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Monsieur Alexandre Dumas； or even in three like other great
authors。 We have no room for the recounting of Sir Wilfrid's deeds
of valor。 Whenever he took a Moorish town； it was remarked； that
he went anxiously into the Jewish quarter； and inquired amongst the
Hebrews； who were in great numbers in Spain； for Rebecca； the
daughter of Isaac。 Many Jews； according to his wont； he ransomed；
and created so much scandal by this proceeding； and by the manifest
favor which he showed to the people of that nation； that the Master
of Saint Jago remonstrated with him； and it is probable he would
have been cast into the Inquisition and roasted； but that his
prodigious valor and success against the Moors counterbalanced his
heretical partiality for the children of Jacob。
It chanced that the good knight was present at the siege of Xixona
in Andalusia； entering the breach first； according to his wont； and
slaying； with his own hand； the Moorish lieutenant of the town； and
several hundred more of its unbelieving defenders。 He had very
nearly done for the Alfaqui； or governora veteran warrior with a
crooked scimitar and a beard as white as snowbut a couple of
hundred of the Alfaqui's bodyguard flung themselves between Ivanhoe
and their chief； and the old fellow escaped with his life； leaving
a handful of his beard in the grasp of the English knight。 The
strictly military business being done； and such of the garrison as
did not escape put； as by right； to the sword； the good knight； Sir
Wilfrid of Ivanhoe； took no further part in the proceedings of the
conquerors of that ill…fated place。 A scene of horrible massacre
and frightful reprisals ensued； and the Christian warriors； hot
with victory and flushed with slaughter； were； it is to be feared；
as savage in their hour of triumph as ever their heathen enemies
had been。
Among the most violent and least scrupulous was the ferocious
Knight of Saint Jago； Don Beltran de Cuchilla y Trabuco y Espada y
Espelon。 Raging through the vanquished city like a demon； he
slaughtered indiscriminately all those infidels of both sexes whose
wealth did not tempt him to a ransom； or whose beauty did not
reserve them for more frightful calamities than death。 The
slaughter over； Don Beltran took up his quarters in the Albaycen；
where the Alfaqui had lived who had so narrowly escaped the sword
of Ivanhoe； but the wealth； the treasure； the slaves； and the
family of the fugitive chieftain； were left in possession of the
conqueror of Xixona。 Among the treasures； Don Beltran recognized
with a savage joy the coat…armors and ornaments of many brave and
unfortunate companions…in…arms who had fallen in the fatal battle
of Alarcos。 The sight of those bloody relics added fury to his
cruel disposition； and served to steel a heart already but little
disposed to sentiments of mercy。
Three days after the sack and plunder of the place； Don Beltran was
seated in the hall…court lately occupied by the proud Alfaqui；
lying in his divan； dressed in his rich robes； the fountains
playing in the centre； the slaves of the Moor ministering to his
scarred and rugged Christian conqueror。 Some fanned him with
peacocks' pinions； some danced before him； some sang Moor's
melodies to the plaintive notes of a guzla； oneit was the only
daughter of the Moor's old age； the young Zutulbe； a rosebud of
beautysat weeping in a corner of the gilded hall： weeping for her
slain brethren； the pride of Moslem chivalry； whose heads were
blackening in the blazing sunshine on the portals without； and for
her father； whose home had been thus made desolate。
He and his guest； the English knight Sir Wilfrid； were playing at
chess； a favorite amusement with the chivalry of the period； when a
messenger was announced from Valencia； to treat； if possible； for
the ransom of the remaining part of the Alfaqui's family。 A grim
smile lighted up Don Beltran's features as he bade the black slave
admit the messenger。 He entered。 By his costume it was at once
seen that the bearer of the flag of truce was a Jewthe people
were employed continually then as ambassadors between the two races
at war in Spain。
〃I come；〃 said the old Jew （in a voice which made Sir Wilfrid
start）； 〃from my lord the Alfaqui to my noble senor； the invincible
Don Beltran de Cuchilla； to treat for the ransom of the Moor's only
