Att.

!

Sieg.

The officious care Once on a time.
Of those around me dragg'd me from the spot, Sieg. If you mean me, I dare
Seeing my faintness, ignorant of the cause; Your utmost.
You, too, were too remote in the procession

Gab. You may do so, and in safety;
(The old nobles being divided from their children) I know the assassin.
To aid me.

Sieg.

Where is he?
Ulr. But I'll aid you now.

Gab. (pointing to ULRIC.)

Beside you! Sieg.

In what?

(ULRIC rushes forward to attack GABOR; SIE Ulr. In searching for this man, or—When he's GENDORF interposes. found,

Sieg. Liar and fiend ! but you shall not be slain ;
What shall we do with him?

These walls are mine, and you are safe within them.
Sieg.
I know not that.

[He turns to ULRIC. Ulr. Then wherefore seek?

Ulric, repel this calumny, as I
Sieg.

Because I cannot rest Will do. I avow it as a growth so monstrous,
Till he is found. His fate, and Stralenheim's, I could not deem it earth-born: but be calm;
And ours, seem intertwisted ! nor can be

It will refute itself. But touch him not.
Unravell’d, till

(ULRIC endeavors to compose himself.

Gab. Look at him, count, and then hear me. Enter an Attendant.

Sieg. (first to GABOR, and then looking at ULRIC.) A stranger to wait on

I hear thee.
Your excellency.

My God! you look-
Sieg.
Who?

Ulr.

How?
Aut.
He gave no name.

Sieg.

As on that dread night
Sieg. Admit him, ne'ertheless.

When we met in the garden.
[The Attendant introduces GABOR, and after- Ulr. (composes himself.) It is nothing.
wards exit.

Gab. Count, you are bound to hear me. I came
Ah!

hither Gab.

'Tis, then, Werner Not seeking you, but sought. When I knelt down Sieg. (haughtily.) The same you knew, sir, by Amidst the people in the church, I dream'd not that name; and you !

To find the beggar'd Werner in the seat
Gab. (looking round.) I recognize you both : Of senators and princes; but you have call'd me,
father and son,

And we have met.
It seems. Count, I have heard that you, or yours, Sieg.

Go on, sir.
Have lately been in search of me; I am here. Gab.

Ere I do so,
Sieg. I have sought you, and have found you; Allow me to inquire who profited
you are charged

By Stralenheim's death? Was't I-as poor as ever i (Your own heart may inform you why) with such And poorer by suspicion on my name!

[He pauses. The baron lost in that last outrage neither Gab.

Give it utterance, and then Jewels nor gold; his life alone was sought,I'll meet the consequences.

A life which stood between the claims of others Sieg.

You shall do som To honors and estates scarce less than princely.
Unless

Sieg. These hints, as vague as vain, attach no less
Gab.
First, who accuses me?

To me than to my son.
All things,
Gab.

I can't help that.
If not all men : the universal rumor-

But let the consequence alight on him
My own presence on the spot-the place—the time, Who feels himself the guilty one among us.
And every speck of circumstance unite

I speak to you, Count Siegendorf, because
To fix the blot on you.

I know you innocent, and deem you just.
Gab.
And on me only;

But ere I can proceed-dare you protect me?
Pause ere you answer: is no other name,

Dare you command me?
Save mine, stain'd in this business?

(SIEGENDORF first looks at the Hungarian, and Sieg.

Trifling villain ! then at ULRIC, who has unbuckled his sabre Who play'st with thine own guilt! Of all that and is drawing lines with it on the floor-still breathe

in its sheath. Thou best dost know the innocence of him

Ur. (looks at his father and says,) Let the man 'Gainst whom thy breath would blow thy bloody slander,

Gab. I am unarm’d, count-bid your son lay down
But I will talk no further with a wretch,

His sabre.
Further than justice asks. Answer at once, Ulr. (offers it to him contemptuously.) Take it.
And without quibbling, to my charge.

Gab.

No, sir, 'tis enough 'Tis false! That we are both unarm'd- I would not choose Sieg. Who says so ?

To wear a steel which may be stain'd with more
I.

