WhatmeansthisunseemlybroilbetwixttheswornbrethrenoftheCross-theroyalMajestyofEnglandandtheprincelyDukeLeopold？Howisitpossiblethatthosewhoarethechiefsandpillarsofthisholyexpedition’’-
Atrucewiththyremonstrance，France，’’saidRichard，enragedinwardlyatfindinghimselfplacedonasortofequalitywithLeopold，yetnotknowinghowtoresentit-thisduke，orprince，orpillar，ifyouwill，hathbeeninsolent，andIhavechastisedhim-thatisall。Hereisacoil，forsooth，becauseofspurningahound！’’
MajestyofFrance，’’saidtheDuke，IappealtoyouandeverysovereignprinceagainstthefoulindignitywhichIhavesustained。ThisKingofEnglandhathpulleddownmybanner-tornandtrampledonit。’’
Becausehehadtheaudacitytoplantitbesidemine，’’saidRichard。
Myrankasthineequalentitledme，’’repliedtheDuke，emboldenedbythepresenceofPhilip。
Assertsuchequalityforthyperson，’’saidKingRichard，and，bySaintGeorge，IwilltreatthypersonasIdidthybroideredkerchiefthere，fitbutforthemeanestusetowhichkerchiefmaybeput。’’
Nay，butpatience，brotherofEngland，’’saidPhilip，andIwillpresentlyshowAustriathatheiswronginthismatter-
Donotthink，nobleDuke，’’hecontinued，that，inpermittingthestandardofEnglandtooccupythehighestpointinourcamp，we，theindependentsovereignsoftheCrusade，acknowledgeanyinferioritytotheroyalRichard。Itwereinconsistenttothinkso；sinceeventheoriflammeitself-thegreatbannerofFrance，towhichtheroyalRichardhimself，inrespectofhisFrenchpossessions，isbutavassal-holdsforthepresentaninferiorplacetotheLionsofEngland。ButasswornbrethrenoftheCross，militarypilgrims，who，layingasidethepompandprideofthisworld，arehewingwithourswordsthewaytotheHolySepulchre，Imyself，andtheotherprinces，haverenouncedtoKingRichard，fromrespecttohishighrenownandgreatfeatsofarms，thatprecedence，whichelsewhere，anduponothermotives，wouldnothavebeenyielded。Iamsatisfied，thatwhenyourroyalgraceofAustriashallhaveconsideredthis，youwillexpresssorrowforhavingplacedyourbanneronthisspot，andthattheroyalMajestyofEnglandwillthengivesatisfactionfortheinsulthehasoffered。’’
The_spruch-sprecher_andthejesterhadbothretiredtoasafedistancewhenmattersseemedcomingtoblows，butreturnedwhenwords，theirowncommodity，seemedagainabouttobecometheorderoftheday。
ThemanofproverbswassodelightedwithPhilip’spoliticspeech，thatheclashedhisbatonattheconclusionbywayofemphasis，andforgotthepresenceinwhichhewas，sofarastosayaloud，thathehimselfhadneversaidawiserthinginhislife。
Itmaybeso，’’whisperedJonasSchwanker，butweshallbewhippedifyouspeaksoloud。’’
TheDukeansweredsullenly，thathewouldreferhisquarreltotheGeneralCounciloftheCrusade-amotionwhichPhiliphighlyapplauded，asqualifiedtotakeawayascandalmostharmfultoChristendom。
Richard，retainingthesamecarelessattitude，listenedtoPhilipuntilhisoratoryseemedexhausted，andthensaidaloud，Iamdrowsy-thisfeverhangsaboutmestill。BrotherofFrance，thouartacquaintedwithmyhumour，andthatIhaveatalltimesbutfewwordstospare-know，therefore，atonce，IwillsubmitamattertouchingthehonourofEnglandneithertoPrince，Pope，norCouncil。Herestandsmybanner-whatsoeverpennonshallberearedwithinthreebutts’lengthofit-ay，wereittheoriflamme，ofwhichyouwere，Ithink，butnowspeaking，shallbetreatedasthatdishonouredrag；norwillIyieldothersatisfactionthanthatwhichthesepoorlimbscanrenderintheliststoanyboldchallenge-ay，wereitagainstfivechampionsinsteadofone。’’
Now，’’saidthejester，whisperinghiscompanion，thatisascompleteapieceoffolly，asifImyselfhadsaidit-butyet，Ithink，theremaybeinthismatteragreaterfoolthanRichardyet。’’
Andwhomaythatbe？’’askedthemanofwisdom。
