burlesques-第47章

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tower　and　town；　high…road　and　hamlet。　　Once　a　turnpike…man　would

have　detained　him；　but；　ha！　ha！　he　charged　the　pike；　and　cleared　it

at　a　bound。　　Once　the　Cologne　Diligence　stopped　the　way：　he　charged

the　Diligence；　he　knocked　off　the　cap　of　the　conductor　on　the　roof；

and　yet　galloped　wildly；　madly；　furiously；　irresistibly　on！　　Brave

horse！　gallant　steed！　snorting　child　of　Araby！　　On　went　the　horse；

over　mountains；　rivers；　turnpikes；　apple…women；　and　never　stopped

until　he　reached　a　livery…stable　in　Cologne　where　his　master　was

accustomed　to　put　him　up。





CHAPTER　VI。



THE　CONFESSION。





But　we　have　forgotten；　meanwhile；　that　prostrate　individual。

Having　examined　the　wounds　in　his　side；　legs；　head；　and　throat；　the

old　hermit　（a　skilful　leech）　knelt　down　by　the　side　of　the

vanquished　one　and　said；　〃Sir　Knight；　it　is　my　painful　duty　to

state　to　you　that　you　are　in　an　exceedingly　dangerous　condition；

and　will　not　probably　survive。〃



〃Say　you　so；　Sir　Priest？　then　'tis　time　I　make　my　confession。

Hearken　you；　Priest；　and　you；　Sir　Knight；　whoever　you　be。〃



Sir　Ludwig　（who；　much　affected　by　the　scene；　had　been　tying　his

horse　up　to　a　tree）；　lifted　his　visor　and　said；　〃Gottfried　of

Godesberg！　　I　am　the　friend　of　thy　kinsman；　Margrave　Karl；　whose

happiness　thou　hast　ruined；　I　am　the　friend　of　his　chaste　and

virtuous　lady；　whose　fair　fame　thou　hast　belied；　I　am　the　godfather

of　young　Count　Otto；　whose　heritage　thou　wouldst　have　appropriated。

Therefore　I　met　thee　in　deadly　fight；　and　overcame　thee；　and　have

wellnigh　finished　thee。　　Speak　on。〃



〃I　have　done　all　this；〃　said　the　dying　man；　〃and　here；　in　my　last

hour；　repent　me。　　The　Lady　Theodora　is　a　spotless　lady；　the

youthful　Otto　the　true　son　of　his　fatherSir　Hildebrandt　is　not

his　father；　but　his　UNCLE。〃



〃Gracious　Buffo！〃　　〃Celestial　Bugo！〃　here　said　the　hermit　and　the

Knight　of　Hombourg　simultaneously；　clasping　their　hands。



〃Yes；　his　uncle；　but　with　the　BAR…SINISTER　in　his　scutcheon。　　Hence

he　could　never　be　acknowledged　by　the　family；　hence；　too；　the　Lady

Theodora's　spotless　purity　（though　the　young　people　had　been

brought　up　together）　could　never　be　brought　to　own　the　relationship。〃



〃May　I　repeat　your　confession？〃　asked　the　hermit。



〃With　the　greatest　pleasure　in　life：　carry　my　confession　to　the

Margrave；　and　pray　him　give　me　pardon。　　Were　therea　notary…public

present；〃　slowly　gasped　the　knight；　the　film　of　dissolution　glazing

over　his　eyes；　〃I　would　askyoutwogentlemen　to　witness　it。　　I

would　gladlysign　the　depositionthat　is；　if　I　could　wr…wr…wr…wr…

ite！〃　　A　faint　shuddering　smilea　quiver；　a　gasp；　a　gurglethe

blood　gushed　from　his　mouth　in　black　volumes　。　。　。　。



〃He　will　never　sin　more；〃　said　the　hermit；　solemnly。



〃May　heaven　assoilzie　him！〃　said　Sir　Ludwig。　　〃Hermit；　he　was　a

gallant　knight。　　He　died　with　harness　on　his　back　and　with　truth　on

his　lips：　Ludwig　of　Hombourg　would　ask　no　other　death。　。　。　。　。〃



An　hour　afterwards　the　principal　servants　at　the　Castle　of

Godesberg　were　rather　surprised　to　see　the　noble　Lord　Louis　trot

into　the　court…yard　of　the　castle；　with　a　companion　on　the　crupper

of　his　saddle。　　'Twas　the　venerable　hermit　of　Rolandseck；　who；　for

the　sake　of　greater　celerity；　had　adopted　this　undignified

conveyance；　and　whose　appearance　and　little　dumpy　legs　might　well

create　hilarity　among　the　〃pampered　menials〃　who　are　always　found

lounging　about　the　houses　of　the　great。　　He　skipped　off　the　saddle

with　considerable　lightness　however；　and　Sir　Ludwig；　taking　the

