Goetz. Friend and foe fled, except this little party of my own domestics who protected our rear. I had enough to do with the fellows in front; but the fall of their captain dismayed them-they wavered, and they fled. I have their banner, and a few prisoners. Sel. The captain has escaped you?

Goetz. They rescued him during the scuffle. Come, boys-come, Selbiss-make a bier of lances and boughs-Thou canst not to horse-come to my castle. They are scattered, but we are very few; and I know not what troops they may have in reserve. I will be your host and physician.-Wine tastes so well after action! [Exeunt, carrying Selbiss.

SCENE XIII.

The Camp.

The Captain and Imperialists.

Capt. I could crush you all with one hand. What! to give way! He had not a handful of people remaining. To give way before one man! No one would believe it but for a joke's sake. Ride round the country, you, and you, and you:-bring up the reserved troops, and collect our scattered soldiers, or cut them down wherever you find them. We must grind these notches out of our blades, or make pruning-hooks of them.

SCENE XIV.

Jaxthausen.

GOETZ, LERSE, and George.

[Exeunt.

Goetz. Poor Selbiss is gone! We must not lose a moment. My good fellows, I dare allow you no rest. Gallop round and collect our cavaliers. Most of them dwell near Weilern, and there they will most likely be found. Should we dally a moment, they will be before the castle. (Exeunt LERSE and GEORGE.) I must send out scouts. It begins to be warm-Yet | had I but a few stout fellows-but not of such fellows are the many composed.

Enter SECKINGEN and MARIA.

[Exit.

Maria. I beseech thee, Seckingen, leave not my brother! His own horsemen, Selbiss's, yours, all are scattered; he is alone.-Selbiss is brought here dead, or mortally wounded. I fear the worst. Sec. Be composed-I will not leave him.

Enter GOETZ.

GOETZ, Elizabeth, Maria, and SECKINGEN. Goetz. God bless you, give you happy days, and support the children with which he shall bless you! Eliz. And may they be virtuous as yourselves— then let that come which will.

Sec. I thank you!—And you, my Maria! as I led you to the altar, you shall lead me to happiness. Maria. Our pilgrimage will be in company towards that distant and high-praised land.

Goetz. Good luck to your journey!

Maria. That was not what I meant-We do not leave you.

Goetz. You must, sister.

Maria. You were not wont to be so harsh. Goetz. You are more affectionate than prudent.

Enter GEORGE.

Geo. I can gather no troopers: One was persuaded, but he changed his mind, and would not come. Goetz. 'Tis well, George. Fortune begins to look cold upon me. Seckingen, I entreat you to depart this very evening. Persuade Mary-you are her husband-let her feel it. When women regulate our motions, they are 'more dangerous than enemies in the field. Enter a Cavalier.

Cav. The Imperial squadron is on full and rapid march hither.

Goetz. I have diminished them by skirmishes. How many are they?

Cav. About two hundred-They cannot be far from hence.

Goetz. Have they passed the river yet?

Cav. No, my Lord!

Goetz. Had I but fifty men, they should come no further.-Hast thou not seen Lerse?

Cav. No, my Lord!

Goetz. Tell all to hold themselves ready.-Weep on, my gentle Mary-Many a moment of pleasure

Sec. Let me remain here.

Goetz. To the chapel!

Sec. Goetz!

on thy wedding-day, than that too great joy should be the forerunner of future misery.-Farewell, Mary! -Farewell, brother!

Maria. I cannot away from you, sister-Dear brother, let us stay. Dost thou hold my husband so cheap as to refuse his help in thy extremity?

Goetz. Yes-it is gone far with me. Perhaps my fall is near-You are but beginning life, and should separate your lot from mine. I have ordered your

horses to be saddled-you must away instantly! Maria. O brother! brother!

Eliz. (to Seckingen.) Assist him to persuade herSpeak to her.

Eliz. Would it could but last!-but you can hardly hold out long.