Blood than came there in battle.
And how disprove it? Ulr. (casts the sabre from him in contempt.) IR

By
The presence of the murderer.

Such other weapon, in my hands-spared yours
Name him? Once when disarm'd and at my mercy.
He Gab.

True May have more names than one. Your lordship had so I have not forgotten it: you spared me for

A crime as

Sieg.

go on!

Gab.

Gab.
Sieg.
Gab.

or some

Sieg.
Gab.

Your own especial purpose-to sustain

Gab.

I follow'd him, An ignominy not my own.

Solicited his notice -and obtained it-
Ulr.
Proceed.

Though not his friendship :-it was his intention • The tale is doubtless worthy the relater.

To leave the city privately-we left it But is it of my father to hear further ?

Together and together we arrived

[To SIEGENDORF. In the poor town where Werner was conceald, Sieg. (takes his son by the hand.) My son! I know and Stralenheim was succord-Now we are on

my own innocence, and doubt not The vergedare you hear further? Of yours--but I have promised this man patience; Sieg.

I must do som Let him continue.

Or I have heard too much.
Gab.
I will not detain you

Gab.

I saw in you
By speaking of myself much; I began

A man above his station-and if not
Life early-and am what the world has made me. So high, as now I find you, in my then
At Frankfort on the Oder, where I passid Conceptions, 'twas that I had rarely seen
A winter in obscurity, it was

Men such as you appear'd in height of mind
My chance at several places of resort

In the most high of worldly rank; you were (Which I frequented sometimes, but not often) Poor, even to all sare rags : I would have shared To hcar related a strange circumstance

My purse, though slender, with you—you refused it. In February last. A martial force,

Sieg. Doth my refusal make a debt to you,
Sent by the state, had after strong resistance That thus you urge it?
Secured a band of desperate men, supposed

Gab.

Still you owe me something, Marauders from the hostile camp. They proved, Though not for that; and I owed you my safety, However, not to be so-but banditti,

At least my seeming safety, when the slaves Whom either accident or enterprise

of Stralenheim pursued me on the grounds Had carried from their usual haunt—the forests That I had robb'd him. Which skirt Bohemia-even into Lusatia.

Sieg.

I conceal'd you-I, Many among them were reported of

Whom and whose house you arraign, reviving viper High rank-and martial law slept for a time. Gab. I accuse no man-save in my defence. At last they were escorted o'er the frontiers, You, count, have made yourself accuser-judge: And placed beneath the civil jurisdiction

Your hall's my court, your heart is my tribunal. Of the free town of Frankfort. Of their fate Be just, and I'll be merciful ! I know no more.

Sieg.

You merciful ! Sieg.

And what is this to Ulric? You! Base calumniator! Gab. Among them there was said to be one man Gab.

I. "Twill rest Of wonderful endowments :-birth and fortune, With me at last to be so. You conceal'd me Youth, strength, and beauty, almost superhuman, In secret passages known to yourself, And courage as unrivall’d, were proclaim'd You said, and to none else. At dead of night, His by the public rumor; and his sway

Weary with watching in the dark, and dubious Not only over his associates, but

Of tracing back my way, I saw a glimmer, His judges, was attributed to witchcraft,

Through distant crannies, of a twinkling light: Such was his influence :-I have no great faith I follow'd it, and reach'd a door-a secret In any magic sare that of the mine

Portal—which open'd to the chamber, where, I therefore deem'd him wealthy.-But my soul With cautious hand and slow, having first undone Was roused with various feelings to seek out As much as made a crevice of the fastening, This prodigy, if only to behold him.

I look'd through and beheld a purple bed,
Sieg. And did you so ?

And on it Stralenheim ! -
Gab.
You'll hear. Chance favor'd me, Sieg.

Asleep! And yet
A popular affray in the public square

You slew him !-Wretch! Drew crowds together-it was one of those

Gab.

He was already slain, Occasions where men's souls look out of them, And bleeding like a sacrifice. My own And show them as they are even in their faces : Blood became ice. The moment my eye met his, I exclaim'd,

Sieg.

