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

SCENE II

The PRINCE OF HOMBURG with a black bandage on his left hand. The others as before.

KOTTWITZ. My young and very noble prince, God greet you!  Look, how I formed the squadrons down that road  While you were tarrying in the nest below.  I do believe you'll say I've done it well.THE PRINCE. Good morning, Kottwitz! And good morning, friends!  You know that I praise everything you do.HOHENZOLL. What were you up to in the village, Arthur?  You seem so grave.THE PRINCE. I—I was in the chapel  That beckoned through the placid village trees;  The bells were ringing, calling men to prayers,  As we passed by, and something urged me on  To kneel before the altar, too, and pray.KOTTWITZ. A pious gentleman for one so young!  A deed, believe me, that begins with prayer  Must end in glory, victory, and fame.THE PRINCE. Oh, by the way, I wanted to inquire—

[He draws the COUNT forward a step.]

  Harry, what was it Dorfling said last night  In his directions, that applied to me?HOHENZOLL. You were distraught. I saw that well enough.THE PRINCE. Distraught—divided! I scarce know what ailed me.  Dictation always sets my wits awry.HOHENZOLL. Not much for you this time, as luck would have it.  Hennings and Truchsz, who lead the infantry,  Are designated to attack the foe,  And you are ordered here to halt and stay,  Ready for instant action with the horse,  Until an order summon you to charge.THE PRINCE (after a pause, dreamily).  A curious thing!HOHENZOLLERN. To what do you refer?

[He looks at him. A cannon-shot is heard.]

KOTTWITZ. Ho, gentlemen! Ho, sirs! To horse, to horse!  That shot is Hennings', and the fight is on!

[They all ascend a slight elevation.]

THE PRINCE. Who is it? What?HOHENZOLLERN. It's Colonel Hennings, Arthur,  He's stolen his way about to Wrangel's rear.  Come, you can watch the entire field from here.GOLZ (on the hillock).  At the Rhyn there, how terribly he uncoils!THE PRINCE (shading his eyes with his hand).  Is Hennings over there on our right wing?1ST OFFICER. Indeed, Your Highness.THE PRINCE. What the devil then  Why, yesterday he held our army's right.

[Cannonade in the distance.]

KOTTWITZ. Thunder and lightning! Wrangel's cutting loose  At Hennings' now, from twelve loud throats of fire.1ST OFFICER. I call those some redoubts the Swedes have there!2D OFFICER. By heaven, look, they top the very spire Rising above the hamlet at their back!

[Shots near-by.]

GOLZ. That's Truchsz!THE PRINCE. Truchsz?KOTTWITZ. To be sure! Of course, it's Truchsz,  Approaching from the front to his support.THE PRINCE. What's Truchsz there in the centre for, today?

[Loud cannonading.]

GOLZ. Good heavens, look. The village is afire!3D OFFICER. Afire, as I live!1ST OFFICER. Afire! Afire! The flames are darting up the steeple now!GOLZ. Hey! How the Swedish aides fly right and left!2D OFFICER. They're in retreat!KOTTWITZ. Where?1ST OFFICER. There, at their right flank!3D OFFICER. In masses! Sure enough! Three regiments!  The intention seems to be to brace the left.2D OFFICER. My faith! And now the horse are ordered out  To screen the right living's march!HOHENZOLLERN (with a laugh). Hi! How they'll scamper  When they get ware of us here in the vale!

[Musketry fire.]

KOTTWITZ. Look, brothers, look!2D OFFICER. Hark!1ST OFFICER. Fire of musketry!3D OFFICER. They're at each other now in the redoubts!GOLZ. My God, in my born days I never heard  Such thunder of artillery!HOHENZOLLERN. Shoot! Shoot!  Burst open wide the bowels of the earth!  The cleft shall be your corpses' sepulchre!

[Pause. Shouts of victory in the distance.]

1ST OFFICER. Lord in the heavens, who grants men victories! Wrangel is in retreat already!

