Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

O never hope it! — Father! father! father!

An inauspicious office is enjoined thee.

This paper here — this! and wilt thou enforce it?

The mighty in the middle of his host,

Surrounded by his thousands, him would’st thou 280

Disarm — degrade! Thou art lost, both thou and all of us.

Octavio. What hazard I incur thereby, I know.

In the great hand of God I stand. The Almighty

Will cover with his shield the Imperial house,

And shatter, in his wrath, the work of darkness. 285

The Emperor hath true servants still; and even

Here in the camp, there are enough brave men,

Who for the good cause will fight gallantly.

The faithful have been warned — the dangerous

Are closely watched. I wait but the first step, 290

And then immediately ——

Max. What! on suspicion?

Immediately?

Octavio. The Emperor is no tyrant.

The deed alone he’ll punish, not the wish.

The Duke hath yet his destiny in his power.

Let him but leave the treason uncompleted, 295

He will be silently displaced from office,

And make way to his Emperor’s royal son.

An honourable exile to his castles

Will be a benefaction to him rather

Than punishment. But the first open step —— 300

Max. What callest thou such a step? A wicked step

Ne’er will he take; but thou mightest easily,

Yea, thou hast done it, misinterpret him.

Octavio. Nay, howsoever punishable were

Duke Friedland’s purposes, yet still the steps 305

Which he hath taken openly, permit

A mild construction. It is my intention

To leave this paper wholly uninforced

Till some act is committed which convicts him

Of a high-treason, without doubt or plea, 310

And that shall sentence him.

Max. But who the judge?

Octavio. Thyself.

Max. For ever, then, this paper will lie idle.

Octavio. Too soon, I fear, its powers must all be proved.

After the counter-promise of this evening, 315

It cannot be but he must deem himself

Secure of the majority with us;

And of the army’s general sentiment

He hath a pleasing proof in that petition

Which thou delivered’st to him from the regiments. 320

Add this too — I have letters that the Rhinegrave

Hath changed his route, and travels by forced marches

To the Bohemian Forest. What this purports,

Remains unknown; and, to confirm suspicion,

This night a Swedish nobleman arrived here. 325

Max. I have thy word. Thou’lt not proceed to action

Before thou hast convinced me — me myself.

Octavio. Is it possible? Still, after all thou know’st,

Canst thou believe still in his innocence?

Max. Thy judgment may mistake; my heart can not. 330

These reasons might expound thy spirit or mine;

But they expound not Friedland — I have faith:

For as he knits his fortunes to the stars,

Even so doth he resemble them in secret,

Wonderful, still inexplicable courses! 335

Trust me, they do him wrong. All will be solved.

These smokes, at once, will kindle into flame —

The edges of this black and stormy cloud

Will brighten suddenly, and we shall view

The Unapproachable glide out in splendour. 340

Octavio. I will await it.

Act III, Scene I. A Chamber, &c… . It is Night. Octavio, &c. 1800,

1828, 1829.

[Before 12] Octavio (goes up to him and embraces him). 1800, 1828,

1829.

[After 56] [Fixing his eye steadfastly on his son’s face. 1800, 1828,

1829.

[After 57] [Max attempts to answer but hesitates, and casts his eyes to

the ground, embarrassed. Octavio, after a pause. 1800, 1828, 1829.

Angel, a curious misprint perpetuated in the new edition. [MS. note by

Derwent Coleridge.]

[Before 168] Max (in excessive agitation). 1800, 1828, 1829.

[Before 330] Max (with enthusiasm). 1800, 1828, 1829.

[After 330] [Moderates his voice and manner. 1800, 1828, 1829.

Table of Contents

OCTAVIO and MAX as before. To them the Valet of the Chamber.

Octavio. How now, then?

Valet. A dispatch is at the door.

Octavio. So early? From whom comes he then? Who is it?

Valet. That he refused to tell me.

Octavio. Lead him in:

And, hark you — let it not transpire.

[Exit Valet — the Cornet steps in.

Octavio. Ha! Cornet — is it you? and from Count Galas? 5

Give me your letters.

Cornet. The Lieutenant-General

Trusted it not to letters.

Octavio. And what is it?

Cornet. He bade me tell you — Dare I speak openly here?

Octavio. My son knows all.

Cornet. We have him.

Octavio. Whom?

Cornet. Sesina,

The old negotiator.

Octavio. And you have him? 10

Cornet. In the Bohemian Forest Captain Mohrbrand

Found and secured him yester morning early:

He was proceeding then to Regenspurg,

And on him were dispatches for the Swede.

Octavio. And the dispatches ——

Cornet. The Lieutenant-General 15

Sent them that instant to Vienna, and

The prisoner with them.

Octavio. This is, indeed, a tiding!

That fellow is a precious casket to us,

Enclosing weighty things. — Was much found on him?

Cornet. I think, six packets, with Count Tertsky’s arms. 20

Octavio. None in the Duke’s own hand?

Cornet. Not that I know.

Octavio. And old Sesina?

Cornet. He was sorely frightened,

When it was told him he must to Vienna.

But the Count Altringer bade him take heart,

Would he but make a full and free confession. 25

Octavio. Is Altringer then with your Lord? I heard

That he lay sick at Linz.

Cornet. These three days past

He’s with my master, the Lieutenant-General,

At Frauenberg. Already have they sixty

Small companies together, chosen men; 30

Respectfully they greet you with assurances,

That they are only waiting your commands.

Octavio. In a few days may great events take place.

And when must you return?

Cornet. I wait your orders.

Octavio. Remain till evening.

[Cornet signifies his assent and obeisance, and

is going.

Octavio. No one saw you — ha? 35

Cornet. No living creature. Through the cloister wicket

The Capuchins, as usual, let me in.

Octavio. Go, rest your limbs, and keep yourself concealed.

I hold it probable, that yet ere evening

I shall dispatch you. The development 40

Of this affair approaches: ere the day,

That even now is dawning in the heaven,

Ere this eventful day hath set, the lot

That must decide our fortunes will be drawn. [Exit Cornet.

[Before 10] Octavio (eagerly). 1800, 1828, 1829.

Table of Contents

OCTAVIO and MAX PICCOLOMINI.

Octavio. Well — and what now, son? All will soon be clear;

For all, I’m certain, went through that Sesina.

Max. I will procure me light a shorter way.

Farewell.

Octavio. Where now? — Remain here.

Max. To the Duke. 5

Octavio. What ——

Max. If thou hast believed that I shall act

A part in this thy play ——

Thou hast miscalculated on me grievously.

My way must be straight on. True with the tongue, 10

False with the heart — I may not, cannot be:

Nor can I suffer that a man should trust me —

As his friend trust me — and then lull my conscience

With such low pleas as these:—’I ask’d him not —

He did it all at his own hazard — and 15

My mouth has never lied to him.’ — No, no!

What a friend takes me for, that I must be.

— I’ll to the Duke; ere yet this day is ended