king of their own +choosing there, they would suffer your Order, any more than my poor +marquisate, to retain the independence which we now hold. No, by Our +Lady! In such case, the proud Knights of Saint John must again spread +plasters and dress plague sores in the hospitals; and you, most puissant +and venerable Knights of the Temple, must return to your condition of +simple men-at-arms, sleep three on a pallet, and mount two upon one +horse, as your present seal still expresses to have been your ancient +most simple custom.” + +“The rank, privileges, and opulence of our Order prevent so much +degradation as you threaten,” said the Templar haughtily. + +“These are your bane,” said Conrade of Montserrat; “and you, as well +as I, reverend Grand Master, know that, were the allied princes to be +successful in Palestine, it would be their first point of policy to +abate the independence of your Order, which, but for the protection of +our holy father the Pope, and the necessity of employing your valour in +the conquest of Palestine, you would long since have experienced. Give +them complete success, and you will be flung aside, as the splinters of +a broken lance are tossed out of the tilt-yard.” + +“There may be truth in what you say,” said the Templar, darkly smiling. +“But what were our hopes should the allies withdraw their forces, and +leave Palestine in the grasp of Saladin?” + +“Great and assured,” replied Conrade. “The Soldan would give large +provinces to maintain at his behest a body of well-appointed Frankish +lances. In Egypt, in Persia, a hundred such auxiliaries, joined to his +own light cavalry, would turn the battle against the most fearful odds. +This dependence would be but for a time--perhaps during the life of +this enterprising Soldan; but in the East empires arise like mushrooms. +Suppose him dead, and us strengthened with a constant succession of +fiery and adventurous spirits from Europe, what might we not hope to +achieve, uncontrolled by these monarchs, whose dignity throws us at +present into the shade--and, were they to remain here, and succeed in +this expedition, would willingly consign us for ever to degradation and +dependence?” + +“You say well, my Lord Marquis,” said the Grand Master, “and your words +find an echo in my bosom. Yet must we be cautious--Philip of France is +wise as well as valiant.” + +“True, and will be therefore the more easily diverted from an expedition +to which, in a moment of enthusiasm, or urged by his nobles, he rashly +bound himself. He is jealous of King Richard, his natural enemy, and +longs to return to prosecute plans of ambition nearer to Paris than +Palestine. Any fair pretence will serve him for withdrawing from a scene +in which he is aware he is wasting the force of his kingdom.” + +“And the Duke of Austria?” said the Templar. + +“Oh, touching the Duke,” returned Conrade, “his self-conceit and folly +lead him to the same conclusions as do Philip's policy and wisdom. He +conceives himself, God help the while, ungratefully treated, because +men's mouths--even those of his own MINNE-SINGERS [The German minstrels +were so termed.]--are filled with the praises of King Richard, whom he +fears and hates, and in whose harm he would rejoice, like those unbred, +dastardly curs, who, if the foremost of the pack is hurt by the gripe of +the wolf, are much more likely to assail the sufferer from behind than +to come to his assistance. But wherefore tell I this to thee, save to +show that I am in sincerity in desiring that this league be broken up, +and the country freed of these great monarchs with their hosts? And thou +well knowest, and hast thyself seen, how all the princes of influence +and power, one alone excepted, are eager to enter into treaty with the +Soldan.” + +“I acknowledge it,” said the Templar; “he were blind that had not seen +this in their last deliberations. But lift yet thy mask an inch higher, +and tell me thy real reason for pressing upon the Council that Northern +Englishman, or Scot, or whatever you call yonder Knight of the Leopard, +to carry their proposals for a treaty?” + +“There was a policy in it,” replied the Italian. “His character of +native of Britain was sufficient to meet what Saladin required, who knew +him to belong to the band of Richard; while his character of Scot, and +certain other personal grudges which I wot of, rendered it most unlikely +that our envoy should, on his return, hold any communication with the +sick-bed of Richard, to whom his presence was ever unacceptable.” + +“Oh, too finespun policy,” said the Grand Master; “trust me, that +Italian spiders' webs will never bind this unshorn Samson of the +Isle--well if you can do it with new cords, and those of the toughest. +See you not that the envoy whom you have selected so carefully hath +brought us, in this physician, the means of restoring the lion-hearted, +bull-necked Englishman to prosecute his Crusading enterprise. And so +soon as he is able once more to rush on, which of the princes dare hold +back? They must follow him for very shame, although they would march +under the banner of Satan as soon.” + +“Be content,” said Conrade of Montserrat; “ere this physician, if he +work by anything short of miraculous agency, can accomplish Richard's +cure, it may be possible to put some open rupture betwixt the +Frenchman--at least the Austrian--and his allies of England, so that +the breach shall be irreconcilable; and Richard may arise from his bed, +perhaps to command his own native troops, but never again, by his sole +energy, to wield the force of the whole Crusade.” + +“Thou art a willing archer,” said the Templar; “but, Conrade of +Montserrat, thy bow is over-slack to carry an arrow to the mark.” + +He then stopped short, cast a suspicious glance to see that no one +overheard him, and taking Conrade by the hand, pressed it eagerly as he +looked the Italian in the face, and repeated slowly, “Richard arise from +his bed, sayest thou? Conrade, he must never arise!” + +The Marquis of Montserrat started. “What! spoke you of Richard of +England--of Coeur de Lion--the champion of Christendom?” + +His cheek turned pale and his knees trembled as he spoke. The Templar +looked at him, with his iron visage contorted into a smile of contempt. + +“Knowest thou what thou look'st like, Sir Conrade, at this moment? Not +like the politic and valiant Marquis of Montserrat, not like him +who would direct the Council of Princes and determine the fate of +empires--but like a novice, who, stumbling upon a conjuration in his +master's book of gramarye, has raised the devil when he least thought of +it, and now stands terrified at the spirit which appears before him.” + +“I grant you,” said Conrade, recovering himself, “that--unless some +other sure road could be discovered--thou hast hinted at that which +leads most direct to our purpose. But, blessed Mary! we shall become the +curse of all Europe, the malediction of every one, from the Pope on his +throne to the very beggar at the church gate, who, ragged and leprous, +in the last extremity of human wretchedness, shall bless himself that he +is neither Giles Amaury nor Conrade of Montserrat.” + +“If thou takest it thus,” said the Grand Master, with the same composure +which characterized him all through this remarkable dialogue, “let us +hold there has nothing passed between us--that we have spoken in our +sleep--have awakened, and the vision is gone.” + +“It never can depart,” answered Conrade. + +“Visions of ducal crowns and kingly diadems are, indeed, somewhat +tenacious of their place in the imagination,” replied the Grand Master. + +“Well,” answered Conrade, “let me but first try to break peace between +Austria and England.” + +They parted. Conrade remained standing still upon the spot, and watching +the flowing white cloak of the Templar as he stalked slowly away, and +gradually disappeared amid the fast-sinking darkness of the Oriental +night. Proud, ambitious, unscrupulous, and politic, the Marquis of +Montserrat was yet not cruel by nature. He was a voluptuary and an +epicurean, and, like many who profess this character, was averse, +even upon selfish motives, from inflicting pain or witnessing acts of +cruelty; and he retained also a general sense of respect for his own +reputation, which sometimes supplies the want of the better principle by +which reputation is to be maintained. + +“I have,” he said, as his eyes still watched the point at which he had +seen the last slight wave of the Templar's mantle--“I have, in truth, +raised the devil with a vengeance! Who would have thought this stern, +ascetic Grand Master, whose whole fortune and misfortune is merged in +that of his order, would be willing to do more for its advancement than +I who labour for my own interest? To check this wild Crusade was my +motive, indeed, but I durst not think on the ready mode which this +determined priest has dared to suggest. Yet it is the surest--perhaps +even the safest.” + +Such were the Marquis's meditations, when his muttered soliloquy was +broken by a voice from a little distance, which proclaimed with the +emphatic tone of a herald, “Remember the Holy Sepulchre!” + +The exhortation was echoed from post to post, for it was the duty of +the sentinels to raise this cry from time to time upon their periodical +watch, that the host of the Crusaders might always have in their +remembrance the purpose of their being in arms. But though Conrade was +familiar with the custom, and had heard the warning voice on all former +occasions as a matter of habit, yet it came at the present moment so +strongly in contact with his own train of thought, that it seemed a +voice from Heaven warning him against the iniquity which his heart +meditated. He looked around anxiously, as if, like the patriarch of +old, though from very different circumstances, he was expecting some +ram caught in a thicket some substitution for the sacrifice which his +comrade proposed to offer, not to the Supreme Being, but to the Moloch +of their own ambition. As he looked, the broad folds of the ensign of +England, heavily distending itself to the failing night-breeze, caught +his eye. It was displayed upon an artificial mound, nearly in the midst +of the camp, which perhaps of old some Hebrew chief or champion had +chosen as a memorial of his place of rest. If so, the name was now +forgotten, and the Crusaders had christened it Saint George's +Mount, because from that commanding height the banner of England was +supereminently displayed, as if an emblem of sovereignty over the many +distinguished, noble, and even royal ensigns, which floated in lower +situations. + +A quick intellect like that of Conrade catches ideas from the glance of +a moment. A single look on the standard seemed to dispel the uncertainty +of mind which had affected him. He walked to his pavilion with the hasty +and determined step of one who has adopted a plan which he is resolved +to achieve, dismissed the almost princely train who waited to attend +him, and, as he committed himself to his couch, muttered his amended +resolution, that the milder means are to be tried before the more +desperate are resorted to. + +“To-morrow,” he said, “I sit at the board of the Archduke of Austria. We +will see what can be done to advance our purpose before prosecuting the +dark suggestions of this Templar.” + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + One thing is certain in our Northern land-- + Allow that birth or valour, wealth or wit, + Give each precedence to their possessor, + Envy, that follows on such eminence, + As comes the lyme-hound on the roebuck's trace, + Shall pull them down each one. + SIR DAVID LINDSAY. + +Leopold, Grand Duke of Austria, was the first possessor of that noble +country to whom the princely rank belonged. He had been raised to the +ducal sway in the German Empire on account of his near relationship to +the Emperor, Henry the Stern, and held under his government the finest +provinces which are watered by the Danube. His character has been +stained in history on account of one action of violence and perfidy, +which arose out of these very transactions in the Holy Land; and yet +the shame of having made Richard a prisoner when he returned through +his dominions; unattended and in disguise, was not one which flowed from +Leopold's natural disposition. He was rather a weak and a vain than +an ambitious or tyrannical prince. His mental powers resembled the +qualities of his person. He was tall, strong, and handsome, with a +complexion in which red and white were strongly contrasted, and had long +flowing locks of fair hair. But there was an awkwardness in his gait +which seemed as if his size was not animated by energy sufficient to +put in motion such a mass; and in the same manner, wearing the richest +dresses, it always seemed as if they became him not. As a prince, he +appeared too little familiar with his own dignity; and being often at +a loss how to assert his authority when the occasion demanded it, he +frequently thought himself obliged to recover, by acts and expressions +of ill-timed violence, the ground which might have been easily and +gracefully maintained by a little more presence of mind in the beginning +of the controversy. + +Not only were these deficiencies visible to others, but the Archduke +himself could not but sometimes entertain a painful consciousness that +he was not altogether fit to maintain and assert the high rank which he +had acquired; and to this was joined the strong, and sometimes the just, +suspicion that others esteemed him lightly accordingly. + +When he first joined the Crusade, with a most princely attendance, +Leopold had desired much to enjoy the friendship and intimacy of +Richard, and had made such advances towards cultivating his regard as +the King of England ought, in policy, to have received and answered. +But the Archduke, though not deficient in bravery, was so infinitely +inferior to Coeur de Lion in that ardour of mind which wooed danger as a +bride, that the King very soon held him in a certain degree of contempt. +Richard, also, as a Norman prince, a people with whom temperance was +habitual, despised the inclination of the German for the pleasures of +the table, and particularly his liberal indulgence in the use of wine. +For these, and other personal reasons, the King of England very soon +looked upon the Austrian Prince with feelings of contempt, which he was +at no pains to conceal or modify, and which, therefore, were speedily +remarked, and returned with deep hatred, by the suspicious Leopold. The +discord between them was fanned by the secret and politic arts of Philip +of France, one of the most sagacious monarchs of the time, who, dreading +the fiery and overbearing character of Richard, considering him as his +natural rival, and feeling offended, moreover, at the dictatorial manner +in which he, a vassal of France for his Continental domains, conducted +himself towards his liege lord, endeavoured to strengthen his own party, +and weaken that of Richard, by uniting the Crusading princes of inferior +degree in resistance to what he termed the usurping authority of the +King of England. Such was the state of politics and opinions entertained +by the Archduke of Austria, when Conrade of Montserrat resolved upon +employing his jealousy of England as the means of dissolving, or +loosening at least, the league of the Crusaders. + +The time which he chose for his visit was noon; and the pretence, to +present the Archduke with some choice Cyprus wine which had lately +fallen into his hands, and discuss its comparative merits with those of +Hungary and of the Rhine. An intimation of his purpose was, of course, +answered by a courteous invitation to partake of the Archducal meal, and +every effort was used to render it fitting the splendour of a sovereign +prince. Yet the refined taste of the Italian saw more cumbrous profusion +than elegance or splendour in the display of provisions under which the +board groaned. + +The Germans, though still possessing the martial and frank character of +their ancestors--who subdued the Roman Empire--had retained withal +no slight tinge of their barbarism. The practices and principles of +chivalry were not carried to such a nice pitch amongst them as amongst +the French and English knights, nor were they strict observers of the +prescribed rules of society, which among those nations were supposed +to express the height of civilization. Sitting at the table of the +Archduke, Conrade was at once stunned and amused with the clang of +Teutonic sounds assaulting his ears on all sides, notwithstanding the +solemnity of a princely banquet. Their dress seemed equally fantastic to +him, many of the Austrian nobles retaining their long beards, and +almost all of them wearing short jerkins of various colours, cut, and +flourished, and fringed in a manner not common in Western Europe. + +Numbers of dependants, old and young, attended in the pavilion, mingled +at times in the conversation, received from their masters the relics of +the entertainment, and devoured them as they stood behind the backs +of the company. Jesters, dwarfs, and minstrels were there in unusual +numbers, and more noisy and intrusive than they were permitted to be in +better regulated society. As they were allowed to share freely in the +wine, which flowed round in large quantities, their licensed tumult was +the more excessive. + +All this while, and in the midst of a clamour and confusion which would +better have become a German tavern during a fair than the tent of a +sovereign prince, the Archduke was waited upon with a minuteness of form +and observance which showed how anxious he was to maintain rigidly the +state and character to which his elevation had entitled him. He was +served on the knee, and only by pages of noble blood, fed upon plate of +silver, and drank his Tokay and Rhenish wines from a cup of gold. His +ducal mantle was splendidly adorned with ermine, his coronet might have +equalled in value a royal crown, and his feet, cased in velvet shoes +(the length of which, peaks included, might be two feet), rested upon +a footstool of solid silver. But it served partly to intimate the +character of the man, that, although desirous to show attention to the +Marquis of Montserrat, whom he had courteously placed at his right hand, +he gave much more of his attention to his SPRUCH-SPRECHER--that is, his +man of conversation, or SAYER-OF-SAYINGS--who stood behind the Duke's +right shoulder. + +This personage was well attired in a cloak and doublet of black velvet, +the last of which was decorated with various silver and gold coins +stitched upon it, in memory of the munificent princes who had conferred +them, and bearing a short staff to which also bunches of silver coins +were attached by rings, which he jingled by way of attracting attention +when he was about to say anything which he judged worthy of it. This +person's capacity in the household of the Archduke was somewhat betwixt +that of a minstrel and a counsellor. He was by turns a flatterer, a +poet, and an orator; and those who desired to be well with the Duke +generally studied to gain the good-will of the SPRUCH-SPRECHER. + +Lest too much of this officer's wisdom should become tiresome, the +Duke's other shoulder was occupied by his HOFF-NARR, or court-jester, +called Jonas Schwanker, who made almost as much noise with his fool's +cap, bells, and bauble, as did the orator, or man of talk, with his +jingling baton. + +These two personages threw out grave and comic nonsense alternately; +while their master, laughing or applauding them himself, yet carefully +watched the countenance of his noble guest, to discern what impressions +so accomplished a cavalier received from this display of Austrian +eloquence and wit. It is hard to say whether the man of wisdom or the +man of folly contributed most to the amusement of the party, or stood +highest in the estimation of their princely master; but the sallies of +both seemed excellently well received. Sometimes they became rivals for +the conversation, and clanged their flappers in emulation of each other +with a most alarming contention; but, in general, they seemed on such +good terms, and so accustomed to support each other's play, that the +SPRUCH-SPRECHER often condescended to follow up the jester's witticisms +with an explanation, to render them more obvious to the capacity of +the audience, so that his wisdom became a sort of commentary on the +buffoon's folly. And sometimes, in requital, the HOFF-NARR, with a pithy +jest, wound up the conclusion of the orator's tedious harangue. + +Whatever his real sentiments might be, Conrade took especial care that +his countenance should express nothing but satisfaction with what he +heard, and smiled or applauded as zealously, to all appearance, as the +Archduke himself at the solemn folly of the SPRUCH-SPRECHER and the +gibbering wit of the fool. In fact, he watched carefully until the one +or other should introduce some topic favourable to the purpose which was +uppermost in his mind. + +It was not long ere the King of England was brought on the carpet by the +jester, who had been accustomed to consider Dickon of the Broom (which +irreverent epithet he substituted for Richard Plantagenet) as a subject +of mirth, acceptable and inexhaustible. The orator, indeed, was silent, +and it was only when applied to by Conrade that he observed, “The +GENISTA, or broom-plant, was an emblem of humility; and it would be well +when those who wore it would remember the warning.” + +The allusion to the illustrious badge of Plantagenet was thus rendered +sufficiently manifest, and Jonas Schwanker observed that they who +humbled themselves had been exalted with a vengeance. “Honour unto whom +honour is due,” answered the Marquis of Montserrat. “We have all had +some part in these marches and battles, and methinks other princes might +share a little in the renown which Richard of England engrosses amongst +minstrels and MINNE-SINGERS. Has no one of the joyeuse science here +present a song in praise of the royal Archduke of Austria, our princely +entertainer?” + +Three minstrels emulously stepped forward with voice and harp. Two were +silenced with difficulty by the SPRUCH-SPRECHER, who seemed to act as +master of the revels, and a hearing was at length procured for the +poet preferred, who sung, in high German, stanzas which may be thus +translated:-- + +“What brave chief shall head the forces, Where the red-cross legions +gather? Best of horsemen, best of horses, Highest head and fairest +feather.” + +Here the orator, jingling his staff, interrupted the bard to intimate to +the party--what they might not have inferred from the description--that +their royal host was the party indicated, and a full-crowned goblet went +round to the acclamation, HOCH LEBE DER HERZOG LEOPOLD! Another stanza +followed:-- + +“Ask not Austria why, 'midst princes, Still her banner rises highest; +Ask as well the strong-wing'd eagle, Why to heaven he soars the +highest.” + +“The eagle,” said the expounder of dark sayings, “is the cognizance of +our noble lord the Archduke--of his royal Grace, I would say--and the +eagle flies the highest and nearest to the sun of all the feathered +creation.” + +“The lion hath taken a spring above the eagle,” said Conrade carelessly. + +The Archduke reddened, and fixed his eyes on the speaker, while the +SPRUCH-SPRECHER answered, after a minute's consideration, “The Lord +Marquis will pardon me--a lion cannot fly above an eagle, because no +lion hath got wings.” + +“Except the lion of Saint Mark,” responded the jester. + +“That is the Venetian's banner,” said the Duke; “but assuredly that +amphibious race, half nobles, half merchants, will not dare to place +their rank in comparison with ours.” + +“Nay, it was not of the Venetian lion that I spoke,” said the Marquis of +Montserrat, “but of the three lions passant of England. Formerly, it is +said, they were leopards; but now they are become lions at all points, +and must take precedence of beast, fish, or fowl, or woe worth the +gainstander.” + +“Mean you seriously, my lord?” said the Austrian, now considerably +flushed with wine. “Think you that Richard of England asserts any +pre-eminence over the free sovereigns who have been his voluntary allies +in this Crusade?” + +“I know not but from circumstances,” answered Conrade. “Yonder hangs +his banner alone in the midst of our camp, as if he were king and +generalissimo of our whole Christian army.” + +“And do you endure this so patiently, and speak of it so coldly?” said +the Archduke. + +“Nay, my lord,” answered Conrade, “it cannot concern the poor Marquis of +Montserrat to contend against an injury patiently submitted to by +such potent princes as Philip of France and Leopold of Austria. What +dishonour you are pleased to submit to cannot be a disgrace to me.” + +Leopold closed his fist, and struck on the table with violence. + +“I have told Philip of this,” he said. “I have often told him that it +was our duty to protect the inferior princes against the usurpation +of this islander; but he answers me ever with cold respects of their +relations together as suzerain and vassal, and that it were impolitic in +him to make an open breach at this time and period.” + +“The world knows that Philip is wise,” said Conrade, “and will judge his +submission to be policy. Yours, my lord, you can yourself alone account +for; but I doubt not you have deep reasons for submitting to English +domination.” + +“I submit!” said Leopold indignantly--“I, the Archduke of Austria, so +important and vital a limb of the Holy Roman Empire--I submit myself to +this king of half an island, this grandson of a Norman bastard! No, by +Heaven! The camp and all Christendom shall see that I know how to right +myself, and whether I yield ground one inch to the English bandog.--Up, +my lieges and merry men; up and follow me! We will--and that without +losing one instant--place the eagle of Austria where she shall float as +high as ever floated the cognizance of king or kaiser.” + +With that he started from his seat, and amidst the tumultuous cheering +of his guests and followers, made for the door of the pavilion, and +seized his own banner, which stood pitched before it. + +“Nay, my lord,” said Conrade, affecting to interfere, “it will blemish +your wisdom to make an affray in the camp at this hour; and perhaps it +is better to submit to the usurpation of England a little longer than +to--” + +“Not an hour, not a moment longer,” vociferated the Duke; and with the +banner in his hand, and followed by his shouting guests and attendants, +marched hastily to the central mount, from which the banner of England +floated, and laid his hand on the standard-spear, as if to pluck it from +the ground. + +“My master, my dear master!” said Jonas Schwanker, throwing his arms +about the Duke, “take heed--lions have teeth--” + +“And eagles have claws,” said the Duke, not relinquishing his hold on +the banner-staff, yet hesitating to pull it from the ground. + +The speaker of sentences, notwithstanding such was his occupation, had +nevertheless some intervals of sound sense. He clashed his staff loudly, +and Leopold, as if by habit, turned his head towards his man of counsel. + +“The eagle is king among the fowls of the air,” said the +SPRUCH-SPRECHER, “as is the lion among the beasts of the field--each has +his dominion, separated as wide as England and Germany. Do thou, noble +eagle, no dishonour to the princely lion, but let your banners remain +floating in peace side by side.” + +Leopold withdrew his hand from the banner-spear, and looked round for +Conrade of Montserrat, but he saw him not; for the Marquis, so soon as +he saw the mischief afoot, had withdrawn himself from the crowd, taking +care, in the first place, to express before several neutral persons his +regret that the Archduke should have chosen the hours after dinner to +avenge any wrong of which he might think he had a right to complain. Not +seeing his guest, to whom he wished more particularly to have addressed +himself, the Archduke said aloud that, having no wish to breed +dissension in the army of the Cross, he did but vindicate his own +privileges and right to stand upon an equality with the King of England, +without desiring, as he might have done, to advance his banner--which he +derived from emperors, his progenitors--above that of a mere descendant +of the Counts of Anjou; and in the meantime he commanded a cask of wine +to be brought hither and pierced, for regaling the bystanders, who, +with tuck of drum and sound of music, quaffed many a carouse round the +Austrian standard. + +This disorderly scene was not acted without a degree of noise, which +alarmed the whole camp. + +The critical hour had arrived at which the physician, according to the +rules of his art, had predicted that his royal patient might be awakened +with safety, and the sponge had been applied for that purpose; and +the leech had not made many observations ere he assured the Baron of +Gilsland that the fever had entirely left his sovereign, and that, +such was the happy strength of his constitution, it would not be even +necessary, as in most cases, to give a second dose of the powerful +medicine. Richard himself seemed to be of the same opinion, for, sitting +up and rubbing his eyes, he demanded of De Vaux what present sum of +money was in the royal coffers. + +The baron could not exactly inform him of the amount. + +“It matters not,” said Richard; “be it greater or smaller, bestow it +all on this learned leech, who hath, I trust, given me back again to the +service of the Crusade. If it be less than a thousand byzants, let him +have jewels to make it up.” + +“I sell not the wisdom with which Allah has endowed me,” answered the +Arabian physician; “and be it known to you, great Prince, that the +divine medicine of which you have partaken would lose its effects in my +unworthy hands did I exchange its virtues either for gold or diamonds.” + +“The Physician refuseth a gratuity!” said De Vaux to himself. “This is +more extraordinary than his being a hundred years old.” + +“Thomas de Vaux,” said Richard, “thou knowest no courage but what +belongs to the sword, no bounty and virtue but what are used in +chivalry. I tell thee that this Moor, in his independence, might set an +example to them who account themselves the flower of knighthood.” + +“It is reward enough for me,” said the Moor, folding his arms on his +bosom, and maintaining an attitude at once respectful and dignified, +“that so great a king as the Melech Ric [Richard was thus called by the +Eastern nations.] should thus speak of his servant.--But now let me pray +you again to compose yourself on your couch; for though I think there +needs no further repetition of the divine draught, yet injury might +ensue from any too early exertion ere your strength be entirely +restored.” + +“I must obey thee, Hakim,” said the King; “yet believe me, my bosom +feels so free from the wasting fire which for so many days hath scorched +it, that I care not how soon I expose it to a brave man's lance.--But +hark! what mean these shouts, and that distant music, in the camp? Go, +Thomas de Vaux, and make inquiry.” + +“It is the Archduke Leopold,” said De Vaux, returning after a minute's +absence, “who makes with his pot-companions some procession through the +camp.” + +“The drunken fool!” exclaimed King Richard; “can he not keep his brutal +inebriety within the veil of his pavilion, that he must needs show +his shame to all Christendom?--What say you, Sir Marquis?” he added, +addressing himself to Conrade of Montserrat, who at that moment entered +the tent. + +“Thus much, honoured Prince,” answered the Marquis, “that I delight +to see your Majesty so well, and so far recovered; and that is a long +speech for any one to make who has partaken of the Duke of Austria's +hospitality.” + +“What! you have been dining with the Teutonic wine-skin!” said +the monarch. “And what frolic has he found out to cause all this +disturbance? Truly, Sir Conrade, I have still held you so good a +reveller that I wonder at your quitting the game.” + +De Vaux, who had got a little behind the King, now exerted himself by +look and sign to make the Marquis understand that he should say nothing +to Richard of what was passing without. But Conrade understood not, or +heeded not, the prohibition. + +“What the Archduke does,” he said, “is of little consequence to any one, +least of all to himself, since he probably knows not what he is acting; +yet, to say truth, it is a gambol I should not like to share in, since +he is pulling down the banner of England from Saint George's Mount, in +the centre of the camp yonder, and displaying his own in its stead.” + +“WHAT sayest thou?” exclaimed the King, in a tone which might have waked +the dead. + +“Nay,” said the Marquis, “let it not chafe your Highness that a fool +should act according to his folly--” + +“Speak not to me,” said Richard, springing from his couch, and casting +on his clothes with a dispatch which seemed marvellous--“Speak not to +me, Lord Marquis!--De Multon, I command thee speak not a word to +me--he that breathes but a syllable is no friend to Richard +Plantagenet.--Hakim, be silent, I charge thee!” + +All this while the King was hastily clothing himself, and, with the last +word, snatched his sword from the pillar of the tent, and without any +other weapon, or calling any attendance, he rushed out of his pavilion. +Conrade, holding up his hands as if in astonishment, seemed willing to +enter into conversation with De Vaux; but Sir Thomas pushed rudely past +him, and calling to one of the royal equerries, said hastily, “Fly to +Lord Salisbury's quarters, and let him get his men together and follow +me instantly to Saint George's Mount. Tell him the King's fever has left +his blood and settled in his brain.” + +Imperfectly heard, and still more imperfectly comprehended, by the +startled attendant whom De Vaux addressed thus hastily, the equerry and +his fellow-servants of the royal chamber rushed hastily into the tents +of the neighbouring nobility, and quickly spread an alarm, as general +as the cause seemed vague, through the whole British forces. The English +soldiers, waked in alarm from that noonday rest which the heat of the +climate had taught them to enjoy as a luxury, hastily asked each other +the cause of the tumult, and without waiting an answer, supplied by the +force of their own fancy the want of information. Some said the Saracens +were in the camp, some that the King's life was attempted, some that he +had died of the fever the preceding night, many that he was assassinated +by the Duke of Austria. The nobles and officers, at an equal loss with +the common men to ascertain the real cause of the disorder, laboured +only to get their followers under arms and under authority, lest their +rashness should occasion some great misfortune to the Crusading army. +The English trumpets sounded loud, shrill, and continuously. The +alarm-cry of “Bows and bills, bows and bills!” was heard from quarter +to quarter, again and again shouted, and again and again answered by the +presence of the ready warriors, and their national invocation, “Saint +George for merry England!” + +The alarm went through the nearest quarter of the camp, and men of +all the various nations assembled, where, perhaps, every people in +Christendom had their representatives, flew to arms, and drew together +under circumstances of general confusion, of which they knew neither +the cause nor the object. It was, however, lucky, amid a scene so +threatening, that the Earl of Salisbury, while he hurried after De +Vaux's summons with a few only of the readiest English men-at-arms, +directed the rest of the English host to be drawn up and kept under +arms, to advance to Richard's succour if necessity should require, but +in fit array and under due command, and not with the tumultuary +haste which their own alarm and zeal for the King's safety might have +dictated. + +In the meanwhile, without regarding for one instant the shouts, the +cries, the tumult which began to thicken around him, Richard, with +his dress in the last disorder, and his sheathed blade under his arm, +pursued his way with the utmost speed, followed only by De Vaux and one +or two household servants, to Saint George's Mount. + +He outsped even the alarm which his impetuosity only had excited, +and passed the quarter of his own gallant troops of Normandy, Poitou, +Gascony, and Anjou before the disturbance had reached them, although the +noise accompanying the German revel had induced many of the soldiery to +get on foot to listen. The handful of Scots were also quartered in the +vicinity, nor had they been disturbed by the uproar. But the King's +person and his haste were both remarked by the Knight of the Leopard, +who, aware that danger must be afoot, and hastening to share in it, +snatched his shield and sword, and united himself to De Vaux, who with +some difficulty kept pace with his impatient and fiery master. De Vaux +answered a look of curiosity, which the Scottish knight directed towards +him, with a shrug of his broad shoulders, and they continued, side by +side, to pursue Richard's steps. + +The King was soon at the foot of Saint George's Mount, the sides as well +as platform of which were now surrounded and crowded, partly by those +belonging to the Duke of Austria's retinue, who were celebrating, with +shouts of jubilee, the act which they considered as an assertion of +national honour; partly by bystanders of different nations, whom dislike +to the English, or mere curiosity, had assembled together to witness the +end of these extraordinary proceedings. Through this disorderly troop +Richard burst his way, like a goodly ship under full sail, which cleaves +her forcible passage through the rolling billows, and heeds not that +they unite after her passage and roar upon her stern. + +The summit of the eminence was a small level space, on which were +pitched the rival banners, surrounded still by the Archduke's friends +and retinue. In the midst of the circle was Leopold himself, still +contemplating with self-satisfaction the deed he had done, and still +listening to the shouts of applause which his partisans bestowed with no +sparing breath. While he was in this state of self-gratulation, Richard +burst into the circle, attended, indeed, only by two men, but in his own +headlong energies an irresistible host. + +“Who has dared,” he said, laying his hands upon the Austrian +standard, and speaking in a voice like the sound which precedes an +earthquake--“Who has dared to place this paltry rag beside the banner of +England?” + +The Archduke wanted not personal courage, and it was impossible he +could hear this question without reply. Yet so much was he troubled +and surprised by the unexpected arrival of Richard, and affected by the +general awe inspired by his ardent and unyielding character, that the +demand was twice repeated, in a tone which seemed to challenge heaven +and earth, ere the Archduke replied, with such firmness as he could +command, “It was I, Leopold of Austria.” + +“Then shall Leopold of Austria,” replied Richard, “presentry see the +rate at which his banner and his pretensions are held by Richard of +England.” + +So saying, he pulled up the standard-spear, splintered it to pieces, +threw the banner itself on the ground, and placed his foot upon it. + +“Thus,” said he, “I trample on the banner of Austria. Is there a knight +among your Teutonic chivalry dare impeach my deed?” + +There was a momentary silence; but there are no braver men than the +Germans. + +“I,” and “I,” and “I,” was heard from several knights of the Duke's +followers; and he himself added his voice to those which accepted the +King of England's defiance. + +“Why do we dally thus?” said the Earl Wallenrode, a gigantic warrior +from the frontiers of Hungary. “Brethren and noble gentlemen, this man's +foot is on the honour of your country--let us rescue it from violation, +and down with the pride of England!” + +So saying, he drew his sword, and struck at the King a blow which might +have proved fatal, had not the Scot intercepted and caught it upon his +shield. + +“I have sworn,” said King Richard--and his voice was heard above all +the tumult, which now waxed wild and loud--“never to strike one whose +shoulder bears the cross; therefore live, Wallenrode--but live to +remember Richard of England.” + +As he spoke, he grasped the tall Hungarian round the waist, and, +unmatched in wrestling, as in other military exercises, hurled him +backwards with such violence that the mass flew as if discharged from a +military engine, not only through the ring of spectators who witnessed +the extraordinary scene, but over the edge of the mount itself, down +the steep side of which Wallenrode rolled headlong, until, pitching at +length upon his shoulder, he dislocated the bone, and lay like one dead. +This almost supernatural display of strength did not encourage either +the Duke or any of his followers to renew a personal contest so +inauspiciously commenced. Those who stood farthest back did, indeed, +clash their swords, and cry out, “Cut the island mastiff to pieces!” + but those who were nearer veiled, perhaps, their personal fears under an +affected regard for order, and cried, for the most part, “Peace! Peace! +the peace of the Cross--the peace of Holy Church and our Father the +Pope!” + +These various cries of the assailants, contradicting each other, showed +their irresolution; while Richard, his foot still on the archducal +banner, glared round him with an eye that seemed to seek an enemy, and +from which the angry nobles shrunk appalled, as from the threatened +grasp of a lion. De Vaux and the Knight of the Leopard kept their places +beside him; and though the swords which they held were still sheathed, +it was plain that they were prompt to protect Richard's person to the +very last, and their size and remarkable strength plainly showed the +defence would be a desperate one. + +Salisbury and his attendants were also now drawing near, with bills and +partisans brandished, and bows already bended. + +At this moment King Philip of France, attended by one or two of his +nobles, came on the platform to inquire the cause of the disturbance, +and made gestures of surprise at finding the King of England raised from +his sick-bed, and confronting their common ally, the Duke of Austria, in +such a menacing and insulting posture. Richard himself blushed at being +discovered by Philip, whose sagacity he respected as much as he disliked +his person, in an attitude neither becoming his character as a monarch, +nor as a Crusader; and it was observed that he withdrew his foot, as +if accidentally, from the dishonoured banner, and exchanged his look of +violent emotion for one of affected composure and indifference. Leopold +also struggled to attain some degree of calmness, mortified as he was +by having been seen by Philip in the act of passively submitting to the +insults of the fiery King of England. + +Possessed of many of those royal qualities for which he was termed by +his subjects the August, Philip might be termed the Ulysses, as Richard +was indisputably the Achilles, of the Crusade. The King of France was +sagacious, wise, deliberate in council, steady and calm in action, +seeing clearly, and steadily pursuing, the measures most for the +interest of his kingdom--dignified and royal in his deportment, brave in +person, but a politician rather than a warrior. The Crusade would +have been no choice of his own; but the spirit was contagious, and the +expedition was enforced upon him by the church, and by the unanimous +wish of his nobility. In any other situation, or in a milder age, his +character might have stood higher than that of the adventurous Coeur de +Lion. But in the Crusade, itself an undertaking wholly irrational, sound +reason was the quality of all others least estimated, and the chivalric +valour which both the age and the enterprise demanded was considered as +debased if mingled with the least touch of discretion. So that the merit +of Philip, compared with that of his haughty rival, showed like the +clear but minute flame of a lamp placed near the glare of a huge, +blazing torch, which, not possessing half the utility, makes ten times +more impression on the eye. Philip felt his inferiority in public +opinion with the pain natural to a high-spirited prince; and it cannot +be wondered at if he took such opportunities as offered for placing his +own character in more advantageous contrast with that of his rival. The +present seemed one of those occasions in which prudence and calmness +might reasonably expect to triumph over obstinacy and impetuous +violence. + +“What means this unseemly broil betwixt the sworn brethren of the +Cross--the royal Majesty of England and the princely Duke Leopold? How +is it possible that those who are the chiefs and pillars of this holy +expedition--” + +“A truce with thy remonstrance, France,” said Richard, enraged inwardly +at finding himself placed on a sort of equality with Leopold, yet not +knowing how to resent it. “This duke, or prince, or pillar, if you will, +hath been insolent, and I have chastised him--that is all. Here is a +coil, forsooth, because of spurning a hound!” + +“Majesty of France,” said the Duke, “I appeal to you and every sovereign +prince against the foul indignity which I have sustained. This King of +England hath pulled down my banner-torn and trampled on it.” + +“Because he had the audacity to plant it beside mine,” said Richard. + +“My rank as thine equal entitled me,” replied the Duke, emboldened by +the presence of Philip. + +“Assert such equality for thy person,” said King Richard, “and, by Saint +George, I will treat thy person as I did thy broidered kerchief there, +fit but for the meanest use to which kerchief may be put.” + +“Nay, but patience, brother of England,” said Philip, “and I will +presently show Austria that he is wrong in this matter.--Do not think, +noble Duke,” he continued, “that, in permitting the standard of England +to occupy the highest point in our camp, we, the independent sovereigns +of the Crusade, acknowledge any inferiority to the royal Richard. It +were inconsistent to think so, since even the Oriflamme itself--the +great banner of France, to which the royal Richard himself, in respect +of his French possessions, is but a vassal--holds for the present an +inferior place to the Lions of England. But as sworn brethren of the +Cross, military pilgrims, who, laying aside the pomp and pride of this +world, are hewing with our swords the way to the Holy Sepulchre, I +myself, and the other princes, have renounced to King Richard, from +respect to his high renown and great feats of arms, that precedence +which elsewhere, and upon other motives, would not have been yielded. +I am satisfied that, when your royal grace of Austria shall have +considered this, you will express sorrow for having placed your banner +on this spot, and that the royal Majesty of England will then give +satisfaction for the insult he has offered.” + +The SPRUCH-SPRECHER and the jester had both retired to a safe distance +when matters seemed coming to blows; but returned when words, their own +commodity, seemed again about to become the order of the day. + +The man of proverbs was so delighted with Philip's politic speech that +he clashed his baton at the conclusion, by way of emphasis, and forgot +the presence in which he was, so far as to say aloud that he himself had +never said a wiser thing in his life. + +“It may be so,” whispered Jonas Schwanker, “but we shall be whipped if +you speak so loud.” + +The Duke answered sullenly that he would refer his quarrel to the +General Council of the Crusade--a motion which Philip highly applauded, +as qualified to take away a scandal most harmful to Christendom. + +Richard, retaining the same careless attitude, listened to Philip until +his oratory seemed exhausted, and then said aloud, “I am drowsy--this +fever hangs about me still. Brother of France, thou art acquainted with +my humour, and that I have at all times but few words to spare. Know, +therefore, at once, I will submit a matter touching the honour +of England neither to Prince, Pope, nor Council. Here stands my +banner--whatsoever pennon shall be reared within three butts' length +of it--ay, were it the Oriflamme, of which you were, I think, but now +speaking--shall be treated as that dishonoured rag; nor will I yield +other satisfaction than that which these poor limbs can render in the +lists to any bold challenge--ay, were it against five champions instead +of one.” + +“Now,” said the jester, whispering his companion, “that is as complete +a piece of folly as if I myself had said it; but yet, I think, there may +be in this matter a greater fool than Richard yet.” + +“And who may that be?” asked the man of wisdom. + +“Philip,” said the jester, “or our own Royal Duke, should either accept +the challenge. But oh, most sage SPRUCH-SPECHER, what excellent kings +wouldst thou and I have made, since those on whose heads these crowns +have fallen can play the proverb-monger and the fool as completely as +ourselves!” + +While these worthies plied their offices apart, Philip answered calmly +to the almost injurious defiance of Richard, “I came not hither to +awaken fresh quarrels, contrary to the oath we have sworn, and the holy +cause in which we have engaged. I part from my brother of England as +brothers should part, and the only strife between the Lions of England +and the Lilies of France shall be which shall be carried deepest into +the ranks of the infidels.” + +“It is a bargain, my royal brother,” said Richard, stretching out his +hand with all the frankness which belonged to his rash but generous +disposition; “and soon may we have the opportunity to try this gallant +and fraternal wager.” + +“Let this noble Duke also partake in the friendship of this happy +moment,” said Philip; and the Duke approached half-sullenly, +half-willing to enter into some accommodation. + +“I think not of fools, nor of their folly,” said Richard carelessly; and +the Archduke, turning his back on him, withdrew from the ground. + +Richard looked after him as he retired. + +“There is a sort of glow-worm courage,” he said, “that shows only by +night. I must not leave this banner unguarded in darkness; by daylight +the look of the Lions will alone defend it. Here, Thomas of Gilsland, I +give thee the charge of the standard--watch over the honour of England.” + +“Her safety is yet more dear to me,” said De Vaux, “and the life of +Richard is the safety of England. I must have your Highness back to your +tent, and that without further tarriance.” + +“Thou art a rough and peremptory nurse, De Vaux,” said the king, +smiling; and then added, addressing Sir Kenneth, “Valiant Scot, I +owe thee a boon, and I will pay it richly. There stands the banner of +England! Watch it as novice does his armour on the night before he is +dubbed. Stir not from it three spears' length, and defend it with thy +body against injury or insult. Sound thy bugle if thou art assailed by +more than three at once. Dost thou undertake the charge?” + +“Willingly,” said Kenneth; “and will discharge it upon penalty of my +head. I will but arm me, and return hither instantly.” + +The Kings of France and England then took formal leave of each other, +hiding, under an appearance of courtesy, the grounds of complaint which +either had against the other--Richard against Philip, for what he deemed +an officious interference betwixt him and Austria, and Philip against +Coeur de Lion, for the disrespectful manner in which his mediation had +been received. Those whom this disturbance had assembled now drew off in +different directions, leaving the contested mount in the same solitude +which had subsisted till interrupted by the Austrian bravado. Men judged +of the events of the day according to their partialities, and while the +English charged the Austrian with having afforded the first ground of +quarrel, those of other nations concurred in casting the greater blame +upon the insular haughtiness and assuming character of Richard. + +“Thou seest,” said the Marquis of Montserrat to the Grand Master of the +Templars, “that subtle courses are more effective than violence. I +have unloosed the bonds which held together this bunch of sceptres and +lances--thou wilt see them shortly fall asunder.” + +“I would have called thy plan a good one,” said the Templar, “had there +been but one man of courage among yonder cold-blooded Austrians to sever +the bonds of which you speak with his sword. A knot that is unloosed may +again be fastened, but not so the cord which has been cut to pieces.” + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + 'Tis woman that seduces all mankind. + GAY. + +In the days of chivalry, a dangerous post or a perilous adventure was a +reward frequently assigned to military bravery as a compensation for its +former trials; just as, in ascending a precipice, the surmounting one +crag only lifts the climber to points yet more dangerous. + +It was midnight, and the moon rode clear and high in heaven, when +Kenneth of Scotland stood upon his watch on Saint George's Mount, beside +the banner of England, a solitary sentinel, to protect the emblem of +that nation against the insults which might be meditated among the +thousands whom Richard's pride had made his enemies. High thoughts +rolled, one after each other, upon the mind of the warrior. It seemed +to him as if he had gained some favour in the eyes of the chivalrous +monarch, who till now had not seemed to distinguish him among the crowds +of brave men whom his renown had assembled under his banner, and Sir +Kenneth little recked that the display of royal regard consisted in +placing him upon a post so perilous. The devotion of his ambitious and +high-placed affection inflamed his military enthusiasm. Hopeless as that +attachment was in almost any conceivable circumstances, those which had +lately occurred had, in some degree, diminished the distance between +Edith and himself. He upon whom Richard had conferred the distinction +of guarding his banner was no longer an adventurer of slight note, but +placed within the regard of a princess, although he was as far as ever +from her level. An unknown and obscure fate could not now be his. If +he was surprised and slain on the post which had been assigned him, his +death--and he resolved it should be glorious--must deserve the praises +as well as call down the vengeance of Coeur de Lion, and be followed +by the regrets, and even the tears, of the high-born beauties of the +English Court. He had now no longer reason to fear that he should die as +a fool dieth. + +Sir Kenneth had full leisure to enjoy these and similar high-souled +thoughts, fostered by that wild spirit of chivalry, which, amid its +most extravagant and fantastic flights, was still pure from all selfish +alloy--generous, devoted, and perhaps only thus far censurable, that it +proposed objects and courses of action inconsistent with the frailties +and imperfections of man. All nature around him slept in calm moon-shine +or in deep shadow. The long rows of tents and pavilions, glimmering or +darkening as they lay in the moonlight or in the shade, were still and +silent as the streets of a deserted city. Beside the banner-staff lay +the large staghound already mentioned, the sole companion of Kenneth's +watch, on whose vigilance he trusted for early warning of the approach +of any hostile footstep. The noble animal seemed to understand the +purpose of their watch; for he looked from time to time at the rich +folds of the heavy pennon, and, when the cry of the sentinels came from +the distant lines and defences of the camp, he answered them with one +deep and reiterated bark, as if to affirm that he too was vigilant in +his duty. From time to time, also, he lowered his lofty head, and wagged +his tail, as his master passed and repassed him in the short turns which +he took upon his post; or, when the knight stood silent and abstracted +leaning on his lance, and looking up towards heaven, his faithful +attendant ventured sometimes, in the phrase of romance, “to disturb his +thoughts,” and awaken him from his reverie, by thrusting his large rough +snout into the knight's gauntleted hand, to solicit a transitory caress. + +Thus passed two hours of the knight's watch without anything remarkable +occurring. At length, and upon a sudden, the gallant staghound bayed +furiously, and seemed about to dash forward where the shadow lay +the darkest, yet waited, as if in the slips, till he should know the +pleasure of his master. + +“Who goes there?” said Sir Kenneth, aware that there was something +creeping forward on the shadowy side of the mount. + +“In the name of Merlin and Maugis,” answered a hoarse, disagreeable +voice, “tie up your fourfooted demon there, or I come not at you.” + +“And who art thou that would approach my post?” said Sir Kenneth, +bending his eyes as keenly as he could on some object, which he +could just observe at the bottom of the ascent, without being able to +distinguish its form. “Beware--I am here for death and life.” + +“Take up thy long-fanged Sathanas,” said the voice, “or I will conjure +him with a bolt from my arblast.” + +At the same time was heard the sound of a spring or check, as when a +crossbow is bent. + +“Unbend thy arblast, and come into the moonlight,” said the Scot, “or, +by Saint Andrew, I will pin thee to the earth, be what or whom thou +wilt!” + +As he spoke he poised his long lance by the middle, and, fixing his eye +upon the object, which seemed to move, he brandished the weapon, as +if meditating to cast it from his hand--a use of the weapon sometimes, +though rarely, resorted to when a missile was necessary. But Sir Kenneth +was ashamed of his purpose, and grounded his weapon, when there stepped +from the shadow into the moonlight, like an actor entering upon the +stage, a stunted, decrepit creature, whom, by his fantastic dress and +deformity, he recognized, even at some distance, for the male of the two +dwarfs whom he had seen in the chapel at Engaddi. Recollecting, at the +same moment, the other and far different visions of that extraordinary +night, he gave his dog a signal, which he instantly understood, and, +returning to the standard, laid himself down beside it with a stifled +growl. + +The little, distorted miniature of humanity, assured of his safety from +an enemy so formidable, came panting up the ascent, which the shortness +of his legs rendered laborious, and, when he arrived on the platform at +the top, shifted to his left hand the little crossbow, which was just +such a toy as children at that period were permitted to shoot small +birds with, and, assuming an attitude of great dignity, gracefully +extended his right hand to Sir Kenneth, in an attitude as if he expected +he would salute it. But such a result not following, he demanded, in a +sharp and angry tone of voice, “Soldier, wherefore renderest thou not +to Nectabanus the homage due to his dignity? Or is it possible that thou +canst have forgotten him?” + +“Great Nectabanus,” answered the knight, willing to soothe the +creature's humour, “that were difficult for any one who has ever looked +upon thee. Pardon me, however, that, being a soldier upon my post, +with my lance in my hand, I may not give to one of thy puissance the +advantage of coming within my guard, or of mastering my weapon. Suffice +it that I reverence thy dignity, and submit myself to thee as humbly as +a man-at-arms in my place may.” + +“It shall suffice,” said Nectabanus, “so that you presently attend me to +the presence of those who have sent me hither to summon you.” + +“Great sir,” replied the knight, “neither in this can I gratify thee, +for my orders are to abide by this banner till daybreak--so I pray you +to hold me excused in that matter also.” + +So saying, he resumed his walk upon the platform; but the dwarf did not +suffer him so easily to escape from his importunity. + +“Look you,” he said, placing himself before Sir Kenneth, so as to +interrupt his way, “either obey me, Sir Knight, as in duty bound, or I +will lay the command upon thee, in the name of one whose beauty could +call down the genii from their sphere, and whose grandeur could command +the immortal race when they had descended.” + +A wild and improbable conjecture arose in the knight's mind, but he +repelled it. It was impossible, he thought, that the lady of his love +should have sent him such a message by such a messenger; yet his voice +trembled as he said, “Go to, Nectabanus. Tell me at once, and as a true +man, whether this sublime lady of whom thou speakest be other than +the houri with whose assistance I beheld thee sweeping the chapel at +Engaddi?” + +“How! presumptuous Knight,” replied the dwarf, “think'st thou the +mistress of our own royal affections, the sharer of our greatness, and +the partner of our comeliness, would demean herself by laying charge on +such a vassal as thou? No; highly as thou art honoured, thou hast not +yet deserved the notice of Queen Guenevra, the lovely bride of Arthur, +from whose high seat even princes seem but pigmies. But look thou here, +and as thou knowest or disownest this token, so obey or refuse her +commands who hath deigned to impose them on thee.” + +So saying, he placed in the knight's hand a ruby ring, which, even in +the moonlight, he had no difficulty to recognize as that which usually +graced the finger of the high-born lady to whose service he had devoted +himself. Could he have doubted the truth of the token, he would have +been convinced by the small knot of carnation-coloured ribbon which was +fastened to the ring. This was his lady's favourite colour, and more +than once had he himself, assuming it for that of his own liveries, +caused the carnation to triumph over all other hues in the lists and in +the battle. + +Sir Kenneth was struck nearly mute by seeing such a token in such hands. + +“In the name of all that is sacred, from whom didst thou receive +this witness?” said the knight. “Bring, if thou canst, thy wavering +understanding to a right settlement for a minute or two, and tell me the +person by whom thou art sent, and the real purpose of thy message, and +take heed what thou sayest, for this is no subject for buffoonery.” + +“Fond and foolish Knight,” said the dwarf, “wouldst thou know more of +this matter than that thou art honoured with commands from a princess, +delivered to thee by a king? We list not to parley with thee further +than to command thee, in the name and by the power of that ring, to +follow us to her who is the owner of the ring. Every minute that thou +tarriest is a crime against thy allegiance.” + +“Good Nectabanus, bethink thyself,” said the knight. “Can my lady know +where and upon what duty I am this night engaged? Is she aware that my +life--pshaw, why should I speak of life--but that my honour depends on +my guarding this banner till daybreak; and can it be her wish that +I should leave it even to pay homage to her? It is impossible--the +princess is pleased to be merry with her servant in sending him such +a message; and I must think so the rather that she hath chosen such a +messenger.” + +“Oh, keep your belief,” said Nectabanus, turning round as if to leave +the platform; “it is little to me whether you be traitor or true man to +this royal lady--so fare thee well.” + +“Stay, stay--I entreat you stay,” said Sir Kenneth. “Answer me but one +question: is the lady who sent thee near to this place?” + +“What signifies it?” said the dwarf. “Ought fidelity to reckon furlongs, +or miles, or leagues--like the poor courier, who is paid for his +labour by the distance which he traverses? Nevertheless, thou soul +of suspicion, I tell thee, the fair owner of the ring now sent to so +unworthy a vassal, in whom there is neither truth nor courage, is not +more distant from this place than this arblast can send a bolt.” + +The knight gazed again on that ring, as if to ascertain that there was +no possible falsehood in the token. “Tell me,” he said to the dwarf, “is +my presence required for any length of time?” + +“Time!” answered Nectabanus, in his flighty manner; “what call you time? +I see it not--I feel it not--it is but a shadowy name--a succession of +breathings measured forth by night by the clank of a bell, by day by +a shadow crossing along a dial-stone. Knowest thou not a true knight's +time should only be reckoned by the deeds that he performs in behalf of +God and his lady?” + +“The words of truth, though in the mouth of folly,” said the knight. +“And doth my lady really summon me to some deed of action, in her name +and for her sake?