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Front Page Titles (by Subject) SCENE XII.—: A Heath—on one side an Eminence, with a ruined Tower, on the other the Forest. - Goethe's Works, vol. 3 (Goetz von Berlichingen, Iphigenia in Tauris, Tarquato Tasso, etc)
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SCENE XII.—: A Heath—on one side an Eminence, with a ruined Tower, on the other the Forest. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Goethe’s Works, vol. 3 (Goetz von Berlichingen, Iphigenia in Tauris, Tarquato Tasso, etc) [1885]Edition used:Goethe’s Works, illustrated by the best German artists, 5 vols. (Philadelphia: G. Barrie, 1885). Vol. 3.
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SCENE XII.—A Heath—on one side an Eminence, with a ruined Tower, on the other the Forest.Enter marching, theCaptain of the ImperialistswithOfficersand hisSquadron.Drums and standards. Captain.He halts upon the heath! that’s too impudent. He shall smart for it—what! not fear the torrent that threatens to overwhelm him! Officer.I had rather you did not head the troops; he looks as if he meant to plant the first that comes upon him in the mire with his head downmost. Prithee, ride in the rear. Captain.Not so. Officer.I entreat you. You are the knot which unites this bundle of hazel-twigs; loose it, and he will break them separately like so many reeds. Captain.Sound, trumpeter—and let us blow him to hell! [A charge sounded. Exeunt in full career. Selbitz,with hisTroopers,comes from behind the hill, galloping. Selbitz.Follow me! They shall wish that they could multiply their hands. [They gallop across the stage, et exeunt. Loud alarm—Lerseand his party sally from the wood. Lerse.Ho! to the rescue! Goetz is almost surrounded.—Gallant Selbitz, thou hast cut thy way—we will sow the heath with these thistle heads. [Gallop off. A loud alarm, with shouting and firing for some minutes.Selbitzis borne in wounded by twoTroopers. Selbitz.Leave me here, and hasten to Goetz. First Trooper.Let us stay, sir—you need our aid. Selbitz.Get one of you on the watchtower, and tell me how it goes. First Trooper.How shall I get up? Second Trooper.Mount upon my shoulders—you can then reach the ruined part, and thence scramble up to the opening. [First Troopergets up into the tower. First Trooper.Alas, sir! Selbitz.What seest thou? First Trooper.Your troopers fly towards the hill. Selbitz.Rascally cowards! I would that they stood their ground, and I had a ball through my head! Ride, one of you, full speed! Curse and thunder them back to the field! Seest thou Goetz! [ExitSecond Trooper. Trooper.I see his three black feathers floating in the midst of the wavy tumult. Selbitz.Swim, brave swimmer! I lie here. Trooper.A white plume—whose is that? Selbitz.The captain’s. Trooper.Goetz gallops upon him—crash! Down he goes! Selbitz.The captain? Trooper.Yes, sir. Selbitz.Hurrah! hurrah! Trooper.Alas! alas! I see Goetz no more. Selbitz.Then die, Selbitz! Trooper.A dreadful tumult where he stood—George’s blue plume vanishes too. Selbitz.Come down! Dost thou not see Lerse? Trooper.No. Everything is in confusion. Selbitz.No more. Come down.—How do Sickingen’s men bear themselves? Trooper.Well—one of them flies to the wood—another—another—a whole troop. Goetz is lost! Selbitz.Come down. Trooper.I cannot.—Hurrah! hurrah! I see Goetz, I see George. Selbitz.On horseback? Trooper.Ay, ay, high on horseback! Victory! victory!—they fly. Selbitz.The Imperialists? Trooper.Yes, standard and all, Goetz behind them. They disperse,—Goetz reaches the ensign—he seizes the standard; he halts. A handful of men rally round him. My comrade reaches him—they come this way. EnterGoetz, George, LerseandTroopers,on horseback. Selbitz.Joy to thee, Goetz! Victory! victory! Goetz.(Dismounting.) Dearly, dearly bought. Thou art wounded, Selbitz! Selbitz.But thou dost live and hast conquered! I have done little; and my dogs of troopers! How hast thou come off? Goetz.For the present, well! And here I thank George, and thee, Lerse, for my life. I unhorsed the captain, they stabbed my horse, and pressed me hard. George cut his way to me, and sprang off his horse. I threw myself like lightning upon it, and he appeared suddenly like a thunderbolt upon another, How camest thou by thy steed? George.A fellow struck at you from behind: as he raised his cuirass in the act, I stabbed him with my dagger. Down he came; and so I rid you of an enemy, and helped myself to a horse. Goetz.There we held together till Francis here came to our help; and thereupon we mowed our way out. ![]() artist: a. wagner. GÖTZ VON BERLICHINGEN. ACT III. gotz von berlichingen and selbitz. Lerse.The hounds whom I led were to have mowed their way in, till our scythes met, but they fled like Imperialists. Goetz.Friend and foe all fled, except this little band who protected my rear. I had enough to do with the fellows in front, but the fall of their captain dismayed them; they wavered, and fled. I have their banner, and a few prisoners. Selbitz.The captain has escaped you? Goetz.They rescued him in the scuffle. Come, lads, come, Selbitz —Make a litter of lances and boughs: thou canst not mount a horse, come to my castle. They are scattered, but we are very few; and I know not what troops they may have in reserve. I will be your host, my friends. Wine will taste well after such an action. [Exeunt, carryingSelbitz. |

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