butarehollowedouttowardsthetop，andterminateinasortofturretscommunicatingwiththeinteriorofthekeepitself。Thedistantappearanceofthishugebuilding，withthesesingularaccompaniments，isasinterestingtotheloversofthepicturesque，astheinteriorofthecastleistotheeagerantiquary，whoseimaginationitcarriesbacktothedaysoftheheptarchy。Abarrow，inthevicinityofthecastle，ispointedoutasthetombofthememorableHengist；andvariousmonuments，ofgreatantiquityandcuriosity，areshownintheneighbouringchurchyard。*
*NoteI。CastleofConingsburgh。
WhenCur-de-Lionandhisretinueapproachedthisrudeyetstatelybuilding，itwasnot，asatpresent，surroundedbyexternalfortifications。TheSaxonarchitecthadexhaustedhisartinrenderingthemainkeepdefensible，andtherewasnoothercircumvallationthanarudebarrierofpalisades。
Ahugeblackbanner，whichfloatedfromthetopofthetower，announcedthattheobsequiesofthelateownerwerestillintheactofbeingsolemnized。
Itborenoemblemofthedeceased’sbirthorquality，forarmorialbearingswerethenanoveltyamongtheNormanchivalrythemselvesand，weretotallyunknowntotheSaxons。Butabovethegatewasanotherbanner，onwhichthefigureofawhitehorse，rudelypainted，indicatedthenationandrankofthedeceased，bythewell-knownsymbolofHengistandhisSaxonwarriors。
Allaroundthecastlewasasceneofbusycommotion；
forsuchfuneralbanquetsweretimesofgeneralandprofusehospitality，whichnotonlyeveryonewhocouldclaimthemostdistantconnexionwiththedeceased，butallpassengerswhatsoever，wereinvitedtopartake。ThewealthandconsequenceofthedeceasedAthelstane，occasionedthiscustomtobeobservedinthefullestextent。
Numerousparties，therefore，wereseenascendinganddescendingthehillonwhichthecastlewassituated；andwhentheKingandhisattendantsenteredtheopenandunguardedgatesoftheexternalbarrier，thespacewithinpresentedascenenoteasilyreconciledwiththecauseoftheassemblage。
Inoneplacecooksweretoilingtoroasthugeoxen，andfatsheep；inanother，hogsheadsofaleweresetabroach，tobedrainedatthefreedomofallcomers。Groupsofeverydescriptionweretobeseendevouringthefoodandswallowingtheliquorthusabandonedtotheirdiscretion。ThenakedSaxonserfwasdrowningthesenseofhishalf-year’shungerandthirst，inonedayofgluttonyanddrunkenness——themorepamperedburgessandguild-brotherwaseatinghismorselwithgust，orcuriouslycriticisingthequantityofthemaltandtheskillofthebrewer。SomefewofthepoorerNormangentrymightalsobeseen，distinguishedbytheirshavenchinsandshortcloaks，andnotlesssobytheirkeepingtogether，andlookingwithgreatscornonthewholesolemnity，evenwhilecondescendingtoavailthemselvesofthegoodcheerwhichwassoliberallysupplied。
Mendicantswereofcourseassembledbythescore，togetherwithstrollingsoldiersreturnedfromPalestine，accordingtotheirownaccountatleast，pedlarsweredisplayingtheirwares，travellingmechanicswereenquiringafteremployment，andwanderingpalmers，hedge-priests，Saxonminstrels，andWelshbards，weremutteringprayers，andextractingmistuneddirgesfromtheirharps，crowds，androtes。*Onesentforththepraises*Thecrowth，orcrowd，wasaspeciesofviolin。Therotea*sortofguitar，orratherhurdy-gurdy，thestringsofwhichwere*managedbyawheel，fromwhichtheinstrumenttookitsname。
ofAthelstaneinadolefulpanegyric；another，inaSaxongenealogicalpoem，rehearsedtheuncouthandharshnamesofhisnobleancestry。Jestersandjugglerswerenotawanting，norwastheoccasionoftheassemblysupposedtorendertheexerciseoftheirprofessionindecorousorimproper。
