Butthistimehisrestwasnotunbroken；forhewasawakenedbythevoiceofthephysicianatthedoorofthetent，inquiringafterhishealth，andwhetherhehadrestedsufficiently-
　　MayIenteryourtent？’’heconcluded，forthecurtainisdrawnbeforetheentrance。’’
　　Themaster，’’repliedSirKenneth，determinedtoshowthathewasnotsurprisedintoforgetfulnessofhisowncondition，needdemandnopermissiontoenterthetentoftheslave。’’
　　ButifIcomenotasamaster？’’saidElHakim，stillwithoutentering。
　　Thephysician，’’answeredtheknight，hathfreeaccesstothebedsideofhispatient。’’
　　NeithercomeInowasaphysician，’’repliedElHakimandthereforeIstillrequestpermission，ereIcomeunderthecoveringofthytent。’’
　　Whoevercomesasafriend，’’saidSirKenneth，andsuchthouhasthithertoshownthyselftome，thehabitationofthefriendiseveropentohim。’’
　　Yetonceagain，’’saidtheEasternsage，aftertheperiphrasticalmannerofhiscountrymen，supposingthatIcomenotasafriend？’’
　　Comeasthouwilt，’’saidtheScottishknight，somewhatimpatientofthiscircumlocution，-bewhatthouwilt-thouknowestwellitisneitherinmypowernormyinclinationtorefusetheeentrance。’’
　　Icomethen，’’saidElHakim，asyourancientfoe；butafairandagenerousone。’’
　　Heenteredashespoke；andwhenhestoodbeforethebedsideofSirKenneth，thevoicecontinuedtobethatofAdonbectheArabianphysician，buttheform，dress，andfeatures，werethoseofIlderimofKurdistan，calledSheerkohf。SirKennethgazeduponhim，asifheexpectedthevisiontodepart，likesomethingcreatedbyhisimagination。
　　Dothitsosurprisethee，’’saidIlderim，andthouanapprovedwarrior，toseethatasoldierknowssomewhatoftheartofhealing？-Isaytothee，Nazarene，thatanaccomplishedcavaliershouldknowhowtodresshissteedaswellashowtoridehim；howtoforgehissworduponthestithy，aswellashowtouseitinbattle；howtoburnishhisarms，aswellashowtowearthem；and，aboveall，howtocurewoundsaswellashowtoinflictthem。’’
　　Ashespoke，theChristianknightrepeatedlyshuthiseyes，andwhiletheyremainedclosed，theideaoftheHakim，withhislongflowingdarkrobes，highTartarcap，andgravegestures，waspresenttohisimagination；butsosoonasheopenedthem，thegracefulandrichly-gemmedturban，thelighthauberkofsteelringsentwistedwithsilver，whichglancedbrilliantlyasitobeyedeveryinflectionofthebody，thefeaturesfreedfromtheirformalexpression，lessswarthy，andnolongershadowedbythemassofhairnowlimitedtoawell-trimmedbeard，announcedthesoldierandnotthesage。
　　Artthoustillsomuchsurprised，’’saidtheEmir，andhastthouwalkedintheworldwithsuchlittleobservance，astowonderthatmenarenotalwayswhattheyseem？-Thouthyself-artthouwhatthouseemest？’’
　　No，bySt。Andrew！’’exclaimedtheknight；fortothewholeChristiancampIseematraitor，andIknowmyselftobeatruethoughanerringman。’’
　　EvensoIjudgedthee，’’saidIlderim；andaswehadeatensalttogether，Ideemedmyselfboundtorescuetheefromdeathandcontumely-Butwhereforelieyoustillonyourcouch，sincethesunishighintheheavens？orarethevestmentswhichmysumpter-camelshaveaffordedunworthyofyourwearing？’’
　　Notunworthy，surely，butunfittingforit，’’repliedtheScot；givemethedressofaslave，nobleIlderim，andIwilldonitwithpleasure；butIcannotbrooktowearthehabitofthefreeEasternwarrior，withtheturbanoftheMoslem。’’
　　Nazarene，’’answeredtheEmir，thynationsoeasilyentertainssuspicion，thatitmaywellrenderthemselvessuspected。
