Ivanhoe: A Romance, Page 34

  CHAPTER XXXII.

  Trust me each state must have its policies: Kingdoms have edicts, cities have their charters; Even the wild outlaw, in his forest-walk, Keeps yet some touch of civil discipline; For not since Adam wore his verdant apron, Hath man with man in social union dwelt, But laws were made to draw that union closer. --Old Play

  The daylight had dawned upon the glades of the oak forest. The greenboughs glittered with all their pearls of dew. The hind led her fawnfrom the covert of high fern to the more open walks of the greenwood,and no huntsman was there to watch or intercept the stately hart, as hepaced at the head of the antler'd herd.

  The outlaws were all assembled around the Trysting-tree in theHarthill-walk, where they had spent the night in refreshing themselvesafter the fatigues of the siege, some with wine, some with slumber, manywith hearing and recounting the events of the day, and computing theheaps of plunder which their success had placed at the disposal of theirChief.

  The spoils were indeed very large; for, notwithstanding that much wasconsumed, a great deal of plate, rich armour, and splendid clothing,had been secured by the exertions of the dauntless outlaws, who could beappalled by no danger when such rewards were in view. Yet so strict werethe laws of their society, that no one ventured to appropriate anypart of the booty, which was brought into one common mass, to be at thedisposal of their leader.

  The place of rendezvous was an aged oak; not however the same to whichLocksley had conducted Gurth and Wamba in the earlier part of the story,but one which was the centre of a silvan amphitheatre, within half amile of the demolished castle of Torquilstone. Here Locksley assumed hisseat--a throne of turf erected under the twisted branches of the hugeoak, and the silvan followers were gathered around him. He assigned tothe Black Knight a seat at his right hand, and to Cedric a place uponhis left.

  "Pardon my freedom, noble sirs," he said, "but in these glades I ammonarch--they are my kingdom; and these my wild subjects would reck butlittle of my power, were I, within my own dominions, to yield place tomortal man.--Now, sirs, who hath seen our chaplain? where is our curtalFriar? A mass amongst Christian men best begins a busy morning."--No onehad seen the Clerk of Copmanhurst. "Over gods forbode!" said the outlawchief, "I trust the jolly priest hath but abidden by the wine-pot athought too late. Who saw him since the castle was ta'en?"

  "I," quoth the Miller, "marked him busy about the door of a cellar,swearing by each saint in the calendar he would taste the smack ofFront-de-Boeuf's Gascoigne wine."

  "Now, the saints, as many as there be of them," said the Captain,"forefend, lest he has drunk too deep of the wine-butts, and perished bythe fall of the castle!--Away, Miller!--take with you enow of men,seek the place where you last saw him--throw water from the moat on thescorching ruins--I will have them removed stone by stone ere I lose mycurtal Friar."

  The numbers who hastened to execute this duty, considering that aninteresting division of spoil was about to take place, showed how muchthe troop had at heart the safety of their spiritual father.

  "Meanwhile, let us proceed," said Locksley; "for when this bold deedshall be sounded abroad, the bands of De Bracy, of Malvoisin, and otherallies of Front-de-Boeuf, will be in motion against us, and it were wellfor our safety that we retreat from the vicinity.--Noble Cedric," hesaid, turning to the Saxon, "that spoil is divided into two portions; dothou make choice of that which best suits thee, to recompense thy peoplewho were partakers with us in this adventure."

  "Good yeoman," said Cedric, "my heart is oppressed with sadness. Thenoble Athelstane of Coningsburgh is no more--the last sprout ofthe sainted Confessor! Hopes have perished with him which can neverreturn!--A sparkle hath been quenched by his blood, which no humanbreath can again rekindle! My people, save the few who are now with me,do but tarry my presence to transport his honoured remains to their lastmansion. The Lady Rowena is desirous to return to Rotherwood, and mustbe escorted by a sufficient force. I should, therefore, ere now, haveleft this place; and I waited--not to share the booty, for, so help meGod and Saint Withold! as neither I nor any of mine will touch the valueof a liard,--I waited but to render my thanks to thee and to thy boldyeomen, for the life and honour ye have saved."

