Itiswritten，’’answeredtheHakim，withimperturbablegravity，`abusenotthesteedwhichhathbornetheefromthebattle。’Know，thatsuchtalismansmightindeedbeframed，butrarehasbeenthenumberofadeptswhohavedaredtoundertaketheapplicationoftheirvirtue。Severerestrictions，painfulobservances，fasts，andpenance，arenecessaryonthepartofthesagewhousesthismodeofcure；andif，throughneglectofthesepreparations，byhisloveofease，orhisindulgenceofsensualappetite，heomitstocureatleasttwelvepersonswithinthecourseofeachmoon，thevirtueofthedivinegiftdepartsfromtheamulet，andboththelastpatientandthephysicianwillbeexposedtospeedymisfortune，neitherwilltheysurvivetheyear。Irequireyetonelifetomakeuptheappointednumber。’’
　　Gooutintothecamp，goodHakim，wherethouwiltfinda-many，’’saidtheKing，anddonotseektorobmyheadsmanof_his_patients；itisunbecomingamedicinerofthineeminencetointerferewiththepracticeofanother-Besides，Icannotseehowdeliveringacriminalfromthedeathhedeserves，shouldgotomakeupthytaleofmiraculouscures。’’
　　Whenthoucanstshowwhyadraughtofcoldwatershouldhavecuredthee，whenthemostpreciousdrugsfailed，’’saidtheHakim，thoumay’streasonontheothermysteriesattendantonthismatter。Formyself，Iaminefficienttothegreatwork，havingthismorningtouchedanuncleananimal。Ask，therefore，nofartherquestions；itisenoughthat，bysparingthisman’slifeatmyrequest，youwilldeliveryourself，greatKing，andthyservant，fromagreatdanger。’’
　　Harkthee，Adonbec，’’repliedtheKing，Ihavenoobjectionthatleechesshouldwraptheirwordsinmist，andpretendtoderiveknowledgefromthestars；butwhenyoubidRichardPlantagenetfearthatadangerwillfallupon_him_fromsomeidleomen，oromittedceremonial，youspeaktonoignorantSaxon，ordotingoldwoman，whoforegoesherpurposebecauseaharecrossesthepath，aravencroaks，oracatsneezes。’’
　　Icannothinderyourdoubtofmywords，’’saidAdonbec；
　　butyet，letmyLordtheKinggrantthattruthisonthetongueofhisservant-willhethinkitjusttodeprivetheworld，andeverywretchwhomaysufferbythepainswhichsolatelyreducedhimtothatcouch，ofthebenefitofthismostvirtuoustalisman，ratherthanextendhisforgivenesstoonepoorcriminal？Bethinkyou，LordKing，thatthoughthoucanstslaythousands，thoucanstnotrestoreonemantohealth。
　　KingshavethepowerofSatantotorment，sagesthatofAllahtoheal-bewarehowthouhinderestthegoodtohumanity，whichthoucanstnotthyselfrender。Thoucanstcutoffthehead，butnotcuretheachingtooth。’’
　　Thisisoverinsolent，’’saidtheKing，hardeninghimself，astheHakimassumedamorelofty，andalmostacommandingtone。Wetooktheeforourleech，notforourcounsellor，orconscience-keeper。’’
　　AndisitthusthemostrenownedPrinceofFrangistanrepaysbenefitdonetohisroyalperson？’’saidElHakim，exchangingthehumbleandstoopingposture，inwhichhehadhithertosolicitedtheKing，foranattitudeloftyandcommanding。
　　Know，then，’’hesaid，thatthrougheverycourtofEuropeandAsia-toMoslemandNazarene-toknightandlady-whereverharpisheardandswordworn-whereverhonourislovedandinfamydetested-toeveryquarteroftheworldwillIdenouncethee，MelechRic，asthanklessandungenerous；
　　andeventhelands-iftherebeanysuch-thatneverheardofthyrenown，shallyetbeacquaintedwiththyshame！’’
　　Arethesetermstome，vileinfidel！’’saidRichard，stridinguptohiminfury-Artwearyofthylife？’’
　　Strike！’’saidElHakim；thineowndeedshallthenpainttheemoreworthlessthancouldmywords，thougheachhadanhornet’ssting。’’
　　Richardturnedfiercelyfromhim，foldedhisarms，traversedthetentasbefore，andthenexclaimed，Thanklessandungenerous！-
　　aswellbetermedcowardandinfidel！-Hakim，thouhastchosenthyboon；andthoughIhadratherthouhadstaskedmycrown-jewels，yetImaynot，king-like，refusethee。TakethisScot，therefore，tothykeeping-theprovostwilldeliverhimtotheeonthiswarrant。’’
