 CHAPTER 19 Must we then sheath our still victorious sword? Turn back our forward step, whichever trodo forments next the onward path of glory. When classed the male, which were the solemn vow, in God's own house we hung upon our shoulders. That vow, as unaccomplished 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, were not a brook to hear without the most unbounded explosions of resentment. Even this sagacious and revered 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 a 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 discussed from various motives with the expedition, which approved so hazardous, and was daily growing more so, had resolved to abandon their purpose. In this they were countenanced by the example of Philippe of France, who, with many prostrations of regard, and assurances that he would first see his brothers of England in safety, declared his intention to return to Europe. This great vassal, the Earl of Champagne, had adopted the same resolution, and it cannot 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 Conrad of Montserrat, and the military orders of the temple and of St 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 were short-sighted 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 forebore interruption, even when the prelate ventured, in measured terms, to hint that Richard's own impetuosity had been one main cause of disgust in the princes with the expedition. Confitor answered Richard with a dejected look, and something of a melancholy smile. I confess, Reverend Father, that I ought on some accounts to sink Alpimea. 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 fate before me, un-gathered 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 in the towers of Jerusalem, or it shall be planted over Richard's grave. They'll may as to do it, said the prelate. It's not another drop of Christian blood be shed in the quarrel. Ah! you speak of compromise, Lord prelate, but the blood of the infidel hands must also cease to flow, said Richard. There will be glory enough, replied the Archbishop, in having exhorted 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 one 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! I, Edith Plantagent, did I dream this, or did someone tell me? My head is still weak from this fever, and has been agitated. Was it the scot, or the hekeen, or yonder holy hermit that hinted such a wild bargain? The hermit, of Engadie most likely, said the archbishop, for he hath twirled much in this matter, and since the discontent of the princes had become 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 object 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. Holy with, and under, your a special 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 an alliance in Spain, not without countenance from the holy sea. The incalculable advantages which all Christian would derive from the union of Richard and Saladin by a bond so sacred. And above all, he spoke with great vehement in unction on the probability that Saladin would, in case of the proposed alliance, exchange his false faith for the true one. Hath the soul Dan 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, I, or a sister, sooner than to my noble Saladin. I, 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 have 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 that he be snatched as a brand from the burning. Magna est veritas, et privalibit. Moreover the hermit of Agadi, 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 Safet, 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 me thinks these cold councils of the princes of Christendom have infected me too with a lethargy of spirit. The time hath been that. Had a layman proposed such an alliance to me, I had struck him to earth. If a churchman, I had spitted him as a renegade and priest of Baal. Yet now this council sounds not so strange in my ear. For why should I not seek for brotherhood an alliance with the 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-nighthood? 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 Dutch Bishop, we will speak together of thy council, which, as now, I neither accept nor altogether reject. When dwee to the council, my lord, the hour calls us, thou sayest Richard as hasty and proud? Thou shodst seem humble himself, like the lowly broom-plant from which he derives his surname. With the assistance of those in his priory chamber, the king then hastily robed himself in a doublet and mantel of a dark and uniform colour, and without any mark of real dignity, holding 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 his 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 assorted dress, meant to represent the desolate and distressed church of Jerusalem, and burying the motto. Cusay to sponse, ne obliviscaris. Warders carefully selected kept every one to distance from the neighbourhood of this tent. Lesser debates, which were sometimes of a loud and stormy character, should reach other ears and nose 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. His insistence is being circulated of his pride and undue assumption of superiority, of which even the necessity of the present short pause was quoted as an instant. 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 criticism upon circumstances 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 when his entrance was 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 valor, rushed on their recollection, the countenance 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 the 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 unworthy as himself, even at the risk of delaying for a few minutes their consultations for the wheel of Christendom, and the advancements of the 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 will become Christian men, at such a tide, to reconcile themselves with their brethren, and to 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 Plantagen'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 unluckiest 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. Leopold thinks he hath reason to be offended with England. England that he hath caused 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 joined to support us 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. It led Leopold to restore the pen on 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 some 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 luring with smothered displeasure, which awe, mingled with awkwardness, prevented his giving vent to inwards. The patriarch of Jerusalem hastened to break the embarrassing silence, and, to bear witness for the