Rise，rise，’’saidRichard，compellinghimtostandup；itbeseemsnotthatknees，whicharesofrequentlybendedtotheDeity，shouldpressthegroundinhonourofman。Whatdangerawaitsus，reverendfather？andwhenstoodthepowerofEnglandsolow，thatthenoisyblusterofthisnew-madeDuke’sdispleasureshouldalarmher，orhermonarch？’’
　　Ihavelookedforthfrommymountainturretuponthestarryhostofheaven，aseachinhismidnightcircuitutteredwisdomtoanother，andknowledgetothefewwhocanunderstandtheirvoice。TheresitsanenemyinthyHouseofLife，LordKing，malignatoncetothyfame，andthyprosperity-
　　anemanationofSaturn，menacingtheewithinstantandbloodyperil，andwhich，butthouyieldthyproudwilltotheruleofthyduty，willpresentlycrushthee，eveninthypride。’’
　　Away，away-thisisheathenscience，’’saidtheKingChristianspractiseitnot-wisemenbelieveitnot-Oldman，thoudotest。’’
　　Idotenot，Richard，’’answeredthehermit-Iamnotsohappy。Iknowmycondition，andthatsomeportionofreasonisyetpermittedme，notformyownuse，butthatoftheChurch，andtheadvancementoftheCross。Iamtheblindmanwhoholdsatorchtoothers，thoughityieldsnolighttohimself。AskmetouchingwhatconcernsthewealofChristendom，andofthisCrusade，andIwillspeakwiththeeasthewisestcounselloronwhosetonguepersuasioneversat。Speaktomeofmyownwretchedbeing，andmywordsshallbethoseofthemaniacoutcastwhichIam。’’
　　IwouldnotbreakthebandsofunityasunderamongthePrincesoftheCrusade，’’saidRichard，withamitigatedtoneandmanner；butwhatatonementcantheyrendermefortheinjusticeandinsultwhichIhavesustained？’’
　　EvenofthatIampreparedandcommissionedtospeakbytheCouncil，which，meetinghastilyatthesummonsofPhilipofFrance，havetakenmeasuresforthateffect。’’
　　Strange，’’repliedRichard，thatothersshouldtreatofwhatisduetothewoundedMajestyofEngland！’’
　　Theyarewillingtoanticipateyourdemands，ifitbepossible，’’
　　answeredthehermit。InabodytheyconsentthattheBannerofEnglandbereplacedonSaintGeorge’sMount，andtheylayunderbanandcondemnationtheaudaciouscriminal，orcriminals，bywhomitwasoutraged，andwillannounceaprincelyrewardtoanywhoshalldenouncethedelinquent’sguilt，andgivehisfleshtothewolvesandravens。’’
　　AndAustria，’’saidRichard-uponwhomrestsuchstrongpresumptionsthathewastheauthorofthedeed？’’
　　Topreventdiscordinthehost，’’repliedthehermit，Austriawillclearhimselfofthesuspicion，bysubmittingtowhatsoeverordealthePatriarchofJerusalemshallimpose。’’
　　Willheclearhimselfbythetrialbycombat？’’saidKingRichard。
　　Hisoathprohibitsit，’’saidthehermit；and，moreover，theCouncilofthePrinces’’-
　　WillneitherauthorisebattleagainsttheSaracens，’’interruptedRichard，noragainstanyoneelse。Butitisenough，father-thouhastshownmethefollyofproceedingasIdesignedinthismatter。Youshallsoonerlightyourtorchinapuddleofrain，thanbringasparkoutofacold-bloodedcoward。
　　ThereisnohonourtobegainedonAustria，andsolethimpass-Iwillhavehimperjurehimself，however；Iwillinsistontheordeal-HowIshalllaughtohearhisclumsyfingershiss，ashegraspsthered-hotglobeofiron！-Ay，orhishugemouthriven，andhisgulletswellingtosuffocation，asheendeavourstoswallowtheconsecratedbread。’’
　　Peace，Richard，’’saidthehermit-Oh，peace，forshameifnotforcharity！Whoshallpraiseorhonourprinces，whoinsultandcalumniateeachother？-Alas！thatacreaturesonobleasthouart-soaccomplishedinprincelythoughtsandprincelydaring-sofittedtohonourChristendombythyactions，and，inthycalmermood，toruleherbythywisdom，shouldyethavethebruteandwildfuryofthelion，mingledwiththedignityandcourageofthatkingoftheforest！’’
　　Heremainedaninstantmusingwithhiseyesfixedontheground，andthenproceeded-ButHeaven，thatknowsourimperfectnature，acceptsofourimperfectobedience，andhathdelayed，thoughnotaverted，thebloodyendofthydaringlife。
　　Thedestroyingangelhathstoodstill，asofold，bythethreshingfloorofAraunahtheJebusite，andthebladeisdrawninhishand，bywhich，atnodistantdate，Richard，thelion-hearted，shallbeaslowasthemeanestpeasant。’’