But he was all alone! “ This is the man!" though he was then, as since, You saw none else ? You did not see theWith the nobles of the city. I felt sure

[He pauses from agitation. I had not err'd, and watch'd him long and nearly: Gab.

No I noted down his form-his gesture-features, He, whom you dare not name, nor eren I Stature, and bearing, and amidst them all,

Scarce dare to recollect, was not then in Midst every natural and acquired distinction, The chamber. I could discern, methought, the assassin's eye Sieg. (to ULRIC.) Then, my boy! thou art guiltless And gladiator's heart.

stillUlr. (smiling.) The tale sounds well. Thou bad'st me say I was so once-Oh! now

Gab. And may sound better.-He appear'd to me Do thou as much! One of those beings to whom fortune bends

Gab.

Be patient! I can not As she doth to the daring-and on whom

Recede now, though it shake the very walls The fates of others oft depend; besides,

Which frown above us. You remember,--or An indescribable sensation drew me

If not, your son does,--that the locks were changed Near to this man, as if my point of fortune Beneath his chief inspection on the morn Was to be fix'd by him.-There I was wrong. Which led to this same night: how he had enter'd Sieg. And may not be right now.

He best knows-but within an antechamber,

Ulr.

The dour of which was half ajar, I saw

Sieg. I pledge my life for yours. Withdraw into A man who wash'd his bloody hands, and oft This tower.

[Opens a turret door. With stern and anxious glance gazed back upon Gab. (hesitatingly.) This is the second safe The bleeding body-but it moved no more.

asylum Sieg. Oh! God of fathers !

You have offer'd me.
Gab.
I beheld his features Sieg.

And was not the first so?
As I see yours—but yours they were not, though Gab. I know not that even now-But will approve
Resembling them-behold them in Count Ulric's! The second. And I have still a further shield.-
Distinct, as I beheld them, though the expression I did not enter Prague alone; and should I
Is not now what it then was ;--but it was so Be put to rest with Stralenheim, they are
When I first charged him with the crime-so lately. Some tongues without will wag in my behalf;
Sieg. This is so

Be brief in your decision ! Gab. (interrupting him.) Nay—but hear me to the Sieg.

I will be so.
end !

My word is sacred and irrevocable
Noro you must do so. I conceived myself Within these walls, but it extends no further.
Betray'd by you and him (for now I saw

Gab. I'll take it for so much.
There was some tie between you) into this

Sieg. (points to ULRIC's sabre still upon the Pretended den of refuge, to become

ground.) The victim of your guilt; and my first thought

Take also that Was vengeance: but though arm’d with a short I saw you eye it eagerly, and him poniard

Distrustfully. (Having left my sword without) I was no match Gab. (takes up the sabre.) I will; and so provide For him at any time, as had been proved

To sell my life-not cheaply. That morning-either in address or force.

(GABOR goes into the turret, which SIEGENDORP Iturn'd and fled-i' the dark : chance rather than closes. Skill made me gain the secret door of the hall, Sieg. (advances to ULRIC.) Now, Count Ulric! And thence the chamber where you slept; if I For son I dare not call thee-What say'st thou ? Had found you waking, Heaven alone can tell Ulr. His tale is true. What vengeance and suspicion might have Sieg.

True, monsteri prompted;

Most true, father But ne'er slept guilt as Werner slept that night. And you did well to listen to it: what Sieg. And yet I had horrid dreams! and such brief We know, we can provide against. He must sleep,

Be silenced. The stars had not gone down when I awoke.

Sieg. Ay, with half of my domains; Why didst thou spare me ? I dreamt of my father And with the other half, could he and thou And now my dream is out!

Unsay this villainy. Gab. 'Tis not my fault,

Ulr.

It is no time If I have read it.-Well! I fled and hid me For trifling or dissembling. I have said Chance led me here after so many moons- His story's true; and he too must be silenced. And show'd me Werner in Count Siegendorf! Sieg. How so? Werner, whom I had sought in huts in vain,

Ulr. As Stralenheim is. Are you so dull Inhabited the palace of a sovereign!

As never to have hit on this before?
You sought me and have found me-now you know when we met in the garden, what except
My secret, and may weigh its worth.

Discovery in the act could make me know
Sieg. (after a pause.)

