The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman, and Keats

Jest not! What is the tenor of thy words?

Lord of K. Philip of Maine did ask thy hand in marriage,

Which I refused; thence rose this civil contest.
Then was he poor, brought up in sordid thrift,
Whom it had been disgrace for Ida Kronberg
To have been wife unto. Now he has power,-
And woe is me, that it should even be so!
Has given his name a terrible ascendance;
And we must crouch beneath him, live his slaves,
Be trampled on; unless, like those who make
Events their servitors -true wisdom's rule,
We take him by his craft - yielded but to keep
The power which but in seeming we resign.
Thy hand, my child, will heal this civil broil,
Will give again dominion to thy father-
What says my Ida? He of Maine is noble;
Is brave; hath power; is a mean man no longer!
Ida. When Philip sought my hand, he was as
noble,-

Nobler than now! His name had not a stain!

Lord of K. A sordid, penniless lord, without

One that was as a proverb and a jest

A needy lord, that in a threadbare jerkin

Came as a wooer! And now that he has gained
Dominion and a name, why, in good sooth,
Thou wilt not condescend to such a one!

Ida. Because he hath laid waste this wretched

land;

Hath shown himself a fierce, revengeful man, And is thy deadly, cruel enemy!

The time is gone for ever when I loved him!
Lord of K. Oh heaven and earth!
Ida.

My gracious father, hear
I loved him with a first, true maiden's love-
I loved him when a little child, my father -
But as a sacrifice to holy duty

I cast him forth from my sincerest heart
As an unworthy man- thine enemy;
The spoiler of thy people!

Lord of K.
Thou hast loved him,
And thou shalt wed him!-Thou, against my will,
Hast loved, and I will wed thee 'gainst thy will
To him for punishment!- By heaven I will!
Ida. Father, if I have ever warmed thy heart —
If I have ever been delight unto thee

By whate'er love thou borest to my mother-
And by the sacredness of her bequest
Which gave me to thy care, her only child —
Oh pity- save me from this cruel doom!

Lord of K. Out with thee!-thou art hateful to my sight!

Thou lovedst that most beggarly, vile man!
And now that I am struggling, in his power,
Thou wilt not lift a finger to my help!
Ida. Oh that my life could save thee!
Lord of K.

Then consent

And here she dwelt! Here passed her beautiful life!
A tender, humanizing influence

Breathes through the room! Ambition, hate, and
vengeance,

Lord of K. I would retain my power by winning Have here no entrance: did I then believe

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Enter GASTON.

Gast. My noble lord, 't were pity your sweet
dreams

In this fair lady's chamber should be broken-
But I am here upon the embassy
Allied to love, at least to matrimony!

Phil. Ha! a capitulation of this sort?

Gast. Your noble prisoner offers his fair daughter,
On the condition that you should restore
To him all power i' the state; yet should receive
A rich and noble dowry with his daughter;
And further, you should bear at his decease,
When the land's sceptre unto you devolves,
As title of the state, Kronberg and Maine.
Phil. Well, that is fair enough!
Gast.

Do you say thus —

You that are lord already of this realm!

Is it for him to give as pleaseth him,
And you most humbly to receive with thanks?
Thus will you yield your conquest and your birth-
right!

Phil. I swore that he should offer me his daughter!
Gast. And then that you would wed her?
not so!

No,

Phil.
He shall die!
Gast. And in the distant fields the lawless many
Are listening to the long harangues of Roland,
That mouthing, wordy fool, who never loses
An opportunity for talk. There broods no good!
Phil. One might indeed believe my cause was
doubtful,

To hear you talk!
Gast.
Your's is a doubtful cause
While Kronberg lives-he forms a plea for faction.
Phil. Now speak you to the point-Kronberg
shall die!

Gast. Gold is less precious than the passing mo

ments.

Phil Promise the citizens whate'er they ask. Gast. Ay, ay, I'll promise them! I'faith, you know

Performance is a very different matter!

