Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott

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This stern measure Cedric had adopted, in hopes
that, during Wilfred's absence, Rowena might relinquish
her preference, but in this hope he was
disappointed; a disappointment which might be
attributed in part to the mode in which his ward
had been educated. Cedric, to whom the name of
Alfred was as that of a deity, had treated the sole
remaining scion of that great monarch with a degree
of observance, such as, perhaps, was in those
days scarce paid to an acknowledged princess.
Rowena's will had been in almost all cases a law
to his household; and Cedric himself, as if determined
that her sovereignty should be fully acknowledged
within that little circle at least, seemed to
take a pride in acting as the first of her subjects.
Thus trained in the exercise not only of free will,
but despotic authority, Rowena was, by her previous
education, disposed both to resist and to resent
any attempt to control her affections, or dispose
of her hand contrary to her inclinations, and to assert
her independence in a case in which even those
females who have been trained up to obedience and
subjection, are not infrequently apt to dispute the
authority of guardians and parents. The opinions
which she felt strongly, she avowed boldly; and
Cedric, who could not free himself from his habitual
deference to her opinions, felt totally at a loss
how to enforce his authority of guardian.

It was in vain that he attempted to dazzle her
with the prospect of a visionary throne. Rowena,
who possessed strong sense, neither considered his
plan as practicable, nor as desirable, so far as she
was concerned, could it have been achieved. Without
attempting to conceal her avowed preference of
Wilfred of Ivanhoe, she declared that, were that
favoured knight out of question, she would rather
take refuge in a convent, than share a throne with
Athelstane, whom, having always despised, she
now began, on account of the trouble she received
on his account, thoroughly to detest.

Nevertheless, Cedric, whose opinions of women's
constancy was far from strong, persisted in using
every means in his power to bring about the proposed
match, in which he conceived he was rendering
an important service to the Saxon cause. The
sudden and romantic appearance of his son in the
lists at Ashby, he had justly regarded as almost a
death's blow to his hopes. His paternal affection,
it is true, had for an instant gained the victory over
pride and patriotism; but both had returned in full
force, and under their joint operation, he was now
bent upon making a determined effort for the
union of Athelstane and Rowena, together with
expediting those other measures which seemed necessary
to forward the restoration of Saxon independence.

On this last subject, he was now labouring with
Athelstane, not without having reason, every now
and then, to lament, like Hotspur, that he should
have moved such a dish of skimmed milk to so honourable
an action. Athelstane, it is true, was vain
enough, and loved to have his ears tickled with
tales of his high descent, and of his right by inheritance
to homage and sovereignty. But his petty
vanity was sufficiently gratified by receiving this
homage at the hands of his immediate attendants,
and of the Saxons who approached him. If he had
the courage to encounter danger, he at least hated
the trouble of going to seek it; and while he agreed
in the general principles laid down by Cedric concerning
the claim of the Saxons to independence,
and was still more easily convinced of his own title
to reign over them when that independence should
be attained, yet when the means of asserting these
rights came to be discussed, he was still ``Athelstane
the Unready,'' slow, irresolute, procrastinating,
and unenterprising. The warm and impassioned
exhortations of Cedric had as little effect upon
his impassive temper, as red-hot balls alighting in
the water, which produce a little sound and smoke,
and are instantly extinguished.

If, leaving this task, which might be compared
to spurring a tired jade, or to hammering upon cold
iron, Cedric fell back to his ward Rowena, he received
little more satisfaction from conferring with
her. For, as his presence interrupted the discourse
between the lady and her favourite attendant upon
the gallantry and fate of Wilfred, Elgitha, failed not
to revenge both her mistress and herself, by recurring
to the overthrow of Athelstane in the lists, the
most disagreeable subject which could greet the ears
of Cedric. To this sturdy Saxon, therefore, the
day's journey was fraught with all manner of displeasure
and discomfort; so that he more than once
internally cursed the tournament, and him who had
proclaimed it, together with his own folly in ever
thinking of going thither.

At noon, upon the motion of Athelstane, the
travellers paused in a woodland shade by a fountain,
to repose their horses and partake of some
provisions, with which the hospitable Abbot had
loaded a sumpter mule. Their repast was a pretty
long one; and these several interruptions rendered
it impossible for them to hope to reach Rotherwood
without travelling all night, a conviction
which induced them to proceed on their way at a
more hasty pace than they had hitherto used.

