第53章

Nomore，’’answeredEdith，thanIwouldhaverequiredhimtoexposehislifebyanaction，inwhichtherewasmoremadnessthanhonour。’’

Maidenstalkeverthus，’’saidtheKing；butwhenthefavouredloverpresseshissuit，shesays，withasigh，herstarshaddecreedotherwise。’’

YourGracehasnow，forthesecondtime，threatenedmewiththeinfluenceofmyhoroscope，’’Edithreplied，withdignity。

Trustme，myliege，whateverbethepowerofthestars，yourpoorkinswomanwillneverwedeitherinfidelorobscureadventurer-

Permitme，thatIlistentothemusicofBlondel，forthetoneofyourroyaladmonitionsisscarcesogratefultotheear。’’

Theconclusionoftheeveningofferednothingworthyofnotice。

Heardyethedinofbattlebray，Lancetolance，andhorsetohorse？

Gray。

Ithadbeenagreed，onaccountoftheheatoftheclimate，thatthejudicialcombat，whichwasthecauseofthepresentassemblageofvariousnationsattheDiamondoftheDesert，shouldtakeplaceatonehouraftersunrise。Thewidelists，whichhadbeenconstructedundertheinspectionoftheKnightoftheLeopard，enclosedaspaceofhardsand，whichwasonehundredandtwentyyardslongbyfortyinwidth。Theyextendedinlengthfromnorthtosouth，soastogivebothpartiestheequaladvantageoftherisingsun。Saladin’sroyalseatwaserectedonthewesternsideoftheenclosure，justinthecentre，wherethecombatantswereexpectedtomeetinmidencounter。Opposedtothiswasagallerywithclosedcasements，socontrived，thattheladies，forwhoseaccommodationitwaserected，mightseethefightwithoutbeingthemselvesexposedtoview。Ateitherextremityofthelistswasabarrier，whichcouldbeopenedorshutatpleasure。Throneshadbeenalsoerected，buttheArchduke，perceivingthathiswaslowerthanKingRichard’s，refusedtooccupyit；andCurdeLion，whowouldhavesubmittedtomuchereanyformalityshouldhaveinterferedwiththecombat，readilyagreedthatthesponsors，astheywerecalled，shouldremainonhorsebackduringthefight。AtoneextremityofthelistswereplacedthefollowersofRichard，andopposedtothemwerethosewhoaccompaniedthedefender，Conrade。AroundthethronedestinedfortheSoldanwererangedhissplendidGeorgianGuards，andtherestoftheenclosurewasoccupiedbyChristianandMohammedanspectators。

Longbeforedaybreak，thelistsweresurroundedbyevenalargernumberofSaracensthanRichardhadseenontheprecedingevening。Whenthefirstrayofthesun’sgloriousorbaroseabovethedesert，thesonorouscall，Toprayer，toprayer！’’

waspouredforthbytheSoldanhimself，andansweredbyothers，whoserankandzealentitledthemtoactasmuezzins。

Itwasastrikingspectacletoseethemallsinktoearth，forthepurposeofrepeatingtheirdevotions，withtheirfacesturnedtoMecca。Butwhentheyarosefromtheground，thesun’srays，nowstrengtheningfast，seemedtoconfirmtheLordofGilsland’sconjectureofthenightbefore。Theywereflashedbackfrommanyaspear-head，forthepointlesslancesoftheprecedingdaywerecertainlynolongersuch。DeVauxpointeditouttohismaster，whoansweredwithimpatience，thathehadperfectconfidenceinthegoodfaithoftheSoldan；butifDeVauxwasafraidofhisbulkybody，hemightretire。

Soonafterthisthenoiseoftimbrelswasheard，atthesoundofwhichthewholeSaracencavaliersthrewthemselvesfromtheirhorses，andprostratedthemselves，asifforasecondmorningprayer。ThiswastogiveanopportunitytotheQueen，withEdithandherattendants，topassfromthepaviliontothegalleryintendedforthem。FiftyguardsofSaladin’sseraglioescortedthem，withnakedsabres，whoseorderswere，tocuttopieceswhomsoever，wereheprinceorpeasant，shouldventuretogazeontheladiesastheypassed，orevenpresumetoraisehisheaduntilthecessationofthemusicshouldmakeallmenawarethattheywerelodgedintheirgallery，nottobegazedonbythecuriouseye。

ThissuperstitiousobservanceofOrientalreverencetothefairsexcalledforthfromQueenBerengariasomecriticismsveryunfavour

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