Goetz. We have not had time to provide ourselves— Eliz. And so many people to feed!-The wine is

Goetz. If we hold out a certain time, they must

be besieged.

Maria (weeping bitterly). Alas! alas!

Goetz. We will defend ourselves as we can.

Maria. Mother of God, have compassion us! Goetz. And at last we must die or surrender-Thy tears will then have involved thy noble husband in the same miserable lot with me.

Maria. Thou torturest me!

Goetz. Remain, remain!-Seckingen, thou wilt fall into the grave with me, out of which I had hoped thou shouldst help me.

Maria. We will away-Sister-sister!

Goetz. Place her in safety, and then remember me. Sec. Never shall I repose a night till I know thou art out of danger.

Goetz. Sister! dear sister!
Sec. Away! away!

[Kisses her.

Geo. They are near!-I saw them from the tower. The sun is rising, and I perceived their lances glitter. I minded them no more than a cat would do a whole army of mice. 'Tis true we play the rats at present. Goetz. Go to the battlements-Look to the gates -See they are provided with stones and beams. We'll find exercise for their patience, and their fury may discharge itself at the expense of their own nails -(A trumpet from without-GOETZ goes to the window.) Aha! there comes a red gowned rascal to ask me whether I will be a scoundrel! What says he?(The voice of the Herald is heard indistinctly, as from a distance. GOETZ speaks at intervals.) A rope for thy throat!(Voice again.) "Offended Majesty!" -Some parson has drawn up the proclamation(Voice concludes, and GOETZ answers from the window). Surrender myself-surrender myself at all discretion!-With whom speak ye? Am I a robber? Tell your captain, that for his Imperial Majesty I entertain, as ever, all due respect; but for himself, he may[Shuts the window with violence.—A sharp discharge of musketry, answered by firing from the castle.

SCENE XVII.

The Kilchen.

ELIZABETH preparing food-to her GOETZ. Goetz. You have hard work, my poor wife!

Cav. Our bullets are spent; we must cast new.
Goetz. How lasts the powder?

Cav. There is yet no want: we spare our fire.
[Firing at intervals. Exeunt GOETZ
and ELIZABETH.

Enter LERSE with a bullet-mould.

Lerse. Go, see for lead about the house-meanwhile I will make a shift with this-(Goes to the window, and takes out the lead frames). Every thing is fair. So it is in this world-no one knows what a thing may come to: the glazier that made these frames little knew that the work of his hands was to give some fellow his last headach; and the father that got me little thought that the fowls of heaven and the beasts of the field were to pick my bones.

Enter GEORGE with a leaden spout.

Geo. Here's lead for thee!-When we have used the half of it, there will none return to tell his Majesty we have not sped."

Lerse (cutting it down). A famous prize!

Geo. The rain must seek some other way-But never mind that a gallant trooper and a smart shower will always find their road. [They cast balls.

Lerse. Hold the crucible-(Goes to the window). Yonder comes a fellow creeping forward with his popgun; he thinks our fire is spent-He shall have the bullet warm from the pan.

[He loads his carabine. Geo. (sets down the mould.) Let me seeLerse (fires from the window). Yonder lies the game. Geo. One of them fired at me as I got out on the roof to get the spout-He killed a pigeon that sat near me; it fell into the spout-I thanked him for my dinner, and stepped in with the double booty.

[They cast balls.

Lerse. That's a trifle-What if they would allow us free liberty of departure? for we can expect no relief from Seckingen. We will bury all valuables, where they shall never find them-leave them the bare walls, and come out with flying colours.

Goetz. They will not permit us.

hinds, and the respectable ancients, all as happy as if they rejoiced in the pleasures of their master, which he shared with them under God's free sky!

Geo. He must have been such a master as you. Goetz. And shall we not hope that many such will rule together some future day-to whom reverence to the Emperor, peace and friendship with neigh

SCENE XVIII. A Hall.

[Exeunt.

GOETZ, ELIZAbeth, George, and Troopers at table.

