The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04

REUSS. By Heaven,  Most excellent, my lady! An event  That could not timelier prove for our petition!NATALIE (as she writes).  Use it, Count Reuss, as well as you know how.

[She finishes her note, seals it and rises to her feet again.]

  Meanwhile this note, you understand, remains  In your portfolio; you will not go  To Arnstein with it, nor convey 't to Kottwitz  Until I give more definite command.

[She gives him the letter.]

A LACKEY (entering).  According to the sovereign's order, madam,  The coach is ready in the yard, and waiting.NATALIE. Go, call it to the door. I'll come at once.

[Pause, during which she steps thoughtfully to the table and draws on her gloves.]

  Count, I desire to interview Prince Homburg.  Will you escort me thither? In my coach  There is a place I put at your disposal.REUSS. Madam, a great distinction, I assure you—

[He offers her his arm.]

NATALIE (to the ladies-in-waiting).  Follow, my friends!—It well may be that there  I shall decide about the note erelong.

[Exeunt omnes.]

SCENE III

The PRINCE'S cell. The PRINCE Of HOMBURG hangs his hat on the wall and sinks, carelessly reclining, on a mattress spread out on the floor.

THE PRINCE. The dervish calls all life a pilgrimage,  And that, a brief one. True!—Of two short spans  This side of earth to two short spans below.  I will recline upon the middle path.  The man who bears his head erect today  No later than tomorrow on his breast  Bows it, all tremulous. Another dawn,  And, lo, it lies a skull beside his heel!  Indeed, there is a sun, they say, that shines  On fields beyond e'en brighter than these fields.  I do believe it; only pity 'tis  The eye, that shall perceive the splendor, rots.

SCENE IV

Enter PRINCESS NATALIE on the arm of COUNT REUSS, and followed by ladies-in-waiting. A footman with a torch precedes them. The PRINCE OF HOMBURG.

FOOTMAN. Her Highness Princess Natalie of Orange!THE PRINCE (rising).  Natalie!FOOTMAN. Here she comes herself!NATALIE (with a bow to the COUNT). I beg  Leave us a little moment to ourselves.

[COUNT REUSS and the footman go.]

THE PRINCE. Beloved lady!NATALIE. Dear good cousin mine!THE PRINCE (leading her up stage).  What is your news? Speak! How stand things with me?NATALIE. Well. All is well, just as I prophesied.  Pardoned are you, and free; here is a letter  Writ by his hand to verify my words.THE PRINCE. It cannot be! No, no! It is a dream!NATALIE. Read! Read the letter! See it for yourself!THE PRINCE (reading).  "My Prince of Homburg, when I made you prisoner  Because of your too premature attack,  I thought that I was doing what was right—  No more; and reckoned on your acquiescence.  If you believe that I have been unjust,  Tell me, I beg you in a word or two,  And forthwith I will send you back your sword."

[NATALIE turns pale. Pause. The PRINCE regards her questioningly.]

NATALIE (feigning sudden joy).  Well, there it stands! It only needs two words,  My dear, sweet friend!

[She presses his hand.]

THE PRINCE. Ah, precious lady mine!NATALIE. Oh, blessed hour that dawns across my world!  Here, take it, take the pen, take it and write.THE PRINCE. And here the signature?NATALIE. The F—his mark!  Oh, Bork! Be glad with me. His clemency  Is limitless, I knew it, as the sea!  Do bring a chair, for he must write at once.THE PRINCE. He says, if I believed—  NATALIE (interrupting). Why, yes, of course!  Quick now! Sit down. I'll tell you what to say.

[She sets a chair in place for him.]

THE PRINCE. I wish to read the letter once again.NATALIE (tearing the letter from his hand).  Why so? Did you not see the pit already  Yawning beneath you in the graveyard yonder?  The time is urgent. Come, sit down and write.THE PRINCE (smiling).  Truly, you act as though it had the power  To plump down, panther-fashion, on my back.

[He sits down and seizes a pen.]

NATALIE (turning away with a sob).  Write, if you do not want to make me cross.

[The PRINCE rings for a lackey, who enters.]

THE PRINCE. Bring pen and paper, seal and sealing-wax.

