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tian who stands in thy danger, I shall hold this morning's service to thee well bestowed."

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Stay, stay," said the Jew, laying hold of his garment; "something would I do more than this, something for thyself.-God knows the Jew is poor-yes, Isaac is the beggar of his tribe-but forgive me should I guess what thou most lackest at this moment."

"If thou wert to guess truly," said the Palmer, "it is what thou canst not supply, wert thou as wealthy as thou sayst thou art poor."

"As I say?" echoed the Jew; "O! believe it, I say but the truth; I am a plundered, indebted, distressed man. Hard hands have wrung from me my goods, my money, my ships, and all that I possessed-Yet I can tell thee what thou lackest, and it may be, supply it too. Thy wish even now is for a horse and armour."

The Palmer started, and turned suddenly towards the Jew:-" What fiend prompted that guess?" said he hastily.

"No matter," said the Jew, smiling, "though it be a true one-and, as I can guess thy want, so I can supply it."

"But consider," said the Palmer, " my character, my dress, my vow."

"I know you Christians," replied the Jew, "and that the noblest of you will take the staff and san

dal in superstitious penance, and walk afoot to visit the graves of dead men."

"Blaspheme not, Jew," said the Pilgrim sternly.

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Forgive me," said the Jew; "I spoke rashly. But there dropt words from you last night and this morning, that, like sparks from flint, shewed the metal within; and in the bosom of that Palmer's gown, is hidden a knight's chain and of gold. They glanced as you stooped over my bed in the morning."

spurs

The Pilgrim could not forbear smiling. "Were thy garments searched by as curious an eye, Isaac,” said he, "what discoveries might not be made?"

"No more of that," said the Jew, changing colour; and drawing forth his writing materials in haste, as if to stop the conversation, he began to write upon a piece of paper which he supported on the top of his yellow cap, without dismounting from his mule. When he had finished, he delivered the scroll, which was in the Hebrew character, to the Pilgrim, saying, " In the town of Leicester all men know the rich Jew, Kirgath Jairam of Lombardy; give him this scroll-he hath on sale six Milan harnesses, the worst would suit a crowned head-ten goodly steeds, the worst might mount a king, were he to do battle for his throne. Of these he will give thee thy choice, with every thing else that can furnish thee forth for the tournament: when it is over, thou wilt return them safely-un

less thou shouldst have wherewith to pay their value to the owner."

"But, Isaac," said the Pilgrim, smiling," dost thou know that in these sports, the arms and steed of the knight who is unhorsed are forfeit to his victor? Now I may be unfortunate, and so lose what I cannot replace or repay."

The Jew looked somewhat astounded at this possibility; but collecting his courage, he replied hastily, "No-no-no-It is impossible-I will not think so. The blessing of Our Father will be upon thee. Thy lance will be powerful as the rod of Moses."

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So saying, he was turning his mule's head away, when the Palmer, in his turn, took hold of his gaberdine. Nay, but Isaac, thou knowest not all the risk. The steed may be slain, the armour injured-for I will spare neither horse nor man. Besides, those of thy tribe give nothing for nothing; something there must be paid for their use."

The Jew twisted himself in his saddle, like a man in a fit of the cholic; but his better feelings predominated over those which were most familiar to him. "I care not," he said, "I care not-let me go. If there is damage, it will cost you nothing-if there is usage money, Kirgath Jairam will forgive it for the sake of his kinsman Isaac. Fare thee well!-Yet hark thee, good youth," said he, turning about, "thrust thyself not too forward

into this vain hurly-burly-I speak not for endangering the steed, and coat of armour, but for the sake of thine own life and limbs."

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Gramercy for thy caution," said the Palmer, again smiling; "I will use thy courtesy frankly, and it will go hard with me but I will requite it." They parted, and took different roads for the town of Sheffield.

CHAPTER VIII.

Knights, with a long retinue of their squires,
In gaudy liveries march and quaint attires;
One laced the helm, another held the lance,
A third the shining buckler did advance.
The courser paw'd the ground with restless feet,
And snorting foam'd and champ'd the golden bit.
The smiths and armourers on palfreys ride,
Files in their hands, and hammers at their side;
And nails for loosen'd spears, and thongs for shields provide.
The yeomen guard the streets in seemly bands;

And clowns come crowding on, with cudgels in their hands.
Palamon and Arcite.

THE condition of the English nation was at this time sufficiently miserable. King Richard was absent a prisoner, and in the power of the perfidious and cruel Duke of Austria. Even the very place of his captivity was uncertain, and his fate but very imperfectly known to the generality of his subjects, who were, in the meantime, a prey to every species of subaltern oppression.

Prince John, in league with Philip of France, Richard's mortal enemy, was using every species of influence with the Duke of Austria, to prolong

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