[The Brethren by H. Rider Haggard]@TWC D-Link bookThe Brethren CHAPTER Seventeen: The Brethren Depart from Damascus 17/26
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.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|