Chapter II: Act I

SCENE I.--_Forest; a poor hut in the background_. GOETZ _and_
GEORGE.

GOETZ: Where can my men be? Up and down I have to walk, lest sleep
should overcome me. Five days and nights already in ambush. But when
I get thee, Weislingen, I shall make up for it! You priests may send
round your obliging Weislingen to decry me--I am awake. You escaped
me, bishop! So your dear Weislingen may pay the piper. George! George!
(_Enter_ GEORGE.) Tell Hans to get ready. My scouts may be back any
moment. And give me some more wine!

GEORGE: Hark! I hear some horses galloping--two--it must be your
men!

GOETZ: My horse, quick! Tell Hans to arm!

[_Enter_ FAUD, _who reports to_ GOETZ _that_ WEISLINGEN _is
approaching. Exit_ GOETZ _and his men_.

GEORGE: Oh, St. George! Make me strong and brave! And give me spear,
armour, and horse! [_Exit._

SCENE II.--_Hall at Jaxthausen_. ELIZABETH _and_ MARIE.

MARIE: If I had a husband who always exposed himself to danger, I
should die the first year.

ELIZABETH: Thank God, I am made of harder stuff! God grant that my
boy may take after his father, and not become a treacherous hypocrite,
like Weislingen.

MARIE: You are very bitter against him. Yet report speaks well of
him. Your own husband loved him, when they were pages together to the
margrave.

[_The gay tune of a wind-instrument is heard_.

ELIZABETH: There he returns with his spoil! I must get the meal
ready. Here, take the cellar keys and let them have of the best wine!
They have deserved it.

[_Exeunt. Enter_ GOETZ, WEISLINGEN, _and men-at-arms._

* * * * *

GOETZ (_taking off his helmet and sword_): Unstrap my cuirass and
give me my doublet! Weislingen, you've given us hard work! Be of good
cheer. Where are your clothes? I could lend you some of mine--a neat,
clean suit, which I wore at the wedding of my gracious lord the Count
Palatine, when your bishop got so vexed with me, because I made him
shake hands with me, unknown, after having taken two of his ships a
fortnight before on the Main.

WEISLINGEN: I beg you to leave me alone.

GOETZ: Why? Pray, be cheerful. You are in my power, and I shall not
abuse it. You know my knight's duty is sacred to me. And now I must go
to see my wife. [_Exit._

WEISLINGEN: Oh, that it were all a dream! In Berlichingen's power--and
he, the old true-hearted Goetz! Back again in the hall, where we played
as boys, where I loved him with all my heart! How strangely past and
present seem to intermingle here.

[_Enter_ GOETZ, _and a man with jug and goblet_.

GOETZ: Let us drink, until the meal is ready. Come, you are at home.
It is a long time since we last shared a bottle. (_Raising his goblet_)
A gay heart!

WEISLINGEN: Those times are past.

GOETZ: Heaven forbid! Though merrier days we may not find. If you had
only followed me to Brabant, instead of taking to that miserable life
at court! Are you not as free and nobly born as anyone in Germany?
Independent, subject only to the emperor? And you submit to vassals,
who poison the emperor's ear against me! They want to get rid of me.
And you, Weislingen, are their tool!

WEISLINGEN: Berlichingen!

GOETZ: No more of it! I hate explanations. They only lead to
deceiving one or the other, or both.

[_They stand apart, their backs turned to each other.
Enter_ MARIE.

MARIE (_to_ WEISLINGEN): I come to greet and to invite you in
my sister's name. What is it? Why are you silent both? You are host
and guest. Be guided by a woman's voice.

GOETZ: You remind me of my duty.

WEISLINGEN: Who could resist so heavenly a hint?

MARIE: Draw near each other, be reconciled! (_The men shake hands_.)
The union of brave men is the most ardent wish of all good women.