Indeed! His death? Or had the prince's household been Gab. Is it revenge or justice which inspires Then summon'd, would the cry for the police Your meditation ?

Been left to such a stranger ? Or should I
Sieg.
Neither I was weighing

Have loiter'd on the way? Or could you, Werner, The value of your secret.

The object of the baron's hate and fears, Gab.

You shall know it Have fled, unless by many an hour before At once :-When you were poor, and I, though poor, Suspicion woke? I sought and fathom'd you, Rich enough to relieve such poverty

Doubting if you were false or feeble: I
As might have envied mine, I offer'd you

Perceived you were the latter; and yet so
My purse—you would not share it :-i'll be franker Confiding have I found you. that I doubted
With you: you are wealthy, noble, trusted by At times your weakness.
The imperial powers—you understand me?

Sieg.

Parricide ! no less Sieg.

Yes- Than common stabber! What deed of my life, Gab. Not quite. You think me venal, and scarce Or thought of mine, could make you deem me fit true :

For your accomplice ? Tis no less true, however, that my fortunes

Ulr.

Father, do not raise Have made me both at present. You shall aid me; The devil you cannot lay between us. This I would have aided you-and also have

Is time for union and fer action, not Been somewhat damaged in my name to save For family disputes. While you were tortured, Yours and your son's. Weigh well what I have Could I be calm ? Think you that I have heard said.

This fellow's tale without some feeling 1-you Sieg. Dare you await the event of a few minutes' Have taught me feeling for you and myself; Deliberation ?

For whom or what else did you ever teach it? Gab. (casts his eyes on ULRIC, who is leaning Sieg. Oh! my dead father's curse ! 'tis working against a pillar.) If I should do so ?

Ulr. Let it work on! the grave will keep it|

SCENE II.
down!
Ashes are feeble foes: it is more easy

The Interior of the Turret.
To baffle such, than countermine a mole,
Which winds its blind but living path beneath

GABOR and SIEGENDORF.
you.

Gab. Who calls ? Yet hear me still !-if you condemn me, yet

Sieg.

I-Siegendorf! Take these, and fly Remember who hath taught me once too often Lose not a moment! To listen to him! Who proclaim'd to me

[Tears off a diamond star and other jewels, and That there were crimes made venial by the occa thrusts them into GABOR's hand. sion ?

Gab.

What am I to do
That passion was our nature ? that the goods With these?
Of Heaven waited on the goods of fortune ?

Sieg. Whate'er you will: sell them, or board, Who show'd me his humanity secured

And prosper; but delay not, or you are lost! By his nerves only? Who deprived me of

Gab. You pledged your honor for my safety! All power to vindicate myself and race

Sieg.

And In open day? By his disgrace which stamp'd Must thus redeem it. Fly! I am not master, (It might be) bastardy on me, and on

It seems, of my own castle-of my own
Himself—a felon's brand! The man who is Retainers--nay, even of these very walls,
At once both warm and weak invites by deeds Or I would bid them fall and crush me! Fly:
He longs to do, but dare not. Is it strange Or you will be slain by-
That I should act what you could think! We have

Gab.

Is it even so ? done

Farewell, then! Recollect, however, count, With right and wrong; and now must only You sought this fatal interview? ponder

Sieg.

I did :
Upon effects, not causes. Stralenheim,

Let it not be more fatal still !-Begone!
Whose life I saved from impulse, as, unknown, Gab. By the same path I enter'd ?
I would have saved a peasant's or a dog's, I slew Sieg.

Yes ; that's safe still
Known as our foe-but not from vengeance. He But loiter not in Prague ;-you do not know
Was a rock in our way which I cut through, With whom you have to deal.
As doth the bolt, because it stood between us

Gab.

I know too wellAnd our true destination—but not idly.

And knew it ere yourself, unhappy sire ! As stranger I preserved him, and he owed me Farewell !

[Exit GABOR His life : when due, I but resumed the debt.

