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minstrel would have compared to the evening star darting its rays

through a bower of jessamine. But Ivanhoe was too good a Catholic to

retain the same class of feelings towards a Jewess. This Rebecca had

foreseen, and for this very purpose she had hastened to mention her

father's name and lineage; yet--for the fair and wise daughter of Isaac

was not without a touch of female weakness--she could not but sigh

internally when the glance of respectful admiration, not altogether

unmixed with tenderness, with which Ivanhoe had hitherto regarded his

unknown benefactress, was exchanged at once for a manner cold, composed,

and collected, and fraught with no deeper feeling than that which

expressed a grateful sense of courtesy received from an unexpected

quarter, and from one of an inferior race. It was not that Ivanhoe's

former carriage expressed more than that general devotional homage which

youth always pays to beauty; yet it was mortifying that one word should

operate as a spell to remove poor Rebecca, who could not be supposed

altogether ignorant of her title to such homage, into a degraded class,

to whom it could not be honourably rendered.

But the gentleness and candour of Rebecca's nature imputed no fault to

Ivanhoe for sharing in the universal prejudices of his age and religion.

On the contrary the fair Jewess, though sensible her patient now

regarded her as one of a race of reprobation, with whom it was

disgraceful to hold any beyond the most necessary intercourse, ceased

not to pay the same patient and devoted attention to his safety and

convalescence. She informed him of the necessity they were under of

removing to York, and of her father's resolution to transport him

thither, and tend him in his own house until his health should be

restored. Ivanhoe expressed great repugnance to this plan, which he

grounded on unwillingness to give farther trouble to his benefactors.

" Was there not, " he said, " in Ashby, or near it, some Saxon franklin,

or even some wealthy peasant, who would endure the burden of a wounded

countryman's residence with him until he should be again able to bear

his armour? --Was there no convent of Saxon endowment, where he could be

received? --Or could he not be transported as far as Burton, where he was

sure to find hospitality with Waltheoff, the Abbot of St Withold's, to

whom he was related? "

" Any, the worst of these harbourages, " said Rebecca, with a melancholy

smile, " would unquestionably be more fitting for your residence than the

abode of a despised Jew; yet, Sir Knight, unless you would dismiss your

physician, you cannot change your lodging. Our nation, as you well know,

can cure wounds, though we deal not in inflicting them; and in our own

family, in particular, are secrets which have been handed down since

the days of Solomon, and of which you have already experienced the

advantages. No Nazarene--I crave your forgiveness, Sir Knight--no

Christian leech, within the four seas of Britain, could enable you to

bear your corslet within a month. "

" And how soon wilt THOU enable me to brook it? " said Ivanhoe,

impatiently.

" Within eight days, if thou wilt be patient and conformable to my

directions, " replied Rebecca.

" By Our Blessed Lady, " said Wilfred, " if it be not a sin to name her

here, it is no time for me or any true knight to be bedridden; and if

thou accomplish thy promise, maiden, I will pay thee with my casque full

of crowns, come by them as I may. "

" I will accomplish my promise, " said Rebecca, " and thou shalt bear thine

armour on the eighth day from hence, if thou will grant me but one boon

in the stead of the silver thou dost promise me. "

" If it be within my power, and such as a true Christian knight may yield

to one of thy people, " replied Ivanhoe, " I will grant thy boon blithely

and thankfully. "

" Nay, " answered Rebecca, " I will but pray of thee to believe

henceforward that a Jew may do good service to a Christian, without

desiring other guerdon than the blessing of the Great Father who made

both Jew and Gentile. "

" It were sin to doubt it, maiden, " replied Ivanhoe; " and I repose myself

on thy skill without further scruple or question, well trusting you will

enable me to bear my corslet on the eighth day. And now, my kind leech,

let me enquire of the news abroad. What of the noble Saxon Cedric and

his household? --what of the lovely Lady--" He stopt, as if unwilling

to speak Rowena's name in the house of a Jew--" Of her, I mean, who was

named Queen of the tournament? "

" And who was selected by you, Sir Knight, to hold that dignity, with

judgment which was admired as much as your valour, " replied Rebecca.

The blood which Ivanhoe had lost did not prevent a flush from crossing

his cheek, feeling that he had incautiously betrayed a deep interest in

Rowena by the awkward attempt he had made to conceal it.

