Butthistimehisrestwasnotunbroken；forhewasawakenedbythevoiceofthephysicianatthedoorofthetent，inquiringafterhishealth，andwhetherhehadrestedsufficiently-
MayIenteryourtent？’’heconcluded，forthecurtainisdrawnbeforetheentrance。’’
Themaster，’’repliedSirKenneth，determinedtoshowthathewasnotsurprisedintoforgetfulnessofhisowncondition，needdemandnopermissiontoenterthetentoftheslave。’’
ButifIcomenotasamaster？’’saidElHakim，stillwithoutentering。
Thephysician，’’answeredtheknight，hathfreeaccesstothebedsideofhispatient。’’
NeithercomeInowasaphysician，’’repliedElHakimandthereforeIstillrequestpermission，ereIcomeunderthecoveringofthytent。’’
Whoevercomesasafriend，’’saidSirKenneth，andsuchthouhasthithertoshownthyselftome，thehabitationofthefriendiseveropentohim。’’
Yetonceagain，’’saidtheEasternsage，aftertheperiphrasticalmannerofhiscountrymen，supposingthatIcomenotasafriend？’’
Comeasthouwilt，’’saidtheScottishknight，somewhatimpatientofthiscircumlocution，-bewhatthouwilt-thouknowestwellitisneitherinmypowernormyinclinationtorefusetheeentrance。’’
Icomethen，’’saidElHakim，asyourancientfoe；butafairandagenerousone。’’
Heenteredashespoke；andwhenhestoodbeforethebedsideofSirKenneth，thevoicecontinuedtobethatofAdonbectheArabianphysician，buttheform，dress，andfeatures，werethoseofIlderimofKurdistan，calledSheerkohf。SirKennethgazeduponhim，asifheexpectedthevisiontodepart，likesomethingcreatedbyhisimagination。
Dothitsosurprisethee，’’saidIlderim，andthouanapprovedwarrior，toseethatasoldierknowssomewhatoftheartofhealing？-Isaytothee，Nazarene，thatanaccomplishedcavaliershouldknowhowtodresshissteedaswellashowtoridehim；howtoforgehissworduponthestithy，aswellashowtouseitinbattle；howtoburnishhisarms，aswellashowtowearthem；and，aboveall，howtocurewoundsaswellashowtoinflictthem。’’
Ashespoke，theChristianknightrepeatedlyshuthiseyes，andwhiletheyremainedclosed，theideaoftheHakim，withhislongflowingdarkrobes，highTartarcap，andgravegestures，waspresenttohisimagination；butsosoonasheopenedthem，thegracefulandrichly-gemmedturban，thelighthauberkofsteelringsentwistedwithsilver，whichglancedbrilliantlyasitobeyedeveryinflectionofthebody，thefeaturesfreedfromtheirformalexpression，lessswarthy，andnolongershadowedbythemassofhair(nowlimitedtoawell-trimmedbeard)，announcedthesoldierandnotthesage。
Artthoustillsomuchsurprised，’’saidtheEmir，andhastthouwalkedintheworldwithsuchlittleobservance，astowonderthatmenarenotalwayswhattheyseem？-Thouthyself-artthouwhatthouseemest？’’
No，bySt。Andrew！’’exclaimedtheknight；fortothewholeChristiancampIseematraitor，andIknowmyselftobeatruethoughanerringman。’’
EvensoIjudgedthee，’’saidIlderim；andaswehadeatensalttogether，Ideemedmyselfboundtorescuetheefromdeathandcontumely-Butwhereforelieyoustillonyourcouch，sincethesunishighintheheavens？orarethevestmentswhichmysumpter-camelshaveaffordedunworthyofyourwearing？’’
Notunworthy，surely，butunfittingforit，’’repliedtheScot；givemethedressofaslave，nobleIlderim，andIwilldonitwithpleasure；butIcannotbrooktowearthehabitofthefreeEasternwarrior，withtheturbanoftheMoslem。’’
Nazarene，’’answeredtheEmir，thynationsoeasilyentertainssuspicion，thatitmaywellrenderthemselvessuspected。
