No More Learning

_Ulr. _ Wherefore should I?

_Wer. _ Must I repeat my humiliation?

_Ulr. _ No!
I have fathomed it and you. But let us talk
Of this no more. Or, if it must be ever, 240
Not _now_. Your error has redoubled all
The present difficulties of our house
At secret war with that of Stralenheim:
All we have now to think of is to baffle
HIM. I have shown _one_ way.

_Wer. _ The only one,
And I embrace it, as I did my son,
Who showed _himself_ and father's _safety_ in
One day.

_Ulr. _ You _shall_ be safe; let that suffice.
Would Stralenheim's appearance in Bohemia
Disturb your right, or mine, if once we were 250
Admitted to our lands?

_Wer. _ Assuredly,
Situate as we are now; although the first
Possessor might, as usual, prove the strongest--
Especially the next in blood.

_Ulr. _ _Blood_! 'tis
A word of many meanings; in the veins,
And out of them, it is a different thing--
And so it should be, when the same in blood
(As it is called) are aliens to each other,
Like Theban brethren:[187] when a part is bad,
A few spilt ounces purify the rest. 260

_Wer. _ I do not apprehend you.

_Ulr. _ That may be--
And should, perhaps--and yet--but get ye ready;
You and my mother must away to-night.
Here comes the Intendant: sound him with the gem;
'Twill sink into his venal soul like lead
Into the deep, and bring up slime and mud,
And ooze, too, from the bottom, as the lead doth
With its greased understratum;[188] but no less
Will serve to warn our vessels through these shoals.
The freight is rich, so heave the line in time! 270
Farewell! I scarce have time, but yet your _hand_,
My father! ----

_Wer. _ Let me embrace thee!