An apartment in the Chateau of the COUNTESS. Enter the COUNTESS and FREDERICA.
COUNTESS. Your morning ride, Frederica, was full of romance—the hose of your groom, you say, took fright—
FREDERICA. Yes, dear mother, and darted off at a racing pace; my own also became unmanageable, and I lost my presence of mind. I should have been thrown, if not killed, had not a gentleman rushed to my assistance.
COUNTESS.Who was he?
FREDERICA.I do not know.
COUNTESS.Was he alone?
FREDERICA.There was an elderly person with him, who seemed to be a foreigner.
COUNTESS.But HE was young, of course?
FREDERICA.Yes, mother, and handsome as an Adonis.
COUNTESS. You have not fallen in love with this stranger, surely? You are not old enough, and this is only your first season, Frederica.
FREDERICA.Love has all seasons for his own, dear mother. Listen!
SONG—FREDERICA. [This song was not written for the opera; but was introduced by thecomposer]The spring-time of love is both happy and gay,For Joy sprinkles blossoms and balm in our way;the sky, earth, and ocean, in beauty repose,And all the bright future is couleur de rose!
The summer of love is the bloom of the heart,When hill, grove, and valley their music impart;And the pure glow of heaven is seen in fond eyes,As lakes show the rainbow that's hung in the skies!
The autumn of love is the season of cheer—Life's mild Indian summer, the smile of the year—Which comes when the golden-ripe harvest is stored,And yields its own blessing, repose, and reward.
The winter of love is the beam that we win,While the storm howls without, from the sunshine within.Love's reign is eternal—the heart is his throne,And he has all season of life for his own.
COUNTESS.Silly, thoughtless girl!—What strangers are these coming up the avenue?
FREDERICA (looking out.) As I live, the elderly person I told you of, and the young gentleman who risked his life to save mine!
(Enter WEDGEWOOD and ALBERT.)
WEDGEWOOD. Have I the honor of addressing the Countess Laniska? (Aside.) Flounces, frills, filagrees, and furbelows, but she's superlatively odd!
COUNTESS.I am the countess, sir.
WEDGEWOOD (presenting letters.) Will your ladyship be pleased to receive these letters of introduction—if quite convenient?
COUNTESS (receiving letters and looking at them.)Mr. Wedgewood, from Esturia and London; and—
WEDGEWOOD (introducing ALBERT.)Mr. Albert Worrendorf.
COUNTESS (introducing FREDERICA.)My daughter Frederica.
ALBERT (aside.)The angel we met by accident this morning!
WEDGEWOOD (aside.)Seraphically odd!
FREDERICA (to ALBERT.)We have seen each other before, Mr. Worrendorf.
ALBERT.To my great happiness, madam.
(ALBERT and FREDERICA converse apart.)
COUNTESS (to WEDGEWOOD.) It was very kind in my correspondent, Mr. Wedgewood, to introduce a gentleman of your celebrity to my chateau.
WEDGEWOOD. You do me honor, madam. We Englishmen are plain-spoken people. We are not unlike our earthenware—delf and common clay mixed together. If our outsides are sometimes rough, all within is smooth and polished as the best of work. It is the purest spirit, which, like the finest china, lets the light shine through it. (Aside.) Not a bad compliment to myself, and metaphorically odd!
COUNTESS. Your reply reminds me of the object of your visit. The Prussians are very proud of the manufactory which has claimed the attention of the king.
WEDGEWOOD.Oh, how I long to see the great Frederick!
COUNTESS.You will like him, I am confident.
WEDGEWOOD. I don't know that. I don't at all fancy his edict.—What! marry a parcel of handsome, innocent, industrious girls to his great whiskered horse-guards, whether they will or no? It's a piece of moral turpitude—an insult to common sense—and infamously odd—
FREDERICA (advancing.) Have a care, Mr. Wedgewood—have a care how you talk about the king. He possesses a sort of magical ubiquity—and is here, there, and every where at the same moment.
WEDGEWOOD.How does he manage that?
FREDERICA. He wanders about in secrecy and disguise—enters all kinds of mansions—and often over-hears conversations that were never intended for the court. By this means, it is said, he gathers information from every nook and corner of his kingdom.
