Ihaddesignedotherwise，’’saidSaladin，buthadInothastenedhisdoom，ithadbeenaltogetheraverted，since，ifIhadpermittedhimtotasteofmycup，ashewasabouttodo，howcouldI，withoutincurringthebrandofinhospitality，havedonehimtodeathashedeserved？Hadhemurderedmyfather，andafterwardspartakenofmyfoodandmybowl，notahairofhisheadcouldhavebeeninjuredbyme。Butenoughofhim-lethiscarcassandhismemoryberemovedfromamongstus。’’
　　Thebodywascarriedaway，andthemarksoftheslaughterobliteratedorconcealedwithsuchreadydexterity，asshowedthatthecasewasnotaltogethersouncommonastoparalysetheassistantsandofficersofSaladin’shousehold。
　　ButtheChristianprincesfeltthatthescenewhichtheyhadbeheldweighedheavilyontheirspirits，andalthough，atthecourteousinvitationoftheSoldan，theyassumedtheirseatsatthebanquet，yetitwaswiththesilenceofdoubtandamazement。
　　ThespiritsofRichardalonesurmountedallcauseforsuspicionorembarrassment。Yethe，too，seemedtoruminateonsomeproposition，asifheweredesirousofmakingitinthemostinsinuatingandacceptablemannerwhichwaspossible。Atlengthhedrankoffalargebowlofwine，andaddressingtheSoldan，desiredtoknowwhetheritwasnottruethathehadhonouredtheEarlofHuntingdonwithapersonalencounter。
　　Saladinansweredwithasmile，thathehadprovedhishorseandhisweaponswiththeheirofScotland，ascavaliersarewonttodowitheachotherwhentheymeetinthedesert-andmodestlyadded，thatthoughthecombatwasnotentirelydecisive，hehadnot，onhispart，muchreasontopridehimselfontheevent。TheScot，ontheotherhand，disclaimedtheattributedsuperiority，andwishedtoassignittotheSoldan。
　　Enoughofhonourthouhasthadintheencounter，’’saidRichard，andIenvytheemoreforthat，thanforthesmilesofEdithPlantagenet，thoughoneofthemmightrewardabloodyday’swork-Butwhatsayyou，nobleprinces；isitfittingthatsucharoyalringofchivalryshouldbreakupwithoutsomethingbeingdoneforfuturetimestospeakof？Whatistheoverthrowanddeathofatraitor，tosuchafairgarlandofhonourasishereassembled，andwhichoughtnottopartwithoutwitnessingsomethingmoreworthyoftheirregard？Howsayyou，princelySoldan-Whatifwetwoshouldnow，andbeforethisfaircompany，decidethelong-contendedquestionforthislandofPalestine，andendatoncethesetediouswars？Yonderarethelistsready，norcanPaynimrieeverhopeabetterchampionthanthou。I，unlessworthieroffers，willlaydownmygauntletinbehalfofChristendom，and，inallloveandhonour，wewilldomortalbattleforthepossessionofJerusalem。’’
　　TherewasadeeppausefortheSoldan’sanswer。Hischeekandbrowcolouredhighly，anditwastheopinionofmanypresent，thathehesitatedwhetherheshouldacceptthechallenge。
　　Atlengthhesaid，FightingfortheHolyCityagainstthosewhomweregardasidolaters，andworshippersofstocksandstones，andgravenimages，ImightconfidethatAllahwouldstrengthenmyarm；orifIfellbeneaththeswordoftheMelechRic，IcouldnotpasstoParadisebyamoregloriousdeath。ButAllahhasalreadygivenJerusalemtothetruebelievers，anditwereatemptingtheGodoftheProphettoperil，uponmyownpersonalstrengthandskill，thatwhichIholdsecurelybythesuperiorityofmyforces。’’
　　IfnotforJerusalem，then，’’saidRichard，inthetoneofonewhowouldentreatafavourofanintimatefriend，yetfortheloveofhonour，letusrunatleastthreecourseswithgrindedlances。’’
　　Eventhis，’’saidSaladin，halfsmilingatCurdoLion’saffectionateearnestnessforthecombat，eventhismayInotlawfullydo。Themasterplacestheshepherdovertheflock，notfortheshepherd’sownsake，butforthesakeofthesheep。HadIasontoholdthesceptrewhenIfell，Imighthavehadtheliberty，asIhavethewill，tobravethisboldencounter；butyourownScripturesayeth，thatwhentheherdsmanissmitten，thesheeparescattered。’’
