Andwhatdoesthisconcernme？’’saidtheScot。
Much，’’answeredthephysician。Eventhesagefliesthetempestwhichhecannotcontrol。Usethyspeed，therefore，andflyfromthevengeanceofRichardtotheshadowofSaladin’svictoriousbanner。’’
Imightindeedhidemydishonour，’’saidSirKenneth，ironically，inacampofinfidelheathens，wheretheveryphraseisunknown。ButhadInotbetterpartakemorefullyintheirreproach？Doesnotthyadvicestretchsofarastorecommendmetotaketheturban？-MethinksIwantbutapostasytoconsummatemyinfamy。’’
Blasphemenot，Nazarene，’’saidthephysician，sternly；
SaladinmakesnoconvertstothelawoftheProphet，savethoseonwhomitspreceptsshallworkconviction。Openthineeyestothelight，andthegreatSoldan，whoseliberalityisasboundlessashispower，maybestowontheeakingdom；remainblindedifthouwilt，and，beingonewhosesecondlifeisdoomedtomisery，Saladinwillyet，forthisspanofpresenttime，maketheerichandhappy。Butfearnotthatthybrowsshallbeboundwiththeturban，saveatthineownfreechoice。’’
Mychoicewererather，’’saidtheknight，thatmywrithenfeaturesshouldblacken，astheyareliketodo，inthisevening’ssettingsun。’’
Yetthouartnotwise，Nazarene，’’saidElHakim，torejectthisfairoffer；forIhavepowerwithSaladin，andcanraisetheehighinhisgrace。Lookyou，myson-thisCrusade，asyoucallyourwildenterprise，islikealargedromondparting*Thelargestsortofvesselsthenknownweretermed_dromonds，_or*dromedaries。
asunderinthewaves。ThouthyselfhastbornetermsoftrucefromtheKingsandPrinces，whoseforceishereassembled，tothemightySoldan，andknew’stnot，perchance，thefulltenorofthineownerrand。’’
Iknewnot，andIcarenot，’’saidtheknight，impatiently；
whatavailsittomethatIhavebeenoflatetheenvoyofprinces，when，erenight，Ishallbeagibbetedanddishonouredcorpse？’’
Nay，Ispeakthatitmaynotbesowiththee，’’saidthephysician。Saladiniscourtedonallsides；thecombinedPrincesofthisleagueformedagainsthim，havemadesuchproposalsofcompositionandpeace，as，inothercircumstances，itmighthavebecomehishonourtohavegrantedtothem。
Othershavemadeprivateoffers，ontheirownseparateaccount，todisjointheirforcesfromthecampoftheKingsofFrangistan，andeventolendtheirarmstothedefenceofthestandardoftheProphet。ButSaladinwillnotbeservedbysuchtreacherousandinteresteddefection。TheKingofkingswilltreatonlywiththeLionKing。SaladinwillholdtreatywithnonebuttheMelechRic，andwithhimhewilltreatlikeaprince，orfightlikeachampion。ToRichardhewillyieldsuchconditionsofhisfreeliberality，astheswordsofallEuropecouldnevercompelfromhimbyforceorterror。HewillpermitafreepilgrimagetoJerusalem，andalltheplaceswheretheNazareneslisttoworship；nay，hewillssofarshareevenhisempirewithhisbrotherRichard，thathewillallowChristiangarrisonsinthesixstrongestcitiesofPalestine，andoneinJerusalemitself，andsufferthemtobeundertheimmediatecommandoftheofficersofRichard，who，heconsents，shallbearthenameofKingGuardianofJerusalem。Yetfarther，strangeandincredibleasyoumaythinkit，know，SirKnight-fortoyourhonourIcancommiteventhatalmostincrediblesecret-knowthatSaladinwillputasacredsealonthishappyunionbetwixtthebravestandnoblestofFrangistanandAsia，byraisingtotherankofhisroyalspouseaChristiandamsel，alliedinbloodtoKingRichard，andknownbythenameoftheLadyEdithofPlantagenet。’’
*Thismayappearsoextraordinaryandimprobableaproposition，that*itisnecessarytosaysuchaonewasactuallymade。Thehistorians，*however，substitutethewidowedQueenofNaples，sisterofRichard，for*thebride，andSaladin’sbrotherforthebridegroom。Theyappeartohave*beenignorantoftheexistenceofEdithofPlantagenet-SeeMill’s_History*oftheCrusades，_vol。ii。p。61。
