The German Classics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Vol. IV by Editor in Chief: Kuno Francke
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Editor in Chief: Kuno Francke >> The German Classics of The Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Vol. IV
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GOLZ. He will be ill-content. He had, it seemed,
A matter of some import to confide.
OFFICER. His Highness comes, our commandant, the Prince!
SCENE II
_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_.]
SCENE III
_A room in a village. A gentleman-in-waiting, booted and spurred,
enters. A peasant and his wife are sitting at a table, at work._
GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING.
God greet you, honest folk! Can you make room
To shelter guests beneath your roof?
PEASANT. Indeed!
Gladly, indeed!
THE WIFE. And may one question, whom?
GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING.
The highest lady in the land, no less.
Her coach broke down outside the village gates,
And since we hear the victory is won
There'll be no need for farther journeying.
BOTH (_rising_).
The victory won? Heaven!
GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING. What! You haven't heard?
The Swedish army's beaten hip and thigh;
If not forever, for the year at least
The Mark need fear no more their fire and sword!--
Here comes the mother of our people now.
SCENE IV
_The_ ELECTRESS, _pale and distressed, enters with the_ PRINCESS
NATALIE, _followed by various ladies-in-waiting. The others as
before._
ELECTRESS (_on the threshold_).
Bork! Winterfeld! Come! Let me have your arm.
NATALIE (_going to her_).
Oh, mother mine!
LADIES-IN-WAITING. Heavens, how pale! She is faint.
[_They support her._]
ELECTRESS. Here, lead me to a chair, I must sit down.
Dead, said he--dead?
NATALIE. Mother, my precious mother!
ELECTRESS. I'll see this bearer of dread news myself.
SCENE V
CAPTAIN VON MOeRNER _enters, wounded, supported by two troopers. The
others._
ELECTRESS. Oh, herald of dismay, what do you bring?
MOeRNER. Oh, precious Madam, what these eyes of mine
To their eternal grief themselves have seen!
ELECTRESS. So be it! Tell!
MOeRNER. The Elector is no more.
NATALIE. Oh, heaven
Shall such a hideous blow descend on us?
[_She hides her face in her hands._]
ELECTRESS. Give me report of how he came to fall--
And, as the bolt that strikes the wanderer,
In one last flash lights scarlet-bright the world,
So be your tale. When you are done, may night
Close down upon my head.
MOeRNER (_approaching her, led by the two troopers_).
The Prince of Homburg,
Soon as the enemy, hard pressed by Truchsz,
Reeling broke cover, had brought up his troops
To the attack of Wrangel on the plain;
Two lines he'd pierced and, as they broke, destroyed,
When a strong earthwork hemmed his way; and thence
So murderous a fire on him beat
That, like a field of grain, his cavalry,
Mowed to the earth, went down; twixt bush and hill
He needs must halt to mass his scattered corps.
NATALIE (_to the_ ELECTRESS).
Dearest, be strong!
ELECTRESS. Stop, dear. Leave me alone.
MOeRNER. That moment, watching, clear above the dust,
We see our liege beneath the battle-flags
Of Truchsz's regiments ride on the foe.
On his white horse, oh, gloriously he rode,
Sunlit, and lighting the triumphant plain.
Heart-sick with trepidation at the sight
Of him, our liege, bold in the battle's midst,
We gather on a hillock's beetling brow;
When of a sudden the Elector falls,
Horseman and horse, in dust before our eyes.
Two standard-bearers fell across his breast
And overspread his body with their flags.
NATALIE. Oh, mother mine!
FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING. Oh, heaven!
ELECTRESS. Go on, go on!
MOeRNER. At this disastrous spectacle, a pang
Unfathomable seized the Prince's heart;
Like a wild beast, spurred on of hate and vengeance,
Forward he lunged with us at the redoubt.
Flying, we cleared the trench and, at a bound,
The shelt'ring breastwork, bore the garrison down,
Scattered them out across the field, destroyed;
Capturing the Swede's whole panoply of war--
Cannon and standards, kettle-drums and flags.
And had the group of bridges at the Rhyn
Hemmed not our murderous course, not one had lived
Who might have boasted at his father's hearth
At Fehrbellin I saw the hero fall!
ELECTRESS. Triumph too dearly bought! I like it not.
Give me again the purchase-price it cost.
[_She falls in a faint._]
FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING.
Help, God in heaven! Her senses flee from
her.
[NATALIE _is weeping._]
SCENE VI
_The_ PRINCE OF HOMBURG _enters. The others._
THE PRINCE. Oh, Natalie, my dearest!
[_Greatly moved, he presses her hand to his heart._]
NATALIE. Then it is true?
THE PRINCE. Could I but answer No!
Could I but pour my loyal heart's blood out
To call his loyal heart back into life!
NATALIE (_drying her tears_).
Where is his body? Have they found it yet?
THE PRINCE. Until this hour, alas, my labor was
Vengeance on Wrangle only; how could I
Then dedicate myself to such a task?
