第13章

saidtheKing，laughingwithabitterexpression，whilehesubmittedtothestrengthwhichhewasunabletoresist；

methinksacoifwouldbecomethyloweringfeaturesaswellasachild’sbigginwouldbeseemmine。Weshouldbeababeandnursetofrightengirlswith。’’

Wehavefrightenedmeninourtime，myliege，’’saidDeVaux；and，Itrust，maylivetofrightenthemagain。Whatisafever-fit，thatweshouldnotendureitpatiently，inordertogetridofiteasily？’’

Fever-fit！’’exclaimedRichard，impetuously；thoumayestthink，andjustly，thatitisafever-fitwithme；butwhatisitwithalltheotherChristianprinces-withPhilipofFrance-

withthatdullAustrian-withhimofMontserrat-withtheHospitallers-withtheTemplars-whatisitwithallthem？-

Iwilltellthee-itisacoldpalsy-adeadlethargy-adiseasethatdeprivesthemofspeechandaction-acankerthathaseatenintotheheartofallthatisnoble，andchivalrous，andvirtuousamongthem-thathasmadethemfalsetothenoblestvoweverknightswereswornto-hasmadethemindifferenttotheirfame，andforgetfuloftheirGod！’’

FortheloveofHeaven，myliege，’’saidDeVaux，takeitlessviolently-youwillbeheardwithoutdoors，wheresuchspeechesarebuttoocurrentalreadyamongthecommonsoldiery，andengenderdiscordandcontentionintheChristianhost。Bethinkyouthatyourillnessmarsthemainspringoftheirenterprise:amangonelwillworkwithoutscrewandleverbetterthantheChristianhostwithoutKingRichard。’’

Thouflatterestme，DeVaux，’’saidRichard；and，notinsensibletothepowerofpraise，hereclinedhisheadonthepillow，withamoredeliberateattempttoreposethanhehadyetexhibited。

ButThomasdeVauxwasnocourtier；thephrasewhichhadofferedhadrisenspontaneouslytohislips；andheknewnothowtopursuethepleasingtheme，soastosootheandprolongtheveinwhichhehadexcited。Hewassilent，therefore，until，relapsingintohismoodycontemplations，theKingdemandedofhimsharply，Despardieux！Thisissmoothlysaidtosootheasickman；butdoesaleagueofmonarchs，anassemblageofnobles，aconvocationofallthechivalryofEurope，droopwiththesicknessofoneman，thoughhechancestobeKingofEngland？WhyshouldRichard’sillness，orRichard’sdeath，checkthemarchofthirtythousandmen，asbraveashimself？Whenthemasterstagisstruckdown，theherddonotdisperseuponhisfall-whenthefalconstrikestheleadingcrane，anothertakestheguidanceofthephalanx-Whydonotthepowersassembleandchoosesomeone，towhomtheymayintrusttheguidanceofthehost？’’

Forsooth，andifitpleaseyourMajesty，’’saidDeVaux，I

hearconsultationshavebeenheldamongtheroyalleadersforsomesuchpurpose。’’

Ha！’’exclaimedRichard，hisjealousyawakened，givinghismentalirritationanotherdirection-AmIforgotbymyalliesereIhavetakenthelastsacrament？-dotheyholdmedeadalready？-Butno，no-theyareright-andwhomdotheyselectasleaderoftheChristianhost？’’

Rankanddignity，’’saidDeVaux，pointtotheKingofFrance。’’

Oh，ay，’’answeredtheEnglishmonarch，PhilipofFranceandNavarre-DennisMountjoie-hisMostChristianMajesty！

mouth-fillingwordsthese！Thereisbutonerisk-thathemightmistakethewords_Enarrire_for_Enavant，_andleadusbacktoParis，insteadofmarchingtoJerusalem。Hispoliticheadhaslearnedbythistime，thatthereismoretobegottenbyoppressinghisfeudatories，andpillaginghisallies，thanfightingwiththeTurksfortheHolySepulchre。’’

TheymightchoosetheArchdukeofAustria，’’saidDeVaux。

What！becauseheisbigandburlylikethyself，Thomas-

nearlyasthick-headed，butwithoutthyindifferencetodanger，andcarelessnessofoffence？ItelltheethatAustriahasinallthatmassoffleshnobolderanimation，thanisaffordedbythepeevishnessofawasp，andthecourageofawren。Outuponhim！-_he_aleaderofchivalrytodeedsofglory！-GivehimaflagonofRhenishtodrinkwithhisbesmirchedbaaren-hautersandlanceknechts。’’

ThereistheGrandMasteroftheTemplars，’’continuedthebaron，notsorrytokeephismaster’sattentionengagedonothertopicsthanhisownillness，thoughattheexpenseofthecharactersofprinceandpotentate-ThereisthegrandMasteroftheTemplars，’’hecontinued，undaunted，skilful，braveinbattle，andsageincouncil，havingnoseparatekingdomsofhisowntodiverthisexertionsfromtherecoveryoftheHolyLand-whatthinksyourMajestyoftheMasterasageneralleaderoftheChristianhost？’’

