Suchadueltherehathindeedbeen，royalbrother，’’answeredPhilip，andthatinthereignofoneofourpredecessors，towhomGodbegracious。Butitwasintheoldentime，norcanweholditaprecedentfittingforthisoccasion。Thedefendantinthatcasewasaprivategentleman，ofsmallrankorrespect；
　　hisoffensiveweaponswereonlyaclub，hisdefensivealeathernjerkin。Butwecannotdegradeaprincetothedisgraceofusingsuchrudearms，ortotheignominyofsuchacombat。’’
　　Inevermeantthatyoushould，’’saidKingRichard；itwerefoulplaytohazardthegoodhound’slifeagainstthatofsuchadouble-facedtraitorasthisConradehathprovedhimself。
　　Butthereliesourownglove-weappealhimtothecombatinrespectoftheevidencewebroughtforthagainsthim-aking，atleast，ismorethanthemateofamarquis。’’
　　ConrademadenohastyefforttoseizeonthepledgewhichRichardcastintothemiddleoftheassembly，andKingPhiliphadtimetoreply，eretheMarquismadeamotiontolifttheglove。
　　Aking，’’saidheofFrance，isasmuchmorethanamatchfortheMarquisConrade，asadogwouldbeless。RoyalRichard，thiscannotbepermitted。Youaretheleaderofourexpedition-theswordandbucklerofChristendom。’’
　　Iprotestagainstsuchacombat，’’saidtheVenetianproveditore，untiltheKingofEnglandshallhaverepaidthefiftythousandbezantswhichheisindebtedtotherepublic。Itisenoughtobethreatenedwiththelossofourdebt，shouldourdebtorfallbythehandsofthepagans，withouttheadditionalriskofhisbeingslaininbrawlsamongstChristians，concerningdogsandbanners。’’
　　AndI，’’saidWilliamwiththeLongSword，EarlofSalisbury，protestinmyturnagainstmyroyalbrotherperillinghislife，whichisthepropertyofthepeopleofEngland，insuchacause-Here，noblebrother，receivebackyourglove，andthinkonlyasifthewindhadblownitfromyourhand。Mineshalllieinitsstead。Aking’sson，thoughwiththebarsinisteronhisshield，isatleastamatchforthismarmozetofaMarquis。’’
　　Princesandnobles，’’saidConrade，IwillnotacceptofKingRichard’sdefiance。HehathbeenchosenourleaderagainsttheSaracens，andif_his_consciencecananswertheaccusationofprovokinganallytothefieldonaquarrelsofrivolous，mine，atleast，cannotendurethereproachofacceptingit。Buttouchinghisbastardbrother，WilliamofWoodstock，oragainstanyotherwhoshalladopt，orshalldaretostandgodfathertothismostfalsecharge，Iwilldefendmyhonourinthelists，andprovewhosoeverimpeachesitafalseliar。’’
　　TheMarquisofMontserrat，’’saidtheArchbishopofTyre，hathspokenlikeawiseandmoderategentleman；andmethinksthiscontroversymight，withoutdishonourtoanyparty，endatthispoint。’’
　　Methinksitmightsoterminate，’’saidtheKingofFrance，providedKingRichardwillrecallhisaccusation，asmadeuponoverslightgrounds。’’
　　PhilipofFrance，’’answeredCurdeLion，mywordsshallneverdomythoughtssomuchinjury。IhavechargedyonderConradeasathief，who，undercloudofnight，stolefromitsplacetheemblemofEngland’sdignity。Istillbelieveandchargehimtobesuch；andwhenadayisappointedforthecombat，doubtnotthat，sinceConradedeclinestomeetusinperson，Iwillfindachampiontoappearinsupportofmychallenge；forthou，William，mustnotthrustthylongswordintothisquarrelwithoutourspeciallicense。’’
　　Sincemyrankmakesmearbiterinthismostunhappymatter，’’saidPhilipofFrance，Iappointthefifthdayfromhenceforthedecisionthereof，bywayofcombat，accordingtoknightlyusageRichard，KingofEngland，toappearbyhischampionasappellant，andConrade，MarquisofMontserrat，inhisownpersonasdefendant。YetIown，Iknownotwheretofindneutralgroundwheresuchaquarrelmaybefoughtout；
　　foritmustnotbeintheneighbourhoodofthiscamp，wherethesoldierswouldmakefactiononthedifferentsides。’’
