Bythislight，anoblehermit！’’saidKingRichard。ButwhatelsecouldcomefromthebloodofGodfrey？_He_despairofsafety，becausehehathinformerdayslived_paramours？_I
willhavethePopesendhimanampleremission，andIwouldnotlesswillinglybeintercessorhadhis_belleamie_beenanabbess。’’
Ashespoke，theArchbishopofTyrecravedaudience，forthepurposeofrequestingRichard’sattendance，shouldhishealthpermit，onasecretconclaveofthechiefsoftheCrusade，andtoexplaintohimthemilitaryandpoliticalincidentswhichhadoccurredduringhisillness。
Mustwethensheatheourstillvictorioussword；
Turnbackourforwardstep，whichevertrodO’erfoemen’sneckstheonwardpathofglory；
Unclaspthemail，whichwithasolemnvow，InGod’sownhouse，wehunguponourshoulders；
Thatvow，asunaccomplish’dasthepromiseWhichvillagenursesmaketostilltheirchildren，Andafterthinknomoreof？-
TheCrusade，_aTragedy。_
TheArchbishopofTyrewasanemissarywellchosentocommunicatetoRichardtidings，whichfromanothervoicethelion-heartedKingwouldnothavebrookedtohear，withoutthemostunboundedexplosionsofresentment。Eventhissagaciousandreverendprelatefounddifficultyininducinghimtolistentonews，whichdestroyedallhishopesofgainingbacktheHolySepulchrebyforceofarms，andacquiringtherenownwhichtheuniversalall-hailofChristendomwasreadytoconferuponhim，astheChampionoftheCross。
But，bytheArchbishop’sreport，itappearedthatSaladinwasassemblingalltheforceofhishundredtribes，andthatthemonarchsofEurope，alreadydisgustedfromvariousmotiveswiththeexpedition，whichhadprovedsohazardous，andwasdailygrowingmoreso，hadresolvedtoabandontheirpurpose。InthistheywerecountenancedbytheexampleofPhilipofFrance，who，withmanyprotestationsofregard，andassurancesthathewouldfirstseehisbrotherofEnglandinsafety，declaredhisintentiontoreturntoEurope。Hisgreatvassal，theEarlofChampagne，hadadoptedthesameresolution；anditcouldnotexcitesurprise，thatLeopoldofAustria，affrontedashehadbeenbyRichard，wasgladtoembraceanopportunityofdesertingacause，inwhichhishaughtyopponentwastobeconsideredaschief。Othersannouncedthesamepurpose；sothatitwasplainthattheKingofEnglandwastobeleft，ifhechosetoremain，supportedonlybysuchvolunteersasmight，undersuchdepressingcircumstances，jointhemselvestotheEnglisharmy；
andbythedoubtfulaidofConradeofMontserrat，andthemilitaryordersoftheTemple，andofSaintJohn，who，thoughtheyweresworntowagebattleagainsttheSaracens，wereatleastequallyjealousofanyEuropeanmonarchachievingtheconquestofPalestine，where，withshort-sightedandselfishpolicy，theyproposedtoestablishindependentdominionsoftheirown。
ItneedednotmanyargumentstoshowRichardthetruthofhissituation；and，indeed，afterhisfirstburstofpassion，hesathimcalmlydown，andwithgloomylooks，headdepressed，andarmsfoldedonhisbosom，listenedtotheArchbishop’sreasoningontheimpossibilityofhiscarryingontheCrusadewhendesertedbyhiscompanions。Nay，heforboreinterruption，evenwhentheprelateventured，inmeasuredterms，tohintthatRichard’sownimpetuosityhadbeenonemaincauseofdisgustingtheprinceswiththeexpedition。
_Confiteor，_’’answeredRichard，withadejectedlook，andsomethingofamelancholysmile；Iconfess，reverendfather，thatIoughtonsomeaccountstosing_culpamea。_Butisitnothardthatmyfrailtiesoftempershouldbevisitedwithsuchapenance，that，foraburstortwoofnaturalpassion，IshouldbedoomedtoseefadebeforemeungatheredsucharichharvestofglorytoGod，andhonourtochivalry？-Butitshallnotfade-BythesouloftheConqueror，IwillplanttheCrossonthetowersofJerusalem，oritshallbeplantedoverRichard’sgrave！’’
Thoumay’stdoit，’’saidtheprelate，yetnotanotherdropofChristianbloodbeshedinthequarrel。’’
