Wertthoutofly，whatwouldensuebutthereversalofthyarms，thedishonourofthineancestry，thedegradationofthyrank?——Thinkonit。
WhereshallthineoldcompanionsinarmshidetheirheadswhenBriandeBois-Guilbert，thebestlanceoftheTemplars，isproclaimedrecreant，amidthehissesoftheassembledpeople?WhatgriefwillbeattheCourtofFrance！WithwhatjoywillthehaughtyRichardhearthenews，thattheknightthatsethimhardinPalestine，andwell-nighdarkenedhisrenown，haslostfameandhonourforaJewishgirl，whomhecouldnotevensavebysocostlyasacrifice！’’
``Malvoisin，’’saidtheKnight，``Ithankthee——
thouhasttouchedthestringatwhichmyheartmostreadilythrills！——Comeofitwhatmay，recreantshallneverbeaddedtothenameofBois-Guilbert。
WouldtoGod，Richard，oranyofhisvauntingminionsofEngland，wouldappearintheselists！
Buttheywillbeempty——noonewillrisktobreakalancefortheinnocent，theforlorn。’’
``Thebetterforthee，ifitproveso，’’saidthePreceptor；``ifnochampionappears，itisnotbythymeansthatthisunluckydamselshalldie，butbythedoomoftheGrandMaster，withwhomrestsalltheblame，andwhowillcountthatblameforpraiseandcommendation。’’
``True，’’saidBois-Guilbert；``ifnochampionappears，Iambutapartofthepageant，sittingindeedonhorsebackinthelists，buthavingnopartinwhatistofollow。’’
``Nonewhatever，’’saidMalvoisin；``nomorethanthearmedimageofSaintGeorgewhenitmakespartofaprocession。’’
``Well，Iwillresumemyresolution，’’repliedthehaughtyTemplar。``Shehasdespisedme——
repulsedme——reviledme——AndwhereforeshouldIofferupforherwhateverofestimationIhaveintheopinionofothers?Malvoisin，Iwillappearinthelists。’’
Helefttheapartmenthastilyasheutteredthesewords，andthePreceptorfollowed，towatchandconfirmhiminhisresolution；forinBois-Guilbert’sfamehehadhimselfastronginterest，expectingmuchadvantagefromhisbeingonedayattheheadoftheOrder，nottomentiontheprefermentofwhichMont-Fitchethadgivenhimhopes，onconditionhewouldforwardthecondemnationoftheunfortunateRebecca。Yetalthough，incombatinghisfriend’sbetterfeelings，hepossessedalltheadvantagewhichawily，composed，selfishdispositionhasoveramanagitatedbystrongandcontendingpassions，itrequiredallMalvoisin’sarttokeepBois-Guilbertsteadytothepurposehehadprevailedonhimtoadopt。Hewasobligedtowatchhimcloselytopreventhisresuminghispurposeofflight，tointercepthiscommunicationwiththeGrandMaster，lestheshouldcometoanopenrupturewithhisSuperior，andtorenew，fromtimetotime，thevariousargumentsbywhichheendeavouredtoshow，that，inappearingaschampiononthisoccasion，Bois-Guilbert，withouteitheracceleratingorensuringthefateofRebecca，wouldfollowtheonlycoursebywhichbecouldsavehimselffromdegradationanddisgrace。
CHAPTERXL
Shadowsavaunt！——Richard’shimselfagain。
_RichardIII。_
WhentheBlackKnight——foritbecomesnecessarytoresumethetrainofhisadventures——lefttheTrysting-treeofthegenerousOutlaw，heheldhiswaystraighttoaneighbouringreligioushouse，ofsmallextentandrevenue，calledthePrioryofSaintBotolph，towhichthewoundedIvanhoehadbeenremovedwhenthecastlewastaken，undertheguidanceofthefaithfulGurth，andthemagnanimousWamba。ItisunnecessaryatpresenttomentionwhattookplaceintheinterimbetwixtWilfredandhisdeliverer；sufficeittosay，thatafterlongandgravecommunication，messengersweredispatchedbythePriorinseveraldirections，andthatonthesucceedingmorningtheBlackKnightwasabouttosetforthonhisjourney，accompaniedbythejesterWamba，whoattendedashisguide。