CHAPTER XIX

A train of armed men, some noble dame
Escorting, (so their scatter'd words discover'd,
As unperceived I hung upon their rear,)
Are close at hand, and mean to pass the night
Within the castle.
_Orra, a Tragedy._

The travellers had now reached the verge of the
wooded country, and were about to plunge into its
recesses, held dangerous at that time from the number
of outlaws whom oppression and poverty had
driven to despair, and who occupied the forests in
such large bands as could easily bid defiance to the
feeble police of the period. From these rovers,
however, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour
Cedric and Athelstane accounted themselves secure,
as they had in attendance ten servants, besides
Wamba and Gurth, whose aid could not be
counted upon, the one being a jester and the other
a captive. It may be added, that in travelling thus
late through the forest, Cedric and Athelstane relied
on their descent and character, as well as their
courage. The outlaws, whom the severity of the
forest laws had reduced to this roving and desperate
mode of life, were chiefly peasants and yeomen
of Saxon descent, and were generally supposed to
respect the persons and property of their countrymen.

As the travellers journeyed on their way, they
were alarmed by repeated cries for assistance; and
when they rode up to the place from whence they
came, they were surprised to find a horse-litter
placed upon the ground, beside which sat a young
woman, richly dressed in the Jewish fashion, while
an old man, whose yellow cap proclaimed him to
belong to the same nation, walked up and down
with gestures expressive of the deepest despair,
and wrung his hands, as if affected by some strange
disaster.

To the enquiries of Athelstane and Cedric, the
old Jew could for some time only answer by invoking
the protection of all the patriarchs of the Old
Testament successively against the sons of Ishmael,
who were coming to smite them, hip and thigh,
with the edge of the sword. When he began to
come to himself out of this agony of terror, Isaac
of York (for it was our old friend) was at length
able to explain, that he had hired a body-guard of
six men at Ashby, together with mules for carrying
the litter of a sick friend. This party had undertaken
to escort him as far as Doncaster. They
had come thus far in safety; but having received
information from a wood-cutter that there was a
strong band of outlaws lying in wait in the woods
before them, Isaac's mercenaries had not only taken
flight, but had carried off with them the horses
which bore the litter and left the Jew and his daughter
without the means either of defence or of retreat,
to be plundered, and probably murdered, by
the banditti, who they expected every moment
would bring down upon them. ``Would it but please
your valours,'' added Isaac, in a tone of deep humiliation,
``to permit the poor Jews to travel under
your safeguard, I swear by the tables of our law,
that never has favour been conferred upon a child
of Israel since the days of our captivity, which shall
be more gratefully acknowledged.''
``Dog of a Jew!'' said Athelstane, whose memory
was of that petty kind which stores up trifles
of all kinds, but particularly trifling offences, ``dost
not remember how thou didst beard us in the gallery
at the tilt-yard? Fight or flee, or compound
with the outlaws as thou dost list, ask neither aid
nor company from us; and if they rob only such as
thee, who rob all the world, I, for mine own share,
shall hold them right honest folk.''

Cedric did not assent to the severe proposal of
his companion. ``We shall do better,'' said be, ``to
leave them two of our attendants and two horses to
convey them back to the next village. It will diminish
our strength but little; and with your good
sword, noble Athelstane, and the aid of those who
remain, it will be light work for us to face twenty
of those runagates.''

Rowena, somewhat alarmed by the mention of
outlaws in force, and so near them, strongly seconded
the proposal of her guardian. But Rebecca
suddenly quitting her dejected posture, and making
her way through the attendants to the palfrey of
the Saxon lady, knelt down, and, after the Oriental
fashion in addressing superiors, kissed the hem
of Rowena's garment. Then rising, and throwing
back her veil, she implored her in the great name
of the God whom they both worshipped, and by
that revelation of the Law upon Mount Sinai, in
which they both believed, that she would have compassion
upon them, and suffer them to go forward
under their safeguard. ``It is not for myself that
I pray this favour,'' said Rebecca; ``nor is it even
for that poor old man. I know, that to wrong and
to spoil our nation is a light fault, if not a merit,
with the Christians; and what is it to us whether
it be done in the city, in the desert, or in the field?
But it is in the name of one dear to many, and dear
even to you, that I beseech you to let this sick person
be transported with care and tenderness under
your protection. For, if evil chance him, the last
moment of your life would be embittered with regret
for denying that which I ask of you.''