reverend　man　by　the　arm　and　frowning　the　jeering　servitors　into

awe；　bade　one　of　them　lead　him　to　the　presence　of　his　Highness　the

Margrave。



〃What　has　chanced？〃　said　the　inquisitive　servitor。　　〃The　riderless

horse　of　Sir　Gottfried　was　seen　to　gallop　by　the　outer　wall　anon。

The　Margrave's　Grace　has　never　quitted　your　lordship's　chamber；　and

sits　as　one　distraught。〃



〃Hold　thy　prate；　knave；　and　lead　us　on！〃　　And　so　saying；　the　Knight

and　his　Reverence　moved　into　the　well…known　apartment；　where；

according　to　the　servitor's　description；　the　wretched　Margrave　sat

like　a　stone。



Ludwig　took　one　of　the　kind　broken…hearted　man's　hands；　the　hermit

seized　the　other；　and　began　（but　on　account　of　his　great　age；　with

a　prolixity　which　we　shall　not　endeavor　to　imitate）　to　narrate　the

events　which　we　have　already　described。　　Let　the　dear　reader　fancy；

while　his　Reverence　speaks；　the　glazed　eyes　of　the　Margrave

gradually　lighting　up　with　attention；　the　flush　of　joy　which

mantles　in　his　countenancethe　startthe　throbthe　almost

delirious　outburst　of　hysteric　exultation　with　which；　when　the

whole　truth　was　made　known；　he　clasped　the　two　messengers　of　glad

tidings　to　his　breast；　with　an　energy　that　almost　choked　the　aged

recluse！　　〃Ride；　ride　this　instant　to　the　Margravinesay　I　have

wronged　her；　that　it　is　all　right；　that　she　may　come　backthat　I

forgive　herthat　I　apologize　if　you　will〃and　a　secretary

forthwith　despatched　a　note　to　that　effect；　which　was　carried　off

by　a　fleet　messenger。



〃Now　write　to　the　Superior　of　the　monastery　at　Cologne；　and　bid　him

send　me　back　my　boy；　my　darling；　my　Ottomy　Otto　of　roses！〃　said

the　fond　father；　making　the　first　play　upon　words　he　had　ever

attempted　in　his　life。　　But　what　will　not　paternal　love　effect？

The　secretary　（smiling　at　the　joke）　wrote　another　letter；　and

another　fleet　messenger　was　despatched　on　another　horse。



〃And　now；〃　said　Sir　Ludwig；　playfully；　〃let　us　to　lunch。　　Holy

hermit；　are　you　for　a　snack？〃



The　hermit　could　not　say　nay　on　an　occasion　so　festive；　and　the

three　gentles　seated　themselves　to　a　plenteous　repast；　for　which

the　remains　of　the　feast　of　yesterday　offered；　it　need　not　be　said；

ample　means。



〃They　will　be　home　by　dinner…time；〃　said　the　exulting　father。

〃Ludwig！　reverend　hermit！　we　will　carry　on　till　then。〃　　And　the　cup

passed　gayly　round；　and　the　laugh　and　jest　circulated；　while　the

three　happy　friends　sat　confidentially　awaiting　the　return　of　the

Margravine　and　her　son。



But　alas！　said　we　not　rightly　at　the　commencement　of　a　former

chapter；　that　betwixt　the　lip　and　the　raised　wine…cup　there　is

often　many　a　spill？　that　our　hopes　are　high；　and　often；　too　often；

vain？　　About　three　hours　after　the　departure　of　the　first

messenger；　he　returned；　and　with　an　exceedingly　long　face　knelt

down　and　presented　to　the　Margrave　a　billet　to　the　following

effect：





〃CONVENT　OF　NONNENWERTH；　Friday　Afternoon。



〃SIRI　have　submitted　too　long　to　your　ill…usage；　and　am　disposed

to　bear　it　no　more。　　I　will　no　longer　be　made　the　butt　of　your

ribald　satire；　and　the　object　of　your　coarse　abuse。　　Last　week　you

threatened　me　with　your　cane！　　On　Tuesday　last　you　threw　a　wine…

decanter　at　me；　which　hit　the　butler；　it　is　true；　but　the　intention

was　evident。　　This　morning；　in　the　presence　of　all　the　servants；

you　called　me　by　the　most　vile；　abominable　name；　which　heaven

forbid　I　should　repeat！　　You　dismissed　me　from　your　house　under　a

false　accusation。　　You　sent　me　to　this　odious　convent　to　be　immured

for　life。　　Be　it　so！　I　will　not　come　back；　because；　forsooth；　you

relent。　　Anything　is　better　than　a　residence　with　a　wicked；　coarse；