  "Nay, but," said the chief Outlaw, "we did but half the work atmost--take of the spoil what may reward your own neighbours andfollowers."

  "I am rich enough to reward them from mine own wealth," answered Cedric.

  "And some," said Wamba, "have been wise enough to reward themselves;they do not march off empty-handed altogether. We do not all wearmotley."

  "They are welcome," said Locksley; "our laws bind none but ourselves."

  "But, thou, my poor knave," said Cedric, turning about and embracinghis Jester, "how shall I reward thee, who feared not to give thy bodyto chains and death instead of mine!--All forsook me, when the poor foolwas faithful!"

  A tear stood in the eye of the rough Thane as he spoke--a mark offeeling which even the death of Athelstane had not extracted; but therewas something in the half-instinctive attachment of his clown, thatwaked his nature more keenly than even grief itself.

  "Nay," said the Jester, extricating himself from master's caress, "ifyou pay my service with the water of your eye, the Jester must weepfor company, and then what becomes of his vocation?--But, uncle, if youwould indeed pleasure me, I pray you to pardon my playfellow Gurth, whostole a week from your service to bestow it on your son."

  "Pardon him!" exclaimed Cedric; "I will both pardon and rewardhim.--Kneel down, Gurth."--The swineherd was in an instant at hismaster's feet--"THEOW and ESNE [40] art thou no longer," said Cedrictouching him with a wand; "FOLKFREE and SACLESS [41] art thou in townand from town, in the forest as in the field. A hide of land I give tothee in my steads of Walbrugham, from me and mine to thee and thine ayeand for ever; and God's malison on his head who this gainsays!"

  No longer a serf, but a freeman and a landholder, Gurth sprung upon hisfeet, and twice bounded aloft to almost his own height from the ground."A smith and a file," he cried, "to do away the collar from the neckof a freeman!--Noble master! doubled is my strength by your gift, anddoubly will I fight for you!--There is a free spirit in my breast--I ama man changed to myself and all around.--Ha, Fangs!" he continued,--forthat faithful cur, seeing his master thus transported, began to jumpupon him, to express his sympathy,--"knowest thou thy master still?"

  "Ay," said Wamba, "Fangs and I still know thee, Gurth, though we mustneeds abide by the collar; it is only thou art likely to forget both usand thyself."

  "I shall forget myself indeed ere I forget thee, true comrade," saidGurth; "and were freedom fit for thee, Wamba, the master would not letthee want it."

  "Nay," said Wamba, "never think I envy thee, brother Gurth; the serfsits by the hall-fire when the freeman must forth to the field ofbattle--And what saith Oldhelm of Malmsbury--Better a fool at a feastthan a wise man at a fray."

  The tramp of horses was now heard, and the Lady Rowena appeared,surrounded by several riders, and a much stronger party of footmen, whojoyfully shook their pikes and clashed their brown-bills for joy of herfreedom. She herself, richly attired, and mounted on a dark chestnutpalfrey, had recovered all the dignity of her manner, and only anunwonted degree of paleness showed the sufferings she had undergone. Herlovely brow, though sorrowful, bore on it a cast of reviving hopefor the future, as well as of grateful thankfulness for the pastdeliverance--She knew that Ivanhoe was safe, and she knew thatAthelstane was dead. The former assurance filled her with the mostsincere delight; and if she did not absolutely rejoice at the latter,she might be pardoned for feeling the full advantage of being freedfrom further persecution on the only subject in which she had ever beencontradicted by her guardian Cedric.

