“I have paid his services with honour and applause, and his sufferings with tears,” answered Edith. “Had he desired other reward, he would have done wisely to have bestowed his affections within his own degree.”
“You would not, then, wear the bloody night-gear for his sake?” said King Richard.
“No more,” answered Edith, “than I would have required him to expose his life by an action in which there was more madness than honour.”
“Maidens talk ever thus,” said the King; “but when the favoured lover presses his suit, she says, with a sigh, her stars had decreed otherwise.”
“Your Grace has now, for the second time, threatened me with the influence of my horoscope,” Edith replied, with dignity. “Trust me, my liege, whatever be the power of the stars, your poor kinswoman will never wed either infidel or obscure adventurer. Permit me that I listen to the music of Blondel, for the tone of your royal admonitions is scarce so grateful to the ear.”
The conclusion of the evening offered nothing worthy of notice.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Heard ye the din of battle bray,
Lance to lance, and horse to horse?
GRAY.
It had been agreed, on account of the heat of the climate, that the judicial combat which was the cause of the present assemblage of various nations at the Diamond of the Desert should take place at one hour after sunrise. The wide lists, which had been constructed under the inspection of the Knight of the Leopard, enclosed a space of hard sand, which was one hundred and twenty yards long by forty in width. They extended in length from north to south, so as to give both parties the equal advantage of the rising sun. Saladin's royal seat was erected on the western side of the enclosure, just in the centre, where the combatants were expected to meet in mid encounter. Opposed to this was a gallery with closed casements, so contrived that the ladies, for whose accommodation it was erected, might see the fight without being themselves exposed to view. At either extremity of the lists was a barrier, which could be opened or shut at pleasure. Thrones had been also erected, but the Archduke, perceiving that his was lower than King Richard's, refused to occupy it; and Coeur de Lion, who would have submitted to much ere any formality should have interfered with the combat, readily agreed that the sponsors, as they were called, should remain on horseback during the fight. At one extremity of the lists were placed the followers of Richard, and opposed to them were those who accompanied the defender Conrade. Around the throne destined for the Soldan were ranged his splendid Georgian Guards, and the rest of the enclosure was occupied by Christian and Mohammedan spectators.