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smiled rather stiffly. "I will tell him you forbid it, madam." |
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"Yes, yes," Simon encouraged. "For his health's sake a wife may forbid a husband. And you will see. He will obey you." |
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Whether it was obedience to Berengaria or simple weakness, Richard did keep his bed for a few days longer. After that he was neither to hold nor to bind. Although too weak to ride, he had himself carried to the walls of Acre every day. There he directed the operations of the siege engines and inspected the wreckage they were making of the walls with a critical eye. By the end of June, Philip was recovered, having had a lighter attack of the disease, and was urging an assault. Richard said the time was not ripe. Philip riposted that he refused because he would not be able to lead the attack. It was said lightly, as if in praise of Richard's courage, but an ugly truth underlay the remark. |
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On July 2, the assault was launched without Richard or his troops. It failed. Another attempt the next day was also beaten back. Then Philip received a delegation from the city offering surrender if the residents and garrison were permitted to evacuate with their arms and possessions. Even if they could agree on nothing else, Richard and Philip were at one in their immediate refusal. Meanwhile Richard was so far recovered that, although he still could not walk or ride much, he personally shot a Saracen who had vaingloriously donned the armor of the Marshal of France, who had been killed in the second assault. |
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Another offer to surrender the city if only the inhabitants were allowed to leave unharmed was refused. The walls were now rubble, the great towers fallen. It was plain that the Christians waited only for the full strength of their leader to be restored before they fell like wolves upon their now-helpless prey. The garri- |
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