My harp-strings rang with groans, and not with By mine, and you behold me !
music,
[quickly; Ulr.
Could aught of his sound on it :-but come
Your mother will be eager to receive you. [Exit.
Sieg. Ulric, I wish to speak with you alone.
Ul. My time's your vassal.-
Aside to RODOLPH]. Rodolph, hence! and do
As I directed and by his best speed
And readiest means let Rosenberg reply.
Red. Count Siegendorf, command you aught?
Upon a journey past the frontier. [I am bound
Sieg. [starts).
Where, on what frontier?
Rod.
The Silesian, on
My way-Aside to ULRIC]—Where shall I say?
Ulr. (aside to RODOLPH]. To Hamburgh.
[Aside to himself]. That
Word will, I think, put a firm padlock on
His further inquisition.
Rod.
Count, to Hamburgh.
Sieg. [agitated]. Hamburgh! No, I have
nought to do there, nor
Am aught connected with that city. Then
God speed you!
Rod.
Fare ye well, Count Siegendorf!
[Exit RODOLPH.
Sieg. Ulric, this man who has just departed, is
One of those strange companions whom I fain
Would reason with you on.
Ulr.
My lord, he is
Noble by birth, of one of the first houses
In Saxony.
I talk not of his birth,
Sieg.
But of his bearing. Men speak lightly of him.
Uir. So they will do of most men. Even the
monarch
Is not fenced from his chamberlain's slander, or
The sneer of the last courtier whom he has made
Great and ungrateful.
If I must be plain,
The world speaks more than lightly of this
Rodolph:
They say he is leagued with the 'black bands
Ravage the frontier.
[who still
Ulr.
And will you believe
I thought you knew it better than to take
An accusation for a sentence.
Sug.
I understand you: you refer to--but
My Destiny has so involved about me
Her spider web, that I can only flutter
Like the poor fly, but break it not. Take heed,
ric; you have seen to what the passions led
Iwenty long years of misery and famine [me:
Quench'd them not-twenty thousand more,
perchance,
Hereafter (or even here in moments which
Might date for years, did Anguish make the dial)
May not obliterate or expiate
Ine madness and dishonour of an instant.
Cinc, be waru d by a father!- I was not
I behold The prosperous and beloved Siegendorf, Lord of a prince's appanage, and honour'd By those he rules and those he ranks with. Sieg.
Why wilt thou call me prosperous, while I fear
For thee? Beloved, when thou lovest me not!
All hearts but one may beat in kindness for me-
But if my son's is cold !———
Ulr.
Who dare say that?
Sieg. None else but I, who see it-feel it-
keener
Than would your adversary, who dared say so,
Your sabre in his heart! But mine survives
The wound.
Ulr.
You err. My nature is not given
To outward fondling: how should it be so,
After twelve years' divorcement from my parents?
Sieg. And did not I too pass those twelve
torn years
In a like absence? But 'tis vain to urge you-
Nature was never call'd back by remonstrar.ce.
Let's change the theme. I wish you to consider
That these young violent nobles of high name,
But dark deeds (ay, the darkest, if all Rumour
Reports be true), with whom thou consortest,
Will lead thee--
Ulr. [impatiently]. I'll be led by no man.
Sieg
Nor
Be leader of such, I would hope: at once
To wean thee from the perils of thy youth
And haughty spirit, I have thought it well
That thou shouldst wed the lady Ida-more
As thou appear'st to love her.
Ulr.
I will obey your orders, were they to
Unite with Hecate--can a son say more?
Sieg. He says too much in saying this. It is
The nature of thine age, nor of thy blood, [not
Nor of thy temperament, to talk so coolly,
Or act so carelessly, in that which is
'The bloom or blight of all men's happiness,
(For Glory's pillow is but restless, if
Love lay not down his cheek there): some strong
Some master fiend is in thy service, to [bias,
Misrule the mortal who believes him slave,
And makes his every thought subservient; else
Thou'dst say at once- I love young Ida, and
Will wed her;' or, I love her not, and all
The powers of earth shall never make me.'-S
Would I have answer'd.
Ulr. What matters it, if I am ready to Obey you in espousing her? As far
As you feel, nothing, but all life for her.
She's young-all-beautiful-adores you-is
Endow'd with qualities to give happiness,
Such as rounds common life into a dream
Of something which your poets cannot paint,
And (if it were not wisdom to love virtue)
For which Philosophy might barter Wisdom;
And giving so much happiness, deserves
A little in return. I would not have her
Break her heart for a man who has none to break;
Or wither on her stalk like some pale rose
Deserted by the bird she thought a nightingale,
According to the Orient tale. She is-
Ulr. The daughter of dead Stralenheim, your
Ulr. Count, 'tis a marriage of your making, So be it of your wooing; but to please you, I will now pay my duty to my mother, With whom, you know, the lady Ida is.What would you have? You have forbid my stirring
Till now; but love he owes me, for my thoughts Ne'er left him, nor my eyes long'd without tears To see my child again, and now I have found him!
