Havequick. There lies the ruddy gold in heaps,
Come quickly now and scrape it up.
Speedbooty (stoops down).
Gather it to my bosom, swift!
There's still enough to satisfy.
Havequick. And thus enough! Now, then, be quick!
O dear! your apron has a hole!
Where'er you go, where'er you stand,
You 're sowing treasures lavishly.
Halberdiers (of our Emperor).
What do you in this hallowed place?
Why rummage in the Emperor's wealth?
Havequick. We sold our limbs at a cheap rate,
And now we take our share of spoil.
'Tis custom in the hostile tent,-
And we,-why we are soldiers too.
Halberdiers. That's not the way in our host:
Soldier at once and thieving throng;
Whoever to our Emperor comes,
He must an honest soldier be.
Havequick. We know already honesty,
For that is contribution called.
On equal footing are ye all.
Give here! This is the trade's first greet.
Make haste, and off with what
you
I've got ;
For welcome guests we are not here.
Tell me, why did'st not give at once
To the bold rascal a hard blow?
Second. I know not; gone was all my power.
They had so spectral-like a look.
Third, There was something bad about my eyes,
They glimmered; I saw not aright,
Fourth. I cannot tell you how I feel;
Through the whole day it was so hot,
So awful, sultry, and so close;
The one-he stood, the other fell,
One marched on, and still did strike,
The foeman fell at every blow;
Our eyes were covered as with crape ;
It buzzed, roared, hissed about our ear;
So went it on, and now we 're here,
And still we know not how 'twas done.
Enter Emperor with four princes; the Halberdiers retire.
Be it then as it will! For us is won the battle,
The foeman's scattered flight o'er the flat plain is pouring.
Here stands the empty throne, the traitor's treasure here,
By tapestries veiled about, narrows the place around.
We, honourful, by our own body-guards defended,
Expect in Emperor's style the heralds of the nations;
Hither from every side a joyful message comes,
In peace the kingdom is, and subject joyfully.
And if with our fight conjoined has been some magic,
Yet at the last we have, we, we alone, contend ed
To those who combat oft full many chances come,
From heaven falls a stone, on foemen raineth blood,
In rocky hollows sounds a mighty wondrous clanging,
Which our courage raise; the enemy's bosom narrow.
The one-the vanquished fell, with quick renewed mock,
The victor as he boasts praises the favoring God,
And all with him will join, there needeth no commanding:
"Lord God, we praise thee now;" from throats a hundred thousand.
Now for the highest praise, my pious look I turn,
Which rarely was done before, to my own bosom back.
A young and joyous prince his day entire may squander,
For years will teach him soon the importance of the moment.
Therefore, without delay will I myself ally
With you, four worthy peers, fair kingdom, house and court.
By thee, O prince,. was found the army's prudent station,
And in the crisis, too, heroic bold discretion;
Therefore work thou in peace, as may the times require ;
Marshall by heritage thou, to thee I give the sword.
Hereditary-Marshall.
Thy faithful host, till now employed in the interior,
When thee upon the bounds and thy throne it hath strengthened,
Then be it granted us, at festive throng, in the hall
Of thy large father-tower, thy feasting to array:
I'll bear it bright before thee, and at thy side I'll hold it ;
The eternal comrade e'er of majesty the highest.
Thou who hast shown thyself a valiant courteous man,
Thou be Archchamberlain, the duties are not light.
Thou art the governor of all the house attendants,
In whose eternal strife I find but evil servants;
In honour placed, henceforth shall thy example be
How one may please the Lord, the court, and all men well.
Archchamberlain.
The master's noble thought it brings to grace to further,
Ever the best to aid, not even the bad to injure,
Clear to be without craft, quiet without deceit !
If thou see through me, sire, for me 'tis quite enough.
And dare my fancy now to that great feast stretch forward?
When thou to table goest, I hand the golden basin,
Thy rings for thee I'll hold, that in thy pleasure-hour
Thy hand may be refreshed, while gladdens me the sight.
Too serious now I feel to think of festive seasons,
Yet be it! it requires a joyful glad beginning.
Archsewer, thee I choose, and therefore from henceforth
The hunt, the poultry-yard, and farm shall subject be;
Let me have always choice of all my favourite dishes
As them the season brings, and carefully prepare them.
Archsewer.
Stern fasting be for me the duty pleasantest,
Until before thee placed the dish shall please thee well.
The kitchen service shall with me e'er be united,
The far to draw a-near, the season on to hasten.
Thee charm not early things which on the table shine,
Nor far, but powerful and simple things thou lov'st.
Emperor (to the fourth).
Since now inevitably of feasts alone we're treating,
Thou, youthful hero, shalt to cupbearer be turned;
Arch-cupbearer, take care that our cellar be
In richest sort henceforth provided with good wine.
But be thou moderate, nor be to cheerfulness
Misled by the allurement which the convenience giveth.
Archcupbearer.
My Emperor, youth itself, if one but trusteth it,
E'er we can perceive, is up to manhood grown.
To that great festival for change myself I'll carry ;
To th' Emperor's buffet I'll give most grand adornment.
