The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman, and Keats

Good heavens preserve me! Went and bowed thyself Unto that hateful tyrant-asked his daughter!

Phil. Well, what of that? Why need'st thou chafe it o'er

As if 'twere strange that I should love a woman? Lord of M. Were there no women in the world but her

That thou must go and be a cringing fool

To that man of all others!

Phil.
And that man
Shall bow himself to me, and humbly sue
That I would wed his daughter! and by heaven
I will not wed her then! I'll have revenge!

Lord of M. Peace with these hectoring threats, thou boasting fool!

What can he do that's poor and powerless?

Enter PHILIP.

But here he comes! Welcome, young heir of Maine
My musings were of thee!
Phil.
And what of me?
Art thou not he that with a braggart's threat
Defied me heretofore?
Gast.

Thy father's guest,
I owe thee grateful thanks; but unto thee,
The patriot-saviour, I owe humble service!

Phil. I am not used to service-none I need!
Gast. But I will serve thee as thou wott'st not of-
Give thee revenge on him thy soul has cursed!
Phil. Did I not call thee braggart? Let me go!
Gast. Nay, then against thy will I'll serve thee-
listen!

Like thee, I've sworn a patriot's deep revenge

Phil. Thou should'st have made me base; have Upon the house of Kronberg-wherefore so,

crushed my spirit,

And shaped me out some humbler path to tread!
Lord of M. I never bade thee ask a wife from
Kronberg,

And bow thyself to him, that he might spurn thee!
Thou hast abased thyself, and me in thee;
Thou art a servile dog, and I could beat thee!

Phil. Stand back, old man!-I'm in no mood of patience

Stand back, my father, and provoke me not!

It matters not, for whom has he not wronged
And 't is not I alone have sworn revenge,
Nor thou and I-nor twenty more than us—
But twenty times a thousand in this league
Are banded heart and hand!
Phil. [aside.]

Yet in despite Of my good angel I must listen to him! Gast. Hear'st thou me?

Phil.

Gast.

SCENE IV.

the city-Evening

I do, what say'st thou farther? Thou hast dwelt in these sequestered glens of Maine,

And hast not known that the great earth went round!
Get thee among the people; to the herds
In the remotest dells, and hear them talk;
They are more of men than thou!

Phil.
In words, perhaps.
Gast. Stand by the vine-dressers upon the hills,
And they will be thy teachers! Ask the mothers,
The earliest words her lisping boy shall speak,
And she will tell thee, curses on the oppressor!
If these arouse thee not, go to the city,
And hear the meagre workman at his loom-
There are who call his muttered musings treason!
Phil. All this I know-I know they curse the tyrant,
And they have need. But how know'st thou they
league
Together for revolt?

Gast.

I am of them! Have bound myself with them- have sworn with

them,

To see the downfall of the house of Kronberg!
Hast thou a heart to do as thou hast sworn,

Several days afterwards-an unfrequented road near The path is open to thee; fortune offers

A golden opportunity; and thou,

If thou art the generous patriot that thou seem'st,

Enter the STRANGER, dressed in the costume of the May'st make thy name as great as that of Brutus

country, as GASTON THE PATRIOT.

I owe him payment for his railing words!
And with full interest will I pay him back
Every indignity! He shall be mine-
Body and soul, in life and death, be mine!
I'll work him to my purpose; for in him
Lie elements of ruin - pride, ambition,
And hatred and revenge, glossed o'er or hidden
By a fair show of patriotic virtues —
The very man to be the people's idol!

Be Father and Preserver of the people!
Phil. By lawful right, the lordship is our own.
Gast. The people love you, call you lord already!
Phil. Hark ye, my friend, can you gain me access
To these caballing spirits in the city?

Gast. Most joyfully! Give me your hand, brave sir
You are the man on whom all hearts are set!
Phil. Let us begone!
Gast.

No moment let us lose!
[They go off together.

SCENE V.

