The age-herald., 1901-10-27

Let not the dawn of morning see us here. Ort. (not moving)-Here am I bound-I
 cannot stir from hence. Here from the luStre of those hated rev.
 els Would I embibe poison that would end At once our chame and all their joys for
 ever.
 F'red.-Thou fiend in woman's form,
 what Is 1t thus Thus binds me to thy presence7 It were
 well far That should leave thee and flee away. Where troubled conscience might at last
 repose.
 Through thee my stainless honor
 Is changed to deadly shame.
 The lips that once would praise me,
 Blacken my ancient name.
 The ban is O CT me spoken,
 My sword in pieces lies;
 My 'scutcheon is besotted-
 A thing that all despise.
 Wherever I may turn me.
 All from my presence flee;
 Fen robbers feel polluted
 Chance they to gaze on me. Through thee my stainless honor Has become deadly shame, The lips that once would praise me Blacken my ancient fame. The ban is OCT me spoken, etc (to de- spise). Oh, life has lost it's value, An, would that I were deadi My honor's gone-my honor And with it all is fled. \ (Throws himself wild with rage on the ground. Music heard again from the Pallas) Ort. (after a pause)-Why dost thou waste thou strength on frantic rage like this?
 Fred-To think that they have ta'en
 the sword that else Had laid thee at my feet.
 talr Of Telramund, why this distrust in me?
 Fred-Canst ask when I, by thee mis-
 led
 By thy deceit ensnar d-accus'd that
 maiden Didst thou not say that, in the gloomy
 wood, Looking from out the castle of thy sires, Thou saw'st her perpetrate the hideous deed?
 With thine own eyes thou sawest Elsa drowning Her brother in the pool; and didst thou not
 With prophecies rouse pride within my heart? | Soon, saidst thou, Radbods ancient royal trunk ~f Would bud anew-give rulers to Brabant. | Didst. thou not thus induce me to reject l Young Elsa's hand, unspotted as it was, | And choose thee as the last of Radbod's line? Ort-How bitter aye thy wordsl | own it. Yes All this said to thee. l Fred.-And madest me whose name was once reverd, Whose steps from honors path had never stray'd The base accomplice of thy shameless falsehood Ort.-Falsehood? Fred.-E'en so. Had not the charge been false, Heavn would not thus have shamd me? Ort-Heav'n? Fred.-Oh, hateful! From lips lie these the name of Heav'n | sounds evil. | ort.-Ah, ''Heavn" thou calrst thou | cowardice. | Fred-Ortrudi | ort.-wouldst threaten meme, a weak | woman, me? | An. coward! if so fiercely thou hadst | menacd Him who has brought thee to this misery. Conquest instead of shame had been thy | lot.
 Those who encounter him alright will find He's weaker than a child. | Fred-If he was weak, Mere certain is 1t Heav'n put forth its
 strength.
 Ort-Thinkest thou so? Ha, ha. give me | the pow'r
 But for a single day. and will plainly | How feeble is the Heav'n' in which he 1 trusts
 Fred.-Audacious sorceress, dost thou attempt
 By secret arts once more my soul to | madden?
 Ort. (pointing to the Pallas, which is
 now dark)-The revelers are wrapp'd in deep repose.
 Come, sit thee near to me; the hour Is come
 When my prophetic eye shall give thee l light.
 Come, knowest thou the stranger knight Who by a swan was hither brought? | Fred.-No
 ort.-what would'st thou give to learn the truth
 The mighty truth, that, if compelrd T His name and station to reveal, The vaunted strength at once would | cease, | Which to a magic spell he owes?
 Fred.-Ha! then his words understood | Ort.-Attendi Here no one has the power | To pluck the secret from his breast l Excepting her whom he forbade 1 About the mystery to ask. l Fred-I see now. Elsa must be lured, In spite of all, to question him.
 Ort.-My meaning thou hast fathom' | well.
 Fred.-Yet how effect our purpose? l L.
 It much imports we do not leave | This place 50 shapen well thy wits, That thou mays fill her with mistrust. | Step forth! charge him with sorcery. With warping justice by deceit. | Fred.-Yes, sorcery and fraud
 Ort.-At worst
 We still can gain our end by force.
 Freddy force?
 Ort.-Believe me not in vain The darkest science have 1 learned; Therefore attend to what I say. | He who is made through magic strong, If from his body cen the smallest part is
 torn,
 At once in all his weakness must appear.
 Fred.-Speakest thou the truth?
 Ort.-Oh, hadst thou but
 Cut off a finger from his hand. Or cen a fingers joint, for certain That knight would now be in thy pow'r
 Fred.-'Tis fearful! Oh, l thought
 was defeated
 Because its aid great Heav'n denied. | Now must I hear the royal judge was
 cheated, That magic arts have overthrown my
 pride, | My lost repute can I recover; | Make good the lost that deplore | My hated victor triumphed over, And be my honor'd self once more? | O wife! who through the night this light l can show. | If thou deceivest me, woe to thee-woe! Ort.-Nay, how thou ravest! Calmness, I beseech thee. | <.II fha fCxra af ~~xlfI '