feodalities] feodalties 1800.
Scene IX
Tertsky, Neumann.
It may be changed for the other?
Letter by letter, line by line; no eye
Would e'er discover other difference,
Save only the omission of that clause, 5
[660] According to your Excellency's order.
It has performed its business—to the fire with it—
Neumann lays the copy on the table and steps back again to the side-table.
Scene X
Illo (comes out from the second chamber), Tertsky.
He and his father. Have an eye on both!
To keep them warm and stirring?
They are quite cordial in the scheme. We have them.
And 'tis as I predicted too. Already
It is the talk, not merely to maintain
The Duke in station. 'Since we're once for all 10
Together and unanimous, why not,'
Says Montecuculi, 'aye, why not onward,
And make conditions with the Emperor
There in his own Vienna?' Trust me, Count,
Were it not for these said Piccolomini, 15
We might have spared ourselves the cheat.
How goes it there? Hush!
Scene XI
To them enter Butler from the second table.
Field Marshal, I have understood you perfectly.
Good luck be to the scheme; and as to me,
You may depend upon me.
You understand me? My fidelity
The Duke may put to any proof—I'm with him!
Tell him so! I'm the Emperor's officer,
As long as 'tis his pleasure to remain
[661]The Emperor's general! and Friedland's servant, 10
As soon as it shall please him to become
His own lord.
No stern economist, no Ferdinand,
Is he to whom you plight your services.
To sale, Count Tertsky! Half a year ago
I would not have advised you to have made me
An overture to that, to which I now
Offer myself of my own free accord.—
But that is past! and to the Duke, Field Marshal, 20
I bring myself together with my regiment.
And mark you, 'tis my humour to believe,
The example which I give will not remain
Without an influence.
That the whole army look to Colonel Butler, 25
As to a light that moves before them?
Then I repent me not of that fidelity
Which for the length of forty years I held,
If in my sixtieth year my old good name
Can purchase for me a revenge so full. 30
Start not at what I say, sir Generals!
My real motives—they concern not you.
And you yourselves, I trust, could not expect
That this your game had crooked my judgment—or
That fickleness, quick blood, or such light cause, 35
Had driven the old man from the track of honour,
Which he so long had trodden.—Come, my friends!
I'm not thereto determined with less firmness,
Because I know and have looked steadily
At that on which I have determined.
And speak roundly, what are we to deem you?
With all I have. Not only men, but money
Will the Duke want.——Go, tell him, sirs!
I've earned and laid up somewhat in his service, 45
[662]I lend it him; and is he my survivor,
It has been already long ago bequeathed him.
He is my heir. For me, I stand alone,
Here in the world; nought know I of the feeling
That binds the husband to a wife and children. 50
My name dies with me, my existence ends.
Like yours weighs tons of gold down, weighs down millions!
To Prague—and with a master, whom I buried. 55
From lowest stable-duty I climbed up,
Such was the fate of war, to this high rank,
The plaything of a whimsical good fortune.
And Wallenstein too is a child of luck,
I love a fortune that is like my own. 60
To the determined, an auspicious moment.
The Prince of Weimar arms, upon the Maine
To found a mighty dukedom. He of Halberstadt, 65
That Mansfeld, wanted but a longer life
To have marked out with his good sword a lordship
That should reward his courage. Who of these
Equals our Friedland? there is nothing, nothing
So high, but he may set the ladder to it! 70
I'll be your warrant for the Scotchman Lesly.
Come! to the company!
Let the best wines come up. Ho! cheerly, boy!
Luck comes to-day, so give her hearty welcome. [Exeunt, each to his table.
LINENOTES:
After 3 [with an air of mystery 1800, 1828, 1829.
Illo (with vivacity). 1800, 1828, 1829.
Butler (with a haughty look). 1800, 1828, 1829.
my 1800, 1828, 1829.
Had] Has 1800, 1828, 1829.
Scene XII
The Master of the Cellar advancing with Neumann, Servants passing backwards and forwards.
Master of the Cellar. The best wine! O! if my old mistress,
his lady mother, could but see these wild goings on, she
would turn herself round in her grave. Yes, yes, sir officer!
'tis all down the hill with this noble house! no end, no
moderation! And this marriage with the Duke's sister, a 5
splendid connection, a very splendid connection! but I tell you,
sir officer, it bodes no good.
Neumann. Heaven forbid! Why, at this very moment the
whole prospect is in bud and blossom!
Master of the Cellar. You think so?—Well, well! much 10
may be said on that head.
First Servant (comes). Burgundy for the fourth table.