``Wewillmeet，’’hesaidtoIvanhoe，``atConingsburgh，thecastleofthedeceasedAthelstane，sincetherethyfatherCedricholdsthefuneralfeastforhisnoblerelation。IwouldseeyourSaxonkindredtogether，SirWilfred，andbecomebetteracquaintedwiththemthanheretofore。Thoualsowiltmeetme；anditshallbemytasktoreconciletheetothyfather。’’
Sosaying，hetookanaffectionatefarewellofIvanhoe，whoexpressedananxiousdesiretoattenduponhisdeliverer。ButtheBlackKnightwouldnotlistentotheproposal。
``Restthisday；thouwilthavescarcestrengthenoughtotravelonthenext。IwillhavenoguidewithmebuthonestWamba，whocanplaypriestorfoolasIshallbemostinthehumour。’’
``AndI，’’saidWamba，``willattendyouwithallmyheart。IwouldfainseethefeastingatthefuneralofAthelstane；for，ifitbenotfullandfrequent，hewillrisefromthedeadtorebukecook，sewer，andcupbearer；andthatwereasightworthseeing。Always，SirKnight，IwilltrustyourvalourwithmakingmyexcusetomymasterCedric，incasemineownwitshouldfail。’’
``Andhowshouldmypoorvaloursucceed，SirJester，whenthylightwithalts?——resolvemethat。’’
``Wit，SirKnight，’’repliedtheJester，``maydomuch。Heisaquick，apprehensiveknave，whoseeshisneighboursblindside，andknowshowtokeepthelee-gagewhenhispassionsareblowinghigh。Butvalourisasturdyfellow，thatmakesallsplit。Herowsagainstbothwindandtide，andmakeswaynotwithstanding；and，therefore，goodSirKnight，whileItakeadvantageofthefairweatherinournoblemaster’stemper，Iwillexpectyoutobestiryourselfwhenitgrowsrough。’’
``SirKnightoftheFetterlock，sinceitisyourpleasuresotobedistinguished，’’saidIvanhoe，``I
fearmeyouhavechosenatalkativeandatroublesomefooltobeyourguide。Butheknowseverypathandalleyinthewoodsaswellase’erahunterwhofrequentsthem；andthepoorknave，asthouhastpartlyseen，isasfaithfulassteel。’’
``Nay，’’saidtheKnight，``anhehavethegiftofshowingmyroad，Ishallnotgrumblewithhimthathedesirestomakeitpleasant——Faretheewell，kindWilfred——Ichargetheenottoattempttotraveltillto-morrowatearliest。’’
Sosaying，heextendedhishandtoIvanhoe，whopressedittohislips，tookleaveofthePrior，mountedhishorse，anddeparted，withWambaforhiscompanion。Ivanhoefollowedthemwithhiseyes，untiltheywerelostintheshadesofthesurroundingforest，andthenreturnedintotheconvent。
Butshortlyaftermatin-song，herequestedtoseethePrior。Theoldmancameinhaste，andenquiredanxiouslyafterthestateofhishealth。
``Itisbetter，’’hesaid，``thanmyfondesthopecouldhaveanticipated；eithermywoundhasbeenslighterthantheeffusionofbloodledmetosuppose，orthisbalsamhathwroughtawonderfulcureuponit。IfeelalreadyasifIcouldbearmycorslet；
andsomuchthebetter，forthoughtspassinmymindwhichrendermeunwillingtoremainherelongerininactivity。’’
``Now，thesaintsforbid，’’saidthePrior，``thatthesonoftheSaxonCedricshouldleaveourconventerehiswoundswerehealed！Itwereshametoourprofessionwerewetosufferit。’’
``NorwouldIdesiretoleaveyourhospitableroof，venerablefather，’’saidIvanhoe，``didInotfeelmyselfabletoendurethejourney，andcompelledtoundertakeit。’’
``Andwhatcanhaveurgedyoutososuddenadeparture?’’saidthePrior。
``Haveyounever，holyfather，’’answeredtheKnight，``feltanapprehensionofapproachingevil，forwhichyouinvainattemptedtoassignacause?——
Haveyouneverfoundyourminddarkened，likethesunnylandscape，bythesuddencloud，whichaugursacomingtempest?——Andthinkestthounotthatsuchimpulsesaredeservingofattention，asbeingthehintsofourguardianspirits，thatdangerisimpending?’’
