At that moment three arrows shot from the suspected trees, but they could not penetrate the knights armour.
Wamba, said the Knight, let us attack them,and he rode straight to the trees. He was met by six or seven soldiers, who rode against him with their lances at full career. Three of the weapons struck against him, and splintered with as little effect as if they had been driven against a tower of steel. The Black Knights eyes seemed to flash fire even through the aperture of his visor. He raised himself in his stirrups with an air of inexpressible dignity, and exclaimed, What means this, my masters!. The men made no other reply than by drawing their swords and attacking him on every side, crying, Die, tyrant!
Ha! Saint Edward! Ha! Saint George! said the Black Knight, striking down a man with every exclamation; do we have traitors here?
His opponents, desperate as they were, bore back from an arm which carried death in every blow, and it seemed as if the terror of his single strength was about to gain the battle against such odds, when a knight, in blue armour, who had until this time kept himself behind the other assailants, spurred forward with his lance, and taking aim, not at the rider but at the steed, wounded the noble animal mortally.
That was a felon stroke! exclaimed the Black Knight, as the steed fell to the earth, bearing his rider along with him.
And at this moment Wamba blew the horn. The sudden sound made the attackers stop for a second and Wamba did not hesitate to run and help the Black Knight to rise.
Shame on you, cowards! exclaimed the knight in blue armour, who seemed to lead the attackers, do you fly from the empty blast of a horn blown by a Jester?
Animated by his words, they again attacked the Black Knight, who now stood with his back against an oak and defended himself with his sword. The leader of the attackers galloped against the Black Knight hoping to kill him with his lance, but Wamba suddenly attacked his horse with a sword. Both horse and man fell to the ground, but the situation of the Black Knight continued to be very dangerous, because he began to feel tired from defending himself against several well armed men. At that moment a band of yeomen came out of the forest, headed by Locksley and the Friar, who soon killed all the attackers. The Black Knight thanked his deliverers with dignity.
It is important to know, he said, who have been my unprovoked enemies. Take off the helmet of that Blue Knight, Wamba.
The Jester quickly came to the leader of the attackers, who lay under his wounded horse unable to run or to fight, and took off his helmet.
Waldemar Fitzurse! said the Black Knight in astonishment; what could make you take part in a murder? Who sent you?
Your fathers son, answered Waldemar.
You do not ask for your life, Waldemar, said the King.
He that is in the lions clutch, answered Fitzurse, knows it were needless.
Take it, then, unasked, said Richard. Take your life, but with this condition, that in three days you will leave England and never will you mention that it was my brother who sent you to kill me. Let this knight have a steed, Locksley, I see your yeomen have caught those which were running loose, and let him depart unharmed.
But that I judge I listen to a voice whose commands must not be disputed, answered the yeoman.
You guessed right, Locksley, said the Black Knight, I am Richard of England!
At these words the yeomen at once kneeled down before him, and at the same time tendered their allegiance, and implored pardon for their offences.
Rise, my friends, said Richard, in a gracious tone. Your sins are forgiven, you have rescued your sovereign today. And you, brave Locksley
Dont call me Locksley, my King, I am Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest.
King of robbers, and Prince of good fellows! said the King.
True says the proverb, said Wamba, when the cat is away, the mice will play.
What, Wamba, are you here? said Richard, I thought you have run.
I ran? said Wamba, It is true, I stepped back at first, but I gave the signal to attack.
And to good purpose, honest Wamba, replied the King. Your good service will not be forgotten.
At the same time, two additional personages appeared on the scene.
* * *The new comers were Wilfred of Ivanhoe and Gurth. Ivanhoe was astonished, when he saw six or seven dead bodies lying around his King. He hesitated how to address the King. Richard saw his embarrassment.
Dont fear, Wilfred, he said, to address Richard Plantagenet as himself when you see him in the company of true English hearts, although it may be they have been brought a few steps aside by warm English blood.
When the King explained to Ivanhoe what had happened, the young knight exclaimed, Why, oh why, noble Prince, do you make your faithful servants fear for your life as if it were of no more value than that of a mere travelling knight?
And Richard Plantagenet, said the King, desires no more fame than he can win with a good lance and a sword.
But your kingdom, said Ivanhoe, your kingdom is threatened with civil war.
Ho! ho! my kingdom and my servants? answered Richard, impatiently; I tell you, Sir Wilfred, the best of them do the same. For example, my very faithful servant Wilfred of Ivanhoe will not obey my positive commands, and yet reads his King a homily, because he does not walk exactly by his advice. Yet forgive me, my faithful Wilfred. I need to disguise myself to give my friends and faithful nobles time to assemble their forces. Estoteville and Bohun will not be strong enough to move forward to York for one more day. I must have news of Salisbury from the south. The Chancellor must make sure of London.
