EXERCISE CXXXI.

THE BESIEGED CASTLE. Scott.

[The wounded knight of Ivanhoe, is lying sick and helpless, in a chamber of the castle, under the care of Rebecca the Jewess.]

THE voices of the knights were heard, animating their followers or directing means of defence, while their commands were often drowned in the clashing of armour, or the clamorous shouts of those whom they addressed. Tremendous as these sounds were, and yet more terrible from the awful event which they presaged, there was a sublimity mixed with them, which Rebecca's high-toned mind could feel even in that moment of terror. Her eye kindled, although the blood fled from her cheeks; and there was a strong mixture of fear and of a thrilling sense of the sublime, as she repeated, half whispering to herself, half speaking to her companion, the sacred text, - "The quiver rattleth the glittering spear and the shield—the noise of the captains and the shouting." But Ivanhoe was like the war-horse of that sublime passage, glowing with impatience at his inactivity, and with his ardent desire to mingle in the affray of which these sounds were the introduction. "If I could but drag myself," he said, to yonder window, that I might see how this brave game is like to go, if I had but bow to shoot a shaft, or battle-axe to strike were it but a single blow for our deliverance! It is in vain, it is in vain.—I am alike nerveless and weaponless."

"Fret not thyself, noble knight," answered Rebecca; "the sounds have ceased, of a sudden : - it may be they join not battle."

"Thou knowest nought of it," said Wilfrid, impatiently; "this dead pause only shows that the men are at their posts on the walls, and expecting an instant attack; what we have heard was but the distant muttering of the storm: - it will burst anon in all its fury. — Could I but reach yonder window!"

"Thou wilt but injure thyself by the attempt, noble knight," replied his attendant. Observing his extreme solicitude,, she firmly added, "I myself will stand at the lattice, and describe to you, as I can, what passes without."

"You must not,

you shall not!" exclaimed Ivanhoe;

"each lattice, each aperture, will be soon a mark for the archers; some random shaft'

"It shall be welcome," murmured Rebecca, as with a firm pace she ascended two or three steps, which led to the window of which they spoke.

66

Rebecca, dear Rebecca!" exclaimed Ivanhoe, "this is no maiden's pastime, -do not expose thyself to wounds and death, and render me forever miserable for having given the occasion; at least, cover thyself with yonder ancient buckler, and show as little of your person at the lattice, as may be."

Following with wonderful promptitude the directions of Ivanhoe, and availing herself of the protection of the large ancient shield, which she placed against the lower part of the window, Rebecca, with tolerable security to herself, could witness part of what was passing without the castle, and report to Ivanhoe the preparations which the assailants were making for the storm. Indeed, the situation which she thus obtained was peculiarly favourable for this purpose, because, being placed on an angle of the main building, Rebecca could not only see what passed beyond the precincts of the castle, but also commanded a view of the outwork likely to be the first object of the meditated assault. It was an exterior fortification, of no great height or strength, intended to protect the postern gate, through which Cedric had been recently dismissed by Front-de-Bœuf. The castle-moat divided this species of barbican from the rest of the fortress; so that, in case of its being taken, it was easy to cut off the communication with the main building, by withdrawing the temporary bridge. In the outwork was a sally-port, corresponding to the postern of the castle; and the whole was surrounded by a strong palisade. Rebecca could observe, from the number of men placed for the defence of this post, that the besieged entertained apprehensions for its safety; and, from the mustering of the assailants in a direction nearly opposite to the outwork, it seemed no less plain that it had been selected as a vulnerable point of attack.

These appearances she hastily communicated to Ivanhoe, and added, "The skirts of the wood seem lined with archers, although only a few are advanced from its dark shadow." "Under what banner?" asked Ivanhoe.

"Under no ensign of war which I can observe," answered Rebecca.

"A singular novelty," muttered the knight, "to advance to

storm such a castle without pennon or banner displayed. — Seest thou who they be that act as leaders?"

"A knight, clad in sable armour, is the most conspicuous," said the Jewess; "he alone is armed from head to heel, and seems to assume the direction of all around him."

"What device does he bear on his shield?" demanded Ivanhoe.

Something resembling a bar of iron and a padlock painted blue, on the black shield."

"A fetterlock and shackle-bolt azure," said Ivanhoe; "I know not who may bear the device; but well I ween it might now be mine own. Canst thou not see the motto?" Scarce the device itself at this distance," replied Rebecca; "but when the sun glances fair upon his shield, it shows as I tell you."

"Seem there no other leaders?" exclaimed the anxious inquirer.

"None of mark and distinction that I can behold from this station," said Rebecca; "but, doubtless, the other side of the castle is also assailed. They seem even now preparing to advance - God of Zion, protect us! - what a dreadful sight! Those who advance first bear huge shields, and defences made of plank; the others follow, bending their bows as they come on. They raise their bows! - God of Moses, forgive the creatures thou hast made!"

