第80章

``No，damsel！’’saidtheproudTemplar，springingup，``thoushaltnotthusimposeonme——ifI

renouncepresentfameandfutureambition，Irenounceitforthysake，andwewillescapeincompany。

Listentome，Rebecca，’’hesaid，againsofteninghistone；``England，——Europe，——isnottheworld。Therearespheresinwhichwemayact，ampleenoughevenformyambition。WewillgotoPalestine，whereConrade，MarquisofMontserrat，ismyfriend——afriendfreeasmyselffromthedotingscrupleswhichfetterourfree-bornreason——ratherwithSaladinwillweleagueourselves，thanendurethescornofthebigotswhomwecontemn——

Iwillformnewpathstogreatness，’’hecontinued，againtraversingtheroomwithhastystrides——``Europeshallheartheloudstepofhimshehasdrivenfromhersons！——Notthemillionswhomhercrusaderssendtoslaughter，candosomuchtodefendPalestine——notthesabresofthethousandsandtenthousandsofSaracenscanhewtheirwaysodeepintothatlandforwhichnationsarestriving，asthestrengthandpolicyofmeandthosebrethren，who，indespiteofyonderoldbigot，willadheretomeingoodandevil。Thoushaltbeaqueen，Rebecca——onMountCarmelshallwepitchthethronewhichmyvalourwillgainforyou，andIwillexchangemylong-desiredbatoonforasceptre！’’

``Adream，’’saidRebecca；``anemptyvisionofthenight，which，wereitawakingreality，affectsmenot。Enough，thatthepowerwhichthoumightestacquire，Iwillnevershare；norholdIsolightofcountryorreligiousfaith，astoesteemhimwhoiswillingtobartertheseties，andcastawaythebondsoftheOrderofwhichheisaswornmember，inordertogratifyanunrulypassionforthedaughterofanotherpeople——Putnotapriceonmydeliverance，SirKnight——sellnotadeedofgenerosity——protecttheoppressedforthesakeofcharity，andnotforaselfishadvantage——GotothethroneofEngland；Richardwilllistentomyappealfromthesecruelmen。’’

``Never，Rebecca！’’saidtheTemplar，fiercely。

``IfIrenouncemyOrder，fortheealonewillIrenounceit——Ambitionshallremainmine，ifthourefusemylove；Iwillnotbefooledonallhands——

StoopmycresttoRichard?——askaboonofthatheartofpride?——Never，Rebecca，willIplacetheOrderoftheTempleathisfeetinmyperson。I

mayforsaketheOrder，Ineverwilldegradeorbetrayit。’’

``NowGodbegracioustome，’’saidRebecca，``forthesuccourofmaniswellnighhopeless！’’

``Itisindeed，’’saidtheTemplar；``for，proudasthouart，thouhastinmefoundthymatch。IfIenterthelistswithmyspearinrest，thinknotanyhumanconsiderationshallpreventmyputtingforthmystrength；andthinkthenuponthineownfate——todiethedreadfuldeathoftheworstofcriminals——tobeconsumeduponablazingpile——dispersedtotheelementsofwhichourstrangeformsaresomysticallycomposed——notarelicleftofthatgracefulframe，fromwhichwecouldsaythislivedandmoved！——Rebecca，itisnotinwomantosustainthisprospect——thouwiltyieldtomysuit。’’

``Bois-Guilbert，’’answeredtheJewess，``thouknowestnottheheartofwoman，orhastonlyconversedwiththosewhoarelosttoherbestfeelings。

Itellthee，proudTemplar，thatnotinthyfiercestbattleshastthoudisplayedmoreofthyvauntedcourage，thanhasbeenshownbywomanwhencalledupontosufferbyaffectionorduty。Iammyselfawoman，tenderlynurtured，naturallyfearfulofdanger，andimpatientofpain——yet，whenweenter