Ivanhoe

The Jew's dress, which appeared to have suffered considerably from the

storm, was a plain russet cloak of many folds, covering a dark purple

tunic. He had large boots lined with fur, and a belt around his

waist, which sustained a small knife, together with a case for writing

materials, but no weapon. He wore a high square yellow cap of a peculiar

fashion, assigned to his nation to distinguish them from Christians, and

which he doffed with great humility at the door of the hall.

The reception of this person in the hall of Cedric the Saxon, was such

as might have satisfied the most prejudiced enemy of the tribes of

Israel. Cedric himself coldly nodded in answer to the Jew's repeated

salutations, and signed to him to take place at the lower end of the

table, where, however, no one offered to make room for him. On the

contrary, as he passed along the file, casting a timid supplicating

glance, and turning towards each of those who occupied the lower end of

the board, the Saxon domestics squared their shoulders, and continued

to devour their supper with great perseverance, paying not the least

attention to the wants of the new guest. The attendants of the Abbot

crossed themselves, with looks of pious horror, and the very heathen

Saracens, as Isaac drew near them, curled up their whiskers with

indignation, and laid their hands on their poniards, as if ready to

rid themselves by the most desperate means from the apprehended

contamination of his nearer approach.

Probably the same motives which induced Cedric to open his hall to this

son of a rejected people, would have made him insist on his attendants

receiving Isaac with more courtesy. But the Abbot had, at this moment,

engaged him in a most interesting discussion on the breed and character

of his favourite hounds, which he would not have interrupted for matters

of much greater importance than that of a Jew going to bed supperless.

While Isaac thus stood an outcast in the present society, like his

people among the nations, looking in vain for welcome or resting

place, the pilgrim who sat by the chimney took compassion upon him, and

resigned his seat, saying briefly, "Old man, my garments are dried,

my hunger is appeased, thou art both wet and fasting." So saying, he

gathered together, and brought to a flame, the decaying brands which

lay scattered on the ample hearth; took from the larger board a mess of

pottage and seethed kid, placed it upon the small table at which he had

himself supped, and, without waiting the Jew's thanks, went to the

other side of the hall;--whether from unwillingness to hold more close

communication with the object of his benevolence, or from a wish to draw

near to the upper end of the table, seemed uncertain.