IVANHOE (published in December 1819) was Scott's first attempt to depict
the manners and incidents of old English life, and the effort was hailed
with universal delight An impression of 12,000 copies was immediately
disposed of.
Our first illustration represents Prince John and Rebecca at the Passage
of Arms at Ashby. Prince John instantly recognised the Jew, but was
much more agreeably attracted by the beautiful daughter of Zion, who,
terrified by the tumult, clung to the arm of her aged father. "The
figure of Rebecca might have been compared with the proudest beauties of
England. Her form was exquisitely symmetrical, and showed to advantage
by an Eastern dress, which she wore according to the fashion of the
females of her nation. The turban of yellow silk suited well with the
darkness of her complexion. The brilliancy of her eyes, the superb
circle of her eyebrows, her aquiline nose, her teeth as white as pearl,
and the profusion of her sable tresses, which fell down upon as much of
a lovely neck as a simar of rich Persian silk permitted to be visible.
All these constituted a combination of loveliness. A diamond necklace,
with pendants of inestimable value, was conspicuous on her bosom. The
feather of an ostrich, fastened in her turban by an agraffe, was another
distinction of the beautiful Jewess, another attraction to the quick
eye of Prince John." The Prince presented an open set of features,
well formed by nature, and accurately moulded by art to the rules of
courtesy. His dress was one of the richest splendour, a costly mantle
lined with the finest sables fell down from his shoulder or floated in
the breeze; maroquin boots with golden spurs adorned his well-formed
legs and feet, and the grace with which he managed his palfrey gained
him the unlimited applause of the glittering assemblage. Turning towards
the gallery to which the Jew and his lovely charge in vain attempted to
obtain admission, he gave instructions that both should have a place.
"What is she, Isaac, thy wife or thy daughter?"
"My daughter Rebecca, so please thy grace."
"Daughter or wife," replied the Prince, "she shall be preferred
according to her beauty and thy merits."
[Illustration: 067]
[Illustration: 068]
The interview of the Black Knight and the Friar of Copmanhurst is from
the pencil of Mr Cruikshank. King Richard, otherwise the Black Sluggard,
having extorted the confidence of the jolly hermit, obeyed his command
as master of the feast: "Sit down, fill thy cup; let us drink, sing, and
be merry; fill a flagon; nought pitches the voice and sharpens the ear
like a cup of wine; and I love to feel the grape at my fingers' ends,
before they make the harp-strings tickle." The king essayed a ballad,
which he had learned in the Holy Land, during which the friar demeaned
himself like a first-rate critic at a new opera. When the ballad was
ended, the friar took up his harp, and entertained the king with a
characteristic song, the concluding stanza of which is deserving of
remembrance by brothers of the trade:
"Long flourish the sandal, the cord, and the rope,
The dread of the devil, and trust of the Pope;
For to gather life's roses unscathed by the briar,
Is granted alone to the bare-footed friar."