Amy Redpath Roddick

“ Emma
opens door, left. Eginhardt throws a cloak
over her. They stand looking out.] A watchman sings without.
Here are lodged the sacred clothes;
Bow your heads and stainless be.
Earth is draped with glistening snows,
Garbed anew with purity.
Let each soul be undefiled,
God and man be reconciled.
Let each soul be undefiled,
God and man be reconciled.—— Emma. The watchman's song has drifted from his tower.
He steps within. O seize the moment, fly! Eginhardt. [He makes a movement, then stops.] But Emma! that snow—unspotted— Emma. That glitters 'neath
The moon! It seems a miracle. ”

“ Ay low enough, God knows,
May He protect!
[As Charles disappears, following David,
enter Albert.] Albert. The King? Ernst. Enticed away
Like Master Eginhardt. Those woods have closed
On Majesty, ah woe the day! Albert. Ah woe
Indeed! where shall we turn? Old man, come steer
My course; the ship is rudderless, the captain
Has gone. Ernst. And so you call on me, a peasant;
Forgetting noble birth and heritage!
Go search your prized gentility, your schooling,
Your war-time prowess, your hunting skill, your pride,
Vain-glory, your anything. Leave me. I have
A friend—another friend, to mourn. ”

“ Has daily Mass,
The Palace School left you thus weaponless?
63Must you, of this ninth century, turn back
To pagan thought to fight the power of ill?
O fie! fie! fie! a peasant must accoutre,
Must offer arms to noblemen? If help
There be, 'tis by that cross. Fall on your knees
In humble supplication, tell your beads,
Make Christian vows, invoke the Saints, wake Heaven
With moans and pleading sobs. But he, whose horse
Outstrips the rest, must foam its mouth and froth
Its flanks until good Father Hildebold
Be traced,—our Lord Archbishop. Say to him
That Ernst has sent—six years may be too late. ”

“ Our David? and this his special tale, why at
This point he likes to thrust his wooden sword
As though to stab a threatening foe. Ay youth
Can combat death; but what of age? Eginhardt. Talk'st thou
Of age? whose cheeks are soft and round. I will
Admit thou hast enough of woman's wisdom
To delve some crisscross lines or tiny crows-feet.
But none I see, not one wee crease and that
Reflects some credit on thy husband's care;
Six years! and lovers still! was ever known
Such foolish pair. [He kisses her.] Emma. Was ever? Eginhardt. ”

“ Is holy silk. Guta. If I should contradict
'Twould be for sake of bickering. The holes
Are plain enough. Thou seem'st to treasure them,
And yet the hole thou comest from is lined
With gold, they say. Emma. The woman's mad!
Ernst. Thou talk'st
Too much, my wife. Guta. [Addressing Emma.] 'Tis true. Take no affront.
But if I may not talk, who will? a silence
Is often more discourteous than words
And gives the Devil chance—
[The noise of some one
approaching is heard.] Ernst. To show his horns.
And thou hast said it! hush! hush—
[Enter Eginhardt.] ”

“ Emma. My Father often sits
And broods beside the larger pond. Eginhardt. I've noticed;
So had it searched most carefully. Last night
The ring was found. Conceal it 'mid thy pearls,
Then tell the King thou lov'st his servant. He will
Refuse thee nought.
12 Emma. Can we buy happiness
At such a price? win lasting peace and true,
Sustaining joy? [She moves and, unnoticing,
brushes the silk from the table.] O see! the silk has
fallen. ”

“ The furniture is covered with skins. There are interesting collections of curios, dried grasses and ferns; and everywhere freshly gathered asters in horn mugs. The whole presents a most artistic appearance. Emma sits on a couch beside a cradle, crooning a slumber song to the infant in her arms. Beside her sits Eginhardt, attaching feathers to his arrows. Through the door, centre back, fruit trees are seen. Six years have greatly changed Emma and Eginhardt. ”

“ If duty weighs, good Eginhardt, we'll lean
On younger arms; so take my horn and blow
A lusty blast, we have the heart to work;
And God will aid.
[Eginhardt blows the horn, while Charles turns to his
venison and Emma quiets the baby. An answering call
comes faint, then louder.] Eginhardt. Run David, run, and point
The way. [Exit David.] I'll go a step to greet old friends,
Prepare their minds.
[Exit.] Emma. [Laying the baby in his cradle.] Hush, hush—
[She pours some wine for Charles.] ”

