Unbendthyarblast，andcomeintothemoonlight，’’saidtheScot，or，bySaintAndrew，Iwillpintheetotheearth，bewhatorwhomthouwilt！’’
Ashespoke，hepoisedhislonglancebythemiddle，and，fixinghiseyeupontheobjectwhichseemedtomove，hebrandishedtheweapon，asifmeditatingtocastitfromhishand-auseoftheweapon，sometimes，thoughrarely，resortedto，whenamissilewasnecessary。ButSirKennethwasashamedofhispurpose，andgroundedhisweapon，whentheresteppedfromtheshadowintothemoonlight，likeanactorenteringuponthestage，astunteddecrepitcreature，whom，byhisfantasticdressanddeformity，herecognised，evenatsomedistance，forthemaleofthetwodwarfswhomhehadseenatthechapelofEngaddi。Recollecting，atthesamemoment，theother，andfardifferent，visionsofthatextraordinarynight，hegavehisdogasignal，whichheinstantlyunderstood，and，returningtothestandard，laidhimselfdownbesideitwithastifledgrowl。
Thelittledistortedminiatureofhumanity，assuredofhissafetyfromanenemysoformidable，camepantinguptheascent，whichtheshortnessofhislegsrenderedlaborious，andwhenhearrivedontheplatformonthetop，shiftedtohislefthandthelittlecross-bow，whichwasjustsuchatoyaschildrenatthatperiodwerepermittedtoshootsmallbirdswith，and，assuminganattitudeofgreatdignity，gracefullyextendedhisrighthandtoSirKenneth，inanattitudeasifheexpectedhewouldsaluteit。Butsucharesultnotfollowing，hedemandedinasharpandangrytoneofvoice，Soldier，whereforerenderestthounottoNectabanusthehomageduetohisdignity？-Or，isitpossiblethatthoucansthaveforgottenhim？’’
GreatNectabanus，’’answeredtheknight，willingtosoothethecreature’shumour，thatweredifficultforanyonewhohaseverlookeduponthee。Pardonme，however，thatbeingasoldieruponmypost，withmylanceinmyhand，Imaynotgivetooneofthypuissancetheadvantageofcomingwithinmyguard，orofmasteringmyweapon。Sufficeit，thatIreverencethydignity，andsubmitmyselftotheeashumblyasaman-at-armsinmyplacemay。’’
Itshallsuffice，’’saidNectabanus，sothatyoupresentlyattendmetothepresenceofthosewhohavesentmehithertosummonyou。’’
Greatsir，’’repliedtheknight，neitherinthiscanIgratifythee，formyordersaretoabidebythisbannertilldaybreak-
soIprayyoutoholdmeexcusedinthatmatteralso。’’
Sosaying，heresumedhiswalkupontheplatform；butthedwarfdidnotsufferhimsoeasilytoescapefromhisimportunity。
Lookyou，’’hesaid，placinghimselfbeforeSirKenneth，soastointerrupthisway，eitherobeyme，SirKnight，asindutybound，orIwilllaythecommanduponthee，inthenameofonewhosebeautycouldcalldownthegeniifromtheirsphere，andwhosegrandeurcouldcommandtheimmortalracewhentheyhaddescended。’’
Awildandimprobableconjecturearoseintheknight’smind，butherepelledit。Itwasimpossible，hethought，thattheladyofhisloveshouldhavesenthimsuchamessagebysuchamessenger-yethisvoicetrembledashesaid，Goto，Nectabanus。
Tellmeatonce，andasatrueman，whetherthissublimeladyofwhomthouspeakest，beotherthanthehouri，withwhoseassistanceIbeheldtheesweepingthechapelatEngaddi？’’
How！presumptuousknight，’’repliedthedwarf；think’stthouthemistressofourownroyalaffections，thesharerofourgreatness，andthepartnerofourcomeliness，woulddemeanherselfbylayingchargeonsuchavassalasthou？No，highlyasthouarthonoured，thouhastnotyetdeservedthenoticeofQueenGuenevra，thelovelybrideofArthur，fromwhosehighseatevenprincesseembutpigmies。Butlookthouhere，andasthouknowestordisownestthistoken，soobeyorrefusehercommands，whohathdeignedtoimposethemonthee。’’
