``Andsome，’’saidWamba，``havebeenwiseenoughtorewardthemselves；theydonotmarchoffempty-handedaltogether。Wedonotallwearmotley。’’
　　``Theyarewelcome，’’saidLocksley；``ourlawsbindnonebutourselves。’’
　　``But，thou，mypoorknave，’’saidCedric，turningaboutandembracinghisJester，``howshallI
　　rewardthee，whofearednottogivethybodytochainsanddeathinsteadofmine！——Allforsookme，whenthepoorfoolwasfaithful！’’
　　AtearstoodintheeyeoftheroughThaneashespoke——amarkoffeelingwhicheventhedeathofAthelstanehadnotextracted；buttherewassomethinginthehalf-instinctiveattachmentofhisclown，thatwakedhisnaturemorekeenlythanevengriefitself。
　　``Nay，’’saidtheJester，extricatinghimselffrommaster’scaress，``ifyoupaymyservicewiththewaterofyoureye，theJestermustweepforcompany，andthenwhatbecomesofhisvocation?——
　　But，uncle，ifyouwouldindeedpleasureme，I
　　prayyoutopardonmyplayfellowGurth，whostoleaweekfromyourservicetobestowitonyourson。’’
　　``Pardonhim！’’exclaimedCedric；``Iwillbothpardonandrewardhim——Kneeldown，Gurth。’’——
　　Theswineherdwasinaninstantathismaster’sfeet——``=Theow=and=Esne=*artthounolonger，’’
　　*Thrallandbondsman。
　　saidCedrictouchinghimwithawand；``=Folkfree=
　　and=Sacless=*artthouintownandfrom*Alawfulfreeman。
　　town，intheforestasinthefield。AhideoflandIgivetotheeinmysteadsofWalbrugham，frommeandminetotheeandthineayeandforever；
　　andGod’smalisononhisheadwhothisgainsays！’’
　　Nolongeraserf，butafreemanandalandholder，Gurthsprunguponhisfeet，andtwiceboundedalofttoalmosthisownheightfromtheground。
　　``Asmithandafile，’’hecried，``todoawaythecollarfromtheneckofafreeman！——Noblemaster！
　　doubledismystrengthbyyourgift，anddoublywillIfightforyou！——Thereisafreespiritinmybreast——Iamamanchangedtomyselfandallaround——Ha，Fangs！’’hecontinued，——forthatfaithfulcur，seeinghismasterthustransported，begantojumpuponhim，toexpresshissympathy，——
　　``knowestthouthymasterstill?’’
　　``Ay，’’saidWamba，``FangsandIstillknowthee，Gurth，thoughwemustneedsabidebythecollar；itisonlythouartlikelytoforgetbothusandthyself。’’
　　``IshallforgetmyselfindeedereIforgetthee，truecomrade，’’saidGurth；``andwerefreedomfitforthee，Wamba，themasterwouldnotlettheewantit。’’
　　``Nay，’’saidWamba，``neverthinkIenvythee，brotherGurth；theserfsitsbythehall-firewhenthefreemanmustforthtothefieldofbattle——AndwhatsaithOldhelmofMalmsbury——Betterafoolatafeastthanawisemanatafray。’’
　　Thetrampofhorseswasnowheard，andtheLadyRowenaappeared，surroundedbyseveralriders，andamuchstrongerpartyoffootmen，whojoyfullyshooktheirpikesandclashedtheirbrown-billsforjoyofherfreedom。Sheherself，richlyattired，andmountedonadarkchestnutpalfrey，hadrecoveredallthedignityofhermanner，andonlyanunwonteddegreeofpalenessshowedthesufferingsshehadundergone。Herlovelybrow，thoughsorrowful，boreonitacastofrevivinghopeforthefuture，aswellasofgratefulthankfulnessforthepastdeliverance——SheknewthatIvanhoewassafe，andsheknewthatAthelstanewasdead。Theformerassurancefilledherwiththemostsinceredelight；andifshedidnotabsolutelyrejoiceatthelatter，shemightbepardonedforfeelingthefulladvantageofbeingfreedfromfurtherpersecutionontheonlysubjectinwhichshehadeverbeencontradictedbyherguardianCedric。
