Czecho-Slovak Student Life/Volume 18/Number 6/The Rival Banners

by Augustine Studeny

The Rival Banners.
A Drama in Three Acts. Written for the Student Life by the Rev. Augustine Studeny, O.S.B.

Synopsis of First Act published in the March issue:

HE play opens up with a scene in the Crusaders’ Council Chamber near the Holy Land. Phillip of France, one of the Crusade princes, reads the terms of ultimatum, which he has prepared for the Sultan, and the council members, among whom Archbishop Baldwin, Leopold of Austria, Henry, and Kenneth are the most prominent, endorse it and dispatch Kenneth to the Sultan with it.

Leopold, in a discourse with the archbishop, voices his disapproval with the supremacy of King Richard of England, and maintains that all the princes in the Crusade are equal. To archbishop Baldwin’s exhortation on the urgent need of harmony for the success of the Crusade Leopold acquiesces, but reminds the prelate that other leaders are less open to such reasoning, stating that there is already considerable tension between Conrad and Guy de Lusignan, who vie with each other for the throne of Jerusalem. Baldwin perceives the undercurrent of pride and ambition in the characters of his noble associates and laments the fact.

King Richard, who is abed with fever, is displeased with the procrastination and idleness of the princes, but Baldwin points out that it is his illness that is causing the delay. Kenneth is unsuccessful with the Sultan and returns. While he tarries at the Grotto of Engaddi, a Saracen, Adonbee el Hakim, accosts him and tells him that he is a physician sent by Sultan to cure Richard so that they could meet in combat. While they converse Theodoric appears and attacks Adonbec, but Kenneth steps in and saves the physician’s life. Theodoric introduces himself as the Hermit of Engaddi and warns the Crusader of treason within their own camp. Now continue with the play.)

ACT II.

Scene 1. (Before the pavilion of King Richard. Soldiers are standing at guard; others are lounging about. Enter Amaury and Conrad. Afterwards, some of the soldiers pass off by ones and twos.)

AMAU.: There is a change of cheer among these island dogs. What hoarse tumults and revels used to be before this pavilion. Naught but pitching the bar, hurling the ball, wrestling, roaring of songs, clattering of wine-pots among these country yeomen, as if they were at a country fair with a Maypole in the midst of them, instead of a royal standard.

CON.: Like master, like servant. Richard, their master, was ever ready to wrestle, brawl, and revel with the best of them whenever the humor seized him.

AMAU.: His royal Majesty is totally compounded of humors. As brave, I grant you, as any knight; but as fickle and vain as any woman.

CON.: By my honor, thou hast spoken truly, Sir Giles. As vain, forsooth, and fickle as the devil’s granddam.

AMAU.: Aye, my lord Marquis, methinks that Richard, the lion-hearted, stands not well in thy favor?

CON.: In thinking that, thou thinkest right enough, Amaury. Is it not he who has crossed me time and again? Has he not usurped the lion’s share of all the glory and victory of our united arms? When thou, and Phillip, and Henry, and the, best of the Syrian nobles pledged me the throne of Jerusalem when we shall have retaken the City, has he not set himself in opposition, denying my right of succession, and pretending that the crown belongs by right to that woman of a king, Guy de Lusignan? Think you that I shall love a man who calls himself a lion, and will tear every one who dare dispute his title? Think you that I shall love a man who boasts and threatens that his banner, and his alone, shall be planted on the Temple? No! I hate the island upstart! I hate him for his pride, I hate him for his insolence, but most deeply of all, I hate him for his Insatiate ambition to dispose of our conquests according to his own sweet will—But come, Sir Giles, I pray thee put aside for once the mask from thy features, and tell me what thou thinkest of this Richard?

AMAU: I say all when I say that thy cause is my cause, Lord Marquis. I might add that I am thy friend, because I am the enemy of this Guy de Lusignan, and of his barbarian protector of England. Look you, Conrad, this petticoat king, who could not keep kingdom when he had one, and to whom a sweeping-broom were more becoming than a knight’s sword, declared that we, forsooth, the Knights of the Temple, were too proud, too powerful, too independent. Out on the craven coward! And this English Lion? Conrad, I hate him as I hate the Saracen, as I ought to hate the devil himself. The uncouth islander has accused our Order of dissensions with Guy de Lusignan and the Hospitalers, and that we have caused the downfall of the Holy City—Curse the lion’s whelp—When I, first of the Crusaders, scaled the walls of Acre, and plunged thru the Saracen host to plant the banner of the Cross on the turret, this ambitious Richard thrust me aside, and planted his own banner on the tower. I had then, I tell thee, struck him down, but that the Archbishop, who was at his heels, held my arm, begged and beseeched me to forebear for the sake of peace, I did forebear then, Conrad, but, by the honor of mine order, I did not forget, and shall not forgive! Thus, Conrad, my grudge against Richard is a personal one; as for thee, unless I mistake my guess, thou carest little what becomes of Richard, provided he is deprived of his power and influence in the camp?