　　HaveInottoldtheethatSaladindesiresnoconvertssavingthosewhomtheholyprophetshalldisposetosubmitthemselvestohislaw；violenceandbriberyarealikealientohisplanforextendingthetruefaith。Hearkentome，mybrother。Whentheblindmanwasmiraculouslyrestoredtosight，thescalesdroppedfromhiseyesattheDivinepleasure-think’stthouthatanyearthlyleechcouldhaveremovedthem？No。Suchmedicinermighthavetormentedthepatientwithhisinstruments，orperhapssoothedhimwithhisbalsams，andcordials，butdarkashewasmustthedarkenedmanhaveremained；anditisevensowiththeblindnessoftheunderstanding。IftherebethoseamongtheFranks，who，forthesakeofworldlylucre，haveassumedtheturbanoftheProphet，andfollowedthelawsofIslam，withtheirownconsciencesbetheblame。Themselvessoughtoutthebait-ItwasnotflungtothembytheSoldan。Andwhentheyshallhereafterbesentenced，ashypocrites，tothelowestgulfofhell，belowChristianandJew，magicianandidolater，andcondemnedtoeatthefruitofthetreeYacoun，whichistheheadsofdemons-tothemselves，nottotheSoldan，shalltheirguiltandtheirpunishmentbeattributed。Whereforewear，withoutdoubtorscruple，thevesturepreparedforyou，sinceifyouproceedtothecampofSaladin，yourownnativedresswillexposeyoutotroublesomeobservation，andperhapstoinsult。
　　_If_IgotothecampofSaladin？’’saidSirKenneth，repeatingthewordsoftheEmir；Alas！amIafreeagent，andrathermustI_not_gowhereveryourpleasurecarriesme？’’
　　Thineownwillmayguidethineownmotions，’’saidtheEmir，asfreelyasthewindwhichmoveththedustofthedesertinwhatdirectionitchooseth。Thenobleenemywhomet，andwell-nighmasteredmysword，cannotbecomemyslavelikehimwhohascrouchedbeneathit。Ifwealthandpowerwouldtempttheetojoinourpeople，Icouldensurethypossessingthem；butthemanwhorefusedthefavoursoftheSoldanwhentheaxewasathishead，willnot，Ifear，nowacceptthem，whenItellhimhehashisfreechoice。’’
　　Completeyourgenerosity，nobleEmir，’’saidSirKenneth，byforbearingtoshowmeamodeofrequital，whichconscienceforbidsmetocomplywith。Permitmerathertoexpress，asboundincourtesy，mygratitudeforthismostchivalrousbounty，thisundeservedgenerosity。’’
　　Saynotundeserved，’’repliedtheEmirIlderim；wasitnotthroughthyconversation，andthyaccountofthebeautieswhichgracethecourtoftheMelechRic，thatIventuredmethitherindisguise，andtherebyprocuredasightthemostblessedthatIhaveeverenjoyed-thatIevershallenjoy，untilthegloriesofParadisebeamonmyeyes？’’
　　Iunderstandyounot，’’saidSirKenneth，colouringalternately，andturningpale，asonewhofeltthattheconversationwastakingatoneofthemostpainfuldelicacy。
　　Notunderstandme！’’exclaimedtheEmir。IfthesightIsawinthetentofKingRichardescapedthineobservation，I
　　willaccountitdullerthantheedgeofabuffoon’swoodenfalchion。True，thouwertundersentenceofdeathatthetime；
　　but，inmycase，hadmyheadbeendroppingfromthetrunk，thelaststrainedglancesofmyeyeballshaddistinguishedwithdelightsuchavisionofloveliness，andtheheadwouldhaverolleditselftowardstheincomparablehouris，tokisswithitsquiveringlipsthehemoftheirvestments-YonderroyaltyofEngland，whoforhersuperiorlovelinessdeservestobeQueenoftheuniverse-whattendernessinherblueeye！-whatlustreinhertressesofdishevelledgold！-Bythetomboftheprophet，I
　　scarcethinkthatthehouriwhoshallpresenttomethediamondcupofimmortality，willdeservesowarmacaress？’’
　　Saracen，’’saidSirKenneth，sternly，thouspeakestofthewifeofRichardofEngland，ofwhommenthinknotandspeaknotasawomantobewon，butasaQueentoberevered。’’
　　Icryyoumercy，’’saidtheSaracen。Ihadforgottenyoursuperstitiousvenerationforthesex，whichyouconsiderratherfittobewonderedatandworshipped，thanwooedandpossessed。Iwarrant，sincethouexactestsuchprofoundrespecttoyondertenderpieceoffrailty，whoseeverymotion，step，andlook，bespeaksherverywoman，lessthanabsoluteadorationmustnotbeyieldedtoherofthedarktresses，andnoblyspeakingeye。_She，_indeed，Iwillallow，hathinhernobleportandmajesticmiensomethingatoncepureandfirm-yetevenshe，whenpressedbyopportunityandaforwardlover，would，I