With vessels of great splendour, of gold and silver too;
For thee I'll choose beforehand the loveliest of all cups.
A clear Venetian glass, within which pleasure lurketh,
The wine its taste shall strengthen, the senses ne'er disturbing.
To such a wond'rous treasure one often trusts too much;
Thy moderation, master, protects thee even more.
What in this earnest-hour to you I here have promised,
With trust receive ye from a mouth that is full certain.
The Emperor's word is great, and every gift ensures,
For confirmation still the noble writ it needs,
It needs a signature. These to prepare in order
I see the proper man, at the proper hour approaching.
If e'er a vault itself to the key-stone trusted hath,
Then 'tis with safety built for everlasting time.
Thou seest four princes here! Just now we have decided
That which security for house and court hath furthered.
But now whate'er the land within it cherisheth,
Be with its power and weight, trusted to number five.
In lands shall they indeed before all others glitter,
Therefore I'll widen now the bounds of the possession,
From their inheritance who from us turned away.
faithful ones, I promise many a land,
Also the lofty right, if e'er the time should grant it,
Through heirdom, purchase, change, in largeness to extend it;
In chief 'tis granted you, to use, and undisturbed,
Whatever right belongs to you lords of the land.
Decisive judgments will to you fall out as judges,
Appeal shall be worth nought from your high situations.
Tribute, and tax, and tithe, fief, safe conduct, and toll,
Duty on mines, and salt, and mint to you belongs.
For here my gratitude in fulness manifesting,
I have upraised you all to majesty the nearest. Archbishop.
In name of all be given thee deepest thanks,
Thou makest us strong and firm, confirmest too our power.
Emperor.
To you five I will give still greater, higher honours.
Still live I for my realm, and still to live have pleasure;
Yet chains of boding deep draw contemplating looks
From keenest activeness unto the threatening back.
In His good time shall I from you, my friends, be sundered,
My follower to name shall be your lofty duty.
At the holy altar crown him, and raise him highly up,
And what was once so stormy, shall then in peace conclude. Archchancellor.
With pride within their breasts, but humble in their gestures,
Princes before thee bow, the first upon earth's surface.
As long as our true blood in the full veins shall stir,
We are the bodies which thy will shall lightly move.
Emperor.
And, now to end it, be ye, what we before determined,
For all futurity by writ and sign confirmed.
Ye have indeed possession as lords all fully free,
On this condition, that it ne'er divided be.
And howe'er that increase which ye from us have taken,
That shall your eldest son receive in equal measure.
Archchancellor.
Then straight to parchment I with pleasure will entrust,
The realm and us to profit, this statute weightiest ;
With writing pure, and seal the chancery shall be busied.
With holy signature, thou, master, wilt confirm it.
Emperor.
Now I dismiss you all, that on the mighty day
Collective you may meet, and all deliberate.
(The temporal princes withdraw.)
The Spiritual Prince (remains and speaks pathetically).
The chancellor has gone, yet still remains the bishop,
With earnest warning soul compelled to thy presence!
With sorrow about thee fears his paternal heart.
What sorrow hast thou in this joyful hour? say!
Archbishop.
With what a bitter pain in this season do I find thee
Place thy high, holy head with Satan in alliance;
Indeed, as it appears, confirmed upon thy throne,
But ah! of God the Lord and Father Pope in scorn.
If he should hear of this, he'll quickly judge and punish,
With holy beam destroy thy sinfullest of kingdoms.
For he will ne'er forget how thou, in highest time,
Thy coronation-day, the sorcerer didst set free.
Out from thy diadem, of Christendom the inj'ry,
Struck on a head accursed the first bright ray of mercy.
Yet beat upon thy breast, and from thy ill-gained spoil
Give to the sanctuary back a moderate whet.
The broad and hilly space where late thy tent was standing,
Where wicked spirits joined for thy protection,
Thou to the prince of lies didst lend a hearkening ear,
Piously taught, for holy purpose set that spot aside.
With hill and thickest wood, as far as they're extending,
With heights which green themselves for constant pasturage cover, And clear lakes rich in fish, and brooklets without end,
As winding hastily they fall down to the vale.
Then the broad vale itself with grounds, and plains, and meadows; Let thy repentance speak, and then thou wilt find mercy. Emperor.
I am so deeply frighted by my grievous fault,
By thy own measure let the bounds be fixed by thee.
Firstly, the desecrated ground where so thou sinnedst,
Shall to God's service instantly be dedicated.
Swiftly in mind I see strong towering walls arise;
The sheen of the morning sun already gilds the choir;
Into a cross the rising building spreads and broadens,
Lengthens the nave heightened to joy of all believers;
Ardent they 're streaming through the worthy portal on,
Echoes the bell's first sound through hill and lowly vale;
From the high towers it sounds which strive to heaven upward;
To it the penitent comes to gain new life within it.
At the great consecration-day-may it soon come !
The highest ornament will thy great presence be.
O, may a work so great of pious mind give evidence,
To praise the Lord our God, and me from sin to liberate.
Enough! Enough! My feelings are already raised.
|
