Suchadueltherehathindeedbeen，royalbrother，’’answeredPhilip，andthatinthereignofoneofourpredecessors，towhomGodbegracious。Butitwasintheoldentime，norcanweholditaprecedentfittingforthisoccasion。Thedefendantinthatcasewasaprivategentleman，ofsmallrankorrespect；
hisoffensiveweaponswereonlyaclub，hisdefensivealeathernjerkin。Butwecannotdegradeaprincetothedisgraceofusingsuchrudearms，ortotheignominyofsuchacombat。’’
Inevermeantthatyoushould，’’saidKingRichard；itwerefoulplaytohazardthegoodhound’slifeagainstthatofsuchadouble-facedtraitorasthisConradehathprovedhimself。
Butthereliesourownglove-weappealhimtothecombatinrespectoftheevidencewebroughtforthagainsthim-aking，atleast，ismorethanthemateofamarquis。’’
ConrademadenohastyefforttoseizeonthepledgewhichRichardcastintothemiddleoftheassembly，andKingPhiliphadtimetoreply，eretheMarquismadeamotiontolifttheglove。
Aking，’’saidheofFrance，isasmuchmorethanamatchfortheMarquisConrade，asadogwouldbeless。RoyalRichard，thiscannotbepermitted。Youaretheleaderofourexpedition-theswordandbucklerofChristendom。’’
Iprotestagainstsuchacombat，’’saidtheVenetianproveditore，untiltheKingofEnglandshallhaverepaidthefiftythousandbezantswhichheisindebtedtotherepublic。Itisenoughtobethreatenedwiththelossofourdebt，shouldourdebtorfallbythehandsofthepagans，withouttheadditionalriskofhisbeingslaininbrawlsamongstChristians，concerningdogsandbanners。’’
AndI，’’saidWilliamwiththeLongSword，EarlofSalisbury，protestinmyturnagainstmyroyalbrotherperillinghislife，whichisthepropertyofthepeopleofEngland，insuchacause-Here，noblebrother，receivebackyourglove，andthinkonlyasifthewindhadblownitfromyourhand。Mineshalllieinitsstead。Aking’sson，thoughwiththebarsinisteronhisshield，isatleastamatchforthismarmozetofaMarquis。’’
Princesandnobles，’’saidConrade，IwillnotacceptofKingRichard’sdefiance。HehathbeenchosenourleaderagainsttheSaracens，andif_his_consciencecananswertheaccusationofprovokinganallytothefieldonaquarrelsofrivolous，mine，atleast，cannotendurethereproachofacceptingit。Buttouchinghisbastardbrother，WilliamofWoodstock，oragainstanyotherwhoshalladopt，orshalldaretostandgodfathertothismostfalsecharge，Iwilldefendmyhonourinthelists，andprovewhosoeverimpeachesitafalseliar。’’
TheMarquisofMontserrat，’’saidtheArchbishopofTyre，hathspokenlikeawiseandmoderategentleman；andmethinksthiscontroversymight，withoutdishonourtoanyparty，endatthispoint。’’
Methinksitmightsoterminate，’’saidtheKingofFrance，providedKingRichardwillrecallhisaccusation，asmadeuponoverslightgrounds。’’
PhilipofFrance，’’answeredCurdeLion，mywordsshallneverdomythoughtssomuchinjury。IhavechargedyonderConradeasathief，who，undercloudofnight，stolefromitsplacetheemblemofEngland’sdignity。Istillbelieveandchargehimtobesuch；andwhenadayisappointedforthecombat，doubtnotthat，sinceConradedeclinestomeetusinperson，Iwillfindachampiontoappearinsupportofmychallenge；forthou，William，mustnotthrustthylongswordintothisquarrelwithoutourspeciallicense。’’
Sincemyrankmakesmearbiterinthismostunhappymatter，’’saidPhilipofFrance，Iappointthefifthdayfromhenceforthedecisionthereof，bywayofcombat，accordingtoknightlyusageRichard，KingofEngland，toappearbyhischampionasappellant，andConrade，MarquisofMontserrat，inhisownpersonasdefendant。YetIown，Iknownotwheretofindneutralgroundwheresuchaquarrelmaybefoughtout；
foritmustnotbeintheneighbourhoodofthiscamp，wherethesoldierswouldmakefactiononthedifferentsides。’’