Ha，Beau-Seant！’’answeredtheKing。Oh，noexceptioncanbetakentoBrotherGilesAmaury-heunderstandstheorderingofabattle，andthefightinginfrontwhenitbegins。

But，SirThomas，wereitfairtotaketheHolyLandfromtheheathenSaladin，sofullofallthevirtueswhichmaydistinguishunchristenedman，andgiveittoGilesAmaury，aworsePaganthanhimself-anidolater-adevil-worshipper-anecromancer-whopractisescrimesthemostdarkandunnatural，inthevaultsandsecretplacesofabominationanddarkness？’’

TheGrandMasteroftheHospitallersofSt。JohnofJerusalemisnottaintedbyfame，eitherwithheresyormagic，’’saidThomasdeVaux。

Butishenotasordidmiser？’’saidRichard，hastily；hashenotbeensuspected-ay，morethansuspected-ofsellingtotheinfidelsthoseadvantageswhichtheywouldneverhavewonbyfairforce？Tush，man，bettergivethearmytobemademerchandiseofbyVenetianskippersandLombardypedlars，thantrustittotheGrandMasterofSt。John。’’

Well，then，Iwillventurebutanotherguess，’’saidtheBarondeVaux-WhatsayyoutothegallantMarquisofMontserrat，sowise，soelegant，suchagoodman-at-arms？’’

Wise？cunning，youwouldsay，’’repliedRichard；elegantinalady’schamber，ifyouwill。Oh，ay，ConradeofMontserrat，-whoknowsnotthepopinjay？Politicandversatile，hewillchangeyouhispurposesasoftenasthetrimmingsofhisdoublet，andyoushallneverbeabletoguessthehueofhisinmostvestmentsfromtheiroutwardcolours。Aman-at-arms？

ay，afinefigureonhorseback，andcanbearhimwellinthetilt-yard，andatthebarriers，whenswordsarebluntedatpointandedge，andspearsaretippedwithtrenchersofwood，insteadofsteel-pikes。Wertthounotwithme，whenI

saidtothatsamegayMarquis，`Herewebe，threegoodChristians，andonyonderplaintherepricksabandofsomethreescoreSaracens；whatsayyoutochargethembriskly？Therearebuttwentyunbelievingmiscreantstoeachtrueknight。’

IrecollecttheMarquisreplied，’’saidDeVaux，thathislimbswereofflesh，notofiron，andthathewouldratherbeartheheartofamanthanofabeast，thoughthatbeastwerethelion。ButIseehowitis-weshallendwherewebegan，withouthopeofprayingattheSepulchre，untilHeavenshallrestoreKingRichardtohealth。’’

Atthisgraveremark，Richardburstoutintoaheartyfitoflaughter，thefirstwhichhehadforsometimeindulgedin。

Why，whatathingisconscience，’’hesaid，thatthroughitsmeansevensuchathick-wittednorthernlordasthoucanstbringthysovereigntoconfesshisfolly！Itistrue，that，didtheynotproposethemselvesasfittoholdmyleading-staff，littleshouldIcareforpluckingthesilkentrappingsoffthepuppetsthouhastshownmeinsuccession-Whatconcernsitmewhatfinetinselrobestheyswaggerin，unlesswhentheyarenamedasrivalsinthegloriousenterprisetowhichIhavevowedmyself？Yes，DeVaux，Iconfessmyweakness，andthewilfulnessofmyambition。TheChristiancampcontains，doubtless，manyabetterknightthanRichardofEngland，anditwouldbewiseandworthytoassigntothebestofthemtheleadingofthehost-but，’’continuedthewarlikemonarch，raisinghimselfinhisbed，andshakingthecoverfromhishead，whilehiseyessparkledastheywerewonttodoontheeveofbattle，weresuchaknighttoplantthebanneroftheCrossontheTempleofJerusalem，whileIwasunabletobearmyshareinthenobletask，heshould，sosoonasIwasfittolaylanceinrest，undergomychallengetomortalcombat，forhavingdiminishedmyfame，andpressedinbeforetotheobjectofmyenterprise-Buthark，whattrumpetsarethoseatadistance？’’

ThoseofKingPhilip，asIguess，myliege，’’saidthestoutEnglishman。

Thouartdullofear，Thomas，’’saidtheKing，endeavouringtostartup-hearestthounotthatclashandclang？ByHeaven，theTurksareinthecamp-Iheartheirlelies。’’<*>

*Thewar-criesoftheMoslemah。

Heagainendeavouredtogetoutofbed，andDeVauxwasobligedtoexercisehisowngreatstrength，andalsotosummontheassistanceofthechamberlainsfromtheinnertent，torestrainhim。

