mass his scattered corps.

NATALIE (_to the_ ELECTRESS).
Dearest, be strong!

ELECTRESS. Stop, dear. Leave me alone.

MOeRNER. That moment, watching, clear above the dust,
We see our liege beneath the battle-flags
Of Truchsz's regiments ride on the foe.
On his white horse, oh, gloriously he rode,
Sunlit, and lighting the triumphant plain.
Heart-sick with trepidation at the sight
Of him, our liege, bold in the battle's midst,
We gather on a hillock's beetling brow;
When of a sudden the Elector falls,
Horseman and horse, in dust before our eyes.
Two standard-bearers fell across his breast
And overspread his body with their flags.

NATALIE. Oh, mother mine!

FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING. Oh, heaven!

ELECTRESS. Go on, go on!

MOeRNER. At this disastrous spectacle, a pang
Unfathomable seized the Prince's heart;
Like a wild beast, spurred on of hate and vengeance,
Forward he lunged with us at the redoubt.
Flying, we cleared the trench and, at a bound,
The shelt'ring breastwork, bore the garrison down,
Scattered them out across the field, destroyed;
Capturing the Swede's whole panoply of war--
Cannon and standards, kettle-drums and flags.
And had the group of bridges at the Rhyn
Hemmed not our murderous course, not one had lived
Who might have boasted at his father's hearth
At Fehrbellin I saw the hero fall!

ELECTRESS. Triumph too dearly bought! I like it not.
Give me again the purchase-price it cost.

[_She falls in a faint._]

FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING.
Help, God in heaven! Her senses flee from
her.

[NATALIE _is weeping._]

SCENE VI

_The_ PRINCE OF HOMBURG _enters. The others._

THE PRINCE. Oh, Natalie, my dearest!

[_Greatly moved, he presses her hand to his heart._]

NATALIE. Then it is true?

THE PRINCE. Could I but answer No!
Could I but pour my loyal heart's blood out
To call his loyal heart back into life!

NATALIE (_drying her tears_).
Where is his body? Have they found it yet?

THE PRINCE. Until this hour, alas, my labor was
Vengeance on Wrangle only; how could I
Then dedicate myself to such a task?
A horde of men, however, I sent forth
To seek him on the battle-plains of death.
Ere night I do not doubt that he will come.

NATALIE. Who now will lead us in this terrible war
And keep these Swedes in subjugation? Who
Shield us against this