Burlesques William Makepeace Thackeray

261
"I do," said Ivanhoe, clasping the boy, and thinking it was to that little innocent the promise
was intended to apply.
"By St. Waltheof?"
"By St. Waltheof!"
"Promise me, then," gasped Rowena, staring wildly at him, "that you never will marry a
Jewess?"
"By St. Waltheof," cried Ivanhoe, "this is too much, Rowena!"—But he felt his hand
grasped for a moment, the nerves then relaxed, the pale lips ceased to quiver—she was no
more!
CHAPTER VI.
IVANHOE THE WIDOWER.
Having placed young Cedric at school at the hall of Dotheboyes, in Yorkshire, and arranged
his family affairs, Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoe quitted a country which had no longer any charms
for him, and in which his stay was rendered the less agreeable by the notion that King John
would hang him, if ever he could lay hands on the faithful follower of King Richard and
Prince Arthur.
But there was always in those days a home and occupation for a brave and pious knight. A
saddle on a gallant war-horse, a pitched field against the Moors, a lance wherewith to spit a
turbaned infidel, or a road to Paradise carved out by his scimitar,—these were the height of
the ambition of good and religious warriors; and so renowned a champion as Sir Wilfrid of
Ivanhoe was sure to be well received wherever blows were stricken for the cause of
Christendom. Even among the dark Templars, he who had twice overcome the most famous
lance of their Order was a respected though not a welcome guest: but among the opposition
company of the Knights of St. John, he was admired and courted beyond measure; and
always affectioning that Order, which offered him, indeed, its first rank and commanderies,
he did much good service; fighting in their ranks for the glory of heaven and St. Waltheof,
and slaying many thousands of the heathen in Prussia, Poland, and those savage Northern
countries. The only fault that the great and gallant, though severe and ascetic Folko of