登陆注册
5421900000098

第98章 Wulf Pays for the Drugged Wine(7)

"Guards, touch not this brave knight who has dared so much to reach me.Sultan, I ask a boon.Between Sir Wulf and me there is an ancient quarrel that can only be washed away in blood.Let it be decided here and now, and let this be your decree--that if Ifall in fair fight, none shall set upon my conqueror, and no vengeance shall be taken for my blood.""Good," said Saladin."Then Sir Wulf shall be my prisoner and no more, as his brother is already.I owe it to the men who saved my life when we were friends.Give the Frank to drink that the fight may be fair."So they gave Wulf a cup of which he drank, and when he had done it was handed to Godwin.For even the Mameluks knew and loved these brethren who had been their officers, and praised the fierce charge that they had dared to make alone.

Hassan sprang to the ground, saying:

"Your horse is dead, Sir Wulf, so we must fight afoot.""Generous as ever," laughed Wulf."Even the poisoned wine was a gift!""If so, for the last time, I fear me," answered Hassan with a smile.

Then they faced each other, and oh! the scene was strange.Up on the slopes of Hattin the fight still raged.There amidst the smoke and fires of the burning grass little companies of soldiers stood back to back while the Saracens wheeled round them, thrusting and cutting at them till they fell.Here and there knights charged singly or in groups, and so came to death or capture.About the plain hundreds of foot soldiers were being slaughtered, while their officers were taken prisoners.Towards the camp of Saladin a company advanced with sounds of triumph, carrying aloft a black stump which was the holy Rood, while others drove or led mobs of prisoners, among them the king and his chosen knights.

The wilderness was red with blood, the air was rent with shouts of victory and cries of agony or despair.And there, in the midst of it all, ringed round with grave, courteous Saracens, stood the emir, clad above his mail in his white robe and jewelled turban, facing the great Christian knight, with harness hacked and reddened, the light of battle shining in his fierce eyes, and a smile upon his stained features.

For those who watched the battle was forgotten--or, rather, its interest was centred on this point.

"It will be a good fight," said one of them to Godwin, whom they had suffered to rise, "for though your brother is the younger and the heavier man, he is hurt and weary, whereas the emir is fresh and unwounded.Ah! they are at it!"Hassan had struck first and the blow went home.Falling upon the point of Wulf's steel helm, the heavy, razoredged scimitar glanced from it and shore away the links from the flap which hung upon his shoulder, causing the Frank to stagger.Again he struck, this time upon the shield, and so heavily that Wulf came to his knees.

"Your brother is sped," said the Saracen captain to Godwin, but Godwin only answered:

"Wait."

As he spoke Wulf twisted his body out of reach of a third blow, and while Hassan staggered forward with the weight of the missed stroke, placed his hand upon the ground, and springing to his feet, ran backwards six or eight paces.

"He flies!" cried the Saracens; but again Godwin said, "Wait."Nor was there long to wait.

For now, throwing aside his buckler and grasping the great sword in both his hands, with a shout of "A D'Arcy! A D'Arcy!" Wulf leapt at Hassan as a wounded lion leaps.The sword wheeled and fell, and lo! the shield of the Saracen was severed in two.Again it fell, and his turbaned helm was cloven.A third time, and the right arm and shoulder with the scimitar that grasped it seemed to spring from his body, and Hassan sank dying to the ground.

Wulf stood and looked at him, while a murmur of grief went up from those who watched, for they loved this emir.Hassan beckoned to the victor with his left hand, and throwing down his sword to show that he feared no treachery, Wulf came to him and knelt beside him.

"A good stroke," Hassan said faintly, "that could shear the double links of Damascus steel as though it were silk.Well, as Itold you long ago, I knew that the hour of our meeting in war would be an ill hour for me, and my debt is paid.Farewell, brave knight.Would I could hope that we should meet in Paradise! Take that star jewel, the badge of my House, from my turban and wear it in memory of me.Long, long and happy be your days."Then, while Wulf held him in his arms, Saladin came up and spoke to him, till he fell back and was dead.

Thus died Hassan, and thus ended the battle of Hattin, which broke the power of the Christians in the East.

