She should be paler for my troublous days-
And there it is-my father's iron lips

Have sworn divorcement 'twixt me and my right.

SIGIFRED (aside).

Auranthe! I had hop'd this whim had pass'd.

LUDOLPH.

And, Sigifred, with all his love of justice,
When will he take that grandchild in his arms,
That, by my love I swear, shall soon be his?
This reconcilement is impossible,

For see-but who are these?

SIGIFRED.

They are messengers

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From our great emperor; to you, I doubt not,

For couriers are abroad to seek

you out.

Enter THEODORE and GONFRED.

THEODORE.

Seeing so many vigilant eyes explore
The province to invite your highness back
To your high dignities, we are too happy.

GONFRED.

We have no eloquence to colour justly
The emperor's anxious wishes.

LUDOLPH.

Go. I follow you.

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[Exeunt THEODORE and GONFRED.

I play the prude: it is but venturing

Why should he be so earnest? Come, my friend,
Let us to Friedburg castle.

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ACT II.

SCENE I.-An Ante-chamber in the Castle.

Enter LUDOLPH and SIGIFRED.

LUDOLPH.

No more advices, no more cautioning;

I leave it all to fate-to any thing!

I cannot square my conduct to time, place,
Or circumstance; to me 'tis all a mist!

I say no more.

SIGIFRED.

LUDOLPH.

It seems I am to wait

Here in the ante-room ;-that may be a trifle.
You see now how I dance attendance here,
Without that tyrant temper, you so blame,
Snapping the rein. You have medicin'd me
With good advices; and I here remain,
In this most honourable ante-room,
Your patient scholar.

SIGIFRED.

Do not wrong me, Prince.

By Heavens, I'd rather kiss Duke Conrad's slipper,
When in the morning he doth yawn with pride,

Than see you humbled but a half-degree!

Truth is, the Emperor would fain dismiss

The nobles ere he sees you.

5

ΙΟ

15

Enter GONFRED, from the Council-room.

LUDOLPH.

Well, sir! what?

GONFRED.

Great honour to the Prince! The Emperor,
Hearing that his brave son had re-appeared,
Instant dismiss'd the Council from his sight,
As Jove fans off the clouds. Even now they pass.

20

[Exit.

Enter the Nobles from the Council-room. They cross the stage, bowing with respect to LUDOLPH, he frowning on them. CONRAD follows. Exeunt Nobles.

LUDOLPH.

Not the discoloured poisons of a fen,

Which he who breathes feels warning of his death,

Could taste so nauseous to the bodily sense,

As these prodigious sycophants disgust

The soul's fine palate.

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CONRAD.

Princely Ludolph, hail!

Welcome, thou younger sceptre to the realm!

That they, against the winter of thy sire,

Strength to thy virgin crownet's golden buds,

May burst, and swell, and flourish round thy brows,
Maturing to a weighty diadem!

30

Yet be that hour far off; and may he live,

Who waits for thee, as the chapp'd earth for rain.

Set my life's star! I have lived long enough,
Since under my glad roof, propitiously,
Father and son each other re-possess.

35

LUDOLPH.

Fine wording, Duke! but words could never yet
Forestall the fates; have you not learnt that yet?
Let me look well: your features are the same;
Your gait the same; your hair of the same shade;
As one I knew some passed weeks ago,
Who sung far different notes into mine ears.
I have mine own particular comments on 't;
You have your own, perhaps.

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CONRAD.

My gracious Prince,

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All men may err. In truth I was deceived

In your great father's nature, as you were.
Had I known that of him I have since known,
And what you soon will learn, I would have turn'd
My sword to my own throat, rather than held
Its threatening edge against a good King's quiet :
Or with one word fever'd you, gentle Prince,
Who seem'd to me, as rugged times then went,
Indeed too much oppress'd. May I be bold
To tell the Emperor you will haste to him?

LUDOLPH.

Your Dukedom's privilege will grant so much.

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55

[Exit CONRAD.

He's very close to Otho, a tight leech!
Your hand-I go. Ha! here the thunder comes
Sullen against the wind! If in two angry brows
My safety lies, then Sigifred, I'm safe.

To chattering pigmies? I would have you know
That such neglect of our high Majesty
Annuls all feel of kindred. What is son,—
Or friend,—or brother,—or all ties of blood,—
When the whole kingdom, centred in ourself,
Is rudely slighted? Who am I to wait?
By Peter's chair! I have upon my tongue

A word to fright the proudest spirit here!—
Death!—and slow tortures to the hardy fool,

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Who dares take such large charter from our smiles!
Conrad, we would be private. Sigifred!

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Off! And none pass this way on pain of death!

[Exeunt CONRAD and SIGIFRED.

LUDOLPH.

This was but half expected, my good sire,

Yet I am griev'd at it, to the full height,

As though my hopes of favour had been whole.

OTHO.

How you indulge yourself! What can you hope for?

LUDOLPH.

Nothing, my liege; I have to hope for nothing.

I come to greet you as a loving son,

And then depart, if I may be so free,

Seeing that blood of yours in my warm veins
Has not yet mitigated into milk.

What would you, sir?

Отно.

LUDOLPH.

A lenient banishment;

So please you let me unmolested pass

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