Chapter 20

_Scene: Berlin. Pleasure garden outside the old palace. In the background the palace chapel with a staircase leading up to it. Tolling of bells. The church is brightly illuminated. The body of_ FROBEN _is carried by and set on a splendid catafalque. The_ ELECTOR, FIELD-MARSHAL DÖRFLING, COLONEL HENNINGS, COUNT TRUCHSZ _and several other colonels and minor officers enter. From the opposite side enter various officers with dispatches. In the church as well as in the square are men, women and children of all ages._

ELECTOR. What man soever led the cavalry Upon the day of battle, and, before The force of Colonel Hennings could destroy The bridges of the foe, of his own will Broke loose, and forced the enemy to flight Ere I gave order for it, I assert That man deserves that he be put to death; I summon him therefore to be court-martialed.-- Prince Homburg, then, you say, was not the man?

TRUCHSZ. No, my liege lord!

ELECTOR. What proof have you of that?

TRUCHSZ. Men of the cavalry can testify, Who told me of 't before the fight began: The Prince fell headlong from his horse, and, hurt At head and thigh, men found him in a church Where some one bound his deep and dangerous wounds.

ELECTOR. Enough! Our victory this day is great, And in the church tomorrow will I bear My gratitude to God. Yet though it were Mightier tenfold, still would it not absolve Him through whom chance has granted it to me. More battles still than this have I to fight, And I demand subjection to the law. Whoever led the cavalry to battle, I reaffirm has forfeited his head, And to court-martial herewith order him.-- Come, follow me, my friends, into the church.