Itiswritten，’’answeredtheHakim，withimperturbablegravity，`abusenotthesteedwhichhathbornetheefromthebattle。’Know，thatsuchtalismansmightindeedbeframed，butrarehasbeenthenumberofadeptswhohavedaredtoundertaketheapplicationoftheirvirtue。Severerestrictions，painfulobservances，fasts，andpenance，arenecessaryonthepartofthesagewhousesthismodeofcure；andif，throughneglectofthesepreparations，byhisloveofease，orhisindulgenceofsensualappetite，heomitstocureatleasttwelvepersonswithinthecourseofeachmoon，thevirtueofthedivinegiftdepartsfromtheamulet，andboththelastpatientandthephysicianwillbeexposedtospeedymisfortune，neitherwilltheysurvivetheyear。Irequireyetonelifetomakeuptheappointednumber。’’
Gooutintothecamp，goodHakim，wherethouwiltfinda-many，’’saidtheKing，anddonotseektorobmyheadsmanof_his_patients；itisunbecomingamedicinerofthineeminencetointerferewiththepracticeofanother-Besides，Icannotseehowdeliveringacriminalfromthedeathhedeserves，shouldgotomakeupthytaleofmiraculouscures。’’
Whenthoucanstshowwhyadraughtofcoldwatershouldhavecuredthee，whenthemostpreciousdrugsfailed，’’saidtheHakim，thoumay’streasonontheothermysteriesattendantonthismatter。Formyself，Iaminefficienttothegreatwork，havingthismorningtouchedanuncleananimal。Ask，therefore，nofartherquestions；itisenoughthat，bysparingthisman’slifeatmyrequest，youwilldeliveryourself，greatKing，andthyservant，fromagreatdanger。’’
Harkthee，Adonbec，’’repliedtheKing，Ihavenoobjectionthatleechesshouldwraptheirwordsinmist，andpretendtoderiveknowledgefromthestars；butwhenyoubidRichardPlantagenetfearthatadangerwillfallupon_him_fromsomeidleomen，oromittedceremonial，youspeaktonoignorantSaxon，ordotingoldwoman，whoforegoesherpurposebecauseaharecrossesthepath，aravencroaks，oracatsneezes。’’
Icannothinderyourdoubtofmywords，’’saidAdonbec；
butyet，letmyLordtheKinggrantthattruthisonthetongueofhisservant-willhethinkitjusttodeprivetheworld，andeverywretchwhomaysufferbythepainswhichsolatelyreducedhimtothatcouch，ofthebenefitofthismostvirtuoustalisman，ratherthanextendhisforgivenesstoonepoorcriminal？Bethinkyou，LordKing，thatthoughthoucanstslaythousands，thoucanstnotrestoreonemantohealth。
KingshavethepowerofSatantotorment，sagesthatofAllahtoheal-bewarehowthouhinderestthegoodtohumanity，whichthoucanstnotthyselfrender。Thoucanstcutoffthehead，butnotcuretheachingtooth。’’
Thisisoverinsolent，’’saidtheKing，hardeninghimself，astheHakimassumedamorelofty，andalmostacommandingtone。Wetooktheeforourleech，notforourcounsellor，orconscience-keeper。’’
AndisitthusthemostrenownedPrinceofFrangistanrepaysbenefitdonetohisroyalperson？’’saidElHakim，exchangingthehumbleandstoopingposture，inwhichhehadhithertosolicitedtheKing，foranattitudeloftyandcommanding。
Know，then，’’hesaid，thatthrougheverycourtofEuropeandAsia-toMoslemandNazarene-toknightandlady-whereverharpisheardandswordworn-whereverhonourislovedandinfamydetested-toeveryquarteroftheworldwillIdenouncethee，MelechRic，asthanklessandungenerous；
andeventhelands-iftherebeanysuch-thatneverheardofthyrenown，shallyetbeacquaintedwiththyshame！’’
Arethesetermstome，vileinfidel！’’saidRichard，stridinguptohiminfury-Artwearyofthylife？’’
Strike！’’saidElHakim；thineowndeedshallthenpainttheemoreworthlessthancouldmywords，thougheachhadanhornet’ssting。’’
Richardturnedfiercelyfromhim，foldedhisarms，traversedthetentasbefore，andthenexclaimed，Thanklessandungenerous！-
aswellbetermedcowardandinfidel！-Hakim，thouhastchosenthyboon；andthoughIhadratherthouhadstaskedmycrown-jewels，yetImaynot，king-like，refusethee。TakethisScot，therefore，tothykeeping-theprovostwilldeliverhimtotheeonthiswarrant。’’