Sieg. (solus and listening.) He hath clear'd the He, you, and I stood o'er a gulf wherein

staircase. Ah! I hear I have plunged our enemy. You, kindled first The door sound loud behind him! He is safe! The torch-you show'd the path ; now trace me Safe !-Oh, my father's spirit !-I am faintthat

(He leans down upon a stone seat, near the wall Of safety-or let me!

of the tower, in a drooping posture. Sieg.

I have done with life! Ulr. Let us have done with that which cankers Enter ULRIC, with others armed, and with compons life

drawn. Familiar feuds and vain recriminations

Ulr. Despatch he's there! Of things which cannot be undone. We have Ludwig.

The count, my lord! No more to learn or hide: I know no fear,

Ulr. (recognizing SIEGENDORF.) You here, sir! And have within these very walls men whom

Sieg. Yes : if you want another victim, strike! (Although you know them not) dare venture all Ulr. (secing him stript of his jewels.) Where is the things.

ruffian who hath plunder'd you ? You stand high with the state : what passes here Vassals, despatch in search of him! You see Will not excite her too great curiosity:

"Twas as I said-the wretch hath stript my father Keep your own secret, keep a steady eye,

Of jewels which might form a prince's heirloom!
Stir not, and speak not;-leave the rest to me: Away! I'll follow you forthwith.
We must have no third babblers thrust between us.

[Exeunt all but SIEGENDORF and ULRIC. [Exit ULRIC.

What's this?
Sieg. (solus.) Am I awake ? are these my father's Where is the villain ?
halls ?

Sieg. There are troo, sir: which
And you—my son? My son ! mine! who have ever Are you in quest of ?
Abhorr'd both mystery and blood, and yet

Ulr.

Let us hear no more
Am plunged into the deepest hell of both! of this: he must be found. You have not let him
I must be speedy, or more will be shed-

Escare?
The Hungarian's !-Ulriche hath partisans, Sieg. He's gone.
It seems : I might have guess'd as much. Oh Ulr.

With your connivance ?
fool!

Sieg.

With Wolves prowl in company. He hath the key My fullest, freest aid. (As I too) of the opposite door which leads

Ulr.

Then fare you well ! Into the turret. Now then! or once more

(ULRIC is going To be the father of fresh crimes, no less

Sieg. Stop! I command--entreat-implore! Oh Than of the criminal! Ho! Gabor! Gabor!

Ulric ! (Exit into the turret, closing the door after him. Will you then leave me?

Ulr.

What! remain to be Thank Heav'n, I see your safe! Denounced-dragg'd, it may be, in chains; and all Sieg.

Safe! By your inherent weakness, half-humanity,

Ida.

Yes, dear father Selfish remorse, and temporising pity,

Sieg. No, no; I have no children : never more That sacrifices your whole race to save

Call me by that worst name of parent. A wretch to profit by our ruin! No, count,

Jos.

What
Henceforth you have no son !

Means my good lord ?
Sieg.
I never had one; Sieg.

That you have given birth
And would you ne'er had borne the useless name! To a demon!
Where will you go? I would not send you forth Ida. (taking Ulric's hand.) Who shall dare say
Without protection.

this of Ulric ? Ulr. Leave that unto me.

Sieg. Ida, beware! there's blood upon that I am not alone; nor merely the vain heir

hand! of your domains; a thousand, ay, ten thousand Ida. (stooping to kiss it.) I'd kiss it off, though it Swords, hearts, and hands, are mine.

were mine! Sieg. The foresters! Sieg.

It is so ! With whom the Hungarian found you first at Ulr. Away! it is your father's! [Exit ULRIC. Frankfort?

Ida.

Oh, great God! Ulr. Yes-men-who are worthy of the name! Go And I have loved this man! tell

[IDA falls senseless-JOSEPHINE stands speechYour senators that they look well to Prague ;

less with horror. Their feast of peace was early for the times ;

Sieg.

The wretch hath Elain There are more spirits abroad than have been lain Them both !-My Josephine! we are now alone ! With Wallenstein!

Would we had ever been so !-All is over

For me!-Now open wide, my sire, thy grave; Enter JOSEPHINE and IDA.

Thy curse hath dug it deeper for thy son Jos What is't we hear? My Siegendorf! In mine !—The race of Siegendorf is past!