WEDGEWOOD.Strange kind of hocus-pocus work for a monarch!—Peripatetically odd!
ALBERT. I have been told that he knows more of the character and condition of his subjects and soldiers than they do themselves.
COUNTESS. And he never knows of a wrong done among his people that he does not instantly redress—though it often puzzles them to learn how he arrives at his knowledge of the facts. Many think him a wizard.
WEDGEWOOD. And not without reason, madam. Never before have I heard of such a compound of sagacity, courage, and eccentricity. Oh, I am all in a glow to see and converse with the jolly old boy!
(Enter Count LANISKA.)
COUNTESS (introducing him.)My son, the Count Laniska, will present you to his majesty.
WEDGEWOOD (bowing to COUNT.)If it is convenient. (Aside.) Most martially and uniformly odd! (To LANISKA.)But, first, I should like to have a glimpse at the factory.
COUNT. I shall be happy to show it to you. There is one extraordinary subject connected with it, that will surprise you both—a young girl of singular talent and beauty—
FREDERICA. Ah, brother! upon your favorite theme again. That young girl occupies more of your thoughts than all he porcelain in these dominions.
ALBERT (aside.)Poor Sophia!
FREDERICA (observing the COUNT looks thoughtful.)Why, what's the matter with you, brother?
WEDGEWOOD. He is no doubt studying the mixture of different kinds of clay, and contriving a furnace that will not destroy it by too much heat. Ingeniously odd!
COUNT. You are mistaken, sir. I was thinking at what time I should have the pleasure of waiting upon you.
WEDGEWOOD. I will be at your service as soon as I have had time to adjust my outward and refresh my inward man.—Necessarily odd! (Seeing the COUNTESS about to retire.) Madam, allow me (takes her hand)—If it is convenient.
[Exit WEDGEWOOD and COUNTESS.
FREDERICA (to COUNT.) Now, brother, that the countess has retired, pray favor us with your confidence. You need not mind Mr. Worrendorf—I have told him all about Sophia Mansfield—I love that poor girl myself, not less for her misfortunes than her genius.
ALBERT.I love her too—
FREDERICA (aside.)Oh, dear! what's the matter with me? My head turns round—I am ready to drop!
COUNT (with emotion.)You love her! Wherefore?
ALBERT.She is my countrywoman, and for that I love her.
FREDERICA (recovering.)Well, gentlemen, I must say this is very gallant of you both, to be praising onelady so highly when there is another in the room. (Aside.) Oh, dear me, how nearI came to betraying myself!
ALBERT. Your pardon, my dear madam. When I look at you, I almost forget there is another woman in the world. (Kisses FREDERICA's hand, who turns away with evident confusion.)—But for the present I must leave you, to join Mr. Wedgewood. [Exit.
COUNT (noticing them.) (Aside.) So, so, Frederica—fairly caught, I perceive! (To Frederica.) Ah, sister, sister! as in all things else, there is a destiny in love.
DUET—LANSIKA and FREDERICA.From my fate there's no retreating—Love commands, and I obey;How with joy my heart is beatingAt the fortunes of to-day!Life is filled with strange romances—Love is blind, the poets say;When he comes unsought, the chance isOf his own accord he'll stay.
Love can ne'er be forced to tarry;Chain him—he'll the bonds remove:Paired, not matched, too many marry—All should wed alone for love.Let him on the bridal-evenTrim his lamp with constant ray;And the flame will light to heaven,When the world shall fade away!
[Exeunt
The whole depth of the stage is made use of in this scene, which represents an opencountry. A Camp and Soldiers at a distance. Music. Enter HANS, GERTRUDE, andPeasantry: Lads and Lasses dancing.
CHORUS of PEASANTS.Lads and lasses, trip awayto the cheerful roundelay!At the sound of tambourine,Care is banished from the scene,And a happy train we bound,To the pipe and tabour's sound.Merrily, merrily trip away,'Tis a nation's holiday!Merrily, merrily, merrilie,Bound with sprits light and free!Let's be jocund while we may;And dance—dance—dance—And dance the happy hours away!
