FRANCIS. Ha! I will be tenfold, and twice tenfold revenged for this! My wife! No, that honor you shall never enjoy. You shall be my mistress, my strumpet! The honest peasant's wife shall point her finger at you as she passes you in the street. Ay, gnash your teeth as fiercely as you please--scatter fire and destruction from your eyes-- the fury of a woman piques my fancy--it makes you more beautiful, more tempting. Come, this resistance will garnish my triumph, and your struggles give zest to my embraces. Come, come to my chamber--I burn with desire. Come this instant. (Attempts to drag her away). AMELIA (falls on his neck). Forgive me, Francis! (As he is about to clasp her in his arms, she suddenly draws the sword at his side, and hastily disengages herself). Do you see now, miscreant, how I am able to deal with you? I am only a woman, but a woman enraged. Dare to approach, and this steel shall strike your lascivious heart to the core --the spirit of my uncle will guide my hand. Avaunt, this instant! (She drives him away). Ah! how different I feel! Now I breathe again--I feel strong as the snorting steed, ferocious as the tigress when she springs upon the ruthless destroyer of her cubs. To a cloister, did he say? I thank thee for the happy thought! Now has disappointed love found a place of refuge--the cloister--the Redeemer's bosom is the sanctuary of disappointed love. (She is on the point going). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . In the acting edition the following scene occurs between Herman and Francis, immediately before that with Amelia. As Schiller himself thought this among the happiest of his additions, and regretted that it was "entirely and very unfortunately overlooked in the first edition," it seems desirable to introduce it here as well as the soliloquy immediately following, which has acquired some celebrity. SCENE VIII. Enter HERMANN. FRANCIS. Ha! Welcome, my Euryalus! My prompt and trusty instrument! HERMANN (abruptly and peevishly). You sent for me, count--why? FRANCIS. That you might put the seal to your master-piece. HERMANN (gruffly). Indeed? FRANCIS. Give the picture its finishing touch. HERMANN. Poh! Poh! FRANCIS (startled). Shall I call the carriage? We'll arrange the business during the drive? HERMANN (scornfully). No ceremony, sir, if you please. For any business we may have to arrange there is room enough between these four walls. At all events I'll just say a few words to you by way of preface, which may save your lungs some unnecessary exertion. FRANCIS (reservedly). Hum! And what may those words be? HERMANN (with bitter irony). "You shall have Amelia--and that from my hand--" FRANCIS (with astonishment). Hermann!