  As Rowena bent her steed towards Locksley's seat, that bold yeoman, withall his followers, rose to receive her, as if by a general instinct ofcourtesy. The blood rose to her cheeks, as, courteously waving her hand,and bending so low that her beautiful and loose tre
sses were for aninstant mixed with the flowing mane of her palfrey, she expressed infew but apt words her obligations and her gratitude to Locksley and herother deliverers.--"God bless you, brave men," she concluded, "God andOur Lady bless you and requite you for gallantly perilling yourselvesin the cause of the oppressed!--If any of you should hunger, rememberRowena has food--if you should thirst, she has many a butt of wine andbrown ale--and if the Normans drive ye from these walks, Rowena hasforests of her own, where her gallant deliverers may range at fullfreedom, and never ranger ask whose arrow hath struck down the deer."

  "Thanks, gentle lady," said Locksley; "thanks from my company andmyself. But, to have saved you requites itself. We who walk thegreenwood do many a wild deed, and the Lady Rowena's deliverance may bereceived as an atonement."

  Again bowing from her palfrey, Rowena turned to depart; but pausing amoment, while Cedric, who was to attend her, was also taking his leave,she found herself unexpectedly close by the prisoner De Bracy. He stoodunder a tree in deep meditation, his arms crossed upon his breast,and Rowena was in hopes she might pass him unobserved. He looked up,however, and, when aware of her presence, a deep flush of shame suffusedhis handsome countenance. He stood a moment most irresolute; then,stepping forward, took her palfrey by the rein, and bent his knee beforeher.

  "Will the Lady Rowena deign to cast an eye--on a captive knight--on adishonoured soldier?"

  "Sir Knight," answered Rowena, "in enterprises such as yours, the realdishonour lies not in failure, but in success."

  "Conquest, lady, should soften the heart," answered De Bracy; "let mebut know that the Lady Rowena forgives the violence occasioned by anill-fated passion, and she shall soon learn that De Bracy knows how toserve her in nobler ways."

  "I forgive you, Sir Knight," said Rowena, "as a Christian."

  "That means," said Wamba, "that she does not forgive him at all."

  "But I can never forgive the misery and desolation your madness hasoccasioned," continued Rowena.

  "Unloose your hold on the lady's rein," said Cedric, coming up. "By thebright sun above us, but it were shame, I would pin thee to the earthwith my javelin--but be well assured, thou shalt smart, Maurice deBracy, for thy share in this foul deed."

  "He threatens safely who threatens a prisoner," said De Bracy; "but whenhad a Saxon any touch of courtesy?"

  Then retiring two steps backward, he permitted the lady to move on.

  Cedric, ere they departed, expressed his peculiar gratitude to the BlackChampion, and earnestly entreated him to accompany him to Rotherwood.

  "I know," he said, "that ye errant knights desire to carry your fortuneson the point of your lance, and reck not of land or goods; but war isa changeful mistress, and a home is sometimes desirable even to thechampion whose trade is wandering. Thou hast earned one in the hallsof Rotherwood, noble knight. Cedric has wealth enough to repair theinjuries of fortune, and all he has is his deliverer's--Come, therefore,to Rotherwood, not as a guest, but as a son or brother."

  "Cedric has already made me rich," said the Knight,--"he has taught methe value of Saxon virtue. To Rotherwood will I come, brave Saxon, andthat speedily; but, as now, pressing matters of moment detain me fromyour halls. Peradventure when I come hither, I will ask such a boon aswill put even thy generosity to the test."

  "It is granted ere spoken out," said Cedric, striking his ready handinto the gauntleted palm of the Black Knight,--"it is granted already,were it to affect half my fortune."

  "Gage not thy promise so lightly," said the Knight of the Fetterlock;"yet well I hope to gain the boon I shall ask. Meanwhile, adieu."

  "I have but to say," added the Saxon, "that, during the funeral ritesof the noble Athelstane, I shall be an inhabitant of the halls of hiscastle of Coningsburgh--They will be open to all who choose to partakeof the funeral banqueting; and, I speak in name of the noble Edith,mother of the fallen prince, they will never be shut against him wholaboured so bravely, though unsuccessfully, to save Athelstane fromNorman chains and Norman steel."

