ED IN The Child's Story of. FAMOUS BOOKS THE WAVERLEY NOVELS N these pages we read two more of Scott's famous stories: "Ivanhoe" and "The Antiquary." The first s a romance of the return of Richard Cœur de Lion, or Richard "the Lion-hearted." In "Ivanhoe" we are, for the first time in the Waverley Novels, entirely in England. "The Antiquary" is a story of life not far from Edinburgh, on the southern shores of the Firth of Forth, in the last ten years of the eighteenth century. In the character of the sturdy old Whig antiquary, Jonathan Oldbuck, is reflected some of the author's own characteristics; and we are told that the novel was his favourite. The figure of old Edie Ochiltree, the garrulous, kind-hearted, wandering beggar, or "gaberlunzie man," has always been a favourite with Scott's readers. A beggar in those days wore a sort of uniform and had a licence to beg. An antiquary, of course, means one who devotes himself to the study of records and relics of the past. WHEN KNIGHTS WERE BOLD CONTINUED FROM 1606 that when Richard's return of The scene of the story is "in that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the River Don,' where "there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster." The forest was that of Sherwood or Rotherwood, numerous remains of which are still to be seen, and many parts of which are named after Robin Hood. In romantic Sherwood, in the days to which the novel refers, there dwelt a brave old Saxon named Cedric of Rotherwood. In his service were a jester named Wamba and a swineherd named Gurth. One evening, as the sun was setting upon one of the rich grassy glades of the forest, these two were surprised by a party of horsemen. The travellers included a monk, Prior Aymer of Jorvaulx, and a Norman knight, Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert, commander of the Order of the Knights Templars. They were on their way to Ashby-de-la-Zouch, where a tournament was about to take place. They sought the way to Rotherwood, the residence of Cedric. Wamba, not liking their appearance, gave them directions which would have taken them to Sheffield. But at the cross-ways they found a palmer, or pilgrim, lying on the ground asleep. To settle the point whether they should turn to the right or the left, as to which the monk and the knight were divided in opinion, they awoke the sleeper, who conducted them to Cedric's mansion. Cedric was no lover of the Normans, but he put hospitality before his other feelings, and opened his doors to the new-comers. When supper had been served in the great hall, the steward, suddenly raising his wand, said aloud: "Forbear! Place for the Lady Rowena ! A door was opened behind the banqueting-table, and the ward of Cedric, followed by four female attendants, entered. "Formed in the best proportions of her sex, Rowena was tall in stature. Her complexion was exquisitely fair; her clear blue eyes seemed to command as well as to beseech. Her profuse hair, of a colour betwixt brown and flaxen, was braided with gems. She wore a garment of pale sea-green silk, over which was a loose, flowing robe of crimson wool. Round her neck hung a golden chain, and a veil of silk, interwoven with gold, was disposed about her head and shoulders." AROUND THE HOSPITABLE BOARD OF CEDRIC THE SAXON Cedric was endeavouring to draw the Templar's undesirable attentions away from his ward, when some disturbance was caused by the arrival of an old Jew, who called himself Isaac of York, and who pleaded for shelter for the night, as a storm had arisen. To the anger of the Normans, Cedric gave orders that the Jew should be given a seat at the lower end of the table. Here it would have gone hard with him but for the courtesy of the Palmer, who had entered with the Norman party, but whose face had remained hidden behind his cowl. Wine having flown pretty freely, Sir Brian began to boast of the prowess of the Norman knights in the Holy Land. "Were there none in the English army," asked the Lady Rowena," whose names are worthy to be mentioned with the Knights of the Temple and of St. John ? "Forgive me, lady," replied 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." 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. Johnde-Acre, I, mounted and armed as I now am, would give him every advantage of weapons and abide the result." "Your challenge would be soon answered," replied the Palmer, "were your antagonist near you. If Ivanhoe ever returns from Palestine, I will be his surety that he meet you." As he said this, the Palmer placed on the table a small ivory box containing a sacred relic. In reply, the Templar took from his neck a gold chain, exclaiming, " Let Prior Aymer hold my pledge and that of this nameless vagrant, in token that when the Knight of Ivanhoe comes within the four shores of Britain, he underlies the challenge of Brian de BoisGuilbert, which, if he answer not, I will proclaim him as a coward on the walls. of every Temple Court in Europe." IVANHOE DEFEATS THE HAUGHTY TEMPLAR THE TOURNAMENT The next morning, very early, the Palmer, who seemed to know exceedingly well the ways of Cedric's dwelling, made his way to the cell where the Jew slept, and bade him arise and escape, as the Templar had threatened to kidnap him. The Palmer offered himself to conduct Isaac to a place of safety. Whispering a word in the ear of Gurth, which greatly astonished that individual, the Palmer gained egress for himself and the Jew. When the two had arrived at a spot beyond the domains of Bois-Guilbert's friends, Philip de Malvoisin and Reginald Front-de-Boeuf, the Jew astonished the Palmer by telling him that he had pierced his disguise the Palmer was a knight-and induced him to accept a letter that would secure him the loan of horse and armour. When the day arrived for the opening of the tournament at Ashby-de-la Zouch, Sir Brian and his companions easily vanquished all those who entered the lists against them. Then, after a pause, a solitary trumpet announced the entry of another champion. It was none other than the knight who, disguised as a palmer, had caused the Templar so much annoyance in Cedric's banqueting hall. He entered the lists with his vizor down, and carrying a shield which "Sir Palmer," said Sir Brian de BoisGuilbert scornfully, "this assumed forgetfulness 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. |