They had settled, accordingly, that they should receive him on
his entrance with slight notice, and no more respect than was
exactly necessary to keep within the bounds of cold ceremonial.
But when they beheld that noble form, that princely countenance,
somewhat pale from his late illness-- the eye which had been
called by minstrels the bright star of battle and victory--when
his feats, almost surpassing human strength and valour, rushed on
their recollection, the Council of Princes simultaneously arose
--even the jealous King of France and the sullen and offended
Duke of Austria--arose with one consent, and the assembled
princes burst forth with one voice in the acclamation, "God save
King Richard of England! Long life to the valiant Lion's-heart!"
With a countenance frank and open as the summer sun when it
rises, Richard distributed his thanks around, and congratulated
himself on being once more among his royal brethren of the
Crusade.
"Some brief words he desired to say," such was his address to the
assembly, "though on a subject so unworthy as himself, even at
the risk of delaying for a few minutes their consultations for
the weal of Christendom and the advancement of their holy
enterprise.
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