Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/363
we shall be able to bring over to our cause, we shall raise up such a blast as will snap St. George’s banner in twain.
AMAU.: I am pleased, Sir Marquis, to see thee in so gallant a spirit. Thou mayest count on my unstinted aid. Before Richard rises—if he rises—from his sick-bed the breach must become irreparable; then we may proceed to pluck the lion’s fangs.
CON.: To-morrow we dine with the Archduke. Meet there betimes. Through Austria’s pride, we shall direct the first flash of lightning at Richard’s head. Till then, fare thee well. (Exit.)
AMAU.: Aye, Conrad, methinks I see thru thy plans. All’s grist that comes to my mill. Thou wouldst play politics for the throne of the Holy City: mayhap. thou hast forgotten that two can play at that game. Thou wouldst have the crown of Jerusalem? Why, so would Richard, and, by the beard of Mahommed, so would I! Alas for thee, however, that that little circlet of gold is too small for three heads; therefore, I must needs chop off the other two, and so put it securely upon the third.—To-morrow I’ll play thy game with a vengeance. Austria is a weak and vain man. By a happy stroke of chance he has become a prince; and of his princely rank he is as proud and vain as a young girl of her first love. Thru him and Conrad, I’ll strike at Richard. With the silly Italian I can deal at my leisure.—So, ’tis the Austrian eagle and the Italian dragon against the lion of England; ’tis the wit and skill of the Knight Templar against the lion’s claw and fang. To the victor go the spoils; and, by Mahommed—for Christian oaths are out of custom now—Sir Giles Amaury the victor shall be! (Exit.)
Scene 2. (Within Richard’s pavilion. Richard lies upon the couch. Baldwin, De Vaux, Kenneth and Jocelyn are standing by.)
DE VAUX: Your Majesty, Sir Kenneth here hath brought with him Saladin’s own physician, who had been promised your grace.
RICH: Sir Knight, didst thou bring him direct from Saladin’s court?
KEN.: No, your grace. When I was about to depart, Saladin informed me that, just because he refused our terms of peace, he desired very much your Majesty’s health so that he might meet you in personal combat. He said that for that purpose he had dispatched his own physician to your grace, who then was already on his way thither. When on my returning journey I was resting myself and my steed at the Grotto of Engaddi, there charged me a Saracen with a drawn sword; I quickly taught the caitiff Christian manners; coming to terms, the Moslem informed me that he was Adonbec el Hakim on his way to your Majesty’s bed of sickness. We have but now arrived, and he stands without.
RICH. My lord, have you examined his credentials?
BALD.: I have, my liege. Here is the scroll.
RICH: (Reads) “The blessings of Allah and his Prophet Mahommed.” Out on the hound! “Saladin, king of kings, Soldan of Egypt and Syria, the light of the earth, to the great Meleck Ric, Richard of England, greeting. Whereas we have been informed that the hand of sickness is heavy upon thee, our royal brother, and that thou hast with thee only such Nazarene physicians as work without the blessing of Allah and his Prophet,”—Confusion on his head!—“therefore we have sent thee our own physician, Adonbec el Hakim, before whose face the angel Asrael folds his wings and departs from the sick chamber. He knows the virtues of herbs and stones, the paths of sun, moon, and stars, and can save a man from all that is not written in the book of fate. And this we do, praying thee heartily to make use of his skill, seeing that it becomes not thy place and courage to die the death of a slave, but rather that thou rise again in the strength of thy arm to try thy skill and courage against us in combat. Therefore, may the holy