burlesques-第51章

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barred！　　He　knocked：　the　beadles　were　deaf。　　He　applied　his

inestimable　relic　to　the　lock；　andwhiz！　crash！　clang！　bang！

whang！the　gate　flew　open！　the　organ　went　off　in　a　fuguethe

lights　quivered　over　the　tapers；　and　then　went　off　towards　the

ceilingthe　ghosts　assembled　rushed　away　with　a　skurry　and　a

screamthe　bride　howled；　and　vanishedthe　fat　bishop　waddled　back

under　his　brass　platethe　dean　flounced　down　into　his　family

vaultand　the　canon　Schidnischmidt；　who　was　making　a　joke；　as

usual；　on　the　bishop；　was　obliged　to　stop　at　the　very　point　of　his

epigram；　and　to　disappear　into　the　void　whence　he　came。



Otto　fell　fainting　at　the　porch；　while　Wolfgang　tumbled　lifeless

down　at　the　altar…steps；　and　in　this　situation　the　archers；　when

they　arrived；　found　the　two　youths。　　They　were　resuscitated；　as　we

scarce　need　say；　but　when；　in　incoherent　accents；　they　came　to　tell

their　wondrous　tale；　some　sceptics　among　the　archers　said〃Pooh！

they　were　intoxicated！〃　while　others；　nodding　their　older　heads；

exclaimed〃THEY　HAVE　SEEN　THE　LADY　OF　WINDECK！〃　and　recalled　the

stories　of　many　other　young　men；　who；　inveigled　by　her　devilish

arts；　had　not　been　so　lucky　as　Wolfgang；　and　had　disappearedfor

ever！



This　adventure　bound　Wolfgang　heart　and　soul　to　his　gallant

preserver；　and　the　archersit　being　now　morning；　and　the　cocks

crowing　lustily　round　aboutpursued　their　way　without　further

delay　to　the　castle　of　the　noble　patron　of　toxophilites；　the

gallant　Duke　of　Cleves。





CHAPTER　X。



THE　BATTLE　OF　THE　BOWMEN。





Although　there　lay　an　immense　number　of　castles　and　abbeys　between

Windeck　and　Cleves；　for　every　one　of　which　the　guide…books　have　a

legend　and　a　ghost；　who　might；　with　the　commonest　stretch　of

ingenuity；　be　made　to　waylay　our　adventurers　on　the　road；　yet；　as

the　journey　would　be　thus　almost　interminable；　let　us　cut　it　short

by　saying　that　the　travellers　reached　Cleves　without　any　further

accident；　and　found　the　place　thronged　with　visitors　for　the

meeting　next　day。



And　here　it　would　be　easy　to　describe　the　company　which　arrived；

and　make　display　of　antiquarian　lore。　　Now　we　would　represent　a

cavalcade　of　knights　arriving；　with　their　pages　carrying　their

shining　helms　of　gold；　and　the　stout　esquires；　bearers　of　lance　and

banner。　　Anon　would　arrive　a　fat　abbot　on　his　ambling　pad；

surrounded　by　the　white…robed　companions　of　his　convent。　　Here

should　come　the　gleemen　and　jonglers；　the　minstrels；　the

mountebanks；　the　party…colored　gipsies；　the　dark…eyed；　nut…brown

Zigeunerinnen；　then　a　troop　of　peasants　chanting　Rhine…songs；　and

leading　in　their　ox…drawn　carts　the　peach…cheeked　girls　from　the

vine…lands。　　Next　we　would　depict　the　litters　blazoned　with

armorial　bearings；　from　between　the　broidered　curtains　of　which

peeped　out　the　swan…like　necks　and　the　haughty　faces　of　the　blond

ladies　of　the　castles。　　But　for　these　descriptions　we　have　not

space；　and　the　reader　is　referred　to　the　account　of　the　tournament

in　the　ingenious　novel　of　〃Ivanhoe；〃　where　the　above　phenomena　are

described　at　length。　　Suffice　it　to　say；　that　Otto　and　his

companions　arrived　at　the　town　of　Cleves；　and；　hastening　to　a

hostel；　reposed　themselves　after　the　day's　march；　and　prepared　them

for　the　encounter　of　the　morrow。



That　morrow　came：　and　as　the　sports　were　to　begin　early；　Otto　and

his　comrades　hastened　to　the　field；　armed　with　their　best　bows　and

arrows；　you　may　be　sure；　and　eager　to　distinguish　themselves；　as

were　the　multitude　of　other　archers　assembled。　　They　were　from　all

neighboring　countriescrowds　of　English；　as　you　may　fancy；　armed

