ThissternmeasureCedrichadadopted，inhopesthat，duringWilfred’sabsence，Rowenamightrelinquishherpreference，butinthishopehewasdisappointed；adisappointmentwhichmightbeattributedinparttothemodeinwhichhiswardhadbeeneducated。Cedric，towhomthenameofAlfredwasasthatofadeity，hadtreatedthesoleremainingscionofthatgreatmonarchwithadegreeofobservance，suchas，perhaps，wasinthosedaysscarcepaidtoanacknowledgedprincess。
Rowena’swillhadbeeninalmostallcasesalawtohishousehold；andCedrichimself，asifdeterminedthathersovereigntyshouldbefullyacknowledgedwithinthatlittlecircleatleast，seemedtotakeaprideinactingasthefirstofhersubjects。
Thustrainedintheexercisenotonlyoffreewill，butdespoticauthority，Rowenawas，byherpreviouseducation，disposedbothtoresistandtoresentanyattempttocontrolheraffections，ordisposeofherhandcontrarytoherinclinations，andtoassertherindependenceinacaseinwhicheventhosefemaleswhohavebeentraineduptoobedienceandsubjection，arenotinfrequentlyapttodisputetheauthorityofguardiansandparents。Theopinionswhichshefeltstrongly，sheavowedboldly；andCedric，whocouldnotfreehimselffromhishabitualdeferencetoheropinions，felttotallyatalosshowtoenforcehisauthorityofguardian。
Itwasinvainthatheattemptedtodazzleherwiththeprospectofavisionarythrone。Rowena，whopossessedstrongsense，neitherconsideredhisplanaspracticable，norasdesirable，sofarasshewasconcerned，couldithavebeenachieved。WithoutattemptingtoconcealheravowedpreferenceofWilfredofIvanhoe，shedeclaredthat，werethatfavouredknightoutofquestion，shewouldrathertakerefugeinaconvent，thanshareathronewithAthelstane，whom，havingalwaysdespised，shenowbegan，onaccountofthetroubleshereceivedonhisaccount，thoroughlytodetest。
Nevertheless，Cedric，whoseopinionsofwomen’sconstancywasfarfromstrong，persistedinusingeverymeansinhispowertobringabouttheproposedmatch，inwhichheconceivedhewasrenderinganimportantservicetotheSaxoncause。ThesuddenandromanticappearanceofhissoninthelistsatAshby，hehadjustlyregardedasalmostadeath’sblowtohishopes。Hispaternalaffection，itistrue，hadforaninstantgainedthevictoryoverprideandpatriotism；butbothhadreturnedinfullforce，andundertheirjointoperation，hewasnowbentuponmakingadeterminedeffortfortheunionofAthelstaneandRowena，togetherwithexpeditingthoseothermeasureswhichseemednecessarytoforwardtherestorationofSaxonindependence。
Onthislastsubject，hewasnowlabouringwithAthelstane，notwithouthavingreason，everynowandthen，tolament，likeHotspur，thatheshouldhavemovedsuchadishofskimmedmilktosohonourableanaction。Athelstane，itistrue，wasvainenough，andlovedtohavehisearstickledwithtalesofhishighdescent，andofhisrightbyinheritancetohomageandsovereignty。Buthispettyvanitywassufficientlygratifiedbyreceivingthishomageatthehandsofhisimmediateattendants，andoftheSaxonswhoapproachedhim。Ifhehadthecouragetoencounterdanger，heatleasthatedthetroubleofgoingtoseekit；andwhileheagreedinthegeneralprincipleslaiddownbyCedricconcerningtheclaimoftheSaxonstoindependence，andwasstillmoreeasilyconvincedofhisowntitletoreignoverthemwhenthatindependenceshouldbeattained，yetwhenthemeansofassertingtheserightscametobediscussed，hewasstill``AthelstanetheUnready，’’slow，irresolute，procrastinating，andunenterprising。ThewarmandimpassionedexhortationsofCedrichadaslittleeffectuponhisimpassivetemper，asred-hotballsalightinginthewater，whichproducealittlesoundandsmoke，andareinstantlyextinguished。
If，leavingthistask，whichmightbecomparedtospurringatiredjade，ortohammeringuponcoldiron，CedricfellbacktohiswardRowena，hereceivedlittlemoresatisfactionfromconferringwithher。For，ashispresenceinterruptedthediscoursebetweentheladyandherfavouriteattendantuponthegallantryandfateofWilfred，Elgitha，failednottorevengebothhermistressandherself，byrecurringtotheoverthrowofAthelstaneinthelists，themostdisagreeablesubjectwhichcouldgreettheearsofCedric。TothissturdySaxon，therefore，theday’sjourneywasfraughtwithallmannerofdispleasureanddiscomfort；sothathemorethanonceinternallycursedthetournament，andhimwhohadproclaimedit，togetherwithhisownfollyineverthinkingofgoingthither。
Atnoon，uponthemotionofAthelstane，thetravellerspausedinawoodlandshadebyafountain，toreposetheirhorsesandpartakeofsomeprovisions，withwhichthehospitableAbbothadloadedasumptermule。Theirrepastwasaprettylongone；andtheseseveralinterruptionsrendereditimpossibleforthemtohopetoreachRotherwoodwithouttravellingallnight，aconvictionwhichinducedthemtoproceedontheirwayatamorehastypacethantheyhadhithertoused。
CHAPTERXIX
Atrainofarmedmen，somenobledameEscorting，sotheirscatter’dwordsdiscover’d，AsunperceivedIhungupontheirrear，
Arecloseathand，andmeantopassthenightWithinthecastle。
_Orra，aTragedy。_
Thetravellershadnowreachedthevergeofthewoodedcountry，andwereabouttoplungeintoitsrecesses，helddangerousatthattimefromthenumberofoutlawswhomoppressionandpovertyhaddriventodespair，andwhooccupiedtheforestsinsuchlargebandsascouldeasilybiddefiancetothefeeblepoliceoftheperiod。Fromtheserovers，however，notwithstandingthelatenessofthehourCedricandAthelstaneaccountedthemselvessecure，astheyhadinattendancetenservants，besidesWambaandGurth，whoseaidcouldnotbecountedupon，theonebeingajesterandtheotheracaptive。Itmaybeadded，thatintravellingthuslatethroughtheforest，CedricandAthelstanereliedontheirdescentandcharacter，aswellastheircourage。Theoutlaws，whomtheseverityoftheforestlawshadreducedtothisrovinganddesperatemodeoflife，werechieflypeasantsandyeomenofSaxondescent，andweregenerallysupposedtorespectthepersonsandpropertyoftheircountrymen。
Asthetravellersjourneyedontheirway，theywerealarmedbyrepeatedcriesforassistance；andwhentheyrodeuptotheplacefromwhencetheycame，theyweresurprisedtofindahorse-litterplacedupontheground，besidewhichsatayoungwoman，richlydressedintheJewishfashion，whileanoldman，whoseyellowcapproclaimedhimtobelongtothesamenation，walkedupanddownwithgesturesexpressiveofthedeepestdespair，andwrunghishands，asifaffectedbysomestrangedisaster。
TotheenquiriesofAthelstaneandCedric，theoldJewcouldforsometimeonlyanswerbyinvokingtheprotectionofallthepatriarchsoftheOldTestamentsuccessivelyagainstthesonsofIshmael，whowerecomingtosmitethem，hipandthigh，withtheedgeofthesword。Whenhebegantocometohimselfoutofthisagonyofterror，IsaacofYorkforitwasouroldfriendwasatlengthabletoexplain，thathehadhiredabody-guardofsixmenatAshby，togetherwithmulesforcarryingthelitterofasickfriend。ThispartyhadundertakentoescorthimasfarasDoncaster。Theyhadcomethusfarinsafety；buthavingreceivedinformationfromawood-cutterthattherewasastrongbandofoutlawslyinginwaitinthewoodsbeforethem，Isaac’smercenarieshadnotonlytakenflight，buthadcarriedoffwiththemthehorseswhichborethelitterandlefttheJewandhisdaughterwithoutthemeanseitherofdefenceorofretreat，tobeplundered，andprobablymurdered，bythebanditti，whotheyexpectedeverymomentwouldbringdownuponthem。``Woulditbutpleaseyourvalours，’’addedIsaac，inatoneofdeephumiliation，``topermitthepoorJewstotravelunderyoursafeguard，Iswearbythetablesofourlaw，thatneverhasfavourbeenconferreduponachildofIsraelsincethedaysofourcaptivity，whichshallbemoregratefullyacknowledged。’’
``DogofaJew！’’saidAthelstane，whosememorywasofthatpettykindwhichstoresuptriflesofallkinds，butparticularlytriflingoffences，``dostnotrememberhowthoudidstbeardusinthegalleryatthetilt-yard?Fightorflee，orcompoundwiththeoutlawsasthoudostlist，askneitheraidnorcompanyfromus；andiftheyrobonlysuchasthee，whoroballtheworld，I，formineownshare，shallholdthemrighthonestfolk。’’
Cedricdidnotassenttothesevereproposalofhiscompanion。``Weshalldobetter，’’saidbe，``toleavethemtwoofourattendantsandtwohorsestoconveythembacktothenextvillage。Itwilldiminishourstrengthbutlittle；andwithyourgoodsword，nobleAthelstane，andtheaidofthosewhoremain，itwillbelightworkforustofacetwentyofthoserunagates。’’
Rowena，somewhatalarmedbythementionofoutlawsinforce，andsonearthem，stronglysecondedtheproposalofherguardian。ButRebeccasuddenlyquittingherdejectedposture，andmakingherwaythroughtheattendantstothepalfreyoftheSaxonlady，kneltdown，and，aftertheOrientalfashioninaddressingsuperiors，kissedthehemofRowena’sgarment。Thenrising，andthrowingbackherveil，sheimploredherinthegreatnameoftheGodwhomtheybothworshipped，andbythatrevelationoftheLawuponMountSinai，inwhichtheybothbelieved，thatshewouldhavecompassionuponthem，andsufferthemtogoforwardundertheirsafeguard。``ItisnotformyselfthatIpraythisfavour，’’saidRebecca；``norisitevenforthatpooroldman。Iknow，thattowrongandtospoilournationisalightfault，ifnotamerit，withtheChristians；andwhatisittouswhetheritbedoneinthecity，inthedesert，orinthefield?
Butitisinthenameofonedeartomany，anddeareventoyou，thatIbeseechyoutoletthissickpersonbetransportedwithcareandtendernessunderyourprotection。For，ifevilchancehim，thelastmomentofyourlifewouldbeembitteredwithregretfordenyingthatwhichIaskofyou。’’
ThenobleandsolemnairwithwhichRebeccamadethisappeal，gaveitdoubleweightwiththefairSaxon。
``Themanisoldandfeeble，’’shesaidtoherguardian，``themaidenyoungandbeautiful，theirfriendsickandinperilofhislife——Jewsthoughtheybe，wecannotasChristiansleavetheminthisextremity。Letthemunloadtwoofthesumpter-mules，andputthebaggagebehindtwooftheserfs。
Themulesmaytransportthelitter，andwehaveledhorsesfortheoldmanandhisdaughter。’’
Cedricreadilyassentedtowhatsheproposed，andAthelstaneonlyaddedthecondition，``thattheyshouldtravelintherearofthewholeparty，whereWamba，’’hesaid，``mightattendthemwithhisshieldofboar’sbrawn。’’
``Ihaveleftmyshieldinthetilt-yard，’’answeredtheJester，``ashasbeenthefateofmanyabetterknightthanmyself。’’
