``Ho！ho！mykingdomandmysubjects?’’answeredRichard，impatiently；``Itellthee，SirWilfred，thebestofthemaremostwillingtorepaymyfolliesinkind——Forexample，myveryfaithfulservant，WilfredofIvanhoe，willnotobeymypositivecommands，andyetreadshiskingahomily，becausehedoesnotwalkexactlybyhisadvice。
　　Whichofushasmostreasontoupbraidtheother?——
　　Yetforgiveme，myfaithfulWilfred。ThetimeIhavespent，andamyettospendinconcealment，is，asIexplainedtotheeatSaintBotolph’s，necessarytogivemyfriendsandfaithfulnoblestimetoassembletheirforces，thatwhenRichard’sreturnisannounced，heshouldbeattheheadofsuchaforceasenemiesshalltrembletoface，andthussubduethemeditatedtreason，withoutevenunsheathingasword。EstotevilleandBohunwillnotbestrongenoughtomoveforwardtoYorkfortwenty-fourhours。ImusthavenewsofSalisburyfromthesouth；andofBeauchamp，inWarwickshire；
　　andofMultonandPercyinthenorth。TheChancellormustmakesureofLondon。Toosuddenanappearancewouldsubjectmetodangers，otherthanmylanceandsword，thoughbackedbythebowofboldRobin，orthequarter-staffofFriarTuck，andthehornofthesageWamba，maybeabletorescuemefrom。’’
　　Wilfredbowedinsubmission，wellknowinghowvainitwastocontendwiththewildspiritofchivalrywhichsooftenimpelledhismasterupondangerswhichhemighteasilyhaveavoided，orrather，whichitwasunpardonableinhimtohavesoughtout。Theyoungknightsighed，therefore，andheldhispeace；whileRichard，rejoicedathavingsilencedhiscounsellor，thoughhisheartacknowledgedthejusticeofthechargehehadbroughtagainsthim，wentoninconversationwithRobinHood——``KingofOutlaws，’’hesaid，``haveyounorefreshmenttooffertoyourbrothersovereign?forthesedeadknaveshavefoundmebothinexerciseandappetite。’’
　　``Introth，’’repliedtheOutlaw，``forIscorntolietoyourGrace，ourlarderischieflysuppliedwith——’’Hestopped，andwassomewhatembarrassed。
　　``Withvenison，Isuppose?’’saidRichard，gaily；
　　``betterfoodatneedtherecanbenone——andtruly，ifakingwillnotremainathomeandslayhisowngame，methinksheshouldnotbrawltooloudifhefindsitkilledtohishand。’’
　　``IfyourGrace，then，’’saidRobin，``willagainhonourwithyourpresenceoneofRobinHood’splacesofrendezvous，thevenisonshallnotbelacking；
　　andastoupofale，anditmaybeacupofreasonablygoodwine，torelishitwithal。’’
　　TheOutlawaccordinglyledtheway，followedbythebuxomMonarch，morehappy，probably，inthischancemeetingwithRobinHoodandhisforesters，thanhewouldhavebeeninagainassuminghisroyalstate，andpresidingoverasplendidcircleofpeersandnobles。NoveltyinsocietyandadventurewerethezestoflifetoRichardCur-de-Lion，andithaditshighestrelishwhenenhancedbydangersencounteredandsurmounted。Inthelion-heartedKing，thebrilliant，butuselesscharacter，ofaknightofromance，wasinagreatmeasurerealizedandrevived；andthepersonalglorywhichheacquiredbyhisowndeedsofarms，wasfarmoredeartohisexcitedimagination，thanthatwhichacourseofpolicyandwisdomwouldhavespreadaroundhisgovernment。Accordingly，hisreignwaslikethecourseofabrilliantandrapidmeteor，whichshootsalongthefaceofHeaven，sheddingaroundanunnecessaryandportentouslight，whichisinstantlyswallowedupbyuniversaldarkness；hisfeatsofchivalryfurnishingthemesforbardsandminstrels，butaffordingnoneofthosesolidbenefitstohiscountryonwhichhistorylovestopause，andholdupasanexampletoposterity。ButinhispresentcompanyRichardshowedtothegreatestimaginableadvantage。Hewasgay，good-humoured，andfondofmanhoodineveryrankoflife。
