"My father, I am as one doomed to die for that which my soul knoweth not-even for the crime of witchcraft. My father, if a strong man can be found to do battle for my cause with sword and spear, according to the custom of the Nazarenes,⑥ and that within the lists of Tem"plestowe, on the third day from this time, peradventure our fathers" God will give him strength to defend the innocent, and her who hath none to help her. But if this may not be, let the virgins of our people mourn for me as for one cast off, and for the hart that is stricken by the hunter, and for the flower which is cut down by the scythe of the mower. Wherefore, look now what thou doest, and whether there be any rescue.
"One Nazarene warrior might, indeed, bear arms in my behalf, even Wilfred, son of Ced"ric, whom the Gentiles call I"vanhoe. But he may not yet endure the weight of his armour. Nevertheless, send the tidings unto him, my father; for he hath favour among the strong men of his people, and as he was our companion in the house of bondage, he may find some one to do battle for my sake. And say unto him, even unto him, even unto Wilfred, the son of Cedric, that if Rebecca live, or if Rebecca die, she liveth or dieth wholly free of the guilt she is charged withal.
"And if it be the will of God that thou shalt be deprived of thy daughter, do not thou tarry, old man, in this land of bloodshed and cruelty; but betake thyself to Cordo"va,⑦ where thy brother liveth in safety, under the shadow of the throne, even of the throne of Boab"dil the Sar"acen: for less cruel are the cruelties of the Moors unto the race of Jacob than the cruelties of the Nazarenes of England."Isaac listened with tolerable composure while Ben Samuel read the letter, and then again resumed the gestures andexclamations of Oriental sorrow, tearing his garments, besprinkling his head with dust, and ejaculating, "My daughter! my daughter!""Yet," said the Rabbi, "take courage, for this grief availeth nothing. Seek out this Wilfred, the son of Cedric. It may be he will help thee with counsel or with strength; for the youth hath favour in the eyes of Richard, called of the Nazarenes the Lion-Heart, and the tidings that he hath returned are constant in the land. It may be that he may obtain his letter, and his signet, commanding these men of blood, who take their name from the Temple, to the dishonour thereof, that they proceed not in their purposed wickedness.""I will seek him out," said Isaac; "for he is a good youth, and hath compassion for the exile of Jacob. But he cannot bear his armour, and what other Christian shall do battle for the oppressed of Zion?"- SIR W. SCOTTWORDSavaileth, profiteth. bondage, slavery. challenged, claimed. companion, associate. compassion, pity. cruelties, atrocities. deliverance, release. deprived, bereft. discovered, found. dishonour, shame. ejaculating, exclaiming. employer, master. encompassed, surrounded. gestures, actions. harangue, speech. implements, apparatus.
insanity, delirium. insensible, unconscious. multiplied, increased. peradventure, perchance. physician, healer. privilege, right. remedies, restoratives. solicitude, anxiety. sorcery, witchcraft. summoned, called.
volunteered, offered freely.
NOTES
1Knights Templars, an order of knighthood established for the protection of pilgrims to Jerusalem, 1118A. D. They took their name from the Temple.
2Preceptory.-Heads of the several colleges of the Order, over whom the Grand Master was supreme, were called Preceptors; and the place where they met was called the Preceptory .
3Cupping apparatus, a cup-shaped vessel of glass used for blood-letting. The surgeon draws blood with it by exhausting the air in the cup.
4 Men of Belial. -In the Bible wicked and profligate men are called "children of Belial."(See Judges , xx. 13.) Belial signifles "worthlessness."5Gourd of Jonah.-The gourd which sheltered the prophet Jonah at Nineveh withered in a night. (See Jonah , iv. 6-10.)6Nazarenes, Christians; so called by the Jews because they were followers of Jesus of Nazareth.
7Cordova, an ancient Moorish town on the Guadalquivir, in Andalusia in Spain, famous for its leather, hence called cordovan and cordwain . A cordwainer is a worker in cordovan-a shoemaker.
QUESTIONS
What privilege did Rebecca claim when she had been condemned? Who was named the champion of the Temple? Who at last volunteered to carry her letter? Where did he meet Isaac? What effect had the perusal of Rebecca"s letter upon the latter? Who accompanied him? Whose help did Rebecca ask him to obtain?