Sosaying，heplacedintheknight’shandsarubyring，which，eveninthemoonlight，hehadnodifficultytorecogniseasthatwhichusuallygracedthefingerofthehigh-bornladytowhoseservicehehaddevotedhimself。Couldhehavedoubtedthetruthofthetoken，hewouldhavebeenconvincedbythesmallknotofcarnation-colouredribbon，whichwasfastenedtothering。Thiswashislady’sfavouritecolour，andmorethanoncehadhehimself，assumingitforthatofhisownliveries，causedthecarnationtotriumphoverallotherhuesinthelistsandinthebattle。
SirKennethwasstrucknearlymute，byseeingsuchatokeninsuchhands。
Inthenameofallthatissacred，fromwhomdidstthoureceivethiswitness？’’saidtheknight；bring，ifthoucanst，thywaveringunderstandingtoarightsettlementforaminuteortwo，andtellmethepersonbywhomthouartsent，andtherealpurposeofthymessage-andtakeheedwhatthousay’st，forthisisnosubjectforbuffoonery。’’
Fondandfoolishknight，’’saidthedwarf，wouldstthouknowmoreofthismatter，thanthatthouarthonouredwithcommandsfromaprincess，deliveredtotheebyaking？-Welistnottoparleywiththeefartherthantocommandthee，inthename，andbythepowerofthatring，tofollowustoherwhoistheownerofthering。Everyminutethatthoutarriestisacrimeagainstthyallegiance。’’
GoodNectabanus-bethinkthyself，’’saidtheknight，-
CanmyladyknowwhereanduponwhatdutyIamthisnightengaged？-Issheawarethatmylife-Pshaw，whyshouldIspeakoflife-butthatmyhonourdependsonmyguardingthisbannertilldaybreak-andcanitbeherwishthatIshouldleaveiteventopayhomagetoher？-Itisimpossible-theprincessispleasedtobemerrywithherservant，insendinghimsuchamessage；andImustthinksotheratherthatshehathchosensuchamessenger。’’
Oh，keepyourbelief，’’saidNectabanus，turningroundasiftoleavetheplatform；itislittletomewhetheryoubetraitorortruemantothisroyallady-sofare-thee-well。’’
Stay，stay-Ientreatyoustay，’’saidSirKenneth；answermebutonequestion-Istheladywhosenttheeneartothisplace？’’
Whatsignifiesit？’’saidthedwarf；oughtfidelitytoreckonfurlongs，ormiles，orleagues-likethepoorcourier，whoispaidforhislabourbythedistancewhichhetraverses？Nevertheless，thousoulofsuspicion，Itellthee，thefairownerofthering，nowsenttosounworthyavassal，inwhomthereisneithertruthnorcourage，isnotmoredistantfromthisplace，thanthisarblastcansendabolt。’’
Theknightgazedagainonthering，asiftoascertainthattherewasnopossiblefalsehoodinthetoken-Tellme，’’hesaidtothedwarf，ismypresencerequiredforanylengthoftime？’’
Time！’’answeredNectabanus，inhisflightymanner；
whatcallyoutime？Iseeitnot-Ifeelitnot-itisbutashadowyname-asuccessionofbreathingsmeasuredforthbynightbytheclankofabell，bydaybyashadowcrossingalongadial-stone。Know’stthounotatrueknight’stimeshouldonlybereckonedbythedeedsthatheperformsinbehalfofGodandhislady？’’
Thewordsoftruth，thoughinthemouthoffolly，’’saidtheknight。Anddothmyladyreallysummonmetosomedeedofaction，inhernameandforhersake？-andmayitnotbepostponedforeventhefewhourstilldaybreak？’’
Sherequiresthypresenceinstantly，’’saidthedwarf，andwithoutthelossofsomuchtimeaswouldbetoldbytengrainsofthesand-glass-Hearken，thoucold-bloodedandsuspiciousknight，theseareherverywords-`Tellhim，thatthehandwhichdroppedrosescanbestowlaurels。’’’
ThisallusiontotheirmeetinginthechapelofEngaddisentathousandrecollectionsthroughSirKenneth’sbrain，andconvincedhimthatthemessagedeliveredbythedwarfwasgenuine。
Therose-buds，witheredastheywere，werestilltreasuredunderhiscuirass，andnearesttohisheart。Hepaused，andcouldnotresolvetoforegoanopportunity-theonlyonewhichmighteveroffer，togaingraceinhereyes，whomhehadinstalledassovereignofhisaffections。Thedwarf，inthemeantime，augmentedhisconfusionbyinsistingeitherthathemustreturnthering，orinstantlyattendhim。