A horde of men, however, I sent forth
To seek him on the battle-plains of death.
Ere night I do not doubt that he will come.
NATALIE. Who now will lead us in this terrible war
And keep these Swedes in subjugation? Who
Shield us against this world of enemies
His fortune won for us, his high renown?
THE PRINCE (_taking her hand_).
I, lady, take upon myself your cause!
Before the desolate footsteps of your throne
I shall stand guard, an angel with a sword!
The Elector hoped, before the year turned tide,
To see the Marches free. So be it! I
Executor will be of that last will.
NATALIE. My cousin, dearest cousin!
[_She withdraws her hand._]
THE PRINCE. Natalie!
[_A moment's pause._]
What holds the future now in store for you?
NATALIE. After this thunderbolt which cleaves the ground
Beneath my very feet, what can I do?
My father and my precious mother rest
Entombed at Amsterdam; in dust and ashes
Dordrecht, my heritage ancestral lies.
Pressed hard by the tyrannic hosts of Spain
Maurice, my kin of Orange, scarcely knows
How he shall shelter his own flesh and blood.
And now the last support that held my fate's
Frail vine upright falls from me to the earth.
Oh, I am orphaned now a second time!
THE PRINCE (_throwing his arm about her waist_).
Oh, friend, sweet friend, were this dark hour not given
To grief, to be its own, thus would I speak
Oh, twine your branches here about this breast,
Which, blossoming long years in solitude,
Yearns for the wondrous fragrance of your bells.
NATALIE. My dear, good cousin!
THE PRINCE. Will you, will you?
NATALIE. Ah,
If I might grow into its very marrow!
[_She lays her head upon his breast._]
THE PRINCE. What did you say
NATALIE. Go now!
THE PRINCE (_holding her_). Into its kernel!
Into the heart's deep kernel, Natalie!
[_He kisses her. She tears herself away.]
Dear God, were he for whom we grieve but here
To look upon this union! Could we lift
To him our plea: Father, thy benison!
[_He hides his face in his hands;_ NATALIE _turns again to the_
ELECTRESS.]
SCENE VII
_A sergeant enters in haste. The others as before._
SERGEANT. By the Almighty God, my Prince, I scarce
Dare bring to you the rumor that's abroad!--
The Elector lives!
THE PRINCE. He lives!
SERGEANT. By heaven above!
Count Sparren brought the joyful news but now!
NATALIE. Lord of my days! Oh, mother, did you hear?
[_She falls down at the feet of the ELECTRESS and embraces her._]
THE PRINCE. But say! Who brings the news
SERGEANT. Count George of Sparren,
Who saw him, hale and sound, with his own eyes
At Hackelwitz amid the Truchszian corps.
THE PRINCE. Quick! Run, old man! And bring him in to me!
[_The_ SERGEANT _goes out._]
SCENE VIII
COUNT SPARREN _and the Sergeant enter. The others as before._
ELECTRESS. Oh, do not cast me twice down the abyss!
NATALIE. No, precious mother mine!
ELECTRESS. And Frederick lives?
NATALIE (_holding her up with both hands_).
The peaks of life receive you once again!
SERGEANT (_entering_).
Here is the officer!
THE PRINCE. Ah, Count von Sparren!
You saw His Highness fresh and well disposed
At Hackelwitz amid the Truchszian corps?
SPARREN. Indeed, Your Highness, in the vicarage court
Where, compassed by his staff, he gave commands
For burial of both the armies' dead.
LADIES-IN-WAITING.
Dear heaven! On thy breast--
[_They embrace._]
ELECTRESS. My daughter dear!
NATALIE. Oh, but this rapture is well-nigh too great!
[_She buries her face in her aunt's lap._]
THE PRINCE. Did I not see him, when I stood afar
Heading my cavalry, dashed down to earth,
His horse and he shivered by cannon-shot?
SPARREN. Indeed, the horse pitched with his rider down,
But he who rode him, Prince, was not our liege.
THE PRINCE. What? Not our liege?
NATALIE. Oh, wonderful!
[_She rises and remains standing beside the_ ELECTRESS.]
THE PRINCE. Speak then!
Weighty as gold each word sinks to my heart.
SPARREN. Then let me give you tidings of a deed
So moving, ear has never heard its like.
Our country's liege, who, to remonstrance deaf,
Rode his white horse again, the gleaming white
That Froben erstwhile bought for him in England,
Became once more, as ever was the case,
The target for the foe's artillery.
Scarce could the members of his retinue
Within a ring of hundred yards approach
About there and about, a stream of death,
Hurtled grenades and cannon-shot and shell.
They that had lives to save fled to its banks.
He, the strong swimmer, he alone shrank not,
But beckoning his friends, unswervingly
Made toward the high lands whence the river came.
THE PRINCE. By heaven, i' faith! A gruesome sight it was!
SPARREN. Froben, the Master of the Horse who rode
Closest to him of all, called out to me
"Curses this hour on this white stallion's hide,
I bought in London for a stiff round sum!
