so base and cowardly,
As to give other counsel, let him speak.--

Ray.
I have known those, who foremost to advise,
Were yet the last to venture on the battle.--

Boh.
What means the Count of Thoulouse?--

Ray. Simply this;--
That some men thoughtlessly sit down to eat,
Without having first obtained an appetite.--

Boh.
By the Holy Sepulchre I swear,
That knight must have some stomach who maintains,
What you have just now utter'd--

[Throws down his gauntlet.]
There lays my guage--
If you will wear my glove, choose with what arms
We shall decide this quarrel.--

[Raymond advances to take up the glove.]

God.
Hold, Thoulouse, let it lay.--
I do impeach Bohemond of Tarentum of base wiles,
And treachery most foul, to knighthood's cause--

Boh.
Why then take you the glove.--

God.
In mine own cause I do accept the challenge.--

[Takes up the glove.]

Alex.
Is our league dissolv'd, and shall the holy cause
For which embattled Europe is in arms,
Be idly given to the scorn of men,
To gratify our passions and vile feuds?--
But speak Lorraine, for you have heretofore
Been held the mediator in these jars--
Upon what quarrel do you thus arraign
Bohemond of Tarentum?--

God.
A gorgeous canopy, a present from
The gov'nor of Armenia I have lost--
By what base means, Bohemond best can tell.--

Boh.
True he can tell--and briefly thus it is--
I won the silken bauble in a fight,
And claim it as my spoil.--

God.
You basely stole
The treasure of a friend--Pancrates had
The conduct of the present to my camp;
You coward-like surprised him on the way,
And robb'd him of my prize.--

Boh. (Contemptuously) Well be it so--
I stole it, and will keep it--
You may keep the glove.--

Alex.
Christians, forbear, the Infidels will laugh,
To know a silken toy has broke our league,
And sav'd the Sepulchre--It must not be,
My friends, that private discord shall cut short
The work we have begun--Bohemond, no--
Restore the treasure to its rightful Lord,
And my pavilion shall replace the spoil.--

Boh.
I do consent--provided Godfrey will
Return my glove to the brave Count of Thoulouse--

Alex.
That's nobly done Bohemond--but the war
'Twixt you and Thoulouse, is a war of words--
Like two pert game cocks picking at