The Talisman

nce of leeches;

hot podagra, do

grasp upon the

NYM

erstand, or at least would have made the subject of speculation. But it seemed very extraordinary, even to him, that the attention of the bishop should have been at once abstracted from all reflection on the marvellous cure which they had witnessed, and upon the probability it afforded of Richard being restored to health, by what seemed a ver

ted no character so perfect as that of his master; for Richard being the flower of chivalry, and the chief of Christian leaders, and obeying in all points the commands of Holy Church, De Vaux's ideas of perfection went no further. Still, he knew that, however unworthily, it had been always his master's fate to draw as

ure, or seeming cure, wrought on the body of the Scottish squire, may mean nothing but a trick, to which

' camp. But De Vaux was influenced only by his general prejudices, which dictated to him the assured belief that a wily Italian priest, a false-hearted Scot, and an infidel physician, formed a set of ingr

of this irritation, which greatly increased his bodily malady. He wearied his attendants by demanding from them amusements, and the breviary of the priest, the romance of the clerk, even the harp of his favourite minstrel, were had recourse to in vain. At length, some two hours before sundown, and long, therefore, ere he could expect a satisfactory account of the

the lady of his secret heart, he had never been absent on those occasions when the munificence and hospitality of England opened the Court of its monarch to all who held a certain rank in chivalry. The King gazed fixedly on Sir

enneth of the Leopard-from whom

f William the Lion, King of

d valiantly in press of battle, when most need there was; and thou hadst not been yet to learn that thy deserts were known to us, but that thy presum

onsciousness of his too ambitious love, and the keen, falcon glance with which

ectful towards their superiors, we might forgive a brave knight greater offence than

and beholding, smiling inwardly at the relief produc

ar from home, scant of revenues, and cannot support ourselves as your wealthy nobles, who have credit of the Lombards. The Sa

ux, who doth, like all around me, that which is fittest in his own

to indulge me with the privilege of hawking also, and you list to trust me with a

esent offence against our forest-laws as highly as we would do treason against our crown. To brave and worthy men, however, we could pardon either misdemeanour.-But

ight, "of the Council of P

order, when I-not the least, surely,

the holy symbol for the rights of Christianity and the recovery of the Holy Sepulchre, and bound, therefore, to obey without question the orders of the princes and chiefs by whom the blessed enterprise is directed. That indisposition should seclude, I trust for

those with whom, when it shall please Heaven to raise me from this accursed bed of

e best asked of those who sent me, and who can render the reasons of

t-it were ill for thy safety

a regardless thing when I vowed myself to this enterprise, looking rat

eserve some love at their hand, for I have voluntarily done what they could not by arms have extorted from me any more than from my predecessors, I have re-established the fortresses of Roxburgh and Berwick, which lay in pledge to England; I have restored your ancient bound

anterbury. Therefore have you me, and many better Scottish men, making war against the infidels, under your banners, who would else ha

ipal member of the Christian league, I have a right to know the negotiations of my confederates. Do me, therefore, the justi

our expedition are single-hearted and honest, and it is more than I dare warrant for others of the Holy League. Be pleased, therefore,

e, I doubt not," said Richa

h knight; "but the establishment of a lasting pea

of them, I could not have dreamed they would have humbled themselves to suc

r, under whose guidance alone I hoped for victory, I saw none who could succeed him likel

contracted?" said King Richard, painfully suppressing

answered the Knight of the Couchant Leopa

erend hermit-for fool, madman,

ce from the Paynimrie, who regard madmen as the inspired of Heaven-at least it seemed to me as exhi

g himself back on his couch, from which he ha

and the fruits of remorse for some dreadful crime, for whi

policy?" said

y of Palestine, as of his own salvation, by any means short of a miracle-a

ful of their knighthood and their faith, are only resolved and determined when the question is retreat

t, "this discourse but heats your disease, the enemy from which

s, with clenched hand, extended arm, and flashing eyes, he seemed at once to suffer under bodily pain, and a

pe me not. I must know more from you than you have ye

with considerable perturbation, for he remembered

he chapel of the Carmelite nuns at Engaddi, and there saw Berengaria, Quee

ite conducted me, I beheld a choir of ladies do homage to a relic of the highest sanctity; but as I saw not their faces, n

one of these lad

eth stoo

a gentleman-and I shall know by your answer how you value either character

, not without much hesi

re tempting the lion's paw. Hark ye-to become enamoured of the moon would be but an act of folly; but to leap fr

