Act IV
Scene I.—Jaxthausen. A small room. Marie and Sickingen.
Sickingen: You may smile, but I felt the desire to possess you when you first looked upon me with your blue eyes, when you were with your mother at the Diet of Speier. I have long been separated from you; but that wish remained, with the memory of that glance.
[Enter Goetz.
Sickingen: Good luck!
Marie: Welcome, a thousand times!
Goetz: Now quickly to the chapel! I've thought it all out, and time presses.
Scene II.—Large hall; in the background a door, leading to the chapel. Lerse and men-at-arms. Enter Goetz from chapel.
Goetz: How now, Lerse? The men had better be distributed over the walls. Let them take any breastplates, helmets, and arms they may want. Are the gates well manned?
Lerse: Yes, sir.
Goetz: Sickingen will leave us at once. You will lead him through the lower gate, along the water, and across the ford. Then look around you, and come back.
[Enter Sickingen, Marie, Elizabeth, from chapel. Drums in distance announce the enemy's approach.
Goetz: May God bless you and send you merry, happy days!
Elizabeth: And may He let your children be like you!
Sickingen: I thank you, and I thank you, Marie, who will lead me to happiness.
Goetz: A pleasant journey! Lerse will show you the way.
Marie: That is not what we meant. We shall not leave you.
Goetz: You must, sister! (To Sickingen) You understand? Talk to Marie; she is your wife. Take her to safety, and then think of me.
[Exeunt Lerse, Sickingen and Marie. Enter George.
George: They approach from all sides. I saw their pikes glitter from the tower.
Goetz: Have the gate barricaded with beams and stones.
[Exit George. A trumpeter is dimly heard from the distance, requesting Goetz to surrender unconditionally.
Goetz refuses angrily, and slams the window. Enter Lerse.
Lerse: There is plenty of powder, but bullets are scarce.
Goetz: Look round for lead! Meanwhile, we must make the crossbows do.
[Distant shooting is heard at intervals. Exit Goetz with crossbow.
Lerse (breaking a window and detaching the lead from the glass): This lead has rested long enough; now it may fly for a change.
[Enter Goetz.
Goetz: They have ceased firing, and offer a truce with all sorts of signs and white rags. They will probably ask me to surrender on knightly parole.
Lerse: I'll go and see. 'Tis best to know their mind.
[Goes out and returns shortly.
Lerse: Liberty! Liberty! Here are the conditions. You may withdraw with arms, horses, and armour, leaving all provisions behind. Your property will be carefully guarded. I am to remain.
Goetz: Come, take the best arms with you, and leave the others here! Come, Elizabeth! Through this very gate I led you as a young bride. Who knows when we shall return?
[Exeunt Goetz and Elizabeth, followed by George. While the men are choosing arms and preparing, Lerse, who has heard shouting and firing without, looks through the window.
Lerse: God! They are murdering our master! He is off his horse! Help him!
Faud: George is still fighting. Let's go! If they die,
I don't want to live!
[Exeunt.
Scene III.—Night; anteroom in Adelheid's castle. Weislingen, Franz, Adelheid, with a retinue of masked and costumed revellers.
Weislingen: May I, in these moments of lightheartedness, speak to you of serious matters? Goetz is probably by this time in our hands. The peasants' revolt is growing in violence; and the League has given me the command against them. We shall start before long. I shall take you to my castle in Franconia, where you will be safe, and not too far from me.
Adelheid: We shall consider that. I may be useful to you here.
Weislingen: We have not much time, for we break up to-morrow!
Adelheid (after a pause): Very well, then; carnival to-night, and war to-morrow!
Weislingen: You are fond of change. A pleasant night to you!
[Exit.
Adelheid: I understand. You would remove me from the court, where Charles, our emperor's great successor, is the object of all hope? You will not change my plans. Franz!
Franz (entering): Gracious lady!
Adelheid: Watch all the masks, and find out for me the archduke's disguise! You look sad?
Franz: It is your will that I should languish unto death.
Adelheid (apart): I pity him. (To Franz) You are true and loving; I shall not forget you!
Scene IV.—Heilbronn Town Hall. Imperial Councillor and Magistrates, UsherS, Goetz.
Councillor: You know how you fell into our hands, and are a prisoner at discretion?
Goetz: What will you give me to forget it?
Councillor: You gave your knightly parole to appear and humbly to await his majesty's pleasure?
Goetz: Well, here I am, and await it!
Councillor: His majesty's mercy releases you from the ban and all punishment, provided you subscribe to all the articles which shall be read unto you.
Goetz: I am his majesty's faithful servant. But, before you proceed, where are my men; what is their fate?
Councillor: That is no business of yours. Secretary, read the articles! (Reads): I, Goetz von Berlichingen, having lately risen in rebellion against the emperor———
Goetz: 'Tis false! I am no rebel! I refuse to listen any further!
Councillor: And yet we have strict orders to persuade you by fair means, or to throw you into prison.
Goetz: To prison? Me? That cannot be the emperor's order! To promise me permission to ward myself on parole, and then again to break your treaty.
Councillor: We owe no faith to robbers.
Goetz: If you were not the representative of my respected sovereign, you should swallow that word, or choke upon it!
[Councillor makes a sign, and a bell is rung. Enter citizens with halberds and swords.
Councillor: You will not listen—seize him!
[They rush upon him. He strikes one down, and snatches
a sword from another. They stand aloof.
Goetz: Come on! I should like to become acquainted with the bravest among you.
[A trumpet is heard without. Enter Usher.
Usher: Franz von Sickingen is without and sends word that having heard how faith has been broken with his brother-in-law, he insists upon justice, or within an hour he will fire the four quarters of the town, and abandon it to be sacked by his men.
Goetz: Brave friend!
Councillor: YOU had best dissuade your brother-in-law from his rebellious intention. He will only become the companion of your fall! Meanwhile, we will consider how we can best uphold the emperor's authority.
[Exeunt all but Goetz. Enter Sickingen.
Goetz: That was help from heaven. I asked nothing but knightly ward upon my parole.
Sickingen: They have shamefully abused the imperial authority. I know the emperor, and have some influence with him. I shall want your fist in an enterprise I am preparing. Meanwhile, they will let you and your men return to your castle upon the promise not to move beyond its confines. And the emperor will soon call you. Now back to the wigs! They have had time enough to talk; let's save them the trouble!