``No，damsel！’’saidtheproudTemplar，springingup，``thoushaltnotthusimposeonme——ifI
renouncepresentfameandfutureambition，Irenounceitforthysake，andwewillescapeincompany。
Listentome，Rebecca，’’hesaid，againsofteninghistone；``England，——Europe，——isnottheworld。Therearespheresinwhichwemayact，ampleenoughevenformyambition。WewillgotoPalestine，whereConrade，MarquisofMontserrat，ismyfriend——afriendfreeasmyselffromthedotingscrupleswhichfetterourfree-bornreason——ratherwithSaladinwillweleagueourselves，thanendurethescornofthebigotswhomwecontemn——
Iwillformnewpathstogreatness，’’hecontinued，againtraversingtheroomwithhastystrides——``Europeshallheartheloudstepofhimshehasdrivenfromhersons！——Notthemillionswhomhercrusaderssendtoslaughter，candosomuchtodefendPalestine——notthesabresofthethousandsandtenthousandsofSaracenscanhewtheirwaysodeepintothatlandforwhichnationsarestriving，asthestrengthandpolicyofmeandthosebrethren，who，indespiteofyonderoldbigot，willadheretomeingoodandevil。Thoushaltbeaqueen，Rebecca——onMountCarmelshallwepitchthethronewhichmyvalourwillgainforyou，andIwillexchangemylong-desiredbatoonforasceptre！’’
``Adream，’’saidRebecca；``anemptyvisionofthenight，which，wereitawakingreality，affectsmenot。Enough，thatthepowerwhichthoumightestacquire，Iwillnevershare；norholdIsolightofcountryorreligiousfaith，astoesteemhimwhoiswillingtobartertheseties，andcastawaythebondsoftheOrderofwhichheisaswornmember，inordertogratifyanunrulypassionforthedaughterofanotherpeople——Putnotapriceonmydeliverance，SirKnight——sellnotadeedofgenerosity——protecttheoppressedforthesakeofcharity，andnotforaselfishadvantage——GotothethroneofEngland；Richardwilllistentomyappealfromthesecruelmen。’’
``Never，Rebecca！’’saidtheTemplar，fiercely。
``IfIrenouncemyOrder，fortheealonewillIrenounceit——Ambitionshallremainmine，ifthourefusemylove；Iwillnotbefooledonallhands——
StoopmycresttoRichard?——askaboonofthatheartofpride?——Never，Rebecca，willIplacetheOrderoftheTempleathisfeetinmyperson。I
mayforsaketheOrder，Ineverwilldegradeorbetrayit。’’
``NowGodbegracioustome，’’saidRebecca，``forthesuccourofmaniswellnighhopeless！’’
``Itisindeed，’’saidtheTemplar；``for，proudasthouart，thouhastinmefoundthymatch。IfIenterthelistswithmyspearinrest，thinknotanyhumanconsiderationshallpreventmyputtingforthmystrength；andthinkthenuponthineownfate——todiethedreadfuldeathoftheworstofcriminals——tobeconsumeduponablazingpile——dispersedtotheelementsofwhichourstrangeformsaresomysticallycomposed——notarelicleftofthatgracefulframe，fromwhichwecouldsaythislivedandmoved！——Rebecca，itisnotinwomantosustainthisprospect——thouwiltyieldtomysuit。’’
``Bois-Guilbert，’’answeredtheJewess，``thouknowestnottheheartofwoman，orhastonlyconversedwiththosewhoarelosttoherbestfeelings。
Itellthee，proudTemplar，thatnotinthyfiercestbattleshastthoudisplayedmoreofthyvauntedcourage，thanhasbeenshownbywomanwhencalledupontosufferbyaffectionorduty。Iammyselfawoman，tenderlynurtured，naturallyfearfulofdanger，andimpatientofpain——yet，whenweenterthosefatallists，thoutofightandItosuffer，Ifeelthestrongassurancewithinme，thatmycourageshallmounthigherthanthine。Farewell——Iwastenomorewordsonthee；thetimethatremainsonearthtothedaughterofJacobmustbeotherwisespent——shemustseektheComforter，whomayhidehisfacefromhispeople，butwhoeveropenshiseartothecryofthosewhoseekhiminsincerityandintruth。’’
