Poems by George Pope Morris Part 55

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 princ.i.p.al 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 s.h.i.+rt-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 eagerness.) Behold, my liege, the felon's brand! (Presto!--all start with astonishment.)

CHORUS.

Now, who's the traitor?

[The JURYMEN rise.

QUITETTE and CHORUS.

KARL.

The javelin from an unseen hand Was sent that laid me low!-- Behold exposed the felon's brand Unto my mortal foe!

CHORUS.

Who's now the traitor? etc.

JUDGE (promptly.) What say the jury?

FOREMAN (promptly.) The prisoners are innocent! (Presto!--all start with joy.)

CHORUS.

The prisoners are innocent! etc.

(Some of the CHARACTERS clasp their hands--others embrace. SOPHIA and LANISKA turn to ALBERT, and the COUNTESS and FREDERICA to the KING, in grat.i.tude.)

KARL.

Oh, rage and fury! (KARL is secured by HAROLD and CORPORAL.)

CHORUS.

Rejoice! our loyal hearts we bring As free-will offerings to the king!

SOLO--SOPHIA and KING.

Oh, let me to thy ermine cling.

In grat.i.tude, (kneels,) G.o.d bless the king!

CHORUS.

G.o.d save the king!

Long live the king! etc.

(The WORKMEN and GIRLS of the Factory, ADVOCATES, OFFICERS, SOLDIERS, LADIES, and GENTLEMEN, SPECTATORS, and all the CHARACTERS on the stage, indicate by appropriate and spontaneous action the deep and intense interest they take in the verdict.--KARL gasps and faints, and is supported by HAROLD and CORPORAL.--WEDGEWOOD notices the tableau with great self-complacency--[The whole action is simultaneous]--KARL is borne off by HAROLD and CORPORAL. All the CHARACTERS then turn, and by looks and actions congratulate each other, and the scene instantly becomes one of general joy.)

KING.

This court is now dissolved. (The princ.i.p.al CHARACTERS leave their stations; and all the PARTIES, except the JUDGES and those in the gallery, come upon the stage.--To the JUDGES.) Your lords.h.i.+ps must pardon all irregularities. This is the first trial by jury that ever took place in Prussia. Hereafter, no human power shall interrupt your grave deliberations. (To COUNT LANISKA.) Count Laniska, I took your sword from you this morning: I here present you mine. (COUNT kneels, and receives it.)

COUNT.

This, with my life, I dedicate to Your Majesty's service!

KING (to ALBERT.) As for you, sir, the sword, is not your weapon. (HAROLD advances with a golden pen upon a velvet cus.h.i.+on. ALBERT kneels.) Receive this emblem of far greater power than all the implements of war, and wield it for the benefit of mankind. Rise, Baron--

ALBERT.

Mansfield, Your Majesty--

KING (with surprise.) Mansfield?

SOPHIA.

My heart was not deceived! My long-lost brother!

ALBERT (ALBERT and SOPHIA rush into each other's arms.) My dear, dear sister!

KING (looking at them.) So, so, so! Oh, what an old fool I have been! (Looking around.) Come hither, Sophia.

(She advances; the KING takes her hand.) I owe you some amends for your long and patient suffering on my account (taking the COUNT's hand)--and thus I make them.

(SOPHIA and LANISKA join hands joyfully.) How well the criminals understand each other! (Rubbing his hands, and walking joyfully about the stage.) Ah, Mr. Wedgewood, I don't care if I take a pinch of snuff out of that same box I gave you the other day.

WEDGEWOOD (presenting box.) Your Majesty has added to its value a diamond worth all the rest, in finding it is large enough for two of us.

KING.

Good! (Notices FREDERICA.) What! Frederica, my fair namesake and little G.o.d-daughter--in the dumps? (Looking at ALBERT.) Oh, I understand. (To COUNTESS.) By your leave madam. (Hands FREDERICA to ALBERT.) You perceive, Mr. Wedgewood, that I have a large family to look after and provide for; but I am a happy father, sir--mine are good children, very good children! I wish I had more like these.

WEDGEWOOD (significantly.) If Your Majesty goes on in this way, there'll be plenty more--IN TIME.

KING.

All are now satisfied--at least I hope all are so here. (To the audience.) If, as a king, I may, on another occasion, command an audience--

WEDGEWOOD (forgetting himself, lifting his mallet and flouris.h.i.+ng it like an auctioneer.) Going! (Recollecting himself.)--I mean--(slowly and with gravity)--s-i-l-e-n-c-e i-n t-h-e c-o-u-r-t! (meaning the audience.)

KING.

These witnesses will, I am sure, attend the next trial of The Maid of Saxony--