--and may it not be postponed for even the few hours +till daybreak?” + +“She requires thy presence instantly,” said the dwarf, “and without the +loss of so much time as would be told by ten grains of the sandglass. +Hearken, thou cold-blooded and suspicious knight, these are her very +words--Tell him that the hand which dropped roses can bestow laurels.” + +This allusion to their meeting in the chapel of Engaddi sent a thousand +recollections through Sir Kenneth's brain, and convinced him that the +message delivered by the dwarf was genuine. The rosebuds, withered as +they were, were still treasured under his cuirass, and nearest to his +heart. He paused, and could not resolve to forego an opportunity, the +only one which might ever offer, to gain grace in her eyes whom he had +installed as sovereign of his affections. The dwarf, in the meantime, +augmented his confusion by insisting either that he must return the ring +or instantly attend him. + +“Hold, hold, yet a moment hold,” said the knight, and proceeded to +mutter to himself, “Am I either the subject or slave of King Richard, +more than as a free knight sworn to the service of the Crusade? And whom +have I come hither to honour with lance and sword? Our holy cause and my +transcendent lady!” + +“The ring! the ring!” exclaimed the dwarf impatiently; “false and +slothful knight, return the ring, which thou art unworthy to touch or to +look upon.” + +“A moment, a moment, good Nectabanus,” said Sir Kenneth; “disturb not +my thoughts.--What if the Saracens were just now to attack our lines? +Should I stay here like a sworn vassal of England, watching that her +king's pride suffered no humiliation; or should I speed to the breach, +and fight for the Cross? To the breach, assuredly; and next to the cause +of God come the commands of my liege lady. And yet, Coeur de Lion's +behest--my own promise! Nectabanus, I conjure thee once more to say, are +you to conduct me far from hence?” + +“But to yonder pavilion; and, since you must needs know,” replied +Nectabanus, “the moon is glimmering on the gilded ball which crowns its +roof, and which is worth a king's ransom.” + +“I can return in an instant,” said the knight, shutting his eyes +desperately to all further consequences, “I can hear from thence the bay +of my dog if any one approaches the standard. I will throw myself at my +lady's feet, and pray her leave to return to conclude my watch.--Here, +Roswal” (calling his hound, and throwing down his mantle by the side of +the standard-spear), “watch thou here, and let no one approach.” + +The majestic dog looked in his master's face, as if to be sure that he +understood his charge, then sat down beside the mantle, with ears erect +and head raised, like a sentinel, understanding perfectly the purpose +for which he was stationed there. + +“Come now, good Nectabanus,” said the knight, “let us hasten to obey the +commands thou hast brought.” + +“Haste he that will,” said the dwarf sullenly; “thou hast not been in +haste to obey my summons, nor can I walk fast enough to follow your long +strides--you do not walk like a man, but bound like an ostrich in the +desert.” + +There were but two ways of conquering the obstinacy of Nectabanus, who, +as he spoke, diminished his walk into a snail's pace. For bribes Sir +Kenneth had no means--for soothing no time; so in his impatience +he snatched the dwarf up from the ground, and bearing him along, +notwithstanding his entreaties and his fear, reached nearly to the +pavilion pointed out as that of the Queen. In approaching it, however, +the Scot observed there was a small guard of soldiers sitting on the +ground, who had been concealed from him by the intervening tents. +Wondering that the clash of his own armour had not yet attracted +their attention, and supposing that his motions might, on the present +occasion, require to be conducted with secrecy, he placed the little +panting guide upon the ground to recover his breath, and point out what +was next to be done. Nectabanus was both frightened and angry; but he +had felt himself as completely in the power of the robust knight as an +owl in the claws of an eagle, and therefore cared not to provoke him to +any further display of his strength. + +He made no complaints, therefore, of the usage he had received; but, +turning amongst the labyrinth of tents, he led the knight in silence +to the opposite side of the pavilion, which thus screened them from +the observation of the warders, who seemed either too negligent or too +sleepy to discharge their duty with much accuracy. Arrived there, the +dwarf raised the under part of the canvas from the ground, and made +signs to Sir Kenneth that he should introduce himself to the inside of +the tent, by creeping under it. The knight hesitated. There seemed an +indecorum in thus privately introducing himself into a pavilion pitched, +doubtless, for the accommodation of noble ladies; but he recalled +to remembrance the assured tokens which the dwarf had exhibited, and +concluded that it was not for him to dispute his lady's pleasure. + +He stooped accordingly, crept beneath the canvas enclosure of the tent, +and heard the dwarf whisper from without, “Remain here until I call +thee.” + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + You talk of Gaiety and Innocence! + The moment when the fatal fruit was eaten, + They parted ne'er to meet again; and Malice + Has ever since been playmate to light Gaiety, + From the first moment when the smiling infant + Destroys the flower or butterfly he toys with, + To the last chuckle of the dying miser, + Who on his deathbed laughs his last to hear + His wealthy neighbour has become a bankrupt. + OLD PLAY. + +Sir Kenneth was left for some minutes alone and in darkness. Here was +another interruption which must prolong his absence from his post, and +he began almost to repent the facility with which he had been induced to +quit it. But to return without seeing the Lady Edith was now not to be +thought of. He had committed a breach of military discipline, and was +determined at least to prove the reality of the seductive expectations +which had tempted him to do so. Meanwhile his situation was unpleasant. +There was no light to show him into what sort of apartment he had +been led--the Lady Edith was in immediate attendance on the Queen +of England--and the discovery of his having introduced himself thus +furtively into the royal pavilion might, were it discovered; lead to +much and dangerous suspicion. While he gave way to these unpleasant +reflections, and began almost to wish that he could achieve his retreat +unobserved, he heard a noise of female voices, laughing, whispering, and +speaking, in an adjoining apartment, from which, as the sounds gave him +reason to judge, he could only be separated by a canvas partition. Lamps +were burning, as he might perceive by the shadowy light which extended +itself even to his side of the veil which divided the tent, and he +could see shades of several figures sitting and moving in the adjoining +apartment. It cannot be termed discourtesy in Sir Kenneth that, situated +as he was, he overheard a conversation in which he found himself deeply +interested. + +“Call her--call her, for Our Lady's sake,” said the voice of one of +these laughing invisibles. “Nectabanus, thou shalt be made ambassador to +Prester John's court, to show them how wisely thou canst discharge thee +of a mission.” + +The shrill tone of the dwarf was heard, yet so much subdued that +Sir Kenneth could not understand what he said, except that he spoke +something of the means of merriment given to the guard. + +“But how shall we rid us of the spirit which Nectabanus hath raised, my +maidens?” + +“Hear me, royal madam,” said another voice. “If the sage and princely +Nectabanus be not over-jealous of his most transcendent bride and +empress, let us send her to get us rid of this insolent knight-errant, +who can be so easily persuaded that high-born dames may need the use of +his insolent and overweening valour.” + +“It were but justice, methinks,” replied another, “that the Princess +Guenever should dismiss, by her courtesy, him whom her husband's wisdom +has been able to entice hither.” + +Struck to the heart with shame and resentment at what he had heard, Sir +Kenneth was about to attempt his escape from the tent at all hazards, +when what followed arrested his purpose. + +“Nay, truly,” said the first speaker, “our cousin Edith must first learn +how this vaunted wight hath conducted himself, and we must reserve the +power of giving her ocular proof that he hath failed in his duty. It +may be a lesson will do good upon her; for, credit me, Calista, I have +sometimes thought she has let this Northern adventurer sit nearer her +heart than prudence would sanction.” + +One of the other voices was then heard to mutter something of the Lady +Edith's prudence and wisdom. + +“Prudence, wench!” was the reply. “It is mere pride, and the desire to +be thought more rigid than any of us. Nay, I will not quit my advantage. +You know well that when she has us at fault no one can, in a civil way, +lay your error before you more precisely than can my Lady Edith. But +here she comes.” + +A figure, as if entering the apartment, cast upon the partition a +shade, which glided along slowly until it mixed with those which +already clouded it. Despite of the bitter disappointment which he had +experienced--despite the insult and injury with which it seemed he had +been visited by the malice, or, at best, by the idle humour of Queen +Berengaria (for he already concluded that she who spoke loudest, and in +a commanding tone, was the wife of Richard), the knight felt something +so soothing to his feelings in learning that Edith had been no partner +to the fraud practised on him, and so interesting to his curiosity in +the scene which was about to take place, that, instead of prosecuting +his more prudent purpose of an instant retreat, he looked anxiously, +on the contrary, for some rent or crevice by means of which he might be +made eye as well as ear witness to what was to go forward. + +“Surely,” said he to himself, “the Queen, who hath been pleased for +an idle frolic to endanger my reputation, and perhaps my life, cannot +complain if I avail myself of the chance which fortune seems willing to +afford me to obtain knowledge of her further intentions.” + +It seemed, in the meanwhile, as if Edith were waiting for the commands +of the Queen, and as if the other were reluctant to speak for fear of +being unable to command her laughter and that of her companions; for Sir +Kenneth could only distinguish a sound as of suppressed tittering and +merriment. + +“Your Majesty,” said Edith at last, “seems in a merry mood, though, +methinks, the hour of night prompts a sleepy one. I was well disposed +bedward when I had your Majesty's commands to attend you.” + +“I will not long delay you, cousin, from your repose,” said the Queen, +“though I fear you will sleep less soundly when I tell you your wager is +lost.” + +“Nay, royal madam,” said Edith, “this, surely, is dwelling on a jest +which has rather been worn out, I laid no wager, however it was your +Majesty's pleasure to suppose, or to insist, that I did so.” + +“Nay, now, despite our pilgrimage, Satan is strong with you, my gentle +cousin, and prompts thee to leasing. Can you deny that you gaged your +ruby ring against my golden bracelet that yonder Knight of the Libbard, +or how call you him, could not be seduced from his post?” + +“Your Majesty is too great for me to gainsay you,” replied Edith, +“but these ladies can, if they will, bear me witness that it was your +Highness who proposed such a wager, and took the ring from my finger, +even while I was declaring that I did not think it maidenly to gage +anything on such a subject.” + +“Nay, but, my Lady Edith,” said another voice, “you must needs grant, +under your favour, that you expressed yourself very confident of the +valour of that same Knight of the Leopard.” + +“And if I did, minion,” said Edith angrily, “is that a good reason why +thou shouldst put in thy word to flatter her Majesty's humour? I spoke +of that knight but as all men speak who have seen him in the field, and +had no more interest in defending than thou in detracting from him. In a +camp, what can women speak of save soldiers and deeds of arms?” + +“The noble Lady Edith,” said a third voice, “hath never forgiven Calista +and me, since we told your Majesty that she dropped two rosebuds in the +chapel.” + +“If your Majesty,” said Edith, in a tone which Sir Kenneth could judge +to be that of respectful remonstrance, “have no other commands for +me than to hear the gibes of your waiting-women, I must crave your +permission to withdraw.” + +“Silence, Florise,” said the Queen, “and let not our indulgence lead +you to forget the difference betwixt yourself and the kinswoman of +England.--But you, my dear cousin,” she continued, resuming her tone +of raillery, “how can you, who are so good-natured, begrudge us poor +wretches a few minutes' laughing, when we have had so many days devoted +to weeping and gnashing of teeth?” + +“Great be your mirth, royal lady,” said Edith; “yet would I be content +not to smile for the rest of my life, rather than--” + +She stopped, apparently out of respect; but Sir Kenneth could hear that +she was in much agitation. + +“Forgive me,” said Berengaria, a thoughtless but good-humoured princess +of the House of Navarre; “but what is the great offence, after all? A +young knight has been wiled hither--has stolen, or has been stolen, from +his post, which no one will disturb in his absence--for the sake of a +fair lady; for, to do your champion justice, sweet one, the wisdom of +Nectabanus could conjure him hither in no name but yours.” + +“Gracious Heaven! your Majesty does not say so?” said Edith, in a +voice of alarm quite different from the agitation she had previously +evinced,--“you cannot say so consistently with respect for your own +honour and for mine, your husband's kinswoman! Say you were jesting with +me, my royal mistress, and forgive me that I could, even for a moment, +think it possible you could be in earnest!” + +“The Lady Edith,” said the Queen, in a displeased tone of voice, +“regrets the ring we have won of her. We will restore the pledge to you, +gentle cousin; only you must not grudge us in turn a little triumph over +the wisdom which has been so often spread over us, as a banner over a +host.” + +“A triumph!” exclaimed Edith indignantly--“a triumph! The triumph will +be with the infidel, when he hears that the Queen of England can +make the reputation of her husband's kinswoman the subject of a light +frolic.” + +“You are angry, fair cousin, at losing your favourite ring,” said the +Queen. “Come, since you grudge to pay your wager, we will renounce our +right; it was your name and that pledge brought him hither, and we care +not for the bait after the fish is caught.” + +“Madam,” replied Edith impatiently, “you know well that your Grace could +not wish for anything of mine but it becomes instantly yours. But I +would give a bushel of rubies ere ring or name of mine had been used to +bring a brave man into a fault, and perhaps to disgrace and punishment.” + +“Oh, it is for the safety of our true knight that we fear!” said the +Queen. “You rate our power too low, fair cousin, when you speak of +a life being lost for a frolic of ours. O Lady Edith, others have +influence on the iron breasts of warriors as well as you--the heart +even of a lion is made of flesh, not of stone; and, believe me, I have +interest enough with Richard to save this knight, in whose fate Lady +Edith is so deeply concerned, from the penalty of disobeying his royal +commands.” + +“For the love of the blessed Cross, most royal lady,” said Edith--and +Sir Kenneth, with feelings which it were hard to unravel, heard her +prostrate herself at the Queen's feet--“for the love of our blessed +Lady, and of every holy saint in the calendar, beware what you do! You +know not King Richard--you have been but shortly wedded to him. Your +breath might as well combat the west wind when it is wildest, as your +words persuade my royal kinsman to pardon a military offence. Oh, for +God's sake, dismiss this gentleman, if indeed you have lured him hither! +I could almost be content to rest with the shame of having invited him, +did I know that he was returned again where his duty calls him!” + +“Arise, cousin, arise,” said Queen Berengaria, “and be assured all will +be better than you think. Rise, dear Edith. I am sorry I have played my +foolery with a knight in whom you take such deep interest. Nay, wring +not thy hands; I will believe thou carest not for him--believe anything +rather than see thee look so wretchedly miserable. I tell thee I +will take the blame on myself with King Richard in behalf of thy fair +Northern friend--thine acquaintance, I would say, since thou own'st him +not as a friend. Nay, look not so reproachfully. We will send Nectabanus +to dismiss this Knight of the Standard to his post; and we ourselves +will grace him on some future day, to make amends for his wild-goose +chase. He is, I warrant, but lying perdu in some neighbouring tent.” + +“By my crown of lilies, and my sceptre of a specially good water-reed,” + said Nectabanus, “your Majesty is mistaken, He is nearer at hand than +you wot--he lieth ensconced there behind that canvas partition.” + +“And within hearing of each word we have said!” exclaimed the Queen, in +her turn violently surprised and agitated. “Out, monster of folly and +malignity!” + +As she uttered these words, Nectabanus fled from the pavilion with a +yell of such a nature as leaves it still doubtful whether Berengaria had +confined her rebuke to words, or added some more emphatic expression of +her displeasure. + +“What can now be done?” said the Queen to Edith, in a whisper of +undisguised uneasiness. + +“That which must,” said Edith firmly. “We must see this gentleman and +place ourselves in his mercy.” + +So saying, she began hastily to undo a curtain, which at one place +covered an entrance or communication. + +“For Heaven's sake, forbear--consider,” said the Queen--“my +apartment--our dress--the hour--my honour!” + +But ere she could detail her remonstrances, the curtain fell, and there +was no division any longer betwixt the armed knight and the party of +ladies. The warmth of an Eastern night occasioned the undress of Queen +Berengaria and her household to be rather more simple and unstudied than +their station, and the presence of a male spectator of rank, required. +This the Queen remembered, and with a loud shriek fled from the +apartment where Sir Kenneth was disclosed to view in a compartment of +the ample pavilion, now no longer separated from that in which they +stood. The grief and agitation of the Lady Edith, as well as the deep +interest she felt in a hasty explanation with the Scottish knight, +perhaps occasioned her forgetting that her locks were more dishevelled +and her person less heedfully covered than was the wont of high-born +damsels, in an age which was not, after all, the most prudish or +scrupulous period of the ancient time. A thin, loose garment of +pink-coloured silk made the principal part of her vestments, with +Oriental slippers, into which she had hastily thrust her bare feet, and +a scarf hurriedly and loosely thrown about her shoulders. Her head had +no other covering than the veil of rich and dishevelled locks falling +round it on every side, that half hid a countenance which a mingled +sense of modesty and of resentment, and other deep and agitated +feelings, had covered with crimson. + +But although Edith felt her situation with all that delicacy which is +her sex's greatest charm, it did not seem that for a moment she placed +her own bashfulness in comparison with the duty which, as she thought, +she owed to him who had been led into error and danger on her account. +She drew, indeed, her scarf more closely over her neck and bosom, and +she hastily laid from her hand a lamp which shed too much lustre over +her figure; but, while Sir Kenneth stood motionless on the same spot in +which he was first discovered, she rather stepped towards than retired +from him, as she exclaimed, “Hasten to your post, valiant knight!--you +are deceived in being trained hither--ask no questions.” + +“I need ask none,” said the knight, sinking upon one knee, with the +reverential devotion of a saint at the altar, and bending his eyes on +the ground, lest his looks should increase the lady's embarrassment. + +“Have you heard all?” said Edith impatiently. “Gracious saints! then +wherefore wait you here, when each minute that passes is loaded with +dishonour!” + +“I have heard that I am dishonoured, lady, and I have heard it from +you,” answered Kenneth. “What reck I how soon punishment follows? I +have but one petition to you; and then I seek, among the sabres of the +infidels, whether dishonour may not be washed out with blood.” + +“Do not so, neither,” said the lady. “Be wise--dally not here; all may +yet be well, if you will but use dispatch.” + +“I wait but for your forgiveness,” said the knight, still kneeling, +“for my presumption in believing that my poor services could have been +required or valued by you.” + +“I do forgive you--oh, I have nothing to forgive! have been the means of +injuring you. But oh, begone! I will forgive--I will value you--that is, +as I value every brave Crusader--if you will but begone!” + +“Receive, first, this precious yet fatal pledge,” said the knight, +tendering the ring to Edith, who now showed gestures of impatience. + +“Oh, no, no “ she said, declining to receive it. “Keep it--keep it as a +mark of my regard--my regret, I would say. Oh, begone, if not for your +own sake, for mine!” + +Almost recompensed for the loss even of honour, which her voice had +denounced to him, by the interest which she seemed to testify in his +safety, Sir Kenneth rose from his knee, and, casting a momentary glance +on Edith, bowed low, and seemed about to withdraw. At the same instant, +that maidenly bashfulness, which the energy of Edith's feelings had till +then triumphed over, became conqueror in its turn, and she hastened from +the apartment, extinguishing her lamp as she went, and leaving, in Sir +Kenneth's thoughts, both mental and natural gloom behind her. + +She must be obeyed, was the first distinct idea which waked him from +his reverie, and he hastened to the place by which he had entered the +pavilion. To pass under the canvas in the manner he had entered required +time and attention, and he made a readier aperture by slitting the +canvas wall with his poniard. When in the free air, he felt rather +stupefied and overpowered by a conflict of sensations, than able to +ascertain what was the real import of the whole. He was obliged to spur +himself to action by recollecting that the commands of the Lady Edith +had required haste. Even then, engaged as he was amongst tent-ropes and +tents, he was compelled to move with caution until he should regain +the path or avenue, aside from which the dwarf had led him, in order to +escape the observation of the guards before the Queen's pavilion; and he +was obliged also to move slowly, and with precaution, to avoid giving an +alarm, either by falling or by the clashing of his armour. A thin cloud +had obscured the moon, too, at the very instant of his leaving the tent, +and Sir Kenneth had to struggle with this inconvenience at a moment when +the dizziness of his head and the fullness of his heart scarce left him +powers of intelligence sufficient to direct his motions. + +But at once sounds came upon his ear which instantly recalled him to the +full energy of his faculties. These proceeded from the Mount of Saint +George. He heard first a single, fierce, angry, and savage bark, which +was immediately followed by a yell of agony. No deer ever bounded with +a wilder start at the voice of Roswal than did Sir Kenneth at what he +feared was the death-cry of that noble hound, from whom no ordinary +injury could have extracted even the slightest acknowledgment of pain. +He surmounted the space which divided him from the avenue, and, having +attained it, began to run towards the mount, although loaded with his +mail, faster than most men could have accompanied him even if unarmed, +relaxed not his pace for the steep sides of the artificial mound, and in +a few minutes stood on the platform upon its summit. + +The moon broke forth at this moment, and showed him that the Standard of +England was vanished, that the spear on which it had floated lay broken +on the ground, and beside it was his faithful hound, apparently in the +agonies of death. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + All my long arrear of honour lost, + Heap'd up in youth, and hoarded up for age. + Hath Honour's fountain then suck'd up the stream? + He hath--and hooting boys may barefoot pass, + And gather pebbles from the naked ford! + DON SEBASTIAN. + +After a torrent of afflicting sensations, by which he was at first +almost stunned and confounded, Sir Kenneth's first thought was to look +for the authors of this violation of the English banner; but in no +direction could he see traces of them. His next, which to some persons, +but scarce to any who have made intimate acquaintances among the canine +race, may appear strange, was to examine the condition of his faithful +Roswal, mortally wounded, as it seemed, in discharging the duty which +his master had been seduced to abandon. He caressed the dying animal, +who, faithful to the last, seemed to forget his own pain in the +satisfaction he received from his master's presence, and continued +wagging his tail and licking his hand, even while by low moanings he +expressed that his agony was increased by the attempts which Sir Kenneth +made to withdraw from the wound the fragment of the lance or javelin +with which it had been inflicted; then redoubled his feeble endearments, +as if fearing he had offended his master by showing a sense of the pain +to which his interference had subjected him. There was something in +the display of the dying creature's attachment which mixed as a bitter +ingredient with the sense of disgrace and desolation by which Sir +Kenneth was oppressed. His only friend seemed removed from him, just +when he had incurred the contempt and hatred of all besides. The +knight's strength of mind gave way to a burst of agonized distress, and +he groaned and wept aloud. + +While he thus indulged his grief, a clear and solemn voice, close beside +him, pronounced these words in the sonorous tone of the readers of the +mosque, and in the lingua franca mutually understood by Christians and +Saracens:-- + +“Adversity is like the period of the former and of the latter +rain--cold, comfortless, unfriendly to man and to animal; yet from that +season have their birth the flower and the fruit, the date, the rose, +and the pomegranate.” + +Sir Kenneth of the Leopard turned towards the speaker, and beheld the +Arabian physician, who, approaching unheard, had seated himself a little +behind him cross-legged, and uttered with gravity, yet not without a +tone of sympathy, the moral sentences of consolation with which the +Koran and its commentators supplied him; for, in the East, wisdom is +held to consist less in a display of the sage's own inventive talents, +than in his ready memory and happy application of and reference to “that +which is written.” + +Ashamed at being surprised in a womanlike expression of sorrow, Sir +Kenneth dashed his tears indignantly aside, and again busied himself +with his dying favourite. + +“The poet hath said,” continued the Arab, without noticing the knight's +averted looks and sullen deportment, “the ox for the field, and the +camel for the desert. Were not the hand of the leech fitter than that of +the soldier to cure wounds, though less able to inflict them?” + +“This patient, Hakim, is beyond thy help,” said Sir Kenneth; “and, +besides, he is, by thy law, an unclean animal.” + +“Where Allah hath deigned to bestow life, and a sense of pain and +pleasure,” said the physician, “it were sinful pride should the sage, +whom He has enlightened, refuse to prolong existence or assuage agony. +To the sage, the cure of a miserable groom, of a poor dog and of a +conquering monarch, are events of little distinction. Let me examine +this wounded animal.” + +Sir Kenneth acceded in silence, and the physician inspected and handled +Roswal's wound with as much care and attention as if he had been a human +being. He then took forth a case of instruments, and, by the judicious +and skilful application of pincers, withdrew from the wounded shoulder +the fragment of the weapon, and stopped with styptics and bandages the +effusion of blood which followed; the creature all the while suffering +him patiently to perform these kind offices, as if he had been aware of +his kind intentions. + +“The animal may be cured,” said El Hakim, addressing himself to Sir +Kenneth, “if you will permit me to carry him to my tent, and treat him +with the care which the nobleness of his nature deserves. For know, +that thy servant Adonbec is no less skilful in the race and pedigree and +distinctions of good dogs and of noble steeds than in the diseases which +afflict the human race.” + +“Take him with you,” said the knight. “I bestow him on you freely, if +he recovers. I owe thee a reward for attendance on my squire, and have +nothing else to pay it with. For myself, I will never again wind bugle +or halloo to hound!” + +The Arabian made no reply, but gave a signal with a clapping of his +hands, which was instantly answered by the appearance of two black +slaves. He gave them his orders in Arabic, received the answer that “to +hear was to obey,” when, taking the animal in their arms, they removed +him, without much resistance on his part; for though his eyes turned to +his master, he was too weak to struggle. + +“Fare thee well, Roswal, then,” said Sir Kenneth--“fare thee well, my +last and only friend--thou art too noble a possession to be retained +by one such as I must in future call myself!--I would,” he said, as the +slaves retired, “that, dying as he is, I could exchange conditions with +that noble animal!” + +“It is written,” answered the Arabian, although the exclamation had not +been addressed to him, “that all creatures are fashioned for the +service of man; and the master of the earth speaketh folly when he would +exchange, in his impatience, his hopes here and to come for the servile +condition of an inferior being.” + +“A dog who dies in discharging his duty,” said the knight sternly, “is +better than a man who survives the desertion of it. Leave me, Hakim; +thou hast, on this side of miracle, the most wonderful science which man +ever possessed, but the wounds of the spirit are beyond thy power.” + +“Not if the patient will explain his calamity, and be guided by the +physician,” said Adonbec el Hakim. + +“Know, then,” said Sir Kenneth, “since thou art so importunate, that +last night the Banner of England was displayed from this mound--I was +its appointed guardian--morning is now breaking--there lies the broken +banner-spear, the standard itself is lost, and here sit I a living man!” + +“How!” said El Hakim, examining him; “thy armour is whole--there is no +blood on thy weapons, and report speaks thee one unlikely to return thus +from fight. Thou hast been trained from thy post--ay, trained by the +rosy cheek and black eye of one of those houris, to whom you Nazarenes +vow rather such service as is due to Allah, than such love as may +lawfully be rendered to forms of clay like our own. It has been thus +assuredly; for so hath man ever fallen, even since the days of Sultan +Adam.” + +“And if it were so, physician,” said Sir Kenneth sullenly, “what +remedy?” + +“Knowledge is the parent of power,” said El Hakim, “as valour supplies +strength. Listen to me. Man is not as a tree, bound to one spot of +earth; nor is he framed to cling to one bare rock, like the scarce +animated shell-fish. Thine own Christian writings command thee, when +persecuted in one city, to flee to another; and we Moslem also know +that Mohammed, the Prophet of Allah, driven forth from the holy city of +Mecca, found his refuge and his helpmates at Medina.” + +“And what does this concern me?” said the Scot. + +“Much,” answered the physician. “Even the sage flies the tempest which +he cannot control. Use thy speed, therefore, and fly from the vengeance +of Richard to the shadow of Saladin's victorious banner.” + +“I might indeed hide my dishonour,” said Sir Kenneth ironically, “in a +camp of infidel heathens, where the very phrase is unknown. But had I +not better partake more fully in their reproach? Does not thy advice +stretch so far as to recommend me to take the turban? Methinks I want +but apostasy to consummate my infamy.” + +“Blaspheme not, Nazarene,” said the physician sternly. “Saladin makes +no converts to the law of the Prophet, save those on whom its precepts +shall work conviction. Open thine eyes to the light, and the great +Soldan, whose liberality is as boundless as his power, may bestow on +thee a kingdom; remain blinded if thou will, and, being one whose second +life is doomed to misery, Saladin will yet, for this span of present +time, make thee rich and happy. But fear not that thy brows shall be +bound with the turban, save at thine own free choice.” + +“My choice were rather,” said the knight, “that my writhen features +should blacken, as they are like to do, in this evening's setting sun.” + +“Yet thou art not wise, Nazarene,” said El Hakim, “to reject this fair +offer; for I have power with Saladin, and can raise thee high in his +grace. Look you, my son--this Crusade, as you call your wild enterprise, +is like a large dromond [The largest sort of vessels then known were +termed dromond's, or dromedaries.] parting asunder in the waves. Thou +thyself hast borne terms of truce from the kings and princes, whose +force is here assembled, to the mighty Soldan, and knewest not, +perchance, the full tenor of thine own errand.” + +“I knew not, and I care not,” said the knight impatiently. “What avails +it to me that I have been of late the envoy of princes, when, ere night, +I shall be a gibbeted and dishonoured corpse?” + +“Nay, I speak that it may not be so with thee,” said the physician. +“Saladin is courted on all sides. The combined princes of this league +formed against him have made such proposals of composition and peace, +as, in other circumstances, it might have become his honour to have +granted to them. Others have made private offers, on their own +separate account, to disjoin their forces from the camp of the Kings of +Frangistan, and even to lend their arms to the defence of the standard +of the Prophet. But Saladin will not be served by such treacherous and +interested defection. The king of kings will treat only with the Lion +King. Saladin will hold treaty with none but the Melech Ric, and with +him he will treat like a prince, or fight like a champion. To Richard he +will yield such conditions of his free liberality as the swords of all +Europe could never compel from him by force or terror. He will permit +a free pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and all the places where the Nazarenes +list to worship; nay, he will so far share even his empire with his +brother Richard, that he will allow Christian garrisons in the six +strongest cities of Palestine, and one in Jerusalem itself, and suffer +them to be under the immediate command of the officers of Richard, who, +he consents, shall bear the name of King Guardian of Jerusalem. +Yet further, strange and incredible as you may think it, know, Sir +Knight--for to your honour I can commit even that almost incredible +secret--know that Saladin will put a sacred seal on this happy union +betwixt the bravest and noblest of Frangistan and Asia, by raising to +the rank of his royal spouse a Christian damsel, allied in blood to King +Richard, and known by the name of the Lady Edith of Plantagenet.” [This +may appear so extraordinary and improbable a proposition that it is +necessary to say such a one was actually made. The historians, however, +substitute the widowed Queen of Naples, sister of Richard, for the +bride, and Saladin's brother for the bridegroom. They appear to have +been ignorant of the existence of Edith of Plantagenet.--See MILL'S +History of the Crusades, vol. ii., p. 61.] + +“Ha!--sayest thou?” exclaimed Sir Kenneth, who, listening with +indifference and apathy to the preceding part of El Hakim's speech, +was touched by this last communication, as the thrill of a nerve, +unexpectedly jarred, will awaken the sensation of agony, even in the +torpor of palsy. Then, moderating his tone, by dint of much effort he +restrained his indignation, and, veiling it under the appearance of +contemptuous doubt, he prosecuted the conversation, in order to get as +much knowledge as possible of the plot, as he deemed it, against the +honour and happiness of her whom he loved not the less that his passion +had ruined, apparently, his fortunes, at once, and his honour.--“And +what Christian,” he said, With tolerable calmness, “would sanction a +union so unnatural as that of a Christian maiden with an unbelieving +Saracen?” + +“Thou art but an ignorant, bigoted Nazarene,” said the Hakim. “Seest +thou not how the Mohammedan princes daily intermarry with the noble +Nazarene maidens in Spain, without scandal either to Moor or Christian? +And the noble Soldan will, in his full confidence in the blood of +Richard, permit the English maid the freedom which your Frankish manners +have assigned to women. He will allow her the free exercise of her +religion, seeing that, in very truth, it signifies but little to which +faith females are addicted; and he will assign her such place and rank +over all the women of his zenana, that she shall be in every respect his +sole and absolute queen.” + +“What!” said Sir Kenneth, “darest thou think, Moslem, that Richard would +give his kinswoman--a high-born and virtuous princess--to be, at best, +the foremost concubine in the haram of a misbeliever? Know, Hakim, the +meanest free Christian noble would scorn, on his child's behalf, such +splendid ignominy.” + +“Thou errest,” said the Hakim. “Philip of France, and Henry of +Champagne, and others of Richard's principal allies, have heard the +proposal without starting, and have promised, as far as they may, to +forward an alliance that may end these wasteful wars; and the wise +arch-priest of Tyre hath undertaken to break the proposal to Richard, +not doubting that he shall be able to bring the plan to good issue. The +Soldan's wisdom hath as yet kept his proposition secret from others, +such as he of Montserrat, and the Master of the Templars, because he +knows they seek to thrive by Richard's death or disgrace, not by his +life or honour. Up, therefore, Sir Knight, and to horse. I will give +thee a scroll which shall advance thee highly with the Soldan; and deem +not that you are leaving your country, or her cause, or her religion, +since the interest of the two monarchs will speedily be the same. To +Saladin thy counsel will be most acceptable, since thou canst make him +aware of much concerning the marriages of the Christians, the treatment +of their wives, and other points of their laws and usages, which, in +the course of such treaty, it much concerns him that he should know. The +right hand of the Soldan grasps the treasures of the East, and it is the +fountain or generosity. Or, if thou desirest it, Saladin, when allied +with England, can have but little difficulty to obtain from Richard, not +only thy pardon and restoration to favour, but an honourable command in +the troops which may be left of the King of England's host, to maintain +their joint government in Palestine. Up, then, and mount--there lies a +plain path before thee.” + +“Hakim,” said the Scottish knight, “thou art a man of peace; also thou +hast saved the life of Richard of England--and, moreover, of my own poor +esquire, Strauchan. I have, therefore, heard to an end a matter which, +being propounded by another Moslem than thyself, I would have cut short +with a blow of my dagger! Hakim, in return for thy kindness, I advise +thee to see that the Saracen who shall propose to Richard a union +betwixt the blood of Plantagenet and that of his accursed race do put on +a helmet which is capable to endure such a blow of a battle-axe as that +which struck down the gate of Acre. Certes, he will be otherwise placed +beyond the reach even of thy skill.” + +“Thou art, then, wilfully determined not to fly to the Saracen host?” + said the physician. “Yet, remember, thou stayest to certain destruction; +and the writings of thy law, as well as ours, prohibit man from breaking +into the tabernacle of his own life.” + +“God forbid!” replied the Scot, crossing himself; “but we are also +forbidden to avoid the punishment which our crimes have deserved. And +since so poor are thy thoughts of fidelity, Hakim, it grudges me that I +have bestowed my good hound on thee, for, should he live, he will have a +master ignorant of his value.” + +“A gift that is begrudged is already recalled,” said El Hakim; “only +we physicians are sworn not to send away a patient uncured. If the dog +recover, he is once more yours.” + +“Go to, Hakim,” answered Sir Kenneth; “men speak not of hawk and hound +when there is but an hour of day-breaking betwixt them and death. Leave +me to recollect my sins, and reconcile myself to Heaven.” + +“I leave thee in thine obstinacy,” said the physician; “the mist hides +the precipice from those who are doomed to fall over it.” + +He withdrew slowly, turning from time to time his head, as if to observe +whether the devoted knight might not recall him either by word or +signal. At last his turbaned figure was lost among the labyrinth of +tents which lay extended beneath, whitening in the pale light of the +dawning, before which the moonbeam had now faded away. + +But although the physician Adonbec's words had not made that impression +upon Kenneth which the sage desired, they had inspired the Scot with a +motive for desiring life, which, dishonoured as he conceived himself +to be, he was before willing to part from as from a sullied vestment no +longer becoming his wear. Much that had passed betwixt himself and the +hermit, besides what he had observed between the anchorite and Sheerkohf +(or Ilderim), he now recalled to recollection, and tended to confirm +what the Hakim had told him of the secret article of the treaty. + +“The reverend impostor!” he exclaimed to himself; “the hoary hypocrite! +He spoke of the unbelieving husband converted by the believing wife; and +what do I know but that the traitor exhibited to the Saracen, accursed +of God, the beauties of Edith Plantagenet, that the hound might judge if +the princely Christian lady were fit to be admitted into the haram of +a misbeliever? If I had yonder infidel Ilderim, or whatsoever he is +called, again in the gripe with which I once held him fast as ever hound +held hare, never again should HE at least come on errand disgraceful +to the honour of Christian king or noble and virtuous maiden. But +I--my hours are fast dwindling into minutes--yet, while I have life and +breath, something must be done, and speedily.” + +He paused for a few minutes, threw from him his helmet, then strode down +the hill, and took the road to King Richard's pavilion. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + The feather'd songster, chanticleer, + Had wound his bugle-horn, + And told the early villager + The coming of the morn. + King Edward saw the ruddy streaks + Of light eclipse the grey, + And heard the raven's croaking throat + Proclaim the fated day. + “Thou'rt right,” he said, “for, by the God + That sits enthron'd on high, + Charles Baldwin, and his fellows twain, + This day shall surely die.” + CHATTERTON. + +On the evening on which Sir Kenneth assumed his post, Richard, after the +stormy event which disturbed its tranquillity, had retired to rest in +the plenitude of confidence inspired by his unbounded courage and the +superiority which he had displayed in carrying the point he aimed at in +presence of the whole Christian host and its leaders, many of whom, he +was aware, regarded in their secret souls the disgrace of the Austrian +Duke as a triumph over themselves; so that his pride felt gratified, +that in prostrating one enemy he had mortified a hundred. + +Another monarch would have doubled his guards on the evening after such +a scene, and kept at least a part of his troops under arms. But Coeur de +Lion dismissed, upon the occasion, even his ordinary watch, and assigned +to his soldiers a donative of wine to celebrate his recovery, and to +drink to the Banner of Saint George; and his quarter of the camp would +have assumed a character totally devoid of vigilance and military +preparation, but that Sir Thomas de Vaux, the Earl of Salisbury, and +other nobles, took precautions to preserve order and discipline among +the revellers. + +The physician attended the King from his retiring to bed till midnight +was past, and twice administered medicine to him during that period, +always previously observing the quarter of heaven occupied by the +full moon, whose influences he declared to be most sovereign, or most +baleful, to the effect of his drugs. It was three hours after midnight +ere El Hakim withdrew from the royal tent, to one which had been pitched +for himself and his retinue. In his way thither he visited the tent of +Sir Kenneth of the Leopard, in order to see the condition of his first +patient in the Christian camp, old Strauchan, as the knight's esquire +was named. Inquiring there for Sir Kenneth himself, El Hakim learned +on what duty he was employed, and probably this information led him +to Saint George's Mount, where he found him whom he sought in the +disastrous circumstances alluded to in the last chapter. + +It was about the hour of sunrise, when a slow, armed tread was heard +approaching the King's pavilion; and ere De Vaux, who slumbered beside +his master's bed as lightly as ever sleep sat upon the eyes of a +watch-dog, had time to do more than arise and say, “Who comes?” the +Knight of the Leopard entered the tent, with a deep and devoted gloom +seated upon his manly features. + +“Whence this bold intrusion, Sir Knight?” said De Vaux sternly, yet in a +tone which respected his master's slumbers. + +“Hold! De Vaux,” said Richard, awaking on the instant; “Sir Kenneth +cometh like a good soldier to render an account of his guard. To such +the general's tent is ever accessible.” Then rising from his slumbering +posture, and leaning on his elbow, he fixed his large bright eye upon +the warrior--“Speak, Sir Scot; thou comest to tell me of a vigilant, +safe, and honourable watch, dost thou not? The rustling of the folds of +the Banner of England were enough to guard it, even without the body of +such a knight as men hold thee.” + +“As men will hold me no more,” said Sir Kenneth. “My watch hath neither +been vigilant, safe, nor honourable. The Banner of England has been +carried off.” + +“And thou alive to tell it!” said Richard, in a tone of derisive +incredulity. “Away, it cannot be. There is not even a scratch on thy +face. Why dost thou stand thus mute? Speak the truth--it is ill jesting +with a king; yet I will forgive thee if thou hast lied.” + +“Lied, Sir King!” returned the unfortunate knight, with fierce emphasis, +and one glance of fire from his eye, bright and transient as the flash +from the cold and stony flint. “But this also must be endured. I have +spoken the truth.” + +“By God and by Saint George!” said the King, bursting into fury, which, +however, he instantly checked. “De Vaux, go view the spot. This fever +has disturbed his brain. This cannot be. The man's courage is proof. It +CANNOT be! Go speedily--or send, if thou wilt not go.” + +The King was interrupted by Sir Henry Neville, who came, breathless, to +say that the banner was gone, and the knight who guarded it overpowered, +and most probably murdered, as there was a pool of blood where the +banner-spear lay shivered. + +“But whom do I see here?” said Neville, his eyes suddenly resting upon +Sir Kenneth. + +“A traitor,” said the King, starting to his feet, and seizing the +curtal-axe, which was ever near his bed--“a traitor! whom thou shalt see +die a traitor's death.” And he drew back the weapon as in act to strike. + +Colourless, but firm as a marble statue, the Scot stood before him, with +his bare head uncovered by any protection, his eyes cast down to the +earth, his lips scarcely moving, yet muttering probably in prayer. +Opposite to him, and within the due reach for a blow, stood King +Richard, his large person wrapt in the folds of his camiscia, or ample +gown of linen, except where the violence of his action had flung the +covering from his right arm, shoulder, and a part of his breast, +leaving to view a specimen of a frame which might have merited his Saxon +predecessor's epithet of Ironside. He stood for an instant, prompt +to strike; then sinking the head of the weapon towards the ground, +he exclaimed, “But there was blood, Neville--there was blood upon the +place. Hark thee, Sir Scot--brave thou wert once, for I have seen +thee fight. Say thou hast slain two of the thieves in defence of the +Standard--say but one--say thou hast struck but a good blow in our +behalf, and get thee out of the camp with thy life and thy infamy!” + +“You have called me liar, my Lord King,” replied Kenneth firmly; “and +therein, at least, you have done me wrong. Know that there was no blood +shed in defence of the Standard save that of a poor hound, which, more +faithful than his master, defended the charge which he deserted.” + +“Now, by Saint George!” said Richard, again heaving up his arm. But De +Vaux threw himself between the King and the object of his vengeance, and +spoke with the blunt truth of his character, “My liege, this must not +be--here, nor by your hand. It is enough of folly for one night and day +to have entrusted your banner to a Scot. Said I not they were ever fair +and false?” [Such were the terms in which the English used to speak of +their poor northern neighbours, forgetting that their own encroachments +upon the independence of Scotland obliged the weaker nation to defend +themselves by policy as well as force. The disgrace must be divided +between Edward I. and Edward III., who enforced their domination over +a free country, and the Scots, who were compelled to take compulsory +oaths, without any purpose of keeping them.] + +“Thou didst, De Vaux; thou wast right, and I confess it,” said Richard. +“I should have known him better--I should have remembered how the fox +William deceived me touching this Crusade.” + +“My lord,” said Sir Kenneth, “William of Scotland never deceived; but +circumstances prevented his bringing his forces.” + +“Peace, shameless!” said the King; “thou sulliest the name of a prince, +even by speaking it.