ul!--
How more than all I sighed for! Heaven receive
A mother's thanks! a mother's tears of joy!
This is indeed thy work!--At such an hour, too,
He comes not only as a son, but saviour.

_Ulr._ If such a joy await me, it must double
What I now feel, and lighten from my heart 10
A part of the long debt of duty, not
Of love (for that was ne'er withheld)--forgive me!
This long delay was not my fault.

_Jos._ I know it,
But cannot think of sorrow now, and doubt
If I e'er felt it, 'tis so dazzled from
My memory by this oblivious transport!--
My son!

_Enter_ WERNER.

_Wer._ What have we here,--more strangers?--

_Jos._ No!
Look upon him! What do you see?

_Wer._ A stripling,
For the first time--

_Ulr._ (_kneeling_). For twelve long years, my father!

_Wer._ Oh, God!

_Jos._ He faints!

_Wer._ No--I am better now-- 20
Ulric! (_Embraces him_.)

_Ulr._ My father, Siegendorf!

_Wer._ (_starting_). Hush! boy--
The walls may hear that name!

_Ulr._ What then?

_Wer._ Why, then--
But we will talk of that anon. Remember,
I must be known here but as Werner. Come!
Come to my arms again! Why, thou look'st all
I should have been, and was not. Josephine!
Sure 'tis no father's fondness dazzles me;
But, had I seen that form amid ten thousand
Youth of the choicest, my heart would have chosen
This for my son!

_Ulr._ And yet you knew me not! 30

_Wer._ Alas! I have had that upon my soul
Which makes me look on all men with an eye
That only knows the evil at first glance.

_Ulr._ My memory served me far more fondly: I
Have not forgotten aught; and oft-times in
The proud and princely halls of--(I'll not name them,
As you say that 'tis perilous)--but i' the pomp
Of your sire's feudal mansion, I looked back
To the Bohemian mountains many a sunset,
And wept to see another day go down 40
O'er thee and me, with those huge hills between us.
They shall not part us more.

_Wer._