第3章

TheCrusaderfeltthattheconfidenceoftheMoslemmadehimashamedofhisowndoubts。

Bythecrossofmysword，’’hesaid，layinghishandontheweaponashespoke，Iwillbetruecompaniontothee，Saracen，whileourfortunewillsthatweremainincompanytogether。’’

ByMahommed，ProphetofGod，andbyAllah，GodoftheProphet，’’repliedhislatefoeman，thereisnottreacheryinmyhearttowardsthee。Andnowwendwetoyonderfountain，forthehourofrestisathand，andthestreamhadhardlytouchedmylipwhenIwascalledtobattlebythyapproach。’’

TheKnightoftheCouchantLeopardyieldedareadyandcourteousassent；andthelatefoes，withoutanangrylook，orgestureofdoubt，rodesidebysidetothelittleclusterofpalm-trees。

Timesofdangerhavealways，andinapeculiardegree，theirseasonsofgood-willandofsecurity；andthiswasparticularlysointheancientfeudalages，inwhich，asthemannersoftheperiodhadassignedwartobethechiefandmostworthyoccupationofmankind，theintervalsofpeace，orratheroftruce，werehighlyrelishedbythosewarriorstowhomtheywereseldomgranted，andendearedbytheverycircumstanceswhichrenderedthemtransitory。Itisnotworthwhilepreservinganypermanentenmityagainstafoe，whomachampionhasfoughtwithto-day，andmayagainstandinbloodyoppositiontoonthenextmorning。

Thetimeandsituationaffordedsomuchroomfortheebullitionofviolentpassions，thatmen，unlesswhenpeculiarlyopposedtoeachother，orprovokedbytherecollectionofprivateandindividualwrongs，cheerfullyenjoyedineachother’ssocietythebriefintervalsofpacificintercoursewhichawarlikelifeadmitted。

Thedistinctionofreligions，nay，thefanaticalzealwhichanimatedthefollowersoftheCrossandoftheCrescentagainsteachother，wasmuchsoftenedbyafeelingsonaturaltogenerouscombatants，andespeciallycherishedbythespiritofchivalry。

ThislaststrongimpulsehadextendeditselfgraduallyfromtheChristianstotheirmortalenemies，theSaracens，bothofSpainandofPalestine。Thelatterwereindeednolongerthefanaticalsavages，whohadburstfromthecentreofArabiandeserts，withthesabreinonehand，andtheKoranintheother，toinflictdeathorthefaithofMahommed，oratthebest，slaveryandtribute，uponallwhodaredtoopposethebeliefoftheprophetofMecca。ThesealternativesindeedhadbeenofferedtotheunwarlikeGreeksandSyrians；butincontendingwiththewesternChristians，animatedbyazealasfieryastheirown，andpossessedofasunconquerablecourage，address，andsuccessinarms，theSaracensgraduallycaughtapartoftheirmanners，andespeciallyofthosechivalrousobservances，whichweresowellcalculatedtocharmthemindsofaproudandconqueringpeople。

Theyhadtheirtournamentsandgamesofchivalry；theyhadeventheirknights，orsomerankanalogous；andaboveall，theSaracensobservedtheirplightedfaithwithanaccuracywhichmightsometimesputtoshamethosewhoownedabetterreligion。

Theirtruces，whethernationalorbetwixtindividuals，werefaithfullyobserved；andthusitwas，thatwar，initselfperhapsthegreatestofevils，yetgaveoccasionfordisplayofgoodfaith，generosity，clemency，andevenkindlyaffections，whichlessfrequentlyoccurinmoretranquilperiods，wherethepassionsofmen，experiencingwrongs，orentertainingquarrelswhichcannotbebroughttoinstantdecision，areapttosmoulderforalengthoftimeinthebosomsofthosewhoaresounhappyastobetheirprey。

Itwasundertheinfluenceofthesemilderfeelings，whichsoftenthehorrorsofwarfare，thattheChristianandSaracen，whohadsolatelydonetheirbestforeachother’smutualdestruction，rodeataslowpacetowardsthefountainofpalm-trees，towhichtheKnightoftheCouchantLeopardhadbeentending，wheninterruptedinmid-passagebyhisfleetanddangerousadversary。

Eachwaswraptforsometimeinhisownreflections，andtookbreathafteranencounterwhichhadthreatenedtobefataltooneorboth；andtheirgoodhorsesseemednolesstoenjoytheintervalofrepose。ThatoftheSaracen，however，thoughhehadbeenforcedintomuchthemoreviolentandextendedsphereofmotion，appearedtohavesufferedlessfromfatiguethanthechargeroftheEuropeanknight。ThesweathungstillclammyonthelimbsofthelastwhenthoseofthenobleArabwerecompletelydriedbytheintervaloftranquilexercise，allsavingthefoam-flakeswhichwerestillvisibleonhisbridleandhousings。TheloosesoilonwhichhetrodsomuchaugmentedthedistressoftheChristian’shorse，heavilyloadedbyhisownarmourandtheweightofhisrider，thatthelatterjumpedfromhissaddle，andledhischargeralongthedeepdustoftheloamysoil，whichwasburntinthesunintoasubstancemoreimpalpablethanthefinestsand，andthusgavethefaithfulhorserefreshmentattheexpenseofhisownadditionaltoil；for，iron-sheathedashewas，hesunkoverthemailedshoesateverystepwhichheplacedonasurfacesolightandunresisting。

