burlesques-第54节

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well　cared　for；　that　he　entered　the　castle　itself；　and　was

conducted　to　his　chamber。　　Wax…candles　burning　bright　on　the

mantel；　flowers　in　china　vases；　every　variety　of　soap；　and　a　flask

of　the　precious　essence　manufactured　at　the　neighboring　city　of

Cologne；　were　displayed　on　his　toilet…table；　a　cheering　fire

〃crackled　on　the　hearth；〃　and　showed　that　the　good　knight's　coming

had　been　looked　and　cared　for。　　The　serving…maidens；　bringing　him

hot　water　for　his　ablutions；　smiling　asked；　〃Would　he　have　his

couch　warmed　at　eve？〃　　One　might　have　been　sure　from　their　blushes

that　the　tough　old　soldier　made　an　arch　reply。　　The　family　tonsor

came　to　know　whether　the　noble　Count　had　need　of　his　skill。　　〃By

Saint　Bugo；〃　said　the　knight；　as　seated　in　an　easy　settle　by　the

fire；　the　tonsor　rid　his　chin　of　its　stubby　growth；　and　lightly

passed　the　tongs　and　pomatum　through　〃the　sable　silver〃　of　his

hair；〃By　Saint　Bugo；　this　is　better　than　my　dungeon　at　Grand

Cairo。　　How　is　my　godson　Otto；　master　barber；　and　the　lady

countess；　his　mother；　and　the　noble　Count　Karl；　my　dear　brother…

in…arms？〃



〃They　are　well；〃　said　the　tonsor；　with　a　sigh。



〃By　Saint　Bugo；　I'm　glad　on't；　but　why　that　sigh？〃



〃Things　are　not　as　they　have　been　with　my　good　lord；〃　answered　the

hairdresser；　〃ever　since　Count　Gottfried's　arrival。〃



〃He　here！〃　roared　Sir　Ludwig。　　〃Good　never　came　where　Gottfried

was！〃　and　the　while　he　donned　a　pair　of　silken　hose；　that　showed

admirably　the　proportions　of　his　lower　limbs；　and　exchanged　his

coat　of　mail　for　the　spotless　vest　and　black　surcoat　collared　with

velvet　of　Genoa；　which　was　the　fitting　costume　for　〃knight　in

ladye's　bower；〃　the　knight　entered　into　a　conversation　with　the

barber；　who　explained　to　him；　with　the　usual　garrulousness　of　his

tribe；　what　was　the　present　position　of　the　noble　family　of

Godesberg。



This　will　be　narrated　in　the　next　chapter。





CHAPTER　II。



THE　GODESBERGERS。





'Tis　needless　to　state　that　the　gallant　warrior　Ludwig　of　Hombourg

found　in　the　bosom　of　his　friend's　family　a　cordial　welcome。　　The

brother…in…arms　of　the　Margrave　Karl；　he　was　the　esteemed　friend　of

the　Margravine；　the　exalted　and　beautiful　Theodora　of　Boppum；　and

（albeit　no　theologian；　and　although　the　first　princes　of

Christendom　coveted　such　an　honor；）　he　was　selected　to　stand　as

sponsor　for　the　Margrave's　son　Otto；　the　only　child　of　his　house。



It　was　now　seventeen　years　since　the　Count　and　Countess　had　been

united：　and　although　heaven　had　not　blessed　their　couch　with　more

than　one　child；　it　may　be　said　of　that　one　that　it　was　a　prize；　and

that　surely　never　lighted　on　the　earth　a　more　delightful　vision。

When　Count　Ludwig；　hastening　to　the　holy　wars；　had　quitted　his

beloved　godchild；　he　had　left　him　a　boy；　he　now　found　him；　as　the

latter　rushed　into　his　arms；　grown　to　be　one　of　the　finest　young

men　in　Germany：　tall　and　excessively　graceful　in　proportion；　with

