第26章

``Front-de-BufmustpreparetorestorehisfiefofIvanhoe，’’saidDeBracy，who，havingdischargedhisparthonourablyinthetournament，hadlaidhisshieldandhelmetaside，andagainmingledwiththePrince’sretinue。

``Ay，’’answeredWaldemarFitzurse，``thisgallantislikelytoreclaimthecastleandmanorwhichRichardassignedtohim，andwhichyourHighness’sgenerosityhassincegiventoFront-de-Buf。’’

``Front-de-Buf，’’repliedJohn，``isamanmorewillingtoswallowthreemanorssuchasIvanhoe，thantodisgorgeoneofthem。Fortherest，sirs，I

hopenoneherewilldenymyrighttoconferthefiefsofthecrownuponthefaithfulfollowerswhoarearoundme，andreadytoperformtheusualmilitaryservice，intheroomofthosewhohavewanderedtoforeignCountries，andcanneitherrenderhomagenorservicewhencalledupon。’’

TheaudienceweretoomuchinterestedinthequestionnottopronouncethePrince’sassumedrightaltogetherindubitable。``AgenerousPrince！——

amostnobleLord，whothustakesuponhimselfthetaskofrewardinghisfaithfulfollowers！’’

Suchwerethewordswhichburstfromthetrain，expectantsallofthemofsimilargrantsattheexpenseofKingRichard’sfollowersandfavourites，ifindeedtheyhadnotasyetreceivedsuch。PriorAymeralsoassentedtothegeneralproposition，observing，however，``ThattheblessedJerusalemcouldnotindeedbetermedaforeigncountry。Shewas_communismater_——themotherofallChristians。

Buthesawnot，’’hedeclared，``howtheKnightofIvanhoecouldpleadanyadvantagefromthis，sincehe’’(thePrior)``wasassuredthatthecrusaders，underRichard，hadneverproceededmuchfartherthanAskalon，which，asalltheworldknew，wasatownofthePhilistines，andentitledtononeoftheprivilegesoftheHolyCity。’’

Waldemar，whosecuriosityhadledhimtowardstheplacewhereIvanhoehadfallentotheground，nowreturned。``Thegallant，’’saidhe，``islikelytogiveyourHighnesslittledisturbance，andtoleaveFront-de-Bufinthequietpossessionofhisgains——heisseverelywounded。’’

``Whateverbecomesofhim，’’saidPrinceJohn，``heisvictoroftheday；andwerehetenfoldourenemy，orthedevotedfriendofourbrother，whichisperhapsthesame，hiswoundsmustbelookedto——ourownphysicianshallattendhim。’’

AsternsmilecurledthePrince’slipashespoke。

WaldemarFitzursehastenedtoreply，thatIvanhoewasalreadyremovedfromthelists，andinthecustodyofhisfriends。

``Iwassomewhatafflicted，’’hesaid，``toseethegriefoftheQueenofLoveandBeauty，whosesovereigntyofadaythiseventhaschangedintomourning。

Iamnotamantobemovedbyawoman’slamentforherlover，butthissameLadyRowenasuppressedhersorrowwithsuchdignityofmanner，thatitcouldonlybediscoveredbyherfoldedhands，andhertearlesseye，whichtrembledasitremainedfixedonthelifelessformbeforeher。’’

``WhoisthisLadyRowena，’’saidPrinceJohn，``ofwhomwehaveheardsomuch?’’

``ASaxonheiressoflargepossessions，’’repliedthePriorAymer；``aroseofloveliness，andajewelofwealth；thefairestamongathousand，abundleofmyrrh，andaclusterofcamphire。’’

``Weshallcheerhersorrows，’’saidPrinceJohn，``andamendherblood，byweddinghertoaNorman。

Sheseemsaminor，andmustthereforebeatourroyaldisposalinmarriage——Howsaystthou，DeBracy?Whatthinkstthouofgainingfairlandsandlivings，byweddingaSaxon，afterthefashionofthefollowersoftheConqueror?’’

``Ifthelandsaretomyliking，mylord，’’answeredDeBracy，``itwillbehardtodispleasemewithabride；anddeeplywillIholdmyselfboundtoyourhighnessforagooddeed