Ivanhoe，whohadotherwebtoweavethantostandcanvassingapalfrey’spaceswithitsowner，lentbutadeafeartothePrior’sgraveadvicesandfacetiousjests，andhavingleaptonhismare，andcommandedhissquireforsuchGurthnowcalledhimselftokeepclosebyhisside，hefollowedthetrackoftheBlackKnightintotheforest，whilethePriorstoodatthegateoftheconventlookingafterhim，andejaculating，——``SaintMary！howpromptandfierybethesemenofwar！IwouldI
hadnottrustedMalkintohiskeeping，for，crippledasIamwiththecoldrheum，Iamundoneifaughtbutgoodbefallsher。Andyet，’’saidhe，recollectinghimself，``asIwouldnotsparemyownoldanddisabledlimbsinthegoodcauseofOldEngland，soMalkinmuste’enrunherhazardonthesameventure；anditmaybetheywillthinkourpoorhouseworthyofsomemunificentguerdon——or，itmaybe，theywillsendtheoldPriorapacingnag。
Andiftheydononeofthese，asgreatmenwillforgetlittlemen’sservice，trulyIshallholdmewellrepaidinhavingdonethatwhichisright。Anditisnowwellnighthefittingtimetosummonthebrethrentobreakfastintherefectory——Ah！Idoubttheyobeythatcallmorecheerilythanthebellsforprimesandmatins。’’
SothePriorofSaintBotolph’shobbledbackagainintotherefectory，topresideoverthestockfishandale，whichwasjustservingoutforthefriars’breakfast。Pursyandimportant，hesathimdownatthetable，andmanyadarkwordhethrewout，ofbenefitstobeexpectedtotheconvent，andhighdeedsofservicedonebyhimself，which，atanotherseason，wouldhaveattractedobservation。
Butasthestockfishwashighlysalted，andthealereasonablypowerful，thejawsofthebrethrenweretooanxiouslyemployedtoadmitoftheirmakingmuchuseoftheirears；nordowereadofanyofthefraternity，whowastemptedtospeculateuponthemysterioushintsoftheirSuperior，exceptFatherDiggory，whowasseverelyafflictedbythetoothache，sothatbecouldonlyeatononesideofhisjaws。
Inthemeantime，theBlackChampionandhisguidewerepacingattheirleisurethroughtherecessesoftheforest；thegoodKnightwhileshummingtohimselfthelayofsomeenamouredtroubadour，sometimesencouragingbyquestionsthepratingdispositionofhisattendant，sothattheirdialogueformedawhimsicalmixtureofsongandjest，ofwhichwewouldfaingiveourreaderssomeidea。YouarethentoimaginethisKnight，suchaswehavealreadydescribedhim，strongofperson，tall，broad-shouldered，andlargeofbone，mountedonhismightyblackcharger，whichseemedmadeonpurposetobearhisweight，soeasilyhepacedforwardunderit，havingthevisorofhishelmetraised，inordertoadmitfreedomofbreath，yetkeepingthebeaver，orunderpart，closed，sothathisfeaturescouldbebutimperfectlydistinguished。
Buthisruddyembrownedcheek-bonescouldbeplainlyseen，andthelargeandbrightblueeyes，thatflashedfromunderthedarkshadeoftheraisedvisor；andthewholegestureandlookofthechampionexpressedcarelessgaietyandfearlessconfidence——
amindwhichwasunapttoapprehenddanger，andprompttodefyitwhenmostimminent——
yetwithwhomdangerwasafamiliarthought，aswithonewhosetradewaswarandadventure。
TheJesterworehisusualfantastichabit，butlateaccidentshadledhimtoadoptagoodcuttingfalchion，insteadofhiswoodensword，withatargetomatchit；ofbothwhichweaponshehad，notwithstandinghisprofession，shownhimselfaskilfulmasterduringthestormingofTorquilstone。
Indeed，theinfirmityofWamba’sbrainconsistedchieflyinakindofimpatientirritability，whichsufferedhimnotlongtoremainquietinanyposture，oradheretoanycertaintrainofideas，althoughhewasforafewminutesalertenoughinperforminganyimmediatetask，orinapprehendinganyimmediatetopic。Onhorseback，therefore，hewasperpetuallyswinginghimselfbackwardsandforwards，nowonthehorse’sears，thenanonontheveryrumpoftheanimal，——nowhangingbothhislegsononeside，andnowsittingwithhisfacetothetail，moping，mowing，andmakingathousandapishgestures，untilhispalfreytookhisfreakssomuchtoheart，asfairlytolayhimathislengthonthegreengrass——anincidentwhichgreatlyamusedtheKnight，butcompelledhiscompaniontoridemoresteadilythereafter。
Atthepointoftheirjourneyatwhichwetakethemup，thisjoyouspairwereengagedinsingingavirelai，asitwascalled，inwhichtheclownboreamellowburden，tothebetterinstructedKnightoftheFetterlock。Andthusruntheditty：——
Anna-Marie，love，upisthesun，Anna-Marie，love，mornisbegun，Mistsaredispersing，love，birdssingingfree，Upinthemorning，love，Anna-Marie。
Anna-Marie，love，upinthemorn，Thehunteriswindingblithesoundsonhishorn，Theechoringsmerryfromrockandfromtree，’Tistimetoarousethee，love，Anna-Marie。
Wamba。
OTybalt，love，Tybalt，awakemenotyet，Aroundmysoftpillowwhilesofterdreamsflit，Forwhatarethejoysthatinwakingweprove，Comparedwiththesevisions，O，Tybalt，mylove?
