Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/293

an insult to thy banner.—Aye, the national flag, that symbol of patriotic pride and consciousness, but alas! far more the cause of national jealousies and hatreds—that, forsooth, is much more to be feared than all the armies of the Saracen, (Exit.)

Scene 2. (Richard’s pavilion. The King lies sick upon his couch. Standing by are: De Vaux, Henry, Baldwin, Blondel, and Jocelyn. Guards stand at the entrance.)

RICH.: Thou art a rough nurse, De Vaux, withal a willing one. Methinks that an old woman’s cap would become thy lowering features as a child’s bonnet would become mine. Then we should be a babe and nurse to frighten girls with.

DE VAUX: We have frightened men in our time, my liege; and I trust we shall live to frighten them again. What is a fever-fit that we should not endure it patiently so as to get rid of it the more easily?

RICH.: Fever-fit! Forsooth, a fever-fit! Thou mayest think, and justly, that it is a fever-fit with me; but what is it with all the other Christian princes—with dull France, the proud Austrian, with rebellious Conrad?—what is it with them? A lethargy, a disease that deprives them of speech and action—a canker that has eaten into the heart of all that is noble and chivalrous that has made them false—

BALD.: I beseech you, my lord, for the love of Heaven, take it less violently. You will be heard outside, and, God knows, there is contention and discord enough in the Crusade host. Bethink you, that if in these weeks they have refrained from seeking battle with the Saracen, it was because your majesty’s illness marred the mainspring of their enterprise—an archer could as soon discharge an arrow from a broken bow, than the Christian host obtain victory over the Moslems without Richard, the lion-hearted.

RICH.: You flatter me, my lord. On mine honor, this is smoothly said to soothe a sick man. For, why does a league of Christian monarchs, an assemblage of nobles, a convocation of all the chivalry of Europe droop with the sickness of one man, tho he be the King of England? Why should the illness, or Richard’s death, check the march of thirty thousand men as brave as himself, and as bold? If the banner of St. George wave not in the van of the Christian host, shall the other standards be furled as at a funeral? Why do not the powers assemble and choose one to whom they may entrust the guidance of the Crusade?

BALD.: Indeed, if it please your majesty, they have but this morning met in council, drawn up the terms of Saladin’s submission, and have deliberated about the firm and ready prosecution of the war, should the Soldan refuse to submit.

RICH.: Ha! drew up the terms of peace without consulting Richard? Are we forgotten, ere we have taken the last Sacrament? Do they hold us dead already?—But no! no! they are right.—Whom will they choose for chieftain?

BALD.: Rank and dignity point to the King of France.

RICH.: Oh, aye! Phillip of France and Navarre! His most Christian Majesty! Well, well! We only hope that he mistakes not the road to Paris for the road to Jerusalem.

DE VAUX: Your gracious majesty pleases to be sarcastic; though I for one subscribe to your sentiment. I cannot but fear that we shall but end where we began—without hope of praying at the Holy Sepulchre until Heaven restores King Richard to health.

RICH.: Why, what a thing is conscience that thru its means even such a thick-skulled old northern lord as thou, De Vaux, can bring his sovereign to confess his folly.—Yes, Sir Thomas, I confess my weakness, and the willfulness of my ambition and knightly pride. The Christian camp contains, no doubt, 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