Youareright，’’saidtheSaracen；anditwasthefirstwordthateitherhadspokensincetheirtrucewasconcluded，-yourstronghorsedeservesyourcare；butwhatdoyouinthedesertwithananimal，whichsinksoverthefetlockateverystep，asifhewouldplanteachfootdeepastherootofadate-tree？’’

Thouspeakestrightly，Saracen，’’saidtheChristianknight，notdelightedatthetonewithwhichtheinfidelcriticisedhisfavouritehorse，-rightly，accordingtothyknowledgeandobservation。

Butmygoodhorsehatherenowborneme，inmineownland，overaswidealakeasthouseestyonderspreadoutbehindus，yetnotwetonehairabovehishoot。’’

TheSaracenlookedathimwithasmuchsurpriseashismannerspermittedhimtotestify，whichwasonlyexpressedbyaslightapproachtoadisdainfulsmile，thathardlycurledperceptiblythebroadthickmustachewhichenvelopedhisupperlip。

Itisjustlyspoken，’’hesaid，instantlycomposinghimselftohisusualserenegravity，-listtoaFrank，andhearafable。’’

Thouartnotcourteous，misbeliever，’’repliedtheCrusader，todoubtthewordofadubbedknight；andwereitnotthatthouspeakestinignorance，andnotinmalice，ourtrucehaditsendingereitiswellbegun。ThinkestthouItelltheeanuntruthwhenIsay，thatI，oneoffivehundredhorsemen，armedincompletemail，haveridden-ay，andriddenformiles，uponwaterassolidasthecrystal，andtentimeslessbrittle！’’

Whatwouldstthoutellme？’’answeredtheMoslem；

yonderinlandseathoudostpointatispeculiarinthis，thatbythespecialcurseofGod，itsufferethnothingtosinkinitswaves，butwaftsthemaway，andcaststhemonitsmargin；

butneithertheDeadSea，noranyofthesevenoceanswhichenvirontheearth，willendureontheirsurfacethepressureofahorse’sfoot，morethantheRedSeaenduredtosustaintheadvanceofPharaohandhishost。’’

Youspeaktruthafteryourknowledge，Saracen，’’saidtheChristianknight；andyet，trustme，Ifablenot，accordingtomine。Heat，inthisclimate，convertsthesoilintosomethingalmostasunstableaswater；andinmylandcoldoftenconvertsthewateritselfintoasubstanceashardasrock。Letusspeakofthisnolonger；forthethoughtsofthecalm，clear，bluerefulgenceofawinter’slake，glimmeringtostarsandmoonbeam，aggravatethehorrorsofthisfierydesert，where，methinks，theveryairwhichwebreatheislikethevapourofafieryfurnaceseventimesheated。’’

TheSaracenlookedonhimwithsomeattention，asiftodiscoverinwhatsensehewastounderstandwords，which，tohim，musthaveappearedeithertocontainsomethingofmystery，orofimposition。Atlengthheseemeddeterminedinwhatmannertoreceivethelanguageofhisnewcompanion。

Youare，’’hesaid，ofanationthatlovestolaugh，andyoumakesportwithyourselves，andwithothers，bytellingwhatisimpossible，andreportingwhatneverchanced。ThouartoneoftheknightsofFrance，whoholditforgleeandpastimeto_gab，_<*>astheytermit，ofexploitsthatarebeyondhumanpower。

*_Gaber。_ThisFrenchwordsignifiedasortofsportmuchusedamong*theFrenchchivalry，whichconsistedinvyingwitheachotherinmaking*themostromanticgasconades。Theverbandthemeaningareretainedin*Scotch。

Iwerewrongtochallenge，forthetime，theprivilegeofthyspeech，sinceboastingismorenaturaltotheethantruth。’’

Iamnotoftheirland，neitheroftheirfashion，’’saidtheKnight，whichis，asthouwellsayest，to_gab_ofthatwhichtheydarenotundertake，orundertakingcannotperfect。ButinthisIhaveimitatedtheirfolly，braveSaracen，thatintalkingtotheeofwhatthoucanstnotcomprehend，Ihave，eveninspeakingmostsimpletruth，fullyincurredthecharacterofabraggartinthineeyes；so，Iprayyou，letmywordspass。’’

Theyhadnowarrivedattheknotofpalm-trees，andthefountainwhichwelledoutfrombeneaththeirshadeinsparklingprofusion。