Archduke of Austria, the tear'd extrapolated 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 craved his pardon for imputing to him an outrage so cowardly, we extend our hand to him in token of renewed peace and amnesty. But how is this? Austria refuses our uncovered hand? As he formerly refused our mailed's glove? What? Are we neither to be as mate in peace, nor his antagonist in war? Will it be so? We will take the slight esteem in which he holds us as a penance for ought 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 a near rather of dignity than scorn, leaving the Austrian apparently as much elite by the removal of his eye, as as a sullen and truant schoolboy, when the glance of his severe pedagogue is withdrawn. Noble Earl of Champagne, princely Marques of Montserrat, valiant Grandmaster 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 Conrad, unless it were that the King of England carries off from his poor brothers of the war, or 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 Marques of Montserrat. It may be thought ill to be seen in military monks 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 someone to his face, those charges which there are now to bring against him in his absence. We lord 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 to 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 luster 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, as I say, such a one as I tell in 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 me stifle their voices. Richard coloured very highly why the grandmaster was making this direct, and darnvarnished 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 occusion. Incensed, and at the same time mortified, he yet foresaw that to give way to this 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 patent noister, 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 our brethren at such pains to note the infirmities of our natural temper, and the rough precipitance of our zeal, which may sometimes averted us to issue commands when there was little time to hold counsel, 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 plow 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 overweighed my rash errors, that if it were remembered that I pressed to the van in the 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 councils, I have not, me thinks, spared my own blood or my peoples in carrying them into a 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 I all but to myself seems to have forgotten. But it is 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 godly 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 lead subjects. They shall be led by such sovereigns as you may nominate, and their king, ever but to out to exchange the leader's baton for the adventurer's lance. We'll serve under the banner of Buesante, among the Templars. I, or under that of Austria, if Austria will name a brave man to lead his forces. Or if you are yourselves a weary of this war, and feel your armored 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 ride upon our gates, not the name of Richard Plantagent, 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. I caught fire from I, 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 the brave men follow. Lead us on to Jerusalem, to Jerusalem. It is the will of God, it is the will of God. Bless 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 counsel, 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 classes were the Marcus Conrad, and the Grandmaster 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, so the latter, with the cold, sardonic expression peculiar to him, that Richard would burst through the flimsy wiles you have 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 whirl-ringed catches scattered straws and sweeps them together, or disperses them at its pleasure. When the blast has passed away, said Conrad, the straws which it made dance to its pipe will settle to earth again. But no is 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 Saldan, which thou thyself thought him so likely to spurn at? Now, by mohound and termigant, for Christian oaves are out of fashion, said Conrad, sayest thou the proud king of England, would unite his blood with a heathen Saldan? My policy threw in that ingredient to make the whole treaty an abomination to him, as bad for us that he become a master by an agreement, as by victory. Thy policy hath ill-calculated Richard's digestion. Answer 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. Marques, Conrad, thy witch begins to halt. I will trust thy fine-spun measures no longer, but will try my own. Knowest thou not the people whom the Saracens call Charagites? Surely, answer the Marques. 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. Just 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 Muslim faith. Most judicious pine him, said Conrad, may Muhammad send him his paradise for a reward. He was taken in the camp by one of our squires, and in private examination frankly about his fixed and determined purpose to me. said the grandmaster. Now the heavens pardon them who prevented the purpose of this most judicious Charagite. answered Conrad. Here 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 Marques. 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 bloodhound, never to quit the suit of the prey he has once scented. Say no more of it, said the Marques. 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. Aye, and there is another risk. My page knows the councils of this Charagite. He continued. And, moreover, he is a peevish, self-willed fool, whom I would I rid of, as he thwarts me of presuming to see with his own eyes, not mine. But our holy order gives me a 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 assurity so soon as the page enters with his food. It will give thee a fairer colour, said Conrad. 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 race his mane. Far less expand the terror of his fangs. So great Alsades made his club a distaff, and spun to please fair unfail. ANONOMUS Richard, the unsuspicious object of the dark treachery, detailed in the closing part of the last chapter, having affected, for the present at least, the triumphant union of the crusading princes, in a resolution to prosecute the war with vigor, had in exit heart to establish tranquility in his own family, and, now that he could judge more temporarily, 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 a present attendance of the Lady Callista of Montfaucon, the queen's principal bowwoman, 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 Morris physician. He will not be severe upon a lady, though faulty. Devise some cunning tell-wench, said Beringaria. 