The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman, and Keats

Enter GASTON.

Gast. My noble lord, 't were pity your sweet
dreams

In this fair lady's chamber should be broken-
But I am here upon the embassy
Allied to love, at least to matrimony!

Phil. Ha! a capitulation of this sort?

Gast. Your noble prisoner offers his fair daughter,
On the condition that you should restore
To him all power i' the state; yet should receive
A rich and noble dowry with his daughter;
And further, you should bear at his decease,
When the land's sceptre unto you devolves,
As title of the state, Kronberg and Maine.
Phil. Well, that is fair enough!
Gast.
Do you say thus —
You that are lord already of this realm!
Is it for him to give as pleaseth him,
And you most humbly to receive with thanks?
Thus will you yield your conquest and your birth-
right!

Phil. I swore that he should offer me his daughter!
Gast. And then that you would wed her? No,
not so!

Besides, this man is craftier than you are -
Think you that he would keep his faith with you?
I tell you no! This is a trick of cunning,
To get you in his power. He knows your love,
And by this passion will he work your ruin.
Phil. "Tis easier said than done!
Gast.

Phil

ments.

Promise the citizens whate'er they ask. Gast. Ay, ay, I'll promise them! I' faith, you know

Performance is a very different matter!

Phil. We shall not be so over-nice 'bout that!
And let us with a show of seemly joy
Accept Lord Kronberg's offer. Still our prisoner,
He falls into the trap he lays for me.

Gast. Poison or steel will make us sure of him!
And then you have his daughter in your power.
Phil. But honour's strictest law shall be observed
Toward that most noble lady! As her husband
I get a fairer title to the state
And if you yield With Kronberg's partisans!
Gast.
Well, as you will —
Marry or not, as likes you! [aside.] She will undo
This dainty statesman's trick!

One atom of the power you have achieved,
A faction in the state will rise against you.
The burghers' hearts already are estranged;
Resentment grows against you hourly stronger-
No longer now they speak below their breath;-
Rule them, or they rule you!—and traitorous Kron-
berg

And steer you through the storm-but hear me on!
The bodies of the citizens are piled

In the great square, with such sad pomp of woe
As the short time allows; and oaths are ta'en

Of vengeance upon you, save you will promise
All the demands set forth with wordy wisdom

Phil. What are you mumbling o'er? Let us away, I'll clasp my bride before the set of day!

Enter PHILIP, magnificently apparelled.

Phil. Now do we meet without reproach or fear

In this long document. [aside.] But I'll not show 't: Not as we parted, my own gentle Ida!

Here they require "that felon-traitor, Gaston,

To be brought to condign punishment for's sins!"

Ida. No, no, we do not meet as last we parted: Thou art not such as when we parted last·

That I must still oppose my father's will!

Though thou wert poor, clothed but in humble weeds;
Unsheltered from the pitiless winds of heaven;
Without a name, save what thy father won,
Yet pure in soul, noble in principle,
Gracious in deed, and merciful in heart,

I would have ta'en thee, spite the world's reproach.
But tricked out in these gorgeous robes of state;
A name of terror unto weeping thousands;
With the offence of blood upon thy soul;
If thou didst lay the world's crown at my feet
I must reject thee, Philip!

Fickle woman!

Phil.
How art thou slave to every passing humour.

Ida. Why should I tell of secret tears and prayers Poured out to Heaven for thee? It is Heaven's will That I should see my dearest hopes depart!

Phil. It was for thee I strove - for thee I con

For how hast thou fulfilled this glorious vision — How been protector of the ignorant people?

Ida.

Perfidious man! If this poor life can sate thy thirst of blood, Take it, but spare my father!

Phil. I have said it! Ida. I gave thy father life-O spare thou mine! I risked my life to save thy father's, Philip!

Phil. It was a woman's act- thus do not men! Ida. Oh how does guilt put out each virtuous spark,

Stifle each generous, noble sentiment!

Phil. Now for a little season, we will partWhen next we meet, my hands shall yet be redder! [He goes out.

Ida. Hence, hence! What may be done, shall yet be done

We will not fall without a dying struggle Where's Bertha, Segbert, good Count Nicholas ? [She goes into the inner room.

The ruins of a mill, surrounded with wood.

Enter MOTHER SCHWARTZ, HANS CLEF, ROLAND, and many others.

