by Lord Byron
Unbounded confidence.
Ulr. Say on.
Stral. Mysterious
And long-engendered circumstances (not
To be now fully entered on) have made
This man obnoxious — perhaps fatal to me.
Ulr. Who? Gabor, the Hungarian?
Stral. No — this “Werner” —
With the false name and habit.
Ulr. How can this be?
He is the poorest of the poor — and yellow
Sickness sits caverned in his hollow eye:
The man is helpless.
Stral. He is — ’tis no matter; — 350
But if he be the man I deem (and that
He is so, all around us here — and much
That is not here — confirm my apprehension)
He must be made secure ere twelve hours further.
Ulr. And what have I to do with this?
Stral. I have sent
To Frankfort, to the Governor, my friend,
(I have the authority to do so by
An order of the house of Brandenburgh),
For a fit escort — but this curséd flood
Bars all access, and may do for some hours. 360
Ulr. It is abating.
Stral. That is well.
Ulr. But how
Am I concerned?
Stral. As one who did so much
For me, you cannot be indifferent to
That which is of more import to me than
The life you rescued. — Keep your eye on him!
The man avoids me, knows that I now know him. —
Watch him! — as you would watch the wild boar when
He makes against you in the hunter’s gap —
Like him he must be speared.
Ulr. Why so?
Stral. He stands
Between me and a brave inheritance! 370
Oh! could you see it! But you shall.
Ulr. I hope so.
Stral. It is the richest of the rich Bohemia,
Unscathed by scorching war. It lies so near
The strongest city, Prague, that fire and sword
Have skimmed it lightly: so that now, besides
Its own exuberance, it bears double value
Confronted with whole realms far and near
Made deserts.
Ulr. You describe it faithfully.
Stral. Aye — could you see it, you would say so — but,
As I have said, you shall.
Ulr. I accept the omen. 380
Stral. Then claim a recompense from it and me,
Such as both may make worthy your acceptance
And services to me and mine for ever.
Ulr. And this sole, sick, and miserable wretch —
This way-worn stranger — stands between you and
This Paradise? — (As Adam did between
The devil and his) — [Aside].
Stral. He doth.
Ulr. Hath he no right?
Stral. Right! none. A disinherited prodigal,
Who for these twenty years disgraced his lineage
In all his acts — but chiefly by his marriage, 390
And living amidst commerce-fetching burghers,
And dabbling merchants, in a mart of Jews.
Ulr. He has a wife, then?
Stral. You’d be sorry to
Call such your mother. You have seen the woman
He calls his wife.
Ulr. Is she not so?
Stral. No more
Than he’s your father: — an Italian girl,
The daughter of a banished man, who lives
On love and poverty with this same Werner.
Ulr. They are childless, then?
Stral. There is or was a bastard,
Whom the old man — the grandsire (as old age 400
Is ever doting) took to warm his bosom,
As it went chilly downward to the grave:
But the imp stands not in my path — he has fled,
No one knows whither; and if he had not,
His claims alone were too contemptible
To stand. — Why do you smile?
Ulr. At your vain fears:
A poor man almost in his grasp — a child
Of doubtful birth — can startle a grandee!
Stral. All’s to be feared, where all is to be gained.
Ulr. True; and aught done to save or to obtain it. 410
Stral. You have harped the very string next to my heart.
I may depend upon you?
Ulr. ‘Twere too late
To doubt it.
Stral. Let no foolish pity shake
Your bosom (for the appearance of the man
Is pitiful) — he is a wretch, as likely
To have robbed me as the fellow more suspected,
Except that circumstance is less against him;
He being lodged far off, and in a chamber
Without approach to mine; and, to say truth,
I think too well of blood allied to mine, 420
To deem he would descend to such an act:
Besides, he was a soldier, and a brave one
Once — though too rash.
Ulr. And they, my Lord, we know
By our experience, never plunder till
They knock the brains out first — which makes them heirs,
Not thieves. The dead, who feel nought, can lose nothing,
Nor e’er be robbed: their spoils are a bequest —
No more.
Stral. Go to! you are a wag. But say
I may be sure you’ll keep an eye on this man,
And let me know his slightest movement towards 430
Concealment or escape.
Ulr. You may be sure
You yourself could not watch him more than I
Will be his sentinel.
Stral. By this you make me
Yours, and for ever.
Ulr. Such is my intention.[Exeunt.
ACT III
Scene I. — A Hall in the same Palace, from whence the secret Passage leads.
Enter Werner and Gabor.
Gab. Sir, I have told my tale: if it so please you
To give me refuge for a few hours, well —
If not, I’ll try my fortune elsewhere.