　　Mustitthenbesosoon？’’-saidRichard。Yet，evensobeit。Maymycoursebebright，ifitbebutbrief！’’
　　Alas！nobleKing，’’saidthesolitary，anditseemedasifatearunwontedguestweregatheringinhisdryandglazenedeye-shortandmelancholy，markedwithmortification，andcalamity，andcaptivity，isthespanthatdividestheefromthegravewhichyawnsforthee-agraveinwhichthoushaltbelaidwithoutlineagetosucceedthee-withoutthetearsofapeople，exhaustedbythyceaselesswars，tolamentthee-withouthavingextendedtheknowledgeofthysubjects-withouthavingdoneaughttoenlargetheirhappiness。’’
　　Butnotwithoutrenown，monk-notwithoutthetearsoftheladyofmylove！Theseconsolations，whichthoucanstneitherknownorestimate，awaituponRichardtohisgrave。’’
　　_Do_Inotknow-_can_Inotestimate，thevalueofminstrel’spraise，andoflady’slove！’’retortedthehermit，inatonewhichforamomentseemedtoemulatetheenthusiasmofRichardhimself。KingofEngland，’’hecontinued，extendinghisemaciatedarm，thebloodwhichboilsinthyblueveinsisnotmorenoblethanthatwhichstagnatesinmine。Fewandcoldasthedropsare，theystillareofthebloodoftheroyalLusignan-oftheheroicandsaintedGodfrey。Iam-thatis，Iwaswhenintheworld-AlberickMortemar’’-
　　Whosedeeds，’’saidRichard，havesooftenfilledFame’strumpet！Isitso-canitbeso？-Couldsuchalightasthinefallfromthehorizonofchivalry，andyetmenbeuncertainwhereitsembershadalighted？’’
　　Seekafallenstar，’’saidthehermit，andthoushaltonlylightonsomefouljelly，which，inshootingthroughthehorizon，hasassumedforamomentanappearanceofsplendour。Richard，ifIthoughtthatrendingthebloodyveilfrommyhorriblefatecouldmakethyproudheartstooptothedisciplineofthechurch，Icouldfindinmyhearttotelltheeatale，whichIhavehithertokeptgnawingatmyvitalsinconcealment，liketheself-devotedyouthofHeathenesse-Listen，then，Richard，andmaythegriefanddespair，whichcannotavailthiswretchedremnantofwhatwasonceaman，bepowerfulasanexampletosonoble，yetsowildabeingasthouart！Yes-Iwill-I_will_tearopenthelonghiddenwounds，althoughinthyverypresencetheyshouldbleedtodeath！’’
　　KingRichard，uponwhomthehistoryofAlberickofMortemarhadmadeadeepimpressioninhisearlyyears，whenminstrelswereregalinghisfather’shallswithlegendsoftheHolyLand，listenedwithrespecttotheoutlinesofatale，which，darklyandimperfectlysketched，indicatedsufficientlythecauseofthepartialinsanityofthissingularandmostunhappybeing。
　　Ineednot，’’hesaid，telltheethatIwasnobleinbirth，highinfortune，stronginarms，wiseincouncil。AlltheseI
　　was；butwhilethenoblestladiesinPalestinestrovewhichshouldwindgarlandsformyhelmet，mylovewasfixed-unalterablyanddevotedlyfixed-onamaidenoflowdegree。Herfather，anancientsoldieroftheCross，sawourpassion，and，knowingthedifferencebetwixtus，sawnootherrefugeforhisdaughter’shonourthantoplaceherwithintheshadowofthecloister。Ireturnedfromadistantexpedition，loadedwithspoilsandhonour，tofindmyhappinesswasdestroyedforever！
　　I，too，soughtthecloister，andSatan，whohadmarkedmeforhisown，breathedintomyheartavapourofspiritualpride，whichcouldonlyhavehaditssourceinhisowninfernalregions。
　　Ihadrisenashighinthechurchasbeforeinthestate-Iwas，forsooth，thewise，theself-sufficient，theimpeccable！-Iwasthecounsellorofcouncils-Iwasthedirectorofprelates-howshouldIstumble？-whereforeshouldIfeartemptation？-Alas！
　　Ibecameconfessortoasisterhood，andamongstthatsisterhoodIfoundthelongloved-thelonglost。Sparemefartherconfession！-
　　afallennun，whoseguiltwasavengedbyself-murder，sleepssoundlyinthevaultsofEngaddi，while，aboveherverygrave，gibbers，moans，androarsacreature，towhombutsomuchreasonisleftasmaysufficetorenderhimcompletelysensibletohisfate！’’
　　Unhappyman！’’saidRichard，Iwondernolongeratthymisery。Howdidstthouescapethedoom，whichthecanonsdenounceagainstthyoffence？’’
