第50章

Edith，’’saidRichard，Icannotforcethyresolution；butbewareyoushutnotthedoorwhichHeavenopens。ThehermitofEngaddi，hewhomPopesandCouncilshaveregardedasaprophet，hathreadinthestarsthatthymarriageshallreconcilemewithapowerfulenemy，andthatthyhusbandshallbeChristian，leavingthusthefairestgroundtohope，thattheconversionoftheSoldan，andthebringinginofthesonsofIshmaeltothepaleofthechurch，willbetheconsequenceofthyweddingwithSaladin。Come，thoumustmakesomesacrificeratherthanmarsuchhappyprospects。’’

Menmaysacrificeramsandgoats，’’saidEdith，butnothonourandconscience。IhaveheardthatitwasthedishonourofaChristianmaiden，whichbroughttheSaracensintoSpain-theshameofanotherisnolikelymodeofexpellingthemfromPalestine。’’

DostthoucallitshametobecomeanEmpress？’’saidtheKing。

IcallitshameanddishonourtoprofaneaChristiansacrament，byenteringintoitwithaninfidelwhomitcannotbind；

andIcallitfouldishonour，thatI，thedescendantofaChristianprincess，shouldbecomeoffreewilltheheadofaharemofheathenconcubines。’’

Well，kinswoman，’’saidtheKing，afterapause，Imustnotquarrelwiththee，thoughIthinkthydependentconditionmighthavedictatedmorecompliance。’’

Myliege，’’repliedEdith，yourGracehathworthilysucceededtoallthewealth，dignity，anddominionoftheHouseofPlantagenet，-donot，therefore，begrudgeyourpoorkinswomansomesmallshareoftheirpride。’’

Bymyfaith，wench，’’saidtheKing，thouhastunhorsedmewiththatveryword；sowewillkissandbefriends。IwillpresentlydespatchthyanswertoSaladin。But，afterall，coz，wereitnotbettertosuspendyouranswertillyouhaveseenhim？

Mensayheispre-eminentlyhandsome。’’

Thereisnochanceofourmeeting，mylord，’’saidEdith。

BySaintGeorge，butthereisnexttoacertaintyofit，’’saidtheKing；forSaladinwilldoubtlessaffordusafreefieldforthedoingofthisnewbattleoftheStandard，andwillwitnessithimself。Berengariaiswildtobeholditalso，andIdarebeswornnotafeatherofyou，hercompanionsandattendants，willremainbehind-leastofallthouthyself，faircoz。Butcome，wehavereachedthepavilion，andmustpart-notinunkindnessthough-nay，thoumustsealitwiththylipaswellasthyhand，sweetEdith-itismyrightasasovereigntokissmyprettyvassals。’’

Heembracedherrespectfullyandaffectionately，andreturnedthroughthemoonlightcamp，hummingtohimselfsuchsnatchesofBlondel’slayashecouldrecollect。

OnhisarrivalhelostnotimeinmakinguphisdespatchesforSaladin，anddeliveredthemtotheNubian，withachargetosetoutbypeepofdayonhisreturntotheSoldan。

WeheardtheTecbir，-sotheseArabscallTheirshoutofonsetwhen，withloudacclaim，Theychallengeheaventogivethemvictory。

SiegeofDamascus。

Onthesubsequentmorning，RichardwasinvitedtoaconferencebyPhilipofFrance，inwhichthelatter，withmanyexpressionsofhighesteemforhisbrotherofEngland，communicatedtohim，intermsextremelycourteous，buttooexplicittobemisunderstood，hispositiveintentiontoreturntoEurope，andtothecaresofhiskingdom，asentirelydespairingoffuturesuccessintheirundertaking，withtheirdiminishedforcesandcivildiscords。

Richardremonstrated，butinvain；andwhentheconferenceended，hereceivedwithoutsurpriseamanifestofromtheDukeofAustria，andseveralotherprinces，announcingaresolutionsimilartothatofPhilip，andinnomodifiedterms，assigning，fortheirdefectionfromthecauseoftheCross，theinordinateambitionandarbitrarydominationofRichardofEngland。Allhopesofcontinuingthewarwithanyprospectofultimatesuccesswerenowabandoned，andRichard，whileheshedbittertearsoverhisdisappointedhopesofglory，waslittleconsoledbytherecollection，thatthefailurewasinsomedegreetobeimputedtotheadvantageswhichhehadgivenhisenemiesbyhisownhastyandimprudenttemper。

Theyhadnotdaredtohavedesertedmyfatherthus，’’hesaidtoDeVaux，inthebitternessofhisresentment-NoslanderstheycouldhaveutteredagainstsowiseakingwouldhavebeenbelievedinChristendom；whereas，-foolthatIam！-

Ihavenotonlyaffordedthemapretextfordeserting

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