HaveInottoldtheethatSaladindesiresnoconvertssavingthosewhomtheholyprophetshalldisposetosubmitthemselvestohislaw；violenceandbriberyarealikealientohisplanforextendingthetruefaith。Hearkentome，mybrother。Whentheblindmanwasmiraculouslyrestoredtosight，thescalesdroppedfromhiseyesattheDivinepleasure-think’stthouthatanyearthlyleechcouldhaveremovedthem？No。Suchmedicinermighthavetormentedthepatientwithhisinstruments，orperhapssoothedhimwithhisbalsams，andcordials，butdarkashewasmustthedarkenedmanhaveremained；anditisevensowiththeblindnessoftheunderstanding。IftherebethoseamongtheFranks，who，forthesakeofworldlylucre，haveassumedtheturbanoftheProphet，andfollowedthelawsofIslam，withtheirownconsciencesbetheblame。Themselvessoughtoutthebait-ItwasnotflungtothembytheSoldan。Andwhentheyshallhereafterbesentenced，ashypocrites，tothelowestgulfofhell，belowChristianandJew，magicianandidolater，andcondemnedtoeatthefruitofthetreeYacoun，whichistheheadsofdemons-tothemselves，nottotheSoldan，shalltheirguiltandtheirpunishmentbeattributed。Whereforewear，withoutdoubtorscruple，thevesturepreparedforyou，sinceifyouproceedtothecampofSaladin，yourownnativedresswillexposeyoutotroublesomeobservation，andperhapstoinsult。
_If_IgotothecampofSaladin？’’saidSirKenneth，repeatingthewordsoftheEmir；Alas！amIafreeagent，andrathermustI_not_gowhereveryourpleasurecarriesme？’’
Thineownwillmayguidethineownmotions，’’saidtheEmir，asfreelyasthewindwhichmoveththedustofthedesertinwhatdirectionitchooseth。Thenobleenemywhomet，andwell-nighmasteredmysword，cannotbecomemyslavelikehimwhohascrouchedbeneathit。Ifwealthandpowerwouldtempttheetojoinourpeople，Icouldensurethypossessingthem；butthemanwhorefusedthefavoursoftheSoldanwhentheaxewasathishead，willnot，Ifear，nowacceptthem，whenItellhimhehashisfreechoice。’’
Completeyourgenerosity，nobleEmir，’’saidSirKenneth，byforbearingtoshowmeamodeofrequital，whichconscienceforbidsmetocomplywith。Permitmerathertoexpress，asboundincourtesy，mygratitudeforthismostchivalrousbounty，thisundeservedgenerosity。’’
Saynotundeserved，’’repliedtheEmirIlderim；wasitnotthroughthyconversation，andthyaccountofthebeautieswhichgracethecourtoftheMelechRic，thatIventuredmethitherindisguise，andtherebyprocuredasightthemostblessedthatIhaveeverenjoyed-thatIevershallenjoy，untilthegloriesofParadisebeamonmyeyes？’’
Iunderstandyounot，’’saidSirKenneth，colouringalternately，andturningpale，asonewhofeltthattheconversationwastakingatoneofthemostpainfuldelicacy。
Notunderstandme！’’exclaimedtheEmir。IfthesightIsawinthetentofKingRichardescapedthineobservation，I
willaccountitdullerthantheedgeofabuffoon’swoodenfalchion。True，thouwertundersentenceofdeathatthetime；
but，inmycase，hadmyheadbeendroppingfromthetrunk，thelaststrainedglancesofmyeyeballshaddistinguishedwithdelightsuchavisionofloveliness，andtheheadwouldhaverolleditselftowardstheincomparablehouris，tokisswithitsquiveringlipsthehemoftheirvestments-YonderroyaltyofEngland，whoforhersuperiorlovelinessdeservestobeQueenoftheuniverse-whattendernessinherblueeye！-whatlustreinhertressesofdishevelledgold！-Bythetomboftheprophet，I
scarcethinkthatthehouriwhoshallpresenttomethediamondcupofimmortality，willdeservesowarmacaress？’’
Saracen，’’saidSirKenneth，sternly，thouspeakestofthewifeofRichardofEngland，ofwhommenthinknotandspeaknotasawomantobewon，butasaQueentoberevered。’’
Icryyoumercy，’’saidtheSaracen。Ihadforgottenyoursuperstitiousvenerationforthesex，whichyouconsiderratherfittobewonderedatandworshipped，thanwooedandpossessed。Iwarrant，sincethouexactestsuchprofoundrespecttoyondertenderpieceoffrailty，whoseeverymotion，step，andlook，bespeaksherverywoman，lessthanabsoluteadorationmustnotbeyieldedtoherofthedarktresses，andnoblyspeakingeye。_She，_indeed，Iwillallow，hathinhernobleportandmajesticmiensomethingatoncepureandfirm-yetevenshe，whenpressedbyopportunityandaforwardlover，would，I
