_ Is he so
suspicious?
Byron
_ Baron Stralenheim
Put many questions to the Intendant on
The subject of your lord, and, to be plain,
I have my doubts if he means well.
_Jos. _ Alas!
What can there be in common with the proud
And wealthy Baron, and the unknown Werner?
_Gab. _ That you know best.
_Jos. _ Or, if it were so, how 650
Come you to stir yourself in his behalf,
Rather than that of him whose life you saved?
_Gab. _ I helped to save him, as in peril; but
I did not pledge myself to serve him in
Oppression. I know well these nobles, and
Their thousand modes of trampling on the poor.
I have proved them; and my spirit boils up when
I find them practising against the weak:--
This is my only motive.
_Jos. _ It would be
Not easy to persuade my consort of 660
Your good intentions.
_Gab.
_ Is he so suspicious?
_Jos. _ He was not once; but time and troubles have
Made him what you beheld.
_Gab. _ I'm sorry for it.
Suspicion is a heavy armour, and
With its own weight impedes more than protects.
Good night! I trust to meet with him at day-break.
[_Exit_ GABOR.
_Re-enter_ IDENSTEIN _and some Peasants_.
JOSEPHINE _retires up the Hall_.
_First Peasant_. But if I'm drowned?
_Iden. _ Why, you will be well paid for 't,
And have risked more than drowning for as much,
I doubt not.
_Second Peasant_.
Put many questions to the Intendant on
The subject of your lord, and, to be plain,
I have my doubts if he means well.
_Jos. _ Alas!
What can there be in common with the proud
And wealthy Baron, and the unknown Werner?
_Gab. _ That you know best.
_Jos. _ Or, if it were so, how 650
Come you to stir yourself in his behalf,
Rather than that of him whose life you saved?
_Gab. _ I helped to save him, as in peril; but
I did not pledge myself to serve him in
Oppression. I know well these nobles, and
Their thousand modes of trampling on the poor.
I have proved them; and my spirit boils up when
I find them practising against the weak:--
This is my only motive.
_Jos. _ It would be
Not easy to persuade my consort of 660
Your good intentions.
_Gab.
_ Is he so suspicious?
_Jos. _ He was not once; but time and troubles have
Made him what you beheld.
_Gab. _ I'm sorry for it.
Suspicion is a heavy armour, and
With its own weight impedes more than protects.
Good night! I trust to meet with him at day-break.
[_Exit_ GABOR.
_Re-enter_ IDENSTEIN _and some Peasants_.
JOSEPHINE _retires up the Hall_.
_First Peasant_. But if I'm drowned?
_Iden. _ Why, you will be well paid for 't,
And have risked more than drowning for as much,
I doubt not.
_Second Peasant_.
