rivals in the glorious enterprise to which I have vowed myself?
Yes, De Vaux, I confess my weakness, and the wilfulness of my
ambition. The Christian camp contains, doubtless, many a better
knight than Richard of England, and it would be wise and worthy
to assign to the best of them the leading of the host. But,"
continued the warlike monarch, raising himself in his bed, and
shaking the cover from his head, while his eyes sparkled as they
were wont to do on the eve of battle, "were such a knight to
plant the banner of the Cross on the Temple of Jerusalem while I
was unable to bear my share in the noble task, he should, so soon
as I was fit to lay lance in rest, undergo my challenge to mortal
combat, for having diminished my fame, and pressed in before to
the object of my enterprise. But hark, what trumpets are those
at a distance?"

"Those of King Philip, as I guess, my liege," said the stout
Englishman.

"Thou art dull of ear, Thomas," said the King, endeavouring to
start up; "hearest thou not that clash and clang? By Heaven, the
Turks are in the camp--I hear their LELIES." [The war-cries of
the Moslemah.]

He again endeavoured to get out of bed, and De Vaux was obliged
to exercise his own great strength, and also to summon the
assistance of the chamberlains from the inner tent, to restrain
him.

"Thou art a false traitor, De Vaux," said the incensed monarch,
when, breathless and exhausted with struggling, he was compelled