``Wepartthenthus?’’saidtheTemplar，afterashortpause；``wouldtoHeaventhatwehadnevermet，orthatthouhadstbeennobleinbirthandChristianinfaith！——Nay，byHeaven！whenI
gazeonthee，andthinkwhenandhowwearenexttomeet，Icouldevenwishmyselfoneofthineowndegradednation；myhandconversantwithingotsandshekels，insteadofspearandshield；myheadbentdownbeforeeachpettynoble，andmylookonlyterribletotheshiveringandbankruptdebtor——thiscouldIwish，Rebecca，tobeneartotheeinlife，andtoescapethefearfulshareImusthaveinthydeath。’’
``ThouhastspokentheJew，’’saidRebecca，``asthepersecutionofsuchasthouarthasmadehim。
Heaveninirehasdrivenhimfromhiscountry，butindustryhasopenedtohimtheonlyroadtopowerandtoinfluence，whichoppressionhasleftunbarred。
ReadtheancienthistoryofthepeopleofGod，andtellmeifthose，bywhomJehovahwroughtsuchmarvelsamongthenations，werethenapeopleofmisersandofusurers！——Andknow，proudknight，wenumbernamesamongstustowhichyourboastednorthernnobilityisasthegourdcomparedwiththecedar——namesthatascendfarbacktothosehightimeswhentheDivinePresenceshookthemercy-seatbetweenthecherubim，andwhichderivetheirsplendourfromnoearthlyprince，butfromtheawfulVoice，whichbadetheirfathersbenearestofthecongregationtotheVision——SuchweretheprincesoftheHouseofJacob。’’
Rebecca’scolourroseassheboastedtheancientgloriesofherrace，butfadedassheadded，withatsigh，``Such_were_theprincesofJudah，nowsuchnomore！——Theyaretrampleddownliketheshorngrass，andmixedwiththemireoftheways。Yetaretherethoseamongthemwhoshamenotsuchhighdescent，andofsuchshallbethedaughterofIsaacthesonofAdonikam！Farewell！——Ienvynotthyblood-wonhonours——Ienvynotthybarbarousdescentfromnorthernheathens——Ienvytheenotthyfaith，whichiseverinthymouth，butneverinthyheartnorinthypractice。’’
``Thereisaspellonme，byHeaven！’’saidBois-Guilbert。
``Ialmostthinkyonbesottedskeletonspoketruth，andthatthereluctancewithwhichIpartfromtheehathsomethinginitmorethanisnatural——Faircreature！’’hesaid，approachingnearher，butwithgreatrespect，——``soyoung，sobeautiful，sofearlessofdeath！andyetdoomedtodie，andwithinfamyandagony。Whowouldnotweepforthee?——Thetear，thathasbeenastrangertotheseeyelidsfortwentyyears，moistensthemasIgazeonthee。Butitmustbe——nothingmaynowsavethylife。ThouandIarebuttheblindinstrumentsofsomeirresistiblefatality，thathurriesusalong，likegoodlyvesselsdrivingbeforethestorm，whicharedashedagainsteachother，andsoperish。Forgiveme，then，andletuspartatleastasfriendspart。Ihaveassailedthyresolutioninvain，andmineownisfixedastheadamantinedecreesoffate。’’
``Thus，’’saidRebecca，``domenthrowonfatetheissueoftheirownwildpassions。ButIdoforgivethee，Bois-Guilbert，thoughtheauthorofmyearlydeath。Therearenoblethingswhichcrossoverthypowerfulmind；butitisthegardenofthesluggard，andtheweedshaverushedup，andconspiredtochokethefairandwholesomeblossom。’’
``Yes，’’saidtheTemplar，``Iam，Rebecca，asthouhastspokenme，untaught，untamed——andproud，that，amidstashoalofemptyfoolsandcraftybigots，Ihaveretainedthepreeminentfortitudethatplacesmeabovethem。Ihavebeenachildofbattlefrommyyouthupward，highinmyviews，steadyandinflexibleinpursuingthem。SuchmustIremain——proud，inflexible，andunchanging；andofthistheworldshallhaveproof——Butthouforgivestme，Rebecca?’’
