RichardwasthuscalledbytheEasternnations。
shouldthusspeakofhisservant-Butnow，letmeprayyouagaintocomposeyourselfonyourcouch；forthoughIthinkthereneedsnofartherrepetitionofthedivinedraught，yetinjurymightensuefromanytooearlyexertion，ereyourstrengthbeentirelyrestored。’’
Imustobeythee，Hakim，’’saidtheKing；yet，believeme，mybosomfeelssofreefromthewastingfire，whichforsomanydayshathscorchedit，thatIcarenothowsoonIexposeittoabraveman’slance-Buthark！whatmeantheseshouts，andthatdistantmusic，inthecamp？Go，ThomasdeVaux，andmakeinquiry。’’
ItistheArchdukeLeopold，’’saidDeVaux，returningafteraminute’sabsence，whomakeswithhispotcompanionssomeprocessionthroughthecamp。’’
Thedrunkenfool！’’exclaimedKingRichard，canhenotkeephisbrutalinebrietywithintheveilofhispavilion，thathemustneedsshowhisshametoallChristendom？-Whatsayyou，SirMarquis？’’headded，addressinghimselftoConradeofMontserrat，whoatthatmomententeredthetent。
Thusmuch，honouredPrince，’’answeredtheMarquis，thatIdelighttoseeyourMajestysowell，andsofarrecovered；andthatisalongspeechforanyonetomakewhohaspartakenoftheDukeofAustria’shospitality’’
What！youhavebeendiningwiththeTeutonicwineskin，’’
saidthemonarch；andwhatfrolichashefoundouttocauseallthisdisturbance？Truly，SirConrade，Ihavestillheldyousogoodareveller，thatIwonderatyourquittingthegame。’’
DeVaux，whohadgotalittlebehindtheKing，nowexertedhimself，bylookandsign，tomaketheMarquisunderstandthatheshouldsaynothingtoRichardofwhatwaspassingwithout。
ButConradeunderstoodnot，orheedednot，theprohibition。
WhattheArchdukedoes，’’hesaid，isoflittleconsequencetoanyone，leastofalltohimself，sinceheprobablyknowsnotwhatheisacting-yet，tosaytruth，itisagambolIshouldnotliketosharein，sinceheispullingdownthebannerofEnglandfromSaintGeorge’sMountinthecentreofthecampyonder，anddisplayinghisowninitsstead。’’
=What=say’stthou？’’saidtheKing，inatonewhichmighthavewakedthedead。
Nay，’’saidtheMarquis，letitnotchafeyourHighness，thatafoolshouldactaccordingtohisfolly’’-
Speaknottome，’’saidRichard，springingfromhiscouch，andcastingonhisclotheswithadespatchwhichseemedmarvellous-
speaknottome，LordMarquis！-DeMulton，I
commandtheespeaknotawordtome-hethatbreathesbutasyllableisnofriendtoRichardPlantagenet-Hakim，besilent，Ichargethee！’’
AllthiswhiletheKingwashastilyclothinghimself，and，withthelastword，snatchedhisswordfromthepillarofthetent，andwithoutanyotherweapon，orcallinganyattendance，herushedoutofthetent。Conrade，holdinguphishands，asifinastonishment，seemedwillingtoenterintoconversationwithDeVaux，butSirThomaspushedrudelypasthim，andcallingtooneoftheroyalequerries，saidhastily，-FlytoLordSalisbury’squarters，andlethimgethismentogether，andfollowmeinstantlytoSaintGeorge’sMount。TellhimtheKing’sfeverhaslefthisblood，andsettledinhisbrain。’’
Imperfectlyheard，andstillmoreimperfectlycomprehended，bythestartledattendantwhomDeVauxaddressedthushastily，theequerryandhisfellow-servantsoftheroyalchamberrushedhastilyintothetentsoftheneighbouringnobility，andquicklyspreadanalarm，asgeneralasthecauseseemedvague，throughthewholeBritishforces。TheEnglishsoldiers，wakedinalarmfromthatnoon-dayrestwhichtheheatoftheclimatehadtaughtthemtoenjoyasaluxury，hastilyaskedeachotherthecauseofthetumult，and，withoutwaitingananswer，supplied，bytheforceoftheirownfancy，thewantofinformation。SomesaidtheSaracenswereinthecamp，somethattheKing’slifewasattempted，somethathehaddiedofthefevertheprecedingnight，manythathewasassassinatedbytheDukeofAustria。
Thenoblesandofficers，atanequallosswiththecommonmentoascertaintherealcauseofthedisorder，labouredonlytogettheirfollowersunderarmsandunderauthority，lesttheirrashnessshouldoccasionsomegreatmisfortunetotheCrusadingarmy。TheEnglishtrumpetssoundedloud，shrill，andcontinuously。
Thealarm-cryofBowsandbills-bowsandbills！’’
washeardfromquartertoquarter，againandagainshouted，andagainandagainansweredbythepresenceofthereadywarriors，andtheirnationalinvocation，SaintGeorgeforMerryEngland！’’
