Lady Rebecca

novel "Ivanhoe" chapter 19 Those warriors who are in the retinue of a certain noble lady (as I learned from an overheard conversation), are already near the castle And intend to spend the night there. "Orra", a tragedy

Meanwhile, the path along which the travelers were riding became so narrow that it was impossible to ride more than two horsemen abreast; in addition, a descent began into a ravine, along which flowed a stream with crumbling or marshy banks, overgrown with low willow bushes. Cedric and Athelstan, riding in front, realized how dangerous an attack here was. However, neither one nor the other had sufficient combat experience. They decided that it was best to rush through the ravine as quickly as possible. Without observing any order, the detachment rushed forward. But the leaders and some of their companions had scarcely crossed the stream, when the robbers fell upon them at once from the front, from behind, and from both sides, with such impetuosity that any resistance became impossible. The furious cries of the attacking robbers were heard all around:

— "White dragon! White dragon! St. George will rise up to defend Old England!" — war cry of the attackers, who pretended to be Saxon robbers.

The enemy appeared so unexpectedly, rushed upon the travelers so boldly, and dealt with them so quickly, that it seemed as if they were twice as numerous as they really were.

Both Saxon leaders were captured at the same time, but each under circumstances that served to reflect his character. When Cedric saw the first enemy, he threw a dart at him, and this time hit him so well that he pinned his opponent to the oak tree near which he stood. Having disposed of one, he drew his sword, and turning his horse, rushed towards the other. But Cedric swung his sword with such impetuosity that he caught a thick branch of a neighbouring tree, and by this clumsy blow disarmed himself. Two or three of the robbers rushed upon him, dragged him from his horse, and made him prisoner. Athelstane was seized almost at the same time as Cedric. Before he could make any preparations for defence, he was dragged from his saddle and bound.

The servants, hampered by their baggage, astonished and terrified at the fate of their masters, made no resistance; Lady Rowena, who rode in the center of the detachment, and the Jew and his daughter, who rode in the rear, were also taken prisoners. A few hours later the castle of the harrow Front de Boeuf: Chapter 23 But if the touchingness of tender words Cannot win you over to me, Then — as a warrior, and not as a lover — I will force you to love me. "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" The Jewess Rebecca awaited her fate, locked in a remote, secluded tower. Two disguised servants brought her there and pushed her into a small room, where she found herself face to face with an old witch who, sitting at her spinning, was humming a Saxon song to herself in time with her spindle, which danced on the floor. At Rebecca's entrance, the old woman raised her head and stared at the beautiful Jewess with that malicious envy with which old age and ugliness, combined with a sickly condition, look upon youth and beauty.

"Get away from here, old cricket!" said one of Rebecca's companions. "So our noble master commanded. Clear this room for the beauty."

"Yes," the old woman grumbled, "that is how they reward service these days. There was a time when a single word from me was enough to unhorse the best of warriors and drive them out of service. And now I have to go at the command of one like you, the first servant I come across!"

“There is no need to talk, Urfrida,” said the other, “go away, that’s all. The master’s orders must be carried out quickly. You too have had your bright days, but now your sun has set. You are now like an old warhorse let out to graze on the bare heather. You once galloped well, but now you can trot, and that’s all right. Now, now, get moving!”

“May evil omens always pursue you! You are both unholy dogs,” said the old woman, “and they will bury you in the kennel. May the demon Zernobok tear me to pieces if I leave my own room before I finish spinning this yarn!”

• Tell the master yourself, old witch, - answered the servant and left with his comrade, leaving Rebecca alone with the old woman, who was forced into her company.

-" What other devilish deeds have they started?" - said the old woman, muttering under her breath and looking sideways at Rebecca with angry eyes. - "It is not difficult to guess: beautiful eyes, black curls, skin - like white paper, until the monk left his black potion on it ... Yes, it is easy to guess why she was brought to this lonely tower: you will not hear any cry from here, it is as if from underground. Here in your neighborhood live only owls. They will pay no more attention to your cries than to theirs. A stranger, it seems," - she continued, glancing at Rebecca's costume. - "From what country? Saracen or Egyptian? Why do you not answer? If you can cry, you can probably speak too."

"Don't be angry, mother," said Rebecca.

"Oh, there's nothing more to ask," said Urfrida. "A fox is known by its tail, and a Jewess by her speech."

"Do me a great favor," said Rebecca, "tell me, what else can I expect? They dragged me here by force - perhaps they are going to kill me because I profess the Jewish faith? If so, I will gladly give my life for it."

"Your life, my dear!" answered the old woman. "What joy do they have in taking your life? No, believe me, your life is not in danger. And they will do to you as they once did to a noble Saxon maiden. Is it shameful for a Jewess to do what was considered good for a Saxon? Look at me: I was young and twice as beautiful as you when Front de Boeuf, the father of the present Reginald, with his Normans stormed this castle. My father and his seven sons fought stubbornly, step by step, to defend their home. There was not a room, not a step on the stairs that was not slippery from the blood they had spilled. They fell, they died to the last man, and before their bodies had time to cool, before their blood had time to dry, I became the despised victim of their conqueror."

