Review of Ivanhoe: A Romance

1. His own character being light, profligate, and perfidious, John easily attached to his person and faction, not only all who had reason to dread the resentment of Richard for criminal proceedings during his absence, but also the numerous class of “lawless resolutes,” whom the crusades had turned back on their country, accomplished in the vices of the East, impoverished in substance, and hardened in character, and who placed their hopes of harvest in civil commotion. To these causes of public distress and apprehension, must be added, the multitude of outlaws, who, driven to despair by the oppression of the feudal nobility, and the severe exercise of the forest laws, banded together in large gangs, and, keeping possession of the forests and the wastes, set at defiance the justice and magistracy of the country. The nobles themselves, each fortified within his own castle, and playing the petty sovereign over his own dominions, were the leaders of bands scarce less lawless and oppressive than those of the avowed depredators. To maintain these retainers, and to support the extravagance and magnificence which their pride induced them to affect, the nobility borrowed sums of money from the Jews at the most usurious interest, which gnawed into their estates like consuming cankers, scarce to be cured unless when circumstances gave them an opportunity of getting free, by exercising upon their creditors some act of unprincipled violence.

   Chapter 7

2. Trust me each state must have its policies:
   Kingdoms have edicts, cities have their charters;
   Even the wild outlaw, in his forest-walk,
   Keeps yet some touch of civil discipline;
   For not since Adam wore his verdant apron,
   Hath man with man in social union dwelt,
   But laws were made to draw that union closer.
   

   "Old Play", Chapter 32

3. They are forbidden to read, save what their Superior permitted, or listen to what is read, save such holy things as may be recited aloud during the hours of refaction; but lo! their ears are at the command of idle minstrels, and their eyes study empty romaunts. [...] Simpleness of diet was prescribed to them, roots, pottage, gruels, eating flesh but thrice a-week, because the accustomed feeding on flesh is a dishonourable corruption of the body; and behold, their tables groan under delicate fare! Their drink was to be water, and now, to drink like a Templar, is the boast of each jolly boon companion!

   Chapter 35

Word list:

• wassail
• gammon
• poniards
• guerdon
• rood
• matin
• gaberdine
• benison
• gyves
• "Palamon and Arcite"
• subaltern
• esplanade
• caracoled
• muscadine
• moiety: n. a half; a share; a division of something
• clarion: adj. loud and clear; v. to proclaim
• meed: n. reward, compensation
• unwonted: adj. out of the ordinary (cf. "it was her wont to...")
• abstemious: adj. characterized by moderation (especially regarding the consumption of food and alcohol)
• shrive: v. to hear the confession of, and absolve, a penitent; v. to confess and be absolved (as a penitent)
• ague: n. condition of alternating fevers and chills (usually those brought on by malaria)
• plat: v. to plait, to braid; n. a plait or braid; n. a piece or plot of land; n. a map showing developed features, such as buildings
• importunate: overly persistent with requests or demands; troublesome
• missal: book of prayers (if Roman Catholic, contains all prayers needed to celebrate the year's Masses)
• trivet: n. metal stand, used to support a hot dish in the fire or on a table
• pinfold: n. enclosure for confining stray animals (cf. "fold", "pen" for livestock)
• privation: n. condition of being without something (usually necessities)
• encomium: n. glowing praise (cf. "panegyric")
• runlet: n. rivulet; n. cask for wine or beer
• stoup: n. churchfront basin or font of holy water; n. drinking vessel
• amice: n. liturgical vestment (an oblong piece of white linen worn around the neck and shoulders)
• punctilio: n. subtle point of etiquette; n. precise observance of etiquette
• dingle: n. small wooded valley; dell.
• dubiety: n. state of doubt or uncertainty
• collation: n. a light meal (especially if taken on a fast day)
• sumpter: n. pack animal; adj. specifying a pack animal
• vizard: n. visor, mask; n. disguise (adj. "vizarded")
• calumniate: v. to malign; to speak maliciously.
• peccadillo: n. small sin or petty fault
• poniard: n. a small, slender dagger; v. to stab with a poniard
• wert: v. archaic 2Sg past indicative ("thou wert...")
• contemn
• caitiffs
• solicitude
• nakers
• assoilize
• hatchment
• emprize
• malapert: adj. saucy, impudent
• reck: v. worry, care; be of interest (in/transitive)
• curtal: adj. curtailed; brief; having a clipped tail
• malison
• quondam
• withal
• hie
• oriel
• consuetude
• certes
• bier
• oubliette
• recreant
• devoir
• Wardour Manuscript