SCENE III. The secret Passage. Four Grib. (solus.) Five-six hours have I counted, like the guard Of outposts on the never-merry clock: That hollow tongue of time, which, even when It sounds for joy, takes something from enjoyment With every clang. 'Tis a perpetual knell, Though for a marriage-feast it rings: each sroke Peals for a hope the less; the funeral note Of Love deep-buried without resurrection In the grave of Possession; while the knoll Of long-lived parents finds a jovial echo To triple Time in the son's ear. I'm cold I'm dark;-I've blown my fingers-number'd o'er A distant lamp-light is an incident In such a den as this. Pray Heaven it lead me To nothing that may tempt me! Else-Heaven aid me To obtain or to escape it! Shining still! Were it the star of Lucifer himself, Or he himself girt with its beams, I could Contain no longer. Softly! mighty well. Some means of restitution, which would ease [ULRIC leaps down from the terrace Ulric! ever welcome! Thrice welcome now! this filial Ulr. We approach, tell me Wer. Ulr. Behold my father, or Wer. Ulr. Stop! Before Why look you so? Do I What? An assassin ? Reply, sir, as To what must I Wer. Insane or insolent! You prize your life, or mine! Wer. Answer? Ulr. Are you or are you not the assassin Of Stralenheim? The murderer of any man. What mean you? That corner's turn'd-so-ah! no ;-right! it draws Retrace the secret passage? Did you not Nearer. Here is a darksome angle-so That's weather'd.-Let me pause.-Suppose it leads Died he not by your hand? Embrace me! Yes, your tone-your look-yes, If I e'er, in heart or mind, All's ready. Idenstein has kept his word: Such thoughts-if e'er they glared a moment through May heaven be shut for ever from my hopes Ulr. And favorable moment to escape The myrmidons of Idenstein, who were Dogging him yester-even. Ulr. The panel? Wer. You reclosed Yes; and not without reproach (And inner trembling for the avoided peril) At his dull heedlessness, in leaving thus His shelterer's asylum to the risk Of a discovery. Ulr. You are sure you closed it? Wer. Certain. Wer. Most true; but still I would not have it Ulr. I will provide against A fool: his folly shall have such enjoyment, That's well; but had been better, if Or crush'd, or rising slowly from the dust, You ne'er had turn'd it to a den for―― [He pauses. Wer. Thieves! Thou wouldst say: I must bear it and deserve it; But not To which the march of armies trampled them. Ulr. A man pursued by my chief foe; disgraced Ulr. And like the wolf he hath repaid you. The assassin, 'twill be well-if not, believe me Wer. But this my sudden flight will give the Your long-lost late-found son.-Let's call my Moloch Suspicion: two new victims in the licu Of one, if I remain. The fled Hungarian, Ulr. Can be so ? mother; Softly and swiftly step, and leave the rest As regards you, and that is the chief point, Who seems? Who else As my first duty, which shall be observed. Wer. Not I, though just now you doubtedYou, my son!-doubted Ulr. The fugitive? Wer. We'll meet in Castle Siegendorf-once more And do you doubt of him Whose youth may better battle with them.-Hence! Boy! since I fell into The abyss of crime, (though not of such crime,) I, A Gothic Hall in the Castle of Siegendorf, near But what beyond 'tis not ours to pronounce. The wars are over: in the hall, who like His tusks, and ripping up from right to left Eric. What do you mean? Hen. You can't deny his train of followers (But few our native fellow vassals born Be silent. 'Tis nothing-but Eric. I will upon what you have said. Hen. I assure you I meant nothing,-a mere sport' Of words, no more; besides, had it been otherwise, He is to espouse the gentle baroness Ida of Stralenheim, the late baron's heiress, Enter ULRIC and RODOLPH. Good morrow, count. Ulr. Good morrow, worthy Henrick. Eric, is All ready for the chase? Eric. The dogs are order'd Down to the forest, and the vassals out To beat the bushes, and the day looks promising. Shall I call forth your excellency's suite? What courser will you please to mount? Ulr. Walstein. The dun, Eric. I fear he scarcely has recover'd The toils of Monday: 'twas a noble chase; You spear'd four with your own hand. Ulr. True, good Eric, I had forgotten-let it be the gray, then, Ulr. I leave that to Weilburgh, our Rod. Ulr. [Exit ERIC Is awkward from the-(RODOLPH points to HENRICK.) Loiter you here? Hen. How now, Henrick? why For your commands, my lord. Ulr. Go to my father, and present my duty, Ulr. As well as on that night 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. Rod. I thought you loved the lady Ida? Ulr. Why, Is scarcely known. Ulr. Some obscure village on The Saxon or Silesian frontier. Rod. He Has left no testament-no farewell words? Ah! here's the lady Ida. Enter IDA STRALENHEIM. Dear Ulric, if I do not interrupt you. Not too early, Are we not so ? Ida. Yes, but I do not like the name; methinks It sounds so cold, as if you thought upon Our pedigree, and only weigh'd our blood. Ulr. (starting.) Blood! Ida. Why does yours start from your cheeks? Ulr. Ay! doth it? Ida. It doth-but no! it rushes like a torrent Even to your brow again. Ulr. (recovering himself.) And if it fled, It only was because your presence sent it Back to my heart, which beats for you, sweet cousin! Ida. "Cousin" again. Ulr. Nay, then I'll call you sister. Ida. I like that name still worse.-Would we had ne'er Yes, Ulric, Did I not echo your own wish? Ida. But then I wish'd it not with such a glance, And scarce knew what I said; but let me be Sister or cousin, what you will, so that I still to you am something. Ulr. All-all Ida. You shall be And you to me are so already; But I can wait. Ulr. Ida. Dear Ida! Call me Ida, Ida. But you do not see his face? Ida. (looking at him.) No! Oh, my God! do you? No, Ulric Ida. Ulr. your weakness Infects me, to my shame; but as all feelings Ida. Full fifteen summers! Child, indeed! I have [A bugle sounds. Hark, my lord, the bugle! Ida. (peevishly to RODOLPH.) Why need you tell him that? Can he not hear it Sieg. (to IDA.) And far the noblest True, dear child, Though somewhat frankly said for a fair damsel,— So lately reinstated in our honors: At such a time and place. Besides, the Heaven once. Sieg. (smiling.) You are not jealous Except thyself? But fear not: thou shalt rule him You shall, Ida. But I should like to govern now. My lord, within this quarter of an hour In years. |