The same. Hall in the palace. In the distance, the sound of cannon. The ELECTRESS and PRINCESS NATALIE, dressed for travel, enter, escorted by a gentleman-in-waiting, and sit down at the side. Ladies-in-waiting. A little later the ELECTOR enters with FIELD-MARSHAL. DÖRFLING, the PRINCE OF HOMBURG with the glove in his collar, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, COUNT TRUCHSZ, COLONEL HENNINGS, TROOP-CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ and several other generals, colonels and minor officers.

ELECTOR. What is that cannonading?—Is it Götz?

DÖRFLING. It's Colonel Götz, my liege, who yesterday Pushed forward with the van. An officer Has come from him already to allay Your apprehensions ere they come to birth. A Swedish outpost of a thousand men Has pressed ahead into the Hackel Hills, But for those hills Götz stands security And sends me word that you should lay your plans As though his van already held them safe.

ELECTOR (to the officers). The Marshal knows the plan. Now, gentlemen, I beg you take your pens and write it down.

[The officers assemble on the other side about the FIELD-MARSHAL, and take out their tablets. The ELECTOR turns to a gentleman-in-waiting.]

Ramin is waiting with the coach outside?

GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING. At once, my sovereign. They are hitching now.

ELECTOR (seating himself on a chair behind the ELECTRESS and the PRINCESS). Ramin shall escort my belovèd wife, Convoyed by thirty sturdy cavalrymen. To Kalkhuhn's, to the chancellor's manor-house. At Havelberg beyond the Havel, go. There's not a Swede dare show his face there now.

ELECTRESS. The ferry is restored?

ELECTOR. At Havelberg? I have arranged for it. The day will break In all events before you come to it.

[Pause.]

You are so quiet, Natalie, my girl? What ails the child?

NATALIE. Uncle, I am afraid.

ELECTOR. And yet my little girl was not more safe In her own mother's lap than she is now.

[Pause.]

ELECTRESS. When do you think that we shall meet again?

ELECTOR. If God grants me the victory, as I Doubt not He will, in a few days, perhaps.

[Pages enter and serve the ladies refreshments. FIELD-MARSHAL DÖRFLING dictates. The PRINCE OF HOMBURG, pen and tablet in hand, stares at the ladies.]

MARSHAL. The battle-plan his Highness has devised Intends, my lords, in order that the Swedes' Fugitive host be utterly dispersed, The severing of their army from the bridges That guard their rear along the river Rhyn. Thus Colonel Hennings—

HENNINGS. Here!

[He writes.]

MARSHAL. Who by the will Of his liege lord commands the army's right, Shall seek by stealthy passage through the bush To circumscribe the enemy's left wing, Fearlessly hurl his force between the foe And the three bridges; then, joined with Count Truchsz— Count Truchsz!

TRUCHSZ (writing). Here!

MARSHAL. Thereupon, joined with Count Truchsz—

[He pauses.]

Who, meanwhile, facing Wrangel on the heights Has gained firm footing with his cannonry—

TRUCHSZ (writing). Firm footing with his cannonry—

MARSHAL. You hear it?—

[Proceeding.]

Attempt to drive the Swedes into the swamp Which lies behind their right.

[A lackey enters.]

LACKEY. Madam, the coach is at the door.

[The ladies rise.]

MARSHAL. The Prince of Homburg—

ELECTOR (also rising). Is Ramin at hand?

LACKEY. He's in the saddle, waiting at the gates.

[The royalties take leave of one another.]

TRUCHSZ (writing). Which lies behind their right.

MARSHAL. The Prince of Homburg— Where is the Prince of Homburg?

HOHENZOLLERN (in a whisper). Arthur!

THE PRINCE (with a start). Here!

HOHENZOLL. Have you gone mad?

THE PRINCE. My Marshal, to command!

[He flushes, and, taking out pen and parchment, writes.]

MARSHAL. To whom His Highness, trusting that he lead His force to glory as at Rathenow, Confides the mounted squadrons of the Mark

[He hesitates.]

Though in no way disprizing Colonel Kottwitz Who shall be aid in counsel and right hand—

[To CAPTAIN GOLZ in a low voice.]

Is Kottwitz here?

GOLZ. No, General. He has, You note, dispatched me hither in his place To take the battle order from your lips.

[The PRINCE gazes over toward the ladies again.]

MARSHAL (continuing). Takes station in the plain near Hackelwitz Facing the right wing of the enemy Well out of range of the artillery fire.

GOLZ (writing). Well out of range of the artillery fire.

[The ELECTRESS ties a scarf about the PRINCESS' throat. The PRINCESS, about to draw on a glove, looks around as if she were in search of something.]

ELECTOR (approaches her). Dear little girl of mine, what have you lost?

ELECTRESS. What are you searching for?

NATALIE. Why, Auntie dear, My glove! I can't imagine—

[They all look about.]

ELECTOR (to the ladies-in-waiting). Would you mind?—

ELECTRESS (to the PRINCESS). It's in your hand.

NATALIE. The right glove; but the left?

ELECTOR. You may have left it in your bedroom.

NATALIE. Oh, Bork, if you will?

ELECTOR (to the lady-in-waiting). Quick, quick!

NATALIE. Look on the mantel.

