Section 186 Rebecca Describes the Siege of Torquilstone to the Wounded Ivanhoe. — IV
“Think not of that (S. 4, N. 5, B),” said Ivanhoe; “this is1 no time for such thoughts. Who yield? Who push their way2?”
“The ladders are thrown down,” replied Rebecca shuddering; “the soldiers lie grovelling3 under them like crushed reptiles. The besieged have the better4.”
“Saint George, strike5 for us!” exclaimed the Knight; “do the false yeomen give way6?”
“No!” exclaimed Rebecca, “they bear7 themselves right yeomanly—the Black Knight approaches the postern with his huge axe—the thundering blows which he deals8 you may9 hear them above all the din10 and shouts of the battle.—Stones and beams are hailed down11 on the bold champion—he regards them no more than if they were12 thistle-down13 or feathers!”
“By Saint George,” said Ivanhoe, raising (S. 111, N. 6) himself joyfully on his couch, “methought14 there was (S. 82, N. 7, and App. § 33) but one man in England that15 might do such a deed!”
“The postern gate shakes16,” continued Rebecca; “it crashes—it is splintered by17 his blows—they rush in—the outwork is won18.—O God, they hurl the defenders from the battlements—they throw them into the moat.—O men, if ye19 be indeed men, spare them that can resist no longer!”
“The bridge—the bridge which communicates with the castle—have they won20 that pass?” exclaimed Ivanhoe.
“No,” replied Rebecca, “the Templar has destroyed the plank on which they crossed21—few22 of the defenders escaped with him into the castle—the shrieks and cries23 which you hear tell the fate of the others.—Alas! I see it is still more difficult to look upon24 victory (S. 3, N. 2) than upon battle.”—Sir Walter Scott, “Ivanhoe.”
Notes
1 = we have; for, zu.
2 to push one’s way, vorwärts dringen.
3 auf dem Bauche.
4 to have the better, die Oberhand haben.
5 = fight.
6 zurück´weichen.
7 ‘to bear oneself’, here sich halten; right yeomanly = like true (echt) yeomen.
8 to deal blows, Streiche führen.
9 = can; See S. 92, N. 5 and App. § 14; above, über... hinaus.
10 Getöse, n.
11 = thrown down.
12 than — were = than he would regard (beachten).
13 Distelwolle.
14 = I thought; see S. 64, N. 11; but = only.
15 der einer solchen That fähig wäre!
16 wackeln.
17 von.
18 = taken, ein´nehmen, sep. comp. irreg. v. tr.
19 ihr; to spare a man, eines Menschen schonen; render ‘them’ by the Gen. of the demonstr. pron.; that — longer = who can defend themselves no longer.
20 erkämpft; that pass, diesen Durchgang.
21 to cross on a plank, über eine Planke schreiten.
22 = only few; escaped = have escaped (entkom´men, insep. comp. irreg. v., S. 29, N. 3).
23 das laute Schreien und Klagen; you = thou; tell, verrät.
24 ‘to look upon a thing’, here etwas mit an´sehen, v. tr.