"Sire, I thank you, but I cannot change my faith to win a woman, however dearly I may love her.""So I thought," said Saladin with a sigh, "though indeed it is sad that superstition should thus blind so brave and good a man.
Now, Sir Wulf, it is your turn.What say you to my offer? Will you take the princess and her dominions with my love thrown in as a marriage portion?"Wulf thought a moment, and as he thought there arose in his mind a vision of an autumn afternoon that seemed years and years ago, when they two and Rosamund had stood by the shrine of St.Chad on the shores of Essex, and jested of this very matter of a change of faith.Then he answered, with one of his great laughs:
"Ay, sire, but on my own terms, not on yours, for if I took these I think that my marriage would lack blessings.Nor, indeed, would Rosamund wish to wed a servant of your Prophet, who if it pleased him might take other wives."Saladin leant his head upon his hand, and looked at them with disappointed eyes, yet not unkindly.
"The knight Lozelle was a Cross-worshipper," he said, "but you two are very different from the knight Lozelle, who accepted the Faith when it was offered to him--""To win your trade," said Godwin, bitterly.
"I know not," answered Saladin, "though it is true the man seems to have been a Christian among the Franks, who here was a follower of the Prophet.At least, he is dead at your hands, and though he sinned against me and betrayed my niece to Sinan, peace be with his soul.Now I have one more thing to say to you.
That Frank, Prince Arnat of Karak, whom you call Reginald de Chatillon--accursed be his name!--" and he spat upon the ground, "has once more broken the peace between me and the king of Jerusalem, slaughtering my merchants, and stealing my goods.Iwill suffer this shame no more, and very shortly I unfurl my standards, which shall not be folded up again until they float upon the mosque of Omar and from every tower top in Palestine.
Your people are doomed.I, Yusuf Salah-ed-din," and he rose as he said the words, his very beard bristling with wrath, "declare the Holy War, and will sweep them to the sea.Choose now, you brethren.Do you fight for me or against me? Or will you give up your swords and bide here as my prisoners?""We are the servants of the Cross," answered Godwin, "and cannot lift steel against it and thereby lose our souls." Then he spoke with Wulf, and added, "As to your second question, whether we should bide here in chains.It is one that our lady Rosamund must answer, for we are sworn to her service.We demand to see the princess of Baalbec.""Send for her, Emir," said Saladin to the prince Hassan, who bowed and departed.
A while later Rosamund came, looking beautiful but, as they saw when she threw back her veil, very white and weary.She bowed to Saladin, and the brethren, who were not allowed to touch her hand, bowed to her, devouring her face with eager eyes.
"Greeting, my uncle," she said to the Sultan, "and to you, my cousins, greeting also.What is your pleasure with me?"Saladin motioned to her to be seated and bade Godwin set out the case, which he did very clearly, ending:
"Is it your wish, Rosamund, that we stay in this court as prisoners, or go forth to fight with the Franks in the great war that is to be? "Rosamund looked at them awhile, then answered:
"To whom were you sworn the first? Was it to the service of our Lord, or to the service of a woman? I have said.""Such words as we expected from you, being what you are,"exclaimed Godwin, while Wulf nodded his head in assent, and added:
"Sultan, we ask your safe conduct to Jerusalem, and leave this lady in your charge, relying on your plighted word to do no violence to her faith and to protect her person.""My safe conduct you have," replied Saladin, "and my friendship also.Nor, indeed, should I have thought well of you had you decided otherwise.Now, henceforth we are enemies in the eyes of all men, and I shall strive to slay you as you will strive to slay me.But as regards this lady, have no fear.What I have promised shall be fulfilled.Bid her farewell, whom you will see no more.""Who taught your lips to say such words, O Sultan?" asked Godwin.
"Is it given to you to read the future and the decrees of God?""I should have said," answered Saladin, " 'Whom you will see no more if I am able to keep you apart.' Can you complain who, both of you, have refused to take her as a wife?"Here Rosamund looked up wondering, and Wulf broke in:
