"
And the missive was sanctioned by the signature and seal of the
Soldan.
Richard surveyed the Nubian in silence as he stood before him,
his looks bent upon the ground, his arms folded on his bosom,
with the appearance of a black marble statue of the most
exquisite workmanship, waiting life from the touch of a
Prometheus. The King of England, who, as it was emphatically
said of his successor Henry the Eighth, loved to look upon A MAN,
was well pleased with the thews, sinews, and symmetry of him whom
he now surveyed, and questioned him in the lingua franca, "Art
thou a pagan?"
The slave shook his head, and raising his finger to his brow,
crossed himself in token of his Christianity, then resumed his
posture of motionless humility.
"A Nubian Christian, doubtless," said Richard, "and mutilated of
the organ of speech by these heathen dogs?"
The mute again slowly shook his head, in token of negative,
pointed with his forefinger to Heaven, and then laid it upon his
own lips.
"I understand thee," said Richard; "thou dost suffer under the
infliction of God, not by the cruelty of man.
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