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feelings； and there are others I wot of：but psha！let us have
the next chapter。
CHAPTER V。
IVANHOE TO THE RESCUE。
The rascally manner in which the chicken…livered successor of
Richard of the Lion…heart conducted himself to all parties； to his
relatives； his nobles； and his people； is a matter notorious； and
set forth clearly in the Historic Page： hence； although nothing；
except perhaps success； can； in my opinion； excuse disaffection to
the sovereign； or appearance in armed rebellion against him； the
loyal reader will make allowance for two of the principal
personages of this narrative； who will have to appear in the
present chapter in the odious character of rebels to their lord and
king。 It must be remembered； in partial exculpation of the fault
of Athelstane and Rowena； （a fault for which they were bitterly
punished； as you shall presently hear；） that the monarch
exasperated his subjects in a variety of ways；that before he
murdered his royal nephew； Prince Arthur； there was a great
question whether he was the rightful king of England at all；that
his behavior as an uncle； and a family man； was likely to wound the
feelings of any lady and mother；finally； that there were
palliations for the conduct of Rowena and Ivanhoe； which it now
becomes our duty to relate。
When his Majesty destroyed Prince Arthur； the Lady Rowena； who was
one of the ladies of honor to the Queen； gave up her place at court
at once； and retired to her castle of Rotherwood。 Expressions made
use of by her； and derogatory to the character of the sovereign；
were carried to the monarch's ears； by some of those parasites；
doubtless； by whom it is the curse of kings to be attended； and
John swore； by St。 Peter's teeth； that he would be revenged upon
the haughty Saxon lady；a kind of oath which； though he did not
trouble himself about all other oaths； he was never known to break。
It was not for some years after he had registered this vow； that he
was enabled to keep it。
Had Ivanhoe been present at Ronen； when the King meditated his
horrid designs against his nephew； there is little doubt that Sir
Wilfrid would have prevented them； and rescued the boy： for Ivanhoe
was； as we need scarcely say； a hero of romance； and it is the
custom and duty of all gentlemen of that profession to be present
on all occasions of historic interest； to be engaged in all
conspiracies； royal interviews； and remarkable occurrences： and
hence Sir Wilfrid would certainly have rescued the young Prince；
had he been anywhere in the neighborhood of Rouen； where the foul
tragedy occurred。 But he was a couple of hundred leagues off； at
Chalus； when the circumstance happened； tied down in his bed as
crazy as a Bedlamite； and raving ceaselessly in the Hebrew tongue
（which he had caught up during a previous illness in which he was
tended by a maiden of that nation） about a certain Rebecca Ben
Isaacs； of whom； being a married man； he never would have thought；
had he been in his sound senses。 During this delirium； what were
politics to him； or he to politics？ King John or King Arthur was
entirely indifferent to a man who announced to his nurse…tenders；
the good hermits of Chalus before mentioned； that he was the
Marquis of Jericho； and about to marry Rebecca the Queen of Sheba。
In a word； he only heard of what had occurred when he reached
England； and his senses were restored to him。 Whether was he
happier； sound of brain and entirely miserable； （as any man would
be who found so admirable a wife as Rowena married again；） or
perfectly crazy； the husband of the beautiful Rebecca？ I don't
know which he liked best。
Howbeit the conduct of King John inspired Sir Wilfrid with so
thorough a detestation of that sovereign； that he never could be
brought to take service under him； to get himself presented at St。
James's； or in any way to acknowledge； but by stern acquiescence；
the authority of the sanguinary successor of his beloved King
Richard。 It was Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoe； I need scarcely say； who
got the Barons of England to league together and extort from the
king that famous instrument and palladium of our liberties at
present in the British Museum； Great Russell Street； Bloomsbury
the Magna Charta。 His name does not naturally appear in the list
of Barons； because he was only a knight； and a knight in disguise
too： nor does Athelstane's signature figure on that document。