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 advises 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 Callista, and in this is special matter. The Lord of Gildsland is right, said the Lady Callista, much adotated at the thoughts of the investigation, which was to take place. And besides, if I had a presence of mind enough to forge a plausible story, be shrew me if I think I should have the courage to tell it. In this candid humour the Lady Callista 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. Excalculating the Lady Edith, who, as she was aware, would not felt escalate herself, and laying the full burden on the Queen, her mistress, who, sharing the frolic she well knew, would appear the most venial in the eyes of Cordeleum. In truth Richard was a fond, almost luxurious 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 Callista, 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 lap-wing, charged with the King's commands that she should expect a speedy visit from him. To which the bowerlady 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 a 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 I want to say in my native Navarre, many a one comes from wool and goes back shorn. Having possessed herself of all the information which Callista could communicate, the world-bearing Gary arrayed herself in a 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. Perangaria 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 negotiation, that she had directed Nectarbanus 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 impressing 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 obturancy on this score, as a rigor which had threatened to make her unhappy for life, whenever she should reflect that she had given, unthinkingly, the remote course for such a tragedy. The vision of this slaughtered victim would have haunted her dreams. Nay, for ought 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 dot upon her slightest glance, would not forgo 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 subtleness, but from feelings hurt at finding a consequence with her husband to less than she had expected to possess. The good King Richard was considerably embarrassed. He tried in vain with one whose very jealousy of his affection rendered her incapable of listening to argument. Nogaty bring himself to use a restraint of lawful authority, to a creature so beautiful in the midst of her unreasonable displeasure. He was therefore reduced to the defensive, endeavored gently to chide her suspicions and soothe her displeasure, and recalled to her mind that she might not look back upon the past with recollections either of remorse or supernatural fear, since her 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 medicineer, obtaining a boon for which, with bare head and unbended knee, she petitioned her husband in vain. At this new charge, Richard's patients began rather to give way, and he said, in a serious tone of voice, Beringeria, 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 coquesh displeasure to the verge of safety. Why, 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 lighter poor Beringeria'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 a whole blame on the agent Nectabanus. Who? The queen being by this time well weary of the poor dwarf's humour. Who? With his royal consort Guinevere, sentenced to be banished from the court, and the unlucky dwarf only escaped to 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, equating him with the resolution of the council, to resume hostilities as soon as the truth was ended, and as Richard proposed to send a valuable present to the Saldan, in acknowledgement of the high benefit he had derived from the services of El-Hakim, the two unhappy creatures should be added to its 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 Beringaria only affected to complain, still was neither Richard's wife nor mistress, and he feared Herb approaches less, although found it in reason, and 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 interval. 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 reference when Richard enters, 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 authorised, felt this reception chilling, and opened the conversation with embarrassment. Our fair cousin, he said at length, is angry with us, and we owe that strong circumstances have induced us, without cause, to suspect her of alien contact 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 a somewhat vehement kinsman who can refuse forgiveness to Richard? answered Edith. Provided Richard can obtain pardon of the king. Come, my kinswoman! replied Cordeleon. This is all too solemn. By our lady, such a melancholy countenance, and this ample sabble veil might make men think thou were to 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 morning? For the departed honour of Plantagent. 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 harshly. She has therefore a right to deem with me too harshly. But tell me at least in what I have faulted. Plantagent. 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 in barter, or to grant 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 by gallant having keeping any secret which might render his death more convenient than his banishment. Peace with thy scurril jests! Answered Edith, colouring deeply. Think rather that for the indulgence of thy mood thou hast allot from this great enterprise one goodly limb, deprived the cross of one of its most brave supporters, and placed a seventh of the true God in the hands of the heathen. Hast given, too, to minds as suspicious as thou has shown thine own in this matter, some right to say that Richard, Cordeleon, 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 rave my rank and my crown and meet him, manlike in the lists, that it might appear where the Richard Plantagent had room to fear, or to envy the prowess of mortal man. Come, Edith, thou thinkest not as thou sayest. Let not anger or grief for the absence of thy lover make thee unjust to thy kinsmen. Who, notwithstanding all thy touchiness, fowlies thy good report as high as that of any one living. The absence of my lover? said the Lady Edith. But, yes, he may well be turned 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, all 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 night 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 mutual respect and distant reverence. But, when opportunities occur, familiarity increases and so. But its skills