A Toast

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21090, 16 July 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

A Toast

“Pledge me in a cup of wine for the English champions of the Holy Sepulchre. Braver Knights you will not find anywhere!” cried Cedric. “Yes, the Knight Templars.” answered Sir Brian, “those who have ever been champions of the Holy Land.” “Is there nobody in the English army worthy of being mentioned with Knight of your Order?” asked Rowena. Before the Knight Templar could answer, the Pilgrim cried in a loud voice: “I say, that the English chivalry were second to none who ever drew sword in defence of the Holy Land. I saw that King Richard and five ol his knights held a tournament at the taking of St. John-de-Acre, ns challengers against all comers. Each knight ran three courses, and cast to the ground throe antagonists. 1 add, that seven of these assailants were Knights of the Temple; and Sir Brian do Bois-Cuilbert well knows the truth of what I tell you.” Red with indignation the Templar gripped the handle of his sword, but he checked himself, and said: “I would give you this golden bracelet, Pilgrim, if you could tell me the names of those five knights.’ The Pilgrim at once told him four of the names, but at the fifth he hesitated. “Why this hesitation?’ said Sir Brian scornfully. “The fifth was the Knight of Ivanhoe, and only my horse’s fault occasioned my falling.”