Ivanhoe Ch. 5

The Jew entered the hall with many deep bows of humility. His garment was a was an outer robe of dingy stuff over a dark purple tunic. Cedric nodded coldly to the the Jew, in return for his bows. The Jew went down the benches asking with his eyes for a place at the table. Cedric might have insisted that his servants give the Jew a place and treat him with more courtesy, had he not been engaged in a conversation with Prior Aymer about hounds, which he would not have interrupted for more important matters than a Jew going to bed supperless.  But for the Pilgrim, poor Isaac would have had no supper that night. The Pilgrim got up from his seat be the fire, and gave it to the Jew, saying that his clothes were dry and the Jew's wet.  He drew near to the high table, were Cedric was pledging his guests in a cup of wine. The Prior asked Cedric why he never used the Norman language, but always the Saxon? and Cedric replied that he could hunt and live quite well without it. He did not have to urge on his hounds with fancy terms, or name each call on his horn with some outlandish name. Then he pledged those who bore the Cross and fought in its name. This turned the conversation to the knights in Palestine, and the Templar started to say that the English knights were second only to--and here the Palmer broke in and said that they were second to NONE. He gave as evidence that a a tournament in Palestine, King Richard and 5 of his knights had challenged all comers. They had each run three courses and thrown to the ground the other knights. He gave a list of them:
King Richard(Cedric said he forgave him his descent from Duke William), the Earl of Leicester, Sir Thomas Multon(A Saxon! exclaimed Cedric), Sir Foulk Doilly("Saxon by his mother, at least!"), Sir Edwin Turneham("Pure Saxon, by the soul of Hengist!"), and here the Palmer pretended not be able to recall the name of the sixth knight, but remembered that the knight was young and rather unknown. But the Templar said it was the Knight of Ivanhoe, Cedric's son. He had bested  the Templar, but the Templar said he would best the boy next time.
The Palmer said that Ivanhoe would win, and so he gave as a pledge a portion of the original cross against the Templar's golden chain. With much reverence, the Prior gave the box with the piece of cross in it to one of his brothers, and put the gold chain, with many greedy looks, in a pouch in his sleeve lined with perfumed velvet.  Then the company went to bed.

More soon!
Bell