Atthesewords，pronouncedinatoneofmajestysuitedtothehighrank，andnolessdistinguishedcharacterofCur-de-Lion，theyeomenatoncekneeleddownbeforehim，andatthesametimetenderedtheirallegiance，andimploredpardonfortheiroffences。
``Rise，myfriends，’’saidRichard，inagracioustone，lookingonthemwithacountenanceinwhichhishabitualgood-humourhadalreadyconqueredtheblazeofhastyresentment，andwhosefeaturesretainednomarkofthelatedesperateconflict，exceptingtheflusharisingfromexertion，——``Arise，’’
hesaid，``myfriends！——Yourmisdemeanours，whetherinforestorfield，havebeenatonedbytheloyalservicesyourenderedmydistressedsubjectsbeforethewallsofTorquilstone，andtherescueyouhavethisdayaffordedtoyoursovereign。Arise，myliegemen，andbegoodsubjectsinfuture——Andthou，braveLocksley——’’
``CallmenolongerLocksley，myLiege，butknowmeunderthename，which，Ifear，famehathblowntoowidelynottohavereachedevenyourroyalears——IamRobinHoodofSherwoodForest。’’*
*FromtheballadsofRobinHood，welearnthatthiscelebrated*outlaw，whenindisguise，sometimesassumedthenameof*Locksley，fromavillagewherehewasborn，butwheresituated*wearenotdistinctlytold。
``KingofOutlaws，andPrinceofgoodfellows！’’
saidtheKing，``whohathnotheardanamethathasbeenborneasfarasPalestine?Butbeassured，braveOutlaw，thatnodeeddoneinourabsence，andintheturbulenttimestowhichithathgivenrise，shallberememberedtothydisadvantage。’’
``Truesaystheproverb，’’saidWamba，interposinghisword，butwithsomeabatementofhisusualpetulance，——
`Whenthecatisaway，Themicewillplay。’’’
``What，Wamba，artthouthere?’’saidRichard；
``Ihavebeensolongofhearingthyvoice，Ithoughtthouhadsttakenflight。’’
``Itakeflight！’’saidWamba；``whendoyoueverfindFollyseparatedfromValour?Thereliesthetrophyofmysword，thatgoodgreygelding，whomIheartilywishuponhislegsagain，conditioninghismasterlaytherehoughedinhisplace。
Itistrue，Igavealittlegroundatfirst，foramotleyjacketdoesnotbrooklance-heads，asasteeldoubletwill。ButifIfoughtnotatsword’spoint，youwillgrantmethatIsoundedtheonset。’’
``Andtogoodpurpose，honestWamba，’’repliedtheKing。``Thygoodserviceshallnotbeforgotten。’’
``_Confiteor！Confiteor！_’’——exclaimed，inasubmissivetone，avoiceneartheKing’sside——``myLatinwillcarrymenofarther——butIconfessmydeadlytreason，andprayleavetohaveabsolutionbeforeIamledtoexecution！’’
Richardlookedaround，andbeheldthejovialFriaronhisknees，tellinghisrosary，whilehisquarter-staff，whichhadnotbeenidleduringtheskirmish，layonthegrassbesidehim。Hiscountenancewasgatheredsoasbethoughtmightbestexpressthemostprofoundcontrition，hiseyesbeingturnedup，andthecornersofhismouthdrawndown，asWambaexpressedit，likethetasselsatthemouthofapurse。Yetthisdemureaffectationofextremepenitencewaswhimsicallybeliedbyaludicrousmeaningwhichlurkedinhishugefeatures，andseemedtopronouncehisfearandrepentancealikehypocritical。
``Forwhatartthoucastdown，madPriest?’’
