The Talisman

n, skilled our

armies to the

’S I

when he had heard the report of the trusty Baron of Gilslan

ther much truth among them, having found them ever fair and false. But this man’s bearing is tha

knight, how sayest thou,

ngs; and I warrant you have noted the manner in which this man of

f battle, to see how our liegemen and followers acquit themselves, and not from a desire to accumulate vainglory to ourselves, as some h

have brought him to speak in depreciating terms of military renown, which was the very breath of his nostrils. But recollecting he had met the royal confessor in the

r. My leading-staff were not worth a fool’s bauble had he escaped my notice; and he had ere no

g’s countenance change, “I fear I have transgressed your

his brows, and speaking in a tone of angry surpri

o men of gentle blood to keep them a hound or two within camp, just to cherish the noble art of ven

dog so handsome

rthern breed — deep in the chest, strong in the stern — black colour, and brindled on the breast and legs, not

ever, liberal of your licenses among those knights adventurers who have no prince or leader to depend upon; they are ungovern

s. He was dispatched to the old hermit

, and for what? Who dared send any one thither, when our Queen was

me. I think it is scarce known in the camp that your royal consort is on a pilgrimage; and even the princes may not have

So this Scottish man, this envoy, met with a wan

ir with whom he had some MELEE in the way of proof of valour, and finding him worthy to bear

as not one of those who can te

t the physician?” deman

ou, and with many assurances of his eminent skill; and he came to the grotto accordingly, after the Scottish knight had tarried a day for him and more

examined by Gi

r ere bringing them hither, and

g of Allah and our holy Prophet [“Confusion on his head!” again muttered the English monarch], we have therefore sent to tend and wait upon thee at this time the physician to our own person, Adonbec el Hakim, before whose face the angel Azrael [The Angel of Death.] spreads his wings and departs from the sick chamber; who knows the virtues of herbs and stones, the path of the sun, moon, and stars, and can save man from all that is not written on his forehead. And this we do, praying you heartily to honour and make use of his skill

enerosity — I will meet Saladin in the field, as he so worthily proposes, and he shall have no cause to term Richard of England ungrateful. I will strike him to the earth with my battle-axe — I will convert him to Holy Church with such blows as he has rarely endured. He shall

fever in this overflow of confidence, “bethink you, the Sol

ver end the quarrel betwixt two such kings. I tell thee he loves me as I love him — as n

squire,” said the Lord of Gilsland. “My own life depends upon it, for worthy were I to die l

hesitate for fear of life,

the stout-hearted baron, “save that y

medy. I could almost wish it might either cure or kill me, for I am weary of lying here like an o

s errand to some churchman, as he felt something burdened in con

hat sagacious prelate. The bishop heard the doubts which De Vaux stated, with that acuteness of intelligence which distinguishes the Roman Cathol

y might minister to the convenience of true Christians. Thus we lawfully make slaves of heathen captives. Again,” proceeded the prelate, “there is no doubt that the primitive Christians used the services of the unconverted heathen. Thus in the ship of Alexandria, in which the blessed Apostle Paul sailed to Italy, the sailors were doubtless pagans; yet what said the holy saint when their ministry

mas de Vaux, who was particularly moved by the Lati

en’s acting with bad faith; and here he came not to a speedy decision. The baron showed him th

emper them that they shall be weeks in acting upon the party, during which time the perpetrator has leisure to escape. They can impregnate cloth and leather, nay, even paper and parc

arn whether this Hakim hath really the art of curing which he professeth, ere we consider whether there be safety in permitting him to exercise his art upon King Richard. — Yet, hold! le

Gilsland; “but had I been accessible to the fever,

rather avoided the presence of the sick

Scottish Knights have worse care of their followers than we of our dogs. Here is a knight, valiant, they say, in battle, and thought fitting to be graced w

t when he lodgeth him in no worse dwelling tha

trong and lively regard for his own safety. He recollected, however, the necessity there was for judging personally of the skill of

work. The rings on his fingers were worth a goodly barony, and the hood which he wore, though now unclasped and thrown back for heat, had studs of pure gold to fasten it around his throat and under his chin when he so inclined. His long beard, now silvered with age, d

side of the patient, who appeared in deep slumber, and whose pulse he felt from time to time. The bishop remained standing before him in silence for two or three minutes, as if expecting some honourable salutation, or at least that the Saracen would seem struck with t

ishop, somewhat mortified at this cold rece

ent. Hear,” he added, as the low growling of the staghound was heard from the inner hut, “even the dog might teach thee reason, Ulemat. His instinct teach

expressing strongly the displeasure he felt at this unceremonious rebuke. When without the hut, he gazed upon Adonbec in silence for several minutes before he could fix on the best manner to renew the conversation. No locks were seen under the high bon

broke a pause, which the other seemed in no haste to

ges by their studies. I dare not call myself older than a hundred revolutions of the Hegir

who, though he better understood the meaning of El Hakim, answered his glance by mysteriously shaking his head. He resumed

g his cap in sign of reverence —“a word which was never broken t

said the baron, “and without it thou app

of your Nazarene leeches hath been like a silken doublet against a lance of steel. Look at his fingers and arms, wasted like the claws and shanks of the crane. Death had this morning his clutch on him; but had Azrael be

ved, he sunk on his knees, with his face turned to Mecca, and recited the petitions which close the Moslemah’s day of toil. The bishop and the English baron looked on e

, and looked wildly around. He was a ghastly spectacle as he sat up almost naked on his couch, the bones and cartilages as visible through the surface of his skin as if they had never been clothed with flesh. His face was long, and furrowed with wrinkles; but his eye, th

vassal?” said the

d full of dreams. Yet I know that you are a great English lord, as seemeth by th

said the prelate, making the sign of the cross, b

subdued. He speaks with calmness and recollection — his pu

lsland, more determined on making the trial, did so,

op; “the man is assuredly cured. I must conduct this mediciner

said the Arab; “I will pass with you when I have give

network, twisted with silver, the contents of which the bystanders could not discover, and immersing it in the cup, continued to watch it in silence du

to the sick man —“sleep, a

ght thou wilt undertake to cure a

ied the sage. “Are the Kings of Frangistan made

hath shown that he possesses the secret which may restore his health. I

kness permitted, exclaimed, “Reverend father, noble knight, and you, kind leech, if you

replied the prelate — “on an honourable e

the poor fellow? — Friend, thy master has return

hands to Heaven, and resisting no longer the soporifero

” said the prelate —“a soothing falsehood is fi

ux hastily. “Think you I would tell a falseh

ptoms of alarm —“you said the esquire’s master wa

spoke with him but a few hours since. T

of his return to me?” said the

ith the physician? I thought I had,” replied De Vaux carelessly. “But what si

oot against the earth, and giving signs of impatience, as if in an involuntary manner. “But

not without wonder at the bishop’s emotion, “c

anxiety of the bishop appeared to rise to the highest, and became evident to De Vaux, though, neither an acute observer nor of a suspicious temper. But with his anxiety seemed to increase his wish to keep it subdued and u