la storia di un momento di storia – Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott

Wilfred of Ivanhoe comes back to England after fighting (= aver combattuto) in the third Crusade. He return to his father’s home disguised (= travestito) as a pilgrim because Cedric, his father, banned him (= lo ha bandito). As a Saxon, Cedric wanted to restore (= restaurare) a Saxon monarchy and promised his ward (= protetta), Rowena, to Athelstane, the right heir (= erede) of the English throne. Besides, he did not approve his son’s fidelity to Richard I, a Norman King.

Ivanhoe takes part in a tournament (= torneo) at Ashby-de-la-Zouchhe: he defeats (= difende) all the Norman champions, but, the following day, the number of his adversaries overcomes him. Only the arrival of a Black Knight saves him.

Ivanhoe is gravely wounded (= ferito) and Rebecca, the daughter of Isaac the Jew, cures him. At the tournament there are also Cedric and his ward Rowena and one of Price John liutenants, De Bracy, falls in love with her. With the help of the Templar Bois-Gilbert he takes Cedric and his train (= corte) as prisoners. With them there are also Rebecca, her father Isaac of York and a wounded (= ferito) , unidentified man (Ivanhoe). They are all taken to the castle of Torquilstone. Only two Cedric’s servants, Wamba and Gurth, escape and are soon joined (= raggiunti) by Robin Hood and his Companions and by the Black Knight who had already helped Ivanhoe during his combats.

Cedric escape from the castle thanks to Wamba’s help, and with Robin Hood and his band tries to attack the castle and to free all the others. Meanwhile, inside the castle, a Saxon old woman, Ulrica, once daughter of a powerful Saxon family, sets fires (= incendia) to Torquilstone. The attack is successful. Only Bois-Guilbert escapes with Rebecca and Athelstane dies trying to stop him. So, Cedric leaves together with Rowena and Athelstane funeral train whereas (= mentre) Isaac hurries to Templestowe to rescue his daughter. Meanwhile, Rebecca has avoided (= evitato) the seduction of Bois-Guilbert preferring being imprisoned as a witch (= strega) . The only way to escape being burned is if a champion challenges (= sfida) a Templar to prove her innocence. She asks Ivanhoe for help. The Saxon runs to defend her. His opponent is Bois-Guilbert himself.

Ivanhoe seems to be too weak to win the contest, nevertheless (= ciononostante) Bois-Guilbert drops (= cade) from his horse untouched on the first pass and dies for the violence of his passion for Rebecca. The Black Knight reappears to censure (= biasimare) the Templars: he is Richard I himself. Atthelstane, miracolously recovered from death surrenders (= dismette) his title to the English throne, swears (= giura) to support King Richard and gives up his claim (= smette di avere diritti) to Rowena. At the end, Rowena marries Ivanhoe with Cedric’s blessing (= benedizione) ; Isaac and Rebecca go to Spain, a more tolerant country where she will go on curing sick (= malati) and helpless people.

There are two very important adaptations of Ivanhoe: the former was in 1952, directed by Richerd Thorpe and the latter in 1982 directed by Douglas Camfield.