Itwerewell，’’saidRichard，toapplytothegenerosityoftheroyalSaladin，since，heathenasheis，Ihaveneverknownknightmorefulfilledofnobleness，ortowhosegoodfaithwemaysoperemptorilyintrustourselves。Ispeakthusforthosewhomaybedoubtfulofmishap-formyself，whereverIseemyfoe，Imakethatspotmybattle-ground。’’
Beitso，’’saidPhilip；wewillmakethismatterknowntoSaladin，althoughitbeshowingtoanenemytheunhappyspiritofdiscordwhichwewouldwillinglyhidefromourselves，wereitpossible。Meanwhile，Idismissthisassembly，andchargeyouall，asChristianmenandnobleknights，thatyeletthisunhappyfeudbreednofartherbrawlinginthecamp，butregarditasathingsolemnlyreferredtothejudgmentofGod，towhomeachofyoushouldpraythathewilldisposeofvictoryinthecombataccordingtothetruthofthequarrel；andtherewithmayHiswillbedone！’’
Amen，Amen！’’wasansweredonallsides；whiletheTemplarwhisperedtheMarquis:Conrade，wiltthounotaddapetitiontobedeliveredfromthepowerofthedog，asthePsalmisthathit？’’
Peace，thou-！’’repliedtheMarquis；thereisarevealingdemonabroad，whichmayreport，amongstothertidings，howfarthoudostcarrythemottooftheorder-_FeriaturLeo。_’’
Thouwiltstandthebruntofchallenge？’’saidtheTemplar。
Doubtmenot，’’saidConrade。Iwouldnot，indeed，havewillinglymettheironarmofRichardhimself，andIshamenottoconfessthatIrejoicetobefreeofhisencounter。But，fromhisbastardbrotherdownward，themanbreathesnotinhisrankswhomIfeartomeet。’’
Itiswellyouaresoconfident，’’continuedtheTemplarandinthatcase，thefangsofyonderhoundhavedonemoretodissolvethisleagueofprinces，thaneitherthydevicesorthedaggeroftheCharegite。Seestthouhow，underabrowstudiouslyoverclouded，Philipcannotconcealthesatisfactionwhichhefeelsattheprospectofreleasefromthealliancewhichsatsoheavyonhim？MarkhowHenryofChampagnesmilestohimself，likeasparklinggobletofhisownwine-
andseethechucklingdelightofAustria，whothinkshisquarrelisabouttobeavenged，withoutriskortroubleofhisown。Hush，heapproaches-Amostgrievouschance，mostroyalAustria，thatthesebreachesinthewallsofourZion’’-
IfthoumeanestthisCrusade，’’repliedtheDuke，Iwoulditwerecrumbledtopieces，andeachweresafeathome！-I
speakthisinconfidence。’’
But，’’saidtheMarquisofMontserrat，tothinkthisdisunionshouldbemadebythehandsofKingRichard，forwhosepleasurewehavebeencontentedtoenduresomuch，andtowhomwehavebeenassubmissiveasslavestoamaster，inhopesthathewouldusehisvalouragainstourenemies，insteadofexercisingituponourfriends！’’
Iseenotthatheissomuchmorevalorousthanothers，’’
saidtheArchduke。Ibelieve，hadthenobleMarquismethiminthelists，hewouldhavehadthebetter；forthoughtheislanderdealsheavyblowswiththepole-axe，heisnotsoverydexterouswiththelance。Ishouldhavecaredlittletohavemethimmyselfonouroldquarrel，hadthewealofChristendompermittedtosovereignprincestobreathethemselvesinthelists-Andifthoudesirestit，nobleMarquis，Iwillmyselfbeyourgodfatherinthiscombat。’’
AndIalso，’’saidtheGrandMaster。
Come，then，andtakeyournooninginourtent，noblesirs，’’
saidtheDuke，andwe’llspeakofthisbusiness，oversomeright_nierenstein。_’’
Theyenteredtogetheraccordingly。
Whatsaidourpatronandthesegreatfolkstogether？’’saidJonasSchwankertohiscompanion，the_spruch-sprecher_，whohadusedthefreedomtopressnightohismasterwhenthecouncilwasdismissed，whilethejesterwaitedatamorerespectfuldistance。
ServantofFolly，’’saidthe_spruch-sprecher_，moderatethycuriosity-itbeseemsnotthatIshouldtelltotheethecounselsofourmaster。’’