Her description was here suddenly interrupted by the signal for assault, which was given by the blast of a shrill bugle, and at once answered by a flourish of the Norman trumpets from the battlements, which, mingled with the deep and hollow clang of the nakers, (a species of kettle-drum,) retorted, in notes of defiance, the challenge of the enemy. The shouts of both parties augmented the fearful din, the assailants crying, "Saint George for England!" and the Normans answering them with cries of "En avant De Bracy!— Beau-seant! Beau-scant!— Front-de-Bœuf a la rescousse!" according to the war-cries of their different commanders.

It was not, however, by clamour that the contest was to be decided; and the desperate efforts of the assailants were met by an equally vigorous defence, on the part of the besieged. The archers, trained by their woodland pastimes to the most effective use of the long bow, shot, to use the appropriate phrase of the time, so wholly together," that no point at which a defender could show the least part of his person, escaped their cloth-yard shafts. By this heavy discharge,

which continued as thick and sharp as hail, while, notwithstanding, every arrow had its individual aim, and flew, by scores together, against each embrasure and opening in the parapets, as well as at every window where a defender either occasionally had post, or might be suspected to be stationed, - by this sustained discharge, two or three of the garrison were slain, and several others wounded. But, confident in their armour of proof, and in the cover which their situation afforded, the followers of Front-de-Bœuf and his allies, showed an obstinacy in defence, proportioned to the fury of the attack, and replied with the discharge of their large cross-bows, as well as with their long bows, slings, and other missile weapons, to the close and continued shower of arrows; and, as the assailants were necessarily but indifferently protected, did considerably more damage than they received at their hand. The whizzing of shafts and missiles, on both sides, was only interrupted by the shouts which arose when either side inflicted or sustained some notable loss.

"And I must lie here like a bedridden monk," exclaimed Ivanhoe, "while the game that gives me freedom or death, is played out by the hand of others!-Look from the window once again, kind maiden; but beware that you are not marked by the archers beneath, look out once more, and

tell me if they yet advance to the storm."

With patient courage, strengthened by the interval which she had employed in mental devotion, Rebecca again took post at the lattice, sheltering herself, however, so as not to be visible from beneath.

"What dost thou see, Rebecca?" again demanded the wounded knight.

66

Nothing but the cloud of arrows, flying so thick as to dazzle mine eyes, and to hide the bowmen who shoot them." "That cannot endure," said Ivanhoe; "if they press not right on to carry the castle by pure force of arms, the archery may avail but little against stone walls and bulwarks. Look for the knight of the fetterlock, fair Rebecca, and see how he bears himself; for as the leader is, so will his followers be."

"I see him not," said Rebecca.

"Foul craven!" exclaimed Ivanhoe; "does he blench from the helm when the wind blows highest?"

I

"He blenches not! he blenches not!" said Rebecca; see him now; he leads a body of men close under the outer

barrier of the barbican.* They pull down the piles and palisades; they hew down the barrier with axes. His high black plume floats abroad over the throng, like the raven over the field of the slain. They have made a breach the barriers, they rush in, they are thrust back! Front-de-Bœuf heads the defenders, I see his gigantic form above the press. They throng again to the breach, and the pass is disputed hand to hand and man to man. God of Jacob! it is the meeting of two fierce tides, - the conflict of two oceans moved by adverse winds."

She turned her head from the lattice, as if unable longer to endure a sight so terrible.

EXERCISE CXXXII.

SAME SUBJECT CONCLUDED.

"Look forth again, Rebecca," said Ivanhoe, mistaking the cause of her retiring; "the archery must in some degree have ceased, since they are now fighting hand to hand. Look again, there is now less danger.'

Rebecca again looked forth, and almost immediately exclaimed, "Holy prophets of the law! Front-de-Boeuf and the Black Knight fight hand to hand on the breach, amid the roar of their followers, who watch the progress of the strife. Heaven strike with the cause of the oppressed and of the captive!" She then uttered a loud shriek, and exclaimed, "He is down! he is down!

"Who is down?" cried Ivanhoe; "for our dear lady's sake tell me, which has fallen?"

"The Black Knight," answered Rebecca, faintly; then instantly again shouted with joyful eagerness, "But no,

but no! the name of the Lord of hosts be blessed! — he is upon his feet again, and fights as if there were twenty men's strength in his single arm. - His sword is broken, he snatches an axe from a yeoman, - he presses Front-de-Bœuf

*

Every Gothic castle and city had, beyond the outer walls, a fortification composed of palisades, called the barriers, which were often the scene of severe skirmishes; as these must necessarily be carried before the walls themselves could be approached. Many of those valiant feats of arms which adorn the chivalrous pages of Froissart, took place at the sarriers of besieged places.