The rescue

Rebecca, one of the principal characters(2) of the novel, had a good knowledge(3) of medicine. Once she found a knight who was badly wounded. The young man was bleeding to death(4) when the girl decided to take him home and cure him. Soon she fell in love with the man and loved him secretly and hopelessly.

Though the knight, whose name was Wilfred Ivanhoe, was in love with a Saxon lady, he was grateful to Rebecca and was always ready to come to the rescue (прийти ей на помощь).

When some ignorant and wicked people(5) called her medical art magic, the girl was condemned to die as a sorceress(6). People said she would be burned alive unless a knight appeared as her champion(7) and fought for her in a tournament which was to be held(8) in a few days.

* * *

The day of the tournament came. The field where the knights were to fight(8) was made ready. The gates opened, and a knight rode out from the castle, followed by six trumpets and other knights, two and two, the Grand Master(9) coming last(10) with a mace. Behind him came Brian de Bois-Guilbert, armed in bright armour, but without his lance, axe, shield, and sword, which were carried behind him. He looked very pale. Behind him followed other knights(11) and pages dressed in black. Then came guards on foot(12), also in black, among whom could be seen the snow-white face of Rebecca. This slow procession entered the field, marched around it and stopped. Instantly Rebecca was led to the black chair placed near a high pile of wood on which

she was to be burned if her champion did not conquer.

When the trumpets announced that the court were seated for judgement(12), one of the knights laid Rebecca's glove, the pledge of battle(13), at the feet of the Grand Master.

"Here stands the good knight, Brian de Bois-Guilbert, knight of the Order of the Templel(14), said he, "who is ready to combat this day to prove that this maiden, by name Rebecca, has justly deserved to die as a sorceress." The trumpets sounded and a herald(15), stepping forward, proclaimed aloud: "Hear! Hear! Hear! Here stands the good knight, ready to do battle(16) with any knight who will support the quarrel of Rebecca." There was a long dead pause. "No champion appears," said the Grand Master. It was the general belief(17) that no one would appear for the woman accused of sorcery.

"We've been waiting for quite a time. We will not wait any longer(18)," said the Grand Master when all of a sudden(19) a horseman came in sight(20)."A Champion! A Champion!" exclaimed a hundred voices when the stranger rode up to the crowd. To the herald, who demanded his rank, his name and purpose, the horseman answered: "My name is Wilfred Ivanhoe, I'm a good

knight and noble. I've come here to support the just and lawful quarrel of Rebecca and to defy Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert(21) as a traitor, murderer and liar."

"Dog of a Saxon! I demand that you should take your lance. Prepare for death," said Brian, flying into a rage(22).

"Does the Grand Master allow me?" asked Wilfred, addressing the Grand Master. "I may not deny," said the Grand Master, "provided the maiden accepts you as her champion(23)." "Rebecca," said Wilfred, riding up to her, "do you accept me for your champion? I heard you had agreed to die and I decided to come to the rescue." "I do, dear," she said, but then: "Oh, no. Your wounds are not healed. Don't meet that man. You may be killed." But Ivanhoe was already at his post(24).

The herald then pronounced the signal words "Laissez aller!"(25), and the combat began. It did not last long. A few minutes later Wilfred's opponent fell to the ground, and the next moment he was no more(26). Rebecca was saved.

Notes

1 "Ivanhoe" («Айвенго») - исторический роман, написанный Вальтером Скоттом в 1820 г.

2 principal characters - основные персонажи

3 had a good knowledge - хорошо знала; имела хорошие знания

Существительное knowledge, являясь неисчисляемым существительным, не имеет формы множественного числа и не употребляется с неопределенным артиклем, кроме тех случаев, когда оно имеет при себе определение, например: a poor knowledge «слабые знания».

4 wounded and bleeding to death - смертельно раненный и истекающий кровью

5 ignorant and wicked ['wikid] people - невежественные и злые люди

6 was condemned to die as a sorceress - ее приговорили к смертной казни за колдовство

7 her champion - ее защитник

8 was to be held - должен был состояться; the knights were to fight -рыцари должны были драться - Глагол to be (was, were) употреблен здесь в качестве модального глагола, выражающего необходимость, заранее предусмотренную договоренностью, планом и т. д.

9 the Grand Master - гроссмейстер, глава рыцарского ордена coming last - при этом (гроссмейстер) шел последним

11 behind him followed other knights - позади него шли другие рыцари then came guards on foot - далее следовала пешая охрана

Обратите внимание на полную инверсию (в утвердительном предложении все сказуемое предшествует подлежащему). Это характерно для предложений, начинающихся с обстоятельственных слов, когда подлежащее выражено существительным, а сказуемое – непереходным глаголом, например: On the right is the park. «Направо парк».

12 the court were seated for judgement - судьи заняли свои места и готовы были начать судейство

Ряд существительных, обозначающих понятие множественности (например, совокупность лиц), согласуется с глаголом во множественном числе, когда эти лица рассматриваются в отдельности, т. е. как отдельные компоненты этой совокупности, например: The family were at table. «Вся семья (члены семьи) сидели за столом (обедали)»; The jury are ready to begin. «Присяжные заседатели готовы начать (слушание дела)»; There were no people in the park. «В парке не было людей».

13 the pledge of battle - предмет спора и поединка

14 the Order of the Temple - Орден тамплиеров

15 a herald - герольд, глашатай (он объявлял условия состязания)

16 to do battle - (зд.) вступить в поединок

17 It was the general belief - Все полагали (думали)

18 We will not wait any longer - Мы долго ждать не будем

19 all of a sudden = suddenly - вдруг

20 a horseman came in sight - показался всадник

21 to defy Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert - чтобы вызвать на бой сэра Бриана де Буа-Гильбер

22 flying into a rage - впадая в ярость

23 provided the maiden accepts you as her champion - при условии, что девушка согласится признать вас своим защитником

24 was... at his post - (зд.) занял свое место

25 Laissez aller! - Начинайте! (букв. Пускайте!)

26 he was no more - его не стало

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