Ulr. Sieg. But I'll aid you now. In what? Sieg. Your utmost. Gab. If you mean me, I dare You may do so, and in safety; I know the assassin. Sieg. Where is he? Beside you! Gab. (pointing to ULRIC.) [ULRIC rushes forward to attack GABOR; SIE GENDORF interposes. Sieg. Liar and fiend! but you shall not be slain; These walls are mine, and you are safe within them. [He turns to ULRIC. Ulric, repel this calumny, as I [ULRIC endeavors to compose himself. Gab. Look at him, count, and then hear me. Sieg. (first to GABOR, and then looking at ULRIC.) I hear thee. He gave no name. Sieg. Admit him, ne'ertheless. [The Attendant introduces GABOR, and afterwards exit. Gab. He When we met in the garden. hither Ere I do so, Gab. [SIEGENDORF first looks at the Hungarian, and Ulr. (looks at his father and says,) Let the man go on! Gab. I am unarm'd, count-bid your son lay down His sabre. Ulr. (offers it to him contemptuously.) Take it. Gab. No, sir, 'tis enough That we are both unarm'd-I would not choose To wear a steel which may be stain'd with more Blood than came there in battle. Ulr. (casts the sabre from him in contempt.) It→→ May have more names than one. Your lordship had so I have not forgotten it: you spared me for [To SIEGENDORF. Sieg. (takes his son by the hand.) My son! I know my own innocence, and doubt not Of yours-but I have promised this man patience; I will not detain you Life early-and am what the world has made me. My chance at several places of resort Had carried from their usual haunt-the forests High rank-and martial law slept for a time. And what is this to Ulric? Gab. Among them there was said to be one man I therefore deem'd him wealthy.-But my soul Sieg. And did you so? Gab. You'll hear. Chance favor'd me, A popular affray in the public square Drew crowds together-it was one of those Occasions where men's souls look out of them, And show them as they are-even in their faces: The moment my eye met his, I exclaim'd, A man above his station-and if not Gab. Sieg. I conceal'd you-I, Whom and whose house you arraign, reviving viper Gab. I accuse no man-save in my defence. You, count, have made yourself accuser-judge: Your hall's my court, your heart is my tribunal. Be just, and I'll be merciful! Sieg. You! Base calumniator! You merciful! I. "Twill rest Gab. With me at last to be so. You conceal'd meIn secret passages known to yourself, You said, and to none else. At dead of night, Weary with watching in the dark, and dubious Of tracing back my way, I saw a glimmer, Through distant crannies, of a twinkling light: I follow'd it, and reach'd a door-a secret Portal-which open'd to the chamber, where, With cautious hand and slow, having first undone As much as made a crevice of the fastening, I look'd through and beheld a purple bed, And on it Stralenheim !Sieg. You slew him!-Wretch! Gab. Asleep! And yet He was already slain, And bleeding like a sacrifice. My own Blood became ice. Sieg. But he was all alone! "This is the man!" though he was then, as since, You saw none else? You did not see the With the nobles of the city. I felt sure I had not err'd, and watch'd him long and nearly: Thou bad'st me say I was so once-Oh! now Gab. And may sound better.-He appear'd to me Do thou as much! One of those beings to whom fortune bends Be patient! I can not Gab. Recede now, though it shake the very walls Which frown above us. You remember,-or If not, your son does,-that the locks were changed Beneath his chief inspection on the morn Which led to this same night: how he had enter'd He best knows-but within an antechamber, The door of which was half ajar, I saw A man who wash'd his bloody hands, and oft Gab. Gab. (interrupting him.) Nay—but hear me to the Now you must do so.-I conceived myself The victim of your guilt; and my first thought Was vengeance: but though arm'd with a short (Having left my sword without) I was no match 1 turn'd and filed-i' the dark: chance rather than But ne'er slept guilt as Werner slept that night. The stars had not gone down when I awoke. Sieg. I pledge my life for yours. Withdraw into Sieg. Sieg. I will be so. Why didst thou spare me? I dreamt of my father-And with the other half, could he and thou Gab. 'Tis not my fault, If I have read it.-Well! I filed and hid me- Unsay this villainy. You sought me and have found me-now you know When we met in the garden, what except My secret, and may weigh its worth. Sieg. (after a pause.) Indeed! Gab. Is it revenge or justice which inspires Your meditation? Sieg. Neither-I was weighing You shall know it The value of your secret. Gab. Discovery in the act could make me know Been left to such a stranger? Or should I At once :-When you were poor, and I, though poor, Suspicion woke? I sought and fathom'd you, Rich enough to relieve such poverty As might have envied mine, I offer'd you Yes Gab. Not quite. You think me venal, and scarce true: Tis no less true, however, that my fortunes Have made me both at present. You shall aid me; The devil you cannot lay between us. This I would have aided you-and also have Sieg. Dare you await the event of a few minutes' Gab. (casts his eyes on ULRIC, who is leaning against a pillar.) If I should do so? Is time for union and fer action, not now. Ulr. Let it work on! the grave will keep it down! Ashes are feeble foes: it is more easy To baffle such, than countermine a mole, Which winds its blind but living path beneath you. Yet hear me still!-if you condemn me, yet That there were crimes made venial by the occa sion ? That passion was our nature? that the goods With right and wrong; and now must Sieg. Whate'er you will: sell them, or hoard, Must thus redeem it. Fly! I am not master, Gab. Upon effects, not causes. Stralenheim, As stranger I preserved him, and he owed me : I have plunged our enemy. You, kindled first Of safety-or let me ! Sieg. I have done with life! I did: Let it not be more fatal still!-Begone! And Yes; that's safe still: Gab. I know too well And knew it ere yourself, unhappy sire! [Exit GABOR Sieg. (solus and listening.) He hath clear'd the staircase. Ah! I hear The door sound loud behind him! He is safe! [He leans down upon a stone seat, near the wall Ulr. Let us have done with that which cankers Enter ULRIC, with others armed, and with weapons life Familiar feuds and vain recriminations Of things which cannot be undone. We have You stand high with the state: what passes here drawn. Ulr. Despatch !-he's there! Vassals, despatch in search of him! You see [Exeunt all but SIEGENDORF and ULRIC. Where is the villain ? Ulr. And you my son? My son! mine! who have ever Are you in quest of? I must be speedy, or more will be shed- It seems I might have guess'd as much. Oh Wolves prowl in company. He hath the key To be the father of fresh crimes, no less Let us hear no more [Exit into the turret, closing the door after him.' Will you then leave me? |