〃What　mean　ye？〃　cried　Count　Ludwig；　deeply　affected。　　〃A　false
  friend？　　I　am　not　a　false　friend。　　A　false　woman？　　Surely　the
  lovely　Theodora；　your　wife〃
  〃I　have　no　wife；　Louis；　now；　I　have　no　wife　and　no　son。〃
  。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。　　　　　　　　。
  In　accents　broken　by　grief；　the　Margrave　explained　what　had
  occurred。　　Gottfried's　information　was　but　too　correct。　　There　was
  a　CAUSE　for　the　likeness　between　Otto　and　Sir　Hildebrandt：　a　fatal
  cause！　　Hildebrandt　and　Theodora　had　met　at　dawn　at　the　outer　gate。
  The　Margrave　had　seen　them。　　They　walked　long　together；　they
  embraced。　　Ah！　how　the　husband's；　the　father's；　feelings　were
  harrowed　at　that　embrace！　　They　parted；　and　then　the　Margrave；
  coming　forward；　coldly　signified　to　his　lady　that　she　was　to　retire
  to　a　convent　for　life；　and　gave　orders　that　the　boy　should　be　sent
  too；　to　take　the　vows　at　a　monastery。
  Both　sentences　had　been　executed。　　Otto；　in　a　boat；　and　guarded　by
  a　company　of　his　father's　men…at…arms；　was　on　the　river　going
  towards　Cologne；　to　the　monastery　of　Saint　Buffo　there。　　The　Lady
  Theodora；　under　the　guard　of　Sir　Gottfried　and　an　attendant；　were
  on　their　way　to　the　convent　of　Nonnenwerth；　which　many　of　our
  readers　have　seenthe　beautiful　Green　Island　Convent；　laved　by　the
  bright　waters　of　the　Rhine！
  〃What　road　did　Gottfried　take？〃　asked　the　Knight　of　Hombourg；
  grinding　his　teeth。
  〃You　cannot　overtake　him；〃　said　the　Margrave。　　〃My　good　Gottfried；
  he　is　my　only　comfort　now：　he　is　my　kinsman；　and　shall　be　my　heir。
  He　will　be　back　anon。〃
  〃Will　he　so？〃　thought　Sir　Ludwig。　　〃I　will　ask　him　a　few　questions
  ere　he　return。〃　　And　springing　from　his　couch；　he　began　forthwith
  to　put　on　his　usual　morning　dress　of　complete　armor；　and；　after　a
  hasty　ablution；　donned；　not　his　cap　of　maintenance；　but　his　helmet
  of　battle。　　He　rang　the　bell　violently。
  〃A　cup　of　coffee；　straight；〃　said　he；　to　the　servitor　who　answered
  the　summons；　〃bid　the　cook　pack　me　a　sausage　and　bread　in　paper；
  and　the　groom　saddle　Streithengst；　we　have　far　to　ride。〃
  The　various　orders　were　obeyed。　　The　horse　was　brought；　the
  refreshments　disposed　of；　the　clattering　steps　of　the　departing
  steed　were　heard　in　the　court…yard；　but　the　Margrave　took　no　notice
  of　his　friend；　and　sat；　plunged　in　silent　grief；　quite　motionless
  by　the　empty　bedside。
  CHAPTER　V。
  THE　TRAITOR'S　DOOM。
  The　Hombourger　led　his　horse　down　the　winding　path　which　conducts
  from　the　hill　and　castle　of　Godesberg　into　the　beautiful　green
  plain　below。　　Who　has　not　seen　that　lovely　plain；　and　who　that　has
  seen　it　has　not　loved　it？　　A　thousand　sunny　vineyards　and
  cornfields　stretch　around　in　peaceful　luxuriance；　the　mighty　Rhine
  floats　by　it　in　silver　magnificence；　and　on　the　opposite　bank　rise
  the　seven　mountains　robed　in　majestic　purple；　the　monarchs　of　the
  royal　scene。
  A　pleasing　poet；　Lord　Byron；　in　describing　this　very　scene；　has
