Chapter V: Act IV

SCENE I.--_Jaxthausen. A small room_. MARIE _and_ SICKINGEN.

SICKINGEN: You may smile, but I felt the desire to possess you when
you first looked upon me with your blue eyes, when you were with your
mother at the Diet of Speier. I have long been separated from you; but
that wish remained, with the memory of that glance.

[_Enter_ GOETZ.

SICKINGEN: Good luck!

MARIE: Welcome, a thousand times!

GOETZ: Now quickly to the chapel! I've thought it all out, and time
presses.

SCENE II.--_Large hall; in the background a door, leading to the
chapel_. LERSE _and men-at-arms. Enter_ GOETZ _from
chapel_.

GOETZ: How now, Lerse? The men had better be distributed over the
walls. Let them take any breastplates, helmets, and arms they may want.
Are the gates well manned?

LERSE: Yes, sir.

GOETZ: Sickingen will leave us at once. You will lead him through
the lower gate, along the water, and across the ford. Then look around
you, and come back.

[_Enter_ SICKINGEN, MARIE, ELIZABETH, _from chapel_.
_Drums in distance announce the enemy's approach_.

GOETZ: May God bless you and send you merry, happy days!

ELIZABETH: And may He let your children be like you!

SICKINGEN: I thank you, and I thank you, Marie, who will lead me to
happiness.

GOETZ: A pleasant journey! Lerse will show you the way.

MARIE: That is not what we meant. We shall not leave you.

GOETZ: You must, sister! (_To_ SICKINGEN) You understand? Talk to
Marie; she is your wife. Take her to safety, and then think of me.

[_Exeunt_ LERSE, SICKINGEN _and_ MARIE. _Enter_ GEORGE.

GEORGE: They approach from all sides. I saw their pikes glitter from
the tower.

GOETZ: Have the gate barricaded with beams and stones.

[_Exit_ GEORGE. _A trumpeter is dimly heard from the distance,
requesting_ GOETZ _to surrender unconditionally_. GOETZ
_refuses angrily, and slams the window. Enter_ LERSE.

LERSE: There is plenty of powder, but bullets are scarce.

GOETZ: Look round for lead! Meanwhile, we must make the crossbows
do. [_Distant shooting is heard at intervals. Exit_ GOETZ _with
crossbow_.

LERSE (_breaking a window and detaching the lead from the glass_):
This lead has rested long enough; now it may fly for a change.
[_Enter_ GOETZ.

GOETZ: They have ceased firing, and offer a truce with all sorts of
signs and white rags. They will probably ask me to surrender on
knightly parole.

LERSE: I'll go and see. 'Tis best to know their mind.

[_Goes out and returns shortly_.

LERSE: Liberty! Liberty! Here are the conditions. You may withdraw
with arms, horses, and armour, leaving all provisions behind. Your
property will be carefully guarded. I am to remain.

GOETZ: Come, take the best arms with you, and leave the others here!
Come, Elizabeth! Through this very gate I led you as a young bride.
Who knows when we shall return?
[_Exeunt_ GOETZ _and_ ELIZABETH, _followed by_ GEORGE.
_While the men are choosing arms and preparing_,
LERSE, _who has heard shouting and firing without,
looks through the window_.

LERSE: God! They are murdering our master! He is off his horse!
Help him!

FAUD: George is still fighting. Let's go! If they die, I don't want
to live! [_Exeunt._

SCENE III.--_Night; anteroom in_ ADELHEID'S _castle_. WEISLINGEN,
FRANZ, ADELHEID, _with a retinue of masked and costumed
revellers_.

WEISLINGEN: May I, in these moments of lightheartedness, speak to
you of serious matters? Goetz is probably by this time in our hands.
The peasants' revolt is growing in violence; and the League has given
me the command against them. We shall start before long. I shall take
you to my castle in Franconia, where you will be safe, and not too far
from me.

ADELHEID: We shall consider that. I may be useful to you here.

WEISLINGEN: We have not much time, for we break up to-morrow!

ADELHEID (_after a pause_): Very well, then; carnival to-night, and
war to-morrow!

WEISLINGEN: You are fond of change. A pleasant night to you!
[_Exit._

ADELHEID: I understand. You would remove me from the court, where
Charles, our emperor's great successor, is the object of all hope? You
will not change my plans. Franz!

FRANZ (_entering_): Gracious lady!

ADELHEID: Watch all the masks, and find out for me the archduke's
disguise! You look sad?

FRANZ: It is your will that I should languish unto death.

ADELHEID _(apart)_: I pity him. (_To_ FRANZ) You are true and
loving; I shall not forget you!

SCENE IV.--_Heilbronn Town Hall_. IMPERIAL COUNCILLOR _and_
MAGISTRATES, USHERS, GOETZ.

COUNCILLOR: You know how you fell into our hands, and are a prisoner
at discretion?

GOETZ: What will you give me to forget it?

COUNCILLOR: You gave your knightly parole to appear and humbly to
await his majesty's pleasure?

GOETZ: Well, here I am, and await it!

COUNCILLOR: His majesty's mercy releases you from the ban and all
punishment, provided you subscribe to all the articles which shall be
read unto you.

GOETZ: I am his majesty's faithful servant. But, before you proceed,
where are my men; what is their fate?

COUNCILLOR: That is no business of yours. Secretary, read the
articles! _(Reads)_: I, Goetz von Berlichingen, having lately risen
in rebellion against the emperor------

GOETZ: 'Tis false! I am no rebel! I refuse to listen any further!

COUNCILLOR: And yet we have strict orders to persuade you by fair
means, or to throw you into prison.

GOETZ: To prison? Me? That cannot be the emperor's order! To promise
me permission to ward myself on parole, and then again to break your
treaty.

COUNCILLOR: We owe no faith to robbers.

GOETZ: If you were not the representative of my respected sovereign,
you should swallow that word, or choke upon it!

[COUNCILLOR _makes a sign, and a bell is rung. Enter
citizens with halberds and swords_.

COUNCILLOR: You will not listen--seize him!

[_They rush upon him. He strikes one down, and snatches
a sword from another. They stand aloof_.

GOETZ: Come on! I should like to become acquainted with the bravest
among you.

[_A trumpet is heard without. Enter_ USHER.

USHER: Franz von Sickingen is without and sends word that having
heard how faith has been broken with his brother-in-law, he insists
upon justice, or within an hour he will fire the four quarters of the
town, and abandon it to be sacked by his men.

GOETZ: Brave friend!

COUNCILLOR: You had best dissuade your brother-in-law from his
rebellious intention. He will only become the companion of your fall!
Meanwhile, we will consider how we can best uphold the emperor's
authority.

[_Exeunt all but_ GOETZ. _Enter_ SICKINGEN.

GOETZ: That was help from heaven. I asked nothing but knightly ward
upon my parole.

SICKINGEN: They have shamefully abused the imperial authority. I
know the emperor, and have some influence with him. I shall want your
fist in an enterprise I am preparing. Meanwhile, they will let you and
your men return to your castle upon the promise not to move beyond
its confines. And the emperor will soon call you. Now back to the
wigs! They have had time enough to talk; let's save them the trouble!