[The lackey, having collected these and given them to the PRINCE, goes out. The PRINCE writes. Pause, during which he tears the letter he has begun in two and throws the pieces under the table.]

A silly opening!

[He takes another sheet.]

NATALIE (picking up the letter). What did you say?  Good heavens! Why, it's right, it's excellent.THE PRINCE (under his breath).  Bah! That's a blackguard's wording, not a Prince's.  I'll try to put it in some other way.

[Pause. He clutches at the ELECTOR'S letter which the PRINCESS holds in her hand.]

What is it, anyway, his letter says?NATALIE (keeping it from him).  Nothing at all!THE PRINCE. Give it to me!NATALIE. You read it!THE PRINCE (snatches it from her).  What if I did? I only want to see  How I'm to phrase my answer.NATALIE (to herself). God of earth!  Now all is done with him!THE PRINCE (surprised). Why, look at this!  As I'm alive, most curious! You must  Have overlooked the passage.NATALIE. Why! Which one?THE PRINCE. He calls on me to judge the case myself!NATALIE. Well, what of that?THE PRINCE. Gallant, i' faith, and fine!  Exactly what a noble soul would say!NATALIE. His magnanimity is limitless!  But you, too, friend, do your part now, and write,  As he desires. All that is needed now  Is but the pretext, but the outer form.  As soon as those two words are in his hands,  Presto, the quarrel's at an end.THE PRINCE (putting the letter away). No, dear!  I want to think it over till tomorrow.NATALIE. Incomprehensible! Oh, what a change!  But why, but why?THE PRINCE (rising in passionate excitement).                    I beg you, ask me not!  You did not ponder what the letter said.  That he did me a wrong—and that's the crux—  I cannot tell him that. And if you force me  To give him answer in my present mood,  By God, it's this I'll tell him—"You did right!"

[He sinks down beside the table, again with folded arms, and stares at the letter.]

NATALIE (pale).  You imbecile, you! What a thing to say!

[She bends over him, deeply stirred.]

THE PRINCE (pressing her hand).  Come, just a second now! I think—

[He ponders.]

NATALIE. What is it?THE PRINCE. I'll know soon now what I shall write to him.NATALIE (painfully).  Homburg!THE PRINCE (taking up his pen)           Yes, dear. What is it?NATALIE. Sweetest friend!  I prize the impulse that upstirred your heart;  But this I swear to you: the regiment  Has been detailed, whose muskets are to sound  At dawn the reconciling burial rite  Above the grave where your dead body lies.  If you cannot resist the law's decree,  Nor, noble as you are, do what he asks  Here in this letter to repeal it, then  I do assure you he will loftily  Accept the situation, and fulfil  The sentence on the morrow ruthlessly.THE PRINCE (writing).  No matter!NATALIE. What? No matter?THE PRINCE. Let him do  What his soul bids. I must do what I must.NATALIE (approaching him frightened).  Oh, terrible! You are not writing there?THE PRINCE (concluding).  "Homburg!" And dated, "Fehrbellin, the twelfth."  So, it's all ready. Frank!

[He closes and seals the letter.]

NATALIE. Dear God in heaven!THE PRINCE (rising).  Here, take this to the Castle to my liege!

[The lackey goes out.]

  I will not face man who faces me  So nobly, with a knave's ignoble front!  Guilt, heavy guilt, upon my conscience weighs,  I fully do confess. Can he but grant  Forgiveness, when I contest for it,  I do not care a straw for any pardon.NATALIE (kissing him).  This kiss, for me! And though twelve bullets made  You dust this instant, I could not resist  Caroling, sobbing, crying: Thus you please me!  However, since you follow your heart's lead,  I may be pardoned if I follow mine.  Count Reuss!

[The footman opens the door. The COUNT enters.]

REUSS. Here!NATALIE. Go, and bear the note I gave  Post-haste to Arnstein and to Colonel Kottwitz!  The regiment shall march, our liege directs.  Ere midnight I shall look to see it here!

[Exeunt omnes.]

ACT V

Scene: a hall in the Castle.

