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SCENE III.

But how now! What is this? Oh, but to stand
Upon the bulwarks! Curse these four strait walls!
[He mounts to the window.

Seven days afterwards-the same apartment-Ida re- Ah! what a stirring sight! Yonder is Philip,

clines on a couch.

The name of Ida Kronberg will go down
As of a rebel traitor - as one leagued
Against her father in the desperate strife
Wherein, perchance, his life may be the forfeit.
Oh Thou, who in thy righteous hand dost hold
The lives of all thy creatures, guard, I pray,
My father through the conflict! Be his shield,
And his sufficient help! If life thou needest,
Take my poor life, a sacrifice for his-
I would resign my breath into thy hands-
My cause unto thy judgment—which is just!

Enter BERTHA, and COUNT FABIAN.

Bertha. Ha! traitor, did he say? Believe me
Count,

The tumult of the hour hath mazed his brain-
Daughter he meant, his most beloved daughter!
Ida, Count Fabian brings us heavy news-
The outer walls are taken -and the attack
Hath now commenced upon the inner fortress;
But my most noble uncle, full of kindness,
Hath sent this brave young Count to be our guard!
Ida. He could not grant a trustier, braver friend!
Count, in the good greenwood thou 'st been our
guard-

Heaven knows if we shall take those sports again!
Fab. I murmured when I heard my good lord's

orders,

For he most strangely worded his command, -
Methought he spoke of gaoler- not defender!
Bertha. I told you, Count, my uncle's brain is

mazed.

He does not mean that she and I are traitors.

Known by the bloody hand upon the banner;
His is a soldier's bearing-would to Heaven
It was a gallant cause for which he strove!
Re-enter BERTHA.

Bertha. Count Fabian, let me hear thee read the
signs

I scarce can see

Of this unhappy morn!
Fab.
Aught now; the force is drawn beneath the walls-
Yet from the town a fresh attack is made.
Bertha. "Tis as an earthquake's tumult!
Fab.

An assault

Made from the tower of the Cathedral church.
Bertha. Are the good saints asleep, that this should
be?

Fab. Again it shakes the castle as 't would fall!
Oh that I were without, to take my part
In this day's struggle!

[He looks out again.

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Between the calm and beautiful repose
Of nature and the unholy strife of man!

[The sounds of assault become yet louder
with shouts of triumph intermixed.

Bertha. Heavens! what terrific power have human voices

In their ferocious triumph thus sent forth!

Fab. "Tis vain to look. The strife is close within

Ida. [aside.] Oh, most unkind, to still believe me The very walls, and this small tower gives nought

traitor

To shut his heart in such a time as this!

-

But 't is not meet Count Fabian see me weep –
Let me retire into the inner chamber!
Bertha. I will go with thee.

Save quiet fields, and the green, waving tree-tops!
Bertha. Yet, yet again! these sounds might wake

the dead!

Fab. To those cooped up, the strife is more appalling

[They go into the inner room. Than in the open air, amid the contest.

Fab. She's a noble lady!
Who would not draw his sword for such a one?
And 't is for her, they say, the war is waged-
A single-handed man, I'd face, myself,
A hundred foes were she the victor's guerdon!
Now let me think-suppose he win the day,
Suppose he force the castle, and take prisoner
Her noble sire-which is impossible!

I'd sooner die than she should be his prisoner;
But for the supposition's sake - I'd fly
To every court in Europe, and demand
Help for the noblest, fairest, best of ladies;
And Suabia's duke would be our earliest helper -
All know he has an eye upon this lordship;
And is beside, a gallant, generous soldier!

[A loud clamour of assault and defence is
heard.

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A small room in the upper tower.

Enter the LORD OF KRONBERG, COUNT NICHOLAS and SEGBERT.

Seg. My lord, the foe hath got entire possession!
Nicholas. By that old passage opening to the river
They gained an entrance; there the mine was sprung
By which the breach was made.
Lord of K.

Why left you it unguarded?
Seg.

Curse on ye all!

Good, my lord,
You did declare a force of twenty men
Sufficient for the post, if 't were attempted;
And they were all cut down unto a man!
Lord of K. It was your post, and you have it
deserted;

And but that 't is an hour we may not spare
From weightier business, you should die for 't, traitor!
Seg. [throwing down his sword.] For five and

fifty years I've been your soldier, And never was dishonoured till this hour!

Nich. Nay, my good lord of Kronberg, 't is unjust,
'Tis most unjust, my lord! Segbert is true!
This is no time, indeed, my lord, it is not,
Thus to affront a brave and loyal soldier!
Lord of K. Ye all of you are traitors!
Nich.
My dear lord,
Let not our latest hours be spent in strife!
Count Segbert, take thy sword! Let not the rabble
Know of our strife-Count Segbert, take thy sword!
Seg. [reluctantly taking it.] I am dishonoured, I
am called a traitor!

Shame on myself! I am a veteran soldier
Seamed o'er with scars, and yet am called a traitor!
Nich. Thou art no traitor, Segbert!

