第 80 节
作者:青涩春天      更新:2024-04-09 19:51      字数:9322
  Monsieur Alexandre Dumas; or even in three like other great
  authors。  We have no room for the recounting of Sir Wilfrid's deeds
  of valor。  Whenever he took a Moorish town; it was remarked; that
  he went anxiously into the Jewish quarter; and inquired amongst the
  Hebrews; who were in great numbers in Spain; for Rebecca; the
  daughter of Isaac。  Many Jews; according to his wont; he ransomed;
  and created so much scandal by this proceeding; and by the manifest
  favor which he showed to the people of that nation; that the Master
  of Saint Jago remonstrated with him; and it is probable he would
  have been cast into the Inquisition and roasted; but that his
  prodigious valor and success against the Moors counterbalanced his
  heretical partiality for the children of Jacob。
  It chanced that the good knight was present at the siege of Xixona
  in Andalusia; entering the breach first; according to his wont; and
  slaying; with his own hand; the Moorish lieutenant of the town; and
  several hundred more of its unbelieving defenders。  He had very
  nearly done for the Alfaqui; or governora veteran warrior with a
  crooked scimitar and a beard as white as snowbut a couple of
  hundred of the Alfaqui's bodyguard flung themselves between Ivanhoe
  and their chief; and the old fellow escaped with his life; leaving
  a handful of his beard in the grasp of the English knight。  The
  strictly military business being done; and such of the garrison as
  did not escape put; as by right; to the sword; the good knight; Sir
  Wilfrid of Ivanhoe; took no further part in the proceedings of the
  conquerors of that ill…fated place。  A scene of horrible massacre
  and frightful reprisals ensued; and the Christian warriors; hot
  with victory and flushed with slaughter; were; it is to be feared;
  as savage in their hour of triumph as ever their heathen enemies
  had been。
  Among the most violent and least scrupulous was the ferocious
  Knight of Saint Jago; Don Beltran de Cuchilla y Trabuco y Espada y
  Espelon。  Raging through the vanquished city like a demon; he
  slaughtered indiscriminately all those infidels of both sexes whose
  wealth did not tempt him to a ransom; or whose beauty did not
  reserve them for more frightful calamities than death。  The
  slaughter over; Don Beltran took up his quarters in the Albaycen;
  where the Alfaqui had lived who had so narrowly escaped the sword
  of Ivanhoe; but the wealth; the treasure; the slaves; and the
  family of the fugitive chieftain; were left in possession of the
  conqueror of Xixona。  Among the treasures; Don Beltran recognized
  with a savage joy the coat…armors and ornaments of many brave and
  unfortunate companions…in…arms who had fallen in the fatal battle
  of Alarcos。  The sight of those bloody relics added fury to his
  cruel disposition; and served to steel a heart already but little
  disposed to sentiments of mercy。
  Three days after the sack and plunder of the place; Don Beltran was
  seated in the hall…court lately occupied by the proud Alfaqui;
  lying in his divan; dressed in his rich robes; the fountains
  playing in the centre; the slaves of the Moor ministering to his
  scarred and rugged Christian conqueror。  Some fanned him with
  peacocks' pinions; some danced before him; some sang Moor's
  melodies to the plaintive notes of a guzla; oneit was the only
  daughter of the Moor's old age; the young Zutulbe; a rosebud of
  beautysat weeping in a corner of the gilded hall: weeping for her
  slain brethren; the pride of Moslem chivalry; whose heads were
  blackening in the blazing sunshine on the portals without; and for
  her father; whose home had been thus made desolate。
  He and his guest; the English knight Sir Wilfrid; were playing at
  chess; a favorite amusement with the chivalry of the period; when a
  messenger was announced from Valencia; to treat; if possible; for
  the ransom of the remaining part of the Alfaqui's family。  A grim
  smile lighted up Don Beltran's features as he bade the black slave
  admit the messenger。  He entered。  By his costume it was at once
  seen that the bearer of the flag of truce was a Jewthe people
  were employed continually then as ambassadors between the two races
  at war in Spain。
  〃I come;〃 said the old Jew (in a voice which made Sir Wilfrid
  start); 〃from my lord the Alfaqui to my noble senor; the invincible
  Don Beltran de Cuchilla; to treat for the ransom of the Moor's only