SCENE I

The ELECTOR, scantily clad, enters from the adjoining chamber, followed by COUNT TRUCHSZ, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, and CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ. Pages with lights.

ELECTOR. Kottwitz? And with the Princess's dragoons?  Here in the town?TRUCHSZ (opening the window). Indeed, my sovereign!  Drawn up before the Castle, here he is!ELECTOR. Well? Will you read the riddle, gentlemen?  Who called him hither?HOHENZOLLERN. I know not, my liege.ELECTOR. The place I set him at is known as Arnstein!  Make haste, some one, and go and bring him in.GOLZ. He will appear forthwith, my sovereign.ELECTOR. Where is he?GOLZ. At the City Hall, I hear,  Where the entire generality,  That bears obedience to your house, is met.ELECTOR. But why? What is the object?HOHENZOLLERN. I know not.TRUCHSZ. My prince and lord, will you vouchsafe that we  Likewise betake ourselves a moment thither?ELECTOR. Whither? The City Hall?HOHENZOLLERN. The lords' assemblage.  We gave our word of honor to appear.ELECTOR (after a short pause).  You are dismissed!GOLZ. Come, follow, gentlemen!

[The officers go out.]

SCENE II

The ELECTOR. Later, two footmen.

ELECTOR. Most curious! Were I the Dey of Tunis  I'd sound alarm at such a dubious move,  Lay on my desk despair's thin silken cord,  And at my palisaded castle-gate  Set up my heavy guns and howitzers.  But since it's just Hans Kottwitz from the Priegnitz  Who marches on me of his own sweet will  I'll treat the matter in the Mark's own way;  Of the three curls that gleam so silvery  On his old skull, I'll take firm hold of one  And lead him calmly with his squadrons twelve  To Arnstein, his headquarters, back again.  Why wake the city from its slumber thus?

[He goes to the window a moment, then returns to the table and rings a bell. Two lackeys enter.]

  Do run below and ask, as for yourself,  What's doing in the City Hall.1st LACKEY. At once!

[He goes out.]

ELECTOR (to the other).  But you go now and fetch me my apparel.

[The lackey goes and brings it. The ELECTOR attires himself and dons his princely insignia.]

SCENE III

FIELD-MARSHAL DÖRFLING enters. The others as before.

DÖRFLING. Rebellion, my Elector!ELECTOR (still occupied with his clothes). Calm yourself!  You know that I detest to have my room  Without a warning word, invaded thus.  What do you want?MARSHAL. Forgive me! An affair  Of special consequence has brought me hither.  Unordered, Colonel Kottwitz moved his force  Into the city; hundred officers  Are gathered round him in the armor-hall.  From hand to hand a paper passes round  That purposes encroachment on your rights.ELECTOR. I am informed of it. What can it be  Except a ferment friendly to the Prince  On whom the law has laid the sentence, death?MARSHAL. 'Tis so, by God on high! You struck it right!ELECTOR. Well, then, and good. My heart is in their midst.MARSHAL. The rumor goes the maniacs intend  This very night to hand you their petition  Here in the Castle; and should you persist  In carrying out, irreconcilably,  The sentence—scarce I dare to bring you this!—  To liberate him from his bonds by force!ELECTOR (sombrely).  Come now, who told you that?MARSHAL. Who told me that?  The lady Retzow, cousin of my wife,  Whom you may trust. She spent this evening  In Bailiff Retzow's, in her uncle's house,  And heard some officers who came from camp  Brazenly utter this audacious plan.ELECTOR. A man must tell me that ere I'll believe it.  I'll set this boot of mine before his house  To keep him safe from these young heroes'  hands!MARSHAL. My lord, I beg you, if it be your will,  To grant the Prince his pardon after all:  Fulfil it ere an odious deed be done.  You know that every army loves its hero.  Let not this spark which kindles in it now  Spread out and wax a wild consuming fire.  Nor Kottwitz nor the crowd he has convened  Are yet aware my faithful word has warned you.  Ere he appears, send back the Prince's sword,  Send it, as, after all, he has deserved.  One piece of chivalry the more you give  To history, and one misdeed the less.ELECTOR. Concerning that I'd have to ask the Prince,  Who was not idly made a prisoner,  As you may know, nor idly may be freed.—  I'll see the gentlemen when they arrive.MARSHAL (to himself).  Curse it! His armor's proof to every dart.