When the gleaming line shall come,To the sound of trump and drum;Headed by advancing steeds,Whom the king in person leads—Let us hail him in his state,For the king's both good and great!Merrily, merrily trip away,'Tis a nation's holiday!Merrily, merrily, merrilie,Bound with sprits light and free!Let's be jocund while we may;And dance—dance—dance—And dance the happy hours away!
(Immediately after chorus, a grand march is commenced in he distance, which becomes more and more distinct as the troops advance. The PEASANTS form in groups. HANS speaks during the first part of the march.)
HANS. Here we are, Gertrude, many miles from our own village—and all for vat? To please you—(aside) and to shell a few color to der artishes, vich I pring along mit me for der purpose; but I need not tell her dat.—Here, stand aside, and don't be looking after de sholders!
(GERTRUDE and HANS stand aside. Grand march. Enter a corps of Grenadiers and other troops, who form on the right of the stage. Roll of drums. The troops present arms. Enter FREDERICK, in a furious passion, followed by general and staff Officers, and Count LANISKA. The KING acknowledges the salute, lifts his hat, and puts it on again furiously. HAROLD and Corporal are in the ranks of the Grenadiers. Throughout the scene the KING speaks hurriedly.)
KING.General!
FIRST GENERAL.Your Majesty.
KING. How comes it there is such a lack of discipline in your division? Disband THAT regiment at once, and draft a few of the men from the right wing into other regiments ordered for immediate service! The sooner THEY are shot the better!
FIRST GENERAL.Yes, sire. [Exit.
KING. Generals—most of you have served the greater part of your lives with me. We have grown gray-headed in the service of our country, and we therefore know best ourselves the dangers, difficulties, and glory in which we have shared. While we maintain the discipline of the army, we may defy any power that Europe can march against us—relax that, and we become an easy prey to the spoiler.
SECOND GENERAL.Your majesty shall have no cause of complain in the future.
KING. Make sure of that!—Soldiers, I rely in my operations entirely upon your well-known zeal in my service, and I shall acknowledge it with gratitude as long as I live; but at the same time I require of you that you look upon it as your most sacred duty to show kindness and mercy to all prisoners that the fortunes of war may throw in your power.
SECOND GENERAL.That duty, sire, you have taught us all our lives.
KING (taking snuff.)Good!—Have any of my grenadiers anything to say to me before the parade is dismissed?
HAROLD (recovering arms.)Your Majesty!
KING.Speak out, Harold!
HAROLD. The grenadiers have noticed with deep regret that you fatigue yourself of late too much with the cares of the army. We protest against it—
KING.Zounds and fury!—Here's rebellion! YOU protest against it?
HAROLD (bluntly.)We do. You are getting to be an old man—a very old man—and are too much afoot.
KING.I can do as I like about it, I suppose?
HAROLD. Certainly not; and you will, therefore, in future, be good enough to use your carriage more and your legs less.
KING.What do the grenadiers FEAR?
HAROLD. We fear nothing but the loss of your health, the loss of your life, or the loss of your favor, sire.
KING.Don't you fear the loss of my temper at your bluntness—eh, old comrade?
HAROLD.No, sire; we know you like it.
KING. I do indeed. You are in the right, my brave compatriots—for my advanced age and increasing infirmities admonish me that I shall be under the necessity of following your advice. But on the day of battle, you shall see me on horseback—ON HORSEBACK—and in the thickest of the fight! (Crosses the stage, as a BURGOMASTER enters, kneels, and presents a petition.) What have we here?
BURGOMASTER. Sire—the common council has imprisoned a citizen, upon an accusation that he has sinned against heaven, the king, and the right worshipful the common council. We humbly beg to know what Your Majesty's pleasure is with regard to the punishment of so unparalleled and atrocious an offender?
KING. If the prisoner has sinned against heaven, and is not a fool or a madman, he will make his peace with it without delay. This is a Power (taking off his hat—all the characters make their obeisance) that kings themselves must bow to in reverential awe. (Resumes his hat.)
