 | Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lunenburgh |  |
12
ACT II.
SCENE I.
Enter Ridolpho and Count Waldec with a Paper.Wald.
Bravely resolv'd! Methinks this little Mandate
Contains the fix'd Decrees of Fate, which We,
Its Instruments, are honour'd to perform.
I look on Fred'rick already as no more;
All his proud Hopes sunk with him in Oblivion,
And Mentz triumphant in assur'd Revenge.
Rid.
You see how positive his Orders are.
[reads.
“If Brunswick should prevail, what open Force
“Cannot controul, let Policy effect:
“Ne'er let the Imperial Crown his Temples grace,
“But sudden Death stop his Career of Glory.
“The Means I leave to you, and faithful Waldec:
“Be cautious whom else you trust: A Secret
“Of this Import, divulg'd, not executed,
“Would double our Confusion.”
Wald.
Most certain:
Therefore on whom we may depend, is now
The Question most material. A Dagger,
Or a poison'd Bowl are always ready Friends;
The Difficulty lies in chusing one
Fit to administer the fatal Present.
Rid.
I have already thought. You know young Ermand,
Cupbearer to the Tyrant?
Wald.
Most perfectly:
Remember too there was the strictest Friendship
Between you and his Father.
13
Obligations,
On Obligations heap'd, attach'd him to me;
And, if the Son has Gratitude, he'll gladly
Embrace th'Occasion to repay past Favours,
And at the same Time make his future Fortune.
Wald.
Have you yet sounded how he is inclin'd?
Rid.
No. But by Chance meeting i'th' Palace-Garden,
Told him I had a Business to impart,
In which 'twas in his Power to do me Service.
He seem'd transported at the Opportunity,
And press'd to know my Meaning; but some Lords
Passing that Way, I made him an Appointment
To wait his coming in the Cypress Grove,
An Hour's Space hence. I was also willing
To take Your Counsel, e'er I ought disclos'd
Of this last Stake, on which our All depends.
Wald.
I thank your good Opinion, and applaud
Your well-laid Scheme; tho' Ermand stands at present
High in the Favour of imperious Brunswick,
And boasts, I know not what, fine Notions,
Which the World calls Virtues; I do not doubt
But all will vanish at the Name of Int'rest.
Honours, and Preferments dazzle the Minds
Of those who affect most to despise them.
Be then no Niggard of your Promises:
Let Oaths assure the Grant of all he asks.
I know he has a Soul bold and intrepid,
By Nature fitted for the greatest Hazards,
And may with Ease be fashion'd to our Purpose.
Rid.
Or I'm deceiv'd; but soon shall make the Tryal.
In the mean Time, 'tis best we separate:
Too frequent Conversations may beget
Suspicions, which 'tis prudence to avoid.
This Ev'ning may, perhaps, be the Conclusion
Of all our Hopes and Fears.
[Exit Ridolpho.
14
Success attend you;
Nor does my list'ning Soul forebode ought else:
Ridolpho, honest to his Prince and Friend,
And artful in perswasion, soon will work
The shallow Mind of Ermand to our Wishes.
The Sun of Frederick's Pride for ever set;
Mentz of those vast Demesnes, of which I'm Heir,
Secur'd; and Adelaid, the happy Bride,
Of Wirtemberg, What hinders but my Name
Shall stand, hereafter, in the foremost Rank
Of German Princes! But here the Victim comes,
Whose Blood's th'Oblation my Ambition craves.
'Till that bless'd Moment, be my Joys conceal'd;
Then all at once expand your golden Wings,
And bear me to the Heav'n I aim at, Greatness!
[Exit.
Enter Frederick, Anspach, Anhalt, and Baden.
Fred.
'Tis scarce an Hour since I have been a Monarch,
Yet am already tortur'd with the Cares,
Which envy'd Royalty draws on the Wearer.
Letters, from Lunenburgh, inform me here,
That Galeas, the Milanese Usurper, holds
Secret Intelligence with Mentz's Bishop,
And that regardless of the solemn League
Made 'twixt the Princes at their last Assembly,
That stubborn Prelate, for some unknown End,
Favours the Tyrant, and abets his Crimes.
Ansp.
Some dark Design, I doubt, is set on Foot:
I hear Ridolpho makes some sojourn here:
The Diet broke up, th'Electors all dispersing.
He means to stay the most unwelcome Guest.
Fred.
Who in the Paths of Virtue perseveres,
Has nought to apprehend from impious Men.
Be it my Care to give this Empire Ease,
To crush th'oppressive Hand of proud Injustice;
15
Th'artful Hypocrite from the true Deserver.
All that concerns myself alone, I yield,
Without Reluctance, to the Will of Fate:
For Life or Death are Things indifferent,
When Glory calls, and Heaven appoints the Time.
Ansp.
Yet 'tis a Kind of Duty in you, Sir,
To guard a Life so precious to Mankind.
Where, but from you, can Germany expect
To see her Eagle's Wings once more display'd?
Where, under Heaven, but in your gen'rous Care,
Can Virtue hope its long detain'd Rewards?
If you, the Object of all good Mens Wishes,
And Terror of the Vicious, should become
A Prey to open Force, or secret Malice,
Not only the most beauteous of her Sex,
And the sweet Pledges of your mutual Loves,
Must mourn a Husband, and a Father lost:
But the whole Empire in Tears of Blood lament
Her ravish'd Freedom, and subverted Laws,
No more to be restor'd, no more to flourish.
Fred.
Your Doubts are kind, tho' causless, and I take them
As the Effect of Love. Caution, 'tis true,
Is not unworthy of the bravest Prince:
But those can only know a slavish Fear,
Who think they merit, what they always dread.
Bad.
Those free from Guile themselves, with Pain believe
The Fraud of others; and walking on the smooth
And even Road, see not the hollow Depths
Where Treason lurks; therefore we'd arm you, Sir,
Against the worst that impious Men dare do.
[Enter a. Messenger.
Mess.
From the high Turret which o'erlooks the Plain
We easily discern, Great Sir! the Guards
16
But a few Moments hence, and she'll be here.
[Exit.
Fred.
Swift let us fly to meet her. Oh, my Friends!
After an Interval of Toil and Cares,
With double Fervour we return to taste
The Joys of Love.—Ha! Adelaid!
[Going out, is met by Adelaid.
Adel.
Start you, Sir!
Can a weak Woman's Sight create Surprize
In him, who has so many Dangers fac'd,
And still return'd loaded with Conquest Home?
O wond'rous Pow'r of Guilt! the Hero blushes,
And trembles to behold in me, the Ghost
Of his own murder'd Truth, by him destroy'd.
Fred.
Princes, pass on; I'll follow instantly.
[Exeunt Anspach, Anhalt, and Baden.
Madam! your Words an unknown Meaning bear,
A Lady's Presence cannot give Offence;
Nor am I conscious to have committed ought
Should cause Remorse in me, or Rage in you.
Adel.
Hear him, just Heav'n! with Patience, if you can!
This Prince, for Virtue so rever'd and fam'd,
Thinks Perj'ry and Ingratitude no Crimes!
Seems to forget he ever lov'd, then left
A helpless Maid to mourn her easy Faith,
And curse, in Bitterness of Heart, the Time,
When first she list'ned to his betraying Vows.
Fred.
The Man thus base deserves indeed to feel
The keenest Arrows of untir'd Revenge:
But Adelaid boasts a more just Discernment,
Than to mistake th'unmeaning Gallantries,
Which Youth to Beauty pays for serious Courtship,
Or a fix'd Resolve.
Adel.
Death and Confusion!
You mock'd me then, it seems?
Fred.
Not so. My Heart,
Then unacquainted with the Force of Passion,
17
What Vows can you accuse me with the Breach of?
What Contract past could make you entertain
Lasting Remembrance of a Man, I own
Unworthy of your Love?
Adel.
