František Adolf Šubert

“ Výrava.—Who calls me?
(Enter Dvořák, Králíček, Kyral and other men.)
Dvořák.—Výrava!
Kyral.—Here he is!
Dvořák.—Where do we find you? All the troops are awaiting you. They burn with eagerness to strike at the castle. Come quickly, come, and put yourself at our head.
Výrava.—I alone—without my son Jeroným!
Kyral (With a malicious smile) .—He killed him!
Dvořák.—Don’t mind anything, don’t mind yourself nor your son, just keep the people’s cause in view. Don’t destroy what’s been begun. Lead your people into battle. ”

“ Kyral.—That Výrava despite all, stayed with the lords and betrayed his own people.
Výrava.—Kyral! God defend that I should do a rash deed, but what is it you ask of me?
Dvořák.—That you should take the leadership of those who wish to fight for their ransom from slavery.
Výrava.—But all that has happened heretofore is lead in my limbs. The kindness of the Earl—my son at the castle and perhaps in a battle against me! No—no! Who wishes to set father against son; who wishes that they should meet in a struggle for life or death? ”

“ Tomeš (Stirs with gleaming eye) .—For ourselves! O Count, it will come, it will happen, that we will arise to fight for our rights and protect ourselves. But at that time, we will not be with you. Then we will go forth to the scene of conflict, go forth to die (Dejm listens with growing attention.) but by ourselves, for ourselves alone. Even though as yet we are subjected people, only weak, helpless cattle, that dumbly endure, or fall under the burden of their yoke! But there will come an hour, and when we arise, who can stem the stream, who will try to stand against us! ”

“ Kyral.—God is calling us to freedom—and you remain cold?
Výrava.—Ah, good neighbor. A while ago you insulted me—and in almost the same instant you return to ask me to help those who laughed in scorn at me?
Dvořák (Runs out quickly) .—Výrava! Výrava! How much longer will you delay? If your own family and your people are dear to you, hasten to speak in their name before the nobility. The people are aroused and threaten to storm the castle. The musketeers have thrust them out of the court yard and have closed the gates before them. Hurry, Výrava and give ear to the voice of God. ”

“ Jaroslav.—It is too late. At my age, a position of responsibility does not present itself to me.
Dr. Svoboda.—People who are afraid of work find every age the wrong one in which to begin. And the natural consequence of it results in such baseness as the sending of that telerram to Prague! Who can clear me of suspicion! Who will have faith in me now! Upon me, the infamy will fall, and if I try to ward it off, the supposition will at once arise, that like a coward I am trying to save myself from the consequences of the deed when I failed to accomplish my design! ”

“ Dejm (Calmly) .—I am even prepared for death! (Hands over his dagger. The soldiers take him in charge. As he passes the dead body of Tomeš, he pauses, looking down sadly.) Till we meet again, my dear brother and friend. Fate has been kinder to you than to myself. Only what a pity that with you and to your people is lost that freedom for which you died!
Jordán (Shrugging his shoulders) .—It is not lost, Count. (To Beauvalle) Not for you, but for the people, I bring one gleam of joy! Her Majesty, the Empress, Marie Teresa has abolished serfdom and all servitude in her empire! ”

“ Dejm.—Do not judge them, Beauvalle, or deny unjustly that they have spirit and courage because for the moment you have failed to see it. Stop to consider that for a hundred and twenty years these people have been serfs, and before that period, war was waged among them for thirty years,—war whose iron hoof turned not only the tide of fortune and events, but crushed all hope, all spirit among the people. ”

“ Dvořák (Wards off the servants who flee. The musketeers also depart. To Karmín) .—Behold, Moabite, behold your power. (Catching sight of the dead body of Mad Martin.) Killed—murdered!
All the People.—Murdered! Murdered! We will avenge him!
Dvořák.—Výrava, will you yet disbelieve us, can you yet hesitate? As flowed the blood of this martyr so might have flowed your blood and the blood of any of you. If you do not rise up and liberate yourselves, they will lead you to the slaughter. ”

“ Dejm.—I believe in that victory ultimately, (Takes Tomeš by the hand) for in your eye I see enthusiasm for the cause, I believe the people will share the same burning joy when they see liberty and freedom before them. Step out from this environment in which you have been raised, out of these woods and wild fields, appear now upon the scene of action, be a warrior for yourself and your people. In the same rank and file, we will all fight together! (In the door appears the Countess with Beauvalle) We will all risk our lives for the same cause! ”

