Page:Poet Lore, volume 26, 1915.djvu/325

 Řehák and Voices.—That’s it! That’s what we want!

Kyral.—Go into the castle, Výrava, with the ultimatum—either the edict or insurrection. Let them choose.

Řehák and Voices.—That’s it! That way and no other.

Výrava (With a sign of hopelessness goes away).

(The people stand in groups talking excitedly. Some walk about. In the front, and six farmers.)

Dvořák (Stepping to the front).—And I say brothers, that you ought not to mediate any more.

Králíček.—And what do you think, boy, that we ought to do?

Dvořák (Pointing to the castle).—Set fire and destroy that bulwark of your slavery.

Králíček.—Well, yes—but with only one earls domain, what can we accomplish?

Dvořák.—Make the start and don’t delve further. Cast your deed into the course of the world like a seed into the ground and don’t ask what it will bring forth. From your deed there will break out a great conflagration which will consume everything that long ago should have been destroyed.

Kyral.—Yes. Yes. Ho, neighbors, brothers, what do you think?

Králíček.—If the Emperor gave out the edict for the abolition of subjection and feudalism, we surely can’t be deprived of its benefits.

(The people assemble.)

Dvořák.—Do your eyes continue blind? Didn’t Emperor Joseph want to abrogate feudalism long ago? Didn’t the nobles do everything possible to change him from his determination? And isn’t it plain that even now they want to keep secret the published edict and after a time nullify it? Don’t let them nullify it!

Řehák and Voices of All the Rest.—It is true! It is true!

Dvořák.—Don’t say that there are too few of us. Everyone in the domain, in the whole district, will follow you. Sound the alarm from the belfry, send messengers from village to village and to all the neighboring domains, burn bon-fires on the hill tops, but first of all set fire to this castle. Thousands will gather even this day and tonight and your power will be terrifying. Go from castle to castle, announce everywhere the Emperor’s edict, and where the nobles won’t surrender and abolish feudalism at once,