Edith，’’saidRichard，Icannotforcethyresolution；butbewareyoushutnotthedoorwhichHeavenopens。ThehermitofEngaddi，hewhomPopesandCouncilshaveregardedasaprophet，hathreadinthestarsthatthymarriageshallreconcilemewithapowerfulenemy，andthatthyhusbandshallbeChristian，leavingthusthefairestgroundtohope，thattheconversionoftheSoldan，andthebringinginofthesonsofIshmaeltothepaleofthechurch，willbetheconsequenceofthyweddingwithSaladin。Come，thoumustmakesomesacrificeratherthanmarsuchhappyprospects。’’
Menmaysacrificeramsandgoats，’’saidEdith，butnothonourandconscience。IhaveheardthatitwasthedishonourofaChristianmaiden，whichbroughttheSaracensintoSpain-theshameofanotherisnolikelymodeofexpellingthemfromPalestine。’’
DostthoucallitshametobecomeanEmpress？’’saidtheKing。
IcallitshameanddishonourtoprofaneaChristiansacrament，byenteringintoitwithaninfidelwhomitcannotbind；
andIcallitfouldishonour，thatI，thedescendantofaChristianprincess，shouldbecomeoffreewilltheheadofaharemofheathenconcubines。’’
Well，kinswoman，’’saidtheKing，afterapause，Imustnotquarrelwiththee，thoughIthinkthydependentconditionmighthavedictatedmorecompliance。’’
Myliege，’’repliedEdith，yourGracehathworthilysucceededtoallthewealth，dignity，anddominionoftheHouseofPlantagenet，-donot，therefore，begrudgeyourpoorkinswomansomesmallshareoftheirpride。’’
Bymyfaith，wench，’’saidtheKing，thouhastunhorsedmewiththatveryword；sowewillkissandbefriends。IwillpresentlydespatchthyanswertoSaladin。But，afterall，coz，wereitnotbettertosuspendyouranswertillyouhaveseenhim？
Mensayheispre-eminentlyhandsome。’’
Thereisnochanceofourmeeting，mylord，’’saidEdith。
BySaintGeorge，butthereisnexttoacertaintyofit，’’saidtheKing；forSaladinwilldoubtlessaffordusafreefieldforthedoingofthisnewbattleoftheStandard，andwillwitnessithimself。Berengariaiswildtobeholditalso，andIdarebeswornnotafeatherofyou，hercompanionsandattendants，willremainbehind-leastofallthouthyself，faircoz。Butcome，wehavereachedthepavilion，andmustpart-notinunkindnessthough-nay，thoumustsealitwiththylipaswellasthyhand，sweetEdith-itismyrightasasovereigntokissmyprettyvassals。’’
Heembracedherrespectfullyandaffectionately，andreturnedthroughthemoonlightcamp，hummingtohimselfsuchsnatchesofBlondel’slayashecouldrecollect。
OnhisarrivalhelostnotimeinmakinguphisdespatchesforSaladin，anddeliveredthemtotheNubian，withachargetosetoutbypeepofdayonhisreturntotheSoldan。
WeheardtheTecbir，-sotheseArabscallTheirshoutofonsetwhen，withloudacclaim，Theychallengeheaventogivethemvictory。
SiegeofDamascus。
Onthesubsequentmorning，RichardwasinvitedtoaconferencebyPhilipofFrance，inwhichthelatter，withmanyexpressionsofhighesteemforhisbrotherofEngland，communicatedtohim，intermsextremelycourteous，buttooexplicittobemisunderstood，hispositiveintentiontoreturntoEurope，andtothecaresofhiskingdom，asentirelydespairingoffuturesuccessintheirundertaking，withtheirdiminishedforcesandcivildiscords。
Richardremonstrated，butinvain；andwhentheconferenceended，hereceivedwithoutsurpriseamanifestofromtheDukeofAustria，andseveralotherprinces，announcingaresolutionsimilartothatofPhilip，andinnomodifiedterms，assigning，fortheirdefectionfromthecauseoftheCross，theinordinateambitionandarbitrarydominationofRichardofEngland。Allhopesofcontinuingthewarwithanyprospectofultimatesuccesswerenowabandoned，andRichard，whileheshedbittertearsoverhisdisappointedhopesofglory，waslittleconsoledbytherecollection，thatthefailurewasinsomedegreetobeimputedtotheadvantageswhichhehadgivenhisenemiesbyhisownhastyandimprudenttemper。
Theyhadnotdaredtohavedesertedmyfatherthus，’’hesaidtoDeVaux，inthebitternessofhisresentment-NoslanderstheycouldhaveutteredagainstsowiseakingwouldhavebeenbelievedinChristendom；whereas，-foolthatIam！-
