_ And did not _I_ too pass those twelve torn years
In a like absence?
In a like absence?
Byron
_ I behold
The prosperous and beloved Siegendorf,
Lord of a Prince's appanage, and honoured 320
By those he rules and those he ranks with.
_Sieg. _ Ah!
Why wilt thou call me prosperous, while I fear
For thee? Beloved, when thou lovest me not!
All hearts but one may beat in kindness for me--
But if my son's is cold! ----
_Ulr. _ Who _dare_ say that?
_Sieg. _ None else but I, who see it--_feel_ it--keener
Than would your adversary, who dared say so,
Your sabre in his heart! But mine survives
The wound.
_Ulr. _ You err. My nature is not given
To outward fondling: how should it be so, 330
After twelve years' divorcement from my parents?
_Sieg.
_ And did not _I_ too pass those twelve torn years
In a like absence? But 'tis vain to urge you--
Nature was never called back by remonstrance.
Let's change the theme. I wish you to consider
That these young violent nobles of high name,
But dark deeds (aye, the darkest, if all Rumour
Reports be true), with whom thou consortest,
Will lead thee----
_Ulr. _ (_impatiently_). I'll be _led_ by no man.
_Sieg. _ Nor
Be leader of such, I would hope: at once 340
To wean thee from the perils of thy youth
And haughty spirit, I have thought it well
That thou shouldst wed the lady Ida--more
As thou appear'st to love her.
_Ulr. _ I have said
I will obey your orders, were they to
Unite with Hecate--can a son say more?
_Sieg. _ He says too much in saying this. It is not
The nature of thine age, nor of thy blood,
Nor of thy temperament, to talk so coolly,
Or act so carelessly, in that which is 350
The bloom or blight of all men's happiness,
(For Glory's pillow is but restless, if
Love lay not down his cheek there): some strong bias,
Some master fiend is in thy service, to
Misrule the mortal who believes him slave,
And makes his every thought subservient; else
Thou'dst say at once--"I love young Ida, and
Will wed her;" or, "I love her not, and all
The powers on earth shall never make me. "--So
Would _I_ have answered.
_Ulr. _ Sir, _you_ wed for love.
The prosperous and beloved Siegendorf,
Lord of a Prince's appanage, and honoured 320
By those he rules and those he ranks with.
_Sieg. _ Ah!
Why wilt thou call me prosperous, while I fear
For thee? Beloved, when thou lovest me not!
All hearts but one may beat in kindness for me--
But if my son's is cold! ----
_Ulr. _ Who _dare_ say that?
_Sieg. _ None else but I, who see it--_feel_ it--keener
Than would your adversary, who dared say so,
Your sabre in his heart! But mine survives
The wound.
_Ulr. _ You err. My nature is not given
To outward fondling: how should it be so, 330
After twelve years' divorcement from my parents?
_Sieg.
_ And did not _I_ too pass those twelve torn years
In a like absence? But 'tis vain to urge you--
Nature was never called back by remonstrance.
Let's change the theme. I wish you to consider
That these young violent nobles of high name,
But dark deeds (aye, the darkest, if all Rumour
Reports be true), with whom thou consortest,
Will lead thee----
_Ulr. _ (_impatiently_). I'll be _led_ by no man.
_Sieg. _ Nor
Be leader of such, I would hope: at once 340
To wean thee from the perils of thy youth
And haughty spirit, I have thought it well
That thou shouldst wed the lady Ida--more
As thou appear'st to love her.
_Ulr. _ I have said
I will obey your orders, were they to
Unite with Hecate--can a son say more?
_Sieg. _ He says too much in saying this. It is not
The nature of thine age, nor of thy blood,
Nor of thy temperament, to talk so coolly,
Or act so carelessly, in that which is 350
The bloom or blight of all men's happiness,
(For Glory's pillow is but restless, if
Love lay not down his cheek there): some strong bias,
Some master fiend is in thy service, to
Misrule the mortal who believes him slave,
And makes his every thought subservient; else
Thou'dst say at once--"I love young Ida, and
Will wed her;" or, "I love her not, and all
The powers on earth shall never make me. "--So
Would _I_ have answered.
_Ulr. _ Sir, _you_ wed for love.
