CHAPTER XXVII.
We heard the Techir--so these Arabs call Their shout of onset, when, with loud acclaim, They challenge Heaven to give them victory. SIEGE OF DAMASCUS.
On the subsequent morning Richard was invited to a conference by Philipof France, in which the latter, with many expressions of his high esteemfor his brother of England, communicated to him in terms extremelycourteous, but too explicit to be misunderstood, his positive intentionto return to Europe, and to the cares of his kingdom, as entirelydespairing of future success in their undertaking, with their diminishedforces and civil discords. Richard remonstrated, but in vain; and whenthe conference ended he received without surprise a manifesto from theDuke of Austria, and several other princes, announcing a resolutionsimilar to that of Philip, and in no modified terms, assigning, fortheir defection from the cause of the Cross, the inordinate ambition andarbitrary domination of Richard of England. All hopes of continuingthe war with any prospect of ultimate success were now abandoned; andRichard, while he shed bitter tears over his disappointed hopes ofglory, was little consoled by the recollection that the failure wasin some degree to be imputed to the advantages which he had given hisenemies by his own hasty and imprudent temper.
"They had not dared to have deserted my father thus," he said to DeVaux, in the bitterness of his resentment. "No slanders they could haveuttered against so wise a king would have been believed in Christendom;whereas--fool that I am!--I have not only afforded them a pretext fordeserting me, but even a colour for casting all the blame of the ruptureupon my unhappy foibles."
These thoughts were so deeply galling to the King, that De Vaux wasrejoiced when the arrival of an ambassador from Saladin turned hisreflections into a different channel.
This new envoy was an Emir much respected by the Soldan, whose namewas Abdallah el Hadgi. He derived his descent from the family of theProphet, and the race or tribe of Hashem, in witness of which genealogyhe wore a green turban of large dimensions. He had also three timesperformed the journey to Mecca, from which he derived his epithet ofEl Hadgi, or the Pilgrim. Notwithstanding these various pretensions tosanctity, Abdallah was (for an Arab) a boon companion, who enjoyeda merry tale, and laid aside his gravity so far as to quaff a blitheflagon when secrecy ensured him against scandal. He was likewisea statesman, whose abilities had been used by Saladin in variousnegotiations with the Christian princes, and particularly with Richard,to whom El Hadgi was personally known and acceptable. Animated by thecheerful acquiescence with which the envoy of Saladin afforded a fairfield for the combat, a safe conduct for all who might choose to witnessit, and offered his own person as a guarantee of his fidelity, Richardsoon forgot his disappointed hopes, and the approaching dissolution ofthe Christian league, in the interesting discussions preceding a combatin the lists.
The station called the Diamond of the Desert was assigned for the placeof conflict, as being nearly at an equal distance betwixt the Christianand Saracen camps. It was agreed that Conrade of Montserrat, thedefendant, with his godfathers, the Archduke of Austria and the GrandMaster of the Templars, should appear there on the day fixed for thecombat, with a hundred armed followers, and no more; that Richard ofEngland and his brother Salisbury, who supported the accusation, shouldattend with the same number, to protect his champion; and that theSoldan should bring with him a guard of five hundred chosen followers,a band considered as not more than equal to the two hundred Christianlances. Such persons of consideration as either party chose to invite towitness the contest were to wear no other weapons than their swords, andto come without defensive armour. The Soldan undertook the preparationof the lists, and to provide accommodations and refreshments of everykind for all who were to assist at the solemnity; and his lettersexpressed with much courtesy the pleasure which he anticipated in theprospect of a personal and peaceful meeting with the Melech Ric, and hisanxious desire to render his reception as agreeable as possible.
All preliminaries being arranged and communicated to the defendantand his godfathers, Abdullah the Hadgi was admitted to a more privateinterview, where he heard with delight the strains of Blondel. Havingfirst carefully put his green turban out of sight, and assumed aGreek cap in its stead, he requited the Norman minstrel's music with adrinking song from the Persian, and quaffed a hearty flagon of Cypruswine, to show that his practice matched his principles. On the next day,grave and sober as the water-drinker Mirglip, he bent his brow to theground before Saladin's footstool, and rendered to the Soldan an accountof his embassy.
