Volume 5 / Part 1 / Act 3 — Scene IV.—A Garden.

Wer. I could not sleep—and now the hour's at hand! All's ready. Idenstein has kept his word; And stationed in the outskirts of the town, Upon the forest's edge, the vehicle Awaits us. Now the dwindling stars begin To pale in heaven; and for the last time I Look on these horrible walls. Oh! never, never Shall I forget them. Here I came most poor, But not dishonoured: and I leave them with A stain,—if not upon my name, yet in10 My heart!—a never-dying canker-worm, Which all the coming splendour of the lands, And rights, and sovereignty of Siegendorf Can scarcely lull a moment. I must find Some means of restitution, which would ease My soul in part: but how, without discovery?— It must be done, however; and I'll pause Upon the method the first hour of safety. The madness of my misery led to this Base infamy; repentance must retrieve it:20 I will have nought of Stralenheim's upon My spirit, though he would grasp all of mine; Lands, freedom, life,—and yet he sleeps as soundly Perhaps, as infancy[193], with gorgeous curtains Spread for his canopy, o'er silken pillows, Such as when——Hark! what noise is that? Again! The branches shake; and some loose stones have fallen From yonder terrace. [Ulric leaps down from the terrace. Ulric! ever welcome! Thrice welcome now! this filial—— Ulr.‍Stop! before We approach, tell me—— Wer.‍Why look you so? Ulr.‍Do I30 Behold my father, or—— Wer.‍What? Ulr.‍An assassin? Wer. Insane or insolent! Ulr.‍Reply, sir, as You prize your life, or mine! Wer.‍To what must I Answer? Ulr. Are you or are you not the assassin Of Stralenheim? Wer.‍I never was as yet The murderer of any man. What mean you? Ulr. Did not you this night (as the night before) Retrace the secret passage? Did you not Again revisit Stralenheim's chamber? and—— [Ulric pauses. Wer. Proceed. Ulr.‍Died he not by your hand? Wer.‍Great God!40 Ulr. You are innocent, then! my father's innocent! Embrace me! Yes,—your tone—your look—yes, yes,— Yet say so. Wer.‍If I e'er, in heart or mind, Conceived deliberately such a thought, But rather strove to trample back to hell Such thoughts—if e'er they glared a moment through The irritation of my oppressed spirit— May Heaven be shut for ever from my hopes, As from mine eyes! Ulr.‍But Stralenheim is dead. Wer. 'Tis horrible! 'tis hideous, as 'tis hateful!—50 But what have I to do with this? Ulr.‍No bolt Is forced; no violence can be detected, Save on his body. Part of his own household Have been alarmed; but as the Intendant is Absent, I took upon myself the care Of mustering the police. His chamber has, Past doubt, been entered secretly. Excuse me, If nature—— Wer.‍Oh, my boy! what unknown woes Of dark fatality, like clouds, are gathering Above our house! Ulr.‍My father! I acquit you!60 But will the world do so? will even the judge, If—but you must away this instant. Wer.‍No! I'll face it. Who shall dare suspect me? Ulr.‍Yet You had no guests—no visitors—no life Breathing around you, save my mother's? Wer.‍Ah! The Hungarian? Ulr.‍He is gone! he disappeared Ere sunset. Wer.‍No; I hid him in that very Concealed and fatal gallery. Ulr.‍There I'll find him. [Ulric is going. Wer. It is too late: he had left the palace ere I quitted it. I found the secret panel70 Open, and the doors which lead from that hall Which masks it: I but thought he had snatched the silent And favourable moment to escape The myrmidons of Idenstein, who were Dogging him yester-even. Ulr.‍You reclosed The panel? Wer.‍Yes; and not without reproach (And inner trembling for the avoided peril) At his dull heedlessness, in leaving thus His shelterer's asylum to the risk Of a discovery. Ulr.‍You are sure you closed it?80 Wer. Certain. Ulr.‍That's well; but had been better, if You ne'er had turned it to a den for——[He pauses. Wer.‍Thieves! Thou wouldst say: I must bear it, and deserve it; But not—— Ulr.‍No, father; do not speak of this: This is no hour to think of petty crimes, But to prevent the consequence of great ones. Why would you shelter this man? Wer.‍Could I shun it? A man pursued by my chief foe; disgraced For my own crime: a victim to my safety, Imploring a few hours' concealment from90 The very wretch who was the cause he needed Such refuge. Had he been a wolf, I could not Have in such circumstances thrust him forth. Ulr. And like the wolf he hath repaid you. But It is too late to ponder thus:—you must Set out ere dawn. I will remain here to Trace the murderer, if 'tis possible. Wer. But this my sudden flight will give the Moloch Suspicion: two new victims in the lieu Of one, if I remain. The fled Hungarian,100 Who seems the culprit, and—— Ulr.‍Who seems? Who else Can be so? Wer.‍Not I, though just now you doubted— You, my son!—doubted—— Ulr.‍And do you doubt of him The fugitive? Wer.‍Boy! since I fell into The abyss of crime (though not of such crime), I, Having seen the innocent oppressed for me, May doubt even of the guilty's guilt. Your heart Is free, and quick with virtuous wrath to accuse Appearances; and views a criminal In Innocence's shadow, it may be,110 Because 'tis dusky. Ulr.‍And if I do so, What will mankind, who know you not, or knew But to oppress? You must not stand the hazard. Away!—I'll make all easy. Idenstein Will for his own sake and his jewel's hold His peace—he also is a partner in Your flight—moreover—— Wer.‍Fly! and leave my name Linked with the Hungarian's, or, preferred as poorest, To bear the brand of bloodshed? Ulr.‍Pshaw! leave any thing Except our fathers' sovereignty and castles,120 For which you have so long panted, and in vain! What name? You have no name, since that you bear Is feigned. Wer.‍Most true: but still I would not have it Engraved in crimson in men's memories, Though in this most obscure abode of men—— Besides, the search—— Ulr.‍I will provide against Aught that can touch you. No one knows you here As heir of Siegendorf: if Idenstein Suspects, 'tis but suspicion, and he is A fool: his folly shall have such employment,130 Too, that the unknown Werner shall give way To nearer thoughts of self. The laws (if e'er Laws reached this village) are all in abeyance With the late general war of thirty years, Or crushed, or rising slowly from the dust, To which the march of armies trampled them. Stralenheim, although noble, is unheeded Here, save as such—without lands, influence, Save what hath perished with him. Few prolong A week beyond their funeral rites their sway140 O'er men, unless by relatives, whose interest Is roused: such is not here the case; he died Alone, unknown,—a solitary grave, Obscure as his deserts, without a scutcheon, Is all he'll have, or wants. If I discover The assassin, 'twill be well—if not, believe me, None else; though all the full-fed train of menials May howl above his ashes (as they did Around him in his danger on the Oder), Will no more stir a finger now than then.150 Hence! hence! I must not hear your answer.—Look! The stars are almost faded, and the grey Begins to grizzle the black hair of night. You shall not answer:—Pardon me that I Am peremptory: 'tis your son that speaks, Your long-lost, late-found son.—Let's call my mother! Softly and swiftly step, and leave the rest To me: I'll answer for the event as far As regards you, and that is the chief point, As my first duty, which shall be observed.160 We'll meet in Castle Siegendorf—once more Our banners shall be glorious! Think of that Alone, and leave all other thoughts to me, Whose youth may better battle with them—Hence! And may your age be happy!—I will kiss My mother once more, then Heaven's speed be with you! Wer. This counsel's safe—but is it honourable? Ulr. To save a father is a child's chief honour. [Exeunt.