Count. Upon condition that he ask pardon, and express sorrow for his crime.

Mau.

Never!

Marie. What-not to save your Marie, and your poor chil dren, from misery and despair?

Mau. And would you have me tell a willful lie in the sweet face of Heaven?

Marie. Dear Maurice, for our sakes, kneel down, and beg his excellency's pardon.

Lotta. Do, father, for your little Lotta's sake.

Mau. (Softening.) Well, well-I-will-ask pardon ; yes, for your sakes, I will.

Fritz. Show yourself a man, father, and don't do any such thing!

Mau. (Embracing the boy, in transport.) No, I won't, my boy! (To Riegel.) Lead me back to my dungeon again; for if I tell a lie to please any man, I shall not carry out of the prison the treasure I brought into it a pure, unsullied conscience!

Count. (Stamping violently.) Into the deepest dungeon with the slave !—there, on one scanty meal a day of bread and water, we'll soon subdue his haughty spirit.

Mau. Never!-for with my dying breath I'll curse all tyrants!

Fritz. (Aside.) I've a good mind to cry-but I won't; no-nor beg neither.

(The prince here again instructs the baron to interfere.) Baron. I am again compelled to interfere. (To Maurice.) In the prince's name, I give you instant liberty. Go, then, and bless the family you love so dearly.

Count. (Aside.) My rage will suffocate me! yet will I have revenge!

Mau. (To baron.) Whoever you are, my lord, may a poor man's blessing ever attend you. (Kneels, and kisses baron's hand; rising.) Come, my loves! (To Count and Glandoff.) And as for you, gentlemen sportsmen, when you next sit down to a venison dinner, I hope you'll just reflect for a moment on the situation of the poor husband and father, who has not a morsel of food for his starving wife and children;

that will teach you a little more humanity! Come, Marie! come, children, come!

Count. (Aside to Glandoff.) Follow me to the palace,there to concert measures of revenge! (Exeunt all but the baron and prince.)

Baron.

What think you now, my prince?

Prince, I've heard and seen, what I had neʼer believed but for the evidence of mine own senses.-And my heart bleeds to see the poor thus trampled on. But patience yet, to see how far he will proceed, and then to crush the tyrant! (Exeunt.)

Scene 4.-Interior of Maurice's Cottage.

(Enter Maurice, Marie, Little Fritz, and Lotta.) Mau. What tongue can tell the feelings of a parent, who, after long imprisonment, once more returns to his humble dwelling, and clasps the dear objects of his affections to his loving heart, as I do now! (Embrace.) Let the storms of fate rage without-let cruel tyrants fume, and courtiers fawnthis is my Heaven-this my Paradise! (Kneels, returning thanks to Providence.)

(Enter prince and baron, unperceived, listening in the background.)

Marie. This is happiness indeed! But, my dear Maurice, I know the impetuosity of your temper, therefore, be careful, if you meet the governor, or any of his officers, just touch your hat, and seem, at least, respectful.-Do let me entreat of you -for our sakes!

Mau. What-flatter villainy! never! Yet, for your sakes, I will avoid the tyrant,-but that's all I can do; so don't require any more of me. And now, my dear Marie, I go to labor for those I love so dearly, that we may have something for these poor children's dinner. Farmer Hertzfeld, you know, promised me work again, as soon as I got my liberty.

Marie. He did, Maurice; but the governor has forbidden him to assist one whom he calls a daring poacher.

Prince. (Aside.) The cruel tyrant!

Marie. And what we are to do, heaven only knows! for we have not the means of procuring a morsel of bread for these poor infants. (Weeps.)

Mau. And this, too, is the governor's work! May lightnings blast-may mildews blast the

Baron. (Rushing between.) Hold, rash and thoughtless man! nor utter words offensive to high Heaven.

Marie. (Aside.) The gentlemen here again!

Fritz. (Aside, to his mother.) The very same who this morning saved us from the fury of the soldiers.

Mau. (Bowing to baron.) Your pardon, sir; for when the blood is fired-

Baron. Men are apt to act without reflection.--I know it well, and must confess you've cause: yet, recollect, that suffering is the furnace where virtue is refined and cleansed from dross. Your poverty is grievous !-Are you willing to gain, by honest labor, a subsistence?

Mau. Willing, my lord! ay, faith,-as willing as I always

was.

Baron. Say you so, then I will be your friend. To-morrow I'll procure you work in plenty.

Mau. My lord, words cannot speak my gratitude.-Heaven will reward you.

But he shall

Prince. (Aside.) The wretch who can oppress such hearts as these, must be a demon in the shape of man. tremble yet.

Baron. (Aside to prince.) They seem deserving,--and yet knavery so often wears the garb of honesty, that I will put them to the proof at once.-We are about to pass your gloomy forest, where, as we have been informed, the traveler is frequently plundered by banditti.

