Peter.
Himself, and three followers.
Elizabeth.
How came you to stay so long?
Peter.
We lay in wait for him between Nuremberg and Bamberg, but he would not come, though we knew he had set out. At length we heard of his whereabouts; he had struck off sideways, and was staying quietly with the earl at Schwarzenberg.
Elizabeth.
They would also fain make the earl my husband’s enemy.
Peter.
I immediately told my master. — Up and away we rode into the forest of Haslach. And it was curious that while we were riding along that night, a shepherd was watching, and five wolves fell upon the flock and attacked them stoutly. Then my master laughed, and said, “Good luck to us all, dear comrades, both to you and us!” And the good omen overjoyed us. Just then Weislingen came riding towards us with four attendants —
Maria.
How my heart beats!
Peter.
My comrade and I, as our master had commanded, threw ourselves suddenly on him, and clung to him as if we had grown together, so that he could not move, while my master and Hans fell upon the servants and overpowered them. They were all taken, except one who escaped.
Elizabeth.
I am curious to see him. Will he arrive soon?
Peter.
They are riding through the valley, and will be here in a quarter of an hour.
Maria.
He is no doubt cast down and dejected?
Peter.
He looks gloomy enough.
Maria.
It will grieve me to see his distress!
Elizabeth.
Oh, I must get food ready. You are no doubt all hungry?
Peter.
Hungry enough, in truth.
Elizabeth.
(To Maria.) Take the cellar keys and bring the best wine. They have deserved it.
[Exit Elizabeth.
Charles.
I’ll go too, aunt.
Maria.
Come then, boy.
[Exeunt Charles and Maria.
Peter.
He’ll never be his father, else he would have gone with me to the stable.
Enter Goetz. Weislingen, Hans and other Troopers.
Goetz.
(Laying his helmet and sword on a table.) Unbuckle my armor, and give me my doublet. Ease will refresh me. Brother Martin, thou saidst truly. You have kept us long on the watch, Weislingen!
[Weislingen paces up and down in silence.
Goetz.
Be of good cheer! Come, unarm yourself! Where are your clothes? I hope nothing has been lost. (To the attendants.) Go, ask his servants; open the baggage and see that nothing is missing. Or I can lend you some of mine.
Weislingen.
Let me remain as I am — it is all one.
Goetz.
I can give you a handsome doublet, but it is only of linen; it has grown too tight for me. I wore it at the marriage of my Lord the Palsgrave, when your bishop was so incensed at me. About a fortnight before I had sunk two of his vessels upon the Main. — I was going upstairs in the Stag at Heidelberg, with Franz von Sickingen. Before you get quite to the top there is a landing-place with iron rails — there stood the bishop, and gave his hand to Franz as he passed, and to me also as I followed close behind him. I laughed in my sleeve, and went to the Landgrave of Hanau, who was always a kind friend to me, and said, “The bishop has given me his hand, but I’ll wager he did not know me.” The bishop heard me, for I was speaking loud on purpose. He came to us angrily, and said, “True, I gave thee my hand, because I knew thee not.” To which I answered, “I know that, my lord; and so here you have your shake of the hand back again!” The manikin grew red as a turkey-cock with spite, and he ran up into the room and complained to the Palsgrave Lewis and the Prince of Nassau. We have laughed over the scene again and again.
Weislingen.
I wish you would leave me to myself.
Goetz.
Why so? I entreat you be of good cheer. You are my prisoner, but I will not abuse my power.
Weislingen.
I have no fear of that. That is your duty as a knight.
Goetz.
And you know how sacred it is to me.
Weislingen.
I am your prisoner — the rest matters not.
Goetz.
You should not say so. Had you been taken by a prince, fettered and cast into a dungeon, your gaoler directed to drive sleep from your eyes —
Enter Servants with clothes. Weislingen unarms himself. Enter Charles.
Charles.
Good-morrow, papa!
Goetz.
(Kisses him.) Good-morrow, boy! How have you been this long time?
Charles.
Very well, father! Aunt says I am a good boy.
Goetz.
Does she?
Charles.
Have you brought me anything?
Goetz.
Nothing this time.
Charles.
I have learned a great deal.
Goetz.
Ay!
Charles.
Shall I tell you about the good child?
Goetz.
After dinner.
Charles.
I know something else, too.
Goetz.
What may that be?
Charles.
“Jaxthausen is a village and castle on the Jaxt, which has appertained in property and heritage for two hundred years to the Lords of Berlichingen — ”
Goetz.
Do you know the Lord of Berlichingen? (Charles stares at him. Aside.) His learning is so abstruse that he does not know his own father. To whom does Jaxthausen belong?
Charles.
“Jaxthausen is a village and castle upon the Jaxt — ”
Goetz.
I did not ask that. I knew every path, pass and ford about the place before ever I knew the name of the village, castle or river. — Is your mother in the kitchen?
Charles.
Yes, papa! They are cooking a lamb and turnips.
Goetz.
Do you know that too. Jack Turnspit?
Charles.