IndeedtheideasoftheSaxonsontheseoccasionswereasnaturalastheywererude。Ifsorrowwasthirsty，therewasdrink——ifhungry，therewasfood——ifitsunkdownuponandsaddenedtheheart，herewerethemeanssuppliedofmirth，oratleastofamusement。Nordidtheassistantsscorntoavailthemselvesofthosemeansofconsolation，although，everynowandthen，asifsuddenlyrecollectingthecausewhichhadbroughtthemtogether，themengroanedinunison，whilethefemales，ofwhommanywerepresent，raiseduptheirvoicesandshriekedforverywoe。
Suchwasthesceneinthecastle-yardatConingsburghwhenitwasenteredbyRichardandhisfollowers。
Theseneschalorstewarddeignednottotakenoticeofthegroupsofinferiorguestswhowereperpetuallyenteringandwithdrawing，unlesssofaraswasnecessarytopreserveorder；neverthelesshewasstruckbythegoodmienoftheMonarchandIvanhoe，moreespeciallyasheimaginedthefeaturesofthelatterwerefamiliartohim。Besides，theapproachoftwoknights，forsuchtheirdressbespokethem，wasarareeventataSaxonsolemnity，andcouldnotbutberegardedasasortofhonourtothedeceasedandhisfamily。Andinhissabledress，andholdinginhishandhiswhitewandofoffice，thisimportantpersonagemadewaythroughthemiscellaneousassemblageofguests，thusconductingRichardandIvanhoetotheentranceofthetower。GurthandWambaspeedilyfoundacquaintancesinthecourt-yard，norpresumedtointrudethemselvesanyfartheruntiltheirpresenceshouldberequired。
CHAPTERXLII
IfindthemwindingofMarcello’scorpse。
Andtherewassuchasolemnmelody，’Twixtdolefulsongs，tears，andsadelegies，——
Suchasoldgrandames，watchingbythedead，Arewonttooutwearthenightwith。
_OldPlay。_
ThemodeofenteringthegreattowerofConingsburghCastleisverypeculiar，andpartakesoftherudesimplicityoftheearlytimesinwhichitwaserected。Aflightofsteps，sodeepandnarrowastobealmostprecipitous，leadsuptoalowportalinthesouthsideofthetower，bywhichtheadventurousantiquarymaystill，oratleastcouldafewyearssince，gainaccesstoasmallstairwithinthethicknessofthemainwallofthetower，whichleadsuptothethirdstoryofthebuilding，——thetwolowerbeingdungeonsorvaults，whichneitherreceiveairnorlight，savebyasquareholeinthethirdstory，withwhichtheyseemtohavecommunicatedbyaladder。Theaccesstotheupperapartmentsinthetowerwhichconsistinalloffourstories，isgivenbystairswhicharecarriedupthroughtheexternalbuttresses。
Bythisdifficultandcomplicatedentrance，thegoodKingRichard，followedbyhisfaithfulIvanhoe，wasusheredintotheroundapartmentwhichoccupiesthewholeofthethirdstoryfromtheground。Wilfred，bythedifficultiesoftheascent，gainedtimetomufflehisfaceinhismantle，asithadbeenheldexpedientthatheshouldnotpresenthimselftohisfatheruntiltheKingshouldgivehimthesignal。
Therewereassembledinthisapartment，aroundalargeoakentable，aboutadozenofthemostdistinguishedrepresentativesoftheSaxonfamiliesintheadjacentcounties。Theywereallold，or，atleast，elderlymen；fortheyoungerrace，tothegreatdispleasureoftheseniors，had，likeIvanhoe，brokendownmanyofthebarrierswhichseparatedforhalfacenturytheNormanvictorsfromthevanquishedSaxons。Thedowncastandsorrowfullooksofthesevenerablemen，theirsilenceandtheirmournfulposture，formedastrongcontrasttothelevityoftherevellersontheoutsideofthecastle。
Theirgreylocksandlongfullbeards，togetherwiththeirantiquetunicsandlooseblackmantles，suitedwellwiththesingularandrudeapartmentinwhichtheywereseated，andgavetheappearanceofabandofancientworshippersofWoden，recalledtolifetomournoverthedecayoftheirnationalglory。
