Коллектив авторов - The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 03

OCTAVIO.

That you may make full declaration, whether

You will be call'd the friend or enemy

Of the Emperor.

ISOLANI ( with an air of defiance ).

I'll make to him in whom a right is placed

To put that question to me.

OCTAVIO.

That right is mine, this paper may, instruct you.

ISOLANI ( stammering ).

Why,—why—what! this is the Emperor's hand and seal! [ Reads .]

"Whereas, the officers collectively

Throughout our army will obey the orders

Of the Lieutenant-General Piccolomini.

As from ourselves."— Hem —Yes! so I—

Yes! yes!—

I—I give you joy, Lieutenant-General!

OCTAVIO.

And you submit you to the order?

ISOLANI.

But you have taken me so by surprise—

Time for reflection one must have—

OCTAVIO.

Two minutes.

ISOLANI.

My God! But then the case is—

OCTAVIO.

You must declare you, whether you determine

To act a treason 'gainst your Lord and Sovereign,

Or whether you will serve him faithfully.

ISOLANI.

Treason!—My God!—But who talks then of treason?

OCTAVIO.

That is the case. The Prince-duke is a traitor—

Means to lead over to the enemy

The Emperor's army.—Now, Count!—brief

and full—

Say, will you break your oath to the Emperor?

Sell yourself to the enemy?—Say, will you?

ISOLANI.

What mean you? I—I break my oath, d'ye say,

To his Imperial Majesty?

Did I say so!—When, when have I said that?

OCTAVIO.

You have not said it yet—not yet. This instant

I wait to hear, Count, whether you will say it.

ISOLANI.

Ay! that delights me now, that you yourself

Bear witness for me that I never said so.

OCTAVIO.

And you renounce the Duke then?

ISOLANI.

If he's planning Treason—why, treason breaks all bonds asunder.

OCTAVIO.

And are determined, too, to fight against him?

ISOLANI.

He has done me service—but if he's a villain,

Perdition seize him!—All scores are rubb'd off.

OCTAVIO.

I am rejoiced that you are so well disposed.

This night, break off in the utmost secrecy

With all the light-arm'd troops—it must appear

As came the order from the Duke himself.

At Frauenburg's the place of rendezvous;

There will Count Gallas give you further orders.

ISOLANI.

It shall be done.-But you'll remember me With the Emperor—how well-disposed you found me.

OCTAVIO.

I will not fail to mention it honorably.

[ Exit ISOLANI. A Servant enters .]

What, Colonel Butler!—Show him up.

ISOLANI ( returning ).

Forgive me too my bearish ways, old father!

Lord God! how should I know, then, what a great

Person I had before me.

OCTAVIO.

ISOLANI.

I am a merry lad, and if at time

A rash word might escape me 'gainst the Court

Amidst my wine—You know no harm was

meant.

[ Exit .]

OCTAVIO.

You need not be uneasy on that score

That has succeeded. Fortune favor us

With all the others only but as much!

OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, BUTLER

BUTLER.

At your command, Lieutenant-General.

OCTAVIO.

Welcome, as honor'd friend and visitor.

BUTLER.

You do me too much honor.

OCTAVIO ( after both have seated themselves ).

Return'd the advances which I made you yesterday—

Misunderstood them as mere empty forms.

That wish proceeded from my heart—I was

In earnest with you—for 'tis now a time

In which the honest should unite most closely.

BUTLER.

'Tis only the like-minded can unite.

OCTAVIO.

True! and I name all honest men like-minded.

I never charge a man but with those acts

To which his character deliberately

Impels him; for alas! the violence

Of blind misunderstandings often thrusts

The very best of us from the right track.

You came through Frauenburg. Did the Count Gallas

Say nothing to you? Tell me. He's my friend.

BUTLER.

His words were lost on me .

OCTAVIO.

To hear it: for his counsel was most wise.

I had myself the like to offer.

BUTLER.

Yourself the trouble—me th' embarrassment,

To have deserved so ill your good opinion.

OCTAVIO.

The time is precious—let us talk openly.

You know how matters stand here. Wallenstein

Meditates treason—I can tell you further,

He has committed treason; but few hours

Have past since he a covenant concluded

With the enemy. The messengers are now

Full on their way to Egra and to Prague.

Tomorrow he intends to lead us over

To the enemy. But he deceives himself;

For Prudence wakes—The Emperor has still

Many and faithful friends here, and they stand

In closest union, mighty though unseen.

This manifesto sentences the Duke—

Recalls the obedience of the army from him,

And summons all the loyal, all the honest,

To join and recognize in me their leader.

Choose—will you share with us an honest cause?

Or with the evil share an evil lot?

BUTLER ( rises ).

His lot is mine.

OCTAVIO.

Is that your last resolve?

BUTLER.

It is.

OCTAVIO.

As yet you have time. Within my faithful breast

That rashly utter'd word remains interr'd.

Recall it, Butler! choose a better party;

You have not chosen the right one.

BUTLER ( going ).

Commands for me, Lieutenant-General?

OCTAVIO.

See your white hairs: recall that word!

BUTLER.

Farewell!

OCTAVIO.

What! Would you draw this good and gallant sword

In such a cause? Into a curse would you

Transform the gratitude which you have earn'd

By forty years' fidelity from Austria?

BUTLER ( laughing with bitterness ).

Gratitude from the House of Austria!

[He is going.]

OCTAVIO ( permits him to go as far as the door, then calls after him ).

Butler!

BUTLER.

What wish you?

OCTAVIO.

How was't with the Count?

BUTLER.

Count? what?

OCTAVIO ( coldly ).

The title that you wish'd, I mean.

BUTLER ( starts in sudden passion ).

Hell and damnation!

OCTAVIO ( coldly ).

And your petition was repelled—Was it so?