--And yet, De Vaux, it is strange,” he added, “to +see the bearing of the man. Coward or traitor he must be, yet he abode +the blow of Richard Plantagenet as our arm had been raised to lay +knighthood on his shoulder. Had he shown the slightest sign of fear, +had but a joint trembled or an eyelid quivered, I had shattered his head +like a crystal goblet. But I cannot strike where there is neither fear +nor resistance.” + +There was a pause. + +“My lord,” said Kenneth-- + +“Ha!” replied Richard, interrupting him, “hast thou found thy speech? +Ask grace from Heaven, but none from me; for England is dishonoured +through thy fault, and wert thou mine own and only brother, there is no +pardon for thy fault.” + +“I speak not to demand grace of mortal man,” said the Scot; “it is in +your Grace's pleasure to give or refuse me time for Christian shrift--if +man denies it, may God grant me the absolution which I would otherwise +ask of His church! But whether I die on the instant, or half an hour +hence, I equally beseech your Grace for one moment's opportunity to +speak that to your royal person which highly concerns your fame as a +Christian king.” + +“Say on,” said the King, making no doubt that he was about to hear some +confession concerning the loss of the Banner. + +“What I have to speak,” said Sir Kenneth, “touches the royalty of +England, and must be said to no ears but thine own.” + +“Begone with yourselves, sirs,” said the King to Neville and De Vaux. + +The first obeyed, but the latter would not stir from the King's +presence. + +“If you said I was in the right,” replied De Vaux to his sovereign, “I +will be treated as one should be who hath been found to be right--that +is, I will have my own will. I leave you not with this false Scot.” + +“How! De Vaux,” said Richard angrily, and stamping slightly, “darest +thou not venture our person with one traitor?” + +“It is in vain you frown and stamp, my lord,” said De Vaux; “I venture +not a sick man with a sound one, a naked man with one armed in proof.” + +“It matters not,” said the Scottish knight; “I seek no excuse to put off +time. I will speak in presence of the Lord of Gilsland. He is good lord +and true.” + +“But half an hour since,” said De Vaux, with a groan, implying a mixture +of sorrow and vexation, “and I had said as much for thee!” + +“There is treason around you, King of England,” continued Sir Kenneth. + +“It may well be as thou sayest,” replied Richard; “I have a pregnant +example.” + +“Treason that will injure thee more deeply than the loss of a hundred +banners in a pitched field. The--the--” Sir Kenneth hesitated, and at +length continued, in a lower tone, “The Lady Edith--” + +“Ha!” said the King, drawing himself suddenly into a state of haughty +attention, and fixing his eye firmly on the supposed criminal; “what of +her? what of her? What has she to do with this matter?” + +“My lord,” said the Scot, “there is a scheme on foot to disgrace your +royal lineage, by bestowing the hand of the Lady Edith on the +Saracen Soldan, and thereby to purchase a peace most dishonourable to +Christendom, by an alliance most shameful to England.” + +This communication had precisely the contrary effect from that which Sir +Kenneth expected. Richard Plantagenet was one of those who, in Iago's +words, would not serve God because it was the devil who bade him; advice +or information often affected him less according to its real import, +than through the tinge which it took from the supposed character and +views of those by whom it was communicated. Unfortunately, the +mention of his relative's name renewed his recollection of what he had +considered as extreme presumption in the Knight of the Leopard, even +when he stood high in the roll of chivalry, but which, in his present +condition, appeared an insult sufficient to drive the fiery monarch into +a frenzy of passion. + +“Silence,” he said, “infamous and audacious! By Heaven, I will have +thy tongue torn out with hot pincers, for mentioning the very name of +a noble Christian damsel! Know, degenerate traitor, that I was already +aware to what height thou hadst dared to raise thine eyes, and endured +it, though it were insolence, even when thou hadst cheated us--for thou +art all a deceit--into holding thee as of some name and fame. But now, +with lips blistered with the confession of thine own dishonour--that +thou shouldst NOW dare to name our noble kinswoman as one in whose fate +thou hast part or interest! What is it to thee if she marry Saracen or +Christian? What is it to thee if, in a camp where princes turn cowards +by day and robbers by night--where brave knights turn to paltry +deserters and traitors--what is it, I say, to thee, or any one, if I +should please to ally myself to truth and to valour, in the person of +Saladin?” + +“Little to me, indeed, to whom all the world will soon be as nothing,” + answered Sir Kenneth boldly; “but were I now stretched on the rack, I +would tell thee that what I have said is much to thine own conscience +and thine own fame. I tell thee, Sir King, that if thou dost but +in thought entertain the purpose of wedding thy kinswoman, the Lady +Edith--” + +“Name her not--and for an instant think not of her,” said the King, +again straining the curtal-axe in his gripe, until the muscles started +above his brawny arm, like cordage formed by the ivy around the limb of +an oak. + +“Not name--not think of her!” answered Sir Kenneth, his spirits, stunned +as they were by self-depression, beginning to recover their elasticity +from this species of controversy. “Now, by the Cross, on which I place +my hope, her name shall be the last word in my mouth, her image the last +thought in my mind. Try thy boasted strength on this bare brow, and see +if thou canst prevent my purpose.” + +“He will drive me mad!” said Richard, who, in his despite, was once more +staggered in his purpose by the dauntless determination of the criminal. + +Ere Thomas of Gilsland could reply, some bustle was heard without, +and the arrival of the Queen was announced from the outer part of the +pavilion. + +“Detain her--detain her, Neville,” cried the King; “this is no sight +for women.--Fie, that I have suffered such a paltry traitor to chafe me +thus!--Away with him, De Vaux,” he whispered, “through the back entrance +of our tent; coop him up close, and answer for his safe custody with +your life. And hark ye--he is presently to die--let him have a ghostly +father--we would not kill soul and body. And stay--hark thee--we will +not have him dishonoured--he shall die knightlike, in his belt and +spurs; for if his treachery be as black as hell, his boldness may match +that of the devil himself.” + +De Vaux, right glad, if the truth may be guessed, that the scene ended +without Richard's descending to the unkingly act of himself slaying +an unresisting prisoner, made haste to remove Sir Kenneth by a private +issue to a separate tent, where he was disarmed, and put in fetters +for security. De Vaux looked on with a steady and melancholy attention, +while the provost's officers, to whom Sir Kenneth was now committed, +took these severe precautions. + +When they were ended, he said solemnly to the unhappy criminal, “It is +King Richard's pleasure that you die undegraded--without mutilation of +your body, or shame to your arms--and that your head be severed from the +trunk by the sword of the executioner.” + +“It is kind,” said the knight, in a low and rather submissive tone of +voice, as one who received an unexpected favour; “my family will not +then hear the worst of the tale. Oh, my father--my father!” + +This muttered invocation did not escape the blunt but kindly-natured +Englishman, and he brushed the back of his large hand over his rough +features ere he could proceed. + +“It is Richard of England's further pleasure,” he said at length, “that +you have speech with a holy man; and I have met on the passage hither +with a Carmelite friar, who may fit you for your passage. He waits +without, until you are in a frame of mind to receive him.” + +“Let it be instantly,” said the knight. “In this also Richard is kind. I +cannot be more fit to see the good father at any time than now; for life +and I have taken farewell, as two travellers who have arrived at the +crossway, where their roads separate.” + +“It is well,” said De Vaux slowly and solemnly; “for it irks me somewhat +to say that which sums my message. It is King Richard's pleasure that +you prepare for instant death.” + +“God's pleasure and the King's be done,” replied the knight patiently. +“I neither contest the justice of the sentence, nor desire delay of the +execution.” + +De Vaux began to leave the tent, but very slowly--paused at the door, +and looked back at the Scot, from whose aspect thoughts of the world +seemed banished, as if he was composing himself into deep devotion. The +feelings of the stout English baron were in general none of the most +acute, and yet, on the present occasion, his sympathy overpowered him in +an unusual manner. He came hastily back to the bundle of reeds on which +the captive lay, took one of his fettered hands, and said, with as much +softness as his rough voice was capable of expressing, “Sir Kenneth, +thou art yet young--thou hast a father. My Ralph, whom I left training +his little galloway nag on the banks of the Irthing, may one day attain +thy years, and, but for last night, would to God I saw his youth bear +such promise as thine! Can nothing be said or done in thy behalf?” + +“Nothing,” was the melancholy answer. “I have deserted my charge--the +banner entrusted to me is lost. When the headsman and block are +prepared, the head and trunk are ready to part company.” + +“Nay, then, God have mercy!” said De Vaux. “Yet would I rather than my +best horse I had taken that watch myself. There is mystery in it, +young man, as a plain man may descry, though he cannot see through +it. Cowardice? Pshaw! No coward ever fought as I have seen thee do. +Treachery? I cannot think traitors die in their treason so calmly. Thou +hast been trained from thy post by some deep guile--some well-devised +stratagem--the cry of some distressed maiden has caught thine ear, or +the laughful look of some merry one has taken thine eye. Never blush for +it; we have all been led aside by such gear. Come, I pray thee, make a +clean conscience of it to me, instead of the priest. Richard is merciful +when his mood is abated. Hast thou nothing to entrust to me?” + +The unfortunate knight turned his face from the kind warrior, and +answered, “NOTHING.” + +And De Vaux, who had exhausted his topics of persuasion, arose and left +the tent, with folded arms, and in melancholy deeper than he thought +the occasion merited--even angry with himself to find that so simple a +matter as the death of a Scottish man could affect him so nearly. + +“Yet,” as he said to himself, “though the rough-footed knaves be +our enemies in Cumberland, in Palestine one almost considers them as +brethren.” + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + 'Tis not her sense, for sure in that + There's nothing more than common; + And all her wit is only chat, + Like any other woman. + SONG. + +The high-born Berengaria, daughter of Sanchez, King of Navarre, and +the Queen-Consort of the heroic Richard, was accounted one of the most +beautiful women of the period. Her form was slight, though exquisitely +moulded. She was graced with a complexion not common in her country, a +profusion of fair hair, and features so extremely juvenile as to make +her look several years younger than she really was, though in reality +she was not above one-and-twenty. Perhaps it was under the consciousness +of this extremely juvenile appearance that she affected, or at least +practised, a little childish petulance and wilfulness of manner, not +unbefitting, she might suppose, a youthful bride, whose rank and age +gave her a right to have her fantasies indulged and attended to. She was +by nature perfectly good-humoured, and if her due share of admiration +and homage (in her opinion a very large one) was duly resigned to her, +no one could possess better temper or a more friendly disposition; but +then, like all despots, the more power that was voluntarily yielded to +her, the more she desired to extend her sway. Sometimes, even when all +her ambition was gratified, she chose to be a little out of health, and +a little out of spirits; and physicians had to toil their wits to invent +names for imaginary maladies, while her ladies racked their imagination +for new games, new head-gear, and new court-scandal, to pass away those +unpleasant hours, during which their own situation was scarce to be +greatly envied. Their most frequent resource for diverting this malady +was some trick or piece of mischief practised upon each other; and +the good Queen, in the buoyancy of her reviving spirits, was, to speak +truth, rather too indifferent whether the frolics thus practised were +entirely befitting her own dignity, or whether the pain which those +suffered upon whom they were inflicted was not beyond the proportion of +pleasure which she herself derived from them. She was confident in her +husband's favour, in her high rank, and in her supposed power to make +good whatever such pranks might cost others. In a word, she gambolled +with the freedom of a young lioness, who is unconscious of the weight of +her own paws when laid on those whom she sports with. + +The Queen Berengaria loved her husband passionately, but she feared the +loftiness and roughness of his character; and as she felt herself not +to be his match in intellect, was not much pleased to see that he would +often talk with Edith Plantagenet in preference to herself, +simply because he found more amusement in her conversation, a more +comprehensive understanding, and a more noble cast of thoughts and +sentiments, than his beautiful consort exhibited. Berengaria did +not hate Edith on this account, far less meditate her any harm; for, +allowing for some selfishness, her character was, on the whole, innocent +and generous. But the ladies of her train, sharpsighted in such matters, +had for some time discovered that a poignant jest at the expense of +the Lady Edith was a specific for relieving her Grace of England's low +spirits, and the discovery saved their imagination much toil. + +There was something ungenerous in this, because the Lady Edith was +understood to be an orphan; and though she was called Plantagenet, and +the fair Maid of Anjou, and admitted by Richard to certain privileges +only granted to the royal family, and held her place in the circle +accordingly, yet few knew, and none acquainted with the Court of England +ventured to ask, in what exact degree of relationship she stood to +Coeur de Lion. She had come with Eleanor, the celebrated Queen Mother of +England, and joined Richard at Messina, as one of the ladies destined +to attend on Berengaria, whose nuptials then approached. Richard treated +his kinswoman with much respectful observance, and the Queen made her +her most constant attendant, and, even in despite of the petty jealousy +which we have observed, treated her, generally, with suitable respect. + +The ladies of the household had, for a long time, no further advantage +over Edith than might be afforded by an opportunity of censuring a less +artfully disposed head attire or an unbecoming robe; for the lady was +judged to be inferior in these mysteries. The silent devotion of the +Scottish knight did not, indeed, pass unnoticed; his liveries, his +cognizances, his feats of arms, his mottoes and devices, were nearly +watched, and occasionally made the subject of a passing jest. But then +came the pilgrimage of the Queen and her ladies to Engaddi, a journey +which the Queen had undertaken under a vow for the recovery of her +husband's health, and which she had been encouraged to carry into effect +by the Archbishop of Tyre for a political purpose. It was then, and in +the chapel at that holy place, connected from above with a Carmelite +nunnery, from beneath with the cell of the anchorite, that one of the +Queen's attendants remarked that secret sign of intelligence which Edith +had made to her lover, and failed not instantly to communicate it to +her Majesty. The Queen returned from her pilgrimage enriched with this +admirable recipe against dullness or ennui; and her train was at +the same time augmented by a present of two wretched dwarfs from the +dethroned Queen of Jerusalem, as deformed and as crazy (the excellence +of that unhappy species) as any Queen could have desired. One of +Berengaria's idle amusements had been to try the effect of the sudden +appearance of such ghastly and fantastic forms on the nerves of the +Knight when left alone in the chapel; but the jest had been lost by the +composure of the Scot and the interference of the anchorite. She had now +tried another, of which the consequences promised to be more serious. + +The ladies again met after Sir Kenneth had retired from the tent, and +the Queen, at first little moved by Edith's angry expostulations, only +replied to her by upbraiding her prudery, and by indulging her wit +at the expense of the garb, nation, and, above all the poverty of the +Knight of the Leopard, in which she displayed a good deal of playful +malice, mingled with some humour, until Edith was compelled to carry her +anxiety to her separate apartment. But when, in the morning, a female +whom Edith had entrusted to make inquiry brought word that the Standard +was missing, and its champion vanished, she burst into the Queen's +apartment, and implored her to rise and proceed to the King's tent +without delay, and use her powerful mediation to prevent the evil +consequences of her jest. + +The Queen, frightened in her turn, cast, as is usual, the blame of her +own folly on those around her, and endeavoured to comfort Edith's grief, +and appease her displeasure, by a thousand inconsistent arguments. She +was sure no harm had chanced--the knight was sleeping, she fancied, +after his night-watch. What though, for fear of the King's displeasure, +he had deserted with the Standard--it was but a piece of silk, and he +but a needy adventurer; or if he was put under warding for a time, +she would soon get the King to pardon him--it was but waiting to let +Richard's mood pass away. + +Thus she continued talking thick and fast, and heaping together all +sorts of inconsistencies, with the vain expectation of persuading both +Edith and herself that no harm could come of a frolic which in her heart +she now bitterly repented. But while Edith in vain strove to intercept +this torrent of idle talk, she caught the eye of one of the ladies who +entered the Queen's apartment. There was death in her look of affright +and horror, and Edith, at the first glance of her countenance, had sunk +at once on the earth, had not strong necessity and her own elevation of +character enabled her to maintain at least external composure. + +“Madam,” she said to the Queen, “lose not another word in speaking, but +save life--if, indeed,” she added, her voice choking as she said it, +“life may yet be saved.” + +“It may, it may,” answered the Lady Calista. “I have just heard that he +has been brought before the King. It is not yet over--but,” she +added, bursting into a vehement flood of weeping, in which personal +apprehensions had some share, “it will soon, unless some course be +taken.” + +“I will vow a golden candlestick to the Holy Sepulchre, a shrine of +silver to our Lady of Engaddi, a pall, worth one hundred byzants, to +Saint Thomas of Orthez,” said the Queen in extremity. + +“Up, up, madam!” said Edith; “call on the saints if you list, but be +your own best saint.” + +“Indeed, madam,” said the terrified attendant, “the Lady Edith speaks +truth. Up, madam, and let us to King Richard's tent and beg the poor +gentleman's life.” + +“I will go--I will go instantly,” said the Queen, rising and trembling +excessively; while her women, in as great confusion as herself, were +unable to render her those duties which were indispensable to her levee. +Calm, composed, only pale as death, Edith ministered to the Queen +with her own hand, and alone supplied the deficiencies of her numerous +attendants. + +“How you wait, wenches!” said the Queen, not able even then to forget +frivolous distinctions. “Suffer ye the Lady Edith to do the duties of +your attendance? Seest thou, Edith, they can do nothing; I shall never +be attired in time. We will send for the Archbishop of Tyre, and employ +him as a mediator.” + +“Oh, no, no!” exclaimed Edith. “Go yourself madam; you have done the +evil, do you confer the remedy.” + +“I will go--I will go,” said the Queen; “but if Richard be in his mood, +I dare not speak to him--he will kill me!” + +“Yet go, gracious madam,” said the Lady Calista, who best knew her +mistress's temper; “not a lion, in his fury, could look upon such a face +and form, and retain so much as an angry thought, far less a love-true +knight like the royal Richard, to whom your slightest word would be a +command.” + +“Dost thou think so, Calista?” said the Queen. “Ah, thou little knowest +yet I will go. But see you here, what means this? You have bedizened +me in green, a colour he detests. Lo you! let me have a blue robe, +and--search for the ruby carcanet, which was part of the King of +Cyprus's ransom; it is either in the steel casket, or somewhere else.” + +“This, and a man's life at stake!” said Edith indignantly; “it passes +human patience. Remain at your ease, madam; I will go to King Richard. I +am a party interested. I will know if the honour of a poor maiden of +his blood is to be so far tampered with that her name shall be abused to +train a brave gentleman from his duty, bring him within the compass of +death and infamy, and make, at the same time, the glory of England a +laughing-stock to the whole Christian army.” + +At this unexpected burst of passion, Berengaria listened with an almost +stupefied look of fear and wonder. But as Edith was about to leave the +tent, she exclaimed, though faintly, “Stop her, stop her!” + +“You must indeed stop, noble Lady Edith,” said Calista, taking her arm +gently; “and you, royal madam, I am sure, will go, and without +further dallying. If the Lady Edith goes alone to the King, he will be +dreadfully incensed, nor will it be one life that will stay his fury.” + +“I will go--I will go,” said the Queen, yielding to necessity; and Edith +reluctantly halted to wait her movements. + +They were now as speedy as she could have desired. The Queen hastily +wrapped herself in a large loose mantle, which covered all inaccuracies +of the toilet. In this guise, attended by Edith and her women, and +preceded and followed by a few officers and men-at-arms, she hastened to +the tent of her lionlike husband. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + Were every hair upon his head a life, + And every life were to be supplicated + By numbers equal to those hairs quadrupled, + Life after life should out like waning stars + Before the daybreak--or as festive lamps, + Which have lent lustre to the midnight revel, + Each after each are quench'd when guests depart! + OLD PLAY + + +The entrance of Queen Berengaria into the interior of Richard's pavilion +was withstood--in the most respectful and reverential manner indeed, but +still withstood--by the chamberlains who watched in the outer tent. She +could hear the stern command of the King from within, prohibiting their +entrance. + +“You see,” said the Queen, appealing to Edith, as if she had exhausted +all means of intercession in her power; “I knew it--the King will not +receive us.” + +At the same time, they heard Richard speak to some one within:--“Go, +speed thine office quickly, sirrah, for in that consists thy mercy--ten +byzants if thou dealest on him at one blow. And hark thee, villain, +observe if his cheek loses colour, or his eye falters; mark me the +smallest twitch of the features, or wink of the eyelid. I love to know +how brave souls meet death.” + +“If he sees my blade waved aloft without shrinking, he is the first ever +did so,” answered a harsh, deep voice, which a sense of unusual awe had +softened into a sound much lower than its usual coarse tones. + +Edith could remain silent no longer. “If your Grace,” she said to the +Queen, “make not your own way, I make it for you; or if not for your +Majesty, for myself at least.--Chamberlain, the Queen demands to see +King Richard--the wife to speak with her husband.” + +“Noble lady,” said the officer, lowering his wand of office, “it grieves +me to gainsay you, but his Majesty is busied on matters of life and +death.” + +“And we seek also to speak with him on matters of life and death,” said +Edith. “I will make entrance for your Grace.” And putting aside the +chamberlain with one hand, she laid hold on the curtain with the other. + +“I dare not gainsay her Majesty's pleasure,” said the chamberlain, +yielding to the vehemence of the fair petitioner; and as he gave way, +the Queen found herself obliged to enter the apartment of Richard. + +The Monarch was lying on his couch, and at some distance, as awaiting +his further commands, stood a man whose profession it was not difficult +to conjecture. He was clothed in a jerkin of red cloth, which reached +scantly below the shoulders, leaving the arms bare from about half way +above the elbow; and as an upper garment, he wore, when about as at +present to betake himself to his dreadful office, a coat or tabard +without sleeves, something like that of a herald, made of dressed bull's +hide, and stained in the front with many a broad spot and speckle of +dull crimson. The jerkin, and the tabard over it, reached the knee; and +the nether stocks, or covering of the legs, were of the same leather +which composed the tabard. A cap of rough shag served to hide the upper +part of a visage which, like that of a screech owl, seemed desirous to +conceal itself from light, the lower part of the face being obscured by +a huge red beard, mingling with shaggy locks of the same colour. What +features were seen were stern and misanthropical. The man's figure was +short, strongly made, with a neck like a bull, very broad shoulders, +arms of great and disproportioned length, a huge square trunk, and thick +bandy legs. This truculent official leant on a sword, the blade of which +was nearly four feet and a half in length, while the handle of twenty +inches, surrounded by a ring of lead plummets to counterpoise the weight +of such a blade, rose considerably above the man's head as he rested his +arm upon its hilt, waiting for King Richard's further directions. + +On the sudden entrance of the ladies, Richard, who was then lying on his +couch with his face towards the entrance, and resting on his elbow as he +spoke to his grisly attendant, flung himself hastily, as if displeased +and surprised, to the other side, turning his back to the Queen and the +females of her train, and drawing around him the covering of his couch, +which, by his own choice, or more probably the flattering selection of +his chamberlains, consisted of two large lions' skins, dressed in Venice +with such admirable skill that they seemed softer than the hide of the +deer. + +Berengaria, such as we have described her, knew well--what woman knows +not?--her own road to victory. After a hurried glance of undisguised +and unaffected terror at the ghastly companion of her husband's secret +counsels, she rushed at once to the side of Richard's couch, dropped on +her knees, flung her mantle from her shoulders, showing, as they hung +down at their full length, her beautiful golden tresses, and while her +countenance seemed like the sun bursting through a cloud, yet bearing +on its pallid front traces that its splendours have been obscured, she +seized upon the right hand of the King, which, as he assumed his wonted +posture, had been employed in dragging the covering of his couch, and +gradually pulling it to her with a force which was resisted, though but +faintly, she possessed herself of that arm, the prop of Christendom +and the dread of Heathenesse, and imprisoning its strength in both her +little fairy hands, she bent upon it her brow, and united to it her +lips. + +“What needs this, Berengaria?” said Richard, his head still averted, but +his hand remaining under her control. + +“Send away that man, his look kills me!” muttered Berengaria. + +“Begone, sirrah,” said Richard, still without looking round, “What +wait'st thou for? art thou fit to look on these ladies?” + +“Your Highness's pleasure touching the head,” said the man. + +“Out with thee, dog!” answered Richard--“a Christian burial!” The man +disappeared, after casting a look upon the beautiful Queen, in her +deranged dress and natural loveliness, with a smile of admiration more +hideous in its expression than even his usual scowl of cynical hatred +against humanity. + +“And now, foolish wench, what wishest thou?” said Richard, turning +slowly and half reluctantly round to his royal suppliant. + +But it was not in nature for any one, far less an admirer of beauty +like Richard, to whom it stood only in the second rank to glory, to +look without emotion on the countenance and the tremor of a creature so +beautiful as Berengaria, or to feel, without sympathy, that her lips, +her brow, were on his hand, and that it was wetted by her tears. By +degrees, he turned on her his manly countenance, with the softest +expression of which his large blue eye, which so often gleamed with +insufferable light, was capable. Caressing her fair head, and mingling +his large fingers in her beautiful and dishevelled locks, he raised and +tenderly kissed the cherub countenance which seemed desirous to hide +itself in his hand. The robust form, the broad, noble brow and majestic +looks, the naked arm and shoulder, the lions' skins among which he lay, +and the fair, fragile feminine creature that kneeled by his side, +might have served for a model of Hercules reconciling himself, after a +quarrel, to his wife Dejanira. + +“And, once more, what seeks the lady of my heart in her knight's +pavilion at this early and unwonted hour?” + +“Pardon, my most gracious liege--pardon!” said the Queen, whose fears +began again to unfit her for the duty of intercessor. + +“Pardon--for what?” asked the King. + +“First, for entering your royal presence too boldly and unadvisedly--” + +She stopped. + +“THOU too boldly!--the sun might as well ask pardon because his rays +entered the windows of some wretch's dungeon. But I was busied with work +unfit for thee to witness, my gentle one; and I was unwilling, besides, +that thou shouldst risk thy precious health where sickness had been so +lately rife.” + +“But thou art now well?” said the Queen, still delaying the +communication which she feared to make. + +“Well enough to break a lance on the bold crest of that champion who +shall refuse to acknowledge thee the fairest dame in Christendom.” + +“Thou wilt not then refuse me one boon--only one--only a poor life?” + +“Ha!--proceed,” said King Richard, bending his brows. + +“This unhappy Scottish knight--” murmured the Queen. + +“Speak not of him, madam,” exclaimed Richard sternly; “he dies--his doom +is fixed.” + +“Nay, my royal liege and love, 'tis but a silken banner neglected. +Berengaria will give thee another broidered with her own hand, and rich +as ever dallied with the wind. Every pearl I have shall go to bedeck it, +and with every pearl I will drop a tear of thankfulness to my generous +knight.” + +“Thou knowest not what thou sayest,” said the King, interrupting her in +anger. “Pearls! can all the pearls of the East atone for a speck upon +England's honour--all the tears that ever woman's eye wept wash away a +stain on Richard's fame? Go to, madam, know your place, and your time, +and your sphere. At present we have duties in which you cannot be our +partner.” + +“Thou hearest, Edith,” whispered the Queen; “we shall but incense him.” + +“Be it so,” said Edith, stepping forward.--“My lord, I, your poor +kinswoman, crave you for justice rather than mercy; and to the cry of +justice the ears of a monarch should be open at every time, place, and +circumstance.” + +“Ha! our cousin Edith?” said Richard, rising and sitting upright on +the side of his couch, covered with his long camiscia. “She speaks +ever kinglike, and kinglike will I answer her, so she bring no request +unworthy herself or me.” + +The beauty of Edith was of a more intellectual and less voluptuous +cast than that of the Queen; but impatience and anxiety had given +her countenance a glow which it sometimes wanted, and her mien had a +character of energetic dignity that imposed silence for a moment even +on Richard himself, who, to judge by his looks, would willingly have +interrupted her. + +“My lord,” she said, “this good knight, whose blood you are about to +spill, hath done, in his time, service to Christendom. He has fallen +from his duty through a snare set for him in mere folly and idleness of +spirit. A message sent to him in the name of one who--why should I not +speak it?--it was in my own--induced him for an instant to leave his +post. And what knight in the Christian camp might not have thus far +transgressed at command of a maiden, who, poor howsoever in other +qualities, hath yet the blood of Plantagenet in her veins?” + +“And you saw him, then, cousin?” replied the King, biting his lips to +keep down his passion. + +“I did, my liege,” said Edith. “It is no time to explain wherefore. I am +here neither to exculpate myself nor to blame others.” + +“And where did you do him such a grace?” + +“In the tent of her Majesty the Queen.” + +“Of our royal consort!” said Richard. “Now by Heaven, by Saint George +of England, and every other saint that treads its crystal floor, this +is too audacious! I have noticed and overlooked this warrior's insolent +admiration of one so far above him, and I grudged him not that one of +my blood should shed from her high-born sphere such influence as the +sun bestows on the world beneath. But, heaven and earth! that you should +have admitted him to an audience by night, in the very tent of our royal +consort!--and dare to offer this as an excuse for his disobedience and +desertion! By my father's soul, Edith, thou shalt rue this thy life long +in a monastery!” + +“My liege,” said Edith, “your greatness licenses tyranny. My honour, +Lord King, is as little touched as yours, and my Lady the Queen can +prove it if she think fit. But I have already said I am not here to +excuse myself or inculpate others. I ask you but to extend to one, whose +fault was committed under strong temptation, that mercy, which even you +yourself, Lord King, must one day supplicate at a higher tribunal, and +for faults, perhaps, less venial.” + +“Can this be Edith Plantagenet?” said the King bitterly--“Edith +Plantagenet, the wise and the noble? Or is it some lovesick woman who +cares not for her own fame in comparison of the life of her paramour? +Now, by King Henry's soul! little hinders but I order thy minion's skull +to be brought from the gibbet, and fixed as a perpetual ornament by the +crucifix in thy cell!” + +“And if thou dost send it from the gibbet to be placed for ever in my +sight,” said Edith, “I will say it is a relic of a good knight, cruelly +and unworthily done to death by” (she checked herself)--“by one of whom +I shall only say, he should have known better how to reward chivalry. +Minion callest thou him?” she continued, with increasing vehemence. “He +was indeed my lover, and a most true one; but never sought he grace from +me by look or word--contented with such humble observance as men pay to +the saints. And the good--the valiant--the faithful must die for this!” + +“Oh, peace, peace, for pity's sake,” whispered the Queen, “you do but +offend him more!” + +“I care not,” said Edith; “the spotless virgin fears not the raging +lion. Let him work his will on this worthy knight. Edith, for whom he +dies, will know how to weep his memory. To me no one shall speak more of +politic alliances to be sanctioned with this poor hand. I could not--I +would not--have been his bride living--our degrees were too distant. But +death unites the high and the low--I am henceforward the spouse of the +grave.” + +The King was about to answer with much anger, when a Carmelite monk +entered the apartment hastily, his head and person muffled in the +long mantle and hood of striped cloth of the coarsest texture which +distinguished his order, and, flinging himself on his knees before the +King, conjured him, by every holy word and sign, to stop the execution. + +“Now, by both sword and sceptre,” said Richard, “the world is leagued to +drive me mad!--fools, women, and monks cross me at every step. How comes +he to live still?” + +“My gracious liege,” said the monk, “I entreated of the Lord of Gilsland +to stay the execution until I had thrown myself at your royal--” + +“And he was wilful enough to grant thy request,” said the King; “but +it is of a piece with his wonted obstinacy. And what is it thou hast to +say? Speak, in the fiend's name!” + +“My lord, there is a weighty secret, but it rests under the seal of +confession. I dare not tell or even whisper it; but I swear to thee +by my holy order, by the habit which I wear, by the blessed Elias, our +founder, even him who was translated without suffering the ordinary +pangs of mortality, that this youth hath divulged to me a secret, which, +if I might confide it to thee, would utterly turn thee from thy bloody +purpose in regard to him.” + +“Good father,” said Richard, “that I reverence the church, let the arms +which I now wear for her sake bear witness. Give me to know this secret, +and I will do what shall seem fitting in the matter. But I am no +blind Bayard, to take a leap in the dark under the stroke of a pair of +priestly spurs.” + +“My lord,” said the holy man, throwing back his cowl and upper vesture, +and discovering under the latter a garment of goatskin, and from beneath +the former a visage so wildly wasted by climate, fast, and penance, as +to resemble rather the apparition of an animated skeleton than a human +face, “for twenty years have I macerated this miserable body in the +caverns of Engaddi, doing penance for a great crime. Think you I, who am +dead to the world, would contrive a falsehood to endanger my own soul; +or that one, bound by the most sacred oaths to the contrary--one such +as I, who have but one longing wish connected with earth, to wit, +the rebuilding of our Christian Zion--would betray the secrets of the +confessional? Both are alike abhorrent to my very soul.” + +“So,” answered the King, “thou art that hermit of whom men speak so +much? Thou art, I confess, like enough to those spirits which walk in +dry places; but Richard fears no hobgoblins. And thou art he, too, as +I bethink me, to whom the Christian princes sent this very criminal to +open a communication with the Soldan, even while I, who ought to have +been first consulted, lay on my sick-bed? Thou and they may content +themselves--I will not put my neck into the loop of a Carmelite's +girdle. And, for your envoy, he shall die the rather and the sooner that +thou dost entreat for him.” + +“Now God be gracious to thee, Lord King!” said the hermit, with much +emotion; “thou art setting that mischief on foot which thou wilt +hereafter wish thou hadst stopped, though it had cost thee a limb. Rash, +blinded man, yet forbear!” + +“Away, away,” cried the King, stamping; “the sun has risen on the +dishonour of England, and it is not yet avenged.--Ladies and priest, +withdraw, if you would not hear orders which would displease you; for, +by St. George, I swear--” + +“Swear NOT!” said the voice of one who had just then entered the +pavilion. + +“Ha! my learned Hakim,” said the King, “come, I hope, to tax our +generosity.” + +“I come to request instant speech with you--instant--and touching +matters of deep interest.” + +“First look on my wife, Hakim, and let her know in you the preserver of +her husband.” + +“It is not for me,” said the physician, folding his arms with an air of +Oriental modesty and reverence, and bending his eyes on the ground--“it +is not for me to look upon beauty unveiled, and armed in its +splendours.” + +“Retire, then, Berengaria,” said the Monarch; “and, Edith, do you retire +also;--nay, renew not your importunities! This I give to them that +the execution shall not be till high noon. Go and be pacified--dearest +Berengaria, begone.--Edith,” he added, with a glance which struck terror +even into the courageous soul of his kinswoman, “go, if you are wise.” + +The females withdrew, or rather hurried from the tent, rank and ceremony +forgotten, much like a flock of wild-fowl huddled together, against whom +the falcon has made a recent stoop. + +They returned from thence to the Queen's pavilion to indulge in regrets +and recriminations, equally unavailing. Edith was the only one who +seemed to disdain these ordinary channels of sorrow. Without a sigh, +without a tear, without a word of upbraiding, she attended upon the +Queen, whose weak temperament showed her sorrow in violent hysterical +ecstasies and passionate hypochondriacal effusions, in the course of +which Edith sedulously and even affectionately attended her. + +“It is impossible she can have loved this knight,” said Florise to +Calista, her senior in attendance upon the Queen's person. “We have been +mistaken; she is but sorry for his fate, as for a stranger who has come +to trouble on her account.” + +“Hush, hush,” answered her more experienced and more observant comrade; +“she is of that proud house of Plantagenet who never own that a hurt +grieves them. While they have themselves been bleeding to death, under a +mortal wound, they have been known to bind up the scratches sustained +by their more faint-hearted comrades. Florise, we have done frightfully +wrong, and, for my own part, I would buy with every jewel I have that +our fatal jest had remained unacted.” + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + This work desires a planetary intelligence + Of Jupiter and Sol; and those great spirits + Are proud, fantastical. It asks great charges + To entice them from the guiding of their spheres, + To wait on mortals. + ALBUMAZAR. + +The hermit followed the ladies from the pavilion of Richard, as shadow +follows a beam of sunshine when the clouds are driving over the face of +the sun. But he turned on the threshold, and held up his hand towards +the King in a warning, or almost a menacing posture, as he said, “Woe to +him who rejects the counsel of the church, and betaketh himself to the +foul divan of the infidel! King Richard, I do not yet shake the dust +from my feet and depart from thy encampment; the sword falls not--but it +hangs but by a hair. Haughty monarch, we shall meet again.” + +“Be it so, haughty priest,” returned Richard, “prouder in thy goatskins +than princes in purple and fine linen.” + +The hermit vanished from the tent, and the King continued, addressing +the Arabian, “Do the dervises of the East, wise Hakim, use such +familiarity with their princes?” + +“The dervise,” replied Adonbec, “should be either a sage or a madman; +there is no middle course for him who wears the khirkhah, [Literally, +the torn robe. The habit of the dervises is so called.] who watches +by night, and fasts by day. Hence hath he either wisdom enough to bear +himself discreetly in the presence of princes; or else, having no reason +bestowed on him, he is not responsible for his own actions.” + +“Methinks our monks have adopted chiefly the latter character,” said +Richard. “But to the matter. In what can I pleasure you, my learned +physician?” + +“Great King,” said El Hakim, making his profound Oriental obeisance, +“let thy servant speak one word, and yet live. I would remind thee +that thou owest--not to me, their humble instrument--but to the +Intelligences, whose benefits I dispense to mortals, a life--” + +“And I warrant me thou wouldst have another in requital, ha?” + interrupted the King. + +“Such is my humble prayer,” said the Hakim, “to the great Melech +Ric--even the life of this good knight, who is doomed to die, and +but for such fault as was committed by the Sultan Adam, surnamed +Aboulbeschar, or the father of all men.” + +“And thy wisdom might remind thee, Hakim, that Adam died for it,” said +the King, somewhat sternly, and then began to pace the narrow space of +his tent with some emotion, and to talk to himself. “Why, God-a-mercy, +I knew what he desired as soon as ever he entered the pavilion! Here +is one poor life justly condemned to extinction, and I, a king and a +soldier, who have slain thousands by my command, and scores with my own +hand, am to have no power over it, although the honour of my arms, of +my house, of my very Queen, hath been attainted by the culprit. By Saint +George, it makes me laugh! By Saint Louis, it reminds me of Blondel's +tale of an enchanted castle, where the destined knight was withstood +successively in his purpose of entrance by forms and figures the most +dissimilar, but all hostile to his undertaking! No sooner one sunk than +another appeared! Wife--kinswoman--hermit--Hakim-each appears in the +lists as soon as the other is defeated! Why, this is a single knight +fighting against the whole MELEE of the tournament--ha! ha! ha!” And +Richard laughed aloud; for he had, in fact, begun to change his mood, +his resentment being usually too violent to be of long endurance. + +The physician meanwhile looked on him with a countenance of surprise, +not unmingled with contempt; for the Eastern people make no allowance +for these mercurial changes in the temper, and consider open laughter, +upon almost any account, as derogatory to the dignity of man, and +becoming only to women and children. At length the sage addressed the +King when he saw him more composed:-- + +“A doom of death should not issue from laughing lips. Let thy servant +hope that thou hast granted him this man's life.” + +“Take the freedom of a thousand captives instead,” said Richard; +“restore so many of thy countrymen to their tents and families, and I +will give the warrant instantly. This man's life can avail thee nothing, +and it is forfeited.” + +“All our lives are forfeited,” said the Hakim, putting his hand to his +cap. “But the great Creditor is merciful, and exacts not the pledge +rigorously nor untimely.” + +“Thou canst show me,” said Richard, “no special interest thou hast to +become intercessor betwixt me and the execution of justice, to which I +am sworn as a crowned king.” + +“Thou art sworn to the dealing forth mercy as well as justice,” said El +Hakim; “but what thou seekest, great King, is the execution of thine own +will. And for the concern I have in this request, know that many a man's +life depends upon thy granting this boon.” + +“Explain thy words,” said Richard; “but think not to impose upon me by +false pretexts.” + +“Be it far from thy servant!” said Adonbec. “Know, then, that the +medicine to which thou, Sir King, and many one besides, owe their +recovery, is a talisman, composed under certain aspects of the heavens, +when the Divine Intelligences are most propitious. I am but the poor +administrator of its virtues. I dip it in a cup of water, observe the +fitting hour to administer it to the patient, and the potency of the +draught works the cure.” + +“A most rare medicine,” said the King, “and a commodious! and, as it may +be carried in the leech's purse, would save the whole caravan of camels +which they require to convey drugs and physic stuff; I marvel there is +any other in use.” + +“It is written,” answered the Hakim, with imperturbable gravity, “'Abuse +not the steed which hath borne thee from the battle.' Know that such +talismans might indeed be framed, but rare has been the number of adepts +who have dared to undertake the application of their virtue. Severe +restrictions, painful observances, fasts, and penance, are necessary on +the part of the sage who uses this mode of cure; and if, through neglect +of these preparations, by his love of ease, or his indulgence of sensual +appetite, he omits to cure at least twelve persons within the course of +each moon, the virtue of the divine gift departs from the amulet, +and both the last patient and the physician will be exposed to speedy +misfortune, neither will they survive the year. I require yet one life +to make up the appointed number.” + +“Go out into the camp, good Hakim, where thou wilt find a-many,” said +the King, “and do not seek to rob my headsman of HIS patients; it is +unbecoming a mediciner of thine eminence to interfere with the practice +of another. Besides, I cannot see how delivering a criminal from the +death he deserves should go to make up thy tale of miraculous cures.” + +“When thou canst show why a draught of cold water should have cured +thee when the most precious drugs failed,” said the Hakim, “thou mayest +reason on the other mysteries attendant on this matter. For myself, I +am inefficient to the great work, having this morning touched an unclean +animal. Ask, therefore, no further questions; it is enough that, by +sparing this man's life at my request, you will deliver yourself, great +King, and thy servant, from a great danger.” + +“Hark thee, Adonbec,” replied the King, “I have no objection that +leeches should wrap their words in mist, and pretend to derive knowledge +from the stars; but when you bid Richard Plantagenet fear that a danger +will fall upon HIM from some idle omen, or omitted ceremonial, you speak +to no ignorant Saxon, or doting old woman, who foregoes her purpose +because a hare crosses the path, a raven croaks, or a cat sneezes.” + +“I cannot hinder your doubt of my words,” said Adonbec; “but yet let my +Lord the King grant that truth is on the tongue of his servant--will he +think it just to deprive the world, and every wretch who may suffer by +the pains which so lately reduced him to that couch, of the benefit of +this most virtuous talisman, rather than extend his forgiveness to one +poor criminal? Bethink you, Lord King, that, though thou canst slay +thousands, thou canst not restore one man to health. Kings have the +power of Satan to torment, sages that of Allah to heal--beware how thou +hinderest the good to humanity which thou canst not thyself render. Thou +canst cut off the head, but not cure the aching tooth.” + +“This is over-insolent,” said the King, hardening himself, as the Hakim +assumed a more lofty and almost a commanding tone. “We took thee for our +leech, not for our counsellor or conscience-keeper.” + +“And is it thus the most renowned Prince of Frangistan repays benefit +done to his royal person?” said El Hakim, exchanging the humble and +stooping posture in which he had hitherto solicited the King, for an +attitude lofty and commanding. “Know, then,” he said, “that: through +every court of Europe and Asia--to Moslem and Nazarene--to knight and +lady--wherever harp is heard and sword worn--wherever honour is loved +and infamy detested--to every quarter of the world--will I denounce +thee, Melech Ric, as thankless and ungenerous; and even the lands--if +there be any such--that never heard of thy renown shall yet be +acquainted with thy shame!” + +“Are these terms to me, vile infidel?” said Richard, striding up to him +in fury. “Art weary of thy life?” + +“Strike!” said El Hakim; “thine own deed shall then paint thee more +worthless than could my words, though each had a hornet's sting.” + +Richard turned fiercely from him, folded his arms, traversed the tent +as before, and then exclaimed, “Thankless and ungenerous!--as well be +termed coward and infidel! Hakim, thou hast chosen thy boon; and though +I had rather thou hadst asked my crown jewels, yet I may not, kinglike, +refuse thee. Take this Scot, therefore, to thy keeping; the provost will +deliver him to thee on this warrant.” + +He hastily traced one or two lines, and gave them to the physician. “Use +him as thy bond-slave, to be disposed of as thou wilt--only, let him +beware how he comes before the eyes of Richard. Hark thee--thou art +wise--he hath been over-bold among those in whose fair looks and weak +judgments we trust our honour, as you of the East lodge your treasures +in caskets of silver wire, as fine and as frail as the web of a +gossamer.” + +“Thy servant understands the words of the King,” said the sage, at once +resuming the reverent style of address in which he had commenced. “When +the rich carpet is soiled, the fool pointeth to the stain--the wise man +covers it with his mantle. I have heard my lord's pleasure, and to hear +is to obey.” + +“It is well,” said the King; “let him consult his own safety, and never +appear in my presence more. Is there aught else in which I may do thee +pleasure?” + +“The bounty of the King hath filled my cup to the brim,” said the +sage--“yea, it hath been abundant as the fountain which sprung up amid +the camp of the descendants of Israel when the rock was stricken by the +rod of Moussa Ben Amram.” + +“Ay, but,” said the King, smiling, “it required, as in the desert, a +hard blow on the rock ere it yielded its treasures. I would that I knew +something to pleasure thee, which I might yield as freely as the natural +fountain sends forth its waters.” + +“Let me touch that victorious hand,” said the sage, “in token that if +Adonbec el Hakim should hereafter demand a boon of Richard of England, +he may do so, yet plead his command.” + +“Thou hast hand and glove upon it, man,” replied Richard; “only, if thou +couldst consistently make up thy tale of patients without craving me +to deliver from punishment those who have deserved it, I would more +willingly discharge my debt in some other form.” + +“May thy days be multiplied!” answered the Hakim, and withdrew from the +apartment after the usual deep obeisance. + +King Richard gazed after him as he departed, like one but half-satisfied +with what had passed. + +“Strange pertinacity,” he said, “in this Hakim, and a wonderful chance +to interfere between that audacious Scot and the chastisement he has +merited so richly. Yet let him live! there is one brave man the more in +the world. And now for the Austrian. Ho! is the Baron of Gilsland there +without?” + +Sir Thomas de Vaux thus summoned, his bulky form speedily darkened +the opening of the pavilion, while behind him glided as a spectre, +unannounced, yet unopposed, the savage form of the hermit of Engaddi, +wrapped in his goatskin mantle. + +Richard, without noticing his presence, called in a loud tone to the +baron, “Sir Thomas de Vaux, of Lanercost and Gilsland, take trumpet and +herald, and go instantly to the tent of him whom they call Archduke of +Austria, and see that it be when the press of his knights and vassals +is greatest around him, as is likely at this hour, for the German +boar breakfasts ere he hears mass--enter his presence with as little +reverence as thou mayest, and impeach him, on the part of Richard of +England, that he hath this night, by his own hand, or that of others, +stolen from its staff the Banner of England. Wherefore say to him our +pleasure that within an hour from the time of my speaking he restore +the said banner with all reverence--he himself and his principal barons +waiting the whilst with heads uncovered, and without their robes of +honour. And that, moreover, he pitch beside it, on the one hand, his own +Banner of Austria reversed, as that which hath been dishonoured by theft +and felony, and on the other, a lance, bearing the bloody head of him +who was his nearest counsellor, or assistant, in this base injury. And +say, that such our behests being punctually discharged we will, for +the sake of our vow and the weal of the Holy Land, forgive his other +forfeits.” + +“And how if the Duke of Austria deny all accession to this act of wrong +and of felony?” said Thomas de Vaux. + +“Tell him,” replied the King, “we will prove it upon his body--ay, were +he backed with his two bravest champions. Knightlike will we prove it, +on foot or on horse, in the desert or in the field, time, place, and +arms all at his own choice.” + +“Bethink you of the peace of God and the church, my liege lord,” + said the Baron of Gilsland, “among those princes engaged in this holy +Crusade.” + +“Bethink you how to execute my commands, my liege vassal,” answered +Richard impatiently. “Methinks men expect to turn our purpose by their +breath, as boys blow feathers to and fro. Peace of the church! Who, I +prithee, minds it? The peace of the church, among Crusaders, implies war +with the Saracens, with whom the princes have made truce; and the one +ends with the other. And besides, see you not how every prince of them +is seeking his own several ends? I will seek mine also--and that is +honour. For honour I came hither; and if I may not win it upon the +Saracens, at least I will not lose a jot from any respect to this paltry +Duke, though he were bulwarked and buttressed by every prince in the +Crusade.” + +De Vaux turned to obey the King's mandate, shrugging his shoulders at +the same time, the bluntness of his nature being unable to conceal that +its tenor went against his judgment. But the hermit of Engaddi stepped +forward, and assumed the air of one charged with higher commands than +those of a mere earthly potentate. Indeed, his dress of shaggy skins, +his uncombed and untrimmed hair and beard, his lean, wild, and contorted +features, and the almost insane fire which gleamed from under his +bushy eyebrows, made him approach nearly to our idea of some seer of +Scripture, who, charged with high mission to the sinful Kings of Judah +or Israel, descended from the rocks and caverns in which he dwelt in +abstracted solitude, to abash earthly tyrants in the midst of their +pride, by discharging on them the blighting denunciations of Divine +Majesty, even as the cloud discharges the lightnings with which it is +fraught on the pinnacles and towers of castles and palaces. In the +midst of his most wayward mood, Richard respected the church and its +ministers; and though offended at the intrusion of the hermit into his +tent, he greeted him with respect--at the same time, however, making a +sign to Sir Thomas de Vaux to hasten on his message. + +But the hermit prohibited the baron, by gesture, look, and word, to stir +a yard on such an errand; and holding up his bare arm, from which the +goatskin mantle fell back in the violence of his action, he waved it +aloft, meagre with famine, and wealed with the blows of the discipline. + +“In the name of God, and of the most holy Father, the vicegerent of the +Christian Church upon earth, I prohibit this most profane, bloodthirsty, +and brutal defiance betwixt two Christian princes, whose shoulders are +signed with the blessed mark under which they swore brotherhood. Woe +to him by whom it is broken!--Richard of England, recall the most +unhallowed message thou hast given to that baron. Danger and death are +nigh thee!--the dagger is glancing at thy very throat!