Samuel Coleridge - The Complete Works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge

For that affront, and most unmerited grievance

Sustained by a deserving, gallant veteran.

From his free impulse he confirms the present,

Which the Duke made you for a wicked purpose. 120

The regiment, which you now command, is yours.

[BUTLER attempts to rise, sinks down again. He labours

inwardly with violent emotions; tries to speak,

and cannot. At length he takes his sword from the

belt, and offers it to PICCOLOMINI.

Octavio. What wish you? Recollect yourself, friend.

Butler. Take it.

Octavio. But to what purpose? Calm yourself.

Butler. O take it!

I am no longer worthy of this sword.

Octavio. Receive it then anew from my hands — and 125

Wear it with honour for the right cause ever.

Butler. —— Perjure myself to such a gracious Sovereign!

Octavio. You’ll make amends. Quick! break off from the Duke!

Butler. Break off from him!

Octavio. What now? Bethink thyself.

Butler (no longer governing his emotion). Only break off from

him? — He dies! — he dies! 130

Octavio. Come after me to Frauenberg, where now

All who are loyal are assembling under

Counts Altringer and Galas. Many others

I’ve brought to a remembrance of their duty.

This night be sure that you escape from Pilsen. 135

Butler. Count Piccolomini! Dare that man speak

Of honour to you, who once broke his troth?

Octavio. He, who repents so deeply of it, dares.

Butler. Then leave me here, upon my word of honour!

Octavio. What’s your design?

Butler. Leave me and my regiment. 140

Octavio. I have full confidence in you. But tell me

What are you brooding?

Butler. That the deed will tell you.

Ask me no more at present. Trust to me.

Ye may trust safely. By the living God

Ye give him over, not to his good angel! 145

Farewell. [Exit BUTLER.

Servant (enters with a billet). A stranger left it, and is gone.

The Prince-Duke’s horses wait for you below.

[Exit Servant.

Octavio (reads). ‘Be sure, make haste! Your faithful Isolan.’

— O that I had but left this town behind me.

To split upon a rock so near the haven! — 150

Away! This is no longer a safe place for me!

Where can my son be tarrying?

Table of Contents

OCTAVIO and MAX PICCOLOMINI.

Octavio (advances to Max). I am going off, my son.

[Receiving no answer he takes his hand.

My son, farewell.

Max. Farewell.

Octavio. Thou wilt soon follow me?

Max. I follow thee?

Thy way is crooked — it is not my way.

[OCTAVIO drops his hand, and starts back.

O, hadst thou been but simple and sincere,

Ne’er had it come to this — all had stood otherwise. 5

He had not done that foul and horrible deed,

The virtuous had retained their influence o’er him:

He had not fallen into the snares of villains.

Wherefore so like a thief, and thief’s accomplice

Did’st creep behind him — lurking for thy prey? 10

O, unblest falsehood! Mother of all evil!

Thou misery-making demon, it is thou

That sink’st us in perdition. Simple truth,

Sustainer of the world, had saved us all!

Father, I will not, I cannot excuse thee! 15

Wallenstein has deceived me — O, most foully!

But thou hast acted not much better.

Octavio. Son!

My son, ah! I forgive thy agony!

Max. Was’t possible? had’st thou the heart, my father,

Had’st thou the heart to drive it to such lengths, 20

With cold premeditated purpose? Thou —

Had’st thou the heart, to wish to see him guilty,

Rather than saved? Thou risest by his fall.

Octavio, ‘twill not please me.

Octavio. God in Heaven!

Max. O, woe is me! sure I have changed my nature. 25

How comes suspicion here — in the free soul?

Hope, confidence, belief, are gone; for all

Lied to me, all what I e’er loved or honoured.

No! No! Not all! She — she yet lives for me,

And she is true, and open as the Heavens! 30

Deceit is every where, hypocrisy,

Murder, and poisoning, treason, perjury:

The single holy spot is now our love,

The only unprofaned in human nature.

Octavio. Max! — we will go together. ‘Twill be better. 35

Max. What? ere I’ve taken a last parting leave,

The very last — no never!

Octavio. Spare thyself

The pang of necessary separation.

Come with me! Come, my son! [Attempts to take him with him.

Max. No! as sure as God lives, no! 40

Octavio. Come with me, I command thee! I, thy father.

Max. Command me what is human. I stay here.

Octavio. Max! in the Emperor’s name I bid thee come.

Max. No Emperor has power to prescribe

Laws to the heart; and would’st thou wish to rob me 45

Of the sole blessing which my fate has left me,

Her sympathy? Must then a cruel deed

Be done with cruelty? The unalterable

Shall I perform ignobly — steal away,

With stealthy coward flight forsake her? No! 50

She shall behold my suffering, my sore anguish,

Hear the complaints of the disparted soul,

And weep tears o’er me. Oh! the human race

Have steely souls — but she is as an angel.

From the black deadly madness of despair 55

Will she redeem my soul, and in soft words

Of comfort, plaining, loose this pang of death!

Octavio. Thou wilt not tear thyself away; thou canst not.

O, come, my son! I bid thee save thy virtue.

Max. Squander not thou thy words in vain. 60

The heart I follow, for I dare trust to it.

Octavio. Max! Max! if that most damnéd thing could be,

If thou — my son — my own blood — (dare I think it?)

Do sell thyself to him, the infamous,

Do stamp this brand upon our noble house, 65

Then shall the world behold the horrible deed,

And in unnatural combat shall the steel

Of the son trickle with the father’s blood.

Max. O hadst thou always better thought of men,

Thou hadst then acted better. Curst suspicion! 70

Unholy miserable doubt! To him

Nothing on earth remains unwrenched and firm,

Who has no faith.

Octavio. And if I trust thy heart,

Will it be always in thy power to follow it?

Max. The heart’s voice thou hast not o’erpower’d — as little 75

Will Wallenstein be able to o’erpower it.

Octavio. O, Max! I see thee never more again!

Max. Unworthy of thee wilt thou never see me.

Octavio. I go to Frauenberg — the Pappenheimers

I leave thee here, the Lothrings too; Toskana 80

And Tiefenbach remain here to protect thee.

They love thee, and are faithful to their oath,

And will far rather fall in gallant contest

Than leave their rightful leader, and their honour.

Max. Rely on this, I either leave my life 85

In the struggle, or conduct them out of Pilsen.

Octavio. Farewell, my son!

Max. Farewell!

Octavio. How? not one look

Of filial love? No grasp of the hand at parting?

It is a bloody war, to which we are going,

And the event uncertain and in darkness. 90

So used we not to part — it was not so!

Is it then true? I have a son no longer?

[MAX falls into his arms, they hold each [other] for

a long time in a speechless embrace, then go

away at different sides.

The Curtain drops.

Table of Contents

PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR TO THE FIRST EDITION

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ACT I

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

SCENE IV

SCENE V

SCENE VI

SCENE VII

SCENE VIII

SCENE IX