University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

—Supposed to be in the Vicinity of the Castle.
Enter Waldman and Michael.
Wal.
I sore mistrust thee, Michael! If thou play'st
The trifler with me now—

Mic.
Dear father, fear not.

Wal.
But I do fear thee, boy; and, if not thee,
I fear this stormy night. Dost hear the thunder?

Mic.
I do; but it is distant.

Wal.
There again!

Mic.
It sounds in the direction of the lake.

Wal.
Why hast thou brought me hither?

Mic.
Worthy sire,
Thou said'st I ne'er would marry till my teeth
Were gone. To show thee, to thy heart's content,
The prophecy was wrong, I've brought thee hither
To play her escort to my gentle bride,
Whom thou shalt see anon.

Wal.
He's past all hope!
Am I thy butt to play a jest upon?
Is this a place to jest?

Mic.
No place more safe;
No sentinel is here to mar a jest,
Were I disposed for one.

Wal.
The storm comes on.
Wouldst hold me here to bide its pelting?

Mic.
Hush!
Dear father, hush, unless you'd spoil my wedding,
And mar the only chance of making me
A sober man. And, look, my bridesmen come.

Enter Jagheli, with Theodore, and a band of Young Men, with a rope-ladder.
Mic.
Welcome, Jagheli! Father, my chief man,
Who means to take example by your son—
Marry a wife, and ever after live
The gravest man in Altorf.

Wal.
Let me see
Thy bride, and I'll believe thou mean'st to wed.
It cannot be! There's not a man in Altorf
Would take thee for his son-in-law!

Mic.
No man
In Altorf shall call me his son-in-law.

Wal.
Where wilt thou get thy bride, then?

Mic.
Thou shalt see.
Ha! there's the light—Jagheli, that's the casement!
Come on! Friends, stay you here. And, father, pray
Command your patience, till I give you proof,
Such as shall full content you, that I mean
With all my heart to be a sober man.

[Michael and Jagheli go out with the rope-ladder.
Wal.
Friends, can you help me to a clue to find
This riddle out?

The.
We're sworn to secrecy,
And may not answer you.

Wal.
I see—I see—
He's not content to make a jest of me,
But brings his friends to join him in the laugh!
He wed!—He take a wife!—He'll bring some boy,
Dress'd in his sister's gown and tucker, with
His voice upon the crack—to pass him off
For 's bride upon me. I'll begone, and balk
[More thunder.
His most irreverent humour! Friends, adieu!
I give you joy of this fair sport.

[Going.
Enter Michael and Agnes—Jagheli and Anneli.
Mic.
Sweet love,
Fear not! I'll give thee to safe warding, till
I take thee to mine own. Fair Anneli,
Go with thy cousin. Father, to thy care
We trust these jewels, that shall keep us rich
For life! Don't wonder, Sweet—There's not a care
This day may cost thee, but each after-day
Shall bring as many golden joys as hours
To pay thee for.

Ann.
I trust they mean us honest!

Wal.
A woman, as I live!

Agn.
Honest or not,
No matter now, dear coz; our fortune's told—
We're caught!

Wal.
A woman, too.

Mic.
By hands so kind!—
So loving in their tendance on their prize,
You'd not exchange captivity for freedom.

Agn.
Don't try us!

Mic.
Not unless you choose.

Ann.
Dear coz!
Let us go back.

Agn.
Nay, coz, we'll e'en go on.
These gallants trusted once, to trust them on,
They say, is sometimes to secure the debt.

Wal.
Fair lady, I will be his bail, to see
Due payment made—if you will trust to me.

Mic.
Dear father, when you hear me jest again,
You'll drink your grandson's health that is to be,
And pardon me for him.—Away!—Away!
These heads demand a kinder canopy
Than this rough sky affords.

Wal.
Go you not with us?

Mic.
No; our brides forbid.
Nor may we see them till we bring the priest
To visit them to-morrow; and, besides,
We've comrades here, bright gallants, as ourselves
Were once, of whom we'd take a handsome leave.
This hour, that parts us thus, we'll soon forgive,
For the fair fellows that shall follow it.
Good night—Sound sleep—Sweet dreams—good night—good night—
[Waldman, Agnes, and Anneli go out.
Now, friends, the casement! There the ladder hangs;
Climb fast, but silently. The chamber on
The postern opens, and is lock'd, within.
Thence we can watch the motions of our friends,
And at the moment lend our sudden aid,
When most it may avail.—On—On and up!
[Young Men go out.
Now, Michael, here's the closing of thy jests,
Or making of thee!—Fortune hold thy friend,
There's not a sober man in Altorf but
To own thy brows, would wear the cap and bells!

[Goes out.