Ha！-say’stthou！’’exclaimedSirKenneth，who，listeningwithindifferenceandapathytotheprecedingpartofElHakim’sspeech，wastouchedbythislastcommunication，asthethrillofanerve，unexpectedlyjarred，willawakenthesensationofagony，eveninthetorporofpalsy。Then，moderatinghistone，bydintofmucheffort，herestrainedhisindignation，and，veilingitundertheappearanceofcontemptuousdoubt，heprosecutedtheconversationinordertogetasmuchknowledgeaspossibleoftheplot，ashedeemedit，againstthehonourandhappinessofher，whomhelovednotthelessthathispassionhadruined，apparently，hisfortunes，atonce，andhishonour-AndwhatChristian，’’hesaid，withtolerablecalmness，wouldsanctionaunionsounnatural，asthatofaChristianmaidenwithanunbelievingSaracen？’’
Thouartbutanignorant，bigotedNazarene，’’saidtheHakim。SeestthounothowtheMohammedanprincesdailyintermarrywiththenobleNazarenemaidensinSpain，withoutscandaleithertoMoororChristian？AndthenobleSoldanwill，inhisfullconfidenceinthebloodofRichard，permittheEnglishmaidthefreedomwhichyourFrankishmannershaveassignedtowomen。Hewillallowherthefreeexerciseofherreligion，-seeingthat，inverytruth，itsignifiesbutlittletowhichfaithfemalesareaddicted，-andhewillassignhersuchplaceandrankoverallthewomenofhiszenana，thatsheshallbeineveryrespecthissoleandabsoluteQueen。’’
What！’’saidSirKenneth，darestthouthink，Moslem，thatRichardwouldgivehiskinswoman-ahigh-bornandvirtuousprincess，tobe，atbest，theforemostconcubineintheharamofamisbeliever？Know，Hakim，themeanestfreeChristiannoblewouldscorn，onhischild’sbehalf，suchsplendidignominy。’’
Thouerrest，’’saidtheHakim；PhilipofFrance，andHenryofChampagne，andothersofRichard’sprincipalallies，haveheardtheproposalwithoutstarting，andhavepromised，asfarastheymay，toforwardanalliancethatmayendthesewastefulwars；andthewisearch-priestofTyrehathundertakentobreaktheproposaltoRichard，notdoubtingthatheshallbeabletobringtheplantogoodissue。TheSoldan’swisdomhathasyetkepthispropositionsecretfromothers，suchasheofMontserrat，andtheMasteroftheTemplars，becauseheknowstheyseektothrivebyRichard’sdeathordisgrace，notbyhislifeorhonour-Up，therefore，SirKnight，andtohorse。
IwillgivetheeascrollwhichshalladvancetheehighlywiththeSoldan；anddeemnotthatyouareleavingyourcountry，orhercause，orherreligion，sincetheinterestofthetwomonarchswillspeedilybethesame。ToSaladinthycounselwillbemostacceptable，sincethoucanstmakehimawareofmuchconcerningthemarriagesoftheChristians，thetreatmentoftheirwives，andotherpointsoftheirlawsandusages，which，inthecourseofsuchtreaty，itmuchconcernshimthatheshouldknow。TherighthandoftheSoldangraspsthetreasuresoftheEast，andisthefountainofgenerosity。Or，ifthoudesirestit，Saladin，whenalliedwithEngland，canhavebutlittledifficultytoobtainfromRichardnotonlythypardonandrestorationtofavour，butanhonourablecommandinthetroopswhichmaybeleftoftheKingofEngland’shost，tomaintaintheirjointgovernmentinPalestine。Up，then，andmount，thereliesaplainpathbeforethee。’’
Hakim，’’saidtheScottishknight，thouartamanofpeace-also，thouhastsavedthelifeofRichardofEngland-and，moreover，ofmyownpooresquire，Strauchan。Ihave，therefore，heardtoanendamatter，which，beingpropoundedbyanotherMoslemthanthyself，Iwouldhavecutshortwithablowofmydagger！Hakim，inreturnforthykindness，IadvisetheetoseethattheSaracen，whoshallproposetoRichardaunionbetwixtthebloodofPlantagenetandthatofhisaccursedrace，doputonahelmet，whichiscapabletoenduresuchablowofabattle-axeasthatwhichstruckdownthegateofAcre。
Certes，hewillbeotherwiseplacedbeyondthereachevenofthyskill。’’
Thouart，then，wilfullydeterminednottoflytotheSaracenhost？’’saidthephysician-Yet，remember，thoustayesttocertaindestruction；andthewritingsofthylaw，aswellasours，prohibitmanfrombreakingintothetabernacleofhisownlife。’’
Godforbid！’’repliedtheScot，crossinghimself；butwearealsoforbiddentoavoidthepunishmentwhichourcrimeshavedeserved。And，sincesopoorarethythoughtsoffidelity，Hakim，itgrudgesmethatIhavebestowedmygoodhoundonthee，for，shouldhelive，hewillhaveamasterignorantofhisvalue。’’
Agiftthatisbegrudgedisalreadyrecalled，’’saidElHakim，onlywephysiciansareswornnottosendawayapatientuncured。
Ifthedogrecover，heisoncemoreyours。’’