Roland. It neither shall be this man, neither that

Hast thou not shed their blood? Outraged their That shall be tyrant o'er us! What's this Philip

homes

And led them up, like hungry, ravening wolves,

To prey upon each other? Philip, Philip,

Thou hast forgot thy holy enterprise

To feed thine own revenge!
Phil.

Lest thou too tempt me to it!
Ida.

Name not revenge,

Heaven be our shield
It will prescribe thee hounds, even as it limits
The raging of the sea! Oh how thou 'rt fallen, —
The apostates of the morning fell not lower!
Philip, I wept my ruined, lovely hopes
With bitterer tears than ever woman shed;

But I have done with tears; they moved not heaven,
That loveth mercy! But I will conjure thee
By that unkind ambition which preferred
Revenge and power to love, to risk no further,-
And let the blood which has been shed suffice!
Phil. Oh yes, thy words have power! Sweet maid,
relent!

Thy tender mercies, like kind angels' wings,
Bring blessings with them; where I shall have
wounded,

Thou shalt pour in sweet balm!
Ida.
Alas! alas!
Thou hast left many wounds for me to heal!

1st Man. "T was from a mangled corpse I took But where is Gaston? he, the ready tool
Who does not start and cry "alack, my lord!"

that kerchief!

Mother S. My son! my son! But back, tears, to Ha! here he comes!

your source

I will shed blood, not tears! Roland.

Gast.
No moment may be lost-
Fabian and Segbert, and Count Nicholas
What say the burghers, Are hence. As firebrands in the standing corn
Are they among the people; and a rumour
Has reached the town, that Suabia draweth near
With a strong army for the aid of Kronberg.
Do quickly what thou dost, and rid thyself

Those ancient friends of his ? 2d Man.

The general feeling

Is clean against him now. They swear he gave
The town to pillage but to save his own!

Hans. And that he did! We 're sure enough of Of one foe ere another takes the field!

that!

Phil. Thou hast access unto the tower. Go thou,

2d Man. Gaston, they say 's the very fiend himself- Poison or steel, use thou the surer means! All saw his horrid doings yesternight —

O' troth, there is some riddle 'bout that man!

Hans. And let whoever sins, 't is we are blamed for 't.

Roland. Speak now of the condition of the city. 2d Man. There is no house that is not filled with mourning

The richest citizens were killed i' th' tumult-
One-third the city is a heap of ruins -
And little children, wandering up and down,
Go wailing for their parents - parents too

And friends, and wives and husbands seek their dead,
'Mong heaps of fallen houses—everywhere,
Deep oaths are taken of revenge on Philip.

Mother S. All have their oaths of blood against that man!

Man. The soldiers too are discontent, - 'tis said A horrid massacre i' th' dead o' th' night Has cut off every prisoner.

There is hope!

Roland.
What guard is stationed 'neath the castle rock?
3d Man. The guard has been withdrawn.
Roland.
There's an old pathway,
Think ye we might not get an entrance there?
Thereby it was that Philip made his entrance!

4th Man. I know it well; yet 't will be dangerous, More inaccessible from tumbled crags And fallen masonry than heretofore.

Mother S. Our wrongs can force through rocks of adamant.

Roland. "Twill suit our purpose; now let all disperse, And when eve comes we will again asemble. [They disperse severally.

Gast. Nay, 't will be tenfold vengeance from thy hand.

Phil. [feeling at his dagger.] "T is sharp and true, but do thou mix a cup

Of subtle poison. I would liefer that-
And if he will not pledge me, why, there's this!
Gast. I'll mix a cunning potion that will do.

Enter the LORD OF MAINE.

My son! my son! hast thou decreed his death?
Phil.

Lord of M. Nay, do not tell me so.
Phil.

I have.

Lord of M. Didst thou not love his gentle, angel daughter?

It is thou

Remember her, and do not harm his life.
Gast. And be himself the victim!
Lord of M.
That counsellest my son to these bad deeds!
Philip, she gave me life and liberty,
And, but for her, thy father had been dead!
Phil. Whose hate was 't doomed thee to the gal.
lows-tree?

Hence! hence! thou dost not know, for urgently
The hour calls for his blood!

Lord of M.
I leave thee not,
Till thou hast given his life unto my prayer.
Gast. to Phil. Fortune is slipping through your
hand, my lord,

While you stand dallying thus. Away, old man!
Phil. I'm ready, let's begone.

