Ihaddesignedotherwise，’’saidSaladin，buthadInothastenedhisdoom，ithadbeenaltogetheraverted，since，ifIhadpermittedhimtotasteofmycup，ashewasabouttodo，howcouldI，withoutincurringthebrandofinhospitality，havedonehimtodeathashedeserved？Hadhemurderedmyfather，andafterwardspartakenofmyfoodandmybowl，notahairofhisheadcouldhavebeeninjuredbyme。Butenoughofhim-lethiscarcassandhismemoryberemovedfromamongstus。’’
Thebodywascarriedaway，andthemarksoftheslaughterobliteratedorconcealedwithsuchreadydexterity，asshowedthatthecasewasnotaltogethersouncommonastoparalysetheassistantsandofficersofSaladin’shousehold。
ButtheChristianprincesfeltthatthescenewhichtheyhadbeheldweighedheavilyontheirspirits，andalthough，atthecourteousinvitationoftheSoldan，theyassumedtheirseatsatthebanquet，yetitwaswiththesilenceofdoubtandamazement。
ThespiritsofRichardalonesurmountedallcauseforsuspicionorembarrassment。Yethe，too，seemedtoruminateonsomeproposition，asifheweredesirousofmakingitinthemostinsinuatingandacceptablemannerwhichwaspossible。Atlengthhedrankoffalargebowlofwine，andaddressingtheSoldan，desiredtoknowwhetheritwasnottruethathehadhonouredtheEarlofHuntingdonwithapersonalencounter。
Saladinansweredwithasmile，thathehadprovedhishorseandhisweaponswiththeheirofScotland，ascavaliersarewonttodowitheachotherwhentheymeetinthedesert-andmodestlyadded，thatthoughthecombatwasnotentirelydecisive，hehadnot，onhispart，muchreasontopridehimselfontheevent。TheScot，ontheotherhand，disclaimedtheattributedsuperiority，andwishedtoassignittotheSoldan。
Enoughofhonourthouhasthadintheencounter，’’saidRichard，andIenvytheemoreforthat，thanforthesmilesofEdithPlantagenet，thoughoneofthemmightrewardabloodyday’swork-Butwhatsayyou，nobleprinces；isitfittingthatsucharoyalringofchivalryshouldbreakupwithoutsomethingbeingdoneforfuturetimestospeakof？Whatistheoverthrowanddeathofatraitor，tosuchafairgarlandofhonourasishereassembled，andwhichoughtnottopartwithoutwitnessingsomethingmoreworthyoftheirregard？Howsayyou，princelySoldan-Whatifwetwoshouldnow，andbeforethisfaircompany，decidethelong-contendedquestionforthislandofPalestine，andendatoncethesetediouswars？Yonderarethelistsready，norcanPaynimrieeverhopeabetterchampionthanthou。I，unlessworthieroffers，willlaydownmygauntletinbehalfofChristendom，and，inallloveandhonour，wewilldomortalbattleforthepossessionofJerusalem。’’
TherewasadeeppausefortheSoldan’sanswer。Hischeekandbrowcolouredhighly，anditwastheopinionofmanypresent，thathehesitatedwhetherheshouldacceptthechallenge。
Atlengthhesaid，FightingfortheHolyCityagainstthosewhomweregardasidolaters，andworshippersofstocksandstones，andgravenimages，ImightconfidethatAllahwouldstrengthenmyarm；orifIfellbeneaththeswordoftheMelechRic，IcouldnotpasstoParadisebyamoregloriousdeath。ButAllahhasalreadygivenJerusalemtothetruebelievers，anditwereatemptingtheGodoftheProphettoperil，uponmyownpersonalstrengthandskill，thatwhichIholdsecurelybythesuperiorityofmyforces。’’
IfnotforJerusalem，then，’’saidRichard，inthetoneofonewhowouldentreatafavourofanintimatefriend，yetfortheloveofhonour，letusrunatleastthreecourseswithgrindedlances。’’
Eventhis，’’saidSaladin，halfsmilingatCurdoLion’saffectionateearnestnessforthecombat，eventhismayInotlawfullydo。Themasterplacestheshepherdovertheflock，notfortheshepherd’sownsake，butforthesakeofthesheep。HadIasontoholdthesceptrewhenIfell，Imighthavehadtheliberty，asIhavethewill，tobravethisboldencounter；butyourownScripturesayeth，thatwhentheherdsmanissmitten，thesheeparescattered。’’
