第33章

Itiswritten，’’answeredtheHakim，withimperturbablegravity，`abusenotthesteedwhichhathbornetheefromthebattle。’Know，thatsuchtalismansmightindeedbeframed，butrarehasbeenthenumberofadeptswhohavedaredtoundertaketheapplicationoftheirvirtue。Severerestrictions，painfulobservances，fasts，andpenance，arenecessaryonthepartofthesagewhousesthismodeofcure；andif，throughneglectofthesepreparations，byhisloveofease，orhisindulgenceofsensualappetite，heomitstocureatleasttwelvepersonswithinthecourseofeachmoon，thevirtueofthedivinegiftdepartsfromtheamulet，andboththelastpatientandthephysicianwillbeexposedtospeedymisfortune，neitherwilltheysurvivetheyear。Irequireyetonelifetomakeuptheappointednumber。’’

Gooutintothecamp，goodHakim，wherethouwiltfinda-many，’’saidtheKing，anddonotseektorobmyheadsmanof_his_patients；itisunbecomingamedicinerofthineeminencetointerferewiththepracticeofanother-Besides，Icannotseehowdeliveringacriminalfromthedeathhedeserves，shouldgotomakeupthytaleofmiraculouscures。’’

Whenthoucanstshowwhyadraughtofcoldwatershouldhavecuredthee，whenthemostpreciousdrugsfailed，’’saidtheHakim，thoumay’streasonontheothermysteriesattendantonthismatter。Formyself，Iaminefficienttothegreatwork，havingthismorningtouchedanuncleananimal。Ask，therefore，nofartherquestions；itisenoughthat，bysparingthisman’slifeatmyrequest，youwilldeliveryourself，greatKing，andthyservant，fromagreatdanger。’’

Harkthee，Adonbec，’’repliedtheKing，Ihavenoobjectionthatleechesshouldwraptheirwordsinmist，andpretendtoderiveknowledgefromthestars；butwhenyoubidRichardPlantagenetfearthatadangerwillfallupon_him_fromsomeidleomen，oromittedceremonial，youspeaktonoignorantSaxon，ordotingoldwoman，whoforegoesherpurposebecauseaharecrossesthepath，aravencroaks，oracatsneezes。’’

Icannothinderyourdoubtofmywords，’’saidAdonbec；

butyet，letmyLordtheKinggrantthattruthisonthetongueofhisservant-willhethinkitjusttodeprivetheworld，andeverywretchwhomaysufferbythepainswhichsolatelyreducedhimtothatcouch，ofthebenefitofthismostvirtuoustalisman，ratherthanextendhisforgivenesstoonepoorcriminal？Bethinkyou，LordKing，thatthoughthoucanstslaythousands，thoucanstnotrestoreonemantohealth。

KingshavethepowerofSatantotorment，sagesthatofAllahtoheal-bewarehowthouhinderestthegoodtohumanity，whichthoucanstnotthyselfrender。Thoucanstcutoffthehead，butnotcuretheachingtooth。’’

Thisisoverinsolent，’’saidtheKing，hardeninghimself，astheHakimassumedamorelofty，andalmostacommandingtone。Wetooktheeforourleech，notforourcounsellor，orconscience-keeper。’’

AndisitthusthemostrenownedPrinceofFrangistanrepaysbenefitdonetohisroyalperson？’’saidElHakim，exchangingthehumbleandstoopingposture，inwhichhehadhithertosolicitedtheKing，foranattitudeloftyandcommanding。

Know，then，’’hesaid，thatthrougheverycourtofEuropeandAsia-toMoslemandNazarene-toknightandlady-whereverharpisheardandswordworn-whereverhonourislovedandinfamydetested-toeveryquarteroftheworldwillIdenouncethee，MelechRic，asthanklessandungenerous；

andeventhelands-iftherebeanysuch-thatneverheardofthyrenown，shallyetbeacquaintedwiththyshame！’’

Arethesetermstome，vileinfidel！’’saidRichard，stridinguptohiminfury-Artwearyofthylife？’’

Strike！’’saidElHakim；thineowndeedshallthenpainttheemoreworthlessthancouldmywords，thougheachhadanhornet’ssting。’’

Richardturnedfiercelyfromhim，foldedhisarms，traversedthetentasbefore，andthenexclaimed，Thanklessandungenerous！-

aswellbetermedcowardandinfidel！-Hakim，thouhastchosenthyboon；andthoughIhadratherthouhadstaskedmycrown-jewels，yetImaynot，king-like，refusethee。TakethisScot，therefore，tothykeeping-theprovostwilldelive

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