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could I wish, Rebecca, to be near to thee in life, and to escape the fearful share I must have in thy death.'

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"Thou has spoken the Jew,' said Rebecca, as the persecution of such as thou art has made him. Heaven in ire has driven him from his country; but industry has opened to him the only road to power and to influence, which oppression has left unbarred. Read the ancient history of the people of God, and tell me, if those, by whom Jehovah wrought such marvels among the nations, were then a people of misers and of usurers !—And know, proud knight, we number names amongst us, to which your boasted northern nobility, is as the gourd compared with the cedar-names that ascend far back to those high times, when the Divine Presence shook the mercy-seat between the cherubim; and which derive their splendour from no earthly prince, but from the awful voice, which bade their fathers be nearest of the congregation to the vision-Such were the princes of the house

of Jacob.'

"Rebecca's colour rose as she boasted the ancient glories of her race, but faded as she added, with a sigh, Such were the princes of Judah, now such no more!They are trampled down like the shorn grass, and mixed with the mire of the ways. Yet are there those among them who shame not such high descent, and of such shall be the daughter of Isaac the son of Adonikam! Farewell!-I envy not thy blood-won-honours I envy not thy barbarous descent from northern heathens-I envy thee not thy faith, which is ever in thy mouth, but never in thy heart nor in thy practice.'

"There is a spell on me, by Heaven!' said Bois-Guilbert. I well nigh think yon besotted skeleton spoke truth, and that the reluctance with which I part from thee, hath something in it more than is natural.Fair creature!' he said, approaching near her, but with great respect, so young, so beautiful, so fearless of death! and yet doomed to die, and with infamy and agony Who would not weep for thee? The tear, that has been a stranger to these eye-lids for twenty years, moistens them as I gaze on thee. But it must be-nothing may now save thy life. Thou and I are but the blind instruments of some irresistible fatality, that hurries us along, like goodly vessels driving before the storm, which are dashed against each other, and so perish. Forgive me, then, and let us part, at least, as friends part. I have assailed thy resolution in vain, and mine own is fixed as the adamantine decrees of fate."

"Thus,' said Rebecca, do men throw on fate the issue of their own wild passions. But I do forgive thee, Bois-Guilbert, though the author of my early death. There are noble things which cross over thy powerful mind; but it is the garden of the sluggard, and the weeds have rushed up, and conspired to choak the fair and wholesome blossom.'

"Yet,' said the Templar," I am, Rebecca, as thou hast spoken me, untaught, untamed-and proud, that, amidst a shoal of empty fools and crafty bigots, I have retained the pre-eminent fortitude that places me above them. I have been a child of battle, from my youth upward; high in my views, steady and inflexible in pursuing them. Such must I remain-proud, inflexible, and unchanging; and of this the world shall have proof. But thou forgivest me,

Rebecca ?'

"As freely as ever victim forgave her executioner.'

"Farewell, then,' said the Templar, and left the apartment.

The appointed day arrives, and no beautiful Jewess. The lists are presuccour has yet been heard of for the pared for the combat, on whose issue her fate depends-but hour follows hour in silence; and the immense multitude assembled are at length convinced that no Christian knight has deemed the quarrel of an unbelieving maiden fit occasion for the exhibition of his valour. But Isaac, the old father of Rebecca, has had intelligence of his daughter's situation; and his endeavours to secure her a champion have not been unavailing. The shadows are beginning to fall from west eastward, the signal that the time of tarrying was near its close. Rebecca, in this the hour of her extremity, "folds her arms, and looking up towards Heaven, seems to expect that aid from above which she can scarce Boispromise herself from man.” Guilbert approaches her, and whispers once more in her ear, that if she will spring on his courser behind him and fly, all may yet be well; but the maiden turns her from the Tempter, and prepares to die. At this moment the sound of a horn is heard―a knight rides full speed into the lists, and demands to combat on the side of the Jewess.

"The stranger must first show,' said Malvoisin, that he is good Knight, and of honourable lineage. The Temple sendeth not forth her champions against nameless men.'

