University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

The Scene represents a spacious Crypt, or vaulted Court of Justice, under ground, of Gothic Architecture.—At the upper end is a luminous Cross of a deep red, and over this, surrounded by Clouds, an Eye, radiated with points of fire. A Throne adorned with trophies in gold, upon a ground of black velvet.—The benches of the Judges the same.

• Dignitaries of the Church.
• Canons.—Monks.
• Judges.—Advocates.
• Banners of the Tribunal.
• Knights.—Pages.
• Barons.—Wirtemberg.
• Attendants with Torches.

They take their seats in profound silence. Among them Herman in the habit of Ulric. Ratibor crosses the Stage: Herman rises and holds up his poniard.
WIRTEMBERG.
Ye ministers of vengeance! I could wish
That any other, than my personal wrong,
Had summon'd us together at this time.
And more, my nature moves me to regret
On that account the eminence I hold;
Since though no partial judgment can be fear'd
From men enlighten'd, sanctified to truth,
I fear the frailty of this widow'd breast,
Too much, to think myself dispassionate.
It is well known, with what unnatural hate
A cherish'd viper rose against my life;
Ye know his flight—presumption of his guilt.
But guilt still blacker now obtrudes upon you,
Suborn'd assassination, timeless death.—
Thus, having broke the business of the sitting,
Into your hands, I delegate my power,
With full reliance on your grave decision.

[He comes down, and sits by Ratibor; the Principal Judge takes the Chair.]
A Bell tolls.
Then, from the extremity of the Hall, the Minister of Vengeance is seen leading Ida down a flight of steps—he brings her forward, seats her on a stone, and then in a low voice speaks.
MINISTER OF VENGEANCE.
These are your Judges. You will soon be call'd on.
Take off your veil—Your face must be uncover'd.

[He retires.
Bell tolls again.
A JUDGE.
Ida, accus'd of murder and of treason,
We, the invisible avengers, cite thee
To answer at the awful bar of truth.
Appear, appear, appear!

IDA.
To such citation, I ought not to answer.
I who am Ida, shudder at such crimes.

A JUDGE.
Come near, and listen to thy accusation.
Thou art accus'd in foul conspiracy,
With the convicted traitor Herman, who,
By mad ambition tempted, sought the crown,
To have abus'd thy confidential trust,
And, by administ'ring a subtle poison,
Struck to the grave our much lamented Princess.
This charge substantiated by proof. Your answer.

IDA.
My gracious Lords, my answer is—Not Guilty.
Lend me your kind indulgence for a while.
I speak not in extenuation now—
For fancy cannot furnish one conjecture,
How this most fearful charge can bear on me.
But here surrounded with mysterious horror,
Yet surely strung with fortitude from heav'n,
I am to beg no ignorance of form
May weigh against me—trusting my defence,
To conscious honour, and unvarnish'd truth.

A JUDGE.
Is it not true, that such excess of fondness
The Princess bore thee, thou alone didst give
Those medicines her physicians had prescrib'd?

IDA.
It is most true, such was my honour'd lot.
I gave them, would I had prepar'd them also.

A JUDGE.
The dear lamented has been heard to say,
She could nor live, nor die without her Ida.
What meant this phrase, so singularly strong?

IDA.
Did she say so? O matchless, sainted spirit!
See how my foes convert thy love to guilt!
The reason is my pride—'twas faithful service.

A JUDGE.
It is affirm'd you were betroth'd to Herman.
That when his guilt was known, himself in prison,
You visited him on the night he fled.

IDA.
I did so, and I know his innocence.

A JUDGE.
Is Herman yet o'ertaken in his flight?

[To the attendants.
RATIBOR.
Ulric, my Lords, had order for his seizure:
The slave resisted, and the poniard smote him—
Swept him from earth.

IDA.
And have they murder'd thee,
My Lord, my love, my very vital spirit!
Hear me, ye judges! I was proud in honour,
And a stain there regarded as a wound,
Venom'd beyond the power of cautery.
It was my only wealth, and that I meant
To have brought him spotless as my nuptial dow'r.
I'm reckless now of life—Pronounce your sentence.
Defence is breathless in my Herman's grave!

WIRTEMBERG.
Let not this rash despair be deem'd confession.
If any here have purpos'd her defence,
Let him be summon'd.

RATIBOR.
This is lenity,
That such audacious guilt but ill deserves.

WIRTEMBERG.
Let us be just, my brother—Lenity
Becomes the Judge, but him especially,
Who aims to emulate the Judge of all.

A JUDGE.
If any here defend the accused Ida,
Let him arise—Appear, appear, appear.

HERMAN.
(Rises and takes off his helmet.)
I stand forth her defender.

RATIBOR.
Herman! hell!

(aside)
IDA.
He lives! he lives! ye pow'rs accept my heart
And let each fibre swell in gratulation,
My Herman is alive!

HERMAN.
Thus I defend her,
My most beloved Lord, into your hands
I give the sentence dooming me to death.

