University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Chamber.
Rudestein and Barbara.
BARBARA.
Screitch sits in judgment on a suit thrice pleaded;
Nor will he leave before the court is up.

RUDESTEIN.
What suit?

BARBARA.
On three stray pullets claimed by Gueldt,
Which Schqueel defends. Our seneschal to-day
Is powerful with his precedents, and cites
The Pandects to the sow-ringer.

RUDESTEIN.
In Latin?

BARBARA.
Nay, they who profit by them know the best:
The parties seem content.

RUDESTEIN.
Do both?

BARBARA.
All three.
Wouldst smooth or sharpen when he comes? We have
Scarce time to night for jealousy.

RUDESTEIN.
What else?

BARBARA.
Call home thy wits and answer me at once.
I hate this butting head to head with questions!
Art sick of soberness so soon? Art grieved
To miss the time of day for getting drunk?
Art frighted at thy policy? Art sure
This second master may exceed the first?
That he will trust us better, feed us better,
Or how?—What dost thou muse about?

RUDESTEIN.
Bab! Bab!
I have outrun temptation.

BARBARA.
Dost repent?
I partly know its shape—'twas bandy-legged.
One kind, at least, was swift enough to catch thee.

RUDESTEIN.
But that escaped was worst.

BARBARA.
Than treachery?

RUDESTEIN.
If treachery, who will profit by it?

BARBARA.
He.

RUDESTEIN.
Why, thou—

BARBARA.
What—what?

RUDESTEIN.
His pocket pouncet-box—
His brimstone comfit-case.

BARBARA.
Awake at last.

RUDESTEIN.
I do feel sick about this change of lords,
Whilst thou canst chirp so cheerily.

BARBARA.
More need.

RUDESTEIN.
Barbara is hard of heart!

BARBARA.
Who made me so?
Wilt let me tell thee what I think thou seemest?

RUDESTEIN.
Ay—what?

BARBARA.
A fish.

RUDESTEIN.
What sort of fish?

BARBARA.
The kind
Which loses heart when dry—is out of breath—
Almost a coward if he cannot drink.

RUDESTEIN.
I hate these masters old and new—I love
Good cheer and Rolandseck.

BARBARA.
And Barbara?

RUDESTEIN.
This Count will hold his promises, at first;
And I shall hold his crowns. He hath snake's eyes—
A cockatrice's eyes replete with malice!
The while we talked, last night, about this treason,
He kept his right arm free and farthest off.

BARBARA.
This helped thee to outrun the fiend, belike?

RUDESTEIN.
I would have risked it, Bab, if sure of grace:
Safe in my pardon here, I would have tried it!
The bonds were in his pocket.

BARBARA.
Be content!

RUDESTEIN.
I would have done it, and avowed it too.
It must have seemed fair play. Our peace was known
To none beside thyself—our hate and challenge
To all the house. This would have shown a purpose—
A meeting predisposed by both of us.
It is but waterish wisdom to provide
A nursery for his grace at Rolandseck!

BARBARA.
Being next of kin thyself?

RUDESTEIN.
The next to Ellen.
Their son, though younger, disinherits ours.
Yet must this Count come in, to keep us here;
And we must eat.

BARBARA.
Our road is perilous!

RUDESTEIN.
Nay, wherefore is it perilous, child? These lords
Shall buffet with each other—he who breaks
His neighbour's neck, saves mine.

BARBARA.
Now peace! 'tis Screitch—
Do thou speak loud, and look the other way.

RUDESTEIN.
His learning is enough without a wife—
They ever spoil each other. He is old.

BARBARA.
I care not—he is wise and peaceable.

RUDESTEIN.
Dost hate me, Barbara?

BARBARA.
Perhaps I love him best.
Hush! hush! the Seneschal—Is judgment ended?

SCREITCH.
As thine is ended, simple one, it is.

BARBARA.
And how is that?

SCREITCH.
Discreetly, Barbara.
Dost love the wisest best?

BARBARA.
Not I.

SCREITCH.
Hush! hush!