BURGOMASTER.But he has also sinned against your high and mighty majesty—
KING.Tush, tush, man!
BURGOMASTER (profoundly.)On my official veracity, sire.
KING.Well, well, for that I pardon him—
BURGOMASTER.And he has likewise sinned against the right worshipful the common council.
KING.The reprobate!—
BURGOMASTER.It is most veritable, Your Majesty!
KING.Well, for that terrible and enormous offence, it becomes my solemn duty to make anexample of so abominable a culprit and to punish him in a must exemplary manner.Therefore—
BURGOMASTER.Yes, Your Majesty—
KING.Send him to the Castle of Spandau, to be imprisoned—
BURGOMASTER.Your Majesty—
KING.For at least—
BURGOMASTER.Sire—
KING. Half an hour (PEASANTRY laugh;)—and afterward he is at liberty to go to the devil his own way; and the right worshipful the common council may go with him, if they like!
(Exit BURGOMASTER. As he goes out, shrugging his shoulders, all the PEASANTRY laugh, until checked by a look from the KING, who crosses the stage to the Grenadiers, and addresses the CORPORAL, who has his watch-riband suspended.)
KING.Corporal! (He advances and recovers arms.)
CORPORAL.Your Majesty!
KING. I have often noticed you in the field. You are a brave soldier—and a prudent one, too, to have saved enough from your pay to buy yourself a watch.
HAROLD (aside to CORPORAL.)You remember what I told you about a hawk's eye.
CORPORAL.Brave I flatter myself I am; but as to my watch, it is of little signification.
KING (Seizing and pulling out a bullet fastened to the CORPORAL's watch-riband.)Why, this is not a watch!—It's a bullet!
CORPORAL. It's the only watch I have, Your Majesty; but I have not worn it entirely out of vanity—
KING.What have you worn it for, then? It does not show you the time of day!
CORPORAL.No; bit it clearly shows me the death I am to die in your Majesty's service.
KING. Well said, my brave fellow! And, that you may likewise see the hour among the twelve in which you ARE to die, I will give you my watch. Take it, and wear it for my sake corporal. (The KING gives the CORPORAL his watch.)
CORPORAL (with emotion.)It will also teach me that at any moment Your Majesty may command my life.
HAROLD (enthusiastically.)And the lives of us all. Long live the King!
(Flourish of drums. The KING acknowledges the salute.)
KING (to Grenadiers.) You, my brave fellows, are my own guards. I can rely upon YOU. There is no want of discipline here—eh, General? Notwithstanding all my annoyances, I am the happiest king in Christendom!
CHORUS(Grenadiers and all the characters)All hail the king!—Long live the king!Our hope in peace and war!With his renown let Prussia ring—Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah!He is the pillar of the state!Our sword and buckler he!Heaven give to Frederick the GreatEternal victory!
(The GRENADIERS cheer. The OFFICERS close about the KING. Flourish and tableau.The act-drop descends on the picture.)
End of the First Act.
Discovered. The stage represents a large apartment without the usual side-entrances. On the left hand is a row of long, old-fashioned windows, with painting-screens so arranged as to let the light fall obliquely on the tables beneath; at which the FACTORY GIRLS are seated, employed in painting various articles of porcelain. SOPHIA MANSFIELD is seated at the table nearest the audience. On the right are separate tables, at which GIRLS are employed mixing and grinding colors. In the center of the stage is a small platform, on which a number of painted vases, ready for the oven, are placed. KARL is engaged in examining them. At the rear of the stage is the entrance to the room—a large open door—on each side of which are rows of shelves, filled with vases, bowls, plates, jars, mantel ornaments, and the like, put there to dry. The whole representing the painting-room of the Royal Porcelain Factory. Through the doors the furnaces are seen, on which the porcelain is placed to set the colors, and which several WORKMEN are attending. The curtain rises slowly to the music.
CHORUS.(German air.)Home, home, home—Dear, lost home!Though here we pine in slavery,Our hearts are all in Saxony,Our girlhood's happy home!
Land of the free and bold,To hopeless bondage sold!While abject toil and fearEnchain thy daughters here,We yearn for thee,O Saxony!—For freedom, love, and home!