Ihavenotonlyaffordedthemapretextfordesertingme，butevenacolourforcastingalltheblameoftheruptureuponmyunhappyfoibles。’’
ThesethoughtsweresodeeplygallingtotheKing，thatDeVauxwasrejoicedwhenthearrivalofanambassadorfromSaladinturnedhisreflectionsintoadifferentchannel。
ThisnewenvoywasanEmirmuchrespectedbytheSoldan，whosenamewasAbdallahelHadgi。HederivedhisdescentfromthefamilyoftheProphet，andtheraceortribeofHashem，inwitnessofwhichgenealogyheworeagreenturbanoflargedimensions。HehadalsothreetimesperformedthejourneytoMecca，fromwhichhederivedhisepithetofElHadgiorthePilgrim。Notwithstandingthesevariouspretensionstosanctity，Abdallahwas(foranArab)abooncompanion，whoenjoyedamerrytale，andlaidasidehisgravitysofarastoquaffablitheflagon，whensecrecyensuredhimagainstscandal。Hewaslikewiseastatesman，whoseabilitieshadbeenusedbySaladininvariousnegotiationswiththeChristianprinces，andparticularlywithRichard，towhomElHadgiwaspersonallyknownandacceptable。AnimatedbythecheerfulacquiescencewithwhichtheenvoyofSaladinaffordedafairfieldforthecombat，asafe-conductforallwhomightchoosetowitnessit，andofferedhisownpersonasaguaranteeofhisfidelity，Richardsoonforgothisdisappointedhopes，andtheapproachingdissolutionoftheChristianleague，intheinterestingdiscussionsprecedingacombatinthelists。
Thestation，calledtheDiamondoftheDesert，wasassignedfortheplaceofconflict，asbeingnearlyatanequaldistancebetwixttheChristianandSaracencamps。ItwasagreedthatConradeofMontserrat，thedefendant，withhisgodfathers，theArchdukeofAustriaandtheGrandMasteroftheTemplars，shouldappearthereonthedayfixedforthecombat，withanhundredarmedfollowers，andnomore；thatRichardofEngland，andhisbrotherSalisbury，whosupportedtheaccusation，shouldattendwiththesamenumber，toprotecthischampion；
andthattheSoldanshouldbringwithhimaguardoffivehundredchosenfollowers，abandconsideredasnotmorethanequaltothetwohundredChristianlances。Suchpersonsofconsiderationaseitherpartychosetoinvitetowitnessthecontest，weretowearnootherweaponsthantheirswords，andtocomewithoutdefensivearmour。TheSoldanundertookthepreparationsofthelists，andtoprovideaccommodationsandrefreshmentsofeverykindforallwhoweretoassistatthesolemnity；andhislettersexpressed，withmuchcourtesy，thepleasurewhichheanticipatedintheprospectofapersonalandpeacefulmeetingwiththeMelechRic，andhisanxiousdesiretorenderhisreceptionasagreeableaspossible。
Allpreliminariesbeingarranged，andcommunicatedtothedefendantandhisgodfathers，AbdallahtheHadgiwasadmittedtoamoreprivateinterview，whereheheardwithdelightthestrainsofBlondel。Havingfirstcarefullyputhisgreenturbanoutofsight，andassumedaGreekcapinitsstead，herequitedtheNormanminstrel’smusicwithadrinkingsongfromthePersian，andquaffedaheartyflagonofCypruswine，toshowthathispracticematchedhisprinciples。Onthenextday，graveandsoberasthewater-drinkerMirglip，hebenthisbrowtothegroundbeforeSaladin’sfootstool，andrenderedtotheSoldananaccountofhisembassy。
Onthedaybeforethatappointedforthecombat，Conradeandhisfriendssetoffbydaybreaktorepairtotheplaceassigned，andRichardleftthecampatthesamehour，andforthesamepurpose；but，ashadbeenagreedupon，hetookhisjourneybyadifferentroute，aprecautionwhichhadbeenjudgednecessary，topreventthepossibilityofaquarrelbetwixttheirarmedattendants。
ThegoodKinghimselfwasinnohumourforquarrellingwithanyone。Nothingcouldhaveaddedtohispleasurableanticipationsofadesperateandbloodycombatinthelists，excepthisbeinginhisownroyalpersononeofthecombatants；andhewashalfincharityagainevenwithConradeofMontserrat。