  "Ay, ay," said Wamba, who had resumed his attendance on his master,"rare feeding there will be--pity that the noble Athelstane cannotbanquet at his own funeral.--But he," continued the Jester, lifting uphis eyes gravely, "is supping in Paradise, and doubtless does honour tothe cheer."

  "Peace, and move on," said Cedric, his anger at this untimely jest beingchecked by the recollection of Wamba's recent services. Rowena waved agraceful adieu to him of the Fetterlock--the Saxon bade God speed him,and on they moved through a wide glade of the forest.

  They had scarce departed, ere a sudden procession moved from under thegreenwood branches, swept slowly round the silvan amphitheatre, andtook the same direction with Rowena and her followers. The priests ofa neighbouring convent, in expectation of the ample donation, or"soul-scat", which Cedric had propined, attended upon the car in whichthe body of Athelstane was laid, and sang hymns as it was sadlyand slowly borne on the shoulders of his vassals to his castle ofConingsburgh, to be there deposited in the grave of Hengist, from whomthe deceased derived his long descent. Many of his vassals had assembledat the news of his death, and followed the bier with all the externalmarks, at least, of dejection and sorrow. Again the outlaws arose, andpaid the same rude and spontaneous homage to death, which they hadso lately rendered to beauty--the slow chant and mournful step of thepriests brought back to their remembrance such of their comrades as hadfallen in the yesterday's array. But such recollections dwell not longwith those who lead a life of danger and enterprise, and ere the soundof the death-hymn had died on the wind, the outlaws were again busied inthe distribution of their spoil.

  "Valiant knight," said Locksley to the Black Champion, "without whosegood heart and mighty arm our enterprise must altogether have failed,will it please you to take from that mass of spoil whatever may bestserve to pleasure you, and to remind you of this my Trysting-tree?"

  "I accept the offer," said the Knight, "as frankly as it is given; and Iask permission to dispose of Sir Maurice de Bracy at my own pleasure."

  "He is thine already," said Locksley, "and well for him! else thetyrant had graced the highest bough of this oak, with as many of hisFree-Companions as we could gather, hanging thick as acorns aroundhim.--But he is thy prisoner, and he is safe, though he had slain myfather."

  "De Bracy," said the Knight, "thou art free--depart. He whose prisonerthou art scorns to take mean revenge for what is past. But beware ofthe future, lest a worse thing befall thee.--Maurice de Bracy, I sayBEWARE!"

  De Bracy bowed low and in silence, and was about to withdraw, when theyeomen burst at once into a shout of execration and derision. The proudknight instantly stopped, turned back, folded his arms, drew up his formto its full height, and exclaimed, "Peace, ye yelping curs! who openupon a cry which ye followed not when the stag was at bay--De Bracyscorns your censure as he would disdain your applause. To your brakesand caves, ye outlawed thieves! and be silent when aught knightly ornoble is but spoken within a league of your fox-earths."

  This ill-timed defiance might have procured for De Bracy a volley ofarrows, but for the hasty and imperative interference of the outlawChief. Meanwhile the knight caught a horse by the rein, for severalwhich had been taken in the stables of Front-de-Boeuf stood accoutredaround, and were a valuable part of the booty. He threw himself upon thesaddle, and galloped off through the wood.

  When the bustle occasioned by this incident was somewhat composed, thechief Outlaw took from his neck the rich horn and baldric which he hadrecently gained at the strife of archery near Ashby.

  "Noble knight." he said to him of the Fetterlock, "if you disdain not tograce by your acceptance a bugle which an English yeoman has once worn,this I will pray you to keep as a memorial of your gallant bearing--andif ye have aught to do, and, as happeneth oft to a gallant knight, yechance to be hard bested in any forest between Trent and Tees, windthree mots [42] upon the horn thus, 'Wa-sa-hoa!' and it may well chanceye shall find helpers and rescue."