同类推荐
  • 小五虎演义

    小五虎演义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 妇人前阴诸疾带下交肠门

    妇人前阴诸疾带下交肠门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 狂夫之言

    狂夫之言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 柳氏叙训

    柳氏叙训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 教诫新学比丘行护律仪

    教诫新学比丘行护律仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 恰似温柔的你

    恰似温柔的你

    叶悠然上辈子太过于傻白甜,不懂身边人和眼前人皆是狼柴虎豹,害的自己惨死。这辈子重新来过回到高考前一个月,看她如何手刃白莲花手撕渣男。只不过,嘶,你这个大boos哪儿来的?
  • 黄泉摆渡人

    黄泉摆渡人

    一天我在门口发现了许多钱,后来连续七天,每天到那个时候都会有人在门口给我送钱,我便拿出来花了一些,后来有人告诉我,这都是买命钱,对方想要我的命。为了活着,我去了城隍庙,成了一名打更人。
  • 止山集

    止山集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 叫我无名

    叫我无名

    宅男入异界,初时准备游戏人间,随着自己所带去的身份的慢慢揭开,慢慢领悟人生的故事,不准备沉闷的叙述,那样太累,不准备主角上去就无敌那样没意思,主角会不会无敌你猜猜
  • 鱼龙劫:靖康英雄传

    鱼龙劫:靖康英雄传

    小说围绕着靖康之变,浓墨重彩地描述了朝代更迭、波澜壮阔的时代浪潮,大军对垒、金戈铁马的战阵厮杀,勾心斗角、忠奸较量的庙堂交锋,诡譎奇异、尔虞吾诈的江湖风云,还有众多江湖儿女为了国家和民族的安危,忠肝义胆、前赴后继地同武林败类和异族凶顽英勇搏杀的壮举,此外,还有矢志不渝、凄美婉约的爱情描写。小说中的历史元素较浓,主要事件的发生和发展基本上遵循历史真实,北宋的徽宗、钦宗、南宋高宗赵构、李纲、宗泽、蔡京、李邦彦以及金国东路军元帅完颜宗望等重要人物,在书中都有栩栩如生的本色表现。
  • 清微神烈秘法

    清微神烈秘法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 成都姑娘(全集)

    成都姑娘(全集)

    本书为新都市情感长篇,分上下两部,讲述一对成都姑娘陶氏姐妹,他们之间的爱恨情仇。上部《雏菊逃亡》以九寨沟旅游为线索展开,在风景如画的山水间发生的故事。下部《亚白领的歌声》则以白领一组的生活工作为背景,讲述那些新结识朋友们的故事,作品表现的那些小人物悲欢离合的生活经历,就如同昨日发生在身边,亲切而发人深省。本书为第一届海峡两岸网络原创文学大赛入围作品。
  • 妖孽奶爸在都市

    妖孽奶爸在都市

    五年前,叶辰被人当做死狗沉江。五年后,一代天帝强势归来,却意外的发现自己有了一个宝贝女儿。女儿对着夜空许愿:“爸爸,人家想要天上的星星。”叶辰满脸宠溺,屈指一弹,一颗星辰划过苍穹,轰然落入东瀛国!女儿望着天际发呆:“爸爸,人家想要飞高高。”叶辰微微一笑,隔空一抓,龙族老祖九爪金龙撅着屁股瑟瑟发抖!“爸爸,人家还想要一个弟弟。”叶辰:“……”
  • 行走在历史的田野

    行走在历史的田野

    历史的田野广袤无垠,我所涉足,不过其中一二。仰望人物星空,灿烂无比;偶尔史林折枝,余香满手;记录编辑思绪,回味无穷。每天都在迎接新的太阳,感动与感奋,交织在跋涉的征途。
  • 我在深渊做领主

    我在深渊做领主

    一个死亡的灵魂在经过深渊的时候,被一位深渊领主抓住,投入了嘴中。但没想到这家伙竟然还会反抗,最后略微脑残的深渊领主只能将他同化!深渊领主发现了一个空间通道,他将同化的那个灵魂的意志注入到了一具投影内,让他去探查那座世界!但没想到,那个世界竟然是神灵在深渊布置的前哨站……多位面的世界架构,主要描写投影!主要西幻,架构中有东方世界,文体两开花!剧情全是yy。本书是黑暗幻想,可能引起不适。本书属于慢热,请耐心一点!如果跳着看的话,会很累!所以还是躺着为好!(再说一遍,本书不适合跳着看)诸位多投投推荐票,多多给作者一点建议和点点评,谢谢。