human
If you'd wield Sword and shield, And have good steed With spear at need And harquebuss,--what must you do? You must feel Your nerves like steel, Strong in heart and spirit;-- Manhood good In your blood To bear you stoutly through with merit.
gpt
Did you hear the song of the good mountaineer, my boy?
human
Did I? repeated the boy:
gpt
That same duke is now my enemy: he holds my second son in durance,--yea, hath already laid him low, if I must believe all that the people of the country say.
human
Then take your great sword, father, and bear it no longer, exclaimed his brave boy:
gpt
No, I must not do that, my boy; for then I should prove my enemies' worst words true. I must not be unfaithful to my native prince. I will not break my fealty and the peace of the country, to keep which I have sworn.
human
But what does he want to do with us?
gpt
Dear boy, the whole of that history would sound too harsh and strange in thy young ears. Enough to know that great people always bear their worst enemy in their own heart, and live in fear night and day. The duke now thinks he has trusted me too much, and been all along only cherishing a viper in his bosom. Yet in the country they call me the prince's sword--the strong sword that restored him life and land;--all the people call me Faithful Eckart, and the wretched and oppressed cry unto me for help in the hearing of the court. This the duke cannot bear. His envy hath turned to rage, and they who might help, set him against me, and have turned his heart from love to hatred.
human
Yea, 'tis said he hath even doomed my son to die.
gpt
Father, let me go to the court, and I will talk to the duke, that he may be brought to understand you, and treat you better. Should he have hurt a hair of my brother's head, he is so bad a man that you shall punish him; yet it can scarce be that he hath so soon forgotten all your services.