On the day before that appointed for the combat Conrade and his friendsset off by daybreak to repair to the place assigned, and Richard leftthe camp at the same hour and for the same purpose; but, as had beenagreed upon, he took his journey by a different route--a precautionwhich had been judged necessary, to prevent the possibility of a quarrelbetwixt their armed attendants.
The good King himself was in no humour for quarrelling with any one.Nothing could have added to his pleasurable anticipations of a desperateand bloody combat in the lists, except his being in his own royalperson one of the combatants; and he was half in charity again evenwith Conrade of Montserrat. Lightly armed, richly dressed, and gay asa bridegroom on the eve of his nuptials, Richard caracoled along bythe side of Queen Berengaria's litter, pointing out to her the variousscenes through which they passed, and cheering with tale and song thebosom of the inhospitable wilderness. The former route of the Queen'spilgrimage to Engaddi had been on the other side of the chain ofmountains, so that the ladies were strangers to the scenery of thedesert; and though Berengaria knew her husband's disposition too wellnot to endeavour to seem interested in what he was pleased either tosay or to sing, she could not help indulging some female fears when shefound herself in the howling wilderness with so small an escort, whichseemed almost like a moving speck on the bosom of the plain, and knewat the same time they were not so distant from the camp of Saladin,but what they might be in a moment surprised and swept off by anoverpowering host of his fiery-footed cavalry, should the pagan befaithless enough to embrace an opportunity thus tempting. But when shehinted these suspicions to Richard he repelled them with displeasure anddisdain. "It were worse than ingratitude," he said, "to doubt the goodfaith of the generous Soldan."
Yet the same doubts and fears recurred more than once, not to the timidmind of the Queen alone, but to the firmer and more candid soul of EdithPlantagenet, who had no such confidence in the faith of the Moslem asto render her perfectly at ease when so much in their power; and hersurprise had been far less than her terror, if the desert around hadsuddenly resounded with the shout of ALLAH HU! and a band of Arabcavalry had pounced on them like vultures on their prey. Nor were thesesuspicions lessened when, as evening approached, they were aware ofa single Arab horseman, distinguished by his turban and long lance,hovering on the edge of a small eminence like a hawk poised in the air,and who instantly, on the appearance of the royal retinue, dartedoff with the speed of the same bird when it shoots down the wind anddisappears from the horizon.
"We must be near the station," said King Richard; "and yonder cavalieris one of Saladin's outposts--methinks I hear the noise of the Moorishhorns and cymbals. Get you into order, my hearts, and form yourselvesaround the ladies soldierlike and firmly."
As he spoke, each knight, squire, and archer hastily closed in upon hisappointed ground, and they proceeded in the most compact order, whichmade their numbers appear still smaller. And to say the truth, thoughthere might be no fear, there was anxiety as well as curiosity in theattention with which they listened to the wild bursts of Moorish music,which came ever and anon more distinctly from the quarter in which theArab horseman had been seen to disappear.
De Vaux spoke in a whisper to the King. "Were it not well, my liege, tosend a page to the top of that sand-bank? Or would it stand with yourpleasure that I prick forward? Methinks, by all yonder clash and clang,if there be no more than five hundred men beyond the sand-hills, half ofthe Soldan's retinue must be drummers
and cymbal-tossers. Shall I spuron?"
The baron had checked his horse with the bit, and was just about tostrike him with the spurs when the King exclaimed, "Not for the world.Such a caution would express suspicion, and could do little to preventsurprise, which, however, I apprehend not."
They advanced accordingly in close and firm order till they surmountedthe line of low sand-hills, and came in sight of the appointed station,when a splendid, but at the same time a startling, spectacle awaitedthem.
