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Wer.

The chase of Fortune; now she hath o'ertaken
My spirit where it cannot turn at bay,—
Sick, poor, and lonely.

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Wer. But I was born to wealth, and rank, and power;

Enjoy'd them, loved them, and, alas! abused them,
And forfeited them by my father's wrath,
In my o'er-fervent youth; but for the abuse
Long sufferings have atoned. My father's death

Left the path open, yet not without snares.
This cold and creeping kinsman, who so long
Kept his eye on me, as the snake upon

The fluttering bird, hath ere this time outstept me,
Become the master of my rights, and lord

Of that which lifts him up to princes in
Dominion and domain.

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Alas!

Who would read in this form The high soul of the son of a long line? Who, in this garb, the heir of princely lands? Who, in this sunken, sickly eye, the pride Of rank and ancestry? in this worn cheek And famine-hollow'd brow, the lord of halls Which daily feast a thousand vassals?

Jos. You Ponder'd not thus upon these worldly things, My Werner! when you deign'd to choose for bride The foreign daughter of a wandering exile.

Wer. An exile's daughter with an outcast son
Were a fit marriage; but I still had hopes
To lift thee to the state we both were born for.
Your father's house was noble, though decay'd;
And worthy by its birth to match with ours. [noble ;
Jos. Your father did not think so, though 't was
But had my birth been all my claim to match
With thee, I should have deem'd it what it is.
Wer. And what is that in thine eyes?
Jos.

Has done in our behalf,- nothing.
Wer.

All which it

How, nothing?
Jos. Or worse; for it has been a canker in
Thy heart from the beginning: but for this,
We had not felt our poverty but as
Millions of myriads feel it, cheerfully;
But for these phantoms of thy feudal fathers,
Thou mightst have earn'd thy bread, as thousands
earn it;

Or, if that seem too humble, tried by commerce,
Or other civic means, to amend thy fortunes.

Wer. (ironically). And been an Hanseatic burgher?

Excellent!

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Iden. The river has o'erflow'd. Jos.

Jos. Who can it be at this lone hour? Few visitors.

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Iden. A goodly name, a very worthy name As e'er was gilt upon a trader's board:

I have a cousin in the lazaretto

Of Hamburgh, who has got a wife who bore
The same. He is an officer of trust,
Surgeon's assistant (hoping to be surgeon),
And has done miracles i' the way of business.
Perhaps you are related to my relative.
Wer. To yours?
Jos.

Oh, yes; we are, but distantly.
[Aside to WERNER.
Cannot you humour the dull gossip till
We learn his purpose?

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Alas! we have known That to our sorrow for these five days; since It keeps us here. Iden.

But what you don't know is, That a great personage, who fain would cross Against the stream and three postilions' wishes, Is drown'd below the ford, with five post-horses, A monkey, and a mastiff, and a valet. Jos. Poor creatures! are you sure? Iden. Yes, of the monkey, And the valet, and the cattle; but as yet We know not if his excellency's dead Or no; your noblemen are hard to drown, As it is fit that men in office should be; But what is certain is, that he has swallow'd Enough of the Oder to have burst two peasants; And now a Saxon and Hungarian traveller, Who, at their proper peril, snatch'd him from The whirling river, have sent on to crave

A lodging, or a grave, according as

It may turn out with the live or dead body.
Jos. And where will you receive him? here, I hope,
If we can be of service say the word.

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Have you not learn'd his name? My Josephine,

[Aside to his wife.
Retire I'll sift this fool.
Erit JOSEPHINE.
Iden.
His name? oh Lord!
Who knows if he hath now a name or no?
'Tis time enough to ask it when he's able
To give an answer; or if not, to put
His heir's upon his epitaph. Methought
Just now you chid me for demanding names?
Wer. True, true, I did so; you say well and wisely.
Enter GABOR. 2

Gab. If I intrude, I crave—
Iden.

Oh, no intrusion!

be. A sort of mysterious horror is thrown round his impalpability, in the tale; but, in the drama, he is only a sentimental, moody, high-mettled soldier of fortune, whose appearances and disappearances are alike singularly inopportune, and who ends in a mere mercenary. His character is, we think, decidedly a failure. — Ecl. Rev.]

This is the palace; this a stranger like
Yourself; I pray you make yourself at home:
But where 's his excellency? and how fares he?
Gab. Wetly and wearily, but out of peril :
He paused to change his garments in a cottage,
(Where I doff'd mine for these, and came on hither)
And has almost recover'd from his drenching.
He will be here anon.
Iden.
What ho, there! bustle!
Without there, Herman, Weilburg, Peter, Conrad !
[Gives directions to different servants who

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Iden. How many? Gab.

Sufficient.

I did not count them.

We came up by mere accident, and just

In time to drag him through his carriage window. Iden. Well, what would I give to save a great man! No doubt you'll have a swingeing sum as recompense. Gab. Perhaps.

Iden. Now, how much do you reckon on? Gab. I have not yet put up myself to sale: In the mean time, my best reward would be A glass of your Hockcheimer—a green glass, Wreath'd with rich grapes and Bacchanal devices, O'erflowing with the oldest of your vintage; For which I promise you, in case you e'er Run hazard of being drown'd, (although I own It seems, of all deaths, the least likely for you,) I'll pull you out for nothing. Quick, my friend, And think, for every bumper I shall quaff, A wave the less may roll above your head.