　　Thouhasthadallthefortune，’’saidRichard，turningtotheEarlofHuntingdonwithasigh。Iwouldhavegiventhebestyearinmylifeforthatonehalf-hourbesidetheDiamondoftheDesert！’’
　　ThechivalrousextravaganceofRichardawakenedthespiritsoftheassembly，andwhenatlengththeyarosetodepart，SaladinadvancedandtookCurdeLionbythehand。
　　NobleKingofEngland，’’hesaid，wenowpart，nevertomeetagain。Thatyourleagueisdissolved，nomoretobereunited，andthatyournativeforcesarefartoofewtoenableyoutoprosecuteyourenterprise，isaswellknowntomeastoyourself。ImaynotyieldyouupthatJerusalemwhichyousomuchdesiretohold。Itistous，astoyou，aHolyCity。
　　ButwhateverothertermsRicharddemandsofSaladin，shallbeaswillinglyyieldedasyonderfountainyieldsitswaters。
　　Ay，andthesameshallbeasfranklyaffordedbySaladin，ifRichardstoodinthedesertwithbuttwoarchersinhistrain！’’
　　*
　　ThenextdaysawRichard’sreturntohisowncamp，andinashortspaceafterwards，theyoungEarlofHuntingdonwasespousedbyEdithPlantagenet。TheSoldansent，asanuptialpresentonthisoccasion，thecelebrated=Talisman；=butthoughmanycureswerewroughtbymeansofitinEurope，noneequalledinsuccessandcelebritythosewhichtheSoldanachieved。Itisstillinexistence，havingbeenbequeathedbytheEarlofHuntingdontoabraveknightofScotland，SirSimonoftheLee，inwhoseancientandhighlyhonouredfamilyitisstillpreserved；andalthoughcharmedstoneshavebeendismissedfromthemodernPharmacopia，itsvirtuesarestillappliedtoforstoppingblood，andincasesofcaninemadness。
　　Ourstorycloseshere，asthetermsonwhichRichardrelinquishedhisconquestsaretobefoundineveryhistoryoftheperiod。
　　WhilewarringintheHolyLand，Richardwasseizedwithanague。
　　ThebestleechesofthecampwereunabletoeffectthecureoftheKing’sdisease；buttheprayersofthearmyweremoresuccessful。Hebecameconvalescent，andthefirstsymptomofhisrecoverywasaviolentlongingforpork。Butporkwasnotlikelytobeplentifulinacountrywhoseinhabitantshadanabhorrenceforswine’sflesh；and-thoughhismenshouldbehangedTheynemight，inthatcountry，Forgold，nesilver，nenomony，Noporkfind，take，neget，ThatKingRichardmightaughtofeat。
　　AnoldknightwithRichardbiding，Whenheheardofthattiding，Thatthekingiswantswereswyche，Tothestewardhespokeprivyliche-
　　`Ourlordthekingsoreissick，Iwis，Afterporckhealongedis；
　　Yemaynonefindtoselle；
　　Nomanbehardyhimsototelle！
　　Ifhedidhemightdie。
　　NowbehovestodoneasIshallsay，Tho’hewetenoughtofthat。
　　TakeaSaracen，youngandfat；
　　Inhasteletthethiefbeslain，Opened，andhisskinoffflayn；
　　Andsoddenfullhastily，Withpowderandwithspicery，Andwithsaffronofgoodcolor。
　　Whenthekingthereoffeelssavor，Outofagueifhebewent，Heshallhavetheretogoodtalnt。
　　Whenhehasagoodtaste，Andeatenwellagoodrepast，Andsuppedofthebrewisasup，*BrothSleptafterandswetadrop，ThroughGoddishelpandmycounsail，Soonheshallbefreshandhail。’
　　Thesoothtosay，atwordesfew，Slainandsoddenwastheheathenshrew。
　　Beforethekingitwasforthbrought:
　　Quodhismen，`Lord，wehaveporksought；
　　Eatesandsupsofthebrewissoote，
　　*SweetThoroughgraceofGoditshallbeyourboot。’
　　BeforeKingRichardcarffaknight，Heatefasterthanhecarvemight。
　　Thekingatethefleshandgnewthebones，*GnawedAnddrankwellafterforthenonce。
　　Andwhenhehadeatenenough，Hisfolkhemturnedaway，andlough。
　　*LaughedHelaystillanddrewinhisarm；
　　Hischamberlainhimwrappedwarm，Helayandslept，andswetastoned，Andbecamewholeandsound。
　　KingRichardcladhimandarose，Andwalkedaboutenintheclose。’’
