Rise，rise，’’saidRichard，compellinghimtostandup；itbeseemsnotthatknees，whicharesofrequentlybendedtotheDeity，shouldpressthegroundinhonourofman。Whatdangerawaitsus，reverendfather？andwhenstoodthepowerofEnglandsolow，thatthenoisyblusterofthisnew-madeDuke’sdispleasureshouldalarmher，orhermonarch？’’
Ihavelookedforthfrommymountainturretuponthestarryhostofheaven，aseachinhismidnightcircuitutteredwisdomtoanother，andknowledgetothefewwhocanunderstandtheirvoice。TheresitsanenemyinthyHouseofLife，LordKing，malignatoncetothyfame，andthyprosperity-
anemanationofSaturn，menacingtheewithinstantandbloodyperil，andwhich，butthouyieldthyproudwilltotheruleofthyduty，willpresentlycrushthee，eveninthypride。’’
Away，away-thisisheathenscience，’’saidtheKingChristianspractiseitnot-wisemenbelieveitnot-Oldman，thoudotest。’’
Idotenot，Richard，’’answeredthehermit-Iamnotsohappy。Iknowmycondition，andthatsomeportionofreasonisyetpermittedme，notformyownuse，butthatoftheChurch，andtheadvancementoftheCross。Iamtheblindmanwhoholdsatorchtoothers，thoughityieldsnolighttohimself。AskmetouchingwhatconcernsthewealofChristendom，andofthisCrusade，andIwillspeakwiththeeasthewisestcounselloronwhosetonguepersuasioneversat。Speaktomeofmyownwretchedbeing，andmywordsshallbethoseofthemaniacoutcastwhichIam。’’
IwouldnotbreakthebandsofunityasunderamongthePrincesoftheCrusade，’’saidRichard，withamitigatedtoneandmanner；butwhatatonementcantheyrendermefortheinjusticeandinsultwhichIhavesustained？’’
EvenofthatIampreparedandcommissionedtospeakbytheCouncil，which，meetinghastilyatthesummonsofPhilipofFrance，havetakenmeasuresforthateffect。’’
Strange，’’repliedRichard，thatothersshouldtreatofwhatisduetothewoundedMajestyofEngland！’’
Theyarewillingtoanticipateyourdemands，ifitbepossible，’’
answeredthehermit。InabodytheyconsentthattheBannerofEnglandbereplacedonSaintGeorge’sMount，andtheylayunderbanandcondemnationtheaudaciouscriminal，orcriminals，bywhomitwasoutraged，andwillannounceaprincelyrewardtoanywhoshalldenouncethedelinquent’sguilt，andgivehisfleshtothewolvesandravens。’’
AndAustria，’’saidRichard-uponwhomrestsuchstrongpresumptionsthathewastheauthorofthedeed？’’
Topreventdiscordinthehost，’’repliedthehermit，Austriawillclearhimselfofthesuspicion，bysubmittingtowhatsoeverordealthePatriarchofJerusalemshallimpose。’’
Willheclearhimselfbythetrialbycombat？’’saidKingRichard。
Hisoathprohibitsit，’’saidthehermit；and，moreover，theCouncilofthePrinces’’-
WillneitherauthorisebattleagainsttheSaracens，’’interruptedRichard，noragainstanyoneelse。Butitisenough，father-thouhastshownmethefollyofproceedingasIdesignedinthismatter。Youshallsoonerlightyourtorchinapuddleofrain，thanbringasparkoutofacold-bloodedcoward。
ThereisnohonourtobegainedonAustria，andsolethimpass-Iwillhavehimperjurehimself，however；Iwillinsistontheordeal-HowIshalllaughtohearhisclumsyfingershiss，ashegraspsthered-hotglobeofiron！-Ay，orhishugemouthriven，andhisgulletswellingtosuffocation，asheendeavourstoswallowtheconsecratedbread。’’
Peace，Richard，’’saidthehermit-Oh，peace，forshameifnotforcharity！Whoshallpraiseorhonourprinces，whoinsultandcalumniateeachother？-Alas！thatacreaturesonobleasthouart-soaccomplishedinprincelythoughtsandprincelydaring-sofittedtohonourChristendombythyactions，and，inthycalmermood，toruleherbythywisdom，shouldyethavethebruteandwildfuryofthelion，mingledwiththedignityandcourageofthatkingoftheforest！’’
Heremainedaninstantmusingwithhiseyesfixedontheground，andthenproceeded-ButHeaven，thatknowsourimperfectnature，acceptsofourimperfectobedience，andhathdelayed，thoughnotaverted，thebloodyendofthydaringlife。
Thedestroyingangelhathstoodstill，asofold，bythethreshingfloorofAraunahtheJebusite，andthebladeisdrawninhishand，bywhich，atnodistantdate，Richard，thelion-hearted，shallbeaslowasthemeanestpeasant。’’