[They go out together.
Lord of M.
Then, may the Avenger
Take from thee thy ill-gotten power and station!
This is a place of blood and horrible outrage;
I will away; men's hearts are turned to stone.
Better it were to hide with desert-beasts,
Where 't is a natural instinct to be cruel!
[He goes out.

After a short time re-enter PHILIP.

I did not quail, nor did my heart upbraid me,
When thousands lay beneath my conquering step,
And from the helmet-crown unto the heel
I was dyed crimson; why then faints my soul,
Trembling and drooping 'neath a mountain's weight
Of miserable remorse for one man's blood?-
Ne'er till this moment, when my debt is paid,
When I have conquered my great enemy,
Quailed I, or wished undone aught that was done!

But hark! What sounds are these-quick, coming Here, here, we miserably shall die by fire!

steps,

And hurried voices? Am I grown a coward?

Enter GASTON.

Philip! Philip! now is a time for action:

Why dost thou stare as one that walks in dreams? Phil. Whence come those hurried sounds? Whose are those steps?

Gast. The disaffected thousands from the fields Are on the walls within the very castle! Phil. How got they an access?

Gast. Even as thou didst; By the old rock-path. Hundreds more have enteredThe portals have they fired; and hark their cries Vengeance and blood!

Phil. Hence; draw the soldiers out, And man the walls. Strike every villain down That sets his foot within the castle gate.

Gast. They fight with us for every inch of ground; They are within the walls-the place is fired; Accursed knaves, born for the gibbet-tree! Phil. [drawing his sword.] I'll teach them what the cry of vengeance meaneth! [He rushes out Gaston follows him. A confused noise, and yelling cries are heard approaching, and a rabble force their way in, with torches in their hands.

Man. Down with the billets! Here! here! Fire these hangings!

[They hurl furniture into the middle of the gallery, tear down pictures and hangings, which they pile together and set fire to.

Enter MOTHER SCHWARTZ, with other women, covered with dust and blood.

Mother S. Spare not for fire! Now for a funeral pile,

To celebrate, my son, thy memory! They shall say, this was for the woman's son! Out with ye, are ye plundering? Give me blood! He whom I seek is hence! Come, come with me! [She snatches up a firebrand and rushes out of the gallery; the women follow her, bearing off booty. The gallery is filled with smoke and flames.

SCENE III.

The small chamber in the tower — - Ida and Bertha. May't

Berth. Some new event is happening. please heaven

For our deliverance !

Ida. Those are the people's voices; The yelling cries of the triumphant rabble. And, mercy! those quick lights that through the darkness

Shoot up to heaven are flames. The place is burning! Berth. [trying to force the door.] "T is barred! 't is doubly barred! There is no issue!

Oh, Ida, vain thy prayer!- they have no mercy-
That old man will not move his cruel son
To save thy father, and we here shall perish!
Oh, can there be Omnipotence in heaven,
Who sees these things, yet sends no angel down
To smite and to deliver!

Enter the LORD OF MAINE.
Ida. Is good Lord Kronberg safe?
Berth.
And what do mean
These horrid sounds of tumult, and these flames?
Lord of M. Come forth, my noble ladies! "Tis
an hour

Of peril and alarm! Will you confide
In an old man? I am no soldier, lady;
But, so God help me, I will guard you well!

Ida. I know you, and will trust in you! Oh guide us

Unto Lord Kronberg's cell! Where lies my father?
Lord of M. Your noble father's free.
Ida.
Your voice is sad,
And yet your words are pleasant. Lead us to him!
Lord of M. Quick! follow me!

[They wrap themselves in their cloaks and
follow him.

SCENE IV.

Another part of the castle-citizens stand with Lord Kronberg's body on a bier.

1st Citizen. Name not his faults. I knew him when a boy ;

I was his favourite playmate; in those years
Together did we ride, and at the target
Together shoot our arrows. I ne'er thought
Then to have borne him in a plight like this!
2d Citizen. He was a hard task-master!
3d Citizen.
But not harder
Than such be ever. Even from Pharaoh downwards
To this day's idol, Philip!

4th Citizen.

It must be five and forty years agone, When his good mother

3d Citizen.

I remember,

Ay, there was a lady,

Fair as an angel, full of truth and kindness-
The Lady Ida much resembles her.