　　AnattackoftheSaracenswasrepelledbyRichardinperson，theconsequenceofwhichistoldinthefollowinglines:-
　　WhenKingRichardhadrestedawhyle，Aknighthisarms’ganunlace，Himtocomfortandsolce。
　　Himwasbroughtasopinwine。
　　`Theheadofthatilkeswine，ThatIofate！’thecookhebade，`ForfeebleIam，andfaintandmad。
　　OfmineevilnowIamfear；
　　Servemetherewithatmysoupere！’
　　Quodthecook，`ThatheadInehave。’
　　Thensaidtheking，`SoGodmesave，ButIseetheheadofthatswine，Forsooth，thoushaltlesenthine！’
　　Thecooksawnoneothermightbe；
　　Hefettheheadandlethimsee。
　　Hefellonknees，andmadeacry-
　　`Lo，herethehead！myLord，mercy！’’’
　　Thecookhadcertainlysomereasontofearthathismasterwouldbestruckwithhorrorattherecollectionofthedreadfulbouquettowhichheowedhisrecovery，buthisfearsweresoondissipated。
　　Theswarteviswhenthekingseeth，*Blackface。
　　Hisblackbeardandwhiteteeth，Howhislippesgrinnedwide，`Whatdevilisthis？’thekingcried，Andgantolaughashewerewode，`What！isSaracen’sfleshthusgood？
　　That，nevererstInoughtwist！
　　ByGod’sdeathandhisuprist，Shallweneverdiefordefault，WhilewemayinanyassaultSleeSaracens，thefleshmaytake，Andseethenandroastenanddohembake，[And]gnawenherfleshtothebones！
　　NowIhaveitprovedonce，ForhungerereIbewo，Iandmyfolkshalleatmo！’’’
　　Thebesiegednowofferedtosurrender，uponconditionsofsafetytotheinhabitants；whileallthepublictreasure，militarymachines，andarms，weredeliveredtothevictors，togetherwiththefartherransomofonehundredthousandbezants。Afterthiscapitulation，thefollowingextra-ordinaryscenetookplace。WeshallgiveitinthewordsofthehumorousandamiableGeorgeEllis，thecollectorandtheeditoroftheseRomances。
　　Thoughthegarrisonhadfaithfullyperformedtheotherarticlesoftheircontract，theywereunabletorestorethecross，whichwasnotintheirpossession，andwerethereforetreatedbytheChristianswithgreatcruelty。
　　DailyreportsoftheirsufferingswerecarriedtoSaladin；andasmanyofthemwerepersonsofthehighestdistinction，thatmonarch，atthesolicitationoftheirfriends，despatchedanembassytoKingRichardwithmagnificentpresents，whichheofferedfortheransomofthecaptives。
　　Theambassadorswerepersonsthemostrespectablefromtheirage，theirrank，andtheireloquence。Theydeliveredtheirmessageintermsoftheutmosthumility，andwithoutarraigningthejusticeoftheconquerorinhisseveretreatmentoftheircountrymen，onlysolicitedaperiodtothatseverity，layingathisfeetthetreasureswithwhichtheywereintrusted，andpledgingthemselvesandtheirmasterforthepaymentofanyfarthersumswhichhemightdemandasthepriceofmercy。
　　KingRichardspokewithwordesmild，`Thegoldtotake，Godmeshield！
　　Amongyouparteseverycharge。
　　*DivideIbroughtinshippesandinbarge，Moregoldandsilverwithme，Thanhasyourlord，andswilkethree。
　　TohistreasurehaveInoneed！
　　ButformyloveIyoubid，Tomeatwithmethatyedwell；
　　AndafterwardIshallyoutell。
　　ThoroughcounselIshallyouanswer，Whatbodeyeshalltoyourlordbear。’
　　*MessageTheinvitationwasgratefullyaccepted。Richard，inthemeantime，gavesecretorderstohismarshalthatheshouldrepairtotheprison，selectacertainnumberofthemostdistinguishedcaptives，and，aftercarefullynotingtheirnamesonarollofparchment，causetheirheadstobeinstantlystruckoff；thattheseheadsshouldbedeliveredtothecookwithinstructionstoclearawaythehair，andafterboilingtheminacaldron，todistributethemonseveralplatters，onetoeachguest，observingtofastenontheforeheadofeachthepieceofparchmentexpressingthenameandfamilyofthevictim。
　　`Anhotheadbringmebeforn，AsIwerewellapayedwithall，EatthereoffastIshall: