Thepeasanttookthescroll，whichcontainedonlyafewlinesinHebrew。Manyofthecrowdwouldhavedissuadedhimfromtouchingadocumentsosuspicious；butHiggwasresoluteintheserviceofhisbenefactress。Shehadsavedhisbody，hesaid，andhewasconfidentshedidnotmeantoperilhissoul。
``Iwillgetme，’’hesaid，``myneighbourButhan’sgoodcapul，*andIwillbeatYorkwithinas*_Capul_，i。e。horse；inamorelimitedsense，work-horse。
briefspaceasmanandbeastmay。’’
Butasitfortuned，hehadnooccasiontogosofar，forwithinaquarterofamilefromthegateofthePreceptoryhemetwithtworiders，whom，bytheirdressandtheirhugeyellowcaps，heknewtobeJews；and，onapproachingmorenearly，discoveredthatoneofthemwashisancientemployer，IsaacofYork。TheotherwastheRabbiBenSamuel；
andbothhadapproachedasneartothePreceptoryastheydared，onhearingthattheGrandMasterhadsummonedachapterforthetrialofasorceress。
``BrotherBenSamuel，’’saidIsaac，``mysoulisdisquieted，andIwotnotwhy。Thischargeofnecromancyisrightoftenusedforcloakingevilpracticesonourpeople。’’
``Beofgoodcomfort，brother，’’saidthephysician；
``thoucanstdealwiththeNazarenesasonepossessingthemammonofunrighteousness，andcanstthereforepurchaseimmunityattheirhands——itrulesthesavagemindsofthoseungodlymen，evenasthesignetofthemightySolomonwassaidtocommandtheevilgenii——Butwhatpoorwretchcomeshitheruponhiscrutches，desiring，asIthink，somespeechofme?——Friend，’’continuedthephysician，addressingHigg，thesonofSnell，``Irefusetheenottheaidofmineart，butIrelievenotwithoneasperthosewhobegforalmsuponthehighway。Outuponthee！——Hastthouthepalsyinthylegs?thenletthyhandsworkforthylivelihood；
for，albeitthoubestunfitforaspeedypost，orforacarefulshepherd，orforthewarfare，orfortheserviceofahastymaster，yettherebeoccupations——Hownow，brother?’’saidhe，interruptinghisharanguetolooktowardsIsaac，whohadbutglancedatthescrollwhichHiggoffered，when，utteringadeepgroan，hefellfromhismulelikeadyingman，andlayforaminuteinsensible。
TheRabbinowdismountedingreatalarm，andhastilyappliedtheremedieswhichhisartsuggestedfortherecoveryofhiscompanion。Hehadeventakenfromhispocketacuppingapparatus，andwasabouttoproceedtophlebotomy，whentheobjectofhisanxioussolicitudesuddenlyrevived；butitwastodashhiscapfromhishead，andtothrowdustonhisgreyhairs。Thephysicianwasatfirstinclinedtoascribethissuddenandviolentemotiontotheeffectsofinsanity；and，adheringtohisoriginalpurpose，beganonceagaintohandlehisimplements。
ButIsaacsoonconvincedhimofhiserror。
``Childofmysorrow，’’hesaid，``wellshouldstthoubecalledBenoni，insteadofRebecca！Whyshouldthydeathbringdownmygreyhairstothegrave，till，inthebitternessofmyheart，IcurseGodanddie！’’
``Brother，’’saidtheRabbi，ingreatsurprise，``artthouafatherinIsrael，anddostthouutterwordslikeuntothese?——Itrustthatthechildofthyhouseyetliveth?’’
``Sheliveth，’’answeredIsaac；``butitisasDaniel，whowascalledBeltheshazzar，evenwhenwithinthedenofthelions。SheiscaptiveuntothosemenofBelial，andtheywillwreaktheircrueltyuponher，sparingneitherforheryouthnorhercomelyfavour。O！shewasasacrownofgreenpalmstomygreylocks；andshemustwitherinanight，likethegourdofJonah！——Childofmylove！——
childofmyoldage！——oh，Rebecca，daughterofRachel！thedarknessoftheshadowofdeathhathencompassedthee。’’
``Yetreadthescroll，’’saidtheRabbi；``peradventureitmaybethatwemayyetfindoutawayofdeliverance。’’
``Dothouread，brother，’’answeredIsaac，``formineeyesareasafountainofwater。’’
Thephysicianread，butintheirnativelanguage，thefollowingwords：——
``ToIsaac，thesonofAdonikam，whomtheGentilescallIsaacofYork，peaceandtheblessingofthepromisebemultiplieduntothee！——Myfather，Iamasonedoomedtodieforthatwhichmysoulknowethnot——evenforthecrimeofwitchcraft。
Myfather，ifastrongmancanbefoundtodobattleformycausewithswordandspear，accordingtothecustomoftheNazarenes，andthatwithinthelistsofTemplestowe，onthethirddayfromthistime，peradventureourfathers’Godwillgivehimstrengthtodefendtheinnocent，andherwhohathnonetohelpher。Butifthismaynotbe，letthevirginsofourpeoplemournformeasforonecastoff，andforthehartthatisstrickenbythehunter，andfortheflowerwhichiscutdownbythescytheofthemower。Whereforelooknowwhatthoudoest，andwhethertherebeanyrescue。
OneNazarenewarriormightindeedbeararmsinmybehalf，evenWilfred，sonofCedric，whomtheGentilescallIvanhoe。Buthemaynotyetenduretheweightofhisarmour。Nevertheless，sendthetidingsuntohim，myfather；forhehathfavouramongthestrongmenofhispeople，andashewasourcompanioninthehouseofbondage，hemayfindsomeonetodobattleformysake。Andsayuntohim，evenuntohim，evenuntoWilfred，thesonofCedric，thatifRebeccalive，orifRebeccadie，shelivethordiethwhollyfreeoftheguiltsheischargedwithal。AndifitbethewillofGodthatthoushaltbedeprivedofthydaughter，donotthoutarry，oldman，inthislandofbloodshedandcruelty；
butbetakethyselftoCordova，wherethybrotherlivethinsafety，undertheshadowofthethrone，evenofthethroneofBoabdiltheSaracen；forlesscruelarethecrueltiesoftheMoorsuntotheraceofJacob，thanthecrueltiesoftheNazarenesofEngland。’’
IsaaclistenedwithtolerablecomposurewhileBenSamuelreadtheletter，andthenagainresumedthegesturesandexclamationsofOrientalsorrow，tearinghisgarments，besprinklinghisheadwithdust，andejaculating，``Mydaughter！mydaughter！
fleshofmyflesh，andboneofmybone！’’
``Yet，’’saidtheRabbi，``takecourage，forthisgriefavailethnothing。Girdupthyloins，andseekoutthisWilfred，thesonofCedric。Itmaybehewillhelptheewithcounselorwithstrength；fortheyouthhathfavourintheeyesofRichard，calledoftheNazarenesCur-de-Lion，andthetidingsthathehathreturnedareconstantintheland。Itmaybethatbemayobtainhisletter，andhissignet，commandingthesemenofblood，whotaketheirnamefromtheTempletothedishonourthereof，thattheyproceednotintheirpurposedwickedness。’’
``Iwillseekhimout，’’saidIsaac，``forheisagoodyouth，andhathcompassionfortheexileofJacob。Buthecannotbearhisarmour，andwhatotherChristianshalldobattlefortheoppressedofZion?’’
``Nay，but，’’saidtheRabbi，``thouspeakestasonethatknowethnottheGentiles。Withgoldshaltthoubuytheirvalour，evenaswithgoldthoubuyestthineownsafety。Beofgoodcourage，anddothousetforwardtofindoutthisWilfredofIvanhoe。Iwillalsoupandbedoing，forgreatsinitweretoleavetheeinthycalamity。IwillhiemetothecityofYork，wheremanywarriorsandstrongmenareassembled，anddoubtnotIwillfindamongthemsomeonewhowilldobattleforthydaughter；forgoldistheirgod，andforricheswilltheypawntheirlivesaswellastheirlands——
Thouwiltfulfil，mybrother，suchpromiseasImaymakeuntotheminthyname?’’