  mentioned　that　〃peasant　girls；　with　dark　blue　eyes；　and　hands　that
  offer　cake　and　wine；〃　are　perpetually　crowding　round　the　traveller
  in　this　delicious　district；　and　proffering　to　him　their　rustic
  presents。　　This　was　no　doubt　the　case　in　former　days；　when　the
  noble　bard　wrote　his　elegant　poemsin　the　happy　ancient　days！　when
  maidens　were　as　yet　generous；　and　men　kindly！　　Now　the　degenerate
  peasantry　of　the　district　are　much　more　inclined　to　ask　than　to
  give；　and　their　blue　eyes　seem　to　have　disappeared　with　their
  generosity。
  But　as　it　was　a　long　time　ago　that　the　events　of　our　story
  occurred；　'tis　probable　that　the　good　Knight　Ludwig　of　Hombourg　was
  greeted　upon　his　path　by　this　fascinating　peasantry；　though　we　know
  not　how　he　accepted　their　welcome。　　He　continued　his　ride　across
  the　flat　green　country　until　he　came　to　Rolandseck；　whence　he　could
  command　the　Island　of　Nonnenwerth　（that　lies　in　the　Rhine　opposite
  that　place）；　and　all　who　went　to　it　or　passed　from　it。
  Over　the　entrance　of　a　little　cavern　in　one　of　the　rocks　hanging
  above　the　Rhine…stream　at　Rolandseck；　and　covered　with　odoriferous
  cactuses　and　silvery　magnolias；　the　traveller　of　the　present　day
  may　perceive　a　rude　broken　image　of　a　saint：　that　image　represented
  the　venerable　Saint　Buffo　of　Bonn；　the　patron　of　the　Margrave；　and
  Sir　Ludwig；　kneeling　on　the　greensward；　and　reciting　a　censer；　an
  ave；　and　a　couple　of　acolytes　before　it；　felt　encouraged　to　think
  that　the　deed　he　meditated　was　about　to　be　performed　under　the　very
  eyes　of　his　friend's　sanctified　patron。　　His　devotion　done　（and　the
  knight　of　those　days　was　as　pious　as　he　was　brave）；　Sir　Ludwig；　the
  gallant　Hombourger；　exclaimed　with　a　loud　voice：
  〃Ho！　hermit！　holy　hermit；　art　thou　in　thy　cell？〃
  〃Who　calls　the　poor　servant　of　heaven　and　Saint　Buffo？〃　exclaimed　a
  voice　from　the　cavern；　and　presently；　from　beneath　the　wreaths　of
  geranium　and　magnolia；　appeared　an　intensely　venerable；　ancient；
  and　majestic　head'twas　that；　we　need　not　say；　of　Saint　Buffo's
  solitary。　　A　silver　beard　hanging　to　his　knees　gave　his　person　an
  appearance　of　great　respectability；　his　body　was　robed　in　simple
  brown　serge；　and　girt　with　a　knotted　cord：　his　ancient　feet　were
  only　defended　from　the　prickles　and　stones　by　the　rudest　sandals；
  and　his　bald　and　polished　head　was　bare。
  〃Holy　hermit；〃　said　the　knight；　in　a　grave　voice；　〃make　ready　thy
  ministry；　for　there　is　some　one　about　to　die。〃
  〃Where；　son？〃
  〃Here；　father。〃
  〃Is　he　here；　now？〃
  〃Perhaps；〃　said　the　stout　warrior；　crossing　himself；　〃but　not　so　if
  right　prevail。〃　　At　this　moment　he　caught　sight　of　a　ferry…boat
  putting　off　from　Nonnenwerth；　with　a　knight　on　board。　　Ludwig　knew
  at　once；　by　the　sinople　reversed　and　the　truncated　gules　on　his
  surcoat；　that　it　was　Sir　Gottfried　of　Godesberg。
  〃Be　ready；　father；〃　said　the　good　knight；　pointing　towards　the
  advancing　boat；　and　waving　his　hand　by　way　of　respect　to　the