Mustitthenbesosoon？’’-saidRichard。Yet，evensobeit。Maymycoursebebright，ifitbebutbrief！’’
Alas！nobleKing，’’saidthesolitary，anditseemedasifatearunwontedguestweregatheringinhisdryandglazenedeye-shortandmelancholy，markedwithmortification，andcalamity，andcaptivity，isthespanthatdividestheefromthegravewhichyawnsforthee-agraveinwhichthoushaltbelaidwithoutlineagetosucceedthee-withoutthetearsofapeople，exhaustedbythyceaselesswars，tolamentthee-withouthavingextendedtheknowledgeofthysubjects-withouthavingdoneaughttoenlargetheirhappiness。’’
Butnotwithoutrenown，monk-notwithoutthetearsoftheladyofmylove！Theseconsolations，whichthoucanstneitherknownorestimate，awaituponRichardtohisgrave。’’
_Do_Inotknow-_can_Inotestimate，thevalueofminstrel’spraise，andoflady’slove！’’retortedthehermit，inatonewhichforamomentseemedtoemulatetheenthusiasmofRichardhimself。KingofEngland，’’hecontinued，extendinghisemaciatedarm，thebloodwhichboilsinthyblueveinsisnotmorenoblethanthatwhichstagnatesinmine。Fewandcoldasthedropsare，theystillareofthebloodoftheroyalLusignan-oftheheroicandsaintedGodfrey。Iam-thatis，Iwaswhenintheworld-AlberickMortemar’’-
Whosedeeds，’’saidRichard，havesooftenfilledFame’strumpet！Isitso-canitbeso？-Couldsuchalightasthinefallfromthehorizonofchivalry，andyetmenbeuncertainwhereitsembershadalighted？’’
Seekafallenstar，’’saidthehermit，andthoushaltonlylightonsomefouljelly，which，inshootingthroughthehorizon，hasassumedforamomentanappearanceofsplendour。Richard，ifIthoughtthatrendingthebloodyveilfrommyhorriblefatecouldmakethyproudheartstooptothedisciplineofthechurch，Icouldfindinmyhearttotelltheeatale，whichIhavehithertokeptgnawingatmyvitalsinconcealment，liketheself-devotedyouthofHeathenesse-Listen，then，Richard，andmaythegriefanddespair，whichcannotavailthiswretchedremnantofwhatwasonceaman，bepowerfulasanexampletosonoble，yetsowildabeingasthouart！Yes-Iwill-I_will_tearopenthelonghiddenwounds，althoughinthyverypresencetheyshouldbleedtodeath！’’
KingRichard，uponwhomthehistoryofAlberickofMortemarhadmadeadeepimpressioninhisearlyyears，whenminstrelswereregalinghisfather’shallswithlegendsoftheHolyLand，listenedwithrespecttotheoutlinesofatale，which，darklyandimperfectlysketched，indicatedsufficientlythecauseofthepartialinsanityofthissingularandmostunhappybeing。
Ineednot，’’hesaid，telltheethatIwasnobleinbirth，highinfortune，stronginarms，wiseincouncil。AlltheseI
was；butwhilethenoblestladiesinPalestinestrovewhichshouldwindgarlandsformyhelmet，mylovewasfixed-unalterablyanddevotedlyfixed-onamaidenoflowdegree。Herfather，anancientsoldieroftheCross，sawourpassion，and，knowingthedifferencebetwixtus，sawnootherrefugeforhisdaughter’shonourthantoplaceherwithintheshadowofthecloister。Ireturnedfromadistantexpedition，loadedwithspoilsandhonour，tofindmyhappinesswasdestroyedforever！
I，too，soughtthecloister，andSatan，whohadmarkedmeforhisown，breathedintomyheartavapourofspiritualpride，whichcouldonlyhavehaditssourceinhisowninfernalregions。
Ihadrisenashighinthechurchasbeforeinthestate-Iwas，forsooth，thewise，theself-sufficient，theimpeccable！-Iwasthecounsellorofcouncils-Iwasthedirectorofprelates-howshouldIstumble？-whereforeshouldIfeartemptation？-Alas！
Ibecameconfessortoasisterhood，andamongstthatsisterhoodIfoundthelongloved-thelonglost。Sparemefartherconfession！-
afallennun，whoseguiltwasavengedbyself-murder，sleepssoundlyinthevaultsofEngaddi，while，aboveherverygrave，gibbers，moans，androarsacreature，towhombutsomuchreasonisleftasmaysufficetorenderhimcompletelysensibletohisfate！’’
Unhappyman！’’saidRichard，Iwondernolongeratthymisery。Howdidstthouescapethedoom，whichthecanonsdenounceagainstthyoffence？’’
