Let it choose, therefore, which of these knights is ripe for death, and let him perish in whose box the Star is found." "Now," muttered the imaum into the ear of his master, "now at length we shall learn which it is of these two men that the lady loves." "That is what I seek to know," answered Saladin in the same low voice.
As she heard this decree Rosamund looked round wildly and pleaded: "Oh! be not so cruel.

I beseech you spare me this task.

Let it be another hand that is chosen to deal death to one of those of my own blood with whom I have dwelt since childhood.

Let me not be the blind sword of fate that frees his spirit, lest it should haunt my dreams and turn all my world to woe.

Spare me, I beseech you." But Saladin looked at her very sternly and answered: "Princess, you know why I have brought you to the East and raised you to great honour here, why also I have made you my companion in these wars.