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And, like an anxious warder, strain his sight
For the first glimpse of such a son return'd-
Ludolph!-that blast of the Hungarians,
That Saracenic meteor of the fight,
That silent fury, whose fell scymitar
Kept danger all aloof from Otho's head,
And left him space for wonder.

Ludolph.

Say no more. Not as a swordsman would I pardon claim,

But as a son.

The bronzed centurion,

Long toil'd in foreign wars, and whose high deeds
Are shaded in a forest of tall spears,

Known only to his troop, hath greater plea
Of favour with my sire than I can have.

Sigifred. My lord, forgive me that I cannot see
How this proud temper with clear reason squares.
What made you then, with such an anxious love,
Hover around that life, whose bitter days
You vext with bad revolt? Was't opium,

Or the mad-fumed wine? Nay, do not frown,

I rather would grieve with you than upbraid.

Ludolph. I do believe you. No, 'twas not to make

A father his son's debtor, or to heal
His deep heart-sickness for a rebel child.
'Twas done in memory of my boyish days,
Poor cancel for his kindness to my youth,
For all his calming of my childish griefs,
And all his smiles upon my merriment.

No, not a thousand foughten fields could sponge
Those days paternal from my memory,
Though now upon my head he heaps disgrace.
Sigifred. My Prince, you think too harshly-
Ludolph.

Hath he not gall'd my spirit to the quick ?
And with a sullen rigour obstinate

Pour'd out a phial of wrath upon my faults,
Hunted me as the Tartar does the boar,
Driven me to the very edge o' the world,
And almost put a price upon my head?

Can I so?

Sigifred. Remember how he spared the rebel lords.
Ludolph. Yes, yes, I know he hath a noble nature

That cannot trample on the fallen. But his

Is not the only proud heart in his realm.

He hath wrong'd me, and I have done him wrong;
He hath loved me, and I have shown him kindness;
We should be almost equal.

Sigifred.

Yet, for all this,

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I would you had appear'd among those lords,
And ta'en his favour.

Ha! Till now I thought

Ludolph.
My friend had held poor Ludolph's honour dear.
What! Would you have me sue before his throne
And kiss the courtier's missal, its silk steps?

Or hug the golden housings of his steed,
Amid a camp whose steeled swarms I dared
But yesterday? and, at the trumpet sound,
Bow, like some unknown mercenary's flag,
And lick the soiled grass? No, no, my friend,
I would not, I, be pardon'd in the heap,
And bless indemnity with all that scum,-

Those men I mean, who on my shoulders propp'd
Their weak rebellion, winning me with lies,
And pitying forsooth my many wrongs;
Poor self-deceived wretches, who must think
Each one himself a king in embryo,
Because some dozen vassals cry'd, My lord!
Cowards, who never knew their little hearts

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Till flurried danger held the mirror up,

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And then they own'd themselves without a blush,

Curling, like spaniels, round my father's feet.

Such things deserted me and are forgiven,

While I, least guilty, am an outcast still,

And will be, for I love such fair disgrace.

Sigifred. I know the clear truth; so would Otho see, For he is just and noble.

Be pleader for you—

Ludolph.

Fain would I

He'll hear none of it;

You know his temper, hot, proud, obstinate;
Endanger not yourself so uselessly.

I will encounter his thwart spleen myself,

To-day, at the Duke Conrad's, where he keeps
His crowded state after the victory.

There will I be, a most unwelcome guest,
And parley with him, as a son should do
Who doubly loathes a father's tyranny;
Tell him how feeble is that tyranny;
How the relationship of father and son
Is no more valid than a silken leash
Where lions tug adverse, if love grow not
From interchanged love through many years.
Ay, and those turreted Franconian walls,
Like to a jealous casket, hold my pearl-
My fair Auranthe! Yes, I will be there.

Sigifred. Be not so rash; wait till his wrath shall pass,

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Until his royal spirit softly ebbs,

Self-influenced; then, in his morning dreams
He will forgive thee, and awake in grief
To have not thy good-morrow.

Ludolph.

I must be there, while her young pulses beat
Among the new-plumed minions of the war.
Have you seen her of late? No? Auranthe,
Franconia's fair sister, 'tis I mean.

She should be paler for my troublous days—

And there it is-my father's iron lips

Yes, to-day

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Have sworn divorcement 'twixt me and my right.

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Sigifred (aside). Auranthe! I had hoped this whim had pass'd. Ludolph. And, Sigifred, with all his love of justice,

When will he take that grandchild in his arms,

That, by my love I swear, shall soon be his?

This reconcilement is impossible,

For see-but who are these?

