The old man held his spirit in so strictly (But that could scarce be, for he doted on him); A third believed he wish'd to serve in war, But peace being made soon after his departure, He might have since return'd, were that A fourth set charitably have surmised, That in the wild exuberance of his nature, The mountains of Bohemia and Silesia, into A kind of general condottiero-system Idenst. That cannot be. A young heir, bred to wealth and luxury, Fritz. Heaven best knows! Or tame the tiger, though their infancy Were but the same thing upon a grand scale; They who would follow the same pastime must Pursue it on their own account. Here comes Enter STRALENHEIM and ULRIC. Making me feel the worthlessness of words, what Your courteous courage did in my behalf. further. Stralenh. But Can I not serve you? You are young, and of | Would look into the fiery eyes of war, In an as perilous but opposite element. Who shall be yours. 'Tis true, this pause Favours such views at present scantily; And, after thirty years of conflict, peace You might obtain a post, which would ensure A higher soon, and, by my influence, fail not Ulric. You perceive my garb Is Saxon, and of course my service due Stralenh. Why, this is mere usury! Ulric. You shall say so when Stralenh. Well, Sir, since you will not— Ulric. I've heard my kinsmen say so. Ulric. Ulric. Stralenh. Your house's? Ulric. When I'm worthy of it, Stralenh. (aside) Austrian, Most probably an Whom these unsettled times forbid to boast His lineage on these wild and dangerous frontiers, Where the name of his country is abhorr'd. [Aloud to Fritz and Idenstein. So, Sirs! how have ye sped in your researches? I Idenst. Indifferent well, your Excellency. am to deem the plunderer is caught? Idenst. Oh! for that matter, very much suspected. Stralenh. Who may he be? Idenst. Why, don't you know, my Lord? Exactly like the rest, or rather better: But I'll engage, that if seen there but once, Stralenh. (to Fritz) Prithee, Fritz, in- What hath been done to trace the fellow? Fritz. Faith! My Lord, not much as yet, except conjecture. Stralenh. Besides the loss (which, I must own, affects me Just now materially), I needs would find And lighted chambers, on my rest, and snatch The gold before my scarce closed eyes, would soon Leave bare your borough, Sir Intendant! If there were aught to carry off, my Lord. Stralenh. You join'd ns but this morning, And have not heard that I was robb'd last night. Ulric. Some rumour of it reach'd me as The outer chambers of the palace, but Stralenh. It is a strange business: Can only be approved by proofs. You see Stralenh. (again interrupting him, and addressing Ulric) In short, I was asleep upon a chair, Besides those of the place, and bore away Ulric. Come on, old oracle, expound thy riddle! [Exit with Idenstein and Fritz. Stralenh. (solus) A stalwart, active, soldier-looking stripling, Handsome as Hercules ere his first labour, I have need of some such spirits near me now, Neither are they who now rise up between me And my desire. The boy, they say, 's a bold one; But he hath play'd the truant in some hour Of freakish folly, leaving fortune to Champion his claims: that's well. The father, whom For years I've track'd, as does the bloodhound, never In sight, but constantly in scent, had put me To fault, but here I have him, and that's better. It must be he! All circumstance proclaims it; And careless voices, knowing not the cause Of my inquiries, still confirm it - Yes! The man, his bearing, and the mystery Of his arrival and the time; the account,too, The intendant gave (for I have not beheld her) Of his wife's dignified but foreign aspect: Besides the antipathy with which we met, As snakes and lions shrink back from each other By secret instinct that both must be foes Deadly, without being natural prey to either; All-all-confirm it to my mind: however, We'll grapple, ne'ertheless. In a few hours The order comes from Frankfort, if these waters Rise not the higher(and the weather favours Their quick abatement), and I'll have him safe Within a dungeon, where he may avouch SCENE II.-The Apartment of WERNER, in the Palace. Enter JOSEPHINE and ULRIC. Josephine. Stand back, and let me look on thee again! -- Friend, how fare you? | My Ulric! – my beloved!