not talking with one who thinks herself wiser than all the world. My kinsmen's councils I willingly listen to when they are such. Said Edith, ask 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 as learn to lay aside the scorn of soldannery, when you hold so high of a scot. Said the king, I hold Saladin to be truer to his word than as William of Scotland, whom as an ease be called a lion, for sooth. He have foully faulted towards me in failing to send the auxiliary aid he promised. Let me tell the Edith, thou mayest live to prefer a true Turk to a false scot. Never. Answered Edith, not should Richard himself embrace the false religion which he crosses 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 bereaved from Mary England for the refreshment of her adventurous monarch, as was gradually recovering the false strength which was necessary to carry on his gigantic projects. There was no one with him, devorks 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 reopening 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 horses were preparing and from the tents of the armourers were preparing harnesses. The voice of the soldiers too as they passed and re-passed 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 of delight, and while he yielded himself to the visions of conquest and of glory which they suggested, an echo he told him that the messenger from Saladin had met him instantly, said the King, and with due honour a Jocelyn. The English knight accordingly introduced a person apparently of no higher rank than a new-been 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 cold black locks a mill-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-skin reaching within a hand-breath of the knee. The rest of his muscular limbs, both legs and arms, were bare except in that he had sandals on his feet and wore collar and bracelets of silver. A straight broadsword with a handle of boxwood and a sheath covered with snakeskin was suspended from his waist. In his right hand he held a short javelin with a broad, bright still head of a span in length and on his left he led by a leash of twisted silk and gold a large and noble stag-hound. 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 the letter from Saladin in the original Arabic with a translation into Norman English which may be modernised thus. Saladin king of kings to Melechrich the Lion of England whereas we are informed by their last message that thou has chosen war rather than peace and our enmity rather than our friendship we account thee as one blinded in this matter and trust surely to convince thee of thine error by the help of our invincible forces of the thousand tribes when Muhammad, 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 has sent us and of the two dwarves singular in their deformity as you so as the top and mirthful as the loot of Isaac and in requital of these tokens from the treasure house of Iboundy behold we have sent the Ineubian slave named Zohak of whom judged not by his complexion according to the foolish ones of the earth in respect the dark-rinded fruit have the most exquisite flavour know that he is strong to execute the will of his master as Rostin of Zablistan also he is wise to give counsel when thou shalt learn to hold communication with him for the lord of speed have 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 trust in 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 dot between thee and us in a plain field of battle and the missive was sanctioned by the signature and seal of the soul-dan Richard surveyed the new-bean 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 worksmanship waiting life from the touch from Aethius the king of England who, as it was emphatically said of his successor Henry VIII loved to look upon a man was well pleased with the few sinews and symmetry of him who he now surveyed and questioned him in the Linga Franca art thou a pagan the slave shook his head and raising his finger to his braille crushed himself in the token of his Christianity he assumed his posture of motion as humility a new-bean christened 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 ladered upon his own lips I understand thee said Richard thou dost suffer under the inflection of God not by the cruelty of man can 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 enapped and will doubtless be a useful nave 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 an unfit reply the new-bean 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 offence 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 a soldan's honour and my own a horn was winded without and presently Sir Henry never ended 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 never begun I must pursue these tidings alone and at leisure never 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 Justice Sery Longchump, Bishop of Eli the oppressions practised by the nobles upon the peasantry and the 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 with 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 that his new master had imposed set the new-been slave with his back rather turned towards the king he had finished adjusting and cleaning the Hubert and Brigadine and was now busily employed on the broad pavisse or buckler of unusual size and covered with steel plating which Richard often used in reconnoitering or actually storming fortified places as a more effectual protection against missile weapons than the narrow English shield used on horseback this pavisse bore neither the royal lions of England nor any other device to attract the observation 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 new-been 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 yeoman about a score of whom respecting the unusually pensive posture and close occupation of their sovereign were contrary to their want 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 santa of the desert a sort of enthusiast who sometimes ventured into the camp of the crusaders though treated always with consumely 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, cops, 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 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 the expression of his fantastic and driven features as well as of his little black eyes which glittered like jet with 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 has never topped it under schoolboy's lash till thou spin has never topped it under schoolboy's lash thou 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 when contrasted with his slight and wasted figure and diminutive appearance made him resemble a withered