RichardwasthuscalledbytheEasternnations。
　　shouldthusspeakofhisservant-Butnow，letmeprayyouagaintocomposeyourselfonyourcouch；forthoughIthinkthereneedsnofartherrepetitionofthedivinedraught，yetinjurymightensuefromanytooearlyexertion，ereyourstrengthbeentirelyrestored。’’
　　Imustobeythee，Hakim，’’saidtheKing；yet，believeme，mybosomfeelssofreefromthewastingfire，whichforsomanydayshathscorchedit，thatIcarenothowsoonIexposeittoabraveman’slance-Buthark！whatmeantheseshouts，andthatdistantmusic，inthecamp？Go，ThomasdeVaux，andmakeinquiry。’’
　　ItistheArchdukeLeopold，’’saidDeVaux，returningafteraminute’sabsence，whomakeswithhispotcompanionssomeprocessionthroughthecamp。’’
　　Thedrunkenfool！’’exclaimedKingRichard，canhenotkeephisbrutalinebrietywithintheveilofhispavilion，thathemustneedsshowhisshametoallChristendom？-Whatsayyou，SirMarquis？’’headded，addressinghimselftoConradeofMontserrat，whoatthatmomententeredthetent。
　　Thusmuch，honouredPrince，’’answeredtheMarquis，thatIdelighttoseeyourMajestysowell，andsofarrecovered；andthatisalongspeechforanyonetomakewhohaspartakenoftheDukeofAustria’shospitality’’
　　What！youhavebeendiningwiththeTeutonicwineskin，’’
　　saidthemonarch；andwhatfrolichashefoundouttocauseallthisdisturbance？Truly，SirConrade，Ihavestillheldyousogoodareveller，thatIwonderatyourquittingthegame。’’
　　DeVaux，whohadgotalittlebehindtheKing，nowexertedhimself，bylookandsign，tomaketheMarquisunderstandthatheshouldsaynothingtoRichardofwhatwaspassingwithout。
　　ButConradeunderstoodnot，orheedednot，theprohibition。
　　WhattheArchdukedoes，’’hesaid，isoflittleconsequencetoanyone，leastofalltohimself，sinceheprobablyknowsnotwhatheisacting-yet，tosaytruth，itisagambolIshouldnotliketosharein，sinceheispullingdownthebannerofEnglandfromSaintGeorge’sMountinthecentreofthecampyonder，anddisplayinghisowninitsstead。’’
　　=What=say’stthou？’’saidtheKing，inatonewhichmighthavewakedthedead。
　　Nay，’’saidtheMarquis，letitnotchafeyourHighness，thatafoolshouldactaccordingtohisfolly’’-
　　Speaknottome，’’saidRichard，springingfromhiscouch，andcastingonhisclotheswithadespatchwhichseemedmarvellous-
　　speaknottome，LordMarquis！-DeMulton，I
　　commandtheespeaknotawordtome-hethatbreathesbutasyllableisnofriendtoRichardPlantagenet-Hakim，besilent，Ichargethee！’’
　　AllthiswhiletheKingwashastilyclothinghimself，and，withthelastword，snatchedhisswordfromthepillarofthetent，andwithoutanyotherweapon，orcallinganyattendance，herushedoutofthetent。Conrade，holdinguphishands，asifinastonishment，seemedwillingtoenterintoconversationwithDeVaux，butSirThomaspushedrudelypasthim，andcallingtooneoftheroyalequerries，saidhastily，-FlytoLordSalisbury’squarters，andlethimgethismentogether，andfollowmeinstantlytoSaintGeorge’sMount。TellhimtheKing’sfeverhaslefthisblood，andsettledinhisbrain。’’
　　Imperfectlyheard，andstillmoreimperfectlycomprehended，bythestartledattendantwhomDeVauxaddressedthushastily，theequerryandhisfellow-servantsoftheroyalchamberrushedhastilyintothetentsoftheneighbouringnobility，andquicklyspreadanalarm，asgeneralasthecauseseemedvague，throughthewholeBritishforces。TheEnglishsoldiers，wakedinalarmfromthatnoon-dayrestwhichtheheatoftheclimatehadtaughtthemtoenjoyasaluxury，hastilyaskedeachotherthecauseofthetumult，and，withoutwaitingananswer，supplied，bytheforceoftheirownfancy，thewantofinformation。SomesaidtheSaracenswereinthecamp，somethattheKing’slifewasattempted，somethathehaddiedofthefevertheprecedingnight，manythathewasassassinatedbytheDukeofAustria。
　　Thenoblesandofficers，atanequallosswiththecommonmentoascertaintherealcauseofthedisorder，labouredonlytogettheirfollowersunderarmsandunderauthority，lesttheirrashnessshouldoccasionsomegreatmisfortunetotheCrusadingarmy。TheEnglishtrumpetssoundedloud，shrill，andcontinuously。
　　Thealarm-cryofBowsandbills-bowsandbills！’’
　　washeardfromquartertoquarter，againandagainshouted，andagainandagainansweredbythepresenceofthereadywarriors，andtheirnationalinvocation，SaintGeorgeforMerryEngland！’’