Thouhasthadallthefortune，’’saidRichard，turningtotheEarlofHuntingdonwithasigh。Iwouldhavegiventhebestyearinmylifeforthatonehalf-hourbesidetheDiamondoftheDesert！’’
ThechivalrousextravaganceofRichardawakenedthespiritsoftheassembly，andwhenatlengththeyarosetodepart，SaladinadvancedandtookCurdeLionbythehand。
NobleKingofEngland，’’hesaid，wenowpart，nevertomeetagain。Thatyourleagueisdissolved，nomoretobereunited，andthatyournativeforcesarefartoofewtoenableyoutoprosecuteyourenterprise，isaswellknowntomeastoyourself。ImaynotyieldyouupthatJerusalemwhichyousomuchdesiretohold。Itistous，astoyou，aHolyCity。
ButwhateverothertermsRicharddemandsofSaladin，shallbeaswillinglyyieldedasyonderfountainyieldsitswaters。
Ay，andthesameshallbeasfranklyaffordedbySaladin，ifRichardstoodinthedesertwithbuttwoarchersinhistrain！’’
*
ThenextdaysawRichard’sreturntohisowncamp，andinashortspaceafterwards，theyoungEarlofHuntingdonwasespousedbyEdithPlantagenet。TheSoldansent，asanuptialpresentonthisoccasion，thecelebrated=Talisman；=butthoughmanycureswerewroughtbymeansofitinEurope，noneequalledinsuccessandcelebritythosewhichtheSoldanachieved。Itisstillinexistence，havingbeenbequeathedbytheEarlofHuntingdontoabraveknightofScotland，SirSimonoftheLee，inwhoseancientandhighlyhonouredfamilyitisstillpreserved；andalthoughcharmedstoneshavebeendismissedfromthemodernPharmacopia，itsvirtuesarestillappliedtoforstoppingblood，andincasesofcaninemadness。
Ourstorycloseshere，asthetermsonwhichRichardrelinquishedhisconquestsaretobefoundineveryhistoryoftheperiod。
WhilewarringintheHolyLand，Richardwasseizedwithanague。
ThebestleechesofthecampwereunabletoeffectthecureoftheKing’sdisease；buttheprayersofthearmyweremoresuccessful。Hebecameconvalescent，andthefirstsymptomofhisrecoverywasaviolentlongingforpork。Butporkwasnotlikelytobeplentifulinacountrywhoseinhabitantshadanabhorrenceforswine’sflesh；and-thoughhismenshouldbehangedTheynemight，inthatcountry，Forgold，nesilver，nenomony，Noporkfind，take，neget，ThatKingRichardmightaughtofeat。
AnoldknightwithRichardbiding，Whenheheardofthattiding，Thatthekingiswantswereswyche，Tothestewardhespokeprivyliche-
`Ourlordthekingsoreissick，Iwis，Afterporckhealongedis；
Yemaynonefindtoselle；
Nomanbehardyhimsototelle！
Ifhedidhemightdie。
NowbehovestodoneasIshallsay，Tho’hewetenoughtofthat。
TakeaSaracen，youngandfat；
Inhasteletthethiefbeslain，Opened，andhisskinoffflayn；
Andsoddenfullhastily，Withpowderandwithspicery，Andwithsaffronofgoodcolor。
Whenthekingthereoffeelssavor，Outofagueifhebewent，Heshallhavetheretogoodtalnt。
Whenhehasagoodtaste，Andeatenwellagoodrepast，Andsuppedofthebrewisasup，*BrothSleptafterandswetadrop，ThroughGoddishelpandmycounsail，Soonheshallbefreshandhail。’
Thesoothtosay，atwordesfew，Slainandsoddenwastheheathenshrew。
Beforethekingitwasforthbrought:
Quodhismen，`Lord，wehaveporksought；
Eatesandsupsofthebrewissoote，
*SweetThoroughgraceofGoditshallbeyourboot。’
BeforeKingRichardcarffaknight，Heatefasterthanhecarvemight。
Thekingatethefleshandgnewthebones，*GnawedAnddrankwellafterforthenonce。
Andwhenhehadeatenenough，Hisfolkhemturnedaway，andlough。
*LaughedHelaystillanddrewinhisarm；
Hischamberlainhimwrappedwarm，Helayandslept，andswetastoned，Andbecamewholeandsound。
KingRichardcladhimandarose，Andwalkedaboutenintheclose。’’
