Billeder på siden
PDF
ePub

ing around on wild forms with their persons covered with haicks,* their countenance swart † with the sunbeams, their teeth as white as ivory, their black eyes glancing with fierce and preternatural lustre from under the shade of their turbans, and their dress being in general simple, even to meanness.

"They claim such rank," said Saladin; "but though numerous, they are within the conditions of the treaty, and bear no arms but the sabre; even the iron of their lances is left behind."

"I fear," muttered De Vaux ‡ in English," they have left them where they can be soon found. A most flourishing House of Peers, I confess, and would find Westminster Hall something too narrow for them."

"Hush, De Vaux,” said Richard, "I command thee. Noble Saladin,” he said, "suspicion and thou cannot exist on the same ground. Seest thou," pointing to the litters—“I too have brought some champions with me, though armed, perhaps in breach of agreement; for bright eyes and fair features are weapons which cannot be left behind."

The soldan, turning to the litters, made an obeisance as lowly as if looking towards Mecca, and kissed the sand in token of respect.

66

Nay," said Richard, "they will not fear a closer encounter, brother: wilt thou not ride towards their litters, and the curtains will be presently withdrawn?"

"That may not be,” said Saladin ; 66 since not an Arab looks on who would not think it shame to the noble ladies to be seen with their faces uncovered. But will not my brother pass to the tent which his servant hath prepared for him? My principal black slave hath taken order for the reception of the princesses; the officers of my household will attend your followers, and ourself will be the chamberlain of the royal Richard."

*Haick, a piece of cotton or woollen cloth, worn by the Arabs over the tunic. Pronounced De Vo.

+ Swart, dark.

He led the way, accordingly, to a splendid pavilion, where was every thing that royal luxury could devise. De Vaux, who was in attendance, then removed the long riding cloak which Richard wore, and he stood before Saladin in the close dress which showed to advantage the strength and symmetry of his person, while it bore a strong contrast to the flowing robes which disguised the thin frame of the Eastern monarch. It was Richard's two-handed sword that chiefly attracted the attention of the Saracen, a broad, straight blade, the seemingly unwieldy length of which extended well nigh from the shoulder to the heel of the wearer.

"Had I not," said Saladin, "seen this brand flaming in the front of battle, like that of Azrael,* I had scarce believed that human arm could wield it, Might I request to see the Melech Ric strike one blow with it in peace, and in pure trial of strength?"

66

Willingly, noble Saladin," answered Richard; and looking around for something whereon to exercise his strength, he saw a steel mace, held by one of the attendants, the handle being of the same metal, and about an inch and a half in diameter: this he placed on a block of wood.

The anxiety of De Vaux for his master's honor led him to whisper in English, "For the blessed Virgin's sake, beware what you attempt, my liege! Your full strength is not as yet returned - give no triumph to the infidel."

"Peace, fool!" said Richard, standing firm on his ground, and casting a fierce glance around: "thinkest thou that I can fail in his presence?”

The glittering broadsword, wielded by both his hands, rose aloft to the king's left shoulder, circled round his head, descended with the sway of some terrific engine, and the bar of iron rolled on the ground in two pieces, as a woodsman would sever a sapling with a hedging-bill.†

"By the head of the prophet, a most wonderful blow!”

* The name of the angel of death.

† Hedging-bill, a cutting instrument used in trimming hedges.

said the soldan, critically and accurately examining the iron bar which had been cut asunder; and the blade of the sword was so well tempered as to exhibit not the least token of having suffered by the feat it had performed. He then took the king's hand, and looking on the size and muscular strength which it exhibited, laughed as he placed it beside his own, so lank and thin, so inferior in brawn and sinew.

"Ay, look well" said De Vaux in English; "it will be long ere your long jackanape's fingers do such a feat with your fine gilded reaping hook there.”

"Silence, De Vaux," said Richard; "by Our Lady, he understands or guesses thy meaning-be not so broad, I pray thee."

