[19]

You 1800, 1828, 1829.

[20]

you 1800, 1828, 1829.

[26]

has been 1800, 1828, 1829.

[58]

Come of it what it may, on you I lay it. 1800, 1828, 1829.

[77]

kept] keep 1800, 1828, 1829.

Scene VII

To these enter Illo and Tertsky.

Tertsky. Our luck is on the turn. To-morrow come
 The Swedes—twelve thousand gallant warriors, Illo!
 Then straightways for Vienna. Cheerily, friend!
 What! meet such news with such a moody face?
Illo. It lies with us at present to prescribe 5
 Laws, and take vengeance on those worthless traitors,
 Those skulking cowards that deserted us;
 One has already done his bitter penance
 The Piccolomini, be his the fate
 Of all who wish us evil! This flies sure 10
 To the old man's heart; he has his whole life long
 Fretted and toiled to raise his ancient house
 From a Count's title to the name of Prince;
 And now must seek a grave for his only son.
Butler. 'Twas pity though! A youth of such heroic 15
 And gentle temperament! The Duke himself,
 'Twas easily seen, how near it went to his heart.
Illo. Hark'e, old friend! That is the very point
 That never pleased me in our General—
 He ever gave the preference to the Italians. 20
 Yea, at this very moment, by my soul!
 He'd gladly see us all dead ten times over,
 Could he thereby recall his friend to life.
Tertsky. Hush, hush! Let the dead rest! This evening's business
 Is, who can fairly drink the other down— 25
 Your regiment, Illo! gives the entertainment.
 [775] Come! we will keep a merry carnival—
 The night for once be day, and mid full glasses
 Will we expect the Swedish Avantgarde.
Illo. Yes, let us be of good cheer for to-day, 30
 For there's hot work before us, friends! This sword
 Shall have no rest, till it be bathed to the hilt
 In Austrian blood.
Gordon. Shame, shame! what talk is this,
 My Lord Field Marshal? Wherefore foam you so
 Against your Emperor?
Butler. Hope not too much 35
 From this first victory. Bethink you, sirs!
 How rapidly the wheel of Fortune turns;
 The Emperor still is formidably strong.
Illo. The Emperor has soldiers, no commander,
 For this King Ferdinand of Hungary 40
 Is but a tyro. Galas? He's no luck,
 And was of old the ruiner of armies.
 And then this viper, this Octavio,
 Is excellent at stabbing in the back,
 But ne'er meets Friedland in the open field. 45
Tertsky. Trust me, my friends, it cannot but succeed;
 Fortune, we know, can ne'er forsake the Duke!
 And only under Wallenstein can Austria
 Be conqueror.
Illo. The Duke will soon assemble
 A mighty army, all come crowding, streaming 50
 To banners dedicate by destiny
 To fame and prosperous fortune. I behold
 Old times come back again, he will become
 Once more the mighty Lord which he has been.
 How will the fools, who've now deserted him, 55
 Look then? I can't but laugh to think of them,
 For lands will he present to all his friends,
 And like a King and Emperor reward
 True services; but we've the nearest claims. [To Gordon.
 You will not be forgotten, Governor! 60
 He'll take you from this nest and bid you shine
 In higher station: your fidelity
 Well merits it.
Gordon. I am content already,
 And wish to climb no higher; where great height is
 The fall must needs be great. 'Great height, great depth.' 65
[776]Illo. Here you have no more business for to-morrow;
 The Swedes will take possession of the citadel.
 Come, Tertsky, it is supper-time. What think you?
 Say, shall we have the State illuminated
 In honour of the Swede? And who refuses 70
 To do it is a Spaniard and a traitor.
Tertsky. Nay! Nay! not that, it will not please the Duke—
Illo. What! we are masters here; no soul shall dare
 Avow himself imperial where we've rule.
 Gordon! Good night, and for the last time, take 75
 A fair leave of the place. Send out patroles
 To make secure, the watch-word may be altered
 At the stroke of ten; deliver in the keys
 To the Duke himself, and then you're quit for ever
 Your wardship of the gates, for on to-morrow 80
 The Swedes will take possession of the citadel.
Tertsky (as he is going, to Butler). You come though to the castle.
Butler. At the right time. [Exeunt Tertsky and Illo.