5th Citizen. Haste, haste! the way is clear! The contest thickens

About the northern tower. O woful night -
With fire and blood, wild shrieks and horrid curses,
And crash of falling walls! But forward now!

[They proceed.

Enter the LORD OF MAINE conducting IDA and BERTHA. Lord of M. [hastily retreating.] Ah, not this way!

No, no! a moment's pause. [Aside.] Yon is a sight that must not meet their eyes!

Citizens re-enter with the body.

1st Citizen. It shall not be exposed unto dishonour! Seek out a guard, and stand around the bier! [Soldiers rush in] Ho! soldiers, will ye not defend the dead?

Soldier. We fight for Philip of Maine, not for the dead!

Ida. The dead, said ye? Is good Lord Kronberg dead?

Speak to me, some kind soul, for I'm his daughter! 1st Soldier. [aside.] She doth unman me! 2d Soldier. [aside.] "Tis a noble lady! [Ida perceives the bier, and walks slowly

towards it.

Ida. "T was a sad voice that told me he was free; The freedom of the grave-ah, woful freedom! [She slowly uncovers the face of the dead, gazes upon it, and becomes deadly pale. Citizen. Dear, innocent soul! Soldier. I will not draw a sword Against the Lady Ida, nor her cause!

Ida. I never looked upon the dead till now-
And this is my dead father, who hath fallen

By cruel perfidy! - Not in the field
He met his mortal foe, but in the cell

Of the deep dungeon: a fierce, cruel foe!
Ye do not know, soldiers and citizens,
The heartless man of blood whom ye have chosen!
The dead was mild and merciful, compared
With him you call your master! Pious friends,
Carry him hence!-This is a den of crime;
A house of cruelty, and fear, and blood!
Carry him hence into a holy place,
So Heaven preserve you to your children's arms,
And keep your sacred homes inviolate!

Soldiers. We will defend the dead, and Lady Ida! 1st Citizen. Whither shall we support this honoured

bier ?

Ida. Would he had known your loyalty and goodness!

To the Cathedral- 't is a holy place;
And there will I retire: and let all loyal,
All brave and noble hearts around me rally;
And, as the dead would have maintained the right,
So God and all good men assisting me,
We will retrieve this land's forlorn estate!

[The bier is borne forward; and Ida,
overcome by her emotions, is supported
out by Bertha and the Lord of Maine,
attended by crowds of citizens and
soldiers.

SCENE V.

Past midnight-outside the castle wall- the castle is burning-the roof has fallen in, and immense volumes

- hundreds of people are seen rushing to and fro; some driven back by soldiers, others carrying off booty-wild shouts and yells of triumph are heard amid the roar of the flames and the crashing fall of huge piles of buildings.

Enter PHILIP and GASTON.

Gast. "Tis vain to struggle more! Fire is the victor.

Phil. Now, draw the soldiers back, and leave the pile

To those accursed plunderers. Ere the morn,
"T will be the grave of hundreds, who now press
Impatient through the burning atmosphere,
To snatch a paltry booty!

Gast.

As thou wilt

"T is a retrieveless game. Thy sun has setThe star of thy ascendancy has fallen!

Phil. Hast not intelligible words!--Speak plain! Gast. I'll speak it plain enough!-Lord Kronberg heads The burghers even now! Phil.

Peace, liar! he is dead! Gast. But being dead, is honoured more than living

His daughter hath made speeches o'er the body;
Shed tears, and whined with pretty artifice,
Till they have all unsaid their oaths to thee!
Phil. Thou that didst keep the body, hast betray-
ed me!

Gast. An old man has betrayed thee; even thy father

Better by far he had died upon the gibbet!
Phil. Slanderer, for shame!
Gast.

Nay, hang me, if I spoke not
Your secret thoughts.-But now the time is precious:
Draw off the soldiers who yet true remain;
Get to the camp, upon the plain of Sarni,
And hold thyself prepared, for on the morrow
There will be work to do, than this more bloody —
And as thou play'st this desperate game, depends
Thy waning fortune.

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That stabs the bleeding heart-then jeering asks

How is it with you now?"-The cruellest blow

Of my most cruel fortune has been this!

Gast. Nay, take 't not so to heart! I would but urge thee

of flame, wrapped round the towers, pierce through To try thy fortune against mighty odds, the blackness of the ascending smoke like fiery Alps | And conquer fate!

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The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman, and Keats: Complete in One Volume