　　Hehastilytracedoneortwolines，andgavethemtothephysician。Usehimasthybond-slave，tobedisposedofasthouwilt-only，lethimbewarehowhecomesbeforetheeyesofRichard。Harkthee-thouartwise-hehathbeenoverboldamongthoseinwhosefairlooksandweakjudgmentswetrustourhonour，asyouoftheEastlodgeyourtreasuresincasketsofsilverwire，asfineandasfrailasthewebofagossamer。’’
　　ThyservantunderstandsthewordoftheKing，’’saidthesage，atonceresumingthereverentstyleofaddressinwhichhehadcommenced。Whentherichcarpetissoiled，thefoolpointethtothestain-thewisemancoversitwithhismantle。
　　Ihaveheardmylord’spleasure，andtohearistoobey。’’
　　Itiswell，’’saidtheKing；lethimconsulthisownsafety，andneverappearinmypresencemore-IsthereaughtelseinwhichImaydotheepleasure？’’
　　ThebountyoftheKinghathfilledmycuptothebrim，’’
　　saidthesage；yea，ithathbeenabundantasthefountainwhichsprungupamidthecampofthedescendantsofIsrael，whentherockwasstrickenbytherodofMoussaBenAmran。’’
　　Ay，but，’’saidtheKing，smiling，itrequired，asinthedesert，ahardblowontherockereityieldeditstreasures。I
　　wouldthatIknewsomethingtopleasurethee，whichImightyieldasfreelyasthenaturalfountainsendsforthitswaters。’’
　　Letmetouchthatvictorioushand，’’saidthesage，intoken，thatifAdonbecelHakimshouldhereafterdemandaboonofRichardofEngland，hemaydoso，yetpleadhiscommand。’’
　　Thouhasthandandgloveuponit，man，’’repliedRichard；
　　only，ifthoucouldstconsistentlymakeupthytaleofpatientswithoutcravingmetodeliverfrompunishmentthosewhohavedeservedit，Iwouldmorewillinglydischargemydebtinsomeotherform。’’
　　Maythydaysbemultiplied！’’answeredtheHakim，andwithdrewfromtheapartmentaftertheusualdeepobeisance。
　　KingRichardgazedafterhimashedeparted，likeonebuthalf-satisfiedwithwhathadpassed。
　　Strangepertinacity，’’hesaid，inthisHakim，andawonderfulchancetointerferebetweenthataudaciousScotandthechastisementhehasmeritedsorichly。Yet，lethimlive！
　　thereisonebravemanthemoreintheworld-AndnowfortheAustrian-Ho，istheBaronofGilslandtherewithout？’’
　　SirThomasdeVauxthussummoned，hisbulkyformspeedilydarkenedtheopeningofthepavilion，whilebehindhimglidedasaspectreunannounced，yetunopposed，thesavageformofthehermitofEngaddi，wrappedinhisgoat-skinmantle。
　　Richard，withoutnoticinghispresence，calledinaloudtonetotheBaron，SirThomasdeVaux，ofLanercostandGilsland，taketrumpetandherald，andgoinstantlytothetentofhimwhomtheycallArchdukeofAustria，andseethatitbewhenthepressofhisknightsandvassalsisgreatestaroundhim，-asislikelyatthishour，fortheGermanboarbreakfastserehehearsmass-enterhispresencewithaslittlereverenceasthoumay’st，andimpeachhim，onthepartofRichardofEngland，thathehaththisnight，byhisownhand，orthatofothers，stolenfromitsstafftheBannerofEngland。Wherefore，saytohimourpleasure，that，withinanhourfromthetimeofmyspeaking，herestorethesaidbannerwithallreverence-
　　hehimselfandhisprincipalbaronswaitingthewhilstwithheadsuncovered，andwithouttheirrobesofhonour-
　　Andthat，moreover，hepitchbesideit，ontheonehand，hisownBannerofAustriareversed，asthatwhichhathbeendishonouredbytheftandfelony-andontheother，alancebearingthebloodyheadofhimwhowashisnearestcounsellororassistant，inthisbaseinjury-Andsay，thatsuchourbehestsbeingpunctuallydischarged，wewill，forthesakeofourvow，andthewealoftheHolyLand，forgivehisotherforfeits。’’
　　AndhowiftheDukeofAustriadenyallaccessiontothisactofwrongandoffelony？’’saidThomasdeVaux。
　　Tellhim，’’repliedtheKing，wewillproveituponhisbody-ay，werehebackedwithhistwobravestchampions。
　　Knight-likewillweproveit，onfootoronhorse，inthedesertorinthefield，time，place，andarms，allathisownchoice。’’