LINENOTES:

[50]

come] comes 1800, 1828, 1829.

[74]

Avow himself imperial where we've the rule. 1800, 1828, 1829.

Scene VIII

Gordon and Butler.

Gordon (looking after them). Unhappy men! How free from all foreboding!
 They rush into the outspread net of murder,
 In the blind drunkenness of victory;
 I have no pity for their fate. This Illo,
 This overflowing and fool-hardy villain 5
 That would fain bathe himself in his Emperor's blood.
Butler. Do as he ordered you. Send round patroles.
 Take measures for the citadel's security;
 When they are within I close the castle gate
 That nothing may transpire.
Gordon. Oh! haste not so! 10
 Nay, stop; first tell me——
Butler. You have heard already,
 To-morrow to the Swedes belongs. This night
 Alone is ours. They make good expedition.
 But we will make still greater. Fare you well.
[777]Gordon. Ah! your looks tell me nothing good. Nay, Butler, 15
 I pray you, promise me!
Butler. The sun has set;
 A fateful evening doth descend upon us,
 And brings on their long night! Their evil stars
 Deliver them unarmed into our hands.
 And from their drunken dream of golden fortunes 20
 The dagger at their heart shall rouse them. Well,
 The Duke was ever a great calculator;
 His fellow-men were figures on his chess-board,
 To move and station, as his game required.
 Other men's honour, dignity, good name, 25
 Did he shift like pawns, and made no conscience of it:
 Still calculating, calculating still;
 And yet at last his calculation proves
 Erroneous; the whole game is lost; and lo!
 His own life will be found among the forfeits. 30
Gordon. O think not of his errors now; remember
 His greatness, his munificence, think on all
 The lovely features of his character,
 On all the noble exploits of his life,
 And let them, like an angel's arm, unseen 35
 Arrest the lifted sword.
Butler. It is too late.
I suffer not myself to feel compassion,
 Dark thoughts and bloody are my duty now: [Grasping Gordon's hand.
 Gordon! 'Tis not my hatred (I pretend not
 To love the Duke, and have no cause to love him) 40
 Yet 'tis not now my hatred that impels me
 To be his murderer. 'Tis his evil fate.
 Hostile concurrences of many events
 Control and subjugate me to the office.
 In vain the human being meditates 45
 Free action. He is but the wire-worked[777:1] puppet
 Of the blind power, which out of his own choice
 Creates for him a dread necessity.
 What too would it avail him, if there were
 [778] A something pleading for him in my heart— 50
 Still I must kill him.
Gordon. If your heart speak to you,
 Follow its impulse. 'Tis the voice of God.
 Think you your fortunes will grow prosperous
 Bedewed with blood—his blood? Believe it not!
Butler. You know not. Ask not! Wherefore should it happen, 55
 That the Swedes gained the victory, and hasten
 With such forced marches hitherward? Fain would I
 Have given him to the Emperor's mercy.—Gordon!
 I do not wish his blood—But I must ransom
 The honour of my word—it lies in pledge— 60
 And he must die, or—— [Passionately grasping Gordon's hand.
 Listen then, and know!
 I am dishonoured if the Duke escape us.
Gordon. O! to save such a man——
Butler. What!
Gordon. It is worth
 A sacrifice.—Come, friend! Be noble-minded!
 Our own heart, and not other men's opinions, 65
 Forms our true honour.
Butler. He is a great Lord,
 This Duke—and I am but of mean importance.
 This is what you would say? Wherein concerns it
 The world at large, you mean to hint to me,
 Whether the man of low extraction keeps 70
 Or blemishes his honour—
 So that the man of princely rank be saved.
 We all do stamp our value on ourselves.
 The price we challenge for ourselves is given us.
 There does not live on earth the man so stationed, 75
 That I despise myself compared with him.
 Man is made great or little by his own will;
 Because I am true to mine, therefore he dies.
Gordon. I am endeavouring to move a rock.
 Thou hadst a mother, yet no human feelings. 80
 I cannot hinder you, but may some God
 Rescue him from you! [Exit Gordon.