Wehavespokenofamomentoftruceinthemidstofwar；

andthis，aspotofbeautyinthemidstofasteriledesert，wasscarcelessdeartotheimagination。Itwasascenewhich，perhaps，wouldelsewherehavedeservedlittlenotice；butasthesinglespeck，inaboundlesshorizon，whichpromisedtherefreshmentofshadeandlivingwater，theseblessings，heldcheapwheretheyarecommon，renderedthefountainanditsneighbourhoodalittleparadise。Somegenerousorcharitablehand，ereyettheevildaysofPalestinebegan，hadwalledinandarchedoverthefountain，topreserveitfrombeingabsorbedintheearth，orchokedbytheflittingcloudsofdustwithwhichtheleastbreathofwindcoveredthedesert。Thearchwasnowbroken，andpartlyruinous；butitstillsofarprojectedover，andcoveredinthefountain，thatitexcludedthesuninagreatmeasurefromitswaters，which，hardlytouchedbyastragglingbeam，whileallaroundwasblazing，layinasteadyrepose，alikedelightfultotheeyeandtheimagination。Stealingfromunderthearch，theywerefirstreceivedinamarblebasin，muchdefacedindeed，butstillcheeringtheeye，byshowingthattheplacewasancientlyconsideredasastation，thatthehandofmanhadbeenthere，andthatman’saccommodationhadbeeninsomemeasureattendedto。Thethirstyandwearytravellerwasremindedbythesesigns，thatothershadsufferedsimilardifficulties，reposedinthesamespot，and，doubtless，foundtheirwayinsafetytoamorefertilecountry。Again，thescarcevisiblecurrentwhichescapedfromthebasin，servedtonourishthefewtreeswhichsurroundedthefountain，andwhereitsunkintothegroundanddisappeared，itsrefreshingpresencewasacknowledgedbyacarpetofvelvetverdure。

Inthisdelightfulspotthetwowarriorshalted，andeach，afterhisownfashion，proceededtorelievehishorsefromsaddle，bit，andrein，andpermittedtheanimalstodrinkatthebasineretheyrefreshedthemselvesfromthefountainhead，whicharoseunderthevault。Theythensufferedthesteedstogoloose，confidentthattheirinterest，aswellastheirdomesticatedhabits，wouldpreventtheirstrayingfromthepurewaterandfreshgrass。

ChristianandSaracennextsatdowntogetherontheturf，andproducedeachthesmallallowanceofstorewhichtheycarriedfortheirownrefreshment。Yet，eretheyseverallyproceededtotheirscantymeal，theyeyedeachotherwiththatcuriositywhichthecloseanddoubtfulconflictinwhichtheyhadbeensolatelyengagedwascalculatedtoinspire。Eachwasdesiroustomeasurethestrength，andformsomeestimateofthecharacter，ofanadversarysoformidable；andeachwascompelledtoacknowledge，thathadhefallenintheconflict，ithadbeenbyanoblehand。

Thechampionsformedastrikingcontrasttoeachotherinpersonandfeatures，andmighthaveformednoinaccuraterepresentativesoftheirdifferentnations。TheFrankseemedapowerfulman，builtaftertheancientGothiccastofform，withlightbrownhair，which，ontheremovalofhishelmet，wasseentocurlthickandprofuselyoverhishead。Hisfeatureshadacquired，fromthehotclimate，ahuemuchdarkerthanthosepartsofhisneckwhichwerelessfrequentlyexposedtoview，orthanwaswarrantedbyhisfullandwell-openedblueeye，thecolourofhishair，andofthemustacheswhichthicklyshadedhisupperlip，whilehischinwascarefullydivestedofbeard，aftertheNormanfashion。HisnosewasGrecianandwellformed；hismouthalittlelargeinproportion，butfilledwithwell-set，strong，andbeautifullywhiteteeth；hisheadsmall，andsetupontheneckwithmuchgrace。Hisagecouldnotexceedthirty，butiftheeffectsoftoilandclimatewereallowedfor，mightbethreeorfouryearsunderthatperiod。Hisformwastall，powerful，andathletic，likethatofamanwhosestrengthmight，inlaterlife，becomeunwieldy，butwhichwashithertounitedwithlightnessandactivity。Hishands，whenhewithdrewthemailedgloves，werelong，fair，andwellproportioned；

thewrist-bonespeculiarlylargeandstrong；andthearmsthemselvesremarkablywell-shapedandbrawny。Amilitaryhardihood，andcarelessfranknessofexpression，characterisedhislanguageandhismotions；andhisvoicehadthetoneofonemoreaccustomedtocommandthantoobey，andwhowasinthehabitofexpressinghissentimentsaloudandboldly，wheneverhewascalledupontoannouncethem。

TheSaracenEmirformedamarkedandstrikingcontrastwiththewesternCrusader。Hisstaturewasindeedabovethemiddlesize，buthewasatleastthreeinchesshorterthantheEuropean，whosesizeapproachedthegigantic。Hisslenderlimbs，andlongsparehandsandarms，thoughwellproportionedtohisperson，andsuitedtothestyleofhiscountenance，didnotatfirstaspectpromisethedisplayofvigourandelasticitywhichtheEmirhadlatelyexhibited。Butonlookingmoreclosely，hislimbs，whereexposedtoview，seemeddivestedofallthatwasfleshyorcumbersome；sothatnothingbeingleftbutbone，brawn，andsinew，itwasaframefittedforexertionandfatigue，farbeyondthatofabulkychampion，whosestrengthandsizearecounterbalancedbyweight，andwhoisexhaustedbyhisownexertions。