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 met?their 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 bowmen?mark 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 uniform?the colors of my house?yet
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,
"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 man?for 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 p
oor lad into a side-room, and there?in a word? operated upon
him. The golden curls?fair 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 play "See the Conquering Hero comes," he clattered away
through the drawbridge. The Princess Helen was not present at his departure; and
the venerable Prince of Cleves looked rather moody and chap-fallen when his
guest left him. He visited all the castle defences pretty accurately that night,
and inquired of his officers the state of the ammunition, provisions, He said
nothing; but the Princess Helen's maid did: and everybody knew that the Rowski
had made his proposals, had been rejected, and, getting up in a violent fury,
had called for his people, and sworn by his great gods that he would not enter
the castle again until he rode over the breach, lance in hand, the conqueror of
Cleves and all belonging to it.
No little consternation was spread through the garrison at the news: for
everybody knew the Rowski to be one of the most intrepid and powerful soldiers
in all Germany,?one of the most skilful generals. Generous to extravagance to
his own followers, he was ruthless to the enemy: a hundred stories were told of
the dreadful barbarities exercised by him in several towns and castles which he
had captured and sacked. And poor Helen had the pain of thinking, that in
consequence of her refusal she was dooming all the men, women, and children of
the principality to indiscriminate and horrible slaughter.
The dreadful surmises regarding a war received in a few days dreadful
confirmation. It was noon, and the worthy Prince of Cleves was taking his dinner
(though the honest warrior had had little appetite for that meal for some time
past), when trumpets were heard at the gate; and presently the herald of the
Rowski of Donnerblitz, clad in a tabard on which the arms of the Count were
blazoned, entered the dining-hall. A page bore a steel gauntlet on a cushion;
Bleu Sanglier had his hat on his head. The Prince of Cleves put on his own, as
the herald came up to the chair of state where the sovereign sat.
"Silence for Bleu Sanglier," cried the Prince, gravely. "Say your say, Sir
Herald."
"In the name of the high and mighty Rowski, Prince of Donnerblitz, Margrave of
Eulenschreckenstein, Count of Krotenwald, Schnauzestadt, and Galgenhugel,
Hereditary Grand Corkscrew of the Holy Roman Empire?to you, Adolf the
Twenty-third, Prince of Cleves, I, Bleu Sanglier, bring war and defiance. Alone,
and lance to lance, or twenty to twenty in field or in fort, on plain or on
mountain, the noble Rowski defies you. Here, or wherever he shall meet you, he
proclaims war to the death between you and him. In token whereof, here is his
glove." And taking the steel glove from the page, Bleu Boar flung it clanging on
the marble floor.
The Princess Helen turned deadly pale: but the Prince, with a good assurance,
flung down his own glove, calling upon some one to raise the Rowski's; which
Otto accordingly took up and presented to him, on his knee.
"Boteler, fill my goblet," said the Prince to that functionary, who, clothed in
tight black hose, with a white kerchief, and a napkin on his dexter arm, stood
obsequiously by his master's chair. The goblet was filled with Malvoisie: it
held about three quarts; a precious golden hanap carved by the cunning
artificer, Benvenuto the Florentine.
"Drink, Bleu Sanglier," said the Prince, "and put the goblet in thy bosom. Wear
this chain, furthermore, for my sake." And so saying, Prince Adolf flung a
precious chain of emeralds round the herald's neck. "An invitation to battle was
ever a welcome call to Adolf of Cleves." So saying, and bidding his people take
good care of Bleu Sanglier's retinue, the Prince left the hall with his
daughter. All were marvelling at his dignity, courage, and generosity.
But, though affecting unconcern, the mind of Prince Adolf was far from tranquil.
He was no longer the stalwart knight who, in the reign of Stanislaus Augustus,
had, with his naked fist, beaten a lion to death in three minutes; and alone had
kept the postern of Peterwaradin for two hours against seven hundred Turkish
janissaries, who were assailing it. Those deeds which had made the heir of
Cleves famous were done thirty years syne. A free liver since he had come into
his principality, and of a lazy turn, he had neglected the athletic exercises
which had made him in youth so fam
ous a champion, and indolence had borne its
usual fruits. He tried his old battle-sword?that famous blade with which, in
Palestine, he had cut an elephant-driver in two pieces, and split asunder the
skull of the elephant which he rode. Adolf of Cleves could scarcely now lift the
weapon over his head. He tried his armor. It was too tight for him. And the old
soldier burst into tears, when he found he could not buckle it. Such a man was
not fit to encounter the terrible Rowski in single combat.
Nor could he hope to make head against him for any time in the field. The
Prince's territories were small; his vassals proverbially lazy and peaceable;
his treasury empty. The dismallest prospects were before him: and he passed a
sleepless night writing to his friends for succor, and calculating with his
secretary the small amount of the resources which he could bring to aid him
against his advancing and powerful enemy.
Helen's pillow that evening was also unvisited by slumber. She lay awake
thinking of Otto,?thinking of the danger and the ruin her refusal to marry had
brought upon her dear papa. Otto, too, slept not: but HIS waking thoughts were
brilliant and heroic: the noble Childe thought how he should defend the
Princess, and win LOS and honor in the ensuing combat.
CHAPTER XII. THE CHAMPION.
And now the noble Cleves began in good earnest to prepare his castle for the
threatened siege. He gathered in all the available cattle round the property,
and the pigs round many miles; and a dreadful slaughter of horned and snouted
animals took place,?the whole castle resounding with the lowing of the oxen and
the squeaks of the gruntlings, destined to provide food for the garrison. These,
when slain, (her gentle spirit, of course, would not allow of her witnessing
that disagreeable operation,) the lovely Helen, with the assistance of her
maidens, carefully salted and pickled. Corn was brought in in great quantities,
the Prince paying for the same when he had money, giving bills when he could get
credit, or occasionally, marry, sending out a few stout men-at-arms to forage,
who brought in wheat without money or credit either. The charming Princess,
amidst the intervals of her labors, went about encouraging the garrison, who
vowed to a man they would die for a single sweet smile of hers; and in order to
make their inevitable sufferings as easy as possible to the gallant fellows, she
and the apothecaries got ready a plenty of efficacious simples, and scraped a
vast quantity of lint to bind their warriors' wounds withal. All the
fortifications were strengthened; the fosses carefully filled with spikes and
water; large stones placed over the gates, convenient to tumble on the heads of
the assaulting parties; and caldrons prepared, with furnaces to melt up pitch,
brimstone, boiling oil, wherewith hospitably to receive them. Having the keenest
eye in the whole garrison, young Otto was placed on the topmost tower, to watch
for the expected coming of the beleaguering host.
They were seen only too soon. Long ranks of shining spears were seen glittering
in the distance, and the army of the Rowski soon made its appearance in battle's
magnificently stern array. The tents of the renowned chief and his numerous
warriors were pitched out of arrow-shot of the castle, but in fearful proximity;
and when his army had taken up its position, an officer with a flag of truce and
a trumpet was seen advancing to the castle gate. It was the same herald who had
previously borne his master's defiance to the Prince of Cleves. He came once
more to the castle gate, and there proclaimed that the noble Count of
Eulenschreckenstein was in arms without, ready to do battle with the Prince of
Cleves, or his champion; that he would remain in arms for three days, ready for
combat. If no man met him at the end of that period, he would deliver an
assault, and would give quarter to no single soul in the garrison. So saying,