burlesques-第48章

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

venerable　and　solitary　ecclesiastic。　　Otto　was　NOT　drowned；　and　all

those　personages　of　our　history　are　consequently　alive　and　well。



The　boat　containing　the　amazed　young　Countfor　he　knew　not　the

cause　of　his　father's　anger；　and　hence　rebelled　against　the　unjust

sentence　which　the　Margrave　had　utteredhad　not　rowed　many　miles；

when　the　gallant　boy　rallied　from　his　temporary　surprise　and

despondency；　and　determined　not　to　be　a　slave　in　any　convent　of　any

order：　determined　to　make　a　desperate　effort　for　escape。　　At　a

moment　when　the　men　were　pulling　hard　against　the　tide；　and　Kuno；

the　coxswain；　was　looking　carefully　to　steer　the　barge　between　some

dangerous　rocks　and　quicksands　which　are　frequently　met　with　in　the

majestic　though　dangerous　river；　Otto　gave　a　sudden　spring　from　the

boat；　and　with　one　single　flounce　was　in　the　boiling；　frothing；

swirling　eddy　of　the　stream。



Fancy　the　agony　of　the　crew　at　the　disappearance　of　their　young

lord！　　All　loved　him；　all　would　have　given　their　lives　for　him；　but

as　they　did　not　know　how　to　swim；　of　course　they　declined　to　make

any　useless　plunges　in　search　of　him；　and　stood　on　their　oars　in

mute　wonder　and　grief。　　ONCE；　his　fair　head　and　golden　ringlets

were　seen　to　arise　from　the　water；　TWICE；　puffing　and　panting；　it

appeared　for　an　instant　again；　THRICE；　it　rose　but　for　one　single

moment：　it　was　the　last　chance；　and　it　sunk；　sunk；　sunk。　　Knowing

the　reception　they　would　meet　with　from　their　liege　lord；　the　men

naturally　did　not　go　home　to　Godesberg；　but　putting　in　at　the

first　creek　on　the　opposite　bank；　fled　into　the　Duke　of　Nassau's

territory；　where；　as　they　have　little　to　do　with　our　tale；　we　will

leave　them。



But　they　little　knew　how　expert　a　swimmer　was　young　Otto。　　He　had

disappeared；　it　is　true；　but　why？　because　he　HAD　DIVED。　　He

calculated　that　his　conductors　would　consider　him　drowned；　and　the

desire　of　liberty　lending　him　wings；　（or　we　had　rather　say　FINS；　in

this　instance；）　the　gallant　boy　swam　on　beneath　the　water；　never

lifting　his　head　for　a　single　moment　between　Godesberg　and　Cologne

the　distance　being　twenty…five　or　thirty　miles。



Escaping　from　observation；　he　landed　on　the　Deutz　side　of　the

river；　repaired　to　a　comfortable　and　quiet　hostel　there；　saying　he

had　had　an　accident　from　a　boat；　and　thus　accounting　for　the

moisture　of　his　habiliments；　and　while　these　were　drying　before　a

fire　in　his　chamber；　went　snugly　to　bed；　where　he　mused；　not

without　amaze；　on　the　strange　events　of　the　day。　　〃This　morning；〃

thought　he；　〃a　noble；　and　heir　to　a　princely　estatethis　evening

an　outcast；　with　but　a　few　bank…notes　which　my　mamma　luckily　gave

me　on　my　birthday。　　What　a　strange　entry　into　life　is　this　for　a

young　man　of　my　family！　　Well；　I　have　courage　and　resolution：　my

first　attempt　in　life　has　been　a　gallant　and　successful　one；　other

dangers　will　be　conquered　by　similar　bravery。〃　　And　recommending

himself；　his　unhappy　mother；　and　his　mistaken　father　to　the　care　of

their　patron　saint；　Saint　Buffo；　the　gallant…hearted　boy　fell

presently　into　such　a　sleep　as　only　the　young；　the　healthy；　the

innocent；　and　the　extremely　fatigued　can　enjoy。



The　fatigues　of　the　day　（and　very　few　men　but　would　be　fatigued

after　swimming　wellnigh　thirty　miles　under　water）　caused　young　Otto

to　sleep　so　profoundly；　that　he　did　not　remark　how；　after　Friday's

sunset；　as　a　natural　consequence；　Saturday's　Phoebus　illumined　the

world；　ay；　and　sunk　at　his　appointed　hour。　　The　serving…maidens　of

the　hostel；　peeping　in；　marked　him　sleeping；　and　blessing　him　for　a