The soldan, indeed, presently said "Something I would fain attempt; though, wherefore should the weak show their inferiority in presence of the strong? Yet each land hath its own exercises, and this may be new to the Melech Ric." So saying, he took from the floor a cushion of silk and down, and placed it upright on one end. "Can thy weapon, my brother, sever that cushion?" he said to King Richard.

"No, surely," replied the king; "no sword on earth, were it the Excalibar of King Arthur,* can cut that which opposes no steady resistance to the blow.”

66

Mark, then," said Saladin; and tucking up the sleeve of his gown, showed his arm, thin indeed and spare, but which constant exercise had hardened into a mass consisting of nought but bone, brawn, and sinew. He unsheathed his cimeter, a curved and narrow blade, which glittered not like the swords of the Franks, but was, on the contrary, of a dull blue color, marked with ten millions of meandering lines, which showed how anxiously the metal had been welded by the armorer. Wielding this weapon, apparently so inefficient when compared to that of Richard, the soldan stood resting his weight upon his left foot, which was slightly advanced; he bal

* An early British monarch, celebrated in poetry. He had a sword of miraculous power called Excalibar.

anced himself a little as if to steady his aim, then stepping at once forward, drew the cimeter across the cushion, applying the edge so dexterously, and with so little apparent effort, that the cushion seemed rather to fall asunder than to be divided by violence.

"It is a juggler's trick," said De Vaux, darting forward and snatching up the portion of the cushion which had been cut off, as if to assure himself of the reality of the feat; "there is gramarye* in this.”

The soldan seemed to comprehend him, for he undid the sort of veil which he had hitherto worn, laid it double along the edge of his sabre, extended the weapon edgewise in the air, and drawing it suddenly through the veil, although it hung on the blade entirely loose, severed that also into two parts, which floated to different sides of the tent, equally displaying the extreme temper and sharpness of the weapon, and the exquisite dexterity of him who used it.

"Now, in good faith, my brother," said Richard, "thou art even matchless at the trick of the sword, and right perilous were it to meet thee. Still, however, I put some faith in a downright English blow, and what we cannot do by slight, we eke out by strength."

LXXIV. THE DEATH OF DE BOUNE.

SIR WALTER SCOTT.

[This lesson is taken from the Lord of the Isles, a poem narrating the chief incidents in the life of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland, who defeated the English in the battle of Bannockburn, fought June 24, 1314. A spirited account of the battle concludes the poem. On the evening before the fight, as the king was arranging his troops, he was attacked by an English knight, who fell in the encounter, as here narrated.]

THE monarch rode along the van

The foe's approaching force to scan,
His line to marshal and to range,

And ranks to square, and fronts to change.

*Gramarye, witchcraft or magic.

[merged small][ocr errors]

Sheathed in his ready arms of steel;
Nor mounted yet on war horse wight,*
But, till more near the shock of fight,
Reining a palfrey low and light.
A diadem of gold was set

Above his bright steel basinet ; †
Truncheon or leading staff he lacks,
Bearing, instead, a battle axe.
He ranged his soldiers for the fight
Accoutred thus, in open sight

Of either host. Three bowshots far,
Paused the deep front of England's war,
And rested on their arms a while,

To close and rank their warlike file,
And hold high council, if that night
Should view the strife, or dawning light.

O, gay, yet fearful to behold,

Flashing with steel and rough with gold,
And bristled o'er with bills and spears,
With plumes and pennons waving fair,
Was that bright battle front! for there
Rode England's king and peers:
And who that saw that monarch ride,
His kingdom battled by his side,
Could then his direful doom foretell?
Fair was his seat in knightly selle,§
And in his sprightly eye was set
Some spark of the Plantagenet.||

*Wight, strong.

† Basinet, a small helmet. Edward II., who commanded the English at Bannockburn, was a feebleminded prince, who was afterwards deposed and cruelly murdered.

§ Selle, saddle.

The Plantagenets were a family that reigned in England for about three centuries. Many of them were brave and warlike princes.

« ForrigeFortsæt »