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assaultwho fell howling with anguishto wave his battle…axe over
his own head； and cut off those of thirteen men…at…arms； was the
work of an instant。 〃An Ivanhoe； an Ivanhoe！〃 he still shouted；
and down went a man as sure as he said 〃hoe！〃
〃Ivanhoe！ Ivanhoe！〃 a shrill voice cried from the top of the
northern bartizan。 Ivanhoe knew it。
〃Rowena my love； I come！〃 he roared on his part。 〃Villains！ touch
but a hair of her head； and I 。 。 。〃
Here； with a sudden plunge and a squeal of agony； Bavieca sprang
forward wildly； and fell as wildly on her back； rolling over and
over upon the knight。 All was dark before him； his brain reeled；
it whizzed； something came crashing down on his forehead。 St。
Waltheof and all the saints of the Saxon calendar protect the
knight！ 。 。 。
When he came to himself； Wamba and the lieutenant of his lances
were leaning over him with a bottle of the hermit's elixir。 〃We
arrived here the day after the battle；〃 said the fool； 〃marry； I
have a knack of that。〃
〃Your worship rode so deucedly quick； there was no keeping up with
your worship；〃 said the lieutenant。
〃The dayafterthe bat〃 groaned Ivanhoe。 〃Where is the Lady
Rowena？〃
〃The castle has been taken and sacked；〃 the lieutenant said； and
pointed to what once WAS Rotherwood； but was now only a heap of
smoking ruins。 Not a tower was left； not a roof； not a floor； not
a single human being！ Everything was flame and ruin； smash and
murther！
Of course Ivanhoe fell back fainting again among the ninety…seven
men…at…arms whom he had slain； and it was not until Wamba had
applied a second； and uncommonly strong dose of the elixir that he
came to life again。 The good knight was； however； from long
practice； so accustomed to the severest wounds； that he bore them
far more easily than common folk； and thus was enabled to reach
York upon a litter； which his men constructed for him； with
tolerable ease。
Rumor had as usual advanced before him； and he heard at the hotel
where he stopped； what had been the issue of the affair at
Rotherwood。 A minute or two after his horse was stabbed； and
Ivanhoe knocked down； the western bartizan was taken by the
storming…party which invested it； and every soul slain； except
Rowena and her boy； who were tied upon horses and carried away；
under a secure guard； to one of the King's castlesnobody knew
whither： and Ivanhoe was recommended by the hotel…keeper （whose
house he had used in former times） to reassume his wig and
spectacles； and not call himself by his own name any more； lest
some of the King's people should lay hands on him。 However； as he
had killed everybody round about him； there was but little danger
of his discovery； and the Knight of the Spectacles； as he was
called； went about York quite unmolested； and at liberty to attend
to his own affairs。
We wish to be brief in narrating this part of the gallant hero's
existence； for his life was one of feeling rather than affection；
and the description of mere sentiment is considered by many well…
informed persons to be tedious。 What WERE his sentiments now； it
may be asked； under the peculiar position in which he found
himself？ He had done his duty by Rowena； certainly： no man could
say otherwise。 But as for being in love with her any more； after
what had occurred； that was a different question。 Well； come what
would； he was determined still to continue doing his duty by her；
but as she was whisked away the deuce knew whither； how could he do
anything？ So he resigned himself to the fact that she was thus
whisked away。
He； of course； sent emissaries about the country to endeavor to
find out where Rowena was： but these came back without any sort of
intelligence； and it was remarked； that he still remained in a
perfect state of resignation。 He remained in this condition for a
year； or more； and it was said that he was becoming more cheerful；
and he certainly was growing rather fat。 The Knight of the
Spectacles was voted an agreeable man in a grave way； and gave some
very elegant； though quiet； parties； and was received in the best
society of York。
It was just at assize…time； the lawyers and barristers had arrived；
and the town was unusually gay； when； one morning； the attorney；
whom we have mentioned as Sir Wilfrid's man of business； and a most
respectable man； called upon his gallant client at his lodgings；
