Which fifty wives to widows made, When, vain his strength and Mahound's spell, Iconium's turbaned Soldan fell. He re During this performance the hermit demeaned himself much like a first-rate critic of the present day at a new opera. clined back upon his seat with his eyes half shut. Now, folding his hands and twisting his thumbs, he seemed absorbed in attention; and anon, balancing his expanded palms, he gently flourished them in time to the music. At one or two favorite cadences he threw in a little assistance of his own, where the knight's voice seemed unable to carry the air so high as his worshipful taste approved. When the song was ended, the anchorite emphatically declared it a good one, and well sung. Then he reached the harp, and entertained his guest with the following characteristic song, to a sort of derry-down chorus, appropriate to an old English ditty: THE BAREFOOTED FRIAR. I. I'll give thee, good fellow, a twelvemonth or twain 2. Your knight for his lady pricks forth in career, And is brought home at even-song pricked through with a spear; No comfort on earth save the Barefooted Friar's. 3. Your monarch? - Pshaw! many a prince has been known To barter his robes for our cowl and our gown; But which of us e'er felt the idle desire To exchange for a crown the gray hood of a friar! 4. The Friar has walked out, and where'er he has gone He can roam where he lists, he can stop when he tires, 5. He's expected at noon, and no wight till he comes 6. He's expected at night, and the pasty's made hot, 7. Long flourish the sandal, the cord, and the cope, "By my troth," said the knight, "thou hast sung well and ius tily, and in high praise of thine order." "I serve the duty of my chapel duly and truly," answered the hermit," two masses daily, morning and evening, primes, noons, and vespers, aves, credos, paters "Excepting moonlight nights, when the venison is in season," said his guest. "Exceptis excipiendis," 1 replied the hermit, "as our old abbot taught me to say when impertinent laymen should ask me if I kept every punctilio 2 of mine order." "True, holy father," said the knight; "but keep an eye on exceptions." Fast grew the mirth of the parties, and many a song was exchanged betwixt them, when their revels were interrupted by a loud knocking at the door of the hermitage. WHEN CHAPTER XVIII. HEN Cedric the Saxon saw his son drop down senseless in the lists at Ashby, his first impulse was to order him into the custody and care of his own attendants, but the words choked in his throat. He could not bring himself to acknowledge, in presence of such an assembly, the son whom he had renounced and disinherited. He ordered, however, Oswald to keep an eye upon him, and directed that officer, with two of his serfs, to convey Ivanhoe to Ashby as soon as the crowd had dispersed. Oswald, however, was anticipated in this good office. The crowd dispersed, indeed, but the knight was nowhere to be seen. It was in vain that Cedric's cupbearer looked around for his young master. He saw the bloody spot on which he had lately sunk down, but himself he saw no longer: it seemed as if the fairies had conveyed him from the spot. Perhaps Oswald (for the Saxons were very superstitious) might have adopted some 1 Exceptions being taken. 2 Little point of nicety; exactitude in matters of ceremony. such hypothesis to account for Ivanhoe's disappearance, had he not suddenly cast his eye upon a person attired like a squire, in whom he recognized the features of his fellow-servant Gurth. Anxious concerning his master's fate, and in despair at his sudden disappearance, the translated1 swineherd was searching for him everywhere, and had neglected in doing so the concealment on which his own safety depended. Oswald deemed it his duty to secure Gurth, as a fugitive of whose fate his master was to judge. Renewing his inquiries concerning the fate of Ivanhoe, the only information which the cupbearer could collect from the bystanders was, that the knight had been raised with care by certain well-attired grooms, and placed in a litter belonging to a lady among the spectators, which had immediately transported him out of the press. Oswald, on receiving this intelligence, resolved to return to his master for further instructions, carrying along with him Gurth, whom he considered in some sort as a deserter from the service of Cedric. The Saxon had been under very intense and agonizing apprehensions concerning his son; for Nature had asserted her rights, in spite of the patriotic stoicism 2 which labored to disown her. But no sooner was he informed that Ivanhoe was in careful and probably in friendly hands, than the paternal anxiety which had been excited by the dubiety 3 of his fate gave way anew to the feeling of injured pride and resentment at what he termed Wilfred's filial disobedience. 'Let him wander his way," said he. "Let those leech4 his wounds for whose sake he encountered them. He is fitter to do the juggling tricks of the Norman chivalry than to maintain the fame and honor of his English an 1 Changed in form. 2 The doctrine of the Stoics, a Greek sect who, disciples of the philosopher Zeno, held that man should be unmoved by joy or sorrow, etc., and submit uncomplainingly to necessity. 3 Uncertainty. 4 To treat as a leech or physician; doctor. › Alluding contemptuously to tournaments, etc. |