Unbendthyarblast，andcomeintothemoonlight，’’saidtheScot，or，bySaintAndrew，Iwillpintheetotheearth，bewhatorwhomthouwilt！’’
　　Ashespoke，hepoisedhislonglancebythemiddle，and，fixinghiseyeupontheobjectwhichseemedtomove，hebrandishedtheweapon，asifmeditatingtocastitfromhishand-auseoftheweapon，sometimes，thoughrarely，resortedto，whenamissilewasnecessary。ButSirKennethwasashamedofhispurpose，andgroundedhisweapon，whentheresteppedfromtheshadowintothemoonlight，likeanactorenteringuponthestage，astunteddecrepitcreature，whom，byhisfantasticdressanddeformity，herecognised，evenatsomedistance，forthemaleofthetwodwarfswhomhehadseenatthechapelofEngaddi。Recollecting，atthesamemoment，theother，andfardifferent，visionsofthatextraordinarynight，hegavehisdogasignal，whichheinstantlyunderstood，and，returningtothestandard，laidhimselfdownbesideitwithastifledgrowl。
　　Thelittledistortedminiatureofhumanity，assuredofhissafetyfromanenemysoformidable，camepantinguptheascent，whichtheshortnessofhislegsrenderedlaborious，andwhenhearrivedontheplatformonthetop，shiftedtohislefthandthelittlecross-bow，whichwasjustsuchatoyaschildrenatthatperiodwerepermittedtoshootsmallbirdswith，and，assuminganattitudeofgreatdignity，gracefullyextendedhisrighthandtoSirKenneth，inanattitudeasifheexpectedhewouldsaluteit。Butsucharesultnotfollowing，hedemandedinasharpandangrytoneofvoice，Soldier，whereforerenderestthounottoNectabanusthehomageduetohisdignity？-Or，isitpossiblethatthoucansthaveforgottenhim？’’
　　GreatNectabanus，’’answeredtheknight，willingtosoothethecreature’shumour，thatweredifficultforanyonewhohaseverlookeduponthee。Pardonme，however，thatbeingasoldieruponmypost，withmylanceinmyhand，Imaynotgivetooneofthypuissancetheadvantageofcomingwithinmyguard，orofmasteringmyweapon。Sufficeit，thatIreverencethydignity，andsubmitmyselftotheeashumblyasaman-at-armsinmyplacemay。’’
　　Itshallsuffice，’’saidNectabanus，sothatyoupresentlyattendmetothepresenceofthosewhohavesentmehithertosummonyou。’’
　　Greatsir，’’repliedtheknight，neitherinthiscanIgratifythee，formyordersaretoabidebythisbannertilldaybreak-
　　soIprayyoutoholdmeexcusedinthatmatteralso。’’
　　Sosaying，heresumedhiswalkupontheplatform；butthedwarfdidnotsufferhimsoeasilytoescapefromhisimportunity。
　　Lookyou，’’hesaid，placinghimselfbeforeSirKenneth，soastointerrupthisway，eitherobeyme，SirKnight，asindutybound，orIwilllaythecommanduponthee，inthenameofonewhosebeautycouldcalldownthegeniifromtheirsphere，andwhosegrandeurcouldcommandtheimmortalracewhentheyhaddescended。’’
　　Awildandimprobableconjecturearoseintheknight’smind，butherepelledit。Itwasimpossible，hethought，thattheladyofhisloveshouldhavesenthimsuchamessagebysuchamessenger-yethisvoicetrembledashesaid，Goto，Nectabanus。
　　Tellmeatonce，andasatrueman，whetherthissublimeladyofwhomthouspeakest，beotherthanthehouri，withwhoseassistanceIbeheldtheesweepingthechapelatEngaddi？’’
　　How！presumptuousknight，’’repliedthedwarf；think’stthouthemistressofourownroyalaffections，thesharerofourgreatness，andthepartnerofourcomeliness，woulddemeanherselfbylayingchargeonsuchavassalasthou？No，highlyasthouarthonoured，thouhastnotyetdeservedthenoticeofQueenGuenevra，thelovelybrideofArthur，fromwhosehighseatevenprincesseembutpigmies。Butlookthouhere，andasthouknowestordisownestthistoken，soobeyorrefusehercommands，whohathdeignedtoimposethemonthee。’’