daughter； the child of his old age and the pearl of his affection。〃
〃A pearl is a valuable jewel； Hebrew。 What does the Moorish dog
bid for her？〃 asked Don Beltran； still smiling grimly。
〃The Alfaqui offers 100；000 dinars； twenty…four horses with their
caparisons； twenty…four suits of plate…armor； and diamonds and
rubies to the amount of 1；000；000 dinars。〃
〃Ho； slaves！〃 roared Don Beltran； 〃show the Jew my treasury of
gold。 How many hundred thousand pieces are there？〃 And ten
enormous chests were produced in which the accountant counted 1；000
bags of 1；000 dirhems each； and displayed several caskets of jewels
containing such a treasure of rubies； smaragds； diamonds； and
jacinths； as made the eyes of the aged ambassador twinkle with
avarice。
〃How many horses are there in my stable？〃 continued Don Beltran；
and Muley； the master of the horse； numbered three hundred fully
caparisoned； and there was； likewise； armor of the richest sort for
as many cavaliers； who followed the banner of this doughty captain。
〃I want neither money nor armor；〃 said the ferocious knight； 〃tell
this to the Alfaqui； Jew。 And I will keep the child； his daughter；
to serve the messes for my dogs； and clean the platters for my
scullions。〃
〃Deprive not the old man of his child；〃 here interposed the Knight
of Ivanhoe； 〃bethink thee； brave Don Beltran； she is but an infant
in years。〃
〃She is my captive； Sir Knight；〃 replied the surly Don Beltran； 〃I
will do with my own as becomes me。〃
〃Take 200；000 dirhems；〃 cried the Jew； 〃more！anything！ The
Alfaqui will give his life for his child！〃
〃Come hither； Zutulbe！come hither； thou Moorish pearl！〃 yelled
the ferocious warrior； 〃come closer； my pretty black…eyed houri of
heathenesse！ Hast heard the name of Beltran de Espada y Trabuco？〃
〃There were three brothers of that name at Alarcos； and my brothers
slew the Christian dogs！〃 said the proud young girl； looking boldly
at Don Beltran； who foamed with rage。
〃The Moors butchered my mother and her little ones； at midnight； in
our castle of Murcia；〃 Beltran said。
〃Thy father fled like a craven； as thou didst； Don Beltran！〃 cried
the high…spirited girl。
〃By Saint Jago； this is too much！〃 screamed the infuriated
nobleman； and the next moment there was a shriek； and the maiden
fell to the ground with Don Beltran's dagger in her side。
〃Death is better than dishonor！〃 cried the child； rolling on the
blood…stained marble pavement。 〃II spit upon thee； dog of a
Christian！〃 and with this； and with a savage laugh； she fell back
and died。
〃Bear back this news； Jew； to the Alfaqui；〃 howled the Don；
spurning the beauteous corpse with his foot。 〃I would not have
ransomed her for all the gold in Barbary！〃 And shuddering； the old
Jew left the apartment； which Ivanhoe quitted likewise。
When they were in the outer court； the knight said to the Jew；
〃Isaac of York； dost thou not know me？〃 and threw back his hood；
and looked at the old man。
The old Jew stared wildly； rushed forward as if to seize his hand；
then started back； trembling convulsively； and clutching his
withered hands over his face； said； with a burst of grief； 〃Sir
Wilfrid of Ivanhoe！no； no！I do not know thee！〃
〃Holy mother！ what has chanced？〃 said Ivanhoe； in his turn becoming
ghastly pale； 〃where is thy daughterwhere is Rebecca？〃
〃Away from me！〃 said the old Jew； tottering。 〃Away Rebecca is
dead！〃
。 。 。 。 。 。
When the Disinherited Knight heard that fatal announcement； he fell
to the ground senseless； and was for some days as one perfectly
distraught with grief。 He took no nourishment and uttered no word。
For weeks he did not relapse out of his moody silence； and when he
came partially to himself again； it was to bid his people to horse；
in a hollow voice； and to make a foray against the Moors。 Day
after day he issued out against these infidels； and did nought but
slay and slay。 He took no plunder as other knights did； but left
that to his followers； he uttered no war…cry； as was the manner of
chivalry； and he gave no quarter； insomuch that the 〃silent knight〃
became the dread of all the Paynims of Granada and Andalusia； and
more fell by his lance than by that of any the most clamorous
captains of the troops in arms against them。 Thus the tide of
battle turned； and the Arab historian； El Makary； recounts how； at
the great battle of Al Akab； called by the Spaniards Las Navas； the
Christians retrieved their d