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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04
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SCENE V
COLONEL KOTTWITZ and COLONEL HENNINGS, COUNT TRUCHSZ, COUNTS HOHENZOLLERN and SPARREN, COUNT REUSS, CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ, STRANZ and other officers enter. The others as before.
KOTTWITZ (bearing the petition).
Permit me, my exalted sovereign,
Here in the name of all your soldiery
Most humbly to submit this document.
ELECTOR. Kottwitz, before I take it, tell me now
Who was it called you to this city here?
KOTTWITZ (regarding him).
With the dragoons?
ELECTOR. Ay, with your regiment!
I nominated Arnstein as your station.
KOTTWITZ. Sir! It was your behest that brought me
hither.
ELECTOR. Eh? Let me see the order!
KOTTWITZ. Here, my liege.
ELECTOR (reading).
Signed: "Natalie." And dated: "Fehrbellin,
By order of my liege, my uncle Frederick."
KOTTWITZ. By God, my prince and lord, I will not hope
The order's news to you?
ELECTOR. No—understand—Who
was it who conveyed the order thither?
KOTTWITZ. Count Reuss!
ELECTOR (after a momentary pause).
What's more, you're welcome, very welcome!
You have been chosen with your squadrons twelve
To pay Prince Homburg, sentenced by the law,
The final honors of the morrow.
KOTTWITZ (taken aback). What, My sovereign?
ELECTOR (handing back the order).
The regiment stands yet,
Benighted and befogged, outside the Castle?
KOTTWITZ. Pardon, the night—
ELECTOR. Why don't they go to quarters?
KOTTWITZ. My sovereign, they have gone. As you directed
They have found quarters in the city here.
ELECTOR (with a turn toward the window).
What? But a moment since—Well, by the gods!
You've found them stables speedily enough.
So much the better! Welcome, then, once more!
Come, say, what brings you here? What is your news?
KOTTWITZ. Sir, this petition from your loyal men.
ELECTOR. Come.
KOTTWITZ. But the words your lips have spoken strike
All my anticipations down to earth.
ELECTOR. Well, then, a word can lift them up again!
[He reads.]
"Petition, begging royal clemency
For our commandant, vitally accused,
The General, Prince Frederick Hessen-Homburg."
[To the officers.]
A noble name, my lords! And not unworthy
Your coming in such numbers to its aid.
[He looks into the document again.]
By whom is the petition?
KOTTWITZ. By myself.
ELECTOR. The Prince has been apprized of what it holds?
KOTTWITZ. Not in the very faintest. In our midst
The matter was conceived and given birth.
ELECTOR. Grant me a moment's patience, if you please.
[He steps to the table and glances over the paper. Long pause.]
Hm! Curious! You ancient war-horse, you,
You plead the Prince's cause? You justify
His charging Wrangel ere I gave command?
COLONEL KOTTWITZ and COLONEL HENNINGS, COUNT TRUCHSZ, COUNTS HOHENZOLLERN and SPARREN, COUNT REUSS, CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ, STRANZ and other officers enter. The others as before.
KOTTWITZ (bearing the petition).
Permit me, my exalted sovereign,
Here in the name of all your soldiery
Most humbly to submit this document.
ELECTOR. Kottwitz, before I take it, tell me now
Who was it called you to this city here?
KOTTWITZ (regarding him).
With the dragoons?
ELECTOR. Ay, with your regiment!
I nominated Arnstein as your station.
KOTTWITZ. Sir! It was your behest that brought me
hither.
ELECTOR. Eh? Let me see the order!
KOTTWITZ. Here, my liege.
ELECTOR (reading).
Signed: "Natalie." And dated: "Fehrbellin,
By order of my liege, my uncle Frederick."
KOTTWITZ. By God, my prince and lord, I will not hope
The order's news to you?
ELECTOR. No—understand—Who
was it who conveyed the order thither?
KOTTWITZ. Count Reuss!
ELECTOR (after a momentary pause).
What's more, you're welcome, very welcome!
You have been chosen with your squadrons twelve
To pay Prince Homburg, sentenced by the law,
The final honors of the morrow.
KOTTWITZ (taken aback). What, My sovereign?
ELECTOR (handing back the order).
The regiment stands yet,
Benighted and befogged, outside the Castle?
KOTTWITZ. Pardon, the night—
ELECTOR. Why don't they go to quarters?
KOTTWITZ. My sovereign, they have gone. As you directed
They have found quarters in the city here.
ELECTOR (with a turn toward the window).
What? But a moment since—Well, by the gods!
You've found them stables speedily enough.
So much the better! Welcome, then, once more!
Come, say, what brings you here? What is your news?
KOTTWITZ. Sir, this petition from your loyal men.
ELECTOR. Come.
KOTTWITZ. But the words your lips have spoken strike
All my anticipations down to earth.
ELECTOR. Well, then, a word can lift them up again!
[He reads.]
"Petition, begging royal clemency
For our commandant, vitally accused,
The General, Prince Frederick Hessen-Homburg."
[To the officers.]
A noble name, my lords! And not unworthy
Your coming in such numbers to its aid.
[He looks into the document again.]
By whom is the petition?
KOTTWITZ. By myself.
ELECTOR. The Prince has been apprized of what it holds?
KOTTWITZ. Not in the very faintest. In our midst
The matter was conceived and given birth.
ELECTOR. Grant me a moment's patience, if you please.
[He steps to the table and glances over the paper. Long pause.]
Hm! Curious! You ancient war-horse, you,
You plead the Prince's cause? You justify
His charging Wrangel ere I gave command?