　　Sosaying，heplacedintheknight’shandsarubyring，which，eveninthemoonlight，hehadnodifficultytorecogniseasthatwhichusuallygracedthefingerofthehigh-bornladytowhoseservicehehaddevotedhimself。Couldhehavedoubtedthetruthofthetoken，hewouldhavebeenconvincedbythesmallknotofcarnation-colouredribbon，whichwasfastenedtothering。Thiswashislady’sfavouritecolour，andmorethanoncehadhehimself，assumingitforthatofhisownliveries，causedthecarnationtotriumphoverallotherhuesinthelistsandinthebattle。
　　SirKennethwasstrucknearlymute，byseeingsuchatokeninsuchhands。
　　Inthenameofallthatissacred，fromwhomdidstthoureceivethiswitness？’’saidtheknight；bring，ifthoucanst，thywaveringunderstandingtoarightsettlementforaminuteortwo，andtellmethepersonbywhomthouartsent，andtherealpurposeofthymessage-andtakeheedwhatthousay’st，forthisisnosubjectforbuffoonery。’’
　　Fondandfoolishknight，’’saidthedwarf，wouldstthouknowmoreofthismatter，thanthatthouarthonouredwithcommandsfromaprincess，deliveredtotheebyaking？-Welistnottoparleywiththeefartherthantocommandthee，inthename，andbythepowerofthatring，tofollowustoherwhoistheownerofthering。Everyminutethatthoutarriestisacrimeagainstthyallegiance。’’
　　GoodNectabanus-bethinkthyself，’’saidtheknight，-
　　CanmyladyknowwhereanduponwhatdutyIamthisnightengaged？-Issheawarethatmylife-Pshaw，whyshouldIspeakoflife-butthatmyhonourdependsonmyguardingthisbannertilldaybreak-andcanitbeherwishthatIshouldleaveiteventopayhomagetoher？-Itisimpossible-theprincessispleasedtobemerrywithherservant，insendinghimsuchamessage；andImustthinksotheratherthatshehathchosensuchamessenger。’’
　　Oh，keepyourbelief，’’saidNectabanus，turningroundasiftoleavetheplatform；itislittletomewhetheryoubetraitorortruemantothisroyallady-sofare-thee-well。’’
　　Stay，stay-Ientreatyoustay，’’saidSirKenneth；answermebutonequestion-Istheladywhosenttheeneartothisplace？’’
　　Whatsignifiesit？’’saidthedwarf；oughtfidelitytoreckonfurlongs，ormiles，orleagues-likethepoorcourier，whoispaidforhislabourbythedistancewhichhetraverses？Nevertheless，thousoulofsuspicion，Itellthee，thefairownerofthering，nowsenttosounworthyavassal，inwhomthereisneithertruthnorcourage，isnotmoredistantfromthisplace，thanthisarblastcansendabolt。’’
　　Theknightgazedagainonthering，asiftoascertainthattherewasnopossiblefalsehoodinthetoken-Tellme，’’hesaidtothedwarf，ismypresencerequiredforanylengthoftime？’’
　　Time！’’answeredNectabanus，inhisflightymanner；
　　whatcallyoutime？Iseeitnot-Ifeelitnot-itisbutashadowyname-asuccessionofbreathingsmeasuredforthbynightbytheclankofabell，bydaybyashadowcrossingalongadial-stone。Know’stthounotatrueknight’stimeshouldonlybereckonedbythedeedsthatheperformsinbehalfofGodandhislady？’’
　　Thewordsoftruth，thoughinthemouthoffolly，’’saidtheknight。Anddothmyladyreallysummonmetosomedeedofaction，inhernameandforhersake？-andmayitnotbepostponedforeventhefewhourstilldaybreak？’’
　　Sherequiresthypresenceinstantly，’’saidthedwarf，andwithoutthelossofsomuchtimeaswouldbetoldbytengrainsofthesand-glass-Hearken，thoucold-bloodedandsuspiciousknight，theseareherverywords-`Tellhim，thatthehandwhichdroppedrosescanbestowlaurels。’’’
　　ThisallusiontotheirmeetinginthechapelofEngaddisentathousandrecollectionsthroughSirKenneth’sbrain，andconvincedhimthatthemessagedeliveredbythedwarfwasgenuine。
　　Therose-buds，witheredastheywere，werestilltreasuredunderhiscuirass，andnearesttohisheart。Hepaused，andcouldnotresolvetoforegoanopportunity-theonlyonewhichmighteveroffer，togaingraceinhereyes，whomhehadinstalledassovereignofhisaffections。Thedwarf，inthemeantime，augmentedhisconfusionbyinsistingeitherthathemustreturnthering，orinstantlyattendhim。
