stones have fallen
From yonder terrace.
[ULRIC _leaps down from the terrace_.
Ulric! ever welcome!
Thrice welcome now! this filial----

_Ulr._ Stop! before
We approach, tell me----

_Wer._ Why look you so?

_Ulr._ Do I 30
Behold my father, or----

_Wer._ What?

_Ulr._ An assassin?

_Wer._ Insane or insolent!

_Ulr._ Reply, sir, as
You prize your life, or mine!

_Wer._ To what must I
Answer?

_Ulr._ Are you or are you not the assassin
Of Stralenheim?

_Wer._ I never was as yet
The murderer of any man. What mean you?

_Ulr._ Did not you _this_ night (as the night before)
Retrace the secret passage? Did you not
_Again_ revisit Stralenheim's chamber? and----
[ULRIC _pauses_.

_Wer._ Proceed.

_Ulr._ _Died_ he not by your hand?

_Wer._ Great God! 40

_Ulr._ You are innocent, then! my father's innocent!
Embrace me! Yes,--your tone--your look--yes, yes,--
Yet _say_ so.

_Wer._ If I e'er, in heart or mind,
Conceived deliberately such a thought,
But rather strove to trample back to hell
Such thoughts--if e'er they glared a moment through
The irritation of my oppressed spirit--
May Heaven be shut for ever from my hopes,
As from mine eyes!

_Ulr._ But Stralenheim is dead.

_Wer._ 'Tis horrible! 'tis hideous, as 'tis hateful!-- 50
But what have I to do with this?

_Ulr._ No bolt
Is forced; no violence can be detected,
Save on his body. Part of his own household
Have been alarmed; but as the Intendant is
Absent, I took upon myself the care
Of mustering the police. His chamber has,
Past doubt, been entered secretly. Excuse me,
If nature----

_Wer._ Oh, my boy! what unknown woes
Of dark fatality, like clouds, are gathering
Above our house!

_Ulr._ My father! I acquit you! 60
But will the world do so? will even the judge,
If--but you mu