FOOTNOTES:

[777:1] We doubt the propriety of putting so blasphemous a sentiment in the mouth of any character.—T[ranslator]. 1800, 1828, 1829.

LINENOTES:

[10]

Gordon (with earnest anxiety). Oh! &c. 1800, 1828, 1829.

[38]

duty 1800, 1828, 1829.

[62]

dishonour'd 1800, 1828, 1829.

[66]

Butler (with a cold and haughty air). He is, &c. 1800, 1828, 1829.

Scene IX

Butler (alone). I treasured my good name all my life long;
 The Duke has cheated me of life's best jewel,
 So that I blush before this poor weak Gordon!
 He prizes above all his fealty;
 His conscious soul accuses him of nothing; 5
 In opposition to his own soft heart
 He subjugates himself to an iron duty.
 Me in a weaker moment passion warped;
 I stand beside him, and must feel myself
 The worst man of the two. What though the world 10
 Is ignorant of my purposed treason, yet
 One man does know it, and can prove it too—
 High-minded Piccolomini!
 There lives the man who can dishonour me!
 This ignominy blood alone can cleanse! 15
 Duke Friedland, thou or I—Into my own hands
 Fortune delivers me—The dearest thing a man has is himself.

(The curtain drops.)

LINENOTES:

[12]

One 1800, 1828, 1829.

ACT IV

Scene I

Scene—Butler's Chamber.

Butler, and Major Geraldin.

Butler. Find me twelve strong dragoons, arm them with pikes,
 For there must be no firing——
 Conceal them somewhere near the banquet-room,
 And soon as the dessert is served up, rush all in
 And cry—Who is loyal to the Emperor? 5
 I will overturn the table—while you attack
 Illo and Tertsky, and dispatch them both.
 The castle-palace is well barred and guarded,
 That no intelligence of this proceeding
 May make its way to the Duke.—Go instantly; 10
 Have you yet sent for Captain Devereux
 And the Macdonald?——
Geraldin. They'll be here anon. [Exit Geraldin.
[780]Butler. Here's no room for delay. The citizens
 Declare for him, a dizzy drunken spirit
 Possesses the whole town. They see in the Duke 15
 A Prince of peace, a founder of new ages
 And golden times. Arms too have been given out
 By the town-council, and a hundred citizens
 Have volunteered themselves to stand on guard.
 Dispatch then be the word. For enemies 20
 Threaten us from without and from within.

Scene II

Butler, Captain Devereux, and Macdonald.

