Nomore，’’answeredEdith，thanIwouldhaverequiredhimtoexposehislifebyanaction，inwhichtherewasmoremadnessthanhonour。’’
Maidenstalkeverthus，’’saidtheKing；butwhenthefavouredloverpresseshissuit，shesays，withasigh，herstarshaddecreedotherwise。’’
YourGracehasnow，forthesecondtime，threatenedmewiththeinfluenceofmyhoroscope，’’Edithreplied，withdignity。
Trustme，myliege，whateverbethepowerofthestars，yourpoorkinswomanwillneverwedeitherinfidelorobscureadventurer-
Permitme，thatIlistentothemusicofBlondel，forthetoneofyourroyaladmonitionsisscarcesogratefultotheear。’’
Theconclusionoftheeveningofferednothingworthyofnotice。
Heardyethedinofbattlebray，Lancetolance，andhorsetohorse？
Gray。
Ithadbeenagreed，onaccountoftheheatoftheclimate，thatthejudicialcombat，whichwasthecauseofthepresentassemblageofvariousnationsattheDiamondoftheDesert，shouldtakeplaceatonehouraftersunrise。Thewidelists，whichhadbeenconstructedundertheinspectionoftheKnightoftheLeopard，enclosedaspaceofhardsand，whichwasonehundredandtwentyyardslongbyfortyinwidth。Theyextendedinlengthfromnorthtosouth，soastogivebothpartiestheequaladvantageoftherisingsun。Saladin’sroyalseatwaserectedonthewesternsideoftheenclosure，justinthecentre，wherethecombatantswereexpectedtomeetinmidencounter。Opposedtothiswasagallerywithclosedcasements，socontrived，thattheladies，forwhoseaccommodationitwaserected，mightseethefightwithoutbeingthemselvesexposedtoview。Ateitherextremityofthelistswasabarrier，whichcouldbeopenedorshutatpleasure。Throneshadbeenalsoerected，buttheArchduke，perceivingthathiswaslowerthanKingRichard’s，refusedtooccupyit；andCurdeLion，whowouldhavesubmittedtomuchereanyformalityshouldhaveinterferedwiththecombat，readilyagreedthatthesponsors，astheywerecalled，shouldremainonhorsebackduringthefight。AtoneextremityofthelistswereplacedthefollowersofRichard，andopposedtothemwerethosewhoaccompaniedthedefender，Conrade。AroundthethronedestinedfortheSoldanwererangedhissplendidGeorgianGuards，andtherestoftheenclosurewasoccupiedbyChristianandMohammedanspectators。
Longbeforedaybreak，thelistsweresurroundedbyevenalargernumberofSaracensthanRichardhadseenontheprecedingevening。Whenthefirstrayofthesun’sgloriousorbaroseabovethedesert，thesonorouscall，Toprayer，toprayer！’’
waspouredforthbytheSoldanhimself，andansweredbyothers，whoserankandzealentitledthemtoactasmuezzins。
Itwasastrikingspectacletoseethemallsinktoearth，forthepurposeofrepeatingtheirdevotions，withtheirfacesturnedtoMecca。Butwhentheyarosefromtheground，thesun’srays，nowstrengtheningfast，seemedtoconfirmtheLordofGilsland’sconjectureofthenightbefore。Theywereflashedbackfrommanyaspear-head，forthepointlesslancesoftheprecedingdaywerecertainlynolongersuch。DeVauxpointeditouttohismaster，whoansweredwithimpatience，thathehadperfectconfidenceinthegoodfaithoftheSoldan；butifDeVauxwasafraidofhisbulkybody，hemightretire。
Soonafterthisthenoiseoftimbrelswasheard，atthesoundofwhichthewholeSaracencavaliersthrewthemselvesfromtheirhorses，andprostratedthemselves，asifforasecondmorningprayer。ThiswastogiveanopportunitytotheQueen，withEdithandherattendants，topassfromthepaviliontothegalleryintendedforthem。FiftyguardsofSaladin’sseraglioescortedthem，withnakedsabres，whoseorderswere，tocuttopieceswhomsoever，wereheprinceorpeasant，shouldventuretogazeontheladiesastheypassed，orevenpresumetoraisehisheaduntilthecessationofthemusicshouldmakeallmenawarethattheywerelodgedintheirgallery，nottobegazedonbythecuriouseye。
ThissuperstitiousobservanceofOrientalreverencetothefairsexcalledforthfromQueenBerengariasomecriticismsveryunfavourabletoSaladinandhiscountry。Buttheirden，astheroyalfaircalledit，beingsecurelyclosedandguardedbytheirsableattendants，shewasunderthenecessityofcontentingherselfwithseeing，andlayingasideforthepresentthestillmoreexquisitepleasureofbeingseen。
Meantimethesponsorsofbothchampionswent，aswastheirduty，toseethattheyweredulyarmed，andpreparedforcombat。
TheArchdukeofAustriawasinnohurrytoperformthispartoftheceremony，havinghadratheranunusuallyseveredebauchuponwineofSchiraztheprecedingevening。ButtheGrandMasteroftheTemple，moredeeplyconcernedintheeventofthecombat，wasearlybeforethetentofConradeofMontserrat。Tohisgreatsurprise，theattendantsrefusedhimadmittance。
Doyounotknowme，yeknaves？’’saidtheGrandMasteringreatanger。
Wedo，mostvaliantandreverend，’’answeredConrade’ssquire；buteven_you_maynotatpresententer-theMarquisisabouttoconfesshimself。’’
Confesshimself！’’exclaimedtheTemplar，inatonewherealarmmingledwithsurpriseandscorn-andtowhomIpraythee？’’
Mymasterbidmebesecret，’’saidthesquire；onwhichtheGrandMasterpushedpasthim，andenteredthetentalmostbyforce。
TheMarquisofMontserratwaskneelingatthefeetoftheHermitofEngaddi，andintheactofbeginninghisconfession。
Whatmeansthis，Marquis？’’saidtheGrandMaster，up，forshame-or，ifyoumustneedsconfess，amnotIhere？’’
Ihaveconfessedtoyoutoooftenalready，’’repliedConrade，withapalecheekandafalteringvoice。ForGod’ssake，GrandMaster，begone，andletmeunfoldmyconsciencetothisholyman。’’
InwhatisheholierthanIam？’’saidtheGrandMaster。
Hermit，prophet，madman-say，ifthoudarest，inwhatthouexcellestme？’’
Boldandbadman，’’repliedtheHermit，knowthatIamlikethelatticedwindow，andthedivinelightpassesthroughtoavailothers，though，alas！ithelpethnotme。Thouartliketheironstanchions，whichneitherreceivelightthemselves，norcommunicateittoanyone。’’
Pratenottome，butdepartfromthistent，’’saidtheGrandMaster；theMarquisshallnotconfessthismorning，unlessitbetome，forIpartnotfromhisside。’’
Isthis_your_pleasure？’’saidtheHermittoConrade；forthinknotIwillobeythatproudman，ifyoucontinuetodesiremyassistance。’’
Alas！’’saidConradeirresolutely，whatwouldyouhavemesay？-Farewellforawhile-wewillspeakanon。’’
Oh，procrastination！’’exclaimedtheHermit，thouartasoul-murderer！-Unhappyman，farewell-notforawhile，butuntilwebothshallmeet-nomatterwhere-Andforthee，’’headded，turningtotheGrandMaster，=tremble！=’’
Tremble！’’repliedtheTemplarcontemptuously，Icannot，ifIwould。’’
TheHermitheardnothisanswer，havingleftthetent。
Come！tothisgearhastily，’’saidtheGrandMaster，sincethouwiltneedsgothroughthefoolery。Harkthee-IthinkI
knowmostofthyfrailtiesbyheart，sowemayomitthedetail，whichmaybesomewhatalongone，andbeginwiththeabsolution。
Whatsignifiescountingthespotsofdirtthatweareabouttowashfromourhands？’’
Knowingwhatthouartthyself，’’saidConrade，itisblasphemoustospeakofpardoninganother。’’
Thatisnotaccordingtothecanon，LordMarquis，’’saidtheTemplar-thouartmorescrupulousthanorthodox。Theabsolutionofthewickedpriestisaseffectualasifhewerehimselfasaint-otherwiseGodhelpthepoorpenitent！Whatwoundedmaninquireswhetherthesurgeonthattentshisgasheshavecleanhandsorno？-Come，shallwetothistoy？’’
No，’’saidConrade，Iwillratherdieunconfessedthanmockthesacrament。’’
Come，nobleMarquis，’’saidtheTemplar，rouseupyourcourage，andspeaknotthus。Inanhour’stimethoushaltstandvictoriousinthelists，orconfesstheeinthyhelmet，likeavaliantknight。’’
Alas，GrandMaster！’’answeredConrade，allaugursillforthisaffair。Thestrangediscoverybytheinstinctofadog-therevivalofthisScottishknight，whocomesintothelistslikeaspectre-allbetokensevil。’’
Pshaw！’’saidtheTemplar，Ihaveseentheebendthylanceboldlyagainsthiminsport，andwithequalchanceofsuccess-thinkthouartbutinatournament，andwhobearshimbetterinthetilt-yardthanthou？-Come，squiresandarmourers，yourmastermustbeaccoutredforthefield。’’
Theattendantsenteredaccordingly，andbegantoarmtheMarquis。
Whatmorningiswithout？’’saidConrade。
Thesunrisesdimly，’’answeredasquire。
Thouseest，GrandMaster，’’saidConrade，noughtsmilesonus。’’
Thouwiltfightthemorecoolly，myson，’’answeredtheTemplar；thankHeaventhathathtemperedthesunPalestinetosuitthyoccasion。’’
ThusjestedtheGrandMaster；buthisjestshadlosttheirinfluenceontheharassedmindoftheMarquis，and，notwithstandinghisattemptstoseemgay，hisgloomcommunicateditselftotheTemplar。
Thiscraven，’’hethought，willlosethedayinpurefaintnessandcowardiceofheart，whichhecallstenderconscience。
I，whomvisionsandauguriesshakenot-whoamfirminmypurposeasthelivingrock-Ishouldhavefoughtthecombatmyself-WouldtoGodtheScotmaystrikehimdeadonthespot-itwerenextbesttohiswinningthevictory。But，comewhatwill，hemusthavenootherconfessorthanmyself-oursinsaretoomuchincommon，andhemightconfessmysharewithhisown。’’
Whilethesethoughtspassedthroughhismind，hecontinuedtoassisttheMarquisinarming，butitwasinsilence。
Thehouratlengtharrived，thetrumpetssounded，theknightsrodeintothelistsarmedatallpoints，andmountedlikemenwhoweretodobattleforakingdom’shonour。Theyworetheirvizorsup，andridingaroundtheliststhreetimes，showedthemselvestothespectators。Bothweregoodlypersons，andbothhadnoblecountenances。ButtherewasanairofmanlyconfidenceonthebrowoftheScot-aradiancyofhope，whichamountedeventocheerfulness，while，althoughprideandefforthadrecalledmuchofConrade’snaturalcourage，thereloweredstillonhisbrowacloudofominousdespondence。Evenhissteedseemedtotreadlesslightlyandblithelytothetrumpet-soundthanthenobleArabwhichwasbestrodebySirKenneth；
andthe_spruch-sprecher_shookhisheadwhileheobserved，thatwhilethechallengerrodearoundthelistsinthecourseofthesun-thatis，fromrighttoleft-thedefendermadethesamecircuit_widdersins_-thatis，fromlefttoright-whichisinmostcountriesheldominous。
AtemporaryaltarwaserectedjustbeneaththegalleryoccupiedbytheQueen，andbesideitstoodtheHermitinthedressofhisorder，asaCarmelitefriar。Otherchurchmenwerealsopresent。
Tothisaltarthechallengeranddefenderweresuccessivelybroughtforward，conductedbytheirrespectivesponsors。Dismountingbeforeit，eachknightavouchedthejusticeofhiscausebyasolemnoathontheEvangelists，andprayedthathissuccessmightbeaccordingtothetruthorfalsehoodofwhathethenswore。Theyalsomadeoath，thattheycametodobattleinknightlyguise，andwiththeusualweapons，disclaimingtheuseofspells，charms，ormagicaldevices，toinclinevictorytotheirside。Thechallengerpronouncedhisvowwithafirmandmanlyvoice，andaboldandcheerfulcountenance。Whentheceremonywasfinished，theScottishKnightlookedatthegallery，andbenthisheadtotheearth，asifinhonourofthoseinvisiblebeautieswhichwereenclosedwithin；then，loadedwitharmourashewas，sprungtothesaddlewithouttheuseofthestirrup，andmadehiscoursercarryhiminasuccessionofcaracolestohisstationattheeasternextremityofthelists。Conradealsopresentedhimselfbeforethealtarwithboldnessenough；buthisvoice，ashetooktheoath，soundedhollow，asifdrownedinhishelmet。ThelipswithwhichheappealedtoHeaventoadjudgevictorytothejustquarrel，grewwhiteastheyutteredtheimpiousmockery。Asheturnedtoremounthishorse，theGrandMasterapproachedhimcloser，asiftorectifysomethingaboutthesittingofhisgorget，andwhispered，-Cowardandfool！-
recallthysenses，anddomethisbattlebravely，else，byHeaven，shouldstthouescapehim，thouescapestnot_me！_’’
