This，andaman’slifeatstake！’’saidEdith，indignantly；
itpasseshumanpatience。Remainatyourease，madam，I
willgotoKingRichard-Iamapartyinterested-Iwillknowifthehonourofapoormaidenofhisbloodistobesofartamperedwith，thathernameshallbeabusedtotrainabravegentlemanfromhisduty，bringhimwithinthecompassofdeathandinfamy，andmake，atthesametime，thegloryofEnglandalaughing-stocktothewholeChristianarmy。’’
Atthisunexpectedburstofpassion，Berengarialistenedwithanalmoststupifiedlookoffearandwonder。ButasEdithwasabouttoleavethetent，sheexclaimed，thoughfaintly，Stopher-stopher。’’
Youmust，indeed，stop，nobleLadyEdith，’’saidCalista，takingherarmgently；andyou，royalmadam，Iamsure，willgo，andwithoutfartherdallying。IftheladyEdithgoesalonetotheKing，hewillbedreadfullyincensed，norwillitbeonelifethatwillstayhisfury。’’
Iwillgo-Iwillgo，’’saidtheQueen，yieldingtonecessity；
andEdithreluctantlyhaltedtowaithermovements。
Theywerenowasspeedyasshecouldhavedesired。TheQueenhastilywrappedherselfinalargeloosemantle，whichcoveredallinaccuraciesofthetoilet。Inthisguise，attendedbyEdithandherwomen，andprecededandfollowedbyafewofficersandmen-at-arms，shehastenedtothetentofherlion-likehusband。
Wereeveryhairuponhisheadalife，AndeverylifeweretobesupplicatedBynumbersequaltothosehairsquadrupled，LifeafterlifeshouldoutlikewaningstarsBeforethedaybreak-orasfestivelamps，Whichhavelentlustretothemidnightrevel，Eachaftereacharequench’dwhenguestsdepart！
OldPlay。
TheentranceofQueenBerengariaintotheinteriorofRichard’spavilionwaswithstood-inthemostrespectfulandreverentialmannerindeed-butstillwithstood，bythechamberlainswhowatchedintheoutertent。ShecouldhearthesterncommandoftheKingfromwithin，prohibitingtheirentrance。
Yousee，’’saidtheQueen，appealingtoEdith，asifshehadexhaustedallmeansofintercessioninherpower-Iknewit-
theKingwillnotreceiveus。’’
Atthesametime，theyheardRichardspeaktosomeonewithin-Go，speedthineofficequickly，sirrah-forinthatconsiststhymercy-tenbezantsifthoudeal’stonhimatoneblow-And，harkthee，villain，observeifhischeeklosescolour，orhiseyefalters-markmethesmallesttwitchofthefeatures，orwinkoftheeyelid-Ilovetoknowhowbravesoulsmeetdeath。’’
Ifheseesmybladewavedaloftwithoutshrinking，heisthefirsteverdidso，’’answeredaharshdeepvoice，whichasenseofunusualawehadsoftenedintoasoundmuchlowerthanitsusualcoarsetones。
Edithcouldremainsilentnolonger。IfyourGrace，’’shesaidtotheQueen，makenotyourownway，Imakeitforyou；orifnotforyourMajesty，formyselfatleast-Chamberlains，theQueendemandstoseeKingRichard-thewifetospeakwithherhusband。’’
Noblelady，’’saidtheofficer，loweringhiswandofoffice，itgrievesmetogainsayyou；buthisMajestyisbusiedonmattersoflifeanddeath。’’
Andweseekalsotospeakwithhimonmattersoflifeanddeath，’’saidEdith-IwillmakeentranceforyourGrace。’’-
And，puttingasidethechamberlainwithonehand，shelaidholdonthecurtainwiththeother。
IdarenotgainsayherMajesty’spleasure，’’saidthechamberlain，yieldingtothevehemenceofthefairpetitioner；andashegaveway，theQueenfoundherselfobligedtoentertheapartmentofRichard。
TheMonarchwaslyingonhiscouch，andatsomedistance，asawaitinghisfarthercommands，stoodamanwhoseprofessionitwasnotdifficulttoconjecture。Hewasclothedinajerkinofredcloth，whichreachedscantlybelowtheshoulders，leavingthearmsbarefromabouthalf-wayabovetheelbow，and，asanuppergarment，hewore，whenaboutasatpresenttobetakehimselftohisdreadfuloffice，acoatortabardwithoutsleeves，somethinglikethatofaherald，madeofdressedbull’shide，andstainedinthefrontwithmanyabroadspotandspeckleofdullcrimson。Thejerkin，andthetabardoverit，reachedtheknee，andthenetherstocks，orcoveringofthelegs，wereofthesameleatherwhichcomposedthetabard。