The Diamond of the Desert, so lately a solitary fountain, distinguishedonly amid the waste by solitary groups of palm-trees, was now the centreof an encampment, the embroidered flags and gilded ornaments of whichglittered far and wide, and reflected a thousand rich tints against thesetting sun. The coverings of the large pavilions were of the gayestcolours--scarlet, bright yellow, pale blue, and other gaudy and gleaminghues--and the tops of their pillars, or tent-poles, were decoratedwith golden pomegranates and small silken flags. But besides thesedistinguished pavilions, there were what Thomas de Vaux considered asa portentous number of the ordinary black tents of the Arabs, beingsufficient, as he conceived, to accommodate, according to the Easternfashion, a host of five thousand men. A number of Arabs and Kurds, fullycorresponding to the extent of the encampment, were hastily assembling,each leading his horse in his hand, and their muster was accompanied byan astonishing clamour of their noisy instruments of martial music, bywhich, in all ages, the warfare of the Arabs has been animated.
They soon formed a deep and confused mass of dismounted cavalry in frontof their encampment, when, at the signal of a shrill cry, which arosehigh over the clangour of the music, each cavalier sprung to his saddle.A cloud of dust arising at the moment of this manoeuvre hid from Richardand his attendants the camp, the palm-trees, and the distant ridge ofmountains, as well as the troops whose sudden movement had raised thecloud, and, ascending high over their heads, formed itself into thefantastic forms of writhed pillars, domes, and minarets. Another shrillyell was heard from the bosom of this cloudy tabernacle. It was thesignal for the cavalry to advance, which they did at full gallop,disposing themselves as they came forward so as to come in at once onthe front, flanks, and rear of Richard's little bodyguard, who were thussurrounded, and almost choked by the dense clouds of dust envelopingthem on each side, through which were seen alternately, and lost, thegrim forms and wild faces of the Saracens, brandishing and tossing theirlances in every possible direction with the wildest cries and halloos,and frequently only reining up their horses when within a spear's lengthof the Christians, while those in the rear discharged over the heads ofboth parties thick volleys of arrows. One of these struck the litter inwhich the Queen was seated, who loudly screamed, and the red spot was onRichard's brow in an instant.
"Ha! Saint George," he exclaimed, "we must take some order with thisinfidel scum!"
But Edith, whose litter was near, thrust her head out, and with her handholding one of the shafts, exclaimed, "Royal Richard, beware what youdo! see, these arrows are headless!"
"Noble, sensible wench!" exclaimed Richard; "by Heaven, thou shamestus all by thy readiness of thought and eye.--Be not moved, my Englishhearts," he exclaimed to his followers; "their arrows have no heads--andtheir spears, too, lack the steel points. It is but a wild welcome,after their savage fashion, though doubtless they would rejoice to seeus daunted or disturbed. Move onward, slow and steady."
The little phalanx moved forward accordingly, accompanied on all sidesby the Arabs, with the shrillest and most piercing cries, the bowmen,meanwhile, displaying their agility by shooting as near the crests ofthe Christians as was possible, without actually hitting them, while thelancers charged each other with such rude blows of their blunt weaponsthat more than one of them lost his saddle, and well-nigh his life,in this rough sport. All this, though designed to express welcome, hadrather a doubtful appearance in the eyes of the Europeans.
As they had advanced nearly half way towards the camp, King Richard andhis suite forming, as it were, the nucleus round which this tumultuarybody of horsemen howled, whooped, skirmished, and galloped, creating ascene of indescribable confusion, another shrill cry was heard, on whichall these irregulars, who were on the front and upon the flanks of thelittle body of Europeans, wheeled off; and forming themselves into along and deep column, followed with comparative order and silence inthe rear of Richard's troops. The dust began now to dissipate in theirfront, when there advanced to meet them through that cloudy veil a bodyof cavalry of a different and more regular description, completely armedwith offensive and defensive weapons, and who might well have servedas a bodyguard to the proudest of Eastern monarchs. This splendid troopconsisted of five hundred men and each horse which it contained wasworth an earl's ransom. The riders were Georgian and Circassian slavesin the very prime of life. Their helmets and hauberks were formed ofsteel rings, so bright that they shone like silver; their vestures wereof the gayest colours, and some of cloth of gold or silver; the sasheswere twisted with silk and gold, their rich turbans were plumed andjewelled, and their sabres and poniards, of Damascene steel, wereadorned with gold and gems on hilt and scabbard.