SCENE IV

Two lackeys enter, one with a letter in his hand. The others as before.

1st LACKEY. Sir, Colonels Kottwitz, Hennings, Truchsz and others  Beg audience!ELECTOR (to the second lackey, as he takes the letter).  This from the Prince of Homburg?2D LACKEY. Indeed, your Highness.ELECTOR. Who delivered it?2D LACKEY. The Swiss on guard before the castle gate,  Who had it from the Prince's bodyguard.

[The ELECTOR stands by the table, and reads; whereupon he turns and calls to a page.]

  Prittwitz! Bring me the warrant, bring it here.  And let me have the passport for the Swede's  Ambassador, Gustaf, the Count of Horn.

[Exit the page.]

[To the first lackey.] Now Kottwitz and his retinue may come.

SCENE V

COLONEL KOTTWITZ and COLONEL HENNINGS, COUNT TRUCHSZ, COUNTS HOHENZOLLERN and SPARREN, COUNT REUSS, CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ, STRANZ and other officers enter. The others as before.

KOTTWITZ (bearing the petition).  Permit me, my exalted sovereign,  Here in the name of all your soldiery  Most humbly to submit this document.ELECTOR. Kottwitz, before I take it, tell me now  Who was it called you to this city here?KOTTWITZ (regarding him).  With the dragoons?ELECTOR. Ay, with your regiment!  I nominated Arnstein as your station.KOTTWITZ. Sir! It was your behest that brought me  hither.ELECTOR. Eh? Let me see the order!KOTTWITZ. Here, my liege.ELECTOR (reading).  Signed: "Natalie." And dated: "Fehrbellin,  By order of my liege, my uncle Frederick."KOTTWITZ. By God, my prince and lord, I will not hope  The order's news to you?ELECTOR. No—understand—Who  was it who conveyed the order thither?KOTTWITZ. Count Reuss!ELECTOR (after a momentary pause).  What's more, you're welcome, very welcome!  You have been chosen with your squadrons twelve  To pay Prince Homburg, sentenced by the law,  The final honors of the morrow.KOTTWITZ (taken aback). What, My sovereign?ELECTOR (handing back the order).  The regiment stands yet,  Benighted and befogged, outside the Castle?KOTTWITZ. Pardon, the night—ELECTOR. Why don't they go to quarters?KOTTWITZ. My sovereign, they have gone. As you directed  They have found quarters in the city here.ELECTOR (with a turn toward the window).  What? But a moment since—Well, by the gods!  You've found them stables speedily enough.  So much the better! Welcome, then, once more!  Come, say, what brings you here? What is your news?KOTTWITZ. Sir, this petition from your loyal men.ELECTOR. Come.KOTTWITZ. But the words your lips have spoken strike  All my anticipations down to earth.ELECTOR. Well, then, a word can lift them up again!

  [He reads.]

  "Petition, begging royal clemency  For our commandant, vitally accused,  The General, Prince Frederick Hessen-Homburg."

[To the officers.]

  A noble name, my lords! And not unworthy  Your coming in such numbers to its aid.

[He looks into the document again.]

By whom is the petition?KOTTWITZ. By myself.ELECTOR. The Prince has been apprized of what it holds?KOTTWITZ. Not in the very faintest. In our midst  The matter was conceived and given birth.ELECTOR. Grant me a moment's patience, if you please.

[He steps to the table and glances over the paper. Long pause.]

