throne depend on it, no less.

[_To the officers._]
Come!--Frank!

A GROOM (_entering_). Here!

ELECTOR. Quick there! Saddle me my gray!
I will be on the field before the sun!

[_He goes out, followed by generals, colonels and minor officers._]

SCENE VI

THE PRINCE (_coming forward_).
Now, on thine orb, phantasmic creature, Fortune,
Whose veil a faint wind's breathing even now
Lifts as a sail, roll hither! Thou hast touched
My hair in passing; as thou hovered'st near
Already from thy horn of plenty thou
Benignantly hast cast me down a pledge.
Child of the gods, today, O fugitive one,
I will pursue thee on the field of battle,
Seize thee, tear low thy horn of plenty, pour
Wholly thy radiant blessings round my feet,
Though sevenfold chains of iron bind thee fast
To the triumphant chariot of the Swede!

[_Exit._]

ACT II

_Scene: Battlefield of Fehrbellin._

SCENE I

COLONEL KOTTWITZ, COUNT HOHENZOLLERN, CAPTAIN VON DER GOLZ _and other
officers enter at the head of the cavalry._

KOTTWITZ (_outside_). Halt! Squadron, halt! Dismount!

HOHENZOLLERN AND GOLZ (_entering_). Halt, halt!

KOTTWITZ. Hey, friends, who'll help me off my horse?

HOHENZOLLERN AND GOLZ. Here--here!

[_They step outside again._]

KOTTWITZ (_still outside_).
Thanks to you-ouch! Plague take me! May a son
Be giv'n you for your pains, a noble son
Who'll do the same for you when you grow sear.

[He enters, followed by_ HOHENZOLLERN, GOLZ _and others._]

Oh, in the saddle I am full of youth!
When I dismount, though, there's a battle on
As though the spirit and the flesh were parting,
In wrath. [_Looking about._] Where is our
chief, the Prince's Highness?

HOHENZOLL. The Prince will momentarily return.

KOTTWITZ. Where has he gone?
HOHENZOLLERN. He rode down to a hamlet,
In foliage hidden, so you passed it by.
He will return erelong.

OFFICER. Last night, they say,
His horse gave him a tumble.

HOHENZOLLERN. So they say.

KOTTWITZ. He fell?

HOHENZOLLERN (_turning_). A matter of no consequence.
His horse shied at the mill, but down his flank
He lightly slipped and did himself no harm.
It is not worth the shadow of a thought.

KOTTWITZ (_ascending a slight elevation_).
A fine day, as I breathe the breath of life!
A day our God, t