as since, With the nobles of the city. I felt sure I had not err'd, and watch'd him long and nearly: I noted down his form-his gesture-fea- | tures, Stature and bearing- and amidst them all, 'Midst every natural and acquired distinction, I could discern, methought, the assassin's eye And gladiator's heart. Ulric (smiling). The tale sounds well. One of those beings to whom Fortune bends To leave the city privately-we left it In the poor town where Werner was conceal'd, And Stralenheim was succour'd- Now we are on The verge dare you hear further? Or I have heard too much. Gabor. I saw in you A man above his station-and if not My purse, though slender, with you-yon refused it. Siegend. Doth my refusal make a debt to you, That thus you urge it? Gabor. Still you owe me something, Though not for that-and I owed you my safety, At least my seeming safety-when the slaves Of Stralenheim pursued me on the grounds That I had robb'd him. Siegend. I conceal'd you -1, Whom, and whose house, you arraign, reviving viper! Gabor. I accuse no man-save in my defence. You, Count! have made yourself accuserjudge Your hall's my court, your heart is my tribunal. Be just, and I'll be merciful. Gabor. I. "Twill rest With me at last to be so. You conceal'd me— Of tracing back my way- I saw a glimmer Through distant crannies of a twinkling light. I follow'd it, and reach'd a door--a secret Portal which open'd to the chamber, where, With cautious hand and slow, having first undone He, whom you dare not name-nor even I Scarce dare to recollect-was not then in The chamber. Siegend. (to Ulric) Then, my boy! thou art guiltless still Thou bad'st me say I was so once-Oh! now Do thou as much! Gabor. Be patient! I can not Recede now, though it shake the very walls Which frown above us. You remember, or If not, your son does,—that the locks were changed Beneath his chief inspection-on the morn Which led to this same night: how he had enter'd, He best knows-but within an antechamber, The door of which was half ajar-I saw A man who wash'd his bloody hands, and oft With stern and anxious glance gazed back upon The bleeding body—but it moved no more. Siegend. Oh! God of Fathers! For him at any time, as had been proved That morning - either in address or force. I turn'd, and fled-i' the dark: Chance, rather than Skill, made me gain the secret door of the hall, And thence the chamber where you slept if I 'Had found you waking, Heaven alone can tell What Vengeance and Suspicion might have prompted; But ne'er slept Guilt as Werner slept that night. Siegend. And yet I had horrid dreams! and such brief sleep With you; you are wealthy, noble, trusted by The Imperial powers-You understand me? Siegend. Yes.— Gabor. Not quite. You think me venal, and scarce true: 'Tis no less true, however, that my fortunes Have made me both at present; you shall aid me, I would have aided you-and also have Been somewhat damaged in my name to save Yours and your son's. Weigh well what I have said. Siegend. Dare you await the event of a few minutes' Deliberation? Gabor (casts his eyes on Ulric, who is This tower. [Opens a turret-door. Gabor (hesitatingly). This is the second safe asylum You have offer'd me. Siegend. And was not the first so? Gabor. I know not that even now-but will approve The second. I have still a further shield.— I did not enter Prague alone-and should I Be put to rest with Stralenheim-there are Some tongues without will wag in my behalf. Be brief in your decision! Siegend. I will be so. My word is sacred and irrevocable Within these walls, but it extends no further. Gabor. I'll take it for so much. Siegend. (points to Ulric's sabre, still upon the ground). Take also thatsaw you eye it eagerly, and him The stars had not gone down when I awoke-I father And now my dream is out! Gabor. Tis not my fault, If I have read it.- Well! I fled and hid me- My secret, and may weigh its worth. Gabor. Is it Revenge or Justice which Your meditation? Siegend. Neither-I was weighing The value of your secret. Gabor. You shall know it At once - when you were poor, and I, though poor, Rich enough to relieve such poverty Gabor (takes up the sabre). I will; and so provide To sell my life-not cheaply. [Gabor goes into the turret, which Siegendorf closes. Siegend. (advances to Ulric) Now, Count Ulric! For son I dare not call thee-What sayst thou? Ulric. His tale is true. And you did well to listen to it: what Siegend. Ay, with half of my domains; And with the other half, could he and thou Unsay this villany. When we met in the garden, what except Discovery in the act could make me know His death? Or had the Prince's household been Then summon'd, would the cry for the police Been left to such a stranger? Or should I Have loiter'd on the way? Or could you, Werner, The object of the Baron's hate and fears, Have fled-unless by many an hour before Suspicion woke? I sought and fathom'd youDoubting if you were false or feeble; I Perceived you were the latter; and yet so Confiding have I found you, that I doubted At times your weakness. Siegend. Parricide! no less Than common stabber! What deed of my life, Or thought of mine, could make you deem me fit For your accomplice? Ulric. Father, do not raise The devil you cannot lay, between us. This Could I be calm? Think you that I have heard This fellow's tale without some feeling? you Have taught me feeling for you and myself; For whom or what else did you ever teach it? Siegend. Oh! my dead father's curse! 