Chapter IV: Act III

SCENE I.--_Pleasure-garden at Augsburg. The_ EMPEROR, _the_ BISHOP OF
BAMBERG, WEISLINGEN, _the_ LADY ADELHEID, COURTIERS.

EMPEROR: I am tired of these merchants with their eternal
complaints! Every shopkeeper wants help, and no one will stir against
the common enemy of the empire and of Christianity.

WEISLINGEN: Who would be active abroad while he is threatened at
home?

BISHOP: If we could only remove that proud Sickingen and
Berlichingen, the others would soon fall asunder.

EMPEROR: Brave, noble men at heart, who must be spared and used
against the Turks.

WEISLINGEN: The consequences may be dangerous. Better to capture
them and leave them quietly upon their knightly parole in their
castles.

EMPEROR: If they then abide by the law, they might again be
honourably and usefully employed. I shall open the session of the Diet
to-morrow with this proposal.

WEISLINGEN: A clamour of joyful assent will spare your majesty the
end of the speech.

[_Exit_ EMPEROR, BISHOP, _and_ COURTIERS.

WEISLINGEN: And so you mean to go--to leave the festive scenes for
which you longed with all your heart, to leave a friend to whom you
are indispensable, to delay our union?

ADELHEID: The gayer, the freer shall I return to you.

WEISLINGEN: Will you be content if we proceed against Berlichingen?

ADELHEID: You deserve a kiss! My uncle, Von Wanzenau, must be
captain!

WEISLINGEN: Impossible! An incompetent old dreamer!

ADELHEID: Let the fiery Werdenhagen, his sister's stepson, go with
him.

WEISLINGEN: He is thoughtless and foolhardy, and will not improve
matters.

ADELHEID: We have to think of our relatives. For love of me, you
must do it! And I want some exemptions for the convent of St. Emmerau;
you can work the chancellor. Then the cup-bearer's post is vacant at
the Hessian Court, and the high stewardship of the Palatinate. I want
them for our friends Braimau and Mirsing.

WEISLINGEN: How shall I remember it all?

ADELHEID: I shall train a starling to repeat the names to you, and
to add, "Please, please." (_Exit_ WEISLINGEN. _To_ FRANZ, _whom she
stops as he crosses to follow his master_): Franz, could you get me
a starling, or would you yourself be my starling? You would learn
more rapidly.

FRANZ: If you would teach me. Try. Take me with you.

ADELHEID: No, you must serve me here. Have you a good memory?

FRANZ: For your words. I remember every syllable you spoke to me
that first day at Bamberg.

ADELHEID: Now, listen, Franz. I shall tell you the names which I
want you to repeat to your master, always adding, "Please, please."

FRANZ (_seizing her hand passionately_): Please, please!

ADELHEID (_stepping back_): Hands are not wanted. You must lose
such bad manners. But you must not be so upset at a little rebuke.
One punishes the children one loves.

FRANZ: You love me, then?

ADELHEID: I might love you as a child, but you are getting too tall
and violent. [_Exeunt._

SCENE II.--_Hall at Jaxthausen_. SICKINGEN _and_ GOETZ.

GOETZ: So you want to marry a jilted woman?

SICKINGEN: To be deceived by him is an honour for you both. I want
a mistress for my castles and gardens. In the field, at court, I want
to stand alone.

[_Enter_ SELBITZ.

SELBITZ: Bad news! The emperor has put you under the ban, and has
sent troops to seize you.

GOETZ: Sickingen, you hear. Take back your offer, and leave me!

SICKINGEN: I shall not turn from you in trouble. No better wooing
than in time of war and danger.

GOETZ: On one condition. You must publicly detach yourself from me.
The emperor loves and esteems you, and your intercession may save me
in the hour of need.

SICKINGEN: But I can secretly send you twenty horsemen.

GOETZ: That offer I accept. [_Exeunt._

SCENE III.--_A hill with a view over a fertile country_. GEORGE _and_
GOETZ'S _men cross the stage, chasing the imperial troops.
Then_ SELBITZ _is carried on, wounded, accompanied by_
FAUD.

SELBITZ: Let me rest here!--and back to your master; back to Goetz!

FAUD: Let me stay with you. I am no good below; they have hammered
my old bones till I can scarcely move. (_Exit soldiers._) Here from
the wall I can watch the fight.

SELBITZ: What do you see?

FAUD: Your horsemen are turning tail. I can see Goetz's three black
feathers in the midst of the turmoil. Woe, he has fallen! And George's
blue plume has disappeared! Sickingen's horsemen in flight! Ha! I see
Goetz again! And George! Victory! Victory! They are routed! Goetz is
after them--he has seized their flag! The fugitives are coming here!
Oh! what will they do with you?

SELBITZ: Come down and draw! My sword is ready. I'll make it hot for
them, even sitting or lying down!

[_Enter imperial troops_. SELBITZ _and_ FAUD _defend themselves until_
LERSE _comes to their rescue, attacking the soldiers furiously,
killing some and putting the rest to flight. Enter_ GOETZ, GEORGE,
_a troop of armed men._

SELBITZ: Good luck, Goetz! Victory! Victory! How did you fare?

GOETZ: To George and Lerse I owe my life; I was off my horse when
they came to the rescue. I have their flag and a few prisoners.

SELBITZ: Lerse saved me, too. See what work he has done here!

GOETZ: Good luck, Lerse! And God bless my George's first brave deed!
Now back to the castle, and let us gather our scattered men.