``Imaynotdeny，’’saidthePrior，crossinghimself，``thatsuchthingshavebeen，andhavebeenofHeaven；butthensuchcommunicationshavehadavisiblyusefulscopeandtendency。Butthou，woundedasthouart，whatavailsitthoushouldstfollowthestepsofhimwhomthoucouldstnotaid，werehetobeassaulted?’’
``Prior，’’saidIvanhoe，``thoudostmistake——I
amstoutenoughtoexchangebuffetswithanywhowillchallengemetosuchatraffic——Butwereitotherwise，mayInotaidhimwereheindanger，byothermeansthanbyforceofarms?ItisbuttoowellknownthattheSaxonslovenottheNormanrace，andwhoknowswhatmaybetheissue，ifhebreakinuponthemwhentheirheartsareirritatedbythedeathofAthelstane，andtheirheadsheatedbythecarousalinwhichtheywillindulgethemselves?Iholdhisentranceamongthematsuchamomentmostperilous，andIamresolvedtoshareoravertthedanger；which，thatImaythebetterdo，Iwouldcraveoftheetheuseofsomepalfreywhosepacemaybesofterthanthatofmy_destrier_。’’*
*_Destrier_——war-horse。
``Surely，’’saidtheworthychurchman；``youshallhavemineownamblingjennet，andIwoulditambledaseasyforyoursakeasthatoftheAbbotofSaintAlbans。YetthiswillIsayforMalkin，forsoIcallher，thatunlessyouweretoborrowarideonthejuggler’ssteedthatpacesahornpipeamongsttheeggs，youcouldnotgoajourneyonacreaturesogentleandsmooth-paced。Ihavecomposedmanyahomilyonherback，totheedificationofmybrethrenoftheconvent，andmanypoorChristiansouls。’’
``Iprayyou，reverendfather，’’saidIvanhoe，``letMalkinbegotreadyinstantly，andbidGurthattendmewithminearms。’’
``Nay，butfairsir，’’saidthePrior，``IprayyoutorememberthatMalkinhathaslittleskillinarmsashermaster，andthatIwarrantnotherenduringthesightorweightofyourfullpanoply。O，Malkin，Ipromiseyou，isabeastofjudgment，andwillcontendagainstanyundueweight——Ididbutborrowthe_FructusTemporum_fromthepriestofSaintBees，andIpromiseyoushewouldnotstirfromthegateuntilIhadexchangedthehugevolumeformylittlebreviary。’’
``Trustme，holyfather，’’saidIvanhoe，``Iwillnotdistressherwithtoomuchweight；andifshecallsacombatwithme，itisoddsbutshehastheworst。’’
ThisreplywasmadewhileGurthwasbucklingonthe，Knight’sheelsapairoflargegildedspurs，capableofconvincinganyrestivehorsethathisbestsafetylayinbeingconformabletothewillofhisrider。
ThedeepandsharprowelswithwhichIvanhoe’s。
heelswerenowarmed，begantomaketheworthyPriorrepentofhiscourtesy，andejaculate，——``Nay，butfairsir，nowIbethinkme，myMalkinabidethnotthespur——BetteritwerethatyoutarryforthemareofourmancipledownattheGrange，whichmaybehadinlittlemorethananhour，andcannotbutbetractable，inrespectthatshedrawethmuchofourwinterfire-wood，andeatethnocorn。’’
``Ithankyou，reverendfather，butwillabidebyyourfirstoffer，asIseeMalkinisalreadyledforthtothegate。Gurthshallcarryminearmour；andfortherest，relyonit，thatasIwillnotoverloadMalkin’sback，sheshallnotovercomemypatience。
Andnow，farewell！’’
Ivanhoenowdescendedthestairsmorehastilyandeasilythanhiswoundpromised，andthrewhimselfuponthejennet，eagertoescapetheimportunityofthePrior，whostuckascloselytohissideashisageandfatnesswouldpermit，nowsingingthepraisesofMalkin，nowrecommendingcautiontotheKnightinmanagingher。
``Sheisatthemostdangerousperiodformaidensaswellasmares，’’saidtheoldman，laughingathisownjest，``beingbarelyinherfifteenthyear。’’