Master of the Cellar. Now, sir lieutenant, if this isn't the
seventieth flask——
First Servant. Why, the reason is, that German lord, 15
Tiefenbach, sits at that table.
Master of the Cellar (continuing his discourse to Neumann).
They are soaring too high. They would rival kings and
electors in their pomp and splendour; and wherever the
Duke leaps, not a minute does my gracious master, the
Count, loiter on the brink——(To the Servants)—What do 20
you stand there listening for? I will let you know you have
legs presently. Off! see to the tables, see to the flasks!
Look there! Count Palfi has an empty glass before him!
Runner (comes). The great service-cup is wanted, sir; that
rich gold cup with the Bohemian arms on it. The Count 25
says you know which it is.
Master of the Cellar. Ay! that was made for Frederick's
coronation by the artist William—there was not such
another prize in the whole booty at Prague.
Runner. The same!—a health is to go round in him. 30
Master of the Cellar. This will be something for the
tale-bearers—this goes to Vienna.
Neumann. Permit me to look at it.—Well, this is a cup
indeed! How heavy! as well it may be, being all
gold.—And what neat things are embossed on it! how natural 35
and elegant they look! There, on that first quarter, let me
see. That proud Amazon there on horseback, she that is
taking a leap over the crosier and mitres, and carries on a
wand a hat together with a banner, on which there's
a goblet represented. Can you tell me what all this signifies? 40
Master of the Cellar. The woman whom you see there on
horseback, is the Free Election of the Bohemian Crown.
That is signified by the round hat, and by that fiery steed
on which she is riding. The hat is the pride of man; for
he who cannot keep his hat on before kings and emperors 45
is no free man.
Neumann. But what is the cup there on the banner?
Master of the Cellar. The cup signifies the freedom of the
Bohemian Church, as it was in our forefathers' times. Our
forefathers in the wars of the Hussites forced from the Pope 50
this noble privilege: for the Pope, you know, will not grant
the cup to any layman. Your true Moravian values nothing
beyond the cup; it is his costly jewel, and has cost the
Bohemians their precious blood in many and many a battle.
Neumann. And what says that chart that hangs in the air 55
there, over it all?
Master of the Cellar. That signifies the Bohemian letter
royal, which we forced from the Emperor Rudolph—a
precious, never to be enough valued parchment that secures
to the new Church the old privileges of free ringing and 60
open psalmody. But since he of Steiermärk has ruled over
us, that is at an end; and after the battle of Prague, in
which Count Palatine Frederick lost crown and empire, our
faith hangs upon the pulpit and the altar—and our brethren
look at their homes over their shoulders; but the letter 65
royal the Emperor himself cut to pieces with his scissors.
Neumann. Why, my good Master of the Cellar! you are
deep read in the chronicles of your country!
Master of the Cellar. So were my forefathers, and for that
reason were they minstrels, and served under Procopius and 70
Ziska. Peace be with their ashes! Well, well! they fought
for a good cause though—There! carry it up!
Neumann. Stay! let me but look at this second quarter.
Look there! That is, when at Prague Castle the Imperial
Counsellors, Martinitz and Stawata were hurled down head 75
over heels. 'Tis even so! there stands Count Thur who
commands it.
[Runner takes the service-cup and goes off with it.
Master of the Cellar. O let me never more hear of that day.
It was the three and twentieth of May, in the year of our
Lord one thousand, six hundred, and eighteen. It seems to me 80
as it were but yesterday—from that unlucky day it all began,
all the heart-aches of the country. Since that day it is now
sixteen years, and there has never once been peace on the earth.
[Health drunk aloud at the second table.
The Prince of Weimar! Hurra!
[At the third and fourth table.
Long live Prince William! Long live Duke Bernard! 85
Hurra! [Music strikes up.
First Servant. Hear 'em! Hear 'em! What an uproar!
Second Servant (comes in running). Did you hear? They have
drunk the Prince of Weimar's health.
Third Servant. The Swedish Chief Commander! 90
First Servant (speaking at the same time). The Lutheran!
Second Servant. Just before, when Count Deodate gave out
the Emperor's health, they were all as mum as a nibbling
mouse.
Master of the Cellar. Po, po! When the wine goes in, 95
strange things come out. A good servant hears, and hears
not!—You should be nothing but eyes and feet, except when
you are called.
Second Servant (to the Runner, to whom he gives secretly a flask
of wine, keeping his eye on the Master of the Cellar, standing
between him and the Runner). Quick, Thomas! before the
Master of the Cellar runs this way—'tis a flask of 100
Frontignac!—Snapped it up at the third table.—Canst go off
with it?