　　Beneathahugeoak-treethesilvanrepastwashastilypreparedfortheKingofEngland，surroundedbymenoutlawstohisgovernment，butwhonowformedhiscourtandhisguard。Astheflagonwentround，theroughforesterssoonlosttheiraweforthepresenceofMajesty。Thesongandthejestwereexchanged——thestoriesofformerdeedsweretoldwithadvantage；andatlength，andwhileboastingoftheirsuccessfulinfractionofthelaws，noonerecollectedtheywerespeakinginpresenceoftheirnaturalguardian。ThemerryKing，nothingheedinghisdignityanymorethanhiscompany，laughed，quaffed，andjestedamongthejollyband。ThenaturalandroughsenseofRobinHoodledhimtobedesirousthatthesceneshouldbeclosedereanythingshouldoccurtodisturbitsharmony，themoreespeciallythatheobservedIvanhoe’sbrowcloudedwithanxiety。``Wearehonoured，’’
　　hesaidtoIvanhoe，apart，``bythepresenceofourgallantSovereign；yetIwouldnotthathedalliedwithtime，whichthecircumstancesofhiskingdommayrenderprecious。’’
　　``Itiswellandwiselyspoken，braveRobinHood，’’saidWilfred，apart；``andknow，moreover，thattheywhojestwithMajestyeveninitsgayestmoodarebuttoyingwiththelion’swhelp，which，onslightprovocation，usesbothfangsandclaws。’’
　　``Youhavetouchedtheverycauseofmyfear，’’
　　saidtheOutlaw；``mymenareroughbypracticeandnature，theKingishastyaswellasgood-humoured；
　　norknowIhowsooncauseofoffencemayarise，orhowwarmlyitmaybereceived——itistimethisrevelwerebrokenoff。’’
　　``Itmustbebyyourmanagementthen，gallantyeoman，’’saidIvanhoe；``foreachhintIhaveessayedtogivehimservesonlytoinducehimtoprolongit。’’
　　``MustIsosoonriskthepardonandfavourofmySovereign?’’saidRobinHood，pausingforallinstant；``butbySaintChristopher，itshallbeso。
　　IwereundeservinghisgracedidInotperilitforhisgood——Here，Scathlock，gettheebehindyonderthicket，andwindmeaNormanblastonthybugle，andwithoutaninstant’sdelayonperilofyourlife。’’
　　Scathlockobeyedhiscaptain，andinlessthanfiveminutestherevellerswerestartledbythesoundofhishorn。
　　``ItisthebugleofMalvoisin，’’saidtheMiller，startingtohisfeet，andseizinghisbow。TheFriardroppedtheflagon，andgraspedhisquarter-staffWambastoptshortinthemidstofajest，andbetookhimselftoswordandtarget。Alltheothersstoodtotheirweapons。
　　Menoftheirprecariouscourseoflifechangereadilyfromthebanquettothebattle；and，toRichard，theexchangeseemedbutasuccessionofpleasure。Hecalledforhishelmetandthemostcumbrouspartsofhisarmour，whichhehadlaidaside；andwhileGurthwasputtingthemon，helaidhisstrictinjunctionsonWilfred，underpainofhishighestdispleasure，nottoengageintheskirmishwhichhesupposedwasapproaching。
　　``Thouhastfoughtformeanhundredtimes，Wilfred，——andIhaveseenit。Thoushaltthisdaylookon，andseehowRichardwillfightforhisfriendandliegeman。’’
　　Inthemeantime，RobinHoodhadsentoffseveralofhisfollowersindifferentdirections，asiftoreconnoitretheenemy；andwhenhesawthecompanyeffectuallybrokenup，heapproachedRichard，whowasnowcompletelyarmed，and，kneelingdownononeknee，cravedpardonofhisSovereign。
　　``Forwhat，goodyeoman?’’saidRichard，somewhatimpatiently。``Havewenotalreadygrantedtheeafullpardonforalltransgressions?Thinkestthouourwordisafeather，tobeblownbackwardandforwardbetweenus?Thoucanstnothavehadtimetocommitanynewoffencesincethattime?’’
　　``Ay，butIhavethough，’’answeredtheyeoman，``ifitbeanoffencetodeceivemyprinceforhisownadvantage。ThebugleyouhaveheardwasnoneofMalvoisin’s，butblownbymydirection，tobreakoffthebanquet，lestittrencheduponhoursofdearerimportthantobethusdalliedwith。’’
　　Hethenrosefromhisknee，foldedhisarmonhisbosom，andinamannerratherrespectfulthansubmissive，awaitedtheansweroftheKing，——likeonewhoisconscioushemayhavegivenoffence，yetisconfidentintherectitudeofhismotive。
　　ThebloodrushedinangertothecountenanceofRichard；butitwasthefirsttransientemotion，andhissenseofjusticeinstantlysubduedit。
　　``TheKingofSherwood，’’hesaid，``grudgeshisvenisonandhiswine-flasktotheKingofEngland?