But how!-obedient, but with coldness; duteous In my sight, but with carelessness; mysteriousAbstracted distant - much given to long absence, [most riotous And where-none know-in league with the Of our young nobles; though, to do him justice, He never stoops down to their vulgar pleasures. Yet there's some tie between them which I cannot
Unravel. They look up to him-consult himThrong round him as a leader: but with me He hath no confidence! Ah! can I hope it After-what! doth my father's curse descend Even to my child? Or is the Hungarian rear To shed more blood? or-Oh! if it should be! Spirit of Stralenheim, dost thou walk these wais To wither him and his-who, though they slew not,
Unlatch'd the door of death for thee? Twas not
Our fault, nor is our sin thou wert our foe
And yet I spared thee when my own destruction
Slept with thee, to awake with thine awakening!
And only took-Accursed gold! thou best
Like poison in my hands; I dare not use thee.
Nor part from thee; thou camest in such a guise,
Methinks thou wouldst contaminate all hards
Like mine. Yet I have done, to atone for thee,
Thou villainous gold! and thy dead master's
doom,
Though he died not by me or mine, as much
As if he were my brother! I have talen
His orphan Ida-cherish'd her as one
Who will be mine.
Enter an ATTENDANT.
The abbot, if it please Your excellency, whom you sent for, waits Upon you. [Exit ATTENDANT. Enter the PRIOR ALBERT.
Prior. Peace be with these walls, and all Within them! Sieg.
Welcome, welcome, holy father! And may thy prayer be heard!-ali men have Of such, and I
For manly sports beyond the castle walls,
And I obey; you bid me turn a chamberer,
To pick up gloves, and fans, and knitting-Erected by your ancestors, is still
needles,
Have the first claim to a
The prayers of our community.
And list to songs and tunes, and watch for
And smile at pretty prattle, and look into
The eyes of feminine, as though they were
The stars receding early to our wish
Upon the dawn of a world-winning battle-
What can a son or man do more?
[Exit ULRIC.
Sieg. [solus].
Too much!-
Too much of duty, and too little love!
He pays me in the coin he owes me not :
For such hath been my wayward fate, I could
Fulfil a parent s duties by his side
[not
Protected by their children. Sieg
Continue daily orisons for us
In these dim days of heresies and blood,
Though the schismatic Swede, Gustavus, is
Gone home.
Prior. To the endless home of unbelievers, Where there is everlasting wail and woe, Gnashing of teeth, and tears of blood, and fire Eternal, and the worm which dieth not
Sieg. True, father: and to avert those pare from one,
Who, though of our most faultless holy churd
Yet died without its last and dearest offices, And now you have it--perish'd on his pillow
Which smooth the soul through purgatorial By a cut-throat !-Ay! you may look upon me!
I have to offer humbly this donation [pains, I am not the man. I'll meet your eye on that
In masses for his spirit.
As I can one day God's.
[SIEGENDORF offers the gold which he had taken from STRALENHEIM. Prior. Count, if I
Receive it, 'tis because I know too well
Refusal would offend you. Be assured
The largess shall be only dealt in alms,
And every mass no less sung for the dead.
Our house needs no donations, thanks to yours,
Which has of old endow'd it; but from you
And yours in all meet things 'tis fit we obey.
For whom shall mass be said?
[point, By means, or men, or instrument of yours? Sieg. No! by the God who sees and strikes! Prior. Nor know you
Might have one; or, in short, he did bequeath-And
No, not bequeath-but I bestow this sum
For pious purposes.
In the behalf of our departed friends.
Sieg. But he who's gone was not my friend,
The deadliest and the stanchest. [but foe,
Prior.
I did not !-nay, once spared it, when I might
could-ay, perhaps, should (if our self-safety
Be e'er excusable in such defences
Against the attacks of over-potent foes) :
But pray for him, for me, and all my house;
For, as I said, though I be innocent,
I know not why, a like remorse is on me,
As if he had fallen by me or mine. Pray for me,
Father! I have pray'd myself in vain.
Prior.
I will. Be comforted! You are innocent, and should Be calm as innocence.
Sieg.
But calmness is not
Always the attribute of innocence.
I feel it is not.
Prior.
But it will be so,
When the mind gathers up its truth within it.
Remember the great festival to-morrow,
In which you rank amidst our chiefest nobles,
As well as your brave son; and smooth your
Nor in the general orison of thanks [aspect,
For bloodshed stopt, let blood you shed not rise
A cloud upon your thoughts. This were to be
Too sensitive. Take comfort, and forget
Such things, and leave remorse until the guilty.
