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Poems
Morris, George Pope
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eBook - ePub
Poems
Morris, George Pope
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pubOne.info present you this new edition. Inside of a German Inn, on the road to Berlin. Fire and candles nearly extinguished.
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Scene the last.
Discovered. The whole stage is thrown open, and represents the Hall of the Palace at Potsdam, arranged as a court-room. On a carpeted platform is the royal seat of state, occupied by three JUDGES. On the right and left of them are cushioned seats for the KING and his retinue, and OFFICERS of state. In front of the judgement-seat is a large center-table, on which are various law-books and the Prussian Vase. Around the table are suitable places for the ADVOCATES in the cause. On each side are elevated benches, occupied by the GIRLS of the Factory, behind whom are stationed platoons of the ROYAL GUARDS. At the end of the benches on the right is the jury-box, with twelve JURORS, and the desk of the CRIER, on which is a small mallet. Around the whole stage is a large gallery, crowded with the CITIZENS of Potsdam. — The entire scene is intended to represent an English Criminal Court of Law of the olden time, in full costume, with scarlet robes, ermine gowns, etc. — The following CHARACTERS are discovered in their respective places: BARON ALTENBERG, the ATTORNEY-GENERAL and ADVOCATE for the crown; the WORKMEN of the Factory, as WITNESSES; the JAILOR, HANS, GERTRUDE, HAROLD, and CORPORAL; COUNT LANISKA, guarded, attended by the COUNTESS and FREDERICA; SOPHIA MANSFIELD, guarded, and attended by Factory-GIRLS; ALBERT, as ADVOCATE for the PRISONERS, and WEDGEWOOD, as CRIER of the Court; OFFICERS of state, LADIES of the Court, PORTERS of the Hall, and the KING. — This scene is accompanied by the ORCHESTRA. — Music as the scene opens—
CHORUS.
With mercy let justice
To mortals be given,
For Justice and Mercy
Are twin-born in heaven!
(As BARON ALTENBERG rises, WEDGEWOOD says, in a subdued tone of voice, and very respectfully. )
WEDGEWOOD.
Silence in the court!
ALTENBERG. May it please your lordships, these facts are not denied: the inscription in the handwriting of the count; his free access to the factory; his frequent use of the word TYRANT when speaking of the king; his earnest interest in the Saxon maid; her love for the count, and her opposition to the will of our most gracious sovereign for allotting her to the overseer as his bride: and they all unite in establishing their crime, the punishment of which is DEATH. Had not His Majesty chanced to wipe off, with his own handkerchief, the blue paint which concealed the word TYRANT, the vase would have been sent to Paris, the king and people disgraced, and the criminals safe in Saxony. Yes, gentlemen (to the JURY, ) this splendid ornament, which is to be known to all future ages as “The Prussian Vase, ” is defaced with the treasonable inscription— “To Frederick the Great Tyrant. ”
KING (rising in excitement, and forgetting himself. ) Yes, soldiers and subjects, friends and children, this word is applied to ME— to your FATHER— by these base ingrates here! —
CHORUS
Shame, shame, shame!
Long live the king! etc.
WEDGEWOOD (in a commanding tone, and striking the desk with his mallet. )
Silence in the court, or I'll put you in the stocks, juvenile delinquents and all!
What an odd people!
KING. I beg the indulgence of your lordships for my infirmities of temper. Let the cause proceed. (Takes his seat. )
JUDGE. The case for the crown, gentlemen, is fully before you, and is submitted in the confidence that you will discharge your duty faithfully.
KING (again forgetting himself. )
Ay, discharge your duty faithfully!
WEDGEWOOD (with great authority rapping on the desk. )
Silence in the court, Your Majesty!
JUDGE.
Let the counsel for the prisoners now proceed.
ALBERT.
Place Karl in the witness-box.
(Enter KARL and HAROLD. )
SOLO and CHORUS.
KARL.
What outrage more, at whose command
Am I thus shackled and restrained? —
What mockery's this? In this free land
The subject's rights should be maintained.
CHORUS.
The traitor braves the king's command!
KARL.
Those whom the lion would ensnare,
Should of his reckless fangs beware!
The forest-monarch, held at bay,
Will turn and spring upon his prey!
CHORUS.
Thus bold will guilt full oft appear! —
The sword of Justice let HIM fear!
WEDGEWOOD (as KARL is placed in the witness-box. )
Silence in the court!
CHORUS.
With mercy let justice
To mortals be given;
For Mercy and Justice
Are twin-borne of heaven.
KARL.
Why am I summoned here against my will?
ALBERT.
You are here to answer, not to question, sirrah!
KARL.
By what authority do YOU command my answers? In these realms the king alone commands.
KING (again forgetting himself. )
That's true— that's very true— the king alone commands—
WEDGEWOOD (shaking his mallet at the KING. )
What, Your Majesty— you will— will you?
KING.
Oh, I have forgotten myself again! (Takes his seat. ) Confound the fellow!
