Ivanhoe，whohadotherwebtoweavethantostandcanvassingapalfrey’spaceswithitsowner，lentbutadeafeartothePrior’sgraveadvicesandfacetiousjests，andhavingleaptonhismare，andcommandedhissquireforsuchGurthnowcalledhimselftokeepclosebyhisside，hefollowedthetrackoftheBlackKnightintotheforest，whilethePriorstoodatthegateoftheconventlookingafterhim，andejaculating，——``SaintMary！howpromptandfierybethesemenofwar！IwouldI
　　hadnottrustedMalkintohiskeeping，for，crippledasIamwiththecoldrheum，Iamundoneifaughtbutgoodbefallsher。Andyet，’’saidhe，recollectinghimself，``asIwouldnotsparemyownoldanddisabledlimbsinthegoodcauseofOldEngland，soMalkinmuste’enrunherhazardonthesameventure；anditmaybetheywillthinkourpoorhouseworthyofsomemunificentguerdon——or，itmaybe，theywillsendtheoldPriorapacingnag。
　　Andiftheydononeofthese，asgreatmenwillforgetlittlemen’sservice，trulyIshallholdmewellrepaidinhavingdonethatwhichisright。Anditisnowwellnighthefittingtimetosummonthebrethrentobreakfastintherefectory——Ah！Idoubttheyobeythatcallmorecheerilythanthebellsforprimesandmatins。’’
　　SothePriorofSaintBotolph’shobbledbackagainintotherefectory，topresideoverthestockfishandale，whichwasjustservingoutforthefriars’breakfast。Pursyandimportant，hesathimdownatthetable，andmanyadarkwordhethrewout，ofbenefitstobeexpectedtotheconvent，andhighdeedsofservicedonebyhimself，which，atanotherseason，wouldhaveattractedobservation。
　　Butasthestockfishwashighlysalted，andthealereasonablypowerful，thejawsofthebrethrenweretooanxiouslyemployedtoadmitoftheirmakingmuchuseoftheirears；nordowereadofanyofthefraternity，whowastemptedtospeculateuponthemysterioushintsoftheirSuperior，exceptFatherDiggory，whowasseverelyafflictedbythetoothache，sothatbecouldonlyeatononesideofhisjaws。
　　Inthemeantime，theBlackChampionandhisguidewerepacingattheirleisurethroughtherecessesoftheforest；thegoodKnightwhileshummingtohimselfthelayofsomeenamouredtroubadour，sometimesencouragingbyquestionsthepratingdispositionofhisattendant，sothattheirdialogueformedawhimsicalmixtureofsongandjest，ofwhichwewouldfaingiveourreaderssomeidea。YouarethentoimaginethisKnight，suchaswehavealreadydescribedhim，strongofperson，tall，broad-shouldered，andlargeofbone，mountedonhismightyblackcharger，whichseemedmadeonpurposetobearhisweight，soeasilyhepacedforwardunderit，havingthevisorofhishelmetraised，inordertoadmitfreedomofbreath，yetkeepingthebeaver，orunderpart，closed，sothathisfeaturescouldbebutimperfectlydistinguished。
　　Buthisruddyembrownedcheek-bonescouldbeplainlyseen，andthelargeandbrightblueeyes，thatflashedfromunderthedarkshadeoftheraisedvisor；andthewholegestureandlookofthechampionexpressedcarelessgaietyandfearlessconfidence——
　　amindwhichwasunapttoapprehenddanger，andprompttodefyitwhenmostimminent——
　　yetwithwhomdangerwasafamiliarthought，aswithonewhosetradewaswarandadventure。
　　TheJesterworehisusualfantastichabit，butlateaccidentshadledhimtoadoptagoodcuttingfalchion，insteadofhiswoodensword，withatargetomatchit；ofbothwhichweaponshehad，notwithstandinghisprofession，shownhimselfaskilfulmasterduringthestormingofTorquilstone。
　　Indeed，theinfirmityofWamba’sbrainconsistedchieflyinakindofimpatientirritability，whichsufferedhimnotlongtoremainquietinanyposture，oradheretoanycertaintrainofideas，althoughhewasforafewminutesalertenoughinperforminganyimmediatetask，orinapprehendinganyimmediatetopic。Onhorseback，therefore，hewasperpetuallyswinginghimselfbackwardsandforwards，nowonthehorse’sears，thenanonontheveryrumpoftheanimal，——nowhangingbothhislegsononeside，andnowsittingwithhisfacetothetail，moping，mowing，andmakingathousandapishgestures，untilhispalfreytookhisfreakssomuchtoheart，asfairlytolayhimathislengthonthegreengrass——anincidentwhichgreatlyamusedtheKnight，butcompelledhiscompaniontoridemoresteadilythereafter。
　　Atthepointoftheirjourneyatwhichwetakethemup，thisjoyouspairwereengagedinsingingavirelai，asitwascalled，inwhichtheclownboreamellowburden，tothebetterinstructedKnightoftheFetterlock。Andthusruntheditty：——
　　Anna-Marie，love，upisthesun，Anna-Marie，love，mornisbegun，Mistsaredispersing，love，birdssingingfree，Upinthemorning，love，Anna-Marie。
　　Anna-Marie，love，upinthemorn，Thehunteriswindingblithesoundsonhishorn，Theechoringsmerryfromrockandfromtree，’Tistimetoarousethee，love，Anna-Marie。
　　Wamba。
　　OTybalt，love，Tybalt，awakemenotyet，Aroundmysoftpillowwhilesofterdreamsflit，Forwhatarethejoysthatinwakingweprove，Comparedwiththesevisions，O，Tybalt，mylove?