66 6 My name,' said the Knight, raising his helmet, is better known, my lineage more pure, Malvoisin, than thine own. am Wilfrid of Ivanhoe.'

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"I will not fight with thee,' said the Templar, in a changed and hollow voice.

Get thy wounds healed, purvey thee a better horse, and it may be I will hold it worth my while to scourge out of thee this boyish spirit of bravade.'

"Ha! proud Templar,' said Ivanhoe, hast thou forgotten that twice didst thou

fall before this lance? Remember the lists at Acre-remember the Passage of Arms at Ashby-remember thy proud vaunt in the halls of Rotherwood, and the gage of your gold chain against my reliquary, that thou wouldst do battle with Wilfrid of Ivanhoe, and recover the honour thou hadst lost! By that reliquary, and the holy relique it contains, I will proclaim thee, Templar, a coward in every court in Europe-in every Preceptory of thine Order-unless thou do battle without farther delay.'

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"I may not deny what you have challenged,' said the Grand Master, providing the maiden accepts thee as her champion. Yet I would thou were in better plight to do battle. An enemy of our Order hast thou ever been, yet would I have thee honourably met with.'

"Thus thus as I am, and not otherwise,' said Ivanhoe; it is the judgment of God -to his keeping I commend himself.-Rebecca,' said he, riding up to the fatal chair, doest thou accept of me for thy champion ?' "I do,' she said- I do,' fluttered by an emotion which the fear of death had

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been unable to produce, I do accept thee as the champion whom Heaven hath sent Yet, no-no-thy wounds are uncured. Meet not that proud man-why shouldst thou perish also?'

me.

"But Ivanhoe was already at his post, and had closed his visor, and assumed his lance. Bois-Guilbert did the same; and his esquire remarked, as he clasped his visor, that his face, which had, notwithstanding the variety of emotions by which he had been agitated, continued during the whole morning of an ashy paleness, was now be come suddenly very much flushed.

"The herald, then, seeing each champion in his place, uplifted his voice, repeating thrice-Faites vos devoirs, preux chevaliers. After the third cry, he withdrew to one side of the lists, and again proclaimed, that none, on peril of instant death, should dare, by word, cry, or action, to interfere with or disturb this fair field of combat. The Grand Master, who held in his hand the gage of battle, Rebecca's glove, now threw it into the lists, and pronounced the fatal signal words, Laissez aller.

"The trumpets sounded, and the knights charged each other in full career. The wearied horse of Ivanhoe, and its no less exhausted rider, went down, as all had expected, before the well aimed lance and vigorous steed of the Templar. This issue of the combat all had expected; but although the spear of Ivanhoe did but, in comparison, touch the shield of Bois-Guilbert, that champion, to the astonishment of all who

beheld it, reeled in his saddle, lost his stirrups, and fell in the lists.

"Ivanhoe, extricating himself from his fallen horse, was soon on foot, hastening to mend his fortune with his sword; but his antagonist arose not. Wilfrid, placing his foot on his breast, and the sword's point to his throat, commanded him to yield him, or die on the spot. Bois-Guilbert returned no

answer.

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Slay him not, Sir Knight,' cried the Grand Master, unshriven and unabsolved -kill not body and soul. We allow him vanquished.'

"He descended into the lists, and commanded them to unhelm the conquered champion. His eyes were closed-the dark red flush was still on his brow. As they looked on him in astonishment, the eyes opened-but they were fixed and glazed. The flush passed from his brow, and gave way to the pallid hue of death. Unscathed by the lance of his enemy, he had died a victim to the violence of his own contending passions.

This is indeed the judgment of God,' said the Grand Master, looking upwards• Fiat voluntas tua ! "

Immediately after the death of BoisGuilbert, King Richard arrives at of the danger of Rebecca, and the preceptory-for he too has heard believing Ivanhoe to be still disabled by his wounds, has come himself to reak a spear in her cause. Amidst the tumult of the royal arrival, and amidst the still greater tumult of her own emotions, the maiden prays her father to remove her-for she is afraid of many things-most of all, she is afraid that she might say too much were she to trust herself to speak with her deliverer.

