1829.] The French Annuals. ; 141 
delight me ; lizards and toads are the food of poor Carl; moss and foul weed 
make his bed and his cloak. I am cold! 
Hans (aside to George). ’Tis Carl de Wolffstein, as sure as I am a Christian 
—(Aloud). Why do you haunt the spirits of darkness, and go about thus, 
almost naked, covered with weeds and straw? 
Carl. Carl is proscribed ; the black sword seeks him. 
Geo. What is your crime ? 
Carl. Raise your eyes, and look upon the heaven sowed with stars. My 
crime is written, in characters of blood, on the milky-way !—Hark! do you 
hear the crackling of the flame? It murmurs forth, like the north-wind, 
words that accuse me.—Have you nothing to eat? 
Geo. Soldiers’ fare—here’s bread ! 
Carl. Put out the fire—it is so red. Who has spilled blood into it ? 
Hans. Don’t devour so furiously ; you may eat at your ease. 
Carl. Carl has eaten brambles; his hunger would devour stones. 
Hans. I knew you formerly. 
Carl. You knew me!—The bell of the monastery calls me. Adieu! 
Hans. Stop !—( Aside to George). Let us see if he will betray himself— 
¢ Fo Carl). Were not you a rich prelate ? 
Carl. A cardinal ;—see! I have the scarlet hat. 
Geo. Holy Virgin! his skull is stripped of skin and hair! 
Hans. Poor outcast! Put your head upon my knees; I'll apply a refresh< 
ing balsam on your wounds. 
Carl. Dost thou wish to assist me, and art thou a man? Alas! the fire of hell 
burns within me. I drag myself across the fords on lizards and cold snakes; I 
lay me down on the rock where the waters of the torrent flow; nothing, 
nothing can cool me! Have you, in your castle, any dark and damp corner 
in which poor Carl can hide from his enemies? Let me follow you ; I shall 
serve you as a horse-block, when you wish to mount your charger.—Hush! 
I hear steps. Save me—save me! They come ! 
Hans. Be calm ; no one will come to do you harm. 
Geo. Who goes there ? 
[Two masked Pilgrims appear. 
First Pil. Travellers, who have lost their way in the wood, and have been 
drawn hither by the gleam of your fire. Permit us to await the arrival of day 
in company with you. 
Hans. Willingly. From what country do you come P 
Second Pil. From Augsburgh. We have made a vow to Notre-Dame-de- 
Bon-Refuge.—W hose banner do you follow ? 
Hans. That of the Connt of Buhna. 
Carl. I must go read mass before midnight. Let me depart. 
Hans. Stay where you are, poor ideot!' The wolves would eat you if you 
stirred. 
Carl. Yd rather the wolves than the crows. 
Geo. What news, Pilgrims, have you brought from your town? 
Second Pil. None. Pride, the old hack, with gilt trappings, still leads 
the world. Her daughters, Treason, Lying, and Licentiousness, carry as usual 
the fur and the ermine. Every body respectfully kisses their imperious 
hands. The devil makes a fine crop of it. 
Geo. Have you then oaks no longer in your forests, and free judges to 
assemble under their foliage ? 
Carl. 1 must depart, brother. I'll go look for glow-worms for you in the 
grass ; ye shall put them in your morion as a crown of sparkles. 
Hans. Stay ! 
First Pil. Old man, the Holy Vehme still watches. We have found in our 
way a terrible example of its justice. Two of its emissaries have seized 
a parricide within a few paces of us. 
Hans & Geo. A parricide ! 
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