Phil. We shall not be so over-nice 'bout that!
And let us with a show of seemly joy
Accept Lord Kronberg's offer. Still our prisoner,
He falls into the trap he lays for me.

Gast. Poison or steel will make us sure of him!
And then you have his daughter in your power.
Phil. But honour's strictest law shall be observed
Toward that most noble lady! As her husband
I get a fairer title to the state
And if you yield With Kronberg's partisans!
Gast.
Well, as you will —
Marry or not, as likes you! [aside.] She will undo
This dainty statesman's trick!

Besides, this man is craftier than you are-
Think you that he would keep his faith with you?
I tell you no! This is a trick of cunning,
To get you in his power. He knows your love,
And by this passion will he work your ruin.
Phil. "Tis easier said than done!
Gast.
One atom of the power you have achieved,
A faction in the state will rise against you.
The burghers' hearts already are estranged;
Resentment grows against you hourly stronger-
No longer now they speak below their breath;-
Rule them, or they rule you!-and traitorous Kron-
berg

Will give you up to them as a peace-offering.
[aside.] And for my last night's pranks you would die

by inches.

And steer you through the storm-but hear me on!
The bodies of the citizens are piled

In the great square, with such sad pomp of woe
As the short time allows; and oaths are ta'en

Of vengeance upon you, save you will promise
All the demands set forth with wordy wisdom

Phil. What are you mumbling o'er? Let us away, I'll clasp my bride before the set of day!

[They go out together.

SCENE IV.

Apartment in the tower Ida and Bertha.

Berth. Oh do not yield unto this bloody man-
Another day and succour will arrive-
Fabian will leave no friend, no means untried
They call again for Kronberg in the city;
And Philip's reign, though told by so few hours,
Is chronicled in blood.
Ida.
I hear their steps-
Leave me alone, dear Bertha, for this trial!
Berth. Within thy call will I await thy summons.
[She goes out.
Ida. Now for the dreadful meeting! - How I
tremble

To meet the man who was so dear to me!

Enter PHILIP, magnificently apparelled.

Phil. Now do we meet without reproach or fear

In this long document. [aside.] But I'll not show 't: Not as we parted, my own gentle Ida!

Here they require "that felon-traitor, Gaston,

To be brought to condign punishment for 's sins!"

Ida. No, no, we do not meet as last we parted: Thou art not such as when we parted last

That I must still oppose my father's will!

Though thou wert poor, clothed but in humble weeds;
Unsheltered from the pitiless winds of heaven;
Without a name, save what thy father won,
Yet pure in soul, noble in principle,
Gracious in deed, and merciful in heart,

I would have ta'en thee, spite the world's reproach.
But tricked out in these gorgeous robes of state;
A name of terror unto weeping thousands;
With the offence of blood upon thy soul;
If thou didst lay the world's crown at my feet
I must reject thee, Philip!
Phil.
How art thou slave to every passing humour.

Fickle woman!

For how hast thou fulfilled this glorious vision How been protector of the ignorant people?

No-henceforth we are widely separate-
Not e'en the Eternal One undoeth the past,
And that which hath been done hath sundered us!
Phil. Then upon thee lie every coming sin!
If thou keep not thy plighted faith with me,
Neither will I keep faith. Thy father dies!

Ida. Philip, thou wilt not-dar'st not kill my father! Phil. How dare I not? As yet I have not found The deed I dare not do!

Ida.

Perfidious man!
If this poor life can sate thy thirst of blood,
Take it, but spare my father!

Phil.
I have said it!
Ida. I gave thy father life - O spare thou mine

I risked my life to save thy father's, Philip!

Phil. It was a woman's act- thus do not men! Ida. Oh how does guilt put out each virtuou spark,

Stifle each generous, noble sentiment!

Phil. Now for a little season, we will part When next we meet, my hands shall yet be redder! [He goes out Ida. Hence, hence! What may be done, shall ye be done We will not fall without a dying struggle Where's Bertha, Segbert, good Count Nicholas ? [She goes into the inner room

ACT V. SCENE I.