--” + +“Danger and death are playmates to Richard,” answered the Monarch +proudly; “and he hath braved too many swords to fear a dagger.” + +“Danger and death are near,” replied the seer, and sinking his voice to +a hollow, unearthly tone, he added, “And after death the judgment!” + +“Good and holy father,” said Richard, “I reverence thy person and thy +sanctity--” + +“Reverence not me!” interrupted the hermit; “reverence sooner the vilest +insect that crawls by the shores of the Dead Sea, and feeds upon its +accursed slime. But reverence Him whose commands I speak--reverence Him +whose sepulchre you have vowed to rescue--revere the oath of concord +which you have sworn, and break not the silver cord of union +and fidelity with which you have bound yourself to your princely +confederates.” + +“Good father,” said the King, “you of the church seem to me to presume +somewhat, if a layman may say so much, upon the dignity of your +holy character. Without challenging your right to take charge of our +conscience, methinks you might leave us the charge of our own honour.” + +“Presume!” repeated the hermit. “Is it for me to presume, royal Richard, +who am but the bell obeying the hand of the sexton--but the senseless +and worthless trumpet carrying the command of him who sounds it? See, +on my knees I throw myself before thee, imploring thee to have mercy on +Christendom, on England, and on thyself!” + +“Rise, rise,” said Richard, compelling him to stand up; “it beseems not +that knees which are so frequently bended to the Deity should press the +ground in honour of man. What danger awaits us, reverend father? and +when stood the power of England so low that the noisy bluster of this +new-made Duke's displeasure should alarm her or her monarch?” + +“I have looked forth from my mountain turret upon the starry host of +heaven, as each in his midnight circuit uttered wisdom to another, and +knowledge to the few who can understand their voice. There sits an enemy +in thy House of Life, Lord King, malign at once to thy fame and thy +prosperity--an emanation of Saturn, menacing thee with instant and +bloody peril, and which, but thou yield thy proud will to the rule of +thy duty, will presently crush thee even in thy pride.” + +“Away, away--this is heathen science,” said the King. “Christians +practise it not--wise men believe it not. Old man, thou dotest.” + +“I dote not, Richard,” answered the hermit--“I am not so happy. I know +my condition, and that some portion of reason is yet permitted me, not +for my own use, but that of the Church and the advancement of the Cross. +I am the blind man who holds a torch to others, though it yields no +light to himself. Ask me touching what concerns the weal of Christendom, +and of this Crusade, and I will speak with thee as the wisest counsellor +on whose tongue persuasion ever sat. Speak to me of my own wretched +being, and my words shall be those of the maniac outcast which I am.” + +“I would not break the bands of unity asunder among the princes of the +Crusade,” said Richard, with a mitigated tone and manner; “but what +atonement can they render me for the injustice and insult which I have +sustained?” + +“Even of that I am prepared and commissioned to speak by the Council, +which, meeting hastily at the summons of Philip of France, have taken +measures for that effect.” + +“Strange,” replied Richard, “that others should treat of what is due to +the wounded majesty of England!” + +“They are willing to anticipate your demands, if it be possible,” + answered the hermit. “In a body, they consent that the Banner of +England be replaced on Saint George's Mount; and they lay under ban +and condemnation the audacious criminal, or criminals, by whom it was +outraged, and will announce a princely reward to any who shall denounce +the delinquent's guilt, and give his flesh to the wolves and ravens.” + +“And Austria,” said Richard, “upon whom rest such strong presumptions +that he was the author of the deed?” + +“To prevent discord in the host,” replied the hermit, “Austria will +clear himself of the suspicion by submitting to whatsoever ordeal the +Patriarch of Jerusalem shall impose.” + +“Will he clear himself by the trial by combat?” said King Richard. + +“His oath prohibits it,” said the hermit; “and, moreover, the Council of +the Princes--” + +“Will neither authorize battle against the Saracens,” interrupted +Richard, “nor against any one else. But it is enough, father--thou hast +shown me the folly of proceeding as I designed in this matter. You shall +sooner light your torch in a puddle of rain than bring a spark out of a +cold-blooded coward. There is no honour to be gained on Austria, and so +let him pass. I will have him perjure himself, however; I will insist +on the ordeal. How I shall laugh to hear his clumsy fingers hiss, as he +grasps the red-hot globe of iron! Ay, or his huge mouth riven, and +his gullet swelling to suffocation, as he endeavours to swallow the +consecrated bread!” + +“Peace, Richard,” said the hermit--“oh, peace, for shame, if not for +charity! Who shall praise or honour princes who insult and calumniate +each other? Alas! that a creature so noble as thou art--so accomplished +in princely thoughts and princely daring--so fitted to honour +Christendom by thy actions, and, in thy calmer mood, to rule her by thy +wisdom, should yet have the brute and wild fury of the lion mingled with +the dignity and courage of that king of the forest!” + +He remained an instant musing with his eyes fixed on the ground, and +then proceeded--“But Heaven, that knows our imperfect nature, accepts +of our imperfect obedience, and hath delayed, though not averted, the +bloody end of thy daring life. The destroying angel hath stood still, as +of old by the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite, and the blade +is drawn in his hand, by which, at no distant date, Richard, the +lion-hearted, shall be as low as the meanest peasant.” + +“Must it, then, be so soon?” said Richard. “Yet, even so be it. May my +course be bright, if it be but brief!” + +“Alas! noble King,” said the solitary, and it seemed as if a tear +(unwonted guest) were gathering in his dry and glazened eye, “short and +melancholy, marked with mortification, and calamity, and captivity, is +the span that divides thee from the grave which yawns for thee--a grave +in which thou shalt be laid without lineage to succeed thee--without +the tears of a people, exhausted by thy ceaseless wars, to lament +thee--without having extended the knowledge of thy subjects--without +having done aught to enlarge their happiness.” + +“But not without renown, monk--not without the tears of the lady of my +love! These consolations, which thou canst neither know nor estimate, +await upon Richard to his grave.” + +“DO I not know, CAN I not estimate the value of minstrel's praise and of +lady's love?” retorted the hermit, in a tone which for a moment seemed +to emulate the enthusiasm of Richard himself. “King of England,” he +continued, extending his emaciated arm, “the blood which boils in thy +blue veins is not more noble than that which stagnates in mine. Few +and cold as the drops are, they still are of the blood of the royal +Lusignan--of the heroic and sainted Godfrey. I am--that is, I was when +in the world--Alberick Mortemar--” + +“Whose deeds,” said Richard, “have so often filled Fame's trumpet! Is it +so?--can it be so? Could such a light as thine fall from the horizon of +chivalry, and yet men be uncertain where its embers had alighted?” + +“Seek a fallen star,” said the hermit, “and thou shalt only light on +some foul jelly, which, in shooting through the horizon, has assumed for +a moment an appearance of splendour. Richard, if I thought that rending +the bloody veil from my horrible fate could make thy proud heart stoop +to the discipline of the church, I could find in my heart to tell thee +a tale, which I have hitherto kept gnawing at my vitals in concealment, +like the self-devoted youth of heathenesse. Listen, then, Richard, and +may the grief and despair which cannot avail this wretched remnant of +what was once a man be powerful as an example to so noble, yet so wild, +a being as thou art! Yes--I will--I WILL tear open the long-hidden +wounds, although in thy very presence they should bleed to death!” + +King Richard, upon whom the history of Alberick of Mortemar had made +a deep impression in his early years, when minstrels were regaling his +father's halls with legends of the Holy Land, listened with respect +to the outlines of a tale, which, darkly and imperfectly sketched, +indicated sufficiently the cause of the partial insanity of this +singular and most unhappy being. + +“I need not,” he said, “tell thee that I was noble in birth, high in +fortune, strong in arms, wise in counsel. All these I was. But while +the noblest ladies in Palestine strove which should wind garlands for my +helmet, my love was fixed--unalterably and devotedly fixed--on a maiden +of low degree. Her father, an ancient soldier of the Cross, saw our +passion, and knowing the difference betwixt us, saw no other refuge +for his daughter's honour than to place her within the shadow of the +cloister. I returned from a distant expedition, loaded with spoils and +honour, to find my happiness was destroyed for ever! I too sought the +cloister; and Satan, who had marked me for his own, breathed into my +heart a vapour of spiritual pride, which could only have had its source +in his own infernal regions. I had risen as high in the church as +before in the state. I was, forsooth, the wise, the self-sufficient, +the impeccable!--I was the counsellor of councils--I was the director +of prelates. How should I stumble?--wherefore should I fear temptation? +Alas! I became confessor to a sisterhood, and amongst that sisterhood +I found the long-loved--the long-lost. Spare me further confession!--A +fallen nun, whose guilt was avenged by self-murder, sleeps soundly in +the vaults of Engaddi; while, above her very grave, gibbers, moans, and +roars a creature to whom but so much reason is left as may suffice to +render him completely sensible to his fate!” + +“Unhappy man!” said Richard, “I wonder no longer at thy misery. How +didst thou escape the doom which the canons denounce against thy +offence?” + +“Ask one who is yet in the gall of worldly bitterness,” said the hermit, +“and he will speak of a life spared for personal respects, and from +consideration to high birth. But, Richard, I tell thee that Providence +hath preserved me to lift me on high as a light and beacon, whose ashes, +when this earthly fuel is burnt out, must yet be flung into Tophet. +Withered and shrunk as this poor form is, it is yet animated with two +spirits--one active, shrewd, and piercing, to advocate the cause of +the Church of Jerusalem; one mean, abject, and despairing, fluctuating +between madness and misery, to mourn over my own wretchedness, and to +guard holy relics on which it would be most sinful for me even to cast +my eye. Pity me not!--it is but sin to pity the loss of such an abject; +pity me not, but profit by my example. Thou standest on the highest, +and, therefore, on the most dangerous pinnacle occupied by any Christian +prince. Thou art proud of heart, loose of life, bloody of hand. Put from +thee the sins which are to thee as daughters--though they be dear to the +sinful Adam, expel these adopted furies from thy breast--thy pride, thy +luxury, thy bloodthirstiness.” + +“He raves,” said Richard, turning from the solitary to De Vaux, as one +who felt some pain from a sarcasm which yet he could not resent; then +turned him calmly, and somewhat scornfully, to the anchoret, as he +replied, “Thou hast found a fair bevy of daughters, reverend father, to +one who hath been but few months married; but since I must put them +from my roof, it were but like a father to provide them with suitable +matches. Therefore, I will part with my pride to the noble canons of the +church--my luxury, as thou callest it, to the monks of the rule--and my +bloodthirstiness to the Knights of the Temple.” + +“O heart of steel, and hand of iron,” said the anchoret, “upon whom +example, as well as advice, is alike thrown away! Yet shalt thou be +spared for a season, in case it so be thou shouldst turn, and do that +which is acceptable in the sight of Heaven. For me I must return to my +place. Kyrie Eleison! I am he through whom the rays of heavenly grace +dart like those of the sun through a burning-glass, concentrating them +on other objects, until they kindle and blaze, while the glass itself +remains cold and uninfluenced. Kyrie Eleison!--the poor must be called, +for the rich have refused the banquet--Kyrie Eleison!” + +So saying, he burst from the tent, uttering loud cries. + +“A mad priest!” said Richard, from whose mind the frantic exclamations +of the hermit had partly obliterated the impression produced by the +detail of his personal history and misfortunes. “After him, De Vaux, and +see he comes to no harm; for, Crusaders as we are, a juggler hath more +reverence amongst our varlets than a priest or a saint, and they may, +perchance, put some scorn upon him.” + +The knight obeyed, and Richard presently gave way to the thoughts which +the wild prophecy of the monk had inspired. “To die early--without +lineage--without lamentation! A heavy sentence, and well that it is not +passed by a more competent judge. Yet the Saracens, who are accomplished +in mystical knowledge, will often maintain that He, in whose eyes the +wisdom of the sage is but as folly, inspires wisdom and prophecy into +the seeming folly of the madman. Yonder hermit is said to read the +stars, too, an art generally practised in these lands, where the +heavenly host was of yore the object of idolatry. I would I had asked +him touching the loss of my banner; for not the blessed Tishbite, the +founder of his order, could seem more wildly rapt out of himself, or +speak with a tongue more resembling that of a prophet.--How now, De +Vaux, what news of the mad priest?” + +“Mad priest, call you him, my lord?” answered De Vaux. “Methinks +he resembles more the blessed Baptist himself, just issued from the +wilderness. He has placed himself on one of the military engines, and +from thence he preaches to the soldiers as never man preached since the +time of Peter the Hermit. The camp, alarmed by his cries, crowd around +him in thousands; and breaking off every now and then from the main +thread of his discourse, he addresses the several nations, each in their +own language, and presses upon each the arguments best qualified to urge +them to perseverance in the delivery of Palestine.” + +“By this light, a noble hermit!” said King Richard. “But what else could +come from the blood of Godfrey? HE despair of safety, because he hath +in former days lived PAR AMOURS? I will have the Pope send him an ample +remission, and I would not less willingly be intercessor had his BELLE +AMIE been an abbess.” + +As he spoke, the Archbishop of Tyre craved audience, for the purpose of +requesting Richard's attendance, should his health permit, on a secret +conclave of the chiefs of the Crusade, and to explain to him the +military and political incidents which had occurred during his illness. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + Must we then sheathe our still victorious sword; + Turn back our forward step, which ever trod + O'er foemen's necks the onward path of glory; + Unclasp the mail, which with a solemn vow, + In God's own house, we hung upon our shoulders-- + That vow, as unaccomplish'd as the promise + Which village nurses make to still their children, + And after think no more of? + THE CRUSADE, A TRAGEDY. + +The Archbishop of Tyre was an emissary well chosen to communicate to +Richard tidings, which from another voice the lion-hearted King would +not have brooked to hear without the most unbounded explosions of +resentment. Even this sagacious and reverend prelate found difficulty in +inducing him to listen to news which destroyed all his hopes of gaining +back the Holy Sepulchre by force of arms, and acquiring the renown which +the universal all-hail of Christendom was ready to confer upon him as +the Champion of the Cross. + +But, by the Archbishop's report, it appeared that Saladin was assembling +all the force of his hundred tribes, and that the monarchs of Europe, +already disgusted from various motives with the expedition, which had +proved so hazardous, and was daily growing more so, had resolved to +abandon their purpose. In this they were countenanced by the example of +Philip of France, who, with many protestations of regard, and assurances +that he would first see his brother of England in safety, declared his +intention to return to Europe. His great vassal, the Earl of Champagne, +had adopted the same resolution; and it could not excite surprise that +Leopold of Austria, affronted as he had been by Richard, was glad +to embrace an opportunity of deserting a cause in which his haughty +opponent was to be considered as chief. Others announced the same +purpose; so that it was plain that the King of England was to be left, +if he chose to remain, supported only by such volunteers as might, under +such depressing circumstances, join themselves to the English army, and +by the doubtful aid of Conrade of Montserrat and the military orders of +the Temple and of Saint John, who, though they were sworn to wage battle +against the Saracens, were at least equally jealous of any European +monarch achieving the conquest of Palestine, where, with shortsighted +and selfish policy, they proposed to establish independent dominions of +their own. + +It needed not many arguments to show Richard the truth of his situation; +and indeed, after his first burst of passion, he sat him calmly down, +and with gloomy looks, head depressed, and arms folded on his bosom, +listened to the Archbishop's reasoning on the impossibility of his +carrying on the Crusade when deserted by his companions. Nay, he forbore +interruption, even when the prelate ventured, in measured terms, to hint +that Richard's own impetuosity had been one main cause of disgusting the +princes with the expedition. + +“CONFITEOR,” answered Richard, with a dejected look, and something of +a melancholy smile--“I confess, reverend father, that I ought on some +accounts to sing CULPA MEA. But is it not hard that my frailties of +temper should be visited with such a penance--that, for a burst or two +of natural passion, I should be doomed to see fade before me ungathered +such a rich harvest of glory to God and honour to chivalry? But it shall +NOT fade. By the soul of the Conqueror, I will plant the Cross on the +towers of Jerusalem, or it shall be planted over Richard's grave!” + +“Thou mayest do it,” said the prelate, “yet not another drop of +Christian blood be shed in the quarrel.” + +“Ah, you speak of compromise, Lord Prelate; but the blood of the infidel +hounds must also cease to flow,” said Richard. + +“There will be glory enough,” replied the Archbishop, “in having +extorted from Saladin, by force of arms, and by the respect inspired by +your fame, such conditions as at once restore the Holy Sepulchre, open +the Holy Land to pilgrims, secure their safety by strong fortresses, +and, stronger than all, assure the safety of the Holy City, by +conferring on Richard the title of King Guardian of Jerusalem.” + +“How!” said Richard, his eyes sparkling with unusual light. “I--I--I the +King Guardian of the Holy City! Victory itself, but that it is victory, +could not gain more--scarce so much, when won with unwilling and +disunited forces. But Saladin still proposes to retain his interest in +the Holy Land?” + +“As a joint sovereign, the sworn ally,” replied the prelate, “of the +mighty Richard--his relative, if it may be permitted, by marriage.” + +“By marriage!” said Richard, surprised, yet less so than the prelate had +expected. “Ha!--ay--Edith Plantagenet. Did I dream this? or did some one +tell me? My head is still weak from this fever, and has been agitated. +Was it the Scot, or the Hakim, or yonder holy hermit, that hinted such a +wild bargain?” + +“The hermit of Engaddi, most likely,” said the Archbishop, “for he hath +toiled much in this matter; and since the discontent of the princes has +became apparent, and a separation of their forces unavoidable, he hath +had many consultations, both with Christian and pagan, for arranging +such a pacification as may give to Christendom, at least in part, the +objects of this holy warfare.” + +“My kinswoman to an infidel--ha!” exclaimed Richard, as his eyes began +to sparkle. + +The prelate hastened to avert his wrath. + +“The Pope's consent must doubtless be first attained, and the holy +hermit, who is well known at Rome, will treat with the holy Father.” + +“How?--without our consent first given?” said the King. + +“Surely no,” said the Bishop, in a quieting and insinuating tone of +voice--“only with and under your especial sanction.” + +“My sanction to marry my kinswoman to an infidel!” said Richard; yet +he spoke rather in a tone of doubt than as distinctly reprobating the +measure proposed. “Could I have dreamed of such a composition when I +leaped upon the Syrian shore from the prow of my galley, even as a lion +springs on his prey! And now--But proceed--I will hear with patience.” + +Equally delighted and surprised to find his task so much easier than he +had apprehended, the Archbishop hastened to pour forth before Richard +the instances of such alliances in Spain--not without countenance from +the Holy See; the incalculable advantages which all Christendom would +derive from the union of Richard and Saladin by a bond so sacred; and, +above all, he spoke with great vehemence and unction on the probability +that Saladin would, in case of the proposed alliance, exchange his false +faith for the true one. + +“Hath the Soldan shown any disposition to become Christian?” said +Richard. “If so, the king lives not on earth to whom I would grant the +hand of a kinswoman, ay, or sister, sooner than to my noble Saladin--ay, +though the one came to lay crown and sceptre at her feet, and the other +had nothing to offer but his good sword and better heart!” + +“Saladin hath heard our Christian teachers,” said the Bishop, somewhat +evasively--“my unworthy self, and others--and as he listens with +patience, and replies with calmness, it can hardly be but that he be +snatched as a brand from the burning. MAGNA EST VERITAS, ET PREVALEBIT! +moreover, the hermit of Engaddi, few of whose words have fallen +fruitless to the ground, is possessed fully with the belief that there +is a calling of the Saracens and the other heathen approaching, to which +this marriage shall be matter of induction. He readeth the course of +the stars; and dwelling, with maceration of the flesh, in those divine +places which the saints have trodden of old, the spirit of Elijah the +Tishbite, the founder of his blessed order, hath been with him as it was +with the prophet Elisha, the son of Shaphat, when he spread his mantle +over him.” + +King Richard listened to the Prelate's reasoning with a downcast brow +and a troubled look. + +“I cannot tell,” he said, “How, it is with me, but methinks these cold +counsels of the Princes of Christendom have infected me too with a +lethargy of spirit. The time hath been that, had a layman proposed such +alliance to me, I had struck him to earth--if a churchman, I had spit at +him as a renegade and priest of Baal; yet now this counsel sounds not +so strange in mine ear. For why should I not seek for brotherhood and +alliance with a Saracen, brave, just, generous--who loves and honours +a worthy foe, as if he were a friend--whilst the Princes of Christendom +shrink from the side of their allies, and forsake the cause of Heaven +and good knighthood? But I will possess my patience, and will not think +of them. Only one attempt will I make to keep this gallant brotherhood +together, if it be possible; and if I fail, Lord Archbishop, we will +speak together of thy counsel, which, as now, I neither accept nor +altogether reject. Wend we to the Council, my lord--the hour calls +us. Thou sayest Richard is hasty and proud--thou shalt see him humble +himself like the lowly broom-plant from which he derives his surname.” + +With the assistance of those of his privy chamber, the King then hastily +robed himself in a doublet and mantle of a dark and uniform colour; and +without any mark of regal dignity, excepting a ring of gold upon his +head, he hastened with the Archbishop of Tyre to attend the Council, +which waited but his presence to commence its sitting. + +The pavilion of the Council was an ample tent, having before it the +large Banner of the Cross displayed, and another, on which was portrayed +a female kneeling, with dishevelled hair and disordered dress, meant to +represent the desolate and distressed Church of Jerusalem, and bearing +the motto, AFFLICTAE SPONSAE NE OBLIVISCARIS. Warders, carefully +selected, kept every one at a distance from the neighbourhood of this +tent, lest the debates, which were sometimes of a loud and stormy +character, should reach other ears than those they were designed for. + +Here, therefore, the princes of the Crusade were assembled awaiting +Richard's arrival. And even the brief delay which was thus interposed +was turned to his disadvantage by his enemies, various instances being +circulated of his pride and undue assumption of superiority, of which +even the necessity of the present short pause was quoted as an instance. +Men strove to fortify each other in their evil opinion of the King of +England, and vindicated the offence which each had taken, by putting the +most severe construction upon circumstances the most trifling; and all +this, perhaps, because they were conscious of an instinctive reverence +for the heroic monarch, which it would require more than ordinary +efforts to overcome. + +They had settled, accordingly, that they should receive him on his +entrance with slight notice, and no more respect than was exactly +necessary to keep within the bounds of cold ceremonial. But when they +beheld that noble form, that princely countenance, somewhat pale from +his late illness--the eye which had been called by minstrels the bright +star of battle and victory--when his feats, almost surpassing human +strength and valour, rushed on their recollection, the Council of +Princes simultaneously arose--even the jealous King of France and the +sullen and offended Duke of Austria--arose with one consent, and the +assembled princes burst forth with one voice in the acclamation, “God +save King Richard of England! Long life to the valiant Lion's-heart!” + +With a countenance frank and open as the summer sun when it rises, +Richard distributed his thanks around, and congratulated himself on +being once more among his royal brethren of the Crusade. + +“Some brief words he desired to say,” such was his address to the +assembly, “though on a subject so unworthy as himself, even at the +risk of delaying for a few minutes their consultations for the weal of +Christendom and the advancement of their holy enterprise.” + +The assembled princes resumed their seats, and there was a profound +silence. + +“This day,” continued the King of England, “is a high festival of the +church, and it well becomes Christian men, at such a tide, to reconcile +themselves with their brethren, and confess their faults to each +other. Noble princes and fathers of this holy expedition, Richard is a +soldier--his hand is ever readier than his tongue--and his tongue is +but too much used to the rough language of his trade. But do not, for +Plantagenet's hasty speeches and ill-considered actions, forsake the +noble cause of the redemption of Palestine--do not throw away earthly +renown and eternal salvation, to be won here if ever they can be won by +man, because the act of a soldier may have been hasty, and his speech as +hard as the iron which he has worn from childhood. Is Richard in +default to any of you, Richard will make compensation both by word and +action.--Noble brother of France, have I been so unlucky as to offend +you?” + +“The Majesty of France has no atonement to seek from that of England,” + answered Philip, with kingly dignity, accepting, at the same time, the +offered hand of Richard; “and whatever opinion I may adopt concerning +the prosecution of this enterprise will depend on reasons arising out of +the state of my own kingdom--certainly on no jealousy or disgust at my +royal and most valorous brother.” + +“Austria,” said Richard, walking up to the Archduke, with a mixture +of frankness and dignity, while Leopold arose from his seat, as if +involuntarily, and with the action of an automaton, whose motions +depended upon some external impulse--“Austria thinks he hath reason to +be offended with England; England, that he hath cause to complain of +Austria. Let them exchange forgiveness, that the peace of Europe and the +concord of this host may remain unbroken. We are now joint supporters of +a more glorious banner than ever blazed before an earthly prince, even +the Banner of Salvation. Let not, therefore, strife be betwixt us for +the symbol of our more worldly dignities; but let Leopold restore the +pennon of England, if he has it in his power, and Richard will say, +though from no motive save his love for Holy Church, that he repents him +of the hasty mood in which he did insult the standard of Austria.” + +The Archduke stood still, sullen and discontented, with his eyes fixed +on the floor, and his countenance lowering with smothered displeasure, +which awe, mingled with awkwardness, prevented his giving vent to in +words. + +The Patriarch of Jerusalem hastened to break the embarrassing silence, +and to bear witness for the Archduke of Austria that he had exculpated +himself, by a solemn oath, from all knowledge, direct or indirect, of +the aggression done to the Banner of England. + +“Then we have done the noble Archduke the greater wrong,” said Richard; +“and craving his pardon for imputing to him an outrage so cowardly, we +extend our hand to him in token of renewed peace and amity. But how is +this? Austria refuses our uncovered hand, as he formerly refused our +mailed glove? What! are we neither to be his mate in peace nor his +antagonist in war? Well, let it be so. We will take the slight esteem in +which he holds us as a penance for aught which we may have done against +him in heat of blood, and will therefore hold the account between us +cleared.” + +So saying, he turned from the Archduke with an air rather of dignity +than scorn, leaving the Austrian apparently as much relieved by the +removal of his eye as is a sullen and truant schoolboy when the glance +of his severe pedagogue is withdrawn. + +“Noble Earl of Champagne--princely Marquis of Montserrat--valiant Grand +Master of the Templars--I am here a penitent in the confessional. Do any +of you bring a charge or claim amends from me?” + +“I know not on what we could ground any,” said the smooth-tongued +Conrade, “unless it were that the King of England carries off from his +poor brothers of the war all the fame which they might have hoped to +gain in the expedition.” + +“My charge, if I am called on to make one,” said the Master of the +Templars, “is graver and deeper than that of the Marquis of Montserrat. +It may be thought ill to beseem a military monk such as I to raise his +voice where so many noble princes remain silent; but it concerns our +whole host, and not least this noble King of England, that he should +hear from some one to his face those charges which there are enow to +bring against him in his absence. We laud and honour the courage and +high achievements of the King of England; but we feel aggrieved that he +should on all occasions seize and maintain a precedence and superiority +over us, which it becomes not independent princes to submit to. Much we +might yield of our free will to his bravery, his zeal, his wealth, +and his power; but he who snatches all as matter of right, and leaves +nothing to grant out of courtesy and favour, degrades us from allies +into retainers and vassals, and sullies in the eyes of our soldiers and +subjects the lustre of our authority, which is no longer independently +exercised. Since the royal Richard has asked the truth from us, he must +neither be surprised nor angry when he hears one, to whom worldly pomp +is prohibited, and secular authority is nothing, saving so far as it +advances the prosperity of God's Temple, and the prostration of the lion +which goeth about seeking whom he may devour--when he hears, I say, such +a one as I tell him the truth in reply to his question; which truth, +even while I speak it, is, I know, confirmed by the heart of every one +who hears me, however respect may stifle their voices.” + +Richard coloured very highly while the Grand Master was making this +direct and unvarnished attack upon his conduct, and the murmur of +assent which followed it showed plainly that almost all who were present +acquiesced in the justice of the accusation. Incensed, and at the +same time mortified, he yet foresaw that to give way to his headlong +resentment would be to give the cold and wary accuser the advantage over +him which it was the Templar's principal object to obtain. He therefore, +with a strong effort, remained silent till he had repeated a pater +noster, being the course which his confessor had enjoined him to pursue +when anger was likely to obtain dominion over him. The King then spoke +with composure, though not without an embittered tone, especially at the +outset:-- + +“And is it even so? And are our brethren at such pains to note the +infirmities of our natural temper, and the rough precipitance of our +zeal, which may sometimes have urged us to issue commands when there +was little time to hold council? I could not have thought that offences, +casual and unpremeditated like mine, could find such deep root in the +hearts of my allies in this most holy cause; that for my sake they +should withdraw their hands from the plough when the furrow was near +the end--for my sake turn aside from the direct path to Jerusalem, which +their swords have opened. I vainly thought that my small services +might have outweighed my rash errors--that if it were remembered that I +pressed to the van in an assault, it would not be forgotten that I +was ever the last in the retreat--that, if I elevated my banner upon +conquered fields of battle, it was all the advantage that I sought, +while others were dividing the spoil. I may have called the conquered +city by my name, but it was to others that I yielded the dominion. If +I have been headstrong in urging bold counsels, I have not, methinks, +spared my own blood or my people's in carrying them into as bold +execution; or if I have, in the hurry of march or battle, assumed a +command over the soldiers of others, such have been ever treated as my +own when my wealth purchased the provisions and medicines which their +own sovereigns could not procure. But it shames me to remind you of what +all but myself seem to have forgotten. Let us rather look forward to +our future measures; and believe me, brethren,” he continued, his face +kindling with eagerness, “you shall not find the pride, or the wrath, +or the ambition of Richard a stumbling-block of offence in the path to +which religion and glory summon you as with the trumpet of an archangel. +Oh, no, no! never would I survive the thought that my frailties and +infirmities had been the means to sever this goodly fellowship of +assembled princes. I would cut off my left hand with my right, could my +doing so attest my sincerity. I will yield up, voluntarily, all right to +command in the host--even mine own liege subjects. They shall be led by +such sovereigns as you may nominate; and their King, ever but too apt to +exchange the leader's baton for the adventurer's lance, will serve +under the banner of Beau-Seant among the Templars--ay, or under that of +Austria, if Austria will name a brave man to lead his forces. Or if +ye are yourselves a-weary of this war, and feel your armour chafe your +tender bodies, leave but with Richard some ten or fifteen thousand of +your soldiers to work out the accomplishment of your vow; and when +Zion is won,” he exclaimed, waving his hand aloft, as if displaying the +standard of the Cross over Jerusalem--“when Zion is won, we will write +upon her gates, NOT the name of Richard Plantagenet, but of those +generous princes who entrusted him with the means of conquest!” + +The rough eloquence and determined expression of the military monarch +at once roused the drooping spirits of the Crusaders, reanimated their +devotion, and, fixing their attention on the principal object of the +expedition, made most of them who were present blush for having been +moved by such petty subjects of complaint as had before engrossed them. +Eye caught fire from eye, voice lent courage to voice. They resumed, as +with one accord, the war-cry with which the sermon of Peter the Hermit +was echoed back, and shouted aloud, “Lead us on, gallant Lion's-heart; +none so worthy to lead where brave men follow. Lead us on--to +Jerusalem--to Jerusalem! It is the will of God--it is the will of God! +Blessed is he who shall lend an arm to its fulfilment!” + +The shout, so suddenly and generally raised, was heard beyond the ring +of sentinels who guarded the pavilion of Council, and spread among +the soldiers of the host, who, inactive and dispirited by disease and +climate, had begun, like their leaders, to droop in resolution; but +the reappearance of Richard in renewed vigour, and the well-known shout +which echoed from the assembly of the princes, at once rekindled their +enthusiasm, and thousands and tens of thousands answered with the same +shout of “Zion, Zion! War, war! Instant battle with the infidels! It is +the will of God--it is the will of God!” + +The acclamations from without increased in their turn the enthusiasm +which prevailed within the pavilion. Those who did not actually catch +the flame were afraid--at least for the time--to seem colder than +others. There was no more speech except of a proud advance towards +Jerusalem upon the expiry of the truce, and the measures to be taken in +the meantime for supplying and recruiting the army. The Council broke +up, all apparently filled with the same enthusiastic purpose--which, +however, soon faded in the bosom of most, and never had an existence in +that of others. + +Of the latter class were the Marquis Conrade and the Grand Master of +the Templars, who retired together to their quarters ill at ease, and +malcontent with the events of the day. + +“I ever told it to thee,” said the latter, with the cold, sardonic +expression peculiar to him, “that Richard would burst through the flimsy +wiles you spread for him, as would a lion through a spider's web. Thou +seest he has but to speak, and his breath agitates these fickle fools +as easily as the whirlwind catcheth scattered straws, and sweeps them +together, or disperses them at its pleasure.” + +“When the blast has passed away,” said Conrade, “the straws, which it +made dance to its pipe, will settle to earth again.” + +“But knowest thou not besides,” said the Templar, “that it seems, if +this new purpose of conquest shall be abandoned and pass away, and each +mighty prince shall again be left to such guidance as his own scanty +brain can supply, Richard may yet probably become King of Jerusalem by +compact, and establish those terms of treaty with the Soldan which thou +thyself thought'st him so likely to spurn at?” + +“Now, by Mahound and Termagaunt, for Christian oaths are out of +fashion,” said Conrade, “sayest thou the proud King of England +would unite his blood with a heathen Soldan? My policy threw in that +ingredient to make the whole treaty an abomination to him. As bad for us +that he become our master by an agreement, as by victory.” + +“Thy policy hath ill calculated Richard's digestion,” answered the +Templar; “I know his mind by a whisper from the Archbishop. And then thy +master-stroke respecting yonder banner--it has passed off with no more +respect than two cubits of embroidered silk merited. Marquis Conrade, +thy wit begins to halt; I will trust thy finespun measures no longer, +but will try my own. Knowest thou not the people whom the Saracens call +Charegites?” + +“Surely,” answered the Marquis; “they are desperate and besotted +enthusiasts, who devote their lives to the advancement of +religion---somewhat like Templars, only they are never known to pause in +the race of their calling.” + +“Jest not,” answered the scowling monk. “Know that one of these men has +set down in his bloody vow the name of the Island Emperor yonder, to be +hewn down as the chief enemy of the Moslem faith.” + +“A most judicious paynim,” said Conrade. “May Mohammed send him his +paradise for a reward!” + +“He was taken in the camp by one of our squires, and in private +examination frankly avowed his fixed and determined purpose to me,” said +the Grand Master. + +“Now the heavens pardon them who prevented the purpose of this most +judicious Charegite!” answered Conrade. + +“He is my prisoner,” added the Templar, “and secluded from speech with +others, as thou mayest suppose; but prisons have been broken--” + +“Chains left unlocked, and captives have escaped,” answered the Marquis. +“It is an ancient saying, no sure dungeon but the grave.” + +“When loose, he resumes his quest,” continued the military priest; “for +it is the nature of this sort of blood hound never to quit the suit of +the prey he has once scented.” + +“Say no more of it,” said the Marquis; “I see thy policy--it is +dreadful, but the emergency is imminent.” + +“I only told thee of it,” said the Templar, “that thou mayest keep +thyself on thy guard; for the uproar will be dreadful, and there is +no knowing on whom the English may vent their rage. Ay, and there +is another risk. My page knows the counsels of this Charegite,” he +continued; “and, moreover, he is a peevish, self-willed fool, whom I +would I were rid of, as he thwarts me by presuming to see with his own +eyes, not mine. But our holy order gives me power to put a remedy to +such inconvenience. Or stay--the Saracen may find a good dagger in his +cell, and I warrant you he uses it as he breaks forth, which will be of +a surety so soon as the page enters with his food.” + +“It will give the affair a colour,” said Conrade; “and yet--” + +“YET and BUT,” said the Templar, “are words for fools; wise men neither +hesitate nor retract--they resolve and they execute.” + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + When beauty leads the lion in her toils, + Such are her charms, he dare not raise his mane, + Far less expand the terror of his fangs. + So great Alcides made his club a distaff, + And spun to please fair Omphale. + ANONYMOUS. + +Richard, the unsuspicious object of the dark treachery detailed in the +closing part of the last chapter, having effected, for the present at +least, the triumphant union of the Crusading princes in a resolution +to prosecute the war with vigour, had it next at heart to establish +tranquillity in his own family; and, now that he could judge more +temperately, to inquire distinctly into the circumstances leading to +the loss of his banner, and the nature and the extent of the connection +betwixt his kinswoman Edith and the banished adventurer from Scotland. + +Accordingly, the Queen and her household were startled with a visit +from Sir Thomas de Vaux, requesting the present attendance of the Lady +Calista of Montfaucon, the Queen's principal bower-woman, upon King +Richard. + +“What am I to say, madam?” said the trembling attendant to the Queen, +“He will slay us all.” + +“Nay, fear not, madam,” said De Vaux. “His Majesty hath spared the life +of the Scottish knight, who was the chief offender, and bestowed him +upon the Moorish physician. He will not be severe upon a lady, though +faulty.” + +“Devise some cunning tale, wench,” said Berengaria. “My husband hath too +little time to make inquiry into the truth.” + +“Tell the tale as it really happened,” said Edith, “lest I tell it for +thee.” + +“With humble permission of her Majesty,” said De Vaux, “I would say Lady +Edith adviseth well; for although King Richard is pleased to believe +what it pleases your Grace to tell him, yet I doubt his having the same +deference for the Lady Calista, and in this especial matter.” + +“The Lord of Gilsland is right,” said the Lady Calista, much agitated at +the thoughts of the investigation which was to take place; “and besides, +if I had presence of mind enough to forge a plausible story, beshrew me +if I think I should have the courage to tell it.” + +In this candid humour, the Lady Calista was conducted by De Vaux to the +King, and made, as she had proposed, a full confession of the decoy by +which the unfortunate Knight of the Leopard had been induced to desert +his post; exculpating the Lady Edith, who, she was aware, would not +fail to exculpate herself, and laying the full burden on the Queen, her +mistress, whose share of the frolic, she well knew, would appear the +most venial in the eyes of Coeur de Lion. In truth, Richard was a fond, +almost a uxorious husband. The first burst of his wrath had long since +passed away, and he was not disposed severely to censure what could +not now be amended. The wily Lady Calista, accustomed from her earliest +childhood to fathom the intrigues of a court, and watch the indications +of a sovereign's will, hastened back to the Queen with the speed of +a lapwing, charged with the King's commands that she should expect +a speedy visit from him; to which the bower-lady added a commentary +founded on her own observation, tending to show that Richard meant just +to preserve so much severity as might bring his royal consort to repent +of her frolic, and then to extend to her and all concerned his gracious +pardon. + +“Sits the wind in that corner, wench?” said the Queen, much relieved by +this intelligence. “Believe me that, great commander as he is, Richard +will find it hard to circumvent us in this matter, and that, as the +Pyrenean shepherds are wont to say in my native Navarre, Many a one +comes for wool, and goes back shorn.” + +Having possessed herself of all the information which Calista could +communicate, the royal Berengaria arrayed herself in her most becoming +dress, and awaited with confidence the arrival of the heroic Richard. + +He arrived, and found himself in the situation of a prince entering an +offending province, in the confidence that his business will only be to +inflict rebuke, and receive submission, when he unexpectedly finds it in +a state of complete defiance and insurrection. Berengaria well knew +the power of her charms and the extent of Richard's affection, and +felt assured that she could make her own terms good, now that the first +tremendous explosion of his anger had expended itself without mischief. +Far from listening to the King's intended rebuke, as what the levity +of her conduct had justly deserved, she extenuated, nay, defended as a +harmless frolic, that which she was accused of. She denied, indeed, +with many a pretty form of negation, that she had directed Nectabanus +absolutely to entice the knight farther than the brink of the Mount on +which he kept watch--and, indeed, this was so far true, that she had not +designed Sir Kenneth to be introduced into her tent--and then, eloquent +in urging her own defence, the Queen was far more so in pressing upon +Richard the charge of unkindness, in refusing her so poor a boon as the +life of an unfortunate knight, who, by her thoughtless prank, had been +brought within the danger of martial law. She wept and sobbed while she +enlarged on her husband's obduracy on this score, as a rigour which had +threatened to make her unhappy for life, whenever she should reflect +that she had given, unthinkingly, the remote cause for such a tragedy. +The vision of the slaughtered victim would have haunted her dreams--nay, +for aught she knew, since such things often happened, his actual spectre +might have stood by her waking couch. To all this misery of the mind was +she exposed by the severity of one who, while he pretended to dote upon +her slightest glance, would not forego one act of poor revenge, though +the issue was to render her miserable. + +All this flow of female eloquence was accompanied with the usual +arguments of tears and sighs, and uttered with such tone and action as +seemed to show that the Queen's resentment arose neither from pride nor +sullenness, but from feelings hurt at finding her consequence with her +husband less than she had expected to possess. + +The good King Richard was considerably embarrassed. He tried in vain +to reason with one whose very jealousy of his affection rendered her +incapable of listening to argument, nor could he bring himself to use +the restraint of lawful authority to a creature so beautiful in the +midst of her unreasonable displeasure. He was therefore reduced to the +defensive, endeavoured gently to chide her suspicions and soothe her +displeasure, and recalled to her mind that she need not look back upon +the past with recollections either of remorse or supernatural fear, +since Sir Kenneth was alive and well, and had been bestowed by him upon +the great Arabian physician, who, doubtless, of all men, knew best how +to keep him living. But this seemed the unkindest cut of all, and +the Queen's sorrow was renewed at the idea of a Saracen--a +mediciner--obtaining a boon for which, with bare head and on bended +knee, she had petitioned her husband in vain. At this new charge +Richard's patience began rather to give way, and he said, in a serious +tone of voice, “Berengaria, the physician saved my life. If it is of +value in your eyes, you will not grudge him a higher recompense than the +only one I could prevail on him to accept.” + +The Queen was satisfied she had urged her coquettish displeasure to the +verge of safety. + +“My Richard,” she said, “why brought you not that sage to me, that +England's Queen might show how she esteemed him who could save from +extinction the lamp of chivalry, the glory of England, and the light of +poor Berengaria's life and hope?” + +In a word, the matrimonial dispute was ended; but, that some penalty +might be paid to justice, both King and Queen accorded in laying the +whole blame on the agent Nectabanus, who (the Queen being by this time +well weary of the poor dwarf's humour) was, with his royal consort +Guenevra, sentenced to be banished from the Court; and the unlucky dwarf +only escaped a supplementary whipping, from the Queen's assurances that +he had already sustained personal chastisement. It was decreed further +that, as an envoy was shortly to be dispatched to Saladin, acquainting +him with the resolution of the Council to resume hostilities so soon as +the truce was ended, and as Richard proposed to send a valuable present +to the Soldan, in acknowledgment of the high benefit he had derived from +the services of El Hakim, the two unhappy creatures should be added to +it as curiosities, which, from their extremely grotesque appearance, and +the shattered state of their intellect, were gifts that might well pass +between sovereign and sovereign. + +Richard had that day yet another female encounter to sustain; but +he advanced to it with comparative indifference, for Edith, though +beautiful and highly esteemed by her royal relative--nay, although she +had from his unjust suspicions actually sustained the injury of which +Berengaria only affected to complain--still was neither Richard's wife +nor mistress, and he feared her reproaches less, although founded in +reason, than those of the Queen, though unjust and fantastical. Having +requested to speak with her apart, he was ushered into her apartment, +adjoining that of the Queen, whose two female Coptish slaves remained on +their knees in the most remote corner during the interview. A thin black +veil extended its ample folds over the tall and graceful form of the +high-born maiden, and she wore not upon her person any female ornament +of what kind soever. She arose and made a low reverence when Richard +entered, resumed her seat at his command, and, when he sat down beside +her, waited, without uttering a syllable, until he should communicate +his pleasure. + +Richard, whose custom it was to be familiar with Edith, as their +relationship authorized, felt this reception chilling, and opened the +conversation with some embarrassment. + +“Our fair cousin,” he at length said, “is angry with us; and we own that +strong circumstances have induced us, without cause, to suspect her +of conduct alien to what we have ever known in her course of life. But +while we walk in this misty valley of humanity, men will mistake shadows +for substances. Can my fair cousin not forgive her somewhat vehement +kinsman Richard?” + +“Who can refuse forgiveness to RICHARD,” answered Edith, “provided +Richard can obtain pardon of the KING?” + +“Come, my kinswoman,” replied Coeur de Lion, “this is all too solemn. +By Our Lady, such a melancholy countenance, and this ample sable veil, +might make men think thou wert a new-made widow, or had lost a betrothed +lover, at least. Cheer up! Thou hast heard, doubtless, that there is no +real cause for woe; why, then, keep up the form of mourning?” + +“For the departed honour of Plantagenet--for the glory which hath left +my father's house.” + +Richard frowned. “Departed honour! glory which hath left our house!” he +repeated angrily. “But my cousin Edith is privileged. I have judged her +too hastily; she has therefore a right to deem of me too harshly. But +tell me at least in what I have faulted.” + +“Plantagenet,” said Edith, “should have either pardoned an offence, or +punished it. It misbecomes him to assign free men, Christians, and +brave knights, to the fetters of the infidels. It becomes him not to +compromise and barter, or to grunt life under the forfeiture of liberty. +To have doomed the unfortunate to death might have been severity, but +had a show of justice; to condemn him to slavery and exile was barefaced +tyranny.” + +“I see, my fair cousin,” said Richard, “you are of those pretty ones who +think an absent lover as bad as none, or as a dead one. Be patient; half +a score of light horsemen may yet follow and redeem the error, if thy +gallant have in keeping any secret which might render his death more +convenient than his banishment.” + +“Peace with thy scurrile jests!” answered Edith, colouring deeply. +“Think, rather, that for the indulgence of thy mood thou hast lopped +from this great enterprise one goodly limb, deprived the Cross of one of +its most brave supporters, and placed a servant of the true God in the +hands of the heathen; hast given, too, to minds as suspicious as thou +hast shown thine own in this matter, some right to say that Richard +Coeur de Lion banished the bravest soldier in his camp lest his name in +battle might match his own.” + +“I--I!” exclaimed Richard, now indeed greatly moved--“am I one to be +jealous of renown? I would he were here to profess such an equality! I +would waive my rank and my crown, and meet him, manlike, in the lists, +that it might appear whether Richard Plantagenet had room to fear or to +envy the prowess of mortal man. Come, Edith, thou think'st not as thou +sayest. Let not anger or grief for the absence of thy lover make thee +unjust to thy kinsman, who, notwithstanding all thy techiness, values +thy good report as high as that of any one living.” + +“The absence of my lover?” said the Lady Edith, “But yes, he may be +well termed my lover, who hath paid so dear for the title. Unworthy as I +might be of such homage, I was to him like a light, leading him forward +in the noble path of chivalry; but that I forgot my rank, or that he +presumed beyond his, is false, were a king to speak it.” + +“My fair cousin,” said Richard, “do not put words in my mouth which I +have not spoken. I said not you had graced this man beyond the favour +which a good knight may earn, even from a princess, whatever be his +native condition. But, by Our Lady, I know something of this +love-gear. It begins with mute respect and distant reverence; but when +opportunities occur, familiarity increases, and so--But it skills not +talking with one who thinks herself wiser than all the world.” + +“My kinsman's counsels I willingly listen to, when they are such,” said +Edith, “as convey no insult to my rank and character.” + +“Kings, my fair cousin, do not counsel, but rather command,” said +Richard. + +“Soldans do indeed command,” said Edith, “but it is because they have +slaves to govern.” + +“Come, you might learn to lay aside this scorn of Soldanrie, when you +hold so high of a Scot,” said the King. “I hold Saladin to be truer to +his word than this William of Scotland, who must needs be called a +Lion, forsooth; he hath foully faulted towards me in failing to send the +auxiliary aid he promised. Let me tell thee, Edith, thou mayest live to +prefer a true Turk to a false Scot.” + +“No--never!” answered Edith--“not should Richard himself embrace the +false religion, which he crossed the seas to expel from Palestine.” + +“Thou wilt have the last word,” said Richard, “and thou shalt have it. +Even think of me what thou wilt, pretty Edith. I shall not forget that +we are near and dear cousins.” + +So saying, he took his leave in fair fashion, but very little satisfied +with the result of his visit. + +It was the fourth day after Sir Kenneth had been dismissed from the +camp, and King Richard sat in his pavilion, enjoying an evening breeze +from the west, which, with unusual coolness on her wings, seemed +breathed from merry England for the refreshment of her adventurous +Monarch, as he was gradually recovering the full strength which was +necessary to carry on his gigantic projects. There was no one with +him, De Vaux having been sent to Ascalon to bring up reinforcements and +supplies of military munition, and most of his other attendants being +occupied in different departments, all preparing for the re-opening +of hostilities, and for a grand preparatory review of the army of the +Crusaders, which was to take place the next day. The King sat listening +to the busy hum among the soldiery, the clatter from the forges, where +horseshoes were preparing, and from the tents of the armourers, who were +repairing harness. The voice of the soldiers, too, as they passed +and repassed, was loud and cheerful, carrying with its very tone an +assurance of high and excited courage, and an omen of approaching +victory. While Richard's ear drank in these sounds with delight, and +while he yielded himself to the visions of conquest and of glory which +they suggested, an equerry told him that a messenger from Saladin waited +without. + +“Admit him instantly,” said the King, “and with due honour, Josceline.” + +The English knight accordingly introduced a person, apparently of no +higher rank than a Nubian slave, whose appearance was nevertheless +highly interesting. He was of superb stature and nobly formed, and his +commanding features, although almost jet-black, showed nothing of negro +descent. He wore over his coal-black locks a milk-white turban, and over +his shoulders a short mantle of the same colour, open in front and at +the sleeves, under which appeared a doublet of dressed leopard's skin +reaching within a handbreadth of the knee. The rest of his muscular +limbs, both legs and arms, were bare, excepting that he had sandals +on his feet, and wore a collar and bracelets of silver. A straight +broadsword, with a handle of box-wood and a sheath covered with +snakeskin, was suspended from his waist. In his right hand he held a +short javelin, with a broad, bright steel head, of a span in length, and +in his left he led by a leash of twisted silk and gold a large and noble +staghound. + +The messenger prostrated himself, at the same time partially uncovering +his shoulders, in sign of humiliation, and having touched the earth with +his forehead, arose so far as to rest on one knee, while he delivered +to the King a silken napkin, enclosing another of cloth of gold, +within which was a letter from Saladin in the original Arabic, with a +translation into Norman-English, which may be modernized thus:-- + +“Saladin, King of Kings, to Melech Ric, the Lion of England. Whereas, we +are informed by thy last message that thou hast chosen war rather than +peace, and our enmity rather than our friendship, we account thee as +one blinded in this matter, and trust shortly to convince thee of thine +error, by the help of our invincible forces of the thousand