beenbornaNorman，asIthinkthouart，Iwouldhavehadluckonmyside，andbeennextdoortoawiseman。’’
AtthismomentGurthappearedontheoppositesideofthemoatwiththemules。Thetravellerscrossedtheditchuponadrawbridgeofonlytwoplanksbreadth，thenarrownessofwhichwasmatchedwiththestraitnessofthepostern，andwithalittlewicketintheexteriorpalisade，whichgaveaccesstotheforest。Nosoonerhadtheyreachedthemules，thantheJew，withhastyandtremblinghands，securedbehindthesaddleasmallbagofbluebuckram，whichhetookfromunderhiscloak，containing，asbemuttered，``achangeofraiment——onlyachangeofraiment。’’Thengettingupontheanimalwithmorealacrityandhastethancouldhavebeenanticipatedfromhisyears，helostnotimeinsodisposingoftheskirtsofhisgabardineastoconcealcompletelyfromobservationtheburdenwhichhehadthusdeposited_encroupe_。
ThePilgrimmountedwithmoredeliberation，reaching，ashedeparted，hishandtoGurth，whokisseditwiththeutmostpossibleveneration。Theswineherdstoodgazingafterthetravellersuntiltheywerelostundertheboughsoftheforestpath，whenhewasdisturbedfromhisreveriebythevoiceofWamba。
``Knowestthou，’’saidtheJester，``mygoodfriendGurth，thatthouartstrangelycourteousandmostunwontedlypiousonthissummermorning?
IwouldIwereablackPriororabarefootPalmer，toavailmyselfofthyunwontedzealandcourtesy——certes，Iwouldmakemoreoutofitthanakissofthehand。’’
``Thouartnofoolthusfar，Wamba，’’answeredGurth，``thoughthouarguestfromappearances，andthewisestofuscandonomore——Butitistimetolookaftermycharge。’’
Sosaying，heturnedbacktothemansion，attendedbytheJester。
MeanwhilethetravellerscontinuedtopressontheirjourneywithadispatchwhicharguedtheextremityoftheJew’sfears，sincepersonsathisageareseldomfondofrapidmotion，ThePalmer，towhomeverypathandoutletinthewoodappearedtobefamiliar，ledthewaythroughthemostdeviouspaths，andmorethanonceexcitedanewthesuspicionoftheIsraelite，thatheintendedtobetrayhimintosomeambuscadeofhisenemies。
Hisdoubtsmighthavebeenindeedpardoned；
for，exceptperhapstheflyingfish，therewasnoraceexistingontheearth，intheair，orthewaters，whoweretheobjectofsuchanunintermitting，general，andrelentlesspersecutionastheJewsofthisperiod。Upontheslightestandmostunreasonablepretences，aswellasuponaccusationsthemostabsurdandgroundless，theirpersonsandpropertywereexposedtoeveryturnofpopularfury；forNorman，Saxon，Dane，andBriton，howeveradversetheseracesweretoeachother，contendedwhichshouldlookwithgreatestdetestationuponapeople，whomitwasaccountedapointofreligiontohate，torevile，todespise，toplunder，andtopersecute。
ThekingsoftheNormanrace，andtheindependentnobles，whofollowedtheirexampleinallactsoftyranny，maintainedagainstthisdevotedpeopleapersecutionofamoreregular，calculated，andself-interestedkind。Itisawell-knownstoryofKingJohn，thatheconfinedawealthyJewinoneoftheroyalcastles，anddailycausedoneofhisteethtobetornout，until，whenthejawoftheunhappyIsraelitewashalfdisfurnished，heconsentedtopayalargesum，whichitwasthetyrant’sobjecttoextortfromhim。Thelittlereadymoneywhichwasinthecountrywaschieflyinpossessionofthispersecutedpeople，andthenobilityhesitatednottofollowtheexampleoftheirsovereign，inwringingitfromthembyeveryspeciesofoppression，andevenpersonaltorture。Yetthepassivecourageinspiredbytheloveofgain，inducedtheJewstodarethevariousevilstowhichtheyweresubjected，inconsiderationoftheimmenseprofitswhichtheywereenabledtorealizeinacountrynaturallysowealthyasEngland。Inspiteofeverykindofdiscouragement，andevenofthespecialcourtoftaxationsalreadymentioned，calledtheJews’Exchequer，erectedfortheverypurposeofdespoilinganddistressingthem，theJewsincreased，multiplied，andaccumulatedhugesums，whichtheytransferredfromonehandtoanotherbymeansofbillsofexchange——aninventionforwhichcommerceissaidtobeindebtedtothem，andwhichenabledthemtotransfertheirwealthfromlandtoland，thatwhenthreatenedwithoppressioninonecountry，theirtreasuremightbesecuredinanother。
TheobstinacyandavariceoftheJewsbeingthusinameasureplacedinoppositiontothefanaticismthattyrannyofthoseunderwhomtheylived，seemedtoincreaseinproportiontothepersecutionwithwhichtheywerevisited；andtheimmensewealththeyusuallyacquiredincommerce，whileitfrequentlyplacedthemindanger，wasatothertimesusedtoextendtheirinfluence，andtosecuretothemacertaindegreeofprotection。Onthesetermstheylived；andtheircharacter，influencedaccordingly，waswatchful，suspicious，andtimid——
yetobstinate，uncomplying，andskilfulinevadingthedangerstowhichtheywereexposed。
Whenthetravellershadpushedonatarapidratethroughmanydeviouspaths，thePalmeratlengthbrokesilence。
``Thatlargedecayedoak，’’hesaid，``markstheboundariesoverwhichFront-de-Bufclaimsauthority——
wearelongsincefarfromthoseofMalvoisin。
Thereisnownofearofpursuit。’’
``Maythewheelsoftheirchariotsbetakenoff，’’
saidtheJew，``likethoseofthehostofPharaoh，thattheymaydriveheavily！——Butleavemenot，goodPilgrim——ThinkbutofthatfierceandsavageTemplar，withhisSaracenslaves——theywillregardneitherterritory，normanor，norlordship。’’
``Ourroad，’’saidthePalmer，``shouldhereseparate；
foritbeseemsnotmenofmycharacterandthinetotraveltogetherlongerthanneedsmustbe。
Besides，whatsuccourcouldstthouhavefromme，apeacefulPilgrim，againsttwoarmedheathens?’’
