SCENE V
The same. Hall in the palace. In the distance, the sound of cannon. The ELECTRESS and PRINCESS NATALIE, dressed for travel, enter, escorted by a gentleman-in-waiting, and sit down at the side. Ladies-in-waiting. A little later the ELECTOR enters with FIELD-MARSHAL. DÖRFLING, the PRINCE OF HOMBURG with the glove in his collar, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, COUNT TRUCHSZ, COLONEL HENNINGS, TROOP-CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ and several other generals, colonels and minor officers.
ELECTOR. What is that cannonading?—Is it Götz?
DÖRFLING. It's Colonel Götz, my liege, who yesterday
Pushed forward with the van. An officer
Has come from him already to allay
Your apprehensions ere they come to birth.
A Swedish outpost of a thousand men
Has pressed ahead into the Hackel Hills,
But for those hills Götz stands security
And sends me word that you should lay your plans
As though his van already held them safe.
ELECTOR (to the officers).
The Marshal knows the plan. Now, gentlemen,
I beg you take your pens and write it down.
[The officers assemble on the other side about the FIELD-MARSHAL, and take out their tablets. The ELECTOR turns to a gentleman-in-waiting.]
Ramin is waiting with the coach outside?
GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING.
At once, my sovereign. They are hitching now.
ELECTOR (seating himself on a chair behind the ELECTRESS and the
PRINCESS).
Ramin shall escort my belovèd wife,
Convoyed by thirty sturdy cavalrymen.
To Kalkhuhn's, to the chancellor's manor-house.
At Havelberg beyond the Havel, go.
There's not a Swede dare show his face there now.
ELECTRESS. The ferry is restored?
ELECTOR. At Havelberg?
I have arranged for it. The day will break
In all events before you come to it.
[Pause.]
You are so quiet, Natalie, my girl?
What ails the child?
NATALIE. Uncle, I am afraid.
ELECTOR. And yet my little girl was not more safe
In her own mother's lap than she is now.
[Pause.]
ELECTRESS. When do you think that we shall meet again?
ELECTOR. If God grants me the victory, as I
Doubt not He will, in a few days, perhaps.
[Pages enter and serve the ladies refreshments. FIELD-MARSHAL DÖRFLING dictates. The PRINCE OF HOMBURG, pen and tablet in hand, stares at the ladies.]
MARSHAL. The battle-plan his Highness has devised
Intends, my lords, in order that the Swedes'
Fugitive host be utterly dispersed,
The severing of their army from the bridges
That guard their rear along the river Rhyn.
Thus Colonel Hennings—
HENNINGS. Here!
[He writes.]
MARSHAL. Who by the will
Of his liege lord commands the army's right,
Shall seek by stealthy passage through the bush
To circumscribe the enemy's left wing,
Fearlessly hurl his force between the foe
And the three bridges; then, joined with Count Truchsz—
Count Truchsz!
TRUCHSZ (writing). Here!
MARSHAL. Thereupon, joined with Count Truchsz—
[He pauses.]
Who, meanwhile, facing Wrangel on the heights
Has gained firm footing with his cannonry—
TRUCHSZ (writing). Firm footing with his cannonry—
MARSHAL. You hear it?—
[Proceeding.]
Attempt to drive the Swedes into the swamp
Which lies behind their right.
[A lackey enters.]
LACKEY. Madam, the coach is at the door.
[The ladies rise.]
MARSHAL. The Prince of Homburg—
ELECTOR (also rising). Is Ramin at hand?
LACKEY. He's in the saddle, waiting at the gates.
[The royalties take leave of one another.]
TRUCHSZ (writing). Which lies behind their right.
MARSHAL. The Prince of Homburg—
Where is the Prince of Homburg?
HOHENZOLLERN (in a whisper). Arthur!
THE PRINCE (with a start). Here!
HOHENZOLL. Have you gone mad?
THE PRINCE. My Marshal, to command!
[He flushes, and, taking out pen and parchment, writes.]
MARSHAL. To whom His Highness, trusting that he lead
His force to glory as at Rathenow,
Confides the mounted squadrons of the Mark
[He hesitates.]
Though in no way disprizing Colonel Kottwitz
Who shall be aid in counsel and right hand—
[To CAPTAIN GOLZ in a low voice.]
Is Kottwitz here?
GOLZ. No, General. He has,
You note, dispatched me hither in his place
To take the battle order from your lips.
[The PRINCE gazes over toward the ladies again.]
MARSHAL (continuing).
