Gisela. Und siehst das Feuer brennen auf dem Herd 1295 Hast du nicht einen Herd und haft ein Kind, 1300 Das du verlassen so unväterlich? 1305 Und wenn dich nicht die Lust des Lebens lockt, Adalbert. Bin ich verwandelt? Wie ist mir geschehn? 1310 1315 (Ab.) Was nicht der Oelberg, nicht das heil'ge Grab, 1320 Was nicht des Jordans hochgeweihte Flut An mir gethan, das hat dies Weib vermocht. Das Thor der Gnade schließt sich leuchtend auf, 1325 1330 Soll ich gegeißelt sein, so sei's für ihn! Mein Blut, für ihn vergossen, wascht_mich_rein, 1335 (Ab.) ARGUMENT TO ACT IV. Sc. I. Ernest is sleeping in the lap of his friend Werner, at the foot of the Castle of Falkenstein, in the Black Forest. Adalbert ap pears, and entreats the fugitive but reluctant Ernest not to deny to the unhappy slayer of his father the opportunity of making some atonement to him, by affording to him in his outlawry the shelter and protection of his castle. A body of troops with Warin, a Swabian noble, at their head, approach in mournful procession; they are the remnant of the army with which Hermann, Ernest's younger brother, made Duke of Swabia in his stead, had been sent by Konrad into Italy. After brilliant victory, Hermann with many of his men has died of the plague, first charging Warin, his standard-bearer, to take the banner of the army, the Swabian ducal banner, to his brother Ernest, for whom alone he had accepted it in charge. Warin and his followers beg to be led to battle, before they too are carried off by the pestilence. Under such sombre auspices Ernest resumes his dignity as Duke, and rouses himself to fresh exertion. Sc. II. Count Mangold is advancing upon the Castle of Falkenstein. He is visited in his camp by Bishop Warmann, who now that Hermann is dead stirs up anew his nephew's hopes of himself receiving the Duchy of Swabia. Werner now boldly presents himself before Mangold (who is a kinsman of his own), reproaches him for having sold his honour and his independence, and urges him to return to the service of freedom and of his rightful lord. Mangold is stirred to shame and compunction, but declares that it is too late to go back, and Werner leaves him with the warning to beware of him when they meet in battle. Sc. III. Werner returns to the castle with the news that they are encompassed, and that their only choice is between surrender or famine, and a desperate fight, for which they accordingly prepare. Adalbert brings his young son and devotes him to Ernest's cause. Werner, now equipped again as a knight, resumes his place at Ernest's side, and strives to relieve somewhat the gloom of the occasion by telling the story of the Count of Abensberg and his thirty-two sons. Ernest, wearing the mantle his murdered father had worn, and carrying the shield borne by his brother Hermann, is hailed by his followers as their lord, and goes forth to battle. Vierter Aufzug. Erste Scene. Schwarzwald. Auf der Höhe die Burg Falkenstein. Im Vorgrund Werner; den schlafenden Ernst im Schooße. Werner. Er schläft in meinem Schooß, er schläft so sanft; O! nur zu sehr hat er mir stets vertraut! Und dieser Schmerzenszug in seinem Schlaf. 1340 1345 1350 Wo dem Erwachenden sein schweres Leid Adalbert tritt auf. Adalbert. Da liegt er. Ha! wie er dem Vater gleicht, Werner. 1355 Tritt sacht auf, Pilger! Weck' nicht meinen Freund! Adalbert. Laß mir die Wacht bei diesem Schlafenden! Ich hab' ein altes Recht, die Herzoge Im Arm zu halten. 1360 Werner. Wunderlicher Mann! Wenn man dir tiefer in die Runzeln schaut, Adalbert. Wenn du die Locken von der Stirne streichst, 1365 Bist du der Werner, der von Kiburg stammt. Werner. Was willst du hier? Adalbert. Den Herzog sucht' ich auf. Werner. Weißt du, daß er gebannt, geächtet ist? Adalbert. Wer solchen Fluch getragen hat wie ich, |