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shoulder, he carried his sword in his hand, in the manner of a walking-stick, taking care to loosen the blade in the scabbard.

The walk was not a short one. Sometimes our adventurer could have imagined that they had quitted the town altogether, to such an extent did the gardens run in some quarters; but, independently of the real distance, it appeared that his guide sought purposely to make the journey as long as possible, by diving into all manner of intricate lanes and courts. In one of the meanest and most miserable alleys that ever disgraced a city he at length stopped short, and after listening for some moments, knocked gently at a door. There was no reply for some time, and the stranger did not repeat the knock; but by and by a voice was heard within demanding, in one of those greasy whines that curdle the blood with aversion-

"Who cometh in the night to the gate of the poor Jew Adonijah?"

"Even Ishmael the son of Joab," was the reply; and they were immediately admitted.

In the black and dismal apartment into which they were ushered, there were five or six persons, apparently Jews, gathered round the fire; to the dying embers of which the room was indebted for the little light it enjoyed. The entrance of the new comers created little stir. There were chairs already placed for them; and when they sat down the scene relapsed into the same stillness, which it seemed as if their entrance had only disturbed for an instant. The attitudes of the individuals, however, did not convey the idea of rest which the absence of sound and motion

usually implies. The men were dressed in dark cloaks, with hats slouching over their brows, and sat

leaning their chins upon a traveller's staff while they pored intently upon the fire. The women were in like manner covered completely from the view: a handkerchief resembling a coarse veil was drawn over their faces; and a small bundle lay upon their knees. All seemed prepared for a journey; and Carl, in spite of his religious abhorrence, could not refrain from looking with curiosity upon this singular people, who are still in the captivity of the Gentiles, and watch day and night for the coming of their deliverer.

His own situation, however, began speedily to occupy his thoughts. The adventure into which he had fallen was altogether beyond the reach of reasoning. How had his arrival been known in a strange place, into which he had entered but a moment before for the first time in his life? Of what consequence was he, or his ill-starred name, to any human being, that a man should be appointed to watch for his coming, as if he had been some new Elias? For what possible purpose had he been trepanned into the society of these wandering Jews? There could have been no mistake in his identity, for whatever his person might be, his name was by no means common. It was at all events necessary, now that he was here, to demand of his conductor why he had brought him, and what he was expected to do.

"Jew," said he, breaking suddenly the deep silence of the room, "Carl Benzel has followed you at your desire, what would you with him?"

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Nothing. Has my lord any commands for the servant whom he condescends to hate and despise?" "Yes," said Carl sternly; "I command you to tell me for what purpose you laid in wait for me, and why you have brought me here?"

"I did simply what I was bidden," replied the Jew; " and I seek not to pry into the purposes of those whom I serve. Thus much thou mayest learn from my lips. Thou wert beating at the gate of an empty house, and in another moment the city officers would have cast thee into prison, even as a wanderer and a vagabond, without calling, or business, or friend, or kinsman. She whom thou seekest tarried not at Trèves; for it having been discovered that she endeavoured to send thee tidings of her whereabout, they carried her on to Mayence by the valley of the Nahe."

"Did you see her, my friend?" asked the lover, with a flush of hope and delight; "was she well,-in good spirits?"

"I know not the woman," replied the Jew coldly. By whom then are you employed?

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"By my master. Ere yet the cock croweth, it is our purpose to go forth, that we may cross the HoheWald when the sun is high, and reach our destination in the valley of the Nahe before the shadows of the night begin to fall. If thou wilt journey with us, there will be mutual protection in our numbers; for in these last days there are evil men upon the earth, who walk to and fro upon the hills like unto strong lions."

"What assurance can I have that you mean me no foul play?"

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Thy poverty ought to be sufficient; but, moreover, Christian though thou be, we will break bread with thee, and drink of the cup of peace."

"Then I consent," said Carl, who would have been satisfied with a pledge still less substantial. A candle was then lighted, and a cloth laid upon the table, when, to the surprise of the guest, who expected to sup upon black bread and a draught of water, a large loaf

was set down as white as snow, together with a cold fowl, and a stone bottle of wine from the banks of the Main, worth its weight in gold.

The men ate and drank heartily, although without much speaking; but the women did not draw near the table at all, but "brake bread," where they sat, without raising their veils. Carl, who had now an opportunity of observing his companions for the first time, was greatly struck with the contrast exhibited in the physiognomies of Adonijah, the aged master of the house, and Ishmael, his young conductor. In that of the former, all the meanness, and cunning, and treachery attributed to the Jewish character were conspicuous; while the face of the latter, which in a woman would have been called perfectly beautiful, expressed a loftiness of mind and a manly sincerity, that, to the prejudiced eyes of our adventurer, were hardly compatible with the oriental cast of the features. On his part, Ishmael, after he had looked for some moments at Carl Benzel, appeared to have made a discovery equally pleasing; but at length his eyes fell beneath those of the Christian; they rested for a moment upon the face of Adonijah, then wandered rapidly round the apartment, and drawing his cloak more closely round him, he leant back in his chair with a sigh, which seemed "I am of the blood of a degraded people!" "Thou hast a guitar at thy shoulder," said one of the women, who spoke for the first time, "sing us a song, young stranger, even a new song, that our hearts may be glad within us. Carl hesitated for a moment,

to say,

He had never before exercised his art for the delectation of this unbelieving race; but reflecting that he had eaten and drank at their cost, he could not refuse the only payment it was in his power to give.

As he swept the chords of the instrument with an uncertain hand, he looked at Ishmael, and drew unconsciously as he looked, from the strings that trembled to his touch, a wild and melancholy sound.

"I will sing thee an old song," said he suddenly, and falling into the oriental form of expression," Listen, children of the captivity, to a song of Zion!

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By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down ; yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.

"We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

"For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

"If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

"If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.'

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The women had raised their veils, and put back their caps from their ears to listen more intently; and as the strain went on, large bright drops rolled down their faces, and they kept time by waving their hands to and fro before them, as if representing the action of beating their breasts. The minstrel paused, and looked round, half in minstrel pride, half in curiosity; but before he could resume, the Song of the Captivity was taken up by Ishmael, in a low, deep voice, breathing the earnestness and enthusiasm of passion:

"Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.

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