On the other hand, the stately form of the Norman appeared to dilate

in magnitude, like that of the eagle, which ruffles up its plumage when

about to pounce on its defenceless prey. He paused within three steps

of the corner in which the unfortunate Jew had now, as it were, coiled

himself up into the smallest possible space, and made a sign for one of

the slaves to approach. The black satellite came forward accordingly,

and, producing from his basket a large pair of scales and several

weights, he laid them at the feet of Front-de-Boeuf, and again retired

to the respectful distance, at which his companion had already taken his

station.

The motions of these men were slow and solemn, as if there impended over

their souls some preconception of horror and of cruelty. Front-de-Boeuf

himself opened the scene by thus addressing his ill-fated captive.

"Most accursed dog of an accursed race," he said, awaking with his deep

and sullen voice the sullen echoes of his dungeon vault, "seest thou

these scales?"

The unhappy Jew returned a feeble affirmative.

"In these very scales shalt thou weigh me out," said the relentless

Baron, "a thousand silver pounds, after the just measure and weight of

the Tower of London."

"Holy Abraham!" returned the Jew, finding voice through the very

extremity of his danger, "heard man ever such a demand?--Who ever

heard, even in a minstrel's tale, of such a sum as a thousand pounds

of silver?--What human sight was ever blessed with the vision of such

a mass of treasure?--Not within the walls of York, ransack my house

and that of all my tribe, wilt thou find the tithe of that huge sum of

silver that thou speakest of."

"I am reasonable," answered Front-de-Boeuf, "and if silver be scant, I

refuse not gold. At the rate of a mark of gold for each six pounds of

silver, thou shalt free thy unbelieving carcass from such punishment as

thy heart has never even conceived."

"Have mercy on me, noble knight!" exclaimed Isaac; "I am old, and poor,

and helpless. It were unworthy to triumph over me--It is a poor deed to

crush a worm."

"Old thou mayst be," replied the knight; "more shame to their folly who

have suffered thee to grow grey in usury and knavery--Feeble thou mayst

be, for when had a Jew either heart or hand--But rich it is well known

thou art."

"I swear to you, noble knight," said the Jew "by all which I believe,

and by all which we believe in common---"




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