This splendid array advanced to the sound of military music, and whenthey met the Christian body they opened their files to the right andleft, and let them enter between their ranks. Richard now assumed theforemost place in his troop, aware that Saladin himself was approaching.Nor was it long when, in the centre of his bodyguard, surrounded by hisdomestic officers and those hideous negroes who guard the Easternharam, and whose misshapen forms were rendered yet more frightful by therichness of their attire, came the Soldan, with the look and manners ofone on whose brow Nature had written, This is a King! In his snow-whiteturban, vest, and wide Eastern trousers, wearing a sash of scarletsilk, without any other ornament, Saladin might have seemed theplainest-dressed man in his own guard. But closer inspection discernedin his turban that inestimable gem which was called by the poets theSea of Light; the diamond on which his signet was engraved, and which hewore in a ring, was probably worth all the jewels of the English crown;and a sapphire which terminated the hilt of his cangiar was not of muchinferior value. It should be added that, to protect himself from thedust, which in the vicinity of the Dead Sea resembles the finest ashes,or, perhaps, out of Oriental pride, the Soldan wore a sort of veilattached to his turban, which partly obscured the view of his noblefeatures. He rode a milk-white Arabian, which bore him as if consciousand proud of his noble burden.
There was no need of further introduction. The two heroic monarchs--forsuch they both were--threw themselves at once from horseback, and thetroops halting and the music suddenly ceasing, they advanced to meeteach other in profound silence, and after a courteous inclination oneither side they embraced as brethren and equals. The pomp and displayupon both sides attracted no further notice--no one saw aught saveRichard and Saladin, and they too beheld nothing but each other. Thelooks with which Richard surveyed Saladin were, however, more intentlycurious than those which the Soldan fixed upon him; and the Soldan alsowas the first to break silence.
"The Melech Ric is welcome to Saladin as water to this desert. I trusthe hath no distrust of this numerous array. Excepting the armed slavesof my household, those who surround you with eyes of wonder and ofwelcome are--even the humblest of them--the privileged nobles of mythousand tribes; for who that could claim a title to be present wouldremain at home when such a Prince was to be seen as Richard, with theterrors of whose name, even on the sands of Yemen, the nurse stills herchild, and the free Arab subdues his restive steed!"
"And these are all nobles of Araby?" said Richard, looking around onwild forms with their persons covered with haiks, their countenanceswart with the sunbeams, their teeth as white as ivory, their black eyesglancing with fierce and preternatural lustre from under the shade oftheir turbans, and their dress being in general simple even to meanness.
"They claim such rank," said Saladin; "but though numerous, theyare within the conditions of the
treaty, and bear no arms but thesabre--even the iron of their lances is left behind."
"I fear," muttered De Vaux in English, "they have left them where theycan be soon found. A most flourishing House of Peers, I confess, andwould find Westminster Hall something too narrow for them."
"Hush, De Vaux," said Richard, "I command thee.--Noble Saladin," hesaid, "suspicion and thou cannot exist on the same ground. Seest thou,"pointing to the litters, "I too have brought some champions with me,though armed, perhaps, in breach of agreement; for bright eyes and fairfeatures are weapons which cannot be left behind."
The Soldan, turning to the litters, made an obeisance as lowly as iflooking towards Mecca, and kissed the sand in token of respect.
"Nay," said Richard, "they will not fear a closer encounter, brother;wilt thou not ride towards their litters, and the curtains will bepresently withdrawn?"
"That may Allah prohibit!" said Saladin, "since not an Arab looks on whowould not think it shame to the noble ladies to be seen with their facesuncovered."
"Thou shalt see them, then, in private, brother," answered Richard.
"To what purpose?" answered Saladin mournfully. "Thy last letter was,to the hopes which I had entertained, like water to fire; and whereforeshould I again light a flame which may indeed consume, but cannot cheerme? But will not my brother pass to the tent which his servant hathprepared for him? My principal black slave hath taken order for thereception of the Princesses, the officers of my household will attendyour followers, and ourself will be the chamberlain of the royalRichard."