Acapofroughshagservedtohidetheupperpartofavisage，which，likethatofascreech-owl，seemeddesiroustoconcealitselffromlight-thelowerpartofthefacebeingobscuredbyahugeredbeard，minglingwithshaggylocksofthesamecolour。Whatfeatureswereseenweresternandmisanthropical。Theman’sfigurewasshort，stronglymade，withanecklikeabull，verybroadshoulders，armsofgreatanddisproportionedlength，ahugesquaretrunk，andthickbandylegs。Thistruculentofficialleantonasword，thebladeofwhichwasnearlyfourfeetandahalfinlength，whilethehandleoftwentyinches，surroundedbyaringofleadplummetstocounterpoisetheweightofsuchablade，roseconsiderablyabovetheman’shead，asherestedhisarmuponitshilt，waitingforKingRichard’sfartherdirections。
Onthesuddenentranceoftheladies，Richard，whowasthenlyingonhiscouch，withhisfacetowardstheentrance，andrestingonhiselbowashespoketohisgrislyattendant，flunghimselfhastily，asifdispleasedandsurprised，totheotherside，turninghisbacktotheQueenandthefemalesofhertrain，anddrawingaroundhimthecoveringofhiscouch，which，byhisownchoice，ormoreprobablytheflatteringselectionofhischamberlains，consistedoftwolargelions’skins，dressedinVenicewithsuchadmirableskillthattheyseemedsofterthanthehideofthedeer。
Berengaria，suchaswehavedescribedher，knewwell-whatwomanknowsnot？-herownroadtovictory。Afterahurriedglanceofundisguisedandunaffectedterrorattheghastlycompanionofherhusband’ssecretcounsels，sherushedatoncetothesideofRichard’scouch，droppedonherknees，flunghermantlefromhershoulders，showing，astheyhungdownattheirfulllength，herbeautifulgoldentresses，andwhilehercountenanceseemedlikeasunburstingthroughacloud，yetbearingonitspallidfronttracesthatitssplendourshavebeenobscured，sheseizedupontherighthandoftheKing，which，asheassumedhiswontedposture，hadbeenemployedindraggingthecoveringofhiscouch，andgraduallypullingittoherwithaforcewhichwasresisted，thoughbutfaintly，shepossessedherselfofthatarm，thepropofChristendom，andthedreadofHeathenesse，andimprisoningitsstrengthinbothherlittlefairyhands，shebentuponitherbrow，andunitedittoherlips。
Whatneedsthis，Berengaria？’’saidRichard，hisheadstillaverted，buthishandremainingunderhercontrol。
Sendawaythatman-hislookkillsme！’’mutteredBerengaria。
Begone，sirrah，’’saidRichard，stillwithoutlookinground。
Whatwait’stthoufor？artthoufittolookontheseladies？’’
YourHighness’spleasuretouchingthehead，’’saidtheman。
Outwiththee，dog！’’answeredRichard-aChristianburial！’’
Themandisappeared，aftercastingalookuponthebeautifulQueen，inherderangeddressandnaturalloveliness，withasmileofadmirationmorehideousinitsexpressionthanevenhisusualscowlofcynicalhatredagainsthumanity。
Andnow，foolishwench，whatwishestthou？’’saidRichard，turningslowlyandhalfreluctantlyroundtohisroyalsuppliant。
Butitwasnotinnatureforanyone，farlessanadmirerofbeautylikeRichard，towhomitstoodonlyinthesecondranktoglory，tolookwithoutemotiononthecountenanceandthetremorofacreaturesobeautifulasBerengaria，ortofeel，withoutanysympathy，thatherlips，herbrow，wereonhishand，andthatitwaswettedbyhertears。Bydegreesheturnedonherhismanlycountenance，withthesoftestexpressionofwhichhislargeblueeye，whichsooftengleamedwithinsufferablelight，wascapable。Caressingherfairhead，andminglinghislargefingersinherbeautifulanddishevelledlocks，heraisedandtenderlykissedthecherubcountenancewhichseemeddesiroustohideitselfinhishand。Therobustform，thebroad，noblebrow，andmajesticlooks，thenakedarmandshoulder，thelions’skinsamongwhichhelay，andthefairfragilefemininecreaturethatkneeledbyhisside，mighthaveservedforamodelofHerculesreconcilinghimself，afteraquarrel，tohiswifeDejanira。
And，oncemore，whatseekstheladyofmyheartinherknight’spavilion，atthisearlyandunwontedhour？’’
Pardon，mymostgraciousliege，pardon，’’saidtheQueen，whosefearsbeganagaintounfitherforthedutyofintercessor。
Pardon！forwhat？’’saidtheKing。
