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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04
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But beckoning his friends, unswervingly
Made toward the high lands whence the river came.
THE PRINCE. By heaven, i' faith! A gruesome sight it was!
SPARREN. Froben, the Master of the Horse who rode
Closest to him of all, called out to me
"Curses this hour on this white stallion's hide,
I bought in London for a stiff round sum!
I'd part with fifty ducats, I'll be bound,
Could I but veil him with a mouse's gray."
With hot misgiving he draws near and cries,
"Highness, your horse is skittish; grant me leave
To give him just an hour of schooling more."
And leaping from his sorrel at the word
He grasps the bridle of our liege's beast.
Our liege dismounts, still smiling, and replies
"As long as day is in the sky, I doubt
If he will learn the art you wish to teach.
But give your lesson out beyond those hills
Where the foe's gunners will not heed his fault."
Thereon he mounts the sorrel, Froben's own,
Returning thence to where his duty calls.
But scarce is Froben mounted on the white
When from a breastwork, oh! a murder-shell
Tears him to earth, tears horse and rider low.
A sacrifice to faithfulness, he falls;
And from him not a sound more did we hear.
[Brief pause.]
THE PRINCE. He is well paid for! Though I had ten lives
I could not lose them in a better cause!
NATALIE. Valiant old Froben!
ELECTRESS (in tears). Admirable man!
NATALIE (also weeping).
A meaner soul might well deserve our tears!
THE PRINCE. Enough! To business! Where's the Elector then
Is Hackelwitz headquarters?
SPARREN. Pardon, sir!
The Elector has proceeded to Berlin
And begs his generals thence to follow him.
THE PRINCE. What? To Berlin? You mean the war is done?
SPARREN. Indeed, I marvel that all this is news.
Count Horn, the Swedish general, has arrived;
And, following his coming, out of hand
The armistice was heralded through camp.
A conference, if I discern aright
The Marshal's meaning, is attached thereto
Perchance that peace itself may follow soon.
ELECTRESS (rising).
Dear God, how wondrously the heavens clear!
THE PRINCE. Come, let us follow straightway to Berlin.
'Twould speed my journey much if you could spare
A little space for me within your coach?—
I've just a dozen words to write to Kottwitz,
And on the instant I'll be at your side.
[He sits down and writes.]
ELECTRESS. Indeed, with all my heart!
THE PRINCE (folds the note and gives it to the Sergeant;
then, as he turns again to the ELECTRESS,
softly lays his arm about NATALIE's waist).
I have a wish,
A something timorously to confide
I thought I might give vent to on the road.
NATALIE (tearing herself away).
Bork! Quick! My scarf, I beg—
ELECTRESS. A wish to me?
FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING.
Princess, the scarf is round your neck.
THE PRINCE (to the ELECTRESS). Indeed!
Can you not guess?
ELECTRESS. No—
THE PRINCE. Not a syllable?
ELECTRESS (abruptly).
What matter? Not a suppliant on earth
Could I deny today, whate'er he ask,
And you, our battle-hero, least of all!
Come!
THE PRINCE. Mother! Oh, what did you speak? Those words—
Made toward the high lands whence the river came.
THE PRINCE. By heaven, i' faith! A gruesome sight it was!
SPARREN. Froben, the Master of the Horse who rode
Closest to him of all, called out to me
"Curses this hour on this white stallion's hide,
I bought in London for a stiff round sum!
I'd part with fifty ducats, I'll be bound,
Could I but veil him with a mouse's gray."
With hot misgiving he draws near and cries,
"Highness, your horse is skittish; grant me leave
To give him just an hour of schooling more."
And leaping from his sorrel at the word
He grasps the bridle of our liege's beast.
Our liege dismounts, still smiling, and replies
"As long as day is in the sky, I doubt
If he will learn the art you wish to teach.
But give your lesson out beyond those hills
Where the foe's gunners will not heed his fault."
Thereon he mounts the sorrel, Froben's own,
Returning thence to where his duty calls.
But scarce is Froben mounted on the white
When from a breastwork, oh! a murder-shell
Tears him to earth, tears horse and rider low.
A sacrifice to faithfulness, he falls;
And from him not a sound more did we hear.
[Brief pause.]
THE PRINCE. He is well paid for! Though I had ten lives
I could not lose them in a better cause!
NATALIE. Valiant old Froben!
ELECTRESS (in tears). Admirable man!
NATALIE (also weeping).
A meaner soul might well deserve our tears!
THE PRINCE. Enough! To business! Where's the Elector then
Is Hackelwitz headquarters?
SPARREN. Pardon, sir!
The Elector has proceeded to Berlin
And begs his generals thence to follow him.
THE PRINCE. What? To Berlin? You mean the war is done?
SPARREN. Indeed, I marvel that all this is news.
Count Horn, the Swedish general, has arrived;
And, following his coming, out of hand
The armistice was heralded through camp.
A conference, if I discern aright
The Marshal's meaning, is attached thereto
Perchance that peace itself may follow soon.
ELECTRESS (rising).
Dear God, how wondrously the heavens clear!
THE PRINCE. Come, let us follow straightway to Berlin.
'Twould speed my journey much if you could spare
A little space for me within your coach?—
I've just a dozen words to write to Kottwitz,
And on the instant I'll be at your side.
[He sits down and writes.]
ELECTRESS. Indeed, with all my heart!
THE PRINCE (folds the note and gives it to the Sergeant;
then, as he turns again to the ELECTRESS,
softly lays his arm about NATALIE's waist).
I have a wish,
A something timorously to confide
I thought I might give vent to on the road.
NATALIE (tearing herself away).
Bork! Quick! My scarf, I beg—
ELECTRESS. A wish to me?
FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING.
Princess, the scarf is round your neck.
THE PRINCE (to the ELECTRESS). Indeed!
Can you not guess?
ELECTRESS. No—
THE PRINCE. Not a syllable?
ELECTRESS (abruptly).
What matter? Not a suppliant on earth
Could I deny today, whate'er he ask,
And you, our battle-hero, least of all!
Come!
THE PRINCE. Mother! Oh, what did you speak? Those words—
