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 is⁠ no time for such thoughts. Who yield? Who push their way⁠?”

“The ladders are thrown down,” replied Rebecca shuddering; “the soldiers lie grovelling⁠ under them like crushed reptiles. The besieged have the better⁠.”

“Saint George, strike⁠ for us!” exclaimed the Knight; “do the false yeomen give way⁠?”

“No!” exclaimed Rebecca, “they bear⁠ themselves right yeomanly—the Black Knight approaches the postern with his huge axe—the thundering blows which he deals⁠ you may⁠ hear them above all the din⁠ and shouts of the battle.—Stones and beams are hailed down⁠ on the bold champion—he regards them no more than if they were⁠ thistle-down⁠ or feathers!”

“By Saint George,” said Ivanhoe, raising (S. 111, N. 6) himself joyfully on his couch, “methought⁠ there was (S. 82, N. 7, and App. § 33) but one man in England that⁠ might do such a deed!”

“The postern gate shakes⁠,” continued Rebecca; “it crashes—it is splintered by⁠ his blows—they rush in—the outwork is won⁠.—O God, they hurl the defenders from the battlements—they throw them into the moat.—O men, if ye⁠ be indeed men, spare them that can resist no longer!”

“The bridge—the bridge which communicates with the castle—have they won⁠ that pass?” exclaimed Ivanhoe.

“No,” replied Rebecca, “the Templar has destroyed the plank on which they crossed⁠—few⁠ of the defenders escaped with him into the castle—the shrieks and cries⁠ which you hear tell the fate of the others.—Alas! I see it is still more difficult to look upon⁠ victory (S. 3, N. 2) than upon battle.”—Sir Walter Scott, “Ivanhoe.”

= we have; for, zu.

to push one’s way, vorwärts dringen.

auf dem Bauche.

to have the better, die Oberhand haben.

= fight.

zurück´weichen.

‘to bear oneself’, here sich halten; right yeomanly = like true (echt) yeomen.

to deal blows, Streiche führen.

= can; See S. 92, N. 5 and App. § 14; above, über ... hinaus.

Getöse, n.

= thrown down.

than — were = than he would regard (beachten).

Distelwolle.

= I thought; see S. 64, N. 11; but = only.

der einer solchen That fähig wäre!

wackeln.

von.

= taken, ein´nehmen, sep. comp. irreg. v. tr.

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.

erkämpft; that pass, diesen Durchgang.

to cross on a plank, über eine Planke schreiten.

= only few; escaped = have escaped (entkom´men, insep. comp. irreg. v., S. 29, N. 3).

das laute Schreien und Klagen; you = thou; tell, verrät.

‘to look upon a thing’, here etwas mit an´sehen, v. tr.