2Abode: awaited.
scene ended without Richard"s descending to the unkingly act of himself slaying an unresisting prisoner, made haste to remove Sir Kenneth to a separate tent, where he was disarmed and put in fetters for security.
The Saracen physician, who had saved Richard"s life, entered the king"s pavilion soon after the Scottish knight had been dismissed.
"Ha! my learned Hakim1," said the king; "come. I hope, totax our generosity. In what can I pleasure you?""Great king," said El Hakim, making his profound Oriental obeisance, "let thy servant speak one word and yet live. I would remind thee that thou owest-not to me, their humble instrument, but to the Intelligences whose benefits I dispense to mortals-a life-""And I warrant me, thou wouldst have another in requital2,ha?" interrupted the king.
"Such is my humble prayer," said the Hakim, "to the great Melech Ric3; even the life of this good knight, who is doomed to die.""Take the freedom of a thousand captives instead," said Richard; "restore so many of thy countrymen to their tents and families, and I will give the warrant instantly. This man"s life can avail thee nothing, and it is forfeited.""All our lives are forfeited," said the Hakim, put- ting his1 Hakim: a wise man; a physician, especially among the Mohammedans. 2 Requital: return for something done; reward.
3 Melech Ric: a Saracen name for King Richard.
hand to his cap. "But the great Creditor is merciful and exacts not the pledge rigorously nor untimely.""Thou canst show me," said Richard, "no special interest thou hast to become intercessor betwixt me and the execution of justice, to which I am sworn as a crowned king.""Thou art sworn to the dealing forth mercy as well as justice," said El Hakim; "but what thou seekest, great king, is the execution of thine own will. Bethink thee, lord king, that though thou canst 10 slay thousands, thou canst not restore one man to health. Kings have the power of Satan to torment, sages that of Allah1 to heal; beware how thou hinderest the good to humanity, which thou canst not thyself render. Thou canst cut off the head, but not 15 cure the aching tooth.""This is over insolent," said the king, hardening himself, as the Hakim assumed a more lofty and almost a commanding tone. "We took thee for our leech2, not for our counselor or conscience-keeper.""And is it thus the most renowned prince of Frangistan repays benefit done to his royal person?" said El Hakim, exchanging the humble and stooping posture in which he had hitherto solicited the king for an attitude lofty and commanding. "Know then," he said, "that through every court of Europe and Asia, to Moslem and Nazarene3, to knight and lady, wherever harp is heard and sword worn, wherever honor is loved and infamy detested, to every quarter of the world will1 Allah: the Mohammedan name for God. 2 Leech: an old word for physician.
3 Nazarene: a follower of Christ, the Nazarene; a Christian, usually in contempt.
I denounce thee, Melech Ric, as thankless and ungenerous; and even the lands, if there be any such, that never heard of thy renown, shall yet be acquainted with thy shame!""Are these terms to me, vile infidel!" said Richard, striding up to him in fury. "Art weary of thy life?""Strike!" said El Hakim; "thine own deed shall then paint thee more worthless than could my words, though each had an hornet"s sting."Richard turned fiercely from him, folded his arms, traversed the tent as before, and then exclaimed,"Thankless and ungenerous? as well be termed coward and infidel! Hakim, thou hast chosen thy boon1; and though I had rather thou hadst asked my crown jewels, yet I may not kinglike refuse thee. Take this Scot, therefore, to thy keeping; the provost2 will deliver him to thee on this warrant." He hastily traced one or two lines and gave them to the physician. "Use him as thy bond slave, to be disposed as thou wilt, only let him beware how he comes before the eyes of Richard."ⅡThe physician was none other than Saladin, the Syrian monarch, in disguise. Sir Kenneth, who had won his favor as a worthy foeman, was conducted to the Saracen camp and treated with great courtesy. But he was unhappy over his disgrace and longed to rejoin the Crusaders. Saladin, therefore, instructed him how he might detect the culprit by means of his dog, which had been wounded while defending the banner; then, disguised as a Nubian slave, Sir Kenneth was sent back to the English camp. He undertook to discover the culprit for Richard, and was stationed by the king"s side as the Crusading host passed before him in review.
1Boon: gift.
2Provost: keeper of the prison, -an old use of the word.
Surrounded by his valiant peers of England and Normandy, Coeur de Lion stood on the summit of Saint George"s Mount, with the banner of England by his side, borne by William with the Long Sword, Earl of Salisbury.
The powers of the various Crusading princes, arrayed under their royal and princely leaders, swept in long order around the base of the little mound; and as those of each different country passed by, their commanders advanced a step or two up the hill and made a signal of courtesy to Richard and to the standard of England.