　　Thealarmwentthroughthenearestquarterofthecamp，andmenofallthevariousnationsassembled，where，perhaps，everypeopleinChristendomhadtheirrepresentatives，flewtoarms，anddrewtogetherundercircumstancesofgeneralconfusion，ofwhichtheyknewneitherthecausenortheobject。
　　Itwas，however，lucky，amidascenesothreatening，thattheEarlofSalisbury，whilehehurriedafterDeVaux’ssummons，withafewonlyofthereadiestEnglishmen-at-arms，directedtherestoftheEnglishhosttobedrawnupandkeptunderarms，toadvancetoRichard’ssuccourifnecessityshouldrequire，butinfitarray，andunderduecommand，andnotwiththetumultuaryhastewhichtheirownalarm，andzealfortheKing’ssafety，mighthavedictated。
　　Inthemeanwhile，withoutregardingforoneinstanttheshouts，thecries，thetumult，whichbegantothickenaroundhim，Richard，withhisdressinthelastdisorder，andhissheathedbladeunderhisarm，pursuedhiswaywiththeutmostspeed，followedonlybyDeVaux，andoneortwohouseholdservants，toSaintGeorge’sMount。
　　Heoutspedeventhealarmwhichhisimpetuosityonlyhadexcited，andpassedthequarterofhisowngallanttroopsofNormandy，Poitou，Gascony，andAnjou，beforethedisturbancehadreachedthem，althoughthenoiseaccompanyingtheGermanrevelhadinducedmanyofthesoldierytogetonfoottolisten。
　　ThehandfulofScotswerealsoquarteredinthevicinity，norhadtheybeendisturbedbytheuproar。ButtheKing’sperson，andhishaste，werebothremarkedbytheKnightoftheLeopard，who，awarethatdangermustbeafoot，andhasteningtoshareinit，snatchedhisshieldandsword，andunitedhimselftoDeVaux，who，withsomedifficulty，keptwithhisimpatientandfierymaster。DeVauxansweredalookofcuriosity，whichtheScottishknightdirectedtowardshim，withashrugofhisbroadshoulders，andtheycontinued，sidebyside，topursueRichard’ssteps。
　　TheKingwassoonatthefootofSaintGeorge’sMount，thesidesaswellasplatformofwhichwerenowsurroundedandcrowded，partlybythosebelongingtotheDukeofAustria’sretinue，whowerecelebrating，withshoutsofjubilee，theactwhichtheyconsideredasanassertionofnationalhonour；partlybybystandersofdifferentnations，whomdisliketotheEnglish，ormerecuriosity，hadassembledtogether，towitnesstheendoftheseextraordinaryproceedings。ThroughthisdisorderlytroopRichardbursthisway，likeagoodlyshipunderfullsail，whichcleavesherforciblepassagethroughtherollingbillows，andheedsnotthattheyuniteafterherpassage，androaruponherstem。
　　Thesummitoftheeminencewasasmalllevelspace，onwhichwerepitchedtherivalbanners，surroundedstillbytheArchduke’sfriendsandretinue。InthemidstofthecirclewasLeopoldhimself，stillcontemplatingwithself-satisfactionthedeedhehaddone，andstilllisteningtotheshoutsofapplausewhichhispartisansbestowedwithnosparingbreath。Whilehewasinthisstateofself-gratulation，Richardburstintothecircle，attended，indeed，onlybytwomen，butinhisownhead-longenergiesanirresistiblehost。
　　Whohasdared，’’hesaid，layinghishandsupontheAustrianstandard，andspeakinginavoicelikethesoundwhichprecedesanearthquake；whohasdaredtoplacethispaltryragbesidethebannerofEngland？’’
　　TheArchdukewantednotpersonalcourage，anditwasimpossiblehecouldhearthisquestionwithoutreply。Yet，somuchwashetroubledandsurprisedbytheunexpectedarrivalofRichard，andaffectedbythegeneralaweinspiredbyhisardentandunyieldingcharacter，thatthedemandwastwicerepeated，inatonewhichseemedtochallengeheavenandearth，eretheArchdukereplied，withsuchfirmnessashecouldcommand，ItwasI，LeopoldofAustria。’’
　　ThenshallLeopoldofAustria，’’repliedRichard，presentlyseetherateatwhichhisbannerandhispretensionsareheldbyRichardofEngland。’’
　　Sosaying，hepulledupthestandard-spear，splinteredittopieces，threwthebanneritselfontheground，andplacedhisfootuponit。
　　Thus，’’saidhe，ItrampleonthebannerofAustria-IsthereaknightamongyourTeutonicchivalry，dareimpeachmydeed？’’
　　Therewasamomentarysilence；buttherearenobravermenthantheGermans。
　　I，’’andI，’’andI，’’washeardfromseveralknightsoftheDuke’sfollowers；andhehimselfaddedhisvoicetothosewhichacceptedtheKingofEngland’sdefiance。
　　Whydowedallythus？’’saidtheEarlWallenrode，agiganticwarriorfromthefrontiersofHungary:Brethren，andnoblegentlemen，thisman’sfootisonthehonourofyourcountry-Letusrescueitfromviolation，anddownwiththeprideofEngland！’’