warrantthee，thankhiminherheart，ratherfortreatingherasamortalthanasagoddess。’’
RespectthekinswomanofCurdeLion！’’saidSirKenneth，inatoneofunrepressedanger。
Respecther！’’answeredtheEmirinscorn-bytheCahba，andifIdo，itshallberatherasthebrideofSaladin。’’
TheInfidelSoldanisunworthytosaluteevenaspotthathasbeenpressedbythefootofEdithPlantagenet！’’exclaimedtheChristian，springingfromhiscouch。
Ha！whatsaidtheGiaour？’’exclaimedtheEmir，layinghishandonhisponiard-hilt，whilehisforeheadglowedlikeglancingcopper，andthemusclesofhislipsandcheekswroughttilleachcurlofhisbeardseemedtotwistandscrewitself，asifalivewithinstinctivewrath。ButtheScottishknight，whohadstoodthelionangerofRichard，wasunappalledatthetiger-likemoodofthechafedSaracen。
WhatIhavesaid，’’continuedSirKenneth，withfoldedarmsanddauntlesslook，Iwould，weremyhandsloose，maintainonfootorhorsebackagainstallmortals；andwouldholditnotthemostmemorabledeedofmylifetosupportitwithmygoodbroadswordagainstascoreofthesesicklesandbodkins，’’pointingatthecurvedsabreandsmallponiardoftheEmir。
TheSaracenrecoveredhiscomposureastheChristianspoke，sofarastowithdrawhishandfromhisweapon，asifthemotionhadbeenwithoutmeaning；butstillcontinuedindeepire。
Bytheswordoftheprophet，’’hesaid，whichisthekeybothofHeavenandHell，helittlevalueshisownlife，brother，whousesthelanguagethoudost！Believeme，thatwerethinehandsloose，asthouterm’stit，onesingletruebelieverwouldfindthemsomuchtodo，thatthouwouldstsoonwishthemfetteredagaininmanaclesofiron。’’
SoonerwouldIwishthemhewnofbytheshoulder-blades！’’
repliedSirKenneth。
Well。Thyhandsareboundatpresent，’’saidtheSaracen，inamoreamicabletone，boundbythineowngentlesenseofcourtesy，norhaveIanypresentpurposeofsettingthematliberty。Wehaveprovedeachother’sstrengthandcourageerenow，andwemayagainmeetinafairfield；-andshamebefallhimwhoshallbethefirsttopartfromhisfoeman！Butnowwearefriends，andIlookforaidfromthee，ratherthanhardtermsordefiances。’’
We_are_friends，’’repeatedtheknight；andtherewasapause，duringwhichthefierySaracenpacedthetent，likethelion，who，afterviolentirritation，issaidtotakethatmethodofcoolingthedistemperatureofhisblood，erehestretcheshimselftoreposeinhisden。ThecolderEuropeanremainedunaltereinpostureandaspect；yethe，doubtless，wasalsoengagedinsubduingtheangryfeelingswhichhadbeensounexpectedlyawakened。
Letusreasonofthiscalmly，’’saidtheSaracen；Iamaphysician，asthouknowest，anditiswritten，thathewhowouldhavehiswoundcured，mustnotshrinkwhentheleechprobesandtestsit。Seestthou，Iamabouttolaymyfingeronthesore。ThoulovestthiskinswomanoftheMelechRic-Unfoldtheveilthatshroudsthythoughts-orunfolditnotifthouwilt，formineeyesseethroughitscoverings。’’
Ilovedher，’’answeredSirKenneth，afterapause，asamanlovesHeaven’sgrace，andsuedforherfavourlikeasinnerforHeaven’spardon。’’
Andyoulovehernolonger？’’saidtheSaracen。
Alas！’’answeredSirKenneth，Iamnolongerworthytoloveher-Ipritheeceasethisdiscourse-thywordsareponiardstome。’’
Pardonmebutamoment，’’continuedIlderim。Whenthou，apoorandobscuresoldier，didstsoboldlyandsohighlyfixthineaffection，tellme，hadstthougoodhopeofitsissue？’’
Loveexistsnotwithouthope，’’repliedtheknight；butminewasasnearbyalliedtodespair，asthatofthesailorswimmingforhislife，who，ashesurmountsbillowafterbillow，catchesbyintervalssomegleamofthedistantbeacon，whichshowshimthereislandinsight，thoughhissinkingheartandweariedlimbsassurehimthatheshallneverreachit。’’
Andnow，’’saidIlderim，thesehopesaresunk-thatsolitarylightisquenchedforever？’’
Forever，’’answeredSirKenneth，inthetoneofanechofromthebosomofaruinedsepulchre。
