Lord of M. Art thou Lord Kronberg's daughter? Ida. Thou must henceMust to thy son, and counsel him to temper Vengeance with mercy. When he knows thee safe, Perchance he may withdraw. And more than this, Flee for thy life! A gibbet is erected, Thou'll see it in the moonlight, on the walls; There 't was my father's orders to convey thee, A terror to the foe, when day should break;And woman as I am, weak, timid woman, I dare oppose my judgment unto his! He shall not stain his name - a noble name, By basely taking life from such as thouAn old and unoffending nobleman! Hence to thy son! and, friend, remember this, Thou hast had mercy, and be thou for us An angel of sweet mercy! Enter BERTHA, with a banner in her hand. Ida. Bertha. Try on the rack the soldiers who were taken In act to fly unto the enemy! Ida. My father, no! these men are innocent"T was I who gave him freedom! Lord of K. I would not let thy noble name be stained Lord of K. - Lord of K. Hence with her to the dungeon! she's a traitor! Sene. My good lord, no! She is your child, my lord ! Bertha [clasping her arms around her.] Off, off! And hang them all and that wild prating idiot! [He goes out with the Seneschal SCENE III. But how now! What is this? Oh, but to stand Seven days afterwards-the same apartment-Ida re- Ah! what a stirring sight! Yonder is Philip, clines on a couch. The name of Ida Kronberg will go down Enter BERTHA, and COUNT FABIAN. Bertha. Ha! traitor, did he say? Believe me The tumult of the hour hath mazed his brain- Heaven knows if we shall take those sports again! orders, For he most strangely worded his command, Bertha. I told you, Count, my uncle's brain is mazed. He does not mean that she and I are traitors. Ida. [aside.] Oh, most unkind, to still believe me The very walls, and this small tower gives nought traitor To shut his heart in such a time as this!. Fab. She's a noble lady! Save quiet fields, and the green, waving tree-tops! the dead! Fab. To those cooped up, the strife is more appal- [They go into the inner room. Than in the open air, amid the contest. Who would not draw his sword for such a one? I'd sooner die than she should be his prisoner ; — And Suabia's duke would be our earliest helper- [A loud clamour of assault and defence is Fab. Curse the orders! Pardon me, lady, but my soul is chafed Man. You might have lived and died with famished rats Enter the LORD OF KRONBERG, COUNT NICHOLAS Had we not helped you; and we'll have our wages! and SEGBERT. Seg. My lord, the foe hath got entire possession! Nicholas. By that old passage opening to the river They gained an entrance; there the mine was sprung By which the breach was made. Lord of K. Why left you it unguarded? Seg. Curse on ye all! Good, my lord, You did declare a force of twenty men And but that 't is an hour we may not spare Nich. Nay, my good lord of Kronberg, 't is unjust, am called a traitor! Shame on myself!-I am a veteran soldier My Lord Kronberg, Will see them die of famine, ere I yield it! Nich. I know no better counsel for the hour. Another. We shall go short, unless we help ourselves! Phil. Base spoilers, ye shall not deface these halls, Down with your booty! [They make a general attempt to carry off spoil; the soldiers drive them back. Plunderers, lay it downYe shall not hence, save ye go empty-handed! Many voices. We will not out then! we will tarry here! We will defend our own! We will defend it! I swear 't is mine! Down with your spoil, or, by my soul, these swords Ye are a herd of robbers, seeking outrage! Shall be unsheathed on you! Mother S. We will not hear thee! Thou'dst be a tyrant — be another Kronberg! [They make a fresh attempt to carry off their spoil; the soldiers oppose them; a violent contest ensues, and many are wounded. Mother S. [aside.] Let us appear to yield. There [They all One enemy is crushed, or well nigh crushed, go out. Cooped in a little tower, and scarce a hundred Meantime another rises, like the head "Tis the strong arm must crush them as they rise; Wherefore the great must keep the low subjected. Enter GASTON. Gast. Dost fold thine arms as thou might'st take thine ease? Thou art not lord of this dominion yet! Phil. Speak plain, what is thy meaning? Gast. The rude concourse, Whom thou hast driven from the gates e'en now, Strengthened with a gigantic force, return, And claim access, mad with some fancied wrong. Thou art no longer "noble, gracious Philip;" But "tyrant," "bloody and injurious tyrant!" Phil. I'll cut them into mouthfuls for the dogs! Gast. Thou madman! These are they who gave thee power! Phil. Wouldst give the fair reward of seven days' strife To them for plunder? Gast. Give them for plunder those Who have adhered to Kronberg - - not a few; And all rich merchants who as princes lived,Fear not but they will fight like angry eagles For their nest-eggs; thus wilt thou arm thy foes Against each other, and be rid of both The merchants' names are here, their houses marked. Phil. A goodly list! and only pity 't is To give from our own hands such noble spoil. Gost. There are a thousand ways to get it back! Phil. An excellent friend! Thou hast untired resources! Ay, every one of them! But what of that? The dungeon only knows What wrongs are done within its dreary walls! 1st Sol. Ay, ay, these things may all be right and proper, But they do chill the blood within one's veins; And, easy-conscienced, could cut down a hundred; To stab i' the dark; and put the subtle poison As a blood-thirsty tyrant, worse than Kronberg! 4th Sol. If it be so, I will return on th' morrow To my first soldier-oath! 2d Sol. And so will I ? Attend. Tush, tush! you all are fools! 2d Attend. [running in.] All, all give place,Here come the lords o' th' night; Enter men, bearing dishes. Now to your boards. This is the topmost table, and my lord Hath ordered every man his belly full. This is above the salt- - all ye must lower, The burghers clamour at the gates for help A small room of the upper tower-the Lord of Kron berg alone. Lord of K. When great misfortune threats a noble house, "Tis a great sacrifice that must be made Phil. Damnation on them! Bid the burghers fight For its retrieve - and 't is the part of greatness For their own hearths and homes! I will, my lord! Officer. sentiment Long life, and long success unto Duke Philip! Enter the old LORD OF MAINE. Lord of M. Sitt'st thou, my son, thus banqueting at ease Misfortune to defy by nobly yielding! It were a lie the blood that warms his veins When blood is pouring like an undammed river; Phil. One is dispatched even now will see to it. Lord of M. It is thy cause, my son! Up, arm All is one scene of tumult, blood, and frenzy - Enter SOLDIER. Enter IDA. My daughter, banish these dejected looks! Lord of K. Some harsh words I spoke to thee at parting, I rememberForgive thy father, Ida; he was wroth, More with the woe that pressed him, than with thee! Ida. Nay, ask not my forgiveness! Lord of K. Thou, dear child, Sweet image of thy mother, the most true, Here for protection. They demand your presence- The patientest, the fairest of all women --The city is on fire in every quarter! Soldier. My lord, the burghers bring their wives and daughters Phil. Confusion seize them! I shall not go forth And do their bidding, as they choose to dictate! Lord of M. Then I will buckle harness on, and What gentlemen will up, and come with me? Gast. [aside.] If that old man go forth, he ruins Stay, brave old sir, we will not tax your arm Thou art my only hope! Ida. The fortunes of our house, and give again That this land is in anarchy for thee- In the cold arms of death! |