THE PRINCE.  Good morning, Kottwitz!  And good morning, friends! 
  You know that I praise everything you do.

HOHENZOLL.  What were you up to in the village, Arthur? 
  You seem so grave.

THE PRINCE.  I—­I was in the chapel
  That beckoned through the placid village trees;
  The bells were ringing, calling men to prayers,
  As we passed by, and something urged me on
  To kneel before the altar, too, and pray.

KOTTWITZ.  A pious gentleman for one so young! 
  A deed, believe me, that begins with prayer
  Must end in glory, victory, and fame.

THE PRINCE.  Oh, by the way, I wanted to inquire—­

[He draws the COUNT forward a step.]

Harry, what was it Dorfling said last night
In his directions, that applied to me?

HOHENZOLL.  You were distraught.  I saw that well enough.

THE PRINCE.  Distraught—­divided!  I scarce know what ailed me. 
  Dictation always sets my wits awry.

HOHENZOLL.  Not much for you this time, as luck would have it. 
  Hennings and Truchsz, who lead the infantry,
  Are designated to attack the foe,
  And you are ordered here to halt and stay,
  Ready for instant action with the horse,
  Until an order summon you to charge.

THE PRINCE (after a pause, dreamily). 
  A curious thing!

HOHENZOLLERN.  To what do you refer?

[He looks at him.  A cannon-shot is heard.]

KOTTWITZ.  Ho, gentlemen!  Ho, sirs!  To horse, to horse! 
  That shot is Hennings’, and the fight is on!

[They all ascend a slight elevation.]

THE PRINCE.  Who is it?  What?

HOHENZOLLERN.  It’s Colonel Hennings, Arthur,
  He’s stolen his way about to Wrangel’s rear. 
  Come, you can watch the entire field from here.

GOLZ (on the hillock). 
  At the Rhyn there, how terribly he uncoils!

THE PRINCE (shading his eyes with his hand). 
  Is Hennings over there on our right wing?

1ST OFFICER.  Indeed, Your Highness.

THE PRINCE.  What the devil then
  Why, yesterday he held our army’s right.

[Cannonade in the distance.]

KOTTWITZ.  Thunder and lightning!  Wrangel’s cutting loose
  At Hennings’ now, from twelve loud throats of fire.

1ST OFFICER.  I call those some redoubts the Swedes have there!

2D OFFICER.  By heaven, look, they top the very spire
  Rising above the hamlet at their back!

[Shots near-by.]

GOLZ.  That’s Truchsz!

THE PRINCE.  Truchsz?

KOTTWITZ.  To be sure!  Of course, it’s Truchsz,
  Approaching from the front to his support.

THE PRINCE.  What’s Truchsz there in the centre for, today?

[Loud cannonading.]

GOLZ.  Good heavens, look.  The village is afire!