He led the way accordingly to a splendid pavilion, where was everythingthat royal luxury could devise. De Vaux, who was in attendance, thenremoved the chappe (CAPA), or long riding-cloak, which Richard wore, andhe stood before Saladin in the close dress which showed to advantage thestrength and symmetry of his person, while it bore a strong contrastto the flowing robes which disguised the thin frame. of the Easternmonarch. It was Richard's two-handed sword that chiefly attractedthe attention of the Saracen--a broad, straight blade, the seeminglyunwieldy length of which extended well-nigh from the shoulder to theheel of the wearer.
"Had I not," said Saladin, "seen this brand flaming in the front ofbattle, like that of Azrael, I had scarce believed that human arm couldwield it. Might I request to see the Melech Ric strike one blow with itin peace, and in pure trial of strength?"
"Willingly, noble Saladin," answered Richard; and looking around forsomething whereon to exercise his strength, he saw a steel mace held byone of the attendants, the handle being of the same metal, and about aninch and a half in diameter. This he placed on a block of wood.
The anxiety of De Vaux for his master's honour led him to whisper inEnglish, "For the blessed Virgin's sake, beware what you attempt, myliege! Your full strength is not as yet returned--give no triumph to theinfidel."
"Peace, fool!" said Richard, standing firm on his ground, and casting afierce glance around; "thinkest thou that I can fail in HIS presence?"
The glittering broadsword, wielded by both his hands, rose aloft to theKing's left shoulder, circled round his head, descended with the swayof some terrific engine, and the bar of iron rolled on the ground in twopieces, as a woodsman would sever a sapling with a hedging-bill.
"By the head of the Prophet, a most wonderful blow!" said the Soldan,critically and accurately examining the iron bar which had been cutasunder; and the blade of the sword was so well tempered as to exhibitnot the least token of having suffered by the feat it had performed. Hethen took the King's hand, and looking on the size and muscular strengthwhich it exhibited, laughed as he placed it beside his own, so lank andthin, so inferior in brawn and sinew.
"Ay, look well," said De Vaux in English, "it will be long ere your longjackanape's fingers do such a feat with your fine gilded reaping-hookthere."
"Silence, De Vaux," said Richard; "by Our Lady, he understands orguesses thy meaning--be not so broad, I pray thee."
The Soldan, indeed, presently said, "Something I would fainattempt--though wherefore should the weak show their inferiority inpresence of the strong? Yet each land hath its own exercises, and thismay be new to the Melech Ric." So saying, he took from the floor acushion of silk and down, and placed it upright on one end. "Can thyweapon, my brother, sever that cushion?" he said to King Richard.
"No, surely," replied the King; "no sword on earth, were it theExcalibur of King Arthur, can cut that which opposes no steadyresistance to the blow."
"Mark, then," said Saladin; and tucking up the sleeve of his gown,showed his arm, thin indeed and spare, but which constant exercise hadhardened into a mass consisting of nought but bone, brawn, and sinew. Heunsheathed his scimitar, a curved and narrow blade, which glittered notlike the swords of the Franks, but was, on the contrary, of a dull bluecolour, marked with ten millions of meandering lines, which showedhow anxiously the metal had been welded by the armourer. Wielding thisweapon, apparently so inefficient when compared to that of Richard, theSoldan stood resting his weight upon his left foot, which was slightlyadvanced; he balanced himself a little, as if to steady his aim; thenstepping at once forward, drew the scimitar across the cushion, applyingthe edge so dexterously, and with so little apparent effort, that thecushion seemed rather to fall asunder than to be divided by violence.
"It is a juggler's trick," said De Vaux, darting forward and snatchingup the portion of the cushion which had been cut off, as if to assurehimself of the reality of the feat; "there is gramarye in this."
The Soldan seemed to comprehend him, for he undid the sort of veilwhich he had hitherto worn, laid it double along the edge of his sabre,extended the weapon edgeways in the air, and drawing it suddenly throughthe veil, although it hung on the blade entirely loose, severed thatalso into two parts, which floated to different sides of the tent,equally displaying the extreme temper and sharpness of the weapon, andthe exquisite dexterity of him who used it.
