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the great battle of Al Akab； called by the Spaniards Las Navas； the
Christians retrieved their defeat at Alarcos； and absolutely killed
half a milllion of Mahometans。 Fifty thousand of these； of course；
Don Wilfrid took to his own lance； and it was remarked that the
melancholy warrior seemed somewhat more easy in spirits after that
famous feat of arms。
CHAPTER VII。
THE END OF THE PERFORMANCE。
In a short time the terrible Sir Wilfrid of Ivanhoe had killed off
so many of the Moors； that though those unbelieving miscreants
poured continual reinforcements into Spain from Barbary； they could
make no head against the Christian forces； and in fact came into
battle quite discouraged at the notion of meeting the dreadful
silent knight。 It was commonly believed amongst them； that the
famous Malek Ric； Richard of England； the conqueror of Saladin； had
come to life again； and was battling in the Spanish hoststhat
this； his second life； was a charmed one； and his body inaccessible
to blow of scimitar or thrust of spearthat after battle he ate
the hearts and drank the blood of many young Moors for his supper：
a thousand wild legends were told of Ivanhoe； indeed； so that the
Morisco warriors came half vanquished into the field； and fell an
easy prey to the Spaniards； who cut away among them without mercy。
And although none of the Spanish historians whom I have consulted
make mention of Sir Wilfrid as the real author of the numerous
triumphs which now graced the arms of the good cause； this is not
in the least to be wondered at； in a nation that has always been
notorious for bragging； and for the non…payment of their debts of
gratitude as of their other obligations； and that writes histories
of the Peninsular war with the Emperor Napoleon； without making the
slightest mention of his Grace the Duke of Wellington； or of the
part taken by BRITISH VALOR in that transaction。 Well； it must be
confessed； on the other hand； that we brag enough of our fathers'
feats in those campaigns： but this is not the subject at present
under consideration。
To be brief； Ivanhoe made such short work with the unbelievers；
that the monarch of Aragon； King Don Jayme； saw himself speedily
enabled to besiege the city of Valencia； the last stronghold which
the Moors had in his dominions； and garrisoned by many thousands of
those infidels under the command of their King Aboo Abdallah
Mahommed； son of Yakoobal…Mansoor。 The Arabian historian El Makary
gives a full account of the military precautions taken by Aboo
Abdallah to defend his city； but as I do not wish to make a parade
of my learning； or to write a costume novel； I shall pretermit any
description of the city under its Moorish governors。
Besides the Turks who inhabited it； there dwelt within its walls
great store of those of the Hebrew nation； who were always
protected by the Moors during their unbelieving reign in Spain； and
who were； as we very well know； the chief physicians； the chief
bankers； the chief statesmen； the chief artists and musicians； the
chief everything； under the Moorish kings。 Thus it is not
surprising that the Hebrews； having their money； their liberty；
their teeth； their lives； secure under the Mahometan domination；
should infinitely prefer it to the Christian sway； beneath which
they were liable to be deprived of every one of these benefits。
Among these Hebrews of Valencia； lived a very ancient Israeliteno
other than Isaac of York before mentioned； who came into Spain with
his daughter； soon after Ivanhoe's marriage； in the third volume of
the first part of this history。 Isaac was respected by his people
for the money which he possessed； and his daughter for her admirable
good qualities； her beauty； her charities； and her remarkable
medical skill。
The young Emir Aboo Abdallah was so struck by her charms； that
though she was considerably older than his Highness； he offered to
marry her； and install her as Number 1 of his wives； and Isaac of
York would not have objected to the union； （for such mixed marriages
were not uncommon between the Hebrews and Moors in those days；） but
Rebecca firmly yet respectfully declined the proposals of the
prince； saying that it was impossible she should unite herself with
a man of a creed different to her own。
Although Isaac was； probably； not over…well pleased at losing this
chance of being father…in…law to a royal highness； yet as he passed
