The Talisman

ll unclasp a

quick-conceiv

matter deep

IV., P

circle around it, and keep at distance all which might disturb the sleeping monarch. The soldiers wore the downcast, silent, and sullen looks with which they trail their arms at a funeral, and stepped with such caution that you cou

d revel used to be before this pavilion!-nought but pitching the bar, hurling the ball, wrestling, roaring of songs, clattering of wine pots, and qua

Master has won their love by being ready to wrestle, brawl, or r

Grand Master. "Marked you the pledge he gave us!

or turned him to Mecca at call of the muezzin. But he affects faith, and honour, and generosity, as if it were for an unbaptized dog like h

ts and spurs, Sir Conrade, deface our armorial bearings, and renounce our burgonets, if

"yet though he be a likely man, I have seen a be

the evening breeze which had arisen, and, dismissing their steeds and attendants, walk homewards to their own quarters through the lines of the extended Christian camp. The Grand Master assented, and they proceeded to walk together accordingly, avoidin

erminated by the Marquis of Montserrat stopping short, like a man who has formed a sudden resolution, and gazing for some moments on the dark, inflexible countenance of the Grand Master, he at length add

lar half

well as dark visors, and the one conceals the

the action of one who unmasks himself; "there lies my disguise. And now, what think

a santon of the desert. 'A certain farmer prayed to Heaven for rain, and murmured when it fell not at his need. To punish his impatience, Allah

Jerusalem. Left to ourselves, we might have bent to the storm; or, moderately supported with money and troops, we might have compelled Saladin to respect our valour, and grant us peace and protection on easy terms. But from the extremity of danger with which this powerful Cru

nturous Crusaders may succeed, and again

the Order of the Templars, or Conra

rand Master. "Conrade of Montserrat m

y poor marquisate with a firm gripe, and wield it after my pleasure, than the sceptre of a monarch, to be in effect restrained and curbed by the will of as many proud feudal barons as hold land under the Assizes of Jerusalem. [The Assises de Jerusalem were the digest of feudal law, composed by Godfrey of Boulogne, for the government of the Latin kingdom of Palestine, when reconquered from the Saracens. "It was composed with advice of the patriarch and barons, the clergy and laity, and is," says the h

red frankly avow that he desires not the restitution of the kingdom of Jerusalem, but rather prefers being master of a portion of its fragments-like the bar

that my tongue shall never wrong my head, nor my hand forsake the defence of either. Impeach me if thou

d Master. "However, I swear to thee by the Holy Temple, which our Order

t on the hill of Zion, which was built by King Solomon, or by that symbolical, emblematical edifice, which is said to be spoken of in

ly, "By whatever Temple I swear, be assured, Lord Marquis, my oath i

ed with comfortable ermine and velvet. In a word, our interests bind us together; for think not, Lord Grand Master, that, were these allied princes to regain Jerusalem, and place a king of their own choosing there, they would suffer your Order, any more than my poor marquisate, to retain the independence which we now hold. No, by Our Lady! In such cas

ur Order prevent so much degradation as

r first point of policy to abate the independence of your Order, which, but for the protection of our holy father the Pope, and the necessity of employing your valour in the conque

y smiling. "But what were our hopes should the allies withdra

e most fearful odds. This dependence would be but for a time-perhaps during the life of this enterprising Soldan; but in the East empires arise like mushrooms. Suppose him dead, and us strengthened with a constant succession of fiery and adventurous spirits f

"and your words find an echo in my bosom. Yet must we

ashly bound himself. He is jealous of King Richard, his natural enemy, and longs to return to prosecute plans of ambition nearer to Paris

of Austria?" s

ith the praises of King Richard, whom he fears and hates, and in whose harm he would rejoice, like those unbred, dastardly curs, who, if the foremost of the pack is hurt by the gripe of the wolf, are much more likely to assail the sufferer from behind than to come to his assistance. But wherefore tell I this

lift yet thy mask an inch higher, and tell me thy real reason for pressing upon the Council that Northern E

him to belong to the band of Richard; while his character of Scot, and certain other personal grudges which I wot of, rendered it most unl

hest. See you not that the envoy whom you have selected so carefully hath brought us, in this physician, the means of restoring the lion-hearted, bull-necked Englishman to prosecute his Crusading

e possible to put some open rupture betwixt the Frenchman-at least the Austrian-and his allies of England, so that the breach shall be irreconcilable; an

ar; "but, Conrade of Montserrat, thy bow is

king Conrade by the hand, pressed it eagerly as he looked the Italian in the face, and r

! spoke you of Richard of England-of Coe

he spoke. The Templar looked at him, with his

ho would direct the Council of Princes and determine the fate of empires-but like a novice, who, stumbling upon a conjuration in his mast

purpose. But, blessed Mary! we shall become the curse of all Europe, the malediction of every one, from the Pope on his throne to the very beggar at the chur

terized him all through this remarkable dialogue, "let us hold there has nothing pass

depart," ans

re, indeed, somewhat tenacious of their place

me but first try to break pea

roud, ambitious, unscrupulous, and politic, the Marquis of Montserrat was yet not cruel by nature. He was a voluptuary and an epicurean, and, like many who profess this character, was averse, even upon selfish motives, f

hought this stern, ascetic Grand Master, whose whole fortune and misfortune is merged in that of his order, would be willing to do more for its advancement than I who labour for my own intere

was broken by a voice from a little distance, which proclaimed

oice from Heaven warning him against the iniquity which his heart meditated. He looked around anxiously, as if, like the patriarch of old, though from very different circumstances, he was expecting some ram caught in a thicket some substitution for the sacrifice which his comrade proposed to offer, not to the Supreme Being, but to the Moloch of their own ambition. As he looked, the broad folds of the ensign of England, heavily distending itself to the failing night-breeze, caught hi

im. He walked to his pavilion with the hasty and determined step of one who has adopted a plan which he is resolved to achieve, dismissed the almost princely train who waite

f Austria. We will see what can be done to advance our purp