Sigifred.

They are messengers

From our great emperor; to you, I doubt not,
For couriers are abroad to seek

you out.

Enter THEODORE and GONFRED.

Theodore. Seeing so many vigilant eyes explore
The province to invite your highness back
To your high dignities, we are too happy.
Gonfred. We have no eloquence to colour justly
The emperor's anxious wishes.

Ludolph.

Go. I follow you.

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[Exeunt THEODORE and GONFRED.

I play the prude: it is but venturing—
Why should he be so earnest? Come, my friend,
Let us to Friedburg castle.

130

ACT II

SCENE I.- An Ante-chamber in the Castle.

Enter LUDOLPH and SIGIFRED.
Ludolph.

O more advices, no more cautioning;
I leave it all to fate-to any thing!
I cannot square my conduct to time, place,
Or circumstance; to me 'tis all a mist!

It seems I am to wait

Sigifred. I say no more.
Ludolph.
Here in the ante-room ;—that may be a trifle.
You see now how I dance attendance here,
Without that tyrant temper, you so blame,
Snapping the rein. You have medicin'd me
With good advices; and I here remain,
In this most honourable anteroom,
Your patient scholar.

Sigifred.

Do not wrong me, Prince.

By heavens, I'd rather kiss Duke Conrad's slipper,
When in the morning he doth yawn with pride,
Than see you humbled but a half-degree !
Truth is, the Emperor would fain dismiss

The nobles ere he sees you.

Ludolph.

Enter GONFRED, from the Council-room.

Well, sir! what?

Gonfred. Great honour to the Prince! The Emperor, Hearing that his brave son had re-appeared,

Instant dismiss'd the Council from his sight,

ΙΟ

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As Jove fans off the clouds. Even now they pass.

[Exit.

[Enter the Nobles from the Council-room. They cross the stage, bowing with respect to LUDOLPH, he frowning on them. CONRAD follows. Exeunt Nobles.

Ludolph. Not the discoloured poisons of a fen,

Which he who breathes feels warning of his death,
Could taste so nauseous to the bodily sense,

As these prodigious sycophants disgust

The soul's fine palate.

Conrad.

Princely Ludolph, hail!

Welcome, thou younger sceptre to the realm!
Strength to thy virgin crownet's golden buds,
That they, against the winter of thy sire,

May burst, and swell, and flourish round thy brows,

Maturing to a weighty diadem!

Yet be that hour far off; and may he live,

Who waits for thee, as the chapp'd earth for rain.

Set my life's star! I have lived long enough,

Since under my glad roof, propitiously,

Father and son each other repossess.

Ludolph. Fine wording, Duke! but words could never yet, Forestall the fates; have you not learnt that yet?

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Let me look well: your features are the same;
Your gait the same; your hair of the same shade;
As one I knew some passed weeks ago,
Who sung far different notes into mine ears.

I have mine own particular comments on 't;
You have your own, perhaps.

Conrad.

My gracious Prince,
All men may err. In truth I was deceived
In your great father's nature, as you were.
Had I known that of him I have since known,
And what you soon will learn, I would have turn'd
My sword to my own throat, rather than held
Its threatening edge against a good King's quiet :
Or with one word fever'd you, gentle Prince,
Who seem'd to me, as rugged times then went,
Indeed too much oppress'd. May I be bold
To tell the Emperor you will haste to him?

Ludolph. Your Dukedom's privilege will grant so much.

He's very close to Otho, a tight leech!

Your hand-I go. Ha! here the thunder comes
Sullen against the wind! If in two angry brows
My safety lies, then Sigifred, I'm safe.

Enter ОTHO and CONRAD.

know

Otho. Will you make Titan play the lackey-page
To chattering pigmies? I would have you
That such neglect of our high Majesty
Annuls all feel of kindred. What is son,—
Or friend,—or brother—or all ties of blood,—
When the whole kingdom, centred in ourself,
Is rudely slighted? Who am I to wait?
By Peter's chair! I have upon my tongue
A word to fright the proudest spirit here!—
Death!-and slow tortures to the hardy fool
Who dares take such large charter from our smiles!
Conrad, we would be private. Sigifred,

Off! And none pass this way on pain of death!

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[Exit CONRAD.

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[Exeunt CONRAD and SIGIFRED.

Ludolph. This was but half expected, my good sire,

Yet I am grieved at it, to the full height,

As though my hopes of favour had been whole.

Otho. How you indulge yourself! What can you hope for?
Ludolph. Nothing, my liege; I have to hope for nothing.
I come to greet you as a loving son,

And then depart, if I may be so free,

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