On his way to Templestowe, King Richard has been beset by a party of assassins-the instruments of his brother's meanness—and has escaped from them chiefly by means of Robin Hood and his archers, who happened to be near them in the wood. It is attended by these outlaws as his bodyguard, that Coeur de Lion re-assumes the state and title of his birth-right; and one of his first acts is to reward his faithful friend and follower, Ivanhoe, by restoring him to the good graces of his father, and celebrating his marriage with the Lady Rowena. But we cannot enter upon the minor parts of the Romance-The eye of the reader still follows Rebacca.

"It was upon the second morning after this happy bridal, that the Lady Rowena was made acquainted by her hand-maid Elgitha, that a damsel desired admission to

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her presence, and solicited that their parley might be without witness. Rowena wondered, hesitated, became curious, and ended by commanding the damsel to be admitted, and her attendants to withdraw.

"She entered-a noble and commanding figure, the long white veil in which she was shrouded, overshadowing rather than concealing the elegance and majesty of her shape. Her demeanour was that of respect, unmingled by the least shade either of fear, or of a wish to propitiate favour. Rowena was ever ready to acknowledge the claims, and attend to the feelings of others. She arose, and would have conducted the lovely stranger to a seat, but she looked at Elgitha, and again intimated a wish to discourse with the Lady Rowena alone. Elgitha had no sooner retired with unwilling steps, than, to the surprise of the Lady of Ivanhoe, her fair visitant kneeled on one knee, pressed her hands to her forehead, and bending her head to the ground, in spite of Rowena's resistance, kissed the embroidered hem of her tunic.

"What means this?' said the surprised bride; or why do you offer to me à deference so unusual?'

·

"Because to you, Lady of Ivanhoe,' said Rebecca, rising up and resuming the usual quiet dignity of her manner, I may lawfully and without rebuke pay the debt of gratitude which I owe to Wilfrid of Ivanhoe. I am-forgive the boldness which has offered to you the homage of my country-I am the unhappy Jewess, for whom your husband hazarded his life against such fearful odds in the tilt-yard of Templestowe.'

"Damsel,' said Rowena; Wilfrid of Ivanhoe on that day rendered back but in slight measure your unceasing charity towards him in his wounds and misfortunes.. Speak, is there aught remains in which he and I can serve thee?'

46 6 Nothing, said Rebecca, calmly, unless you will transmit to him my grateful farewell.'

"You leave England, then,' said Rowena, scarce recovering the surprise of this extraordinary visit.

"I leave it, lady, ere this moon again changes. My father hath a brother high in favour with Mohammed Boabdil, King of Grenada-thither we go, secure of peace and protection, for the payment of such ransom as the Moslem exact from our people.

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dove-Issachar an over-laboured drudge, which stoops between two burthens. Not in a land of war and blood, surrounded by hostile neighbours, and distracted by internal factions, can Israel hope to rest during her wanderings.'

"But you, maiden,' said Rowena 'you surely can have nothing to fear. She who nursed the sick-bed of Ivanhoe,' she continued, rising with enthusiasm she can have nothing to fear in England, where Saxon and Norman will contend who shall most do her honour."

"Thy speech is fair, lady,' said Rebecca, and thy purpose fairer; but it may not be there is a gulph betwixt us. Our breeding, our faith, alike forbid either to pass over it. Farewell-yet, e'er I go, indulge me one request. The bridal-veil hangs over thy face; raise it, and let me see the features of which fame speaks so highly.'

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"They are scarce worthy of being looked upon,' said Rowena; but, expecting the same from my visitant, I remove the veil.'

"She took it off accordingly, and partly from the consciousness of beauty, partly from bashfulness, she blushed so intensely, that cheek, brow, neck, and bosom, were suffused with crimson. Rebecca blushed also, but it was a momentary feeling; and, mastered by higher emotions, past slowly from her features like the crimson cloud, which changes colour when the sun sinks beneath the horizon.