And my aunt is roasting an apple for me to eat after dinner —
Goetz.
Can’t you eat it raw?
Charles.
It tastes better roasted.
Goetz.
You must have a titbit, must you? — Weislingen, I will be with you immediately. I must go and see my wife. — Come, Charles!
Charles.
Who is that man?
Goetz.
Bid him welcome. Tell him to be merry.
Charles.
There’s my hand for you, man! Be merry — for the dinner will soon be ready.
Weislingen.
(Takes up the child and kisses him.) Happy boy! that knowest no worse evil than the delay of dinner. May you live to have much joy in your son, Berlichingen!
Goetz.
Where there is most light the shades are deepest. Yet I should thank God for it. We’ll see what they are about.
[Exit with Charles and Servants.
Weislingen.
Oh, that I could but wake and find this all a dream! In the power of Berlichingen! — from whom I had scarcely detached myself — whose remembrance I shunned like fire — whom I hoped to overpower! and he still the old true-hearted Goetz! Gracious God! what will be the end of it? O Adelbert! Led back to the very hall where we played as children; when thou didst love and prize him as thy soul! Who can know him and hate him? Alas! I am so thoroughly insignificant here. Happy days! ye are gone. There, in his chair by the chimney, sat old Berlichingen, while we played around him, and loved each other like cherubs! How anxious the bishop and all my friends will be! Well, the whole country will sympathize with my misfortune. But what avails it? Can they give me the peace after which I strive?
Re-enter Goetz with wine and goblets.
/> Goetz.
We’ll take a glass while dinner is preparing. Come, sit down — think yourself at home! Fancy you’ve come once more to see Goetz. It is long since we have sat and emptied a flagon together. (Lifts his glass.) Come: a light heart!
Weislingen.
Those times are gone by.
Goetz.
God forbid! To be sure, we shall hardly pass more pleasant days than those we spent together at the margrave’s court, when we were inseparable night and day. I think with pleasure on my youth. Do you remember the scuffle I had with the Polander, whose pomaded and frizzled hair I chanced to rub with my sleeve?
Weislingen.
It was at table; and he struck at you with a knife.
Goetz.
I gave it him, however; and you had a quarrel upon that account with his comrades. We always stuck together like brave fellows, and were the admiration of every one. (Raises his glass.) Castor and Pollux! It used to rejoice my heart when the margrave so called us.
Weislingen.
The Bishop of Wurtzburg first gave us the name.
Goetz.
That bishop was a learned man, and withal so kind and gentle. I shall remember as long as I live how he used to caress us, praise our friendship, and say, “Happy is the man who is his friend’s twin-brother.”
Weislingen.
No more of that.
Goetz.
Why not? I know nothing more delightful after fatigue than to talk over old times. Indeed, when I recall to mind how we bore good and bad fortune together, and were all in all to each other, and how I thought this was to continue forever. Was not that my sole comfort when my hand was shot away at Landshut, and you nursed and tended me like a brother? I hoped Adelbert would in future be my right hand. And now —
Weislingen.
Alas!
Goetz.
Hadst thou but listened to me when I begged thee to go with me to Brabant, all would have been well. But then that unhappy turn for court-dangling seized thee, and thy coquetting and flirting with the women. I always told thee, when thou would’st mix with these lounging, vain court sycophants, and entertain them with gossip about unlucky matches and seduced girls, scandal about absent friends, and all such trash as they take interest in — I always said, Adelbert, thou wilt become a rogue!
Weislingen.
To what purpose is all this?
Goetz.
Would to God I could forget it, or that it were otherwise! Art thou not free and nobly born as any in Germany; independent, subject to the emperor alone; and dost thou crouch among vassals? What is the bishop to thee? Granted, he is thy neighbor, and can do thee a shrewd turn; hast thou not power and friends to requite him in kind? Art thou ignorant of the dignity of a free knight, who depends only upon God, the emperor, and himself, that thou degradest thyself to be the courtier of a stubborn, jealous priest?
Weislingen.
Let me speak!
Goetz.
What hast thou to say?
Weislingen.
You look upon the princes as the wolf upon the shepherd. And can you blame them for defending their territories and property? Are they a moment secure from the unruly knights, who plunder their vassals even upon the highroads, and sack their castles and villages? Upon the other hand, our country’s enemies threaten to overrun the lands of our beloved emperor, yet, while he needs the princes’ assistance, they can scarce defend their own lives; is it not our good genius which at this moment leads them to devise means of procuring peace for Germany, of securing the administration of justice, and giving to great and small the blessings of quiet? And can you blame us, Berlichingen, for securing the protection of the powerful princes, our neighbors, whose assistance is at hand, rather than relying on that of the emperor, who is so far removed from us, and is hardly able to protect himself?
Goetz.