Athelstanecoloureddeeply，forsuchhadbeenhisownfateonthelastdayofthetournament；
whileRowena，whowaspleasedinthesameproportion，asiftomakeamendsforthebrutaljestofherunfeelingsuitor，requestedRebeccatoridebyherside。
``ItwerenotfitIshoulddoso，’’answeredRebecca，withproudhumility，``wheremysocietymightbeheldadisgracetomyprotectress。’’
Bythistimethechangeofbaggagewashastilyachieved；forthesingleword``outlaws’’renderedeveryonesufficientlyalert，andtheapproachoftwilightmadethesoundyetmoreimpressive。
Amidthebustle，Gurthwastakenfromhorseback，inthecourseofwhichremovalheprevailedupontheJestertoslackthecordwithwhichhisarmswerebound。Itwassonegligentlyrefastened，perhapsintentionally，onthepartofWamba，thatGurthfoundnodifficultyinfreeinghisarmsaltogetherfrombondage，andthen，glidingintothethicket，hemadehisescapefromtheparty。
Thebustlehadbeenconsiderable，anditwassometimebeforeGurthwasmissed；for，ashewastobeplacedfortherestofthejourneybehindaservant，everyonesupposedthatsomeotherofhiscompanionshadhimunderhiscustody，andwhenitbegantobewhisperedamongthemthatGurthhadactuallydisappeared，theywereundersuchimmediateexpectationofanattackfromtheoutlaws，thatitwasnotheldconvenienttopaymuchattentiontothecircumstance。
Thepathuponwhichthepartytravelledwasnowsonarrow，asnottoadmit，withanysortofconvenience，abovetworidersabreast，andbegantodescendintoadingle，traversedbyabrookwhosebankswerebroken，swampy，andovergrownwithdwarfwillows。CedricandAthelstane，whowereattheheadoftheirretinue，sawtheriskofbeingattackedatthispass；butneitherofthemhavinghadmuchpracticeinwar，nobettermodeofpreventingthedangeroccurredtothemthanthattheyshouldhastenthroughthedefileasfastaspossible。
Advancing，therefore，withoutmuchorder，theyhadjustcrossedthebrookwithapartoftheirfollowers，whentheywereassailedinfront，flank，andrearatonce，withanimpetuositytowhich，intheirconfusedandill-preparedcondition，itwasimpossibletooffereffectualresistance。Theshoutof``A
whitedragon！——awhitedragon！——SaintGeorgeformerryEngland！’’war-criesadoptedbytheassailants，asbelongingtotheirassumedcharacterofSaxonoutlaws，washeardoneveryside，andoneverysideenemiesappearedwitharapidityofadvanceandattackwhichseemedtomultiplytheirnumbers。
BoththeSaxonchiefsweremadeprisonersatthesamemoment，andeachundercircumstancesexpressiveofhischaracter。Cedric，theinstantthatanenemyappeared，launchedathimhisremainingjavelin，which，takingbettereffectthanthatwhichhehadhurledatFangs，nailedthemanagainstanoak-treethathappenedtobeclosebehindhim。
Thusfarsuccessful，Cedricspurredhishorseagainstasecond，drawinghisswordatthesametime，andstrikingwithsuchinconsideratefury，thathisweaponencounteredathickbranchwhichhungoverhim，andhewasdisarmedbytheviolenceofhisownblow。Hewasinstantlymadeprisoner，andpulledfromhishorsebytwoorthreeofthebandittiwhocrowdedaroundhim。Athelstanesharedhiscaptivity，hisbridlehavingbeenseized，andhehimselfforciblydismounted，longbeforehecoulddrawhisweapon，orassumeanypostureofeffectualdefence。
Theattendants，embarrassedwithbaggage，surprisedandterrifiedatthefateoftheirmasters，fellaneasypreytotheassailants；whiletheLadyRowena，inthecentreofthecavalcade，andtheJewandhisdaughterintherear，experiencedthesamemisfortune。