　　Askonewhoisyetinthegallofworldlybitterness，’’saidthehermit，andhewillspeakofalifesparedforpersonalrespects，andfromconsiderationtohighbirth。But，Richard，Itellthee，thatProvidencehathpreservedme，toliftmeonhighasalightandbeacon，whoseashes，whenthisearthlyfuelisburntout，mustyetbeflungintoTophet。Witheredandshrunkasthispoorformis，itisyetanimatedwithtwospirits-oneactive，shrewd，andpiercing，toadvocatethecauseoftheChurchofJerusalem-onemean，abject，anddespairing，fluctuatingbetweenmadnessandmisery，tomournovermyownwretchedness，andtoguardholyrelies，onwhichitwouldbemostsinfulformeeventocastmyeye。Pitymenot！-itisbutsintopitythelossofsuchanabject-pitymenot，butprofitbymyexample。Thoustandestonthehighestand，thereforeonthemostdangerouspinnacle，occupiedbyanyChristianprince。Thouartproudofheart，looseoflife，bloodyofhand。
　　Putfromtheethesinswhicharetotheeasdaughters-thoughtheybedeartothesinfulAdam，expeltheseadoptedfuriesfromthybreast-thypride，thyluxury，thyblood-thirstiness。’’
　　Heraves，’’saidRichard，turningfromthesolitarytoDeVaux，asonewhofeltsomepainfromasarcasmwhichyethecouldnotresent-thenturnedhimcalmly，andsomewhatscornfullytotheanchoret，ashereplied-Thouhastfoundafairbevyofdaughters，reverendfather，toonewhohathbeenbutfewmonthsmarried；butsinceImustputthemfrommyroof，itwerebutlikeafather，toprovidethemwithsuitablematches。
　　Wherefore，IwillpartwithmypridetothenobleCanonsoftheChurch-myluxury，asthoucall’stit，totheMonksoftherule-andmyblood-thirstinesstotheKnightsoftheTemple。’’
　　Oh，heartofsteel，andhandofiron，’’saidtheanchoret，uponwhomexample，aswellasadvice，isalikethrownaway！-
　　Yetshaltthoubesparedforaseason，incaseitsobethoushouldstturnanddothatwhichisacceptableinthesightofHeaven-Forme，Imustreturntomyplace-KyrieEleison！-
　　Iamhethroughwhomtheraysofheavenlygracedartlikethoseofthesunthroughaburningglass，concentratingthemonotherobjects，untiltheykindleandblaze，whiletheglassitselfremainscoldanduninfluenced-KyrieEleison！-thepoormustbecalled，fortherichhaverefusedthebanquet-KyrieEleison！’’
　　Sosaying，heburstfromthetent，utteringloudcries。
　　Amadpriest！’’-saidRichard，fromwhosemindthefranticexclamationsofthehermithadpartlyobliteratedtheimpressionproducedbythedetailofhispersonalhistoryandmisfortunes。
　　Afterhim，DeVaux，andseehecomestonoharm；for，Crusadersasweare，ajugglerhathmorereverenceamongstourvarletsthanapriestorasaint，andtheymay，perchance，putsomescornuponhim。’’
　　Theknightobeyed，andRichardpresentlygavewaytothethoughtswhichthewildprophecyofthemonkhadinspired-
　　Todieearly-withoutlineage-withoutlamentation？aheavysentence，andwellthatitisnotpassedbyamorecompetentjudge。YettheSaracens，whoareaccomplishedinmysticalknowledge，willoftenmaintain，thatHe，inwhoseeyesthewisdomofthesageisbutasfolly，inspireswisdomandprophecyintotheseemingfollyofthemadman。Yonderhermitissaidtoreadthestarstoo，anartgenerallypractisedintheselands，wheretheheavenlyhostwasofyoretheobjectofidolatry。I
　　wouldIhadaskedhimtouchingthelossofmybanner；fornottheblessedTishbite，thefounderofhisorder，couldseemmorewildlyraptoutofhimself，orspeakwithatonguemoreresemblingthatofaprophet-Hownow，DoVaux，whatnewsofthemadpriest？’’
　　Madpriest，callyouhim，mylord？’’answeredDeVaux。
　　MethinksheresemblesmoretheblessedBaptisthimself，justissuedfromthewilderness。Hehasplacedhimselfononeofthemilitaryengines，andfromthencehepreachestothesoldiers，asnevermanpreachedsincethetimeofPetertheHermit。Thecamp，alarmedbyhiscries，crowdaroundhiminthousands；andbreakingoffeverynowandthenfromthemainthreadofhisdiscourse，headdressestheseveralnations，eachintheirownlanguage，andpressesuponeachtheargumentsbestqualifiedtourgethemtoperseveranceinthedeliveryofPalestine。’’