Runner (hides it in his pocket). All right!
[Exit the Second Servant.
Third Servant (aside to the First). Be on the hark, Jack! that
we may have right plenty to tell to father Quivoga—He will 105
give us right plenty of absolution in return for it.
First Servant. For that very purpose I am always having
something to do behind Illo's chair.—He is the man for speeches
to make you stare with!
Master of the Cellar (to Neumann). Who, pray, may that 110
swarthy man be, he with the cross, that is chatting so
confidentially with Esterhats?
Neumann. Ay! he too is one of those to whom they confide
too much. He calls himself Maradas, a Spaniard is he.
Master of the Cellar (impatiently). Spaniard! Spaniard!—I 115
tell you, friend; nothing good comes of those Spaniards. All
these out-landish[665:1] fellows are little better than rogues.
Neumann. Fy, fy! you should not say so, friend. There are
among them our very best generals, and those on whom the
Duke at this moment relies the most. 120
Master of the Cellar (taking the flask out of the Runner's pocket).
My son, it will be broken to pieces in your pocket.
[Tertsky hurries in, fetches away the paper, and calls to a Servant for pen and ink, and goes to the back of the stage.
Master of the Cellar (to the Servants). The Lieutenant-General
stands up.—Be on the watch.—Now! They break up.—Off,
and move back the forms.
[They rise at all the tables, the Servants hurry off the front of the stage to the tables; part of the guests come forward.
FOOTNOTES:
[665:1] There is a humour in the original which cannot be given in the translation. 'Die welschen alle,' &c., which word in classical German means the Italians alone; but in its first sense, and at present in the vulgar use of the word, signifies foreigners in general. Our word wall-nuts, I suppose, means outlandish nuts—Wallae nuces, in German 'Welschnüsse'.—T.
LINENOTES:
isn't] a'nt 1800, 1828, 1829.
Before 31 Master of the Cellar (shaking his head while he fetches and rinses the cups). 1800, 1828, 1829.
there 1800, 1828, 1829.
After 83 drunk] drank 1800, 1828, 1829.
drunk] drank 1800, 1828, 1829.
called] called to 1800, 1828, 1829.
Scene XIII
Octavio Piccolomini enters in conversation with Maradas, and both place themselves quite on the edge of the stage on one side of the proscenium. On the side directly opposite, Max Piccolomini, by himself, lost in thought, and taking no part in any thing that is going forward. The middle space between both, but rather more distant from the edge of the stage, is filled up by Butler, Isolani, Goetz, Tiefenbach, and Kolatto.
Isolani (while the company is coming forward). Good night,
good night, Kolatto! Good night, Lieutenant-General!—I should
rather say, good morning.
Goetz (to Tiefenbach). Noble brother!
Tiefenbach. Ay! 'twas a royal feast indeed. 5
Goetz. Yes, my Lady Countess understands these matters.
Her mother-in-law, heaven rest her soul, taught her!—Ah!
that was a housewife for you!
Tiefenbach. There was not her like in all Bohemia for setting
out a table. 10
Octavio (aside to Maradas). Do me the favour to talk to
me—talk of what you will—or of nothing. Only preserve the
appearance at least of talking. I would not wish to stand by
myself, and yet I conjecture that there will be goings on here
worthy of our attentive observation. 15
Isolani (on the point of going). Lights! lights!
Tertsky (advances with the paper to Isolani). Noble brother!
two minutes longer!—Here is something to subscribe.
Isolani. Subscribe as much as you like—but you must excuse
me from reading it. 20
Tertsky. There is no need. It is the oath which you have
already read.—Only a few marks of your pen!
[Isolani hands over the paper to Octavio respectfully.
Tertsky. Nay, nay, first come first served. There is no
precedence here.
[Octavio runs over the paper with apparent indifference. Tertsky watches him at some distance.
Goetz (to Tertsky). Noble Count! with your 25
permission—Good night.
Tertsky. Where's the hurry? Come, one other composing
draught. (To the Servants)—Ho!
Goetz. Excuse me—an't able.
Tertsky. A thimble-full! 30
Goetz. Excuse me.
Tiefenbach (sits down). Pardon me, nobles!—This standing
does not agree with me.
Tertsky. Consult only your own convenience, General!
Tiefenbach. Clear at head, sound in stomach—only my legs 35
won't carry me any longer.
Isolani. Poor legs! how should they? Such an unmerciful
load!