  reverend　hermit；　without　a　further　word；　he　vaulted　into　his
  saddle；　and　rode　back　for　a　few　score　of　paces；　when　he　wheeled
  round；　and　remained　steady。　　His　great　lance　and　pennon　rose　in　the
  air。　　His　armor　glistened　in　the　sun；　the　chest　and　head　of　his
  battle…horse　were　similarly　covered　with　steel。　　As　Sir　Gottfried；
  likewise　armed　and　mounted　（for　his　horse　had　been　left　at　the
  ferry　hard　by）；　advanced　up　the　road；　he　almost　started　at　the
  figure　before　hima　glistening　tower　of　steel。
  〃Are　you　the　lord　of　this　pass；　Sir　Knight？〃　said　Sir　Gottfried；
  haughtily；　〃or　do　you　hold　it　against　all　comers；　in　honor　of　your
  lady…love？〃
  〃I　am　not　the　lord　of　this　pass。　　I　do　not　hold　it　against　all
  comers。　　I　hold　it　but　against　one；　and　he　is　a　liar　and　a
  traitor。〃
  〃As　the　matter　concerns　me　not；　I　pray　you　let　me　pass；〃　said
  Gottfried。
  〃The　matter　DOES　concern　thee；　Gottfried　of　Godesberg。　　Liar　and
  traitor！　art　thou　coward；　too？〃
  〃Holy　Saint　Buffo！　'tis　a　fight！〃　exclaimed　the　old　hermit　（who；
  too；　had　been　a　gallant　warrior　in　his　day）；　and　like　the　old　war…
  horse　that　hears　the　trumpet's　sound；　and　spite　of　his　clerical
  profession；　he　prepared　to　look　on　at　the　combat　with　no　ordinary
  eagerness；　and　sat　down　on　the　overhanging　ledge　of　the　rock；
  lighting　his　pipe；　and　affecting　unconcern；　but　in　reality　most
  deeply　interested　in　the　event　which　was　about　to　ensue。
  As　soon　as　the　word　〃coward〃　had　been　pronounced　by　Sir　Ludwig；　his
  opponent；　uttering　a　curse　far　too　horrible　to　be　inscribed　here；
  had　wheeled　back　his　powerful　piebald；　and　brought　his　lance　to　the
  rest。
  〃Ha！　Beauseant！〃　cried　he。　　〃Allah　humdillah！〃　　'Twas　the　battle…
  cry　in　Palestine　of　the　irresistible　Knights　Hospitallers。　　〃Look
  to　thyself；　Sir　Knight；　and　for　mercy　from　heaven！　　I　will　give
  thee　none。〃
  〃A　Bugo　for　Katzenellenbogen！〃　exclaimed　Sir　Ludwig；　piously：　that；
  too；　was　the　well…known　war…cry　of　his　princely　race。
  〃I　will　give　the　signal；〃　said　the　old　hermit；　waving　his　pipe。
  〃Knights；　are　you　ready？　　One；　two；　three。　　LOS！〃　（let　go。）
  At　the　signal；　the　two　steeds　tore　up　the　ground　like　whirlwinds；
  the　two　knights；　two　flashing　perpendicular　masses　of　steel；
  rapidly　converged；　the　two　lances　met　upon　the　two　shields　of
  either；　and　shivered；　splintered；　shattered　into　ten　hundred
  thousand　pieces；　which　whirled　through　the　air　here　and　there；
  among　the　rocks；　or　in　the　trees；　or　in　the　river。　　The　two　horses
  fell　back　trembling　on　their　haunches；　where　they　remained　for　half
  a　minute　or　so。
  〃Holy　Buffo！　a　brave　stroke！〃　said　the　old　hermit。　　〃Marry；　but　a
  splinter　wellnigh　took　off　my　nose！〃　　The　honest　hermit　waved　his
  pipe　in　delight；　not　perceiving　that　one　of　the　splinters　had
  carried　off　the　head　of　it；　and　rendered　his　favorite　amusement
  impossible。　　〃Ha！　they　are　to　it　again！　　O　my！　how　they　go　to　with
  their　great　swords！　　Well　stricken；　gray！　　Well　parried；　piebald！
  Ha；　that　was　a　slicer