The Grand Master, who held in his hand the gage of battle,Rebecca"s glove, now threw it into the lists. The trumpets sounded, and the knights charged each other in full career. The weary horse of Ivanhoe, and its no less exhausted rider, went down, as all had expected, before the well-aimed lance and vigorous steed of the Templar. This issue of the combat all had foreseen; but although the spear of Ivanhoe, in comparison, did but touch the shield of Sir Brian, that champion, to the astonishment of all who beheld it, reeled in his saddle, lost his stirrup, and fell in the lists!
Ivanhoe, extricating himself from his fallen horse, was soon on foot, hastening to mend his fortune with his sword; but his antagonist arose not. Wilfred, placing his foot on his breast, and the sword"s point to his throat, commanded him to yieldhim, or die on the spot. The Templar returned no answer.
"Slay him not, Sir Knight," cried the Grand Master "unshriven and unabsolved-kill not body and soul! We acknowledge him vanquished."He descended into the lists, and commanded them to unhelm the conquered champion. His eyes were closed-the dark red flush was still on his brow. As they looked on him in astonishment, the eyes opened-but they were fixed and glazed. The flush passed from his brow, and gave way to the pallid hue of death. Unscathed by the lance of his enemy, he had died a victim to the violence of his own contending passions.
"This is indeed the judgment of God," said the Grand Master, looking upwards- "Fiat voluntas tua!"When the first moments of surprise were over, Wilfred ofIvanhoe demanded of the Grand Master, as judge of the field,if he had manfully and rightfully done his duty in the combat? "Manfully and rightfully hath it been done," said the GrandMaster; "I pronounce the maiden free and guiltless. The arms and the body of the deceased knight are at the will of the victor.""I will not despoil him of his weapons," said the Knight of Ivanhoe, "nor condemn his corpse to shame. God"s arm, no human hand, hath this day struck him down. But let his obsequies be private, as becomes those of a man who died in an unjust quarrel. -And for the maiden-"He was interrupted by the clatter of horses" feet, advancingin such numbers, and so rapidly, as to shake the ground before them; and the Black Knight galloped into the lists. He was followed by a numerous band of men-at-arms, and several knights in complete armour.
"I am too late," he said, looking around him. "I had doomed Sir Brian for mine own property. -Ivanhoe, was this well, to take on thee such a venture, and thou scarce able to keep thy saddle?""Heaven, my liege," answered Ivanhoe, "hath taken this proud man for its victim. He was not to be honoured in dying as your will had designed.""Peace be with him," said Richard,⑤ looking steadfastly onthe corpse, "if it may be so-he was a gallant knight, and has died in his steel harness full knightly."During the tumult Rebecca saw and heard nothing: she was locked in the arms of her aged father, giddy, and almost senseless, with the rapid change of circumstances around her. But one word from Isaac at length recalled her scattered feelings.
"Let us go," he said, "my dear daughter, my recovered treasure-let us go to throw ourselves at the feet of the good youth.""Not so," said Rebecca; "oh no-no-no; -I must not at this moment dare to speak to him. Alas! I should say more than-No, my father; let us instantly leave this evil place."Isaac, yielding to her entreaties, then conducted her fromthe lists, and by means of a horse which he had provided, transported her safely to the house of the Rabbi Nathan.
- SIR WALTER SCOTT
WORDS
antagonist, opponent. astonishment, surprise. bravado, boastfulness. champion, defender. commend, intrust. consume, destroy. demanded, asked. designed, intended. destined, appointed. dismaying, appalling. distinction, honour. entreaties, solicitations.
exhausted, wearied. extricating, disengaging. familiarize, accustom. fluttered, agitated. forfeited, sacrificed. honourably, worthily. internally, mentally. interrupted, checked. irresolutely, unsteadily. lineage, descent. notwithstanding, in spite of. obsequies, funeral rites.
prejudices, predilections. proclaim, denounce. pronounced, proclaimed. purvey, provide. transported, conveyed. unabsolved, unpardoned.
unanimously, with one accord.
undauntedly, valiantly. unfortunate, luckless. unscathed, uninjured. unshriven, not confessed. vanquished, defeated. venture, hazard. vigorous, powerful.
NOTES
① Saint George, the patron saint of English chivalry, represented in the Order of the Garter. The badge of the Order represents St. George performing the feat of killing the dragon.
② Reliquary, a casket for holding relics , or memorials of saints. [Lat. reliquice ; fromrelinquo , I leave behind.]
③ Viser, the front part of a helmet, made of bars, or perforated, to enable the wearer to see. [Lat visus , seen.]
④ Fiat voluntas tua, "Thy will be done,"-part of the Latin version of the Lord"s Prayer.
⑤ Richard.-The Black Knight was King Richard of the Lion Heart himself.
QUESTIONS
Where was the combat to take place? Where was the Grand Master"s position? What was at the opposite end of the lists? What was the general belief? Who at last appeared? Why did the Templar at first decline to fight with him? What fear did Rebecca express? What was the result of the encounter of the knights. What befell the Templar immediately afterwards? What had killed him? What verdict did the Grand Master now give regarding Rebecca? Who presently arrived on the scene? Why was the Black Knight disappointed? Who was this Black Knight? Who had embraced Rebecca? What did he ask her to do? What did she reply?
