Imágenes de página
PDF
ePub

words: «I bestow on thee this chaplet, sir knight, as the meed of valour assigned to this day's victor: »-here she paused a moment, and then firmly added, «and upon brows more worthy could a wreath of chivalry never be placed! »

The knight stooped his head, and kissed the hand of the lovely sovereign by whom his valour had been rewarded; and then, sinking yet farther forward, lay prostrate at her feet.

There was a general consternation. Cedric, who had been struck mute by the sudden appearance of his banished son, now rushed forward, as if to separate him from Rowena. But this had been already accomplished by the marshals of the field, who, guessing the cause of Ivanhoe's swoon, had hastened to disarm him, and found that the head of a lance had penetrated his breast-plate, and inflicted a wound upon his side.

[ocr errors]

CHAPTER VIII.

Heroes, approach!» Atrides thus aloud,

<< Stand forth distinguish'd from the circling crowd,

Ye who by skill or mauly force may claim,

Your rivals to surpass and merit fame,
This cow, worth twenty oxen, decreed,

For him who farthest sends the winged reed.»

Iliad.

THE name of Ivanhoe was no sooner pronounced than it flew from mouth to mouth, with all the celerity with which eagerness could convey and curiosity receive it. It was not long ere it reached the circle of the Prince, whose brow darkened as he heard the news. Looking around him, however, with an air of scorn, « My lords," said he, «and especially you, Sir Prior, what think ye of the doctrine the learned tell us, concerning innate attractions and antipathies? Methinks that I felt the presence of my brother's minion, even when I feast guessed whom yonder suit of armour enclosed.>>

<«<Front-de-Bœuf must prepare to restore his fief of Ivanhoe," said Bracy, who, having discharged his part honourably in the tourna

ment, had laid his shield and helmet aside, and again mingled with the prince's retinue.

"

Ay," answered Waldemar Fitzurse, « this gallant is likely to reclaim the castle and manor which Richard assigned to him, and which your highness's generosity has since given to Front-de-Boeuf.».

<< Front-de-Bœuf,» replied John, «< is a man more willing to swallow three manors such as Ivanhoe, than to disgorge one of them. For the rest, sirs, I hope none here will deny my right to confer the fiefs of the crown upon the faithful followers who are around me, and ready to perform the usual military service, in the room of those who have wandered to foreign countries, and can neither render homage nor service when called upon.»

The audience were too much interested in the question not to pronounce the Prince's assumed right altogether indubitable. «A generous prince!-a most noble lord, who thus takes upon himself the task of rewarding his faithful followers."

Such were the words which burst from the train, expectants all of them of similar grants at the expense of King Richard's followers and favourites, if indeed they had not as yet received such. Prior Aymer also assented to the general proposition, observing, however, «That the blessed Jerusalem could not indeed be termed a foreign country. She was com

munis mater-the mother of all Christians. But he saw not," he declared, «how the knight of Ivanhoe could plead any advantage from this, since he (the prior) was assured, that the crusaders, under Richard, had never proceeded much farther than Ascalon, which, as all the world knew, was a town of the Philistines, and entitled to none of the privileges of the Holy City."

Waldemar, whose curiosity had led him towards the place where Ivanhoe had fallen to the ground, now returned. «The gallant,» said he, «is likely to give your highness little disturbance, and to leave Front-de-Boeuf in the quiet possession of his gains-he is severely wounded."

« Whatever becomes of him," said Prince John, «he is victor of the day; and were he tenfold our enemy, or the devoted friend of our brother, which is perhaps the same, his wounds must be looked to our own physician shall attend him."

[ocr errors]

A stern smile curled the Prince's lip as he spoke. Waldemar Fitzurse hastened to reply, that Ivanhoe was already removed from the lists, and in the custody of his friends.

« I was somewhat moved,» he said, « to see the grief of the Queen of Love and Honour, whose sovereignty of a day this event has changed into mourning. I am not a man to be moved by a woman's lament for her lover, but

this same Lady Rowena suppressed her sorrow with such dignity of manner, that it could only be discovered by her folded hands, and her tearless eye, which trembled as it remained fixed on the lifeless form before her.»

<< Who is this Lady Rowena," said Prince John, « of whom we have heard so much? »

[ocr errors]

« A Saxon heiress of large possessions,» replied the Prior Aymer; « a rose of loveliness, and a jewel of wealth; the fairest among a thousand, a bundle of myrrh, and a cluster of camphire.>>

« We shall cheer her sorrows," said Prince John, «and amend her blood by wedding her to a Norman. She seems a minor, and must therefore be at our royal disposal in marriage. -How say'st thou, De Bracy? What think'st thou of gaining fair lands and livings, by wedding a Saxon, after the fashion of the followers of the Conqueror?>>

« If the lands are to my liking, my lord,: answered Bracy, «it will be hard to displease me with a bride; and deeply will I hold myself bound to your highness for a good deed, which will fulfil all promises made in favour of your servant and vassal. »

"

« We will not forget it," said Prince John; «< and that we may instantly go to work, command our seneschal presently to order the attendance of the Lady Rowena and her company that is, the rude churl her guardian,

« AnteriorContinuar »