``Assuredly，brother，’’saidIsaac，``andHeavenbepraisedthatraisedmeupacomforterinmymisery。
Howbeit，grantthemnottheirfulldemandatonce，forthoushaltfinditthequalityofthisaccursedpeoplethattheywillaskpounds，andperadventureacceptofounces——Nevertheless，beitasthouwillest，forIamdistractedinthisthing，andwhatwouldmygoldavailmeifthechildofmyloveshouldperish！’’
``Farewell，’’saidthephysician，``andmayitbetotheeasthyheartdesireth。’’
Theyembracedaccordingly，anddepartedontheirseveralroads。Thecrippledpeasantremainedforsometimelookingafterthem。
``Thesedog-Jews！’’saidhe；``totakenomorenoticeofafreeguild-brother，thanifIwereabondslaveoraTurk，oracircumcisedHebrewlikethemselves！
Theymighthaveflungmeamancusortwo，however。Iwasnotobligedtobringtheirunhallowedscrawls，andruntheriskofbeingbewitched，asmorefolksthanonetoldme。AndwhatcareIforthebitofgoldthatthewenchgaveme，ifIamtocometoharmfromthepriestnextEasteratconfession，andbeobligedtogivehimtwiceasmuchtomakeitupwithhim，andbecalledtheJew’sflyingpostallmylife，asitmayhap，intothebargain?IthinkIwasbewitchedinearnestwhenIwasbesidethatgirl！——ButitwasalwayssowithJeworGentile，whosoevercamenearher——nonecouldstaywhenshehadanerrandtogo——andstill，wheneverIthinkofher，Iwouldgiveshopandtoolstosaveherlife。’’
CHAPTERXXXIX
Omaid，unrelentingandcoldasthouart，Mybosomisproudasthineown。
_Seward_。
Itwasinthetwilightofthedaywhenhertrial，ifitcouldbecalledsuch，hadtakenplace，thatalowknockwasheardatthedoorofRebecca’sprison-chamber。
Itdisturbednottheinmate，whowasthenengagedintheeveningprayerrecommendedbyherreligion，andwhichconcludedwithahymnwehaveventuredthustotranslateintoEnglish。
WhenIsrael，oftheLordbeloved，Outofthelandofbondagecame，Herfather’sGodbeforehermoved，Anawfulguide，insmokeandflame。
Byday，alongtheastonish’dlandsThecloudypillarglidedslow；
Bynight，Arabia’scrimson’dsandsReturn’dthefierycolumn’sglow。
Thererosethechoralhymnofpraise，Andtrumpandtimbrelanswer’dkeen，AndZion’sdaughterspour’dtheirlays，Withpriest’sandwarrior’svoicebetween。
Noportentsnowourfoesamaze，ForsakenIsraelwanderslone；
Ourfatherswouldnotknow=Thy=ways，And=Thou=hastleftthemtotheirown。
But，presentstill，thoughnowunseen；
Whenbrightlyshinestheprosperousday，Bethoughtsof=Thee=acloudyscreenTotemperthedeceitfulray。
Andoh，whenstoopsonJudah’spathInshadeandstormthefrequentnight，Be=Thou=，long-suffering，slowtowrath，Aburning，andashininglight！
OurharpsweleftbyBabel’sstreams，Thetyrant’sjest，theGentile’sscorn；
Nocenserroundouraltarbeams，Andmuteourtimbrel，trump，andhorn。
But=Thou=hastsaid，thebloodofgoat，Thefleshoframs，Iwillnotprize；
Acontriteheart，andhumblethought，Aremineacceptedsacrifice。
WhenthesoundsofRebecca’sdevotionalhymnhaddiedawayinsilence，thelowknockatthedoorwasagainrenewed。``Enter，’’shesaid，``ifthouartafriend；andifafoe，Ihavenotthemeansofrefusingthyentrance。’’
``Iam，’’saidBriandeBois-Guilbert，enteringtheapartment，``friendorfoe，Rebecca，astheeventofthisinterviewshallmakeme。’’
Alarmedatthesightofthisman，whoselicentiouspassionsheconsideredastherootofhermisfortunes，Rebeccadrewbackwardwithacautiousandalarmed，yetnotatimorousdemeanour，intothefarthestcorneroftheapartment，asifdeterminedtoretreatasfarasshecould，buttostandhergroundwhenretreatbecamenolongerpossible。