HOHENZOLLERN. No!GOLZ. By heaven, friends! Look! There on his left  flank!  He's drawing back his guns from the redoubts!ALL. Oh, triumph! Triumph! Victory is ours!THE PRINCE (descending from the hillock).  On, Kottwitz, follow me!KOTTWITZ. Come, cool now—cool!THE PRINCE. On! Let the trumpets sound the charge!  And on!KOTTWITZ. Cool, now, I say.THE PRINCE (wildly).  By heaven and earth and hell!KOTTWITZ. Our liege's Highness in the ordinance  Commanded we should wait his orders here.  Golz, read the gentlemen the ordinance.THE PRINCE. Orders? Eh, Kottwitz, do you ride so slow?  Have you not heard the orders of your heart?KOTTWITZ. Orders?HOHENZOLLERN. Absurd!KOTTWITZ. The orders of my heart?HOHENZOLL. Listen to reason, Arthur!GOLZ. Here, my chief!KOTTWITZ (offended).  Oh, ho! you give me that, young gentleman?—The  nag you dance about on, at a pinch  I'll tow him home yet at my horse's tail!  March, march, my gentlemen! Trumpets, the  charge!  On to the battle, on! Kottwitz is game!GOLZ (to KOTTWITZ).  Never, my colonel, never! No, I swear!2D OFFICER. Remember, Hennings' not yet at the Rhyn!1ST OFFICER. Relieve him of his sword!THE PRINCE. My sword, you say?

[He pushes him back.]

  Hi, you impertinent boy, who do not even  Know yet the Ten Commandments of the Mark!  Here is your sabre, and the scabbard with it!

[He tears off the officer's sword together with the belt.]

1ST OFFICER (reeling).  By God, Prince, that's—THE PRINCE (threateningly).  If you don't hold your tongue—HOHENZOLLERN (to the officer).  Silence! You must be mad!THE PRINCE (giving up the sword).  Ho, corporal's guard!  Off to headquarters with the prisoner!

[To KOTTWITZ and the other officers.]

  Now, gentlemen, the countersign: A knave  Who follows not his general to the fight!—  Now, who dares lag?KOTTWITZ. You heard. Why thunder more?HOHENZOLLERN (mollifying).  It was advice, no more, they sought to give.KOTTWITZ. On your head be it. I go with you.THE PRINCE (somewhat calmed). Come!  Be it upon my head then. Follow, brothers!

[Exeunt.]

SCENE III

A room in a village. A gentleman-in-waiting, booted and spurred, enters. A peasant and his wife are sitting at a table, at work.

GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING.  God greet you, honest folk! Can you make room  To shelter guests beneath your roof?PEASANT. Indeed!  Gladly, indeed!THE WIFE. And may one question, whom?GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING.  The highest lady in the land, no less.  Her coach broke down outside the village gates,  And since we hear the victory is won  There'll be no need for farther journeying.BOTH (rising).  The victory won? Heaven!GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING. What! You haven't heard?  The Swedish army's beaten hip and thigh;  If not forever, for the year at least  The Mark need fear no more their fire and sword!—  Here comes the mother of our people now.

SCENE IV

The ELECTRESS, pale and distressed, enters with the PRINCESS NATALIE, followed by various ladies-in-waiting. The others as before.

ELECTRESS (on the threshold).  Bork! Winterfeld! Come! Let me have your arm.NATALIE (going to her).  Oh, mother mine!LADIES-IN-WAITING. Heavens, how pale! She is faint.

[They support her.]

ELECTRESS. Here, lead me to a chair, I must sit down.  Dead, said he—dead?NATALIE. Mother, my precious mother!ELECTRESS. I'll see this bearer of dread news myself.

SCENE V

CAPTAIN VON MÖRNER enters, wounded, supported by two troopers. The others.

ELECTRESS. Oh, herald of dismay, what do you bring?MÖRNER. Oh, precious Madam, what these eyes of mine  To their eternal grief themselves have seen!ELECTRESS. So be it! Tell!MÖRNER. The Elector is no more.NATALIE. Oh, heaven  Shall such a hideous blow descend on us?

[She hides her face in her hands.]

