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Mocknot，lestyourbondsbemadestrong，’’saidtheHermit，steppingforward。Theheavenlyhostwritenothingbuttruthintheirbrilliantrecords-itisman’seyeswhicharetooweaktoreadtheircharactersaright。KnowthatwhenSaladinandKennethofScotlandsleptinmygrotto，Ireadinthestars，thatthererestedundermyroofaprince，thenaturalfoeofRichard，withwhomthefateofEdithPlantagenetwastobeunited。
CouldIdoubtthatthismustbetheSoldan，whoserankwaswellknowntome，asheoftenvisitedmycelltoconverseontherevolutionsoftheheavenlybodies？-AgainthelightsofthefirmamentproclaimedthatthisPrince，thehusbandofEdithPlantagenet，shouldbeaChristian；andI-weakandwildinterpreter！-arguedthencetheconversionofthenobleSaladin，whosegoodqualitiesseemedoftentoinclinehimtowardsthebetterfaith。Thesenseofmyweaknesshathhumbledmetothedust，butinthedustIhavefoundcomfort！Ihavenotreadarightthefateofothers-whocanassuremebutthatI
mayhavemiscalculatedmineown？Godwillnothaveusbreakintohiscouncil-houseorspyouthishiddenmysteries。Wemustwaithistimewithwatchingandprayer-withfearandwithhope。Icamehitherthesternseer-theproudprophet-skilled，asIthought，toinstructprinces，andgiftedevenwithsupernaturalpowers，butburdenedwithaweightwhichIdeemednoshouldersbutminecouldhaveborne。Butmybandshavebeenbroken！Igohencehumbleinmineignorance，penitent-andnothopeless。’’
Withthesewordshewithdrewfromtheassembly；anditisrecorded，that，fromthatperiod，hisfrenzyfitsseldomoccurred，andhispenanceswereofamildercharacter，andaccompaniedwithbetterhopesofthefuture。Somuchisthereofself-opinion，evenininsanity，thattheconvictionofhishavingentertainedandexpressedanunfoundedpredictionwithsomuchvehemence，seemedtooperatelikelossofbloodonthehumanframe，tomodifyandlowerthefeverofthebrain。
Itisneedlesstofollowintofartherparticularstheconferencesattheroyaltent，ortoinquirewhetherDavid，EarlofHuntingdon，wasasmuteinthepresenceofEdithPlantagenet，aswhenhewasboundtoactunderthecharacterofanobscure。
andnamelessadventurer。Itmaybewellbelievedthathethereexpressed，withsuitableearnestness，thepassiontowhichhehadsooftenbeforefounditdifficulttogivewords。
Thehourofnoonnowapproached，andSaladinwaitedtoreceivethePrincesofChristendominatent，which，butforitslargesize，differedlittlefromthatoftheordinaryshelterofthecommonCurdman，orArab；yet，beneathitsampleandsablecovering，waspreparedabanquetafterthemostgorgeousfashionoftheEast，extendeduponcarpetsofthericheststuffs，withcushionslaidfortheguests。Butwecannotstoptodescribetheclothofgoldandsilver-thesuperbembroideryinArabesque-theshawlsofCashmere-andthemuslinsofIndia，whichwerehereunfoldedinalltheirsplendour；farlesstotellthedifferentsweetmeats，ragoutsedgedwithricecolouredinvariousmanners，withalltheothernicetiesofEasterncookery。
Lambsroastedwhole，andgameandpoultrydressedinpilaus，werepiledinvesselsofgold，andsilver，andporcelain，andintermixedwithlargemazersofsherbetcooledinsnowandicefromthecavernsofMountLebanon。Amagnificentpileofcushionsattheheadofthebanquet，seemedpreparedforthemasterofthefeast，andsuchdignitariesashemightcalltosharethatplaceofdistinction，whilefromtheroofofthetentinallquarters，butoverthisscatofeminenceinparticular，wavedmanyabannerandpennon，thetrophiesofbattleswon，andkingdomsoverthrown。Butamongstandabovethemall，alonglancedisplayedashroud，thebannerofDeath，withthisimpressiveinscription-=Saladin，KingofKings-Saladin，VictorofVictors-Saladinmustdie。=’’Amidthesepreparations，thelaveswhohadarrangedtherefreshmentsstoodwithdroopedheadsandfoldedarms，muteandmotionlessasmonumentalstatuary，orasautomata，whichwaitedthetouchoftheartisttoputtheminmotion。
Expectingtheapproachofhisprincelyguests，theSoldan，imbued，asmostwere，withthesupersti
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