20

Ludolph. Say no more, Not as a swordsman would I pardon claim, But as a son. The bronzed centurion, Long toil'd in foreign wars, and whose high

deeds

Are shaded in a forest of tall spears,

49

Hath he not gall'd my spirit to the quick ?
And with a sullen rigour obstinate
Pour'd out a phial of wrath upon my faults?
Hunted me as the Tartar does the boar,
Driven me to the very edge o' the world,
And almost put a price upon my head?
Sigifred. Remember how he spared the
rebel lords.

Ludolph. Yes, yes, I know he hath a noble nature

That cannot trample on the fallen. But his

Is not the only proud heart in his realm. He hath wrong'd me, and I have done him

wrong;

He hath loved me, and I have shown him

kindness;

We should be almost equal.

61

Ha! till now I thought

My friend had held poor Ludolph's honour dear.

What would you have me sue before his throne

And kiss the courtier's missal, its silk steps?

Or hug the golden housings of his steed, Amid a camp, whose steeled swarms I dared

But yesterday ? And, at the trumpet sound,

Bow like some unknown mercenary's flag And lick the soiled grass? No, no, my

friend,

70

I would not, I, be pardon'd in the heap, And bless indemnity with all that scum, Those men I mean, who on my shoulders propp'd

Their weak rebellion, winning me with lies,

And pitying forsooth my many wrongs; Poor self-deceived wretches, who must think

Each one himself a king in embryo, Because some dozen vassals cried - my lord!

Cowards, who never knew their little hearts, Till flurried danger held the mirror up, 80 And then they own'd themselves without a blush,

Curling, like spaniels, round my father's

Or with one word fever'd you, gentle Prince,

Who seem'd to me, as rugged times then went,

Indeed too much oppress'd. May I be bold

To tell the Emperor you will haste to him? Ludolph. Your Dukedom's privilege will grant so much. [Exit CONRAD. very close to Otho, a tight leech!

He's