Your lordship, being robb'd, do not recognise
The rogue, how should I, not being robb'd, iden-
tify
The thief among so many! In the crowd,
May it please your excellency, your thief looks'
Exactly like the rest, or rather better:
"Tis only at the bar and in the dungeon,
That wise men know your felon by his features;
But I'll engage, that if seen there but once,
Whether he be found criminal or no,
His face shall be so.
Stral. [to FRITZ]. Prithee, Fritz, inform me
What hath been done to trace the fellow ?
Fritz.
My lord, not much as yet, except conjecture.
Stral. Besides the loss (which, I must own,
affects me
Just now materially), I needs would find
The villain out of public motives; for
So dexterous a spoiler, who could creep
Through my attendants, and so many peopled
And lighted chambers, on my rest, and snatch
The gold before my scarce-closed eyes, would soon
Leave bare your borough, Sir Intendant!
Standing motionless
None; so let's march: we'll talk as we go on.
Iden. But-
Ulr. Show the spot, and then I'll answer you.
Fritz. I will, sir, with his excellency's leave.
Stral. Do so, and take yon old ass with you.
Fritz.
Hence!
Ulr. Come on, old oracle, expound thy riddle!
[Exit with IDENSTEIN and FRITZ.
Stral. [solus]. A stalwart, active, soldier-looking
stripling,
Handsome as Hercules ere his first labour,
And with a brow of thought beyond his years
When in repose, till his eye kindles up
In answering yours. I wish I could engage him :
I have need of some such spirits near me now,
For this inheritance is worth a struggle.
And though I am not the man to yield without one,
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,
For years I've track'd, as does the bloodhound,
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
Defer your tale, His real estate and name; and there's no harm
If there were aught to carry off, my lord.
Ulr. What is all this ?
Stral.
You join'd us but this morning,
And have not heard that I was robb'd last night.
Ulr. Some rumour of it reach'd me as I pass'd
The outer chambers of the palace, but
It is a strange business;
The intendant can inform you of the facts.
Iden. Most willingly. You see-
Stral. [impatiently].
Till certain of the hearer's patience.
Iden.
Can only be approved by proofs. You see-
Stral. [again interrupting him and addressing
ULRIC]. In short, I was asleep upon a
chair,
My cabinet before me, with some gold
Upon it (more than I much like to lose,
Though in part only): some ingenious person
Contrived to glide through all my own attendants,
Besides those of the place, and bore away
My dream is realised--how beautiful!
How 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.
What I now feel, and lighten from my heart
Ulr. If such a joy await me, it must double
Of love (for that was ne'er withheld)-forgive me!
A part of the long debt of duty, not
This long delay was not my fault.
I know it,
But cannot think of sorrow now, and doubt,
If I e'er felt it, 'tis so dazzled from
My memory by this oblivious transport!-
To watch for the abatement of the river,
As being anxious to resume my journey.
Your messengers were all check'd like myself;
And, seeing the case hopeless, I await
The current's pleasure.
Stral.
Would the dogs were in it!
Why did they not, at least, attempt the passage?
I order'd this at all risks.
The knaves! the slaves !-but they shall smart for
this.
[Exit STRALENHEIM.
Gab. [solus]. There goes my noble, feudal, self-
will'd baron!
Epitome of what brave chivalry
The preux chevaliers of the good old times
Have left us. Yesterday he would have given
His lands (if he hath any), and, still dearer,
His sixteen quarterings, for as much fresh air
As would have fill'd a bladder, while he lay
Gurgling and foaming half-way through the window
Of his o'erset and water-logg'd conveyance;
And now he storms at half a dozen wretches
Because they love their lives too! Yet, he's right:
"Tis strange they should, when such as he may put
Ulr. My father, Siegendorf!
Wer. [starting].
The walls may hear that name!
Ulr.
Wer.
But we will talk of that anon.
I must be known here but as Werner. Come!
Come to my arms again! Why, thou look'st all
I should have been, and was not. Josephine!
Sure 'tis no father's fondness dazzles me;
But, had I seen that form amid ten thousand
This for my son!
Youth of the choicest, my heart would have chosen
Ulr.
And yet you knew me not!
Wer. 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.
Ulr. My memory served me far more fondly: I
Have not forgotten aught; and ofttimes in
The proud and princely halls of-(I'll not name
As you say that 'tis perilous), but i' the pomp
Of your sire's feudal mansion, I look'd back
To the Bohemian mountains many a sunset,
O'er thee and me, with these huge hills between us.
And wept to see another day go down
They shall not part us more.
Wer.
I know not that.
Are you aware my father is no more?
Ulr. 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.
Wer. Why did you leave him?
Jos. [embracing ULRIC]. Can you ask that ques tion? Is he not here?
The serpent who will sting us all.
Ulr.
You speak
Riddles: what is this Stralenheim to us?
Wer. Everything. One who claims our fathers'
lands:
Our distant kinsman, and our nearest foe.
Ulr. I never heard his name till now. The count, Indeed, spoke sometimes of a kinsman, who, If his own line should fail, might be remotely Involved in the succession; but his titles Were never named before me-and what then? His right must yield to ours. Wer.
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.
Doth he personally know you?
Wer. No; but he guesses shrewdly at my person, As he betray'd last night; and I, perhaps, But owe my temporary liberty
I think you wrong him
(Excuse me for the phrase); but Stralenheim
Is not what you prejudge him, or, if so,
He owes me something both for past and present.