My Lord Kronberg,
What is your will we answer to the foe?
Lord of K. How many may we count ?
Nich.
Our bravest soldiers
Lie dead within the breach-we are scant a hundred!
Lord of K. Then with this handful, I'll defend
the tower-

Will see them die of famine, ere I yield it!
Shame on ye, would ye counsel aught beside?
Nich. I know no better counsel for the hour.
Lord of K. I shall return no answer to the rebel.
Now each unto his post; and leave no outlet
This time unwatched - but I will forth myself,
And keep you to your duties!

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[They make a general attempt to carry off spoil; the soldiers drive them back. Plunderers, lay it downYe shall not hence, save ye go empty-handed! Many voices. We will not out then! we will tarry here!

We will defend our own!
All.

We will defend it!
Man. Curse him! he'll say 't is his!
Phil.

I swear 't is mine!

Ye are a herd of robbers, seeking outrage!
Down with your spoil, or, by my soul, these swords
Shall be unsheathed on you!

Mother S.
Ay, lord it, Philip!
And thou shalt find thine equals, that thou shalt!
Trample upon us! Dare to draw a sword,
Phil. I'll strike thee down if thou defy me farther.
Stand back and hear me speak!

Mother S. We will not hear thee! Thou'dst be a tyrant - be another Kronberg! [They make a fresh attempt to carry off their spoil; the soldiers oppose them; a violent contest ensues, and many are wounded.

Mother S. [aside.] Let us appear to yield. There is a force

Outside will take our part! We'll have revenge!

Man. Give us free egress, Philip, and we'll yield!
Phil. [aside.] Curse on them, with their everlasting
Philip!

Soldiers, give place, and see that all go hence;
And yet go empty-handed!

[He withdraws into an inner room. Many voices. Hang him! we'll have a reckoning with him yet!

Woman. [taking a body] My son, my son! he's dead!

Soldiers. Out with ye! Out!

[The people are forced out, uttering threats and curses.

Re-enter PHILIP.

One enemy is crushed, or well nigh crushed,

[They all go out. Cooped in a little tower, and scarce a hundred —

Meantime another rises, like the head
Of the gigantic Hydra- the fierce people,
Greedy of plunder, fickle and rapacious;

"Tis the strong arm must crush them as they rise;
Must hurl them down to their subservient place,
And keep them there; as rude and rough materials,
Unsightly and unworthy, form the basement
Of kingly edifices- now I see

Wherefore the great must keep the low subjected.

Enter GASTON.

Gast. Dost fold thine arms as thou might'st take thine ease?

Thou art not lord of this dominion yet!

Phil. Speak plain, what is thy meaning? Gast. The rude concourse, Whom thou hast driven from the gates e'en now, Strengthened with a gigantic force, return, And claim access, mad with some fancied wrong. Thou art no longer "noble, gracious Philip;" But" tyrant," "bloody and injurious tyrant!"

Phil. I'll cut them into mouthfuls for the dogs! Gast. Thou madman! These are they who gave thee power!

Phil. Wouldst give the fair reward of seven days' strife

To them for plunder?

Gast. Give them for plunder those Who have adhered to Kronberg- not a few; And all rich merchants who as princes lived,Fear not but they will fight like angry eagles For their nest-eggs; thus wilt thou arm thy foes Against each other, and be rid of bothThe merchants' names are here, their houses marked. Phil. A goodly list! and only pity 't is To give from our own hands such noble spoil.

Gast. There are a thousand ways to get it back! Phil. An excellent friend! Thou hast untired resources!

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And, easy-conscienced, could cut down a hundred;
But 't is not part of noble soldiership

To stab i' the dark; and put the subtle poison
In meats and drinks! Who gave the order for 't?
Attend. Philip our good lord Philip-who but he?
3d Sol. If but a hair of any soldier's head
Have come to harm, by Him, who is in heaven,
I will forswear the service of this Philip

As a blood-thirsty tyrant, worse than Kronberg! 4th Sol. If it be so, I will return on th' morrow first soldier-oath!

To my

2d Sol.

And so will Ì?

Attend. Tush, tush! you all are fools!

2d Attend. [running in.] All, all give place,— Here come the lords o' th' night;

Enter men, bearing dishes.

Now to your boards! This is the topmost table, and my lord Hath ordered every man his belly full. This is above the salt-all ye must lower,

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The burghers clamour at the gates for help
Against those lawless thousands that despoil,
By indiscriminate plunder, every house!

SCENE II.

A small room of the upper tower-the Lord of Kron

berg alone.

Lord of K. When great misfortune threats a noble house,

'Tis a great sacrifice that must be made

Phil. Damnation on them! Bid the burghers fight For its retrieve- and 't is the part of greatness

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Phil.

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Misfortune to defy by nobly yielding!
Should I deny nobility to Philip,
-the blood that warms his veins
It were a lie.
Flows from a regal source. There are who say
This land by right is his- I yield not that
But as my daughter's dower, I may confer
Reversion of its rule on whoso weds her.
Suppose it Philip; I get added power, -
Dominion o'er the factious multitude
Estranged from me, but firm allies of his. -
It may be that my daughter may object
To this rough wooing- but a truce to that;
I can enforce obedience!—and in sooth
Philip would not displease a woman's eye.
- though little like a bride.
Enter IDA.

