第28章

Andwhatdoesthisconcernme？’’saidtheScot。

Much，’’answeredthephysician。Eventhesagefliesthetempestwhichhecannotcontrol。Usethyspeed，therefore，andflyfromthevengeanceofRichardtotheshadowofSaladin’svictoriousbanner。’’

Imightindeedhidemydishonour，’’saidSirKenneth，ironically，inacampofinfidelheathens，wheretheveryphraseisunknown。ButhadInotbetterpartakemorefullyintheirreproach？Doesnotthyadvicestretchsofarastorecommendmetotaketheturban？-MethinksIwantbutapostasytoconsummatemyinfamy。’’

Blasphemenot，Nazarene，’’saidthephysician，sternly；

SaladinmakesnoconvertstothelawoftheProphet，savethoseonwhomitspreceptsshallworkconviction。Openthineeyestothelight，andthegreatSoldan，whoseliberalityisasboundlessashispower，maybestowontheeakingdom；remainblindedifthouwilt，and，beingonewhosesecondlifeisdoomedtomisery，Saladinwillyet，forthisspanofpresenttime，maketheerichandhappy。Butfearnotthatthybrowsshallbeboundwiththeturban，saveatthineownfreechoice。’’

Mychoicewererather，’’saidtheknight，thatmywrithenfeaturesshouldblacken，astheyareliketodo，inthisevening’ssettingsun。’’

Yetthouartnotwise，Nazarene，’’saidElHakim，torejectthisfairoffer；forIhavepowerwithSaladin，andcanraisetheehighinhisgrace。Lookyou，myson-thisCrusade，asyoucallyourwildenterprise，islikealargedromond<*>parting*Thelargestsortofvesselsthenknownweretermed_dromonds，_or*dromedaries。

asunderinthewaves。ThouthyselfhastbornetermsoftrucefromtheKingsandPrinces，whoseforceishereassembled，tothemightySoldan，andknew’stnot，perchance，thefulltenorofthineownerrand。’’

Iknewnot，andIcarenot，’’saidtheknight，impatiently；

whatavailsittomethatIhavebeenoflatetheenvoyofprinces，when，erenight，Ishallbeagibbetedanddishonouredcorpse？’’

Nay，Ispeakthatitmaynotbesowiththee，’’saidthephysician。Saladiniscourtedonallsides；thecombinedPrincesofthisleagueformedagainsthim，havemadesuchproposalsofcompositionandpeace，as，inothercircumstances，itmighthavebecomehishonourtohavegrantedtothem。

Othershavemadeprivateoffers，ontheirownseparateaccount，todisjointheirforcesfromthecampoftheKingsofFrangistan，andeventolendtheirarmstothedefenceofthestandardoftheProphet。ButSaladinwillnotbeservedbysuchtreacherousandinteresteddefection。TheKingofkingswilltreatonlywiththeLionKing。SaladinwillholdtreatywithnonebuttheMelechRic，andwithhimhewilltreatlikeaprince，orfightlikeachampion。ToRichardhewillyieldsuchconditionsofhisfreeliberality，astheswordsofallEuropecouldnevercompelfromhimbyforceorterror。HewillpermitafreepilgrimagetoJerusalem，andalltheplaceswheretheNazareneslisttoworship；nay，hewillssofarshareevenhisempirewithhisbrotherRichard，thathewillallowChristiangarrisonsinthesixstrongestcitiesofPalestine，andoneinJerusalemitself，andsufferthemtobeundertheimmediatecommandoftheofficersofRichard，who，heconsents，shallbearthenameofKingGuardianofJerusalem。Yetfarther，strangeandincredibleasyoumaythinkit，know，SirKnight-fortoyourhonourIcancommiteventhatalmostincrediblesecret-knowthatSaladinwillputasacredsealonthishappyunionbetwixtthebravestandnoblestofFrangistanandAsia，byraisingtotherankofhisroyalspouseaChristiandamsel，alliedinbloodtoKingRichard，andknownbythenameoftheLadyEdithofPlantagenet。’’<*>

*Thismayappearsoextraordinaryandimprobableaproposition，that*itisnecessarytosaysuchaonewasactuallymade。Thehistorians，*however，substitutethewidowedQueenofNaples，sisterofRichard，for*thebride，andSaladin’sbrotherforthebridegroom。Theyappeartohave*beenignorantoftheexistenceofEdithofPlantagenet-SeeMill’s_History*oftheCrusades，_vol。ii。p。61。

Ha！-say’stthou！’’exclaimedSirKenneth，who，listeningwithindifferenceandapathytotheprecedingpartofElHakim’sspeech，wastouchedbythislastcommunication，asthethrillofanerve，unexpectedlyjarred，willawakenthesensationofagony，eveninthetorporofpalsy。Then，moderatinghistone，bydintofmucheffort，herestrainedhisindignation，and，vei

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