“ Who spinnest love tales as others gossip. Come!
A lengthy walk! Ernst. And leave the youth? O youth!
First love! sweet raptures, mine no more—no more— Guta. Come, come away; thou moonstruck fool! white hairs
Are no safe shielding 'gainst man's foolish bent.
39 [Ernst and Guta mount the steps but as they descend
the other side they pause and look round unnoticed by
Emma and Eginhardt.] Emma. ”

“ Had dimmed; with deep, upwelling thought that strives
And gladsome awe, they faced the Evening Star; whose print
Was on their baby's brow, had marked their lives.
Then Innocence would laugh and stretch her hands and prayer
Half-breathed would rise that happiness remain.
The Evening Star flung beams of trust and through the air
Oft "Innocence" was voiced by winds again.
And Innocence grew tall as passed the years; but frail
At times she seemed, still more when strangers neared. ”

“ So that peace is war's purpose, the scope of all military discipline, and the limit at which all just contentions level. All men seek peace by war, but none seek war by peace. For they that perturb the peace they live in, do it not for hate of it, but to show their power in alteration of it. They would not disannul it; but they would have it as they like;"— Charles. "As they like;"—and so they suffer! but that
Is past. O Eginhardt, 'tis thee! thy voice!
Thy gesture! and Emma, my daughter Emma, I know
Thee now. Come let me feel, make certain, my dear,
Dear child, ay, ay; 'tis not a dream. ”

“ Eginhardt. [Sitting on the couch.] Thou know'st the
story? Emma. [Sitting on a stool near him.] A rumor,
Unmeant to reach the King, my Father's ears,
And so 'twas crushed. But now the ring I hold
Demands the truth. O Eginhardt, tell all,
Omitting nought, e'en though the listening hurts. Eginhardt. A lesser soul might rather seek relief
From words unsaid; but thou, with thy clear eyes,
Need'st probe beneath like— Emma. Like that Father; whose
Sweet confidence has been outwitted. Eginhardt. Rather
Betrayed unwittingly, a force outside
Ourselves. Emma. That can be crushed ”

“ A stalwart hero! a splendid boy! David. [Clapping his hands and dancing round.] There! there!
I said as much, a hero! a hero! a hero! Emma.
[Who, with Eginhardt, recognizes Charles, laying
her hand on her heart as though to still its throbbings.] Quiet boy! let others sing thy praise.
I welcome you, my Lord, your face, this weapon
Proclaim nobility; we are unused
To strangers here. Forgive a trembling voice. Charles. [Looking round.] But not a peasant's voice, I swear, and this
72No peasant's hovel: such skins, so well arranged,
Such forest wealth would grace our hunting lodge. ”

“ Some few of mortal birth have forced a way;
But what they saw none know, for none have since
Returned. Emma. Ay, peasants' talk; but e'en if true—
St. Augustine, I've heard, hath not denied
There may be other hidden agencies
Than those of scriptural warrant—yet this silk
44Will serve as amulet. I have no fear.
Hast thou? Eginhardt. I'd be ashamed to so confess
And once indeed I peeped. Emma. And saw?
Eginhardt. We'll let
It be for now. Thou'rt weak and famished. Rest
Thee here. I'll do some foraging.
[Exit through door of hut.] Emma. [After a pause, gathering up the silk.] ”

“ They stand prettily poised listening, each with the right
forefinger raised. The scene grows quite dark again
while delightful strains of heavenly music are heard.
After a time they die away. The scene lightens, Charles is
discovered still sleeping. All trace of Wish-maidens, tables
and dwarfs have disappeared unless it be David, a little
green-clad figure, who enters from the copse, losing his
hat on a thornbush. ”

“ The cloaking space, that something must respond.
A something e'en more wonderful than branchlets sprayed
In weird fantastic tire 'gainst heaven's deep;
And lo the mystic blush of evening gently rayed,
Wee cloudlets strayed from mist like flocks of sheep.
A wind! or was't a cry? The infant gasped for breath.
Belike soft bleating lambs had wakened her,
Belike the new-born soul was lured toward lanes of death,
The rosy flush had held a messenger. ”