Macdonald. Here we are, General.
Devereux. What's to be the watchword?
Butler. Long live the Emperor!
Both (recoiling). How?
Butler. Live the House of Austria!
Devereux. Have we not sworn fidelity to Friedland?
Macdonald. Have we not marched to this place to protect him?
Butler. Protect a traitor, and his country's enemy! 5
Devereux. Why, yes! in his name you administered
 Our oath.
Macdonald. And followed him yourself to Egra.
Butler. I did it the more surely to destroy him.
Devereux. So then!
Macdonald. An altered case!
Butler (to Devereux). Thou wretched man!
 So easily leav'st thou thy oath and colours? 10
Devereux. The devil!—I but followed your example,
 If you could prove a villain, why not we?
Macdonald. We've nought to do with thinking—that's your business.
 You are our General, and give out the orders;
 We follow you, though the track lead to hell. 15
Butler. Good then! we know each other.
Macdonald. I should hope so.
Devereux. Soldiers of fortune are we—who bids most,
 He has us.
Macdonald. 'Tis e'en so!
Butler. Well, for the present
 Ye must remain honest and faithful soldiers.
[781]Devereux. We wish no other.
Butler. Ay, and make your fortunes. 20
Macdonald. That is still better.
Butler. Listen!
Both. We attend.
Butler. It is the Emperor's will and ordinance
 To seize the person of the Prince-Duke Friedland,
 Alive or dead.
Devereux. It runs so in the letter.
Macdonald. Alive or dead—these were the very words. 25
Butler. And he shall be rewarded from the State
 In land and gold, who proffers aid thereto.
Devereux. Ay? That sounds well. The words sound always well
 That travel hither from the Court. Yes! yes!
 We know already what Court-words import. 30
 A golden chain perhaps in sign of favour,
 Or an old charger, or a parchment patent,
 And such like.—The Prince-duke pays better.
Macdonald. Yes,
 The Duke's a splendid paymaster.
Butler. All over
 With that, my friends! His lucky stars are set. 35
Macdonald. And is that certain?
Butler. You have my word for it.
Devereux. His lucky fortunes all past by?
Butler. For ever.
 He is as poor as we.
Macdonald. As poor as we?
Devereux. Macdonald, we'll desert him.
Butler. We'll desert him?
 Full twenty thousand have done that already; 40
 We must do more, my countrymen! In short—
 We—we must kill him.
Both. Kill him!
Butler. Yes! must kill him.
 And for that purpose have I chosen you.
Both. Us!
Butler. You, Captain Devereux, and thee, Macdonald. 45
Devereux (after a pause). Choose you some other.
Butler. What? art dastardly?
 Thou, with full thirty lives to answer for—
 [782] Thou conscientious of a sudden?
Devereux. Nay,
 To assassinate our Lord and General—
Macdonald. To whom we've sworn a soldier's oath—
Butler. The oath 50
 Is null, for Friedland is a traitor.
Devereux. No, no! It is too bad!
Macdonald. Yes, by my soul!
 It is too bad. One has a conscience too—
Devereux. If it were not our chieftain, who so long
 Has issued the commands, and claim'd our duty. 55
Butler. Is that the objection?
Devereux. Were it my own father,
 And the Emperor's service should demand it of me,
 It might be done perhaps—But we are soldiers,
 And to assassinate our chief commander,
 That is a sin, a foul abomination, 60
 From which no monk or confessor absolves us.
Butler. I am your Pope, and give you absolution.
 Determine quickly!
Devereux. 'Twill not do!
Macdonald. 'Twon't do!
Butler. Well, off then! and—send Pestalutz to me.
Devereux. The Pestalutz—
Macdonald. What may you want with him? 65
Butler. If you reject it, we can find enough—
Devereux. Nay, if he must fall, we may earn the bounty
 As well as any other. What think you,
 Brother Macdonald?
Macdonald. Why if he must fall,
 And will fall, and it can't be otherwise, 70
 One would not give place to this Pestalutz.
Devereux. When do you purpose he should fall?
Butler. This night.
 To-morrow will the Swedes be at our gates.
Devereux. You take upon you all the consequences!
Butler. I take the whole upon me.
Devereux. And it is 75
 The Emperor's will, his express absolute will?
 For we have instances, that folks may like
 The murder, and yet hang the murderer.
[783]Butler. The manifesto says—alive or dead.
 Alive—'tis not possible—you see it is not. 80
Devereux. Well, dead then! dead! But how can we come at him?
 The town is fill'd with Tertsky's soldiery.
Macdonald. Ay! and then Tertsky still remains, and Illo—
Butler. With these you shall begin—you understand me?