Thouartafalsetraitor，DeVaux，’’saidtheincensedmonarch，when，breathlessandexhaustedwithstrugglinghewascompelledtosubmittosuperiorstrength，andtoreposeinquietonhiscouch。IwouldIwere-IwouldIwerebutstrongenoughtodashthybrainsoutwithmybattle-axe！’’

Iwouldyouhadthestrength，myliege，’’saidDeVaux，andwouldeventaketheriskofitsbeingsoemployed。TheoddswouldbegreatinfavourofChristendom，wereThomasMultondead，andCurdeLionhimselfagain。’’

Minehonestfaithfulservant，’’saidRichard，extendinghishand，whichthebaronreverentiallysaluted，forgivethymaster’simpatienceofmood。Itisthisburningfeverwhichchidesthee，andnotthykindmaster，RichardofEngland。

Butgo，Iprithee，andbringmewordwhatstrangersareinthecamp，forthesesoundsarenotofChristendom。’’

DeVauxleftthepavilionontheerrandassigned，and，inhisabsence，whichhehadresolvedshouldbebrief，hechargedthechamberlains，pages，andattendants，toredoubletheirattentionontheirsovereign，withthreatsofholdingthemtoresponsibility，whichratheraddedtothandiminishedtheirtimidanxietyinthedischargeoftheirduty；fornextperhapstotheireofthemonarchhimself，theydreadedthatofthesternandinexorableLordof

ThereneverwasatimeontheMarchpartsyet，WhenScottishwithEnglishmet，ButitwasmarveliftheredbloodrannotAstheraindoesinthestreet。

BattleofOtterbourn。

AconsiderablebandofScottishwarriorshadjoinedtheCrusaders，andhadnaturallyplacedthemselvesunderthecommandoftheEnglishmonarch，being，likehisnativetroops，mostofthemofSaxonandNormandescent，speakingthesamelanguages，possessed，someofthem，ofEnglishaswellasScottishdemesnes，andallied，insomecases，bybloodandintermarriage。

TheperiodalsoprecededthatwhenthegraspingambitionofEdwardI。gaveadeadlyandenvenomedcharactertothewarsbetwixtthetwonations；theEnglishfightingforthesubjugationofScotland，andtheScotch，withallthesterndeterminationandobstinacywhichhasevercharacterisedtheirnation，forthedefenceoftheirindependence，bythemostviolentmeans，underthemostdisadvantageouscircumstances，andatthemostextremehazard。Asyet，warsbetwixtthetwonations，thoughfierceandfrequent，hadbeenconductedonprinciplesoffairhostility，andadmittedofthosesofteningshadesbywhichcourtesy，andtherespectforopenandgenerousfoemen，qualifyandmitigatethehorrorsofwar。Intimeofpeace，therefore，andespeciallywhenboth，asatpresent，wereengagedinwar，wagedinbehalfofacommoncause，andrendereddeartothembytheirideasofreligion，theadventurersofbothcountriesfrequentlyfoughtsidebyside，theirnationalemulationservingonlytostimulatethemtoexceleachotherintheireffortsagainstthecommonenemy。

ThefrankandmartialcharacterofRichard，whomadenodistinctionbetwixthisownsubjectsandthoseofWilliamofScotland，exceptingastheyborethemselvesinthefieldofbattle，tendedmuchtoconciliatethetroopsofbothnations。

Butuponhisillness，andthedisadvantageouscircumstancesinwhichtheCrusaderswereplaced，thenationaldisunionbetweenthevariousbandsunitedintheCrusadebegantodisplayitself，justasoldwoundsbreakoutafreshinthehumanbody，whenundertheinfluenceofdiseaseordebility。

TheScotchandEnglish，equallyjealousandhigh-spirited，andapttotakeoffence，-theformerthemoreso，becausethepoorerandtheweakernation，-begantofillup，byinternaldissension，theperiodwhenthetruceforbadethemtowreaktheirunitedvengeanceontheSaracens。LikethecontendingRomanchiefsofold，theScotchwouldadmitnosuperiority，andtheirsouthernneighbourswouldbrooknoequality。Therewerechargesandrecriminations，andboththecommonsoldiery，andtheirleadersandcommanders，whohadbeengoodcomradesintimeofvictory，loweredoneachotherintheperiodofadversity，asiftheirunionhadnotbeenthenmoreessentialthanever，notonlytothesuccessoftheircommoncause，buttotheirjointsafety。ThesamedisunionhadbeguntoshowitselfbetwixttheFrenchandEnglish，theItaliansandtheGermans，andevenbetweentheDanesandSwedes；butitisonlythatwhichdividedthetwonationswhomoneislandbred，andwhoseemedmoreanimatedagainsteachotherfortheveryreason，thatournarrativeisprincipallyconcernedwith。

OfalltheEnglishnobleswhohadfollowedtheirKingtoPalestine，DeVauxwasmostprejudicedagainsttheScotch；