_ No; but he guesses shrewdly at my person,
As he betrayed last night; and I, perhaps,
But owe my temporary liberty
To his uncertainty.
As he betrayed last night; and I, perhaps,
But owe my temporary liberty
To his uncertainty.
Byron
_ You saved
The serpent who will sting us all!
_Ulr. _ You speak 60
Riddles: what is this Stralenheim to us?
_Wer. _ Every thing. One who claims our father's lands:
Our distant kinsman, and our nearest foe.
_Ulr. _ I never heard his name till now. The Count,
Indeed, spoke sometimes of a kinsman, who,
If his own line should fail, might be remotely
Involved in the succession; but his titles
Were never named before me--and what then?
His right must yield to ours.
_Wer. _ Aye, if at Prague:
But here he is all-powerful; and has spread 70
Snares for thy father, which, if hitherto
He hath escaped them, is by fortune, not
By favour.
_Ulr. _ Doth he personally know you?
_Wer.
_ No; but he guesses shrewdly at my person,
As he betrayed last night; and I, perhaps,
But owe my temporary liberty
To his uncertainty.
_Ulr. _ I think you wrong him
(Excuse me for the phrase); but Stralenheim
Is not what you prejudge him, or, if so,
He owes me something both for past and present. 80
I saved his life, he therefore trusts in me.
He hath been plundered too, since he came hither:
Is sick, a stranger, and as such not now
Able to trace the villain who hath robbed him:
I have pledged myself to do so; and the business
Which brought me here was chiefly that:[176] but I
Have found, in searching for another's dross,
My own whole treasure--you, my parents!
_Wer. _ (_agitatedly_). Who
Taught you to mouth that name of "villain? "
_Ulr. _ What
More noble name belongs to common thieves? 90
_Wer. _ Who taught you thus to brand an unknown being
With an infernal stigma?
_Ulr. _ My own feelings
Taught me to name a ruffian from his deeds.
_Wer. _ Who taught you, long-sought and ill-found boy!
The serpent who will sting us all!
_Ulr. _ You speak 60
Riddles: what is this Stralenheim to us?
_Wer. _ Every thing. One who claims our father's lands:
Our distant kinsman, and our nearest foe.
_Ulr. _ I never heard his name till now. The Count,
Indeed, spoke sometimes of a kinsman, who,
If his own line should fail, might be remotely
Involved in the succession; but his titles
Were never named before me--and what then?
His right must yield to ours.
_Wer. _ Aye, if at Prague:
But here he is all-powerful; and has spread 70
Snares for thy father, which, if hitherto
He hath escaped them, is by fortune, not
By favour.
_Ulr. _ Doth he personally know you?
_Wer.
_ No; but he guesses shrewdly at my person,
As he betrayed last night; and I, perhaps,
But owe my temporary liberty
To his uncertainty.
_Ulr. _ I think you wrong him
(Excuse me for the phrase); but Stralenheim
Is not what you prejudge him, or, if so,
He owes me something both for past and present. 80
I saved his life, he therefore trusts in me.
He hath been plundered too, since he came hither:
Is sick, a stranger, and as such not now
Able to trace the villain who hath robbed him:
I have pledged myself to do so; and the business
Which brought me here was chiefly that:[176] but I
Have found, in searching for another's dross,
My own whole treasure--you, my parents!
_Wer. _ (_agitatedly_). Who
Taught you to mouth that name of "villain? "
_Ulr. _ What
More noble name belongs to common thieves? 90
_Wer. _ Who taught you thus to brand an unknown being
With an infernal stigma?
_Ulr. _ My own feelings
Taught me to name a ruffian from his deeds.
_Wer. _ Who taught you, long-sought and ill-found boy!