First，forenteringyourroyalpresencetooboldlyandunadvisedly’’-
Shestopped。
_Thou_tooboldly！-thesunmightaswellaskpardon，becausehisraysenteredthewindowsofsomewretch’sdungeon。ButIwasbusiedwithworkunfitfortheetowitness，mygentleone，andIwasunwilling，besides，thatthoushouldstriskthyprecioushealthwheresicknesshasbeensolatelyrife。’’
Butthouartnowwell？’’saidtheQueen，stilldelayingthecommunicationwhichshefearedtomake。
WellenoughtobreakalanceontheboldcrestofthatchampionwhoshallrefusetoacknowledgetheethefairestdameinChristendom。’’
Thouwiltnotthenrefusemeoneboon-onlyone-onlyapoorlife？’’
Ha！-proceed，’’saidKingRichard，bendinghisbrows。
ThisunhappyScottishknight’’-saidtheQueen。
Speaknotofhim，madam，’’saidRichard，sternly；hedies-hisdoomisfixed。’’
Nay，myroyalliegeandlove，’tisbutasilkenbannerneglected-Berengariawillgivetheeanotherbroideredwithherownhand，andrichaseverdalliedwiththewind。EverypearlIhaveshallgotobedeckit，andwitheverypearlIwilldropatearofthankfulnesstomygenerousknight。’’
Thouknowestnotwhatthousay’st，’’saidtheKing，interruptingherinanger-Pearls！canallthepearlsoftheEastatoneforaspeckuponEngland’shonour-allthetearsthateverwoman’seyeweptwashawayastainonRichard’sfame？-
Goto，madam，knowyourplace，andyourtime，andyoursphere。
Atpresentwehavedutiesinwhichyoucannotbeourpartner。’’
Thouhear’st，Edith，’’whisperedtheQueen，weshallbutincensehim。’’
Beitso，’’saidEdith，steppingforward-Mylord-I，yourpoorkinswoman，craveyouforjusticeratherthanmercy；
and，tothecryofjustice，theearsofamonarchshouldbeopenateverytime，place，andcircumstance。’’
Ha！ourcousinEdith？’’saidRichard，risingandsittinguprightonthesideofhiscouch，coveredwithhislongcamiscia-Shespeakseverking-like，andking-likewillIanswerher，soshebringnorequestunworthyofherselforme。’’
ThebeautyofEdithwasofamoreintellectualandlessvoluptuouscastthanthatoftheQueen；butimpatienceandanxietyhadgivenhercountenanceaglow，whichitsometimeswanted，andhermienhadacharacterofenergeticdignitythatimposedsilenceforamomentevenonRichardhimself，who，tojudgebyhislooks，wouldwillinglyhaveinterruptedher。
Mylord，’’shesaid，thisgoodknight，whosebloodyouareabouttospill，hathdone，inhistime，servicetoChristendom。
Hehathfallenfromhisduty，throughasnaresetforhiminmerefollyandidlenessofspirit。Amessagesenttohiminthenameofonewho-whyshouldInotspeakit？-itwasinmyown-inducedhimforaninstanttoleavehispost-
andwhatknightintheChristiancampmightnothavethusfartransgressedatthecommandofamaiden，who，poorhowsoeverinotherqualities，hathyetthebloodofPlantagenetinherveins？’’
Andyousawhim，then，cousin？’’repliedtheKing，bitinghislips，tokeepdownhispassion。
Idid，myliege，’’saidEdith。Itisnotimetoexplainwherefore-Iamhereneithertoexculpatemyselfnortoblameothers。’’
Andwheredidyoudohimsuchagrace？’’
InthetentofherMajestytheQueen。’’
Ofourroyalconsort！’’saidRichard。NowbyHeaven，bySaintGeorgeofEngland，andeveryothersaintthattreadsitscrystalfloor，thisistooaudacious！Ihavenoticedandoverlookedthiswarrior’sinsolentadmirationofonesofarabovehim，andIgrudgedhimnotthatoneofmybloodshouldshedfromherhigh-bornspheresuchinfluenceasthesunbestowsontheworldbeneath-But，heavenandearth！thatyoushouldhaveadmittedhimtoanaudiencebynight，intheverytentofourroyalconsort！-anddaretoofferthisasanexcuseforhisdisobedienceanddesertion！-Bymyfather’ssoul，Edith，thoushaltruethisthylifelonginamonastery！’’
Myliege，’’saidEdith，yourgreatnesslicensestyranny。
Myhonour，LordKing，isaslittletouchedasyours，andmyLadytheQueencanproveitifshethinkfit-ButIhavealreadysaid，Iamnotheretoexcusemyselforinculpateothers-Iaskyoubuttoextendtoone，whosefaultwascommittedunderstrongtemptation，thatmercywhichevenyouyourself，LordKing，mustonedaysupplicateatahighertribunal，andforfaults，perhaps，lessvenial。’’