WIRTEMBERG.
Read it aloud.

A JUDGE
, (reads)
To Ratibor,
All is accomplished.
The deadly mixture is by your command
Infus'd,—

RATIBOR.
'Tis forgery all. A black contrivance meant,
To turn his treasonous plots upon my head.

ULRIC brings forward BADENDORFF.
WIRTEMBERG.
Who wrote that letter?

BADENDORFF.
I did, Badendorff.

WIRTEMBERG.
Suborn'd or freely? Speak, wretch!

BADENDORFF.
Freely wrote it.
But the contents are false—The maid accus'd
Ne'er gave the deadly drug; nor was it given.

A JUDGE.
The slave prevaricates—

RATIBOR.
I can but smile, when villany accurs'd
Imps her dark course with injuries like these.
The court will give my honour ample justice.
But my dear Sovereign's cause demands my call
For instant punishment of that assassin,
Whose bloody weapon was secur'd upon him.

HERMAN.
Ye have it in your archives—let me see it.

RATIBOR.
Here is the traitor's sword.

HERMAN.
True; look upon it.
Mark well the legend—Lo! the fiend deserts him.

RATIBOR.
[Shudders violently, and lets the sword fall, which WIRTEMBERG rushes to take up.]

WIRTEMBERG.
“Regiment of Ratibor”—What shudders seize me!

BADENDORFF.
If any doubts remain, let me explain them.
That monster, yonder, oft had tempted me
To do the abhorred deed this paper speaks of.
In fear of agents more corruptible,
I promis'd to perform it—Oft he chid me
For cold delay—At length too certain signs
Of speedy dissolution mark'd her Highness;—
Then I dispatch'd this letter to yon brother,
Deceiv'd him—led him blindly to his fate.

WIRTEMBERG.
Inhuman traitor—Why have all these deeds
Assail'd the breast, that lov'd and cherish'd thee?

RATIBOR.
Why? Ask thy heart? Is but ambition there?
Seek for a cause no further—thou hast found one,
For which all human bonds at once are cancell'd:
Place but that tempter there, a fury rises
With ceaseless goad, to urge on crime to crime,
Till the wretch dares eternal misery,
Nor shrinks to leap the gulf, Lead to your dungeons.

WIRTEMBERG.
Bear him away. For thee, my dearest nephew,
[Exit Ratibor.
Whom confidence abus'd so much has injur'd,
I shall endeavour ample reparation.

HERMAN.
I am indeed rewarded in the power
To dedicate my life to do you service,
And mitigate our loss by love unfailing.

WIRTEMBERG.
But we delay lustration to this innocent.
Judges of truth, here in the eye of Heav'n
By our most dreadful oath, I answer for her—
She is innocent.

A JUDGE.
We rise in confirmation.
Back to the world again, more truly honour'd
[To IDA.
By this conviction of your spotless fame.

Enter ULRIC, leading in HOLSTEIN, and ELLEN.
WIRTEMBERG.
Holstein, receive thy daughter.

HOLSTEIN.
O, my child,
Balm of my life, my beautiful, my pious,
I could expire with transport in thy arms.
Thus to behold thee sav'd—I've much to ask.

IDA.
My mother too, a flood of struggling passions
Subdues my heart, and drowns acknowlegments.
The debt of love and gratitude immense
Asks an extended life of zeal to pay.

ELLEN.
Long be that life, my love, and fill'd with honour.
Nor will your danger die without its fruit,
If it encrease compassion to the sufferer.
The purest innocent through artful malice
May wear the semblance of the guilty. Charity
Is large in her construction; slow to censure.

ULRIC.
My Lords, the instrument of a design
Which he believ'd your pleasure, throws himself
Upon your liberal justice. For the oath,
A seal of secresy, yet broke by virtue,
I stand accountable.

JUDGE.
He who consults
The sacred honour of the cause he serves,
Corrects its error, to secure its glory.

WIRTEMBERG.
But one thing now remains. Amid the storm
Of passion, malice, treason, which howl'd o'er us,
I heard some gentle gales of love breath'd out,
Then, when the heart most plainly speaks its purpose.

HERMAN.
(kneeling)
Yes, gracious Sir—as warm as those that waft
Saboean odours to the sinking spirits;
Amid the doubts of death they pierc'd my heart,
Add but that blessing, make my Ida mine—

WIRTEMBERG.
Take her, and destine virtue to the throne.
They who have suffer'd, best can feel for others.

HERMAN.
Shine forth bless'd spirit, purified by trial;
My monitress, my ever-destin'd wife!
To whose dear guidance every act shall bend,
And all my life be influenc'd by thy virtue.

HOLSTEIN.
My old breast akes with transport—O, my children,
Blessings be on ye! and when in wint'ry nights
I bend across the blaze, and hear without
The shrilling blast, that drives the shuddering seaman—
I'll still my fears, and sit resign'd, here taught
How, beyond hope, a gracious power can save.