``Ogoodyouth，’’answeredtheJew，``thoucanstdefendme，andIknowthouwouldst。PoorasIam，Iwillrequiteit——notwithmoney，formoney，sohelpmemyFatherAbraham，Ihavenone——but——’’
``Moneyandrecompense，’’saidthePalmer，interruptinghim，``IhavealreadysaidIrequirenotofthee。GuidetheeIcan；and，itmaybe，eveninsomesortdefendthee；sincetoprotectaJewagainstaSaracen，canscarcebeaccountedunworthyofaChristian。Therefore，Jew，Iwillseetheesafeundersomefittingescort。WearenownotfarfromthetownofSheffield，wherethoumayesteasilyfindmanyofthytribewithwhomtotakerefuge。’’
``TheblessingofJacobbeuponthee，goodyouth！’’saidtheJew；``inSheffieldIcanharbourwithmykinsmanZareth，andfindsomemeansoftravellingforthwithsafety。’’
``Beitso，’’saidthePalmer；``atSheffieldthenwepart，andhalf-an-hour’sridingwillbringusinsightofthattown。’’
Thehalfhourwasspentinperfectsilenceonbothparts；thePilgrimperhapsdisdainingtoaddresstheJew，exceptincaseofabsolutenecessity，andtheJewnotpresumingtoforceaconversationwithapersonwhosejourneytotheHolySepulchregaveasortofsanctitytohischaracter。Theypausedonthetopofagentlyrisingbank，andthePilgrim，pointingtothetownofSheffield，whichlaybeneaththem，repeatedthewords，``Here，then，wepart。’’
``NottillyouhavehadthepoorJew’sthanks，’’
saidIsaac；``forIpresumenottoaskyoutogowithmetomykinsmanZareth’s，whomightaidmewithsomemeansofrepayingyourgoodoffices。’’
``Ihavealreadysaid，’’answeredthePilgrim，``thatIdesirenorecompense。Ifamongthehugelistofthydebtors，thouwilt，formysake，sparethegyvesandthedungeontosomeunhappyChristianwhostandsinthydanger，Ishallholdthismorning’sservicetotheewellbestowed。’’
``Stay，stay，’’saidtheJew，layingholdofhisgarment；``somethingwouldIdomorethanthis，somethingforthyself——GodknowstheJewispoor——yes，Isaacisthebeggarofhistribe——butforgivemeshouldIguesswhatthoumostlackestatthismoment。’’
``Ifthouwerttoguesstruly，’’saidthePalmer，``itiswhatthoucanstnotsupply，wertthouaswealthyasthousaystthouartpoor。’
``AsIsay?’’echoedtheJew；``O！believeit，Isaybutthetruth；Iamaplundered，indebted，distressedman。Hardhandshavewrungfrommemygoods，mymoney，myships，andallthatIpossessed——
YetIcantelltheewhatthoulackest，and，itmaybe，supplyittoo。Thywishevennowisforahorseandarmour。’’
ThePalmerstarted，andturnedsuddenlytowardstheJew：——``Whatfiendpromptedthatguess?’’saidhe，hastily。
``Nomatter，’’saidtheJew，smiling，``sothatitbeatrueone——and，asIcanguessthywant，soIcansupplyit。’’
``Butconsider，’’saidthePalmer，``mycharacter，mydress，myvow。’’
``IknowyouChristians，’’repliedtheJew，``andthatthenoblestofyouwilltakethestaffandsandalinsuperstitiouspenance，andwalkafoottovisitthegravesofdeadmen。’’
``Blasphemenot，Jew，’’saidthePilgrim，sternly。
``Forgiveme，’’saidtheJew；``Ispokerashly。
Buttheredroptwordsfromyoulastnightandthismorning，that，likesparksfromflint，showedthemetalwithin；andinthebosomofthatPalmer’sgown，ishiddenaknight’schainandspursofgold。
Theyglancedasyoustoopedovermybedinthemorning。’’
ThePilgrimcouldnotforbearsmiling。``Werethygarmentssearchedbyascuriousaneye，Isaac，’’
saidhe，``whatdiscoveriesmightnotbemade?’’
``Nomoreofthat，’’saidtheJew，changingcolour；