Be it so, said Ulrica, no longer interrupting him; go your way, you have destroyed the last tie which seemed to unite me to mankind. But your words have awakened a new soul within me. Well have you said, all is possible for those who dare to die! There is a force outside this accursed castlelead them to the attack, and press the Normans hard, they will then have enough to do within. Go, follow your own fate, and leave me to mine.
At this moment they heard the voice of Front-de-Boeuf saying, Where is this priest? Ulrica left through another door, and Reginald Front-de-Boeuf entered the apartment. Cedric made himself bow to him.
I have a task for you, said the baron.
Speak your commands, said Cedric.
Follow me, then.
As they went, Front-de-Boeuf told pseudo monk to make the attacking forces stay near the castle and in the meanwhile to go to the castle of Philip de Malvoisin, give him a letter from the baron and ask him to send a man with it to York.
They passed the moat and reached a small barbican. Go now, said the baron and opened the gate.
When Front-de-Boeuf returned, he ordered to bring him Cedric of Rotherwood and his companion. His servants brought the two Saxon captives. They could not see Wambas face from under his cap and there was little light in the room, so they didnt know about Cedrics escape.
Nobles of England, said Front-de-Boeuf, if you dont pay me a lot of money, I will hang you up by the feet from these windows, until you die! Tell me how much you will pay for your lives? What do you say, you of Rotherwood?
Not a coin, answered Wambaand they say my brain has always been upside down, so if you hang me by my feet you may by chance fix it.
Saint Genevieve! said Front-de-Boeuf, what have we got here?
He struck Cedrics cap from the head of the Jester, and discovered the silver collar round his neck.
I think I can tell you, said De Bracy, who just entered the apartment. This is Cedrics clown. But that means that Cedric escaped in the monks cloak!
And I showed him the way out myself! exclaimed Front-de-Boeuf, Then destruction is near to us, and we have no way of communication with our friends.
He looked out from the window, saw the enemy and commanded his men to their posts on the walls.
* * *When Ivanhoe fainted, and seemed to be abandoned by all the world, it was Rebecca who persuaded her father to have the young knight transported from the lists to their house in Ashby. It was not difficult, because he was naturally kind and grateful.
Holy Abraham! he exclaimed, he is a good man, and must not bleed to death. Let Seth and Reuben bear him to Ashby.
No, let them place him in my litter, said Rebecca; I will ride one of the horses.
Everybody will see you, whispered Isaac, but Rebecca was already busy with her task.
Isaacs fears however were not without reason, and the generous behavior of his daughter exposed her, on her return to Ashby, to the eyes of Brian de Bois-Guilbert.
The Jews were famous as doctors in that age, and the monarchs and powerful barons often needed their services. Beautiful Rebecca had studied medicine under an old Jewish woman called Miriam, the daughter of one of their best doctors, who loved Rebecca as her own child. Miriam had become a victim of the Christian fanatics, but her secrets had survived in her pupil. Rebecca was universally respected and admired by her own people. Even her father was often guided by her opinion.
When Ivanhoe was brought to Isaacs house, he was still unconscious because of the loss of blood. Rebecca examined the wound and informed her father that if fever could be avoided, there was no reason to fear for his guests life, and that he might with safety travel to York with them on the next day. Isaac was going to leave the knight at Ashby. To this, however, Rebecca opposed many reasons, two of which persuaded Isaac. One was that she would not give the precious balsam into the hands of another doctor even of her own tribe, the other that this wounded knight, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, was a favourite of Richard, and that, in case the monarch returns, Isaac, who had supplied his brother John with money, would need a powerful protector before Richards face.
Ivanhoe woke up only in the evening. To his great surprise he found himself in a room decorated in the Eastern fashion. Then an Eastern lady appeared who made a sign showing that he should be silent and examined his wound. She performed her task with a graceful and dignified simplicity and modesty.
Gentle maiden, began Ivanhoe in the Arabian tongue, which he thought most likely to be understood by the lady in a turban.
But he was interrupted by his beautiful doctor, who could not suppress a smile in spite of her usual melancholy. I am from England, Sir Knight, and speak the English language, although my dress and my ancestors belong to another climate.
Noble lady, again the Knight of Ivanhoe began; and again Rebecca interrupted him.
Dont call me noble, Sir Knight, she said, You should know that I am Jewish. I am the daughter of that Isaac of York, to whom you were lately a good and kind lord. It well becomes him, and those of his household, to take care of your wound.
