Читать «Айвенго / Ivanhoe» онлайн - страница 37

When Rebecca came to his room she told him the news: the castle was attacked. Soon after they heard the noise of the defensive preparations. Ivanhoe was like a war-horse, impatient at his inactivity. “If I could only drag myself,” he said, “to that window to watch the fight!”

“You will injure yourself if you try, noble knight,” replied Rebecca. When she saw how anxious he was, she added, “I myself will stand at the window, and describe to you as I can what happens there.”

“You must not!” exclaimed Ivanhoe, “The archers will aim at every window, and some random arrow—”

“It will be welcome!” muttered Rebecca.

“Rebecca, dear Rebecca!” exclaimed Ivanhoe, “at least, cover yourself with that old shield.”

After Rebecca followed this direction of Ivanhoe, she could with some security watch part of what was happening outside the castle, and report to Ivanhoe the preparations which the attackers were making for the storm.

“Do they have a flag?” asked Ivanhoe.

“No, they don’t,” answered Rebecca.

“This is strange! And do you see who can be their leaders?”

“I see a knight in black armour,” said Rebecca; “He alone is armed from head to heel, and seems to direct everybody around him.”

“Any other leaders?” asked the wounded knight.

“I cannot see any, but they can be on the other side of the castle,” said Rebecca; “They are preparing to attack. They raise their bows!”

Her description was here suddenly interrupted by the signal for attack, which was answered by the sound of the Norman trumpets from the walls.

The battle began. The archers shot so many arrows, that every window was hit, and immediately two or three of the garrison were killed and several others wounded. But the followers of Front-de-Boeuf and his allies showed as much obstinacy in defence as the attackers fury in attack and replied with the discharge of their large cross-bows, and, as the assailants were less protected, did considerably more damage.

“Look for the Black Knight,” asked Ivanhoe.

“I can see him now, he leads a body of men close under the outer barrier of the barbican,” said Rebecca, “They pull down the palisade with axes. – They have made a breach in the barriers—they rush in—they are driven back! – Front-de-Boeuf leads the defenders, I see him in the crowd. They attack again. God of Jacob! It is like the conflict of two oceans moved by different winds!”

She turned her head from the window.

“Look again, Rebecca,” said Ivanhoe.

Rebecca looked out again, and almost immediately exclaimed, “Holy prophets of the law! Front-de-Boeuf and the Black Knight fight hand to hand on the breach, their followers watch and shout!” Then she exclaimed, “He is down! – he is down!”

“Who is down?” cried Ivanhoe; “for our dear Lady’s sake, tell me which has fallen?”

“The Black Knight,” answered Rebecca, faintly; then instantly again shouted joyfully—”But no—but no! – the name of the Lord of Hosts be blessed! – he is on foot again, and fights. – His sword is broken—he takes an axe from a yeoman—he presses Front-de-Boeuf with one blow after another—The giant falls—he falls!”