“ Prouza.—Honorable Doctor, without you, (Taking his hand) the entire county would be an orphan. You are not only a magistrate, but a father to the people, . . . you take better care of public interests than you do of your own estate!
Dr. Svoboda (Buried in thought) .—That is probably true.
Prouza.—And so just now, when we are just beginning to profit through your services, when you have attended to all the funds that had to be raised, the loans made necessary by last year’s floods, when our success at this moment depends entirely upon you,—no, doctor, today you cannot refuse us. ”

“ Výrava.—Sir Earl, a murder has been committed here by your servants.
Řehák and People.—By Karmín’s servant.
Výrava.—Avoid the bursting of the storm! Cast the director into prison and announce to the people that you no longer demand subjection and feudalism!
People.—Deliver up Karmín! Death to the scoundrel!
Earl.—The misfortune occurred contrary to my will but I will not give up my servant to you.
Řehák and People.—To the castle!
Výrava.—God hears me that I wished to save you—but you have pronounced otherwise. Guard your own life, Earl, and your family—don’t defend others! ”

“ Charvát.—However, as a punishment for the spilling of blood and for incendiarism, I announce in the name of the district government: From each insurrectionist estate and land-holding, one mature man must be enrolled in the army. The plotters of the rebellion will, it is true, have their life, estate and liberty assured them, but as a fine and as a humiliation as well and a punishment for their crime they shall be publicly flogged here in the presence of their lords and of their people whom they stirred up to rebel. ”

“ But what is up now, my dear Dejm,—what news do you bring me?
Dejm (Seriously) .—Concerning the entire country, Count, and most of all it concerns us, our order, whose representatives we happen to be. The game for the possession of our country has now been played for several centuries. Do you know that the throne of Bohemia will soon undergo a change?
Beauvalle (Overcome, but calm) .—What an idea! I know however that the hordes of the enemy are pouring into Austria to divide the country and tear it into pieces! But they will not accomplish their aim! ”

“ Dejm.—The nobility forgot that it had but little power without the support of the people,—and for that reason, it fell.
Beauvalle.—You would appeal to the people in vain. They have no soul, no courage, and no knowledge. What would you do with the hordes,—not a soul among them would dare stand out against the meanest of my serfs! How can you expect these people to risk themselves for something strange, unknown to them? (He rises; Dejm with the Countess at the same time.)
Dejm.—We are arriving at a new era. All over the country, the people are awaking, stirred to new life. ”

“ Beauvalle.—I fail to see the signs. I do not know why you have such faith in the people, or take up the cudgel in their defense so suddenly.
Dejm.—We cannot see our dream realized unless we ourselves are willing to help uplift the people; otherwise the independence of our country will never be gained. We must first lift the people out of this crushing bondage, which I believe is distasteful even to you. That is why I am drawing closer to the masses; we must look to them for strength and support. ”

“ Svoboda.—There is not now . . . there never has been a great ideal but what has demanded its great sacrifice. Every ideal is like a fairy which walks forth with a shining star above its head to guide its followers, but always at midnight changes itself into a dragon and devours the devotees who happen to be near it.
Broz.—Then allow someone else to be the victim for the sacrifice, Honorable Doctor, some one who does not owe so many duties to others. ”

“ And if we all, all our generation were to perish, this uprising is a step forward and finally the people must arrive where we have slowly been advancing . . . no power on earth can prevent them from ultimately attaining the goal toward which we have been striving!
Dejm ( Carried away) .—It is so, it is so!
Jordán (Reproachfully to Dejm) .—Count!
Hopfling.—Just wait, Count! It is only too evident that such ideas did not spring up alone in the imagination of this poacher! (To Beauvalle) Count, it is now your duty to bring to justice these rebellious subjects of yours. ”

“ Matouš.—I say, neighbor,—I repeat—
Kyral.—We’ll all go. Králíček, Řehák, Výrava!
Karmín.—Don’t go, Výrava! (Hastens away) .
Výrava.—Quietly, neighbors, quietly! What is true and right, no one will deny. The Earl is a just nobleman—
Kyral.—Aha, you are so soaked up with the nobles that you are the scourgers’ servant? So, so, hold well to them, that not only out of your son but out of you they may make a would-be gentleman, a would-be director! Ho! for shame, neighbor! (To the rest.) We will go to the castle! ”

“ Tomeš (With darkening face) .—When the kingfisher above yonder brook promises you to cease from robbing the stream of its fish,—then I also will give you my promise. Do you know, Marie, the charm of the forest,—do you realize the fascination that lures, and drags man into its green depths, that pictures a thousand images there for him? In such moments, man is like a mating grouse,—he sees nothing, hears nothing; he would be indifferent if a score of game wardens were at his very heels. ”