 | The Legend of Stauffenberg |  |
14
Scene II.
—Room in the Castle of Stauffenberg. Conrad and Ianthe. Chorus of Soldiers in outer Court.No. 12.—DUO AND CHORUS.
Ianthe.
Thou wilt not go! Thou wilt not leave me here,
A captive sad in these forsaken halls!
Conrad.
Ah! temptress, grown each day tenfold more dear,
Tempt not with such sweet wiles when honour calls!
Ianthe.
Shall love risk death for honour's empty name?
Conrad.
What love can live couched in bright honour's grave?
Ianthe.
Love, jealous, flies from hearts that worship fame.
Conrad.
Wouldst chain me here, thy beauty's sloth-pined slave?
Both.
O woful hour! O bitter feast of pain!
Winter of love that rends us heart from heart!
Ianthe.
Cruel to go!
Conrad.
Dishonour to remain!
Both.
Twenty sharp deaths die lovers when they part!
15
(without).
From the south to the north,
Thro' the cornland and vineland,
The call is gone forth
To the sons of the Rhineland.
Arm! arm! for their health
Whom your hearts clasp the nearest,
For your homes' fairest wealth,
For the fields ye hold dearest;
Fierce foes are at hand—
Out, then, good swords, and tell them
Our dear Fatherland
Lacks not power to repel them.
Fatherland! Fatherland!
Conrad.
Hark! how my soldiers shout! and I their chief
Stand dallying here. Unwind those blissful arms
That make me traitor. Fatherland, I come!
Ianthe.
One moment stay! O weakness, O despair
Of fainting love that dreads some unknown wrong!
CHORUS
(without).
Like boars mad with want,
They would trample our tillage,
Like wolves famine-gaunt,
They are hungry for pillage.
Do they come for our Rhine?
16
Our fields? 'Neath each vine
They shall rest from the slaughter.
Thy foes in fierce band
Rush to ravage and rend thee,
Fatherland! Fatherland!
We are here to defend thee.
Fatherland! Fatherland!
Conrad.
Ten thousand thousand fond farewells!
Ianthe.
Ten thousand thousand fond farewells!
Both.
Adieu then, love, adieu,
Be ever, ever true;
Love soar on wings of flame,
To holier heights of fame!
Adieu! Adieu!
| The Legend of Stauffenberg | |