burlesques-第67节
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of the Prince of Cleves's splendid though somewhat dilapidated
property。
〃But we don't know him； my dear papa；〃 faintly ejaculated that
young lady。 〃Some impostor may come in a suit of plain armor； and
pretend that he was the champion who overcame the Rowski （a prince
who had his faults certainly； but whose attachment for me I can
never forget）； and how are you to say whether he is the real knight
or not？ There are so many deceivers in this world；〃 added the
Princess； in tears； 〃that one can't be too cautious now。〃 The fact
is； that she was thinking of the desertion of Otto in the morning；
by which instance of faithlessness her heart was wellnigh broken。
As for that youth and his comrade Wolfgang； to the astonishment of
everybody at their impudence； they came to the archers' mess that
night； as if nothing had happened； got their supper； partaking both
of meat and drink most plentifully； fell asleep when their comrades
began to describe the events of the day； and the admirable
achievements of the unknown warrior； and turning into their
hammocks； did not appear on parade in the morning until twenty
minutes after the names were called。
When the Prince of Cleves heard of the return of these deserters he
was in a towering passion。 〃Where were you； fellows；〃 shouted he；
〃during the time my castle was at its utmost need？〃
Otto replied； 〃We were out on particular business。〃
〃Does a soldier leave his post on the day of battle； sir？〃
exclaimed the Prince。 〃You know the reward of suchDeath！ and
death you merit。 But you are a soldier only of yesterday； and
yesterday's victory has made me merciful。 Hanged you shall not be；
as you meritonly flogged； both of you。 Parade the men； Colonel
Tickelstern； after breakfast； and give these scoundrels five
hundred apiece。〃
You should have seen how young Otto bounded； when this information
was thus abruptly conveyed to him。 〃Flog ME！〃 cried he。 〃Flog
Otto of〃
〃Not so； my father；〃 said the Princess Helen； who had been standing
by during the conversation； and who had looked at Otto all the
while with the most ineffable scorn。 〃Not so： although these
PERSONS have forgotten their duty〃 （she laid a particularly
sarcastic emphasis on the word persons）； 〃we have had no need of
their services； and have luckily found OTHERS more faithful。 You
promised your daughter a boon； papa； it is the pardon of these two
PERSONS。 Let them go； and quit a service they have disgraced； a
mistressthat is； a masterthey have deceived。〃
〃Drum 'em out of the castle； Ticklestern； strip their uniforms from
their backs； and never let me hear of the scoundrels again。〃 So
saying； the old Prince angrily turned on his heel to breakfast；
leaving the two young men to the fun and derision of their
surrounding comrades。
The noble Count of Hombourg； who was taking his usual airing on the
ramparts before breakfast； came up at this juncture； and asked what
was the row？ Otto blushed when he saw him and turned away rapidly；
but the Count； too； catching a glimpse of him； with a hundred
exclamations of joyful surprise seized upon the lad； hugged him to
his manly breast； kissed him most affectionately； and almost burst
into tears as he embraced him。 For； in sooth； the good Count had
thought his godson long ere this at the bottom of the silver Rhine。
The Prince of Cleves； who had come to the breakfast…parlor window；
（to invite his guest to enter； as the tea was made；） beheld this
strange scene from the window； as did the lovely tea…maker
likewise； with breathless and beautiful agitation。 The old Count
and the archer strolled up and down the battlements in deep
conversation。 By the gestures of surprise and delight exhibited by
the former； 'twas easy to see the young archer was conveying some
very strange and pleasing news to him； though the nature of the
conversation was not allowed to transpire。
〃A godson of mine；〃 said the noble Count； when interrogated over
his muffins。 〃I know his family； worthy people； sad scapegrace；
ran away； parents longing for him； glad you did not flog him； devil
to pay；〃 and so forth。 The Count was a man of few words； and told
his tale in this brief； artless manner。 But why； at its
conclusion； did the gentle Helen leave the room； her eyes filled
with tears？ She left the room once more to kiss a certain lock of
yellow hair she had pilfered。 A dazzling； delicious thought； a
