| Our general situation in its bearings.
The waters are abating; a few hours
Will bring his summon'd myrmidons from
Frankfort,

More understand each other. But to change The topic

Werner. You mean, Tis of our safety.

to pursue it, as

Ulric. Right; I stand corrected. I see the subject now more clearly, and

When you will be a prisoner, perhaps worse, And I an outcast, bastardized by practice Of this same Baron to make way for him. Werner. And now your remedy! I thought

to escape

By means of this accursed gold, but now
I dare not use it, show it, scarce look on it.
Methinks it wears upon its face my guilt
For motto, not the mintage of the state;
And, for the sovereign's head, my own begirt
With hissing snakes, which curl around
my temples,

And cry to all beholders-lo! a villain! Ulric. You must not use it, at least, now; but take

This ring. [He gives Werner a jewel.
Werner. A gem! It was my father's!
Ulric. And
With this you

As such is now your own.

must

Bribe the Intendant for his old caleche And horses to pursue your route at sunrise, Together with my mother.

Werner. And leave you,

So lately found, in peril too?
Ulric. Fear nothing!

The only fear were if we fled together, For that would make our ties beyond all doubt.

The waters only lie in flood between
This burgh and Frankfort: so far's in our

favour.

The route on to Bohemia, though encumber'd,
Is not impassable; and when you gain
A few hours' start, the difficulties will be
The same to your pursuers. Once beyond
The frontier, and you're safe.

Werner. My noble boy!

Ulric. Hush! hush! no transports: we'll indulge in them

In Castle Siegendorf! Display no gold: Show Idenstein the gem (I know the man, And have look'd through him): it will answer thus

A double purpose. Stralenheim lost gold-
No jewel: therefore, it could not be his;
And then, the man who was possess'd of this
Can hardly be suspected of abstracting
The Baron's coin, when he could thus convert
This ring to more than Stralenheim has lost
By his last night's slumber. Be not over-
timid

In your address, nor yet too arrogant,
And Idenstein will serve you.

Werner. I will follow

In all things your direction.

Ulric. I would have

Spared you the trouble; but had I appear'd To take an interest in you, and still more By dabbling with a jewel in your favour, All had been known at once.

Werner. My guardian-angel! This overpays the past. But how wilt thou Fare in our absence?

Ulric. Stralenheim knows nothing Of me as aught of kindred with yourself. I will but wait a day or two with him To lull all doubts, and then rejoin my father. Werner. To part no more!

Ulric. I know not that; but at The least we'll meet again once more. Werner. My boy!

My friend my only child, and sole preserver!
Oh, do not hate me!

Ulric. Hate my father!
Werner. Ay,

My father hated me: why not my son?
Ulric. Your father knew you not as I do.
Werner. Scorpions

Are in thy words! Thou know me? in this guise

Thou canst not know me, I am not myself, Yet (hate me not) I will be soon.

Ulric. I'll wait!

In the mean time be sure that all a son
Can do for parents shall be done for mine.
Werner. I see it, and I feel it, yet I feel
Further that you despise me.

Ulric. Wherefore should I?
Werner. Must I repeat my humiliation?

Ulric. No!

I have fathom'd it and you. But let us talk
Of this no more. Or if it must be ever,
Not now; your error has redoubled all
The present difficulties of our house,
At secret war with that of Stralenheim;
All we have now to think of, is to baffle
HIM. I have shown one way.

Werner. The only one,

And I embrace it, as I did my son,
Who show'd himself and father's safety in
One day.

Ulric. You shall be safe: let that suffice. Would Stralenheim's appearance inBohemia Disturb your right, or mine, if once we were Admitted to our lands?

Werner. Assuredly,

Situate as we are now, although the first Possessor might,as usual,prove the strongest, Especially the next in blood.

Ulric. Blood! 'tis

A word of many meanings; in the veins
And out of them it is a different thing-
And so it should be, when the same in blood
(As it is call'd) are aliens to each other,
Like Theban brethren: when a part is bad,
A few spilt ounces purify the rest.

Werner. I do not apprehend you.
Ulric. That may be-

And should, perhaps,-and yet - but get ye ready;

You and my mother must away to-night. Here comes the Intendant; sound him with

the gem,

"Twill sink into his venal soul like lead Into the deep, and bring up slime, and mud,

Ulric. Well, there are plenty more: You may have better luck another chase. Where is the Baron?

Idenst. Gone back to his chamber: And now I think on't, asking after you With nobly-born impatience.

Ulric. Your great men

Must be answer'd on the instant, as the bound

Of the stung steed replies unto the spur: 'Tis well they have horses, too; for if they had not,

I fear that men must draw their chariots, B
They say kings did Sesostris'.
Idenst. Who was he?
Ulric. An old Bohemian—and imperial

Werner (showing the ring). Would this assist your knowledge? How!-What!-Eh!

Idenst. A jewel!

Werner. 'Tis your own, on one condition. Idenst. Mine!-Name it!

Werner. That hereafter you permit me At thrice its value to redeem it; 'tis A family-ring.

Idenst. A family! yours! a gem! I'm breathless!

Werner. You must also furnish me, An hour ere daybreak, with all means to quit This place.

Idenst. But is it real? let me look on it: Diamond, by all that's glorious!

Werner. Come, I'll trust you;

You have guess'd, no doubt, that I was born above

My present seeming.

Idenst. I can't say I did,

Though this looks like it; this is the true breeding

Of gentle blood!

Werner. I have important reasons
For wishing to continue privily
My journey hence.

Idenst. So then you are the man
Whom Stralenheim's in quest of?
Werner. I am not;

But being taken for him might conduct
So much embarrassment to me just now,
And to the Baron's self hereafter-'tis
To spare both, that I would avoid all bustle.
Idenst. Be you the man or no, 'tis not
my business;

Besides, I never should obtain the half
From this proud, niggardly noble, who
would raise

The country for some missing bits of coin,
And never offer a precise reward-
But this! Another look!

Werner. Gaze on it freely;

At day-dawn it is yours.

Idenst. Oh, thou sweet sparkler! Thou more than stone of the philosopher! J Thou touchstone of Philosophy herself! Thou bright eye of the Mine! thou load

star of

Werner. Call me Werner still, You may yet know me by a loftier title. Idenst. I do believe in thee! thou art the spirit

Of whom I long have dream'd, in a low garb.

But come, I'll serve thee; thou shalt be as free

As air, despite the waters: let us hence, I'll show thee I am honest (oh, thou jewel!) Thou shalt be furnished, Werner, with such means

Of flight, that if thou wert a snail, not birds

Should overtake thee.- Let me gaze again!
I have a foster-brother in the mart
Of Hamburgh, skill'd in precious stones—
how many

Carats may it weigh?-Come, Werner, I
will wing thee.
[Exeunt.

And man, an everlasting mist;-I will
Unto my pillow.

Fritz. May you rest there well!
Stralenh. I feel, and fear, I shall.
Fritz. And wherefore fear?

Stralenh. I know not why, and therefore do fear more,

Because an undescribable-but 'tis
All folly. Were the locks (as I desired)
Changed to-day, of this chamber? for last
night's

Adventure makes it needful.
Fritz. Certainly,

According to your order, and beneath
The inspection of myself and the young

Saxon

Who saved your life. I think they call

him "Ulric."