Ivanhoe - Penn State University

no more be known among the nations.” “Now may God
avert such a calamity!” said the Preceptor.
“Amen,” said the Grand Master, with solemnity, “but we
must deserve his aid. I tell thee, Conrade, that neither the
powers in Heaven, nor the powers on earth, will longer endure
the wickedness of this generation—My intelligence is
sure —the ground on which our fabric is reared is already
undermined, and each addition we make to the structure of
our greatness will only sink it the sooner in the abyss. We
must retrace our steps, and show ourselves the faithful Champions
of the Cross, sacrificing to our calling, not alone our
blood and our lives—not alone our lusts and our vices—but
our ease, our comforts, and our natural affections, and act as
men convinced that many a pleasure which may be lawful to
others, is forbidden to the vowed soldier of the Temple.”
At this moment a squire, clothed in a threadbare vestment,
(for the aspirants after this holy Order wore during their
noviciate the cast-off garments of the knights,) entered the
garden, and, bowing profoundly before the Grand Master,
stood silent, awaiting his permission ere he presumed to tell
his errand.
Sir Walter Scott
341
“Is it not more seemly,” said the Grand Master, “to see this
Damian, clothed in the garments of Christian humility, thus
appear with reverend silence before his Superior, than but two
days since, when the fond fool was decked in a painted coat,
and jangling as pert and as proud as any popinjay? —Speak,
Damian, we permit thee—What is thine errand?”
“A Jew stands without the gate, noble and reverend father,”
said the Squire, “who prays to speak with brother Brian de
Bois-Guilbert.”
“Thou wert right to give me knowledge of it,” said the
Grand Master; “in our presence a Preceptor is but as a common
compeer of our Order, who may not walk according to
his own will, but to that of his Master—even according to
the text, ‘In the hearing of the ear he hath obeyed me.’—It
imports us especially to know of this Bois-Guilbert’s proceedings,”
said he, turning to his companion.
“Report speaks him brave and valiant,” said Conrade.
“And truly is he so spoken of,” said the Grand Master; “in
our valour only we are not degenerated from our predecessors,
the heroes of the Cross. But brother Brian came into
our Order a moody and disappointed man, stirred, I doubt