　　BethinkyouofthepeaceofGodandtheChurch，myliegelord，’’saidtheBaronofGilsland，amongthoseprincesengagedinthisholyCrusade。’’
　　Bethinkyouhowtoexecutemycommands，myliegevassal，’’
　　answeredRichard，impatiently。Methinksmenexpecttoturnourpurposebytheirbreath，asboysblowfeatherstoandfro-PeaceoftheChurch！-who，Iprithee，mindsit？ThepeaceoftheChurch，amongCrusaders，implieswarwiththeSaracens，withwhomtheprinceshavemadetruce，andtheoneendswiththeother。And，besides，seeyounothoweveryprinceofthemisseekinghisownseveralends？-Iwillseekminealso-andthatishonour。ForhonourIcamehither，andifImaynotwinitupontheSaracens，atleastIwillnotloseajotfromanyrespecttothispaltryDuke，thoughhewerebulwarkedandbuttressedbyeveryprinceintheCrusade。’’
　　DeVauxturnedtoobeytheKing’smandate，shrugginghisshouldersatthesametime，thebluntnessofhisnaturebeingunabletoconcealthatitstenorwentagainsthisjudgment。
　　ButthehermitofEngaddisteppedforward，andassumedtheairofonechargedwithhighercommandsthanthoseofamereearthlypotentate。Indeed，hisdressofshaggyskins，hisuncombedanduntrimmedhairandbeard，hislean，wild，andcontortedfeatures，andthealmostinsanefirewhichgleamedfromunderhisbushyeyebrows，madehimapproachnearlytoourideaofsomeseerofScripture，who，chargedwithhighmissiontothesinfulKingsofJudahorIsrael，descendedfromtherocksandcavernsinwhichhedweltinabstractedsolitude，toabashearthlytyrantsinthemidstoftheirpride，bydischargingonthemtheblightingdenunciationsofDivineMajesty，evenastheclouddischargesthelightningwithwhichitisfraught，onthepinnaclesandtowersofcastlesandpalaces。Inthemidstofhismostwaywardmood，RichardrespectedtheChurchanditsministers，andthoughoffendedattheintrusionofthehermitintohistent，hegreetedhimwithrespect；atthesametime，however，makingasigntoSirThomasdeVauxtohastenonhismessage。
　　Butthehermitprohibitedthebaron，bygesture，look，andword，tostirayardonsuchanerrand；and，holdinguphisbarearm，fromwhichthegoat-skinmantlefellbackintheviolenceofhisaction，hewaveditaloft，meagrewithfamine，andwealedwiththeblowsofthediscipline。
　　InthenameofGod，andofthemostholyFather，thevicegerentoftheChristianChurchuponearth，Iprohibitthismostprofane，bloodthirsty，andbrutaldefiance，betwixttwoChristianprinces，whoseshouldersaresignedwiththeblessedmarkunderwhichtheysworebrotherhood。Woetohimbywhomitisbroken！-RichardofEngland，recallthemostunhallowedmessagethouhastgiventothatbaron-DangerandDeatharenighthee！-thedaggerisglancingatthyverythroat！’’-
　　DangerandDeathareplaymatestoRichard，’’answeredthemonarchproudly；andhehathbravedtoomanyswordstofearadagger。’’
　　DangerandDeatharenear，’’repliedtheseer；and，sinkinghisvoicetoahollow，unearthlytone，headded，Andafterdeaththejudgment！’’
　　Goodandholyfather，’’saidRichard，Ireverencethypersonandthysanctity’’-
　　Reverencenotme！’’interruptedthehermit；reverencesoonerthevilestinsectthatcrawlsbytheshoresoftheDeadSea，andfeedsuponitsaccursedslime。ButreverenceHimwhosecommandsIspeak-Reverencehimwhosesepulchreyouhavevowedtorescue-Reveretheoathofconcordwhichyouhavesworn，andbreaknotthesilvercordofunionandfidelitywithwhichyouhaveboundyourselftoyourprincelyconfederates。’’
　　Goodfather，’’saidtheKing，youoftheChurchseemtometopresumesomewhat，ifalaymanmaysaysomuch，uponthedignityofyourholycharacter。Withoutchallengingyourrighttotakechargeofourconscience，methinksyoumightleaveusthechargeofourownhonour。’’
　　Presume！’’repeatedthehermit-isitformetopresume，royalRichard，whoambutthebellobeyingthehandofthesexton-butthesenselessandworthlesstrumpet，carryingthecommandofhimwhosoundsit？-See，onmykneesIthrowmyselfbeforethee，imploringtheetohavemercyonChristendom，onEngland，andonthyself！’’