Graduallythegalleriesbecamefilledwithknightsandnobles，intheirrobesofpeace，whoselongandrich-tintedmantleswerecontrastedwiththegayerandmoresplendidhabitsoftheladies，who，inagreaterproportionthaneventhementhemselves，throngedtowitnessasport，whichonewouldhavethoughttoobloodyanddangeroustoaffordtheirsexmuchpleasure。Thelowerandinteriorspacewassoonfilledbysubstantialyeomenandburghers，andsuchofthelessergentry，as，frommodesty，poverty，ordubioustitle，durstnotassumeanyhigherplace。Itwasofcourseamongstthesethatthemostfrequentdisputesforprecedenceoccurred。
　　``Dogofanunbeliever，’’saidanoldman，whosethreadbaretunicborewitnesstohispoverty，ashissword，anddagger，andgoldenchainintimatedhispretensionstorank，——``whelpofashe-wolf！
　　darestthoupressuponaChristian，andaNormangentlemanofthebloodofMontdidier?’’
　　ThisroughexpostulationwasaddressedtonootherthanouracquaintanceIsaac，who，richlyandevenmagnificentlydressedinagaberdineornamentedwithlaceandlinedwithfur，wasendeavouringtomakeplaceintheforemostrowbeneaththegalleryforhisdaughter，thebeautifulRebecca，whohadjoinedhimatAshby，andwhowasnowhangingonherfather’sarm，notalittleterrifiedbythepopulardispleasurewhichseemedgenerallyexcitedbyherparent’spresumption。ButIsaac，thoughwehaveseenhimsufficientlytimidonotheroccasions，knewwellthatatpresenthehadnothingtofear。Itwasnotinplacesofgeneralresort，orwheretheirequalswereassembled，thatanyavariciousormalevolentnobledurstofferhiminjury。
　　AtsuchmeetingstheJewswereundertheprotectionofthegenerallaw；andifthatprovedaweakassurance，itusuallyhappenedthattherewereamongthepersonsassembledsomebarons，who，fortheirowninterestedmotives，werereadytoactastheirprotectors。Onthepresentoccasion，Isaacfeltmorethanusuallyconfident，beingawarethatPrinceJohnwaseventhenintheveryactofnegotiatingalargeloanfromtheJewsofYork，tobesecureduponcertainjewelsandlands。Isaac’sownshareinthistransactionwasconsiderable，andhewellknewthatthePrince’seagerdesiretobringittoaconclusionwouldensurehimhisprotectioninthedilemmainwhichhestood。
　　Emboldenedbytheseconsiderations，theJewpursuedhispoint，andjostledtheNormanChristian，withoutrespecteithertohisdescent，quality，orreligion。Thecomplaintsoftheoldman，however，excitedtheindignationofthebystanders。
　　Oneofthese，astoutwell-setyeoman，arrayedinLincolngreen，havingtwelvearrowsstuckinhisbelt，withabaldricandbadgeofsilver，andabowofsixfeetlengthinhishand，turnedshortround，andwhilehiscountenance，whichhisconstantexposuretoweatherhadrenderedbrownasahazelnut，grewdarkerwithanger，headvisedtheJewtorememberthatallthewealthhehadacquiredbysuckingthebloodofhismiserablevictimshadbutswelledhimlikeabloatedspider，whichmightbeoverlookedwhilehekeptinacomer，butwouldbecrushedifitventuredintothelight。Thisintimation，deliveredinNorman-Englishwithafirmvoiceandasternaspect，madetheJewshrinkback；
　　andhewouldhaveprobablywithdrawnhimselfaltogetherfromavicinitysodangerous，hadnottheattentionofeveryonebeencalledtothesuddenentranceofPrinceJohn，whoatthatmomententeredthelists，attendedbyanumerousandgaytrain，consistingpartlyoflaymen，partlyofchurchmen，aslightintheirdress，andasgayintheirdemeanour，astheircompanions。AmongthelatterwasthePriorofJorvaulx，inthemostgallanttrimwhichadignitaryofthechurchcouldventuretoexhibit。
　　Furandgoldwerenotsparedinhisgarments；
　　andthepointsofhisboots，out-herodingthepreposterousfashionofthetime，turnedupsoveryfar，astobeattached，nottohiskneesmerely，buttohisverygirdle，andeffectuallypreventedhimfromputtinghisfootintothestirrup。This，however，wasaslightinconveniencetothegallantAbbot，who，perhaps，evenrejoicingintheopportunitytodisplayhisaccomplishedhorsemanshipbeforesomanyspectators，especiallyofthefairsex，dispensedwiththeuseofthesesupportstoatimidrider。TherestofPrinceJohn’sretinueconsistedofthefavouriteleadersofhismercenarytroops，somemaraudingbaronsandprofligateattendantsuponthecourt，withseveralKnightsTemplarsandKnightsofStJohn。