"Now, in good faith, my brother," said Richard, "thou art even matchlessat the trick of the sword, and right perilous were it to meet thee!Still, however, I put some faith in a downright English blow, and whatwe cannot do by sleight we eke out by strength. Nevertheless, in truththou art as expert in inflicting wounds as my sage Hakim in curing them.I trust I shall see the learned leech. I have much to thank him for, andhad brought some small present."
As he spoke, Saladin exchanged his turban for a Tartar cap. He had nosooner done so, than De Vaux opened at once his extended mouth and hislarge, round eyes, and Richard gazed with scarce less astonishment,while the Soldan spoke in a grave and altered voice: "The sick man,saith the poet, while he is yet infirm, knoweth the physician by hisstep; but when he is recovered, he knoweth not even his face when helooks upon him."
"A miracle!--a miracle!" exclaimed Richard.
"Of Mahound's working, doubtless," said Thomas de Vaux.
"That I should lose my learned Hakim," said Richard, "merely by absenceof his cap and robe, and that I should find him again in my royalbrother Saladin!"
"Such is oft the fashion of the world," answered the Soldan; "thetattered robe makes not always the dervise."
"And it was through thy intercession," said Richard, "that yonderKnight of the Leopard was saved from death, and by thy artifice that herevisited my camp in disguise?"
"Even so," replied Saladin. "I was physician enough to know that, unlessthe wounds of his bleeding honour were stanched, the days of his lifemust be few. His disguise was more easily penetrated than I had expectedfrom the success of my own."
"An accident," said King Richard (probably alluding to the circumstanceof his applying his lips to the wound of the supposed Nubian), "let mefirst know that his skin was artificially discoloured; and that hintonce taken, detection became easy, for his form and person are not to beforgotten. I confidently expect that he will do battle on the morrow."
"He is full in preparation, and high in hope," said the Soldan. "I havefurnished him with weapons and horse, thinking nobly of him from what Ihave seen
under various disguises."
"Knows he now," said Richard, "to whom he lies under obligation?"
"He doth," replied the Saracen. "I was obliged to confess my person whenI unfolded my purpose."
"And confessed he aught to you?" said the King of England.
"Nothing explicit," replied the Soldan; "but from much that passedbetween us, I conceive his love is too highly placed to be happy in itsissue."
"And thou knowest that his daring and insolent passion crossed thine ownwishes?" said Richard.
"I might guess so much," said Saladin; "but his passion had existed eremy wishes had been formed--and, I must now add, is likely to survivethem. I cannot, in honour, revenge me for my disappointment on him whohad no hand in it. Or, if this high-born dame loved him better thanmyself, who can say that she did not justice to a knight of her ownreligion, who is full of nobleness?"
"Yet of too mean lineage to mix with the blood of Plantagenet," saidRichard haughtily.
"Such may be your maxims in Frangistan," replied the Soldan. "Our poetsof the Eastern countries say that a valiant camel-driver is worthy tokiss the lip of a fair Queen, when a cowardly prince is not worthy tosalute the hem of her garment. But with your permission, noble brother,I must take leave of thee for the present, to receive the Duke ofAustria and yonder Nazarene knight, much less worthy of hospitality, butwho must yet be suitably entreated, not for their sakes, but for mineown honour--for what saith the sage Lokman? 'Say not that the foodis lost unto thee which is given to the stranger; for if his body bestrengthened and fattened therewithal, not less is thine own worship andgood name cherished and augmented.'"