pretty　youth；　tripped　lightly　from　the　chamber；　the　boots　tried

haply　twice　or　thrice　to　call　him　（as　boots　will　fain）；　but　the

lovely　boy；　giving　another　snore；　turned　on　his　side；　and　was　quite

unconscious　of　the　interruption。　　In　a　word；　the　youth　slept　for

six…and…thirty　hours　at　an　elongation；　and　the　Sunday　sun　was

shining　and　the　bells　of　the　hundred　churches　of　Cologne　were

clinking　and　tolling　in　pious　festivity；　and　the　burghers　and

burgheresses　of　the　town　were　trooping　to　vespers　and　morning

service　when　Otto　awoke。



As　he　donned　his　clothes　of　the　richest　Genoa　velvet；　the

astonished　boy　could　not　at　first　account　for　his　difficulty　in

putting　them　on。　　〃Marry；〃　said　he；　〃these　breeches　that　my　blessed

mother〃　（tears　filled　his　fine　eyes　as　he　thought　of　her）〃that　my

blessed　mother　had　made　long　on　purpose；　are　now　ten　inches　too

short　for　me。　　Whir…r…r！　my　coat　cracks　i'　the　back；　as　in　vain　I

try　to　buckle　it　round　me；　and　the　sleeves　reach　no　farther　than　my

elbows！　　What　is　this　mystery？　　Am　I　grown　fat　and　tall　in　a　single

night？　　Ah！　ah！　ah！　ah！　I　have　it。〃



The　young　and　good…humored　Childe　laughed　merrily。　　He　bethought

him　of　the　reason　of　his　mistake：　his　garments　had　shrunk　from

being　five…and…twenty　miles　under　water。



But　one　remedy　presented　itself　to　his　mind；　and　that　we　need　not

say　was　to　purchase　new　ones。　　Inquiring　the　way　to　the　most

genteel　ready…made…clothes'　establishment　in　the　city　of　Cologne；

and　finding　it　was　kept　in　the　Minoriten　Strasse；　by　an　ancestor　of

the　celebrated　Moses　of　London；　the　noble　Childe　hied　him　towards

the　emporium；　but　you　may　be　sure　did　not　neglect　to　perform　his

religious　duties　by　the　way。　　Entering　the　cathedral；　he　made

straight　for　the　shrine　of　Saint　Buffo；　and　hiding　himself　behind　a

pillar　there　（fearing　he　might　be　recognized　by　the　archbishop；　or

any　of　his　father's　numerous　friends　in　Cologne）；　he　proceeded　with

his　devotions；　as　was　the　practice　of　the　young　nobles　of　the　age。



But　though　exceedingly　intent　upon　the　service；　yet　his　eye　could

not　refrain　from　wandering　a　LITTLE　round　about　him；　and　he

remarked　with　surprise　that　the　whole　church　was　filled　with

archers；　and　he　remembered；　too；　that　he　had　seen　in　the　streets

numerous　other　bands　of　men　similarly　attired　in　green。　　On　asking

at　the　cathedral　porch　the　cause　of　this　assemblage；　one　of　the

green　ones　said　（in　a　jape）；　〃Marry；　youngster；　YOU　must　be　GREEN；

not　to　know　that　we　are　all　bound　to　the　castle　of　his　Grace　Duke

Adolf　of　Cleves；　who　gives　an　archery　meeting　once　a　year；　and

prizes　for　which　we　toxophilites　muster　strong。〃



Otto；　whose　course　hitherto　had　been　undetermined；　now　immediately

settled　what　to　do。　　He　straightway　repaired　to　the　ready…made

emporium　of　Herr　Moses；　and　bidding　that　gentleman　furnish　him　with

an　archer's　complete　dress；　Moses　speedily　selected　a　suit　from　his

vast　stock；　which　fitted　the　youth　to　a　T；　and　we　need　not　say　was

sold　at　an　exceedingly　moderate　price。　　So　attired　（and　bidding

Herr　Moses　a　cordial　farewell）；　young　Otto　was　a　gorgeous；　a　noble；

a　soul…inspiring　boy　to　gaze　on。　　A　coat　and　breeches　of　the　most

brilliant　pea…green；　ornamented　with　a　profusion　of　brass　buttons；

and　fitting　him　with　exquisite　tightness；　showed　off　a　figure

unrivalled　for　slim　symmetry。　　His　feet　were　covered　with　peaked

buskins　of　buff　leather；　and　a　belt　round　his　slender　waist；　of　the

same　material；　held　his　knife；　his　tobacco…pipe　and　pouch；　and　his

long　shining　dirk；　which；　though　the　adventurous　youth　had　as　yet

only　employed　it　to　fashion　wicket…bails；　or　to　cut　bread…and…

