Ulr. Yes, but the unsettled state of our domain In high Silesia will permit and cover My journey. In the mean time, when we are Engaged in the chase, draw off the eighty men Whom Wolffe leads-keep the forests on your You know it well? [route: Rod. As well as on that night When we Vir. We will not speak of that until We can repeat the same with like success: And when you have join'd, give Rosenberg this letter. [Gives a letter. Add further, that I have sent this slight addition To our force with you and Wolffe, as herald of My coming, though I could but spare them ill At this time, as my father loves to keep Full numbers of retainers round the castle, Until this marriage, and its feasts and fooleries, Are rung out with its peal of nuptial nonsense. Red. I thought you loved the lady Ida? Ulr. Why, I do so-but it follows not from that Ulr. Red. On my return, however, I shall find The Baroness Ida lost in Countess Siegendorf? Ulr. Perhaps my father wishes it; and sooth Tis no bad policy: this union with The last bud of the rival branch at once Unites the future and destroys the past. Rod. Adieu. Ulr. Yet hold-we had better keep together Rod. Vir. Of a fever, did he not? Wondrous kind! The late baron died How should I know? Rod. I have heard it whisper'd there was You would have loved him, Had such as you been near him on his journey, Who says that? Has left no testament-no farewell words? Ah, here's the lady Ida. And disappearance of his servants, who Have ne'er return'd: that fever was most deadly Which swept them all away. Ulr. If they were near him, He could not die neglected or alone. Ida. Alas! what is a menial to a death-bed, When the dim eyes roll vainly round for what Ulr. To be so; for I trust these wars are over, Say! It was so. I sometimes dream otherwise. In sleep-I see him lie But you do not see his face! Ida. [looking at him]. No! Oh, my God! do you? Ulr. Why do you ask? Ida. Because you look as if you saw a murderer ! Ulr. [agitatedly]. Ida, this is mere childish- Infects me, to my shame: but as all feelings Full fifteen summers! Child, indeed! I have Rod. Lady, need aid of mine. [bugie, In Prague for peace restored. You are apt to You will not, It spread its peace o'er all, hath double claims Ulr. I must not now Shall! Ida. Indeed I do not :-ask of Rodolph. Truly, Ulr. 'Tis nothing; but if 'twere, the air You are not jealous You s'ia By and bv. 4 Ida. Then good morrow, my kind kinsmen Then pray you be as punctual to its notes: Ida. And why Not that monster's! I should this My harp-strings rang with groans, and not with By mine, and you behold me ! Aside to RODOLPH]. Rodolph, hence! and do Rod. Count Siegendorf, command you aught? Where, on what frontier? Ah ! The Silesian, on Am aught connected with that city. Then Fare ye well, Count Siegendorf! My lord, he is I talk not of his birth, Sieg Is not fenced from his chamberlain's slander, or Sieg If I must be plain, The world speaks more than lightly of this They say he is leagued with the 'black bands I thought you knew it better than to take Son ! Sig. Hereafter (or even here in moments which Ire madness and dishonour of an instant. I behold The prosperous and beloved Siegendorf, Lord of a prince's appanage, and honour'd By those he rules and those he ranks with. Sieg. Ah! Why wilt thou call me prosperous, while I fear Than would your adversary, who dared say so, In a like absence? But 'tis vain to urge you- Ulr. [impatiently]. I'll be led by no man. Be leader of such, I would hope at once I have said I will obey your orders, were they to Nor It is [not Sieg. He says too much in saying this. Ulr. What matters it, if I am ready to Obey you in espousing her? As far Sieg. As you feel, nothing, but all life for her. Break her heart for a man who has none to break; Or wither on her stalk like some pale rose Deserted by the bird she thought a nightingale, According to the Orient tale. She is Ulr. The daughter of dead Stralenheim, your foe: Till now; but love he owes me, for my thoughts Ne'er left him, nor my eyes long'd without tears To see my child again, and now I have found him! But how!-obedient, but with coldness; duteous In my sight, but with carelessness; mysteriousAbstracted distant - much given to long absence, [most riotous And where-none know-in league with the Of our young nobles; though, to do him justice. He never stoops down to their vulgar pleasures Yet there's some tie between them which I cannot Unravel. They look up to him-consult him— Throng round him as a leader: but with me He hath no confidence! Ah! can I hope it After-what! doth my father's curse descend Even to my child? Or is the Hungarian rear To shed more blood? or-Oh! if it should be! Spirit of Stralenheim, dost thou walk these wa i To wither him and his-who, though they sies not, Unlatch'd the door of death for thee? "Twas not Though he died not by me or mine, as much Enter an ATTENDANT. Atten. But 'tis your office The abbot, if it please Your excellency, whom you sent for, waits Upon you. [Exit ATTENDANT. Enter the PRIOR ALBERT. Prior. Peace be with these wal's, and all Within them! Ulr. Count, 'tis a marriage of your making, So be it of your wooing; but to please you, I will now pay my duty to my mother, With whom, you know, the lady Ida is. What would you have? You have forbid my And may thy prayer be heard!-ali men have stirring For manly sports beyond the castle walls, [smiles, And list to songs and tunes, and watch for [Exit ULRIC. Of such, and I Prior. Have the first claim to a The prayers of our community. Our convent, Erected by your ancestors, is still Protected by their children. Sieg Yes, good father. Continue daily orisons for us Prior. To the endless home of unbelievers Where there is everlasting wail and woe, Gnashing of teeth, and tears of blood, and fire Eternal, and the worm which dieth not! Sieg. True, father: and to avert those pargs from one, [not Who, though of our most faultless holy church, Yet died without its last and dearest offices, And now you have it--perish'd on his pillow [SIEGENDORF offers the gold which he had taken from STRALENHEIM. Prior. Count, if I Receive it, 'tis because I know too well For one unknown, the same as for the proudest. Sig. Secret! I have none: but, father, he who's gone [point, Nor did he die Prior. By means, or men, or instrument of yours? Sieg. No! by the God who sees and strikes! Prior. Nor know you Who slew him? Sieg. I could only guess at one, And he to me a stranger, unconnected, ledge, Except by one day's know I did not !-nay, once spared it, when I might Might have one; or, in short, he did bequeath-And could-ay, perhaps, should (if our self-safety No, not bequeath-but I bestow this sum For pious purposes. Prior. A proper deed In the behalf of our departed friends. Sieg. But he who's gone was not my friend, To employ our means to obtain heaven for the Sieg. Prior. Best of all! for this is pure religion! You fain would rescue him you hate from hellAn evangelical compassion-with Your own gold too! Sieg. Father, 'tis not my gold. Prior. Whose then? You said it was no legacy. [he Sieg. No matter whose-of this be sure, that Who own'd it never more will need it, save In that which it may purchase from your altars : "Tis yours, or theirs. Prior. Is there no blood upon it? Sieg. No; but there's worse than bloodeternal shame! Prior. Did he who own'd it die in his bed? Sieg He did. Alas! Prior. Son! you relapse into revenge, If you regret your enemy's bloodless death. Sieg. His death was fathomlessly deep in blood. Prior. You said he died in his bed, not battle. Sieg. He Died, I scarce know-but-he was stabb'd i' the dark, Be e'er excusable in such defences I know not why, a like remorse is on me, Be comforted! You are innocent, and should ACT V. SCENE I-A large and magnificent Gothic Hall in the Castle of Siegendorf, decorated with Trophies, Banners, and Arms of that family. Enter ARNHEIM and MEISTER, Attendants of COUNT SIEGendorf. Arn. Be quick! the count will soon return: the ladies Already are at the portal. Have you sent |