Hans. They tore him from his house; his wife
e'en now

A large vaulted room, lighted by an iron lamp-Upon her bed of death-his little children
Filling the air with their most piteous voices!
Gast. Whom speak ye of?
Hans.

Gaston, Arnold, Henry, Conrad, and three soldiers,
sitting round a table, at the head of which is a
vacant seat.

Gast. "Tis good to see you here! What are your
tidings?

Con. Seven hundred men with me, true as the ore
We dig from out the mines, have ta'en the oath;
Men brawny as myself-look at my arms!
We are not babes in muscle; we can deal

Blows that require no second!

Gast.

Are ye armed?

Con. The half of us are armed! We've stinted us
Of food-have lived like dogs, we and our children,
To hoard the means that might obtain us arms!
Rol. Devoted men! Antiquity can boast
No truer hearts than yours!

Arn.
I met, last night,
In the deep glen of Sarni, fifteen men,
Sent out from fifteen districts in the hills,
To swear to us allegiance. Ye may count
Upon five hundred men, both young and old,
Serfs of the soil, who have been trampled on
Till, like the wounded adder, they turn round
And bite the foot that galls them! There are none
Truer than these stout children of the soil!
They'll do the cause good service; and for arms,
Have sworn to turn the sickle and the scythe
To weapons, that shall mow a harvest down,
Redder and richer than the fields afford!

He had been here, even now
But that he staid to watch his dying wife!
They heard that he had arms—they searched her

bed

They cast her on the floor, a dying woman;

And in the wretched straw whereon she lay
They found his arms! Oh sirs, they found his arms!
Gast. Pr'ythee whose arms?

Hans.

I told ye, my poor brother's!-
I'll tell ye more they racked him on the wheel,
And he a feeble man, a child in frame-
He's dead! I saw him die, with mine own eyes!
All. Betrayed he aught?
Hans.

How dare ye ask me that!
Oh I could tear out every tongue that asks
If Wilhelm were a traitor!

Oh! had ye seen that dying woman's face;
Had
ye but heard those little children's wail;
Had ye but seen that steadfast patriot die-
Ye would have sworn, by heaven, and earth, and hell,
To be their good avengers-

We do swear!

All.
Gast. Ye swear-by heaven, and earth, and hell,
ye swear

Gast. "Tis well! who now is spokesman for the To bring down tenfold vengeance for the blood

army?

Soldier. All, all are disaffected, as ye know,
And murmur for their long arrears of pay!
And all, excepting four old companies,
Whom Kronberg by his partial favour won,

And over whom command Segbert and Nicholas,
Each several man is yours; and ye may count
Upon ten thousand good and trusty swords,
Wielded by hands omnipotent as death.

Rol. "Tis the ten thousand of the Grecian story!
The invincible ten thousand!

Gast.
Brave, bold hearts!
Soldiers of freedom, welcome to the cause!
And now I scarce need say, that in the city
Five thousand more are leagued unto our band,
Each with his arms, which as his household gods
Make his hearth Freedom's altar!

All is ready,

Saving the most important part of all,

The appointment, time and place, and naming wisely
A general leader of the several bands.

The door suddenly opens, and HANS CLEF, an artificer,

rushes in.

Of this brave man; and for his children's tears;
And for the groan of his poor dying wife-

Amen, amen!
Hans. You have not bound yourself!

I will do more

Gast.
Than utter empty words! will give you him
Who shall accomplish for you your revenge!
[He goes out, and returns leading in
Philip of Maine.
Know ye this man, my friends?

All.
We know him well,
We love him well! "Tis the good heir of Maine!
Gast. Ye know that they of right possess the land.
Rol. The little children know 't!-thus says the
legend,

"Gold and gain, sun and rain,

Came with Maine; and will again!"

Gast. Ye know how they have suffered, like your. selves

Hans. If you have tears within your eyes, weep Their deadliest foe is the cold tyrant Kronberg!