The ruins of a mill, surrounded with wood. Enter MOTHER SCHWARTZ, HANS CLEF, ROLAND and many others.

Roland. It neither shall be this man, neither that

Hast thou not shed their blood? Outraged their That shall be tyrant o'er us! What's this Philip

homes

Ida.

Name not revenge,

Heaven be our shield -
It will prescribe thee hounds, even as it limits
The raging of the sea! Oh how thou 'rt fallen, -
The apostates of the morning fell not lower!
Philip, I wept my ruined, lovely hopes
With bitterer tears than ever woman shed;

But I have done with tears; they moved not heaven,
That loveth mercy! But I will conjure thee
By that unkind ambition which preferred
Revenge and power to love, to risk no further,-
And let the blood which has been shed suffice!
Phil. Oh yes, thy words have power! Sweet maid,
relent!

Thy tender mercies, like kind angels' wings,
Bring blessings with them; where I shall have
wounded,

Thou shalt pour in sweet balm!

1st Man. "T was from a mangled corpse I took But where is Gaston? he, the ready tool
Who does not start and cry "alack, my lord!"

that kerchief!

Mother S. My son! my son! But back, tears, to Ha! here he comes!

your source

I will shed blood, not tears! Roland.

Gast.
No moment may be lost-
Fabian and Segbert, and Count Nicholas
What say the burghers, Are hence. As firebrands in the standing corn
Are they among the people; and a rumour
Has reached the town, that Suabia draweth near
With a strong army for the aid of Kronberg.
Do quickly what thou dost, and rid thyself

Those ancient friends of his? 2d Man.

Is clean against him now.
The town to pillage but to

The general feeling They swear he gave save his own!

Hans. And that he did! We 're sure enough of Of one foe ere another takes the field!

that!

Phil. Thou hast access unto the tower. Go thou,

2d Man. Gaston, they say 's the very fiend himself- Poison or steel, use thou the surer means! All saw his horrid doings yesternight

There is hope!

Roland.
What guard is stationed 'neath the castle rock?
3d Man. The guard has been withdrawn.
Roland.
There's an old pathway,
Think ye we might not get an entrance there?
Thereby it was that Philip made his entrance!

4th Man. I know it well; yet 't will be dangerous, More inaccessible from tumbled crags And fallen masonry than heretofore.

Mother S. Our wrongs can force through rocks of adamant.

Roland. "T will suit our purpose; now let all disperse, And when eve comes we will again asemble. [They disperse severally.

SCENE II.

Evening-the gallery of the castle - Philip pacing about, in deep thought.

On, on unto the topmost verge of power;
And, as I yet ascend, still more doth grow
The grasping wish for more; the aspiring wish
Higher and higher to rise. This petty lordship,
Why not a sovereign dukedom? Wherefore not
The Duke of Maine as good as Duke of Suabia?
And Kronberg dead; the path is right before me.
Ambition and revenge shall have their way!-

Gast. Nay, 't will be tenfold vengeance from thy

That counsellest my son to these bad deeds!
Philip, she gave me life and liberty,

And, but for her, thy father had been dead!
Phil.

Whose hate was 't doomed thee to the gal-
lows-tree?

Hence! hence! thou dost not know, for urgently
The hour calls for his blood!

Lord of M.
I leave thee not,
Till thou hast given his life unto my prayer.
Gast. to Phil. Fortune is slipping through your
hand, my lord,

While you stand dallying thus. Away, old man!
Phil. I'm ready, let's begone.

[They go out together
Lord of M.
Then, may the Avenger
Take from thee thy ill-gotten power and station!
This is a place of blood and horrible outrage;
I will away; men's hearts are turned to stone.
Better it were to hide with desert-beasts,
Where 't is a natural instinct to be cruel!
[He goes out.

After a short time re-enter PHILIP. I did not quail, nor did my heart upbraid me, When thousands lay beneath my conquering step, And from the helmet-crown unto the heel I was dyed crimson; why then faints my soul, Trembling and drooping 'neath a mountain's weight Of miserable remorse for one man's blood? — Ne'er till this moment, when my debt is paid, When I have conquered my great enemy, Quailed I, or wished undone aught that was done!

