AMELIA. Pray, my Lord, stop a few minutes longer; I have something of great importance to say to you.
BARON. Something of importance! to plead for the young man, I suppose! But that"s a subject I must not listen to. [Exit.
AMELIA. I wish to plead for two young men--For one, that he may be let out of prison: for the other, that he may be made a prisoner for life.
[Looks out.] The tower is still locked. How dismal it must be to be shut up in such a place; and perhaps--[Calls] Butler! Butler! Come this way. I wish to speak to you. This young soldier has risked his life for his mother, and that accounts for the interest I take in his misfortunes.
Enter the BUTLER.
Pray, have you carried anything to the prisoner to eat?
BUTLER. Yes.
AMELIA. What was it?
BUTLER. Some fine black bread; and water as clear as crystal.
AMELIA. Are you not ashamed! Even my father pities him. Go directly down to the kitchen, and desire the cook to give you something good and comfortable; and then go into the cellar for a bottle of wine.
BUTLER. Good and comfortable indeed!
AMELIA. And carry both to the tower.
BUTLER. I am willing at any time, dear Lady, to obey your orders; but, on this occasion, the prisoner"s food must remain bread and water--It is the Baron"s particular command.
AMELIA. Ah! My father was in the height of pa.s.sion when he gave it.
BUTLER. Whatsoever his pa.s.sion might be, it is the duty of a true, and honest dependent to obey his Lord"s mandates. I will not suffer a servant in this house, nor will I, myself, give the young man any thing except bread and water--But I"ll tell you what I"ll do--I"ll read my verses to him.
AMELIA. Give me the key of the cellar--I"ll go myself.
BUTLER [gives the key]. And there"s my verses--[taking them from his pocket] Carry them with you, they may comfort him as much as the wine.
[She throws them down. [Exit Amelia.
BUTLER [in amazement]. Not take them! Refuse to take them--[he lifts them from the floor with the utmost respect]--
"I must have made an elegy, And not this fine narration." [Exit.
END ACT III
ACT IV.
SCENE I. A Prison in one of the Towers of the Castle.
FREDERICK [alone].
FREDERICK. How a few moments destroy the happiness of man! When I, this morning, set out from my inn, and saw the sun rise, I sung with joy.--Flattered with the hope of seeing my mother, I formed a scheme how I would with joy surprize her. But, farewell all pleasant prospects--I return to my native country, and the first object I behold, is my dying parent; my first lodging, a prison; and my next walk will perhaps be--oh, merciful providence! have I deserved all this?
Enter AMELIA with a small basket covered with a napkin.--She speaks to someone without.
AMELIA. Wait there, Francis, I shall soon be back.
FREDERICK [hearing the door open, and turning around]. Who"s there?
AMELIA. You must be hungry and thirsty, I fear.
FREDERICK. Oh, no! neither.
AMELIA. Here is a bottle of wine, and something to eat. [Places the basket on the table.] I have often heard my father say, that wine is quite a cordial to the heart.
FREDERICK. A thousand thanks, dear stranger. Ah! could I prevail on you to have it sent to my mother, who is on her death-bed, under the roof of an honest peasant, called Hubert! Take it hence, my kind benefactress, and save my mother.
AMELIA. But first a.s.sure me that you did not intend to murder my father.
FREDERICK. Your father! heaven forbid.--I meant but to preserve her life, who gave me mine.--Murder your father! No, no--I hope not.
AMELIA. And I thought not--Or, if you had murdered any one, you had better have killed the Count; n.o.body would have missed him.
FREDERICK. Who, may I enquire, were those gentlemen, whom I hoped to frighten into charity?
AMELIA. Ay, if you only intended to frighten them, the Count was the very person for your purpose. But you caught hold of the other gentleman.--And could you hope to intimidate Baron Wildenhaim?
FREDERICK. Baron Wildenhaim!--Almighty powers!
AMELIA. What"s the matter?
FREDERICK. The man to whose breast I held my sword--[trembling].
AMELIA. Was Baron Wildenhaim--the owner of this estate--my father!
FREDERICK [with the greatest emotion]. _My_ father!
AMELIA. Good heaven, how he looks! I am afraid he"s mad. Here!
Francis, Francis. [Exit, calling.
FREDERICK [all agitation]. My _father_! Eternal judge! tho do"st slumber! The man, against whom I drew my sword this day was my father!
One moment longer, and provoked, I might have been the murderer of my father! my hair stands on end! my eyes are clouded! I cannot see any thing before me. [Sinks down on chair]. If Providence had ordained that I should give the fatal blow, who, would have been most in fault?--I dare not p.r.o.nounce-- after a pause] That benevolent young female who left me just now, is, then, my sister--and I suppose that fop, who accompanied my father--
Enter Mr. ANHALT.
Welcome, Sir! By your dress you are of the church, and consequently a messenger of comfort. You are most welcome, Sir.
ANHALT. I wish to bring comfort and avoid upbraidings: for your own conscience will reproach you more than the voice of a preacher. From the sensibility of your countenance, together with a language, and address superior to the vulgar, it appears, young man, you have had an education, which should have preserved you from a state like this.
FREDERICK. My education I owe to my mother. Filial love, in return, has plunged me into the state you see. A civil magistrate will condemn according to the law--A priest, in judgment, is not to consider the act itself, but the impulse which led to the act.
ANHALT. I shall judge with all the lenity my religion dictates: and you are the prisoner of a n.o.bleman, who compa.s.sionates you for the affection which you bear towards your mother; for he has sent to the village where you directed him, and has found the account you gave relating to her true.--With this impression in your favour, it is my advice, that you endeavour to see and supplicate the Baron for your release from prison, and all the peril of his justice.