　　Itmaybehereremarked，thattheknightsofthesetwoorderswereaccountedhostiletoKingRichard，havingadoptedthesideofPhilipofFranceinthelongtrainofdisputeswhichtookplaceinPalestinebetwixtthatmonarchandthelion-heartedKingofEngland。Itwasthewell-knownconsequenceofthisdiscordthatRichard’srepeatedvictorieshadbeenrenderedfruitless，hisromanticattemptstobesiegeJerusalemdisappointed，andthefruitofalltheglorywhichhehadacquiredhaddwindledintoanuncertaintrucewiththeSultanSaladin。WiththesamepolicywhichhaddictatedtheconductoftheirbrethrenintheHolyLand，theTemplarsandHospitallersinEnglandandNormandyattachedthemselvestothefactionofPrinceJohn，havinglittlereasontodesirethereturnofRichardtoEngland，orthesuccessionofArthur，hislegitimateheir。Fortheoppositereason，PrinceJohnhatedandcontemnedthefewSaxonfamiliesofconsequencewhichsubsistedinEngland，andomittednoopportunityofmortifyingandaffrontingthem；beingconsciousthathispersonandpretensionsweredislikedbythem，aswellasbythegreaterpartoftheEnglishcommons，whofearedfartherinnovationupontheirrightsandliberties，fromasovereignofJohn’slicentiousandtyrannicaldisposition。
　　Attendedbythisgallantequipage，himselfwellmounted，andsplendidlydressedincrimsonandingold，bearinguponhishandafalcon，andhavinghisheadcoveredbyarichfurbonnet，adornedwithacircleofpreciousstones，fromwhichhislongcurledhairescapedandoverspreadhisshoulders，PrinceJohn，uponagreyandhigh-mettledpalfrey，caracoledwithinthelistsattheheadofhisjovialparty，laughingloudwithhistrain，andeyeingwithalltheboldnessofroyalcriticismthebeautieswhoadornedtheloftygalleries。
　　ThosewhoremarkedinthephysiognomyofthePrinceadissoluteaudacity，mingledwithextremehaughtinessandindifferenceto，thefeelingsofotherscouldnotyetdenytohiscountenancethatsortofcomelinesswhichbelongstoanopensetoffeatures，wellformedbynature，modelledbyarttotheusualrulesofcourtesy，yetsofarfrankandhonest，thattheyseemedasiftheydisclaimedtoconcealthenaturalworkingsofthesoul。Suchanexpressionisoftenmistakenformanlyfrankness，whenintruthitarisesfromtherecklessindifferenceofalibertinedisposition，consciousofsuperiorityofbirth，ofwealth，orofsomeotheradventitiousadvantage，totallyunconnectedwithpersonalmerit。Tothosewhodidnotthinksodeeply，andtheywerethegreaternumberbyahundredtoone，thesplendourofPrinceJohn’s_rheno_，_i。e_。furtippet，
　　therichnessofhiscloak，linedwiththemostcostlysables，hismaroquinbootsandgoldenspurs，togetherwiththegracewithwhichhemanagedhispalfrey，weresufficienttomeritclamorousapplause。
　　Inhisjoyouscaracoleroundthelists，theattentionofthePrincewascalledbythecommotion，notyetsubsided，whichhadattendedtheambitiousmovementofIsaactowardsthehigherplacesoftheassembly。ThequickeyeofPrinceJohninstantlyrecognisedtheJew，butwasmuchmoreagreeablyattractedbythebeautifuldaughterofZion，who，terrifiedbythetumult，clungclosetothearmofheragedfather。
　　ThefigureofRebeccamightindeedhavecomparedwiththeproudestbeautiesofEngland，eventhoughithadbeenjudgedbyasshrewdaconnoisseurasPrinceJohn。Herformwasexquisitelysymmetrical，andwasshowntoadvantagebyasortofEasterndress，whichsheworeaccordingtothefashionofthefemalesofhernation。Herturbanofyellowsilksuitedwellwiththedarknessofhercomplexion。Thebrilliancyofhereyes，thesuperbarchofhereyebrows，herwell-formedaquilinenose，herteethaswhiteaspearl，andtheprofusionofhersabletresses，which，eacharrangedinitsownlittlespiraloftwistedcurls，felldownuponasmuchofalovelyneckandbosomasasimarreoftherichestPersiansilk，exhibitingflowersintheirnaturalcoloursembosseduponapurpleground，permittedtobevisible——alltheseconstitutedacombinationofloveliness，whichyieldednottothemostbeautifulofthemaidenswhosurroundedher。
