7. The priests, after a solemn prayer that God would show the rightful quarrel, departed from the lists. The trumpets of the challenger then rung a flourish, and a herald-at-arms proclaimed at the eastern end of the lists: 'Here stands a good knight, Sir Kenneth of Scotland, champion for the royal King Richard of England, who accuseth Conrade, Marquis of Montserrat, of foul treason and dishonour done to the said King.'

8. When the words 'Kenneth of Scotland' announced the name and character of the champion, hitherto scarce generally known, a loud and cheerful acclaim burst from the followers of King Richard, and hardly, notwithstanding repeated commands of silence, suffered the reply of the defendant to be heard. He, of course, avouched his innocence, and offered his body for battle. The esquires of the combatants now approached and delivered to each his shield and lance, assisting to hang the former round his neck, that his two hands might remain free, one for the management of the bridle, the other to direct the lance,

9. The shield of the Scot displayed his old bearing, the leopard, but with the addition of a collar and broken chain, in allusion to his late captivity. The shield of the marquis bore, in reference to his title, a serrated and rocky mountain. Each shook his lance aloft, as if to ascertain the weight and toughness of the unwieldy weapon, and then laid it in the rest. The sponsors, heralds, and squires, now retired to the barriers, and the combatants sat opposite to each other, face to face, with couched lance and closed vizor, the human form so completely enclosed, that they looked more like statues of molten iron than beings of flesh

and blood. The silence of suspense was now general men breathed thicker, and their very souls seemed seated in their eyes, while not a sound was to be heard save the snorting and the pawing of the good steeds, who, sensible of what was about to happen, were impatient to dash into career. They stood thus for perhaps three minutes, when, at a signal given by the Soldan, a hundred instruments rent the air with their brazen clamours, and each champion striking his horse with the spurs, and slacking the rein, the horses started

into full gallop, and the knights met in mid space with a shock like a thunder-bolt. The victory was not in doubt-no, not one moment. Conrade, indeed, showed himself a practised warrior, for he struck his antagonist knightly in the midst of his shield, bearing his lance so straight and true that it shivered into

splinters from the steel spear-head up to the very gauntlet. The horse of Sir Kenneth recoiled two or three yards and fell on his haunches, but the rider easily raised him with hand and rein. But for Conrade there was no recovery. Sir Kenneth's lance had pierced through the shield, through a plated corslet of Milan steel, through a secret, or coat of linked mail worn beneath the corslet, had wounded him deep in the bosom, and borne him from his saddle, leaving the truncheon of the lance fixed in his wound. The sponsors, heralds, and Saladin himself, descending from his throne, crowded around the wounded man; while Sir Kenneth, who had drawn his sword ere yet he discovered his antagonist was totally helpless, now commanded him to avow his guilt. The helmet was hastily unclosed, and the wounded man, gazing wildly on the skies, replied, 'What would you more? God hath decided justly-I am guilty.'

One hour after sunrise-About seven o'clock in the morning, the sun rising in the Holy Land about six the year round.

Prostrated-Lay with their faces to the ground.

Vizor-Frontlet, or face-part of the helmet.

Ominous despondence-Low spirits that anticipated defeat.
Temporary-For a limited time, as opposed to permanent.

1. The summer and autumn had been so wet,
That in winter the corn was growing yet;
'Twas a piteous sight to see all around
The grain lie rotting on the ground.

2. Every day the starving poor

Crowded around Bishop Hatto's door,
For he had a plentiful last year's store;
And all the neighbourhood could tell
His
granaries were furnished well.

3. At last Bishop Hatto appointed a day

To quiet the poor without delay;

He bade them to his great barns repair,

And they should have food for the winter there.

4. Rejoiced such tidings good to hear,
The poor folk flock'd from far and near ;
The great barn was full as it could hold
Of women and children, and young and old.

5. Then when he saw it could hold no more
Bishop Hatto he made fast the door,

And while for mercy on Christ they call,
He set fire to the barn and burnt them all.

6. 'I' faith, 'tis an excellent bonfire !' quoth he, 'And the country is greatly obliged to me, For ridding it in these times forlorn Of rats, that only consume the corn.'

7. So then to his palace returnèd he,
And he sat down to supper merrily,

And he slept that night like an innocent man,
But Bishop Hatto never slept again.

8. In the morning as he enter'd the hall,
Where his picture hung against the wall,
A sweat like death all over him came,
For the rats had eaten it out of the frame.

9. As he looked there came a man from the farm, He had a countenance white with alarm; 'My lord, I open'd your granaries this morn, And the rats had eaten all your corn.'

10. Another came running presently,
And he was pale as pale could be,
'Fly, my Lord Bishop, fly,' quoth he,
'Ten thousand rats are coming this way,
The Lord forgive you for yesterday !'