Lightlyarmed，richlydressed，andgayasabridegroomontheeveofhisnuptials，RichardcaracoledalongbythesideofQueenBerengaria’slitter，pointingouttoherthevariousscenesthroughwhichtheypassed，andcheeringwithtaleandsongthebosomoftheinhospitablewilderness。TheformerrouteoftheQueen’spilgrimagetoEngaddihadbeenontheothersideofthechainofmountains，sothattheladieswerestrangerstothesceneryofthedesert；andthoughBerengariaknewherhusband’sdispositiontoowellnottoendeavourtoseeminterestedinwhathewaspleasedeithertosayortosing，shecouldnothelpindulgingsomefemalefearswhenshefoundherselfinthehowlingwildernesswithsosmallanescort，whichseemedalmostlikeamovingspeckonthebosomoftheplain，andknew，atthesametime，theywerenotsodistantfromthecampofSaladinbutwhattheymightbeinamomentsurprisedandsweptoffbyanoverpoweringhostofhisfiery-footedcavalry，shouldthePaganbefaithlessenoughtoembraceanopportunitythustempting。ButwhenshehintedthesesuspicionstoRichard，herepelledthemwithdispleasureanddisdain。Itwereworsethaningratitude，’’hesaid，todoubtthegoodfaithofthegenerousSoldan。’’
Yetthesamedoubtsandfearsrecurredmorethanonce，nottothetimidmindoftheQueenalone，buttothefirmerandmorecandidsoulofEdithPlantagenet，whohadnosuchconfidenceinthefaithoftheMoslemastorenderherperfectlyateasewhensomuchintheirpower；andhersurprisehadbeenfarlessthanherterror，ifthedesertaroundhadsuddenlyresoundedwiththeshoutofAllahu！andabandofArabcavalryhadpouncedonthemlikevulturesontheirprey。Norwerethesesuspicionslessened，when，aseveningapproached，theywereawareofasingleArabhorseman，distinguishedbyhisturbanandlonglance，hoveringontheedgeofasmalleminencelikeahawkpoisedintheair，andwhoinstantly，ontheappearanceoftheroyalretinue，dartedoffwiththespeedofthesamebird，whenitshootsdownthewindanddisappearsfromthehorizon。
Wemustbenearthestation，’’saidKingRichard；andyondercavalierisoneofSaladin’soutposts-methinksIhearthenoiseoftheMoorishhornsandcymbals。Getyouintoorder，myhearts，andformyourselvesaroundtheladiessoldier-likeandfirmly。’’
Ashespoke，eachknight，squire，andarcher，hastilyclosedinuponhisappointedground，andtheyproceededinthemostcompactorder，whichmadetheirnumbersappearstillsmaller；
andtosaythetruth，thoughtheremightbenofear，therewasanxietyaswellascuriosityintheattentionwithwhichtheylistenedtothewildburstsofMoorishmusic，whichcameeverandanonmoredistinctlyfromthequarterinwhichtheArabhorsemanhadbeenseentodisappear。
DeVauxspokeinawhispertotheKing-Wereitnotwell，myliege，tosendapagetothetopofthatsand-bank？OrwoulditstandwithyourpleasurethatIprickforward？Methinks，byallyonderclashandclang，iftherebenomorethanfivehundredmenbeyondthesand-hills，halfoftheSoldan’sretinuemustbedrummersandcymbal-tossers-ShallIspuron？’’
TheBaronhadcheckedhishorsewiththebit，andwasjustabouttostrikehimwiththespurs，whentheKingexclaimed-
Notfortheworld。Suchacautionwouldexpresssuspicion，andcoulddolittletopreventsurprise，which，however，Iapprehendnot。’’
Theyadvancedaccordinglyincloseandfirmordertilltheysurmountedthelineoflowsand-hills，andcameinsightoftheappointedstation，whenasplendid，butatthesametimeastartlingspectacle，awaitedthem。
TheDiamondoftheDesert，solatelyasolitaryfountain，distinguishedonlyamidthewastebysolitarygroupsofpalm-trees，wasnowthecentreofanencampment，theembroideredflagsandgildedornamentsofwhichglitteredfarandwide，andreflectedathousandrichtintsagainstthesettingsun。Thecoveringsofthelargepavilionswereofthegayestcolours，scarlet，brightyellow，paleblue，andothergaudyandgleaminghues，andthetopsoftheirpillars，ortent-poles，weredecoratedwithgoldenpomegranates，andsmallsilkenflags。But，besidesthesedistinguishedpavilions，therewerewhatThomasdeVauxconsideredasaportentousnumberoftheordinaryblacktentsoftheArabs，beingsufficient，asheconceived，toaccommodate，accordingtotheEasternfashion，ahostoffivethousandmen。
AnumberofArabsandCurds，fullycorrespondingtotheextentoftheencampment，werehastilyassembling，eachleadinghishorseinhishand，andtheirmusterwasaccompaniedbyanastonishingclamouroftheirnoisyinstrumentsofmartialmusic，bywhich，inallages，thewarfareoftheArabshasbeenanimated。
