第63章

``Andsome，’’saidWamba，``havebeenwiseenoughtorewardthemselves；theydonotmarchoffempty-handedaltogether。Wedonotallwearmotley。’’

``Theyarewelcome，’’saidLocksley；``ourlawsbindnonebutourselves。’’

``But，thou，mypoorknave，’’saidCedric，turningaboutandembracinghisJester，``howshallI

rewardthee，whofearednottogivethybodytochainsanddeathinsteadofmine！——Allforsookme，whenthepoorfoolwasfaithful！’’

AtearstoodintheeyeoftheroughThaneashespoke——amarkoffeelingwhicheventhedeathofAthelstanehadnotextracted；buttherewassomethinginthehalf-instinctiveattachmentofhisclown，thatwakedhisnaturemorekeenlythanevengriefitself。

``Nay，’’saidtheJester，extricatinghimselffrommaster’scaress，``ifyoupaymyservicewiththewaterofyoureye，theJestermustweepforcompany，andthenwhatbecomesofhisvocation?——

But，uncle，ifyouwouldindeedpleasureme，I

prayyoutopardonmyplayfellowGurth，whostoleaweekfromyourservicetobestowitonyourson。’’

``Pardonhim！’’exclaimedCedric；``Iwillbothpardonandrewardhim——Kneeldown，Gurth。’’——

Theswineherdwasinaninstantathismaster’sfeet——``=Theow=and=Esne=*artthounolonger，’’

*Thrallandbondsman。

saidCedrictouchinghimwithawand；``=Folkfree=

and=Sacless=*artthouintownandfrom*Alawfulfreeman。

town，intheforestasinthefield。AhideoflandIgivetotheeinmysteadsofWalbrugham，frommeandminetotheeandthineayeandforever；

andGod’smalisononhisheadwhothisgainsays！’’

Nolongeraserf，butafreemanandalandholder，Gurthsprunguponhisfeet，andtwiceboundedalofttoalmosthisownheightfromtheground。

``Asmithandafile，’’hecried，``todoawaythecollarfromtheneckofafreeman！——Noblemaster！

doubledismystrengthbyyourgift，anddoublywillIfightforyou！——Thereisafreespiritinmybreast——Iamamanchangedtomyselfandallaround——Ha，Fangs！’’hecontinued，——forthatfaithfulcur，seeinghismasterthustransported，begantojumpuponhim，toexpresshissympathy，——

``knowestthouthymasterstill?’’

``Ay，’’saidWamba，``FangsandIstillknowthee，Gurth，thoughwemustneedsabidebythecollar；itisonlythouartlikelytoforgetbothusandthyself。’’

``IshallforgetmyselfindeedereIforgetthee，truecomrade，’’saidGurth；``andwerefreedomfitforthee，Wamba，themasterwouldnotlettheewantit。’’

``Nay，’’saidWamba，``neverthinkIenvythee，brotherGurth；theserfsitsbythehall-firewhenthefreemanmustforthtothefieldofbattle——AndwhatsaithOldhelmofMalmsbury——Betterafoolatafeastthanawisemanatafray。’’

Thetrampofhorseswasnowheard，andtheLadyRowenaappeared，surroundedbyseveralriders，andamuchstrongerpartyoffootmen，whojoyfullyshooktheirpikesandclashedtheirbrown-billsforjoyofherfreedom。Sheherself，richlyattired，andmountedonadarkchestnutpalfrey，hadrecoveredallthedignityofhermanner，andonlyanunwonteddegreeofpalenessshowedthesufferingsshehadundergone。Herlovelybrow，thoughsorrowful，boreonitacastofrevivinghopeforthefuture，aswellasofgratefulthankfulnessforthepastdeliverance——SheknewthatIvanhoewassafe，andsheknewthatAthelstanewasdead。Theformerassurancefilledherwiththemostsinceredelight；andifshedidnotabsolutelyrejoiceatthelatter，shemightbepardonedforfeelingthefulladvantageofbeingfreedfromfurtherpersecutionontheonlysubjectinwhichshehadeverbeencontradictedbyherguardianCedric。

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