　　Sosaying，hedrewhissword，andstruckattheKingablowwhichmighthaveprovedfatal，hadnottheScotinterceptedandcaughtituponhisshield。
　　Ihavesworn，’’saidKingRichard-andhisvoicewasheardaboveallthetumult，whichnowwaxedwildandloud-
　　nevertostrikeonewhoseshoulderbearsthecross；thereforelive，Wallenrode-butlivetorememberRichardofEngland。’’
　　Ashespoke，hegraspedthetallHungarianroundthewaist，and，unmatchedinwrestling，asinothermilitaryexercises，hurledhimbackwardswithsuchviolence，thatthemassflewasifdischargedfromamilitaryengine，notonlythroughtheringofspectatorswhowitnessedtheextraordinaryscene，butovertheedgeofthemountitself，downthesteepsideofwhichWallenroderolledheadlong，until，pitchingatlengthuponhisshoulder，hedislocatedthebone，andlaylikeonedead。ThisalmostsupernaturaldisplayofstrengthdidnotencourageeithertheDukeoranyofhisfollowerstorenewapersonalcontestsoinauspiciouslycommenced。Thosewhostoodfarthestbackdid，indeed，clashtheirswords，andcryout，Cuttheislandmastifftopieces！’’butthosewhowerenearerveiled，perhaps，theirpersonalfearsunderanaffectedregardfororder，andcried，forthemostpart，Peace！peace！thepeaceoftheCross-thepeaceofHolyChurchandourFatherthePope！’’
　　Thesevariouscriesoftheassailants，contradictingeachother，showedtheirirresolution；whileRichard，hisfootstillonthearchducalbanner，glaredroundhim，withaneyethatseemedtoseekanenemy，andfromwhichtheangrynoblesshrunkappalled，asfromthethreatenedgraspofalion。DeVauxandtheKnightoftheLeopardkepttheirplacesbesidehim；andthoughtheswordswhichtheyheldwerestillsheathed，itwasplainthattheywereprompttoprotectRichard’spersontotheverylast，andtheirsizeandremarkablestrengthplainlyshowedthedefencewouldbeadesperateone。
　　Salisburyandhisattendantswerealsonowdrawingnear，withbillsandpartisansbrandished，andbowsalreadybended。
　　Atthismoment，KingPhilipofFrance，attendedbyoneortwoofhisnobles，cameontheplatformtoinquirethecauseofthedisturbance，andmadegesturesofsurpriseatfindingtheKingofEnglandraisedfromhissick-bed，andconfrontingtheircommonallytheDukeofAustriainsuchamenacingandinsultingposture。RichardhimselfblushedatbeingdiscoveredbyPhilip，whosesagacityherespectedasmuchashedislikedhisperson，inanattitudeneitherbecominghischaracterasamonarch，norasaCrusader；anditwasobservedthathewithdrewhisfoot，asifaccidentally，fromthedishonouredbanner，andexchangedhislookofviolentemotionforoneofaffectedcomposureandindifference。Leopoldalsostruggledtoattainsomedegreeofcalmness，mortifiedashewasbyhavingbeenseenbyPhilipintheactofpassivelysubmittingtotheinsultsofthefieryKingofEngland。
　　PossessedofmanyofthoseroyalqualitiesforwhichhewastermedbyhissubjectstheAugust，PhilipmightbetermedtheUlysses，asRichardwasindisputablytheAchilles，oftheCrusade。TheKingofFrancewassagacious，wise，deliberateincouncil，steadyandcalminaction，seeingclearly，andsteadilypursuing，themeasuresmostfortheinterestofhiskingdom-
　　dignifiedandroyalinhisdeportment，braveinperson，butapoliticianratherthanawarrior。TheCrusadewouldhavebeennochoiceofhisown，butthespiritwascontagious，andtheexpeditionwasenforceduponhimbythechurch，andbytheunanimouswishofhisnobility。Inanyothersituation，orinamilderage，hischaractermighthavestoodhigherthanthatoftheadventurousCurdeLion。ButintheCrusade，itselfanundertakingwhollyirrational，soundreasonwasthequality，ofallothers，leastestimated，andthechivalricvalourwhichboththeageandtheenterprisedemanded，wasconsideredasdebased，ifmingledwiththeleasttouchofdiscretion。SothatthemeritofPhilip，comparedwiththatofhishaughtyrival，showedliketheclearbutminuteflameofalamp，placedneartheglareofahugeblazingtorch，which，notpossessinghalftheutility，makestentimesmoreimpressionontheeye。Philipfelthisinferiorityinpublicopinionwiththepainnaturaltoahigh-spiritedprince；anditcannotbewonderedatifhetooksuchopportunitiesasofferedforplacinghisowncharacterinmoreadvantageouscontrastwiththatofhisrival。Thepresentseemedoneofthoseoccasionsinwhichprudenceandcalmnessmightreasonablyexpecttotriumphoverobstinacyandimpetuousviolence。