leaf twalled round and round at the pleasure of winter's breeze his single lock of hair streamed upwards from his bald and shaven head as if some genius held 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 its length he sunk exhausted on the ground after two or three bounds still higher than those which he had yet exerted 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 ah ha, water, says thou along, Alan exclaimed another archer with the most scornful emphasis on the despised element how would thou like a beverage thyself after such a morris dancing the devil-a-water-droppy gets here said a third we will teach the light-fitted old infidel to be a good Christian and drink wine of Cyprus aye aye, said a fourth and in case he be restive fetch thou Dick Hunter's horn that he drenches his mare with all a circle was instantly formed round the prostrate and exhausted dervish and while one tall yeoman raised his feeble form from the ground another presented 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 you will use him conforming by Saint George you will choke him said long Alan 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 nightcap thou knowest not the nature of these Turks and Pagans long Alan replied Henry Woodstall I tell thee man this flagon of sopress 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 bends black bitch on the pound of butter and for grudging it said Thamelin Blackleys why should as thou grudge the poor pine him devil a drop of drink of earth since thou knowest he is not to have a drop to call the tip of his tongue through a long eternity that were hard laws look he said long Alan 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 wind to court us for him hold thy peace long Alan said Henry Woodstall I tell thee that the tongue of thine is not the shortest limb about thee and I prostrate that it will bring thee into disgrace with father Francis as one 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 heft of thy dudge and dagger hold hold he is comfortable said Thamelin CC he signs for the goblet give him room boys Ops yes quoth the Dutchman down it goes like lambs wool nay they are true toppers when they begin yet Turk never costs in his cup or stints in his liquor ring in fact the dervish 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 Karim or God is merciful there was a laugh among the yeoman who witnessed this pottled deep petition so upstrap arias as to rouse and disturb the king who raising his finger said angrily how naves 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 extracted the most precise respect although the latent 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 draft he had just swallowed resisted by being moved from the spot both with struggles and groans leave him still your fools whispered long Allen to his mates my saint Christopher you'll make our dick and go beside himself and we shall have his dagger presently fly at our costards alone in less than a minute he will sleep like a doormouse at the same moment the monarch darted another impatient glance to the spot and all retreated in haste leaving the dervish on the ground unable as it seemed to stir a single limb or joint of his body in a moment after it all was as still and quiet as it had been before the intrusion end of chapter 20 chapter 21 of the talisman this is the LibriVox recording or LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by a Lizzie driver the talisman by Sir Walter Scott chapter 21 and withered murder alarmed by his sentinel the wolf whose howl 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 redd amused in the entrance of his pavilion behind and with his back turned to the same entrance the newbie enslaved or burnished the ample paves in front of all and withered paces distant the omen of the guards stood sat or lay extended on the grass attended to their own sports but pursuing them in silence while on the esplanade betwixt them and the front of the tent lay scaredly to be distinguished from a bundle of rags the senseless form of the marabout but the newbie 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 suffer all around him moving with a well-adjusted precaution which seemed entirely inconsistent with a state of ebriety he crouched 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 of the Ethiopian who on his part prepared himself as quietly as possible to interfere and 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 branded to loft the carnaga or poignard which he had hidden in his sleeve not the presence of his whole army could have saved the heroic monarch but the motions of the new bean had been as well calculated as those of the enthusiast and ere the latter could strike the former court is uplifted arm turning his fanatical wrap upon what thus unexpectedly interposed betwixt him and his object the share-guide, for such was the seeming marabout dealt the new bean 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 bruising off and crushing an intrusive wasp caught up the stall on which he had been sitting an exclaiming only, hard dog dash almost to pieces the skull of the assassin who uttered twice once and aloud and once in a broken tone the words Allah Akbar God is victorious and expired at the king's feet you 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 turmoil as they now rushed into his tent watchful sentinels you are to leave me to do such hangman's work with my own hand be silent all of you and seize your senseless clamour saw ye never a dead turk before hear, car sat carrying out of the camp strike the head from the trunk and stick it on a lance taking care to turn the face to Mecca let ye may the easier tell the foul imposter on whose inspiration he came hither how he has spared on his errand for thee my swat and silent friend he added turned the Ethiopian but how's this thou art wounded and where the poisoned weapon are warrant me for by force of stabs so weak an animal as that could scarce hope to do more than raise 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 yeoman looked on each other confusedly and with hesitation the apprehension are so strange a danger prevailing with those who feared no other how now sirras continued the king are you dainty lipped or do you fear death that you dally thus not the death of a man said long Allen to whom the king looked as he spoke but me thinks they were not to die like a poisoned rat for the sake of a black chattel there that is brought and sold in a market like a multimer sold in a market like a multimer socks his grace speaks to men of suckin poison muttered another yeoman as if he said go to swallow and goosebree 