　　AsRowenabenthersteedtowardsLocksley’sseat，thatboldyeoman，withallhisfollowers，rosetoreceiveher，asifbyageneralinstinctofcourtesy。
　　Thebloodrosetohercheeks，as，courteouslywavingherhand，andbendingsolowthatherbeautifulandloosetresseswereforaninstantmixedwiththeflowingmaneofherpalfrey，sheexpressedinfewbutaptwordsherobligationsandhergratitudetoLocksleyandherotherdeliverers——
　　``Godblessyou，bravemen，’’sheconcluded，``GodandOurLadyblessyouandrequiteyouforgallantlyperillingyourselvesinthecauseoftheoppressed！——Ifanyofyoushouldhunger，rememberRowenahasfood——ifyoushouldthirst，shehasmanyabuttofwineandbrownale——andiftheNormansdriveyefromthesewalks，Rowenahasforestsofherown，wherehergallantdeliverersmayrangeatfullfreedom，andneverrangeraskwhosearrowhathstruckdownthedeer。’’
　　``Thanks，gentlelady，’’saidLocksley；``thanksfrommycompanyandmyself。But，tohavesavedyourequitesitself。Wewhowalkthegreenwooddomanyawilddeed，andtheLadyRowena’sdeliverancemaybereceivedasanatonement。’’
　　Againbowingfromherpalfrey，Rowenaturnedtodepart；butpausingamoment，whileCedric，whowastoattendher，wasalsotakinghisleave，shefoundherselfunexpectedlyclosebytheprisonerDeBracy。Hestoodunderatreeindeepmeditation，hisarmscrosseduponhisbreast，andRowenawasinhopesshemightpasshimunobserved。
　　Helookedup，however，and，whenawareofherpresence，adeepflushofshamesuffusedhishandsomecountenance。Hestoodamomentmostirresolute；then，steppingforward，tookherpalfreybytherein，andbenthiskneebeforeher。
　　``WilltheLadyRowenadeigntocastaneye——onacaptiveknight——onadishonouredsoldier?’’
　　``SirKnight，’’answeredRowena，``inenterprisessuchasyours，therealdishonourliesnotinfailure，butinsuccess。’’
　　``Conquest，lady，shouldsoftentheheart，’’answeredDeBracy；``letmebutknowthattheLadyRowenaforgivestheviolenceoccasionedbyanill-fatedpassion，andsheshallsoonlearnthatDeBracyknowshowtoserveherinnoblerways。’’
　　``Iforgiveyou，SirKnight，’’saidRowena，``asaChristian。’’
　　``Thatmeans，’’saidWamba，``thatshedoesnotforgivehimatall。’’
　　``ButIcanneverforgivethemiseryanddesolationyourmadnesshasoccasioned，’’continuedRowena。
　　``Unlooseyourholdonthelady’srein，’’saidCedric，comingup。``Bythebrightsunaboveus，butitwereshame，Iwouldpintheetotheearthwithmyjavelin——butbewellassured，thoushaltsmart，MauricedeBracy，forthyshareinthisfouldeed。’’
　　``Hethreatenssafelywhothreatensaprisoner，’’
　　saidDeBracy；``butwhenhadaSaxonanytouchofcourtesy?’’
