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Bythislight，anoblehermit！’’saidKingRichard。ButwhatelsecouldcomefromthebloodofGodfrey？_He_despairofsafety，becausehehathinformerdayslived_paramours？_I
willhavethePopesendhimanampleremission，andIwouldnotlesswillinglybeintercessorhadhis_belleamie_beenanabbess。’’
Ashespoke，theArchbishopofTyrecravedaudience，forthepurposeofrequestingRichard’sattendance，shouldhishealthpermit，onasecretconclaveofthechiefsoftheCrusade，andtoexplaintohimthemilitaryandpoliticalincidentswhichhadoccurredduringhisillness。
Mustwethensheatheourstillvictorioussword；
Turnbackourforwardstep，whichevertrodO’erfoemen’sneckstheonwardpathofglory；
Unclaspthemail，whichwithasolemnvow，InGod’sownhouse，wehunguponourshoulders；
Thatvow，asunaccomplish’dasthepromiseWhichvillagenursesmaketostilltheirchildren，Andafterthinknomoreof？-
TheCrusade，_aTragedy。_
TheArchbishopofTyrewasanemissarywellchosentocommunicatetoRichardtidings，whichfromanothervoicethelion-heartedKingwouldnothavebrookedtohear，withoutthemostunboundedexplosionsofresentment。Eventhissagaciousandreverendprelatefounddifficultyininducinghimtolistentonews，whichdestroyedallhishopesofgainingbacktheHolySepulchrebyforceofarms，andacquiringtherenownwhichtheuniversalall-hailofChristendomwasreadytoconferuponhim，astheChampionoftheCross。
But，bytheArchbishop’sreport，itappearedthatSaladinwasassemblingalltheforceofhishundredtribes，andthatthemonarchsofEurope，alreadydisgustedfromvariousmotiveswiththeexpedition，whichhadprovedsohazardous，andwasdailygrowingmoreso，hadresolvedtoabandontheirpurpose。InthistheywerecountenancedbytheexampleofPhilipofFrance，who，withmanyprotestationsofregard，andassurancesthathewouldfirstseehisbrotherofEnglandinsafety，declaredhisintentiontoreturntoEurope。Hisgreatvassal，theEarlofChampagne，hadadoptedthesameresolution；anditcouldnotexcitesurprise，thatLeopoldofAustria，affrontedashehadbeenbyRichard，wasgladtoembraceanopportunityofdesertingacause，inwhichhishaughtyopponentwastobeconsideredaschief。Othersannouncedthesamepurpose；sothatitwasplainthattheKingofEnglandwastobeleft，ifhechosetoremain，supportedonlybysuchvolunteersasmight，undersuchdepressingcircumstances，jointhemselvestotheEnglisharmy；
andbythedoubtfulaidofConradeofMontserrat，andthemilitaryordersoftheTemple，andofSaintJohn，who，thoughtheyweresworntowagebattleagainsttheSaracens，wereatleastequallyjealousofanyEuropeanmonarchachievingtheconquestofPalestine，where，withshort-sightedandselfishpolicy，theyproposedtoestablishindependentdominionsoftheirown。
ItneedednotmanyargumentstoshowRichardthetruthofhissituation；and，indeed，afterhisfirstburstofpassion，hesathimcalmlydown，andwithgloomylooks，headdepressed，andarmsfoldedonhisbosom，listenedtotheArchbishop’sreasoningontheimpossibilityofhiscarryingontheCrusadewhendesertedbyhiscompanions。Nay，heforboreinterruption，evenwhentheprelateventured，inmeasuredterms，tohintthatRichard’sownimpetuosityhadbeenonemaincauseofdisgustingtheprinceswiththeexpedition。
_Confiteor，_’’answeredRichard，withadejectedlook，andsomethingofamelancholysmile；Iconfess，reverendfather，thatIoughtonsomeaccountstosing_culpamea。_Butisitnothardthatmyfrailtiesoftempershouldbevisitedwithsuchapenance，that，foraburstortwoofnaturalpassion，IshouldbedoomedtoseefadebeforemeungatheredsucharichharvestofglorytoGod，andhonourtochivalry？-Butitshallnotfade-BythesouloftheConqueror，IwillplanttheCrossonthetowersofJerusalem，oritshallbeplantedoverRichard’sgrave！’’
Thoumay’stdoit，’’saidtheprelate，yetnotanotherdropofChristianbloodbeshedi
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