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staff； he found me sitting on it。
〃Look at Gahagan；〃 said his lordship。 〃Gentlemen； did I not tell
you we should be sure to find him AT HIS POST？〃
The gallant old nobleman rode on： and this was the famous BATTLE OF
FURRUCKABAD； OR SURPRISE OF FUTTYGHUR； fought on the 17th of
November； 1804。
。 。 。 。 。 。
About a month afterwards； the following announcement appeared in
the Boggleywollah Hurkaru and other Indian papers：〃Married； on
the 25th of December； at Futtyghur； by the Rev。 Dr。 Snorter；
Captain Goliah O'Grady Gahagan； Commanding Irregular Horse；
Abmednuggar； to Belinda； second daughter of Major…General Bulcher；
C。B。 His Excellency the Commander…in…Chief gave away the bride；
and after a splendid dejeune； the happy pair set off to pass the
Mango season at Hurrygurrybang。 Venus must recollect； however；
that Mars must not ALWAYS be at her side。 The Irregulars are
nothing without their leader。〃
Such was the paragraphsuch the eventthe happiest in the
existence of
G。 O'G。 G。； M。 H。 E。 I。 C。 S。； C。 I。 H。 A。
A LEGEND OF THE RHINE。
CHAPTER I。
SIR LUDWIG OF HOMBOURG。
It was in the good old days of chivalry； when every mountain that
bathes its shadow in the Rhine had its castle： not inhabited； as
now； by a few rats and owls； nor covered with moss and wallflowers；
and funguses； and creeping ivy。 No； no！ where the ivy now clusters
there grew strong portcullis and bars of steel； where the
wallflower now quivers in the rampart there were silken banners
embroidered with wonderful heraldry； men…at…arms marched where now
you shall only see a bank of moss or a hideous black champignon；
and in place of the rats and owlets； I warrant me there were ladies
and knights to revel in the great halls； and to feast； and to
dance； and to make love there。 They are passed away：those old
knights and ladies： their golden hair first changed to silver； and
then the silver dropped off and disappeared for ever； their elegant
legs； so slim and active in the dance； became swollen and gouty；
and then； from being swollen and gouty； dwindled down to bare bone…
shanks； the roses left their cheeks； and then their cheeks
disappeared； and left their skulls； and then their skulls powdered
into dust； and all sign of them was gone。 And as it was with them；
so shall it be with us。 Ho； seneschal！ fill me a cup of liquor！
put sugar in it； good fellowyea； and a little hot water； a very
little； for my soul is sad； as I think of those days and knights of
old。
They； too； have revelled and feasted； and where are they？gone？
nay； not altogether gone； for doth not the eye catch glimpses of
them as they walk yonder in the gray limbo of romance； shining
faintly in their coats of steel； wandering by the side of long…
haired ladies； with long…tailed gowns that little pages carry？
Yes！ one sees them： the poet sees them still in the far…off
Cloudland； and hears the ring of their clarions as they hasten to
battle or tourneyand the dim echoes of their lutes chanting of
love and fair ladies！ Gracious privilege of poesy！ It is as the
Dervish's collyrium to the eyes； and causes them to see treasures
that to the sight of donkeys are invisible。 Blessed treasures of
fancy！ I would not change yeno； not for many donkey…loads of
gold。 。 。 。 Fill again； jolly seneschal； thou brave wag； chalk me
up the produce on the hostel doorsurely the spirits of old are
mixed up in the wondrous liquor； and gentle visions of bygone
princes and princesses look blandly down on us from the cloudy
perfume of the pipe。 Do you know in what year the fairies left the
Rhine？long before Murray's 〃Guide…Book〃 was wrotelong before
squat steamboats； with snorting funnels； came paddling down the
stream。 Do you not know that once upon a time the appearance of
eleven thousand British virgins was considered at Cologne as a
wonder？ Now there come twenty thousand such annually； accompanied
by their ladies'…maids。 But of them we will say no morelet us
back to those who went before them。
Many； many hundred thousand years ago； and at the exact period when
chivalry was in full bloom； there occurred a little history upon
the banks of the Rhine； which has been already written in a book；
and hence must be positively true。 'Tis a story of knights and
ladiesof love and battle； and virtue rewarded； a story of princes
and noble lords； moreover： the best of company。 Gentles； an ye
