Ivanhoe - Penn State University

trust that the child of thy house yet liveth?”
“She liveth,” answered Isaac; “but it is as Daniel, who was
called Beltheshazzar, even when within the den of the lions.
She is captive unto those men of Belial, and they will wreak
their cruelty upon her, sparing neither for her youth nor her
comely favour. O! she was as a crown of green palms to my
grey locks; and she must wither in a night, like the gourd of
Jonah!—Child of my love!—child of my old age!—oh,
Rebecca, daughter of Rachel! the darkness of the shadow of
death hath encompassed thee.”
“Yet read the scroll,” said the Rabbi; “peradventure it may
be that we may yet find out a way of deliverance.”
“Do thou read, brother,” answered Isaac, “for mine eyes are
as a fountain of water.”
The physician read, but in their native language, the following
words:—
“To Isaac, the son of Adonikam, whom the Gentiles call
Isaac of York, peace and the blessing of the promise be multiplied
unto thee!—My father, I am as one doomed to die for
that which my soul knoweth not—even for the crime of
witchcraft. My father, if a strong man can be found to do
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battle for my cause with sword and spear, according to the
custom of the Nazarenes, and that within the lists of
Templestowe, on the third day from this time, peradventure
our fathers’ God will give him strength to defend the innocent,
and her who hath none to help her. But if this may not
be, let the virgins of our people mourn for me as for one cast
off, and for the hart that is stricken by the hunter, and for the
flower which is cut down by the scythe of the mower. Wherefore
look now what thou doest, and whether there be any
rescue. One Nazarene warrior might indeed bear arms in my
behalf, even Wilfred, son of Cedric, whom the Gentiles call
Ivanhoe. But he may not yet endure the weight of his armour.
Nevertheless, send the tidings unto him, my father; for he
hath favour among the strong men of his people, and as he
was our companion in the house of bondage, he may find
some one to do battle for my sake. And say unto him, even
unto him, even unto Wilfred, the son of Cedric, that if Rebecca
live, or if Rebecca die, she liveth or dieth wholly free of the
guilt she is charged withal. And if it be the will of God that
thou shalt be deprived of thy daughter, do not thou tarry, old
man, in this land of bloodshed and cruelty; but betake thy-