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They lay their hands on.
Lusatia's woods are tenanted by bands
Of the late troops, who levy on the country
Their maintenance: the Chatelains must keep
Their castle walls- beyond them 't is but doubtful
Travel for your rich count or full-blown baron.
My comfort is that, wander where I may,
I've little left to lose now.

Wer.
Gab. That's harder still.
soldier.
Wer. I was.
Gab.

And I nothing.

You say you were a

You look one still. All soldiers are Or should be comrades, even though enemies. Our swords when drawn must cross, our engines aim (While levell'd) at each other's hearts; but when A truce, a peace, or what you will, remits The steel into its scabbard, and lets sleep The spark which lights the matchlock, we are brethren. You are poor and sickly I am not rich, but healthy;

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Gab.

Is not the lovely woman

I met in the adjacent hall, who, with

An air, and port, and eye, which would have better
Beseem'd this palace in its brightest days
(Though in a garb adapted to its present
Abandonment), return'd my salutation —
Is not the same your spouse?
Iden.
I would she were !
But you 're mistaken: — - that's the stranger's wife.
Gab. And by her aspect she might be a prince's:
Though time hath touch'd her too, she still retains
Much beauty, and more majesty.

Iden.

And that

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Iden. That's true; but pity, as you know, does One's heart commit these follies; and besides, They had some valuables left at that time, Which paid their way up to the present hour; And so I thought they might as well be lodged Here as at the small tavern, and I gave them The run of some of the oldest palace rooms. They served to air them, at the least as long As they could pay for fire-wood.

Gab. Iden.

Exceeding poor. Gab.

If I mistake not.

Poor souls!

And yet unused to poverty, Whither were they going?

Ay,

Iden. Oh! Heaven knows where, unless to heaven

itself.

Some days ago that look'd the likeliest journey For Werner.

Gab.

Werner! I have heard the name:

But it may be a feign'd one.

Iden.
Like enough!
But hark! a noise of wheels and voices, and
A blaze of torches from without. As sure
As destiny, his excellency 's come.

I must be at my post: will you not join me,
To help him from his carriage, and present
Your humble duty at the door?

Gab.
I dragg'd him
From out that carriage when he would have given
His barony or county to repel

The rushing river from his gurgling throat.

He has valets now enough: they stood aloof then,
Shaking their dripping ears upon the shore,
All roaring "Help!" but offering none; and as
For duty (as you call it)—I did mine then,
Now do yours. Hence, and bow and cringe him here!
Iden. I cringe !-but I shall lose the opportunity—
Plague take it! he'll be here, and I not there!
[Erit IDENSTEIN hastily.

Re-enter WERNER.

Wer. (to himself). I heard a noise of wheels and

voices. How

All sounds now jar me! Still here! Is he not A spy of my pursuer's?

[Perceiving GABOR.

His frank offer

So suddenly, and to a stranger, wore
The aspect of a secret enemy;

For friends are slow at such.

Gab. Sir, you seem rapt; And yet the time is not akin to thought. These old walls will be noisy soon. The baron, Or count (or whatsoe'er this half-drown'd noble May be), for whom this desolate village and Its lone inhabitants show more respect Than did the elements, is come.

Iden. (without).

This way

This way, your excellency :- - have a care,

The staircase is a little gloomy, and
Somewhat decay'd; but if we had expected
So high a guest-Pray take my arm, my lord!
Enter STRALENHEIM, IDENSTEIN, and Attendants-
partly his own, and partly Retainers of the Domain
of which IDENSTEIN is Intendant.

Stral. I'll rest me here a moment.
Iden. (to the servants).
Instantly, knaves !

Wer. (aside).

Stral.

Ho! a chair!

[STRALENHEIM sits down.

"Tis he!

Who are these strangers?

Iden.

One

says he is no stranger. Wer. (aloud and hastily).

I'm better now.

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Pensive. Will it not please you to pass on?
Stral. 'Tis past fatigue which gives my weigh'd-
down spirit

An outward show of thought. I will to rest.
Iden. The prince's chamber is prepared, with all
The very furniture the prince used when
Last here, in its full splendour.

(Aside.) Somewhat tatter'd, And devilish damp, but fine enough by torch-light;

Please you, my good lord, And that's enough for your right noble blood
Of twenty quarterings upon a hatchment ;

Who says that?
[They look at him with surprise.

Iden. Why, no one spoke of you, or to you! — but
Here's one his excellency may be pleased

To recognise.

Gab.

[Pointing to Gabor.

I seek not to disturb

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Gab.

Till

I seek no more, and scarce deserve
So much. My comrade may speak for himself.
Stral. (fixing his eyes upon WERNER: then aside).
It cannot be and yet he must be look'd to.
"T is twenty years since I beheld him with
These eyes; and, though my agents still have kept
Theirs on him, policy has held aloof

My own from his, not to alarm him into
Suspicion of my plan. Why did I leave

At Hamburgh those who would have made assurance
If this be he or no? I thought, ere now,

To have been lord of Siegendorf, and parted
In haste, though even the elements appear
To fight against me, and this sudden flood
May keep me prisoner here till

[He pauses, and looks at WERNER; then resumes. Be watch'd.

This man must
If it is he, he is so changed,

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