“Not a shekel, not a silver penny, not a halfling—–so
help me the God of Abraham!” said the Jew, clasping
his hands; “I go but to seek the assistance
of some brethren of my tribe to aid me to pay the
fine which the Exchequer of the Jews have imposed upon
me—–Father Jacob be my speed!
I am an impoverished wretch—–the
very gaberdine I wear is borrowed from Reuben of Tadcaster.”
* In those days the Jews were subjected to an Exchequer,
* specially dedicated to that purpose, and which laid
them * under the most exorbitant impositions.—–L.
T.
The Templar smiled sourly as he replied, “Beshrew
thee for a false-hearted liar!” and passing
onward, as if disdaining farther conference, he communed
with his Moslem slaves in a language unknown to the
bystanders. The poor Israelite seemed so staggered
by the address of the military monk, that the Templar
had passed on to the extremity of the hall ere he raised
his head from the humble posture which he had assumed,
so far as to be sensible of his departure. And
when he did look around, it was with the astonished
air of one at whose feet a thunderbolt has just burst,
and who hears still the astounding report ringing
in his ears.
The Templar and Prior were shortly after marshalled
to their sleeping apartments by the steward and the
cupbearer, each attended by two torchbearers and two
servants carrying refreshments, while servants of
inferior condition indicated to their retinue and
to the other guests their respective places of repose.
To buy his favour I extend this friendship:
If he will take it, so; if not, adieu;
And, for my love, I pray you wrong me not.
Merchant of Venice
As the Palmer, lighted by a domestic with a torch,
passed through the intricate combination of apartments
of this large and irregular mansion, the cupbearer
coming behind him whispered in his ear, that if he
had no objection to a cup of good mead in his apartment,
there were many domestics in that family who would
gladly hear the news he had brought from the Holy Land,
and particularly that which concerned the Knight of
Ivanhoe. Wamba presently appeared to urge the
same request, observing that a cup after midnight
was worth three after curfew. Without disputing
a maxim urged by such grave authority, the Palmer
thanked them for their courtesy, but observed that
he had included in his religious vow, an obligation
never to speak in the kitchen on matters which were
prohibited in the hall. “That vow,”
said Wamba to the cupbearer, “would scarce suit
a serving-man.”
The cupbearer shrugged up his shoulders in displeasure.
“I thought to have lodged him in the solere
chamber,” said he; “but since he is so
unsocial to Christians, e’en let him take the
next stall to Isaac the Jew’s.—–Anwold,”
said he to the torchbearer, “carry the Pilgrim
to the southern cell.—–I give you
good-night,” he added, “Sir Palmer, with
small thanks for short courtesy.”