[Octavio subscribes his name, and reaches over the paper to Tertsky, who gives it to Isolani; and he goes to the table to sign his name.
Tiefenbach. 'Twas that war in Pomerania that first brought
it on. Out in all weathers—ice and snow—no help for it.—I 40
shall never get the better of it all the days of my life.
Goetz. Why, in simple verity, your Swede makes no nice
enquiries about the season.
Tertsky (observing Isolani, whose hand trembles excessively, so
that he can scarce direct his pen). Have you had that ugly
complaint long, noble brother?—Dispatch it. 45
Isolani. The sins of youth! I have already tried the
Chalybeate waters. Well—I must bear it.
[Tertsky gives the paper to Maradas; he steps to the table to subscribe.
Octavio (advancing to Butler). You are not over fond of the
orgies of Bacchus, Colonel! I have observed it. You would, I
think, find yourself more to your liking in the uproar of a battle, 50
than of a feast.
Butler. I must confess, 'tis not in my way.
Octavio. Nor in mine either, I can assure you; and I am not
a little glad, my much honoured Colonel Butler, that we agree
so well in our opinions. A half dozen good friends at most, 55
at a small round table, a glass of genuine Tokay, open hearts,
and a rational conversation—that's my taste!
Butler. And mine too, when it can be had.
[The paper comes to Tiefenbach, who glances over it at the same time with Goetz and Kolatto. Maradas in the mean time returns to Octavio, all this takes place, the conversation with Butler proceeding uninterrupted.
Octavio (introducing Maradas to Butler). Don Balthasar
Maradas! likewise a man of our stamp, and long ago your admirer. 60
[Butler bows.
Octavio (continuing). You are a stranger here—'twas but
yesterday you arrived—you are ignorant of the ways and means
here. 'Tis a wretched place—I know, at our age, one loves to
be snug and quiet—What if you moved your lodgings?—Come,
be my visitor. (Butler makes a low bow.) Nay, without 65
compliment!—For a friend like you, I have still a corner
remaining.
Butler. Your obliged humble servant, my Lord
Lieutenant-General!
[The paper comes to Butler, who goes to the table to subscribe it. The front of the stage is vacant, so that both the Piccolominis, each on the side where he had been from the commencement of the scene, remain alone.
Octavio (after having some time watched his son in silence, advances
somewhat nearer to him). You were long absent from us,
friend! 70
Max. I——urgent business detained me.
Octavio. And, I observe, you are still absent!
Max. You know this crowd and bustle always makes me
silent. 75
Octavio. May I be permitted to ask what business 'twas that
detained you? Tertsky knows it without asking!
Max. What does Tertsky know?
Octavio. He was the only one who did not miss you.
Isolani. Well done, father! Rout out his baggage! Beat 80
up his quarters! there is something there that should not be.
Tertsky (with the paper). Is there none wanting? Have the
whole subscribed?
Octavio. All.
Tertsky (calling aloud). Ho! Who subscribes? 85
Butler (to Tertsky). Count the names. There ought to be
just thirty.
Tertsky. Here is a cross.
Tiefenbach. That's my mark.
Isolani. He cannot write; but his cross is a good cross, and 90
is honoured by Jews as well as Christians.
Octavio (presses on to Max). Come, general! let us go. It is late.
Tertsky. One Piccolomini only has signed.
Isolani (pointing to Max). Look! that is your man, that statue
there, who has had neither eye, ear, nor tongue for us the 95
whole evening.
[Max receives the paper from Tertsky, which he looks upon vacantly.
LINENOTES:
After 4 (making the usual compliment after meals) 1800, 1828, 1829.
After 15 [He continues to fix his eye on the whole following scene. 1800, 1828, 1829.
Before 53 Octavio (stepping nearer to him friendlily). 1800, 1828, 1829.
Before 68 Butler (coldly). 1800, 1828, 1829.
Before 76 Octavio (advancing still nearer). 1800, 1828, 1829.
business 'twas] the business was 1800, 1828, 1829.
Tertsky 1800, 1828, 1829.
Before 80 Isolani (who has been attending to them from some distance, steps up). 1800, 1828, 1829.
One 1800, 1828, 1829.
Scene XIV
To these enter Illo from the inner room. He has in his hand the golden service-cup, and is extremely distempered with drinking: Goetz and Butler follow him, endeavouring to keep him back.
Illo. What do you want? Let me go.
Goetz and Butler. Drink no more, Illo! For heaven's sake,
drink no more.