"Is there no way to escape? Is there no way to escape from here?" — said Rebecca. —" I would pay you generously — oh, how generously! — for your help!"

— "Don’t even think about it," said the old woman. — "There is only one way to leave here — through the gates of death; and death does not open them for a long, long time," she added, shaking her gray head. — "But at least this is comforting, that after our death others will be as unhappy as we were. Well, farewell, Jewess! Whether Jewess or heathen — it’s all the same! The same fate will befall you, for you have fallen into the power of people who know neither pity nor conscience. Farewell! My yarn is spun, and yours is only just begun."

— Wait, wait, for God’s sake! — begged Rebecca. — Stay here! Scold me, scold me, only don’t go! Your presence will be some protection to me after all!

"The presence of the Mother of God herself will not protect you," the old woman replied, pointing to the image of the Virgin Mary standing in the corner. "There it stands, look; you will find out whether it will save you from your fate."

With these words she left, smiling maliciously, which made her even uglier than in her usual moments of gloom. She locked the door behind her, and Rebecca heard her cursing for a long time, as she struggled down the steep stairs, cursing every step.

Rebecca was threatened with a much more terrible fate than Lady Rowena. If the Saxon heiress could count on some politeness in her treatment, then the Jewess had nothing to hope for except extreme rudeness. But on her side were innate willpower, a sharp mind, and, besides, she had already had to fight dangers. From her earliest childhood she was distinguished by a strong will, keen observation and a keen mind. The luxury with which her father surrounded her and which she saw in the houses of other rich Jews did not prevent her from clearly realizing how precarious were the conditions in which they lived. Like Damocles at the famous banquet, Rebecca constantly saw, amid all this splendor, a sword hanging by a thread over the heads of her fellow tribesmen. Such reflections gradually led her to a sober view of life and softened her character, which under other circumstances could have become arrogant and obstinate.

The example and precepts of her father had accustomed Rebecca to an even and courteous behavior towards all. It is true that Rebecca was unable to imitate his servility and groveling, for cowardice was foreign to her soul. She carried herself with proud modesty, as if submitting to the unfavorable circumstances in which her belonging to a despised race placed her, but at the same time she felt herself worthy of a higher position than that which the despotic oppression of religious prejudices allowed her to hope for.

Thus prepared for all unexpected calamities, she did not lose her head in this case. Her present situation required great presence of mind, and she pulled herself together.

First of all, she carefully examined the room and realized that there was no hope of escape by flight. The room had no secret doors, and, being in a solitary tower with thick outer walls, apparently did not communicate with the other rooms of the castle. From within the door was not locked with either a key or a bolt. The only window opened on to the upper platform, fenced with battlements, which at first gave Rebecca hope of being able to escape from here; but she immediately became convinced that there was no way out from there to any other buildings. This platform was a kind of balcony, protected by a parapet with embrasures, where several archers could be posted to protect the tower and the flank.

So Rebecca had no choice but to stock up on patience and place all her hope in God, which is usually done by outstanding and noble souls. Rebecca had learned to interpret the Holy Scriptures erroneously and to misunderstand the promises made by God to the chosen people of Israel; but she was not mistaken in regarding the present period as their hour of trial, and in her firm belief that the day would come when the children of Zion would be called to share in the blessings bestowed upon other nations. Everything that was happening around her showed that their present situation was a time of punishment and persecution of all kinds, and she considered their chief duty to be boundless patience and the uncomplaining endurance of all evils. And she looked upon herself as a victim, doomed in advance to misfortune, and from her earliest years accustomed her mind to meet the dangers to which she was probably destined to be exposed.

The prisoner started and turned pale when steps were heard on the stairs. The door opened softly, and a tall man, dressed like all the bandits who had caused her misfortune, slowly entered the room and closed the door behind him. A hat pulled down over his forehead hid the upper part of his face. Wrapped in his cloak so that it covered the lower part of his face, he stood silently before the frightened Rebecca. It seemed that he himself was ashamed of what he intended to do, and could not find words to explain the purpose of his visit. At last, Rebecca, making an effort, decided to start a conversation herself. She handed the robber two precious bracelets and a necklace, which she had taken off earlier, assuming that by satisfying his greed, she could appease him.

The prisoner shuddered and turned pale when steps were heard on the stairs. The door quietly opened, and a man dressed in the same way as all the bandits who were the cause of her misfortune, slowly entered the room and closed the door behind him.

“Here, take this, my friend,” she said, “and, for God’s sake, have mercy on me and my aged father!” "These are valuable things, but they are nothing compared to what your father will give you if you let us leave this castle without offense."