Prince Frederick Of Homburg - Opening

Act I
SCENE 1

Fehrbellin. Garden in traditional French style. In the background a castle, from which a ramp leads down into the garden.

It is night.

Bareheaded wand with an open shirt, The Prince of Homburg, half-awake, half-asleep, sits under an oak tree, weaving himself a wreath. The Elector, his wife, Princess Natalie, the Count of Hohenzollern, Captain Golz, and others step secretly forth from the castle and look down from the balustrade of the ramp upon Homburg.

HOHENZOLLERN: The Prince of Homburg, our courageous cousin,
Who has led our cavalry the past three days
And given the elusive Swedes an eager chase,
Appeared again today, quite out of breath,
At our commanding post in Fehrbellin:
Were your orders to him then that he remain
For food and rest a mere three hours, then quick
Approach the Hackel Mountains once again,
To face our enemy Wrangel, who has tried
To entrench himself along the River Rhyn?
ELECTOR: 'Tis so!