Volume 4 / Act 2 — SCENE II
Reading edition
The PRINCE OF HOMBURG with a black bandage on his left hand. The others as before.
KOTTWITZ. My young and very noble prince, God greet you! Look, how I formed the squadrons down that road While you were tarrying in the nest below. I do believe you'll say I've done it well.
THE PRINCE. Good morning, Kottwitz! And good morning, friends! You know that I praise everything you do.
HOHENZOLL. What were you up to in the village, Arthur? You seem so grave.
THE PRINCE. I—I was in the chapel That beckoned through the placid village trees; The bells were ringing, calling men to prayers, As we passed by, and something urged me on To kneel before the altar, too, and pray.
KOTTWITZ. A pious gentleman for one so young! A deed, believe me, that begins with prayer Must end in glory, victory, and fame.
THE PRINCE. Oh, by the way, I wanted to inquire—
[He draws the COUNT forward a step.]
Harry, what was it Dorfling said last night In his directions, that applied to me?
HOHENZOLL. You were distraught. I saw that well enough.
THE PRINCE. Distraught—divided! I scarce know what ailed me. Dictation always sets my wits awry.
HOHENZOLL. Not much for you this time, as luck would have it. Hennings and Truchsz, who lead the infantry, Are designated to attack the foe, And you are ordered here to halt and stay, Ready for instant action with the horse, Until an order summon you to charge.
THE PRINCE (after a pause, dreamily). A curious thing!
HOHENZOLLERN. To what do you refer?
[He looks at him. A cannon-shot is heard.]
KOTTWITZ. Ho, gentlemen! Ho, sirs! To horse, to horse! That shot is Hennings', and the fight is on!
[They all ascend a slight elevation.]
THE PRINCE. Who is it? What?
HOHENZOLLERN. It's Colonel Hennings, Arthur, He's stolen his way about to Wrangel's rear. Come, you can watch the entire field from here.
GOLZ (on the hillock). At the Rhyn there, how terribly he uncoils!
THE PRINCE (shading his eyes with his hand). Is Hennings over there on our right wing?
1ST OFFICER. Indeed, Your Highness.
THE PRINCE. What the devil then Why, yesterday he held our army's right.
[Cannonade in the distance.]
KOTTWITZ. Thunder and lightning! Wrangel's cutting loose At Hennings' now, from twelve loud throats of fire.
1ST OFFICER. I call those some redoubts the Swedes have there!
2D OFFICER. By heaven, look, they top the very spire Rising above the hamlet at their back!
[Shots near-by.]
GOLZ. That's Truchsz!
THE PRINCE. Truchsz?
KOTTWITZ. To be sure! Of course, it's Truchsz, Approaching from the front to his support.
THE PRINCE. What's Truchsz there in the centre for, today?
[Loud cannonading.]
GOLZ. Good heavens, look. The village is afire!
3D OFFICER. Afire, as I live!
1ST OFFICER. Afire! Afire! The flames are darting up the steeple now!
GOLZ. Hey! How the Swedish aides fly right and left!
2D OFFICER. They're in retreat!
KOTTWITZ. Where?
1ST OFFICER. There, at their right flank!
3D OFFICER. In masses! Sure enough! Three regiments! The intention seems to be to brace the left.
2D OFFICER. My faith! And now the horse are ordered out To screen the right living's march!
HOHENZOLLERN (with a laugh). Hi! How they'll scamper When they get ware of us here in the vale!
[Musketry fire.]
KOTTWITZ. Look, brothers, look!
2D OFFICER. Hark!
1ST OFFICER. Fire of musketry!
3D OFFICER. They're at each other now in the redoubts!
GOLZ. My God, in my born days I never heard Such thunder of artillery!
HOHENZOLLERN. Shoot! Shoot! Burst open wide the bowels of the earth! The cleft shall be your corpses' sepulchre!
[Pause. Shouts of victory in the distance.]
1ST OFFICER. Lord in the heavens, who grants men victories! Wrangel is in retreat already!
HOHENZOLLERN. No!
GOLZ. By heaven, friends! Look! There on his left flank! He's drawing back his guns from the redoubts!
ALL. Oh, triumph! Triumph! Victory is ours!
THE PRINCE (descending from the hillock). On, Kottwitz, follow me!
KOTTWITZ. Come, cool now—cool!
THE PRINCE. On! Let the trumpets sound the charge! And on!
KOTTWITZ. Cool, now, I say.
THE PRINCE (wildly). By heaven and earth and hell!
KOTTWITZ. Our liege's Highness in the ordinance Commanded we should wait his orders here. Golz, read the gentlemen the ordinance.
THE PRINCE. Orders? Eh, Kottwitz, do you ride so slow? Have you not heard the orders of your heart?
KOTTWITZ. Orders?
HOHENZOLLERN. Absurd!
KOTTWITZ. The orders of my heart?
HOHENZOLL. Listen to reason, Arthur!
GOLZ. Here, my chief!
KOTTWITZ (offended). Oh, ho! you give me that, young gentleman?—The nag you dance about on, at a pinch I'll tow him home yet at my horse's tail! March, march, my gentlemen! Trumpets, the charge! On to the battle, on! Kottwitz is game!
GOLZ (to KOTTWITZ). Never, my colonel, never! No, I swear!
2D OFFICER. Remember, Hennings' not yet at the Rhyn!
1ST OFFICER. Relieve him of his sword!
THE PRINCE. My sword, you say?
[He pushes him back.]
Hi, you impertinent boy, who do not even Know yet the Ten Commandments of the Mark! Here is your sabre, and the scabbard with it!
[He tears off the officer's sword together with the belt.]
1ST OFFICER (reeling). By God, Prince, that's—
THE PRINCE (threateningly). If you don't hold your tongue—
HOHENZOLLERN (to the officer). Silence! You must be mad!
THE PRINCE (giving up the sword). Ho, corporal's guard! Off to headquarters with the prisoner!
[To KOTTWITZ and the other officers.]
Now, gentlemen, the countersign: A knave Who follows not his general to the fight!— Now, who dares lag?
KOTTWITZ. You heard. Why thunder more?
HOHENZOLLERN (mollifying). It was advice, no more, they sought to give.
KOTTWITZ. On your head be it. I go with you.
THE PRINCE (somewhat calmed). Come! Be it upon my head then. Follow, brothers!
[Exeunt.]