Theassembledprincesresumedtheirseats，andtherewasaprofoundsilence。
Thisday，’’continuedtheKingofEngland，isahighfestivaloftheChurch；andwellbecomesitChristianmen，atsuchatide，toreconcilethemselveswiththeirbrethren，andconfesstheirfaultstoeachother。Nobleprinces，andfathersofthisholyexpedition，Richardisasoldier-hishandiseverreadierthanhistongue-andhistongueisbuttoomuchusedtotheroughlanguageofhistrade。Butdonot，forPlantagenet’shastyspeechesandill-consideredactions，forsakethenoblecauseoftheredemptionofPalestine-donotthrowawayearthlyrenownandeternalsalvation，tobewonhereifevertheycanbewonbyman，becausetheactofasoldiermayhavebeenhasty，andhisspeechashardastheironwhichhehaswornfromchildhood。IsRichardindefaulttoanyofyou，Richardwillmakecompensationbothbywordandaction-NoblebrotherofFrance，haveIbeensounluckyastooffendyou？’’
TheMajestyofFrancehasnoatonementtoseekfromthatofEngland，’’answeredPhilipwithkinglydignity，accepting，atthesametime，theofferedhandofRichard；andwhateveropinionImayadoptconcerningtheprosecutionofthisenterprise，willdependonreasonsarisingoutofthestateofmyownkingdom，certainlyonnojealousyordisgustatmyroyalandvalorousbrother。’’
Austria，’’saidRichard，walkinguptotheArchduke，withamixtureoffranknessanddignity，whileLeopoldarosefromhisseat，asifinvoluntarily，andwiththeactionofanautomaton，whosemotionsdependeduponsomeexternalimpulse，-
AustriathinkshehathreasontobeoffendedwithEngland；
England，thathehathcausetocomplainofAustria。Letthemexchangeforgiveness，thatthepeaceofEurope，andtheconcordofthishostmayremainunbroken。Wearenowjointsupportersofamoregloriousbannerthaneverblazedbeforeanearthlyprince，-eventheBannerofSalvation:letnot，therefore，strifebebetwixtus，forthesymbolofourmoreworldlydignities；butletLeopoldrestorethepennonofEngland，ifhehasitinhispower，andRichardwillsay，thoughfromnomotivesavehisloveforHolyChurch，thatherepentshimofthehastymoodinwhichhedidinsultthestandardofAustria。’’
TheArchdukestoodstill，sullenanddiscontented，withhiseyesfixedonthefloor，andhiscountenanceloweringwithsmothereddispleasure，whichawe，mingledwithawkwardness，preventedhisgivingventtoinwords。
ThePatriarchofJerusalemhastenedtobreaktheembarrassingsilence，andtobearwitnessfortheArchdukeofAustria，thathehadexculpatedhimself，byasolemnoath，fromallknowledge，directorindirect，oftheaggressiondonetotheBannerofEngland。
ThenwehavedonethenobleArchdukethegreaterwrong，’’
saidRichard；andcravinghispardonforimputingtohimanoutragesocowardly，weextendourhandtohimintokenofrenewedpeaceandamity-Buthowisthis？Austriarefusesouruncoveredhand，asheformerlyrefusedourmailedglove！
What！areweneithertobehismateinpeace，norhisantagonistinwar？Well，letitbeso。Wewilltaketheslightesteeminwhichheholdsus，asapenanceforaughtwhichwemayhavedoneagainsthiminheatofblood，andwillthereforeholdtheaccountbetweenuscleared。’’
Sosaying，heturnedfromtheArchdukewithanairratherofdignitythanscorn，leavingtheAustrianapparentlyasmuchrelievedbytheremovalofhiseye，asisasullenandtruantschoolboywhentheglanceofhisseverepedagogueiswithdrawn。
NobleEarlofChampagne-PrincelyMarquisofMontserrat-
ValiantGrandMasteroftheTemplars-Iamhereapenitentintheconfessional-Doanyofyoubringacharge，orclaimamendsfromme？’’
Iknownotonwhatwecouldgroundany，’’saidthesmooth-tonguedConrade，unlessitwerethattheKingofEnglandcarriesofffromhispoorbrothersofthewarallthefamewhichtheymighthavehopedtogainintheexpedition。’’