  He then gave
breath to the bugle, and winded once and again the callwhich he described, until the knight had caught the notes.

  "Gramercy for the gift, bold yeoman," said the Knight; "and better helpthan thine and thy rangers would I never seek, were it at my utmostneed." And then in his turn he winded the call till all the greenwoodrang.

  "Well blown and clearly," said the yeoman; "beshrew me an thou knowestnot as much of woodcraft as of war!--thou hast been a striker of deer inthy day, I warrant.--Comrades, mark these three mots--it is the call ofthe Knight of the Fetterlock; and he who hears it, and hastens not toserve him at his need, I will have him scourged out of our band with hisown bowstring."

  "Long live our leader!" shouted the yeomen, "and long live the BlackKnight of the Fetterlock!--May he soon use our service, to prove howreadily it will be paid."

  Locksley now proceeded to the distribution of the spoil, which heperformed with the most laudable impartiality. A tenth part of the wholewas set apart for the church, and for pious uses; a portion was nextallotted to a sort of public treasury; a part was assigned to the widowsand children of those who had fallen, or to be expended in masses forthe souls of such as had left no surviving family. The rest was dividedamongst the outlaws, according to their rank and merit, and the judgmentof the Chief, on all such doubtful questions as occurred, was deliveredwith great shrewdness, and received with absolute submission. TheBlack Knight was not a little surprised to find that men, in a state solawless, were nevertheless among themselves so regularly and equitablygoverned, and all that he observed added to his opinion of the justiceand judgment of their leader.

  When each had taken his own proportion of the booty, and while thetreasurer, accompanied by four tall yeomen, was transporting thatbelonging to the state to some place of concealment or of security, theportion devoted to the church still remained unappropriated.

  "I would," said the leader, "we could hear tidings of our joyouschaplain--he was never wont to be absent when meat was to be blessed, orspoil to be parted; and it is his duty to take care of these the tithesof our successful enterprise. It may be the office has helped to coversome of his canonical irregularities. Also, I have a holy brother of hisa prisoner at no great distance, and I would fain have the Friar to helpme to deal with him in due sort--I greatly misdoubt the safety of thebluff priest."

  "I were right sorry for that," said the Knight of the Fetterlock, "for Istand indebted to him for the joyous hospitality of a merry night in hiscell. Let us to the ruins of the castle; it may be we shall there learnsome tidings of him."

  While they thus spoke, a loud shout among the yeomen announced thearrival of him for whom they feared, as they learned from the stentorianvoice of the Friar himself, long before they saw his burly person.

  "Make room, my merry-men!" he exclaimed; "room for your godly fatherand his prisoner--Cry welcome once more.--I come, noble leader, like aneagle with my prey in my clutch."--And making his way through the ring,amidst the laughter of all around, he appeared in majestic triumph, hishuge partisan in one hand, and in the other a halter, one end of whichwas fastened to the neck of the unfortunate Isaac of York, who, bentdown by sorrow and terror, was dragged on by the victorious priest, whoshouted aloud, "Where is Allan-a-Dale, to chronicle me in a ballad, orif it were but a lay?--By Saint Hermangild, the jingling crowder is everout of the way where there is an apt theme for exalting valour!"

  "Curtal Priest," said the Captain, "thou hast been at a wet mass thismorning, as early as it is. In the name of Saint Nicholas, whom hastthou got here?"

  "A captive to my sword and to my lance, noble Captain," replied theClerk of Copmanhurst; "to my bow and to my halberd, I should rathersay; and yet I have redeemed him by my divinity from a worse captivity.Speak, Jew--have I not ransomed thee from Sathanas?--have I not taughtthee thy 'credo', thy 'pater', and thine 'Ave Maria'?--Did I not spendthe whole night in drinking to thee, and in expounding of mysteries?"

  "For the love of God!" ejaculated the poor Jew, "will no one take me outof the keeping of this mad--I mean this holy man?"