Wilfred only sighed, and Richard went on in conversation with Robin Hood. King of Outlaws, he said, have you no refreshment to offer to your brother monarch?
If your Grace, then, said Robin, will again honour with your presence one of Robin Hoods places of rendezvous, the venison shall not be lacking; and a stoup of ale, and it may be a cup of reasonably good wine.
Beneath a huge oak-tree the King of England sat surrounded by bandits. As the flagon went round, the rough foresters soon lost their awe for the presence of Majesty. They sang and told jokes, and the King laughed with them.
After some time the King together with Ivanhoe, Gurth and Wamba went to Coningsburgh. They arrived when the sun was yet in the horizon.
* * *When Richard and Ivanhoe reached Coningsburgh and were led to the castle hall, Wilfred hid his face in his cloak to show it to his father when the King gives him the signal.
In this apartment sat members of the most important Saxon families in this part of the country. They were all old, with grey hair and long beards, and sat in silence. They were looking down on Earth with sorrow.
Cedric, who was sitting with them, seemed to act as chief of the assembly. When Richard entered, he rose and greeted him. Then he led him into a small and dark chapel. Two torches gave enough light to see the naked walls and the rude altar of stone. Before this altar there was a sarcophagus and on each side of it kneeled three priests, who were muttering their prayers. A big sum of money was paid to the convent of Saint Edmunds by Athelstanes mother; and to deserve it almost all the monks moved to Coningsburgh, where, while six of them were constantly near the sarcophagus of Athelstane, the others took their share of the food and drinks.
When they were alone in a special room for guests of a high rank Richard said to Cedric: You have known me only as the Black KnightKnow me now as Richard Plantagenet.
Richard of Anjou! exclaimed Cedric, stepping backward with astonishment.
No, noble CedricRichard of England! whose deepest interest is to see her sons united with each other. Now I want to remind you, noble Saxon, that when we last parted, you promised to give me a reward for what Ive done for you.
It is given before it is named, said Cedric.
Then I demand from you, as a man of your word, to forgive the good knight, Wilfred of Ivanhoe.
Then this is Wilfred! said Cedric.
My father! my father! said Ivanhoe, throwing away his cloak and falling down at Cedrics feet, give me your forgiveness!
You have it, my son, said Cedric, raising him up. You are about to speak, he added, and I guess the topic. The Lady Rowena must complete two years mourning, as if for her husband before she can get married again. The ghost of Athelstane himself would come and stand before us to forbid us forget about his honour.
It seemed that Cedrics words had raised a ghost, because at this moment the door flew open and Athelstane, dressed in the garments of the grave, stood before them, pale, tired, and like someone arisen from the dead!
The effect of his appearance was very strong. Cedric started back as far as the wall of the apartment would let him and gazed on the figure of his friend with eyes that seemed fixed, and a mouth which he couldnt shut. Ivanhoe crossed himself, repeating all the prayers in Saxon, Latin, or Norman-French that he could remember, without understanding his own words.
In the meantime, a horrible noise was heard below stairs, some crying, Hold the monks! and others, Throw them into the dungeon!
In the name of God! said Cedric, addressing what seemed the ghost of his dead friend, if you are a man, speak! if a spirit, say why you visit us. Living or dead, noble Athelstane, speak to Cedric!
I will, said the ghost, very calmly, when I have collected breath, and when you give me timeAlive, you said? I am as much alive as he can be who has eaten bread and drunk water for three days!
Why, noble Athelstane, said the Black Knight, I myself saw you struck down by the fierce Templar near the end of the storm at Torquilstone, and I thought, and Wamba reported, that your skull was cut through the teeth.
You thought wrong, Sir Knight, said Athelstane, My teeth are in good order, and my supper will know that in a moment the Templars sword turned in his hand, so it struck me flat. I fell down, stunned, but unwounded. Others were beaten down and killed above me, so I never recovered my senses until I found myself in a coffin(an open one, by good luck)placed before the altar of the church of Saint Edmunds. I sneezed, groaned and would have climbed out of it, when the Abbot, full of terror, came running at the noise, surprised and in no way happy to find the man alive, whose heir he imagined to be. I asked for wine, he gave me some, but he added something to it, because I fell asleep and didnt wake up for many hours. When I did, I found that I was in a very dark place with my arms and feet tied. I had strange thoughts of what had happened, when the door of my dungeon opened, and two monks entered. They would have persuaded me I was in purgatory, but I knew too well the voice of the Abbot.