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LESSON 7 The trial by combat(I)
第七课 决斗审判（一）
Rebecca the Jewess, when condemned to death for sorcery by the Grand Master of the Order of Knights Templars, challenged the privilege of "Trial by Combat," in proof of her innocence. Her challenge was accepted, and Sir Brian, a valiant Templar, was named the champion of the holy Order.
在被圣殿骑士团大宗师以施用巫术罪判处死刑时，为了证明自己的清白，犹太女子丽贝卡向圣殿骑士团发出了“决斗审判”的挑战，圣殿骑士团接受了其挑战并指定英勇的圣殿骑士布莱恩爵士出战。
Rebecca had difficulty in finding a messenger who would undertake to carry a letter to her father, Isaac of York; at last Higg, the son of Snell, a poor cripple whom she had befriended, volunteered his services.
丽贝卡给自己的父亲约克的以撒写了封信，但是却没有人愿意为她送信。最后，只有斯内尔的儿子希格，一个丽贝卡曾经像朋友一样对待的瘸子愿意帮助她。
"I am but a maimed man," he said, "but that I can at all stir is owing to her charitable aid. —I will do thine errand," he added, turning to Rebecca, "as well as a crippled object can. —Alas! when I boasted of thy charity, I little thought that I was leading thee into danger."
“我不过是个残废，”他说，“但是多亏了她的好心帮助我才能走路。——我愿意帮你，”他把头转向丽贝卡补充说道：“我只能尽我所能走得快一些——唉！我只是因为你的善良想要帮你，却没想到这样其实是耽误了你。”
"God," said Rebecca, "is the Disposer of all. He can turn back the captivity of Judah even by the weakest instrument. Seek out Isaac of York—here is that will pay for horse and man—let him have this scroll. Farewell! —Life and death are in thy haste."
“一切都是上帝的安排，”丽贝卡说，“他甚至只需动根手指头就能让遭到囚禁的犹太人返回故土。你要找约克的以撒——这是路费和打点费——把这张纸条交给他。再见了！——我的生死就看你了。”
Within a quarter of a mile from the gate of the Preceptory the peasant met two riders, whom, by their dress and yellow caps, he knew to be Jews; and, on approaching more nearly, he discovered that one of them was his ancient employer, Isaac of York. The other was the Rabbi Ben Samuel; and both had approached as near to the Preceptory as they dared, on hearing that the Grand Master had summoned a chapter, or meeting of the Order, for the trial of a sorceress.
走出圣殿骑士会堂不到半英里，希格便看见两个骑者，他们头上戴着黄色帽子，一身犹太人打扮。走近后，希格发现其中的一个人竟然就是他的老雇主约克的以撒，而另一个人是拉比·本·塞缪尔。他们听说大宗师正在召集教团会议审判一名女巫，这才敢前来打听情况。
