Act III
Scene I.—Pleasure-garden at Augsburg. The Emperor, the Bishop of Bamberg, Weislingen, the Lady Adelheid, Courtiers.
Emperor: I am tired of these merchants with their eternal complaints! Every shopkeeper wants help, and no one will stir against the common enemy of the empire and of Christianity.
Weislingen: Who would be active abroad while he is threatened at home?
Bishop: If we could only remove that proud Sickingen and Berlichingen, the others would soon fall asunder.
Emperor: Brave, noble men at heart, who must be spared and used against the Turks.
Weislingen: The consequences may be dangerous. Better to capture them and leave them quietly upon their knightly parole in their castles.
Emperor: If they then abide by the law, they might again be honourably and usefully employed. I shall open the session of the Diet to-morrow with this proposal.
Weislingen: A clamour of joyful assent will spare your majesty the end of the speech.
[Exit Emperor, Bishop, and Courtiers.
Weislingen: And so you mean to go—to leave the festive scenes for which you longed with all your heart, to leave a friend to whom you are indispensable, to delay our union?
Adelheid: The gayer, the freer shall I return to you.
Weislingen: Will you be content if we proceed against Berlichingen?
Adelheid: You deserve a kiss! My uncle, Von Wanzenau, must be captain!
Weislingen: Impossible! An incompetent old dreamer!
Adelheid: Let the fiery Werdenhagen, his sister's stepson, go with him.
Weislingen: He is thoughtless and foolhardy, and will not improve matters.
Adelheid: We have to think of our relatives. For love of me, you must do it! And I want some exemptions for the convent of St. Emmeraru; you can work the chancellor. Then the cup-bearer's post is vacant at the Hessian Court, and the high stewardship of the Palatinate. I want them for our friends Braimau and Mirsing.
Weislingen: How shall I remember it all?
Adelheid: I shall train a starling to repeat the names to you, and to add, "Please, please." (Exit Weislingen. To Franz, whom she stops as he crosses to follow his master): Franz, could you get me a starling, or would you yourself be my starling? You would learn more rapidly.
Franz: If you would teach me. Try. Take me with you.
Adelheid: No, you must serve me here. Have you a good memory?
Franz: For your words. I remember every syllable you spoke to me that first day at Bamberg.
Adelheid: Now, listen, Franz. I shall tell you the names which I want you to repeat to your master, always adding, "Please, please."
Franz (seizing her hand passionately): Please, please!
Adelheid (stepping back): Hands are not wanted. You must lose such bad manners. But you must not be so upset at a little rebuke. One punishes the children one loves.
Franz: You love me, then?
Adelheid: I might love you as a child, but you are getting too tall and violent.
[Exeunt.
Scene II.—Hall at Jaxthausen. Sickingen and Goetz.
Goetz: So you want to marry a jilted woman?
Sickingen: To be deceived by him is an honour for you both. I want a mistress for my castles and gardens. In the field, at court, I want to stand alone.
[Enter Selbitz.
Selbitz: Bad news! The emperor has put you under the ban, and has sent troops to seize you.
Goetz: Sickingen, you hear. Take back your offer, and leave me!
Sickingen: I shall not turn from you in trouble. No better wooing than in time of war and danger.
Goetz: On one condition. You must publicly detach yourself from me. The emperor loves and esteems you, and your intercession may save me in the hour of need.
Sickingen: But I can secretly send you twenty horsemen.
Goetz: That offer I accept.
[Exeunt.
Scene III.—A hill with a view over a fertile country. George and Goetz's men cross the stage, chasing the imperial troops. Then Selbitz is carried on, wounded, accompanied by Faud.
Selbitz: Let me rest here!—and back to your master; back to Goetz!
Faud: Let me stay with you. I am no good below; they have hammered my old bones till I can scarcely move. (Exit soldiers.) Here from the wall I can watch the fight.
Selbitz: What do you see?
Faud: Your horsemen are turning tail. I can see Goetz's three black feathers in the midst of the turmoil. Woe, he has fallen! And George's blue plume has disappeared! Sickingen's horsemen in flight! Ha! I see Goetz again! And George! Victory! Victory! They are routed! Goetz is after them—he has seized their flag! The fugitives are coming here! Oh! what will they do with you?
Selbitz: Come down and draw! My sword is ready. I'll make it hot for them, even sitting or lying down!
[Enter imperial troops. Selbitz and Faud defend themselves until Lerse comes to their rescue, attacking the soldiers furiously, killing some and putting the rest to flight. Enter Goetz, George, a troop of armed men.
Selbitz: Good luck, Goetz! Victory! Victory!
How did you fare?
Goetz: To George and Lerse I owe my life; I was off my horse when they came to the rescue. I have their flag and a few prisoners.
Selbitz: Lerse saved me, too. See what work he has done here!
Goetz: Good luck, Lerse! And God bless my George's first brave deed! Now back to the castle, and let us gather our scattered men.