er,
Through pleasant and through cloudy weather;
'Tis hard to part when friends are dear;
Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear;
Then steal away, give little warning,
Choose thine own time;
Say not Good-night, but in some brighter clime
Bid me Good-morning_.

MRS. BARBAULD.--1743-1825.

XXX. THE TRIAL BY COMBAT AT THE DIAMOND OF THE DESERT.[I]

_From_ THE TALISMAN.

SIR WALTER SCOTT.--1771-1832.

It had been agreed, on account of the heat of the climate, that the
judicial combat, which was the cause of the present assemblage of
various nations at the Diamond of the Desert, should take place at one
hour after sunrise. The wide lists, which had been constructed under the
inspection of the Knight of the Leopard, enclosed a space of hard sand,
which was one hundred and twenty yards long by forty in width. They
extended in length from north to south, so as to give both parties the
equal advantage of the rising sun. Saladin's royal seat was erected on
the western side of the enclosure, just in the centre, where the
combatants were expected to meet in mid encounter. Opposed to this was
a gallery with closed casements, so contrived, that the ladies, for
whose accommodation it was erected, might see the fight without being
themselves exposed to view. At either extremity of the lists was a
barrier, which could be opened or shut at pleasure. Thrones had been
also erected, but the Archduke, perceiving that his was lower than King
Richard's, refused to occupy it; and Coeur de Lion, who would have
submitted to much ere any formality should have interfered with the
combat, readily agreed that the sponsors, as they were called, should
remain on horseback during the fight. At one extremity of the lists were
placed the followers of Richard, and opposed to them were those who
accompanied the defender, Conrade. Around the throne destined for the
Soldan were ranged his splendid Georgian Guards, and the rest of the
enclosure was occupied by Christian and Mohammedan spectators.

Long before daybreak, the lists were surrounded by even a larger number
of Saracens than Richard had seen on the preceding evening. When the
first ray of the sun's glorious orb arose above the desert, the sonorous
call, "To prayer, to prayer!" was poured forth by the Soldan himself,
and answered by others, whose rank and zeal entitled them to act as
muezzins. It was a striking spectacle to see them all s