Letthebirdstotheriseofthemistcarolshrill，Letthehunterblowouthisloadhornonthehill，Softersounds，softerpleasures，inslumberIprove，——
ButthinknotIdreamtofthee，Tybalt，mylove。
``Adaintysong，’’saidWamba，whentheyhadfinishedtheircarol，``andIswearbymybauble，aprettymoral！——IusedtosingitwithGurth，oncemyplayfellow，andnow，bythegraceofGodandhismaster，nolessthanafreemen；andweoncecamebythecudgelforbeingsoentrancedbythemelody，thatwelayinbedtwohoursaftersunrise，singingthedittybetwixtsleepingandwaking——
mybonesacheatthinkingofthetuneeversince。
Nevertheless，IhaveplayedthepartofAnna-Marie，topleaseyou，fairsir。’’
TheJesternextstruckintoanothercarol，asortofcomicditty，towhichtheKnight，catchingupthetune，repliedinthelikemanner。
KnightandWamba。
Therecamethreemerrymenfromsouth，west，andnorth，Evermoresingtheroundelay；
TowintheWidowofWycombeforth，Andwherewasthewidowmightsaythemnay?
Thefirstwasaknight，andfromTynedalehecame，Evermoresingtheroundelay；
Andhisfathers，Godsaveus，weremenofgreatfaine，Andwherewasthewidowmightsayhimnay?
Ofhisfatherthelaird，ofhisunclethesquire，Heboastedinrhymeandinroundelay；
Shebadehimgobaskbyhissea-coalfire，Forshewasthewidowwouldsayhimnay。
Wamba。
Thenextthatcameforth，sworebybloodandbynails，Merrilysingtheroundelay；
Hur’sagentleman，Godwot，andhur’slineagewasofWales，Andwherewallthewidowmightsayhimnay?
SirDavidapMorganapGriffithapHughApTudorapRhice，quothhisroundelayShesaidthatonewidowforsomanywastoofew，AndshebadetheWelshmanwendhisway。
Butthennextcameayeoman，ayeomanofKent，Jollilysinginghisroundelay；
Hespoketothewidowoflivingandrent，Andwherewasthewidowcouldsayhimnay?
Both。
Sotheknightandthesquirewerebothleftinthemire，Therefortosingtheirroundelay；
ForayeomanofKent，withhisyearlyrent，Thereneverwasawidowcouldsayhimnay。
``Iwould，Wamba，’’saidtheknight，``thatourhostoftheTrysting-tree，orthejollyFriar，hischaplain，heardthisthydittyinpraiseofourbluffyeoman。’’
``SowouldnotI，’’saidWamba——``butforthehornthathangsatyourbaldric。’’
``Ay，’’saidtheKnight，——``thisisapledgeofLocksley’sgood-will，thoughIamnotliketoneedit。Threemotsonthisbuglewill，Iamassured，bringround，atourneed，ajollybandofyonderhonestyeomen。’’
``Iwouldsay，Heavenforefend，’’saidtheJester，``wereitnotthatthatfairgiftisapledgetheywouldletuspasspeaceably。’’
``Why，whatmeanestthou?’’saidtheKnight；
``thinkestthouthatbutforthispledgeoffellowshiptheywouldassaultus?’’
``Nay，formeIsaynothing，’’saidWamba；``forgreentreeshaveearsaswellasstonewalls。Butcanstthouconstruemethis，SirKnight——Whenisthywine-pitcherandthypursebetteremptythanfull?’’
``Why，never，Ithink，’’repliedtheKnight。
``Thouneverdeservesttohaveafulloneinthyhand，forsosimpleananswer！ThouhadstbestemptythypitchererethoupassittoaSaxon，andleavethymoneyathomeerethouwalkinthegreenwood。’’
``Youholdourfriendsforrobbers，then?’’saidtheKnightoftheFetterlock。
``Youhearmenotsayso，fairsir，’’saidWamba；
``itmayrelieveaman’ssteedtotakeofhismailwhenhehathalongjourneytomake；and，certes，itmaydogoodtotherider’ssoultoeasehimofthatwhichistherootofevil；thereforewillIgivenohardnamestothosewhodosuchservices。
OnlyIwouldwishmymailathome，andmypurseinmychamber，whenImeetwiththesegoodfellows，becauseitmightsavethemsometrouble。’’
``_We_areboundtoprayforthem，myfriend，notwithstandingthefaircharacterthoudostaffordthem。’’
``Prayforthemwithallmyheart，’’saidWamba；
``butinthetown，notinthegreenwood，liketheAbbotofSaintBees，whomtheycausedtosaymasswithanoldhollowoak-treeforhisstall。’’
``Sayasthoulist，Wamba，’’repliedtheKnight，``theseyeomendidthymasterCedricyeomanlyserviceatTorquilstone。’’
``Ay，truly，’’answeredWamba；``butthatwasinthefashionoftheirtradewithHeaven。’’
``Theirtrade，Wamba！howmeanyoubythat?’’
repliedhiscompanion。
``Marry，thus，’’saidtheJester。``TheymakeupabalancedaccountwithHeaven，asouroldcellarerusedtocallhisciphering，asfairasIsaactheJewkeepswithhisdebtors，and，likehim，giveoutaverylittle，andtakelargecreditfordoingso；
reckoning，doubtless，ontheirownbehalftheseven-foldusurywhichtheblessedtexthathpromisedtocharitableloans。’’
``Givemeanexampleofyourmeaning，Wamba，——Iknownothingofciphersorratesofusage，’’
answeredtheKnight。