(The GIRLS attempt to waltz to the music; but, overcome by their feelings, they resume their tasks.)
SOLO—SOPHIA.Home, home, home—Dear, lost home!Though cares oppress us fearfully,We exiles carol cheerfullyOf girlhood's happy home!
Beneath our native sky,The hours went swiftly by;While on a foreign soil,Our youth consumes in toil!We yearn for thee,O Saxony!—For freedom, love, and home!
(The GIRLS attempt to waltz, as before, etc.)
CHORUS.Home, home, home, etc.
(The WORKMEN and the GIRLS resume their tasks.)
(Enter Count LANISKA, ALBERT, and WEDGEWOOD.)
WEDGEWOOD (looking around, and speaking enthusiastically as he enters.) Admirable, upon my word! Every department better than the last, and this the best of all! Never saw anything like it. The colors brilliant—the designs exquisitely classical—"a place for everything, and everything in its place!"
COUNT. Whatever His Majesty constructs, whether a fortress or a factory, is perfect in all its details.
WEDGEWOOD. Yet look around, and read your monarch's history in the eyes of these prisoners of war. Observe that picture of melancholy (pointing to SOPHIA, who, during the scene, has been leaning dejectedly on her hand.—KARL standing by her side.) How reluctantly she pursues her task! Our English manufacturers work in quite another manner, for they are free!
KARL. And are free men or free women never indisposed?—or do you Englishmen blame your king whenever any of his subjects turn pale? The woman at whom you are looking is evidently ill.
WEDGEWODD. The fie upon your inhumanity for making a poor, sick girl work when she seems scarcely able to hold up her head! (Aside.) I don't half like that fellow. Villainously odd.
ALBERT (to SOPHIA.) My poor girl, what is the matter with you. The overseer says that, since you came here, you have done nothing worthy of your pencil. Yet this charming piece (pointing to an ornament on her painting)—which was brought from Saxony is of your design—is it not?
SOPHIA.Yes, sir, it was my misfortune to paint it. If the king had never seen or liked it,I should now be—
ALBERT.In Saxony; but forget that country, and you may be happy in this.
SOPHIA. I can not forget it!—I can not forget everybody that I ever loved. Ask not a Saxon woman to forget her country!
ALBERT.Whom do you love in Saxony now?
SOPHIA. Whom do I NOT love in Saxony? I have a brother there, whom I have not seen since childhood. He was at college when I was carried off from the cottage in which we both were born. He is ignorant of my fate. (She regards ALBERT with great attention, and examines his features minutely.)
ALBERT.Why do you gaze upon me so intently?
SOPHIA. I know not why, sir; but you seemed even now a dear heart-cherished one, whom I have wished for long and anxiously.
ALBERT.Think me that one, and trust me.
SOPHIA. I will—for there's a cherub nestling in my heart which whispers, "You are here to save me!" (ALBERT leads her to her task, which she resumes in great dejection of spirits.)
WEDGEWOOD (to KARL.)Is that poor girl often thus?
KARL.She sits as you see her, like one stupefied, half the day.
WEDGEWOOD.The cause of this—if it is convenient?
KARL. She has fallen to the lot of a soldier (glancing at SOPHIA)—who swears, if she delays another day to MARRY HIM, that he will complain to the king.
COUNT (turning furiously upon KARL.)Wretch! (seizes him.)
KARL (throwing him off.)This insult will cost you dear! Your scorn for the king's commands—
COUNT (scornfully.)I had forgotten. (Releases him.) You are a mere instrument in the hands of a tyrant!
KARL (aside.)That word again!—
SOPHIA (running between them, and throwing herself at the feet of LANISKA.) Save me! save me! You CAN save me! You are a powerful lord, and can speak to the king! Save me from this detested marriage.
KARL (aside to SOPHIA.)Are you mad?
COUNT (raising SOPHIA, who clings to him, and shrinks from KARL.)I will do so, or perish in the attempt!
KARL (aside.)Ah! say you so? Then the king shall know HIS enemy and MINE! [Exit.
