第57章

``Ourfriends，’’saidWilfred，``willsurelynotabandonanenterprisesogloriouslybegunandsohappilyattained——Ono！Iwillputmyfaithinthegoodknightwhoseaxehathrentheart-of-oakandbarsofiron——Singular，’’heagainmutteredtohimself，``iftherebetwowhocandoadeedofsuch_derring-do！_*——afetterlock，andashacklebolton*_Derring-do_——desperatecourage。

afieldsable——whatmaythatmean?——seestthounoughtelse，Rebecca，bywhichtheBlackKnightmaybedistinguished?’’

``Nothing，’’saidtheJewess；``allabouthimisblackasthewingofthenightraven。NothingcanIspythatcanmarkhimfurther——buthavingonceseenhimputforthhisstrengthinbattle，methinksIcouldknowhimagainamongathousandwarriors。

Herushestothefrayasifheweresummonedtoabanquet。Thereismorethanmerestrength，thereseemsasifthewholesoulandspiritofthechampionweregiventoeveryblowwhichhedealsuponhisenemies。Godassoilziehimofthesinofbloodshed！——itisfearful，yetmagnificent，tobeholdbowthearmandheartofonemancantriumphoverhundreds。’’

``Rebecca，’’saidIvanhoe，``thouhastpaintedahero；surelytheyrestbuttorefreshtheirforce，ortoprovidethemeansofcrossingthemoat——Undersuchaleaderasthouhastspokenthisknighttobe，therearenocravenfears，nocold-bloodeddelays，noyieldingupagallantemprize；sincethedifficultieswhichrenderitarduousrenderitalsoglorious。

Iswearbythehonourofmyhouse——Ivowbythenameofmybrightlady-love，Iwouldenduretenyears’captivitytofightonedaybythatgoodknight’ssideinsuchaquarrelasthis！’’

``Alas，’’saidRebecca，leavingherstationatthewindow，andapproachingthecouchofthewoundedknight，``thisimpatientyearningafteraction——

thisstrugglingwithandrepiningatyourpresentweakness，willnotfailtoinjureyourreturninghealth——Howcouldstthouhopetoinflictwoundsonothers，erethatbehealedwhichthouthyselfhastreceived?’’

``Rebecca，’’hereplied，``thouknowestnothowimpossibleitisforonetrainedtoactionsofchivalrytoremainpassiveasapriest，orawoman，whentheyareactingdeedsofhonouraroundhim。

Theloveofbattleisthefooduponwhichwelive——thedustofthe_mle_isthebreathofournostrils！

Welivenot——wewishnottolive——longerthanwhilewearevictoriousandrenowned——Such，maiden，arethelawsofchivalrytowhichwearesworn，andtowhichweofferallthatweholddear。’’

``Alas！’’saidthefairJewess，``andwhatisit，valiantknight，saveanofferingofsacrificetoademonofvainglory，andapassingthroughthefiretoMoloch?——Whatremainstoyouastheprizeofallthebloodyouhavespilled——ofallthetravailandpainyouhaveendured——ofallthetearswhichyourdeedshavecaused，whendeathhathbrokenthestrongman’sspear，andovertakenthespeedofhiswar-horse?’’

``Whatremains?’’criedIvanhoe；``Glory，maiden，glory！whichgildsoursepulchreandembalmsourname。’’

``Glory?’’continuedRebecca；``alas，istherustedmailwhichhangsasahatchmentoverthechampion’sdimandmoulderingtomb——isthedefacedsculptureoftheinscriptionwhichtheignorantmonkcanhardlyreadtotheenquiringpilgrim——arethesesufficientrewa