Philip，’’saidthejester，orourownRoyalDuke，shouldeitheracceptthechallenge-Butoh，mostsage_spruch-sprecher，_
whatexcellentkingswouldthouandIhavemade，sincethoseonwhoseheadsthesecrownshavefallen，canplaytheproverb-mongerandthefoolascompletelyasourselves！’’
Whiletheseworthiespliedtheirofficesapart，PhilipansweredcalmlytothealmostinjuriousdefianceofRichard，-Icamenothithertoawakenfreshquarrels，contrarytotheoathwehavesworn，andtheholycauseinwhichwehaveengaged。I
partfrommybrotherofEnglandasbrothersshouldpart，andtheonlystrifebetweentheLionsofEnglandandtheLiliesofFranceshallbe，whichshallbecarrieddeepestintotheranksoftheinfidels。’’
Itisabargain，myroyalbrother，’’saidRichard，stretchingouthishandwithallthefranknesswhichbelongedtohisrashbutgenerousdisposition；andsoonmaywehavetheopportunitytotrythisgallantandfraternalwager！’’
LetthisnobleDukealsopartakeinthefriendshipofthishappymoment，’’saidPhilip；andtheDukeapproachedhalf-sullenly，half-willingtoenterintosomeaccommodation。
Ithinknotoffools，noroftheirfolly，’’saidRichard，carelessly；
andtheArchduke，turninghisbackonhim，withdrewfromtheground。
Richardlookedafterhimasheretired。
Thereisasortofglow-wormcourage，’’hesaid，thatshowsonlybynight。Imustnotleavethisbannerunguardedindarkness-bydaylightthelookoftheLionswillalonedefendit。Here，ThomasofGilsland，Igivetheethechargeofthestandard-watchoverthehonourofEngland。’’
Hersafetyisyetmoredeartome，’’saidDeVaux，andthelifeofRichardisthesafetyofEngland-ImusthaveyourHighnessbacktoyourtent，andthatwithoutfurthertarriance。’’
Thouartaroughandperemptorynurse，DeVaux，’’saidtheKing，smiling；andthenadded，addressingSirKenneth，ValiantScot，Iowetheeaboon，andIwillpayitrichly。
TherestandsthebannerofEngland！Watchitasanovicedoeshisarmouronthenightbeforeheisdubbed-Stirnotfromitthreespears’length，anddefenditwiththybodyagainstinjuryorinsult-Soundthybugle，ifthouartassailedbymorethanthreeatonce。Dostthouundertakethecharge？’’
Willingly，’’saidKenneth；andwilldischargeituponpenaltyofmyhead。Iwillbutarmme，andreturnhitherinstantly。’’
TheKingsofFranceandEnglandthentookformalleaveofeachother，hiding，underanappearanceofcourtesy，thegroundsofcomplaintwhicheitherhadagainsttheother，-
RichardagainstPhilip，forwhathedeemedanofficiousinterferencebetwixthimandAustria，andPhilipagainstCurdeLion，forthedisrespectfulmannerinwhichhismediationhadbeenreceived。Thosewhomthisdisturbancehadassembled，nowdrewoffindifferentdirections，leavingthecontestedmountinthesamesolitudewhichhadsubsistedtillinterruptedbytheAustrianbravado。Menjudgedoftheeventsofthedayaccordingtotheirpartialities；andwhiletheEnglishchargedtheAustrianwithhavingaffordedthefirstgroundofquarrel，thoseofothernationsconcurredincastingthegreaterblameupontheinsularhaughtinessandassumingcharacterofRichard。
Thouseest，’’saidtheMarquisofMontserrattotheGrandMasteroftheTemplars，thatsubtlecoursesaremoreeffectivethanviolence。Ihaveunloosedthebondswhichheldtogetherthisbunchofsceptresandlances-thouwiltseethemshortlyfallasunder。’’
Iwouldhavecalledthyplanagoodone，’’saidtheTemplar，hadtherebeenbutonemanofcourageamongyondercold-bloodedAustrians，toseverthebondsofwhichyouspeak，withhissword。Aknotthatisunloosedmayagainbefastened，butnotsothecordwhichhasbeencuttopieces。’’
’Tiswomanthatseducesallmankind。
Inthedaysofchivalry，adangerouspost，oraperilousadventure，wasarewardfrequentlyassignedtomilitarybraveryasacompensationforitsformertrials-justas，inascendingaprecipicethesurmountingonecragonlyliftstheclimbertopointsyetmoredangerous。
