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！_’’