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Da wirket jeder Geist und jede Hand

Belebend, fördernd für des Ganzen Wohl,

Da glänzt der Thron, da lebt die Stadt, da grünt

Das Feld, da blicken Männer frei und stolz;

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Des Fürsten und des Volkes Rechte sind

Verwoben, wie sich Ulm' und Reb' umschlingen,
Und für des Heiligthums Vertheidigung
Steht jeder freudig ein mit Gut und Blut.

Man rettet gern aus trüber Gegenwart

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Sich in das heitere Gebiet der Kunst,

Und für die Kränkungen der Wirklichkeit

Sucht man sich Heilung in des Dichters Träumen.
Doch heute, wen vielleicht der Bühne Spiel
Verwundet, der gedenke, sich zum Troste,

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[blocks in formation]

Zum freien Bund der Ordnung und des Rechts.
Ihr habt's gesehen, Zeugen seid ihr alle;
In ihre Tafeln grab' es die Geschichte!
Heil diesem König, diesem Volke Heil!

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Personen.

Kunrad der Zweite, römischer Kaiser.

Gisela, seine Gemahlin.

Heinrich, Kunrads und Giselas zwölfjähriger Sohn.

Ernst,

Hermann, J

}Söhne der Gisela erster Che.

Warmann, Bischof von Konstanz.

Odo, Graf von Champagne.

Hugo von Egisheim, Graf im Elsaß.

Werner von Kiburg,

Mangold von Beringen,} Grafen in Schwaben.

Adalbert von Falkenstein, schwäbische Edle.
Warin,

Geistliche und weltliche Reichsstände. Kriegsleute. Volk.

Die Handlung fällt in das Jahr 1030.

ARGUMENT TO ACT I.

an event

Sc. I. The Emperor Konrad II., having secured the election of his young son and heir Henry (afterwards the Emperor Henry III.) as German King, and consequently his successor in the empire, is about to celebrate Henry's coronation at Aachen; which he regards as a decisive step achieved in his cherished endeavour to make the imperial dignity hereditary in his own family. The Empress Gisela seizes the opportunity to intercede for her son by a former marriage, Ernest II. Duke of Swabia, who, having twice risen in rebellion against Konrad, in defence of his claims to the succession to Burgundy (his mother being the niece of the old and childless King Rudolf), has been deprived of his duchy, and has already suffered three years' imprisonment. Konrad himself claims Burgundy as falling to him through his predecessor, the Emperor Henry II., who was the son of Rudolf's eldest sister, and whom Rudolf had appointed heir to his kingdom,—whether however as emperor, to be succeeded by following emperors, or only as his nearest kinsman, is the point in dispute. Konrad declares himself willing once more to pardon Ernest, but makes Gisela swear that if he revolt a third time, refusing to abide by the conditions imposed by emperor and empire, she will not help him, nor revenge what may be done to him, nor further petition in his behalf. Konrad has anticipated Gisela's wishes, and Ernest appears, broken by imprisonment into repentance and submission. All now proceed to the ceremony of the coronation.

Sc. II. In the hall of the Assembly of the Empire a conversation takes place between Count Mangold of Veringen, one of the vassals of Duke Ernest who forsook him at the Diet of Ulm, and went over to the side of the emperor in the Burgundian dispute, and his uncle, Bishop Warmann of Constance, who has had in charge the conduct of affairs in

Swabia, and who has just been drawing up a new deed of enfeoffment for Duke Ernest. Mangold, rewarded by the imperial favour, has cherished still more ambitious hopes, which are now frustrated by Ernest's restoration to his duchy; he is also moved to compunction and self-reproach by the wan and haggard appearance of his former liege lord, to whom he has been so faithless. Warmann reproves Mangold for his faintheartedness, and expresses his distrust in the reconciliation between the high-handed emperor and his stepson, and his belief that the old antagonism between imperial ambition and the self-willed spirit of independence among the princes must soon lead to a fresh outbreak, and thus open up to Mangold the way to honour and power. Konrad appears in the midst of the princes and magnates of the empire, and declares his purpose to reinvest Ernest, who has formally renounced all claims to the Burgundian succession, with the Duchy of Swabia. He demands however as a condition, that Ernest shall not suffer the outlawed Count Werner of Kiburg, the former instigator and associate of his revolt, within his dominions, but shall promise to seize and deliver him up, if discovered there, to the imperial power. Ernest pleads indignantly against this demand, and steadfastly refuses to betray his loyal vassal and faithful friend. Konrad consequently adjudges the duchy to Ernest's younger brother Hermann, and formally pronounces upon Ernest the ban of the empire, which is approved and confirmed by the assembled princes. Warmann follows in the name of the bishops of the empire with the curses of excommunication, and Ernest goes forth a doomed outlaw, but unshaken in his resolution never to give up his friend.

Erster Aufzug.

Erste Scene.

Saal im Palaste zu Aachen. Auf beiden Seiten Eingänge, in der Mitte eine Flügelthür.

Kaiser Kunrad tritt von der Rechten auf, seinen Sohn Heinrich an der Hand führend, beide festlich gekleidet.

Kunrad.

Die Sonne, die sich strahlend dort erhebt,
Sie führet einen folgeschweren Tag
Für mich und dich, geliebter Sohn, herauf.
Geweihet sollst du werden und gekrönt
Zu Aachen hier, der alten Krönungsstadt,
Als deutscher König; Erbe sollst du heißen
Des Thrones, der vor allen herrlich steht.
So stellt sich mir die große Hoffnung fest,
Daß mein Geschlecht, der sal'sche Frankenstamm,
Begründet sei als Deutschlands Herrscherhaus.
Noch fasfest du die volle Deutung nicht;
Jedoch geziemt es dir, an solchem Fest

Dich würdig zu benehmen, achtsam, ernst,

Denn reiche Zukunft schwebt ob deinem Haupt.

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ΙΟ

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