and said he had a communication of importance to make。 Having to
communicate with a client of rank； who was condemned to be hanged
for forgery； Sir Roger de Backbite； the attorney said； he had been
to visit that party in the condemned cell； and on the way through
the yard； and through the bars of another cell； had seen and
recognized an old acquaintance of Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoeand the
lawyer held him out； with a particular look； a note； written on a
piece of whity…brown paper。
What were Ivanhoe's sensations when he recognized the handwriting
of Rowena！he tremblingly dashed open the billet； and read as
follows：
〃MY DEAREST IVANHOE；For I am thine now as erst； and my first love
was everever dear to me。 Have I been near thee dying for a whole
year； and didst thou make no effort to rescue thy Rowena？ Have ye
given to othersI mention not their name nor their odious creed
the heart that ought to be mine？ I send thee my forgiveness from
my dying pallet of straw。I forgive thee the insults I have
received； the cold and hunger I have endured； the failing health of
my boy； the bitterness of my prison； thy infatuation about that
Jewess； which made our married life miserable； and which caused
thee； I am sure； to go abroad to look after her。 I forgive thee
all my wrongs； and fain would bid thee farewell。 Mr。 Smith hath
gained over my gaolerhe will tell thee how I may see thee。 Come
and console my last hour by promising that thou wilt care for my
boyHIS boy who fell like a hero （when thou wert absent） combating
by the side of ROWENA。〃
The reader may consult his own feelings； and say whether Ivanhoe
was likely to be pleased or not by this letter： however； he
inquired of Mr。 Smith； the solicitor； what was the plan which that
gentleman had devised for the introduction to Lady Rowena； and was
informed that he was to get a barrister's gown and wig； when the
gaoler would introduce him into the interior of the prison。 These
decorations； knowing several gentlemen of the Northern Circuit； Sir
Wilfrid of Ivanhoe easily procured； and with feelings of no small
trepidation； reached the cell； where； for the space of a year； poor
Rowena had been immured。
If any person have a doubt of the correctness； of the historical
exactness of this narrative； I refer him to the 〃Biographie
Universelle〃 （article Jean sans Terre）； which says； 〃La femme d'un
baron auquel on vint demander son fils； repondit； 'Le roi pense…t…
il que je confierai mon fils a un homme qui a egorge son neveu de
sa propre main？' Jean fit enlever la mere et l'enfant； et la
laissa MOURIR DE FAIM dans les cachots。〃
I picture to myself； with a painful sympathy； Rowena undergoing
this disagreeable sentence。 All her virtues； her resolution； her
chaste energy and perseverance； shine with redoubled lustre； and；
for the first time since the commencement of the history； I feel
that I am partially reconciled to her。 The weary year passesshe
grows weaker and more languid； thinner and thinner！ At length
Ivanhoe； in the disguise of a barrister of the Northern Circuit； is
introduced to her cell； and finds his lady in the last stage of
exhaustion； on the straw of her dungeon； with her little boy in her
arms。 She has preserved his life at the expense of her own； giving
him the whole of the pittance which her gaolers allowed her； and
perishing herself of inanition。
There is a scene！ I feel as if I had made it up； as it were； with
this lady； and that we part in peace； in consequence of my providing
her with so sublime a death…bed。 Fancy Ivanhoe's entrancetheir
recognitionthe faint blush upon her worn featuresthe pathetic
way in which she gives little Cedric in charge to him； and his
promises of protection。
〃Wilfrid； my early loved；〃 slowly gasped she； removing her gray
hair from her furrowed temples； and gazing on her boy fondly； as
he nestled on Ivanhoe's knee〃promise me； by St。 Waltheof of
Templestowepromise me one boon！〃
〃I do；〃 said Ivanhoe； clasping the boy； and thinking it was to that
little innocent the promise was intended to apply。
〃By St。 Waltheof？〃
〃By St。 Waltheof！〃
〃Promise me； then；〃 gasped Rowena； staring wildly at him； 〃that you
never will marry a Jewess？〃
〃By St。 Waltheof；〃 cried Ivanhoe； 〃this is too much； Rowena！〃But
he felt his hand grasped for a moment； the nerves then relaxed； the
pale lips ceased to quivershe was no more！
CHAPTER VI。
IVANH