Yes, yes, I understand you. Weislingen, were the princes as you paint them, we should all have what we want. Peace and quiet! No doubt! Every bird of prey naturally likes to eat its plunder undisturbed. The general weal! If they would but take the trouble to study that. And they trifle with the emperor shamefully. Every day some new tinker or other comes to give his opinion. The emperor means well, and would gladly put things to rights; but because he happens to understand a thing readily, and by a single word can put a thousand hands into motion, he thinks everything will be as speedily and as easily accomplished. Ordinance upon ordinance is promulgated, each nullifying the last, while the princes obey only those which serve their own interest, and prate of peace and security of the empire, while they are treading under foot their weaker neighbors. I will be sworn, many a one thanks God in his heart that the Turk keeps the emperor fully employed!
Weislingen.
You view things your own way.
Goetz.
So does every one. The question is, which is the right way to view them? And your plans at least shun the day.
Weislingen.
You may say what you will; I am your prisoner.
Goetz.
If your conscience is free, so are you. How was it with the general tranquillity? I remember going as a boy of sixteen with the margrave to the Imperial Diet. What harangues the princes made! And the clergy were the most vociferous of all. Your bishop thundered into the emperor’s ears his regard for justice, till one thought it had become part and parcel of his being. And now he has imprisoned a page of mine, at a time when our quarrels were all accommodated, and I had buried them in oblivion. Is not all settled between us? What does he want with the boy?
Weislingen.
It was done without his knowledge.
Goetz.
Then why does he not release him?
Weislingen.
He did not conduct himself as he ought.
Goetz.
Not conduct himself as he ought? By my honor he performed his duty, as surely as he has been imprisoned both with your knowledge and the bishop’s! Do you think I am come into the world this very day, that I cannot see what all this means?
Weislingen.
You are suspicious, and do us wrong.
Goetz.
Weislingen, shall I deal openly with you? Inconsiderable as I am, I am a thorn in your side, and Selbitz and Sickingen are no less so, because we are firmly resolved to die sooner than to thank any one but God for the air we breathe, or pay homage to any one but the emperor. This is why they worry me in every possible way, blacken my character with the emperor, and among my friends and neighbors, and spy about for advantage over me. They would have me out of the way at any price; that was your reason for imprisoning the page whom you knew I had despatched for intelligence: and now you say he did not conduct himself as he should do, because he would not betray my secrets. And you, Weislingen, are their tool!
Weislingen.
Berlichingen!
Goetz.
Not a word more. I am an enemy to long explanations; they deceive either the maker or the hearer, and generally both.
Enter Charles.
Charles.
Dinner is ready, father!
Goetz.
Good news! Come, I hope the company of my women folk will amuse you. You always liked the girls. Ay, ay, they can tell many pretty stories about you. Come!
[Exeunt.
SCENE IV.
TheBishop of Bamberg’sPalace.
[The Bishop, the Abbot of Fulda, Olearius, Liebtraut and Courtiers at table. The dessert and wine before them.
Bishop.
Are there many of the German nobility studying at Bologna?
Olearius.
Both nobles and citizens; and, I do not exaggerate in saying that they acquire the most brilliant reputation. It is a proverb in the university: “As studious as a German noble.” For while the citizens display a laudable diligence, in order to compensate by learning for their want of birth, the nobles strive, with praiseworthy emulation, to enhance their ancestral dignity by superior attainments.
Abbot.
Indeed!
Liebtraut.
What may one not live to hear. We live and learn, as the proverb says. “As studious as a German noble.” I never heard that before.
Olearius.
Yes, they are the admiration of the whole university. Some of the oldest and most learned will soon be coming back with their doctor’s degree. The emperor will doubtless be happy to intrust to them the highest offices.
Bishop.
He cannot fail to do so.
Abbot.
Do you know, for instance, a young man — a Hessian? —
Olearius.
There are many Hessians with us.
Abbot.
His name is — is — . Does nobody remember it? His mother was a Von — . Oh! his father had but one eye, and was a marshal —
Liebtraut.
Von Wildenholz!
Abbot.
Right. Von Wildenholz.
Olearius.
I know him well. A young man of great abilities. He is particularly esteemed for his talent in disputation.
Abbot.
He has that from his mother.
Liebtraut.
Yes; but his father would never praise her for that quality.
Bishop.
How call you the emperor who wrote your Corpus Juris?
Olearius.
Justinian.
Bishop.
A worthy prince: — here’s to his memory!
Olearius.
To his memory!
[They drink.
Abbot.
That must be a fine book.
Olearius.
It may be called a book of books; a digest of all laws; there you find the sentence ready for every case, and where the text is antiquated or obscure, the deficiency is supplied by notes, with which the most learned men have enriched this truly admirable work.
Abbot.
A digest of all laws! — Indeed! — Then the ten commandments must be in it.
Olearius.
Implicitè; not explicitè.
Abbot.
That’s what I mean; plainly set down, without any explication.
Bishop.
But the best is, you tell us that a state can be maintained in the most perfect tranquillity and subordination by receiving and rightly following that statute-book.
Olearius.
Doubtless.
Bishop.
All doctors of laws!
[They drink.
Olearius.
I’ll tell them of this abroad. (They drink.) Would to Heaven that men thought thus in my country.
Works of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Page 166