Cedric，seatedinequalrankamonghiscountrymen，seemedyet，bycommonconsent，toactaschiefoftheassembly。UpontheentranceofRichardonlyknowntohimasthevalorousKnightoftheFetterlockhearosegravely，andgavehimwelcomebytheordinarysalutation，_Waeshael_，raisingatthesametimeagoblettohishead。TheKing，nostrangertothecustomsofhisEnglishsubjects，returnedthegreetingwiththeappropriatewords，_Drinchael_，andpartookofacupwhichwashandedtohimbythesewer。ThesamecourtesywasofferedtoIvanhoe，whopledgedhisfatherinsilence，supplyingtheusualspeechbyaninclinationofhishead，lesthisvoiceshouldhavebeenrecognised。
Whenthisintroductoryceremonywasperformed，Cedricarose，and，extendinghishandtoRichard，conductedhimintoasmallandveryrudechapel，whichwasexcavated，asitwere，outofoneoftheexternalbuttresses。Astherewasnoopening，savingalittlenarrowloop-hole，theplacewouldhavebeennearlyquitedarkbutfortwoflambeauxortorches，whichshowed，byaredandsmokylight，thearchedroofandnakedwalls，therudealtarofstone，andthecrucifixofthesamematerial。
Beforethisaltarwasplacedabier，andoneachsideofthisbierkneeledthreepriests，whotoldtheirbeads，andmutteredtheirprayers，withthegreatestsignsofexternaldevotion。Forthisserviceasplendid_soul-scat_waspaidtotheconventofSaintEdmund’sbythemotherofthedeceased；
and，thatitmightbefullydeserved，thewholebrethren，savingthelameSacristan，hadtransferredthemselvestoConingsburgh，where，whilesixoftheirnumberwereconstantlyonguardintheperformanceofdivineritesbythebierofAthelstane，theothersfailednottotaketheirshareoftherefreshmentsandamusementswhichwentonatthecastle。Inmaintainingthispiouswatchandward，thegoodmonkswereparticularlycarefulnottointerrupttheirhymnsforaninstant，lestZernebock，theancientSaxonApollyon，shouldlayhisclutchesonthedepartedAthelstane。Nowweretheylesscarefultopreventanyunhallowedlaymanfromtouchingthepall，which，havingbeenthatusedatthefuneralofSaintEdmund，wasliabletobedesecrated，ifhandledbytheprofane。If，intruth，theseattentionscouldbeofanyusetothedeceased，hehadsomerighttoexpectthematthehandsofthebrethrenofSaintEdmund’s，since，besidesahundredmancusesofgoldpaiddownasthesoul-ransom，themotherofAthelstanehadannouncedherintentionofendowingthatfoundationwiththebetterpartofthelandsofthedeceased，inordertomaintainperpetualprayersforhissoul，andthatofherdepartedhusband。
RichardandWilfredfollowedtheSaxonCedricintotheapartmentofdeath，where，astheirguidepointedwithsolemnairtotheuntimelybierofAthelstane，theyfollowedhisexampleindevoutlycrossingthemselves，andmutteringabriefprayerforthewealofthedepartedsoul。
Thisactofpiouscharityperformed，Cedricagainmotionedthemtofollowhim，glidingoverthestonefloorwithanoiselesstread；and，afterascendingafewsteps，openedwithgreatcautionthedoorofasmalloratory，whichadjoinedtothechapel。
Itwasabouteightfeetsquare，hollowed，likethechapelitself，outofthethicknessofthewall；andtheloop-hole，whichenlightenedit，beingtothewest，andwideningconsiderablyasitslopedinward，abeamofthesettingsunfounditswayintoitsdarkrecess，andshowedafemaleofadignifiedmien，andwhosecountenanceretainedthemarkedremainsofmajesticbeauty。Herlongmourningrobesandherflowingwimpleofblackcypress，enhancedthewhitenessofherskin，andthebeautyofherlight-colouredandflowingtresses，whichtimehadneitherthinnednormingledwithsilver。