, and send him hither with the Arabian physician. My life for the faith of the Soldan! Would he but abjure his false law, I would aid him with my sword to driv

wards the chamberlain announced a deputation from the

living yet," was his reply. "Wh

the Templars and the

g since.-Jocelyn, lay me the couch more fairly-it is tumbled like a stormy sea. Reach me yonder steel mirror-pass

chamberlain, "the leeches say

allow them to torment me?-There, then," he said, after having made his ablutions, "admit the worshipf

ion which the fraternity were originally associated to protect-accused of heresy and witchcraft, although by their character Christian priests-suspected of secret league with the Soldan, though by oath devoted to the protection of the Holy Temple, or its recovery-the whole order, and the whole personal character of its commander, or Grand Master, was a riddle, at the

d in the field, sagacious in council, gay and gallant in times of festivity; but, on the other hand, he was generally accused of versatility, of a narrow and selfish ambition, of a desire to extend

errat commenced an explanation of the motives of their visit, sent, as he said they were, by the anxious kings and princes wh

and are well aware how much they must have suffered by suppressing all curiosity concerning it for fourte

vity as was consistent with the presence which he addressed, informed the King that they came from the Council, to pray, in the name of Christendom, "that he would not suffer his health to be tampered with by

," replied Richard, "if it please you to retire into the adjoining pavilion, you shall presently see what

stern physician arrived, accompanied by the Baron of Gilsland and Kenneth of Scotland. The baron, however, was a lit

xpression of disdainful coldness, the Marquis with the popular courtesy which he habitually practised to men of every rank and nation. There was a pause, for the Scottish knight, waiting for the arrival of De Vaux, presumed not, of his own au

well as on the true believer, and His servant dare make no disti

e for an unbaptized slave of darkness, dost thou well know that thou shal

n, "seeing that I can but use human means, and

to thee, grave physician, whose skill we doubt not, that your wisest course is to repair to the presence of the illustrious Council of our Holy League, and there to give account and reckoning to such wise and learned leeches

Soldan Saladin, to heal this Nazarene King, and, with the blessing of the Prophet, I will obey his commands. If I fail, ye wear swords thirsting for the blood of the faithful, and I proffer my body to your weap

but too much already. I salute you, my Lord of Montserrat, and you, valiant Grand Mast

hat we came to expostulate, on the part of the Council of the Monarchs and Princes of the Crusade, against the risk of

than what my ears have heard. I am satisfied that this heathen can cure the sickness of King Richard, and I believe and trust he will labour to do so. Time is precious. If Mohammed-may Go

the King himself said we should be presen

on or threat, this accomplished physician in his duty, be it known that, without respect to your high quality, I will enforce your absence from Richard's tent; for know, I am so well satisfied of the virtue of t

well as he could, and both followed De Vaux and the Arabian into the inner tent, where Richard lay expecting them, with that impatience with which the sick man watches the step of his physician. Sir Kenneth, whose attendance se

of our assembled league; Richard will again be amongst you in his former fashion, or ye shall bear to the grave what is left of him.-De Vaux, lives he or dies he, thou hast the thanks of thy p

ss expectation. The sage next filled a cup with spring water, and dipped into it the small red purse, which, as formerly, he took from his bosom. When he seemed to think it sufficiently medicated, he wa

g, slender dark fingers were for an instant enclosed, and al

e live or die, dismiss this Hakim with honour and safety.-Commend us, friend, to the noble Saladin. Should I die,

my royal brethren pledge me in Cyprus wine, 'To the immortal honour of the first Crusader who shall strike lance or sword on the ga

ere arranged to receive him. The physician then, with silent but expressive signs, directed that all should leave the t