The Tragic Fall Of Wizlaw, The Count Of Rügen

Act III, Scene I

26th November. Court in Olomouc. A throne with three chairs on each side. A table with a map and candle is on the side. Next to it is the banner of Moravia. The room is well-lit and decorated. A lute can be heard playing a light, quiet tune in the background.

Enter MARGRAVE sitting on throne, COURTIERS sitting on chairs & GUARDS

MARGRAVE: The plan shall then be implemented immediately.

COURTIER: But what about the economic-.

MARGRAVE: Even if it means our money is exhausted rapidly and in great quantities. I am aware of all the consequences which we have discussed earlier but our economy is in full vigour. We will make up for all of our losses without any adversaries.

GUARD: Here comes forward a messenger.

Enter ENVOY

ENVOY: With warm greetings. [he bows] I have a message directed towards his lordship.

MARGRAVE: Pass the letter.

ENVOY: I do not possess a letter. The message is an oral one.

MARGRAVE: Then let my ears hear't.

ENVOY: The Count of Rügen, Wizlaw Wizlawid, humbly requests thine aid in terms of military resources. A total of 200 men at the least and 400 at the most if possible. He would like to see the arrival of those troops at once together with my return. All the necessary payments will be made after their usage is over.

MARGRAVE: Slow thy speech for I barely understood a sentence of what thou has said.

ENVOY: I do apologise thy honour. The Count of Rügen is requesting troops.

MARGRAVE: For what reason?

ENVOY: To solve internal issues within his realm.

MARGRAVE: And ye want these troops immediately?

ENVOY: Aye.

MARGRAVE: Well that will not be possible.

ENVOY: And for what reason is that?

MARGRAVE: First of all, our two nations barely have any diplomatic ties with one another. Thus, how can I trust ye with the payments arriving? Would thou give thy purse to a stranger and expect him to return it to thee within a moon? Secondly, we are not a band of mercenaries that are up for hire. We are a margraviate and we do things here in a formal order. Thou cannot just walk in and expect a bunch of troops to march away with thee.

ENVOY: Why wilt thou not trust us? Are we not both Slavs?

MARGRAVE: That is true, we are indeed but I have never even stepped foot in thy realm. As it stands now, I have closer ties with the Germans than I do with ye. Besides, are ye not heretics? Pagans?

ENVOY: We are a Catholic state. Would thou want to hear it from our bishop?

MARGRAVE: That would not be necessary but thou could talk to my court chaplain if thou desires.

ENVOY: Well, I don't know why thou is acting so sanctimonious all of a sudden. Thou may have a larger and stronger country than us, but that does not mean that ye are more pious or prestigious. Anyways, this conversation is not reaching any meaningful purpose and is entirely unproductive. Thou has virtually no experience in th'craft of war. Let me speak to thy marshal.

MARGRAVE: I shall ignore the fact that thy petty person has just bluntly insulted my great person and my good people. Getting the Marshal will not be necessary. Come with me to this table over there. [to GUARDS:] Guards, accompany my person.

[ENVOY, MARGRAVE & GUARDS move to table]

[pointing on map:] Thou can see that we are here in Moravia and thy nation is all the way up there. Is it this small island?

ENVOY: [annoyed:] Yes, it is.

MARGRAVE: Of course, thou can see that such a transport of troops up there from here is quite a long distance and would cost quite a significant amount to feed my men. It will be difficult and take a long time to plan this logistically. Will ye even be able to pay for all these accomodations?

ENVOY: Aye, we will. If needed, we will take out a loan from the bank.

MARGRAVE: A loan? Is thy nation that poor and unsustainable economically?

ENVOY: I wish to not spend a second longer in this hall. Art thou willing to lend us these soldiers?

MARGRAVE: By saying 'lend', dost thou promise that not a single man will be slaughtered?

ENVOY: Adieu.

[Exit ENVOY

MARGRAVE: [calling to offstage:] Send a message to thy leader from me, Premysl Přemyslid, to send a gift first and then we will talk.

[MARGRAVE returns to throne with GUARDS]

[to GUARDS:] Next time, don't let such clowns near me and send them to my steward first. I have no time to be dealing with such buffoonish and absurd requests.

[Exeunt