　　Itiswell，boldRobin！——butwhenyoucometoseemeinmerryLondon，Itrusttobealessniggardhost。Thouartright，however，goodfellow。
　　Letusthereforetohorseandaway——Wilfredhasbeenimpatientthishour。Tellme，boldRobin，hastthouneverafriendinthyband，who，notcontentwithadvising，willneedsdirectthymotions，andlookmiserablewhenthoudostpresumetoactforthyself?’’
　　``Suchaone，’’saidRobin，``ismyLieutenant，LittleJohn，whoisevennowabsentonanexpeditionasfarasthebordersofScotland；andIwillowntoyourMajesty，thatIamsometimesdispleasedbythefreedomofhiscouncils——but，whenI
　　thinktwice，Icannotbelongangrywithonewhocanhavenomotiveforhisanxietysavezealforhismaster’sservice。’’
　　``Thouartright，goodyeoman，’’answeredRichard；
　　``andifIhadIvanhoe，ontheonehand，togivegraveadvice，andrecommenditbythesadgravityofhisbrow，andthee，ontheother，totrickmeintowhatthouthinkestmyowngood，IshouldhaveaslittlethefreedomofmineownwillasanykinginChristendomorHeathenesse——Butcome，sirs，letusmerrilyontoConingsburgh，andthinknomoreon’t。’’
　　RobinHoodassuredthemthathehaddetachedapartyinthedirectionoftheroadtheyweretopass，whowouldnotfailtodiscoverandapprizethemofanysecretambuscade；andthathehadlittledoubttheywouldfindthewayssecure，or，ifotherwise，wouldreceivesuchtimelynoticeofthedangeraswouldenablethemtofallbackonastrongtroopofarchers，withwhichhehimselfproposedtofollowonthesameroute。
　　ThewiseandattentiveprecautionsadoptedforhissafetytouchedRichard’sfeelings，andremovedanyslightgrudgewhichhemightretainonaccountofthedeceptiontheOutlawCaptainhadpractiseduponhim。HeoncemoreextendedhishandtoRobinHood，assuredhimofhisfullpardonandfuturefavour，aswellashisfirmresolutiontorestrainthetyrannicalexerciseoftheforestrightsandotheroppressivelaws，bywhichsomanyEnglishyeomenweredrivenintoastateofrebellion。
　　ButRichard’sgoodintentionstowardstheboldOutlawwerefrustratedbytheKing’suntimelydeath；
　　andtheCharteroftheForestwasextortedfromtheunwillinghandsofKingJohnwhenhesucceededtohisheroicbrother。AsfortherestofRobinHood’scareer，aswellasthetaleofhistreacherousdeath，theyaretobefoundinthoseblack-lettergarlands，oncesoldatthelowandeasyrateofonehalfpenny，``Nowcheaplypurchasedattheirweightingold。’’
　　TheOutlaw’sopinionprovedtrue；andtheKing，attendedbyIvanhoe，Gurth，andWamba，arrived，withoutanyinterruption，withinviewoftheCastleofConingsburgh，whilethesunwasyetinthehorizon。
　　TherearefewmorebeautifulorstrikingscenesinEngland，thanarepresentedbythevicinityofthisancientSaxonfortress。ThesoftandgentleriverDonsweepsthroughanamphitheatre，inwhichcultivationisrichlyblendedwithwoodland，andonamount，ascendingfromtheriver，welldefendedbywallsandditches，risesthisancientedifice，which，asitsSaxonnameimplies，was，previoustotheConquest，aroyalresidenceofthekingsofEngland。TheouterwallshaveprobablybeenaddedbytheNormans，buttheinnerkeepbearstokenofverygreatantiquity。Itissituatedonamountatoneangleoftheinnercourt，andformsacompletecircleofperhapstwenty-fivefeetindiameter。
　　Thewallisofimmensethickness，andisproppedordefendedbysixhugeexternalbuttresseswhichprojectfromthecircle，andriseupagainstthesidesofthetowerisiftostrengthenortosupportit。
　　Thesemassivebuttressesaresolidwhentheyarisefromthefoundation，andagoodwayhigherup；