Page:Czecho-Slovak Student Life, Volume 18.djvu/427
yielded anything in rank or precedence to England: except, mayhap temporarily, for policy’s sake.
BALD.: Wisely spoken, noble earl; ’tis indeed a dangerous topic. There is, Heaven knows, enough of angry feelings without our needlessly adding to the fuel by idle talk.
CON.: With your leave, my lord archbishop, ’tis not idle talk. You know, as well as any man here, that the noble archduke of Austria is Richard’s equal in rank, courage, and zeal.—What say you, noble prince?
LEO.: Only this: that whilst I care not to instigate discord in the camp at this time, yet I must, for my honor, insist upon my equality with the King of England, I am a prince as well as he; my banner has as many and as bold knights behind it as well as his; and that, in peace or war, my banner stands second to none.
AMAU.: Second to none, my lord? Behold, yonder stands the Banner of St. George, head and spear above the rest, like a monarch in the midst of his vassals.
CON.: Is that equality, my lord, that you speak so coldly, and endure it so patiently?
LEO.: If I do seem to tolerate an apparent superiority of Richard, I do no more than Phillip of France,
AMAU.: Aye, and the world knows that Phillip of France is prudent and wise—for his own ends.
BALD.: In the name of Heaven, enough of this, my lords! Bethink you that ye are all the sworn defenders of the Cross. As such you are all equal and sovereign leaders of the Christian host. If Richard does seem to take precedence, it is because he has shown himself the boldest and bravest Crusader, and the most earnest in fighting for the liberty of the Holy Land. Will ye, then, soil your knightly honors by quarreling over the vainglorious banners of your armies? Are ye Saracens, that ye would forsake the life-giving Cross of Salvation for an empty symbol of temporal rank?
AMAU.: (Rising.) Come, softly, my lord archbishop, softly! Insult us not by terming us Saracens.—I repeat, Phillip is a wily monarch, and has his own reasons for keeping peace with Richard. But as for you, my lord Leopold, I confess I know not what reasons you may have for submitting to English domination.
LEO.: I submit? I, the Archduke of Austria? I, the member of the Holy Roman Empire? I submit my honor to this king of half an island—this grandson of a Norman outcast?—No! by my knightly honor, I yield not an inch to this island bandog! (Approaches the standards.)—The eagle of Austria shall float as high as ever floated the flag of king or caesar.
AMAU.: (Aside.) Now, fiend of mischief, come and blow up the blaze, I haste to rouse the lion to the fray. (Exit.)
HENRY: Nay, my lord; pause ere by any rash act of yours you blemish your honor by making an affray—
CON.: Mayhap then, it were more prudent to submit to the usurpation of Richard yet a while longer—
LEO.: No! by my crown, not an hour longer! Not a minute longer?
BALD.: Lord archduke, pause, or you shall rue this hour.
CON: Your grace, take heed! Lions have teeth—
LEO.: (Grasping the Austrian banner and setting it beside the English.) And eagles have claws.
AUSTRIAN SOLDIERS: Austria! Austria! Long life to the Eagle! Viva Leopold!
(Trumpets without sound a call. Cries of “Bills and bows! Bills and bows! St. George for Merry England!”—Enter Richard, half-dressed, followed by De Vaux, Kenneth, and Soldiers. He walks to the standards, and takes hold of the Austrian banner.)
RICH.: Who has dared to place this paltry rag beside the Banner of St. George?
LEO.: It was I, Leopold of Austria!
RICH: Then shall Leopold of Austria behold at what rate Richard of England holds his flag.—Thus the Lion of England tramples the Eagle of Austria!—Dare anyone impeach his deed?