Peacewiththyscurriljests！’’answeredEdith，colouringdeeply-Thinkrather，thatfortheindulgenceofthymoodthouhastloppedfromthisgreatenterpriseonegoodlylimb，deprivedtheCrossofoneofitsmostbravesupporters，andplacedaservantofthetrueGodinthehandsoftheheathen；hastgiven，too，tomindsassuspiciousasthouhastshownthineowninthismatter，somerighttosaythatRichardCurdeLionbanishedthebravestsoldierinhiscamp，lesthisnameinbattlemightmatchhisown。’’
I-I！’’exclaimedRichard，nowindeedgreatlymoved-
amIonetobejealousofrenown？-Iwouldhewereheretoprofesssuchequality！Iwouldwaivemyrankandmycrown，andmeethim，man-like，inthelists，thatitmightappearwhetherRichardPlantagenethadroomtofearortoenvytheprowessofmortalman。Come，Edith，thouthink’stnotasthousay’st。Letnotangerorgrieffortheabsenceofthylovermaketheeunjusttothykinsman，who，notwithstandingallthytetchiness，valuesthygoodreportashighasthatofanyoneliving。’’
Theabsenceofmylover？’’saidtheLadyEdith。Butyes-hemaybewelltermedmylover，whohathpaidsodearforthetitle。UnworthyasImightbeofsuchhomage，Iwastohimlikealight，leadinghimforwardinthenoblepathofchivalry；butthatIforgotmyrank，orthathepresumedbeyondhis，isfalse，wereakingtospeakit。’’
Myfaircousin，’’saidRichard，donotputwordsinmymouthwhichIhavenotspoken。Isaidnotyouhadgracedthismanbeyondthefavourwhichagoodknightmayearn，evenfromaprincess，whateverbehisnativecondition。But，byOurLady，Iknowsomethingofthislove-gear-itbeginswithmuterespectanddistantreverence；but，whenopportunitiesoccur，familiarityincreases，andso-Butitskillsnottalkingwithonewhothinksherselfwiserthanalltheworld。’’
Mykinsman’scounselsIwillinglylistento，whentheyaresuch，’’saidEdith，asconveynoinsulttomyrankandcharacter。’’
Kings，myfaircousin，donotcounsel，butrathercommand，’’
saidRichard。
Soldansdoindeedcommand，’’saidEdith，butitisbecausetheyhaveslavestogovern。’’
Come，youmightlearntolayasidethisscornofSoldanrie，whenyouholdsohighofaScot，’’saidtheKing。IholdSaladintobetruertohiswordthanthisWilliamofScotland，whomustneedsbecalledaLion，forsooth-hehathfoullyfaultedtowardsme，infailingtosendtheauxiliaryaidhepromised。
Letmetellthee，Edith，thoumay’stlivetopreferatrueTurktoafalseScot。’’
No-never！’’answeredEdith-notshouldRichardhimselfembracethefalsereligion，whichhecrossedtheseastoexpelfromPalestine。’’
Thouwilthavethelastword，’’saidRichard，andthoushalthaveit。Eventhinkofmewhatthouwilt，prettyEdith。
Ishallnotforgetthatwearenearanddearcousins。’’
Sosaying，hetookhisleaveinfairfashion，butverylittlesatisfiedwiththeresultofhisvisit。
ItwasthefourthdayafterSirKennethhadbeendismissedfromthecamp；andKingRichardsatinhispavilion，enjoyinganeveningbreezefromthewest，which，withunusualcoolnessonherwings，seemedbreathedfrommerryEnglandfortherefreshmentofheradventurousmonarch，ashewasgraduallyrecoveringthefullstrengthwhichwasnecessarytocarryonhisgiganticprojects。Therewasnoonewithhim，DeVauxhavingbeensenttoAscalontobringupreinforcementsandsuppliesofmilitarymunition，andmostofhisotherattendantsbeingoccupiedindifferentdepartments，allpreparingforthere-openingofhostilities，andforagrandpreparatoryreviewofthearmyoftheCrusaders，whichwastotakeplacethenextday。TheKingsat，listeningtothebusyhumamongthesoldiery，theclatterfromtheforges，wherehorse-shoeswerepreparing，andfromthetentsofthearmourers，whowererepairingharness-thevoiceofthesoldiers，too，astheypassedandrepassed，wasloudandcheerful，carryingwithitsverytoneanassuranceofhighandexcitedcourage，andanomenofapproachingvictory。WhileRichard’seardrankinthesesoundswithdelight，andwhileheyieldedhimselftothevisionsofconquestandofglorywhichtheysuggested，anequerrytoldhimthatamessengerfromSaladinwaitedwithout。
Admithiminstantly，’’saidtheKing，andwithduehonour，Josceline。’’
