 | The Hebrew |  |
SCENE II.
—Prince John's Tent: Prince John and Brian enter.Brian.
Talk on; I love Rebecca.
Prince John.
Faith, your heart
Must be the merest touchwood!—as I think,
You saw her for the first time at the tourney.
Brian.
'Tis even so.
Prior.
Were she of any other race—But she—
An infidel!
Brian.
By this blest light,
He is an infidel, who would not yield
Faith, honour, country, life, for those rich lips,
Those eyes where pleasure languishes, that breast
Where love might feed, and appetite increase
E'en by indulgence.
Prince John.
Well, but your Templar's vow
Forbids all thought of marriage.
Brian.
Marriage!
I only talk'd of love—and I will have her,
Despite her father.
Prince John.
Were that all, there's none
Would blame the deed; but Ivanhoe, our friend;—
He loves the maid.
Brian.
Hell's curse upon the stripling.
In love, in arms, in ev'ry thing, her foils me—
33
Ay, and this Jewish dog shall find my hand
Can reach him, spite of Ivanhoe.—The fool—
I meant no ill, but to his purse—but now—
Baffled and mock'd—a day will come—
'Tis not far off.
Prince John.
Well—well—e'en as you will.
The Jew is not within the pale of law;
And as for Ivanhoe—King Richard's minion—
I should not grieve if he were dead—but mind,
I neither sanction nor deny your act.
(Exit Prince John.
Brian.
Because you dare do neither.
De Bracy enters.
De Bracy.
News, my friend.
Fortune is kinder than thy utmost hope
Could fashion her.
Brian.
But how?
De Bracy.
Ay, marry, how?
The Jew and fair Rebecca travel on
For York to night—Your castle's near,
My followers prepar'd. Beauty and gold
Are your's, if you dare seize them.
Brian.
If I dare;
What is it I dare not? You mock me, friend.—
But, speed our back! Occasion's wind blows fair,
And must be us'd, or its inconstant breath
Will fall again, and leave our vessel drifting.
(Brian and De Bracy go out.
| The Hebrew | |