ELECTRESS. Give me report of how he came to fall—  And, as the bolt that strikes the wanderer,  In one last flash lights scarlet-bright the world,  So be your tale. When you are done, may night  Close down upon my head.MÖRNER (approaching her, led by the two troopers).  The Prince of Homburg,  Soon as the enemy, hard pressed by Truchsz,  Reeling broke cover, had brought up his troops  To the attack of Wrangel on the plain;  Two lines he'd pierced and, as they broke, destroyed,  When a strong earthwork hemmed his way; and thence  So murderous a fire on him beat  That, like a field of grain, his cavalry,  Mowed to the earth, went down; twixt bush and hill  He needs must halt to mass his scattered corps.NATALIE (to the ELECTRESS).  Dearest, be strong!ELECTRESS. Stop, dear. Leave me alone.MÖRNER. That moment, watching, clear above the dust,  We see our liege beneath the battle-flags  Of Truchsz's regiments ride on the foe.  On his white horse, oh, gloriously he rode,  Sunlit, and lighting the triumphant plain.  Heart-sick with trepidation at the sight  Of him, our liege, bold in the battle's midst,  We gather on a hillock's beetling brow;  When of a sudden the Elector falls,  Horseman and horse, in dust before our eyes.  Two standard-bearers fell across his breast  And overspread his body with their flags.NATALIE. Oh, mother mine!FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING. Oh, heaven!ELECTRESS. Go on, go on!MÖRNER. At this disastrous spectacle, a pang  Unfathomable seized the Prince's heart;  Like a wild beast, spurred on of hate and vengeance,  Forward he lunged with us at the redoubt.  Flying, we cleared the trench and, at a bound,  The shelt'ring breastwork, bore the garrison down,  Scattered them out across the field, destroyed;  Capturing the Swede's whole panoply of war—  Cannon and standards, kettle-drums and flags.  And had the group of bridges at the Rhyn  Hemmed not our murderous course, not one had lived  Who might have boasted at his father's hearth  At Fehrbellin I saw the hero fall!ELECTRESS. Triumph too dearly bought! I like it not.  Give me again the purchase-price it cost.

[She falls in a faint.]

FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING. Help, God in heaven! Her senses flee from her.

[NATALIE is weeping.]

SCENE VI

The PRINCE OF HOMBURG enters. The others.

THE PRINCE. Oh, Natalie, my dearest!

[Greatly moved, he presses her hand to his heart.]

NATALIE. Then it is true?THE PRINCE. Could I but answer No!  Could I but pour my loyal heart's blood out  To call his loyal heart back into life!NATALIE (drying her tears).  Where is his body? Have they found it yet?THE PRINCE. Until this hour, alas, my labor was  Vengeance on Wrangle only; how could I  Then dedicate myself to such a task?  A horde of men, however, I sent forth  To seek him on the battle-plains of death.  Ere night I do not doubt that he will come.NATALIE. Who now will lead us in this terrible war  And keep these Swedes in subjugation? Who  Shield us against this world of enemies  His fortune won for us, his high renown?THE PRINCE (taking her hand).  I, lady, take upon myself your cause!  Before the desolate footsteps of your throne  I shall stand guard, an angel with a sword!  The Elector hoped, before the year turned tide,  To see the Marches free. So be it! I  Executor will be of that last will.NATALIE. My cousin, dearest cousin!

[She withdraws her hand.]

THE PRINCE. Natalie!

[A moment's pause.]

What holds the future now in store for you?NATALIE. After this thunderbolt which cleaves the ground  Beneath my very feet, what can I do?  My father and my precious mother rest  Entombed at Amsterdam; in dust and ashes  Dordrecht, my heritage ancestral lies.  Pressed hard by the tyrannic hosts of Spain  Maurice, my kin of Orange, scarcely knows  How he shall shelter his own flesh and blood.  And now the last support that held my fate's  Frail vine upright falls from me to the earth.  Oh, I am orphaned now a second time!THE PRINCE (throwing his arm about her waist).  Oh, friend, sweet friend, were this dark hour not given  To grief, to be its own, thus would I speak  Oh, twine your branches here about this breast,  Which, blossoming long years in solitude,  Yearns for the wondrous fragrance of your bells.NATALIE. My dear, good cousin!THE PRINCE. Will you, will you?NATALIE. Ah,  If I might grow into its very marrow!

[She lays her head upon his breast.]

