Jaff. All's true; yet grant one thing, and I've done asking. Pie. What's that? Jaff. To take thy life on such conditions The council have proposed: thou and thy friends Pie. Life! ask my life! confess! record myself To lose it, may be, at last in a lewd quarrel For some new friend, treacherous and false as thou art! No; this vile world and I have long been jangling, And cannot part on better terms than now, When only men like thee are fit to live in 't. Jaff. By all that's just Pie. Swear by some other power, For thou hast broke that sacred oath too lately. However thy resentments deal with me. Pie. Not leave me! Jaff. No; thou shalt not force me from thee. Use me reproachfully, and like a slave; Tread on me, buffet me, heap wrongs on wrongs On my poor head; I'll bear it all with patience, Lie at thy feet [Falls on his knees], and kiss them, though they spurn me; Till, wounded by my sufferings, thou relent, And raise me to thy arms with dear forgiveness. Pie. Art thou not Jaff. What? Pie. A traitor! Jaff. Yes. Pie. A villain ! Jaff. Granted. Pie. A coward, a most scandalous coward; Spiritless, void of honour; one who has sold Thy everlasting fame for shameless life! Jaff. [Rising.] All, all, and more,—much more, my faults are numberless. Pie. And wouldst thou have me live on terms like thine? Base, as thou'rt false Jaff. [Returning.] No, 'tis to me that's granted; The safety of thy life was all I aimed at, In recompense for faith and trust so broken. Pie. I scorn it more, because preserved by thee; All I received, in surety for thy truth, Were unregarded oaths, and this, this dagger, Given with a worthless pledge, thou since hast stolen : Swearing by all those powers which thou hast violated, Take it. [Throws down the dagger.] Farewell, for now I owe thee nothing. Jaff. Say thou wilt live, then. Pie. For my life, dispose it Just as thou wilt, because 'tis what I'm tired with. Jaff. O Pierre! Pie. No more. [Going. Jaff. My eyes wont lose the sight of thee, [Following. But languish after thine, and ache with gazing. Pie. Leave me. Nay, then,-thus, thus I throw thee from me; And curses, great as is thy falsehood, catch thee! WERNER. OTWAY. Enter COUNT Siegendorf, ULRIC his son, and Attendant. Atten. A stranger to wait on Your excellency. Sieg. Who? Atten. He gave no name. Sieg. Admit him, ne'ertheless. Ah! [The attendant introduces GABOR, afterwards exit. Gabor. "T is, then, Werner! Sieg. [Haughtily.] The same you knew, sir, by that name; and you! Gabor. [Looking round.] I recognise you both: father and son, It seems. Count, I have heard that you, or yours, Have lately been in search of me: I am here. Sieg. I have sought you, and have found you: you are charged, (Your own heart may inform you why), with such My own presence on the spot-the place-the time— To fix the blot on you. Gabor. And on me only? Pause ere you answer: is no other name Sieg. Trifling villain! Who play'st with thine own guilt! Of all that breathe Thou best dost know the innocence of him 'Gainst whom thy breath would blow thy bloody slander; But I will talk no further with a wretch, Further than justice asks. Answer at once, And without quibbling, to my charge. Gabor. 'T is false ! Sieg. Who says so? Gabor. I. Sieg. And how disprove it? Gabor. By the presence of the murderer. Sieg. Name him! Gabor. He may have more names than one. ship had so Once on a time. Sieg. If you mean me, I dare Your utmost. Gabor. You may do so, and in safety! I know the assassin. Sieg. Where is he? Gabor. [Pointing to ULRIC.] Beside you! ULRIC rushes forward to attack GABOR; interposes. Your lord SIEGENDORF Sieg. Liar and fiend! but you shall not be slain; These walls are mine, and you are safe within them. Ulric, repel this calumny, as I [He turns to ULRIC. Will do. I avow it is a growth so monstrous, But touch him not. [ULRIC endeavours to compose himself. Gabor. Look at him, Count, and then hear me. Sieg. [First to GABOR, and then looking at ULRIC.] 1 hear thee. Heavens! you look Ulric. How? Sieg. As on that dread night When we met in the garden. Ulric. [Composes himself.] It is nothing. Gabor. Count, you are bound to hear me. I came hither Not seeking you, but sought. When I knelt down To find the beggared Werner in the seat Of senators and princes; but you have called me, And we have met. Sieg. Go on, sir. Allow me to inquire who profited By Stralenheim's death? Was 't I-as poor as ever; The baron lost in that last outrage neither Jewels nor gold; his life alone was sought, A life which stood between the claims of others Gabor. I can't help that. But let the consequence alight on him SI EGENDORF first looks at the Hungarian, and then at ULRIC, who has unbuckled his sabre, and is drawing lines with it on the floor-still in its sheath. Ulric. [Looks at his father and says] Let the man go on! Gabor. I am unarmed, count-bid your son lay down His sabre. Ulric. [Offers it to him contemptuously.] Take it. That we are both unarmed. I would not choose It Ulric. [Casts the sabre from him in contempt.] -or some Such other weapon, in my hands-spared yours Gabor. True I have not forgotten it: you spared me for Ulric. Proceed. The tale is doubtless worthy the relater. But is it of my father to hear further ? [To SIEGENDORF. Sieg. [Takes his son by the hand.] My son! I know my own innocence and doubt not Of yours-but I have promised this man patience; Gabor. I accuse no man-save in my defence. |