the　blush　of　health　mantling　upon　his　cheek；　that　was　likewise

adorned　with　the　first　down　of　manhood；　and　with　magnificent　golden

ringlets；　such　as　a　Rowland　might　envy；　curling　over　his　brow　and

his　shoulders。　　His　eyes　alternately　beamed　with　the　fire　of

daring；　or　melted　with　the　moist　glance　of　benevolence。　　Well　might

a　mother　be　proud　of　such　a　boy。　　Well　might　the　brave　Ludwig

exclaim；　as　he　clasped　the　youth　to　his　breast；　〃By　St。　Bugo　of

Katzenellenbogen；　Otto；　thou　art　fit　to　be　one　of　Coeur　de　Lion's

grenadiers！〃　and　it　was　the　fact：　the　〃Childe〃　of　Godesberg

measured　six　feet　three。



He　was　habited　for　the　evening　meal　in　the　costly；　though　simple

attire　of　the　nobleman　of　the　periodand　his　costume　a　good　deal

resembled　that　of　the　old　knight　whose　toilet　we　have　just

described；　with　the　difference　of　color；　however。　　The　pourpoint

worn　by　young　Otto　of　Godesberg　was　of　blue；　handsomely　decorated

with　buttons　of　carved　and　embossed　gold；　his　haut…de…chausses；　or

leggings；　were　of　the　stuff　of　Nanquin；　then　brought　by　the　Lombard

argosies　at　an　immense　price　from　China。　　The　neighboring　country

of　Holland　had　supplied　his　wrists　and　bosom　with　the　most　costly

laces；　and　thus　attired；　with　an　opera…hat　placed　on　one　side　of

his　head；　ornamented　with　a　single　flower；　（that　brilliant　one；　the

tulip；）　the　boy　rushed　into　his　godfather's　dressing…room；　and

warned　him　that　the　banquet　was　ready。



It　was　indeed：　a　frown　had　gathered　on　the　dark　brows　of　the　Lady

Theodora；　and　her　bosom　heaved　with　an　emotion　akin　to　indignation；

for　she　feared　lest　the　soups　in　the　refectory　and　the　splendid

fish　now　smoking　there　were　getting　cold：　she　feared　not　for

herself；　but　for　her　lord's　sake。　　〃Godesberg；〃　whispered　she　to

Count　Ludwig；　as　trembling　on　his　arm　they　descended　from　the

drawing…room；　〃Godesberg　is　sadly　changed　of　late。〃



〃By　St。　Bugo！〃　said　the　burly　knight；　starting；　〃these　are　the　very

words　the　barber　spake。〃



The　lady　heaved　a　sigh；　and　placed　herself　before　the　soup…tureen。

For　some　time　the　good　Knight　Ludwig　of　Hombourg　was　too　much

occupied　in　ladling　out　the　forced…meat　balls　and　rich　calves'　head

of　which　the　delicious　pottage　was　formed　（in　ladling　them　out；　did

we　say？　ay；　marry；　and　in　eating　them；　too；）　to　look　at　his

brother…in…arms　at　the　bottom　of　the　table；　where　he　sat　with　his

son　on　his　left　hand；　and　the　Baron　Gottfried　on　his　right。



The　Margrave　was　INDEED　changed。　　〃By　St。　Bugo；〃　whispered　Ludwig

to　the　Countess；　your　husband　is　as　surly　as　a　bear　that　hath　been

wounded　o'　the　head。〃　　Tears　falling　into　her　soup…plate　were　her

only　reply。　　The　soup；　the　turbot；　the　haunch　of　mutton；　Count

Ludwig　remarked　that　the　Margrave　sent　all　away　untasted。



〃The　boteler　will　serve　ye　with　wine；　Hombourg；〃　said　the　Margrave

gloomily　from　the　end　of　the　table：　not　even　an　invitation　to

drink！　how　different　was　this　from　the　old　times！



