The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 109

ACT V.

SCENE I.--_A large and magnificent Gothic Hall in the Castle of Siegendorf, decorated with Trophies, Banners, and Arms of that Family_.

_Enter_ ARNHEIM _and_ MEISTER, _attendants of_ COUNT SIEGENDORF.

_Arn._ Be quick! the Count will soon return: the ladies Already are at the portal. Have you sent The messengers in search of him he seeks for?

_Meis._ I have, in all directions, over Prague, As far as the man's dress and figure could By your description track him. The devil take These revels and processions! All the pleasure (If such there be) must fall to the spectators,-- I'm sure none doth to us who make the show.

_Arn._ Go to! my Lady Countess comes.

_Meis._ I'd rather 10 Ride a day's hunting on an outworn jade, Than follow in the train of a great man, In these dull pageantries.

_Arn._ Begone! and rail Within. [_Exeunt_.

_Enter the_ COUNTESS JOSEPHINE SIEGENDORF _and_ IDA STRALENHEIM.

_Jos._ Well, Heaven be praised! the show is over.

_Ida._ How can you say so? Never have I dreamt Of aught so beautiful. The flowers, the boughs, The banners, and the n.o.bles, and the knights, The gems, the robes, the plumes, the happy faces, The coursers, and the incense, and the sun Streaming through the stained windows, even the _tombs_, 20 Which looked so calm, and the celestial hymns, Which seemed as if they rather came from Heaven Than mounted there--the bursting organ's peal Rolling on high like an harmonious thunder; The white robes and the lifted eyes; the world At peace! and all at peace with one another!

Oh, my sweet mother! [_Embracing_ JOSEPHINE.

_Jos._ My beloved child!

For such, I trust, thou shalt be shortly.

_Ida._ Oh!

I am so already. Feel how my heart beats!

_Jos._ It does, my love; and never may it throb 30 With aught more bitter.

_Ida._ Never shall it do so!

How should it? What should make us grieve? I hate To hear of sorrow: how can we be sad, Who love each other so entirely? You, The Count, and Ulric, and your daughter Ida.

_Jos._ Poor child!

_Ida._ Do you pity me?

_Jos._ No: I but envy, And that in sorrow, not in the world's sense Of the universal vice, if one vice be More general than another.

_Ida._ I'll not hear A word against a world which still contains 40 You and my Ulric. Did you ever see Aught like him? How he towered amongst them all!

How all eyes followed him! The flowers fell faster-- Rained from each lattice at his feet, methought, Than before all the rest; and where he trod I dare be sworn that they grow still, nor e'er Will wither.

_Jos._ You will spoil him, little flatterer, If he should hear you.

_Ida._ But he never will.

I dare not say so much to him--I fear him.

_Jos._ Why so? he loves you well.

_Ida._ But I can never 50 Shape my thoughts _of_ him into words _to_ him: Besides, he sometimes frightens me.

_Jos._ How so?

_Ida._ A cloud comes o'er his blue eyes suddenly, Yet he says nothing.

_Jos._ It is nothing: all men, Especially in these dark troublous times, Have much to think of.

_Ida._ But I cannot think Of aught save him.

_Jos._ Yet there are other men, In the world's eye, as goodly. There's, for instance, The young Count Waldorf, who scarce once withdrew His eyes from yours to-day.

_Ida._ I did not see him, 60 But Ulric. Did you not see at the moment When all knelt, and I wept? and yet, methought, Through my fast tears, though they were thick and warm, I saw him smiling on me.

_Jos._ I could not See aught save Heaven, to which my eyes were raised, Together with the people's.

_Ida._ I thought too Of Heaven, although I looked on Ulric.

_Jos._ Come, Let us retire! they will be here anon, Expectant of the banquet. We will lay Aside these nodding plumes and dragging trains. 70

_Ida._ And, above all, these stiff and heavy jewels, Which make my head and heart ache, as both throb Beneath their glitter o'er my brow and zone.

Dear mother, I am with you.

_Enter_ COUNT SIEGENDORF, _in full dress, from the solemnity_, and LUDWIG.

_Sieg._ Is he not found?

_Lud._ Strict search is making every where; and if The man be in Prague, be sure he will be found.

_Sieg._ Where's Ulric?

_Lud._ He rode round the other way With some young n.o.bles; but he left them soon; And, if I err not, not a minute since I heard his Excellency, with his train, 80 Gallop o'er the west drawbridge.

_Enter ULRIC, splendidly dressed_.

_Sieg._ (_to_ LUDWIG). See they cease not Their quest of him I have described. [_Exit_ LUDWIG.

Oh, Ulric!

How have I longed for thee!

_Ulr._ Your wish is granted-- Behold me!

_Sieg._ I have seen the murderer.

_Ulr._ Whom? Where?

_Sieg._ The Hungarian, who slew Stralenheim.