tribes, when +Mohammed, the Prophet of God, and Allah, the God of the Prophet, shall +judge the controversy betwixt us. In what remains, we make noble account +of thee, and of the gifts which thou hast sent us, and of the two +dwarfs, singular in their deformity as Ysop, and mirthful as the lute of +Isaack. And in requital of these tokens from the treasure-house of thy +bounty, behold we have sent thee a Nubian slave, named Zohauk, of whom +judge not by his complexion, according to the foolish ones of the earth, +in respect the dark-rinded fruit hath the most exquisite flavour. +Know that he is strong to execute the will of his master, as Rustan of +Zablestan; also he is wise to give counsel when thou shalt learn to hold +communication with him, for the Lord of Speech hath been stricken with +silence betwixt the ivory walls of his palace. We commend him to thy +care, hoping the hour may not be distant when he may render thee good +service. And herewith we bid thee farewell; trusting that our most +holy Prophet may yet call thee to a sight of the truth, failing which +illumination, our desire is for the speedy restoration of thy royal +health, that Allah may judge between thee and us in a plain field of +battle.” + +And the missive was sanctioned by the signature and seal of the Soldan. + +Richard surveyed the Nubian in silence as he stood before him, his looks +bent upon the ground, his arms folded on his bosom, with the appearance +of a black marble statue of the most exquisite workmanship, waiting +life from the touch of a Prometheus. The King of England, who, as it was +emphatically said of his successor Henry the Eighth, loved to look upon +A MAN, was well pleased with the thews, sinews, and symmetry of him whom +he now surveyed, and questioned him in the lingua franca, “Art thou a +pagan?” + +The slave shook his head, and raising his finger to his brow, crossed +himself in token of his Christianity, then resumed his posture of +motionless humility. + +“A Nubian Christian, doubtless,” said Richard, “and mutilated of the +organ of speech by these heathen dogs?” + +The mute again slowly shook his head, in token of negative, pointed with +his forefinger to Heaven, and then laid it upon his own lips. + +“I understand thee,” said Richard; “thou dost suffer under the +infliction of God, not by the cruelty of man. Canst thou clean an armour +and belt, and buckle it in time of need?” + +The mute nodded, and stepping towards the coat of mail, which hung with +the shield and helmet of the chivalrous monarch upon the pillar of the +tent, he handled it with such nicety of address as sufficiently to show +that he fully understood the business of an armour-bearer. + +“Thou art an apt, and wilt doubtless be a useful knave. Thou shalt wait +in my chamber, and on my person,” said the King, “to show how much I +value the gift of the royal Soldan. If thou hast no tongue, it follows +thou canst carry no tales, neither provoke me to be sudden by any unfit +reply.” + +The Nubian again prostrated himself till his brow touched the earth, +then stood erect, at some paces distant, as waiting for his new master's +commands. + +“Nay, thou shalt commence thy office presently,” said Richard, “for I +see a speck of rust darkening on that shield; and when I shake it in +the face of Saladin, it should be bright and unsullied as the Soldan's +honour and mine own.” + +A horn was winded without, and presently Sir Henry Neville entered +with a packet of dispatches. “From England, my lord,” he said, as he +delivered it. + +“From England--our own England!” repeated Richard, in a tone of +melancholy enthusiasm. “Alas! they little think how hard their Sovereign +has been beset by sickness and sorrow--faint friends and forward +enemies.” Then opening the dispatches, he said hastily, “Ha! this comes +from no peaceful land--they too have their feuds. Neville, begone; I +must peruse these tidings alone, and at leisure.” + +Neville withdrew accordingly, and Richard was soon absorbed in the +melancholy details which had been conveyed to him from England, +concerning the factions that were tearing to pieces his native +dominions--the disunion of his brothers John and Geoffrey, and the +quarrels of both with the High Justiciary Longchamp, Bishop of Ely--the +oppressions practised by the nobles upon the peasantry, and rebellion of +the latter against their masters, which had produced everywhere scenes +of discord, and in some instances the effusion of blood. Details of +incidents mortifying to his pride, and derogatory from his authority, +were intermingled with the earnest advice of his wisest and most +attached counsellors that he should presently return to England, as +his presence offered the only hope of saving the Kingdom from all the +horrors of civil discord, of which France and Scotland were likely to +avail themselves. Filled with the most painful anxiety, Richard read, +and again read, the ill-omened letters; compared the intelligence which +some of them contained with the same facts as differently stated in +others; and soon became totally insensible to whatever was passing +around him, although seated, for the sake of coolness, close to the +entrance of his tent, and having the curtains withdrawn, so that he +could see and be seen by the guards and others who were stationed +without. + +Deeper in the shadow of the pavilion, and busied with the task his new +master had imposed, sat the Nubian slave, with his back rather turned +towards the King. He had finished adjusting and cleaning the hauberk and +brigandine, and was now busily employed on a broad pavesse, or buckler, +of unusual size, and covered with steel-plating, which Richard often +used in reconnoitring, or actually storming fortified places, as a more +effectual protection against missile weapons than the narrow triangular +shield used on horseback. This pavesse bore neither the royal lions +of England, nor any other device, to attract the observation of +the defenders of the walls against which it was advanced; the care, +therefore, of the armourer was addressed to causing its surface to shine +as bright as crystal, in which he seemed to be peculiarly successful. +Beyond the Nubian, and scarce visible from without, lay the large dog, +which might be termed his brother slave, and which, as if he felt awed +by being transferred to a royal owner, was couched close to the side of +the mute, with head and ears on the ground, and his limbs and tail drawn +close around and under him. + +While the Monarch and his new attendant were thus occupied, another +actor crept upon the scene, and mingled among the group of English +yeomen, about a score of whom, respecting the unusually pensive posture +and close occupation of their Sovereign, were, contrary to their wont, +keeping a silent guard in front of his tent. It was not, however, more +vigilant than usual. Some were playing at games of hazard with small +pebbles, others spoke together in whispers of the approaching day of +battle, and several lay asleep, their bulky limbs folded in their green +mantles. + +Amid these careless warders glided the puny form of a little old Turk, +poorly dressed like a marabout or santon of the desert--a sort of +enthusiasts, who sometimes ventured into the camp of the Crusaders, +though treated always with contumely, and often with violence. Indeed, +the luxury and profligate indulgence of the Christian leaders had +occasioned a motley concourse in their tents of musicians, courtesans, +Jewish merchants, Copts, Turks, and all the varied refuse of the Eastern +nations; so that the caftan and turban, though to drive both from +the Holy Land was the professed object of the expedition, were, +nevertheless, neither an uncommon nor an alarming sight in the camp of +the Crusaders. When, however, the little insignificant figure we have +described approached so nigh as to receive some interruption from the +warders, he dashed his dusky green turban from his head, showed that his +beard and eyebrows were shaved like those of a professed buffoon, and +that the expression of his fantastic and writhen features, as well as +of his little black eyes, which glittered like jet, was that of a crazed +imagination. + +“Dance, marabout,” cried the soldiers, acquainted with the manners of +these wandering enthusiasts, “dance, or we will scourge thee with our +bow-strings till thou spin as never top did under schoolboy's lash.” + Thus shouted the reckless warders, as much delighted at having a subject +to tease as a child when he catches a butterfly, or a schoolboy upon +discovering a bird's nest. + +The marabout, as if happy to do their behests, bounded from the earth, +and spun his giddy round before them with singular agility, which, when +contrasted with his slight and wasted figure, and diminutive appearance, +made him resemble a withered leaf twirled round and round at the +pleasure of the winter's breeze. His single lock of hair streamed +upwards from his bald and shaven head, as if some genie upheld him by +it; and indeed it seemed as if supernatural art were necessary to the +execution of the wild, whirling dance, in which scarce the tiptoe of +the performer was seen to touch the ground. Amid the vagaries of his +performance he flew here and there, from one spot to another, still +approaching, however, though almost imperceptibly, to the entrance of +the royal tent; so that, when at length he sunk exhausted on the earth, +after two or three bounds still higher than those which he had yet +executed, he was not above thirty yards from the King's person. + +“Give him water,” said one yeoman; “they always crave a drink after +their merry-go-round.” + +“Aha, water, sayest thou, Long Allen?” exclaimed another archer, with a +most scornful emphasis on the despised element; “how wouldst like such +beverage thyself, after such a morrice dancing?” + +“The devil a water-drop he gets here,” said a third. “We will teach +the light-footed old infidel to be a good Christian, and drink wine of +Cyprus.” + +“Ay, ay,” said a fourth; “and in case he be restive, fetch thou Dick +Hunter's horn, that he drenches his mare withal.” + +A circle was instantly formed around the prostrate and exhausted +dervise, and while one tall yeoman raised his feeble form from the +ground, another presented to him a huge flagon of wine. Incapable of +speech, the old man shook his head, and waved away from him with his +hand the liquor forbidden by the Prophet. But his tormentors were not +thus to be appeased. + +“The horn, the horn!” exclaimed one. “Little difference between a Turk +and a Turkish horse, and we will use him conforming.” + +“By Saint George, you will choke him!” said Long Allen; “and besides, it +is a sin to throw away upon a heathen dog as much wine as would serve a +good Christian for a treble night-cap.” + +“Thou knowest not the nature of these Turks and pagans, Long Allen,” + replied Henry Woodstall. “I tell thee, man, that this flagon of Cyprus +will set his brains a-spinning, just in the opposite direction that they +went whirling in the dancing, and so bring him, as it were, to himself +again. Choke? He will no more choke on it than Ben's black bitch on the +pound of butter.” + +“And for grudging it,” said Tomalin Blacklees, “why shouldst thou grudge +the poor paynim devil a drop of drink on earth, since thou knowest he +is not to have a drop to cool the tip of his tongue through a long +eternity?” + +“That were hard laws, look ye,” said Long Allen, “only for being a Turk, +as his father was before him. Had he been Christian turned heathen, I +grant you the hottest corner had been good winter quarters for him.” + +“Hold thy peace, Long Allen,” said Henry Woodstall. “I tell thee that +tongue of thine is not the shortest limb about thee, and I prophesy that +it will bring thee into disgrace with Father Francis, as once about the +black-eyed Syrian wench. But here comes the horn. Be active a bit, +man, wilt thou, and just force open his teeth with the haft of thy +dudgeon-dagger.” + +“Hold, hold--he is conformable,” said Tomalin; “see, see, he signs for +the goblet--give him room, boys! OOP SEY ES, quoth the Dutchman--down +it goes like lamb's-wool! Nay, they are true topers when once they +begin--your Turk never coughs in his cup, or stints in his liquoring.” + +In fact, the dervise, or whatever he was, drank--or at least seemed to +drink--the large flagon to the very bottom at a single pull; and when +he took it from his lips after the whole contents were exhausted, only +uttered, with a deep sigh, the words, ALLAH KERIM, or God is merciful. +There was a laugh among the yeomen who witnessed this pottle-deep +potation, so obstreperous as to rouse and disturb the King, who, raising +his finger, said angrily, “How, knaves, no respect, no observance?” + +All were at once hushed into silence, well acquainted with the temper of +Richard, which at some times admitted of much military familiarity, and +at others exacted the most precise respect, although the latter humour +was of much more rare occurrence. Hastening to a more reverent distance +from the royal person, they attempted to drag along with them the +marabout, who, exhausted apparently by previous fatigue, or overpowered +by the potent draught he had just swallowed, resisted being moved from +the spot, both with struggles and groans. + +“Leave him still, ye fools,” whispered Long Allen to his mates; “by +Saint Christopher, you will make our Dickon go beside himself, and we +shall have his dagger presently fly at our costards. Leave him alone; in +less than a minute he will sleep like a dormouse.” + +At the same moment the Monarch darted another impatient glance to the +spot, and all retreated in haste, leaving the dervise on the ground, +unable, as it seemed, to stir a single limb or joint of his body. In a +moment afterward all was as still and quiet as it had been before the +intrusion. + + + +CHAPTER XXI + + --and wither'd Murder, + Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf, + Whose howl's his watch, thus with his stealthy pace, + With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design + Moves like a ghost. + MACBETH. + +For the space of a quarter of an hour, or longer, after the incident +related, all remained perfectly quiet in the front of the royal +habitation. The King read and mused in the entrance of his pavilion; +behind, and with his back turned to the same entrance, the Nubian slave +still burnished the ample pavesse; in front of all, at a hundred paces +distant, the yeomen of the guard stood, sat, or lay extended on the +grass, attentive to their own sports, but pursuing them in silence, +while on the esplanade betwixt them and the front of the tent lay, +scarcely to be distinguished from a bundle of rags, the senseless form +of the marabout. + +But the Nubian had the advantage of a mirror from the brilliant +reflection which the surface of the highly-polished shield now afforded, +by means of which he beheld, to his alarm and surprise, that the +marabout raised his head gently from the ground, so as to survey all +around him, moving with a well-adjusted precaution which seemed entirely +inconsistent with a state of ebriety. He couched his head instantly, as +if satisfied he was unobserved, and began, with the slightest possible +appearance of voluntary effort, to drag himself, as if by chance, ever +nearer and nearer to the King, but stopping and remaining fixed at +intervals, like the spider, which, moving towards her object, collapses +into apparent lifelessness when she thinks she is the subject of +observation. This species of movement appeared suspicious to the +Ethiopian, who, on his part, prepared himself, as quietly as possible, +to interfere, the instant that interference should seem to be necessary. + +The marabout, meanwhile, glided on gradually and imperceptibly, +serpent-like, or rather snail-like, till he was about ten yards distant +from Richard's person, when, starting on his feet, he sprung forward +with the bound of a tiger, stood at the King's back in less than an +instant, and brandished aloft the cangiar, or poniard, which he had +hidden in his sleeve. Not the presence of his whole army could have +saved their heroic Monarch; but the motions of the Nubian had been as +well calculated as those of the enthusiast, and ere the latter could +strike, the former caught his uplifted arm. Turning his fanatical wrath +upon what thus unexpectedly interposed betwixt him and his object, the +Charegite, for such was the seeming marabout, dealt the Nubian a blow +with the dagger, which, however, only grazed his arm, while the far +superior strength of the Ethiopian easily dashed him to the ground. +Aware of what had passed, Richard had now arisen, and with little more +of surprise, anger, or interest of any kind in his countenance than an +ordinary man would show in brushing off and crushing an intrusive wasp, +caught up the stool on which he had been sitting, and exclaiming only, +“Ha, dog!” dashed almost to pieces the skull of the assassin, who +uttered twice, once in a loud, and once in a broken tone, the words +ALLAH ACKBAR!--God is victorious--and expired at the King's feet. + +“Ye are careful warders,” said Richard to his archers, in a tone of +scornful reproach, as, aroused by the bustle of what had passed, in +terror and tumult they now rushed into his tent; “watchful sentinels ye +are, to leave me to do such hangman's work with my own hand. Be silent, +all of you, and cease your senseless clamour!--saw ye never a dead Turk +before? Here, cast that carrion out of the camp, strike the head from +the trunk, and stick it on a lance, taking care to turn the face +to Mecca, that he may the easier tell the foul impostor on whose +inspiration he came hither how he has sped on his errand.--For thee, my +swart and silent friend,” he added, turning to the Ethiopian--“but how's +this? Thou art wounded--and with a poisoned weapon, I warrant me, for +by force of stab so weak an animal as that could scarce hope to do +more than raze the lion's hide.--Suck the poison from his wound one of +you--the venom is harmless on the lips, though fatal when it mingles +with the blood.” + +The yeomen looked on each other confusedly and with hesitation, the +apprehension of so strange a danger prevailing with those who feared no +other. + +“How now, sirrahs,” continued the King, “are you dainty-lipped, or do +you fear death, that you daily thus?” + +“Not the death of a man,” said Long Allen, to whom the King looked as he +spoke; “but methinks I would not die like a poisoned rat for the sake +of a black chattel there, that is bought and sold in a market like a +Martlemas ox.” + +“His Grace speaks to men of sucking poison,” muttered another yeoman, +“as if he said, 'Go to, swallow a gooseberry!'” + +“Nay,” said Richard, “I never bade man do that which I would not do +myself.” + +And without further ceremony, and in spite of the general expostulations +of those around, and the respectful opposition of the Nubian himself, +the King of England applied his lips to the wound of the black +slave, treating with ridicule all remonstrances, and overpowering all +resistance. He had no sooner intermitted his singular occupation, than +the Nubian started from him, and casting a scarf over his arm, intimated +by gestures, as firm in purpose as they were respectful in manner, +his determination not to permit the Monarch to renew so degrading +an employment. Long Allen also interposed, saying that, if it were +necessary to prevent the King engaging again in a treatment of this +kind, his own lips, tongue, and teeth were at the service of the negro +(as he called the Ethiopian), and that he would eat him up bodily, +rather than King Richard's mouth should again approach him. + +Neville, who entered with other officers, added his remonstrances. + +“Nay, nay, make not a needless halloo about a hart that the hounds have +lost, or a danger when it is over,” said the King. “The wound will be a +trifle, for the blood is scarce drawn--an angry cat had dealt a deeper +scratch. And for me, I have but to take a drachm of orvietan by way of +precaution, though it is needless.” + + Thus spoke Richard, a little ashamed, perhaps, of his own +condescension, though sanctioned both by humanity and gratitude. But +when Neville continued to make remonstrances on the peril to his royal +person, the King imposed silence on him. + +“Peace, I prithee--make no more of it. I did it but to show these +ignorant, prejudiced knaves how they might help each other when these +cowardly caitiffs come against us with sarbacanes and poisoned shafts. +But,” he added, “take thee this Nubian to thy quarters, Neville--I have +changed my mind touching him--let him be well cared for. But hark in +thine ear; see that he escapes thee not--there is more in him than +seems. Let him have all liberty, so that he leave not the camp.--And +you, ye beef-devouring, wine-swilling English mastiffs, get ye to your +guard again, and be sure you keep it more warily. Think not you are now +in your own land of fair play, where men speak before they strike, and +shake hands ere they cut throats. Danger in our land walks openly, and +with his blade drawn, and defies the foe whom he means to assault; but +here he challenges you with a silk glove instead of a steel gauntlet, +cuts your throat with the feather of a turtle-dove, stabs you with the +tongue of a priest's brooch, or throttles you with the lace of my lady's +boddice. Go to--keep your eyes open and your mouths shut--drink less, +and look sharper about you; or I will place your huge stomachs on such +short allowance as would pinch the stomach of a patient Scottish man.” + +The yeomen, abashed and mortified, withdrew to their post, and Neville +was beginning to remonstrate with his master upon the risk of passing +over thus slightly their negligence upon their duty, and the propriety +of an example in a case so peculiarly aggravated as the permitting one +so suspicious as the marabout to approach within dagger's length of +his person, when Richard interrupted him with, “Speak not of it, +Neville--wouldst thou have me avenge a petty risk to myself more +severely than the loss of England's banner? It has been stolen--stolen +by a thief, or delivered up by a traitor, and no blood has been shed +for it.--My sable friend, thou art an expounder of mysteries, saith the +illustrious Soldan--now would I give thee thine own weight in gold, if, +by raising one still blacker than thyself or by what other means thou +wilt, thou couldst show me the thief who did mine honour that wrong. +What sayest thou, ha?” + +The mute seemed desirous to speak, but uttered only that imperfect sound +proper to his melancholy condition; then folded his arms, looked on the +King with an eye of intelligence, and nodded in answer to his question. + +“How!” said Richard, with joyful impatience. “Wilt thou undertake to +make discovery in this matter?” + +The Nubian slave repeated the same motion. + +“But how shall we understand each other?” said the King. “Canst thou +write, good fellow?” + +The slave again nodded in assent. + +“Give him writing-tools,” said the King. “They were readier in my +father's tent than mine; but they be somewhere about, if this scorching +climate have not dried up the ink.--Why, this fellow is a jewel--a black +diamond, Neville.” + +“So please you, my liege,” said Neville, “if I might speak my poor mind, +it were ill dealing in this ware. This man must be a wizard, and wizards +deal with the Enemy, who hath most interest to sow tares among the +wheat, and bring dissension into our councils, and--” + +“Peace, Neville,” said Richard. “Hello to your northern hound when he is +close on the haunch of the deer, and hope to recall him, but seek not to +stop Plantagenet when he hath hope to retrieve his honour.” + +The slave, who during this discussion had been writing, in which art he +seemed skilful, now arose, and pressing what he had written to his brow, +prostrated himself as usual, ere he delivered it into the King's hands. +The scroll was in French, although their intercourse had hitherto been +conducted by Richard in the lingua franca. + +“To Richard, the conquering and invincible King of England, this from +the humblest of his slaves. Mysteries are the sealed caskets of Heaven, +but wisdom may devise means to open the lock. Were your slave stationed +where the leaders of the Christian host were made to pass before him +in order, doubt nothing that if he who did the injury whereof my King +complains shall be among the number, he may be made manifest in his +iniquity, though it be hidden under seven veils.” + +“Now, by Saint George!” said King Richard, “thou hast spoken most +opportunely.--Neville, thou knowest that when we muster our troops +to-morrow the princes have agreed that, to expiate the affront offered +to England in the theft of her banner, the leaders should pass our new +standard as it floats on Saint George's Mount, and salute it with formal +regard. Believe me, the secret traitor will not dare to absent himself +from an expurgation so solemn, lest his very absence should be matter of +suspicion. There will we place our sable man of counsel, and if his art +can detect the villain, leave me to deal with him.” + +“My liege,” said Neville, with the frankness of an English baron, +“beware what work you begin. Here is the concord of our holy league +unexpectedly renewed--will you, upon such suspicion as a negro slave can +instil, tear open wounds so lately closed? Or will you use the solemn +procession, adopted for the reparation of your honour and establishment +of unanimity amongst the discording princes, as the means of again +finding out new cause of offence, or reviving ancient quarrels? It were +scarce too strong to say this were a breach of the declaration your +Grace made to the assembled Council of the Crusade.” + +“Neville,” said the King, sternly interrupting him, “thy zeal makes thee +presumptuous and unmannerly. Never did I promise to abstain from taking +whatever means were most promising to discover the infamous author of +the attack on my honour. Ere I had done so, I would have renounced my +kingdom, my life. All my declarations were under this necessary and +absolute qualification;--only, if Austria had stepped forth and owned +the injury like a man, I proffered, for the sake of Christendom, to have +forgiven HIM.” + +“But,” continued the baron anxiously, “what hope that this juggling +slave of Saladin will not palter with your Grace?” + +“Peace, Neville,” said the King; “thou thinkest thyself mighty wise, and +art but a fool. Mind thou my charge touching this fellow; there is +more in him than thy Westmoreland wit can fathom.--And thou, smart and +silent, prepare to perform the feat thou hast promised, and, by the +word of a King, thou shalt choose thine own recompense.--Lo, he writes +again.” + +The mute accordingly wrote and delivered to the King, with the same form +as before, another slip of paper, containing these words, “The will of +the King is the law to his slave; nor doth it become him to ask guerdon +for discharge of his devoir.” + +“GUERDON and DEVOIR!” said the King, interrupting himself as he read, +and speaking to Neville in the English tongue with some emphasis on +the words. “These Eastern people will profit by the Crusaders--they are +acquiring the language of chivalry! And see, Neville, how discomposed +that fellow looks! were it not for his colour he would blush. I should +not think it strange if he understood what I say--they are perilous +linguists.” + +“The poor slave cannot endure your Grace's eye,” said Neville; “it is +nothing more.” + +“Well, but,” continued the King, striking the paper with his finger as +he proceeded, “this bold scroll proceeds to say that our trusty mute is +charged with a message from Saladin to the Lady Edith Plantagenet, and +craves means and opportunity to deliver it. What thinkest thou of a +request so modest--ha, Neville?” + +“I cannot say,” said Neville, “how such freedom may relish with your +Grace; but the lease of the messenger's neck would be a short one, who +should carry such a request to the Soldan on the part of your Majesty.” + +“Nay, I thank Heaven that I covet none of his sunburnt beauties,” said +Richard; “and for punishing this fellow for discharging his master's +errand, and that when he has just saved my life--methinks it were +something too summary. I'll tell thee, Neville, a secret; for although +our sable and mute minister be present, he cannot, thou knowest, tell it +over again, even if he should chance to understand us. I tell thee that, +for this fortnight past, I have been under a strange spell, and I would +I were disenchanted. There has no sooner any one done me good service, +but, lo you, he cancels his interest in me by some deep injury; and, +on the other hand, he who hath deserved death at my hands for some +treachery or some insult, is sure to be the very person of all others +who confers upon me some obligation that overbalances his demerits, and +renders respite of his sentence a debt due from my honour. Thus, thou +seest, I am deprived of the best part of my royal function, since I +can neither punish men nor reward them. Until the influence of this +disqualifying planet be passed away, I will say nothing concerning the +request of this our sable attendant, save that it is an unusually bold +one, and that his best chance of finding grace in our eyes will be to +endeavour to make the discovery which he proposes to achieve in our +behalf. Meanwhile, Neville, do thou look well to him, and let him +be honourably cared for. And hark thee once more,” he said, in a +low whisper, “seek out yonder hermit of Engaddi, and bring him to +me forthwith, be he saint or savage, madman or sane. Let me see him +privately.” + +Neville retired from the royal tent, signing to the Nubian to follow +him, and much surprised at what he had seen and heard, and especially at +the unusual demeanour of the King. In general, no task was so easy as to +discover Richard's immediate course of sentiment and feeling, though +it might, in some cases, be difficult to calculate its duration; for +no weathercock obeyed the changing wind more readily than the King +his gusts of passion. But on the present occasion his manner seemed +unusually constrained and mysterious; nor was it easy to guess whether +displeasure or kindness predominated in his conduct towards his new +dependant, or in the looks with which, from time to time, he regarded +him. The ready service which the King had rendered to counteract the +bad effects of the Nubian's wound might seem to balance the obligation +conferred on him by the slave when he intercepted the blow of the +assassin; but it seemed, as a much longer account remained to be +arranged between them, that the Monarch was doubtful whether the +settlement might leave him, upon the whole, debtor or creditor, and +that, therefore, he assumed in the meantime a neutral demeanour, which +might suit with either character. As for the Nubian, by whatever means +he had acquired the art of writing the European languages, the King +remained convinced that the English tongue at least was unknown to him, +since, having watched him closely during the last part of the interview, +he conceived it impossible for any one understanding a conversation, +of which he was himself the subject, to have so completely avoided the +appearance of taking an interest in it. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + Who's there!--Approach--'tis kindly done-- + My learned physician and a friend. + SIR EUSTACE GREY. + +Our narrative retrogrades to a period shortly previous to the incidents +last mentioned, when, as the reader must remember, the unfortunate +Knight of the Leopard, bestowed upon the Arabian physician by King +Richard, rather as a slave than in any other capacity, was exiled +from the camp of the Crusaders, in whose ranks he had so often and so +brilliantly distinguished himself. He followed his new master--for so +he must now term the Hakim--to the Moorish tents which contained his +retinue and his property, with the stupefied feelings of one who, fallen +from the summit of a precipice, and escaping unexpectedly with life, is +just able to drag himself from the fatal spot, but without the power of +estimating the extent of the damage which he has sustained. Arrived at +the tent, he threw himself, without speech of any kind, upon a couch of +dressed buffalo's hide, which was pointed out to him by his conductor, +and hiding his face betwixt his hands, groaned heavily, as if his heart +were on the point of bursting. The physician heard him, as he was giving +orders to his numerous domestics to prepare for their departure the next +morning before daybreak, and, moved with compassion, interrupted his +occupation to sit down, cross-legged, by the side of his couch, and +administer comfort according to the Oriental manner. + +“My friend,” he said, “be of good comfort; for what saith the poet--it +is better that a man should be the servant of a kind master than the +slave of his own wild passions. Again, be of good courage; because, +whereas Ysouf Ben Yagoube was sold to a king by his brethren, even to +Pharaoh, King of Egypt, thy king hath, on the other hand, bestowed thee +on one who will be to thee as a brother.” + +Sir Kenneth made an effort to thank the Hakim, but his heart was too +full, and the indistinct sounds which accompanied his abortive attempts +to reply induced the kind physician to desist from his premature +endeavours at consolation. He left his new domestic, or guest, in +quiet, to indulge his sorrows, and having commanded all the necessary +preparations for their departure on the morning, sat down upon the +carpet of the tent, and indulged himself in a moderate repast. After he +had thus refreshed himself, similar viands were offered to the Scottish +knight; but though the slaves let him understand that the next day would +be far advanced ere they would halt for the purpose of refreshment, Sir +Kenneth could not overcome the disgust which he felt against swallowing +any nourishment, and could be prevailed upon to taste nothing, saving a +draught of cold water. + +He was awake long after his Arab host had performed his usual devotions +and betaken himself to his repose; nor had sleep visited him at the +hour of midnight, when a movement took place among the domestics, which, +though attended with no speech, and very little noise, made him aware +they were loading the camels and preparing for departure. In the course +of these preparations, the last person who was disturbed, excepting the +physician himself, was the knight of Scotland, whom, about three in the +morning, a sort of major-domo, or master of the household, acquainted +that he must arise. He did so, without further answer, and followed him +into the moonlight, where stood the camels, most of which were already +loaded, and one only remained kneeling until its burden should be +completed. + +A little apart from the camels stood a number of horses ready bridled +and saddled, and the Hakim himself, coming forth, mounted on one of them +with as much agility as the grave decorum of his character permitted, +and directed another, which he pointed out, to be led towards Sir +Kenneth. An English officer was in attendance, to escort them through +the camp of the Crusaders, and to ensure their leaving it in safety; and +all was ready for their departure. The pavilion which they had left was, +in the meanwhile, struck with singular dispatch, and the tent-poles and +coverings composed the burden of the last camel--when the physician, +pronouncing solemnly the verse of the Koran, “God be our guide, and +Mohammed our protector, in the desert as in the watered field,” the +whole cavalcade was instantly in motion. + +In traversing the camp, they were challenged by the various sentinels +who maintained guard there, and suffered to proceed in silence, or with +a muttered curse upon their prophet, as they passed the post of some +more zealous Crusader. At length the last barriers were left behind +them, and the party formed themselves for the march with military +precaution. Two or three horsemen advanced in front as a vanguard; +one or two remained a bow-shot in the rear; and, wherever the ground +admitted, others were detached to keep an outlook on the flanks. In this +manner they proceeded onward; while Sir Kenneth, looking back on the +moonlit camp, might now indeed seem banished, deprived at once of honour +and of liberty, from the glimmering banners under which he had hoped +to gain additional renown, and the tented dwellings of chivalry, of +Christianity, and--of Edith Plantagenet. + + +The Hakim, who rode by his side, observed, in his usual tone of +sententious consolation, “It is unwise to look back when the journey +lieth forward;” and as he spoke, the horse of the knight made such a +perilous stumble as threatened to add a practical moral to the tale. + +The knight was compelled by this hint to give more attention to the +management of his steed, which more than once required the assistance +and support of the check-bridle, although, in other respects, nothing +could be more easy at once, and active, than the ambling pace at which +the animal (which was a mare) proceeded. + +“The conditions of that horse,” observed the sententious physician, “are +like those of human fortune--seeing that, amidst his most swift and easy +pace, the rider must guard himself against a fall, and that it is when +prosperity is at the highest that our prudence should be awake and +vigilant to prevent misfortune.” + +The overloaded appetite loathes even the honeycomb, and it is scarce +a wonder that the knight, mortified and harassed with misfortunes and +abasement, became something impatient of hearing his misery made, at +every turn, the ground of proverbs and apothegms, however just and +apposite. + +“Methinks,” he said, rather peevishly, “I wanted no additional +illustration of the instability of fortune though I would thank thee, +Sir Hakim, for the choice of a steed for me, would the jade but stumble +so effectually as at once to break my neck and her own.” + +“My brother,” answered the Arab sage, with imperturbable gravity, “thou +speakest as one of the foolish. Thou sayest in thy heart that the sage +should have given you, as his guest, the younger and better horse, and +reserved the old one for himself. But know that the defects of the older +steed may be compensated by the energies of the young rider, whereas the +violence of the young horse requires to be moderated by the cold temper +of the older.” + +So spoke the sage; but neither to this observation did Sir Kenneth +return any answer which could lead to a continuance of their +conversation, and the physician, wearied, perhaps, of administering +comfort to one who would not be comforted, signed to one of his retinue. + +“Hassan,” he said, “hast thou nothing wherewith to beguile the way?” + +Hassan, story-teller and poet by profession, spurred up, upon this +summons, to exercise his calling. “Lord of the palace of life,” he said, +addressing the physician, “thou, before whom the angel Azrael spreadeth +his wings for flight--thou, wiser than Solimaun Ben Daoud, upon whose +signet was inscribed the REAL NAME which controls the spirits of the +elements--forbid it, Heaven, that while thou travellest upon the track +of benevolence, bearing healing and hope wherever thou comest, thine own +course should be saddened for lack of the tale and of the song. Behold, +while thy servant is at thy side, he will pour forth the treasures of +his memory, as the fountain sendeth her stream beside the pathway, for +the refreshment or him that walketh thereon.” + +After this exordium, Hassan uplifted his voice, and began a tale of love +and magic, intermixed with feats of warlike achievement, and ornamented +with abundant quotations from the Persian poets, with whose compositions +the orator seemed familiar. The retinue of the physician, such excepted +as were necessarily detained in attendance on the camels, thronged up +to the narrator, and pressed as close as deference for their master +permitted, to enjoy the delight which the inhabitants of the East have +ever derived from this species of exhibition. + +At another time, notwithstanding his imperfect knowledge of the +language, Sir Kenneth might have been interested in the recitation, +which, though dictated by a more extravagant imagination, and +expressed in more inflated and metaphorical language, bore yet a strong +resemblance to the romances of chivalry then so fashionable in Europe. +But as matters stood with him, he was scarcely even sensible that a +man in the centre of the cavalcade recited and sung, in a low tone, for +nearly two hours, modulating his voice to the various moods of passion +introduced into the tale, and receiving, in return, now low murmurs of +applause, now muttered expressions of wonder, now sighs and tears, +and sometimes, what it was far more difficult to extract from such an +audience, a tribute of smiles, and even laughter. + +During the recitation, the attention of the exile, however abstracted by +his own deep sorrow, was occasionally awakened by the low wail of a dog, +secured in a wicker enclosure suspended on one of the camels, which, as +an experienced woodsman, he had no hesitation in recognizing to be that +of his own faithful hound; and from the plaintive tone of the animal, he +had no doubt that he was sensible of his master's vicinity, and, in his +way, invoking his assistance for liberty and rescue. + +“Alas! poor Roswal,” he said, “thou callest for aid and sympathy upon +one in stricter bondage than thou thyself art. I will not seem to heed +thee or return thy affection, since it would serve but to load our +parting with yet more bitterness.” + +Thus passed the hours of night and the space of dim hazy dawn which +forms the twilight of a Syrian morning. But when the very first line of +the sun's disk began to rise above the level horizon, and when the very +first level ray shot glimmering in dew along the surface of the desert, +which the travellers had now attained, the sonorous voice of El Hakim +himself overpowered and cut short the narrative of the tale-teller, +while he caused to resound along the sands the solemn summons, which the +muezzins thunder at morning from the minaret of every mosque. + +“To prayer--to prayer! God is the one God.--To prayer--to prayer! +Mohammed is the Prophet of God.--To prayer--to prayer! Time is flying +from you.--To prayer--to prayer! Judgment is drawing nigh to you.” + +In an instant each Moslem cast himself from his horse, turned his face +towards Mecca, and performed with sand an imitation of those ablutions, +which were elsewhere required to be made with water, while each +individual, in brief but fervent ejaculations, recommended himself to +the care, and his sins to the forgiveness, of God and the Prophet. + +Even Sir Kenneth, whose reason at once and prejudices were offended by +seeing his companions in that which he considered as an act of idolatry, +could not help respecting the sincerity of their misguided zeal, and +being stimulated by their fervour to apply supplications to Heaven in a +purer form, wondering, meanwhile, what new-born feelings could teach +him to accompany in prayer, though with varied invocation, those +very Saracens, whose heathenish worship he had conceived a crime +dishonourable to the land in which high miracles had been wrought, and +where the day-star of redemption had arisen. + +The act of devotion, however, though rendered in such strange society, +burst purely from his natural feelings of religious duty, and had its +usual effect in composing the spirits which had been long harassed by +so rapid a succession of calamities. The sincere and earnest approach of +the Christian to the throne of the Almighty teaches the best lesson of +patience under affliction; since wherefore should we mock the Deity with +supplications, when we insult him by murmuring under His decrees? +or how, while our prayers have in every word admitted the vanity and +nothingness of the things of time in comparison to those of eternity, +should we hope to deceive the Searcher of Hearts, by permitting the +world and worldly passions to reassume the reins even immediately after +a solemn address to Heaven! But Sir Kenneth was not of these. He felt +himself comforted and strengthened, and better prepared to execute or +submit to whatever his destiny might call upon him to do or to suffer. + +Meanwhile, the party of Saracens regained their saddles, and continued +their route, and the tale-teller, Hassan, resumed the thread of his +narrative; but it was no longer to the same attentive audience. A +horseman, who had ascended some high ground on the right hand of +the little column, had returned on a speedy gallop to El Hakim, and +communicated with him. Four or five more cavaliers had then been +dispatched, and the little band, which might consist of about twenty or +thirty persons, began to follow them with their eyes, as men from whose +gestures, and advance or retreat, they were to augur good or evil. +Hassan, finding his audience inattentive, or being himself attracted by +the dubious appearances on the flank, stinted in his song; and the +march became silent, save when a camel-driver called out to his patient +charge, or some anxious follower of the Hakim communicated with his next +neighbour in a hurried and low whisper. + +This suspense continued until they had rounded a ridge, composed of +hillocks of sand, which concealed from their main body the object that +had created this alarm among their scouts. Sir Kenneth could now see, +at the distance of a mile or more, a dark object moving rapidly on the +bosom of the desert, which his experienced eye recognized for a party of +cavalry, much superior to their own in numbers, and, from the thick and +frequent flashes which flung back the level beams of the rising sun, it +was plain that these were Europeans in their complete panoply. + +The anxious looks which the horsemen of El Hakim now cast upon their +leader seemed to indicate deep apprehension; while he, with gravity as +undisturbed as when he called his followers to prayer, detached two of +his best-mounted cavaliers, with instructions to approach as closely as +prudence permitted to these travellers of the desert, and observe +more minutely their numbers, their character, and, if possible, their +purpose. The approach of danger, or what was feared as such, was like +a stimulating draught to one in apathy, and recalled Sir Kenneth to +himself and his situation. + +“What fear you from these Christian horsemen, for such they seem?” he +said to the Hakim. + +“Fear!” said El Hakim, repeating the word disdainfully. “The sage fears +nothing but Heaven, but ever expects from wicked men the worst which +they can do.” + +“They are Christians,” said Sir Kenneth, “and it is the time of +truce--why should you fear a breach of faith?” + +“They are the priestly soldiers of the Temple,” answered El Hakim, +“whose vow limits them to know neither truce nor faith with the +worshippers of Islam. May the Prophet blight them, both root, branch, +and twig! Their peace is war, and their faith is falsehood. Other +invaders of Palestine have their times and moods of courtesy. The lion +Richard will spare when he has conquered, the eagle Philip will close +his wing when he has stricken a prey, even the Austrian bear will sleep +when he is gorged; but this horde of ever-hungry wolves know neither +pause nor satiety in their rapine. Seest thou not that they are +detaching a party from their main body, and that they take an eastern +direction? Yon are their pages and squires, whom they train up in their +accursed mysteries, and whom, as lighter mounted, they send to cut us +off from our watering-place. But they will be disappointed. I know the +war of the desert yet better than they.” + +He spoke a few words to his principal officer, and his whole demeanour +and countenance was at once changed from the solemn repose of an Eastern +sage accustomed more to contemplation than to action, into the prompt +and proud expression of a gallant soldier whose energies are roused by +the near approach of a danger which he at once foresees and despises. + +To Sir Kenneth's eyes the approaching crisis had a different aspect, +and when Adonbec said to him, “Thou must tarry close by my side,” he +answered solemnly in the negative. + +“Yonder,” he said, “are my comrades in arms--the men in whose society I +have vowed to fight or fall. On their banner gleams the sign of our +most blessed redemption--I cannot fly from the Cross in company with the +Crescent.” + +“Fool!” said the Hakim; “their first action would be to do thee to +death, were it only to conceal their breach of the truce.” + +“Of that I must take my chance,” replied Sir Kenneth; “but I wear not +the bonds of the infidels an instant longer than I can cast them from +me.” + +“Then will I compel thee to follow me,” said El Hakim. + +“Compel!” answered Sir Kenneth angrily. “Wert thou not my benefactor, +or one who has showed will to be such, and were it not that it is to +thy confidence I owe the freedom of these hands, which thou mightst have +loaded with fetters, I would show thee that, unarmed as I am, compulsion +would be no easy task.” + +“Enough, enough,” replied the Arabian physician, “we lose time even when +it is becoming precious.” + +So saying, he threw his arm aloft, and uttered a loud and shrill cry, as +a signal to his retinue, who instantly dispersed themselves on the face +of the desert, in as many different directions as a chaplet of beads +when the string is broken. Sir Kenneth had no time to note what ensued; +for, at the same instant, the Hakim seized the rein of his steed, +and putting his own to its mettle, both sprung forth at once with the +suddenness of light, and at a pitch of velocity which almost deprived +the Scottish knight of the power of respiration, and left him absolutely +incapable, had he been desirous, to have checked the career of his +guide. Practised as Sir Kenneth was in horsemanship from his earliest +youth, the speediest horse he had ever mounted was a tortoise in +comparison to those of the Arabian sage. They spurned the sand from +behind them; they seemed to devour the desert before them; miles flew +away with minutes--and yet their strength seemed unabated, and their +respiration as free as when they first started upon the wonderful +race. The motion, too, as easy as it was swift, seemed more like flying +through the air than riding on the earth, and was attended with no +unpleasant sensation, save the awe naturally felt by one who is moving +at such astonishing speed, and the difficulty of breathing occasioned by +their passing through the air so rapidly. + +It was not until after an hour of this portentous motion, and when all +human pursuit was far, far behind, that the Hakim at length relaxed his +speed, and, slackening the pace of the horses into a hand-gallop, began, +in a voice as composed and even as if he had been walking for the last +hour, a descant upon the excellence of his coursers to the Scot, who, +breathless, half blind, half deaf, and altogether giddy; from the +rapidity of this singular ride, hardly comprehended the words which +flowed so freely from his companion. + +“These horses,” he said, “are of the breed called the Winged, equal in +speed to aught excepting the Borak of the Prophet. They are fed on the +golden barley of Yemen, mixed with spices and with a small portion of +dried sheep's flesh. Kings have given provinces to possess them, and +their age is active as their youth. Thou, Nazarene, art the first, save +a true believer, that ever had beneath his loins one of this noble +race, a gift of the Prophet himself to the blessed Ali, his kinsman and +lieutenant, well called the Lion of God. Time lays his touch so lightly +on these generous steeds, that the mare on which thou now sittest has +seen five times five years pass over her, yet retains her pristine speed +and vigour, only that in the career the support of a bridle, managed by +a hand more experienced than thine, hath now become necessary. May the +Prophet be blessed, who hath bestowed on the true believers the means of +advance and retreat, which causeth their iron-clothed enemies to be +worn out with their own ponderous weight! How the horses of yonder dog +Templars must have snorted and blown, when they had toiled fetlock-deep +in the desert for one-twentieth part of the space which these brave +steeds have left behind them, without one thick pant, or a drop of +moisture upon their sleek and velvet coats!” + +The Scottish knight, who had now begun to recover his breath and powers +of attention, could not help acknowledging in his heart the advantage +possessed by these Eastern warriors in a race of animals, alike proper +for advance or retreat, and so admirably adapted to the level and sandy +deserts of Arabia and Syria. But he did not choose to augment the pride +of the Moslem by acquiescing in his proud claim of superiority, and +therefore suffered the conversation to drop, and, looking around him, +could now, at the more moderate pace at which they moved, distinguish +that he was in a country not unknown to him. + +The blighted borders and sullen waters of the Dead Sea, the ragged and +precipitous chain of mountains arising on the left, the two or three +palms clustered together, forming the single green speck on the bosom +of the waste wilderness--objects which, once seen, were scarcely to be +forgotten--showed to Sir Kenneth that they were approaching the fountain +called the Diamond of the Desert, which had been the scene of his +interview on a former occasion with the Saracen Emir Sheerkohf, or +Ilderim. In a few minutes they checked their horses beside the spring, +and the Hakim invited Sir Kenneth to descend from horseback and repose +himself as in a place of safety. They unbridled their steeds, El Hakim +observing that further care of them was unnecessary, since they would be +speedily joined by some of the best mounted among his slaves, who would +do what further was needful. + +“Meantime,” he said, spreading some food on the grass, “eat and drink, +and be not discouraged. Fortune may raise up or abase the ordinary +mortal, but the sage and the soldier should have minds beyond her +control.” + +The Scottish knight endeavoured to testify his thanks by showing himself +docile; but though he strove to eat out of complaisance, the singular +contrast between his present situation and that which he had occupied on +the same spot when the envoy of princes and the victor in combat, +came like a cloud over his mind, and fasting, lassitude, and fatigue +oppressed his bodily powers. El Hakim examined his hurried pulse, his +red and inflamed eye, his heated hand, and his shortened respiration. + +“The mind,” he said, “grows wise by watching, but her sister the body, +of coarser materials, needs the support of repose. Thou must sleep; and +that thou mayest do so to refreshment, thou must take a draught mingled +with this elixir.” + +He drew from his bosom a small crystal vial, cased in silver +filigree-work, and dropped into a little golden drinking-cup a small +portion of a dark-coloured fluid. + +“This,” he said, “is one of those productions which Allah hath sent +on earth for a blessing, though man's weakness and wickedness have +sometimes converted it into a curse. It is powerful as the wine-cup of +the Nazarene to drop the curtain on the sleepless eye, and to relieve +the burden of the overloaded bosom; but when applied to the purposes of +indulgence and debauchery, it rends the nerves, destroys the strength, +weakens the intellect, and undermines life. But fear not thou to use +its virtues in the time of need, for the wise man warms him by the same +firebrand with which the madman burneth the tent.” [Some preparation of +opium seems to be intimated.] + +“I have seen too much of thy skill, sage Hakim,” said Sir Kenneth, “to +debate thine hest;” and swallowed the narcotic, mingled as it was with +some water from the spring, then wrapped him in the haik, or Arab cloak, +which had been fastened to his saddle-pommel, and, according to the +directions of the physician, stretched himself at ease in the shade to +await the promised repose. Sleep came not at first, but in her stead +a train of pleasing yet not rousing or awakening sensations. A state +ensued in which, still conscious of his own identity and his own +condition, the knight felt enabled to consider them not only without +alarm and sorrow, but as composedly as he might have viewed the story +of his misfortunes acted upon a stage--or rather as a disembodied spirit +might regard the transactions of its past existence. From this state +of repose, amounting almost to apathy respecting the past, his thoughts +were carried forward to the future, which, in spite of all that existed +to overcloud the prospect, glittered with such hues as, under much +happier auspices, his unstimulated imagination had not been able to +produce, even in its most exalted state. Liberty, fame, successful love, +appeared to be the certain and not very distant prospect of the enslaved +exile, the dishonoured knight, even of the despairing lover who had +placed his hopes of happiness so far beyond the prospect of chance, in +her wildest possibilities, serving to countenance his wishes. Gradually +as the intellectual sight became overclouded, these gay visions became +obscure, like the dying hues of sunset, until they were at last lost in +total oblivion; and Sir Kenneth lay extended at the feet of El Hakim, to +all appearance, but for his deep respiration, as inanimate a corpse as +if life had actually departed. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + 'Mid these wild scenes Enchantment waves her hand, + To change the face of the mysterious land; + Till the bewildering scenes around us seem + The Vain productions of a feverish dream. + ASTOLPHO, A ROMANCE. + +When the Knight of the Leopard awoke from his long and profound repose, +he found himself in circumstances so different from those in which +he had lain down to sleep, that he doubted whether he was not still +dreaming, or whether the scene had not been changed by magic. Instead of +the damp grass, he lay on a couch of more than Oriental luxury; and +some kind hands had, during his repose, stripped him of the cassock of +chamois which he wore under his armour, and substituted a night-dress of +the finest linen and a loose gown of silk. He had been canopied only by +the palm-trees of the desert, but now he lay beneath a silken pavilion, +which blazed with the richest colours of the Chinese loom, while a +slight curtain of gauze, displayed around his couch, was calculated to +protect his repose from the insects, to which he had, ever since his +arrival in these climates, been a constant and passive prey. He looked +around, as if to convince himself that he was actually awake; and all +that fell beneath his eye partook of the splendour of his dormitory. +A portable bath of cedar, lined with silver, was ready for use, and +steamed with the odours which had been used in preparing it. On a small +stand of ebony beside the couch stood a silver vase, containing sherbet +of the most exquisite quality, cold as snow, and which the thirst that +followed the use of the strong narcotic rendered peculiarly delicious. +Still further to dispel the dregs of intoxication which it had left +behind, the knight resolved to use the bath, and experienced in doing +so a delightful refreshment. Having dried himself with napkins of the +Indian wool, he would willingly have resumed his own coarse garments, +that he might go forth to see whether the world was as much changed +without as within the place of his repose. These, however, were +nowhere to be seen, but in their place he found a Saracen dress of +rich materials, with sabre and poniard, and all befitting an emir +of distinction. He was able to suggest no motive to himself for this +exuberance of care, excepting a suspicion that these attentions were +intended to shake him in his religious profession--as indeed it was well +known that the high esteem of the European knowledge and courage made +the Soldan unbounded in his gifts to those who, having become his +prisoners, had been induced to take the turban. Sir Kenneth, therefore, +crossing himself devoutly, resolved to set all such snares at defiance; +and that he might do so the more firmly, conscientiously determined to +avail himself as moderately as possible of the attentions and luxuries +thus liberally heaped upon him. Still, however, he felt his head +oppressed and sleepy; and aware, too, that his undress was not fit for +appearing abroad, he reclined upon the couch, and was again locked in +the arms of slumber. + +But this time his rest was not unbroken, for he was awakened by the +voice of the physician at the door of the tent, inquiring after his +health, and whether he had rested sufficiently. “May I enter your tent?” + he concluded, “for the curtain is drawn before the entrance.” + +“The master,” replied Sir Kenneth, determined to show that he was not +surprised into forgetfulness of his own condition, “need demand no +permission to enter the tent of the slave.” + +“But if I come not as a master?” said El Hakim, still without entering. + +“The physician,” answered the knight, “hath free access to the bedside +of his patient.” + +“Neither come I now as a physician,” replied El Hakim; “and therefore I +still request permission, ere I come under the covering of thy tent.” + +“Whoever comes as a friend,” said Sir Kenneth, “and such thou hast +hitherto shown thyself to me, the habitation of the friend is ever open +to him.” + +“Yet once again,” said the Eastern sage, after the periphrastical manner +of his countrymen, “supposing that I come not as a friend?” + +“Come as thou wilt,” said the Scottish knight, somewhat impatient of +this circumlocution; “be what thou wilt--thou knowest well it is neither +in my power nor my inclination to refuse thee entrance.” + +“I come, then,” said El Hakim, “as your ancient foe, but a fair and a +generous one.” + +He entered as he spoke; and when he stood before the bedside of +Sir Kenneth, the voice continued to be that of Adonbec, the Arabian +physician, but the form, dress, and features were those of Ilderim +of Kurdistan, called Sheerkohf. Sir Kenneth gazed upon him as if +he expected the vision to depart, like something created by his +imagination. + +“Doth it so surprise thee,” said Ilderim, “and thou an approved warrior, +to see that a soldier knows somewhat of the art of healing? I say to +thee, Nazarene, that an accomplished cavalier should know how to dress +his steed, as well as how to ride him; how to forge his sword upon the +stithy, as well as how to use it in battle; how to burnish his arms, as +well as how to wear them; and, above all, how to cure wounds, as well as +how to inflict them.” + +As he spoke, the Christian knight repeatedly shut his eyes, and while +they remained closed, the idea of the Hakim, with his long, flowing +dark robes, high Tartar cap, and grave gestures was present to +his imagination; but so soon as he opened them, the graceful and +richly-gemmed turban, the light hauberk of steel rings entwisted with +silver, which glanced brilliantly as it obeyed every inflection of the +body, the features freed from their formal expression, less swarthy, and +no longer shadowed by the mass of hair (now limited to a well-trimmed +beard), announced the soldier and not the sage. + +“Art thou still so much surprised,” said the Emir, “and hast thou walked +in the world with such little observance, as to wonder that men are not +always what they seem? Thou thyself--art thou what thou seemest?” + +“No, by Saint Andrew!” exclaimed the knight; “for to the whole Christian +camp I seem a traitor, and I know myself to be a true though an erring +man.” + +“Even so I judged thee,” said Ilderim; “and as we had eaten salt +together, I deemed myself bound to rescue thee from death and contumely. +But wherefore lie you still on your couch, since the sun is high in +the heavens? or are the vestments which my sumpter-camels have afforded +unworthy of your wearing?” + +“Not unworthy, surely, but unfitting for it,” replied the Scot. “Give +me the dress of a slave, noble Ilderim, and I will don it with pleasure; +but I cannot brook to wear the habit of the free Eastern warrior with +the turban of the Moslem.” + +“Nazarene,” answered the Emir, “thy nation so easily entertain suspicion +that it may well render themselves suspected. Have I not told thee that +Saladin desires no converts saving those whom the holy Prophet shall +dispose to submit themselves to his law? violence and bribery are +alike alien to his plan for extending the true faith. Hearken to me, +my brother. When the blind man was miraculously restored to sight, the +scales dropped from his eyes at the Divine pleasure. Think'st thou that +any earthly leech could have removed them? No. Such mediciner might have +tormented the patient with his instruments, or perhaps soothed him with +his balsams and cordials, but dark as he was must the darkened man have +remained; and it is even so with the blindness of the understanding. If +there be those among the Franks who, for the sake of worldly lucre, have +assumed the turban of the Prophet, and followed the laws of Islam, with +their own consciences be the blame. Themselves sought out the bait; it +was not flung to them by the Soldan. And when they shall hereafter be +sentenced, as hypocrites, to the lowest gulf of hell, below Christian +and Jew, magician and idolater, and condemned to eat the fruit of the +tree Yacoun, which is the heads of demons, to themselves, not to the +Soldan, shall their guilt and their punishment be attributed. Wherefore +wear, without doubt or scruple, the vesture prepared for you, since, if +you proceed to the camp of Saladin, your own native dress will expose +you to troublesome observation, and perhaps to insult.” + +“IF I go to the camp of Saladin?” said Sir Kenneth, repeating the words +of the Emir; “alas! am I a free agent, and rather must I NOT go wherever +your pleasure carries me?” + +“Thine own will may guide thine own motions,” said the Emir, “as freely +as the wind which moveth the dust of the desert in what direction it +chooseth. The noble enemy who met and well-nigh mastered my sword cannot +become my slave like him who has crouched beneath it. If wealth and +power would tempt thee to join our people, I could ensure thy possessing +them; but the man who refused the favours of the Soldan when the axe was +at his head, will not, I fear, now accept them, when I tell him he has +his free choice.” + +“Complete your generosity, noble Emir,” said Sir Kenneth, “by forbearing +to show me a mode of requital which conscience forbids me to comply +with. Permit me rather to express, as bound in courtesy, my gratitude +for this most chivalrous bounty, this undeserved generosity.” + +“Say not undeserved,” replied the Emir Ilderim. “Was it not through thy +conversation, and thy account of the beauties which grace the court +of the Melech Ric, that I ventured me thither in disguise, and thereby +procured a sight the most blessed that I have ever enjoyed--that I ever +shall enjoy, until the glories of Paradise beam on my eyes?” + +“I understand you not,” said Sir Kenneth, colouring alternately, and +turning pale, as one who felt that the conversation was taking a tone of +the most painful delicacy. + +“Not understand me!” exclaimed the Emir. “If the sight I saw in the tent +of King Richard escaped thine observation, I will account it duller than +the edge of a buffoon's wooden falchion. True, thou wert under sentence +of death at the time; but, in my case, had my head been dropping from +the trunk, the last strained glances of my eyeballs had distinguished +with delight such a vision of loveliness, and the head would have rolled +itself towards the incomparable houris, to kiss with its quivering +lips the hem of their vestments. Yonder royalty of England, who for +her superior loveliness deserves to be Queen of the universe--what +tenderness in her blue eye, what lustre in her tresses of dishevelled +gold! By the tomb of the Prophet, I scarce think that the houri who +shall present to me the diamond cup of immortality will deserve so warm +a caress!” + +“Saracen,” said Sir Kenneth sternly, “thou speakest of the wife of +Richard of England, of whom men think not and speak not as a woman to be +won, but as a Queen to be revered.” + +“I cry you mercy,” said the Saracen. “I had forgotten your superstitious +veneration for the sex, which you consider rather fit to be wondered at +and worshipped than wooed and possessed. I warrant, since thou exactest +such profound respect to yonder tender piece of frailty, whose every +motion, step, and look bespeaks her very woman, less than absolute +adoration must not be yielded to her of the dark tresses and nobly +speaking eye. SHE indeed, I will allow, hath in her noble port and +majestic mien something at once pure and firm; yet even she, when +pressed by opportunity and a forward lover, would, I warrant thee, thank +him in her heart rather for treating her as a mortal than as a goddess.” + +“Respect the kinswoman of Coeur de Lion!” said Sir Kenneth, in a tone of +unrepressed anger. + +“Respect her!” answered the Emir in scorn; “by the Caaba, and if I do, +it shall be rather as the bride of Saladin.” + +“The infidel Soldan is unworthy to salute even a spot that has been +pressed by the foot of Edith Plantagenet!” exclaimed the Christian, +springing from his couch. + +“Ha! what said the Giaour?” exclaimed the Emir, laying his hand on his +poniard hilt, while his forehead glowed like glancing copper, and the +muscles of his lips and cheeks wrought till each curl of his beard +seemed to twist and screw itself, as if alive with instinctive wrath. +But the Scottish knight, who had stood the lion-anger of Richard, was +unappalled at the tigerlike mood of the chafed Saracen. + +“What I have said,” continued Sir Kenneth, with folded arms and +dauntless look, “I would, were my hands loose, maintain on foot or +horseback against all mortals; and would hold it not the most memorable +deed of my life to support it with my good broadsword against a score +of these sickles and bodkins,” pointing at the curved sabre and small +poniard of the Emir. + +The Saracen recovered his composure as the Christian spoke, so far as +to withdraw his hand from his weapon, as if the motion had been without +meaning, but still continued in deep ire. + +“By the sword of the Prophet,” he said, “which is the key both of heaven +and hell, he little values his own life, brother, who uses the language +thou dost! Believe me, that were thine hands loose, as thou term'st it, +one single true believer would find them so much to do that thou wouldst +soon wish them fettered again in manacles of iron.” + +“Sooner would I wish them hewn off by the shoulder-blades!” replied Sir +Kenneth. + +“Well. Thy hands are bound at present,” said the Saracen, in a more +amicable tone--“bound by thine own gentle sense of courtesy; nor have +I any present purpose of setting them at liberty. We have proved each +other's strength and courage ere now, and we may again meet in a fair +field--and shame befall him who shall be the first to part from his +foeman! But now we are friends, and I look for aid from thee rather than +hard terms or defiances.” + +“We ARE friends,” repeated the knight; and there was a pause, during +which the fiery Saracen paced the tent, like the lion, who, after +violent irritation, is said to take that method of cooling the +distemperature of his blood, ere he stretches himself to repose in his +den. The colder European remained unaltered in posture and aspect; yet +he, doubtless, was also engaged in subduing the angry feelings which had +been so unexpectedly awakened. + +“Let us reason of this calmly,” said the Saracen. “I am a physician, as +thou knowest, and it is written that he who would have his wound cured +must not shrink when the leech probes and tests it. Seest thou, I am +about to lay my finger on the sore. Thou lovest this kinswoman of the +Melech Ric. Unfold the veil that shrouds thy thoughts--or unfold it not +if thou wilt, for mine eyes see through its coverings.” + +“I LOVED her,” answered Sir Kenneth, after a pause, “as a man loves +Heaven's grace, and sued for her favour like a sinner for Heaven's +pardon.” + +“And you love her no longer?” said the Saracen. + +“Alas,” answered Sir Kenneth, “I am no longer worthy to love her. I pray +thee cease this discourse--thy words are poniards to me.” + +“Pardon me but a moment,” continued Ilderim. “When thou, a poor and +obscure soldier, didst so boldly and so highly fix thine affection, tell +me, hadst thou good hope of its issue?” + +“Love exists not without hope,” replied the knight; “but mine was as +nearly allied to despair as that of the sailor swimming for his life, +who, as he surmounts billow after billow, catches by intervals some +gleam of the distant beacon, which shows him there is land in sight, +though his sinking heart and wearied limbs assure him that he shall +never reach it.” + +“And now,” said Ilderim, “these hopes are sunk--that solitary light is +quenched for ever?” + +“For ever,” answered Sir Kenneth, in the tone of an echo from the bosom +of a ruined sepulchre. + +“Methinks,” said the Saracen, “if all thou lackest were some such +distant meteoric glimpse of happiness as thou hadst formerly, thy +beacon-light might be rekindled, thy hope fished up from the ocean +in which it has sunk, and thou thyself, good knight, restored to the +exercise and amusement of nourishing thy fantastic fashion upon a diet +as unsubstantial as moonlight; for, if thou stood'st tomorrow fair in +reputation as ever thou wert, she whom thou lovest will not be less the +daughter of princes and the elected bride of Saladin.” + +“I would it so stood,” said the Scot, “and if I did not--” + +He stopped short, like a man who is afraid of boasting under +circumstances which did not permit his being put to the test. The +Saracen smiled as he concluded the sentence. + +“Thou wouldst challenge the Soldan to single combat?” said he. + +“And if I did,” said Sir Kenneth haughtily, “Saladin's would neither be +the first nor the best turban that I have couched lance at.” + +“Ay, but methinks the Soldan might regard it as too unequal a mode of +perilling the chance of a royal bride and the event of a great war,” + said the Emir. + +“He may be met with in the front of battle,” said the knight, his eyes +gleaming with the ideas which such a thought inspired. + +“He has been ever found there,” said Ilderim; “nor is it his wont to +turn his horse's head from any brave encounter. But it was not of the +Soldan that I meant to speak. In a word, if it will content thee to be +placed in such reputation as may be attained by detection of the +thief who stole the Banner of England, I can put thee in a fair way of +achieving this task--that is, if thou wilt be governed; for what says +Lokman, 'If the child would walk, the nurse must lead him; if the +ignorant would understand, the wise must instruct.'” + +“And thou art wise, Ilderim,” said the Scot--“wise though a Saracen, and +generous though an infidel. I have witnessed that thou art both. +Take, then, the guidance of this matter; and so thou ask nothing of +me contrary to my loyalty and my Christian faith, I, will obey thee +punctually. Do what thou hast said, and take my life when it is +accomplished.” + +“Listen thou to me, then,” said the Saracen. “Thy noble hound is now +recovered, by the blessing of that divine medicine which healeth man and +beast; and by his sagacity shall those who assailed him be discovered.” + +“Ha!” said the knight, “methinks I comprehend thee. I was dull not to +think of this!” + +“But tell me,” added the Emir, “hast thou any followers or retainers in +the camp by whom the animal may be known?” + +“I dismissed,” said Sir Kenneth, “my old attendant, thy patient, with a +varlet that waited on him, at the time when I expected to suffer death, +giving him letters for my friends in Scotland; there are none other to +whom the dog is familiar. But then my own person is well known--my very +speech will betray me, in a camp where I have played no mean part for +many months.” + +“Both he and thou shalt be disguised, so as to escape even close +examination. I tell thee,” said the Saracen, “that not thy brother in +arms--not thy brother in blood--shall discover thee, if thou be guided +by my counsels. Thou hast seen me do matters more difficult--he that can +call the dying from the darkness of the shadow of death can easily cast +a mist before the eyes of the living. But mark me: there is still the +condition annexed to this service--that thou deliver a letter of Saladin +to the niece of the Melech Ric, whose name is as difficult to our +Eastern tongue and lips, as her beauty is delightful to our eyes.” + +Sir Kenneth paused before he answered, and the Saracen observing his +hesitation, demanded of him, “if he feared to undertake this message?” + +“Not if there were death in the execution,” said Sir Kenneth. “I do but +pause to consider whether it consists with my honour to bear the letter +of the Soldan, or with that of the Lady Edith to receive it from a +heathen prince.” + +“By the head of Mohammed, and by the honour of a soldier--by the tomb +at Mecca, and by the soul of my father,” said the Emir, “I swear to thee +that the letter is written in all honour and respect. The song of the +nightingale will sooner blight the rose-bower she loves than will the +words of the Soldan offend the ears of the lovely kinswoman of England.” + +“Then,” said the knight, “I will bear the Soldan's letter faithfully, as +if I were his born vassal--understanding, that beyond this simple act +of service, which I will render with fidelity, from me of all men he can +least expect mediation or advice in this his strange love-suit.” + +“Saladin is noble,” answered the Emir, “and will not spur a generous +horse to a leap which he cannot achieve. Come with me to my tent,” + he added, “and thou shalt be presently equipped with a disguise as +unsearchable as midnight, so thou mayest walk the camp of the Nazarenes +as if thou hadst on thy finger the signet of Giaougi.” [Perhaps the same +with Gyges.] + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + A grain of dust + Soiling our cup, will make our sense reject + Fastidiously the draught which we did thirst for; + A rusted nail, placed near the faithful compass, + Will sway it from the truth, and wreck the argosy. + Even this small cause of anger and disgust + Will break the bonds of amity 'mongst princes, + And wreck their noblest purposes. + THE CRUSADE. + +The reader can now have little doubt who the Ethiopian slave really was, +with what purpose he had sought Richard's camp, and wherefore and +with what hope he now stood close to the person of that Monarch, as, +surrounded by his valiant peers of England and Normandy, Coeur de Lion +stood on the summit of Saint George's Mount, with the Banner of England +by his side, borne by the most goodly person in the army, being his own +natural brother, William with the Long Sword, Earl of Salisbury, the +offspring of Henry the Second's amour with the celebrated Rosamond of +Woodstock. + +From several expressions in the King's conversation with Neville on the +preceding day, the Nubian was left in anxious doubt whether his disguise +had not been penetrated, especially as that the King seemed to be aware +in what manner the agency of the dog was expected to discover the thief +who stole the banner, although the circumstance of such an animal's +having been wounded on the occasion had been scarce mentioned in +Richard's presence. Nevertheless, as the King continued to treat him +in no other manner than his exterior required, the Nubian remained +uncertain whether he was or was not discovered, and determined not to +throw his disguise aside voluntarily. + +Meanwhile, the powers of the various Crusading princes, arrayed under +their royal and princely leaders, swept in long order around the base +of the little mound; and as those of each different country passed by, +their commanders advanced a step or two up the hill, and made a signal +of courtesy to Richard and to the Standard of England, “in sign of +regard and amity,” as the protocol of the ceremony heedfully expressed +it, “not of subjection or vassalage.” The spiritual dignitaries, who in +those days veiled not their bonnets to created being, bestowed on the +King and his symbol of command their blessing instead of rendering +obeisance. + +Thus the long files marched on, and, diminished as they were by so many +causes, appeared still an iron host, to whom the conquest of Palestine +might seem an easy task. The soldiers, inspired by the consciousness of +united strength, sat erect in their steel saddles; while it seemed that +the trumpets sounded more cheerfully shrill, and the steeds, refreshed +by rest and provender, chafed on the bit, and trod the ground more +proudly. On they passed, troop after troop, banners waving, spears +glancing, plumes dancing, in long perspective--a host composed of +different nations, complexions, languages, arms, and appearances, but +all fired, for the time, with the holy yet romantic purpose of rescuing +the distressed daughter of Zion from her thraldom, and redeeming the +sacred earth, which more than mortal had trodden, from the yoke of the +unbelieving pagan. And it must be owned that if, in other circumstances, +the species of courtesy rendered to the King of England by so many +warriors, from whom he claimed no natural allegiance, had in it +something that might have been thought humiliating, yet the nature and +cause of the war was so fitted to his pre-eminently chivalrous character +and renowned feats in arms, that claims which might elsewhere have been +urged were there forgotten, and the brave did willing homage to the +bravest, in an expedition where the most undaunted and energetic courage +was necessary to success. + +The good King was seated on horseback about half way up the mount, a +morion on his head, surmounted by a crown, which left his manly features +exposed to public view, as, with cool and considerate eye, he perused +each rank as it passed him, and returned the salutation of the leaders. +His tunic was of sky-coloured velvet, covered with plates of silver, and +his hose of crimson silk, slashed with cloth of gold. By his side stood +the seeming Ethiopian slave, holding the noble dog in a leash, such as +was used in woodcraft. It was a circumstance which attracted no notice, +for many of the princes of the Crusade had introduced black slaves +into their household, in imitation of the barbarous splendour of the +Saracens. Over the King's head streamed the large folds of the banner, +and, as he looked to it from time to time, he seemed to regard a +ceremony, indifferent to himself personally, as important, when +considered as atoning an indignity offered to the kingdom which he +ruled. In the background, and on the very summit of the Mount, a wooden +turret, erected for the occasion, held the Queen Berengaria and the +principal ladies of the Court. To this the King looked from time to +time; and then ever and anon his eyes were turned on the Nubian and the +dog, but only when such leaders approached, as, from circumstances of +previous ill-will, he suspected of being accessory to the theft of the +standard, or whom he judged capable of a crime so mean. + +Thus, he did not look in that direction when Philip Augustus of France +approached at the head of his splendid troops of Gallic chivalry---nay, +he anticipated the motions of the French King, by descending the Mount +as the latter came up the ascent, so that they met in the middle space, +and blended their greetings so gracefully that it appeared they met in +fraternal equality. The sight of the two greatest princes in Europe, +in rank at once and power, thus publicly avowing their concord, called +forth bursts of thundering acclaim from the Crusading host at many miles +distance, and made the roving Arab scouts of the desert alarm the camp +of Saladin with intelligence that the army of the Christians was in +motion. Yet who but the King of kings can read the hearts of monarchs? +Under this smooth show of courtesy, Richard nourished displeasure and +suspicion against Philip, and Philip meditated withdrawing himself and +his host from the army of the Cross, and leaving Richard to accomplish +or fail in the enterprise with his own unassisted forces. + +Richard's demeanour was different when the dark-armed knights and +squires of the Temple chivalry approached--men with countenances bronzed +to Asiatic blackness by the suns of Palestine, and the admirable state +of whose horses and appointments far surpassed even that of the choicest +troops of France and England. The King cast a hasty glance aside; but +the Nubian stood quiet, and his trusty dog sat at his feet, watching, +with a sagacious yet pleased look, the ranks which now passed before +them. The King's look turned again on the chivalrous Templars, as the +Grand Master, availing himself of his mingled character, bestowed his +benediction on Richard as a priest, instead of doing him reverence as a +military leader. + +“The misproud and amphibious caitiff puts the monk upon me,” said +Richard to the Earl of Salisbury. “But, Longsword, we will let it pass. +A punctilio must not lose Christendom the services of these experienced +lances, because their victories have rendered them overweening. Lo you, +here comes our valiant adversary, the Duke of Austria. Mark his manner +and bearing, Longsword--and thou, Nubian, let the hound have full view +of him. By Heaven, he brings his buffoons along with him!” + +In fact, whether from habit, or, which is more likely, to intimate +contempt of the ceremonial he was about to comply with, Leopold was +attended by his SPRUCH-SPRECHER and his jester; and as he advanced +towards Richard, he whistled in what he wished to be considered as an +indifferent manner, though his heavy features evinced the sullenness, +mixed with the fear, with which a truant schoolboy may be seen to +approach his master. As the reluctant dignitary made, with discomposed +and sulky look, the obeisance required, the SPRUCH-SPRECHER shook his +baton, and proclaimed, like a herald, that, in what he was now doing, +the Archduke of Austria was not to be held derogating from the rank and +privileges of a sovereign prince; to which the jester answered with a +sonorous AMEN, which provoked much laughter among the bystanders. + +King Richard looked more than once at the Nubian and his dog; but +the former moved not, nor did the latter strain at the leash, so +that Richard said to the slave with some scorn, “Thy success in this +enterprise, my sable friend, even though thou hast brought thy hound's +sagacity to back thine own, will not, I fear, place thee high in the +rank of wizards, or much augment thy merits towards our person.” + +The Nubian answered, as usual, only by a lowly obeisance. + +Meantime the troops of the Marquis of Montserrat next passed in order +before the King of England. That powerful and wily baron, to make the +greater display of his forces, had divided them into two bodies. At the +head of the first, consisting of his vassals and followers, and levied +from his Syrian possessions, came his brother Enguerrand; and he himself +followed, leading on a gallant band of twelve hundred Stradiots, a kind +of light cavalry raised by the Venetians in their Dalmatian possessions, +and of which they had entrusted the command to the Marquis, with whom +the republic had many bonds of connection. These Stradiots were clothed +in a fashion partly European, but partaking chiefly of the Eastern +fashion. They wore, indeed, short hauberks, but had over them +party-coloured tunics of rich stuffs, with large wide pantaloons and +half-boots. On their heads were straight upright caps, similar to those +of the Greeks; and they carried small round targets, bows and arrows, +scimitars, and poniards. They were mounted on horses carefully selected, +and well maintained at the expense of the State of Venice; their saddles +and appointments resembled those of the Turks, and they rode in the same +manner, with short stirrups and upon a high seat. These troops were +of great use in skirmishing with the Arabs, though unable to engage in +close combat, like the iron-sheathed men-at-arms of Western and Northern +Europe. + +Before this goodly band came Conrade, in the same garb with the +Stradiots, but of such rich stuff that he seemed to blaze with gold +and silver, and the milk-white plume fastened in his cap by a clasp of +diamonds seemed tall enough to sweep the clouds. The noble steed which +he reined bounded and caracoled, and displayed his spirit and agility +in a manner which might have troubled a less admirable horseman than +the Marquis, who gracefully ruled him with the one hand, while the other +displayed the baton, whose predominancy over the ranks which he led +seemed equally absolute. Yet his authority over the Stradiots was more +in show than in substance; for there paced beside him, on an ambling +palfrey of soberest mood, a little old man, dressed entirely in black, +without beard or moustaches, and having an appearance altogether mean +and insignificant when compared with the blaze of splendour around +him. But this mean-looking old man was one of those deputies whom the +Venetian government sent into camps to overlook the conduct of the +generals to whom the leading was consigned, and to maintain that jealous +system of espial and control which had long distinguished the policy of +the republic. + +Conrade, who, by cultivating Richard's humour, had attained a certain +degree of favour with him, no sooner was come within his ken than the +King of England descended a step or two to meet him, exclaiming, at the +same time, “Ha, Lord Marquis, thou at the head of the fleet Stradiots, +and thy black shadow attending thee as usual, whether the sun shines or +not! May not one ask thee whether the rule of the troops remains with +the shadow or the substance?” + +Conrade was commencing his reply with a smile, when Roswal, the noble +hound, uttering a furious and savage yell, sprung forward. The Nubian, +at the same time, slipped the leash, and the hound, rushing on, leapt +upon Conrade's noble charger, and, seizing the Marquis by the throat, +pulled him down from the saddle. The plumed rider lay rolling on the +sand, and the frightened horse fled in wild career through the camp. + +“Thy hound hath pulled down the right quarry, I warrant him,” said +the King to the Nubian, “and I vow to Saint George he is a stag of ten +tynes! Pluck the dog off; lest he throttle him.” + +The Ethiopian, accordingly, though not without difficulty, disengaged +the dog from Conrade, and fastened him up, still highly excited, and +struggling in the leash. Meanwhile many crowded to the spot, especially +followers of Conrade and officers of the Stradiots, who, as they +saw their leader lie gazing wildly on the sky, raised him up amid a +tumultuary cry of “Cut the slave and his hound to pieces!” + +But the voice of Richard, loud and sonorous, was heard clear above all +other exclamations. “He dies the death who injures the hound! He hath +but done his duty, after the sagacity with which God and nature have +endowed the brave animal.--Stand forward for a false traitor, thou +Conrade, Marquis of Montserrat! I impeach thee of treason.” + +Several of the Syrian leaders had now come up, and Conrade--vexation, +and shame, and confusion struggling with passion in his manner and +voice--exclaimed, “What means this? With what am I charged? Why this +base usage and these reproachful terms? Is this the league of concord +which England renewed but so lately?” + +“Are the Princes of the Crusade turned hares or deers in the eyes of +King Richard that he should slip hounds on them?” said the sepulchral +voice of the Grand Master of the Templars. + +“It must be some singular accident--some fatal mistake,” said Philip of +France, who rode up at the same moment. + +“Some deceit of the Enemy,” said the Archbishop of Tyre. + +“A stratagem of the Saracens,” cried Henry of Champagne. “It were well +to hang up the dog, and put the slave to the torture.” + +“Let no man lay hand upon them,” said Richard, “as he loves his own +life! Conrade, stand forth, if thou darest, and deny the accusation +which this mute animal hath in his noble instinct brought against thee, +of injury done to him, and foul scorn to England!” + +“I never touched the banner,” said Conrade hastily. + +“Thy words betray thee, Conrade!” said Richard, “for how didst thou +know, save from conscious guilt, that the question is concerning the +banner?” + +“Hast thou then not kept the camp in turmoil on that and no other +score?” answered Conrade; “and dost thou impute to a prince and an ally +a crime which, after all, was probably committed by some paltry +felon for the sake of the gold thread? Or wouldst thou now impeach a +confederate on the credit of a dog?” + +By this time the alarm was becoming general, so that Philip of France +interposed. + +“Princes and nobles,” he said, “you speak in presence of those whose +swords will soon be at the throats of each other if they hear their +leaders at such terms together. In the name of Heaven, let us draw off +each his own troops into their separate quarters, and ourselves meet +an hour hence in the Pavilion of Council to take some order in this new +state of confusion.” + +“Content,” said King Richard, “though I should have liked to have +interrogated that caitiff while his gay doublet was yet besmirched with +sand. But the pleasure of France shall be ours in this matter.” + +The leaders separated as was proposed, each prince placing himself at +the head of his own forces; and then was heard on all sides the crying +of war-cries and the sounding of gathering-notes upon bugles and +trumpets, by which the different stragglers were summoned to their +prince's banner, and the troops were shortly seen in motion, each taking +different routes through the camp to their own quarters. But although +any immediate act of violence was thus prevented, yet the accident which +had taken place dwelt on every mind; and those foreigners who had that +morning hailed Richard as the worthiest to lead their army, now resumed +their prejudices against his pride and intolerance, while the English, +conceiving the honour of their country connected with the quarrel, of +which various reports had gone about, considered the natives of other +countries jealous of the fame of England and her King, and disposed to +undermine it by the meanest arts of intrigue. Many and various were the +rumours spread upon the occasion, and there was one which averred that +the Queen and her ladies had been much alarmed by the tumult, and that +one of them had swooned. + +The Council assembled at the appointed hour. Conrade had in the +meanwhile laid aside his dishonoured dress, and with it the shame and +confusion which, in spite of his talents and promptitude, had at first +overwhelmed him, owing to the strangeness of the accident and suddenness +of the accusation. He was now robed like a prince; and entered the +council-chamber attended by the Archduke of Austria, the Grand Masters +both of the Temple and of the Order of Saint John, and several other +potentates, who made a show of supporting him and defending his cause, +chiefly perhaps from political motives, or because they themselves +nourished a personal enmity against Richard. + +This appearance of union in favour of Conrade was far from influencing +the King of England. He entered the Council with his usual indifference +of manner, and in the same dress in which he had just alighted from +horseback. He cast a careless and somewhat scornful glance on the +leaders, who had with studied affectation arranged themselves around +Conrade as if owning his cause, and in the most direct terms charged +Conrade of Montserrat with having stolen the Banner of England, and +wounded the faithful animal who stood in its defence. + +Conrade arose boldly to answer, and in despite, as he expressed himself, +of man and brute, king or dog, avouched his innocence of the crime +charged. + +“Brother of England,” said Philip, who willingly assumed the character +of moderator of the assembly, “this is an unusual impeachment. We do +not hear you avouch your own knowledge of this matter, further than your +belief resting upon the demeanour of this hound towards the Marquis of +Montserrat. Surely the word of a knight and a prince should bear him out +against the barking of a cur?” + +“Royal brother,” returned Richard, “recollect that the Almighty, who +gave the dog to be companion of our pleasures and our toils, hath +invested him with a nature noble and incapable of deceit. He forgets +neither friend nor foe--remembers, and with accuracy, both benefit and +injury. He hath a share of man's intelligence, but no share of man's +falsehood. You may bribe a soldier to slay a man with his sword, or a +witness to take life by false accusation; but you cannot make a hound +tear his benefactor. He is the friend of man, save when man justly +incurs his enmity. Dress yonder marquis in what peacock-robes you will, +disguise his appearance, alter his complexion with drugs and washes, +hide him amidst a hundred men,--I will yet pawn my sceptre that the +hound detects him, and expresses his resentment, as you have this day +beheld. This is no new incident, although a strange one. Murderers +and robbers have been ere now convicted, and suffered death under such +evidence, and men have said that the finger of God was in it. In thine +own land, royal brother, and upon such an occasion, the matter was tried +by a solemn duel betwixt the man and the dog, as appellant and defendant +in a challenge of murder. The dog was victorious, the man was punished, +and the crime was confessed. Credit me, royal brother, that hidden +crimes have often been brought to light by the testimony even of +inanimate substances, not to mention animals far inferior in instinctive +sagacity to the dog, who is the friend and companion of our race.” + +“Such a duel there hath indeed been, royal brother,” answered Philip, +“and that in the reign of one of our predecessors, to whom God be +gracious. But it was in the olden time, nor can we hold it a precedent +fitting for this occasion. The defendant in that case was a private +gentleman of small rank or respect; his offensive weapons were only a +club, his defensive a leathern jerkin. But we cannot degrade a prince +to the disgrace of using such rude arms, or to the ignominy of such a +combat.” + +“I never meant that you should,” said King Richard; “it were foul play +to hazard the good hound's life against that of such a double-faced +traitor as this Conrade hath proved himself. But there lies our own +glove; we appeal him to the combat in respect of the evidence we +brought forth against him. A king, at least, is more than the mate of a +marquis.” + +Conrade made no hasty effort to seize on the pledge which Richard cast +into the middle of the assembly, and King Philip had time to reply ere +the marquis made a motion to lift the glove. + +“A king,” said he of France, “is as much more than a match for the +Marquis Conrade as a dog would be less. Royal Richard, this cannot be +permitted. You are the leader of our expedition--the sword and buckler +of Christendom.” + +“I protest against such a combat,” said the Venetian proveditore, “until +the King of England shall have repaid the fifty thousand byzants which +he is indebted to the republic. It is enough to be threatened with loss +of our debt, should our debtor fall by the hands of the pagans, without +the additional risk of his being slain in brawls amongst Christians +concerning dogs and banners.” + +“And I,” said William with the Long Sword, Earl of Salisbury, “protest +in my turn against my royal brother perilling his life, which is the +property of the people of England, in such a cause. Here, noble brother, +receive back your glove, and think only as if the wind had blown it from +your hand. Mine shall lie in its stead. A king's son, though with the +bar sinister on his shield, is at least a match for this marmoset of a +marquis.” + +“Princes and nobles,” said Conrade, “I will not accept of King Richard's +defiance. He hath been chosen our leader against the Saracens, and if +his conscience can answer the accusation of provoking an ally to the +field on a quarrel so frivolous, mine, at least, cannot endure the +reproach of accepting it. But touching his bastard brother, William of +Woodstock, or against any other who shall adopt or shall dare to stand +godfather to this most false charge, I will defend my honour in the +lists, and prove whosoever impeaches it a false liar.” + +“The Marquis of Montserrat,” said the Archbishop of Tyre, “hath spoken +like a wise and moderate gentleman; and methinks this controversy might, +without dishonour to any party, end at this point.” + +“Methinks it might so terminate,” said the King of France, “provided +King Richard will recall his accusation as made upon over-slight +grounds.” + +“Philip of France,” answered Coeur de Lion, “my words shall never do my +thoughts so much injury. I have charged yonder Conrade as a thief, +who, under cloud of night, stole from its place the emblem of England's +dignity. I still believe and charge him to be such; and when a day is +appointed for the combat, doubt not that, since Conrade declines to +meet us in person, I will find a champion to appear in support of my +challenge--for thou, William, must not thrust thy long sword into this +quarrel without our special license.” + +“Since my rank makes me arbiter in this most unhappy matter,” said +Philip of France, “I appoint the fifth day from hence for the decision +thereof, by way of combat, according to knightly usage--Richard, King of +England, to appear by his champion as appellant, and Conrade, Marquis of +Montserrat, in his own person, as defendant. Yet I own I know not where +to find neutral ground where such a quarrel may be fought out; for it +must not be in the neighbourhood of this camp, where the soldiers would +make faction on the different sides.” + +“It were well,” said Richard, “to apply to the generosity of the +royal Saladin, since, heathen as he is, I have never known knight more +fulfilled of nobleness, or to whose good faith we may so peremptorily +entrust ourselves. I speak thus for those who may be doubtful of mishap; +for myself, wherever I see my foe, I make that spot my battle-ground.” + +“Be it so,” said Philip; “we will make this matter known to Saladin, +although it be showing to an enemy the unhappy spirit of discord +which we would willingly hide from even ourselves, were it possible. +Meanwhile, I dismiss this assembly, and charge you all, as Christian +men and noble knights, that ye let this unhappy feud breed no further +brawling in the camp, but regard it as a thing solemnly referred to the +judgment of God, to whom each of you should pray that He will dispose +of victory in the combat according to the truth of the quarrel; and +therewith may His will be done!” + +“Amen, amen!” was answered on all sides; while the Templar whispered the +Marquis, “Conrade, wilt thou not add a petition to be delivered from the +power of the dog, as the Psalmist hath it?” + +“Peace, thou--!” replied the Marquis; “there is a revealing demon abroad +which may report, amongst other tidings, how far thou dost carry the +motto of thy order--'FERIATUR LEO'.” + +“Thou wilt stand the brunt of challenge?” said the Templar. + +“Doubt me not,” said Conrade. “I would not, indeed, have willingly +met the iron arm of Richard himself, and I shame not to confess that +I rejoice to be free of his encounter; but, from his bastard brother +downward, the man breathes not in his ranks whom I fear to meet.” + +“It is well you are so confident,” continued the Templar; “and, in that +case, the fangs of yonder hound have done more to dissolve this league +of princes than either thy devices or the dagger of the Charegite. Seest +thou how, under a brow studiously overclouded, Philip cannot conceal the +satisfaction which he feels at the prospect of release from the alliance +which sat so heavy on him? Mark how Henry of Champagne smiles to +himself, like a sparkling goblet of his own wine; and see the chuckling +delight of Austria, who thinks his quarrel is about to be avenged +without risk or trouble of his own. Hush! he approaches.--A most +grievous chance, most royal Austria, that these breaches in the walls of +our Zion--” + +“If thou meanest this Crusade,” replied the Duke, “I would it were +crumbled to pieces, and each were safe at home! I speak this in +confidence.” + +“But,” said the Marquis of Montserrat, “to think this disunion should +be made by the hands of King Richard, for whose pleasure we have been +contented to endure so much, and to whom we have been as submissive as +slaves to a master, in hopes that he would use his valour against our +enemies, instead of exercising it upon our friends!” + +“I see not that he is so much more valorous than others,” said the +Archduke. “I believe, had the noble Marquis met him in the lists, he +would have had the better; for though the islander deals heavy blows +with the pole-axe, he is not so very dexterous with the lance. I should +have cared little to have met him myself on our old quarrel, had the +weal of Christendom permitted to sovereign princes to breathe themselves +in the lists; and if thou desirest it, noble Marquis, I will myself be +your godfather in this combat.” + +“And I also,” said the Grand Master. + +“Come, then, and take your nooning in our tent, noble sirs,” said the +Duke, “and we'll speak of this business over some right NIERENSTEIN.” + +They entered together accordingly. + +“What said our patron and these great folks together?” said Jonas +Schwanker to his companion, the SPRUCH-SPRECHER, who had used the +freedom to press nigh to his master when the Council was dismissed, +while the jester waited at a more respectful distance. + +“Servant of Folly,” said the SPRUCH-SPRECHER, “moderate thy curiosity; +it beseems not that I should tell to thee the counsels of our master.” + +“Man of wisdom, you mistake,” answered Jonas. “We are both the constant +attendants on our patron, and it concerns us alike to know whether thou +or I--Wisdom or Folly--have the deeper interest in him.” + +“He told to the Marquis,” answered the SPRUCH-SPRECHER, “and to the +Grand Master, that he was aweary of these wars, and would be glad he was +safe at home.” + +“That is a drawn cast, and counts for nothing in the game,” said the +jester; “it was most wise to think thus, but great folly to tell it to +others--proceed.” + +“Ha, hem!” said the SPRUCH-SPRECHER; “he next said to them that Richard +was not more valorous than others, or over-dexterous in the tilt-yard.” + +“Woodcock of my side,” said Schwanker, “this was egregious folly. What +next?” + +“Nay, I am something oblivious,” replied the man of wisdom--“he invited +them to a goblet of NIERENSTEIN.” + +“That hath a show of wisdom in it,” said Jonas. “Thou mayest mark it to +thy credit in the meantime; but an he drink too much, as is most likely, +I will have it pass to mine. Anything more?” + +“Nothing worth memory,” answered the orator; “only he wished he had +taken the occasion to meet Richard in the lists.” + +“Out upon it--out upon it!” said Jonas; “this is such dotage of folly +that I am well-nigh ashamed of winning the game by it. Ne'ertheless, +fool as he is, we will follow him, most sage SPRUCH-SPRECHER, and have +our share of the wine of NIERENSTEIN.” + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + Yet this inconstancy is such, + As thou, too, shalt adore; + I could not love thee, love so much, + Loved I not honour more. + MONTROSE'S LINES. + +When King Richard returned to his tent, he commanded the Nubian to be +brought before him. He entered with his usual ceremonial reverence, +and having prostrated himself, remained standing before the King in the +attitude of a slave awaiting the orders of his master. It was perhaps +well for him that the preservation of his character required his eyes +to be fixed on the ground, since the keen glance with which Richard for +some time surveyed him in silence would, if fully encountered, have been +difficult to sustain. + +“Thou canst well of woodcraft,” said the King, after a pause, “and hast +started thy game and brought him to bay as ably as if Tristrem himself +had taught thee. [A universal tradition ascribed to Sir Tristrem, famous +for his love of the fair Queen Yseult, the laws concerning the practice +of woodcraft, or VENERIE, as it was called, being those that related to +the rules of the chase, which were deemed of much consequence during the +Middle Ages.] But this is not all--he must be brought down at force. I +myself would have liked to have levelled my hunting-spear at him. There +are, it seems, respects which prevent this. Thou art about to return to +the camp of the Soldan, bearing a letter, requiring of his courtesy to +appoint neutral ground for the deed of chivalry, and should it consist +with his pleasure, to concur with us in witnessing it. Now, speaking +conjecturally, we think thou mightst find in that camp some cavalier +who, for the love of truth and his own augmentation of honour, will do +battle with this same traitor of Montserrat.” + +The Nubian raised his eyes and fixed them on the King with a look of +eager ardour; then raised them to Heaven with such solemn gratitude that +the water soon glistened in them; then bent his head, as affirming what +Richard desired, and resumed his usual posture of submissive attention. + +“It is well,” said the King; “and I see thy desire to oblige me in this +matter. And herein, I must needs say, lies the excellence of such a +servant as thou, who hast not speech either to debate our purpose or to +require explanation of what we have determined. An English serving man +in thy place had given me his dogged advice to trust the combat +with some good lance of my household, who, from my brother Longsword +downwards, are all on fire to do battle in my cause; and a chattering +Frenchman had made a thousand attempts to discover wherefore I look for +a champion from the camp of the infidels. But thou, my silent agent, +canst do mine errand without questioning or comprehending it; with thee +to hear is to obey.” + +A bend of the body and a genuflection were the appropriate answer of the +Ethiopian to these observations. + +“And now to another point,” said the King, and speaking suddenly and +rapidly--“have you yet seen Edith Plantagenet?” + +The mute looked up as in the act of being about to speak--nay, his lips +had begun to utter a distinct negative--when the abortive attempt died +away in the imperfect murmurs of the dumb. + +“Why, lo you there!” said the King, “the very sound of the name of a +royal maiden of beauty so surpassing as that of our lovely cousin seems +to have power enough well-nigh to make the dumb speak. What miracles +then might her eye work upon such a subject! I will make the experiment, +friend slave. Thou shalt see this choice beauty of our Court, and do the +errand of the princely Soldan.” + +Again a joyful glance--again a genuflection--but, as he arose, the King +laid his hand heavily on his shoulder, and proceeded with stern gravity +thus: “Let me in one thing warn you, my sable envoy. Even if thou +shouldst feel that the kindly influence of her whom thou art soon to +behold should loosen the bonds of thy tongue, presently imprisoned, +as the good Soldan expresses it, within the ivory walls of its castle, +beware how thou changest thy taciturn character, or speakest a word in +her presence, even if thy powers of utterance were to be miraculously +restored. Believe me that I should have thy tongue extracted by +the roots, and its ivory palace--that is, I presume, its range of +teeth--drawn out one by one. Wherefore, be wise and silent still.” + +The Nubian, so soon as the King had removed his heavy grasp from his +shoulder, bent his head, and laid his hand on his lips, in token of +silent obedience. + +But Richard again laid his hand on him more gently, and added, “This +behest we lay on thee as on a slave. Wert thou knight and gentleman, +we would require thine honour in pledge of thy silence, which is one +especial condition of our present trust.” + +The Ethiopian raised his body proudly, looked full at the King, and laid +his right hand on his heart. + +Richard then summoned his chamberlain. + +“Go, Neville,” he said, “with this slave to the tent of our royal +consort, and say it is our pleasure that he have an audience--a private +audience--of our cousin Edith. He is charged with a commission to her. +Thou canst show him the way also, in case he requires thy guidance, +though thou mayst have observed it is wonderful how familiar he already +seems to be with the purlieus of our camp.--And thou, too, friend +Ethiop,” the King continued, “what thou dost do quickly, and return +hither within the half-hour.” + +“I stand discovered,” thought the seeming Nubian, as, with downcast +looks and folded arms, he followed the hasty stride of Neville towards +the tent of Queen Berengaria--“I stand undoubtedly discovered and +unfolded to King Richard; yet I cannot perceive that his resentment is +hot against me. If I understand his words--and surely it is impossible +to misinterpret them--he gives me a noble chance of redeeming my honour +upon the crest of this false Marquis, whose guilt I read in his craven +eye and quivering lip when the charge was made against him.--Roswal, +faithfully hast thou served thy master, and most dearly shall thy wrong +be avenged!--But what is the meaning of my present permission to look +upon her whom I had despaired ever to see again? And why, or how, can +the royal Plantagenet consent that I should see his divine kinswoman, +either as the messenger of the heathen Saladin, or as the guilty exile +whom he so lately expelled from his camp--his audacious avowal of the +affection which is his pride being the greatest enhancement of his +guilt? That Richard should consent to her receiving a letter from an +infidel lover by the hands of one of such disproportioned rank are +either of them circumstances equally incredible, and, at the same time, +inconsistent with each other. But Richard, when unmoved by his heady +passions, is liberal, generous, and truly noble; and as such I will +deal with him, and act according to his instructions, direct or implied, +seeking to know no more than may gradually unfold itself without my +officious inquiry. To him who has given me so brave an opportunity to +vindicate my tarnished honour, I owe acquiescence and obedience; and +painful as it may be, the debt shall be paid. And yet”--thus the proud +swelling of his heart further suggested--“Coeur de Lion, as he is +called, might have measured the feelings of others by his own. I urge an +address to his kinswoman! I, who never spoke word to her when I took a +royal prize from her hand--when I was accounted not the lowest in feats +of chivalry among the defenders of the Cross! I approach her when in +a base disguise, and in a servile habit--and, alas! when my actual +condition is that of a slave, with a spot of dishonour on that which was +once my shield! I do this! He little knows me. Yet I thank him for the +opportunity which may make us all better acquainted with each other.” + +As he arrived at this conclusion, they paused before the entrance of the +Queen's pavilion. + +They were of course admitted by the guards, and Neville, leaving the +Nubian in a small apartment, or antechamber, which was but too well +remembered by him, passed into that which was used as the Queen's +presence-chamber. He communicated his royal master's pleasure in a +low and respectful tone of voice, very different from the bluntness +of Thomas de Vaux, to whom Richard was everything and the rest of the +Court, including Berengaria herself, was nothing. A burst of laughter +followed the communication of his errand. + +“And what like is the Nubian slave who comes ambassador on such an +errand from the Soldan?--a negro, De Neville, is he not?” said a female +voice, easily recognized for that of Berengaria. “A negro, is he not, De +Neville, with black skin, a head curled like a ram's, a flat nose, and +blubber lips--ha, worthy Sir Henry?” + +“Let not your Grace forget the shin-bones,” said another voice, “bent +outwards like the edge of a Saracen scimitar.” + +“Rather like the bow of a Cupid, since he comes upon a lover's errand,” + said the Queen.