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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04
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I fully do confess. Can he but grant
Forgiveness, when I contest for it,
I do not care a straw for any pardon.
NATALIE (kissing him).
This kiss, for me! And though twelve bullets made
You dust this instant, I could not resist
Caroling, sobbing, crying: Thus you please me!
However, since you follow your heart's lead,
I may be pardoned if I follow mine.
Count Reuss!
[The footman opens the door. The COUNT enters.]
REUSS. Here!
NATALIE. Go, and bear the note I gave
Post-haste to Arnstein and to Colonel Kottwitz!
The regiment shall march, our liege directs.
Ere midnight I shall look to see it here!
[Exeunt omnes.]
ACT V
Scene: a hall in the Castle.
SCENE I
The ELECTOR, scantily clad, enters from the adjoining chamber, followed by COUNT TRUCHSZ, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, and CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ. Pages with lights.
ELECTOR. Kottwitz? And with the Princess's dragoons?
Here in the town?
TRUCHSZ (opening the window). Indeed, my sovereign!
Drawn up before the Castle, here he is!
ELECTOR. Well? Will you read the riddle, gentlemen?
Who called him hither?
HOHENZOLLERN. I know not, my liege.
ELECTOR. The place I set him at is known as Arnstein!
Make haste, some one, and go and bring him in.
GOLZ. He will appear forthwith, my sovereign.
ELECTOR. Where is he?
GOLZ. At the City Hall, I hear,
Where the entire generality,
That bears obedience to your house, is met.
ELECTOR. But why? What is the object?
HOHENZOLLERN. I know not.
TRUCHSZ. My prince and lord, will you vouchsafe that we
Likewise betake ourselves a moment thither?
ELECTOR. Whither? The City Hall?
HOHENZOLLERN. The lords' assemblage.
We gave our word of honor to appear.
ELECTOR (after a short pause).
You are dismissed!
GOLZ. Come, follow, gentlemen!
[The officers go out.]
SCENE II
The ELECTOR. Later, two footmen.
ELECTOR. Most curious! Were I the Dey of Tunis
I'd sound alarm at such a dubious move,
Lay on my desk despair's thin silken cord,
And at my palisaded castle-gate
Set up my heavy guns and howitzers.
But since it's just Hans Kottwitz from the Priegnitz
Who marches on me of his own sweet will
I'll treat the matter in the Mark's own way;
Of the three curls that gleam so silvery
On his old skull, I'll take firm hold of one
And lead him calmly with his squadrons twelve
To Arnstein, his headquarters, back again.
Why wake the city from its slumber thus?
[He goes to the window a moment, then returns to the table and rings a bell. Two lackeys enter.]
Do run below and ask, as for yourself,
What's doing in the City Hall.
1st LACKEY. At once!
[He goes out.]
ELECTOR (to the other).
But you go now and fetch me my apparel.
Forgiveness, when I contest for it,
I do not care a straw for any pardon.
NATALIE (kissing him).
This kiss, for me! And though twelve bullets made
You dust this instant, I could not resist
Caroling, sobbing, crying: Thus you please me!
However, since you follow your heart's lead,
I may be pardoned if I follow mine.
Count Reuss!
[The footman opens the door. The COUNT enters.]
REUSS. Here!
NATALIE. Go, and bear the note I gave
Post-haste to Arnstein and to Colonel Kottwitz!
The regiment shall march, our liege directs.
Ere midnight I shall look to see it here!
[Exeunt omnes.]
ACT V
Scene: a hall in the Castle.
SCENE I
The ELECTOR, scantily clad, enters from the adjoining chamber, followed by COUNT TRUCHSZ, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, and CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ. Pages with lights.
ELECTOR. Kottwitz? And with the Princess's dragoons?
Here in the town?
TRUCHSZ (opening the window). Indeed, my sovereign!
Drawn up before the Castle, here he is!
ELECTOR. Well? Will you read the riddle, gentlemen?
Who called him hither?
HOHENZOLLERN. I know not, my liege.
ELECTOR. The place I set him at is known as Arnstein!
Make haste, some one, and go and bring him in.
GOLZ. He will appear forthwith, my sovereign.
ELECTOR. Where is he?
GOLZ. At the City Hall, I hear,
Where the entire generality,
That bears obedience to your house, is met.
ELECTOR. But why? What is the object?
HOHENZOLLERN. I know not.
TRUCHSZ. My prince and lord, will you vouchsafe that we
Likewise betake ourselves a moment thither?
ELECTOR. Whither? The City Hall?
HOHENZOLLERN. The lords' assemblage.
We gave our word of honor to appear.
ELECTOR (after a short pause).
You are dismissed!
GOLZ. Come, follow, gentlemen!
[The officers go out.]
SCENE II
The ELECTOR. Later, two footmen.
ELECTOR. Most curious! Were I the Dey of Tunis
I'd sound alarm at such a dubious move,
Lay on my desk despair's thin silken cord,
And at my palisaded castle-gate
Set up my heavy guns and howitzers.
But since it's just Hans Kottwitz from the Priegnitz
Who marches on me of his own sweet will
I'll treat the matter in the Mark's own way;
Of the three curls that gleam so silvery
On his old skull, I'll take firm hold of one
And lead him calmly with his squadrons twelve
To Arnstein, his headquarters, back again.
Why wake the city from its slumber thus?
[He goes to the window a moment, then returns to the table and rings a bell. Two lackeys enter.]
Do run below and ask, as for yourself,
What's doing in the City Hall.
1st LACKEY. At once!
[He goes out.]
ELECTOR (to the other).
But you go now and fetch me my apparel.