CON.: What meanest thou?

AMAU.: Why, nothing more than this, that Conrad, Marquis of Montserrat would be Conrad, King of Jerusalem; and that cannot be while the King of England controls the fortunes of the Crusade.

CON.: Sir Giles, thou art as shrewd as thou art brave and reckless, Yes, truly thither trend my ambitions. I do confess, Amaury, that the royal crown would not displease me at all; but, as thou savest, it doth peeve me that the claims of Lusignan will be preferred to mine by Richard. This is confidence: that I shall exert all my wit and skill that Richard, should he rise from his bed, gain not again his former ascendancy over the leaders of the Crusade. Phillip favors me: so does his vassal, Henry; so dost thou, as thou hast assured me; so do the Syrian nobles. Therefore England’s influence reduced, my way is sure and clear.

AMAU: Enough. I am convinced of thy sincerity. King Richard is in thy way, thou sayest; and I say, he is in mine also. Thou wouldst the Crusade to succeed, and Jerusalem delivered from the Saracen: as for that, I care little either way. I stand to lose little if they lose; and to gain nothing if they win. But against Richard I will join thee. Thou wouldst be King of Jerusalem, which Richard prevents. Why then, Richard must be removed. The King of England is impetuous, proud, jealous, overbearing. His pride is a boil on the body of the Christian host the constant source of irritation, rancor, and discord. If he is put back, or forced to return to his island realm, why so much the better for our cause, say I.

CON.: Well, then, with thy aid, he shall be removed.

AMAU.: And how, my lord, dost thou propose to go about it?

CON.: I—we, thou and I—shall stir up such a united opposition to him, that he will either yield the leadership, or go back home to play the lion in his own forests. Phillip of France hath long borne with patience Richard’s haughty spirit; so has Henry of Champagne. The Austrian hates the English mastiff as much as he fears him. With these, and such others as we shall be able to bring over to our cause, we shall raise up such a blast as will snap St. George’s banner in twain.

AMAU.: I am pleased, Sir Marquis, to see thee in so gallant a spirit. Thou mayest count on my unstinted aid. Before Richard rises—if he rises—from his sick-bed the breach must become irreparable; then we may proceed to pluck the lion’s fangs.

CON.: To-morrow we dine with the Archduke. Meet there betimes. Through Austria’s pride, we shall direct the first flash of lightning at Richard’s head. Till then, fare thee well. (Exit.)

AMAU.: Aye, Conrad, methinks I see thru thy plans. All’s grist that comes to my mill. Thou wouldst play politics for the throne of the Holy City: mayhap. thou hast forgotten that two can play at that game. Thou wouldst have the crown of Jerusalem? Why, so would Richard, and, by the beard of Mahommed, so would I! Alas for thee, however, that that little circlet of gold is too small for three heads; therefore, I must needs chop off the other two, and so put it securely upon the third.—To-morrow I’ll play thy game with a vengeance. Austria is a weak and vain man. By a happy stroke of chance he has become a prince; and of his princely rank he is as proud and vain as a young girl of her first love. Thru him and Conrad, I’ll strike at Richard. With the silly Italian I can deal at my leisure.—So, ’tis the Austrian eagle and the Italian dragon against the lion of England; ’tis the wit and skill of the Knight Templar against the lion’s claw and fang. To the victor go the spoils; and, by Mahommed—for Christian oaths are out of custom now—Sir Giles Amaury the victor shall be! (Exit.)

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Scene 2. (Within Richard’s pavilion. Richard lies upon the couch. Baldwin, De Vaux, Kenneth and Jocelyn are standing by.)

DE VAUX: Your Majesty, Sir Kenneth here hath brought with him Saladin’s own physician, who had been promised your grace.

RICH: Sir Knight, didst thou bring him direct from Saladin’s court?

KEN.: No, your grace. When I was about to depart, Saladin informed me that, just because he refused our terms of peace, he desired very much your Majesty’s health so that he might meet you in personal combat. He said that for that purpose he had dispatched his own physician to your grace, who then was already on his way thither. When on my returning journey I was resting myself and my steed at the Grotto of Engaddi, there charged me a Saracen with a drawn sword; I quickly taught the caitiff Christian manners; coming to terms, the Moslem informed me that he was Adonbec el Hakim on his way to your Majesty’s bed of sickness. We have but now arrived, and he stands without.

RICH. My lord, have you examined his credentials?

BALD.: I have, my liege. Here is the scroll.

