第46章

Suchadueltherehathindeedbeen，royalbrother，’’answeredPhilip，andthatinthereignofoneofourpredecessors，towhomGodbegracious。Butitwasintheoldentime，norcanweholditaprecedentfittingforthisoccasion。Thedefendantinthatcasewasaprivategentleman，ofsmallrankorrespect；

hisoffensiveweaponswereonlyaclub，hisdefensivealeathernjerkin。Butwecannotdegradeaprincetothedisgraceofusingsuchrudearms，ortotheignominyofsuchacombat。’’

Inevermeantthatyoushould，’’saidKingRichard；itwerefoulplaytohazardthegoodhound’slifeagainstthatofsuchadouble-facedtraitorasthisConradehathprovedhimself。

Butthereliesourownglove-weappealhimtothecombatinrespectoftheevidencewebroughtforthagainsthim-aking，atleast，ismorethanthemateofamarquis。’’

ConrademadenohastyefforttoseizeonthepledgewhichRichardcastintothemiddleoftheassembly，andKingPhiliphadtimetoreply，eretheMarquismadeamotiontolifttheglove。

Aking，’’saidheofFrance，isasmuchmorethanamatchfortheMarquisConrade，asadogwouldbeless。RoyalRichard，thiscannotbepermitted。Youaretheleaderofourexpedition-theswordandbucklerofChristendom。’’

Iprotestagainstsuchacombat，’’saidtheVenetianproveditore，untiltheKingofEnglandshallhaverepaidthefiftythousandbezantswhichheisindebtedtotherepublic。Itisenoughtobethreatenedwiththelossofourdebt，shouldourdebtorfallbythehandsofthepagans，withouttheadditionalriskofhisbeingslaininbrawlsamongstChristians，concerningdogsandbanners。’’

AndI，’’saidWilliamwiththeLongSword，EarlofSalisbury，protestinmyturnagainstmyroyalbrotherperillinghislife，whichisthepropertyofthepeopleofEngland，insuchacause-Here，noblebrother，receivebackyourglove，andthinkonlyasifthewindhadblownitfromyourhand。Mineshalllieinitsstead。Aking’sson，thoughwiththebarsinisteronhisshield，isatleastamatchforthismarmozetofaMarquis。’’

Princesandnobles，’’saidConrade，IwillnotacceptofKingRichard’sdefiance。HehathbeenchosenourleaderagainsttheSaracens，andif_his_consciencecananswertheaccusationofprovokinganallytothefieldonaquarrelsofrivolous，mine，atleast，cannotendurethereproachofacceptingit。Buttouchinghisbastardbrother，WilliamofWoodstock，oragainstanyotherwhoshalladopt，orshalldaretostandgodfathertothismostfalsecharge，Iwilldefendmyhonourinthelists，andprovewhosoeverimpeachesitafalseliar。’’

TheMarquisofMontserrat，’’saidtheArchbishopofTyre，hathspokenlikeawiseandmoderategentleman；andmethinksthiscontroversymight，withoutdishonourtoanyparty，endatthispoint。’’

Methinksitmightsoterminate，’’saidtheKingofFrance，providedKingRichardwillrecallhisaccusation，asmadeuponoverslightgrounds。’’

PhilipofFrance，’’answeredCurdeLion，mywordsshallneverdomythoughtssomuchinjury。IhavechargedyonderConradeasathief，who，undercloudofnight，stolefromitsplacetheemblemofEngland’sdignity。Istillbelieveandchargehimtobesuch；andwhenadayisappointedforthecombat，doubtnotthat，sinceConradedeclinestomeetusinperson，Iwillfindachampiontoappearinsupportofmychallenge；forthou，William，mustnotthrustthylongswordintothisquarrelwithoutourspeciallicense。’’

Sincemyrankmakesmearbiterinthismostunhappymatter，’’saidPhilipofFrance，Iappointthefifthdayfromhenceforthedecisionthereof，bywayofcombat，accordingtoknightlyusageRichard，KingofEngland，toappearbyhischampionasappellant，andConrade，MarquisofMontserrat，inhisownpersonasdefendant。YetIown，Iknownotwheretofindneutralgroundwheresuchaquarrelmaybefoughtout；

foritmustnotbeintheneighbourhoodofthiscamp，wherethesoldierswouldmakefactiononthedifferentsides。’’

Itwerewell，’’saidR

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