University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

The Market Cross of the little Town of Lutz. A Small Hostel with the sign of the Golden Stag at the Back of the Stage. Burghers and Country People pass and re-pass during the Scene.
Enter Otto and Ulric.
Otto.
Art weary, boy?

Ul.
No, father.

Otto.
Hungry?

Ul.
No.
Why dost thou ask me? Have I lagged behind,
Or craved for food? I can walk yet a league
Merrily; two leagues an' thou wilt. I'm strong
At heart.

Otto.
Thy limbs are failing. We have been
Afoot a day and night. Would I had left thee
In yonder woodland glen!

Ul.
We can return there.
The misty morn portends a sunny day,
So was poor Margaret wont to say. We'll find
Some grassy nook within that pleasant shade,
And sleep at ease.

Otto.
If I can purchase food—
If man, for gain, or woman for fond ruth,
Will give the outlaw bread for gold. Great Heaven!
And I have lived to doubt if I can save
My precious child from famishing! I have sinned;
Oh! I have sinned! But I am punished.

Ul.
Father,
Thou must not talk so. Cheer thee. Why didst leave
The towers of Brehna, where they loved us so,
Rudiger and his gentle mother?

Otto.
Boy,
Because they loved us so, and we loved them,
I left the towers of Brehna. I'll not bring
The avenging thunderbolt upon the roof
That sheltered us. I seek a natural fastness
Amid the rocks beside the Rhine. 'Tis near
Old Rudolf's cottage. Dost remember once
We journeyed thither? Ida meets us there.

Ul.
Ida! mine own sweet sister! Oh, what joy
To see her once again, mine Ida!

Enter Alf.
Otto.
Alf,
So near thy ancient hostelry!

Alf.
My lord
Here in broad day!—here at the Market Cross!
Away! away! Your safety lies in woods,
In cliffs, and mountains. Wherefore have ye sought
The haunts of man?

Otto.
For food. We've tasted none
Through our long travel.

Alf.
The fair boy! I'll bring ye
Food on the instant. Nay this gold is yours—
The gold your bounty gave me.
[Exit Alf.

Otto.
Oh, true faith!
That changes not with fortune—tender, strong
As woman's love! Ulric, when thou shalt meet,
As meet thou wilt, bitter ingratitude
And sharp unkindness, think on Alf. 'Twill keep
Thy young heart warm and glowing toward a world
Where golden wheat ears grow above the tares,
And purest lilies scent the trackless wild.

Enter Sir Hugo, Herald, Officers, and Guards.
Ul.
Sir Hugo! dear Sir Hugo!

Hugo.
Sound the trumpets,
Proclaim the sentence!

Officer.
Few be here, save them.

Hugo.
The better.

Otto.
He shrank from me, as men shrink
From a foul leper; broke from the poor boy's
Affectionate grasp, as though the deadly plague-spot
Were on his wrist! My father's friend! His comrade
In peace or war! My comrade, too! the friend
Of all my life! O God! O God! What's here?

[Trumpets are sounded, and Proclamation made at the Market Cross.
Herald.
Hear, men of Lutz, our sentence on the traitor,
Otto of Wittelsbach, a regicide
Under the Ban! Be his strong castles razed
To the earth with sword and fire; his wealth confiscate;
His lands and lordships forfeited; his name
Held infamous for ever! Outlaw he
And excommunicate; he and his race;
Sons, brethren, kinsmen, free to shaft and spear
As the vulture and the wolf. Whoe'er shall yield them
Food, shelter, raiment, dies. So shall they perish
In woods and wilds, and their unhallowed bones
Bleach in the wind and sun.

[Trumpets again. During the sounding of the Trumpets, Alf re-enters, and gives Bread to Ulric.
Ul.
Thanks! thanks!

Officer.
Seize yonder man; he hath brought food
To him beneath the ban.

Otto.
The food was given
To the hungry child, who hath laid it at your feet
Untasted. God of Justice! hear this law,
This law accurst and cursing, which conjoins
The guilty and the innocent, who saves,
And who destroys! Be wiser, juster, thou
That com'st as Murder's stern avenger. Free
Yon man, whose crime is pity; and with me
Deal as thou wilt. I am prepared to die.

Hugo.
We come not here to slay thee. That sad office
Belongs to one who compts it joy. Count Calheim
Is near at hand. Bear hence the prisoner.

Otto.
What!
Thou wilt not free him? I must stand and see
My true friend dragged to death? I knelt last night
Before a cross where murder had been done,
And as I lay, prostrate in form and soul,
Shivering beneath the spirit's agony,
I inly swore to abide my doom in peace
And sad submission. I thought but of racks
And wheels, engines that rend the quivering flesh,
That valour smiles at. This more exquisite torture
I dreamt not of. God! That a man should die
For succouring a famished child! should perish
Because he sucked a woman, not a wolf,
And drew in milk, not blood!

Alf.
Nay, chafe not thus.
I thank thy love; but life hath little left
That I should cling to.

Otto.
Thou shalt live. Sir Hugo,
Thou wast my father's friend. A king had been
Honoured in that proud title. For his sake—
He turns away! Hearken, old man! I speak
As one already in Death's grasp; the grave
Yawns underneath my feet; my voice resounds
Hollow as from a sepulchre. I warn thee,
There be foul sins that walk in holy names;
And Murder, though she take the state of Justice,
And pass unpunished here, at the great reckoning
Will cry out trumpet-tongued.

Hugo.
Lead him away.

Otto.
Nay, then!

Alf.
Oh, sheathe thy sword! I shall be safe.
Submit! submit!

Ul.
Alf, take my dagger, man!
Strive for thy freedom! Struggle with thy guards!
We'll aid thee.

Officer.
Seize the boy!

Otto.
He must be bold
That lays a hand upon him. Mark me, Sirs!
The first that follows dies.