Siegen.

I did:

Let it not be more fatal still :-Begone!
Gabor. By the same path I enter'd?
Siegen.
But loiter not in Prague ;-you do not know

With whom you have to deal.

Gabor.

Yes; that 's safe still:

I know too well

And knew it ere yourself, unhappy sire!

Farewell!

[Exit GABOR.

Siegen. (solus and listening). He hath clear'd the staircase. Ah!

I hear

The door sound loud behind him! He is safe!

Safe!-Oh, my

father's spirit !—I am faint

[He leans down upon a stone seat, near the wall of the tower, in a drooping posture.

Enter ULRIC, with others armed, and with weapons drawn.

Ulric. Dispatch!—he's there!
Ludwig.

Ulric (recognising Siegendorf).

The count, my

lord!

You here, sir!

Siegen. Yes if you want another victim, strike !

:

Ulric (seeing him stript of his jewels). Where is the ruffian who hath

plunder'd you?

Vassals, dispatch in search of him! You see

'T was as I said—the wretch hath stript my father

Of jewels which might form a prince's heirloom!
Away! I'll follow

you

forthwith.

[Exeunt all but Siegendorf and ULRIC. What's this?

Of this he must be found. You have not let him

Siegen. Stop! I command-entreat-implore! Oh, Ulric!

Will you then leave me ?

Ulric.

What! remain to be

Denounced-dragg'd, it may be, in chains, and all

By your inherent weakness, half-humanity,

Selfish remorse, and temporising pity,

That sacrifices your whole race to save

A wretch to profit by our ruin! No, count,
Henceforth you have no son!

Siegen.

I never had one ;

And would you ne'er had borne the useless name!
Where will you go? I would not send you forth
Without protection.

I am not alone; nor merely the vain heir

Of your domains: a thousand, ay, ten thousand
Swords, hearts, and hands, are mine.

Siegen.

The foresters !

With whom the Hungarian found you first at Frankfort!

Ulric. Yes-men-who are worthy of the name! Go tell Your senators that they look well to Prague ;

Their feast of peace was early for the times;

There are more spirits abroad than have been laid
With Wallenstein !

Siegen. No, no; I have no children: never more

Call me by that worst name of parent.

Ida (taking Ulric's hand). Who shall dare say this of Ulric?
Siegen. Ida, beware! there's blood upon that hand.

Ida (stooping to kiss it). I'd kiss it off, though it were mine!
Siegen.

Ulric. Away! it is your father's!
Ida.

And I have loved this man!

It is so!

[Exit ULRIC.

Oh, great God!

[Ida falls senseless.—Josephine stands speechless with horror. Siegen.

The wretch hath slain

Them both!-my Josephine! we are now alone!
Would we had ever been so !-All is over

For me!-Now open wide, my sire, thy grave;
Thy curse hath dug it deeper for thy son
In mine! The race of Siegendorf is past!

1

HEAVEN AND EARTH;

A MYSTERY.

FOUNDED ON THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE IN GENESIS, CHAP. VI.

nd it came to pass..... that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and they took them wives of all which they chose.

And woman wailing for her demon lover.-COLERIDGE,

Chorus of Spirits of the Earth.-Chorus of Mortals.