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 ex-postulations of those around and the respectful opposition of the newbin 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 intimated his singular occupation than the newbin 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 surface of the negro as he called the European 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 Ney-Ney make not a needless halloo about a heart 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 a delta-deeper scratch and for me I have but to take a dacquem of overturn 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 prejudice-nathes how they might help each other when these cowardly catiffs come against us with savocains toys and 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 talk 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, you beef-devouring wine-swelling English mastis get ye to your guard again be sure to keep it more wearily think not you are now in your own land a fair play women 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 brooch or throttles you with the lace of my lady's bodice keep your eyes open in your mouth shut drink less and look sharper about you or I will place your huge stomachs on such short allowance as to pinch the stomach of a patient scottish man the yeoman abashed and mortified withdrew to their post a nevel was beginning to remonstrant with his master upon the risk of passing over thus slightly their negligence upon their duty and the propriety of an example in the case so peculiarly aggravated as the permitting one so suspicious as the marabout to approach within daggers length of his person when Richard interrupted him with speaking not of it nevel 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 under of mysteries saith the illustrious soldon 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 could show me the thief who did mine honour that wrong what saith thou ha the mute seemed asirous to speak but uttered only that imperfect sound proper to his melancholy condition then folded his arms looked on the king with a nigh 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 newbean slave repeated the same motion but how shall we understand each other said the king can't thou write good fellow the slave again nodded in assent give him writing tools said the king they were ready in my father's tent the mine but they'd be somewhere about if this scorching climate hath not dried up the ink why this fellow is a jewel a black diamond nevel so please you my liege said nevel if I might speak my poor mind it were ill dealing in this way this man must be a wizard and wizards deal with the enemy who have most interest to sow tars among the wheat and bring dissension into our council's and peace nevel 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 plantagent when he hath hoped to retrieve his honour the slave who during this discussion had been writing in which art he seemed skillful now arose and pressing what he had written to his brow prostrated himself as usual ear he delivered into the king's hand the scroll was in French although their intercourse had hitherto been conducted by Richard in the lingu franca to Richard the conquering and invincible king of England this from the humblest of his slaves mysteries are the sealed casks of heaven but wisdom may devise means to open the lock where your slaves stationed where the leaders of the Christian host were made to pass before him in order dealt to nothing that if he who did the injury were of my king's 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 has spoken most opportunely nevel thou knowest that when we must draw troops tomorrow the princes have agreed that they expiate the affront offered to England in the theft of a banner the leaders should pass on new standard as if 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 expugation so solemn lest his very absent should be a matter of suspicion thou will place us sable man of council and if his art can detect the villain leave me to deal with him my lead said nevel 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 install tear open wounds so lately closed or will you use the solemn procession adopted for the reparation of your honour and the establishment of unanimity amongst the discording princes as a means of again finding out new cause of offence or reviving ancient quarrels it was scarce too strong to say this were a breach of the declaration of grace made to the assembled council of the crusade nevel said the king sternly interrupting him thy zeal makes thee presumptuous and unmanally never did I promise to abstain from taking whatever means for 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 a forgiven him but continued the Baron anxiously what hope that this juggling slave of Saladin will not polter with your grace peace nevel 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 has 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 Gerdon for discharge of his diva Gerdon and d'Avoire said the king interrupting himself as he read and speaking to nevel in the English tongue with some emphasis on the words these eastern people were profited by the crusaders they are acquiring the language of chivalry and see nevel 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 there are perilous linguists the poor slave cannot endure your grace's eye said nevel it is nothing more well but continued the king strike in 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 Plantagent and craves means and opportunity to deliver it what thinkers thou of a request so modest ha, nevel I cannot say said nevel 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 soldern on the part of your majesty nay I thank heaven that I covered 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 me thinks it was something too summary I'll tell thee nevel a secret for although our sable and mute minister be present he cannot, thou knowest tell it over again even he should chance to understand us I'll tell thee that for this fortnight past I have been under a strange spell and I would I were disenchanted there has no sooner anyone done me good service but lo, you he cancels his interest in me by some deep injury and on the other hand he 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 demerit and renders respite of his sentence a debt due from my honour thus thou seest I am deprived of the best part of my role function since I can either punish men nor reward them until the influence of this disqualifying planet to 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 this 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 