When I defied that infamous collector
To cross my threshold-'t is a well known story!
Arn. "T was he that fed, and clothed, and kept in
shelter--

It is for the down-hurling of the tyrant;
For the upholding right - -to give the poor
The labour of his hands. - -It is to open,
And to dispense from coffers ye have filled;

Phil. Peace! peace! I came not here to crave To feed the hungry and to clothe the naked your thanks.

I will make one with you in your great cause! Henry. God bless you! you were ever the poor man's friend!

All. Success will then be sure! God save you, sir. Phil. Dear friends and honest, I am one with you. Are ye poor? so am I! Are ye despised,

And trampled on? so have I been my life long!
Do you fare hard? so have I fared from boyhood!
Are
your hands hardened with your daily toil?
Look ye at mine! are these a noble's hands,
Fair as a woman's, decked with costly jewels,
Each one of which would feed and clothe your house-
holds?

No-I must till the earth, plough, work in mines,
Do any servile labour to support me
And my good aged father, and receive

With humble thanks the pittance of my toil;
So are we fallen, through the proud oppressor
That fattens on our blood! Shall it be thus-
Thus shall we toil, and groan!

No, no! my friends,
Thanks to brave men like you, we will be free!
We will assert our human dignity, -

Our birth-right as free men! Thank you, my friends,
That you have thus decreed; for in my lone,
And solitary home I made my vow —

The downfall of the tyrant! yet to it
There was no witness, save the heavens above.
Thinking upon your wrongs, I wept alone;
Alone I made my prayer, when gracious Heaven,
Compassionating its oppressed children,
Brought, as by chance, this brave man in my way,
Even when the cursed tyrant had oppressed me
Beyond my soul's endurance. Why, do ye ask?
Because I was like you-like you, brave men,
Because I was a poor man! Noble hearts,
Will ye have me a brother?

We will, we will!

All. Gast. And my beloved sons, I, who have been To this good cause a father, and have chosen This young man for my son, name him your leader, Speak, do ye like the choice?

All. We do, we do! Henry. Not for our oath's sake to abide thy choice Shall he be chose! "Tis we elect him leader! All. We do, we do! 'Tis we elect him leader! Gast. My son, these men are brave, true men and brave,

Be worthy of their choice! Ye righteous heartsYe poor men who are crushed-ye noble spirits, Hungering and thirsting after truth and justice, Look on this man! He will be as a god,Maintain your upright cause and crush the tyrant. Join hands, and take an oath of fealty to him!

Phil. Brethren, ye shall not take an oath to me Blindly, and without knowing what ye swear for!

To make just law the guardian of the people;
And give the people their just rights as men!
It is for this, that I will be your leader-
Are ye content?
All.

A thousand times content!
[They join hands.
Gast. Ye swear, as the deputed agents of the cause,
To serve both night and day this leal, good man,
Philip of Maine, whom ye have chosen leader!
All. So heaven support us as we keep the oath!

ACT II. SCENE I.

Several days afterwards. - a small apartment in the Castle of Maine; the Lord of Maine, with the Bible before him.

And all these things he suffered for our sakes-
The man without a sin, for sinners' sakes!
Reviled on, and he answered not again;
Smitten, and he smote not, though had he willed it,
Myriads of angels would have ta’en his part!
A man of sorrows, and with grief acquainted,
Yet patient as the lamb before its shearers ;-
And this the Son of God! higher than all power,
Glory, or domination of the earth!

More royal than a king- than saints more holy,
Though born among the lowly of the world-
The son of a poor carpenter; the friend
Of humble fishermen, and simple women! —
What matters it where our poor lives wear out;
Whether in palaces enrobed in purple,
Or lying down in huts on wretched straw,
With the ashamed outcasts of the earth?
What matters it in the great day of count?
Saving that in the balance of the oppressed,
Then will be made a reckoning for his wrongs.
Enough, I will not murmur- I will leave
My righteous cause in the great Judge's hands!
Enter HILDEBRAND.

Bringest thou any tidings of my son?

Hild. My lord, as I was standing near the ford, One muffled in his cloak passed by me twice, Looking into my face as if to question My countenance: "Good friend," said I,

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That he had fallen into cruel hands-
My son is safe! Now welcome evil fortune,
Since it will crush me singly!

