burlesques-第52章

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

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

raising　his　left　leg　on　a　level　with　his　ear。　　He　looked　like

Apollo；　as　he　stood　balancing　himself　there。　　He　discharged　his

dart　from　the　thrumming　bowstring：　it　clove　the　blue　airwhiz！



〃HE　HAS　SPLIT　THE　PEA！〃　said　the　Princess；　and　fainted。　　The

Rowski；　with　one　eye；　hurled　an　indignant　look　at　the　boy；　while

with　the　other　he　levelled　（if　aught　so　crooked　can　be　said　to

level　anything）　a　furious　glance　at　his　archer。



The　archer　swore　a　sulky　oath。　　〃He　is　the　better　man！〃　said　he。

〃I　suppose；　young　chap；　you　take　the　gold　chain？〃



〃The　gold　chain？〃　said　Otto。　　〃Prefer　a　gold　chain　to　a　cap　worked

by　that　august　hand？　　Never！〃　　And　advancing　to　the　balcony　where

the　Princess；　who　now　came　to　herself；　was　sitting；　he　kneeled　down

before　her；　and　received　the　velvet　cap；　which；　blushing　as　scarlet

as　the　cap　itself；　the　Princess　Helen　placed　on　his　golden

ringlets。　　Once　more　their　eyes　mettheir　hearts　thrilled。　　They

had　never　spoken；　but　they　knew　they　loved　each　other　for　ever。



〃Wilt　thou　take　service　with　the　Rowski　of　Donnerblitz？〃　said　that

individual　to　the　youth。　　〃Thou　shalt　be　captain　of　my　archers　in

place　of　yon　blundering　nincompoop；　whom　thou　hast　overcome。〃



〃Yon　blundering　nincompoop　is　a　skilful　and　gallant　archer；〃

replied　Otto；　haughtily；　〃and　I　will　NOT　take　service　with　the

Rowski　of　Donnerblitz。〃



〃Wilt　thou　enter　the　household　of　the　Prince　of　Cleves？〃　said　the

father　of　Helen；　laughing；　and　not　a　little　amused　at　the

haughtiness　of　the　humble　archer。



〃I　would　die　for　the　Duke　of　Cleves　and　HIS　FAMILY；〃　said　Otto；

bowing　low。　　He　laid　a　particular　and　a　tender　emphasis　on　the　word

family。　　Helen　knew　what　he　meant。　　SHE　was　the　family。　　In　fact

her　mother　was　no　more；　and　her　papa　had　no　other　offspring。



〃What　is　thy　name；　good　fellow；〃　said　the　Prince；　〃that　my　steward

may　enroll　thee？〃



〃Sir；〃　said　Otto；　again　blushing；　〃I　am　OTTO　THE　ARCHER。〃





CHAPTER　XI。



THE　MARTYR　OF　LOVE。





The　archers　who　had　travelled　in　company　with　young　Otto　gave　a

handsome　dinner　in　compliment　to　the　success　of　our　hero；　at　which

his　friend　distinguished　himself　as　usual　in　the　eating　and

drinking　department。　　Squintoff；　the　Rowski　bowman；　declined　to

attend；　so　great　was　the　envy　of　the　brute　at　the　youthful　hero's

superiority。　　As　for　Otto　himself；　he　sat　on　the　right　hand　of　the

chairman；　but　it　was　remarked　that　he　could　not　eat。　　Gentle　reader

of　my　page！　thou　knowest　why　full　well。　　He　was　too　much　in　love　to

have　any　appetite；　for　though　I　myself　when　laboring　under　that

passion；　never　found　my　consumption　of　victuals　diminish；　yet

remember　our　Otto　was　a　hero　of　romance；　and　they　NEVER　are　hungry

when　they're　in　love。



The　next　day；　the　young　gentleman　proceeded　to　enroll　himself　in

the　corps　of　Archers　of　the　Prince　of　Cleves；　and　with　him　came　his

attached　squire；　who　vowed　he　never　would　leave　him。　　As　Otto　threw

aside　his　own　elegant　dress；　and　donned　the　livery　of　the　House　of

Cleves；　the　noble　Childe　sighed　not　a　little。　　'Twas　a　splendid

uniform　'tis　true；　but　still　it　WAS　a　livery；　and　one　of　his　proud

spirit　ill　bears　another's　cognizances。　　〃They　are　the　colors　of

the　Princess；　however；〃　said　he；　consoling　himself；　〃and　what

suffering　would　I　not　undergo　for　HER？〃　　As　for　Wolfgang；　the

squire；　it　may　well　be　supposed　that　the　good…natured；　low…born

fellow　had　no　such　scruples；　but　he　was　glad　enough　to　exchange　for

the　pink　hose；　the　yellow　jacket；　the　pea…green　cloak；　and　orange…