among his people for a very strict character； and there were in his
family several rabbis of great reputation and severity of conduct；
the old gentleman was silenced by this objection of Rebecca's； and
the young lady herself applauded by her relatives for her resolute
behavior。 She took their congratulations in a very frigid manner；
and said that it was her wish not to marry at all； but to devote
herself to the practice of medicine altogether； and to helping the
sick and needy of her people。 Indeed； although she did not go to
any public meetings； she was as benevolent a creature as the world
ever saw： the poor blessed her wherever they knew her； and many
benefited by her who guessed not whence her gentle bounty came。
But there are men in Jewry who admire beauty； and； as I have even
heard； appreciate money too； and Rebecca had such a quantity of
both； that all the most desirable bachelors of the people were
ready to bid for her。 Ambassadors came from all quarters to
propose for her。 Her own uncle； the venerable Ben Solomons； with a
beard as long as a cashmere goat's； and a reputation for learning
and piety which still lives in his nation； quarrelled with his son
Moses； the red…haired diamond…merchant of Trebizond； and his son
Simeon； the bald bill…broker of Bagdad； each putting in a claim for
their cousin。 Ben Minories came from London and knelt at her feet；
Ben Jochanan arrived from Paris； and thought to dazzle her with the
latest waistcoats from the Palais Royal； and Ben Jonah brought her
a present of Dutch herrings； and besought her to come back and be
Mrs。 Ben Jonah at the Hague。
Rebecca temporized as best she might。 She thought her uncle was
too old。 She besought dear Moses and dear Simeon not to quarrel
with each other； and offend their father by pressing their suit。
Ben Minories from London； she said； was too young； and Jochanan
from Paris； she pointed out to Isaac of York； must be a spendthrift；
or he would not wear those absurd waistcoats。 As for Ben Jonah； she
said； she could not bear the notion of tobacco and Dutch herrings：
she wished to stay with her papa； her dear papa。 In fine； she
invented a thousand excuses for delay； and it was plain that
marriage was odious to her。 The only man whom she received with
anything like favor； was young Bevis Marks of London； with whom she
was very familiar。 But Bevis had come to her with a certain token
that had been given to him by an English knight； who saved him from
a fagot to which the ferocious Hospitaller Folko of Heydenbraten was
about to condemn him。 It was but a ring； with an emerald in it；
that Bevis knew to be sham； and not worth a groat。 Rebecca knew
about the value of jewels too； but ah！ she valued this one more than
all the diamonds in Prester John's turban。 She kissed it； she cried
over it； she wore it in her bosom always and when she knelt down
at night and morning； she held it between her folded hands on her
neck。 。 。 。 Young Bevis Marks went away finally no better off than
the others； the rascal sold to the King of France a handsome ruby；
the very size of the bit of glass in Rebecca's ring； but he always
said he would rather have had her than ten thousand pounds： and very
likely he would； for it was known she would at once have a plum to
her fortune。
These delays； however； could not continue for ever； and at a great
family meeting held at Passover…time； Rebecca was solemnly ordered
to choose a husband out of the gentlemen there present； her aunts
pointing out the great kindness which had been shown to her by her
father； in permitting her to choose for herself。 One aunt was of
the Solomon faction； another aunt took Simeon's side； a third most
venerable old ladythe head of the family； and a hundred and
forty…four years of agewas ready to pronounce a curse upon her；
and cast her out； unless she married before the month was over。
All the jewelled heads of all the old ladies in council； all the
beards of all the family； wagged against her： it must have been an
awful sight to witness。
At last； then； Rebecca was forced to speak。 〃Kinsmen！〃 she said；
turning pale； 〃when the Prince Abou Abdil asked me in marriage； I
told you I would not wed but with one of my own faith。〃
〃She has turned Turk；〃 screamed out the ladies。 〃She wants to be a
princess； and has turned Turk；〃 roared the rabbis。
〃Well； well；〃 said Isaac； in rather an appeased tone； 〃let us hear
what the poor girl has got t