Thealarmwentthroughthenearestquarterofthecamp，andmenofallthevariousnationsassembled，where，perhaps，everypeopleinChristendomhadtheirrepresentatives，flewtoarms，anddrewtogetherundercircumstancesofgeneralconfusion，ofwhichtheyknewneitherthecausenortheobject。
Itwas，however，lucky，amidascenesothreatening，thattheEarlofSalisbury，whilehehurriedafterDeVaux’ssummons，withafewonlyofthereadiestEnglishmen-at-arms，directedtherestoftheEnglishhosttobedrawnupandkeptunderarms，toadvancetoRichard’ssuccourifnecessityshouldrequire，butinfitarray，andunderduecommand，andnotwiththetumultuaryhastewhichtheirownalarm，andzealfortheKing’ssafety，mighthavedictated。
Inthemeanwhile，withoutregardingforoneinstanttheshouts，thecries，thetumult，whichbegantothickenaroundhim，Richard，withhisdressinthelastdisorder，andhissheathedbladeunderhisarm，pursuedhiswaywiththeutmostspeed，followedonlybyDeVaux，andoneortwohouseholdservants，toSaintGeorge’sMount。
Heoutspedeventhealarmwhichhisimpetuosityonlyhadexcited，andpassedthequarterofhisowngallanttroopsofNormandy，Poitou，Gascony，andAnjou，beforethedisturbancehadreachedthem，althoughthenoiseaccompanyingtheGermanrevelhadinducedmanyofthesoldierytogetonfoottolisten。
ThehandfulofScotswerealsoquarteredinthevicinity，norhadtheybeendisturbedbytheuproar。ButtheKing’sperson，andhishaste，werebothremarkedbytheKnightoftheLeopard，who，awarethatdangermustbeafoot，andhasteningtoshareinit，snatchedhisshieldandsword，andunitedhimselftoDeVaux，who，withsomedifficulty，keptwithhisimpatientandfierymaster。DeVauxansweredalookofcuriosity，whichtheScottishknightdirectedtowardshim，withashrugofhisbroadshoulders，andtheycontinued，sidebyside，topursueRichard’ssteps。
TheKingwassoonatthefootofSaintGeorge’sMount，thesidesaswellasplatformofwhichwerenowsurroundedandcrowded，partlybythosebelongingtotheDukeofAustria’sretinue，whowerecelebrating，withshoutsofjubilee，theactwhichtheyconsideredasanassertionofnationalhonour；partlybybystandersofdifferentnations，whomdisliketotheEnglish，ormerecuriosity，hadassembledtogether，towitnesstheendoftheseextraordinaryproceedings。ThroughthisdisorderlytroopRichardbursthisway，likeagoodlyshipunderfullsail，whichcleavesherforciblepassagethroughtherollingbillows，andheedsnotthattheyuniteafterherpassage，androaruponherstem。
Thesummitoftheeminencewasasmalllevelspace，onwhichwerepitchedtherivalbanners，surroundedstillbytheArchduke’sfriendsandretinue。InthemidstofthecirclewasLeopoldhimself，stillcontemplatingwithself-satisfactionthedeedhehaddone，andstilllisteningtotheshoutsofapplausewhichhispartisansbestowedwithnosparingbreath。Whilehewasinthisstateofself-gratulation，Richardburstintothecircle，attended，indeed，onlybytwomen，butinhisownhead-longenergiesanirresistiblehost。
Whohasdared，’’hesaid，layinghishandsupontheAustrianstandard，andspeakinginavoicelikethesoundwhichprecedesanearthquake；whohasdaredtoplacethispaltryragbesidethebannerofEngland？’’
TheArchdukewantednotpersonalcourage，anditwasimpossiblehecouldhearthisquestionwithoutreply。Yet，somuchwashetroubledandsurprisedbytheunexpectedarrivalofRichard，andaffectedbythegeneralaweinspiredbyhisardentandunyieldingcharacter，thatthedemandwastwicerepeated，inatonewhichseemedtochallengeheavenandearth，eretheArchdukereplied，withsuchfirmnessashecouldcommand，ItwasI，LeopoldofAustria。’’
ThenshallLeopoldofAustria，’’repliedRichard，presentlyseetherateatwhichhisbannerandhispretensionsareheldbyRichardofEngland。’’
Sosaying，hepulledupthestandard-spear，splinteredittopieces，threwthebanneritselfontheground，andplacedhisfootuponit。
Thus，’’saidhe，ItrampleonthebannerofAustria-IsthereaknightamongyourTeutonicchivalry，dareimpeachmydeed？’’
Therewasamomentarysilence；buttherearenobravermenthantheGermans。
I，’’andI，’’andI，’’washeardfromseveralknightsoftheDuke’sfollowers；andhehimselfaddedhisvoicetothosewhichacceptedtheKingofEngland’sdefiance。
Whydowedallythus？’’saidtheEarlWallenrode，agiganticwarriorfromthefrontiersofHungary:Brethren，andnoblegentlemen，thisman’sfootisonthehonourofyourcountry-Letusrescueitfromviolation，anddownwiththeprideofEngland！’’
