第34章

Rise，rise，’’saidRichard，compellinghimtostandup；itbeseemsnotthatknees，whicharesofrequentlybendedtotheDeity，shouldpressthegroundinhonourofman。Whatdangerawaitsus，reverendfather？andwhenstoodthepowerofEnglandsolow，thatthenoisyblusterofthisnew-madeDuke’sdispleasureshouldalarmher，orhermonarch？’’

Ihavelookedforthfrommymountainturretuponthestarryhostofheaven，aseachinhismidnightcircuitutteredwisdomtoanother，andknowledgetothefewwhocanunderstandtheirvoice。TheresitsanenemyinthyHouseofLife，LordKing，malignatoncetothyfame，andthyprosperity-

anemanationofSaturn，menacingtheewithinstantandbloodyperil，andwhich，butthouyieldthyproudwilltotheruleofthyduty，willpresentlycrushthee，eveninthypride。’’

Away，away-thisisheathenscience，’’saidtheKingChristianspractiseitnot-wisemenbelieveitnot-Oldman，thoudotest。’’

Idotenot，Richard，’’answeredthehermit-Iamnotsohappy。Iknowmycondition，andthatsomeportionofreasonisyetpermittedme，notformyownuse，butthatoftheChurch，andtheadvancementoftheCross。Iamtheblindmanwhoholdsatorchtoothers，thoughityieldsnolighttohimself。AskmetouchingwhatconcernsthewealofChristendom，andofthisCrusade，andIwillspeakwiththeeasthewisestcounselloronwhosetonguepersuasioneversat。Speaktomeofmyownwretchedbeing，andmywordsshallbethoseofthemaniacoutcastwhichIam。’’

IwouldnotbreakthebandsofunityasunderamongthePrincesoftheCrusade，’’saidRichard，withamitigatedtoneandmanner；butwhatatonementcantheyrendermefortheinjusticeandinsultwhichIhavesustained？’’

EvenofthatIampreparedandcommissionedtospeakbytheCouncil，which，meetinghastilyatthesummonsofPhilipofFrance，havetakenmeasuresforthateffect。’’

Strange，’’repliedRichard，thatothersshouldtreatofwhatisduetothewoundedMajestyofEngland！’’

Theyarewillingtoanticipateyourdemands，ifitbepossible，’’

answeredthehermit。InabodytheyconsentthattheBannerofEnglandbereplacedonSaintGeorge’sMount，andtheylayunderbanandcondemnationtheaudaciouscriminal，orcriminals，bywhomitwasoutraged，andwillannounceaprincelyrewardtoanywhoshalldenouncethedelinquent’sguilt，andgivehisfleshtothewolvesandravens。’’

AndAustria，’’saidRichard-uponwhomrestsuchstrongpresumptionsthathewastheauthorofthedeed？’’

Topreventdiscordinthehost，’’repliedthehermit，Austriawillclearhimselfofthesuspicion，bysubmittingtowhatsoeverordealthePatriarchofJerusalemshallimpose。’’

Willheclearhimselfbythetrialbycombat？’’saidKingRichard。

Hisoathprohibitsit，’’saidthehermit；and，moreover，theCouncilofthePrinces’’-

WillneitherauthorisebattleagainsttheSaracens，’’interruptedRichard，noragainstanyoneelse。Butitisenough，father-thouhastshownmethefollyofproceedingasIdesignedinthismatter。Youshallsoonerlightyourtorchinapuddleofrain，thanbringasparkoutofacold-bloodedcoward。

ThereisnohonourtobegainedonAustria，andsolethimpass-Iwillhavehimperjurehimself，however；Iwillinsistontheordeal-HowIshalllaughtohearhisclumsyfingershiss，ashegraspsthered-hotglobeofiron！-Ay，orhishugemouthriven，andhisgulletswellingtosuffocation，asheendeavourstoswallowtheconsecratedbread。’’

Peace，Richard，’’saidthehermit-Oh，peace，forshameifnotforcharity！Whoshallpraiseorhonourprinces，whoinsultandcalumniateeachother？-Alas！thatacreaturesonobleasthouart-soaccomplishedinprincelythoughtsandprincelydaring-sofittedtohonourChristendombythyactions，and，inthycalmermood，toruleherbythywisdom，shouldyethavethebruteandwildfuryofthelion，mingledwiththedignityandcourageofthatkingoftheforest！’’

Heremainedaninstantmusingwithhiseyesfixedontheground，andthenproceeded-ButHeaven，thatknowsourimperfectnature，acceptsofourimperfectobedience，andhathdelayed，thoughnotaverted，thebloodyendofthydaringlife。

Thedestroyingangelhathstoodstill，asofold，bythethreshingfloorofAraunahtheJebusite，andthebladeisdrawn

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