violent；　intoxicated；　brutal　monster　like　yourself。　　I　remain　here

for　ever　and　blush　to　be　obliged　to　sign　myself



〃THEODORA　VON　GODESBERG。



〃P。S。I　hope　you　do　not　intend　to　keep　all　my　best　gowns；　jewels；

and　wearing…apparel；　and　make　no　doubt　you　dismissed　me　from　your

house　in　order　to　make　way　for　some　vile　hussy；　whose　eyes　I　would

like　to　tear　out。　　T。　V。　G。〃





CHAPTER　VII。



THE　SENTENCE。





This　singular　document；　illustrative　of　the　passions　of　women　at

all　times；　and　particularly　of　the　manners　of　the　early　ages；

struck　dismay　into　the　heart　of　the　Margrave。



〃Are　her　ladyship's　insinuations　correct？〃　asked　the　hermit；　in　a

severe　tone。　　〃To　correct　a　wife　with　a　cane　is　a　venial；　I　may　say

a　justifiable　practice；　but　to　fling　a　bottle　at　her　is　ruin　both

to　the　liquor　and　to　her。〃



〃But　she　sent　a　carving…knife　at　me　first；〃　said　the　heartbroken

husband。　　〃O　jealousy；　cursed　jealousy；　why；　why　did　I　ever　listen

to　thy　green　and　yellow　tongue？〃



〃They　quarrelled；　but　they　loved　each　other　sincerely；〃　whispered

Sir　Ludwig　to　the　hermit：　who　began　to　deliver　forthwith　a　lecture

upon　family　discord　and　marital　authority；　which　would　have　sent

his　two　hearers　to　sleep；　but　for　the　arrival　of　the　second

messenger；　whom　the　Margrave　had　despatched　to　Cologne　for　his　son。

This　herald　wore　a　still　longer　face　than　that　of　his　comrade　who

preceded　him。



〃Where　is　my　darling？〃　roared　the　agonized　parent。　　〃Have　ye

brought　him　with　ye？〃



〃Nno；〃　said　the　man；　hesitating。



〃I　will　flog　the　knave　soundly　when　he　comes；〃　cried　the　father；

vainly　endeavoring；　under　an　appearance　of　sternness；　to　hide　his

inward　emotion　and　tenderness。



〃Please；　your　Highness；〃　said　the　messenger；　making　a　desperate

effort；　〃Count　Otto　is　not　at　the　convent。〃



〃Know　ye；　knave；　where　he　is？〃



The　swain　solemnly　said；　〃I　do。　　He　is　THERE。〃　　He　pointed　as　he

spake　to　the　broad　Rhine；　that　was　seen　from　the　casement；　lighted

up　by　the　magnificent　hues　of　sunset。



〃THERE！　　How　mean　ye　THERE？〃　gasped　the　Margrave；　wrought　to　a

pitch　of　nervous　fury。



〃Alas！　my　good　lord；　when　he　was　in　the　boat　which　was　to　conduct

him　to　the　convent；　hehe　jumped　suddenly　from　it；　and　is

drdrowned。〃



〃Carry　that　knave　out　and　hang　him！〃　said　the　Margrave；　with　a

calmness　more　dreadful　than　any　outburst　of　rage。　　〃Let　every　man

of　the　boat's　crew　be　blown　from　the　mouth　of　the　cannon　on　the

towerexcept　the　coxswain；　and　let　him　be〃



What　was　to　be　done　with　the　coxswain；　no　one　knows；　for　at　that

moment；　and　overcome　by　his　emotion；　the　Margrave　sank　down

lifeless　on　the　floor。





CHAPTER　VIII。



THE　CHILDE　OF　GODESBERG。





It　must　be　clear　to　the　dullest　intellect　（if　amongst　our　readers

we　dare　venture　to　presume　that　a　dull　intellect　should　be　found）

that　the　cause　of　the　Margrave's　fainting…fit；　described　in　the

last　chapter；　was　a　groundless　apprehension　on　the　part　of　that　too

solicitous　and　credulous　nobleman　regarding　the　fate　of　his　beloved

child。　　No；　young　Otto　was　NOT　drowned。　　Was　ever　hero　of　romantic

story　done　to　death　so　early　in　the　tale？　　Young　Otto　was　NOT

drowned。　　Had　such　been　the　case；　the　Lord　Margrave　would

infallibly　have　died　at　the　close　of　the　last　chapter；　and　a　few

gloomy　sentences　at　its　close　would　have　denoted　how　the　lovely

Lady　Theodora　became　insane　in　the　convent；　and　how　Sir　Ludwig

determined；　upon　the　demise　of　the　old　hermit　（consequent　upon　the

shock　of　hearing　the　news）；　to　retire　to　the　vacant　hermitage；　and

assume　the　robe；　the　beard；　the　mortifications　of　the　late

venerable　and　solitary　eccle