" It was less of her I would speak, " said he, " than of Prince John; and I

would fain know somewhat of a faithful squire, and why he now attends me

not? "

" Let me use my authority as a leech, " answered Rebecca, " and enjoin you

to keep silence, and avoid agitating reflections, whilst I apprize you

of what you desire to know. Prince John hath broken off the tournament,

and set forward in all haste towards York, with the nobles, knights, and

churchmen of his party, after collecting such sums as they could wring,

by fair means or foul, from those who are esteemed the wealthy of the

land. It is said he designs to assume his brother's crown. "

" Not without a blow struck in its defence, " said Ivanhoe, raising

himself upon the couch, " if there were but one true subject in England I

will fight for Richard's title with the best of them--ay, one or two, in

his just quarrel! "

" But that you may be able to do so, " said Rebecca touching his shoulder

with her hand, " you must now observe my directions, and remain quiet. "

" True, maiden, " said Ivanhoe, " as quiet as these disquieted times will

permit--And of Cedric and his household? "

" His steward came but brief while since, " said the Jewess, " panting with

haste, to ask my father for certain monies, the price of wool the growth

of Cedric's flocks, and from him I learned that Cedric and Athelstane

of Coningsburgh had left Prince John's lodging in high displeasure, and

were about to set forth on their return homeward. "

" Went any lady with them to the banquet? " said Wilfred.

" The Lady Rowena, " said Rebecca, answering the question with more

precision than it had been asked--" The Lady Rowena went not to the

Prince's feast, and, as the steward reported to us, she is now on her

journey back to Rotherwood, with her guardian Cedric. And touching your

faithful squire Gurth---"

" Ha! " exclaimed the knight, " knowest thou his name? --But thou dost, " he

immediately added, " and well thou mayst, for it was from thy hand, and,

as I am now convinced, from thine own generosity of spirit, that he

received but yesterday a hundred zecchins. "

" Speak not of that, " said Rebecca, blushing deeply; " I see how easy it

is for the tongue to betray what the heart would gladly conceal. "

" But this sum of gold, " said Ivanhoe, gravely, " my honour is concerned

in repaying it to your father. "

" Let it be as thou wilt, " said Rebecca, " when eight days have passed

away; but think not, and speak not now, of aught that may retard thy

recovery. "

" Be it so, kind maiden, " said Ivanhoe; " I were most ungrateful to

dispute thy commands. But one word of the fate of poor Gurth, and I have

done with questioning thee. "

" I grieve to tell thee, Sir Knight, " answered the Jewess, " that he is in

custody by the order of Cedric. " --And then observing the distress which

her communication gave to Wilfred, she instantly added, " But the steward

Oswald said, that if nothing occurred to renew his master's displeasure

against him, he was sure that Cedric would pardon Gurth, a faithful

serf, and one who stood high in favour, and who had but committed

this error out of the love which he bore to Cedric's son. And he said,

moreover, that he and his comrades, and especially Wamba the Jester,

were resolved to warn Gurth to make his escape by the way, in case

Cedric's ire against him could not be mitigated. "

" Would to God they may keep their purpose! " said Ivanhoe; " but it seems

as if I were destined to bring ruin on whomsoever hath shown kindness to

me. My king, by whom I was honoured and distinguished, thou seest

that the brother most indebted to him is raising his arms to grasp his

crown; --my regard hath brought restraint and trouble on the fairest of

her sex; --and now my father in his mood may slay this poor bondsman

but for his love and loyal service to me! --Thou seest, maiden, what an

ill-fated wretch thou dost labour to assist; be wise, and let me go, ere

the misfortunes which track my footsteps like slot-hounds, shall involve

thee also in their pursuit. "

" Nay, " said Rebecca, " thy weakness and thy grief, Sir Knight, make thee

miscalculate the purposes of Heaven. Thou hast been restored to thy

country when it most needed the assistance of a strong hand and a true

heart, and thou hast humbled the pride of thine enemies and those of thy

king, when their horn was most highly exalted, and for the evil which

thou hast sustained, seest thou not that Heaven has raised thee a helper

and a physician, even among the most despised of the land? --Therefore,

be of good courage, and trust that thou art preserved for some marvel

which thine arm shall work before this people. Adieu--and having taken

the medicine which I shall send thee by the hand of Reuben, compose

thyself again to rest, that thou mayest be the more able to endure the

journey on the succeeding day. "

Ivanhoe was convinced by the reasoning, and obeyed the directions, of

Rebecca. The drought which Reuben administered was of a sedative

and narcotic quality, and secured the patient sound and undisturbed

slumbers. In the morning his kind physician found him entirely free from

feverish symptoms, and fit to undergo the fatigue of a journey.

