Ivanhoe

"Heroes, approach!" Atrides thus aloud,

"Stand forth distinguish'd from the circling crowd,

Ye who by skill or manly force may claim,

Your rivals to surpass and merit fame.

This cow, worth twenty oxen, is decreed,

For him who farthest sends the winged reed."

--Iliad

The name of Ivanhoe was no sooner pronounced than it flew from mouth

to mouth, with all the celerity with which eagerness could convey and

curiosity receive it. It was not long ere it reached the circle of the

Prince, whose brow darkened as he heard the news. Looking around him,

however, with an air of scorn, "My Lords," said he, "and especially you,

Sir Prior, what think ye of the doctrine the learned tell us, concerning

innate attractions and antipathies? Methinks that I felt the presence

of my brother's minion, even when I least guessed whom yonder suit of

armour enclosed."

"Front-de-Boeuf must prepare to restore his fief of Ivanhoe," said De

Bracy, who, having discharged his part honourably in the tournament, had

laid his shield and helmet aside, and again mingled with the Prince's

retinue.

"Ay," answered Waldemar Fitzurse, "this gallant is likely to reclaim

the castle and manor which Richard assigned to him, and which your

Highness's generosity has since given to Front-de-Boeuf."

"Front-de-Boeuf," replied John, "is a man more willing to swallow three

manors such as Ivanhoe, than to disgorge one of them. For the rest,

sirs, I hope none here will deny my right to confer the fiefs of the

crown upon the faithful followers who are around me, and ready to

perform the usual military service, in the room of those who have

wandered to foreign Countries, and can neither render homage nor service

when called upon."

The audience were too much interested in the question not to pronounce

the Prince's assumed right altogether indubitable. "A generous

Prince!--a most noble Lord, who thus takes upon himself the task of

rewarding his faithful followers!"

Such were the words which burst from the train, expectants all of

them of similar grants at the expense of King Richard's followers and

favourites, if indeed they had not as yet received such. Prior Aymer

also assented to the general proposition, observing, however, "That the

blessed Jerusalem could not indeed be termed a foreign country. She

was 'communis mater'--the mother of all Christians. But he saw not,"

he declared, "how the Knight of Ivanhoe could plead any advantage from

this, since he" (the Prior) "was assured that the crusaders, under

Richard, had never proceeded much farther than Askalon, which, as all

the world knew, was a town of the Philistines, and entitled to none of

the privileges of the Holy City."