554

BYRON’S WORKS.

At Hamburgh those who would have made assur-ance

If this be he or no ? I thought, ere now,

To have been lord of Siegeudorf, and partedJo haste, though even the elements appearTo light against me, and this sudden liood

lUay keep me prisoner here till-

[He pauses and loolcs at Werner; then resume 3.

This man must

Be watch’d. If it is he, he is so changed,

His father, rising from his grave again,

Would pass him by unknown, i must be wary :An error would spoil all.

Iden. Your lordship seems

Pensive. Will it not please you to'pass on ?Slral. ’Tisprst fatigue, which, gives my weigh’d-down spirit

An outward show of thought. I will to rest;

Iden. ^’he prince’s chamber is prepared, with allThe very furniture the prince used whenLast here, in its full splendour.

(Aide). Somewhat tntter’d,And devilish damp, but fine enough by torch-light';

Aud that’s enough for your right noble bloodOf twenty quarterings upon a hatchment;

So let their bearer sleep ’neath something like oneHow, as lie one day will for ever lie.

Stral. (rising and turning to Gabor). Goodnight,good people! Sir, I trust to-morrowWill find me ajiter to requite your service.

1 1 the meantime I crave your companyA moment in my chamber.

Gal). I attend you.

Stral. (after a few steps, pauses, and calls Werner ).Friend!

War. • Sir!

Iden. Sir! Lord—oh Lord ! Why don’t you sayHis lordship, or his excellency ? Pray,

My lord,' excuse'this poor man’s want of breed-ing :

He hath not been accustom’d to admissionTo such a presence.

Stral. (to Idenstcin). Peace, intendaut!

Iden. ' • Oh!

I am dumb.

Stral. (to Werner). Have you been long here ?Wer. Long?

Stral. I sought

An answer, not an echo.

Wer. You may seek

Both from the -walls. I am not used to answerThose whom I know not.

Steal. Indeed! Ne’crtheless,

You might reply with courtesy to what,is ask’d in. kindness.

Wer. When I know it such,

I will requite—that is, reply—‘in unison.

Stral. The intendaut said you had been detain’dby sickness—

If I ccruld aid you--jbuvncying the same way ?IFer.,[Tutcfcly). I am not journeying the sameway. 1

Stral. How know ye

Thi*-, g rG y 0U know my route ?

Wer. Because there is

But one way that the rich and poor must treadTogether. You diverged from that dread pathSome hours ago, and I some days: henceforthOur roads must lie asunder, though they tendAU to one homo.

Stral. Your language is above.

Your statiou.

Wer. (bitterly' 1 . Is it ?

Stral. Or, at least, heyond

Your garb.

Wen. ’Tis well that it is not beneath it,

As sometimes happens to the better clad.

But, in a word, wliat would you with me ?

Stral. (startled). I ?

Wer. Yes—you ! You know me not, and ques-tion me,

Aud wonder that I answer not—not knowingMy inquisitor. Explain what you would have,And then I’ll satisfy yourself, or me.

Stral. I knew not that you had reasons for re-serve.

Wer. Many liavo such Have you none ?

Stral. None which can

Interest a mere stranger.

Wer. Then forgive

The same unknown and humble stranger, ifHe wishes to remain so to the manWho can have nought in common with him.

Slral. sir,

I will not balk your humour, though untoward :

I only meant you service—but good night!Intendaut show the way! (To Gabor). Sir, youwill with me ?

[E.reant Stralenheim and Attendants,Idenstein and Gabor.

Wer. (solus). ’Tis he! I am taken'in the toils.Before

I quitted Hamburgh, Giulio, his late steward,Inform’d me, that he had obtain’d an orderFrom Brandbenburg’s elector, for the arrestOf Krui'tzner (such the name I then bore) whenI came upon the frontier; the free cityAlone preserved my freedom—till I leftIts walls—fool that I was to quit them! ButI deeui’d this humble garb, and route obscure,Had baffled the slow hounds in their pursuit.What’s to be done ? He knows me not by person;Nor could autjlit, save the eye of apprehension,Have recognised him., after twenty years,

We met so rarely and so coldly inOur youth. But those about him! Now I canDivine the frankness of the Hungarian , whoNo doubt is a mere tool and spy of Siralen-lieim’s,

To sound and to secure me. Without means!Sick, poor—begirt too with the flooding rivers,impassable even to the wealthy, withAll the appliances which purchase modesOf overpowering peril, with men’s lives,—

How can I hope ? An hour ago methoughtMy state beyond despair; and now, ’tis such,

The past seems paradise. Another day,

And I’m detected,—on the very eveOf honours, lights, and my inheritance,

’When a few drops of gold might save mo stillIn favouring an escapm

Enter IDENSTEIN ar.d FRITZ in conversation*Fritz. Immediately.

Iden. I tell you, ’tis impossible.

Frits. It must

Be tried, however; aud if one expressFail, you must send on others, till the answerArrives from Frankfort, from the commandant.Iden. I will do what I can. *

Fritz. •" r And recollect