[Exeunt.
SCENE I-A large and magnificent Gothic Hall in the Castle of Siegendorf, decorated with Trophies, Banners, and Arms of that family.
Enter ARNHEIM and MEISTER, Attendants of COUNT SIEGENDORF.
Arn. Be quick! the count will soon return : the ladies
Already are at the portal. Have you sent
The messengers in search of him he seeks for?
Meis. I have, in all directions, over Prague,
Jos. Well, Heaven be praised! the show is [dreamt Ida. How can you say so? Never have I Of aught so beautiful. The flowers, the boughs, The banners, and the nobles, and the knights, The gems, the robes, the plumes, the happy faces,
The coursers, and the incense, and the sun Streaming through the stain'd windows, even the tombs,
Which look'd so calm, and the celestial hymns, Which seem'd as if they rather came from heaven Than mounted there. The bursting organ's peal Rolling on high like an harmonious thunder; The white robes and the lifted eyes; the world At peace! and all at peace with one another! Oh, my sweet mother!
[Embracing JOSEPHINE. My beloved child! For such, I trust, thou shalt be shortly.
In the world's eye, as goodly. There's, for in-
stance,
{withdrew
The young Count Waldorf, who scarce once
His eyes from yours to-day.
Ida.
I did not see him.
But Ulric. Did you not see at the moment
When all knelt, and I wept? and yet methought,
Through my fast tears, though they were thick
I saw him smiling on me.
[and warm,
Jos.
I could not
See aught save heaven, to which my eyes were
Together with the people's.
raised,
Ida.
I thought too
Of heaven, although I look'd on Ulric.
Jos.
Let us retire; they will be here anon
Expectant of the banquet. We will lay
Aside these nodding plumes and dragging trains.
Ida. And, above all, these stiff and heavy
jewels,
'thrub
Which make my head and heart ache, as both
Beneath their glitter o'er my brow and zone.
Dear mother, I am with you.
Enter COUNT SIegendorf, in fuil dress, from
the solemnity, and LUDWIG.
Is he not found)
Lud. Strict search is making everywhere, and
To the point--the Hungarian? Sieg. Listen!-The church was throng'd; the hymn was raised;
Te Deum peal'd from nations rather than From choirs, in one great cry of God be praised'
For one day's peace, after thrice ten dread years,
Each bloodier than the former: I arose,
With all the nobles, and as I look'd down
Along the lines of lifted faces,-from
Our banner'd and escutcheon'd gallery, I
Saw, like a flash of lightning (for I saw
A moment and no more), what struck me sight-
To all else the Hungarian's face! I grew
Sick and when I recover'd from the mist
Which curl'd about my senses, and again
Look'd down, I saw him not. The thanksgiving
Was over, and we march'd back in procession.
Ulr. Continue.
Sieg. When we reach'd the Muldau's bridge,
The joyous crowd above, the numberless
Barks mann'd with revellers in their best garbs,
Which shot along the glancing tide below,
The decorated street, the long array,
The clashing music, and the thundering Of far artillery, which seem'd to bid
A long and loud farewell to its great doings, The standards o'er me, and the tramplings
Sieg. Admit him, ne'ertheless.
[The ATTENDANT introduces GABOR, and afterwards exit.
Gab. Sieg. [haughtily]. The same you knew, sir, by that name; and you!
Gab. looking round]. I recognize you both : father and son,
[yours, It seems. Count, I have heard that you, or Have lately been in search of me: I am here. Sieg. I have sought you, and have found you: you are charged
(Your own heart may inform you why) with such A crime as[He pauses. Give it utterance, and ther. I'll meet the consequences. You shall do so
The roar of rushing thousands,-all-all-could Sieg.
Chase this man from my mind, although my
No longer held him palpable.
Sieg. I look'd, as a dying soldier Looks at a draught of water, for this man; But still I saw him not; but in his steadUir. What in his stead? Sieg.
If not all men: the universal rumour-
My own presence on the spot-the place-the
And every speck of circumstance unite [time-
To fix the blot on you.
Gab.
And on me only?
My eye for ever fell Pause ere you answer: is no other name,
Save mine, stain'd in this business?
Upon your dancing crest; the loftiest,
As on the loftiest and the loveliest head,
It rose the highest of the stream of plumes,
Which overflow'd the glittering streets of Prague.
Ulr. What's this to the Hungarian ?
Sieg.
Much; for I
Had almost then forgot him in my son;
When just as the artillery ceased, and paused
The music, and the crowd embraced in lieu
Of shouting, I heard in a deep, low voice,
Listinct and keener far upon my ear
Than the late cannon's volume, this word-
Ulr. Utter'd by--
[' Werner!'
Sieg HIM! I turn'd-and saw-and fell.
Ulr. And wherefore? Were you seen?
Sieg.
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