The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries Volume Iv Part 70

NATALIE (_holding her up with both hands_).

The peaks of life receive you once again!

SERGEANT (_entering_).

Here is the officer!

THE PRINCE. Ah, Count von Sparren!

You saw His Highness fresh and well disposed At Hackelwitz amid the Truchszian corps?

SPARREN. Indeed, Your Highness, in the vicarage court Where, compa.s.sed by his staff, he gave commands For burial of both the armies' dead.

LADIES-IN-WAITING.

Dear heaven! On thy breast--

[_They embrace._]

ELECTRESS. My daughter dear!

NATALIE. Oh, but this rapture is well-nigh too great!

[_She buries her face in her aunt's lap._]

THE PRINCE. Did I not see him, when I stood afar Heading my cavalry, dashed down to earth, His horse and he s.h.i.+vered by cannon-shot?

SPARREN. Indeed, the horse pitched with his rider down, But he who rode him, Prince, was not our liege.

THE PRINCE. What? Not our liege?

NATALIE. Oh, wonderful!

[_She rises and remains standing beside the_ ELECTRESS.]

THE PRINCE. Speak then!

Weighty as gold each word sinks to my heart.

SPARREN. Then let me give you tidings of a deed So moving, ear has never heard its like.

Our country's liege, who, to remonstrance deaf, Rode his white horse again, the gleaming white That Froben erstwhile bought for him in England, Became once more, as ever was the case, The target for the foe's artillery.

Scarce could the members of his retinue Within a ring of hundred yards approach About there and about, a stream of death, Hurtled grenades and cannon-shot and sh.e.l.l.

They that had lives to save fled to its banks.

He, the strong swimmer, he alone shrank not, But beckoning his friends, unswervingly Made toward the high lands whence the river came.

THE PRINCE. By heaven, i' faith! A gruesome sight it was!

SPARREN. Froben, the Master of the Horse who rode Closest to him of all, called out to me "Curses this hour on this white stallion's hide, I bought in London for a stiff round sum!

I'd part with fifty ducats, I'll be bound, Could I but veil him with a mouse's gray."

With hot misgiving he draws near and cries, "Highness, your horse is skittish; grant me leave To give him just an hour of schooling more."

And leaping from his sorrel at the word He grasps the bridle of our liege's beast.

Our liege dismounts, still smiling, and replies "As long as day is in the sky, I doubt If he will learn the art you wish to teach.

But give your lesson out beyond those hills Where the foe's gunners will not heed his fault."

Thereon he mounts the sorrel, Froben's own, Returning thence to where his duty calls.

But scarce is Froben mounted on the white When from a breastwork, oh! a murder-sh.e.l.l Tears him to earth, tears horse and rider low.

A sacrifice to faithfulness, he falls; And from him not a sound more did we hear.

[_Brief pause._]

THE PRINCE. He is well paid for! Though I had ten lives I could not lose them in a better cause!

NATALIE. Valiant old Froben!

ELECTRESS (_in tears_). Admirable man!

NATALIE (_also weeping_).

A meaner soul might well deserve our tears!

THE PRINCE. Enough! To business! Where's the Elector then Is Hackelwitz headquarters?

SPARREN. Pardon, sir!

The Elector has proceeded to Berlin And begs his generals thence to follow him.

THE PRINCE. What? To Berlin? You mean the war is done?

SPARREN. Indeed, I marvel that all this is news.

Count Horn, the Swedish general, has arrived; And, following his coming, out of hand The armistice was heralded through camp.

A conference, if I discern aright The Marshal's meaning, is attached thereto Perchance that peace itself may follow soon.

ELECTRESS (_rising_).

Dear G.o.d, how wondrously the heavens clear!

THE PRINCE. Come, let us follow straightway to Berlin.

'Twould speed my journey much if you could spare A little s.p.a.ce for me within your coach?-- I've just a dozen words to write to Kottwitz, And on the instant I'll be at your side.

[_He sits down and writes._]

ELECTRESS. Indeed, with all my heart!

THE PRINCE (_folds the note and gives it to the Sergeant; then, as he turns again to the ELECTRESS, softly lays his arm about NATALIE's waist_).

I have a wish, A something timorously to confide I thought I might give vent to on the road.

NATALIE (_tearing herself away_).

Bork! Quick! My scarf, I beg--

ELECTRESS. A wish to me?

FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING.

Princess, the scarf is round your neck.

THE PRINCE (_to the_ ELECTRESS). Indeed!

Can you not guess?