I'd part with fifty ducats, I'll be bound,
Could I but veil him with a mouse's gray."
With hot misgiving he draws near and cries,
"Highness, your horse is skittish; grant me leave
To give him just an hour of schooling more."
And leaping from his sorrel at the word
He grasps the bridle of our liege's beast.
Our liege dismounts, still smiling, and replies
"As long as day is in the sky, I doubt
If he will learn the art you wish to teach.
But give your lesson out beyond those hills
Where the foe's gunners will not heed his fault."
Thereon he mounts the sorrel, Froben's own,
Returning thence to where his duty calls.
But scarce is Froben mounted on the white
When from a breastwork, oh! a murder-shell
Tears him to earth, tears horse and rider low.
A sacrifice to faithfulness, he falls;
And from him not a sound more did we hear.
[_Brief pause._]
THE PRINCE. He is well paid for! Though I had ten lives
I could not lose them in a better cause!
NATALIE. Valiant old Froben!
ELECTRESS (_in tears_). Admirable man!
NATALIE (_also weeping_).
A meaner soul might well deserve our tears!
THE PRINCE. Enough! To business! Where's the Elector then
Is Hackelwitz headquarters?
SPARREN. Pardon, sir!
The Elector has proceeded to Berlin
And begs his generals thence to follow him.
THE PRINCE. What? To Berlin? You mean the war is done?
SPARREN. Indeed, I marvel that all this is news.
Count Horn, the Swedish general, has arrived;
And, following his coming, out of hand
The armistice was heralded through camp.
A conference, if I discern aright
The Marshal's meaning, is attached thereto
Perchance that peace itself may follow soon.
ELECTRESS (_rising_).
Dear God, how wondrously the heavens clear!
THE PRINCE. Come, let us follow straightway to Berlin.
'Twould speed my journey much if you could spare
A little space for me within your coach?--
I've just a dozen words to write to Kottwitz,
And on the instant I'll be at your side.
[_He sits down and writes._]
ELECTRESS. Indeed, with all my heart!
THE PRINCE (_folds the note and gives it to the Sergeant;
then, as he turns again to the ELECTRESS,
softly lays his arm about NATALIE's waist_).
I have a wish,
A something timorously to confide
I thought I might give vent to on the road.
NATALIE (_tearing herself away_).
Bork! Quick! My scarf, I beg--
ELECTRESS. A wish to me?
FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING.
Princess, the scarf is round your neck.
THE PRINCE (_to the_ ELECTRESS). Indeed!
Can you not guess?
ELECTRESS. No--
THE PRINCE. Not a syllable?
ELECTRESS (_abruptly_).
What matter? Not a suppliant on earth
Could I deny today, whate'er he ask,
And you, our battle-hero, least of all!
Come!
THE PRINCE. Mother! Oh, what did you speak? Those words--
May I interpret them to suit me best?
ELECTRESS. Be off, I say! More, later, as we ride!
Come, let me have your arm.
THE PRINCE. Oh, Caesar Divus!
Lo, I have set a ladder to thy star!
[_He leads the ladies out. Exeunt omnes._]
SCENE IX
_Scene: Berlin. Pleasure garden outside the old palace. In the
background the palace chapel with a staircase leading up to it.
Tolling of bells. The church is brightly illuminated. The body of_
FROBEN _is carried by and set on a splendid catafalque. The_ ELECTOR,
FIELD-MARSHAL DOeRFLING, COLONEL HENNINGS, COUNT TRUCHSZ _and several
other colonels and minor officers enter. From the opposite side enter
various officers with dispatches. In the church as well as in the
square are men, women and children of all ages._
ELECTOR. What man soever led the cavalry
Upon the day of battle, and, before
The force of Colonel Hennings could destroy
The bridges of the foe, of his own will
Broke loose, and forced the enemy to flight
Ere I gave order for it, I assert
That man deserves that he be put to death;
I summon him therefore to be court-martialed.--
Prince Homburg, then, you say, was not the man?
TRUCHSZ. No, my liege lord!
ELECTOR. What proof have you of that?
TRUCHSZ. Men of the cavalry can testify,
Who told me of 't before the fight began:
The Prince fell headlong from his horse, and, hurt
At head and thigh, men found him in a church
Where some one bound his deep and dangerous wounds.
ELECTOR. Enough! Our victory this day is great,
And in the church tomorrow will I bear
My gratitude to God. Yet though it were
Mightier tenfold, still would it not absolve
Him through whom chance has granted it to me.
More battles still than this have I to fight,
And I demand subjection to the law.
Whoever led the cavalry to battle,
I reaffirm has forfeited his head,
And to court-martial herewith order him.--
Come, follow me, my friends, into the church.
SCENE X
_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._
DOeRFLING (_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.
DOeRFLING (_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?
DOeRFLING. My lord and master?
ELECTOR. Ah, indeed!
And from the time of Gustaf Adolf too.
How runs the inscription?
KOTTWITZ. I believe--
DOeRFLING. "_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.
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21 |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
31 |
32 | 33 |
34 |
35 |
36