Peace, peace, my lord, But here she comes One is dispatched even now will see to it.

Lord of M. It is thy cause, my son! Up, arm
thyself;

All is one scene of tumult, blood, and frenzy -
The burghers, for their wives and daughters, pray
More than their wealth! Thy fortune will be lost
If thou hold back! Shame on this drunken riot,
When all that's dear to manhood calls thee out!

Enter SOLDIER.

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My daughter, banish these dejected looks!
Ida. Welcome misfortune, if it give me back
Thy love, my dearest father!

Lord of K. Some harsh words I spoke to thee at parting, I rememberForgive thy father, Ida; he was wroth, More with the woe that pressed him, than with thee! Ida. Nay, ask not my forgiveness! Lord of K. Thou, dear child, Sweet image of thy mother, the most true, Here for protection. They demand your presence- The patientest, the fairest of all women -The city is on fire in every quarter!

Soldier. My lord, the burghers bring their wives and daughters

Phil. Confusion seize them! I shall not go forth And do their bidding, as they choose to dictate! Lord of M. Then I will buckle harness on, and forth!

What gentlemen will up, and come with me?
Many officers. We will to horse with you, and
quell this tumult!

Gast. [aside.] If that old man go forth, he ruins
all!

Stay, brave old sir, we will not tax your arm
Against these scurvy ruffians! I myself

Thou art my only hope!

Ida.
Hope, father! Hast thou hope?
Lord of K. Yes, Ida; hope in thee, who can'st
retrieve

The fortunes of our house, and give again
Power to my hand, and peace unto the state!
Ida. I do thus much, who am a feeble woman!
Lord of K. Thou dost not know, thou little
trembling fool,

That this land is in anarchy for thee-
That 't is for thee so many brave men sleep

In the cold arms of death!

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Jest not! What is the tenor of thy words?

Lord of K. Philip of Maine did ask thy hand in marriage,

Which I refused; thence rose this civil contest.
Then was he poor, brought up in sordid thrift,
Whom it had been disgrace for Ida Kronberg
To have been wife unto. Now he has power,-
And woe is me, that it should even be so!
Has given his name a terrible ascendance;
And we must crouch beneath him, live his slaves,
Be trampled on; unless, like those who make
Events their servitors-true wisdom's rule,
We take him by his craft-yielded but to keep
The power which but in seeming we resign.
Thy hand, my child, will heal this civil broil,
Will give again dominion to thy father-
What says my Ida? He of Maine is noble ;
Is brave; hath power; is a mean man no longer!
Ida. When Philip sought my hand, he was as
noble,-

Nobler than now! His name had not a stain!
Lord of K. A sordid, penniless lord, without

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Hath shown himself a fierce, revengeful man, And is thy deadly, cruel enemy!

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I loved him with a first, true maiden's love-
I loved him when a little child, my father-
But as a sacrifice to holy duty

I cast him forth from my sincerest heart
As an unworthy man— thine enemy;
The spoiler of thy people!

Lord of K.
Thou hast loved him,
And thou shalt wed him!-Thou, against my will,
Hast loved, and I will wed thee 'gainst thy will
To him for punishment!- By heaven I will!

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Ida. Father, if I have ever warmed thy heart — If I have ever been delight unto thee

By whate'er love thou borest to my mother-
And by the sacredness of her bequest
Which gave me to thy care, her only child -
Oh pity.
-save me from this cruel doom!
Lord of K. Out with thee!-thou art hateful to
my sight!-

Thou lovedst that most beggarly, vile man!
And now that I am struggling, in his power,
Thou wilt not lift a finger to my help!
Ida. Oh that my life could save thee!
Lord of K.

Then consent

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"T is a small thing thy father asks of thee-
His power, dearer than his life's-blood, is in thy hands!
Ida. Oh, not to wed him, father!
Lord of K.

Then begone

And never call me father- I'll be lord
Until thou hast another, and by God
He shall teach thee submission!

[Ida retires, and he goes out by another
door.

SCENE III. Ida's apartment

Enter PHILIP.

And here she dwelt! Here passed her beautiful life!
A tender, humanizing influence
Breathes through the room! Ambition, hate, and

vengeance,

Lord of K. I would retain my power by winning Have here no entrance: did I then believe

him.

Ida. Is it to such a man thou'dst wed thy daughter?
Lord of K. Unsay what thou hast said. - that
thou 'dst have wedded

Philip of Maine when he was low and needy!
Ida. Then was he true and gentle-a brave man-
A loyal man, my father!

Lord of K.

Could I think it,

That hate had conquered love, and hot ambition
Driven from my heart all by-gone tenderness?
But to be near her but to breathe the air
Which she has breathed awakes all former love;
And worthier, now methinks, the blessed life
Spent in all sweet and kindly charities,
Though nameless, noiseless as an unseen rill,
Than the great conqueror's years of bloody glory!

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