THE PRINCE. What did you sayNATALIE. Go now!THE PRINCE (holding her). Into its kernel!  Into the heart's deep kernel, Natalie!

[_He kisses her. She tears herself away.]

  Dear God, were he for whom we grieve but here  To look upon this union! Could we lift  To him our plea: Father, thy benison!

[He hides his face in his hands; NATALIE turns again to the ELECTRESS.]

SCENE VII

A sergeant enters in haste. The others as before.

SERGEANT. By the Almighty God, my Prince, I scarce  Dare bring to you the rumor that's abroad!—  The Elector lives!THE PRINCE. He lives!SERGEANT. By heaven above!  Count Sparren brought the joyful news but now!NATALIE. Lord of my days! Oh, mother, did you hear?

[She falls down at the feet of the ELECTRESS and embraces her.]

THE PRINCE. But say! Who brings the newsSERGEANT. Count George of Sparren,  Who saw him, hale and sound, with his own eyes  At Hackelwitz amid the Truchszian corps.THE PRINCE. Quick! Run, old man! And bring him in to me!

[The SERGEANT goes out.]

SCENE VIII

COUNT SPARREN and the Sergeant enter. The others as before.

ELECTRESS. Oh, do not cast me twice down the abyss!NATALIE. No, precious mother mine!ELECTRESS. And Frederick lives?NATALIE (holding her up with both hands).  The peaks of life receive you once again!SERGEANT (entering).  Here is the officer!THE PRINCE. Ah, Count von Sparren!  You saw His Highness fresh and well disposed  At Hackelwitz amid the Truchszian corps?SPARREN. Indeed, Your Highness, in the vicarage court  Where, compassed by his staff, he gave commands  For burial of both the armies' dead.LADIES-IN-WAITING.  Dear heaven! On thy breast—

[They embrace.]

ELECTRESS. My daughter dear!NATALIE. Oh, but this rapture is well-nigh too great!

[She buries her face in her aunt's lap.]

THE PRINCE. Did I not see him, when I stood afar  Heading my cavalry, dashed down to earth,  His horse and he shivered by cannon-shot?SPARREN. Indeed, the horse pitched with his rider down,  But he who rode him, Prince, was not our liege.THE PRINCE. What? Not our liege?NATALIE. Oh, wonderful!

[She rises and remains standing beside the ELECTRESS.]

THE PRINCE. Speak then!  Weighty as gold each word sinks to my heart.SPARREN. Then let me give you tidings of a deed  So moving, ear has never heard its like.  Our country's liege, who, to remonstrance deaf,  Rode his white horse again, the gleaming white  That Froben erstwhile bought for him in England,  Became once more, as ever was the case,  The target for the foe's artillery.  Scarce could the members of his retinue  Within a ring of hundred yards approach  About there and about, a stream of death,  Hurtled grenades and cannon-shot and shell.  They that had lives to save fled to its banks.  He, the strong swimmer, he alone shrank not,  But beckoning his friends, unswervingly  Made toward the high lands whence the river came.THE PRINCE. By heaven, i' faith! A gruesome sight it was!SPARREN. Froben, the Master of the Horse who rode  Closest to him of all, called out to me  "Curses this hour on this white stallion's hide,  I bought in London for a stiff round sum!  I'd part with fifty ducats, I'll be bound,  Could I but veil him with a mouse's gray."  With hot misgiving he draws near and cries,  "Highness, your horse is skittish; grant me leave  To give him just an hour of schooling more."  And leaping from his sorrel at the word  He grasps the bridle of our liege's beast.  Our liege dismounts, still smiling, and replies  "As long as day is in the sky, I doubt  If he will learn the art you wish to teach.  But give your lesson out beyond those hills  Where the foe's gunners will not heed his fault."  Thereon he mounts the sorrel, Froben's own,  Returning thence to where his duty calls.  But scarce is Froben mounted on the white  When from a breastwork, oh! a murder-shell  Tears him to earth, tears horse and rider low.  A sacrifice to faithfulness, he falls;  And from him not a sound more did we hear.

[Brief pause.]