The noble and solemn air with which Rebecca
made this appeal, gave it double weight with the
fair Saxon.

``The man is old and feeble,'' she said to her
guardian, ``the maiden young and beautiful, their
friend sick and in peril of his life---Jews though
they be, we cannot as Christians leave them in this
extremity. Let them unload two of the sumpter-mules,
and put the baggage behind two of the serfs.
The mules may transport the litter, and we have
led horses for the old man and his daughter.''

Cedric readily assented to what she proposed,
and Athelstane only added the condition, ``that
they should travel in the rear of the whole party,
where Wamba,'' he said, ``might attend them with
his shield of boar's brawn.''

``I have left my shield in the tilt-yard,'' answered
the Jester, ``as has been the fate of many a better
knight than myself.''

Athelstane coloured deeply, for such had been
his own fate on the last day of the tournament;
while Rowena, who was pleased in the same proportion,
as if to make amends for the brutal jest of
her unfeeling suitor, requested Rebecca to ride by
her side.

``It were not fit I should do so,'' answered Rebecca,
with proud humility, ``where my society
might be held a disgrace to my protectress.''

By this time the change of baggage was hastily
achieved; for the single word ``outlaws'' rendered
every one sufficiently alert, and the approach of
twilight made the sound yet more impressive.
Amid the bustle, Gurth was taken from horseback,
in the course of which removal he prevailed upon
the Jester to slack the cord with which his arms
were bound. It was so negligently refastened, perhaps
intentionally, on the part of Wamba, that
Gurth found no difficulty in freeing his arms altogether
from bondage, and then, gliding into the
thicket, he made his escape from the party.

The bustle had been considerable, and it was
some time before Gurth was missed; for, as he was
to be placed for the rest of the journey behind a
servant, every one supposed that some other of his
companions had him under his custody, and when
it began to be whispered among them that Gurth
had actually disappeared, they were under such immediate
expectation of an attack from the outlaws,
that it was not held convenient to pay much attention
to the circumstance.

The path upon which the party travelled was
now so narrow, as not to admit, with any sort of
convenience, above two riders abreast, and began
to descend into a dingle, traversed by a brook whose
banks were broken, swampy, and overgrown with
dwarf willows. Cedric and Athelstane, who were
at the head of their retinue, saw the risk of being
attacked at this pass; but neither of them having
had much practice in war, no better mode of preventing
the danger occurred to them than that they
should hasten through the defile as fast as possible.
Advancing, therefore, without much order, they
had just crossed the brook with a part of their followers,
when they were assailed in front, flank, and
rear at once, with an impetuosity to which, in their
confused and ill-prepared condition, it was impossible
to offer effectual resistance. The shout of ``A
white dragon!---a white dragon!---Saint George
for merry England!'' war-cries adopted by the assailants,
as belonging to their assumed character of
Saxon outlaws, was heard on every side, and on
every side enemies appeared with a rapidity of advance
and attack which seemed to multiply their
numbers.

Both the Saxon chiefs were made prisoners at
the same moment, and each under circumstances
expressive of his character. Cedric, the instant that
an enemy appeared, launched at him his remaining
javelin, which, taking better effect than that which
he had hurled at Fangs, nailed the man against an
oak-tree that happened to be close behind him.
Thus far successful, Cedric spurred his horse against
a second, drawing his sword at the same time, and
striking with such inconsiderate fury, that his weapon
encountered a thick branch which hung over
him, and he was disarmed by the violence of his
own blow. He was instantly made prisoner, and
pulled from his horse by two or three of the banditti
who crowded around him. Athelstane shared
his captivity, his bridle having been seized, and he
himself forcibly dismounted, long before he could
draw his weapon, or assume any posture of effectual
defence.

The attendants, embarrassed with baggage, surprised
and terrified at the fate of their masters, fell
an easy prey to the assailants; while the Lady
Rowena, in the centre of the cavalcade, and the
Jew and his daughter in the rear, experienced the
same misfortune.

Of all the train none escaped except Wamba,
who showed upon the occasion much more courage
than those who pretended to greater sense. He
possessed himself of a sword belonging to one of
the domestics, who was just drawing it with a tardy
and irresolute hand, laid it about him like a lion,
drove back several who approached him, and made
a brave though ineffectual attempt to succour his
master. Finding himself overpowered, the Jester
at length threw himself from his horse, plunged
into the thicket, and, favoured by the general confusion,
escaped from the scene of action.
Yet the valiant Jester, as soon as he found himself
safe, hesitated more than once whether he
should not turn back and share the captivity of a
master to whom he was sincerely attached.