--“Gentle Neville, thou art ever prompt to pleasure us +poor women, who have so little to pass away our idle moments. We must +see this messenger of love. Turks and Moors have I seen many, but negro +never.” + +“I am created to obey your Grace's commands, so you will bear me out +with my Sovereign for doing so,” answered the debonair knight. “Yet, +let me assure your Grace you will see something different from what you +expect.” + +“So much the better--uglier yet than our imaginations can fancy, yet the +chosen love-messenger of this gallant Soldan!” + +“Gracious madam,” said the Lady Calista, “may I implore you would permit +the good knight to carry this messenger straight to the Lady Edith, to +whom his credentials are addressed? We have already escaped hardly for +such a frolic.” + +“Escaped?” repeated the Queen scornfully. “Yet thou mayest be right, +Calista, in thy caution. Let this Nubian, as thou callest him, first do +his errand to our cousin--besides, he is mute too, is he not?” + +“He is, gracious madam,” answered the knight. + +“Royal sport have these Eastern ladies,” said Berengaria, “attended by +those before whom they may say anything, yet who can report nothing. +Whereas in our camp, as the Prelate of Saint Jude's is wont to say, a +bird of the air will carry the matter.” + +“Because,” said De Neville, “your Grace forgets that you speak within +canvas walls.” + +The voices sunk on this observation, and after a little whispering, the +English knight again returned to the Ethiopian, and made him a sign +to follow. He did so, and Neville conducted him to a pavilion, pitched +somewhat apart from that of the Queen, for the accommodation, it seemed, +of the Lady Edith and her attendants. One of her Coptic maidens received +the message communicated by Sir Henry Neville, and in the space of a +very few minutes the Nubian was ushered into Edith's presence, while +Neville was left on the outside of the tent. The slave who introduced +him withdrew on a signal from her mistress, and it was with humiliation, +not of the posture only but of the very inmost soul, that the +unfortunate knight, thus strangely disguised, threw himself on one +knee, with looks bent on the ground and arms folded on his bosom, like a +criminal who expects his doom. Edith was clad in the same manner as +when she received King Richard, her long, transparent dark veil hanging +around her like the shade of a summer night on a beautiful landscape, +disguising and rendering obscure the beauties which it could not hide. +She held in her hand a silver lamp, fed with some aromatic spirit, which +burned with unusual brightness. + +When Edith came within a step of the kneeling and motionless slave, +she held the light towards his face, as if to peruse his features more +attentively, then turned from him, and placed her lamp so as to throw +the shadow of his face in profile upon the curtain which hung beside. +She at length spoke in a voice composed, yet deeply sorrowful, + +“Is it you? It is indeed you, brave Knight of the Leopard--gallant Sir +Kenneth of Scotland; is it indeed you?--thus servilely disguised--thus +surrounded by a hundred dangers.” + +At hearing the tones of his lady's voice thus unexpectedly addressed +to him, and in a tone of compassion approaching to tenderness, a +corresponding reply rushed to the knight's lips, and scarce could +Richard's commands and his own promised silence prevent his answering +that the sight he saw, the sounds he just heard, were sufficient to +recompense the slavery of a life, and dangers which threatened that +life every hour. He did recollect himself, however, and a deep and +impassioned sigh was his only reply to the high-born Edith's question. + +“I see--I know I have guessed right,” continued Edith. “I marked you +from your first appearance near the platform on which I stood with the +Queen. I knew, too, your valiant hound. She is no true lady, and +is unworthy of the service of such a knight as thou art, from whom +disguises of dress or hue could conceal a faithful servant. Speak, then, +without fear to Edith Plantagenet. She knows how to grace in adversity +the good knight who served, honoured, and did deeds of arms in her name, +when fortune befriended him.--Still silent! Is it fear or shame that +keeps thee so! Fear should be unknown to thee; and for shame, let it +remain with those who have wronged thee.” + +The knight, in despair at being obliged to play the mute in an interview +so interesting, could only express his mortification by sighing deeply, +and laying his finger upon his lips. Edith stepped back, as if somewhat +displeased. + +“What!” she said, “the Asiatic mute in very deed, as well as in attire? +This I looked not for. Or thou mayest scorn me, perhaps, for thus boldly +acknowledging that I have heedfully observed the homage thou hast paid +me? Hold no unworthy thoughts of Edith on that account. She knows well +the bounds which reserve and modesty prescribe to high-born maidens, +and she knows when and how far they should give place to gratitude--to +a sincere desire that it were in her power to repay services and repair +injuries arising from the devotion which a good knight bore towards her. +Why fold thy hands together, and wring them with so much passion? Can +it be,” she added, shrinking back at the idea, “that their cruelty +has actually deprived thee of speech? Thou shakest thy head. Be it a +spell--be it obstinacy, I question thee no further, but leave thee to do +thine errand after thine own fashion. I also can be mute.” + +The disguised knight made an action as if at once lamenting his own +condition and deprecating her displeasure, while at the same time he +presented to her, wrapped, as usual, in fine silk and cloth of gold, the +letter of the Soldan. She took it, surveyed it carelessly, then laid it +aside, and bending her eyes once more on the knight, she said in a low +tone, “Not even a word to do thine errand to me?” + +He pressed both his hands to his brow, as if to intimate the pain which +he felt at being unable to obey her; but she turned from him in anger. + +“Begone!” she said. “I have spoken enough--too much--to one who will not +waste on me a word in reply. Begone!--and say, if I have wronged thee, I +have done penance; for if I have been the unhappy means of dragging thee +down from a station of honour, I have, in this interview, forgotten my +own worth, and lowered myself in thy eyes and in my own.” + +She covered her eyes with her hands, and seemed deeply agitated. Sir +Kenneth would have approached, but she waved him back. + +“Stand off! thou whose soul Heaven hath suited to its new station! +Aught less dull and fearful than a slavish mute had spoken a word of +gratitude, were it but to reconcile me to my own degradation. Why pause +you?--begone!” + +The disguised knight almost involuntarily looked towards the letter as +an apology for protracting his stay. She snatched it up, saying in a +tone of irony and contempt, “I had forgotten--the dutiful slave waits an +answer to his message. How's this--from the Soldan!” + +She hastily ran over the contents, which were expressed both in Arabic +and French, and when she had done, she laughed in bitter anger. + +“Now this passes imagination!” she said; “no jongleur can show so deft +a transmutation! His legerdemain can transform zechins and byzants into +doits and maravedis; but can his art convert a Christian knight, ever +esteemed among the bravest of the Holy Crusade, into the dust-kissing +slave of a heathen Soldan--the bearer of a paynim's insolent proposals +to a Christian maiden--nay, forgetting the laws of honourable chivalry, +as well as of religion? But it avails not talking to the willing slave +of a heathen hound. Tell your master, when his scourge shall have found +thee a tongue, that which thou hast seen me do”--so saying, she threw +the Soldan's letter on the ground, and placed her foot upon it--“and +say to him, that Edith Plantagenet scorns the homage of an unchristened +pagan.” + +With these words she was about to shoot from the knight, when, kneeling +at her feet in bitter agony, he ventured to lay his hand upon her robe +and oppose her departure. + +“Heard'st thou not what I said, dull slave?” she said, turning short +round on him, and speaking with emphasis. “Tell the heathen Soldan, thy +master, that I scorn his suit as much as I despise the prostration of a +worthless renegade to religion and chivalry--to God and to his lady!” + +So saying, she burst from him, tore her garment from his grasp, and left +the tent. + +The voice of Neville, at the same time, summoned him from without. +Exhausted and stupefied by the distress he had undergone during this +interview, from which he could only have extricated himself by breach +of the engagement which he had formed with King Richard, the unfortunate +knight staggered rather than walked after the English baron, till they +reached the royal pavilion, before which a party of horsemen had just +dismounted. There were light and motion within the tent, and when +Neville entered with his disguised attendant, they found the King, +with several of his nobility, engaged in welcoming those who were newly +arrived. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + “The tears I shed must ever fall. + I weep not for an absent swain; + For time may happier hours recall, + And parted lovers meet again. + + “I weep not for the silent dead. + Their pains are past, their sorrows o'er; + And those that loved their steps must tread, + When death shall join to part no more.” + + But worse than absence, worse than death, + She wept her lover's sullied fame, + And, fired with all the pride of birth, + She wept a soldier's injured name. + BALLAD. + +The frank and bold voice of Richard was heard in joyous gratulation. + +“Thomas de Vaux! stout Tom of the Gills! by the head of King Henry, thou +art welcome to me as ever was flask of wine to a jolly toper! I should +scarce have known how to order my battle-array, unless I had thy bulky +form in mine eye as a landmark to form my ranks upon. We shall have +blows anon, Thomas, if the saints be gracious to us; and had we fought +in thine absence, I would have looked to hear of thy being found hanging +upon an elder-tree.” + +“I should have borne my disappointment with more Christian patience, +I trust,” said Thomas de Vaux, “than to have died the death of an +apostate. But I thank your Grace for my welcome, which is the more +generous, as it respects a banquet of blows, of which, saving your +pleasure, you are ever too apt to engross the larger share. But here +have I brought one to whom your Grace will, I know, give a yet warmer +welcome.” + +The person who now stepped forward to make obeisance to Richard was a +young man of low stature and slight form. His dress was as modest as his +figure was unimpressive; but he bore on his bonnet a gold buckle, with a +gem, the lustre of which could only be rivalled by the brilliancy of +the eye which the bonnet shaded. It was the only striking feature in his +countenance; but when once noticed, it ever made a strong impression on +the spectator. About his neck there hung in a scarf of sky-blue silk a +WREST as it was called--that is, the key with which a harp is tuned, and +which was of solid gold. + +This personage would have kneeled reverently to Richard, but the Monarch +raised him in joyful haste, pressed him to his bosom warmly, and kissed +him on either side of the face. + +“Blondel de Nesle!” he exclaimed joyfully--“welcome from Cyprus, my king +of minstrels!--welcome to the King of England, who rates not his own +dignity more highly than he does thine. I have been sick, man, and, by +my soul, I believe it was for lack of thee; for, were I half way to the +gate of heaven, methinks thy strains could call me back. And what news, +my gentle master, from the land of the lyre? Anything fresh from the +TROUVEURS of Provence? Anything from the minstrels of merry Normandy? +Above all, hast thou thyself been busy? But I need not ask thee--thou +canst not be idle if thou wouldst; thy noble qualities are like a fire +burning within, and compel thee to pour thyself out in music and song.” + +“Something I have learned, and something I have done, noble King,” + answered the celebrated Blondel, with a retiring modesty which all +Richard's enthusiastic admiration of his skill had been unable to +banish. + +“We will hear thee, man--we will hear thee instantly,” said the King. +Then, touching Blondel's shoulder kindly, he added, “That is, if thou +art not fatigued with thy journey; for I would sooner ride my best horse +to death than injure a note of thy voice.” + +“My voice is, as ever, at the service of my royal patron,” said Blondel; +“but your Majesty,” he added, looking at some papers on the table, +“seems more importantly engaged, and the hour waxes late.” + +“Not a whit, man, not a whit, my dearest Blondel. I did but sketch an +array of battle against the Saracens, a thing of a moment, almost as +soon done as the routing of them.” + +“Methinks, however,” said Thomas de Vaux, “it were not unfit to inquire +what soldiers your Grace hath to array. I bring reports on that subject +from Ascalon.” + +“Thou art a mule, Thomas,” said the King--“a very mule for dullness +and obstinacy! Come, nobles--a hall--a hall--range ye around him! Give +Blondel the tabouret. Where is his harp-bearer?--or, soft, lend him my +harp, his own may be damaged by the journey.” + +“I would your Grace would take my report,” said Thomas de Vaux. “I have +ridden far, and have more list to my bed than to have my ears tickled.” + +“THY ears tickled!” said the King; “that must be with a woodcock's +feather, and not with sweet sounds. Hark thee, Thomas, do thine ears +know the singing of Blondel from the braying of an ass?” + +“In faith, my liege,” replied Thomas, “I cannot well say; but setting +Blondel out of the question, who is a born gentleman, and doubtless of +high acquirements, I shall never, for the sake of your Grace's question, +look on a minstrel but I shall think upon an ass.” + +“And might not your manners,” said Richard, “have excepted me, who am a +gentleman born as well as Blondel, and, like him, a guild-brother of the +joyeuse science?” + +“Your Grace should remember,” said De Vaux, smiling, “that 'tis useless +asking for manners from a mule.” + +“Most truly spoken,” said the King; “and an ill-conditioned animal thou +art. But come hither, master mule, and be unloaded, that thou mayest get +thee to thy litter, without any music being wasted on thee. Meantime do +thou, good brother of Salisbury, go to our consort's tent, and tell +her that Blondel has arrived, with his budget fraught with the newest +minstrelsy. Bid her come hither instantly, and do thou escort her, and +see that our cousin, Edith Plantagenet, remain not behind.” + +His eye then rested for a moment on the Nubian, with that expression of +doubtful meaning which his countenance usually displayed when he looked +at him. + +“Ha, our silent and secret messenger returned?--Stand up, slave, behind +the back of De Neville, and thou shalt hear presently sounds which will +make thee bless God that He afflicted thee rather with dumbness than +deafness.” + +So saying, he turned from the rest of the company towards De Vaux, and +plunged instantly into the military details which that baron laid before +him. + +About the time that the Lord of Gilsland had finished his audience, a +messenger announced that the Queen and her attendants were approaching +the royal tent.--“A flask of wine, ho!” said the King; “of old King +Isaac's long-saved Cyprus, which we won when we stormed Famagosta. Fill +to the stout Lord of Gilsland, gentles--a more careful and faithful +servant never had any prince.” + +“I am glad,” said Thomas de Vaux, “that your Grace finds the mule a +useful slave, though his voice be less musical than horse-hair or wire.” + +“What, thou canst not yet digest that quip of the mule?” said Richard. +“Wash it down with a brimming flagon, man, or thou wilt choke upon it. +Why, so--well pulled!--and now I will tell thee, thou art a soldier +as well as I, and we must brook each other's jests in the hall as each +other's blows in the tourney, and love each other the harder we hit. +By my faith, if thou didst not hit me as hard as I did thee in our late +encounter! thou gavest all thy wit to the thrust. But here lies the +difference betwixt thee and Blondel. Thou art but my comrade--I might +say my pupil--in the art of war; Blondel is my master in the science of +minstrelsy and music. To thee I permit the freedom of intimacy; to him +I must do reverence, as to my superior in his art. Come, man, be not +peevish, but remain and hear our glee.” + +“To see your Majesty in such cheerful mood,” said the Lord of Gilsland, +“by my faith, I could remain till Blondel had achieved the great romance +of King Arthur, which lasts for three days.” + +“We will not tax your patience so deeply,” said the King. “But see, +yonder glare of torches without shows that our consort approaches. Away +to receive her, man, and win thyself grace in the brightest eyes of +Christendom. Nay, never stop to adjust thy cloak. See, thou hast let +Neville come between the wind and the sails of thy galley.” + +“He was never before me in the field of battle,” said De Vaux, not +greatly pleased to see himself anticipated by the more active service of +the chamberlain. + +“No, neither he nor any one went before thee there, my good Tom of the +Gills,” said the King, “unless it was ourself, now and then.” + +“Ay, my liege,” said De Vaux, “and let us do justice to the unfortunate. +The unhappy Knight of the Leopard hath been before me too, at a season; +for, look you, he weighs less on horseback, and so--” + +“Hush!” said the King, interrupting him in a peremptory tone, “not a +word of him,” and instantly stepped forward to greet his royal consort; +and when he had done so, he presented to her Blondel, as king of +minstrelsy and his master in the gay science. Berengaria, who well knew +that her royal husband's passion for poetry and music almost equalled +his appetite for warlike fame, and that Blondel was his especial +favourite, took anxious care to receive him with all the flattering +distinctions due to one whom the King delighted to honour. Yet it was +evident that, though Blondel made suitable returns to the compliments +showered on him something too abundantly by the royal beauty, he owned +with deeper reverence and more humble gratitude the simple and graceful +welcome of Edith, whose kindly greeting appeared to him, perhaps, +sincere in proportion to its brevity and simplicity. + +Both the Queen and her royal husband were aware of this distinction, and +Richard, seeing his consort somewhat piqued at the preference assigned +to his cousin, by which perhaps he himself did not feel much gratified, +said in the hearing of both, “We minstrels, Berengaria, as thou mayest +see by the bearing of our master Blondel, pay more reverence to a severe +judge like our kinswoman than to a kindly, partial friend like thyself, +who is willing to take our worth upon trust.” + +Edith was moved by this sarcasm of her royal kinsman, and hesitated +not to reply that, “To be a harsh and severe judge was not an attribute +proper to her alone of all the Plantagenets.” + +She had perhaps said more, having some touch of the temper of that +house, which, deriving their name and cognizance from the lowly broom +(PLANTA GENISTA), assumed as an emblem of humility, were perhaps one +of the proudest families that ever ruled in England; but her eye, when +kindling in her reply, suddenly caught those of the Nubian, although he +endeavoured to conceal himself behind the nobles who were present, +and she sunk upon a seat, turning so pale that Queen Berengaria deemed +herself obliged to call for water and essences, and to go through the +other ceremonies appropriate to a lady's swoon. Richard, who better +estimated Edith's strength of mind, called to Blondel to assume his seat +and commence his lay, declaring that minstrelsy was worth every other +recipe to recall a Plantagenet to life. “Sing us,” he said, “that song +of the Bloody Vest, of which thou didst formerly give me the argument +ere I left Cyprus. Thou must be perfect in it by this time, or, as our +yeomen say, thy bow is broken.” + +The anxious eye of the minstrel, however, dwelt on Edith, and it was +not till he observed her returning colour that he obeyed the repeated +commands of the King. Then, accompanying his voice with the harp, so as +to grace, but yet not drown, the sense of what he sung, he chanted in +a sort of recitative one of those ancient adventures of love and +knighthood which were wont of yore to win the public attention. So soon +as he began to prelude, the insignificance of his personal appearance +seemed to disappear, and his countenance glowed with energy and +inspiration. His full, manly, mellow voice, so absolutely under command +of the purest taste, thrilled on every ear and to every heart. Richard, +rejoiced as after victory, called out the appropriate summons for +silence, “Listen, lords, in bower and hall”; while, with the zeal of a +patron at once and a pupil, he arranged the circle around, and hushed +them into silence; and he himself sat down with an air of expectation +and interest, not altogether unmixed with the gravity of the professed +critic. The courtiers turned their eyes on the King, that they might be +ready to trace and imitate the emotions his features should express, and +Thomas de Vaux yawned tremendously, as one who submitted unwillingly +to a wearisome penance. The song of Blondel was of course in the Norman +language, but the verses which follow express its meaning and its +manner. + + + THE BLOODY VEST. + + 'Twas near the fair city of Benevent, + When the sun was setting on bough and bent, + And knights were preparing in bower and tent, + On the eve of the Baptist's tournament; + When in Lincoln green a stripling gent, + Well seeming a page by a princess sent, + Wander'd the camp, and, still as he went, + Inquired for the Englishman, Thomas a Kent. + + Far hath he far'd, and farther must fare, + Till he finds his pavilion nor stately nor rare,-- + Little save iron and steel was there; + And, as lacking the coin to pay armourer's care, + With his sinewy arms to the shoulders bare, + The good knight with hammer and file did repair + The mail that to-morrow must see him wear, + For the honour of Saint John and his lady fair. + + “Thus speaks my lady,” the page said he, + And the knight bent lowly both head and knee, + “She is Benevent's Princess so high in degree, + And thou art as lowly as knight may well be-- + He that would climb so lofty a tree, + Or spring such a gulf as divides her from thee, + Must dare some high deed, by which all men may see + His ambition is back'd by his hie chivalrie. + + “Therefore thus speaks my lady,” the fair page he said, + And the knight lowly louted with hand and with head, + “Fling aside the good armour in which thou art clad, + And don thou this weed of her night-gear instead, + For a hauberk of steel, a kirtle of thread; + And charge, thus attir'd, in the tournament dread, + And fight as thy wont is where most blood is shed, + And bring honour away, or remain with the dead.” + +Untroubled in his look, and untroubled in his breast, The knight the +weed hath taken, and reverently hath kiss'd. “Now blessed be the moment, +the messenger be blest! Much honour'd do I hold me in my lady's high +behest; And say unto my lady, in this dear night-weed dress'd, To the +best armed champion I will not veil my crest; But if I live and bear me +well 'tis her turn to take the test.” Here, gentles, ends the foremost +fytte of the Lay of the Bloody Vest. + +“Thou hast changed the measure upon us unawares in that last couplet, my +Blondel,” said the King. + +“Most true, my lord,” said Blondel. “I rendered the verses from the +Italian of an old harper whom I met in Cyprus, and not having had time +either to translate it accurately or commit it to memory, I am fain to +supply gaps in the music and the verse as I can upon the spur of the +moment, as you see boors mend a quickset fence with a fagot.” + +“Nay, on my faith,” said the King, “I like these rattling, rolling +Alexandrines. Methinks they come more twangingly off to the music than +that briefer measure.” + +“Both are licensed, as is well known to your Grace,” answered Blondel. + +“They are so, Blondel,” said Richard, “yet methinks the scene where +there is like to be fighting will go best on in these same thundering +Alexandrines, which sound like the charge of cavalry, while the other +measure is but like the sidelong amble of a lady's palfrey.” + +“It shall be as your Grace pleases,” replied Blondel, and began again to +prelude. + +“Nay, first cherish thy fancy with a cup of fiery Chios wine,” said +the King. “And hark thee, I would have thee fling away that new-fangled +restriction of thine, of terminating in accurate and similar rhymes. +They are a constraint on thy flow of fancy, and make thee resemble a man +dancing in fetters.” + +“The fetters are easily flung off, at least,” said Blondel, again +sweeping his fingers over the strings, as one who would rather have +played than listened to criticism. + +“But why put them on, man?” continued the King. “Wherefore thrust thy +genius into iron bracelets? I marvel how you got forward at all. I am +sure I should not have been able to compose a stanza in yonder hampered +measure.” + +Blondel looked down, and busied himself with the strings of his harp, to +hide an involuntary smile which crept over his features; but it escaped +not Richard's observation. + +“By my faith, thou laughest at me, Blondel,” he said; “and, in good +truth, every man deserves it who presumes to play the master when he +should be the pupil. But we kings get bad habits of self-opinion. Come, +on with thy lay, dearest Blondel--on after thine own fashion, better +than aught that we can suggest, though we must needs be talking.” + +Blondel resumed the lay; but as extemporaneous composition was familiar +to him, he failed not to comply with the King's hints, and was perhaps +not displeased to show with how much ease he could new-model a poem, +even while in the act of recitation. + + + THE BLOODY VEST. + + FYTTE SECOND. + + The Baptist's fair morrow beheld gallant feats-- + There was winning of honour and losing of seats; + There was hewing with falchions and splintering of staves-- + The victors won glory, the vanquish'd won graves. + Oh, many a knight there fought bravely and well, + Yet one was accounted his peers to excel, + And 'twas he whose sole armour on body and breast + Seem'd the weed of a damsel when bouned for her rest. + + There were some dealt him wounds that were bloody and sore, + But others respected his plight, and forbore. + “It is some oath of honour,” they said, “and I trow, + 'Twere unknightly to slay him achieving his vow.” + Then the Prince, for his sake, bade the tournament cease-- + He flung down his warder, the trumpets sung peace; + And the judges declare, and competitors yield, + That the Knight of the Night-gear was first in the field. + + The feast it was nigh, and the mass it was nigher, + When before the fair Princess low looted a squire, + And deliver'd a garment unseemly to view, + With sword-cut and spear-thrust, all hack'd and pierc'd through; + All rent and all tatter'd, all clotted with blood, + With foam of the horses, with dust, and with mud; + Not the point of that lady's small finger, I ween, + Could have rested on spot was unsullied and clean. + + “This token my master, Sir Thomas a Kent, + Restores to the Princess of fair Benevent; + He that climbs the tall tree has won right to the fruit, + He that leaps the wide gulf should prevail in his suit; + Through life's utmost peril the prize I have won, + And now must the faith of my mistress be shown: + For she who prompts knights on such danger to run + Must avouch his true service in front of the sun. + + “'I restore,' says my master, 'the garment I've worn, + And I claim of the Princess to don it in turn; + For its stains and its rents she should prize it the more, + Since by shame 'tis unsullied, though crimson'd with gore.'” + Then deep blush'd the Princess--yet kiss'd she and press'd + The blood-spotted robes to her lips and her breast. + “Go tell my true knight, church and chamber shall show + If I value the blood on this garment or no.” + + And when it was time for the nobles to pass, + In solemn procession to minster and mass, + The first walk'd the Princess in purple and pall, + But the blood-besmear'd night-robe she wore over all; + And eke, in the hall, where they all sat at dine, + When she knelt to her father and proffer'd the wine, + Over all her rich robes and state jewels she wore + That wimple unseemly bedabbled with gore. + + Then lords whisper'd ladies, as well you may think, + And ladies replied with nod, titter, and wink; + And the Prince, who in anger and shame had look'd down, + Turn'd at length to his daughter, and spoke with a frown: + “Now since thou hast publish'd thy folly and guilt, + E'en atone with thy hand for the blood thou hast spilt; + Yet sore for your boldness you both will repent, + When you wander as exiles from fair Benevent.” + + Then out spoke stout Thomas, in hall where he stood, + Exhausted and feeble, but dauntless of mood: + “The blood that I lost for this daughter of thine, + I pour'd forth as freely as flask gives its wine; + And if for my sake she brooks penance and blame, + Do not doubt I will save her from suffering and shame; + And light will she reck of thy princedom and rent, + When I hail her, in England, the Countess of Kent.” + + +A murmur of applause ran through the assembly, following the example +of Richard himself, who loaded with praises his favourite minstrel, and +ended by presenting him with a ring of considerable value. The Queen +hastened to distinguish the favourite by a rich bracelet, and many of +the nobles who were present followed the royal example. + +“Is our cousin Edith,” said the King, “become insensible to the sound of +the harp she once loved?” + +“She thanks Blondel for his lay,” replied Edith, “but doubly the +kindness of the kinsman who suggested it.” + +“Thou art angry, cousin,” said the King; “angry because thou hast heard +of a woman more wayward than thyself. But you escape me not. I will walk +a space homeward with you towards the Queen's pavilion. We must have +conference together ere the night has waned into morning.” + +The Queen and her attendants were now on foot, and the other guests +withdrew from the royal tent. A train with blazing torches, and an +escort of archers, awaited Berengaria without the pavilion, and she was +soon on her way homeward. Richard, as he had proposed, walked beside +his kinswoman, and compelled her to accept of his arm as her support, so +that they could speak to each other without being overheard. + +“What answer, then, am I to return to the noble Soldan?” said Richard. +“The kings and princes are falling from me, Edith; this new quarrel hath +alienated them once more. I would do something for the Holy Sepulchre by +composition, if not by victory; and the chance of my doing this depends, +alas, on the caprice of a woman. I would lay my single spear in the rest +against ten of the best lances in Christendom, rather than argue with a +wilful wench who knows not what is for her own good. What answer, coz, +am I to return to the Soldan? It must be decisive.” + +“Tell him,” said Edith, “that the poorest of the Plantagenets will +rather wed with misery than with misbelief.” + +“Shall I say with slavery, Edith?” said the King. “Methinks that is +nearer thy thoughts.” + +“There is no room,” said Edith, “for the suspicion you so grossly +insinuate. Slavery of the body might have been pitied, but that of the +soul is only to be despised. Shame to thee, King of merry England. Thou +hast enthralled both the limbs and the spirit of a knight, one scarce +less famed than thyself.” + +“Should I not prevent my kinswoman from drinking poison, by sullying +the vessel which contained it, if I saw no other means of disgusting her +with the fatal liquor?” replied the King. + +“It is thyself,” answered Edith, “that would press me to drink poison, +because it is proffered in a golden chalice.” + +“Edith,” said Richard, “I cannot force thy resolution; but beware you +shut not the door which Heaven opens. The hermit of Engaddi--he whom +Popes and Councils have regarded as a prophet--hath read in the stars +that thy marriage shall reconcile me with a powerful enemy, and that thy +husband shall be Christian, leaving thus the fairest ground to hope that +the conversion of the Soldan, and the bringing in of the sons of Ishmael +to the pale of the church, will be the consequence of thy wedding with +Saladin. Come, thou must make some sacrifice rather than mar such happy +prospects.” + +“Men may sacrifice rams and goats,” said Edith, “but not honour and +conscience. I have heard that it was the dishonour of a Christian maiden +which brought the Saracens into Spain; the shame of another is no likely +mode of expelling them from Palestine.” + +“Dost thou call it shame to become an empress?” said the King. + +“I call it shame and dishonour to profane a Christian sacrament by +entering into it with an infidel whom it cannot bind; and I call it foul +dishonour that I, the descendant of a Christian princess, should become +of free will the head of a haram of heathen concubines.” + +“Well, kinswoman,” said the King, after a pause, “I must not quarrel +with thee, though I think thy dependent condition might have dictated +more compliance.” + +“My liege,” replied Edith, “your Grace hath worthily succeeded to all +the wealth, dignity, and dominion of the House of Plantagenet--do +not, therefore, begrudge your poor kinswoman some small share of their +pride.” + +“By my faith, wench,” said the King, “thou hast unhorsed me with that +very word, so we will kiss and be friends. I will presently dispatch +thy answer to Saladin. But after all, coz, were it not better to +suspend your answer till you have seen him? Men say he is pre-eminently +handsome.” + +“There is no chance of our meeting, my lord,” said Edith. + +“By Saint George, but there is next to a certainty of it,” said the +King; “for Saladin will doubtless afford us a free field for the +doing of this new battle of the Standard, and will witness it himself. +Berengaria is wild to behold it also; and I dare be sworn not a feather +of you, her companions and attendants, will remain behind--least of all +thou thyself, fair coz. But come, we have reached the pavilion, and must +part; not in unkindness thou, oh--nay, thou must seal it with thy lip as +well as thy hand, sweet Edith--it is my right as a sovereign to kiss my +pretty vassals.” + +He embraced her respectfully and affectionately, and returned through +the moonlit camp, humming to himself such snatches of Blondel's lay as +he could recollect. + +On his arrival he lost no time in making up his dispatches for Saladin, +and delivered them to the Nubian, with a charge to set out by peep of +day on his return to the Soldan. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + We heard the Techir--so these Arabs call + Their shout of onset, when, with loud acclaim, + They challenge Heaven to give them victory. + SIEGE OF DAMASCUS. + +On the subsequent morning Richard was invited to a conference by Philip +of France, in which the latter, with many expressions of his high esteem +for his brother of England, communicated to him in terms extremely +courteous, but too explicit to be misunderstood, his positive intention +to return to Europe, and to the cares of his kingdom, as entirely +despairing of future success in their undertaking, with their diminished +forces and civil discords. Richard remonstrated, but in vain; and when +the conference ended he received without surprise a manifesto from the +Duke of Austria, and several other princes, announcing a resolution +similar to that of Philip, and in no modified terms, assigning, for +their defection from the cause of the Cross, the inordinate ambition and +arbitrary domination of Richard of England. All hopes of continuing +the war with any prospect of ultimate success were now abandoned; and +Richard, while he shed bitter tears over his disappointed hopes of +glory, was little consoled by the recollection that the failure was +in some degree to be imputed to the advantages which he had given his +enemies by his own hasty and imprudent temper. + +“They had not dared to have deserted my father thus,” he said to De +Vaux, in the bitterness of his resentment. “No slanders they could have +uttered against so wise a king would have been believed in Christendom; +whereas--fool that I am!--I have not only afforded them a pretext for +deserting me, but even a colour for casting all the blame of the rupture +upon my unhappy foibles.” + +These thoughts were so deeply galling to the King, that De Vaux was +rejoiced when the arrival of an ambassador from Saladin turned his +reflections into a different channel. + +This new envoy was an Emir much respected by the Soldan, whose name +was Abdallah el Hadgi. He derived his descent from the family of the +Prophet, and the race or tribe of Hashem, in witness of which genealogy +he wore a green turban of large dimensions. He had also three times +performed the journey to Mecca, from which he derived his epithet of +El Hadgi, or the Pilgrim. Notwithstanding these various pretensions to +sanctity, Abdallah was (for an Arab) a boon companion, who enjoyed +a merry tale, and laid aside his gravity so far as to quaff a blithe +flagon when secrecy ensured him against scandal. He was likewise +a statesman, whose abilities had been used by Saladin in various +negotiations with the Christian princes, and particularly with Richard, +to whom El Hadgi was personally known and acceptable. Animated by the +cheerful acquiescence with which the envoy of Saladin afforded a fair +field for the combat, a safe conduct for all who might choose to witness +it, and offered his own person as a guarantee of his fidelity, Richard +soon forgot his disappointed hopes, and the approaching dissolution of +the Christian league, in the interesting discussions preceding a combat +in the lists. + +The station called the Diamond of the Desert was assigned for the place +of conflict, as being nearly at an equal distance betwixt the Christian +and Saracen camps. It was agreed that Conrade of Montserrat, the +defendant, with his godfathers, the Archduke of Austria and the Grand +Master of the Templars, should appear there on the day fixed for the +combat, with a hundred armed followers, and no more; that Richard of +England and his brother Salisbury, who supported the accusation, should +attend with the same number, to protect his champion; and that the +Soldan should bring with him a guard of five hundred chosen followers, +a band considered as not more than equal to the two hundred Christian +lances. Such persons of consideration as either party chose to invite to +witness the contest were to wear no other weapons than their swords, and +to come without defensive armour. The Soldan undertook the preparation +of the lists, and to provide accommodations and refreshments of every +kind for all who were to assist at the solemnity; and his letters +expressed with much courtesy the pleasure which he anticipated in the +prospect of a personal and peaceful meeting with the Melech Ric, and his +anxious desire to render his reception as agreeable as possible. + +All preliminaries being arranged and communicated to the defendant +and his godfathers, Abdullah the Hadgi was admitted to a more private +interview, where he heard with delight the strains of Blondel. Having +first carefully put his green turban out of sight, and assumed a +Greek cap in its stead, he requited the Norman minstrel's music with a +drinking song from the Persian, and quaffed a hearty flagon of Cyprus +wine, to show that his practice matched his principles. On the next day, +grave and sober as the water-drinker Mirglip, he bent his brow to the +ground before Saladin's footstool, and rendered to the Soldan an account +of his embassy. + +On the day before that appointed for the combat Conrade and his friends +set off by daybreak to repair to the place assigned, and Richard left +the camp at the same hour and for the same purpose; but, as had been +agreed upon, he took his journey by a different route--a precaution +which had been judged necessary, to prevent the possibility of a quarrel +betwixt their armed attendants. + +The good King himself was in no humour for quarrelling with any one. +Nothing could have added to his pleasurable anticipations of a desperate +and bloody combat in the lists, except his being in his own royal +person one of the combatants; and he was half in charity again even +with Conrade of Montserrat. Lightly armed, richly dressed, and gay as +a bridegroom on the eve of his nuptials, Richard caracoled along by +the side of Queen Berengaria's litter, pointing out to her the various +scenes through which they passed, and cheering with tale and song the +bosom of the inhospitable wilderness. The former route of the Queen's +pilgrimage to Engaddi had been on the other side of the chain of +mountains, so that the ladies were strangers to the scenery of the +desert; and though Berengaria knew her husband's disposition too well +not to endeavour to seem interested in what he was pleased either to +say or to sing, she could not help indulging some female fears when she +found herself in the howling wilderness with so small an escort, which +seemed almost like a moving speck on the bosom of the plain, and knew +at the same time they were not so distant from the camp of Saladin, +but what they might be in a moment surprised and swept off by an +overpowering host of his fiery-footed cavalry, should the pagan be +faithless enough to embrace an opportunity thus tempting. But when she +hinted these suspicions to Richard he repelled them with displeasure and +disdain. “It were worse than ingratitude,” he said, “to doubt the good +faith of the generous Soldan.” + +Yet the same doubts and fears recurred more than once, not to the timid +mind of the Queen alone, but to the firmer and more candid soul of Edith +Plantagenet, who had no such confidence in the faith of the Moslem as +to render her perfectly at ease when so much in their power; and her +surprise had been far less than her terror, if the desert around had +suddenly resounded with the shout of ALLAH HU! and a band of Arab +cavalry had pounced on them like vultures on their prey. Nor were these +suspicions lessened when, as evening approached, they were aware of +a single Arab horseman, distinguished by his turban and long lance, +hovering on the edge of a small eminence like a hawk poised in the air, +and who instantly, on the appearance of the royal retinue, darted +off with the speed of the same bird when it shoots down the wind and +disappears from the horizon. + +“We must be near the station,” said King Richard; “and yonder cavalier +is one of Saladin's outposts--methinks I hear the noise of the Moorish +horns and cymbals. Get you into order, my hearts, and form yourselves +around the ladies soldierlike and firmly.” + +As he spoke, each knight, squire, and archer hastily closed in upon his +appointed ground, and they proceeded in the most compact order, which +made their numbers appear still smaller. And to say the truth, though +there might be no fear, there was anxiety as well as curiosity in the +attention with which they listened to the wild bursts of Moorish music, +which came ever and anon more distinctly from the quarter in which the +Arab horseman had been seen to disappear. + +De Vaux spoke in a whisper to the King. “Were it not well, my liege, to +send a page to the top of that sand-bank? Or would it stand with your +pleasure that I prick forward? Methinks, by all yonder clash and clang, +if there be no more than five hundred men beyond the sand-hills, half of +the Soldan's retinue must be drummers and cymbal-tossers. Shall I spur +on?” + +The baron had checked his horse with the bit, and was just about to +strike him with the spurs when the King exclaimed, “Not for the world. +Such a caution would express suspicion, and could do little to prevent +surprise, which, however, I apprehend not.” + +They advanced accordingly in close and firm order till they surmounted +the line of low sand-hills, and came in sight of the appointed station, +when a splendid, but at the same time a startling, spectacle awaited +them. + +The Diamond of the Desert, so lately a solitary fountain, distinguished +only amid the waste by solitary groups of palm-trees, was now the centre +of an encampment, the embroidered flags and gilded ornaments of which +glittered far and wide, and reflected a thousand rich tints against the +setting sun. The coverings of the large pavilions were of the gayest +colours--scarlet, bright yellow, pale blue, and other gaudy and gleaming +hues--and the tops of their pillars, or tent-poles, were decorated +with golden pomegranates and small silken flags. But besides these +distinguished pavilions, there were what Thomas de Vaux considered as +a portentous number of the ordinary black tents of the Arabs, being +sufficient, as he conceived, to accommodate, according to the Eastern +fashion, a host of five thousand men. A number of Arabs and Kurds, fully +corresponding to the extent of the encampment, were hastily assembling, +each leading his horse in his hand, and their muster was accompanied by +an astonishing clamour of their noisy instruments of martial music, by +which, in all ages, the warfare of the Arabs has been animated. + +They soon formed a deep and confused mass of dismounted cavalry in front +of their encampment, when, at the signal of a shrill cry, which arose +high over the clangour of the music, each cavalier sprung to his saddle. +A cloud of dust arising at the moment of this manoeuvre hid from Richard +and his attendants the camp, the palm-trees, and the distant ridge of +mountains, as well as the troops whose sudden movement had raised the +cloud, and, ascending high over their heads, formed itself into the +fantastic forms of writhed pillars, domes, and minarets. Another shrill +yell was heard from the bosom of this cloudy tabernacle. It was the +signal for the cavalry to advance, which they did at full gallop, +disposing themselves as they came forward so as to come in at once on +the front, flanks, and rear of Richard's little bodyguard, who were thus +surrounded, and almost choked by the dense clouds of dust enveloping +them on each side, through which were seen alternately, and lost, the +grim forms and wild faces of the Saracens, brandishing and tossing their +lances in every possible direction with the wildest cries and halloos, +and frequently only reining up their horses when within a spear's length +of the Christians, while those in the rear discharged over the heads of +both parties thick volleys of arrows. One of these struck the litter in +which the Queen was seated, who loudly screamed, and the red spot was on +Richard's brow in an instant. + +“Ha! Saint George,” he exclaimed, “we must take some order with this +infidel scum!” + +But Edith, whose litter was near, thrust her head out, and with her hand +holding one of the shafts, exclaimed, “Royal Richard, beware what you +do! see, these arrows are headless!” + +“Noble, sensible wench!” exclaimed Richard; “by Heaven, thou shamest +us all by thy readiness of thought and eye.--Be not moved, my English +hearts,” he exclaimed to his followers; “their arrows have no heads--and +their spears, too, lack the steel points. It is but a wild welcome, +after their savage fashion, though doubtless they would rejoice to see +us daunted or disturbed. Move onward, slow and steady.” + +The little phalanx moved forward accordingly, accompanied on all sides +by the Arabs, with the shrillest and most piercing cries, the bowmen, +meanwhile, displaying their agility by shooting as near the crests of +the Christians as was possible, without actually hitting them, while the +lancers charged each other with such rude blows of their blunt weapons +that more than one of them lost his saddle, and well-nigh his life, +in this rough sport. All this, though designed to express welcome, had +rather a doubtful appearance in the eyes of the Europeans. + +As they had advanced nearly half way towards the camp, King Richard and +his suite forming, as it were, the nucleus round which this tumultuary +body of horsemen howled, whooped, skirmished, and galloped, creating a +scene of indescribable confusion, another shrill cry was heard, on which +all these irregulars, who were on the front and upon the flanks of the +little body of Europeans, wheeled off; and forming themselves into a +long and deep column, followed with comparative order and silence in +the rear of Richard's troops. The dust began now to dissipate in their +front, when there advanced to meet them through that cloudy veil a body +of cavalry of a different and more regular description, completely armed +with offensive and defensive weapons, and who might well have served +as a bodyguard to the proudest of Eastern monarchs. This splendid troop +consisted of five hundred men and each horse which it contained was +worth an earl's ransom. The riders were Georgian and Circassian slaves +in the very prime of life. Their helmets and hauberks were formed of +steel rings, so bright that they shone like silver; their vestures were +of the gayest colours, and some of cloth of gold or silver; the sashes +were twisted with silk and gold, their rich turbans were plumed and +jewelled, and their sabres and poniards, of Damascene steel, were +adorned with gold and gems on hilt and scabbard. + +This splendid array advanced to the sound of military music, and when +they met the Christian body they opened their files to the right and +left, and let them enter between their ranks. Richard now assumed the +foremost place in his troop, aware that Saladin himself was approaching. +Nor was it long when, in the centre of his bodyguard, surrounded by his +domestic officers and those hideous negroes who guard the Eastern +haram, and whose misshapen forms were rendered yet more frightful by the +richness of their attire, came the Soldan, with the look and manners of +one on whose brow Nature had written, This is a King! In his snow-white +turban, vest, and wide Eastern trousers, wearing a sash of scarlet +silk, without any other ornament, Saladin might have seemed the +plainest-dressed man in his own guard. But closer inspection discerned +in his turban that inestimable gem which was called by the poets the +Sea of Light; the diamond on which his signet was engraved, and which he +wore in a ring, was probably worth all the jewels of the English crown; +and a sapphire which terminated the hilt of his cangiar was not of much +inferior value. It should be added that, to protect himself from the +dust, which in the vicinity of the Dead Sea resembles the finest ashes, +or, perhaps, out of Oriental pride, the Soldan wore a sort of veil +attached to his turban, which partly obscured the view of his noble +features. He rode a milk-white Arabian, which bore him as if conscious +and proud of his noble burden. + +There was no need of further introduction. The two heroic monarchs--for +such they both were--threw themselves at once from horseback, and the +troops halting and the music suddenly ceasing, they advanced to meet +each other in profound silence, and after a courteous inclination on +either side they embraced as brethren and equals. The pomp and display +upon both sides attracted no further notice--no one saw aught save +Richard and Saladin, and they too beheld nothing but each other. The +looks with which Richard surveyed Saladin were, however, more intently +curious than those which the Soldan fixed upon him; and the Soldan also +was the first to break silence. + +“The Melech Ric is welcome to Saladin as water to this desert. I trust +he hath no distrust of this numerous array. Excepting the armed slaves +of my household, those who surround you with eyes of wonder and of +welcome are--even the humblest of them--the privileged nobles of my +thousand tribes; for who that could claim a title to be present would +remain at home when such a Prince was to be seen as Richard, with the +terrors of whose name, even on the sands of Yemen, the nurse stills her +child, and the free Arab subdues his restive steed!” + +“And these are all nobles of Araby?” said Richard, looking around on +wild forms with their persons covered with haiks, their countenance +swart with the sunbeams, their teeth as white as ivory, their black eyes +glancing with fierce and preternatural lustre from under the shade of +their turbans, and their dress being in general simple even to meanness. + +“They claim such rank,” said Saladin; “but though numerous, they +are within the conditions of the treaty, and bear no arms but the +sabre--even the iron of their lances is left behind.” + +“I fear,” muttered De Vaux in English, “they have left them where they +can be soon found. A most flourishing House of Peers, I confess, and +would find Westminster Hall something too narrow for them.” + +“Hush, De Vaux,” said Richard, “I command thee.--Noble Saladin,” he +said, “suspicion and thou cannot exist on the same ground. Seest thou,” + pointing to the litters, “I too have brought some champions with me, +though armed, perhaps, in breach of agreement; for bright eyes and fair +features are weapons which cannot be left behind.” + +The Soldan, turning to the litters, made an obeisance as lowly as if +looking towards Mecca, and kissed the sand in token of respect. + +“Nay,” said Richard, “they will not fear a closer encounter, brother; +wilt thou not ride towards their litters, and the curtains will be +presently withdrawn?” + +“That may Allah prohibit!” said Saladin, “since not an Arab looks on who +would not think it shame to the noble ladies to be seen with their faces +uncovered.” + +“Thou shalt see them, then, in private, brother,” answered Richard. + +“To what purpose?” answered Saladin mournfully. “Thy last letter was, +to the hopes which I had entertained, like water to fire; and wherefore +should I again light a flame which may indeed consume, but cannot cheer +me? But will not my brother pass to the tent which his servant hath +prepared for him? My principal black slave hath taken order for the +reception of the Princesses, the officers of my household will attend +your followers, and ourself will be the chamberlain of the royal +Richard.” + +He led the way accordingly to a splendid pavilion, where was everything +that royal luxury could devise. De Vaux, who was in attendance, then +removed the chappe (CAPA), or long riding-cloak, which Richard wore, and +he stood before Saladin in the close dress which showed to advantage the +strength and symmetry of his person, while it bore a strong contrast +to the flowing robes which disguised the thin frame. of the Eastern +monarch. It was Richard's two-handed sword that chiefly attracted +the attention of the Saracen--a broad, straight blade, the seemingly +unwieldy length of which extended well-nigh from the shoulder to the +heel of the wearer. + +“Had I not,” said Saladin, “seen this brand flaming in the front of +battle, like that of Azrael, I had scarce believed that human arm could +wield it. Might I request to see the Melech Ric strike one blow with it +in peace, and in pure trial of strength?” + +“Willingly, noble Saladin,” answered Richard; and looking around for +something whereon to exercise his strength, he saw a steel mace held by +one of the attendants, the handle being of the same metal, and about an +inch and a half in diameter. This he placed on a block of wood. + +The anxiety of De Vaux for his master's honour led him to whisper in +English, “For the blessed Virgin's sake, beware what you attempt, my +liege! Your full strength is not as yet returned--give no triumph to the +infidel.” + +“Peace, fool!” said Richard, standing firm on his ground, and casting a +fierce glance around; “thinkest thou that I can fail in HIS presence?” + +The glittering broadsword, wielded by both his hands, rose aloft to the +King's left shoulder, circled round his head, descended with the sway +of some terrific engine, and the bar of iron rolled on the ground in two +pieces, as a woodsman would sever a sapling with a hedging-bill. + +“By the head of the Prophet, a most wonderful blow!” said the Soldan, +critically and accurately examining the iron bar which had been cut +asunder; and the blade of the sword was so well tempered as to exhibit +not the least token of having suffered by the feat it had performed. He +then took the King's hand, and looking on the size and muscular strength +which it exhibited, laughed as he placed it beside his own, so lank and +thin, so inferior in brawn and sinew. + +“Ay, look well,” said De Vaux in English, “it will be long ere your long +jackanape's fingers do such a feat with your fine gilded reaping-hook +there.” + +“Silence, De Vaux,” said Richard; “by Our Lady, he understands or +guesses thy meaning--be not so broad, I pray thee.” + +The Soldan, indeed, presently said, “Something I would fain +attempt--though wherefore should the weak show their inferiority in +presence of the strong? Yet each land hath its own exercises, and this +may be new to the Melech Ric.” So saying, he took from the floor a +cushion of silk and down, and placed it upright on one end. “Can thy +weapon, my brother, sever that cushion?” he said to King Richard. + +“No, surely,” replied the King; “no sword on earth, were it the +Excalibur of King Arthur, can cut that which opposes no steady +resistance to the blow.” + +“Mark, then,” said Saladin; and tucking up the sleeve of his gown, +showed his arm, thin indeed and spare, but which constant exercise had +hardened into a mass consisting of nought but bone, brawn, and sinew. He +unsheathed his scimitar, a curved and narrow blade, which glittered not +like the swords of the Franks, but was, on the contrary, of a dull blue +colour, marked with ten millions of meandering lines, which showed +how anxiously the metal had been welded by the armourer. Wielding this +weapon, apparently so inefficient when compared to that of Richard, the +Soldan stood resting his weight upon his left foot, which was slightly +advanced; he balanced himself a little, as if to steady his aim; then +stepping at once forward, drew the scimitar across the cushion, applying +the edge so dexterously, and with so little apparent effort, that the +cushion seemed rather to fall asunder than to be divided by violence. + +“It is a juggler's trick,” said De Vaux, darting forward and snatching +up the portion of the cushion which had been cut off, as if to assure +himself of the reality of the feat; “there is gramarye in this.” + +The Soldan seemed to comprehend him, for he undid the sort of veil +which he had hitherto worn, laid it double along the edge of his sabre, +extended the weapon edgeways in the air, and drawing it suddenly through +the veil, although it hung on the blade entirely loose, severed that +also into two parts, which floated to different sides of the tent, +equally displaying the extreme temper and sharpness of the weapon, and +the exquisite dexterity of him who used it. + +“Now, in good faith, my brother,” said Richard, “thou art even matchless +at the trick of the sword, and right perilous were it to meet thee! +Still, however, I put some faith in a downright English blow, and what +we cannot do by sleight we eke out by strength. Nevertheless, in truth +thou art as expert in inflicting wounds as my sage Hakim in curing them. +I trust I shall see the learned leech. I have much to thank him for, and +had brought some small present.” + +As he spoke, Saladin exchanged his turban for a Tartar cap. He had no +sooner done so, than De Vaux opened at once his extended mouth and his +large, round eyes, and Richard gazed with scarce less astonishment, +while the Soldan spoke in a grave and altered voice: “The sick man, +saith the poet, while he is yet infirm, knoweth the physician by his +step; but when he is recovered, he knoweth not even his face when he +looks upon him.” + +“A miracle!