saidRichard；``artthouafraidthydiocesanshouldlearnhowtrulythoudostserveOurLadyandSaintDunstan?——Tush，man！fearitnot；RichardofEnglandbetraysnosecretsthatpassovertheflagon。’’
``Nay，mostgracioussovereign，’’answeredtheHermit，wellknowntothecuriousinpenny-historiesofRobinHood，bythenameofFriarTuck，
``itisnotthecrosierIfear，butthesceptre——Alas！
thatmysacrilegiousfistshouldeverhavebeenappliedtotheearoftheLord’sanointed！’’
``Ha！ha！’’saidRichard，``sitsthewindthere?——
IntruthIhadforgottenthebuffet，thoughmineearsungafteritforawholeday。Butifthecuffwasfairlygiven，Iwillbejudgedbythegoodmenaround，ifitwasnotaswellrepaid——or，ifthouthinkestIstillowetheeaught，andwillstandforthforanothercounterbuff——’’
``Bynomeans，’’repliedFriarTuck，``Ihadmineownreturned，andwithusury——mayyourMajestyeverpayyourdebtsasfully！’’
``IfIcoulddosowithcuffs，’’saidtheKing，``mycreditorsshouldhavelittlereasontocomplainofanemptyexchequer。’’
``Andyet，’’saidtheFriar，resuminghisdemurehypocriticalcountenance，``IknownotwhatpenanceIoughttoperformforthatmostsacrilegiousblow！——’’
``Speaknomoreofit，brother，’’saidtheKing；
``afterhavingstoodsomanycuffsfromPaynimsandmisbelievers，IwerevoidofreasontoquarrelwiththebuffetofaclerksoholyasheofCopmanhurst。
Yet，minehonestFriar，Ithinkitwouldbebestbothforthechurchandthyself，thatI
shouldprocurealicensetounfrockthee，andretaintheeasayeomanofourguard，servingincareofourperson，asformerlyinattendanceuponthealtarofSaintDunstan。’’
``MyLiege，’’saidtheFriar，``Ihumblycraveyourpardon；andyouwouldreadilygrantmyexcuse，didyoubutknowhowthesinoflazinesshasbesetme。SaintDunstan——mayhebegracioustous！——standsquietinhisniche，thoughIshouldforgetmyorisonsinkillingafatbuck——Istayoutofmycellsometimesanight，doingIwotnotwhat——SaintDunstannevercomplains——aquietmasterheis，andapeaceful，aseverwasmadeofwood——ButtobeayeomaninattendanceonmysovereigntheKing——thehonourisgreat，doubtless——
yet，ifIwerebuttostepasidetocomfortawidowinonecorner，ortokilladeerinanother，itwouldbe，`whereisthedogPriest?’saysone。
`WhohasseentheaccursedTuck?’saysanother。
`Theunfrockedvillaindestroysmorevenisonthanhalfthecountrybesides，’saysonekeeper；`Andishuntingaftereveryshydoeinthecountry！’
quothasecond——Infine，goodmyLiege，Iprayyoutoleavemeasyoufoundme；or，ifinaughtyoudesiretoextendyourbenevolencetome，thatImaybeconsideredasthepoorClerkofSaintDunstan’scellinCopmanhurst，towhomanysmalldonationwillbemostthankfullyacceptable。’’
``Iunderstandthee，’’saidtheKing，``andtheHolyClerkshallhaveagrantofvertandvenisoninmywoodsofWarncliffe。Mark，however，Iwillbutassigntheethreebuckseveryseason；butifthatdonotproveanapologyforthyslayingthirty，IamnoChristianknightnortrueking。’’
``YourGracemaybewellassured，’’saidtheFriar，``that，withthegraceofSaintDunstan，I
shallfindthewayofmultiplyingyourmostbounteousgift。’’
``Inothingdoubtit，goodbrother，’’saidtheKing；``andasvenisonisbutdryfood，ourcellarershallhaveorderstodelivertotheeabuttofsack，arunletofMalvoisie，andthreehogsheadsofaleofthefirststrike，yearly——Ifthatwillnotquenchthythirst，thoumustcometocourt，andbecomeacquaintedwithmybutler。’’
``ButforSaintDunstan?’’saidtheFriar——
