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Ihaddesignedotherwise，’’saidSaladin，buthadInothastenedhisdoom，ithadbeenaltogetheraverted，since，ifIhadpermittedhimtotasteofmycup，ashewasabouttodo，howcouldI，withoutincurringthebrandofinhospitality，havedonehimtodeathashedeserved？Hadhemurderedmyfather，andafterwardspartakenofmyfoodandmybowl，notahairofhisheadcouldhavebeeninjuredbyme。Butenoughofhim-lethiscarcassandhismemoryberemovedfromamongstus。’’
Thebodywascarriedaway，andthemarksoftheslaughterobliteratedorconcealedwithsuchreadydexterity，asshowedthatthecasewasnotaltogethersouncommonastoparalysetheassistantsandofficersofSaladin’shousehold。
ButtheChristianprincesfeltthatthescenewhichtheyhadbeheldweighedheavilyontheirspirits，andalthough，atthecourteousinvitationoftheSoldan，theyassumedtheirseatsatthebanquet，yetitwaswiththesilenceofdoubtandamazement。
ThespiritsofRichardalonesurmountedallcauseforsuspicionorembarrassment。Yethe，too，seemedtoruminateonsomeproposition，asifheweredesirousofmakingitinthemostinsinuatingandacceptablemannerwhichwaspossible。Atlengthhedrankoffalargebowlofwine，andaddressingtheSoldan，desiredtoknowwhetheritwasnottruethathehadhonouredtheEarlofHuntingdonwithapersonalencounter。
Saladinansweredwithasmile，thathehadprovedhishorseandhisweaponswiththeheirofScotland，ascavaliersarewonttodowitheachotherwhentheymeetinthedesert-andmodestlyadded，thatthoughthecombatwasnotentirelydecisive，hehadnot，onhispart，muchreasontopridehimselfontheevent。TheScot，ontheotherhand，disclaimedtheattributedsuperiority，andwishedtoassignittotheSoldan。
Enoughofhonourthouhasthadintheencounter，’’saidRichard，andIenvytheemoreforthat，thanforthesmilesofEdithPlantagenet，thoughoneofthemmightrewardabloodyday’swork-Butwhatsayyou，nobleprinces；isitfittingthatsucharoyalringofchivalryshouldbreakupwithoutsomethingbeingdoneforfuturetimestospeakof？Whatistheoverthrowanddeathofatraitor，tosuchafairgarlandofhonourasishereassembled，andwhichoughtnottopartwithoutwitnessingsomethingmoreworthyoftheirregard？Howsayyou，princelySoldan-Whatifwetwoshouldnow，andbeforethisfaircompany，decidethelong-contendedquestionforthislandofPalestine，andendatoncethesetediouswars？Yonderarethelistsready，norcanPaynimrieeverhopeabetterchampionthanthou。I，unlessworthieroffers，willlaydownmygauntletinbehalfofChristendom，and，inallloveandhonour，wewilldomortalbattleforthepossessionofJerusalem。’’
TherewasadeeppausefortheSoldan’sanswer。Hischeekandbrowcolouredhighly，anditwastheopinionofmanypresent，thathehesitatedwhetherheshouldacceptthechallenge。
Atlengthhesaid，FightingfortheHolyCityagainstthosewhomweregardasidolaters，andworshippersofstocksandstones，andgravenimages，ImightconfidethatAllahwouldstrengthenmyarm；orifIfellbeneaththeswordoftheMelechRic，IcouldnotpasstoParadisebyamoregloriousdeath。ButAllahhasalreadygivenJerusalemtothetruebelievers，anditwereatemptingtheGodoftheProphettoperil，uponmyownpersonalstrengthandskill，thatwhichIholdsecurelybythesuperiorityofmyforces。’’
IfnotforJerusalem，then，’’saidRichard，inthetoneofonewhowouldentreatafavourofanintimatefriend，yetfortheloveofhonour，letusrunatleastthreecourseswithgrindedlances。’’
Eventhis，’’saidSaladin，halfsmilingatCurdoLion’saffectionateearnestnessforthecombat，eventhismayInotlawfullydo。Themasterplacestheshepherdovertheflock，notfortheshepherd’sownsake，butforthesakeofthesheep。HadIasontoholdthesceptrewhenIfell，Imighthavehadtheliberty，asIhavethewill，tobravethisbolde
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