NATALIE (opening it). 
  Quick, give it me!  What’s in it?

REUSS.  A petition,
  Frankly addressed, though deferentially,
  As you will note, to our liege lord, his Highness,
  In furtherance of our chief, the Prince of Homburg.

NATALIE (reading). 
  “Petition, loyally presented by
  The regiment of Princess Orange”—­so.

[Pause.]

This document—­whose hand composed it, pray?

REUSS.  As the formations of the dizzy script
  May let you guess, by none but Colonel Kottwitz. 
  His noble name stands foremost on the list.

NATALIE.  The thirty signatures which follow it?

REUSS.  The names of officers, most noble lady,
  Each following each according to his rank.

NATALIE.  And they sent me the supplication—­me?

REUSS.  My lady, most submissively to beg
  If you, our colonel, likewise, at their head
  Will fill the space left vacant, with your name?

[Pause.]

NATALIE.  Indeed, I hear, the Prince, my noble kinsman,
  By our lord’s own volition shall be freed,
  Wherefore there scarce is need for such a step.

REUSS (delighted). 
  What?  Truly?

NATALIE.  Yet I’ll not deny my hand
  Upon a document, which, wisely used,
  May prove a weight upon the scales to turn
  Our sovereign’s decision—­even prove
  Welcome, mayhap, to introduce the issue. 
  According to your wish, therefore, I set
  Myself here at your head and write my name.

[She goes to a desk and is about to write.]

REUSS.  Indeed, you have our lively gratitude!

[Pause.]

NATALIE (turning to him again). 
  My regiment alone I find, Count Reuss! 
  Why do I miss the Bomsdorf Cuirassiers
  And the dragoons of Goetz and Anhalt-Pless?

REUSS.  Not, as perchance you fear, because their hearts
  Are cooler in their throbbing than our own. 
  It proves unfortunate for our petition
  That Kottwitz is in garrison apart
  At Arnstein, while the other regiments
  Are quartered in the city here.  Wherefore
  The document lacks freedom easily
  In all directions to expand its force.

NATALIE.  Yet, as it stands, the plea seems all too thin.—­
  Are you sure, Count, if you were on the spot
  To interview the gentlemen now here,
  That they as well would sign the document?

REUSS.  Here in the city, madam?  Head for head! 
  The entire cavalry would pledge itself
  With signatures.  By God, I do believe
  That a petition might be safely launched
  Amid the entire army of the Mark!

NATALIE (after a pause). 
  Why does not some one send out officers
  To carry on the matter in the camp?

REUSS.  Pardon!  The Colonel put his foot on that. 
  He said that he desired to do no act
  That men might christen with an ugly name.