by Lord Byron
Wer. Aye, if at Prague:
But here he is all-powerful; and has spread 70
Snares for thy father, which, if hitherto
He hath escaped them, is by fortune, not
By favour.
Ulr. Doth he personally know you?
Wer. No; but he guesses shrewdly at my person,
As he betrayed last night; and I, perhaps,
But owe my temporary liberty
To his uncertainty.
Ulr. 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. 80
I saved his life, he therefore trusts in me.
He hath been plundered too, since he came hither:
Is sick, a stranger, and as such not now
Able to trace the villain who hath robbed 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).Who
Taught you to mouth that name of “villain?”
Ulr. What
More noble name belongs to common thieves? 90
Wer. Who taught you thus to brand an unknown being
With an infernal stigma?
Ulr. My own feelings
Taught me to name a ruffian from his deeds.
Wer. Who taught you, long-sought and ill-found boy! that
It would be safe for my own son to insult me?
Ulr. I named a villain. What is there in common
With such a being and my father?
Wer. Every thing!
That ruffian is thy father!
Jos. Oh, my son!
Believe him not — and yet! — (her voice falters.)
Ulr. (starts, looks earnestly at Werner
and then says slowly)And you avow it?
Wer. Ulric, before you dare despise your father, 100
Learn to divine and judge his actions. Young,
Rash, new to life, and reared in Luxury’s lap,
Is it for you to measure Passion’s force,
Or Misery’s temptation? Wait — (not long,
It cometh like the night, and quickly) — Wait! —
Wait till, like me, your hopes are blighted till
Sorrow and Shame are handmaids of your cabin —
Famine and Poverty your guests at table;
Despair your bed-fellow — then rise, but not
From sleep, and judge! Should that day e’er arrive — 110
Should you see then the Serpent, who hath coiled
Himself around all that is dear and noble
Of you and yours, lie slumbering in your path,
With but his folds between your steps and happiness,
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 120
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 — —
Wer. (abruptly).Hear me!
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, 130
Housed in a Prince’s palace, couched 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, 140
And hunted through each change of time — name — fortune —
And why not you? Are you more versed in men?
He wound snares round me; flung along my path
Reptiles, whom, in my youth, I would have spurned
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 Josephine).
My mother!
Wer. Ah! I thought so: you have now 150
Only one parent. I have lost alike
Father and son, and stand alone.
Ulr. But stay!
[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 followed?
Ulr. I obey you, mother,
Although reluctantly. My first act shall not
Be one of disobedience.
Jos. Oh! he is good!
Condemn him not from his own mouth, but trust
To me, who have borne so much with him, and for him,
That this is but the surface of his soul, 160
And that the depth is rich in better things.
Ulr. These then are but my father’s principles?
My mother thinks not with him?
Jos. Nor doth he
Think as he speaks. Alas! long years of grief
Have made him sometimes thus.
Ulr. Explain to me
More clearly, then, these claims of Stralenheim,
That, when I see the subject in its bearings,
I may prepare to face him, or at least
To extricate you from your present perils.
I pledge myself to accomplish this — but would 170
I had arrived a few hours sooner!
Jos. Aye!
Hadst thou but done so!
Enter Gabor and Idenstein, with Attendants.
Gab. (to Ulric). I have sought you, comrade.
So this is my reward!
Ulr. What do you mean?
Gab. ‘Sdeath! have I lived to these years, and for this!
(To Idenstein.) But for your age and folly, I would — —
Iden. Help!
Hands off! Touch an Intendant!
Gab. Do not think
I’ll honour you so much as save your throat
From the Ravenstone by choking you myself.
Iden. I thank you for the respite: but there are
Those who have greater need of it than me. 180
Ulr. Unriddle this vile wrangling, or — —
Gab. At once, then,
The Baron has been robbed, and upon me
This worthy personage has deigned to fix
His kind suspicions — me! whom he ne’er saw
Till yester evening.
Iden. Wouldst have me suspect
My own acquaintances? You have to learn
That I keep better company.
Gab. You shall
Keep the best shortly, and the last for all men,
The worms! Y
ou hound of malice!
[Gabor seizes on him.
Ulr. (interfering).Nay, no violence:
He’s old, unarmed — be temperate, Gabor!
Gab. (letting go Idenstein).True: 190
I am a fool to lose myself because
Fools deem me knave: it is their homage.
Ulr. (to Idenstein).How
Fare you?
Iden. Help!
Ulr. I have helped you.
Iden. Kill him! then
I’ll say so.
Gab. I am calm — live on!
Iden. That’s more
Than you shall do, if there be judge or judgment
In Germany. The Baron shall decide!
Gab. Does he abet you in your accusation?
Iden. Does he not?
Gab. Then next time let him go sink
Ere I go hang for snatching him from drowning.
But here he comes!
Enter Stralenheim.
Gab. (goes up to him). My noble Lord, I’m here! 200
Stral. Well, sir!
Gab. Have you aught with me?
Stral. What should I
Have with you?
Gab. You know best, if yesterday’s
Flood has not washed 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 210
Should know whom not to suspect. I am insulted —
Oppressed 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.
Stral. You!
Gab. Aye, sir; and, for
Aught that you know, superior; but proceed —
I do not ask for hints, and surmises, 220
And circumstance, and proof: I know enough
Of what I have done for you, and what you owe me,
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 deemed, the service rendered
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 230
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 asked so much.