　　warrantthee，thankhiminherheart，ratherfortreatingherasamortalthanasagoddess。’’
　　RespectthekinswomanofCurdeLion！’’saidSirKenneth，inatoneofunrepressedanger。
　　Respecther！’’answeredtheEmirinscorn-bytheCahba，andifIdo，itshallberatherasthebrideofSaladin。’’
　　TheInfidelSoldanisunworthytosaluteevenaspotthathasbeenpressedbythefootofEdithPlantagenet！’’exclaimedtheChristian，springingfromhiscouch。
　　Ha！whatsaidtheGiaour？’’exclaimedtheEmir，layinghishandonhisponiard-hilt，whilehisforeheadglowedlikeglancingcopper，andthemusclesofhislipsandcheekswroughttilleachcurlofhisbeardseemedtotwistandscrewitself，asifalivewithinstinctivewrath。ButtheScottishknight，whohadstoodthelionangerofRichard，wasunappalledatthetiger-likemoodofthechafedSaracen。
　　WhatIhavesaid，’’continuedSirKenneth，withfoldedarmsanddauntlesslook，Iwould，weremyhandsloose，maintainonfootorhorsebackagainstallmortals；andwouldholditnotthemostmemorabledeedofmylifetosupportitwithmygoodbroadswordagainstascoreofthesesicklesandbodkins，’’pointingatthecurvedsabreandsmallponiardoftheEmir。
　　TheSaracenrecoveredhiscomposureastheChristianspoke，sofarastowithdrawhishandfromhisweapon，asifthemotionhadbeenwithoutmeaning；butstillcontinuedindeepire。
　　Bytheswordoftheprophet，’’hesaid，whichisthekeybothofHeavenandHell，helittlevalueshisownlife，brother，whousesthelanguagethoudost！Believeme，thatwerethinehandsloose，asthouterm’stit，onesingletruebelieverwouldfindthemsomuchtodo，thatthouwouldstsoonwishthemfetteredagaininmanaclesofiron。’’
　　SoonerwouldIwishthemhewnofbytheshoulder-blades！’’
　　repliedSirKenneth。
　　Well。Thyhandsareboundatpresent，’’saidtheSaracen，inamoreamicabletone，boundbythineowngentlesenseofcourtesy，norhaveIanypresentpurposeofsettingthematliberty。Wehaveprovedeachother’sstrengthandcourageerenow，andwemayagainmeetinafairfield；-andshamebefallhimwhoshallbethefirsttopartfromhisfoeman！Butnowwearefriends，andIlookforaidfromthee，ratherthanhardtermsordefiances。’’
　　We_are_friends，’’repeatedtheknight；andtherewasapause，duringwhichthefierySaracenpacedthetent，likethelion，who，afterviolentirritation，issaidtotakethatmethodofcoolingthedistemperatureofhisblood，erehestretcheshimselftoreposeinhisden。ThecolderEuropeanremainedunaltereinpostureandaspect；yethe，doubtless，wasalsoengagedinsubduingtheangryfeelingswhichhadbeensounexpectedlyawakened。
　　Letusreasonofthiscalmly，’’saidtheSaracen；Iamaphysician，asthouknowest，anditiswritten，thathewhowouldhavehiswoundcured，mustnotshrinkwhentheleechprobesandtestsit。Seestthou，Iamabouttolaymyfingeronthesore。ThoulovestthiskinswomanoftheMelechRic-Unfoldtheveilthatshroudsthythoughts-orunfolditnotifthouwilt，formineeyesseethroughitscoverings。’’
　　Ilovedher，’’answeredSirKenneth，afterapause，asamanlovesHeaven’sgrace，andsuedforherfavourlikeasinnerforHeaven’spardon。’’
　　Andyoulovehernolonger？’’saidtheSaracen。
　　Alas！’’answeredSirKenneth，Iamnolongerworthytoloveher-Ipritheeceasethisdiscourse-thywordsareponiardstome。’’
　　Pardonmebutamoment，’’continuedIlderim。Whenthou，apoorandobscuresoldier，didstsoboldlyandsohighlyfixthineaffection，tellme，hadstthougoodhopeofitsissue？’’
　　Loveexistsnotwithouthope，’’repliedtheknight；butminewasasnearbyalliedtodespair，asthatofthesailorswimmingforhislife，who，ashesurmountsbillowafterbillow，catchesbyintervalssomegleamofthedistantbeacon，whichshowshimthereislandinsight，thoughhissinkingheartandweariedlimbsassurehimthatheshallneverreachit。’’
　　Andnow，’’saidIlderim，thesehopesaresunk-thatsolitarylightisquenchedforever？’’
　　Forever，’’answeredSirKenneth，inthetoneofanechofromthebosomofaruinedsepulchre。