The Saracen Monarch departed from King Richard's tent, and havingindicated to him, rather with signs than with speech, where the pavilionof the Queen and her attendants was pitched, he went to receive theMarquis of Montserrat and his attendants, for whom, with lessgoodwill, but with equal splendour, the magnificent Soldan had providedaccommodations. The most ample refreshments, both in the Oriental andafter the European fashion, were spread before the royal and princelyguests of Saladin, each in their own separate pavilion; and so attentivewas the Soldan to the habits and taste of his visitors, that Grecianslaves were stationed to present them with the goblet, which is theabomination of the sect of Mohammed. Ere Richard had finished his meal,the ancient Omrah, who had brought the Soldan's letter to the Christiancamp, entered with a plan of the ceremonial to be observed on thesucceeding day of combat. Richard, who knew the taste of his oldacquaintance, invited him to pledge him in a flagon of wine of Shiraz;but Abdallah gave him to understand, with a rueful aspect, thatself-denial in the present circumstances was a matter in which hislife was concerned, for that Saladin, tolerant in many respects, bothobserved and enforced by high penalties the laws of the Prophet.
"Nay, then," said Richard, "if he loves not wine, that lightener of thehuman heart, his conversion is not to be hoped for, and the predictionof the mad priest of Engaddi goes like chaff down the wind."
The King then addressed himself to settle the articles of combat, whichcost a considerable time, as it was necessary on some points to consultwith the opposite parties, as well as with the Soldan.
They were at length finally agreed upon, and adjusted by a protocol inFrench and in Arabian, which was subscribed by Saladin as umpire of thefield, and by Richard and Leopold as guarantees for the two combatants.As the Omrah took his final leave of King Richard for the evening, DeVaux entered.
"The good knight," he said, "who is to do battle tomorrow requests toknow whether he may not to-night pay duty to his royal godfather!"
"Hast thou seen him, De Vaux?" said the King, smiling; "and didst thouknow an ancient acquaintance?"
"By our Lady of Lanercost," answered De Vaux, "there are so manysurprises and changes in this land that my poor brain turns. I scarceknew Sir Kenneth of Scotland, till his good hound, that had been for ashort while under my care, came and fawned on me; and even then I onlyknew the tyke by the depth of his chest, the roundness of his foot,and his manner of baying, for the poor gazehound was painted like anyVenetian courtesan."
"Thou art better skilled in brutes than men, De Vaux," said the King.
"I will not deny," said De Vaux, "I have found them ofttimes thehonester animals. Also, your Grace is pleased to term me sometimes abrute myself; besides that, I serve the Lion, whom all men acknowledgethe king of brutes."
"By Saint George, there thou brokest thy lance fairly on my brow," saidthe King. "I have ever said thou hast a sort of wit, De Vaux; marry, onemust strike thee with a sledge-hammer ere it can be made to sparkle. Butto the present gear--is the good knight well armed and equipped?"
"Fully, my liege, and nobly," answered De Vaux. "I know the armour well;it is that which the Venetian commissary offered your highness, just ereyou became ill, for five hundred byzants."
"And he hath sold it to the infidel Soldan, I warrant me, for a fewducats more, and present payment. These Venetians would sell theSepulchre itself!"
"The armour will never be borne in a nobler cause," said De Vaux.
"Thanks to the nobleness of the Saracen," said the King, "not to theavarice of the Venetians."
"I would to God your Grace would be more cautious," said the anxiousDe Vaux. "Here are we deserted by all our allies, for points of offencegiven to one or another; we cannot hope to prosper upon the land; and wehave only to quarrel with the amphibious republic, to lose the means ofretreat by sea!"
"I will take care," said Richard impatiently; "but school me no more.Tell me rather, for it is of interest, hath the knight a confessor?"
"He hath," answered De Vaux; "the hermit of Engaddi, who erst didhim that office when preparing for death, attends him on the presentoccasion, the fame of the duel having brought him hither."
"'Tis well," said Richard; "and now for the knight's request. Say tohim, Richard will receive him when the discharge of his devoir besidethe Diamond of the Desert shall have atoned for his fault beside theMount of Saint George; and as thou passest through the camp, let theQueen know I will visit her pavilion--and tell Blondel to meet methere."
De Vaux departed, and in about an hour afterwards, Richard, wrapping hismantle around him, and taking his ghittern in his hand, walked in thedirection of the Queen's pavilion. Several Arabs passed him, but alwayswith averted heads and looks fixed upon the earth, though he couldobserve that all gazed earnestly after him when he was past. This ledhim justly to conjecture that his person was known to them; but thateither the Soldan's commands, or their own Oriental politeness, forbadethem to seem to notice a sovereign who desired to remain incognito.