He was deposited in the horse-litter which had brought him from the

lists, and every precaution taken for his travelling with ease. In one

circumstance only even the entreaties of Rebecca were unable to secure

sufficient attention to the accommodation of the wounded knight. Isaac,

like the enriched traveller of Juvenal's tenth satire, had ever the fear

of robbery before his eyes, conscious that he would be alike accounted

fair game by the marauding Norman noble, and by the Saxon outlaw. He

therefore journeyed at a great rate, and made short halts, and shorter

repasts, so that he passed by Cedric and Athelstane who had several

hours the start of him, but who had been delayed by their protracted

feasting at the convent of Saint Withold's. Yet such was the virtue of

Miriam's balsam, or such the strength of Ivanhoe's constitution, that

he did not sustain from the hurried journey that inconvenience which his

kind physician had apprehended.

In another point of view, however, the Jew's haste proved somewhat more

than good speed. The rapidity with which he insisted on travelling, bred

several disputes between him and the party whom he had hired to attend

him as a guard. These men were Saxons, and not free by any means from

the national love of ease and good living which the Normans stigmatized

as laziness and gluttony. Reversing Shylock's position, they had

accepted the employment in hopes of feeding upon the wealthy Jew, and

were very much displeased when they found themselves disappointed,

by the rapidity with which he insisted on their proceeding. They

remonstrated also upon the risk of damage to their horses by these

forced marches. Finally, there arose betwixt Isaac and his satellites a

deadly feud, concerning the quantity of wine and ale to be allowed for

consumption at each meal. And thus it happened, that when the alarm of

danger approached, and that which Isaac feared was likely to come upon

him, he was deserted by the discontented mercenaries on whose protection

he had relied, without using the means necessary to secure their

attachment.

In this deplorable condition the Jew, with his daughter and her wounded

patient, were found by Cedric, as has already been noticed, and soon

afterwards fell into the power of De Bracy and his confederates.

Little notice was at first taken of the horse-litter, and it might have

remained behind but for the curiosity of De Bracy, who looked into it

under the impression that it might contain the object of his enterprise,

for Rowena had not unveiled herself. But De Bracy's astonishment was

considerable, when he discovered that the litter contained a wounded

man, who, conceiving himself to have fallen into the power of Saxon

outlaws, with whom his name might be a protection for himself and his

friends, frankly avowed himself to be Wilfred of Ivanhoe.

The ideas of chivalrous honour, which, amidst his wildness and levity,

never utterly abandoned De Bracy, prohibited him from doing the knight

any injury in his defenceless condition, and equally interdicted his

betraying him to Front-de-Boeuf, who would have had no scruples to put

to death, under any circumstances, the rival claimant of the fief of

Ivanhoe. On the other hand, to liberate a suitor preferred by the Lady

Rowena, as the events of the tournament, and indeed Wilfred's previous

banishment from his father's house, had made matter of notoriety, was

a pitch far above the flight of De Bracy's generosity. A middle

course betwixt good and evil was all which he found himself capable of

adopting, and he commanded two of his own squires to keep close by the

litter, and to suffer no one to approach it. If questioned, they were

directed by their master to say, that the empty litter of the Lady

Rowena was employed to transport one of their comrades who had been

wounded in the scuffle. On arriving at Torquilstone, while the Knight

Templar and the lord of that castle were each intent upon their own

schemes, the one on the Jew's treasure, and the other on his daughter,

De Bracy's squires conveyed Ivanhoe, still under the name of a wounded

comrade, to a distant apartment. This explanation was accordingly

returned by these men to Front-de-Boeuf, when he questioned them why

they did not make for the battlements upon the alarm.

" A wounded companion! " he replied in great wrath and astonishment. " No

wonder that churls and yeomen wax so presumptuous as even to lay leaguer

before castles, and that clowns and swineherds send defiances to nobles,

since men-at-arms have turned sick men's nurses, and Free Companions are

grown keepers of dying folk's curtains, when the castle is about to be

assailed. --To the battlements, ye loitering villains! " he exclaimed,

raising his stentorian voice till the arches around rung again, " to the

battlements, or I will splinter your bones with this truncheon! "

The men sulkily replied, " that they desired nothing better than to go to

the battlements, providing Front-de-Boeuf would bear them out with their

master, who had commanded them to tend the dying man. "

