Айвенго / Ivanhoe

Or, if you don’t trust me, you can remain here—Cedric the Saxon will protect you.”

“Oh, he will not let me go with him!” said the Jew, “Saxon or Norman will be equally ashamed of the poor Israelite, and I cannot travel alone—Good man, I will go with you! Let us hurry!”

“We will go now,” said the Palmer, “but I must find us a way out, follow me.”

He went to the small room next door, which was occupied by Gurth the swineherd. – ”Wake up, Gurth,” said the Palmer, “wake up now.

Open the small gate, and let out the Jew and me.”

Gurth was offended at the familiar and commanding tone in which the Palmer spoke.

“Both Jew and yourself must wait until the big gate is open—we don’t let our visitors out in secret.”

“Still,” said the Palmer, “you will do it for me.”

So saying, the Palmer leaned and whispered something in swineherd’s ear in Saxon. Gurth jumped up as if electrified. The Palmer raised his finger and added, “Gurth, be careful.

I say, open the small gate and give us two mules—you will know more soon.”

Gurth hurried to obey him.

“I wish I knew,” said Wamba, who was watching this scene, when his friend left, “what you Palmers learn in the Holy Land.”

“To say our prayers, fool,” answered the Palmer.

“Something more powerful than that,” answered the Jester; “for when did a prayer make Gurth do something?”

At this moment Gurth came back with two mules and let the travellers out.

When the travellers were mounting the mules, the Palmer reached his hand to Gurth, who kissed it.

The swineherd stood gazing after the travellers until they were lost in the forest.

“You know,” said Wamba, “my good friend Gurth, that you are strangely polite on this summer morning? I wish I were a monk – I would get much more from you than a kiss of the hand.”

Meanwhile the travellers went through the forest in a great hurry. After some time they paused at the top of a hill, and the Palmer said, pointing to the town which lay beneath them, “This is the town of Sheffield, where you can easily find many of your people who will accept you.

Here we part.”

“Not until you have the poor Jew’s thanks,” said Isaac.

“I don’t want any reward,” answered the Palmer.

“Stay, stay,” said the Jew, “the Jew is poor—yes, Isaac is the beggar of his tribe—but forgive me if I guess what you need most at this moment.