--a miracle!” exclaimed Richard. + +“Of Mahound's working, doubtless,” said Thomas de Vaux. + +“That I should lose my learned Hakim,” said Richard, “merely by absence +of his cap and robe, and that I should find him again in my royal +brother Saladin!” + +“Such is oft the fashion of the world,” answered the Soldan; “the +tattered robe makes not always the dervise.” + +“And it was through thy intercession,” said Richard, “that yonder +Knight of the Leopard was saved from death, and by thy artifice that he +revisited my camp in disguise?” + +“Even so,” replied Saladin. “I was physician enough to know that, unless +the wounds of his bleeding honour were stanched, the days of his life +must be few. His disguise was more easily penetrated than I had expected +from the success of my own.” + +“An accident,” said King Richard (probably alluding to the circumstance +of his applying his lips to the wound of the supposed Nubian), “let me +first know that his skin was artificially discoloured; and that hint +once taken, detection became easy, for his form and person are not to be +forgotten. I confidently expect that he will do battle on the morrow.” + +“He is full in preparation, and high in hope,” said the Soldan. “I have +furnished him with weapons and horse, thinking nobly of him from what I +have seen under various disguises.” + +“Knows he now,” said Richard, “to whom he lies under obligation?” + +“He doth,” replied the Saracen. “I was obliged to confess my person when +I unfolded my purpose.” + +“And confessed he aught to you?” said the King of England. + +“Nothing explicit,” replied the Soldan; “but from much that passed +between us, I conceive his love is too highly placed to be happy in its +issue.” + +“And thou knowest that his daring and insolent passion crossed thine own +wishes?” said Richard. + +“I might guess so much,” said Saladin; “but his passion had existed ere +my wishes had been formed--and, I must now add, is likely to survive +them. I cannot, in honour, revenge me for my disappointment on him who +had no hand in it. Or, if this high-born dame loved him better than +myself, who can say that she did not justice to a knight of her own +religion, who is full of nobleness?” + +“Yet of too mean lineage to mix with the blood of Plantagenet,” said +Richard haughtily. + +“Such may be your maxims in Frangistan,” replied the Soldan. “Our poets +of the Eastern countries say that a valiant camel-driver is worthy to +kiss the lip of a fair Queen, when a cowardly prince is not worthy to +salute the hem of her garment. But with your permission, noble brother, +I must take leave of thee for the present, to receive the Duke of +Austria and yonder Nazarene knight, much less worthy of hospitality, but +who must yet be suitably entreated, not for their sakes, but for mine +own honour--for what saith the sage Lokman? 'Say not that the food +is lost unto thee which is given to the stranger; for if his body be +strengthened and fattened therewithal, not less is thine own worship and +good name cherished and augmented.'” + +The Saracen Monarch departed from King Richard's tent, and having +indicated to him, rather with signs than with speech, where the pavilion +of the Queen and her attendants was pitched, he went to receive the +Marquis of Montserrat and his attendants, for whom, with less +goodwill, but with equal splendour, the magnificent Soldan had provided +accommodations. The most ample refreshments, both in the Oriental and +after the European fashion, were spread before the royal and princely +guests of Saladin, each in their own separate pavilion; and so attentive +was the Soldan to the habits and taste of his visitors, that Grecian +slaves were stationed to present them with the goblet, which is the +abomination of the sect of Mohammed. Ere Richard had finished his meal, +the ancient Omrah, who had brought the Soldan's letter to the Christian +camp, entered with a plan of the ceremonial to be observed on the +succeeding day of combat. Richard, who knew the taste of his old +acquaintance, invited him to pledge him in a flagon of wine of Shiraz; +but Abdallah gave him to understand, with a rueful aspect, that +self-denial in the present circumstances was a matter in which his +life was concerned, for that Saladin, tolerant in many respects, both +observed and enforced by high penalties the laws of the Prophet. + +“Nay, then,” said Richard, “if he loves not wine, that lightener of the +human heart, his conversion is not to be hoped for, and the prediction +of the mad priest of Engaddi goes like chaff down the wind.” + +The King then addressed himself to settle the articles of combat, which +cost a considerable time, as it was necessary on some points to consult +with the opposite parties, as well as with the Soldan. + +They were at length finally agreed upon, and adjusted by a protocol in +French and in Arabian, which was subscribed by Saladin as umpire of the +field, and by Richard and Leopold as guarantees for the two combatants. +As the Omrah took his final leave of King Richard for the evening, De +Vaux entered. + +“The good knight,” he said, “who is to do battle tomorrow requests to +know whether he may not to-night pay duty to his royal godfather!” + +“Hast thou seen him, De Vaux?” said the King, smiling; “and didst thou +know an ancient acquaintance?” + +“By our Lady of Lanercost,” answered De Vaux, “there are so many +surprises and changes in this land that my poor brain turns. I scarce +knew Sir Kenneth of Scotland, till his good hound, that had been for a +short while under my care, came and fawned on me; and even then I only +knew the tyke by the depth of his chest, the roundness of his foot, +and his manner of baying, for the poor gazehound was painted like any +Venetian courtesan.” + +“Thou art better skilled in brutes than men, De Vaux,” said the King. + +“I will not deny,” said De Vaux, “I have found them ofttimes the +honester animals. Also, your Grace is pleased to term me sometimes a +brute myself; besides that, I serve the Lion, whom all men acknowledge +the king of brutes.” + +“By Saint George, there thou brokest thy lance fairly on my brow,” said +the King. “I have ever said thou hast a sort of wit, De Vaux; marry, one +must strike thee with a sledge-hammer ere it can be made to sparkle. But +to the present gear--is the good knight well armed and equipped?” + +“Fully, my liege, and nobly,” answered De Vaux. “I know the armour well; +it is that which the Venetian commissary offered your highness, just ere +you became ill, for five hundred byzants.” + +“And he hath sold it to the infidel Soldan, I warrant me, for a few +ducats more, and present payment. These Venetians would sell the +Sepulchre itself!” + +“The armour will never be borne in a nobler cause,” said De Vaux. + +“Thanks to the nobleness of the Saracen,” said the King, “not to the +avarice of the Venetians.” + +“I would to God your Grace would be more cautious,” said the anxious +De Vaux. “Here are we deserted by all our allies, for points of offence +given to one or another; we cannot hope to prosper upon the land; and we +have only to quarrel with the amphibious republic, to lose the means of +retreat by sea!” + +“I will take care,” said Richard impatiently; “but school me no more. +Tell me rather, for it is of interest, hath the knight a confessor?” + +“He hath,” answered De Vaux; “the hermit of Engaddi, who erst did +him that office when preparing for death, attends him on the present +occasion, the fame of the duel having brought him hither.” + +“'Tis well,” said Richard; “and now for the knight's request. Say to +him, Richard will receive him when the discharge of his devoir beside +the Diamond of the Desert shall have atoned for his fault beside the +Mount of Saint George; and as thou passest through the camp, let the +Queen know I will visit her pavilion--and tell Blondel to meet me +there.” + +De Vaux departed, and in about an hour afterwards, Richard, wrapping his +mantle around him, and taking his ghittern in his hand, walked in the +direction of the Queen's pavilion. Several Arabs passed him, but always +with averted heads and looks fixed upon the earth, though he could +observe that all gazed earnestly after him when he was past. This led +him justly to conjecture that his person was known to them; but that +either the Soldan's commands, or their own Oriental politeness, forbade +them to seem to notice a sovereign who desired to remain incognito. + +When the King reached the pavilion of his Queen he found it guarded by +those unhappy officials whom Eastern jealousy places around the zenana. +Blondel was walking before the door, and touched his rote from time to +time in a manner which made the Africans show their ivory teeth, and +bear burden with their strange gestures and shrill, unnatural voices. + +“What art thou after with this herd of black cattle, Blondel?” said the +King; “wherefore goest thou not into the tent?” + +“Because my trade can neither spare the head nor the fingers,” said +Blondel, “and these honest blackamoors threatened to cut me joint from +joint if I pressed forward.” + +“Well, enter with me,” said the King, “and I will be thy safeguard.” + +The blacks accordingly lowered pikes and swords to King Richard, and +bent their eyes on the ground, as if unworthy to look upon him. In the +interior of the pavilion they found Thomas de Vaux in attendance on the +Queen. While Berengaria welcomed Blondel, King Richard spoke for some +time secretly and apart with his fair kinswoman. + +At length, “Are we still foes, my fair Edith?” he said, in a whisper. + +“No, my liege,” said Edith, in a voice just so low as not to interrupt +the music; “none can bear enmity against King Richard when he deigns to +show himself, as he really is, generous and noble, as well as valiant +and honourable.” + +So saying, she extended her hand to him. The King kissed it in token of +reconciliation, and then proceeded. + +“You think, my sweet cousin, that my anger in this matter was feigned; +but you are deceived. The punishment I inflicted upon this knight was +just; for he had betrayed--no matter for how tempting a bribe, fair +cousin--the trust committed to him. But I rejoice, perchance as much as +you, that to-morrow gives him a chance to win the field, and throw +back the stain which for a time clung to him upon the actual thief and +traitor. No!--future times may blame Richard for impetuous folly, but +they shall say that in rendering judgment he was just when he should and +merciful when he could.” + +“Laud not thyself, cousin King,” said Edith. “They may call thy justice +cruelty, thy mercy caprice.” + +“And do not thou pride thyself,” said the King, “as if thy knight, +who hath not yet buckled on his armour, were unbelting it in +triumph--Conrade of Montserrat is held a good lance. What if the Scot +should lose the day?” + +“It is impossible!” said Edith firmly. “My own eyes saw yonder Conrade +tremble and change colour like a base thief; he is guilty, and the trial +by combat is an appeal to the justice of God. I myself, in such a cause, +would encounter him without fear.” + +“By the mass, I think thou wouldst, wench,” said the King, “and beat him +to boot, for there never breathed a truer Plantagenet than thou.” + + He paused, and added in a very serious tone, “See that thou +continue to remember what is due to thy birth.” + +“What means that advice, so seriously given at this moment?” said Edith. +“Am I of such light nature as to forget my name--my condition?” + +“I will speak plainly, Edith,” answered the King, “and as to a friend. +What will this knight be to you, should he come off victor from yonder +lists?” + +“To me?” said Edith, blushing deep with shame and displeasure. “What can +he be to me more than an honoured knight, worthy of such grace as +Queen Berengaria might confer on him, had he selected her for his lady, +instead of a more unworthy choice? The meanest knight may devote himself +to the service of an empress, but the glory of his choice,” she said +proudly, “must be his reward.” + +“Yet he hath served and suffered much for you,” said the King. + +“I have paid his services with honour and applause, and his sufferings +with tears,” answered Edith. “Had he desired other reward, he would have +done wisely to have bestowed his affections within his own degree.” + +“You would not, then, wear the bloody night-gear for his sake?” said +King Richard. + +“No more,” answered Edith, “than I would have required him to expose his +life by an action in which there was more madness than honour.” + +“Maidens talk ever thus,” said the King; “but when the favoured +lover presses his suit, she says, with a sigh, her stars had decreed +otherwise.” + +“Your Grace has now, for the second time, threatened me with the +influence of my horoscope,” Edith replied, with dignity. “Trust me, +my liege, whatever be the power of the stars, your poor kinswoman will +never wed either infidel or obscure adventurer. Permit me that I listen +to the music of Blondel, for the tone of your royal admonitions is +scarce so grateful to the ear.” + +The conclusion of the evening offered nothing worthy of notice. + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + Heard ye the din of battle bray, + Lance to lance, and horse to horse? + GRAY. + +It had been agreed, on account of the heat of the climate, that the +judicial combat which was the cause of the present assemblage of various +nations at the Diamond of the Desert should take place at one hour after +sunrise. The wide lists, which had been constructed under the inspection +of the Knight of the Leopard, enclosed a space of hard sand, which was +one hundred and twenty yards long by forty in width. They extended +in length from north to south, so as to give both parties the equal +advantage of the rising sun. Saladin's royal seat was erected on the +western side of the enclosure, just in the centre, where the combatants +were expected to meet in mid encounter. Opposed to this was a gallery +with closed casements, so contrived that the ladies, for whose +accommodation it was erected, might see the fight without being +themselves exposed to view. At either extremity of the lists was a +barrier, which could be opened or shut at pleasure. Thrones had been +also erected, but the Archduke, perceiving that his was lower than +King Richard's, refused to occupy it; and Coeur de Lion, who would have +submitted to much ere any formality should have interfered with the +combat, readily agreed that the sponsors, as they were called, should +remain on horseback during the fight. At one extremity of the lists +were placed the followers of Richard, and opposed to them were those +who accompanied the defender Conrade. Around the throne destined for +the Soldan were ranged his splendid Georgian Guards, and the rest of the +enclosure was occupied by Christian and Mohammedan spectators. + +Long before daybreak the lists were surrounded by even a larger number +of Saracens than Richard had seen on the preceding evening. When the +first ray of the sun's glorious orb arose above the desert, the sonorous +call, “To prayer--to prayer!” was poured forth by the Soldan himself, +and answered by others, whose rank and zeal entitled them to act as +muezzins. It was a striking spectacle to see them all sink to earth, +for the purpose of repeating their devotions, with their faces turned +to Mecca. But when they arose from the ground, the sun's rays, now +strengthening fast, seemed to confirm the Lord of Gilsland's conjecture +of the night before. They were flashed back from many a spearhead, for +the pointless lances of the preceding day were certainly no longer such. +De Vaux pointed it out to his master, who answered with impatience that +he had perfect confidence in the good faith of the Soldan; but if De +Vaux was afraid of his bulky body, he might retire. + +Soon after this the noise of timbrels was heard, at the sound of which +the whole Saracen cavaliers threw themselves from their horses, and +prostrated themselves, as if for a second morning prayer. This was to +give an opportunity to the Queen, with Edith and her attendants, to +pass from the pavilion to the gallery intended for them. Fifty guards of +Saladin's seraglio escorted them with naked sabres, whose orders were to +cut to pieces whomsoever, were he prince or peasant, should venture to +gaze on the ladies as they passed, or even presume to raise his head +until the cessation of the music should make all men aware that they +were lodged in their gallery, not to be gazed on by the curious eye. + +This superstitious observance of Oriental reverence to the fair sex +called forth from Queen Berengaria some criticisms very unfavourable +to Saladin and his country. But their den, as the royal fair called it, +being securely closed and guarded by their sable attendants, she was +under the necessity of contenting herself with seeing, and laying aside +for the present the still more exquisite pleasure of being seen. + +Meantime the sponsors of both champions went, as was their duty, to +see that they were duly armed and prepared for combat. The Archduke of +Austria was in no hurry to perform this part of the ceremony, having +had rather an unusually severe debauch upon wine of Shiraz the preceding +evening. But the Grand Master of the Temple, more deeply concerned +in the event of the combat, was early before the tent of Conrade +of Montserrat. To his great surprise, the attendants refused him +admittance. + +“Do you not know me, ye knaves?” said the Grand Master, in great anger. + +“We do, most valiant and reverend,” answered Conrade's squire; “but even +you may not at present enter--the Marquis is about to confess himself.” + +“Confess himself!” exclaimed the Templar, in a tone where alarm mingled +with surprise and scorn--“and to whom, I pray thee?” + +“My master bid me be secret,” said the squire; on which the Grand Master +pushed past him, and entered the tent almost by force. + +The Marquis of Montserrat was kneeling at the feet of the hermit of +Engaddi, and in the act of beginning his confession. + +“What means this, Marquis?” said the Grand Master; “up, for shame--or, +if you must needs confess, am not I here?” + +“I have confessed to you too often already,” replied Conrade, with a +pale cheek and a faltering voice. “For God's sake, Grand Master, begone, +and let me unfold my conscience to this holy man.” + +“In what is he holier than I am?” said the Grand Master.--“Hermit, +prophet, madman--say, if thou darest, in what thou excellest me?” + +“Bold and bad man,” replied the hermit, “know that I am like the +latticed window, and the divine light passes through to avail others, +though, alas! it helpeth not me. Thou art like the iron stanchions, +which neither receive light themselves, nor communicate it to any one.” + +“Prate not to me, but depart from this tent,” said the Grand Master; +“the Marquis shall not confess this morning, unless it be to me, for I +part not from his side.” + +“Is this YOUR pleasure?” said the hermit to Conrade; “for think not I +will obey that proud man, if you continue to desire my assistance.” + +“Alas,” said Conrade irresolutely, “what would you have me say? Farewell +for a while---we will speak anon.” + +“O procrastination!” exclaimed the hermit, “thou art a +soul-murderer!--Unhappy man, farewell--not for a while, but until we +shall both meet no matter where. And for thee,” he added, turning to the +Grand Master, “TREMBLE!” + +“Tremble!” replied the Templar contemptuously, “I cannot if I would.” + +The hermit heard not his answer, having left the tent. + +“Come! to this gear hastily,” said the Grand Master, “since thou wilt +needs go through the foolery. Hark thee--I think I know most of thy +frailties by heart, so we may omit the detail, which may be somewhat +a long one, and begin with the absolution. What signifies counting the +spots of dirt that we are about to wash from our hands?” + +“Knowing what thou art thyself,” said Conrade, “it is blasphemous to +speak of pardoning another.” + +“That is not according to the canon, Lord Marquis,” said the Templar; +“thou art more scrupulous than orthodox. The absolution of the wicked +priest is as effectual as if he were himself a saint--otherwise, God +help the poor penitent! What wounded man inquires whether the surgeon +that tends his gashes has clean hands or no? Come, shall we to this +toy?” + +“No,” said Conrade, “I will rather die unconfessed than mock the +sacrament.” + +“Come, noble Marquis,” said the Templar, “rouse up your courage, and +speak not thus. In an hour's time thou shalt stand victorious in the +lists, or confess thee in thy helmet, like a valiant knight.” + +“Alas, Grand Master,” answered Conrade, “all augurs ill for this affair, +the strange discovery by the instinct of a dog--the revival of this +Scottish knight, who comes into the lists like a spectre--all betokens +evil.” + +“Pshaw,” said the Templar, “I have seen thee bend thy lance boldly +against him in sport, and with equal chance of success. Think thou art +but in a tournament, and who bears him better in the tilt-yard than +thou?--Come, squires and armourers, your master must be accoutred for +the field.” + +The attendants entered accordingly, and began to arm the Marquis. + +“What morning is without?” said Conrade. + +“The sun rises dimly,” answered a squire. + +“Thou seest, Grand Master,” said Conrade, “nought smiles on us.” + +“Thou wilt fight the more coolly, my son,” answered the Templar; “thank +Heaven, that hath tempered the sun of Palestine to suit thine occasion.” + +Thus jested the Grand Master. But his jests had lost their influence on +the harassed mind of the Marquis, and notwithstanding his attempts to +seem gay, his gloom communicated itself to the Templar. + +“This craven,” he thought, “will lose the day in pure faintness and +cowardice of heart, which he calls tender conscience. I, whom visions +and auguries shake not---who am firm in my purpose as the living rock--I +should have fought the combat myself. Would to God the Scot may strike +him dead on the spot; it were next best to his winning the victory. But +come what will, he must have no other confessor than myself--our sins +are too much in common, and he might confess my share with his own.” + +While these thoughts passed through his mind, he continued to assist the +Marquis in arming, but it was in silence. + +The hour at length arrived; the trumpets sounded; the knights rode +into the lists armed at all points, and mounted like men who were to +do battle for a kingdom's honour. They wore their visors up, and riding +around the lists three times, showed themselves to the spectators. Both +were goodly persons, and both had noble countenances. But there was an +air of manly confidence on the brow of the Scot--a radiancy of hope, +which amounted even to cheerfulness; while, although pride and effort +had recalled much of Conrade's natural courage, there lowered still on +his brow a cloud of ominous despondence. Even his steed seemed to tread +less lightly and blithely to the trumpet-sound than the noble Arab which +was bestrode by Sir Kenneth; and the SPRUCH-SPRECHER shook his head +while he observed that, while the challenger rode around the lists in +the course of the sun--that is, from right to left--the defender made +the same circuit WIDDERSINS--that is, from left to right--which is in +most countries held ominous. + +A temporary altar was erected just beneath the gallery occupied by the +Queen, and beside it stood the hermit in the dress of his order as a +Carmelite friar. Other churchmen were also present. To this altar the +challenger and defender were successively brought forward, conducted by +their respective sponsors. Dismounting before it, each knight avouched +the justice of his cause by a solemn oath on the Evangelists, and prayed +that his success might be according to the truth or falsehood of what he +then swore. They also made oath that they came to do battle in knightly +guise, and with the usual weapons, disclaiming the use of spells, +charms, or magical devices to incline victory to their side. The +challenger pronounced his vow with a firm and manly voice, and a bold +and cheerful countenance. When the ceremony was finished, the Scottish +Knight looked at the gallery, and bent his head to the earth, as if in +honour of those invisible beauties which were enclosed within; then, +loaded with armour as he was, sprung to the saddle without the use of +the stirrup, and made his courser carry him in a succession of caracoles +to his station at the eastern extremity of the lists. Conrade also +presented himself before the altar with boldness enough; but his voice +as he took the oath sounded hollow, as if drowned in his helmet. The +lips with which he appealed to Heaven to adjudge victory to the just +quarrel grew white as they uttered the impious mockery. As he turned +to remount his horse, the Grand Master approached him closer, as if +to rectify something about the sitting of his gorget, and whispered, +“Coward and fool! recall thy senses, and do me this battle bravely, +else, by Heaven, shouldst thou escape him, thou escapest not ME!” + +The savage tone in which this was whispered perhaps completed the +confusion of the Marquis's nerves, for he stumbled as he made to horse; +and though he recovered his feet, sprung to the saddle with his usual +agility, and displayed his address in horsemanship as he assumed his +position opposite to the challenger's, yet the accident did not escape +those who were on the watch for omens which might predict the fate of +the day. + +The priests, after a solemn prayer that God would show the rightful +quarrel, departed from the lists. The trumpets of the challenger then +rung a flourish, and a herald-at-arms proclaimed at the eastern end of +the lists--“Here stands a good knight, Sir Kenneth of Scotland, champion +for the royal King Richard of England, who accuseth Conrade, Marquis of +Montserrat, of foul treason and dishonour done to the said King.” + +When the words Kenneth of Scotland announced the name and character +of the champion, hitherto scarce generally known, a loud and cheerful +acclaim burst from the followers of King Richard, and hardly, +notwithstanding repeated commands of silence, suffered the reply of +the defendant to be heard. He, of course, avouched his innocence, +and offered his body for battle. The esquires of the combatants now +approached, and delivered to each his shield and lance, assisting to +hang the former around his neck, that his two hands might remain free, +one for the management of the bridle, the other to direct the lance. + +The shield of the Scot displayed his old bearing, the leopard, but +with the addition of a collar and broken chain, in allusion to his late +captivity. The shield of the Marquis bore, in reference to his title, +a serrated and rocky mountain. Each shook his lance aloft, as if to +ascertain the weight and toughness of the unwieldy weapon, and then laid +it in the rest. The sponsors, heralds, and squires now retired to the +barriers, and the combatants sat opposite to each other, face to face, +with couched lance and closed visor, the human form so completely +enclosed, that they looked more like statues of molten iron than +beings of flesh and blood. The silence of suspense was now general. +Men breathed thicker, and their very souls seemed seated in their eyes; +while not a sound was to be heard save the snorting and pawing of the +good steeds, who, sensible of what was about to happen, were impatient +to dash into career. They stood thus for perhaps three minutes, when, +at a signal given by the Soldan, a hundred instruments rent the air with +their brazen clamours, and each champion striking his horse with the +spurs, and slacking the rein, the horses started into full gallop, +and the knights met in mid space with a shock like a thunderbolt. The +victory was not in doubt--no, not one moment. Conrade, indeed, showed +himself a practised warrior; for he struck his antagonist knightly in +the midst of his shield, bearing his lance so straight and true that +it shivered into splinters from the steel spear-head up to the very +gauntlet. The horse of Sir Kenneth recoiled two or three yards and fell +on his haunches; but the rider easily raised him with hand and rein. +But for Conrade there was no recovery. Sir Kenneth's lance had pierced +through the shield, through a plated corselet of Milan steel, through a +SECRET, or coat of linked mail, worn beneath the corselet, had wounded +him deep in the bosom, and borne him from his saddle, leaving the +truncheon of the lance fixed in his wound. The sponsors, heralds, and +Saladin himself, descending from his throne, crowded around the wounded +man; while Sir Kenneth, who had drawn his sword ere yet he discovered +his antagonist was totally helpless, now commanded him to avow his +guilt. The helmet was hastily unclosed, and the wounded man, gazing +wildly on the skies, replied, “What would you more? God hath decided +justly--I am guilty; but there are worse traitors in the camp than I. In +pity to my soul, let me have a confessor!” + +He revived as he uttered these words. + +“The talisman--the powerful remedy, royal brother!” said King Richard to +Saladin. + +“The traitor,” answered the Soldan, “is more fit to be dragged from the +lists to the gallows by the heels, than to profit by its virtues. And +some such fate is in his look,” he added, after gazing fixedly upon the +wounded man; “for though his wound may be cured, yet Azrael's seal is on +the wretch's brow.” + +“Nevertheless,” said Richard, “I pray you do for him what you may, that +he may at least have time for confession. Slay not soul and body! To him +one half hour of time may be worth more, by ten thousandfold, than the +life of the oldest patriarch.” + +“My royal brother's wish shall be obeyed,” said Saladin.--“Slaves, bear +this wounded man to our tent.” + +“Do not so,” said the Templar, who had hitherto stood gloomily looking +on in silence. “The royal Duke of Austria and myself will not permit +this unhappy Christian prince to be delivered over to the Saracens, that +they may try their spells upon him. We are his sponsors, and demand that +he be assigned to our care.” + +“That is, you refuse the certain means offered to recover him?” said +Richard. + +“Not so,” said the Grand Master, recollecting himself. “If the Soldan +useth lawful medicines, he may attend the patient in my tent.” + +“Do so, I pray thee, good brother,” said Richard to Saladin, “though the +permission be ungraciously yielded.--But now to a more glorious work. +Sound, trumpets--shout, England--in honour of England's champion!” + +Drum, clarion, trumpet, and cymbal rung forth at once, and the deep and +regular shout, which for ages has been the English acclamation, sounded +amidst the shrill and irregular yells of the Arabs, like the diapason of +the organ amid the howling of a storm. There was silence at length. + +“Brave Knight of the Leopard,” resumed Coeur de Lion, “thou hast shown +that the Ethiopian may change his skin, and the leopard his spots, +though clerks quote Scripture for the impossibility. Yet I have more to +say to you when I have conducted you to the presence of the ladies, the +best judges and best rewarders of deeds of chivalry.” + +The Knight of the Leopard bowed assent. + +“And thou, princely Saladin, wilt also attend them. I promise thee our +Queen will not think herself welcome, if she lacks the opportunity to +thank her royal host for her most princely reception.” + +Saladin bent his head gracefully, but declined the invitation. + +“I must attend the wounded man,” he said. “The leech leaves not his +patient more than the champion the lists, even if he be summoned to a +bower like those of Paradise. And further, royal Richard, know that the +blood of the East flows not so temperately in the presence of beauty as +that of your land. What saith the Book itself?--Her eye is as the edge +of the sword of the Prophet, who shall look upon it? He that would not +be burnt avoideth to tread on hot embers--wise men spread not the flax +before a flickering torch. He, saith the sage, who hath forfeited a +treasure, doth not wisely to turn back his head to gaze at it.” + +Richard, it may be believed, respected the motives of delicacy which +flowed from manners so different from his own, and urged his request no +further. + +“At noon,” said the Soldan, as he departed, “I trust ye will all accept +a collation under the black camel-skin tent of a chief of Kurdistan.” + +The same invitation was circulated among the Christians, comprehending +all those of sufficient importance to be admitted to sit at a feast made +for princes. + +“Hark!” said Richard, “the timbrels announce that our Queen and her +attendants are leaving their gallery--and see, the turbans sink on the +ground, as if struck down by a destroying angel. All lie prostrate, as +if the glance of an Arab's eye could sully the lustre of a lady's +cheek! Come, we will to the pavilion, and lead our conqueror thither in +triumph. How I pity that noble Soldan, who knows but of love as it is +known to those of inferior nature!” + +Blondel tuned his harp to his boldest measure, to welcome the +introduction of the victor into the pavilion of Queen Berengaria. He +entered, supported on either side by his sponsors, Richard and Thomas +Longsword, and knelt gracefully down before the Queen, though more than +half the homage was silently rendered to Edith, who sat on her right +hand. + +“Unarm him, my mistresses,” said the King, whose delight was in the +execution of such chivalrous usages; “let Beauty honour Chivalry! Undo +his spurs, Berengaria; Queen though thou be, thou owest him what marks +of favour thou canst give.--Unlace his helmet, Edith;--by this hand +thou shalt, wert thou the proudest Plantagenet of the line, and he the +poorest knight on earth!” + +Both ladies obeyed the royal commands--Berengaria with bustling +assiduity, as anxious to gratify her husband's humour, and Edith +blushing and growing pale alternately, as, slowly and awkwardly, she +undid, with Longsword's assistance, the fastenings which secured the +helmet to the gorget. + +“And what expect you from beneath this iron shell?” said Richard, as the +removal of the casque gave to view the noble countenance of Sir Kenneth, +his face glowing with recent exertion, and not less so with present +emotion. “What think ye of him, gallants and beauties?” said Richard. +“Doth he resemble an Ethiopian slave, or doth he present the face of an +obscure and nameless adventurer? No, by my good sword! Here terminate +his various disguises. He hath knelt down before you unknown, save by +his worth; he arises equally distinguished by birth and by fortune. The +adventurous knight, Kenneth, arises David, Earl of Huntingdon, Prince +Royal of Scotland!” + +There was a general exclamation of surprise, and Edith dropped from her +hand the helmet which she had just received. + +“Yes, my masters,” said the King, “it is even so. Ye know how Scotland +deceived us when she proposed to send this valiant Earl, with a bold +company of her best and noblest, to aid our arms in this conquest of +Palestine, but failed to comply with her engagements. This noble youth, +under whom the Scottish Crusaders were to have been arrayed, thought +foul scorn that his arm should be withheld from the holy warfare, +and joined us at Sicily with a small train of devoted and faithful +attendants, which was augmented by many of his countrymen to whom the +rank of their leader was unknown. The confidants of the Royal Prince had +all, save one old follower, fallen by death, when his secret, but +too well kept, had nearly occasioned my cutting off, in a Scottish +adventurer, one of the noblest hopes of Europe.--Why did you not mention +your rank, noble Huntingdon, when endangered by my hasty and passionate +sentence? Was it that you thought Richard capable of abusing the +advantage I possessed over the heir of a King whom I have so often found +hostile?” + +“I did you not that injustice, royal Richard,” answered the Earl of +Huntingdon; “but my pride brooked not that I should avow myself Prince +of Scotland in order to save my life, endangered for default of loyalty. +And, moreover, I had made my vow to preserve my rank unknown till the +Crusade should be accomplished; nor did I mention it save IN ARTICULO +MORTIS, and under the seal of confession, to yonder reverend hermit.” + +“It was the knowledge of that secret, then, which made the good man so +urgent with me to recall my severe sentence?” said Richard. “Well did +he say that, had this good knight fallen by my mandate, I should have +wished the deed undone though it had cost me a limb. A limb! I should +have wished it undone had it cost me my life---since the world would +have said that Richard had abused the condition in which the heir of +Scotland had placed himself by his confidence in his generosity.” + +“Yet, may we know of your Grace by what strange and happy chance this +riddle was at length read?” said the Queen Berengaria. + +“Letters were brought to us from England,” said the King, “in which +we learned, among other unpleasant news, that the King of Scotland had +seized upon three of our nobles, when on a pilgrimage to Saint Ninian, +and alleged, as a cause, that his heir, being supposed to be fighting in +the ranks of the Teutonic Knights against the heathen of Borussia, was, +in fact, in our camp, and in our power; and, therefore, William proposed +to hold these nobles as hostages for his safety. This gave me the first +light on the real rank of the Knight of the Leopard; and my suspicions +were confirmed by De Vaux, who, on his return from Ascalon, brought back +with him the Earl of Huntingdon's sole attendant, a thick-skulled slave, +who had gone thirty miles to unfold to De Vaux a secret he should have +told to me.” + +“Old Strauchan must be excused,” said the Lord of Gilsland. “He knew +from experience that my heart is somewhat softer than if I wrote myself +Plantagenet.” + +“Thy heart soft? thou commodity of old iron and Cumberland flint, that +thou art!” exclaimed the King.--“It is we Plantagenets who boast soft +and feeling hearts. Edith,” turning to his cousin with an expression +which called the blood into her cheek, “give me thy hand, my fair +cousin, and, Prince of Scotland, thine.” + +“Forbear, my lord,” said Edith, hanging back, and endeavouring to hide +her confusion under an attempt to rally her royal kinsman's credulity. +“Remember you not that my hand was to be the signal of converting to +the Christian faith the Saracen and Arab, Saladin and all his turbaned +host?” + +“Ay, but the wind of prophecy hath chopped about, and sits now in +another corner,” replied Richard. + +“Mock not, lest your bonds be made strong,” said the hermit stepping +forward. “The heavenly host write nothing but truth in their brilliant +records. It is man's eyes which are too weak to read their characters +aright. Know, that when Saladin and Kenneth of Scotland slept in my +grotto, I read in the stars that there rested under my roof a prince, +the natural foe of Richard, with whom the fate of Edith Plantagenet was +to be united. Could I doubt that this must be the Soldan, whose rank +was well known to me, as he often visited my cell to converse on the +revolutions of the heavenly bodies? Again, the lights of the firmament +proclaimed that this prince, the husband of Edith Plantagenet, should +be a Christian; and I--weak and wild interpreter!--argued thence the +conversion of the noble Saladin, whose good qualities seemed often to +incline him towards the better faith. The sense of my weakness hath +humbled me to the dust; but in the dust I have found comfort! I have not +read aright the fate of others--who can assure me but that I may +have miscalculated mine own? God will not have us break into His +council-house, or spy out His hidden mysteries. We must wait His time +with watching and prayer--with fear and with hope. I came hither the +stern seer--the proud prophet--skilled, as I thought, to instruct +princes, and gifted even with supernatural powers, but burdened with +a weight which I deemed no shoulders but mine could have borne. But +my bands have been broken! I go hence humble in mine ignorance, +penitent--and not hopeless.” + +With these words he withdrew from the assembly; and it is recorded that +from that period his frenzy fits seldom occurred, and his penances were +of a milder character, and accompanied with better hopes of the future. +So much is there of self-opinion, even in insanity, that the conviction +of his having entertained and expressed an unfounded prediction with so +much vehemence seemed to operate like loss of blood on the human frame, +to modify and lower the fever of the brain. + +It is needless to follow into further particulars the conferences at the +royal tent, or to inquire whether David, Earl of Huntingdon, was as mute +in the presence of Edith Plantagenet as when he was bound to act under +the character of an obscure and nameless adventurer. It may be well +believed that he there expressed with suitable earnestness the passion +to which he had so often before found it difficult to give words. + +The hour of noon now approached, and Saladin waited to receive the +Princes of Christendom in a tent, which, but for its large size, +differed little from that of the ordinary shelter of the common Kurdman, +or Arab; yet beneath its ample and sable covering was prepared a banquet +after the most gorgeous fashion of the East, extended upon carpets of +the richest stuffs, with cushions laid for the guests. But we cannot +stop to describe the cloth of gold and silver--the superb embroidery in +arabesque--the shawls of Kashmere and the muslins of India, which were +here unfolded in all their splendour; far less to tell the different +sweetmeats, ragouts edged with rice coloured in various manners, with +all the other niceties of Eastern cookery. Lambs roasted whole, and +game and poultry dressed in pilaus, were piled in vessels of gold, and +silver, and porcelain, and intermixed with large mazers of sherbet, +cooled in snow and ice from the caverns of Mount Lebanon. A magnificent +pile of cushions at the head of the banquet seemed prepared for the +master of the feast, and such dignitaries as he might call to share that +place of distinction; while from the roof of the tent in all quarters, +but over this seat of eminence in particular, waved many a banner and +pennon, the trophies of battles won and kingdoms overthrown. But amongst +and above them all, a long lance displayed a shroud, the banner +of Death, with this impressive inscription--“SALADIN, KING OF +KINGS--SALADIN, VICTOR OF VICTORS--SALADIN MUST DIE.” Amid these +preparations, the slaves who had arranged the refreshments stood +with drooped heads and folded arms, mute and motionless as monumental +statuary, or as automata, which waited the touch of the artist to put +them in motion. + +Expecting the approach of his princely guests, the Soldan, imbued, as +most were, with the superstitions of his time, paused over a horoscope +and corresponding scroll, which had been sent to him by the hermit of +Engaddi when he departed from the camp. + +“Strange and mysterious science,” he muttered to himself, “which, +pretending to draw the curtain of futurity, misleads those whom it seems +to guide, and darkens the scene which it pretends to illuminate! Who +would not have said that I was that enemy most dangerous to Richard, +whose enmity was to be ended by marriage with his kinswoman? Yet it now +appears that a union betwixt this gallant Earl and the lady will bring +about friendship betwixt Richard and Scotland, an enemy more dangerous +than I, as a wildcat in a chamber is more to be dreaded than a lion +in a distant desert. But then,” he continued to mutter to +himself, “the combination intimates that this husband was to be +Christian.--Christian!” he repeated, after a pause. “That gave the +insane fanatic star-gazer hopes that I might renounce my faith! But me, +the faithful follower of our Prophet--me it should have undeceived. +Lie there, mysterious scroll,” he added, thrusting it under the pile of +cushions; “strange are thy bodements and fatal, since, even when true in +themselves, they work upon those who attempt to decipher their meaning +all the effects of falsehood.--How now! what means this intrusion?” + +He spoke to the dwarf Nectabanus, who rushed into the tent fearfully +agitated, with each strange and disproportioned feature wrenched by +horror into still more extravagant ugliness--his mouth open, his eyes +staring, his hands, with their shrivelled and deformed fingers, wildly +expanded. + +“What now?” said the Soldan sternly. + +“ACCIPE HOC!” groaned out the dwarf. + +“Ha! sayest thou?” answered Saladin. + +“ACCIPE HOC!” replied the panic-struck creature, unconscious, +perhaps, that he repeated the same words as before. + +“Hence, I am in no vein for foolery,” said the Emperor. + +“Nor am I further fool,” said the dwarf, “than to make my folly help out +my wits to earn my bread, poor, helpless wretch! Hear, hear me, great +Soldan!” + +“Nay, if thou hast actual wrong to complain of,” said Saladin, “fool or +wise, thou art entitled to the ear of a King. Retire hither with me;” + and he led him into the inner tent. + +Whatever their conference related to, it was soon broken off by the +fanfare of the trumpets announcing the arrival of the various Christian +princes, whom Saladin welcomed to his tent with a royal courtesy well +becoming their rank and his own; but chiefly he saluted the young Earl +of Huntingdon, and generously congratulated him upon prospects which +seemed to have interfered with and overclouded those which he had +himself entertained. + +“But think not,” said the Soldan, “thou noble youth, that the Prince +of Scotland is more welcome to Saladin than was Kenneth to the solitary +Ilderim when they met in the desert, or the distressed Ethiop to the +Hakim Adonbec. A brave and generous disposition like thine hath a value +independent of condition and birth, as the cool draught, which I here +proffer thee, is as delicious from an earthen vessel as from a goblet of +gold.” + +The Earl of Huntingdon made a suitable reply, gratefully acknowledging +the various important services he had received from the generous Soldan; +but when he had pledged Saladin in the bowl of sherbet which the Soldan +had proffered to him, he could not help remarking with a smile, “The +brave cavalier Ilderim knew not of the formation of ice, but the +munificent Soldan cools his sherbet with snow.” + +“Wouldst thou have an Arab or a Kurdman as wise as a Hakim?” said the +Soldan. “He who does on a disguise must make the sentiments of his heart +and the learning of his head accord with the dress which he assumes. +I desired to see how a brave and single-hearted cavalier of Frangistan +would conduct himself in debate with such a chief as I then seemed; and +I questioned the truth of a well-known fact, to know by what arguments +thou wouldst support thy assertion.” + +While they were speaking, the Archduke of Austria, who stood a little +apart, was struck with the mention of iced sherbet, and took with +pleasure and some bluntness the deep goblet, as the Earl of Huntingdon +was about to replace it. + +“Most delicious!” he exclaimed, after a deep draught, which the heat of +the weather, and the feverishness following the debauch of the preceding +day, had rendered doubly acceptable. He sighed as he handed the cup to +the Grand Master of the Templars. Saladin made a sign to the dwarf, who +advanced and pronounced, with a harsh voice, the words, ACCIPE HOC! The +Templar started, like a steed who sees a lion under a bush beside the +pathway; yet instantly recovered, and to hide, perhaps, his confusion, +raised the goblet to his lips. But those lips never touched that +goblet's rim. The sabre of Saladin left its sheath as lightning leaves +the cloud. It was waved in the air, and the head of the Grand Master +rolled to the extremity of the tent, while the trunk remained for a +second standing, with the goblet still clenched in its grasp, then fell, +the liquor mingling with the blood that spurted from the veins. + +There was a general exclamation of treason, and Austria, nearest to +whom Saladin stood with the bloody sabre in his hand, started back as +if apprehensive that his turn was to come next. Richard and others laid +hand on their swords. + +“Fear nothing, noble Austria,” said Saladin, as composedly as if nothing +had happened,--“nor you, royal England, be wroth at what you have seen. +Not for his manifold treasons--not for the attempt which, as may +be vouched by his own squire, he instigated against King Richard's +life--not that he pursued the Prince of Scotland and myself in the +desert, reducing us to save our lives by the speed of our horses--not +that he had stirred up the Maronites to attack us upon this very +occasion, had I not brought up unexpectedly so many Arabs as rendered +the scheme abortive--not for any or all of these crimes does he now lie +there, although each were deserving such a doom--but because, scarce +half an hour ere he polluted our presence, as the simoom empoisons +the atmosphere, he poniarded his comrade and accomplice, Conrade of +Montserrat, lest he should confess the infamous plots in which they had +both been engaged.” + +“How! Conrade murdered?--And by the Grand Master, his sponsor and most +intimate friend!” exclaimed Richard. “Noble Soldan, I would not doubt +thee; yet this must be proved, otherwise--” + +“There stands the evidence,” said Saladin, pointing to the terrified +dwarf. “Allah, who sends the fire-fly to illuminate the night season, +can discover secret crimes by the most contemptible means.” + +The Soldan proceeded to tell the dwarf's story, which amounted to this. +In his foolish curiosity, or, as he partly confessed, with some thoughts +of pilfering, Nectabanus had strayed into the tent of Conrade, which had +been deserted by his attendants, some of whom had left the encampment +to carry the news of his defeat to his brother, and others were availing +themselves of the means which Saladin had supplied for revelling. The +wounded man slept under the influence of Saladin's wonderful talisman, +so that the dwarf had opportunity to pry about at pleasure until he was +frightened into concealment by the sound of a heavy step. He skulked +behind a curtain, yet could see the motions, and hear the words, of the +Grand Master, who entered, and carefully secured the covering of the +pavilion behind him. His victim started from sleep, and it would appear +that he instantly suspected the purpose of his old associate, for it was +in a tone of alarm that he demanded wherefore he disturbed him. + +“I come to confess and to absolve thee,” answered the Grand Master. + +Of their further speech the terrified dwarf remembered little, save that +Conrade implored the Grand Master not to break a wounded reed, and that +the Templar struck him to the heart with a Turkish dagger, with the +words ACCIPE HOC!--words which long afterwards haunted the terrified +imagination of the concealed witness. + +“I verified the tale,” said Saladin, “by causing the body to be +examined; and I made this unhappy being, whom Allah hath made the +discoverer of the crime, repeat in your own presence the words which the +murderer spoke; and you yourselves saw the effect which they produced +upon his conscience!” + +The Soldan paused, and the King of England broke silence. + +“If this be true, as I doubt not, we have witnessed a great act of +justice, though it bore a different aspect. But wherefore in this +presence? wherefore with thine own hand?” + +“I had designed otherwise,” said Saladin. “But had I not hastened his +doom, it had been altogether averted, since, if I had permitted him to +taste of my cup, as he was about to do, how could I, without incurring +the brand of inhospitality, have done him to death as he deserved? Had +he murdered my father, and afterwards partaken of my food and my bowl, +not a hair of his head could have been injured by me. But enough of +him--let his carcass and his memory be removed from amongst us.” + +The body was carried away, and the marks of the slaughter obliterated +or concealed with such ready dexterity, as showed that the case was not +altogether so uncommon as to paralyze the assistants and officers of +Saladin's household. + +But the Christian princes felt that the scene which they had beheld +weighed heavily on their spirits, and although, at the courteous +invitation of the Soldan, they assumed their seats at the banquet, yet +it was with the silence of doubt and amazement. The spirits of Richard +alone surmounted all cause for suspicion or embarrassment. Yet he too +seemed to ruminate on some proposition, as if he were desirous of making +it in the most insinuating and acceptable manner which was possible. +At length he drank off a large bowl of wine, and addressing the Soldan, +desired to know whether it was not true that he had honoured the Earl of +Huntingdon with a personal encounter. + +Saladin answered with a smile that he had proved his horse and his +weapons with the heir of Scotland, as cavaliers are wont to do with each +other when they meet in the desert; and modestly added that, though the +combat was not entirely decisive, he had not on his part much reason to +pride himself on the event. The Scot, on the other hand, disclaimed the +attributed superiority, and wished to assign it to the Soldan. + +“Enough of honour thou hast had in the encounter,” said Richard, “and I +envy thee more for that than for the smiles of Edith Plantagenet, though +one of them might reward a bloody day's work.--But what say you, noble +princes? Is it fitting that such a royal ring of chivalry should break +up without something being done for future times to speak of? What is +the overthrow and death of a traitor to such a fair garland of honour +as is here assembled, and which ought not to part without witnessing +something more worthy of their regard?--How say you, princely Soldan? +What if we two should now, and before this fair company, decide the +long-contended question for this land of Palestine, and end at once +these tedious wars? Yonder are the lists ready, nor can Paynimrie ever +hope a better champion than thou. I, unless worthier offers, will lay +down my gauntlet in behalf of Christendom, and in all love and honour we +will do mortal battle for the possession of Jerusalem.” + +There was a deep pause for the Soldan's answer. His cheek and brow +coloured highly, and it was the opinion of many present that he +hesitated whether he should accept the challenge. At length he said, +“Fighting for the Holy City against those whom we regard as idolaters +and worshippers of stocks and stones and graven images, I might confide +that Allah would strengthen my arm; or if I fell beneath the sword of +the Melech Ric, I could not pass to Paradise by a more glorious death. +But Allah has already given Jerusalem to the true believers, and it +were a tempting the God of the Prophet to peril, upon my own personal +strength and skill, that which I hold securely by the superiority of my +forces.” + +“If not for Jerusalem, then,” said Richard, in the tone of one who would +entreat a favour of an intimate friend, “yet, for the love of honour, +let us run at least three courses with grinded lances?” + +“Even this,” said Saladin, half smiling at Coeur de Lion's affectionate +earnestness for the combat--“even this I may not lawfully do. The master +places the shepherd over the flock not for the shepherd's own sake, but +for the sake of the sheep. Had I a son to hold the sceptre when I fell, +I might have had the liberty, as I have the will, to brave this bold +encounter; but your own Scripture saith that when the herdsman is +smitten, the sheep are scattered.” + +“Thou hast had all the fortune,” said Richard, turning to the Earl of +Huntingdon with a sigh. “I would have given the best year in my life for +that one half hour beside the Diamond of the Desert!” + +The chivalrous extravagance of Richard awakened the spirits of the +assembly, and when at length they arose to depart Saladin advanced and +took Coeur de Lion by the hand. + +“Noble King of England,” he said, “we now part, never to meet again. +That your league is dissolved, no more to be reunited, and that +your native forces are far too few to enable you to prosecute your +enterprise, is as well known to me as to yourself. I may not yield you +up that Jerusalem which you so much desire to hold--it is to us, as to +you, a Holy City. But whatever other terms Richard demands of Saladin +shall be as willingly yielded as yonder fountain yields its waters. Ay +and the same should be as frankly afforded by Saladin if Richard stood +in the desert with but two archers in his train!” + +The next day saw Richard's return to his own camp, and in a short +space afterwards the young Earl of Huntingdon was espoused by Edith +Plantagenet. The Soldan sent, as a nuptial present on this occasion, the +celebrated TALISMAN. But though many cures were wrought by means of it +in Europe, none equalled in success and celebrity those which the Soldan +achieved. It is still in existence, having been bequeathed by the Earl +of Huntingdon to a brave knight of Scotland, Sir Simon of the Lee, in +whose ancient and highly honoured family it is still preserved; +and although charmed stones have been dismissed from the modern +Pharmacopoeia, its virtues are still applied to for stopping blood, and +in cases of canine madness. + +Our Story closes here, as the terms on which Richard relinquished his +conquests are to be found in every history of the period. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Talisman, by Sir Walter Scott + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TALISMAN *** + +***** This file should be named 1377-0.txt or 1377-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/3/7/1377/ + +Produced by An Anonomous Volunteer + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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