[_The lady-in-waiting goes out.-]

THE PRINCE (aside). Lord of my life? Could I have heard aright?

[He draws the glove from his collar.]

MARSHAL (looking down at the paper which he holds in his hand). Well out of range of the artillery fire.

[Continuing.]

The Prince's Highness—

THE PRINCE (regarding now the glove, now the PRINCESS). It's this glove she's seeking—

MARSHAL. At our lord sovereign's express command—

GOLZ (writing). At our lord sovereign's express command—

MARSHAL. Whichever way the tide of battle turn Shall budge not from his designated place.

THE PRINCE. Quick! Now I'll know in truth if it be hers.

[He lets the glove fall, together with his handkerchief; then recovers the handkerchief but leaves the glove lying where everybody can see it.]

MARSHAL (piqued). What is His Highness up to?

HOHENZOLLERN (aside). Arthur!

THE PRINCE. Here!

HOHENZOLL. Faith, you're possessed!

THE PRINCE. My Marshal, to command!

[He takes up pen and tablet once more. The MARSHAL regards him an instant, questioningly. Pause.]

GOLZ (reading, after he has finished writing). Shall budge not from his designated place.

MARSHAL (continues). Until, hard pressed by Hennings and by Truchsz—

THE PRINCE (looking over GOLZ's shoulder). Who, my dear Golz? What? I?

GOLZ. Why, yes. Who else

THE PRINCE. I shall not budge—

GOLZ. That's it.

MARSHAL. Well, have you got it

THE PRINCE (aloud). Shall budge not from my designated place.

[He writes.]

MARSHAL. Until, hard pressed by Hennings and by Truchsz— [He pauses.] The left wing of the enemy, dissolved, Plunges upon its right, and wavering The massed battalions crowd into the plain, Where, in the marsh, criss-crossed by ditch on ditch, The plan intends that they be wholly crushed.

ELECTOR. Lights, pages! Come, my dear, your arm, and yours.

[He starts to go out with the ELECTRESS and the PRINCESS.]

MARSHAL. Then he shall let the trumpets sound the charge.

ELECTRESS (as several officers, bowing and scraping, bid her farewell). Pray, let me not disturb you, gentlemen.— Until we meet again!

[The MARSHAL also bids her good-by.]

ELECTOR (suddenly standing still). Why, here we are! The lady's glove. Come, quick now! There it is.

GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING. Where?

ELECTOR. At our cousin's, at Prince Homburg's feet.

THE PRINCE. What! At my feet! The glove? It is your own?

[He picks it up and brings it to the PRINCESS.]

NATALIE. I thank you, noble Prince.

THE PRINCE (confused). Then it is yours?

NATALIE. Yes, it is mine; it is the one I lost.

[She takes it and draws it on.]

ELECTRESS (turning to the PRINCESS, she goes out). Farewell! Farewell! Good luck! God keep you safe! See that erelong we joyously may meet!

[The ELECTOR goes out with the ladies. Attendants, courtiers and pages follow.]

THE PRINCE (stands an instant as though struck by a bolt from heaven; then with triumphant step he returns to the group of officers). Then he shall let the trumpets sound the charge!

[He, pretends to write.]

MARSHAL (looking down at his paper). Then he shall let the trumpets sound the charge.— However, the Elector's Highness, lest Through some mistake the blow should fall too soon—

[He pauses.]

GOLZ (writes). Through some mistake the blow should fall too soon—

THE PRINCE (aside to COUNT HOHENZOLLERN in great perturbation). Oh, Harry!

HOHENZOLLERN (impatiently). What's up now? What's in your head?

THE PRINCE. Did you not see?

HOHENZOLLERN. In Satan's name, shut up!

MARSHAL (continuing). Shall send an officer of his staff to him; Who, mark this well, shall finally transmit The order for the charge against the foe. Ere this the trumpets shall not sound the charge.

[The PRINCE gazes dreamily into space.]

Well, have you got it?

GOLZ (writes). Ere this the trumpets shall not sound the charge.

MARSHAL (in raised tone). Your Highness has it down?

THE PRINCE. Marshal?

MARSHAL. I asked If you had writ it down?

THE PRINCE. About the trumpets?

HOHENZOLLERN (aside, with emphatic indignation). Trumpets be damned! Not till the order—

GOLZ (in the same tone). Not Till he himself—

THE PRINCE (interrupting). Naturally not, before— But then he'll let the trumpets sound the charge.

[He writes. Pause.]

MARSHAL. And I desire—pray note it, Baron Golz— Before the action opens, to confer With Colonel Kottwitz, if it can be done.

GOLZ (significantly). He shall receive your message. Rest assured.

[Pause.]

ELECTOR (returning). What now, my colonels and my generals! The morning breaks. Have you the orders down?

MARSHAL. The thing is done, my liege. Your battle-plan Is in all points made clear to your commanders.

ELECTOR (picking up his hat and gloves). And you, I charge, Prince Homburg, learn control! Recall, you forfeited two victories Of late, upon the Rhine, so keep your head! Make me not do without the third today. My land and throne depend on it, no less.

[To the officers.] Come!—Frank!

A GROOM (entering). Here!

ELECTOR. Quick there! Saddle me my gray! I will be on the field before the sun!

[He goes out, followed by generals, colonels and minor officers.]