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their great swords！ Well stricken； gray！ Well parried； piebald！
Ha； that was a slicer！ Go it； piebald！ go it； gray！go it； gray！
go it； pie Peccavi！ peccavi！〃 said the old man； here suddenly
closing his eyes； and falling down on his knees。 〃I forgot I was a
man of peace。〃 And the next moment； muttering a hasty matin； he
sprung down the ledge of rock； and was by the side of the
combatants。
The battle was over。 Good knight as Sir Gottfried was； his
strength and skill had not been able to overcome Sir Ludwig the
Hombourger； with RIGHT on his side。 He was bleeding at every point
of his armor： he had been run through the body several times； and a
cut in tierce； delivered with tremendous dexterity； had cloven the
crown of his helmet of Damascus steel； and passing through the
cerebellum and sensorium； had split his nose almost in twain。
His mouth foaminghis face almost greenhis eyes full of blood
his brains spattered over his forehead； and several of his teeth
knocked out；the discomfited warrior presented a ghastly
spectacle； as； reeling under the effects of the last tremendous
blow which the Knight of Hombourg dealt； Sir Gottfried fell heavily
from the saddle of his piebald charger； the frightened animal
whisked his tail wildly with a shriek and a snort； plunged out his
hind legs； trampling for one moment upon the feet of the prostrate
Gottfried； thereby causing him to shriek with agony； and then
galloped away riderless。
Away！ ay； away！away amid the green vineyards and golden
cornfields； away up the steep mountains； where he frightened the
eagles in their eyries； away down the clattering ravines； where the
flashing cataracts tumble； away through the dark pine…forests；
where the hungry wolves are howling away over the dreary wolds；
where the wild wind walks alone； away through the plashing
quagmires； where the will…o'…the…wisp slunk frightened among the
reeds； away through light and darkness； storm and sunshine； away by
tower and town； high…road and hamlet。 Once a turnpike…man would
have detained him； but； ha！ ha！ he charged the pike； and cleared it
at a bound。 Once the Cologne Diligence stopped the way： he charged
the Diligence； he knocked off the cap of the conductor on the roof；
and yet galloped wildly； madly； furiously； irresistibly on！ Brave
horse！ gallant steed！ snorting child of Araby！ On went the horse；
over mountains； rivers； turnpikes； apple…women； and never stopped
until he reached a livery…stable in Cologne where his master was
accustomed to put him up。
CHAPTER VI。
THE CONFESSION。
But we have forgotten； meanwhile； that prostrate individual。
Having examined the wounds in his side； legs； head； and throat； the
old hermit （a skilful leech） knelt down by the side of the
vanquished one and said； 〃Sir Knight； it is my painful duty to
state to you that you are in an exceedingly dangerous condition；
and will not probably survive。〃
〃Say you so； Sir Priest？ then 'tis time I make my confession。
Hearken you； Priest； and you； Sir Knight； whoever you be。〃
Sir Ludwig （who； much affected by the scene； had been tying his
horse up to a tree）； lifted his visor and said； 〃Gottfried of
Godesberg！ I am the friend of thy kinsman； Margrave Karl； whose
happiness thou hast ruined； I am the friend of his chaste and
virtuous lady； whose fair fame thou hast belied； I am the godfather
of young Count Otto； whose heritage thou wouldst have appropriated。
Therefore I met thee in deadly fight； and overcame thee； and have
wellnigh finished thee。 Speak on。〃
〃I have done all this；〃 said the dying man； 〃and here； in my last
hour； repent me。 The Lady Theodora is a spotless lady； the
youthful Otto the true son of his fatherSir Hildebrandt is not
his father； but his UNCLE。〃
〃Gracious Buffo！〃 〃Celestial Bugo！〃 here said the hermit and the
Knight of Hombourg simultaneously； clasping their hands。
〃Yes； his uncle； but with the BAR…SINISTER in his scutcheon。 Hence
he could never be acknowledged by the family； hence； too； the Lady
Theodora's spotless purity （though the young people had been
brought up together） could never be brought to own the relationship。〃
〃May I repeat your confession？〃 asked the hermit。
〃With the greatest pleasure in life： carry my confession to the
Margrave； and pray him give me pardon。 Were therea notary…public
present；〃 slowly gasped the knight； the film of dissolution glazing
