| Chapter
XL
The narrative returns to the Black Knight, who rides to a religious
house not far from the forest, where Ivanhoe was taken after
he was removed from the doomed castle. The Black Knight says
he will meet Ivanhoe again at the funeral of Athelstane. He
also mentions that it is his task to reconcile Ivanhoe to his
father. After the Black Knight leaves, Ivanhoe prepares to travel,
taking Gurth, whom he now refers to as his squire, with him.
Meanwhile, the Black Knight and Wamba are in light-hearted mood
as they journey in the forest. But then they are attacked by
armed men. The fight goes badly, but the Black Knight makes
the bugle call to summon the friendly outlaws. Locksley and
his men soon arrive, and with their help almost all the assailants
are either killed or mortally wounded. Their leader turns out
to be Waldemar Fitzurse, and the Black Knight gets him to admit
that it was Prince John who planned the attack. Fitzurse knows
that the Black Knight is Richard. Richard spares his life but
banishes him from the country. Richard then tells Locksley his
real identity, and Locksley in turn confesses that he is Robin
Hood of Sherwood Forest. Friar Tuck begs forgiveness of Richard
for any slights he may have given him. Richard good-naturedly
grants his desire.
Chapter XLI
The gathering in the forest is joined by Ivanhoe and Gurth,
and they all gather for a feast. Ivanhoe tells Richard that
his kingdom is in disarray and he should act quickly to reclaim
it. Richard replies that he needs to wait until he is sure that
the various forces he is depending on are marshaled and ready.
Robin Hood also fears that Richard should not stay in the forest
too long. He sets up a ruse whereby it appears they are under
attack by Normans. This brings the banquet to a sudden end.
Then Robin confesses the ruse to Richard, and Richard realizes
that it is indeed time for him to move on. He sets off with
Ivanhoe, Gurth and Wamba for Athelstane’s castle, which
is in mourning for its lost leader.
Chapter XLII
When they arrive at the castle, Richard and Ivanhoe are shown
to a large apartment, where Cedric and a dozen other distinguished
Saxon men sit. Cedric takes Richard and Ivanhoe to a small chapel,
in which the bier of Athelstane has been placed. Then he guides
them to a small adjoining oratory, where they meet Edith, Athelstane’s
mother. Next, they go to an apartment where twenty women are
gathered. Four of them, including Rowena, sing a dirge for the
soul of the deceased. Cedric then takes Ivanhoe and Richard
to another room, where Richard reveals to Cedric his true identity.
Richard then tells Cedric of the boon he requests of him—that
he should be reconciled to his son. Ivanhoe, who had covered
his face with a mantle, reveals himself, and Cedric agrees to
be reconciled to him. Then there is an astonishing event. Athelstane,
dressed in grave clothes, appears in the doorway. He says that
he was stunned but otherwise unwounded by the blow he was struck
in the battle. When he recovered consciousness he found himself
in an open coffin. He was then drugged by two rogue monks (one
of whom was Friar Tuck), but eventually he was able to get free.
Cedric tries to get him to dispute the throne with Richard,
but Athelstane disappoints him by pledging his allegiance to
the king. He also renounces his interest in Rowena in favor
of Ivanhoe.
Chapter XLIII
The trial by combat of Rebecca begins. The stake at which she
is to be burnt has already been prepared, and is surrounded
by sticks of wood. A crowd has assembled. Rebecca is taken to
a black chair which has been placed near the pile of wood. She
retains her dignified manner. There is a flourish of trumpets
and the combat is announced. No champion appears for Rebecca,
but she asks for more time. The Grand Master grants her request.
De Bois-Guilbert makes one last plea to her to flee with him
on his horse. She refuses. In the nick of time, a champion appears
for Rebecca. It is Ivanhoe. In the contest, Ivanhoe and his
horse are felled. De Bois-Guilbert also falls. Ivanhoe takes
his sword and demands that De Bois-Guilbert yields. But there
is no answer. De Bois-Guilbert is dead. The Grand Master declares
that the judgment of God has been made.
Chapter
XLIV
The Grand Master orders that Rebecca be freed. Then Richard
the Lion-hearted arrives with a band of armed men. He had been
intending to be Rebecca’s champion. He orders one of his
knights of arrest Malvoisin for treason, and then tells the
Grand Master that the flag of England now flies over the castle,
rather than the flag of the Templar Order. For a few moments
it appears as if there may be a violent conflict between Richard’s
forces and the Knights Templar. But the Templars depart without
a fight. The Grand Master says he will appeal to the Pope because
Richard has usurped the privileges of the Order. During the
tumult of the Templars’ retreat, Isaac and Rebecca slip
away unnoticed. The Earl of Essex, who accompanied Richard,
tells Ivanhoe that Richard has sent his brother John back to
their mother, to wait until the disorder dies down. Some little
while later, Cedric gives his consent to the marriage of Ivanhoe
and Rowena, and also softens his dislike of the Normans, since
Richard treats him well. The marriage of Ivanhoe and Rowena
is attended by Normans and Saxons alike, and acts as a pledge
of peace and harmony between the races. The next day Rebecca
visits Rowena to convey her thanks to Ivanhoe. She and Isaac
are leaving England for Spain. She gives Rowena an expensive
necklace. Rowena tries to persuade her not to leave England,
but Rebecca is adamant. Ivanhoe and Rowena have a long and happy
marriage.
Analysis
De
Bois-Guilbert’s death is a strange one. He dies “unscathed
by the lance of his enemy . . . a victim to the violence of
his own contending passions.” The idea is that he is fatally
divided against himself. He can not reconcile his need as a
proud knight to show prowess in battle, with his infatuation
with Rebecca and his desire to protect her. Having De Bois-Guilbert
die in this way also spares Ivanhoe the responsibility of killing
him, which might have cast a shadow over his triumph. Throughout
the novel, Ivanhoe kills no one; he is an unblemished hero.
These final
chapters further characterize Richard, but the portrayal of
him is more ambivalent than that of Ivanhoe. He is generous
and gracious, and knows how to get along with nobleman and commoner
alike. His mild treatment of Prince John, who plotted against
him, is to his credit. However, Richard does not go uncensored
by Scott. An example occurs in Chapter XLI, when Ivanhoe dares
to question Richard’s habit of journeying alone and undertaking
“rash adventures.” But Richard does not listen to
him, and Ivanhoe realizes that it is impossible “to contend
with the wild spirit of chivalry which so often impelled his
master upon dangers which he might easily have avoided.”
This forms part of Scott’s critical attitude to chivalry.
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