cheese；　he　was　now　quite　ready　to　use　against　the　enemy。　　His

personal　attractions　were　enhanced　by　a　neat　white　hat；　flung

carelessly　and　fearlessly　on　one　side　of　his　open　smiling

countenance；　and　his　lovely　hair；　curling　in　ten　thousand　yellow

ringlets；　fell　over　his　shoulder　like　golden　epaulettes；　and　down

his　back　as　far　as　the　waist…buttons　of　his　coat。　　I　warrant　me；

many　a　lovely　Colnerinn　looked　after　the　handsome　Childe　with

anxiety；　and　dreamed　that　night　of　Cupid　under　the　guise　of　〃a

bonny　boy　in　green。〃



So　accoutred；　the　youth's　next　thought　was；　that　he　must　supply

himself　with　a　bow。　　This　he　speedily　purchased　at　the　most

fashionable　bowyer's；　and　of　the　best　material　and　make。　　It　was　of

ivory；　trimmed　with　pink　ribbon；　and　the　cord　of　silk。　　An　elegant

quiver；　beautifully　painted　and　embroidered；　was　slung　across　his

back；　with　a　dozen　of　the　finest　arrows；　tipped　with　steel　of

Damascus；　formed　of　the　branches　of　the　famous　Upas…tree　of　Java；

and　feathered　with　the　wings　of　the　ortolan。　　These　purchases　being

completed　（together　with　that　of　a　knapsack；　dressing…case；　change；

&c。）；　our　young　adventurer　asked　where　was　the　hostel　at　which　the

archers　were　wont　to　assemble？　and　being　informed　that　it　was

at　the　sign　of　the　〃Golden　Stag；〃　hied　him　to　that　house　of

entertainment；　where；　by　calling　for　quantities　of　liquor　and　beer；

he　speedily　made　the　acquaintance　and　acquired　the　good　will　of　a

company　of　his　future　comrades；　who　happened　to　be　sitting　in　the

coffee…room。



After　they　had　eaten　and　drunken　for　all；　Otto　said；　addressing

them；　〃When　go　ye　forth；　gentles？　　I　am　a　stranger　here；　bound　as

you　to　the　archery　meeting　of　Duke　Adolf。　　An　ye　will　admit　a　youth

into　your　company　'twill　gladden　me　upon　my　lonely　way？〃



The　archers　replied；　〃You　seem　so　young　and　jolly；　and　you　spend

your　gold　so　very　like　a　gentleman；　that　we'll　receive　you　in　our

band　with　pleasure。　　Be　ready；　for　we　start　at　half…past　two！〃　　At

that　hour　accordingly　the　whole　joyous　company　prepared　to　move；

and　Otto　not　a　little　increased　his　popularity　among　them　by

stepping　out　and　having　a　conference　with　the　landlord；　which

caused　the　latter　to　come　into　the　room　where　the　archers　were

assembled　previous　to　departure；　and　to　say；　〃Gentlemen；　the　bill

is　settled！〃words　never　ungrateful　to　an　archer　yet：　no；　marry；

nor　to　a　man　of　any　other　calling　that　I　wot　of。



They　marched　joyously　for　several　leagues；　singing　and　joking；　and

telling　of　a　thousand　feats　of　love　and　chase　and　war。　　While　thus

engaged；　some　one　remarked　to　Otto；　that　he　was　not　dressed　in　the

regular　uniform；　having　no　feathers　in　his　hat。



〃I　dare　say　I　will　find　a　feather；〃　said　the　lad；　smiling。



Then　another　gibed　because　his　bow　was　new。



〃See　that　you　can　use　your　old　one　as　well；　Master　Wolfgang；〃　said

the　undisturbed　youth。　　His　answers；　his　bearing；　his　generosity；

his　beauty；　and　his　wit；　inspired　all　his　new　toxophilite　friends

with　interest　and　curiosity；　and　they　longed　to　see　whether　his

skill　with　the　bow　corresponded　with　their　secret　sympathies　for

him。



An　occasion　for　manifesting　this　skill　did　not　fail　to　present

itself　soonas　indeed　it　seldom　does　to　such　a　hero　of　romance　as

young　Otto　was。　　Fate　seems　to　watch　over　such：　events　occur　to

them　just　in　the　nick　of　time；　they　rescue　virgins　just　as　ogres

are　on　the　point　of　devouring　them；　they　manage　to　be　present　at

court　and　interesting　ceremonies；　and　to　see　the　most　interesting

people　at　the　most　interesting　moment；　directly　an　adventure　is

necessary　for　them；　that　adventure　occur