Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

And like some poor cost-nothing, fling thyself

Toward the man, who, if that high prize ever

Be destined to await him, yet, with sacrifices

The highest love can bring, must pay for it. [Exit COUNTESS. 105

Thekla. I thank thee for the hint. It turns

My sad presentiment to certainty.

And it is so! — Not one friend have we here,

Not one true heart! we’ve nothing but ourselves!

O she said rightly — no auspicious signs 110

Beam on this covenant of our affections.

This is no theatre, where hope abides.

The dull thick noise of war alone stirs here.

And love himself, as he were armed in steel,

Steps forth, and girds him for the strife of death. 115

[Music from the banquet-room is heard.

There’s a dark spirit walking in our house,

And swiftly will the Destiny close on us.

It drove me hither from my calm asylum,

It mocks my soul with charming witchery,

It lures me forward in a seraph’s shape, 120

I see it near, I see it nearer floating,

It draws, it pulls me with a godlike power —

And lo! the abyss — and thither am I moving —

I have no power within me not to move!

[The music from the banquet-room becomes louder.

O when a house is doomed in fire to perish, 125

Many a dark heaven drives his clouds together,

Yea, shoots his lightnings down from sunny heights,

Flames burst from out the subterraneous chasms,

And fiends and angels mingling in their fury,

Sling fire-brands at the burning edifice. 130

[Exit THEKLA.

SCENE VIII

A large Saloon lighted up with festal Splendour; in the midst of it,

and in the Centre of the Stage, a Table richly set out, at which eight

Generals are sitting, among whom are OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, TERTSKY, and

MARADAS. Right and left of this, but farther back, two other Tables, at

each of which six Persons are placed. The Middle Door, which is standing

open, gives to the Prospect a Fourth Table, with the same Number of

Persons. More forward stands the sideboard. The whole front of the Stage

is kept open for the Pages and Servants in waiting. All is in Motion.

The Band of Music belonging to Tertsky’s Regiment march across the

Stage, and draw up round the Tables. Before they are quite off from the

Front of the Stage, MAX PICCOLOMINI appears, TERTSKY advances towards

him with a Paper, ISOLANI comes up to meet him with a Beaker or

Service-cup.

TERTSKY, ISOLANI, MAX PICCOLOMINI.

Isolani. Here brother, what we love! Why, where hast been?

Off to thy place — quick! Tertsky here has given

The mother’s holiday wine up to free booty.

Here it goes on as at the Heidelberg castle.

Already hast thou lost the best. They’re giving 5

At yonder table ducal crowns in shares;

There’s Sternberg’s lands and chattels are put up,

With Egenberg’s, Stawata’s, Lichtenstein’s,

And all the great Bohemian feodalities.

Be nimble, lad! and something may turn up 10

For thee — who knows? off — to thy place! quick! march!

Tiefenbach and Goetz (call out from the second and third tables).

Count Piccolomini!

Tertsky. Stop, ye shall have him in an instant. — Read

This oath here, whether as ‘tis here set forth,

The wording satisfies you. They’ve all read it, 15

Each in his turn, and each one will subscribe

His individual signature.

Max (reads). ‘Ingratis servire nefas.’

Isolani. That sounds to my ears very much like Latin,

And being interpreted, pray what may’t mean?

Tertsky. No honest man will serve a thankless master. 20

Max. ‘Inasmuch as our supreme Commander, the illustrious

Duke of Friedland, in consequence of the manifold affronts and

grievances which he has received, had expressed his determination

to quit the Emperor, but on our unanimous entreaty has

graciously consented to remain still with the army, and not to 25

part from us without our approbation thereof, so we, collectively

and each in particular, in the stead of an oath personally taken,

do hereby oblige ourselves — likewise by him honourably and

faithfully to hold, and in nowise whatsoever from him to

part, and to be ready to shed for his interests the last drop of 30

our blood, so far, namely, as our oath to the Emperor will permit

it. (These last words are repeated by ISOLANI.) In testimony of

which we subscribe our names.’

Tertsky. Now! — are you willing to subscribe this paper?

Isolani. Why should he not? All officers of honour 35

Can do it, aye, must do it. — Pen and ink here!

Tertsky. Nay, let it rest till after meal.

Isolani (drawing Max along). Come, Max.

[Both seat themselves at their table.

Table of Contents

TERTSKY, NEUMANN.

Tertsky (beckons to Neumann who is waiting at the side-table, and

steps forward with him to the edge of the stage). Have you the

copy with you, Neumann? Give it.

It may be changed for the other?

Neumann. I have copied it

Letter by letter, line by line; no eye

Would e’er discover other difference,

Save only the omission of that clause, 5

According to your Excellency’s order.

Tertsky. Right! lay it yonder, and away with this —

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.

Table of Contents

ILLO (comes out from the second chamber), TERTSKY.

Illo. How goes it with young Piccolomini?

Tertsky. All right, I think. He has started no objection.

Illo. He is the only one I fear about —

He and his father. Have an eye on both!

Tertsky. How looks it at your table: you forget not 5

To keep them warm and stirring?

Illo. O, quite cordial,

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.

Tertsky. And Butler?

How goes it there? Hush!

Table of Contents

To them enter BUTLER from the second table.

Butler. Don’t disturb yourselves.

Field Marshal, I have understood you perfectly.

Good luck be to the scheme; and as to me,

You may depend upon me.

Illo. May we, Butler?

Butler. With or without the clause, all one to me! 5

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

The Emperor’s general! and Friedland’s servant, 10

As soon as it shall please him to become

His own lord.

Tertsky. You would make a good exchange.

No stern economist, no Ferdinand,

Is he to whom you plight your services.

Butler. I do not put up my fidelity 15

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.