Hercountenanceexpressedthedeepestsorrowthatisconsistentwithresignation。Onthestonetablebeforeherstoodacrucifixofivory，besidewhichwaslaidamissal，havingitspagesrichlyilluminated，anditsboardsadornedwithclaspsofgold，andbossesofthesamepreciousmetal。
``NobleEdith，’’saidCedric，afterhavingstoodamomentsilent，asiftogiveRichardandWilfredtimetolookupontheladyofthemansion，``theseareworthystrangers，cometotakeapartinthysorrows。Andthis，inespecial，isthevaliantKnightwhofoughtsobravelyforthedeliveranceofhimforwhomwethisdaymourn。’
``Hisbraveryhasmythanks，’’returnedthelady；``althoughitbethewillofHeaventhatitshouldbedisplayedinvain。Ithank，too，hiscourtesy，andthatofhiscompanion，whichhathbroughtthemhithertobeholdthewidowofAdeling，themotherofAthelstane，inherdeephourofsorrowandlamentation。Toyourcare，kindkinsman，Iintrustthem，satisfiedthattheywillwantnohospitalitywhichthesesadwallscanyetafford。’’
Theguestsboweddeeplytothemourningparent，andwithdrewfromtheirhospitableguide。
Anotherwindingstairconductedthemtoanapartmentofthesamesizewiththatwhichtheyhadfirstentered，occupyingindeedthestoryimmediatelyabove。Fromthisroom，ereyetthedoorwasopened，proceededalowandmelancholystrainofvocalmusic。Whentheyentered，theyfoundthemselvesinthepresenceofabouttwentymatronsandmaidensofdistinguishedSaxonlineage。Fourmaidens，Rowenaleadingthechoir，raisedahymnforthesoulofthedeceased，ofwhichwehaveonlybeenabletodeciphertwoorthreestanzas：——
Dustuntodust，Tothisallmust；
Thetenanthathresign’dThefadedformTowasteandworm——
Corruptionclaimsherkind。
ThroughpathsunknownThysoulhathflown，Toseektherealmsofwoe，WherefierypainShallpurgethestainOfactionsdonebelow。
Inthatsadplace，ByMary’sgrace，BriefmaythydwellingbeTillprayersandalms，Andholypsalms，Shallsetthecaptivefree。
Whilethisdirgewassang，inalowandmelancholytone，bythefemalechoristers，theothersweredividedintotwobands，ofwhichonewasengagedinbedecking，withsuchembroideryastheirskillandtastecouldcompass，alargesilkenpall，destinedtocoverthebierofAthelstane，whiletheothersbusiedthemselvesinselecting，frombasketsofflowersplacedbeforethem，garlands，whichtheyintendedforthesamemournfulpurpose。Thebehaviourofthemaidenswasdecorous，ifnotmarkedwithdeepaffliction；butnowandthenawhisperorasmilecalledforththerebukeoftheseverermatrons，andhereandtheremightbeseenadamselmoreinterestedinendeavouringtofindouthowhermourning-robebecameher，thaninthedismalceremonyforwhichtheywerepreparing。Neitherwasthispropensityifwemustneedsconfessthetruthatalldiminishedbytheappearanceoftwostrangeknights，whichoccasionedsomelookingup，peeping，andwhispering。Rowenaalone，tooproudtobevain，paidhergreetingtoherdelivererwithagracefulcourtesy。Herdemeanourwasserious，butnotdejected；anditmaybedoubtedwhetherthoughtsofIvanhoe，andoftheuncertaintyofhisfate，didnotclaimasgreatashareinhergravityasthedeathofherkinsman。
ToCedric，however，who，aswehaveobserved，wasnotremarkablyclear-sightedonsuchoccasions，thesorrowofhiswardseemedsomuchdeeperthananyoftheothermaidens，thathedeemeditpropertowhispertheexplanation——``ShewastheaffiancedbrideofthenobleAthelstane。’’——ItmaybedoubtedwhetherthiscommunicationwentafarwaytoincreaseWilfred’sdispositiontosympathizewiththemournersofConingsburgh。