(GERTRUDE and HANS stand aside. Grand march. Enter a corps of Grenadiers and other troops, who form on the right of the stage. Roll of drums. The troops present arms. Enter FREDERICK, in a furious passion, followed by general and staff Officers, and Count LANISKA. The KING acknowledges the salute, lifts his hat, and puts it on again furiously. HAROLD and Corporal are in the ranks of the Grenadiers. Throughout the scene the KING speaks hurriedly.) KING. General! FIRST GENERAL. Your Majesty. KING. How comes it there is such a lack of discipline in your division? Disband THAT regiment at once, and draft a few of the men from the right wing into other regiments ordered for immediate service! The sooner THEY are shot the better! FIRST GENERAL. Yes, sire. [Exit. KING. Generals--most of you have served the greater part of your lives with me. We have grown gray-headed in the service of our country, and we therefore know best ourselves the dangers, difficulties, and glory in which we have shared. While we maintain the discipline of the army, we may defy any power that Europe can march against us--relax that, and we become an easy prey to the spoiler. SECOND GENERAL. Your majesty shall have no cause of complain in the future. KING. Make sure of that!--Soldiers, I rely in my operations entirely upon your well-known zeal in my service, and I shall acknowledge it with gratitude as long as I live; but at the same time I require of you that you look upon it as your most sacred duty to show kindness and mercy to all prisoners that the fortunes of war may throw in your power. SECOND GENERAL. That duty, sire, you have taught us all our lives. KING (taking snuff.) Good!--Have any of my grenadiers anything to say to me before the parade is dismissed? HAROLD (recovering arms.) Your Majesty! KING. Speak out, Harold! HAROLD. The grenadiers have noticed with deep regret that you fatigue yourself of late too much with the cares of the army. We protest against it-- KING. Zounds and fury!--Here's rebellion! YOU protest against it? HAROLD (bluntly.) We do. You are getting to be an old man--a very old man--and are too much afoot. KING. I can do as I like about it, I suppose? HAROLD. Certainly not; and you will, therefore, in future, be good enough to use your carriage more and your legs less. KING. What do the grenadiers FEAR? HAROLD. We fear nothing but the loss of your health, the loss of your life, or the loss of your favor, sire. KING. Don't you fear the loss of my temper at your bluntness--eh, old comrade? HAROLD. No, sire; we know you like it. KING. I do indeed. You are in the right, my brave compatriots--for my advanced age and increasing infirmities admonish me that I shall be under the necessity of following your advice. But on the day of battle, you shall see me on horseback--ON HORSEBACK--and in the thickest of the fight! (Crosses the stage, as a BURGOMASTER enters, kneels, and presents a petition.) What have we here?