Part 21 (1/2)
xxx THE TRIAL BY COMBAT AT THE DIAMOND OF THE DESERT[I]
_From_ THE TALISMAN
SIR WALTER SCOTT--1771-1832
It had been agreed, on account of the heat of the climate, that the judicial coe 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 froive 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 allery with closed casements, so contrived, that the ladies, for whose acco 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, ould have submitted to much ere any forreed that the sponsors, as they were called, should reht 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 Moha before daybreak, the lists were surrounded by even a larger nu evening When the first ray of the sun's gloriousobarose above the desert, the sonorous call, ”To prayer, to prayer!” was poured forth by the Soldan himself, and answered by others, whose rank and zeal entitled the spectacle to see the their devotions, with their faces turned to Mecca But when they arose fro fast, seeht before They were flashed back fro day were certainly no longer such
De Vaux pointed it out to his master, who answered with iood faith of the Soldan; but if De Vaux was afraid of his bulky body, he ht retire
Soon after this the noise of timbrels was heard, at the sound of which the whole Saracen cavaliers threw themselves from their horses, and prostrated theive an opportunity to the Queen, with Edith and her attendants, to pass frouards of Saladin's seraglio escorted them, with naked sabres, whose orders were, to cut to pieces whoaze on the ladies as they passed, or even presume to raise his head until the cessation of the ed in their gallery, not to be gazed on by the curious eye
This superstitious observance of Oriental reverence to the fair sex called forth froaria some criticisms very unfavorable to Saladin and his country But their den, as the royal fair called it, being securely closed and guarded by their sable attendants, she was under the necessity of contenting herself with seeing, and laying aside for the present the stillseen
Meantime the sponsors of both champions went, as was their duty, to see that they were duly armed, and prepared for combat The Archduke of Austria was in no hurry to perfor had rather an unusually severe debauch upon wine of Schiraz the preceding evening But the Grand Master of the Temple, more deeply concerned in the event of the combat, was early before the tent of Conrade of Montserrat To his great surprise, the attendants refused him admittance
”Do you not know er
”We do, most valiant and reverend,” answered Conrade's squire; ”but even _you_ may not at present enter--the Marquis is about to confess himself”
”Confess hiled with surprise and scorn--”and to whom I pray thee?”
”My master bid me be secret,” said the squire; on which the Grand Master pushed past him, and entered the tent al at the feet of the Her his confession
”What means this, Marquis?” said the Grand Master, ”up, for shame--or, if you must needs confess, am not I here?”
”I have confessed to you too often already,” replied Conrade, with a pale cheek and a faltering voice ”For God's sake, Grand Master, begone, and let me unfold my conscience to this holy man”
”In what is he holier than I am?” said the Grand Master--”Hermit, prophet, madman--say, if thou darest, in what thou excellest me?”
”Bold and bad man,” replied the Hermit, ”know that I aht passes through to avail others, though alas! it helpeth not me Thou art like the iron stanchions, which neither receive light themselves, nor communicate it to any one”
”Prate not to me, but depart from this tent,” said the Grand Master; ”the Marquis shall not confess this , unless it be to me, for I part not from his side”
”Is this _your_ pleasure?” said the Hermit to Conrade; ”for think not I will obey that proud man, if you continue to desire my assistance”
”Alas!” said Conrade irresolutely, ”ould you have me say? Farewell for a while--ill speak anon”
”O, procrastination!” exclaimed the Hermit, ”thou art a soul-murderer!--Unhappy man, farewell; not for a while, but until we both shallto the Grand Master, ”TREMBLE!”