``I have heard men talk of the blessings of freedom,''
he said to himself, ``but I wish any wise man
would teach me what use to make of it now that I
have it.''

As he pronounced these words aloud, a voice
very near him called out in a low and cautious tone,
``Wamba!'' and, at the same time, a dog, which
be recognised to be Fangs, jumped up and fawned
upon him. ``Gurth!'' answered Wamba, with the
same caution, and the swineherd immediately stood
before him.

``What is the matter?'' said he eagerly; ``what
mean these cries, and that clashing of swords?''

``Only a trick of the times,'' said Wamba; ``they
are all prisoners.''

``Who are prisoners?'' exclaimed Gurth, impatiently.

``My lord, and my lady, and Athelstane, and
Hundibert, and Oswald.''

``In the name of God!'' said Gurth, ``how came
they prisoners?---and to whom?''

``Our master was too ready to fight,'' said the
Jester; ``and Athelstane was not ready enough,
and no other person was ready at all. And they
are prisoners to green cassocks, and black visors.
And they lie all tumbled about on the green, like
the crab-apples that you shake down to your swine.
And I would laugh at it,'' said the honest Jester,
``if I could for weeping.'' And he shed tears of
unfeigned sorrow.

Gurth's countenance kindled---``Wamba,'' he
said, ``thou hast a weapon, and thy heart was ever
stronger than thy brain,---we are only two---but a
sudden attack from men of resolution will do much
---follow me!''

``Whither?---and for what purpose?'' said the
Jester.

``To rescue Cedric.''

``But you have renounced his service but now,''
said Wamba.
``That,'' said Gurth, ``was but while he was fortunate---
follow me!''

As the Jester was about to obey, a third person
suddenly made his appearance, and commanded
them both to halt. From his dress and arms,
Wamba would have conjectured him to be one of
those outlaws who had just assailed his master; but,
besides that he wore no mask, the glittering baldric
across his shoulder, with the rich bugle-horn which
it supported, as well as the calm and commanding
expression of his voice and manner, made him, notwithstanding
the twilight, recognise Locksley the
yeoman, who had been victorious, under such disadvantageous
circumstances, in the contest for the
prize of archery.

``What is the meaning of all this,'' said he, ``or
who is it that rifle, and ransom, and make prisoners,
in these forests?''

``You may look at their cassocks close by,'' said
Wamba, ``and see whether they be thy children's
coats or no---for they are as like thine own, as one
green pea-cod is to another.''

``I will learn that presently,'' answered Locksley;
``and I charge ye, on peril of your lives, not
to stir from the place where ye stand, until I have
returned. Obey me, and it shall be the better for
you and your masters.---Yet stay, I must render
myself as like these men as possible.''

So saying he unbuckled his baldric with the
bugle, took a feather from his cap, and gave them
to Wamba; then drew a vizard from his pouch,
and, repeating his charges to them to stand fast,
went to execute his purposes of reconnoitring.

``Shall we stand fast, Gurth?'' said Wamba;
``or shall we e'en give him leg-bail? In my foolish
mind, he had all the equipage of a thief too much
in readiness, to be himself a true man.''

``Let him be the devil,'' said Gurth, ``an he will.
We can be no worse of waiting his return. If he
belong to that party, he must already have given
them the alarm, and it will avail nothing either to
fight or fly. Besides, I have late experience, that
errant thieves are not the worst men in the world
to have to deal with.''

The yeoman returned in the course of a few
minutes.

``Friend Gurth,'' he said, ``I have mingled
among yon men, and have learnt to whom they belong,
and whither they are bound. There is, I think,
no chance that they will proceed to any actual
violence against their prisoners. For three men to
attempt them at this moment, were little else than
madness; for they are good men of war, and have,
as such, placed sentinels to give the alarm when
any one approaches. But I trust soon to gather
such a force, as may act in defiance of all their precautions;
you are both servants, and, as I think,
faithful servants, of Cedric the Saxon, the friend
of the rights of Englishmen. He shall not want
English hands to help him in this extremity. Come
then with me, until I gather more aid.''

So saying, he walked through the wood at a
great pace, followed by the jester and the swineherd.
It was not consistent with Wamba's humour
to travel long in silence.

