Burlesques William Makepeace Thackeray

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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 him—a 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,