Ivanhoe

"It becomes not one wearing this badge to answer," said Sir Brian de

Bois-Guilbert; "yet to whom, besides the sworn Champions of the Holy

Sepulchre, can the palm be assigned among the champions of the Cross?"

"To the Knights Hospitallers," said the Abbot; "I have a brother of

their order."

"I impeach not their fame," said the Templar; "nevertheless---"

"I think, friend Cedric," said Wamba, interfering, "that had Richard

of the Lion's Heart been wise enough to have taken a fool's advice,

he might have staid at home with his merry Englishmen, and left the

recovery of Jerusalem to those same Knights who had most to do with the

loss of it."

"Were there, then, none in the English army," said the Lady Rowena,

"whose names are worthy to be mentioned with the Knights of the Temple,

and of St John?"

"Forgive me, lady," replied De Bois-Guilbert; "the English monarch did,

indeed, bring to Palestine a host of gallant warriors, second only to

those whose breasts have been the unceasing bulwark of that blessed

land."

"Second to NONE," said the Pilgrim, who had stood near enough to hear,

and had listened to this conversation with marked impatience. All turned

toward the spot from whence this unexpected asseveration was heard.

"I say," repeated the Pilgrim in a firm and strong voice, "that the

English chivalry were second to NONE who ever drew sword in defence of

the Holy Land. I say besides, for I saw it, that King Richard himself,

and five of his knights, held a tournament after the taking of St

John-de-Acre, as challengers against all comers. I say that, on that

day, each knight ran three courses, and cast to the ground three

antagonists. I add, that seven of these assailants were Knights of the

Temple--and Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert well knows the truth of what I

tell you."

It is impossible for language to describe the bitter scowl of rage

which rendered yet darker the swarthy countenance of the Templar. In the

extremity of his resentment and confusion, his quivering fingers griped

towards the handle of his sword, and perhaps only withdrew, from the

consciousness that no act of violence could be safely executed in that

place and presence. Cedric, whose feelings were all of a right onward

and simple kind, and were seldom occupied by more than one object at

once, omitted, in the joyous glee with which he heard of the glory of

his countrymen, to remark the angry confusion of his guest; "I would

give thee this golden bracelet, Pilgrim," he said, "couldst thou tell me

the names of those knights who upheld so gallantly the renown of merry

England."