　　Hold，hold，yetamomenthold，’’saidtheknight，andproceededtomuttertohimself-AmIeitherthesubjectorslaveofKingRichard，morethanasafreeknightsworntotheserviceoftheCrusade？AndwhomhaveIcomehithertohonourwithlanceandsword？Ourholycauseandmytranscendentlady！’’
　　Thering，thering！’’exclaimedthedwarf，impatiently；
　　falseandslothfulknight，returnthering，whichthouartunworthytotouchortolookupon。’’
　　Amoment，amoment，goodNectabanus，’’saidSirKenneth；
　　disturbnotmythoughts-WhatiftheSaracenswerejustnowtoattackourlines？ShouldIstayherelikeaswornvassalofEngland，watchingthatherking’spridesufferednohumiliation；orshouldIspeedtothebreach，andfightfortheCross？-Tothebreach，assuredly；andnexttothecauseofGod，comethecommandsofmyliegelady-Andyet，CurdeLion’sbehest-myownpromise！-Nectabanus，Iconjuretheeoncemoretosay，areyoutoconductmefarfromhence？’’
　　Buttoyonderpavilion；andsinceyoumustneedsknow，’’
　　repliedNectabanus，themoonisglimmeringonthegildedballwhichcrownsitsroof，andwhichisworthaking’sransom。’’
　　Icanreturninaninstant，’’saidtheknight，shuttinghiseyesdesperatelytoallfartherconsequences。Icanhearfromthencethebayofmydog，ifanyoneapproachesthestandard-
　　Iwillthrowmyselfatmylady’sfeet，andprayherleavetoreturntoconcludemywatch-Here，Roswal’’callinghishound，andthrowingdownhismantlebythesideofthestandard-spear，watchthouhere，andletnooneapproach。’’
　　Themajesticdoglookedinhismaster’sface，asiftobesurethatheunderstoodhischarge，thensatdownbesidethemantle，withearserectandheadraised，likeasentinel，understandingperfectlythepurposeforwhichhewasstationedthere。
　　Comenow，goodNectabanus，’’saidtheknight，letushastentoobeythecommandsthouhastbrought。’’
　　Hastehethatwill，’’saidthedwarf，sullenly；thouhastnotbeeninhastetoobeymysummons，norcanIwalkfastenoughtofollowyourlongstrides-youdonotwalklikeaman，butboundlikeanostrichinthedesert。’’
　　TherewerebuttwowaysofconqueringtheobstinacyofNectabanus，who，ashespoke，diminishedhiswalkintoasnailpace。ForbribesSirKennethhadnomeans-forsoothingnotime；soinhisimpatiencehesnatchedthedwarfupfromtheground，andbearinghimalong，notwithstandinghisentreatiesandhisfear，reachednearlytothepavilionpointedoutasthatoftheQueen。Inapproachingit，however，theScotobservedtherewasasmallguardofsoldierssittingontheground，whohadbeenconcealedfromhimbytheinterveningtents。Wonderingthattheclashofhisownarmourhadnotyetattractedtheirattention，andsupposingthathismotionsmight，onthepresentoccasion，requiretobeconductedwithsecrecy，heplacedthelittlepantingguideuponthegroundtorecoverhisbreath，andpointoutwhatwasnexttobedone。Nectabanuswasbothfrightenedandangry；buthehadfelthimselfascompletelyinthepoweroftherobustknight，asanowlintheclawsofaneagle，andthereforecarednottoprovokehimtoanyfartherdisplayofhisstrength。
　　Hemadenocomplaints，therefore，oftheusagehehadreceived，butturningamongstthelabyrinthoftents，heledtheknightinsilencetotheoppositesideofthepavilion，whichthusscreenedthemfromtheobservationofthewarders，whoseemedeithertoonegligentortoosleepytodischargetheirdutywithmuchaccuracy。Arrivedthere，thedwarfraisedtheunderpartofthecanvasfromtheground，andmadesignstoSirKenneththatheshouldintroducehimselftotheinsideofthetent，bycreepingunderit。Theknighthesitated-thereseemedanindecoruminthusprivatelyintroducinghimselfintoapavilion，pitched，doubtless，fortheaccommodationofnobleladies，butherecalledtoremembrancetheassuredtokenswhichthedwarfhadexhibited，andconcludedthatitwasnotforhimtodisputehislady’spleasure。
　　Hestoopedaccordingly，creptbeneaththecanvasenclosureofthetent，andheardthedwarfwhisperfromwithout，-RemainthereuntilIcallthee。’’