Why do not the powers assemble and choose some one to whom they may entrust the guidance of the host ?" "Forsooth, and if it please your Majesty," said De Vaux, "I hear consultations have been held among the royal leaders for some such purpose." "Ha!" exclaimed Richard, his jealousy awakened, giving his mental irritation another direction, "am I forgot by my allies ere I have taken the last sacrament?
Do they hold me dead already?
But no, no, they are right.

And whom do they select as leader of the Christian host ?" "Rank and dignity," said De Vaux, "point to the King of France." "Oh, ay," answered the English monarch, "Philip of France and Navarre--Denis Mountjoie--his most Christian Majesty! Mouth-filling words these! There is but one risk--that he might mistake the words EN ARRIERE for EN AVANT, and lead us back to Paris, instead of marching to Jerusalem.

His politic head has learned by this time that there is more to be gotten by oppressing his feudatories, and pillaging his allies, than fighting with the Turks for the Holy Sepulchre." "They might choose the Archduke of Austria," said De Vaux.
"What! because he is big and burly like thyself, Thomas--nearly as thick-headed, but without thy indifference to danger and carelessness of offence?
I tell thee that Austria has in all that mass of flesh no bolder animation than is afforded by the peevishness of a wasp and the courage of a wren.

Out upon him! He a leader of chivalry to deeds of glory! Give him a flagon of Rhenish to drink with his besmirched baaren-hauters and lance-knechts." "There is the Grand Master of the Templars," continued the baron, not sorry to keep his master's attention engaged on other topics than his own illness, though at the expense of the characters of prince and potentate.

"There is the Grand Master of the Templars," he continued, "undaunted, skilful, brave in battle, and sage in council, having no separate kingdoms of his own to divert his exertions from the recovery of the Holy Land--what thinks your Majesty of the Master as a general leader of the Christian host ?" "Ha, Beau-Seant ?" answered the King.