``Asfreelyasevervictimforgaveherexecutioner。’’
``Farewell，then，’’saidtheTemplar，andlefttheapartment。
ThePreceptorAlbertwaitedimpatientlyinanadjacentchamberthereturnofBois-Guilbert。
``Thouhasttarriedlong，’’hesaid；``Ihavebeenasifstretchedonred-hotironwithveryimpatience。
WhatiftheGrandMaster，orhisspyConrade，hadcomehither?Ihadpaiddearformycomplaisance——Butwhatailsthee，brother?——
Thysteptotters，thybrowisasblackasnight。
Artthouwell，Bois-Guilbert?’’
``Ay，’’answeredtheTemplar，``aswellasthewretchwhoisdoomedtodiewithinanhour——Nay，bytherood，nothalfsowell——fortherebethoseinsuchstate，whocanlaydownlifelikeacast-offgarment。ByHeaven，Malvoisin，yondergirlhathwellnighunmannedme。IamhalfresolvedtogototheGrandMaster，abjuretheOrdertohisveryteeth，andrefusetoactthebrutalitywhichhistyrannyhasimposedonme。’’
``Thouartmad，’’answeredMalvoisin；``thoumaystthusindeedutterlyruinthyself，butcanstnotevenfindachancetherebytosavethelifeofthisJewess，whichseemssopreciousinthineeyes。
BeaumanoirwillnameanotheroftheOrdertodefendhisjudgmentinthyplace，andtheaccusedwillasassuredlyperishasifthouhadsttakenthedutyimposedonthee。’’
``’Tisfalse——Iwillmyselftakearmsinherbehalf，’’
answeredtheTemplar，haughtily；``and，shouldIdoso，Ithink，Malvoisin，thatthouknowestnotoneoftheOrder，whowillkeephissaddlebeforethepointofmylance。’’
``Ay，butthouforgettest，’’saidthewilyadviser，``thouwilthaveneitherleisurenoropportunitytoexecutethismadproject。GotoLucasBeaumanoir，andsaythouhastrenouncedthyvowofobedience，andseehowlongthedespoticoldmanwillleavetheeinpersonalfreedom。Thewordsshallscarcehaveleftthylips，erethouwilteitherbeanhundredfeetunderground，inthedungeonofthePreceptory，toabidetrialasarecreantknight；or，ifhisopinionholdsconcerningthypossession，thouwiltbeenjoyingstraw，darkness，andchains，insomedistantconventcell，stunnedwithexorcisms，anddrenchedwithholywater，toexpelthefoulfiendwhichhathobtaineddominionoverthee。
Thoumusttothelists，Brian，orthouartalostanddishonouredman。’’
``Iwillbreakforthandfly，’’saidBois-Guilbert——``flytosomedistantland，towhichfollyandfanaticismhavenotyetfoundtheirway。Nodropofthebloodofthismostexcellentcreatureshallbespilledbymysanction。’’
``Thoucanstnotfly，’’saidthePreceptor；``thyravingshaveexcitedsuspicion，andthouwiltnotbepermittedtoleavethePreceptory。Goandmaketheessay——presentthyselfbeforethegate，andcommandthebridgetobelowered，andmarkwhatanswerthoushaltreceive——Thouaresurprisedandoffended；butisitnotthebetterforthee?