第71章

``HehathsincecometoEngland，unexpectedbyhisbrethren，’’saidBenIsrael；``andhecomethamongthemwithastrongandoutstretchedarmtocorrectandtopunish。Hiscountenanceiskindledinangeragainstthosewhohavedepartedfromthevowwhichtheyhavemade，andgreatisthefearofthosesonsofBelial。Thoumusthaveheardofhisname?’’

``Itiswellknownuntome，’’saidIsaac；``theGentilesdeliverthisLucasBeaumanoirasamanzealoustoslayingforeverypointoftheNazarenelaw；andourbrethrenhavetermedhimafiercedestroyeroftheSaracens，andacrueltyranttotheChildrenofthePromise。’’

``Andtrulyhavetheytermedhim，’’saidNathanthephysician。``OtherTemplarsmaybemovedfromthepurposeoftheirheartbypleasure，orbribedbypromiseofgoldandsilver；butBeaumanoirisofadifferentstamp——hatingsensuality，despisingtreasure，andpressingforwardtothatwhichtheycallthecrownofmartyrdom——TheGodofJacobspeedilysendituntohim，anduntothemall！SpeciallyhaththisproudmanextendedhisgloveoverthechildrenofJudah，asholyDavidoverEdom，holdingthemurderofaJewtobeallofferingofassweetsavourasthedeathofaSaracen。

Impiousandfalsethingshashesaidevenofthevirtuesofourmedicines，asiftheywerethedevicesofSatan——TheLordrebukehim！’’

``Nevertheless，’’saidIsaac，``ImustpresentmyselfatTemplestowe，thoughhehathmadehisfacelikeuntoafieryfurnaceseventimesheated。’’

HethenexplainedtoNathanthepressingcauseofhisjourney。TheRabbilistenedwithinterest，andtestifiedhissympathyafterthefashionofhispeople，rendinghisclothes，andsaying，``Ah，mydaughter！——ah，mydaughter！——Alas！forthebeautyofZion！——Alas！forthecaptivityofIsrael！’’

``Thouseest，’’saidIsaac，``howitstandswithme，andthatImaynottarry。Peradventure，thepresenceofthisLucasBeaumanoir，beingthechiefmanoverthem，mayturnBriandeBois-Guilbertfromtheillwhichhedothmeditate，andthathemaydelivertomemybeloveddaughterRebecca。’’

``Gothou，’’saidNathanBenIsrael，``andbewise，forwisdomavailedDanielinthedenoflionsintowhichhewascast；andmayitgowellwiththee，evenasthineheartwisheth。Yet，ifthoucanst，keeptheefromthepresenceoftheGrandMaster，fortodofoulscorntoourpeopleishismorningandeveningdelight。ItmaybeifthoucouldstspeakwithBois-Guilbertinprivate，thoushaltthebetterprevailwithhim；formensaythattheseaccursedNazarenesarenotofonemindinthePreceptory——

Maytheircounselsbeconfoundedandbroughttoshame！Butdothou，brother，returntomeasifitweretothehouseofthyfather，andbringmewordhowithasspedwiththee；andwelldoIhopethouwiltbringwiththeeRebecca，eventhescholarofthewiseMiriam，whosecurestheGentilesslanderedasiftheyhadbeenwroughtbynecromancy。’’

Isaacaccordinglybadehisfriendfarewell，andaboutanhour’sridingbroughthimbeforethePreceptoryofTemplestowe。

ThisestablishmentoftheTemplarswasseatedamidstfairmeadowsandpastures，whichthedevotionoftheformerPreceptorhadbestowedupontheirOrder。Itwasstrongandwellfortified，apointneverneglectedbytheseknights，andwhichthedisorderedstateofEnglandrenderedpeculiarlynecessary。Twohalberdiers，cladinblack，guardedthedrawbridge，andothers，inthesamesadlivery，glidedtoandfrouponthewallswithafunerealpace，resemblingspectresmorethansoldiers。TheinferiorofficersoftheOrderwerethusdressed，eversincetheiruseofwhitegarments，similartothoseoftheknightsandesquires，hadgivenrisetoacombinationofcertainfalsebrethreninthemountainsofPalestine，termingthemselvesTemplars，andbringinggreatdish