“ Emma. Indeed my son thou mayst.
If there be strength in human love, 'twill hold
Him close. [David jumps delight.] But softly boy, thou must be more
Polite, more circumspect. O Eginhardt!
He looks so peaceful. Think you that mood will change,
That passion will distort his brow when he
Discovers? Eginhardt. He has not realized and yet
Has felt thy soothing presence. O 'twould be
Impossible to meet thy tender gaze
73And then to break from it. Ay love will hold
Him here; but let the truth come leaking out,
Lest joy disturb his age. Emma. Thou hast more hope
Than I, who am his daughter. David. ”

“ Ernst. If only such could happen! Eginhardt. Man,
Thou must be mad to e'en suggest the thought.
Has dotage crept thus suddenly? Begone,
Let thy old wife coax reason back.
38 Emma. A poor
Instructor! She's mad as he. Guta. O Master, you
Alone are crazed. Quick cross yourself, break loose,
Use Latin words, delve deep within your learning;
From useless lumber pluck some magic art;
Whose strength will free from love's bewitching power,
From spectral glamour. Eginhardt. Break loose from love? O Guta ”

“ Albert. Thou shouldst have studied thine. Servility
Becomes a peasant's tongue. Charles. Polite to whom?
To dainty nobles who presume on birth
50And wide possessions, whose love of play and sport
Bids them forget the useful arts, the work
That makes life passable, their Emperor's
Renown, the safety of the realm? No, no.
My love is for the striving man whate'er
His station be. Is not the peasants' wisdom,
His industry, the backbone of our nation?
Ah woe the day when he forgets his high
Estate and seeks to ape his so-called betters. Ernst. Great King, I kneel to you, the peasants' friend. ”

“ Poor odds and ends as we may choose to plunder. Eginhardt. Thou'st said the word. If thou'rt refreshed, we'll make
A kindly start before the day grows late;
But I must bear this stag, so wilt thou help
As would a peasant woman? Emma. With joyous heart!
My life has seemingly begun—so free.
I'll take deep breaths.
[They go into the hut and come out laden.] Eginhardt. [Laughing.] Dost think we have enough?
Emma. Enough and e'en to spare! ”

“ The answer came: "In love affairs we crave
Indulgence." But one dissentient voice: "Our laws
Proclaim a speedy death." 'Twas Eginhardt,
The youngest councillor, who spoke. Emma. You said—
Albert. That death was not the penalty; Ay! listen! ”

“ Had forced the clouds; it peered through boughs close-webbed.
A bright and steadfast star that shot its friendly rays.
"O Evening Star," the woman softly sobbed,
"Be sponsor, shed celestial light through trackless haze." ”

“ Eginhardt. Ay, but let
69It fall again from thy sweet lips. Emma. The King,
My Father, had shamed the Saracen; but O
At what a cost! Archbishop Turpin, brave Roland,
And many another paladin returned
No more. O war, it is a ghastly thing!
The victor suffers as the vanquished, though pride
May not acknowledge it. Our hardy troops,
Who struggled past the Pyrenees, brought plague,
That Southern ill. It spread through Rhenish towns,
Death stalked from house to house, all nostrums failed.
The learned Doctors could but shake their heads,
Fear seized each heart—and then man turned to God. ”

“ A peasant, hast such stuff within, that courtiers
Must come to pump it out then serve it for
The King. Ernst. The King loves ancient hero-tales.
A proper King! a proper Emperor!
What's more, a proper man. I wonder why
Good Master Eginhardt delays; I promised
Some verse, it quivers on my lips. That's just
The way, he comes when I am disinclined
And now he dallies. Guta. Last night I dreamt of death,
33Royal mourners wailed. In fright I woke. The wind
Blew fluted dirge-like notes; but dreams are ay
Contrariwise. Most like 'twas wedding bells.
I wish good Master Eginhardt would come ”

“ The writer and her husband would often pause to view some beauty-spot; at times she would read aloud the rare legends collected by Joseph Muller.
She has now tried to catch some of the interest and joy of those gone by summers to pass on to relatives and friends. If she has failed it is not the fault of the theme. ”