Takes station in the plain near Hackelwitz
Facing the right wing of the enemy
Well out of range of the artillery fire.
GOLZ (writing). Well out of range of the artillery fire.
[The ELECTRESS ties a scarf about the PRINCESS' throat. The PRINCESS, about to draw on a glove, looks around as if she were in search of something.]
ELECTOR (approaches her).
Dear little girl of mine, what have you lost?
ELECTRESS. What are you searching for?
NATALIE. Why, Auntie dear,
My glove! I can't imagine—
[They all look about.]
ELECTOR (to the ladies-in-waiting). Would you mind?—
ELECTRESS (to the PRINCESS). It's in your hand.
NATALIE. The right glove; but the left?
ELECTOR. You may have left it in your bedroom.
NATALIE. Oh,
Bork, if you will?
ELECTOR (to the lady-in-waiting). Quick, quick!
NATALIE. Look on the mantel.
[_The lady-in-waiting goes out.-]
THE PRINCE (aside).
Lord of my life? Could I have heard aright?
[He draws the glove from his collar.]
MARSHAL (looking down at the paper which he holds in
his hand).
Well out of range of the artillery fire.
[Continuing.]
The Prince's Highness—
THE PRINCE (regarding now the glove, now the PRINCESS).
It's this glove she's seeking—
MARSHAL. At our lord sovereign's express command—
GOLZ (writing). At our lord sovereign's express command—
MARSHAL. Whichever way the tide of battle turn
Shall budge not from his designated place.
THE PRINCE. Quick! Now I'll know in truth if it be hers.
[He lets the glove fall, together with his handkerchief; then recovers the handkerchief but leaves the glove lying where everybody can see it.]
MARSHAL (piqued). What is His Highness up to?
HOHENZOLLERN (aside). Arthur!
THE PRINCE. Here!
HOHENZOLL. Faith, you're possessed!
THE PRINCE. My Marshal, to command!
[He takes up pen and tablet once more. The MARSHAL regards him an
instant, questioningly. Pause.]
GOLZ (reading, after he has finished writing).
Shall budge not from his designated place.
MARSHAL (continues).
Until, hard pressed by Hennings and by
Truchsz—
THE PRINCE (looking over GOLZ's shoulder).
Who, my dear Golz? What? I?
GOLZ. Why, yes. Who else
THE PRINCE. I shall not budge—
GOLZ. That's it.
MARSHAL. Well, have you got it
THE PRINCE (aloud).
Shall budge not from my designated place.
[He writes.]
MARSHAL. Until, hard pressed by Hennings and by
Truchsz— [He pauses.]
The left wing of the enemy, dissolved,
Plunges upon its right, and wavering
The massed battalions crowd into the plain,
Where, in the marsh, criss-crossed by ditch on ditch,
The plan intends that they be wholly crushed.
ELECTOR. Lights, pages! Come, my dear, your arm,
and yours.
[He starts to go out with the ELECTRESS and the PRINCESS.]
MARSHAL. Then he shall let the trumpets sound the
charge.
ELECTRESS (as several officers, bowing and scraping, bid her
farewell).
Pray, let me not disturb you, gentlemen.—
Until we meet again!
[The MARSHAL also bids her good-by.]
ELECTOR (suddenly standing still). Why, here we are!
The lady's glove. Come, quick now! There it is.
GENTLEMAN-IN-WAITING. Where?
ELECTOR. At our cousin's, at Prince Homburg's feet.
THE PRINCE. What! At my feet! The glove? It is your own?
[He picks it up and brings it to the PRINCESS.]
NATALIE. I thank you, noble Prince.
THE PRINCE (confused). Then it is yours?
NATALIE. Yes, it is mine; it is the one I lost.
[She takes it and draws it on.]
ELECTRESS (turning to the PRINCESS, she goes out).
Farewell! Farewell! Good luck! God keep you safe!
See that erelong we joyously may meet!
[The ELECTOR goes out with the ladies. Attendants, courtiers and pages follow.]
THE PRINCE (stands an instant as though struck by a bolt from heaven; then with triumphant step he returns to the group of officers). Then he shall let the trumpets sound the charge!
[He, pretends to write.]
MARSHAL (looking down at his paper).
Then he shall let the trumpets sound the charge.—
However, the Elector's Highness, lest
Through some mistake the blow should fall too soon—
[He pauses.]
GOLZ (writes). Through some mistake the blow should fall too soon—
THE PRINCE (aside to COUNT HOHENZOLLERN in great
perturbation).
Oh, Harry!
HOHENZOLLERN (impatiently).
What's up now? What's in your head?
