第24章

WhatmeansthisunseemlybroilbetwixttheswornbrethrenoftheCross-theroyalMajestyofEnglandandtheprincelyDukeLeopold？Howisitpossiblethatthosewhoarethechiefsandpillarsofthisholyexpedition’’-

Atrucewiththyremonstrance，France，’’saidRichard，enragedinwardlyatfindinghimselfplacedonasortofequalitywithLeopold，yetnotknowinghowtoresentit-thisduke，orprince，orpillar，ifyouwill，hathbeeninsolent，andIhavechastisedhim-thatisall。Hereisacoil，forsooth，becauseofspurningahound！’’

MajestyofFrance，’’saidtheDuke，IappealtoyouandeverysovereignprinceagainstthefoulindignitywhichIhavesustained。ThisKingofEnglandhathpulleddownmybanner-tornandtrampledonit。’’

Becausehehadtheaudacitytoplantitbesidemine，’’saidRichard。

Myrankasthineequalentitledme，’’repliedtheDuke，emboldenedbythepresenceofPhilip。

Assertsuchequalityforthyperson，’’saidKingRichard，and，bySaintGeorge，IwilltreatthypersonasIdidthybroideredkerchiefthere，fitbutforthemeanestusetowhichkerchiefmaybeput。’’

Nay，butpatience，brotherofEngland，’’saidPhilip，andIwillpresentlyshowAustriathatheiswronginthismatter-

Donotthink，nobleDuke，’’hecontinued，that，inpermittingthestandardofEnglandtooccupythehighestpointinourcamp，we，theindependentsovereignsoftheCrusade，acknowledgeanyinferioritytotheroyalRichard。Itwereinconsistenttothinkso；sinceeventheoriflammeitself-thegreatbannerofFrance，towhichtheroyalRichardhimself，inrespectofhisFrenchpossessions，isbutavassal-holdsforthepresentaninferiorplacetotheLionsofEngland。ButasswornbrethrenoftheCross，militarypilgrims，who，layingasidethepompandprideofthisworld，arehewingwithourswordsthewaytotheHolySepulchre，Imyself，andtheotherprinces，haverenouncedtoKingRichard，fromrespecttohishighrenownandgreatfeatsofarms，thatprecedence，whichelsewhere，anduponothermotives，wouldnothavebeenyielded。Iamsatisfied，thatwhenyourroyalgraceofAustriashallhaveconsideredthis，youwillexpresssorrowforhavingplacedyourbanneronthisspot，andthattheroyalMajestyofEnglandwillthengivesatisfactionfortheinsulthehasoffered。’’

The_spruch-sprecher_andthejesterhadbothretiredtoasafedistancewhenmattersseemedcomingtoblows，butreturnedwhenwords，theirowncommodity，seemedagainabouttobecometheorderoftheday。

ThemanofproverbswassodelightedwithPhilip’spoliticspeech，thatheclashedhisbatonattheconclusionbywayofemphasis，andforgotthepresenceinwhichhewas，sofarastosayaloud，thathehimselfhadneversaidawiserthinginhislife。

Itmaybeso，’’whisperedJonasSchwanker，butweshallbewhippedifyouspeaksoloud。’’

TheDukeansweredsullenly，thathewouldreferhisquarreltotheGeneralCounciloftheCrusade-amotionwhichPhiliphighlyapplauded，asqualifiedtotakeawayascandalmostharmfultoChristendom。

Richard，retainingthesamecarelessattitude，listenedtoPhilipuntilhisoratoryseemedexhausted，andthensaidaloud，Iamdrowsy-thisfeverhangsaboutmestill。BrotherofFrance，thouartacquaintedwithmyhumour，andthatIhaveatalltimesbutfewwordstospare-know，therefore，atonce，IwillsubmitamattertouchingthehonourofEnglandneithertoPrince，Pope，norCouncil。Herestandsmybanner-whatsoeverpennonshallberearedwithinthreebutts’lengthofit-ay，wereittheoriflamme，ofwhichyouwere，Ithink，butnowspeaking，shallbetreatedasthatdishonouredrag；norwillIyieldothersatisfactionthanthatwhichthesepoorlimbscanrenderintheliststoanyboldchallenge-ay，wereitagainstfivechampionsinsteadofone。’’

Now，’’saidthejester，whisperinghiscompanion，thatisascompleteapieceoffolly，asifImyselfhadsaidit-butyet，Ithink，theremaybeinthismatteragreaterfoolthanRichardyet。’’

Andwhomaythatbe？’’askedthemanofwisdom。

Philip，’’saidthejester，orourownRoyalDuke，should

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