　　Thenretiringtwostepsbackward，hepermittedtheladytomoveon。
　　Cedric，eretheydeparted，expressedhispeculiargratitudetotheBlackChampion，andearnestlyentreatedhimtoaccompanyhimtoRotherwood。
　　``Iknow，’’hesaid，``thatyeerrantknightsdesiretocarryyourfortunesonthepointofyourlance，andrecknotoflandorgoods；butwarisachangefulmistress，andahomeissometimesdesirableeventothechampionwhosetradeiswandering。
　　ThouhastearnedoneinthehallsofRotherwood，nobleknight。Cedrichaswealthenoughtorepairtheinjuriesoffortune，andallhehasishisdeliverer’s——Come，therefore，toRotherwood，notasaguest，butasasonorbrother。’’
　　``Cedrichasalreadymademerich，’’saidtheKnight，——``hehastaughtmethevalueofSaxonvirtue。ToRotherwoodwillIcome，braveSaxon，andthatspeedily；but，asnow，pressingmattersofmomentdetainmefromyourhalls。PeradventurewhenIcomehither，Iwillasksuchaboonaswillputeventhygenerositytothetest。’’
　　``Itisgrantederespokenout，’’saidCedric，strikinghisreadyhandintothegauntletedpalmoftheBlackKnight，——``itisgrantedalready，wereittoaffecthalfmyfortune。’’
　　``Gagenotthypromisesolightly，’’saidtheKnightoftheFetterlock；``yetwellIhopetogaintheboonIshallask。Meanwhile，adieu。’’
　　``Ihavebuttosay，’’addedtheSaxon，``that，duringthefuneralritesofthenobleAthelstane，I
　　shallbeaninhabitantofthehallsofhiscastleofConingsburgh——Theywillbeopentoallwhochoosetopartakeofthefuneralbanqueting；and，IspeakinnameofthenobleEdith，motherofthefallenprince，theywillneverbeshutagainsthimwholabouredsobravely，thoughunsuccessfully，tosaveAthelstanefromNormanchainsandNormansteel。’’
　　``Ay，ay，’’saidWamba，whohadresumedhisattendanceonhismaster，``rarefeedingtherewillbe——pitythatthenobleAthelstanecannotbanquetathisownfuneral——Buthe，’’continuedtheJester，liftinguphiseyesgravely，``issuppinginParadise，anddoubtlessdoeshonourtothecheer。’’
　　``Peace，andmoveon，’’saidCedric，hisangeratthisuntimelyjestbeingcheckedbytherecollectionofWamba’srecentservices。RowenawavedagracefuladieutohimoftheFetterlock——theSaxonbadeGodspeedhim，andontheymovedthroughawidegladeoftheforest。
　　Theyhadscarcedeparted，ereasuddenprocessionmovedfromunderthegreenwoodbranches，sweptslowlyroundthesilvanamphitheatre，andtookthesamedirectionwithRowenaandherfollowers。
　　Thepriestsofaneighbouringconvent，inexpectationoftheampledonation，or_soul-scat_，whichCedrichadpropined，attendeduponthecarinwhichthebodyofAthelstanewaslaid，andsanghymnsasitwassadlyandslowlyborneontheshouldersofhisvassalstohiscastleofConingsburgh，tobetheredepositedinthegraveofHengist，fromwhomthedeceasedderivedhislongdescent。
　　Manyofhisvassalshadassembledatthenewsofhisdeath，andfollowedthebierwithalltheexternalmarks，atleast，ofdejectionandsorrow。
　　Againtheoutlawsarose，andpaidthesamerudeandspontaneoushomagetodeath，whichtheyhadsolatelyrenderedtobeauty——theslowchantandmournfulstepofthepriestsbroughtbacktotheirremembrancesuchoftheircomradesashadfallenintheyesterday’sarray。Butsuchrecollectionsdwellnotlongwiththosewholeadalifeofdangerandenterprise，anderethesoundofthedeath-hymnhaddiedonthewind，theoutlawswereagainbusiedinthedistributionoftheirspoil。
　　``Valiantknight，’’saidLocksleytotheBlackChampion，``withoutwhosegoodheartandmightyarmourenterprisemustaltogetherhavefailed，willitpleaseyoutotakefromthatmassofspoilwhatevermaybestservetopleasureyou，andtoremindyouofthismyTrysting-tree?’’
　　``Iaccepttheoffer，’’saidtheKnight，``asfranklyasitisgiven；andIaskpermissiontodisposeofSirMauricedeBracyatmyownpleasure。’’
　　``Heisthinealready，’’saidLocksley，``andwellforhim！elsethetyranthadgracedthehighestboughofthisoak，withasmanyofhisFree-Companionsaswecouldgather，hangingthickasacornsaroundhim——Butheisthyprisoner，andheissafe，thoughhehadslainmyfather。’’
　　``DeBracy，’’saidtheKnight，``thouartfree——
　　depart。Hewhoseprisonerthouartscornstotakemeanrevengeforwhatispast。Butbewareofthefuture，lestaworsethingbefallthee——MauricedeBracy，Isay=beware=！’’