Ivanhoe - Penn State University

Ivanhoe
altar at Jorvaulx, I shall scarce raise the half; and it will be good ransom?”
necessary for that purpose that I go to Jorvaulx myself; ye “Can he afford a ransom?” answered the Prior “Is he not
may retain as borrows* my two priests.”
Isaac of York, rich enough to redeem the captivity of the ten
“That will be but blind trust,” said the Outlaw; “we will tribes of Israel, who were led into Assyrian bondage?—I have
retain thee, Prior, and send them to fetch thy ransom. Thou seen but little of him myself, but our cellarer and treasurer
shalt not want a cup of wine and a collop of venison the have dealt largely with him, and report says that his house at
while; and if thou lovest woodcraft, thou shalt see such as York is so full of gold and silver as is a shame in any Christian
your north country never witnessed.”
land. Marvel it is to all living Christian hearts that such gnaw-
“Or, if so please you,” said Isaac, willing to curry favour ing adders should be suffered to eat into the bowels of the
with the outlaws, “I can send to York for the six hundred state, and even of the holy church herself, with foul usuries
crowns, out of certain monies in my hands, if so be that the and extortions.”
most reverend Prior present will grant me a quittance.” “Hold, father,” said the Jew, “mitigate and assuage your cho-
“He shall grant thee whatever thou dost list, Isaac,” said the ler. I pray of your reverence to remember that I force my
Captain; “and thou shalt lay down the redemption money monies upon no one. But when churchman and layman,
for Prior Aymer as well as for thyself.”
prince and prior, knight and priest, come knocking to Isaac’s
“For myself! ah, courageous sirs,” said the Jew, “I am a bro- door, they borrow not his shekels with these uncivil terms. It
ken and impoverished man; a beggar’s staff must be my por- is then, Friend Isaac, will you pleasure us in this matter, and
tion through life, supposing I were to pay you fifty crowns.” our day shall be truly kept, so God sa’ me?—and Kind Isaac,
“The Prior shall judge of that matter,” replied the Cap- if ever you served man, show yourself a friend in this need!
tain.—“How say you, Father Aymer? Can the Jew afford a And when the day comes, and I ask my own, then what hear
*Borghs, or borrows, signifies pledges. Hence our word to
borrow, because we pledge ourselves to restore what is lent.
I but Damned Jew, and The curse of Egypt on your tribe, and
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