with　Murray's　guide…books；　troops　of　chattering　Frenchmen；

Frankfort　Jews　with　roulette…tables；　and　Tyrolese；　with　gloves　and

trinketsall　hied　towards　the　field　where　the　butts　were　set　up；

and　the　archery　practice　was　to　be　held。　　The　Childe　and　his

brother　archers　were；　it　need　not　be　said；　early　on　the　ground。



But　what　words　of　mine　can　describe　the　young　gentleman's　emotion

when；　preceded　by　a　band　of　trumpets；　bagpipes；　ophicleides；　and

other　wind　instruments；　the　Prince　of　Cleves　appeared　with　the

Princess　Helen；　his　daughter？　　And　ah！　what　expressions　of　my

humble　pen　can　do　justice　to　the　beauty　of　that　young　lady？　　Fancy

every　charm　which　decorates　the　person；　every　virtue　which

ornaments　the　mind；　every　accomplishment　which　renders　charming

mind　and　charming　person　doubly　charming；　and　then　you　will　have

but　a　faint　and　feeble　idea　of　the　beauties　of　her　Highness　the

Princess　Helen。　　Fancy　a　complexion　such　as　they　say　（I　know　not

with　what　justice）　Rowland's　Kalydor　imparts　to　the　users　of　that

cosmetic；　fancy　teeth　to　which　orient　pearls　are　like　Wallsend

coals；　eyes；　which　were　so　blue；　tender；　and　bright；　that　while

they　run　you　through　with　their　lustre；　they　healed　you　with　their

kindness；　a　neck　and　waist；　so　ravishingly　slender　and　graceful；

that　the　least　that　is　said　about　them　the　better；　a　foot　which

fell　upon　the　flowers　no　heavier　than　a　dew…dropand　this　charming

person　set　off　by　the　most　elegant　toilet　that　ever　milliner

devised！　　The　lovely　Helen's　hair　（which　was　as　black　as　the　finest

varnish　for　boots）　was　so　long；　that　it　was　borne　on　a　cushion

several　yards　behind　her　by　the　maidens　of　her　train；　and　a　hat；

set　off　with　moss…roses；　sunflowers；　bugles；　birds…of…paradise；

gold　lace；　and　pink　ribbon；　gave　her　a　distingue　air；　which　would

have　set　the　editor　of　the　Morning　Post　mad　with　love。



It　had　exactly　the　same　effect　upon　the　noble　Childe　of　Godesberg；

as　leaning　on　his　ivory　bow；　with　his　legs　crossed；　he　stood　and

gazed　on　her；　as　Cupid　gazed　on　Psyche。　　Their　eyes　met：　it　was　all

over　with　both　of　them。　　A　blush　came　at　one　and　the　same　minute

budding　to　the　cheek　of　either。　　A　simultaneous　throb　beat　in　those

young　hearts！　　They　loved　each　other　for　ever　from　that　instant。

Otto　still　stood；　cross…legged；　enraptured；　leaning　on　his　ivory

bow；　but　Helen；　calling　to　a　maiden　for　her　pocket…handkerchief；

blew　her　beautiful　Grecian　nose　in　order　to　hide　her　agitation。

Bless　ye；　bless　ye；　pretty　ones！　　I　am　old　now；　but　not　so　old　but

that　I　kindle　at　the　tale　of　love。　　Theresa　MacWhirter　too　has

lived　and　loved。　　Heigho！



Who　is　yon　chief　that　stands　behind　the　truck　whereon　are　seated

the　Princess　and　the　stout　old　lord；　her　father？　　Who　is　he　whose

hair　is　of　the　carroty　hue？　whose　eyes；　across　a　snubby　bunch　of　a

nose；　are　perpetually　scowling　at　each　other；　who　has　a　hump…back

and　a　hideous　mouth；　surrounded　with　bristles；　and　crammed　full　of

jutting　yellow　odious　teeth。　　Although　he　wears　a　sky…blue　doublet

laced　with　silver；　it　only　serves　to　render　his　vulgar　punchy

figure　doubly　ridiculous；　although　his　nether　garment　is　of　salmon…

colored　velvet；　it　only　draws　the　more　attention　to　his　legs；　which

are　disgustingly　crooked　and　bandy。　　A　rose…colored　hat；　with

towering　pea…green　ostrich…plumes；　looks　absurd　on　his　bull…head；

and　though　it　is　time　of　peace；　the　wretch　is　armed　with　a

multiplicity　of　daggers；　knives；　yataghans；　dirks；　sabres；　and

scimitars；　which　testify　his　truculent　and　bloody　disposition。　'Tis

the　terrible　Rowski　de　Donnerblitz；　Margrave　of　Eulenschreckenstein。