　　Itwerewell，’’saidRichard，toapplytothegenerosityoftheroyalSaladin，since，heathenasheis，Ihaveneverknownknightmorefulfilledofnobleness，ortowhosegoodfaithwemaysoperemptorilyintrustourselves。Ispeakthusforthosewhomaybedoubtfulofmishap-formyself，whereverIseemyfoe，Imakethatspotmybattle-ground。’’
　　Beitso，’’saidPhilip；wewillmakethismatterknowntoSaladin，althoughitbeshowingtoanenemytheunhappyspiritofdiscordwhichwewouldwillinglyhidefromourselves，wereitpossible。Meanwhile，Idismissthisassembly，andchargeyouall，asChristianmenandnobleknights，thatyeletthisunhappyfeudbreednofartherbrawlinginthecamp，butregarditasathingsolemnlyreferredtothejudgmentofGod，towhomeachofyoushouldpraythathewilldisposeofvictoryinthecombataccordingtothetruthofthequarrel；andtherewithmayHiswillbedone！’’
　　Amen，Amen！’’wasansweredonallsides；whiletheTemplarwhisperedtheMarquis:Conrade，wiltthounotaddapetitiontobedeliveredfromthepowerofthedog，asthePsalmisthathit？’’
　　Peace，thou-！’’repliedtheMarquis；thereisarevealingdemonabroad，whichmayreport，amongstothertidings，howfarthoudostcarrythemottooftheorder-_FeriaturLeo。_’’
　　Thouwiltstandthebruntofchallenge？’’saidtheTemplar。
　　Doubtmenot，’’saidConrade。Iwouldnot，indeed，havewillinglymettheironarmofRichardhimself，andIshamenottoconfessthatIrejoicetobefreeofhisencounter。But，fromhisbastardbrotherdownward，themanbreathesnotinhisrankswhomIfeartomeet。’’
　　Itiswellyouaresoconfident，’’continuedtheTemplarandinthatcase，thefangsofyonderhoundhavedonemoretodissolvethisleagueofprinces，thaneitherthydevicesorthedaggeroftheCharegite。Seestthouhow，underabrowstudiouslyoverclouded，Philipcannotconcealthesatisfactionwhichhefeelsattheprospectofreleasefromthealliancewhichsatsoheavyonhim？MarkhowHenryofChampagnesmilestohimself，likeasparklinggobletofhisownwine-
　　andseethechucklingdelightofAustria，whothinkshisquarrelisabouttobeavenged，withoutriskortroubleofhisown。Hush，heapproaches-Amostgrievouschance，mostroyalAustria，thatthesebreachesinthewallsofourZion’’-
　　IfthoumeanestthisCrusade，’’repliedtheDuke，Iwoulditwerecrumbledtopieces，andeachweresafeathome！-I
　　speakthisinconfidence。’’
　　But，’’saidtheMarquisofMontserrat，tothinkthisdisunionshouldbemadebythehandsofKingRichard，forwhosepleasurewehavebeencontentedtoenduresomuch，andtowhomwehavebeenassubmissiveasslavestoamaster，inhopesthathewouldusehisvalouragainstourenemies，insteadofexercisingituponourfriends！’’
　　Iseenotthatheissomuchmorevalorousthanothers，’’
　　saidtheArchduke。Ibelieve，hadthenobleMarquismethiminthelists，hewouldhavehadthebetter；forthoughtheislanderdealsheavyblowswiththepole-axe，heisnotsoverydexterouswiththelance。Ishouldhavecaredlittletohavemethimmyselfonouroldquarrel，hadthewealofChristendompermittedtosovereignprincestobreathethemselvesinthelists-Andifthoudesirestit，nobleMarquis，Iwillmyselfbeyourgodfatherinthiscombat。’’
　　AndIalso，’’saidtheGrandMaster。
　　Come，then，andtakeyournooninginourtent，noblesirs，’’
　　saidtheDuke，andwe’llspeakofthisbusiness，oversomeright_nierenstein。_’’
　　Theyenteredtogetheraccordingly。
　　Whatsaidourpatronandthesegreatfolkstogether？’’saidJonasSchwankertohiscompanion，the_spruch-sprecher_，whohadusedthefreedomtopressnightohismasterwhenthecouncilwasdismissed，whilethejesterwaitedatamorerespectfuldistance。
　　ServantofFolly，’’saidthe_spruch-sprecher_，moderatethycuriosity-itbeseemsnotthatIshouldtelltotheethecounselsofourmaster。’’