Hehastilytracedoneortwolines，andgavethemtothephysician。Usehimasthybond-slave，tobedisposedofasthouwilt-only，lethimbewarehowhecomesbeforetheeyesofRichard。Harkthee-thouartwise-hehathbeenoverboldamongthoseinwhosefairlooksandweakjudgmentswetrustourhonour，asyouoftheEastlodgeyourtreasuresincasketsofsilverwire，asfineandasfrailasthewebofagossamer。’’
ThyservantunderstandsthewordoftheKing，’’saidthesage，atonceresumingthereverentstyleofaddressinwhichhehadcommenced。Whentherichcarpetissoiled，thefoolpointethtothestain-thewisemancoversitwithhismantle。
Ihaveheardmylord’spleasure，andtohearistoobey。’’
Itiswell，’’saidtheKing；lethimconsulthisownsafety，andneverappearinmypresencemore-IsthereaughtelseinwhichImaydotheepleasure？’’
ThebountyoftheKinghathfilledmycuptothebrim，’’
saidthesage；yea，ithathbeenabundantasthefountainwhichsprungupamidthecampofthedescendantsofIsrael，whentherockwasstrickenbytherodofMoussaBenAmran。’’
Ay，but，’’saidtheKing，smiling，itrequired，asinthedesert，ahardblowontherockereityieldeditstreasures。I
wouldthatIknewsomethingtopleasurethee，whichImightyieldasfreelyasthenaturalfountainsendsforthitswaters。’’
Letmetouchthatvictorioushand，’’saidthesage，intoken，thatifAdonbecelHakimshouldhereafterdemandaboonofRichardofEngland，hemaydoso，yetpleadhiscommand。’’
Thouhasthandandgloveuponit，man，’’repliedRichard；
only，ifthoucouldstconsistentlymakeupthytaleofpatientswithoutcravingmetodeliverfrompunishmentthosewhohavedeservedit，Iwouldmorewillinglydischargemydebtinsomeotherform。’’
Maythydaysbemultiplied！’’answeredtheHakim，andwithdrewfromtheapartmentaftertheusualdeepobeisance。
KingRichardgazedafterhimashedeparted，likeonebuthalf-satisfiedwithwhathadpassed。
Strangepertinacity，’’hesaid，inthisHakim，andawonderfulchancetointerferebetweenthataudaciousScotandthechastisementhehasmeritedsorichly。Yet，lethimlive！
thereisonebravemanthemoreintheworld-AndnowfortheAustrian-Ho，istheBaronofGilslandtherewithout？’’
SirThomasdeVauxthussummoned，hisbulkyformspeedilydarkenedtheopeningofthepavilion，whilebehindhimglidedasaspectreunannounced，yetunopposed，thesavageformofthehermitofEngaddi，wrappedinhisgoat-skinmantle。
Richard，withoutnoticinghispresence，calledinaloudtonetotheBaron，SirThomasdeVaux，ofLanercostandGilsland，taketrumpetandherald，andgoinstantlytothetentofhimwhomtheycallArchdukeofAustria，andseethatitbewhenthepressofhisknightsandvassalsisgreatestaroundhim，-asislikelyatthishour，fortheGermanboarbreakfastserehehearsmass-enterhispresencewithaslittlereverenceasthoumay’st，andimpeachhim，onthepartofRichardofEngland，thathehaththisnight，byhisownhand，orthatofothers，stolenfromitsstafftheBannerofEngland。Wherefore，saytohimourpleasure，that，withinanhourfromthetimeofmyspeaking，herestorethesaidbannerwithallreverence-
hehimselfandhisprincipalbaronswaitingthewhilstwithheadsuncovered，andwithouttheirrobesofhonour-
Andthat，moreover，hepitchbesideit，ontheonehand，hisownBannerofAustriareversed，asthatwhichhathbeendishonouredbytheftandfelony-andontheother，alancebearingthebloodyheadofhimwhowashisnearestcounsellororassistant，inthisbaseinjury-Andsay，thatsuchourbehestsbeingpunctuallydischarged，wewill，forthesakeofourvow，andthewealoftheHolyLand，forgivehisotherforfeits。’’
AndhowiftheDukeofAustriadenyallaccessiontothisactofwrongandoffelony？’’saidThomasdeVaux。
Tellhim，’’repliedtheKing，wewillproveituponhisbody-ay，werehebackedwithhistwobravestchampions。
Knight-likewillweproveit，onfootoronhorse，inthedesertorinthefield，time，place，andarms，allathisownchoice。’’