But　when　in　compliance　with　this　order　the　boteler　proceeded　to

hand　round　the　mantling　vintage　of　the　Cape　to　the　assembled　party；

and　to　fill　young　Otto's　goblet；　（which　the　latter　held　up　with　the

eagerness　of　youth；）　the　Margrave's　rage　knew　no　bounds。　　He　rushed

at　his　son；　he　dashed　the　wine…cup　over　his　spotless　vest：　and

giving　him　three　or　four　heavy　blows　which　would　have　knocked　down

a　bonassus；　but　only　caused　the　young　Childe　to　blush：　〃YOU　take

wine！〃　roared　out　the　Margrave；　〃YOU　dare　to　help　yourself！　　Who

time　d…v…l　gave　YOU　leave　to　help　yourself？〃　and　the　terrible　blows

were　reiterated　over　the　delicate　ears　of　the　boy。



〃Ludwig！　Ludwig！〃　shrieked　the　Margravine。



〃Hold　your　prate；　madam；〃　roared　the　Prince。　　〃By　St。　Buffo；　mayn't

a　father　beat　his　own　child？〃



〃HIS　OWN　CHILD！〃　repeated　the　Margrave　with　a　burst；　almost　a

shriek　of　indescribable　agony。　　〃Ah；　what　did　I　say？〃



Sir　Ludwig　looked　about　him　in　amaze；　Sir　Gottfried　（at　the

Margrave's　right　hand）　smiled　ghastily；　the　young　Otto　was　too　much

agitated　by　the　recent　conflict　to　wear　any　expression　but　that　of

extreme　discomfiture；　but　the　poor　Margravine　turned　her　head　aside

and　blushed；　red　almost　as　the　lobster　which　flanked　the　turbot

before　her。



In　those　rude　old　times；　'tis　known　such　table　quarrels　were　by　no

means　unusual　amongst　gallant　knights；　and　Ludwig；　who　had　oft　seen

the　Margrave　cast　a　leg　of　mutton　at　an　offending　servitor；　or

empty　a　sauce…boat　in　the　direction　of　the　Margravine；　thought　this

was　but　one　of　the　usual　outbreaks　of　his　worthy　though　irascible

friend；　and　wisely　determined　to　change　the　converse。



〃How　is　my　friend；〃　said　he；　〃the　good　knight；　Sir　Hildebrandt？〃



〃By　Saint　Buffo；　this　is　too　much！〃　screamed　the　Margrave；　and

actually　rushed　from　time　room。



〃By　Saint　Bugo；〃　said　his　friend；　〃gallant　knights；　gentle　sirs；

what　ails　my　good　Lord　Margave？〃



〃Perhaps　his　nose　bleeds；〃　said　Gottfried；　with　a　sneer。



〃Ah；　my　kind　friend；〃　said　the　Margravine　with　uncontrollable

emotion；　〃I　fear　some　of　you　have　passed　from　the　frying…pan　into

the　fire。〃　　And　making　the　signal　of　departure　to　the　ladies；　they

rose　and　retired　to　coffee　in　the　drawing…room。



The　Margrave　presently　came　back　again；　somewhat　more　collected

than　he　had　been。　　〃Otto；〃　he　said　sternly；　〃go　join　the　ladies：　it

becomes　not　a　young　boy　to　remain　in　the　company　of　gallant　knights

after　dinner。〃　　The　noble　Childe　with　manifest　unwillingness

quitted　the　room；　and　the　Margrave；　taking　his　lady's　place　at　the

head　of　the　table；　whispered　to　Sir　Ludwig；　〃Hildebrandt　will　be

here　to…night　to　an　evening…party；　given　in　honor　of　your　return

from　Palestine。　　My　good　friendmy　true　friendmy　old　companion

in　arms；　Sir　Gottfried！　you　had　best　see　that　the　fiddlers　be　not

drunk；　and　that　the　crumpets　be　gotten　ready。〃　　Sir　Gottfried；

obsequiously　taking　his　patron's　hint；　bowed　and　left　the　room。



〃You　shall　know　all　soon；　dear　Ludwig；〃　said　the　Margrave；　with　a

hea