TheEnglishknightaccordinglyintroducedaperson，apparentlyofnohigherrankthanaNubianslave，whoseappearancewasneverthelesshighlyinteresting。Hewasofsuperbstatureandnoblyformed，andhiscommandingfeatures，althoughalmostjet-black，showednothingofnegrodescent。Heworeoverhiscoal-blacklocksamilk-whiteturban，andoverhisshouldersashortmantleofthesamecolour，openinfrontandatthesleeves，underwhichappearedadoubletofdressedleopard’sskinreachingwithinahandbreadthofthekneel。Therestofhismuscularlimbs，bothlegsandarms，werebare，exceptingthathehadsandalsonhisfeet，andworeacollarandbraceletsofsilver。
Astraightbroadsword，withahandleofboxwood，andasheathcoveredwithsnake-skin，wassuspendedfromhiswaist。Inhisrighthandheheldashortjavelin，withabroad，bright，steelhead，ofaspaninlength，andinhisleftheled，byaleashoftwistedsilkandgold，alargeandnoblestag-hound。
Themessengerprostratedhimself，atthesametimepartiallyuncoveringhisshoulders，insignofhumiliation，andhavingtouchedtheearthwithhisforehead，arosesofarastorestononeknee，whilehedeliveredtotheKingasilkennapkin，enclosinganotherofclothofgold，withinwhichwasaletterfromSaladinintheoriginalArabic，withatranslationintoNorman-English，whichmaybemodernisedthus:-
Saladin，Kingofkings，toMelechRic，theLionofEngland。
Whereas，weareinformedbythylastmessage，thatthouhastchosenwarratherthanpeace，andourenmityratherthanourfriendship，weaccounttheeasoneblindedinthismatter，andtrustshortlytoconvincetheeofthineerror，bythehelpofourinvincibleforcesofthethousandtribes，whenMohammed，theProphetofGod，andAllah，theGodoftheProphet，shalljudgethecontroversybetwixtus。Inwhatremains，wemakenobleaccountofthee，andofthegiftswhichthouhastsentus，andofthetwodwarfs，singularintheirdeformityasYsop，andmirthfulastheluteofIsaack。Andinrequitalofthesetokensfromthetreasure-houseofthybounty，beholdwehavesenttheeaNubianslave，namedZohauk，ofwhomjudgenotbyhiscomplexion，accordingtothefoolishonesoftheearth，inrespectthedark-rindedfruithaththemostexquisiteflavour。Knowthatheisstrongtoexecutethewillofhismaster，asRustanofZablestan；alsoheiswisetogivecounselwhenthoushaltlearntoholdcommunicationwithhim，fortheLordofSpeechhathbeenstrickenwithsilencebetwixttheivorywallsofhispalace。Wecommendhimtothycare，hopingthehourmaynotbedistantwhenhemayrendertheegoodservice。Andherewithwebidtheefarewell；trustingthatourmostholyProphetmayyetcalltheetoasight，ofthetruth，failingwhichillumination，ourdesireis，forthespeedyrestorationofthyroyalhealth，thatAllahmayjudgebetweentheeandusinaplainfieldofbattle。’’
AndthemissivewassanctionedbythesignatureandsealoftheSoldan。
RichardsurveyedtheNubianinsilenceashestoodbeforehim，hislooksbentupontheground，hisarmsfoldedonhisbosom，withtheappearanceofablackmarblestatueofthemostexquisiteworkmanship，waitinglifefromthetouchofaPrometheus。TheKingofEngland，who，asitwasemphaticallysaidofhissuccessorHenrytheEighth，lovedtolookupon=aman，=waswellpleasedwiththethewes，sinews，andsymmetryofhimwhomhenowsurveyed，andquestionedhimintheLinguaFranca，Artthouapagan？’’
Theslaveshookhishead，andraisinghisfingertohisbrow，crossedhimselfintokenofhisChristianity，thenresumedhispostureofmotionlesshumility。
ANubianChristian，doubtless，’’saidRichard，andmutilatedoftheorganofspeechbytheseheathendogs？’’
Themuteagainslowlyshookhisheadintokenofnegative，pointedwithhisforefingertoHeaven，andthenlaidituponhisownlips。
Iunderstandthee，’’saidRichard；thoudostsufferundertheinflictionofGod，notbythecrueltyofman。Canstthoucleananarmourandbelt，andbuckleitintimeofneed？’’
Themutenodded，andsteppingtowardsthecoatofmail，whichhung，withtheshieldandhelmetofthechivalrousmonarch，uponthepillarofthetent，hehandleditwithsuchnicetyofaddress，assufficientlytoshowthathefullyunderstoodthebusinessofthearmour-bearer。
Thouartanapt，andwiltdoubtlessbeausefulknave-
thoushaltwaitinmychamber，andonmyperson，’’saidtheKin。toshowhowmuchIvaluethegiftoftheroyalSoldan。
Ifthouhastnotongue，itfollowsthoucanstcarrynotales，neitherprovokemetobesuddenbyanyunfitreply。’’
TheNubianagainprostratedhimselftillhisbrowtouchedtheearth，thenstooderect，atsomepacesdistant，aswaitingforhisnewmaster’scommands。
Nay，thoushaltcommencethyofficepresently，’’saidRichard，forIseeaspeckofrustdarkeningonthatshield；
andwhenIshakeitinthefaceofSaladin，itshouldbebrightandunsulliedastheSoldan’shonourandmineown。’’
Ahornwaswindedwithout，andpresentlySirHenryNevilleenteredwithapacketofdespatches，-FromEngland，mylord，’’hesaid，ashedeliveredit。
FromEngland-ourownEngland！’’repeatedRichard，inatoneofmelancholyenthusiasm-Alas！theylittlethinkhowhardtheirSovereignhasbeenbesetbysicknessandsorrow-
faintfriendsandforwardenemies。’’Thenopeningthedespatches，hesaid，hastilyHa！thiscomesfromnopeacefulland-theytoohavetheirfeuds-Neville，begone-Imustperusethesetidingsalone，andatleisure。’’
Nevillewithdrewaccordingly，andRichardwassoonabsorbedinthemelancholydetailswhichhadbeenconveyedtohimfromEngland，concerningthefactionsthatweretearingtopieceshisnativedominions-thedisunionofhisbrothers，JohnandGeoffrey，andthequarrelsofbothwiththeHighJusticiaryLongchamp，BishopofEly-theoppressionspractisedbythenoblesuponthepeasantry，andrebellionofthelatteragainsttheirmasters，whichhadproducedeverywherescenesofdiscord，andinsomeinstancestheeffusionofblood。Detailsofincidentsmortifyingtohispride，andderogatoryfromhisauthority，wereintermingledwiththeearnestadviceofhiswisestandmostattachedcounsellors，thatheshouldpresentlyreturntoEngland，ashispresenceofferedtheonlyhopeofsavingthekingdomfromallthehorrorsofcivildiscord，ofwhichFranceandScotlandwerelikelytoavailthemselves。Filledwiththemostpainfulanxiety，Richardread，andagainread，theill-omenedletters，comparedtheintelligencewhichsomeofthemcontainedwiththesamefactsasdifferentlystatedinothers，andsoonbecametotallyinsensibletowhateverwaspassingaroundhim，althoughseated，forthesakeofcoolness，closetotheentranceofhistent，andhavingthecurtainswithdrawn，sothathecouldseeandbeseenbytheguardsandotherswhowerestationedwithout。
Deeperintheshadowofthepavilion，andbusiedwiththetaskhisnewmasterhadimposed，sattheNubianslave，withhisbackratherturnedtowardstheKing。Hehadfinishedadjustingandcleaningthehauberkandbrigandine，andwasnowbusilyemployedonabroadpavesse，orbuckler，ofunusualsize，andcoveredwithsteel-plating，whichRichardoftenusedinreconnoitring，oractuallystormingfortifiedplaces，asamoreeffectualprotectionagainstmissileweapons，thanthenarrowtriangularshieldusedonhorseback。ThispavesseboreneithertheroyallionsofEngland，noranyotherdevice，toattracttheobservationofthedefendersofthewallsagainstwhichitwasadvanced；thecare，therefore，ofthearmourerwasaddressedtocausingitssurfacetoshineasbrightascrystal，inwhichheseemedtobepeculiarlysuccessful。BeyondtheNubian，andscarcevisiblefromwithout，laythelargedog，whichmightbetermedhisbrotherslave，andwhich，asifhefeltawedbybeingtransferredtoaroyalowner，wascouchedclosetothesideofthemute，withheadandearsontheground，andhislimbsandtaildrawnclosearoundandunderhim。
WhiletheMonarchandhisnewattendantwerethusoccupied，anotheractorcreptuponthescene，andmingledamongthegroupofEnglishyeomen，aboutascoreofwhom，respectingtheunusuallypensivepostureandcloseoccupationoftheirsovereign，were，contrarytotheirwont，keepingasilentguardinfrontofhistent。Itwasnot，however，morevigilantthanusual。Somewereplayingatgamesofhazardwithsmallpebbles，othersspoketogetherinwhispersoftheapproachingdayofbattle，andseverallayasleep，theirbulkylimbsfoldedintheirgreenmantles。