Ingadi 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 of what he had seen and heard and especially at the unusual demeanour of the king in general no task was so easier to discover Richard's immediate course of sentiment and feeling though it might in some cases be difficult to calculate its duration for no weather cock 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 dependent 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, debit 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 anyone understanding a conversation of which he himself the subject to have so completely avoided the appearance of taking an interest in it End of Chapter 21 Chapter 22 of The Talisman This is the LibriVox recording although LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Lizzie Driver The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott Chapter 22 Who's there? Approach, it is kindly done my learned physician and a friend Sir Eustis Gray A narrative retrogrades to a period shortly previous to the instance 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 Hekim to the Moorish tense 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 and the heart 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 crossed-legged by the side of his couch and administer comfort according to the Oriental Manor my friend he said be of good comfort for what save the poet it is better that a man should be the servant of a kind master than the slave of his own world passions again be of good courage because or as Yusuf Ben-Yagobi was sold to a king by his brethren the 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 Hakeem but his heart was too full and the indistinct sounds which accompanied his abortive attempts to reply induced the kind physician to detest from his premature endeavours at consolation he left his new domestic or guest in quiet sorrows and having commanded all the necessary preparations for their depart from the morning set down upon the carpet of the tent and indulged himself in a moderate repast after he had thus refreshed himself similar vians 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 save a draught of cold water he was awake long after his Arab host had performed his usual devotions and had taken 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 except in 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 only one 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 hakeen 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 camels and to ensure they're 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 Quran God be our guide and Muhammad our protector in the desert as in the watered field the whole cavalcade was in the desert and the camels were in the desert 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 muted curse upon their prophet as they passed the post of Sir Morzela's crusader at length the last barriers were left behind them and the party formed themselves to the march with military precaution two or three horsemen advanced in front to the 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 whilst Sir Kenneth looking back on the moonlit camp might now indeed seem banished deprived at once of honour and of liberty from the gleaming banners under which he had hoped to gain additional renown and the tented dwellings of chivalry of Christianity and of Edith Plantagent the hekeem who rode by his side observed in his usual turn of sensuous consolation it is unwise to look back when the journey lie forward and as he spoke the horse of the night made such a perilous stumble as threatened to add a practical moral to the tale the night 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 night mortified and harassed with misfortunes in a basement became something impatient of hearing his misery made at every turn the ground of proverbs and apathems however just and opposite me thinks he said rather peevishly I wanted no additional illustration of the instability of fortune but I would thank thee Sir Hekim for the choice of a steed for me would the jade but stumble so efficiently as it wants 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 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 worried perhaps of administering comfort to one who would not be comforted signed to one of his retinue Hassan he said her sound nothing were with to be garled away Hassan, storyteller and poet by profession spurred up upon this summons to exercises 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 Solomon bendy-out upon whose signet was inscribed the real name which controls the spirits of the elements forbid it, heaven, that while thou travelest upon the track up of Nevalence, bearing healing and hope wherever thou comest thine own course should be saddened for the 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 his stream beside the pathway for the refreshment on him that walketh thereon after this exordium Hassan uplifted his voice and began a tale of love and magic intermix 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 accepted as were necessarily detained in attendance on the camels thronged up to the orator 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 speeches of exhibition. At another time, notwithstanding his imperfect knowledge of the language Sir Kenneth might have been interested in the recitation which, through dictate by a more extravagant imagination and expressed in more inflated a metaphorical language bore yet a strong resemblance to the romances of chivalry then so fashionable in Europe. But, as matter 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 recognising 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 Roswell he said thou callest for aid and sympathy upon one in stricter bondage than thou art thyself I will not seem to hear thee or return thy affection since it would serve but to load our parting with yet more bitterness thus pass 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 disc began to rise above the level horizon and when the very first level raged hot glimmering in due along the surface of the desert which the travellers are now attaining the sonorous voice of El-Hakim himself overpowered and cut short the narrative of the tale-teller while he calls to resound along the sands the solemn summons which the Mazine's thundered at morning from the marinate of every mosque to prayer, to prayer God is the one God to prayer, to prayer Muhammad is the prophet of God to prayer, to prayer time is flying from you to prayer, to prayer to prayer, to prayer judgment is drawing night to you in an instant each Muslim cast himself from his horse turned his face towards