ATALIE (_tearing herself away_).
Bork! Quick! My scarf, I beg--

ELECTRESS. A wish to me?

FIRST LADY-IN-WAITING.
Princess, the scarf is round your neck.

THE PRINCE (_to the_ ELECTRESS). Indeed!
Can you not guess?

ELECTRESS. No--

THE PRINCE. Not a syllable?

ELECTRESS (_abruptly_).
What matter? Not a suppliant on earth
Could I deny today, whate'er he ask,
And you, our battle-hero, least of all!
Come!

THE PRINCE. Mother! Oh, what did you speak? Those words--
May I interpret them to suit me best?

ELECTRESS. Be off, I say! More, later, as we ride!
Come, let me have your arm.

THE PRINCE. Oh, Caesar Divus!
Lo, I have set a ladder to thy star!

[_He leads the ladies out. Exeunt omnes._]

SCENE IX

_Scene: Berlin. Pleasure garden outside the old palace. In the
background the palace chapel with a staircase leading up to it.
Tolling of bells. The church is brightly illuminated. The body of_
FROBEN _is carried by and set on a splendid catafalque. The_ ELECTOR,
FIELD-MARSHAL DOeRFLING, COLONEL HENNINGS, COUNT TRUCHSZ _and several
other colonels and minor officers enter. From the opposite side enter
various officers with dispatches. In the church as well as in the
square are men, women and children of all ages._

ELECTOR. What man soever led the cavalry
Upon the day of battle, and, before
The force of Colonel Hennings could destroy
The bridges of the foe, of his own will
Broke loose, and forced the enemy to flight
Ere I gave order for it, I assert
That man deserves that he be put to death;
I summon him therefore to be court-martialed.--
Prince Homburg, then, you say, was not the man?

TRUCHSZ. No, my liege lord!

ELECTOR. What proof have you of that?

TRUCHSZ. Men of the cavalry can testify,
Who told me of 't before the fight began:
The Prince fell headlong from his horse, and, hurt
At head and thigh, men found him in a church
Where some one bound his deep and dangerous wounds.

ELECTOR. Enough! Our victory this day is great,
And in the church tomorrow will I bear
My gratitude to God. Yet though it were
Mightier tenfold, still would it not absolve
Him through whom chance has granted it to me.
More battles still than this have I to fight,
And I demand subjection to the law.
Whoever led the cavalry to battle,
I reaffirm has forfeited his head,
And to court-martial herewith order him.--
Come, follow me, my frien