Wer. How
Can I, so wretched, give to Misery
A shelter? — wanting such myself as much
As e’er the hunted deer a covert — —
Gab. Or
The wounded lion his cool cave. Methinks
You rather look like one would turn at bay,
And rip the hunter’s entrails.
Wer. Ah!
Gab. I care not
If it be so, being much disposed to do 10
The same myself. But will you shelter me?
I am oppressed like you — and poor like you —
Disgraced — —
Wer. (abruptly). Who told you that I was disgraced?
Gab. No one; nor did I say you were so: with
Your poverty my likeness ended; but
I said I was so — and would add, with truth,
As undeservedly as you.
Wer. Again!
As I?
Gab. Or any other honest man.
What the devil would you have? You don’t believe me
Guilty of this base theft?
Wer. No, no — I cannot. 20
Gab. Why that’s my heart of honour! yon young gallant —
Your miserly Intendant and dense noble —
All — all suspected me; and why? because
I am the worst clothed, and least named amongst them;
Although, were Momus’ lattice in your breasts,
My soul might brook to open it more widely
Than theirs: but thus it is — you poor and he
lpless —
Both still more than myself.
Wer. How know you that?
Gab. You’re right: I ask for shelter at the hand
Which I call helpless; if you now deny it, 30
I were well paid. But you, who seem to have proved
The wholesome bitterness of life, know well,
By sympathy, that all the outspread gold
Of the New World the Spaniard boasts about
Could never tempt the man who knows its worth,
Weighed at its proper value in the balance,
Save in such guise (and there I grant its power,
Because I feel it,) as may leave no nightmare
Upon his heart o’ nights.
Wer. What do you mean?
Gab. Just what I say; I thought my speech was plain: 40
You are no thief — nor I — and, as true men,
Should aid each other.
Wer. It is a damned world, sir.
Gab. So is the nearest of the two next, as
The priests say (and no doubt they should know best),
Therefore I’ll stick by this — as being both
To suffer martyrdom, at least with such
An epitaph as larceny upon my tomb.
It is but a night’s lodging which I crave;
To-morrow I will try the waters, as
The dove did — trusting that they have abated. 50
Wer. Abated? Is there hope of that?
Gab. There was
At noontide.
Wer. Then we may be safe.
Gab. Are you
In peril?
Wer. Poverty is ever so.
Gab. That I know by long practice. Will you not
Promise to make mine less?
Wer. Your poverty?
Gab. No — you don’t look a leech for that disorder;
I meant my peril only: you’ve a roof,
And I have none; I merely seek a covert.
Wer. Rightly; for how should such a wretch as I
Have gold?
Gab. Scarce honestly, to say the truth on’t, 60
Although I almost wish you had the Baron’s.
Wer. Dare you insinuate?
Gab. What?
Wer. Are you aware
To whom you speak?
Gab. No; and I am not used
Greatly to care. (A noise heard without.) But hark! they come!
Wer. Who come?
Gab. The Intendant and his man-hounds after me:
I’d face them — but it were in vain to expect
Justice at hands like theirs. Where shall I go?
But show me any place. I do assure you,
If there be faith in man, I am most guiltless:
Think if it were your own case!
Wer. (aside).Oh, just God! 70
Thy hell is not hereafter! Am I dust still?
Gab. I see you’re moved; and it shows well in you:
I may live to requite it.
Wer. Are you not
A spy of Stralenheim’s?
Gab. Not I! and if
I were, what is there to espy in you?
Although, I recollect, his frequent question
About you and your spouse might lead to some
Suspicion; but you best know — what — and why.
I am his deadliest foe.
Wer. You?
Gab. After such
A treatment for the service which in part 80
I rendered him, I am his enemy:
If you are not his friend you will assist me.
Wer. I will.
Gab. But how?
Wer. (showing the panel). There is a secret spring:
Remember, I discovered it by chance,
And used it but for safety.
Gab. Open it,
And I will use it for the same.
Wer. I found it,
As I have said: it leads through winding walls,
(So thick as to bear paths within their ribs,
Yet lose no jot of strength or stateliness,)
And hollow cells, and obscure niches, to 90
I know not whither; you must not advance:
Give me your word.
Gab. It is unecessary:
How should I make my way in darkness through
A Gothic labyrinth of unknown windings?
Wer. Yes, but who knows to what place it may lead?
I know not — (mark you!) — but who knows it might not
Lead even into the chamber of your foe?
