IVANHOE.
CHAPTER I.
And yet he thinks—ha, ha, ha, ha,—he thinks
I am the tool and servant of his will.
Well, let it be; through all the maze of trouble
His plots and base oppression must create,
I'll shape myself a way to higher things,
And who will say 'tis wrong?
Basil, a Tragedy.
No spider ever took more pains to repair the
shattered meshes of his web, than did Waldemar
Fitzurse to reunite and combine the scattered
members of Prince John's cabal. Few of these
were attached to him from inclination, and
none from personal attachment. It was therefore necessary, that Fitzurse should open to them
new prospects of advantage, and remind them of
those which they at present enjoyed. To the
young and wild nobles, he held out the prospect
of unpunished license and uncontrouled revelry;