Enter HILDEBRAND with an old sword drawn.
Hild.

Oh my master, A dozen horsemen now are at the gate; They bear the cognizance of Kronberg's house. Lord of M. Admit them; I am ready! Hild. No, my master, They shall not take you thus! The gates are barred, And they shall beat them down to gain admittance; And they shall pass my body to win yours!

[He fastens the door and windows, and barricades them with furniture. Lord of M. These are but poor defences! Hild. I will prove them: Whate'er is yours shall do good service for you!

Lord of M. But spare thyself, good Hildebrand!
Hild.
My lord,

Have I been in your service seventy years;
Eaten of your bread, and drunken of your cup;
Been cherished on your hearth; been called your
friend,

But to desert you in the neediest time?

[A loud battering is heard at the gates. Lord of M. Nay then, I'll do my best.

Hild

[He arms himself. Oh! would, my lord,

I had a young man's vigour in my arm;
Would I were such as when by Sarni's stream
I stood upon the eve of Childermas,
And saved a drowning man!

Lord of M.

The lord of Kronberg! Ah, Hildebrand! he has forgot that service. Hild. My lord, he soon forgot it! Scarce a month After that night, I crossed him in the chase, And, 'cause I could not answer to his question Of which way went the boar?" his savage hound Was set to tear my flesh! In vain I cried, "I am poor Hildebrand, who saved your life!" He passed me with a curse! Oh for the strength I wasted on the eve of Childermas!

Lord of M. The poor man hath his evil in this life, His reckoning in the next!

Hild.

1st Voice.

Give's here the straw and matches, by my troth

We'll serve them as the hornet, burn them out!
Hild. The dogs! they'll burn us out!
Lord of M.
Hist, Hildebrand!
Hild. Let's issue forth, my lord, and do our best!
Lord of M. Let us go forth; ours is a righteous
cause!

But first, my aged servant, take a blessing
From thine old master.

Hild. [kneeling.] My gracious lord, May every power in heaven defend you through it! [The flames burst into the chamber. Hildebrand and the Lord of Maine rush out with drawn swords; the men close upon them, and bear off the Lord of Maine, leaving Hildebrand wounded among the burning ruins.

SCENE II.

Night- -a rocky glen, at the entrance of a lonesome mining village—a crowd of men, women and children collected together - Philip of Maine among them, unnoticed-Mother Schwartz stands forward – meteors and northern lights are seen crossing the sky. Man. These signs are plain enough! Mother S. I saw, myself, Two armies from the north and south o' the sky Come up like hissing dragons; and the heavens The while were red as blood! Man. And bloody banners, And fiery swords and spears, like flickering lightning, Are thicker set than stars!

Old Man. Wherefore these signs? I'll tell ye -to arouse ye to repentance! Banners, and swords, and shields, to teach that ye Are soldiers of a holy militant church; Rivers of blood, to show the blood of Christ; Groanings and awful sighings, to recall

The death on the cross; and moans and hissings wild

Mother S. Peace, driveller, hold your peace! 2nd Man. No. no; these signs, These awful, fiery signs, have other meanings — [The gates give way with a loud crash. Tokens of wrath, to show the end o' the world

Curse that old wood!

Now, my dear master, back, this is my place!

[He stations himself at the door; loud voices and heavy footsteps are heard without, which then pass off in the distance.

Is now at hand!

Philip of M. I see these diverse sights
Of comets and wild meteors in the air;
And streaming fires, which from the northern pole
Cast o'er the sky this wild horrific glare;

Hild. They've lost the scent! Oh, my most ex- But what of these, my friends?

cellent master,

If man's good deeds have any worth with heaven, Then should these sacred walls be kept from ruinWould that our Lutheran faith, like theirs of Rome, Gave us kind saints to take our house's quarrel!

Lord of M. Peace, peace, good friend, I hear approaching voices.

These things are tokens, Sent to the great and powerful of the earth To shake their souls! High heaven is wroth with them!