So strangely were contrived these galleries
By our Teutonic fathers in old days,
When man built less against the elements 100
Than his next neighbour. You must not advance
Beyond the two first windings; if you do
(Albeit I never passed them,) I’ll not answer
For what you may be led to.
Gab. But I will.
A thousand thanks!
Wer. You’ll find the spring more obvious
On the other side; and, when you would return,
It yields to the least touch.
Gab. I’ll in — farewell!
[Gabor goes in by the secret panel.
Wer. (solus). What have I done? Alas! what had I done
Before to make this fearful? Let it be
Still some atonement that I save the man, 110
Whose sacrifice had saved perhaps my own —
They come! to seek elsewhere what is before them!
Enter Idenstein and Others.
Iden. Is he not here? He must have vanished then
Through the dim Gothic glass by pious aid
Of pictured saints upon the red and yellow
Casements, through which the sunset streams like sunrise
On long pearl-coloured beards and crimson crosses.
And gilded crosiers, and crossed arms, and cowls,
And helms, and twisted armour, and long swords,
All the fantastic furniture of windows 120
Dim with brave knights and holy hermits, whose
Likeness and fame alike rest in some panes
Of crystal, which each rattling wind proclaims
As frail as any other life or glory.
He’s gone, however.
Wer. Whom do you seek?
Iden. A villain.
Wer. Why need you come so far, then?
Iden. In the search
Of him who robbed the Baron.
Wer. Are you sure
You have divined the man?
Iden. As sure as you
Stand there: but where’s he gone?
Wer. Who?
Iden. He we sought.
Wer. You see he is not here.
Iden. And yet we traced him 130
Up to this hall. Are you accomplices?
Or deal you in the black art?
Wer. I deal plainly,
To many men the blackest.
Iden. It may be
I have a question or two for yourself
Hereafter; but we must continue now
Our search for t’other.
Wer. You had best begin
Your inquisition now: I may not be
So patient always.
Iden. I should like to know,
In good sooth, if you really are the man
That Stralenheim’s in quest of.
Wer. Insolent! 140
Said you not that he was not here?
Iden. Yes, one;
But there’s another whom he tracks more keenly,
And soon, it may be, with authority
Both paramount to his and mine. But come!
Bustle, my boys! we are at fault.
[Exit Idenstein and Attendants.
Wer. In what
A maze hath my dim destiny involved me!
And one base sin hath done me less ill than
The leaving undone one far greater. Down,
Thou busy devil, rising in my heart!
Thou art too late! I’ll nought to do with blood. 150
Enter Ulric.
Ulr. I sought you, father.
Wer. Is’t not dangerous?
Ulr. No; Stralenheim is ignorant of all
Or any of the ties between us: more —
He sends me here a spy upon your actions,
Deeming me wholly his.
Wer. I cannot think it:
‘Tis but a snare he winds about us both,
To swoop the sire and son at once.
Ulr. I cannot
Pause in each petty fear, and stumble at
The doubts that rise like briers in our path,
But must break through them, as an unarmed carle 160
Would, though with naked limbs, were the wolf rustling
In the same thicket where he hewed for bread.
Nets are for thrushes, eagles are not caught so:
We’ll overfly or rend them.
Wer. Show me how?
Ulr. Can you not guess?
Wer. I cannot.
Ulr. That is strange.
Came the thought ne’er into your mind last night?
Wer. I understand you not.
Ulr. Then we shall never
More understand each other. But to change
The topic — —
Wer. You mean to pursue it, as
‘Tis of our safety.
Ulr. Right; I stand corrected. 170
I see the subject now more clearly, and
Our general situation in its bearings.
The waters are abating; a few hours
Will bring his summoned myrmidons from Frankfort,
When you will be a prisoner, perhaps worse,
And I an outcast, bastardised by practice
Of this same Baron to make way for him.
Wer. And now your remedy! I thought to escape
By means of this accurséd gold; but now
I dare not use it, show it, scarce look on it. 180
Methinks it wears upon its face my guilt
For motto, not the mintage of the state;
And, for the sovereign’s head, my own begirt
With hissing snakes, which curl around my temples,
And cry to all beholders, Lo! a villain!
Ulr. You must not use it, at least now; but take
This ring.[He gives Werner a jewel.
Wer. A gem! It was my father’s!
Ulr. And
As such is now your own. With this you must
Bribe the Intendant for his old caleche
And horses to pursue your route at sunrise, 190
Together with my mother.
Wer. And leave you,
So lately found, in peril too?
Ulr. Fear nothing!
The only fear were if we fled together,
For that would make our ties beyond all doubt.
The waters only lie in flood between