Goetz. Danger draws us together, my friends! Be cheery-don't forget the bottle! The flask is empty-Come, another, my dear wife!—(ELIZABETH shakes her head.)-Is there no more?

Eliz. (low.) Only one, which I set apart for you. Goetz. Not so, my love!-Bring it out; they need strengthening more than I.

Eliz. Hand it from the cabinet.

Goetz. It is the last, and I feel as if we need not spare it. It is long since I have been so much disposed for joy. (They fill.) To the health of the Emperor! Goetz. Be it our last word when we die! I love him, for our fate is similar; and I am happier than he. He must direct his Imperial squadrons against mice, while the rats gnaw his parchment edicts. I know he often wishes himself rather dead than to be the soul of such a crippled body as the empire. (They fill.) It will go but once more round-And when our blood runs low, like this flask-when we pour out its last ebbing drop (emplies the wine dropways into his goblet), what then shall be our word? Geo. Freedom!

Goetz. Freedom!

All. Freedom!

Goetz. And if that survives us, we shall die happy: our spirits shall see our sons, and the emperor of our sons, happy!—Did the servants of princes show the same filial attachment to their masters as you to me-Did their masters serve the Emperor as I would serve him— Geo. It is widely different.

Goetz. Not so much so as would appear. Have I not known worthy men among the princes? and can the breed be extinct?-Men happy in their own minds and in their undertakings, that could bear a petty brother in their neighbourhood without feeling either dread or envy; whose hearts were opened when they saw their table surrounded by their free equals, and who did not think free knights unfit company till they had degraded themselves by court homage.

Geo. Have you known such princes?

Goetz. Well!-I recollect, when the landgrave of Hanau made a grand hunting-party, the princes and free feudatories enjoyed themselves under the open heaven, and the vassals were as happy as they; it was no selfish masquerade, instituted for his own private pleasure or vanity-To see the great round-headed |

dearest family treasure handed down from father to son? Every one will then keep and improve his own, instead of reckoning nothing gained that is not ravaged from their neighbours?

Geo. And shall we then have no skirmishing?

Goetz. Would to God there was no restless spirit in all Germany, and still we should have enough to do! We might then chase the wolves from the cliffs, and bring our peaceable laborious neighbour a dish of game from the wood, and eat it together. Were that too little, we would join our brethren, and, like cherubims with flaming swords, defend the frontiers against those wolves the Turks, against those foxes the French, and guard for our beloved Emperor both extremities of his empire. There would be a life, George! -to risk one's head for the safety of all Germany(GEORGE springs up.)-Whither away?

Geo. Alas! I forgot we were besieged-besieged by that very Emperor; and before we can expose our lives in his defence, we must risk them for our liberty. Goetz. Be of good cheer.

Goetz. God greet you, my Lords !—What would ye with me?

Com. First, that you consider where you are, and with whom.

Goetz. By my faith, I know it well, my Lords!
Com. You do but your duty in owning it.
Goetz. From the bottom of my heart!
Com. Be seated..

fore the Imperial Commissioners-Their awful presence, the splendour of their dress, and the golden chains which mark their dignity

Goetz.-Become them like a necklace on a sow!Would I could see George and Lerse in their dungeon! Eliz. It were a sight to make an angel weep. Goetz. I would not weep-I would grind my teeth, and gnaw my lip in fury.What! the apples of my eye in fetters! And have not the dear boys loved me?

[Points to a stool. Goetz. What there?-Down below ?-I can stand

its whole apparatus.

Com. Stand, then.

Goetz. To business, if you please.

Com. We'll go on in order.

Goetz. I am happy to hear it-Would every one did as much!

Com. You know how you fell into our hands, and are a prisoner at discretion.

Goetz. What will you give me if I know no such thing?

Com. Could I give you good manners, I would do you a good office.

Goetz, A good office!-Can you render any?-Good offices are more difficult than the deeds of destruction. Sec. Shall I enter all this on record? Com. Only what is to the point. Goetz. Do as you please, for my part. Com. You know how you fell into the power of the Emperor, whose paternal goodness overpowered his justice, and, instead of a dungeon, ordered you to wait your future doom, upon your knightly parole, in his beloved city of Heilbron.