But hark! What sounds are these-quick, coming Here, here, we miserably shall die by fire!

steps,

And hurried voices? Am I grown a coward?

Enter GASTON.

Philip! Philip! now is a time for action :
Why dost thou stare as one that walks in dreams?
Phil. Whence come those hurried sounds? Whose
are those steps?

Gast. The disaffected thousands from the fields Are on the walls- - within the very castle!

Phil. How got they an access?

Gast. Even as thou didst; By the old rock-path. Hundreds more have enteredThe portals have they fired; and hark their criesVengeance and blood!

Phil. Hence; draw the soldiers out, And man the walls. Strike every villain down That sets his foot within the castle gate.

Gast. They fight with us for every inch of ground; They are within the walls-1 the place is fired; Accursed knaves, born for the gibbet-tree! Phil. [drawing his sword.] I'll teach them what the cry of vengeance meaneth!

[He rushes out- Gaston follows him. A confused noise, and yelling cries are heard approaching, and a rabble force their way in, with torches in their hands.

Man. Down with the billets! Here! here! Fire these hangings!

[They hurl furniture into the middle of the gallery, tear down pictures and hangings, which they pile together and set fire to.

Enter MOTHER SCHWARTZ, with other women, covered with dust and blood.

Mother S. Spare not for fire! Now for a funeral pile,

To celebrate, my son, thy memory!

They shall say, this was for the woman's son! Out with ye, are ye plundering? Give me blood! He whom I seek is hence! Come, come with me! [She snatches up a firebrand and rushes out of the gallery; the women follow her, bearing off booty. The gallery is filled with smoke and flames.

Oh, Ida, vain thy prayer!- they have no mercy –
That old man will not move his cruel son
To save thy father, and we here shall perish!
Oh, can there be Omnipotence in heaven,
Who sees these things, yet sends no angel down
To smite and to deliver!

Ida.

Nay, despair not;

I do believe some power will save us yet!
Berth. Oh, do not mock me! there's no ruth in
heaven,

On earth there is no goodness!
Ida. [listening at the door.]

Some one comes!
Enter the LORD OF MAINE.

Ida. Is good Lord Kronberg safe?
Berth.
And what do mean
These horrid sounds of tumult, and these flames?
Lord of M. Come forth, my noble ladies! "Tis
an hour

Of peril and alarm! Will you confide
In an old man? I am no soldier, lady;
But, so God help me, I will guard you well!
Ida. I know you, and will trust in you! Oh
guide us

Unto Lord Kronberg's cell! Where lies my father?
Lord of M. Your noble father's free.
Ida.
Your voice is sad,
And yet your words are pleasant. Lead us to him
Lord of M. Quick! follow me!

[They wrap themselves in their cloaks and
follow him.

SCENE IV.

Another part of the castle- citizens stand with Lord Kronberg's body on a bier.

1st Citizen. Name not his faults. I knew him when a boy;

I was his favourite playmate; in those years
Together did we ride, and at the target
Together shoot our arrows. I ne'er thought
Then to have borne him in a plight like this!
2d Citizen. He was a hard task-master!
3d Citizen.
But not harder
Than such be ever. Even from Pharaoh downwards
To this day's idol, Philip!

4th Citizen.

I remember,

Ay, there was a lady,

Fair as an angel, full of truth and kindness-
The Lady Ida much resembles her.

5th Citizen. Haste, haste! the way is clear! The
contest thickens

About the northern tower. O woful night -
With fire and blood, wild shrieks and horrid curses,
And crash of falling walls! But forward now!
[They proceed
Enter the LORD OF MAINE conducting IDA and BERTHA
Lord of M. [hastily retreating.] Ah, not this way!
No, no! a moment's pause.
[Aside.] Yon is a sight that must not meet their eyes.

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The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman, and Keats: Complete in One Volume