" The dying man, knaves! " rejoined the Baron; " I promise thee we shall

all be dying men an we stand not to it the more stoutly. But I

will relieve the guard upon this caitiff companion of yours. --Here,

Urfried--hag--fiend of a Saxon witch--hearest me not? --tend me this

bedridden fellow since he must needs be tended, whilst these knaves

use their weapons. --Here be two arblasts, comrades, with windlaces and

quarrells [34]--to the barbican with you, and see you drive each bolt

through a Saxon brain. "

The men, who, like most of their description, were fond of enterprise

and detested inaction, went joyfully to the scene of danger as they were

commanded, and thus the charge of Ivanhoe was transferred to Urfried,

or Ulrica. But she, whose brain was burning with remembrance of injuries

and with hopes of vengeance, was readily induced to devolve upon Rebecca

the care of her patient.

CHAPTER XXIX

Ascend the watch-tower yonder, valiant soldier,

Look on the field, and say how goes the battle.

--Schiller's Maid of Orleans

A moment of peril is often also a moment of open-hearted kindness and

affection. We are thrown off our guard by the general agitation of our

feelings, and betray the intensity of those, which, at more tranquil

periods, our prudence at least conceals, if it cannot altogether

suppress them. In finding herself once more by the side of Ivanhoe,

Rebecca was astonished at the keen sensation of pleasure which she

experienced, even at a time when all around them both was danger, if not

despair. As she felt his pulse, and enquired after his health, there was

a softness in her touch and in her accents implying a kinder interest

than she would herself have been pleased to have voluntarily expressed.

Her voice faltered and her hand trembled, and it was only the cold

question of Ivanhoe, " Is it you, gentle maiden? " which recalled her to

herself, and reminded her the sensations which she felt were not and

could not be mutual. A sigh escaped, but it was scarce audible; and the

questions which she asked the knight concerning his state of health were

put in the tone of calm friendship. Ivanhoe answered her hastily that

he was, in point of health, as well, and better than he could have

expected--" Thanks, " he said, " dear Rebecca, to thy helpful skill. "

" He calls me DEAR Rebecca, " said the maiden to herself, " but it is in

the cold and careless tone which ill suits the word. His war-horse--his

hunting hound, are dearer to him than the despised Jewess! "

" My mind, gentle maiden, " continued Ivanhoe, " is more disturbed by

anxiety, than my body with pain. From the speeches of those men who

were my warders just now, I learn that I am a prisoner, and, if I judge

aright of the loud hoarse voice which even now dispatched them hence

on some military duty, I am in the castle of Front-de-Boeuf--If so, how

will this end, or how can I protect Rowena and my father? "

" He names not the Jew or Jewess, " said Rebecca internally; " yet what is

our portion in him, and how justly am I punished by Heaven for

letting my thoughts dwell upon him! " She hastened after this brief

self-accusation to give Ivanhoe what information she could; but it

amounted only to this, that the Templar Bois-Guilbert, and the

Baron Front-de-Boeuf, were commanders within the castle; that it was

beleaguered from without, but by whom she knew not. She added, that

there was a Christian priest within the castle who might be possessed of

more information.

" A Christian priest! " said the knight, joyfully; " fetch him hither,

Rebecca, if thou canst--say a sick man desires his ghostly counsel--say

what thou wilt, but bring him--something I must do or attempt, but how

can I determine until I know how matters stand without? "

Rebecca in compliance with the wishes of Ivanhoe, made that attempt to

bring Cedric into the wounded Knight's chamber, which was defeated as we

have already seen by the interference of Urfried, who had also been on

the watch to intercept the supposed monk. Rebecca retired to communicate

to Ivanhoe the result of her errand.

They had not much leisure to regret the failure of this source of

intelligence, or to contrive by what means it might be supplied; for the

noise within the castle, occasioned by the defensive preparations which

had been considerable for some time, now increased into tenfold bustle

and clamour. The heavy, yet hasty step of the men-at-arms, traversed the

battlements or resounded on the narrow and winding passages and stairs

which led to the various bartisans and points of defence. The voices of

the knights were heard, animating their followers, or directing means

of defence, while their commands were often drowned in the clashing of

armour, or the clamorous shouts of those whom they addressed. Tremendous

as these sounds were, and yet more terrible from the awful event which

they presaged, there was a sublimity mixed with them, which Rebecca's

high-toned mind could feel even in that moment of terror. Her eye

kindled, although the blood fled from her cheeks; and there was a

strong mixture of fear, and of a thrilling sense of the sublime, as she

repeated, half whispering to herself, half speaking to her companion,

the sacred text, --" The quiver rattleth--the glittering spear and the

shield--the noise of the captains and the shouting! "