  Hm! Curious! You ancient war-horse, you,  You plead the Prince's cause? You justify  His charging Wrangel ere I gave command?KOTTWITZ. My sovereign, yes. That's what old Kottwitz does.ELECTOR. You did not hold that notion on the field!KOTTWITZ. I'd weighed the thing but ill, my sovereign.  I should have calmly yielded to the Prince  Who is most wonderfully versed in war.  The Swedes' left wing was wavering; on their right  Came reinforcements; had he been content  To bide your order, they'd have made a stand  With new intrenchments in the gullies there,  And never had you gained your victory.ELECTOR. That's what it pleases you to presuppose!  I sent out Colonel Hennings, as you know,  To pounce upon and seize the knot of bridges  Held by the Swedes to cover Wrangel's rear.  If you'd not disobeyed my order, look,  Hennings had carried out the stroke as planned—  In two hours' time had set afire the bridges,  Planted his forces firmly on the Rhyn,  And Wrangel had been crushed with stump and stem  In ditches and morasses, utterly.KOTTWITZ. It is the tyro's business, not yours,  To hunger after fate's supremest crown.  Until this hour you took what gift she gave.  The dragon that made desolate the Mark  Beneath your very nose has been repelled  With gory head! What could one day bring more?  What matters it if, for a fortnight yet,  Spent in the sand, he lies and salves his wounds?  We've learnt the art of conquering him, and now  Are full of zeal to make the most of it.  Give us a chance at Wrangel, like strong men,  Breast against breast once more; we'll make an end  And, down into the Baltic, down he goes!  They did not build Rome in a single day.ELECTOR. What right have you, you fool, to hope for that,  When every mother's son is privileged  To jerk the battle-chariot's reins I hold?  Think you that fortune will eternally  Award a crown to disobedience?  I do not like a bastard victory,  The gutter-waif of chance; the law, look you,  My crown's progenitor, I will uphold,  For she shall bear a race of victories.KOTTWITZ. My liege, the law, the highest and the best,  That shall be honored in your leaders' hearts—  Look, that is not the letter of your will!  It is the fatherland, it is the crown,  It is yourself, upon whose head it sits.  I beg you now, what matters it to you  What rule the foe fights by, as long as he  With all his pennons bites the dust once more?  The law that drubs him is the highest law!  Would you transform your fervid soldiery  Into a tool, as lifeless as the blade  That in your golden baldrick hangs inert?  Oh, empty spirit, stranger to the stars,  Who first gave forth such doctrine! Oh, the base,  The purblind statecraft, which because of one  Instance wherein the heart rode on to wrack,  Forgets ten others, in the whirl of life,  Wherein the heart alone has power to save!  Come, in the battle do I spill in dust  My blood for wages, money, say, or fame?  Faith, not a bit! It's all too good for that!  Why! I've my satisfaction and my joy,  Free and apart, in quiet solitude,  Seeing your splendor and your excellence,  The fame and crescence of your mighty name!  That is the wage for which I sold my heart!  Grant that, because of this unplanned success;  You broke the staff across the Prince's head,  And I somewhere twixt hill and dale at dawn  Should, shepherd-wise, steal on a victory  Unplanned as this, with my good squadrons, eh?—  By God, I were a very knave, did I  Not merrily repeat the Prince's act!  And if you spake, the law book in your hand:  "Kottwitz, you've forfeited your head!" I'd say:  I knew it, Sir; there, take it, there it is;  When with an oath I bound me, hide and hair,  Unto your crown, I left not out my head,  And I should give you nought but what was yours!ELECTOR. You whimsical old gentleman, with you  I get nowhere! You bribe me with your tongue—  Me, with your craftily framed sophistries—  Me—and you know I hold you dear! Wherefore  I call an advocate to bear my side  And end our controversy.

[He rings a bell. A footman enters.]

                           Go! I wish  The Prince of Homburg hither brought from prison.

[Exit footman.]

  He will instruct you, be assured of that,  What discipline and what obedience be!  He sent me words, at least, of other pitch  Than this astute idea of liberty  You have rehearsed here like a boy to me.

[He stands by the table again reading.]

KOTTWITZ (amazed).  Fetch whom? Call whom?HENNINGS. Himself?TRUCHSZ. Impossible!

[The officers group themselves, disquieted, and speak with one another.]