strange wild hope； arose in her soul！
When she appeared again； she made some side…handed inquiries
regarding Otto （with that gentle artifice oft employed by women）；
but he was gone。 He and his companion were gone。 The Count of
Hombourg had likewise taken his departure； under pretext of
particular business。 How lonely the vast castle seemed to Helen；
now that HE was no longer there。 The transactions of the last few
days； the beautiful archer…boy； the offer from the Rowski （always
an event in a young lady's life）； the siege of the castle； the
death of her truculent admirer： all seemed like a fevered dream to
her： all was passed away； and had left no trace behind。 No trace？
yes！ one： a little insignificant lock of golden hair； over which
the young creature wept so much that she put it out of curl；
passing hours and hours in the summer…house； where the operation
had been performed。
On the second day （it is my belief she would have gone into a
consumption and died of languor； if the event had been delayed a
day longer；） a messenger； with a trumpet； brought a letter in haste
to the Prince of Cleves； who was； as usual； taking refreshment。
〃To the High and Mighty Prince；〃 &c。 the letter ran。 〃The Champion
who had the honor of engaging on Wednesday last with his late
Excellency the Rowski of Donnerblitz； presents his compliments to
H。 S。 H。 the Prince of Cleves。 Through the medium of the public
prints the C。 has been made acquainted with the flattering proposal
of His Serene Highness relative to a union between himself （the
Champion） and her Serene Highness the Princess Helen of Cleves。
The Champion accepts with pleasure that polite invitation； and will
have the honor of waiting upon the Prince and Princess of Cleves
about half an hour after the receipt of this letter。〃
〃Tol lol de rol； girl；〃 shouted the Prince with heartfelt joy。
（Have you not remarked； dear friend； how often in novel…books； and
on the stage； joy is announced by the above burst of insensate
monosyllables？） 〃Tol lol de rol。 Don thy best kirtle； child； thy
husband will be here anon。〃 And Helen retired to arrange her
toilet for this awful event in the life of a young woman。 When she
returned； attired to welcome her defender； her young cheek was as
pale as the white satin slip and orange sprigs she wore。
She was scarce seated on the dais by her father's side； when a huge
flourish of trumpets from without proclaimed the arrival of THE
CHAMPION。 Helen felt quite sick： a draught of ether was necessary
to restore her tranquillity。
The great door was flung open。 He entered；the same tall warrior；
slim； and beautiful； blazing in shining steel。 He approached the
Prince's throne； supported on each side by a friend likewise in
armor。 He knelt gracefully on one knee。
〃I come；〃 said he in a voice trembling with emotion； 〃to claim； as
per advertisement； the hand of the lovely Lady Helen。〃 And he held
out a copy of the Allgemeine Zeitung as he spoke。
〃Art thou noble； Sir Knight？〃 asked the Prince of Cleves。
〃As noble as yourself；〃 answered the kneeling steel。
〃Who answers for thee？〃
〃I； Karl； Margrave of Godesberg； his father！〃 said the knight on
the right hand； lifting up his visor。
〃And ILudwig； Count of Hombourg； his godfather！〃 said the knight
on the left； doing likewise。
The kneeling knight lifted up his visor now； and looked on Helen。
〃I KNEW IT WAS；〃 said she； and fainted as she saw Otto the Archer。
But she was soon brought to； gentles； as I have small need to tell
ye。 In a very few days after； a great marriage took place at
Cleves under the patronage of Saint Bugo； Saint Buffo； and Saint
Bendigo。 After the marriage ceremony； the happiest and handsomest
pair in the world drove off in a chaise…and…four； to pass the
honeymoon at Kissingen。 The Lady Theodora； whom we left locked up
in her convent a long while since； was prevailed upon to come back
to Godesberg； where she was reconciled to her husband。 Jealous of
her daughter…in…law； she idolized her son； and spoiled all her
little grandchildren。 And so all are happy； and my simple tale is
done。
I read it in an old； old book； in a mouldy old circulating library。
'Twas written in the French tongue； by the noble Alexandre Dumas；
but 'tis probable that he stole it from some other； and that the
other had filched it from a former tale…teller。 For nothing is new
under the sun。 Things die and are reproduced o