BARBARA.
Or if I do, which is he?—Hast adjudged
These fowls, and how?

SCREITCH.
I gave a bird to each—
Each bears his costs.

BARBARA.
But there were three of them!

SCREITCH.
Our civil statute turns not right nor left—
But harrows irrespectively and widely:
Our cannon ploughs too deep—

BARBARA.
What was thy sentence?

SCREITCH.
One bird he takes who lost the three—it is
Retrievement of his right when right availed not.
He one who stole the three—his recompense
For restitution of the two surrendered.
The third remains with us.

RUDESTEIN.
Why so? She stands
On level footing with the rest?

SCREITCH.
Being sole,
She stopped the way to peace.

RUDESTEIN.
We have at hand
A harder case.

SCREITCH.
Propound it simply then.

RUDESTEIN.
Suppose two claimants, and a single pullet?

SCREITCH.
The owner takes her.

RUDESTEIN.
He must be declared.
Stand forth between us, Barbara—dost behold?
While all dwell here, she may be neutral, common—
To neither pertinent, or both—but soon
I shall go hence.

SCREITCH.
She tarries, if she will.

RUDESTEIN.
The choice is hers, then—if she will, she goes?

SCREITCH.
So she choose wisely for her good, it is:
Else choice is impotent, must be revised,
Falls back to equity.

BARBARA.
I will not choose—
At best, a husband is an awful thing!
But this seems past belief!

SCREITCH.
What marvellest at?

BARBARA.
Why, that while all beside are blind with tears—
All standing still aghast, or running mad—
Guests wondering, kinsmen whispering, servants sobbing—
That he, in whom resides the castle's peace,
Should muse on love and pullets!

RUDESTEIN.
I am naught!
I must sit still!

BARBARA.
My lord is lost in sorrow!
How should he rule at such a time as this?
Grief-poisoned—care-confounded?

RUDESTEIN.
Screitch sustains
The burden of his state and government—
Fills his high place, the prop of Rolandseck!

BARBARA.
The strongest might call out for help, to-night.

RUDESTEIN.
What hour dost think it is?

BARBARA.
The next to sunset.

RUDESTEIN.
Is it so late?

BARBARA.
Hast viewed the soldiers' scarfs?

RUDESTEIN.
Are all their bucklers cleansed and newly burnished!

BARBARA.
Hast loosed the castle ensign from its staff?

RUDESTEIN.
Who leads the household, now that I may not?

BARBARA.
What guests?

RUDESTEIN.
How many lances?

BARBARA.
Who rides first?

RUDESTEIN.
Better place all the trumpets by themselves:
The men at arms show statelier undivided.

BARBARA.
Two knights support the banner, do they not?

RUDESTEIN.
Dost mount the heralds next?

SCREITCH.
I have o'erlooked
These cares too long—come with me, Barbara.

RUDESTEIN.
Why, mercy on us, man! is this to do?

BARBARA.
The castle warden bears the coronet?
Six pennons of our own—how many strange ones?

RUDESTEIN.
Six of our own with those from Weilenberg.
Take heed the horsemen jostle not the priests!

SCREITCH.
They go the first?

RUDESTEIN.
Dost hear him, Barbara?
A skilful marshal! What art gaping at?
Twelve men at arms, and then the pursuivants.
How should my cousin order these things now?
Come bustle—wouldst disgrace thyself and us?
Good sooth, a learned Seneschal!

BARBARA.
He is
Amazed, and in a strait! I pray thee aid us!

RUDESTEIN.
What dost thou weep for—why this passion, Barbara?
Not I—who thanks me for mine aid?—disgraced,
Put out from trust!

BARBARA.
Thou dost not love me, then!

RUDESTEIN.
Well—stir, and look about thee—call the squires—
Send every man that shames us not.

SCREITCH.
What!—all?

RUDESTEIN.
Lo, this is learning! he must thwart me still!
Wilt do the work thyself?—then set about it!
All but the porter-grooms and prison-guard—
The more the statelier. I will place the watch.

[Exeunt.