Mycharge，ifIamcalledtomakeone，’’saidtheMasteroftheTemplars，isgraveranddeeperthanthatoftheMarquisofMontserrat。ItmaybethoughtilltobeseemamilitarymonksuchasItoraisehisvoicewheresomanynobleprincesremainsilent；butitconcernsourwholehost，andnotleastthisnobleKingofEngland，thatheshouldhearfromsomeonetohisfacethosecharges，whichthereareenowtobringagainsthiminhisabsence。WelaudandhonourthecourageandhighachievementsoftheKingofEngland，butwefeelaggrievedthatheshould，onalloccasions，seizeandmaintainaprecedenceandsuperiorityoverus，whichitbecomesnotindependentprincestosubmitto。Muchwemightyieldofourfreewilltohisbravery，hiszeal，hiswealth，andhispower；buthewhosnatchesall，asmatterofright，andleavesnothingtograntoutofcourtesyandfavour，degradesusfromalliesintoretainersandvassals，andsullies，intheeyesofoursoldiersandsubjects，thelustreofourauthority，whichisnolongerindependentlyexercised。SincetheroyalRichardhasaskedthetruthfromus，hemustneitherbesurprisednorangrywhenhehearsone，towhomworldlypompisprohibited，andsecularauthorityisnothing，savingsofarasitadvancestheprosperityofGod’sTemple，andtheprostrationofthelion，whichgoethaboutseekingwhomhemaydevour-whenhehears，Isay，suchaoneasItellhimthetruthinreplytohisquestion；whichtruth，evenwhileIspeakit，is，Iknow，confirmedbytheheartofeveryonewhohearsme，howeverrespectmaystifletheirvoices。’’
RichardcolouredveryhighlywhiletheGrandMasterwasmakingthisdirectandunvarnishedattackuponhisconduct，andthemurmurofassentwhichfolloweditshowedplainly，thatalmostallwhowerepresentacquiescedinthejusticeoftheaccusation。Incensed，andatthesametimemortified，heyetforesawthattogivewaytohisheadlongresentment，wouldbetogivethecoldandwaxyaccusertheadvantageoverhimwhichitwastheTemplar’sprincipalobjecttoobtain。Hetherefore，withastrongeffort，remainedsilenttillhehadrepeatedapater-noster，beingthecoursewhichhisconfessorhadenjoinedhimtopursue，whenangerwaslikelytoobtaindominionoverhim。
TheKingthenspokewithcomposure，thoughnotwithoutanembitteredtone，especiallyattheoutset。
Andisitevenso？Andareourbrethrenatsuchpainstonotetheinfirmitiesofournaturaltemper，andtheroughprecipitanceofourzeal，whichmaysometimeshaveurgedustoissuecommandswhentherewaslittletimetoholdcouncil？Icouldnothavethoughtthatoffences，casualandunpremeditatedlikemine，couldfindsuchdeeprootintheheartsofmyalliesinthismostholycause；thatformysaketheyshouldwithdrawtheirhandfromtheploughwhenthefurrowwasneartheend；formysaketurnasidefromthedirectpathtoJerusalem，whichtheirswordshaveopened。Ivainlythoughtthatmysmallservicesmighthaveoutweighedmyrasherrors-thatifitwererememberedthatIpressedtothevaninanassault，itwouldnotbeforgottenthatIwaseverthelastintheretreat-thatifIelevatedmybanneruponconqueredfieldsofbattle，itwasalltheadvantagethatIsought，whileothersweredividingthespoil。
Imayhavecalledtheconqueredcitybymyname，butitwastoothersthatIyieldedthedominion。IfIhavebeenhead-stronginurgingboldcounsels，Ihavenot，methinks，sparedmyownbloodormypeople’sincarryingthemintoasboldexecution-orifIhave，inthehurryofmarchorbattle，assumedacommandoverthesoldiersofothers，suchhavebeenevertreatedasmyown，whenmywealthpurchasedtheprovisionsandmedicineswhichtheirownsovereignscouldnotprocure-Butitshamesmetoremindyouofwhatallbutmyselfseemtohaveforgotten，-Letusratherlookforwardtoourfuturemeasures；andbelieveme，brethren，’’hecontinued，hisfacekindlingwitheagerness，youshallnotfindthepride，orthewrath，ortheambitionofRichard，astumbling-blockofoffenceinthepathtowhichreligionandglorysummonyou，aswiththetrumpetofanarchangel。Oh，no，no！neverwouldIsurvivethethought，thatmyfrailtiesandinfirmitieshadbeenthemeanstoseverthisgoodlyfellowshipofassembledprinces。Iwouldcutoffmylefthandwithmyright，couldmydoingsoattestmysincerity。Iwillyieldup，voluntarily，allrighttocommandinthehostevenmineownliegesubjects。Theyshallbeledbysuchsovereignsasyoumaynominate，andtheirKing，everbuttooapttoexchangetheleader’sbatonfortheadventurer’slance，willserveunderthebannerofBeau-SeantamongtheTemplars-ay，orunderthatofAustria，ifAustriawillnameabravemantoleadhisforces。Or，ifyeareyourselvesa-wearyofthiswar，andfeelyourarmourchafeyourtenderbodies，leavebutwithRichardsometenorfifteenthousandofyoursoldierstoworkouttheaccomplishmentofyourvow；andwhenZioniswon，’’heexclaimed，wavinghishandaloft，asifdisplayingthestandardoftheCrossoverJerusalem-whenZioniswon，wewillwriteuponhergates，=not=thenameofRichardPlantagenet，butofthosegenerousprinceswhointrustedhimwiththemeansofconquest！’’