When the King reached the pavilion of his Queen he found it guarded bythose unhappy officials whom Eastern jealousy places around the zenana.Blondel was walking before the door, and touched his rote from time totime in a manner which made the Africans show their ivory teeth, andbear burden with their strange gestures and shrill, unnatural voices.
"What art thou after with this herd of black cattle, Blondel?" said theKing; "wherefore goest thou not into the tent?"
"Because my trade can neither spare the head nor the fingers," saidBlondel, "and these honest blackamoors threatened to cut me joint fromjoint if I pressed forward."
"Well, enter with me," said the King, "and I will be thy safeguard."
The blacks accordingly lowered pikes and swords to King Richard, andbent their eyes on the ground, as if unworthy to look upon him. In theinterior of the pavilion they found Thomas de Vaux in attendance on theQueen. While Berengaria welcomed Blondel, King Richard spoke for sometime secretly and apart with his fair kinswoman.
At length, "Are we still foes, my fair Edith?" he said, in a whisper.
"No, my liege," said Edith, in a voice just so low as not to interruptthe music; "none can bear enmity against King Richard when he deigns toshow himself, as he really is, generous and noble, as well as valiantand honourable."
So saying, she extended her hand to him. The King kissed it in token ofreconc
iliation, and then proceeded.
"You think, my sweet cousin, that my anger in this matter was feigned;but you are deceived. The punishment I inflicted upon this knight wasjust; for he had betrayed--no matter for how tempting a bribe, faircousin--the trust committed to him. But I rejoice, perchance as much asyou, that to-morrow gives him a chance to win the field, and throwback the stain which for a time clung to him upon the actual thief andtraitor. No!--future times may blame Richard for impetuous folly, butthey shall say that in rendering judgment he was just when he should andmerciful when he could."
"Laud not thyself, cousin King," said Edith. "They may call thy justicecruelty, thy mercy caprice."
"And do not thou pride thyself," said the King, "as if thy knight,who hath not yet buckled on his armour, were unbelting it intriumph--Conrade of Montserrat is held a good lance. What if the Scotshould lose the day?"
"It is impossible!" said Edith firmly. "My own eyes saw yonder Conradetremble and change colour like a base thief; he is guilty, and the trialby combat is an appeal to the justice of God. I myself, in such a cause,would encounter him without fear."
"By the mass, I think thou wouldst, wench," said the King, "and beat himto boot, for there never breathed a truer Plantagenet than thou."
He paused, and added in a very serious tone, "See that thoucontinue to remember what is due to thy birth."
"What means that advice, so seriously given at this moment?" said Edith."Am I of such light nature as to forget my name--my condition?"
"I will speak plainly, Edith," answered the King, "and as to a friend.What will this knight be to you, should he come off victor from yonderlists?"
"To me?" said Edith, blushing deep with shame and displeasure. "What canhe be to me more than an honoured knight, worthy of such grace asQueen Berengaria might confer on him, had he selected her for his lady,instead of a more unworthy choice? The meanest knight may devote himselfto the service of an empress, but the glory of his choice," she saidproudly, "must be his reward."
"Yet he hath served and suffered much for you," said the King.
"I have paid his services with honour and applause, and his sufferingswith tears," answered Edith. "Had he desired other reward, he would havedone wisely to have bestowed his affections within his own degree."
"You would not, then, wear the bloody night-gear for his sake?" saidKing Richard.
"No more," answered Edith, "than I would have required him to expose hislife by an action in which there was more madness than honour."
"Maidens talk ever thus," said the King; "but when the favouredlover presses his suit, she says, with a sigh, her stars had decreedotherwise."
"Your Grace has now, for the second time, threatened me with theinfluence of my horoscope," Edith replied, with dignity. "Trust me,my liege, whatever be the power of the stars, your poor kinswoman willnever wed either infidel or obscure adventurer. Permit me that I listento the music of Blondel, for the tone of your royal admonitions isscarce so grateful to the ear."
The conclusion of the evening offered nothing worthy of notice.