The PRINCE of HOMBURG enters bearing three Swedish flags, followed by COLONEL KOTTWITZ, bearing two, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, CAPTAIN GOLZ, COUNT REUSS, each with a flag; and several other officers, corporals, and troopers carrying flags, kettle-drums and standards.

DÖRFLING (spying the PRINCE OF HOMBURG). The Prince of Homburg!—Truchsz! What did you mean?

ELECTOR (amazed). Whence came you, Prince?

THE PRINCE (stepping forward a few paces). From Fehrbellin, my liege, And bring you thence these trophies of success!

[He lays the three flags before him; the officers, corporals and troopers do likewise, each with his own.]

ELECTOR (frigidly). I hear that you are wounded, dangerously? Count Truchsz!

THE PRINCE (gaily). Forgive!

COUNT TRUCHSZ. By heaven, I'm amazed!

THE PRINCE. My sorrel fell before the fight began. This hand a field-leech bandaged up for me Scarce merits that you call it wounded.

ELECTOR. So? In spite of it you led the cavalry?

THE PRINCE (regarding him). I? Indeed, I! Must you learn that from me? Here at your feet I laid the proof of that.

ELECTOR. Relieve him of his sword. He is a prisoner.

DÖRFLING (taken aback). Whom? ELECTOR (stepping among the flags). Ah, God greet you, Kottwitz!

TRUCHSZ (aside). Curses on it!

KOTTWITZ. By God, I'm utterly—

ELECTOR (looking at him). What did you say? Look, what a crop mown for our glory here!— That flag is of the Swedish Guards, is't not?

[He takes up a flag, unwinds it and studies it.]

KOTTWITZ. My liege?

DÖRFLING. My lord and master?

ELECTOR. Ah, indeed! And from the time of Gustaf Adolf too. How runs the inscription?

KOTTWITZ. I believe—

DÖRFLING. "Per aspera ad astra!"

ELECTOR. That was not verified at Fehrbellin.

[Pause.]

KOTTWITZ (hesitantly). My liege, grant me a word.

ELECTOR. What is 't you wish? Take all the things-flags, kettle-drums and standards, And hang them in the church. I plan tomorrow To use them when we celebrate our triumph!

[The ELECTOR turns to the couriers, takes their dispatches, opens and reads them.]

KOTTWITZ (aside). That, by the living God, that is too much!

[After some hesitation, the Colonel takes up his two flags; the other officers and troopers follow suit. Finally, as the three flags of the PRINCE remain untouched, he takes up these also, so that he is now bearing five.]

AN OFFICER (stepping up to the PRINCE). Prince, I must beg your sword.

HOHENZOLLERN (carrying his flag). Quiet now, friend.

THE PRINCE. Speak! Am I dreaming? Waking? Living? Sane?

GOLZ. Prince, give your sword, I counsel, and say nothing.

THE PRINCE. A prisoner? I?

HOHENZOLLERN. Indeed!

GOLZ. You heard him say it.

THE PRINCE. And may one know the reason why?

HOHENZOLLERN (emphatically). Not now! We told you, at the time, you pressed too soon Into the battle, when the order was You should not quit your place till you were called.

THE PRINCE. Help, help, friends, help! I'm going mad!

GOLZ (interrupting). Calm! calm!

THE PRINCE. Were the Mark's armies beaten then?

HOHENZOLLERN (with a stamp of his foot). No matter! The ordinance demands obedience.

THE PRINCE (bitterly). So—so, so, so!

HOHENZOLLERN (turning away from him). It will not cost your head.

GOLZ (similarly). Tomorrow morning, maybe, you'll be free.

[The ELECTOR folds his letters and returns to the circle of officers.]

THE PRINCE (after he has unbuckled his sword). My cousin Frederick hopes to play the Brutus And sees himself, on linen drawn with chalk, Already seated in the curule chair. The foreground filled with Swedish battle-flags, And on his desk the ordinance of the Mark. By God, in me he shall not find a son Who shall revere him 'neath the hangman's axe! A German heart of honest cut and grain, I look for kindness and nobility; And when he stands before me, frigidly, This moment, like some ancient man of stone, I'm sorry for him and I pity him.

[He gives his sword to the officer and goes out.]

ELECTOR. Bring him to camp at Fehrbellin, and there Assemble the court-martial for his trial.

[He enters the church. The flags follow him, and, while he and his retinue kneel in prayer at FROBEN's coffin, are fastened to the pilasters. Funeral music.]