Historical Dramas Author:Friedrich Schiller Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: DEMETRIUS ACT I. Scene I. The Diet At Cracow. On the rising of the curtain the Polish Diet is discovered, seated in the great senate hall. On a raised ... more »platform, elevated by three steps, and surmounted by a canopy, is the imperial throne, the escutcheons of Poland and Lithuania suspended on each side. The King seated upon the throne; on his right and left hand his ten royal officers standing on the platform. Below the platform the Bishops, Palatines, and Castellans seated on each side of the staue. Opposite to these xtaiid the Prorincial Deputies, in a double line, uncovered. All armed. The Arch- HISHOP OF Gnesen, as thf primate of the kingdom, is seated next the proscenium ; his chaplain behind him, bearing a golden cross. Archbishop Of Gnesen. Thus then hath this tempestuous Diet been Conducted safely to a prosperous close; And king and commons part as cordial friends. The nobles have consented to disarm, And straight disband the dangerous Rocoss; Whilst our good king his sacred word has pledged, That every just complaint shall have redress. And now that all is peace at home, we may Look to the things that claim our care abroad. Is it the will of the most high Estates That Prince Demetrius, who hntli advanced A claim to Russia's crown, as Ivan's son, Should at their bar appear, and in the face Of this august assembly prove his right? An insurrectionary muster of the nobles. Castellan Of Cracow. Honor and justice both demand he should; It were unseemly to refuse his prayer. Bishop Of Wermel.vnd. The documents on winch he rests have been Examined, and are found authentic. We May give him audience. Several Deputies. Nay ! We must we must! Leo Sapieha. To hear is to admit his right. Oijowalsky. And not ...« less