  "How's this, Jew?" said the Friar, with a menacing aspect; "dost thourecant, Jew?--Bethink thee, if thou dost relapse into thine infidelity,though thou are not so tender as a suckling pig--I would I had oneto break my fast upon--thou art not too tough to be roasted! Beconformable, Isaac, and repeat the words after me. 'Ave Maria'!--"

  "Nay, we will have no profanation, mad Priest," said Locksley; "let usrather hear where you found this prisoner of thine."

  "By Saint Dunstan," said the Friar, "I found him where I sought forbetter ware! I did step into the cellarage to see what might be rescuedthere; for though a cup of burnt wine, with spice, be an evening'sdrought for an emperor, it were waste, methought, to let so much goodliquor be mulled at once; and I had caught up one runlet of sack, andwas coming to call more aid among these lazy knaves, who are ever toseek when a good deed is to be done, when I was avised of a strongdoor--Aha! thought I, here is the choicest juice of all in this secretcrypt; and the knave butler, being disturbed in his vocation, hath leftthe key in the door--In therefore I went, and found just nought besidesa commodity of rusted chains and this dog of a Jew, who presentlyrendered himself my prisoner, rescue or no rescue. I did but refreshmyself after the fatigue of the action, with the unbeliever, with onehumming cup of sack, and was proceeding to lead forth my captive,when, crash after crash, as with wild thunder-dint and levin-fire, downtoppled the masonry of an outer tower, (marry beshrew their hands thatbuilt it not the firmer!) and blocked up the passage. The roar of onefalling tower followed another--I gave up thought of life; and deemingit a dishonour to one of my profession to pass out of this world incompany with a Jew, I heaved up my halberd to beat his brains out; butI took pity on his grey hairs, and judged it better to lay down thepartisan, and take up my spiritual weapon for his conversion. And truly,by the blessing of Saint Dunstan, the seed has been sown in good soil;only that, with speaking to him of mysteries through the whole night,and being in a manner fasting, (for the few droughts of sack which Isharpened my wits with were not worth marking,) my head is well-nighdizzied, I trow.--But I was clean exhausted.--Gilbert and Wibbald knowin what state they found me--quite and clean exhausted."

  "We can bear witness," said Gilbert; "for when we had cleared away theruin, and by Saint Dunstan's help lighted upon the dungeon stair, wefound the runlet of sack half empty, the Jew half dead, and the Friarmore than half--exhausted, as he calls it."

  "Ye be knaves! ye lie!" retorted the offended Friar; "it was you andyour gormandizing companions that drank up the sack, and called it yourmorning draught--I am a pagan, an I kept it not for the Captain's ownthroat. But what recks it? The Jew is converted, and understands all Ihave told him, very nearly, if not altogether, as well as myself."

  "Jew," said the Captain, "is this true? hast thou renounced thineunbelief?"

  "May I so find mercy in your eyes," said the Jew, "as I know not oneword which the reverend prelate spake to me all this fearful night.Alas! I was so distraught with agony, and fear, and grief, that hadour holy father Abraham come to preach to me, he had found but a deaflistener."

  "Thou liest, Jew, and thou knowest thou dost." said the Friar; "I willremind thee of but one word of our conference--thou didst promise togive all thy substance to our holy Order."

  "So help me the Promise, fair sirs," said Isaac, even more alarmed thanbefore, "as no such sounds ever crossed my lips! Alas! I am an agedbeggar'd man--I fear me a childless--have ruth on me, and let me go!"

  "Nay," said the Friar, "if thou dost retract vows made in favour of holyChurch, thou must do penance."

  Accordingly, he raised his halberd, and would have laid the staff ofit lustily on the Jew's shoulders, had not the Black Knight stopped theblow, and thereby transferred the Holy Clerk's resentment to himself.

  "By Saint Thomas of Kent," said he, "an I buckle to my gear, I willteach thee, sir lazy lover, to mell with thine own matters, maugre thineiron case there!"