Itwasmidnight，andthemoonrodeclearandhighinheaven，whenKennethofScotlandstooduponhiswatchonSaintGeorge’sMount，besidethebannerofEngland，asolitarysentinel，toprotecttheemblemofthatnationagainsttheinsultswhichmightbemeditatedamongthethousandswhomRichard’spridehadmadehisenemies。Highthoughtsrolled，oneafteranother，uponthemindofthewarrior。Itseemedtohimasifhehadgainedsomefavourintheeyesofthechivalrousmonarch，whotillnowhadnotseemedtodistinguishhimamongthecrowdsofbravemenwhomhisrenownhadassembledunderhisbanner，andSirKennethlittlereckedthatthedisplayofroyalregardconsistedinplacinghimuponapostsoperilous。Thedevotionofhisambitiousandhigh-placedaffectioninflamedhismilitaryenthusiasm。
Hopelessasthatattachmentwas，inalmostanyconceivablecircumstances，thosewhichhadlatelyoccurredhad，insomedegree，diminishedthedistancebetweenEdithandhimself。
HeuponwhomRichardhadconferredthedistinctionofguardinghisbanner，wasnolongeranadventurerofslightnote，butplacedwithintheregardofaprincess，althoughhewasasfaraseverfromherlevel。Anunknownandobscurefatecouldnotnowbehis。Ifhewassurprisedandslainonthepostwhichhadbeenassignedhim，hisdeath-andheresolveditshouldbeglorious-mustdeservethepraises，aswellascalldownthevengeance，ofCurdeLion，andbefollowedbytheregrets，andeventhetears，ofthehigh-bornbeautiesoftheEnglishCourt。Hehadnownolongerreasontofearthatheshoulddieasafooldieth。
SirKennethhadfullleisuretoenjoytheseandsimilarhigh-souledthoughts，fosteredbythatwildspiritofchivalry，which，amiditsmostextravagantandfantasticflights，wasstillpurefromallselfishalloy-generous，devoted，andperhapsonlythusfarcensurable，thatitproposedobjectsandcoursesofactioninconsistentwiththefrailtiesandimperfectionsofman。Allnaturearoundhimsleptincalmmoonshine，orindeepshadow。
Thelongrowsoftentsandpavilions，glimmeringordarkeningastheylayinthemoonlightorintheshade，werestillandsilentasthestreetsofadesertedcity。Besidethebanner-stafflaythelargestag-houndalreadymentioned，thesolecompanionofKenneth’swatch，onwhosevigilancehetrustedforearlywarningoftheapproachofanyhostilefootstep。Thenobleanimalseemedtounderstandthepurposeoftheirwatch，forhelookedfromtimetotimeattherichfoldsoftheheavypennon，and，whenthecryofthesentinelscamefromthedistantlinesanddefencesofthecamp，heansweredthemwithonedeepandreiteratedbark，asiftoaffirmthathetoowasvigilantinhisduty。Fromtimetotime，also，heloweredhisloftyhead，andwaggedhistail，ashismasterpassedandrepassedhimintheshortturnswhichhetookuponhispost；
or，whentheknightstoodsilentandabstracted，leaningonhislance，andlookinguptowardsHeaven，hisfaithfulattendantventuredsometimes，inthephraseofromance，todisturbhisthoughts，’’andawakenhimfromhisreverie，bythrustinghislargeroughsnoutintotheknight’sgauntletedhand，tosolicitatransitorycaress。
Thuspassedtwohoursoftheknight’swatchwithoutanythingremarkableoccurring。Atlength，anduponasudden，thegallantstag-houndbayedfuriously，andseemedabouttoclashforwardwheretheshadowlaythedarkest，yetwaited，asifintheslips，tillheshouldknowthepleasureofhismaster。
Whogoesthere？’’saidSirKenneth，awarethattherewassomethingcreepingforwardontheshadowysideofthemount。
InthenameofMerlinandMaugis，’’answeredahoarsedisagreeablevoice，tieupyourfour-footeddemonthere，orI
comenotatyou。’’
Andwhoartthou，thatwouldapproachmypost？’’saidSirKenneth，bendinghiseyesaskeenlyashecouldonsomeobjectwhichhecouldjustobserveatthebottomoftheascent，withoutbeingabletodistinguishitsform。Beware-Iamherefordeathandlife。’’
Takeupthylong-fangedSathanas，’’saidthevoice，orI
willconjurehimwithaboltfrommyarblast。’’
Atthesametimewasheardthesoundofaspringorcheek，aswhenacrossbowisbent。