Derlani:

THE DEATH OF WALLENSTEIN.

Or whether you will serve him faithfully.

317

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

That is the case.

OCTAVIO.

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.

And are determined, too, to fight against him?

ISOLANI.

He has done me service
Perdition seize him!

but if he's a villain, All scores are rubbed off.

OCTAVIO.

it must appear

I am rejoiced that you are so well disposed.
This night break off in the utmost secrecy
With all the light-armed troops -
As came the order from the duke himself.
At Frauenburg's the place of rendezvous;
There will Count Gallas give you further orders.

[Exit ISOLANI. A SERVANT enters.

I will not fail to mention it honorably.

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.

No excuses!

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.

OCTAVIO.

You need not be uneasy on that score.
That has succeeded. Fortune favor us
With all the others only but as much

SCENE VI.

OCTAVIO PICCOLOMINI, BUTLER.

BUTLER.

At your command, lieutenant-general.

OCTAVIO.

Welcome, as honored friend and visitor.

BUTLER.

You do me too much honor.

[Exit.

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.

It grieves me sorely

To hear it for his counsel was most wise.

I had myself the like to offer.

BUTLER.

Spare

Yourself the trouble me the embarrassment.
To have deserved so ill your good opinion.

OCTAVIO.

Wallenstein

The time is precious let us talk openly.
You know how matters stand here.
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.
To-morrow 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?

Nay, but bethink you, Colonel Butler.
As yet you have time. Within my faithful breast
That rashly uttered word remains interred.
Recall it, Butler! choose a better party;

You have not chosen the right one.

What! Would you draw this good and gallant sword
In such a cause? Into a curse would you
Transform the gratitude which you have earned
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).

Count? what?

OCTAVIO.

How was't with the count?

BUTLER.

OCTAVIO (coldly).

The title that you wished, I mean.

BUTLER (starts in sudden passion).

Hell and damnation!

OCTAVIO (coldly).

You petitioned for it

And your petition was repelled — was it so?

BUTLER.

Your insolent scoff shall not go by unpunished..
Draw!

OCTAVIO.

Nay! your sword to its sheath! and tell me calmly
How all that happened. I will not refuse you
Your satisfaction afterwards. Calmly, Butler!

BUTLER.

Be the whole world acquainted with the weakness
For which I never can forgive myself,
Lieutenant-general! Yes; I have ambition.
Ne'er was I able to endure contempt.

It stung me to the quick that birth and title
Should have more weight than merit has in the army.
I would fain not be meaner than my equal,

So in an evil hour I let myself

Be tempted to that measure. It was folly!
But yet so hard a penance it deserved not.

It might have been refused; but wherefore barb

And venom the refusal with contempt?

Why dash to earth and crush with heaviest scorn
The gray-haired man, the faithful veteran?
Why to the baseness of his parentage

Refer him with such cruel roughness, only
Because he had a weak hour and forgot himself?
But nature gives a sting e'en to the worm

Which wanton power treads on in sport and insult.