Mother S. Thou art a wise man! I do read these

things

As thou. But hark! here comes the Innocent

1st Voice. [outside.] Here hides the ancient fox; The poor dumb innocent that now doth speak

come, now unearth him!

2nd Voice. This is the only habitable corner!

Such wonders are abroad!

1st Man.

He has work to do!

He is sent forth in these bad, awful times
For some great meaning!

Mother S.

Nothing has been done,
Fearful or good, which he has not foretold-
There is a god or else a devil in him!

2nd Man. Hist, hist! he comes, and soon he will
begin!

'Tis thus he rocks his body to and fro,
When the fit's on him.

[The crowd gives way, and the Innocent
enters, tossing his arms wildly, and
speaking.

Look, they 're coming from the clouds!
Thousands, thousands; crowds on crowds!
Banners streaming; bright swords flashing-
Onward, onward dashing, crashing!
Lo, they meet! The weak are strong!
Right is mightier now than wrong-
Drive the bloody ploughshare deep;
Strike the sickle in and reap!
Weapons not of earth they wield
"Tis a crimson harvest-field!
Warrior, to the fight away!
This is the appointed day!
Cowards, do ye quake with fear?
Up, the man of might is here!
Where is he? the man of might?
Give him-give him to my sight!
I have seen him in my sleep-
Heard him in the silence deep-
Now I know by signs of fear
That the man of might is here!
Hence! ye hide him from my view-

Philip.
Carried to the dungeons!
Jan. S. And the grand cedar floors smell like
frankincense-

I'll warrant them they cost a world o' money!
Philip. This shall but kindle fiercer, bloodier ven-
geance!

Jan. S. And poor old Hildebrand has been dug
out!

He fought for his master, and was sorely wounded;
The burning walls fell on him- he was dead -
Mangled, and black with blood and masking smoke.
Philip. There shall be a reckoning for that old
man's life!

Enter CONRAD, and other miners.

See you that bloody beacon in the east?

Conrad, I do! It is a beacon that will rouse
Thousands of sleeping hearts, which, but for that
Would have slept on! The forest is aroused;
The cry is "Vengeance, and the Lord of Maine!"
Mother S. And there has blood been shed-I
know there has!

I can smell blood, even as the raven can!

Conrad. In the black glen we have left seven bo-
dies-

Bloodhounds were they, upon our leader's scent;
Making sure count of Kronberg's thousand pieces!
Philip. Thanks for this trusty service, gallant
friends!

Many voices. We owe you more!

Mother S. [aside.] I love the smell of blood! Philip. Now, friends, unto your homes! An hour will come

[He parts the crowd, and looks round him. When I shall need your bravest energiesWhere art thou, O warrior true? Of that you shall have warning; and till then, Ha! I see thee! thou art he! Farewell!

Get thee hence to victory.

Many voices. Nay, we will with you, even now;

[He falls back insensible, at Philip's feet. Will be your guard!

Many voices. What wonder's this?
Mother S.

Thou art the man he aimed at.
Others. Say, who art thou?
Philip.

Philip of Maine, I am.

All. Philip of Maine! our leader. Philip of Maine!
Mother S. Whom Heaven has sanctioned by this

miracle!

All. It has, it has!

Mother S.

Hurrah for Philip of Maine! All. Hurrah for Philip of Maine!

Others.

And we will to the burning.
[They all disperse.

SCENE III.

Some evenings afterwards-three men sitting round a fire in a cave, opening upon broken ground.

1st Man. It is a general out-break. No faint impulse,

Enter JAN SCHWARTZ and many FORGEMEN, in great Where'er ye go, people are under arms.

Threatening one moment, and next moment quelled;

haste.

2d Man. As I, this morn, stood on the wooded
heights,

O'erlooking the wild rocky pass of Forges,
Three thousand peasants, armed in rustic fashion,
Shouldering their scythes, their reaping hooks, and

forks,

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The Poetical Works of Howitt, Milman, and Keats: Complete in One Volume