``I think,'' said he, looking at the baldric and
bugle which he still carried, ``that I saw the arrow
shot which won this gay prize, and that not so long
since as Christmas.''

``And I,'' said Gurth, ``could take it on my
halidome, that I have heard the voice of the good
yeoman who won it, by night as well as by day,
and that the moon is not three days older since I
did so.''

``Mine honest friends,'' replied the yeoman,
``who, or what I am, is little to the present purpose;
should I free your master, you will have reason
to think me the best friend you have ever had
in your lives. And whether I am known by one
name or another---or whether I can draw a bow as
well or better than a cow-keeper, or whether it is
my pleasure to walk in sunshine or by moonlight,
are matters, which, as they do not concern you, so
neither need ye busy yourselves respecting them.''

``Our heads are in the lion's mouth,'' said Wamba,
in a whisper to Gurth, ``get them out how we
can.''

``Hush---be silent,'' said Gurth. ``Offend him not
by thy folly, and I trust sincerely that all will go well.''

CHAPTER XX

When autumn nights were long and drear,
And forest walks were dark and dim,
How sweetly on the pilgrim's ear
Was wont to steal the hermit's hymn

Devotion borrows Music's tone,
And Music took Devotion's wing;
And, like the bird that hails the sun,
They soar to heaven, and soaring sing.
_The Hermit of St Clement's Well._

It was after three hours' good walking that the
servants of Cedric, with their mysterious guide, arrived
at a small opening in the forest, in the centre
of which grew an oak-tree of enormous magnitude,
throwing its twisted branches in every direction.
Beneath this tree four or five yeomen lay
stretched on the ground, while another, as sentinel,
walked to and fro in the moonlight shade.

Upon hearing the sound of feet approaching,
the watch instantly gave the alarm, and the sleepers
as suddenly started up and bent their bows.
Six arrows placed on the string were pointed towards
the quarter from which the travellers approached,
when their guide, being recognised, was
welcomed with every token of respect and attachment,
and all signs and fears of a rough reception
at once subsided.

``Where is the Miller?'' was his first question.

``On the road towards Rotherham.''

``With how many?'' demanded the leader, for
such he seemed to be.

``With six men, and good hope of booty, if it
please St Nicholas.''

``Devoutly spoken,'' said Locksley; ``and where
is Allan-a-dale ?''

``Walked up towards the Watling-street, to
watch for the Prior of Jorvaulx.''

``That is well thought on also,'' replied the Captain;---
``and where is the Friar ?''

``In his cell.''

``Thither will I go,'' said Locksley. ``Disperse
and seek your companions. Collect what force you
can, for there's game afoot that must be hunted
hard, and will turn to bay. Meet me here by daybreak.
---And stay,'' he added, ``I have forgotten
what is most necessary of the whole---Two of you
take the road quickly towards Torquilstone, the
Castle of Front-de-Buf. A set of gallants, who
have been masquerading in such guise as our own,
are carrying a band of prisoners thither---Watch
them closely, for even if they reach the castle before
we collect our force, our honour is concerned
to punish them, and we will find means to do so.
Keep a close watch on them therefore; and dispatch
one of your comrades, the lightest of foot, to
bring the news of the yeomen thereabout.''

They promised implicit obedience, and departed
with alacrity on their different errands. In the
meanwhile, their leader and his two companions,
who now looked upon him with great respect, as
well as some fear, pursued their way to the Chapel
of Copmanhurst.

When they had reached the little moonlight
glade, having in front the reverend, though ruinous
chapel, and the rude hermitage, so well suited
to ascetic devotion, Wamba whispered to Gurth,
``If this be the habitation of a thief, it makes
good the old proverb, The nearer the church the
farther from God.---And by my cockscomb,'' he
added, ``I think it be even so---Hearken but to
the black sanctus which they are singing in the
hermitage!''

In fact the anchorite and his guest were performing,
at the full extent of their very powerful
lungs, an old drinking song, of which this was the
burden:---

``Come, trowl the brown bowl to me,
Bully boy, bully boy,
Come, trowl the brown bowl to me:
Ho! jolly Jenkin, I spy a knave in drinking,
Come, trowl the brown bowl to me.''

``Now, that is not ill sung,'' said Wamba, who
had thrown in a few of his own flourishes to help
out the chorus. ``But who, in the saint's name,
ever expected to have heard such a jolly chant
come from out a hermit's cell at midnight!''