Page:Poet Lore, volume 26, 1915.djvu/322

 whom I have myself sprung, I shall beat and strike down those who are blood of my body and bones of my limbs! O Výrava—for shame to the depths of your soul!

Výrava.—Stop, insolent fool, or I’ll beat and crush you to death first of all!

Dvořák.—Take my life—but understand—understand—and cling to your own people! Don’t you see that the nobility or more likely their servants want to retard the liberty which the Emperor has sent? Why don’t they want to read the edict?

(From a distance a tumult, and many voices).—To the Castle! Open! We’ll break down the gate! The edict! The edict!

Kyral.—Do you hear how they are storming in front of the castle? Ho! A tempest is blowing which will overturn trees. Výrava, Výrava, beware lest it destroy you, too!

Řehák and Others of the People. (Behind the scenes).—Kyral, Dvořák, Výrava!

Dvořák.—Well, if you don’t want to hear your people, they will manage without you. They are calling us. Come, Kyral.

(Both hasten away).

Výrava.—Stop! Stop!

From the other side ''enters from the castle. Stops, frightened but determined.''

Karmín.—Výrava! Come quickly with me through the side gate to the castle. Speak to those madmen! Tell them to yield—or I’ll give the order to shoot!

Výrava.—To shoot!

Karmín.—To shoot, I say. For this is insurrection.

Výrava.—To shoot! What wrong have they done? They only want to hear the Emperor’s edict!

Karmín.—Edict here, edict there. Just now they want to storm the castle. Will you allow them to loosen the reins of their fierceness in the castle?

Výrava.—I stand responsible for it that they will do nothing of the sort. A few words from me and unless Satan has entered their heads, they will heed me.

Karmín.—Excellent! But at the same time you must give them a serious talk about that edict.

Výrava.—That is another matter, Mr. Director. Show me