　　ManofWisdom，youmistake，’’answeredJonas；weareboththeconstantattendantsonourpatron，anditconcernsusaliketoknowwhetherthouorI-WisdomorFolly，havethedeeperinterestinhim。’’
　　HetoldtotheMarquis，’’answeredthe_spruch-sprecher_，andtotheGrandMaster，thathewasawearyofthesewars，andwouldbegladhewassafeathome。’’
　　Thatisadrawncast，andcountsfornothinginthegame，’’
　　saidthejester；itwasmostwisetothinkthus，butgreatfollytotellittoothers-proceed。’’
　　Ha，hem，’’saidthe_spruch-sprecher_；henextsaidtothem，thatRichardwasnotmorevalorousthanothers，oroverdexterousinthetilt-yard。’’
　　Woodcockofmyside，’’saidSchwanker；thiswasegregiousfolly。Whatnext？’’
　　Nay，Iamsomethingoblivious，’’repliedthemanofwisdom；
　　heinvitedthemtoagobletof_nierenstein。_’’
　　Thathathashowofwisdominit，’’saidJonas，thoumay’stmarkittothycreditinthemeantime；butanhedrinktoomuch，asismostlikely，Iwillhaveitpasstomine。Anythingmore？’’
　　Nothingworthmemory，’’answeredtheorator，onlyhewishedhehadtakentheoccasiontomeetRichardinthelists。’’
　　Outuponit-outuponit！’’saidJonas-thisissuchdotageoffolly，thatIamwell-nighashamedofwinningthegamebyit-Ne’ertheless，foolasheis，wewillfollowhim，mostsage_spruch-sprecher_，andhaveourshareofthewineof_nierenstein。_’’
　　Yetthisinconsistencyissuch，Asthou，too，shaltadore；
　　Icouldnotlovethee，love，somuch，LovedInothonourmore。
　　Montrose’sLines。
　　WhenKingRichardreturnedtohistent，hecommandedtheNubiantobebroughtbeforehim。Heenteredwithhisusualceremonialreverence，andhavingprostratedhimself，remainedstandingbeforetheKing，intheattitudeofaslaveawaitingtheordersofhismaster。Itwasperhapswellforhim，thatthepreservationofhischaracterrequiredhiseyestobefixedontheground，sincethekeenglancewithwhichRichardforsometimesurveyedhiminsilence，would，iffullyencountered，havebeendifficulttosustain。
　　Thoucanstwellofwood-craft，’’saidtheKing，afterapause，andhaststartedthygameandbroughthimtobay，asablyasifTristremhimselfhadtaughtthee。Butthisisnotall-
　　*Auniversaltradition，ascribedtoSirTristrem，famousforhisloveof*thefairQueenYseult-thelawsconcerningthepracticeofwoodcraft，or*_venerie，_asitwascalled，beingthosethatrelatedtotherulesofthechase，*woredeemedofmuchconsequenceduringthemiddleages。
　　hemustbebroughtdownatforce；Imyselfwouldhavelikedtohavelevelledmyhunting-spearathim。Thereare，itseems，respectswhichpreventthis。ThouartabouttoreturntothecampoftheSoldan，bearingaletter，requiringofhiscourtesytoappointneutralgroundforthedeedofchivalry，and，shoulditconsistwithhispleasure，toconcurwithusinwitnessingit。
　　Now，speakingconjecturally，wethinkthoumight’stfindinthatcampsomecavalier，who，fortheloveoftruth，andhisownaugmentationofhonour，willdobattlewiththissametraitorofMontserrat。’’
　　TheNubianraisedhiseyesandfixedthemontheKingwithalookofeagerardour；thenraisedthemtoHeavenwithsuchsolemngratitude，thatthewatersoonglistenedinthem-thenbenthishead，asaffirmingwhatRicharddesired，andresumedhisusualpostureofsubmissiveattention。
　　Itiswell，’’saidtheKing；andIseethydesiretoobligemeinthismatter。Andherein，Imustneedssay，liestheexcellenceofsuchaservantasthou，whohastnotspeecheithertodebateourpurpose，ortorequireexplanationofwhatwehavedetermined。AnEnglishserving-man，inthyplace，hadgivenmehisdoggedadvicetotrustthecombatwithsomegoodlanceofmyhousehold，who，frommybrotherLong-Sworddownwards，areallonfiretodobattleinmycause；andachatteringFrenchmanhadmadeathousandattemptstodiscoverwhereforeIlookforachampionfromthecampoftheinfidels。Butthou，mysilentagent，canstdomineerrandwithoutquestioningorcomprehendingit；withthee，tohearistoobey。’’