RICH: (Reads) “The blessings of Allah and his Prophet Mahommed.” Out on the hound! “Saladin, king of kings, Soldan of Egypt and Syria, the light of the earth, to the great Meleck Ric, Richard of England, greeting. Whereas we have been informed that the hand of sickness is heavy upon thee, our royal brother, and that thou hast with thee only such Nazarene physicians as work without the blessing of Allah and his Prophet,”—Confusion on his head!—“therefore we have sent thee our own physician, Adonbec el Hakim, before whose face the angel Asrael folds his wings and departs from the sick chamber. He knows the virtues of herbs and stones, the paths of sun, moon, and stars, and can save a man from all that is not written in the book of fate. And this we do, praying thee heartily to make use of his skill, seeing that it becomes not thy place and courage to die the death of a slave, but rather that thou rise again in the strength of thy arm to try thy skill and courage against us in combat. Therefore, may the holy Prophet”—Hold! Hold! I will have not more of that dog of a prophet! I will put myself in charge of this leech, Moslem tho he is. I will trust for once the misbelieving Soldan. And Heaven willing, I shall meet this Saladin, and teach him with my sword to regret his generosity. Sir Knight, haste thee and fetch the leech. (Exit Kenneth.)

DE VAUX: My liege, methinks that the Soldan is an infidel and your most formidable enemy.

RICH. And for that very reason I will trust him. He is too true a soldier to let a paltry fever come between two such kings. By mine honor, it would be a sin not to trust his good faith.

BALD.: Your gracious Majesty, it behooves you to pause ere you take such momentous a step. I cannot but have suspicions of the wily Saracen. These Moslems are skillful in the use of poisons.

RICH.: My lord archbishop, I never knew you to hesitate for fear.

BALD.; Nor would I now, my liege, were it my life, and not yours, at stake.

RICH: I am weary of lying here like an ox dying of the murrain, my lord, when tambours are sounding without, horses stamping, trumpets blowing to horse. No! I’ll trust the Paynim for once. (Reenter Kenneth, with Adonbec.) Art thou a physician, infidel? Or art thou an assassin?

ADON.: Ye have the word of mighty Saladin, a word which was never broken to friend or foe. What more would ye? (Enter a guard.)

GUARD: My liege, a deputation from the Council waits without, begging to be admitted.

RICH.: Aye, it is well that they allow us to be living yet.—Who are the noble ambassadors?

GUARD: My liege, Sir Giles Amaury and Conrad of Montserrat.

RICH.: Jocelyn, lay me on the couch more fairly. Pass a comb thru my hair and beard—they look indeed more like a lion’s mane than a Christian man’s locks. Bring water.

JOC.: My liege, the leeches say that cold water may be fatal.

RICH: To the foul fiend with the leeches! If they cannot cure me, think you I shall allow them to torture me?—There now.—Admit the worshipful envoys. (Exit the Guard. Enter Amaury and Conrad.)

CON.: We are bid, your Majesty, by the Council of the Crusade to inquire after the health of their magnanimous ally, the valiant king of England.

RICH.: We know the importance in which the princes of the Crusade hold our health, and we are well aware how much they must have suffered by suppressing all curiosity concerning it all these days for fear, no doubt, of aggravating our disorder by showing, forsooth, their anxiety concerning the event.

AMAU.: Your Majesty, we are more over bid by the Council to beseech your grace not to permit your health to be tampered with by an infidel physician, said to be dispatched by Saladin, until the Council had taken measures to remove or confirm suspicions which are at present attached to the mission of such a person.

RICH.: My lords, if you but pause a moment, you will see what account we take of the tender remonstrances of our royal and princely colleagues.

AMAU.: (Aside to Conrad.) We must pretend to be urgent in our solicitude, for appearance’s sake—My lord, De Vaux, will you not join our and the Council’s expostulations against the risk of permitting an infidel to tamper with a health so valuable as that of your master, King Richard?

DE VAUX: Sir Giles, I like not the use of many words, nor the sound of them. I am satisfied that the heathen can cure my lord. Time is precious. If Mahommed—God’s curses on him!—stood at the door with such fair purpose as this Adonbec el Hakim entertains, I should hold it a crime to delay him a minute.—Come, prepare, Saracen.

RICH.: So ho! A goodly fellowship come to see Richard take his leap in the dark.—My noble allies, I greet you as representatives of our League. Richard will again be among you in his former fashion, or ye shall bear to the grave what is left of him. Come, Sir Hakim, to the work, to the work! (Adonbec, with a tumbler-full of medicine approaches the couch. He feels Richard’s pulse, and the latter then grasps him by the wrist.)—Hold, an instant. Thou hast felt my pulse—let me lay my finger on thine. I too, as becomes a good knight, know some thing of thy art—His blood beats as calm as an infant’s; so throb not those who poison prince.—De Vaux, whether we live or die, dismiss this Hakim with safety and honor. (He raises himself on his couch, and addresses Amaury and Conrad.)—Mark what I say, my lords, and let my royal brethren pledge me in Cyprus wine;—to the immortal honor of the first Crusader who shall strike lance or sword on the gate of Jerusalem; and to the shame and eternal infamy of him whoever shall turn back and betray the banner of the Cross. (He drinks, and falls asleep. Soft music.)

ADON.: Masters, please you to retire. The King sleeps.

(To be continued.)