tawny　hat；　with　which　the　Duke's　steward　supplied　him；　the　homely

patched　doublet　of　green　which　he　had　worn　for　years　past。



〃Look　at　you　two　archers；〃　said　the　Prince　of　Cleves　to　his　guest；

the　Rowski　of　Donnerblitz；　as　they　were　strolling　on　the

battlements　after　dinner；　smoking　their　cigars　as　usual。　　His

Highness　pointed　to　our　two　young　friends；　who　were　mounting　guard

for　the　first　time。　　〃See　yon　two　bowmenmark　their　bearing！　　One

is　the　youth　who　beat　thy　Squintoff；　and　t'other；　an　I　mistake　not；

won　the　third　prize　at　the　butts。　　Both　wear　the　same　uniformthe

colors　of　my　houseyet　wouldst　not　swear　that　the　one　was　but　a

churl；　and　the　other　a　noble　gentleman？〃



〃Which　looks　like　the　nobleman？〃　said　the　Rowski；　as　black　as

thunder。



〃WHICH？　why；　young　Otto；　to　be　sure；〃　said　the　Princess　Helen；

eagerly。　　The　young　lady　was　following　the　pair；　but　under　pretence

of　disliking　the　odor　of　the　cigar；　she　had　refused　the　Rowski's

proffered　arm；　and　was　loitering　behind　with　her　parasol。



Her　interposition　in　favor　of　her　young　protege　only　made　the　black

and　jealous　Rowski　more　ill…humored。　　〃How　long　is　it；　Sir　Prince

of　Cleves；〃　said　he；　〃that　the　churls　who　wear　your　livery　permit

themselves　to　wear　the　ornaments　of　noble　knights？　　Who　but　a　noble

dare　wear　ringlets　such　as　yon　springald's？　　Ho；　archer！〃　roared

he；　〃come；　hither；　fellow。〃　　And　Otto　stood　before　him。　　As　he

came；　and　presenting　arms　stood　respectfully　before　the　Prince　and

his　savage　guest；　he　looked　for　one　moment　at　the　lovely　Helen

their　eyes　met；　their　hearts　beat　simultaneously：　and；　quick；　two

little　blushes　appeared　in　the　cheek　of　either。　　I　have　seen　one

ship　at　sea　answering　another's　signal　so。



While　they　are　so　regarding　each　other；　let　us　just　remind　our

readers　of　the　great　estimation　in　which　the　hair　was　held　in　the

North。　　Only　nobles　were　permitted　to　wear　it　long。　　When　a　man

disgraced　himself；　a　shaving　was　sure　to　follow。　　Penalties　were

inflicted　upon　villains　or　vassals　who　sported　ringlets。　　See　the

works　of　Aurelius　Tonsor；　Hirsutus　de　Nobilitate　Capillari；

Rolandus　de　Oleo　Macassari；　Schnurrbart；　Fresirische　Alterthumskunde；

&c。



〃We　must　have　those　ringlets　of　thine　cut；　good　fellow；〃　said　the

Duke　of　Cleves　good…naturedly；　but　wishing　to　spare　the　feelings　of

his　gallant　recruit。　　〃'Tis　against　the　regulation　cut　of　my　archer

guard。〃



〃Cut　off　my　hair！〃　cried　Otto；　agonized。



〃Ay；　and　thine　ears　with　it；　yokel；〃　roared　Donnerblitz。



〃Peace；　noble　Eulenschreckenstein；〃　said　the　Duke　with　dignity：

〃let　the　Duke　of　Cleves　deal　as　he　will　with　his　own　men…at…arms。

And　you；　young　sir；　unloose　the　grip　of　thy　dagger。〃



Otto；　indeed；　had　convulsively　grasped　his　snickersnee；　with　intent

to　plunge　it　into　the　heart　of　the　Rowski；　but　his　politer　feelings

overcame　him。　　〃The　count　need　not　fear；　my　lord；〃　said　he：　〃a　lady

is　present。〃　　And　he　took　off　his　orange…tawny　cap　and　bowed　low。

Ah！　what　a　pang　shot　through　the　heart　of　Helen；　as　she　thought

that　those　lovely　ringlets　must　be　shorn　from　that　beautiful　head！



Otto's　mind　was；　too；　in　commotion。　　His　feelings　as　a　gentleman

let　us　add；　his　pride　as　a　manfor　who　is　not；　let　us　ask；　proud

of　a　good　head　of　hair？waged　war　within　his　soul。　　He

expostulated　with　the　Prince。　　〃It　was　never　in　my　contemplation；〃

he　said；　〃on　taking　service；　to　undergo　the　operation　of　hair…

cutting。〃



〃Thou　art　free　to　go　or　stay；　Sir　Archer；〃　said　the　Prince

pettishly。　　〃I　will　have　no　churls　imitating　noblemen　in　my

service：　I　will　bandy　no　conditions　with　archers　of　my　guard。〃