Therougheloquenceanddeterminedexpressionofthemilitarymonarch，atoncerousedthedroopingspiritsoftheCrusaders，reanimatedtheirdevotion，and，fixingtheirattentionontheprincipalobjectoftheexpedition，mademostofthemwhowerepresentblushforhavingbeenmovedbysuchpettysubjectsofcomplaintashadbeforeengrossedthem。Eyecaughtfirefromeye，voicelentcouragetovoice。Theyresumed，aswithoneaccord，thewar-crywithwhichthesermonofPetertheHermitwasechoedback，andshoutedaloud，Leaduson，gallantLion’sheart-nonesoworthytoleadwherebravemenfollow。Leaduson-toJerusalem-toJerusalem！ItisthewillofGod-
itisthewillofGod！Blessedishewhoshalllendanarmtoitsfulfilment！’’
Theshout，sosuddenlyandgenerallyraised，washeardbeyondtheringofsentinelswhoguardedthepavilionofCouncilandspreadamongthesoldiersofthehost，who，inactive，anddispiritedbydiseaseandclimate，hadbegun，liketheirleaders，todroopinresolution；butthereappearanceofRichardinrenewedvigour，andthewell-knownshoutwhichechoedfromtheassemblyoftheprinces，atoncerekindledtheirenthusiasm，andthousandsandtensofthousandsansweredwiththesameshoutofZion，Zion！-War，war！-instantbattlewiththeinfidels！ItisthewillofGod-itisthewillofGod！’’
Theacclamationsfromwithoutincreasedintheirturntheenthusiasmwhichprevailedwithinthepavilion。Thosewhodidnotactuallycatchtheflame，wereafraid，atleastforthetime，toseemcolderthanothers。TherewasnomorespeechexceptofaproudadvancetowardsJerusalemupontheexpiryofthetruce，andthemeasurestobetakeninthemeantimeforsupplyingandrecruitingthearmy。Thecouncilbrokeup，allapparentlyfilledwiththesameenthusiasticpurpose，-which，however，soonfadedinthebosomofmost，andneverhadanexistenceinthatofothers。
OfthelatterclassweretheMarquisConradeandtheGrandMasteroftheTemplars，whoretiredtogethertotheirquartersillatease，andmalcontentwiththeeventsoftheday。
Ievertoldittothee，’’saidthelatter，withthecoldsardonicexpressionpeculiartohim，thatRichardwouldburstthroughtheflimsywilesyouspreadforhim，aswouldalionthroughaspider’sweb。Thouseesthehasbuttospeak，andhisbreathagitatestheseficklefoolsaseasilyasthewhirlwindcatchethscatteredstraws，andsweepsthemtogether，ordispersesthematitspleasure。’’
Whentheblasthaspassedaway，’’saidConrade，thestraws，whichitmadedancetoitspipe，willsettletoearthagain。’’
Butknow’stthounotbesides，’’saidtheTemplar，thatitseems，ifthisnewpurposeofconquestshallbeabandonedandpassaway，andeachmightyprinceshallagain，belefttosuchguidanceashisownscantybraincansupply，RichardmayyetprobablybecomeKingofJerusalembycompact，andestablishthosetermsoftreatywiththeSoldan，whichthouthyselfthought’sthimsolikelytospurnat？’’
Now，byMahoundandTermagaunt，forChristianoathsareoutoffashion，’’saidConrade，say’stthoutheproudKingofEnglandwouldunitehisbloodwithaheathenSoldan？-
Mypolicythrewinthatingredienttomakethewholetreatyanabominationtohim-Asbadforusthathebecomeourmasterbyanagreement，asbyvictory。’’
ThypolicyhathillcalculatedRichard’sdigestion，’’answeredtheTemplar；IknowhismindbyawhisperfromtheArchbishop-
Andthenthymaster-strokerespectingyonderbanner，ithaspassedoffwithnomorerespectthantwocubitsofembroideredsilkmerited。MarquisConrade，thywitbeginstohalt-Iwilltrustthyfine-spunmeasuresnolonger，butwilltrymyown。Know’stthounotthepeoplewhomtheSaracenscallCharegites？’’
Surely，’’answeredtheMarquis；theyaredesperateandbesottedenthusiasts，whodevotetheirlivestotheadvancementofreligion-somewhatlikeTemplars-onlytheyareneverknowntopauseintheraceoftheircalling。’’
Jestnot，’’answeredthescowlingMonk；know，thatoneofthesemenhassetdown，inhisbloodyvow，thenameoftheIslandEmperoryonder，tobehewndownasthechiefenemyoftheMoslemfaith。’’
Amostjudiciouspaynim，’’saidConrade。MayMahometsendhimhisparadiseforareward！’’