Goto，Hakim，’’answeredSirKenneth；menspeaknotofhawkandhoundwhenthereisbutanhourofday-breakingbetwixtthemanddeath。Leavemetorecollectmysins，andreconcilemyselftoHeaven。’’
Ileavetheeinthineobstinacy，’’saidthephysician；themisthidestheprecipicefromthosewhoaredoomedtofalloverit。’’
Hewithdrewslowly，turningfromtimetotimehishead，asiftoobservewhetherthedevotedknightmightnotrecallhimeitherbywordorsignal。Atlasthisturbanedfigurewaslostamongthelabyrinthoftentswhichlayextendedbeneath，whiteninginthepalelightofthedawning，beforewhichthemoonbeamhadnowfadedaway。
ButalthoughthephysicianAdonbec’swordshadnotmadethatimpressionuponKennethwhichthesagedesired，theyhadinspiredtheScotwithamotivefordesiringlife，which，dishonouredasheconceivedhimselftobe，hewasbeforewillingtopartfromasfromasulliedvestmentnolongerbecominghiswear。Muchthathadpassedbetwixthimselfandthehermit，besideswhathehadobservedbetweentheanchoriteandSheerkohforIlderim，henowrecalledtorecollection，andtendedtoconfirmwhattheHakimhadtoldhimofthesecretarticleofthetreaty。
Thereverendimpostor！’’heexclaimedtohimself；thehoaryhypocrite！Hespokeoftheunbelievinghusbandconvertedbythebelievingwife-andwhatdoIknowbutthatthetraitorexhibitedtotheSaracen，accursedofGod，thebeautiesofEdithPlantagenet，thatthehoundmightjudgeiftheprincelyChristianladywerefittobeadmittedintotheharamofamisbeliever？IfIhadyonderinfidelIlderim，orwhatsoeverheiscalled，againinthegripewithwhichIonceheldhimfastaseverhoundheldhare，neveragainshouldheatleastcomeonerranddisgracefultothehonourofChristianking，ornobleandvirtuousmaiden。ButI-myhoursarefastdwindlingintominutes-yet，whileIhavelifeandbreath，somethingmustbedone，andspeedily。’’
Hepausedforafewminutes，threwfromhimhishelmet，thenstrodedownthehill，andtooktheroadtoKingRichard’spavilion。
Thefeather’dsongster，chanticleer，Hadwoundhisbugle-horn，AndtoldtheearlyvillagerThecomingofthemorn。
KingEdwardsawtheruddystreaksOflighteclipsethegrey，AndheardtheRaven’scroakingthroatProclaimthefatedday。
Thou’rtright，’’hesaid，for，bytheGodThatsitsenthronedonhigh，CharlesBawdwin，andhisfellowstwain，Thisdayshallsurelydie。’’
OntheeveningonwhichSirKennethassumedhispost，Richard，afterthestormyeventwhichdisturbeditstranquillity，hadretiredtorestintheplenitudeofconfidenceinspiredbyhisunboundedcourage，andthesuperioritywhichhehaddisplayedincarryingthepointheaimedatinpresenceofthewholeChristianhost，anditsleaders，manyofwhom，hewasaware，regardedintheirsecretsoulsthedisgraceoftheAustrianDukeasatriumphoverthemselves；sothathispridefeltgratified，thatinprostratingoneenemyhehadmortifiedahundred。
Anothermonarchwouldhavedoubledhisguardsontheeveningaftersuchascene，andkeptatleastapartofhistroopsunderarms。ButCurdeLiondismissed，upontheoccasion，evenhisordinarywatch，andassignedtohissoldiersadonativeofwinetocelebratehisrecovery，andtodrinktotheBannerofSaintGeorge；andhisquarterofthecampwouldhaveassumedacharactertotallydevoidofvigilanceandmilitarypreparation，butthatSirThomasdeVaux，theEarlofSalisbury，andothernobles，tookprecautionstopreserveorderanddisciplineamongtherevellers。
ThephysicianattendedtheKingfromhisretiringtobedtillmidnightwaspast，andtwiceadministeredmedicinetohimduringthatperiod，alwayspreviouslyobservingthequarterofheavenoccupiedbythefullmoon，whoseinfluenceshedeclaredtobemostsovereign，ormostbaleful，totheeffectofhisdrugs。
ItwasthreehoursaftermidnightereElHakimwithdrewfromtheroyaltent，toonewhichhadbeenpitchedforhimselfandhisretinue。InhiswaythitherhevisitedthetentofSirKennethoftheLeopard，inordertoseetheconditionofhisfirstpatientintheChristiancamp，oldStrauchan，astheknight’sesquirewasnamed。InquiringthereforSirKennethhimself，ElHakimlearnedonwhatdutyhewasemployed，andprobablythisinformationledhimtoSaintGeorge’sMount，wherehefoundhimwhomhesoughtinthedisastrouscircumstancesalludedtointhelastchapter。