Маи. The worthy baron himself intrusted it to my care, fearing to cross the forest with so much property in his pos session. Marie. Count. Your witnesses, that what you say is true. Mau. My wife, my little Lotta here, and Heaven! And the gentleman who was with the baron Count. He has departed. [To Maurice.] The evidence of your wife and child, in this case, cannot be admitted; and as for your appeal to Heaven Mau. That, most probably, your excellency has nothing to do with; therefore, I beg of you, proceed without delay to judgment, for I have little hope of mercy here. Count. [Putting on a red cloak, and taking a black wand in his hand, rises to pronounce sentence.] Marie. Mercy! my lord. Oh, spare my husband! or let the blow aimed at his precious life strike me as well. Dom. This is too bad; my patience is exhausted; I can contain myself no longer! [Aloud.] I, Dominie Sebastian Starrkoph, do openly protest against this overhasty proceeding. Our country is not so disorganized, that the suspension of our civil rights were necessary to maintain public tranquillity! You have no right to try an honest citizen by martial law; and I insist on a civil process, and that grand bulwark of life and liberty, an independent and impartial jury. Count. Peace, pedagogue! or quit the court this instant. Hans. [Aside.] This is more than I can bear. To see my dear friend, Maurice, suffer an ignominious death, would break my heart; and since the tyrant seems bent upon revenge, why may not one innocent man die as well as another? Poor Maurice is a husband and a father; I have neither wife nor child, to mourn my loss. Heaven forgive me for uttering a deliberate falsehood; it is to save the life of my friend. [To the court, in a firm, manly voice.] My lord, Maurice, the woodcutter, is innocent; I am the murderer! therefore instantly release him, and let me die. [All are amazed. Mau. Believe him not, my lord; he is my friend, my dearest bosom friend, and says this but to save my life; be lieve him not. He a murderer! Have I not often seen him on a summer's eve, when we have wandered through the hields together, step carefully aside. to avoid treading on a poor snail or worm, that chanced to cross his path? Is it then likely, that such a man could e'er in malice harm a fellow creature? Hans. You hear, my lord, what I assert; proceed to judgment. Mau. On me, on me, but not upon my friend. Hans. He raves, my lord. I did the horrid deed. Mau 'Tis false the first untruth thou ever spakest, în thy whole life of rigid honesty. By Heaven above, that reads all human hearts, I swear he is innocent! [Forgetting himself.] I only am the-[Recollecting ] What would I say? My brain is surely crazed. My friend is innocent -I am innocent!-we are both innocent! | [Falls on the neck of Huns. Count. We are compelled to yield to proof so strong, as that which fixes all the guilt on Maurice. Prisoner, you are found guilty, and death is your sentence ! Marie. Oh, mercy, mercy! Mau. Nay. Marie, supplicate not for me; I am weary of crawling about in this miserable world, at the mercy of a tyrant! Yet these, my friends, do not believe me guilty? Omnes. Not one of us! Mau. That is my consolation. And now I go to death without one sigh of regret, save for my dear Marie, and my poor fatherless children! No, not children! My boy! my Fritz! Marie, my love, farewell! [To Lotta.] Heaven bless thee, my child! I shall soon see thy brother in a better world. Methinks I see him now, as a sweet cherub on a silvery cloud, beckoning me to come away. I come, 1 come, my boy! to dwell with thee forever, in that blessed land where tyrants ne'er shall crush the innocent. Marie. Mercy! my lord; mercy for my dear husband! as you yourself expect it from high Heaven! [Muffled drum heard without, as the signal for execution; at the sound of which, Marie utters an exclamation and juints away. She is supported by Hans and the Donead Mau. [After a hard struggle with his feelings.] on; I am ready! [As the guard are about to lead off the prisoner, the Count rises. Count. [Breaking the black wand.] The rod is broken, The sentence spoken; Death! for the dreadful crime of murder! [At this moment Prince Leopold, still in his long cloak, rushes in.] Prince. Hold! Maurice, the woodcutter, is innocent! Hurrah! I knew he was. Dom. is overjoyed.] [Marie recovers and Count. To Prince.] Who dares assert this ? Prince I dare. And who are you? Prince. [Throwing off his disguise.] Your lawful sovereign, Prince Leopold. Omnes. Hurrah! Count. Dropping on one knee.] Your highness, we have proofs Prince. Against thee, villain! thou art the murderer! Our proofs are these: our royal father's picture, and this mask, torn by the victim from his murderer. Count. My prince, I was robbed of that picture, in the forest. [Prince Leopold gives a signal, when, enter Baron Leibheim.] Baron. 'Tis false! Count Hartenstein is the assassin, though bounteous Heaven defeated his intent. Maurice, the woodcutter, is a worthy man. The casket of jewels was by me intrusted to his care, and shall be his, with all that it contains, as the reward of honesty. Hans. Well, I always said, "honesty is the best policy." Prince. [To the guard.] Conduct those miscreants to execution! [Exit guard with the Count, Glandoff, Michael, Riegel, and Boltzen.] Mau. I have but one grief more—my dear, dear boy! Prince. He is here, to make your happiness complete. [Little Fritz rushes into his parents' arms.] I kept him from you, for his evidence. That villain, Glandoff, threw him from the bridge into the rapid stream. Fritz. And our noble prince plunged in, and saved my life. Maurice and Marie. Heaven's blessings on your royal highness. [The curtain falls.] XXXVI.-FROM ION. --Talfourd. ADRASTUS, KING OF ARGOS-MEDON, HIGH PRIEST OF THE TEMPLE OF APOLLO-ION, A FOUNDLING, PROTECTED BY MEDON CTESIPHON, CASSANDER, NOBLE ARGIVE YOUTHSCYRTHES, CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL GUARD-—AGENOR, SAGE OF ARGOS. Scene 1.-The royal Chamber. Adrastus on a couch, asleep, [Enter Ion with a knife.] Ion. Why do I creep thus stealthily along Whom it hath doomed? And shall I falter now, Assure me, gods !—Yes; I have heard your voices; As if some happy thoughts of innocent days Played at his heart strings: must I scare it thence Wake, Adrastus! Collect thy spirits, and be strong to die! Adrastus. Who dares disturb my rest? Guards! Soldiers ! Recreants! Where tarry ye? Why smite ye not to earth Ion. I am none, [Rising.] But a sad instrument in Jove's great hand, Adrus. Villains! does no one hear? Ion. Vex not the closing minutes of thy being Hold every passage by which human aid Adras. Thou! I know thee The youth I spared this morning, in whose ear Kill me, If thou dar'st do it; but bethink thee first, Ion. It is most true, Thou sparedst my life, and therefore do the gods Seem the chance forfeit of some single sin, Ye dreadful prompters! If there is a friend, Adras. I have none on earth. If thou hast courage, end me! Ion. Not one friend! Most piteous door! Adras. Art melted? Ion. If I am, Hope nothing from my weakness; mortal arms, And eyes unseen that sleep not, gird us round, And we shall fall together. Be it so! Adras. No; strike at once; my hour is come: in thee I recognize the minister of Jove, And, kneeling thus. submit me to his power. [Kneels.] Ion. Avert thy face! Adras. No; let me meet thy gaze; For breathing pity lights thy features up Into more awful likeness of a form Which once shone on me; and which now my sense Shapes palpable-in habit of the grave, Inviting me to the sad realm where shades |