Goetz. Well-I am here, and wait it.

Com. We owe no faith to robbers. Goetz. Wert thou not the representative of my prince, whom I respect even in the vilest counterfeit, thou shouldst swallow that word, or choke upon it. I was taken in honourable though private war. Thou mightest thank God that gave thee glory, hadst thou ever done as gallant deeds as the least with which I am charged.-(The Commissioner makes a sign to the Magistrates of Heilbron, who go out.)Because I would not join the iniquitous confederacy of the great, because I would not grasp at the souls and livings of the helpless-'Tis in this lies my crime! -I defended my own life and the freedom of my

ror and Empire were blinded to our hard case by your flatteries. I have, God be praised! one hand, and I have done my best to use it well.

Goetz. I am his Majesty's true servant, as ever. One word ere you go farther-My people-where are they ?-what is to become of them?

Com. That concerns you not.

Goetz. So may the Emperor turn his face from you in your need! They were my companions, and they are so- -What have you done with them? Com. We owe you no account of that. Goetz. Ah! I had forgot-Never was promise kept by you to the oppressed. But, hush!

Com. Our business is to lay the articles before you. Throw yourself at the Emperor's feet, and by humble supplication you may find the true way to save the life and freedom of your associates.

Goetz. Your paper!

Com. Secretary, read it.

Sec. (reads.) "I Goetz of Berlichingen make public acknowledgment, by these presents, that I having lately risen in rebellion against the Emperor and Empire”Goetz. 'Tis false !-I never offended either. Com. Compose yourself, and hear further. Goetz. I will not compose myself, and I will hear no further. Let any one arise and bear witness— Have I ever taken a step against the Emperor, or against the House of Austria ?-Have I not in all my feuds conducted myself as one who felt what all Germany owes to its head-and what the free knights and feudatories owe to their liege lord the Emperor? I should be a liar and a slave could I be persuaded to subscribe that paper.

Com. Yet we have strict orders to persuade you by fair means, or else to throw you into jail.

Goetz. Into jail ?—Me?

Com. Where you may expect your fate from the hands of Justice, since you will not take it from those of Mercy.

Goetz. To jail! You abuse the Imperial power.To jail! That was never his command-What, ye traitors, to dig a pit for me, and hang out your oath, your knightly honour, as the lure! To promise me permission to ward myself on parole, and then to break your treaty!

Enter a Party of Artisans, armed with halberds
and swords.

Goetz. What means this? Com. Ye will not hearken-Apprehend him! Goetz. Is that the purpose ?-Let not the man whose ear does not itch come too near me; one salutation from my trusty iron fist shall cure him of headach, toothach, and every ach under the wide heaven !

[They make at him-He strikes one down, and snatches a sword from another—They stand aloof. Com. Surrender !

Goetz (with the sword drawn). What! Wot ye not that it depends but upon myself to make way through all these hares and gain the open field? But I will teach you how a man should keep his word.—Promise to allow me free ward, and I give up my sword, and am again your prisoner.

Com. How! Would you treat with your Emperor sword in hand?

Goetz. God forbid !-only with you and your worthy companions!-You may go home, good people: here deliberation is of no avail, and from me there is nothing to gain save bruises.

Com. Seize him, I say!-What! does your allegiance to the Emperor supply you with no courage? Goetz. No more than the Emperor supplies them with plaster for the wounds which their courage would earn for them.

A Police-Officer enters hastily.

Off. The warder has just discovered from the castle tower a troop of more than two hundred horsemen hastening towards the town. They have already gained the hill, and seem to threaten an attack. Com. Alas! alas! What can this mean?

A Soldier enters..

Sol. Francis of Seckingen waits at the drawbridge, and informs you that he has heard how perfidiously you have dealt with his brother-in-law, and how fruitless has been every appeal to the justice of the Council of Heilbron. He is now come to insist upon that