AnattackoftheSaracenswasrepelledbyRichardinperson，theconsequenceofwhichistoldinthefollowinglines:-
WhenKingRichardhadrestedawhyle，Aknighthisarms’ganunlace，Himtocomfortandsolce。
Himwasbroughtasopinwine。
`Theheadofthatilkeswine，ThatIofate！’thecookhebade，`ForfeebleIam，andfaintandmad。
OfmineevilnowIamfear；
Servemetherewithatmysoupere！’
Quodthecook，`ThatheadInehave。’
Thensaidtheking，`SoGodmesave，ButIseetheheadofthatswine，Forsooth，thoushaltlesenthine！’
Thecooksawnoneothermightbe；
Hefettheheadandlethimsee。
Hefellonknees，andmadeacry-
`Lo，herethehead！myLord，mercy！’’’
Thecookhadcertainlysomereasontofearthathismasterwouldbestruckwithhorrorattherecollectionofthedreadfulbouquettowhichheowedhisrecovery，buthisfearsweresoondissipated。
Theswarteviswhenthekingseeth，*Blackface。
Hisblackbeardandwhiteteeth，Howhislippesgrinnedwide，`Whatdevilisthis？’thekingcried，Andgantolaughashewerewode，`What！isSaracen’sfleshthusgood？
That，nevererstInoughtwist！
ByGod’sdeathandhisuprist，Shallweneverdiefordefault，WhilewemayinanyassaultSleeSaracens，thefleshmaytake，Andseethenandroastenanddohembake，[And]gnawenherfleshtothebones！
NowIhaveitprovedonce，ForhungerereIbewo，Iandmyfolkshalleatmo！’’’
Thebesiegednowofferedtosurrender，uponconditionsofsafetytotheinhabitants；whileallthepublictreasure，militarymachines，andarms，weredeliveredtothevictors，togetherwiththefartherransomofonehundredthousandbezants。Afterthiscapitulation，thefollowingextra-ordinaryscenetookplace。WeshallgiveitinthewordsofthehumorousandamiableGeorgeEllis，thecollectorandtheeditoroftheseRomances。
Thoughthegarrisonhadfaithfullyperformedtheotherarticlesoftheircontract，theywereunabletorestorethecross，whichwasnotintheirpossession，andwerethereforetreatedbytheChristianswithgreatcruelty。
DailyreportsoftheirsufferingswerecarriedtoSaladin；andasmanyofthemwerepersonsofthehighestdistinction，thatmonarch，atthesolicitationoftheirfriends，despatchedanembassytoKingRichardwithmagnificentpresents，whichheofferedfortheransomofthecaptives。
Theambassadorswerepersonsthemostrespectablefromtheirage，theirrank，andtheireloquence。Theydeliveredtheirmessageintermsoftheutmosthumility，andwithoutarraigningthejusticeoftheconquerorinhisseveretreatmentoftheircountrymen，onlysolicitedaperiodtothatseverity，layingathisfeetthetreasureswithwhichtheywereintrusted，andpledgingthemselvesandtheirmasterforthepaymentofanyfarthersumswhichhemightdemandasthepriceofmercy。
KingRichardspokewithwordesmild，`Thegoldtotake，Godmeshield！
Amongyouparteseverycharge。
*DivideIbroughtinshippesandinbarge，Moregoldandsilverwithme，Thanhasyourlord，andswilkethree。
TohistreasurehaveInoneed！
ButformyloveIyoubid，Tomeatwithmethatyedwell；
AndafterwardIshallyoutell。
ThoroughcounselIshallyouanswer，Whatbodeyeshalltoyourlordbear。’
*MessageTheinvitationwasgratefullyaccepted。Richard，inthemeantime，gavesecretorderstohismarshalthatheshouldrepairtotheprison，selectacertainnumberofthemostdistinguishedcaptives，and，aftercarefullynotingtheirnamesonarollofparchment，causetheirheadstobeinstantlystruckoff；thattheseheadsshouldbedeliveredtothecookwithinstructionstoclearawaythehair，andafterboilingtheminacaldron，todistributethemonseveralplatters，onetoeachguest，observingtofastenontheforeheadofeachthepieceofparchmentexpressingthenameandfamilyofthevictim。
`Anhotheadbringmebeforn，AsIwerewellapayedwithall，EatthereoffastIshall: