University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Interior of the Banditti's Cavern.
Enter Finck.
FINCK.
What ho! none stirring yet? Your wine was heady,
That thus you sleep it out.—What ho! I say—

Enter Swartz.
SWARTZ.
Plague on your brawling! Why we might as well
Live in a scurvy brotherhood of monks,
And be rung up at midnight to our pray'rs,
As thus be rous'd. I'll lay my life the night
Is not half spent.

FINCK.
I rais'd the trap e'en now—
The great bear stood over the dodder'd oak
That rises singly on the crag, and told me
'Twas three o'clock. 'Tis time we were abroad.
The day will dawn anon—we've an account
To settle with the world, for yesterday
Turn'd out a blank.—So—you are up at last.
Enter Gortz and other Banditti.
Where is our captain?

GORTZ.
Where I wish I was too—
Sound on his mattress yonder, I suppose.
Whate'er his other qualities may be,
I'll wager my next booty 'gainst a pumpkin,
There's not a man in Hungary shall match him
For a sound sleeper.

FINCK.
No reflections, Gortz—
Come—let us rouse him with a rumbling catch.
Trio by Finck, Swartz, and Gortz.
Night her darkling course has run,
And yields her empire to the sun;
Hooting owls their flight have made,
And scud for shelter in the glade.
There let them hide; we sons of day
Through the wide forest take our way,
And, whereso'er is seen our band,
Our watch-word still is stand, stand, stand.

FINCK.
Well said, i'faith! If this don't bring him out,
The fam'd seven sleepers were mere boys to him.

Enter Arnold.
ARNOLD.
What, all alert? This augurs ill, methinks,
For those who travel early 'cross our haunts.
How wears the time?

FINCK.
'Tis about three, I take it.

ARNOLD.
Know ye if Baron Stolberg hunt to-day?

FINCK.
And if he do, what's that to us?

ARNOLD.
Why this.
His sport of yesterday, you know, marr'd yours.
If he again should take the field, your trouble
Will prove of small avail.

SWARTZ.
That's true enough.
But how to ascertain if he go forth?

ARNOLD.
Leave that to me. I'll venture out alone,
And bring you information. You, meanwhile,
Adjourn to th' refectory, and recruit
Your spirits with a cup of gen'rous wine.
What say ye, comrades?

FINCK.
That the motion's good;
And, if the liquor prove not worse, you'll find us,
When you return, well prim'd for action.—Come—
Lets drink to our commander's good success.

[Exeunt.
ARNOLD.
They're well dispos'd of for an hour or two.
And now to meet my Herman in the forest.

[Exit through the trap-door.