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Lady,' she said, "the countenance you have deigned to shew me will long dwell in my remembrance. There reigns in it gentleness and goodness; and if a tinge of the world's pride or vanities may mix with an expression so lovely, how may we chide that which is of earth for bearing some colour of its original? Long, long will I remember your features, and bless God that I leave my noble deliverer united with'

"She stopped short-her eyes filled with tears. She hastily wiped them, and answered to the anxious enquiries of Rowena

I am well, lady-well. But my heart swells when I think of Torquilistone and the lists of Templestowe.-Farewell. One, the most trifling part of my duty, remains undischarged. Accept this casket-startle not at its contents.'

"Rowena opened the small silver-chased casket, and perceived a carcanet, or necklace, with ear-jewels, of diamonds, which were visibly of immense value.

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It is impossible,' she said, tendering back the casket. "I dare not accept a gift of such consequence."

"Yet keep it, lady,' returned Rebecca - You have power, rank, command, influence; we have wealth, the source both of our strength and weakness; the value of these toys, ten times multiplied, would not influence half so much as your slightest wish. To you, therefore, the gift is of little

value and to me, what I part with is of much less. Let me not think you deem so wretchedly ill of my nation as your commons believe. Think ye that I prize these sparkling fragments of stone above my liberty? or that my father values them in comparison to the honour of his only child? Accept them, lady-to me they are valueless. I will never wear jewels more.'

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"You are then unhappy,' said Rowena, struck with the manner in which Rebecca uttered the last words. O, remain with us-the counsel of holy men will wean you from your unhappy law, and I will be a sister to you.'

"No, lady,' answered Rebecca, the same calm melancholy reigning in her soft voice and beautiful features that may not be. I may not change the faith of my fathers like a garment unsuited to the climate in which I seek to dwell, and unhappy, lady, I will not be. He, to whom I dedicate my future life, will be my comforter, if I do His will.'

"Have you then convents, to one of which you mean to retire ?' asked Rowena. "No, lady, said the Jewess; but among our people, since the time of Abraham downward, have been women who have devoted their thoughts to Heaven, and their actions to works of kindness to men, tending the sick, feeding the hungry, and relieving the distressed. Among these will Rebecca be numbered. Say this to thy lord, should he enquire after the fate of her whose life he saved.'

There was an involuntary tremor in Rebecca's voice, and a tenderness of accent, which perhaps betrayed more than she would willingly have expressed. She has tened to bid Rowena adieu.

"Farewell,' she said. May He, who made both Jew and Christian, shower down on you his choicest blessings! The bark that wafts us hence will be under weigh e'er we can reach the port." "

Such is the main thread of the story of Ivanhoe. It is intermingled with many beautiful accompaniments both of a serious and a ludicrous naturewoven with it and each other somewhat after the wild phantastic manner of Ariosto-all admirable in themselves, but for the present forbidden ground to us. The style in which the adventures of so many different individuals are all brought down together pari passu, may appear to many as a defect-for in these days all readers have formed a taste for having their feelings excited in the strongest possible manner.

And for this purpose, it is necessary that their attention and interest should throughout be directed and attached to one predominating hero. But the style we think has, in this instance, been wise

ly chosen, for nothing could have given the reader so powerfully the idea of a period full of bustle and tumult-wherein the interest depended so much upon collisions of external strength, and the disarray of conflicting passions.

One word only before we close, concerning the humorous parts of this novel, in which it will at once be seen -our author has followed a new mode of composition. Not being able, as in former instances, to paint from existing nature, and to delight the reader with a faithful delineation of what was, in some measure, already known to him, he is obliged more frequently to resort to a play of fancy in his humorous dialogue, which generally flows in a truly jovial and free-hearted style, worthy of merry England. Nor is the flagon or the pasty on any occasion spared; for otherwise it would be difficult to conceive how his stalwart friars, archers, and other ablebodied characters, could go through the fatigues ascribed to them, or sustain such a genial vein of pleasantness on all occasions—in the midst of the knocks and blows which are throughout the tale distributed on all hands, with an English fulness both as to quality and quantity. This mixture of cuffs and good cheer, so characteristic of the age, seems to have kept up their animal spirits, and rendered them fit to move lightly and happily in that stormy sphere of ac

tion where force was law.

this Romance will be in the highest On the whole, we have no doubt degree popular here, but still more so in England. Surely the hearts of our neighbours will rejoice within them, when they find that their own ancient manners are about to be embalmed, as we have no doubt they will be in many succeeding novels by the same masterly hand, which has already conferred services in that sort so inestimable upon us.