WEDGEWOOD (noticing KARL go off.) Whew! There's mischief brewing! If that black-muzzled rascal is not hatching trouble for us all, I'll never trust my seven senses again! I wonder they permit such a bear to go at large in a garden like this—he'll root up the flowers as well as weeds.—Dangerously odd!
(Trumpet sounds without, and a buzz and hum as if of a distant crowd; the noise comes near the Factory.)
WEDGEWOOD.What's afoot now, I wonder?
ALBERT.Some new freak, no doubt, of this eccentric monarch. (Noises.)
WEDGEWOOD (looking out.) The town is all astir (noise louder)—humming and buzzing like a hive of bees! (Noise, and distant shouts.) And yonder comes a fussy little burgomaster with a proclamation, and a crowd of noisy citizens at his heels—odd! [Noise and shouts increase.
(Sophia and the other GIRLS and the WORKMEN leave their occupations, as if anxious to learn the cause of the uproar. When the buzzing, huzzaing, and noise reach the Factory, loud sound of the trumpet.)
BURGOMASTER (without.) Make way there, good people—make way there for the royal herald! (The BURGOMASTER bustles in with the HERALD—the crowd following and surrounding him—noises.) Stand back (using his wand)—stand back, you idle, ragged tatterdemalions, and pay all due reverence to the constituted authorities! (laughter)—for know all men by these presents (very pompously,) that I represent the king! (laughter.)
WEDGEWOOD.What a figure for the part! (laughter.)
BURGOMASTER (smartly striking with his wand one who laughs louder than the rest.) Take that, and let it teach you better manners in future, you scarecrow!—Now draw near, good people, and be dumb! Lend me all your ears!—
WEDGEWOOD.You have ears enough already for any two-legged animal—
BURGOMASTER.While I, by virtue of my office as a magistrate, publish this important document!(SOPHIA comes forward.)
CITIZEN (eagerly.)Now for it!
BURGOMASTER (hitting him smartly over the head.) You will, will you?—Hish! This paper is big with information to the whole realm; but more especially to the daughters of Saxony. (SOPHIA and the GIRLS of the Factory, by looks and actions, evince great interest in the reading of the paper.)
BURGOMASTER. Hish! (To HERALD.) Now proceed in regular order, and according to ancient form and usage, to read the royal proclamation!—Hish! (Hands paper to HERALD.)
HERALD (reads.) "By the grace of God, we, Frederick the Second, King of Prussia, hereby make known that he will give freedom—"
SOPHIA (eagerly aside.)Freedom? (Listens with anxiety.)
HERALD. "And a reward of five hundred crowns to the ARTIST who shall produce the most beautifully designed and highly-finished enameled porcelain vase of Berlin china; and permit her to marry whomsoever she shall think proper."
SOPHIA (aside and joyfully.)Her I aright? (The GIRLS of the Factory show great joy at this.)
HERALD."The ARTIST's name shall be inscribed upon the vase, which shall be called 'The PrussianVase.'"
SOPHIA (aside.)Oh, happy, happy news!
HERALD."Signed at the Sans Souci—"By the King."
OMNES. HA-z-z-a-a-h-a-a-a-a! (Amid the shouts and general joy of the GIRLS, the BURGOMASTER bustles out, using his wand frequently, and speaking all the while; the HERALD following, and the CITIZENS buzzing and huzzaing as before.) Silence you nondescript villains!—Silence, I say! You stun me with your uproar! (Loud shout.—Passionately.) Oh, shut your ugly mugs! (Strikes them.)
WEDGEWOOD.Mugs! I like that. He's in the crockery-trade, like myself.
SOPHIA (with joy.)This proclamation has animated me with new life and energy. I feel like one inspired!
COUNT.What mean you?
SOPHIA.To become a competitor for the prize.
ALBERT.You will have many opponents.
SOPHIA.I heed them not.
WEDGEWOOD.All will be zeal throughout the manufactory.
SOPHIA.So much the greater need for my perseverance.
ALBERT.Some will be excited with the hope of gaining their liberty.
SOPHIA.Oh, blessed hope!
WEDGEWOOD.Some stimulated by the crowns.—Not at all odd.—It would be odd if they were not!
