ure I'll sound it better than your bugles; 270
Then pray you be as punctual to its notes:
I'll play you King Gustavus' march.

_Ulr._ And why not
Old Tilly's?

_Ida._ Not that monster's! I should think
My harp-strings rang with groans, and not with music,
Could aught of _his_ sound on it:--but come quickly;
Your mother will be eager to receive you. [_Exit_ IDA.

_Sieg._ Ulric, I wish to speak with you alone.

_Ulr._ My time's your vassal.--
(_Aside to_ RODOLPH.) Rodolph, hence! and do
As I directed: and by his best speed
And readiest means let Rosenberg reply. 280

_Rod._ Count Siegendorf, command you aught? I am bound
Upon a journey past the frontier.

_Sieg._ (_starts_). Ah!--
Where? on _what_ frontier?

_Rod._ The Silesian, on
My way--(_Aside to_ ULRIC.)--_Where_ shall I say?

_Ulr._ (_aside to_ RODOLPH). To Hamburgh.
(_Aside to himself_). That
Word will, I think, put a firm padlock on
His further inquisition.

_Rod._ Count, to Hamburgh.

_Sieg._ (_agitated_). Hamburgh! No, I have nought to do there, nor
Am aught connected with that city. Then
God speed you!

_Rod._ Fare ye well, Count Siegendorf!
[_Exit_ RODOLPH.

_Sieg._ Ulric, this man, who has just departed, is 290
One of those strange companions whom I fain
Would reason with you on.

_Ulr._ My Lord, he is
Noble by birth, of one of the first houses
In Saxony.

_Sieg._ I talk not of his birth,
But of his bearing. Men speak lightly of him.

_Ulr._ So they will do of most men. Even the monarch
Is not fenced from his chamberlain's slander, or
The sneer of the last courtier whom he has made
Great and ungrateful.

_Sieg._ If I must be plain,
The world speaks more than lightly of this Rodolph: 300
They say he is leagued with the "black bands" who still
Ravage the frontier.

_Ulr._ And will you believe
The world?

_Sieg._ In this case--yes.

_Ulr._ In _any_ case,
I thought you knew it better than to take