said the Lady Rowena, "whose names are worthy to be mentioned with them?" 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." 11. "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 voice was heard. 1 Templar Knight, or Knights Tem plars, an order of knighthood estab- 5 Resentment, displeasure; anger. Fatal, deadly: large numbers lost their lives there. Wily strollers, cunning wanderers; returned pilgrims and crusaders, who told tales of the doings of the Crusaders, to obtain food and lodging by arousing the sympathies of householders. The son who has disobeyed me. Ivanhoe, Cedric's son, had gone on the Third Crusade with Richard I. of England, against the wishes of his father, who had therefore disinherited him. Shaped the cross. The Crusaders wore a cross on their shoulder. 7 Ma-jor-do-mo, master of the household; steward. 8 Cer-e-mo-ny, attention. 10 Ap-pro-pri-at-ed to, set apart for. English monarch, Richard I. The Summary:-When Gurth and Wamba reached home they found their master entertaining a large company of strangers, among whom were Sir Brian de BoisGuilbert, a famous Templar knight, and a pilgrim from the Holy Land. Lady Rowena, Cedric's ward, and a distant relation, presided at the banquet; and when the knight claimed that of all the champions of the Cross the bravest were the Knights of the Temple of St. John, she asked if none of the English army were worthy to be mentioned with them. The knight admitted that Richard had with him a host of gallant warriors second only to the Templars. On hearing this the Pilgrim exclaimed that the English were second to none." 66 Exercises: 1. Write all you know about the Crusades. 2. Draw a map of Palestine. 3. The Saxon prefix mis signifies not, ill, wrong-as, misguide, to guide wrongly; misplace, to put in a wrong place; misconduct, bad conduct; misrule, bad rule. Make sentences containing misguide, misplace, misconduct, misrule. III.—THE CHALLENGE. 1. "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 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. 2. Cedric, in the joyous glee with which he heard of the glory of his countrymen, failed to notice 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." 3. "That will I do blithely," replied the Pilgrim, "and without guerdon: my oath, for a time, prohibits me from touching gold." "I will wear the bracelet for you, if you will, friend Palmer," said Wamba. "The first in honour as in arms, in renown as in place," said the Pilgrim, "was the brave Richard, King of England." He then named other four of the successful knights. 4. "The sixth," said the Palmer, after a pause, in which he seemed to recollect himself, "was a young knight of lesser renown and lower rank, assumed into that honourable company less to aid their enterprise than to make up their number; his name dwells not in my memory." 5. "Sir Palmer," said Sir Brian scornfully, "this assumed forgetfulness, after so much has been remembered, comes too late to serve your purpose. I will myself tell the name of the knight before whose lance fortune and my horse's fault occasioned my falling-it was, the Knight of Ivanhoe; nor was there one of the six that, for his years, had more renown in arms. Yet this will I say, and loudly, that were he in England, and durst repeat, in this week's tournament, the challenge of St. John-de-Acre, I, mounted and armed as I now am, would give him every advantage of weapons, and abide the result." 6. "Your challenge would be soon answered," replied the Palmer, "were your antagonist near you. As the matter is, disturb not this peaceful hall with vaunts about a conflict which you well know cannot take place. If Ivanhoe ever returns from Palestine, I will be his surety that he meets you." 7. Soon after this scene the guests were marshalled to their sleeping apartments by the steward and the cup-bearer, each attended by two torchbearers and two servants carrying refreshments, while servants of inferior condition indicated to their retinue and to the other guests their respective places of repose. 8. A rich Jew, called Isaac of York, had the same evening craved shelter at the castle of Cedric the Saxon. During the night the Pilgrim entered his room, and warned him that he had learned of a plot of the Templar and his men to attack and rob him on his journey next day. Wishing to befriend the Jew, the Pilgrim started with him and Gurth before break of day through the forest to Ashby, near which a vast multitude of rich and poor were assembling to witness the tournament that was to be held in the presence of Prince John. 9. The Jew discovered that the Pilgrim was a knight in disguise, and that he wished to take part in the tournament as a combatant. In gratitude for having protected him, he arranged to provide him with a splendid steed and a suit of new armour. Thus accoutred, the Pilgrim, who had at the castle revealed himself to the swine-herd, soon after made his way to the lists at Ashby, attended by Gurth disguised as his squire. Notes and Meanings. 1 Tour-na-ment, mock fight, or military sport. St. John-de-Acre, a fortified city and sea-port of Syria, near the foot of Mount Carmel. Three courses, three separate attacks. 3 Guer-don, reward. My oath for a time. Pilgrims often made vows that they would not do certain things till a certain time had expired, or till they had accomplished some object. Palmer, a palm-bearing pilgrim. 5 Knight of I-van-hoe, the disinherited son of Cedric. 6 Vaunts, boastings. Surety, pledge; one who becomes bound for another. Summary:-The Pilgrim, who declared the English chivalry to be "second to none," said that he had seen King Richard and five English knights in a tournament overthrow all who came against them, among whom were seven Knights of the Temple. Cedric promised to give the Pilgrim a golden bracelet if he would tell the names of the knights. Refusing the bracelet, he mentioned four of them, and pretended to have forgotten the fifth. Sir Brian then said that the fifth, by whom he (Sir Brian) had been overcome, was the Knight of Ivanhoe, but that he was ready to meet Ivanhoe again. The Pilgrim said that he would be surety for Ivanhoe. The next morning the Pilgrim rendered a service to a rich Jew, called Isaac of York, also one of Cedric's guests; and the Jew, discovering that the Pilgrim was a knight in disguise, provided him with a splendid steed and a suit of new armour. Exercises: 1. Give in your own words a description of the Feudal System. 2. The Saxon prefix out signifies above, beyond, excess-as, outbid, to bid above a higher; outspread, to spread beyond; outdo, to do beyond. Make sentences containing outbid, outspread, outdo. 3. The prefix over signifies above, too much-as, overbear, to bear too much or too heavily; overrule, to rule over; overdo, to do too much; overgrow, to grow too much. Make sentences containing overbear, overrule, overdo, overgrow. THE SPANISH CHAMPION. 1. The warrior bowed his crested head, and tamed his heart of fire, And sued the haughty king to free his long-imprisoned sire: [train ; "I bring thee here my fortress keys, I bring my captive I pledge my faith, my liege, my lord-oh! break my father's chain." 2. "Rise! rise! even now thy father comes, a ransomed man this day; [on his way." Mount thy good steed, and thou and I will meet him |