Ah，youspeakofcompromise，LordPrelate-butthebloodoftheinfidelhoundsmustalsoceasetoflow，’’saidRichard。
Therewillbegloryenough，’’repliedtheArchbishop，inhavingextortedfromSaladin，byforceofarms，andbytherespectinspiredbyyourfame，suchconditions，asatoncerestoretheHolySepulchre，opentheHolyLaudtopilgrims，securetheirsafetybystrongfortresses，and，strongerthanall，assurethesafetyoftheHolyCity，byconferringonRichardthetitleofKingGuardianofJerusalem。’’
How！’’saidRichard，hiseyessparklingwithunusuallight，I-I-ItheKingGuardianoftheHolyCity！Victoryitself，butthatitisvictory，couldnotgainmore-scarcesomuch，whenwonwithunwillinganddisunitedforces-ButSaladinstillproposestoretainhisinterestintheHolyLand？’’
Asajointsovereign，theswornally，’’repliedthePrelate，ofthemightyRichard-hisrelative-ifitmaybepermittedbymarriage。’’
Bymarriage！’’saidRichard，surprised，yetlesssothanthePrelatehadexpected。Ha！-Ay-EdithPlantagenet。DidIdreamthis？-ordidsomeonetellme？Myheadisstillweakfromthisfever，andhasbeenagitated-WasittheScot，ortheHakim，oryonderholyhermit，thathintedsuchawildbargain？’’
ThehermitofEngaddi，mostlikely，’’saidtheArchbishop；
forhehathtoiledmuchinthismatter；andsincethediscontentoftheprinceshasbecomeapparent，andaseparationoftheirforcesunavoidable，hehathhadmanyconsultations，bothwithChristianandPagan，forarrangingsuchapacification，asmaygivetoChristendom，atleastinpart，theobjectsofthisholywarfare。’’
Mykinswomantoaninfidel-Ha！’’exclaimedRichard，ashiseyesbegantosparkle。
ThePrelatehastenedtoaverthiswrath。
ThePope’sconsentmustdoubtlessbefirstattained，andtheholyhermit，whoiswellknownatRome，willtreatwiththeHolyFather。’’
How？-withoutourconsentfirstgiven？’’saidtheKing。
Surelyno，’’saidtheBishop，inaquietandinsinuatingtoneofvoice；onlywithandunderyourspecialsanction。’’
Mysanctiontomarrymykinswomantoaninfidel？’’saidRichard；yethespokeratherinatoneofdoubtthanasdistinctlyreprobatingthemeasureproposed。CouldIhavedreamedofsuchacompositionwhenIleapedupontheSyrianshorefromtheprowofmygalley，evenasalionspringsonhisprey！-Andnow-Butproceed-Iwillhearwithpatience。’’
Equallydelightedandsurprisedtofindhistasksomucheasierthanhehadapprehended，theArchbishophastenedtopourforthbeforeRichardtheinstancesofsuchalliancesinSpain-notwithoutcountenancefromtheHolySee-theincalculableadvantageswhichallChristendomwouldderivefromtheunionofRichardandSaladin，byabondsosacred；and，aboveall，hespokewithgreatvehemenceandunctionontheprobabilitythatSaladinwould，incueoftheproposedalliance，exchangehisfalsefaithforthetrueone。
HaththeSoldanshownanydispositiontobecomeChristian？’’
saidRichard；ifso，thekinglivesnotonearthtowhomIwouldgrantthehandofakinswoman，ay，orsister，soonerthantomynobleSaladin-ay，thoughtheonecametolaycrownandsceptreatherfeet，andtheotherhadnothingtoofferbuthisgoodswordandbetterheart！’’
SaladinhathheardourChristianteachers，’’saidtheBishop，somewhatevasively，-myunworthyself-andothers-andashelistenswithpatience，andreplieswithcalmness，itcanhardlybebutthathebesnatchedasabrandfromtheburning。_Magnaestveritasetprvalebit！_Moreover，thehermitofEngaddi，fewofwhosewordshavefallenfruitlesstotheground，ispossessedfullywiththebeliefthatthereisacallingoftheSaracensandtheotherheathenapproaching，towhichthismarriageshallbematterofinduction。Hereadeththecourseofthestars；anddwelling，withmacerationoftheflesh，inthosedivineplaceswhichthesaintshavetroddenofold，thespiritofElijahtheTishbite，thefounderofhisblessedorder，hathbeenwithhimasitwaswiththeprophetElisha，thesonofShaphat，whenhespreadhismantleoverhim。’’
