"It is gravely and well preached, O daughter of Sirach!" answered the

Templar; "but, gentle Ecclesiastics, thy narrow Jewish prejudices make

thee blind to our high privilege. Marriage were an enduring crime on

the part of a Templar; but what lesser folly I may practise, I shall

speedily be absolved from at the next Preceptory of our Order. Not the

wisest of monarchs, not his father, whose examples you must needs allow

are weighty, claimed wider privileges than we poor soldiers of the

Temple of Zion have won by our zeal in its defence. The protectors of

Solomon's Temple may claim license by the example of Solomon."

"If thou readest the Scripture," said the Jewess, "and the lives of the

saints, only to justify thine own license and profligacy, thy crime

is like that of him who extracts poison from the most healthful and

necessary herbs."

The eyes of the Templar flashed fire at this reproof--"Hearken," he

said, "Rebecca; I have hitherto spoken mildly to thee, but now my

language shall be that of a conqueror. Thou art the captive of my bow

and spear--subject to my will by the laws of all nations; nor will I

abate an inch of my right, or abstain from taking by violence what thou

refusest to entreaty or necessity."

"Stand back," said Rebecca--"stand back, and hear me ere thou offerest

to commit a sin so deadly! My strength thou mayst indeed overpower for

God made women weak, and trusted their defence to man's generosity. But

I will proclaim thy villainy, Templar, from one end of Europe to

the other. I will owe to the superstition of thy brethren what their

compassion might refuse me, Each Preceptory--each Chapter of thy Order,

shall learn, that, like a heretic, thou hast sinned with a Jewess. Those

who tremble not at thy crime, will hold thee accursed for having so

far dishonoured the cross thou wearest, as to follow a daughter of my

people."

"Thou art keen-witted, Jewess," replied the Templar, well aware of the

truth of what she spoke, and that the rules of his Order condemned in

the most positive manner, and under high penalties, such intrigues as

he now prosecuted, and that, in some instances, even degradation had

followed upon it--"thou art sharp-witted," he said; "but loud must be

thy voice of complaint, if it is heard beyond the iron walls of this

castle; within these, murmurs, laments, appeals to justice, and screams

for help, die alike silent away. One thing only can save thee, Rebecca.

Submit to thy fate--embrace our religion, and thou shalt go forth in

such state, that many a Norman lady shall yield as well in pomp as in

beauty to the favourite of the best lance among the defenders of the

Temple."




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