　　Letthebirdstotheriseofthemistcarolshrill，Letthehunterblowouthisloadhornonthehill，Softersounds，softerpleasures，inslumberIprove，——
　　ButthinknotIdreamtofthee，Tybalt，mylove。
　　``Adaintysong，’’saidWamba，whentheyhadfinishedtheircarol，``andIswearbymybauble，aprettymoral！——IusedtosingitwithGurth，oncemyplayfellow，andnow，bythegraceofGodandhismaster，nolessthanafreemen；andweoncecamebythecudgelforbeingsoentrancedbythemelody，thatwelayinbedtwohoursaftersunrise，singingthedittybetwixtsleepingandwaking——
　　mybonesacheatthinkingofthetuneeversince。
　　Nevertheless，IhaveplayedthepartofAnna-Marie，topleaseyou，fairsir。’’
　　TheJesternextstruckintoanothercarol，asortofcomicditty，towhichtheKnight，catchingupthetune，repliedinthelikemanner。
　　KnightandWamba。
　　Therecamethreemerrymenfromsouth，west，andnorth，Evermoresingtheroundelay；
　　TowintheWidowofWycombeforth，Andwherewasthewidowmightsaythemnay?
　　Thefirstwasaknight，andfromTynedalehecame，Evermoresingtheroundelay；
　　Andhisfathers，Godsaveus，weremenofgreatfaine，Andwherewasthewidowmightsayhimnay?
　　Ofhisfatherthelaird，ofhisunclethesquire，Heboastedinrhymeandinroundelay；
　　Shebadehimgobaskbyhissea-coalfire，Forshewasthewidowwouldsayhimnay。
　　Wamba。
　　Thenextthatcameforth，sworebybloodandbynails，Merrilysingtheroundelay；
　　Hur’sagentleman，Godwot，andhur’slineagewasofWales，Andwherewallthewidowmightsayhimnay?
　　SirDavidapMorganapGriffithapHughApTudorapRhice，quothhisroundelayShesaidthatonewidowforsomanywastoofew，AndshebadetheWelshmanwendhisway。
　　Butthennextcameayeoman，ayeomanofKent，Jollilysinginghisroundelay；
　　Hespoketothewidowoflivingandrent，Andwherewasthewidowcouldsayhimnay?
　　Both。
　　Sotheknightandthesquirewerebothleftinthemire，Therefortosingtheirroundelay；
　　ForayeomanofKent，withhisyearlyrent，Thereneverwasawidowcouldsayhimnay。
　　``Iwould，Wamba，’’saidtheknight，``thatourhostoftheTrysting-tree，orthejollyFriar，hischaplain，heardthisthydittyinpraiseofourbluffyeoman。’’
　　``SowouldnotI，’’saidWamba——``butforthehornthathangsatyourbaldric。’’
　　``Ay，’’saidtheKnight，——``thisisapledgeofLocksley’sgood-will，thoughIamnotliketoneedit。Threemotsonthisbuglewill，Iamassured，bringround，atourneed，ajollybandofyonderhonestyeomen。’’
　　``Iwouldsay，Heavenforefend，’’saidtheJester，``wereitnotthatthatfairgiftisapledgetheywouldletuspasspeaceably。’’
　　``Why，whatmeanestthou?’’saidtheKnight；
　　``thinkestthouthatbutforthispledgeoffellowshiptheywouldassaultus?’’
　　``Nay，formeIsaynothing，’’saidWamba；``forgreentreeshaveearsaswellasstonewalls。Butcanstthouconstruemethis，SirKnight——Whenisthywine-pitcherandthypursebetteremptythanfull?’’
　　``Why，never，Ithink，’’repliedtheKnight。
　　``Thouneverdeservesttohaveafulloneinthyhand，forsosimpleananswer！ThouhadstbestemptythypitchererethoupassittoaSaxon，andleavethymoneyathomeerethouwalkinthegreenwood。’’
　　``Youholdourfriendsforrobbers，then?’’saidtheKnightoftheFetterlock。
　　``Youhearmenotsayso，fairsir，’’saidWamba；
　　``itmayrelieveaman’ssteedtotakeofhismailwhenhehathalongjourneytomake；and，certes，itmaydogoodtotherider’ssoultoeasehimofthatwhichistherootofevil；thereforewillIgivenohardnamestothosewhodosuchservices。
　　OnlyIwouldwishmymailathome，andmypurseinmychamber，whenImeetwiththesegoodfellows，becauseitmightsavethemsometrouble。’’
　　``_We_areboundtoprayforthem，myfriend，notwithstandingthefaircharacterthoudostaffordthem。’’
　　``Prayforthemwithallmyheart，’’saidWamba；
　　``butinthetown，notinthegreenwood，liketheAbbotofSaintBees，whomtheycausedtosaymasswithanoldhollowoak-treeforhisstall。’’
　　``Sayasthoulist，Wamba，’’repliedtheKnight，``theseyeomendidthymasterCedricyeomanlyserviceatTorquilstone。’’
　　``Ay，truly，’’answeredWamba；``butthatwasinthefashionoftheirtradewithHeaven。’’
　　``Theirtrade，Wamba！howmeanyoubythat?’’
　　repliedhiscompanion。
　　``Marry，thus，’’saidtheJester。``TheymakeupabalancedaccountwithHeaven，asouroldcellarerusedtocallhisciphering，asfairasIsaactheJewkeepswithhisdebtors，and，likehim，giveoutaverylittle，andtakelargecreditfordoingso；
　　reckoning，doubtless，ontheirownbehalftheseven-foldusurywhichtheblessedtexthathpromisedtocharitableloans。’’
　　``Givemeanexampleofyourmeaning，Wamba，——Iknownothingofciphersorratesofusage，’’
　　answeredtheKnight。