Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

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 outlandish 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.

Table of Contents

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 motherin-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