SOPHIA.But none have so strong a motive for exertion as I have.
COUNT (with enthusiasm.)Nobly resolved! I will assist you with every faculty I possess.
ALBERT (with the same feeling.)And I!
WEDGEWOOD (with the same.)And all!—If it is convenient.
SOPHIA (joyfully.) Then doubt not my success. (Exit LANISKA, ALBERT, and, WEDGEWOOD.) Oh, how my heart bounds with the thoughts of once more seeing Saxony! Its mountains, torrents, vineyards, are all before me now! And then our native songs!—They steal into my heart and melt it.
SONG AND CHORUS.(German air.)SOPHIA and FACTORY GIRLS.Sky, stream, moorland, and mountain,Tree, cot, spire, and dome,Breeze, bird, vineyard, and fountain,Kindred, friends, country, and home!—Home, home, home, home!—These are the blessings of home!
(The FACTORY-GIRLS now waltz cheerfully to the music.)
Hope how fondly I cherish,Dear land, to see thee once more!O Fate! let me not perishFar from my own native shore!Home, home, home, home!—Saxony, Liberty's home!
(The GIRLS waltz as before, etc.)
Those who freedom inherit,Bow not to Tyranny's throne;Then, friends, in a kind spirit,Judge of my love by your own.Home, home, home, home!—The land of the heart is our home!
(They all waltz with great spirit until the scene closes.)
A Street in Berlin. Enter FREDERICK in a cloak—KARL following.
KING. Those who have the command of motives, and know their power, have also the command of all that the arts, or what is called a genius for the arts, can produce. The human mind and human ingenuity are much the same in Italy, England, and Prussia. Then why should not we have a Prussian as well as a Wedgewood or a Barbarini vase? We shall see. I do not understand mon metier de roi, if I can not call forth talents where I know them to exist. (To KARL.) And so the count denounced me for a tyrant, did he, Karl?
KARL.He did, Your Majesty.
KING.He's a mere stripling; and I permit boys and fools to speak of me as they list. ButI am no tyrant, Karl! He might have spared me that. (Musingly.) Tyrant!—
KARL (aside.)It rankles deeply.
KING (recovering from his meditation.) Youth and inexperience—to say nothing of love—pshaw!—which is the root of all folly—shall be his apology this time: but let him beware how he offends again—
KARL (aside.)It moves him as I intended.
KING.No, I am no tyrant. I should not be branded with such a title!
KARL (startled.)Branded, Your Majesty?
KING. What has happened, Karl? You are as pale as ashes! What mystery is here? I am to be trusted.
KARL.Your Majesty was ever kind; and if I might—
KING. Might! You may. Speak freely to your sovereign—your friend—and tell me what it is that weighs upon your mind.
SONG—KARLDared these lips my sad story impart,What relief it would give to my heart!Though the scenes of past years as they rise,Bring the dews of remorse to my eyes,Yet, oh hear me, and ever concealWhat in agony now I reveal!—
KING.Speak freely, Karl—
KARL.And behold, while I throw off the mask!Ah, no, no, no, no, no—I shrink in despair from the task!
In the page of my life there appearsA sad passage that's written in tears!Could but that be erased, I would giveAll the remnant of days I may live:yet the cause of the cloud on my browI have never disclosed until now—
KING.Say on, Karl—
KARL.Here behold!—It is branded in flame!Ah, no, no, no, no, no—I shrink in despair from my shame! [KARL rushes out.
KING.There's a mystery about that fellow that I can not understand.—Whom have we here?Oh, the English traveller who is in such a good humor with my manufactory, and whohas such strange notions respecting me. Good—good!
[Draws his cloak about him and retires.
(Enter WEDGEWOOD.)
WEDGEWOOD. I begin to perceive that I shall get into some confounded scrape if I stay here much longer, and so will my young friend Mr. Worrendorf, who has made me his confidant: but mum's the word! (Seeing the KING, who is in the act of taking snuff.) Ah, use snuff, my old boy?—Odd!—Thank you for a pinch. (Takes a pinch sans ceremonie, and without the King's consent. FREDERICK shuts the box angrily. WEDGEWOOD starts back in astonishment.—Aside.) Wonder who the old-fashioned brown jug can be! I'll take him by the handle and pour him out, and see what's in him.
