The Poems of Emma Lazarus Volume II Part 25

NORDMANN.

His child was saved.

PRIOR.

By whom?

NORDMANN.

By the same Jew Who had betrayed the Castle.

PRIOR.

Susskind von Orb?

NORDMANN.

Susskind von Orb! and Schnetzen's daughter lives As the Jew's child within the Judenga.s.se.

PRIOR (eagerly).

What proof hast thou of this?

NORDMANN.

Proof of these eyes!

I visited von Orb to ask a loan.

There saw I such a maiden as no Jew Was ever blessed withal since Jesus died.

White as a dove, with hair like golden floss, Eyes like an Alpine lake. The haughty line Of brow imperial, high bridged nose, fine chin, Seemed like the shadow cast upon the wall, Where Lady Schnetzen stood.

PRIOR.

Why hast thou ne'er Discovered her to Schnetzen?

NORDMANN.

He was my friend.

I shared with him thirst, hunger, sword, and fire.

But he became a courtier. When the Margrave Sent me his second challenge to the field, His messenger was Schnetzen! 'Mongst his knights, The apple of his eye was Henry Schnetzen.

He was the hound that hunted me to death.

He stood by Frederick's side when I was led, Bound, to the presence. I denounced him coward, He smote me on the cheek. Christ! it stings yet.

He hissed--"My liege, let Henry Nordmann hang!

He is no knight, for he receives a blow, Nor dare avenge it!" My gyved wrists moved not, No nerve twitched in my face, although I felt Flame leap there from my heart, then flying back, Leave it cold-bathed with deathly ooze--my soul In silence took her supreme vow of hate.

PRIOR.

Praise be to G.o.d that thou hast come to-day.

To-morrow were too late. Hast thou not heard Frederick sends Schnetzen unto Nordhausen, With fire and torture for the Jews?

NORDMANN.

So! Henry Schnetzen Shall be the Jews' destroyer? Ah!

PRIOR.

One moment.

Mayhap this box which Susskind sends the Prince Reveals more wonders.

[He brings forth the Casket from the Cabinet, opens it, and discovers a golden cross and a parchment which he hastily overlooks.]

Hark! your word's confirmed Blessed be Christ, our Lord! (reads).

"I Susskind von Orb of Nordhausen, swear by the unutterable Name, that on the day when the Castle of Salza was burned, I rescued the infant daughter of Henry Schnetzen from the flames. I purposed restoring her to her father, but when I returned to Nordhausen, I found my own child lying on her bier, and my wife in fevered frenzy calling for her babe. I sought the leech, who counselled me to show the Christian child to the bereaved mother as her own. The pious trick prevailed; the fever broke, the mother was restored.

But never would she part with the child, even when she had learned to whom it belonged, and until she was gathered with the dead--may peace be with her soul!--she fostered in our Jewish home the offspring of the Gentile knight. Then again would I have yielded the girl to her parent, but Schnetzen was my foe, and I feared the haughty baron would disown the daughter who came from the hands of the Jew. Now however the maiden's temporal happiness demands that she be acknowledged by her rightful father. Let him see what I have written. As a token, behold this golden cross, bound by the Lady Schnetzen round the infant's neck. May the G.o.d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob redeem and bless me as I have writ the truth."

PRIOR.

I thank the Saints that this has come betimes.

Thou shalt renounce thy hate. Vengeance is mine, The Lord hath said.

NORDMANN.

O all-transforming Time!

Is this meek, saintly-hypocrite, the firm, Ambitious, resolute Reinhard Peppercorn, Terror of Jews and beacon of the Church?

Look, you, I have won the special grace of Christ, He knows through what fierce anguis.h.!.+ Now he leans Out of his heaven to whisper in mine ear, And reach me my revenge. He makes my cause His own--and I shall fail upon these heights, Sink from the level of a hate sublime, To puerile pity!

PRIOR.

Be advised. You hold Your enemy's living heart within your hands.

This secret is far costlier than you dreamed, For Frederick's son wooes Schnetzen's daughter. See, A hundred delicate springs your wit may move, Your puppets are the Landgrave and the Prince, The Governor of Salza and the Jews.

You may recover station, wealth, and honor, Selling your secret shrewdly; while rash greed Of clumsy vengeance may but drag you down In the wild whirl of universal ruin.

NORDMANN.

Christ teach me whom to trust! I would not spill One drop from out this br.i.m.m.i.n.g glorious cup For which my parched heart pants. I will consider.

PRIOR.

Pardon me now, if I break off our talk.

Let all rest as it stands until the dawn.

I have many orisons before the light.

NORDMANN.

Good-night, true friend. Devote a prayer to me.

(Aside.) I will outwit you, serpent, though you glide Athwart the dark, noiseless and swift as fate.

[Exit].