THE PRINCE. Did you not see?
HOHENZOLLERN. In Satan's name, shut up!
MARSHAL (continuing).
Shall send an officer of his staff to him;
Who, mark this well, shall finally transmit
The order for the charge against the foe.
Ere this the trumpets shall not sound the charge.
[The PRINCE gazes dreamily into space.]
Well, have you got it?
GOLZ (writes). Ere this the trumpets shall not sound the charge.
MARSHAL (in raised tone).
Your Highness has it down?
THE PRINCE. Marshal?
MARSHAL. I asked
If you had writ it down?
THE PRINCE. About the trumpets?
HOHENZOLLERN (aside, with emphatic indignation).
Trumpets be damned! Not till the order—
GOLZ (in the same tone). Not
Till he himself—
THE PRINCE (interrupting). Naturally not, before—
But then he'll let the trumpets sound the
charge.
[He writes. Pause.]
MARSHAL. And I desire—pray note it, Baron Golz—
Before the action opens, to confer
With Colonel Kottwitz, if it can be done.
GOLZ (significantly). He shall receive your message. Rest assured.
[Pause.]
ELECTOR (returning).
What now, my colonels and my generals!
The morning breaks. Have you the orders down?
MARSHAL. The thing is done, my liege. Your battle-plan
Is in all points made clear to your commanders.
ELECTOR (picking up his hat and gloves).
And you, I charge, Prince Homburg, learn control!
Recall, you forfeited two victories
Of late, upon the Rhine, so keep your head!
Make me not do without the third today.
My land and throne depend on it, no less.
[To the officers.]
Come!—Frank!
A GROOM (entering). Here!
ELECTOR. Quick there! Saddle me my gray!
I will be on the field before the sun!
[He goes out, followed by generals, colonels and minor officers.]
SCENE VI
THE PRINCE (coming forward).
Now, on thine orb, phantasmic creature, Fortune,
Whose veil a faint wind's breathing even now
Lifts as a sail, roll hither! Thou hast touched
My hair in passing; as thou hovered'st near
Already from thy horn of plenty thou
Benignantly hast cast me down a pledge.
Child of the gods, today, O fugitive one,
I will pursue thee on the field of battle,
Seize thee, tear low thy horn of plenty, pour
Wholly thy radiant blessings round my feet,
Though sevenfold chains of iron bind thee fast
To the triumphant chariot of the Swede!
[Exit.]
ACT II
Scene: Battlefield of Fehrbellin.
SCENE I
COLONEL KOTTWITZ, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ and other officers enter at the head of the cavalry.
KOTTWITZ (outside). Halt! Squadron, halt! Dismount!
HOHENZOLLERN AND GOLZ (entering). Halt, halt!
KOTTWITZ. Hey, friends, who'll help me off my horse?
HOHENZOLLERN AND GOLZ. Here—here!
[They step outside again.]
KOTTWITZ (still outside).
Thanks to you-ouch! Plague take me! May a son
Be giv'n you for your pains, a noble son
Who'll do the same for you when you grow sear.
[He enters, followed by_ HOHENZOLLERN, GOLZ and others.]
Oh, in the saddle I am full of youth!
When I dismount, though, there's a battle on
As though the spirit and the flesh were parting,
In wrath. [Looking about.] Where is our
chief, the Prince's Highness?
HOHENZOLL. The Prince will momentarily return.
KOTTWITZ. Where has he gone?
HOHENZOLLERN. He rode down to a hamlet,
In foliage hidden, so you passed it by.
He will return erelong.
OFFICER. Last night, they say,
His horse gave him a tumble.
HOHENZOLLERN. So they say.
KOTTWITZ. He fell?
HOHENZOLLERN (turning). A matter of no consequence.
His horse shied at the mill, but down his flank
He lightly slipped and did himself no harm.
It is not worth the shadow of a thought.
KOTTWITZ (ascending a slight elevation).
A fine day, as I breathe the breath of life!
A day our God, the lofty Lord of earth,
For sweeter things than deadly combat made.
Ruddily gleams the sunlight through the clouds
And with the lark the spirit flutters up
Exultant to the joyous airs of heaven!
GOLZ. Did you succeed in finding Marshal Dorfling?
KOTTWITZ (coming forward).
The Devil, no! What does my lord expect?
Am I a bird, an arrow, an idea,
That he should bolt me round the entire field?
I was at Hackel hillock with the van
And with the rearguard down in Hackel vale.
The one man whom I saw not was the Marshal!
Wherefore I made my way back to my men.
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.