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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04
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[The officers assemble on the other side about the FIELD-MARSHAL, and take out their tablets. The ELECTOR turns to a gentleman-in-waiting.]
Ramin is waiting with the coach outside?
GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING.
At once, my sovereign. They are hitching now.
ELECTOR (seating himself on a chair behind the ELECTRESS and the
PRINCESS).
Ramin shall escort my belovèd wife,
Convoyed by thirty sturdy cavalrymen.
To Kalkhuhn's, to the chancellor's manor-house.
At Havelberg beyond the Havel, go.
There's not a Swede dare show his face there now.
ELECTRESS. The ferry is restored?
ELECTOR. At Havelberg?
I have arranged for it. The day will break
In all events before you come to it.
[Pause.]
You are so quiet, Natalie, my girl?
What ails the child?
NATALIE. Uncle, I am afraid.
ELECTOR. And yet my little girl was not more safe
In her own mother's lap than she is now.
[Pause.]
ELECTRESS. When do you think that we shall meet again?
ELECTOR. If God grants me the victory, as I
Doubt not He will, in a few days, perhaps.
[Pages enter and serve the ladies refreshments. FIELD-MARSHAL DÖRFLING dictates. The PRINCE OF HOMBURG, pen and tablet in hand, stares at the ladies.]
MARSHAL. The battle-plan his Highness has devised
Intends, my lords, in order that the Swedes'
Fugitive host be utterly dispersed,
The severing of their army from the bridges
That guard their rear along the river Rhyn.
Thus Colonel Hennings—
HENNINGS. Here!
[He writes.]
MARSHAL. Who by the will
Of his liege lord commands the army's right,
Shall seek by stealthy passage through the bush
To circumscribe the enemy's left wing,
Fearlessly hurl his force between the foe
And the three bridges; then, joined with Count Truchsz—
Count Truchsz!
TRUCHSZ (writing). Here!
MARSHAL. Thereupon, joined with Count Truchsz—
[He pauses.]
Who, meanwhile, facing Wrangel on the heights
Has gained firm footing with his cannonry—
TRUCHSZ (writing). Firm footing with his cannonry—
MARSHAL. You hear it?—
[Proceeding.]
Attempt to drive the Swedes into the swamp
Which lies behind their right.
[A lackey enters.]
LACKEY. Madam, the coach is at the door.
[The ladies rise.]
MARSHAL. The Prince of Homburg—
ELECTOR (also rising). Is Ramin at hand?
LACKEY. He's in the saddle, waiting at the gates.
[The royalties take leave of one another.]
TRUCHSZ (writing). Which lies behind their right.
MARSHAL. The Prince of Homburg—
Where is the Prince of Homburg?
HOHENZOLLERN (in a whisper). Arthur!
THE PRINCE (with a start). Here!
Ramin is waiting with the coach outside?
GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING.
At once, my sovereign. They are hitching now.
ELECTOR (seating himself on a chair behind the ELECTRESS and the
PRINCESS).
Ramin shall escort my belovèd wife,
Convoyed by thirty sturdy cavalrymen.
To Kalkhuhn's, to the chancellor's manor-house.
At Havelberg beyond the Havel, go.
There's not a Swede dare show his face there now.
ELECTRESS. The ferry is restored?
ELECTOR. At Havelberg?
I have arranged for it. The day will break
In all events before you come to it.
[Pause.]
You are so quiet, Natalie, my girl?
What ails the child?
NATALIE. Uncle, I am afraid.
ELECTOR. And yet my little girl was not more safe
In her own mother's lap than she is now.
[Pause.]
ELECTRESS. When do you think that we shall meet again?
ELECTOR. If God grants me the victory, as I
Doubt not He will, in a few days, perhaps.
[Pages enter and serve the ladies refreshments. FIELD-MARSHAL DÖRFLING dictates. The PRINCE OF HOMBURG, pen and tablet in hand, stares at the ladies.]
MARSHAL. The battle-plan his Highness has devised
Intends, my lords, in order that the Swedes'
Fugitive host be utterly dispersed,
The severing of their army from the bridges
That guard their rear along the river Rhyn.
Thus Colonel Hennings—
HENNINGS. Here!
[He writes.]
MARSHAL. Who by the will
Of his liege lord commands the army's right,
Shall seek by stealthy passage through the bush
To circumscribe the enemy's left wing,
Fearlessly hurl his force between the foe
And the three bridges; then, joined with Count Truchsz—
Count Truchsz!
TRUCHSZ (writing). Here!
MARSHAL. Thereupon, joined with Count Truchsz—
[He pauses.]
Who, meanwhile, facing Wrangel on the heights
Has gained firm footing with his cannonry—
TRUCHSZ (writing). Firm footing with his cannonry—
MARSHAL. You hear it?—
[Proceeding.]
Attempt to drive the Swedes into the swamp
Which lies behind their right.
[A lackey enters.]
LACKEY. Madam, the coach is at the door.
[The ladies rise.]
MARSHAL. The Prince of Homburg—
ELECTOR (also rising). Is Ramin at hand?
LACKEY. He's in the saddle, waiting at the gates.
[The royalties take leave of one another.]
TRUCHSZ (writing). Which lies behind their right.
MARSHAL. The Prince of Homburg—
Where is the Prince of Homburg?
HOHENZOLLERN (in a whisper). Arthur!
THE PRINCE (with a start). Here!
