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〃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 manfor 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 poor lad into a side…room； and therein a word
operated upon him。 The golden curlsfair 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； &c。 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
Empireto 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