will； ye shall hear it。 Fair dames and damsels； may your loves be
as happy as those of the heroine of this romaunt。
On the cold and rainy evening of Thursday； the 26th of October； in
the year previously indicated； such travellers as might have
chanced to be abroad in that bitter night； might have remarked a
fellow…wayfarer journeying on the road from Oberwinter to
Godesberg。 He was a man not tall in stature； but of the most
athletic proportions； and Time； which had browned and furrowed his
cheek and sprinkled his locks with gray； declared pretty clearly
that He must have been acquainted with the warrior for some fifty
good years。 He was armed in mail； and rode a powerful and active
battle…horse； which （though the way the pair had come that day was
long and weary indeed；） yet supported the warrior； his armor and
luggage； with seeming ease。 As it was in a friend's country； the
knight did not think fit to wear his heavy destrier； or helmet；
which hung at his saddlebow over his portmanteau。 Both were marked
with the coronet of a count； and from the crown which surmounted
the helmet； rose the crest of his knightly race； an arm proper
lifting a naked sword。
At his right hand； and convenient to the warrior's grasp； hung his
mangonel or macea terrific weapon which had shattered the brains
of many a turbaned soldan； while over his broad and ample chest
there fell the triangular shield of the period； whereon were
emblazoned his armsargent； a gules wavy； on a saltire reversed of
the second： the latter device was awarded for a daring exploit
before Ascalon； by the Emperor Maximilian； and a reference to the
German Peerage of that day； or a knowledge of high families which
every gentleman then possessed； would have sufficed to show at once
that the rider we have described was of the noble house of
Hombourg。 It was； in fact； the gallant knight Sir Ludwig of
Hombourg： his rank as a count； and chamberlain of the Emperor of
Austria； was marked by the cap of maintenance with the peacock's
feather which he wore （when not armed for battle）； and his princely
blood was denoted by the oiled silk umbrella which he carried （a
very meet protection against the pitiless storm）； and which； as it
is known； in the middle ages； none but princes were justified in
using。 A bag； fastened with a brazen padlock； and made of the
costly produce of the Persian looms （then extremely rare in
Europe）； told that he had travelled in Eastern climes。 This； too；
was evident from the inscription writ on card or parchment； and
sewed on the bag。 It first ran 〃Count Ludwig de Hombourg；
Jerusalem；〃 but the name of the Holy City had been dashed out with
the pen； and that of 〃Godesberg〃 substituted。 So far indeed had
the cavalier travelled！and it is needless to state that the bag
in question contained such remaining articles of the toilet as the
high…born noble deemed unnecessary to place in his valise。
〃By Saint Bugo of Katzenellenbogen！〃 said the good knight；
shivering； 〃'tis colder here than at Damascus！ Marry； I am so
hungry I could eat one of Saladin's camels。 Shall I be at
Godesberg in time for dinner？〃 And taking out his horologe （which
hung in a small side…pocket of his embroidered surcoat）； the
crusader consoled himself by finding that it was but seven of the
night； and that he would reach Godesberg ere the warder had sounded
the second gong。
His opinion was borne out by the result。 His good steed； which
could trot at a pinch fourteen leagues in the hour； brought him to
this famous castle； just as the warder was giving the first welcome
signal which told that the princely family of Count Karl； Margrave
of Godesberg； were about to prepare for their usual repast at eight
o'clock。 Crowds of pages and horse…keepers were in the court；
when； the portcullis being raised； and amidst the respectful
salutes of the sentinels； the most ancient friend of the house of
Godesberg entered into its castle…yard。 The under…butler stepped
forward to take his bridle…rein。 〃Welcome； Sir Count； from the
Holy Land！〃 exclaimed the faithful old man。 〃Welcome； Sir Count；
from the Holy Land！〃 cried the rest of the servants in the hall。 A
stable was speedily found for the Count's horse； Streithengst； and
it was not before the gallant soldier had seen that true animal
well cared for； that he entered the castle itself； and was
conducted to his chamber。 Wax…candles burning