Indeed unworthy!
What if no Contract past, ungrateful Prince!
Nor binding Vows, which force Men to be just
Against their Wills? Did you not say, you lov'd?
Oh what were all those fond enliv'ning Fires,
That sparkled in your Eyes at my Approach!
What that beseeching Air, that humble Homage,
Which every Gesture shew'd, but Proofs that once
You lov'd, the now abandon'd Adelaid?
Oh! that's th'extreamest Malice of my Fate,
To have been ador'd, and after be despis'd.
Take back, ye Heav'ns! those Charms you vainly gave:
Transform this Beauty to a Gorgon's semblance,
These braided Locks to Knots of curling Serpents,
Whose direful Hissings may amaze Mankind,
And seize with Horror all created Beings,
'Till they grow mad as I am.
Fred.
Be pacify'd:
Nor rack Reflection with Ideas past;
Your Friendship still I prize, fair Adelaid!
And, as I may, will study to deserve it.
[Exit.
Adel.
Barbarous Insulter!—but he hears me not!
He's gone, ungrateful, cruel as he is!
And left me in this Agony of Soul,
Without one tender Word to sooth my Sorrows!
Yet wherefore should I wish it!—Oh be hush'd
Ye Dictates of my ever-torturing Reason:
Let me not think that I have lov'd, much less,
That I still love, where all Returns are hopeless.
Frederick is now another's, and whate'er
My first Pretensions were, they now are nothing.
What do I here then?—Why aim I to renew
The Memory of past Transports in his Mind,
And become doubly wretched, by adding Guilt
18
Drive me, O drive me to the Verge of Earth,
Where Nature's Course is barr'd, and Chaos reigns!
Where mingling Elements wage eternal War;
And whirl the uncall'd Atoms from the Mass!
Amidst that dreadful Gloom, plunge deep my Soul,
Rather than stay beneath the chearing Sun,
To stain his Rays with Blushes for the Shame
Of Adelaid, lost, ruin'd Adelaid!
[Exit.
Re-enter Frederick leading Anna; Wirtemberg, Anspach, Anhalt, Baden, and Attendants.
Fred.
Welcome, thou dearer to my Soul than Empire!
What I have felt in Separation from thee,
Could be repair'd by nothing but the Joy
Thy Presence brings. O be my witness, Heaven!
If ought of Bliss Imperial Power bestows,
It is with thee to share it, and become
More worthy of thy Beauty and thy Love.
Anna.
All these dear Truths my Heart inform itself.
But what is Empire, all the glitt'ring Trophies
Of Power and wide-extended Sway, when poiz'd
Against the weightier Virtues of the Mind?
That inborn Worth, that did at first create,
Must still maintain my Love. Not but the Means
To act the Good we wish, to curb Oppression,
To break the Captive's Chain, and to restore
Past Health, and Energy to th'expiring Laws,
Is the sublimest Joy the Soul can know;
And I rejoice to share the glorious Hope.
Wirtemb.
If such exalted Virtue fails Success,
We must believe Heaven has decreed the Fall
And sure Destruction of the German Empire.
Oh! how I long to see the Sword of Justice
Unsheath'd, and driving on those rebellious States,
19
Renounce Obedience to th'Imperial Throne,
And with intestine Discord tear the Bowels
Of their bleeding Country. Haughty Galeas,
Chief of that Number, engrosses to himself
Cremona, Milan, Pavia, Piacenza,
Boppart, and Oberwesel. Mentz commands;
With the rich Towns, Tortona, and Vercelli:
And the Prince Palatine remains sole Master
Of fertile Ingelheim and Kaislerauter.
What Shame to Royalty! We cannot say
Wenceslaus was depos'd, since of himself
He barter'd Power for the Slave's Traffick, Gold.
Fred.
Yes, noble Wirtemberg, full well I know,
When vested with the Forms of Regal Sway,
I take a barren Sceptre in my Hand;
Its spreading Branches, Power, and Prerogative,
Lopp'd off, and by presuming Traytors born,
In vile Contempt of Law, or Oaths, or Reason:
But soon the bold Aspirers shall be taught,
What 'tis t'encroach upon a Monarch's Weakness,
And dare to take, tho' he declines his Rights.
Soon, if propitious Heaven vouchsafe me Aid,
Shall the Imperial Honours be restor'd:
Succeeding Ages shall approve my Labour,
Blest, if thro' me a future Prince shall reap
That Ease, I'm not permitted to enjoy.
Anna.
It is the Task which Heaven allots for Heroes,
To toil for others, while themselves taste least
Of the unnumber'd Blessings they afford.
Yet, my lov'd Lord! forgive a Woman's weakness,
Enough already have you prov'd your Conduct
In War, and Peace; I could be better pleas'd
You were not call'd to tread this rugged Road,
Where thousand Dangers, new, and unforeseen,
Start up each Moment, and forbid Repose,
Life's Felicity.
20
Best of thy Sex.
Thou choicest Blessing of indulgent Heaven,
And most exact Resemblance of its Brightness.
Thy Prayers and Love are my secure Protection,
And shield me from all Dangers that can threaten.
Anna.
Were it permitted for my Sex to wield
The massy Spear, or draw the glitt'ring Steel,
I have a Soul that would in Virtue's Cause,
As greatly dare as the most proud Triumpher.
Yet do strange Fears of late possess my Mind
Ominous Dreams perplex my wandring Thoughts,
And drive sweet Slumber from me. Oh, my Lord!
Still the Idea of the last Night's Vision
Hangs on my Spirits: Methought, as near the Altar,
We sat inthron'd, attended on by Princes,
And almost deify'd by Acclamations
Of the admiring Populace around,
A Peal of Thunder cleft the Temple's Roof,
Big whirling Clouds obscur'd the Face of Heaven,
And darkned all the Place; then, on a sudden
Shot in a forked Flash of horrid Lightning,
And thousand Apparitions struck my Sight,
Forms terrible to Sense, and past Description.
Starting, and trembling, I in Anguish 'woke,
And in that Interim of my opening Eyes,
Imagin'd I beheld you pale and bleeding.
Wirtemb.
Such Images are, by their Reverse, explain'd:
This Dream, if Dreams have any Meaning in 'em,
Portends long Life to your Imperial Consort,
And height of Glory.
Fred.
Be it as it may;
This Day be crown'd with Mirth and social Joy,
For Frankfort we to morrow will depart:
There to assume the Grandeur of our Place.
Then, swift as possibly allows,
Pour in a Storm of Vengeance on the Rebels,
21
Wirtemb.
Glorious Resolve! nor can with too much speed
Be put in Execution; since Galeas,
Gains every Hour addition to his Strength
Fred.
Numerous indeed, well disciplin'd, and bold,
I hear his Forces are. We shall not therefore
Thro' Indolence, or vain Contempt permit
His Power to encrease, and dare our Arms,
As you have seen an unskill'd Traveller,
Charm'd with some shady Wood's delightful Prospect,
Stretch out his Limbs, luxuriously supine,
And sink in Slumbers, thoughtless of his Journey
Till on a sudden, swift-wing'd Night comes on,
He starts, and rouzes from his golden Dream,
With aching Heart beholds declining Day,
Aghast and frighted, roams the tractless Wild,
And vainly searches the forgotten Path,
Which intercepting Darkness barrs from View.
Thus would it fare with me, my gallant Friend!
Lost and bewildred in a Maze of Errors,
Should I now stop when fair Occasion calls,
And prove a Laggard in the Race of Glory.
Anna.
May Heaven for ever guard your precious Life.
Fred.
No more, my Love, we live not for our selves.
Who careless sits, and nods upon a Throne,
Rules by the Will of others, not his own:
Of every Ill he justly bears the Blame;
But all the Praise of Good his Subjects claim.
End of the Second ACT.
| Frederick, Duke of Brunswick-Lunenburgh | |