She informed him of the necessity they were under of removing to York, and of her fathers resolution to transport him there, and tend him in his own house until his health should be restored. Ivanhoe shared the prejudices against the Jews and didnt want to stay in a Jewish house. Rebecca had an answer to that.
Sir Knight, if you want me to be your doctor, you cannot change your lodging. No Christian doctor could let you fight again within a month.
And how soon will you enable me to wear my armour? said Ivanhoe, impatiently.
Within eight days, if you are patient and obey my directions, replied Rebecca.
It is no time for me or any true knight, said Wilfred, to be sick and in bed.
You will put on your armour on the eighth day, said Rebecca, if you give me one reward.
If it is within my power, replied Ivanhoe, I will give it thankfully.
I will only ask you, answered Rebecca, to believe that a Jew can do good service to a Christian without any other reward than the blessing of the Great Father who made us all.
When the Jew, with his daughter and her wounded patient were captured by the Norman party, De Bracy looked into the litter and discovered to his surprise that the litter contained a wounded man, who called himself to be Wilfred of Ivanhoe.
The ideas of chivalrous honour, which never completely abandoned De Bracy, prohibited him from doing the knight any injury in his defenceless condition or betraying him to Front-de-Boeuf. So De Bracy commanded two of his own squires to take care of the litter and to carry Ivanhoe under the name of a wounded comrade to a distant apartment in the castle. When Front-de-Boeuf saw them, he ordered them to go to the walls and told Urfried to look after the wounded man. The old woman was easily persuaded to trust Rebecca with the care of her patient.
* * *When Rebecca came to his room she told him the news: the castle was attacked. Soon after they heard the noise of the defensive preparations. Ivanhoe was like a war-horse, impatient at his inactivity. If I could only drag myself, he said, to that window to watch the fight!
You will injure yourself if you try, noble knight, replied Rebecca. When she saw how anxious he was, she added, I myself will stand at the window, and describe to you as I can what happens there.
You must not! exclaimed Ivanhoe, The archers will aim at every window, and some random arrow
It will be welcome! muttered Rebecca.
Rebecca, dear Rebecca! exclaimed Ivanhoe, at least, cover yourself with that old shield.
After Rebecca followed this direction of Ivanhoe, she could with some security watch part of what was happening outside the castle, and report to Ivanhoe the preparations which the attackers were making for the storm.
Do they have a flag? asked Ivanhoe.
No, they dont, answered Rebecca.
This is strange! And do you see who can be their leaders?
I see a knight in black armour, said Rebecca; He alone is armed from head to heel, and seems to direct everybody around him.
Any other leaders? asked the wounded knight.
I cannot see any, but they can be on the other side of the castle, said Rebecca; They are preparing to attack. They raise their bows!
Her description was here suddenly interrupted by the signal for attack, which was answered by the sound of the Norman trumpets from the walls.
The battle began. The archers shot so many arrows, that every window was hit, and immediately two or three of the garrison were killed and several others wounded. But the followers of Front-de-Boeuf and his allies showed as much obstinacy in defence as the attackers fury in attack and replied with the discharge of their large cross-bows, and, as the assailants were less protected, did considerably more damage.
Look for the Black Knight, asked Ivanhoe.
I can see him now, he leads a body of men close under the outer barrier of the barbican, said Rebecca, They pull down the palisade with axes. They have made a breach in the barriersthey rush inthey are driven back! Front-de-Boeuf leads the defenders, I see him in the crowd. They attack again. God of Jacob! It is like the conflict of two oceans moved by different winds!
She turned her head from the window.
Look again, Rebecca, said Ivanhoe.
Rebecca looked out again, and almost immediately exclaimed, Holy prophets of the law! Front-de-Boeuf and the Black Knight fight hand to hand on the breach, their followers watch and shout! Then she exclaimed, He is down! he is down!
Who is down? cried Ivanhoe; for our dear Ladys sake, tell me which has fallen?
The Black Knight, answered Rebecca, faintly; then instantly again shouted joyfullyBut nobut no! the name of the Lord of Hosts be blessed! he is on foot again, and fights. His sword is brokenhe takes an axe from a yeomanhe presses Front-de-Boeuf with one blow after anotherThe giant fallshe falls!
Front-de-Boeuf? exclaimed Ivanhoe.
Front-de-Boeuf! answered the Rebecca; his men run to rescue him, led by the Templartogether they stop the Black Knight. They drag Front-de-Boeuf within the walls.