KING.Like the snuff?
WEDGEWOOD.Yes (snuffs)—it's decent blackguard (snuffs)—quite decent.
KING.Taste it again.
WEDGEWOOD.Don't care if I do. (Helps himself.)
KING.Perhaps you will also do me the favor to accept the box?
WEDGEWOOD (taking the box.)If it is convenient. What am I to infer from this?
KING. That you and I cannot take snuff out of the same box. MY box is not large enough for two.
WEDGEWOOD (astonished.)You don't say so! "Not large enough for two?" (Looks at the box.) Damn me ifI don't think it large enough for a dozen, unless they took snuff with a shovel!(Aside.) Who in the name of all that's magnanimous can this old three-corneredcocked-hatted cockolorum be?
KING.You were overheard to say but now that you would like to see the king?
WEDGEWOOD. Overheard? (Aside.) Ah, that's the way they do everything here. A man can't sneeze without some one of the four winds of heaven reporting it to His Majesty! There is no such thing as a secret in the whole kingdom! How do the women get along, I wonder? (To FREDERICK.) "Like to see the king?" Certainly I should.
KING.That box will procure you an audience. Present it at the palace.
WEDGEWOOD. Look you here, my jolly old cock, none of your jokes—none of your tricks upon travellers, if you please. What do you mean?
KING.That I am appreciated at court.
WEDGEWOOD (aside.) Oh, there's no standing on this! (To FREDERICK.) Do you intend to say that you are personally acquainted with Frederick the Great?
KING. I know him, I believe, better than any subject in his realm. He is my most intimate friend.
WEDGEWOOD. Well, then, if that be the case, all that I have to say is, that he is not over and above nice in his choice of companions.—What an odd old file!
KING (angrily.)Look you here, Mr. Wedgewood—
WEDGEWOOD.W-e-d-g-e-w-o-o-d!—
KING. Yes—I know you well enough. You are an Englishman by birth—a crockery-merchant by trade—a gentleman from inclination—and an odd sort of character from habit. Without knowing anything more about it than the man in the moon, you have condemned the policy of the king, who is aware of all you have said and done since your arrival in Prussia.
WEDGEWOOD (alarmed.) Oh, I'll get out of this infernal country as fast as my legs can carry me! The king is all ears, like a field of corn; and all eyes, like a potato-patch!
KING.What alarms you?
WEDGEWOOD. Everything. It's all over with me! I'm an earthen teapot with the spout knocked off!—Suspiciously odd!
KING.You, sir, like too many others, are entirely mistaken in the character of Frederick.You will understand him better when we meet again (going.)
WEDGEWOOD.But, before you go, pray receive your box again!—(the KING looks at him sternly—WEDGEWOOD is greatly alarmed)—if—it—is—convenient!
KING.Not now. When next we confer, remember me.—Farewell! [Exit.
WEDGEWOOD.Remember you? I think I shall. Once seen, never forgotten. What a deep old screw!
(Enter HAROLD.)
HAROLD.The king commands your presence at the chateau of the countess.
WEDGEWOOD. The devil he does! (Looks at the box.) What's here? As I live, the royal arms! (Conceals the box from HAROLD.) Oh, the thing's plain enough. That fellow has stolen this box; and for fear of being found out, he has put it off on me! It's all up!—I've been bamboozled by the nefarious old monster of iniquity! But I'll after him straight, and have him JUGGED. If I don't, they'll make not bones of JUGGING me!—If it is convenient. [Exit in a flurry.
HAROLD. How he trembles! He's frightened out of his senses—Fear? What is it? A word not to be found in the articles of war—a soldier's only vocabulary!
SONG—HAROLD.Fiery Mars, thy votary hear!Weave for me a wreath of glory!When I rest upon my bier,Let my memory live in story!Aid my sword in time of war!In my country's cause I wield it—Only with the breath I draw,Will I to the foeman yield it!
[Exit.