　　Itistrue，thatofthegoldenandpearl-studdedclasps，whichclosedhervestfromthethroattothewaist，thethreeuppermostwereleftunfastenedonaccountoftheheat，whichsomethingenlargedtheprospecttowhichweallude。Adiamondnecklace，withpendantsofinestimablevalue，werebythismeansalsomademoreconspicuous。Thefeatherofanostrich，fastenedinherturbanbyanagraffesetwithbrilliants，wasanotherdistinctionofthebeautifulJewess，scoffedandsneeredatbytheprouddameswhosataboveher，butsecretlyenviedbythosewhoaffectedtoderidethem。
　　``BythebaldscalpofAbraham，’’saidPrinceJohn，``yonderJewessmustbetheverymodelofthatperfection，whosecharmsdrovefranticthewisestkingthateverlived！Whatsayestthou，PriorAymer?——BytheTempleofthatwiseking，whichourwiserbrotherRichardprovedunabletorecover，sheistheveryBrideoftheCanticles！’’
　　``TheRoseofSharonandtheLilyoftheValley，’’——
　　answeredthePrior，inasortofsnufflingtone；``butyourGracemustremembersheisstillbutaJewess。’’
　　``Ay！’’addedPrinceJohn，withoutheedinghim，``andthereismyMammonofunrighteousnesstoo——theMarquisofMarks，theBaronofByzants，contestingforplacewithpennilessdogs，whosethreadbarecloakshavenotasinglecrossintheirpouchestokeepthedevilfromdancingthere。BythebodyofStMark，myprinceofsupplies，withhislovelyJewess，shallhaveaplaceinthegallery！——Whatisshe，Isaac?Thywifeorthydaughter，thatEasternhourithatthoulockestunderthyarmasthouwouldstthytreasure-casket?’’
　　``MydaughterRebecca，sopleaseyourGrace，’’
　　answeredIsaac，withalowcongee，nothingembarrassedbythePrince’ssalutation，inwhich，however，therewasatleastasmuchmockeryascourtesy。
　　``Thewisermanthou，’’saidJohn，withapealoflaughter，inwhichhisgayfollowersobsequiouslyjoined。``But，daughterorwife，sheshouldbepreferredaccordingtoherbeautyandthymerits——
　　Whositsabovethere?’’hecontinued，bendinghiseyeonthegallery。``Saxonchurls，lollingattheirlazylength！——outuponthem！——letthemsitclose，andmakeroomformyprinceofusurersandhislovelydaughter。I’llmakethehindsknowtheymustsharethehighplacesofthesynagoguewiththosewhomthesynagogueproperlybelongsto。’’
　　Thosewhooccupiedthegallerytowhomthisinjuriousandunpolitespeechwasaddressed，werethefamilyofCedrictheSaxon，withthatofhisallyandkinsman，AthelstaneofConingsburgh，apersonage，who，onaccountofhisdescentfromthelastSaxonmonarchsofEngland，washeldinthehighestrespectbyalltheSaxonnativesofthenorthofEngland。Butwiththebloodofthisancientroyalrace，manyoftheirinfirmitieshaddescendedtoAthelstane。Hewascomelyincountenance，bulkyandstronginperson，andintheflowerofhisage——yetinanimateinexpression，dull-eyed，heavy-browed，inactiveandsluggishinallhismotions，andsoslowinresolution，thatthesoubriquetofoneofhisancestorswasconferreduponhim，andhewasverygenerallycalledAthelstanetheUnready。Hisfriends，andhehadmany，who，aswellasCedric，werepassionatelyattachedtohim，contendedthatthissluggishtemperarosenotfromwantofcourage，butfrommerewantofdecision；
　　othersallegedthathishereditaryviceofdrunkennesshadobscuredhisfaculties，neverofaveryacuteorder，andthatthepassivecourageandmeekgood-naturewhichremainedbehind，weremerelythedregsofacharacterthatmighthavebeendeservingofpraise，butofwhichallthevaluablepartshadflownoffintheprogressofalongcourseofbrutaldebauchery。
　　Itwastothisperson，suchaswehavedescribedhim，thatthePrinceaddressedhisimperiouscommandtomakeplaceforIsaacandRebecca。Athelstane，utterlyconfoundedatanorderwhichthemannersandfeelingsofthetimesrenderedsoinjuriouslyinsulting，unwillingtoobey，yetundeterminedhowtoresist，opposedonlythe_visinerti_
　　tothewillofJohn；and，withoutstirringormakinganymotionwhateverofobedience，openedhislargegreyeyes，andstaredatthePrincewithanastonishmentwhichhadinitsomethingextremelyludicrous。ButtheimpatientJohnregardeditinnosuchlight。
　　``TheSaxonporker，’’hesaid，``iseitherasleepormindsmenot——Prickhimwithyourlance，DeBracy，’’speakingtoaknightwhorodenearhim，theleaderofabandofFreeCompanions，orCondottieri；
　　thatis，ofmercenariesbelongingtonoparticularnation，butattachedforthetimetoanyprincebywhomtheywerepaid。TherewasamurmurevenamongtheattendantsofPrinceJohn；