THE PRINCE. He is well paid for! Though I had ten lives  I could not lose them in a better cause!NATALIE. Valiant old Froben!ELECTRESS (in tears). Admirable man!NATALIE (also weeping).  A meaner soul might well deserve our tears!THE PRINCE. Enough! To business! Where's the Elector then  Is Hackelwitz headquarters?SPARREN. Pardon, sir!  The Elector has proceeded to Berlin  And begs his generals thence to follow him.THE PRINCE. What? To Berlin? You mean the war is done?SPARREN. Indeed, I marvel that all this is news.  Count Horn, the Swedish general, has arrived;  And, following his coming, out of hand  The armistice was heralded through camp.  A conference, if I discern aright  The Marshal's meaning, is attached thereto  Perchance that peace itself may follow soon.ELECTRESS (rising).  Dear God, how wondrously the heavens clear!THE PRINCE. Come, let us follow straightway to Berlin.  'Twould speed my journey much if you could spare  A little space for me within your coach?—  I've just a dozen words to write to Kottwitz,  And on the instant I'll be at your side.

[He sits down and writes.]

ELECTRESS. Indeed, with all my heart!THE PRINCE (folds the note and gives it to the Sergeant;  then, as he turns again to the ELECTRESS,  softly lays his arm about NATALIE's waist).  I have a wish,  A something timorously to confide  I thought I might give vent to on the road.NATALIE (tearing herself away).  Bork! Quick! My scarf, I beg—ELECTRESS. A wish to me?FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING.  Princess, the scarf is round your neck.THE PRINCE (to the ELECTRESS). Indeed!  Can you not guess?ELECTRESS. No—THE PRINCE. Not a syllable?ELECTRESS (abruptly).  What matter? Not a suppliant on earth  Could I deny today, whate'er he ask,  And you, our battle-hero, least of all!  Come!THE PRINCE. Mother! Oh, what did you speak? Those words—  May I interpret them to suit me best?ELECTRESS. Be off, I say! More, later, as we ride!  Come, let me have your arm.THE PRINCE. Oh, Cæsar Divus!  Lo, I have set a ladder to thy star!

[He leads the ladies out. Exeunt omnes.]

SCENE IX

Scene: Berlin. Pleasure garden outside the old palace. In the background the palace chapel with a staircase leading up to it. Tolling of bells. The church is brightly illuminated. The body of FROBEN is carried by and set on a splendid catafalque. The ELECTOR, FIELD-MARSHAL DÖRFLING, COLONEL HENNINGS, COUNT TRUCHSZ and several other colonels and minor officers enter. From the opposite side enter various officers with dispatches. In the church as well as in the square are men, women and children of all ages.

ELECTOR. What man soever led the cavalry  Upon the day of battle, and, before  The force of Colonel Hennings could destroy  The bridges of the foe, of his own will  Broke loose, and forced the enemy to flight  Ere I gave order for it, I assert  That man deserves that he be put to death;  I summon him therefore to be court-martialed.—  Prince Homburg, then, you say, was not the man?TRUCHSZ. No, my liege lord!ELECTOR. What proof have you of that?TRUCHSZ. Men of the cavalry can testify,  Who told me of 't before the fight began:  The Prince fell headlong from his horse, and, hurt  At head and thigh, men found him in a church  Where some one bound his deep and dangerous wounds.ELECTOR. Enough! Our victory this day is great,  And in the church tomorrow will I bear  My gratitude to God. Yet though it were  Mightier tenfold, still would it not absolve  Him through whom chance has granted it to me.  More battles still than this have I to fight,  And I demand subjection to the law.  Whoever led the cavalry to battle,  I reaffirm has forfeited his head,  And to court-martial herewith order him.—  Come, follow me, my friends, into the church.

SCENE X

The PRINCE of HOMBURG enters bearing three Swedish flags, followed by COLONEL KOTTWITZ, bearing two, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, CAPTAIN GOLZ, COUNT REUSS, each with a flag; and several other officers, corporals, and troopers carrying flags, kettle-drums and standards.

DÖRFLING (spying the PRINCE OF HOMBURG).  The Prince of Homburg!—Truchsz! What did you mean?ELECTOR (amazed).  Whence came you, Prince?THE PRINCE (stepping forward a few paces).  From Fehrbellin, my liege,  And bring you thence these trophies of success!