ManofWisdom，youmistake，’’answeredJonas；weareboththeconstantattendantsonourpatron，anditconcernsusaliketoknowwhetherthouorI-WisdomorFolly，havethedeeperinterestinhim。’’
HetoldtotheMarquis，’’answeredthe_spruch-sprecher_，andtotheGrandMaster，thathewasawearyofthesewars，andwouldbegladhewassafeathome。’’
Thatisadrawncast，andcountsfornothinginthegame，’’
saidthejester；itwasmostwisetothinkthus，butgreatfollytotellittoothers-proceed。’’
Ha，hem，’’saidthe_spruch-sprecher_；henextsaidtothem，thatRichardwasnotmorevalorousthanothers，oroverdexterousinthetilt-yard。’’
Woodcockofmyside，’’saidSchwanker；thiswasegregiousfolly。Whatnext？’’
Nay，Iamsomethingoblivious，’’repliedthemanofwisdom；
heinvitedthemtoagobletof_nierenstein。_’’
Thathathashowofwisdominit，’’saidJonas，thoumay’stmarkittothycreditinthemeantime；butanhedrinktoomuch，asismostlikely，Iwillhaveitpasstomine。Anythingmore？’’
Nothingworthmemory，’’answeredtheorator，onlyhewishedhehadtakentheoccasiontomeetRichardinthelists。’’
Outuponit-outuponit！’’saidJonas-thisissuchdotageoffolly，thatIamwell-nighashamedofwinningthegamebyit-Ne’ertheless，foolasheis，wewillfollowhim，mostsage_spruch-sprecher_，andhaveourshareofthewineof_nierenstein。_’’
Yetthisinconsistencyissuch，Asthou，too，shaltadore；
Icouldnotlovethee，love，somuch，LovedInothonourmore。
Montrose’sLines。
WhenKingRichardreturnedtohistent，hecommandedtheNubiantobebroughtbeforehim。Heenteredwithhisusualceremonialreverence，andhavingprostratedhimself，remainedstandingbeforetheKing，intheattitudeofaslaveawaitingtheordersofhismaster。Itwasperhapswellforhim，thatthepreservationofhischaracterrequiredhiseyestobefixedontheground，sincethekeenglancewithwhichRichardforsometimesurveyedhiminsilence，would，iffullyencountered，havebeendifficulttosustain。
Thoucanstwellofwood-craft，’’saidtheKing，afterapause，andhaststartedthygameandbroughthimtobay，asablyasifTristremhimselfhadtaughtthee。Butthisisnotall-
*Auniversaltradition，ascribedtoSirTristrem，famousforhisloveof*thefairQueenYseult-thelawsconcerningthepracticeofwoodcraft，or*_venerie，_asitwascalled，beingthosethatrelatedtotherulesofthechase，*woredeemedofmuchconsequenceduringthemiddleages。
hemustbebroughtdownatforce；Imyselfwouldhavelikedtohavelevelledmyhunting-spearathim。Thereare，itseems，respectswhichpreventthis。ThouartabouttoreturntothecampoftheSoldan，bearingaletter，requiringofhiscourtesytoappointneutralgroundforthedeedofchivalry，and，shoulditconsistwithhispleasure，toconcurwithusinwitnessingit。
Now，speakingconjecturally，wethinkthoumight’stfindinthatcampsomecavalier，who，fortheloveoftruth，andhisownaugmentationofhonour，willdobattlewiththissametraitorofMontserrat。’’
TheNubianraisedhiseyesandfixedthemontheKingwithalookofeagerardour；thenraisedthemtoHeavenwithsuchsolemngratitude，thatthewatersoonglistenedinthem-thenbenthishead，asaffirmingwhatRicharddesired，andresumedhisusualpostureofsubmissiveattention。
Itiswell，’’saidtheKing；andIseethydesiretoobligemeinthismatter。Andherein，Imustneedssay，liestheexcellenceofsuchaservantasthou，whohastnotspeecheithertodebateourpurpose，ortorequireexplanationofwhatwehavedetermined。AnEnglishserving-man，inthyplace，hadgivenmehisdoggedadvicetotrustthecombatwithsomegoodlanceofmyhousehold，who，frommybrotherLong-Sworddownwards，areallonfiretodobattleinmycause；andachatteringFrenchmanhadmadeathousandattemptstodiscoverwhereforeIlookforachampionfromthecampoftheinfidels。Butthou，mysilentagent，canstdomineerrandwithoutquestioningorcomprehendingit；withthee，tohearistoobey。’’