—can it bc- Gabor. As those who fare well every Have supp'd and slumber'd, no great matter how To watch for the abatement of the river, As being anxious to resume my journey. Your messengers were allcheck'd likemyself; And, seeing the case hopeless, I await The current's pleasure. Stralenh. Would the dogs were in it! Why did they not, at least, attempt the passage? I order'd this at all risks. Gabor. Could you order The Oder to divide, as Moses did The Red Sea (scarcely redder than the flood Of the swoln stream), and be obey'd, perhaps They might have ventured. Stralenh. I must see to it: The knaves! the slaves!- but they shall smart for this. [Exit Stralenheim. Gabor. (solus) There goes my noble, feudal, self-will'd baron! Epitome of what brave chivalry The prenx chevaliers of the good old times Have left us. Yesterday he would have given His lands (if he hath any), and, still dearer, Ulric, My dearest mother! My dream is realized-how beautifulHow more than all I sigh'd for! Heaven receive A mother's thanks!--a mother's tears of joy! This is indeed thy work!-At such an hour, too, He comes not only as a son but saviour. Ulric. If such joy await me,it must double This long delay was not my fault. But cannot think of sorrow now, and doubt Look upon him! What do you see? Werner. A stripling, For the first time Ulric (kneeling). For twelve long years, Werner. No-I am better now- Ulric. My father, Siegendorf! But we will talk of that anon. Remember, Sure 'tis no father's fondness dazzles me; But had I seen that form amid ten thousand Youths of the choicest, my heart would have chosen This for my son! Ulric. And yet you knew me not! Werner. Alas! I have had that upon my soul Which makes me look on all men with an eye That only knows the evil at first glance. Ulric. My memory served me far more fondly: I Werner. Ay, if at Prague: But here he is all powerful: and has spread Snares for thy father, which, if hitherto He hath escaped them, is by fortune, not By favour. Ulric. Doth he personally know you? Werner. No; but he guesses shrewdly at my person, As he betray'd last night; and I, perhaps, Ulric. I think you wrong him Have not forgotten aught; and ofttimes in (Excuse me for the phrase); but Stralenheim The proud and princely halls of—(I'll not | Is not what you prejudge him, or, if so, He owes me something both for past and present; name them, As you say that 'tis perilous), but i' the pomp They shall not part us more. Werner. I know not that. Are you aware my father is no more? Ulric. Oh Heavens! I left him in a green old age, And looking like the oak, worn, but still steady Amidst the elements, whilst younger trees Fell fast around him. 'Twas scarce three months since. Werner. Why did you leave him? Josephine (embracing Ulric). Can you ask that question? Is he not here? Werner. True; he hath sought his parents, And found them; but, oh! how, and in I saved his life, he therefore trusts in me: He hath been plunder'd too, since he came hither; Is sick; a stranger; and as such not now Able to trace the villain who hath robb'd him; I have pledged myself to do so; and the business Which brought me here was chiefly that: but I Have found, in searching for another's dross, My own whole treasure-you, my parents! Werner. (agitatedly) Who Taught you to mouth that name of “villain?” Ulric. What More noble name belongs to common thieves? Werner. Who taught you thus to brand an unknown being With an infernal stigma? Ulric. My own feelings Taught me to name a ruffian from his deeds. Werner. Who taught you, long-sought, and ill-found boy! that It would be safe for my own son to insult me? Ulric. I named a villain What is there in common With such a being and my father? falters.) and yet! — (Her voice Ulric. (Starts, looks earnestly at Werner, and then says slowly) And you avow it? Werner. Ulric! before you dare despise your father, Learn to divine and judge his actions. Young, Rash, new to life, and rear'd in luxury's lap, Is it for you to measure passion's force, Or misery's temptation? Wait-(not long, It cometh like the night, and quickly)— Wait! Wait till, like me, your hopes are blighted-till Sorrow and shame are handmaids of your cabin; Famine and poverty your guests at table; I had not follow'd? Ulric. I obey you, mother, Although reluctantly. My first act shall not Josephine. Oh! he is good! Condemn him not from his own mouth, but trust To me, who have borne so much with him, and for him, Even to your deadliest foe; and he as 'twere your God!. If then, like me, content with petty plunder, Ulric. But Werner (abruptly). Hear me ! My mother thinks not with him? Think as he speaks. Alas! long years of grief More clearly, then, these claims of Stra- I will not brook a human voice-scarce dare but learn None are secure from desperation, few Had swept him and all fears of mine from He was within my power-my knife was |