Report　says　he　is　a　suitor　for　the　hand　of　the　lovely　Helen。　　He

addresses　various　speeches　of　gallantry　to　her；　and　grins　hideously

as　he　thrusts　his　disgusting　head　over　her　lily　shoulder。　　But　she

turns　away　from　him！　turns　and　shuddersay；　as　she　would　at　a

black　dose！



Otto　stands　gazing　still；　and　leaning　on　his　bow。　　〃What　is　the

prize？〃　asks　one　archer　of　another。　　There　are　two　prizesa　velvet

cap；　embroidered　by　the　hand　of　the　Princess；　and　a　chain　of

massive　gold；　of　enormous　value。　　Both　lie　on　cushions　before　her。



〃I　know　which　I　shall　choose；　when　I　win　the　first　prize；〃　says　a

swarthy；　savage；　and　bandy…legged　archer；　who　bears　the　owl　gules

on　a　black　shield；　the　cognizance　of　the　Lord　Rowski　de　Donnerblitz。



〃Which；　fellow？〃　says　Otto；　turning　fiercely　upon　him。



〃The　chain；　to　be　sure！〃　says　the　leering　archer。　　〃You　do　not

suppose　I　am　such　a　flat　as　to　choose　that　velvet　gimcrack　there？〃

Otto　laughed　in　scorn；　and　began　to　prepare　his　bow。　　The　trumpets

sounding　proclaimed　that　the　sports　were　about　to　commence。



Is　it　necessary　to　describe　them？　　No：　that　has　already　been　done

in　the　novel　of　〃Ivanhoe〃　before　mentioned。　　Fancy　the　archers　clad

in　Lincoln　green；　all　coming　forward　in　turn；　and　firing　at　the

targets。　　Some　hit；　some　missed；　those　that　missed　were　fain　to

retire　amidst　the　jeers　of　the　multitudinous　spectators。　　Those

that　hit　began　new　trials　of　skill；　but　it　was　easy　to　see；　from

the　first；　that　the　battle　lay　between　Squintoff　（the　Rowski

archer）　and　the　young　hero　with　the　golden　hair　and　the　ivory　bow。

Squintoff's　fame　as　a　marksman　was　known　throughout　Europe；　but　who

was　his　young　competitor？　　Ah？　there　was　ONE　heart　in　the　assembly

that　beat　most　anxiously　to　know。　　'Twas　Helen's。



The　crowning　trial　arrived。　　The　bull's　eye　of　the　target；　set　up

at　three…quarters　of　a　mile　distance　from　the　archers；　was　so

small；　that　it　required　a　very　clever　man　indeed　to　see；　much　more

to　hit　it；　and　as　Squintoff　was　selecting　his　arrow　for　the　final

trial；　the　Rowski　flung　a　purse　of　gold　towards　his　archer；　saying

〃Squintoff；　an　ye　win　the　prize；　the　purse　is　thine。〃　　〃I　may　as

well　pocket　it　at　once；　your　honor；〃　said　the　bowman　with　a　sneer

at　Otto。　　〃This　young　chick；　who　has　been　lucky　as　yet；　will　hardly

hit　such　a　mark　as　that。〃　　And；　taking　his　aim；　Squintoff

discharged　his　arrow　right　into　the　very　middle　of　the　bull's…eye。



〃Can　you　mend　that；　young　springald？〃　said　he；　as　a　shout　rent　the

air　at　his　success；　as　Helen　turned　pale　to　think　that　the　champion

of　her　secret　heart　was　likely　to　be　overcome；　and　as　Squintoff；

pocketing　the　Rowski's　money；　turned　to　the　noble　boy　of　Godesberg。



〃Has　anybody　got　a　pea？〃　asked　the　lad。　　Everybody　laughed　at　his

droll　request；　and　an　old　woman；　who　was　selling　porridge　in　the

crowd；　handed　him　the　vegetable　which　he　demanded。　　It　was　a　dry

and　yellow　pea。　　Otto；　stepping　up　to　the　target；　caused　Squintoff

to　extract　his　arrow　from　the　bull's…eye；　and　placed　in　the　orifice

made　by　the　steel　point　of　the　shaft；　the　pea　which　he　had　received

from　the　old　woman。　　He　then　came　back　to　his　place。　　As　he

prepared　to　shoot；　Helen　was　so　overcome　by　emotion；　that　'twas

thought　she　would　have　fainted。　　Never；　never　had　she　seen　a　being

so　beautiful　as　the　young　hero　now　before　her。



He　looked　almost　divine。　　He　flung　back　his　long　clusters　of　hair

from　his　bright　eyes　and　tall　forehead；　the　blush　of　health　mantled

on　his　cheek；　from　which　the　barber's　weapon　had　never　shorn　the

down。　　He　took　his　bow；　and　one　of　his　most　elegant　arrows；　and

poising　himself　lightly　on　his　right　leg；　he　flung　himself　f