over his eyes； 〃I would askyoutwogentlemen to witness it。 I
would gladlysign the depositionthat is； if I could wr…wr…wr…wr…
ite！〃 A faint shuddering smilea quiver； a gasp； a gurglethe
blood gushed from his mouth in black volumes 。 。 。 。
〃He will never sin more；〃 said the hermit； solemnly。
〃May heaven assoilzie him！〃 said Sir Ludwig。 〃Hermit； he was a
gallant knight。 He died with harness on his back and with truth on
his lips： Ludwig of Hombourg would ask no other death。 。 。 。 。〃
An hour afterwards the principal servants at the Castle of
Godesberg were rather surprised to see the noble Lord Louis trot
into the court…yard of the castle； with a companion on the crupper
of his saddle。 'Twas the venerable hermit of Rolandseck； who； for
the sake of greater celerity； had adopted this undignified
conveyance； and whose appearance and little dumpy legs might well
create hilarity among the 〃pampered menials〃 who are always found
lounging about the houses of the great。 He skipped off the saddle
with considerable lightness however； and Sir Ludwig； taking the
reverend man by the arm and frowning the jeering servitors into
awe； bade one of them lead him to the presence of his Highness the
Margrave。
〃What has chanced？〃 said the inquisitive servitor。 〃The riderless
horse of Sir Gottfried was seen to gallop by the outer wall anon。
The Margrave's Grace has never quitted your lordship's chamber； and
sits as one distraught。〃
〃Hold thy prate； knave； and lead us on！〃 And so saying； the Knight
and his Reverence moved into the well…known apartment； where；
according to the servitor's description； the wretched Margrave sat
like a stone。
Ludwig took one of the kind broken…hearted man's hands； the hermit
seized the other； and began （but on account of his great age； with
a prolixity which we shall not endeavor to imitate） to narrate the
events which we have already described。 Let the dear reader fancy；
while his Reverence speaks； the glazed eyes of the Margrave
gradually lighting up with attention； the flush of joy which
mantles in his countenancethe startthe throbthe almost
delirious outburst of hysteric exultation with which； when the
whole truth was made known； he clasped the two messengers of glad
tidings to his breast； with an energy that almost choked the aged
recluse！ 〃Ride； ride this instant to the Margravinesay I have
wronged her； that it is all right； that she may come backthat I
forgive herthat I apologize if you will〃and a secretary
forthwith despatched a note to that effect； which was carried off
by a fleet messenger。
〃Now write to the Superior of the monastery at Cologne； and bid him
send me back my boy； my darling； my Ottomy Otto of roses！〃 said
the fond father； making the first play upon words he had ever
attempted in his life。 But what will not paternal love effect？
The secretary （smiling at the joke） wrote another letter； and
another fleet messenger was despatched on another horse。
〃And now；〃 said Sir Ludwig； playfully； 〃let us to lunch。 Holy
hermit； are you for a snack？〃
The hermit could not say nay on an occasion so festive； and the
three gentles seated themselves to a plenteous repast； for which
the remains of the feast of yesterday offered； it need not be said；
ample means。
〃They will be home by dinner…time；〃 said the exulting father。
〃Ludwig！ reverend hermit！ we will carry on till then。〃 And the cup
passed gayly round； and the laugh and jest circulated； while the
three happy friends sat confidentially awaiting the return of the
Margravine and her son。
But alas！ said we not rightly at the commencement of a former
chapter； that betwixt the lip and the raised wine…cup there is
often many a spill？ that our hopes are high； and often； too often；
vain？ About three hours after the departure of the first
messenger； he returned； and with an exceedingly long face knelt
down and presented to the Margrave a billet to the following
effect：
〃CONVENT OF NONNENWERTH； Friday Afternoon。
〃SIRI have submitted too long to your ill…usage； and am disposed
to bear it no more。 I will no longer be made the butt of your
ribald satire； and the object of your coarse abuse。 Last week you
threatened me with your cane！ On Tuesday last you threw a wine…
decanter at me； which hit the butler； it is true； but the intention
was evident。 This morning； in the presence of all the servants；
you called me by the most vile； abominable name； which heave