ELECTOR. Who has brought forth this other document?HOHENZOLL. I, my liege lord!ELECTOR (reading).                               "Proof that Elector Frederick  The Prince's act himself—"—Well, now, by heaven,  I call that nerve!  What! You dare say the cause of the misdeed  The Prince committed in the fight, am I!HOHENZOLL. Yourself, my liege; I say it, Hohenzollern.ELECTOR. Now then, by God, that beats the fairy-tales!  One man asserts that he is innocent,  The other that the guilty man am I!—  How will you demonstrate that thesis now?HOHENZOLL. My lord, you will recall to mind that night  We found the Prince in slumber deeply sunk  Down in the garden 'neath the plantain trees.  He dreamed, it seemed, of victories on the morrow,  And in his hand he held a laurel-twig,  As if to test his heart's sincerity.  You took the wreath away, and smilingly  Twined round the leaves the necklace that you wore,  And to the lady, to your noble niece,  Both wreath and necklace, intertwining, gave.  At such a wondrous sight, the Prince, aflush,  Leaps to his feet; such precious things held forth  By such a precious hand he needs must clasp.  But you withdraw from him in haste, withdrawing  The Princess as you pass; the door receives you.  Lady and chain and laurel disappear,  And, solitary, holding in his hand  A glove he ravished from he knows not whom—  Lapped in the midnight he remains behind.ELECTOR. What glove was that?HOHENZOLLERN. My sovereign, hear me through!  The matter was a jest; and yet, of what  Deep consequence to him I learned erelong.  For when I slip the garden's postern through,  Coming upon him as it were by chance,  And wake him, and he calls his senses home,  The memory flooded him with keen delight.  A sight more touching scarce the mind could paint.  The whole occurrence, to the least detail,  He recapitulated, like a dream;  So vividly, he thought, he ne'er had dreamed,  And in his heart the firm assurance grew  That heaven had granted him a sign; that when  Once more came battle, God would grant him all  His inward eye had seen, the laurel-wreath,  The lady fair, and honor's linked badge.ELECTOR. Hm! Curious! And then the glove?HOHENZOLLERN. Indeed!  This fragment of his dream, made manifest,  At once dispels and makes more firm his faith.  At first, with large, round eye he looks at it:  The color's white, in mode and shape it seems  A lady's glove, but, as he spoke with none  By night within the garden whom, by chance,  He might have robbed of it—confused thereto  In his reflections by myself, who calls him  Up to the council in the palace, he  Forgets the thing he cannot comprehend,  And off-hand in his collar thrusts the glove.ELECTOR. Thereupon?HOHENZOLLERN. Thereupon with pen and tablet  He seeks the Castle, with devout attention  To take the orders from the Marshal's lips.  The Electress and the Princess, journey-bound,  By chance are likewise in the hall; but who  Shall gauge the uttermost bewilderment  That takes him, when the Princess turns to find  The very glove he thrust into his collar!  The Marshal calls again and yet again  'The Prince of Homburg!' 'Marshal, to command!'  He cries, endeavoring to collect his thoughts;  But he, ringed round by marvels—why, the thunders  Of heaven might have fallen in our midst—

[He pauses.]

ELECTOR. It was the Princess' glove?HOHENZOLLERN. It was, indeed!

[The ELECTOR sinks into a brown study.]

  A stone is he; the pencil's in his hand,  And he stands there, and seems a living man;  But consciousness, as by a magic wand,  Is quenched within him; not until the morrow,  As down the lines the loud artillery  Already roars, does he return to life,  Asking me: Say, what was it Dörfling said  Last night in council, that applied to me?MARSHAL. Truly, my liege, that tale I can indorse.  The Prince, I call to mind, took in no word  Of what I said; distraught I've seen him oft,  But never yet in such degree removed  From blood and bone, never, as on that night.ELECTOR. Now then, if I make out your reasoning,  You pile your climax on my shoulders thus:  Had I not dangerously made a jest  Of this young dreamer's state, he had remained  Guiltless, in council had not roamed the clouds,  Nor disobedient proved upon the field.  Eh? Eh? Is that the logic?HOHENZOLLERN. My liege lord,  I trust the filling of the gaps to you.ELECTOR. Fool that you are, you addlepate! Had you  Not called me to the garden, I had not,  Following a whim of curiosity,  Made harmless fun of this somnambulist.  Wherefore, and quite with equal right, I hold  The cause of his delinquency were you!—  The delphic wisdom of my officers!HOHENZOLL. Enough, my sovereign! I am assured,  My words fell weightily upon your heart.