KingRichardlistenedtothePrelate’sreasoning，withadowncastbrowandatroubledlook。
Icannottell，’’hesaid，howitiswithme；butmethinksthesecoldcounselsofthePrincesofChristendomhaveinfectedmetoowithalethargyofspirit。Thetimehathbeen，that，hadalaymanproposedsuchalliancetome，Ihadstruckhimtotheearth-ifachurchman，IhadspitathimasarenegadeandpriestofBaal-yetnowthiscounselsoundsnotsostrangeinmineear；forwhyshouldInotseekforbrotherhoodandalliancewithaSaracen，brave，just，generous，-wholovesandhonoursaworthyfoe，asifhewereafriend-whilstthePrincesofChristendomshrinkfromthesideoftheirallies，andforsakethecauseofHeavenandgoodknighthood？-ButIwillpossessmypatience，andwillnotthinkofthem。OnlyoneattemptwillImaketokeepthisgallantbrotherhoodtogether，ifitbepossible；andifIfail，LordArchbishop，wewillspeaktogetherofthycounsel，which，asnow，Ineitheracceptnoraltogetherreject。WendwetotheCouncil，mylord-thehourcallsus。
Thousay’stRichardishastyandproud-thoushaltseehimhumblehimselflikethelowlybroom-plant，fromwhichhederiveshissurname。’’
Withtheassistanceofthoseofhisprivychamber，theKingthenhastilyrobedhimselfinadoubletandmantleofadarkanduniformcolour；andwithoutanymarkofregaldignity，exceptingaringofgolduponhishead，hehastenedwiththeArchbishopofTyretoattendtheCouncil，whichwaitedbuthispresencetocommenceitssitting。
ThepavilionoftheCouncilwasanampletent，havingbeforeitthelargeBanneroftheCrossdisplayed，andanother，onwhichwasportrayedafemalekneeling，withdishevelledhairanddisordereddress，meanttorepresentthedesolateanddistressedChurchofJerusalem，andbearingthemotto，_Afflict
sponsneobliviscaris。_Warders，carefullyselected，kepteveryoneatadistancefromtheneighbourhoodofthistent，lestthedebates，whichweresometimesofaloudandstormycharacter，shouldreachotherearsthanthosetheyweredesignedfor。
Here，therefore，thePrincesoftheCrusadewereassembled，awaitingRichard’sarrival；andeventhebriefdelaywhichwasthusinterposedwasturnedtohisdisadvantagebyhisenemies；
variousinstancesbeingcirculatedofhispride，andundueassumptionofsuperiority，ofwhicheventhenecessityofthepresentshortpausewasquotedasaninstance。MenstrovetofortifyeachotherintheirevilopinionoftheKingofEngland，andvindicatedtheoffencewhicheachhadtaken，byputtingthemostsevereconstructionuponcircumstancesthemosttrifling；
andallthis，perhaps，becausetheywereconsciousofaninstinctivereverencefortheheroicmonarch，whichitwouldrequiremorethanordinaryeffortstoovercome。
Theyhadsettled，accordingly，thattheyshouldreceivehimonhisentrancewithslightnotice，andnomorerespectthanwasexactlynecessarytokeepwithintheboundsofcoldceremonial。
Butwhentheybeheldthatnobleform，thatprincelycountenance，somewhatpalefromhislateillness-theeyewhichhadbeencalledbyminstrelsthebrightstarofbattleandvictory-whenhisfeats，almostsurpassinghumanstrengthandvalour，rushedontheirrecollection，theCouncilofPrincessimultaneouslyarose-eventhejealousKingofFrance，andthesullenandoffendedDukeofAustria，arosewithoneconsent，andtheassembledprincesburstforthwithonevoiceintheacclamation，GodsaveKingRichardofEngland！-LonglifetothevaliantLion’sheart！’’
Withacountenancefrankandopenasthesummersunwhenitrises，Richarddistributedhisthanksaround，andcongratulatedhimselfonbeingoncemoreamonghisroyalbrethrenoftheCrusades。
Somebriefwordshedesiredtosay，’’suchwashisaddresstotheassembly，thoughonasubjectsounworthyashimself，evenattheriskofdelayingforafewminutestheirconsultationsforthewealofChristendom，andtheadvancementoftheirholyenterprise。’’