Devereux. How? And must they too perish?
Butler. They the first. 85
Macdonald. Hear, Devereux? A bloody evening this.
Devereux. Have you a man for that? Commission me—
Butler. 'Tis given in trust to Major Geraldin;
 This is a carnival night, and there's a feast
 Given at the castle—there we shall surprise them, 90
 And hew them down. The Pestalutz and Lesley
 Have that commission—soon as that is finished—
Devereux. Hear, General! It will be all one to you.
 Hark'e! let me exchange with Geraldin.
Butler. 'Twill be the lesser danger with the Duke. 95
Devereux. Danger! The devil! What do you think me, General?
 'Tis the Duke's eye, and not his sword, I fear.
Butler. What can his eye do to thee?
Devereux. Death and hell!
 Thou know'st that I'm no milk-sop, General!
 But 'tis not eight days since the Duke did send me 100
 Twenty gold pieces for this good warm coat
 Which I have on! and then for him to see me
 Standing before him with the pike, his murderer,
 That eye of his looking upon this coat—
 Why—why—the devil fetch me! I'm no milk-sop! 105
Butler. The Duke presented thee this good warm coat,
 And thou, a needy wight, hast pangs of conscience
 To run him through the body in return.
 A coat that is far better and far warmer
 Did the Emperor give to him, the Prince's mantle. 110
 How doth he thank the Emperor? With revolt,
 And treason.
Devereux. That is true. The devil take
 Such thankers! I'll dispatch him.
Butler. And would'st quiet
 Thy conscience, thou hast nought to do but simply
 Pull off the coat; so canst thou do the deed 115
 [784] With light heart and good spirits.
Devereux. You are right.
 That did not strike me. I'll pull off the coat—
 So there's an end of it.
Macdonald. Yes, but there's another
 Point to be thought of.
Butler. And what's that, Macdonald?
Macdonald. What avails sword or dagger against him? 120
 He is not to be wounded—he is—
Butler. What?
Macdonald. Safe against shot, and stab and flash! Hard frozen,
 Secured, and warranted by the black art!
 His body is impenetrable, I tell you.
Devereux. In Inglestadt there was just such another— 125
 His whole skin was the same as steel; at last
 We were obliged to beat him down with gunstocks.
Macdonald. Hear what I'll do.
Devereux. Well?
Macdonald. In the cloister here
 There's a Dominican, my countryman.
 I'll make him dip my sword and pike for me 130
 In holy water, and say over them
 One of his strongest blessings. That's probatum!
 Nothing can stand 'gainst that.
Butler. So do, Macdonald!
 But now go and select from out the regiment
 Twenty or thirty able-bodied fellows, 135
 And let them take the oaths to the Emperor.
 Then when it strikes eleven, when the first rounds
 Are passed, conduct them silently as may be
 To the house—I will myself be not far off.
Devereux. But how do we get through Hartschier and Gordon, 140
 That stand on guard there in the inner chamber?
Butler. I have made myself acquainted with the place.
 I lead you through a back-door that's defended
 By one man only. Me my rank and office
 Give access to the Duke at every hour. 145
 I'll go before you—with one poniard-stroke
 Cut Hartschier's wind-pipe, and make way for you.
Devereux. And when we are there, by what means shall we gain
 [785] The Duke's bed-chamber, without his alarming
 The servants of the Court; for he has here 150
 A numerous company of followers?
Butler. The attendants fill the right wing; he hates bustle,
 And lodges in the left wing quite alone.
Devereux. Were it well over—hey, Macdonald? I
 Feel queerly on the occasion, devil knows! 155
Macdonald. And I too. 'Tis too great a personage.
 People will hold us for a brace of villains.
Butler. In plenty, honour, splendour—You may safely
 Laugh at the people's babble.
Devereux. If the business
 Squares with one's honour—if that be quite certain— 160
Butler. Set your hearts quite at ease. Ye save for Ferdinand
 His Crown and Empire. The reward can be
 No small one.
Devereux. And 'tis his purpose to dethrone the Emperor?
Butler. Yes!—Yes!—to rob him of his crown and life. 165
Devereux. And he must fall by the executioner's hands,
 Should we deliver him up to the Emperor
 Alive?
Butler. It were his certain destiny.
Devereux. Well! Well! Come then, Macdonald, he shall not
 Lie long in pain. 170

[Exeunt Butler through one door, Macdonald and Devereux through the other.

LINENOTES:

[13]

thinking 1800, 1828, 1829.