But Ivanhoe was like the war-horse of that sublime passage, glowing with

impatience at his inactivity, and with his ardent desire to mingle in

the affray of which these sounds were the introduction. " If I could

but drag myself, " he said, " to yonder window, that I might see how

this brave game is like to go--If I had but bow to shoot a shaft, or

battle-axe to strike were it but a single blow for our deliverance! --It

is in vain--it is in vain--I am alike nerveless and weaponless! "

" Fret not thyself, noble knight, " answered Rebecca, " the sounds have

ceased of a sudden--it may be they join not battle. "

" Thou knowest nought of it, " said Wilfred, impatiently; " this dead pause

only shows that the men are at their posts on the walls, and expecting

an instant attack; what we have heard was but the instant muttering of

the storm--it will burst anon in all its fury. --Could I but reach yonder

window! "

" Thou wilt but injure thyself by the attempt, noble knight, " replied his

attendant. Observing his extreme solicitude, she firmly added, " I myself

will stand at the lattice, and describe to you as I can what passes

without. "

" You must not--you shall not! " exclaimed Ivanhoe; " each lattice, each

aperture, will be soon a mark for the archers; some random shaft--"

" It shall be welcome! " murmured Rebecca, as with firm pace she ascended

two or three steps, which led to the window of which they spoke.

" Rebecca, dear Rebecca! " exclaimed Ivanhoe, " this is no maiden's

pastime--do not expose thyself to wounds and death, and render me for

ever miserable for having given the occasion; at least, cover thyself

with yonder ancient buckler, and show as little of your person at the

lattice as may be. "

Following with wonderful promptitude the directions of Ivanhoe, and

availing herself of the protection of the large ancient shield, which

she placed against the lower part of the window, Rebecca, with tolerable

security to herself, could witness part of what was passing without the

castle, and report to Ivanhoe the preparations which the assailants were

making for the storm. Indeed the situation which she thus obtained was

peculiarly favourable for this purpose, because, being placed on an

angle of the main building, Rebecca could not only see what passed

beyond the precincts of the castle, but also commanded a view of the

outwork likely to be the first object of the meditated assault. It was

an exterior fortification of no great height or strength, intended

to protect the postern-gate, through which Cedric had been recently

dismissed by Front-de-Boeuf. The castle moat divided this species of

barbican from the rest of the fortress, so that, in case of its being

taken, it was easy to cut off the communication with the main building,

by withdrawing the temporary bridge. In the outwork was a sallyport

corresponding to the postern of the castle, and the whole was surrounded

by a strong palisade. Rebecca could observe, from the number of men

placed for the defence of this post, that the besieged entertained

apprehensions for its safety; and from the mustering of the assailants

in a direction nearly opposite to the outwork, it seemed no less plain

that it had been selected as a vulnerable point of attack.

These appearances she hastily communicated to Ivanhoe, and added, " The

skirts of the wood seem lined with archers, although only a few are

advanced from its dark shadow. "

" Under what banner? " asked Ivanhoe.

" Under no ensign of war which I can observe, " answered Rebecca.

" A singular novelty, " muttered the knight, " to advance to storm such a

castle without pennon or banner displayed! --Seest thou who they be that

act as leaders? "

" A knight, clad in sable armour, is the most conspicuous, " said the

Jewess; " he alone is armed from head to heel, and seems to assume the

direction of all around him. "

" What device does he bear on his shield? " replied Ivanhoe.

" Something resembling a bar of iron, and a padlock painted blue on the

black shield. " [35]

" A fetterlock and shacklebolt azure, " said Ivanhoe; " I know not who may

bear the device, but well I ween it might now be mine own. Canst thou

not see the motto? "

" Scarce the device itself at this distance, " replied Rebecca; " but when

the sun glances fair upon his shield, it shows as I tell you. "

" Seem there no other leaders? " exclaimed the anxious enquirer.

" None of mark and distinction that I can behold from this station, " said

Rebecca; " but, doubtless, the other side of the castle is also assailed.

They appear even now preparing to advance--God of Zion, protect

us! --What a dreadful sight! --Those who advance first bear huge shields

and defences made of plank; the others follow, bending their bows

as they come on. --They raise their bows! --God of Moses, forgive the

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