Mecca and performed with sand an imitation of those abulations 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 it even Sir Kenneth whose reason at once and prejudices were offended by seeing his companions in that which he considered as an act of adultery could not help respect in the sincerity of their misguided zeal and being stimulated by their fervour to apply supplications to heaven in a purer form wondering meanwhile what newborn feelings could teach him to accompany in prayer with varied invocation those very Saracens whose heatheness 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 resume their reigns 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 steady gallop to El Hakeem and communicated with him. Four or five more cavaliers had then been dispatched and the little band to your thirty persons began to follow them with their eyes. As men from whose gestures and advance or retreat they were to all go good or evil. Hassan finding his audience inattentive all 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 Hakeem 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 is experienced I recognised for a party of cavalry marched 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 Hakeem 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 possible with instructions to approach as closely as prudence permitted to these travelers 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 draft to one in apathy and recalled Sir Kenneth to himself and his situation what fear you from this Christian horseman for such they seem he said to the Hakeem fear Sadele Hakeem 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 to 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 Hakeem whose vow limits them to know neither truce nor faith the worshipers of Islam may the prophet blight them both root branch and twig this 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 wars will be in their apin see us now 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 light amounted 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 demeanor 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 aroused by the near approach of a danger which he at once foresees and despises to circumessize the approaching crisis had a different aspect and when Adam Beck said to him thou must tarry close by my side he aunts solemnly in the negative yonder, he said are my comrades in arms the men in whose society are vowed to fight or fall on their banner gleams a sign of our most blessed redemption I cannot fly from the cross in company with the Crescent Fool! said the Hekim their first action will 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 are we not the bonds of the infidels an instant longer than I can cast them from me then I will compel thee to follow me said El Hekim compel answered Sir Kenneth angrily were it 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 mightest have load with fetters I would show thee that and armed 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 himself 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 Hekim seized the reign of his steed and putting his own to its metal both sprung forth at once with the suddenness of light and utter 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 sound 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 oar 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 potentials motion and when all human pursuit was far far behind that the Hekim at length relaxed his speed and slackening the pace of the horses into a hand-gallop began in a voices composed and even as if he had been walking for the last hour a descant upon the excellent of his courses to the scott who breathless half-blind half-death 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 oar except in the borac of the prophet they are fed on the golden barley of Yemen mixed with spices and a small portion of dried sheep's flesh kings have given provinces to possess them and their rage is active as their youth thou Nazarene, art of the first save a true believer that had 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 laces touched so lightly on these generous steeds that the mare in which thou now sittest has seen five times five years pass over her yet retains a 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 of advance and retreat which causeth their eye-enclothed 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 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 Muslim by acquiescing in his proud claim of superiority therefore suffered the conversation to drop the man 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 southern 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 Amir Sherkoff or Rildorim in a few minutes they checked their horses beside the spring and the Hekim invited Sir Kenneth to descend from horseback and repose himself as in a place of safety they unbridled their steeds El Hekim 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 rise 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 a complacence 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 Hekim exclaimed in hurried pulse his red and inflamed eye his heated hand and his shortened respiration the mind, he said grows wise by watching but as 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 his 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 men warms him by the same fire-brand with which the madmen burneth the tent open brackets some preparation of opium seems to be intimated close brackets I have seen too much of thy skills, sage Akim said Sir Kenneth to debate thine haste and swallowed the narcotic mingled as it was with some water from the spring then wrapped him in the hayak or Arab cloak which had been farsened with 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 night felt enabled to consider them not only without alarm and sorrow but thus compulsively 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 his past existence from this state of repose amounting almost 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 huge airs under much happier auspices his unstimulated imagination had not been able to produce even in its most exalted state liberty, fame, successful love appear to be the certain and not very distant prospect of the enslaved exile the dishonoured night 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 overcrowded these gay visions became obscure like the dying hues of sunset until they were at last lost in total oblivion and Sir Kenneth Leigh extended at the feet of El Hakeem to all appearance but for his deep respiration as inanimate a corpse as if life had actually departed