'tis working now. Ulric. Let it work on! the grave will keep it down! Ashes are feeble foes: it is more easy Yet hear me still!-If you condemn me, yet Remember who hath taught me once too often To listen to him! Who proclaim'd to me That there were crimes made venial by the occasion? That passion was our nature? that the goods Of heaven waited on the goods of fortune? He longs to do, but dare not. Is it strange With right and wrong; and now must only ponder Upon effects, not causes. Stralenheim, Whose life I saved,from impulse,as,unknown, I would have saved a peasant's or a dog's, I slew, Was a rock in our way, which I cut through, The torch you show'd the path: now trace me that Of safety-or let me! Siegend. I have done with life! Ulric. Let us have done with that which cankers life Familiar feuds and vain recriminations (Although you know them not) dare venture all things. You stand high with the state; what passes here Will not excite her too great curiosity: Keep your own secret, keep a steady eye, Stir not, and speak not;-leave the rest It seems: I might have guess'd as much. Oh fool! Wolves prowl in company. He hath the key (As I too) of the opposite door which leads Into the turret. Now then! or once more To be the father of fresh crimes—no less Than of the criminal! Ho! Gabor! Gabor! [Exit into the turret, closing the door after him. SCENE II.-The Interior of the Turret. GABOR and SIEGENDORF. Gabor. Who calls? Siegend. I-Siegendorf! Take these, and fly! Lose not a moment! [Tears off a diamond-star and other jewels, and thrusts them into Gabor's hand. Gabor. What am I to do With these? Siegend. Whate'er you will: sell them, or hoard, And prosper; but delay not—or you are lost! Gabor. You pledged your honour for my safety! Stegend. And Must thus redeem it. Fly! I am not master, It seems, of my own castle-of my own Retainers-nay, even of these very walls, Or I would bid them fall and crush me! Fly! Or you will be slain by Gabor. Is it even so? Ulric. What! remain to be Denounced-dragg'd, it may be, in chains; and all By your inherent weakness, half-humanity, Farewell, then! Recollect, however, Count, And would you ne'er had borne the useless You sought this fatal interview! Siegend. I did: Let it not be more fatal still:-Begone! But loiter not in Prague;-you do not know With whom you have to deal. Gabor. I know too wellAnd knew it ere yourself, unhappy sire! Farewell! JExit Gabor. Siegend. (solus and listening) He hath clear'd the staircase. Ah! I hear The door sound loud behind him! He is safe! Safe! Oh, my father's spirit! - I am faint― [He leans down upon a stone-seat, near the wall of the Tower, in a drooping posture. Enter ULRIC, with others armed, and with weapons drawn. Ulric. Despatch!-he's there! here, Sir! You ACT I SCENE I-A Forest. Enter ARNOLD and his mother BERTHA. Arnold. I was born so, mother! Thou Incubus! Thou Nightmare! Of seven sons. The sole abortion! Arnold. Would that I had been 80, And never seen the light! Bertha. I would so too! But as thou hast -hence, hence-and do thy best. That back of thine may bear its burthen; 'tis Sustain that which you lay upon it, mother? As foolish hens at times hatch vipers, by Sitting upon strange eggs. Out, urchin, out! [Exit Bertha. Arnold (solus). Oh mother!-She is gone, and I must do - Her bidding; wearily but willingly I would fulfil it, could I only hope A kind word in return. What shall I do? [Arnold begins to cut wood: in doing this he wounds one of his hands. My labour for the day is over now. Accursed be this blood that flows so fast; For double curses will be my meed now At home. What home? I have no home, no kin, No kind-not made like other creatures, or To share their sports or pleasures. Must I bleed too Because thou wert my first-born, and II have not his will too? For one kind word knew not From her who bore me, would still reconcile me Even to this hateful aspect. Let me wash The wound. They [Arnold goes to a spring and stoops to wash his hand: he starts back. are right; and Nature's mirror shows me What she hath made me. I will not look on it Again, and scarce dare think on't. Hideous wretch That I am! The very waters mock me with My horrid shadow-like a demon placed Deep in the fountain to scare back the cattle From drinking therein. [He pauses. And shall I live on, A burthen to the earth, myself, and shame |