第28章

类别:其他 作者:Scott, Walter字数:5770更新时间:18/12/26 16:46:50
Andwhatdoesthisconcernme?’’saidtheScot。 Much,’’answeredthephysician。Eventhesagefliesthetempestwhichhecannotcontrol。Usethyspeed,therefore,andflyfromthevengeanceofRichardtotheshadowofSaladin’svictoriousbanner。’’ Imightindeedhidemydishonour,’’saidSirKenneth,ironically,inacampofinfidelheathens,wheretheveryphraseisunknown。ButhadInotbetterpartakemorefullyintheirreproach?Doesnotthyadvicestretchsofarastorecommendmetotaketheturban?-MethinksIwantbutapostasytoconsummatemyinfamy。’’ Blasphemenot,Nazarene,’’saidthephysician,sternly; SaladinmakesnoconvertstothelawoftheProphet,savethoseonwhomitspreceptsshallworkconviction。Openthineeyestothelight,andthegreatSoldan,whoseliberalityisasboundlessashispower,maybestowontheeakingdom;remainblindedifthouwilt,and,beingonewhosesecondlifeisdoomedtomisery,Saladinwillyet,forthisspanofpresenttime,maketheerichandhappy。Butfearnotthatthybrowsshallbeboundwiththeturban,saveatthineownfreechoice。’’ Mychoicewererather,’’saidtheknight,thatmywrithenfeaturesshouldblacken,astheyareliketodo,inthisevening’ssettingsun。’’ Yetthouartnotwise,Nazarene,’’saidElHakim,torejectthisfairoffer;forIhavepowerwithSaladin,andcanraisetheehighinhisgrace。Lookyou,myson-thisCrusade,asyoucallyourwildenterprise,islikealargedromond<*>parting*Thelargestsortofvesselsthenknownweretermed_dromonds,_or*dromedaries。 asunderinthewaves。ThouthyselfhastbornetermsoftrucefromtheKingsandPrinces,whoseforceishereassembled,tothemightySoldan,andknew’stnot,perchance,thefulltenorofthineownerrand。’’ Iknewnot,andIcarenot,’’saidtheknight,impatiently; whatavailsittomethatIhavebeenoflatetheenvoyofprinces,when,erenight,Ishallbeagibbetedanddishonouredcorpse?’’ Nay,Ispeakthatitmaynotbesowiththee,’’saidthephysician。Saladiniscourtedonallsides;thecombinedPrincesofthisleagueformedagainsthim,havemadesuchproposalsofcompositionandpeace,as,inothercircumstances,itmighthavebecomehishonourtohavegrantedtothem。 Othershavemadeprivateoffers,ontheirownseparateaccount,todisjointheirforcesfromthecampoftheKingsofFrangistan,andeventolendtheirarmstothedefenceofthestandardoftheProphet。ButSaladinwillnotbeservedbysuchtreacherousandinteresteddefection。TheKingofkingswilltreatonlywiththeLionKing。SaladinwillholdtreatywithnonebuttheMelechRic,andwithhimhewilltreatlikeaprince,orfightlikeachampion。ToRichardhewillyieldsuchconditionsofhisfreeliberality,astheswordsofallEuropecouldnevercompelfromhimbyforceorterror。HewillpermitafreepilgrimagetoJerusalem,andalltheplaceswheretheNazareneslisttoworship;nay,hewillssofarshareevenhisempirewithhisbrotherRichard,thathewillallowChristiangarrisonsinthesixstrongestcitiesofPalestine,andoneinJerusalemitself,andsufferthemtobeundertheimmediatecommandoftheofficersofRichard,who,heconsents,shallbearthenameofKingGuardianofJerusalem。Yetfarther,strangeandincredibleasyoumaythinkit,know,SirKnight-fortoyourhonourIcancommiteventhatalmostincrediblesecret-knowthatSaladinwillputasacredsealonthishappyunionbetwixtthebravestandnoblestofFrangistanandAsia,byraisingtotherankofhisroyalspouseaChristiandamsel,alliedinbloodtoKingRichard,andknownbythenameoftheLadyEdithofPlantagenet。’’<*> *Thismayappearsoextraordinaryandimprobableaproposition,that*itisnecessarytosaysuchaonewasactuallymade。Thehistorians,*however,substitutethewidowedQueenofNaples,sisterofRichard,for*thebride,andSaladin’sbrotherforthebridegroom。Theyappeartohave*beenignorantoftheexistenceofEdithofPlantagenet-SeeMill’s_History*oftheCrusades,_vol。ii。p。61。 Ha!-say’stthou!’’exclaimedSirKenneth,who,listeningwithindifferenceandapathytotheprecedingpartofElHakim’sspeech,wastouchedbythislastcommunication,asthethrillofanerve,unexpectedlyjarred,willawakenthesensationofagony,eveninthetorporofpalsy。