[He lays the three flags before him; the officers, corporals and troopers do likewise, each with his own.]

ELECTOR (frigidly).  I hear that you are wounded, dangerously?  Count Truchsz!THE PRINCE (gaily). Forgive!COUNT TRUCHSZ. By heaven, I'm amazed!THE PRINCE. My sorrel fell before the fight began.  This hand a field-leech bandaged up for me  Scarce merits that you call it wounded.ELECTOR. So?  In spite of it you led the cavalry?THE PRINCE (regarding him).  I? Indeed, I! Must you learn that from me?  Here at your feet I laid the proof of that.ELECTOR. Relieve him of his sword. He is a prisoner.DÖRFLING (taken aback).  Whom?ELECTOR (stepping among the flags).  Ah, God greet you, Kottwitz!TRUCHSZ (aside). Curses on it!KOTTWITZ. By God, I'm utterly—ELECTOR (looking at him). What did you say?  Look, what a crop mown for our glory here!—  That flag is of the Swedish Guards, is't not?

[He takes up a flag, unwinds it and studies it.]

KOTTWITZ. My liege?DÖRFLING. My lord and master?ELECTOR. Ah, indeed!  And from the time of Gustaf Adolf too.  How runs the inscription?KOTTWITZ. I believe—DÖRFLING. "Per aspera ad astra!"ELECTOR. That was not verified at Fehrbellin.

[Pause.]

KOTTWITZ (hesitantly).  My liege, grant me a word.ELECTOR. What is 't you wish?  Take all the things-flags, kettle-drums and standards,  And hang them in the church. I plan tomorrow  To use them when we celebrate our triumph!

[The ELECTOR turns to the couriers, takes their dispatches, opens and

  reads them.]KOTTWITZ (aside).  That, by the living God, that is too much!

[After some hesitation, the Colonel takes up his two flags; the other officers and troopers follow suit. Finally, as the three flags of the PRINCE remain untouched, he takes up these also, so that he is now bearing five.]

AN OFFICER (stepping up to the PRINCE).  Prince, I must beg your sword.HOHENZOLLERN (carrying his flag). Quiet now, friend.THE PRINCE. Speak! Am I dreaming? Waking? Living? Sane?GOLZ. Prince, give your sword, I counsel, and say nothing.THE PRINCE. A prisoner? I?HOHENZOLLERN. Indeed!GOLZ. You heard him say it.THE PRINCE. And may one know the reason why?HOHENZOLLERN (emphatically). Not now!  We told you, at the time, you pressed too soon  Into the battle, when the order was  You should not quit your place till you were called.THE PRINCE. Help, help, friends, help! I'm going mad!GOLZ (interrupting). Calm! calm!THE PRINCE. Were the Mark's armies beaten then?HOHENZOLLERN (with a stamp of his foot). No matter!  The ordinance demands obedience.THE PRINCE (bitterly).  So—so, so, so!HOHENZOLLERN (turning away from him).  It will not cost your head.GOLZ (similarly).  Tomorrow morning, maybe, you'll be free.

[The ELECTOR folds his letters and returns to the circle of   officers.]

THE PRINCE (after he has unbuckled his sword).  My cousin Frederick hopes to play the Brutus  And sees himself, on linen drawn with chalk,  Already seated in the curule chair.  The foreground filled with Swedish battle-flags,  And on his desk the ordinance of the Mark.  By God, in me he shall not find a son  Who shall revere him 'neath the hangman's axe!  A German heart of honest cut and grain,  I look for kindness and nobility;  And when he stands before me, frigidly,  This moment, like some ancient man of stone,  I'm sorry for him and I pity him.

[He gives his sword to the officer and goes out.]

ELECTOR. Bring him to camp at Fehrbellin, and there  Assemble the court-martial for his trial.

[He enters the church. The flags follow him, and, while he and his retinue kneel in prayer at FROBEN's coffin, are fastened to the pilasters. Funeral music.]

ACT III

Scene: Fehrbellin. A prison.

SCENE I

The PRINCE OF HOMBURG. Two troopers as guards in the rear. COUNT