  daughter; the child of his old age and the pearl of his affection。〃
  〃A pearl is a valuable jewel; Hebrew。  What does the Moorish dog
  bid for her?〃 asked Don Beltran; still smiling grimly。
  〃The Alfaqui offers 100;000 dinars; twenty…four horses with their
  caparisons; twenty…four suits of plate…armor; and diamonds and
  rubies to the amount of 1;000;000 dinars。〃
  〃Ho; slaves!〃 roared Don Beltran; 〃show the Jew my treasury of
  gold。  How many hundred thousand pieces are there?〃  And ten
  enormous chests were produced in which the accountant counted 1;000
  bags of 1;000 dirhems each; and displayed several caskets of jewels
  containing such a treasure of rubies; smaragds; diamonds; and
  jacinths; as made the eyes of the aged ambassador twinkle with
  avarice。
  〃How many horses are there in my stable?〃 continued Don Beltran;
  and Muley; the master of the horse; numbered three hundred fully
  caparisoned; and there was; likewise; armor of the richest sort for
  as many cavaliers; who followed the banner of this doughty captain。
  〃I want neither money nor armor;〃 said the ferocious knight; 〃tell
  this to the Alfaqui; Jew。  And I will keep the child; his daughter;
  to serve the messes for my dogs; and clean the platters for my
  scullions。〃
  〃Deprive not the old man of his child;〃 here interposed the Knight
  of Ivanhoe; 〃bethink thee; brave Don Beltran; she is but an infant
  in years。〃
  〃She is my captive; Sir Knight;〃 replied the surly Don Beltran; 〃I
  will do with my own as becomes me。〃
  〃Take 200;000 dirhems;〃 cried the Jew; 〃more!anything!  The
  Alfaqui will give his life for his child!〃
  〃Come hither; Zutulbe!come hither; thou Moorish pearl!〃 yelled
  the ferocious warrior; 〃come closer; my pretty black…eyed houri of
  heathenesse!  Hast heard the name of Beltran de Espada y Trabuco?〃
  〃There were three brothers of that name at Alarcos; and my brothers
  slew the Christian dogs!〃 said the proud young girl; looking boldly
  at Don Beltran; who foamed with rage。
  〃The Moors butchered my mother and her little ones; at midnight; in
  our castle of Murcia;〃 Beltran said。
  〃Thy father fled like a craven; as thou didst; Don Beltran!〃 cried
  the high…spirited girl。
  〃By Saint Jago; this is too much!〃 screamed the infuriated
  nobleman; and the next moment there was a shriek; and the maiden
  fell to the ground with Don Beltran's dagger in her side。
  〃Death is better than dishonor!〃 cried the child; rolling on the
  blood…stained marble pavement。  〃II spit upon thee; dog of a
  Christian!〃 and with this; and with a savage laugh; she fell back
  and died。
  〃Bear back this news; Jew; to the Alfaqui;〃 howled the Don;
  spurning the beauteous corpse with his foot。  〃I would not have
  ransomed her for all the gold in Barbary!〃  And shuddering; the old
  Jew left the apartment; which Ivanhoe quitted likewise。
  When they were in the outer court; the knight said to the Jew;
  〃Isaac of York; dost thou not know me?〃 and threw back his hood;
  and looked at the old man。
  The old Jew stared wildly; rushed forward as if to seize his hand;
  then started back; trembling convulsively; and clutching his
  withered hands over his face; said; with a burst of grief; 〃Sir
  Wilfrid of Ivanhoe!no; no!I do not know thee!〃
  〃Holy mother! what has chanced?〃 said Ivanhoe; in his turn becoming
  ghastly pale; 〃where is thy daughterwhere is Rebecca?〃
  〃Away from me!〃 said the old Jew; tottering。  〃Away Rebecca is
  dead!〃
  。        。        。        。        。        。
  When the Disinherited Knight heard that fatal announcement; he fell
  to the ground senseless; and was for some days as one perfectly
  distraught with grief。  He took no nourishment and uttered no word。
  For weeks he did not relapse out of his moody silence; and when he
  came partially to himself again; it was to bid his people to horse;
  in a hollow voice; and to make a foray against the Moors。  Day
  after day he issued out against these infidels; and did nought but
  slay and slay。  He took no plunder as other knights did; but left
  that to his followers; he uttered no war…cry; as was the manner of
  chivalry; and he gave no quarter; insomuch that the 〃silent knight〃
  became the dread of all the Paynims of Granada and Andalusia; and
  more fell by his lance than by that of any the most clamorous
  captains of the troops in arms against them。  Thus the tide of
  battle turned; and the Arab historian; El Makary; recounts how; at
  the great battle of Al Akab; called by the Spaniards Las Navas; the
  Christians retrieved their d