Hold，hold，yetamomenthold，’’saidtheknight，andproceededtomuttertohimself-AmIeitherthesubjectorslaveofKingRichard，morethanasafreeknightsworntotheserviceoftheCrusade？AndwhomhaveIcomehithertohonourwithlanceandsword？Ourholycauseandmytranscendentlady！’’
Thering，thering！’’exclaimedthedwarf，impatiently；
falseandslothfulknight，returnthering，whichthouartunworthytotouchortolookupon。’’
Amoment，amoment，goodNectabanus，’’saidSirKenneth；
disturbnotmythoughts-WhatiftheSaracenswerejustnowtoattackourlines？ShouldIstayherelikeaswornvassalofEngland，watchingthatherking’spridesufferednohumiliation；orshouldIspeedtothebreach，andfightfortheCross？-Tothebreach，assuredly；andnexttothecauseofGod，comethecommandsofmyliegelady-Andyet，CurdeLion’sbehest-myownpromise！-Nectabanus，Iconjuretheeoncemoretosay，areyoutoconductmefarfromhence？’’
Buttoyonderpavilion；andsinceyoumustneedsknow，’’
repliedNectabanus，themoonisglimmeringonthegildedballwhichcrownsitsroof，andwhichisworthaking’sransom。’’
Icanreturninaninstant，’’saidtheknight，shuttinghiseyesdesperatelytoallfartherconsequences。Icanhearfromthencethebayofmydog，ifanyoneapproachesthestandard-
Iwillthrowmyselfatmylady’sfeet，andprayherleavetoreturntoconcludemywatch-Here，Roswal’’(callinghishound，andthrowingdownhismantlebythesideofthestandard-spear)，watchthouhere，andletnooneapproach。’’
Themajesticdoglookedinhismaster’sface，asiftobesurethatheunderstoodhischarge，thensatdownbesidethemantle，withearserectandheadraised，likeasentinel，understandingperfectlythepurposeforwhichhewasstationedthere。
Comenow，goodNectabanus，’’saidtheknight，letushastentoobeythecommandsthouhastbrought。’’
Hastehethatwill，’’saidthedwarf，sullenly；thouhastnotbeeninhastetoobeymysummons，norcanIwalkfastenoughtofollowyourlongstrides-youdonotwalklikeaman，butboundlikeanostrichinthedesert。’’
TherewerebuttwowaysofconqueringtheobstinacyofNectabanus，who，ashespoke，diminishedhiswalkintoasnailpace。ForbribesSirKennethhadnomeans-forsoothingnotime；soinhisimpatiencehesnatchedthedwarfupfromtheground，andbearinghimalong，notwithstandinghisentreatiesandhisfear，reachednearlytothepavilionpointedoutasthatoftheQueen。Inapproachingit，however，theScotobservedtherewasasmallguardofsoldierssittingontheground，whohadbeenconcealedfromhimbytheinterveningtents。Wonderingthattheclashofhisownarmourhadnotyetattractedtheirattention，andsupposingthathismotionsmight，onthepresentoccasion，requiretobeconductedwithsecrecy，heplacedthelittlepantingguideuponthegroundtorecoverhisbreath，andpointoutwhatwasnexttobedone。Nectabanuswasbothfrightenedandangry；buthehadfelthimselfascompletelyinthepoweroftherobustknight，asanowlintheclawsofaneagle，andthereforecarednottoprovokehimtoanyfartherdisplayofhisstrength。
Hemadenocomplaints，therefore，oftheusagehehadreceived，butturningamongstthelabyrinthoftents，heledtheknightinsilencetotheoppositesideofthepavilion，whichthusscreenedthemfromtheobservationofthewarders，whoseemedeithertoonegligentortoosleepytodischargetheirdutywithmuchaccuracy。Arrivedthere，thedwarfraisedtheunderpartofthecanvasfromtheground，andmadesignstoSirKenneththatheshouldintroducehimselftotheinsideofthetent，bycreepingunderit。Theknighthesitated-thereseemedanindecoruminthusprivatelyintroducinghimselfintoapavilion，pitched，doubtless，fortheaccommodationofnobleladies，butherecalledtoremembrancetheassuredtokenswhichthedwarfhadexhibited，andconcludedthatitwasnotforhimtodisputehislady’spleasure。
Hestoopedaccordingly，creptbeneaththecanvasenclosureofthetent，andheardthedwarfwhisperfromwithout，-RemainthereuntilIcallthee。’’