Then,moderatinghistone,bydintofmucheffort,herestrainedhisindignation,and,veilingitundertheappearanceofcontemptuousdoubt,heprosecutedtheconversationinordertogetasmuchknowledgeaspossibleoftheplot,ashedeemedit,againstthehonourandhappinessofher,whomhelovednotthelessthathispassionhadruined,apparently,hisfortunes,atonce,andhishonour-AndwhatChristian,’’hesaid,withtolerablecalmness,wouldsanctionaunionsounnatural,asthatofaChristianmaidenwithanunbelievingSaracen?’’ Thouartbutanignorant,bigotedNazarene,’’saidtheHakim。SeestthounothowtheMohammedanprincesdailyintermarrywiththenobleNazarenemaidensinSpain,withoutscandaleithertoMoororChristian?AndthenobleSoldanwill,inhisfullconfidenceinthebloodofRichard,permittheEnglishmaidthefreedomwhichyourFrankishmannershaveassignedtowomen。Hewillallowherthefreeexerciseofherreligion,-seeingthat,inverytruth,itsignifiesbutlittletowhichfaithfemalesareaddicted,-andhewillassignhersuchplaceandrankoverallthewomenofhiszenana,thatsheshallbeineveryrespecthissoleandabsoluteQueen。’’ What!’’saidSirKenneth,darestthouthink,Moslem,thatRichardwouldgivehiskinswoman-ahigh-bornandvirtuousprincess,tobe,atbest,theforemostconcubineintheharamofamisbeliever?Know,Hakim,themeanestfreeChristiannoblewouldscorn,onhischild’sbehalf,suchsplendidignominy。’’ Thouerrest,’’saidtheHakim;PhilipofFrance,andHenryofChampagne,andothersofRichard’sprincipalallies,haveheardtheproposalwithoutstarting,andhavepromised,asfarastheymay,toforwardanalliancethatmayendthesewastefulwars;andthewisearch-priestofTyrehathundertakentobreaktheproposaltoRichard,notdoubtingthatheshallbeabletobringtheplantogoodissue。TheSoldan’swisdomhathasyetkepthispropositionsecretfromothers,suchasheofMontserrat,andtheMasteroftheTemplars,becauseheknowstheyseektothrivebyRichard’sdeathordisgrace,notbyhislifeorhonour-Up,therefore,SirKnight,andtohorse。 IwillgivetheeascrollwhichshalladvancetheehighlywiththeSoldan;anddeemnotthatyouareleavingyourcountry,orhercause,orherreligion,sincetheinterestofthetwomonarchswillspeedilybethesame。ToSaladinthycounselwillbemostacceptable,sincethoucanstmakehimawareofmuchconcerningthemarriagesoftheChristians,thetreatmentoftheirwives,andotherpointsoftheirlawsandusages,which,inthecourseofsuchtreaty,itmuchconcernshimthatheshouldknow。TherighthandoftheSoldangraspsthetreasuresoftheEast,andisthefountainofgenerosity。Or,ifthoudesirestit,Saladin,whenalliedwithEngland,canhavebutlittledifficultytoobtainfromRichardnotonlythypardonandrestorationtofavour,butanhonourablecommandinthetroopswhichmaybeleftoftheKingofEngland’shost,tomaintaintheirjointgovernmentinPalestine。Up,then,andmount,thereliesaplainpathbeforethee。’’ Hakim,’’saidtheScottishknight,thouartamanofpeace-also,thouhastsavedthelifeofRichardofEngland-and,moreover,ofmyownpooresquire,Strauchan。Ihave,therefore,heardtoanendamatter,which,beingpropoundedbyanotherMoslemthanthyself,Iwouldhavecutshortwithablowofmydagger!Hakim,inreturnforthykindness,IadvisetheetoseethattheSaracen,whoshallproposetoRichardaunionbetwixtthebloodofPlantagenetandthatofhisaccursedrace,doputonahelmet,whichiscapabletoenduresuchablowofabattle-axeasthatwhichstruckdownthegateofAcre。 Certes,hewillbeotherwiseplacedbeyondthereachevenofthyskill。’’ Thouart,then,wilfullydeterminednottoflytotheSaracenhost?’’saidthephysician-Yet,remember,thoustayesttocertaindestruction;andthewritingsofthylaw,aswellasours,prohibitmanfrombreakingintothetabernacleofhisownlife。’’ Godforbid!’’repliedtheScot,crossinghimself;butwearealsoforbiddentoavoidthepunishmentwhichourcrimeshavedeserved。And,sincesopoorarethythoughtsoffidelity,Hakim,itgrudgesmethatIhavebestowedmygoodhoundonthee,for,shouldhelive,hewillhaveamasterignorantofhisvalue。’’ Agiftthatisbegrudgedisalreadyrecalled,’’saidElHakim,onlywephysiciansareswornnottosendawayapatientuncured。 Ifthedogrecover,heisoncemoreyours。’’ Goto,Hakim,’’answeredSirKenneth;menspeaknotofhawkandhoundwhenthereisbutanhourofday-breakingbetwixtthemanddeath。Leavemetorecollectmysins,andreconcilemyselftoHeaven。’’ Ileavetheeinthineobstinacy,’’saidthephysician;themisthidestheprecipicefromthosewhoaredoomedtofalloverit。’’ Hewithdrewslowly,turningfromtimetotimehishead,asiftoobservewhetherthedevotedknightmightnotrecallhimeitherbywordorsignal。Atlasthisturbanedfigurewaslostamongthelabyrinthoftentswhichlayextendedbeneath,whiteninginthepalelightofthedawning,beforewhichthemoonbeamhadnowfadedaway。 ButalthoughthephysicianAdonbec’swordshadnotmadethatimpressionuponKennethwhichthesagedesired,theyhadinspiredtheScotwithamotivefordesiringlife,which,dishonouredasheconceivedhimselftobe,hewasbeforewillingtopartfromasfromasulliedvestmentnolongerbecominghiswear。Muchthathadpassedbetwixthimselfandthehermit,besideswhathehadobservedbetweentheanchoriteandSheerkohf(orIlderim),henowrecalledtorecollection,andtendedtoconfirmwhattheHakimhadtoldhimofthesecretarticleofthetreaty。 Thereverendimpostor!’’heexclaimedtohimself;thehoaryhypocrite!Hespokeoftheunbelievinghusbandconvertedbythebelievingwife-andwhatdoIknowbutthatthetraitorexhibitedtotheSaracen,accursedofGod,thebeautiesofEdithPlantagenet,thatthehoundmightjudgeiftheprincelyChristianladywerefittobeadmittedintotheharamofamisbeliever?IfIhadyonderinfidelIlderim,orwhatsoeverheiscalled,againinthegripewithwhichIonceheldhimfastaseverhoundheldhare,neveragainshouldheatleastcomeonerranddisgracefultothehonourofChristianking,ornobleandvirtuousmaiden。ButI-myhoursarefastdwindlingintominutes-yet,whileIhavelifeandbreath,somethingmustbedone,andspeedily。’’ Hepausedforafewminutes,threwfromhimhishelmet,thenstrodedownthehill,andtooktheroadtoKingRichard’spavilion。 Thefeather’dsongster,chanticleer,Hadwoundhisbugle-horn,AndtoldtheearlyvillagerThecomingofthemorn。 KingEdwardsawtheruddystreaksOflighteclipsethegrey,AndheardtheRaven’scroakingthroatProclaimthefatedday。 Thou’rtright,’’hesaid,for,bytheGodThatsitsenthronedonhigh,CharlesBawdwin,andhisfellowstwain,Thisdayshallsurelydie。’’ OntheeveningonwhichSirKennethassumedhispost,Richard,afterthestormyeventwhichdisturbeditstranquillity,hadretiredtorestintheplenitudeofconfidenceinspiredbyhisunboundedcourage,andthesuperioritywhichhehaddisplayedincarryingthepointheaimedatinpresenceofthewholeChristianhost,anditsleaders,manyofwhom,hewasaware,regardedintheirsecretsoulsthedisgraceoftheAustrianDukeasatriumphoverthemselves;sothathispridefeltgratified,thatinprostratingoneenemyhehadmortifiedahundred。 Anothermonarchwouldhavedoubledhisguardsontheeveningaftersuchascene,andkeptatleastapartofhistroopsunderarms。ButCurdeLiondismissed,upontheoccasion,evenhisordinarywatch,andassignedtohissoldiersadonativeofwinetocelebratehisrecovery,andtodrinktotheBannerofSaintGeorge;andhisquarterofthecampwouldhaveassumedacharactertotallydevoidofvigilanceandmilitarypreparation,butthatSirThomasdeVaux,theEarlofSalisbury,andothernobles,tookprecautionstopreserveorderanddisciplineamongtherevellers。 ThephysicianattendedtheKingfromhisretiringtobedtillmidnightwaspast,andtwiceadministeredmedicinetohimduringthatperiod,alwayspreviouslyobservingthequarterofheavenoccupiedbythefullmoon,whoseinfluenceshedeclaredtobemostsovereign,ormostbaleful,totheeffectofhisdrugs。 ItwasthreehoursaftermidnightereElHakimwithdrewfromtheroyaltent,toonewhichhadbeenpitchedforhimselfandhisretinue。InhiswaythitherhevisitedthetentofSirKennethoftheLeopard,inordertoseetheconditionofhisfirstpatientintheChristiancamp,oldStrauchan,astheknight’sesquirewasnamed。InquiringthereforSirKennethhimself,ElHakimlearnedonwhatdutyhewasemployed,andprobablythisinformationledhimtoSaintGeorge’sMount,wherehefoundhimwhomhesoughtinthedisastrouscircumstancesalludedtointhelastchapter。