Читать книгу: «The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04», страница 29

SCENE VI

THE PRINCE (coming forward).

 
  Now, on thine orb, phantasmic creature, Fortune,
  Whose veil a faint wind's breathing even now
  Lifts as a sail, roll hither! Thou hast touched
  My hair in passing; as thou hovered'st near
  Already from thy horn of plenty thou
  Benignantly hast cast me down a pledge.
  Child of the gods, today, O fugitive one,
  I will pursue thee on the field of battle,
  Seize thee, tear low thy horn of plenty, pour
  Wholly thy radiant blessings round my feet,
  Though sevenfold chains of iron bind thee fast
  To the triumphant chariot of the Swede!
 

[Exit.]

ACT II

Scene: Battlefield of Fehrbellin.

SCENE I

COLONEL KOTTWITZ, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ and other officers enter at the head of the cavalry.

 
KOTTWITZ (outside). Halt! Squadron, halt! Dismount!
 
 
HOHENZOLLERN AND GOLZ (entering). Halt, halt!
 
 
KOTTWITZ. Hey, friends, who'll help me off my horse?
 
 
HOHENZOLLERN AND GOLZ. Here—here!
 

[They step outside again.]

 
KOTTWITZ (still outside).
  Thanks to you-ouch! Plague take me! May a son
  Be giv'n you for your pains, a noble son
  Who'll do the same for you when you grow sear.
 

[He enters, followed by_ HOHENZOLLERN, GOLZ and others.]

 
  Oh, in the saddle I am full of youth!
  When I dismount, though, there's a battle on
  As though the spirit and the flesh were parting,
  In wrath. [Looking about.] Where is our
  chief, the Prince's Highness?
 
 
HOHENZOLL. The Prince will momentarily return.
 
 
KOTTWITZ. Where has he gone?
 
 
   HOHENZOLLERN. He rode down to a hamlet,
  In foliage hidden, so you passed it by.
  He will return erelong.
 
 
OFFICER. Last night, they say,
  His horse gave him a tumble.
 
 
HOHENZOLLERN. So they say.
 
 
KOTTWITZ. He fell?
 
 
HOHENZOLLERN (turning). A matter of no consequence.
  His horse shied at the mill, but down his flank
  He lightly slipped and did himself no harm.
  It is not worth the shadow of a thought.
 
 
KOTTWITZ (ascending a slight elevation).
  A fine day, as I breathe the breath of life!
  A day our God, the lofty Lord of earth,
  For sweeter things than deadly combat made.
  Ruddily gleams the sunlight through the clouds
  And with the lark the spirit flutters up
  Exultant to the joyous airs of heaven!
 
 
GOLZ. Did you succeed in finding Marshal Dorfling?
 
 
KOTTWITZ (coming forward).
  The Devil, no! What does my lord expect?
  Am I a bird, an arrow, an idea,
  That he should bolt me round the entire field?
  I was at Hackel hillock with the van
  And with the rearguard down in Hackel vale.
  The one man whom I saw not was the Marshal!
  Wherefore I made my way back to my men.
 
 
GOLZ. He will be ill-content. He had, it seemed,
  A matter of some import to confide.
 
 
OFFICER. His Highness comes, our commandant, the Prince!
 

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 say
 
 
NATALIE. 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 news
 
 
SERGEANT. 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.]