KARL (aside. )
The king here? Then I have one friend at least on whom I may rely. (To KING. )
Shall I— may I speak freely?
KING. The king has no authority now. (Pointing to the jury-box. ) There are the sovereigns of the people, and to them you must appeal. (Aside. ) What a situation for a monarch!
ALBERT (to KARL. )
You know yon Saxon maid and the Count Laniska?
KARL.
I do, and HATE the count!
ALBERT.
Wherefore?
KARL. He has thwarted my designs! — No, no, I mean not THAT! I mean that I hate him because he plotted treason against the king, and wrote “Tyrant” upon the vase.
ALBERT.
Did he write it?
KARL.
He did— these eyes beheld him.
COUNT (aside. )
The perjured caitiff!
SOPHIA.
O Heaven, have mercy upon us!
COUNTESS.
They are lost!
(COUNTESS leans on FREDERICA. The KING beckons to HAROLD, who goes to him. They engage in earnest conversation, occasionally pointing to KARL. HAROLD is supposed to be informing him of the arrest of KARL in SOPHIA's cell. KARL leaves the witness-box, and is about to retire, but is stopped by HAROLD. )
ALBERT.
Call the German inn-keeper to the stand. [HANS is placed in the box.
KARL (aside. )
I tremble with apprehension!
ALBERT (to HANS. )
You deal in colors— do you not?
HANS.
Yaw, mynherr.
ALBERT.
Have you sold any in Berlin lately?
HANS. Yaw, mynheer; I sold some of der Prussian blue to der Hungarian overseer of der factory, who gave me monish to say notting about it. He tried der quality upon dis little scrap of baper, vich he forgot, and vich I kept, mit der intention of giving him back ven I saw him again. It is scrawled all over mit der word “Tyrant. ”
KARL (forgetting himself. )
That paper's mine— give it me!
WEDGEWOOD (instantly snatching the paper and holding it up, exclaims in a loud tone)
It's not convenient! (Hands the paper to ALBERT, who reads it to the JUDGES. )
ALBERT. An attempt to imitate the handwriting of the count. Compare it with the word upon the vase.
JUDGE.
It is the same!
CHORUS.
Huzza! huzza! etc.
WEDGEWOOD (forgetting himself, after the chorus has finished, shouts at the top of his voice, ) Huzza! — (which the KING observing, rises to call him to order; when WEDGEWOOD, noticing the KING, places his hand upon his own mouth; and looking round, and holding his mallet in a threatening manner over KARL, who is silent by way of excusing his mistake, says)— But silence in the court! (The KING, shaking his finger at WEDGEWOOD, takes his seat; HANS leaves the box. )
ALBERT.
Place that workman on the stand. (It is done. ) Did you ever see this vase before?
WORKMAN.
Yes, sir.
ALBERT.
Where?
WORKMAN. I saw Karl receive it for the furnace, and I saw him marking upon it with a sharp instrument, which he suddenly hid in his bosom. (KARL feels for his dagger, and half draws it, looking at SOPHIA ferociously. SOPHIA observes him narrowly, and with great apprehension. )
ALBERT.
Who took the vase from the furnace?
WORKMAN.
Karl.
ALBERT.
Who had possession of it afterward?
WORKMAN.
Karl.
ALBERT.
Who pointed out the word “Tyrant” to the king at the fete of the countess?
KING (rising with great emotion, and entirely forgetting himself. )
Karl!
ALBERT.
Who has misled, blinded, and deceived the king?
KING (with great emotion. )
Traitorous, fiendlike Karl!
KARL (aloud. )
I am stunned with horror!
KING (leaving his seat and coming down in great haste— WEDGEWOOD raises his hammer. )
By your leave, Mr. Wedgewood.
CHORUS (as the KING descends. )
Long live the king! etc.
(the KING takes his station in the center of the stage, and lifts his hat. )
KING.
If the court please—
WEDGEWOOD (aside. )
Bravo! His Majesty is becoming a principal witness! (In a subdued tone of voice. )
Silence in the court! — The king speaks!
KING (rapidly. ) I see it all! The case is clear. Karl had my permission to espouse Sophia. She refused him. Laniska loved her. Karl hated him, and planned her destruction; visited her in prison; tried to force her to fly the country with him; she refused, and he would have slain her, had not Mr. Wedgewood, the Advocate, and Harold— who has just told me all— struck him to the ground. Karl plotted this mischief— Karl bought the paint— Karl wrote the word— and Karl shall DIE!
KARL (draws his dagger. ) But not unavenged! (He darts toward SOPHIA, and makes an attempt to stab her. SOPHIA shrieks, and runs to LANISKA. All the CHARACTERS rise, greatly excited, and watch the scene with deep interest. The GUARDS present their pikes to the breast of KARL, who is seized by HAROLD and CORPORAL— in the brief struggle with whom, KARL's shirt-sleeve is torn open, and the felon's brand is discovered on his arm. To this ALBERT points in triumph— Tableau. — The whole action is instantaneous. )
HAROLD (with great ea...