Burlesques William Makepeace Thackeray

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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,