Athelstane； in the first place； could not write； nor did he care a
pennypiece about politics； so long as he could drink his wine at
home undisturbed； and have his hunting and shooting in quiet。
It was not until the King wanted to interfere with the sport of
every gentleman in England （as we know by reference to the Historic
Page that this odious monarch did）； that Athelstane broke out into
open rebellion； along with several Yorkshire squires and noblemen。
It is recorded of the King； that he forbade every man to hunt his
own deer； and； in order to secure an obedience to his orders； this
Herod of a monarch wanted to secure the eldest sons of all the
nobility and gentry； as hostages for the good behavior of their
parents。
Athelstane was anxious about his gameRowena was anxious about her
son。 The former swore that he would hunt his deer in spite of all
Norman tyrantsthe latter asked； should she give up her boy to the
ruffian who had murdered his own nephew？* The speeches of both
were brought to the King at York； and； furious； he ordered an
instant attack upon Rotherwood； and that the lord and lady of that
castle should be brought before him dead or alive。
*See Hume； Giraldus Cambrensis； The Monk of Croyland； and Pinnock's
Catechism。
Ah； where was Wilfrid of Ivanhoe； the unconquerable champion； to
defend the castle against the royal party？ A few thrusts from his
lance would have spitted the leading warriors of the King's host： a
few cuts from his sword would have put John's forces to rout。 But
the lance and sword of Ivanhoe were idle on this occasion。 〃No； be
hanged to me！〃 said the knight； bitterly； 〃THIS is a quarrel in
which I can't interfere。 Common politeness forbids。 Let yonder
ale…swilling Athelstane defend hisha； haWIFE； and my Lady
Rowena guard herha； ha； haSON。〃 And he laughed wildly and
madly； and the sarcastic； way in which he choked and gurgled out
the words 〃wife〃 and 〃son〃 would have made you shudder to hear。
When he heard； however； that； on the fourth day of the siege；
Athelstane had been slain by a cannon…ball； （and this time for
good； and not to come to life again as he had done before；） and
that the widow （if so the innocent bigamist may be called） was
conducting the defence of Rotherwood herself with the greatest
intrepidity； showing herself upon the walls with her little son；
（who bellowed like a bull； and did not like the fighting at all；）
pointing the guns and encouraging the garrison in every waybetter
feelings returned to the bosom of the Knight of Ivanhoe； and
summoning his men； he armed himself quickly and determined to go
forth to the rescue。
He rode without stopping for two days and two nights in the
direction of Rotherwood； with such swiftness and disregard for
refreshment； indeed； that his men dropped one by one upon the road；
and he arrived alone at the lodge…gate of the park。 The windows
were smashed； the door stove in； the lodge； a neat little Swiss
cottage； with a garden where the pinafores of Mrs。 Gurth's children
might have been seen hanging on the gooseberry…bushes in more
peaceful times； was now a ghastly heap of smoking ruins： cottage；
bushes； pinafores； children lay mangled together； destroyed by the
licentious soldiery of an infuriate monarch！ Far be it from me to
excuse the disobedience of Athelstane and Rowena to their
sovereign； but surely； surely this cruelty might have been spared。
Gurth； who was lodge…keeper； was lying dreadfully wounded and
expiring at the flaming and violated threshold of his lately
picturesque home。 A catapult and a couple of mangonels had done
his business。 The faithful fellow； recognizing his master； who had
put up his visor and forgotten his wig and spectacles in the
agitation of the moment； exclaimed； 〃Sir Wilfrid！ my dear master
praised be St。 Waltheofthere may be yet timemy beloved mistr
master Athelst 。 。 。〃 He sank back； and never spoke again。
Ivanhoe spurred on his horse Bavieca madly up the chestnut avenue。
The castle was before him； the western tower was in flames； the
besiegers were pressing at the southern gate； Athelstane's banner；
the bull rampant； was still on the northern bartizan。 〃An Ivanhoe；
an Ivanhoe！〃 he bellowed out； with a shout that overcame all the
din of battle： 〃Nostre Dame a la rescousse！〃 And to hurl his lance
through the midriff of Reginald de Bracy； who was commanding the
assaultwho fell howling with anguishto wave his battle…axe over
his own h