There was therefore no hope but in passive fortitude, and in that strong

reliance on Heaven natural to great and generous characters. Rebecca,

however erroneously taught to interpret the promises of Scripture to

the chosen people of Heaven, did not err in supposing the present to be

their hour of trial, or in trusting that the children of Zion would be

one day called in with the fulness of the Gentiles. In the meanwhile,

all around her showed that their present state was that of punishment

and probation, and that it was their especial duty to suffer without

sinning. Thus prepared to consider herself as the victim of misfortune,

Rebecca had early reflected upon her own state, and schooled her mind to

meet the dangers which she had probably to encounter.

The prisoner trembled, however, and changed colour, when a step was

heard on the stair, and the door of the turret-chamber slowly opened,

and a tall man, dressed as one of those banditti to whom they owed

their misfortune, slowly entered, and shut the door behind him; his cap,

pulled down upon his brows, concealed the upper part of his face, and he

held his mantle in such a manner as to muffle the rest. In this guise,

as if prepared for the execution of some deed, at the thought of which

he was himself ashamed, he stood before the affrighted prisoner; yet,

ruffian as his dress bespoke him, he seemed at a loss to express what

purpose had brought him thither, so that Rebecca, making an effort

upon herself, had time to anticipate his explanation. She had already

unclasped two costly bracelets and a collar, which she hastened to

proffer to the supposed outlaw, concluding naturally that to gratify his

avarice was to bespeak his favour.

"Take these," she said, "good friend, and for God's sake be merciful

to me and my aged father! These ornaments are of value, yet are they

trifling to what he would bestow to obtain our dismissal from this

castle, free and uninjured."

"Fair flower of Palestine," replied the outlaw, "these pearls are

orient, but they yield in whiteness to your teeth; the diamonds are

brilliant, but they cannot match your eyes; and ever since I have taken

up this wild trade, I have made a vow to prefer beauty to wealth."

"Do not do yourself such wrong," said Rebecca; "take ransom, and have

mercy!--Gold will purchase you pleasure,--to misuse us, could only bring

thee remorse. My father will willingly satiate thy utmost wishes; and

if thou wilt act wisely, thou mayst purchase with our spoils thy

restoration to civil society--mayst obtain pardon for past errors, and

be placed beyond the necessity of committing more."




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