burlesques-第59节

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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　occurs：　and　I；　for　my　part；　have

often　wondered　with　delight　（and　never　could　penetrate　the　mystery

of　the　subject）　at　the　way　in　which　that　humblest　of　romance

heroes；　Signor　Clown；　when　he　wants　anything　in　the　Pantomime；

straightway　finds　it　to　his　hand。　　How　is　it　that；suppose　he

wishes　to　dress　himself　up　like　a　woman　for　instance；　that　minute　a

coalheaver　walks　in　with　a　shovel…hat　that　answers　for　a　bonnet；　at

the　very　next　instant　a　butcher's　lad　passing　with　a　string　of

sausages　and　a　bundle　of　bladders　unconsciously　helps　Master　Clown

to　a　necklace　and　a　tournure；　and　so　on　through　the　whole　toilet？

Depend　upon　it　there　is　something　we　do　not　wot　of　in　that

mysterious　overcoming　of　circumstances　by　great　individuals：　that

apt　and　wondrous　conjuncture　of　THE　HOUR　AND　THE　MAN；　and　so；　for

my　part；　when　I　heard　the　above　remark　of　one　of　the　archers；　that

Otto　had　never　a　feather　in　his　bonnet；　I　felt　sure　that　a　heron

would　spring　up　in　the　next　sentence　to　supply　him　with　an

aigrette。



And　such　indeed　was　the　fact：　rising　out　of　a　morass　by　which　the

archers　were　passing；　a　gallant　heron；　arching　his　neck；　swelling

his　crest；　placing　his　legs　behind　him；　and　his　beak　and　red　eyes

against　the　wind；　rose　slowly；　and　offered　the　fairest　mark　in　the

world。



〃Shoot；　Otto；〃　said　one　of　the　archers。　　〃You　would　not　shoot　just

now　at　a　crow　because　it　was　a　foul　bird；　nor　at　a　hawk　because　it

was　a　noble　bird；　bring　us　down　yon　heron：　it　flies　slowly。〃



But　Otto　was　busy　that　moment　tying　his　shoestring；　and　Rudolf；　the

third　best　of　the　archers；　shot　at　the　bird　and　missed　it。



〃Shoot；　Otto；〃　said　Wolfgang；　a　youth　who　had　taken　a　liking　to　the

young　archer：　〃the　bird　is　getting　further　and　further。〃



But　Otto　was　busy　that　moment　whittling　a　willow…twig　he　had　just

cut。　　Max；　the　second　best　archer；　shot　and　missed。



〃Then；〃　said　Wolfgang；　〃I　must　try　myself：　a　plague　on　you；　young

springald；　you　have　lost　a　noble　chance！〃



Wolfgang　prepared　himself　with　all　his　care；　and　shot　at　the　bird。

〃It　is　out　of　distance；〃　said　he；　〃and　a　murrain　on　the　bird！〃



Otto；　who　by　this　time　had　done　whittling　his　willow…stick　（having

carved　a　capital　caricature　of　Wolfgang　upon　it）；　flung　the　twig

down　and　said　carelessly；　〃Out　of　distance！　　Pshaw！　　We　have　two

minutes　yet；〃　and　fell　to　asking　riddles　and　cutting　jokes；　to　the

which　none　of　the　archers　listened；　as　they　were　all　engaged；　their

noses　in　air；　watching　the　retreating　bird。



〃Where　shall　I　hit　him？〃　said　Otto。



〃Go　to；〃　said　Rudolf；　〃thou　canst　see　no　limb　of　him：　he　is　no

bigger　than　a　flea。〃



〃Here　goes　for　his　right　eye！〃　said　Otto；　and　stepping　forward　in

the　English　manner　（which　his　godfather　having　learnt　in　Palestine；

had　taught　him）；　he　brought　his　bowstring　to　his　ear；　took　a　good

aim；　allowing　for　the　wind　and　calculating　the　parabola　to　a

nicety。　　Whiz！　his　arrow　went　off。



He　too