Sosaying，hedrewhissword，andstruckattheKingablowwhichmighthaveprovedfatal，hadnottheScotinterceptedandcaughtituponhisshield。
Ihavesworn，’’saidKingRichard-andhisvoicewasheardaboveallthetumult，whichnowwaxedwildandloud-
nevertostrikeonewhoseshoulderbearsthecross；thereforelive，Wallenrode-butlivetorememberRichardofEngland。’’
Ashespoke，hegraspedthetallHungarianroundthewaist，and，unmatchedinwrestling，asinothermilitaryexercises，hurledhimbackwardswithsuchviolence，thatthemassflewasifdischargedfromamilitaryengine，notonlythroughtheringofspectatorswhowitnessedtheextraordinaryscene，butovertheedgeofthemountitself，downthesteepsideofwhichWallenroderolledheadlong，until，pitchingatlengthuponhisshoulder，hedislocatedthebone，andlaylikeonedead。ThisalmostsupernaturaldisplayofstrengthdidnotencourageeithertheDukeoranyofhisfollowerstorenewapersonalcontestsoinauspiciouslycommenced。Thosewhostoodfarthestbackdid，indeed，clashtheirswords，andcryout，Cuttheislandmastifftopieces！’’butthosewhowerenearerveiled，perhaps，theirpersonalfearsunderanaffectedregardfororder，andcried，forthemostpart，Peace！peace！thepeaceoftheCross-thepeaceofHolyChurchandourFatherthePope！’’
Thesevariouscriesoftheassailants，contradictingeachother，showedtheirirresolution；whileRichard，hisfootstillonthearchducalbanner，glaredroundhim，withaneyethatseemedtoseekanenemy，andfromwhichtheangrynoblesshrunkappalled，asfromthethreatenedgraspofalion。DeVauxandtheKnightoftheLeopardkepttheirplacesbesidehim；andthoughtheswordswhichtheyheldwerestillsheathed，itwasplainthattheywereprompttoprotectRichard’spersontotheverylast，andtheirsizeandremarkablestrengthplainlyshowedthedefencewouldbeadesperateone。
Salisburyandhisattendantswerealsonowdrawingnear，withbillsandpartisansbrandished，andbowsalreadybended。
Atthismoment，KingPhilipofFrance，attendedbyoneortwoofhisnobles，cameontheplatformtoinquirethecauseofthedisturbance，andmadegesturesofsurpriseatfindingtheKingofEnglandraisedfromhissick-bed，andconfrontingtheircommonallytheDukeofAustriainsuchamenacingandinsultingposture。RichardhimselfblushedatbeingdiscoveredbyPhilip，whosesagacityherespectedasmuchashedislikedhisperson，inanattitudeneitherbecominghischaracterasamonarch，norasaCrusader；anditwasobservedthathewithdrewhisfoot，asifaccidentally，fromthedishonouredbanner，andexchangedhislookofviolentemotionforoneofaffectedcomposureandindifference。Leopoldalsostruggledtoattainsomedegreeofcalmness，mortifiedashewasbyhavingbeenseenbyPhilipintheactofpassivelysubmittingtotheinsultsofthefieryKingofEngland。
PossessedofmanyofthoseroyalqualitiesforwhichhewastermedbyhissubjectstheAugust，PhilipmightbetermedtheUlysses，asRichardwasindisputablytheAchilles，oftheCrusade。TheKingofFrancewassagacious，wise，deliberateincouncil，steadyandcalminaction，seeingclearly，andsteadilypursuing，themeasuresmostfortheinterestofhiskingdom-
dignifiedandroyalinhisdeportment，braveinperson，butapoliticianratherthanawarrior。TheCrusadewouldhavebeennochoiceofhisown，butthespiritwascontagious，andtheexpeditionwasenforceduponhimbythechurch，andbytheunanimouswishofhisnobility。Inanyothersituation，orinamilderage，hischaractermighthavestoodhigherthanthatoftheadventurousCurdeLion。ButintheCrusade，itselfanundertakingwhollyirrational，soundreasonwasthequality，ofallothers，leastestimated，andthechivalricvalourwhichboththeageandtheenterprisedemanded，wasconsideredasdebased，ifmingledwiththeleasttouchofdiscretion。SothatthemeritofPhilip，comparedwiththatofhishaughtyrival，showedliketheclearbutminuteflameofalamp，placedneartheglareofahugeblazingtorch，which，notpossessinghalftheutility，makestentimesmoreimpressionontheeye。Philipfelthisinferiorityinpublicopinionwiththepainnaturaltoahigh-spiritedprince；anditcannotbewonderedatifhetooksuchopportunitiesasofferedforplacinghisowncharacterinmoreadvantageouscontrastwiththatofhisrival。Thepresentseemedoneofthoseoccasionsinwhichprudenceandcalmnessmightreasonablyexpecttotriumphoverobstinacyandimpetuousviolence。