Stral. This tone
May be of innocence.
Gab. ‘Sdeath! who dare doubt it,
Except such villains as ne’er had it?
Stral. You
Are hot, sir.
Gab. Must I turn an icicle
Before the breath of menials, and their master?
Stral. Ulric! you know this man; I found him in 240
Your company.
Gab. We found you in the Oder;
Would we had left you there!
Stral. I give you thanks, sir.
Gab. I’ve earned them; but might have earned more from others,
Perchance, if I had left you to your fate.
Stral. Ulric! you know this man?
Gab. No more than you do
If he avouches not my honour.
Ulr. I
Can vouch your courage, and, as far as my
Own brief connection led me, honour.
Stral. Then
I’m satisfied.
Gab. (ironically). Right easily, methinks.
What is the spell in his asseveration 250
More than in mine?
Stral. I merely said that I
Was satisfied — not that you are absolved.
Gab. Again! Am I accused or no?
Stral. Go to!
You wax too insolent. If circumstance
And general suspicion be against you,
Is the fault mine? Is’t not enough that I
Decline all question of your guilt or innocence?
Gab. My Lord, my Lord, this is mere cozenage,
A vile equivocation; you well know
Your doubts are certainties to all around you — 260
Your looks a voice — your frowns a sentence; you
Are practising your power on me — because
You have it; but beware! you know not whom
You strive to tread on.
Stral. Threat’st thou?
Gab. Not so much
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, 270
But let him go his way. Ulric, good morrow!
[Exit Stralenheim, Idenstein, and Attendants.
Gab. (following). I’ll after him and — —
Ulr. (stopping him).Not a step.
Gab. Who shall
Oppose me?
Ulr. Your own reason, with a moment’s
Thought.
Gab. Must I bear this?
Ulr. Pshaw! we all must bear
The arrogance of something higher than
Ourselves — the highest cannot temper Satan,
Nor the lowest his vicegerents upon earth.
I’ve seen you brave the elements, and bear
Things which had made this silkworm cast his skin —
And shrink you from a few sharp sneers and words? 280
Gab. Must I bear to be deemed a thief? If ‘twere
A bandit of the woods, I could have borne it —
There’s something daring in it: — but to steal
The moneys of a slumbering man! —
Ulr. It seems, then,
You are not guilty.
Gab. Do I hear aright?
You too!
Ulr. I merely asked a simple question.
Gab. If the judge asked me, I would answer “No” —
To you I answer thus.[He draws.
Ulr. (drawing).With all my heart!
Jos. Without there! Ho! help! help! — Oh, God! here’s murder!
[Exit Josephine, shrieking.
Gabor and Ulric fight. Gabor is disarmed just as Stralenheim, Josephine, Idenstein, etc., re-enter.
Jos. Oh! glorious Heaven! He’s safe!
Stral. (to Josephine).Who’s safe!
Jos. My — —
Ulr. (interrupting her with a stern look, and turning
afterwards to Stralenheim).Both! 290
Here’s no great harm done.
Stral. What hath caused all this?
Ulr. You, Baron, I believe; but as the effect
Is harmless, let it not disturb you. — Gabor!
There is your sword; and when you bare it next,
Let it not be against your friends.
[Ulric pronounces the last words slowly and emphatically in a low voice to Gabor.
Gab. I thank you
Less for my life than for your counsel.
Stral. These
/>
Brawls must end here.
Gab. (taking his sword). They shall. You’ve wronged 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 300
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 vanquished 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 upon his insults, 310
Perhaps his guilt, has cancelled all the little
I owed him heretofore for the so-vaunted
Aid which he added to your abler succour.
Ulric, you are not hurt? —
Ulr. Not even by a scratch.
Stral. (to Idenstein). Intendant! take your measures to secure
Yon fellow: I revoke my former lenity.
He shall be sent to Frankfort with an escort,
The instant that the waters have abated.
Iden. Secure him! He hath got his sword again —
And seems to know the use on’t; ‘tis his trade, 320
Belike; — I’m a civilian.
Stral. Fool! are not
Yon score of vassals dogging at your heels
Enough to seize a dozen such? Hence! after him!
Ulr. Baron, I do beseech you!
Stral. I must be
Obeyed. No words!
Iden. Well, if it must be so —
March, vassals! I’m your leader, and will bring
The rear up: a wise general never should
Expose his precious life — on which all rests.
I like that article of war.
[Exit Idenstein and Attendants.
Stral. Come hither,
Ulric; what does that woman here? Oh! now 330
I recognise her, ‘tis the stranger’s wife
Whom they name “Werner.”
Ulr. ‘Tis his name.
Stral. Indeed!
Is not your husband visible, fair dame? —
Jos. Who seeks him?
Stral. No one — for the present: but
I fain would parley, Ulric, with yourself
Alone.
Ulr. I will retire with you.
Jos. Not so:
You are the latest stranger, and command
All places here.
(Aside to Ulric, as she goes out.) O Ulric! have a care —
Remember what depends on a rash word!
Ulr. (to Josephine).Fear not! —
[Exit Josephine.
Stral. Ulric, I think that I may trust you; 340
You saved my life — and acts like these beget