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The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 04
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Shall gauge the uttermost bewilderment
That takes him, when the Princess turns to find
The very glove he thrust into his collar!
The Marshal calls again and yet again
'The Prince of Homburg!' 'Marshal, to command!'
He cries, endeavoring to collect his thoughts;
But he, ringed round by marvels—why, the thunders
Of heaven might have fallen in our midst—
[He pauses.]
ELECTOR. It was the Princess' glove?
HOHENZOLLERN. It was, indeed!
[The ELECTOR sinks into a brown study.]
A stone is he; the pencil's in his hand,
And he stands there, and seems a living man;
But consciousness, as by a magic wand,
Is quenched within him; not until the morrow,
As down the lines the loud artillery
Already roars, does he return to life,
Asking me: Say, what was it Dörfling said
Last night in council, that applied to me?
MARSHAL. Truly, my liege, that tale I can indorse.
The Prince, I call to mind, took in no word
Of what I said; distraught I've seen him oft,
But never yet in such degree removed
From blood and bone, never, as on that night.
ELECTOR. Now then, if I make out your reasoning,
You pile your climax on my shoulders thus:
Had I not dangerously made a jest
Of this young dreamer's state, he had remained
Guiltless, in council had not roamed the clouds,
Nor disobedient proved upon the field.
Eh? Eh? Is that the logic?
HOHENZOLLERN. My liege lord,
I trust the filling of the gaps to you.
ELECTOR. Fool that you are, you addlepate! Had you
Not called me to the garden, I had not,
Following a whim of curiosity,
Made harmless fun of this somnambulist.
Wherefore, and quite with equal right, I hold
The cause of his delinquency were you!—
The delphic wisdom of my officers!
HOHENZOLL. Enough, my sovereign! I am assured,
My words fell weightily upon your heart.
SCENE VI
An officer enters. The others as before.
OFFICER. My lord, the Prince will instantly appear.
ELECTOR. Good, then! Let him come in.
OFFICER. Two minutes, sir!
He but delayed a moment on the way
To beg a porter ope the graveyard gate.
ELECTOR. The graveyard?
OFFICER. Ay, my sovereign.
ELECTOR. But why?
OFFICER. To tell the truth, my lord, I do not know.
It seemed he wished to see the burial-vault
That your behest uncovered for him there.
[The commanders group themselves and talk together.]
ELECTOR. No matter! When he comes, let him come in!
[He steps to the table again and glances at the papers.]
TRUCHSZ. The watch is bringing in Prince Homburg now.
SCENE VII
Enter the PRINCE OF HOMBURG. An officer and the watch. The others as before.
ELECTOR. Young Prince of mine, I call you to my aid!
Here's Colonel Kottwitz brings this document
In your behalf, look, in long column signed
By hundred honorable gentlemen.
The army asks your liberty, it runs,
And will not tolerate the court's decree.
Come, read it and inform yourself, I beg.
[He hands him the paper.]
THE PRINCE (casts a glance at the document, turns and
looks about the circle of officers).
That takes him, when the Princess turns to find
The very glove he thrust into his collar!
The Marshal calls again and yet again
'The Prince of Homburg!' 'Marshal, to command!'
He cries, endeavoring to collect his thoughts;
But he, ringed round by marvels—why, the thunders
Of heaven might have fallen in our midst—
[He pauses.]
ELECTOR. It was the Princess' glove?
HOHENZOLLERN. It was, indeed!
[The ELECTOR sinks into a brown study.]
A stone is he; the pencil's in his hand,
And he stands there, and seems a living man;
But consciousness, as by a magic wand,
Is quenched within him; not until the morrow,
As down the lines the loud artillery
Already roars, does he return to life,
Asking me: Say, what was it Dörfling said
Last night in council, that applied to me?
MARSHAL. Truly, my liege, that tale I can indorse.
The Prince, I call to mind, took in no word
Of what I said; distraught I've seen him oft,
But never yet in such degree removed
From blood and bone, never, as on that night.
ELECTOR. Now then, if I make out your reasoning,
You pile your climax on my shoulders thus:
Had I not dangerously made a jest
Of this young dreamer's state, he had remained
Guiltless, in council had not roamed the clouds,
Nor disobedient proved upon the field.
Eh? Eh? Is that the logic?
HOHENZOLLERN. My liege lord,
I trust the filling of the gaps to you.
ELECTOR. Fool that you are, you addlepate! Had you
Not called me to the garden, I had not,
Following a whim of curiosity,
Made harmless fun of this somnambulist.
Wherefore, and quite with equal right, I hold
The cause of his delinquency were you!—
The delphic wisdom of my officers!
HOHENZOLL. Enough, my sovereign! I am assured,
My words fell weightily upon your heart.
SCENE VI
An officer enters. The others as before.
OFFICER. My lord, the Prince will instantly appear.
ELECTOR. Good, then! Let him come in.
OFFICER. Two minutes, sir!
He but delayed a moment on the way
To beg a porter ope the graveyard gate.
ELECTOR. The graveyard?
OFFICER. Ay, my sovereign.
ELECTOR. But why?
OFFICER. To tell the truth, my lord, I do not know.
It seemed he wished to see the burial-vault
That your behest uncovered for him there.
[The commanders group themselves and talk together.]
ELECTOR. No matter! When he comes, let him come in!
[He steps to the table again and glances at the papers.]
TRUCHSZ. The watch is bringing in Prince Homburg now.
SCENE VII
Enter the PRINCE OF HOMBURG. An officer and the watch. The others as before.
ELECTOR. Young Prince of mine, I call you to my aid!
Here's Colonel Kottwitz brings this document
In your behalf, look, in long column signed
By hundred honorable gentlemen.
The army asks your liberty, it runs,
And will not tolerate the court's decree.
Come, read it and inform yourself, I beg.
[He hands him the paper.]
THE PRINCE (casts a glance at the document, turns and
looks about the circle of officers).
