Айвенго / Ivanhoe

You wish even now for a horse and armour.”

The Palmer stopped, and turned suddenly towards the Jew. – “How did you guess?” said he, hastily.

“Well,” said the Jew, smiling, “I’ve heard it in your voice and I have seen a knight’s chain hidden under the dress of the Palmer. I know what you want and I can supply it.” Isaac wrote a note and gave it to the Palmer, saying, “In the town of Leicester all men know the rich Jew Kirjath Jairam of Lombardy, give him this scroll and he will give you a horse and the armour you need.

After the tournament you will return them safely—unless you have the money to pay for them.”

“Thank you,” said the Palmer, and they parted and took different roads for the town of Sheffield.

* * *

Near the town of Ashby there was a large field which was a perfect place for the tournament. A long space surrounded by a wooden palisade formed the lists. There were two entrances: at the southern and at the northern ends of the enclosed space.

On a platform beyond the southern entrance there were five big tents of the five knights-challengers. Before each tent lay the shield of the knight by whom it was occupied. The central tent, as the place of honour, had been assigned to Brian be Bois-Guilbert, who was the leader of the challengers.

The northern entrance to the lists was prepared for those knights who wanted to enter the lists with the challengers.

Around the lists there were temporary galleries for those ladies and nobles who were expected to come to the tournament.

Other spectators occupied the narrow space between these galleries and the lists or sat on the elevated ground behind the galleries.

One gallery in the centre of the eastern side of the lists was higher than the others, more richly decorated, and had a sort of throne in it. This place of honour was prepared for Prince John and his followers. Opposite to this royal gallery was another, with a throne decorated in pink and green. That was the seat of the Queen of Beauty and of Love.

When spectators of every sort came to take places, there were many quarrels. Two heralds and some guards were responsible for maintaining the order. Gradually the galleries were filled with knights and nobles. The lower and interior space was soon filled by yeomen. Even Isaac the Jew, who came to the tournament in his most expensive clothes, tried to find a better place for himself and his beautiful daughter Rebecca.