Askonewhoisyetinthegallofworldlybitterness，’’saidthehermit，andhewillspeakofalifesparedforpersonalrespects，andfromconsiderationtohighbirth。But，Richard，Itellthee，thatProvidencehathpreservedme，toliftmeonhighasalightandbeacon，whoseashes，whenthisearthlyfuelisburntout，mustyetbeflungintoTophet。Witheredandshrunkasthispoorformis，itisyetanimatedwithtwospirits-oneactive，shrewd，andpiercing，toadvocatethecauseoftheChurchofJerusalem-onemean，abject，anddespairing，fluctuatingbetweenmadnessandmisery，tomournovermyownwretchedness，andtoguardholyrelies，onwhichitwouldbemostsinfulformeeventocastmyeye。Pitymenot！-itisbutsintopitythelossofsuchanabject-pitymenot，butprofitbymyexample。Thoustandestonthehighestand，thereforeonthemostdangerouspinnacle，occupiedbyanyChristianprince。Thouartproudofheart，looseoflife，bloodyofhand。
Putfromtheethesinswhicharetotheeasdaughters-thoughtheybedeartothesinfulAdam，expeltheseadoptedfuriesfromthybreast-thypride，thyluxury，thyblood-thirstiness。’’
Heraves，’’saidRichard，turningfromthesolitarytoDeVaux，asonewhofeltsomepainfromasarcasmwhichyethecouldnotresent-thenturnedhimcalmly，andsomewhatscornfullytotheanchoret，ashereplied-Thouhastfoundafairbevyofdaughters，reverendfather，toonewhohathbeenbutfewmonthsmarried；butsinceImustputthemfrommyroof，itwerebutlikeafather，toprovidethemwithsuitablematches。
Wherefore，IwillpartwithmypridetothenobleCanonsoftheChurch-myluxury，asthoucall’stit，totheMonksoftherule-andmyblood-thirstinesstotheKnightsoftheTemple。’’
Oh，heartofsteel，andhandofiron，’’saidtheanchoret，uponwhomexample，aswellasadvice，isalikethrownaway！-
Yetshaltthoubesparedforaseason，incaseitsobethoushouldstturnanddothatwhichisacceptableinthesightofHeaven-Forme，Imustreturntomyplace-KyrieEleison！-
Iamhethroughwhomtheraysofheavenlygracedartlikethoseofthesunthroughaburningglass，concentratingthemonotherobjects，untiltheykindleandblaze，whiletheglassitselfremainscoldanduninfluenced-KyrieEleison！-thepoormustbecalled，fortherichhaverefusedthebanquet-KyrieEleison！’’
Sosaying，heburstfromthetent，utteringloudcries。
Amadpriest！’’-saidRichard，fromwhosemindthefranticexclamationsofthehermithadpartlyobliteratedtheimpressionproducedbythedetailofhispersonalhistoryandmisfortunes。
Afterhim，DeVaux，andseehecomestonoharm；for，Crusadersasweare，ajugglerhathmorereverenceamongstourvarletsthanapriestorasaint，andtheymay，perchance，putsomescornuponhim。’’
Theknightobeyed，andRichardpresentlygavewaytothethoughtswhichthewildprophecyofthemonkhadinspired-
Todieearly-withoutlineage-withoutlamentation？aheavysentence，andwellthatitisnotpassedbyamorecompetentjudge。YettheSaracens，whoareaccomplishedinmysticalknowledge，willoftenmaintain，thatHe，inwhoseeyesthewisdomofthesageisbutasfolly，inspireswisdomandprophecyintotheseemingfollyofthemadman。Yonderhermitissaidtoreadthestarstoo，anartgenerallypractisedintheselands，wheretheheavenlyhostwasofyoretheobjectofidolatry。I
wouldIhadaskedhimtouchingthelossofmybanner；fornottheblessedTishbite，thefounderofhisorder，couldseemmorewildlyraptoutofhimself，orspeakwithatonguemoreresemblingthatofaprophet-Hownow，DoVaux，whatnewsofthemadpriest？’’
Madpriest，callyouhim，mylord？’’answeredDeVaux。
MethinksheresemblesmoretheblessedBaptisthimself，justissuedfromthewilderness。Hehasplacedhimselfononeofthemilitaryengines，andfromthencehepreachestothesoldiers，asnevermanpreachedsincethetimeofPetertheHermit。Thecamp，alarmedbyhiscries，crowdaroundhiminthousands；andbreakingoffeverynowandthenfromthemainthreadofhisdiscourse，headdressestheseveralnations，eachintheirownlanguage，andpressesuponeachtheargumentsbestqualifiedtourgethemtoperseveranceinthedeliveryofPalestine。’’