  "Nay, be not wrot
h with me," said the Knight; "thou knowest I am thysworn friend and comrade."

  "I know no such thing," answered the Friar; "and defy thee for ameddling coxcomb!"

  "Nay, but," said the Knight, who seemed to take a pleasure in provokinghis quondam host, "hast thou forgotten how, that for my sake (for I saynothing of the temptation of the flagon and the pasty) thou didst breakthy vow of fast and vigil?"

  "Truly, friend," said the Friar, clenching his huge fist, "I will bestowa buffet on thee."

  "I accept of no such presents," said the Knight; "I am content to takethy cuff [421] as a loan, but I will repay thee with usury as deep as ever thy prisonerthere exacted in his traffic."

  "I will prove that presently," said the Friar.

  "Hola!" cried the Captain, "what art thou after, mad Friar? brawlingbeneath our Trysting-tree?"

  "No brawling," said the Knight, "it is but a friendly interchange ofcourtesy.--Friar, strike an thou darest--I will stand thy blow, if thouwilt stand mine."

  "Thou hast the advantage with that iron pot on thy head," said thechurchman; "but have at thee--Down thou goest, an thou wert Goliath ofGath in his brazen helmet."

  The Friar bared his brawny arm up to the elbow, and putting his fullstrength to the blow, gave the Knight a buffet that might have felled anox. But his adversary stood firm as a rock. A loud shout was uttered byall the yeomen around; for the Clerk's cuff was proverbial amongst them,and there were few who, in jest or earnest, had not had the occasion toknow its vigour.

  "Now, Priest," said, the Knight, pulling off his gauntlet, "if I hadvantage on my head, I will have none on my hand--stand fast as a trueman."

  "'Genam meam dedi vapulatori'--I have given my cheek to the smiter,"said the Priest; "an thou canst stir me from the spot, fellow, I willfreely bestow on thee the Jew's ransom."

  So spoke the burly Priest, assuming, on his part, high defiance. Butwho may resist his fate? The buffet of the Knight was given with suchstrength and good-will, that the Friar rolled head over heels uponthe plain, to the great amazement of all the spectators. But he aroseneither angry nor crestfallen.

  "Brother," said he to the Knight, "thou shouldst have used thy strengthwith more discretion. I had mumbled but a lame mass an thou hadstbroken my jaw, for the piper plays ill that wants the nether chops.Nevertheless, there is my hand, in friendly witness, that I willexchange no more cuffs with thee, having been a loser by the barter. Endnow all unkindness. Let us put the Jew to ransom, since the leopard willnot change his spots, and a Jew he will continue to be."

  "The Priest," said Clement, "is not half so confident of the Jew'sconversion, since he received that buffet on the ear."

  "Go to, knave, what pratest thou of conversions?--what, is there norespect?--all masters and no men?--I tell thee, fellow, I was somewhattotty when I received the good knight's blow, or I had kept my groundunder it. But an thou gibest more of it, thou shalt learn I can give aswell as take."

  "Peace all!" said the Captain. "And thou, Jew, think of thy ransom;thou needest not to be told that thy race are held to be accursed in allChristian communities, and trust me that we cannot endure thy presenceamong us. Think, therefore, of an offer, while I examine a prisoner ofanother cast."

  "Were many of Front-de-Boeuf's men taken?" demanded the Black Knight.

  "None of note enough to be put to ransom," answered the Captain; "aset of hilding fellows there were, whom we dismissed to find them a newmaster--enough had been done for revenge and profit; the bunch of themwere not worth a cardecu. The prisoner I speak of is better booty--ajolly monk riding to visit his leman, an I may judge by his horse-gearand wearing apparel.--Here cometh the worthy prelate, as pert as apyet." And, between two yeomen, was brought before the silvan throne ofthe outlaw Chief, our old friend, Prior Aymer of Jorvaulx.