Ivanhoe - Penn State University

Ivanhoe
them; so that no aggression, when it had taken place, could and Reginald Front-de-Boeuf, followed by the two Saracen
bring with it that surprise which is the most disabling quality slaves of the Templar, entered the prison.
of terror. Neither was it the first time that Isaac had been Front-de-Boeuf, a tall and strong man, whose life had been
placed in circumstances so dangerous. He had therefore expe- spent in public war or in private feuds and broils, and who
rience to guide him, as well as hope, that he might again, as had hesitated at no means of extending his feudal power, had
formerly, be delivered as a prey from the fowler. Above all, he features corresponding to his character, and which strongly
had upon his side the unyielding obstinacy of his nation, and expressed the fiercer and more malignant passions of the mind.
that unbending resolution, with which Israelites have been The scars with which his visage was seamed, would, on fea-
frequently known to submit to the uttermost evils which tures of a different cast, have excited the sympathy and ven-
power and violence can inflict upon them, rather than gratify eration due to the marks of honourable valour; but, in the
their oppressors by granting their demands.
peculiar case of Front-de-Boeuf, they only added to the fe-
In this humour of passive resistance, and with his garment rocity of his countenance, and to the dread which his pres-
collected beneath him to keep his limbs from the wet paveence inspired. This formidable baron was clad in a leathern
ment, Isaac sat in a corner of his dungeon, where his folded doublet, fitted close to his body, which was frayed and soiled
hands, his dishevelled hair and beard, his furred cloak and with the stains of his armour. He had no weapon, excepting a
high cap, seen by the wiry and broken light, would have af- poniard at his belt, which served to counterbalance the weight
forded a study for Rembrandt, had that celebrated painter of the bunch of rusty keys that hung at his right side.
existed at the period. The Jew remained, without altering his The black slaves who attended Front-de-Boeuf were stripped
position, for nearly three hours, at the expiry of which steps of their gorgeous apparel, and attired in jerkins and trowsers
were heard on the dungeon stair. The bolts screamed as they of coarse linen, their sleeves being tucked up above the elbow,
were withdrawn —the hinges creaked as the wicket opened, like those of butchers when about to exercise their function
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