Illo (goes up to Octavio, and shakes him cordially by the hand,
and then drinks). Octavio! I bring this to you! Let all grudge
be drowned in this friendly bowl! I know well enough, ye 5
never loved me—Devil take me!—and I never loved you!—I am
always even with people in that way!—Let what's past be past—that
is, you understand—forgotten! I esteem you infinitely.
(Embracing him repeatedly.) You have not a dearer friend on
earth than I—but that you know. The fellow that cries rogue 10
to you calls me villain—and I'll strangle him!—my dear friend!
Tertsky (whispering to him). Art in thy senses? For heaven's
sake, Illo! think where you are!
Illo (aloud). What do you mean?—There are none but friends
here, are there? Not a sneaker among us, thank heaven! 15
Tertsky (to Butler). Take him off with you, force him off,
I entreat you, Butler!
Butler (to Illo). Field Marshal! a word with you. [Leads him to the sideboard.
Illo. A thousand for one! Fill—Fill it once more up to the
brim.—To this gallant man's health! 20
Isolani (to Max, who all the while has been staring on the paper
with fixed but vacant eyes). Slow and sure, my noble
brother!—Hast parsed it all yet?—Some words yet to go through?—Ha?
Max. What am I to do?
Tertsky (and at the same time Isolani). Sign your name.
Max (returns the paper). Let it stay till to-morrow. It is 25
business—to-day I am not sufficiently collected. Send it to me
to-morrow.
Tertsky. Nay, collect yourself a little.
Isolani. Awake, man! awake!—Come, thy signature, and
have done with it! What? Thou art the youngest in the 30
whole company, and wouldest be wiser than all of us together?
Look there! thy father has signed—we have all signed.
Tertsky (to Octavio). Use your influence. Instruct him.
Octavio. My son is at the age of discretion.
Illo (leaves the service-cup on the sideboard). What's the
dispute? 35
Tertsky. He declines subscribing the paper.
Max. I say, it may as well stay till to-morrow.
Illo. It cannot stay. We have all subscribed to it—and so
must you.—You must subscribe.
Max. Illo, good night! 40
Illo. No! You come not off so! The Duke shall learn
who are his friends. [All collect round Illo and Max.
Max. What my sentiments are towards the Duke, the Duke
knows, every one knows—what need of this wild stuff? 45
Illo. This is the thanks the Duke gets for his partiality to
Italians and foreigners.—Us Bohemians he holds for little better
than dullards—nothing pleases him but what's outlandish.
Tertsky (to the commanders, who at Illo's words give a sudden
start, as preparing to resent them). It is the wine that speaks,
and not his reason. Attend not to him, I entreat you. 50
Isolani. Wine invents nothing: it only tattles.
Illo. He who is not with me is against me. Your tender
consciences! Unless they can slip out by a back-door, by a
puny proviso——
Tertsky. He is stark mad—don't listen to him! 55
Illo. Unless they can slip out by a proviso.—What of the
proviso? The devil take this proviso!
Max. What is there here then of such perilous import?
You make me curious—I must look closer at it.
Tertsky (in a low voice to Illo). What are you doing, Illo? 60
You are ruining us.
Tiefenbach (to Kolatto). Ay, ay! I observed, that before we
sat down to supper, it was read differently.
Goetz. Why, I seemed to think so too.
Isolani. What do I care for that? Where there stand other 65
names, mine can stand too.
Tiefenbach. Before supper there was a certain proviso therein,
or short clause concerning our duties to the Emperor.
Butler (to one of the commanders). For shame, for shame!
Bethink you. What is the main business here? The question 70
now is, whether we shall keep our General, or let him retire.
One must not take these things too nicely and
over-scrupulously.
Isolani (to one of the Generals). Did the Duke make any of
these provisos when he gave you your regiment? 75
Tertsky (to Goetz). Or when he gave you the office of
army-purveyancer, which brings you in yearly a thousand pistoles!
Illo. He is a rascal who makes us out to be rogues. If
there be any one that wants satisfaction, let him say so,—I am
his man. 80
Tiefenbach. Softly, softly! 'Twas but a word or two.
Max (having read the paper gives it back). Till to-morrow,
therefore!
Illo (stammering with rage and fury, loses all command over
himself, and presents the paper to Max with one hand, and his
sword in the other). Subscribe—Judas!
Isolani. Out upon you, Illo! 85
Octavio, Tertsky, Butler (all together). Down with the sword!
Max (rushes on him suddenly and disarms him, then to Count
Tertsky). Take him off to bed.
[Max leaves the stage. Illo cursing and raving is held back by some of the Officers, and amidst a universal confusion the curtain drops.