DUCHESS.

Fie!

What ails thee, dotard?

DUKE.

Once my subjects loved me,

I do remember: that was long ago,

Ere we were married; then thou taughtst me pride;
And pride bred hate, and hatred tyranny,

And tyranny rebellion. We grew poor ;
That maddened me with a hot thirst for gold
Cureless and quenchless ; for what gold I win
Slips through my hands like water. Out upon it!
No love, no wealth, no honour, no content!

DUCHESS.

Comfort thyself that with increasing age

Thy wealth of words increaseth.

DUKE.

Thou canst taunt;

But what of that, unless thou taunt us back
To happiness and hope of prosperous days?
In all my counsels thou hast borne a part;

More than became me I have leaned on thee;

That prop has failed. Canst thou for one poor plan Claim kindred with success? Who honours thee,

Or trembles at thy bidding? Tell me that.

Art thou not, even as I, scorned more than feared?

DUCHESS.

E'en so.
Have reigned alone, or mated with a man.

To have fared otherwise, I must

I care not to dispute it, wasting breath,

While through thy cowardice or blindness stili

The thief goes free, and Fortune from her throne
Beckons in vain.

DUKE.

'Twere nearer truth to say,

Misfortune beckons from Prince Rudolph's throne.

DUCHESS.

Ay, there it is the same soft waxen heart,
Emasculate mind! It seems but yesterday

I saw thee tottering on, Silenus-like,

In weak and wanton chase of this same nymph, Whom now thou dub'st Misfortune; but a raw, Rebellious girl, whom thou mightst well have chid

To duty, with a shower of sullen tears

And wheedling voice bewitched thee, that the nymph
Was straight transformed into a wrinkled hag.
And then thou visitest the blame on me!

But come! 'tis not too late. Bestir thyself,
Shake off the spell, arise! draw in the net,
Or ere it break, brim-full of golden scales !
Send for Helene now; tell her she must
Obey, or we disown her! Play the man!

DUKE.

I thank thee for that word. I have sunk low-
Ay, even to the beasts; but thou hast helped me
To my old self. Thou bidst me sell my daughter,
And play the man. I have enough of man
Still beating here to answer thee "No, no,
By God! I will not." Help, Helene, help!

Enter hastily ARNFELD and HEINRICH.

Eavesdropping, ha!

DUCHESS.

ARNFELD.

My lord, is aught amiss?

HEINRICH.

What ails his Highness?

DUKE (to ARNFeld).

Send for the Princess.

Enter KAUZ; ARNFELD turns to obey, but stops on seeing him.

KAUZ.

My lord, the Princess is beyond recall

By you or any else in Schlafenstein.

I met her galloping for dear life, 'twould seem

Toward the frontier.

DUCHESS.

Unaccompanied !

KAUZ.

No, madam; but I dare not say with whom.

DUCHESS.

Answer, if thou be sane.

KAUZ.

'Twas with Corcilius,

The friend of your good Forester. I speak
But what mine eyes unwillingly beheld;

Count Arnfeld, I doubt not, can tell you more.

HEINRICH.

Villain, thy life shall answer for this lie.

DUCHESS.

So perish all my plans! Too late! too late!

DUKE.

And I have nothing, nothing more to lose!

[Sinks back, but is supported by Arnfeld.

CURTAIN.