As we hinted at the beginning of this paper, we should not be surprised to find the generality of readers disappointed a little at first; but their eyes will soon become accustomed to the new and beautiful light through which the face of NATURE is now submitted to them, and confess that the great Magician has not diminished the power of his spell by extending his circle.

EXTRACTS FROM THE

A. D. 1090.

HISTORIA MAJOR" OF MATTHEW PARIS, MONK OF ST ALBANS.

(Continued from page 88.)

Character and Anecdotes of Malcolm,
King of Scotland.

As we have made mention of king Malcolm, I shall take upon me to shew, in few words, with what temper and moderation he was gifted. Having learned from an informer that one of his principal nobles had conspired with the enemy for his death, he ordered the accuser to keep silence, and waited quietly till the coming of the traitor, who happened at the time to be absent. As soon as he appeared again at court, attended by a numerous retinue, to execute his treasonable purpose, the king issued orders to his huntsmen to be ready with their dogs before dawn, and, as soon as the morning broke, he called all his nobles and retainers round him for the chase. When they reached a certain wide plain, surrounded by a very thick wood like a girdle, he kept the treacherous lord by his side, and, while all the rest were eagerly pursuing the game, remained with him alone. Then, when no other person was in sight, the king stopped short, and looking back upon the traitor, who was behind him, said, "Lo! here am I now, and thou with me; we are alone-we are equally armed and equally mounted; there is nobody that can see or hear us, or bring assistance to either of us; if, therefore, the courage be in thee, if thou be stout enough and bold enough, perform that which thou hast proposed to do, execute for my enemies and thy confederates that which thou hast promised. If it be thy mind to slay me, when canst thou do it more fairly -when more privately-when more manfully? Hast thou prepared poison? Leave that to women. Dost thou lie in wait for me in my bed? That an adultress might do. Didst thou ordain to lie in ambush and attack me with the sword? No man doubts that this is rather the office of an assassin than of a soldier. Come on then! body to body-act the part of a man and of a warrior, so that thy treason may at least be without base ness, although it cannot be without VOL. VI.

perfidy." When the knight heard these words, being struck as by a thunderbolt, he hastily dismounted from his horse, and throwing aside his weapons, fell at the royal feet, with tears and trembling. "Fear nothing," said the king, "for no evil will I do unto thee;" and thereupon, having required of him only a promise of fature fealty, to be confirmed by oath, and proper pledges for the same, he returned with him, in good time, to their companions, and related to no man what had been said or done betwixt them.

Foundation of the Monastery of St Oswin at Tinemouth in Northumber land.

About these days, Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland, being touched with divine inspiration, and willing to restore the church of the blessed Oswin at Tinemouth, which was lately become desolate, and to establish there a society of monks for the service of God, and the aforesaid holy martyr, by the advice of his friends, addressed himself unto Paul, abbot of St Albans, earnestly and devoutly entreating that he would deign to send thither some of his own fraternity, promising that he would abundantly supply them with whatsoever things are necessary for food and raiment. The abbot was not wanting, on his part, to the prayer of this petition, but took order that certain of the monks of St Albans should proceed thither accordingly, whom, when the said earl had enriched with manors, advowsons, rents, fisheries, mills, and all manner of goods, confirming to them the same things by his letters patent, free and exempt from all secular service, he gave unto the aforesaid Paul, the ab bot, and his successors, and to the church of the blessed Alban, the protomartyr of England, the church of Tinemouth, with all its appurtenances, for his own salvation, and that of all his ancestors or successors, to be per petually possessed by them, in such manner as that the abbots of St Albans, for the time being, with the advice of the convent of the place aforesaid, 2 M

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