``Acope，astole，andanaltar-clothshaltthoualsohave，’’continuedtheKing，crossinghimself——``Butwemaynotturnourgameintoearnest，lestGodpunishusforthinkingmoreonourfolliesthanonhishonourandworship。’’
``Iwillanswerformypatron，’’saidthePriest，joyously。
``Answerforthyself，Friar，’’saidKingRichard，somethingsternly；butimmediatelystretchingouthishandtotheHermit，thelatter，somewhatabashed，benthisknee，andsalutedit。``Thoudostlesshonourtomyextendedpalmthantomyclenchedfist，’’saidtheMonarch；``thoudidstonlykneeltotheone，andtotheotherdidstprostratethyself。’’
ButtheFriar，afraidperhapsofagaingivingoffencebycontinuingtheconversationintoojocoseastyle——afalsesteptobeparticularlyguardedagainstbythosewhoconversewithmonarchs——
bowedprofoundly，andfellintotherear。
Atthesametime，twoadditionalpersonagesappearedonthescene。
CHAPTERXLI
Allhailtothelordlingsofhighdegree，Wholivenotmorehappy，thoughgreaterthanwe！
Ourpastimestosee，Undereverygreentree，Inallthegaywoodland，rightwelcomeyebe。
_Macdonald_。
ThenewcomerswereWilfredofIvanhoe，onthePriorofBotolph’spalfrey，andGurth，whoattendedhim，ontheKnight’sownwar-horse。
TheastonishmentofIvanhoewasbeyondbounds，whenhesawhismasterbesprinkledwithblood，andsixorsevendeadbodieslyingaroundinthelittlegladeinwhichthebattlehadtakenplace。
NorwashelesssurprisedtoseeRichardsurroundedbysomanysilvanattendants，theoutlaws，astheyseemedtobe，oftheforest，andaperilousretinuethereforeforaprince。HehesitatedwhethertoaddresstheKingastheBlackKnight-errant，orinwhatothermannertodemeanhimselftowardshim。
Richardsawhisembarrassment。
``Fearnot，Wilfred，’’hesaid，``toaddressRichardPlantagenetashimself，sincethouseesthiminthecompanyoftrueEnglishhearts，althoughitmaybetheyhavebeenurgedafewstepsasidebywarmEnglishblood。’’
``SirWilfredofIvanhoe，’’saidthegallantOutlaw，steppingforward，``myassurancescanaddnothingtothoseofoursovereign；yet，letmesaysomewhatproudly，thatofmenwhohavesufferedmuch，hehathnottruersubjectsthanthosewhonowstandaroundhim。’’
``Icannotdoubtit，braveman，’’saidWilfred，``sincethouartofthenumber——Butwhatmeanthesemarksofdeathanddanger?theseslainmen，andthebloodyarmourofmyPrince?’’
``Treasonhathbeenwithus，Ivanhoe，’’saidtheKing；``but，thankstothesebravemen，treasonhathmetitsmeed——But，nowIbethinkme，thoutooartatraitor，’’saidRichard，smiling；``amostdisobedienttraitor；forwerenotourorderspositive，thatthoushouldstreposethyselfatSaintBotolph’suntilthywoundwashealed?’’
``Itishealed，’’saidIvanhoe；``itisnotofmoreconsequencethanthescratchofabodkin。Butwhy，ohwhy，noblePrince，willyouthusvextheheartsofyourfaithfulservants，andexposeyourlifebylonelyjourneysandrashadventures，asifitwereofnomorevaluethanthatofamereknight-errant，whohasnointerestonearthbutwhatlanceandswordmayprocurehim?’’
``AndRichardPlantagenet，’’saidtheKing，``desiresnomorefamethanhisgoodlanceandswordmayacquirehim——andRichardPlantagenetisprouderofachievinganadventure，withonlyhisgoodsword，andhisgoodarmtospeed，thanifheledtobattleanhostofanhundredthousandarmedmen。’’
``Butyourkingdom，myLiege，’’saidIvanhoe，``yourkingdomisthreatenedwithdissolutionandcivilwar——yoursubjectsmenacedwitheveryspeciesofevil，ifdeprivedoftheirsovereigninsomeofthosedangerswhichitisyourdailypleasuretoincur，andfromwhichyouhavebutthismomentnarrowlyescaped。’’