Mau. You have been told the truth, sir,-it is so.

Baron. To-morrow we return,-and will, till then, intrust this casket to your care, containing jewels worth several thousand dollars-(Opens it.)—as you may see!

Mau. I'd rather not, my lord.

Baron. Nay, we are not mistrustful.-Your honesty, we are assured, is proof against temptation.

Mau. It ever was, and, with kind heaven's aid, I trust it ever will be. Marie, my dear,—(Taking the casket and giving it to his wife,)—deposit the gentleman's casket in our strong box. (Marie takes the casket and puts it away.—Exeunt prince and baron.)

Fritz. That's a kind-hearted gentleman. But I wish he had brought us something for dinner with him in his pocket, for I'm so hungry.

Lotta.

And so am I, brother.

Mau. Hungry are ye, my precious babes? and I have not

a morsel of food to offer you. Give me my gun, Marie, I'll go shoot another hare, or any thing I can find.

Marie. Not for the wealth of the Indies!-Besides, your gun has been taken away by order of the governor.

Mau. The governor again! that name is like rank poison to my soul! Yet what is to be done ?-Speak, Marie, or I shall run distracted!

Marie. Have patience, my dear Maurice; the worthy gentleman, you know, promised you plenty of work to-morrow.

Mau. But to night! to-night!-are these dear infants to go supperless to bed? Fritz, my boy, and my little Lotta, tell me, what time did you get your breakfast to-day?

Fritz. We've had no breakfast, father.

Mau. No break fast-no dinner-no supper!-Oh, wretched father is it then come to this? What mortal man could bear such misery? Marie, open the box!-give me that casket! I must, I will have bread for these poor suffering innocents! Marie. Maurice! for mercy's sake, forbear!

Mau. Give me the casket! I say,-nor earth, nor hell have power to prevent me.

Marie. Yet Heaven hath, I hope!-there let our hope repose. (Maurice feels his error, and kneels with Marie and the children, supplicating forgiveness.)

Mau. Wife! Marie! thou art my guardian angel! Give me the hatchet; I'll to the forest and cut a little wood to make a fire; for cold makes hunger doubly keen. Come, Fritz, my boy! To suffer, rather than betray our trust, is noble; and though grim death, in 'every horrid shape, should stare us in the face, we'll not endanger our immortal souls by forfeiting that jewel, honesty!

Scene 5.-A Chamber in the Palace.

(Enter the count, followed by Glandoff.)

Count. I tell thee, Glandoff, I will have revenge.

Glan. You are right, my lord,-or this insulting upstart will rob you of your royal master's favor.

Count. I greatly fear he has done so already. 'Sdeath! but to think, that after all my toil,-the years that I have spent in public business,-I should be spurned for a new favorite! No--he shall perish, ere it come to that!

Count. Ay, that's the question, Glandoff! Yet I have it!

I will invite him to a hunting party; and, once in the deep mazes of the forest, 'twill be an easy task to

Glan. Murder him, my lord.

Count. Right, right, my trusty Glandoff. But, hush! for see, my hated rival comes this way!

(Enter Baron Leibheim.)

Count. I trust, my lord, no difference of opinion, or party feeling, will, for a moment, make you uncomfortable here; or me forget the sacred rights of hospitality.

Baron. I say, amen, to such a pious wish, with all my heart. Count. To show how I esteem the nobleman, who is my prince's friend, I have arranged a hunting party, which I entreat of you to honor with your presence.

Baron. Most willingly. I love a merry chase, above all things. On one condition-that the game we kill be given to the poor.

Count. Agreed, my lord, Yet that's a strange condition! Baron. By no means. Pardon this contradiction: Maurice, the woodcutter, you recollect, gave us a lecture, in the jail to day-which justice must allow to be the truth.

Count. You seem, my lord, to be the advocate of these rude peasantry, who, if encouraged, would soon act the lord, and set all laws and order at defiance.

Baron. Far be it from me, sir; yet you'll allow, that justice should, both to the rich and poor, be dealt with strict impartiality. (Horns heard without.)

Glan. (Looking off.) Your excellency's hunters wait without. Count. (Crossing.) My lord, with your permissionBaron. I am ready. (Exeunt.)

(Enter Prince Leopold.)

Prince. My friend, the baron, gone into the forest upon a hunting party! What if he prove himself the game, and fall into the snares of Hartenstein! I'll follow at a distance. The count seems friendly, yet I have my doubts,

And do suspect the motives of this chase :-
False heart doth often wear the fairest face! (Exit.)

Scene 6.-The Forest.

(Maurice discovered cutting wood, and Fritz gathering chestnuts.) Mau. (Lays down his hatchet, and ties up his bundle of wood.) Come, my boy, let us be going. We have got wood enough now, to make a comfortable fire.