BethinkyouofthepeaceofGodandtheChurch，myliegelord，’’saidtheBaronofGilsland，amongthoseprincesengagedinthisholyCrusade。’’
Bethinkyouhowtoexecutemycommands，myliegevassal，’’
answeredRichard，impatiently。Methinksmenexpecttoturnourpurposebytheirbreath，asboysblowfeatherstoandfro-PeaceoftheChurch！-who，Iprithee，mindsit？ThepeaceoftheChurch，amongCrusaders，implieswarwiththeSaracens，withwhomtheprinceshavemadetruce，andtheoneendswiththeother。And，besides，seeyounothoweveryprinceofthemisseekinghisownseveralends？-Iwillseekminealso-andthatishonour。ForhonourIcamehither，andifImaynotwinitupontheSaracens，atleastIwillnotloseajotfromanyrespecttothispaltryDuke，thoughhewerebulwarkedandbuttressedbyeveryprinceintheCrusade。’’
DeVauxturnedtoobeytheKing’smandate，shrugginghisshouldersatthesametime，thebluntnessofhisnaturebeingunabletoconcealthatitstenorwentagainsthisjudgment。
ButthehermitofEngaddisteppedforward，andassumedtheairofonechargedwithhighercommandsthanthoseofamereearthlypotentate。Indeed，hisdressofshaggyskins，hisuncombedanduntrimmedhairandbeard，hislean，wild，andcontortedfeatures，andthealmostinsanefirewhichgleamedfromunderhisbushyeyebrows，madehimapproachnearlytoourideaofsomeseerofScripture，who，chargedwithhighmissiontothesinfulKingsofJudahorIsrael，descendedfromtherocksandcavernsinwhichhedweltinabstractedsolitude，toabashearthlytyrantsinthemidstoftheirpride，bydischargingonthemtheblightingdenunciationsofDivineMajesty，evenastheclouddischargesthelightningwithwhichitisfraught，onthepinnaclesandtowersofcastlesandpalaces。Inthemidstofhismostwaywardmood，RichardrespectedtheChurchanditsministers，andthoughoffendedattheintrusionofthehermitintohistent，hegreetedhimwithrespect；atthesametime，however，makingasigntoSirThomasdeVauxtohastenonhismessage。
Butthehermitprohibitedthebaron，bygesture，look，andword，tostirayardonsuchanerrand；and，holdinguphisbarearm，fromwhichthegoat-skinmantlefellbackintheviolenceofhisaction，hewaveditaloft，meagrewithfamine，andwealedwiththeblowsofthediscipline。
InthenameofGod，andofthemostholyFather，thevicegerentoftheChristianChurchuponearth，Iprohibitthismostprofane，bloodthirsty，andbrutaldefiance，betwixttwoChristianprinces，whoseshouldersaresignedwiththeblessedmarkunderwhichtheysworebrotherhood。Woetohimbywhomitisbroken！-RichardofEngland，recallthemostunhallowedmessagethouhastgiventothatbaron-DangerandDeatharenighthee！-thedaggerisglancingatthyverythroat！’’-
DangerandDeathareplaymatestoRichard，’’answeredthemonarchproudly；andhehathbravedtoomanyswordstofearadagger。’’
DangerandDeatharenear，’’repliedtheseer；and，sinkinghisvoicetoahollow，unearthlytone，headded，Andafterdeaththejudgment！’’
Goodandholyfather，’’saidRichard，Ireverencethypersonandthysanctity’’-
Reverencenotme！’’interruptedthehermit；reverencesoonerthevilestinsectthatcrawlsbytheshoresoftheDeadSea，andfeedsuponitsaccursedslime。ButreverenceHimwhosecommandsIspeak-Reverencehimwhosesepulchreyouhavevowedtorescue-Reveretheoathofconcordwhichyouhavesworn，andbreaknotthesilvercordofunionandfidelitywithwhichyouhaveboundyourselftoyourprincelyconfederates。’’
Goodfather，’’saidtheKing，youoftheChurchseemtometopresumesomewhat，ifalaymanmaysaysomuch，uponthedignityofyourholycharacter。Withoutchallengingyourrighttotakechargeofourconscience，methinksyoumightleaveusthechargeofourownhonour。’’
Presume！’’repeatedthehermit-isitformetopresume，royalRichard，whoambutthebellobeyingthehandofthesexton-butthesenselessandworthlesstrumpet，carryingthecommandofhimwhosoundsit？-See，onmykneesIthrowmyselfbeforethee，imploringtheetohavemercyonChristendom，onEngland，andonthyself！’’