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!
Wer. [agitatedly).
Taught you to mouth that name of "villain ?"
Ulr.
When he, who lives but to tear from you name,
Lands, life itself, lies at your mercy, with
Chance your conductor; midnight for your mantle;
The bare knife in your hand, and earth asleep,
Even to your deadliest foe; and he as 'twere
Inviting death, by looking like it, while
His death alone can save you :—'
:-Thank your God!
If then, like me, content with petty plunder,
You turn aside-I did so.
Ulr.
But-
I will not brook a human voice-scarce dare
Listen to my own (if that be human still)—
Hear me! you do not know this man-I do.
He's mean, deceitful, avaricious. You
Deem yourself safe, as young and brave; but learn
None are secure from desperation, few
From subtilty. My worst foe, Stralenheim,
Housed in a prince's palace, couch'd within
A prince's chamber, lay below my knife!
An instant a mere motion-the least impulse-
Had swept him and all fears of mine from earth.
He was within my power-my knife was raised-
Withdrawn-and I'm in his :-are you not so?
Who tells you that he knows you not? Who says
He hath not lured you here to end you? or
To plunge you, with your parents, in a dungeon?
[He pauses.
Ulr. Proceed-proceed! Wer.
Me he hath ever known, And hunted through each change of time-namefortune
And why not you? Are you more versed in mnen?
He wound snares round me ? flung along my path
Reptiles, whom, in my youth, I would have spurn'd
Even from my presence; but, in spurning now,
Fill only with fresh venom. Will you be
More patient? Ulric!-Ulric!-there are crimes
Made venial by the occasion, and temptations
Which nature cannot master or forbear.
Ulr. [who looks first at him, and then at JOSE-
PHINE]. My mother!
Wer. Ah! I thought so: you have now Only one parent. I have lost alike Father and son, and stand alone. Ulr.
[WERNER rushes out of the chamber. Jos. [to ULRIC]. Follow him not, until this storm of passion
Abates. Think'st thou that were it well for him I had not follow'd.
You know best, if yesterday's
Flood has not wash'd away your memory;
But that's a trifle. I stand here accused,
In phrases not equivocal, by yon
Intendant, of the pillage of your person
Or chamber :-is the charge your own or his?
Stral. I accuse no man.
Gab.
Then you acquit me, baron?
Stral. I know not whom to accuse, or to acquit,
Or scarcely to suspect.
Gab.
But you at least
Should know whom not to suspect. I am insulte-
Oppress'd here by these menials, and I look
To you for remedy-teach them their duty!
To look for thieves at home were part of it,
If duly taught; but, in one word, if I
Have an accuser, let it be a man
Worthy to be so of a man like me.
I am your equal.
Gab.
Ay, sir; and, for
Aught that you know, superior; but proceed-
I do not ask for hints, and surmises,
And circumstance, and proof: I know enough
Of what I have done for you, and what you owe
To have at least waited your payment rather
Than paid myself, had I been eager of
Your gold. I also know, that were I even
The villain I am deem'd, the service render'd
So recently would not permit you to
Pursue me to the death, except through shame,
Such as would leave your scutcheon but a blank.
But this is nothing: I demand of you
Justice upon your unjust servants, and
From your own lips a disavowal of
All sanction of their insolence: thus much
You owe to the unknown, who asks no more,
And never thought to have ask'd so much.
Stral.
[GABOR seizes on him.
Nay, no violence;
He's old, unarm'd-be temperate, Gabor!
Gab. [letting go IDENSTEIN].
Before the breath of menials, and their master?
Stral. Ulric! you know this man: I found him in
Your company.
Gab.
We found you in the Oder,
Would we had left you there!
Stral.
I give you thanks, sir.
Gab. I've earn'd them; but might have earn'd
more from others,
(1) The Ravenstone, “Ravenstein," is the stone gibbet of Perchance, if I had left you to your fate.
Germany, and is so called from the ravens perching on it.
Stral. Ulric! you know this man?
As you accuse. You hint the basest injury,
And I retort it with an open warning.
Stral. As you have said, 'tis true I owe you
something,
For which you seem disposed to pay yourself.
Gab. Not with your gold.
Stral.
With bootless insolence.
[To his Attendants and IDENSTEIN.
You need not further to molest this man,
But let him go his way. Ulric, good morrow!
[Exit STRALENHEIM, IDENSTEIN, and Attendants.
Gab. [following]. I'll after him and-
Ulr. [stopping him].
Gab.
Your own reason, with a moment's
Gab. [taking his sword]. They shall. wrong'd me, Ulric,
More with your unkind thoughts than sword: I would
The last were in my bosom rather than
The first in yours. I could have borne yon noble's
Absurd insinuations-ignorance
And dull suspicion are a part of his
Entail will last him longer than his lands.-
But I may fit him yet:-you have vanquish'd me.
I was the fool of passion to conceive
That I could cope with you, whom I had seen
Already proved by greater perils than
Rest in this arm. We may meet by-and-by,
However-but in friendship. [Exit GABOR.
Stral.
I will brook
No more! This outrage following up his insults,
Perhaps his guilt, has cancell'd all the little
I owed him heretofore for the so-vaunted
Aid which he added to your able succour.
Ulric, you are not hurt ?-
Ulr.
Not even by a scratch.
Stral. [to IDENSTEIN]. Intendant! take your
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