〃My　resolve　is　taken；〃　said　Otto；　irritated　too　in　his　turn。　　〃I

will　。　。　。　。　〃



〃What？〃　cried　Helen；　breathless　with　intense　agitation。



〃I　will　STAY；〃　answered　Otto。　　The　poor　girl　almost　fainted　with

joy。　　The　Rowski　frowned　with　demoniac　fury；　and　grinding　his　teeth

and　cursing　in　the　horrible　German　jargon；　stalked　away。　　〃So　be

it；〃　said　the　Prince　of　Cleves；　taking　his　daughter's　arm〃and

here　comes　Snipwitz；　my　barber；　who　shall　do　the　business　for　you。〃

With　this　the　Prince　too　moved　on；　feeling　in　his　heart　not　a

little　compassion　for　the　lad；　for　Adolf　of　Cleves　had　been

handsome　in　his　youth；　and　distinguished　for　the　ornament　of　which

he　was　now　depriving　his　archer。



Snipwitz　led　the　poor　lad　into　a　side…room；　and　therein　a　word

operated　upon　him。　　The　golden　curlsfair　curls　that　his　mother

had　so　often　played　with！fell　under　the　shears　and　round　the

lad's　knees；　until　he　looked　as　if　he　was　sitting　in　a　bath　of

sunbeams。



When　the　frightful　act　had　been　performed；　Otto；　who　entered　the

little　chamber　in　the　tower　ringleted　like　Apollo；　issued　from　it

as　cropped　as　a　charity…boy。



See　how　melancholy　he　looks；　now　that　the　operation　is　over！And

no　wonder。　　He　was　thinking　what　would　be　Helen's　opinion　of　him；

now　that　one　of　his　chief　personal　ornaments　was　gone。　　〃Will　she

know　me？〃　thought　he；　〃will　she　love　me　after　this　hideous

mutilation？〃



Yielding　to　these　gloomy　thoughts；　and；　indeed；　rather　unwilling　to

be　seen　by　his　comrades；　now　that　he　was　so　disfigured；　the　young

gentleman　had　hidden　himself　behind　one　of　the　buttresses　of　the

wall；　a　prey　to　natural　despondency；　when　he　saw　something　which

instantly　restored　him　to　good　spirits。　　He　saw　the　lovely　Helen

coming　towards　the　chamber　where　the　odious　barber　had　performed

upon　him；coming　forward　timidly；　looking　round　her　anxiously；

blushing　with　delightful　agitation；and　presently　seeing；　as　she

thought；　the　coast　clear；　she　entered　the　apartment。　　She　stooped

down；　and　ah！　what　was　Otto's　joy　when　he　saw　her　pick　up　a

beautiful　golden　lock　of　his　hair；　press　it　to　her　lips；　and　then

hide　it　in　her　bosom！　　No　carnation　ever　blushed　so　redly　as　Helen

did　when　she　came　out　after　performing　this　feat。　　Then　she　hurried

straightway　to　her　own　apartments　in　the　castle；　and　Otto；　whose

first　impulse　was　to　come　out　from　his　hiding…place；　and；　falling

at　her　feet；　call　heaven　and　earth　to　witness　to　his　passion；　with

difficulty　restrained　his　feelings　and　let　her　pass：　but　the　love…

stricken　young　hero　was　so　delighted　with　this　evident　proof　of

reciprocated　attachment；　that　all　regret　at　losing　his　ringlets　at

once　left　him；　and　he　vowed　he　would　sacrifice　not　only　his　hair；

but　his　head；　if　need　were；　to　do　her　service。



That　very　afternoon；　no　small　bustle　and　conversation　took　place　in

the　castle；　on　account　of　the　sudden　departure　of　the　Rowski　of

Eulenschreckenstein；　with　all　his　train　and　equipage。　　He　went　away

in　the　greatest　wrath；　it　was　said；　after　a　long　and　loud

conversation　with　the　Prince。　　As　that　potentate　conducted　his

guest　to　the　gate；　walking　rather　demurely　and　shamefacedly　by　his

side；　as　he　gathered　his　attendants　in　the　court；　and　there　mounted

his　charger；　the　Rowski　ordered　his　trumpets　to　sound；　and

scornfully　flung　a　largesse　of　gold　among　the　servitors　and　men…at…

arms　of　the　House　of　Cleves；　who　were　marshalled　in　the　court。

〃Farewell；　Sir　Prince；〃　said　he　to　his　host：　〃I　quit　you　now

suddenly；　but　remember；　it　is　not　my　last　visit　to　the　Castle　of

Cleves。〃　　And　ordering　his　band　to　pla